Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"Hey." Ye Zhiqiu wanted to laugh, but only managed to utter one word before his lips were bitten.

Qin Jianhe lowered his head and kissed him deeply.

The cold door frame pressed against his shoulders, causing a slight ache.

Just as Ye Zhiqiu was about to struggle, Qin Jianhe's warm hand gripped his shoulder, pulling him into an embrace.

They switched positions, with Qin Jianhe leaning against the door, kissing him again.

He couldn't believe how strong Qin Jianhe was. Not only was his kiss fierce, but the hand around his waist felt like iron, preventing any movement.

In the midst of this, a knock on the door suddenly sounded, making Ye Zhiqiu hurriedly push him away.

But Qin Jianhe seemed oblivious and leaned in once more.

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

Perhaps sensing no response inside, the person knocked several times before finally giving up.

The office fell silent again, filled only with their suppressed and rapid breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Jianhe finally lifted his head slowly, turning the deep kiss into a gentle one as he lightly nipped Ye Zhiqiu's lips.

"You, you..." Ye Zhiqiu was speechless and finally managed to push Qin Jianhe away.

Qin Jianhe laughed but didn't let go.

He held Ye Zhiqiu in his arms, leaning against the door, looking at him quietly.

"I'm just full of energy," he said, his voice low, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of desire, making Ye Zhiqiu's ears turn slightly red.

Instinctively, he reached up to touch his ear,

"Did you call me here just to be a pervert?" he tried to look stern.

Unfortunately, the flush on his face and the moisture in his eyes made his words powerless.

"Mm." Qin Jianhe shamelessly agreed, smiling at him.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu about to raise his fist, he chuckled.

"I missed you," he said, "Yesterday, when I went to the stairwell, you weren't there."

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

His clenched fist somehow loosened.

He pursed his lips and looked away, "Serves you right."

Seeing that Qin Jianhe still hadn't let go, he added, "Someone came looking for you earlier."

"Let's set that aside for now," Qin Jianhe said, holding his hand and leading him to sit on the sofa by the window.

As usual, he dialed the intercom and had someone bring in a cup of hot milk and a few small desserts.

Once the person left, Qin Jianhe opened his desk drawer and took out a very exquisite metal box.

The box was small, fitting in his palm.

"Last time, you liked it," he said, offering it to Ye Zhiqiu.

"What is it?" Ye Zhiqiu curiously took it.

Just moments ago, he was still pouting, but now his attention was drawn by the milk and desserts.

Qin Jianhe watched him silently.

Ye Zhiqiu was a contradiction.

Sometimes a bit playful, yet mostly innocent; willing to argue but also quick to let things go...

This made him vivid, lively, and attractive.

Even a little mysterious.

Seeing him focused on the metal box, Qin Jianhe's eyes softened with a faint smile.

He reached out and took the box back into his palm.

Then, using his thumb, he pushed open the lid.

Inside was a piece of chocolate.

"This size is perfect," Qin Jianhe smiled, handing the box back to Ye Zhiqiu, "It brings joy without harming your health from overindulgence."

Ye Zhiqiu: "…"

About to say something about being stingy, he opened his mouth but swallowed his words.

"Done with personal matters?" he asked, "What's the business matter?"

At this point, he paused, "Did you not unlock the door yet?"

Seeing his concern, Qin Jianhe didn't say anything and got up to unlock the door.

"Regarding your assistant last time," Qin Jianhe asked, "Do you really not need one?"

Behind us, we have to go abroad for an exhibition, and someone needs to stay behind in the country. This means that Ye Zhiqiu can take at most two people with him.

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu said, biting into his chocolate.

"Was it Zhou Lang who arranged for someone to go?" Qin Jianhe asked, lifting his cup for a sip.

For Ye Zhiqiu, they had brought hot milk, while he himself was drinking coffee.

"I didn't delve too deeply into it," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Probably."

If Sun Chaoyang could have joined Zhou Lang's team before, then there was indeed no need for him to come here.

And if Sun Chaoyang couldn't join Zhou Lang's team before, then it shouldn't be that he just joined Ye Zhiqiu's team and the opportunity came right away.

Since the other assistants unanimously chose to remain silent on this matter, he didn't press further.

It was merely a trivial matter anyway.

"He approached me himself, saying he wanted to go to Teacher Zhou's side," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Since he was willing to go, I couldn't force him to stay, so I told Teacher Meng about it."

Any internal personnel changes within the Design Department require Meng Da's signature to be effective.

"I don't lack people here," he said to Qin Jianhe. "Even if I did, I could approach Teacher Meng myself; there's no need for you to intervene from above."

Qin Jianhe smiled slightly and nodded.

"The model list has arrived today," he said. "Are they all new faces?"

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu said. "But they fit our style very well."

Qin Jianhe held his coffee, looking at him without speaking for a moment.

"Don't you trust my judgment?" Ye Zhiqiu raised his eyes sensitively.

"Not exactly," Qin Jianhe said, his tone returning to reason. "But this is your first show since stepping onto this stage, and most people would choose to play it safe."

"Moreover," he continued, "the company has the ability to get you the best models."

Qin Jianhe was skilled at speaking.

If he had said, "Shouldn't you play it safe?"

Ye Zhiqiu would likely have been displeased.

Perhaps because of the trauma from his past life, he tended to be more forgiving towards unimportant people.

But with someone like Qin Jianhe, he was stricter and more sensitive.

He disliked anyone interfering with his affairs, especially in a domineering manner.

This emotion sometimes became so strong that it made him overlook their superior-subordinate relationship.

But he didn't say it that way.

He only mentioned that most people would choose to play it safe.

Considering his feelings without questioning his decision.

Ye Zhiqiu's prickly defenses slowly relaxed.

"Do you believe in me?" he asked.

"Rationally, I trust results," Qin Jianhe replied with a faint smile in his eyes. "But emotionally, I'm willing to believe in you."

"Then let's see," Ye Zhiqiu said.

He finished his milk, dessert, and chocolate, and was about to pat his hands and leave when he suddenly heard Qin Jianhe ask, "Dinner tonight?"

"Dinner or..." Ye Zhiqiu looked at him with a half-smile.

Qin Jianhe remained silent, watching him quietly, his phoenix eyes darkening.

"My team is celebrating tonight," Ye Zhiqiu laughed, somewhat mischievously. "Mr. Qin, if you can't resist, you still have your hands."

"Thank you for the advice, Teacher Ye," Qin Jianhe said calmly, unusually sincere.

The door was knocked on again. Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and stood up, but his beautiful eyes curved slightly despite himself.

It was Meng Da who came in. Seeing Ye Zhiqiu, he was slightly taken aback.

"Xiao Ye, what are you doing here?"

"Discussing the upcoming exhibition with the leader," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

Meng Da looked at Qin Jianhe.

He knew that Qin Jianhe usually didn't like Ye Zhiqiu much. Was he making things difficult for him?

"You go back first," he said, lowering his voice. "I'll talk to the leader."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, forcing a straight face.

"Alright." He nodded and left.

With the clothes and models all sorted out, Gao Yang, Wang Ru, and Zhang Lan finally felt relieved.

The atmosphere in Ye Zhiqiu's group chat became light and cheerful for once.

These were the final days before their departure, and Gao Yang had reserved a place for everyone to have a meal together and celebrate.

Thinking about it, since Ye Zhiqiu arrived, they had been living in a state of high tension and hadn't even had a chance to share a meal together.

The place Gao Yang chose was not far from the company.

At this moment, seeing that Ye Zhiqiu hadn't returned yet, everyone chatted while waiting.

This time, Ye Zhiqiu was taking two assistants with him, and Wang Ru and Gao Yang had already been selected.

Zhang Lan was resilient and could handle tough situations, so he left her behind in the country.

Wang Ru was more meticulous and could help oversee things when busy abroad.

Gao Yang was a boy with good foreign language skills, and he could handle errands or physical tasks.

Everyone was convinced by Ye Zhiqiu's arrangements, so the atmosphere was very harmonious.

"This time, Professor Zhou is indeed taking Sun Chaoyang with him," Gao Yang said.

"Given what he said, how could he not take him?" Zhang Lan said.

"Last time," Wang Ru said, pointing upstairs, "after coming out of the leader's office, he immediately sent an apology email to the cooperative factory."

She smiled. "He deserved it. If he had sent it earlier, it wouldn't have ended up on the official website, embarrassing the entire circle."

"Do you think," Gao Yang asked, "our company is going to change?"

"Not necessarily," Zhang Lan said, "but now that the company is balanced among three factions, resources and decision-making power might not be concentrated in just one or two people anymore."

"..."

The office door opened, and Ye Zhiqiu walked in, causing everyone to stop talking.

"Today, I'm treating everyone," Ye Zhiqiu pretended not to notice their whispering and put on his down jacket.

Hearing this, Gao Yang immediately said, "We should have chosen a more expensive place."

Ye Zhiqiu laughed. "No worries, after dinner, you three can go out and play. Tonight's expenses are all on me."

The three burst into cheers.

"I'm not done yet," Ye Zhiqiu laughed. "Tomorrow, I'll give each of you a day off. Rest well at home."

Another round of cheers erupted.

If Thursday was a holiday, that meant they would have three full days off this weekend.

"I'll still come in tomorrow," Wang Ru said. "The exhibits need to be air-freighted, and someone needs to supervise the sorting and packaging."

"I'll handle it," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile.

"But," he changed his tone, "be careful when you go out tonight. Report back safely in the group chat once you get home."

Everyone hurriedly agreed, but they also found it a bit amusing.

Among this group, although Ye Zhiqiu was the boss, he was the youngest.

The older ones like Wang Ru were twenty-six, while the younger ones like Gao Yang and Zhang Lan were twenty-five.

At this moment, being seriously reminded about safety by someone several years younger than them made them feel both touched and a bit strange.

"The professor too," Wang Ru said.

"Sure," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

After dinner, the three went to a bar to relax. Ye Zhiqiu, who had work the next day, drove straight home.

His workload over the past few days had been considerable.

Not only did he need to oversee the packing of the exhibits, but he also had to prepare backup sets for each of the three exhibits.

In addition, he needed to cut related fabrics for each set, just in case.

If Lin Qunsheng's suppression could be barely tolerated,

Zhou Lang...

His arrival directly affected Zhou Lang's interests.

Whether it was considered petty or not, with four exhibition venues and such a long duration, he had to prepare for any possible emergencies.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely be working overtime at the company this Saturday and Sunday.

As the car entered the Ye family gate, the courtyard lights were still on.

Ye Zhiqiu saw Ye Hongxian and Ye Zheng's cars parked there.

It was rare for the family to be so complete today, so Ye Zhiqiu got out of the car.

Ye Hongxian and Ye Zheng had just returned from somewhere and were having a late-night snack in the dining room.

Tao Ruoqing was sitting nearby, talking on the phone with some other wife in her social circle.

Seeing him enter, she smiled and said, "Speak of the devil, our Xiao Qiu is back. Let me ask him."

But as soon as she hung up, her expression turned serious.

"These wives know you're going to Q.L. They all asked me for information."

"What news?" Ye Zhiqiu didn't understand.

"The eldest son of the Qin family," Tao Ruoqing sneered. "Everyone's dreaming of turning from a common sparrow into a phoenix."

She usually maintained a good image and never spoke so harshly.

But recently, she had been stressed by Ye Zhixia, watching her dreams of marrying into a wealthy family crumble. She was even less willing to see others succeed.

Especially now, when Ye Zhixia was causing trouble over Gao Wenye, and someone came to ask her about Qin Jianhe...

It was like deliberately stabbing a knife into her heart.

"I'm not close to him," Ye Zhiqiu smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"I told them the same thing," Tao Ruoqing said. "His status isn't something anyone can easily approach."

When she said this, Ye Hongxian frowned slightly, displeased.

Tao Ruoqing knew his concerns.

He was hoping Ye Zhiqiu could climb high and change the current mediocre status of their family.

Seeing his reaction, she curled her lips in mockery.

Ye Zhiqiu ignored their silent exchange and sat down with a smile.

"Dad, Mom, Big Brother," he said, "I've seriously considered it. Instead of seeing Ye Zhixia every day as if we're enemies, I think it's better for me to move out. This way, everyone can calm down. Without seeing me, maybe he won't be so angry, and our relationship might have a chance to improve in the future."

"You want to move out?" Ye Zheng paused with his chopsticks, frowning.

"No," Tao Ruoqing also said.

Ye Zhiqiu's intention to move out was something she had already learned from Tang Yue, so she wasn't surprised.

Moreover, she understood that Ye Zhiqiu's decision was indeed to ease tensions with Ye Zhixia, not because he suspected her.

So her reaction wasn't strong.

Still, she didn't agree.

After all, if Ye Zhiqiu moved out, how could she continue to manipulate and control him?

Among the three, Ye Hongxian reacted most strongly.

Although he didn't like Ye Zhiqiu, he was still his child.

And the only child he had with Lan Yue.

If Ye Zhiqiu moved out, the house would be left with just him and Tao Ruoqing's mother-son duo.

It would seem as if Ye Zhiqiu truly became an outsider in the family.

And as if Ye Zhiqiu truly had no home.

Ye Hongxian softened his heart towards Ye Zhiqiu.

"Stay at home," he said. "Brothers should overcome any difficulties together."

"It's precisely because we're brothers that I want to give us some space," Ye Zhiqiu touched the injured spot on his face. "You know it's not the first time."

"Also," before they could respond, he continued, "Mom should know that I've been working late almost every night, sometimes even overnight. The commute from home to the company is far, and my sleep isn't sufficient. So, I want to rent a small apartment near the company, which would solve two problems at once."

"If you're tired, Dad will help you rent it." Hearing how hard Ye Zhiqiu worked, Ye Hongxian frowned for a moment, saying something considerate for once.

Tao Ruoqing glanced at Ye Hongxian upon hearing this.

For so many years, she had put in so much effort, watching Ye Hongxian and Ye Zhiqiu grow apart.

But at crucial moments, father and son were still connected.

"If you're really tired, Mom feels for you too," she said. "How about this: after you move, Aunt Zhao and I will clean your place once a week, and you can come back home on weekends."

"How messy can one person's place get?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Besides, it's easy to hire a cleaner these days; there's no need for you and Aunt Zhao to go out of your way. As for weekends..."

"We'll see. If I have time, I'll come back for dinner," he said, smiling at Ye Hongxian. "As for the apartment, you and Big Brother are busy. I'll have Baby and Shaojun help me look for one."

"That sounds good," Ye Hongxian said. "Shaojun is reliable."

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Also, next week, I'm going to New York with my colleagues to attend this year's autumn-winter fashion week, and then to London. It will take about half a month."

He didn't plan to go to Milan or Paris.

After New York and London, Gao Yang and Wang Ru should be familiar with the entire process.

At that point, handing them and Wei Tingjin and Zhou Hui over to Meng Da would be enough.

Because of the preparations for the fashion week, he hadn't been to school recently and had taken leave from Zhang Wenyuan.

He hadn't even touched the books and tools related to leatherwork, and even Zhang Mian had postponed everything that could be delayed, giving him the maximum space.

He needed to save time and use it effectively.

Back upstairs, Ye Zhiqiu took a shower and then sat at his desk, reviewing recent events as usual.

After filling a piece of paper with notes, he tore it up and threw it in the trash.

Then, he sent a message in the group chat, mentioning his plan to move out and inviting everyone to dinner the next evening.

It was already late, so Ye Zhiqiu didn't wait for their replies. He turned off the lights, went to bed, and slept soundly.

The next day, after a busy day at work, the group chat had been lively for quite some time by the time he finished.

Ye Zhiqiu straightened up from his workstation and placed his tools down before picking up his phone to check the messages.

Li Shaojun, Jin Baobao, and Tang Yue were already at the restaurant near the company, waiting for him alone.

Ye Zhiqiu scrolled through the messages, smiling at the lively and adorable chat history in the group.

In this world, it seemed that only Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao could touch the softest corner of his heart.

He put down his phone, packed up his things, and prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to put on his coat, he suddenly remembered something.

Yesterday, in Qin Jianhe's office, he said he would wait for him in the stairwell.

He put his coat back down, took out his lighter and cigarettes, and pushed the door open into the stairwell.

The sound of the door opening and closing was minimal, but the motion-sensor lights in the stairwell still turned on.

Ye Zhiqiu tiptoed up a few steps and saw Qin Jianhe standing with a smile on the small platform where he usually stood.

Instinctively, he smiled.

"Got me today," he said, playfully winking.

"Mm," Qin Jianhe replied faintly.

"I'll be going to Hong Kong for the next couple of days," he said, looking down at Ye Zhiqiu with a smile. "Thinking that you might have flown to London when I return, I couldn't help but miss you a bit."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu reached out his hand in an ambiguous gesture.

First pointing at his chest, then lower down.

"Where do you miss?" he asked, grinning mischievously.

Qin Jianhe: "..."

Although Ye Zhiqiu's way of asking was unique, it coincided with his own doubts.

He wasn't sure what liking or loving meant...

But he knew what desire was.

He had a strong desire for Ye Zhiqiu.

Even though, occasionally, the wounds from his childhood would reopen in the dark of night, revealing the pain of the past.

The more painful it was, the stronger the need became.

"Isn't the answer obvious?" Ye Zhiqiu frowned. "Do you really need to think about it?"

As he spoke, his hand ventured downward, not quite behaving properly.

Qin Jianhe looked down and held his wrist.

Then, he clasped his hand in his own.

Moonlight fell on their shoulders and onto Ye Zhiqiu's beautiful eyes.

Those eyes were clear and bright under the moonlight.

But the gaze directed at him was hard for Qin Jianhe to decipher.

"That day," Qin Jianhe suddenly asked, "after you took photos here, did you post them?"

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and nodded.

He opened his phone, went into his social media feed, and showed Qin Jianhe.

Qin Jianhe chuckled softly, reading aloud: "Sharing a cigarette can feel so wonderful, like countless nights when we're cuddling and kissing."

"My caption wasn't bad, right?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Mm," Qin Jianhe smiled, lowering his eyes to light the cigarette between his fingers. "Want to try? The feeling of sharing a cigarette."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Ye Zhiqiu stood beside him, slightly tilting his head down, and took a puff from the cigarette between Qin Jianhe's fingers.

The rich citrus aroma and light mint flavor instantly mingled in his mouth, quite invigorating.

They took turns, silently finishing the cigarette.

Qin Jianhe extinguished the last ember, then suddenly asked, "That day, what did you say to Qi Xin?"

Ye Zhiqiu turned his head to look at him. "Nothing much."

"I saw him throw away that bottle of pills when he left," Qin Jianhe chuckled.

"You..." Ye Zhiqiu frowned.

"Sorry," Qin Jianhe said, "I know you don't like others meddling in your private affairs, but the situation was special that day, and I was genuinely worried."

Ye Zhiqiu fell silent, somewhat angry.

After a while, he coldly said, "Don't let it happen again."

"Mm," Qin Jianhe responded, lowering his head to kiss him.

"Come to my place tonight," he said.

"No," Ye Zhiqiu mumbled, "I have plans."

As soon as he said that, his phone rang. It was Li Shaojun.

Ye Zhiqiu answered it, and in the empty stairwell, even without speakerphone, Li Shaojun's voice was clear.

"Are you coming or not?" Li Shaojun asked. "The food is getting cold."

"Be right there," Ye Zhiqiu said. "Start eating without me."

"We've already started," Li Shaojun said, then paused, sounding a bit puzzled. "What’s wrong with your voice? Are you sick?"

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

The man beside him clicked another cigarette and, upon hearing this, couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Old Qiu, I'm just saying," Li Shaojun said, displeased, "if you're sick, don’t smoke, okay?"

"Got it," Ye Zhiqiu had to say.

"By the way," Li Shaojun asked, "do you have any requirements for the house? I looked online today, and there are quite a few good options. Since it's the weekend tomorrow and the day after, if you’re free, I can go check them out with Big Bao."

"I'll talk to you about it when we meet," Ye Zhiqiu said, hanging up the call.

"You're moving out?" Qin Jianhe asked.

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

"Move to my place," Qin Jianhe said.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Qin Jianhe," he said, "our relationship isn't appropriate."

He stood straight, preparing to leave, but his wrist was still held tightly by Qin Jianhe.

"At least don't let your friend look for places," he said, "I have two apartments nearby that are just sitting empty."

"That would make it seem like I’m being kept by you," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"You really are picky," Qin Jianhe laughed, his tone unreadable. After a moment, he said, "I’ll charge rent."

"How big is the house?" Ye Zhiqiu asked again. "My stepmother will definitely visit often. If she finds out the house I rent is bigger than ours, I fear she won’t be able to handle it."

The fingers holding his wrist stiffened imperceptibly.

Ye Zhiqiu thought: Indeed.

Just as he was about to speak, Qin Jianhe added, "There’s a smaller one, less than a hundred square meters, perfect for you."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

For one person, it wasn’t small at all.

But it could accommodate a workspace.

"I’ll take a look and decide later," Ye Zhiqiu said, looking at the hand holding his wrist. "I need to go now. Next time..."

Thinking about it, this was Qin Jianhe’s first time.

Who wouldn’t get addicted to the novelty for a few months?

It was indeed hard for him to suddenly be alone.

"Where are you eating?" Qin Jianhe looked at him, his gaze deep and intense. "I’ll come pick you up later."

"Forget it," Ye Zhiqiu suddenly felt a pang of sympathy but didn’t want to be seen. After a moment, he said, "I’ll take a cab to your place later."

The cigarette between his fingers was almost finished, and Qin Jianhe took a while to respond.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll wait for you."