Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The rain outside the window intensified once again, pounding against the glass with a lively sound.

But even livelier than the rain was the secretary's office.

Although Qin Jianhe was usually aloof and indifferent, he gave his employees a high degree of freedom.

This led to an exceptionally lively atmosphere in the secretary's office.

"Guess why the boss called Old Wei in?" asked a male employee with a smile. "I don’t believe that someone as otherworldly and detached as our boss would have any personal matters."

"Not only does he have them, but there seem to be quite a few recently," responded a female colleague, typing away on her keyboard. "There have been more in this period than in all the previous years combined."

"Our boss has had more personal matters in a day than our boss has had in several years," joked another colleague. "No wonder Old Wei is the envy of everyone in this office."

"When you consider how cold our boss’s face always is," said Zhou Tongxin, having just finished organizing some documents, "do you think anyone would dare to try and curry favor with him? Even if they did, they wouldn't dare put someone directly under his nose. That would be asking for trouble."

"I really envy Brother Wei," sighed Zhou Tongxin's young assistant. "He’s truly blessed compared to us."

"Still, our boss has a keen eye," said an older female employee, smiling as she looked up from her reports. "Ask yourselves honestly, who among you can match Old Wei’s discretion?"

Hearing this, Zhou Tongxin feigned being struck by an arrow through the heart. "Sister Wang, you’re a sharpshooter, hitting seventy or eighty people with one arrow."

"Let me say something fair," laughed the first male colleague, collapsing into his seat. "I think it’s possible that Old Wei isn’t actually that discreet. Maybe there’s nothing to tell, so he has nothing to say?"

"That’s right," Zhou Tongxin frowned immediately. "When he comes back, I’ll get him to spill the beans."

"What if you can’t?" someone teased.

"This month’s bonus will buy you all milk tea," Zhou Tongxin declared grandly, causing a burst of cheers in the office.

...

Just as they were getting rowdy, Wei Jie pushed the door open and walked in.

Noticing everyone's eyes on him, he understood the situation.

"What’s going on?" he asked. "Do I have flowers on my face?"

"Wei, want to play a game?" Zhou Tongxin suggested.

Wei Jie sneered. "Quick questions and quick answers?"

Zhou Tongxin: "..."

Wei Jie, unyielding: "No way. I saw through your tricks eighty years ago."

"Brother Wei," Little Pan, known as the flower of the office, smiled sweetly, breaking her usual aloof demeanor. "We’re making bets. The boss has been acting strange lately, calling you frequently and personally attending fashion shows abroad. I bet..."

Little Pan paused dramatically. "Could it be that the boss has taken a fancy to you and wants to elevate you to the status of a phoenix?"

This remark sent the entire office into fits of laughter, with various sounds filling the air.

"You’ve all grown up," Wei Jie chuckled. "Joking about the boss now?"

As he spoke, he subtly glanced towards Qin Jianhe’s office and reminded them, "It’s fine to joke about me, but be careful when it comes to the boss."

No one knew better than the colleagues in this office about the ruthless and decisive nature ingrained in Qin Jianhe.

Perhaps because he had indulged them too much outside of work, they had started to see him as a benevolent figure.

Little Pan stuck out her tongue and retreated.

Zhou Tongxin clutched his chest, lamenting his potential loss of bonus.

"Cough," seeing their reaction, Wei Jie cleared his throat. "By the way, we need a list of healthy, nutritious, and tasty snacks, including brands, flavors, and where to buy them..."

*

After taking a shower, changing clothes, and drying his hair until it was fluffy, nearly an hour had passed.

Ye Zhiqiu came to the desk and put on his watch again.

Then, he looked down.

The lights in the courtyard had come on, illuminating the rain like a curtain of pearls.

The BMW was still parked in its spot downstairs.

Dinner time was approaching, yet Gao Wenye hadn’t left. Ye Zhiqiu guessed that Ye Hongxian had likely given his consent.

Without lingering, he turned and went downstairs.

The tea had been finished, and Ye Zhixia was helping Tao Ruoqing pack away her purple clay teapot set with great consideration.

"Xiao Qiu, come here," Tao Ruoqing said with a smile, her tone carrying a natural and affectionate reproach. "I just saw Baby’s post and realized you’ve been back for two days. Why didn’t you come home first? Where were you staying?"

Tao Ruoqing was genuinely happy today.

First, the Ye family’s business was showing signs of improvement.

Second, Gao Wenye’s new company had officially announced its launch, and Ye Hongxian seemed to be softening his stance on Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye’s relationship.

Lastly, Ye Zhiqiu’s talent, which she had previously been wary of, had become her most profitable tool.

Based on the order volume from Qi Xin over the past week, Ye Zhiqiu had already brought in substantial profits.

Tao Ruoqing regretted not investing more money earlier.

With everything going smoothly, she found herself looking at Ye Zhiqiu with a newfound appreciation.

"Work has been busy, and after getting off the plane, I had to adjust to the time difference," Ye Zhiqiu said with a faint smile, casually sitting down on the sofa opposite Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia. "So for now, I stayed at a friend's place near the company for two nights."

"Which friend?" Tao Ruoqing asked tentatively.

"The one I mentioned before," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "The grandson of Old Butler Qin."

"Oh." Tao Ruoqing nodded.

Although it seemed like a series of good news, in fact, Tao Ruoqing still harbored some resentment towards Gao Wenye.

It was only because of Ye Zhixia's insistence and his stubbornness in this matter that she had to give in.

However, knowing that Ye Zhiqiu was still close to the "grandson of the servant," her view of Gao Wenye improved considerably in comparison.

"It's not good to keep troubling others," Tao Ruoqing smiled. "Next time, we should invite him over and thank him properly."

"Sure." Ye Zhiqiu nodded and added, "During this period, Baby and Shaojun have also helped me find a new place. If there are no unexpected issues, I'll move out this weekend."

Hearing this, Tao Ruoqing was taken aback, surprised by how quickly Ye Zhiqiu was moving.

"Does Qi Xin know?" she asked.

"I was going to tell him," Ye Zhiqiu's smile was somewhat enigmatic. "But he's been sick these past few days, so I haven't had the chance yet."

He paused, lowering his eyes slightly. "If he knew, he would definitely come over to help despite being ill, which wouldn't be good for his recovery."

"Yes," Tao Ruoqing agreed. "You've thought it through very carefully."

As she spoke, she shifted her gaze to Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia.

"This is Xia Xia's boyfriend, Gao Wenye, whom you've met before," Tao Ruoqing formally introduced him. "From now on, he's your elder brother. You must respect him as you do your older brother, understand?"

Ye Zhiqiu found it amusing but nodded without showing any change in expression. "Sure."

Then he politely greeted Gao Wenye, "Brother Gao."

His demeanor was natural and casual, neither cold nor overly warm. Even though Ye Zhixia watched him warily, he couldn't detect any hint of unease on Ye Zhiqiu's face.

Seeing this, Ye Zhixia couldn't help feeling a bit puzzled.

That night when Gao Wenye and Li Ling were together, he had specifically checked the surveillance footage from the bar and discovered that Gao Wenye had originally intended to meet Ye Zhiqiu.

So he had always suspected that Li Ling's appearance might not have been a coincidence, or perhaps Ye Zhiqiu had been secretly interfering with their relationship.

That was why he couldn't control himself and attacked Ye Zhiqiu in front of the whole family that morning.

But now, Ye Zhiqiu seemed genuinely indifferent towards Gao Wenye.

Subconsciously, he frowned.

Could it be that he had misunderstood Ye Zhiqiu?

Ye Zhixia felt a bit relieved, and his expression softened.

Especially considering that Gao Wenye's New Sun Media still needed Ye Zhiqiu's help.

Plus, he and Gao Wenye had finally overcome numerous obstacles and achieved success, making everything go smoothly.

On the other hand, Ye Zhiqiu was still living with Qi Xin and the servants of others.

The situation between them had finally reversed, and Ye Zhixia felt a sense of balance returning.

A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, and he subconsciously looked at Gao Wenye.

Gao Wenye had just acknowledged Ye Zhiqiu and now turned his gaze away awkwardly.

Seeing this, Ye Zhixia's newfound balance immediately tipped again.

If Gao Wenye really had no feelings for Ye Zhiqiu, then why couldn't he look at Ye Zhiqiu openly?

This evasive behavior only made things more suspicious.

Ye Zhixia gritted his teeth, suppressing his inner turmoil and anger.

"Xia Xia," Tao Ruoqing observed the expressions of all three and spoke calmly to Gao Wenye with a smile, "Didn't you have something to ask Xiao Qiu?"

Hearing this, Gao Wenye turned back, understanding that Tao Ruoqing was pushing him to distance himself from Ye Zhiqiu.

Some things didn't need to be said explicitly, but as adults, everyone would understand the intention behind the actions.

He didn't speak at first, instead looking at Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu sat smiling, picking cherries from a glass fruit bowl, and lifted his eyes upon hearing Tao Ruoqing's words.

He had changed into a beige sports outfit, his dark hair soft and fluffy, making his skin appear as white and smooth as fresh snow, highlighting his rosy lips and white teeth, making him look exceptionally beautiful.

He looked clean and pretty.

And those light brown eyes, filled with warmth and gentleness, were something he had never seen in Ye Zhiqiu before.

Now, sitting next to Ye Zhixia, he seemed more open towards him.

For Gao Wenye, this was somewhat cruel.

Looking at Ye Zhiqiu, Gao Wenye's mind became a jumbled mess.

For a moment, he couldn't help wondering if sacrificing so much for the Ye family's assets was worth it.

However, reason ultimately prevailed, and after a moment, Gao Wenye smiled.

"Xiao Qiu," he said, "there's a newcomer at my company who recently auditioned for 'Building No. 8.' I know Old Zhao appreciates you greatly. If it's convenient, could you... could you put in a good word for him with Old Zhao?"

"Young people, just starting out, it's not easy," Gao Wenye tried to make his smile more natural. "If someone can give them a hand, it might be more effective than their struggling for years."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled, slowly crushing the bright red cherry between his teeth, then lowered his head to spit out the pit.

Gao Wenye spoke grandly, but the beneficiary was always himself.

Whether choosing Ye Zhixia because of the family property or asking him to persuade Zhao Yunzhuang now.

However, if he benefited, someone else would inevitably suffer.

If his recommendation led to Zhao Yunzhuang giving the opportunity to the newcomer from New Xie Entertainment, other actors who auditioned would naturally be overlooked again.

Helping one person while harming another, he, Ye Zhiqiu, would gain no merit, while all the benefits would fall on Gao Wenye.

What a beautiful thought.

Fortunately, Ye Zhiqiu already knew that the crew of Building No. 8 had ultimately chosen the newcomer from New Xie Media.

A ready-made favor, why not take it?

"Sorry, I've been busy these past few days and haven't kept up with your company's affairs," Ye Zhiqiu asked. "What's the name of this newcomer?"

"Cui Xuan," Gao Wenye immediately replied. "His name is Cui Xuan."

In his previous life, Qi Xin brought Cui Xuan home to fetch something.

Afraid that Ye Zhiqiu would see him, he deliberately made Cui Xuan wait downstairs.

But fate had it that Ye Zhiqiu returned from the market and ran into him downstairs, leading to a conflict.

It was then that Ye Zhiqiu learned about Cui Xuan and discovered that he was a small-time actor.

By then, he had already been kicked out by Ye Hongxian and knew very little about the Ye family's affairs.

It was only after searching online that he found out Cui Xuan was an artist under Gao Wenye's company.

That was also when he saw the name "Building No. 8" in his works list.

This movie was very popular that year and even became the box office champion.

But Ye Zhiqiu hadn't watched it.

When the movie was released, Qi Yun was rapidly developing, and he barely had enough sleep, let alone time for movies.

Later, his depression worsened, making it hard for him to focus.

Even when he occasionally tried to watch a movie or TV show at home out of boredom, he would often lose attention after a few minutes.

So, "Building No. 8" was just a name to him, never concretely experienced.

"Alright," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "I can put in a good word for you, but I can't guarantee anything."

Seeing this, Gao Wenye immediately clasped his hands in gratitude.

"Xiao Qiu," Tao Ruoqing also said, "I heard at the mahjong table that this Old Zhao is quite powerful. He can invest, choose talent, and form teams. If he wants to, he can control everything."

"I'm not too familiar with that," Ye Zhiqiu smiled subtly. "I've only met Zhao Keqi a few times; we're not close. This time was just a coincidence."

"So, you see," Tao Ruoqing took his hand. "When opportunities come, you should seize them. Look at our family, your brother and your elder brother are both artists. In the future, when forming projects, how can we do without investments? If there's a chance, introduce them more to Old Zhao, or have your elder brother organize a gathering to introduce them."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu gave a cryptic smile but remained silent.

Tao Ruoqing wanted to say more, but suddenly, the sound of a car could be heard through the rain outside.

Ye Zheng and Ye Hongxian had returned together.

Despite the heavy rain and damp cold, both had uncontainable joy on their faces.

Clearly, the old equipment they had managed to get had indeed given Ye Ding a turning point.

As the door opened, Ye Zhiqiu stood up: "Dad, Elder Brother."

"Xiao Qiu is back," Ye Hongxian, in a good mood, showed a rare smile to Ye Zhiqiu. "You've been doing well outside; Dad has been proud to go out lately."

Ye Zhiqiu didn't speak, but his beautiful eyes curved into a pleasant arc.

Taking the opportunity, Tao Ruoqing got up, "Xiao Qiu said he's found a place and plans to move this weekend."

Hearing this, Ye Hongxian's smile dimmed slightly. "So soon?"

Then, he looked at Ye Zhixia.

Although Ye Zhixia's expression was still faint, she no longer seemed as hostile towards her brother as before.

Ye Hongxian felt a bit conflicted.

Honestly, he didn't want Ye Zhiqiu to move out.

The child's mother was gone, and if he moved out, it would seem like the family couldn't accommodate him.

Ye Hongxian himself felt a pang of pity.

For so many years, he hadn't fulfilled his duties as a father. Only now, looking at Ye Zhiqiu, did he feel a thread of indescribable familial affection.

Perhaps it wasn't just because Ye Zhiqiu was moving out, but also because he had become much more mature.

The way she bent her eyebrows so obediently made Ye Hongxian involuntarily think of Lan Yue.

She was the only woman he had truly loved in this life.

Ye Hongxian's heart softened.

Just as he was about to speak, his gaze stopped on Gao Wenye beside Ye Zhixia.

Thinking about how the brothers had fallen out over such a thing, he felt a surge of irritation.

"Never mind," Ye Hongxian finally said, "it's better if you move out."

"This weekend I happen to be free," Ye Zheng said, "I'll help Xiao Qiu move."

"Alright." Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

There was no point in arguing; besides, with Ye Zheng's help, they could move more things at once, which would reduce the number of trips back to the Ye family home.

"When you're done, help your brother pack his things," Ye Hongxian frowned, displeased, seeing that Ye Zhixia showed no reaction.

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "he doesn't know where my things are anyway. I can do it myself."

Ye Hongxian nodded.

Apart from greeting them when they entered, Gao Wenye did not participate in the conversation,

and although Ye Hongxian didn't say a word to him, he didn't ask him to leave either.

After the meal, Ye Hongxian and Ye Zheng had important matters to discuss and went upstairs first.

Ye Zhiqiu, having eaten a lot for lunch and finishing late, wasn't very hungry. Seeing them go upstairs, he put down his utensils.

"Ye Zhiqiu." Just as he was about to go upstairs, Ye Zhixia, who hadn't spoken to him all along, suddenly called out his name.

Ye Zhiqiu turned around.

"Speak nicely to your brother," Tao Ruoqing reminded Ye Zhixia upon seeing this.

The situation had just stabilized, and she didn't want any more major disruptions.

"Don't worry," Ye Zhixia said, "I just want to say two words to him."

Then, he looked at Ye Zhiqiu again.

Initially, when Ye Zhiqiu said he was moving out, Ye Zhixia thought he was playing hard to get, pretending to be obedient and pitiful.

Now, seeing that Ye Zhiqiu was really leaving, he couldn't help but feel a secret relief.

At least from now on, whenever Gao Wenye came over, he wouldn't see Ye Zhiqiu anymore.

For everyone, this was a good thing.

"I'm getting married to Gao Wenye," Ye Zhixia said, "we're going to get our marriage certificate next week."

Hearing this, Gao Wenye's hand holding the chopsticks stiffened, and he quickly glanced at Ye Zhiqiu.

But Ye Zhiqiu didn't look at him; he only smiled at Ye Zhixia: "Congratulations."

No surprise, no shock, no jealousy, and certainly none of the twisted pain Ye Zhixia had hoped for...

It was as natural as hearing someone comment on the weather.

For some reason, Ye Zhixia's hatred welled up inside him.

Growing up, he had always been inferior to Ye Zhiqiu in almost everything.

Only this time, he had fought tooth and nail to win one round, yet Ye Zhiqiu remained completely unaffected.

It felt like hitting a cotton ball; the lack of response left him feeling incredibly empty.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu turn to go upstairs, Ye Zhixia instinctively wanted to chase after him, but after taking a few steps, he stopped, his eyes reddening.

This was why he always found Ye Zhiqiu hateful.

Because even in the most significant event of his life, Ye Zhiqiu didn't give him even a shred of recognition.

He hadn't spoken harshly to him or hit him, but this feeling of being ignored was far worse than anything else.

It was a silent insult and mockery.

"Xia Xia." Sensing his emotions, Tao Ruoqing walked over and patted his shoulder, "Come eat."

Then she whispered, "Gao Wenye is watching. Since you've decided to be with him, you need to make a good impression everywhere, understand?"

Ye Zhixia gritted his teeth and sat back down.

This was Gao Wenye's first visit to the Ye family home. Although he wasn't welcomed by everyone, at least no one opposed his relationship with Ye Zhixia anymore.

His mood had been quite good; he had finally achieved what he desired.

But after Ye Zhiqiu returned, his mood plummeted rapidly.

After dinner, the rain outside intensified. Gao Wenye got up and politely bid farewell to Tao Ruoqing.

Driving out of the Ye family gate, he turned at the next intersection and suddenly stopped.

Lighting a cigarette, Gao Wenye took a few heavy drags, then dialed Ye Zhiqiu's number.

Ye Zhiqiu answered promptly, but amidst the sound of the rain, Gao Wenye still felt the time stretch endlessly.

"Hello," said the young man on the other end of the line, his voice clear and pleasant. "Who is this?"

With just one sentence, Gao Wenye's heart turned cold.

Ye Zhiqiu had deleted his phone number.

"Cough," Gao Wenye tried to keep his voice steady. "This is Gao Wenye."

"Oh." Ye Zhiqiu responded, his tone unreadable.

Gao Wenye held the phone in silence for a moment.

"I couldn't say it earlier, so I called," Gao Wenye said. "Congratulations on the success of the fashion week; I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet. Also, thank you for speaking up for Cui Xuan in front of Old Zhao."

There was a faint sound of laughter from the other side, very light.

"Do you think," after a brief pause, Ye Zhiqiu's voice came through, "I did it for Cui Xuan or for Ye Zhixia?"

Instinctively, Gao Wenye's heart skipped a beat, and he was momentarily speechless.

If not for Cui Xuan, and not for Ye Zhixia, then there was only one answer left.

Ye Zhiqiu did it for him.

"But since you chose Ye Zhixia," Ye Zhiqiu's voice came slowly, like clear spring water cleansing Gao Wenye's heart in the rainy night, "live well."

A single pebble is enough to disrupt an entire lake. Ye Zhiqiu didn't need more.

As long as someone wasn't doing well, he would feel much better.

"Xiao Qiu," Gao Wenye asked, unable to hide his excitement and longing, "can I see you alone in the future? Or, where do you live now? If there's a chance, can I come over to see you?"

"It doesn't seem possible," Ye Zhiqiu's voice grew distant. "Gao Wenye, not everyone revolves around you. I have my own life too."

The rain pattered heavily against the windshield, and Gao Wenye felt a chill throughout his body.

It seemed as if the road ahead had been made particularly muddy by this rain.

He wanted to speak but heard Ye Zhiqiu say,

"Let's leave it at that, Gao Wenye." He called his name, each word seeming heavy, followed by a slight laugh. "My student is calling."

Student? What student?

Gao Wenye didn't quite understand.

But he didn't need to understand because Ye Zhiqiu had already hung up the call.

On the other side, Ye Zhiqiu sat with his head lowered at his desk.

He had just packed away his professional books and was now looking through those few photos of Lan Yue taken before her death.

The sound of the storm outside made him involuntarily recall the previous life, that almost identical rainy day.

That day, he stood in the cold rain, wanting to retrieve the photo album but was not allowed to enter.

It was Aunt Zhao who secretly came up to help him search, only to find that the photo album had vanished.

He had never seen his birth mother since childhood, so even though he had secretly collected photos of Lan Yue, he didn't feel the loss as acutely.

She was more like a guardian deity he had imagined in his early years.

Whenever he lacked security, he would press her photos to his heart, imagining his mother omnipotent, right beside him.

Until that day, when the torrential, icy rain washed away those few photos, he finally felt the reality of losing his mother.

The pain enveloped him like the pouring rain from the sky.

When Gao Wenye's call came in, Ye Zhiqiu had just flipped to the last photo and hadn't put it back in the suitcase yet.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

Firstly, he had locked the door, and secondly, he wanted to look at them once more.

However, he hadn't lied to Gao Wenye.

Because another call indeed came in on his phone.

Seeing the name on the screen, the despair and helplessness from the previous life's cold rainy day, along with the cold and sharp aggressiveness that arose from it, began to fade away bit by bit.

He was sitting in a warm room, holding the photos of Lan Yue.

In the photos, the young woman looked like the moon in the sky, smiling gently at him.

He wasn't in the rain, the photos weren't lost, and the name on the screen kept flashing...

Ye Zhiqiu felt a sense of clarity, perhaps this was the meaning of his rebirth.

His beautiful eyes slowly curved, and Ye Zhiqiu answered the call.

"Hello," he said, "Qin Jianhe."