Chapter 54

Chapter 54

When Qin Jianhe saw the message, he subconsciously pursed his lips, but the smile in his eyes grew even more intense.

The night had fallen, and the warm yellow glow of the streetlights filtered through the car window, casting a small orange-brown spot on the phone screen.

It made Qin Jianhe involuntarily think of Ye Zhiqiu's light brown eyes, which were equally warm when they held a smile.

His thoughts wandered somewhere unknown as he stared at the screen in silence for a while before lifting his finger to reply.

"Qin Jianhe: Okay."

The phone vibrated in his palm, but this time the message was not from Ye Zhiqiu, but from their group chat.

"Yu Renzhi: Where are you? Hurry up, or there won't be any food left for you. @Qin Jianhe."

Qin Jianhe glanced at it but did not reply.

He turned off the phone screen and got out of the car.

Yu Renzhi's new restaurant had just opened recently.

It had taken some effort to find a day when everyone could spare some time, so they decided to gather here and try out the dishes together.

As he walked up the steps, a waiter hurried over to open the glass door for him.

"Mr. Qin, this way," the waiter said, leading the way.

Without looking at Qi Xin and Jiang Nan, Qin Jianhe followed the waiter upstairs.

The food had already been served, and Jiang Nan and Qi Xin were already eating.

Serving himself a bowl of hot scallop porridge, Jiang Nan looked up, about to speak, but suddenly froze, standing up straight.

The white tablecloth moved with him, and a bowl of hot porridge slipped down his leg and crashed to the floor.

The sound of shattering porcelain drew many people's attention.

A waiter immediately rushed over to check if anyone was scalded.

Qi Xin, who was closest, had been looking down at his food and nearly jumped out of his skin.

He quickly stood up. "Jiang Nan, are you okay?"

Seeing Jiang Nan staring blankly towards the staircase, Qi Xin instinctively followed his gaze.

There was only a waiter talking to an elderly couple; nothing special seemed to warrant Jiang Nan's shock.

"I'm fine," Jiang Nan slowly came back to his senses, answering both Qi Xin and the waiter.

Watching the waiter clean up the mess and serve Jiang Nan another bowl of hot porridge, Qi Xin subtly frowned.

"What happened just now?" he asked, "Did you see someone you know?"

Jiang Nan slowly sat down and shook his head after a moment.

He didn't tell Qi Xin the truth, but he wasn't lying either.

He hadn't seen anyone, just a glimpse of a black coat.

For some reason, seeing that fleeting corner of the coat, he instinctively thought it was Qin Jianhe.

He couldn't explain why he felt that way.

Perhaps it was because he had secretly followed Qin Jianhe for nearly two decades, making him familiar with even the way his coat moved as he walked.

Or maybe it was because this was Yu Renzhi's restaurant, and he subconsciously harbored some hope.

...

But soon, he thought he must have been mistaken.

With frequent fashion shows lately, it should be one of Qin Jianhe's busiest times.

Usually, he would still be working at this hour.

Jiang Nan lowered his head, feeling deflated like a punctured balloon.

If he hadn't given him that glimmer of hope, life might have been bearable, but the hope came and went, leaving him utterly dejected.

Seeing his downcast face, Qi Xin's brow furrowed unconsciously.

The dining table fell silent, the atmosphere becoming unusually somber.

In contrast, upstairs, the others were teasing Qin Jianhe.

"We know you're busy," Yu Renzhi said, "but it's too much to be late when your wife isn't even here."

"Come on," he raised his wine glass to Qin Jianhe, "drink three cups as punishment."

"I'm not drinking today," Qin Jianhe replied calmly.

Wang Qitang chuckled. "Today is Q.L's first show of the year."

"We started with this business; we've seen bigger events," Yu Renzhi said, "it's just a show, right?"

"The thing is, it's Xiao Ye's first show too," Wang Qitang smiled, "of course, Xiao Yu cares a lot about it."

Seeing them tag-teaming, Meng Qingyan lowered his eyes and chuckled.

"Stop laughing," Yu Renzhi immediately shifted his focus. "When you fall in love, you might act the same way."

Meng Qingyan remained silent and turned to Qin Jianhe. "What time is the show today?"

"Ten o'clock," Qin Jianhe said. "Nine in the morning in New York."

"How about we watch it together later?" Yu Renzhi suggested.

"Watch it at home," Qin Jianhe glanced at him and coldly refused.

"Alright," Yu Renzhi rolled his eyes. "I mean, isn't it cold up there on your pedestal? Is it that embarrassing to let your brothers see you get emotional sometimes?"

"Let's go." Qin Jianhe stood up, reaching for his coat.

Seeing this, Wang Qitang and Meng Qingyan couldn't help but laugh, while Yu Renzhi immediately went to pull him back.

"I won't say anything else," he made a zipping motion across his mouth. "Is that okay?"

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe gave him a half-smile and sat down again.

"I heard your company is collaborating with Yun Kai, right?" Meng Qingyan looked at Wang Qitang. "Is it going smoothly?"

"Who told you that?" Hearing this, Wang Qitang smiled.

"The other day, my father went to a meeting and ran into Uncle Wang," Meng Qingyan said.

"Be more respectful when talking about your father," Wang Qitang laughed. "Uncle Meng had his reasons for not letting you enter the entertainment industry before. Are you still holding a grudge?"

"Yes," Yu Renzhi, who always had the most to say, chimed in. "I still don't know why Yan suddenly wanted to enter the entertainment industry."

Meng Qingyan didn't speak, looking at Wang Qitang instead.

"Oh, Yun Kai, yes," Wang Qitang was amused. "It's indeed going quite well."

"How far along are you?" Qin Jianhe asked.

"If all goes well, we should have a finished product in three months," Wang Qitang said, his expression full of confidence.

"So fast?" Yu Renzhi was surprised.

In the industry, developing new products usually took no less than a year. From concept to feasibility studies, and then refining and testing, it often took three to five years, or even ten.

And this was only a few months...

"Let me tell you," Wang Qitang said, "this time, thanks to Aunt Nie pushing me, collaborating with Yun Kai was definitely the right move."

"Is Yun Kai really that impressive?" Meng Qingyan asked. "Why haven't they made a name for themselves before?"

"Yes," Wang Qitang nodded.

"Yun Kai does have the technology, and it's very detailed," he paused slightly. "Our experimental team is more focused on verifying Yun Kai's data rather than developing new products."

"Huh?" Yu Renzhi thought for a moment. "Isn't this like heaven throwing money at you?"

"Or maybe," he suddenly had an idea, "isn't it possible that the mysterious boss behind Yun Kai has a crush on you?"

"Get lost," Wang Qitang laughed. "While Yun Kai has the technology, they lacked funding. Fortunately, Xin Dongli was transitioning, and we came together."

"If I were to say," he laughed, "I guess I just had good luck."

"Who exactly controls Yun Kai? Why are they so secretive?" Yu Renzhi's curiosity was piqued. "This person must be quite something."

"Their confidentiality measures are indeed excellent," Wang Qitang shook his head with a smile. "We can't find out."

"What about Brother Yu?" Even Wang Qitang couldn't figure it out, which surprised Meng Qingyan. "Has Aunt Nie mentioned any unusual figures in the industry?"

"No," Qin Jianhe said. "Apart from Yun Kai's sudden emergence, the landscape of the new energy industry hasn't changed yet."

"But in three months, things might be different," he smiled at Wang Qitang. "Xin Dongli and Yun Kai should be able to create a stir in the industry."

In short, certain specific areas within the new energy industry might undergo significant changes.

"Regardless of who they are, they are undoubtedly impressive," Qin Jianhe smiled faintly. "Brother Qitang is lucky."

The dishes at the new restaurant tasted great, and Yu Renzhi ordered small portions of most items.

As they ate and chatted, time flew by unnoticed.

At eight-thirty, Qin Jianhe checked his watch.

"I should head back now," he said.

"Let's go together," Wang Qitang suggested. "The three of us can have a drink at Budu. Are you sure you want to go home now?"

"Yes," Qin Jianhe nodded, parting ways with them at the restaurant entrance and driving off in the opposite direction.

"Sigh, being in love really changes a person. Your partner can control you from afar," Yu Renzhi watched Qin Jianhe's car turn and disappear. "Even when they're not around."

"Isn't it better this way?" Meng Qingyan said. "Can't you tell he used to be very resistant to relationships?"

"Huh?" Yu Renzhi was surprised. "Really?"

He blinked. "I always thought he was too good and too high up for anyone to catch his eye."

Wang Qitang laughed and ruffled Yu Renzhi's hair. "Thinking that way isn't wrong."

"Could it be because Uncle Qin and Aunt Nie got divorced?" Yu Renzhi realized belatedly.

"Let's go." Meng Qingyan smiled, opened the car door, started the engine, and drove off.

*

In New York, at eight-thirty in the morning, Ye Zhiqiu was busy backstage.

A long row of makeup tables lined the wall in a semicircle, with makeup artists busily applying makeup to the models.

Ye Zhiqiu checked the outfits and accessories he had prepared early that morning while quietly explaining something to Wang Ru and Gao Yang.

The two listened intently, with Gao Yang’s eyes glowing with admiration.

Sun Chaoyang watched the scene, feeling a twinge of regret.

"Little Sun." Someone called out to him.

Sun Chaoyang snapped back to reality and saw a female designer who usually followed Zhou Lang.

"Go get me a glass of water," she said.

The atmosphere around Zhou Lang was very different from that around Ye Zhiqiu.

As a newcomer, no one taught Sun Chaoyang anything, and now, due to the crowd, he was pushed to the periphery.

Even observing and learning on his own became a luxury.

What was once an eagerly anticipated fashion week trip had turned into an awkward experience.

Now, he had become a mere errand boy, fetching tea and water for others.

"Oh, yes, Sister Wang." Sun Chaoyang responded numbly and headed towards the makeshift tea room backstage.

As he passed by Ye Zhiqiu, he faintly heard his voice.

"The models need to change clothes within one and a half minutes," he said. "The DRESSERS are all professionals..."

The rest of his words faded away, and Sun Chaoyang could not hear clearly.

He stopped and looked back, but found the three of them huddled together, none noticing him.

A wave of disappointment washed over him as he entered the tea room and poured a cup of warm water for the designer named Wang.

The lights in the front stage suddenly brightened, and the made-up models began changing into their exhibition outfits.

"Sister Wang." Sun Chaoyang handed her the cup of water.

"Plain water?" The designer frowned. "Didn't I tell you I wanted coffee?"

Sun Chaoyang: "..."

He glanced at the male designer closest to Sister Wang.

He was sure that Sister Wang had asked for water, not coffee.

He thought the male designer would vouch for him, but instead, he sneered, "I told you it was coffee. Go and get it."

Seeing Sun Chaoyang turn away, he added loudly, "Bring me a cup too."

This shout drew Gao Yang’s attention, and when their eyes met, Sun Chaoyang felt even more embarrassed. He quickly looked away and hurried off.

For this show, since Ye Zhiqiu did not have many pieces, Gao Yang and Wang Ru were not under much pressure.

At the moment, they were waiting for Wei Tingjin to finish changing.

With ample time for the first outfit, Wei Tingjin managed without a DRESSER and changed himself.

Since he only needed to change once, their DRESSER was the most relaxed and had been pre-booked by Meng Da’s team.

Zhou Hui had no issues either.

She was closing the show, so she hadn’t even started her makeup yet.

Backstage was a chaotic yet orderly scene, and Zhou Hui sat in a corner, looking a bit nervous.

Watching Ye Zhiqiu adjust Wei Tingjin’s clothing and accessories, Wang Ru glanced at Zhou Hui several times.

She hesitated to speak to Zhou Hui, fearing that any wrong word might make her even more nervous.

The stage lights began to change, and music started playing. The host’s opening remarks drifted over.

"... We ask for no other reward; we only hope that this fashion feast brings you joy and enjoyment..."

As the host stepped back, the first show of the autumn-winter fashion week for Q.L officially began.

The models, already positioned, walked in sync with the music into the dazzling light.

"Little Wei looks good," Meng Da said, joining Ye Zhiqiu to watch through the corner of the backstage curtain.

The changing lights transformed the long runway into a glowing path.

On both sides and at the end of the path, where they wouldn’t obstruct the audience, cameras were set up.

Click, click—photos were taken, but almost no one used flashlights.

The stage lighting was beautifully adjusted, as if adding any external light would disrupt the grand banquet of colors.

The audience on both sides was packed and exceptionally quiet, with only occasional whispers between companions.

This stage was beautiful to the extreme and rigorously precise to the utmost.

Even though it was Wei Tingjin's first time stepping onto it, surrounded by seasoned veterans, his steps remained steady.

It was unclear whether the costume gave him soul or he gave soul to the costume.

The black trench coat drew a shallow arc at the turn, transforming the fabric's natural sheen into a tiny meteor, making it particularly eye-catching and dynamic.

"Later, we can add him to Q.L's list of exclusive models," Meng Da said. "He has great stage presence."

"Mine," Ye Zhiqiu asserted, giving Meng Da a slight smile. "My exclusive model."

"Alright, alright, yours," Meng Da conceded.

As they spoke, the lights moved from far to near, and the models were already returning.

Backstage, there was another orderly flurry of activity.

In just over a minute, most had finished changing.

Stylists quickly checked for any missing details and adjusted their makeup and hair.

Ye Zhiqiu adjusted the angle of the diamond brooch on Wei Tingjin's chest, then stepped back.

After this round, Wei Tingjin looked even more confident, and his steps were more assured.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, completely relieved.

At that moment, Zhou Hui had also finished her makeup.

She approached only after Wei Tingjin stepped back into the spotlight.

"Teacher Ye," she asked, "should I change now?"

"Not yet," Ye Zhiqiu replied with a smile.

Instinctively, he glanced over at Zhou Lang.

Compared to their side, where everyone was new, Zhou Lang's team consisted of long-time veterans who had worked with him for years.

They had walked many runways before and were highly experienced.

Especially those two designers, who were still holding coffee cups.

Let him be suspicious, but Ye Zhiqiu felt it was better to be cautious.

When Wei Tingjin returned again, their group had completed most of their task, awaiting only the final group to close the show.

A fashion show, excluding the curtain call, lasted only about half an hour.

But for most designers, it took at least six months to eight months of preparation.

Some designers even spent years preparing a single exhibit.

No matter how much effort went into the preparation, the time on the runway was only about eight minutes in front of the audience.

With the show director controlling the pace, this magnificent show was nearing its end. Ye Zhiqiu finally moved, signaling Zhou Hui to go change.

Walking out in the long evening dress, Zhou Hui immediately caught the attention of many backstage.

Given the tight schedule Ye Zhiqiu had for preparing the exhibits, this was the first time this outfit was seen by everyone since the rehearsal.

For a moment, the entire backstage seemed illuminated by the glow of the dress.

"The final group," the show director's voice came steadily through the earpiece. "Get ready."

"Teacher Ye," Zhou Hui couldn't help calling out upon hearing the instruction.

At this point, inspired by the professionalism and dedication on the stage and among her peers, Zhou Hui was no longer as nervous.

But thinking about closing the show, she still felt a bit apprehensive.

"Relax," Ye Zhiqiu said. "This is your first time on such a big stage, but it's also my first show."

He smiled. "I'm cheering you on too."

"Okay." Zhou Hui nodded, not noticing Ye Zhiqiu's slightly clenched fingers.

As the lights changed, the models walked out one after another. Ye Zhiqiu returned to his small corner, lifting the curtain to watch.

Zhou Hui stepped onto the runway.

Lights from above and all around shone on her, and the cloud-like red dress moved steadily forward step by step.

At the end of the runway, Zhou Hui lifted her skirt and turned.

The long hem swirled behind her like the wings of a phoenix, slowly descending as photographers clicked away, causing a small stir in the audience.

The sound was one of admiration and awe. Even though she could hear nothing on the stage, Zhou Hui knew that her performance truly touched the audience.

For the first time, she realized that while her seniors were excellent, she wasn't that bad either.

The long train trailed on the ground, the soft Xiangyun silk outlining her graceful figure.

At that moment, it wasn't the dress that transformed her into a phoenix; it was Zhou Hui herself.

She was reborn from the ashes.

Stepping off the stage, Zhou Hui's tears began to fall.

For the first time, she received so much praise and affection; the seed buried deep within her finally broke through the soil.

Should she take the initiative to hug Ye Zhiqiu?

Ye Zhiqiu glanced at Wang Ru, who immediately came forward to wipe away Zhou Hui's tears.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Do you know how amazing you were? You were absolutely the best today." Wang Ru was also overwhelmed with excitement, her words tumbling out incoherently.

She had witnessed a girl, once so insecure, shine brilliantly today. It felt as if that girl was not just Zhou Hui but also herself.

She was one of countless ordinary girls.

Given an opportunity, they would shine.

"Stop crying for now; you still need to go back on stage with Teacher Xiao Ye. It wouldn't be good if your makeup smudges."

"Can I do it?" Zhou Hui asked, surprised and delighted.

"Of course," Wang Ru smiled. "You and Wei Tingjin will be on either side."

This show was undoubtedly a huge success.

When the designers and models took the stage to bow, they were met with thunderous applause from the audience.

As the head of the Design Department and the leader of this team, no one was happier than Meng Da.

Especially after the show, the subsequent order meeting brought even more joy to Meng Da.

The number of orders for Ye Zhiqiu's three pieces matched those of Zhou Lang's seven pieces.

After the event, most of the models rushed off to their next jobs, but Wei Tingjin and Zhou Hui had no other commitments. Ye Zhiqiu booked a restaurant and took them out to celebrate.

Zhou Hui was a freelance model, unsigned to any major agency, so feedback was relatively slow.

But Wei Tingjin was under contract.

Though only with a small modeling agency, he still received several calls during dinner.

Several international brands were interested in working with him after seeing his performance.

In fact, working with Q.L. seemed almost a waste for a model of his caliber this season.

If Wei Tingjin wanted, he could take on other jobs as long as they didn't conflict with his work for Q.L.

But Wei Tingjin declined.

He had experienced the power of a great designer and the allure of a successful show.

He wasn't in a rush; he wanted to leave the best impression on Ye Zhiqiu for future collaborations.

However, while they were celebrating, someone else was not pleased.

After the event, Zhou Lang returned to the hotel with a grim face.

His unhappiness affected everyone else in the group, dampening their spirits.

No one dared to return to their rooms; instead, they gathered around Zhou Lang for a meeting.

Sun Chaoyang stood at the back of the crowd, feeling suffocated and unable to speak.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu's achievements now made him even more regretful.

He regretted it so deeply that he felt like spitting blood.

If he could, he would go back to the time before he left Ye Zhiqiu's team.

Ye Zhiqiu genuinely taught them everything he knew, holding nothing back and answering every question.

But Zhou Lang was different.

With Zhou Lang, all he did was run errands.

"Hey, new guy," Zhou Lang suddenly spoke, interrupting Sun Chaoyang's chaotic thoughts. "Go get some drinks for everyone."

Sun Chaoyang froze, realizing they were trying to keep him at arm's length. His heart turned cold.

Seeing him hesitate, Zhou Lang grew even angrier and threw his water cup to the ground in frustration.

"What's going on?" he shouted. "Why aren't you following orders?"

Sun Chaoyang jumped, quickly apologizing and scurrying out the door.

Once the door closed, Zhou Lang spoke again: "No matter what, I don't want to see that red dress on the runway tomorrow night."

Silence filled the room. After a moment, a man in his late twenties stepped forward.

"Teacher Zhou, I'd like to give it a try."

"Good," Zhou Lang said with a smile. "If you succeed, I won't forget it."

The room remained silent, but someone raised an objection: "What if he has a backup piece?"

"It's unlikely," Zhou Lang replied. "Didn't you notice? He barely finished that piece on time. It looks simple, but the details are intricate and complex. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have time to make another one."

Hearing this, the man who stepped forward smiled. "That makes things easier."

*

At the same time, in Qi Yun's factory office, Qi Xin had just hung up the phone.

Ye Zhiqiu's collections are truly beautiful.

Even without a live stream, the scattered clips and posts from fashion photographers and critics online were enough to take one's breath away.

Every year, the most trending topics during Fashion Week are usually about supermodels or domestic celebrities.

As a result, many brands invite them to boost their popularity.

But this year, New York Fashion Week started with a bang. Without relying on any celebrity influencers, Ye Zhiqiu brought Q.L its first trending topic.

It was genuinely a promising start.

Especially that long dress made of fragrant silk gauze. When the model turned at the end of the runway, the swish of the skirt captured in the camera was as stunning as the most beautiful sunset.

It was a beauty that outshone the stars and the moon.

Qi Xin was incredibly excited.

With Ye Zhiqiu around, there was no worry about a bright future for his brand, Qi Yun.

Buoyed by this enthusiasm, Qi Xin dialed Zhou Hao’s number.

"Hao Ge," Qi Xin couldn’t help but ask excitedly once the call connected, "Did you see Q.L’s show tonight?"

"I did." Zhou Hao couldn’t help but praise, "Xiao Ye is really impressive."

"Hao Ge, I have something to discuss with you," Qi Xin said. "Ye Zhiqiu recently designed some new styles for me, and they’ve been selling exceptionally well. I decided to use all your materials, but could we extend the payment terms a bit more?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Zhou Hao sighed softly.

"Sorry, brother," Zhou Hao said, "The factory has had some financial issues this year. I’ve been worrying about how to tell you we need to shorten the payment terms, and now you’re asking to extend them. It’s just not possible."

Zhou Hao had always been righteous, so Qi Xin didn’t think much of it.

"If we can’t extend, can we at least keep the previous terms?" Qi Xin asked.

The previous terms varied based on their moods, sometimes stretching up to six months, sometimes as short as a month.

After hearing this, Zhou Hao paused for a moment. "Let’s make it a month, brother."

Qi Xin fell silent; the joy from Ye Zhiqiu’s success had already faded significantly.

"Alright," he said after a while, "When your finances improve, we can discuss the terms again."

After hanging up, Qi Xin pondered for a moment.

An order that was previously a treasure suddenly became a challenge.

A month wasn’t nearly enough for the production cycle, and for some picky clients, it might not even be enough to finalize the samples.

He had no chance of getting paid back.

Without the possibility of repayment, cash flow would become even more difficult.

It might even affect the timely delivery of orders, leading to substantial penalties.

It was already past eleven o'clock at night, but Qi Xin couldn’t wait any longer.

He dialed Tao Ruoqing’s number.

"Mrs. Ye, is it convenient to talk?" Qi Xin asked.

"Why are you calling so late? Is there something you need?" Tao Ruoqing asked.

Qi Xin paused for a moment and explained the current predicament.

Tao Ruoqing had already invested some funds in him, but it wasn’t much, only a few hundred thousand.

"How much do you need now?" Tao Ruoqing asked.

"Two million," Qi Xin said after a moment’s thought. "This order is quite large. Although it requires a bigger investment, we’ll earn more too."

Qi Xin’s reasoning made sense, but two million was still a significant amount for Tao Ruoqing.

She paused for a moment and then said, "Let me think about it."

Two million wasn’t a problem for Tao Ruoqing, but she needed to ensure that the money would generate sustainable returns rather than put her at risk.

She had seen Q.L’s show trend today.

Ye Zhiqiu’s performance was unexpectedly impressive.

She did fear his talent, but until she found a better solution, using his talent to benefit herself seemed like the best option.

However, she needed to confirm if Ye Zhiqiu could consistently support Qi Xin.

Ideally, it would be best if they could unite and work together.

While contemplating, she dialed Ye Zhiqiu’s number.

"Mama," Ye Zhiqiu answered quickly, his voice filled with barely contained excitement.

"Congratulations! Mama saw your show, and it was fantastic," Tao Ruoqing said.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t speak, but his laughter came through, clear and joyful.

"Where are you now?" Tao Ruoqing asked. "Are you busy?"

Tao Ruoqing wouldn't be happy for his achievements, nor would she call him at this hour specifically.

Ye Zhiqiu knew it all too well.

The reason for her call was undoubtedly related to Qi Xin's funding.

Ye Zhiqiu had just returned from outside and, upon hearing this, sat down on the suite's sofa, leaning back with his eyes closed, letting out a soft laugh.

"I'm at the hotel," he said, his voice tinged with fatigue, "helping Qi Xin draw blueprints."

"Working so hard while on a business trip and still helping him draw blueprints?" Tao Ruoqing's tone was full of concern. "You should rest when you need to, Xiao Qiu."

"I know, Mom," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled. "But this is the only way I can help him."

He paused. "Dad has always had issues with him, as you know, so both of us want to develop our careers quickly."

"Mama understands," Tao Ruoqing said, sighing softly. "If only your father shared my thoughts."

"Go ahead and get busy then," she added. "Mama won't disturb you anymore."

"Good night," Ye Zhiqiu said, hanging up the call.

In his previous life, it was the same.

He worked tirelessly to help Qi Xin grow, while Tao Ruoqing made substantial profits through investments behind the scenes.

Those few words just now were enough to mislead Tao Ruoqing.

This time, she would likely choose to invest in Qi Xin again, just like before.

However, Ye Zhiqiu planned to let them taste some initial success a few times.

Only by tasting early success would they become more daring and greedy, leading to their ultimate downfall.

His phone vibrated again.

Ye Zhiqiu leaned back on the sofa, opening his eyes after a moment.

It was from Qin Jianhe.

"QIN: Your performance today was exceptional; I want to give you a reward."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

He could tell that Qin Jianhe was genuinely happy for him and truly wanted to reward him.

After Tao Ruoqing's insincere display earlier, this genuine sentiment felt especially precious.

Smiling, he replied.

Given his relationship with Qin Jianhe, where everything aside from business revolved around intimacy.

Ye Zhiqiu wrote,

"YIZHIQIU: How about preparing a handsome naked man for me in bed?"

Qin Jianhe responded promptly.

"QIN: I'll take that as an invitation."

Seeing those words, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but laugh.

How could Qin Jianhe, who was so busy, possibly come over?

But he didn't reply further.

Putting his phone aside, he began reviewing the schedules of various brand shows over the next few days.

If he had time, he planned to visit others' designs, gather inspiration, and observe fashion trends in color and creation.

As he flipped through the pages, Ye Zhiqiu pulled out a small notebook from his backpack and started jotting down notes.

Soon, the tiny page was filled with his handwriting.