Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The nation has recently been prioritizing several emerging projects.

Hu Fanghai is the principal in charge of these initiatives.

Many people sought to align themselves with Hu Fanghai, but he rarely consented to meetings. Who would have thought he'd appear at Qichen’s Ant Market?

This instantly drew considerable attention.

Many also overheard Hu Fanghai’s words and instinctively turned their gaze to Shen Ju.

Some present were unaware of Shen Ju’s identity until Guan Muyao introduced him as his younger brother.

—So, he’s his brother.

No wonder the watch ended up in his younger brother’s possession.

But with the watch now in his brother’s hands, and Hu Fanghai having seen it, one could only wonder what Hu Fanghai was truly thinking after his remarks.

Some speculated that Guan Muyao might have bid highly on the watch specifically to re-gift it to Hu Fanghai. After all, intelligence suggested Hu Fanghai was a passionate collector of mechanical watches. Perhaps young Master Guan was merely trying to curry favor? But it now seemed things had gone awry…

This thought occurred to others, and to Pei Yan as well.

He instinctively looked at Shen Ju, wishing to keep him out of such entanglements, especially since Shen Ju might not grasp the intricate nuances involved.

"Because my big brother loves watches, that’s why he gave it to me."

Shen Ju’s voice rang out with an air of natural confidence, his small face radiating pride and satisfaction: "This is a testament to my big brother’s affection for me, so I displayed it here, hoping someone would inquire about it."

"The only drawback was that everyone who approached asked if I was selling the watch, rather than why I would display it if it wasn’t for sale. That way, I could have explained the watch’s significance and the touching story behind it, concluding by saying my big brother auctioned it off and immediately gave it to me because I am his most beloved younger brother!"

Shen Ju nodded to himself, his eyes sparkling as he glanced at Guan Muyao, then at Hu Fanghai: "You’re the first to ask, so how about this—I’ll give you a felt accessory for free!"

Hu Fanghai chuckled, pointing at Pei Yan.

"But if my memory serves, wasn’t it young Mr. Pei who asked that question earlier?"

"Oh, why did you have to expose me?"

Shen Ju sheepishly rubbed the tip of his nose: "I was just trying to butter you up a little."

"As for my Brother Pei, I’ll compensate him later."

Hu Fanghai burst into hearty laughter, patting Guan Muyao’s shoulder: "Xiao Guan, your little brother is truly charming. Quite remarkable."

Surprisingly, Guan Muyao wore a rare smile as he gazed at Shen Ju, genuinely wanting to ruffle his hair.

Hu Fanghai turned back to Shen Ju: "Alright then, since you’ve put it that way, it would be impolite to refuse such generosity. I’ll shamelessly pick one."

With that, Hu Fanghai pointed: "This felt watch will do."

"I’ll add it to my collection when I return. It will be quite meaningful."

............

Afterward, Hu Fanghai and Guan Muyao departed to explore other areas. Before leaving, Guan Muyao did ruffle Shen Ju’s hair.

His grip was firm, causing Shen Ju’s head to sway. Once he finished, Shen Ju’s hair was delightfully fluffy.

996 hesitated, as if to speak: "Oh, Host…"

"I know, Brother 996."

Shen Ju’s tone was somewhat faint: "I’ve been trying my best to maintain the persona… but the task energy bar hasn’t increased, has it?"

"Is it because I was actually speaking up for my big brother?"

"Well, not exactly. Your performance did meet the criteria. It just depends on the feedback…"

996 sighed in frustration: "I just don’t understand. Is human affection boundless? You acted so spoiled—isn’t that spoiled behavior? Why do they seem to like it?"

"Hmm."

996: "Do we need to be even naughtier?"

"Was I a bit too clever just now?"

"I thought it was quite mindless…"

"I say—"

A voice suddenly interjected.

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow at Shen Ju, crossing his arms: "Guan Shenju, shouldn’t you explain yourself to me?"

"Your performance just now was far too calculating."

Shen Ju opened his mouth.

996 howled: "It increased! The task energy bar increased this time!"

"Wow! It’s at 19% now!"

"But it still increased more with the main couple earlier."

"Well, that’s normal."

Shen Ju, however, pressed his lips together, remaining silent, looking somewhat bewildered at Pei Yan.

"Brother Pei, I…"

Jian Yi, who had been quiet all along, also frowned, glancing at Shen Ju and then at Pei Yan, as if about to speak.

The next second, Pei Yan suddenly smiled.

"So, where’s my compensation? Hurry up and give it to me."

With that, Pei Yan extended his hand towards Shen Ju.

At the same time, he listened intently, wondering if the system called 996 would say anything further.

All he heard was 996’s off-key, chaotic humming.

"Oh, what’s going on~ These past few times have been full of twists and turns, and the progress bar keeps increasing in unexpected places~~ Hehe~~"

It seemed it hadn’t dropped back.

Pei Yan slightly lowered his gaze, concealing the thoughts flashing in his eyes.

Then he looked at Shen Ju again, raised an eyebrow at him, and said with a smile, "What are you still standing there for? Don't you want to compensate me? I didn't say anything just now."

"I do! I'll compensate you!"

Shen Ju immediately spoke up, then breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought: So Brother Pei was just joking.

He smiled back at Pei Yan and was about to say something else—

"Pei Yan, is that you?"

Two more people approached from not far away. Pei Yan glanced back.

Jian Yi sighed inwardly.

Thinking this really is never-ending.

He picked up the needle and started poking the felt, poke, poke, poke.

The newcomers were a man and a woman, both appearing to be about the same age as Pei Yan.

"It really is you."

Zheng Su approached with Sun Yuqing in tow. Sun Yuqing had been holding Zheng Su’s arm, but when Pei Yan turned around, she instinctively pulled her hand back.

"What a coincidence, didn't expect to see you here."

Sun Yuqing also greeted Pei Yan.

Shen Ju looked at the two curiously. Zheng Su was somewhat handsome, but Sun Yuqing was very pretty—the kind of pure beauty who probably would have been the school belle back in the day.

He'd heard that on open days at the Ant Marketplace, besides inviting parents, they also invited former students to attend.

Like Pei Yan, who was personally invited by the Principal.

These two didn't look like parents—were they former students of Qichen Organization?

Could they be Brother Pei's classmates?

Sure enough, the next moment Zheng Su said, "I didn't think I'd see you at an event like this. It's been years, hasn't it? We haven't really met since graduating high school."

Pei Yan gave a faint "Mmm."

He seemed indifferent.

"You and Yuqing haven't seen each other in a long time either, right? I remember you two were both in the student council and were called what, the golden boy and jade girl, wasn't it?"

Zheng Su glanced at Sun Yuqing, then at the hand she’d pulled back, and turned back with a smirk without warmth. "You probably didn't know, but Yuqing is dating me now—"

Sun Yuqing pinched Zheng Su’s arm, as if shyly complaining, "You're still on probation, you know."

"Alright, alright."

Zheng Su said with a laugh, "So when are you going to make it official? It's soon, right?"

"Hey, President, why don't you try persuading Yuqing for me? I remember she used to be quite close with you?"

"You remember wrong."

Pei Yan replied bluntly, "I had no idea she was dating you."

The implication was that they hadn't even been in contact, so how could they be considered close?

Sun Yuqing's face immediately paled.

Even Zheng Su wasn't pleased with Pei Yan's reaction.

—This kind of response and attitude, didn't it mean he simply couldn't care less?

So had Zheng Su just been performing a one-man show all along?

Zheng Su’s eyes shifted, as if he spotted something. "Hey, isn't that your nephew over there? The one applying phone screen protectors?"

"When I walked over, he was cursing under his breath—seemed like the tri-fold screen was hard to apply. The customer was probably a student too, didn't dare say a word."

He added pointedly: "Then again, he is the Pei family's only male descendant now. Who would dare provoke him?"

"Pei Yan, did you come today because of your nephew too?"

At this, Zheng Su smirked meaningfully. "Do you also need to suck up to your nephew?"

"After all, I remember your mom passed away early, you—"

"Ahh!!"

Suddenly a dramatic, startled yelp interrupted Zheng Su.

Zheng Su frowned and turned around.

Shen Ju was waving the needle around, blinking innocently. "Sorry, Mister, I might have poked my hand just now."

Mister?

Zheng Su's mouth twitched. And "I might have poked my hand"—so did he or didn't he?

Not wanting to bother arguing with a student, Zheng Su glared at Shen Ju and turned back to Pei Yan. Attempting to continue: "I remember your mom—"

"Yowch!!"

"............"

Interrupted again, Zheng Su was completely exasperated and immediately turned back to Shen Ju. "What's wrong with you now?!"

Shen Ju sucked his finger: "I wanted to test whether I really poked my hand or not, so I poked it myself. Wow, that really hurts!"

"............"

Zheng Su took a deep breath and turned back to Pei Yan.

"You—"

"Whoa!"

Once, twice, three times—enough is enough! Enough!

Zheng Su spun around furiously. "You—"

"Mister, are you going to scold me?"

Shen Ju's voice was even louder than Zheng Su's: "Mister, are you about to yell at me?!"

It was so loud that the students nearby all turned to look.

Guan Mulin, Han Chengfeng, and others also noticed, frowning as they came over.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

"Shen Ju, who wants to scold you?"

Han Chengfeng even pointed at someone: "Is it him?!"

Zheng Su: "............"

Dammit! He hadn't even said anything yet!

In the high school seniors' turf, don't mess with high school seniors.

After all, Zheng Su was once a high school senior himself.

He took a deep breath, then another deep breath. Discretion is the better part of valor. In the end, without finishing his words, he left, choked up and frustrated.

Guan Mulin, Han Chengfeng, and the others still had to watch their booth. Before leaving, they gave Shen Ju a nod—

"Holler if you need us."

Shen Ju waved to them.

Then he looked back at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan's face was expressionless.

It was even somewhat cold.

Somehow carrying a faint sense of disdain, as if keeping people at a distance.

This was the first time Shen Ju felt that Pei Yan was difficult to approach, like an ice block in winter, touching it would cause a sharp sting; that's the cold stinging people, just like the feeling Pei Yan gives now, as if one can only stay away, otherwise, it would teach anyone trying to approach a lesson, so they wouldn't dare try again.

996: "Why is he kind of scary?"

"Now I understand why that Wei what's-his-name had that evaluation before..."

"Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover."

Shen Ju: "Brother 996, you're using words wrong again."

"But Brother Pei does look a bit scary."

"It makes people afraid to get close..."

Hearing Shen Ju's words, Pei Yan couldn't help but want to be self-deprecating.

He lowered his eyes, not wanting Shen Ju to see the thoughts in his eyes; he didn't want to scare Shen Ju.

But the next second, someone approached him.

Before Pei Yan could react, the person who approached hugged him.

"Brother Pei, don't be angry…"

Shen Ju said softly, then looked up: "People who are angry aren't attractive when angry."

"Yes, really scary."

After saying that, Shen Ju even pulled his neck in for effect.

The next second, a hand reached up and placed on his neck.

Huh?

Shen Ju blinked and looked at Pei Yan.

"So, are you comforting me?" Pei Yan asked in a low voice.

From his perspective, this kid looked well-behaved.

Making people want to...

Want to bully him.

Yes, Pei Yan suddenly realized, every time he thought Shen Ju was well-behaved, pitied him, there was always an urge deep in his heart.

So it was wanting to bully him.

Wanting to see if this kid would cry, if he would stay away from him.

And if he would still say he's good.

Where is he good?

Shen Ju simply doesn't know the real him...

Thinking this, Pei Yan unconsciously rubbed the back of Shen Ju's neck, as if wanting to pinch a kitten, watching it curl up its paws and tail.

He deliberately spoke again: "Are you feeling sorry for me?"

His tone was somewhat dangerous.

His hand also pressed harder.

As if really wanting to pinch the scruff of his neck.

But Shen Ju blinked and said: "Shouldn't Brother Pei be feeling sorry for me instead?"

"What?"

Pei Yan didn't quite understand Shen Ju's line of thinking.

Shen Ju mumbled: "Although I have biological parents now, before being recognized by the Guan family, I haven't had them since age five…"

While saying this, Shen Ju poked at Pei Yan's chest with his index finger, admiring Pei Yan's good figure—he even has defined pecs—and then said: "Brother Pei, don't try to out-do me in the misery department."

"............"

Pei Yan felt a bit helpless, and after thinking, he actually felt like laughing.

In fact, he'd wanted to laugh ever since Shen Ju cut Zheng Su off with his antics.

It seemed that around Shen Ju, he often found himself smiling without realizing, and by the time he did, he was already laughing.

"Ah, right!"

As if remembering something, Shen Ju gave a little head shake: "Brother Pei, I promised to give you 'compensation.'"

"Actually, it's not really compensation—it's something I'd already gotten ready for you."

"Do you want it?"

"If you do, you'll have to let me go first."

Pei Yan wasn't holding him tightly at all; Shen Ju could've gotten loose with just a turn of his head. But now, as he shook his head, the movement was very gentle, almost like... he was being playful.

So obedient.

How could he be so obedient?

I really want to...

Pei Yan sighed inwardly, I really wanna mess with him.

He released his hand, finally returning to "normal."

"Alright, let me see what gift it is."

Completely unaware of what Pei Yan was thinking or the intentions hidden beneath that calm exterior, Shen Ju bounced happily behind the stall, going "ta-daa!" as he pulled out a felt artwork.

It actually was of Little Stone.

"Look, isn't it just like Little Stone?"

Shen Ju examined it himself: "I think it's very lifelike, it's practically true to life!"

He didn't even flinch at his own bragging.

Pei Yan took the felt artwork and ran his fingers over it.

The painting was palm-sized, essentially a "portrait" of Little Stone, but the details were perfect, showing how careful the creator had been.

It must have taken a lot of time and effort.

Bet he worked on it secretly at night.

Pei Yan hadn't expected Shen Ju to prepare such a gift for him.

This gesture gave him a weird feeling at this moment.

It was as if a kitten was kneading at his heart, and also as if a pair of hands had cupped his hands, warming them, and then pressed them against his heart.

"Thank you, I really like it," Pei Yan said.

He held his gaze on Shen Ju, as if he wanted to say something.

As if an impulse was pushing him to speak—

"Pei Yan…"

A hesitant voice came: "Can we talk alone?"

Sun Yuqing had come back by herself, as if she had something to say to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan immediately scowled.

Unable to control himself, a flash of irritation flickered between his brows.

That flicker of emotion hurt Sun Yuqing.

Including Pei Yan's earlier reaction, it made Sun Yuqing lose her cool: "Do you really not want to talk to me?"

Pei Yan took a deep breath and turned back: "I don't know what we could possibly have to say to each other."

"Miss Sun, have we ever had anything between us?"

"If it's just that bit of school connection, it doesn't seem necessary to rehash old times, does it?"

"You—"

Sun Yuqing bit her lip, feeling totally embarrassed.

She had asked out Pei Yan before, and not just once—could it be that he hadn't kept any memory of it in his heart?!

Meeting again, she had thought...

"Pei Yan, have you got a heart?!"

Sun Yuqing couldn't help but feel so humiliated that she got angry: "Can't I even talk to you?! I—"

"Sister, was that uncle just now your boyfriend?"

Shen Ju frowned and stepped between Pei Yan: "To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I think Brother Pei is looking out for you. Otherwise, if your boyfriend found out, wouldn't he get jealous and angry?"

Sun Yuqing’s expression froze, and an awkward look flashed across it.

But she still spoke in a blaming tone: "But does that give him the right to say such mean things to me?!"

"I just wanted to talk to him alone—why does he have to... why does he have to make me lose face at all?!"

"Someone like him—no wonder he didn’t have any friends in high school!"

As she spoke, Sun Yuqing looked at Pei Yan’s expression.

But as it turned out, Pei Yan stood behind the child protecting him and wouldn’t even look at her?!

The entire time, he had his eyes lowered, fixed on the child in front of him.

Sun Yuqing could see Pei Yan’s slightly lowered gaze.

It was that deep, locked-on stare, inexplicably giving Sun Yuqing a sense of danger... it made her get chills involuntarily.

But soon, she got even madder and more humiliated.

"You—"

"What do you mean 'someone like him'? Please don’t use your subjective feelings to just assume things about others!"

Shen Ju was seeing red.

How dare you talk about Brother Pei like that!

And you come and go, go and come back, over and over, insisting on coming back to stab people in the back, was that intentional?!

"Pei Yan is very good, very, very, very good!"

Shen Ju said several "very good" in one breath, like an angry little sparrow, stomping his feet: "In short, he is just very good, very—good!"

Sun Yuqing: "............"

Her expression turned complicated.

She subconsciously thought, hoping she didn't make this kid mad.

She still wanted to say something more, but the next moment, Pei Yan raised his gaze and shot a glance at Sun Yuqing.

That gaze made Sun Yuqing shut up instinctively.

Pei Yan pressed his hands on Shen Ju's shoulders, using a bit of force, looking as if he was pulling Shen Ju into his arms.

But his gaze was locked on Sun Yuqing: "What do you want to talk to me about? Not afraid I'll tell Zheng Su?"

Sun Yuqing suddenly jumped: "I…"

"Yes, someone like me…"

At this point, Pei Yan glanced at Shen Ju and emphasized: "I am indeed not a good person—"

"Brother Pei?!"

Shen Ju turned his head sharply, fuming.

How could he talk about himself like that?!

He wanted to say something.

Pei Yan reached out and covered Shen Ju's mouth.

Shen Ju: "............"

So mad!

"Since that's the case, what you came to tell me... didn't it occur to you that I might turn around and tell Zheng Su?"

"After all—"

Pei Yan curled his lip into a smile.

Shen Ju, with his mouth covered, turned his head again, completely missing the chill in Pei Yan's smile.

"After all, in high school, Zheng Su and I never saw eye to eye, didn't we?"

Sun Yuqing subconsciously stepped back.

She knew exactly what she wanted to say to Pei Yan.

Zheng Su's family is well-off, and he has always liked her and was after her. Over the years, she really couldn't do any better, so she agreed to Zheng Su's proposal to give it a try.

But in fact, Sun Yuqing still had feelings for Pei Yan in her heart.

Running into Pei Yan here, her buried feelings came rushing back, so she made an excuse to get Zheng Su out of the way and came to find Pei Yan to "chat."

She thought she should still give it a try.

Perhaps she could...

But now, Sun Yuqing realized she’d made a huge mistake.

She shouldn't have come to find Pei Yan at all!

She shouldn't have held any unrealistic expectations for Pei Yan!

A guy like Pei Yan...

People like that have no heart.

But thinking of this, Sun Yuqing subconsciously looked at Shen Ju, who had his mouth covered and was fuming, arms crossed.

At this moment, Shen Ju was fully nestled in Pei Yan's arms.

The two looked so intimate...

Sun Yuqing withdrew her gaze, feeling a pang of self-ridicule.

She didn't dare say anything more, pursed her lips, shot one last look at Pei Yan, and immediately turned and left.

But after Sun Yuqing left, Pei Yan still didn't release him.

Just like before, even though he could've pushed his hand away, he just waited obediently for Pei Yan to let go on his own.

Pei Yan thought to himself, he really didn't want to play the good guy in front of Shen Ju anymore.

Why had he put on that act before?

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Author's note: Will resume daily updates at 9 am tomorrow.