Chapter 117: Long Time No See
This was the first time Wen Yan had seen these two since returning to the country.
Shen Yao looked more mature than in his memory, though that bit of casual playfulness in his eyes remained unchanged—he was still the same pampered young master born of privilege. Beside him, Wang Shu was exactly the same: indifferent, steady, and radiating a sense of aloofness that seemed detached from the world.
Before the awkwardness of a long-awaited reunion could set in, Shen Yao stepped forward with a smile.
“Wen Yan, long time no see.”
His steps were light. Before Pei Zhouye could even react, Shen Yao was already at Wen Yan’s side, perfectly wedging himself between the two.
“Have you adjusted to being back after staying abroad for so long?” Shen Yao naturally led Wen Yan inside. “The restaurant I invested in is unparalleled in City A when it comes to the view, the taste, and the vibe. Have a good meal today. I’ll have someone send you a membership card later; come often.”
Under his subtle efforts to ease the tension, the tightness in Wen Yan’s shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.
Watching their retreating backs as they walked ahead, Pei Zhouye frowned slightly. He leaned toward Wang Shu and whispered, “What did you say to Shen Yao?”
With Shen Yao’s brain, he couldn’t have thought up so many twists and turns, nor would he frequently go against Pei Zhouye like this.
Wang Shu arched an eyebrow, a knowing smile curling on his lips. “Pei-ge, we’re creating opportunities for you and Wen Yan. You’ll see in a bit.”
Pei Zhouye naturally trusted that they had no ill intentions, but the displeasure of being interrupted lingered. His tone was flat, yet he dropped a bombshell: “I won’t help you and Shen Yao create opportunities.”
The smile on Wang Shu’s face froze instantly. “Ge, what do you mean by that?”
Pei Zhouye gave him a deep look without saying a word and stepped forward to catch up with the others.
Shen Yao was right; the scenery and cuisine here were unmatched in all of City A.
The restaurant was located in the city center, yet it occupied such a vast space; the power and wealth behind it were self-evident.
Outside the window was the glittering city nightscape, while inside was the warmth of Shen Yao’s never-fading enthusiasm.
As Wen Yan listened to him chat about anything and everything, his gaze would frequently and inadvertently meet the eyes of the person sitting across from him.
Just as he was about to stiffly look away, he suddenly jolted.
Beneath the tablecloth, someone had pointedly brushed against his knee.
Wen Yan looked at Pei Zhouye in disbelief. The latter looked right back at him, the smile in his alluring eyes unmistakable and completely shameless.
“What’s wrong?” Wang Shu’s gaze fell on Wen Yan. Noticing the flush on his ears and his uncomfortable expression, he asked, “Is it too hot?”
Only then did Wen Yan realize his face and ears had turned crimson. Because he frequently worked in the research institute, his skin had become even fairer, making the blush more obvious. “It’s nothing,” he stammered.
They had done far more intimate things many times before, yet here he was, blushing over such a childish and boring trick.
In his heart, Wen Yan cursed Pei Zhouye for being utterly shameless.
Shen Yao was an expert at starting conversations. There wasn’t a single dull moment throughout the entire meal. Between the four of them, they managed to summarize the past four years in just a few exchanges.
“The food there was terrible, so I sometimes cooked for myself. I was too busy, so I usually just ate whatever was available.” Wen Yan also casually shared some of his daily life abroad.
Under the falling light, Wen Yan kept his eyes lowered, his delicate and beautiful features shrouded in a soft glow. He spoke of the simple routines of his time as a student—the language, the food, the professors—and his subsequent period working for a top-tier global tech company.
He didn’t speak quickly, and he didn’t say much. He summarized everything in a few simple sentences without excessive detail, yet he possessed a mysterious ability to make people listen without interruption.
Pei Zhouye didn’t say much.
He knew everything Wen Yan had done in Country D, but hearing it from Wen Yan’s own mouth was different. If it had just been the two of them tonight, Wen Yan never would have chatted with him so relaxedly about so much.
The atmosphere was loose as they chatted, and with a few bottles of wine opened, it truly felt like old friends meeting after years apart.
Wang Shu mentioned that he had eventually taken over some of his family’s businesses, but only after fighting tooth and nail to ensure he wasn’t saddled with too much. He leaned back casually in his chair. “I didn’t want to end up like Pei-ge. I struggled with it for a while, but Shen Yao told me that if I didn’t want to do it, I should just refuse. It’s not like I’d ever lack money. He said I should leave more time for us to hang out and just be happy. I thought about it, and he was right.”
Shen Yao chimed in with a laugh, “Exactly! Look at me—free as a bird, doing whatever I want. My Ge’s life isn’t for everyone. He’s so busy he’s constantly flying between two countries, dealing with jet lag. He can’t even sit down for a proper meal most of the time.”
As he finished, a strange silence suddenly fell over the table.
Everyone knew which two countries he meant, and everyone knew why he was flying between them.
Pei Zhouye’s thumb traced the rim of his glass. Hearing those words, he only gave an extremely faint tug of his lips.
“I was negotiating for a batch of imported materials. They were being difficult, so I had to make a few extra trips.” His tone was flat and devoid of emotion. He was lying.
Pei Corp had expanded significantly, and under Pei Zhouye’s attention, Pei Corp Technology was now among the global elite. What kind of collaboration could possibly require Pei Zhouye to personally fly thousands of miles across the ocean time and again?
The group continued chatting, and time passed quickly. Without realizing it, Wen Yan had already finished several glasses of wine. He didn’t have much of a tolerance for alcohol, and the wine Shen Yao had brought was quite strong. After a few glasses, his head began to swim.
He felt a bit drowsy. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard Shen Yao suddenly call his name.
“Wen Yan, my birthday is coming up soon. You have to come, okay?” Shen Yao had also drunk quite a bit and was showing signs of intoxication. “I really do see you as a friend. Aside from my Ge, I truly think you’re a good person…”
Wang Shu rested his elbow on the table and massaged his forehead in exasperation. He really couldn’t bear to watch; when would Shen Yao ever grow out of this habit of making grand declarations of affection whenever he got drunk?
Wen Yan felt like he was constantly toggling between being awake and being in a daze. He nodded, forcing himself to stay conscious. “Okay. You’re a good person too. For the past… thank you.”
Pei Zhouye listened intently. Wen Yan’s voice grew quieter and quieter. After saying “thank you,” he went completely silent.
The person across from him had already fallen asleep, his head tilted slightly to the side. His thin eyelids were closed, and his moist lips were slightly parted.
“Thank you.” Pei Zhouye whispered the words Wen Yan had just spoken.
He finally understood why Wen Yan was willing to eat dinner with Shen Yao. To be honest, four years ago, Wen Yan and Shen Yao weren’t even particularly close friends. Wen Yan’s personality was cold; he wasn’t someone who was easy to get close to. He was willing to meet Shen Yao after returning because of a “thank you”—thanks to Shen Yao for convincing him to let Wen Yan go back then.
Pei Zhouye went to pick Wen Yan up while Wang Shu helped Shen Yao to his feet.
With that warm body pressed against his own through a layer of fabric, Pei Zhouye’s breathing gradually became heavy.
Pei Zhouye sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling heavily on Wen Yan’s face.
He reached out his hand, but just as his fingertips were about to touch that delicate cheek, he hovered in the air. In the end, he only very lightly brushed away the stray hairs on Wen Yan’s forehead.
As he felt that familiar warmth from his fingertips, he closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly.
Wen Yan, long time no see.
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