CH 76

No matter how cunning a criminal was, he could not escape the punishment of the law. Li Gui finally confessed to his actions and exposed Bo Guancheng, the mastermind behind the scenes.

Not only that, but the truck driver involved in the accident also admitted that he had received a huge sum of money, and even the call recording of the transaction at that time was dug out.

In the end, Bo Guancheng went from being the young master of the Bo family, who was envied by everyone and one of the possible successors to the family, to a prisoner whom everyone laughed at and ridiculed.

A person who was never content was like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

The wrong things he had done, he still had to bear them himself in the end.

The only surprising thing was that Bo Guancheng did not sue Bo Yueming for intentionally hurting him—

Did he discover a conscience? Or did he just give up struggling?

No one knew the answer deep in his heart. They only knew that when the police came to the door, he did not struggle hysterically or resist with all his might, and only followed along with the course of events.

As for further trial and conviction, that would have to wait until the next year.

New Year’s Day and the Spring Festival were very close, less than a month away.

The Last Fog that had been launched recently had already stabilized with a certain amount of players, and still had a slight upward trend each day.

The overall development was within Pei Yi’s expectations, and it also gave YWY time to prepare for the launch of the mobile game, The Last Fog 2.0.

As the new year approached, Pei Yi and Li Yuan led the studio team to move into a brand new location. For the sake of The Last Fog’s good development, the two of them took advantage of the official holiday—

They discussed between themselves and sent extra red envelopes to the employees, which immediately drew them the praise of being “good bosses” for a while.

However, even if the game studio was on holiday for the Chinese New Year, someone had to hold fast.

Fortunately, Xiang Nansheng was an Imperial Capital native, and his home was very close to the location of the new studio, so he took the initiative to assume the responsibility of staying on duty.

In addition to the rightful double bonus that would be given to someone who was on duty during the New Year, Pei Yi and Li Yuan also promised that if anything happened, they would be on call as the core leaders.

The group of people joyfully went on holiday.

Pei Yi looked at the office hall that had vacated in an instant, smiled helplessly, and walked toward his friend’s office. “Li Yuan, are you busy?”

“Not busy, GM sent an email. Tomorrow afternoon, their company is holding a year-end meeting. As one of their investment projects, we need to send someone over.”

This sort of thing naturally fell on Li Yuan, the Operations Director, and he was presently sorting out the materials and reports needed for the meeting.

“Thanks for your hard work.” Pei Yi asked sincerely, “Are you free tomorrow night?”

“Yes, I’ll be free after the morning meeting.” Li Yuan nodded. “What’s up?”

Pei Yi tilted his head and extended an invitation, “Come to my house for the New Year?”

Li Yuan was taken aback. “The Bo family?”

Pei Yi shook his head. “No, I mean, my mom’s house. My sister and brother will be there, along with Bo Yueming.”

“……”

Li Yuan stared blankly.

Pei Yi knew that his friend understood the weight of this invitation, and didn’t force him. “Li Yuan, although we’re both more or less related to the Pei family, we’ve already broken away from the shackles of that home.”

“We can be friends if you want, or also family. This invitation is not only mine, but also theirs.”

“Trust me, they’re all good people. Just like you.”

There was only sincerity in Pei Yi’s invitation, no coercion, which made Li Yuan consider it—

Ever since he completely severed ties with An Yang outside the hospital emergency room, Li Yuan had moved out of the home he had lived in since he was a child and chose to rent a house to live alone. 

The friends he had met when he was a young master were nearly gone, and only a handful of friends he met with after work remained.

Nobody knew him. He was afraid of being alone, and also wanted a family.

Pei Yi’s dinner invitation fell directly into Li Yuan’s heart.

“If…..” Li Yuan plucked up his courage and said with a bit of expectation, “If you don’t mind the trouble, then I’ll come for the meal tomorrow night.”

Pei Yi responded with a smile, “Of course, I’ll send you the address later?”

Li Yuan nodded.

After finishing his business, Pei Yi looked at the phone display with some joy at the tips of his eyes. “Then I’ll leave first. Someone is waiting for me in the parking lot.”

“…….”

Li Yuan changed his previous attitude and jokingly refused the dog food. “Get out, get out, I can’t be bothered to watch you hover around in front of me.”

. . . . . . . 

In the evening of the next day, Bo Yueming parked the car in a parking space in front of an old-fashioned residential building and looked at his lover beside him.

“We’re here.”

“En.”

Pei Yi glanced up through the car window. “I can see steam coming out the window. I figure my mom has already started cooking.”

Bo Yueming suppressed the tension deep in his heart. “I’ll get the things out of the back of the car.”

Pei Yi couldn’t restrain his smile. “Okay.”

The two had originally just wanted to come and have a simple New Year’s Eve, but Old Mrs. Bo heard about this at the dining table the night before, and had been busy all morning today arranging many things for Bo Yueming’s visit.

Pei Yi tried to persuade her not to take the trouble, but in the end, Old Mrs. Bo said, “The young are ignorant,” and then insisted on filling the entire trunk with the things she had prepared—

Fumbling around, Bo Yueming felt the tension of “meeting the parents for the first time.”

Pei Yi got out of the car. “Er-ge, let me get some of that for you.”

Bo Yueming only handed him something light and easy to carry, and asked when he had a spare moment, “Kitten, is my outfit today suitable?”

Pei Yi replied as a matter of course, “It’s suitable, ah, why wouldn’t it be?”

It wasn’t until he looked up to catch the hint in Bo Yueming’s eyes that he belatedly said, “Er-ge, are you nervous?”

“……”

Bo Yueming’s silence was his explanation.

Pei Yi tried his best to hold back the upturned corners of his mouth, one second, two seconds, and then couldn’t help but laugh and fall into his arms.

Bo Yueming was helpless. “What are you laughing about?”

Pei Yi’s smile was undiminished. “Er-ge, haven’t you met my mother and sister before? Why are you still nervous?”

Faced with bidding projects at work worth hundreds of millions, the other party’s eyelids might not necessarily blink a few extra times.

Bo Yueming lightly kissed his lover’s hair. “It’s not the same. This is the first time I’ve formally visited them now that I’m with you.”

Last time, he was too troubled by the matter of those two over-the-top relatives, and it was really not a good meeting. In addition, the marriage between the two of them was false at that time and they had not yet gotten together.

Comparing the before and after, the significance of this door-to-door visit was indeed special.

Pei Yi approached and kissed Bo Yueming’s cool lips, saying with a smile, “Er-ge, don’t be nervous. Did you forget that I’m the one who has business to take care of today?”

He intended to confess to Shu Wan and Pei Yuan that he had become a “normal person.”

After all, he was not the “Pei Yi” he was at the beginning, and he couldn’t let the mother and daughter worry about him.

“Okay, let’s not be nervous,” Bo Yueming responded, lowering his head to lightly kiss the tip of his lover’s nose. “Let’s go up. Be careful not to stand in the cold too long and get sick.”

“En.”

. . . . . . .

The two walked up to the fourth floor with bags big and small. Pei Yuan, who had just heard their footsteps, opened the door.

When she saw her little brother and Bo Yueming, she was surprised and delighted. “Xiao Yi and Mr. Bo, why did you bring over so many things?”

As soon as she spoke, Qin Yishun also appeared by the door. He had come early to help.

Qin Yishun saw the pile of things the two people outside were carrying, and naturally placed the credit on his little brother. “It’s normal to bring some things when visiting relatives during the New Year. Our Xiao Yi took a lot of trouble.”

Having spoken, he was afraid that Pei Yi would be tired after carrying these things, and stepped out to take the things out of the other party’s hands.

As for Bo Yueming to the side, who was carrying heavier and more plentiful things, he didn’t care.

“……”

Bo Yueming was already familiar with Qin Yishun’s “brother-protecting madman” attribute, and was silently tested by his brother-in-law.

Seeing this, Pei Yuan took the initiative to help. “Mr. Bo, you just come inside and eat, there are too many things here.”

Bo Yueming didn’t let the young girl handle it, and simply responded, “It’s not too much, Brother is right, this is how it should be.”

“…….”

Qin Yishun didn’t keep a firm grip on this thing in his hand, and it fell to the ground with a bang. He turned around to look in disbelief at Bo Yueming, who had changed his term of address.

Brother?

How did it become such a relationship?

What was he playing at today?

Bo Yueming met Qin Yishun’s probing gaze and nodded, pretending to be familiar. He had figured it out long ago—

Regardless of whether or not Pei Yi was the original “Young Master Pei” of the Pei family, he was serious about caring for his family.

That being the case, as his lover, he naturally couldn’t do otherwise. There was no problem with having more multiple brothers.

Pei Yi saw the subtle turbulence between the two, and responded with immediate delight, “En, Brother is right!”

Now it was Pei Yuan’s turn to be astonished. “Xiao Yi?”

When did her little brother’s articulation become so clear? 

At the same time, Shu Wan heard the noise and rushed over from the kitchen, holding a spatula in her hand. “Xiao Huan, is your brother here?”

Pei Yi took a deep breath and stepped into the room before Pei Huan could answer. “Mom, it’s me. I’m back.”

“…….”

Shu Wan suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring at Pei Yi as he approached.

Pei Yuan put her things on the ground at random and quickly followed. “Xiao Yi, y-you’re…..”

Thinking of Bo Yueming and Qin Yishun behind him, who were already in the know, Pei Yi simply stopped covering it up. “Mom, Sister, I have something I want to talk with you about alone. Is that okay?”

—Bang!

The spatula in Shu Wan’s hand fell to the ground, but she didn’t bother to bend down and pick it up. She rubbed her apron with anxious hands, nervous and expectant.

“……Okay, okay! Let’s, let’s go into the room and talk!”

Pei Yuan also recognized the change to normal in Pei Yi, and restrained the excitement in her heart. “En! Let’s go talk in the room!”

. . . . . . .

Everyone entered the small bedroom, full of emotion.

The door was closed tightly.

Bo Yueming and Qin Yishun, who had stayed in the living room, stared wide-eyed. The latter picked up the spatula on the ground and spoke first, “Put everything to the side first, I have something to ask you.”

Bo Yueming could probably guess Qin Yishun’s intentions, and nodded slightly. The two of them sat down on the sofa.

Qin Yishun cut to the chase. “Do you recall what I told you when Xiao Yi was almost bullied by Sun Yelong back then?”

“I remember. You said that if another such situation occurred, you would take Pei Yi back from the Bo residence.” Bo Yueming didn’t evade, and admitted to his mistakes. “It was because I failed to protect Pei Yi in all aspects that he was kidnapped.”

“Bo Yueming, it’s not that I want to find fault with you and don’t want to see you.”

Qin Yishun recalled the dangerous scene when he found Pei Yi surrounded by Li Gui and others that day, and his face was full of deep displeasure.

“The relationships in your Bo family are a mess. Even if the main branch is gone, who can guarantee that the second branch won’t cause trouble in the future.”

His tone was very severe and cold. “Even if Xiao Yi has the ability to protect himself, that doesn’t mean those people won’t trouble him again and again!”

“If you can’t deal with that group of troublemakers, then don’t claim that you can protect Xiao Yi!”

Qin Yishun was a soldier, and the word “protect” had never been empty talk!

“…….”

Faced with Qin Yishun’s harsh questioning, Bo Yueming didn’t feel the slightest bit of resentment. “Yes, it is my problem.”

If not for Pei Yi’s cleverness, and if Qin Yishun hadn’t arrived in time, there might have been serious consequences!

Qin Yishun recognized Bo Yueming’s willingness to admit his mistake and allow himself to be criticized, and stopped where he was. “Bo Yueming, the reason why I kept myself from saying anything about Pei Yi leaving the Bo residence is because he likes you.”

That day, when Pei Yi had just escaped the danger of being kidnapped, his first thought was not to treat his injuries, but to rush to group headquarters to find Bo Yueming.

Since then, as an outsider, Qin Yishun completely understood — his little brother had probably fallen for Bo Yueming long ago!

Pei Yi was an independent individual with his own emotions and choices. Since he had already chosen to be with Bo Yueming, outsiders had no right to interfere.

Qin Yishun did not want to weaken or underestimate Pei Yi, but from the perspective of his older brother, he hoped that the other party would live a happier life.

“……”

“……”

Silence spread between the two.

After a long time, Qin Yishun sighed and made a solemn plea, “Bo Yueming, this matter is not over, do you understand!”

“I understand!”

Bo Yueming readily confirmed in self-blame, “There won’t be a next time, absolutely not.”

Qin Yishun didn’t say anything more. He got up and took the spatula back to the kitchen.

. . . . . . .

On the other side, in the warmly furnished bedroom that Shu Wan and Pei Yuan had set aside for Pei Yi when he stayed over.

No matter where the mother and daughter moved, or whether Pei Yi would come back to live there, this habit that had been maintained for many years continued.

Pei Yi looked at the mother and daughter, who appeared excited but unprepared to ask casually, and a sour feeling welled up in his heart.

“Mom, Sister, you don’t have to look at me like that, it’s just what you think—” He paused slightly, still intending to explain the situation with ‘half truth and half falsehood.’ “Since entering the Bo residence, my condition gradually improved and recovered.”

“……”

Shu Wan burst into tears.

Pei Yuan quickly handed her a tissue, barely resisting the urge to cry. “Xiao Yi, you’re really alright?”

“En.”

Pei Yi also took out a tissue and handed it to Pei Yuan, smiling cutely. “I’m fine, see how I can communicate with and talk to you normally now?” 

Shu Wan’s eyes were red. The depression and pain that had accumulated in her heart for many years finally broke out, and she cried bitterly while covering her face.

Pei Yi had been forcibly taken away by Old Mr. Pei as soon as he was born, and the number of times the mother and son could meet each year was very small. At that time, Shu Wan had thought—

Although the longing and separation of flesh and blood was difficult, at least her son had grandparents who truly cared about him, and had enough food and clothing. She just needed to make good money in order to let her daughter live well and happily.

Later, when the news came that Pei Yi had fallen into the water and become a fool, Shu Wan’s heart seemed to split in two.

She tried to break into the Pei residence more than once to accompany and take care of her youngest son, but she was always turned away mercilessly.

At that time, only Old Mrs. Pei would help find ways to create opportunities for the mother, son, and siblings to meet.

During the first few brief encounters, Shu Wan always felt that her son was not “foolish,” but his reactions were just slower.

For this reason, knowing nothing about medicine, she researched a lot of information that said the situation might get better.

This “possibility” became the only hope in her heart, and she even took a class to learn relevant knowledge about physiotherapy.

It was a pity that after Old Mrs. Pei’s death, she and Pei Yi saw each other less and less.

Year after year, the other party’s condition did not improve.

Pei Yuan at her side had been sensible since she was a child, and even voluntarily promised that no matter what happened in the future, she would help and take care of her little brother as much as possible.

But Shu Wan knew well that a girl should have a life of her own, and her foolish younger son should never be the eldest daughter’s duty to care for.

Later, Shu Wan watched her gradually get older, and in order not to drag her daughter down, and to give her son a certain amount of care in the future—

Without telling her daughter Pei Yuan, she worked two jobs herself. Even on the weekends, which was the only time she could rest, she would still find a way to get some handmade components in the hopes of saving more money.

Shu Wan had originally thought that she would have to go on like this day after day, suffering until the light in her heart completely vanished, or maybe until the end of her life.

However, at this moment, Pei Yi stood in front of her, healthy and carefree, and said, “I’m fine.”

The boulder accumulated in her heart turned to dust, and the light that had been blocked finally shone again on this life that had been dark since her husband’s death.

Shu Wan knew that she had a weak personality and couldn’t be considered a good mother most of the time, but she thought from beginning to end—

This healthy son and daughter pair were the greatest reward and gift from heaven! She was willing to give her all for the two children!

“Mom, don’t cry. Brother is fine, you should be happy,” Pei Yuan persuaded, but she herself was crying.

Pei Yi looked at the tearful mother and daughter, and took the initiative to hug and support them. “Mom, Sister, it’s all in the past.”

“In the future, I’ll take Dad’s place and take on the responsibility of taking care of you.”

Having gone through so much, Pei Yi now not only wanted to take responsibility on behalf of the original owner, but sincerely wished to grasp the warmth and duty bestowed by this family relationship.

“You have to trust me, okay?”

“Okay, of course.”