Want a hug?
Of course.
Almost the instant Shen Ju opened his arms, Pei Yan leaned down.
He pulled Shen Ju tightly into his embrace, burying his face in the crook of Shen Ju’s neck and shoulder, taking a deep breath.
He felt the person in his arms tremble lightly.
Pei Yan’s lips curved up as he rubbed his nose tip gently against Shen Ju again.
Of course, there was some feigned vulnerability in it.
But his bad mood was real too.
Though after discovering the sneaky little eavesdropper was Shen Ju, his mood had already eased.
This kid has some kind of magic, Pei Yan thought. He can always settle my heart.
But so the weirdness these past few days was because of a dream, huh.
Pei Yan wasn’t sure what his mood was now.
He held Shen Ju tight, wanting to say something but reluctant to break the moment.
Afraid it’ll ruin this atmosphere.
And it’s not the right time yet.
At that thought, Pei Yan’s gaze darkened for a split second.
He reached out, pinched the back of Shen Ju’s neck, and stood up. “Alright, I’m feeling much better.”
“Let’s head in and watch the show. Isn’t tonight’s program the one you’ve been looking forward to?”
Shen Ju nodded and murmured an “mm.”
Pei Yan patted his back again, escorting him back to his seat before turning to his own.
From Shen Ju’s angle, he could only see Pei Yan’s back.
He thought about the hug—it had lasted less than half a minute.
Pei Yan had let go just like that.
The embrace had come and gone in a flash.
Could that really be enough to comfort him?
Or was it because I opened my arms first, and Ge couldn’t bring himself to refuse, so he just gave a token hug?
Or maybe my “distance” these past few days made Ge hesitant?
Shen Ju shook his head. What am I even overthinking?
Maybe I should find time to talk to Ge properly.
But he hadn’t found the right moment.
After the annual gala ended, Chinese New Year was right around the corner—only a few days left.
Their tutoring sessions stopped, and both Pei Yan and Pei Haochuan returned to the Pei Family.
Shen Ju stayed at the Guan Family but didn’t idle.
This was his first New Year at the Guan Family, and it felt completely different from before.
Not to mention anything else—just these past few days, he’d met more people than in the previous several months combined.
They were all early visitors coming to pay New Year’s respects at the Guan Family: business partners, acquaintances, close subordinates, and more.
And this was after “screening.”
Yet there were still so many.
Guan Lifeng, Qin Soxi, and even Guan Muya introduced some to him. Even a quick meet-and-greet kept Shen Ju plenty busy.
By the time he realized it, New Year’s Eve had arrived.
Thankfully, no outsiders came that day.
They returned to He Yuan.
To stay up for the night there.
Guan Jianshan, being older, ate the reunion dinner, handed out thick red envelopes to everyone, and retired to his room.
The 120-inch TV in the living room blared the Spring Festival Gala.
Everyone except the already-resting Guan Jianshan lounged on the sofas.
After Shen Ju finished sending New Year’s greetings to Jian Yi and the others on his phone, he glanced around. This feels just like my old New Years—whole family watching the Gala together to stay up.
Family…
Shen Ju couldn’t help swinging his feet.
Maybe because everyone was on holiday for New Year, even 996 had been unusually quiet these past few days, giving a rare sense of leisure.
Ding-dong.
His phone chimed.
Shen Ju and Guan Mulin both looked down at the same time.
When tutoring ended, Han Chengfeng had pulled them into a small group chat.
Probably figuring they’d bonded through classes—like revolutionary comrades—so he made the group to “elevate” their friendship, even dragging Jian Yi in.
But definitely not Pei Yan.
Who’d add the “teacher” to a student group?
So now it was perfect for Pei Haochuan to vent in the chat.
Pei Haochuan said the reunion dinner was worse than tutoring—he’d rather be in class right now.
With everyone idle, Han Chengfeng popped up first: [What’s up, your family’s dinner that bad?]
Ke Sheng: [Nah, what time is it? Almost midnight, and you’re still eating?]
Han Chengfeng: [Over half an hour till midnight, dude.]
Ke Sheng: [Is that the point…?]
Guan Mulin: [@Pei Haochuan So what’s wrong?]
Pei Haochuan replied instantly with a helpless emoji, then: [Dad and Little Uncle are bickering—not full-on fighting, just trading barbs. Atmosphere sucks, Grandpa’s pissed too. Stuck in the middle, can’t say a word, barely ate, don’t dare leave. Sending this sneakily.]
The long rant showed Pei Haochuan’s utter exasperation and breakdown.
The group went silent.
Shen Ju frowned, suddenly remembering today was family reunion day—but also the anniversary of Pei Yan’s mother’s death.
No matter what, Ge’s heart can’t feel good.
Thinking of how they hadn’t really talked these days, Shen Ju pursed his lips, hesitating.
A few seconds later, he tapped Pei Yan’s avatar.
He sent a tentative toe-dip emoji first.
Buzz.
Pei Yan’s phone vibrated.
He’d set vibrations for only one person; everyone else was silenced.
So without looking, Pei Yan knew who it was.
But he picked up the phone anyway.
Pei Kangnian glanced over from across the way.
Pei Tai had just gone upstairs. Now the living room held only Pei Yan, Pei Kangnian, and Pei Haochuan—who thought he was sneakily playing on his phone.
Pei Haochuan looked seventy percent like Pei Kangnian. At over forty, Pei Kangnian appeared midthirties—youthful—but his stern, unsmiling face aged him. His glance at Pei Yan felt like a dean catching a student, tensing the recently eased atmosphere. Even Pei Haochuan lightened his phone taps.
But Pei Yan didn’t even look up. “Big Bro won’t micromanage playing on the phone too, will he?”
Pei Kangnian: “Just curious who messages you now.”
“Friends, colleagues, subordinates. Plenty.”
“Worth an instant reply?”
“Or what.”
Pei Yan looked up. “Does Big Bro think it’s my sweetheart?”
Pei Haochuan nearly choked. Sweetheart? Little Uncle has a sweetheart?
“Big Bro should mind his own business.”
Pei Yan pocketed his phone and stood, glancing at Pei Haochuan. “Four guys in the family, no woman of the house.”
The long-divorced Pei Kangnian frowned. “Where you off to? Dad said stay up.”
“Stay if you want.”
Pei Yan shrugged, meeting Pei Kangnian’s eyes. “Isn’t my coming back enough?”
Pei Kangnian fell silent.
As Pei Yan turned to leave, he looked at Pei Haochuan and frowned again. “What’s with that look?”
“Huh?”
“What look?”
Pei Haochuan touched his face, chuckling nervously. “Just thinking about visiting Mom tomorrow for New Year, haha.”
The next second, Pei Kangnian stood too.
“Dad, where you going?”
“You stay up alone.” Pei Kangnian turned and left.
Pei Haochuan: “…”
Did I say something wrong?
Fine, no woman of the house really doesn’t work.
But nothing to be done.
Pei Yan didn’t go to his room—he headed straight to the rooftop balcony.
His phone was still open to the chat with Shen Ju.
Shen Ju asked if he was free, if they could talk.
Pei Yan replied: [Video call’s fine right now.]
Seconds later, Shen Ju: [Ge, wait for me!]
Pei Yan raised a brow, chuckling softly.
He knew it.
So Shen Ju would likely send a voice or video.
But the kid’s with family now, right? “Wait” means sneaking off?
Exactly.
Shen Ju pocketed his phone briefly, glancing at the others.
Guan Mulin seemed to be private-chatting Pei Haochuan. Qin Soxi had a face mask on, not watching TV, leaning on Guan Lifeng while doing a hand mask. Guan Muya scrolled a tablet, handling work.
Cough.
Shen Ju inexplicably felt guilty.
He stood lightly, trying not to draw eyes.
But the moment he moved, gazes shot over.
“…”
Uh.
“Baby, where you off to?” Qin Soxi asked, her face a white mask.
“Uh, I…”
Shen Ju scratched his chin. “Just stepping out for a stroll.”
“A stroll?”
Guan Muya looked up. “It’s freezing outside.”
“I’ll bundle up.”
Shen Ju straightened. “I’m going out.”
He slipped on his slippers and strolled off.
Qin Soxi and the others exchanged looks.
Something’s off.
Fishy.
What’s he up to?
“Ah-Lin, you know?”
“Huh? What?”
Guan Mulin looked up blankly.
“What’s up?”
Hiss, him too.
Qin Soxi ditched her hand mask. “Who you chatting with?”
“Uh.”
Guan Mulin felt oddly guilty. “No one, just New Year’s stuff.”
Actually, Pei Haochuan was staying up alone, bored, and kept pestering him—so Guan Mulin had to reply.
“Mom, Dad, Big Bro, I’m heading upstairs.”
Guan Mulin grabbed his phone and left.
Three left.
Qin Soxi leaned on Guan Lifeng, glancing at Guan Muya.
Guan Muya: “…”
“Sigh.”
Qin Soxi sighed. “Eldest, oh eldest.”
What?
Guan Muya was baffled. What’s going on?
Shen Ju bundled up and headed outside.
He Yuan was spacious, lights on—not dark at all.
He didn’t feel cold.
Strolling, he video-called Pei Yan.
It connected quickly.
Like Pei Yan had been waiting.
Seeing Pei Yan’s face on the screen, Shen Ju paused, suddenly shy, murmuring, “Ge.”
“Ge, you outside too?”
Pei Yan “mm”ed and flipped the camera. “Rooftop balcony.”
“Ah, isn’t that cold?”
“Waiting for fireworks—best view here.”
Pei Yan said softly, “This way, you’ll see clear too.”
“Then… I’ll find a good spot.”
Shen Ju tucked his face into his down jacket collar, grinning. “He Yuan can see them too—Mom mentioned earlier.”
“Wonder if we’ll see the same ones.”
Pei Yan smiled. “We’ll compare later.”
“Yep, sounds good.”
Unknowingly, Shen Ju reached the corridor.
Excited by a thought, he flipped his camera too.
“Ge! Look!”
Pei Yan saw.
The spot where they’d fallen in the water before.
Shen Ju even angled down.
Really…
Pei Yan chuckled helplessly. “Got it. Where you pulled me in.”
“Uh.”
Shen Ju flipped back, rubbing his nose sheepishly. “But I pulled you out too.”
“Yeah, in front of everyone—first time a little guy hugged me.”
Pei Yan paused, now oddly glad remembering it. “Good thing it wasn’t a princess carry.”
That’d be unforgettable for life.
This life, I won’t forget Shen Ju anyway.
Actually, I could princess-carry.
Shen Ju thought silently.
But didn’t say it.
He turned, sat on the corridor steps, swinging his feet. “Ge, you alone now?”
“Nope.”
Pei Yan arched a brow. “Don’t I have you?”
Shen Ju laughed. Yeah, yeah—me too.
He’d had so much to say to Pei Yan before.
To comfort him, tell him if he was unhappy, he could talk to him.
But on video, words failed.
Looking at Pei Yan, he probably doesn’t need it.
Afraid my comfort comes off pushy, like I’m nosy.
Worried he’ll think I have no sense of boundaries.
In short, there seemed to be so many factors making him hesitate and waver that Shen Ju couldn’t bring himself to say anything easily right now.
The atmosphere quieted down for a moment.
It felt a bit awkward.
Shen Ju racked his brain for a topic and wanted to go over what happened before again.
To say that he hadn’t deliberately distanced himself from Pei Yan.
He was just embarrassed.
Because the moment he saw Pei Yan, he’d think of that dream, and it would feel off.
He respected and liked Pei Yan so much that he needed some time to sort himself out.
But he absolutely didn’t want to keep pulling away from Pei Yan forever.
Shen Ju gathered his thoughts and was just about to speak—
But Pei Yan beat him to it. “You came to chat with me today because you’re worried about me?”
Shen Ju paused. “So, Pei-ge, are you feeling better now?”
Pei Yan: “My mood wasn’t great before talking to you.”
Does that mean it got better after talking to me?
Shen Ju buried his face deeper into the collar of his down jacket, resisting the urge to pull the hood over his head.
Big bro had said it was cold outside.
Not cold at all.
I’m hot.
“It’s not just because of that, actually.”
Shen Ju gathered his courage and blurted it all out. “I also wanted to apologize to you properly again. I feel like I didn’t perform well at the annual gala, and afterward, I didn’t get to talk with you properly either. I don’t want you to misunderstand me, and I don’t want our relationship to really drift apart. I really like being with you, Pei-ge. I like talking and chatting with you. And I hope… I hope you’re happy. I hope you don’t feel sad…”
“Is what I said kind of all jumbled up?” Shen Ju laughed awkwardly.
But Pei Yan’s heart pounded fiercely.
He stared at the person on the screen, thinking, Damn it, why does it have to be through a screen right now?
And then, Thank god.
Thank god it’s through a screen.
Otherwise, whether the other wanted it or not, he’d yank him over and kiss that mouth right then and there.
Why is he so obedient?
