Chapter 77: Does It Hurt?
Wen Yan sat beside Pei Zhouye. Both of them had their long legs bent and positioned casually, showing a strange kind of synchronicity.
“I owe you again,” Wen Yan said, his voice calm and raspy.
The sterile light of the police station cast a shadow over Pei Zhouye’s sharp brow bone.
Pei Zhouye didn’t look up, his left hand naturally taking Wen Yan’s as he continued sending messages. “You didn’t call me to the fight. You owe me once.”
Wen Yan fell silent.
A few minutes later, Pei Zhouye put down his phone.
He looked up, his finger gently touching the bruise on the corner of Wen Yan’s mouth.
“Does it hurt?”
Wen Yan shook his head. “Not anymore.”
Even though he said it didn’t hurt, the look in Pei Zhouye’s eyes was still one of heartache. He stared at it for a long time.
In less than five minutes, the phone on the duty officer’s desk rang.
His expression changed from surprise to awe as he listened, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I understand.”
After hanging up, the officer’s attitude changed completely. “Mr. Li, after investigation, this incident was a mutual brawl, and your son is responsible. If you insist on pursuing this, we will have to process everyone according to the law. Furthermore, you need to cooperate with us for a further investigation…”
Li Cheng’s face turned ashen. He interrupted him: “Who was on the phone?”
The officer didn’t answer, just said respectfully to Pei Zhouye, “The paperwork is done. You can take him now.”
Li Ming’s mother wanted to say something, but Li Cheng pulled her back. He looked in shock at the messages popping up on his phone—frozen company shares, partners withdrawing investment, tax audit notices… and it had all happened in less than half an hour.
He looked up at Pei Zhouye, his throat tightening.
Pei Zhouye stared back coldly.
The air conditioner hummed, and the exhaust fan cast a rotating shadow in the corner. Sweat broke out on Li Cheng’s forehead, sliding down his temple to his jaw.
Seeing them being released, Li Ming was both angry and anxious. “Dad! Mom! They hit me—you’re just letting them go? And you lot—how do you do your jobs? Are you all blind?”
“Shut up!” Li Cheng wished he could sew Li Ming’s mouth shut.
The mother was shocked. “Old Li, why are you being so mean to Xiao-Ming? He got hit; is that his fault too?”
It was a total farce.
Li Cheng stepped forward, his tone humble. “I was blind and didn’t recognize your status. I apologize for the offense just now. I’ll have my son apologize to the young man…”
“Didn’t you want me to remember you?” Pei Zhouye’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. His voice was chilling. “I remember you now. Li Cheng.”
“The apologies still need to happen. One by one.” He released Wen Yan’s hand and gestured for them to apologize.
Many people here had seen Li Cheng’s overbearing behavior earlier. They were all curious about how such a young man had made the local big shot bow his head.
It had been a long time since Li Cheng had been humiliated like this.
He steeled himself and pulled his wife and son forward, growling, “Apologize!”
The mother was reluctant, but no matter how bad she was at reading the room, she knew the man in front of her was not someone to be trifled with.
Her gaze shifted between the two, landing on Wen Yan, who looked easier to talk to.
“Good child, I have a big mouth. Don’t take it to heart, alright? We don’t need to apologize one by one, right?”
Wen Yan looked at them coldly.
Just a moment ago, these people were all gloating and arrogantly saying they would ruin them. Now they were begging not to apologize.
Wen Yan let out a soft laugh, and the hope on the mother’s face was unmistakable.
“No.”
“Don’t be so ungrateful!” Li Ming shouted aggressively.
Li Cheng swung his hand in a heavy slap. Li Ming’s head jerked to the side, and he didn’t react for a moment.
Li Cheng: “Can you apologize properly now?”
The mother hadn’t recovered from the shock, saying tremulously, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have cursed at you like that. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
Li Ming received a sharp glare from Li Cheng and muttered sullenly, “I’m sorry.”
Finally, it was Li Cheng’s turn. His face was flushed. “I’m sorry. We were in the wrong today. Please don’t hold it against us. Let’s exchange contact information; I’ll come and apologize in person another day…”
Pei Zhouye didn’t give them another glance. He held Wen Yan’s elbow. “Can you walk?”
Wen Yan nodded and followed Pei Zhouye out of the station.
It was already noon outside, the winter sun piercingly bright. Snow was piled on either side of the station steps, trampled into a dirty icy slush.
Pei Zhouye’s car was parked nearby. After they got in, he drove straight to the hospital.
“Why did you fight?” Pei Zhouye asked suddenly.
Wen Yan was silent for a moment before telling him about the rumors being spread about his mother at school.
Pei Zhouye’s hand paused. “You should have told me.”
Wen Yan let out a soft laugh, his bruised face looking stunningly vibrant.
“Pei Zhouye, is our relationship really that good?” His voice wasn’t loud, but the words were incredibly piercing.
It made him sound a bit ungrateful.
An hour ago, Pei Zhouye had rushed to the station to get him out; ten minutes ago, Pei Zhouye had helped him humiliate them in revenge; and now, he was saying this.
Pei Zhouye said nothing, followed the GPS to the nearest hospital, and sent him in for an exam.
When Wen Yan came out, Pei Zhouye was sitting in a chair watching surveillance footage he’d gotten from somewhere. His expression was terrifyingly cold.
Seeing Wen Yan, he didn’t soften his expression.
“Next time, tell me in advance. I am the most convenient path; you can find me at any time. If that brick had hit your head…”
Wen Yan kept his head down and walked forward, muttering a rebuttal:
“I’ll take the long way if I want. Pei Zhouye, you care too much.”
Pei Zhouye’s expression finally softened a bit.
When they reached the bottom of the hospital building, something scurried out of the bushes and lunged toward them.
Before Wen Yan could see what it was, Pei Zhouye had already grabbed it by the scruff of the neck.
It was a small calico kitten, its eyes staring blankly at Wen Yan, unaware of what was happening.
“Why are you scaring it?”
Just as Wen Yan was about to speak, he realized someone had already stolen his line.
He looked in shock at Pei Zhouye, who was pinching the kitten’s neck.
The man was talking to the kitten with a serious expression, and his tone was quite fierce.
Whether the kitten understood or not, it let out a weak “Meow.”
Wen Yan was a bit speechless. “Pei Zhouye, put it down! It didn’t do anything to you—why are you being mean to it?”
“You really like it,” Pei Zhouye said sourly, but he still put the kitten back on the ground.
The kitten wasn’t afraid of people. Even after being put down, it didn’t run away. It circled Wen Yan’s ankle, the tip of its tail hooking onto his pant leg as it began rubbing its fuzzy head against his leg.
Just as Wen Yan leaned down to pet it, the kitten suddenly turned and went toward Pei Zhouye.
Pei Zhouye let out a laugh as he teased the cat, his voice lazy. “Wen Yan really likes you—aren’t you going to appreciate it? I want him to like me, but he’s unwilling.”
The smile on Wen Yan’s face faded.
Night. An alley behind an internet cafe.
Several people had had a bit to drink and were staggered as they walked toward the cafe, planning to sleep through the night.
Before they could enter, several burly men with tattoos emerged from the shadows, covering their mouths and dragging them away.
Muffled groans and pleas for mercy echoed in the alley. The smell of blood mixed with the rancid smell of leftover instant noodle soup from the cafe’s back door.
Pei Zhouye’s face looked like a demon’s in the moonlight, his expression weary.
Why hadn’t Wen Yan learned to rely on him yet?
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