The moment the door of Pan An’s room closed, Wang Lei threw both of his hands up in the air as Pan An continued to fix his tie.

“What the hell, man? Why didn’t you tell me that you are letting a woman live in your spare room? Why do I have to learn from my sister that it is actually her best friend that is living under your roof, huh!?”

Pan An sighed slightly as he looked at himself in the mirror, getting some gel from his table as he put some on his hair to brush them up.

“If I told you about this, you wouldn’t shut up about it and would bother me nonstop. Especially if it is a girl involved.”

“Well,” a cheeky grin appeared on Wang Lei’s face, “You’re right. But… hey! I won’t touch her! She’s too young for my liking to even flirt with!”

Pan An rolled his eyes at Wang Lei’s reflection on the mirror as he sat on his bed, relaxed as he continued talking to Pan An.

“What are you thinking? I heard that you saved the girl from an assault. Knowing you, you’d rather let her stay temporarily and offer her money so she could find a temporary place with her pet, or help her go to her friend’s place. Why this?”

Pan An combed his hand through his hair, further fixing his hair to make himself look presentable at work.

“I pitied her, you know,” he honestly answered, turning his body to look at Wang Lei, who was sitting on his bed. “And then, a thought accidentally crossed in my mind of letting her stay as long as she helps me manage the house and follows my favor.”

Wang Lei couldn’t help but scoff, “You wanted someone to manage the house and do your favors. Why not hire a house helper?”

Pan An narrowed his eyes at him.

“You know I don’t like hiring house workers. Remember when I did? My mother knew about it and contacted the house helper, making her update her of my whereabouts. I don’t want that.”

Hearing this, Wang Lei raised a brow at him and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“So you think choosing Shu Xian as the person to manage your house is better?”

Pan An shrugged, “I have no choice. She even pretended to be my girlfriend for me so that I could stop my mother from doing the incessant blind dates.”

A smug grin appeared on Wang Lei’s face, making him look handsome as ever—his looks an infamous pair to his playbook demeanor.

“So, you brought her to one of your dinner dates with your mother?”

Pan An heaved a sigh, “That’s right. She was talking with you and your sister, no? You know as much.”

Hearing this, Wang Lei stood up, looking around his room as he continued talking.

“You really want to stay lowkey, huh… you really want out of the pressure you’re having from your father.”

When Pan An heard this, he suddenly went silent. Wang Lei then turned his head to look at him seriously, talking about his family—his father—one of the things Pan An didn’t like talking about.

“I was in a meeting with your father once since our company is affiliated with yours,” he said, Pan An, heaving another sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice somewhat snappy.

“Not mine… his company.”

“Right, right,” Wang Lei nodded slowly, sarcasm evident in his voice. “Your father’s.”

Pan An got his work bag from the floor, put it on his desk, and checked if all the things he has in the bag are still there. Wang Lei shook his head as he sighed, getting Pan An’s attention as he continued talking about his father.

“He looks like he is becoming weaker,” he commented, Pan An, stopping midway in finalizing his things. “You’re the only one who is possible to get his place.”

Not liking what he is hearing, Pan An turned his body to look at his best friend.

“My sister—”

“Your sister is married and can only help so little in Invicta, Pan An. She’s married and she has to manage her husband’s company, too. Remember that.”

With Wang Lei interrupting him and with him scolding him at the same time, Pan An’s hands balled into tight fists.

“You know I don’t like having this conversation.”

“I know,” Wang Lei said, “But this important topic can only be opened up by me and your family. You need to listen and—”

“Shut up, Wang Lei.”

Pan An turned his body, his eyes piercing cold. It was as if some invisible daggers are pointed at Wang Lei and one word coming from him would already signal to stab him.

“If you continue further, I won’t hesitate to beat you up. I don’t care if Shu Xian is around, or your little sister.”

Wang Lei just continued to stare at Pan An. With both of them only looking at each other, Wang Lei scoffed as a chuckle came from him, already walking towards Pan An then he patted his shoulder two times, heaving a sigh as well.

“Yeah, yeah, Im sorry, Pan An.”

He sarcastically apologized, already opening the door to see the two girls eating in the kitchen from afar.

“I’ll try to bring this topic up again in the future,” he added, Pan An, rolling his eyes at Wang Lei’s back as he made his way towards the kitchen.

“Hey, girls!”

Wang Lei greeted them, Shi Lian, raising a brow at him as he sat down beside her and stole her bowl, tasting the egg fried rice Shu Xian made.

“Wow!”

He exclaimed in amazement, Shu Xian’s lips curling into a sweet smile.

“Pan An’s lucky! My sister couldn’t even cook this well when she tried making amends with me when we had a fight!”

Hearing this, Shi Lian stole her bowl away from her brother and stuck out her tongue at him.

“Shut up! It’s the thought that counts!”

With his house lively in the morning while he was still having a headache due to his hangover, Pan An groaned, shouting at the same time as he called out to Wang Lei.

Knowing him, he went here to talk to him rather than stay with the girls and tease them.

“Wang Lei, let’s go!”

“Ugh!”

Groaning, Wang Lei stood up, stomping his feet as he walked like he was a little kid throwing tantrums.

“I can’t even take a few bites? Sheesh… you’re such a drag!”

They may have almost argued a moment ago, but still, Pan An knew that Wang Lei was the best friend that he can only have.