Chapter 111

Chapter 111

After replying to the message, Qin Jianhe looked up and saw that Ye Zhiqiu had already packed his previous clothes into the backpack.

As if uncomfortable with the constraint of the tie, he tilted his head slightly at this moment, raising his hand to touch the knot around his neck.

Ye Zhiqiu's neck was pale and slender, and when he tilted it back, the line it created was both sexy and beautiful.

Like the most beautiful swan, completely unaware of how alluring he was, his casual demeanor only added to his charm.

Subconsciously, Qin Jianhe's eyes darkened slightly.

"I'll do it." He stepped forward, his voice deep, and took hold of Ye Zhiqiu's wrist.

Ye Zhiqiu stopped, allowing him to hold his wrist quietly.

He looked up, his light brown eyes filled with a gentle smile, as sweet as honey.

Qin Jianhe could never resist such a look from him.

Because it made him want to kiss him uncontrollably, to hold him in his arms, and indulge in actions that would make his eyes turn red and his calm gaze shatter.

Desire churned in his eyes, making them as dark and deep as the sea on a moonless night.

Qin Jianhe raised his hand without showing any change in expression, covering those bright, gentle eyes, feeling Ye Zhiqiu's thick eyelashes brush against his palm.

Soft and ticklish.

However, once those beautiful eyes were covered, what came into view were Ye Zhiqiu's pointed chin, his straight nose, and the faint freckle on its tip, and...

The soft, moist lips that had just been kissed.

It made it even harder to control himself.

Qin Jianhe leaned down, giving a brief taste to those red lips.

"Want to do it?" Ye Zhiqiu, obediently having his eyes covered, opened his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of white teeth, and spoke softly, his words carrying a hint of moisture.

Qin Jianhe's Adam's apple moved involuntarily, and after a while, he replied hoarsely, "No."

Ye Zhiqiu had only planned to change his clothes in the room before leaving, so he didn't have any special requests when booking the room.

Though it was a suite, it was quite cramped.

Qin Jianhe had always been fastidious about cleanliness, especially when he was with Ye Zhiqiu, taking extra care to protect him.

While such a place was stimulating, at this moment, he wanted to take Ye Zhiqiu home more than anything else.

Back to their own home.

In fact, this desire wasn't new.

Even when he felt a slight unease during the negotiation, he had already wanted to take him home.

Ye Zhiqiu might not be aware of how he appeared during the negotiation.

But Qin Jianhe saw it clearly.

He was calm, composed, confident, and professional...

Whether it was the incredibly advanced ideas he proposed or the detailed and professional way he pointed out potential difficulties in future research and development, offering preliminary solutions, everything increased Qin Jianhe's admiration for him.

Yet, beyond the admiration and joy, both he and Nie Fengjun knew that such professionalism shouldn't belong to someone his age.

Moreover, his current studies and profession had nothing to do with the new energy industry.

If there was any connection, it was that the Ye family was also involved in the new energy industry.

However, if the Ye family had such foresight, they wouldn't have remained at the bottom of the new energy industry for years, relying on scraps left by the top players.

Qin Jianhe could hardly remember his personality before the age of seven.

But after the age of seven, after experiencing family upheaval and turbulent times, his mind had always been calm and detached.

One could say he was rational; another might say he was cold and lacked warmth.

It was only after meeting Ye Zhiqiu that his frozen heart slowly thawed, rippling with warmth.

He believed he had always been calm and rational.

But today, sitting at the negotiation table, watching Ye Zhiqiu speak confidently, an odd feeling emerged uncontrollably in his heart.

It was as if Ye Zhiqiu was very far away from him.

Even though they were only separated by a negotiation table.

This feeling wasn't solely due to Ye Zhiqiu's overly advanced ideas and concepts.

Nor was it merely because they were on opposite sides.

More accurately, it was like a sixth sense triggered by his brain's stress response.

He always relied on facts and data to support theories.

But at that moment, his heart still throbbed heavily, followed by a vague sense of unease.

This unease almost made him want to stand up immediately, grab his wrist, and take him home regardless of everything else.

Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes, the pad of his thumb slowly pressing against the small Adam's apple on Ye Zhiqiu's neck, feeling the soft bone roll slightly under his touch.

Then, he applied a bit more force, and the knot at the base of Ye Zhiqiu's neck silently loosened.

The hand in front of him was moved away, and Ye Zhiqiu blinked gently.

However, before he could see what was happening, Qin Jianhe pulled him forward by the tie, causing him to fall unexpectedly into his arms.

A strong arm pressed against his lower back, and Qin Jianhe bowed his head, touching foreheads with him.

"Not doing it," he said again, his voice deep and restrained, "we'll go home later."

A faint woody fragrance lingered around his nose, and Ye Zhiqiu took a quiet, deep breath.

He liked this scent, having loved it deeply since the first time he smelled it.

It gave him a sense of profound peace and happiness.

"Qin Jianhe," he whispered softly, "I still have some things I haven't told you."

Qin Jianhe remained silent, his thick eyelashes concealing the complex emotions in his eyes as he looked at him half-lit, half-shadowed.

"But," Ye Zhiqiu continued, "it's not that I don't want to tell you; I just haven't figured out how to say it yet."

He tilted his face up, his lips landing solemnly on the corner of Qin Jianhe's mouth. "Wait for me a little longer, give me some time."

His tone was gentle, but there was no hint of pleading or begging in his words; he was stating it seriously.

As if discussing something crucial with the most important person in his life.

Strangely, the unease in Qin Jianhe's heart gradually dissipated.

He looked down at him, a faint smile finally appearing in his eyes.

"Mm," he replied in a deep voice, earnestly, "don't rush, I can wait."

He could wait, for as long as needed.

But now...

"But now, let me hug you." His voice was hoarse as he called him softly, "Mr. Ye."

"Why are you calling me Mr. Ye now?" Ye Zhiqiu felt both touched and amused, his heart warming, "weren't you calling me Mr. Ye just now?"

"Mm," Qin Jianhe murmured low, "now I like calling you Mr. Ye."

"Teach me something new tonight?" He chuckled, adding a touch of playfulness, "hmm? Mr. Ye?"

*

In June, the cherry season had already ended domestically.

Jiang Baichuan somehow found a few late-blooming cherry trees, their cherries large and perfect, golden like honey, brilliant as gems, sweet enough to melt your heart.

Considering Qin Xusheng's fondness for cherries, Jiang Baichuan had someone pick all the cherries from the trees, selecting the best boxes to send to Qin Xusheng.

Given that he had recently sought Qin Xusheng's help regarding a collaboration between the Qin family's brand and the Jiang family, he didn't want to appear too pushy, so he sent Jiang Nan instead.

After the drunk driving incident, Jiang Nan's driver's license had been suspended for six months and hadn't been returned yet.

Plus, he was traumatized by his disfigurement, so Jiang Baichuan hired a driver for him, partly to facilitate his travel and partly to keep an eye on him, preventing him from doing anything rash.

The car drove quietly and slowly stopped in front of the Qin family's gate.

Jiang Nan looked up at the plaque with the words "Aegean Sea," involuntarily thinking of Qin Jianhe's nickname.

"Xiaoyu." He repeated it slowly, a rare smile appearing in his eyes.

But soon, the smile faded, and he raised his hand to gently touch the grotesque scar on his forehead.

Previously, his parents had consulted renowned doctors both domestically and abroad, but everyone gave the same response.

The scar could only be lightened but not completely repaired.

Moreover, even then, multiple treatments would be required to achieve a satisfactory result.

In short, the scar would stay with him for life, forever indelible.

This made him feel inferior, angry, desperate, and helpless...

Recently, he had been deliberately applying heavy makeup before going out.

"Young Master." The driver turned around, "We're here."

Jiang Nan nodded, coming back to his senses, and got out of the car.

Opening the trunk, they each picked up a box of cherries.

Since Jiang Baichuan had already contacted Qin Xusheng, the guard opened the gate upon seeing them, and they entered the old residence of the Qin family one after another.

Unlike the last visit, this time the courtyard was lush and green, with cicadas chirping in the branches despite it being early summer.

After walking for a while, the main house came into view.

Feeling a bit hot and worried about his makeup smudging, Jiang Nan led the driver towards a densely wooded area to retouch his makeup before entering.

Walking along a pebble path, Jiang Nan paused, hearing voices ahead, one of which was undoubtedly Qin Xusheng's.

Jiang Nan hesitated for a moment, childhood memories slowly resurfacing. He vaguely remembered that there was a small garden further ahead.

Quickly retouching his makeup, Jiang Nan planned to greet them.

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly heard Qin Xusheng shouting ahead.

"Damn it!" He cursed, and perhaps because of the intense emotional fluctuation, he started coughing urgently after that outburst.

Instinctively, Jiang Nan stopped in his tracks.

"Back then, Q.L didn't decline under your watch, and I could find reasons, saying you were still young and the company was too big to manage. Now, even a brand with such a solid foundation as Manqing has failed under your hands. Do you still have the nerve to say anything?" Qin Xusheng said between coughs.

"There are so many brands in the Qin family. I just want to practice more; there's nothing wrong with that, right?" The other voice belonged to Qin Weian, sounding nonchalant. "Can't all the companies be left with Qin Jianhe? Isn't that a bit unfair? Don't forget, he is your son, and I am also your son."

"He hasn't given me this much trouble," Qin Xusheng said angrily.

"But he hasn't suffered the same severe harm from you as I have!" Qin Weian pressed on. "How about this—don't you owe me?"

Even though he couldn't see the scene, Jiang Nan could imagine Qin Xusheng's face turning red and his heavy breathing.

Because of the green plants blocking the view, Jiang Nan could still hear Qin Xusheng's wheezing as he struggled with phlegm in his throat.

After a while, the sound subsided, and Qin Xusheng spoke again.

"First, go beg your brother. Kneel down, plead, do whatever it takes," he said. "If it doesn't work, I'll talk to him."

"You said it yourself," Qin Weian replied. "Don't blame me for losing face for you then."

There was a moment of silence, and Qin Xusheng clenched his teeth in anger at his son's defiance.

"However, this will be the last time I help you," he said after regaining his composure. "The Qin family cannot fall apart in your hands."

"Hmph," Qin Weian scoffed, unconvinced. "With such a large enterprise and seven or eight subsidiary brands, how come the second one is already the last one? You always say you love me, but deep down, you still favor that ungrateful wolf, don't you?"

"If I didn't care about you..." Qin Xusheng paused, and after a moment, he continued, "If I didn't care about you, why would I keep putting my old face on the line for you with your brother? He's such a cold-hearted person. Do you really think he'd listen to me? Getting even one brand for you is like burning incense for good luck."

He paused, lowering his voice, "When the Jiang family came to me, asking me to put in a good word for them, I didn't have the confidence and found excuses to delay. If you had been more capable and could handle Q.L, would I have to suffer this indignity?"

"..."

Jiang Nan couldn't hear what the father and son said after that.

He felt his blood slowly turn cold.

Silently, he turned back, wanting to tear off the mask and smash everything before leaving.

But since it involved his family's business, he took a deep breath and decided to endure it, planning to discuss it with his father later.

Carrying his two boxes of cherries, feeling the resentment well up inside him as he thought of each one being handpicked by his father, golden like honey and red like pearls, he felt a mix of anger and humiliation.

Never before had he regretted his reckless actions.

If not for his deliberate betrayal of VIA to target Ye Zhiqiu, his family wouldn't be in this dire situation.

Ye Zhiqiu...

Jiang Nan closed his eyes, thinking of the recent upheaval in the new energy market and its impact on the Ye family. A faint glimmer of hope arose within him.

Ye Zhiqiu's background and status were far inferior to Qin Jianhe's, and now the Ye family faced the threat of complete decline.

For Ye Zhiqiu to achieve happiness with Qin Jianhe was a mere dream!

He pursed his lips, tightening his grip on the gift box.

His happiness needed to be fought for. For himself, for the Jiang family, and to prevent his father from being bullied by Qin Xusheng, he could no longer hide in his shell.

He had to take the initiative.

Whatever means, whatever face, they could all go to hell.

He wanted to be with Qin Jianhe.

As long as he could be with Qin Jianhe, he could save countless Jiang families.

Jiang Nan silently delivered the gifts to the main house, where Wang Xin greeted them, smiling and saying that Qin Xusheng was out on business and she could relay any messages.

Knowing the truth, Jiang Nan merely exchanged a few polite words and left with the driver without saying anything else.

But once in the car, he pulled out his phone and dialed Ye Zhiqiu's number with a grim expression.