Chapter 81

Chapter 81

As the filming approached, the makeup room was bustling with activity.

At this moment, Li Ling sat quietly in his seat, cooperating with the makeup artist applying his makeup.

His facial features and bone structure were impeccable, requiring only a light touch to enhance his allure.

Even the makeup artist couldn't help but praise him repeatedly.

Despite everyone having gathered for less than an hour, Li Ling's good rapport quickly became evident.

Years of experience in the service industry had honed his ability to read people and environments, making him exceptionally polite and adaptable.

Thus, even though he was among the first to arrive, he waited until everyone else had finished their makeup before taking his turn in the chair.

In the entertainment industry, everyone is a player, and one never knows who might have powerful backers.

As a newcomer, it's always best to keep a low profile and be humble.

A few days ago, the production team officially released the costume photos of the two lead actors.

Their exceptional looks, combined with high-quality styling and makeup, sparked a frenzy online.

This further elevated the already high anticipation for the film "Building No. 8."

Although Li Ling knew that the makeup artists here were not the same as those used by the main actors, he still managed to flatter them, making them all smile broadly.

They took extra care with his makeup.

The mirror reflected the scene behind him.

Cui Xuan had just returned from changing and was quietly urging his new assistant to buy water.

"Xiao Jin," Li Ling said with a smile to his assistant, "give this bottle of water to Teacher Cui."

He had brought an expensive bottle of mineral water, which Cui Xuan had seen. Now, Cui Xuan was putting away his own bottle and insisting that his assistant buy the same brand.

But with the set located in the outskirts, how could the assistant get it so quickly?

In the entertainment industry, Li Ling understood clearly that it was no different from a den of luxury and extravagance.

No matter how polite and well-behaved they appeared on the surface, everyone harbored a competitive spirit deep down.

Everyone wanted to outshine others, stepping on them to highlight their own presence.

It was just a matter of doing it covertly or openly.

Especially now, with the two leads absent, the supporting actors were even more competitive.

They called each other "Teacher" politely, but behind the scenes, they vied for every advantage, even comparing bottles of water.

Some were already actively seeking ways to add more screen time and shots for themselves.

Amidst the commotion, the fitting teacher suddenly rushed out.

Soon after, a voice could be heard outside, filled with enthusiasm: "Teacher Xiao Ye, you're here."

"Yes, Teacher Liu," a young, clear, and polite voice replied. "How far along are we?"

"Most of them have changed already. I've taken photos and sent them to Old Li."

"What did Old Li say?"

"Old Li is very satisfied, except for a few minor issues. Director Wei also agrees with Old Li. There's nothing major that needs changing," Liu Yisi smiled. "We're waiting for your opinion now."

Director Wei, named Wei Yuan, was the assistant director of the film "Building No. 8" and also the casting director.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu's eyes immediately curved into a smile.

"If Old Li and Director Wei approve, there's no problem."

"But Teacher Xiao Ye can't be lazy," Liu Yisi joked. "You still need to take a look before making a final decision."

In the mirror, Li Ling's gaze lifted, meeting Ye Zhiqiu's briefly.

"Is this the new styling teacher?" Li Ling asked the makeup artist, who was dipping a brush into an eyeshadow palette. "Why does he look better than all the actors here, even with makeup?"

"I'm seeing him for the first time too," the makeup artist smiled, her eyes sparkling. "No wonder I heard that even Old Zhao wanted to recruit him as an actor."

"Old Zhao?" Li Ling repeated seemingly casually.

Having climbed out of the mire, his ambitions extended beyond the entertainment industry.

Knowing that this film involved not only Zhao Yunzhuang but also investments from Q.L and Meng's Jewelry, he had used every means possible to secure this role through Gao Wenye.

However, his expectations were not high.

Setting aside Qin Jianhe and Meng Qingyan's aloofness, even Zhao Keqi might not be interested in him.

Still, even if he could only become Zhao Keqi's mistress, it would be worth it.

After all, Zhao Yunzhuang had been alone for years.

Before anything was settled, spreading his net wide was the right move.

With so many big names in one pool, catching even a single scale would be enough.

"Yes," the makeup artist nodded with a slight smile, acknowledging her limited knowledge on the matter.

In the mirror, Ye Zhiqiu had emerged from the dressing room and was engaged in a low conversation with Liu Yisi and Wei Yuan. Liu Yisi nodded while rapidly taking notes on her phone.

After their conversation ended, Ye Zhiqiu finally had a moment to himself, and Cui Xuan approached with a smile.

"Teacher Xiao Ye, hello." Unlike his previous life's arrogance before Ye Zhiqiu, Cui Xuan politely extended a pale hand, "I've seen your news on Weibo before. I've always admired your talent, and it's an honor to meet you today."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him.

Cui Xuan undoubtedly had good looks; otherwise, Gao Wenye wouldn't have chosen him for Qi Xin in the past life.

And he wouldn't have had the chance to stay by Qi Xin's side for so long.

"Hello," Ye Zhiqiu said amiably, extending his hand to shake, "Are you an artist under 'Xinye'?"

Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia's relationship had been made public.

In recent interviews, they revealed that their wedding was set for early summer.

Not only did the temperature rise in early summer, but most importantly, it contained the character "Xia."

The couple had only officially announced their relationship a few days ago, yet they had already shown much affection, attracting many fans of their pairing, leading to unprecedented popularity.

As an artist under "Xinye," Cui Xuan knew even more about this.

However, Cui Xuan didn't fully understand the true relationship between Ye Zhiqiu, Ye Zhixia, and Gao Wenye. He had only heard vague rumors about Ye Zhixia and Ye Zhiqiu not getting along well.

But blood is thicker than water. Since Ye Zhiqiu was the brother of his boss's wife, he naturally considered him one of his own.

This was also the primary reason he approached Ye Zhiqiu, hoping to gain special treatment for his personal styling through this connection.

Hearing Ye Zhiqiu's question, he immediately nodded, "Yes, Teacher Gao is my boss."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu's beautiful eyes couldn't help but scan him up and down several times.

When Cui Xuan felt a bit puzzled, Ye Zhiqiu smiled and murmured, "No wonder."

"Hmm?" Cui Xuan's confusion deepened, but he quickly reacted, "Has Teacher Gao mentioned me to you?"

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu's smile grew deeper, "With such good looks, no wonder Teacher Gao favors you so much. He mentions you every time we meet, even insisting that I speak highly of you to the director for this role..."

As he spoke, the smile in his eyes became more meaningful, and after a moment, he chuckled softly, "He seems to care more about you than my younger brother."

Hearing this, Cui Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and before he could respond modestly, Liu Yisi called out, "Teacher Xiao Ye, please come here."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and bid him farewell, then turned to leave.

Watching Ye Zhiqiu's retreating back, Cui Xuan couldn't suppress his excitement, and even the corners of his eyes curved into a smile uncontrollably.

He had originally been a fan of Gao Wenye, which was why he chose Gao Wenye's company among several others after the talent show.

Fans always harbor some dreams about their idols.

Especially when the idol already has a partner, those dreams become deeply hidden.

But once there's a hint or a glimmer of hope, those dreams can sprout and grow into something strange and twisted.

Not to mention, once signed with Gao Wenye's company, his future prospects and resources were in the hands of his boss.

Whether the boss's fingers were loose or tight would determine his vastly different future.

No one would hesitate to fight for such an opportunity.

Especially since Cui Xuan wasn't the type to settle easily.

Otherwise, in the past life, how would Gao Wenye have chosen him, and how would he have cooperated so willingly to climb into Qi Xin's bed?

Cui Xuan's expression naturally caught Li Ling's eye as he passed by.

Following Ye Zhiqiu's footsteps, Li Ling entered the dressing room.

After changing, the other people in the room had already left, leaving only Wei Yuan, Liu Yisi, and Ye Zhiqiu.

"Li Ling," Wei Yuan, wearing a baseball cap, looked up at him.

Li Ling portrayed a minor character, embodying a childhood friend who had harbored a secret love for the male protagonist for years. His most notable characteristic in the film was being a "green tea".

Initially, Wei Yuan was unsatisfied with Gao Wenye's recommendation of Li Ling, but upon meeting him, he recognized him as the perfect fit.

That scheming and cunning aura was portrayed vividly and brilliantly.

"Yes, Director," Li Ling replied gracefully.

"This makeup might be a bit too light," Wei Yuan hesitated, looking at Ye Zhiqiu and Liu Yisi.

"I think it's fine," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "While the character has a slightly mischievous nature, his badness is hidden beneath the surface. The part that shows above the surface is clean and fresh, like a pure lotus flower."

He stood up and adjusted the waistline of Li Ling's outfit, "We can be bolder with the clothing, tightening the waistline a bit more."

Li Ling had an excellent figure, with a slender waist and a firm posterior. Ye Zhiqiu's adjustment was indeed bold and fiery.

Indeed, it was a compliment.

"Okay," Liu Yisi noted the suggestion, "I'll pass these comments to Mr. Li later."

"There are a few actors whose makeup needs adjusting," Wei Yuan stood up, addressing Liu Yisi, "Why don't you come with me to check on them?"

As they left, the dressing room was left with only Li Ling and Ye Zhiqiu.

The mask on Li Ling's face slowly faded, revealing a seductive and charming smile.

"Ye Zhiqiu," he said, "how the hell do you manage to outshine everyone here in just a tracksuit? Those young hunks outside are practically drooling over you."

Li Ling even suspected that if it weren't for Ye Zhiqiu's reputation and the fact that he was personally chosen by Old Zhao, those people would have found ways to kick him out of the group.

He narrowed his eyes, a hint of mischief in them. "Why do you look even fresher than when we first met? Could it be the work of that stud from last time? You can't still be into him, right?"

"How's the main business going?" Ye Zhiqiu asked directly, ignoring his comment.

"Not much progress," Li Ling said, leaning on the windowsill while keeping an eye on the others outside. "He just got married recently and is enjoying showing off his new relationship. He's being very careful; he's only come here once. It's hard to get him hooked."

He paused. "I heard that a popular marriage variety show is also trying to contact them. This is a critical moment, so it might take some time."

"No rush," Ye Zhiqiu said calmly as he neatly hung up the costume he had just changed out of. "Take your time."

He smiled. "I have plenty of patience."

He knew better than anyone that once desire gets a foothold, it becomes like a breached dam, impossible to stop.

Even Qi Xin, who once had such a strong preference for Jiang Nan, ended up with a string of new partners later on.

Though he always insisted that the first time was due to alcohol and not intentional, it couldn't be alcohol every single time afterward, could it?

One wonders if after his death, when he finally got Jiang Nan, he managed to control his desires.

Compared to Qi Xin, Gao Wenye's desires were more primal and direct.

He couldn't even accept his own background or his parents...

As far as he knew, neither in his previous life nor this one did he invite his parents to his wedding with Ye Zhixia.

Just a cold-hearted wolf.

Such a person always seeks comfort and pleasure.

Including status, position, and both psychological and physical enjoyment.

Someone as fresh and flavorful as Li Ling, once tasted, how could he forget?

How could he not want to try more?

"It's good that you're patient," Li Ling said with a smile, then asked, "Director Wei said he's treating us to lunch. Want to join?"

"No," Ye Zhiqiu replied, "I have another appointment. I've already told them."

"Who?" Li Ling immediately asked, "That stud?"

"Hey," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled, "he has a name."

"What's it?" Li Ling asked at once, "Where does he live?"

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Fortunately, the actors who had gone to change makeup had returned, and Ye Zhiqiu smiled and raised an eyebrow before walking out.

After greeting Wei Yuan and Liu Yisi, Ye Zhiqiu drove off to the dance academy.

A new barbecue restaurant had just opened near the dance academy, known for its excellent dipping sauce. Jin Baobao generously offered to treat them to dinner.

Having been busy lately, Ye Zhiqiu hadn't seen Jin Baobao or Li Shaojun in a long time and missed them dearly.

Plus, he didn't enjoy the undercurrents in the film set, so he had already informed Wei Yuan and Liu Yisi about his plans.

Halfway there, Jin Baobao was already urging him in the group chat.

He mentioned that even Tang Yue, who doesn't have a car, had arrived, leaving only Ye Zhiqiu as the last to show up.

When Ye Zhiqiu entered the restaurant, a server was bringing in a large platter of freshly grilled meat.

The round table was already laden with several hot and cold dishes.

"Come on, Brother Qiu," Li Shaojun said, immediately passing him his favorite tendon slices and skewers of lamb.

"You're always the luckiest," Jin Baobao added, pouring him a bowl of soup and placing it in front of him. "You must be exhausted with all the work lately, right?"

"I'm fine," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile, accepting the bowl.

"How come Xiao Qiu looks like he's put on a bit of weight?" Tang Yue commented with a smile.

Hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Ye Zhiqiu's face.

Ye Zhiqiu had a small face and used to be quite thin. Though beautiful, any slight emotion would make him appear haughty, making him seem unapproachable.

But now, his cheeks seemed fuller, his skin more luminous, and his features softer.

"You really have," Jin Baobao exclaimed, eyes wide. "We thought moving out alone would make you lazy and indulgent, but you've actually gained weight?"

"Eating out all the time with high salt, oil, and calories, how could you not gain weight?" Li Shaojun immediately chimed in. "But honestly, you look even better."

"Le Le is observant," Jin Baobao said.

Ye Zhiqiu had weighed himself and had gained less than two pounds.

For Tang Yue to notice, it showed how attentive he was.

This level of attentiveness was somewhat unsettling.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled without explaining.

"Maybe," Li Shaojun suggested, "I'll ask our housekeeper to prepare extra meals and deliver them to your place every day. Eating out too much isn't healthy."

"Me too..." Jin Baobao's excitement almost choked him, making him cough uncontrollably for a moment.

Ye Zhiqiu found it amusing and quickly raised his hand to pat his back.

"You guys are enough," he said. "Eating alone is so much more comfortable since I don't have to cater to anyone else's tastes."

As he spoke, he glanced at Tang Yue.

Since moving out, Tang Yue's complexion had noticeably improved.

"How has Le Le been lately?" Although they had both been attending school recently, due to their busy schedules and Tang Yue preparing for an exhibition, the time they could spend chatting had significantly decreased compared to before.

"Yes," Tang Yue smiled. "Things have been a bit easier lately."

"How's the preparation for the exhibit coming along?" Ye Zhiqiu asked with a smile.

"I've outlined the initial concept," Tang Yue said. "I'm quite confident about this one."

"The arts are truly magical," Jin Baobao chimed in. "Your intuition is usually spot-on. If you're confident, you'll definitely do well."

Tang Yue nodded.

Meanwhile, Li Shaojun had already piled Ye Zhiqiu's favorite dishes into a small mountain in front of him.

Jin Baobao kept adding food and soup for him, not forgetting to ask, "Delicious, right? Baor?"

"Delicious." Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him, his rosy lips glistening with oil.

For some reason, Tang Yue felt a twinge of discomfort again.

"Do you guys have classes this afternoon?" Jin Baobao asked. "Any time to play after lunch?"

"No time," Ye Zhiqiu put down his skewer. "I have an appointment later."

"It's always you who's busy," Li Shaojun complained as usual.

"With whom? More important than me?" Jin Baobao was also unhappy.

"I'm meeting Qi Xin to introduce him to a potential collaborator," Ye Zhiqiu explained.

"I knew it," Li Shaojun's face turned cold instantly. "We shouldn't be so accommodating. You keep helping him with design drafts and introducing partners. What does he give you in return?"

"Don't be so cynical at your age," Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

"If you're not realistic now, you'll regret it later," Li Shaojun said.

He had said the same thing in the previous life.

Ye Zhiqiu hadn't listened then.

Hearing it again now, his heart ached slightly.

The image of the teenager crying in the rain and breaking off their friendship would never leave him.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, his eyes filled with a sense of sorrow.

"Trust me," he smiled after a moment. "One day, he'll be the one chasing after me."

It sounded like a joke, but Li Shaojun grunted, his expression softening slightly.

"I want to see what he gives you for your birthday in two days," he muttered.

Tang Yue watched their interaction, maintaining a gentle smile on his face.

But inside, he felt empty and lost.

The world was vast, yet it seemed he was always walking alone.

No one had ever treated him as well as Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao treated Ye Zhiqiu.

He had never had friends as close as these.

...

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways.

Ye Zhiqiu had work to attend to, and Tang Yue needed to go back to prepare for the exhibition. In the end, only Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun were left.

Finding it uninteresting, they returned to Li Shaojun's place to play video games as usual.

Ye Zhiqiu drove directly to the bar where he had met Gao Wenye last time.

Parking the car by the roadside, he walked down the stairs to the underground level.

Although the bar had started operating, there were still very few people around at this hour.

As soon as Ye Zhiqiu entered, a waiter silently led him inside.

This time, a private room had been reserved, and Qi Xin was already waiting inside.

"Xiao Qiu," upon seeing Ye Zhiqiu enter, his eyes immediately lit up.

Today, Qi Xin was extremely excited to meet Qin Weian, so he dressed formally in a suit.

In contrast, Ye Zhiqiu looked more casual in a red-and-white tracksuit, making him appear younger and fresher.

"Sit," he smiled, choosing a seat on one side of the booth and checking his watch. "Qin Weian should be here soon."

"Actually, I came early," Qi Xin said, his eyes fixed on Ye Zhiqiu.

Although the lighting in the private room was slightly brighter than outside, it still cast a dim glow, turning Ye Zhiqiu's light brown eyes into a deep black for the first time.

With his jet-black hair and dark eyes, his snow-white skin, and the relaxed smile that always seemed to linger, Qi Xin found himself genuinely fond and captivated by him.

"I heard you're not celebrating your birthday this year," Qi Xin asked.

"Who told you that?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled, looking at him without revealing any emotion.

"I originally planned to surprise you on your birthday," Qi Xin said, "so I called Mrs. Ye ahead of time."

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu said, "I've been quite busy lately."

"On that day," Qi Xin asked, "would it be convenient to have dinner together?"

"I have plans with Bao Bao and Shaojun," Ye Zhiqiu said, "so I might not have time to meet you."

Hearing this, Qi Xin hesitated for a moment.

Recently, the factory had been incredibly busy, facing quality control issues before the first batch of goods could be shipped. He barely had any time to come to the city, making opportunities to meet Ye Zhiqiu few and far between.

He hadn't even had the chance to visit Ye Zhiqiu's new home yet.

As if making a decision, Qi Xin lowered his head and took out a set of car keys from his bag, presenting them to Ye Zhiqiu.

"I originally wanted to give these to you on your birthday," he said, "but I was worried I wouldn't see you then. So I'm giving them to you now—happy birthday."

Ye Zhiqiu looked down and saw the Mercedes-Benz logo.

"Aren't they too expensive?" he raised an eyebrow.

"For you, no matter how expensive, it's worth it," Qi Xin said.

This car was something he secretly ordered when Tao Ruoqing's recent investment funds arrived.

Afraid Qi Ruichang would find out, he had stored it at the 4S store first.

"When you have time, go pick it up," Qi Xin said, "I've already arranged everything with them."

Considering the fame and fortune his designs brought Qi Xin, Ye Zhiqiu didn't hesitate, smiling as he took the keys into his hand, "Thank you."

Qi Xin became happier, about to reach out to shake Ye Zhiqiu's hand, when the door suddenly opened again, and Qin Weian entered.

Seeing Ye Zhiqiu, Qin Weian's eyes lit up, "Teacher Xiao Ye."

"Hello, Mr. Qin," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, maintaining a polite distance, "please sit."

Then he smiled at Qi Xin, "Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Qin from Manqing."

"Hello, Mr. Qin," although Qin Weian's gaze at Ye Zhiqiu made Qi Xin uncomfortable, the disparity in their positions made Qi Xin immediately stand up and extend a courteous hand, "I am Qi Xin."

"Qi Xin from Qi Yun, Qi General Manager," Ye Zhiqiu added with a smile.

"Hello," Qin Weian extended his hand, and their hands briefly touched in the air.

Watching this gesture, Ye Zhiqiu's smile deepened unconsciously.

Qin Weian sat down, and after some pleasantries, they gradually got down to business.

The drinks arrived, and Ye Zhiqiu quietly accompanied them for a couple of rounds.

"Xiao Qiu," Qi Xin reached out appropriately, "drink less so you won't have a headache later."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and nodded.

Qin Weian narrowed his eyes, finally realizing the relationship between Qi Xin and Ye Zhiqiu.

Although he was very interested in Ye Zhiqiu, his desire for success temporarily overshadowed other desires.

The turmoil at Q.L and the current declining situation at Manqing loudly proclaimed his incompetence.

Yet, his physical defect made him particularly sensitive to the word "incompetent."

There were plenty of toys in bed, and as long as the old man didn't die, someone would always cover for him. Qin Weian smiled; he wasn't in such a hurry.

As Qin Weian and Qi Xin's conversation progressed, a server knocked on the door.

He came over and whispered a few words to Ye Zhiqiu.

"You continue talking," Ye Zhiqiu stood up, "the owner of the restaurant wants to make a batch of work uniforms and recognized me. They hope I can take a look."

"Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?" Qin Weian chuckled.

"Go ahead," Qi Xin didn't want Ye Zhiqiu to stay in the same space with Qin Weian, "you don't have anything else to do here."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and nodded, leaving the private room.

"Brother Shan has arrived," the server whispered.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

Entering the back office through the bar, Ye Zhiqiu saw Shan Yuan at once.

After the racing accident, Shan Yuan had installed a prosthetic limb. After a long rehabilitation, he now moved freely.

If one didn't know the details, they wouldn't notice he had been in such a severe accident.

"Xiao Qiu," seeing Ye Zhiqiu, Shan Yuan put down his glass and waved at him.

Ye Zhiqiu quickened his pace and sat down with a smile in front of him. "Brother, I heard you're getting close to tying the knot?"

For a long time after the accident, Shan Yuan had been undergoing rehabilitation training at the hospital, where he developed feelings for one of the nurses who had been responsible for his care. Recently, their relationship had progressed to the point of almost getting engaged.

"By the end of the year," Shan Yuan smiled, the ring on his ring finger glinting gently under the light. "We'll get engaged first."

"I'll definitely send a big gift then," Ye Zhiqiu said with a laugh.

"Hold off for now," Shan Yuan said. "Can I lose you that easily?"

Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu glanced at the leg that had been injured.

Though never spoken, Ye Zhiqiu had never truly let go of it.

If Shan Yuan hadn't insisted on borrowing his car back then, perhaps he would still be whole today.

"Stop looking, I'm fine," Shan Yuan saw through his thoughts at once. "Haven't you heard? Old Qiu died in a car crash not long ago, right on the winding road of Ox Head Mountain."

Like Shan Yuan, Old Qiu was also a regular at the racetrack.

Ye Zhiqiu really hadn't known about this.

Since his rebirth, apart from the time he tricked money out of his family to buy a racecar, he hadn't paid any attention to the affairs of the racetrack.

"Putting aside what you wanted to investigate," Shan Yuan said, "sometimes I think maybe fate used this incident to remind me to know my limits. Otherwise, I might have lost more than just this leg. Think about it, if it weren't for my skills, given your level, you might have lost more than just a leg; it could have been your life. Now we're both alive, isn't that worth something?"

"You're comforting me now," Ye Zhiqiu laughed upon hearing this.

"To be honest," Shan Yuan said, "why did you get involved with Qin Er? He's crazy when he plays, don't take it lightly."

"No," Ye Zhiqiu said, "I just introduced someone to him."

"As long as you know what you're doing," Shan Yuan said.

"Is that why you came here?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"I had something to discuss with Xiao Si'er, and it happened to coincide," Shan Yuan said. "After we finished talking, they mentioned you had arranged a meeting here."

Xiao Si'er was the owner of this place and had been Shan Yuan's most loyal fan at the racetrack back then.

"How convenient," Ye Zhiqiu laughed, somewhat disbelieving.

The two hadn't seen each other in a long time, so they chatted nonstop once they met.

At five-thirty, Ye Zhiqiu's phone vibrated.

A message from Qin Jianhe came in.

"QIN: Tonight, I'm making oyster sauce lettuce and sweet and sour pork with pineapple. Do you like it?"

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and replied.

【One Leaf Knows Autumn: "Yes, I do.】

In the end, it was Qin Jianhe who arranged for the housekeeper.

She was an old servant from the Qin family's ancestral home, who had taken care of Nie Fengjun in the past.

After Nie Fengjun and Qin Xusheng divorced, Nie Fengjun had wanted to take her along.

However, due to the inconvenient transportation to the villa on the hillside, she didn't go.

Later, after Qin Xusheng remarried, Wang Xin hired new staff, and the old servant was dismissed.

Over the years, she had been taking orders online, providing lunch and dinner services based on client needs.

Because she kept several cats at home, she never stayed overnight.

Her life was comfortable.

For them, she was both reliable and convenient.

The old servant enjoyed helping out too.

Not only did Qin Jianhe give generous tips, but most importantly, she had watched him grow up until he was seven or eight years old.

However, if he had the time, Qin Jianhe preferred cooking himself.

This message likely meant he was preparing the meal personally.

Ye Zhiqiu had no intention of returning to the private room he had left earlier. He never cared about Qi Xin and Qin Weian's opinions; sending a message later would suffice.

"Brother, my family made dinner, I need to head back," he smiled and looked up at Shan Yuan. "Once I finish up with my current matters, let's have a proper reunion."

"Family?" Shan Yuan chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

Others might not know, but Shan Yuan knew that Ye Zhiqiu had long stopped referring to the Ye family as his family.

Now that he mentioned "family," there must be someone else.

Ye Zhiqiu seemed momentarily stunned, not speaking for a moment.

Shan Yuan observed him for a bit before smiling and waving his hand.

"Go ahead," he said.