Chapter 55 Adopted Brother (End) [VIP]
Through the thin sweater, the feel under my palm is soft yet resilient.
Qingran wasn't embarrassed at all. She slowly traced the man's abdomen with her fingers for a while before skillfully slipping them under his clothes.
He nestled in Pei Xuhui's arms, his head resting on the man's neck like a weary bird returning to its nest, exuding a soft sense of dependence.
But both of them knew perfectly well that this harmless appearance was just a disguise he wore when he was in a good mood.
"What you want to talk about is inviting me to touch your abs?" Qingran asked lazily.
Pei Xu replied, "Half and half. It's mainly because I don't dare to look at you when my parents are around."
I always felt that my eyes would give me away.
He embraced Qingran, turned his head to kiss his forehead, and sighed softly, "I really hope next year comes sooner."
Once their relationship is out in the open with their parents, he won't have to hide it from them anymore.
Thinking of this, Pei Xu clarified something.
“I don’t necessarily need my parents’ consent, but I don’t want to keep it a secret forever. Even if my parents never agree, I am capable of taking good care of you.”
Qingran joked, "So you insisted on going abroad back then to build up your confidence?"
Pei Xuhui also recalled his thoughts at that time.
At that time, he and Qingran were both young. He never thought about the possibility of the two of them being together. Going abroad was more about not wanting to get caught up in meaningless internal conflicts.
He chose to start his own business because he wanted to be the best man in Qingran's heart, even if he couldn't be Qingran's boyfriend.
Looking back now, wasn't his thinking back then just like a peacock gathering its beautiful feathers before displaying its tail feathers to attract a mate?
"It was a lucky accident," Pei Xu replied with a smile, without explaining the complex considerations he had at the time.
The paws under his clothes remained still, warming his hands. He casually pulled the person to sit on the carpet and picked up a cake from the side.
Pei Xu replied, "Try it, I have to go downstairs to hand in my homework later." He scooped a spoonful of cream and fed it to Qing Ran's lips.
Qingran held a little bit on her tongue, then hugged Pei Xu's neck and looked up to kiss him.
Their lips met, and the melted cream flowed from their bluish lips and tongues into the man's mouth, making Pei Xuhui unconsciously furrow his brow.
Then the man cupped his lover's cheek with one hand and kissed her more deeply until the overly sweet taste faded between their lips and teeth, leaving only a faint creamy jasmine scent.
Pei Xu stepped back, wiped his lips with his thumb, and put the cake with a missing corner back on the bedside table.
"Has sugar prices plummeted recently?" They're adding sugar like crazy, making the cakes taste cloyingly bitter.
Qingran couldn't help but chuckle.
"Perhaps it was because when Pei's mother learned that you had been invited to be the best man, she was worried about who would become the groom first, and accidentally put too much sugar in the cream when she was making it."
Pei Xu replied, "Who says there has to be a priority? Wouldn't it be better if they happened at the same time?"
Qingran: "It doesn't matter who goes first or last, but this is not good news for Pei's mother and father."
Pei Xu touched his face, his expression full of affection and guilt: "Don't be afraid, even if everyone else disagrees, your brother can still protect you."
Qingran rubbed her palm against his, her smile clear and pure, just like a pure white flower bud frozen in time in a photo frame on the bedside table.
On New Year's Day, He Anzhou got married, and Qingran was invited to attend the wedding.
That's right, Qingran was also one of the invitees; his name and Pei Xuhui's name were on the invitation.
Writing them side by side was a little trick by He Anzhou to sympathize with his old classmate's bumpy love life.
Qingran had wondered, "Does He Anzhou not know we're together?"
Pei Xuhui nodded.
Qingran: "You deliberately didn't tell him, aren't you afraid he'll be angry with you later when he finds out?"
Pei Xuhui was quite composed.
"I just didn't tell him on my own initiative, it wasn't intentional concealment. He has such sharp eyes, if he was able to discover that I liked you even earlier than I was, he must be able to see the change in our relationship now."
Qingran remained noncommittal; he didn't care about Pei Xuhui's way of getting along with his friends.
However, on the wedding day, by chance, he suddenly remembered this matter and suddenly had a wicked sense of wanting to see a good show.
At that time, the groom had just picked up the bride and returned to the hotel. The groomsmen, who had nothing to do for the time being, were free to move around. The other two groomsmen socialized and chatted with people outdoors, while Pei Xuhui sought peace and quiet in the rest room.
There was no other way; He Anzhou was a university teacher, and he and Pei Xuhui were high school classmates, so quite a few people in his social circle knew Pei Xuhui's identity.
Pei Xuhui didn't want to deal with wave after wave of strangers trying to strike up a conversation, so he could only hide.
He texted Qingran from the break room.
Pei Xu replied: Have we arrived yet?
[Qingran: It's been a while. I think I saw two men in groomsmen's uniforms outside. Where are you?]
Pei Xuhui was the best man, and he left home much earlier than Qingran today.
Pei Xu replied: "It's too crowded outside the rest area."
[Qingran: I'm just killing time anyway, do you want me to keep you company?]
Pei Xuhui: I couldn't have it!
System: [Eek~ Host, Pei Xu is mimicking your speech!]
Qingran put down her phone and walked towards the groomsmen's lounge, answering the system with a smile on her lips.
[It's been a while since I've heard from you. What have you been up to lately, Lingling?]
The system blushed: [Oh dear, it's all because you and Pei Xuhui are always hugging and rubbing against each other, so I had to lock myself in the dark room to play games, and I lost track of time while playing.]
Qingran said apologetically, "I'm so sorry."
They never mentioned making any corrections.
After years of interaction, the system had come to understand its host quite well, and chuckled, "[Then, could the host spend more points so I can get a commission?]"
Passionate Perfume!
Qingran: [Okay, but no rush.]
He's already taken advantage of everyone, and he'll wait until the next world needs a helper.
"Yu Qingran!" He Anzhou called his name as he ran over from not far away: "Why are you here alone? Where is your brother?"
Qingran replied, "I'm looking for him in the lounge to find some peace and quiet.
He Anzhou: "I'll go with you; I need to talk to him about something."
Before he could walk two steps, someone called He Anzhou to confirm the wedding details. He Anzhou had no choice but to wave goodbye to Qingran and say he would come later.
Qingran walked to the lounge alone.
Pushing open the door, I saw Pei Xuhui leaning back on the sofa armrest, looking at his phone, his long, slender, and powerful legs crossed.
Noticing the commotion, the man looked up: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Qingran took a step forward: "Didn't I say that I just saw two men dressed as groomsmen outside?"
Pei Xu replied, "Yes, what's wrong?"
Qingran: "Like a waiter."
Pei Xu glanced at his own attire: "And me?"
Qingran: "A handsome waiter who went bankrupt and started working."
Suit trousers, white shirt, black vest, bow tie—he really looked like a hotel waiter. Even if Pei Xuhui was incredibly handsome, it couldn't change the first impression this outfit gave.
Pei Xuhui was amused by his reply: "Should I thank you for praising me?"
Qingran blinked. "You're welcome." She glanced at the man. "But if you put on that meeting-style air of yours, you wouldn't look like it."
Pei Xu replied, "You think I'd come to someone else's wedding with a cold face and ruin it?"
Qingran heard the footsteps of the wedding hosts approaching outside the door.
A mischievous thought flashed through his mind in an instant. He walked closer, grabbed the man's bow tie, forced him to look up, and then swayed him from side to side as if to suggest something.
"Or you can take off your bow tie."
Pei Xuhui gently cupped the back of the young man's head, lightly kissed his lips, and said, "Not now."
"Bang!" Caught off guard by what he saw, He Anzhou instinctively retreated outside and slammed the door shut behind him.
"Who just came?" Pei Xuhui frowned as he looked at the closed door.
Qingran said innocently, "It might be He Anzhou? I ran into him on the road just now. He said he had something to talk to you about, but he was called away by someone else at the last minute."
Pei Xuhui immediately understood and turned around: "Did you deliberately expose me to watch the show?"
Qingran feigned ignorance: "What good show?"
He just wanted to make some ambiguous moves; the kiss was Pei Xuhui's own initiative, so how can you blame him?
Pei Xuhui chuckled and pinched the soft cheek under his hand: "You naughty thing."
He got up and went outside to find He Anzhou.
He Anzhou was indeed still outside the door, and quickly figured out the meaning of the scene he had just seen.
When Pei Xu came out, he asked directly, "Are you together?"
Pei Xu nodded in a good mood.
He Anzhou excitedly put his arm around his shoulder: "When did this happen?" His gossipy tone in a low voice was almost exactly the same as it was ten years ago.
Pei Xu replied, "It's been a while."
He Anzhou bumped into him, annoyed: "Then why didn't you tell me?"
Pei Xu raised an eyebrow: "Ten years ago, you were able to proactively discover things based on your keen observation skills. I believe in you."
He Anzhou was speechless: "Then why don't you two hang out in front of me more often?" He was lucky if you actually came out three out of ten times. How could he possibly have a chance to observe you?
"But congratulations anyway, you've finally gotten what you wanted." He Anzhou was happy for him.
Pei Xuhui's brows relaxed, and his expression vaguely reflected the spirited look of ten years ago: "Congratulations! I wish you a happy marriage and a long and happy life together."
He Anzhou glanced at him and said, "I'm practically your matchmaker, so you have to treat me to a meal once this busy period is over, you hear me?"
“Okay, you can choose any restaurant,” Pei Xu replied. “Ranran said you wanted to see me about something?”
Reminded of his business, He Anzhou suddenly realized and quickly explained his purpose: "Yes, that's right..."
He was very busy as the groom, and this brief conversation was squeezed in between other things. He quickly finished his business and left.
At this moment, Qingran finally appeared at the door, belatedly.
"Is it a pity you didn't see a good show?" Pei Xu glanced back at him.
Qingran walked past him nonchalantly: "The wedding is about to start, I'm going to support He Anzhou."
Pei Xu looked back at the young man's back, then followed him and flicked the back of his round head lightly: "You brat."
Qingran: "Bad brother."
Pei Xu replied, "How am I bad?"
Qingran: "For example, when they don't let me have my fill..."
"?" The man was so shocked that he quickly covered the young man's mouth, gritted his teeth and said, "How dare you say such things?!"
Qingran pulled the man's hand away and glanced at him sideways: "If you dare to do it, why can't I say anything?"
Pei Xu replied: "???"
He was speechless after being rebuked, and clicked his tongue after a long while.
"So you think I'm wrong for being understanding because you have to go to work? Just you wait, I'll deal with you when you're on vacation."
...
After the wedding and the banquet held to thank the matchmaker by He Anzhou, the end of the year was fast approaching.
The once quiet streets are gradually being decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations in preparation for the New Year. Red lanterns, red "Fu" characters, and red couplets create a festive and red-themed atmosphere everywhere.
The Pei family villa, decorated by Grandma Pei and her in-laws Yu, exuded a strong festive atmosphere for the New Year.
On New Year's Eve, the family happily ate their reunion dinner at home.
After dinner, the parents chatted in the living room while listening to the Spring Festival Gala in the background, while Mr. and Mrs. Pei's phones kept ringing with all sorts of New Year's greetings.
"Hey, where are Ranran and Xuhui?" Pei's mother asked between phone calls.
Grandma Pei, sitting on the sofa, said, "I went upstairs because I was bored."
Grandma Yu sighed from the side, "There are so many new things now, young people are less and less interested in watching the Spring Festival Gala."
Grandpa Yu nodded repeatedly.
"Hey Lao Hu, Happy New Year, Happy New Year..." Pei's father answered another phone call not far away.
Downstairs was noisy and bustling, while upstairs, Pei Xuhui's room was as quiet as if he were in another world, with only occasional ambiguous sounds and intimate whispers.
After an unknown amount of time, the noise stopped, and the man got out of bed, put on a pair of pants, and went into the bathroom.
A cluster of fireworks burst outside the window, illuminating the dimly lit room with vibrant colors.
Qingran, wrapped in a blanket, picked up her phone, pointed it out the window, and snapped a photo at the moment the next wave of fireworks burst into bloom, then sent it to the group chat.
【青染: [Image]】
[Qingran: Wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance~]
"Fireworks are allowed in the city this year?" Pei Xu, who had just finished running the hot water, glanced at the dazzling night sky that was now bright and dim.
"Obviously, yes."
After sending the message, Qingran put down her phone, knelt up, and stretched out her hands to the approaching man.
Pei Xu lifted the man up by his bottom, stroked his smooth back, and asked as they walked toward the bathroom, "Is the air conditioning too cold?"
Her fair skin was covered with tiny, ambiguous red marks.
Qingran wrapped her legs around the man's lower back and kissed his incessantly chattering lips, refusing to answer.
The two figures kissed and disappeared behind the bathroom door. Through the door, the soft sound of water splashing could be heard from the bathroom.
Two cell phones were carelessly tossed on the messy bed outside; one was switched off with a black screen, while the other lit up suddenly with a new message notification.
[Ningning: Happy New Year! This year's Spring Festival Gala was really bad!]
[Linxi: Happy New Year! [Firecrackers][Sprinkling flowers]]
[Ningning: Wait a minute, Qingran, is someone hiding in your room? Something's up? [Image]]
A blurry reflection is circled on the window of the photograph.
Lin Xi: ...Wait, this person looks familiar [panic]
My phone kept vibrating, but no one answered.
Fireworks lit up the sky outside the window, and firecrackers went off at midnight, as we welcomed the New Year together with the hosts and guests on TV.
A note from the author:
I'll write about my brother-in-law tomorrow.
Thanks for the lightning strike, thanks for the watering, chirp!
Look! The silly guy threw a landmine.
Reader "Goodbye, Kakavasya", watered with nutrient solution +3
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