Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Previously, Qin Jianhe had teased Ye Zhiqiu about being combative.

Ye Zhiqiu couldn't say for sure if he was combative, but this time, after his rebirth, he did feel a bit rebellious by nature.

In his previous life, by the end, Qi Xin had indeed PUA'd him into being very "obedient."

It wasn't just obedience; he had developed a fear of Qi Xin.

That feeling was hard to explain and even harder to describe.

But Ye Zhiqiu knew its root cause.

Over a long period, under someone else's persistent and skillful PUA, he had lost himself.

So now, in any relationship, he instinctively wanted to hold the reins of control.

Especially when facing Qin Jianhe.

As superior and subordinate, Qin Jianhe already had an advantage over him in official matters.

If he didn't assert himself privately, he might end up being used and then cleaning up after them.

There was no such thing as easy prey.

So, despite walking normally, when Qin Jianhe waved him over, Ye Zhiqiu immediately stopped.

"What's wrong?" Qin Jianhe's eyes flickered with a faint smile upon seeing this.

"Since you want to kiss me," Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, "why don't you come to my side?"

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe laughed.

"Alright," he said, "I'll come over."

He picked something from the bookshelf, held it in his hand, and walked towards him.

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly felt a bit nervous.

The fresh scent of lemon-scented shower gel wafted to his nose as Qin Jianhe approached him.

The tall figure of the man blocked the overhead light, casting Ye Zhiqiu into his shadow.

"I'm here," Qin Jianhe looked down.

Ye Zhiqiu raised his eyes and met his smiling gaze.

"Close your eyes," Qin Jianhe said again.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Qin Jianhe is truly innocent, wanting to close eyes before kissing.

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled but still closed his eyes obediently.

He wanted to take control, but not in every situation.

This kind of thing was more interesting when there was give and take.

Expecting the warm, soft lips, Ye Zhiqiu was surprised when instead, his injured cheek suddenly felt cold.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

He opened his eyes and saw Qin Jianhe holding a cotton swab, applying medicine to his wound with focus.

"This is the second time I've applied medicine for you," Qin Jianhe's eyes lowered, finally mentioning his injury after their meeting today, "What happened this time? Did you get beaten up racing again, or was it your family?"

Thinking of what Ye Zhixia had said to Qi Xin in the hotel, Qin Jianhe asked, "Was it your younger brother?"

"I let him hit me on purpose," Ye Zhiqiu said, "Otherwise, how would my father have slapped him?"

"Using yourself as bait?" Qin Jianhe asked ambiguously, screwing the cap back on the ointment tube.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and fell silent for a moment.

Indeed...

He did have that intention.

Just like the VIA incident last time.

But for some reason, whenever he used his tactics, they became transparent in front of Qin Jianhe.

Qin Jianhe's eyes and mind seemed particularly sharp.

The phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence.

Qin Jianhe glanced over.

"It has rung once already," he said softly.

"Who is it?" Ye Zhiqiu muttered, stepping over to answer the phone.

"Qi Xin," Qin Jianhe said.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Sure enough, the name flashing on the screen was Qi Xin.

As soon as he answered Qi Xin's call, Ye Zhiqiu's demeanor changed instantly, becoming icy cold.

"Anything important?" he asked.

"Xiao Qiu." Qi Xin was still preoccupied with what Ye Zhixia had said about Ye Zhiqiu going on dates with others. Although Ye Zhiqiu had already mentioned he would be working late tonight, Qi Xin couldn't help but drive to Q.L.

"I'm downstairs at your company," Qi Xin tried to sound casual, "have you eaten yet?"

"Didn't I say I don't have time?" Ye Zhiqiu's brow furrowed slightly.

"But, you still need to eat, right?" Qi Xin tried to keep his voice light. "Besides, eating is eating wherever you do it. Why don't you come out for a bite and then go back to work? It'll be like taking a break."

"Can't I eat in the restaurant?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, finding it amusing. "Qi Xin, are you still not weaned? If you're not weaned, go home to your mom."

"I just want to see you," Qi Xin felt wronged but tried to control his emotions.

"Do I have to see you just because you want to see me? Come on now," Ye Zhiqiu sneered, "my career and my work mean nothing to you? Should I just cater to you?"

When Ye Zhiqiu spoke sarcastically, he was particularly ruthless. Qi Xin, holding the steering wheel, turned his head to look at the brightly lit hall of Q.L., unable to utter a word.

Not only that, he began to feel that he might indeed be being unreasonable.

Ye Zhiqiu was focused on his career, yet he kept wanting to meet him frequently.

Moreover, he wanted Ye Zhiqiu to design more drafts for him, for Qi Yun.

So even before Ye Zhiqiu could properly get angry, Qi Xin felt guilty himself.

"That's not what I meant," Qi Xin said, "I just miss you."

"Xiao Qiu," he asked, "don't you miss me at all?"

"Miss..."

The word "miss" barely left his mouth when Qin Jianhe sat back down in his previous spot. He raised his hand, hooked Ye Zhiqiu's slender waist, and pulled him onto his lap.

"Damn!" Ye Zhiqiu cursed softly, finding it hard to maintain his cold demeanor with Qi Xin.

With the warmth of the man's chest against his back and the gentle breaths near his ear, Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and forced his voice back to normal.

"Miss you? Why should I miss you?" he said coldly, letting Qin Jianhe's arm around his waist tighten slowly. "Why should I miss someone who doesn't respect me or my career? Am I a masochist?"

Qi Xin: "..."

"If you feel uneasy because I can't always respond to you," he said indifferently, "then go find someone who can always please you. What's the point of hanging around me?"

Qi Xin: "..."

Realizing that Ye Zhiqiu was truly angry, Qi Xin quickly apologized.

"Sorry, Xiao Qiu, this time it was my fault. I didn't consider your situation." He said, "But I really, really miss you, so I lost my composure. Please don't be mad, okay?"

His last sentence was full of pleading.

Seemingly appeased, Ye Zhiqiu fell silent for a moment.

"Tomorrow," his tone softened slightly, "I can spare some time at noon. You can come over for lunch."

The arm around his waist tightened unconsciously, and Ye Zhiqiu shifted slightly.

"Hey, Ye Zhiqiu," Qin Jianhe's voice whispered in his ear, "are you trying to fish while I'm here?"

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Even a whisper makes a sound, so he quickly covered Qin Jianhe's mouth and nose.

In the next moment, Qin Jianhe kissed his hand, burning hot, making Ye Zhiqiu instantly pull his hand away.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

This call was indeed impossible to continue.

Hearing Qi Xin's ecstatic response, Ye Zhiqiu hung up the phone directly.

"I told you," Ye Zhiqiu turned his face away, "not to interfere with my personal matters, right?"

Qin Jianhe's expression remained unchanged, but he deliberately jolted Ye Zhiqiu's legs.

The jolt made Ye Zhiqiu's last few words come out in a strange tone.

Ye Zhiqiu: "...Qin Jianhe, you're really childish, you know?"

"How so?" Qin Jianhe held his hand and shook it gently. "Do you want me to go away too?"

"I wouldn't dare," Ye Zhiqiu looked at him with a half-smile, "I wouldn't want Mr. Qin to make me go away at work later."

As he spoke, Ye Zhiqiu's fingers tightened unconsciously. For the first time, he leaned forward and kissed the corner of Qin Jianhe's mouth.

"Don't let you go," Qin Jianhe returned the kiss, his voice slightly hoarse and muffled.

"Good," Ye Zhiqiu became smug. He lifted his hand to wrap around Qin Jianhe's neck, tilted his head up proudly, and said, "Then please carry me to bed, Mr. Qin?"

"Hold on." Qin Jianhe said, holding him in his arms and continuing their kiss.

Qin Jianhe is so innocent, Ye Zhiqiu thought, amused.

If it were anyone else, they would have taken him straight to bed after such an invitation.

But Qin Jianhe preferred to hold him and kiss him.

He seemed to love kissing him so much.

The phone on the desk kept making noise, ringing and vibrating.

The one ringing was his, and the one vibrating was Qin Jianhe's.

After a long kiss, Ye Zhiqiu leaned over to grab the phone, intending to put it on silent.

There were several messages, all from Li Ling.

"Soft and small 0: I told you men can't change their ways. Gao Wenye contacted me again today."

"Soft and small 0: He wants me to... you know."

"Soft and small 0: Can I make a request today?"

"Soft and small 0: ..."

Ye Zhiqiu quickly scanned through Li Ling's messages and then clicked to reply.

"Ye Zhiqiu: Yes."

"Ye Zhiqiu: No need to reply. Enjoy yourself."

Then he set the phone to silent and turned to look at Qin Jianhe.

"Your phone has been vibrating," Ye Zhiqiu said. "Don't you want to check it?"

"No need," Qin Jianhe replied, picking Ye Zhiqiu up in his arms and rising, heading straight for the bed.

Although Ye Zhiqiu wasn't short, standing at a full meter eighty, he felt surprisingly light in Qin Jianhe's arms.

Yet oddly enough, his body felt very soft.

For some reason, Qin Jianhe had the illusion of holding a fluffy cloud.

"Why are you so thin?" he asked, bending down to place Ye Zhiqiu on the bed.

"Maybe I've just been growing taller," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile, looking up.

Qin Jianhe's bedding was all in light gray stripes, clean and tidy, matching his own slightly aloof demeanor.

But lying on it felt soft and warm, very comfortable.

Ye Zhiqiu pulled the thin blanket over himself and quietly hid the lotion bottle under the pillow.

Then he turned to watch Qin Jianhe lift the quilt and get into bed from the other side.

"Let's sleep," Qin Jianhe said, turning off the overhead light and leaving only the warm bedside lamp on. "Little one who just finished growing taller."

"Wrong," Ye Zhiqiu said, rolling closer and being tightly embraced by Qin Jianhe. "I might still grow a bit more at twenty-two."

Qin Jianhe seemed to chuckle softly, smoothing Ye Zhiqiu's jet-black hair back, revealing his entire face.

Under the dim light, his gaze was particularly calm and focused.

Ye Zhiqiu felt a bit nervous and closed his eyes again involuntarily.

But after a while, Qin Jianhe made no further move.

In the silence, Ye Zhiqiu could hear his gentle, long breaths.

Getting impatient, Ye Zhiqiu lifted his face and met Qin Jianhe's lowered gaze.

Qin Jianhe was looking at him but made no move.

"What?" Ye Zhiqiu said. "You've seen a pig run, right? You can't be expecting me to teach you everything?"

"Or..." he rolled over and lay on Qin Jianhe's chest. "Do you have some weird fetish?"

"No," Qin Jianhe held him tighter, chuckling softly, his chest vibrating slightly. "Didn't you say you didn't sleep well last night?"

"Huh?" Ye Zhiqiu blinked slowly, confused.

Perhaps he looked too good and too adorably clueless, Qin Jianhe couldn't help but lean down and kiss his cheek.

"So," Ye Zhiqiu lowered his eyes slightly. "Did you call me here just to sleep with you?"

Though it was still sleeping, sleeping was different from sleeping.

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't expected that Qin Jianhe would bring him here without any intentions, just to rest.

Clearly, Qin Jianhe wanted to.

He held him so tightly, unable to let go, lips brushing against his cheeks and lips, kissing him continuously.

Saying he didn't want to was a lie.

Ye Zhiqiu fell silent for a moment, the smile on his face gradually fading.

"What?" he said. "We're not dating."

"Not happy?" Qin Jianhe asked, instinctively touching his soft hair.

"If you want to sleep, why don't I just go home?" Ye Zhiqiu frowned. "Why do I have to come to Mr. Qin's house to get some sleep?"

"Just do what needs to be done." Ye Zhiqiu said. "I don't like these pointless entanglements."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, his expression unchanged as he gently stroked his back.

"Alright," he said.

Ye Zhiqiu's sensitivity and avoidance of emotions were something he had already noticed before.

This was not the attitude a normal nineteen-year-old boy should have toward relationships.

At this age, one should be filled with infinite longing and beautiful fantasies about love, not so cold, so distant, and so eager to avoid it.

Unless, like him, Ye Zhiqiu had experienced some severe emotional trauma.

"Alright," Qin Jianhe said, "let's do it."

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

Why did it sound like business talk coming from this person?

And yet, it felt oddly like coaxing a child.

For a moment, it made him seem quite unreasonable.

In any case, his image in Qin Jianhe's eyes had already shattered from the very beginning. Ye Zhiqiu suppressed his embarrassment, slightly rose, and pulled off Qin Jianhe's robe belt.

Seeing Qin Jianhe look down at his chest and abdomen, he lifted his hand and pressed Ye Zhiqiu down to kiss him.

"Holy shit!" Ye Zhiqiu exclaimed, "Mr. Qin, you have eight-pack abs? How can you manage to look slim in clothes but muscular without them?"

Ye Zhiqiu broke free from the hand on the back of his head and couldn't help reaching out to touch him.

"Wow," he said.

Qin Jianhe: "…"

Qin Jianhe didn't speak, but his eyes darkened involuntarily.

Subtle, dark, and full of aggression.

Without a word, he lifted his hand again, pressing Ye Zhiqiu back down and tilting his head to kiss him.

"Damn it!" Ye Zhiqiu mumbled, "Qin Jianhe, are you a dog? Why do you love biting so much?"

Qin Jianhe didn't speak but rolled over, enveloping Ye Zhiqiu entirely.

He remained silent but quickly rendered Ye Zhiqiu speechless.

The bedroom was filled only with their rapid breathing and occasional muffled groans.

In the dim light, Ye Zhiqiu's pale arms glistened with a thin layer of sweat. He reached under the pillow and handed the lotion to Qin Jianhe.

"Do I need to teach you how to use this?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, his voice sounding as if it held moisture.

"Yes," Qin Jianhe looked down at him, his thick, black lashes wet with sweat, his voice even more hoarse and sexy. He called him, "Teacher Ye."

That voice seemed to send electric currents through him. Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu curled his toes, then closed his eyes, slightly lifting his body to whisper something in Qin Jianhe's ear, blushing.

Afterwards, he lay back down, his cheeks flushed, his eyes like damp brown lakes.

Unable to resist, Qin Jianhe leaned down to kiss his eyes.

His burning lips traced along his thin eyelids, finally landing in the hollow of his neck.

"Don't leave any marks," Ye Zhiqiu pushed his head away with his hand.

"Wear a turtleneck," Qin Jianhe mumbled, intensifying his actions.

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

Calling him a dog wasn't an exaggeration.

That night, Ye Zhiqiu experienced for the first time the feeling of being completely dominated and utterly lost.

…

When everything ended, he was too exhausted to even lift his eyelids. He vaguely felt Qin Jianhe carrying him into the bathroom to clean him up.

His hands and kisses were as gentle as the warm water flowing beside him, and Ye Zhiqiu soon fell asleep in his arms.

That night, Ye Zhiqiu dreamed of being tightly bound by ropes. When he woke up, he realized that it was Qin Jianhe's arm wrapped tightly around his waist.

His nose was pressed against the hollow of Qin Jianhe's neck.

Qin Jianhe still smelled faintly of the fresh lemon-scented shower gel, clean and refreshing.

Ye Zhiqiu's eyelashes fluttered, and he raised his eyes to look at him.

Qin Jianhe had woken up at some point and was looking down at him. Seeing him raise his face, he leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose.

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled and stretched lazily.

Before he could finish stretching, Qin Jianhe suddenly flipped over, pinning him down again.

Under the thin blanket, his hot hand hooked around his leg, pushing it upward.

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

"Damn it." He kicked out with all his strength, but Qin Jianhe caught his ankle effortlessly.

"Ye Zhiqiu," Qin Jianhe sounded amused, "kids shouldn't swear."

"Can I not swear?" Ye Zhiqiu cursed, though his voice was soft, "It's your first time, after all."

He complained silently, rubbing his waist, "But it's my first time too."

This body was indeed experiencing everything for the first time.

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe seemed to be slightly taken aback.

Then, he relaxed his body lines, looking down at Ye Zhiqiu with lowered eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu's waist was snow-white and slender, the curve deeply indented, beautifully like a masterpiece that masters spend years carving.

"Are you tired?" Qin Jianhe looked at him with lowered eyes, his gaze intense.

"What do you think?" Ye Zhiqiu said, then muttered softly after a moment, "Are you really a dog?"

Qin Jianhe seemed to laugh lightly, his voice low and breathy.

The sound brushed past Ye Zhiqiu's ear, making him unconsciously touch his ear.

"What would you like to eat?" Qin Jianhe grabbed the robe casually thrown aside yesterday and put it on. "I'll cook."

"You can cook?" Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but show surprise upon hearing this.

"A little." Qin Jianhe smiled gently, lowering his eyes. "Not much."

He asked again, "Is there anything specific you want to eat?"

"Anything is fine," Ye Zhiqiu said. "As long as I don't have to cook, anything will do."

"You can cook too?" Qin Jianhe laughed, seemingly not believing it.

Perhaps because they had just slept together, his smile was clean and pure, completely different from his usual cold demeanor.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at him, thinking how handsome he truly was.

"A little." Ye Zhiqiu buried half of his face in the pillow. "But let me make one thing clear: even if I can cook, I won't cook for anyone in this lifetime."

In his previous life, Qi Xin had manipulated him into spending years in the kitchen; he would never cook for anyone again in this life.

Qin Jianhe looked at him with lowered eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu's eyes were half-closed, his thick, long lashes resting on his pale skin, his expression turning colder as he spoke.

"Mm." Qin Jianhe bent down, running his hand through Ye Zhiqiu's hair. "I'll cook."

He added, "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you up when it's ready."

Ye Zhiqiu only hummed faintly in response.

Qin Jianhe didn't disturb him further and got up to enter the dressing room.

As Qin Jianhe's footsteps faded away, Ye Zhiqiu pulled the blanket up higher.

Still sleepy, but unable to fall asleep, he closed his eyes to rest.

Estimating that enough time had passed, he reached for his phone and saw Li Ling's message.

"Soft and small 0: Indeed, the nearly seven-figure maintenance fee I spent on myself this year wasn't wasted. Even an Oscar winner is head over heels for me."

The seven-figure amount wasn't exaggerated by Li Ling.

He was the top host at the largest club in City A, serving only high-profile clients privately.

These people had high standards and were generous with their money.

After all, you need the chicken before the egg, so Li Ling spared no expense on himself.

Skin care, intimate area maintenance, internal and external treatments—nothing was overlooked.

His skin was almost as smooth as silk everywhere.

No wonder Gao Wenye couldn't forget about him even after being caught cheating with Ye Zhixia.

However, in his previous life, Qi Xin was also infatuated with Li Ling for a while.

Back then, Li Ling worked for Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia. Because of his irresistible charm, Gao Wenye signed him to his entertainment company.

Since his previous clients were high-end, no one exposed his past experiences or profession, allowing him to thrive in the entertainment industry later on.

This time, Li Ling also had the intention of getting some resources from Gao Wenye, hoping to transition into a new career while he was still young and attractive.

"Soft and small 0: This time without getting drunk was much better. I tested your brother; he can still enjoy a few more years of a good life."

"..."

Ye Zhiqiu, too exhausted to lift his fingers, sent a voice message with half-closed eyes.

"Talk about something serious other than that."

"Soft and small 0: Oh, oh, oh, I know that voice. Did you get laid yesterday? Who? If it wasn't someone with a strong physique, you wouldn't sound like this?"

"Soft and small 0: Who could catch your eye? Come on, tell me."

"Soft and small 0: When you're done with him, remember to introduce him to me. No charge, I'll come to you."

"..."

Ye Zhiqiu, this Li Ling, when told not to talk about something, he insisted on doing exactly that.

Ye Zhiqiu cleared his throat.

"Or I won't bother with you anymore."

"Soft and small 0: It's looking good. High-profile Actor is about to finish his contract with the company and plans to start his own venture. Considering your brother's situation, he can arrange for me to sign with another company but will provide some resources privately."

"Alright." Ye Zhiqiu said listlessly, "Just make sure you review the contract carefully so you don't get scammed. I'll still give you the money you need, and handle everything else yourself."

A neatly folded pile of clean clothes was placed on the bedside table. Ye Zhiqiu picked them up and saw a light beige turtleneck sweater.

Unconsciously, he reached up to touch his neck and obediently changed into the sweater.

After tidying himself up, Ye Zhiqiu opened the door.

The morning sunlight flooded the living room floor, and the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of cooking food.

It felt quite homely.

Silently, Ye Zhiqiu approached the kitchen.

Qin Jianhe had just put noodles in the pot and was now focused on chopping vegetables with his eyes downcast.

Sunlight streamed in from the side window, casting a soft, warm glow on his chiseled profile.

His usually cold eyes now seemed to carry a hint of indescribable gentleness.

He looked very handsome.

After finishing the vegetables, Qin Jianhe added them to the simmering soup pot, then glanced at the time and turned around.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "Almost done?"

"Almost." Qin Jianhe smiled back, then asked after a moment, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Ye Zhiqiu nodded, "just a bit hungry."

"Almost." Qin Jianhe repeated, "Go sit at the dining table and wait for me."

"Do you need help with the bowls?" Ye Zhiqiu offered.

"I've got it." Qin Jianhe looked at him, a faint smile in his eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't hesitate.

He went to the dining room and sat in the sunlight, watching Qin Jianhe work.

Soon, Qin Jianhe brought out two bowls of vegetable noodles drizzled with sesame oil, which looked light and delicious.

Then, he brought out two side dishes.

One dish of shrimp and tofu, and one of steamed egg.

"Eat more," he said, using a spoon to portion the steamed egg onto Ye Zhiqiu's plate to cool it down.

They sat opposite each other, eating silently.

Ye Zhiqiu ate attentively, quickly finishing most of his bowl.

"Are you meeting Qi Xin today?" When Ye Zhiqiu was nearly finished, Qin Jianhe handed him a napkin.

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

"Actually, the night before last, when I was at a business dinner at the hotel, I saw him." Qin Jianhe paused, "He was with Ye Zhixia."

Ye Zhiqiu was taken aback, then suddenly understood.

No wonder Qin Jianhe knew about something as private as "finding a bed partner."

The problem must have originated with Tang Yue.

"Ye Zhixia gave him a bottle of medicine, probably an aphrodisiac." Qin Jianhe put down his utensils and elegantly wiped his lips, "Be careful when you see him again."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu scoffed.

From his past life to this one, these people only knew how to use underhanded tactics.

But today, the sun was so bright, and the person sitting across from him was both handsome and elegant. Ye Zhiqiu didn't feel too disturbed.

Instead, he couldn't help but smile while listening.

Perhaps it was because of his nonchalant attitude, or perhaps for another reason.

Qin Jianhe extended his hand, "Give me your phone."

"What for?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Not to look at your privacy." Qin Jianhe insisted, looking at him.

Ye Zhiqiu hesitated for a moment, then finally unlocked his phone and placed it in Qin Jianhe's hand.

Qin Jianhe looked down, operated on the screen for a moment, and then returned the phone.

"I set up emergency contacts and quick contacts for you," Qin Jianhe said calmly, "Contact me no matter what happens."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and looked up, "No matter when, no matter where, you can come?"

"Yes." Qin Jianhe nodded slightly, his gaze deep, "I can come."