Although Song’s father exuded the aura of someone in power, Song Wangzhuo’s demeanor was more subdued, like a stagnant pool of water.
Their temperaments were different, yet they looked strikingly similar.
Those unfamiliar with them wouldn’t associate the two, but how could Song Lejin not recognize it?
Before Song Wangzhuo was acknowledged by the family, Song Lejin had lived with the Song family for over twenty years he knew every member inside out.
So naturally, when he saw Song Wangzhuo, suspicion would arise.
However, the system had mentioned that the plotline of Song Wangzhuo’s family recognition hadn’t been triggered yet. Until then, no one not even the Song family would connect him to them.
Shen Yuqing felt his headache returning.
He turned off the TV and was about to get up and rest in bed when the front door opened Pei Yiyan and Wu Yi appeared at the entrance.
He glanced over, locking eyes with Pei Yiyan for a brief moment before quickly shifting his gaze to the cat carrier strapped to Wu Yi’s chest.
Even though he knew his actions the previous night had been due to extenuating circumstances, he still felt too awkward to face Pei Yiyan properly.
After all, he had kissed and bitten him even if Pei Yiyan’s stats hadn’t changed, the discomfort lingered.
Pei Yiyan held his white cane as the two stepped inside.
Wu Yi asked, “Young Master Shen, are you feeling alright?”
They had just returned and hadn’t run into Xiao Zhao, so they didn’t know the results.
Shen Yuqing didn’t plan to mention the drug incident and simply replied, “Nothing serious, just drank too much.”
As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily flickered to Pei Yiyan, whose expression remained unreadable, as if unsurprised by his answer.
Shen Yuqing pressed his lips together and ultimately stayed silent.
Better not to ask Pei Yiyan anything just pretend nothing had happened.
Unbeknownst to him, every shift in his expression was being observed by Pei Yiyan.
Pei Yiyan was surprised to see Shen Yuqing wearing such a guilty, hesitant look even a little flustered.
Ever since regaining his sight, Pei Yiyan felt Shen Yuqing kept reshaping his understanding of him. How could one person be so contradictory?
His past actions versus now more than once, it felt like two completely different people.
Shen Yuqing had no idea what Pei Yiyan was thinking. He had intended to go back to his room for a nap, but now that Lucky was freshly bathed and fragrant, he hugged the cat tightly, burying his face in its fur and taking a deep inhale.
His soul was soothed!
Though the scent was different from what he had smelled the night before. He wanted to ask Wu Yi if they had changed the cat shampoo, but Wu Yi had already gone to the home gym.
Now, only he and Pei Yiyan remained in the living room.
Pei Yiyan set aside his cane at home, he didn’t need it as a prop.
He walked to the sofa and sat down, his gaze briefly landing on the misplaced remote before reaching toward its usual spot as if nothing was amiss.
Shen Yuqing, still holding the cat, watched from the side. Seeing this, he stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the remote, handing it to him. “Here.”
Only then did Pei Yiyan take it and ask, “Were you watching TV earlier?”
Shen Yuqing sat beside him quietly, still cradling the cat. “Yeah, just killing time.”
As he spoke, he was actually observing Pei Yiyan’s expression, which didn’t seem to show much emotional fluctuation.
He probably wasn’t angry, right?
Shen Yuqing lowered his head again, burying his face into Lucky’s fur. After a moment of thought, he took the initiative to say, “About last night…”
His gaze landed on Pei Yiyan’s neck, where the bite mark had darkened in color, looking unmistakably ambiguous.
Shen Yuqing paused briefly before continuing, “I was drunk. It won’t happen again.”
Pei Yiyan kept his eyes fixed ahead and didn’t respond. Shen Yuqing added, “Next time I get drunk, I’ll just sleep on the sofa.”
Only then did Pei Yiyan speak. “No need.”
Shen Yuqing insisted, “It’s necessary.”
Pei Yiyan glanced at him briefly and noticed Shen Yuqing was focused on petting Lucky, deliberately avoiding eye contact.
Finally, he replied, “Understood.”
Shen Yuqing lifted his head, his expression visibly more relaxed. It seemed the matter was settled.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yuqing asked, “By the way, did Lucky get bathed with a different shampoo today?”
“What’s wrong?” Pei Yiyan avoided answering directly.
Shen Yuqing said, “The scent I smelled on him last night wasn’t this one.”
Pei Yiyan turned to look at the cat. “What did it smell like?”
Shen Yuqing tried hard to recall and described, “It was quite unique like the crisp, cool scent of a bamboo forest after rain. I just can’t remember exactly what it resembled.”
He muttered to himself, unaware of the fleeting change in Pei Yiyan’s expression before it returned to normal. “He’s always used this shampoo. You must be mistaken.”
“Was I?” Shen Yuqing lifted Lucky, studying him skeptically. “Tell me yourself what’s your scent?”
Lucky only meowed innocently. He was just a chubby cat how would he know?
Meanwhile, Pei Yiyan stared at the TV, his thoughts drifting from the news to Shen Yuqing’s earlier words.
The scent of bamboo after rain.
Pei Yiyan could now confirm that Shen Yuqing truly didn’t remember what had happened last night.
From Shen Yuqing’s perspective, all he knew was what Xiao Zhao had told him. When Xiao Zhao had come over after hearing the commotion, Shen Yuqing had already been clinging to him, so Xiao Zhao had no idea what Shen Yuqing had done earlier.
But setting that aside Shen Yuqing was a beta. How could a beta have smelled it?
Shen Yuqing sighed regretfully and set the cat down. “You really didn’t smell it? It was amazing.”
Pei Yiyan snapped out of his thoughts and replied, “No.”
Shen Yuqing fell into contemplation. Had he really hallucinated from being drunk?
He rubbed his nose, his confusion impossible to hide.
Still, it was just a scent. Shen Yuqing didn’t dwell on it and quietly settled beside Pei Yiyan with Lucky in his arms, watching TV together.
Before long, drowsiness crept in. Shen Yuqing yawned and set Lucky aside. “I’m going to nap. If I don’t wake up by dinnertime, don’t bother calling me.”
He stretched, yawning again as he headed to the bedroom. Only after Shen Yuqing disappeared inside did Pei Yiyan shift his gaze toward the door.
Lately, Shen Yuqing hadn’t just undergone a drastic change in personality his energy seemed lower than before.
However, after waking up, his mental energy was still sufficient.
Pei Yiyan glanced at it for a while before shifting his gaze back. But none of this had much to do with him.
