Chapter 72: Disgusting
The curtains in the room were drawn tight, the space illuminated only by the sterile glow of incandescent lights.
Pei Zhouye wasn’t angered. Instead, he explained to Wen Yan with eerie composure, “My Da-ye isn’t as handsome or as young as I am. You can only date me.”
Wen Yan was momentarily speechless. He had finally summoned the courage to utter a curse word, only to be met by a lunatic like Pei Zhouye.
“What will it take for you to let me go?” Wen Yan asked, his voice thick with exhaustion.
“Unless I die.”
The answer followed Wen Yan’s question almost instantly.
Wen Yan’s patience evaporated completely. He stated coldly, “You are a man of no word.”
“I’m not willing to let go,” Pei Zhouye said, his voice dropping an octave. His dark eyes remained fixed on Wen Yan, filled with a frantic, desperate longing. “I cannot allow you to leave me and be with someone else. I—”
“I hate it when people lie to me the most,” Wen Yan interrupted. “I don’t want to hear your long-winded speeches. You promised that after January 22nd, you would never pester me again. Now you’ve gone back on your word so shamelessly. Pei Zhouye, do you have a shred of conscience?”
“Can’t we just end this on good terms?” Wen Yan’s voice was weary, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated lethargy. “I know I owe you a lot. I know controlling me is a simple task for you. But could you please stop making me repay you in a way that insults me?”
“You don’t owe me anything anymore. You’ve paid it back, alright?” Pei Zhouye’s tone bordered on begging. “Wen Yan, I never wanted you to repay me, and I never meant to insult you. I just want you to stay by my side. You’re so smart—can’t you see that?”
Wen Yan lowered his gaze, his long, dark lashes casting a shadow over his eyes.
There were many ways to express love, but this was certainly not one of them. Pei Zhouye had been forcing him down a path he had chosen for him, never giving him more than a single option.
Pei Zhouye didn’t know how to love someone properly. He only knew how to seize control of everything at the slightest disagreement, even going as far as to literally lock him in the house with a chain.
“Pei Zhouye, no one is forced to accept a confession. I have the right to reject you.” Wen Yan was tired of the entanglement. “Must everything in this world go exactly as you wish?”
A heavy, silent standoff ensued.
“You said you liked me,” Pei Zhouye said stubbornly, his eyes churning with emotion.
Wen Yan steadied himself and finally looked up. “I’ve also said many times that I don’t like you. The time I said I liked you was a lie. Is that enough for you?”
The darkness in Pei Zhouye’s eyes surged. He suddenly grabbed the back of Wen Yan’s neck and slammed him down into the chair.
Caught off guard, Wen Yan’s head was about to hit the cold wall when Pei Zhouye slipped his hand behind his head to shield him. Before Wen Yan could react, Pei Zhouye bit down on his lips.
It wasn’t a kiss; it was a mauling.
Wen Yan tasted blood. The metallic tang of rust spread between his teeth, the pain making his entire body go rigid. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white and swung a punch at Pei Zhouye’s jaw.
Pei Zhouye tilted his head to dodge, but the blow still grazed his cheekbone. He refused to let go, and the two of them grappled in the cramped space, their breathing heavy like two trapped beasts.
Finally, Wen Yan shoved him away with a burst of strength. He stumbled back a step and wiped his mouth violently, his fingertips stained with a brilliant crimson.
He stared at Pei Zhouye, his eyes burning with hatred. His voice was low and raspy, each word articulated with lethal clarity:
“Disgusting.”
Pei Zhouye saw the bite mark on Wen Yan’s lip and heard exactly what he said.
He stared intensely into Wen Yan’s eyes. Wen Yan didn’t flinch. Realization finally dawned on Pei Zhouye; he stood up, turned around, and walked out.
Bang!
The door was slammed shut with deafening force.
The birthday banquet was held that evening.
It was a grand affair, hosted in a famous landmark building—a place Wen Yan hadn’t even known could hold banquets during his two years in the city.
The main hall was crowded. Wen Yan scanned the room and saw many faces he recognized from financial news reports.
Pei Mingcheng had arranged for someone to bring him here. No one told him why, but two men followed him like shadows, never leaving his side for a second.
Wen Yan had no interest in wandering around, so he sat quietly in a corner.
Across the room, Pei Mingcheng was socializing with the guests.
“It’s been so many years since Zhouye had a birthday banquet. If I’d known he was celebrating today, we would’ve cleared our schedules no matter what.”
“Old Cheng is in the Middle East and almost didn’t make it back. He was so worried!”
A group of people laughed.
Pei Mingcheng looked toward a certain direction. “The Lao-yezi and Zhouye’s Er-bo have returned to the country. Zhouye isn’t young anymore; it’s a good time to discuss official business.”
“You all know that kid—he’s stubborn. I only got a confirmation from him these past two days. It’s my fault for not announcing it sooner.”
There were too many guests, so Pei Mingcheng didn’t stay there long before moving to another area.
In the corner, he beckoned, and someone ran over.
Pei Mingcheng lowered his voice. “Keep a close eye on Wen Yan. Watch my wife, too—don’t let her come out.”
The subordinate acknowledged the order and left quickly.
He had brought Yu Qiu out of the mental hospital, but her condition was too unstable for her to be seen in public.
Today was the day Pei Zhouye would be formally established as the heir. He had gone through all this trouble to pick Pei Zhouye’s birthday and use Wen Yan to force him to behave, all for this purpose.
Their son had grown up and was inheriting the family business; Yu Qiu should be present.
After the assistant reported on the situation, the banquet reached its peak.
They were too conspicuous standing there, so the two bodyguards considered it for a moment and decided to take Wen Yan upstairs.
As Wen Yan followed them through the hallway, he saw an unexpected face.
Mrs. Pei, who should have been in the mental hospital, was sitting quietly in a chair. She was wearing an evening gown with elegant, light makeup. her already graceful and beautiful face looked even more moving and gentle, like a young woman in her twenties.
She was staring fixedly out the door, her gaze seemingly landing on him.
Wen Yan was momentarily stunned. Behind him, the bodyguard glanced at the door and suddenly urged Wen Yan to walk faster.
“Wen Yan.”
The several people inside and outside the room froze simultaneously, uncertain if the voice had indeed come from Mrs. Pei.
Mrs. Pei called again: “Wen Yan, come here.”
The people in the room and the two bodyguards hesitated.
It was the bodyguard who spoke first. “Madam, Chairman Pei told us to watch Wen Yan.”
“Would I hurt him?” Mrs. Pei said with a touch of feigned anger. “Go tell Pei Mingcheng then!”
Half a minute later, the people in the room received a reply.
“The Chairman says it’s fine.”
Wen Yan finally entered the room.
He was somewhat shocked.
Mrs. Pei was a frail woman suffering from an illness, yet there were four people in the room watching her.
Downstairs, the bells and music finally signaled that the time had come.
“He was born at this exact time.” Mrs. Pei’s voice was calm, her eyes dark and steady like a pool of stagnant water. She looked very much like a normal person.
Wen Yan looked around secretly before realizing Mrs. Pei was talking to him.
She didn’t require him to respond, just continued talking to herself:
“I was in the delivery room for five hours.”
“It hurt. It hurt so much.”
The voice downstairs began speaking about Pei Zhouye taking over the family business, followed by a string of professional jargon.
Then, a thunderous wave of applause.
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