Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The man approached until he was right in front of Qi Xin, who then noticed the faint bruise peeking out from under the edge of his scarf.

"Xiao Qiu." His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively reached out to touch Ye Zhiqiu's injured cheek, but Ye Zhiqiu subtly dodged away.

Qi Xin pursed his lips awkwardly, his gaze lingering on the young man’s delicate features. "How did you get hurt? Is it serious?"

"Just a minor scratch, nothing to worry about," Ye Zhiqiu replied softly.

The wind outside was chilly, and as they spoke, Ye Zhiqiu pulled his scarf tighter around his neck.

This action reminded Qi Xin, and he snapped out of his daze, quickly opening the car door for Ye Zhiqiu to get in.

The car was warm and well-lit. As Ye Zhiqiu removed his scarf, Qi Xin finally saw the extent of his injuries.

It was clear that the wound had already been carefully treated.

"What happened?" Qi Xin asked. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"By the time we get there, it would have healed already," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled.

"Then..." Qi Xin looked at him. "Shall I take you somewhere nice to eat?"

He added, "You’ll definitely like it."

Thinking back to the Hunan cuisine last time, Qi Xin still felt a twinge of unease.

Better to act first than suffer later; he wanted to take control of choosing the restaurant this time.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu neither agreed nor disagreed, just smiled at him.

"How was the Hunan food last time?" he asked.

Qi Xin: "..."

"As you can see, what I find delicious doesn’t necessarily appeal to you," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

His smile was particularly charming.

His rosy lips curved into a graceful arc, his eyes bent with amusement, and those beautiful, clear eyes were exceptionally pure.

"Then let’s choose something you like," Qi Xin said after a moment.

"You decide," Ye Zhiqiu stopped teasing him.

He had slept too late the night before and woken up too early that morning, with studies and work to attend to, and people to deal with...

Leaning back against the seat, he closed his eyes. "I’ll rest a bit. Wake me when we arrive."

The thick lashes of the young man cast shadows on his pale skin.

Without the lively sparkle of his eyes, the tightly pursed red lips became more noticeable.

Bright and soft, like ripe cherries on a tree.

For some reason, Qi Xin felt a flame ignite in his chest, making his mouth dry.

Daring not to look at Ye Zhiqiu anymore, he hastily turned his eyes away.

The car moved slowly, stopping occasionally, and after about half an hour, it finally came to a halt.

Before Qi Xin could speak, Ye Zhiqiu opened his eyes.

"Are we here?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Yes," Qi Xin got out of the car and opened the door for Ye Zhiqiu. "Japanese cuisine. Do you like it?"

"It’s fine," Ye Zhiqiu said.

His eyelids were heavy, and he looked a bit dazed, which made him appear softer and cuter than usual.

However, the daze didn’t last long.

After entering the private room and taking off his shoes, Ye Zhiqiu regained his usual demeanor.

His nicely shaped feet were wrapped in long socks, and he swung them gently.

With his hands supporting him from behind, he sat without proper posture, tilting his head to watch Qi Xin serve food onto his plate.

Watching this, Qi Xin’s heart raced.

This time, there was no temper, no sulking, not even a harsh word...

Despite being a normal gesture, Qi Xin felt unexpectedly honored.

"Eat more," Qi Xin became even more attentive.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu pick up his chopsticks and taste a bite, Qi Xin immediately asked, "Is it good?"

"It’s pretty good," Ye Zhiqiu said, "but homemade home-cooked meals are still better."

Homemade?

Home-cooked meals?

A flash of insight struck Qi Xin’s mind.

To win a man’s heart, one must first win his stomach.

"Next time I have the chance, I'll cook for you." He said immediately.

So Qi Xin can cook, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but think.

"What kind of relationship do we have?" He scooped up a spoonful of hot soup and blew on it gently before saying with a smile, "I wouldn't feel right having you cook for me."

"Aren't I pursuing you, Xiao Qiu?" Qi Xin declared seriously. "Give me a chance; let me cook for you."

"Tomorrow," he added, "why don't you come to my place tomorrow? I'll cook for you myself."

In his previous life, Qi Xin had never cooked once.

He said he couldn't cook and claimed an allergy to cooking fumes.

Later, when Qi Yun developed, he used the excuse that outside food didn't suit his taste to coax Ye Zhiqiu into cooking three meals a day for him.

Gradually, he made Ye Zhiqiu withdraw from his career, becoming a "househusband" who could only rely on him.

Thinking about it now, it was truly laughable. Such a crude trick, merely wrapped in sweet talk, had fooled him completely.

Ye Zhiqiu still smiled, but a faint trace of mockery appeared in his beautiful eyes.

"Sorry." The enthusiasm flickered out like a doused flame, leaving only a smoky residue.

Qi Xin apologized, "I was too hasty."

But such a precious opportunity to see Ye Zhiqiu often, how could he bear to give it up?

Even though every attempt ended poorly, Qi Xin still cautiously extended his probing foot.

"How about this," he suggested, "I'll make something and bring it to your school?"

Ye Zhiqiu had finished eating. He put down his utensils and leaned back leisurely.

At these words, he couldn't help but chuckle.

There were cigarettes in his coat pocket. Ye Zhiqiu took one out and lit it, the light click of the lighter sounding like a trigger being pulled, making Qi Xin startle.

It made him anxious and suspicious, wondering if he had overstepped.

"Do as you please." Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him, a wisp of grayish-white smoke escaping from his red lips.

Qi Xin didn't smoke; in fact, he hated it.

When working outside, he had to tolerate it, but at home, he never allowed Ye Zhiqiu to smoke in front of him.

So in the latter years of his previous life, although Ye Zhiqiu had a heavy smoking habit, he would only smoke when Qi Xin wasn't home or secretly on the balcony.

And every time he stood on the balcony, he needed immense willpower to stop himself from jumping.

The scent of tobacco quickly filled the small private room. Through the hazy smoke, Ye Zhiqiu looked at Qi Xin across from him.

Qi Xin watched him without any disgust or aversion; his gaze remained as intense as ever.

Ye Zhiqiu laughed again, making Qi Xin feel inexplicably uneasy.

A phone suddenly rang.

Seeing a string of numbers, Ye Zhiqiu hung up directly.

On the other side, in a quiet bar, Wang Qitang laughed at Yu Renzhi, who had frozen holding his phone.

"We haven't exchanged numbers yet," Yu Renzhi explained, "the beauty must have thought it was a spam call."

"Isn't it a spam call?" Qin Jianhe raised an eyebrow, asking expressionlessly.

Wang Qitang laughed even harder.

Yu Renzhi: "...I'll try again."

Yu Renzhi dialed again and put it on speaker.

This time, the call was answered quickly.

A clear male voice came through, pleasant to hear: "Who is this?"

"It's me, Yu Renzhi." Yu Renzhi replied, proudly lifting his chin at the others.

"Yu Renzhi?" The voice repeated the name slowly, taking a moment to recall, "Hello."

"We didn't get to talk last time. Do you have time today?" Yu Renzhi ignored Wang Qitang's laughter. "How about coming out for a drink? I can introduce you to some friends, which might be beneficial for your future career."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Thank you, but no need."

Yu Renzhi: "..."

Stunned, the caller politely said goodbye and hung up.

Yu Renzhi: "..."

Wang Qitang: "Hahaha..."

Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes, his lips subtly curving upward.

"So even Young Master Yu gets rejected sometimes." Wang Qitang laughed uncontrollably.

"Cool." Yu Renzhi raised his thumb, then puzzled, "I remember telling him clearly last time that Qin Jianhe is my friend, right?"

"He's not giving me face," Yu Renzhi said, looking at Qin Jianhe and sowing discord. "He's not giving you face."

"What face do I have?" Qin Jianhe curled his lips in a half-smile. "I don't have any face."

This was the funniest joke Yu Renzhi had ever heard in his life.

"In this world, there are currently only two people I can't handle—one is a little beauty, and the other..." He raised his hand and pointed at Qin Jianhe. "is none other than Xiao Yu."

"Come on," Wang Qitang lifted his glass. "Let's welcome our new friend with a toast."

One by one, they were all so presumptuous...

Although being with these two might lower his IQ, Qin Jianhe paused for a moment before raising his glass as well.

Ye Zhiqiu spoke calmly and coldly on the phone, which inexplicably gave Qi Xin a sense of superiority.

"Oh, right," after hanging up, Ye Zhiqiu remembered something. "In a while, our company will be collaborating with another company for a product launch. We'll meet over the next few days to finalize the details and then have a small banquet afterward."

"Can you come?" he asked.

Such an invitation is usually extended only to those who are close.

First, the coldness on the phone, and now this invitation...

Qi Xin was secretly thrilled.

"Sure," he said. "Call me anytime."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, seemingly very pleased.

When Ye Zhiqiu wasn't angry, it was actually quite comfortable to be around him. Qi Xin couldn't help but think, distracted by his smile.

He didn't talk much, but just sitting there was pleasing to the eye.

"Wanna watch a movie?" he ventured again.

"Tired." Ye Zhiqiu stretched lazily. "Drive me home."

The last sentence was a command, but it didn't sound unpleasant; instead, it made him feel needed.

Qi Xin nodded and got up to pay the bill.

By the time he finished paying, Ye Zhiqiu had already dressed warmly and come out.

He seemed particularly sensitive to the cold, wrapping his scarf tightly even though the parking lot was just a few steps away.

The ride back was quiet.

Ye Zhiqiu leaned lazily into the seat, gazing out the window at the rapidly receding scenery.

Flickering lights brushed past his perfectly chiseled profile, creating a mysterious allure that made him look both beautiful and enigmatic.

Like a precious, fragile porcelain, to be admired from afar but not touched.

Several times, Qi Xin almost brought up prepared topics, but each time, he swallowed them back down.

Not until the car reached the gate of Ye's residence did Ye Zhiqiu straighten up.

"Goodbye." He picked up his backpack and pushed open the car door.

Qi Xin hurriedly followed and got out.

"Xiao Qiu." He called out.

"Hmm?" The young man leaned against the gate, turning his head to look over, the moonlight illuminating his injured cheek, stunningly beautiful.

Qi Xin hesitated for a moment, noticing Ye Zhiqiu's impatient frown, before remembering what he wanted to say.

"Don't forget to call me on the day of the banquet."

"Huh..." The young man let out a light laugh, almost immediately carried away by the wind.

Then, without a word, he walked through the gate into the courtyard.

It was only after Ye Zhiqiu's figure disappeared for a while that Qi Xin slowly sat back into the car.

Only then did he realize how tense his nerves had been throughout the evening.

He needed to relax.

"Jiang Nan," Qi Xin dialed a number. "Thanks for helping me when I was sick the other day. Haven't had a chance to thank you yet. Can you come out for a drink?"