Chapter 53

Chapter 53

"Just a coincidence..."

Looking down at Qin Jianhe's reply, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but smile and gently shake his head.

Such words wouldn't even fool a child, let alone him.

When these shoes were first released, Ye Zhiqiu was absolutely smitten with them.

Back then, he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, the age when he was most obsessed with such things and loved to compete with others.

Plus, Tao Ruoqing always indulged him in material things, so he insisted on getting a pair.

Ye Zheng even stayed up all night trying to get them for him, but they came up empty-handed.

At their school, an older student somehow managed to get a pair.

That kid would wear the shoes every day to show off, making Ye Zhiqiu envious.

But out of pride, whenever he hung out with Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun, he pretended not to care.

Deep down, though, he was so jealous he wanted to fight that senior.

Thinking back, Ye Zhiqiu found it amusing.

Because he loved those shoes so much yet never got them, while someone else could wear them casually, it tormented him for quite some time.

Later, after a long while, the senior stopped wearing the shoes.

It was said that he had grown too tall and couldn't fit into them anymore.

And when Ye Zhiqiu checked online, the shoes had become astronomically expensive...

So he gave up on them.

Now, after five or six years, someone suddenly sent him a brand new pair and said it was just a coincidence.

How could he possibly believe that?

Finding a pair now, let alone one that fits perfectly, unused, and kept intact for so many years, would be nearly impossible.

All of these were issues.

Moreover, he saw the shoes at Qin Jianhe's house just a couple of days ago.

To get them in such a short time...

He knew it must have come at a significant cost.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at the shoes quietly for a while.

Then, he put them back in the box, opened his suitcase containing his personal items, and took out a bathrobe and change of clothes.

Making some space, he carefully placed the shoes and the box inside.

Even if it came at a high price, it was what Qin Jianhe had promised, and fulfilling promises was enough.

Their relationship was based on such commitments, and there was no need to question further.

If Qin Jianhe said it was "just a coincidence," then it was just a coincidence.

Getting up again, Ye Zhiqiu sent a message: "Thank you, I really like them."

Then, he reported to Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun in the group chat that he was safe before putting away his phone and heading to the bathroom.

After flying all night, he slept the whole way and felt refreshed, unlike his colleagues who needed to adjust to the time difference.

After showering, Ye Zhiqiu changed into casual clothes, put on a hat and sunglasses, and went out.

In early March, New York was still cold, especially today, with strong winds despite the sunshine.

Fortunately, the hotel was close to the exhibition venue, so he walked there instead of taking a cab.

Although the main shows hadn't started yet, the exhibition halls were bustling with activity—set-ups, rehearsals, static displays, and small brands vying for attention.

As Ye Zhiqiu walked around, he checked his phone for Q.L's venue and schedule, heading there first to scout the area.

As an international luxury brand, Q.L had booked a large venue. When Ye Zhiqiu arrived, the staff was busy setting up, and a few smaller brands were rehearsing in the corners.

He walked around, familiarizing himself with the layout and perspectives, and visited the backstage area.

Just as he was pondering the models' walkways, his phone rang—it was Wang Ru calling him for dinner.

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Wang Ru asked, "aren't you in your room?"

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu replied, "I came out for a walk."

"Where are you?" Wang Ru asked, "Gao Yang and I are about to go out for dinner. Want to join us?"

Since landing, Ye Zhiqiu hadn't eaten anything except for the plane meal before landing.

His focus had been on the exhibits and set-ups, but now, hearing Wang Ru mention food, he realized he was hungry.

"I'm at the exhibition hall near Lincoln Center," Ye Zhiqiu said, "are you two tired? If so, stay put, and I'll bring you something back."

"After sleeping all morning, I feel much better," Wang Ru said, then asked, "Didn't you rest when you came back?"

"Ye Zhiqiu said, "I slept almost the entire flight, except for when we were eating. I feel refreshed now that we've landed."

It seemed Wang Ru had put the call on speaker, because as soon as Ye Zhiqiu finished speaking, Gao Yang's voice came through.

"Young people have it so good," he sighed.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu laughed lightly and leaned into the youthful banter. "That's why I asked if you were tired. Do you want me to bring anything back for you?"

"We'll come out with you," Wang Ru immediately replied.

Ye Zhiqiu gave them directions. "Come out the main entrance of the hotel, turn left, and walk for about ten minutes."

After hanging up, Ye Zhiqiu didn't linger any longer.

He went around from the other side, walking and looking around until he slowly made his way to the agreed-upon entrance where Wang Ru and Gao Yang were waiting.

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Gao Yang, being here for the first time, couldn't help but be curious, "what's inside? Are there shows going on already?"

"Yes, there are," Ye Zhiqiu said. "If you still have energy after eating, you can come in and take a look."

"Sure," Wang Ru responded promptly. "We were planning to learn as much as possible anyway."

There was a restaurant nearby, and they walked in while chatting.

After ordering their meals, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly asked, "When do the models start rehearsing?"

In fact, the previous rehearsals had already gone through three rounds, but upon arrival, out of caution and a desire for perfection, the models would rehearse one or two more times under the guidance of the show director before the actual show.

"There's a rehearsal tonight," Gao Yang checked the schedule on his phone. "And another more formal one tomorrow."

He looked up from the screen. "Teacher Xiao Ye, will you be coming to watch the rehearsal?"

"Yes," Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

"The other teachers probably won't come," Wang Ru glanced up. "The temperature is quite low tonight. If there's anything you're not sure about, leave it to us. We can handle it."

Previously, during domestic rehearsals, the designers had already been present and felt confident about the show.

Now, these rehearsals were merely to help everyone adapt quickly to the new environment and further integrate with the supermodels and foreign models who hadn't participated in the domestic rehearsals.

Everyone in the industry had plenty of experience, and for the designers, this was a minor matter.

There was no need to supervise every rehearsal.

But Ye Zhiqiu shook his head.

"Zhou Hui and Wei Tingjin are both stepping onto such a big stage for the first time, especially Zhou Hui," he sipped his coffee and said seriously, "I feel better watching over them."

At the same time, it was 1:00 AM back home, and Qi Xin had just dropped off the drunk Jiang Nan at his house.

Along the way, Jiang Nan had vomited several times, making a mess of Qi Xin's car, even causing the designated driver up front to struggle to keep from frowning.

When they arrived at Jiang Nan's building, Qi Xin helped him out of the car.

"Do you think I look pathetic right now?" Jiang Nan slurred his words.

"No," Qi Xin reassured him, knowing that the situation with the Jiang family wasn't very optimistic.

But if it was just a partner issue, theoretically, it shouldn't be completely unsolvable, right?

"Do you know how significant and beneficial the brands under the Qin family are to partners?" Jiang Nan counted on his fingers. "Do you understand the impact they have?"

Qi Xin knew little, but within the same circle, he had some understanding.

Q.L had an abundance of talented designers, and each year, they produced countless designs. Only a fraction of those designs passed Q.L's rigorous review process and were put into production with the Q.L label.

The rest, aside from a few that were completely eliminated for various reasons, were often assigned to other mid-range brands under the Qin family.

It could be said that the quality of products from all the brands under the Qin family was exceptionally high.

In terms of catering to the market and leading trends, they always held a leading position.

Therefore, photographers, designers, fashion buyers, and trendsetters in related fields were most willing to attend the Qin family's exhibitions.

Collaborating with them could indeed maximize brand recognition and boost sales.

Most importantly, it could subtly elevate the brand's status.

"There must be a solution," Qi Xin comforted him. "Didn't you say your father and Mr. Qin from Q.L are old acquaintances with a good relationship? Maybe reaching out to him could lead to a breakthrough?"

Initially, not mentioning Qin Xusheng might have been better, but as soon as he did, Jiang Nan exploded.

"You too," he angrily pushed Qi Xin away. "You also want me to beg that old man, don't you?"

"Hmph..." he laughed, staring at Qi Xin with a dark expression.

Late at night, this gaze made Qi Xin feel uneasy.

He pressed the doorbell at the entrance of the Jiang residence, and soon, a light turned on in a nearby cottage.

The old butler came out, wearing a robe.

"Sorry," Qi Xin said, "he drank too much, and I couldn't find his keys."

"Thank you, Young Master Qi," the old butler took Jiang Nan and supported his arm.

"It's nothing," Qi Xin released Jiang Nan and politely acknowledged.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jiang Nan grabbed his wrist.

"Are you and Ye Zhiqiu doing well?" he asked drunkenly. "Don't tell me you still can't catch him?"

Qi Xin didn't want to talk about Ye Zhiqiu in front of Jiang Nan.

But upon hearing this, he still said, "Pretty good. He now has me in his heart."

"Really?" Jiang Nan asked, his drunk eyes suddenly brightening.

This made Qi Xin particularly uncomfortable.

Jiang Nan wasn't unaware of his feelings for him.

Yet now, upon learning that he had made progress with someone else, he displayed such joy.

Putting aside everything else, at the very least, the respect he deserved was clearly absent.

Qi Xin's brows furrowed slightly.

In front of the old butler, he managed to maintain a smile on his face.

To be honest, he really couldn't understand Jiang Nan.

If Ye Zhiqiu was moody and unpredictable, always changing his face...

That was only because he had been intentionally indulged since childhood, leading to a bad temper.

But no matter what, Ye Zhiqiu was genuinely sincere towards him.

Jiang Nan was different.

Whether it was his deliberate betrayal of VIA to hurt Ye Zhiqiu, or his current display of joy over his progress with Ye Zhiqiu...

Both left Qi Xin feeling conflicted and uneasy.

In neither of these instances did he consider Qi Xin's feelings.

Once thought to be the brightest moon in the sky, he had expected its light to grow brighter as he approached.

But now, Qi Xin felt an indescribable sense of unease.

"Young Master, it's cold; let's go back inside?" The old butler, who had already gone to bed, had merely thrown on a cotton robe. The cold night wind was making him shiver. "Let's go inside."

"Yes, drinking too much and then catching a chill will give you a headache. Let's go back and rest early." Seeing this, Qi Xin subtly pulled his wrist free from Jiang Nan's grip and turned to get into the car.

"You damn well better step up and catch up to him!" Behind him, Jiang Nan was still shouting hysterically, causing Qi Xin's head to ache.

He opened the car door.

Although the smell had dissipated somewhat, the moment he stepped in, the odor was still overwhelming.

Thinking of the light and clean fragrance that always lingered on Ye Zhiqiu, Qi Xin silently rubbed his temple, then gave his address to the equally frowning designated driver.

To be honest, Jiang Nan had spoken quite a bit to him throughout the evening.

But he could only understand a few of those words.

It seemed Jiang Nan didn't really expect him to understand either; he just needed someone to vent to.

Fortunately, they had settled the business matters before drinking.

Otherwise, he wasn't sure if he could have endured such a long night.

By the time he got home, it was nearly two in the morning.

Considering the time difference, Ye Zhiqiu should be well-rested by now.

Qi Xin first opened his email and reconfirmed the client's reply.

Then he began to send a message to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Qi Xin: Xiao Qiu, how's the jet lag?"

Ye Zhiqiu didn't respond for a long time. It wasn't until Qi Xin was about to doze off that his phone vibrated.

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Fine, why are you contacting me at this hour?"

Perhaps due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed, Qi Xin was momentarily stunned before realizing he had indeed been too eager.

"Qi Xin: No, I was afraid of disturbing you, so I waited until now to send you a message."

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: ... Alright, you should get some sleep at this hour. I'm still busy."

Qi Xin: ...

Qi Xin rubbed his face, pondering for a moment before sending another message.

He had originally decided to be honest with Ye Zhiqiu, but now he thought it might be better to withhold some information.

After all, it was a collaboration with the Jiang family. What if Ye Zhiqiu refused outright?

How would he convince him to change his mind?

Qi Xin lacked confidence and dared not take the risk.

After all, if this temperamental person got angry and stopped working, refusing to draw any more drafts, he would be finished.

"Qi Xin: Here's the thing. There's a fashion show domestically that has a few open slots for outfits. I want to include your designs. I believe they will impress the audience and potentially lead to more orders."

The elevator dinged as Ye Zhiqiu stepped out,

Looking at Qi Xin's message, the corners of his lips curled up into a mocking smile.

This season, both domestically and internationally, it was the perfect time for brands to showcase their new products.

There were only products that couldn't get into the runway shows; he had never seen a show that couldn't be filled and required last-minute additions.

Qi Xin was merely taking advantage of his recent entry into the fashion industry and his unfamiliarity with the rules of the runway.

In fact, in his previous life, he had participated in far more runway shows than Qi Xin ever had.

Without a doubt, this must have been a sweetener from Jiang Nan.

Where there is sugar, there is also a stick.

The stick was undoubtedly aimed at him.

Ye Zhiqiu replied to the message without showing any emotion.

"Yezhiqiu: With which brand?"

"Qi Xin: Some obscure little brands."

"Yezhiqiu: In that case, forget it. The clothes I design shouldn't appear alongside those random brands."

Qi Xin: "…I didn't dare tell you because I feared you wouldn't agree. Actually, part of it involves Jin Qi's products."

Ye Zhiqiu looked down at the screen, unable to suppress a laugh.

Before he could reply, Qi Xin's call came through.

"Xiao Qiu, please," Qi Xin said, "I really don't want to miss this opportunity. But I promise, we only managed to secure these spots after contacting the organizers. I haven't contacted Jiang Nan at all."

Ye Zhiqiu remained silent, and the only sound on the line was his slight breathing.

"I promise," Qi Xin continued, "even if we participate, I'll send other colleagues from the factory. I won't meet Jiang Nan."

"Xiao Qiu," he pleaded, "I really want to grow Qi Yun and make it worthy of you. You don't want to keep waiting, right?"

Since Ye Zhiqiu truly cared about himself, he would certainly want to resolve the current issues quickly. Qi Xin played his trump card again.

Sure enough, there was a soft sigh from the other end.

"As long as you don't meet Jiang Nan," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"I promise," Qi Xin said.

He added, "I've already handed over today's two designs to the pattern makers. I asked them to work quickly, and I expect the samples will be ready in a couple of days. Today, the client said they would place an official order if they're satisfied with the samples."

Qi Xin was talking about a mid-range brand that was doing well but lacked standout designs. They often sourced good designs from smaller factories for their own label sales.

Ye Zhiqiu thought for a moment and remembered the brand was called Xinge.

Because they worked directly with factories, Xinge had excellent price control. Besides retail, they also did well in wholesale.

If Qi Yun could partner with them, as long as they worked diligently, although it couldn't compare to the scale of his past life, it would still be a decent path.

"Alright," Ye Zhiqiu said, "I understand."

Without waiting for Qi Xin to say anything else, he hung up the phone.

Calmly, Ye Zhiqiu went to bed for a short rest.

Later in the afternoon, after having dinner with Wang Ru and Gao Yang, he took them to the exhibition center.

The models had already arrived, and the show director was overseeing the lighting adjustments. Seeing Ye Zhiqiu arrive, he nodded at him.

The show director had memorized the designers' profiles, works, and corresponding models.

So when Ye Zhiqiu entered, he recognized him immediately.

Once the lighting was finally adjusted, the show director jumped off the stage and walked straight to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Here to watch the rehearsal?" he asked.

"Hello, Director Zhu," Ye Zhiqiu smiled and nodded politely, "My models are new to such a big stage, so I'm here to see how they're doing."

The show director nodded and looked at Zhou Hui and Wei Tingjin. "They look promising. Where did you find them?"

"I found them online," Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Not bad." The show director had been in the business for over a decade, and his eye for models was sharp. "I'll help fine-tune them. Your debut show will definitely impress everyone."

"Thank you," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, but he wasn't entirely relaxed.

Wei Tingjin was okay; he wasn't too worried about him. His main concern was Zhou Hui.

At the moment, seasoned models were gathered around, chatting in small groups. It was clear they were familiar with each other.

Standing among them, Zhou Hui's hard-earned confidence seemed to fade away.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu, she felt ashamed and quietly moved closer to him.

"Sorry." Her first words were "sorry."

"Don't say sorry to me," Ye Zhiqiu looked at her, "say sorry to yourself."

Seeing Zhou Hui lower her eyes without speaking, he smiled slightly.

"I heard about your training these past few days," Ye Zhiqiu said, "it's been tough. The one who trained hard and sweated was you. The one who fought to get onto this stage was you. Even Director Zhu says you're a great prospect…"

Ye Zhiqiu glanced at the busy show director and paused slightly. "If you still can't find confidence in yourself after all this, then you're not disappointing me; you're disappointing yourself."

Hearing this, Zhou Hui's eyes welled up with tears, her nose tingling.

Who wouldn't want to be on such a stage?

But everywhere she looked were big names, shining stars. As a small-time model who had barely stepped into proper runways, how could she not feel any pressure or inferiority?

"It's okay." As if knowing what she was thinking, Ye Zhiqiu gently patted her shoulder. "The seniors and supermodels you see now also climbed their way up from the bottom. They've been through the same confusion and uncertainty as you."

"Do you remember what we talked about earlier?"

He asked her.

"Treat the international stage like a mall," Zhou Hui said, her voice choked with emotion.

"Exactly." Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "You're the coolest girl in the mall."

Zhou Hui pursed her lips, smiling through her tears.

When she returned, her demeanor had changed.

"Teacher Xiao Ye." Wang Ru found it acceptable, but Gao Yang couldn't help but give a thumbs-up in amazement.

"She can't keep fluctuating like this, right?" Wang Ru was still worried.

"No." Ye Zhiqiu let out a soft sigh, his heart finally at ease. "At first, Q.L seemed unreachable for her, but she overcame her mental hurdle. Now, with all these stars on the runway, each one of them might be her idol, so feeling pressured and insecure is normal."

"Has she overcome it now?" Wang Ru asked.

Ye Zhiqiu shook his head.

"If today's rehearsal goes smoothly, she'll have overcome half of it," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "The other half will come when she shines on the runway."

If she makes it to that moment, Zhou Hui will undergo a complete transformation.

Ye Zhiqiu was certain.

The rehearsal finally began. Under the dim lights, the long red carpet seemed endless.

The models took their positions, and as the music started, they began walking.

Being professionals, their first run was already well-coordinated, enough for a regular show.

The second run was even more orderly.

If there was any flaw, it was the turn at the end of the runway; Zhou Hui still lacked fluidity.

Just as the show director was about to speak, Ye Zhiqiu subtly pressed his hand on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

"Very good." The show director clapped his hands. "Let's do one last run."

With the changing lights, the third run began anew.

Encouraged, Zhou Hui's movements became smooth, and her turn pulling the hem of her dress felt natural.

Even without wearing the actual dress, Ye Zhiqiu could imagine the skirt swirling behind her, drawing beautiful arcs like a phoenix's wings, captivating the audience below.

Involuntarily, he smiled.

"How was it?" After everything ended, the show director asked Ye Zhiqiu with a smile. "There's another final rehearsal tomorrow with the outfits. Will you come?"

"No need." Ye Zhiqiu said, his tone confident, his eyes bright.

*

Time flew by quickly amidst the hustle and bustle. Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

The pattern maker finally transformed Ye Zhiqiu's two designs into reality. After several adjustments, the first sample was presented to Qi Xin.

Qi Xin immediately took photos and sent them to the clients he was currently in contact with.

As expected, the feedback flooded in like a tidal wave.

Xin Ge even drafted a contract, placing trial orders for each design, including the previous ones.

Though labeled as trial orders, the quantities were substantial, showcasing Xin Ge's strength.

Looking at the long list of orders, Qi Xin's heart raced with excitement.

This was just showing a few clients internally; he couldn't imagine how bustling the order session would be after the fashion show.

That afternoon, Jiang Nan arranged to meet Qi Xin at the exhibition venue.

Most of the models had already been selected, and rehearsals were underway. A few backup models were waiting for Qi Xin's approval.

Due to the tight schedule, using mixed models could cause issues, and since each model had three outfit changes during the show, Qi Xin only needed two models.

After watching the afternoon rehearsal and selecting the models, Jiang Nan and Qi Xin went to Yu Renzhi's newly opened restaurant nearby for dinner.

Initially, Jiang Nan suggested having drinks afterward, but Qi Xin declined.

Not only did Jiang Nan seem to have a poor drinking habit, but more importantly, Ye Zhiqiu's first show in the fashion world was only a few hours away.

He wanted to stay alert.

Although their relationship was quite close, and he had half-jokingly made requests, Qi Xin knew nothing about Ye Zhiqiu's exhibits for this show.

He was a bit nervous but mostly excited, eager to see what waves Ye Zhiqiu would create in the fashion world.

Yu's restaurant had just opened and was in its promotional phase. When they entered, all the private rooms were already booked.

Even when Jiang Nan mentioned Yu Renzhi's name, the receptionist and the lobby manager only smiled and refused.

With no other choice, the two of them chose a seat by the window in the hall.

"Regarding the matter with the Qin family, is there any progress now?" Qi Xin asked Jiang Nan.

"I've been busy these past few days," Jiang Nan replied listlessly upon hearing this. "I'll wait until the day after tomorrow when my father takes me to visit Uncle Qin."

"Do you dislike him?" Qi Xin perceptively noticed Jiang Nan's change in demeanor.

"No," Jiang Nan said.

Jiang Nan indeed did not like Qin Xusheng.

Because of Qin Xusheng, Nie Fengjun had to divorce, and since then, he rarely saw Qin Jianhe anymore.

And because of the divorce, Qin Xusheng took control of Q.L. For the development of the Jiang family, his father had no choice but to side with Qin Xusheng, making it easier to obtain resources from the Qin family through Q.L...

Thus, they became more distant from Nie Fengjun.

What he hated most about Qin Xusheng was that Qin Xusheng had seen through his feelings for Qin Jianhe.

He always wanted Qin Jianhe to marry one of those wealthy heiresses, so he once gave him a mild warning.

Indeed, he did not want to see Qin Xusheng.

Even his father had said that if Qin Xusheng hadn't had all that mess afterward, perhaps the marriage with Nie Fengjun wouldn't have ended.

Then, every time he went to the Qin family, he could see Qin Jianhe, and Nie Fengjun herself was very open-minded. As long as Qin Jianhe liked someone, she would never object.

Now, everything was gone.

Jiang Nan thought sadly.

Seeing Jiang Nan looking dejected and lowering his eyes, Qi Xin instinctively reached out and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

Neither of them noticed that at this moment, a car had just parked in the spot directly opposite the large floor-to-ceiling window.

And Qin Jianhe, sitting inside the car, saw this scene clearly.

He knew that Ye Zhiqiu still had contact with Qi Xin.

Clearly, this person was not worth it; he couldn't understand why Ye Zhiqiu still maintained such an ambiguous relationship with him.

Holding his phone tightly in his hand, Qin Jianhe had a fleeting impulse to take a picture of this scene and send it to Ye Zhiqiu, showing him what kind of person Qi Xin really was.

As soon as he left the country, Qi Xin started hanging out with his secret crush.

But he didn't do anything.

Qin Jianhe did nothing.

Because in a few hours, there was a crucial first show for Ye Zhiqiu, marking his entry into the fashion world.

He hoped Ye Zhiqiu could focus fully and be the brightest star on the runway, using this show to establish his foundation and status in the fashion industry, ensuring no one would ever look down on him again.

Qin Jianhe sat quietly for a moment.

The show was scheduled to start at nine, and now it was time for Ye Zhiqiu to wake up.

Lowering his eyes, he opened the chat app and sent a message to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Qin Jianhe: Good luck with your first show today."

Ye Zhiqiu replied quickly.

"Yi Yezhiqiu: Thanks, I'm all prepared and will head to the venue shortly."

"Qin Jianhe: Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Yi Yezhiqiu: Yes, having milk and bread right now."

Subconsciously, a gentle smile appeared in Qin Jianhe's eyes.

"Qin Jianhe: I miss you."

"Yi Yezhiqiu: ...I don't have time to miss you."

Qin Jianhe laughed.

It was as if Ye Zhiqiu's words had a magical effect, instantly dispelling all the gloom.

After a busy day, he felt a rare sense of lightness in his heart.

A while later, another message from Ye Zhiqiu came in.

"Yi Yezhiqiu: Where do you miss me?"

"Qin Jianhe: ...I want to hug you."

After sending the message, Qin Jianhe's fingers didn't stop. He continued typing on the screen.

"Qin Jianhe: Ye Zhiqiu, shall we give it a try?"

Yesterday, he went back to his mother's place in the mountains for dinner.

Perhaps due to the misunderstanding with Zhang Qunqun, Nie Fengjun, who hadn't asked about Ye Zhiqiu for a long time, suddenly inquired about his love life again.

"How have you been, with Xiao Qiu?" Nie Fengjun asked.

After all, she used to work in design, and even though she had long since changed careers, she still kept up with the fashion world.

Learning that the boy who was with Qin Jianhe that night was Ye Zhiqiu made her incredibly happy.

"Still the same," Qin Jianhe said, without elaborating.

"Xiao Yu," Nie Fengjun suddenly said, "you mentioned before that you weren't sure if it was love or desire, so Mom wants to ask you a question."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, looking at her quietly.

"All these years, so many people have liked you, and just those Mom has seen leaving with tears in their eyes number more than ten," Nie Fengjun asked, "did you feel desire for any of them?"

No, Qin Jianhe was certain.

When he invested in his first movie, there was a young man who stripped naked and lay on his bed one night, but he simply politely pulled back the covers and handed him his clothes.

"In that case, it should be love," Nie Fengjun said.

Looking down at those words, Qin Jianhe's lips pressed into a straight line.

A new message from Ye Zhiqiu came in.

"Yezhiqiu: How do you hug? On the bed? Dog face.jpg"

Qin Jianhe looked down and deleted the message he had not yet sent.

He almost forgot the conditions Ye Zhiqiu had set for him.

It wasn't time to cross that line yet.

"Qin Jianhe: No, just a regular hug. I want to wrap you in my coat so no one outside can see you."

He genuinely just wanted to hug him, without any desire mixed in.

If he held him in his arms, the storms outside would no longer be able to harm him.

The phone vibrated again.

"Yezhiqiu: Then you'll need a very long coat, otherwise people will see my feet, but it doesn't matter. I am a fashion designer, so I'll make this coat for you myself."