Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Over there, Ye Zhiqiu slept soundly, while Gao Wenye over here couldn't sleep at all.

For a moment, he wanted to use the staff's phone to call Ye Zhiqiu again.

But his age and experience made him realize that doing so would only make things worse, so he had to endure it reluctantly.

Gao Wenye read Ye Zhiqiu's message over and over again, feeling increasingly restless and heavy-hearted.

The restlessness came from Ye Zhiqiu's words: "Whether you like me or I like you, we can only be strangers in this life. Ye Zhixia is my brother, and I cannot have any inappropriate feelings for someone my brother likes."

Although the words did not explicitly express affection, Gao Wenye felt more and more certain that Ye Zhiqiu must have some feelings for him.

But due to Ye Zhixia's feelings for him, he had to keep himself at arm's length.

This made him feel both bitter and sweet.

Having acted for over ten years, he was adept at emotional scenes, but this feeling of being completely controlled without resolution was new to him.

How could he not be driven mad by it, not be moved by it?

The heaviness came from Ye Zhixia's abuse towards Ye Zhiqiu and the resulting resistance Ye Zhiqiu felt towards him.

Thinking about this, Gao Wenye regretted even more the subtle hints he had given Ye Zhixia before meeting Ye Zhiqiu.

Especially after investigating the Ye family's situation recently.

It turned out that Ye Zheng was not Ye Hongxian's child, and Ye Zhiqiu and Ye Zhixia were not full siblings but half-siblings.

No wonder Ye Zhiqiu said he was only a few months older than Ye Zhixia.

Gao Wenye sneered with disdain.

Though he didn't know how the Ye family explained it to Ye Zhiqiu, as a man, he could see that Ye Hongxian must have cheated on his wife during her pregnancy, accidentally getting another woman pregnant, leading to Ye Zhixia's birth.

In that case, the legitimate heir to the Ye family should be Ye Zhiqiu.

But as the saying goes, having a stepmother means having a stepfather too.

Moreover, considering how viciously Ye Zhixia treated Ye Zhiqiu, it was clear that Ye Zhiqiu's position in the Ye family was unstable.

He had originally intended to connect with Ye Zhixia to improve his less-than-respectable background.

As for the Ye family's business, he hadn't thought much about it.

But now, realizing that the opportunity might come easily, he couldn't help but consider this option.

Deep down, he hoped that the person who would take over the Ye family would be Ye Zhiqiu.

If that happened, he would have no regrets, holding both power and beauty in his arms.

But this also presented a new dilemma.

It made him hesitant to make a decision hastily.

Gao Wenye frowned irritably and swiped through his phone again.

There were still several messages from Ye Zhixia, received on his way back to the hotel, which he planned to reply to when he had time.

But then Tang Yue appeared, and he hadn't had the chance to deal with them yet.

Now, just seeing Ye Zhixia's name made him feel disgust.

Not to mention how she could be so cruel and aggressive to her brother at home, yet turn around and speak sweetly and act cute with him...

This made Gao Wenye feel both disgust and an intense sense of dissonance.

If not for the lure of the family assets, he might have immediately cut ties with Ye Zhixia.

But now...

After a long hesitation, Gao Wenye sighed heavily and turned off his phone screen.

*

Sometime during the night, it had started snowing, and when Ye Zhiqiu woke up, the ground was covered with a thick layer of snow.

He stood by the window for a while before going to wash up. Then he leaned against the window, opening Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and related forums to check Jin Qi's public opinion manipulation regarding VIA.

Overnight, the issue had not only remained hot but had grown even hotter.

However, amidst the ridicule, some different voices emerged.

"I'm just watching: Go ahead and return everything. I didn't get a single coat from the live stream, so I'll wait for your returns."

"LittleXX: It seems VIA is really done for. No one is stepping up to defend them?"

"Spectator: Is it possible that VIA doesn't even have a proper PR department? Hilarious."

"Honesty: Honestly, I've never even heard of this brand. They debuted and fell flat."

"Step aside, let me handle it: The one hoping for returns isn't worried about losing face? VIA can only match Jin Qi's freebies. You'd better step back and let me handle it."

"Moonlight: Damn, I've got my eight-hundred-meter sword ready, and you pull this stunt again?"

"Oh: Doesn't anyone think it's vicious for Jin Qi to stab their partner in the back like this?"

"..."

These different voices, though small, laid the groundwork for a future counterattack in public opinion.

Ye Zhiqiu turned off his phone, got up to change his clothes, and headed downstairs.

But before he could step onto the stairs, the argument from below reached his ears.

It was Tao Ruoqing and Ye Zhixia.

"On such a cold day with snow, why are you in such a hurry to go back to the set?" Tao Ruoqing said. "I know your scene isn't until this afternoon."

"Can't I just go back early to prepare?" Ye Zhixia's tone was filled with anxiety and displeasure. Ye Zhiqiu guessed they had been at it for some time.

"Don't think I don't know," Tao Ruoqing sneered, "you want to see Gao Wenye, don't you?"

"What's wrong with Teacher Gao?" Ye Zhixia asked, "He's an award-winning actor, an award-winning actor."

Realizing she couldn't reason with him, Tao Ruoqing fell silent for a moment before finally giving up on arguing with Ye Zhixia.

"In your eyes, he might be perfect, but in Mom's eyes, he's not even worthy of your little toe," she said. "Don't count on going anywhere this morning; Uncle Wang will take your brother to school."

"Ye Zhiqiu has been driving himself to school for ages," Ye Zhixia stomped her foot in frustration. "You're being so unreasonable."

"The roads are slippery today because of the heavy snow," Tao Ruoqing said coldly. "It's not safe for your brother to drive himself."

"Hmph..." Ye Zhixia scoffed. "You've never cared about him before. Shouldn't you be happy if he died? You're pretending with me just because of Teacher Gao."

"Ye Zhixia!" Tao Ruoqing's voice trembled with anger as she turned to look up the stairs, worried that Ye Zhiqiu might have heard.

"Are you letting me go or not?" Ye Zhixia threatened her.

Outside, the snow was falling heavily, and the wind howled, but never before had Tao Ruoqing felt so cold inside.

She had raised this child herself, fought tirelessly to secure control of the family business for him, and endured humiliation among high-society ladies for his sake...

And now, he was threatening her for a man.

The air grew silent, and after a moment, Ye Zhixia's voice finally showed a hint of unease: "Mom."

Ye Zhiqiu lifted his hand from the second-floor railing and continued down the stairs.

As expected, Tao Ruoqing was crying.

"What's going on here?" Ye Zhiqiu asked as he stood on the last step.

At his words, both Tao Ruoqing and Ye Zhixia were startled.

"N-nothing... Xiao Qiu," Tao Ruoqing's face paled, and she hesitated for a moment before asking, "When did you come down? What did you hear?"

As soon as she spoke, she regretted it.

It sounded like an admission of guilt.

"I only heard something about Ye Zhixia dying," Ye Zhiqiu said.

Tao Ruoqing closed her eyes, feeling almost faint with tension.

"Your brother didn't say anything," she said.

"If he didn't say anything, how could he make you cry?" Ye Zhiqiu pressed forward and pushed Ye Zhixia hard on the chest.

Before Ye Zhixia could react, she was already pushed to the ground.

"Have you lost your mind, Ye Zhiqiu?" Ye Zhixia shouted angrily.

The fall was hard, and the pain in her tailbone made it difficult for her to get up.

"Have I lost my mind?" Ye Zhiqiu stepped forward and kicked her in the chest, too fast for Tao Ruoqing to stop him.

"Have I lost my mind?" Ye Zhiqiu pointed to his cheek. "My own brother beat me up, and my mother is crying because of you. Are you born to rebel, Ye Zhixia?"

Ye Zhixia: "..."

Damn it, she thought, getting hit twice and it's somehow her fault.

"It's nothing, nothing," seeing Ye Zhiqiu raise his hand again, Tao Ruoqing quickly grabbed his arm, "He doesn't know better. I've already disciplined him."

"Considering you have work today," Ye Zhiqiu finally let go of her, "I'll let you off this once."

Ye Zhixia: "..."

She tried to get up but was held back by Tao Ruoqing.

"Go to the set," Tao Ruoqing said, fearing Ye Zhixia might say something rash in anger. "Uncle Wang should be done eating; have him take you there."

Ye Zhixia glared fiercely at Ye Zhiqiu. After a moment, she relaxed her clenched fists.

For the past few days, she had been sending messages to Gao Wenye whenever he was resting. Although not overly enthusiastic, Gao Wenye usually replied.

Except for last night's message, which remained unanswered.

Feeling uneasy and concerned, Ye Zhixia decided not to linger.

"Ye Zhiqiu, you wait," she said menacingly before quickly leaving, as if afraid Tao Ruoqing might change her mind.

Once Ye Zhixia's figure disappeared outside, Tao Ruoqing sighed and slowly sat down on the sofa.

"You two will be the death of me," she said.

"It's Ye Zhixia who upset you," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I'm standing up for you, and you blame me?"

Tao Ruoqing: "…"

"Never mind," Tao Ruoqing said, patting her chest. "Mom won’t talk to you today."

There was a commotion from the hallway leading to the kitchen as Aunt Zhao came out with a pot of congee, smiling. "Time for breakfast."

"What’s cooking?" Ye Zhiqiu was drawn over and lifted the lid to reveal a pot full of century egg and lean meat congee.

"My goodness," Aunt Zhao exclaimed, "be careful not to burn yourself."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and put the lid back on the pot.

"Madam," Aunt Zhao asked, "shall I stew some lamb chops for lunch? It’s warmer to eat lamb on a snowy day."

In just a moment, Tao Ruoqing had composed herself and nodded with a smile at the suggestion.

"Where is the young master?" Aunt Zhao looked around but couldn’t see Ye Zhixia. "I saw him come down this morning."

"He went back to the set." Tao Ruoqing sounded annoyed at the mention.

"Why didn’t he have breakfast?" Aunt Zhao muttered. "I made his portion specially."

"Don’t worry about him," Tao Ruoqing said.

At the moment, she couldn’t bear to hear anyone mention Ye Zhixia; it gave her a headache.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t say anything more. He finished his breakfast quietly, checked his phone’s notes for the day’s schedule, and then left.

The roads were slippery due to the snow, so he drove very carefully.

Midway through, he turned into a sports goods store to get equipment for his first mixed martial arts class tonight.

The store was filled with various items, and Ye Zhiqiu wasn’t too familiar with sports brands.

Feeling uncertain, he suddenly remembered something and pulled up a photo of Qin Jianhe on his phone, showing it to the shopkeeper.

"Excuse me, do you have protective gear from this brand?" he asked.

"Yes, yes, we do," the shopkeeper replied. "It’s inside."

Then he asked, "What specific equipment are you looking for?"

Ye Zhiqiu opened his notes again and listed the protective gear the gym staff had recommended: hand wraps, boxing gloves, shin guards, and workout clothes.

For a beginner, these would be enough.

Soon, the shopkeeper brought out all the items, and Ye Zhiqiu began selecting sizes and colors.

When he reached the clothes, he suddenly paused.

He noticed the brand of the outfit Qin Jianhe was wearing in the photo.

"Never mind," he said suddenly. "Let’s try another brand for the combat uniform."

"This brand is the best and most comfortable," the shopkeeper said, initially thinking Ye Zhiqiu found it too expensive but confused when he chose other items from the same brand. "Young man, don’t just go for looks; comfort is key in combat sports."

"Well…" Ye Zhiqiu thought for a moment. Since Qin Jianhe’s outfit was black, he pointed at a white one. "This one, size 180, please."

"Sure thing," the shopkeeper responded happily.

But once outside the store, the cold wind made Ye Zhiqiu realize something was off.

Black and white could look like matching outfits.

This thought seemed strange and unsettling, and Ye Zhiqiu paused.

He pursed his lips and turned to look back at the sports goods store.

Snowflakes fell onto his eyelashes.

Ye Zhiqiu blinked and suddenly found the idea amusing.

There were others who wore the same brand of combat uniforms; did that mean they were also matching with Qin Jianhe?

He chuckled, shook his head, got into his car, and placed the items on the passenger seat.

Besides, as he fastened his seatbelt, he thought that Qin Jianhe was so busy; it was uncertain how often he would visit the gym. Whether they would even meet was a question, so why worry?

By noon, Qi Xin arrived as scheduled.

*

The snow had stopped, but the wind made it bitterly cold outside. They moved their dining location to the less crowded Second Canteen on campus.

"I thought about your injury, so I only made a spicy fish head dish. The rest are milder. Try them," Qi Xin said, with dark circles under his eyes, indicating he hadn’t slept well last night.

Ye Zhiqiu found it amusing, knowing Qi Xin had probably spent the night waiting for Jiang Nan again.

After all, that phone call had thoroughly offended Jiang Nan.

Without some effort, how could Jiang Nan forgive him?

However, today wouldn’t be as lucky as before. On such a snowy day, even staying in the car wouldn’t be comfortable.

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu acknowledged lightly, watching Qi Xin place the dishes on the table with a smile.

Spicy fish head, lotus root and pork rib soup, garlic sprout eggs, and stir-fried mountain yam, along with two steaming bowls of rice.

"Eat quickly, before it gets cold," Qi Xin said, particularly attentive.

Before coming, he wasn't without fear, worried that Ye Zhiqiu might take out his anger about Jin Qi targeting VIA on him.

But that didn't happen now.

"Good," Ye Zhiqiu said with a slight smile.

He picked up his chopsticks, first tasting the chopped pepper fish head and then sipping some rib soup.

Chasing Ye Zhiqiu for so long, yet this seemed to be the first time they were sitting together for a proper meal.

Qi Xin stared intently at Ye Zhiqiu, unwilling to look away.

The temperature in the restaurant was high, and the young man across from him had taken off his coat and casually draped it over the back of the chair.

At this moment, he was only wearing a light blue cashmere sweater, making his skin appear as white as snow, incredibly fresh and pleasing to the eye.

His manner of eating was also graceful.

His eyes slightly lowered, taking one bite after another, neither hurried nor slow. His thick lashes cast a gentle shadow, making him look particularly well-behaved.

"Tasty?" Seeing his already rosy lips glisten with a light sheen of oil, even more lustrous and beautiful, Qi Xin felt a warmth in his heart.

The hardships and suffering of the past few days seemed to fade into insignificance.

"Mm, tasty," Ye Zhiqiu looked up.

"You've improved your cooking," he said with a smile, calling his name, "Qi Xin."

Qi Xin: "..."

Happiness and joy surged like rising tide, completely enveloping his heart.

"I'm glad you like it." He smiled, his eyes brightening.

Seeing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled again.

"Have some too," he said.

"Oh, right, right." Distracted by watching Ye Zhiqiu, Qi Xin realized he hadn't touched his food much.

He had thoughtfully prepared a pair of serving chopsticks and began to serve dishes to Ye Zhiqiu bit by bit.

Although Ye Zhiqiu was slender, he had a good appetite, and by the end, there was almost nothing left on the plates.

"If you like it, I'll make it for you again tomorrow," Qi Xin said.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu's eyes curved into a smile, "Thank you for your hard work."

"No trouble, no trouble," Qi Xin quickly replied.

This wasn't just politeness.

Almost simultaneously, a thought arose in his heart: Ye Zhiqiu is truly wonderful.

It seemed that because of today's praise and politeness, all the previous misunderstandings about Ye Zhiqiu vanished instantly in his heart.

After all, this was Ye Zhiqiu.

Pampered and super particular Ye Zhiqiu.

To receive his praise, Qi Xin instinctively felt honored.

After tidying up the thermal containers, Qi Xin watched the young man across from him put on his down jacket, tie his scarf, and bend down to pick up his wool hat.

"Shall we take a walk?" Qi Xin suggested, "It's the first snow of the year."

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu shook his head, looking at him calmly, "Exams are coming up."

"Yes, yes," Qi Xin quickly agreed, "I've been away from campus for years; I almost forgot."

"See you tomorrow then," Ye Zhiqiu said, putting on his wool hat.

The beige wool hat, with a pom-pom, looked particularly cute, making his face seem especially small and pretty.

Looking at him, Qi Xin felt a warmth in his heart.

He wanted to seize the opportunity to confess, but worried it wasn't the right time, he forcibly suppressed the stirring in his heart.

"See you tomorrow," he said.

*

After finishing his afternoon classes, Ye Zhiqiu drove to the boxing gym.

The first class focused on basic movements, power techniques, and some simple offensive actions.

Though monotonous, Ye Zhiqiu practiced with great seriousness.

By the end of the class, the other students were all complaining about being tired, getting up to shower or swim on the fifth floor, leaving Ye Zhiqiu alone in the boxing room.

He put on his boxing gloves and started practicing his strength on the punching bag.

That night at Zhang Wenyuan's place, the strength in his legs couldn't even match Qin Jianhe's single hand, which made him realize once again the importance of preparation.

This time, any preemptive measures he took, he not only had to do, but he had to do them to perfection.

"Hey, buddy," a young man from the neighboring boxing room poked his head in with a smile after his class ended, "Are you new here?"

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu stopped, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "First day."

"My name is Zhao Keqi," the young man boldly squeezed in, "I've been training for three months."

"Senior." Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "My name is Ye Zhiqiu."

"You're already calling me that," Zhao Keqi said. "So I'll play the senior card. This isn't right. It's your first time practicing; even following the routine should be enough to make your joints and muscles ache. And you want to increase the training load?"

"It's fine," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "I'm not afraid of pain."

Zhao Keqi's eyes widened slightly.

"No, it's just for fitness and self-defense," he said. "What's the rush? Do you have some great grudge you're eager to settle?"

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled.

To think Zhao Keqi hit the nail on the head.

He checked the time; he had been training for nearly half an hour extra, which was enough.

"Alright, I'll listen to you." Ye Zhiqiu removed his boxing gloves as he spoke, then untied the hand wraps.

"Hey, little buddy." Seeing him pack up to leave, Zhao Keqi caught up in a few quick steps. "Can we exchange contact information? For future communication."

"Trying to chase after me?" Ye Zhiqiu paused, looking at Zhao Keqi with a half-smile.

"How obvious am I?" Zhao Keqi asked. "Or have you seen this move too many times?"

Ye Zhiqiu laughed. "Sorry, I have a boyfriend."

"Ye Zhiqiu." A low, pleasant male voice came from behind him.

Ye Zhiqiu turned around and saw Qin Jianhe.

"Going home?" Qin Jianhe asked.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Qin Jianhe had just come down from the fifth floor.

His expression was cold, and the standard three-piece suit outlined his perfect figure, making him look exceptionally elegant yet distant.

Zhao Keqi: "..."

Go... going home?

Damn, could this be Ye Zhiqiu's boyfriend?

So damn cool and handsome.

He patted his chest sympathetically, feeling utterly dejected.

"I won't disturb you then." Zhao Keqi said.

"Goodbye." Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

Once Zhao Keqi left, Ye Zhiqiu looked back at Qin Jianhe. "What a coincidence?"

The young man's combat uniform was drenched in sweat, and even his face was damp from the recent exercise, revealing a healthy pink hue on his pale skin.

"Mm." Qin Jianhe slightly lowered his gaze, looking at Ye Zhiqiu's sweat-drenched black hair. "Go upstairs and take a shower."

"Oh." Ye Zhiqiu replied.

He turned to go upstairs but realized after a few steps that Qin Jianhe was following him.

"I can handle it myself," Ye Zhiqiu teased with a smile. "Unless Mr. Qin wants to help me wash?"

As soon as he said this, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly realized it might sound inappropriate.

"I... I didn't mean it like that," he quickly explained.

"Then what did you mean?" Qin Jianhe looked down at him, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him, momentarily speechless.

Perhaps finding his reaction amusing, Qin Jianhe's gaze shifted slightly downward, and he smiled. "Why, even wearing matching combat uniforms with me, Ye Zhiqiu, are you trying to pursue me?"

Damn! Ye Zhiqiu thought, wasn't this exactly what he had just said to Zhao Keqi?

What did he say when Zhao Keqi admitted it?

Ye Zhiqiu pondered for a moment and suddenly remembered—he told Zhao Keqi: Sorry, I have a boyfriend.

He wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

"Not at all," Ye Zhiqiu said, turning to continue walking.

"Because you already have a boyfriend?" Qin Jianhe asked.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Is it Qi Xin?" Qin Jianhe asked. "At noon, I saw him carrying a thermos into the Fashion Institute."