He looked so cute when he couldn’t speak that Pei Xu couldn’t help but lower his head and kiss him again.
It wasn’t too deep, just a gentle caress of Qiao Nan’s lips, full of tenderness.
Qiao Nan found himself a little lost in this warmth, not dodging at all, until Pei Xu let go and he suddenly remembered he should’ve refused.
It was as if he had already silently accepted this relationship.
His eyes wandered guiltily, not daring to meet Pei Xu’s gaze.
Pei Xu let out a soft, amused snort from his nose, carefully straightened Qiao Nan’s messy clothes for him, then ruffled his hair and asked, “Shall we go home together?”
Qiao Nan didn’t really want to go back with him, but in his current state, returning to the bar was out of the question.
He didn’t need a mirror to know his face must be red as a tomato.
If Qian Chuan and the others saw him like this, they’d definitely ask a hundred questions.
He stayed silent, so Pei Xu simply switched to the driver’s seat and drove back to Binjiang Villa.
The whole way, Qiao Nan didn’t speak.
He slumped lifelessly in the back seat, feeling like he needed some peace and quiet.
As soon as the car pulled into the garage and stopped, he immediately pushed open the door and jumped out.
When the elevator doors opened, he saw the driver’s door open too.
Pei Xu was still sitting behind the wheel, watching him, with no intention of getting out.
After a moment’s hesitation, Qiao Nan still asked, “Aren’t you coming upstairs?”
Pei Xu curled his lips into a smile, “You go ahead. I need to calm down a bit.”
Qiao Nan reflexively replied, “Calm down for wh—”
Halfway through, he suddenly realized, his gaze sweeping over Pei Xu’s suit pants, his face flushing furiously as he ducked into the elevator and angrily pressed the close button.
Afraid of running into Wang Shu, Qiao Nan went straight up to the second floor, furtively peeked around to make sure there were no servants, then darted into his own room.
He locked the bedroom door and finally went into the bathroom for a shower.
As the hot steam rose, a dense stream of water poured down from above, washing over his body.
That strange sensation Pei Xu had left behind seemed to surface from his skin again.
Qiao Nan switched the hot water to cold.
But even though the water was cold, his skin still felt hot and flushed.
He pressed the back of his hand to his burning face, recalling how, in the cramped car, Pei Xu had pinned his hands. It had felt so warm—almost burning.
That heat had nearly melted him.
Now, remembering it, it was like he’d had a fever.
He must have been delirious; otherwise, when Pei Xu leaned down, why hadn’t he struggled?
Instead, he’d experienced a thrill and pleasure like never before.
Pei Xu, on the other hand, had seemed to be suffering, his eyes red, temples throbbing, and even the veins at his temples bulging.
So different from usual.
Every time his Adam’s apple bobbed, it was like he wanted to devour Qiao Nan whole…
And Pei Xu had looked so uncomfortable—just now, in the garage, his suit pants had made it obvious.
Damn it…
Qiao Nan abruptly snapped back to himself, forcing his brain to stop.
He hastily dried off with a towel and rolled around on the bed a few times.
He mentally brainwashed himself:
Don’t be stupid, don’t think about it, don’t think about it!
Because the experience was too intense, as expected, Qiao Nan couldn’t sleep that night and only drifted off in the second half.
Of course, the next morning he had early classes.
He struggled out of bed, washed up in a daze, and went downstairs.
This was also when Pei Xu left for work.
Seeing Qiao Nan’s pale face, Pei Xu frowned, “Didn’t sleep well? Want to take the day off?”
Qiao Nan shook his head, drank the hot milk on the table, and slowly ate a sandwich.
By the time he finished breakfast and went out, Pei Xu’s car was already waiting at the door.
“I’ll drive you to school.”
Qiao Nan glanced at him, thinking he was the culprit behind his insomnia, so he didn’t bother being polite—he’d just treat him like a chauffeur.
He went to open the back door, but found it wouldn’t budge, so he knocked hard on the window.
Pei Xu rolled down the window and said gently, “Nan Nan, sit in the front.”
Qiao Nan stared him down for a moment but finally, reluctantly, sat in the passenger seat.
Pei Xu leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, bringing their faces very close.
Qiao Nan instinctively leaned back, gaze guarded.
But Pei Xu only smiled at him, then started the car as if nothing had happened.
Seeing he wasn’t up to anything, Qiao Nan relaxed and soon dozed off again.
When they arrived, it was Pei Xu who woke him up.
“We’re here?”
Qiao Nan rubbed his eyes, yawning sleepily.
Pei Xu leaned in again to unfasten his seatbelt.
Qiao Nan was too tired to care, and since Pei Xu hadn’t done anything out of line before, he lazily enjoyed the service.
But as soon as Pei Xu undid the belt, he took the opportunity to hold Qiao Nan’s head and pressed his lips in a deep kiss.
The kiss started forceful, but when he realized Qiao Nan wasn’t resisting, his fierce assault gradually softened.
Pei Xu’s tongue skillfully teased Qiao Nan’s emotions, and when he sensed a faint response, he kissed him even deeper.
It was a gentle kiss, yet full of desire.
Biology determined that men were more impulsive in the morning.
Qiao Nan melted into the kiss, and when Pei Xu tried to pull away, Qiao Nan even hooked his arm around Pei Xu’s neck, chasing after him, chin lifted, lips slightly parted, as if asking for more.
Pei Xu kissed him again, his hand wrapped around Qiao Nan’s nape, his breath still heavy, but he restrained himself and pulled away.
“Nan Nan, you should get to class,” he said, his eyes full of desire and his smile especially seductive.
“We’ll continue at home. I’ll pick you up after school.”
His words jolted Qiao Nan awake.
He sat up straight, his face flustered and at a loss.
It was all Pei Xu’s fault!
Blushing and speechless, he pushed open the car door and fled.
Pei Xu watched his panicked retreat, licked his lips with a smirk, his eyes full of laughter.
Sitting in front of the easel, Qiao Nan’s heart was still pounding.
He pressed his hand to his chest, wondering if Pei Xu had put a spell on him.
He couldn’t think about him anymore!
Qiao Nan set out his palette, picked up his brush, and began sketching on the paper.
Bright colors spread across the page.
Ten minutes later, Qiao Nan stared silently at the familiar man’s profile he’d unconsciously drawn.
His expression shifted unpredictably.
At that moment, Qiu Ran leaned over to look at his drawing and immediately let out a meaningful “tsk.”
On the paper was a man’s side profile, the details still unfinished, but at a glance, the high nose bridge, prominent Adam’s apple, and long fingers—either unbuttoning his collar or caressing his throat—were unmistakable.
Even with rough coloring, you could see the fingers were long, the joints thick, full of strength…
The whole drawing radiated masculine sex appeal.
“You found a model?”
Qiu Ran asked curiously.
It’s said that men with those features are usually very capable.
If there was a model, he must be top-tier.
Probably no worse than Qiao Nan’s foster brother.
Qiao Nan hurriedly took down the drawing, forcing himself to say, “I just made it up.”
Qiu Ran looked him up and down.
Qiao Nan almost jumped under her gaze.
Luckily, she just laughed and didn’t ask more.
“I got excited for nothing. Thought you had a model for reference.”
After school in the afternoon, sure enough, Pei Xu came to pick him up as promised.
Qiao Nan had an intense inner struggle, but in the end, knowing his little arms couldn’t twist Pei Xu’s big leg, he obediently got into the passenger seat.
He checked the time on his phone, then couldn’t help but say sarcastically, “President Pei, why are you so free lately? Not working overtime anymore? You used to work so late you never came home.”
Pei Xu glanced at him and smiled, “If I didn’t work overtime, I’d be home staring at you all day. With you so clingy, how could I possibly hold back?”
Qiao Nan felt like he’d asked a stupid question.
He immediately shut his mouth, deciding not to speak again.
The black Bentley merged into traffic, heading in the opposite direction of Binjiang Villa.
Qiao Nan noticed the route was wrong, “Aren’t we going home?”
“Let’s eat first.”
Pei Xu explained, “There’s something I want to show you.”
Qiao Nan’s heart thudded, wary—
He’s not going to show me his ‘big treasure,’ is he?
I don’t want to see it!!!
This nervousness didn’t ease until he saw the towering skyscraper ahead.
Qiao Nan quietly let out a sigh of relief.
The building ahead was a Nanjiang landmark, standing 441 meters tall with a hundred floors above ground, the third tallest in the country.
Its top floor housed a very famous observation restaurant.
Watching the elevator numbers climb, Qiao Nan finally relaxed.
Thankfully, Pei Xu wasn’t that crazy.
When they entered the restaurant, Qiao Nan noticed there were no other guests.
Except for the staff, only the slow melody of a violin drifted through the air.
He looked around, uncertain, “Why is there no one? Did you book the whole place?”
Pei Xu gave a little snort and pulled out a chair for him.
Qiao Nan felt something was off.
After thinking it over, he asked again, “Today isn’t a special day, is it?”
Why was it so formal and grand?
“No,” Pei Xu said.
“There’s just something I’ve always wanted to show you, but the timing wasn’t right before.”
He looked at Qiao Nan deeply, a pleased curve to his lips.
“Now is perfect. I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
Because he was being mysterious, Qiao Nan’s heart was all over the place, so nervous he could barely taste his food.
By the end of dinner, night had fallen completely.
Qiao Nan stared at Pei Xu, both eager and reserved.
Pei Xu chuckled softly, stood up, and took his hand.
“Come with me.”
They left the restaurant and climbed the stairs to the rooftop.
Qiao Nan looked around curiously, feeling like the night was unusually deep.
In late autumn, the sky was starless, just a solitary crescent moon.
Even the neon lights of surrounding buildings were off; only in the far distance could you see a thin line of shimmering colour weaving through the darkness.
“What exactly do you want to show me?”
Qiao Nan’s expression was wary, suspecting Pei Xu was up to no good.
Pei Xu pressed down on his shoulders, turning him to face another direction, and whispered in his ear, “Look.”
Qiao Nan focused and saw countless points of starlight flickering under the black sky.
Like fireflies, the tiny lights gathered toward the centre, slowly forming a vaguely familiar constellation.
Qiao Nan heard the whirring sound of spinning rotors.
“Drones?”
He tried to turn, but Pei Xu wouldn’t let him look away.
His finger traced the stars in the air, connecting them into the shape of a bear, “This is Ursa Major.”
Qiao Nan looked carefully and nodded.
It really was Ursa Major.
“Ursa Major has the most prominent star pattern in the sky, especially at its tail,” Pei Xu’s voice sounded again.
As he spoke, seven “stars” lit up one after another, their golden light brighter than the others, gradually forming the shape of a ladle.
“The handle of the Big Dipper points to Polaris.”
Pei Xu guided Qiao Nan to the edge of the rooftop so he could see more clearly.
His finger slid along the handle, and a brighter star lit up, “That’s Polaris.”
Beneath the dark sky, countless drones gathered, twinkling together to weave a vast starry sky.
Ursa Major shone at its centre, and along the extension of its handle, the brightest, most dazzling “Polaris” carried the starlight and flew toward Qiao Nan.
It hovered above him, a small, exquisite gift box dangling from its body.
Qiao Nan turned to look at Pei Xu, then took down the gift box.
The deep blue velvet box was the colour of night.
Hesitantly, he opened the lid and found a drone inside.
Its dark blue body was etched with abstract silver lines that, if you looked closely, resembled a stylized “QN.”
Scattered between the lines were several small stars, forming the Big Dipper.
And at the end of the ladle’s handle—on the drone’s tail fin—was set a sparkling diamond, representing “Polaris.”
“The drone I gave you before was too rough, so I made a new one. It uses the latest independent technology from Xu Nan, and it’s the only concept model in the world. Next month, this model will be released, using the name ‘Si Nan.’”
In ancient times, people used the Big Dipper and Polaris to find their way.
Later, they invented the earliest compass and called it Si Nan.
The stars in the sky are countless, rising and falling every day, ever-changing.
But the Big Dipper never moves, its handle always pointing to Polaris.
Just like he would always point to Qiao Nan.