Chapter 17

Chapter 17

This night was particularly torturous for Qi Xin.

Although Ye Zhiqiu didn't bark orders at him as usual, a single glance from him was enough to send Qi Xin scurrying around.

To outsiders, it seemed as if he was being especially attentive and considerate towards Ye Zhiqiu.

Even Sun Wei couldn't help but praise him continuously when she saw this.

Conversely, Jiang Nan's expression grew increasingly grim.

Qi Xin had thought about feigning ignorance, but he was afraid that Ye Zhiqiu might suddenly lose his temper,

which would make him lose even more dignity and face.

Qi Xin could only endure.

The more Jiang Nan was present, the more he cared about others' opinions, and thus, the more he had to endure.

As the sky darkened, someone opened the small dance floor in the center. With the gentle music playing, the disco ball above slowly began to rotate.

Noticing Ye Zhiqiu's smiling gaze, Qi Xin quickly stood up.

He bowed politely and extended his hand, inviting Ye Zhiqiu to dance.

"Director Jiang, would you like to join them for a dance?" Sun Wei asked with a smile.

"In a moment," Jiang Nan politely declined, his eyes fixed on the two figures in the dance floor who were dancing exceptionally close.

They were very close, their steps perfectly synchronized, moving back and forth as if they had practiced together many times.

Not only was Jiang Nan slightly surprised, but even Qi Xin was particularly astonished.

This was the first time he danced with Ye Zhiqiu, yet they were seamless.

"Don't you think we're exceptionally well-coordinated?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Isn't that so?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

Isn't that so?

He and Qi Xin had been together for ten years, married for nearly nine. He had always adapted to everything about him...

How could they not be well-coordinated?

"Since we're so well-coordinated," Ye Zhiqiu smiled and looked up, "tonight, I'll only dance with you. No one else."

His words were domineering, and Qi Xin couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Instinctively, he turned his head, wanting to look at Jiang Nan.

"What?" Ye Zhiqiu laughed coldly, "Are you going to check with your schoolmate for instructions?"

"No," Qi Xin immediately said, "Why would I look at him?"

"Let me guess why you'd look at him," Ye Zhiqiu tilted his head slightly, his beautiful eyes filled with playful amusement, "You've actually known each other all along?"

Qi Xin: "..."

"But," he then negated himself, "Isn't it normal for schoolmates to know each other? Why would he deny it?"

Qi Xin: "..."

A chill ran down his spine, and he felt cold sweat breaking out.

"Oh~" Ye Zhiqiu drew out his tone, "He looks down on you and is ashamed to acknowledge you in public, or perhaps he has a partner, but your relationship isn't clean, so he needs to avoid suspicion in front of others?"

Qi Xin: "..."

Qi Xin stumbled, his whole body tensing up at this near-accurate guess.

"Now it seems we're not quite as coordinated," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"You really...," Qi Xin's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat, "There's no such thing."

"Is that so?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him, his soft fingertips gently brushing over Qi Xin's damp forehead.

"Just a joke," he chuckled, "Why are you so scared?"

Qi Xin: "..."

Was there such a way to joke?

Was there?

Who knew he was already trembling with fear?

Who knew he was already terrified?

"Look, they seem to be having a great time," outside the dance floor, Sun Wei said to Jiang Nan with a smile, "Xiao Ye looks so happy."

Jiang Nan's lips twitched, almost crushing the wine glass in his hand.

Growing up, he was accustomed to being the center of attention.

With Jin Qi's status far surpassing VIA, he had assumed Ye Zhiqiu would bow to him today.

But Ye Zhiqiu brought Qi Xin along, catching him off guard, and spoke with exceptional grace and composure. Every mention of Qi Xin made him feel nauseous and uncomfortable.

Looking at the man smiling brightly in the dance floor, Jiang Nan turned his eyes away.

"Have you heard that Ye Zhiqiu only has a few months of cooperation with your company?" he asked casually.

"Yes," Sun Wei didn't hide it, "with his talent, he is indeed underappreciated in our company."

"But regardless, you could be considered his mentor," Jiang Nan smiled, "isn't it a bit ruthless to treat your mentor like this?"

"How could I be considered a mentor?" Sun Wei raised her glass and took a sip, "if anything, it was Xiao Ye who helped VIA."

In just half a month, Ye Zhiqiu had submitted ten sets of designs to her.

Each set was meticulously prepared, with sizes, accessories, and materials all clearly detailed.

And each design had far more pre-orders on the official website than any other new product.

Two of them had just opened for pre-sale two days ago, and within a short time, thousands of pieces were sold out.

Such optimistic sales prospects brought back many customers who had previously left.

VIA's performance this year was already guaranteed to steadily improve.

This was something Sun Wei hadn't dared to imagine just half a month ago.

As a song ended, the lights in the dance floor brightened, and Sun Wei applauded as Ye Zhiqiu and Qi Xin walked over together.

"You two really matched well," she said with a smile.

At the same time, Jiang Nan stood up.

"Fellow alumnus," he extended his hand to Qi Xin, "shall we also have a dance?"

Qi Xin: "..."

It was exactly what he feared would happen.

Instinctively, Qi Xin looked at Ye Zhiqiu.

Noticing his movement, Jiang Nan was furious but couldn't back down now.

"Is it okay?" he also looked at Ye Zhiqiu, smiling, "Xiao Ye?"

"What's not okay about it?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled mischievously, "it's an honor for him to dance with Director Jiang. If Director Jiang likes it, feel free to take him."

"That won't do," Sun Wei laughed, "we can't make Xiao Ye sacrifice so much for our company."

Sun Wei didn't catch the threat in Ye Zhiqiu's words, but Qi Xin did.

Ye Zhiqiu was reminding him that if he dared to go, he shouldn't appear by his side again and should follow Jiang Nan instead.

"Sorry," Qi Xin avoided Jiang Nan's gaze guiltily, "I'm a bit tired from dancing just now. Let's do it another time."

Jiang Nan's hand still stretched out, feeling both embarrassed and humiliated. Even Sun Wei was slightly surprised.

Just as she was about to speak to defuse the situation, Jiang Nan turned around with a cold face.

"Ms. Sun," he said, "it's getting late, and we've discussed the cooperation. I'll head back now."

Without waiting for Sun Wei's response, Jiang Nan walked towards the door, losing all composure.

*

On the way back, Qi Xin sat silently with a grim expression.

The image of Jiang Nan angrily leaving kept replaying in his mind, fueling his anger and confusion.

Yet, he had no reason to lash out.

After all, tonight, Ye Zhiqiu had been more gentlemanly and polite to him than ever before.

He hadn't even said a single harsh word to him.

Ultimately, tonight's unfortunate events were due to his unexpected encounter with Jiang Nan.

Qi Xin never doubted Ye Zhiqiu's words in the dance floor.

After all, such a secret crush wasn't something he had even mentioned to his closest friends.

How could Ye Zhiqiu possibly know?

Ye Zhiqiu couldn't know.

His words inadvertently touched on some truths, but ultimately, they were just a result of his jealousy and possessiveness over Qi Xin and Jiang Nan's initial odd behavior.

Jealousy...

Qi Xin's heart suddenly skipped a beat, realizing something.

So, Ye Zhiqiu's insistence on not letting him dance with others was simply because of jealousy and possessiveness?

A sudden shift in emotions, Qi Xin couldn't help but glance at Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu had drunk quite a bit tonight and seemed a bit tipsy, now leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed.

The young man's face, now healed, glowed with a porcelain-like smoothness under the flickering lights of the night.

In the alternating light, his prominent nose cast a beautiful shadow, looking almost like a character from a comic.

The anger in his heart dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of frustration and a strange joy from Ye Zhiqiu's jealousy.

Qi Xin took a deep breath, suppressing these complex and chaotic emotions. When he refocused, the car had already stopped at Ye Zhiqiu's house.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu slowly open his eyes, he leaned in. "We're here."

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu responded indifferently, suddenly looking up at him.

"Let's delete each other." He said, his voice slightly hoarse from the brief rest, but his tone was exceptionally cold.

Qi Xin: "…"

Clearly, Ye Zhiqiu had been perfectly normal when they said goodbye to Sun Wei in the hotel parking lot just now.

Clearly, he had just confirmed his feelings for him…

Qi Xin couldn’t understand why Ye Zhiqiu would suddenly turn on him.

A sense of panic crept into his heart, and he instinctively grabbed Ye Zhiqiu’s wrist. "Tell me what I did wrong. You can hit me or yell at me, but don’t do this."

Ye Zhiqiu looked at him calmly, with icy disdain in his eyes.

"I kindly introduced you to more people in the industry—Sun Wei, Director Jiang. Any connection with them would be your fortune, yet you…" Ye Zhiqiu raised his hand and slapped his face lightly but humiliatingly, "you dare to show me your displeasure?"

Qi Xin’s mind went blank for a moment, realizing that Tao Ruoqing must have inadvertently revealed that his family was in the clothing business.

"What gives you the right?" Ye Zhiqiu slowly moved closer to Qi Xin, confronting him with intense pressure, "Do you even deserve it?"