Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Jiang Nan had dressed up specially for today's meeting with Qi Xin.

After losing a game in front of Ye Zhiqiu last night, he was determined to win back his pride.

At this moment, wearing the latest winter collection from Q.L, he looked exceptionally regal.

In contrast, Qi Xin appeared much more haggard.

He hadn't slept at all last night and only got home for a brief moment before Jiang Nan called. He hadn't even had a chance to rest.

His eyes were dark and sunken, making him look particularly worn out.

Jiang Nan observed him for a moment before silently taking a seat opposite him.

"I was going to blame you," he said, "but seeing you like this, I can't bring myself to do it."

His words were gentle and considerate, almost bringing Qi Xin to tears of gratitude.

In response, Ye Zhiqiu's icy, blade-like gaze flashed through his mind once again.

Those beautiful eyes, how could they be so cruel when looking at him?

It was as if they wanted to pierce his heart with a vicious intent.

From last night until now, Ye Zhiqiu's cold eyes had replayed countless times in his mind.

Each time, his unease grew stronger.

More than once, unrealistic hopes and fantasies arose within him.

He hadn't put on a face for Ye Zhiqiu; he had happily sent him home, or perhaps, if Ye Zhiqiu could be as soft-hearted as Jiang Nan...

If that were the case, maybe they could have dinner together tonight.

"If I had known you didn't sleep all night, I wouldn't have made plans with you today," Jiang Nan added, noticing Qi Xin's silence.

"It's okay," Qi Xin smiled. "I actually... wanted to see you too."

Having someone to talk to meant he could avoid being lost in hopeless and anxious thoughts.

But Jiang Nan misunderstood his meaning.

Hearing this, he frowned slightly.

He indeed disliked Qi Xin being around Ye Zhiqiu, but he also didn't want to completely break the thin, transparent barrier between them.

The main reason he invited Qi Xin out today was to make Ye Zhiqiu feel uncomfortable.

Look, the man by your side still secretly meets me in private.

You're just a tool, while I am the one he truly likes.

This sense of superiority made him extremely comfortable.

He relished in it.

Throughout the meal, Qi Xin barely touched his food but drank quite a bit.

Jiang Nan had taken that photo of him when he was drunk and posted it secretly on social media.

After sending it, he eagerly awaited Ye Zhiqiu's reaction with malicious excitement.

What would Ye Zhiqiu think when he saw Qi Xin with him?

Would he not recognize Qi Xin's hand?

Excitement, anticipation, smugness, malice...

All these emotions mixed together, causing Jiang Nan to frequently check his phone.

"Do you have other plans?" Qi Xin noticed his odd behavior and asked, "If you have something important, go ahead. I'm fine."

"No, nothing," Jiang Nan smiled. "I'm just waiting for a message."

"Waiting for a message..." Qi Xin murmured.

If it were before, he would have been jealous, but now, he only felt envious.

Jiang Nan could still wait for a message, whereas Ye Zhiqiu had already blocked him mercilessly.

Noticing Qi Xin's slight distraction, Jiang Nan misunderstood again and laughed, "It's not what you think."

Then he explained considerately, "It's a work-related message."

As he spoke, he subconsciously swiped his finger to refresh his social media feed.

Just as he said "message," he suddenly stopped, his expression turning serious.

Ye Zhiqiu had not responded to his post on social media. Instead, he had just shared a picture of a handsome man.

Even though the post was quickly buried under other updates and Jiang Nan hadn't had time to open the image, he could tell from the thumbnail that the person was an exceptional-looking man.

Had Ye Zhiqiu found someone else?

Jiang Nan scrolled down the screen in confusion.

Soon, Ye Zhiqiu's social media post appeared in full view.

This time, even without opening the picture, he could immediately recognize who was in the photo.

It was Qin Jianhe.

Completely different from the impeccably dressed, suit-wearing Qin Jianhe he usually saw.

The man was wearing combat gear, looking dashing and spirited. His jet-black hair, damp with sweat, fell casually on his forehead, making him appear younger and more strikingly handsome.

Such a Qin Jianhe, even after Jiang Nan had liked him for so many years, was a sight he had never seen before.

His lips tightened involuntarily, his face gradually turning pale, becoming extremely grim.

Why would Ye Zhiqiu have a photo of Qin Jianhe?

And such a private photo at that?

On what grounds?

The inexplicable panic and resistance he felt when Meng Qingyan asked Qin Jianhe to look downstairs at the club resurfaced once again.

But this time, it was a thousand times stronger than before.

Like an unleashed flood, it completely engulfed him, leaving him unable to breathe.

The fear seemed to transform into a bony hand, squeezing his heart until it bled, causing unbearable pain.

His greatest fear had finally come true.

Not only did Qin Jianhe know Ye Zhiqiu, but he could also be so relaxed around him.

Jiang Nan's finger hovering above the screen began to tremble uncontrollably.

He wanted to confront Ye Zhiqiu, to go crazy and curse, to disfigure that seductive face...

But after a while, all he did was save the photo.

"Jiang Nan, Jiang Nan..." A voice came from a distant place, and Jiang Nan looked up to meet Qi Xin's eyes.

"Jiang Nan," Qi Xin's tone was urgent, "are you okay?"

Drowning sorrows only makes them worse, and Qi Xin was already drunk. But Jiang Nan's face, devoid of any color, instantly sobered him up.

When Jiang Nan lifted his face, Qi Xin realized that not only was there no color in his face, but even his lips were bloodless.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling alright?" Qi Xin had already reached for his phone, ready to call 120.

"I'm fine." Jiang Nan opened his mouth, taking a long moment to speak, as if suddenly awakened. He abruptly stood up and quickly walked out. "I have something to do; get a designated driver later."

Qi Xin: "..."

Before he could say anything, Jiang Nan hurried down the stairs.

Jiang Nan walked very fast, his specially chosen shiny leather ankle boots clattering on the wooden stairs.

It sounded like someone had blown the horn of war, full of aggression.

But when he reached the first-floor lobby, his steps suddenly halted.

As if only now did he realize that no matter how anxious and pained he was, it wouldn't make any difference.

After all, Qin Jianhe didn't even seem to remember his name.

He had no right to interfere with Qin Jianhe's private life.

Similarly, he had only met Ye Zhiqiu once and didn't even know where he lived. How could he disfigure his face?

Like a puppet on strings, Jiang Nan slowly raised his head and looked upstairs.

If he had cursed Ye Zhiqiu for being uncouth in front of Qi Xin just now, then now, he had never wished so much for Qi Xin to be more capable...

If he could truly win over Ye Zhiqiu.

If he could get Ye Zhiqiu, then he would have a chance with Qin Jianhe.

If one year wasn't enough, two years; if two years weren't enough, three years...

Even a stone could be warmed with patience.

The lobby had tall armchairs, and Jiang Nan walked over, sitting down with his back to the stairs.

His thoughts had slowly calmed, but his jealousy only intensified, burning his heart like a raging fire.

Jiang Nan's lips were tightly pressed together. After a moment of contemplation, he opened the chat app and found Yu Renzhi's profile.

He sent a screenshot of Ye Zhiqiu's social media post, trembling as he typed, trying to sound casual.

"Jiang Nan: How come? Didn't Mr. Qin say he didn't know Ye Zhiqiu at the club last time?"

Yu Renzhi replied incredibly fast.

"Yu Renzhi: Holy crap, that's intense."

No useful information at all. Jiang Nan almost threw his phone in frustration.

He took a deep breath and continued typing.

"Jiang Nan: Is Ye Zhiqiu close to Mr. Qin?"

"Yu Renzhi: ..."

Yu Renzhi was also dumbfounded.

But he always remembered that last time, because he had taken Jiang Nan to the club, Qin Jianhe skipped Meng Qingyan's movie wrap party.

Qin Jianhe's emotions were usually restrained, so for him to react so strongly, it was clear he really disliked Jiang Nan.

So when it came to matters involving Qin Jianhe, Yu Renzhi instinctively avoided mentioning them in front of Jiang Nan.

Looking at those meaningless six dots on the screen, Jiang Nan's anger flared up, and he could no longer hold back. He angrily threw his phone away.

At the same time, after replying to Jiang Nan's message, Yu Renzhi excitedly sent the screenshot of the WeChat Moments post that Jiang Nan had sent him into their small group chat.

"Yu Renzhi: Holy shit, what is this? @Qin Jianhe, image.jpg"

"Wang Qitang: Did you go to the boxing gym today? @Qin Jianhe"

"Yu Renzhi: It's only been a few days since we last saw each other, and Xiao Yu already has a hidden beauty?"

"Wang Qitang: The brother's waist? Who posted this, they sure know how to highlight the key points? Hmm, the photography skills are pretty good too."

"Yu Renzhi: Little beauty."

"Meng Qingyan: They look good together, one handsome and one beautiful. I didn't realize Brother Yu had progressed so quickly, already bringing her to the boxing gym."

Everyone knew that the boxing gym was a relatively private place for Qin Jianhe.

When he needed to vent excess energy or emotions, or faced any difficulties, he liked going there alone and staying for at least two hours.

"Yu Renzhi: No wonder the little beauty wouldn't bother with me before, turns out she had someone better. Crying my eyes out.jpg"

Yu Renzhi had recently saved this emoji from Jin Baobao and used it frequently.

"Meng Qingyan: Brother Yu can probably reduce his time at the boxing gym now."

"Yu Renzhi: Meng Qingyan, you're still young, what are you thinking? Are you saying he finally has somewhere else to vent his excess energy?"

"Meng Qingyan: I didn't say that."

"Wang Qitang: Let's go, let's ambush him at the boxing gym."

"Yu Renzhi: I'm already on my way."

"Meng Qingyan: I have a script meeting later, have fun."

"..."

While everyone was chatting happily, Ye Zhiqiu had just finished signing up for membership downstairs.

He also inquired about the situation with the VIP boxing rooms.

There were only six VIP boxing rooms, and although they were located on the mixed martial arts floor, users were not limited to MMA students.

Currently, all six rooms were occupied, and although some rooms remained unused for long periods, the gym could not provide another separate room.

Considering the price was exorbitant, Ye Zhiqiu ultimately gave up on the highest VIP option.

He started with a small class, planning to get a basic understanding first, then observe which instructor had the best skills and temperament before deciding on one-on-one lessons.

After everything was settled, it was already 4:30 PM.

Winter days were short, and the last rays of sunset outside the window were fading. Ye Zhiqiu calculated the time and began sending messages in the group.

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Comrades, want to hang out?"

Then, he shared the location of the Western restaurant.

"Zhaocai Jinbao: Come on, come on, I was wondering what to eat tonight."

"Li Shao: Leaving now."

"Le Le: Sounds good."

Q.L was not far from the Fashion Institute, so Tang Yue should be the first to arrive.

But given the traffic at this hour, it would take at least twenty minutes.

As for Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun, they would definitely not arrive within forty minutes.

It was still early, so Ye Zhiqiu held his newly issued VIP card and swiped into the library on the first floor of the gym. He picked up a book on basic fighting techniques and sat by the window to read.

He had only read two pages when his phone vibrated again.

In the group, Tang Yue had sent a new message.

"Le Le: Sorry everyone, I realized I made a mistake in my assignment and need to work on it overnight, so I won't be able to make it today."

"Zhaocai Jinbao: Studies come first, don't worry, there will be plenty of other times."

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, a faint hint of sarcasm playing on his lips.

Tang Yue was a very meticulous person. He might struggle with finding direction or completing tasks satisfactorily, but making a mistake in direction was something that would never happen to him.

The reason he said this was likely because he had a secret agenda that he couldn't reveal.

And this agenda must have been unexpected, otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to come out initially.

What secrets could Tang Yue have?

Probably just the shady things involving Tao Ruoqing.

He treated him like a dog, calling him around as he pleased, and it seemed that he was actually quite happy about it.

Ye Zhiqiu casually raised his hand, leaving six dots on the screen.

"Yezhiqiu: ……"

He had no intention of exposing anything, for the time was not right, but he also no longer cared about such matters.

The current him was no longer the old him. His heart was as firm as gold and stone, unbreakable, with enough courage and cards to face the storms ahead.

But he didn't want Tang Yue to be too comfortable either.

Just six dots were enough to make the suspicious and sensitive Tang Yue feel doubt and unease.

When he received the message, Tang Yue had just walked out of the dormitory gate.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu's reply on the screen, he indeed frowned.

Ye Zhiqiu was very good to him, so good that he could be moved to tears.

Knowing his family's financial difficulties, whenever they went out to eat or play, Ye Zhiqiu always took him along, never letting him pay, and even gave him tools, gifts, accessories, and clothes, ensuring he didn't have to worry about making ends meet.

In terms of academics, Ye Zhiqiu provided him with endless help.

Whether due to his upbringing or personal talent, Tang Yue's thinking was more rigid than that of his peers.

Whenever he encountered problems, Ye Zhiqiu would patiently help him sort things out and open up new perspectives.

Over the past year and a half, he had made significant progress in both his professional skills and mindset.

It could be said that without Ye Zhiqiu, there would be no Tang Yue today.

It was Ye Zhiqiu who broadened his horizons, showed him the colorful world outside, and brought his greed and desires to the surface, forcing him to confront his ambitions and deep-seated inferiority.

No one knew how suffocating it felt each time he was with Ye Zhiqiu, weighed down by a sense of indebtedness.

That feeling was also given to him by Ye Zhiqiu.

In comparison, he preferred the relationship he had with Tao Ruoqing.

A fair transaction, no sense of indebtedness.

However...

This was the first time Ye Zhiqiu had spoken to him in this manner.

Just six dots, which didn't really convey any tone.

But for some reason, Tang Yue couldn't help but picture Ye Zhiqiu's casual, somewhat dismissive smile.

His heart skipped a beat, a faint unease rising within him.

"Le Le: Sorry, Xiao Qiu, next time I'll treat you to braised chicken."

"Yezhiqiu: No need, focus on the important stuff."

Holding the phone, slightly stunned, Tang Yue pondered how to reply.

So when the phone rang in his palm, he jumped.

"Hello, Uncle Wang." Tang Yue answered the call.

"I'm at your school gate," Uncle Wang's familiar voice came through, "when will you come down?"

"Right away." Tang Yue stopped thinking and hurried downstairs.

In the past, when Tao Ruoqing wanted to see him, she would send Uncle Wang.

Today, although it was still Uncle Wang who came to pick him up, the person he was meeting had changed.

This time, it was Ye Zhixia.

He had just finished changing his clothes and grooming himself when Ye Zhixia's call came in.

She asked him to go to the hotel where the film crew was staying.

Tang Yue rushed all the way until he sat inside the familiar black car.

Breathing heavily, he asked, "Uncle Wang, does Madam know that Young Master wants to see me?"

"Not sure," Uncle Wang replied.

Tang Yue's frown deepened.

With these sudden changes, he was a bit lost.

Over the past half-year of contacting Tao Ruoqing, their interactions had always been very secretive.

Not only did Ye Zhiqiu not know, but logically, no one else in the Ye family should have noticed either.

Tang Yue couldn't determine what Ye Zhixia's sudden request meant.

After a moment of contemplation, he cautiously asked Uncle Wang.

"Uncle Wang," he smiled, "do you think we should ask Madam about Young Master wanting to see me?"

Uncle Wang paused for a moment before asking, "Why ask Madam?"

Tang Yue: "……"

The phone in his palm instantly became slick with sweat, but Tang Yue didn't say another word.

The drive to the outskirts was smooth, and the car arrived at the hotel where the set was located before long.

Uncle Wang led the way, taking the elevator straight to the 12th floor, finally stopping in front of Room 1205.

He knocked on the door and slightly bowed. "Young Master, Mr. Tang has arrived."

"Let him in," Ye Zhixia's voice faintly came from inside the room.

Uncle Wang pushed open the door and gestured for him to enter.

For some reason, his actions along the way made Tang Yue feel an inexplicably strange sensation.

It was as if Ye Zhixia were his true master, and even Tao Ruoqing couldn't compare to her status in his heart.

But Tang Yue had no time to dwell on it; he stepped into the room and immediately met Ye Zhixia's dark eyes.

Ye Zhixia sat in the small living room of the suite, raising her hand to gesture. "Sit down."

Tang Yue sat down.

Adhering to the principle of not moving unless the other did, he remained silent.

"Do you know why I called you here?" Ye Zhixia asked from a position of superiority.

Tang Yue lowered his eyes, concealing his disgust.

He had seen this attitude all too often since childhood and was thoroughly fed up with it.

That was why even Tao Ruoqing mostly treated him with courtesy and reassurance when she faced him.

Still, he dared not offend Ye Zhixia.

"I'm not sure," he said.

"I know everything about what you've been doing with my mother," Ye Zhixia stated bluntly.

"What could there be between me and Mrs. Ye?" Tang Yue looked up. "Mrs. Ye just took pity on my poor background and offered me more care."

"Is that so?" Ye Zhixia laughed in frustration. This person truly wouldn't admit anything until forced. "Shall I create a group chat and add Ye Zhiqiu? We can discuss it together?"

Tang Yue knew he wouldn't do that.

After all, Tao Ruoqing was his mother.

But he could confirm that Ye Zhixia genuinely knew about his deal with Tao Ruoqing.

"So," he finally asked, "what do you want from me?"

"Help me keep an eye on Ye Zhiqiu," Ye Zhixia said.

"This job was given to me by Mrs. Ye," Tang Yue frowned. "I need to ask for her opinion."

"Do you think my mother's opinion is more important than mine?" Ye Zhixia sneered.

These words and that smile undoubtedly stung Tang Yue deeply.

He pressed his lips together, remaining silent.

"My mother promised to introduce you into the entertainment industry as a stylist after graduation, right?" Ye Zhixia continued, "But who do you think she relies on to get you in?"

Tang Yue was speechless.

"You should know that your future isn't in my mother's hands, but in mine," Ye Zhixia concluded.

"I understand," Tang Yue lowered his eyes again.

"It's good that you understand," Ye Zhixia smiled triumphantly, relishing the feeling of holding someone's fate in his hands.

"Is there anything specific you want me to focus on?" Tang Yue asked.

"Report every move he makes to me," Ye Zhixia said, adding after a moment, "Especially anything involving Gao Wenye."

"Gao Wenye?" Tang Yue was confused.

Wasn't Gao Wenye Ye Zhixia's partner in this project?

How did he get involved with Ye Zhiqiu?

"Do you like Gao Wenye?" he asked.

"That's none of your business," Ye Zhixia replied coldly.

Although Ye Zhixia didn't answer directly, his reaction confirmed Tang Yue's suspicions.

Almost simultaneously, a malicious thought crept into his mind.

If he could get close to Gao Wenye, would Ye Zhixia still have the authority to look down on him and give orders?

Just by acting as a messenger between Gao Wenye and Ye Zhiqiu a couple of times, he could incite a fight between the brothers, wouldn't that be satisfying?

However, Tao Ruoqing, that smiling tiger, wasn't easy to deal with.

Though the idea was fleeting, it left Tang Yue extremely excited.

But for now, he had no time to refine or weigh the pros and cons, so he had to suppress it.

"I understand," Tang Yue said, "but I can't see Ye Zhiqiu all the time now."

He paused for a moment. "We had the chance to have dinner together today, but you asked me to come over instead. In fact, this kind of thing could have been discussed over the phone."

"Discussing it over the phone," Ye Zhixia said, "how would that make it clear who's the boss?"

Tang Yue was speechless.

"Alright," Ye Zhixia stood up. "You can go back now."

After leaving Ye Zhixia's room, Tang Yue stood in the narrow corridor for quite a while, taking several deep breaths before dialing Uncle Wang's number.

The call was busy, so he hung up and waited a moment before heading towards the elevator.

Uncle Wang was currently standing outside the hotel, talking on the phone with Tao Ruoqing.

"The guy surnamed Gao is at least handsome and makes a lot of money," he said, in a humble tone. "Most importantly, he likes her."

"What do you know? You're so shortsighted!" Tao Ruoqing scolded angrily. "I've worked hard for years to get her into a wealthy family, where she can live a luxurious life and look down on anyone. What is Gao Wenye compared to that?"

She sneered. "Winning the Best Actor award was just luck; there weren't any strong competitors that year. Do you know what people say? They say he's the least deserving Best Actor."

"Furthermore," Tao Ruoqing continued without giving Uncle Wang a chance to speak, like a machine gun, "he's already over thirty. As an actor, his career is likely to go downhill from here. Are you suggesting Ye Zhixia marry someone like him? Do you think it's not enough that he's lived in Ye Zhiqiu's shadow all these years and now wants to be on top of him forever? If that's what you think, you might as well kill me directly."

"So..." Uncle Wang clearly hesitated.

"Listen to me," Tao Ruoqing said. "In the next few months, keep an eye on him. No matter what means you use, don't let him make any real progress with the guy surnamed Gao, understand?"

"But how can I control him?" Uncle Wang was both anxious and troubled.

"Haven't I said you can use any means necessary?" Tao Ruoqing said coldly.

Uncle Wang held the phone in silence for a moment. After a brief hesitation, he decided to be honest with Tao Ruoqing. "Today, he called Tang Yue over."

Tao Ruoqing: "..."

"Wang Changqun," Tao Ruoqing asked incredulously, "would you jump off a cliff if he told you to?"

Hearing this, Uncle Wang's tense and humble expression suddenly relaxed, even revealing a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"If it were really needed," he said, "I would."

Tao Ruoqing didn't say anything more and hung up the phone.

Uncle Wang stood there for a moment, carefully pondering Tao Ruoqing's words.

He admitted he was shortsighted.

But he couldn't bear to see Ye Zhixia sad and upset.

If only there were a way to have it all.

He was lost in thought, unaware of when Tang Yue had arrived until Tang Yue called out to him.

"Already done?" he asked.

"Done quickly?" Tang Yue replied.

Although it had only been about ten minutes, for Tang Yue, it felt like an eternity.

The sunset had long since fallen, and the fading light began to envelop everything as night approached.

*

Inside the boxing gym, Qin Jianhe had just finished training.

He unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, and pulled out his phone from his gym bag.

The group chat was already flooded with messages, almost bursting onto his face as soon as he unlocked the screen.

Qin Jianhe: ...

This seemed to be happening more often lately.

He wanted to turn off the screen and put the phone away, but the continuous stream of messages, each mentioning his name, caught his attention.

Leaning against the door, he drank water while opening the chat app and tapping on the "367 new messages" notification.

Scrolling to the top of the chat history, he saw his own photo.

His eyebrows slightly raised, Qin Jianhe scrolled down the screen without showing any emotion.

A moment later, one corner of his mouth curved slightly, forming a faint arc.

If Ye Zhiqiu were here, he would notice that this curve was not just sexy but also hinted at a subtle "kill intent."

New messages kept pouring into the group chat.

He and Ye Zhiqiu had only met twice, and strictly speaking, they weren't even properly acquainted.

Yet, within half an hour and over three hundred messages, their wedding, honeymoon, and even the names of their children had been decided.

At that moment, Yu Renzhi and Wang Qitang were already at the opposite Western restaurant, waiting to "catch them in the act."

It was truly laughable.

However, this was the first time someone dared to meddle in his affairs.

"Yu Renzhi: Is it still not over? Come quickly with your sister-in-law, I've been looking forward to this @Qin Jianhe"

Qin Jianhe quietly finished his water and looked down to reply to the message.

Qin Jianhe: "Just finished. I'll take a shower and be right down."

Yu Renzhi replied quickly.

Yu Renzhi: "Aww, with the little beauty?"

Together for what? What together?

Qin Jianhe was momentarily stunned before realizing Yu Renzhi was asking if they were going to shower together.

Qin Jianhe ignored him and headed up to the fifth floor with his gym bag.

After cleaning up and changing clothes, he took the elevator downstairs as usual.

"Wow, so handsome." The receptionist girl clasped her hands in admiration as she watched his tall figure exit through the door.

But soon, that figure descended the steps and disappeared from her sight.

The girl's gaze returned, then eagerly shifted to the reading room.

"Wow, so handsome." She sighed dreamily, resting her chin on her hand.

Halfway through a book, Ye Zhiqiu unlocked his screen and sent a message in the group.

"Almost there?" he asked.

"Almost," Li Shaojun's cool voice came through the speaker, "We're almost there but got stuck in traffic. Shaojun and I had to take a detour. We'll be there within five minutes."

"Alright, I'll go reserve a spot at the restaurant." Ye Zhiqiu got up, went to the pantry for a cup of hot water, returned, dressed neatly, and left.

From a distance, he saw the doors of the western restaurant open and close.

Thinking the two had already arrived, Ye Zhiqiu quickened his pace.

*

Inside the western restaurant, in the circular booth by the window, Yu Renzhi finally waited for Qin Jianhe.

He sprang up like a monkey, his eyes darting behind Qin Jianhe.

"What are you looking at?" Qin Jianhe casually tossed his gym bag aside and sat down on the empty side of the booth.

"What's going on?"

"Where's the little beauty?"

Yu Renzhi and Wang Qitang spoke in unison.

Before Qin Jianhe could respond, Yu Renzhi let out a shriek.

"No way! With our relationship, you're actually hiding the little beauty from us?"

Wang Qitang glanced at him helplessly. "Still calling her the little beauty?"

"Sister-in-law," Yu Renzhi corrected himself immediately.

Yu Renzhi was actually a year older than Qin Jianhe, but due to his innocent nature and Qin Jianhe's strong presence since childhood, he always called him "brother" smoothly.

Now, the word "sister-in-law" came out just as naturally, as if he had said it countless times.

Qin Jianhe gave him an exasperated look, wondering how this person could be so shameless.

"Don't call her sister-in-law?" Yu Renzhi hesitated after being stared at, then asked, "Brother-in-law?"

Pfft...

Wang Qitang accidentally spat out his coffee, splattering Yu Renzhi's light gray cashmere sweater.

Seeing this, Qin Jianhe chuckled.

"Serves you right," he said.

Wang Qitang immediately handed over a napkin, trying not to laugh as he comforted him, "Later, I'll buy you a dozen to make amends."

"What would I do with a dozen?" Yu Renzhi frantically wiped the coffee stain off his sweater, then suddenly froze.

Through the glass window, a tall and slim figure approached the restaurant, and the bell at the entrance rang.

"Holy crap! The little beauty." Yu Renzhi jumped up, muttering to Qin Jianhe, "You guys really know how to play games, coming separately."

Then he waved at the door, "Little... sis... Xiao Ye, over here."

Ye Zhiqiu was looking for Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao but didn't see them. Instead, a young stranger waved at him.

He paused, then remembered this person had visited him during a race at Ox Head Mountain.

Since he claimed to be Qin Jianhe's friend, Ye Zhiqiu had checked his background upon returning.

The only son of a major domestic shipping tycoon, he was from a completely different circle.

Ye Zhiqiu had simply noted this.

He didn't want to socialize with someone so far removed from his world; it was too exhausting. Besides, that night at Ox Head Mountain, this person had witnessed his embarrassing moment.

But he hadn't expected to run into him here.

Since the person had greeted him, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't ignore it.

He nodded slightly and walked over.

The booths in the restaurant were very private, with high backs that created separate spaces when seated.

So it wasn't until Ye Zhiqiu approached with a smile and greeted them that he noticed Qin Jianhe and Wang Qitang sitting on the other sides.

"Mr. Yu..." The word "sir" got stuck for a moment before he managed to say it.

He had just taken photos of Qin Jianhe in the afternoon to use as ammunition, so Ye Zhiqiu felt somewhat guilty seeing him now.

His smile was forced as he finally said to Yu Renzhi, "Hello."

"Sitting down would be great." Seeing that Ye Zhiqiu showed no intention of sitting, Yu Renzhi quickly gestured him towards Qin Jianhe.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Wasn’t this a bit too enthusiastic?

A greeting wasn't enough; he also wanted him to sit?

"Sorry, I have another appointment..."

"Sit down." Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Jianhe suddenly looked up, his dark phoenix eyes gazing at him with an air of authority, leaving no room for refusal.

He had changed out of his fighting attire and was now dressed in a white shirt and black pants, his long legs elegantly crossed, and his polished shoes gleaming.

He looked impeccably dressed.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Confused and inexplicably guilty.

"Please sit down." Wang Qitang also smiled warmly, his gaze gentle.

Looking at Wang Qitang and Yu Renzhi, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly realized he had made a common mistake.

His earlier counterattack against Jiang Nan was based on the fact that in his previous life, Jiang Nan had pursued Qin Jianhe unsuccessfully and even resorted to drugging him to achieve his goal.

Given this relationship, it was clear that Jiang Nan had neither the right nor the means to confront or confirm anything with Qin Jianhe over a mere photo.

That post was visible only to Jiang Nan, and since Jiang Nan couldn't communicate directly with Qin Jianhe, Ye Zhiqiu assumed no one else would know about it.

But he overlooked one point: since Jiang Nan could mix with them at the club, he naturally knew Qin Jianhe's friends well.

What should he do with this growing guilt?

Qin Jianhe’s presence was already powerful, and Ye Zhiqiu felt incredibly guilty. He pursed his lips and reluctantly sat down next to Qin Jianhe.

"Xiao Ye," Yu Renzhi beamed when he saw him sit down, "with such good conditions here, why do you insist on going to VIA?"

"Gold shines wherever it is," Qin Jianhe turned his head to look at Ye Zhiqiu, speaking calmly, "the recent updates on VIA's website are excellent."

Ye Zhiqiu: "Huh... huh..."

To be honest, this was the most passive situation he had been in since his rebirth.

The heavens were truly amusing; in his previous life, Jiang Nan had tormented him for years without any consequences, but now, after posting for just an hour, he was being dragged here for public humiliation.

There would be future collaborations, and since he was indeed at fault, he didn't want to offend Qin Jianhe too much. He hoped Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao would arrive soon to save him.

But these two, who were supposed to arrive within five minutes, were nowhere to be seen, leaving Ye Zhiqiu anxiously waiting.

Meanwhile, Qin Jianhe had already asked the waiter to bring the menu and handed it to him.

"What would you like to eat?" Every gesture he made was gentlemanly and gentle, making Yu Renzhi stare in admiration, "let's order first."

Ye Zhiqiu: "Wait a moment, I..."

"I know you have other friends coming," Qin Jianhe interrupted him, his deep eyes holding a faint smile, "we can order for them when they arrive."

Alright then.

Ye Zhiqiu swallowed this silent defeat.

He would eventually get his revenge.

He lowered his head to look at the menu, listening to Wang Qitang ask, "How come Uncle Qin is hospitalized again?"

"Mm," Qin Jianhe's voice was very calm, "still the same old problem."

"Did you visit him too?" Yu Renzhi asked, then added, "this time, when Uncle Qin urges you about your partner, you can finally give him a perfect answer."

"Did you know, Xiao Ye?" Yu Renzhi was a chatterbox, "our Xiao Yu has never been in a relationship before."

"Aren't you taking Xiao Qiu there tomorrow?" Qin Jianhe chuckled, "the man is dying, yet he still thinks about carrying on the family line."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Wait, what did Qin Jianhe just say? Taking who to see his father?

And how could someone talk about their own father dying so casually?

Though he despised and hated Ye Hongxian, he had never been disrespectful to that extent.

Was Qin Jianhe taking him to see the patient, or to hurry along the process?

Also, when could he start having children?

What kind of person could make so many comments in one sentence?

The wind chimes tinkled, and Ye Zhiqiu quickly turned his head. Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun finally pushed the door open.

Never before, except on the day he was reborn, had Ye Zhiqiu felt so relieved and excited to see them.

He got up and waved at the two of them.

"Baobao," Jin Baobao rushed over anxiously. "Today has been so unlucky. Even after turning, we hit another traffic jam."

As he spoke, he paused for a moment: "Huh?"

"Xiao Jin," Yu Renzhi waved happily at Jin Baobao. "Turns out Brother Xiao Ye had an appointment with you today?"

"Yu Renzhi." Jin Baobao smiled. "Didn’t expect to see you again."

"I'll introduce you," Yu Renzhi gestured for the two to sit on the only empty sofa. "This is my friend Wang Qitang, and this one..."

He looked at Qin Jianhe, smiling. "No need for introductions, right?"

Jin Baobao: "..."

Li Shaojun: "..."

No way.

Shouldn't they be very familiar with that intimidating person across from them?

And why was Ye Zhiqiu sitting so close to him on the same sofa?

Their sofa was clearly bigger, and it was empty when they arrived.

Looking around, Yu Renzhi and Wang Qitang each occupied their own sofa, causing Li Shaojun to frown slightly.

"No," Li Shaojun looked at Ye Zhiqiu. "This sofa is bigger; come over here."

"Don't be so naive, kid," Yu Renzhi felt Li Shaojun wasn't easy to get along with ever since the racetrack. "Those two lovebirds are having a sweet moment. Why would they go to your side?"

Li Shaojun: "..."

Jin Baobao: "..."

"No," Jin Baobao turned to look at Li Shaojun. "Did you understand what he said?"

"No." Li Shaojun shook his head and reached out to Ye Zhiqiu. "Master Qiu, come over here."

Pfft, Wang Qitang couldn't help but laugh again.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and turned to look at Qin Jianhe, who was looking at him with a half-smile, his dark eyes filled with amusement.

Ye Zhiqiu: "Heh... heh..."

"It's like this," he sat up straight. "Today, I'm sitting with Qin Jianhe."

Qin Jianhe usually kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public, so Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun didn't know him.

But Ye Zhiqiu studied fashion, and even if they didn't recognize him, they had heard his name many times.

Upon hearing this, Jin Baobao widened his eyes.

"Oh." Li Shaojun also said.

"Xiao Qiu," Jin Baobao was confused. "So, are you dating someone?"

"Cough," Ye Zhiqiu cleared his throat. "I'll explain later."

"What else is there to explain?" Jin Baobao was happier than winning the lottery about Ye Zhiqiu finding such an excellent boyfriend as Qin Jianhe. "Even Qi Xin, that jerk, you gave him a chance."

"Exactly." Yu Renzhi agreed.

Jin Baobao's words were exactly to his liking.

"In the future, when Sister-in-law comes out, we can all gather more often." Yu Renzhi happily said to Jin Baobao, using "Sister-in-law" without hesitation.

Ye Zhiqiu gave up struggling.

Someone who had died once knew well that face and pride were things he could no longer afford.

He glanced sideways at Qin Jianhe's hand holding the fork.

Last time at the factory, he noticed that Qin Jianhe wore a simple silver ring on his left pinky finger, its color ancient and faintly glowing.

Surely Jiang Nan would recognize this hand?

Even if not, he would surely recognize the ring?

Since he was already publicly exposed, might as well make the most of it.

Ye Zhiqiu unlocked his phone again and openly took a photo of that hand.

Qin Jianhe's hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and distinct knuckles, holding the knife and fork with an elegant casualness.

After taking the photo, Ye Zhiqiu admired it for a moment before preparing to post it on his WeChat Moments visible only to Jiang Nan. Suddenly, his hand was gripped.

Qin Jianhe held his hand in his palm and smiled at him. "How about another one like this?"