Extreme Pampering
Chapter 101: He Was Never a Gentleman.

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: He Was Never a Gentleman.

After Meng Qiming had asked, the entire room quieted down. Duan Jiaze didn’t understand, and Shen Zhiyi was taken aback by the question, unable to react for a moment, "It wasn’t me who raised him..."

Of course, it couldn’t have been her who raised him.

Meng Qiming hesitated, "Forgive my abruptness, his father is—"

Four years ago, Shen Zhiyi hadn’t gone public with her relationship with Huo Heng yet. Meng Qiming ruled out that possibility first. Upon further thought, it seemed more likely that another person was involved. He wasn’t sure if it was just his mind playing tricks on him, but he always felt the child resembled that individual a bit.

Shen Zhiyi became even more confused, "I don’t know."

Meng Qiming immediately misunderstood, his face full of apology, "Sorry, I—"

As he was imagining some tragic past for Shen Zhiyi, the door was suddenly pushed open again. Before the adults shifted their gaze, Duan Jiaze, the chubby kid, had already run over and happily hugged the person, "Uncle!"

To say Duan Jiaze was chubby was definitely not an exaggeration. His collision almost made Pei Yu step back. Disdainfully lifting his leg, he pushed the kid back and grabbed the straps of his overalls to move him aside.

The handling was neither gentle nor rough, and it wrinkled his clothes.

Duan Jiaze felt no disdain from his uncle, excitedly raising his chubby arms, "Uncle, Uncle, Uncle—"

His lung capacity was impressive.

Pei Yu glanced at him, "Duan Jiaze, shut up."

The child immediately closed his mouth.

Meng Qiming finally understood the situation. The good news was that the child was not Shen Zhiyi’s; the bad news was that it seemed the child was somehow related to Pei Yu. Seeing as he was a relative from Pei Yu’s family, why would he be left with Shen Zhiyi? Had their relationship improved?

Keeping his thoughts off his face, Meng Qiming stood up with an impeccable smile, "Chairman Pei, long time no see."

With Shen Zhiyi present, formalities were necessary. Pei Yu nodded slightly, his attitude aloof.

It seemed like neither of them found anything abnormal about the scene, but Shen Zhiyi felt inexplicably awkward. She waved Duan Jiaze over and helped him put on his backpack, "Your uncle is here, go home with him."

She was only temporarily taking care of the child for his parents anyway. Since Pei Yu had come to pick him up, it was time to return the kid.

"He’s not leaving."

Pei Yu took the backpack, which was quite heavy, filled with snacks—clear evidence of how much she spoiled the boy, "He’s going to stay with you for a few more days."

"What?" Shen Zhiyi didn’t understand his meaning. "Isn’t he staying at Huating?"

The security system at Huating was more reliable than any other residential area, plus a housekeeper to look after him; it was definitely a more appropriate place for Duan Jiaze to stay.

"He can’t stay at Huating," Pei Yu said seriously, "His zodiac signs clash with the place; it oppresses him."

Shen Zhiyi: "..."

How to put it—it was a bizarre reason but somewhat plausible.

She looked down, it was unclear whether she believed him or not, "Arrange as you see fit; it’s not like Huating is the only place he can stay."

Indeed, for the first time, Pei Yu felt that owning many properties might not be such a good thing after all.

He frowned slightly and spoke a long stretch of French to Duan Jiaze.

Once he was done, Duan Jiaze immediately clung to Shen Zhiyi and refused to let go, sobbing as he looked up, "Not leaving, want to stay with uncle—with Zhiyi!"

Shen Zhiyi looked skeptically at Pei Yu, "What did you say to him?"

"I told him that he would be staying with me for the next few days," Pei Yu said without a change in expression, "He doesn’t want to."

Shen Zhiyi was skeptical; his French phrase didn’t seem to be just that, but she had no proof.

No matter what Pei Yu said, Duan Jiaze was very determined. He clung to Shen Zhiyi and refused to let go, whimpering pitifully. He cooed to Shen Zhiyi in his less than standard Chinese, pouring on his childish charms. Like a chubby child, his tears made him look like a wrinkled dough ball—completely endearing.

Shen Zhiyi really had no other option. She turned to Pei Yu for help several times to say something that might coax the child away, but each time he spoke, Duan Jiaze cried even harder.

Pei Yu appeared helpless. "He won’t listen to me."

In the end, it was Shen Zhiyi who compromised, agreeing to let Duan Jiaze stay with her for two more days.

After resolving that, she finally had a moment to ask Meng Qiming why he had come to see her.

"It’s nothing serious. I heard you were injured and was quite worried. I happened to have some time today, so I came to check on you."

Meng Qiming was genteel and always measured. Even though he had openly expressed his desire to pursue Shen Zhiyi, he always gave her space and didn’t cling annoyingly. He knew when to stop when talking.

Because of this, Shen Zhiyi couldn’t be cold to him and treated him politely as a friend.

"I’m fine now, thank you for making the trip."

Having already been delayed for a while, and since she had to continue filming, she couldn’t talk much more and left the dressing room to these two unexpected visitors.

"I won’t be off work for a while, Mr. Meng, you—"

It wouldn’t be good to keep someone waiting here all this time.

Understanding her concern, Meng Qiming considerately said, "I’ll be leaving soon. I still have some things to take care of. Don’t worry about me. We can always meet up another time."

Shen Zhiyi nodded, "Alright."

While the two talked, an exhausted Duan Jiaze cuddled next to Pei Yu, looking up at him for approval.

"Uncle, did I do well just now?"

Pei Yu responded nonchalantly, "Mm."

The child then happily laughed and rewarded himself with his fifth bag of chips for the day, chewing while listening to Shen Zhiyi talk with that ’bad uncle’ who had called him fat.

Not understanding what they were saying, Duan Jiaze wanted his uncle to translate for him.

"Uncle, what is he saying?"

Pei Yu rubbed his head, his eyes shadowy and coldly said, "He wants to steal your auntie away."

Duan Jiaze’s eyes widened, "Wow, he really is a villain!"

After a brief chat, Shen Zhiyi left the dressing room, and Meng Qiming, not willing to linger, politely asked, "Chairman Pei, are you not leaving as well?"

Pei Yu sat still and did not look up. "I have to watch the child."

It seemed reasonable enough as he was the child’s uncle, but Meng Qiming was no fool and knew clearly that Pei Yu’s intentions were the same as his own.

Meng had always heard of this man as being uninterested in worldly desires, with his standards towering high above, having never had women around him, yet here he was, scheming so tirelessly.

Because they were rivals, Meng Qiming couldn’t take this lightly or just watch for fun.

Standing up, he nodded with a polite smile, as if joking innocently yet meaningfully, "Chairman Pei, using a child as an excuse seems a bit disgraceful."

He could see that Shen Zhiyi somewhat tried to avoid Chairman Pei, who was using the child as a natural opportunity to get closer to her.

Pei Yu lifted his eyelids, his expression cool and devoid of annoyance. He casually curled his lips and frankly admitted, "So what?"

He was never a gentleman; he was unscrupulous in achieving his goals, let alone when it came to Shen Zhiyi. Even if it meant exhausting all strategies, he was determined to be the one who wins her in the end.