After a Top Idol Married the Sickly Young Master of a Wealthy Family to Bring Him Good Luck - Chapter 20

Banshan Garden.

Ling Shu ordered a table full of dishes without ceremony, chatting with Ling Suiyao as they ate.

Eventually, the topic drifted toward Pei Xinglu.

“Suisui, how have you been feeling lately?” Ling Shu asked.

Ling Suiyao thought for a moment. “Better than before, I think. But my constitution is still very weak. I saw a doctor a few days ago, and they said I still need to recover slowly.”

Ling Shu understood, speaking bluntly: “Oh, so this ‘good luck charm’ marriage actually has some effect then. Pei Xinglu deserves some credit. Oh, by the way, Suisui, have you and him… done that?”

“…Cough, cough!”

Ling Suiyao choked on a mouthful of tea, his face turning beet red. The fanfiction The Bamboo Leaves Enter My Embrace flashed through his mind instantly.

“Suisui!”

Ling Shu was worried sick, handing him a tissue. “Are you okay?”

Ling Suiyao steadied his breathing and shook his head. “I’m fine, Sis. You just startled me! Of course not! Ours is a marriage of convenience for luck, just a signed contract. Besides, Brother Pei is homophobic. My feelings for him are just those of a fan for an idol. As for that… how could it be possible?”

Ling Shu laughed. “I was just curious. Suisui, if during these three years, you find someone you like, or if Pei Xinglu finds someone he likes, what then? Will you wait out the three years?”

Originally, he felt it was something that could be discussed; if Pei Xinglu met someone he loved, he shouldn’t have to miss out. But ever since that day when Pei Xinglu had insinuated that he lacked “contractual spirit,” Ling Suiyao felt that… well, the contract comes first. He should respect it.

However, certain hypothetical accidents were truly thorny. He could only hope that during these three years, neither he nor Pei Xinglu would encounter someone they liked.

After finishing the meal, Ling Suiyao went to settle the bill.

Taking advantage of a trip to the restroom, Ling Shu made an international call.

The person on the other end was silent for a while before replying, “Is that what Suisui said?”

Ling Shu wore her Bluetooth headset, touching up her mascara in the mirror. “Yes. This is the last time I’m asking you. I already feel like I’m betraying Suisui. What you do and how you handle the boundaries is up to you. But my advice? Just wait for the three years. Suisui seems easygoing, but he’s actually very stubborn. You think you can persuade him?”

Silence followed again. After a long pause, the person hung up.

Pei Xinglu had been in a pretty good mood the past few days.

After finishing work for the night, he hummed a song on his way back to the hotel. Taking out his phone, he saw a WeChat message Ling Suiyao had sent in the afternoon.

[Suisui Nian Nian]: Brother Pei, I’m hanging out with my cousin these few days. I’m going back to the old family mansion later and won’t be at Pingye Residence. If you’ve left anything behind, just tell Uncle Zhou. No need to make the long trip back. [Peeking.jpg]

[PXL]: Mn.

After a thought, Pei Xinglu changed the nickname “Suisui Nian Nian” to the contact name: Ling Suiyao.

He clicked into his Moments. The background image was a vast blue sea, the calm surface shimmering with diamond-like starlight.

There was a post from noon.

[Ling Suiyao]: Going out for the first time in three years! [Image*9]

Completely different from the “rich young master” style of debauchery, Ling Suiyao’s physical condition meant he could only visit quiet places.

Museums, art galleries, aquariums on weekdays, and quiet, beautiful vintage streets. In the photos, Ling Suiyao faced the camera, making a peace sign—a gesture so cliché, yet on him, it looked exceptionally cute and well-behaved.

Many replies followed under the young master’s post.

[Ling Huan]: [Thumbs up.jpg]

[Jing]: Dammit, Ling Shu beat me to it. Next time, Second Brother will take you out to play!

[Beauty as of Old]: Have fun, Suisui. Wear enough clothes and be careful not to catch a cold. Your dad wants you to drink more ginseng tea; set an alarm so you don’t keep forgetting.

Ling Suiyao replied to them one by one.

There were also replies to people who weren’t mutual friends with Pei.

[Ling Suiyao]: I took them, I took them! Camera model: XXX. My cousin is very photogenic; she looks good no matter how you take the picture!

[Ling Suiyao]: Sure, I’m at the old mansion. Come over to my house for dinner.

[Ling Suiyao]: Brother Rongwen is still abroad.

[Ling Suiyao]: Don’t know. His company is very busy, and he’s slow to reply. Hmm, maybe he’ll be back next year?

Brother Rongwen? Who is that?

He seemed quite familiar.

Pei Xinglu scrolled through all the replies but found no clues.

Maybe a friend from abroad?

Pei Xinglu gave it a “Like” and then exited.

On the other side, Ling Suiyao clicked on the red notification dot in his Moments. He froze, thinking he had seen it wrong.

Brother Pei liked his post!

Screenshot, must screenshot immediately!

“…Mom, I also wanted to invite him for a meal. I’ve called several times, but he either doesn’t pick up or just flat-out refuses… It’s not that I’m intentionally not bringing him to see you. If I could bring him, I definitely would! If you don’t believe me, ask Suisui. Suisui!”

A bitter-faced Father Ling called out to Ling Suiyao. “Tell your grandmother, is it true that Pei Xinglu refuses to come?”

The white-haired Old Madam Ling clutched her grandson’s hand, muttering, “A marriage for luck is a big deal. We can’t let him feel mistreated; the relationship shouldn’t be too strained.”

“Grandmother,” Ling Suiyao originally wanted to explain to his father, but then changed his mind. “Brother Pei has been very busy filming lately. He won’t have any free time for months. I’ll invite him over once his current drama wraps up and he has a break. Don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Grandmother Ling’s heart warmed. “Good, good. With Suisui saying that, I’m relieved.”

“Mhm!”

During the filming of The Blade’s Journey, Pei Xinglu essentially turned down all public appearances, burying himself in the production and commuting only between the set and the hotel.

His fans were starving, surviving only on leaked set photos and rewatching his old dramas and variety shows.

It wasn’t until the online release of Ding Feng Bo in mid-July that Pei Xinglu finally popped up on Weibo to repost the official movie account before disappearing again.

The fan group chat was bustling, everyone tagging [Suisui’s Little Rice Cake].

[Where’s the edit! Where’s the video!]

[Little Rice Cake, Little Rice Cake [Screenshot] I’ve still got this picture saved. Film critic Little Rice Cake~]

[Wow, this feels like a ‘tear of the era.’ Some salty fish have been turned into dried fish, banned for tax evasion. [Laughing out loud.jpg]]

Ling Suiyao finished his writing for the day. After ending his stream, he saw the private messages and group chat content. He quickly downloaded the Grape Video app, bought a yearly VIP membership, and began watching while buffering. Bullet comments flooded the screen, with various flashy high-level comments flying by.

[Pei Xinglu Pei Xinglu Pei Xinglu!]

[Hubby, I’m here! Stool ready, watermelon and ice cream ready, AC and WiFi on. Go, Go, ‘Ding Feng Bo’!]

After binge-watching the movie twice, Ling Suiyao felt a burst of inspiration. He opened Premiere Pro and got to work.

That entire day—writing at the computer, watching movies at the computer, editing at the computer—it was incredibly fulfilling. He didn’t even have time to check his phone or Weibo messages. He didn’t even notice when his phone ran out of battery and shut down.

It was a painful pleasure; Ling Suiyao felt like he was going blind.

Housekeeper Zhou finally managed to drag him out of the study and escort him to dinner.

On the phone, he sighed deeply to Mrs. Ling, reporting: “The Young Master’s health has indeed improved. He looked at the computer all day and didn’t even get a headache. He actually seems quite hyper.”

Ling Suiyao’s body actually couldn’t take it, but inspiration was a fleeting thing—if you didn’t catch it, it would vanish.

After dinner, he pretended to go to his room to sleep, but actually sat on his bed with his laptop, continuing to cut, cut, and cut!

By nearly eleven o’clock, he couldn’t hold out anymore and went to the bathroom to splash his face with water.

Pei Xinglu didn’t know how many times he had opened WeChat.

Is he even a fan? Who is a fan like this?? Not even replying to your idol’s WeChat???

Pei Xinglu took a deep breath, feeling he was being uncharacteristically restless. He usually wasn’t like this.

With a cold face, he entered Pingye Residence, carrying his bag upstairs with one hand. Housekeeper Zhou reminded him to be quiet, as the Young Master was already asleep.

Pei Xinglu looked at the light coming from under the door and felt suspicious. If he’s asleep, why is the light still on?

He knocked softly. There was no response, so he turned the handle and opened the door.

Though the white light was glaring, Ling Suiyao wasn’t there. A laptop was sitting on the bed.

He hadn’t been here in a long time. Ling Suiyao’s bedroom was just like his study—hardly what one would call tidy. Things were scattered about haphazardly.

Pei Xinglu set down his bag. As expected, several plushies had been settled into his bed, lined up neatly under the duvet.

Helplessly, he moved the plushies to the rug near Ling Suiyao’s bed.

His eyes inadvertently brushed over Ling Suiyao’s computer, and he froze.

The screen showed the interface of some editing software. A bunch of options, parameters, and green tracks he didn’t understand. But… in the video preview, a young man in a straw raincoat and hat turned his head, his gaze deep and sorrowful, seemingly soaked in the misty green landscape of the background.

It was a scene from the movie Ding Feng Bo. The man in the raincoat was the protagonist he played.

Ling Suiyao… was editing a video of him?

This late at night, where was he?

Just as Pei Xinglu was about to go downstairs and ask Housekeeper Zhou, footsteps sounded from the bathroom. The door opened, and the footsteps were somewhat sluggish and slow.

Ling Suiyao came out with his head tilted back, his eyes closed. His eyeballs were moving under his lids, and his long lashes were wet.

Pei Xinglu was stunned. Is he crying?

“Are you okay?”

The sudden voice frightened Ling Suiyao. He snapped his eyes open, and in that instant, a crystal-clear tear rolled down his cheek.

Ling Suiyao felt his brain was foggy. Prolonged computer use and excessive moisture in his eyes made his vision blurry.

He blinked. “Brother Pe—”

Before “Pei” could fully leave his mouth, he felt his foot catch on something. His ankle twisted unexpectedly, and in the next second, he fell forward.

It happened too fast. Pei Xinglu was caught completely off guard. By the time he realized what was happening, he had been knocked onto the bed, his back landing on Ling Suiyao’s laptop, which snapped shut. It hurt quite a bit.

The distance between them was extremely close. Ling Suiyao’s face even brushed against Pei Xinglu’s right cheek. He blinked unconsciously, his lashes sweeping past; Pei Xinglu felt a coolness on his cheek.

Ling Suiyao was now completely awake. Panicked, he scrambled off Pei Xinglu, waving his hands in a frantic apology: “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! I definitely won’t break the agreement—this physical contact was just an accident, don’t misunderstand!”

He pointed at the laptop charging cable on the floor. “It’s its fault! No, it’s my fault! I put the charging cable too far away. Brother Pei… are you angry?”

Pei Xinglu propped himself up on the bed and sat up slowly. He reached back to rub his spine, his tongue pressing against the inside of his jaw as he looked at Ling Suiyao with a very cold expression.

Ling Suiyao’s skin was exceptionally pale, making the redness at the corners of his eyes and the dark circles beneath them even more prominent. He looked guilty and miserable, his lashes still wet. He looked like a poor little thing on the verge of tears.

Pei Xinglu: “…Forget it.”

Ling Suiyao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, stating firmly: “I promise, there won’t be a next time!”

“Mn.” Pei Xinglu averted his gaze. “Wipe your tears.”

Ling Suiyao hummed in confusion. “I’m not crying. I just used eye drops and accidentally put in too many.”

Pei Xinglu: “…”

Oh? Eye drops? Fine.

“Brother Pei, why did you come back tonight? Did you leave something behind?”

As Ling Suiyao spoke, he stepped off the bed. As soon as his foot hit the floor, a dull pain throbbed in his ankle.

Seeing his expression, Pei Xinglu knew he had just twisted his ankle. He frowned and told him not to move, then gathered the computer and the charging cable himself, placing them on the desk.

Ling Suiyao was wearing long-sleeved pajamas. He pulled his pajama leg up slightly, revealing a pale, slender ankle. “It doesn’t actually hurt much; it’s not a serious twist. Brother Pei, is your back okay?”

Pei Xinglu was thick-skinned and fit from constant exercise; that little bit of pain was nothing.

But looking at Ling Suiyao, in just this short time, a bruise had already formed on his ankle. Ling Suiyao’s physical condition was poor, like a piece of fine porcelain. After a twist like that… he really couldn’t feel at ease.

“Is there medicine and ice in the house?”

Ling Suiyao nodded. “Downstairs.”

Pei Xinglu: “Stay here. I’ll get it.”

He went down to get the medicine.

Ling Suiyao stared blankly as Pei Xinglu left, unable to stop a quiet smile. He thought to himself that Brother Pei was truly a good person—cold on the outside, warm on the inside.

But why did he suddenly come back tonight? Did he send a message?

He flopped back onto the bed, fumbling under the pillow for his phone. He plugged it into the charger and restarted it, clicking into WeChat with anticipation.

Aaahhh!

Brother Pei actually did message him around four in the afternoon.

[PXL]: The crew has two days off. I’m coming back to Pingye Residence tonight.

[PXL]: I have to fly to H-City tomorrow for a public appearance. Pingye Residence is closer to the airport.

How could he have missed his idol proactively messaging him!

When Pei Xinglu and a flustered Housekeeper Zhou came up with Yunnan Baiyao and ice packs, they saw Ling Suiyao with his head buried in his pillow, rolling around frantically while clutching it, his fluffy hair a mess of cowlicks.

Pei Xinglu: …

Housekeeper Zhou: …

And the party involved was simply the picture of pure regret.