Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 9

Pei Jichuan finished his work early today, which was a rare occurrence. The butler seemed to notice the President’s good mood, and the cautious look on his face finally faded.

“Thank God. I hope Young Master Lin and the President can get along well; this old man really can’t take much more stress!” Housekeeper Zhao thought, roaring internally while maintaining a professional smile.

Perhaps due to his frail physical state, Gu Nian’s afternoon naps were very long. From after lunch, he could sleep until Pei Jichuan came home from work. Pei Jichuan did not doubt for a second that if he hadn’t returned, Gu Nian might have slept until the middle of the night.

Pei Jichuan pushed the door open quietly. The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, but the sunset light still managed to seep in through the gaps in the fabric.

Although it was already autumn, the sunlight was still dazzling. Pei Jichuan sat quietly by the bed, watching Gu Nian’s peaceful sleeping face. He uncontrollably reached out, but stopped just a second before making contact.

The carelessly drawn curtains were not completely seamless. A faint beam of light happened to pass through, resting quietly on the head of the bed, and Pei Jichuan’s outstretched hand “caught” it just right.

“There are no walls that don’t let in the wind.” Xiao Yuan’s words seemed to ring in his ears again.

Pei Jichuan pulled his hand back abruptly, as if burned by the sunlight; whether it was light or wind, these were forces beyond his control.

But even if the truth could not be concealed in the end, he would never let go.

Pei Jichuan firmly reached out again and caressed Gu Nian’s cheek.

Gu Nian’s long eyelashes and thick, soft black hair reminded Pei Jichuan of the weak little black cat from his childhood.

He was very young then, and the black cat was also tiny, so thin and fragile that it seemed like it would stop breathing at any moment. The young boy had picked it up and raised it in secret. The small black cat would only emit soft, weak mews, and after eating and drinking its fill, it would gently lick his palm.

The young boy believed he was its savior.

But in the end, the small black cat was discovered by his father and turned into a tiny corpse. He held it as its warm, soft body gradually became cold and rigid. He cried for a long time that day, as if he had used up all the tears of his life.

Gu Nian was awakened by the subtle touch and opened his eyes, looking a bit dazed. What came into view was Pei Jichuan sitting by the bed. The other man had clearly just returned; his well-tailored suit was worn impeccably, without a single excess wrinkle.

Gu Nian blinked slowly and reached out toward Pei Jichuan.

Understanding, Pei Jichuan slowly pulled Gu Nian up.

As soon as Gu Nian sat up, his peripheral vision caught sight of a box on the side of the bed. He picked it up with curiosity; it was a new model of mobile phone.

“Your previous phone was getting old, and it would stutter occasionally. You can use this one,” Pei Jichuan explained.

Gu Nian responded softly. It wasn’t an old model, nor was it the absolute latest, but rather the exact model that Gu Nian had “specially” browsed to be prepared for contingencies.

Gu Nian lowered his eyelashes, masking the dark look in his eyes. His fingers exerted slight pressure, causing the box to deform slightly under the stress.

Pei Jichuan evidently did not notice this detail and simply busied himself with putting Gu Nian’s shoes on for him.

Pei Jichuan took the phone from Gu Nian’s palm. “It’s time for dinner. You can look at it after you’ve eaten.”

A life monitored in every aspect was truly suffocating. No wonder the original owner had committed suicide.

Gu Nian turned to look at Pei Jichuan’s strong arms supporting him, thinking that he needed to exercise this fragile body; otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to run away if he tried.

After dinner, Pei Jichuan went to the study to handle his work, while Gu Nian lay on the carpet to the side, looking at the books on the shelf that were mostly there for show.

Suddenly, messages on Gu Nian’s phone began to pop up rapidly, and the notification sound rang incessantly. Gu Nian opened his phone with suspicion and discovered they were coming from a so-called “Classmate Group.”

Gu Nian opened the group chat and scrolled up; it was someone named Chen Yan organizing a class reunion.

Gu Nian flipped through the chat history, which was filled with nothing but flattery. He wasn’t interested and was about to close the app when he was attracted by a private message.

It was a message from someone saved as “Li Zichen.”

Li Zichen: [Buddy, are you going to the class reunion? We haven’t seen each other in a year or two. How come you’ve disappeared like you evaporated from the human world? I heard Chen Yan became a manager; he’s working at the Pei Corporation!]

Li Zichen: [This time, the host is treating everyone at the Imperial Court! Are you going or not? Even though I want to see the world, we are good brothers. If you don’t go, I won’t go either!]

Li Zichen: [Back in the day, just because the school beauty, Liu Xinyu, liked you and rejected Chen Yan’s confession, Chen Yan held a grudge and spread rumors about you everywhere. If you don’t want to go, that’s fine too.]

After reading the message, Gu Nian initially wanted to reply that he wouldn’t go, but upon second thought, a class reunion wasn’t bad. Even if he couldn’t take the opportunity to escape, he could learn more about the original owner’s identity.

Gu Nian was still somewhat curious about this face that was identical to his own.

Pei Jichuan was holding a document, but his heart was no longer in his work. From the moment Gu Nian picked up his phone to check the messages, he had been watching him with his peripheral vision.

“Pei Jichuan?” Gu Nian tilted his head slightly and called out.

“Hmm?” Pei Jichuan responded. His fingers trembled slightly, and he continued to look at the document in his hand, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

“What is the Imperial Court?” Gu Nian asked with confusion.

“The Imperial Court is the largest hotel in A City and is one of the properties under the Pei Corporation,” Pei Jichuan responded, feigning calmness.

By the time Pei Jichuan looked up again, Gu Nian had already come to the desk.

Gu Nian rested his hands on the edge of the desk, his innocent gaze looking straight at Pei Jichuan.

Gu Nian held up his phone. The messages in the group chat about Chen Yan organizing the class reunion were very conspicuous. Pei Jichuan squinted at the name, feeling vaguely like he had seen it somewhere before.

“I want to go.” Gu Nian’s brows moved slightly, and he leaned forward, closing the distance.

Pei Jichuan lifted his head and saw the anticipation in Gu Nian’s eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he frowned.

He was still worried that Gu Nian would use the opportunity to run away, but love should give the other person space for freedom.

“Okay. I’ll have the driver take you.” After a moment of contemplation, Pei Jichuan still agreed to Gu Nian’s request.

He tried to control his emotions, but regarding his psychological condition, once anxiety was triggered, it would only intensify. His breathing even became a bit hurried.

Gu Nian was somewhat surprised he had agreed so easily?

He vaguely sensed Pei Jichuan’s emotions, and his gaze shifted; his body reacted faster than his thoughts.

Gu Nian stood up, walked around the desk, and headed straight toward Pei Jichuan.

Under Pei Jichuan’s confused gaze, he planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

“Then, after the class reunion ends, could President Pei come to pick me up personally?” A flash of craftiness crossed Gu Nian’s eyes, and there was even a hint of teasing in his tone.

Pei Jichuan was so startled by the sudden action that he forgot to breathe. His anxious emotions vanished in an instant. His mind went blank, and he didn’t even react to what Gu Nian had said.

“Never mind if you won’t come,” Gu Nian sighed, his gaze, carrying a hint of melancholy, sweeping past Pei Jichuan.

Just as Gu Nian turned to leave, his shoulders were suddenly gripped tightly by iron-like hands. Pei Jichuan, who had already stood up from the chair at some point, wrapped his arms around Gu Nian from behind.

I might have played this a bit too far, Gu Nian thought.

The room suddenly became so quiet that one could only hear the sound of breathing. Pei Jichuan clearly felt his own heart pounding vigorously, as if he had come alive for the first time in the years he had spent with Lin Nuo.

Gu Nian’s words made him feel for the first time that he was also needed by him…