Chapter 53: Sister-in-law
The moment the address left his mouth, Wen Yan frowned.
Shen Yao let out a mischievous chuckle and explained, “Brother Pei told me about you two. Aren’t you together? My brother and I both have houses in this area. He never used to stay here before; he said this is the place where he keeps his wife.”
Shen Yao was naturally outgoing, and the adrenaline from pulling an all-nighter hadn’t worn off yet. He forcibly dragged Wen Yan into a conversation about everything and anything.
“…Sister-in-law, if you ever want to model or be a star again, just come straight here. I guarantee I’ll make you famous. And Sister-in-law, I’m planning to go mountain climbing and visit the hot springs in a while, you absolutely have to come. Sister-in-law, what kind of things do you usually like? I…”
He chattered on endlessly, using “Sister-in-law” as a comma.
The tips of Wen Yan’s ears turned slightly red, and he didn’t know how to respond.
The two moved from standing to sitting on a bench in the residential complex.
The autumn morning temperature was pleasant; this kind of weather was indeed suitable for chatting.
Shen Yao took a breath. “Sister-in-law, if there’s anything you want to know about my brother, just ask me. Don’t you have my WeChat? You can reach out anytime.”
Wen Yan was quiet for a moment. Just when Shen Yao thought he wouldn’t respond, he suddenly asked, “Then, do you know about Pei Zhouye during high school?”
As soon as he asked, Wen Yan began to regret it. It was just that Shen Yao was so chatty that he had let the question slip out.
He didn’t even know why he was asking!
“High school? He studied at the school here for a year and then went to Nan City. He had a fight with Uncle Pei and stayed in Nan City for a year. Then, the following year, he went abroad to study.”
Wen Yan nodded gently, somewhat distracted. “Then, did he have anyone he liked?”
“No!” Shen Yao shuddered in fright, answering with categorical certainty and an earnest face. “Absolutely not. Sister-in-law, you have to trust my brother.”
Wen Yan was startled by his exaggerated reaction. “It’s fine, I was just asking casually.”
“I still have to go to school, I’m heading off now.”
Shen Yao stood up. “Alright! Let’s chat again next time.”
After saying goodbye, as Wen Yan made his way to school, his mind was filled with things that shouldn’t be there.
Pei Zhouye and Shen Yao were so close. Regarding Pei Zhouye saying he liked him back in high school—there was only one possibility.
Pei Zhouye was lying to him.
Leaves were falling from the trees on both sides of the small path due to a sudden gust of wind.
Wen Yan thought to himself that the thing he hated most was being lied to, and he was terrified that Pei Zhouye would lie to him.
The deepest mark Gu Yulan had left on Wen Yan was a fear of deception that was etched into his very bones.
He turned on his phone. There were several red dots on WeChat, messages received after he had gone to sleep last night that he hadn’t had time to check.
Pei Zhouye’s profile picture had sunk to the bottom; Pei Zhouye hadn’t sent him any messages last night either.
This week, the messages between the two could be counted on one hand. Perhaps Pei Zhouye had already forgotten him—that would be the best outcome.
[Cheng Shangshi: I think it’s necessary for us to speak face-to-face.]
[Cheng Shangshi: I’m returning to A City next week. Let’s meet if you have time.]
[Dr. Ping: That’s fine. You can come for a follow-up consultation during this period, just book an appointment three days in advance.]
Cheng Shangshi insisted on apologizing for the previous incident with Agent Wang. Wen Yan had refused, but the other party was persistent.
Dr. Ping was his previous psychiatrist.
The strange emotions regarding a certain matter had exceeded his expectations, and Wen Yan felt he had to go for a follow-up.
It was already October. The confidentiality protocols for “Morning Star 3.0” were no longer as strict as before, and it was gradually being opened up to the outside world.
Wu Qingqing was responsible for this area, making it much easier to apply for visitor slots for Wen Yan and Duan Mingtao.
The three of them agreed to meet on Monday morning after the company’s regular meeting, then visit the lab in the afternoon after finishing their work.
Everything went smoothly.
At noon, as the three were eating together in the cafeteria, a few people nearby were chatting.
“I told you President Pei isn’t single, but you guys wouldn’t believe it.”
Several people chuckled softly.
Wen Yan’s body stiffened, and he fiddled with his utensils unnaturally.
Duan Mingtao looked up and glanced at him.
Wu Qingqing, oblivious to everything, praised the taste of the cafeteria food today.
Pei Zhouye was younger than most people in the company. He sat in the CEO’s seat because Chairman Pei was his father, but he held the respect of the crowd through his own ability. Young, handsome, and the CEO—naturally, he was easily the center of conversation.
“Didn’t the CEO’s wife come to the company today?” The speaker’s voice carried a teasing, gossipy tone. “President Pei has had a dark expression all week; he definitely quarreled with his partner. His face looks much better today.”
“You saw them?”
“I saw them, but the identity is top secret, I can’t say. You’ll definitely be surprised later.”
Hearing this, Wen Yan knew the person they were discussing definitely wasn’t him. He and Pei Zhouye hadn’t quarreled, and he hadn’t met Pei Zhouye since coming in today.
Even though he knew it might be a rumor, he couldn’t stand listening to it and wanted to get up and leave.
But they had just sat down; changing seats now would be too deliberate.
Duan Mingtao suddenly spoke up. “Qingqing, your friend seems to be over there. Let’s go eat with them.”
Wu Qingqing was stunned for a moment. Duan Mingtao usually didn’t like eating with others, but she agreed quickly, “Okay.”
Wen Yan breathed a sigh of relief and cast a grateful look at Duan Mingtao.
Duan Mingtao met his gaze with a faint expression for a few seconds.
He really knew everything.
Since returning from the National Day holiday, Wen Yan had also noticed something: the distance between Duan Mingtao and Wu Qingqing had clearly shrunk, displaying an intimacy and naturalness beyond normal social distance.
When he messaged him before, the two were also eating together.
When they returned to the office together, Wen Yan lowered his voice and asked, “Are you and Qingqing together?”
“I’m pursuing her,” Duan Mingtao didn’t hide it. “She doesn’t know I like her. Are you and President Pei together?”
Wen Yan choked, regretting his loose lips in probing someone else’s privacy.
“I guess so,” he answered vaguely.
Duan Mingtao stopped walking and advised him seriously in a deep voice, “Wen Yan, think it over. Consider it carefully, don’t get deceived. I don’t mean anything else, it’s just that being with someone like him… don’t invest too much emotion. You’ll likely get hurt in the future.”
His friend’s advice was sincere.
Wen Yan was grateful that he was genuinely considering his well-being and replied, “Thank you, I know.”
He wouldn’t fall in love with Pei Zhouye. He wouldn’t let himself get hurt.
The seeds of a deformed relationship would only bloom into gaudy, poisonous flowers; they would never bear the fruit of sincerity.
In the afternoon, the three went to the laboratory together.
After systematic checks and approvals, they finally arrived at the place where they could see the finished “Morning Star 3.0”.
Behind the glass, a humanoid robot as tall as a person stood before Wen Yan. It was completely black, the joints connected with exquisite detail, every line sexy and cold.
Seeing it with his own eyes was much more visceral than seeing it in pictures.
Pei’s Corporation was truly the leading technology company in Country C.
Wen Yan held his breath, looking obsessively at the details everywhere, his hand gently touching the glass.
“Brother Zhouye, this is way too cool!”
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