Chapter 19: The Suffering Second Male Lead Rewrites the Script Online.

Chapter 19: The Suffering Second Male Lead Rewrites the Script Online.

Qin Qing stepped out of the lab and onto the corridor, then froze in place.

6, who had been following close behind in a trot, screeched to a stop upon seeing the two figures ahead. His plump rear slid a few meters across the floor before he scurried behind Qin Qing for cover.

It was Cang Ming and Xu Yi Zhi!

Cang Ming was dressed in a tailored black suit, exuding luxury, yet his aura was both cold and intimidating.

He was athletically built; his powerful muscles, though not exaggeratedly bulky, gave an impression of strength. With broad shoulders, a solid chest, a narrow waist, and straight legs, he seemed to dominate the very air around him.

Technicians who passed by him would immediately conceal their expressions, greeting him with a reverent and nervous "Mr. Cang."

"Mr. Cang," Qin Qing greeted as he approached, nodding respectfully.

Cang Ming acknowledged him with a slight nod.

Xu Yi Zhi remarked with a smile, "Not many can handle Thomason's temper. You did very well."

"Maintaining harmony with colleagues is conducive to our work," replied Qin Qing, bowing his head modestly.

"You'd be better suited as my special assistant, in charge of external liaisons. You have expertise in that area," Cang Ming suddenly commented with a stern tone.

Qin Qing was taken aback.

Qin Zi Shi, who had also stepped out from the lab, was equally stunned. When he had applied to Lan Yu, he had aimed for the position of special assistant. Yet the role he couldn't secure despite his schemes was now being offered to Qin Qing by Cang Ming himself.

Why Qin Qing? When comparing himself to Qin Qing, where did he fall short?

Barely containing his frustration, Qin Zi Shi forced a respectful smile, "Mr. Cang, Mr. Xu, good to see you both."

They paid him no mind, their attention solely on Qin Qing.

996 rapidly pawed at Qin Qing's pant leg, urging, "Accept it, say yes!"

The plot indeed has a way of self-adjusting! Cang Ming, who had always been devoid of personal biases and cold as a machine, was now playing poacher.

Before Qin Qing could respond, Xu Yi Zhi chuckled softly, "Being Mr. Cang's assistant offers a monthly salary of 80,000, rising to 100,000 after the probation period. The chances of promotion are far greater than in my department. Perhaps in a few years, you might be assigned to head a subsidiary. Give it some thought."

Only then did Qin Qing regain his composure, turning his attention to his immediate supervisor.

"No thank you." He smirked, "Actually, my expertise leans more towards law, right, Mr. Xu? Even if the pay is modest and the chances of promotion slim, I'm content."

Such a direct refusal lacked subtlety.

To date, Cang Ming had never been rejected. This unfamiliar sensation caused him to lower his gaze, darkening his eyes as he pondered it.

Qin Zi Shi covertly observed Cang Ming, hoping to detect disappointment or even anger, but found none.

Cang Ming's gaze on Qin Qing intensified. His eyes, usually inscrutable, now clearly mirrored Qin Qing's figure.

A nameless panic seized Qin Zi Shi. Something seemed to be slowly overturning.

Xu Yi Zhi chuckled under his breath, "As long as you're happy." He paused deliberately before vowing, "I'll nurture your potential to the fullest."

"Thank you, Mr. Xu." Qin Qing pressed the elevator's up button, "If there's nothing else, I'll return to work."

996, wanting to howl in protest yet not daring to provoke Cang Ming, climbed Qin Qing's leg and settled on his shoulder.

The weight made Qin Qing tilt slightly.

Xu Yi Zhi timely supported him, softly saying, "I'll come up with you," before casually draping an arm over Qin Qing's shoulder.

Upon seeing Xu Yi Zhi's hand reach his master's shoulder, 996 hurriedly jumped down, seeking refuge in a corner. The last time this man had burnt its head with a cigarette, it was still somewhat apprehensive.

With the weight suddenly gone, Qin Qing breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced sideways at Xu Yi Zhi's hand resting on his shoulder.

Coincidence?

Cang Ming stood with his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the two of them, lingering even after the elevator doors had fully closed. He seemed to forget why he had come to the tech department, a shadow of a thought flickering in his profound eyes.

He even glanced up at the elevator's floor display, silently guessing where the two had alighted and what they might be discussing in that confined space.

Such personal emotions, and this unusual focus on someone, were both unprecedented for him.

Qin Zishi didn't want to disturb the deep-in-thought Cang Hua and discreetly sent Shen Mingshu a message: "Qin Qing grew up under your care and must be on your mind. Get close to him. We'll need the opportunity to ruin him later. Otherwise, I won't get a penny of the Qin family's assets!"

With her son banished from the Qin household, Shen Ming Shu was naturally anxious.

She immediately replied: "Alright, I'll contact him shortly. He's always listened to me. Over the years, I've trained him like a dog. He might seem confident now, but a few kind words from me and he'll be back by my side. If I told him to jump off a building, he would!"

After the death of her husband, Shen Ming Shu's treatment of her son wasn't love, it was manipulation.

Relieved by the message, Qin Zi Shi's focus returned as the elevator reached the legal department's floor.

Noticing the elevator had stopped on the 16th floor for quite some time, Cang Ming finally turned to the tech department, his voice icy, "Has the bug been resolved? Can the press conference proceed as planned?"

"The bug is almost fixed. The press conference will certainly go ahead," Qin Zi Shi responded, shaking off any lingering thoughts as he hastened to catch up with Cang Ming.

Meanwhile, Xu Yi Zhi had brought Qin Qing back to his office.

"Thomason really appreciated your gift. You know how to cater to people's tastes," he remarked, a playful smirk forming, "But you seem to have forgotten who your direct boss is."

Qin Qing smiled, reaching into his suit pocket to retrieve a slim envelope.

"I also prepared a gift for you."

"Presented in an envelope? Is it a check? That would be bribery," Xu Yi Zhi teased, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he took a seat.

Qin Qing chuckled, shaking his head. He then opened the envelope to reveal a delicate handkerchief.

The handkerchief was pristine white, adorned with roses sketched in varying shades of black. Its fabric was permeated with a rich floral scent, lending an opulent touch to its simple design.

Xu Yi Zhi took a deep, involuntary breath.

The intoxicating fragrance of blossoming roses assaulted his senses, leaving him slightly dazed.

At that very moment, Cang Ming, who was engrossed in Thomason's computer, also paused momentarily. Without thinking, he closed his eyes, taking a deep inhalation.

It smells wonderful, and familiar…

Lifting his gaze to the ceiling, his hawk-like eyes sharpened, seemingly striving to pierce through any barrier to glimpse the individual that unsettled his heart.

"A handkerchief doesn't count as bribery, does it?" As Qin Qing inquired, he unfolded the piece on the desk and meticulously began to fold it into a pointed shape.

"It doesn't," Xu Yi Zhi replied, leaning back in his plush chair, intently observing every move of Qin Qing's.

Those slender, almost translucent fingers seemed to devalue the beautiful handkerchief they were folding.

Moments later, Qin Qing approached Xu Yi Zhi, delicately tucking the neatly folded handkerchief into his breast pocket, then carefully adjusting the exposed angle.

He was so close — the warmth, sweetness, and faint fragrance from his breath fluttered by...

The black suit, adorned with a corner of the black and white handkerchief, added a touch of vibrant elegance to an otherwise extravagant attire.

Xu Yi Zhi's steady heartbeat seemed to flutter under the delicate touch of Qin Qing's fingertips. His senses — touch, sight, and smell — were entirely captivated, an experience both unique and refreshing.

As Qin Qing stepped back, tilting his head to admire his handiwork, Xu Yi Zhi's lips curled into a silent, amused smile.

How interesting! Was this a flirtatious retaliation for when he had grasped Qin Qing's tie? He took control of his throat, so now he aimed to grasp his heart? Such a rebellious nature...

Xu Yi Zhi chuckled, the amusement clear in his dark eyes.

With a grin, Qin Qing commented, "It seems you really like the gift."

"Indeed, I do. And I have a gift for you too," Xu Yi Zhi said, reining in his amusement, as he retrieved a stack of legal books from beneath his desk.

Qin Qing's smile momentarily faltered.

Xu Yi Zhi patted the hefty books, his voice soft but firm, "Memorize these within two months. I trust you haven't forgotten the promise you made?"

With a hint of apprehension, Qin Qing took the “gift” from his boss. His warm smile now tinged with strain, he replied, “I haven’t. I’ll certainly secure the professional qualification.”

"It seems you appreciate my gift as well," Xu Yi Zhi said, narrowing his eyes and lowering his voice for emphasis.

Qin Qing blinked back the tears threatening to form, nodding obediently, "I truly do, thank you, Mr. Xu."

The gratitude in his voice held an underlying grit.

"Off you go then. I'll quiz you before you leave," Xu Yi Zhi gestured dismissively. He watched Qin Qing depart with the towering stack of books, one step deep, the next shallow, before allowing himself to burst into laughter.

Before this, he had never realized how amusing it was to tease someone.

Qin Qing arrived at his desk and slammed the stack of books down with a thud.

All the surrounding colleagues looked over, their faces filled with sympathy.

996 jumped onto the desk, taunting, "Meow, you're really making things harder for yourself! You wouldn't have had these troubles if you were Cang Qiu's special assistant!"

Qin Qing used a small knife to cut the plastic seal and carefully took out each weighty book, arranging them neatly on his desk.

Bringing hardships upon oneself? That term seemed more fitting for his past self.

Painful memories flooded in, darkening Qin Qing's eyes. At that very moment, his phone, which was at the corner of his desk, vibrated. Picking it up, it was a message from Ji Lan.

"Qin Qing, is work tiring?"

"Your mother is visiting the company at noon. Will you have lunch with her nearby?"

Clearly, Ji Lan wanted to mend the almost invisible bond between mother and son.

Qin Qing picked up his phone and replied with a simple "Okay."

A late reconciliation is better than an eternal debt.

"Your mom will be at your office building at 12:30! Oh, she got you a few suits. They're totally your style. She'll bring them for you to see. You'll definitely love them!" Jilan's tone was filled with excitement and joy.

Qin Qing gave a slight smile and replied, "Thank you."

Just as he was about to put down his phone, a series of messages popped up, surprisingly from Shen Mingshu.

"Son, after you left, I realized I don’t hate you. I just didn't know how to face you."

"Come out and meet me at noon today. Let's talk."

"I've missed you so much these days! I've raised you for over twenty years, how could I not love you?"

Qin Qing silently scrolled through the messages with his less agile right hand.

Shen Mingshu loves her son? Probably only the original owner would believe that. Besides, who took care of whom over these years?

With a hint of cold sarcasm in his eyes, Qin Qing lightly tapped on his phone, replying: "Alright, meet me at Lan Yu at 12:30 today."

996 looked bewildered, "Meow, didn't you make plans with Ji Lan for 12:30? You want them both to dine with you? Isn't that a bad idea?"

Qin Qing smirked and quickly texted Jilan: "Mom, I'm skipping lunch today. My mother is visiting. She said she misses me."

There was no response from Ji Lan for a while.

Holding his forehead in anticipation, Qin Qing waited a few minutes before texting again: "Mom, can you lend me two million? I really need the money now."

Still no reply from Ji Lan. But Qin Qing didn’t bother checking any longer. He threw his phone onto the desk and went back to sorting through his thick law books.

996 was utterly confused, "Are you short on money? Your grandfather left you a fortune! Also, don’t you loathe Shen Mingshu? Why would you cancel on Ji Lan for her?"

996 couldn’t grasp what this mysterious character was up to!

Qin Qing only smiled, saying nothing.

On the other end, Ji Lan stared at the two messages, trembling with rage.

Her son still cared about Shen Mingshu! Even after all the abuse, he still harbored feelings for her. When faced with two mothers, he'd choose Shen Mingshu over her without hesitation!

At this moment, Ji Lan truly felt the pain of being unchosen, unvalued, and unloved.

No matter how many times Qin Qing told her, "I'm in pain," she could never comprehend. But this one rejection made her understand—a pain so sharp, it feels like your heart is tearing.

Ji Lan's eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.

She knew exactly why Shen Mingshu wanted to meet Qin Qing now! Qin Zishi was thrown out of the Qin family, which made Shen Mingshu restless. She wanted to woo and control Qin Qing, to pave the way for her own son!

Both sons were now hers! A single word from her, and they'd come running, willing to do her bidding.

Why would Qin Qing need money? He must be supporting that woman, Shen Mingshu! Qin Zishi also constantly bought expensive gifts for her.

Both being mothers, why did her two sons side with Shen Mingshu? Qin Qing grew up with her, which might make sense, but Qin Zishi was with her for twenty-five years!

Trembling, Ji Lan scrolled through her contacts, only to realize she didn't have Shen Mingshu's number!

She immediately called Qin Zishi, her voice icy cold, "Tell Shen Mingshu to stay away from my son! She's your mother. I don't care how you honor her, but she better not use Qin Qing! Don’t bother asking me for money anymore. After all, whatever I give you ends up in Shen Mingshu's hands. If she thinks she can use your ties with the Qin family for a better life, she's dreaming! If she contacts Qin Qing again, I'll banish her from Hai City forever!"

This was the first time Ji Lan had ever spoken to Qin Zishi with such hatred.

Before Qin Zishi could react, the call was disconnected, leaving no room for negotiation.

If even Ji Lan began to loathe him, what could he hope to gain in the end? Staring blankly at the now-dark phone screen, Qin Zishi was consumed by an endless fear.

Sunlight dappled the office, warm and bright, yet Qin Zishi felt as if he'd plunged into an icy abyss. He wanted to ruin Qin Qing, but his plans were seen through and thwarted by Ji Lan even before they began.

Ji Lan was his sole pillar, now distanced by some intangible force. What had Qin Qing done? Was opposing him truly a hopeless endeavor?

Qin Zishi clenched his fists, pounding the desk with frenzied rage, looking like a cornered beast.