PHM chapter 11

The young man could sing and dance.

But Doctor Chu didn’t like it.

He isn’t enamored with romantic pleasures. The nauseating smell of blood and the living bodies beneath his scalpel are far more intoxicating.

His palm gripped the young man’s neck, feeling the pulse beating beneath his hand. It was marvelous.

“Does Doctor Chu like it?” Yan Xi cautiously moved closer to him. Clearly terrified, he still forced himself to remain calm, offering himself up as though making a desperate gamble. “It’s all yours.”

Doctor Chu quietly looked at him.

Without the cover of his glasses, desire surged like a rolling tide, swallowing Yan Xi whole.

A young man’s body wasn’t bad either, especially when he was clearly terrified yet had no way to escape.

Doctor Chu discovered a fresh kind of pleasure.

Watching the young man tremble for him, his breathing sometimes light and sometimes heavy, was also a wonderful pleasure.

Unable to restrain themselves, they did it once without protection.

Even though they had been legally married for some time, Yan Xi was still too embarrassed to say anything.

Because he needed to control his weight, his body was somewhat slimmer than that of an average man. The contours of his arms and thighs were also different from those of a man. Although he was flexible and powerful when dancing, in everyday life he really did look a little thin.

Yet he still captivated a mature man.

Doctor Chu was too mature and domineering, his expression cold and indifferent, but when he held him, his grip was exceptionally firm.

Yan Xi was pressed against the bathroom counter, feeling a little sore, but the sensation was also strangely unfamiliar.

The red marks were exceptionally clear in the mirror.

Pei Yuxing saw them and placed his palm over them in a soothing gesture.

“A-Yan.” He sighed, finally becoming the familiar husband again. “Let’s take a bath.”

Yan Xi’s tense shoulder blades relaxed. He buried his face against the place where Pei Yuxing’s neck met his shoulder, his ears burning red. “Mm.”

Pei Yuxing carried him into the bathtub. The hot water covered his body, seeming to wash away all his fatigue and finally allowing him to relax.

Pei Yuxing smiled helplessly, tenderness and affection filling his eyes.

As if hearing his laughter, Yan Xi looked up at him.

The moment their eyes met, the ambiguity between them was difficult to put into words, and his heart pounded wildly.

Although Pei Yuxing had taught him to enjoy these pleasurable things, deep down, he was still somewhat reserved.

Yan Xi became embarrassed again.

Pei Yuxing burst out laughing, stepped into the water, and stroked his cheek.

Fortunately, the bathtub was large enough to comfortably fit two adult men.

“Uncomfortable?”

Yan Xi shook his head, staring into his eyes.

Pei Yuxing lowered his head and kissed his cheek.

Yan Xi was held in Pei Yuxing’s arms, and he hurriedly reminded him in a small, panicked voice, “This time, no, you can’t…”

Pei Yuxing turned his head. He stretched out his long arm and opened a compartment in the wall. Inside were some small bath supplies, along with a few other things.

He took out a small square packet, placed it in Yan Xi’s palm, then closed his hand around it and raised his head to nuzzle his chin. “Put it on for me.”

……

The cold ring against his skin brought a different kind of shiver.

His black hair flew through the air. Yan Xi tightly clutched the man’s shoulders, his rounded fingernails accidentally leaving red marks.

Startled, he wrapped his arms around the man’s neck, staring blankly with widened eyes. “Don’t… don’t…”

The man’s breathing was heavy, his voice hoarse, yet he remained completely in control. “Don’t what?”

Yan Xi bit his lip, clearly feeling the man’s presence, and refused to say another word.

His stubborn temper surfaced at a time like this, making one want to conquer him even more.

Pei Yuxing was mature and domineering, and Yan Xi was the first to give in.

“Pei Yuxing.”

“Mm.”

Yan Xi pressed his body tightly against his, leaving not the slightest gap, silently expressing his infatuation.

The refined man slowly smiled and stopped teasing him. “Good.”

The next day, it was only natural that they woke up late.

Yan Xi’s six o’clock body clock woke him once, but his mind was still groggy, and his body felt as though it had fallen apart. His fingers rested lazily on the pillow, and he had absolutely no desire to get out of bed.

He could perhaps understand why some top dancers were unwilling to get married.

Their will was eroded, and the person was ruined.

When he opened his eyes again, it was almost noon, and Pei Yuxing was no longer beside him.

His consciousness instantly cleared. Yan Xi’s ears turned red with fright. With his eyes lowered, he quickly changed clothes and washed up before heading downstairs.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of being laughed at. He simply felt that it was impolite, as though after getting married, he was becoming increasingly discourteous.

But he couldn’t really blame himself. Perhaps it was because of his age, but Pei Yuxing’s energy was especially abundant. Even after they left the bathroom, he still hadn’t been willing to let him off. Although it hadn’t been as intense, it was already more than Yan Xi could handle.

He didn’t eat as much rice as the man did, and most of the time, he was too embarrassed to open his eyes. Somehow, that only made his senses sharper.

When he went downstairs, the living room was empty except for the auntie cleaning. When she saw him, she explained, “Sir and Madam had something urgent to attend to, so they went out. Young Master Pei’s friend came over, and he’s in the garden.”

Yan Xi thanked her.

When she saw him heading outside, the auntie stopped him. “Have something to eat first. Young Master Pei prepared some porridge and fruit for you.”

Yan Xi pulled back the foot he had just stepped forward.

Licheng had springlike weather all year round, and its flowers bloomed for much longer than those in Jincheng. It was also home to the country’s most famous flower-growing base, covering more than fifty thousand mu and attracting countless tourists every year.

Pei Yuxing and his good friend were sitting in a rest pavilion in the small garden. Fruit tea sat on the pristine white wicker table, the delicate rounded teacups already filled. A small spoonful of honey had been added, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Behind them was a large patch of white lisianthus and pink carnations. The fresh, delicate atmosphere didn’t really suit Madam Yin Shanglan herself.

Su Zhixiang looked at the sea of flowers around him, the corner of his mouth twitching. He couldn’t understand why he had gotten out of bed instead of sleeping in, only to end up drinking fruit tea with another grown man in such a dreamy, romantic place.

Then he watched his friend calmly add another piece of rock sugar to the teapot and finally exploded. “You really got married?”

Pei Yuxing: “Mm.”

A completely natural answer, his tone barely fluctuating.

Pei Yuxing wasn’t unfamiliar with his mother’s hometown. He had studied here for two years in elementary school, and Su Zhixiang had been his childhood playmate. As they grew older, however, they gradually lost touch. They now learned about each other’s latest news through their Moments. They were the kind of friends who normally didn’t contact each other, but whenever the timing was right, they would definitely meet up and chat.

Su Zhixiang didn’t know much about what was happening in Jincheng. The Su family’s businesses were mainly based in Licheng, and as a second-generation rich kid who spent his days partying and living off his family’s wealth, he was naturally more at ease on his own turf.

He had heard about Pei Yuxing’s marriage, but had taken it as a joke. Outsiders didn’t know much about the Pei family’s background, but he knew exactly what kind of family they were.

The achievements of Old Mr. Pei Huahou and his father were enough to provide generations of descendants with a comfortable life. Although Old Madam Pei didn’t get along particularly well with several of her daughters-in-law, her family came from a true scholarly household. She herself had been one of the few highly educated women of her generation. After returning to China, she taught at a prestigious university and, even after retiring, was rehired as its honorary president.

Among her children, aside from Pei’s father, who was fairly ordinary, every one of them was an elite in their respective fields. Two of Pei Yuxing’s uncles had settled in the UK and were already honored guests within aristocratic circles. Although they rarely returned to China, they remained very close to the Pei family.

The family’s prosperity was obvious enough, and it was no wonder the Pei family looked down on the entertainment industry.

Pei Yuxing was the most accomplished of the grandchildren. Whether academically or professionally, he had been far ahead of all the other grandchildren since childhood. The two years Su Zhixiang spent as his classmate were practically the darkest period of his childhood. Compared to Pei Yuxing, Su Zhixiang’s little bit of cleverness was completely unimpressive. After exams, he didn’t even dare bring his test papers home. His father’s first question was never, “How many points did you get?” but rather, “Did the test let Little Pei have enough fun this time?”

Then came endless lectures and complaints. In the past, he could scrape by with a passing score of sixty, but now all he got was a good beating with a bamboo paddle.

Pei Yuxing was more like his own son, while Su Zhixiang was practically like he’d been picked up off the street.

It was utterly hopeless.

Anyone could see just how high Old Mr. Pei Huahou’s expectations for Pei Yuxing were. Naturally, his standards for a granddaughter-in-law would be unimaginably strict. If they were looking for someone from an equal family background, there wouldn’t be many eligible socialites left in their circle. After Pei Yuxing made it clear that he would never marry, they naturally stopped considering the matter.

Besides, Pei Yuxing was a man who kept his word.

Marriage? Which suicidal third-rate media outlet had make up such a rumor?

Yet the man himself had admitted it right in front of him.

—It had to be fake, right?

But then he lowered his eyes and saw the ring on his friend’s ring finger, a faint halo of light glinting beneath the natural sunlight.

Su Zhixiang’s mouth hung open, completely losing the ability to speak.

After finally swallowing down the instinctive rebuttal, he changed the question. “Which family’s young lady is she?”

“Not a young lady from any family.” Pei Yuxing replaced his tea with a fresh cup. Thinking of something, a gentle smile appeared at the corners of his lips. “He’s my mentor’s grandson.”

“Grand—” Su Zhixiang nearly choked to death. Pei Yuxing gave him a cool glance, frightening him into quickly changing the subject. “How did you two end up together?”

“Blind date.”

“…………” Su Zhixiang was already numb.

The man who had calmly announced in front of the media back then that he would never marry, who would rather break with his family than change his decision, had actually gotten married through a blind date.

Was he crazy, or had the world become surreal?

Or perhaps his friend had some unspeakable difficulty and had no choice but to use marriage to balance something. After all, Pei Yuxing had always been clear-headed and rational, gentle and polite yet cold and distant. Developing feelings for a stranger was simply absurd.

This marriage was merely his bargaining chip, a piece on the board.

Su Zhixiang didn’t think there was anything wrong with his friend. Calm restraint was simply Pei Yuxing’s nature. He merely felt somewhat sorry for his mentor’s grandson, who had been dragged into this quagmire for no reason. His husband was excellent, yet also an untouchable, aloof rarity.

And given Pei Yuxing’s personality, since he regarded the other person as a business partner, there was absolutely no chance of any intimate relationship between them. He was practically the epitome of propriety.

The other person’s appearance might not even be to his liking. Even if he were an ugly monster, Pei Yuxing would still marry him and bring him home.

Enduring humiliation for the greater good.

Su Zhixiang’s gaze toward the man changed completely.

Pei Yuxing looked at his expression. “What are you thinking about now?”

Thinking of his male companion’s figure and attentiveness the night before, Su Zhixiang felt that Pei Yuxing’s entire life was simply dull and meaningless.

He had finally managed to get the upper hand. Shaking his head, he said in a drawn-out tone, “You’ve missed out on the most wonderful pleasure in life.”

“Pei Yuxing.” A young man’s voice came from behind them, like a spring breeze brushing past, neither hurried nor slow.

Su Zhixiang was still wondering which fellow had the nerve to call him like that when he saw the corners of his friend’s mouth rise uncontrollably, tenderness hidden in his eyes.

“Sleep well?”

“I did.”

Yan Xi looked at the unfamiliar man in the garden, then glanced at his husband.

Pei Yuxing said, “Su Zhixiang, my childhood friend. Yan Xi, my husband.”

Yan Xi gave him a friendly smile and held out his hand. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

Su Zhixiang stared at him. He racked his brain, which had been growing for more than thirty years, yet couldn’t come up with a single complete adjective to describe him.

The young man wasn’t particularly tall, looking to be in his early twenties, probably over 1.75 meters. He wore a clean short-sleeved shirt, his eyes bright and lively.

The skin beneath his collar concealed ambiguous marks that appeared and disappeared with his movements. There were faint dark circles beneath his eyes from lack of sleep, while his cheeks were rosy and glowing.

He radiated happiness and pleasure from the inside out.

Perhaps this was the joy of an older man and a younger husband.

Su Zhixiang: “……”

Some people either never got married, or once they did, they got all the good things at once.

His face hurt. He was so jealous.

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