He Chuzhou could sense that Pei Xi was in a bad mood. He hadn’t talked much during the meal at the restaurant the night before, and when they went home, he cleaned up quickly and immediately lay down to sleep.

Their last conversation topic was whether Pei Xi wanted He Chuzhou to cook him some pasta for a midnight snack.

So was he in a bad mood because he didn’t get to eat pasta? But he fell asleep without even waiting to eat it.

Or was it because of something else?

At the quarterly summary meeting, He Chuzhou twirled a pen with a frown as he recalled the entirety of the previous day’s events.

He was fine at breakfast, he was fine at work, and when he picked He Chuzhou up after work, wasn’t he also…..fine?

Was it too chilly on the way there, and without something to shield him from the wind, he’d caught a cold?

Thinking of this, he turned off his camera and scrolled through the report flow chart to make sure there was nothing else needed, then got up and left the study.

Pei Xi was currently sitting on the rattan chair on the balcony, playing games on He Chuzhou’s account with the cat and dog by his side.

Long before the meeting started, Pei Xi had suddenly wanted to see what it was like to play on an account with high-level equipment.

He’d thought it was just a passing whim, but Pei Xi had been sitting on the balcony for two hours without losing interest.

He walked over, and Pei Xi spared only a moment to give him a fleeting look: “Done with work?”

“No, I just came out for some fresh air.”

He Chuzhou crouched down in front of him on one knee to observe his face, then touched his forehead to confirm his body temperature.

Pei Xi looked up once more in confusion: “What is it?”

He Chuzhou: “Xinxin, are you feeling unwell? Are you dizzy? Do you have a sore throat?”

Pei Xi: “No, ah. I don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere.”

He Chuzhou was relieved. When he saw Pei Xi continue to stare at his phone immediately after speaking, he couldn’t help being curious: “What are you playing so enthusiastically?”

He leaned over to peek at the screen, and Pei Xi swiftly retracted his hand to hide it: “Mr. He, don’t slack off when others are playing on their phones. This is basic etiquette.”

Okay. He Chuzhou would respect Classmate Xiao Pei’s etiquette and not peek if he wasn’t allowed to. 

Pei Xi urged He Chuzhou to go back to the study and continue to work, then took out his phone and proceeded to pummel the Jin Ling, which had half its health left.

There were numerous item drops, but unfortunately, none of them were a golden feather.

That’s right, he was secretly using this account to grind for a golden feather without He Chuzhou’s knowledge.

He wasn’t quite sure what it was used for, but he’d woken up early to see a memo saying that he wanted to get a Golden Feather for He Chuzhou, so that he could fulfill a wish.

Of course, he didn’t remember what wish that would be.

But it didn’t matter. He would grind it out according to his own wishes and be ready to surprise him.

It was only now that he realized how lucky he was to get one in the first place. The drop rate of the Golden Feather was really too low.

He grinded for two hours without seeing a single feather.

It wouldn’t actually take the whole day, would it?

He prepared for the worst-case scenario, but didn’t expect that his prophecy came true and he kept grinding until evening.

He still hadn’t gotten one.

After dinner, He Chuzhou cleaned up the kitchen and put the dishes in the dishwasher. When he turned around, he saw Pei Xi still playing at the dining table with a bitter, resentful look on his face.

He couldn’t help finding it funny. Turning to lean against the kitchen counter, he asked him: “Which boss is upsetting you so? Do you want Gege to help?”

“No need.” Pei Xi was very firm, his gaze fixed and unwavering. “I’m not upset. I can do it myself.”

He played in earnest as He Chuzhou watched leisurely beside him, love silently overflowing in his eyes.

Ai, how could there be such a cute person?

He was cute even when scowling at a game.

So cute that he wanted to hug and squeeze him hard, and leave a big bite mark on his cheek.

Right!

He looked at Pei Xi, who was concentrating on the game, and an idea flashed through his mind.

Pei Xi had said yesterday that all of his likes were the same whether he was amnesiac or not, just like he’d had fun playing games while in his right mind before.

So did that mean…..?

Pei Xi killed the Jin Ling once again, and a beam of light appeared. He touched the dropped items without any hope, and was shocked to find that the first item in the row was a Golden Feather.

A whole day later, it had finally come out.

He heaved a sigh of relief. At last, he had succeeded. He contentedly picked up the Golden Feather and placed it into his backpack.

After some thought, he opened his memo app to write something. A flash of light appeared to his right, and He Chuzhou pulled out a stool to sit next to him.

He reflexively hid the screen and gave He Chuzhou an inquisitive look.

He Chuzhou didn’t care about the game, and asked him: “Xinxin, do you remember when we got together?”

This wasn’t a difficult question to answer. Pei Xi blurted out: “In university. Why?”

He Chuzhou: “Did I pursue you?”

Pei Xi: “Yeah. Did you forget?”

He Chuzhou: “Of course not. Just think of this as…..simple memory training to help your body recover.”

Pei Xi nodded in understanding.

He Chuzhou: “Do you remember how I initially pursued you?”

Pei Xi: “You sent flowers.”

Sent flowers?

He Chuzhou, who had prepared himself to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames, was astonished: “Just flowers?”

Pei Xi: “More than that.”

Sure enough, He Chuzhou thought. “What else?”

Pei Xi: “You sent all kinds of flowers.”

He Chuzhou: “……”

Pei Xi: “Roses, lilies, jasmine, camellias, peonies, daffodils, sunflowers, and many others I don’t remember the names of. You gave them all to me.”

He Chuzhou pursed his lips, not quite giving up: “I really just sent flowers?”

Pei Xi: “En.”

He Chuzhou: “Okay. Then which flower do you like best? Or do you like them all?”

Pei Xi: “I like roses. Red ones.”

Roses were rather conventional. He Chuzhou asked: “Is there a reason?”

Pei Xi: “Because you said that roses represent your fiery love for me, hotter than a volcanic eruption.”

He Chuzhou: “……”

Pei Xi looked at He Chuzhou, whose pupils were quivering, and enlightened him with reason: “Are you done questioning me? I remember everything, so can Gege move aside? The dishes are already done.”

He Chuzhou walked away in a trance, and when he went to the kitchen and started taking bowls out of the dishwasher, he began grinding his teeth again.

Xinxin’s thoughts were so simple that it was impossible for him to imagine his words out of thin air. Someone must have given him roses and said those words to him in the past.

Was it during university?

Damn, who the hell was so lucky?!

*

*

Pei-calico thought for a long time before finally writing a memo and going to bed: 

[My memory isn’t good, so you might not remember the surprise I sent. But if Chuzhou is really happy when he receives it, please remember to write it down and tell me.]

Pei Xi saw this message in the morning and got a strange feeling.

It was like…..

He actually had a temporary dual personality and could talk to his other self.

This was a very unique experience. He wanted to share it with He Chuzhou, but couldn’t, at least not for now. There were still important things to do.

He Chuzhou went to the company in the morning and returned in the early afternoon. Holding a stack of stamped documents, he slowly browsed through them in the living room.

Pei Xi took the opportunity to sit on the single sofa opposite him and open the game. He had checked the “remember password” option in advance, and directly logged into He Chuzhou’s account.

At the same time, He Chuzhou received a text message informing him of the account login.

Pei Xi met his gaze without a change in expression: “Your account password popped up. Did I log into your account yesterday?”

He Chuzhou nodded in answer.

Pei Xi: “Can I play?”

He Chuzhou: “Of course, go ahead.”

Pei Xi clicked around in boredom for a while, and when he felt that the time was about right, he opened the backpack and asked: “What’s this?”

He Chuzhou pushed his glasses up: “What?”

Pei Xi read the name: “Golden Feather.”

He Chuzhou stared blankly: “There’s one in my bag?”

He put down the documents and looked over curiously, eyebrows raised in surprise: “So this is what he spent all of yesterday tinkering with…..”

Pei Xi: “What did you say?”

“Nothing.” He Chuzhou showed him how to long-press on an item to reveal the description: “The Golden Feather is an interesting item. Using it on another character can give them a wish buff.”

Pei Xi: “Does that mean the user can make a wish?”

He Chuzhou answered affirmatively.

Pei Xi expressed his understanding and handed the phone to He Chuzhou, telling him to use the golden feather on him.

Looking at the wish buff on his character, he asked He Chuzhou: “Is that it?”

He Chuzhou: “Ah, that’s it.”

Pei Xi stared at the wish buff description in silence, then said calmly: “Then make a wish on me now.”

He Chuzhou: “Huh?”

Pei Xi pointed at the phone: “It says above that I’ve become your wishing tree, and will be responsible for helping you realize any wish.”

He Chuzhou looked at his serious expression and suddenly laughed in spite of himself: “Pei Xi, this is just a game prop.”

He raised his hand as if he wanted to rub Pei Xi’s head, but fortunately realized it was the wrong occasion and turned his wrist to scratch his own neck instead: “And it’s just a fun plaything with no mandatory settings. Ignore it, and it’ll disappear in twenty four hours.”

Pei Xi: “……”

Pei Xi: “But I’ve already used it.”

He Chuzhou was very magnanimous: “It’s fine that you used it.”

Pei Xi was stubborn on this rare occasion: “I used it, so I have to abide by the rules of the game.”

He Chuzhou: “You have to?”

Pei Xi frowned: “It took so much effort to get it. How can you not make a wish?”

He Chuzhou: “How do you know it took effort to get it?”

Pei Xi: “……I just checked.”

He Chuzhou: “Didn’t you ask me what it was when you saw it? When did you—”

“Don’t change the subject,” Pei Xi interrupted. “Make a wish.”

After a pause, he added: “I’ll agree to whatever you wish for. Even if it’s a little presumptuous.”

He Chuzhou was impressed by his gaming spirit: “Really?”

Pei Xi: “Really.”

He Chuzhou touched his chin and thought for a moment: “Okay, then I wish…..”

Pei Xi gripped the phone tightly: “Take some time to think it over first.”

“I’ve thought carefully, ah.”

He Chuzhou grinned: “My wish is that no matter how busy President Pei is at work, he never misses a meal.”

Pei Xi: “……”

Seeing the odd look on his face, He Chuzhou could only reflect: “Is that very presumptuous? But you said it was okay to be a little presumptuous. Keep your word, ah.”

Pei Xi gritted his teeth and endeavored to maintain a normal tone: “That’s not what I meant. What I mean is, are you sure you want to waste your opportunity on something like this?”

He Chuzhou: “It’s not a waste. This is my wish.”

“……”

Pei Xi closed his eyes, resisting the urge to throw the phone at the other’s face.

At this moment, the doorbell suddenly rang. He Chuzhou remembered something and quickly stood up: “My things are here.”

Pei Xi’s face was overcast as he watched He Chuzhou stride to the entrance and open the door. He received a large bouquet of flowers from the delivery man, and when he came back, his steps were somewhat hesitant.

It really was a large bouquet. When it was handed to Pei Xi, he could barely hold it.

Staring at the bright red roses, he recalled the questions He Chuzhou had asked him the previous night. Pei was like a punctured balloon, and his low mood from seconds ago disappeared with a pop.

“A new flower shop opened on a nearby street. I received a push notification today and just bought a bunch.”

After explaining with this clumsy excuse, he asked a little nervously: “What do you think?”

“Not bad.” Pei Xi commented impartially, “The flowers are very fresh, the colors are bright, the texture of the floral paper is good, and the wrapping is very professional.”

He Chuzhou choked. After a moment, he said unwillingly: “That’s not what I’m asking. Apart from all that, do you—”

“The flowers are beautiful.”

Pei Xi tried his best, but still couldn’t suppress the slight curve of his mouth: “I like them a lot.”

Even though a big bouquet of roses was very cliche.

As cliche as the bouquet Yun Ji had bought for his goddess, along with a note full of cheesy love words.

But he still liked it very much.

*

*

Wu Qing came back just in time for dinner.

He happily called a group of close friends to have drinks and celebrate, and He Chuzhou was among those invited.

He Chuzhou wanted to Pei Xi to join him, but the person in question was curled up on the rattan chair playing with his phone, and refused decisively: “No need, you go ahead. I don’t like those kinds of occasions.”

He Chuzhou thought he was playing a game, so he didn’t say anything more to bother him. He quickly put on his jacket and went out.

Pei Xi was not, in fact, playing a game. He was just disinterestedly browsing recent political news.

He was very tired after fighting the Jin Ling for a whole day, but in the end, a certain person hadn’t appreciated his painstaking efforts at all.

He now thoroughly understood what Xie Ling meant when he said that some people were just missing a string in their brain.

He was obtuse, with extremely low emotional intelligence when it came to love. Even with words so straightforward that they nearly broke the window paper wouldn’t do. He couldn’t understand anything that was even a little bit subtle.

But he had been so straightforward. How could he be any more blunt?

Xie Ling asked him how his daily routine was going, and Pei Xi replied: [Aren’t you overly concerned about my affairs?]

Xie Ling: [How could that be!]

Xie Ling: [You don’t know how rare it is for you to be in love. I’m not just satisfying my curiosity, I also have several classmates crying piteously to be fed.]

Pei Xi: [……]

Pei Xi: [Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s been no progress.]

Xie Ling: [Even after so long?]

Xie Ling: [You guys are wasting time, ah. What are you doing right now? I’ll give you some advice.]

Pei Xi: [Nothing. He Chuzhou isn’t home. He went out to dinner with friends.]

Xie Ling: [You didn’t go?]

Pei Xi: [He’s having dinner with friends. What would I do if I went?]

Xie Ling: [What would you do? Claim sovereignty, ah.]

Xie Ling: [Think about it carefully. Aren’t there some things that are hard to say when you’re alone together, but can go more smoothly if there are outsiders around?]

Xie Ling: [In front of outsiders, you can just directly call him husband and he’ll have to endure it. And when he asks what’s going on, you can just respond vaguely. It’ll definitely make his heart itch. I don’t believe he’ll be able to hold back.]

When he read this, Pei Xi’s heart moved and he couldn’t help but sit up straight. He caught the kitten that jumped into his arms and stroked her fur thoughtfully.

Pei Xi: [But he’s been gone for a long time. It’s so late. The party should be almost over.]

Xie Ling: [That’s great, you can go pick him up.]

Xie Ling: [Show up, say what needs to be said, and then leave. The main goal is a quick victory. Isn’t this perfect?]

Pei Xi thought it was perfect.

Thus, he didn’t reply to Xie Ling’s lengthy drama analysis, but set Pei Yueliang down and went to the bedroom to change clothes and get ready to go out.

*

*

Pei Xi: [Where are you?]

He Chuzhou rubbed his dizzy temples. He dodged a drunk who nearly fell onto his shoulder and replied to Pei Xi: 

He Chuzhou: [We’re almost done at the bar, and I’ll be back soon. Do you need me to bring you something?]

Pei Xi: [Box number.]

Pei Xi: [I’ll pick you up.]

He Chuzhou was really a bit drunk. He subconsciously sent the box number to Pei Xi, and didn’t realize how strange it was for a long while.

They hadn’t agreed on this beforehand, so why was he coming to pick him up?

There was no need to bring him back – he could call a designated driver if he needed to. Before he could finish typing, Wu Qing asked him with in a slurring voice: “Lao He, are you going back? I’ll call a driver for you…..”

He Chuzhou: “No need, Pei Xi is picking me up soon.”

After saying this, he stared blankly.

Hiss, that wasn’t right. What was he going to say just now?

Wu Qing scoffed: “You’re just showing off! But you can’t show off anymore – hehe, I’m in love again! Next time we come out, I’ll introduce you to my new boyfriend. He’s a foreigner with eyes like glass marbles, so peerlessly good-looking.”

He Chuzhou believed they had eyes like glass marbles, but didn’t believe they were peerlessly good-looking. After all, there was only one peerlessly good-looking person in the world, and that was Xinxin.

But never mind.

He couldn’t be bothered to argue about a fact that was so beyond doubt.

The bar wasn’t far away, and Pei Xi arrived swiftly. Other than a few people in a corner who were so drunk they couldn’t open their eyes, everyone else swung their heads over and greeted him with rapt attention.

Pei Xi went to He Chuzhou, eyes fixed on him the whole way. He touched his face and helped straighten his collar like this was a natural thing, asking softly: “Husband, let’s go home?”

When he heard this address, He Chuzhou’s eyes widened and he sucked in a deep breath.

The riveted gazes of all those around became full of envy.

In a trance, He Chuzhou heard someone call his girlfriend and ask in a coquettish voice if she could pick him up.

He was then scolded roundly: “Ah? Come back, come back, ah.”

He heard himself answer stumblingly, and then Pei Xi pulled him up and led him out of the bar by the hand.

The cool breeze outside sobered him up a little. He looked down at the hand holding his, and his mood surged even more.

If he remembered correctly, wasn’t Pei Xi in his right mind today?

Then why…..why was he being so affectionate with him?

And he’d called him…..husband?

When they deceived Wu Qing before, it……wasn’t like this, ah.

Falling half a step behind Pei Xi, he pinched his hand with his free one to make sure he wasn’t having a drunken hallucination.

That couldn’t be it. He hadn’t drunk that much, in order to avoid making trouble for Pei Xi when he returned.

He was flattered, yet endlessly bewildered.

These complex and intertwined emotions were heightened by the alcohol, and when he realized Pei Xi was wearing the same jacket as him, he was so excited that it went straight to his head.

His eyes remained glued to Pei Xi the entire way, from getting into the car to getting out, and from getting out of the car to entering the house.

Pei Xi told him to rest if he was feeling sleepy. He really closed his eyes and “rested” for ten seconds, then opened them and continued to stare at Pei Xi like a dog staring at a bone.

Pei Xi was very satisfied with his state of being. It seemed that the method Xie Ling suggested had worked.

Not forgetting that a certain person had the bad habit of not remembering anything when he was drunk, the first thing Pei Xi did when they got home was to go to the kitchen and cook some sobering soup.

He Chuzhou followed him to the kitchen. He didn’t do anything, but just stood there and watched him in silence.

Pei Yueliang was already asleep, and the noise didn’t wake her up. He Xingxing, as enthusiastic as ever, sat to the side, wagging his tail and staring blankly with sleepy eyes.

Pei Xi looked to the left at He Xingxing, and then to the right at He Chuzhou. The expressions of the father and son were very similar.

Lips curved, Pei Xi looked away and turned off the heat.

“Xinxin.” He Chuzhou spoke abruptly and without forethought, “Did you sleep after I left this afternoon?”

Pei Xi poured the boiling hot hangover soup into a bowl and gave an absent hum.

He Chuzhou immediately let out an “oh” and muttered to himself; “No wonder. I was wondering why he was so nice to me all of a sudden. And specially came to pick me up, called me ‘husband,’ held my hand, and wore matching outfits with me……it turns out that he lost his memory again, ah.”

The two were standing very close, and Pei Xi heard his mutterings clearly. His face instantly darkened, and he turned his head to say: “You think I have amnesia right now?”

He Chuzhou studied his face for a moment, then gave him a word of affirmation: “Yep.”

Pei Xi: “……”

He took a deep breath and pressed his temples hard, unwilling to talk to this drunk for the time being.

After the hangover soup cooled and the drunkard had drunk it all, they would slowly discuss whether or not he had lost his memory.

But this drunkard, who had finally found an outlet to vent his emotions, could no longer remain silent. He was disappointed, but thought this was only reasonable and fair: “I thought you were in your right mind when you came to pick me up, and I was really happy.”

“But I’m happy now too. I’m happy you picked me up.”

He muttered drunkenly: “I’m just not as happy anymore. You’ve never been so intimate with me in front of outsiders before, and you’ll at most give me a hug. Just now, I almost thought you liked me.”

“But the probability is too low. You don’t remember what happens when you have amnesia, so how could you have fallen for me so suddenly?”

Pei Xi ignored him with a cold expression.

He Chuzhou took no notice of this, immersed in his own world of depression: “How can I make you like me?”

“You have everything, and lack nothing. You don’t even care about what I have. I want to be good to you, but I feel like I can’t do enough.”

“In fact, I often feel that you like me a little, but I’m not sure.”

“You’re much more important than business. I dare to gamble when I sign a contract, but I don’t dare to believe you like me. What if I make the wrong bet, and you get angry and don’t even want to be friends with me anymore…..”

Pei Xi really couldn’t endure it.

What missing a string? This guy had no strings in his head at all!

No matter how explicit he was, he couldn’t understand, and no matter how straightforward he was, he didn’t get it!

Timid and cowardly, he would rather going around asking for help from strangers who didn’t even know him than have the courage to ask him in person.

How much time should they waste going in circles around something that was already on the table and just needed to be unveiled?

Walking around He Chuzhou, he strode over to open the fridge and brought over a container of ice cubes, pouring most of them into the still steaming hangover soup. He handed the nearly overflowing bowl to He Chuzhou and said: “Drink.”

He Chuzhou stared blankly for a moment. Then, with an “oh,” he took the soup and drank it.

The soup mixed with ice cubes cooled down very quickly, and He Chuzhou soon felt that the liquid was cold in his throat. Setting down the half-soup, half-ice water, he asked Pei Xi: “Xinxin, I feel a bit full. Can I—”

Before he could finish speaking, he was knocked off balance by a sudden kiss. His back hit the refrigerator and his hand smacked the ice cube dispenser, sending crystal ice balls rolling across the floor.

The impact of teeth caused a dull pain on his lips. Pei Xi’s kiss was reckless and wild, and there was even a sense that he was venting his anger, like a cat teased to the point of scratching someone.

He subconsciously hugged Pei Xi’s waist to prevent him from falling. His mind was blank, and as his drunkenness slowly faded away, his desire flared.

His fingers tightened uncontrollably, and his breathing grew heavier.

Just when he couldn’t wait to deepen the kiss, his breathing abruptly became lighter as Pei Xi pulled away.

The feeling of loss that swept through his body made him frown fiercely. He wanted to be unreasonable and pull this person back into his arms, but then he heard Pei Xi ask him: “Now are you sure?”

He was stunned: “…..Sure about what?”

“Sure that I like you.”

Panting, Pei Xi grabbed the fabric over his chest and said word by word: “He Chuzhou, you can see clearly that I haven’t lost my memory.”

“I just like you.”

---

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Chapter 62 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 64