Chapter 41

Chapter 41

When Ye Zhiqiu returned to the Ye family residence past one o'clock in the morning, Ye Zhixia still hadn't come back.

He calmly took a shower and went to bed, sleeping soundly through the night.

It wasn't until the first rays of morning light seeped through the gaps in the curtains that he stretched his body again, got up to wash up, and then went downstairs for breakfast.

It was rare for both Ye Hongxian and Ye Zheng to be present today, but the atmosphere at the dining table was not lively or relaxed; instead, it was unusually tense.

Even Aunt Zhao served the meal with extra caution.

Tao Ruoqing had a cold expression on her face as she repeatedly dialed numbers on the phone, while Ye Zheng tried to reassure her gently.

"He's a grown man," said Ye Zheng. "What could have happened? Maybe he went out to play with some classmates."

"Impossible," Tao Ruoqing replied. "If he were with his classmates, he wouldn't forget to call home. Unless..."

At this point, she suddenly pursed her lips and stopped.

Seeing her demeanor, Ye Zheng understood.

The fact that Ye Zhixia liked Gao Wenye was something only Ye Hongxian didn't know yet.

If he found out, there would likely be another big fuss.

Thus, without a word, mother and son both fell silent.

Ye Zhixia had been gone for just one night, so Ye Hongxian wasn't particularly worried.

But seeing Tao Ruoqing's hesitant manner irritated him.

"If you know where he is, why don't you just call and ask?" he complained, frowning. "Always acting so strange."

"Dad, Mom," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile as he came down from upstairs, having overheard their conversation. "Who's not at home?"

"Can't you see who's missing at the dining table?" Ye Hongxian was even more annoyed by someone who couldn't read the room.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled but said nothing.

"Xia Xia didn't come back last night," Ye Zheng told him.

"He probably went out to play," Ye Zhiqiu said nonchalantly. "Isn't it normal for an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old boy to go out and have fun?"

Hearing this, Ye Zheng hadn't spoken yet, but Tao Ruoqing nodded slightly.

"Yes," she sighed softly. "I'm just too worried about you two. I forget that you've grown up."

"After breakfast, I'll ask his classmates if they've seen him," Ye Zhiqiu said, sipping his porridge.

"Let me make the call," Tao Ruoqing suggested, looking at him. "You've been working overtime every day lately; you're already busy enough."

Ye Zhiqiu looked well-rested, with fair, smooth skin and long, dark eyelashes. Despite his recent frequent overtime, he showed no signs of fatigue.

"With school starting and work resuming," she asked, "are you managing okay?"

"It's fine," Ye Zhiqiu replied. "Things will get easier after this month."

Seeing his enthusiastic and ambitious attitude, Ye Hongxian's irritable mood improved somewhat.

"When you have a chance, give Xia Xia a good talking-to," he said to Tao Ruoqing. "Tell him to learn from Xiao Qiu."

Tao Ruoqing was already stressed and worried about Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye, so she didn't bother arguing with Ye Hongxian.

But the more worried she was, the more things seemed to pile up.

Before Ye Hongxian had finished speaking, the sound of a car approaching could be heard from the courtyard.

Ye Zhixia had returned.

His absence might have been tolerable, but upon his return, Ye Hongxian's anger truly flared.

Although he had made an effort to tidy himself up, his clothes were still relatively clean and neat, but the bruise under Ye Zhixia's eye was impossible to hide.

"Look at this!" Ye Hongxian slammed his bowl onto the table. "Not coming home all night—did he go off to fight someone or rob a street? Coming home injured like this is such a disgrace."

Despite Ye Hongxian's sarcastic tone, Tao Ruoqing felt relieved seeing Ye Zhixia's condition.

The injuries on his face certainly didn't suggest he had been on a romantic date.

Still, her expression remained stern. "Brother, come here."

Ye Zhixia approached the dining table with a grim face but did not sit down.

"How old are you now? Don't you realize your family would worry when you stay out all night?" Tao Ruoqing scolded softly.

She planned to emphasize the seriousness of Ye Zhixia staying out all night first.

But the specific details of what he did during that time would be discussed later, privately between mother and son.

However, this time, Ye Zhixia, who usually cooperated seamlessly with her, showed no consideration for her feelings.

He stood there stiffly. "Dad, Mom, Brother, I've decided—I want to marry Gao Wenye."

"What?" Tao Ruoqing dropped her chopsticks in shock.

Ye Zheng immediately stood up, placing his hand on Ye Zhixia's shoulder, trying to lead him upstairs.

"Wait." Only Ye Hongxian looked bewildered, completely failing to understand what Ye Zhixia had just said. "What did you say? Who's getting married?"

"I!" Ye Zhixia broke free from Ye Zheng's grasp. "I want to marry Gao Wenye."

He said each word with emphasis.

"Who is Gao Wenye?" Ye Hongxian asked Tao Ruoqing.

"He can't possibly marry someone with the surname Gao," Tao Ruoqing said coldly, turning to berate Ye Zhixia. "Are you out of your mind? Go upstairs and reflect on your actions until you calm down before coming back down to talk."

But this time, Ye Zhixia seemed to have completely lost it.

He paid no attention to what Tao Ruoqing was saying.

He suddenly grabbed the bowl of congee in front of Ye Zhiqiu and slammed it onto the floor.

The remaining half-bowl of eight-treasure congee splattered everywhere, creating a mess.

"I want to marry Gao Wenye." His eyes bloodshot, he shouted with all his might, his usually gentle demeanor replaced by a fierce expression.

Ye Zhixia had always been love-struck, something Ye Zhiqiu knew from his past life. But he never imagined it could reach such an extreme.

In his previous life, he had severed ties with Ye Hongxian for the sake of being with Qi Xin and was expelled from the Ye family.

But at least then, Qi Xin still wore two masks.

One was the "good man."

The other was the "eternally devoted lover who would sacrifice everything for him."

These two masks were easy to be swayed by for a young, inexperienced person.

But Gao Wenye, he had just been caught cheating.

Ye Zhiqiu lowered his eyes, saying nothing.

"And you," Ye Zhixia looked at him, waving a small USB drive in his hand. "Did you arrange to meet Gao Wenye at the bar yesterday? Did you?"

He laughed bitterly. "Don't deny it; I have the bar's surveillance footage."

Ye Zhiqiu knew early on that Ye Zhixia would check the surveillance footage and had specifically instructed the bar staff to cooperate with his request.

Ye Zhixia wanted to go crazy?

He hoped he would go even crazier.

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu said calmly, taking out his phone and opening the chat and call records.

He did not hand the phone to Ye Zhixia but instead gave it to Tao Ruoqing.

"Ever since I visited Ye Zhixia on set, Gao Wenye has been contacting me nonstop, even after I blocked him. The chat records are here," he said. "You know I could never like him, but I was tired of his constant harassment, so I arranged to meet him after the wrap-up to clear things up."

He looked at Ye Zhixia without any arrogance or humility. "Since you have the surveillance footage, you should know that I didn't stay long before leaving, right?"

"Hmph, Ye Zhiqiu, you can pretend with others, but don't try it with me," Ye Zhixia spat, hating everything around him. "If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened yesterday."

"What happened?" Ye Zhiqiu turned to look at him.

As soon as he turned, Ye Zhixia raised his hand in anger, ready to strike.

He was going to hit him.

With the combat skills Ye Zhiqiu had honed over the past few months, Ye Zhixia was no match for him, and the slap would not have landed.

However, the last slap had brought significant benefits, so this time, he only slightly dodged backward.

Although the slap did not land on his face, Ye Zhixia's nails still scratched a shallow line of blood on his cheek.

Seeing this, Ye Hongxian erupted in rage.

Without a handy tool nearby, he grabbed a plate from the table and threw it at Ye Zhixia.

Ye Zhixia, focused on Ye Zhiqiu, was hit squarely.

He stumbled back a couple of steps, his vision blurring.

Amidst the chaos, Tao Ruoqing's cries and curses, Ye Hongxian's angry shouts, and Ye Zheng's pleas for mercy echoed around them...

"I am going to marry Gao Wenye," he persisted. "If you hadn't kept blocking me, if there had been someone by his side, yesterday wouldn't have..."

He never finished his sentence.

"What kind of person is that Gao Wenye?" Ye Hongxian, restrained by Ye Zheng, fumed. "Can anyone tell me?"

"He's an actor," Ye Zhiqiu said softly, covering his injured cheek pitifully.

"You worthless thing," Ye Hongxian's fury reached its peak. "Marry, marry, marry! If you dare marry an actor, get out of this house."

In his previous life, Ye Zhixia married Gao Wenye much later.

By then, Gao Wenye had already established his own entertainment company.

Though Ye Hongxian still disliked him, due to Ye Zhixia's persistence and Gao Wenye's continuous supply of young men to Qi Xin, which helped destroy Ye Zhiqiu mentally, Tao Ruoqing eventually approved...

Thus, their wedding received blessings from Ye Hongxian and Tao Ruoqing, making it a decent affair.

But now, Gao Wenye had not yet established his entertainment company and was constantly jumping between the two brothers. Moreover, Ye Zhixia revealed this in such a deranged manner...

The situation was already a disaster from the start.

However, compared to him, Ye Zhixia still had a significant advantage.

After all, when he was expelled back then, Tao Ruoqing would only add insult to injury, both inside and outside.

But Ye Zhixia was different; not only did he have Tao Ruoqing, but also Ye Zheng working on his behalf.

But what did it matter?

Ye Zhiqiu picked up his phone, thinking of the encrypted paternity test results stored within.

Wouldn't it be better for them to tremble in fear, beg bitterly, and exhaust themselves...

in vain?

Internal strife is indeed another way to destroy someone.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Ye Zhiqiu walked into the courtyard with his phone and called Gao Yang.

He told him that he would arrive at the company later and asked him to compile the data Zhang Lan had collected over the past few days and send it to him.

Gao Yang responded affirmatively, but there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.

However, the argument in the room was too loud for Ye Zhiqiu to notice.

"How did it go?" Zhou Lang asked with a smile after Gao Yang hung up.

In Zhou Lang's office, besides Gao Yang, Zhang Lan, Wang Ru, and another of Ye Zhiqiu's field assistants, Sun Chaoyang, were present.

"As long as you join my team and follow me, I guarantee I will personally mentor each one of you," Zhou Lang said with a friendly smile. "It's not that Teacher Xiao Ye is bad, but he is young and lacks experience despite his talent."

No one responded. They all kept silent, but clearly, some were tempted.

Sun Chaoyang had already glanced at the others several times.

If anyone took the first step, Sun Chaoyang would undoubtedly follow without hesitation.

All they needed was a catalyst.

"This is your only chance to change your fate," Zhou Lang continued with a smile. "Your Teacher Xiao Ye is still too young and brash. How can he succeed by making enemies everywhere? If you want to rise with him..."

He chuckled. "Actually, you should be relieved not to be dragged down by him."

Today, Lin Qunsheng, who had always controlled the Design Department's public opinion, somehow became the target of backlash.

From the ground floor to the top, everyone in Q.L. was talking about his frequent urination and erectile dysfunction.

The designers who had suffered under Lin Qunsheng were gleefully recommending various urology clinics to him.

Seeing Lin Qunsheng rush to Ye Zhiqiu's office three times this morning, it was clear that Ye Zhiqiu was behind this.

"Teacher Zhou," Zhang Lan spoke up first, "this isn't just our decision. We need to see Teacher Ye's attitude."

Sun Chaoyang had already started to stand up but sat back down upon hearing this.

Zhang Lan was right.

They were assigned to Ye Zhiqiu by the company.

If they switched teams privately, the company might blame them, and Zhou Lang might not really protect them.

"Alright," Zhou Lang smiled. "I understand your concerns, but the annual Autumn-Winter Fashion Week is coming up soon. If you join me, you can come along and gain valuable experience."

Zhou Lang was confident that at least half of the four would join him.

After all, every year, one-third of the new recruits at Q.L. wanted to work with him.

This opportunity was something most people would dream of.

Even if only two joined, it would be a significant blow to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhou." The group thanked him in unison and left.

They couldn't discuss these matters in the assistant office, but fortunately, Ye Zhiqiu hadn't arrived yet.

Gao Yang found the key and opened Ye Zhiqiu's office.

As soon as he entered, he gave Sun Chaoyang a cold look. "Don't you want to follow your Teacher Zhou? No one is holding you back."

"No," Sun Chaoyang was anxious. "That's Teacher Zhou. When I joined Q.L., it was to learn from him. Don't tell me you're not tempted."

"Moreover," he added, "we can go to the runway and learn much more than we do here."

"Do you think following Zhou Lang will lead to a good outcome?" Wang Ru, who handled external relations, had the most information. "If you think so, take a look at those around him."

"What's wrong with those around him?" Sun Chaoyang was puzzled.

"When I visited factories, I heard gossip about his assistants," Zhang Lan said. "Some have been stuck in their positions for over a decade."

"People mentored by Teacher Meng have achieved great success at Q.L., and those who moved to other companies can handle things independently," Wang Ru added. "Why haven't any of his mentees succeeded?"

"And that little Lin who left this year," Zhang Lan said, "was secretly crying in the break room."

She seemed to know something, her lips curling with a meaningful sneer.

"In any case, whoever wants to follow Zhou Lang can go ahead. I'm sticking with Teacher Xiao Ye. Although it's been a short time, he has taught me a lot. I've decided to rise and fall with him. As for that Lin Qunsheng, offending him is fine; he deserves it."

"I'm not leaving either," Wang Ru said.

"Me neither," Gao Yang raised his hand. "Teacher has been teaching me draping techniques recently. Things I struggled with for years, I'm finally starting to grasp."

"That," Sun Chaoyang hesitated, "I won't leave either."

"You have to go," Zhang Lan turned to look at him. "Although I can't speak for Teacher Xiao Ye, as a newcomer who just joined the company and hasn't established any roots in Q.L, what he needs least around him is someone with divided loyalties, especially someone who admires Zhou Lang so much."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chaoyang's face instantly turned grim.

Even Wang Ru and Gao Yang exchanged glances, surprised by Zhang Lan's assertiveness.

"Either you say it yourself, or I'll tell Teacher Xiao Ye later," Zhang Lan said. "I know you want to wait until after Fashion Week to see Teacher Xiao Ye's performance before making a decision, but there's no such thing as a perfect situation in this world."

Sun Chaoyang's face darkened even more when Zhang Lan hit the nail on the head.

"Anyway, you have to go," Zhang Lan said. "Either we part ways amicably, or we end up in a nasty confrontation."

Sun Chaoyang took a deep breath. "If I leave, Teacher Xiao Ye won't have an external assistant anymore."

"I can handle external tasks too," Gao Yang said. "Besides, I've been practicing cutting in the office lately anyway."

"Alright, alright..." Sun Chaoyang stepped back. "I'll leave."

"But," he added, "remember how you forced me out today. One day, I will prove that I, Sun Chaoyang, am no worse than any of you."

With that, he slammed the door and left.

Not long after Sun Chaoyang left, Ye Zhiqiu arrived at the company by taxi.

His face was bruised, drawing many curious glances.

Lin Qunsheng came over and berated him continuously, saying he deserved it.

"Teacher Lin, you heard every word I said yesterday," Ye Zhiqiu laughed at the rumors circulating outside. "None of those rumors about you were ever said by me."

"You have to testify for me," Ye Zhiqiu said.

Lin Qunsheng had come in full of anger, ready to unleash his fury.

But upon seeing Ye Zhiqiu, he realized he couldn't do anything to him.

This person was already bruised; he didn't want to be blamed if he hadn't even laid a hand on him yet.

He thought Ye Zhiqiu could pull something like that off.

Yet, scolding him wouldn't make a difference.

If he wanted to vent his anger by tearing something apart, he might accidentally damage one of the exhibits.

Indeed, he didn't dare risk it.

Lin Qunsheng sat in Ye Zhiqiu's office and ranted for half an hour while Ye Zhiqiu worked diligently. By the end, Lin Qunsheng stood up to watch him work instead.

"Not bad, kid," he couldn't help but praise after watching for a while.

"How could I withstand your relentless criticism if I wasn't good?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Where did you learn to maintain such composure at your young age?" Lin Qunsheng frowned helplessly.

"If Teacher Lin spreads more rumors about my chaotic personal life, I'll become even stronger," Ye Zhiqiu said.

Lin Qunsheng was speechless.

He suddenly remembered that he had started spreading stories about Ye Zhiqiu for entertainment.

"As long as Teacher Lin doesn't make up stories about me anymore," Ye Zhiqiu finally looked up at him, "I'll gradually help clear things up for you. How about that?"

Lin Qunsheng: "..."

"Fine," Lin Qunsheng glared at Ye Zhiqiu for a moment before angrily pulling open the door. "You win this time."

*

After work, Ye Zhiqiu made a detour to the mall.

Tomorrow night was Jin Baobao's birthday party, and the watch he had ordered for Jin Baobao had just arrived.

Jin Baobao's family made all sorts of small accessories, colorful and decorative watches included, which Jin Baobao often wore himself.

Sometimes, encountering snobbish people would result in sneers and ridicule.

Besides, at twenty, Jin Baobao should have a proper watch.

The birthday party was held at the Jin family's villa, with only close family and friends invited.

As soon as Ye Zhiqiu handed over the gift, Jin Baobao hugged him tightly and kissed him several times before letting go.

Li Shaojun and Tang Yue also arrived. The three of them sat together, watching Jin Baobao socialize and helping refill fruit platters and drinks as needed.

After socializing, Ye Zhiqiu went to smoke in the side hall of the Jin family's villa.

Jin Baobao followed closely behind.

"Xiao Qiu," dressed in a white suit, looking like a little prince, he grinned widely. "That watch must have been expensive, right?"

"It's okay," Ye Zhiqiu said. "Once I earn more, I'll buy you an even better one."

"Oh." Jin Baobao pouted and clung to his arm. "Why don't we just live together? Why bother finding partners?"

"Get lost," Ye Zhiqiu laughed and pushed his head away gently.

"Have you been seeing that Qi guy recently?" Jin Baobao asked. "Everyone in the social circles is talking about it now, even my mom, who usually doesn't care about gossip, has heard about it."

"Hmm," Ye Zhiqiu paused for a moment before responding softly.

Jin Baobao's face immediately fell.

"What's the matter? You're the birthday boy today." Seeing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Don't look so glum."

Jin Baobao said nothing, shaking his arm.

"Alright," Ye Zhiqiu sighed, "to be honest, I never planned on getting married in this life."

Being friends is one thing; he would never give a title.

"Ah?" Whether it was because Jin Baobao had drunk too much or was just being silly, he blurted out, "So, you just want a bed partner?"

The words "bed partner" coming from Jin Baobao felt a bit abrupt.

But upon reflection, Ye Zhiqiu didn't find it odd.

For anyone, physical needs are perfectly normal.

If he wasn't going to get married, having a steady bed partner might actually be okay.

He didn't refute Jin Baobao and nodded with a smile. "Sure, whatever you say."

As they talked, neither of them noticed Tang Yue standing at the entrance of the side hall.

Tang Yue had come to find the two of them, but after overhearing their conversation, he not only didn't go in but stepped back out.

Finding a secluded corner, he sent a message to Ye Zhixia.

Today was not only Jin Baobao's birthday but also the wrap party for the movie starring Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye.

After causing a scene at home that day, Ye Zhixia was ultimately locked up by Ye Hongxian after several slaps.

With Ye Hongxian away today, Ye Zhixia threatened Tao Ruoqing with exposing his bed photos with Gao Wenye, forcing her to let him out.

Over these two days, Tao Ruoqing had cried almost all the tears she had in her lifetime.

Her whole life, she had always been planning for her children.

Who would have thought that in the end, her child not only showed no gratitude but even used self-harm as a threat against her.

This made Tao Ruoqing realize that perhaps she could no longer change Ye Zhixia.

For Gao Wenye, he had gone mad.

After letting Ye Zhixia out, Tao Ruoqing began to think.

Maybe it was time to meet with Gao Wenye.

*

Ye Zhixia found that sometimes being crazy really worked.

So as soon as he got out, he contacted Qi Xin.

Giving him the location of the hotel celebration banquet, he asked him to come over.

Like Tang Yue, Qi Xin had something to hide, so Ye Zhixia wasn't worried he would refuse.

Halfway through the celebration banquet, when Ye Zhixia received Tang Yue's message from Jin Baobao's birthday party, Qi Xin's message also came in.

He had arrived.

Smirking maliciously and disdainfully, Ye Zhixia excused himself to go to the restroom.

On the top floor of the hotel, there were only two banquet halls—one occupied by the film crew, and the other, a larger one, was reportedly taken by some company.

Between the two banquet halls was a corridor, and at the end of the corridor was a large circular floor-to-ceiling window.

In the cold winter, the white curtains before the floor-to-ceiling window were drawn, leaving no one around.

"What do you want?" As soon as he saw Ye Zhixia, Qi Xin asked impatiently.

He had collaborated with Tao Ruoqing but had never had much interaction with Ye Zhixia.

Moreover, the more he interacted with Ye Zhiqiu, the less he wanted others to know about his schemes with Tao Ruoqing.

For reasons he couldn't explain, he hoped this matter would remain between him and Tao Ruoqing.

"How far have you gotten with Ye Zhiqiu?" Ye Zhixia asked directly.

Hearing this, Qi Xin frowned.

"This is between me and Xiao Qiu. It has nothing to do with you," he said dismissively.

"Have you slept with him?" Ye Zhixia asked. "Or just hugged and kissed?"

"Are you crazy?" Qi Xin looked at Ye Zhixia, incredulous.

"So, you haven't done anything yet," Ye Zhixia said. "Have you held hands at least?"

It seemed they hadn't even held hands; at most, he occasionally held Ye Zhiqiu's wrist.

"So pure," Ye Zhixia suddenly laughed, then quickly sobered up. "Useless!"

Qi Xin: "..."

What was he doing here, being humiliated by Ye Zhixia?

"For your mother's sake," Qi Xin said, "I won't argue with you today."

"Ye Zhiqiu," Ye Zhixia said, completely indifferent to what he was saying, "he never even thought about getting married in this life. All he wants is a bed partner. If you want to control him, you'll have to work hard at it."

As he spoke, he pulled a brown medicine bottle from his pocket and tossed it over.

"That," he added, "is not me not teaching you. Conquer him in bed first, then trick him into the prison of marriage. Got it?"

Holding the medicine bottle in his hand, Qi Xin felt a momentary surge of temptation.

But immediately, he remembered Ye Zhiqiu's temper.

"I suggest you take care of yourself," Qi Xin said.

"This is me taking care of myself," Ye Zhixia suddenly snapped, "do you know what Ye Zhiqiu did? He secretly met with my boyfriend. Tell me, can I be blamed for plotting against him?"

Qi Xin was taken aback, and his expression changed slightly.

"Who?" he asked, a sense of crisis flooding his heart, "who did he meet?"

"This is none of your business," Ye Zhixia turned around and pointed at Qi Xin, "take care of your Ye Zhiqiu, or else I might accidentally spill the beans about you and my mom."

Qi Xin: "..."

Feeling bewildered and uneasy, Qi Xin stood there for a moment before pulling out his phone to call Ye Zhiqiu.

But remembering the consequences of interfering with Ye Zhiqiu before, he clenched the phone tightly in his palm and couldn't bring himself to dial.

The curtains fluttered in the breeze.

Behind the curtains, where neither Qi Xin nor Ye Zhixia noticed, a window was half-open, and Qin Jianhe stood in that semicircular space, looking down as he smoked.

When Qin Jianhe realized someone was talking outside, he had intended to speak up as a warning.

He didn't mean to eavesdrop on others' secrets.

Unfortunately, Ye Zhiqiu's name unexpectedly entered his ears, so he ultimately stayed put.

At that moment, the red tip of the cigarette flickered, while Qin Jianhe's eyes were like the sea before a storm—dark, cold, and unfathomable.