Come on, What Kind of CEO Chases His Roommate Back to the Country? - Chapter 44

That evening, Pei Song finally let out a breath of relief. Although he had pinpointed the problem, three days of non-stop work had left him utterly exhausted.

He went downstairs to buy an espresso, preparing to head back up and finalize the solution.

“Planning to pull another all-nighter?” A familiar voice sounded behind him. Pei Song turned around to see Shi Yancheng leaning against a car door.

“Just some finishing touches,” Pei Song lifted the coffee in his hand. “Shouldn’t take long.”

Shi Yancheng glanced at his weary expression and wordlessly opened the car door. “Get in.”

“I’m not done yet.”

“Deal with the project tomorrow,” Shi Yancheng said firmly. “Right now, you need rest.”

Half an hour later, Pei Song found himself at an upscale spa club. The decor was exquisite, radiating luxury, even the changing rooms had an air of elegance.

The two changed into light gray sauna robes. The fabric clung to Shi Yancheng’s frame, emphasizing his lean, well-proportioned physique.

“You’ve been working non-stop for three days. Take some time to recharge.” Shi Yancheng said as he pushed Pei Song into the steam room.

Dense steam filled the enclosed space, blurring his vision.

Pei Song sat down, feeling his tense nerves slowly loosen in the warmth. Shi Yancheng sat diagonally across from him, casually using a hot towel to wipe his neck. Beads of water trickled down his collarbone and disappeared beneath his robe.

Pei Song quickly averted his gaze, only to realize that no matter where he looked, it felt awkward.

“Turn around,” Shi Yancheng said, moving closer.

“Huh?”

“Your shoulders are stiff.” Shi Yancheng stood up and positioned himself behind Pei Song. “I’ll help you loosen up.”

His long fingers pressed against Pei Song’s shoulders through the fabric, applying just the right amount of pressure. A sore yet soothing sensation spread through him, and Pei Song couldn’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

“Here?” Shi Yancheng’s voice was close, his warm breath brushing against Pei Song’s ear.

Pei Song instinctively nodded, but the tips of his ears quietly turned red. Fortunately, the high temperature of the steam room masked any noticeable difference.

After leaving the steam room, they were led to a full-body massage session.

Lying on the massage bed, Pei Song could hear the conversation between Shi Yancheng and his massage therapist in the next room.

“This guest has very tense muscles,” the therapist commented. “He must have a lot of work stress.”

“Hmm,” Shi Yancheng’s voice remained cool. “Focus more on his shoulders and neck.”

Pei Song’s therapist quickly found his sore spots, expertly relieving his fatigue. Every movement felt precise, making him suspect that Shi Yancheng had given special instructions beforehand.

After the massage, both changed into silk robes provided by the club.

Shi Yancheng, with his tall frame, wore his robe loosely, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest. His naturally cold and refined demeanor, combined with his current relaxed posture, made it hard to look away.

Pei Song unconsciously stole another glance before hastily looking away.

“There’s a tea lounge on the rooftop,” Shi Yancheng said. “Wanna go?”

Pei Song nodded. After the sauna and massage, his body felt light and relaxed, almost surreal.

Inside the elevator, they stood side by side, the soft silk brushing against their skin. The confined space still carried the lingering warmth of their showers, mixed with a faint woody fragrance, making Pei Song’s heartbeat quicken.

Only when the elevator doors opened and the cool night breeze hit his face did he snap out of the oddly intimate atmosphere.

On the terrace, a wicker chair was positioned perfectly for a panoramic view of the city’s nightscape. Shi Yancheng personally brewed a pot of tea, his movements fluid and elegant.

“I didn’t know you could do this,” Pei Song remarked in mild surprise.

“Learned it from my grandmother,” Shi Yancheng handed him a cup. “She said brewing tea calms the mind.”

As they sipped tea, their conversation flowed from project updates to future plans, from work experiences to lighthearted anecdotes.

In this rare, stolen moment of peace, Pei Song felt all his stress dissipate.

At the project meeting the next day, Pei Song presented a complete solution. Not only did it resolve the system compatibility issues, but it also optimized the data transmission mechanism for the smart control module.

“This proposal is solid,” the supplier’s technical director commented. “But I think we should discuss it further. Given the global deployment aspect, the risks are high.”

“I think it’s feasible,” Liu Yan unexpectedly spoke up. “Manager Pei’s plan is thorough and accounts for future scalability.”

Pei Song looked at him in surprise, not expecting his support.

“The director has a point, global deployment does pose risks,” Pei Song said calmly. “But we can first validate it in a test environment. Once it stabilizes, we can gradually expand. How does that sound?”

The technical director’s expression softened. “That’s a good approach.”

After the meeting, Li Ming approached Pei Song. “You’ve worked hard these past few days,” he said with some awkwardness. “Honestly… I had some biases against you before.”

Pei Song smiled. “It’s fine. Let’s leave the past in the past.”

“I genuinely admire your skills,” Li Ming said sincerely. “Not just technically, but also in problem-solving. If you ever need help, just let me know.”

Before clocking out, Pei Song sent a message to Shi Yancheng, “Thanks for taking me out to unwind last night. I feel much better today.”

“Good.” A moment later, Shi Yancheng added, “What do you want for dinner?”

Pei Song chuckled. “By the way, you said you’re only staying in China for three months. When are you heading back to D Country?”

Shi Yancheng didn’t answer directly. “How about hotpot?”

“Hotpot it is. My treat,” Pei Song replied. “Consider it a thank-you for taking care of me.”

“Alright,” Shi Yancheng responded crisply. “I’ll pick you up after work.”

The hotpot restaurant was filled with swirling steam. As Pei Song expertly mixed his dipping sauce, he noticed Shi Yancheng watching intently.

“This place has a special broth,” Pei Song explained with a smile. “You need the right sauce to bring out its layers of flavor.”

Shi Yancheng took a bite and his eyes lit up. “The taste is unique.”

“Oh, right,” Pei Song suddenly remembered the nearby night market. “Wanna check it out after dinner? I heard there’s a street performance tonight.”

Shi Yancheng, busy swishing lamb in the pot, nodded.

Just then, the rhythmic sound of Sichuan opera drums echoed from outside the private dining room.

A performer wearing a vividly painted mask stepped in, his fan twirling in sync with the beat. Shi Yancheng frowned slightly, seeming displeased by the unexpected interruption. But when he saw Pei Song’s bright-eyed fascination, his gaze softened, and he quietly took a sip of tea.

The performer’s routine was seamless. One spin, and the mask morphed into a fierce judge’s face; another turn, and it transformed into a delicate, smiling visage.

“How does it work?” Shi Yancheng set down his chopsticks, a rare curiosity flashing in his eyes. His light brown irises locked onto the performer’s every movement, studying it with the intensity of a scientist analyzing a problem.

Pei Song chuckled at his serious expression. “It’s a secret technique. You won’t figure it out without an apprenticeship.”

Before he could finish speaking, the performer suddenly leaned in close to Shi Yancheng, revealing a bold red-faced Guan Yu mask.

Shi Yancheng didn’t flinch. Instead, he moved even closer, scrutinizing the intricate details, like a dedicated engineer unwilling to accept a mystery he couldn’t solve.