Pei Rong finished peeling a shrimp and casually placed it into Lu Qin’s bowl.
Lu Qin was momentarily stunned, looking at Pei Rong in disbelief, as if to confirm the shrimp wasn’t placed there by mistake.
Pei Rong calmly folded his hands on the table, quietly watching him.
In an instant, Lu Qin picked up the shrimp and swallowed it in a couple of bites.
After finishing it, he stared at his now-empty chopsticks, feeling a sense of loss. The shrimp, personally peeled by the great beauty as a sign that their relationship had taken a step forward, was gone… just like that, so easily.
The taste was entirely overwhelmed by the surge of adrenaline, and he couldn’t even remember if it had salt.
He cast a fleeting glance at the two large shrimp in Dundun’s bowl, full of envy.
The great beauty peeling shrimp voluntarily—such a clear signal of reconciliation. He had to seize the moment and take things to the next level.
Lu Qin: “I…”
Pei Rong, with a teasing look, interrupted him: “You still think Dundun could be lured away by a lollipop? If that’s the case, President Lu, you’re not much better. You both should take an anti-abduction course together.”
How could he insult Dundun’s intelligence like that?
Lu Qin: “…”
Yes, it’s not about the lollipop; it’s about who’s offering it.
So, Pei Rong had only used him for a little experiment, not because he genuinely wanted to peel shrimp for him.
Lu Qin’s eyes dimmed. As expected, things weren’t progressing that quickly.
Pei Rong reached over to put a slice of cucumber in Dundun’s bowl and, in passing, placed one in Lu Qin’s bowl as well: “The soup is really good.”
Lu Qin chewed on a cucumber, thinking that things couldn’t go on like this, undefined and ambiguous. It was time to lay things on the table and start a strong "pursuit," forcing Pei Rong to think about their new relationship.
Coincidentally, his million-dollar watch had just been cleaned and delivered.
Lu Qin opened the package, carefully wrote a small note with a fountain pen, placed it inside the box, and prepared to give it to Pei Rong again.
Last time, he gave him the watch under the pretense of a course reward. This time, he wanted to make things clearer.
**[Serial Number LP 001, Lu & Pei, Wife is number one in my heart.]**
While Pei Rong was in the living room with Dundun, reading a comic book, Lu Qin quietly placed the watch box on the bedside table in Pei Rong’s bedroom.
Lu Qin had to return to the office the next day, so tonight, Pei Rong wasn’t sleeping in the same bed with him but staying at home with Dundun.
After placing the watch, Lu Qin went to the study to start a video conference. As he skillfully handled the meeting, he kept an ear out for any noise from the living room. When Pei Rong was about to take Dundun to bed, he conveniently ended the meeting.
If the watch worked, maybe he could sneak into Pei Rong's big bed.
In the bedroom, Pei Rong lifted the blanket and tucked the sleepy Dundun into bed. As he stood up, his eyes were drawn to the gift box that had appeared on the bedside table.
Did Lu Qin leave this?
Pei Rong sat cross-legged on the bed and opened the box.
A radiant watch gleamed even in the dim light of the bedroom, showcasing its extraordinary price and design.
The blue diamonds sparkled brilliantly, perfectly complementing the graceful, snow-white wrist of the beauty, reflecting the moonlight’s glow.
“Daddy.”
Dundun, who hadn’t slept with his dad in a while, scooted over. His eyes were briefly dazzled by the watch. He rubbed them and quietly admitted, "I found this watch today while rolling around on the grass. Daddy Lu said it belonged to someone else."
He was entirely repentant and knew he shouldn’t lie to his father.
Click. Pei Rong put the watch back in the box, coldly ruffling the little boy's hair. “Got it. Daddy will return it. Now go to sleep.”
Lu Qin outside the door: ???
Little rascal! Swapping the watch for a cat was one thing, but not even recognizing it's a different watch?
He knocked, then pushed open the ajar wooden door, swiftly grabbed the watch, and placed it on Pei Rong’s wrist, his lips pressed into a firm line as he completed the action, like an official stamping a marriage certificate.
“This is the watch I gave you.”
Pei Rong: "You’re willing to give me the couple’s watch that you bought with Miss Lin?"
Lu Qin: "When I gave it to you, she hadn’t bought the one she has yet. Strictly speaking, I’ve never had a matching watch with her, not even for a second."
He glanced at the little one sleeping soundly, undisturbed by anything, and, no longer able to bear it, pressed Pei Rong down on the bed. Propping himself up with his arms, he controlled the distance to a precise 20 centimeters—just enough to clearly see Pei Rong’s expression. "I have two questions I need to confirm."
Pei Rong squinted his eyes: "Go ahead."
Lu Qin: "The watch was something I got back from Orange’s previous owner. Were you waiting for me to stand up for Dundun?"
Pei Rong didn’t respond but also didn’t deny it.
Lu Qin: "And are you satisfied with how I handled it?"
Pei Rong: "Satisfied."
Lu Qin: "Was Dundun born on January 8th?"
The vaccine certificate and the door code both matched that date.
Pei Rong: "Yes."
Lu Qin suddenly gripped the bedsheet tightly, staring fiercely at Pei Rong: "That day, I was in the US."
In the same state where Dundun was born, no less. In fact, by some inexplicable twist of fate, he missed the flight back home that day.
"If you had changed your mind, I could’ve been by your side right away."
But you didn’t, giving me no chance to be involved.
Pei Rong noticed his slightly reddened eyes, and his fingertips trembled as he turned his head, avoiding eye contact. He did think of Lu Qin that day and believed in his determination to overcome any obstacles once he decided on something. It was precisely because of this that Pei Rong had the courage to face the situation.
Lu Qin used this one question to breach the mental defenses of the beautiful man in front of him. He reached out, forcing Pei Rong’s chin straight, and continued to press: "When I went on blind dates, did you get jealous?"
Pei Rong: "Hey, that’s more than two questions now."
Lu Qin: "Just answer—did you or didn’t you get jealous?"
Otherwise, why was the sound of snapping the watch box shut earlier so crisp and sharp?
Pei Rong stared at him, then suddenly said, "Aren’t you impotent?"
Lu Qin paused for a moment: "..."
Damn, even the impotency excuse he told Miss Lin had been overheard.
No normal person would get jealous after hearing that.
The soundproofing here is terrible. How do you file a complaint while still keeping your membership?
