Chapter 157: Stealing Fragrance (12)
Once certain things begin, they cannot be easily ended.
Xiao Ji was destined not to return home tonight.
Because of Pei Yinnian’s harsh threat to “chop him up and feed him to the dogs” if he wasn’t serviced well, Xiao Ji directly extended the battlefront into the late hours of the night.
At the beginning, Pei Yinnian never imagined he would one day fall into such a predicament. Far from being cooperative, he spent the time throwing a fit.
The “composed and gentlemanly” facade he had painstakingly maintained lately was tossed aside completely as he spent the entire time cursing.
But Xiao Ji always knew exactly how to handle his lover.
It was the classic strategy of combining grace with authority, and tempering hardness with softness.
When Pei Yinnian’s mouth became particularly foul again, Xiao Ji delivered a firm slap to his “apple” (buttock). Then, while Pei Yinnian was dazed, Xiao Ji covered his mouth and gently kissed his earlobe, whispering:
“Be good. Stop making a fuss.”
And so, Pei Yinnian settled down. Later on, when Xiao Ji tried to withdraw several times, he was dragged back by Pei Yinnian.
A long time later, Pei Yinnian looked at Xiao Ji, who was sitting by his bed with a bare upper body, lighting one of his own cigarettes. He felt as if he was meeting the person before him for the very first time.
“Is this how you ‘pursued your studies’ abroad?”
Pei Yinnian’s voice was raspy as he asked while looking at Xiao Ji’s profile.
Xiao Ji spared him a glance.
“No one abroad ever told me to ‘follow’ them.”
Pei Yinnian lay face down on the bed and closed his eyes. “If I ever find out you’ve told a single lie, I’ll blow your brains out.”
Xiao Ji didn’t respond to the threat. He put on Pei Yinnian’s pajamas, left the room, and returned with hot water. He rinsed a towel and patiently, meticulously cleaned Pei Yinnian.
Afterward, he casually picked up the newspaper sitting by the bedside and began to read.
Before today, when Pei Yinnian saw Xiao Ji like this, he could probably still see the refined elegance of a scholar.
But now, only two terms occupied his mind: “refined scumbag” and “beast in a suit.”
He watched Xiao Ji in silence. The fatigue and soreness in his body were comparable to having been on a real battlefield.
Before long, he drifted off into a hazy sleep.
When dawn broke and Pei Yinnian opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Ji wearing the same shirt and vest he had worn yesterday.
The air of poverty brought about by the worn-out long gown was completely gone, making Pei Yinnian feel for a moment that Xiao Ji truly was a noble young master from a prominent family.
His voice was even raspier as he spoke: “Leaving?”
Seeing that he was awake, Xiao Ji walked to his side, leaned down, and touched his forehead. After confirming he wasn’t running a fever, he gave an “en.”
“I have class.”
Pei Yinnian, currently in poor condition, closed his eyes and waved a hand.
“Have Lin Shu drive you.”
Xiao Ji gave a word of acknowledgement. As soon as he went downstairs, he ran into Pei Xinyun, who was also preparing to head to school.
Seeing Xiao Ji, Pei Xinyun was visibly stunned. It took her a long moment to stammer:
“Mister… you didn’t go back last night?”
Xiao Ji gave a simple “en.”
Pei Xinyun scrutinized Xiao Ji. “Are those my brother’s clothes?”
Xiao Ji nodded, still offering no explanation.
However, Pei Xinyun was clearly not going to play deaf and dumb.
“You and my brother…”
Xiao Ji finished her sentence: “Had a very pleasant conversation and shared a few drinks.”
Two men having a pleasant talk and a few drinks was hardly scandalous.
But Pei Xinyun couldn’t help but feel that something was off.
She knew her brother all too well. Ever since she could remember, Pei Yinnian had never “conversed pleasantly” with anyone besides Lin Shu, let alone invited someone to stay overnight.
Even then, Lin Shu had never worn Pei Yinnian’s clothes. Furthermore, whenever Lin Shu stayed, he used the guest room on the first floor.
And Xiao Ji—if she wasn’t mistaken—had just come down from the direction of Pei Yinnian’s bedroom.
Pei Xinyun looked at Xiao Ji, hesitating. But because she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the problem was, she ultimately didn’t ask anything else.
It is said that “clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse,” and this was no lie.
When Xiao Ji appeared at school wearing Pei Yinnian’s clothes, he immediately attracted a great deal of attention. However, he didn’t feel uncomfortable in the slightest.
He continued his lectures or sat in his office spacing out as usual.
The only difference was that when school let out in the evening, a female teacher took the initiative to block Xiao Ji’s path as he was leaving the gates.
“Hello, Mister Xiao. I am Zhou Hui. Before you arrived, I was the one teaching your class’s National Literature.”
Xiao Ji stopped and said politely, “Greetings.”
He had a slight impression of this Zhou Hui. System 037 had mentioned her before—a daughter from a scholarly family who had always been very opposed to the idea of studying abroad. Her attitude had indirectly influenced the hostile reception Xiao Ji received from students like Huang Ye when he first arrived.
Zhou Hui was very beautiful. Dressed in a qipao, she possessed an extraordinary aura.
She held her books in one hand and used the other to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, which had been ruffled by the wind. She said to Xiao Ji:
“I heard about what happened with Huang Ye when you first arrived. I’ve wanted to apologize to you for a while, but I thought it might be too forward.”
Xiao Ji spoke bluntly: “No need. It caused me no loss or harm.”
Zhou Hui waved her hand. “No, I want to apologize for my stereotypical perception of those who have studied abroad.”
In the past, she felt that what their ancestors had left behind was enough for scholars to study for a lifetime; why bother running off to worship foreign things and eventually forget one’s roots?
Initially, she didn’t think someone like Xiao Ji would have any real substance.
But lately, she had secretly listened to several of Xiao Ji’s lectures. His analysis and understanding of National Literature were in no way inferior to hers. Moreover, some of his theories were quite interesting, and she was eager to have a deeper discussion with him.
After much thought, she decided to strike up a conversation to at least become acquainted.
But Xiao Ji’s attitude remained cold. He simply said:
“It is unnecessary. Whatever attitude Mister Zhou holds toward others does not affect me, nor is it any of my business.”
Zhou Hui didn’t expect to hit such a wall. Unable to read Xiao Ji’s thoughts and wondering if her apology was too late, she asked tentatively:
“Is Mister Xiao angry with me?”
Xiao Ji only felt that Zhou Hui was being rather baffling. He said patiently:
“Mister Zhou overstates the matter. There is truly no need to overthink it.”
Just as his words fell, a vintage car parked by the roadside honked its horn manically.
Xiao Ji turned his head and saw Pei Yinnian standing by the car door, his expression cold and terrifying.
Wherever Pei Yinnian was, he was an absolutely eye-catching presence. The way he was staring at Xiao Ji was something even Zhou Hui noticed.
Among those with any family background, almost everyone recognized Pei Yinnian’s face.
Zhou Hui was surprised. She was about to lower her voice to tell Xiao Ji about this “Master of Huating” when she saw Pei Yinnian walking toward them.
He stood in front of Xiao Ji and opened his mouth to say:
“Do you even remember what your surname is?”
These words were spoken rather disrespectfully.
Fortunately, Xiao Ji wasn’t someone who cared about “face” at all.
Hearing this, he spoke right in front of Zhou Hui:
“If you acknowledge the account, then I suppose I should be surnamed Pei now.”
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