Chapter 50

Chapter 50

First, the loosened tie around his neck was pulled off with one hand and casually tossed onto the central cabinet.

The cabinet’s surface was transparent glass, its interior lights already on.

Shen Ju instinctively glanced inside, seeing it filled with accessories.

The top shelf held watches, tie clips, and various cuff accessories.

The next shelf contained belts, along with what looked like elastic bands and clips—Shen Ju couldn't quite make them out.

“Those are shirt garters,” Pei Yan said.

Shen Ju blinked, looking up at Pei Yan, who was already unbuttoning his shirt. His eyes darted around, unsure where to land, before he instinctively asked, “What are shirt garters for?”

“Come here.”

Shen Ju shuffled his feet hesitantly.

He walked over slowly, head bowed.

Pei Yan seemed to let out a soft chuckle.

He bent down and took a shirt garter from the cabinet.

“This is used to strap onto your leg to keep your shirt in place,” Pei Yan explained, demonstrating briefly for Shen Ju. “It prevents the shirt from slipping out, making your outfit look neater and more polished.”

Pei Yan’s demonstration was vivid, and his explanation clear and concise. Shen Ju understood the function of the shirt garter almost instantly.

Especially since Pei Yan had demonstrated it directly on his own thigh, holding the other end with his slender fingers and clipping it to the hem of his partially unbuttoned shirt for Shen Ju to see.

As Shen Ju watched, his face grew warm.

The way the shirt garter was used felt strangely suggestive... He was too embarrassed to look again, yet his eyes couldn't help but stare.

It wasn’t until Pei Yan put the shirt garter away that he snapped out of it.

“But I don’t use them much.”

“Why?” Shen Ju instinctively asked.

He thought to himself, *It looks really good.*

No, no—he meant it seemed quite practical.

“I don’t like them.”

Pei Yan put the shirt garter back and continued taking off his already unbuttoned shirt, his gaze fixed on Shen Ju. “I don’t like feeling restrained.”

“If there’s an occasion that requires wearing one, I’d rather just not go.”

Shen Ju mumbled an “Oh” awkwardly, his eyes once again unsure where to look.

He suddenly felt that following him in was a mistake.

Now, he could neither stay nor leave comfortably...

“But if you’re interested, I can properly model it for you next time.”

Shen Ju was taken aback.

He didn’t like wearing them, but he’d wear one for him?

“Alright, how long are you planning to stand there watching me change?”

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow at Shen Ju, his fingers moving to his belt buckle. “Do you really want to watch me take off my pants? I don’t mind—”

“Ah! Ah! Brother Pei, I’m leaving now!”

Shen Ju set down the overcoat he was holding and quickly turned and hurried away.

Pei Yan watched Shen Ju’s retreating figure and clicked his tongue softly.

He would’ve liked to continue—he truly didn’t mind changing in front of Shen Ju. In fact, he even felt like keeping Shen Ju trapped there, making sure his eyes could only look at him.

There were things he was capable of doing, things he could go even further with.

But when it came down to it, he softened.

In the end, it all boiled down to three words: *I can’t bear to.*

Seeing Shen Ju standing there looking somewhat flustered, holding his coat, not knowing where to look or what to do with his hands and feet, made Pei Yan’s heart soften.

Pushing any further would truly be bullying him.

And if he ended up reducing Shen Ju to a flustered mess, he’d have to be the one to comfort him anyway.

Pei Yan chuckled softly. If it really came to that, he wouldn’t mind—but still, he couldn’t bear to.

He just wanted to test the waters.

To push Shen Ju a little further.

Ever since he told Shen Ju he could “use” his engagement to his advantage, this was the second time Shen Ju had “run away.”

After they had that conversation that day, he’d given Shen Ju some time to process it.

Besides, Shen Ju had been running a fever at the time, and Pei Yan hadn’t wanted to add insult to injury. He’d waited until Shen Ju recovered before arranging the tutoring sessions again.

It was also his own fault for acting too proper before.

Around him, Shen Ju always felt compelled to show deference as to an elder.

Hearing that this “elder” wanted to engage with him must have been a shock.

“This won’t do,” Pei Yan murmured to himself.

He finished changing into loungewear and then leisurely made his way downstairs.

They needed some time alone.

That's why Pei Yan said he had to work overtime today—actually trying to buy time and keep Shen Ju around until the end.

But then those four just took off.

Just as well, it made it easier for him to get back early.

Even after he mentioned "checking the surveillance," he still didn’t catch on to what he meant.

If he were really playing along with Shen Ju’s act, he should have stopped him at the bedroom door, but Pei Yan still opened the door and let Shen Ju into the room.

Step by step, his probing, under the guise of "cooperating," was becoming less and less subtle.

He didn’t want to scare Shen Ju.

But he was afraid Shen Ju wouldn’t understand.

He was also afraid that, with the pretense of "cooperation" upfront, Shen Ju wouldn't read too much into it—or maybe didn't dare to.

Fortunately, though, Shen Ju was responding to his advances.

He'd get embarrassed.

Flustered.

Would get fidgety and unsure what to do...

When alone with him, Shen Ju would also act uncomfortable.

He didn’t know if Shen Ju understood where these reactions were coming from.

But he wanted Shen Ju to understand.

At first, he thought there was no rush—it wasn’t the right time, he needed to restrain himself. But it turned out Pei Yan had overestimated himself. As long as Shen Ju was by his side, he couldn’t help but want to touch him, couldn’t help but want to put his mark on Shen Ju.

He really ought to have made his move sooner.

As Pei Yan thought this, he couldn’t help but scorn himself. If that was the case, he shouldn't have gotten soft and let Shen Ju leave earlier.

Even if he scared Shen Ju, given Shen Ju's mission, he could always find a way to keep him close.

But...

Pei Yan sighed inwardly.

But if he really went too far, in the end, he'd be the one who'd end up hurting.

Downstairs, the chef had already prepared the meal and served it.

Shen Ju was sitting in the dining room, waiting.

Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

Today, it was just the two of them.

Just two.

A rare moment for just the two of them.

Pei Yan took a seat across from Shen Ju.

Shen Ju swung his feet a little and glanced at Pei Yan.

He noticed Pei Yan had changed into comfy clothes—a loose cotton top and pants, both in dark gray. It seemed Brother Pei liked to dress in matching tones.

Simple, but it looked good.

Or maybe it just looked good on Pei Yan.

Shen Ju couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at him.

Brother Pei in a suit showed off his build well, but even in loose comfy clothes, you could still tell he was built.

He wondered how Brother Pei worked out—even the motion of raising his arm or pulling out a chair showed off defined muscles. The quick look in the walk-in closet was more than enough for Shen Ju to see enough: broad back muscles, arm muscles, chest and abs—almost everything was visible. The typical "looks slim clothed, but has muscles underneath," with a strong, powerful vibe.

Shen Ju bit his chopsticks, mentally scolding himself.

How many times had he replayed what had happened earlier in the walk-in closet since leaving?

He had to stop thinking about it...

Brother Pei was just helping him keep up the act.

There was nothing more to it.

At that thought, a strange feeling washed over Shen Ju.

He felt somewhat disappointed.

And vaguely unhappy.

He blurted out, “Brother Pei, what if later...”

“What if someone you like misunderstands?”

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Author's Note: Been busy with a lot today, will update more tomorrow [hugs].