Chapter 27

There was a special campfire by the lake that was provided by the owner. A little bit far south. Pei Zeyan had always been an avid fisher and he sometimes grilled his fish there.

Surprisingly he wasn't alone today and even made a new acquaintance to eat BBQ-styled fish together. He was patiently grilling the fish with the seasonings he requested from the restaurant earlier. Despite the smoke gradually collecting around him, he remained steady with his grilling as if he had done it multiple times.

Across from him was Li Shaoze who remained quiet. He wasn't able to do anything because Pei Zeyan forbade him to. Pei Zeyan seemed to treat him like a guest of some sort that he was asked not to do anything and just sit.

"Since I invited you to accompany me, you don't have to do anything," said the guy himself.

Li Shaoze had no choice but to remain still.

"It's almost done. Sorry for keeping you waiting," Pei Zeyan grinned. Li Shaoze made a gesture that it was alright.

For some reason, when Li Shaoze looked at Pei Zeyan, he was reminded of Pei Qian's face. Truly, they resembled each other. If Pei Qian was a dynamic beauty, her brother exuded a charming school prince aura. His name would appear on the top three list of attractive guys at the school bulletin.

"I heard from my sister that you've moved near our house recently," Pei Zeyan began to create a conversation.

"Yes, but I don't plan to stay permanently," Li Shaoze replied as he took a plate from Pei Zeyan's hand.

"So it's just temporary then? That means you won't stay long in the country," Li Shaoze nodded at his quick thinking.

Like everyone else in the upper circle, Pei Zeyan was aware of the rumors surrounding Li Shaoze. The fact that he just came back from abroad should be true. However, Pei Zeyan had no intention to pry into detail.

But curiosity really existed in his bones.

Especially since Li Shaoze was more or less related to the Pei's before Li Junfeng's passing. He was regarded as a family member of Pei Qian's late fiance no matter his circumstances. Moreover, Pei Zeyan knew Li Junfeng held Li Shaoze in high regard even if he never met the guy properly before.

Li Shaoze ate the grilled fish in the plate and he was quite surprised by the taste. It wasn't greasy and moderately crunchy. Pei Zeyan smirked and said, "Tasty, isn't it? I have a lot of experience from past failures,"

"No wonder you won't ask me to do it," Li Shaoze's lips were raised slightly in praise. He didn't know outdoor cooking would come out this great. He had never experienced it before.

"It wasn't that delicious the first few times though. But I've improved since then. I'm quite proud of this skill actually," Pei Zeyan laughed. Despite not talking much, Li Shaoze gave him a comfortable vibe none of other strangers gave.

"I could see that. How many times do you fish in a month?" Li Shaoze found himself getting relaxed considerably after taking the first bite. The juicy inner filling of the fish made him lower his guard.

"When I'm not busy, I'll fish. Sometimes in the weekend, sometimes weekday after work. Probably around three to four times a month, I guess. But it could be more," Pei Zeyan answered enthusiastically. There wasn't a time he would not be interested if fishing was the topic.

Li Shaoze was amused and he gradually collected himself. Making conversation was a challenge for him since his younger days but he had improved since taking over his investment company. He could talk with his employees and assistants more and now he thought it wouldn't be bad to be acquaintance with Pei Zeyan.

He wouldn't lose anything. And Li Junfeng might even like it. So Li Shaoze deemed it necessary to keep a favorable response towards Pei Zeyan and the Pei's altogether, for the sake of his brother.

"Where would you fish usually?" Li Shaoze asked, interested.

Pei Zeyan shook his head and laughed, "I always changed places. Sometimes I even traveled far away to the countryside just to fish by the ocean and the river. I practically disappeared for a few days just to travel to that spot,"

Pei Zeyan really was a true fisherman. Thinking that, the corner of Li Shaoze's mouth rose up. He didn't know what it felt like to have a hobby one was so passionate about. He was never interested in anything due to his past mental condition.

For Li Shaoze, his childhood and teenage years weren't meaningful. But he never thought of it as a shame. He just didn't know the feeling and wasn't curios anymore at this age.

"Hey, why don't you join me sometimes when you're free?" Pei Zeyan suggested suddenly. It was on a whim but he appeared quite serious.

Li Shaoze instinctively wanted to reject the offer but an energetic greeting came out of nowhere. The two of them turned to look behind them and saw a three-people group striding closer to where they were.

Pei Zeyan immediately clicked his tongue and said, "How did you find me here?"

The three were his best friends. His only closest circle that he usually hung out with. Pei Zeyan treasured his friendship with these three more than others.

He sighed and scolded the loudest one, who was the one on the phone with him earlier, "I told you not to come. Too bad for you, my grilled fish is limited for two today,"

The loudest and shortest one with bleached hair was a famous designer. His family managed the top brands clothing company. He instantly pouted once hearing from Pei Zeyan. His cheeks plump due to his pouting. He appeared cute.

"I told you not to disturb him today. Why wouldn't you listen?" another man came up from behind, then rested his arm on the shorty's head.

He was a bit tanned as he loved to play sports under the sun, especially football. He was once a professional player in the youth category until his university days. That explained his tall and beautifully crafted body.

If Li Shaoze was uncomfortable, he wouldn't show it. He stood up slowly and tried not to appear too distant. He was afraid to give a bad impression since they were Pei Zeyan's friends. He guessed Li Junfeng must know them too.

"Since you're here anyway, let me introduce you to Li Shaoze," Pei Zeyan sighed as he motioned towards Li Shaoze. His action seemingly like a house owner.

"Li... Shaoze?" the three newcomers were surprised to hear the name and they didn't hide their emotions on their faces.

A man with a mole under his left eye looked the calmest out of the three. He was once Pei Zeyan's treasurer in the student council during high school. The tanned guy and the shorty weren't in the student council back then but they had joined a lot of clubs.

Li Shaoze didn't get their reactions. He wasn't familiar with any of them but they seemed to know him. That too, their reaction was off.

"So you're Li Junfeng's..."

"I am," Li Shaoze cut the words off once he realized it. It might not seem like it, but the more someone mentioned Li Junfeng, the more his heart was squeezed tightly. He was glad Li Junfeng wasn't with him today.