Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Mid-July, the day before the official announcement of the engagement between the Jiang and Qi families, Qi Xin once again waited at the entrance of Qin Jianhe's residential complex.

When he saw his figure, Ye Zhiqiu was somewhat surprised.

He had never thought that after that rainy night, he would actually come back again.

His slender fingers gently tapped on the steering wheel, one tap after another.

Ye Zhiqiu pondered for a moment, eventually pulling over to the side of the road and getting out of the car.

At this moment, Qi Xin also saw him, his eyes fixed on him as if they dared not look away for even a second.

Compared to his confident and successful image in the previous life, the current Qi Xin was in a pitiful state.

His figure was even more emaciated than during that heavy rain, his back seemingly unable to straighten.

"Never come looking for me again." Ye Zhiqiu walked over and spoke coldly.

"I..." It seemed as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat. Qi Xin opened his mouth, struggling to speak after a long while, "Xiao Qiu, do you hate me so much?"

"Hate you?" Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu gave a faint smile, raising an eyebrow with a mocking tone, "Why should I hate you?"

"Because I didn't have good intentions when I approached you, because of what happened with Jiang Nan..." Qi Xin said, not caring about the crowd outside the gate during rush hour. He suddenly knelt down, hugging Ye Zhiqiu's legs without hesitation, "Xiao Qiu, but I really fell in love with you, I never meant to harm you."

Ye Zhiqiu looked down at him, his gaze extremely cold.

Whether he had thought about it or not, no one knew better than himself.

But he had no intention of discussing it further.

Taking a slight step back and freeing himself from Qi Xin's arms, Ye Zhiqiu finally asked coldly, "So what?"

"I..." Qi Xin choked, struggling to speak, "I don't want to get engaged to Jiang Nan, the person I like is only you."

Ye Zhiqiu remained silent, but his gaze became more mocking and sarcastic, as if he were looking at some incomprehensible joke.

"I know you're with Mr. Qin," Qi Xin, feeling uneasy under his gaze, hurried to explain, "But you should know, families like theirs value matching backgrounds the most, you two can't really be together. I... I can wait, I don't need a title, I just want to be by your side, to see you every day, I'll do anything..."

Qi Xin continued speaking, his eyes involuntarily reddening, oblivious to the curious glances of the surrounding crowd.

It seemed that in this moment, his entire world consisted only of Ye Zhiqiu.

"Is that so?" Ye Zhiqiu laughed lightly.

He looked at him with disdain, bending slightly.

"If I told you to die, would you?" he asked, his voice unusually cold and merciless, "Since you're willing to do anything, why not die?"

Qi Xin froze, his eyes widening as he stared at Ye Zhiqiu in shock.

Looking at the man kneeling before him, who had no principles or limits, Ye Zhiqiu felt an intense disgust.

"Can't do it, right? If you can't, then get lost." Ye Zhiqiu said coldly, adding to his despair, "The reason I'm seeing you today is just to tell you face-to-face never to appear in front of me again."

His tone softened, and he spoke each word clearly to Qi Xin, "Because seeing you makes me feel sick."

The world seemed to turn into a void, Qi Xin kneeling on the ground, hearing only the sound of the wind.

He watched Ye Zhiqiu turn and walk away, watching him get into his car and drive off into the depths of the residential complex, disappearing completely.

After a long time, the pain in his knees finally brought him back to his senses.

He got up woodenly, ignoring the contemptuous gazes of the people around him, and staggered away, his figure eventually vanishing into the crowd.

In the end, Qi Xin did get engaged to Jiang Nan.

Although neither family was particularly influential, due to the previous events and Jiang Baichuan's efforts to reinforce the public perception of Qi Xin and Jiang Nan as a couple, the engagement ceremony caused a stir in public opinion.

Time passed quickly, and in early August, Ye Zhixia's case went to trial.

With sufficient evidence and witness testimony, Ye Zhixia was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment for intentional murder, which was deemed extremely heinous.

Ye Zhiqiu did not attend the trial; he waited outside for a long time.

He waited until everyone filed out, until the ambulance arrived to take Tao Ruoqing, who had fainted in court, to the hospital.

On the stretcher, Tao Ruoqing looked emaciated and frail. If it weren't for Ye Zheng and Uncle Wang following closely behind, Ye Zhiqiu might not have recognized her.

The scene was chaotic, and Ye Zheng and Uncle Wang did not notice him. They got into the ambulance and rushed to the hospital.

However, Tang Yue, sitting in a wheelchair, immediately spotted him.

The wheelchair slowly descended from a high slope, and Tang Yue raised his hand to have his mother wait where she was. He then wheeled himself over to Ye Zhiqiu.

"Happy?" he asked.

Ye Zhiqiu looked down at him, his voice calm, "This should be the last time we meet, right?"

Tang Yue was about to be taken back to his original family by his parents, a family he had desperately tried to escape in his previous life.

Despite all the cunning and scheming that had brought him wealth and success in the past, it did not continue to favor him this time.

Hearing this, Tang Yue's expression changed, and after a moment, he gave a strange laugh.

"Tao Ruoqing is truly pitiful, with Ye Zhixia sentenced to life, she must be heartbroken, probably losing half her life," Tang Yue said, "And Ye Zhixia, the lawyer said there's little hope for an appeal."

"Only you..." Tang Yue looked at Ye Zhiqiu, his voice pausing, tinged with a sinister doubt, "Why only you, everything has gone smoothly?"

Outside the main gate, a black car came to a stop, and Ye Zhiqiu slightly turned his gaze.

Without answering Tang Yue’s words, or even bothering to say another word to him, Ye Zhiqiu silently turned around and walked straight toward the entrance.

The car door opened, and a tall figure bent down to get out, pulling open the door for Ye Zhiqiu and helping him into the car.

Tang Yue stared at that direction, for a long time, a very long time...

Only when his mother pushed his wheelchair forward again did he slowly retract his gaze.

These past few years had felt like a dream to him.

Once, he had accidentally encountered Ye Zhiqiu, who belonged to a completely different world from his own.

He had thought that he would also live a life like his.

But now...

Their paths had been severed once again.

Ye Zhiqiu had become even more unattainable than before, while his own path through hell remained unchanged.

Tang Yue laughed, a laugh so tragic it carried far in the wind.

At the end of August, the highly anticipated Golden Olive Film Festival finally arrived.

Coincidentally, the next day was Qin Jianhe's birthday.

On this day, as a new influential investor in the industry, Qin Jianhe's seat was arranged in the front row.

Ye Zhiqiu entered with the rest of the crew, sat down in the back after giving interviews.

Although the film had not yet been released, this time, Building No. 8 brought the first trailer of the movie.

The exquisite visuals were projected on the large screen, immediately captivating the audience with the stunning costumes, the intense chemistry between the two leads, and the subtle hints of unspoken emotions in the shots.

When the two-minute trailer ended, the anticipation of the audience reached its peak, almost bursting.

The film festival was broadcast live, so almost simultaneously, the topic of Building No. 8 climbed the trending charts along with the award-winning films.

After everything was over, everyone stood up together, chatting and joking as they headed to the rooftop for the dinner party organized by the host.

Due to the unexpectedly positive response to the first trailer, combined with Zhou Lian's status in the industry, not to mention the addition of double Oscar winner Meng Qingyan, the table for Building No. 8 was exceptionally lively.

Apart from the main table where the investors were seated and the groups that won major awards, their table saw the most comings and goings, almost non-stop.

Because of Ye Zhiqiu's stunning performance in the costume design of Building No. 8 and his return to a major production with a strong directorial team, many directors and producers came to inquire about his schedule during the dinner.

Young and a newcomer in the entertainment industry, all those who came to toast could be considered his seniors.

Therefore, after the first drink, it was hard to refuse the second.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, he unknowingly drank too much.

His phone vibrated on the table; Qin Jianhe had sent a message. Ye Zhiqiu held the phone in his palm for a long time before finally reading the content clearly.

"QIN: Drink less. If you can't hold it, we'll go home early."

Ye Zhiqiu also wanted to go home early.

Because throughout the evening, he had seen countless elegantly dressed men and women approach Qin Jianhe to toast.

However, Qin Jianhe was different from him.

Though he maintained a polite and courteous demeanor on the surface, his inherent coldness and aloofness remained unchanged.

So despite the many people who approached him, his glass of wine remained mostly untouched.

By this point, Zhou Lian had also drunk quite a bit. Seeing Ye Zhiqiu holding his phone with squinted eyes, he leaned over.

"Xiao Ye," Zhou Lian urged, "go and invite your Mr. Qin over for a drink. I noticed he hasn't touched his glass much all night, right?"

"That's true," Wang Zhou teased, "I can understand if he doesn't like the spotlight, but how does he manage to resist all these handsome men and beautiful women coming up to him?"

"Old Zhou," hearing Wang Zhou's jesting, Ye Zhiqiu finally understood why Zhao Yunzhuang had called them the 'stirring duo' before, "as a big director, why aren't they being as attentive to you as they are to Mr. Qin?"

"They were all scared off," Meng Qingyan chuckled, "he has a cold personality."

"So are you jealous? Look, look," Zhou Lian gestured, "even when they're so formal with the kind-hearted Old Zhao, they still flock to the icy Mr. Qin. Go, Xiao Ye, invite your boss over for a drink."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

"Qingyan, you go," Ye Zhiqiu, whose vision was a bit blurry, smiled and tried to pass the task off.

"Tsk," Meng Qingyan gave him a half-smile, "I don't have that much influence."

"Xiao Ye, just go if you're asked, kid," Wang Zhou said, "you're Mr. Qin's subordinate. Even if he gives you a cold shoulder, it's normal, no loss of face, no loss of face."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Ye Zhiqiu had no choice but to stand up and steady himself as he walked over.

At this moment, a female actress was standing beside Qin Jianhe. She wore an elegant white long dress that trailed on the ground.

Ye Zhiqiu remembered her name was Zhu Qian, who had just won the Best Newcomer award tonight.

Currently, Zhu Qian was bending slightly, smiling as she toasted the guests at the main table.

Out of politeness, Ye Zhiqiu paused his steps, waiting for Zhu Qian to cover her mouth and finish her drink before he continued walking.

However, Zhu Qian's dress was too long. Although she had already walked a few steps ahead, Ye Zhiqiu still accidentally stepped on the hem of her long dress with one stride.

As Zhu Qian moved forward, the fabric slipped from under Ye Zhiqiu's feet. Already unsteady due to the alcohol, he stumbled and fell into a warm embrace.

Familiar scent, familiar warmth, familiar arms...

Ye Zhiqiu gently shook his head, which was dizzy from the alcohol, and instinctively buried his face in Qin Jianhe's neck.

In the vast hall, the air suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked over in shock.

Although Qin Jianhe rarely appeared in public, there were no shortage of rumors about him.

Especially in the entertainment industry, where stories about tycoons were always a hot topic.

Whether it was for investment or marriage, people tried to cater to their preferences.

Everyone knew that although Qin Jianhe had a good appearance, his nature was extremely cold.

Whether it was when he forced Qin Xusheng to beg him to take over Q.L, or later, when he decisively "exiled" his father and brother abroad, every action was cold and ruthless.

Not to mention, in just a few years, he had turned Q.L from decline to prosperity, demonstrating his decisive and ruthless leadership.

Moreover, many people speculated that due to his parents' relationship, he had no interest in romance.

Many people were not satisfied, but they only dared to test the waters during toasts.

Who would dare, like Ye Zhiqiu, to throw themselves into someone's arms in broad daylight?

After a brief moment of shock, the expressions in the hall became complex.

All those who had come to toast were handsome men and beautiful women, each with outstanding qualities, yet none of them had received even a glance from Qin Jianhe.

Now, seeing Ye Zhiqiu directly fall into his arms, they all couldn't help but show a mix of curiosity and schadenfreude.

"Damn." Zhou Lian and Wang Zhou were also stunned. Zhou Lian scratched his head, puzzled, "I just asked him to call Mr. Qin over for a drink, how did this kid end up in his arms?"

"Maybe he drank too much," Wang Zhou said after a moment of silence, feeling a cold sweat break out on his scalp.

Beside them, Baiyou didn't say anything but immediately started to get up.

He wanted to take Ye Zhiqiu away to avoid the strange looks he would face when he sobered up.

However, as soon as he moved, his wrist was held by Meng Qingyan under the table.

"It's fine," Meng Qingyan said casually, his gaze falling on the two people who had become the center of attention, "It's time for these two to go public, don't you think?"

Baiyou: "..."

Baiyou: "???"

At this moment, the outside world seemed to be on the brink of a storm, but Ye Zhiqiu was completely unaware.

He buried his soft cheek deeply into Qin Jianhe's comforting embrace, oblivious to where he was.

"I want to go home," he whispered, his lips unconsciously pressing harder against Qin Jianhe's skin, leaving a kiss on his neck.

The muscles of the tightly pressed bodies tensed, then the man's arms tightly wrapped around his slender waist.

"Go, Qingyan," Zhou Lian, who had been discussing the focus of the evening, including the design of Building 8, didn't want Ye Zhiqiu to stumble in other matters, especially since he had finally made a name for himself in this circle. The alcohol seemed to have sobered him up instantly, "Go get Xiao Ye and tell him he's drunk."

Seeing many people raising their phones, and the invited media reporters snapping pictures non-stop, Zhou Lian put his hand on the back of the chair to push himself up.

However, his hands were weak from the alcohol, and he couldn't get up. Meanwhile, Qin Jianhe had already stood up, holding Ye Zhiqiu.

"Good boy," the man's voice, which had been cold and metallic when speaking to others, now became gentle and affectionate, as if the person in his arms was a fragile treasure. He patted Ye Zhiqiu's back soothingly, "I'll take you home now."

The air seemed to freeze, even the reporters who had been snapping photos non-stop seemed to pause.

They watched in a daze as Qin Jianhe, holding Ye Zhiqiu, politely bid farewell to everyone, especially the senior figures in the industry.

"Sorry, my partner has had too much to drink," he said, "I'll take him home."

Even though some people were still holding their phones, frozen in place, he didn't stop, and simply carried Ye Zhiqiu towards the exit.

As he passed, a young actor who had been standing there in a daze suddenly widened his eyes and covered his mouth.

For in his line of sight, a fresh, crimson kiss mark was clearly visible on Qin Jianhe's pale neck.

And that kiss mark, without any attempt to hide it, was captured by the cameras of the reporters at the door.

"Damn!" As the two figures disappeared through the door, Zhou Lian, his eyes still blurry from the alcohol, looked at Wang Zhou, confused, "What? What did he say?"

"What did he say about who?" Zhou Lian's speech was slurred, "What partner?"

Like a paused movie starting again, the hall erupted into a cacophony of whispers.

Shock, disbelief, excitement, and even subtle sarcasm...

It seemed that the film festival had finally reached its climax.

Almost simultaneously, the highly efficient reporters had already posted the video online.

In an instant, the internet, which had just calmed down after the film festival, was once again set ablaze.

"Damn, damn, damn, staying up late really does pay off. Oh my God, do you know what I just saw?"

"Holy shit! I'm so excited I don't know what to say. The couple I've been shipping is actually real?"

"Ahhhh, hickeys, especially those near the Adam’s apple, so stimulating!"

"Cold dog food he tosses around carelessly..."

"Which hickey is really so erotic, damn, who can take it?"

"I can already imagine how they’ll be tossing and turning tonight, doge.jpg"

"I mean, these two in one frame are just too pleasing to the eye, a perfect match, ahhh, finally got what I wanted as an old mother."

"First time seeing Mr. Qin being so gentle, really doting, watch me perform a flying act with my lips."

"Who said they were impossible before? Come out and eat your words."

"It’s me, slap slap slap slap slap..."

["My love," tsk tsk tsk, men aren’t unromantic, they’re just romantic only to the ones they like.]

"Perfect, I thought their outfits looked like a couple’s, secretly fangirling, but this surprise is even bigger, more exciting than dating myself, not sleeping tonight, spinning circles..."

"Damn, when Xiao Qiu fell into Mr. Qin’s arms, I was terrified, afraid he’d make a drunken mess, turns out the clown was me."

"Ahhhhh, damn, fangirling to death."

"Already watched it over ten times, more thrilling and pleasing than a drama, if these two acted in front of me, I could watch forever, believe it or not?"

"..."

The car hit a speed bump, the body jolted, and Qin Jianhe pulled Ye Zhiqiu closer to his chest.

"Drive more steadily," he said softly.

"Yes, young master," Uncle Li responded.

Qin Jianhe lowered his eyes and held Ye Zhiqiu’s hand in his palm. Sensing something, Ye Zhiqiu slowly opened his eyes.

"Want some water?" Qin Jianhe asked.

But Ye Zhiqiu didn’t answer him. He looked around as if searching for something, then asked somewhat dazedly, "Where’s my car?"

"You still ask," Qin Jianhe chuckled at his innocent look, "drank so much, how can you drive?"

"But there’s tomorrow’s birthday gift for you in my car," Ye Zhiqiu mumbled, moving restlessly, clearly uneasy.

His heart softened instantly, and Qin Jianhe leaned down, pressing his burning lips to Ye Zhiqiu’s forehead.

"Sleep well," he whispered, "Wei Jie will drive your car back later."

*

When he woke up again, Ye Zhiqiu was lying on the big bed at home.

The bed was soft and comfortable. He lay quietly for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly got up to search for his phone.

A faint sound came from the door, which opened, and Qin Jianhe walked in with a hangover remedy.

"Awake? Headache?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and half-hugging Ye Zhiqiu, "come, drink some hangover remedy."

"Qin Jianhe," Ye Zhiqiu obediently drank the hangover remedy, then asked, "did I... do anything stupid?"

"No," Qin Jianhe smiled at him, then after a moment, he said softly, "we just went public."

Ye Zhiqiu: "..."

Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes widened suddenly, and his cheeks flushed.

Only now did he truly realize that all those vague memories in his head were real, not just a dream.

"Isn’t this a bit too much of a scene?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, his toes curling and uncurling awkwardly.

He had deliberately avoided various occasions, never expecting to have a slip-up at the most hyped film festival.

"No," Qin Jianhe smiled, "I think it’s good, now everyone finally knows our true relationship."

Qin Jianhe was very low-key. Although he wasn’t afraid now, due to his childhood experiences, he was actually quite averse to cameras.

But now, this person, who had always been so averse to cameras, told him that going public this way was good.

Ye Zhiqiu’s curled toes relaxed unconsciously.

Warmth spread through his heart, gradually rising until it became scorching.

What others thought, whether they thought he was stealing the spotlight...

It no longer mattered since it had already happened.

At this moment, all his emotions had dissipated, leaving only boundless tenderness filling his heart.

Propping himself up, Ye Zhiqiu leaned forward on his own initiative.

He kissed Qin Jianhe’s lips, gently yet passionately, his pale hand lifting, fingers hooking open Qin Jianhe’s bathrobe.

The muscles on Qin Jianhe’s body tensed abruptly, and he took control, gripping the back of Ye Zhiqiu’s head and kissing him deeply.

The air ignited instantly, and in the quiet space, only their heated breathing remained.

After a while, Qin Jianhe pulled back slightly and asked hoarsely, "Ye Zhiqiu, what kind of birthday gift did you prepare for me?"

"What kind of gift do you want?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, his rosy lips curving slightly.

Qin Jianhe looked down at him, his breathing slowing a little. After a moment, he said seriously and firmly, "I want you."

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, his pale toes lifting and pressing gently against Qin Jianhe's chest. "Besides me, what else do you want?"

The silky robe slipped down his body with the movement, revealing his slender, white calves.

His soft fingertips grazed the area closest to Qin Jianhe's heart, pushing the intense flames of passion and emotion deeper into the recesses of his heart.

Though his breathing was rapid, at that moment, Qin Jianhe felt a suffocating sense of oxygen deprivation.

He raised his hand, grasping the delicate ankle, and kissed it deeply.

"I want you," he said heavily, answering Ye Zhiqiu's previous question. Seeing Ye Zhiqiu's eyes, glazed with sweat and desire, he spoke each word slowly, "I want you to be mine alone, I want to keep you at home where only I can see you."

*

The public revelation of Qin Jianhe and Ye Zhiqiu's relationship not only shocked outsiders but also the employees of Q.L. the most.

"Damn, is anyone going to tell me if this is real or not? I think I'm still sleeping, I can't be sleepwalking, right? I just want to know when the boss started having normal human feelings?"

"Damn, I almost choked on my food, never been so shocked before. But it's Teacher Xiao Ye, Teacher Xiao Ye, they really seem like a good match."

"Are they really together? Shocking! The secretary's office had firmly denied the rumors before."

"People were debunking it online too, I even followed along with the netizens, but then got cold water thrown on me... Ahhhhhhhh"

"So how did they manage to keep it so secret? When they leak, they really go all out. That adoring look, damn, I can't handle it."

"Holding him like that, it's really like holding a little kid, so loving and protective. I remember Teacher Xiao Ye is at least 1.8 meters tall, how does the boss carry him so easily?"

"Turns out the boss has such a gentle side."

"Looks like he hasn't stopped hugging."

"Looks like he hasn't stopped hugging +1"

"We might even get a boss lady, should we celebrate?"

"..."

Shock, disbelief, joy, and celebration...

The company group chat instantly flooded with thousands of messages, with some people shouting until six in the morning.

Even in the Design Department group chat, where Ye Zhiqiu was, everyone was going wild, demanding wedding candy from him.

However, Meng Da wasn't among them.

Meng Da was bewildered and didn't dare to speak. He crouched in front of his computer, repeatedly watching the video of the film festival gala where Qin Jianhe carried Ye Zhiqiu and bid farewell to others.

No, damn...

Even someone as civilized as Meng Da couldn't help but curse.

No, didn't the boss dislike Xiao Ye?

Last time, the kid was so nervous, his face was red...

Face was red?

Damn!

Meng Da suddenly understood something.

Could it be that the two were doing something inappropriate for children before he entered?

Wasn't it nervousness, but rather being startled by his sudden appearance?

Meng Da: "..."

Damn, he even promised the boss to discipline Xiao Ye properly?

Meng Da: "..."

Meng Da wanted to die.

Feeling similarly, and also wanting to die, was the secretary's office.

After all, it was rare for their boss to attend such a public event, especially one in the entertainment industry, which is more boisterous and relaxed than usual.

The entire secretary's office had been waiting in front of the screen, watching the whole thing.

Everything was normal at first, everyone was enjoying the spectacle.

Until Ye Zhiqiu suddenly fell into Qin Jianhe's arms.

As the head of the secretary's office, Zhou Tongxin was the first to speak.

"Damn, isn't Teacher Xiao Ye fearless? To actively seek comfort in the boss's arms in front of so many people, in such a big setting. Damn, social death is guaranteed, I'll shed tears of sympathy in advance."

"Tsk, the boss looks good, but isn't he too cold?"

"You guys, after all, he's our subordinate and a key player in Q.L., the boss would give him some face, right?"

"Boss, face... emm, if the boss knew what face was, would he still be our boss?"

"Damn, what's going on, the boss actually hugged him, hugged him..."

The messages in the group chat suddenly paused, with several seconds of silence.

Although it was after work hours, almost everyone in the secretary's office stared wide-eyed at the same time, in perfect unison.

"Damn, what's going on, are they really together?"

"Didn't I hear someone in the elevator earlier talking about how you said not to spread or believe rumors, that rumors stop with the wise, and that you were that wise person? @Zhou Tongxin"

"I remember who it was in the office saying that truth always needs to be tested through blood and trials before it can be truly recognized? @Zhou Tongxin"

[Leader, you've put quite some effort into fighting against rumors. @Zhou Tongxin]

"Damn, can a leader actually be sweet?"

"The leader seems to have a lot of warmth."

"Ao ao ao, hickeys, hickeys, Leader, you're in for a treat tomorrow, you can observe the leader's hickeys on the spot @Zhou Tongxin"

Zhou Tongxin: "……"

That night, apart from Qin Jianhe and Ye Zhiqiu, who had a peaceful night after their workout, most others were still excitedly chattering late into the night.

As a result, the next morning, many people in the Q.L elevator were yawning and rubbing their teary eyes.

Even Wang Ru, Zhang Lan, and Gao Yang entered Ye Zhiqiu's office with unusually tense expressions.

"What's going on?" Ye Zhiqiu looked at them with amusement, recalling how everyone had made way for him in the elevator that morning, and he couldn't help but cough lightly.

"I just love Qin Jianhe, but I'm still me; you don't need to be nervous," he said with a smile.

"Thinking about the leader," Gao Yang muttered, "makes me feel like you're also cold."

Ye Zhiqiu tilted his head slightly, then explained after a moment, "No, Qin Jianhe has a higher body temperature than me."

Gao Yang: "……"

Wang Ru: "……"

Zhang Lan: "……"

"Is there anything else you want to say?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, looking puzzled.

"It's like this," Zhang Lan said, "the sales team mentioned that two batches of materials used by the factory are inconsistent, and they need your review."

Wang Ru added, "The PR department received many interview requests from magazines and social media today, and we wanted to know your thoughts."

"Just turn them down," Ye Zhiqiu organized the leather samples on his desk. "Fashion Week is coming up, and I can't afford to be distracted."

Moreover, most of these interview requests were likely out of curiosity, aiming to delve into his personal relationship with Qin Jianhe.

"Yes, Teacher Meng also wants to see you, possibly to discuss the participation of Zhou Lang's former team members in the exhibition," Gao Yang added.

After Zhou Lang was arrested, the submission rate of the team's manuscripts actually increased, surpassing what it was when he was in charge.

Without Zhou Lang's fixed mindset, the application and presentation of fashion elements became more distinct and memorable.

Meanwhile, the young designers who had been overshadowed by Zhou Lang finally got their chance to shine.

Thus, the quality and quantity of the recent submissions were not significantly different from when Zhou Lang was around.

With this change, the pressure on Meng Da, who had been burdened by the significant upheaval in the Design Department, finally eased somewhat.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu nodded, acknowledging the information.

After the three left, he selected an appropriate wax thread and carefully sewed the pre-cut leather pieces together.

Previously, due to Qin Xusheng's connections, several third-tier brands under the Qin family had maintained long-term cooperation with the Jiang family.

So, after Qin Jianhe kicked the Jiang family out, many domestic leather goods companies finally got their chance to vie for cooperation.

He heard that they recently signed contracts with two small brands with very forward-thinking design concepts but had been struggling due to marketing issues.

One of them, having seen a few of Ye Zhiqiu's designs posted on Weibo, showed great interest and intended to purchase them for mass production.

Those designs were highly distinctive and did not fit Q.L's positioning, and Ye Zhiqiu had originally created them to undermine the Jiang family.

Since the other party was interested, he decided to make a sample first for them to review.

Time flew by as he worked.

In the afternoon, after work, Ye Zhiqiu drove to the hillside villa with Qin Jianhe.

They had already agreed to spend the birthday at the hillside villa with the elders.

This wasn't Ye Zhiqiu's first visit to the hillside villa.

He had even accompanied Qin Jianhe to the nursing home where Nie Yunsong lived several times after deciding to have a ring custom-made.

Perhaps because he had seen so many photos of Qin Jianhe with the elderly, Ye Zhiqiu felt no awkwardness during their first meeting, only finding the old man particularly kind.

The more time they spent together, the more Ye Zhiqiu liked the old man.

Nie Yunsong was not only gentle and kind but also remarkably open-minded, showing respect to the younger generation while caring for them.

Despite the age difference of several decades, Ye Zhiqiu always felt relaxed and happy whenever he was with the old man.

Because of this, he believed that Nie Fengjun, a strong woman in business, could completely shed her professional toughness when switching to her role as a mother, likely inheriting Nie Yunsong's personality traits.

The Nie family was not large.

Nie Yunsong lived in the nursing home, and Qin Jianhe had moved out long ago.

So, apart from Nie Fengjun, the only other person at home was Fu Mingjin.

Interestingly, Fu Mingjin's personality was somewhat similar to Nie Yunsong's, being exceptionally refined and gentle.

He is a university professor, and the people he interacts with most are usually young adults around Ye Zhiqiu's age.

Moreover, his research focuses on energy science, so when the two of them sit together, they naturally have endless topics to discuss.

In this life, the family Ye Zhiqiu chose is completely different from the one in his previous life.

And because of the constant tension from his past experiences, his heart gradually relaxed as he interacted and understood them bit by bit.

The more he interacted, the more Ye Zhiqiu came to understand why Qin Jianhe could be so aloof while maintaining such impeccable manners, almost flawless.

His aloofness stems from the wounds of his childhood, but his manners are due to the influence and warmth of the wonderful family around him.

From his previous life, Ye Zhiqiu had always yearned for a true home of his own.

This longing was a scar carved deep into his heart by Tao Ruoqing.

A scar is a scar; he couldn't erase it entirely, so he chose to control it with reason.

Because of this, he never allowed himself to indulge in this desire.

But he never imagined that he would have the chance to have such a perfect family.

No, in fact, this family is even more perfect than what he had ever imagined.

On a long summer day, as the car drove into the hillside villa, the sun still hung low in the sky.

Nie Yunsong had returned to the hillside villa earlier that morning. The old man was sitting under the grape arbor in the courtyard, playing chess with himself. Seeing them approach, he put down the chess pieces and smiled, rising with his cane.

"Xiao Ye, come over," Nie Yunsong beckoned to him. Ye Zhiqiu thought the old man wanted him to play chess, but instead, he just pointed to the grape arbor above them. "Some grapes are ripe. Have Xiao Yu get the scissors, and you can pick and eat them."

Qin Jianhe held Ye Zhiqiu's hand and walked to the grape arbor. With just a lift of his hand, he picked a cluster of red grapes that had turned purple.

Nie Yunsong chuckled and sat back down, looking at the gift box Qin Jianhe had placed on the table. He asked with a smile, "Did you buy something for your mother again?"

"A bag she likes," Qin Jianhe smiled, holding the grapes in his hand. "I'll go wash them."

"This child," Nie Yunsong sighed with a smile. "He always remembers that his birthday is his mother's suffering day, so every year on his birthday, he prepares a gift for her."

Ye Zhiqiu's eyes were filled with deep warmth. He turned his head to look at Qin Jianhe, then turned back after a moment.

"Grandpa," he said, "I'll play chess with you."

The Nie family is incredibly wealthy, with Nie Fengjun having been the richest person in the country for several consecutive years.

But Qin Jianhe's birthdays have always been simple and unadorned, without any unnecessary frills.

With Nie Yunsong and Nie Fengjun by his side, and Fu Mingjin and Nie Fengjun personally preparing the birthday meal, even the cake was baked by Fu Mingjin and decorated by Nie Fengjun.

Year after year.

This year, although it seemed the same as before, everyone knew it was actually very different.

Because this year, Qin Jianhe finally opened his heart and found the most important other half of his life.

Their family also truly welcomed a new member.

So last night, when Qin Jianhe and Ye Zhiqiu made their relationship public, no one was happier or more excited than Nie Fengjun.

After going through that ordeal, Nie Fengjun's character is actually tougher than anyone else's.

But last night, seeing Qin Jianhe hold Ye Zhiqiu in his arms and say those three words, "my love," she laughed and scolded, "Good boy," while tears welled up in her eyes, and she quietly cried on Fu Mingjin's shoulder.

The meal was particularly joyful. Ye Zhiqiu made a birthday crown and personally placed it on Qin Jianhe's head, and the whole family sang the birthday song for him.

The Arabic numerals "2" and "6" on the candles flickered, casting warm flames into Qin Jianhe's usually cold black eyes, illuminating the laughter in his eyes.

He puffed out his cheeks, closed his eyes, and blew out the candles with an unusually childish expression and gesture.

Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhiqiu raised his phone and captured this moment forever in his photo album.

The night breeze on the hillside was cool and comfortable. It was Ye Zhiqiu's first night on the mountain, and he leaned on the railing, gazing at the myriad lights below, finding it breathtakingly beautiful.

"Do you want some fruit?" Qin Jianhe asked.

"Sure," Ye Zhiqiu nodded. "The blueberries today are good."

"I'll get them." Qin Jianhe smiled and walked back to the room.

Once he left, Ye Zhiqiu went to the car trunk and took out the birthday gift he had prepared.

The door to the room soon opened again, and Qin Jianhe emerged with a fruit platter.

Ye Zhiqiu leaned against the railing, smiling as he watched him from a distance.

In one hand, he held a bright red rose, and the other hand rested casually in his pocket.

Behind him, the countless lights of the city stretched endlessly, like an endless river of stars, making the warmth in Ye Zhiqiu's eyes glow intensely and purely.

The white collar of his shirt fluttered in the wind, and at that moment, he looked like a celestial being descended from heaven, so beautiful that one couldn't look away.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and Qin Jianhe slowly approached, placing the fruit platter on the stone table under the umbrella. He reached out to take his hand.

But Ye Zhiqiu didn't move.

He handed the rose to Qin Jianhe, his eyes curved with a smile. "Happy birthday, Qin Jianhe."

Qin Jianhe took it, his eyes filled with deeper warmth. "Thank you."

"Also," Ye Zhiqiu said, pulling his other hand out of his pocket. He opened his palm to reveal a small red velvet box lying in it.

Without knowing how he did it, the lid of the velvet box snapped open, revealing two rings nestled closely together, shimmering with a fine silver light under the starlit sky.

Ye Zhiqiu's eyes sparkled, as if they held an entire galaxy within them.

"Qin Jianhe," he smiled, "will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?"

The world suddenly fell silent, and a surge of immense happiness filled his chest.

Qin Jianhe was momentarily speechless.

"Don't you want me?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled, lowering his gaze and taking out the larger of the two rings.

The dark gold ring was adorned with entwined rose branches.

The rose stems wrapped around the inside of the ring, with only the bud's petals visible at the edge.

And on the inner stem, the letters Y.Z.Q were clearly engraved.

"You didn't..." Qin Jianhe still remembered how strongly Ye Zhiqiu had opposed marriage not long ago.

But he did not ask, instead, his voice deep and resolute, he replied, "I do."

"I do." Qin Jianhe raised his hand, allowing Ye Zhiqiu to slip the ring onto his ring finger. Then he leaned down and kissed him passionately, his hoarse voice tinged with a slight tremor.

"It is my honor," he said.

From the window on the third floor, Nie Fengjun covered her mouth, tears of joy streaming down her face as she watched Qin Jianhe pick up the other ring and slide it onto Ye Zhiqiu's slender finger.

The ring was intricately carved with a cluster of realistic pine needles, and inside the band, the letters Q.J.H were engraved.

Their hands clasped tightly together, the rings brushing against each other gently...

Maintaining this position, Qin Jianhe pressed Ye Zhiqiu against the railing.

"This is the best birthday I've ever had," he whispered, his voice slightly raspy, "and the best gift I've ever received."

They kissed by the railing, and the lights of the city behind them seemed to shift and change.

This time, they were no longer a distant galaxy; they had turned into a sky full of fireworks.

As if the entire world was celebrating for them.

"I want to be with you forever and ever," Qin Jianhe murmured.

Forever and ever, far beyond this lifetime.

--- The End.

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