Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Cheng Yu'an stood outside the villa gate, watering the flowers with a watering can.

The yard was full of colorful, vibrant flowers, with butterflies fluttering around the beds.

The sky was a clear blue, putting everyone at ease.

The little rabbit had been let out too, darting through the flowers, having a blast playing on its own.

He was slightly bent over; a servant tried to step in to help, but Cheng Yu'an shook his head in refusal.

Around the corner of the flower beds, there was a small patch of land with a few leafy greens planted specifically for the rabbit.

The little rabbit was clutching a leafy green with both paws, chomping away.

Watered under the sunlight, the flowers grew vigorously, blooming brighter and brighter.

A breeze swept through, and the flowers swayed as if answering him.

Pei Qingji stood not far away, watching this scene from a distance, his steps faltering for a moment.

Then he walked forward, looking at Cheng Yu'an who was bent over watering the flowers, and instinctively softened his voice, speaking gently.

"Tired? Take a break if you are. I'll take over."

Cheng Yu'an said nothing, just looked up at him quietly.

Pei Qingji knew that was a no. He hid the disappointment in his eyes and said in a low voice.

"Alright."

"A friend of mine wants to come over today."

He looked at Cheng Yu'an's profile, cautiously asking for his opinion—wasn't this his home too?

"Is that alright?"

Cheng Yu'an gave no reaction.

Pei Qingji was used to it. He paused, then added.

"You know him, too."

Seeing Cheng Yu'an still ignoring him, he said cautiously, "If you don't want him to come, I can tell him to stay away."

Cheng Yu'an was a little taken aback.

He knew him too?

"Whatever." After a long pause, he finally said coldly.

The sun was getting harsher, and sweat beaded on Cheng Yu'an's forehead.

His back was getting damp as well.

A servant handed him a towel. He wiped his forehead but still felt hot, so he shrugged off his jacket.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

The servant hurried to open the door.

A man in sunglasses and loud clothes walked in, greeting him with a smile.

"Hey, we meet again, Xiao Yu."

It was Lu Mingzhe, the Best Actor.

Cheng Yu'an paused mid-motion, towel in hand.

Seeing that he wasn't surprised by his relationship with Pei Qingji, it was clear he already knew.

"Brought you a few things."

Lu Mingzhe snapped his fingers, and one person after another filed in carrying stuff, so much it barely fit.

Pei Qingji noticed that the maternity and baby items he'd bought for Cheng Yu'an were now buried under Lu Mingzhe's stuff, and he felt a twinge of irritation.

He said coldly, "Is my house a storage unit?"

"Oh dear! Xiao Yu, look at him picking on me." Lu Mingzhe pretended to be heartbroken, putting on a pitiful act for Cheng Yu'an.

Cheng Yu'an was slightly stunned, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

He wasn't sure how he should feel about this.

Actually, Lu Mingzhe was someone he looked up to.

Lu Mingzhe seemed laid-back and a bit unreliable, but he'd already won Best Actor three years in a row at a young age.

Every drama he starred in was a hit, and his acting was incredible—he had masterful control over emotions.

Cheng Yu'an used to watch his dramas often, studying them repeatedly to learn.

Even though Lu Mingzhe didn't get a response, he wasn't bothered. Instead, he sat down next to him like they were old friends.

"Xiao Yu, I think you did a great job in that drama *Chang Yueming*."

"Especially that scene where we went head-to-head last time."

Lu Mingzhe complimented him.

Because of what had happened before, his reputation online was terrible, and many people were swayed by that, naturally disliking him.

He never expected Best Actor Lu to think so highly of him, let alone compliment his acting.

Cheng Yu'an's eyes widened a little.

His heart softened, and he pursed his lips into a slow smile.

Thanks.

This was the second time he'd seen him smile, but neither time had it ever been directed at him.

Pei Qingji watched the scene, his heart aching with jealousy.

The two of them sat on the sofa chatting, while he was squeezed off to the side, alone, unable to get a word in edgewise.

He had a servant bring over a bowl of fruit and snacks, then asked cautiously, "Would you like some fruit?"

"How did you know I wanted fruit? I'm dying of thirst." Lu Mingzhe had been talking until his throat was dry, and upon seeing the fruit, he quickly forked them into his mouth one after another.

Pei Qingji smacked his hand away: "This isn't for you."

"Don't be so stingy. Xiaoyu, don't mind him."

He'd meant to cheer Cheng Yuan up, but now he regretted inviting this guy over—he'd completely stolen Cheng Yuan's attention.

Pei Qingji handed him a fork with a piece of apple: "An'an, you have this."

"An'an? What's he to you? Calling him so sweetly." Lu Mingzhe knew about their relationship and deliberately teased him.

Pei Qingji paused, then said with utmost seriousness, "He's my husband."

Even though they were already married, he'd never acknowledged their relationship in front of anyone else.

Cheng Yuan stiffened and abruptly looked up.

Pei Qingji didn't look away, his eyes curving into a smile.

His lashes fluttered, and he turned away.

Anyone who didn't know about their relationship would assume he was Pei Qingji's lover. Even when people misunderstood, he'd never publicly clarified.

Pei Qingji's eyes dropped in disappointment.

"Tsk, who're you looking down on? Think you're the only one with a partner?" Lu Mingzhe quickly spoke up to cut the awkward tension.

"Alright, alright, get outta here. Don't bother me while I chat with Xiaoyu."

"Xiaoyu, don't I look a little familiar to you?"

Lu Mingzhe pointed at himself and blinked.

Cheng Yuan snapped back to reality and went, "Ah."

"It's me! From Nanning No. 1 High School—the guy who always lost to Old Pei at basketball."

"You should've seen me back then. I've seen you a bunch of times."

He was a little taken aback.

He did recall someone like that, but the guy had changed so much it was no wonder he hadn't recognized him.

"So, that makes me your senior, huh?"

"So? Wanna call me senior?" Lu Mingzhe said deliberately.

Cheng Yuan started, "I..."

After a beat, he said, "Senior."

"Aww, what a good boy." Lu Mingzhe hadn't expected him to actually say it, and his grin was about to split his face.

His gaze flicked to Pei Qingji, who was scowling nearby, and he couldn't help feeling smug.

Pei Qingji shot him an icy glare, like he was about to sentence him to death.

Lu Mingzhe flinched, pretended not to notice, and kept talking.

"Ah, so anyway, back in the day, I used to..."

Back in school, he was super rebellious. He'd skip class every day to game at internet cafes, getting chased around the whole grade by the discipline director with a feather duster.

And his buddy here was the complete opposite.

Good grades, handsome face—the school's heartthrob. Even if he had a cold face all day, everyone still praised how good-looking he was.

For the two of them to be friends, there had to be some common ground. He only seemed normal on the surface; when it came to real rebellion, he couldn't hold a candle to him.

Lu Mingzhe was a smooth talker—how else did he become the nation's second most beloved male idol?

He was hilarious and knew how to make people laugh, keeping Cheng Yuan in stitches.

The whole villa no longer felt so dead.

It wasn't a big laugh—just a slight curl of the lips, a faint smile.

But Pei Qingji could tell he was in a good mood now.

"I'm planning to direct a drama myself in a few years. If you're willing to come back to acting, would you consider it?"

He picked Cheng Yuan.

Not because he was his brother's husband.

But because his acting was excellent and he worked hard—he deserved it.

He'd found his notebook on set last time.

Even though his role was small, with barely any screen time, his notebook was filled with dense notes, showing how diligent and serious he was.

As for why he didn't judge based on what the internet said—it was because Lu Mingzhe had been through it himself, having been vilified and come out the other side.

Once you get famous, you're bound to attract jealousy. People will find every way to smear you, using all sorts of tricks.

Hiring internet trolls to steer the narrative is common, and clueless netizens get swept along.

Because he knew things weren't always what they seemed, he wouldn't just pass judgment.

Cheng Yuan's lashes fluttered.

"I..."

"It's fine. You don't have to answer right now. There's plenty of time. Think it over and come find me when you're ready."

Cheng Yuan nodded and gave a soft "mm."

Lu Mingzhe and Cheng Yuan got more and more into their conversation. He felt like he'd found a kindred spirit, almost wanting to talk until dawn.

Unfortunately, someone's stare was getting heavier and heavier. He didn't dare stick around, so he quickly made an excuse to leave.

Pei Qingji also stepped forward: "It's time to sleep, let's go upstairs and rest."

Cheng Yu'an ignored him, only giving him a cold glance, and the latter didn't dare to step any closer.

Lu Mingzhe laughed at the sight of his brother getting put in his place, but quickly suppressed it and returned to the main topic.

He rushed to say: "Xiaoyu, hey, it's already very late now. You go to sleep first, I've got to head back too. I'll come see you again when I have time."

Cheng Yu'an checked the time and saw that it was indeed quite late. He looked like he didn't want to go, but still nodded.

"I'm leaving now. Don't forget to eat the things I got you, okay? Though I know with him around, you've got plenty of those."

"Alright, goodbye, Mr. Lu."

After Mr. Lu left, the whole house went quiet again.

Cheng Yu'an spoke in his usual cold tone: "I'm tired, I'm heading upstairs first."

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd have thought he was imagining things when he smiled.

Pei Qingji cast his eyes down.

He could smile at anyone else, but with him, he wouldn't even say a word.

Author's note:

None