Matching bracelets

Pei Yanchuan's expression instantly went from stormy to sunny. He held Xu Wang tightly around the waist with one arm, like a dragon guarding his most precious, most beloved jewel.

At the sight, Zhong Ran kept clenching his right hand. He did not know why, but he always felt that things should not be unfolding this way.

Qin Huai and Leng Yifan sat beside Zhong Ran.

Qin Huai could clearly feel the overwhelming malice radiating from Zhong Ran. Frowning, he edged closer to Gu Yunlan. Has this guy gone mad? Good thing he isn't one of my artists, or he'd drag me down with him.

Leng Yifan, meanwhile, frowned at Pei Yanchuan. It really had not been his imagination. Zhong Ran did treat Pei Yanchuan differently. Leng Yifan clenched both hands into fists.

"Wow, you two are so happy together." Xia Yu looked utterly delighted by the romance.

[Instinctive gestures and expressions really don't lie.]

[Never thought I'd see President Pei looking so hopelessly smitten (doge face for protection).]

[The secret to improving President Pei's mood is just one sentence from his wife.]

[Xia Yu, you lucky guy, getting premium ship content in person. (Biting my handkerchief in envy.)]

[Open, unabashed love like this is the best to ship. More, please, more.]

Their fans grew excited in the comments. An occasional remark from a hater might appear among their comments, but it was soon drowned out by the other fans.

Qin Huai could not help shaking his head at how lovey-dovey Pei Yanchuan and Xu Wang were. He really should not listen to other people's guesses; he needed to look more at the actual situation. Judging by things now, Pei Yanchuan was clearly more possessive than Xu Wang.

Gu Yunlan and Hou Yunqi exchanged a glance. President Pei did not seem as unapproachable as the rumors said.

The soda bottle spun again.

This time, Yun Xi had to make the choice, while Qin Huai was responsible for asking the question and assigning the task.

Qin Huai rested his chin on his knees, a sly smile flashing across his face. "Yun Xi, you must be almost twenty-two now, right? Have you ever dated anyone?"

"No, I've never dated anyone, not even once. Mainly because I haven't met the right person." Yun Xi shyly covered his face.

Xu Wang poked his head out of Pei Yanchuan's arms and looked at Yun Xi across from him in surprise. Thinking of all the bizarre things Yun Xi had done in the book, he really could not tell that he had never been in a relationship.

He had never even dated anyone, yet he could sound so calculatingly innocent in the book. It seemed he must be one of those legendary born manipulators.

While Xu Wang was absorbed in thought, the sound of a can being crushed suddenly came from beside him. The crackling of the can was piercing.

Then came the sizzling hiss of fizz.

Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan turned their heads at the same time.

Jiang Xiubai was gritting his teeth, his left leg folded and his right knee raised. His right hand rested on his knee, gripping a can so tightly that soda gushed straight out of the opening, flowed over his hand, and slowly dripped onto the beach. The sand turned from pale gold to dark brown.

Watching the soda flow, Pei Yanchuan silently gathered Xu Wang into his arms.

The others heard the noise too and looked over at the same time.

Jiang Xiubai took a deep breath, gently set the can on the ground, and wiped his hand. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention for a moment."

No one thought much of it, assuming he had accidentally crushed it.

Xu Wang, however, looked at Jiang Xiubai, then at Yun Xi. He could guarantee that Jiang Xiubai had crushed the can because of Yun Xi. If he was not a hundred percent certain, he was at least eighty percent certain.

Watching his lover happily enjoying the gossip in his arms, Pei Yanchuan rested his chin on Xu Wang's shoulder and nuzzled him lightly.

Even while happily enjoying the gossip, Xu Wang did not forget to soothe the great villain clinging to him.

Hugging, stroking, and snuggling, the two of them thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

What neither of them knew, however, was that the camera had captured every little gesture.

[Aaah, do you two have to be this sweet?]

[President Pei, is it true you share the same personality as a big golden retriever?]

[It's over. Watching them, I can barely pay attention to gossip anymore.]

[I've almost screamed myself hoarse. Good thing I live in a detached house with its own yard, or the complaints would never stop.]

[Hahaha.]

[Ladies, allow me to faint first.]

The beach barbecue did not end until nearly eleven that night. Everyone tidied up the things on the beach together, making sure it was spotless before returning to the villa to rest.

Far away, in a slightly run-down villa on the outskirts of City A.

The living room was a mess. Empty and half-finished liquor bottles lay scattered across the floor, with liquor spilling onto it.

A middle-aged man lay on the sofa with his head tipped back, sleeping like the dead.

The front door was suddenly shoved open with great force.

"Dad, Mom! When will these days ever end?" Pei Yan walked inside carrying her bag.

"Little sis! Calm down." Watching his sister behave so unhingedly, Pei Feng began to get a headache.

The man on the sofa seemed to have been disturbed. He opened his eyes, irritably picked up a bottle from the floor, and hurled it toward the doorway.

"Shut up!"

With a crash, shards of the bottle scattered everywhere.

Pei Yan jumped in fright, instantly falling silent and standing motionless.

Mu Tingting came downstairs and was startled too. Once she recovered, she hurried to check whether the two children were hurt.

"You think I don't want this to end? Look at us. That ungrateful son swindled us out of all our money. Good thing I held something back instead of putting everything in, or our whole family would be living on air." Pei Father raised a hand to rub his brow. He was already irritated, yet they kept nagging endlessly.

"Dad, should we try going after Xu Wang? I watched their livestream, and I feel like Pei Yanchuan treats Xu Wang differently." Suddenly thinking of something, Pei Yan excitedly pulled out her phone and held it in front of Pei Father.

Pei Father took the phone and looked at it, his expression growing increasingly serious.

Hope appeared on Mu Tingting's face too. She also wanted to return to her old life as a wealthy wife. She no longer hoped for anything more, only to return to that affluent life.

Only Pei Feng, who had remained silent by the door, looked thoroughly disapproving. Ever since the incident at the Pei Family's old residence, he had known that Xu Wang was definitely not as simple as he appeared.

But Pei Feng's warning had no effect whatsoever on the three, who had already decided to stake everything on one last gamble. It did not even register with them.

Meanwhile, back at the villa, Xu Wang was still fast asleep in bed. Pei Yanchuan had risen early to pack their luggage for the trip home that day.

After finishing the packing, Pei Yanchuan took a small box from his pocket. Neither too large nor too small, the square box looked exquisite. The shell bracelets inside were ones he had bought as soon as he arrived at the beach yesterday.

An elderly couple had been selling the bracelets. They lived nearby, and the old man was a well-known shell carver in the area.

As Pei Yanchuan passed by, the two matching shell bracelets on their cart had caught his eye.

According to the old man, he had found the two shells on the beach after the tide went out. Both were perfectly intact, and when he found them, they had been pressed tightly together like twins.

To complement the two pairs of beautiful shells, the old man had specially bought some natural crystal from an old friend.

Pei Yanchuan took the bracelets out of the box. The golden natural crystals and pure white shells looked especially beautiful in the sunlight.

Pei Yanchuan crouched beside the bed and gently lifted Xu Wang's wrist.

With a click, the bracelet was fastened around Xu Wang's wrist.

The golden crystals made Xu Wang's skin look even fairer.

When Xu Wang woke, Pei Yanchuan was standing by the window on the phone. Xu Wang raised a hand to cover his eyes, wanting to go back to sleep, when a string of round objects suddenly touched his face.

Xu Wang opened his eyes and discovered that a shell bracelet had somehow appeared on his previously bare wrist.

Sitting up, Xu Wang noticed that Pei Yanchuan, standing by the window, also had an identical-looking bracelet on his right wrist.

Pei Yanchuan noticed that Xu Wang was awake then too. After saying something brief to the person on the other end, he hung up.

"Did you buy this for me?"

"When did you buy it?" Xu Wang raised his wrist and turned the golden crystals.

"Yesterday. It really does suit your wrist." Pei Yanchuan interlaced the fingers of his right hand with those of Xu Wang's left.

The golden crystals and pure white shells gently bumped together.