Chapter 65

Chapter 65

The familiar and warm woody base notes of the perfume lingered at his nose, and an intense sense of grievance suddenly welled up in his heart.

Ye Zhiqiu buried his eyes in Qin Jianhe's shoulder, not moving.

Quietly and with great effort, he tried to suppress this indescribable feeling.

This feeling was unfamiliar; Ye Zhiqiu had almost never experienced it before.

Even in his previous life, when he was treated so poorly, even when his wings were completely broken, even when he was trampled into the mud, unable to breathe...

Even after he finally understood all the truths.

What he felt most deeply was despair, pain, and disbelief.

And anger, hatred, and regret.

He had all these emotions, but he had never felt wronged.

Because he himself had taken the wrong path and trusted the wrong people...

His nature was filled with resolve, so he gritted his teeth and bore all the bitter consequences.

Occasionally, he would fantasize.

Fantasize about what might have been if none of that had happened—what kind of vibrant youth and bright life he could have had.

And this fantasy would turn around and become a sharp blade, ruthlessly tormenting him.

Endlessly, in an endless cycle.

Like an abyss without bottom, no matter how hard he tried, he could never see the end or reach the light.

So, even when he accidentally drove into the lake, facing death, he wasn't afraid.

To him at that time, death was just one way of finding release.

But now...

No one had said a harsh word to him, no one had hurt or blamed him, and yet someone was being so careful and protective of him.

Yet inexplicably, he felt wronged, his heart burning, his nose and eyes stinging uncontrollably.

The room was silent, Qin Jianhe held him, saying nothing.

His embrace was warm and broad, like a silent mountain, incredibly reliable, allowing Ye Zhiqiu's heart to finally calm down.

After a long while, Qin Jianhe finally moved.

He raised his hand, very carefully placing his palm on the back of Ye Zhiqiu's head, gently rubbing his hair.

"I'm fine," Ye Zhiqiu instinctively lifted his eyes, sensing the strong comfort in his actions.

Qin Jianhe looked down at him, raising his hand to lightly touch the corner of his eye.

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't cried, his expression was even quite calm, but there was still a barely noticeable flush at the corners of his elongated, upward-slanting eyes.

"Mm," Qin Jianhe softly responded, "you're fine."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and lowered his eyes, looking at the rose in Qin Jianhe's hand.

The coat still draped over his elbow, and due to the angle of his arm, the rose was still slightly raised.

"I didn't realize you were so kind-hearted," Ye Zhiqiu said softly after a while, "to take care of an old flower seller."

"I've always been kind-hearted," Qin Jianhe chuckled softly, "if you spend more time with me, you'll discover even more."

As if on cue, the rose in Qin Jianhe's hand swayed slightly.

"Tsk."

Never met someone who loved self-praise so much.

Ye Zhiqiu let out a soft tsk and couldn't help but laugh.

He reached out and took the rose into his hand.

The originally cold stem of the rose had been warmed, and Ye Zhiqiu gripped it tightly, subconsciously clenching his hand.

Not only did the warmth sear his palm, but he also felt a faint unease at reaching out for it.

He had never been indecisive.

Even in his previous life, his fall was with a determination that left no turning back.

"Then," Ye Zhiqiu changed the subject, deliberately ignoring this strange feeling, "what should we eat tonight? Should we make fish head?"

Qin Jianhe looked at him, a faint smile finally appearing in his eyes.

"Tomorrow," he said, "let you recover a bit."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

He didn't feel that bad...

"We won't cook tonight," Qin Jianhe said, "you should rest."

"I know, you just said we'd do it tomorrow," Ye Zhiqiu said halfway through, then suddenly met Qin Jianhe's smiling eyes and realized.

What Qin Jianhe meant by "doing" was not cooking fish.

Damn, what does Qin Jianhe mean?

How could he switch so seamlessly and bring up that topic again without batting an eye?

"That won't work," Ye Zhiqiu tried to bring up his theory again.

"Why not, Ye Zhiqiu?" Qin Jianhe looked at him, barely suppressing a smile. "Choose either doing or the fish head."

Damn, this is too difficult.

Ye Zhiqiu blinked, remaining silent for a while.

"Ye Zhiqiu," Qin Jianhe lifted him into his arms again, gently persuading, "This kind of relationship doesn't necessarily require doing. We can also embrace and kiss each other, comforting one another."

Ye Zhiqiu fell silent for a moment. For some reason, he suddenly thought of Ye Hongxian.

Although thinking about Ye Hongxian in this situation felt strange, Ye Hongxian, at his age, spent seven or eight nights out of ten outside.

Thinking about it, it's probably not every day...

"Cough." Ye Zhiqiu cleared his throat lightly and finally made a choice. "I'll do the fish head."

"To do, the fish head," Qin Jianhe looked at him with a half-smile. "Ye Zhiqiu, you're quite greedy."

"Damn." Ye Zhiqiu cursed, but was amused by him.

Seeing him almost laughing to tears, Qin Jianhe pulled him closer by the wrist.

"Alright," he asked, "Besides the fish head, what else do you want to eat?"

"I want to have some chicken soup too." Ye Zhiqiu blurted out without much thought.

During those days abroad, he couldn't help but think of the chicken soup Qin Jianhe had cooked.

It was better than anything outside.

"Okay." Qin Jianhe chuckled and ruffled his hair.

Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him and subconsciously took a step back.

He held the rose quietly for a moment, then got up to find scissors, trimming the flower stem and combining it with the plastic rose.

Meanwhile, Qin Jianhe silently went inside to change into casual clothes, washed his hands, and entered the kitchen.

Nie Fengjun always worried that he would go hungry when busy, so she occasionally had someone deliver vegetables, fruits, meat, and eggs to the door.

Prepared dishes were always included.

For example, the cold beef dish Ye Zhiqiu seasoned last night was something Fu Mingjin had specially prepared earlier.

Fu Mingjin, a university professor, loved cooking besides teaching and research.

Although there was always a housekeeper at the villa on the hillside, whenever Fu Mingjin was home, the kitchen became his domain.

He enjoyed cooking personally, preparing nourishing soups for Nie Fengjun.

Incidentally, he also took good care of Qin Jianhe.

If Ye Zhiqiu had entered Qin Jianhe's life and transformed the stagnant pond into a flowing spring,

then Fu Mingjin was the catalyst in his life.

He showed him a completely different side of relationships.

Even so, Qin Jianhe still felt that this aspect was extremely precious and rare, not something anyone could easily possess.

Until Ye Zhiqiu entered his world.

...

Qin Jianhe skillfully washed the rice and put it in the pot, then took out the braised chicken feet from the freezer to heat them up.

Next, he sliced the mutton and chopped the leeks, preparing a steaming hot mutton soup.

In the living room, Ye Zhiqiu had just taken out his laptop and placed it on the dining table, planning to finish the design draft he hadn't completed in London.

However, as soon as he turned on the computer, his phone rang.

It was Qi Xin.

Actually, during lunch in the afternoon when discussing business with Zhang Mian, he had received a message from Qi Xin.

Judging by the time, he had probably just landed.

Qi Xin said he had waited for him in Paris for a long time and only found out he had returned to the country when he went to Q.L's hotel.

He didn't mention Jiang Nan at all.

At the time, Ye Zhiqiu was busy and only glanced at the message before putting it aside.

After finishing his work, he had completely forgotten about Qi Xin.

In this life, things were no longer the same as in the previous one.

He no longer cared about anything related to Qi Xin.

Even if he and Jiang Nan were together, he wouldn't feel anything.

One might even think that they were a perfect match, like an old pot and a worn lid.

Now, it was just a message.

A message that made him feel like a dog being toyed with, yet he didn't dare to question or accuse. Ye Zhiqiu paid it no mind at all.

Letting the phone ring, Ye Zhiqiu opened a drawing software before calmly answering the call.

He didn’t avoid using speaker mode.

Flying back from Paris took twelve hours, during which he was exhausted and overthinking, causing Qi Xin’s headache to intensify.

But when he closed his eyes, his mind remained unusually clear.

Upon landing, he immediately crafted a carefully worded message to Ye Zhiqiu.

The main focus was on lamenting his situation.

He mentioned waiting for a long time in Paris, visiting Q.L's hotel specifically, and how Ye Zhiqiu’s colleague told him he had returned to the country. He asked why Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t informed him beforehand and expressed how much he missed him.

He kept his tone as steady as possible, avoiding any emotional words, fearing that it might upset Ye Zhiqiu and get him blocked again.

Putting aside feelings, just considering Qi Yun, he couldn’t afford to anger Ye Zhiqiu.

After sending the message, Qi Xin waited for Ye Zhiqiu’s reply.

The factory wasn’t far from the airport, so Qi Xin went there directly instead of going home first.

There were many new orders to handle, mostly from post-show order meetings.

Qi Xin sat down and reviewed several documents.

Ever since that morning, when he decided to go to Paris after seeing Ye Zhiqiu’s scandal, he hadn’t slept properly.

Sitting there for only a short while, he started feeling drowsy and fell asleep without realizing it.

He woke up to the sound of trucks delivering fabric and the loud voices of the workers unloading them.

Qi Xin sat there in a daze, feeling cold all over.

The office heating wasn’t sufficient, and he had fallen asleep without even putting on his coat.

Having not rested well for days and now catching a chill, Qi Xin shivered, feeling a heavy head.

His whole body ached as if the pain was seeping out from his bones.

But he couldn’t focus on that; as soon as he regained consciousness, he grabbed his phone.

In the chat app, Ye Zhiqiu still hadn’t replied.

The sky outside had already darkened, and Qi Xin couldn’t wait any longer.

Moreover, he had waited long enough, believing this call was justified and explainable.

The phone rang for a while before Ye Zhiqiu finally answered, "Hello."

Hearing his voice felt like music to Qi Xin’s ears, and he exclaimed joyfully, "Xiao Qiu."

Then, feeling aggrieved, he added, "I finally got through to you."

From the other end came the sound of a mouse clicking, followed by Ye Zhiqiu’s light laugh.

"What’s up?" he asked, sounding slightly indifferent. "I saw your message this afternoon. Sorry, I forgot to reply when I got busy."

Qi Xin: "..."

Qi Xin: "It’s okay."

"Xiao Qiu," he asked, "when did you return? I even went to Paris to find you."

"Two days ago," Ye Zhiqiu said, sounding slightly puzzled. "Didn’t I tell you?"

Qi Xin: "..."

"Sorry," Ye Zhiqiu said, seemingly checking his chat history. "I must have sent the message to my colleague instead of you when I was jet-lagged and disoriented."

Indeed!

Hearing this, Qi Xin felt relieved.

Ye Zhiqiu had merely made a harmless mistake.

He blamed himself for being so impatient, flying to Paris impulsively.

"It’s okay," he quickly said, feeling more energetic. "I heard the mouse clicking. Are you busy right now?"

"Speaking of which," Ye Zhiqiu complained, "I’m working on your sketches."

Qi Xin: "..."

Qi Xin was deeply moved.

He instantly regretted the suspicions he had harbored due to Jiang Nan’s call and the scandal.

Though he didn’t dare ask, he silently dismissed those doubts because of Ye Zhiqiu’s words.

Everything else was superficial, but Ye Zhiqiu's dedication to him was genuine and undeniable.

Although Ye Zhiqiu was unaware, Qi Xin silently vowed that no matter what happened in the future, he would never doubt Ye Zhiqiu again.

Ye Zhiqiu's voice came through once more, not particularly warm, yet Qi Xin felt an instant warmth in his heart.

"You can't just have a few bestsellers on your side," he said. "That's why I want to work overtime and stay up late to do more for you."

Qi Xin opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to speak.

"Thank you, Xiao Qiu." After a while, he heard his own voice, tinged with a nasal tone. "Are you at home now? Can I come see you?"

"Wait a couple of days." Ye Zhiqiu didn't directly answer Qi Xin's question; he just chuckled. "I'm busy right now, so don't cause trouble."

Strangely, Qi Xin sensed a hint of indulgence in those words.

His heart raced, and after a moment, he managed to utter a sentence, only to sneeze loudly.

Qi Xin: "..."

He was already exhausted and had been out in the cold; he figured he must have caught a cold.

This sneeze was earth-shattering, even through the phone, causing echoes in Qin Jianhe's spacious living room.

Ye Zhiqiu glanced at the bright screen of his phone, his eyes filled with disgust.

Someone approached from behind and silently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ye Zhiqiu tilted his head and saw Qin Jianhe.

He looked up at him and, taking advantage of his position, leaned down to kiss his lips.

Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily dazed, and the disgust he felt towards Qi Xin gradually faded. He instinctively raised his hand and wrapped it around Qin Jianhe's neck.

The man let out a soft laugh, but his actions remained undeterred.

On the other end, Qi Xin's sneeze left him teary-eyed and runny-nosed. After cleaning up, he noticed that Ye Zhiqiu was still listening quietly, which moved him deeply.

It was strange, but he felt that since returning from abroad, Ye Zhiqiu seemed to have become more patient.

This level of patience was unprecedented.

"Xiao Qiu," Qi Xin took the opportunity to complain, hoping to further secure Ye Zhiqiu's affection. "I haven't slept a wink these past few days, thinking about you, and now I've caught a cold..."

Qi Xin continued, "I really miss you."

There was no response, and soon, the call was silently disconnected.

Qi Xin: "..."

But then he thought about how Ye Zhiqiu was still working hard for Qi Yun, while he was only thinking about romance...

Qi Xin felt a twinge of guilt.

The sky outside had darkened, and he stumbled up to find a thermometer.

Perhaps due to getting up too quickly, Qi Xin suddenly saw stars and felt the world tilt.

Before he could make a sound, everything went black, and he fell heavily.

*

After the kiss ended, Qin Jianhe smiled and gently rubbed Ye Zhiqiu's lips.

"Why did you hang up on me?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Noisy," Qin Jianhe murmured, his voice slightly hoarse.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, then wrinkled his nose and laughed.

Qi Xin was indeed noisy.

The screen displayed design sketches for summer dresses, not yet colored, but the lines were already stunningly beautiful.

Qin Jianhe reached around Ye Zhiqiu from behind, encircling his neck, and leaned in to look together.

"You're great at capturing fashion trends," he said with a slight smile. "The combination of classic and modern is almost seamless."

As someone in the industry, Qin Jianhe knew this dress would be a huge hit this summer.

Not only a hit, but likely to spark imitation across various brands.

Giving such a design to Qi Yun was indeed a bit of a waste.

But he said nothing because it was Ye Zhiqiu's decision.

"Let's eat first," he said.

"Okay." Ye Zhiqiu stood up and stretched.

Having been on the go all day and working intensely with Zhang Mian at the restaurant for hours, he now felt a hint of fatigue as he relaxed.

"What did you make?" Ye Zhiqiu yawned, his eyelashes glistening with moisture.

Qin Jianhe looked at him, his gaze deepening slightly.

"Mutton soup," he said. "Do you like it?"

"Mm-hmm." Ye Zhiqiu nodded, blinking away the moisture in his eyes. "I'll help you bring the bowls."

"Okay." Qin Jianhe responded softly, reaching up to rub Ye Zhiqiu's hair.

A plate of braised chicken feet, two bowls of mutton soup—Qin Jianhe preferred the original flavor, while Ye Zhiqiu added pepper and vinegar—and a dish of cold mixed beef.

"Have a taste," Qin Jianhe smiled. "Which one is better, mine or yours?"

Ye Zhiqiu nodded and put a piece of beef in his mouth.

He chewed slowly for a moment, then couldn't help but smile with his eyes curving. "Not as good as mine."

After saying this, he couldn't help but pause slightly, a bit afraid that Qin Jianhe might ask why his cooking was so delicious.

But Qin Jianhe didn't ask anything; he just smiled faintly.

"Next time, teach me how to make it," he said.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at him, and after a moment, his eyes curved slightly. "Okay."

The two sat opposite each other, eating their meal quietly.

After the meal, Ye Zhiqiu reached out to clear the dishes, but Qin Jianhe held his wrist.

"I'll do it," he said, smiling at Ye Zhiqiu. "If you're tired, go to bed first. I'll join you once I'm done."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

There was an inexplicable feeling of being an old married couple, yet it felt harmonious.

He pursed his lips and looked at his laptop temporarily placed on the sofa. "I'll wait for you."

Indeed, it felt even more like an old married couple.

"Okay." Qin Jianhe looked at him, the smile in his eyes growing stronger.

"I..." Ye Zhiqiu said, "I'll work a bit more."

"Alright." Qin Jianhe responded.

Saying he would work a bit more, but Ye Zhiqiu couldn't concentrate sitting in front of his computer.

The sound of running water from the kitchen came through, and after a moment of silence, Ye Zhiqiu finally closed his laptop.

That night, they took separate showers. Ye Zhiqiu used the master bedroom's bathroom, while Qin Jianhe went to the guest bathroom.

Ye Zhiqiu moved slowly, and when he came out of the bathroom, Qin Jianhe was already lying in bed working on his tablet.

Seeing him come out, he put down the tablet and lifted the blanket for him.

Ye Zhiqiu climbed into bed, lying on his own pillow, and couldn't help but turn to look at Qin Jianhe.

His large, bright eyes were still glistening from the bathroom, making him look like an adorable kitten.

Qin Jianhe's heart skipped a beat, wanting to lean over and kiss him, but he didn't.

He raised his hand and covered Ye Zhiqiu's eyes.

As if looking at those eyes for even a second longer would make him unable to resist breaking his promise.

Tonight, no intimacy, a promise he made himself.

Not just for Ye Zhiqiu to enjoy a comfortable meal, but also as a subtle psychological tug-of-war.

Between him and Ye Zhiqiu.

Once there's a first, there can be a second. He hoped Ye Zhiqiu could get used to this, sleeping together without any other intentions.

The eyelashes under his palm fluttered slightly, causing a slight tickle.

Then, Ye Zhiqiu's lips curved up. "Not sleeping?"

"Sleeping," Qin Jianhe said. "Just replying to an email."

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu murmured softly, leaning closer to him and closing his eyes.

Qin Jianhe raised his hand again, noticing Ye Zhiqiu's eyelashes tremble lightly.

He turned off the main light.

Finishing the half-written email, Qin Jianhe sent it and then pulled Ye Zhiqiu into his arms.

He leaned down to kiss his forehead and nose, whispering goodnight to him.

"Goodnight, Ye Zhiqiu."

Ye Zhiqiu slowly lifted his eyes, his voice tinged with drowsiness. "Goodnight, Qin Jianhe."

As he spoke, he nestled deeper into his embrace.

Finding a more comfortable position, he closed his eyes again.

A moment later, Qin Jianhe heard him murmur half-asleep.

"Sleeping like this feels pretty good."

This way? That way?

Two people embracing tightly without doing anything else?

Subconsciously, the smile in Qin Jianhe's dark eyes deepened.

He slightly lowered his head and kissed Ye Zhiqiu's soft hair once more.

"Goodnight, Ye Zhiqiu," he said.

*

That night, Ye Zhiqiu slept particularly deeply.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a faint morning light outside the window.

He tried to turn over, but Qin Jianhe's arm around his waist held him tightly like a cage, not allowing any movement.

Seemingly sensing the movement in his arms, Qin Jianhe's thick eyelashes fluttered, and then he slowly lifted his gaze.

Those pitch-black eyes revealed a rare look of confusion before gradually focusing on Ye Zhiqiu's face.

"Wake up?" he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu checked the time; it was just past five. "If you're still sleepy, go back to sleep?"

Qin Jianhe shook his head, only looking down at him.

"It's still early," Ye Zhiqiu cautiously extended his hand downward. "How about..."

However, before his hand reached its destination, it was caught by someone, and Qin Jianhe's voice carried a hint of amusement.

"No," he said.

Ye Zhiqiu held back a laugh, his expression becoming somewhat amusing.

Qin Jianhe leaned down and kissed his nose, then smiled as he glanced at the time.

"It's almost time," he said, unable to resist pulling Ye Zhiqiu into his arms and tightening his grip. "Let me hold you for a bit longer."

"Something up?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Mm." Qin Jianhe laughed. "I ordered fresh ingredients, and they should be here soon."

"Oh~" Ye Zhiqiu looked at the still dark sky outside and lowered his voice. "Actually, if I have nothing during the day, I can buy them from the supermarket."

"No need." Qin Jianhe pressed his forehead against Ye Zhiqiu's. "Some farmers on the mountain raise chickens and ducks and catch wild fish and shrimp themselves; you can't find these in the market."

"Moreover," he paused, "this is almost their only source of income."

"Oh, I see." Ye Zhiqiu blinked gently, unable to resist another glance at Qin Jianhe.

Judging solely by appearance and demeanor, Qin Jianhe seemed quite cold and distant.

But spending time with him revealed that he had a very tender side deep down.

"Do they come often?" Ye Zhiqiu asked. "Maybe when I live alone, I can follow your schedule."

"The neighbors in the community often order together, usually once a week," Qin Jianhe looked down at him. "What do you want? I can order it for you in the future."

As they were talking, Qin Jianhe's phone vibrated slightly.

He glanced at it and sat up.

"They've arrived and are at the guardhouse," he said. "I'll go get them; you can go back to sleep."

Ye Zhiqiu nodded and looked up at him.

It was that look again.

Qin Jianhe smiled, ruffled his hair, and looked away.

Once Qin Jianhe left, Ye Zhiqiu lost his sleepiness.

He got up, changed clothes, went back to the living room, turned on his computer, and continued working on what he had left unfinished yesterday.

Qin Jianhe returned quickly with the items, and the house became lively.

The kitchen was bustling, but Ye Zhiqiu didn't find it noisy; instead, his heart felt exceptionally calm, and he worked efficiently.

When he finished the last stroke, he turned his head toward the kitchen.

The sound of the exhaust fan stopped, the kitchen door opened, and a strong spicy aroma wafted over.

Just the smell was enough to make one salivate.

Ye Zhiqiu immediately stood up and saw Qin Jianhe carrying a large, deep dish out, filled with a bright red chopped pepper fish head, its aroma reaching his nose.

"Wow," Ye Zhiqiu exclaimed. "How do you know how to do everything?"

Ye Zhiqiu could also cook many dishes, but he never made the ones he liked.

In his previous life, Qi Xin couldn't stand spicy food, so although he cooked every day, most of the dishes were what Qi Xin preferred.

Years trapped in the kitchen had made him thoroughly sick of it.

So, if Qi Xin didn't come back, he would rather eat takeout or instant noodles than cook alone again.

Qin Jianhe was amused by his exaggerated tone and met his bright eyes.

Ye Zhiqiu's eyes were curved, all his attention focused on the deep dish in Qin Jianhe's hands.

"Taste it." Qin Jianhe placed the dish on the dining table, barely able to contain his excitement.

He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, blew on it, and smiled as he offered it to Ye Zhiqiu's lips.

Ye Zhiqiu opened his mouth and naturally ate it.

"Delicious, Qin Jianhe," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"You eat first," Qin Jianhe replied. "I'll bring over the rest."

There was still chicken soup in the kitchen, freshly baked sweet potatoes in the oven, and steaming white rice in the rice cooker...

Ye Zhiqiu went over, and together, their four hands quickly transferred all the food to the dining table.

Ye Zhiqiu started with half a bowl of chicken soup before seriously picking up his rice to eat the diced chili fish head.

Qin Jianhe's cooking was excellent; the fish head was authentic and flavorful. He curved his eyes slightly, unable to help but exclaim.

"So happy, Qin Jianhe."

Before he finished speaking, his phone suddenly rang.

It was an unfamiliar number, but Ye Zhiqiu felt a strange sense of recognition.

He answered it, and an elderly voice came through.

"Xiao Ye?" the other party asked.

With just one word, Ye Zhiqiu recognized the voice—it was Qi Xin's father, Qi Ruichang.

"I'm Qi Xin's dad," Qi Ruichang said.

Qi Ruichang was short-sighted and opportunistic, always smiling deceptively—a type of person Ye Zhiqiu despised the most.

In his previous life, Qi Ruichang had first connected with Tao Ruoqing, leading to everything that followed.

He knew Qi Xin truly liked Jiang Nan and coveted the status and influence of the Jiang family. So, after Ye Zhiqiu had helped his son achieve success, Qi Ruichang began to belittle Ye Zhiqiu without limits.

And in pushing Jiang Nan and Qi Xin together, he spared no effort.

Hearing his voice, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help cursing inwardly.

Why was this nuisance calling him during dinner?

Could it be that Qi Xin was dead?

"Hello," he said coldly, "what do you want?"

Qi Ruichang was taken aback.

Clearly, this Ye Zhiqiu loved his son so much, yet he treated him so coldly.

Feeling this, he slightly adjusted his own attitude.

"Qi Xin is sick, running a high fever, and keeps mentioning your name," he asked. "Could you come and take care of him?"

Ye Zhiqiu laughed, his tone slightly mocking: "He's an adult; getting sick doesn't mean he needs to act like a child."

He laughed again. "It's not a terminal illness; can't you handle it alone?"

Ye Zhiqiu's words were harsh.

In just two sentences, he displayed his arrogance, capriciousness, and lack of manners.

Qi Ruichang was momentarily speechless.

He wanted to lecture him for being disrespectful, but his son hadn't fully won Ye Zhiqiu over yet.

Moreover, they had just tasted the sweetness of Ye Zhiqiu's design skills, which turned the ordinary into something extraordinary.

They needed something from him.

But if he didn't say anything, Ye Zhiqiu's words left him feeling stifled.

He only had Qi Xin as a son, who was now burning up at over 39 degrees in the hospital. Ye Zhiqiu's mention of "terminal illness" was extremely unlucky.

"It's because he misses you," Qi Ruichang managed to say after a while.

"You take care of him for now," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I have plans today, but I'll visit him later."

Without waiting for Qi Ruichang to respond, he hung up the call.

Lifting his eyes, he met Qin Jianhe's dark, smiling gaze.

"Ye Zhiqiu, quite fierce, huh?" Qin Jianhe said.

"Scared, aren't you?" Ye Zhiqiu raised an eyebrow proudly.

"Exactly what we need to guard the house," Qin Jianhe said.

"Who are you calling a beast?" Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, amused, and kicked Qin Jianhe under the table.

Qin Jianhe didn't answer but instead smiled and asked, "What did you say before answering the call?"

Ye Zhiqiu took another sip of soup, picked up some more food, and bit into the cooled baked sweet potato.

He paused for a moment, then smiled at Qin Jianhe.

"I said," he said, "Qin Jianhe, I feel so happy."

Qin Jianhe looked at him, his eyes filled with deep warmth.

Using serving chopsticks, he placed some food on a small plate in front of Ye Zhiqiu.

"Happiness isn't so extravagant," he smiled, looking down. "As long as you want it, I have everything here."