Chapter 87

Chapter 87

In this world, everyone wants to show their best and most perfect side to others.

Ye Zhiqiu is the exception.

He wants to reveal the dirtiest, most despicable parts of himself, those that have long rotted and deformed, to Qin Jianhe.

To let him see clearly what kind of person he truly is.

This way, Qin Jianhe would naturally leave.

At the very least, he should hesitate and deliberate like everyone else.

Then, the boundary wall he had unknowingly built in his heart would naturally be reinforced, leaving no room for doubt or wavering.

But Qin Jianhe did not.

Not only was there no hesitation or wavering, but it seemed as if...

It seemed as if he had been wanting to say these words for a long time.

His lips tightly pressed together, Ye Zhiqiu stood there, momentarily stunned.

It felt as if everything in his body had frozen, except for the intense emotions churning within his chest, creating an illusion of a dull ache.

The place where he had just been kissed was still burning hot. Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu tried to curl his fingers, but Qin Jianhe held them tightly, preventing any movement.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips and, after a moment, slowly lowered his eyes.

The clay pot restaurant from which Qin Jianhe ordered takeout was famous and always focused on high-end health cuisine.

So even the takeout came with the pot included.

The deep black ceramic pot had a small opening and a large belly, and Ye Zhiqiu stared at it blankly for a moment, thinking it could be reused.

Then, his thoughts slowly returned to Qin Jianhe and the current situation.

Counting the time, he had known Qin Jianhe for quite a while now.

Their intimate relationship had also lasted for some time.

Yet, he had never deeply pondered or seriously discerned what kind of person Qin Jianhe truly was.

After all, thinking too much inevitably leads to suffering and torment.

So in this aspect, he had always lived numbly and superficially.

Qin Jianhe's hardships, fatigue, joy, or achievements...

He did not want to understand, nor did he want to get involved.

To him, Qin Jianhe was perhaps a name, a symbol—unrestrained pleasure and warmth in bed at night, delicious meals at the dining table, a fleeting romance...

But he had never seriously considered what Qin Jianhe would be like without all these things.

Now, however, even without thinking, every detail about Qin Jianhe spontaneously flooded his mind.

Ye Zhiqiu realized that although he had never deliberately thought about these things, they had already been imprinted in his heart.

Under such powerful impact, he could neither refuse nor block it.

Ye Zhiqiu finally began to clearly understand what he had vaguely sensed about Qin Jianhe before.

It was a vast ocean of strength, tolerance, and the utmost gentleness.

He was different from Ye Hongxian.

Ye Hongxian was insecure, fragile, and arrogant, so he refused to yield even a single word to his partner, even when she had just endured great hardship to give birth to his child.

He lacked responsibility and blamed innocent children for his own mistakes.

He was weak, needing constant praise and admiration to feel his own worth.

But Qin Jianhe was like an unfathomable ocean, containing boundless strength.

His perceived darkness and distortion were merely a drop in the vast ocean.

The ocean does not lash out or despise a single drop to assert its power.

Instead, it embraces it, gently kisses it, and takes on all its burdens and filth without reservation.

Ye Zhiqiu felt a slight tremor in his heart.

It was as if something had tightly gripped his heart.

For the first time, he felt a profound regret for giving up Q.L’s invitation for Qi Xin in his previous life.

Even though he knew the past was gone and regret was futile, he couldn't help feeling this way.

He even wondered...

If he hadn’t given up Q.L to help Qi Xin develop Qi Yun, would his fate have been entirely different?

Qin Jianhe has the power to change people's destinies.

If one were to describe him with a weapon, he would undoubtedly be the sharpest blade.

With his status, position, and wealth, even a slight gesture from him could make people wish they had never seen another sunrise.

But he had never treated him as a sword, as a sharp tool for his own revenge.

Qin Jianhe is just Qin Jianhe.

And all the grudges and grievances with those people are entirely his own matters.

He needed to resolve them himself, bit by bit, grinding or tormenting them, to truly give himself and his mother a clear conscience.

Qin Jianhe will not become a sword in his hands.

But Qin Jianhe can indeed let him be himself without worry or restraint.

Never before had Ye Zhiqiu been so certain of this.

...

The hand that was being held had broken out in a thin layer of sweat due to the warmth of the man's palm.

Ye Zhiqiu looked up, about to speak, when the phone beside them rang.

Qin Jianhe did not loosen his grip; instead, the sudden ring made him hold it tighter.

"Hello," he said, making Ye Zhiqiu smile slightly despite the faint amusement in his voice. "Answer the call first."

Perhaps because there was finally a hint of a smile on his face, the light in Qin Jianhe's dark eyes softened slightly.

He lowered his gaze, hiding the faint smile at the corner of his eyes, and answered the call.

"Hello," he said straightforwardly, "What's up?"

"If there's nothing, can't I call you?" Zhang Qunqun replied from the other end.

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe smiled silently and pressed his hand against his forehead.

"But, it seems there is something," Zhang Qunqun laughed, her tone tinged with teasing. "Actually, I was looking for Ye Zhiqiu."

"Why?" Qin Jianhe asked.

"Aren't you two together right now?" The gossip in Zhang Qunqun's voice was almost impossible to hide.

Qin Jianhe: "..."

"But don't misunderstand," Zhang Qunqun laughed. "I'm actually looking for him for a serious matter."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, listening quietly.

"Previously, my assistant arranged a meeting with him to discuss work. He said they could accommodate my schedule, but tomorrow afternoon, I have two hours free. However, his assistant suddenly said they couldn't reach him."

"Really? You two during the day..." Zhang Qunqun said.

"No," Qin Jianhe said calmly, leaning over and gently rubbing Ye Zhiqiu's head as he spoke, his voice softening. "Is the phone off?"

"Huh?" Ye Zhiqiu blinked, then realized what had happened.

When he went to meet Qian Wenhua in the afternoon, he had turned off his phone.

After returning, preoccupied with thoughts, he had forgotten about it.

No wonder he felt it was unusually quiet today.

"What's wrong?" Ye Zhiqiu asked. "Who is it?"

Who would look for him and find Qin Jianhe?

Ye Zhiqiu was slightly surprised.

"Zhang Qunqun," Qin Jianhe said.

"Oh~" Ye Zhiqiu blinked slowly, recalling the time Qin Jianhe and Zhang Qunqun were rumored to be dating in Hong Kong.

And the day he suddenly asked for a photo.

Now, connecting all the information, he suddenly understood that Zhang Qunqun must have known their relationship wasn't ordinary from that day.

He wondered how Qin Jianhe's secrecy could be so poor.

Ye Zhiqiu found this amusing.

"I'll go get my phone." He got up and went into the workspace to find his phone.

But he could still faintly hear Qin Jianhe's voice.

"The designer's philosophy and creative journey, I'll send you a written version later," he said. "No need to meet."

"Hey, Qin Yu, am I going to eat him or something? Why are you protecting him so fiercely?" Zhang Qunqun complained.

"Mm," Qin Jianhe said.

Zhang Qunqun: "..."

After a moment, she admitted, "Okay, you caught me. I'm genuinely curious about what kind of person could catch your eye."

She used to think someone like Qin Jianhe was destined to be single forever.

His personality has always been too cold, and he is both cold and perfect, making most people only dare to admire him from afar, not even daring to approach him.

That's why she was so curious about their meeting in Hong Kong.

As Ye Zhiqiu shone at the fashion week and was brought into the No. 8 Building production by Zhao Yunzhuang, Zhang Qunqun's curiosity about Ye Zhiqiu grew stronger.

Although the magazine shoot in a few days did indeed require her to understand the creative concepts behind the clothing, given her status and the tight schedule, she didn't need to specially squeeze out time to meet the designer.

Usually, it would suffice for both sides' assistants to connect.

Therefore, meeting Ye Zhiqiu was largely driven by curiosity.

"He's not going. I'll have his assistant come over to you," Qin Jianhe said, pausing slightly with a deeper voice, "When there's a chance, I'll formally introduce you."

Hearing this, Zhang Qunqun understood.

Qin Jianhe was serious about Ye Zhiqiu.

"In that case, I'll just wait for your wedding invitation," Zhang Qunqun laughed.

"Sure." Qin Jianhe responded, then hung up the phone.

At the same time, Ye Zhiqiu also received a call from Wang Ru.

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Wang Ru said, without mentioning that she hadn't been able to reach him, "Zhang Qunqun has sent word. She's free tomorrow and wants to meet you at a café near her hotel. Do you have any other arrangements?"

Ye Zhiqiu didn't speak immediately but held the phone and went to the living room.

Covering the microphone, he asked Qin Jianhe, "Should I go?"

"Don't go," Qin Jianhe replied, "Tomorrow is a rest day."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, unable to suppress a smile.

"Have your assistant go instead," Qin Jianhe added, his voice slightly lowered.

"Wang Ru," Ye Zhiqiu said, "I won't be going. Zhang Qunqun has been informed. Later, prepare some materials for me to review and see if anything needs correction or supplementation. You can go in my place tomorrow."

Wang Ru, who adored Zhang Qunqun, became excited at the prospect of meeting her idol on official business.

After hanging up, Ye Zhiqiu put away his phone.

"Qin Jianhe," he asked, "Do you have time tonight?"

"Mm." Qin Jianhe responded softly.

"I want..." Ye Zhiqiu started, but before he could finish, Qin Jianhe took his hand, "Let's go."

"You know where I'm going?" Ye Zhiqiu's eyes widened in surprise.

"To visit your mother," Qin Jianhe looked down, adding, "Wei Jie has already prepared the paper money."

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, silent, and put on the windbreaker Qin Jianhe handed him.

The two went downstairs, with Qin Jianhe driving towards the cemetery.

The night breeze was cool, but Ye Zhiqiu still opened the window, lit a cigarette, and turned to watch the rapidly receding streetlights outside.

The cemetery was in the suburbs, and even without traffic, it took more than an hour to get there.

They parked at the foot of the mountain, and Qin Jianhe opened the trunk to retrieve the prepared paper money.

Two large bags, one each, they walked side by side up the mountain.

Though the cemetery had streetlights, they were sparse, making the crescent moon in the eastern sky particularly bright, casting a cold silver glow.

Silently, they entered the depths of the cemetery and stopped in front of Lan Yue's tombstone.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't speak, only knelt silently and bowed deeply three times to Lan Yue's grave before joining Qin Jianhe in lighting the paper money on the ground.

The air was quiet. Compared to their last visit, the bare trees on either side had sprouted new leaves, and the ground was covered with soft green grass, rustling gently in the wind, accompanied by the chirping of insects like a low symphony.

The firelight illuminated Ye Zhiqiu's face as he burned the paper money with intense focus.

Once the last embers died out, Qin Jianhe poured water over the ashes.

Ye Zhiqiu then stood up, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and carefully wiped Lan Yue's tombstone.

"Mom," he finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "I know everything you've been through."

A moment later, he straightened up, "Rest assured."

The wind was strong on the mountain, and the chill of the night spread endlessly like a tide.

Qin Jianhe took off his windbreaker and draped it over Ye Zhiqiu's shoulders.

Looking at the young woman on the tombstone who bore a striking resemblance to Ye Zhiqiu, he echoed Ye Zhiqiu's words: "Rest assured."

In the night breeze, his voice was especially deep, as if making a solemn promise.

Though the words were the same, their meanings were different.

Ye Zhiqiu's back stiffened slightly upon hearing this.

Then, he turned around and gave an answer to what Qin Jianhe had said at dinner.

"Qin Jianhe," he said, "I don't want you to be my sword."

From the beginning, apart from using the photo to provoke Jiang Nan, he never intended to use Qin Jianhe.

Because he knew that those who do wrong should receive their due, and the innocent should not be harmed.

*

Three days later, after completing her work on the mainland, Zhang Qunqun flew to Hong Kong to join the cast of the previously discussed art film.

At the same time, Building No. 8 officially began filming.

Ye Zhiqiu, besides working and attending classes, occasionally had to go to the film set to make minor adjustments to the actors' costumes based on changes in the plot.

As he handled more costumes and scenes, Li Xun's appreciation for him grew even stronger.

Eventually, Li Xun stopped intervening in the costume design work of the film set and entrusted it entirely to Ye Zhiqiu.

Privately, he also mentioned to Zhao Yunzhuang and Zhou Lian that when the credits rolled, Ye Zhiqiu's name should be listed first.

There was no one else in the industry whose name could precede Li Xun's.

This meant that Li Xun had paved a smooth path for Ye Zhiqiu in the entertainment world.

"That won't do," Zhao Yunzhuang said, taken aback. "If we elevate him too high, there might be rumors outside, which might not be good for Xiao Ye."

"I agree with Mr. Zhao," Zhou Lian added. "There's a term called 'over-praise,' you should know what that means, right?"

"But all the designs were done by this kid. Why should I take credit?" Li Xun said. "Moreover, his talent and ability are evident. He deserves this position. If we hold back out of fear of others' gossip, then he shouldn't be in this circle at all."

Zhao Yunzhuang and Zhou Lian exchanged glances, mumbling their agreement but decided to put the matter aside until the film was completed.

Naturally, they did not mention it to Ye Zhiqiu.

However, when Ye Zhiqiu encountered Zhao Keqi at the boxing gym that evening, Zhao Keqi brought up the matter.

"This is a tremendous opportunity," Zhao Keqi said. "But you should also prepare yourself for being questioned."

At that moment, Ye Zhiqiu was untying his hand wraps and only smiled upon hearing this.

"Don't take it lightly," Zhao Keqi urged.

"Alright, I'll ask Mr. Li later," Ye Zhiqiu replied, carrying his things upstairs to shower.

After changing clothes, he bid farewell to Zhao Keqi and drove home.

Just as he was nearing home, his phone vibrated with a message from Li Ling.

"Soft and small 0: My people captured something today; it's in your email. Take a look."

"Soft and small 0: Recently, someone else has been following him besides us. It's probably Ye Zhixia."

Ye Zhiqiu didn't reply immediately but drove straight home.

Qin Jianhe wasn't around these past few days.

He had an important overseas collaboration to attend to and wouldn't return until a few days later.

In the kitchen, Aunt Fang had prepared meals and kept them warm, the aroma wafting through the air.

Ye Zhiqiu went directly to the study, turned on his computer, and opened the attachment sent by Li Ling.

It was a video.

Despite the distance, the professional camera captured everything clearly.

In the footage, Gao Wenye and Cui Xuan embraced and kissed passionately. Cui Xuan writhed like a snake, hurriedly trying to undo Gao Wenye's buttons.

Before they could go further, Ye Zhixia suddenly appeared.

What followed was a chaotic scene.

Ye Zhixia grabbed Cui Xuan's hair, almost tearing his face apart. Eventually, Gao Wenye stood up, grabbed Ye Zhixia by the hair, and slapped him before things calmed down.

Then, Gao Wenye took Ye Zhixia out and left in a car from the underground garage.

"Soft and small 0: Did you see it? Why can't Ye Zhixia keep his cool? With him watching so closely, when will we get another chance to catch Gao Wenye?"

Ye Zhiqiu reached for the calendar on the desk and checked the date.

Three days ahead, a star marked Qin Jianhe's return.

Ye Zhiqiu's gaze lingered on the star for a moment before slowly moving away.

Considering the timeline, Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia had already recorded two episodes of the Hand in Hand 99 show, with one episode recently aired.

Time was still sufficient.

Although this was the first time Li Ling's people caught Gao Wenye with someone else, Ye Zhiqiu knew it wasn't the first time.

Ye Zhixia had been in a terrible state lately.

He had lost a lot of weight and looked very haggard.

This kind of exhaustion was familiar to Ye Zhiqiu, almost identical to his previous life.

It was a common sight when one's inner turmoil couldn't be truly released or escaped.

Now, what could be tormenting Ye Zhixia?

He had married the person he longed for, with the wedding approaching.

They had participated in a popular variety show, and their careers seemed to be soaring.

Moreover, Qi Xin had shipped the first two batches of goods, and Tao Ruoqing had made a fortune, buying several limited-edition bags and even getting a new car for him.

Everything was improving, and Ye Zhixia should have been glowing with pride.

Yet, he was visibly wasting away.

A few days ago, when he returned home to fetch some books, he happened to meet Ye Zhixia.

Clearly, Ye Zhixia is more than half a year younger than him, yet she looks several years older.

Even Tao Ruoqing is extremely worried, insisting on dragging her to the hospital for a full physical examination.

The examination naturally showed no problems.

Because what she suffers from is a heartache.

If Gao Wenye hadn't cheated during this time, Ye Zhixia shouldn't be in such a haggard and dispirited state.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at the screen where several people were fighting each other.

They didn't look like humans; they resembled wild beasts out of control, fighting over a piece of rotten meat.

Laughable and pitiful.

He curled his lips, his smile cold and mocking, barely concealing its cruelty.

Then, he lowered his head to reply to Li Ling.

"Ye Zhiqiu: No rush."

In relationships, the one who truly gets hurt is always the one who puts their heart on the line.

Ye Zhixia could have had the upper hand, but now, she's being slapped and dragged by her hair by Gao Wenye.

Their relationship deteriorating to this point did not happen just once or twice, or in a day or two.

Since Gao Wenye can already control Ye Zhixia like this, it's not just about cheating anymore; soon, he might even eat right in front of her without any shame.

How many days has it been?

How far has it gone?

Can Ye Zhixia not bear it anymore?

In the previous life, they introduced more than a dozen handsome young men to Qi Xin.

The pain he endured was not measured in days but in years.

Year after year...

"Soft and small 0: Fine, fine, you're really easy-going. I'm the only one in a hurry. Ye Zhiqiu, should we release this video first, let everyone see their true faces?"

"Ye Zhiqiu: Wait a bit longer, get more footage."

"Soft and small 0: ...Understood. I have a scene tomorrow, will you come to the set?"

After closing the video and logging out of the email, Ye Zhiqiu checked the calendar again.

"Ye Zhiqiu: I'll be there."

Li Ling did not reply to the message.

Ye Zhiqiu put down his phone and opened the email he frequently used, pulling up the information Qi Xin had recently sent him.

After the first batch of goods was shipped, Qi Xin tasted significant success.

Plus, the collaboration with Man Qing was now on track, and he had already started selling in the market.

He entrusted the production of the subsequent large batches entirely to Man Qing.

Based on his current investment, Ye Zhiqiu guessed that Tao Ruoqing must have already invested most of her savings.

The initial profit and the confidence Man Qing gave her finally made her greed overcome her caution.

For even greater profits and returns, it won't be long before she invests all her savings.

Soon, Ye Zhiqiu thought.