Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Qin Weian was someone about whom Ye Zhiqiu knew very little.

After their last encounter at the company, he had actually tried to recall any information or fragmented memories related to Qin Weian from his previous life.

But apart from various scandals and tales of debauchery, all he could remember was the decline of the brand "Manqing" that Qin Weian now managed.

Scandals and tales of debauchery were never of interest to Ye Zhiqiu.

Most of what he knew came from headlines pushed by websites or seen while browsing news articles.

He did not know the specifics.

However, the decline of Manqing was something he still remembered vividly.

If there were no unexpected developments, it should have happened within the past couple of years.

The exact timing was already somewhat hazy in Ye Zhiqiu's memory.

But he did remember it was the busiest period of his life, when he was constantly busy with Qi Yun while also juggling his studies.

As a result, he rarely had time to read the news.

But since they were in the same industry, and at that time Qi Yun was striving hard to rise, no one understood better than Ye Zhiqiu the effort and dedication required for a brand to form, establish itself, and gain recognition.

So when he heard the news, Ye Zhiqiu took the time to carefully examine the entire process of Manqing's decline.

At the time, he felt both a sense of melancholy and regret.

Regardless, as an old brand with a solid foundation and significant market influence, the fall of Manqing meant that all the hard work and sweat poured into it had gone to waste. Putting himself in their shoes, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of sorrow.

Qi Xin, on the other hand, was quite optimistic and even excited.

Due to historical reasons, Qi Yun was destined not to pursue a high-end brand route directly.

Therefore, Qi Xin was determined to develop Qi Yun into a mid-range brand with strong public recognition and influence, similar to the former glory of Manqing.

Once they reached a certain level, he planned to create a new high-end line for the Qi family.

The fall of Manqing made Qi Xin realize that the market had opened up a huge opportunity for him.

This only fueled his ambitions further.

At that time, they had already accumulated a substantial amount of capital, and Qi Xin was traveling globally to recruit promising designers for Qi Yun.

Soon, the design team grew from just the two of them to over a dozen members.

Later, with full efforts, Qi Yun indeed replaced Manqing in the domestic market, becoming a dark horse among mid-range brands.

During that period, Ye Zhiqiu worked day and night, collapsing twice from exhaustion and needing hospitalization.

Taking advantage of this, Qi Xin suggested he take a break, and from then on, Ye Zhiqiu never returned to the company.

However, things were different now.

Qi Yun had not yet risen, everything was still in its early stages, and Qi Xin's ambitions had not yet grown to the extent they would later.

Ye Zhiqiu, holding the steering wheel, turned at a traffic light intersection, and recalled a post he had read about Manqing's downfall.

At the time, he dismissed it as nonsense, but now, he wondered if there might be some truth to it.

Manqing's decline was linked to one of its designers, who was also Qin Weian's lover.

Thus, the post led to many stories about Qin Weian's romantic escapades.

One story mentioned Qin Weian getting caught in the crossfire during a dispute with his father Qin Xusheng over a shared lover.

Someone even posted photos.

During that period, Qin Weian did frequently visit the hospital.

But he was visiting the reproductive health department.

Netizens joked wildly about it, but most people, including Ye Zhiqiu, dismissed it as pure nonsense and quickly moved on.

However, now, considering Qin Xusheng's eagerness for Qin Jianhe to marry and have children, coupled with his excessive favoritism towards Qin Weian...

Favoritism so extreme that he handed over Q.L to him, and even after Q.L faced severe crises, he still unhesitatingly entrusted the top mid-range brand Manqing under the Qin family to him again.

Thinking about it, this went beyond mere favoritism.

It seemed more like a form of unspoken compensation.

Suddenly, that ridiculed rumor seemed to have a ring of truth to it.

"Your friend? Which one?" Qin Weian's voice came through, amused. "Tell me the brand; I might know."

"Qi Yun," Ye Zhiqiu said, adding, "You should know Jiang Nan, right? This year, Qi Yun participated in the exhibition with Jiang's brand."

"Oh~" Just hearing "Qi Yun," Qin Weian didn't have much of an impression.

But mentioning the exhibition with the Jiang family reminded him of something.

In the materials his secretary had given him, it seemed there was indeed a mention of a dark horse emerging this year among the domestic mid-to-low-end brands.

It was said that as the exhibition progressed, the number of spectators attracted by this dark horse increased, making the post-exhibition order meetings exceptionally lively and successful.

Even the Jiang family benefited from this wave of dividends.

However, he had set aside those materials and hadn't found the time to go through them in detail yet.

"Sure," Qin Weian said. "Xiao Ye's friend is my friend. It's an honor for us to get to know and potentially collaborate with them."

"In that case, I'll ask for his opinion later," Ye Zhiqiu said, then hung up the call.

Qin Weian wanted to say more, but all he heard was silence.

He opened his mouth, and after a long moment, let out a laugh: "Damn, that's really something."

At the same time, Ye Zhiqiu had already driven out of the central business district.

The traffic gradually thinned, and he sped up.

His phone showed several missed calls and unread messages, all from Qi Xin, which he ignored entirely.

After driving for a while longer, Ye Zhiqiu skillfully turned onto a small road.

There were even fewer cars on this road, but more electric bikes lined the sides.

After crossing a small bridge, about five minutes later, Ye Zhiqiu's car stopped in front of the Qi family factory.

His phone rang again. This time, Ye Zhiqiu answered it directly, saying, "I'm here."

Through the phone came the sound of clattering, and soon, the door to Qi Xin's office was pushed open.

Holding the phone, he ran toward the entrance.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Qi Xin asked, panting, leaning against Ye Zhiqiu's car window. "I was worried you might have gotten lost."

"It's not convenient to answer while driving," Ye Zhiqiu smiled as he got out of the car, adding, "I rushed over without preparing any gifts."

"That's all superficial," Qi Xin laughed, looking intently at Ye Zhiqiu. "Your presence is enough."

It had been a very long time since he last saw Ye Zhiqiu.

Not since he went abroad for the exhibition.

Standing under the sun, Qi Xin felt momentarily stunned.

He couldn't pinpoint what had changed, but Ye Zhiqiu seemed even more attractive than before.

Tall and straight, he stood like a pine tree that had endured many winters yet remained proud and strong.

His beige trench coat was casually unbuttoned, revealing a sapphire V-neck cashmere sweater underneath. At the collar, a white shirt buttoned to the top framed his delicate throat, exuding both restraint and allure.

Under the sunlight, his slightly curved eyes resembled clear amber, his skin almost translucent, yet his lips were vividly red.

Subconsciously, Qi Xin swallowed.

"Do you want to park the car inside the courtyard?" he asked.

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu placed one hand casually on the car window. "I'll just take a look and leave."

"How about dinner together?" Qi Xin, who had been missing Ye Zhiqiu terribly, felt this urge intensify upon seeing him.

So much so that he wished he could carry Ye Zhiqiu in his pocket and hold him in his palm.

No amount of closeness could express how much he adored him.

Hearing Ye Zhiqiu say he would leave soon, he immediately tried to keep him.

"I have a class tonight," Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him.

"Oh," Qi Xin responded with a hint of disappointment, reaching out to grasp Ye Zhiqiu's wrist. "Come, let's go to my office first."

Ye Zhiqiu didn't refuse and followed him into the factory gate.

As the office door opened, Qi Ruichang was bending down to pour hot water into a thermos. Ye Zhiqiu didn't say anything, walking past him to take Qi Xin's seat.

Then he crossed his legs and leaned slightly, extending his hand towards Qi Ruichang, "Bring me the orders to review."

Qi Xin coughed for a while, finally stopping amidst Qi Ruichang's disapproving gaze.

Pointing at Qi Ruichang, he introduced Ye Zhiqiu, "Xiao Qiu, this is my father."

Ye Zhiqiu seemed slightly taken aback, then his smiling eyes turned to Qi Ruichang.

"Sorry, Mr. Qi," he smiled, deliberately maintaining a formal distance, "I thought you were a worker helping out at the factory."

Qi Ruichang: "..."

There were too many things to comment on, leaving him unsure where to start.

Feeling that Ye Zhiqiu's apology only made things worse, he held back his frustration.

"You two talk," Qi Ruichang managed a strained smile. "I'll make some tea for you."

"Qi Xin," hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu looked up. "I don't like tea. Go make me a coffee with extra sugar."

His usual commanding tone.

Qi Xin was long accustomed to this tone and didn't find it unusual.

But Qi Ruichang's expression was almost uncontrollable.

Originally, Ye Zhiqiu had stayed up late working overtime to design clothes for Qi Xin, and even agreed to put Qi Xin's name on the designs...

Qi Ruichang had always believed that Qi Xin held all the power in this relationship, having complete control over someone as young as Ye Zhiqiu.

That's why, when Qi Xin fell ill, he made that call, intending to further secure his son's hold over Ye Zhiqiu.

Even if only for Tao Ruoqing's sake, it would reflect well on him.

But now he realized that things were not entirely as he had imagined.

Hearing this, Qi Xin immediately went to make coffee, handing all the printed and organized orders to Ye Zhiqiu before leaving.

Ye Zhiqiu comfortably leaned back in the boss chair, flipping through the documents at a leisurely pace.

As if Qi Ruichang didn't exist.

It was... simply too much, too disrespectful.

Regardless of whether he was an elder, a peer, or even a junior, Ye Zhiqiu's behavior was already quite rude.

Qi Ruichang suppressed his anger, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Yet Ye Zhiqiu seemed completely oblivious, flipping through a few pages before pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his windbreaker pocket.

He tapped out a cigarette and lit it with a click.

The scent of tobacco slowly permeated the not-so-large office.

Qi Ruichang didn't smoke, but due to frequent social engagements, he wasn't bothered by others smoking.

However, Qi Xin disliked the smell of smoke, especially since he was sick and coughing...

Ye Zhiqiu lighting a cigarette at this moment touched Qi Ruichang's protective nerve.

"Xiao Ye," Qi Ruichang cleared his throat, trying to be tactful, "Xin Xin doesn't like the smell of smoke, especially these past few days with his illness. Could you perhaps not smoke right now?"

"What?" Ye Zhiqiu turned his head with a slight smile, "No wonder I think Qi Xin is so delicate, lacking any manliness. It seems you've spoiled him."

After saying this, he extinguished the cigarette and smiled, "Should I not smoke then?"

"What not smoke?" Qi Xin returned with freshly brewed coffee, placing it in front of Ye Zhiqiu.

"Look," Ye Zhiqiu showed Qi Xin the cigarette he had just lit and extinguished, "Your dad said you can't stand the smell, so I shouldn't smoke."

"Dad." Qi Xin frowned, giving Qi Ruichang a displeased glance.

Qi Ruichang: "..."

Feeling stifled +1.

"But never mind," Ye Zhiqiu said, "Your dad is just concerned about your health."

As he spoke, he continued flipping through the orders, lowering his eyes.

Your dad, your dad...

Since entering, this brat hadn't called him Uncle once.

In the past, Qi Ruichang knew Tao Ruoqing had raised this child differently, but these two direct encounters made him realize how far off track she had taken him.

Not only did he lack basic manners, but he was also extremely self-centered and selfish.

Such a person wouldn't last long anywhere.

Speaking of which, Tao Ruoqing was indeed ruthless.

Anyone who could come up with such underhanded methods wasn't to be underestimated.

Qi Ruichang had some other ideas regarding funding Tao Ruoqing, but now he slowly retracted them.

On the other side, Ye Zhiqiu didn't light another cigarette, only taking a couple of sips from his coffee cup.

"The orders seem to be mostly my designs," he said softly, then looked up innocently and proudly, "Qi Xin, am I good?"

"Good," Qi Xin said, unable to help smiling at him.

"He participated in an exhibition," Qi Ruichang added, "At the exhibition, we promoted these designs."

"If they weren't good, you wouldn't have promoted them, right?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled, looking at Qi Ruichang, "Director Qi."

This was true, and Qi Ruichang felt a bit speechless.

"Do you want a reward?" Qi Xin sat across from Ye Zhiqiu, gazing intently at his beautiful features.

"A reward..." Ye Zhiqiu laughed, "I'd be grateful if you just annoyed me less often."

Ye Zhiqiu's temper was always unpredictable.

To be honest, out of ten times, Qi Xin couldn't figure out why he was angry seven or eight times.

But he dared not say this directly.

Especially now, seeing Ye Zhiqiu's gentle demeanor while flipping through the documents, he didn't want to break this rare peaceful moment between them.

So he immediately promised, "Okay."

Ye Zhiqiu finished flipping through the documents, closed them, and then checked the time on his wristwatch.

They hadn't even started talking yet, and Qi Xin still hadn't had enough of looking at Ye Zhiqiu, let alone seeing the drafts Ye Zhiqiu had designed.

At this point, they definitely couldn't let him leave.

Qi Ruichang naturally shared the same thought. Seeing this, father and son exchanged a glance.

"Xiao Qiu," Qi Xin stalled, "would you like me to accompany you to the factory? Let's take a look at our production line."

Ye Zhiqiu was all too familiar with Qi family's production line.

Even with his eyes closed, he could accurately map out the placement and angles of the machines, and even remember which worker sat in which position.

After all, he had closely monitored this production line for several years in his previous life.

Later, as the company grew and expanded, all the equipment was replaced with new ones, so he hadn't visited much since then.

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu said, "I've been busy in the office all morning and drove here. I'm feeling a bit tired now."

"I'll give you a massage." Having benefited from this before, Qi Xin repeated his trick, squatting down and kneading Ye Zhiqiu's calves.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't say anything but leaned comfortably back in his chair, closing his eyes slightly.

It was clear that this wasn't the first time this had happened.

Beside them, Qi Ruichang: "..."

He had never seen anyone as shameless as his proud son.

It was unbearable, but if he were to leave, he remembered that Ye Zhiqiu hadn't revealed a single word about the important matters. He gritted his teeth and endured it.

Qi Xin massaged one leg and then the other. After squatting for a long time, his legs were already numb and he kept coughing, visibly uncomfortable.

No matter how much he coughed, Ye Zhiqiu didn't even lift an eyelid.

Qi Ruichang grew increasingly angry.

Even if it were Jiang Nan instead of Ye Zhiqiu, treating his son like a slave, Qi Ruichang doubted he could bear it.

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Zhiqiu finally opened his eyes, his long lashes fluttering. He stretched lazily and muttered, "I was almost asleep."

"Do you feel better?" Qi Xin asked ingratiatingly.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu responded softly.

"Xiao Qiu," taking advantage of his good mood, Qi Xin quickly asked, "I remember you mentioned you were working on new designs for me. How is it going?"

"Oh, that," Ye Zhiqiu said casually, "I thought you didn't want it, so I was planning to refine it for use in the company."

"How could I not want it?" Qi Xin was startled and immediately asked.

Each order brought in money, and he couldn't get enough of it. Why wouldn't he want it?

Thinking it over, Ye Zhiqiu's recent anger seemed mostly related to that phone call from Qi Ruichang.

Without showing any emotion, Qi Xin glanced at his father.

No one would turn down money, especially since Xinge had repeatedly requested to see their new designs.

Xinge was powerful, and if they liked what they saw, there would be large orders coming in.

With the support of other clients, promoting the name "Qi Yun" would no longer be a dream.

If Qi Xin hadn't thought of this, Qi Ruichang, who had been in business for half his life, certainly had.

His disdain for Ye Zhiqiu was one thing, but needing Ye Zhiqiu was another.

Moreover, he realized that in this relationship, the one holding the reins was not his son, but Ye Zhiqiu.

If it were his son, he could put on airs.

After all, kids at this age easily fall head over heels in love and do anything for the person they like.

But since it wasn't, and his son seemed to be the one acting like a lovesick puppy, Qi Ruichang had nothing more to say.

Being stubborn was one thing.

But what after being stubborn?

Would the budding success of Qi Yun just end here?

Not only would Qi Xin be unwilling, but he wouldn't be either.

Although he had spent most of his life doing contract work for others, the profits from these orders were real money.

In less than a month, the profits were higher than what he had earned in years of hard work.

No one could remain indifferent to such tangible gains.

Putting aside the humiliation of not being respected, Qi Ruichang straightened up.

"Xiao Ye, Uncle is a rough man," he said. "That phone call the other day was my fault; please don't take it to heart."

"No, no." Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "If I had come over that day, I wouldn't have had time to perfect those two drafts, so naturally, I assumed we no longer needed them."

"And Qi Xin..." His smiling gaze returned to Qi Xin's face, looking at his gaunt and haggard cheeks, a sense of inexplicable pleasure filled his heart, "As a grown man, can you stop acting like a woman every time you get sick? Honestly..."

As he spoke, his eyebrows furrowed slightly in disgust, "With your behavior, who would want you?"

Qi Xin: "..."

Qi Ruichang: "..."

Wait, Qi Ruichang was having trouble processing this.

Why did it sound like they hadn't even started dating yet?

If Tao Ruoqing found out about this, there would be no end to it.

If it were true, he would have to grovel and coax this little master to make him happy.

Yet, he had provided designs, allowed Qi Xin's name on them, and never mentioned taking a share of the profits...

Who could be so kind without any feelings or relationship?

Before he could sort out his thoughts, Ye Zhiqiu threw in another sweetener.

"Those two drafts are in my email. I'll send them to you later," he said to Qi Xin, his beautiful eyes bending again as he kicked Qi Xin's knee lightly, "Hey, Qi Xin, do you know why I suddenly came over this time?"

"You've worked hard, Xiao Qiu." Qi Xin finally recovered from Ye Zhiqiu's earlier blow, his heart bouncing between ice-cold and scorching hot, plus he was still sick, making it hard for him to handle.

After a bout of intense coughing, he looked at Ye Zhiqiu, "Why?"

"Aren't you hoping for Qi Yun to develop rapidly?" Ye Zhiqiu blinked playfully, "I have a shortcut. Do you want to try it?"

"What shortcut?" Qi Xin's mood was lifted by these words.

"Do you know Man Qing?" Ye Zhiqiu asked with a smile.

"Who doesn't know Man Qing?" Before Qi Xin could answer, Qi Ruichang spoke up.

Indeed, who didn't know Man Qing?

Backed by the giant tree of Q.L, it was flourishing, and most people had heard of it even if they hadn't seen it.

"I know someone influential at Man Qing," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "They've noticed our new products at the exhibition and are interested in discussing future cooperation. If you're interested, I can introduce you to them and we can sit down and talk."

Hearing this, Qi Xin's eyes immediately lit up.

In his previous life, at this point, Qi Yun had already experienced rapid development.

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't joined VIA or Q.L; all his time and energy were devoted to developing new products for Qi Yun.

Thus, under the impact of great success and honor, Qi Xin had set Man Qing as his goal for development plans.

Now, just hearing about the opportunity to collaborate with Man Qing, Qi Xin was already excited.

"Of course, we can do that." Both father and son looked at him.

Qi Xin didn't need to say anything; even Qi Ruichang's frustration disappeared, replaced only by anticipation of a bright future.

"Alright then." Ye Zhiqiu smiled subtly, "I'll arrange it."

When he arrived, Qi Ruichang had been indifferent, staying in his room, but when leaving, Ye Zhiqiu was escorted out by both Qi Xin and Qi Ruichang.

He got into his car and left without calling Qi Ruichang "Uncle" once.

Unlike in his previous life, where despite not being a well-behaved child, he had endured various indignities for Qi Xin, allowing himself to be manipulated by the father-son duo.

Enduring heartache while still calling Qi Ruichang "Uncle" incessantly.

Even during his first visit, Qi Ruichang had made him serve tea and prepare fruit platters...

The moment he started the car, Ye Zhiqiu's lips tightened slightly.

Looking back through the ten years, he felt that his past self was truly pitiful.

Some people don't deserve to be treated with respect and sincerity.

They are only fit to be trampled underfoot and crushed into dust.

Pressing the pedal, the car sped off, crossing the small bridge, and as Ye Zhiqiu turned onto the main road, Qi Xin's shadow finally disappeared from the rearview mirror.

Back in the city, Ye Zhiqiu went straight to Professor Zhang Wenyuan's house.

He helped his teacher's wife prepare dinner, and the three of them enjoyed a harmonious meal together.

For the earlier part of the evening, Zhang Wenyuan answered his questions, and at eight o'clock, the formal lesson began.

The class lasted two hours, ending at ten o'clock. Ye Zhiqiu packed up his things, drove away from the Zhangs' home, and returned to his own place.

After going upstairs and turning on the lights, Ye Zhiqiu prepared to enter the bathroom and reached to pull the curtains.

Halfway through pulling the curtains, his gaze shifted to the small "pigeon cage" again.

The light in the pigeon cage was on, casting a soft orange glow.

Ye Zhiqiu paused, a smile unconsciously spreading across his lips.

Only when his phone rang behind him did he finish pulling the curtains and turn around.

The screen displayed Qin Jianhe's name.

Ye Zhiqiu sat on the edge of the bed, adjusting his bathrobe as he answered the call.

"Mr. Qin," he said with a smile, his tone tinged with a hint of mischief, "what do you want at this hour?"

"Just got back?" Qin Jianhe asked, his voice carrying a light trace of amusement.

"Mm." Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu instinctively looked toward the window that had just been covered by curtains.

"You must be tired from class," Qin Jianhe's voice was low and gentle, "want some late-night snack?"

After a pause, he added with a laugh, "I made sweet rice wine soup with glutinous rice balls."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu fell slightly silent, his thoughts from last night on the balcony resurfaced.

Qin Jianhe's kindness towards him, if it were just the intimacy between lovers, he could understand it.

After all, this was Qin Jianhe's first time, so being especially passionate was normal.

But if it went beyond such a relationship, he also felt it was understandable.

This kind of affection, Ye Zhiqiu accepted comfortably and enjoyed it naturally.

He closed his eyes, not wanting to delve deeper or meticulously discern the nature of this kindness.

After a tiring day, he just wanted to enjoy it.

"Sure," he heard himself say, his voice laced with a smile and a touch of laziness, "I'll come over in a bit."

"I'll bring it to you," Qin Jianhe said.

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu changed his mind, "then I'll wait for you."

Initially planning to take a shower, since Qin Jianhe was coming over, Ye Zhiqiu put aside his bathrobe and instead picked up his tablet. He settled on the sofa in the living room and began sketching the characters and their clothing styles based on the notes he had made last night.

Halfway through a rough sketch, the doorbell rang. Ye Zhiqiu got up and went to open the door.

Opening it halfway, he peeked out, meeting Qin Jianhe's smiling dark eyes.

They were as deep and bright as stars in the night sky.

"Tired?" he asked, "Professor Zhang Wenyuan is always strict in class."

"It's okay." Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him, his white shirt collar making his face appear even more delicate.

Instinctively, Qin Jianhe's gaze lingered on his rosy lips.

Leaning in slightly, he gave those rosy lips a quick peck before straightening up again, handing the thermos to Ye Zhiqiu.

"I added osmanthus," he said with a slight smile, his voice a bit hoarse, "it's very sweet."