Chapter 78

Chapter 78

The handle of the thermos was warmed by Qin Jianhe's body heat, feeling warm in Ye Zhiqiu's hand.

Ye Zhiqiu instinctively reached out to pull on Qin Jianhe's sleeve. "Come in."

"Today, I won't come in," Qin Jianhe said, taking the opportunity to grasp his wrist and pull him closer, leaning in to kiss his lips as he spoke.

"I have an online meeting later tonight," he said, his voice low and deep. "It'll be late."

It turned out that when Qin Jianhe said he would bring him some late-night snack, he really meant just bringing it over.

Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu's fingers tightened around the thermos.

"Go inside," Qin Jianhe said after a while, adjusting Ye Zhiqiu's slightly open collar. "Don't catch a cold."

"Well..." Ye Zhiqiu had wanted to say he would go in after Qin Jianhe got into the elevator, but he swallowed the words back. "I'll close the door now."

"Mm." Qin Jianhe smiled at him. "Close the door."

The door slowly closed. Ye Zhiqiu stood quietly behind it for a moment before bending down to look through the peephole.

Qin Jianhe was already gone from the corridor, and the elevator doors were closing slowly.

Ye Zhiqiu watched until the elevator doors fully closed and the floor numbers started descending before straightening up.

He fetched a small soup bowl from the kitchen and carefully poured a serving of sweet rice wine balls into it.

Almost instantly, the room filled with a warm, sweet aroma, making it feel particularly cozy.

The translucent rice balls were served in a snow-white bone china bowl, interspersed with golden osmanthus flowers, looking especially beautiful.

Ye Zhiqiu took a photo first, then picked up the spoon to start eating.

The broth made from glutinous rice wine tasted exceptionally sweet, and the rice balls were soft and chewy.

With one bite, warmth spread from his stomach to his heart.

He had intended to eat just one bowl, but ended up having two before putting down his utensils.

Feeling relaxed and comfortable, his work efficiency improved significantly. He drew sketches quickly, completing one after another.

After finishing most of the character designs for the movie, Ye Zhiqiu checked the time on his wrist.

It was dawn again.

He got up, went into the bathroom for a shower, and dried his hair. When he came out, he paused involuntarily.

Suddenly, Qin Jianhe's slightly deep voice echoed in his mind: "It'll be late."

Ye Zhiqiu stood still, pursing his lips. After a moment, he turned and went back to the window.

Pulling the curtain aside slightly, he looked out.

Most of the lights in the residential building were off, with only a few still on, including Qin Jianhe's window.

Perhaps due to fewer light sources nearby, the warm yellow glow seemed brighter than ever, giving a cozy feeling in the night.

Ye Zhiqiu stood quietly by the window for a while before pulling the curtains shut and turning off the lights to go to bed.

Both his body and mind felt warm, so he fell asleep quickly, his mind barely registering anything before drifting into a deep sleep.

*

In the morning, the alarm clock rang on time. Ye Zhiqiu turned it off, closed his eyes for a bit, and then slowly emerged from under the thin blanket.

His phone vibrated incessantly beside his pillow.

Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily dazed before reaching out to unlock the screen.

It was rare for Jin Baobao to wake up early. The group chat was buzzing, with the other two members already awake, thanks to his messages.

They were chatting, not too enthusiastically, but the conversation hadn't stopped.

The messages were scattered, and Ye Zhiqiu felt a bit confused after reading a few. He clicked the top right corner of the screen to start from the first unread message.

"Zhaocaijinbao: Holy crap, Xiao Qiu, Ye Zhixia really married Gao Wenye? @Yizhiqiu, image.jpg, image.jpg."

There were two images attached, showing Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia's official announcement.

They used the same photo, both featuring the bright red marriage certificates.

The timing was chosen thoughtfully, sent simultaneously at 5:20 AM this morning, conveying their love.

This message sparked a lively discussion in the group.

"Lishaoye: Damn, I was playing games all night and just fell asleep when you woke me up. You owe me a meal."

"Zhaocaijinbao: Didn't I tell you not to stay up late? Too much gaming turns diamonds into sponges. Why can't you listen?"

"Lishaoye: Are you a sponge now?"

"Zhaocaijinbao: Get lost. We're talking about Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye."

"Le Le: They seem well-matched; it's like a match made in heaven."

"Lishaoye: I agree with the first part, but change the second part to 'a cracked pot with a broken lid'—that'd be more fitting."

"Zhaocaijinbao: How can Ye Zhixia get married at her age and announce it right away without worrying about how it might affect her career?"

"Shaojun: Wasn’t Gao Wenye eager to break away from his original background? Why wouldn’t he show off the marriage certificate if he got it?"

"Le Le: In terms of acting roles, it still depends on marketing. Some people rely on promoting their loving couple image to make a living. Now that Gao Wenye has his own company, sending out more announcements for both of them to benefit isn't impossible."

"Zhaocai Jinbao: Le Le seems to know quite a lot about the entertainment industry now."

After deciding to avoid Ye Zhiqiu and pursue an entertainment career, Tang Yue had dedicated himself to studying the industry thoroughly.

To stand out in the entertainment industry, having a certain level of professional foundation is enough.

The rest mostly relies on public opinion and various promotional tactics to create momentum.

However, Ye Zhiqiu had beaten him to it, joining a major production first, which had left him feeling disheartened and somewhat lax.

In recent days, regaining his confidence, he resumed his research.

"Le Le: I've just heard others talk about it."

"..."

Ye Zhiqiu leaned against the headboard, lazily scrolling through the chat history before replying with a message.

"Yizhiqiu: Yes, my family has also accepted Gao Wenye."

As soon as he spoke up, Li Shaojun immediately responded.

"Shaojun: Master Qiu, next week is your birthday. Have you thought about how to celebrate it?"

In the past, Ye Zhiqiu would usually hold a small birthday party, gathering with friends and family to enjoy a carefree night.

But times have changed.

Not wanting to face those hypocritical faces was one thing, but more importantly, his birthday was also Lan Yue's day of suffering.

With his mother’s matter still unresolved, how could he indulge in celebration on this day without feeling ashamed?

At least, Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t respect himself for doing so.

"Yizhiqiu: Too busy, won’t be celebrating."

"Zhaocai Jinbao: No way, turning twenty is a milestone. You should at least do something!"

"Shaojun: Even a simple celebration is necessary."

Ye Zhiqiu pondered for a moment.

"Yizhiqiu: If I’m free that day, let’s have dinner together."

After responding, he exited the chat and opened Weibo.

On the trending topics, several entries related to Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia’s marriage were prominently featured.

Given that Gao Wenye was already of age and Ye Zhixia had few fans, the overall atmosphere was very harmonious.

Scrolling down the homepage, most of the comments were congratulatory.

Gao Wenye’s company, Xinye Entertainment, took the opportunity to flood the media with press releases, promoting the company, its artists, and their works comprehensively.

While Ye Zhiqiu didn’t know much else, Tang Yue’s statement was accurate.

Many couples indeed bolstered their careers by showcasing their love after marriage.

In his previous life, when Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia got married, the company was even stronger than it is now, yet they still followed a similar strategy to gain immense popularity.

Getting the marriage certificate was one step, the wedding another, and daily displays of affection were countless steps afterward...

Each step was meticulously planned, appearing natural and effortless, attracting numerous fans who loved real-life couples.

This led to Gao Wenye’s "good man" image becoming deeply ingrained, stabilizing his audience appeal and fan base, while Ye Zhixia, following a popularity route, also attracted many fans.

But this time...

Ye Zhiqiu’s slightly upturned lips formed a faintly cold smile.

Since both parties had officially announced their marriage, it was time for Li Ling to take action.

Li Ling had selected a few excellent young men for Gao Wenye.

Two of them were personally chosen by Ye Zhiqiu.

In his previous life, these two were also arranged by Gao Wenye to be with Qi Xin, staying with him for a long time.

Ye Zhiqiu remembered this vividly.

Previously, fearing it might affect Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye’s marriage process, Li Ling had held back.

Now that they had obtained their marriage certificate and announced the news, Li Ling no longer had any reservations.

This time, it wouldn’t be as easy for Gao Wenye to rely on his new identity and persona to thrive.

Putting down his phone, Ye Zhiqiu went to the kitchen to boil an egg and steamed some sausages brought by Qin Jianhe. Afterward, he returned to the bedroom to wash up and change clothes.

When he came out, the egg was just cooked, and the aroma of the sausages filled the morning air.

He fished out the egg, placed a can of milk in the still warm water to heat it, and sliced the sausages.

After a simple breakfast, Ye Zhiqiu packed his things and drove to work.

Almost simultaneously, the door to Qin Jianhe’s office was pushed open, and Wei Jie walked in.

"Mr. Qin," Wei Jie said as he handed the documents he was holding to Qin Jianhe, "going back many years, Teacher Xiao Ye and Qi Xin indeed did not know each other before. However, we unexpectedly discovered that Teacher Xiao Ye's stepmother, Tao Ruoqing, seems to have had some shady dealings with the Qi family."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, only lowering his eyes to open the folder.

As he flipped through the pages, his dark eyes gradually turned icy cold.

"We also found the detective Jiang Nan hired previously and obtained some information," Wei Jie continued, observing Qin Jianhe's reactions, "Due to some demands, Qi Xin seemed quite submissive in this relationship, but it's Teacher Xiao Ye..."

Spoiled, willful, extravagant...

Wei Jie paused for a moment, unsure how to describe Ye Zhiqiu.

Coincidentally, Qin Jianhe flipped to one of the photos.

The background of the photo was clearly the entrance of Q.L.

The figures in the photo were Qi Xin and Ye Zhiqiu.

The photographer had captured the moment perfectly, showing Ye Zhiqiu slapping Qi Xin.

The folder remained still for a while as Qin Jianhe stared at the photo.

In the photo, the beauty looked angry, defiant, and arrogant, almost domineering...

That slap seemed particularly forceful, tilting Qi Xin's face away, blurred in the photo.

It was that day.

The day he saw Qi Xin approaching Ye Zhiqiu from inside the car.

That posture, without needing any understanding of emotions, clearly indicated a kiss-seeking gesture.

Qin Jianhe had not expected such an outcome.

It was somewhat unexpected yet also within expectations.

He pursed his lips, but the ice in his eyes began to melt slightly with the appearance of this photo.

It seemed Ye Zhiqiu already knew about his stepmother's schemes and realized Qi Xin's lack of genuine feelings.

So, he was just playing along?

A small punishment, not too excessive, Qin Jianhe thought.

But using himself as bait was a bit reckless, he also thought.

However, upon deeper reflection, the expression in his eyes grew more intense.

After all, this was Ye Zhiqiu.

If it were a less perceptive or more innocent child, they would have been completely devoured by now.

Was this also why Ye Zhiqiu suspected the cause of his mother's death and could no longer open his heart to love?

The folder contained several childhood photos of Ye Zhiqiu.

His black hair was a bit long, his eyes large and round, and his fair skin made him look like a little bun.

In every photo where Tao Ruoqing appeared, the little bun's expressions and body language showed his extreme dependence and trust in her.

Qin Jianhe closed his eyes briefly.

He couldn't imagine what kind of pain Ye Zhiqiu must have endured to face this lifelong lie and the betrayal of his closest kin with such composure.

He was only nineteen, tender like a young asparagus, easily broken.

Yet, he had to bear such a painful and cruel blow alone.

The black-and-white text provided fragmented information.

It showed that Ye Zhiqiu's reputation among the ladies' circle was not good.

But due to his outstanding performance at the recent fashion week, his reputation had slightly improved.

Qin Jianhe glanced over the pages and listened as Wei Jie continued.

"Recently, Mrs. Ye invested a significant amount of money in the Qi family, probably because of the previous collaboration," Wei Jie said, "However, Mrs. Ye is not losing out; the Qi family's exhibition was very successful, with orders pouring in. She might even make a substantial profit."

"How much did she invest?" Qin Jianhe asked, flipping through the pages.

"The initial estimate is over ten million," Wei Jie calculated mentally, "However, this investment seems to be done solely by Mrs. Ye, without the knowledge of Ye Hongxian and the children."

"Given the scale of the Ye family's operations, cash flow, and financial reports, their profits last year were minimal. Going back a few years, the profits were also limited. Ten million is not a small sum for the Ye family," Qin Jianhe said, flipping through the reports, "Have you checked the source of these funds?"

"Well... not really," Wei Jie admitted.

"Investigate it thoroughly. Find out the source of her funds and how much she currently has."

"Yes, Mr. Qin." Wei Jie noted it down in his notebook.

"Did you find any leads on the Ye family's driver from twenty years ago?" Qin Jianhe finished the first folder and opened the second.

"This driver immigrated to Australia with his entire family shortly after leaving the Ye family," Wei Jie recalled, "But perhaps they changed their names after immigration, and given the time elapsed, local investigations are still ongoing. I'll report back as soon as I have news."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe nodded.

His features were naturally cold, now even more so, like a thin layer of frost, making him seem icy even before looking at anyone.

Wei Jie wanted to say something else but ultimately remained silent, waiting quietly.

After a moment, Qin Jianhe's thick, long lashes fluttered slightly.

"Find an empty shell company," he said in a calm voice. "Use that company to place some orders with Qi Yun."

"Huh..." Wei Jie blinked in confusion upon hearing this, but he knew the boss's instructions were always right. Even though he didn't understand the reasoning, he immediately replied, "Yes, Mr. Qin."

"Then I'll go out now," Wei Jie said, seeing that Qin Jianhe seemed to have no further instructions. "Zhou Tongxin is waiting to come in."

"Mm." Qin Jianhe responded indifferently, taking out a cigarette and lighting it with a click.

"Have him wait a few minutes before coming in," he said.

"Yes, Mr. Qin." Wei Jie tiptoed out quietly.

The moment the office door closed, Qin Jianhe took a deep drag from his cigarette, his sharp jawline accentuating a cold, hard edge.

Almost simultaneously, one corner of his mouth curled up carelessly, revealing a hint of inexplicable ruthlessness.

In both business and personal life, he had seen plenty of despicable people, but this was the first time he had encountered someone who schemed against a child from start to finish.

Grayish-white smoke drifted from his thin lips, creating a veil before his eyes.

Through the pale gray haze, Qin Jianhe seemed to see again the scene from last night when Ye Zhiqiu opened the door for him.

Peeking out like a wary cat.

His thick lashes lowered slightly, and the coldness in his eyes dissipated a bit.

He lowered his gaze, picked up his phone, and sent a text to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Qin Jianhe: Did you eat breakfast properly?"

It took Ye Zhiqiu a while to reply.

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Yes, it was quite substantial. I ate the sausages you brought, a boiled egg, and had milk."

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: How about you, Mr. Qin? Have you eaten?"

Reading each word, Qin Jianhe felt a sense of obedience emanating from Ye Zhiqiu.

The coldness in his eyes melted away silently, and a faint smile crept across his face.

"Qin Jianhe: Mm, I cooked noodles."

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Mm, the light turned green, so I need to drive now. But my noodle-making skills are excellent; I'll cook them for you next time."

Qin Jianhe chuckled softly.

"Qin Jianhe: Sure."

As he finished the last puff of his cigarette, a knock sounded at the door. He extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray and raised his eyes slightly. "Come in."

This was the first time the boss had specifically asked a colleague to delay entering.

Zhou Tongxin remained as quiet as a chick throughout the entire process, not daring to make a sound.

Despite having prepared several questions to confirm, he couldn't bring himself to ask any of them.

Once the boss finished signing the documents, Zhou Tongxin quickly gathered the pile and retreated.

"Just remember, everyone," Zhou Tongxin whispered as he distributed the signed documents, "the boss is like an iceberg right now. If your tasks aren't urgent, don't go poking the bear, or you'll be on your own if you get hurt."

The younger secretaries and assistants, each carrying their assigned documents, couldn't help but murmur among themselves as they headed downstairs.

By the time Ye Zhiqiu arrived at the company and stepped into the elevator, he overheard some of these whispers.

Entering his office, he closed the door and took out his phone to send a message to Qin Jianhe.

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: I heard Mr. Qin isn't in a good mood today?"

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Is there anything I can do to help?"

"QIN: Have you arrived at the company?"

"QIN: Turn your phone's ringer on. I might need to call you anytime."

This person...

Really doesn't hold back at all.

Despite his inner grumbling, Ye Zhiqiu checked his phone's ringer settings.

Putting down his phone, he fetched several rolls of new fabric from the cabinet.

These were the materials he had asked Zhang Lan to retrieve from the warehouse yesterday, suitable for the suit he had just finished sketching.

There were six or seven rolls, each from different manufacturers, labeled and sorted.

The internal phone rang, and Ye Zhiqiu answered it.

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Zhang Lan's voice came through, "the cotton linen fabric we looked at yesterday can also be sourced from the new factory. I've already asked them to prepare a bolt of each color, and they should arrive in half an hour. Should you wait?"

"Sure." Ye Zhiqiu unfolded the rolls he had, made comparisons, and kept only one.

He then draped the final roll over the mannequin, grabbed scissors and pins, and bent down to begin working.

Just as he started cutting the fabric into shape, Zhang Lan entered with several rolls of material.

"Why did you start cutting already?" Zhang Lan asked, placing the fabric on the worktable.

"Um." Ye Zhiqiu smiled slightly. "I have something to do at noon, and I'm afraid I won't finish if it gets too late."

As he spoke, he looked at the new fabric that Zhang Lan had brought back. "Later, use this piece of fabric to make an outfit for me to see."

Zhang Lan: "...Alright."

Mentioning draping made Zhang Lan a bit hesitant, but she knew this was Ye Zhiqiu guiding her.

For the whole morning, the two were busy with their own tasks.

In between, Qi Xin called, but Ye Zhiqiu didn't answer.

So Qi Xin sent several messages, informing Ye Zhiqiu that yesterday's two drafts had been directly ordered by Xinge without waiting for the patterns, and the down payment had been transferred. Then today, another big client came to the company...

Ye Zhiqiu glanced at them briefly and then looked away.

Therefore, when the message came in near noon, Ye Zhiqiu instinctively thought it was still from Qi Xin.

Only after making the final cut did he put down the scissors and pins, and then handed the fabric on the mannequin to Zhang Lan. "Sew it when you have time."

"Alright." Zhang Lan stopped counting the half-finished list of accessories, got up, and took the fabric towards the sewing machine.

Ye Zhiqiu then picked up his phone to check the message.

The last message wasn't from Qi Xin, but from Qin Jianhe.

"QIN: Now I need it. Come to the stairwell when you're free."

And the sending time was already ten minutes ago.

Subconsciously, Ye Zhiqiu turned to look at Zhang Lan, who was fully focused on threading the sewing machine.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't disturb her. He took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his trench coat pocket, got up, and opened the door leading to the stairwell.

The iron door creaked, and the motion sensor light in the stairwell flickered on.

A faint scent of minty tobacco lingered in the small space.

Involuntarily, Ye Zhiqiu stepped lightly.

The motion sensor light above went out.

Compared to the afternoon when the sunset could cast rays through the window, it was now noon, and the stairwell was even darker.

Ye Zhiqiu reached out to grip the stair railing, stepped up, one, two...

Until the third step, he stood steady.

Qin Jianhe was still waiting there.

With his hands in his pockets, he leaned against the windowsill, looking down.

Seeing his figure, he slowly lifted a hand towards him.

"Ye Zhiqiu," he said, his voice slightly deep, "come here."

Knowing he was late and time was tight, Ye Zhiqiu didn't indulge in his rebellious streak.

He stepped forward, walking closer step by step.

Outside the window, the sunlight was bright, making this small corner seem even darker and more secluded.

Ye Zhiqiu stepped onto the small platform, placed his hand into Qin Jianhe's palm, and was immediately held tightly.

"What's wrong?" Ye Zhiqiu asked with a smile. "Everyone in the company knows you're in a bad mood today."

"So far-reaching?" Qin Jianhe said softly, slightly turning his body and pulling Ye Zhiqiu into his embrace.

He hugged him tightly and solemnly, as if holding something incredibly precious.

Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily stunned, then sank into the familiar, subtle woody fragrance.

"What's wrong?" After a while, he deliberately relaxed his tone. "Did someone bully you? Tell me, I'll scratch their face for you."

Even though he himself was bullied, he still cared if Ye Zhiqiu was bullied.

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe's arms tightened again involuntarily.

"Who can you beat?" Qin Jianhe asked softly, remembering that Ye Zhiqiu had suffered at least three injuries since they met.

"Whether I can beat them or not is another matter," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, then moved slightly in his embrace. "But if my waist is crushed, I won't even have the chance to fight."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe loosened his grip, lifting his head to touch foreheads with Ye Zhiqiu.

"Really?" Ye Zhiqiu tried to cheer him up. "Regret not staying over at my place last night?"

"Mm." Qin Jianhe murmured. "I regret it so much, I want to sleep with you every night from now on."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Can I?" Qin Jianhe suddenly looked up at him, his sharp eyes dark and penetrating. "Ye Zhiqiu."