An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The basement was a different world.

It was cool and damp, a place where the sun never shone. In the summer, being down here was a relief that was utterly refreshing.

Yu Wen was in her usual outfit—hoodie and dark pants.

By the time she emerged from the basement entrance, the sky had already darkened, leaving only a hint of deep blue on the horizon.

She stood in the dim light of the entrance, her eyes scanning the sparse figures and cars for a familiar silhouette.

An inconspicuous black car was parked across the street.

She squinted. If she wasn’t mistaken, the blurred outline in the passenger seat was probably Zhang Yulin.

Yu Wen instinctively pulled her hood further down to obscure her face. After checking that the road was clear, she quickly crossed the street.

The car windows were tinted dark, like a pool of ink, making it impossible to see inside. She raised her hand and tapped lightly on the cold glass with her knuckles.

With a soft “click,” the window slowly rolled down.

Zhang Yulin’s face was revealed. Large sunglasses covered most of it, but her lips seemed to curl into a faint smile toward Yu Wen.

Her thick, long curly hair was loose. Large silver hoop earrings flashed with a cold light in the dusk. She wore a stylish black camisole. The whole look was exceptionally fashionable.

She didn’t speak. First, she pulled a small perfume bottle from her bag and sprayed it into the air outside the car. A delicate, cool mist diffused in the dim light of the streetlamp.

Then, she slowly took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of perceptive eyes. She scanned Yu Wen up and down and flared her nostrils slightly. “Did you smoke?”

Yu Wen, standing outside the car, was a little surprised. She had indeed smoked a cigarette before leaving, but the smell should have long dissipated.

“Yes,” she admitted flatly, her voice without any change in tone.

Zhang Yulin said nothing more, starting to tidy her bag inside the car.

She murmured a few words to the driver in the front seat, likely a goodbye.

Yu Wen walked to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and lifted out a heavy-looking suitcase, setting it firmly on the ground.

Looking at her younger sister, who was much taller than she remembered, a flicker of emotion, difficult to discern, crossed Zhang Yulin’s eyes.

She still couldn’t help but remind her of the smoking habit. “Smoke less. It’s not good for your health.”

“I know,” Yu Wen replied simply and plainly, indicating she understood. She paused, then added, “I need to go to the convenience store to buy some things. Your luggage… should I leave it at the security office? Or will you wait for me to come back?”

“Leave it at the door of the security office,” Zhang Yulin said without hesitation, reaching for her own suitcase. “I need to buy some things, too.” Her slender arm visibly strained to lift the large case, and her body swayed slightly.

Seeing this, Yu Wen silently reached out and, without a word, took the suitcase handle from her.

…

The two walked down the sidewalk one after the other, the streetlights stretching and shortening their shadows.

Yu Wen silently dragged the suitcase while Zhang Yulin walked gracefully beside her. They truly looked like a pair of sisters with very different demeanors, or rather, an overly fashionable sister with an excessively quiet one.

Halfway there, Zhang Yulin suddenly stopped and turned to Yu Wen. “Got a cigarette?”

Yu Wen stopped, too. She immediately frowned, her eyes scrutinizing. “You smoke? Don’t. I don’t have any right now.” There was a note of disapproval in her voice.

“I smoke very rarely. I just suddenly felt like it.” Zhang Yulin smiled, the expression a little nonchalant.

“I hope you really do smoke rarely.” Yu Wen’s reply was flat as she continued walking.

…

They arrived back at the apartment.

Zhang Yulin stood at the door, her eyes scanning the furniture covered in dust sheets and the closed windows. The air was thick with a stale, unventilated scent.

She raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. “Don’t you open the windows to air it out? Or… do you not need to breathe?”

Yu Wen brought Zhang Yulin’s suitcase inside, placing it in the corner by the entrance. Her voice was flat and calm. “I don’t open the windows much when I’m alone. The kitchen door is open, so there’s some ventilation.” She gestured toward the kitchen.

The woman at the door folded her arms, remaining silent, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

Yu Wen added, “If you’re uncomfortable staying here, I can book you a hotel now. It’s not far from here.”

Only then did Zhang Yulin speak again, her voice giving nothing away. “I’m fine. I’m just curious how you manage to live in this kind of environment.” She stepped inside, her heels clicking crisply on the wood floor.

Inside, Yu Wen raised her hands and finally removed her hood, revealing a face with clear signs of fatigue and faint dark circles under her eyes. “Eat, sleep, study, play,” she said, her voice slow, as if stating the most ordinary facts. “That’s how I live.”

Zhang Yulin raised an eyebrow, looking around the spacious but lifeless apartment. “Well… that’s a decent way to live.” It was impossible to tell if her tone was a compliment or an insult.

The air fell into a tense silence again.

Zhang Yulin’s gaze swept over the living room, finally landing on the glass door leading to the balcony.

She walked directly over and pulled the tightly sealed door open. The night breeze immediately rushed in, carrying the distinct coolness of the city night. She walked onto the balcony, her hands on the railing, and looked out at the city lights.

From the sixteenth floor, the view was expansive. The lights of the city spread out below, a sight that was something to behold.

The wind grew stronger, making a low “whooshing” sound, foreshadowing a potential rainstorm later that night. She thought to herself: This place lacks a certain cozy, lived-in feel, but it’s livable.

When she came in, she had noticed the medicine bottles scattered on the coffee table. They were obvious, but she didn’t ask about them.

Yu Wen, holding her thin outer jacket in one hand and her cigarette pack and lighter in the other, walked to the balcony door. She stood there, looking through the glass at the back of the figure leaning against the railing.

In the dim light, that figure exuded an ineffable, deep-seated loneliness and solitude.

She walked up and held out the black jacket. “Put this on. It’s windy tonight. You’ll catch a cold.”

Zhang Yulin didn’t refuse. She took it naturally, draping it over her bare shoulders. She was instantly enveloped in the warmth of Yu Wen’s body heat.

Seeing her put it on, Yu Wen took a cigarette from the pack and offered it to her.

But this time, Zhang Yulin gently shook her head and refused.

Yu Wen didn’t say anything. She withdrew her hand, put a cigarette in her own mouth, and lit it with a “snap.” The orange glow of the flame flickered, reflecting on her expressionless face.

The wind played with Zhang Yulin’s hair. She continued to look at the distant, glittering lights, her voice sounding faint in the wind. “Is life… very difficult?” She didn’t look at Yu Wen.

“Do I look… like I’m struggling?” Yu Wen exhaled a puff of smoke and turned her head to look at her, her voice a bit of a self-mocking question.

Zhang Yulin watched the streams of car lights flowing below. She let out a short laugh. “You’re living like a worthless person. You’re actually… a lot like me.”

“Oh? Then I guess so.” Yu Wen didn’t look at her again. She leaned on the cold railing like Zhang Yulin, staring at the ant-like car lights below. “Why did you suddenly come to my place?” she asked directly.

Zhang Yulin turned, her gaze on her sister’s profile. She answered candidly. “To see you. But I didn’t expect to find you living… so poorly.”

“Poorly? Okay, I’ll admit it.” Yu Wen didn’t argue. She took another drag of her cigarette, and the smoke was quickly dispersed by the wind. Her lackadaisical, lifeless attitude did indeed suggest that she was not doing well.

Silence fell between them again. All that could be heard was the howling wind and the faint sound of Yu Wen exhaling smoke.

Yu Wen suddenly remembered she had class tomorrow. “I have to go to school in the morning. I’ll be back around noon. If you need anything, you can call Uncle Zhong.”

“No need,” Zhang Yulin’s relaxed expression faded, and her tone became serious. “I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon. I need to go back to City H to deal with some things.”

“Back to City H?” Yu Wen’s head snapped around, her eyebrows knitted together. She stared sharply at Zhang Yulin. “What in City H needs you to go back and handle it personally?” She extinguished her half-smoked cigarette and threw the butt on the ground.

Zhang Yulin didn’t avoid her gaze. Instead, she met Yu Wen’s eyes, a cold, resolute smile on her lips. She slightly raised her chin. “It’s about time… I took back what belongs to me.”

Yu Wen instantly understood what she was referring to—the assets that the Zhang family had swallowed and controlled under various pretenses.

Although Zhang Yulin might not be short on money, no one would want to see their wealth in the hands of their enemies.

Yu Wen didn’t try to dissuade her. She just said, “Should I take you to the airport tomorrow afternoon?”

“No need,” Zhang Yulin’s smile faded a little. She looked down, refusing the offer. “You have class in the afternoon. Uncle Zhong can take me.”

“Alright.” Yu Wen nodded, her voice sinking. “Be careful. If… you need any help back there, call me.”

“Okay,” Zhang Yulin replied.

…The air solidified again. Only the wind whimpered.

Zhang Yulin hadn’t intended to ask, but seeing her sister’s apathetic state, the words slipped out. “What have you decided about going abroad?”

If Zhang Yulin hadn’t brought it up, Yu Wen would have almost forgotten about it.

She blinked blankly, her voice filled with noncommittal nonchalance. “Maybe next semester… or… I’ll see when I’m a senior.”

“Okay,” Zhang Yulin replied curtly, not pressing the issue further.

…

In Yu Wen’s view, where she went or what she did didn’t seem to matter.

As long as she was alive, it was enough.

Going abroad was just a way to escape this suffocating place, to find a glimmer of hope in the great unknown.

She didn’t know how much genuine affection her biological “sister” felt for her, or how much she was just being used as a pawn to achieve a goal. She didn’t want to ask, and she was too lazy to guess.

Going with the flow became her ultimate shield. Taciturn was her most fitting label.

Zhang Yulin turned to go inside, but before she pushed the door open, she stopped.

She didn’t turn around. Her voice was clear, cutting through the sound of the wind, and striking Yu Wen’s heart:

“You’re not living like yourself. You’re living like a former acquaintance.”

“The wind is blowing for you. Can you hear it? The wind is laughing at how poor your imitation is.”

“Will you ever be yourself again?”

With that, she walked into the warm interior without looking back. The glass door closed softly behind her, sealing off the inside from the outside.

It left Yu Wen alone, standing in the increasingly cold night wind, pinned in place by the phrase, “You’re not living like yourself. You’re living like a former acquaintance.”

‘You’re not living like yourself. You’re living like a former acquaintance.’ The words echoed in her mind like a curse, impossible to shake. A former acquaintance? Who? Who was it?

The wind didn’t get stronger after Zhang Yulin left. If anything, it died down a little. So why did Yu Wen feel like it was a needle, prickling her skin and stinging?

Who was she? Who did she resemble? Who was she supposed to be?

And who was that “former acquaintance”?

What was the purpose of this great drama that had been thrust upon her?

A torrent of questions surged in her heart, but in the end, she simply bent down, silently picked up the cigarette butt she had thrown on the ground, and turned back to the equally cold apartment. She closed the door to the balcony, temporarily shutting out the howling wind and her chaotic thoughts.

Before she left, Zhang Yulin had sent her two messages on WeChat:

“Don’t let those things hold back your ambition.”

“If you truly become like her, your end will be near.”

Yu Wen still hadn’t fully understood the deeper meaning of those two sentences.

She didn’t know who “her” was, or if the so-called “former acquaintance” was that same person.

She felt lost, as if trapped in a thick fog; yet she also felt free, her body unbound. But she was truly a prisoner, her soul shackled by invisible chains.

She herself had locked her heart away.

…

Gangyue Bay

At the dinner table, warm, yellow light illuminated the feast of dishes.

Wang Yuhuan picked up a dish and asked Wei Shun in a seemingly casual tone, “You’ve been back for a while. Have any girls taken an interest in you? Or… are they just not interested?” Her tone was light and teasing.

Wei Shun, who had been focused on eating, was caught off guard. He started coughing violently. “Cough, cough, cough… Mom, what are you talking about? I just turned an adult. Why are you already in a hurry for a daughter-in-law?” His face was red from coughing, and he quickly took a sip of water.

Wei Qingwen didn’t say a word. She looked down, her shoulders shaking, obviously trying to hold back her laughter.

Huang Xiaozhi, who had also been eating quietly, was amused. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Wei Shun caught his breath, put down his water glass, and took a deep breath. He looked at his parents, his expression turning unusually serious. “Dad, Mom, I want to say… if… and I mean if… your son were gay… and brought a man home in the future…”

Before he could finish, the entire living room went silent.

The sound of chewing disappeared. The clinking of dishes and chopsticks stopped. Even the air seemed to freeze. Everyone’s movements were halted.

Wei Qingwen’s chopsticks, holding a single vegetable, hovered in the air. She had forgotten to put it back in her bowl. Everyone held their breath.

Wang Yuhuan was the first to break the suffocating silence. Her voice was slightly trembling, but her first words were not of accusation. “Are you… are you in love with someone?” Her gaze was fixed on her son’s face.

Wei Shun lowered his head, unable to look his parents in the eyes. His fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of his shirt. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded slightly.

To be honest, he was scared. He was afraid of seeing disappointment in their eyes, afraid of being kicked out of this warm home. But keeping it a secret felt even worse. He decided to take this opportunity to tell them.

Wei Shuqun and Wang Yuhuan both slowly put down their chopsticks.

Huang Xiaozhi and Wei Qingwen continued to eat their food, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

Wang Yuhuan looked at her son’s bowed head, her voice softening even more. “Xiaoshun, don’t look down. Look up and talk to Mom.”

Wei Shun finally mustered the courage to look up, but his eyes were still shifty, filled with obvious panic and anxiety.

Wang Yuhuan reached out and gently patted Wei Shun’s shoulder, trying to force a warm smile onto her face. “You silly child. What’s wrong with being gay? Mom and Dad can accept it. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Our family is very open-minded.” Her tone was soothing.

Hearing this, Wei Shun’s tense shoulders instantly sagged. He let out a long, relieved sigh.

He had expected a storm, but what he found was a safe harbor.

Wei Shun’s voice was still a little quiet and tentative. “You guys… don’t you think it’s weird for two guys to be together? What will other people think…?”

This time, before Wang Yuhuan could speak, the silent Wei Shuqun finally did.

He put down his wine glass and looked at his son with a calm, steady gaze. “Xiaoshun, we respect your sexual orientation. I know the way you young people think is different from our old-fashioned ways. Being gay is being gay. It’s no big deal. If you ever have a boyfriend, just bring him home for us to meet. Don’t be shy.” His voice was calm and firm.

Wang Yuhuan immediately chimed in, her tone resolute. “That’s right! The old man and I aren’t so old-fashioned! I don’t think being gay is something to be ashamed of! Loving someone is a decision your heart makes. What does gender have to do with it? A person you love is a person you love, regardless of gender!” Her words were filled with understanding and support.

Wei Shun saw the genuine concern and unconditional acceptance in his parents’ eyes. The heavy stone in his heart finally fell away, and he let out a relaxed laugh. “Okay, okay. Let’s eat. We can talk about this… later.” He wasn’t trying to run away. The overwhelming and unexpected acceptance made him feel a little unreal, and he needed a moment to process it.

His smile was filled with the relief of a heavy burden being lifted and gratitude for his parents.

In that era, many people still held prejudice and a lack of understanding toward homosexuality, often viewing it as something monstrous.

Wang Yuhuan and Wei Shuqun’s open-mindedness and acceptance seemed so precious and advanced.

Wei Shuqun picked up the wine bottle and poured a small cup for himself and his son. “Xiaoshun, have a drink with your dad. You three,” he said, gesturing to Wei Qingwen, Wang Yuhuan, and Huang Xiaozhi, “should go for a walk after you eat.”

Huang Xiaozhi and Wei Qingwen nodded. Wei Shun looked at the wine glass his father offered him and smiled. “Okay.”

…

After dinner, Huang Xiaozhi, her mother Wei Qingwen, and her grandmother Wang Yuhuan went out for a walk.

The breeze of the early summer night carried the scent of plants, gently brushing against their cheeks.

Inside, Huang Xiaozhi was still quite shocked about her uncle, Wei Shun, being gay. She had never suspected it.

Mostly because she was young and had never thought about it in that way.

The three of them walked slowly along the path in the community garden, remaining silent for a while.

It was Wei Qingwen who first broke the silence. She linked her arm with her mother’s, her voice filled with cautious concern. “Mom, about my brother… you’re not mad, are you?” She was worried that her parents were only pretending to be calm and were actually unable to accept it.

Wang Yuhuan clearly wasn’t angry. Instead, she patted her daughter’s hand, her smile peaceful. “Do I look mad? I’m not. I’m just processing it.” She paused, her eyes soft and firm as she looked at her daughter and granddaughter. “Just like I said at the dinner table, loving someone has nothing to do with gender or wealth. It’s because you truly like and love that person for who they are. I trust Xiaoshun’s judgment. He’ll find someone who is truly right for him. Your dad and I will never try to control him, or any of you.” Her voice sounded especially clear and strong in the night air.

The gentle breeze blew, accompanied by the sound of their footsteps and occasional quiet laughter. The atmosphere at that moment was warm, happy, and filled with understanding and love.

…

The Old House

In the dining room, Wei Shun and Wei Shuqun, father and son, were still sitting at the table.

Earlier, Wei Shuqun had gone upstairs to get a good bottle of liquor he had been saving for years.

The old man had a soft spot for the mellow taste of Chinese liquor. So, their glasses were filled with a clear, fragrant white liquor.

Wei Shun, in contrast, actually preferred the smoothness of red wine. Although he wasn’t a great drinker, he loved a drink or two.

They each poured a small glass and chatted as they drank.

It seemed like it had been a long, long time since the two of them had sat down like this, putting aside work and their identities, and just simply talked.

The topics jumped around, from Wei Shun’s crying when he was born, to embarrassing kindergarten stories, elementary school mischief, middle school rebellion, high school struggles, college freedom, and the pressure and growth he experienced after taking over the company… They even talked about the future.

To be honest, Wei Shun’s true passion was fashion design.

Many of the stylish clothes and elegant dresses in Wei Qingwen’s closet were designed by Wei Shun. He had a great talent for it and had poured immense passion into it.

They didn’t know how long they had talked or how much they had drunk, but the conversation flowed freely.

Until the three women who had been for a walk came back through the door.

When they opened the door, Wei Qingwen, Wang Yuhuan, and Huang Xiaozhi saw a scene: Wei Shun was clearly drunk, sitting on the living room sofa with a vacant stare, his body slightly slumped forward, hugging a cushion, as if trying hard to focus on being in a daze. Grandpa Wei Shuqun’s face was also flushed, but his eyes were still relatively clear.

Wang Yuhuan looked at the father and son and shook her head with a mix of helplessness and amusement. But she didn’t say a word of criticism.

She knew this was a rare opportunity for the two of them to open up and talk. It was normal for them to have a few drinks. She and Wei Qingwen tacitly began to clear the table, working quickly and without complaint.

Huang Xiaozhi walked over to the sofa and sat down next to her uncle. She found his rarely seen, goofy state to be both new and a little funny.

Wei Shun was zoned out, curled up in a corner of the sofa with his knees hugged. He was surprisingly well-behaved. He wasn’t loud or disorderly. He just sat there quietly, like a large, docile animal.

But Huang Xiaozhi knew that his stomach was probably churning, and he was likely suffering from a terrible headache.

She gently patted Wei Shun’s arm. “Uncle? Do you still know who I am?” she teased.

Wei Shun didn’t respond. He just frowned slightly, seeming to be fighting the discomfort in his body. His expression even looked a little pitiful, like he was about to cry.

Huang Xiaozhi looked at the man, a head over six feet tall, curled up on the sofa. She felt the scene was both comically absurd and a little endearing.

She glanced at the clock on the wall and decided not to tease him anymore. She sat there quietly, scrolling through her phone.

Everyone had their own moments to be busy or to rest.

The only sounds in the living room were the faint clinking of dishes and the occasional swipe of Huang Xiaozhi’s finger on her phone screen.

A moment later, a sharp ring of the doorbell broke the silence.

“Ring, ring, ring… Ring, ring, ring…”

Who would come so late at night?

Wang Yuhuan and Wei Qingwen were still busy in the kitchen. Grandpa Wei Shuqun, though more sober, had still been drinking.

The task of opening the door naturally fell to Huang Xiaozhi.

She got up and walked to the door. As soon as her hand touched the handle, she felt a wave of cold air seep through the crack. She involuntarily pulled her neck back.

It wasn’t just the cold night air. The person standing outside exuded a cold aura that warned others to keep their distance, and… they seemed to be in a very bad mood.

The door opened.

Outside stood an unusually tall man, a few inches taller than Wei Shun.

The light outlined his chiseled face. His brow bone was high, his nose straight, and his jawline was sharp. He had a perfect bone structure, and he was strikingly handsome, but also possessed a cold, imposing presence.

Huang Xiaozhi was momentarily stunned.

The man outside spoke, his voice low and magnetic, a mature man’s voice that was especially clear in the quiet night. “Hello, is Wei Shun here?”

Huang Xiaozhi snapped back to reality and quickly nodded. “Yes. Can I ask what you need from him?” A faint alarm bell went off in her head. Her gut told her that this man’s relationship with her uncle was absolutely not ordinary! Her inner gossip radar immediately activated.

The man’s eyes were still cold, but his tone was restrained and to the point. “I’m here to take him home.”

I knew it! The little voice in Huang Xiaozhi’s head was screaming. She was right!

She immediately stepped aside, a look of “I get it” on her face. “Please come in! My uncle is drunk, you see…” She gestured to Wei Shun on the sofa, wanting to let the man know he might need looking after.

Before she could finish, the man’s low voice cut her off cleanly. “It’s fine.” His tone was one of unquestionable authority.

Huang Xiaozhi was speechless for a moment. She could only nod. “…Okay.” Alright, forget I said anything.

The man took a long stride inside, his steps steady and powerful.

He gave a slight nod to Wei Qingwen, who had poked her head out of the kitchen after hearing the commotion. It was a silent greeting. Then, his gaze locked onto the curled-up figure on the sofa.

Huang Xiaozhi went over to her mother, Wei Qingwen, and whispered, her voice filled with suppressed excitement. “Mom, could this be Uncle’s… boyfriend?”

Wei Qingwen followed her daughter’s gaze. The next second, her expression completely broke. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell slightly open. She had just seen the man walk up to Wei Shun and pat his shoulder (not very gently). He asked in a flat voice, “Coming? Can you walk on your own?”

Wei Shun heard the familiar voice and slowly raised his head, looking at the tall figure in front of him with blurry eyes.

The outline was familiar, but his brain was like a mess of glue. He couldn’t quite place who it was.

Hmm… must be someone I know? he thought sluggishly. Then he shook his head honestly.

It’s that jerk, Pei Dan! I’m not going with him! Besides, he truly couldn’t walk.

The man’s patience was clearly running out, but he maintained a basic level of restraint. He asked again, his voice deeper. “How do you want to go?” (Meaning, Do you want me to carry you? Or should I piggyback you?)

Wei Shun continued to shake his head like a stubborn child, his lips pursed.

Subconsciously, he just didn’t want to go with him. The more he thought about it, the more he felt wronged.

The man’s patience finally ran out.

His brows furrowed. He clearly didn’t have much time to waste here. Taking time to pick him up was already the limit.

He looked at the man on the sofa, whose face was flushed and who couldn’t even sit up straight. His voice turned completely cold, a command. “Are you coming or not?” It was blunt and direct.

Wei Shun shook his head like a rattle, indicating with his actions: No!

Fine.

The man said no more. He bent down, put one arm under Wei Shun’s armpit and the other under his knee. With a slight effort, he lifted Wei Shun up completely! He hoisted him like a sack of potatoes, steadily on his broad shoulder.

“Ah!” Wei Shun, suddenly suspended in the air, let out a gasp of shock. The alcohol in his system instantly sobered him up a little.

The man’s firm arm was tightly wrapped around his waist. It was cold and squeezed him so hard it hurt. His world instantly flipped upside down and spun. The alcohol that was already churning in his stomach now surged violently.

I’m gonna throw up!

The sudden feeling of weightlessness and embarrassment sobered him up even more. He began to struggle, using his hands and feet, muttering curses. “Pei Dan! Put me down! Did you hear me?! I’m not going! Ouch! You bastard!” However, his struggles were futile and laughable against such absolute physical dominance.

Wei Qingwen and Huang Xiaozhi stood in the kitchen doorway, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg. Their expressions had completely broken down, leaving only utter shock.

Wei Shun was still in his pajamas, his feet bare, without even socks on. Like a large doll, he was being carried over the shoulder of a man in a crisp suit with a powerful aura! The image… was a complete shock!

Wei Shun was already dizzy from the alcohol. Being lifted so roughly made him feel like his organs were shifting. His face turned even paler.

The man seemed to be getting annoyed by the struggle and was very unhappy with Wei Shun’s lack of cooperation. Just as Wei Shun was struggling the most, the man raised his hand and, with a loud “smack,” gave Wei Shun a solid slap on the butt!

“Oof!” Wei Shun cried out in pain. His struggles instantly froze. It hurt so much that tears welled up in his eyes, and he finally quieted down.

The man, carrying the now-subdued Wei Shun, turned to the stunned mother and daughter and said concisely, “I’m taking him. My name is Pei Dan.” With that, he walked with long strides toward the door, the man on his shoulder.

Wei Qingwen was still in a state of shock and could only nod woodenly.

And so, under the dumbfounded gazes of the mother and daughter, a man in pajamas, with bare feet, was carried out the front door like a trophy, slung over the shoulder of a man in a perfectly tailored suit with a cold demeanor.

The moment the door closed, Huang Xiaozhi and Wei Qingwen were left with a single thought flashing wildly in their minds, accompanied by giant exclamation points:

SO! D*MN! HOT!