Chapter 28

"I'm Li Shaoze. Nice to meet you," Li Shaoze introduced himself curtly.

Pei Zeyan glanced over him slightly. He seemed to be thinking about Li Shaoze's sudden change of demeanor.

Just now when they were talking and eating, Li Shaoze looked comfortable. He might appear stiff but he maintained the conversation well. He even showed a smile. But now that another three strangers came, he showed a passive and 'decent' talk.

A business smile.

Being the observant one, Pei Zeyan knew why Li Shaoze was acting differently with him. It was because of his relationship with Li Junfeng. They once had that familial tie when Li Junfeng was alive despite how superficial it was.

Pei Zeyan concluded that the reason why Li Shaoze could be acting amicably towards him was hugely due to their past tie with Li Junfeng. He might have been polite out of courtesy.

For some reason, Pei Zeyan was reminded of Li Shaoze's exam grades. The mediocre paper he had seen before was unchanging. The same could be said for Li Shaoze's personality; he was constant.

He could maintain a constant distant against everyone and he wouldn't easily change the boundary he set.

Pei Zeyan thought Li Shaoze's personality seemed to be very different from the rumors. What he saw today and what he had heard differed greatly. It piqued his curiosity.

"Likewise. I'm Shi Yuan," the calm treasurer was the first to introduce himself as he gave out a handshake.

Then the shorty followed, "Oh- I'm Xifeng, Qi Xifeng. Nice meeting you, Li Shaoze!"

"Fu Moran," the tanned guy smiled.

***

Li Junfeng was bored without Li Shaoze. So he was wandering around the house, seemingly holding back from seeing his beloved.

His mind was in chaos after the unexpected meeting with his father. There was a lot on his mind. He even couldn't stop himself from forming some speculations about his father's unbridled relationship. He thought it was enough for him to choose his brother over his father in his heart.

But now he felt he was given enough reason to be able to hate him. Li Qinfeng should be hated properly and Li Junfeng knew this fact. He pursed his lips and reached a depressing moment alone.

What if his conjecture was true? His father was actually a scumbag who cheated behind his wife's back? And how many years had it been?

Not able to calm down after much effort, Li Junfeng braced himself and flew directly to the Pei residence across their house. He wanted to get some peace by meeting with his ex-fiancee that he held dearly.

Li Junfeng then found Pei Qian arriving home right after work. She wore an aqua blue blazer and mini skirt which hugged at her waist and hips. She looked like a cool demoness and was very elegant. Her hair was in a high ponytail as it swayed left and right. Some strands kept sticking to her cheeks and it made her look lovely.

Pei Qian walked inside the house and met with the housekeeper. They talked briefly about dinner before she took the stairs. Li Junfeng kept his eyes on her all the time without blinking.

Before he came here, he was anxious to see her. He felt that he would forget Pei Qian's face if he didn't come but when he did, strangely enough he felt utterly calm.

Unlike when he was alive, there was no fluttering and butterflies in his stomach when he saw her as he was supposed to. He knew he loved her but there existed restrictions in loving her.

Li Junfeng knew it was unavoidable. This was another fact that kept haunting him ever since he drew his last breath.

The dead couldn't feel what the living felt. And they couldn't do what the living could.

He seemed to be aware that his feelings could remain forever but the excitement died down quickly like ashes when he met death. As if the heavens were trying to tell him to stop the futile act of loving across meta-species.

He knew it was supposed to happen, but Li Junfeng still felt unwilling. But on the other note, he felt this should be a meaningful sign for him to move on with his plan and make it work.

Li Junfeng observed Pei Qian silently as he smiled at her cute antics. He missed her warmth when they hugged. He missed her smile and her kisses. Her affectionate actions. He still felt resentful but he soon tried to be calm. Death was a fate, he reminded himself.

Li Junfeng couldn't change what was fated.

***

Li Shaoze was back home.

He sighed when he recalled the impromptu encounter with Pei Zeyan and his friends. They appeared to be very open minded and loud, especially the guy who had his hair bleached. He was short but who would know they all had similar age to him.

Li Shaoze remembered Pei Zeyan had told him that he recognized him because they were once schoolmates. He wondered if they all knew him back then too.

Li Shaoze knew he was a center of negative rumors during his adolescence. It originated from the mistreatment of his parents and grandmother, basically the whole Li family except Li Junfeng. That was the biggest reason why he didn't have any friends in school. He also couldn't care less about friendship when his private life was hellish enough.

Dragging his feet, he walked to the bedroom, he spotted no Li Junfeng in his sight and he held himself back from feeling anxious again. Li Shaoze thought of where the ghost might have gone to. And he didn't change immediately as he turned on his laptop to do some work while waiting for Li Junfeng.