Chapter 115
Note: Early release, thanks to Sakuradahl's support on Ko-Fi! ʚ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)ɞ
Mu Cai and Pei Jingyun were dining together on the fourth floor of the cafeteria at the Capital City Music Academy.
The variety of food here was overwhelming; snacks, stir-fries, Western dishes, and more, though the prices were significantly higher compared to other cafeterias. At this hour, it wasn't mealtime, so there were fewer students eating.
Mu Cai found the array of choices dazzling, unable to decide what he would like to eat. He wasn't a fussy eater and could enjoy anything, but his taste buds favored Chinese cuisine. Pei Jingyun took the initiative and ordered him a bowl of chicken soup, a bowl of ribs noodles as the main dish, and a variety of snacks from a few speciality stalls.
A full table of food was spread out before them.
Mu Cai was taken aback, "Mr. Pei, you've ordered so much, can we finish it?"
If it was just a little more than their usual intake, Mu Cai would be fine with it. But if this full table ended up wasted because they couldn't finish it, that would be too much.
Pei Jingyun, sitting across, raised an eyebrow, "If you can't finish, I still have room."
Mu Cai: "......"
It's because he thought both of them couldn't finish it that he was worried! Unless Pei Jingyun was a pig, then maybe they could finish it all. Mu Cai thought somewhat unfairly to himself.
Pei Jingyun had been in the business world for many years. Although his status often spared him from pleasing others, his knack for observing and understanding people had been honed since his childhood. In a way not even he could fully explain, he seemed unsettlingly skilled at reading Mu Cai’s expressions, as if he had practiced countless times before.
At the moment, watching the shimmer in the broad, dark eyes of the man across from him, his expression as lively as a deer's, Pei Jingyun could almost tell that he was plotting something. Unable to resist, he asked, "What's the matter, worried I won't be able to eat all this?"
One by one, the dishes were brought to their table by Liang, the assistant.
Hearing Pei Jingyun's question, Mu Cai unconsciously fiddled with his chopsticks in the empty bowl. Ever since they had sat down at this table, and now with his question, Pei Jingyun seemed unlike the man he knew from before.
Or rather, he didn't seem like the head of the Pei family. He seemed more like… a lover with whom he used to share everything.
As this thought crossed his mind, Mu Cai's long eyelashes twitched slightly. He pressed his lips together, harboring a playful thought. His gem-like eyes flashed with mischief as he ventured, "You know, Uncle Pei, a man's metabolism slows down as he ages."
With that, his restless eyes travelled towards Pei Jingyun's shoulder, chest, and waist, "A great physique like Uncle Pei's should be well maintained, shouldn't it?"
Pei Jingyun: "..."
This little rascal!
Pei Jingyun's mood became quite complicated, feeling both frustrated and amused. Did this little rascal know what he was implying? Was he trying to flirt with him? Daring to imply that he was old, calling him "uncle," and worried about him gaining weight! Was he really that old? He was only thirty this year, just eight years older than the little troublemaker in front of him. And he still exercised daily, so why would he let himself lose his shape?
Pei Jingyun sorely wished to grab this angel-faced little devil sitting opposite him, give him a good rub, and then take him to bed. Since se liked calling him "uncle" so much, it seemed he would have to have him call him that more often in the future.
A storm raged in his heart, but his face remained as stoic as ever. He allowed a rare smile, "Don't worry, I take good care of my health and have work to do. I won't have a problem finishing the food. Rather than worrying about me, you should be focusing on finishing your meal with your physique."
Mu Cai's noodle dish had just been served. As he took a mouthful and began to chew, he was taken aback by his comment, almost spit out his mouthful of noodles. Only his well-honed manners and the napkin provided at the table saved him from embarrassment. He quickly swallowed his food, covered his mouth with a tissue, and coughed a few times. His face turned red, eyes watering — she looked pitiful indeed.
Looking at the edges of his reddened eyes where tears collected and his ears glowing like red gems, Pei Jingyun's gaze darkened. He reached out and gently patted his back, his voice low, "Eat slowly, there's no rush. I'm not going to eat you up just yet. It's more important to make sure you're full first."
The orchestra junior sister, who was quietly observing from a discreet table nearby, couldn't help but cover her mouth when she heard:
What a daring statement!
She secretly peeked over at Lin Ling, who was at another table. He was holding a knife and fork, viciously hacking his steak to the point of disfigurement, his gritted teeth evident. It looked as though he might burst into action at any moment.
Fortunately, he still had some sense left and only stuffed the mangled steak into his mouth. As a bystander, the junior sister couldn't help but wonder if he even realized what he was eating.
After Mu Cai finished coughing and heard Pei Jingyun's words, he felt a fluttering in his heart despite his shyness. He lifted his gaze to see that after his statement, Pei Jingyun still had an indifferent look on his face, with just a delicate hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. His eyes were dark, showing no clear signs of flirtation.
Mu Cai couldn't help but feel a wave of inexplicable disappointment and relief simultaneously.
Their conversation was so natural that for a moment, Mu Cai felt as though his love had regained his memory. But apparently, that was not the case. It seemed that Pei Jingyun spoke merely in response to his playful teasing, perhaps a light retaliation.
And that way was fine too.
After all, Mu Cai wasn't completely ready yet, and he wasn't sure how to tell his lover, with whom he had shared several lifetimes, that they may never see each other again. He was also unsure about dealing with his accordingly wide range of possible reactions. The sooner his lover woke, the longer the time they would have to face the upcoming separation. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.
Thinking about this, Mu Cai felt disheartened. He fell quiet and began to focus on eating his meal.
Mu Cai ate his meal with serious dedication, quietly, and fully focused. Hence, he didn't notice the deepening gaze of the person sitting across from him as the blush vanished from his face.
Pei Jingyun didn't understand why, upon hearing his light-hearted jesting, Mu Cai's face showed signs of discontent. Was it because he had made his intentions too clear, and startled him off? He certainly tried to suppress his greed.
Or was it that Mu Cai was still concerned about his good-for-nothing nephew, hence he resisted humour of such nature?
As these thoughts passed through Pei Jingyun's mind, he couldn't help but feel agitated. However, with Mu Cai sitting across from him, he didn't want to disrupt his peaceful meal, so he suppressed his feelings and continued dining with him.
As Mu Cai proceeded with his meal, she found that Pei Jingyun hadn't been lying; he could indeed eat quite a lot. After finishing ribs and a small bowl of chicken soup, he was basically stuffed. Even the small plates of side dishes on the table were more than enough for Mu Cai. In contrast, Pei Jingyun not only finished his large serving of beef vermicelli and rib soup, but he also nearly polished all the remaining dishes on the table.
Mu Cai stared in disbelief at Pei Jingyun's impassive face, suspecting that his stomach might be a bottomless pit.
Seeing Mu Cai's wide-eyed astonishment, Pei Jingyun felt his mood lift. His reaction was adorable and vastly preferable to the sorrowful state he was in earlier.
He couldn't let him keep mulling over Pei Chongliang.
He needed to make himself the center of his thoughts.
As Pei Jingyun thought about this and saw Mu Cai gently pat his stomach with his slender, fair hand, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Are you too full? Why don't we go for a walk to help digest? Maybe stroll around the campus?"
Mu Cai felt this suggestion was excellent and immediately accepted without hesitation.
The scene drove Lin Ling, who sat on a table near them, nearly insane.
Why?! Whether it was having a meal with Mu Cai or strolling across the campus, it was him who thought about it first, prepared all for it. Plotted the entire scene, but now all was hijacked by this sanctimonious bandit!
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Mu Cai had a great time that day. She and Pei Jingyun strolled around the ancient campus of Jingcheng Music Academy until nearly five in the afternoon, only then did they get in the car to return to the Pei's residence.
By the time they arrived at the Pei home, it was already dusk. The setting sun's afterglow streaked down, casting long, dark silhouettes on the distant rolling hills, and gilded the black iron gate. The gloomy golden light scattered into the courtyard, creating light and shadow among the foliage.
Mu Cai was in a great mood, laughing all the way into the backyard. Pei Jingyun's mood was also excellent, until they were met up with the housekeeper at the iron gate who came forward to report something.
After listening, a rare frown crept upon Pei Jingyun's usually aloof face, "Are you saying he sent a violin over?"
The steward, not daring to look at his master's face, could only confirm, "Yes, he said it's a gift for Mr. Mu."
At this, Mu Cai, who was playing happily with the dog, turned his head. Some confusion evident on his delicate, pale face, "For me?"
Knowing Mu Cai's importance in his master's eyes and having taken a liking to this well-behaved young person, the steward hastily affirmed, "Yes."
"Then let's go take a look." Considering the gift was from the scum gong, Mu Cai thought it might be a plot progression. He had to go and see it.
With that thought, Mu Cai stood up from the ground. The comfortable hand no longer petting him, the dissatisfied black dog moved closer to Mu Cai's feet, wagging its tail frantically, trying to keep him around.
Unable to resist, Mu Cai gave him another pet before following the housekeeper into the living room.
Pei Jingyun closely followed. The black-back also wiggled its tail and followed them in.
Thanks to the housekeeper's intervention, the violin sent by Pei Congliang was not placed in Mu Cai's room, but displayed in the living room. Upon closer inspection, Mu Cai realized it was from the Qinhai brand.
It seemed that the scum-gong's pursuit of his wife in the crematorium plot had begun.
According to the original plot, the scum-gong started pursuing the original owner with the gift of a violin. Their acquaintance stemmed from the original owner playing the violin at a restaurant, and Pei Congliang had previously gifted him a violin from the Qinhai store, which was later accidentally damaged.
The other party tried to jog Mu Cai's memory of their beautiful past by sending an identically made violin.
Just as Mu Cai opened the violin case and was about to show a forlorn expression, he suddenly heard Pei Jingyun next to him ask, "Cai Cai, do you want to be a violin soloist?"
Taken aback, his brewing emotions instantly vanished. He turned his head in surprise, "Mr. Pei, why would you ask that?"
He thought that the other person wanted to invite him to be a violinist in his own symphony orchestra.
Pei Jingyun, with his dark pair of eyes said, “I heard your solo today. Although I don't understand music, I think you play very well. I think you might be more suitable to be a violin soloist."
"We would need a much better violin."
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Author's note:
Pei Jingyun: The point is a better violin, I'll get it for you :)
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