Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Those four familiar words.

This time, they were undeniably directed at him.

Yan Tingshen's dark eyes held Qin You's gaze, his grip on Qin You’s shoulder tightening slowly, creasing the fine fabric and mirroring the turmoil within.

He stared into Qin You’s eyes, his breaths growing deeper.

Their mingled breath hung between them, and the steady, powerful beat of Qin You’s heart thrummed against his own.

Outside, the same snow whispered against the panes.

That same electric tension coiled between them once more.

No trace of alcohol clung to Qin You.

This scene, this moment, and the voice in his ears—all were ghosts of that night.

His lips barely moved as his usually cold voice rasped, “You’re not lying to me?”

Qin You chuckled. “Why would I lie to you?”

Yet Yan Tingshen pinned him with that unrelenting gaze. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Qin You exhaled through his nose. “Fine, I’ll answer.”

He slid a hand behind Yan Tingshen’s neck and, as he rose, brought Yan Tingshen up with him.

Yan Tingshen, waiting only for Qin You’s response, instinctively followed his lead, but their bodies remained tangled, still at the closest possible distance.

Qin You paid no heed, placing a steadying hand on Yan Tingshen’s lower back to help him sit upright.

Yan Tingshen gripped his hand, pressing again, “You’re stalling.”

Qin You's shoulders shook with quiet mirth.

Meeting Yan Tingshen’s gaze, he replied firmly, “I’m not lying to you. Every word I’ve said is true.”

Yan Tingshen traced the curve of Qin You’s lips with his eyes, his grip loosening slightly as his pupils dilated. He looked up again, straightening Qin You’s collar, his tone deceptively light. “You said you didn’t like men.”

A muscle jumped in Qin You’s jaw. “Already keeping score? That’s not fair.”

“This one’s brand new,” Yan Tingshen said calmly.

A huff of laughter escaped him. “Liking men—this is my first time. No experience.”

As he spoke, his loosened tie slipped to the side. Yan Tingshen’s gaze drifted downward, catching sight of the red mark on Qin You’s collar, his pupils widening further.

He looked up again, straightening Qin You’s collar with what seemed like casual indifference. “No experience with men, huh? Then what about women—did you fake it till you make it?”

“Fake it till you make it?” Qin You didn’t pull away, smiling as he asked, “And where did that accusation come from?”

At this, Yan Tingshen froze.

He pressed his hand against Qin You's collarbone, leaning in closer, his dark phoenix eyes finally darkening slightly: "Before I came in, what were you and Miss Liu doing?"

Qin You leaned back on the sofa, thinking for a moment: "Miss Liu? She was helping me—"

At this point, he remembered the subtle but noticeable tension when Yan Tingshen first entered, glanced down, and immediately understood.

Yan Tingshen pressed on: "Helping you with what?"

Qin You smiled and countered: "What do you imagine she was helping me with?"

Yan Tingshen looked into those smiling eyes that didn’t shy away, felt a pang of bitterness, pursed his lips, and averted his gaze: "Whatever she was helping you with, this is the last time."

Before this, he and Qin You had just been friends. Naturally, he had no right to demand Qin You stay celibate.

"And one more thing."

Yan Tingshen turned his gaze back, meeting Qin You’s eyes, changing the subject, "Given the current situation, how do you plan to resolve your promise to Mr. Qin about having children after marriage?"

Qin You chuckled: "Let's take things one at a time."

Yan Tingshen asked: "What other questions are there?"

Qin You replied: "Of course, the situation with Miss Liu."

Yan Tingshen frowned slightly, the tightness in his chest flaring up again.

He had no business dwelling on Qin You’s past, nor did he want to hear that name again: "You and her—"

"Nothing happened between us."

Qin You cut him off, "As for this lipstick mark, the makeup artist accidentally dropped her lipstick on me. With time running short, Miss Liu was helping me clean it off—that’s all. It's still there on the floor. If you don’t believe me, you can call them in to explain."

Yan Tingshen paused.

Following Qin You’s gesture, he saw an open lipstick indeed lying on the ground.

Qin You sat up slightly, studying Yan Tingshen’s deceptively calm expression up close, smiling: "What exactly did you imagine we were doing to make you so angry?"

After a long silence, Yan Tingshen finally said: "I’m not angry."

Qin You's smile widened: "Is that why you suddenly brought this up?"

Another long pause. Yan Tingshen avoided his gaze: "No."

Qin You tilted his head, meeting his eyes again: "I’ve confirmed every word I said is true. What about yours?"

Yan Tingshen turned his face as well but accidentally brushed Qin You’s lips.

Qin You paused briefly, about to pull back.

Yan Tingshen glanced at him, his hand sliding from Qin You's collarbone to his shoulder, leaning in to kiss him again.

Qin You’s hand lifted halfway, seeing Yan Tingshen’s closed eyes, then gently settled at the back of his head.

Only when warm fingers trailed lightly, leaving tingling sensations, moving slowly downward from his shoulder, did Qin You open his eyes.

His eyes darted to the door again, stopped Yan Tingshen's hand and cleared his throat: "That's enough. If we keep this up, this might go too far."

Yan Tingshen's eyes fluttered open.

The usually icy and indifferent gaze had melted away. He didn’t pause his movements, looking at Qin You with a feigned calm tone: "What's wrong?"

"..." Suddenly, Qin You’s arm around Yan Tingshen’s waist tightened abruptly. His breathing grew slightly heavier for a moment as he pressed the other man firmly into his embrace, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "Are you really going to keep pretending? Someone could walk in here at any moment."

Hot breath fanned over his cheek and down his collar. Yan Tingshen paused, "What are you worried about?"

A low chuckle brushed his ear.

Before Yan Tingshen could turn his head, his vision swam as he was pushed back into the cushions.

Qin You leaned over him, looking down, "So, you're not worried?"

Feeling insistent pressure spreading his legs apart, Yan Tingshen's spine stiffened.

Qin You reached up and caught his briefly hesitant hand, kissing his slightly pursed lips with a smile, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "You started this—now finish it."

Yan Tingshen's breathing gradually grew heavier as well.

Inside the lounge.

The heat between them flared up again.

—

Banquet hall.

Small lounge.

"The banquet is about to start. Why hasn’t Tingshen come back yet?"

Qi Yan checked his watch, then glanced at Pei Sheng, "He wouldn’t really try to steal the groom, would he?"

"..." Pei Sheng's voice wasn’t entirely confident either, "He shouldn’t."

Qi Yan rubbed his nose.

Knowing him, the man would never do something that crazy—it’s beneath him.

But then again, by that same understanding, Yan Tingshen shouldn’t have fallen for Qin You in the first place.

Besides, when Tingshen had left earlier, he’d looked and sounded off, and now he hadn’t returned for so long. Hard not to worry.

Qi Yan looked at Pei Sheng again, "Should we go look for him?"

Pei Sheng thought for a moment, then stood up, "Let’s go."

At Qin You’s engagement banquet, both he and Qi Yan could tell that, whether Tingshen admitted it or not, he cared deeply. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have attended at all, much less seek Qin You out after Mr. Qin’s words.

Pei Sheng also believed Tingshen wouldn’t do something as reckless, as self-destructive, as stealing someone away at an engagement banquet. That wasn’t like him at all.

He was just worried that Mr. Qin’s words might have changed Tingshen’s mind. If he had gone to confront Qin You now, making things worse between them at such a time could easily lead to an even more serious rift.

The two of them left, checked with staff, and headed toward Qin You’s lounge.

When they reached the door, they spotted the closed door ahead. Qi Yan remarked, "This lounge is shared by Qin You and Liu Wangshu, so she must be there too?"

Pei Sheng agreed, "She should be."

"Then there’s no problem."

Qi Yan also slowed his steps. "Listen, it's so quiet inside. Nothing could've happened."

Before Pei Sheng could speak, after taking a few more steps forward, he suddenly spotted the nearby corridor—

Cui Ling, along with Liu Wangshu and an unfamiliar woman, stood by the hallway, none of them speaking.

The unfamiliar woman looked on edge.

Liu Wangshu twisted the tassels on her dress, her thoughts elsewhere.

Only Cui Ling checked his watch, glanced at his phone, pressed his earpiece, his impatience written all over his face.

Spotting Qi Yan and Pei Sheng approaching, he hurried over. "Mr. Qi, Assistant Pei, you're here."

Qi Yan asked him, "What's the situation inside?"

"..." Cui Ling was just as in the dark. "After President Yan went in, he hasn't come out yet."

Qi Yan and Pei Sheng shared a look, then turned their gaze to Liu Wangshu, who showed no reaction whatsoever.

Cui Ling was getting antsy and couldn't help hinting to the two of them, "The time is almost up, Mr. Qi. What do you think..."

He wasn’t about to cross *the Prodigal Heir*.

Nor could he cross Yan Tingshen.

These two were Yan Tingshen’s friends—they’d have better luck than him.

But Qi Yan took a step back, forcing a laugh. "Tingshen might have something important to discuss with President Qin. I wouldn’t want to interrupt."

Yeah, right.

Barging in on the tyrant? Not a chance.

Cui Ling: "..."

With timing like this.

These star-crossed exes.

Shut in a room alone together for so long.

What 'important matter' could it possibly be?

What else could it possibly be?

Cui Ling’s mind shied away from the thought.

Even less did he dare imagine how he would explain to the chairman when the banquet was about to start, yet the bride and groom were nowhere to be seen—

"Qi Yan, Pei Sheng? You're here too?"

Hearing this voice, Cui Ling froze in place, not turning around.

But Qi Yan and Pei Sheng, caught, had no choice but to turn and greet him.

"Mr. Qin."

Qin Hengzhong looked at the two of them, then at Cui Ling, who was lagging, before finally noticing Liu Wangshu standing nearby. Finally, his brow creased. "Wangshu? What are you doing out here?"

Liu Wangshu parted her lips slightly, clutching the tassel in her hand, and deflected by saying, "Mr. Qin, I just finished my makeup too."

"..." Qi Yan glanced at Liu Wangshu.

Even with the humiliation of infidelity hanging over her, she still covered for Qin You.

No wonder she’s marrying into the Qin family—impressive.

Qin Hengzhong asked, "Everything is ready. Where is Qin You?"

Cui Ling braced himself and replied, "Young Master Qin is—"

Liu Wangshu interjected, "President Qin’s collar is stained. He needs to change into another suit."

"..." Qi Yan looked at her again, impressed.

Smooth save.

This way, when they emerged with changed outfits, it would make sense.

Beside them, Pei Sheng gave Liu Wangshu a complicated look.

"Why still call him 'President Qin'?"

Qin Hengzhong didn’t suspect anything. "After the engagement, you'll be family. No need to be so formal."

Liu Wangshu lowered her head and said nothing.

President Qin had spelled it out for her—he was just acting as his fake fiancée. Everything was fake.

She wasn’t truly engaged to President Qin, and of course, they weren’t family.

Cui Ling let out a quiet sigh of relief. Just as he was about to see Qin Hengzhong out, he saw the chairman head for the lounge.

"Chairman!"

"Mr. Qin!"

Qin Hengzhong paused and turned back to look at the varied expressions on their faces.

Cui Ling kept his composure, showing no further signs of unease. "Chairman, Young Master Qin is changing his clothes. Once he’s done, I’ll bring him right over."

Qin Hengzhong said, "How long could changing a suit take?"

As he spoke, his eyes scanned the room before he turned around again.

Liu Wangshu started forward, then stopped and stayed put with the makeup artist.

Cui Ling wanted to stop him but couldn’t find an excuse, his stomach knotting with dread.

Seeing this, Qi Yan and Pei Sheng could only brace for whatever might happen.

Qin Hengzhong strode to the door first, his calm demeanor from earlier gone.

He wasn’t some doddering old fool.

Their weird reactions said it all—something (or someone) they were hiding was inside.

Jaw tight, Qin Hengzhong grabbed the doorknob. Then, hesitating, he knocked twice instead.

"Qin You, have you finished changing your clothes?"

As soon as he spoke, he opened the door.

Inside, Qin You stood with his back to the door, facing Yan Tingshen in front of the sofa.

At a glance, the scene seemed unremarkable.

Qi Yan leaned over Qin Hengzhong’s shoulder to look inside.

Qin You’s collar was open, his tie undone. Behind them, two jackets were tossed carelessly over the sofa.

Yan Tingshen, half-hidden behind Qin You, looked disheveled—his shirt wrinkled, no longer neat.

He was fixing Qin You’s tie when the sound made him look up. He rested a hand on Qin You’s shoulder, turned, and said calmly, "Mr. Qin."

Cui Ling had already turned away silently, refusing to look.

Qin You took the jacket from Yan Tingshen, draping it over his arm before turning to the door. "What are you all doing here?"

Qin Hengzhong’s face had turned stormy.

Given the situation, what else was there to misunderstand?

But after holding himself back, he suppressed his anger and instead said to Qin You, "The guests have arrived. The engagement banquet is about to begin. Qin You, change your clothes—it’s time to leave."

Then, he turned to Yan Tingshen. "Mr. Yan, today is Qin You and Wangshu’s engagement. If you have anything to say, we can discuss it tomorrow."

Hearing this, Yan Tingshen’s expression didn’t shift as he looked at Qin You.

But Qin Hengzhong felt a sense of foreboding.

As expected.

The next moment, Qin You's voice rang out.

"Today’s engagement—"

Qin You held Qin Hengzhong’s gaze as he casually took Yan Tingshen’s hand.

His voice was firm: "—it’s canceled."