Yangyang

Yin Sufang noticed Pei Yang lift his head, and his look of satisfaction immediately turned to displeasure. "What, Curator Pei, interested in the Porsche?"

Pei Yang glanced at Yin Sufang.

Yin Sufang raised his chin slightly and said proudly, "One of my Ex-Boyfriends has one. If you like it, I can borrow it this weekend and take you for a spin."

Pei Yang parted his lips, but before he could speak, the receptionist came over in her high heels and knocked on Team A's frosted-glass office door. Her sweet voice drew quite a few people's attention. "Curator Pei, someone's here to see you."

Pei Yang's expression froze, and a bad feeling suddenly welled up inside him.

"Here to see Curator Pei?" Yin Sufang asked suspiciously. "Who? He actually has friends?"

"A handsome guy." The receptionist smiled with her lips pressed together. "He's carrying a bouquet of roses, too."

Pei Yang understood at once. He quickly saved the folder he was working on, shut down his computer, and prepared to escape through the emergency stairwell.

That lunatic Song Yixiao had actually tracked him down at work.

"Carrying roses?" The corner of Yin Sufang's mouth twitched. "Curator Pei, is he pursuing you?"

"None of your business."

Pei Yang grabbed his coat from the rack and draped it over his arm. He had only just turned around when a few startled exclamations came from the doorway, followed by a familiar voice. "Yangyang."

"..."

The way he said those two syllables was so affectionate that, if Pei Yang hadn't witnessed everything last night with his own eyes, he never would have believed this version of Song Yixiao could cheat.

Song Yixiao had actually cheated.

Pei Yang could no longer escape. Under the eyes of all his coworkers, he could only steel himself and turn around. Watching Song Yixiao approach him step by step from the doorway, he asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"

Song Yixiao's lips curved slightly, his smile warm as a spring breeze. "Picking you up from work."

"Holy shit-"

"Isn't this handsome guy the one who just got out of the Porsche?"

"...What's going on? What's his relationship with Curator Pei?"

His coworkers' whispers reached Pei Yang's ears. He had always dreaded being the center of attention, so he lowered his head and headed straight outside. As he passed Song Yixiao, he said quietly, "Let's go."

He had barely taken two steps when Song Yixiao reached out from behind him and openly pulled him into his arms, announcing in a voice that was far from quiet, "I'm Yangyang's boyfriend."

"!"

"?!"

Yin Sufang: "?"

The office fell silent for three seconds, then erupted. "Boyfriend-"

Yin Sufang sat stunned at his desk for a long time, looking Song Yixiao up and down in disbelief. "...Did you just start dating? How come Curator Pei never mentioned you before?"

The more people looked over, the stiffer Pei Yang became. Uncomfortable, he struggled slightly in Song Yixiao's arms.

Sensing Pei Yang's reluctance, Song Yixiao let go of his waist and took his hand instead. "No, we've been together for over four years. I've just been too busy with work to show my face much. Thank you all for looking after Yangyang. The coffee I ordered will be here shortly. I'll take Yangyang home fir-"

"Are you leaving or not?" Pei Yang interrupted Song Yixiao angrily, shaking off his hand and striding toward the elevators.

"Yangyang!" Song Yixiao explained awkwardly to the others, "Yangyang gets embarrassed easily. Sorry for disturbing you. Please get back to work. The coffee will be here soon."

The moment the two of them left, the office exploded.

"Holy shit, what did I just see? Curator Pei actually has a boyfriend?"

"So Curator Pei really is gay..."

"What did I tell you? He's such a clean freak. He doesn't seem straight at all."

"How is his boyfriend both hot and rich? Fuck, they've been together for over four years. Pei Yang's been eating this well all along?"

"He's driving a Porsche at his age? Is he from a rich family, too? God, I'm so jealous..."

"I've decided to be nicer to Pei Yang from now on. That's a connection worth having..."

With everyone chattering and making a fuss, the office showed no sign of quieting down. Yin Sufang stared at the glass door the two had left through, snorted, and muttered to himself, "...Someone really does like that block of wood."

The elevator reached the ground-floor lobby, and Pei Yang stepped out first. The two receptionists greeted him familiarly. "Curator Pei, heading home?"

Pei Yang smiled at them and left the office building, leaving Song Yixiao behind.

"Yangyang! Wait for me." With his long legs, Song Yixiao caught up quickly. "Why are you walking so fast?"

Pei Yang stopped and looked with mixed feelings at the silver-white Porsche parked below the steps. A luxury car really was a luxury car. It had been too dark last night for him to get a clear look, but now the evening glow made it look even more beautiful and extravagant. Its sheen and finish were nothing like the car Pei Yang had bought on installments just to get around.

While Pei Yang stood dazed, Song Yixiao opened the passenger door, tossed the roses he had carried all the way into the car, and called to him, "Yangyang, come on. Get in."

Pei Yang didn't move.

Song Yixiao smiled. "Your coworkers are still at the windows. Don't give them something to laugh at."

"..." Pei Yang looked at Song Yixiao, his mind filled with images of him holding and kissing someone else. Every step down the stairs sent another stab of pain through his heart.

By the time he sat down in the passenger seat, Pei Yang had exhausted all his strength.

With the door shut, Song Yixiao leaned over Pei Yang to pull out his seat belt. They were very close, shoulder to shoulder, and Song Yixiao took the opportunity to lean in for a kiss. Pei Yang turned his head away. "Just drive. I'll buckle up myself."

"Yangyang, what's wrong with you?"

"Drive," Pei Yang repeated, his voice firmer.

Song Yixiao froze for a moment. Only after a little while did he start the car.

When they pulled onto the main road and reached the spot where Pei Yang had fallen last night, a trace of mockery appeared in his eyes. "When did you change cars? Has your company started turning a profit?"

"Oh," Song Yixiao said without batting an eye. "It's rented."

"Rented?"

"Yeah. Your boyfriend's a big boss now. I can't keep driving a cheap car. It would make me look bad, so I rented a nice one to keep up appearances."

Pei Yang gave a cold laugh. "You saw the text I sent you, didn't you?"

The light was red. Song Yixiao nearly ran it, braking at the last possible moment and sending Pei Yang pitching forward.

Song Yixiao stared silently ahead. After a long silence, he said, "What text? I didn't see it."

"You didn't? Then do you need me to say it again now?"

"..." Song Yixiao's eyelids trembled, and he finally dropped the act. "I don't understand, Yangyang. Why? Did I do something wrong? Why did you send that text? I was in a meeting when I saw it. I ended the meeting without a second thought and called you, but you wouldn't answer my calls or messages, and you stayed out all night. Do you know how worried I was? Tell me what I did wrong. Please don't scare me like this, okay?"

Nothing but lies.

In a meeting? You were clearly in bed with someone else.

"Song Yixiao, your lies only make me despise you more." Pei Yang's teeth brushed against the tip of his tongue as he laid his cards on the table. "Did you really rent this car? Was it rented, or did you trade your body for it?"