Chapter 109
Note: Early release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi! ʚ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)ɞ
Assistant Liang stood in the small garden, sending a WeChat message:
[Assistant Liang: Contact several professors from the music academies in capital city immediately. See if they have any recommended violinists or double bass players. The CEO wants to form a small symphony orchestra, and the initial draft of the planning proposal is needed by eight o'clock tomorrow morning at the latest.]
As soon as this message came out, the group chat named "The Exploited Proletariat" was flooded with strings of question marks.
[Assistant Li: This urgent??? Is the CEO preparing for some kind of world competition?]
Several others also expressed their confusion.
The members of this group were all Pei Jingyun's assistants, with duties ranging from everyday life to work and accompanying diplomatic affairs. The regular members numbered in the tens, with occasional guest members. Besides Assistant Liang, they were the ones who had the most contact with Pei Jingyun. Being an assistant can be really relaxing at times, but it can be incredibly busy too.
In the eyes of these assistants, their own boss, though ruthless and robotic in his style of work, was generally quite intelligent. He hardly ever issued sudden, wildly imaginative, and particularly urgent tasks.
Except for this time.
The plan to form a symphony orchestra came without any warning. From living assistants to work assistants, even the translation secretary didn't scent a hint of what was to come. Therefore, while cursing the CEO for this abrupt decision, everyone couldn't help but stir up their gossiping nature.
Assistant Liang looked at the myriad of emojis filling the screen, muttering to himself that this group was still too naïve to understand the thing about love and lust.
Even if one was a work machine, there was a chance of being barraged by the virus of love at first sight or carnal intentions.
Holding back his excitement, he pressed the voice key with a trembling finger: "By 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, I want to see a complete plan in the group chat. Don't worry about the budget, it will be covered by the CEO’s personal funds. Make it look professional so as not to upset him."
With this voice message out, the group chat instantly exploded.
These people have been Pei Jingyun's assistants for so long, and each of them, if not shrewd, was at least capable of observing and understanding the nuances. Naturally, they heard the implications in Assistant Liang’s message.
This message was bewilderingly...ambiguous.
Who exactly is this 'him?' So, it turns out, the CEO is not preparing to participate in the world tournament, or to open up a new business in the music industry, but to sponsor someone else?
Several living assistants in the group thought further and deeper, their spirits of gossip ablaze. They all clamoured at Assistant Liang who dropped this bomb and did not give a clear explanation.
Unfortunately, Assistant Liang had no intention of giving further explanations. Filled with excitement and a huge secret, he coldly left, reflecting the aura of the CEO himself.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to reiterate the deadline and to hurry everyone.
While there was lamentation in the group chat, the exquisite three story building was also a hub of undercurrents.
Mu Cai and Pei Jingyun have already reached the staircase.
Mu Cai agreed to the proposal of this man, who's been long in power after some thought. His past self was timid and weak, and even if Pei Jingyun didn’t force him, he would still agree.
Moreover, the other party's proposal was good and completely in line with his personal expectations as well as the former's. He could not think of any reason to refuse.
Seeing that they were about to part ways, Mu Cai politely turned to look at Pei Jingyun and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Pei. I will go back to my room now."
The man standing in front of him slightly looked up at him. The morning-star-like eyes reflected him twice. His face was pale and bloodless indicating that his health was poor. His countenance was delicate, like a piece of easily broken porcelain.
After speaking, this porcelain figure did not rush to leave, but stood quietly in front of him, waiting for his response with wide eyes.
It almost felt like a temptation to hide him away, to stash him in a room where no one else could see, where only he could enjoy the view.
Pei Jingyun looked at Mu Cai greedily without making any sound, then leisurely said, "Wait a moment."
He took out his mobile phone, opened the WeChat interface, and said, "You've just come to the Pei family, you might feel unaccustomed. If you have any problems, you can find me, let's add each other on WeChat."
Pei Jingyun said it so naturally, resulting in a bewildered Mu Cai handing over his phone to give him his WeChat.
A thought crossed Mu Cai's mind while operating the QR code interface and observing Pei Jingyun’s expression.
Pei Jingyun, with his high nose and thin lips, looked cold. His shirt buttons tightened up to his chin, rigorous yet restrained. Although he was handsome, he seemed inaccessible.
Mu Cai lowered his eyes, silently allowing Pei to scan his WeChat QR code. Only after the other party put away his mobile did he say, "Thank you, Mr. Pei."
Pei Jingyun looked at him and said, "There's no need to be so formal. Go back to your room. I'll call you out for dinner later."
Mu Cai nodded and turned to enter his room.
As soon as he entered the door, Mu Cai couldn't help but throw himself onto the soft bed, sighing in his heart.
Being accustomed to the gentleness of his lovers in previous lives, now Pei Jingyun's high position made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Also, Pei Jingyun's attitude was somewhat obscure. When facing Mu Cai, there was no special attention or expression, even when aiding him. It was unclear whether Pei truly cared about him or was just being polite out of his own etiquette.
In fact, Mu Cai did want to get close to him, but...
He thought of what Old Huang had said in the real world, and his eyes darkened a bit.
In the past few worlds, Mu Cai had withdrawn in a timely manner, so the duration he spent lying in the nutrition cabin was normal. However, in the last two worlds, because he had fallen in love and spent a lifetime with someone inside the energy field, he had stayed in the nutrition cabin for such a long time that he even had to undergo an extended period of rehabilitation training when he came out.
Mu Cai initially thought it was nothing, it was only his suffering, and he could still fall in love. However, Old Huang's words made him come to his senses.
Mu Cai could not spend his entire life living in the virtual energy field. He has family, friends, and many who love him. He couldn't spend a lifetime on this planet, far from his family and friends, watching his parents, brothers and sisters silently shed tears due to longing and worry.
He has many things to worry about and can't be selfish and only consider himself.
Moreover, Mu Cai also knows that continuing like this will greatly affect his health. He originally didn't care about his body, but for the sake of his family and friends, he should take care of himself.
This is his last world. Originally, Old Huang was prepared to apply to the organization to let him go early. But Mu Cai thought about it, in the last world, Li Yu had already grabbed his hand promising to see each other again next time, and he also agreed.
So, Mu Cai really needed to say goodbye to Pei Jingyun in person. This way, if his lover remembered, he would not have to wait painfully.
However, Mu Cai had not yet figured out what he should do now.
Following the rule of the previous two worlds, his lover usually recovered his memory only after the plot ended and just before the entire energy field collapsed. Before this, he didn't know whether he should take the initiative to approach Pei Jingyun. Because, the plot still had to play out, but can't finish without him recovering his memory. If Pei Jingyun regained his memory ahead of time, Mu Cai was afraid that the moment of parting would be too prolonged and would only cause profound harm to both of them.
So, he rolled around in the soft quilt for a long time before finally figuring out a course of action.
Mu Cai decided to stick to the storyline. After all, unlike the last world, this one wasn't a low-rank H-novel. Adhering to the plot wouldn't offend his lover. He just needed to pretend to fool Pei Congliang and undergo a few pretend heartbreaks.
As for the rest, he just needed to pay more attention to Pei Jingyun's situation.
If Pei Jingyun happened to remember their shared affection, then he must reconcile with him.
________________________
The day after Mu Cai moved into the backyard, Lin Ling returned from abroad.
The circle in Beijing is small; the second-generation rich kids, for the most part, either knew each other or were aware of their names. That night, Pei Congliang attended Lin Ling's welcome banquet.
He was in high spirits and drank a lot, and he had forgotten about Mu Cai. He held a wine glass and invited Lin Ling to visit his house.
Lin Ling indifferently nodded his head.
Their families had always been friends, Lin Ling and Pei Congliang could be considered childhood friends. However, those who could afford to be neighbors with the Pei family were generally the wealthy and noble, their children could all play together. Hence, they had many childhood friends, none of which were unique.
Lin Ling and Pei Congliang had a pretty good relationship but not to the extent of inseparable good buddies. He vaguely sensed some intentions from Pei Congliang but did not point it out, while cautiously keeping a distance. Still, the friendship between the two families was good, and their family businesses supported each other, so it was only reasonable to pay a visit after his return to the country.
Besides, moving around could bring them closer, the current head of the Pei family is Pei Congliang's third uncle; Lin Ling might as well frequent the Pei household more often. He might eventually have additional support.
With these thoughts, Lin Ling decisively agreed.
Pei Congliang was pleasantly surprised and drank several more glasses. He was so drunk that he couldn't walk properly that night and ended up sleeping in the upstairs private room.
It was not until the next day that he suddenly remembered that Mu Cai was still waiting for him in the backyard of the Pei family's house.
Pei Congliang sat up with a start. He wanted to quickly find another place for Mu Cai in his house lest Lin Ling would see him when he visited the Pei household in the next few days, which would be difficult to explain.
No matter who he had to explain to, he would find it troublesome.
While Pei Congliang was still getting dressed, his phone on the bed kept ringing.
He took a closer look and saw it was Wang Lifang. Pei Congliang picked up the phone impatiently, ready to scold the person on the other end, but then he heard his mother in a low, anxious voice over the phone: "Why haven't you come back yet, you naughty boy? Lin Ling has already come to our house! Aren't you afraid..."
Lin Ling had already arrived at his house? How come he didn't say a word to him?
Pei Congliang was taken aback and hung up the phone quickly before driving back home.
By the time he arrived at the Pei's house, Wang Lifang could no longer stop Lin Ling.
Ignoring Wang Lifang's obstruction, Lin Ling stepped directly into the backyard.
Then, Lin Ling saw a beautiful person standing by the iron gate, examining the flower bed with their head lowered.
Their delicate white fingers pinched the bright, dripping petals, bending down to examine them. Because of their posture, their white T-shirt and light knitted sweater hung down, and the camel-colored casual pants outlined an alluring curve on their waist and hips. Further down were a pair of slender, straight legs.
Their body proportions were close to perfection, with beautiful lines from neck to collarbone and their exposed skin shimmering brightly under the sun.
Just one glance and it was impossible for anyone to look away, their mind going completely blank.
The beautiful person who was stroking the petals seemed to hear the noise and raised their head to look over here, their snow-white face still carrying a smile.
Lin Ling held his breath.
Pei Congliang had just arrived by his side and, seeing this situation, felt that something was terribly wrong. Just as he was about to explain, he heard the person he had been thinking about for many years suddenly say, "What's his name?"
________________________
Author's Note:
Pei Congliang: ???
Lin Ling: In five minutes, I want to know everything about this person.
Pei Jingyun: Tsk.
Who's the boss? It's obvious at a glance.
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