Chapter 38

Chapter 38

A familiar scent of wood lingered at the tip of his nose.

But it was far from the gentle and warm, non-aggressive undertones...

Up close, Ye Zhiqiu could smell a faint hint of mint, refreshing yet colder.

He pursed his lips, instinctively wanting to take a step back, but Qin Jianhe lightly pressed his hand on his shoulder.

Only then did Ye Zhiqiu notice a very petite girl standing closely behind him.

If he took that step back, he might bump into her, and if their positions were not right, he could even touch her sensitive areas.

Ye Zhiqiu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit grateful.

Qin Jianhe was always like this.

Seemingly cold and hard to get along with, but only when standing next to him would one realize how reliable and comforting he was.

For example, at the traffic lights, his arm extended to block the delivery rider's motorcycle, or now, his hand lightly pressing on his shoulder, or in the hospital room, shielding him from the porcelain thrown by Qin Xusheng...

They didn't spend much time alone together, but there had already been so many small, warm moments.

This made Ye Zhiqiu slightly surprised.

It felt like more than a lifetime spent with his family.

"Pretty good," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, lifting his face despite his dark circles. "Slept well."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the elevator looked at the dark circles under his eyes, maintaining silence.

A few people couldn't help but twitch their mouths slightly.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

He had forgotten about his dark circles.

"Hmm." After a while, Qin Jianhe responded indifferently, his gaze also landing on the dark circles under Ye Zhiqiu's eyes.

But soon, his gaze subtly shifted down, focusing again on the tiny mole at the tip of Ye Zhiqiu's nose.

Recently, these subconscious actions seemed to be happening more often, almost uncontrollably.

If possible, he might reach out to rub it, or lean down to kiss it, gently biting it with his teeth.

Never before had someone's minor flaw, no, accurately speaking, feature, attracted him so much.

Ye Zhiqiu was the first.

Desire...

Qin Jianhe thought.

In an instant, memories of his parents' struggles and injuries, his grandfather's words on New Year's Eve, and... the intimate posture he saw last night between Ye Zhiqiu and another person in the car...

All these scenes flashed through his mind, converging silently like cold and warm currents.

Rich emotions rose from Qin Jianhe's heart.

The elevator reached the fifth floor, finally dinging as two people squeezed out.

Qin Jianhe's thick eyelashes trembled slightly as he watched Ye Zhiqiu take a step back.

With two people gone, the elevator instantly became less crowded. Ye Zhiqiu checked the time on his phone, vowing to avoid this time slot next time.

The elevator bell kept ringing, and more people got off until finally, only Ye Zhiqiu and Qin Jianhe remained.

"Mr. Qin," Ye Zhiqiu asked, "don't you have a private elevator?"

"Under maintenance," Qin Jianhe replied succinctly.

"Oh," Ye Zhiqiu was even more puzzled. "I didn't see any maintenance sign."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe gave him a half-smile without saying anything.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

He suddenly realized that since the executive elevator was used only by Qin Jianhe, notifying just him would suffice.

There was indeed no need for a sign.

Fortunately, they had arrived at the Design Department floor. Ye Zhiqiu straightened up and politely bid farewell to Qin Jianhe.

"Goodbye, Mr. Qin," he said.

"Hmm," Qin Jianhe nodded slightly. "Goodbye."

Exiting the elevator led directly to Ye Zhiqiu's office. Not long after entering, his internal phone rang.

Meng Da wanted him to come over.

Meng Da's office was opposite Zhou Lang's. As the head of the Design Department and its top designer, they naturally occupied the best positions.

Ye Zhiqiu walked down the long corridor, passing the large glass-enclosed office and the area where assistant designers worked, and knocked on Meng Da's door.

Meng Da was reviewing Ye Zhiqiu's design drafts. Seeing him enter, he gestured for him to sit.

Immediately afterward, an assistant brought in coffee.

"When do you plan to start preparing these exhibits?" Meng Da asked. "What kind of fabrics and accessories do you need? Let me know if there's anything difficult."

"I'll start today," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Apart from the Xiangyun brocade, which I'll need your help to find the best supplier for, everything else is already arranged."

Xiangyun brocade is a high-end fabric that is not only skin-friendly and breathable but also very elegant, making it perfect for Ye Zhiqiu's traditional Chinese-style dress.

"Alright," Meng Da responded promptly. "We have several factories that produce excellent Xiangyun brocade. I'll have someone gather previous samples and send them over for you to review. There should be some suitable options."

"Thank you, Professor Meng," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Besides that," Meng Da continued, "do you have any specific requirements for an assistant?"

He sighed, "You're still in school, right? I can arrange for two more people to assist you so you can have an easier time."

"No need for now," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I'd like to first understand how many assistants other designers have."

"Q.L has always had a very open corporate culture," Meng Da said. "Positive, progressive, innovative... You must have known this before coming here, right?"

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu picked up his coffee and took a sip, not quite understanding why Meng Da was mentioning corporate culture.

"But besides that, competition at Q.L is also fierce," Meng Da said. "Especially for us designers; sometimes pressure can spark inspiration."

Ye Zhiqiu did not disagree but remained silent.

"Therefore, Q.L doesn't look at titles or positions," Meng Da said. "Commercial success should be judged commercially. For example, Zhou Lang has six designated assistants who support all his work. But actually, some new designers will also learn from him voluntarily, so he effectively has a strong team around him."

"That many," Ye Zhiqiu was surprised.

After all, even Ye Hongxian only had two assistants, and Ye Zheng had just one secretary.

Compared to Q.L's staffing arrangements, Ye Zhiqiu felt he was still inexperienced.

"What about the others?" he asked.

"The others?" Meng Da pointed towards the open office area. "Each designer in the large office has two assistants. Those with private offices have four as standard, but you are different..."

He pondered for a moment, "Your talent far surpasses Zhou Lang. I plan to give you six assistants, not more than him, but certainly not fewer."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Forget it," he said. "In the past few years, two assistants were enough for me."

"How can that be?" Meng Da immediately objected. "You don't understand yet. The workplace is like a battlefield, full of invisible smoke. If you only have two assistants, those who know will say you're thinking of the company, but those who don't will undervalue you. Gossip could affect your work."

"Then let's make it four," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Many people start as assistant designers to learn more. Having too many might mean I can't mentor each one well."

"Alright," Meng Da nodded. "You're young, and four won't diminish your status."

"Of course, there's another reason," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Over the years, I've observed that both fashion and luxury brands often diversify. For example, M.H produces not only clothing but also accessories, bags, shoes, and hats..."

Ye Zhiqiu laughed, "After graduation, if time and energy permit, I'll propose to Mr. Qin to add a bag line to Q.L. It would be a waste to use such a great platform only for clothing."

Ye Zhiqiu was easy-going, gentle, and considerate...

Meng Da never realized he had such ambition.

No further words were needed; Meng Da understood.

For now, he only wanted four assistants for clothing, but if he expanded into bags, he would naturally need more specialized assistants.

"Your idea aligns with Mr. Qin's vision," Meng Da smiled. "The company has considered expanding before, but under Old Mr. Qin, they couldn't find the right direction. Later, Young Mr. Qin..."

He cleared his throat, "Young Mr. Qin, Mr. Qin's younger brother, didn't even consider these ideas."

"As you know," Meng Da smiled, "Q.L faced severe crises before. It was only at last year's year-end meeting that Mr. Qin proposed redeveloping other lines."

"In that case," Meng Da decided, "I'll pick a few capable kids to work with you."

"Thank you, Professor Meng," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

After leaving Meng Da's office, Ye Zhiqiu returned to his own.

His phone showed several messages. Zhang Mian informed him that he had just signed a cooperation contract with New Power on behalf of Yun Kai.

Ye Zhiqiu replied briefly and then contacted Sun Wei.

While still at VIA, he had already planned the initial designs for this season's fashion week exhibition.

So, he had already commissioned Sun Wei to order the necessary fabrics from their long-term suppliers.

However, VIA's positioning was not high, focusing mainly on being trendy, so they rarely used expensive fabrics like Xiangyun brocade, and had fewer corresponding suppliers.

Ye Zhiqiu had reviewed their previous Xiangyun brocade products, finding them too coarse.

That's why he decided to finalize the Xiangyun brocade after joining Q.L.

Sun Wei replied quickly.

Despite the distance between the companies, within half an hour, someone delivered the fabric to the Q.L lobby.

Ye Zhiqiu had just replenished his office tools from the warehouse when they arrived, making the handover smooth.

By midday, someone knocked on Ye Zhiqiu's office door. Wu Qiong peeked through the glass window and saw Ye Zhiqiu skillfully tearing fabric, with a needle clamped between his lips.

Wu Qiong chuckled and disappeared for a moment before returning with a pincushion.

"Didn't you get all your tools?" Wu Qiong handed the pincushion to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Even the most meticulous plans have their flaws," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, taking the needle to put it on his wrist. "I was just about to go get it after lunch."

"Don't bother," Wu Qiong said. "Wanna go eat together?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu subconsciously glanced at the mess of fabrics piled on his worktable.

"Come on, the good stuff will be gone if we wait too long." Wu Qiong could see what he was hesitating about. "Let's go; nothing is more important than filling our bellies."

"Alright," Ye Zhiqiu said, putting down his tools.

Throughout the conversation, he never asked which office Wu Qiong was in.

As they were heading towards the elevator, Wu Qiong pointed to the open office area. "My workspace is over there. If you need any help before your assistant arrives, feel free to ask me."

Ye Zhiqiu nodded, his eyes slightly curved. "Sure, thank you."

"No problem," Wu Qiong said, showing a rare hint of shyness. "I'm already touched that you don't look down on me for working in the big office."

If Ye Zhiqiu were older or as aloof as Zhou Lang, Wu Qiong wouldn't have approached him.

Such people either deemed themselves too good to teach others or were arrogant and looked down on them.

But Ye Zhiqiu was interesting, neither haughty nor humble. At yesterday's welcome banquet, he wasn't as snobbish as others, treating everyone equally regardless of status or ability.

That's why Wu Qiong had gathered the courage to come over.

"To be able to work at Q.L at your age is impressive," Ye Zhiqiu encouraged him.

"Come on," Wu Qiong glanced at him. "You're much younger than me, right? How old are you? I heard you're still in school? I'm already twenty-five."

He gestured upwards. "The same age as Mr. Qin. He's already a CEO and has elevated Q.L even further, while I'm still here, having to watch others' faces and picking up whatever resources are left."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and couldn't help but laugh.

He didn't answer his age.

Instead, he laughed and said, "Comparisons are the beginning of unhappiness. Focus on yourself. As long as you keep improving, you've already surpassed most people in the world."

He paused, playfully winking. "If I compared myself to Mr. Qin, I'd be EMO too."

"You're right," Wu Qiong immediately found comfort. "Compared to designers in smaller factories who can only follow their bosses' ideas without any creative freedom, being at Q.L is truly great."

Wu Qiong's personality was very lively, and Ye Zhiqiu enjoyed interacting with such people.

Whether genuine or not, at least it made the moment feel more relaxed.

As they chatted, they got off the elevator, and Wu Qiong suddenly asked, "I'm having steak today, how about you?"

"Huh?" Ye Zhiqiu was taken aback. "We haven't even entered the restaurant yet. How do you know they have steak today?"

"Oh," Wu Qiong said. "Every Monday, the cafeteria sends out the weekly menu via email. If there's nothing you like, you can always go eat outside and save time."

He realized, "You just started yesterday, so your email probably hasn't been synced with the cafeteria database yet. I'll forward this week's menu to you later."

"Thanks." Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but marvel. "The benefits here are amazing."

"It's 'we'," Wu Qiong said, placing his hand on Ye Zhiqiu's shoulder. "From now on, we're colleagues."

This seemed to be a habitual gesture for Wu Qiong. Last night at the celebration banquet, he had also patted Ye Zhiqiu's shoulder.

Ye Zhiqiu was aware of his good looks and thus was more sensitive to intimate gestures from both genders.

But he could tell that Wu Qiong's action carried no special meaning.

Just then, Jin Baobao sent a message back. Ye Zhiqiu followed Wu Qiong, replying to the message as they walked.

They entered the restaurant, laughing and chatting.

Upon entering, Wu Qiong's body stiffened involuntarily.

It was a strange coincidence that the usually absent leader was there today.

Even stranger, as soon as they entered, the leader's gaze fell on them.

Wu Qiong: "..."

Wu Qiong quietly withdrew his hand.

After withdrawing his hand, Wu Qiong felt even more puzzled.

Why did he withdraw his hand?

"What's wrong?" Sensing something amiss, Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him.

"Nothing." Despite Qin Jianhe's usual cold and indifferent gaze, Wu Qiong felt an odd pressure. He lowered his voice. "The boss is in the cafeteria too."

"Oh." Ye Zhiqiu looked up.

"Over there." Wu Qiong discreetly indicated.

Today, Qin Jianhe was alone, sitting in a position directly facing the entrance of the cafeteria, currently eating.

Around him, the seats were empty.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"What do you want to eat?" Wu Qiong whispered.

"I think I'll go for the clay pot again," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I tried the beef balls yesterday. Today, I want to try the ribs, if they have them."

"Alright," Wu Qiong said, lowering his voice. "Let's sit over there later, away from the bosses."

"Sure," Ye Zhiqiu said, unable to suppress a smile.

Fortunately, the restaurant had spare rib casseroles today. Ye Zhiqiu took his tray and went to the spot farthest from Qin Jianhe.

During the meal, Wu Qiong whispered a lot of gossip to him.

He talked about the factions in the company, who worked hard, who slacked off, who prevented others from working well, and who always stirred up trouble behind people’s backs...

Ye Zhiqiu listened intently. By the end of the meal, he had a good understanding of the company, especially the Design Department.

By the time they finished eating, Qin Jianhe’s seat was already empty.

"Come on," Wu Qiong said. "I'll take you to the rooftop terrace to bask in the sun."

The terrace was on the twelfth floor, and when they arrived, some people were already playing badminton there.

"This floor belongs to the Finance Department," Wu Qiong said. "They've taken all the good spots."

"Hmm," Ye Zhiqiu acknowledged, leaning against the railing and looking out.

The terrace was large, offering a view far into the distance. The noon sun and wind were unobstructed, pouring down without restraint.

It felt invigorating.

After basking in the sun for fifteen minutes on the terrace, Ye Zhiqiu found his work efficiency significantly improved in the afternoon.

He stayed busy until just before closing time, when Meng Da sent someone to deliver samples of Xiangyun silk.

There were dozens of varieties, mostly from different manufacturers. Ye Zhiqiu immersed himself in them, not looking up until past eight o'clock.

He temporarily selected three types, sealed each one, and planned to visit these factories over the next few days to make the final decision.

While he was busy, he didn’t feel hungry, but as soon as he stopped, hunger hit him immediately.

As if on cue, Zhao Keqi called.

"Ye Zhiqiu, why haven't you been coming to training lately?" Zhao Keqi asked. "I can't even find a dining companion."

"I can join you today," Ye Zhiqiu laughed. "I'm nearby."

"Really?" Zhao Keqi perked up instantly. "Send me your location, I’ll come pick you up."

"At the café entrance downstairs at Q.L." Ye Zhiqiu said.

"I'll quickly go upstairs and freshen up, then come pick you up." Zhao Keqi said immediately.

After hanging up, Ye Zhiqiu took the elevator down.

Less than five minutes later, a flashy yellow sports car pulled up in front of him.

"Get in," Zhao Keqi lowered the window.

Ye Zhiqiu opened the door, about to get in, when the café door suddenly opened.

Zhou Lang and his assistants walked out together.

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Zhou Lang greeted with a smile, trying to embarrass Ye Zhiqiu publicly. "Teacher Xiao Ye is quite popular. Someone different comes to pick you up every day since you joined."

Hearing this, Zhou Lang’s assistants smiled knowingly but remained silent.

Ye Zhiqiu had taken over three exhibition booths right upon arrival, which was a direct challenge to Zhou Lang, who was used to being adored.

Given the chance to put Ye Zhiqiu in his place, Zhou Lang wouldn’t let it pass.

After all, two luxury cars in two days, with different people each time, suggested that the handsome young man might be emotionally unfaithful.

An untidy love life was an easy weakness to exploit.

Moreover, it was the cheapest way to cause trouble.

If the person in the car believed Zhou Lang, it would affect Ye Zhiqiu’s mood.

His competition entry wasn’t even prepared yet, and he still had studies to attend to. If his personal life fell apart...

Then he would inevitably lose this exhibition opportunity.

Breaking through at Q.L. wasn’t easy.

Teaching this newcomer a lesson might not be a bad thing.

However, Ye Zhiqiu seemed unfazed.

He closed the car door, leaned against it, and stood smiling under the lights, exuding a certain charm.

"That’s what popularity looks like," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Teacher Zhou must have seen this before, right?"

This was a counterattack, mocking Zhou Lang for being inexperienced and unpopular.

Hearing this, the corners of Zhou Lang’s assistants’ mouths twitched, and they quickly suppressed their smiles.

"Maybe it’s because the cars are nice. Men love cars; naturally, they look more often and remember," Zhou Lang continued to smile, but his eyes narrowed. "Teacher Xiao Ye seems to know only wealthy people."

Zhou Lang was truly devious.

If the person in the car today was really his boyfriend or someone he was dating, these words would surely lead to a fight.

Either it would suggest he was seeing multiple people, or that he was only interested in money.

"Maybe I bring good luck to my friends," Ye Zhiqiu said with a perfect smile on his face. "So everyone around me is doing pretty well. A car is nothing much."

He paused slightly, his beautiful eyes curving into a smile. "But those who oppose me don't seem to have it as easy."

Zhou Lang was a bit superstitious, so he found Ye Zhiqiu's words rather ominous.

Hearing this, his face darkened.

Where did this arrogant little punk come from!

A novice, still wet behind the ears, daring to challenge him?

He let out a cold laugh.

"Young man, walk steadily; don't try to run before you can walk."

"Thank you for the advice, Teacher Zhou," Ye Zhiqiu replied with a faint smile. "I don't like owing anyone anything, so I'd also like to give you some advice."

"What?" Zhou Lang had a bad feeling about what was coming.

"If there must be a Zhou Yu, why must there also be a Zhuge Liang? If there must be a Zhou Lang, why must there also be a Zhuge Liang?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "My suggestion is that you should change your name, even your surname."

With that, he laughed, his attitude quite malicious.

Zhou Lang hated when people made jokes about his name.

Back in school, many people had claimed to be Zhuge and teased him.

He never expected that after all these years, someone would dare to bring up this sore spot again.

"Teacher Zhou, my friend and I still need to eat." Ye Zhiqiu opened the car door again, bent down, and got in. "We'll talk later."

The sleek sports car spun its wheels and sped off, leaving Zhou Lang with a livid expression.

His assistants behind him were all silent, afraid of getting involved.

"You," Zhou Lang finally regained his composure after a while, his face stern. "Find out whose fabrics he used for his exhibition pieces. Warn them that if they provide him with any fabric, they won't get a single thread for my future works."

*

"Hey, Ye Zhiqiu, you're quite something," Zhao Keqi said, laughing as he drove. "But I heard that old jerk say you just started working here. Aren't you worried he'll target you for being so bold?"

"Even if I kept quiet, he'd still target me," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Why make things easy for such people?"

"So you work at Q.L?" Zhao Keqi asked curiously. "That means it'll be convenient for you to practice martial arts, right?"

"How did you... oh, you know Zhou Lang?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"To be honest, my dad invests in films and TV shows. There was a production where the costumes weren't ready, and we thought about asking this Zhou guy," Zhao Keqi shrugged. "But it turned out all his contracts are with Q.L."

"Can you come practice?" Zhao Keqi asked. "If you don't come, I find it boring alone."

"Not for the next month," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I need to prepare for the exhibition."

He paused. "If I go to the exhibition, it might take longer, maybe a month and a half."

"Tsk." Zhao Keqi's enthusiasm waned.

"You mentioned your dad invests in films and TV shows?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Yeah," Zhao Keqi said. "What's your position?"

Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

"Don't you know my name?" he said. "Look it up yourself."

He pursed his lips slightly. "Zhou Lang's contracts are all with Q.L, but mine aren't. If you need anything, you can come to me."

"That sounds great," Zhao Keqi said immediately. "But my old man is very picky. You'll need to be good enough."

Ye Zhiqiu laughed again. "What's the point of saying I'm good? I told you to look it up yourself."

"Are you that confident?" Zhao Keqi pondered for a moment. "Your name does sound familiar."

"Your dad invests in films and TV shows and has requirements for costumes," Ye Zhiqiu changed the subject with a smile. "Hey, Zhao Keqi, could you do me a favor?"

"No problem," Zhao Keqi patted his chest. "As long as I can help, I won't refuse."

*

Meanwhile, Jiang Nan had just left an underground bar.

Recently, Qi Xin always chose such shady places to meet him.

He was almost suffocating from the cigarette smoke inside.

Damn!

Jiang Nan cursed as he sat in his car.

After being repeatedly humiliated by Ye Zhiqiu, Jiang Nan became more cautious, but this didn't mean he would just let it slide.

He had plenty of photos on his phone, all of Ye Zhiqiu and Qi Xin together.

Unfortunately, he never managed to capture them kissing, hugging, or holding hands...

That's why he held back until now, waiting for stronger evidence.

He couldn't tolerate Ye Zhiqiu staying by Qin Jianhe's side, not for a single day.

This time, he had to strike decisively.

Unfortunately, Ye Zhiqiu's post on social media yesterday had completely shattered his resolve.

Fuck, he couldn't hold it in anymore.

Jiang Nan lit a cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and then stared blankly at the hand holding the cigarette as if in a trance for a moment.

That cigarette was exactly the same as the one in Qin Jianhe's photo.

He first learned that Qin Jianhe smoked, and even more so, that he smoked this brand. Last night, unable to sleep, he had rushed out to buy some.

Sharing the same cigarette...

Just thinking about it was driving him mad.

Not to mention, now Ye Zhiqiu had entered Q.L...

In just a few months, under the torment of Ye Zhiqiu's social media posts, he had lost weight and looked much more haggard.

He had thought about blocking Ye Zhiqiu with a heavy heart, but he couldn't. Instead, all his attention was drawn to those posts.

Jiang Nan took a deep drag on the cigarette, feeling furious.

Today, Qi Xin met him, ostensibly to apologize for hanging up on him last night.

But in reality, he kept probing him about the current conditions for opening a chain store in their mall.

Qi Xin's brand hadn't made any progress for so many years, yet suddenly he wanted to open a store in the mall?

There must be something fishy going on; he didn’t believe it for a second.

He suspected that Ye Zhiqiu was misusing company resources to benefit Qi Xin through Q.L.

Ye Zhiqiu was truly blind, fooling around with two people, but how could he even consider Qi Xin after being used to Qin Jianhe?

Recently, when he had someone tail Ye Zhiqiu, he discovered that Qi Xin was really a dog.

No, in front of Ye Zhiqiu, he might not even be worth calling a dog.

Ye Zhiqiu’s arrogant demeanor was something he had never seen before. He couldn’t understand what Qin Jianhe saw in him.

The thought of Qin Jianhe being betrayed and deliberately misled by someone like this was unbearable.

Jiang Nan bit down on the cigarette and scrolled through his phone's gallery, selecting a few intimate-looking photos.

Then he registered a new free email account and attached the photos.

Having suffered at Ye Zhiqiu's hands before, this time he was more cautious. Before sending, he removed his SIM card and connected to the bar's WiFi.

Afterward, he sent an alerting email to Qin Jianhe.

His father had a good relationship with Qin Xusheng in the past.

Although the Qin family had distanced themselves after reaching higher positions, there was still the old friendship.

So over the years, their families had maintained a certain level of cooperation.

He had always known Qin Jianhe's work email address.

He slowly typed: Mr. Qin, your boyfriend is seeing two people. He has been involved with Qi Xin for a long time. Please verify carefully to avoid being used.

With a determined bite, Jiang Nan clicked send.

Seeing the words "Sent Successfully," his heart pounded rapidly.

Eagerly, he wondered if Ye Zhiqiu would still be so smug in the future.

Would he cry, make a scene, or kneel and beg for forgiveness...

Jiang Nan slowly finished the cigarette, his agitated mood gradually settling. Just as he was about to start the car, his phone vibrated.

Qin Jianhe had replied.

Qin Jianhe actually replied to his email.

Clutching the phone in his hand, his heart raced again after just calming down.

After a while, he tapped on the small envelope.

The email was simple, with only a few sentences.

"Sorry, my boyfriend has his freedom to choose friends. Also, I advise you that if you continue to follow him unethically, no matter where you go, I will make you pay a price you can't imagine.

Qin Jianhe."

Jiang Nan: "..."

Jiang Nan blinked, his body instantly stiffening as if frozen.

How could this be completely different from what he had imagined?