996 sensed that the atmosphere had grown a bit delicate.
Deep into the night, two guys alone together.
And right now, they were still extremely close…
996 sharply drew in a breath.
Sure, it had prompted the host to “seduce,” but honestly, just a little teasing would do! The goal wasn’t actual seduction anyway—after all, the host was still just a kid!
But just as 996 was about to chime in with a reminder, Pei Yan took a deep breath and straightened up.
In the next second, however, Pei Yan reached out and pinched Shen Ju’s cheeks.
The grip wasn’t hard, but Shen Ju’s eyes widened round.
His lips puffed out slightly from the pressure on his cheeks. He looked utterly confused but didn’t struggle. Instead, he called out doubtfully, “Pei-ge,” as if he had no clue what Pei Yan was up to.
“Not a light touch at all, Shen Chirp.”
Pei Yan murmured lowly, his palm shifting to jiggle Shen Ju’s cheeks.
Almost reproachfully, he added, “Why didn’t you pull harder?”
Shen Ju’s fingers, which had grabbed him earlier, curled up awkwardly. “Sorry, Pei-ge…”
“Sorry’s enough?”
“Huh?”
“I even said I’d invite you to our company’s annual gala.”
“Then I…”
Shen Ju stammered, “Then wh-what do I do?”
As he spoke, his lips stayed puffed out.
They opened and closed against Pei Yan’s palm like a clamshell, the pale pink flesh revealing two front teeth inside. Occasionally, the little canines hidden beside them peeked out.
So pretty.
Pei Yan thought faintly, wanting to slip his fingers inside.
Maybe those front teeth would bite down on his finger.
But his fingers would brush the kid’s tongue tip, and when the other tried to pull away, he could press down—maybe slide in another finger, trapping it with two so there was no escape.
Pei Yan’s throat bobbed.
He inwardly cursed the System’s damn task again.
Restraint.
“Throw a little tantrum,” Pei Yan said calmly. “Isn’t that how you apologize?”
Is it?
Shen Ju wondered, a bit skeptical.
But he was always obedient around Pei Yan, so hesitantly, he lifted both hands. They cupped the hand pinching his face, and he tilted his head to nuzzle his cheek softly against it.
“Pei-ge, sorry. I won’t pull so hard next time.”
“I-I’m just really strong. I’ll control my strength better next time.”
Too obedient.
Pei Yan felt like he was torturing himself.
Restraint.
Silently repeating the word, Pei Yan pulled his hand back with effort. “We probably can’t go over the problems tonight. Head back first.”
Huh?
Shen Ju scratched his chin, thinking, Is screening the gala program really that tough?
Fine then.
But had that counted as acting spoiled? Had he passed?
After Shen Ju scratched Little Stone’s chin and waved goodbye with both paws in tow, Pei Yan headed back to his room and into the bathroom.
The sound of rushing water drowned out a lot.
Meanwhile.
The whole Guan Family was still gathered in the living room.
Back at the ski resort, Guan Mulin had told everyone about 996’s “new task” for Shen Ju.
He had to.
They needed to keep tabs on Shen Ju’s progress.
Once he finished explaining, Guan Muya immediately said he wanted to head over.
Qin Soxi kept pressing for details.
Even Guan Lifeng and Guan Jianshan had a ton of questions.
Everyone’s reactions were pretty intense.
Of course, that was normal.
Guan Mulin’s own reaction hadn’t been small—he’d just been holding it in.
But showing up wasn’t feasible.
They couldn’t expose themselves.
Pei Yan had no idea what was going on, after all.
Guan Mulin could only calm the family down first, promising to keep them updated.
Then Shen Ju had to keep up the tutoring sessions at Pei Yan’s, even staying late tonight—that made the Guan Family even more restless.
Guan Mulin couldn’t stick around there anymore, and they couldn’t go over either, so they waited at home for Shen Ju to return.
“Dragging Pei Yan into this…”
Guan Muya had thought it was a bad idea from the moment he heard about Shen Ju’s new task.
Never mind Pei Yan’s status—the guy was so much older than Shen Ju, and a man to boot. That alone made it unacceptable.
Seduce him? More like throwing himself into the fire.
Now, slouched on the sofa with arms crossed, Guan Muya’s face was grim. “Pei Yan doesn’t know the situation. What if he actually misunderstands something?”
“It probably won’t happen.”
Qin Soxi spoke up while applying a face mask. “Of course I know our baby is super cute, but he’s still just a kid. And didn’t Mulin say the boy has no clue how to seduce anyone? He seems so silly—how could the Pei kid misunderstand? Besides, they’ve known each other for a while now. Maybe Pei Yan just thinks the baby’s being affectionate.”
And there’d been no rumors about that Pei guy liking boys.
Guan Lifeng glanced at Qin Soxi. “Then why don’t you go back to your room to do that face mask, honey?”
Qin Soxi: “…”
She kicked at him. “Then shut up!”
Wasn’t I analyzing this logically?!
Still, worry was worry.
Sure, Shen Chirp was a total little dimwit, but as a mom, she naturally saw her kid as perfect no matter what.
But silly kids were bound to get bullied.
Qin Soxi grew more hesitant the more she thought.
Her hands slowed while massaging in the essential oil.
Even she sometimes wanted to pinch her kid’s cheeks when she was bored. If the child leaned in first, who could really hold back?
But the Pei kid probably wouldn’t go that far.
Just then, Shen Ju suddenly returned.
The Guan Family all whipped their heads around in unison.
Shen Ju’s steps faltered.
Qin Soxi, her face masked in a “big black sheet,” asked, “Baby, why’re you back so soon?”
She paused, then added, “Did Pei-sensei give up on you ’cause you just couldn’t get it?”
“No way.”
Shen Ju glanced at Guan Mulin and said deliberately, “Pei-ge even invited me to the annual gala. He just had too much on his plate tonight to tutor me.”
Guan Mulin thought, Then why keep you there?
But…
“Invited you to the gala?”
“Yeah, jealous?”
“Totally, I wanna go too.”
As Guan Mulin spoke, he exchanged looks with the others—now everyone was suspicious.
Why mention it only when alone with Shen Ju?
And only invite him?
Not a word to them.
Maybe coincidence.
But…
“I’ll talk to Haochuan. He can bring me.”
Guan Mulin gritted his teeth, figuring he’d rope in Pei Haochuan. No way was he asking Pei Yan directly to let him crash the company gala.
As for how Pei Haochuan would swing getting into his uncle’s company gala…
Pei Yan was Pei Haochuan’s little uncle, after all.
Wanting to attend the gala at his uncle’s company seemed reasonable…
Pei Haochuan: [So why do you suddenly wanna go to my little uncle’s company gala? ]
That night, lying in bed, Guan Mulin texted Pei Haochuan—and got “questioned” right away.
Guan Mulin thought, Can’t exactly say it’s to watch over Shen Ju.
[Shen Ju gets to go, so I wanna too.]
After sending that, Guan Mulin watched the “typing…” bubble from Pei Haochuan persist without a message.
Guan Mulin: ?
Losing patience, he straight-up asked what Pei Haochuan was trying to say.
A few seconds later, Pei Haochuan finally replied…
[I think you’re paying too much attention to Shen Ju.]
Next one.
[We used to be the closest.]
Guan Mulin: …Nuts.
[You’re overthinking.]
After firing that off, Guan Mulin tossed his phone aside, shut his eyes! Sleep!
But eyes closed, he reconsidered—after all, he was asking for a favor. That reply felt off, so he grabbed the phone again: [We’re still best friends, of course.]
Seconds later, Pei Haochuan sent a smiley.
Guan Mulin relaxed.
Meanwhile.
996 watched the Task Energy Bar climb to 49%!
Woo-hoo, haha.
Finally past halfway!
996 was thrilled to tell Shen Ju, but he was already asleep.
Fine, tomorrow worked too.
Oh right—once the Task Energy Bar hit over half, there’d be new instructions.
Wonder what they’d be.
996 fiddled with its little tuft. Better wait for the new instructions before telling the host.
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