PHM chapter 5

Yan Xi wasn’t sure whether the man had done it deliberately. After all, his expression was far too serious to associate it with anything else.

But he still felt a little sheepish.

“Maybe it’s because I started practicing dance when I was three, so my body is relatively flexible.” Yan Xi tried his best to keep a calm expression. “Teacher Pei, you can try it yourself.”

Pei Yuxing let out a silent laugh, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

There was no surprises in the results of the PK. VIC took first place, a sweet-looking female idol came in second, and Su Zhi came in third.

The production crew had put a lot of effort into the ceremony. The top three went up to the podium, each holding a certificate, as if they had returned to their school days.

There were even acceptance speeches.

“An acceptance speech? What am I supposed to say? I only got sixty points in Chinese on my college entrance exam.” Ren Xiao stared blankly at the production crew. “Can I sing a song for you guys instead?”

Of course, he was mercilessly rejected.

Ren Xiao looked around, then suddenly locked his gaze on Yan Xi. “Then I’d like to thank my opponent. If I get the chance, I want to have a one-on-one PK with you. Ah, of course, I’m not saying the others aren’t opponents, and I’m not saying you guys are worse than him, or that Yan Xi is worse than you guys… No, I said I didn’t mean it like that! I only got sixty points in Chinese on my college entrance exam, what can I do?!”

He was completely flustered.

The entire audience burst out laughing.

The camera turned to Yan Xi. Although he had suddenly been called out, his expression remained unchanged, and he smiled kindly along with everyone else. “It’s okay. I didn’t do well in Chinese on my college entrance exam either.”

Ren Xiao looked as if he had finally found his people. “You’re exactly my kind of person. How about we add each other as friends after filming?”

Yan Xi played along. “Okay.”

A faint chuckle suddenly came from somewhere, though it was difficult to hear clearly.

But Ren Xiao caught it precisely. It had come from the person beside him.

But the person beside him was his boss.

He carefully glanced over. His boss’s expression hadn’t changed. His long legs were crossed, his large hands casually resting on his knees, looking completely at ease as he watched them perform.

…?

An illusion?

When it was the second-place female idol’s turn, the young woman thanked her fans and the judges, then said some inspirational words. Overall, it was fairly standard—not wrong, but not particularly memorable either.

Su Zhi had also come from a boy group, and his speech wasn’t much different from the female idol’s. The only difference was that he specifically emphasized his gratitude toward Pei Yuxing at the end.

“I remember when I participated in a survival show, my ranking with my teammates wasn’t very high. In the end, I took a gamble and performed one of Teacher Pei’s songs. That song helped me win first place and successfully debut. And today, it was another one of Teacher Pei’s songs that helped me win third place. In a sense, Teacher Pei can be considered my benefactor. He accompanied me through some very difficult times.”

He spoke with deep emotion, his eyes filled with gratitude and excitement, almost overflowing with tears.

Lin Yi turned around and whispered to his teammates, “Is he a genuine fan, or is he just trying to get some screen time? Why do my teeth hurt so much from all this sweetness?”

Xia Zefan said, “Don’t ask. If you do, the answer is: he’s been a devoted fan for ten years and just happened to show up. His admiration was simply too strong to contain.”

Ji Zhou: “Ridiculous.”

Yan Xi stared ahead, his tone indifferent. “Don’t say that. He’s still a kid.”

The others: “……”

Lin Yi’s eyes widened. “Brother, you were mocking him just now, right? You definitely were, right?!”

“No.” Yan Xi refused to admit it. “He really is still young.”

He had seen a little of Su Zhi’s profile before. He was in his early twenties, two years younger than Yan Xi, and followed a pure and innocent image. He was a pampered young master who knew little about the ways of the world.

It was just a pity that he had used his innocence in the wrong place.

During the time he had spent with Pei Yuxing, Yan Xi had also wondered what exactly about himself had attracted the man. After thinking it over and over, the only thing he could come up with was his youth and inexperience.

The entertainment industry changed so quickly. People never seemed to get tired of fresh young faces.

But he quickly rejected that thought. Pei Yuxing had spent many years in the entertainment industry and had seen more handsome young men than he could count. Besides, he was extremely disciplined and restrained in his private life. He wasn’t someone who sought temporary novelty.

During their private interactions, the man had always been gentle and polite, never making any inappropriate advances. He was an extremely patient person. No matter what Yan Xi said, he would listen attentively, and whenever Yan Xi was troubled, he would offer his own opinions—not in a lecturing or self-satisfied manner, but slowly guiding him like an elder.

Yan Xi didn’t like telling outsiders about his troubles, but in front of Pei Yuxing, certain emotions would emerge on their own. It was like being lost and helpless on an isolated island while knowing deep down that a harbor was waiting ahead.

The distance between them was neither too close nor too far, yet there was a faint sense of intimacy. Yan Xi found it very comfortable.

During one particular dinner, Yan Xi honestly told him what he was thinking. “I enjoy spending time with you, but I have a very clear plan for my life. To be honest, I didn’t plan on dating or getting married before I turned thirty. The blind date was an accident…”

He had thought the man would listen to him indifferently, but Pei Yuxing simply smiled gently. “Then I’m very grateful for this beautiful accident.”

Yan Xi could sense the other man’s acceptance, warmth quietly surrounding him.

He took a discreet deep breath. “What I mean is, I’m not spending time with you just to fool around or seek some temporary novelty. I’m serious, with marriage as the goal, so…”

He paused. “If you have no intention of getting married, then we might not be right for each other.”

He was actually somewhat nervous after saying all that. Young people always had romantic fantasies, but at Pei Yuxing’s age, he might prefer a partner who was spiritually compatible. To some extent, marriage could instead become a form of restraint. There were plenty of couples in the entertainment industry who had been in long-term relationships, only to eventually break up with regrets.

Yan Xi was still young. Perhaps one day he would want to marry his boyfriend, while Pei Yuxing was too rational and thought far more than he did. If that time came and Pei Yuxing still had no intention of getting married, things would become awkward.

Besides, they couldn’t even really be considered a couple yet, so it was better to make certain things clear in advance.

Pei Yuxing only smiled. “My household registration booklet is in the car. If you want to register our marriage, we can go anytime.”

This time, it was Yan Xi’s turn to stare in stunned silence.

Pei Yuxing restrained his smile, his expression serious and solemn. “I would never joke about marriage. Perhaps saying that I ‘thought of marriage the first time I saw you’ makes you feel offended, but I trust my own feelings.”

If someone else had said those things, Yan Xi would definitely have thought they were just sweet-talking him. But when it came from Pei Yuxing, it felt completely different.

“Can I ask why? I’m sure there are plenty of people around you who are better than me. Why me?”

Then he met the man’s eyes, deep as a pool, with that familiar smile appearing at the corners of his lips.

Compared to him, Yan Xi was very young. There were indeed many people around Pei Yuxing who were more outstanding than him, but everything they did had been carefully polished, making them somewhat lacking in natural charm.

When Pei Yuxing had just debuted, he had also been young and full of ambition. The entertainment industry had been full of challenges for him. After his band disbanded, he discovered the joy of acting and switched careers without hesitation. In the eyes of outsiders, he was a rare acting prodigy, seemingly born for this profession, but every step toward success had not been easy.

Pei Yuxing didn’t like publicizing his hard work and dedication. When the media asked about the hardships of filming, he usually brushed the questions off lightly. “Just do your best.”

Later, as his achievements grew greater and his fanbase became increasingly huge, praise and adulation from the media came one after another, yet he gradually found it all dull.

For the past two years, he had rarely appeared in front of the camera. It wasn’t because he had retired from acting or left the industry. He was still interested whenever he encountered a good script; he had simply shifted more of his energy toward nurturing younger talent.

He rarely attended industry gatherings either, and he was never seen at those extravagant, pleasure-seeking occasions.

Even so, his status and background were there, so invitations continued to pour in, only for him to turn them down.

A close friend once teased him, “With how detached from worldly affairs you are, I wouldn’t be surprised if you became a monk one day.”

Pei Yuxing smiled with his eyes and didn’t deny it.

Thirty wasn’t considered young in the entertainment industry, but it wasn’t particularly old either. It was just that Pei Yuxing had debuted early and had far more life experience than ordinary artists. His temperament was more steady and mature than that of people his age, and his emotions had become much calmer.

The entertainment industry was full of temptations. Youth and innocence could certainly be considered a kind of capital, and he completely understood Yan Xi’s concerns.

But he had seen too much. He was long past the age when such things could tempt him.

Yan Xi, on the other hand, was filled with ambition, a fire burning in his eyes, capable of consuming a person completely.

The surface of the water rippled.

So when Old Mr. Yan Peili had tried to play matchmaker, he had smiled and agreed.

Yan Xi’s personality was almost exactly as he had guessed—determined, gentle, and stubborn.

Pei Yuxing suddenly had the urge to hide him away.

But he couldn’t. A young person’s footsteps should lead toward the wider world.

Yan Xi was fire, and he was willing to be the land for it to spread across.

After hearing the man’s explanation, Yan Xi’s face flushed slightly. He hadn’t expected Pei Yuxing to think so highly of him. His career couldn’t even be considered successful; at most, he just had a relatively good personality.

He had heard plenty of praise from childhood to adulthood, but Pei Yuxing’s words made his ears burn and his heart race in a way no one else’s had.

“Actually, I have a lot of flaws. They just haven’t shown themselves in front of you.” After all, his upbringing didn’t allow him to be too impolite in front of outsiders.

And aside from being somewhat emotionally detached, Pei Yuxing seemed to have almost no shortcomings worth criticizing. Yan Xi inevitably felt some psychological pressure.

The man’s voice was deep and calm. “Having flaws isn’t a bad thing.”

Yan Xi suddenly felt as if there wasn’t much pressure anymore.

After dinner, Pei Yuxing offered to take him home. Wearing brown-tinted sunglasses, he stood openly outside the restaurant, waiting for the valet to bring the car around, seemingly unconcerned about being photographed by the media.

At first, Yan Xi had been worried, but Pei Yuxing reassured him. “Don’t be afraid. It’s nothing.”

Afterward, the two went out for dinner several times, yet Yan Xi never saw any news about them. He had no idea what Pei Yuxing had done.

Pei Yuxing had never talked about his background, but entertainment reporters who entered the industry would be warned by their seniors not to provoke him. News in the entertainment industry was always a mix of truth and falsehood, and making up one or two stories wasn’t unusual, but the rumors surrounding Pei Yuxing always seemed to be harmless and inconsequential.

There were some stories that Pei Yuxing would turn a blind eye to, but if certain stories were published, there would be consequences.

Yan Xi didn’t know any of this. From the screen to reality, he still didn’t know enough about the man, but he was happy that they didn’t have to hide.

It had rained before dinner, and the water on the ground hadn’t dried. When the valet parked the car, he braked a little too abruptly, and Yan Xi nearly got splashed. Fortunately, the man reacted quickly and pulled him aside. “Careful.”

Yan Xi was pulled one step backward, his back colliding with a wall of flesh. His head accidentally brushed against the man’s chin.

He turned around to apologize, only to look up and find the man already lowering his head to check on him. Their distance suddenly became extremely close.

The faint scent of cologne entered his nose, carrying hormones that made his face flush and his heart race.

“Are you okay?”

Yan Xi blinked. “I’m fine.”

“Mm.” The man responded, but he didn’t release his grip on Yan Xi’s arm.

Yan Xi stood there, feeling the skin beneath his long sleeve grow scorching hot.

He wasn’t opposed to intimate contact with Pei Yuxing. If anything, he was a little nervous.

The valet handed over the car keys, and Pei Yuxing released his hand and calmly took them.

While waiting at a traffic light, the man gently pressed the brake. His shirt cuffs were properly fastened, and both hands rested casually on the steering wheel, his fingers exceptionally long and slender.

Yan Xi couldn’t imagine that one day, those hands would wear a wedding ring for someone.

When they reached the entrance of the residential complex, Pei Yuxing called out to him before he got out.

The sky was growing dark. He had already removed his sunglasses, and the seriousness in his eyes was completely visible.

“Although I’d like to say you don’t need to take today’s conversation seriously, that would be impossible. I sincerely hope you’ll give it some serious consideration.”

He was talking about marriage, and Yan Xi couldn’t help feeling nervous.

The man smiled gently at him. “I hope my abrupt request won’t keep you awake tonight. Sweet dreams.”

……

Actually, after hearing what Su Zhi had said, Yan Xi felt somewhat uncomfortable.

No one wanted to see their husband being courted by someone else.

He hadn’t lied to Pei Yuxing. He really did have quite a few flaws. Perhaps “possessiveness” was one of them.

So he had made a small jab at Su Zhi in front of his teammates.

The expressions of the guests onstage looked as if they had been moved by Su Zhi’s heartfelt speech, but from the atmosphere, it was obvious that they weren’t genuinely touched.

After listening to Su Zhi’s heartfelt confession, Pei Yuxing’s expression remained as calm as water. “Your hard work has nothing to do with me. Attributing your own sweat to someone else’s contribution isn’t a wise decision. Please respect the fruits of your own labor.”

The stage fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere became strange.

Su Zhi had been lectured by the man twice in one day and was almost unable to take it anymore.

But he was, after all, an idol who had debuted as the center. No matter what, he had to keep his expression under control in front of the camera. “Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Pei. I’ll keep it in mind.”

After filming ended, Pei Yuxing politely declined the director’s invitation to dinner that evening. The director wasn’t disappointed. Pei Yuxing was an internationally renowned film emperor with a busy schedule, and the fact that he was willing to make a guest appearance was already giving them plenty of face.

The farewell footage between the guests and him was also filmed. Everyone wore reluctant expressions, but only they knew how much of it was genuine.

Yan Xi stood with his teammates in the farthest corner, quietly watching the man leave. Pei Yuxing remained easygoing throughout, responding whenever anyone spoke to him.

Lin Yi asked, “Should we go over and say goodbye too? Would it be rude if we just stood here watching? What if Teacher Pei’s fans attack us?”

Xia Zefan laughed at him. “You really think you’re somebody? His fans don’t have time to care about you.”

Lin Yi immediately felt wronged and complained to Yan Xi. “Brother, he’s mocking us, saying we’re nobody, saying we’re nothing in Teacher Pei’s eyes!”

“Come on, don’t exaggerate!”

Yan Xi raised his eyes. “You’re not nothing.”

Lin Yi: “…Are you comforting me or insulting me?”

The phone in his pocket began to vibrate. With the cameras no longer pointed at them, Yan Xi took it out and glanced at the screen. Its white light illuminated his eyelashes.

After two seconds, he turned the screen off. “I’m comforting you.”

Thanks to Pei Yuxing, the afternoon performance had satisfied the production crew, and they also filmed the evening’s Life segment.

They were still background figures, but at least they had gotten a chance to appear on camera.

By the time filming ended, it was almost midnight. Brother Feng drove his minivan over, clearly in a good mood, and even brought them late-night food. “Fresh wontons. I watched the owner make them.”

Yan Xi picked up his bag. “You guys eat. Someone’s picking me up, so I’ll leave first.”

Brother Feng immediately became nervous. “Who? Don’t get into a stranger’s car. Someone who went out for a morning run disappeared recently and still hasn’t been found.”

“Not a stranger.” Yan Xi took out his phone to reply to a message, not even looking up. “A family member.”

Brother Feng looked conflicted. “Your family came all the way out here just to pick you up? They must be really worried about you… Be careful, and let us know when you get home safely.”

“Mm.”

Following the location on his phone, Yan Xi found a black Mercedes parked nearby. It wasn’t a particularly expensive model and was very understated.

The owner noticed him and flashed the headlights twice.

Yan Xi exhaled, walked to the back of the car, and knocked on the trunk. After putting his things inside, he opened the front door without hesitation and got into the passenger seat.

Pei Yuxing had already changed his clothes. He wore frameless blue-light glasses, which softened his sharp features.

His left hand rested on the steering wheel, the diamond ring on his ring finger giving off a faint glow.

The man turned his head and looked at him intently. The hand wearing the wedding ring brushed aside the stray hair on his young husband’s forehead.

The distance he had maintained at the filming site was nowhere to be seen now, and his tone was naturally familiar.

“Are you tired?”

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