Chapter 23
In the end, Yan Xin’s hangover still affected her livestream. On the evening of the first day, while Pei Suyuan was reading the script Mu Xinyi had sent her, Yan Xin suddenly called.
With a hoarse voice, she wailed, “Little Yuan’er, I can’t make money today. Listen to my voice. What on earth did I say to you yesterday?”
Yan Xin’s alcohol tolerance was poor. Once she drank, her memory would cut out. Pei Suyuan was used to it. She put away the script, went to the fridge to get a bottle of sparkling water, and teased Yan Xin. “Yesterday, you cried and said you wanted to go find your first love.”
“What?! How is that possible!!” Yan Xin shouted again, and now her voice became even hoarser.
“How is it impossible? Isn’t [Xin Baby, Revive Me] your first love?” The other end went quiet for several seconds, then hung up.
Pei Suyuan smiled helplessly and continued sorting out the duvet cover, wondering whether she should make a trip to IKEA.
After deciding to go, Pei Suyuan tidied up briefly. At this moment, Yan Xin called again.
“Xiao Yuan, take me out to have fun.”
“I’m going to IKEA. Coming?”
The other end went quiet for several seconds again. Just when Pei Suyuan thought Yan Xin would hang up once more, Yan Xin shouted hoarsely, “Aaaaah, Pei Suyuan, why is it that every time you go out, you’re just buying household items!!!”
Pei Suyuan covered her ears. After Yan Xin finished yelling, she asked faintly, “So, are you going or not?”
Speechless for an instant, Yan Xin sighed. “Fine, whatever. I’ll lie flat and let you take me wherever you want.”
“There’s still half an hour before ten. I hope I can see you at the entrance on time.” After saying that, Pei Suyuan did not bother with Yan Xin’s chaotic yelling anymore and hung up first.
In her heart, she thought resentfully, Serves you right for hanging up on me just now.
……
At ten, Pei Suyuan waited at the entrance. When she saw Yan Xin rushing over in a panic, even the buttons of her shirt not fastened properly,
Yan Xin ran up to her, bent over, and kept panting. Her miserable appearance made Pei Suyuan want to laugh. And she really did not hold back. She laughed out loud directly, making Yan Xin so angry she almost exploded again.
After fooling around for a while, Pei Suyuan soothed her, then drove toward IKEA.
The two of them first ate something simple at IKEA, then began strolling around.
In truth, after accompanying her here and there for half an hour, Yan Xin already felt bored and started becoming perfunctory.
No matter what Pei Suyuan took a fancy to, she said it was fine, pretty good, buy it. But Pei Suyuan was dissatisfied with everything, making Yan Xin so angry she did not want to talk.
About another hour passed. After Pei Suyuan finished buying everything she wanted, she coaxed Yan Xin with a few words. “Later, I’ll drive you around, okay?”
At the mention of going for a drive, Yan Xin’s eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded. But after thinking for a moment, she said, “Why don’t we go camping? I’ll ask Ge Jun and the others if they have time.”
Her tone sounded like she was asking, but her actions showed no intention of waiting for Pei Suyuan to agree. She turned her head and called Ge Jun.
Ge Jun had just released an album. Occasionally, he would run around doing offline concerts and music festivals. When Yan Xin called him, he was backstage at a music festival.
When Yan Xin asked whether he had time, he originally wanted to say no. But the moment he heard they were going camping, he remembered that there happened to be a campsite not far from where he was. He told Pei Suyuan and Yan Xin to come over and play with them, then later they could all go to the campsite together.
When Yan Xin relayed this to Pei Suyuan, Pei Suyuan thought for a while, then nodded in agreement.
The weather was not too cold yet, and she had nothing to do anyway. Going camping for fun sounded pretty good.
After it was decided, the two of them went home to pack.
Actually, Pei Suyuan did not have many hobbies, but she treated the hobbies she did have with extreme seriousness.
Camping could be counted as one of them. Yan Xin’s interest in it had also been influenced by her. Over the past year or two, whenever she had time, she would organize something with Ge Jun and the others. Sometimes it was camping. Sometimes they would simply find a place at random and sing and play freely together.
So the first thing Pei Suyuan did after going home was pick up her guitar.
Everything else was not that important.
Since the two of them were going together, Yan Xin drove her SUV. After loading her own things, she went downstairs to Pei Suyuan’s building to wait for her.
Seeing Pei Suyuan carrying a guitar and a small backpack, Yan Xin did not even want to pick her up.
She just knew that Pei Suyuan would only remember her guitar.
Fortunately, Yan Xin had brought everything: toiletries, as well as the blanket Pei Suyuan had left at her place.
This person was fussy and did not like things outside.
Yan Xin had originally not cared, but after spending so much time with Pei Suyuan, she had also begun accommodating her habits and had become fussy too.
Their spare clothes and supplies were placed in the back seat. Yan Xin only opened the trunk and put Pei Suyuan’s guitar inside.
This thing was precious. It had to have its own separate space.
Seeing how carefully Pei Suyuan placed it, Yan Xin could not help saying a few words. “People who don’t know would think your guitar is an omega, seeing how careful you’re being.”
Pei Suyuan ignored her. Only after getting into the car did she say faintly, “The days it can keep me company are still long. For now, it really is more important than an omega.”
When Yan Xin heard this, she frowned slightly and suddenly thought of the omega Pei Suyuan had mentioned that day while drinking. She asked Pei Suyuan, “That thing you told me last time. Has there been any progress?”
Originally, because they were going camping, Pei Suyuan had not thought of Wei Jinzhi at all. With that one mention, she immediately sat up straight.
Even her tone changed.
“Ju-just, nothing much.”
“Why are you stuttering? What can’t you tell your buddy?”
Yan Xin looked disdainful, not liking Pei Suyuan’s hesitant appearance. Pei Suyuan lowered her eyes, not knowing how to say it.
The first time between the two of them had been an accident, and sleeping together. The second time could also be counted as one.
To say there had been progress… did that count?
It was either each taking what they needed, or courtesy being returned. It probably could not be considered any kind of progress. So she shook her head and said quietly, “No progress.”
If the car had not still been parked, Yan Xin probably really would not have heard Pei Suyuan’s words.
But after hearing them, she sighed with great melancholy, lovingly stroked Pei Suyuan’s hair, clicked her tongue twice, and mocked her. “An alpha like you who doesn’t know how to flirt is destined to grow old alone.”
“But your buddy doesn’t despise you. If you’re willing to be the bottom, what harm is there in Our Majesty taking you in?”
“Get lost!”
……
The campsite was in a suburb bordering Lin City. Pei Suyuan was very familiar with this area, and they arrived in an hour.
She and Yan Xin first rented a tent, folding chairs, a barbecue grill, and other things. After coming back, one of them set up the tent while the other started the fire.
The ingredients, beer, and drinks were all bought as a set meal. The two of them ordered the portion for eight people. In any case, there were seven of them, so it was about right.
After everything was ready, Pei Suyuan and Yan Xin sat on the folding chairs, chatting idly while waiting for Ge Jun and the others.
At about seven, Ge Jun and the other five arrived. These people were the ones Pei Suyuan had played with at Ge Jun’s home last time. Aside from Yan Xin, Pei Suyuan’s friends were basically just these people.
After Ge Jun’s popularity on the livestreaming platform had risen more and more over the past year or so, many people had also started inviting him onto shows. But Ge Jun had always kept the others in mind.
In truth, the five of them had originally been a band. Fang Xiaojie was not only an arranger, but also the band’s keyboardist. Ge Jun was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. The remaining one man and two women were also Pei Suyuan’s old friends.
Among them, the bassist Liang Songhan was a female alpha, and the drummer Ye Sheng was a beta. Both were people who had formed a band with Pei Suyuan when they were eighteen or nineteen.
But the one most worth mentioning was the youngest, female omega Hu Bei. Back when they formed the band, she often followed them around to play. She could also be considered someone Pei Suyuan had personally guided, and she was Pei Suyuan’s junior from university.
Back then, the reason their band disbanded was that the keyboardist, Ge Ying—Ge Jun’s older sister—had become pregnant. She and the male alpha captain at the time, Yin Feng, were a couple, and both of them were much older than the rest of them. After repeated consideration, they decided to withdraw from the band.
Naturally, the band disbanded.
At that time, Ge Jun’s passion had only just been ignited. Later, because of music, he also met Fang Xiaojie, this boyfriend of his. A year later, Ge Jun brought Liang Songhan and Ye Sheng together.
He also contacted Pei Suyuan, who had been participating in a talent show at the time, wanting her to be the band’s rhythm guitarist and lead singer. Back then, Pei Suyuan had hesitated, but in the end, she still refused and recommended Hu Bei to him instead.
Thus, the 321 Band was formed.
At first, Ge Jun and the others still followed their old path of wandering everywhere. Back then, whenever they occasionally returned to Xijing for gatherings, Pei Suyuan had fun with them, but in the end, she would always sit quietly, looking at them with envy on her face.
Ge Jun knew that their love for music was the same. When they played, there was light in their eyes. So without thinking, he threw an arm around her and said, “You’re the band’s sixth member. What’s there to envy?”
Those words could be considered to have thoroughly soothed Pei Suyuan. After that, whenever they played together privately, it was also to let Pei Suyuan have her fill.
But before they could play, this group had to fill their stomachs first. Especially Hu Bei. She was sweet-looking and petite, but she was a complete big eater. The moment she got out of the car, she shouted that she was hungry and moved beside Pei Suyuan, asking her to grill meat for her.
Pei Suyuan smiled faintly and obediently grilled for her. Ge Jun and Ye Sheng also quickly started grilling for themselves, afraid that Hu Bei would eat too fast and leave nothing for them.
The group laughed and talked, ate and drank. Although Yan Xin still did not fully understand some of what they talked about, she still felt very happy. Once they had eaten almost enough, they each picked up their instruments and started playing.
Yan Xin peacefully settled in as the audience.
Pei Suyuan had not played like this in a long time. She was the first to start singing. After finishing the song, she smiled and clinked cups with the others, drinking beer in big mouthfuls.
At this moment, Hu Bei, who was lowering her head and eating chicken skewers, suddenly spoke. She pointed across from them and shouted excitedly, “Isn’t that Wei Jinzhi over there!!!”
There were not many people at the campsite at night. Even counting them, there were only four groups in such a large place. Wei Jinzhi’s spot was neither too close nor too far from them. With Hu Bei pointing like this, aside from Liang Songhan, whose eyesight was not very good and who only looked twice, everyone else turned to look over there.
After all, the person mentioned was Wei Jinzhi. No one present did not know her, and no one was not curious.
Pei Suyuan held herself back at first. Later, seeing that everyone was looking over there and no one was paying attention to her, she also looked over. She had not expected to run into Wei Jinzhi here.
Wei Jinzhi was currently smiling as she teased a short-legged corgi.
The little corgi hopped up and down, wanting to eat the thing in her hand, but no matter what, it could not reach.
As Pei Suyuan watched, she unconsciously smiled. At this moment, two more cars drove over there. Three people got out, and Pei Suyuan recognized one of them.
It was Jiang Zhan, the male omega who had recorded Hello, Detective with her. Just as she was wondering why they had gathered together, the person who got out after Jiang Zhan made Yan Xin suddenly cry out, “Holy crap, is that female alpha Song Qiliang??”
In truth, Pei Suyuan had heard the name Song Qiliang before, but she did not know what she looked like. Now that she saw her clearly, she also recognized who this person was.
Back when she was on the set of The Tyrant CEO Alpha’s Pregnant Runaway Little Wife, this had been Yuefeng Media’s representative, that female alpha.
At this moment, someone said, “I heard Wei Jinzhi and Song Qiliang have an unusual relationship. The rumors have been spreading for years.”
Pei Suyuan only heard that one sentence before instantly remembering the rumors she had heard a few years ago as well.
Back then, Wei Jinzhi had won awards one after another. Someone had grown jealous, and who knew where this matter had spread from.
If Wei Jinzhi were an alpha, then her rumored partner being Song Qiliang would make it very possible that the rumor was true.
But she was an omega.
The overwhelming comments online suddenly flooded Pei Suyuan’s mind.
Wei Jinzhi had debuted for more than ten years. Aside from a period of rumors with Zhou Yan after filming Diverging Road, the only other person was Song Qiliang.
Moreover, Wei Jinzhi was also a Yuefeng artist.
For a moment, her mind was a mess, wondering whether Wei Jinzhi and Song Qiliang really had some kind of relationship.
As a result, when she turned her head, she saw Yan Xin’s face dark as if someone owed her money.
As Yan Xin’s expression grew darker and darker, the person her gaze was fixed on was a female omega not far from Wei Jinzhi, chatting and laughing with a male alpha.
“Isn’t that He Qinmian? The host who interviewed us before?” Ge Jun was the one who said this. The others had not thought of it, after all, during that interview, Ge Jun had spoken the most.
Pei Suyuan, however, widened her eyes and looked at him. This familiar name. What a melodramatic fate.
When she saw Wei Jinzhi, she had only wanted to sigh over her own situation. Now, she should sigh a little for Yan Xin too.
Yan Xin looked over for a while, then turned back with red eyes.
She asked the group, “Are we still singing?” Her voice was aggrieved and trembling. Everyone could tell something was wrong.
The others came back to themselves. Ge Jun handed her a piece of fatty intestine and smiled as he talked to her about games.
Ge Jun usually played too, but how could he compare to Yan Xin?
As they talked, Yan Xin also became interested and said she would carry him up the ranks. At this moment, Fang Xiaojie refused.
“Ge Jun, didn’t you promise me you were quitting games?” The barbecue had been left to Ge Jun and Fang Xiaojie. Now that Ge Jun had gone over to talk to Yan Xin, Fang Xiaojie was the only one left there, so of course he was unhappy.
Although Fang Xiaojie usually did not talk much, when it came to managing Ge Jun, he was quite fierce.
Ge Jun instantly locked his phone screen and moved far away from Yan Xin.
Yan Xin, who felt as though she had just been force-fed dog food, became even angrier inside. But as soon as Ge Jun left, Fang Xiaojie came over right after him.
Sweetly, he called, “Sister Xin, carry me up the ranks.”
Yan Xin’s face filled with black lines. No matter what, she had not expected this kind of ending.
Pei Suyuan, Ye Sheng, Hu Bei, and Liang Songhan could not help laughing loudly. Ge Jun lowered his head and did not dare speak.
……
In truth, Wei Jinzhi had also been coaxed and pestered endlessly by He Qinmian into coming camping, and He Qinmian had not told her in advance that Song Qiliang and the others would be there.
However, this person had also received her retribution.
Because Song Qiliang had not only brought Jiang Zhan and the dog, she had also brought He Qinmian’s pursuer, Zhang Yuan.
Song Qiliang’s university classmate, who could be said to have fallen in love with He Qinmian at first sight.
After arriving, he had stuck behind He Qinmian the entire time. This also let Wei Jinzhi find some leisure time. She did not have to listen to He Qinmian chatter and could peacefully rest on the lounge chair. The distance between them was not far, and she noticed that Pei Suyuan had changed her hairstyle. She was wearing a denim jacket, her hair loose, playing the guitar and singing happily with her friends.
When Pei Suyuan spoke, her voice was on the low and hoarse side. But when she sang, it was different. Her emotions were full, and her voice had extremely strong penetrating power. One could clearly feel her joy.
Wei Jinzhi glanced sideways and saw Pei Suyuan interacting with a female omega. In the end, the two even smiled at each other with full tacit understanding.
She knew Pei Suyuan had come with Yan Xin, but she had not expected there to be so many friends around Pei Suyuan.
Especially this omega. Just now, she had even acted spoiled toward Pei Suyuan.
Sure enough, was being a little sweeter more lovable?
Wei Jinzhi looked at the two of them a couple more times with emotion in her gaze, then turned her head back.
With this turn, however, her eyes met Song Qiliang’s.
When Song Qiliang had first come over, Wei Jinzhi had ignored her the whole time. Now, there was no way to avoid it.
Sure enough, Song Qiliang brought Jiang Zhan over to her side.
Song Qiliang looked extremely well-behaved. She hesitated for a while, while Jiang Zhan had already greeted her. “Hello, Sister Wei.”
Song Qiliang also followed reluctantly and called, “Sister Wei.”
Seeing this nearly one-meter-eighty alpha curl up into a ball with grievance, Wei Jinzhi found it funny, and her eyes curved with laughter.
At this, Song Qiliang also smiled along with her and even picked up the little corgi beside her into her arms.
“Sister, how about we roast some dog meat later?”
The little corgi had originally been obediently held by her, but when it suddenly heard the words “dog meat,” it immediately perked up its ears.
Wei Jinzhi was charmed by how cute it was. She touched its little ears and said with a smile, “Let’s not roast dog meat. How about roasted sweet potato?”
Sweet Potato was the corgi’s name.
At this moment, being called by its owner, it immediately wagged its butt while sitting on Song Qiliang’s lap. Song Qiliang laughed at it. “What a silly dog. Your owner wants to roast you, and you’re still happy.”
Sweet Potato’s IQ only decreased in front of Wei Jinzhi. Now, hearing that something seemed off in Song Qiliang’s tone, it twisted its body and jumped out, crawling in front of Wei Jinzhi to act spoiled.
Song Qiliang chased after it, laughing and scolding from behind. “You heartless thing. When your owner isn’t home, I’m the one who sends you to boarding. And that little heart on your butt was also something I took you to get!”
Compared to Song Qiliang’s exasperation, Sweet Potato completely ignored her, wiggling its little heart-shaped butt as it went to Wei Jinzhi to ask for dried chicken.
Raising a little dog could indeed make one’s mood pleasant. After raising Sweet Potato for half a year, Wei Jinzhi had already found joy in it.
Moreover, Sweet Potato was also very cute.
A yellow-and-white corgi, now only half a year old, still had a bit of a puppy-like appearance, but was also more obedient than a puppy.
Wei Jinzhi took out dried chicken and fed it two pieces. Just as she was about to feed it a third, Jiang Zhan suddenly spoke. “Sister Wei, was that Pei Suyuan just now?”
The moment Song Qiliang heard this name, her eyes immediately widened, and she looked in that direction.
Wei Jinzhi looked coldly at her, but Song Qiliang was wholeheartedly focused on seeing Pei Suyuan clearly. In the end, Jiang Zhan could not keep watching and tugged her. Song Qiliang impatiently wanted to ask him what he was doing, but the moment she turned back and met Wei Jinzhi’s eyes, she subconsciously shrank her neck.
She did not dare make a sound anymore.
Wei Jinzhi withdrew her gaze, her expression impatient. “Hurry up and leave. Don’t stand here irritating my eyes.”
At this time, she could no longer remember feeding Sweet Potato. She stood up beside the tent and looked into the distance.
She smiled, lowered her head, loosened the corgi’s leash, then threw a piece of dried chicken far away.
……
In the distance, Pei Suyuan was just about to stand up and grill some chicken cartilage and fatty intestines when something bumped into her calf.
It was heavy. When she lowered her head, she discovered it was the short-legged corgi that had just been circling around Wei Jinzhi.
Then she thought of the corgi in Wei Jinzhi’s profile picture. Uh… it should be this little fellow.
Pei Suyuan, who greatly liked creatures such as little dogs, subconsciously smiled. She even felt the urge to tease it, but before she could make a move, she heard Wei Jinzhi’s voice.
“Sweet Potato, come here.”
Perhaps because they had not expected Wei Jinzhi to come over to this side, Pei Suyuan heard two omega friends behind her scream when Wei Jinzhi approached. When she turned back, she discovered that even Ge Jun’s boyfriend, Fang Xiaojie, was blushing a little.
That made her even more embarrassed.
If other people knew she and Wei Jinzhi were acquainted… what would they think?
Would they ask her something…?
What should she do?
Pei Suyuan thought about it for a long time. Wei Jinzhi kept smiling at her, then beckoned Sweet Potato back.
Sweet Potato’s little short legs moved diligently. When it passed by Pei Suyuan, it even sniffed her. Perhaps because there was a familiar scent, or for some other reason, Sweet Potato even wagged its little heart-shaped butt at her.
Her calf was struck by Sweet Potato again. Pei Suyuan jumped in fright and subconsciously dodged. When she lifted her eyes again and saw Wei Jinzhi’s smile deepen, embarrassment made Pei Suyuan’s cheeks flush red. Her eyes widened a little, and her dazed, confused appearance looked somewhat like Sweet Potato.
To hide her embarrassment, Pei Suyuan shifted the topic to Sweet Potato. “Is it called Sweet Potato?”
Wei Jinzhi smiled and pointed beside Pei Suyuan’s feet. “Yes, it’s called Sweet Potato. From the looks of it, it likes you very much~” She reached out, caught Pei Suyuan’s wrist, gently shook it, and asked softly, “What you sang just now sounded very nice. Are you going to sing again later?”
Pei Suyuan and the others had originally planned to rest for a while and then continue. Now, being asked by Wei Jinzhi in such a soft voice, she was even more unable to say no.
Moreover, what Wei Jinzhi had just said also happened to be heard by the people behind them.
Hu Bei had already been nervous and excited at the sight of Wei Jinzhi. Now, being praised, her entire body grew excited. She shook Fang Xiaojie’s hand hard. Fang Xiaojie was also somewhat embarrassed, though not as exaggerated as Hu Bei.
Taking all of this in, Wei Jinzhi smiled at the two of them. Hu Bei could not help letting out a scream, only belatedly realizing that her reaction was really far too big.
But what could she do!!!
She had liked Wei Jinzhi since she was little, ahhhhh!!!
Wei Jinzhi, who was standing not far away, turned a deaf ear to all of this and looked at Pei Suyuan with blinking peach blossom eyes. “Will you still sing?”
Those eyes seemed to carry electricity. Pei Suyuan, who had clearly been shocked by that electricity, could not possibly say no.
She nodded with a wooden face. Then she noticed the light in Wei Jinzhi’s eyes and thought Wei Jinzhi really liked it.
Toward people who liked her singing, how could Pei Suyuan have any resistance?
She pressed her lips together and asked Wei Jinzhi, “Do you have a song you like? I can…”
“As long as you sing it, anything is fine.” Wei Jinzhi cut her off. Her eyes carried a trace of anticipation, and her speaking voice was also very soft, just like her pheromones, soft and sweet.
Comments 0
You must be logged in to comment.
No comments yet. Be the first!