Chapter 49

Weng Shao could not help laughing. "For someone as obsessed with cleanliness as President Pei, you'll need at least twenty minutes, right?"

Clean-freak President Pei curled a finger and scraped Weng Shao's nose, then rose and headed for the bathroom.

Listening to the rush of water behind the door, Weng Shao swiftly pulled the checkbook from his wallet, signed ninety-nine checks for one million each, then removed the lace tablecloth from the dining table and personally made a bouquet of checks.

Twenty minutes later, Pei Xingze opened the bathroom door right on time and came face-to-face with a pink bouquet of checks.

Pei Xingze looked at the person behind the bouquet in surprise.

Weng Shao smiled sweetly. "My return gift. Do you like it?"

Pei Xingze laughed despite himself. "You made this yourself?"

"Mm!"

"How did you think of making a bouquet out of checks?"

"Because for as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of receiving a gift like this." Weng Shao looked at Pei Xingze with sparkling eyes. "Money to spend, spend however I want—that's my wish. Now, I'm giving you everything I love and long for most."

"Pei Xingze, I'll treat you very, very well." Weng Shao stuffed the bouquet of checks he had made into Pei Xingze's arms. "I'll work hard to make money, lots and lots of money. I'll work hard to protect you." I won't let you die young. I won't let anyone scheme against you or your parents and family. I won't let you suffer the pain of your parents dying tragically and leaving not even their remains behind while you're still so young.

The corners of Pei Xingze's lips rose uncontrollably. He had never imagined that one day he would hear such a sincere, passionate confession, much less that someone would use most of their fortune to confess to him. The Weng Shao before him was simply adorably straightforward.

A surge of warmth rose and churned in his heart. Pei Xingze took a deep breath, carefully set Weng Shao's handmade bouquet of checks by the bed, then turned and wrapped an arm around Weng Shao's waist. With his other hand, he gently lifted Weng Shao's chin and lowered his head to kiss him.

Their lingering, delicate kisses gradually made their breathing ragged and hurried. Weng Shao instinctively looped his arms around Pei Xingze's neck, rose onto his toes, and responded with fierce heat. He clumsily tugged open Pei Xingze's bathrobe, impatient to press his body closer to Pei Xingze's smooth bare chest, feeling his warm skin, powerful heartbeat, and firm, fluid muscles taut with elasticity.

Pei Xingze was amused by his young lover's impatience.

"Not like this." Panting, he released Weng Shao and did his utmost to restrain the desire to continue. He only gently stroked Weng Shao's cheek. "My confession was already too hasty. Our first time can't be here."

He did not want Weng Shao to feel wronged. He wanted to treat Weng Shao, and the feelings between them, with greater care.

Weng Shao clung tightly to Pei Xingze's waist and buried his face in Pei Xingze's chest, quietly feeling his heartbeat and warmth. Since being reborn, the vague sense of unreality that had lingered deep within his body and soul finally began to fade amid their intense, lingering kiss.

It was as though Pei Xingze's presence had entered his body and soul through that intense, lingering kiss. In that instant, Weng Shao finally felt, truly and clearly, that he was alive. It was the breath of life, a warmth that soothed even his soul.

"I was like a wandering ghost drifting through the mortal world. After absorbing your yang energy, I finally came back to life from my decaying shell." Weng Shao sighed in contentment.

Pei Xingze let out a muffled laugh at Weng Shao's bizarre description. The vibrations in his chest carried through to Weng Shao's eardrums. Longingly, Weng Shao traced messy circles over Pei Xingze's chest with his fingers, looking as satisfied as a beast that had just filled its belly, tucked away its sharp claws and teeth, and lay obediently in Pei Xingze's arms.

After some time, Weng Shao finally felt hungry. Reluctantly, he got up, intending to take a shower. "Do you want to wash with me?"

Before closing the door, Weng Shao looked eagerly at Pei Xingze and extended an utterly undisguised invitation.

Pei Xingze helplessly rubbed his face. "Stop teasing me."

He pointed at Little Pei, who was already far too excited, and warned, "The soundproofing on the boat isn't as good as it is at home."

Weng Shao thought of something and shut the door sheepishly.

By the time Weng Shao emerged from the shower, Pei Xingze had already had breakfast reheated. The fragrance of food filled the room.

Weng Shao deliberately wore his bathrobe loose as he sat beside Pei Xingze. The movement exposed his entire chest to the air. His fair skin still carried a damp warmth, smooth and delicate like a piece of creamy white jade warmed at the touch.

Pei Xingze sighed helplessly, reached over to pull Weng Shao's robe closed, and tied his belt.

"Aren't you already hungry?" Pei Xingze handed a warm glass of milk to Weng Shao. "Hurry up and eat."

Weng Shao's gaze slowly traveled down from Pei Xingze's solemn face until it reached a certain spot. "I've been hungry for a long time."

Weng Shao spoke with deliberate double meaning. "You're the one who's been refusing to let me eat."

Pei Xingze: "..."

By the time they were finally willing to leave the room, it was already past two in the afternoon.

The yacht cruised steadily over the sea. A group of rich second-generation heirs surfed in fancy patterns behind it, while others leaned over the railings and shouted their approval.

When they saw Weng Shao and Pei Xingze step onto the deck, everyone snickered and exchanged knowing looks. "You two finally decided to come out and have some fun."

Just as Pei Xingze had said, the rooms on the yacht were not particularly soundproof. Besides, the two of them had stayed inside for so long. What exactly had happened was something everyone understood without saying.

—Young Master Pei had meticulously planned this trip out to sea. He had gone fishing and watched the sunrise with Weng Shao. He claimed he merely wanted to help a business partner relax, but the tricks and routines he used to make Weng Shao happy were even flashier than what they used when pursuing someone. Weng Shao was not some cold-hearted, stone-hearted person. It was only natural that Young Master Pei would manage to win him over.

The only question was how long this relationship would last.

Faced with everyone's teasing looks, Pei Xingze merely carefully displayed the bouquet of checks Weng Shao had given him. "Weng Shao gave this to me. Pretty, isn't it?"

Only then did everyone notice the bouquet of checks Pei Xingze was holding in his arms. They were instantly stunned.

"Holy shit!"

"What is this?"

"How did you even think of making checks into a bouquet as a gift? That's fucking incredible!"

And every check was for one million. Someone counted carefully—ninety-nine checks came to ninety-nine million. That was an outrageously grand gesture. Let alone them, even their own parents probably would not have the nerve to casually give someone that much.

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned so red with envy they practically bled.

The crowd surged forward and surrounded Pei Xingze, staring at the bouquet of checks with astonishment.

At their level of wealth, it was inevitable to launch money offensives when pursuing someone. But most people's methods amounted to giving flowers, bags, or expensive jewelry. The more generous ones gave luxury cars or mansions. Very few had ever thought to fold checks into a bouquet as a gift.

What a straightforward yet romantic invention! The rich second-generation heirs dared say that most people around them, including themselves, would not be able to refuse a bouquet of checks like this.

"Weng Shao said the meaning of this bouquet is: money to spend, spend however you want." Holding the bouquet, Pei Xingze showed off. "I hereby declare that this is the most meaningful gift I've ever received."

Chapter 49

After two days and two nights of fun at sea, the group returned to the dock on Sunday evening.

Night had fallen, and the city lights had just begun to glow. A black Bentley had already been waiting at the dock for quite some time.

Pei Xingze held Weng Shao's handmade bouquet of checks in one hand and Weng Shao's hand in the other as he stepped off the boat smugly. At a glance, he spotted Weng Zhen and Weng Sui getting out of the car.

The two brothers had clearly noticed Pei Xingze and Weng Shao holding hands as well, and their faces instantly turned livid.

"You two—" Weng Zhen was so shocked that he could barely speak. Weng Sui, meanwhile, cursed loudly, "You two are disgusting."

Before Pei Xingze or Weng Shao could say anything, the rich second-generation heirs traveling with them were already displeased.

"What's with you two? Are you rabid dogs, chasing after people just to bite them?" Lu Qingyang frowned deeply and spoke with open contempt.

"Who are you calling rabid dogs?" Weng Sui shot Lu Qingyang a vicious glare. "I think you're the lapdogs. What benefits did Pei and Weng Shao give you that you're sucking up to them like this?"

"Classmate Weng Shao promised us that if there's another chance to short the Weng family, he'll let us make a fortune with him." Lin Xueting smiled pleasantly. With one sentence, he successfully changed the expressions of the two Weng brothers.

Weng Zhen discreetly glared at Weng Sui before immediately saying, "My younger brother is still young and speaks without thinking. I hope everyone won't hold it against him."

Lin Xueting gave a cold snort. "Being young isn't an excuse for having no manners. I really wonder how Chairman Weng and Madam Weng raised their children."

Weng Zhen had not expected that even after he backed down, Lin Xueting would remain so rude. He immediately became annoyed as well. "I'm more curious about how Uncle Lin raised you. Interfering in other people's family matters and even boldly claiming that you'll short the Weng family—does Uncle Lin know you behave so arrogantly outside?"

Lin Xueting sneered. "Who the hell are you to try using my father to pressure me?"

Weng Zhen's face flushed with anger at Lin Xueting's blunt insult.

Compared to Jinghai City's established wealthy families, the Weng family were originally newcomers. Weng Yingjie had once merely been a construction-site contractor. With help from the Pei family, he had built his fortune from nothing, only to turn against them when the Pei family fell into trouble. His character had always been widely criticized. Yet Weng Yingjie was ruthless and lucky. After struggling for several decades, he had truly amassed a family fortune. Thus, although the other established wealthy families disliked Weng Yingjie's conduct, they would not openly offend him.

But the younger generation who were close to Pei Xingze did not care about any of that. Leaving aside the fact that they already looked down on the Weng family, Weng Zhen had now come to humiliate himself before them. Naturally, Lin Xueting had no intention of indulging him.