Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Although the matter was not yet settled, based on Ye Zhiqiu's understanding of Qi Ruichang, he would never let the Jiang family off during such a difficult time for the Qi family. He would certainly take advantage of the situation to extract a heavy toll from them.

As for the Jiang family...

From the time Qin Xusheng and Nie Fengjun were embroiled in their divorce, Jiang Baichuan had sided with Qin Xusheng for business reasons, showing that he was very adept at weighing the pros and cons of any situation.

Now, with the matter exposed to the public and involving Qin Jianhe,

for the sake of the family business and honor, as well as to protect Jiang Nan from living under the scrutiny and judgment of the outside world as much as possible...

The most likely choice for the Jiang family would be to make the best of the situation and arrange a marriage between Jiang Nan and Qi Xin.

Not only that, but this needed to happen as quickly as possible.

And as long as there was something to gain, the Qi family, which was currently in dire straits, would almost certainly not refuse.

As for the remaining one or two percent, the decision would lie with Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu's current strength and influence far exceeded that of the Jiang family.

Before the matter between the Qi and Jiang families was officially announced, Qi Xin or Qi Ruichang would inevitably come to confirm his stance.

Given Qi Ruichang's usual tendency to curry favor with those above him and belittle those below, he would only truly accept the proposed marriage if he gave up hope here.

Unfortunately, in the previous life, Qi Ruichang had favored Jiang Nan and belittled Ye Zhiqiu.

This time, it was the opposite.

As for what Qi Xin and Jiang Nan, the two parties involved, thought, in the face of significant interests, it didn't really matter at all.

After all, an unhappy marriage was far less damaging than the ugly truths behind the matter.

Moreover, for people of Jiang Nan and Qi Xin's backgrounds, most marriages were not necessarily free.

Seven or eight out of ten were sacrifices made for the family business.

In this sense, this arrangement was truly a very profitable deal.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ye Zhiqiu's lips.

Compared to pursuing legal action, Ye Zhiqiu preferred this seemingly "profitable" path.

After all, only those who had truly experienced it knew that the mental and emotional torment was the harshest punishment.

While they could still get divorced after getting married, to minimize the impact of the matter, they would have to endure at least ten years in a marriage filled with resentment.

Ten years?

Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

It seemed that fate was fair after all.

Time was fleeting, just a moment, but Ye Zhiqiu thought about many things.

Including the legal process Qin Jianhe went through in the previous life.

Although society had continuously progressed and same-sex marriage had been widely accepted by society and the public,

the relevant policies for same-sex couples were still not fully developed.

Especially since Jiang Nan's crime was "attempted."

So in the previous life, even with the strongest team of lawyers at his disposal, Qin Jianhe couldn't keep Jiang Nan in prison for long.

At that time, Ye Zhiqiu's mental state was very poor, so his perception of time was quite vague, but he remembered that Jiang Nan had disappeared from his life for a while.

Later, when he reviewed the data from the previous life, he estimated based on the few time points he could recall that this period lasted about two years.

After that, Jiang Nan reappeared.

Under Qin Jianhe's pressure, the Jiang family's business had completely withered, and Jiang Nan's reputation had been utterly ruined.

At that point, Qi Yun had already grown to match the former Jiang family.

Trapped in a desperate situation, Jiang Nan finally turned his attention to Qi Xin, his perennial backup.

With his cherished ideal finally accepting him, Qi Xin unhesitantly asked Ye Zhiqiu for a divorce.

What did Qi Xin say to him back then?

Ye Zhiqiu tilted his head, thinking. Oh, he said, Jiang Nan was tired, and he wanted to give him a home.

The night outside was hazy, and the distant lights were vaguely visible.

It somewhat resembled the nights he had seen countless times while standing on the high balcony, hesitating between jumping and staying.

But now, thinking back on everything, it felt like a dream.

Time seemed to have returned to that day when he drove away, plunged into the lake, and Qi Xin and Jiang Nan finally became a couple.

But now, he could control the situation and directly give them their "happily ever after."

After all, in the previous life, it took two years, but this time, it might not be the same.

In the previous life, it was "attempted," but this time, it was "accidental injury."

Especially since the incident happened at least six or seven years earlier than in the previous life, the legal provisions were even less developed.

Even if both sides really intended to sue each other, how long could they be sentenced?

To Ye Zhiqiu, such punishment was too insignificant for him or them.

So from the very beginning, he had set the final direction for this matter.

They had no second path; they could only torment each other together.

"No need," Qin Jianhe's voice came through, extremely calm, "but Dong Changwen must return all the money he received from Jiang Nan and donate it to those who need it more."

Not far behind the hotel, at the corner of a small alley, two streetlights were out, unknown when.

The alley was narrow, making it hard for even starlight and moonlight to penetrate, so in the pitch darkness, only the faint light from a minor’s phone screen could be seen.

Under the dim light, a pair of eyes filled with extreme fear appeared. After hearing the low, cold voice of the man opposite, those eyes showed both fear and panic.

He involuntarily wanted to kowtow and beg for mercy, but someone held him tightly from behind, preventing any movement, leaving him to plead desperately.

"No, I beg you..."

Before he could finish, the call on the other side was hung up, and the air fell silent again.

"No, I..." Dong Changwen's voice trembled, asking in despair, "I worked so hard to get to my current position. If I quit now, it will be almost impossible to find such a good job again. If you take away that money too, what should I do?"

"What should you do?" Wei Jie was so angry he laughed, "Shouldn't you ask yourself that?"

Dong Changwen: "..."

"You said yourself that you worked hard to get to this position, and you don't cherish it. Why should others do it for you?" Wei Jie, barefoot, still holding the shoe he used to scare people, now hit Dong Changwen's face with the sole of the shoe, "Stop being such a crybaby. If not for my boss letting you off, you wouldn't just lose the money; you'd also end up in jail. If you have a criminal record, do you think you can still find a job?"

Dong Changwen shut his mouth, falling silent.

"Get lost?" Wei Jie looked at Dong Changwen with disgust, "You have two days to donate the money you should."

He whispered a threat, "You know, I have ways to find you."

Upon hearing this, the two men holding Dong Changwen finally let go.

Ahead was a main road, with the orange glow of streetlights faintly visible. Dong Changwen dared not waste any time, rushing towards the light like a moth drawn to a flame.

Just as he stepped into the circle of light, catching his breath, his phone suddenly rang.

Startled like a bird that has been shot, Dong Changwen instinctively turned around.

Confirming that the few people behind him hadn't followed, he fumbled for his phone with trembling hands.

The number on the screen was familiar, but at this moment, he felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, unsure whether to answer or not.

Dong Changwen hesitated for a moment, found a secluded corner to stand in, and tried to steady his breathing.

He had done everything Jiang Nan asked him to do.

Now that something went wrong, it shouldn't all be blamed on him.

Holding the phone tightly, Dong Changwen hesitated for a long time before finally answering just before the ringing stopped.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang?" He tried to keep his voice low and calm.

"Is this Dong Changwen?" the person on the other end asked.

This was a deep, steady male voice, not Jiang Nan's.

As Dong Changwen was about to lower the phone to check the number, the person on the other end spoke again.

"I am Jiang Nan's father," the other party said.

"Y-yes, hello," the little courage Dong Changwen had gathered dissipated under the pressure of the voice, and he explained guiltily, "I just helped Mr. Jiang with a favor. I did everything he asked, and the rest really has nothing to do with me."

"There's no need to be so nervous," the other party said, his tone devoid of emotion, "I'm calling to tell you that if the police don't find you, that's fine, but if they do, follow what I say."

"H-how should I do it?" Dong Changwen asked, gripping the phone tightly.

"Just remember, the person Jiang Nan asked you to bring was originally Qi Xin," the other party said, his voice carrying a threatening undertone, "This is not only for Jiang Nan but also for you. If your act of taking money and favoritism is discovered, do you think you can walk away unscathed?"

Dong Changwen was stunned for a moment, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead again.

"I'll do as you say," he replied.

After hanging up, Jiang Baichuan looked at Jiang Nan, whose face was ashen.

Before calling Dong Changwen, he had just hung up with Qi Ruichang.

Qi Xin had briefly regained consciousness and had roughly recounted the events to his father.

Qi Ruichang called to demand accountability.

Of course, his primary goal was to seek a substantial compensation from the Jiang family.

Although Qi Ruichang was very subtle, Jiang Baichuan understood clearly.

If they couldn't meet the demands, Qi Ruichang intended to speak to the media as the victim's family and reveal that Jiang Nan's true target was not Qi Xin but Qin Jianhe.

Although Qi Xin later lost his mind, he was initially conscious.

He remembered that as soon as he entered 668, he smelled a pleasant fragrance, followed by an intense thirst.

There was a new bottle of water on the living room table, which he naturally took and drank.

He wasn't sure if the drug came from the fragrance, was mixed in the water, or was a combination of both.

But as he pushed open the bedroom door, he already felt a heat rising all over his body.

At that moment, he still remembered the affectionate smile Ye Zhiqiu had given him unintentionally at the venue.

He firmly believed that Ye Zhiqiu could never forget him.

As for Ye Zhiqiu's cold and indifferent treatment of him in public, he interpreted it as an attempt to save face after being betrayed by him.

So when he pushed open the bedroom door and saw the pair of bare feet peeking out from under the quilt, he was even more aroused, thinking Ye Zhiqiu was playing a game of seduction with him.

He lifted the quilt and saw the naked body beneath.

However, due to the effects of the drug and Jiang Nan's position—lying face down with his head buried in the pillow—he didn't realize anything was wrong until this moment.

He only felt elated and excited.

It wasn't until he stripped off his clothes and eagerly pounced on him, and Jiang Nan turned his head to kiss him, only to let out a scream, that he realized something was amiss.

He clearly remembered the expression on Jiang Nan's face at that moment.

Shock, disgust, surprise, and fear...

While kicking him with his legs, Jiang Nan loudly demanded to know how he had entered his room.

Held down, Jiang Nan cried and shouted, asking why it was him and not Qin Jianhe who had come.

Jiang Nan cursed viciously, using every foul word he knew.

But the drug was too potent. Even though he knew it wasn't Ye Zhiqiu and that something had gone wrong, he couldn't control his reaction.

He forcefully restrained Jiang Nan.

...

Although he knew that Qi Xin wouldn't leave any concrete evidence in such a situation,

the journalists who received the scoop about "Qin Jianhe's romance" were not just one or two, and it was a fact that they were all after the story of Qin Jianhe's romance.

Moreover, some people outside had already guessed the right direction.

If Qi Ruichang were to step forward, their Jiang family would be completely implicated.

Thinking back to the morning, when everyone saw Jiang Nan looking at Qin Jianhe with a perverted gaze, and Qin Jianhe's cold treatment of him...

Jiang Baichuan sighed deeply, instinctively raising his hand to rub his aching forehead.

In the end, he not only agreed to the "compensation" proposed by Qi Ruichang.

He also suggested that the two families could unite in marriage, and present a unified front, framing the incident as a "lover's playful act."

They couldn't escape ridicule, public opinion, and the mockery of the masses, but at least they could clear their name with Qin Jianhe.

"I just said I disagree," Jiang Nan roared at his father, tears streaming down his pale cheeks.

Jiang Baichuan, who always doted on him, never imagined that his father would decide his entire life without consulting him, especially after he had suffered such severe trauma.

And the person in question was Qi Xin, whom he despised and who had just hurt him.

"You have to agree, whether you like it or not," Jiang Baichuan said sternly, more authoritative and strict than ever before, "Can't you take responsibility for what you did?"

"What did I do? What did I do?" Jiang Nan shouted, his face upturned, "I wanted Brother Yu. Who knew he would enter my room with ill intentions?"

"Jiang Nan!" Hearing him call Qin Jianhe's name, Jiang Baichuan's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

His expression turned cold and terrifying.

"What did you do? Don't tell me you didn't slip him the drug?" Jiang Baichuan asked, "And do you really think Qin Jianhe is someone to be trifled with? Are you blind or deaf, not knowing that his mother and brother, along with his father, have been driven away by him?"

Seeing Jiang Nan gasping for breath with his mouth wide open, he continued, "He can be so ruthless even to his own family. Do you think he will show mercy to you? Are you brain-dead?"

"I..."

Jiang Nan's face grew paler, but Jiang Baichuan didn't allow him to say anything more.

He cut him off, crushing his last bit of hope.

"If this is framed as a lover's playful act, you'll be ridiculed for life. But if the public learns that you drugged Qin Jianhe out of unrequited love, what do you think people will say? And what will the police do?" He pressed on, "If you offend Qin Jianhe to the death, even if he doesn't act personally, who among those who fawn over him won't want to curry favor? Who will leave the Jiang family a way out?"

He asked Jiang Nan with frustration, "Do you want our whole family to die for you?"

Jiang Nan's lips trembled, unable to speak under his father's relentless questioning.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally found his voice.

"But I don't like him," his voice quivered, "I've always found him disgusting since school. If it weren't for..."

...

He paused, swallowing the rest of his words, and changed his tone, "Someone from his background, does he deserve a glance from me?"

"Then why don't you think about it?" Jiang Baichuan asked, "With your background, do you deserve a glance from Qin Jianhe?"

Gripping the quilt tightly, Jiang Nan argued agitatedly, "He's different. He's not as superficial as you. He only cares about whether he likes someone."

"Do you really think he likes you?" Jiang Baichuan crushed Jiang Nan's illusions, sentence by sentence, "Today, he didn't even want to shake your hand!"

The air suddenly became silent. Jiang Nan sat there quietly, tears streaming down his face.

He looked incredibly fragile, as if he would shatter at the slightest touch.

He had always enjoyed a comfortable upbringing and loved being the center of attention. For years, everything had gone smoothly, leading him to believe he was superior to others and that his future would be filled with endless choices, a path wide open.

But now, he realized that at some point, all his choices had vanished.

It seemed he had become an isolated island.

"The family business has always been limited, and after what happened with VIA last year, our business has taken a significant hit. These are the things your parents left you to make a living. If you squander them, how will you survive in the future without any support?" Jiang Baichuan turned away, unable to bear the sight, "And your mother's health is not good; the family can't afford any more upheavals. This time, you must listen to me."

The room fell silent. After a long while, Jiang Nan finally spoke, his voice strained.

"Then I'll get married first, and we can divorce later."

"No," Jiang Baichuan said, "This matter has caused too much of a stir. In the short term, you must keep a low profile. We'll wait until the dust settles before making any further plans."

"How long will that take?" Jiang Nan asked, his face filled with despair.

"At least ten years," Jiang Baichuan replied after a moment's thought. "After ten years, the people online will have changed. Whether you divorce or do something else, the impact can be minimized."

"Ten years?" Jiang Nan's voice cracked, sounding almost deranged.

Ten years? But even now, the thought of looking at Qi Xin made him feel nauseous!

How could he possibly endure the next ten years?

However, it wasn't just him who was unwilling. Qi Xin was equally determined not to agree.

When Qi Ruichang called Jiang Baichuan, Qi Xin was still in a state of semi-consciousness, though he was gradually coming around.

He only managed to give Qi Ruichang a brief update.

So, he learned about the situation much later.

When he fully regained consciousness, despite feeling extremely weak and uncomfortable, his first instinct was to reach for his phone to contact Ye Zhiqiu.

In his haste, he tugged at the IV line on his hand, causing a sharp pain that made him hiss, which woke up Qi Ruichang beside him.

"Do you want some water?" Qi Ruichang asked quickly.

"Dad, Xiao Qiu..." Qi Xin's voice was hoarse, his throat burning as if smoke were rising from it.

Hearing this, Qi Ruichang nodded and hurried to pour a glass of water, feeding it to him while cautioning, "The doctor said this medication is very hard on your body. You need to rest and recover for a while."

Qi Xin's face was pale, his lips devoid of color. He struggled to lift his hand.

"Dad, Xiao Qiu..."

Qi Xin was unaware that the matter had already become public knowledge.

But now, due to the Jiang family's urgent desire to resolve the issue and his own fear of further complications, he could no longer keep it from him.

"Little Xin," Qi Ruichang set down the water cup and sighed heavily, "The photos and videos of you and Jiang Nan were taken by reporters and posted online."

"What?" Qi Xin seemed confused, taking a moment to understand. He suddenly sat up, "What?"

However, his body was too weak, and the sudden movement made him dizzy. He barely managed to sit halfway up before collapsing back down.

"Calm down, calm down," Qi Ruichang rushed to support his shoulders, "Now, the Jiang family's plan is to announce to the public that you and Jiang Nan were already a couple, and what happened before was just a playful joke between young lovers."

He paused, "After that, you and Jiang Nan will get married, and our family's crisis will be resolved."

Previously, because of the Jiang family's influence, Qi Ruichang had always liked Jiang Nan.

In the current situation, although Qi Xin had suffered and lost face, it wasn't entirely a bad thing for the crisis-ridden Qi family.

However, there was still Ye Zhiqiu, the prime target they couldn't afford to miss.

Given their newfound leverage, Qi Ruichang hadn't completely ruled out the possibility with Jiang Baichuan.

He needed to understand Ye Zhiqiu's stance before making a final decision.

"We have the choice," he told Qi Xin, "There's no rush."

But Qi Xin's stance was firm.

"No," he said, "I don't like Jiang Nan. In my life, no one but Xiao Qiu will do."

As he spoke, he struggled to grab his phone and dialed Ye Zhiqiu's number.

Unfortunately, Ye Zhiqiu had apparently blocked him again.

No matter how many times he tried, the only response was the cold, mechanical voice repeating itself endlessly.

"Xiao Qiu is at the hotel," Jiang Nan, seeing this, tried to get up urgently, "I need to find him."

Thinking of Ye Zhiqiu seeing the videos and photos of him with someone else, naked and intimate, made him feel suffocated. He was desperate, wishing he could kneel before Ye Zhiqiu and explain his helplessness and the circumstances.

However, when he mentioned the "hotel," he suddenly remembered: the card to Jiang Nan's room was given to him by Ye Zhiqiu!

Qi Xin's head throbbed painfully, but he couldn't fathom how Ye Zhiqiu could have Jiang Nan's room key.

The world seemed to spin before him, and he clutched his head in agony.

Seeing this, Qi Ruichang stepped forward again, supporting his shoulders.

"In your condition, how can you go see Ye Zhiqiu?" Qi Ruichang said, pausing for a moment, "Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Jiuzhou to find him."

"But you must be nicer to him," Qi Xin said with concern.

After the news about Ye Zhiqiu and Yunkai's relationship was exposed, Qi Ruichang's attitude and perception towards him had changed drastically from before.

But even so, he couldn't help but give him one more reminder.

"Of course, after yesterday's news, it's understandable that he's upset," Qi Ruichang said. "Since you like him so much, I'll kneel down if I have to, just to ask for his forgiveness."

Unlike last time, this gathering at Jiuzhou was attended by numerous influential figures, all eyes on them.

And Ye Zhiqiu was no longer an ordinary person; he represented the corporate image of Yunkai.

Qi Ruichang was certain that it would be impossible for him to refuse to see Ye Zhiqiu as he did last time.

"However," he lowered his voice and gently advised, "if he really refuses to come back, listen to me and marry Jiang Nan first. Our family can't afford to wait any longer."

Hearing this, Qi Xin closed his eyes, his Adam's apple moving as he remained silent.

That night, he tossed and turned, worried that Ye Zhiqiu might really be angry and not come back, and puzzled about why the room card came from Ye Zhiqiu...

Originally, he intended to suppress the matter and ask Ye Zhiqiu himself later.

But in his already weakened state, a sleepless night and endless speculations drained his energy, causing him great distress.

So when Qi Ruichang set out in the morning, he couldn't help but tell him about it.

He repeatedly instructed Qi Ruichang to ensure a proper attitude when asking Ye Zhiqiu, to avoid upsetting him.

Qi Ruichang agreed verbally, but deep down, he was equally filled with doubts.

On the way, Qi Ruichang thought of countless possibilities, none of which could convince him or make him feel at ease.

It wasn't until the car approached the hotel and a news push notification related to Yunkai came in that his heart began to calm down.

It was an interview with Wang Qitang.

As a leading old-established company in both engine technology and new battery development, New Power naturally received an invitation to this conference.

However, due to the recent addition of new equipment, Wang Qitang was extremely busy and couldn't find the time to attend.

These were secondary issues; the most important point was that in the interview, Wang Qitang mentioned that Yunkai was also relocating its factory, and the massive amount of equipment purchased this time included a portion for Yunkai.

In just half a year, Yunkai had twice amazed the energy market.

Unfortunately, many media outlets, despite having scheduled interviews with Ye Zhiqiu, all ended up being rejected.

Finally, with Wang Qitang willing to discuss the topic, everyone was particularly enthusiastic in their questions.

After reading the interview, Qi Ruichang summarized two key points:

First, Yunkai was about to break away from its previous cooperation model and start independent production.

Apart from the money they received from the partnership, all profits from independent production and sales would belong to Yunkai.

Second, in the cooperation project between Yunkai and Ruiyi, one part was assisted by New Power, and significant progress had been made.

According to Wang Qitang, Ye Zhiqiu's wealth and status might soon surpass New Power.

This shocked Qi Ruichang and sparked a greater greed within him.

In comparison, the Jiang family seemed worthless.

When getting out of the car, Qi Ruichang composed his expression and mood, smiling as he walked toward the hotel entrance.

The meeting started at nine in the morning, and it was only eight o'clock now. He felt he had enough time.

The security personnel at the entrance were very diligent. After confirming Qi Ruichang's purpose, they immediately contacted the front desk via walkie-talkie.

After the front desk sought Ye Zhiqiu's approval through an internal line, they informed Qi Ruichang of Ye Zhiqiu's room number. Qi Ruichang straightened his clothes and entered the hotel lobby.

Carrying a bag of fruit, he took the elevator upstairs and finally stopped in front of room 663.

Nervously clearing his throat, Qi Ruichang raised his hand to knock on the door.

The room was quiet, and Qi Ruichang stood at the door for quite some time.

Just as he was about to knock again, the door was finally opened from the inside.

Ye Zhiqiu was wearing a light blue shirt and well-fitted black trousers, looking exceptionally neat and spirited.

He didn't seem affected by yesterday's events; there was even a faint smile in his eyes, and his demeanor was particularly composed.

"Hello," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, glancing over Qi Ruichang.

"Hello, Xiao Ye," Qi Ruichang smiled eagerly, introducing himself, "I'm Qi Xin's father."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu laughed, his tone ambiguous, "I remember your voice."

Upon hearing this, Qi Ruichang became a bit uneasy.

Recalling his previous condescending phone call, he immediately felt uncomfortable.

However, Ye Zhiqiu seemed oblivious, letting out a light laugh and stepping aside.

"Do you need something?" he asked, then added, "Come in."

The suite was spacious, and the morning sunlight streamed in through the large windows in the living room, making it particularly bright.

Ye Zhiqiu gestured, and the two of them sat down opposite each other.

"About what happened yesterday," Qi Ruichang said awkwardly, "you saw the news, right?"

"Hmm." Ye Zhiqiu nodded with a slight smile.

Ye Zhiqiu's indifferent attitude made Qi Ruichang feel a bit uneasy.

"Little Xin didn't do it on purpose. He was drugged and manipulated into it," Qi Ruichang's voice became more humble as he met Ye Zhiqiu's still smiling eyes. "Xiao Ye, please, for my sake, can you forgive him?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't he like Jiang Nan anyway?" he asked, then smiled, "Besides, it's not really up to me to forgive him, is it?"

Qi Ruichang: "..."

"I know anyone would be angry about this, but Little Xin has never liked anyone else. Even with Tao Ruoqing, he only pretended to like her while his heart was always with you," Qi Ruichang hurriedly explained. "He hasn't fully recovered yet, but once he does, I'll make sure he comes to apologize to you in person."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and tilted his head slightly, as if a bit puzzled.

But in Qi Ruichang's eyes, this attitude seemed to be waiting for him to show more sincerity.

What happened yesterday was indeed over the line...

And thinking about Wang Qitang's interview on the way here, Qi Ruichang made up his mind.

He stood up and knelt down in front of Ye Zhiqiu with a thud.

"Xiao Ye, Little Xin was indeed a victim. I swear," Qi Ruichang said, "he likes you so much that he wanted to come see you last night even while on IV. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to bother you so early. You can hit or scold me, I'll take it for him. Please, forgive him and have mercy on him. He's determined to be with you for life."

Ye Zhiqiu remained still, still smiling slightly, and calmly accepted Qi Ruichang's kneeling.

Thinking about the favors he had done for Qi Ruichang in the previous life and how Qi Ruichang had mistreated him, this kneeing was well-deserved.

The room was silent, and Qi Ruichang, prostrate on the ground, felt anxious, hoping Ye Zhiqiu would soften his heart considering his age.

If he failed today, it would be even harder to win or move Ye Zhiqiu in the future.

He had to win this battle.

Unfortunately, he didn't.

Ye Zhiqiu seemed to look at him quietly for a moment, then slowly stood up.

"Sir, your actions are really confusing me," his voice carried a hint of a smile, but he didn't bend down to help Qi Ruichang up. Instead, he said calmly, "Perhaps you have some misunderstanding about my relationship with Little Xin. Actually, we aren't even friends."

The figure on the ground clearly stiffened.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "Please get up. If my boyfriend sees you like this, it might cause misunderstandings."

Qi Ruichang: "..."

Qi Ruichang stood there, stunned, unable to react for a long time.

What boyfriend?

His boyfriend was their family's Little Xin, wasn't he?

Why did he not understand anything Ye Zhiqiu said today?

As he hesitated and puzzled, a very light sound of a door opening came from the bedroom.

Qi Ruichang looked up and saw an extremely handsome man walk out of Ye Zhiqiu's bedroom.

The man wore a light blue shirt and black trousers, just like Ye Zhiqiu, except for a tie around his neck.

The morning orange sunlight illuminated his smooth cheek, reflecting in his deep, dark phoenix eyes.

However, it did not add any warmth to those stern eyes.

On the way, Qi Ruichang had thought of many different reactions and attitudes Ye Zhiqiu might have.

Accordingly, he had planned many different responses in his mind.

But he never expected this situation.

Qi Ruichang's legs went weak, and the knees that had been holding him up lost their strength.

Seeing the man silently take Ye Zhiqiu's hand in his own, Qi Ruichang collapsed completely on the ground.

No one could fail to recognize the person in front of him.

In the eyes of those in the fashion industry, even in the eyes of someone as traditional as Qi Ruichang, who was usually not sensitive to brands and designs, he could be called a god.

Who else could it be but Qin Jianhe?

"Sir," Ye Zhiqiu's voice sounded distant, making Qi Ruichang feel even more weak, cold sweat pouring down his body.

"The last time you called and asked me to serve your son, my boyfriend heard it too," Ye Zhiqiu's voice still carried a smile. He bent down slightly, looking into Qi Ruichang's shocked and disbelieving eyes, and laughed softly, "I let you in today just to let you know that I already have a boyfriend. From now on, don't try to meddle in our relationships anymore."

After saying that, he threw the bag of fruit Qi Ruichang had brought at his feet.

The fresh peaches of June rolled all over the floor.

Just like Qi Ruichang at that moment, they were messy, helpless, and incredibly panicked.

"The hotel has all kinds of fruits, no need for you to go through the trouble," Ye Zhiqiu smiled, "Take these back for Little Xin to recover with."