Chapter 118

Chapter 118

The sun was scorching, and the cicadas chirped incessantly.

The cemetery at high noon in midsummer did not feel desolate; instead, it was quite lively.

Ye Zhiqiu quietly spoke with Lan Yue for a while. Before leaving, he bent down to kneel and respectfully bowed three times to his mother's grave.

Finally, finally, this day had come.

He could now visit his mother without regret or shame, allowing her to rest in peace.

Finally, finally, this day had come.

Those who had done evil, harming others yet feeling proud of themselves, would have a chance to pay the price.

Finally, finally, this day had come.

He was about to truly start anew.

After the last bow, Ye Zhiqiu remained on the ground for a moment before slowly rising.

The sunlight shone into his eyes, causing a brief stinging sensation.

But it was only for an instant.

Because he saw Qin Jianhe.

Qin Jianhe still stood where he had been, watching him quietly.

Willow branches hung low, casting a faint shadow beside him. Under the slightly blinding noonday sun, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't see his expression clearly at first.

However, he soon did.

Because Qin Jianhe quickly raised his hand, brushing aside the willow branches, stepping back into the bright and intense sunlight.

His eyes were dark, and he approached step by step, firmly holding Ye Zhiqiu's hand in front of Lan Yue's tombstone.

"Let's go," Ye Zhiqiu said softly after a moment of surprise.

"Okay." Qin Jianhe responded, bending down to brush off the grass from Ye Zhiqiu's knees.

"I'll take you to eat," he said.

The area around the cemetery was quite desolate, with few people around. Ye Zhiqiu thought Qin Jianhe was going to take him back to the city center for a meal.

But the car drove in the opposite direction, turning several times before stopping on a narrow path after about ten minutes.

At the end of the path stood a two-story wooden building with a rather rustic sign that read "Xunchun Farmhouse Feast."

"A farmhouse feast?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

"Yes," Qin Jianhe replied with a smile. "The local chicken and wild fish here are excellent. Business is good during comfortable weather in spring and autumn, as well as on weekends."

"Have you been here before?" Ye Zhiqiu asked.

"Many times." Meeting his bright eyes, Qin Jianhe's own eyes filled with warmth. "When I was in school, I occasionally came camping with Qitang and Renzhi. Later, I also brought my grandfather and mother here."

As they spoke, they reached the entrance of the wooden building. Ye Zhiqiu chuckled but didn't say anything else.

It being a weekday, the place was quiet and empty, with only faint sounds of guests drinking coming from a private room inside.

A middle-aged woman sat behind the counter, leisurely scrolling through short videos with a smile on her face.

Hearing the commotion, she looked up.

Clearly, she recognized Qin Jianhe.

Seeing him, she exclaimed, "Oh, it's been a while since you've been here!"

"Yes," Qin Jianhe nodded, responding softly, then asked, "Do you have any wild fish today?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the owner said enthusiastically. "If you're here, I'll have them catch some fresh ones if we don't have any."

While speaking, she discreetly glanced at Ye Zhiqiu.

The press conference had just ended, and Ye Zhiqiu's name was still trending.

Even if he didn't have such a memorable face, the frequency with which she had seen his photos and videos that morning would have made her remember him.

However, the Ye Zhiqiu at the press conference was calm and composed, commanding the entire scene effortlessly.

The young man standing next to Qin Jianhe now, however, had a gentle smile, exuding a youthful charm.

If one ignored his exceptional looks, he seemed no different from an ordinary student.

So, although her eyes lit up, she hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Are you... Ye Zhiqiu?"

"Hello," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, greeting her gracefully.

"Oh, oh, what luck!" Seeing that Ye Zhiqiu didn't deny it, the owner became excited and eagerly asked, "Could we take a photo together?"

The owner was a typical appearance enthusiast.

Back when Qin Jianhe and Wang Qitang were still in high school and came camping, the owner had asked them the same question during their first meal here.

However, knowing his sensitivity to cameras due to his childhood experiences, they always declined on his behalf.

Instead, the two of them had taken many photos with the owner over the years.

But this time, Qin Jianhe did not directly refuse; instead, he smiled and looked at Ye Zhiqiu.

It just so happened that Ye Zhiqiu was also turning his head to look at him.

Their gazes briefly collided in the air, and for some reason, the smiles in their eyes grew deeper.

"It's fine," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile to the proprietress.

The proprietress was overjoyed and quickly called over a waiter to take the photo.

The three of them stood in front of the counter, with Ye Zhiqiu in the middle. The waiter positioned himself behind Qin Jianhe, who blocked a corner, framing the "Chun Nong Family Feast" sign. He prompted, "Say cheese."

In the lens, the expressions of all three softened.

The proprietress immediately made a peace sign and exclaimed, "Cheese."

Although Ye Zhiqiu did not speak, his beautiful eyes curved into a smile.

Only Qin Jianhe, despite the faint smile in his eyes, clearly seemed to be in a good mood.

With a click, the three smiling faces were captured in the frame.

Although the restaurant was in a remote location, the owner couple was skilled at marketing.

Apart from posting videos on various short video platforms showcasing fresh ingredients from harvest to finished dishes, they often shared photos of customers.

Of course, these mostly featured handsome men and beautiful women, which drew attention.

Considering Ye Zhiqiu did not want their relationship to be public, Qin Jianhe quietly instructed the proprietress not to expose the photo yet.

Even though, given Qin Jianhe and Ye Zhiqiu's current popularity, this photo would definitely go viral if posted.

The proprietress nodded with a smile.

The two finally went upstairs to a private room. The proprietress took the menu and personally placed their order.

Summer was the perfect season for wild vegetables and mountain bamboo shoots. They leaned their heads together to order wild vegetable dumplings and mountain bamboo shoot chicken soup.

Fresh river fish was best steamed, but considering Ye Zhiqiu's preference for spicy food, they decided to prepare it in two ways.

Half would be steamed, and half would be the proprietor’s specialty, spicy fish.

After the proprietress left, the private room finally quieted down.

Qin Jianhe then looked at Ye Zhiqiu with a faint smile. "What were you laughing about just now?"

"Hmm?" Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily taken aback by the question.

"Just now," Qin Jianhe prompted, "before we came in."

"Oh~"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu remembered.

"I was just curious that you would come out camping," he said, smiling again. "Also, you're very filial; your family must be really happy."

Though everyone has their misfortunes, in reality, Qin Jianhe was actually luckier than him.

At least he had a family willing to care for him.

But he had nothing.

This thought had barely surfaced when Qin Jianhe smiled slightly.

"That is my family," he said softly, looking at Ye Zhiqiu with deep, unfathomable eyes, making Ye Zhiqiu's heart skip a beat.

"Ye Zhiqiu," Qin Jianhe called his name, his voice slow but compelling, "would you be willing to become my family?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu's hand slipped, almost dropping his cup.

He blinked rapidly, his heartbeat quickening, unsure if Qin Jianhe was confessing to him.

But...

His original plan was to confess first.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, feeling the strange sensation of his heart pounding, making his chest tingle and ache. He couldn't utter a word.

Thinking of the gift box already prepared in the trunk, he felt at a loss, unsure how to react.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the table corner. Ye Zhiqiu glanced down and saw Qi Xin's name.

From the press conference to the way back to the Ye residence, he had silenced his phone.

Only when the proprietress took the photo and needed to transfer it via Bluetooth did he notice the numerous unread messages and missed calls, prompting him to switch the phone back to vibrate.

In this short period, Qi Xin had called nearly twenty times.

Feeling somewhat flustered, Ye Zhiqiu's thick eyelashes fluttered rapidly. "I... should I take this call?"

"Mm," Qin Jianhe responded, noticing Ye Zhiqiu holding the phone tightly and calling his name again, "Ye Zhiqiu?"

"Hmm?" Ye Zhiqiu looked at him, his clear eyes visibly tense.

Qin Jianhe lowered his gaze, his lips curling slightly.

"It's okay," he said, "go at your own pace."

Ye Zhiqiu: "...”

His hand tightened around the phone, and a thin layer of sweat formed in Ye Zhiqiu's palm.

He gritted his teeth, suppressing the heat in his eyes.

"Answer the call." Seeing that he hadn't moved for a while, Qin Jianhe smiled and reminded him, nudging his foot gently with his own under the table.

Intimate and playful.

Ye Zhiqiu pursed his lips, enduring the mixed emotions in his heart, and answered the call.

"Xiao Qiu." Qi Xin was overjoyed when he finally picked up.

Although he had been convincing himself that Ye Zhiqiu must be very busy after the press conference,

still, Qi Xin felt particularly uneasy when Ye Zhiqiu didn't answer his calls.

Especially since Tao Ruoqing had just contacted him that morning.

For some reason, even though she had promised to give him a month, today she suddenly changed her mind and demanded that he return the money to her account within three days.

She was even willing to forego the profit, asking only for the principal.

Qi Xin was heavily in debt; where would he find the money?

Fortunately, Ye Zhiqiu had it.

Ye Zhiqiu had always helped him, so naturally, he assumed this time would be no different.

He resented Tao Ruoqing's change of heart and immediately agreed.

Moreover, Qi Ruichang, fearing the deal might slip away, kept urging him to call Ye Zhiqiu.

Even though he was afraid Ye Zhiqiu might be unhappy,

his own anxiety, coupled with Qi Ruichang's urging, made Qi Xin unable to control himself and make several calls.

"I thought you were busy. I didn't mean to disturb you," Qi Xin asked.

"What do you think?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, his tone half-amused, half-irritated. "You thought I was busy and called me nearly twenty times?"

"I..." Qi Xin was at a loss, realizing how many calls he had made. "I was just shocked and excited by the news."

"Xiao Qiu," he said, trying to sound aggrieved, "why didn't you tell me earlier that you're the president of Yunkai? If others found out, wouldn't they laugh at me?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu sneered in disdain.

In his previous life, he had indeed been controlled, never realizing how foolish Qi Xin could be.

"Why should I tell you who I am or what my identity is?" he asked.

The food had arrived, and Qin Jianhe poured him a small bowl of chicken soup, placing it in front of him. The rich white broth smelled delicious, and Ye Zhiqiu instinctively met Qin Jianhe's gaze, feeling his unease dissipate bit by bit.

On the other end of the line, Qi Xin was stunned for a moment.

As if not understanding, he murmured, "What?"

Ye Zhiqiu remained silent.

Slowly, Qi Xin realized he hadn't misheard or misunderstood Ye Zhiqiu's words.

His face turned pale.

Without hope, it would have been fine, but throughout the morning, from the revelation of Ye Zhiqiu's identity at the press conference to the moment he finally answered the call, his and Qi Ruichang's hopes had grown exponentially...

Like a snowball, unstoppable.

Qi Xin's heart grew cold, slowly sinking.

"But," he stammered, "we... we are lovers, right?"

Yes, they were lovers, weren't they?

After all, if it weren't for Ye Zhixia and Gao Wenye, he would have proposed to Ye Zhiqiu, to the Ye family long ago.

He loved Ye Zhiqiu so much, despite his unpredictable temper and his arrogance. He could tolerate and accept everything about him...

Even knowing his flaws, he still couldn't imagine anyone else.

How could they not be lovers?

The change in Qi Xin's expression and tone did not escape Qi Ruichang's notice.

Though he couldn't hear what Ye Zhiqiu was saying, his face also darkened.

He poked Qi Xin's side, signaling him to put the call on speaker.

No matter how powerful Ye Zhiqiu was, he was only twenty years old. In terms of worldly wisdom and verbal traps, he didn't believe their combined efforts couldn't handle him.

But Qi Xin's mind was already in chaos, completely missing his father's hint.

He gripped the phone tightly, his expression tense and almost pitiful.

"Lovers?" Ye Zhiqiu's voice was sharp and mocking. "When did I ever confirm our relationship? Have we held hands? Kissed? Hugged...?"

A series of questions came through the receiver, cold and ruthless, almost completely breaking Qi Xin.

Only now did Qi Xin realize that indeed, he and Ye Zhiqiu had never done any of the things couples typically do.

The one time he couldn't help but want to kiss him, Ye Zhiqiu mercilessly slapped his hand away.

He cared too much and was too afraid of Ye Zhiqiu, so he never dared to cross the line.

But...

He wasn't sure when it started or what incident triggered it, but he had become firmly and naturally convinced that he and Ye Zhiqiu were in a romantic relationship.

With cold sweat drenching his temples, Qi Xin closed his eyes and recalled the scene of their first meeting.

He finally remembered...

He had approached Ye Zhiqiu with malice, intending to destroy him.

His heart raced wildly, his mind in chaos. After a long while, Qi Xin murmured,

"But I like you, Xiao Qiu."

On the other end came another laugh, Ye Zhiqiu's tone icy.

"Who says because you like me, I have to like you back?"

As if he had run out of patience, he said coldly, "Go find your white moonlight, Jiang Nan. I need to eat; I don't have time for these meaningless words."

It felt like a thunderclap exploding overhead, shaking the earth.

Qi Xin's heart skipped a beat, panic and fear overwhelming him.

"No, Xiao Qiu, listen to me..." He frantically tried to explain.

However, Ye Zhiqiu didn't listen, and the call was cut off ruthlessly.

Qi Xin clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, standing there stiffly like a statue for a while.

Finally, anger slowly ignited in his eyes.

Almost no one knew about his past feelings for Jiang Nan, let alone now, when he had long since lost any affection for him.

How could Ye Zhiqiu possibly know such a private matter?

Unless Jiang Nan had told Ye Zhiqiu.

Recalling the past, from the moment he met Jiang Nan, Jiang Nan always liked to be the center of attention, enjoying all eyes on him.

Anyone who was more outstanding or popular than him would inevitably face some bad luck and be left to fend for themselves.

Jiang Nan had always been like this, and Qi Xin knew it deep down.

But his past affection had blinded him, adding a beautiful filter to all of Jiang Nan's actions.

That's why he had been blind and foolish.

Now, once that affection vanished, he found Jiang Nan utterly repulsive.

It must be him!

He must have seen that Qi Xin no longer liked him and had turned to pursue Ye Zhiqiu, so he meddled and caused trouble.

Never before had he hated someone so intensely. In an instant, Qi Xin despised Jiang Nan to the utmost.

Ignoring Qi Ruichang's anxious inquiries, he immediately grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.

He was going to confront Jiang Nan.

To see if he would dare to meddle again.

But before he could take a step, Qi Ruichang reached out and stopped him.

"Whatever it is, hold back," Qi Ruichang said sternly. "In this state, how can you go out?"

Not only that, but driving in this condition was simply not safe.

"Have you forgotten the lesson?" Qi Ruichang asked. "Jiang Nan just had a car accident recently."

Mentioning Jiang Nan only made Qi Xin explode even more.

"He's sowing discord between me and Xiao Qiu," he growled through gritted teeth. "I'm going to settle things with him."

Hearing this, Qi Ruichang tightened his grip.

From the earlier situation, Qi Xin and Ye Zhiqiu's relationship seemed unstable.

In this state, Jiang Nan was their family's only hope, and Qi Ruichang wouldn't allow Qi Xin to ruin everything.

"No," Qi Ruichang said firmly. "At this moment, not only can you not offend Jiang Nan, but you must also appease him and keep him happy."

"For the sake of our family," Qi Ruichang added, "and for your future."

*

After lunch, it was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon.

Ye Zhiqiu held a cool glass of juice as he followed Qin Jianhe to the car.

Buckling his seatbelt, Qin Jianhe set the navigation to Ye Zhiqiu's residence.

"You've been busy all day; go home early and rest," he said.

"What about you?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, biting the straw.

"I have a meeting this afternoon and a social engagement tonight," Qin Jianhe started the car, speaking gently. "Don't wait up for me. I'll have Aunt Fang come over to prepare dinner for you."

"I want to have the salty porridge from the porridge shop," Ye Zhiqiu said. "Today, I won’t have Aunt Fang come over. I’ll order takeout myself."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe smiled slightly.

"Alright," he said.

The car continued on its journey and arrived at the entrance of the residential area around three o'clock.

From a distance, Ye Zhiqiu saw Qin Jianhe’s car parked in the spot across from the gate.

It was Uncle Li who had come to pick up Qin Jianhe for work.

"I can drive in myself," Ye Zhiqiu told Qin Jianhe to stop the car.

With about ten minutes left before the afternoon meeting, Qin Jianhe nodded upon hearing this.

He raised his hand to touch Ye Zhiqiu’s cheek. "Rest well. I’ll try to come back early tonight."

"What time?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, rubbing his soft cheek against Qin Jianhe’s palm.

Instinctively, a smile crept into Qin Jianhe’s eyes. "Nine o'clock? Or maybe ten?"

"Nine o'clock," Ye Zhiqiu said.

Qin Jianhe looked at him, the smile in his eyes deepening.

"Alright," he nodded.

They parted ways, and Ye Zhiqiu watched as Qin Jianhe got into his own car, which soon merged into the traffic.

Then, he started his own car.

This time, however, he did not drive into the residential area but turned directly towards the neighboring mall.

Time ticked by, and night slowly fell.

Qin Jianhe ended his engagement early and hurried back home.

As he pressed the code to unlock the door, he glanced at the time under the dim hallway light.

It was exactly nine o'clock.

The password was so familiar that he wouldn’t have made a mistake even without looking.

When he lifted his gaze, the door had already silently opened.

However, the room was dark.

The motion-sensor light outside went off, plunging the world into complete darkness.

Thinking Ye Zhiqiu might be asleep, Qin Jianhe moved quietly.

He stepped inside, closing the door gently behind him.

Just as he was about to reach for the switch in the living room, a warm and soft body suddenly nestled into his arms.

The familiar scent of Ye Zhiqiu’s shower gel lingered faintly.

Qin Jianhe didn’t move. In the darkness, he raised his hand to hook around the waist of the person in his arms and leaned down to kiss them.

Even though they couldn’t see anything, they were so familiar with each other that their lips quickly entwined, kissing passionately in the dark.

Silence filled the room, broken only by their quick, muffled breaths. Qin Jianhe raised his hand to unbutton Ye Zhiqiu’s shirt.

His palms were hot, and years of combat training had left a thin layer of calluses on his fingertips. When they touched the warm, smooth skin, it felt like sparks ignited instantly.

Ye Zhiqiu let out a soft breath and grabbed his wrist. "Wait."

"Hmm?" Qin Jianhe’s voice was slightly hoarse as he sought Ye Zhiqiu’s lips, asking, "Wait for what?"

"I..." Ye Zhiqiu was unexpectedly bitten, and it took him a moment to continue. "I have something to tell you."

Qin Jianhe paused, releasing his lips, and held his waist, kissing his cheek.

Ye Zhiqiu found it amusing and couldn’t help but softly laugh.

Was this guy planning to let him talk like this?

He tilted his face upward, laughing while fumbling to re-button his shirt.

Then, he reached for Qin Jianhe’s wrist and led him toward the balcony.

After taking a few steps, still some distance from the balcony, he accidentally triggered a switch, and the lights on the balcony suddenly came on.

The electric curtains slowly opened, revealing large floor-to-ceiling windows adorned with circles of colorful lights, each forming a brilliant heart.

At that moment, they were continuously changing colors, lighting up one after another.

And with the light, Qin Jianhe immediately noticed two wine glasses placed side by side on the small table by the window.

"Is today an important day?" His voice was still hoarse but carried a hint of confusion.

"Mm," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, tilting his head to look up at him. "It’s a very, very important day."

Hearing this, Qin Jianhe raised his hand to his forehead.

He thought for a moment, then gently shook his head, his tone full of apology. "I seem to have forgotten."

"Ye Zhiqiu." He called his name, reaching out to pull Ye Zhiqiu into his embrace, his arm wrapping tightly around his slender waist, holding him close.

On a day that Ye Zhiqiu held so dear, he had no recollection of it and even went out for socializing in the evening...

It was truly unforgivable.

Qin Jianhe felt a wave of regret.

He had always possessed an air of nobility, and because he was usually too composed, he often came across as overly rational and indifferent, creating a sense of distance.

But at this moment, those regal phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, his thin lips pressed together in apology, and his dark eyes reflected the dazzling colors of the flickering lights...

All Ye Zhiqiu could feel was that the person holding him so tightly was burning hot.

"Qin Jianhe." He couldn't help but tiptoe to kiss him, surrendering before he could even express his longing.

"Today," he said, emphasizing each word, "is the day I confessed my love to you."