Shen Ju was a bit dazed.
Pei Yan’s words echoed back and forth in his mind several times before he finally pieced together what they meant.
Pei Yan liked him?
Pei Yan called him baby?
Pei Yan had kissed him…
He still couldn’t quite believe it.
Pei Yan chuckled and kissed the tears at the corner of Shen Ju’s eye. “Still cursing me out?”
Shen Ju pressed his lips together.
“996’s been locked in the little black room. Not sure if tasks are still evaluating normally, but they probably are. This scene, this spot—it’s pretty perfect for pushing your task progress, anyway.”
“So I have to say the opposite, then?”
“The opposite…”
Pei Yan’s smile faded as he spoke seriously. “Shen Chirp, I didn’t fall for you ages ago. I’ve never thought you were cute. I wouldn’t go out of my way to keep you by my side. When I said I wanted to get engaged, that wasn’t sincere. I don’t want to watch you every second of the day. I don’t want to be the only one in your eyes. And of course, I don’t care if you like me or not.”
Shen Ju’s face flushed red as he listened, his toes curling up tight.
Everything Pei Yan said, flipped around, meant…
He’d liked him for a long time.
He thought he was cute.
He wanted to go all out to keep him close.
The engagement talk was real!
He thought about him all the time.
He wanted to be the only one in his eyes.
And…
Shen Ju’s whole body burned crimson.
But after those words, he didn’t hesitate—not even a little. He grabbed Pei Yan’s wrist with urgent need. “Pei-ge, I… I like you too.”
Pei Yan opened his mouth to respond.
But Shen Ju shook his head frantically. “No, no, no…”
“Pei-ge, I don’t like you!”
“I don’t like you at all!”
Pei Yan: “…”
He nearly choked on his breath.
That’s not how you say the opposite.
Silly little fool.
Pei Yan murmured softly, “Mm, I believe you. You don’t like me one bit—you’re practically shoving my hand away.”
“!!”
“Does that mean I can help you now, all above board?”
Shen Ju couldn’t get a word out.
He didn’t need to, anyway.
Pei Yan phrased it like a gentlemanly question, but his posture was dominant. He pinned Shen Ju in his arms, allowing no room for movement. Taking advantage of Shen Ju’s limp limbs—he could only cling to him—Pei Yan lifted Shen Ju’s legs like a baby, draping them over his other thigh. Shen Ju nestled in his lap, toes barely brushing the ground.
Emotions gave way to raw sensation once more.
Shen Ju couldn’t focus on anything else. He just gripped Pei Yan’s hand, lost in the stimulation Pei Yan brought him.
Gradually, even his fingers went weak.
It wasn’t until after the second release that Shen Ju came back to himself a little.
He looked down at Pei Yan’s hand—those long, elegant fingers slick with his mess. It felt filthy and obscene.
“You disgusted by your own stuff?”
Pei Yan teased in a low voice, pretending to smear it on Shen Ju’s face.
Shen Ju flinched and buried his face in Pei Yan’s neck. He heard Pei Yan’s muffled laugh, felt the vibration rumbling through his chest.
Lower down, something else was impossible to ignore.
The slightest shift made its presence undeniable.
Shen Ju blinked and sneaked a glance at Pei Yan.
Pei Yan looked way more disheveled than him.
His clothes were soaked through, stained with Shen Ju’s release—and down at his thigh, the bulge was worlds away from its usual state.
Shen Ju felt embarrassed but wiggled his fingers anyway.
As if reading his mind—or anticipating his move—Pei Yan reached over with his freshly rinsed hand and gripped Shen Ju’s wrist.
A clear signal to stop.
Shen Ju blinked. “Pei-ge?”
Doesn’t Pei-ge need it?
Pei Yan sighed. “If you actually got handsy, we wouldn’t stop anytime soon.”
“I don’t wrap up in a few minutes.”
“…”
Shen Ju flushed with shame and irritation. How had he never noticed Pei-ge loved teasing him this much?!
It was true, but… but…
“It’s the drug!”
No strength in his body, but his voice was loud.
He was clearly desperate.
Deep down, he wasn’t convinced. How long could Pei-ge really hold out?
“Don’t worry. You’ll get your turn to test that.”
Pei Yan pinched his chin. “Tired? Let me rinse you off. Get some good sleep.”
He was tired.
His body felt utterly drained.
His mind was foggy too.
Probably the drug and the alcohol.
Shouldn’t have drunk so much earlier.
Wait, it wasn’t that much.
But neither he nor Guan Mulin could hold their liquor.
Thinking of Guan Mulin, Shen Ju blinked. Wonder how his second brother was doing. The Task Energy Bar had filled up a ton.
Heh heh.
Pei Yan watched Shen Ju zone out, lost in who-knows-what thoughts. He felt helpless and amused.
What a treasure.
If not for worrying about Shen Ju’s condition…
Pei Yan lowered his gaze, rinsed Shen Ju’s body, dried him off, wrapped him in a bath towel, and carried him out of the bathroom.
Shen Ju was drowsy by now.
His eyes barely stayed open, body heavy with exhaustion.
Pei Yan laid him on the bed, tugged away the towel, and tucked him in—full service, down to the last detail.
“Sleep.”
He kissed Shen Ju’s forehead.
“You’ll see me when you wake up.”
Only then did Shen Ju release his grip on Pei Yan’s pinky. He couldn’t hold on anymore and instantly plunged into sweet, dreamless sleep.
Once he was out, Pei Yan sent a text, then ducked into the bathroom to clean himself up.
When he emerged, he opened the door to find a tray waiting outside—with fresh clothes for both him and Shen Ju.
Pei Yan dressed, then headed back to the earlier room.
Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng had the situation sorted.
They briefed Pei Yan as he arrived.
“Fuck, Wei Tianxi knew our party’s spot ahead of time. He got here early, bribed the security guy in the surveillance room, and shut down the hallway cams for twenty minutes. Even if they check later, it’ll be overwritten with old footage. The punk he brought in is a loan shark thug—does this shit all the time. No idea where Wei Tianxi dug him up…”
Han Chengfeng ranted, pissed as hell. He’d booked the bar and rooms early to let both classes party hard—not to make it easy for Wei Tianxi to pull this crap!
This hit Han Chengfeng’s sore spot hard!
Ke Sheng was furious too. “The security guard’s under control at the bar manager’s office.”
The bar owner had shown up too.
This wasn’t small potatoes—not with Pei Yan and the others’ status. No way it’d blow over easy.
Good thing the main culprits weren’t their people. The owner pledged full cooperation and hinted they’d turn a blind eye to any “private handling” by Han Chengfeng, Ke Sheng, and crew.
Soon enough, Pei Haochuan showed up too—not just Pei Yan.
The brothers exchanged a look, noting each other’s fresh clothes.
“…”
Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng had clocked it earlier but played dumb.
Pei Haochuan, ever hot-headed, got the rundown and stormed up to Wei Tianxi, landing a kick right where it’d hurt like hell but leave no visible mark.
Wei Tianxi retched on impact.
He woke up.
Eyes focusing on the group towering over him, his face drained of color.
“You…”
Han Chengfeng crouched and slapped Wei Tianxi’s cheek. “What, your brain get kicked by a donkey or something?”
“You fucking drugged them?! Planned to snap pics with your goon? What the hell? What did Shen Ju and Guan Mulin ever do to you? You lost your damn mind?!”
“I-I…”
Wei Tianxi’s lips quivered, but he couldn’t spit out another word.
Ke Sheng tsked. “Why waste breath? Search him for more of that drug. Or check the other guy. Feed it to ’em.”
Han Chengfeng stood with a dark grin. “Yeah. Lock the door and…”
“No!!”
Wei Tianxi’s face twisted further as he yelled. “You can’t do this to me…”
Pei Haochuan, fed up, grabbed Wei Tianxi’s collar and hauled him up. “Then you could do it to Shen Ju and Mulin?!”
Wei Tianxi’s face contorted in terror, blurting without thinking. “I just wanted to humiliate them… They got no blood ties anyway! Guan Mulin’s a fake young master, Shen Ju grew up poor—they’re not from our world. Why do they get to hang with you guys?!”
Pei Haochuan felt dirty even through the fabric and flung him back to the floor.
Han Chengfeng sneered. “Bottom line: you’re jealous of Shen Ju and Guan Mulin. Can’t stand seeing them thrive. Like they’d slum it with you instead?”
Wei Tianxi flushed beet red, stammering again.
Finally, he snapped. “Fine, I’m not worthy! I’m jealous as hell! Hate seeing them or Jian Yi do well! Shen Ju and Guan Mulin pretend to get along, right?! Ruin them, and watch your little crew fall apart! Yeah, I wanted to see you all crash and burn!”
“Too bad the dose wasn’t strong enough—Shen Ju snapped out of it! Should’ve doubled it, filmed their pathetic meltdown!!”
By the end, Wei Tianxi was practically screaming, face purple, neck veins bulging—utterly repulsive.
Ke Sheng tsked and pointed to the table. “Too bad for you. No chance now. But we got your pathetic ass on camera.”
It was Wei Tianxi’s own cam.
Realizing, Wei Tianxi’s eyes bulged. He lunged for the table, but Pei Haochuan blocked him.
Pei Yan, who’d stayed silent and hands-off till now, finally spoke. “Save explanations for the cops. I’ll call your parents too.”
“No…”
Wei Tianxi went paler than before.
Not Wei Jing—anyone but her!
“Want that video kept quiet? Make a public self-criticism when school starts. And withdraw.”
No need for an apology to Shen Ju or Guan Mulin in person.
He wouldn’t let Wei Tianxi near Shen Ju again.
But a full-school assembly confession? Perfect.
“No…”
Wei Tianxi tried to protest.
Pei Yan stared blankly. “You’ll be glad you dropped out.”
Pei Haochuan scoffed. “Wei Tianxi, you think drugging them means the Guan Family lets it slide just ’cause we might?”
“And your mom? Might regret popping out a barbecued pork son like you. If the Wei Family tanks, guess who’s the culprit.”
Wei Tianxi wasn’t stupid. He caught the implication.
Terror hit like a truck—unbelievable.
Why?!
Why go this far for Shen Ju and Guan Mulin over some drugs?!
And the Guan Family…
His scalp prickled, cold sweat pouring down his back.
Regret exploded from deep inside.
He regretted it.
Shouldn’t have acted on impulse…
What the hell was I thinking—like I was possessed?!
He shouldn’t have messed with these people!
Picturing the fallout, how his mom would look at him, Wei Tianxi opened his mouth to beg…
But when he lifted his head and met Pei Yan’s gaze, he couldn’t utter a single word in that instant.
“Begging won’t work. Cooperation will.”
Pei Yan said coldly, “The demands I’ve laid out are already the most lenient outcome for you.”
With that, he lowered his head slightly, staring into Wei Tianxi’s eyes. “So, you should learn to cherish it, got it?”
The next day.
As Shen Ju lay there with his eyes closed, his consciousness gradually cleared, he felt something brushing against his face.
It traced from his eyebrows to his eyelids.
From his eyelids to the bridge of his nose.
Then it slid down from the bridge of his nose, landing on his lips.
Good thing my high-bridged nose is so perfect—must feel like a slide, Shen Ju thought subconsciously.
Suddenly, a low chuckle sounded.
Who the hell…
The thought had barely crossed his mind when the memories of last night flooded back crystal clear.
“!!!”
Truth be told, being fully sober now was a whole different story from last night.
Yesterday, he’d been drinking and drugged—his brain could still function somewhat, but every action, sensation, and perception was undoubtedly influenced.
In plain terms?
His skin had been thick, and his standards rock-bottom…
But now, the alcohol and drugs had metabolized out of his system.
He was truly…
Ahhhhhh!
Shen Ju didn’t even open his eyes before he dove straight under the covers.
A few seconds later, Pei Yan’s voice drifted in from outside the blanket, tinged with lingering resentment:
“What’s this? Had your fun and now that you’re sober, you’re not owning up to it?”
Pa!
Shen Ju yanked the covers off in one go, exclaiming in disbelief: “Who had their fun and then denied it?!”
