LIAH 38. What You Did to Me Last Time

The Pei family’s enthusiasm far exceeded Song Shengyang’s expectations.

Even Pei Zhile, who had said earlier she needed to work overtime, turned out to be home.

Holding bags in both hands, Song Shengyang respectfully handed them over. He was nervous, but at least he didn’t embarrass himself. Pei Siyin stood beside him and introduced him to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Song Shengyang. He’s my boyfriend.”

“Good, good, that’s wonderful.” Pei’s mother looked thoroughly pleased. She took Song Shengyang’s hand, patting and tugging him along as she walked. Her palm slid along his skin. “So smooth. What do you do? How old are you? How many people in your family? How long have you known our Siyin?”

“Mom!” Pei Siyin squeezed between them, trying to stop this interrogation that might terrify Song Shengyang. “He just got here. Don’t ask so many questions.”

To his surprise, Song Shengyang responded graciously. He brought out the same strategy he used with Lou Wanqing, linking arms affectionately with Pei’s mother as he answered each one. “My family owns a company. We’re doing alright financially, so Siyin won’t have to suffer.”

“I’m twenty-eight this year. It’s just my parents and me at home. As for how long we’ve known each other…” Song Shengyang paused to think. “Not even a month so far.”

“A flash marriage!” Pei Zhile shouted from behind.

“Jie!” Pei Siyin turned and shot her a glare.

Forget the flash marriage. Right now, his head was spinning for real.

Watching Song Shengyang navigate everything with such ease, Pei Siyin folded his arms and stood to the side. Clearly, all his worry had been for nothing.

Haha, the dog, had already eaten with them outside. Back home, he curled up and promptly fell asleep on the couch.

The Pei family laid out a full spread, and Song Shengyang, showing great enthusiasm, ate another full meal.

After dinner, Pei Siyin popped a pineapple candy into his mouth and said, “You’re sleeping in my room tonight.”

The crisp taste of fruit quickly spread across his mouth. Song Shengyang bit down, and the filling burst instantly. “Not going back to the hotel?”

“No. I’m too tired to run around anymore.” Pei Siyin’s gaze drifted past him.

Night had fallen. The streetlamp outside the window cast slanted light across the floor in segments. Pei Siyin stood near the window, his lashes slightly damp. Song Shengyang remembered how he had been yawning nonstop earlier. Feeling a surge of tenderness, he reached out and pinched his earlobe. “Alright. Want me to tell your parents?”

Pei Siyin’s pupils lit up. “I’ll go tell them myself.”

Neither Pei’s father nor mother had any objections to their son’s boyfriend staying the night. Only Pei Zhile, who was about to leave with Haha, turned back to look at Song Shengyang with a very reluctant expression.

Song Shengyang had no idea what was going on, but Pei Siyin knew exactly what she was thinking. He pointed to a room upstairs and told Song Shengyang to go ahead. Then he looked at his sister, who was practically pouting, and said firmly, “No. Don’t even think about touching him.”

Pei Zhile looked visibly disappointed. She could hardly imagine how delightful it would feel to touch the chest of such a handsome man.

Pei Siyin’s room wasn’t big, but it was neat and clean. His preferred color palette was on the bright side, not far from Song Shengyang’s own taste. A tablet sat by the bed. Several retro green shelves were mounted on the walls, displaying hand-woven straw foxes.

Pei Siyin studied design. On the nearby desk were several partially finished illustrations. Song Shengyang was curious, but he didn’t rummage through anything. His eyes just happened to land on the top sketch. He bent over to take a closer look and realized it was a profile of a sleeping man.

It looked very familiar.

“What are you looking at?” Pei Siyin walked in, locked the door, and hugged him from behind.

Song Shengyang pointed at the drawing. “Did you draw me?”

Pei Siyin leaned over, picked up the sketch, and held it up beside Song Shengyang’s face to compare. “Doesn’t it look like you?”

The rustling sound of paper echoed lightly. Song Shengyang grabbed his wrist and praised, “It looks just like me.”

The clock pointed to ten. Pei Siyin, still clinging to him, yawned again. His chin pressed against Song Shengyang’s chest as he blinked up at him. “Baby, let’s shower. Then go to sleep early.”

Song Shengyang pinched the back of his neck. “Okay.”

Pei Siyin showered first. When he came out, he pulled back the covers and lay down. The small pine tree-shaped nightlight at the bedside glowed faintly, casting light no bigger than the size of a palm.

The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped. Pei Siyin put down his phone game and turned onto his side to glance toward the bathroom.

Even though the light in the room wasn’t on, Pei Siyin could still make out Song Shengyang’s silhouette in the dim glow. He wasn’t wearing anything, just holding onto the edge of the blanket and leaving half the bed open for him. The bare skin brushing against the sheets made a soft rustle, but it wasn’t as loud as the sound of Pei Siyin’s heartbeat.

“Why aren’t you wearing any clothes?”

Song Shengyang didn’t even pause. He sat at the head of the bed, only the lower half of his body covered, and took Pei Siyin’s phone to continue playing the game. “I didn’t bring a change of clothes. You don’t mind, do you?”

Pei Siyin: ???

Wait a second—wait! Where had he heard that line before?

The light reflecting off the screen was clearer than the night lamp. Pei Siyin clearly saw the curve of Song Shengyang’s mouth as he smiled. He suddenly realized what was happening, sat up, and snatched his phone out of Song Shengyang’s hand. His ears turned red. “You’re mocking me now.”

Those were the exact words he had deliberately said to Song Shengyang at the hospital.

Song Shengyang leaned over to kiss the corner of his mouth in a coaxing gesture. The blanket slid down from his body. The kiss deepened, until Pei Siyin’s breath was nearly gone. He instinctively wrapped his arms around Song Shengyang’s neck, his nose filled with the scent the two of them shared. The wet sounds of their kiss echoed in his ears, and the mingled warmth of their breaths grew more chaotic.

Pei Siyin struggled to keep his breathing steady. “My parents are still downstairs.”

Song Shengyang nipped lightly at his lower lip and began unbuttoning Pei Siyin’s sleepwear one button at a time. “Then keep your voice down.”