After the storm subsides

At the evening reception banquet, Wu Wenxiong and his wife weren’t present, so Wu Qie had to represent the family again.

He hated this kind of situation—where you had to stay sharp every second, managing people and conversations.

If he’d known being a teacher at Hongtie High would lead to this much nonsense, he would’ve just joined his family company as a low-level employee making five thousand a month—never meeting the chairman his entire life.

After the funeral, he went home, was forced by the housemaid Dorota to bathe in pomelo-leaf water, got cleaned up, and then stood in his walk-in closet staring at a row of perfectly arranged suits behind glass.

He sighed.

His mom wasn’t here, so he had to decide everything himself.

Dark grey or navy with subtle stripes?

Time was running out, so he just took photos and sent them to Li Ying.

When it came to fashion, if you didn’t know—ask a woman.

…Or at least half a woman. Female Alpha counted, right?

Li Ying replied instantly.

Just a question mark.

Then: “Why don’t you ask your rabid-dog fiancé? When in doubt, just copy him.”

Wu Qie hesitated.

“Wouldn’t that look like I’m trying to wear couple outfits with him?”

Li Ying: “???”
“What kind of egotistical creatures do you think Alphas are?”
“If he even notices, he’ll just think you’re doing some weird black-and-white cosplay.”

…Fair enough.

Wu Qie was easily convinced.

So he actually messaged Zhao Shu.

Zhao Shu replied: “Don’t know.”

Cold. Short. Annoying.

Wu Qie didn’t bother arguing. He picked the navy striped suit himself.

Then chaos.

Running around the room—cufflinks, tie, pocket square, watch.

He opened a drawer.

Inside were over a dozen watches—gifts from birthdays, coming-of-age ceremonies, graduation…

Every single one absurdly expensive.

The kind that would make a burglar faint on the spot.

His gaze landed on one.

The antique watch Zhao Guipu had given him as an apology.

He tried it with the suit.

…Perfect.

So he wore it.

He arrived at the hotel five minutes early.

Zhao Shu was already at the entrance.

Steel-grey suit. Matching striped tie.

Nothing like Wu Qie’s.

Under the sunset, the iris brooch on his chest gleamed purple.

He looked irritated. Barely smiling at guests.

Wu Qie walked up.

They saw each other across the crowd.

No words.

Wu Qie looked away first.

Signed in. Put down the pen. Turned—

—and immediately caught Zhao Shu staring at him.

Too late to hide it.

“…Welcome,” Zhao Shu said stiffly.

Wu Qie repeated flatly, “‘Welcome’? What are you, a doorman? Why didn’t you park my car then?”

Silence.

“Zhao Shu,” Wu Qie leaned on the table, voice calm but sharp, “you were fine this morning. What’s your problem now?”

“I don’t have one.”

“I messaged you to ask what suit you were wearing,” Wu Qie said. “I thought matching colors wouldn’t be a big deal before we officially break off the engagement.”

Pause.

“Guess you hate that idea.”

That part? Totally made up.

But he said it like fact.

Zhao Shu looked like he’d just been punched.

“I don’t hate it,” Zhao Shu muttered. “I was just busy. Go inside.”

…Last chance wasted.

Wu Qie frowned.

“Zhao Shu, I saw a Tesla outside.”

“So?”

“I’m calling Elon Musk to remotely crash it into you.”

Then he walked past him into the hotel.

Inside—

He thought he could just eat quietly and leave.

Nope.

Hongtie students everywhere.

The moment he stepped in, they swarmed him like overexcited huskies.

“Teacher Wu!”

“You look so good in a suit!”

“Where’s Zhao Shu?!”

Wu Qie internally died.

Total introvert nightmare.

He hadn’t even put his champagne down when—

They were already surrounding him.

Then—

A shift.

He looked up.

Across the room, Pei Qingyu saw him.

Made eye contact.

Started walking over.

Good.

Social survival unlocked.

Pei Qingyu reached him, smoothly pulling him out of the chaos.

“Traffic bad?” he asked, leaning slightly closer due to the noise.

His hand rested lightly on Wu Qie’s back as he guided him away.

That small gesture—

didn’t go unnoticed.

Others protested.

Pei Qingyu just glanced at them.

One look.

Silence.

“Let the teacher eat first,” he said calmly.

No one argued.

Wu Qie’s focus was elsewhere.

His shoulder felt… hot.

He tightened his grip on the champagne glass.

Don’t react. Don’t blush.

Then—

Someone noticed the watch.

And everything exploded.

“Whoa that watch—”

“It’s ‘Whale Bay Moon’…” Pei Qingyu said quietly.

Instant silence.

That watch.

Auctioned months ago.

35 million.

Now on Wu Qie’s wrist.

“Who gave it to you?”

“Someone else.”

“…Zhao Guipu,” Pei Qingyu added.

Boom.

The room went dead.

Wu Qie suddenly regretted everything.

Pei Qingyu smiled faintly.

“Looks like your brother really values this marriage.”

Wu Qie took a sip.

It tasted bitter.

After a pause—

He turned to Pei Qingyu.

Calm.

Direct.

“You know Zhao Shu and I are discussing breaking off the engagement, right?”

Pei Qingyu froze slightly.

“So don’t talk about it like it’s a good thing,” Wu Qie said.

“I won’t like it.”

Then—

he lightly tapped Pei Qingyu’s chest.

Fingers brushing his tie.

A brief glance upward.

Then he turned and walked away.

Pei Qingyu stood still.

Watching him leave.

Then slowly looked down at his own tie as if the warmth of that touch was still there.