Chapter 30

Weng Shao vaguely remembered how fiercely they had fought. Perhaps because they knew each other too well, they both knew exactly which words would hurt the most. By the end, it was no longer even an argument, but pure venting. Every grievance and complaint became blades in their mouths, stabbing straight into each other's hearts. They stabbed until blood ran everywhere, then, before the pain could kill them, they embraced fiercely, kissed, and made love hysterically, tangling together until the bitter end.

The two people who loved each other most were also the most guarded against each other.

But on second thought, that was only natural. Their acquaintance had begun with a grand conspiracy: one had incited and lured, while the other had knowingly gone along with it. They hit it off at once and began colluding in wrongdoing.

And for two villains brought together by profit and hatred, even if they somehow made real love through all that sex, how pure could it be when profit was mixed with sincerity?

Even Weng Shao himself could not tell whether he loved Pei Xingze more or used him more.

Perhaps he loved Pei Xingze, but he loved his money and power even more. Love could disguise itself, but money could not.

And Weng Shao, who had once been best at disguising himself, had long since dismissed love with contempt. He had even grabbed Pei Xingze by the hair while they were having fierce sex and asked, "How can you prove you love me? Are you going to die for me?"

At the time, Weng Shao had never imagined that a careless joke would become prophecy.

After waking up, Weng Shao stared expressionlessly at the rumpled bed. He quietly stripped off the sheets and duvet cover, tossed them into the washing machine, then slipped into the kitchen to make breakfast with practiced ease.

By the time Pei Xingze woke up, breakfast was ready.

The freshly changed sheets and duvet cover hung out on the tasteful garden balcony, lending a touch of everyday domestic warmth to the grand luxury villa.

Wearing a silk robe, the villa's owner leaned against the kitchen doorway and teased him in surprise, "I never thought you'd be so domestic."

Then he sighed wistfully. "You're so domestic that I can barely bear to let you leave."

He opened his arms to Weng Shao, exposing his broad chest and sharply defined abs, and put on a pathetic act. "Weng Shao, after you come to Jinghai, could you live at my house? I've realized I'm getting more and more unable to live without you."

Weng Shao refused expressionlessly, "Jinghai University requires first-year students to live on campus."

Pei Xingze laughed. "Stop trying to fool me. Jinghai University isn't that strict with its students. They can apply to commute based on their actual circumstances."

Weng Shao handed Pei Xingze the freshly made fried egg and ham sandwich. "But 'actual circumstances' that would persuade the school to make an exception do not include living with another man."

Pei Xingze: "..."

Pei Xingze set the sandwich on the dining table and said resentfully, "Are you always this sharp-tongued?"

Weng Shao poured the brewed coffee into a cup and raised an eyebrow at that. "What, are you unhappy?"

"How could I be?" Pei Xingze immediately put on a flattering smile, knowing better than to argue. "Then what about weekends? Your school won't monitor where you go on weekends, will it?"

Weng Shao remained silent.

Pei Xingze knew there was hope. He pitifully played up his misery. "I live alone in such a huge house. It's so lonely, so empty, so quiet. It wasn't easy finding a friend I can actually talk to. Can't you come keep me company more often?"

"Or are you worried I might try something with you?" As Pei Xingze spoke, he actually resorted to provoking him. "We're both men. What are you worried about?"

Weng Shao glanced at Pei Xingze's wide-open display of chest muscles and abs. I'm not afraid that you have improper intentions toward me. I'm afraid I won't be able to restrain myself!

"We'll see."

In the end, Weng Shao did not reject Pei Xingze's invitation to live together, but he did not agree right away either.

Pei Xingze looked at Weng Shao, who was plainly dragging things out, and felt unwilling to let it go. Yet he was afraid that if he kept pressing, it would backfire. He could only drop the subject resentfully, hanging his head listlessly like a large dog that could not get a meaty bone.

Sitting opposite Pei Xingze, Weng Shao finished his breakfast at an unhurried pace, then cruelly stabbed him again. "Are you taking me to the airport later?"

Weng Shao clearly knew Pei Xingze was willing, yet he still said, "If you're busy with work and can't spare the time, I can take the bus there."

That was right. Weng Shao, who had earned several million from the college entrance exam, was not even willing to pay for a taxi. He would rather take public buses and transfer to a coach, even if it meant making a few more transfers.

Don't ask. If you asked, the answer was that he was thrifty and knew how to manage a household. He could not bear to waste money on a cab.

But Pei Xingze could not bear the thought of Weng Shao dragging a suitcase alone, transferring between several bus routes, and spending hours rushing to catch a flight. He did not even want to imagine it and blurted out, "Of course I'm taking you to the airport."

After a pause, Pei Xingze added, "You just arrived in Jinghai City and don't know the place well. Try not to take public transportation. What if you get on the wrong route?"

"If you need anything in the future, call Assistant Meng and have him arrange a car for you."

That way, no matter where Weng Shao went, Pei Xingze would be able to learn his whereabouts immediately.

Weng Shao thought of that instinctively. But the moment his gaze met Pei Xingze's eyes, he silently shoved the thought back into the depths of his mind.

"Then I'll trouble you." Weng Shao quietly put the used dishes into the dishwasher. Pei Xingze followed closely behind him, still brooding over their impending separation.

"I still have a few things to deal with here. At the beginning of next month, I'll make time to visit Qingyuan City." Pei Xingze suddenly smiled. "When that time comes, you'll be the host and treat me properly."

Weng Shao said, "If you come, I'll make you feel right at home."

Pei Xingze pushed his luck. "Then I want to stay at your house."

Weng Shao thought of the unrenovated apartment at Lakeside Garden and frowned. "Maybe I can stay at a hotel with you."

Pei Xingze understood Weng Shao's difficulty and said with a smile, "It would be rude to refuse such generous hospitality. I'll take you at your word."

Two hours later, Pei Xingze and Weng Shao stood facing each other in the departure hall.

Airport announcements echoed through the noisy hall. Like all travelers parting ways, they embraced face-to-face and said their farewells. Pei Xingze pressed his lips to Weng Shao's ear and softly said goodbye.

Weng Shao only held Pei Xingze tightly. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.

He still did not say goodbye.

Accompanied by a tremendous roar, Weng Shao's flight arrived at Clear Source Airport in the evening.

When the cabin door opened, Weng Shao, who had been sitting stiffly for hours, was swept off the plane by the crowd.

The sky was already darkening, and strings of lights had begun to flicker on around the tarmac. Travelers who had finally reached their destination hurried eagerly into the passageway. Weng Shao alone stopped in the crowd.

In the dim twilight, he looked up at the sky. The crimson sunset looked like a runny fried egg yolk. Pierced by the sharp mountain ridges on the horizon, golden yolk slowly spilled out.

The whole world looked like a giant omelet rice, fragrant and soft.

Weng Shao took out his phone, snapped a photo of the scene, and sent it to Pei Xingze: [Doesn't this sunset look like a fried egg yolk?]

The next second, Pei Xingze replied instantly: [You're in Qingyuan? I'll have the chef make omelet rice at your dorm right away. You'll be able to eat it as soon as you get back.]

Seeing Pei Xingze's message, Weng Shao's lips curved unconsciously. [How did you know I wanted omelet rice?] He had clearly sent him a picture of a fried egg yolk.

Pei Xingze replied: [Instinct.]

Weng Shao smiled. [Your instincts are accurate, but there's no need.]

Weng Shao did not want to make such a fuss over a serving of omelet rice. The omelet rice downstairs from his dorm was quite good.

The next second, Pei Xingze called. "Why not? You made breakfast for me this morning, so now it should be my turn to make dinner for you. It's only fair. Or do you dislike the fact that I didn't make this meal myself?"

"Then give me another chance. When I go to Qingyuan, I'll make breakfast for you myself."

Weng Shao suddenly remembered his previous life. When they had first gotten together, Pei Xingze had indeed been seized by the urge to make him loving breakfasts a few times—including burnt bacon and undercooked steak, still streaked with blood, which he had called medium-rare.

Unfortunately, Weng Shao's stomach could not handle such hardcore Western food. After forcing himself to try it, the two of them ended up in the hospital together. Outsiders who did not know the truth thought they had finally turned against each other and had even secretly poisoned each other's food, intending to die together.

For a time, all sorts of rumors spread wildly, even affecting Pei Group's stock price!

After that, they generally ate out or had a chef come cook at home.

"Better not." Weng Shao's voice carried a gentle smile that even he himself did not notice. "I'm worried my constitution isn't strong enough to enjoy President Pei's handiwork."

"You seem to be underestimating me." The airport signal was not very good. Amid the thunderous roar of commercial planes constantly taking off and landing, Pei Xingze's voice rose and fell through the receiver, faintly distorted and unreal. "...Just wait. I'll definitely make a breakfast that will make you see me in a new light."

Weng Shao only smiled without speaking. Holding the phone to his ear, he wandered casually through the bustling crowd in the arrival hall. People reunited after long separations eagerly embraced the joy of being together again. Against the backdrop of countless hugs and reminiscences, Weng Shao wheeled his suitcase out of the airport alone and hailed a taxi by the roadside.

By the time Weng Shao returned to the employee dormitory near Lakeside Garden, an hour had passed.

The dormitory buildings Pei Real Estate had built for its employees were all standard three-bedroom apartments with a living room. The specifications of the dorms assigned varied according to employee rank. Ordinary junior employees could apply for a single room. As a part-time employee, Weng Shao originally did not qualify to apply for a dormitory, but with Pei Xingze's recommendation, things were naturally different.

Not only had he been assigned a single room, but there were no other roommates in the apartment. It was equivalent to having the entire three-bedroom apartment to himself.