Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Lunar New Year's Second Day.

Hotel, lounge.

Clearly Qin Hengzhong's doing. When Qin You entered, there were already people inside.

Liu Wangshu was seated in front of the vanity, with a makeup artist and a hairstylist tending to her look.

Spotting Qin You in the mirror, Liu Wangshu went visibly rigid.

"...Mr. Qin."

Hearing this form of address, the makeup artist and stylist shared a quick look before continuing their work in silence.

"Mm." Qin You glanced at her and was about to turn away.

Cui Ling, standing behind him, stepped forward and said quietly, "Young Qin, this lounge is reserved just for you two. The banquet will start soon, so it’s more convenient to stay here."

Qin You glanced at his watch and didn’t object.

Cui Ling followed him to the sofa nearby. As they sat down, he explained, "We kept the guest list small today—immediate family only for both you and Miss Liu. The chairman said it was your idea to keep things low-key."

At this, he felt conflicted.

Still on holiday, he had been drafted into service by the chairman, with explicit orders to ensure Qin You’s satisfaction for this engagement banquet.

In some ways, he understood why the chairman had assigned him.

After all, since the wayward heir returned to the country, he had spent the most time with him.

Comparatively speaking, across the entire Qin Corporation—or even the Qin family—it was him, a subordinate and an outsider, who understood Qin You best.

But ever since Qin You left his post citing 'health reasons,' today was their first meeting.

He never expected their reunion to be at Qin You’s engagement banquet.

He recalled vividly their last contact—Qin You had known Kang Ming had taken over his position, yet stood his ground, showing no intention of compromise.

He truly couldn’t guess what the chairman had done during this time to make Qin You go along with this.

Still, he could tell the wayward heir couldn't care less about this marriage. He hadn't even bothered to fetch his fiancée himself.

As for keeping things low-key...

Cui Ling glanced at Qin You, who lounged indifferently on the sofa.

Right.

Having already agreed to the main event—getting engaged—the rest of the trivial details naturally deferred to Qin You to appear sufficiently respectful.

"This is the schedule for later."

Cui Ling handed the timetable to Qin You. "If any changes are needed, I’ll handle them immediately."

Qin You waved a hand. "Your call."

Cui Ling had expected this answer and took the hint and backed off.

At that moment, a message came through his earpiece. His expression first showed surprise, then turned subtle. He glanced at Qin You again and said calmly, "Qin You, I’ll be right back."

"Yeah," Qin You replied.

Cui Ling stood up and left.

Once outside, he immediately asked, "Who did you say arrived?"

The reply was clear.

"Yan Tingshen, President Yan."

Hearing that name, Cui Ling's scalp prickled.

Why’s he here today?

Is he here to stir shit?

—

Banquet hall.

Small lounge.

Qi Yan shut the door before speaking. "This doesn’t feel right."

Pei Sheng nodded. "There aren’t many guests at the banquet. They only invited the Qins and Lius."

Qi Yan looked at Yan Tingshen. "Bet Mr. Qin didn’t see us coming."

That’s why even this small lounge was thrown together last-minute.

For his ex-boyfriend’s engagement banquet, only Yan Tingshen could show up without blowing up—remaining so composed…

Qi Yan rubbed his nose.

Truth is, he couldn’t be sure whether Yan Tingshen was truly calm or had something else in mind.

But now that they were here, no use overthinking it.

Qi Yan sat down and turned to Pei Sheng. "You’re the one who kept pushing Tingshen to talk to Qin You. Why aren’t you saying anything today?"

Pei Sheng replied, "It’s too late now."

Qi Yan lifted his foot to rest on the footstool but sat back up at those words. "Says who? Now’s the perfect time."

Pei Sheng frowned at him. "Watch your mouth."

Qi Yan gestured toward the closed door. "Door’s closed. Chill."

Then he turned to Yan Tingshen. "Think about it. You win Qin You back today, and Mr. Qin cares about saving face—he’d never risk another embarrassment."

Yan Tingshen glanced at him.

"True."

Qi Yan blinked. "Like Pei Sheng said the other day, you’re just gonna give Qin You away?"

Yan Tingshen walked to the window.

After a moment, he said calmly, "It’s his call."

"What ‘choice’? Just claim him—he’s yours."

Pei Sheng said, "Watch your words."

"Isn’t that true? Was Junmin ever Tingshen’s to begin with?"

Qi Yan shrugged. "If we don’t fight, we’d have been eliminated ages ago."

Winning by merit isn’t the same as stealing."

"Love is a competition too."

Qi Yan laughed. "Without that edge, with President Qin’s personality, do you think Yan Tingshen could’ve gotten him?"

Pei Sheng frowned but didn’t interrupt.

Qi Yan continued, "Besides, two strangers getting engaged in three days—that's pure outdated nonsense."

Yan Tingshen finally spoke. "That’s enough."

Qi Yan shut up immediately.

Without turning around, Yan Tingshen muttered, more to himself than anyone, "He only agreed to the engagement as a stopgap."

Qi Yan held back for a few seconds but couldn’t resist adding, "But once this 'stopgap' is over, in everyone else's eyes, Miss Liu will be Qin You’s sweetheart."

At that, Yan Tingshen’s eyes went cold.

"After all, she’ll soon be Qin You’s proper fiancée—ceremony and everything—"

"... A sharp elbow dug into his ribs. Qi Yan clutched his arm and glanced at Pei Sheng's expressionless face, biting back his words with practiced ease.

However, the silence didn’t last.

A knock sounded at the door.

Pei Sheng said, "Come in."

The door opened.

An assistant waited outside as Qin Hengzhong walked in.

Seeing him, Pei Sheng and Qi Yan rose from the sofa. "Sir."

Qin Hengzhong gave them a curt nod, his gaze fixed solely on Yan Tingshen, who had turned from the window.

Even he hadn’t expected Yan Tingshen to remain so composed upon receiving the invitation and learning of Qin You’s engagement.

But Yan Tingshen’s presence at the engagement banquet, whatever his reason, would inevitably become a variable.

Qin You had barely accepted his terms—he couldn’t risk, nor allow, any surprises.

Qin Hengzhong turned to the two men before him. "Would you two mind stepping out for a moment? I need a word in private with President Yan."

Pei Sheng and Qi Yan immediately turned to look at Yan Tingshen.

Yan Tingshen gave a slight nod.

Then the two said goodbye and left.

The door shut behind them.

Mr. Qin said to Yan Tingshen, "Please, have a seat."

Facing this exceptional junior, he spoke bluntly for the first time about a matter he had initially wished to avoid addressing directly. "You can probably guess why I’ve come."

Yan Tingshen simply said, "Please, continue."

Mr. Qin said, "I hope you will break up with Qin You. It’s the best outcome—for you, him, and Wangshu."

Yan Tingshen replied, "Qin You is already engaged. Are you still uneasy, Mr. Qin?"

"If you truly care about Qin You, you should consider his well-being."

Mr. Qin continued, "He grew up alone, far from home. Would you want his child to go through the same?"

Child?

Yan Tingshen’s eyes narrowed slightly, the weight in his chest growing heavier.

Was Qin You lying to him?

The pause in their conversation lasted only a moment, but Mr. Qin, watching him closely, didn’t miss a thing.

"Did Qin You never mention it to you?"

Mr. Qin said pointedly, "He promised me at least one child after marriage."

As these words fell, Yan Tingshen lifted his eyes.

He met Mr. Qin’s eyes, voice cool. "If that's Qin You's promise, why come to me, Mr. Qin?"

Mr. Qin studied him.

On that strikingly handsome face, he saw nothing beyond composure.

Qin You’s engagement news didn’t seem to faze him.

Qin You’s future marriage and kids didn’t seem to bother him at all.

From this, Mr. Qin saw that a single conversation wouldn’t be enough to sway the resolve of these two.

The Qin family’s influence wasn’t enough, threats meant nothing to Qin You, and pushing too hard might make Qin You walk away. To avoid making things worse, he could only wait.

Wait for the engagement to pass.

Wait for Yan Tingshen to see it himself.

Best case: Qin You would come back to his family and fall in line.

Unfortunately, that outcome seemed unlikely.

No use talking anymore.

The banquet will start soon.

Seeing that Yan Tingshen wouldn’t budge, Qin Hengzhong made a few more remarks before standing up and leaving the room.

Yan Tingshen also glanced toward the door.

The engagement’s festive mood was written all over everyone’s faces—whether real or fake, the guests were all chatting and laughing.

Soon after, Qi Yan and Pei Sheng returned from outside.

"Tingshen, what did Mr. Qin say?" Qi Yan asked first. "Was it about Qin You?"

Yan Tingshen’s eyes darkened.

Noticing someone else approaching, he walked over slowly and spoke before the other could utter a word.

"Where is Qin You?"

Cui Ling stiffened at the question.

His heart skipped a beat.

His expression froze.

Crap.

The tone was off…

*** * ***

Meanwhile, in the lounge…

Once the hairstyling was done, the hairdresser packed up the tools and quietly left.

Seeing this, the makeup artist worked faster.

After applying the lipstick, she stood up to step behind the client and check the mirror, but then she slipped on a hairpin.

"Ah!"

As she stumbled, the lipstick flew out of her hand and, horrifyingly, traced a parabola before landing on the devastatingly handsome groom-to-be sitting on the nearby sofa.

Helpless, she watched as lipstick streaked onto the groom’s collar. She looked even more panicked.

"I’m so sorry! So sorry!"

For high-profile clients like these, she was afraid her whole month’s pay wouldn’t cover that shirt.

Fortunately, the mark was small and faint—there might still be a way to fix it.

She grabbed a wet wipe and hesitated—should she try to clean it herself? Instinctively, she looked to the bride-to-be for help.

Liu Wangshu hurried over, taking the wet wipe from the makeup artist. Her eyes also darted to Qin You.

"I can—"

The makeup artist cut in, "I know how to fix this! We can wipe it off!"

Qin You was about to refuse, but upon seeing her panicked expression, he nodded and said, "Yeah."

The makeup artist sighed in relief, stood to the side, and talked the bride-to-be through what to do.

Liu Wangshu listened, nodded, then walked over to Qin You and sat beside him on the sofa. She carefully reached out to pinch the collar of his shirt, not daring to cross any boundaries.

"Tap, tap, tap—"

Hearing the knocking, the makeup artist quickly said, "Come in."

Outside the door, Cui Ling relaxed a little when he realized there was a third person present. He then opened the door, but just as he was about to step inside, his eyes widened in shock, and he froze—he didn’t dare so much as glance back.

Unfortunately, the door was so wide that even if he stayed put, the person behind him could still clearly see the scene inside.

Liu Wangshu was sitting sideways on the sofa, leaning slightly toward Qin You, her hands raised as if pressing against something—her figure nearly blending into Qin You’s, who was reclining against the backrest.

Cui Ling steeled himself and glanced at Yan Tingshen’s profile.

"..." He quickly averted his eyes, not daring to look again. He immediately coughed and said, "Young Master Qin."

Liu Wangshu also turned her head at the sound. Seeing the two of them—especially meeting Yan Tingshen’s gaze—she instinctively recoiled and stood up from the sofa.

Yan Tingshen’s eyes swept past her and settled on Qin You.

He noticed the lipstick stain on Qin You’s collar, then his lips, before lifting his gaze slightly to meet those smiling, coquettish peach-blossom eyes behind the lenses.

"What are you doing here?"

Cui Ling: "..."

He couldn’t believe the Prodigal Heir was still grinning at a time like this.

Yan Tingshen took a step forward.

Cui Ling’s pulse spiked again. Acting fast, he motioned for the two inside to leave. "President Yan has something to discuss with Young Master Qin. Please step out for a moment."

Liu Wangshu, oblivious, left with the makeup artist.

Qin You put down the tablet in his hand and was about to stand when Yan Tingshen suddenly spoke.

"So *this* is your idea of a 'fake engagement'?"

Qin You paused.

He looked at Yan Tingshen. "The engagement is fake, but we still have to hold a ceremony. Otherwise, the old man would never back down."

"Ceremony?"

Yan Tingshen stepped closer, ghosting his fingers over Qin You’s collar. "Is this also part of the ceremony?"

Qin You looked down and laughed softly. "This—"

Yan Tingshen’s gaze shifted to his slightly upturned lips.

At least there were no traces of anyone else here.

Cold fingers skimmed his jaw, hovering near the corner of his mouth. Qin You raised an eyebrow. "The hell are you doing?"

Through the lenses, Yan Tingshen met his eyes. "I just realized something."

Qin You asked, "What is it?"

Yan Tingshen replied, "I don't think I want you to have a proper fiancée, or see you get married and start a family—"

Qin You locked eyes with him and was about to rise again when Yan Tingshen’s hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

"—These past few days, I’ve thought about it, but regarding Pei Sheng’s issue, the answer's been clear all along."

Yan Tingshen also looked at Qin You, his tone as composed as ever, though his grip on Qin You’s shoulder was deliberately firm. "Qin You, I don't think I can bear letting someone else have you."

As he spoke, his steady voice grew softer; leaning in, the distance between them narrowed.

"In the space between breaths, Yan Tingshen’s voice was no longer low. "Before, you mistook someone else for me, but I never made that mistake."

"Qin You, fortunately, the person you met from the very beginning was me. Because knowing you has been the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me."

After hearing him out, Qin You fell silent for a moment before raising his hand to grip Yan Tingshen’s wrist, pretending he was about to stand. "Let go first."

Yet for the third time,

Yan Tingshen pushed Qin You back into the sofa, his fingers drifting slowly from Qin You’s lips to the side of his neck.

Gazing into Qin You’s eyes, over the pounding of his own heartbeat, he fought to steady his breathing and uttered the words Qin You had once said to him.

"Qin You, I like you."

Qin You’s pupils contracted slightly.

Yan Tingshen leaned in one last time.

A kiss, without hesitation, pressed firmly on Qin You’s lips.