CH 45

It was soon time for dinner.

As a full-time housekeeper, Uncle Kai had always been a proficient cook, and could whip up a table of food alone even if he was busy.

At the long dinner table, Pei Yi deliberately chose the farthest place from the main seat.

Uncle Kai was a little surprised when he brought the soup over. “Little Sir, why are you sitting at the corner?”

He usually sat next to the main seat when he ate.

“Hmm.”

Pei Yi responded half-heartedly, pretending to be immersed in the food.

Not long ago, he was so stimulated from Bo Yueming’s words that he fled the sofa in a hurry, and his mood had not completely calmed down yet.

He didn’t know what was going on, but Pei Yi always felt that Bo Yueming was flirting with him intentionally or unintentionally. After thinking about it, he felt that his facial expression wasn’t right—

After all, when Bo Yueming spoke with such a face, eight out of ten sentences were enough to “kill” people!

Seeing that Pei Yi was sitting in the wrong seat, Lin Zhong and the others did not dare to sit indiscriminately. Driver Lao Zhong beckoned softly, “Little Sir, why don’t you go sit down?”

“…….”

Pei Yi played the fool and pretended not to hear. He buried his head in another bite of white rice.

Sitting at the main seat, Bo Yueming saw through him but kept silent. “It’s fine, everyone can sit down as you like.”

The head of the family had opened his mouth, so Uncle Kai and the others casually found places to sit.

Having just arrived, Qiao Dong didn’t dare to be too casual, and sat in a relatively farther back seat. Because it was far away from other dishes, he only dared to take a few bites of stir-fried vegetables with white rice.

Pei Yi, who was sitting on the side with no intention of eating, noticed Qiao Dong’s restrained expression after a while.

Getting up, he picked up serving chopsticks and a small bowl, and seemed to pick up dishes at random on the table. He plopped it in front of Qiao Dong, and didn’t forget to move over the untouched spare rib soup that Uncle Kai had given him.

“Eat!”

The resounding sentence attracted the attention of everyone at the table.

Qiao Dong, who had originally wanted to reduce his sense of existence, was startled. He imitated Uncle Kai, Lin Zhong, and the others, “L-little Sir, n-no need, you eat.”

In just a few seconds, his entire face had flushed red, and that appearance of “trying to be strong” from that day in the underground parking lot was nowhere to be seen.

Pei Yi was unmoved. “Eat, you’re skinny.”

“……”

He seemed to be picking randomly, but in fact, he paid attention to every dish, obviously because he feared Qiao Dong would not be full if he restrained himself.

However, after living together for so long, why didn’t Bo Yueming see the kitten getting things for him, the one with “inconvenient eyesight?”

Heartless little thing.

Bo Yueming endured the incongruous sourness, and gave Uncle Kai a look when nobody was paying attention.

Uncle Kai understood, and said with a smile, “Qiao Dong, you don’t need to be too restrained in this family. Your leg injury isn’t healed yet, so you should eat more.”

Qiao Dong relaxed slightly and looked at Pei Yi. “Thank you, Little Sir.”

Pei Yi saw that Qiao Dong was as old as himself, and was thinking about how to ask, when Lin Zhong smiled and said, “By the way, when I handled Qiao Dong’s hospitalization before, I found that he and Little Sir were born in the same year.”

“They’re the same age? Twenty-three?” Uncle Kai was surprised. “Which month?”

Qiao Dong nodded. “December 16th, I went to school later than most people.”

Uncle Kai said with a smile, “That’s half a year later than Little Sir. No wonder Little Sir takes care of you so closely. He probably treats you as a little brother.”

Pei Yi took a sip of water, thinking to himself proudly—

Without the “probably,” that was about right.

Pei Yi was twenty-five years old in the real world, and after transmigrating, he automatically lost two years of age, which made him the youngest everywhere he went. Even Bo Wang and Bo Jiao were a year older than him.

Now that he managed to catch someone younger than him, he suddenly felt that his status had risen!

“This is good, now that Qiao Dong is with the family and he is familiar with Little Sir, he should be able to chat with him for a while.” Uncle Kai continued to chatter away, “Otherwise Little Sir shuts himself up in his room watching cartoons all day.”

“…….”

Those final words came out.

Pei Yi’s pleasant mood suddenly collapsed, and he paused for a few seconds before burying himself in his food.

Bo Yueming smiled covertly. “All right, let’s eat.”

Qiao Dong looked at the small bowl of food in front of him and unknowingly felt a little more affection for Pei Yi. He let go of his restraint and began to eat.

Bo Yueming ate quietly, and the others didn’t talk much.

At the end of dinner, Lin Zhong got up to answer a call from Song Yuanyuan, and walked back not long after with a trace of uncertainty in his eyes. “Mr. Bo.”

Bo Yueming noticed his unusual tone. “What’s wrong?”

“Team Leader Song called. Chen Shun’s secretary contacted him ten minutes ago, saying that there is an exchange reception for enterprises in Wencheng this weekend. He wants to invite you to attend.”

The reason given by the other party was very good-sounding—

Although it was a foreign company, the current Bo Corporation had a branch in Wencheng, after all, so it was also a company from Wencheng.

“Since Chen Shun could get someone to make threatening phone calls to Qiao Dong, perhaps he is secretly monitoring his whereabouts.” Lin Zhong expressed his own analysis, and the expression of concern on his face remained undiminished. “We just now took Qiao Dong home, and then received a party invitation.”

Lin Zhong hesitated to speak, and changed to a more suitable phrasing, “It is said that as the head of enterprise in Wencheng, the annual exchange meeting is organized by Shuntian Group.”

“…….”

Both Bo Yueming and Pei Yi sensed something unusual, and their expressions changed slightly.

Qiao Dong, whose heartstrings had just loosened, instantly became nervous again. “Mr. Bo, m-me living here, will it cause trouble for you? How about I leave?”

Bo Yueming asked in a low voice, “Where can you go in your current situation? Will you leave Wencheng due to the threat?”

Qiao Dong was speechless.

If that was the case, where else could he seek justice for his brother?

Bo Yueming didn’t like to beat around the bush when speaking. “Chen Shun manages the Shuntian Group and has been in power for so many years. This isn’t about a small person like you.”

Pei Yi nodded imperceptibly—

Lin Zhong’s analysis was correct. Chen Shun must know where Qiao Dong was now, and feared that Bo Yueming would help him.

If there was a disturbance at this juncture of the upcoming bidding, it would definitely affect the Shuntian Group’s harvest of the “Wencheng Sports Center” project.

Thus, for Bo Yueming, this exchange banquet was likely to be a “Hongmen banquet,”[1] 

Bo Yueming inwardly considered the pros and cons, and finally decided, “Ask Song Yuanyuan to tell Chen Shun’s secretary that I will arrive on time in two days.”

Lin Zhong frowned. “Mr. Bo, are you sure you want to go?”

After all, Wencheng was not the Imperial Capital. No matter how powerful the Bo family was, it would not be able to extend to here. Bo Yueming’s wealth and background in this city was probably insufficient.

What should he do if something went wrong?

Bo Yueming understood Lin Zhong’s implication, but the proudness of his features remained the same. “What are you afraid of? Even in the Imperial Capital, how reliable can my family background be?”

Lin Zhong took a deep breath. “Alright, then. I will reply to him now.”

Pei Yi looked at Lin Zhong’s gradually retreating back, and immediately said, “Er-ge.”

Bo Yueming understood tacitly, and said at once, “No.”

“…….”

Before he could say a word, he was stopped by the other party.

Pei Yi was stuck for a few seconds before giving a hum, “I, I go out to play too!”

Bo Yueming resolutely rebuffed him, “The reception is not a fun place. Are the troubles you caused in the Imperial Capital before not enough for you to learn a lesson?”

Pei Yi was speechless, but completely dissatisfied.

What troubles he caused in the past? It was clearly the short-sighted people who took the initiative to seek him out who were troublesome!

And every time trouble arrived, which person with ulterior motives hadn’t been given a lesson by him, ah? If it weren’t for “playing the fool” limiting the use of his mouth, he would be able to take down several of them alone!

Of course, it was more convenient to “play the fool” and hit back directly!

Pei Yi remembered his impulsive thoughts when he decided to come to Wencheng. Wasn’t it because he was afraid that Bo Yueming, who couldn’t see, would be ridiculed, targeted, or even secretly bullied by other people?

It was obvious that something might be wrong with this reception, so he naturally wanted to follow along to have a look.

When he realized this, Pei Yi simply ran to Bo Yueming’s side. “Er-ge!”

Bo Yueming frowned. “I said n—”

“I want to accompany you.”

“……..”

Bo Yueming swallowed his unspoken words. He knew these words were emphasized to “please him and be good,” and that the kitten wanted to go to the reception more out of curiosity and excitement, but he still couldn’t refuse.

He unobtrusively changed his half-spoken refusal and said, “Follow me the entire time and don’t run around. You have to…..”

Pei Yi hurriedly nodded and answered quickly, “Super obedient!”

Bo Yueming was blocked by his confident tone.

Uncle Kai and Lao Zhang to the side exchanged teasing glances, smiling. “Our Little Sir, ah, he’s the most clever at such a time!”

Qiao Dong also found it interesting and snickered, then heard Bo Yueming say as if changing the subject, “Qiao Dong, you stay here. Don’t worry too much, I do things my own way.”

Pei Yi agreed, giving a rare “En.”

Temporarily suppressing the uneasiness in his heart, Qiao Dong said, “I-I know. Thank you, Mr. Bo and Little Sir.”

. . . . . . .

Soon, it was Sunday.

Wencheng’s annual corporate exchange meeting was organized by Shuntian Group, and the venue was set at the Wencheng World Trade Center. In recent years, each one was higher than the other one.

Those invited to participate were all enterprises in Wencheng and nearby cities. As for the exchanges, they were nothing more than those topics involved in the business field.

Guided by a courteous attendant, Bo Yueming and Pei Yi smoothly entered the hall. In addition, they were followed by Lin Zhong and a hired security guard.

The group had just entered the exchange hall.

Chen Shun, who had heard the news in advance, approached. “Mr. Bo, welcome. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Bo Yueming had narrowed his eyes before Chen Shun approached, and stretched out his hand as if recognizing his voice, “Chairman Chen? It was your invitation, so of course I wanted to come.”

Chen Shun reached a hand out and shook.

He took the opportunity to look at everyone around Bo Yueming, seemingly casual. “Unexpectedly, Little Mister Pei came along. There is also the short-haired brother in the back, who looks unfamiliar, ah.”

Bo Yueming knew that there were more words between the lines. “Chairman Chen, my eyesight is not convenient, and our family’s Pei Yi likes to follow me around childishly. If another bodyguard follows, he will be safer. Please excuse me.”

“…….”

Familiar excuses came to his ears, causing Chen Shun’s smile to freeze.

He immediately thought of the “It’s my treat” remark he had made on a whim that night, and knew immediately afterwards—

The other party unceremoniously spent almost 300,000 of his account for that meal, and took more than a dozen bottles of good wine alone, truly capable of doing dirty tricks!

Chen Shun repressed the grievance of his loss, asking with a smile, “Mr. Bo, I wonder if it is convenient to talk alone? There are seats in the dessert and drink area over there, Little Mister Pei and the others should like it.”

Bo Yueming wouldn’t even give him this little bit of face, and ordered the people around him, “You take Pei Yi over there first, and Sun Wei stays.”

“Yes!”

“Okay, Boss.”

The bodyguard Sun Wei and Lin Zhong responded one after another.

Pei Yi was not dissatisfied with Bo Yueming’s arrangements, and obediently followed.

Chen Shun looked at Sun Wei, who was still on guard behind Bo Yueming, and paused for a few seconds before calling a waiter over for wine. “Mr. Bo, what do you think about my prior proposal?”

“Proposal?”

Bo Yueming shook his wine glass slightly, as if he had to think for a few seconds before he remembered. “Apologies, Chairman Chen, the bidding this time was assigned by headquarters. Even if I wanted to start with a small project, the leaders above wouldn’t let me.”

This meant: they would not withdraw from the bidding.

Chen Shun thought of Bo Yueming’s position in the Bo family, and he really didn’t appear to be a person with the right to have a say. There was less than half a month now before the bidding, so it seemed he was destined to be a competitor.

Chen Shun expressed his understanding. “Mr. Bo, I know of your difficulties, but the two families will inevitably have a falling-out during this project, and no matter what the result is, I fear that it will hurt the peace in the end, ah.”

Bo Yueming took a sip of champagne, responding with ease, “Chairman Chen, fair bidding depends on ability. If one loses, who would take it amiss?”

“……..”

Seeing that Bo Yueming was invulnerable, Chen Shun could only pause for a few seconds and then get to the point. “Mr. Bo, the matter of the bidding is a fair competition, but I have another matter I would like to discuss with you.”

Bo Yueming already knew. “Chairman Chen, you might as well speak bluntly.”

Chen Shun glanced at the bodyguard behind him, and approached unhesitatingly. “Mr. Bo, listen to my advice, don’t bother with that Qiao Dong.”

He had sent someone to investigate in private, and Qiao Dong had never left Wencheng.

Because Zhao Hui’s death was not handled well, Chen Shun didn’t have the gangsters come to his door this time, but had them call and make threats. But he didn’t expect—

After Qiao Dong left the hospital, he was picked up by a black car. Upon investigation, the owner of the car was Bo Yueming’s current driver.

There was less than a month left before the final bidding, and Chen Shun feared that Bo Yueming would take advantage of Qiao Dong to fight back disproportionately. After all, things like a “human life” would definitely have adverse effects if things got serious.

Bo Yueming took half a step back. “Why can’t I understand Chairman Chen’s words?”

Chen Shun took the initiative to touch their wine glasses lightly, speaking with more weight, “I have led the Shuntian Group for more than thirty years, and have long been tied to Wencheng. What kind of bedbugs in the gutter have I not encountered these years?”

“Filthy things will find no benefits here, but I didn’t expect to turn around and meet Mr. Bo.” Chen Shun drank the champagne in one gulp, playing hard and soft, “I warn Mr. Bo, one should be careful not to put in the investment and not get anything back. Don’t you agree?”

Bo Yueming gestured with his raised glass and replied in a moderate tone, “I’ve been taught.”

Chen Shun saw his attitude, and there was a hint of anger in his expression. He still wanted to say something more, but a man with greasy hair and fat ears leaned over, “Dad! I need you urgently!”

He seemed to fear that outsiders would overhear, so he leaned over to Chen Shun’s ear and whispered.

“…….”

In less than five seconds, Chen Shun’s expression underwent a sudden change.

He faced Bo Yueming again, deliberately feigning calmness. “Mr. Bo, I have some personal matters to attend to, so excuse me.”

Bo Yueming sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn’t be bothered to stick around and go in circles with Chen Shun here. “Chairman Chen can do as he pleases.”

Chen Shun and the fat man left quickly into the distance.

Pei Yi stopped eating pudding, and pointed while asking Lin Zhong, “Him. Who?”

Lin Zhong was also keeping an eye on Bo Yueming’s situation. After seeing the direction Pei Yi’s finger was pointing, he revealed, “That, ah, it seems to be Chairman Chen’s son-in-law, named Pan Chenggong.”

He feared that the foolish Pei Yi would not understand, so he added concisely, “Little Sir, he is a bad person!”

Managing such a large construction site project, but still greedy for money, his first reaction after destroying a life was not dealing with the aftermath, but to be perfunctory and keep silent, then make threats. He was simply scum!

Coming from the heart, this sentence was true.

Lin Zhong thought of this, and his nausea could only surge.

Pei Yi gazed at Chen Shun and Pan Chenggong’s panic as they left, and felt that there was a reason for this incident. He used that little excuse of “going to the toilet” that didn’t have bad results, and got up, rushing in the direction the other party had left.

Seeing this, Lin Zhong hurriedly followed. “Little Sir! Wait for me!”

The banquet hall used for the exchange meeting was a duplex with two floors. Pei Yi went upstairs carefully using the circular staircase in the corridor. He remembered Bo Yueming’s explanation and did not stop Lin Zhong from following.

Lin Zhong followed behind while using his phone to update Bo Yueming. When he looked up and saw that Pei Yi had randomly gone in the wrong direction, he stopped him immediately. “Little Sir, the bathroom is not upstairs. You……”

“Shh!”

Pei Yi put his finger to his lips, and said in a very low and exaggerated voice, “Bad guy!”

Lin Zhong couldn’t keep up with Pei Yi’s brainwaves for a moment. “W-what?”

As soon as he spoke, there was the sound of violent fury from a room at the end of the second floor corridor. “You pig brain! Haven’t you learned enough lessons yet? How the hell do you dare to make trouble for me!”

Lin Zhong recognized Chen Shun’s voice, and his eyes shifted suddenly. “Little Sir, shh! Don’t move!”

Pei Yi silently nodded.

Due to the meeting in Linshui Pavilion, Pei Yi had the most basic judgment of Chen Shun’s character—

A smiling old fox.

After Pan Chenggong succeeded in getting close just now, Chen Shun’s expression and hurried steps to leave clearly indicated an accident!

Pei Yi knew that due to Bo Yuemings impaired eyesight, he would be unable to see this subtle change, so he quickly chased after in his stead.

The reason why Lin Zhong acquiesced to following was purely to assure Bo Yueming, but he was far better than Pei Yi imagined—

After having followed Bo Yueming for a long time, Lin Zhong’s instinctive reactions were better than anyone else’s.

The moment he heard the dispute, he fumbled the recording pen he used for work out of his pocket, approached quietly, and placed it in the nearest decorative potted plant.

Having done all this, Lin Zhong walked back quickly and coaxed in a low voice, “Little Sir, let’s go first, shall we? There is a lot of delicious food downstairs!”

There was only one corridor and stairs that led to the banquet hall here. Even if they hid in the lounge closeby, there was a certain possibility of being discovered, and it was very easy to alert the enemy.

Pei Yi understood Lin Zhong’s inner concerns.

Now that there was a better solution, there was no reason to risk himself.

The two quickly descended the stairs.

Fortunately, all the guests downstairs gathered in the banquet hall were busy dealing with each other, so they really didn’t have time to pay attention to this minor scene.

The two returned to the rest area along the edge of the banquet hall.

Before he could get close, Pei Yi unconsciously paused his steps. Following back and to the side, Lin Zhong felt it was strange and took a closer look before realizing—

Bo Yueming was sitting on a sofa at the end of the rest area, the bodyguard standing upright at his post behind him. Most importantly, there was a sexy young woman sitting next to Bo Yueming!

The other party was sitting slightly sideways, looking at Bo Yueming with a smile on her face. The straps of her dress were slightly revealing, and curly hair swung fragrantly over her shoulders. The hand holding the wine glass was also extraordinarily slender and beautiful.

Her demeanor was very outstanding, sexy but not tacky.

There was no telling what they were talking about at the moment. The woman seemed to be having a good time, and touched her glass to Bo Yueming’s.

Lin Zhong turned to Pei Yi and asked in a low voice, “Little Sir, are we going over?”

Pei Yi watched Bo Yueming drain the glass of champagne in coordination with her, without a hint of disgust at all, and he held his breath with narrowed eyes—

Sure enough, he was the villain comparable to the main male protagonist in the original text, capable of attracting bees and butterflies anywhere he went!

How was a “blind man” still so charming?

Pei Yi turned around and planned to leave. “Won’t go.”

Lin Zhong was afraid that Pei Yi would get lost and cause trouble, so he quickly coaxed him on behalf of his boss, “Little Sir, don’t you want to eat dessert? You still haven’t eaten very much yet.”

“……..”

Yes, ah.

That should be his place.

Pei Yi regained his confidence and walked over quickly, picking up a small cake in front of Bo Yueming and the woman.

Bo Yueming’s eyes hidden under the lenses noticed Pei Yi in the first moment. He was about to introduce both parties, but then he heard the soft voice of the person beside him ask, “Yueming, who is this?”

“…….”

Yueming?

When did they become so close?

They could address each other so intimately?

Hearing this voice as soft as water, Pei Yi tightened his grip on the cake and played the fool on impulse, humming, “Husband.”

“………”

The woman sitting on the sofa was taken aback for a moment, and even Lin Zhong, who was used to being around the other party, was surprised.

When Bo Yueming heard Pei Yi’s long-lost address, a smile flashed in his eyes. “Sister Zhong Yi, let me introduce you. This is Pei Yi.”

Lin Zhong to the side reacted at last. “Zhong Yi? Yes, you are the special assistant who followed the Old Lady?”

Bo Yueming nodded slightly, explaining to Lin Zhong, and more so to Pei Yi, “En, since she graduated, Sister Zhong Yi has been working with Grandma for twelve years.”

Zhong Yi had an extremely strong ability to handle affairs, and there was a saying that once spread around: “Bo Peizhi has cultivated to her youthful self again.”

Five years ago, thirty-four-year-old Zhong Yi met her current husband. After weighing matters, she resigned from the Bo family and went to Haishi to start a family and a business with her husband.

They didn’t expect to go full circle and run into each other again in Wencheng. The other party was on a business trip with her husband at this time.

Zhong Yi had always been self-disciplined. Near forty years old, she had a well-maintained figure and skin, and it was easy for her to be regarded as a young girl just from her back view and profile.

“…….”

When Pei Yi met Zhong Yi’s gentle gaze, he was so embarrassed that he couldn’t breathe.

What was he doing just now?

Didn’t he think Bo Yueming was hooked in by a young girl?

But how could he explain the sudden intimate address?

Although Pei Yi wanted to hide his shame, he was betrayed by his ears, which were so red that they looked like they could bleed.

Bo Yueming saw his kitten’s rare embarrassment and shyness, so no matter how hard he had to endure, he didn’t reveal his secret. “Sister Zhong Yi, Pei Yi’s character is rather introverted and shy. Please forgive him.”

Zhong Yi turned her gaze back and teased, “It’s rare to see you protecting someone like this.”

Pei Yi felt that “playing the fool” for so long had affected his basic judgment. His entire face was on fire, and his initial jealousy was completely disregarded.

Fortunately, a phone rang and broke the silence.

Zhong Yi rummaged through her small purse and found her cell phone, saying with a smile, “It’s my husband’s number. I’ll go find him, please excuse me.”

“All right.” 

Zhong Yi stood up and stepped away gracefully in her high heels.

Bo Yueming glanced at Pei Yi, who was torturing a little cake with his head bowed, and recalled the vinegar implied by that “husband” just now. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t restrain his smile.

“Pei Yi, what are you doing?”

“…….”

Pei Yi clammed up in embarrassment.

Don’t address me, I’m still ashamed.

[1] A Hongmen banquet (鸿门宴) is set up with the aim of murdering the guest. The first thing I think of is the GOT “Red Wedding.” ⮐