Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Ye Zhiqiu was nestled in Qin Jianhe's arms, feeling dazed from the kisses.

Occasionally, Qin Jianhe would coax him to tiptoe, only to chuckle softly at his passionate movements.

"Hey!" The person in his arms immediately turned red with embarrassment and bit down on his lip with sharp canines, causing the man to lower his head slightly and press their foreheads together intimately.

Ye Zhiqiu felt that this position was too intimate, but he didn't set any boundaries as he had at the airport.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the shop attendant watching them with a smile before discreetly lowering their head to wipe the last few tables.

Ye Zhiqiu: "......"

His cheeks flushed, and he lifted his foot to give Qin Jianhe a light stomp.

Immediately, a thin layer of dust settled on the white limited-edition sneakers.

The man chuckled lowly and then looked up to thank the shop attendant warmly.

Then, he held Ye Zhiqiu's hand and walked out the door.

Stepping out from the warm interior, the chill of the outdoors became more apparent.

Qin Jianhe paused, looking down to adjust Ye Zhiqiu's scarf tighter.

"How did you get here?" Ye Zhiqiu finally found an opportunity to ask.

"Didn't I say," Qin Jianhe looked at him with a slight smile, "I came to give you a gift."

Ye Zhiqiu: "......"

"Do you like the gift?" Qin Jianhe asked again.

Afraid that continuing the conversation would make him laugh uncontrollably, Ye Zhiqiu turned to leave.

But in the next moment, his hand was held tightly by a warm one.

"Just wait a moment." Qin Jianhe said with a smile.

"What for?" Ye Zhiqiu tried to look serious.

"To take a photo." Qin Jianhe pulled him closer.

It was late at night, and Ye Zhiqiu wondered why Qin Jianhe suddenly wanted to take a photo, but he still moved closer.

"Why do you want to take a photo now?" he asked.

"We haven't taken a photo together yet," Qin Jianhe said, unlocking his phone with a smile, "Last time, my friend wanted to see you but you wouldn't give them a photo."

Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily stunned, then remembered that before the rumors about Qin Jianhe and Zhang Qunqun started, he had indeed asked for a photo.

What had he said back then?

He thought for a moment and finally recalled that he had promised to send a nude picture.

Ye Zhiqiu: "......"

He subconsciously touched his cheek, finding it amusing.

Why was he always getting involved with "nudes" lately?

"Was it when your rumored girlfriend asked?" Afraid that Qin Jianhe would remember, Ye Zhiqiu preemptively asked.

"It wasn't a rumored girlfriend," Qin Jianhe said, "it was an elementary school classmate."

As he spoke, he wrapped his arm around Ye Zhiqiu's shoulders, pulling him close and tilting his head slightly towards him.

Their two figures appeared on the screen.

Qin Jianhe was now wearing a black cashmere coat, looking a bit more composed than before.

The streetlight reflected in his dark eyes, turning into a flowing smile.

Ye Zhiqiu looked up and met his gaze through the lens, unable to suppress a small smile.

Click. Their smiling faces were captured in the frame.

Behind them was the sign of the coffee shop, with red neon lights flowing like fire around the letters "ICE."

"Huh?" Ye Zhiqiu let out a soft murmur of confusion.

But Qin Jianhe seemed to understand his question instantly.

"Their iced coffee is excellent," he smiled, squeezing Ye Zhiqiu's slightly cold hand, "but you shouldn't try it."

He knew that Ye Zhiqiu was always afraid of the cold.

"Mm." Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu nodded in agreement.

In his previous life, after being locked outside by Qi Xin for a whole night, he hadn't really enjoyed eating ice anymore.

Although he occasionally still ate ice cream, it was mostly for its sweet taste.

However, since even Qin Jianhe praised the iced coffee, he couldn't help but feel a little tempted.

"Maybe we can try it another time," he glanced at the sign again, as if planning for the future, "maybe in summer."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe looked at him, though he didn't speak, the smile in his eyes grew even brighter.

He lowered his eyes and tapped on the chat app: "Should I send you a photo?"

"Sure." Ye Zhiqiu leaned over, lowering his eyes to watch him operate on the phone screen.

The phone vibrated, and Ye Zhiqiu pulled it out from his coat pocket, opening the chat app. He saved the photo in his gallery.

The name he had saved for Qin Jianhe was quite ambiguous.

This was mainly to avoid anyone like Tao Ruoqing, Ye Hongxian, or even Ye Zhixia and Qi Xin from seeing any information pop up.

But photos were different; storing them in the gallery was safe.

Out of caution, he hadn't even set up facial recognition on his phone, relying only on password and fingerprint unlock.

And the password wasn't a conventional one; no ordinary person could guess it.

"Busy for so long, are you hungry?" Seeing him put the phone away, Qin Jianhe asked, lowering his eyes, "If you're hungry, I can take you for some late-night snacks."

Ye Zhiqiu shook his head and asked, "What about you?"

"I've already eaten," said Qin Jianhe.

When the plane landed, the show hadn't actually ended yet.

He should have gone directly to the venue.

But to give Ye Zhiqiu a surprise, he came straight to the hotel instead.

It turned out that this decision was correct.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't show any of the expected aversion or displeasure when he saw him.

He was genuinely happy and joyful.

The fatigue from the long flight seemed to dissipate instantly with his joyful smile.

A faint smile flashed in Qin Jianhe's eyes as he held Ye Zhiqiu's hand and placed it in his pocket. "Back to the hotel?"

"Well..." When talking about going back to the hotel, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly remembered something important, "Where are you staying?"

"Of course, in your bed." Qin Jianhe said without changing his expression, "Didn't I promise to prepare a handsome naked man for you?"

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips but couldn't help smiling, tilting his head slightly.

Hand in hand, they walked through the alley towards the main entrance of the hotel. Qin Jianhe slightly shifted his body to shield Ye Zhiqiu from the cold night wind.

"That won't do," Ye Zhiqiu thought for a moment, "The entire floor is full of colleagues. I don't want them to think I got my position because of my looks."

"Isn't this show enough to showcase your abilities?" Qin Jianhe asked, then added, "You should know better; you're both talented and good-looking."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu laughed again.

Everyone loves compliments, especially when they come from Qin Jianhe, making them even more precious.

Though the teasing was also quite strong.

Seeing him laugh heartily, Qin Jianhe's gaze flickered, and he unconsciously touched his cheek.

It was icy cold from the wind.

Worried he might catch a chill later, he stopped teasing him.

"Your next-door room is still empty, right?" Qin Jianhe smiled, "When the company booked the hotel, they reserved it in advance."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"You're staying on the same floor as us?" He was a bit surprised.

Then he blinked, another question popping into his mind.

If the room had been reserved from the start, it meant Qin Jianhe had planned to come all along.

However, this didn't align with Qin Jianhe's usual behavior.

In the previous life, due to their significant differences and the distance between them, plus his own unsatisfactory life...

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't paid much attention to Qin Jianhe.

But even so, he knew that Qin Jianhe rarely appeared in public.

Otherwise, the media wouldn't have been unable to capture clear photos of him.

But now...

As the CEO of Q.L, if he came, he would definitely make an appearance at the show.

Otherwise, it would be too strange.

Why did Qin Jianhe suddenly change his habits and come to a place swarming with cameras?

Was it because of him?

Ye Zhiqiu frowned slightly.

Feeling a bit suffocated, then thinking he was overthinking, then feeling too self-indulgent.

He tried to find reasons to convince himself.

Qin Jianhe was so young and had just started indulging in physical pleasures. It was natural that his abilities and desires were strong, and he had developed a taste for it.

At this moment, having physiological needs for him was also normal...

If explained this way, it made sense.

Subconsciously, he nodded in Qin Jianhe's arms.

"What are you thinking about?" Noticing his movement, Qin Jianhe asked softly.

"I was thinking," Ye Zhiqiu paused, "your desire is really strong."

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

Then, the smile in his eyes deepened.

Without denying it, Qin Jianhe responded with a low, "Mm."

That deep sound seemed to carry some indescribable intensity, resonating heavily in Ye Zhiqiu's ears.

A tingling sensation rose, and Ye Zhiqiu struggled hard not to touch his ears.

As the hotel entrance came into view, he instinctively separated from Qin Jianhe.

In the cold wind, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but touch his cheeks, feeling them burning hot.

"Come secretly, leave secretly." He heard himself say.

"Alright." Qin Jianhe looked at him with a smile, fully cooperating.

"Then..." His fingers tightened around the backpack strap as he took a few steps back. "I'll go in first."

"Mm," Qin Jianhe nodded. "I'll check in."

Ye Zhiqiu turned and didn't look back, feeling a strange sense of urgency in his steps.

Watching him push the door open and enter, Qin Jianhe paused in the wind.

After a moment, he smiled faintly.

*

The room was quiet, only their suppressed breaths echoing intermittently.

However, as if particularly fond of kissing, even after all their clothes were off, Qin Jianhe merely held Ye Zhiqiu and kissed him.

Occasionally, he would gently lift his hand to caress the small, pale red mole on Ye Zhiqiu's nose, seemingly captivated by it.

Perhaps due to the lack in his previous life, such gestures made Ye Zhiqiu feel an involuntary sense of attachment.

In the midst of the kiss, Qin Jianhe suddenly called out Ye Zhiqiu's name.

"Ye Zhiqiu." He called him, his voice hoarse, making Ye Zhiqiu shiver slightly.

"Mm?" Ye Zhiqiu lifted his eyes, his voice barely audible like a nasal hum.

But Qin Jianhe said nothing more, only tightening the arm around his waist.

Ye Zhiqiu changed positions and handed over the bottle of lotion he had brought from the shower, his clear voice now tinged with hoarseness but still teasing: "You're not expecting me to do it myself, are you?"

"The workload has been heavy lately." Qin Jianhe circled his waist. "I won't tire you out."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

This made his reasonable speculations and justifications on the way back seem ridiculous.

Ye Zhiqiu's expression gradually turned cold.

The young man was exceptionally handsome, even when his face was cold, exuding a frosty beauty.

But at this moment, with his cheeks flushed and eyelashes damp, that coldness seemed especially contradictory, creating a powerful and captivating effect.

He frowned slightly, his tone turning indifferent. "Then go sleep in your own room."

Qin Jianhe looked at him, his eyes darkening, and involuntarily reached out to rub his rosy lips. "Why are you so stubborn?"

"But this is our relationship." Ye Zhiqiu said, bending his leg to brush against him. "And you clearly want it badly too."

It was just desire, and Qin Jianhe could already control it well.

But he didn't say anything, only gazed meaningfully at Ye Zhiqiu, observing if his boundaries were loosening.

"If we don't do it, I won't feel secure." Ye Zhiqiu never hid his thoughts from Qin Jianhe, speaking honestly.

Just sleeping tightly together felt too intimate for him.

Intimate as if they had already given each other their hearts.

In his past life, he had suffered enough from such intimacy.

He couldn't fall into that trap again.

He wasn't used to it.

And he was a bit afraid.

"Forget it. I'll do it myself." Ye Zhiqiu flipped over, hearing Qin Jianhe's suppressed gasp and almost biting his lip.

Damn!

He forgot he hadn't used the lotion yet.

Ye Zhiqiu admired himself for being so bold.

"Uncomfortable?" He paused, staring at Qin Jianhe with a fierce gaze.

Qin Jianhe raised his hand and gripped Ye Zhiqiu's waist.

"Comfortable," he said, yielding to Ye Zhiqiu. "Go on."

Before the words were fully out, he pressed Ye Zhiqiu back down again.

...

"Damn it!" Leaning against the headboard with a cigarette in hand, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but curse softly. "Are you a dog?"

Just moments ago, this man was saying no, yet he ended up being so aggressive, as if he wanted to devour him whole.

Ye Zhiqiu's waist felt like it was about to fall apart. He ruthlessly pulled Qin Jianhe's pillow to support his own back.

"I thought maybe you'd feel insecure if I went easy on you," Qin Jianhe said coldly.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Just as he was about to reach out and pinch the man, his cigarette disappeared.

Qin Jianhe took the cigarette and bit it between his teeth.

Smoke drifted from his lips as he looked up at Ye Zhiqiu. "Still want to take photos?"

Recently busy, Ye Zhiqiu hadn't thought about provoking Jiang Nan in a while.

Hearing this, he reached out to clasp Qin Jianhe's palm, intertwining their fingers.

In the flickering red glow of the cigarette, there was a click, capturing their hands on camera.

This was the first photo taken in bed, and Ye Zhiqiu glanced down at it.

In the photo, Qin Jianhe's hand was slightly tensed, the strength and resilience in the grip almost leaping off the screen.

Even though this would provoke the other person more, for some reason, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly didn't feel like sending it to Jiang Nan anymore.

He checked the time; it was already past three in the morning.

Drowsiness finally caught up with him.

"Sleep," Qin Jianhe lifted his hand to rub Ye Zhiqiu's dark, soft hair.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu responded, finding a comfortable spot on Qin Jianhe's chest and closed his eyes.

The lights dimmed, and he felt a large hand pressing against his lower back, pulling him tightly into an embrace.

*

The next day's show was scheduled for the afternoon, back at Lincoln Center.

Being close by and with the boss arriving, Zhou Lang and the others would likely be quiet for a while.

So, Ye Zhiqiu didn't even set an alarm, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

When he woke up, it was already eleven o'clock, and the other side of the bed was long empty.

Qin Jianhe had indeed been very cooperative, sneaking in and then sneaking out.

And perhaps because he had returned late after an interview last night, Gao Yang and Wang Ru didn't come knocking on the door to call him for breakfast as usual.

Ye Zhiqiu stretched, feeling sore all over, as if his body was about to fall apart.

He sat quietly for a moment to gather his thoughts before starting to look through his messages.

There were many messages and missed calls, but Ye Zhiqiu only focused on the important ones first.

As for the missed calls and text messages from unknown numbers, he ignored them.

After handling most of the work-related messages, he scrolled down and found an unread message from Qin Jianhe.

"QIN: Send me a message when you wake up. I'll take you out for something to eat."

Abroad, there wasn't much good food, and after eating the same thing for days, Ye Zhiqiu had lost interest in eating.

Rather than going out, he preferred to rest in the room and have a couple of chocolates to tide him over.

That way, he could also find time to sketch some designs.

Ye Zhiqiu replied to the message.

"YIZHIQIU: Don't feel like eating anything."

Qin Jianhe quickly replied, hitting the mark directly.

"QIN: I'll take you for Chinese food."

"QIN: Meet at the entrance of yesterday's coffee shop."

Ye Zhiqiu: ...

Without hesitation, he got up, dressed, and went to wash up.

It seemed even his nearly broken waist didn't hurt as much anymore.

Once everything was ready, Ye Zhiqiu slung his backpack over his shoulder and opened the door.

Most people had already gone out to see the shows, leaving the hallway empty. After taking a few steps, he heard a door opening behind him.

"Xiao Ye." Meng Da's voice came over.

"Professor Meng?" Ye Zhiqiu turned around, "Didn't you go out?"

"The boss is here," Meng Da said, still somewhat incredulous.

In the past, Qin Jianhe had never personally come to the exhibition; he almost always left it in charge of Meng Da.

Firstly, he disliked noisy environments, and secondly, the company was busy, so he really couldn't get away.

So this time, indeed, was a first.

"You didn't know yet?" he asked Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Hmm." He nodded and then asked after a moment, "When did the boss arrive?"

"Apparently, he got here last night," Meng Da said, sighing and waving his hand at Ye Zhiqiu.

"Haven't eaten yet, have you? Go grab something quickly; there's still a lot to do this afternoon."

He originally wanted to talk more with Ye Zhiqiu, but after thinking about it, Meng Da swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

In fact, after breakfast, Qin Jianhe, along with Meng Da and Zhou Lang, several designers, and colleagues responsible for the order fair, had a small meeting.

Meng Da was going to send his assistant Xiao Meng to invite Ye Zhiqiu, but Qin Jianhe stopped him.

Qin Jianhe thought that since Ye Zhiqiu had been interviewed late last night, there was no need to call him to this small meeting.

Most people would think the boss was being considerate of his subordinate.

But as an old hand in the workplace, Meng Da interpreted it differently: see, the boss just doesn't like Xiao Ye, not even inviting him to such an important meeting.

Watching Ye Zhiqiu's slightly buoyant steps, Meng Da couldn't help but sigh again.

What a good kid, he thought, why doesn't Mr. Qin like him?

The weather was nice, the sun shining brightly. Ye Zhiqiu walked through the alley he had returned through yesterday, heading back towards the coffee shop.

Exiting the alley, the coffee shop entrance was right across the street. The wind blew his bangs up, and Ye Zhiqiu squinted instinctively.

Almost simultaneously, the window of a car opposite slowly rolled down, revealing Qin Jianhe's dark, smiling eyes looking over.

Ye Zhiqiu was taken aback, then crossed the crosswalk.

Qin Jianhe had already gotten out of the car and opened the door for him.

Getting into the car, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but frown slightly as he sat down.

"Sore?" Qin Jianhe asked.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

He remembered how fierce it had been last night.

Inside the car, the partition between the front and back seats was already down.

Ye Zhiqiu shifted his weight to one side, leaning against Qin Jianhe's shoulder.

Qin Jianhe raised his hand, wrapped it around his waist, and made him lean more comfortably.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked, his voice softer than usual, "Stir-fry or hot pot?"

"Hot pot," Ye Zhiqiu said immediately.

"Then we'll have the clear broth," Qin Jianhe said.

"Fine, fine, fine," Ye Zhiqiu said, feeling a bit annoyed and embarrassed by his discomfort.

The hand around his waist tightened slightly. Qin Jianhe looked at him with a smile, met Ye Zhiqiu's cold gaze, and leaned in to kiss his lips.

"I can't handle your energy alone," Ye Zhiqiu mumbled, "I'll find someone else for you next time."

As soon as he finished speaking, his lips were bitten hard.

Ye Zhiqiu let out a soft hiss, wanting to curse but was forcefully silenced by Qin Jianhe.

"Practice more," he said, his voice low and hoarse yet commanding, "with more practice, you'll naturally be able to handle it."

The car slowly pulled over to the side of the road.

Perhaps hearing the commotion from the back seat, the driver remained completely silent.

Not until the sound of the rear door opening.

Watching the two tall figures disappear into the entrance, the young man in the driver's seat finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

The phone on the dashboard vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID and answered it.

"Wei, my dear Wei," Zhou Tongxin wailed, "when is the boss coming back?"

"Not decided yet," Wei Jie said.

"As the boss's personal assistant, can't you tell me what's going on? He just left work without notice," Zhou Tongxin complained, "now all the work is on me. It's midnight, brother, I can't leave."

Wei Jie chuckled.

As Qin Jianhe's personal assistant, he was the most envied person in the secretary's office.

Qin Jianhe was aloof, decisive, and independent, with no personal matters to speak of.

He always received the highest salary and led the most relaxed life.

The secretaries envied him so much that their eyes were bloodshot with jealousy.

But recently, Qin Jianhe suddenly had personal matters.

At first, it was about purchasing clothes of a certain size—tops, bottoms, innerwear, outerwear, hats, shoes, and socks—all meticulously covered.

After everything was prepared, only a part was taken, while the rest was temporarily sealed away.

Next, he asked Wei Jie to find housing near the company, preferably in his current residential area.

Not too big, not too small, not old—it had to be a high-end, fully renovated apartment around one hundred square meters.

Judging by the size, it didn't seem like he was planning to house anyone particularly important.

But judging by the requirements, Wei Jie felt as if he was preparing a home for a celestial being from heaven.

He seemed more concerned than he ever was about himself.

Both apartments were purchased outright, and everything replaceable was upgraded to the best and most convenient options, yet no one lived there. They were now listed for rent.

Whenever someone came to view the property, they had to report back, and the rent varied based on the person.

Wei Jie was somewhat puzzled by this.

Until yesterday, the notorious workaholic suddenly took off without warning.

Not just Wei Jie, but the entire secretary's office was shocked.

Today, Wei Jie finally vaguely understood the reason behind it all.

Heroes can't resist beauties.

Wei Jie couldn't help but sigh.

The first time he met Qin Jianhe, he thought, how could someone be so good-looking.

Over the years, he had seen many people, including the celebrities during Qin Jianhe's film investments...

Wei Jie pondered, indeed, no one matched Ye Zhiqiu as well as Qin Jianhe did.

It was like a key fitting a lock; everyone could see they were meant to be together.

"You'll have to work hard," Wei Jie turned his head towards the restaurant entrance.

The two figures had long disappeared, but the sound of Ye Zhiqiu's sharp claws, like a little wild cat, still echoed in his ears.

Though he couldn't make out the exact words, the tone alone suggested nothing pleasant, occasionally accompanied by uncivilized phrases like "fuck you."

And there was also the boss's indulgent and deep laughter.

Wei Jie smiled, thinking for a moment, "Prepare for the boss to stay abroad for ten to fifteen days."

Zhou Tongxin: "..."

Zhou Tongxin, dead.