Chapter 104: Risks
The morning sun was what eventually coaxed Wen Yan awake. When he opened his eyes, Pei Zhouye was already fully dressed, sitting by the bedside while leafing through a document; the dawn light fell across his profile, softening the usually cold and sharp lines of his features.
“You’re awake?” Pei Zhouye looked up, marking a spot in the file with a light clip of his fingers. “I had the ayi (maid/aunt) prepare the soup dumplings you like. You can eat once you’ve finished washing up”.
Wen Yan rubbed his eyes and sat up, his hair a bit of a mess. He glanced at the schedule spread out beside Pei Zhouye, which was filled with red-inked entries like “Drop Wen Yan off at the lab” and “Coordinate Swiss security details with the Special Assistant,” with every item timed down to the minute. A sudden warmth bloomed in his heart, and he reached out to tug on Pei Zhouye’s sleeve. “You don’t need to pack your schedule so tight. I can go to the lab by myself”.
“No”. Pei Zhouye set the document down and reached out to tidy the stray hairs on Wen Yan’s forehead. “After Lin Seran managed to slip away yesterday, I can’t afford to take any more risks”. He paused, his voice softening slightly. “Besides, I want to walk with you a bit longer”.
Wen Yan didn’t argue further and obediently got out of bed to wash up. During breakfast, while Pei Zhouye peeled the skin of a soup dumpling for him, he remarked seemingly at random, “I’ve already given the lab a heads-up. I’ll have two extra security guards waiting at the door today, so don’t feel uncomfortable”.
“Mhm,” Wen Yan hummed noncommittally through a mouthful of dumpling. He knew Pei Zhouye was worried about him, yet he couldn’t help but wonder: since when did he need to be protected with such extreme caution?. Back when he used to pull all-nighters for experiments and walk back to the dorms alone in the dead of night, he had never felt afraid.
After breakfast, the two of them drove to the University A laboratory. As the car turned into the campus gates, Wen Yan spotted two men in black suits standing at the entrance; their posture was straight and their gazes sharp, clearly the security Pei Zhouye had arranged. Passing students couldn’t help but turn their heads frequently, eyeing the car with curiosity, causing Wen Yan to instinctively shrink back into his seat.
Noticing the small movement, Pei Zhouye reached out and squeezed his hand. “Don’t mind what others think”.
Once the car came to a steady stop, Pei Zhouye got out first and walked around to the passenger side to open the door, his movements as natural as if he had done them a thousand times. Faint gasps of surprise drifted from the surroundings. Wen Yan stepped out with a flushed face, shielded by Pei Zhouye as they walked toward the lab.
Just as they reached the corridor, his Shidi, Chen Ming, came running over clutching a stack of experimental logs. He froze for a moment upon seeing Pei Zhouye, then quickly greeted them with a smile: “Wen-Xuechang, President Pei!”.
“I’ll be troubling you today.” Wen Yan took the logs from Chen Ming’s hands, feeling the warmth of the paper against his fingertips. “I’ve marked the key points for these data sets. The subsequent culture steps are on the last page. If there’s anything you don’t understand…”.
“I know!” Chen Ming nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely follow through. I promise to have a complete experimental report ready for you by the time you return from Switzerland!”.
Wen Yan laughed and patted his shoulder, a wave of warmth rising in his chest. He had spent three years in this lab, growing from a green freshman to someone who could lead his Shidi and Shimei through research projects; this place held too many of his memories.
Pei Zhouye stood to the side, watching Wen Yan and Chen Ming talk without interrupting. Only when Wen Yan turned to enter the lab did he take a step forward, pulling a small tracker from his pocket and tucking it into Wen Yan’s pocket. “Keep this with you. If you press it, I’ll receive the signal”.
Wen Yan squeezed the tracker in his pocket; the metal casing was cold, yet it made his heart feel warm. He looked up at Pei Zhouye, just about to say, “I got it,” when a commotion erupted inside the lab.
“Wen-Xuechang! Look at this, quick!” A Shimei ran out holding a tablet, her face flushed with excitement. “Your paper was published in Cell Research! It was even listed as a featured recommendation for this issue!”.
Wen Yan was stunned for a moment before quickly stepping forward to take the tablet. On the screen was the official website for Cell Research; his paper’s title was printed clearly on the homepage, accompanied by an editor’s comment praising his research for “providing a new perspective in the field of cell differentiation”.
“It’s really my paper!” Wen Yan’s hands began to tremble, his eyes shining as if forged in light. He had spent a full six months revising this paper, and after submitting it, there had been no news for so long that he thought it had been rejected. He never expected it to be accepted by such an authoritative journal, much less become a featured recommendation.
Pei Zhouye walked to his side and looked down at the tablet, the corners of his mouth curving upward uncontrollably. “I knew you could do it.” He reached out to wrap an arm around Wen Yan’s waist, his voice thick with pride. “We’ll go out and celebrate tonight”.
The students in the lab crowded around, chiming in with their congratulations. Someone suggested they go for hotpot at noon, and Wen Yan agreed with a smile before turning to Pei Zhouye. “Are you free at noon? Want to join us?”.
Pei Zhouye glanced at the schedule on his phone; the time to “Coordinate security with the Special Assistant” was exactly at noon. But seeing the expectant look in Wen Yan’s eyes, he nodded anyway. “I’m free. Let me give my assistant a call”.
He walked to the end of the corridor to make the call, his voice kept low, yet fragments of words still drifted into Wen Yan’s ears—”Postpone the meeting until the afternoon,” “Ensure every floor of the Swiss hotel has security”. Wen Yan’s heart softened; no matter how busy he was, Pei Zhouye always put Wen Yan’s matters first.
The hotpot lunch was incredibly lively. His Shidi and Shimei swarmed Wen Yan, asking for tips on paper writing and curiously inquiring about the symposium in Switzerland. Pei Zhouye sat beside Wen Yan, quietly blanching meat for him. Occasionally, when someone asked about his relationship with Wen Yan, he simply replied with a smile, “I’m his boyfriend,” his tone open and without a hint of concealment.
Watching Pei Zhouye skillfully skim the chili oil from his bowl, Wen Yan suddenly felt an immense sense of peace. Back when he was with Gu Yulan, Gu Yulan would never acknowledge their relationship in front of others, always saying, “We’re just friends”. But Pei Zhouye was willing to introduce him openly to everyone, letting him know that he was truly cherished.
After the hotpot, Pei Zhouye had to head to the company to finalize security details, while Wen Yan returned to the lab to organize his final materials. When they said their goodbyes at the lab entrance, Pei Zhouye suddenly pulled him into a hug, whispering in his ear, “I’ll pick you up tonight and take you somewhere special”.
Wen Yan nodded and watched Pei Zhouye’s car disappear at the end of the road before turning to enter the lab. Sitting at his lab bench, he looked at the paper spread across the table, feeling a deep sense of achievement. He pulled out his phone, intending to message Zhang-Jiaoshou with the good news, but his thumb hesitated over the contact list—he saw the name “Gu Yulan”.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Wen Yan opened the chat. He wanted to tell Gu Yulan that his paper had been published; he wanted Gu Yulan to know that he was doing very well now. But the words in the input box were deleted and revised until finally, he only sent: “My paper was published in Cell Research“.
Not long after, Gu Yulan replied: “Got it. Congratulations.” His tone was flat, without a ripple of emotion.
Looking at the reply, Wen Yan suddenly felt a bit empty. He thought Gu Yulan would be happy for him; after all, back in the lab, Gu Yulan had been the one who supported his research the most. But now, all that remained between them were these polite and distant exchanges.
“Xuechang, what’s wrong?” Chen Ming walked over with a glass of water and asked, noticing Wen Yan staring blankly at his phone.
“It’s nothing.” Wen Yan tucked his phone away and smiled. “Let’s get back to organizing the data”.
The afternoon flew by. By the time Wen Yan finished organizing the data and giving final instructions to his juniors, evening had arrived. Just as he finished packing, he received a message from Pei Zhouye: “I’m waiting for you downstairs”.
Wen Yan hurried down and saw Pei Zhouye leaning against the car door, holding an exquisitely wrapped box. “What is this?” he asked curiously.
“A gift for you.” Pei Zhouye handed him the box, a trace of expectation in his eyes. “Open it and see”.
Wen Yan unwrapped the box to find a watch inside. The dial was a pale blue and the strap was made of soft leather; it looked very refined. “This is too expensive…”.
“It’s not.” Pei Zhouye interrupted him, reaching out to help him fasten the watch onto his wrist. “The time in Switzerland is different from home. If you wear this, you’ll always know what time it is back here.” He paused, his voice softening. “When you miss me, just look at the watch and pretend I’m right there with you”.
Wen Yan looked down at the watch on his wrist; the hands on the dial moved with a faint, rhythmic ticking. His heart felt full, warm and soft. He looked up at Pei Zhouye, stood on his tiptoes, and planted a soft kiss on his chin. “Thank you, Pei Zhouye”.
Pei Zhouye’s body stiffened for a moment before he reached out to wrap his arms around Wen Yan’s waist, deepening the kiss. Jeers and cheers erupted from the surrounding students; Wen Yan’s face flushed red instantly, and he pushed Pei Zhouye away, pulling him quickly into the car.
As the car pulled away from University A, Wen Yan leaned against the window, watching the streetscape recede. “Where are we going to celebrate?”.
“You’ll know when we get there.” Pei Zhouye gave a mysterious smile and said nothing more.
The car drove for about half an hour before stopping in front of a riverside restaurant. Once Wen Yan stepped out, he realized this was the very restaurant he had mentioned to Pei Zhouye last time—the one rumored to have the most beautiful view of the river.
“How did you know I wanted to come here?” Wen Yan asked in surprise.
“Last time you saw this restaurant while scrolling through your phone, your eyes lit up. I took note of it.” Pei Zhouye took his hand and led him inside.
The waitstaff clearly recognized Pei Zhouye and led them directly to a window seat. Once seated, Wen Yan looked out at the river; the sun was slowly setting, dyeing the surface of the water in gold. Sightseeing boats drifted slowly across the river, leaving long trails in their wake.
“Do you like it here?” Pei Zhouye asked, his eyes full of expectation.
“I love it.” Wen Yan nodded, deeply moved. He had only mentioned it in passing, yet Pei Zhouye had committed it to heart.
The food arrived quickly, all of it Wen Yan’s favorites. Pei Zhouye kept placing food on Wen Yan’s plate, hardly touching his own chopsticks. “Eat more. You’re leaving for Switzerland tomorrow, and I don’t know if the food there will suit your palate”.
“It’s fine, I can cook for myself,” Wen Yan said. “The hotel should have a kitchen, right?”.
“It does.” Pei Zhouye nodded. “I’ve already confirmed it with the hotel. I also packed some of your favorite seasonings in your suitcase”.
Wen Yan’s heart warmed, and he said nothing more, silently enjoying the meal. He knew Pei Zhouye had done so much for him—so much that he didn’t even know how to express his gratitude.
After dinner, the two of them strolled along the riverbank. The night breeze was cool against their faces, and Wen Yan instinctively leaned closer to Pei Zhouye. Pei Zhouye reached out to pull him into his arms, their long shadows stretching out under the streetlights.
“Pei Zhouye,” Wen Yan suddenly spoke. “Do you think I’ll run into any trouble once I get to Switzerland?”.
“You will.” Pei Zhouye didn’t hide the truth. “Academic research always comes with difficulties, and you might struggle to adapt to the lifestyle. But I believe in you; you’re strong, and you’ll overcome it.” He paused, then added, “If there’s something you really can’t solve, call me. I’ll fly over immediately to be with you”.
Wen Yan nodded, feeling much more at ease. He looked at Pei Zhouye, suddenly feeling incredibly lucky to have met such a wonderful person.
By the time they returned to the apartment, it was nearly ten o’clock. After Wen Yan finished washing up, he sat at his desk and pulled out the USB drive Zhang-Jiaoshou had given him, watching the presentation video one more time. Pei Zhouye sat beside him, processing company emails, occasionally pouring him a glass of water or handing him a piece of fruit.
Around eleven o’clock, Wen Yan finally finished the video. He stretched and leaned back against the chair, looking at the dense notes in his notebook with a sense of accomplishment. “Pei Zhouye, I’m ready”.
Pei Zhouye walked over, looked down at his notebook, and smiled. “I knew you could do it. It’s late, go to sleep. You have an early flight to catch tomorrow”.
Wen Yan nodded and followed Pei Zhouye into the bedroom. Lying in bed, Wen Yan found himself unable to sleep. He thought about how he was leaving for Switzerland tomorrow, his heart a mix of excitement and nerves. Noticing his restlessness, Pei Zhouye reached out to pull him into his arms. “What’s wrong? Still thinking about Switzerland?”.
“Mhm.” Wen Yan nodded, his voice a bit raspy. “I’m a little worried I won’t perform well at the symposium, and I’m worried I won’t adapt to life in Switzerland”.
“Don’t worry.” Pei Zhouye gently patted his back. “You’ve prepared thoroughly for your presentation; you’ll do great. As for life in Switzerland, don’t worry about that either; I’ve already arranged everything. The hotel has the pillows you like, and I packed your usual medications—if you feel unwell, take them immediately. Also, I’ve already coordinated with a security firm in Switzerland; they’ll be protecting you twenty-four hours a day”.
Listening to Pei Zhouye’s rambling instructions, the tension in Wen Yan’s heart slowly dissipated. He reached out to wrap his arms around Pei Zhouye’s waist, burying his face in his chest. “Pei Zhouye, it’s so good to have you”.
“Go to sleep. You have to wake up early”.
Recommended Reads
