Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Pei Yan just spilled his secrets!

Shen Ju quickly reached out to cover Pei Yan's mouth: "Wasn't that a private conversation between me and Bro 996? Brother Pei, if you were eavesdropping, why do you remember it so clearly!"

Pei Yan first pulled Shen Ju's hand down to catch his breath—what strong hands! If they had been a bit more precise and covered both his nose and mouth, he would have suffocated.

"I remember everything you say."

Pei Yan held Shen Ju's hand and gave his palm a squeeze: "Sometimes I even enjoy listening to you and Bro 996 whispering because it lets me know what you're thinking."

Shen Ju studied Pei Yan closely: "Brother Pei, you don't actually want to fix the bug that lets you overhear my conversations with Bro 996, do you?"

Pei Yan paused: "Why do you say that?"

Shen Ju pressed his lips together: "It's just a feeling... And didn’t you just say you liked it? Because it lets you know what I’m thinking?"

Pei Yan stared at Shen Ju for a long moment before suddenly lowering his head, resting his forehead against Shen Ju’s, and whispering: "I thought you wouldn’t notice."

"Yes, I don’t want to remove that bug. I want to always know what you're thinking."

Shen Ju ventured cautiously: "Because it makes you feel secure?"

Pei Yan laughed quietly: "Is it that obvious?"

"Not really..."

Shen Ju scratched his cheek: "It’s just that I feel like sometimes Brother Pei watches me really closely."

"Don’t like it?"

Pei Yan asked in a low voice, his eyes shifting uncertainly.

He had thought Shen Ju wouldn’t notice anything, but it turned out Shen Ju was aware of everything.

It’s just... not everyone likes being watched so closely.

"Brother Pei, wait a moment."

Instead of answering directly, Shen Ju stood up.

Just then, a waiter noticed they hadn’t placed their order yet and knocked on the door to ask if they needed anything else.

"No, we’re about to order."

Shen Ju spoke as he sat down next to Pei Yan, picking up the tablet to look through the menu.

The waiter stepped out.

But Shen Ju didn’t say anything more.

It seemed his earlier request for Pei Yan to "wait a moment" was just an excuse.

Pei Yan lowered his gaze to his hands, his expression changing uncertainly.

What if...

"Brother Pei, what dishes do you want to order?"

Although Pei Yan was thinking inappropriate thoughts, he instinctively opened his mouth to speak. But just as he did, he suddenly realized something was off—

A small electric current buzzed at his fingertips, and a voice sounded clearly in his mind.

He immediately turned to look at Shen Ju.

Shen Ju winked at him: "Brother Pei, try speaking."

This "speaking" definitely didn’t mean actually opening his mouth.

Pei Yan stared hard at Shen Ju: "Anything is fine. You order first."

"Okay."

As if unable to hold back any longer, Pei Yan wanted to pull Shen Ju closer.

Bro 996: "Haha! Pretty cool, huh!"

Pei Yan: "............"

Shen Ju couldn’t help but break into a smile, with some pride and excitement: "It actually works, Bro 996!"

Bro 996: "Of course! I’ve got skills, you know."

"Pretty great, right, host?"

"Yes, yes, you’re the best, the best, Bro 996."

Bro 996: "Hehe."

Pei Yan: "What’s going on exactly?"

Shen Ju explained: "Just like how there’s a connection channel between Bro 996 and me, I just had Bro 996 open a connection channel between you and it. Then Bro 996 linked the two channels together, so now we can hear each other’s thoughts. But Bro 996 can also hear what we say."

As he spoke, Shen Ju gave Pei Yan’s hand a gentle shake: "But now, Brother Pei, you can also know what I’m thinking."

Pei Yan stared at Shen Ju without blinking, as if he could never get enough.

No, he didn’t just want Shen Ju to like him.

He wanted Shen Ju to love him.

He wanted Shen Ju to be his for life—heart and soul, everything completely his.

What could he do?

This silly fool would probably never escape him in this lifetime.

Pei Yan sighed softly, reached out to lift Shen Ju’s chin, and abruptly leaned in to kiss him.

"Mmm..."

Shen Ju’s waist was gripped as he was pulled into Pei Yan’s embrace. His lips were claimed, an assault unlike any before, his tongue practically swallowed. He could barely breathe from the intensity of Pei Yan’s kiss.

After a long while, only when Shen Ju was nearly suffocating did Pei Yan finally let him go.

Pei Yan reached out to wipe the tears welling up again at the corners of Shen Ju's eyes, murmuring, "Poor you. Why do you cry every time I kiss you?"

Shen Ju gasped, rubbing his eyes, "It's just reflex tears, I'm not crying."

Then he added in a small voice, "I wouldn't cry."

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow, "You cried last time."

"Last time—last time it was because Brother Pei you were too rough!"

By the end, his mouth was almost sore, and when they changed positions, his inner thighs hurt too.

Was it his fault?

It was just too overwhelming, okay.

"What will you do if there are even more intense situations in the future?" Pei Yan asked quietly.

Shen Ju thought for a moment, "Then I... should get more practice?"

Pei Yan's gaze darkened, "If you want, we can start now."

As he spoke, he moved to pull Shen Ju over.

Shen Ju quickly pleaded, "Let's eat first! Eat first!"

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

Ever since Shen Ju could communicate with Pei Yan through the connection channel, it felt like their relationship had become even closer. Though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, sometimes Shen Ju felt that Pei Yan might also rely on him a bit more—like the day he suddenly confessed that when he met with Wu Tingyu, he actually had ways to stop Wu Tingyu from saying certain things or steer the conversation elsewhere.

But because Guan Muyao had previously discussed related topics with him, Pei Yan decided to just let Wu Tingyu speak his mind that day.

Having someone else expose it would make Shen Ju feel more sorry for him than if he had confessed himself.

It would put him in a more advantageous position.

When Shen Ju heard Pei Yan's explanation, he thought to himself, Wow, Brother Pei is so calculating.

And it might not have been just this once.

He had no idea how many times Brother Pei had "tricked" him like this.

Even now, as Pei Yan was confessing, Shen Ju wanted to reach out and touch Pei Yan's face, feeling that he must have suffered grievances and provocation from Guan Muyao—otherwise, why would he let someone else expose his scars?

Ah.

He was really completely wrapped around Brother Pei's finger.

"I'm the one wrapped around your finger."

Pei Yan gently bit Shen Ju's finger, whispering, "Love brings worry, love brings fear."

The words lightly touched Shen Ju's heart.

Once again, he realized that the mature and reliable Brother Pei he saw could also have times of feeling insecure and afraid.

And it was because of him.

Now the mission energy gauge had passed the 90% mark, reaching 93.5%. Maybe...

"Brother Pei."

Shen Ju linked his hand with Pei Yan's and spoke up, "Grandpa Guan's birthday is in a few days. I want to tell my family about our relationship."

Pei Yan was momentarily stunned.

Shen Ju rubbed the tip of his nose, a bit awkwardly, and said, "Although they probably already know, I think it's better to make it official."

He then wrinkled his nose and added, "If Big Brother gets angry, I've got your back."

"And Jian Yi, I want Brother to know too."

"I hope he knows that because of this mission, I found someone I love. So when I look back now, it's all good and happy. I don’t regret taking on this mission at all."

Pei Yan’s Adam's apple bobbed. "Baby, are you sure?"

"No regrets?"

"Yeah, I’m sure. No regrets."

Pei Yan held Shen Ju’s hand. "Then I'll be right there with you when the time comes."

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

On the day of Guan Jianshan’s birthday,

Shen Ju had only recently learned that Guan Jianshan was actually among the people who could hear his conversations with Bro 996.

However, Guan Jianshan had mostly stayed at Heyuan, communicating remotely with Qin Suxi and others—yes, they even had a small group chat. Although the group had since disbanded, Shen Ju cringed every time he thought about it. Qin Suxi wouldn’t show him, and he had no idea what they used to talk about in that group. When he asked Guan Mulin, Guan Mulin hemmed and hawed before brushing it off.

The more evasive they were, the more curious Shen Ju became.

He couldn’t help but feel they had discussed things he and Bro 996 weren’t supposed to know.

But since Guan Jianshan was already aware of so much, Shen Ju felt even more confident about moving forward with his "confession mission."

Shen Ju decided to start by bringing Pei Yan around his family more often.

This was Guan Jianshan’s sixtieth birthday, and many guests had been invited. From the Pei family, not only were Pei Yan and Pei Haochuan present, but even Pei Kangnian had come—Pei Haochuan’s father. This was Shen Ju’s first time seeing Pei Haochuan’s father; even at the Pei family banquet last time, he hadn’t paid close attention to who Pei Kangnian was. This time, he got a good look.

There was also Xu Yun, Secretary Xu, who was representing Pei Tai.

Shen Ju couldn’t help but inwardly wrinkle his nose. Though he knew he shouldn’t think this way, he simply couldn’t bring himself to like this Mr. Xu, who had been Pei Tai’s secretary for decades.

All four were considered part of the Pei family’s contingent.

But strangely, while Pei Yan and Pei Haochuan stayed with the Guan family, accompanied by Shen Ju and Guan Mulin, Pei Kangnian and Xu Yun ended up "sticking together" at the birthday banquet.

Pei Kangnian glanced at his son from a distance and clicked his tongue softly.

"Aren’t you anxious, Young Master?" Xu Yun suddenly spoke up.

Pei Kangnian paused. "Why should I be anxious?"

"Uncle Xu, I’m not young anymore. Why still call me 'Young Master'?"

Xu Yun smiled. "I’ve watched you grow up since you were little. What else should I call you?"

Pei Kangnian replied, "True. After all, when people say 'President Pei' now, they’re still referring to my father."

Xu Yun glanced at Pei Kangnian.

Pei Kangnian naturally looked back.

Xu Yun suddenly lowered his voice: "If you don’t want such ambiguity, Young Master, there’s no need to worry too much. Chairman Pei has been considering moving behind the scenes in recent years, but given the importance of the matter, he must choose the most suitable candidate. Since you have Young Master Hao Chuan, you’re certainly more stable than the Second Young Master, who remains unmarried to this day. After all, the saying 'settle down before establishing a career' holds true."

Pei Kangnian raised an eyebrow: "Uncle Xu, your words seem to carry some implication?"

Xu Yun smiled, indeed implying more than he said: "Don’t you think the Second Young Master is getting a bit too close to that young one from the Guan family?"

As he spoke, he gestured for Pei Kangnian to look in a certain direction.