After My Cheap Husband Faked His Death, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with His Younger Brother - Chapter 9

Within twenty minutes, Pei Jiheng arrived.

He was wearing a fitted black suit today. For once, his collar was not buttoned up tightly; the top button of his shirt was left undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone.

Luo Huai stared at the man’s collarbone for two seconds and suddenly thought that the sensation of feigning drunkenness felt much more authentic.

He swayed as he stood up from the steps at the entrance of the restaurant. Mumbling “Uncle,” he opened his arms, intending to throw himself into the man’s embrace.

Pei Jiheng reached out first.

Like lifting a chick, he used one hand to grab the back of Luo Huai’s collar, stabilizing him.

Luo Huai continued to act while stumbling about, repeatedly throwing himself toward Pei Jiheng. His feet felt like they were stepping on cotton, and he could not stand straight no matter what.

Pei Jiheng let out a cold laugh and shoved him into the car.

“Kid, your acting is terrible.”

Luo Huai froze.

Uh, seen through again.

He was not annoyed at being exposed. He tilted his head to look at Pei Jiheng, who, despite his words, had already pulled the seatbelt over and buckled it for him.

Luo Huai’s eyes curved. “Uncle, you are actually quite gentle.”

“Stop talking if you have been drinking.”

Luo Huai blinked at him.

“Close your eyes if they are twitching.”

“Hmph, so fierce.” Luo Huai tugged at his seatbelt and leaned back against the seat. “Hey Uncle, I am not thinking clearly after drinking. Who knows, I might accidentally let it slip that you are an Alpha.”

Pei Jiheng’s hand paused.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Uh-huh.” Luo Huai curled his lips.

“Heh.”

Pei Jiheng let out a mocking laugh, closed the car door, walked around the front of the car, pulled open the driver’s side door, and sat in.

The engine started.

“It is Friday today. Do you have classes tomorrow?” Pei Jiheng asked casually, his eyes fixed ahead.

Luo Huai shook his head, then remembered the man was not looking at him. He said in a soft, clingy voice, “No.”

He turned to look at Pei Jiheng and blinked. “Why? Do you want to ask me out for the weekend, Uncle?”

Pei Jiheng did not look at him.

“One more word, and I will throw you out on the road.”

Luo Huai pursed his lips and stopped speaking.

He noticed that Pei Jiheng had made a turn at the next intersection, heading toward the Nancheng district. He was taking him home.

The car turned into the tree-lined path of the Nancheng villa area. Streetlights lit up one after another, casting a dim, yellowish halo onto the windshield.

Luo Huai leaned against the passenger seat. Having feigned drunkenness for the entire ride, he was too lazy to keep up the act, so he turned his head to look out the window, lost in thought.

The interior of the car was quiet, save for the low rumble of the engine.

“We are here,” Pei Jiheng said coolly.

Luo Huai came back to his senses and found the car parked in front of the villa.

The wall lights were on, casting warm, yellow light onto the ornate iron gate and revealing a figure standing at the entrance.

It was Lin Yuhe.

He had just come home from work, still wearing the dark blue suit he had on earlier that day. Carrying his briefcase, he was standing at the entrance, preparing to go in.

Hearing the sound of the car, he looked up.

Pei Jiheng’s car was too conspicuous, a black Porsche 911 with a sleek design and a high-recognition exhaust note. It was quite eye-catching in this villa area.

Lin Yuhe squinted his eyes, recognizing the car, and then saw the person sitting in the passenger seat.

Luo Huai?

He frowned slightly.

Inside the car.

“Get out.” Pei Jiheng’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Luo Huai obediently unbuckled his seatbelt and pushed the door open to step out.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Lin Yuhe walked over.

“Uncle?” He glanced at Pei Jiheng’s car and then at Luo Huai, his brow furrowed. “Why is Uncle bringing you home?”

Luo Huai smiled naturally. “We happened to bump into each other on the road. Uncle is very kindhearted.” When he said this, his tone was very soft and obedient.

Lin Yuhe did not loosen his frown. His gaze lingered on Luo Huai’s face for a moment before turning toward the car.

Pei Jiheng sat in the driver’s seat, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting casually on the gear shift. He had no intention of getting out of the car, and he did not even roll down the window, looking at the outside coolly through the glass.

Lin Yuhe hesitated, but still walked to the side of the car and bent over, leaning close to the passenger-side window.

The window rolled down.

“Uncle,” Lin Yuhe said with a polite smile, “thank you for bringing Luo Huai home. Sorry for the trouble. Since you are already here, why not stay for a quick meal?”

Pei Jiheng glanced at him, his tone indifferent. “No, thank you.”

Lin Yuhe’s smile stiffened. Just as he was about to say something else, he caught a glimpse of Luo Huai standing obediently by the passenger door, giving a playful wink toward the driver’s seat.

Before turning away, Luo Huai added, “Thank you for the trouble, Uncle. We will not keep you any longer.”

He bit the word “trouble” in a strangely ambiguous way, as if he were not talking about the ride back at all.

He really can act.

Pei Jiheng cooperated with a “Hmm.” He let out a cold laugh in his heart and pressed his tongue against his cheek. His gaze swept over Luo Huai’s face, and he remained expressionless.

The window rolled up.

The black Porsche slid away silently. Its taillights left two dark red streaks in the darkening twilight, turned the corner, and vanished.

Lin Yuhe stood at the entrance, watching the direction where the car had disappeared. His frown deepened.

He turned to look at Luo Huai.

Luo Huai had already stepped onto the porch. Meeting his gaze, he smiled and, without offering any explanation, entered the house first.

At dinner, Luo Huai sat opposite Lin Yuhe.

The maid had prepared four dishes and a soup; it was a sumptuous meal for two people. Luo Huai ate intently, moving his chopsticks quickly to pick up meat. His cheeks were puffed out as he chewed, and he kept his head down, scrolling through his phone in a relaxed manner.

He simply did not look up at Lin Yuhe.

Lin Yuhe held his bowl, eating for a long time, poking at his rice with his chopsticks again and again. Finally, he could not help it.

“Was it really a coincidence that you ran into Uncle?”

Luo Huai gave a vague “Hmm,” not looking up, his eyes still glued to his phone screen.

Lin Yuhe felt a blockage in his heart.

He set down his chopsticks and pondered his phrasing, trying to make his tone sound as natural as possible. “Regardless of anything else, you are already married to me. Why did you not call me when you finished school? I could have come to pick you up.”

Luo Huai’s chopsticks stopped moving.

He did not speak. He held up his phone and turned the screen toward Lin Yuhe.

The screen displayed a social media post that Luo Jingxi had made thirty minutes ago.

The picture showed a brand-new laptop with a silver-gray chassis sitting on a desk. Next to it, “accidentally” captured, was the hand of a mature man wearing a Rolex on his wrist.

That watch was exactly the same as the one Lin Yuhe was wearing now.

The caption read: New equipment for the new semester. Thank you to someone for the thoughtful gift.

There was also a sweet emoji.

Lin Yuhe’s expression froze. He coughed twice, picked up his glass to take a sip of water, and spoke in a dry tone. “They have a new course this semester that requires a computer, so I got him a new one.”

After he finished, he frowned. Wait, why am I explaining this?

Luo Huai finally raised his head to look at him.

His expression was very gentle, without any dissatisfaction, and even carried a hint of understanding.

“Jingxi’s school is far from the city center and even further from the west district,” he said, his voice measured and calm. “You would not have been able to make it.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Besides, I can take a taxi.”

Lin Yuhe was choked for words.

At this moment, he realized he did not even know the specific location of Luo Huai’s campus, nor had he arranged a driver for him.

The meal no longer held any interest.

Luo Huai set down his chopsticks, picked up his phone, and prepared to get up and leave.

“Luo Huai.”

Lin Yuhe called out to him.

Luo Huai turned to look at him.

Lin Yuhe gripped the glass, his knuckles tightening slightly as he seemed to be organizing his thoughts. “Um, give me the address of that place you are living. I will have some appliances and things set up for you. The brand that the company is newly collaborating with is not bad.”

“That is not necessary.”

Luo Huai interrupted him gently. His tone was soft, but his refusal was firm. “I have been living there for half a month already. I have everything I need.”

Lin Yuhe felt even more awkward.

He stood frozen in place, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.