Chapter 3

Chapter 3

For a moment, the distance between them was exceptionally close, almost to the point where their breaths mingled. Qi Xin could clearly see Ye Zhiqiu's thick, long eyelashes.

His heart seemed to skip a beat, and he unconsciously held his breath.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at him with a smile, his eyes filled with a faint teasing and a slight regret.

At this moment, there was not a trace of Jiang Nan in him.

Yet Qi Xin’s heart still raced uncontrollably.

Thump... thump... thump...

"I can," he heard his own voice, slightly unsteady, "give me a chance."

"Is that so?" Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, "Your temper wasn’t very mild just now, was it?"

"I..." Qi Xin was momentarily speechless, then repeated after a while, "I can."

Surrounding noises started to rise.

"That guy is bold, huh? Sss... sss..."

"Give him a chance, give him a chance..."

"Quite daring, I wonder if I could also get a chance?"

"..."

Qi Xin: ...

In his over twenty years, he had always been quite conventional. Under everyone’s gaze, he didn't know whether he was excited, nervous, or at a loss...

It felt as if all the blood in his body was rushing to his head, making his mind buzz with confusion.

But Ye Zhiqiu didn’t seem to care. He casually withdrew the hand that had been holding his chin, his gaze sweeping back to the roses that had already fallen to the ground.

The most beautiful moment, yet mercilessly swept into the dust...

Like the old him, bright and vibrant, but ultimately worn down to withering and falling apart.

"Sure," he didn’t look at Qi Xin again, his voice indifferent, "I can give you a chance to 'pursue' me."

Qi Xin’s face lit up, and he immediately perked up.

But in the next moment, Ye Zhiqiu looked at him again, his beautiful eyes half-smiling, "Now, can you leave?"

Qi Xin: ...

Qi Xin opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word.

The joy from a moment ago hadn’t even been savored when a bucket of cold water was poured over him, leaving him unsure how to react.

But Ye Zhiqiu just looked at him indifferently, half-smiling, as if playing with a stray dog.

His burning heart slowly cooled down, and Qi Xin’s dazed mind finally cleared.

From heaven to hell, anger and humiliation surged within him, causing his chest to heave.

"What?" Ye Zhiqiu looked at him amusedly, "Didn’t you say you can?"

Tao Ruoqing’s words, which he had reviewed many times, echoed in his ears once more.

"He doesn’t have many good qualities," Tao Ruoqing said slowly while sipping tea, "and his personality is particularly arrogant and self-centered, so you need to be patient at first."

"To tame him might take longer than you think," Tao Ruoqing continued, "you need more patience."

Taking a deep breath, Qi Xin forced himself to suppress the tumultuous emotions in his heart.

Even when Li Shaojun picked up the roses from the ground and threw them into his arms, he gritted his teeth and endured it.

"I can," he reiterated.

Having made this small step forward, Qi Xin dared not risk offending Ye Zhiqiu at this moment.

After all, both Ye Zhiqiu’s talent and Tao Ruoqing’s promised investment were crucial to the rise and fall of his family and determined his future fate.

Stepping back reluctantly, he steadied himself.

"I know a nice restaurant; how about dinner tomorrow?" he said, "I’ll pick you up at your place."

"I have other plans tomorrow," Ye Zhiqiu jumped off the table, "wait for my message."

"Then..." Qi Xin fumbled in his pocket for a moment, pulling out a business card and handing it to Ye Zhiqiu, "all my contact information is on it."

Ye Zhiqiu glanced down at it.

Just like in the previous life, perhaps to avoid arousing his suspicion, Qi Xin’s business card had no titles or positions, only his name and phone number.

In the previous life, it was only later, as Ye Zhiqiu gradually fell deeply in love, that Qi Xin told him about the small clothing factory in his family.

And he had registered a brand of his own: Qi Yun.

He described his grand dreams, lofty ideals, and future...

Ambitious and full of aspirations.

To help him, Ye Zhiqiu turned down invitations from major brands, dedicating all his time and energy to Qi Xin’s small factory and the brand Qi Yun.

After their marriage, he continued his studies while working day and night to draw sketches, design, and run to factories for him...

Given Ye Zhiqiu's talent, it wasn't long before Qi Xin gained popularity with innovative designs and bold color schemes, winning the hearts of consumers.

Among them were even some celebrities and influencers at the forefront of fashion.

As a result, Qi Xin's national recognition began to rise rapidly.

In the third year of their marriage, Qi Xin started making a name for himself in the fashion industry.

At the same time, Qi Xin's fame grew exponentially.

Yet, the once brilliant Ye Zhiqiu faded into obscurity like a fleeting flower.

The reason was simple: all the painstaking designs Ye Zhiqiu had created over those years, whether they were sold as finished products or published as concepts, bore Qi Xin's name.

Back then, Qi Xin had said many things to him.

He said that it was hard for him, and with his abilities, he would never be able to establish himself in the fashion world.

He said that Ye Zhiqiu was young and talented, and even if he didn't produce any work for a few years, it wouldn't affect his ability to easily break through later.

He said that if he could become famous, then with Ye Zhiqiu by his side, Qi Xin would have two top-tier designers, enhancing their influence in the industry and attracting more talented designers.

He said he wanted to gain Ye Hongxian's approval and have their marriage blessed by their family.

He also said...

The business card felt heavy in Qi Xin's hand as he held it for a long time until Ye Zhiqiu finally laughed, "My mom already has your contact information."

"Right," Qi Xin put the card back, "I'll reach out later."

This time, Ye Zhiqiu remained silent, but his beautiful eyes still looked at Qi Xin with a faint smile.

Feeling awkward, Qi Xin had no choice but to hold the now disheveled roses and return the way he came under everyone's gaze.

"You really fell for that guy?" Li Shaojun asked coldly as soon as Qi Xin left.

"There were plenty better than him before, and you never gave them a second glance," Jin Baobao added.

"It's not that bad," Tang Yue smiled, "He seems serious, different from Xiao Qiu's other suitors."

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

"Just playing along," he said, "If he wants to chase me, I'll give him a chance. We haven't confirmed anything yet."

"Bastard," Jin Baobao said.

"Bastard," Li Shaojun's expression softened slightly.

"Bastard," Tang Yue echoed with a smile.

Ye Zhiqiu shrugged indifferently and raised his glass, "To being a bastard first."

"..."

As they spoke, several people had already approached Ye Zhiqiu for his contact information, and there were more waiting in line.

"I think we should call it a day," Jin Baobao suggested with a laugh, "Why don't you invite us another time?"

The task for today was accomplished, so Ye Zhiqiu agreed, "Let's find a quiet place next time."

"Whenever you call," Li Shaojun stood up first and asked the waiter to seal the remaining wine.

Tang Yue took out his phone, "I'll call a driver for you."

The group walked out together, and Ye Zhiqiu paused by the large pillar in the corridor outside.

"Shaojun," he said, "Wait a moment, I need to say something."

Li Shaojun's expression turned serious, knowing Ye Zhiqiu had heard what he said earlier.

"Don't worry," Jin Baobao patted his back reassuringly, "He just talks big; he's actually very soft-hearted."

Straightening up, he added, "I'll take Le Le home since it's on my way. Remember to send a message when you get home."

"Okay," Ye Zhiqiu nodded, then called Jin Baobao back as he was about to leave.

"What is it?" Jin Baobao asked, "Can't bear to see me go?"

"Be careful on the road," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"Did you forget?" Jin Baobao laughed, "Didn't Le Le just call a driver?"

"I mean in the future, every time," Ye Zhiqiu said seriously.

Jin Baobao paused, then hugged Ye Zhiqiu briefly, "Got it."

"Remember," Ye Zhiqiu repeated, "Safety always comes first."

Jin Baobao was a dancer, and his legs were his life.

Ye Zhiqiu had never dared to imagine how painful it must have been for him to lose a leg in his previous life.

It wasn't his fault, nor anyone else's, and none of them deserved such a severe consequence.

Ye Zhiqiu rarely acted so motherly, but Jin Baobao didn't think much of it.

He subconsciously reinforced Ye Zhiqiu's words in his mind and nodded, "Understood."

He waved playfully again. "I'm off."

Jin Baobao and Tang Yue left, and the air instantly became quiet.

The early winter weather in the north was already quite cold, but the stars and moon were exceptionally bright. Ye Zhiqiu leaned against a pillar, looking up at the night sky, silent for a moment.

"I know you heard me." Li Shaojun spoke first, with a stubborn look on his face. "You can hit me or scold me; it's your choice. But good is good, and bad is bad—I won't change my opinion."

"Why would I hit or scold you?" Ye Zhiqiu looked away, and after a moment, he suddenly said, "I'll keep your words in mind."

"Huh?" Li Shaojun had prepared himself for a storm, and hearing this, he was a bit stunned. "What did you say?"

"I'll keep them in mind." Ye Zhiqiu repeated, his expression serious.

Li Shaojun stood there, staring at him blankly.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks," he said.

This gratitude was long overdue, delayed by a whole lifetime.

Today, Ye Zhiqiu finally expressed it, formally giving Li Shaojun, who had always been worried about him, his first response.

.

"Absolutely brilliant," At the same time, upstairs in room 201, Yu Renzhi, after a period of silence, couldn't help but howl like a wolf: "Who could resist that?"

Jiang Nan rolled his eyes inwardly.

"A guy like him," he laughed, "clearly used to playing around outside. Most people indeed can't handle it."

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Qin Jianhe.

The glass of wine he had poured was still untouched.

At the moment, Qin Jianhe held a cup of ice water. The ice cubes in the transparent glass were crystal clear, making his dark eyes appear even more profound and cold.

It seemed that the little episode downstairs hadn't affected him at all.

Jiang Nan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat relieved.

He had a good appearance and was always proud of it, yet today, he felt utterly overshadowed in front of Qin Jianhe, feeling both uneasy and resentful, burdened with a deep sense of crisis.

"Young people love to play—it's normal," Yu Renzhi didn't see anything wrong with it. He looked at Qin Jianhe, "Isn't your company trying to recruit him? I don't care; when he joins, I want to be the first to benefit."

"Even if Xiao Yu gets close, what does it have to do with you?" Wang Qitang chuckled.

"He might not even consider Q.L," Qin Jianhe said indifferently.

"Q.L is a giant in the fashion industry; how could anyone not be interested?" Yu Renzhi wasn't convinced. "Get Meng Qingyan to speed things up. As the head of the Design Department, if he can't secure such talent, he might as well retire early."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, giving him a faint glance.

"His reputation doesn't seem too good," Jiang Nan reminded, seemingly hesitating. "Brother Renzhi, you should find someone more suitable and simple, so you don't get hurt."

"What do you mean?" Before Yu Renzhi could respond, Meng Qingyan spoke coolly. "Didn't you just say you didn't know him?"

Unlike Yu Renzhi, he couldn't stand such underhanded tricks.

"I don't know him," Jiang Nan explained with a smile. "But my mother occasionally meets his stepmother at social events. In the ladies' circle, there are no secrets. You can find out anything if you ask around."

"Is that so?" Unexpectedly, Qin Jianhe looked at him coldly. "If your mother is part of a higher social circle, then you might also know that my reputation in my stepmother's mouth isn't good either."

Throughout the evening, Qin Jianhe had been particularly cold towards Jiang Nan, almost ignoring him completely.

Jiang Nan had been hoping Qin Jianhe would spare him a glance, even just once.

Or perhaps speak to him, even if only a single word.

Now his wish had come true, but he felt even more anxious and insecure, his heart sinking into an icy abyss.

Because Qin Jianhe's gaze was sharp and merciless, so cold that Jiang Nan dared not meet it.

And the meaning behind his words made him feel suffocated.

He was telling him they were not in the same social circle.

And he used Jiang Nan's own advice about "suitability" to block him completely.

Jiang Nan regretted mentioning Ye Zhiqiu's stepmother out of desperation.

Although Qin Jianhe hadn't said anything all evening, now, because of his words, he had stepped forward without hesitation to speak up for Ye Zhiqiu.

Jiang Nan felt both regret and jealousy. His lips trembled as he tried to explain, but under Qin Jianhe's icy gaze, he couldn't utter a single word.