Maybe it was the excitement from last night—Qiao Nan had another dream.
In the dream, Pei Xu was dressed meticulously in a shirt and suit pants, smiling gently as he beckoned him over, “Nan Nan, come here.”
He walked toward him, unable to control himself, and was pulled onto Pei Xu’s lap.
The fabric of the suit pants was thin, and he could feel all of Pei Xu’s longing and desire.
The burning heat spread along the parts of their bodies pressed together, searing its way into his heart.
Even his breathing became feverish.
As the heat surged, he caught the scent of Darjeeling tea on Pei Xu.
It was Pei Xu’s usual cologne—a woody fragrance, with a top note of cool, bitter tea.
As it settled, the woodiness became more pronounced, and a faint tobacco note spread, mingled with a strong hormonal aura, full of aggression.
Now, that alluring scent was heated by their closeness, wrapping around him like a mist, making every breath feel as if it were on fire.
Qiao Nan’s heart raced, his limbs grew weak, his waist collapsing uncontrollably.
He slumped helplessly against Pei Xu’s chest, letting out a shy, muffled moan.
But just then, Pei Xu lifted him up, making him stand.
The sensation of weightlessness made Qiao Nan instinctively wrap his arms and legs around him.
“Nan Nan, do you want to try what we did last time again?”
Pei Xu held him, whispering seductively in his ear.
Qiao Nan gazed at him, eyes clouded, his mind a complete blank, unable even to respond.
Pei Xu kissed his forehead, holding him steady as he slowly walked up the steps, one by one.
The two were pressed tightly together, and as they moved, Qiao Nan’s senses were sharper than ever.
It was an even clearer and more intense stimulation than what he’d felt on the stairs before.
It felt as if all his reason and desire were under the control of the man before him.
Qiao Nan couldn’t help but shiver.
***
Qiao Nan’s face was dark as he threw back the covers and went to the bathroom.
Staring at his weary reflection in the mirror, he angrily scrubbed his soiled underwear clean.
Ever since Pei Xu started acting strange, he’d become abnormal too.
The frequency of his dreams lately had already surpassed the total of the past twenty years.
After changing clothes, he left for school, still wearing a sullen expression.
And sure enough, he ran into Pei Xu again in the first-floor living room.
“I packed breakfast for you. I’ll drive you to school.”
Pei Xu was getting ready to leave as well.
He always managed to act like a caring older brother after crossing the line with some outrageous behavior.
Qiao Nan caught a faint whiff of Darjeeling tea from him—a cool, bitter tea scent.
He glared hard at Pei Xu, then silently got into his own car.
Pei Xu looked helpless and could only remind him, “Don’t forget, the Gao family’s dinner is at six this evening.”
Qiao Nan stomped on the gas, and the red Ferrari roared off, blasting Pei Xu with exhaust.
The Gao family’s dinner was at six in the evening.
Qiao Nan only had one class that afternoon.
After school, he still had to go home to change and get styled.
His parents worked in Yan Jing all year round and were always busy.
But for these regular social events, it wouldn’t look good if neither of them attended, so they left it to Pei Xu and Qiao Nan to handle.
The styling team had already arrived.
Qiao Nan changed into formal wear and let the stylist fuss over him for more than half an hour before he was finally set free.
Pei Xu hadn’t shown up the entire time, so Qiao Nan guessed he was probably too busy with work to come—this wasn’t the first time.
But he’d barely enjoyed a few minutes of relief before he saw Pei Xu walk in from outside.
The smile on Qiao Nan’s face froze, and he quickly wiped it away.
Judging by how free Pei Xu looked now, was he ever really that busy before?
“Are you ready? The driver is waiting outside.”
Pei Xu walked over, his gaze sweeping over Qiao Nan as he fixed his bow tie.
His long fingers brushed over the exposed skin on Qiao Nan’s neck—whether intentionally or not—leaving a warm touch that made Qiao Nan shiver.
He immediately stepped back, eyes wary.
But the movement was too obvious, drawing curious looks from others.
Qiao Nan could only force a smile and say, “I’m ready, let’s go.”
He finished speaking and took the lead down the stairs.
Pei Xu followed at a leisurely pace, lips curled in a slight smile.
***
The Gao family’s banquet was held in the hotel ballroom on the third floor, celebrating their youngest grandson’s one-month milestone.
Qiao Nan was already used to these scenes.
After presenting his gift, he slipped into the crowd, keeping a good distance from Pei Xu.
He sipped champagne, bored, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows, plotting how long he had to stay before sneaking out to find Qian Chuan and the others.
That way, he wouldn’t have to ride back with Pei Xu later.
He was lost in thought when a young woman in a gown and heels walked over.
She leaned in slightly, showing off her alluring curves, and asked, “Is this seat taken?”
Qiao Nan shook his head, so she sat down on the sofa across from him.
The young woman was a somewhat well-known entertainer.
She’d just gained popularity last month thanks to a hit xianxia drama, and through that, met the Gao family’s young master—finally catching a ride on the Gao family’s big ship.
She’d overheard people discussing the Qiao family’s young master and became curious.
Her gaze subtly sized him up.
Young, handsome, and the only son of the Qiao family.
Even if she couldn’t get close, it wouldn’t hurt to make herself known.
“Are you Qiao Nan?” she started, her tone tinged with excitement.
Qiao Nan was a bit taken aback, certain he’d never met her.
“Sorry, and you are?”
“I suppose you could call me a fan.”
She bit her lip shyly, lit up her phone screen, and showed him her wallpaper—a photo of Qiao Nan’s painting “Hope” from the art exhibition.
“I really like your art. Whenever I’m tired from filming, I look at your Weibo, look at your paintings, and I feel reborn.”
Qiao Nan had gained quite a few fans on Weibo.
Since the exhibition, he’d started managing his account seriously, occasionally posting small comics, half to satisfy fans, half to promote Fengxi Village.
So far, the results were decent, and the comment section was full of rainbow praise and confessions.
But this was the first time he’d met a fan in real life.
He suddenly felt a bit awkward, not sure how to react, and could only mumble, “Thank you for liking my work.”
“Could you sign something for me?”
Seeing his shy reaction, the woman smiled and pulled a pen from her platinum clutch, handing it to him with hopeful eyes.
Qiao Nan took the pen but, seeing no paper, asked in confusion, “Where should I sign?”
The woman promptly sat down beside him, extending her fair arm with a smile in her eyes, “Just sign the inside of my arm.”
Qiao Nan let out an “Oh,” and, careful not to touch her, signed his name.
***
After dealing with business partners, Pei Xu came looking for Qiao Nan.
Even before he got close, he saw a woman standing in front of Qiao Nan, bending slightly, smiling and chatting.
Qiao Nan took out his phone, seemingly exchanging WeChat contacts with her.
It all happened in a flash—the woman soon straightened up, waved goodbye, and left.
Pei Xu’s gaze darkened as he strode over.
He narrowed his eyes at Qiao Nan, noticing that he still wore a lingering smile.
“Nan Nan, when did you make a new friend?”
Qiao Nan didn’t want to explain and brushed him off, “Just now.”
The obviously evasive tone made Pei Xu frown, and he started weighing just how close Qiao Nan and that woman could be.
They’d just met, so it couldn’t be anything serious.
But in the past, whenever girls asked Qiao Nan for his WeChat, he usually turned them down politely.
This time, he hadn’t—and both had left smiling, as if they’d hit it off.
There was another possibility, Qiao Nan was doing this to spite him.
But even if there was just a sliver of a chance, Pei Xu wouldn’t allow it.
He leaned down, one hand braced on the armrest, the other pressing on the table, half-trapping Qiao Nan.
“Nan Nan, are you looking for a girlfriend?”
Before, Qiao Nan would’ve definitely said no.
But now…
He lifted his head to meet Pei Xu’s gaze, his expression challenging, “Why can’t I?”
Pei Xu’s smile didn’t waver, but he leaned in closer, lips nearly brushing Qiao Nan’s ear.
From a distance, it looked like two brothers sharing a secret.
He spoke softly, “If you dare get a girlfriend, I’ll do it with you right here…”
Those two words, spoken with deliberate emphasis, made Qiao Nan’s ears tingle.
He froze, glaring at Pei Xu, his face flushed.
“Do you have no shame at all?!”
Pei Xu straightened up and gently ruffled his hair.
“Don’t be mad at your big brother, Nan Nan.”
***
Qiao Nan, in a foul mood, slipped out of the banquet.
Qian Chuan and the others were already waiting for him at Springtime.
When Qiao Nan entered, his face was still burning, his eyes shining with frustration.
“Why does he get to decide whether I can have a girlfriend?!”
And how could he say something so dirty so easily?!
Qiao Nan fumed alone.
“Who’s stopping you from getting a girlfriend? What era is this, anyway?” one of the second-generation kids teased, gossiping with a grin.
Qiao Nan almost blurted out Pei Xu’s name, but luckily, he caught himself in time.
If he really said it, with Qian Chuan and the others’ nosiness, they’d pester him with endless questions, and it’d be hard not to give something away.
He changed the subject, “My dad.”
To keep up the lie, he gritted his teeth and made something up, “My dad says I’m still young, no need to rush into dating. But I’m already twenty—why should he control whether I get a girlfriend or not?”
“When did your family get so old-fashioned?”
Qian Chuan and Xiao Rang looked at him in disbelief.
Even that other second-gen looked shocked, “Your family’s that strict?”
He eyed Qiao Nan up and down, then teased, “Qiao Nan, don’t tell me you’re still a virgin?”
Qiao Nan’s face turned bright red.
He wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
Seeing his expression, the second-gen laughed, “Your life’s way too boring.”
He called the bar manager over and asked Qiao Nan, “So, do you like guys or girls? Or both?”
Qiao Nan was stunned and didn’t answer in time, so the guy said to the manager, “Both, I guess.”
Soon, four attractive, provocatively dressed young men and women entered.
Even if you’ve never eaten pork, you’ve at least seen pigs run.
Qiao Nan got the hint, and his face turned green.
Seeing Qiao Nan wasn’t interested, the second-gen pointed at the dance floor below.
“If you don’t like these, there are plenty of good-looking ones down there. If someone catches your eye, just go for it. People like us never have trouble finding someone.”
Qiao Nan looked hesitant, a little tempted.
Pei Xu’s words echoed in his ear again.
What had started as a passing impulse now grew much stronger.
He nodded firmly, “I’ll go find someone myself.”
But once he got to the dance floor and felt the surging crowd, he started to regret it.
He realized he couldn’t just pick someone out of spite against Pei Xu—that wouldn’t be fair to himself or to anyone else.
Just as he was stuck in this dilemma, a man with a wine glass sidled up, his expression suggestive.
“First time at a bar, little friend? Want to have a drink together?”
“No, thanks.”
Before Qiao Nan could refuse, a deep male voice behind him cut in.
The next moment, Qiao Nan felt his wrist being gripped tightly.
He didn’t know when Pei Xu had arrived, but Pei Xu was already pulling him away.