Chapter 62

Chapter 62

This kiss was initiated by Ye Zhiqiu. At that moment, one of his hands was holding the end of Qin Jianhe's tie, with his pinky finger wrapped around it twice.

As he wound the tie around his pinky, he subconsciously glanced at the silver ring on Qin Jianhe's pinky.

The silver ring was simple and elegant, its subdued luster making Qin Jianhe's fingers appear even more slender, imbued with a sense of restraint.

When he wrapped it for the second time, he exerted a slight force, pulling Qin Jianhe down.

Everything happened naturally, like fire and water merging, passionate and devout. Even someone as calculating as Ye Zhiqiu soon lost himself in this fiery kiss.

He gradually began to forget that his original intention was merely to provoke Jiang Nan, who had followed closely behind.

He started the fire, but the power to end it did not lie in his hands. Finally noticing that the car door was not fully closed, Qin Jianhe leaned over with Ye Zhiqiu in his arms and slammed the door shut.

The sound of the door closing sent a tremor through Ye Zhiqiu, leaving him momentarily uncertain if Qin Jianhe had seen Jiang Nan.

If he had seen him, what would he think?

But this thought was fleeting.

Because Ye Zhiqiu quickly realized that he didn't need to bear such a burden.

He and Qin Jianhe were already in such a relationship.

Moreover, he had never hidden anything from Qin Jianhe.

He leaned forward, pressing Qin Jianhe against the back of the seat, looking down at him.

"Mr. Qin, want to try it in the car?" he asked.

In his previous life, to cooperate with Qi Xin, he had always restrained himself. By the end, he had become vague about his true self.

Thinking back, he had lived ten years in his previous life, always diligently and cautiously, never indulging in the carefree ways of his nineteen-year-old self.

Now that he was in the mood, he really wanted to give it a try.

After all, it was Qin Jianhe.

With his physique and appearance, it would be impossible not to be exciting anywhere.

The muscles beneath him suddenly tensed, and Qin Jianhe raised his hand to hold Ye Zhiqiu's waist firmly.

Ye Zhiqiu thought he might say something teasing, but Qin Jianhe only silently met his gaze.

After a while, he finally smiled. "Are you serious?"

"What do you think?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

Qin Jianhe said nothing more, pressing him down again to kiss him.

But this time, he did not kiss his lips; instead, he tilted his head slightly, pressing his hot, soft lips onto the tip of Ye Zhiqiu's nose, kissing the faint red mole there.

Feeling a bite, Ye Zhiqiu laughed and scolded, "Tell me, are you a dog?"

Qin Jianhe chuckled softly, tightening his arm around him and pressing him closer, their foreheads touching.

Both of them looked up at each other, their eyes filled with laughter.

"Okay," Qin Jianhe said, "when it gets warmer."

Ice coffee on a summer street in New York, a passionate rendezvous in the car later, the next fashion week...

It seemed they had made many promises without much effort.

Qin Jianhe chuckled softly, instinctively gripping Ye Zhiqiu's palm.

Just out of the club, Ye Zhiqiu's palm was not cold this time.

"Hungry?" he asked with a smile. "What do you want to eat?"

Ye Zhiqiu had many things he wanted to eat. Hearing this, he turned his head to think.

Turning his head, he saw Jiang Nan still standing stiffly at the entrance of the exhibition hall, staring straight at the car.

He had even forgotten about Jiang Nan's presence just now.

Ye Zhiqiu retracted his gaze.

"How about we go eat Hunan cuisine near the company?" he suggested with a smile. "So that certain people won't keep thinking I owe them something."

Qin Jianhe chuckled. "Let's change the place."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Are you enjoying being a creditor?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Yes," Qin Jianhe said. "Being your creditor is enjoyable."

He pinched Ye Zhiqiu's waist. "Do you want to pay in flesh, Ye Zhiqiu?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu burst into laughter, collapsing into Qin Jianhe's arms, taking a while before raising his head.

"There's a health pot restaurant that's quite good," Qin Jianhe said, his expression barely changing. "Let's go have some soup."

Standing there for an unknown amount of time until his legs went numb and his muscles tightened painfully, the car finally started, slowly driving out of the parking spot in front of the venue, merging into the traffic outside, disappearing quickly.

Jiang Nan felt dazed, as if everything around him was unreal.

The moment Qin Jianhe raised his eyes to close the car door, their gazes briefly met. Jiang Nan had never seen those eyes so deep before, as if they were stained with sweat, each eyelash exuding sensuality and passion.

However, that warmth quickly turned cold when it met his gaze.

It made him feel estranged, shaken, and pierced by a thousand arrows.

"Director Jiang," someone called from behind him. It took Jiang Nan a moment to come back to reality and turn around.

The caller was a colleague responsible for the purchasing event, asking about a modification issue.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Nan asked.

The colleague opened their mouth to speak but froze.

Jiang Nan's face looked terrible, pale and ashen, devoid of any vitality.

"Director Jiang," the colleague, a girl, was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to support Jiang Nan's arm, "Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? Should I call an ambulance for you?"

Jiang Nan remained silent for a while, until the colleague began to feel uneasy. Then he finally shook his head.

"Did you need something?" he asked again.

"The A877 model—clients asked if we could remove the metal buckle on the front and replace it with a flap," the colleague said.

"Go ahead and make the change," Jiang Nan replied.

"Okay." The colleague continued working but still seemed worried. "Should I get you a cup of hot water?"

"No need," Jiang Nan said, "I have some in my car."

He paused. "Go back to your work. I'll rest for a bit."

Jiang Nan's car was parked in the spot in front of the exhibition hall. After seeing his colleague go inside, he walked out, opened the car door, and sat down.

He lit a cigarette and took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of citrus and mint.

It was the brand of cigarettes Qin Jianhe smoked.

Despite loving the taste, this time the heat rising in his throat only made him want to cry.

Jiang Nan hugged his head and curled up slightly, trembling uncontrollably.

He greedily drew on the cigarette between his fingers.

Every time he smoked this brand before, it felt like getting closer to Qin Jianhe with each deeper inhale.

But now, even though he inhaled deeper than ever, all he saw was Qin Jianhe tightly embracing Ye Zhiqiu.

He held him so tightly, looking at him with such depth, as if the person in his arms was a priceless treasure.

So, the usually cold Qin Jianhe also had such a passionate side...

The cigarette soon burned down, and Jiang Nan sat motionless in the driver's seat, suddenly remembering something.

He picked up his phone and dialed Qi Xin's number.

Qi Xin answered quickly.

Qi Xin arrived in Paris just after three in the morning. Not long after, he discovered that Ye Zhiqiu had removed him from the blacklist.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Qi Xin sent two messages without receiving a reply, and then felt dejected.

Ye Zhiqiu's heart was like a needle at the bottom of the sea; no matter how much he tried to guess or understand, he couldn't grasp even a tiny part of it. He could only cautiously peek from the darkness.

This feeling was uncomfortable yet full of excitement and challenge.

Despite the long flight and exhaustion, Qi Xin couldn't sleep when he returned to the hotel.

Every few minutes, he would check his phone to see if Ye Zhiqiu had replied to his messages or posted anything new on social media.

Tossing and turning until five in the morning Paris time, the sky outside had turned from deep black to gray. His phone finally rang.

Thinking it was Ye Zhiqiu, Qi Xin answered the call without checking the caller ID.

Unfortunately, the caller was not Ye Zhiqiu, but Jiang Nan.

"Qi Xin," Jiang Nan spoke first, "Why haven't you been to the exhibition these past two days?"

"I've been busy with other things," Qi Xin replied vaguely, then asked, "What's going on?"

Although he hadn't been there, colleagues had been reporting to him about the exhibition's progress.

Each show of Qi Yun had been more successful than the last, with orders increasing every day. Qi Xin wished the exhibition would never end.

So, even though Jiang Nan called, he wasn't particularly worried.

He was only fantasizing about the beautiful scene when he would meet Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu might still give him a cold shoulder and be angry...

But in such a romantic place as Paris, if he could properly comfort him, Ye Zhiqiu would surely be happy again.

Ye Zhiqiu... must also want to see him, right?

Otherwise, why would he take him off the blacklist?

Qi Xin felt elated.

"Do you know who I saw at the exhibition today?" Jiang Nan’s voice came through, carrying an indescribable sense of gloom.

Qi Xin’s brows furrowed slightly, sensing something was amiss.

In front of him, Jiang Nan had always maintained a good image, never giving him any chance. This tone was the first time he had heard from him.

"Who?" Qi Xin asked, instinctively feeling that this person must be closely related to both of them.

"Ye Zhiqiu," Jiang Nan said, his tone even colder.

Qi Xin froze.

He held the phone, not moving for a while.

"What?" he asked.

"Ye Zhiqiu came to see the exhibition today." Jiang Nan paused, seemingly realizing something. "What? He didn’t even tell you he was back in the country?"

Qi Xin: "..."

Qi Xin felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Just now, he had told Ye Zhiqiu that he had come to Paris to see him.

He hadn’t mentioned a word about returning to the country.

The beautiful fantasy shattered instantly, and Qi Xin’s face darkened.

He was about to deny it, but before he could speak, Jiang Nan laughed coldly.

"So," he said, "you still say he genuinely likes you?"

Qi Xin didn’t like hearing such words. Hearing this, he frowned deeply.

"How is he not genuine with me?" he asked. "Would you give up your Spring Festival break to stay up all night working on design drafts for someone you don’t like? Would you work until three in the morning on the coldest nights before an exhibition for someone you don’t like? Would you... write someone else’s name on your design drafts for someone you don’t like?"

As he asked these questions, Qi Xin became increasingly confident.

Yes, Ye Zhiqiu did like him.

He just had a bad temper, was a bit spoiled, and a bit willful.

Jiang Nan remained silent for a long time.

Qi Xin’s words were indeed hard to refute.

After all, those design drafts couldn’t have been created in just a short time; they clearly showed the designer’s dedication.

If not, how could Qi Yun have made a splash despite such a poor start?

"I hope everything you said is true," Jiang Nan murmured.

"Jiang Nan," Qi Xin felt increasingly uncomfortable with each of Jiang Nan’s words tonight.

Last time, he tolerated it because Jiang Nan was drunk, but this time, he couldn’t bear it anymore.

"You know my feelings for you are special. Don’t you think it’s unfair to keep saying things like this to me?"

"There’s nothing unfair about it," Jiang Nan said, then hung up the call.

Compared to the green hat Ye Zhiqiu had given Qi Xin, he thought he had been too fair to Qi Xin.

If he hadn’t acted quickly, he might have revealed the matter between Ye Zhiqiu and Qin Jianhe.

But reason prevailed, and he couldn’t say anything.

If what Qi Xin said was true, there might still be a slight possibility for Ye Zhiqiu and Qi Xin.

But if he spoke out, everything would be over.

Jiang Nan lit another cigarette, and in the haze of smoke, he seemed to see Qin Jianhe’s face again.

His eyelashes were slightly damp, his eyes intensely deep and fiery. But this time, he wasn’t looking at Ye Zhiqiu, but at him.

Jiang Nan smiled slightly, reaching out involuntarily.

The smoke dispersed instantly, leaving only emptiness before him, and his face darkened once more.

At the same time, a steaming hot pot was placed on the table.

The pot was still bubbling, and the fresh aroma rose with the steam.

A few side dishes were also served, all light and refreshing, except for one dish of boiled sliced meat, which looked particularly appetizing.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, eager to pick up his chopsticks.

"Their boiled sliced meat is more fragrant than spicy; you should like it too," Qin Jianhe said, smiling at Ye Zhiqiu’s impatient look.

Ye Zhiqiu took a bite first. The meat was tender, with just a hint of spiciness, and the fragrance lingered in his mouth.

"Mm," he nodded.

"Eat more," Qin Jianhe used the serving chopsticks to serve him some food.

Ye Zhiqiu took two bites, then carefully scooped up some hot soup with a spoon, blew on it, and took a sip.

The beef tail pot was very fragrant, and the white radish and potatoes inside were cooked to perfection. He immediately fell in love with it.

"Delicious." He smiled with his eyes.

Qin Jianhe gave a faint smile, not saying anything.

After the meal, Qin Jianhe drove Ye Zhiqiu back home to rest before returning to the company himself.

"The TV has membership to various streaming services, and there are plenty of books in the study," Qin Jianhe said before leaving, "feel free to look through them."

Qin Jianhe's study was on the top floor, and its decor resembled his office.

There was an additional recliner by the window, bathed in sunlight, looking very comfortable.

The study had many books, packed tightly on two walls of bookshelves. Ye Zhiqiu glanced around and found most were about finance and fashion design.

Occasionally, there were a few novels, mostly in their original English.

Ye Zhiqiu flipped through a couple of pages but found it a bit challenging, so he put them back.

This was the first time Ye Zhiqiu had been so close to Qin Jianhe's life.

If they could be considered intimate before, it was only physically.

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't thought of getting to know Qin Jianhe more deeply.

But now, he began to slowly understand what books he had read or liked.

Ye Zhiqiu slowly looked through the shelves, taking in each book.

When he reached the corner of the bookshelf, he stopped.

On the next shelf up, at a height convenient for Qin Jianhe, was a set of Slam Dunk comic books.

Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

He raised his arm, took down the first few volumes, and sat down on the recliner by the floor-to-ceiling windows, flipping through the pages leisurely.

Despite being in the heart of the business district, Qin Jianhe's home was situated centrally within the residential area, and the noise from passing cars was barely audible.

Only the warm sunlight filtered through the glass, making him feel exceptionally cozy.

As he neared the end of the first volume, Ye Zhiqiu felt his eyelids growing heavy.

But just then, his phone buzzed.

The drowsiness vanished instantly as Ye Zhiqiu picked up his phone and opened the chat app.

It was Li Ling, who had been absent for some time.

"Soft and small 0: When are you coming back?"

But Li Ling continued without waiting for a response.

"Soft and small 0: I officially signed today with Gao Wenye's friend's company, Huayi. Heard of it?"

"Soft and small 0: My first role is alongside Meng, the movie star. Hahaha, playing his flamboyant childhood friend. It's perfect for me, right? Just a bit short on screen time, QAQ."

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: Starting with a movie role isn't bad, is it?"

"Soft and small 0: Tsk tsk tsk, this was Gao Wenye giving up some conditions in his upcoming project to get me this role. The entertainment industry is like a big trading ground, interesting. This makes me reluctant to introduce my good sisters to him."

Ye Zhiqiu chuckled.

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: From now on, whenever you attend events, you can pick any custom designs you want. I'll make sure you outshine all your competitors. How does that sound?"

"Soft and small 0: Deal."

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: Deal. Now, can we talk about the real matter?"

"Soft and small 0: Although Gao Wenye is still infatuated with me, he does plan to seriously pursue Ye Zhixia."

"Soft and small 0: Moreover, his new company has been officially registered, and he's already quietly signed a few young actors. He'll likely announce it soon."

"Soft and small 0: He has some film contracts, though none outstanding. But they're enough to support the new company's development. And he plans to sign me back into his company in a couple of years when his relationship with Ye Zhixia stabilizes."

This should also be Tao Ruoqing's intention.

The more Ye Zhixia suppresses her feelings for Gao Wenye, the stronger the backlash will be later.

Even if they can temporarily hide it from Ye Hongxian, eventually, it will cause even bigger problems.

In contrast, as Ye Hongxian's child, he recently shone brightly at the fashion week.

Not to mention, he's also rumored to be dating Zhao Keqi.

If Ye Zhixia gets involved in another scandal, compared to his achievements, Ye Hongxian might truly abandon her and kick her out of the family.

At that point, all their years of effort would be in vain.

Under these circumstances, it's better to find a way to make Ye Hongxian accept their relationship rather than suppress it.

This requires a change in Gao Wenye's status.

And establishing his own company is the most direct way.

Similarly, since Ye Zhixia is now confirmed as the heir to the Ye family fortune, Gao Wenye probably doesn't want to wait anymore.

Ye Zhixia is nineteen, while Gao Wenye is over thirty.

In a few years, time will leave its marks on him, while Ye Zhixia will still be in her prime.

If one day Ye Zhixia changes his mind, he would be left with nothing but an empty basket.

The agreement between the two sides was reached swiftly, which was expected.

Although it's still unknown how Tao Ruoqing will operate and convince Ye Hongxian.

This time, Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye’s good fortune should come earlier than in the previous life.

And it might even be much earlier.

The smile on Ye Zhiqiu's lips intensified slightly.

"Leaf Knows Autumn: Will you go?"

"Soft and small 0: Am I stupid? Ye Zhixia sees me as a thorn in his eye; why would I walk into a trap? However..."

Li Ling started to breathe heavily as he spoke.

"Soft and small 0: However, by then, Gao Wenye probably won't need me anymore. After all, I've found several siblings who are just as good as me. In the future, they'll have enough arguments and commotions to forget about getting my contract back."

"Soft and small 0: Moreover, those few aren’t as easy-going as me. If Gao Wenye really signs them into the company, they will dare to cause trouble with Ye Zhixia."

"Leaf Knows Autumn: You’ve put in a lot of effort."

"Soft and small 0: Ye Zhiqiu, you are the most skillful player I've ever met. I, Li Ling, admire you and like playing with you. Whenever you need anything, just say the word."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and sent a red envelope over.

Without any particular reason, he sent a few words after a moment.

"Leaf Knows Autumn: Here’s your New Year’s money, in advance."

"Li Ling: Haha!"

A moment later, the system notification appeared: The other party has received your red envelope.

Ye Zhiqiu put down his phone and continued reading his comics.

By the time he finished the second book, the sky had already darkened, and he glanced at his watch—it was almost time for him to leave work.

Ye Zhiqiu got up, put on a compromise, and went downstairs.

Although he had said that he would never cook for anyone again in this life, he needed to eat himself.

Moreover, Qin Jianhe had cooked for him several times already, so Ye Zhiqiu felt it wouldn’t be right to keep taking advantage of him.

He entered the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and saw neatly arranged eggs, vegetables, and noodles.

As for the freezer, it was filled with various fresh ingredients.

Not wanting to make something too complicated, Ye Zhiqiu took out the vegetables, eggs, and noodles.

Just as he was about to start preparing the vegetables, his phone rang—it was Wang Ru calling.

Although he had given instructions before leaving, without Ye Zhiqiu around, Wang Ru and Gao Yang were still uneasy.

They asked a series of disjointed questions.

After a fifteen-minute call, Ye Zhiqiu hung up and saw that Qin Jianhe had sent him a message not long ago.

"QIN: What do you want to eat? I’ll buy it from the supermarket and cook it for you when I get home."

Ye Zhiqiu looked at the fresh spinach on the countertop and couldn’t help but smile.

He held the phone in his palm for a moment before replying.

"Leaf Knows Autumn: I’m already cooking; it should be ready by the time you get back."

After sending the message, Ye Zhiqiu took down an apron from behind the door, put it on, and began washing and cutting the vegetables...

As the water in the pot started bubbling, he heard the door open—Qin Jianhe had returned.

Dressed in formal attire, with his coat casually draped over his arm, he immediately looked into the kitchen.

Steam rose from the kitchen as Ye Zhiqiu dropped the noodles into the boiling water, smiling as he turned around. "Go wash your hands; it’ll be ready soon."

The man seemed to respond, or perhaps he didn’t.

The sound of bubbles popping in the pot seemed to drown out everything else.

As the broth bubbled, Ye Zhiqiu added two poached eggs and then the prepared vegetables.

Just as he was about to turn around, his waist tightened, and someone pressed against him from behind.

Qin Jianhe wrapped his arms around Ye Zhiqiu’s waist, holding him tightly.

He looked down, noticing the thin straps of the apron accentuating Ye Zhiqiu’s slender waist, and called out softly, his voice slightly hoarse, "Ye Zhiqiu."

"Hmm?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled and looked up at him, only to be kissed passionately.

From the moment he stepped through the door and saw Ye Zhiqiu bustling about in the steamy kitchen,

Qin Jianhe’s heart softened.

Such a scene, he thought, would never appear in his home.

He believed it didn’t matter if it never did, but now that it had, he realized that certain empty spaces in his heart were finally being filled.

"In the future, you don’t need to cook." Qin Jianhe kissed Ye Zhiqiu for a moment, then lifted his head, "I will do it."

Ye Zhiqiu blinked his eyes.

For some reason, Qin Jianhe started to laugh.

He suddenly realized what had filled his heart in that moment.

It was happiness.

Not because Ye Zhiqiu appeared in the kitchen, but because Ye Zhiqiu was in his home.

After living alone for so many years, this house had always been occupied by only him coming and going.

Now, for the first time, there was someone he really liked, someone he wanted to see right away after work, waiting for him at home.

Turns out that the once indifferent warmth of daily life was actually so worthwhile.