Chapter 42

Chapter 42

The treachery of the human heart is something Qin Jianhe has seen too much of.

His experiences from childhood to adulthood made him believe that no matter what happened, he would no longer be surprised and would accept it with equanimity.

But thinking about the two people outside the curtains just now...

One was Ye Zhiqiu's closest relative, and the other could very well be someone he had poured his heart into, someone he genuinely cared for.

For this person, he had specifically included targeted conditions in the Q.L contract. For this person, despite being so busy, he still designed drafts for that low-class brand...

The smoky, fiery scent stung his throat, but instead of feeling the heat, Qin Jianhe only sensed the cool mint flavor of the cigarette.

Though it was just a few words, he learned from those two that the matter might also involve Ye Zhiqiu's stepmother.

Ye Zhiqiu is combative and can't stand losing an inch.

If one day he found out that everyone closest and most trusted by him had betrayed and hurt him, how could he possibly endure it?

Thinking of the brown little pill bottle Ye Zhixia threw at Qi Xin, Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes and unlocked his phone.

Opening the chat app, he found Ye Zhiqiu's name.

"Qin Jianhe: Will you meet Qi Xin tonight?"

Direct and abrupt, but Qin Jianhe still clicked send.

When Ye Zhiqiu received the message, he had just returned from the side hall.

Seeing the content, he was momentarily stunned.

Then, puzzled, he exited the chat window and checked the contact information.

His social media feed was blank, and next to the contact name were the three letters "QIN" and the three characters: Qin Jianhe.

Ye Zhiqiu frowned.

It was indeed Qin Jianhe, and he hadn't mistaken him.

But why would Qin Jianhe suddenly ask about Qi Xin?

Such a private question...

Why did he ask? And from what angle or position did he have to ask such a question?

Based on his understanding of Qin Jianhe, he shouldn't be so hasty.

Ye Zhiqiu slightly narrowed his eyes and replied.

"Yezhiqiu: Probably not tonight."

Just as he sent the message, his phone rang, and the screen displayed Qi Xin's name.

Ye Zhiqiu paused again, finding it too coincidental.

He answered without showing any emotion, taking a sip of the freshly squeezed juice Baiyou handed him.

"Anything?"

"Xiao Qiu," Ye Zhiqiu could hear the wind around Qi Xin, "where are you?"

"Didn't I tell you earlier that today is Le Le's birthday, and I'm attending the party at the Jin family?" Ye Zhiqiu furrowed his brow, his impatience evident on his face.

"Oh, sorry." Qi Xin felt a bit flustered.

Thinking about what Ye Zhixia said about Ye Zhiqiu dating someone else, he felt a burning discomfort.

Like a fish stranded on the shore, suffocating, scared, and helpless.

This made him desperately want to see Ye Zhiqiu.

"I miss you," he said, "can we meet tonight?"

What nonsense, Ye Zhiqiu thought, taking his phone away from his ear and reopening the chat app, clicking on QIN's chat window.

"QIN: Will you meet Qi Xin tonight?"

"Yezhiqiu: Probably not tonight."

Now, there was another message below.

"QIN: Don't meet him."

Not knowing what Qi Xin was saying on the other end, Ye Zhiqiu hesitated for a moment before typing.

"Yezhiqiu: Okay."

Then, he raised the phone back to his ear, just in time to hear Qi Xin calling his name: "Xiao Qiu?"

"Not tonight," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"It won't take much of your time," Qi Xin hurriedly responded, "I'll come pick you up from the Jin family and drop you off at home."

"Xiao Qiu," he added, sounding pitiful, "I just want to see you."

"No," Ye Zhiqiu refused firmly, his tone growing stronger, "tonight, Shaojun and Le Le and I are staying at the Jin family, as planned."

Without waiting for Qi Xin to respond, he hung up the call.

He then switched back to the chat app.

Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Qin Jianhe did not reply this time.

Looking at the brief exchange of four messages, Ye Zhiqiu felt increasingly uneasy.

The chat log did not convey tone, but judging by the content alone, they did not seem unfamiliar with each other, nor did it appear to be a superior-subordinate relationship. Qin Jianhe's two messages seemed more like those of a jealous lover.

And his own response had been overly "obedient."

Ye Zhiqiu lowered his eyes and added a patch to the conversation.

"Ye Zhiqiu: Although I don't understand why you suddenly interfered in my private life, I'm not seeing Qi Xin tonight not because of anyone else, but because I'm celebrating a friend's birthday and have no time for anything else."

After writing this, he read it carefully and then clicked send.

When this message arrived, Qin Jianhe had just exited Ye Zhiqiu's social media feed.

Ye Zhiqiu's social media was simple, with very little content, especially nothing about him.

Qin Jianhe couldn't help but be slightly lost in thought.

That night in the stairwell, after he took a photo of himself, did he post it?

If he did, what caption did he use?

So when his phone vibrated again in his hand, he took a moment before switching back to the chat window.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu's message, Qin Jianhe smiled slightly.

He lifted his hand to type.

"Qin Jianhe: As long as you don't see him."

Then, he put away his phone and re-entered the banquet hall.

As the CEO of the group, today was the day set according to company tradition to invite the heads of subordinate companies for a meal at the start of the new year.

The time had been fixed early on.

With domestic exhibitions about to begin, everyone could also discuss the upcoming exhibit arrangements.

Everything went smoothly.

Qin Jianhe listened more than he spoke.

Only near the end did he smile slightly and propose a toast.

Instantly, everyone at the table raised their glasses.

"I have a suggestion," Qin Jianhe said softly. "This time it's fine, but for the next exhibition season, some of the partners on the previous list should be reconsidered."

After saying this, he tilted his head and downed his glass.

Though everyone still had doubts, unsure which partner or aspect had displeased the man before them, they all drank their wine tacitly.

"Mr. Qin," a middle-aged man, who appeared rather refined and steady, ventured to ask, "Do you have any specific targets?"

Apart from Q.L, the Qin Group had many second and third-tier brands, making the number of potential partners countless.

Qin Jianhe's sudden mention left most people puzzled.

People tend to be lazy; most prefer working with established partners.

Familiarity saves effort and reduces the risk of problems.

"Like Jin Qi this year," Qin Jianhe said, lifting his gaze without elaborating further.

Everyone at the table knew about Jin Qi's malicious betrayal of VIA.

But no one expected that such a minor brand conflict would catch Qin Jianhe's attention.

Some people started sweating.

"Yes, yes," an older person hurriedly agreed. "This year has been a bit tight, and indeed, we haven't yet terminated our contract with Jin Qi."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe gave a cryptic smile but said nothing.

Seeing this, several others finally understood and immediately stated, "We've discussed it before, and to protect the company's interests, we will completely sever ties with all Jiang family brands."

Qin Jianhe nodded slightly upon hearing this.

"And Manqing," he said. "I won't deliberately suppress Manqing if the work is good, but if it's subpar, anyone who uses the Qin name to give Qin Weian face can submit their resignation directly to my secretary's office."

"Yes, yes," the table echoed, with a few people discreetly wiping their sweat.

"Manqing" was the fallback option Qin Xusheng had arranged for Qin Weian.

After Qin Jianhe took over Q.L, Qin Xusheng separated the third-tier brand "Manqing" from the company and placed it under his younger son Qin Weian.

Although it was a third-tier brand, its wide audience ensured it consistently ranked among the top three profit-makers within the company.

Clearly, Qin Xusheng was concerned about his younger son being slighted.

However, even a well-established luxury brand like Q.L could be brought to the brink by Qin Weian, let alone a mere third-tier brand like Manqing.

In recent years, particularly this year, Manqing appeared prosperous on the surface, but internally, its situation had deteriorated significantly.

Many old employees had already left.

Taking advantage of Qin Xusheng's influence, even though Manqing had already split from the Qin family, she still used the Qin family's resources over the years.

Including, but not limited to, mall booths, exhibition venues, and exhibition slots...

Riding on the influence of higher-end products under the Qin family, she would sneak in her own goods at events to boost Manqing's reputation.

These matters were neither big nor small; Qin Jianhe simply didn't bother with them before.

But now that he was going to address them, he might as well do it all at once.

"Just afraid of Old Mr. Qin..." one of the men wiping sweat spoke up.

Qin Jianhe recognized this person.

Back when Qin Xusheng was still in power, this person worked in Qin Xusheng's office and was personally promoted by him.

"Since you're so afraid of Old Mr. Qin," Qin Jianhe coldly interrupted, "why don't you go work for him? He could use a caretaker."

"No, that's not what I meant." The man's forehead was drenched in sweat.

Qin Jianhe looked at him, his voice still calm but his presence imposing. "I didn't say anything before because anyone who has reached their current position should understand the rules and know how to behave."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, making some of them lower their heads slightly.

"But today, your performance disappoints me and makes me realize that some things need to be said openly," Qin Jianhe laughed, somewhat sarcastically. "Old Mr. Qin has long retired, and there's even a Young Mr. Qin between us. To all of you here, he should be no different from any ordinary old man on the street."

In fact, the difference was significant, and some people couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.

An ordinary old man wouldn't pressure them, but Old Mr. Qin...

Seeming to see through their thoughts, Qin Jianhe sneered.

"If Old Mr. Qin has any issues, let him come to me," he said. "I don't mind his so-called pressure."

"Yes, yes, yes." After a chorus of agreement, the room fell silent again.

Qin Jianhe raised his eyes indifferently. "Does anyone else have something to say?"

Everyone present knew how ruthless Qin Jianhe could be.

Not just competitors, but even his own father and brother—he never batted an eye during negotiations.

Thus, no one dared to speak up again.

"Then let's end it here for today," Qin Jianhe said, his tone slightly softer. "Thank you for your hard work last year. I hope we can continue to excel this year."

"Of course, of course."

The responses were surprisingly uniform.

But this time, they were sincere.

Compared to the previous two Mr. Qins, since Qin Jianhe took over, the treatment, resources, and environment provided were better than ever.

Regardless of how unreasonable he might be privately, everyone acknowledged this point.

Seeing the restrained looks on everyone's faces, Qin Jianhe chuckled.

"Let's end it here," he said. "Enjoy yourselves tonight, put it on my tab."

Everyone thanked him profusely, watching as Qin Jianhe stood up.

Tall and with long legs, his silver-gray suit made him look exceptionally aloof and dignified.

Even without saying or doing anything, his presence was intimidating enough.

Everyone present was a seasoned veteran, but none dared to make a sound until he left the room.

Finally, someone sighed deeply.

"How about singing?" someone suggested.

"How old are we? Still singing?" another person commented.

"What else can we do?" another laughed. "It's on the boss."

Though the boss said to enjoy themselves, since the bill was on him, no one dared to go overboard.

They had to play by the rules.

"Why don't we go to a bar for a couple of drinks?" someone finally decided. "We can exchange resources too."

At 11:30 PM, Jin Baobao's birthday party officially ended.

Initially, they planned to go out and have more fun, but Ye Zhiqiu had been swamped lately and had to get up early for work the next day. Baiyou had taken a temporary leave from the set and would probably have to return before dawn.

*

Jin Baobao weighed the options and decided it was best for everyone to rest early and chat in bed.

Jin Baobao's room wasn't small, but it couldn't accommodate everyone.

Li Shaojun, being cool and aloof, went to the guest room early, tired of their chatter. Tang Yue wanted to stay close to Ye Zhiqiu, while Baiyou, having returned for a short visit, wanted to spend more time with Jin Baobao.

In the end, Tang Yue took the sofa, Baiyou set up an air mattress on the floor, and Ye Zhiqiu, the most fortunate, shared the bed with the birthday boy.

"I didn't even get to ask about the injury on your face," Baiyou mentioned upon returning late, halfway through the party.

His mother was the nanny for the Jin family, and being busy at the time, he helped his mother in the back, rarely coming to the front.

"Ye Zhixia hit me," Ye Zhiqiu said.

Even if Baiyou hadn't mentioned it, he had been considering steering the conversation in this direction.

The reason for taking that hit wasn't just to further anger Ye Hongxian.

It was also to create an impression that he and Ye Zhixia could no longer live under the same roof.

He was paving the way for himself to smoothly move out of the Ye family home.

He knew very well.

If he rashly proposed moving out, not only would Ye Hongxian disagree, but even Tao Ruoqing wouldn't approve.

After all, once he moved out of the Ye family home, it would mean that Tao Ruoqing's control over him would diminish significantly.

Even using his conflict with Ye Zhixia as a reason wouldn't work.

After all, Ye Zhixia was often away on set for months, spending little time at home.

But things would be different if he got injured again.

If the two brothers were together, there was always a chance of fights breaking out, causing chaos and injuries...

In such a case, the face-conscious and trouble-averse Ye Hongxian would likely be the first to relent.

Once Ye Hongxian relented, it would be difficult for Tao Ruoqing to keep him around.

"What's going on with him?" Baiyou frowned prettily. "Last time I heard from the young master that you've been injured by him more than once."

"Stop calling me young master," Jin Baobao said unhappily. "I told you to call me by my name."

"Oh, Baobao," Baiyou called.

"Forget it," Jin Baobao said. "Why do you always make it sound so mushy when you say those two words? Just call me young master."

Baiyou: "I won't call you that anymore."

As they bickered, everyone in the room laughed.

"I wish our family was like yours," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile, his eyes full of envy. "If ours were half as good, I'd be grateful."

"Do you have any other plans?" Baiyou asked. "This can't go on forever."

"I'm thinking," Ye Zhiqiu pondered for a moment. "Maybe I should move out to live on my own. That way, my parents won't worry, and I can avoid Ye Zhixia, giving us both some space to cool off."

"I don't think Uncle Ye will agree," Jin Baobao said.

"You're right," Tang Yue added. "Living alone means you'll have to deal with meals, among other things."

In his previous life, nineteen-year-old Ye Zhiqiu indeed had never cooked and didn't know how to cook.

But now, he could probably pass a chef certification exam without much trouble.

"What's the problem?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "There are cafeterias at school and work, and restaurants are everywhere. If I don't feel like cooking, I can order takeout."

"When do you plan to move?" Jin Baobao asked.

"Wait until the old man comes home, and we can discuss it when everyone is around," Ye Zhiqiu said.

After that day, Ye Hongxian didn't come home for another two days.

Moreover, he was about to go abroad for a show, and even if he returned, it would be at least half a month or a month later.

Most importantly, he hadn't had time to find a place to live due to his recent busyness.

So there was no rush.

"That works too," Jin Baobao said.

After saying this, Ye Zhiqiu yawned slightly.

He knew these words would reach Tao Ruoqing through Tang Yue.

Throughout the conversation, he showed no resentment towards his parents, only wanting to avoid Ye Zhixia.

Thus, Tao Ruoqing's guard against him would naturally lower.

Even if he forced a move out, Tao Ruoqing wouldn't have many options.

But she would likely visit his place frequently, posing as a caring stepmother, trying to persuade him to return home.

It was better to lay the groundwork now, making things easier for everyone.

Ye Zhiqiu fell asleep quickly.

But because Tang Yue was in the same room, he felt resistant and guarded, leading to a restless night.

The next morning, he woke up with faint dark circles under his eyes.

After having breakfast at the Jin residence, Ye Zhiqiu drove directly to the company.

Today was the final touch-up for the last exhibit, plus Wei Tingjin was coming for a fitting, leaving him with a lot of work.

He stayed busy at the company until the afternoon.

After Wei Tingjin left following the fitting, the assistants were incredibly excited.

Among them, Wang Ru was the most affected.

Previously, when she looked at Wei Tingjin, she thought he was just average, but once he put on the show outfits, his demeanor and presence instantly elevated.

The two men's outfits had completely different styles, but each one seemed to perfectly convey the designer's intentions.

Wang Ru couldn't describe that feeling.

But after seeing Wei Tingjin try on the outfits, her worries about his lack of fame vanished instantly.

Her trust in Ye Zhiqiu grew even stronger.

Sending Wei Tingjin off, Wang Ru suppressed her excitement, planning to express her admiration to Ye Zhiqiu after work.

However, just before the end of the day, an internal call came from the secretary's office upstairs, summoning Ye Zhiqiu to the CEO's office.

Step by step, he climbed the stairs, pausing slightly as he passed the small platform where Qin Jianhe smoked.

Through the window, he saw the deep blue sky at dusk, without a single cloud.

The moonlight should be beautiful tonight, he couldn't help but think.

Arriving upstairs, he knocked and entered Qin Jianhe's office, noticing Meng Da and Zhou Lang were also present.

They were sitting face-to-face, their expressions solemn.

"Everyone is here," Qin Jianhe said indifferently, his gaze briefly lingering on Ye Zhiqiu's injured cheek. "Let's begin."

Ye Zhiqiu remained silent, knowing that Qin Jianhe was there to handle Meng Da's complaint against Zhou Lang and Zhou Lang's appeal regarding his exhibition piece.

He sat down by the window, quietly lifting his face.

"I've reviewed the emails sent to the factory," Qin Jianhe said directly, looking at Zhou Lang. "Zhou Lang, explain yourself."

"Well, it's true that I had a few words with Xiao Ye privately, but it was over quickly. Who knew that one of the interns felt the need to avenge me and sent such an email to the factory, showing no respect for protocol," Zhou Lang deflected smoothly in front of Qin Jianhe. "For this matter, I apologize to Teacher Xiao Ye."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu gave a noncommittal smile, remaining silent.

"Teacher Xiao Ye, I'm sorry," Zhou Lang conceded. "I will make sure to manage my subordinates better."

"As a senior, since you've said so," Ye Zhiqiu smiled faintly. "I accept your apology."

"Apologizing to Teacher Ye is appropriate," Qin Jianhe said. "But we can't ignore the factory either."

Ignoring Zhou Lang's stiffened expression, Qin Jianhe's voice was firm and unyielding: "Tonight, I expect every partner who received threatening emails to receive a proper apology letter. Additionally..."

"Zhou Lang," he continued, "there will be a public notice of criticism on the Q.L official website for a week, along with the apology letter posted on the homepage."

Zhou Lang was speechless.

Not only Zhou Lang, but even Meng Da and Ye Zhiqiu were surprised.

Zhou Lang was a veteran of Q.L and had some renown in the fashion industry.

A public notice and apology on the official website would be a humiliating blow to his reputation, especially with Fashion Week approaching, where friends, enemies, and competitors would all be present.

Zhou Lang's participation in the show was destined to be awkward and bleak.

"Mr. Qin," Zhou Lang protested. "Isn't this punishment a bit severe?"

Zhou Lang's arrogance stemmed from his status as a veteran of Q.L.

Moreover, given the upcoming Fashion Week, he assumed Qin Jianhe would give him some face.

Never did he expect that within a few sentences, Qin Jianhe would be so ruthless.

"Severe?" Qin Jianhe looked at him coldly. "Do you think it's not serious if Teacher Xiao Ye's exhibit cannot be completed due to your actions?"

"But didn't he eventually get the fabric?" Zhou Lang grumbled.

"The fabric was found through the help of my friend," Ye Zhiqiu lifted his eyes. "Due to Teacher Zhou's actions, none of the company's partner factories dared to provide the necessary fabric to me."

"That's settled then," Qin Jianhe declared.

"Mr. Qin..." Zhou Lang began to panic, trying to salvage the situation.

Qin Jianhe looked up at him, his gaze icy and devoid of warmth.

Instinctively, Zhou Lang fell silent, his heart turning cold.

From Qin Jianhe's attitude and gaze, he finally realized that perhaps, in Qin Jianhe's mind, he wasn't as important.

Or perhaps, the punishment Qin Jianhe had decided was already lenient.

Or worse, if needed, Qin Jianhe could mercilessly kick him out of Q.L.

"Fine," Zhou Lang conceded after a moment of silence. "I accept."

"Furthermore," Qin Jianhe turned slightly, projecting several emails onto the screen.

"These are all the design drafts submitted for this year's Q.L exhibition. I invited several respected teachers from the fashion world to judge, including your mentor, Mr. Wang," he scrolled through the emails, displaying the votes. "Teacher Xiao Ye's three pieces are leading by a significant margin. Your appeal is denied."

Zhou Lang's face darkened further.

Those judges were indeed the top figures in the fashion industry; there was no possibility of fraud.

And for the sake of fairness, Qin Jianhe personally sought out Zhou Lang's former teacher.

The results were clear, leaving Zhou Lang speechless.

Ironically, in this round of voting, two other designers' initial drafts surpassed Zhou Lang's.

"Zhou Lang," Qin Jianhe said, slightly lowering his eyes, "back then, you were indeed exceptionally talented. But over the years, your heart has become too restless. You think you're still at the same level, but many have already surpassed you."

He pointed to the two initial drafts that had surpassed Zhou Lang's.

"They won't have time to complete their exhibits this year, but it doesn't matter. I plan to continue using this selection method in the future. These people have precise judgment and no subjective bias towards you from others in the company, making it more objective and fair."

Throughout the process, Meng Da didn't say a word, and Ye Zhiqiu only spoke once.

After everything was over, Zhou Lang left Qin Jianhe's office with his head down.

As he took the elevator down from the top floor and entered the crowded lift, he suddenly realized something.

Qin Jianhe had actually spared him some face.

If they had gathered everyone involved and decided through a "hearing," he would have been even more humiliated.

After Zhou Lang left, Meng Da followed without a word.

Ye Zhiqiu, trailing behind Meng Da, was about to leave when Qin Jianhe suddenly called out to him.

"Ye Zhiqiu." He stood up, "Hold on a moment."

Ye Zhiqiu paused and turned back, politely saying, "Mr. Qin."

Although he had won this round, he wasn't as elated as he imagined he would be.

But he knew he hadn't done anything wrong.

If he encountered such malicious competition again, he would still stand up and fight against it.

"Ye Zhiqiu," Qin Jianhe called out again, his tall and slender figure approaching and stopping before him.

He looked down at him, his voice carrying an unclear meaning: "When we discussed the contract terms, you never mentioned that some designs unsuitable for Q.L might be given to others."

Ye Zhiqiu instinctively felt that today's Qin Jianhe was somewhat different.

From the start of dealing with Zhou Lang, he had been sharp and relentless, like a drawn sword, making one instinctively wary.

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu responded cautiously, "I did mention that."

"Is it for Qi Xin?" Qin Jianhe asked again.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Qin Jianhe had mentioned Qi Xin again.

This wasn't the first time since yesterday.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, full of confusion, yet answered more cautiously, "That is my freedom."

"It is indeed your freedom, but is Qi Xin worth it?" Qin Jianhe asked cruelly.

His mind raced, and Ye Zhiqiu tried to piece together the clues.

"Mr. Qin," his expression slowly turning cold, "did you investigate me?"

"I didn't investigate you," Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes, handing him an envelope, "someone else did. They thought we were a couple and sent me photos of you and Qi Xin, so I followed up on it."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, taking the envelope and opening it.

Inside were the photos of Qi Xin and Jiang Nan that Zhou Tongxin had seen.

"Do you know that the person you like likes someone else?" Qin Jianhe asked.

His grip on the photos tightened unconsciously, and his expression grew colder.

Such matters should not be known by anyone else; otherwise, it could affect his plans.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and put the photos back in the envelope.

His expression was cold, and his tone matched, reaching for the door handle, "This is my own business, Mr. Qin. No need for your concern."

But the door didn't budge.

Because Qin Jianhe had placed his hand against it.

He stepped closer, pinning Ye Zhiqiu against the door, looking down at him quietly.

Those noble and deep phoenix eyes held an indiscernible emotion, as if hiding a terrifying storm.

"Ye Zhiqiu, do you crave love that much?" Qin Jianhe asked, his voice slightly deeper.

This question infuriated Ye Zhiqiu.

In his previous life, it was precisely because he craved love so desperately and wanted a family of his own that he fell into someone else's trap without resistance.

Even after being reborn, even with a clear and almost cruelly calm mind, even knowing that no matter how much he lacked or desired, he couldn't reach out...

Still, a person who craves love remains one who craves love.

It cannot be changed.

No father's love, no mother's love...

How could Ye Zhiqiu possibly not lack love?

"How?" Ye Zhiqiu gave a cold laugh and stared fixedly at Qin Jianhe. "I am very much lacking love. Could Mr. Qin give it to me?"

Qin Jianhe looked down at him, his lips pressed into a straight line, saying nothing.

Ye Zhiqiu met his gaze without backing down, his eyes icy and sharp as if laced with poison.

The two stood in silent deadlock, the air filled only with their suppressed and restrained breaths.

"Are you in a romantic relationship with Qi Xin?" After a long moment, Qin Jianhe suddenly asked.

Even though before, in the boxing gym, Ye Zhiqiu had told him that even if he had a boyfriend, it wouldn't be Qi Xin.

But that night, in the car outside the company building, the intimate position of the two was something he had seen with his own eyes.

"No." Ye Zhiqiu was already getting impatient and didn't want to continue the standoff. "He and I..."

"I can give it to you." Suddenly, Qin Jianhe interrupted him.

Since Ye Zhiqiu said no, then it wasn't.

"What?" Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu's eyes widened abruptly, completely unable to react for a moment.

"Ye Zhiqiu." Qin Jianhe slightly lowered his head, his lips touching the small, pale pink mole on Ye Zhiqiu's nose.

His lips were scorching, making Ye Zhiqiu involuntarily shiver slightly.

Who would kiss him there?

Clearly, in the previous life, Qi Xin, who hated it so much, coaxed him into removing that mole...

Clearly, it was the only flaw on his face.

"Ye Zhiqiu, didn't you want to find a bed partner?" Qin Jianhe's voice sounded low and close by Ye Zhiqiu's ear, seeming both calm and hiding madness.

"Have you found one?" he asked.