Chapter 42

Cheng Shao clearly sensed that something was wrong and stepped forward to grab Pei Yan's arm. "What exactly is going on with you—"

Before he could finish, Cheng Yu cut him off. "Maybe that depends on what you do."

Pei Yan's eyes lit up as he stared fixedly at Cheng Yu. "What do you mean?"

Cheng Yu had no idea what had provoked Pei Yan. Still, considering that Pei Zhennan was about to help him deal with Zhao Jinchui, Cheng Yu was happy to clear up Pei Yan's confusion. "As long as the Pei Family doesn't make a move against C&C Jewelry, I won't retaliate."

The entire world considered Cheng Yu a highly aggressive and dangerous person. Yet Cheng Yu himself had always thought he was harmless. He had never taken his anger out on innocent people. Every target of his carefully planned revenge was someone he found displeasing or who had made him unhappy. Although his standards for selecting prey might have been somewhat subjective and covered an especially broad range, no one could say Cheng Yu was a man without principles.

On the contrary, Cheng Yu had always believed he was exceptionally principled.

Hearing Cheng Yu's explanation, Pei Yan could not stop his heart from blooming with joy, even though it was still only an empty promise. "I definitely won't hurt you. I swear."

Looking at Pei Yan's foolish expression, Cheng Yu suddenly frowned and impatiently remarked, "You're so childish."

In business confrontations, how could anything be certain? Today, everyone might stand in the same trench as allies, yet tomorrow they could turn against one another over another slice of cake. Besides, people's hearts changed easily. Who could know what would happen tomorrow?

For example, Pei Zhennan would never ask such a childish question.

As Cheng Yu thought this, he suddenly felt that seriously answering Pei Yan's question had been childish too. What a bore.

Pei Yan grinned foolishly. Not daring to put an arm around Cheng Yu, he simply hooked an arm over Cheng Shao's shoulder and excitedly punched him twice. The honest man looked utterly bewildered, then was dragged into the basketball court by Pei Yan while still utterly bewildered.

"Let's play basketball."

Cheng Yu shook his head with a look of disgust. He did not like strenuous exercise after meals, especially something like basketball, which involved a lot of physical contact.

Pei Yan did not care. He dragged Cheng Shao into a one-on-one game. Young and full of energy and stamina, he overwhelmed Cheng Shao with brutal dunks, layups, close-range shots, long-range shots, three-pointers, and feints. His agile figure racing across the court was like an unleashed husky, and Cheng Shao simply could not handle him.

Unfortunately, Cheng Yu was hopelessly absorbed in his phone and could not even be bothered to spare them half a glance.

"That's enough already!" Cheng Shao panted as he called for a stop. "We've been childhood friends since we were little. What's with you using me as a prop to show off?"

Pei Yan chuckled and slung an arm over Cheng Shao's shoulder. "After school starts, I'll fetch your water and meals every day."

Cheng Shao snorted and reluctantly accepted his childhood friend's bribe. Then he asked in confusion, "Why did you suddenly think of studying abroad?"

Pei Yan hesitated before saying, "My dad brought it up."

As he spoke, his eyes could not help drifting back to Cheng Yu. He discovered that Cheng Yu was no longer playing on his phone. Instead, he sat cross-legged beside the basketball court, his head tilted up as he watched the sunset.

The sun hung low, the evening breeze was pleasantly warm, and dark golden rays poured down, outlining the boy's figure and making him seem even more slender and frail.

For some reason, Pei Yan's heart clenched. He hurried over and sat beside Cheng Yu—only to be pushed away by Cheng Yu's disgusted expression. "You're covered in sweat. Stay away from me."

As he spoke, Cheng Yu instinctively shifted farther aside, showing not the slightest concern for the big dog of a classmate beside him, wagging his tail in grievance.

Cheng Shao burst out laughing, delighted to see his childhood friend suffer a setback.

Nothing happened that night. Early the next morning, Cheng Yu was awakened by the ringing of his phone.

"Who is it?" Cheng Yu asked fiercely with his eyes closed.

Sensing the young master's morning temper, Zhu Jianxin shuddered instinctively on the other end of the call. He said timidly, "It's me, Zhu Jianxin. Didn't you say you were coming to the company today to sign the contract? We've prepared it already and revised everything according to your requirements."

Cheng Yu sat up and scratched at his hair, which had become a bird's nest from sleep. Faint pillow marks still puffed his cheeks. "Are you stupid? I'm not even seventeen yet. Would my signature have any legal effect?"

Zhu Jianxin choked at once. Cheng Yu's presence was simply too overwhelming, to the point that whenever they spoke with him, they completely forgot that Cheng Yu was still a minor under eighteen!

"Then what should we do?" Zhu Jianxin asked instinctively.

Cheng Yu rolled his eyes. "Bring the contract to the hospital and have my grandfather sign it for me!"

Zhu Jianxin repeatedly agreed, but before he could say another word, Cheng Yu impatiently hung up.

Cheng Yu rested his head against the pillow and squinted for a while. Once he confirmed that he could not fall asleep again, he reluctantly climbed out of bed, washed up, changed clothes, and went downstairs.

"Good morning. How did you sleep last night?" Zhou Xiyuan sat at the dining table and greeted Cheng Yu with a smile.

"Not bad." Cheng Yu nodded, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He accepted the tremella, lotus root, and sticky rice porridge Zhou Xiyuan had served him and quietly thanked her.

Morning sunlight streamed in from outside, tracing a golden silhouette around the boy. Zhou Xiyuan narrowed her eyes as she studied Cheng Yu against the light and found that he truly was good-looking. Moreover, every movement he made was refined and elegant, as though he had stepped out of a painting. No wonder everyone around him liked him.

"Your Uncle Pei took Pei Yan and your brother out for morning exercise. They knew you were a light sleeper, so they didn't wake you." Zhou Xiyuan smiled and asked, "Would you like fried dough sticks, tea eggs, or custard buns?"

"A tea egg is fine." Cheng Yu was about to reach for one when Zhou Xiyuan placed a freshly peeled tea egg into his bowl. "Your tastes are exactly the same as Yanyan's. He likes tea eggs for breakfast too."

Cheng Yu stared fixedly at the peeled tea egg in his bowl and frowned almost imperceptibly.

Just then, Pei Zhennan returned from morning exercise with Pei Yan and Cheng Shao. Cheng Yu promptly stuffed the porridge and tea egg into Cheng Shao's hands, then served himself another bowl of tremella, lotus root, and sticky rice porridge. He picked up a tea egg and slowly peeled it, as though he were polishing a work of art.