Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Fists slammed into the punching bag, the dull thuds echoing one after another down the corridor.

Ye Zhiqiu's lips were tightly pressed together, his punches both fierce and composed.

After Ye Zheng's reminder yesterday, he didn't return Ye Hongxian's call until late in the evening, when Ye Hongxian called again.

As expected, the scolding began immediately, with Ye Hongxian berating him for poor choice in friends, almost tarnishing the entire Ye family's reputation.

There wouldn't be many more opportunities for Ye Hongxian to scold him like this, so Ye Zhiqiu did not argue, only listening with a faint, nonchalant smile.

Once the lecture was over, Ye Hongxian turned to the main topic.

He asked him to come home today after work to help Tao Ruoqing check if there were any oversights or additional needs in the preparations for Ye Zhixia's wedding.

Ye Zhixia's wedding date had been set long ago, and Tao Ruoqing had hired a professional wedding planning company to handle everything. How could there possibly be any mistakes?

Even if there were any issues, how could a novice like him spot something that professionals couldn't?

Moreover, given Ye Hongxian's usual style, it was unlikely that he would suddenly care about Ye Zhixia's wedding.

More likely, it was Tao Ruoqing who wanted him to come back.

With the days getting longer, it still looked early when he left work, so Ye Zhiqiu decided to stick to his plan and come to practice boxing.

He hadn't scheduled a private lesson with Zhou Hong today, just coming for some free training.

Sweat gradually blurred his vision, soaking his white training clothes, but Ye Zhiqiu didn't stop.

If at first, the training was merely for self-defense, now he truly loved the sport.

His training intensity was never very high; based on his needs and characteristics, Zhou Hong tailored a plan focusing more on technique.

But occasionally, when Ye Zhiqiu came alone, he would do some strength training.

The timer was set for half an hour, which passed quickly.

When the alarm rang from his backpack, Ye Zhiqiu gradually slowed down, eventually stopping to catch his breath.

Sweat trickled down his pale neck, finally disappearing into his collar.

Ye Zhiqiu slowly adjusted his breathing, then removed his protective gear, picked up his backpack, and went upstairs to shower.

His wet black hair was casually pushed back, making his face appear smaller and paler, exuding a youthful charm.

Yet, due to his experiences and consistent training, his eyes were unusually calm and composed, creating a strikingly contradictory beauty.

At this moment, Ye Zhiqiu drew countless glances.

But he paid no attention, choosing an empty shower stall and entering.

Just as he locked the door, Tao Ruoqing's call came in.

Ye Zhiqiu didn't answer right away. He quickly showered, dried his hair halfway, and calmly changed his clothes in front of the mirror.

White shirt, black pants, the shirt tucked loosely into his waist, accentuating his slender figure and long legs.

Then, leaning against the sink, he took out his phone and returned Tao Ruoqing's call.

"Just finished up," he said, "getting ready to leave."

"Can you be here in half an hour?" Tao Ruoqing asked. "I had Aunt Zhao prepare your favorite chicken soup. It will be ready in another half hour."

Ye Zhiqiu glanced at the time.

"Not sure," he replied. "I'll try."

After hanging up, Ye Zhiqiu opened his messaging app.

Qin Jianhe had sent him a message, no text, just a photo.

In the photo, they were playing chess.

On one side was Qin Jianhe.

He sat elegantly, holding a black piece, smiling slightly as he looked towards the camera.

On the other side was an elderly man with gray hair and wrinkles around his eyes, giving him a gentle appearance.

Unaware of the camera, the old man was focused on the chessboard.

It was Qin Jianhe's grandfather, Mr. Nie Yunsong, founder of Ru Yi Group.

Without a doubt, the person holding the phone outside the frame was Nie Fengjun.

Ye Zhiqiu looked quietly for a moment, and before he realized it, a warm smile spread across his face.

Lips slightly pursed, he typed a reply.

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: You're that fast?"

Knowing he was going back to the Ye family tonight, Qin Jianhe had arranged to meet Nie Fengjun to visit Nie Yunsong at the nursing home.

They planned to pick him up later at the intersection near the Ye residence.

Qin Jianhe's reply came quickly.

"QIN: Yeah."

"QIN: Have you set off yet?"

"Yezhiqiu: Just about to leave."

After replying, he typed another line with a smile.

"Yezhiqiu: I'm leaving now."

Then, he locked his phone and went downstairs with his backpack.

The sunset had dyed the evening sky a deep crimson, and when Ye Zhiqiu arrived at the Ye residence, the last of the red had just faded, giving way to the initial descent of dusk.

Everyone in the Ye family was there.

Perhaps because it was a joyous occasion, even though he arrived later than expected, Ye Hongxian only glared at him without any verbal reprimand.

Tao Ruoqing immediately stood up with a smile, "We were just saying that we'd call you if you didn't show up soon."

Her expression and actions seemed no different from usual at first glance.

But perhaps due to Ye Zhiqiu's constant attention and observation, he could see the fatigue in her eyes right away.

He smiled but said nothing, his gaze subtly sweeping over Ye Zhixia.

Ye Zhixia's makeup was heavy, making her look less haggard than she did during their last meeting.

However, the weariness in her eyes was evident, adding a sense of weariness to her appearance.

Their gazes met briefly in the air, and despite her efforts to hide it, Ye Zhixia's face visibly darkened.

Compared to his despondency, Ye Zhiqiu seemed incredibly bright, so bright that it was almost irritating.

It was as if the entire house lit up several degrees brighter with his presence.

Especially the gentle smile on his face made him seem softer than before.

Soft wasn't quite the right word; rather, it was more like...

Ye Zhixia pondered for a while before finding a fitting description.

It was the kind of certainty and composure that comes from inner richness and stability.

He was already handsome, and this subtle aura made him even more captivating.

Ye Zhixia clenched her fists tightly, feeling an intense surge of pain in her heart.

She wasn't unattractive, but compared to Ye Zhiqiu, she fell far short.

Growing up, she had always lived under the shadow of Ye Zhiqiu's beauty, which made her particularly sensitive.

Even her makeup artist was not provided by the company but was someone she hired herself, a well-known professional in the industry.

The goal was to gain some advantage in appearance.

But now, not only had she failed to gain any ground, the gap between her and Ye Zhiqiu had widened even further.

If an outsider saw them together, they would undoubtedly think that Ye Zhiqiu was the one with good fortune.

Ye Zhixia lowered her eyes, feeling the pain in her palms, and remained silent.

"Scared by what happened these past two days, weren't you?" Ye Zheng turned his head and handed a cup of water to Ye Zhiqiu.

"A bit scared," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "but it's okay."

"Don't associate with that Tang kid anymore." Ye Hongxian frowned.

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu nodded obediently, "after all this, how could I dare to see him again?"

"I never thought that kid had such thick skin," Ye Hongxian muttered, "bad luck."

Ye Zhiqiu didn't say anything, only smiling faintly.

Tang Yue's resilience was indeed extraordinary.

During lunch break, Lin Xuehua told him that Tang Yue had gone to school as if nothing had happened today.

Lin Xuehua was shocked when she mentioned this.

But Ye Zhiqiu knew that Tang Yue still held out hope for Tao Ruoqing and her son or people like Gao Wenye.

However, regardless of whether these people were reliable, Tang Yue's reputation within the circle was already ruined.

There was no way he could cause any more trouble.

Of course, Ye Zhiqiu wouldn't give him the chance to do so either.

"Do you know," Lin Xuehua's voice echoed in his ears, "the school is reinforcing and raising the rooftop railings? People used to lean there to enjoy the breeze and view, but now everyone complains that it will be like looking through prison bars. Bad luck."

Also the word "bad luck."

Ye Zhiqiu raised his hand, his slender white fingers subtly touching his temple.

When he looked up again, Aunt Zhao was already bringing dishes to the dining table.

"Oh, young master," Aunt Zhao was busy but kept talking, "you're finally back; everyone has missed you."

"Who missed me?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Didn't Aunt Zhao miss you?" Ye Zheng interjected, "she started preparing your favorite dishes early this morning."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu's handsome brows curved upward.

Indeed, there were many dishes on the table that he usually enjoyed.

Having gone to the film set in the morning, worked for most of the afternoon, and exercised at the boxing gym for over half an hour, the aroma of the food now made Ye Zhiqiu feel quite hungry.

He ate quite a bit, even having two small bowls of soup.

"I knew it," Aunt Zhao said, seeing him enjoy his meal, interpreting it for herself, "Young Master still likes my cooking."

"Of course," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "I've been eating your cooking since I was little; how could I not like it?"

"Since you like it, stay overnight tonight," Tao Ruoqing said, "Let Aunt Zhao make you some soup tomorrow morning."

"No, thank you," Ye Zhiqiu said, holding the soup bowl without lifting his eyes, "I still have work to do tonight."

"The whole family isn't as busy as you," hearing this, Ye Hongxian immediately became displeased.

"I really am busy," Ye Zhiqiu explained, "Old Mr. Li has had some health issues recently. There's a new historical drama looking for him to design costumes, and he recommended me to the team, so I need to polish the script."

"Just you, can you handle it?" Hearing this, Ye Zhixia finally spoke.

"Your grades..." He sneered slightly.

It wasn't unreasonable for Ye Zhixia to look down on him.

Ye Zhiqiu's academic performance had indeed been poor, always dragging the class down.

So he didn't get angry, just smiled, "My history is indeed not great. Although I've learned a bit about the accessories and attire of different dynasties, I'm far from being able to create a proper costume design. So I've been collecting materials and studying the cultures of various dynasties. All the books, resources, and scripts are at home, so I need to go back and study later."

Hearing this, Ye Hongxian's expression finally softened.

"When things settle down," Ye Zhiqiu continued, "after graduation, when the academic pressure eases, I'll naturally have more time to come back and stay for a day or two occasionally."

His smile was gentle and obedient, but deep down, he felt nothing but coldness.

In the future, he would indeed come back to stay overnight occasionally.

But by then, these people in front of him probably wouldn't be able to remain in this mansion, right?

After finishing the last sip of soup, Ye Zhiqiu quietly put down his utensils.

"About Ye Zhixia's wedding," he smiled at Ye Hongxian, asking uncertainly, "Do you still need my opinion?"

Hearing this, Ye Hongxian turned to look at Tao Ruoqing.

"That's right," Tao Ruoqing smiled, "I've noticed Qi Xin's career is going well lately, so I thought about inviting him to Xia Xia's wedding..."

She glanced at Ye Hongxian with a smile, "You saw yesterday how fast he's developing, right?"

Ye Hongxian frowned but said nothing.

"What I mean is, Qi Xin likes Xiao Qiu so much, and Xiao Qiu isn't entirely indifferent to him. Why not invite him during Xia Xia's wedding so everyone can get to know each other better?" She looked at Ye Hongxian again, "What do you think?"

Ye Hongxian hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ye Zhiqiu.

Seeing that Ye Zhiqiu hadn't managed to connect with Qin Jianhe yet, and considering Qi Xin's recent success...

He paused and asked, "Do you still have feelings for Qi Xin?"

"It's okay," mentioning Qi Xin, Ye Zhiqiu's brows curved slightly, "I think he's pretty good."

"One after another," Ye Hongxian said, "neither of them gives me peace of mind."

One Ye Zhixia, somehow infatuated with Gao Wenye.

And Ye Zhiqiu, who has feelings for Qi Xin.

Honestly, their backgrounds alone are unimpressive, let alone their family status.

However, both of them have started making progress in their careers.

For Ye Hongxian, they were truly like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, yet a waste to discard.

"Fine," he said, turning to Tao Ruoqing, "do as you see fit."

This meant he agreed.

Hearing this, Ye Zhixia quickly glanced at Ye Zhiqiu.

In those extremely suppressed eyes, malice and relief flashed together and vanished.

Finally...

Ye Zhiqiu was finally going to fall into hell like him.

With him as company, he no longer found life unbearable.

Rubbing the injured spot on his palm, Ye Zhixia finally relaxed.

After finishing the discussion, Ye Zhiqiu stood up, "I'll go upstairs to pack some clothes."

Since he was already back, he could also pack some summer clothes to take with him.

Also, the matching outfits he bought with Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun could be packed together.

"Do you need help?" Ye Zheng asked.

"No, thanks," Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him.

The light from above poured down, making his eyes sparkle like they held stars. "Not much, it'll be quick."

Ye Zhiqiu went upstairs, while Ye Hongxian wiped his mouth, seemingly preparing to leave again. Ye Zhixia glanced at him before turning and heading back to her bedroom.

The first floor instantly became quiet, leaving only Tao Ruoqing and Ye Zheng, mother and son.

"Mom," Ye Zheng suddenly said, "I have a few things I want to talk to you about."

"What is it?" Tao Ruoqing looked at him.

As her first child, over the years, Ye Zheng had never caused her any worry.

He was not only Tao Ruoqing's most trustworthy child but had also become her psychological support.

"Let's talk in your room," Ye Zheng said.

Tao Ruoqing didn't say anything, leading the way upstairs, with Ye Zheng following closely behind. The two of them entered the small parlor on the second floor, one after the other.

The door to the parlor remained closed, and when Ye Zhiqiu finished packing his things and came downstairs, the first floor was empty and very quiet.

Without pausing, he went out, opened the trunk, and placed his belongings inside.

Just as he was about to get into the car, the front door suddenly opened, and Ye Zheng walked out.

Ye Zhiqiu glanced behind him.

He couldn't see any sign of Tao Ruoqing.

This was somewhat inconsistent with Tao Ruoqing's long-maintained "good stepmother" image.

In the past, every time he left, she would always follow him, giving him earnest instructions, without fail.

Now, there wasn't even a glimpse of her...

Ye Zhiqiu pondered slightly.

Although he didn't know what had happened in the short span of less than half an hour, he could be certain that something unexpected must have occurred.

Tao Ruoqing wasn't unwilling to come down to see him off; rather, she couldn't come down now.

Because if she did, he would see the uncontrollable emotional fluctuations on her face.

What had happened?

What could make someone like Tao Ruoqing, who had turned her face into a mask, unable to control her emotions and expressions?

Ye Zhiqiu felt a bit puzzled.

However, Ye Zheng approached quickly, reaching him in large strides.

Ye Zhiqiu had to pull his thoughts back, looking up and smiling slightly at Ye Zheng. "Brother, I'm going back now."

"I'll drive you," Ye Zheng said.

"No need," Ye Zhiqiu replied. "I've walked this road countless times, no need to..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

Under the bright moonlight, he saw the finger marks on Ye Zheng's face.

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Among the three brothers, Ye Zheng had always been the most obedient.

Both Tao Ruoqing and Ye Hongxian had always trusted him completely.

In his memory, both he and Ye Zhixia had been beaten, but Ye Zheng had never been.

But now...

A strange feeling surged in Ye Zhiqiu's heart, causing him to frown subconsciously.

Then, he shifted his gaze without showing any emotion, bent down, and got into the car.

Waving at Ye Zheng one last time, Ye Zhiqiu skillfully backed up, turned around, and quickly drove out of the Ye family's gate.

The moonlight bathed the small path in front of the house, and he focused solely on driving forward.

At the end of the road lay the meeting spot where he and Qin Jianhe had agreed to meet.

*

After dinner, he had accompanied the old man for a walk in the courtyard and left the sanatorium around seven o'clock.

By now, he had been waiting here for nearly half an hour.

Qin Jianhe's work was usually busy, and most of the time, even in the car, he wouldn't idle, often needing to work on his tablet.

But today, he simply leaned back in his seat, quietly watching the other end of the road.

Cars passed by one after another, but none were Ye Zhiqiu's.

"Young Master, you can go ahead and do your work," Uncle Li smiled, seeing him staring intently in the other direction. "I'll keep an eye out for Young Master Ye."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe seemed to smile slightly, then calmly replied after a moment, "No need."

Time ticked by, and summer insects chirped softly in the corners.

The night breeze blew, turning the small road into a shimmering silver river under the moonlight, seemingly endless.

Finally, another car approached from afar, and its headlights flashed twice when it was still some distance away.

Like a call, like a leap of joy.

Almost instantly, in the rearview mirror, a smile lit up Qin Jianhe’s dark eyes.

He stooped to exit the vehicle, observing as it accelerated towards him, akin to an eager bird hastening home.