Chapter 117
Note: Early release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi! ʚ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)ɞ
Pei Congliang had never imagined that Pei Jingyun would be in Mu Cai's room.
He regretted his timing, stepping right into the crossfire. At the same time, he was somewhat enraged, considering how blatantly the other was trying to steal his nephew's love interest – absolutely shameless! Meanwhile, a cold sweat broke out on Pei Congliang's back, a result of aftermath fear.
In short, his feelings were all mixed up at that moment, making his predicament complicated. Standing at the foot of the building, he couldn't decide whether to stay or leave.
On the contrary, on seeing Pei Congliang standing outside in the somewhat chilly spring night wearing just his thin loungewear, Mu Cai couldn't bear it. He took the initiative to say to Pei Jingyun, "Mr. Pei, I'll be right back, just need to go downstairs."
Pei Jingyun, leaning against the window's edge, clenched his hand from the moment Mu Cai started speaking. He watched as he finished his words, turned around, picked up his coat from the hanging rack, and hurriedly pushed the door open to leave.
He left behind only a slender silhouette.
Resentment crossed Pei Jingyun's face. He promptly ended the call on his phone's screen and followed in Mu Cai's footsteps.
Pei Congliang was standing foolishly in the darkness, under Mu Cai's building, staring up at the lit window. The disappointment flooded over him as he saw Mu Cai and Pei Jingyun leave the window one after the other.
Although he knew he had made a big mistake by making Mu Cai a replacement for Lin Ling without him knowing, everything he was feeling now was his own doing. However, Pei Congliang was still overwhelmed with sadness.
Mu Cai was completely ignoring him.
The villa area was lit with dim street lamps and the courtyard was the same. It was far from the main road, very secluded, and the perfect place for Pei Congliang to express his sorrow.
But he hadn't been sad for long before he noticed the light in front of him suddenly brightening.
The illuminating lamp of the small building's corridor was turned on, revealing a slim figure standing there. The dim light reflected off their soft black hair, projecting a touch of delicate glow.
Mu Cai adjusted the garment draped on his body and descended a couple of steps wearing soft slippers. He walked towards Pei Congliang and asked, "Why are you here?"
Despite the light being in his eyes, making his features somewhat blurred in the darkness, he was still astoundingly beautiful. Pei Congliang was somewhat taken aback, and after a good while, he responded hesitantly, "I wanted to see you."
Seeing his stunned expression, Mu Cai was somewhat confused. Was this the effect of some drama where a scoundrel woos back his wife all the way to the funeral pyre? Why did he seem to be lacking in intelligence?
Clasping the idea of not arguing with a fool, he said, “Why did you have to climb over the wall to see me?”
Mu Cai glanced at Pei Congliang without batting an eye. The man was still looking perplexed, seemingly unaware of the leaves stuck in his hair, his dirt-stained homewear, and a small cut on the back of his hand.
He looked even sillier, and a little bit pitiful.
Maintaining his humanitarian spirit, Mu Cai patiently explained, “We see each other every day, you don’t need to climb over the wall at this hour. Besides, you should respect my wishes. If I don't want to see you, you shouldn't force me."
Upon hearing his words, Pei Congliang was at a loss for words, and finally managed to say: "I'm leaving tomorrow, off to Haicheng. I may not be back for the next three years."
He looked at the man illuminated by the dim yellow light, catching Pei Jingyun descending from the stairs out of the corner of his eye. As Mu Cai had his back to him, Pei Jingyun's gaze was locked directly on him without any hesitation. The gluttonous desire revealed in those always cold eyes surprised Pei Congliang.
Had he not come tonight and left immediately tomorrow, how long could a dull and cautious emotionless person torment someone like Cai Cai? Within two months, he might have been devoured?!
No, this couldn't happen! He must warn Mu Cai!
Upon this thought, Pei Congliang turned his gaze towards Mu Cai.
The man standing in front stared at him in mild surprise after hearing his words. His red lips slightly opened in surprise, looking particularly adorable on Mu Cai's face which made Pei Congliang never tire of him.
Mu Cai did not expect for things to unfold so quickly!
According to the original plot, before Pei Congliang was forced to drift away, Mu Cai should have had another nervous and heartbreaking drama with him concerning the white moonlight. Not until Pei Congliang was too depressed by the torment, was he thrown to the branch office in Haicheng by the Pei family who couldn't bear to see him like that to concentrate on his career.
All these scenarios are now missing, and the plot is developing as if it's on a rocket!
For a moment, Mu Cai didn't know what to say. After some effort to analyze, he chose a course of action that somewhat suited his current character.
Upon hearing Pei Congliang's words, the man opposite to him froze for a second, then gently turned his head and lowered his eyelids. His profile was outlined by the light, forming a beautiful silhouette from his full forehead to his slightly upturned nose, finally resting on his soft lips.
The elongated eyelashes, delineated in the light, trembled slightly, revealing the owner's inner turmoil.
Seeing this, Pei Congliang pushed all his little schemes and cunning strategies to the back of his mind involuntarily. He instinctively spoke, "Cai Cai, I...."
Yet before he could finish, the man across him turned around, leaving him only a slender silhouette: "After practicing outside, one is always promoted when returning. This is good for you, so I should congratulate you in advance."
Mu Cai's voice sounded ethereal and pleasant; in this courtyard filled with scattered shadows of trees, it was gently echoing a hint of melancholy and sadness: "It's late, I should go back to my room to rest. You should also go back earlier, you have a flight to catch tomorrow."
Pei Congliang didn't expect to get such a response.
It looked like Cai Cai still had feelings for him! No, that won't do! He must go after him!
But just as Pei Congliang stepped out, Pei Jingyun standing on the steps froze him in place with only a glance.
The look in the other man's eyes was like a blade just pulled out of snow, cold and sharp, sending chills down his spine. However, it was just a moment's pause, Mu Cai had already gone far, walking up the steps, and Pei Jingyun took him into an embrace, circling his slender shoulders and thin waist.
Footsteps sounded behind him at the opportune time, and the light from flashlights shined over. Several uniformed people rushed over and immediately understood the current situation upon seeing the scene.
The one leading them stepped forward, polite but adamant, "Young Master Congliang, it's late; you should go back to your room."
Pei Congliang gritted his teeth. He didn't want to leave, but he had no choice. However, he was even less willing to give up just like this. After all, once he left, it would be for three years. If he didn't take some measures and express his feelings now, who knows what could happen to Mu Cai by the time he returned!
Therefore, Pei Congliang didn't care about the current situation and yelled out loud: "Cai Cai, wait for me! I love you! In three years, I will come back to marry you!"
The light that lit up the corridor on the first floor went out suddenly. Mu Cai, who was going up the steps, almost tripped but was fortunately steadied by Pei Jingyun standing next to him, preventing him from falling.
Pei Congliang's sudden drama made anyone who didn't know the context think he was going to the battlefield the next day! And him, he was the one waiting for the return of the person he yearned for, turning into a stone waiting for his husband with each passing day.
Mu Cai was quite shocked by his own imagination.
Hearing the noisy yell slowly fade away, the hand that Pei Jingyun had around Mu Cai's waist couldn't help tightening for a moment.
He had come down just in time for Pei Congliang's farewell. At that time Cai Cai's reaction had not escaped his eyes.
He turned his face slightly, with shaking eyelashes, and an expression of worry written on his delicate face. The evening breeze was strong, and it was cooling down in the courtyard. Mu Cai, who was slender and just wearing a coat over his homewear, looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
Pei Jingyun felt both heartbroken and furious, his jealousy near to overflowing.
Was Cai Cai really so fond of his nephew? Why could he only see Pei Congliang and not him?! What exactly was so great about this cowardly, incompetent nephew of his?!
Just the thought of Cai Cai feeling gloomy because of Pei Congliang, nearly fainting upon hearing his confession, made Pei Jingyun wish he could banish Pei Congliang to the South Pole, never to return.
He'd always been afraid of startling Cai Cai, hence he'd been cautiously restraining his own feelings. He had been patient, waiting for Cai Cai to get accustomed to him, then hopefully fall in love with him. However, witnessing today's incident, Pei Jingyun felt he could no longer hold back.
Someone had won Cai Cai's heart, yet had the audacity to trample over it. They imagined they could just apologize and pretend nothing had happened. Then why should he endure?! How could he sit back and watch as Cai Cai falls into the hands of such a scoundrel again?!
Pei Jingyun took a deep breath, loosened his unintentionally clenched fist, afraid it might cause pain to Cai Cai.
He had to speed up and let this slow, seductive little fool adapt to his nature as soon as possible. It would be best if within a span of a year, Cai became so attached to him that he couldn't leave him both emotionally and physically for the next two years. He should only act coyly towards him, cry only in his bed, and never again show such a melancholic expression.
As Pei Jingyun thought about this, he held Mu Cai tighter and in a low voice said, "Watch your step, don't stumble."
Mu Cai wasn't aware of the numerous years that had passed in such a short time in his companion's mind, most of which were blurred out. He merely felt that Pei Jingyun was somewhat different this time. He wasn't sure if it was because of the warm yellow wall lamp but even his voice seemed much gentler. His grip around his arm appeared stronger than usual.
Upon reaching Mu Cai's room, he took off his coat, hung it back on the coat rack, then turned around to apologize: "I'm sorry, Mr. Pei, let's continue."
Pei Jingyun had originally come to his room to listen to his violin performance. However, due to an unexpected event, the performance was interrupted.
Pei Jingyun shook his head to signal that it was fine. He looked at the young man standing in front of him with his deep black eyes and whispered, "It's okay, I just want to listen to your violin."
The topic shifted back to his beloved expertise, and this lightened Mu Cai's mood noticeably. He took a seat, picked up his violin, and after a moment of gathering himself, his slender fingers sparked the strings into life, and soothing music quietly flowed in the room.
The man across him was completely lost in the music, and it was only during these moments when Pei Jingyun's gaze became uninhibited. He indulged his vision, letting it caress Mu Cai's long eyelashes, touch his delicate nose, kiss his full lips, and play along his slender neck.
In this instant, as Pei Jingyun faced the man before him, he felt both wanting to desecrate him and a pilgrim's devotion towards a deity. These contradictory feelings bizarrely coexisted in his heart.
When Mu Cai finished the piece, he saw an odd look in the eyes of the man sitting across him.
Before his brain even processed a warning, he heard the man's deep voice say, "It sounds wonderful. I wonder if Cai is interested in participating in the Queen's International Violin Competition? I think participating in such contests could be beneficial for you."
Of course, Mu Cai was interested! The Queen's International Violin Competition was internationally recognized as a prestigious event for violinists. If he managed to rank well in such a competition, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost for his career!
Seeing Mu Cai's excitement, Pei Jingyun knew his interest. He smiled and said, "Since you're preparing for such a grand event, we can't be lax about your violin practice. I've arranged a special practice venue for you and brought in experienced teachers. Starting tomorrow, you can focus on practicing."
Mu Cai was delighted, his eyes curved like crescent moons, and the corners of his rosy lips also curled upwards: "Mr. Pei, you're too kind! Thank you."
Pei Jingyun smiled meaningfully: "It's nothing. Your matters are my matters."
________________________
Author's Note:
Pei Congliang: Three years ago, I promised to marry you when I returned, and now three years later, I'm sitting at the table eating your wedding candy qwq
Pei Jingyun: Because a tragedy has come to a satisfactory conclusion :)
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