AM: Chapter 27

On the night of the 29th of the last month of the lunar year, Pei Shaoze returned to the Binjiang Villa. The property steward told him that there was a courier. He thought it was the down jacket sent by Cheng Xia and said, “Put it in the living room first.”

The property service in the villa area was very attentive. They helped him move the delivery box into his home. He was just about to open it when his phone rang. The caller ID was Qin Yu.

He answered the phone and heard a playful voice in his ear, “Shaoze, I heard you have recently become a workaholic. Is this real? I haven’t seen you at Lanyuan for so long. Do you really want to be a good boss?”

Lanyuan Club was the place that ‘Pei Shaoze’ used to go to. He and his friends would often drink there until midnight. After entering the book, Pei Shaoze changed his style and never went to Lanyuan Club again.

He wasn’t surprised by this call. It was natural that his changes would attract the attention of these people. Since he had replaced Pei Shaoze’s identity, he couldn’t completely cut off contact with his past friends. In addition, Qin Yu’s brother Qin Rong was the current president of Ronghua Movies and Television. He was in charge of more than half the movie theaters in the country. This would help Pei Shaoze enter the movie industry in the future.

Pei Shaoze put down the box cutter, took the phone and walked to the window. “Why are you looking for me?”

Qin Yu told him, “Before the new year, a few of us want to get together. This time, it is a dinner for my brother’s group. These are all old friends we grew up with so can you give me some face? I will tell you in advance that Lin Qianshu and Lu Xuan will be there. If you don’t want to see them and get hurt, I’ll help you reject it…”

Pei Shaoze wondered, “Why should I get hurt?”

Qin Yu choked up and muttered in a low voice, “This… last time you said you wanted to let go of Qianshu but you have loved him for so many years. How can it be easy to let go?”

If he didn’t say it, Pei Shaoze would’ve forgotten that there was Lin Qianshu in the original novel.

Pei Shaoze frowned unhappily. “Is it the Lanyuan Club? I’m going now.”

***

After a while, Pei Shaoze appeared at the Lanyuan Club in a black coat.

The doorman knew him and hurriedly took him to a private room in the building. It was just that today’s Pei Shaoze was completely different from the person who would smile every time he came to Lanyuan. Instead, he exuded a strangely… cold feeling all over his body? It was too cold to get close to.

Pei Shaoze opened the door and found four people sitting in the room who had the best relationship with him. They were Qin Rong, Qin Yu, the omega Lin Qianshu and his fiance and Pei Shaoze’s cousin, Lu Xuan.

Qin Yu saw him appear and immediately greeted him with a smile, “Shaoze is here?”

Lin Qianshu also stood up and spoke in a gentle voice. “Shaoze, long time no see. What have you recently been busy with?”

Pei Shaoze answered, “Busy with work.”

He bypassed Lin Qianshu and went to the corner, sitting next to Qin Rong who was also an alpha.

Qin Rong was the CEO of Ronghua Movies and Television and had a lot of weight in the circle. He didn’t come into contact with the artists of the entertainment industry but the movie arrangements of Ronghua Movie Theaters all across the country depended on him. Compared with the ignorant Pei Shaoze, he had taken over the Qin family business at a young age. He was three years older than Pei Shaoze and looked very mature and stable.

He saw Pei Shaoze sitting next to him and gave a meaningful smile. “Why? You really changed personalities? I haven’t seen you in awhile and the changes are so big I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Pei Shaoze calmly told him, “My father isn’t physically well. You know that if I don’t make progress, the Pei family will be ruined in my hands. I need a lot of care for future business matters so I will toast you first.”

He picked up a glass of white wine on the table and drank it all at once.

Qin Rong clapped his hands. “Okay, we grew up together. Just speak if you need help.”

Pei Shaoze didn’t directly talk about the school drama investment but based on Qin Rong’s words, he had someone to talk to if the crew’s funds were right. His gaze swept toward Lin Qianshu who met his eyes and smiled softly, seemingly a bit embarrassed. If this shy and timid look was received by the scumbag of the original novel, his soul would probably fly away.

Pei Shaoze was unmoved and called out casually, “Qianshu.”

Lin Qianshu hummed. Before he had time to speak, Pei Shaoze suddenly picked up a glass of wine and raised it to him. “We grew up together and I have always treated you as a friend. I used to be accustomed to doing things without a sense of measure which might’ve caused misunderstandings. Today, it is better to speak clearly in person.”

He glanced at Lu Xuan and calmly told him, “In fact, I have never liked Qianshu. It is just that Qianshu is the only omega among us so I took care of him a bit more. This caused you and Qianshu to misunderstand. It is my fault and I will punish myself with three cups.”

Lin Qianshu, “???”

Lin Qianshu saw Pei Shaoze calmly drink the glass of wine and his face suddenly paled. Pei Shaoze didn’t like him? Was he showering affection on an uninterested person?

Qin Yu to the side was stunned. Why be so cruel? Pei Shaoze wanted to punish himself with three cups to completely clear up the relationship?

Lu Xuan looked complicated. “You don’t need to do this.”

Pei Shaoze simply said, “I have someone I like and I don’t want him to misunderstand my relationship with Qianshu. Qianshu is already engaged to you and it is better to say things clearly. Otherwise, speculation can affect the relationship between brothers, don’t you think?”

Lu Xuan smiled. “Brother, since you said this, I naturally believe you.”

[Lu Xuan’s good impression of you +30.]

It was initially 30 points and it suddenly changed to 60. This was the passing line.

The two men touched their cups together and drank.

Pei Shaoze poured another glass of wine. “This wine is to wish the two of you to grow old together. Once you return to the country to get married, I will give you another gift. At that time, I’ll bring the person I like to your wedding.”

Pei Shaoze deliberately said ‘person I like’ to Lin Qianshu.

Lin Qianshu’s face was very ugly. No matter where he went before, Pei Shaoze’s eyes would follow him closely. He enjoyed the feeling of being noticed so even if he was engaged to Lu Xuan, his attitude toward Pei Shaoze was still very close…

Yet today, Pei Shaoze’s words were like a slap in the face.

Misunderstanding—everything was just a misunderstanding? What a joke. Was the scorching gaze that followed him in the past all fake? It was just because he was an omega that Pei Shaoze cared more about him? Pei Shaoze also said he had someone he liked? How could it be possible that the person Pei Shaoze liked wasn’t Lin Qianshu?

Lin Qianshu clenched his fists hard and couldn’t believe it.

Pei Shaoze looked at him. “Why? Are you refusing this glass of wine? Are you doubting my sincerity?”

The light in the room was very dim but at this moment, Lin Qianshu inexplicably saw a hint of cold sharpness in Pei Shaoze’s eyes. There was a cold gaze that seemed to see through all disguises and pierce directly into his heart.

Lin Qianshu’s heart shook at this look and he instinctively raised his glass of wine and touched it against the other person’s glass.

Pei Shaoze drank it all in one gulp and asked, “What are your plans after going abroad?”

Lu Xuan answered, “…I am going to study architecture. Once I get my doctorate, I will come back. Otherwise, the old man will say I’m not doing my job.”

The topics gradually opened up.

The group chatted in a lively manner. From beginning to end, Pei Shaoze never looked at Lin Qianshu.

The surrounding atmosphere was the same as before but Lin Qianshu felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar. He seemed to have become a joke in Pei Shaoze’s eyes! Lu Xuan wasn’t affectionate to him either. The alphas talked about business matters and he didn’t understand at all. He couldn’t insert a single word and sat there in an embarrassed manner.

The chat didn’t end until the early morning and Pei Shaoze had the driver send him back to the villa. He sat in the back in an expressionless manner.

Participating in this get together was just to solve Lin Qianshu’s troubles. After all, Lin Qianshu was a villain in the original novel. After getting together with Pei Shaoze in the later period, he caused trouble for Cheng Xia everywhere, causing Cheng Xia’s parents to die. The best way was to make Lin Qianshu give up as soon as possible.

He hoped that this omega would settle down a bit after going abroad. Otherwise, he didn’t mind using more ruthless methods. A hint of sharpness flashed in Pei Shaoze’s eyes.

It was already midnight when he got home. He went to drink without eating dinner and his stomach felt terribly uncomfortable.

Pei Shaoze was looking for food but found that the refrigerator was empty. He was picking up his phone with a frown to order takeout when he saw an unread message from Cheng Xia. [President Pei, the down jacket has been sent. I also sent you some homemade pastries as well. I don’t know what flavor you like so I made a lot. If you are interested, try them ^_^]

Pei Shaoze looked at the last smiling face and a bright, sunny smile flashed in his mind. He couldn’t help his heart warming.

He picked up the box cutter and opened the box. The down jacket was carefully wrapped and there was a large carton next to it. He opened it and found a tin box wrapped in several layers. Pei Shaoze cut the foam wrapper in two and took out the box.

It was a very delicate gift box. Once he opened it, he saw 16 baby fist-sized pastries lying inside.

Every pastry had its own color with delicate patterns on them. The bottom of the pastry had labels written such as ‘red bean paste’, ‘mung bean paste’, ‘sweet black sesame’, ‘salty white sesame’, ‘taro’, ‘purple sweet potato’, ‘fruity sweet orange’ etc.

It was so delicate and beautiful that people couldn’t bear to eat it.

Pei Shaoze, “……”

It was very attentive.

Pei Shaoze picked up the greeting card from the box and opened it. The New Year greeting card was written by Cheng Xia and it was simple: President Pei, thank you for your help and care during this time. I wish you a Happy New Year and that everything goes well! —Cheng Xia.

Every stroke was neat and orderly. Pei Shaoze smiled slightly as he put the card away. Then he picked up a pastry from the box and tasted it.

The soft pastry instantly melted in his mouth and the fragrant flavor flickered over his taste buds. It was simply a treat. Pei Shaoze usually didn’t like sweets but Cheng Xia’s pastries weren’t too sweet. The taste was just right.

This was the best tasting and best looking pastry Pei Shaoze had ever eaten. He ate several in a row, each with a different flavor. It could be seen how much effort Cheng Xia put into making these. His empty stomach gradually filled and his heart became warmer.

Pei Shaoze picked up his phone and sent a message to Cheng Xia. [Are you sleeping?]

It was past midnight and he thought Cheng Xia would be sleeping. He didn’t expect to get a reply in seconds. [I haven’t slept. President Pei, you aren’t resting yet?]

[I just came home after a meal and received everything you sent.] Pei Shaoze paused before typing out another line. [The pastries were delicious. Thank you.]

Cheng Xia’s uneasy mood became happy and he quickly typed back, [President Pei, don’t be polite. If you like to eat it then I will make you more in the future! I will make it in other flavors for you to try at that time!]

Pei Shaoze smiled slightly and replied, [Okay.]

Pei Shaoze had been in a bad mood when he went to see those childhood friends today. In particular, when he faced an omega like Lin Qianshu, he almost wrote the word ‘impatient’ on his forehead.

However, Cheng Xia’s pastries cured him of his bad mood. The young man’s hand-made things were delicious and the card he wrote was very attentive.

Pei Shaoze went to the window, looking out at the dark night sky as he whispered in his heart, ‘Cheng Xia, you are so good. It is worth all my efforts to protect you.’

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Proofreader: Cat