Chapter 121
Upon hearing Pei Jingyun say this, Mu Cai thought his lover was quite good at pretend.
Even though he had intentionally cleared his schedule, Pei Jingyun could look him in the eye and lie about the company not having much work. If it weren't for Mu Cai eavesdropping on Pei Jingyun's phone call outside the door earlier, he might have been fooled again.
Thinking about this, he considered how to expose this manipulative guy.
The young man standing at the door was a head smaller than him, with a snow-white face and red lips. He wore a smile, and his large, black eyes sparkled like a deer’s. It seemed as if he was planning something naughty. His rabbit-like slippers scraped the floor, hinting at the mischievous idea he harbored.
He was incredibly cute, causing Pei Jingyun to smile as well. He longed to pull the young man into his arms and plant a kiss on Mu Cai's soft cheeks.
The feeling would undoubtedly be delightful.
Pei Jingyun greedily stared at Mu Cai's fair cheeks and was lost in his fantasy. Suddenly, he was startled by a sentence:
"Is it true that the company doesn't have much work in May and June?"
The questioning Mu Cai still had his hands behind his back, looking up at him. From this angle, his face looked tinier, his eyes, larger—as if he was coquettishly appealing to him. From a subtle perspective, Pei Jingyun could see the gap left by the loose collar of his white, high-necked sweater, revealing the snow-white satin-like skin underneath.
His throat involuntarily clenched, and when he opened his mouth, his voice was a bit hoarse, "Of course, why would I lie to you?"
Then, Mu Cai, looking like a grinning cat in front of him, revealing a bit of cunning in his bright, morning-star-like eyes, laughed, "Then why is the project with Hong being postponed to March or April? Why are those non-urgent meetings postponed to July?"
Pei Jingyun: "…"
As Mu Cai spoke, he somewhat tiptoed and took a step closer to the tall man in front of him. Seeing the always cold-faced man speechless and showing a rare nervous look, he lifted his eyelashes. A smirk curled at his ruby lips, reminiscent of a legendary enchanting spirit, "Uncle Pei, why don't you speak?"
Enchantress! He was a real enchantress!
Just a touch of those red lips and he was set ablaze!
Although, over the past year, Pei Jingyun had had countless dreams about the other person and had deeply recognized all his desires focused on this one person. At this moment, he still felt like he had underestimated Mu Cai's charm in the past.
There was this act beneath his innocent exterior, yet even this enchanting charm was endowed with an innocence that knew nothing of the world and carried no hint of wanton intent. Even the term "uncle" was just half-joking, without the deliberate intention of seduction, yet it set his body and mind on fire. It burned him so much that he wanted to catch this person, hide him in his own bed, and let him call "uncle" to his heart's content.
Pei Jingyun lowered his eyes, not daring to let Mu Cai see the burning flame inside them, and could only whisper, "You already know."
Seeing the man's dejected look, Mu Cai hastily withdrew his joking attitude. It was indeed terrible of him to take advantage of the information he had overheard. Mu Cai, thinking of his actions a moment ago, couldn't help but feel a little guilty, his ears turning pink with embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Mr. Pei. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to overhear it when I was coming down to find you."
Upon hearing this, Pei Jingyun looked up. His gaze fixed on the face of the person in front of him, looking at the flush on his cheeks, he couldn't help but smile, "I know."
Of course, he knew.
His Mu Cai was so good, upright and honest, that even unintentional eavesdropping caused him guilt. How could he, how could he ever blame him?
Besides, Pei Jingyun never took himself for a good person. He had gone to almost any lengths to get the other person. His character, not sterling, had no grounds to criticize Mu Cai. He didn't just want to blame him, but rather to protect and nurture him, hoping that Mu Cai could always remain so pure and innocent.
Therefore, Pei Jingyun gently said, "It's okay, you don't need to apologize. It was just my carelessness."
Hearing the other person's reply, Mu Cai felt a small sense of relief in his heart. It seemed that the other person wasn't going to pursue the matter of his accidental eavesdropping. With this thought in mind, he lifted his eyelids to look at the other person.
Pei Jingyun was looking down at him, his eyes deep and focused as if his whole heart and vision were filled with him.
Faced with such a lover, Mu Cai felt a stir in his heart. He decided not to ponder on anything, and directly asked, "Mr. Pei, I just want to ask, why are you so good to me?"
Pei Jingyun's eyes flickered, "Good to you?"
Mu Cai didn't understand why the other person would ask that, but he still seriously began to count on his fingers, "Yes! Mr. Pei sponsored me and trained me to be a solo violinist. The violin you gave me is a high-priced limited edition handmade by Master Anderson. The equipment you used for recording my preliminary video is professional grade. You’ve even put aside your company's affairs to accompany me to Orly for the Queen's International Violin Competition..."
The education he received since childhood was that he should remember to repay kindness with kindness and to bear a heart of gratitude. Since he was little, Mu Cai has kept all the help he received from others in his heart, ready to repay them when they need him. Even in the energy field of the spirit, he practiced this principle.
Pei Jingyun sponsored him, and he currently has nothing to repay him with aside from practicing the violin diligently, not disappointing the other person's expectations. Not to mention Pei Jingyun was his lover from a previous life. Naturally, he also wants to make the other person happy.
His thin white fingers that were counting were suddenly grasped by a pair of long and powerful hands. Mu Cai lifted his eyes and saw Pei Jingyun leaning over, looking at him, "These are nothing at all. I can be even better to you, as long as you are willing."
The person in front of him had no idea what was constantly on his mind every day. He wanted to be closer to Mu Cai, not only wanted to kiss and hug him, but also wanted to dress him, feed him, spoil him until he depended on him, and could never leave him again.
But Pei Jingyun didn't dare. He was afraid of scaring the other person, afraid that the other person would think his desire to control was too intense, that's why he had been enduring it.
The good things Mu Cai mentioned, in Pei Jingyun's view, were nothing at all. Those were just things money could solve, and he had plenty of it.
He wanted to treat the other person better with actions, just as he imagined.
Mu Cai, having his hand grasped, heard these words and blinked gently. His slender eyelashes were like the wings of a butterfly fluttering, which touched the bottom of Pei Jingyun's heart up close, making his heart ticklish.
The person across from him asked seriously, "Mr. Pei, do you like me?"
Mu Cai was not satisfied with Pei Jingyun's answer. He preferred things to be straightforward. Although the other's words were likely expressing that he liked him, he still inclined to have a clear confession first, and then the sweet talk.
Therefore, Mu Cai decided to practice his philosophy himself: "Mr. Pei, I..."
Before he could finish, the face of the person in front of him was magnified.
The touch of the lips was warm, soft, and slightly elastic, just like jelly. Pei Jingyun was infatuated with this sensation. After a gentle touch, he couldn't get enough of it, so he sucked on it a bit.
With great difficulty, he moved his face away, stopping himself just in time. He quietly reminded himself not to scare the other party. Then he cupped Mu Cai's face and whispered his confession, "I like you, I really like you a lot."
After Pei Jingyun finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed the cheek of the person he had been fantasizing about for a long time, "Little fool, are you only just noticing this now?"
Mu Cai's face turned a bit red. He was delighted and hugged the other's waist, laughing, "Previously you hid it so well that I couldn't tell at all. I thought you didn't like me and were just treating me this way out of humanitarian kindness and cherishing my talent."
Pei Jingyun sighed inwardly, feeling that he should not have been like this. He just didn't want to make it too obvious for fear that he would scare Mu Cai when he revealed his feelings. Now it seemed that he had done just the opposite.
Luckily, it was not too late.
Pei Jingyun thought this way, and couldn't help but affectionately lightly scrape the bridge of the other's nose in his arms.
How could he possibly not like him?
Mu Cai wrinkled his delicate nose, recalling Lin Ling's words, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he did not ask. Lin Ling had only reminded him out of kindness. If he asked Pei Jingyun now, wouldn't he be betraying Lin Ling?
Remembering how clingy his lover was from each world, Mu Cai decided it was better not to ask. After all, it would be better to avoid any misunderstanding that might cause harm to two innocent people later. They had confessed their feelings for each other now, and Pei Jingyun should be reassured. Perhaps after a while, Lin Ling and Pei Congliang wouldn't be oppressed anymore.
Moreover, thinking about what Lin Ling had told him, Mu Cai felt that no matter which one of them it was, they hadn't been persecuted too much. Moreover, they had gained a lot of experience and strengthened their own abilities. Lin Ling's violin playing skills were much better than before, and Pei Congliang should have gained quite a bit of business experience.
Thinking of this, Mu Cai decided to let them be for the time being. He turned his gaze back to Pei Jingyun, blinked his bright sparkling eyes and asked, tilting his head, "When did you start liking me?"
Pei Congliang was taken aback.
He didn't really know when he started liking the other party. However, it seemed like from the first moment he saw the other party, his heart started beating rapidly.
Not simply lust at first sight, but a feeling as if they've known each other for a long time, that they were meant for each other in this life.
But to confess such feelings might make him seem too fickle, as most people tend to equate love at first sight with lust. Pei Jingyun didn't know what Mu Cai thought and didn't want to lie to him either, so he sincerely said, "I liked you from the first moment I saw you."
After he finished speaking, he was a bit nervous, his eyes firmly on Mu Cai. He added, "I like you very, very much."
However, the person opposite him didn't show the anger or dissatisfaction he had imagined. Instead, his eyes suddenly brightened, and he seemed delighted. A captivating radiance spread across his fair complexion, "I know now. I'm so happy!"
Seeing Mu Cai's smile, Pei Jingyun couldn't help but smile along, "What about you? When did you start liking me?"
Wrapped in his arms, Mu Cai wasn’t as forthcoming this time. His slender hand rested on Pei Jingyun's chest, and he glanced at him. Mu Cai's eyes were long, and with this glance, there was a hint of enchantment, but his tone was playful, "I'm not telling you."
He didn't know how to answer. Should he mention that they were destined from a previous life?
Pei Jingyun's curiosity had been piqued, and he wasn't satisfied with this answer. However, as he wanted to ask again, Mu Cai pushed him into the room, "All right, let's go inside and sit down. You'll have to accompany me to Auli later, so you'll have to work hard in the meantime. I'll stroke your head."
Mu Cai knew that Pei Jingyun would be busier than usual in order to take time off for their trip to Auli, but he didn't propose leaving Pei Jingyun behind to lighten his workload. Not to mention whether this clingy lover would agree, Mu Cai himself also wanted to participate in the competition together.
Especially in the beautiful scenery of Auli, with just the two of them, it would be like a honeymoon.
Thinking of this, Mu Cai couldn't help but have a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He stretched out his slender fingers, running them through Pei Jingyun's hair.
Pei Jingyun was initially a bit resistant - he hadn't gotten the answer he wanted yet. But the moment Mu Cai's hand landed on him, the soft pressure from his fingers on his skull instantly relaxed him, leaving him as drowsy as if he'd just taken a hot bath.
Pei Jingyun buried his entire face in Mu Cai's stomach, took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the faint scent of milk from his lover. He heard a laugh from above his head, "Do you like it so much?”
Before he could respond, he just embraced the other party and rubbed his head against him, nodding his head as if he were a dog begging its master to pet it.
A laugh came from Mu Cai, "I knew you'd like it!"
The certainty with which the words were spoken made Pei Jingyun jolt into consciousness. He lifted his head, seeing Mu Cai looking at him. Those radiant eyes as bright as diamonds held a touch of nostalgia, as if he were seeing someone else through him.
Pei Jingyun came back to his senses fully.
Certainty, nostalgia, and refusal to reveal when he started liking him.
Could it be, Mu Cai actually liked someone else, seeing that other person through him?
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Note: The author included a cute, unrelated short story featuring Pei Jingyun and Mu Cai in the author's note section. It's not part of this arc or the official extras, so it won't affect your reading of this novel. If you'd like to read it, please visit my Ko-Fi page. It's accessible to everyone who makes (or has previously made) a donation. Thanks!
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