Chapter 25

When Qi Liangqin saw Yan Bozong step out of his room, he quickly got out of bed as well.

He wasn't sure why, but before going to sleep, he wanted to see Yan Bozong one last time.

But just as he pushed open his door, he heard Yan Bozong ask Aunt Chun, "Has Xiao Qi gone to bed? Has Songwei come back yet?"

He stopped in his tracks and listened as Aunt Chun replied, "Songwei isn't back yet. Xiao Qi has been sleeping all afternoon—I'll call him when it's time for dinner. You're home early today."

"There's not much going on at the company right now."

"Did something happen?" Aunt Chun suddenly asked. "Tell me about it."

"What makes you say that?"

"I watched you and Songwei grow up. When something's on your mind, I can see it even clearer than Madam." Her voice softened, tinged with affectionate amusement. "If there's anything you don't want to tell Madam or the others, you can talk to me instead. I might be able to give you some advice. Is there trouble between you and Shen He?"

"No, everything's fine."

Seeing that Yan Bozong was about to return to his room, Qi Liangqin hurried out. He picked up his pace, then deliberately slowed down, rubbing his eyes to make it seem as if he had just woken up. His clothes hung loosely on him—it was just a set of pajamas.

Hearing him, Yan Bozong turned around and smiled when he saw him. "You're up? I saw your room was dark and thought you were still asleep."

Aunt Chun said, "You got up at the right time. Madam will be back soon, and it'll be time for dinner."

"Where did she go?"

"Old Madam Wang's cat just had kittens. Apparently, they're quite rare—born with folded ears. She's planning to give them away, so Madam went to pick one."

Yan Bozong asked, "I thought she didn't like cats and dogs."

"She's getting older—maybe she's feeling lonely. You all can't always be by her side. I heard the kittens are very well-behaved and lovable."

"And Yuan Yuan? She doesn't have a job—she stays home all day. Didn't she keep Madam company?"

Aunt Chun chuckled. "She's only in her early twenties. How could she spend all day with Madam? Even if she were willing, Madam wouldn't allow it. She keeps telling her to go out and have fun—probably hoping she'll meet a good match and get married soon."

"She's still so young," Yan Bozong said dismissively. "She can stay home a couple more years."

"She's not that young anymore. Girls aren't like you men. Besides, didn't you get married in your early twenties too?"

Yan Bozong said nothing more, simply shoved his hands into his pockets and, in his slippers, walked back to his room.

Aunt Chun turned to Qi Liangqin. "Go put on something warmer. It's chilly after the rain. You just recovered—don't catch another cold."

Qi Liangqin changed into a fresh set of clothes and soon heard lively chatter from the living room—Madam Yan and Yan Yuan had returned, and at the same time, Yan Songwei had arrived home as well.

As expected, Madam Yan had brought back a cat. The little creature was adorably clumsy, its fur pure white, with jet-black eyes. But the most special thing about it was its ears, which flopped forward—it was a Scottish Fold.

"It's not a newborn, is it?" Yan Songwei asked.

"It's almost a month old. Scottish Folds look just like regular kittens when they're born. Their ears usually start folding forward after about twenty days. Isn't it adorable?" Yan Yuan said while reaching out to play with the cat. Surprisingly, the kitten was incredibly docile, seeming to enjoy the attention.

Even Qi Liangqin, who was usually terrified of cats, felt an urge to touch it.

He stretched out his hand, nearly touching the kitten's head, but at the last moment, he hesitated and withdrew. When he looked up, he found Yan Bozong watching him. Seeing his hesitation, Yan Bozong smiled and asked, "Afraid of cats?"

"I got scratched by one when I was little," Qi Liangqin replied. But the truth was, his fear of cats wasn't just because of that. He had always felt that staring at a cat for too long gave him an eerie sense of unease, as if recalling some long-buried, mysterious, and unsettling stories about them. To him, cats carried a strange and enigmatic aura.

Hearing this, Yan Songwei turned to him and asked, "What about dogs? Are you afraid of them too?"

Qi Liangqin nodded. "Not small dogs, but big ones. I got bitten by a large wolfdog when I was a kid—just the sight of a big dog makes my legs go weak."

"Man, you've had your fair share of bad luck," Yan Songwei said, throwing an arm around his shoulders in a playful show of affection. "We have a few dogs at the stud farm. Big Brother owns two Dobermans, and I've had my eye on one for a while now. I was even thinking of using you as an excuse to ask him for it."

"Which one do you want?" Yan Bozong asked.

"Of course, the male—he's the fiercer one."

But Yan Songwei wasn't telling the full story. In truth, he was acting on behalf of a friend.

A buddy of his, who frequently visited their family's stud farm, had taken a liking to one of Yan Bozong's German-line Dobermans—an exceptionally strong and well-built dog. This friend happened to own a female Doberman, which had recently gone into heat, and he was eager to arrange a breeding.

However, Yan Bozong was extremely protective of his dogs and rarely agreed to let them breed with others. But Yan Songwei didn't see the big deal.

Later, when they were back in the room, he casually brought up the topic again while chatting with Qi Liangqin about cats and dogs.

"You already know Big Brother won't agree, so why did you promise your friend?"

"I just don't get Big Brother's way of thinking. He's so self-restrained, but why does he have to make his dog practice abstinence too? It's a male, after all. Even if it mates, we don't lose anything."

That was just another classic example of the difference between the two Yan brothers—perfectly in character.

Qi Liangqin took out a blanket and spread it on the floor, but Yan Songwei said, "Aren't you still sick? Forget it, we're both men—just sleep on the bed. It's big enough for the both of us."

But Qi Liangqin shook his head. "I'm used to sleeping alone."

Saying that, he finished laying out his bedding, took off his shoes, and got in.

To his surprise, Yan Songwei let out a sigh and said, "Fine, fine. You take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor."

Qi Liangqin looked up. "Are you sure?"

"What's the big deal?"

Without hesitation, Qi Liangqin jumped onto the bed. The mattress was so soft that he lost his balance and fell forward. Yan Songwei chuckled. "You've been waiting for me to switch with you, haven't you?"

"This bed is amazing. I wonder how much it costs."

"You're only sleeping on it for one night. Once you're feeling better, we're switching back. Lucky for you, neither of us has OCD. If this were Big Brother, you wouldn't be getting such a good deal."

Hearing Yan Bozong's name, Qi Liangqin's interest immediately piqued. Feigning casualness, he asked, "Does Big Brother have OCD?"

"He's fine most of the time, but when it comes to his bed, he doesn't let anyone else touch it. Even my mom says it's a weird quirk of his."

Yan Songwei lay back with his arm under his head, a teasing tone in his voice. "That's why, when he married Shen He, we all joked—surely he wouldn't keep Sister-in-law off his bed too, right? Hahaha."

Qi Liangqin's heart wasn't calm at all.

Because he knew the story had reached a critical turning point.

This was the first major climax of The Male Pan Jinlian.

Soon, Yan Bozong would see right through him—see the "Pan Jinlian's heart" hidden beneath his innocent facade.

And this scene would begin at the stud farm.

At the very start of The Male Pan Jinlian, the novel devoted a large portion to describing the Yan family's immense wealth—an almost exaggerated display of fortune.

And among their many assets was this very stud farm.

The so-called stud farm actually housed more than just horses. For example, dogs.

Across from the stables, the Yan family had built a kennel, employing two professional trainers to raise and train their dogs.

For wealthy people like them, horse riding and hunting were merely leisure pastimes. They didn't keep their dogs by their sides, taking them for daily walks like ordinary pet owners.

They raised hunting dogs and powerful steeds not for companionship, but for the thrill of dominance—and as symbols of status.

Every social class had its own forms of entertainment, and sometimes, entertainment went beyond simple pleasure—it became deeply intertwined with business.

It was the same as golf. Passion wasn't always the only reason people played.

Take, for example, the so-called "buddy" Yan Songwei mentioned—more accurately, a business partner who, like him, came from a wealthy second-generation background.

Perhaps because of their business ties, Yan Bozong agreed to his younger brother's request.

That weekend, he planned to go to the stud farm with Yan Songwei.

Since this was a scene that existed in the original novel, Qi Liangqin didn't even need to push for it—Yan Songwei naturally brought him along.

In truth, Yan Songwei was making an effort to get along with him.

A contractual marriage like theirs could become a huge hassle if things turned sour.

"We'll be staying at the stud farm for a night. I won't be able to play mahjong with you this weekend," Yan Songwei told Madam Yan.

"Make sure to come back early on Sunday. Your Uncle Wang is hosting a birthday banquet, and we're all invited. No one is to be absent."

"Got it."

Qi Liangqin started packing.

It was only a one-and-a-half-day trip, so there wasn't much to bring—just a change of clothes for himself and Yan Songwei.

But considering this was a pivotal scene for him, he also put on a thong.

It was his first time in such underwear, and it was just as uncomfortable as he'd expected.

Yan Bozong had been right—wearing it was unbearable.

And more than anything, he just couldn't get over the mental hurdle. The shame was unbearable, and even his walk felt awkward.

After packing a bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he set off with the Yan brothers, driving toward the ranch. The trip took them out of the city, a three-hour drive.

Throughout the ride, Qi Liangqin was in agony, his fingers tapping anxiously on the seat, his leg bouncing uncontrollably.

This time, compared to before, his teasing was bolder—more blatant.

He was going to reach for something of Yan Bozong's, and when he did, he was stunned.

Even when soft, it was already so thick—so long.

Qi Liangqin rolled down the car window, letting the warm breeze wash over his burning face. He felt as if he were in a dream, watching the shifting lights and shadows—soaring skyscrapers fading into tree-lined streets, the bustling city giving way to endless open roads.

The day and night ahead would be a milestone in Qi Liangqin's life.

A scene flashed through his mind again—a steamy bathroom, hot water pouring over him, stealing his breath, blurring his vision. His lips parted in desperate cries:

"I love you, Yan Bozong! I love you more than anything in this world!"

Water trickled down the corners of his mouth, some even slipping down his throat. The world collapsed around him, leaving nothing but love and desire.

"I love you the most. You are the only one I love. I can't live without you. How could I love you this much? I'm such a pervert. Please, have mercy on me."

These were Qi Liangqin's familiar lines. Out of context, they seemed abrupt and embarrassing. Within the story, they set hearts racing. But stepping back to observe with cold detachment, they felt unbearably tragic.

Yan Bozong was Qi Liangqin's inevitable downfall.

And in Yan Bozong's eyes, what was Qi Liangqin, really?

Probably a Doberman in heat.

Or maybe… a toy poodle.