Chapter 90

Chapter 90

After ending the call, Qin You readjusted the blanket over his lap and stayed with Yan Tingshen on the balcony a little longer before finally getting up to return to the room and change clothes.

When he was about to leave, he noticed Yan Tingshen had also changed into going-out clothes. He paused slightly before walking up to him. "Don’t go today. It wouldn’t be appropriate."

According to Qin Hengzhong, this was a family dinner to explain who Kang Ming is.

Since it was a family dinner, it wouldn’t just be him and Qin Hengzhong.

The Qin residence was full of watchful eyes.

Qin Hengzhong might not disclose his relationship with Yan Tingshen, but there was no telling if others would keep quiet.

If the Yan family found out, it would definitely cause problems for Yan Tingshen.

Yan Tingshen said calmly, "I’ll drive you."

Qin You paused again.

He glanced at his watch. "It’s a two-hour round trip. It's too much trouble. Just stay home—I’ll come back as soon as I can."

Yan Tingshen only replied, "Come on."

Qin You gave in.

Seeing Yan Tingshen all dressed and determined, he could only go along with it. "Alright, let’s go."

Once in the car, Qin You received another call from the Qin residence, asking if he'd left yet.

Finally, Qin Hengzhong’s voice came through. "I’ve also invited your aunt and uncle today. Don’t be late."

Qin You understood the unspoken message.

This family dinner would have other people there.

After the second call ended, Qin You turned to Yan Tingshen. "You heard it too. Don’t read too much into it."

Yan Tingshen said, "I’m not reading too much into it. Laying low for now—I agree."

Qin You had already almost gotten killed over him once.

If more people learned about their relationship, it would only bring harm to Qin You. For that reason alone, until the situation stabilized, he had no intention of making it public.

As he spoke, he squeezed Qin You’s hand, eyed the console between them, and didn’t lean further forward before adding, "You shouldn’t read too much into it either."

Qin You gave a quiet chuckle. "Don’t worry. I know."

As they chatted in the car, before they knew it, they arrived at the Qin residence.

Qin You got out and circled to the passenger side, where the car window rolled down.

He approached, and Yan Tingshen looked at him.

Qin You said, "Head back."

Yan Tingshen gazed at him, his lips parted slightly, hesitating a moment. In the end, he only said four words: "No drinking."

Qin You met his eyes, gave a quiet chuckle, then suddenly reached out to lift his chin and leaned in to kiss his upturned lips.

Yan Tingshen instinctively raised his hand to press against his collar, then released it, gripping the side of his neck instead. Before he could tighten his hold, the person before him had already pulled away.

Only the warmth of the two fingers that had pinched his chin lingered, lightly brushing against him before finally withdrawing.

Yan Tingshen also retracted his hand, letting it fall back onto his knee, slowly curling his fingers.

Qin You straightened up and responded with a curt "Understood."

Yan Tingshen was about to speak when the sweep of headlights in his peripheral vision made him change his words: "Head inside."

Qin You smiled and nodded: "Right."

As the window rolled up, he gave the window frame a light tap before turning to leave.

Yan Tingshen sat in the car, watching his figure disappear behind the door.

A moment later, the car pulled away.

Behind it, a second car pulled up to the entrance and stopped.

Qin Yi got out first, walking around the back of the car toward the door. Seeing Qin Hua still standing in place, she asked impatiently, "What are you waiting for?"

Qin Hua stared in the direction the previous car had gone, only frowning and looking away once it had driven into the garage.

Did he just see Qin You talking intimately to someone in that car? Or was it his imagination?

A parked car in the garage wouldn’t have anyone inside.

Right.

Today’s family dinner was personally arranged by the old man. Qin You had just caused a major disaster—He should be groveling for mercy, not stirring trouble. There was no way he’d bring a lover along to provoke anyone.

"You coming or what? I’m not waiting."

Qin Hua withdrew his gaze.

Seeing Qin Yi turn and walk away after just one sentence, he said nothing. After Qi Xianghe and Qi Hailiang got locked up, his sister had been scolded by the old man several times. Outside, she kept her cool, but every time she returned to places connected to the Qin family, she’d snap. He was used to it.

"Coming."

Qin Hua followed behind Qin Yi, mentioning offhandedly, "You think the old man mentioned why he organized this family dinner?"

Just thinking about the old man made Qin Yi’s head throb. "No."

Qin Hua continued, "You think it’s about Qin You ditching the engagement?"

Forget Qi Hailiang—all Qin You’s fault. Even if Qin Yi didn’t care much about her child, she’d still be pissed at Qin You. She often ran with those high-society ladies. If played right, those connections might help recover some of the information channels Yuanweimeng had lost.

Kissing up to them couldn’t hurt.

Qin Yi frowned: "It’s just the Liu family. Calling it off is no big deal—compensation was given. Why the big deal?"

Qin Hua said, "Don’t you remember why the old man pushed Qin You to get engaged so fast?"

"God knows how many guys he’s screwed around with. Now that he’s only involved with one, is it really worth the old man throwing a fit?"

Qin Yi was even more dismissive. "Like marriage’s gonna tame him. How much longer does he plan to keep playing these dinosaur-era mind games?"

"..." At her words, Qin Hua suddenly remembered that she had also been forced into marriage. However much she disliked Qin You, she’d feel the same resentment on this topic. He then changed the subject, "I just wonder who this guy is, that even the old man can’t do a thing about it."

Qin Yi was out of patience: "Who gives a damn about who he is? It’s not like I have to deal with him."

"..." Qin Hua watched her back, oddly missing that fool Qi Hailiang.

Qi Hailiang was indeed foolish, but he had been devoted when working for him. If he wanted to deal with someone, a few choice words of provocation were enough to hook them.

Qin Yi, on the other hand, spent her days eating, drinking, and lazing around. When trouble arose, she either ducked responsibility or dodged the issue—not at all like a Qin.

Seeing Qin Yi had no interest in Qin You's affairs, he didn’t bother arguing and followed her into the small banquet hall.

The butler saw them and informed Qin Hengzhong, "Sir, everyone’s here."

Qin Hengzhong rose from the sofa: "Then let’s eat."

Qin Hua had to turn and walk to the dining table.

As soon as he sat down, he finally realized what was off.

Noticing Qin You and Kang Ming sitting on either side of the old man, he frowned.

Wasn’t tonight’s dinner supposed to be about Qin You’s defiance in breaking off the engagement?

What was Kang Ming doing here?

Had the old man really allowed an illegitimate son, someone who shouldn’t even be here, to sit as their equal?

And Kang Ming’s return today—why hadn’t he been warned?

Qin Hua glared at Kang Ming, grabbed the aperitif, and knocked it back, his face cold.

If he hadn’t driven Qin You out of the executive office back then, Kang Ming would never have climbed out of the old man’s office in this lifetime!

Now that he had secured his footing, he thought he could ditch his benefactor? Qin Hua would make sure Kang Ming understood this was a stupid move.

"Let’s eat first."

At Qin Hengzhong’s words, Qin Hua lowered his head and picked up his chopsticks.

The meal continued until its end.

Qin Yi tossed her napkin onto the table after wiping her lips, her gaze sweeping past Kang Ming as she spoke bluntly, "Dad, you didn’t call us here during the New Year just to make us dine with an outsider, did you?"

The moment these explosive words left her mouth, the younger generation at the table—including Qi Xinwei—shot each other uneasy looks and lowered their heads.

Kang Ming also kept his eyes down, neither meeting Qin Yi’s gaze nor acknowledging her words.

Qin Hua set down his chopsticks.

In the past, he would have stepped in to help Kang Ming out of the awkward situation.

But now that Kang Ming thought he had the old man’s backing and no longer regarded him, Qin Hua was more than happy to watch from the sidelines.

"The first reason I called you here,"

Qin Hengzhong said, "is to reintroduce Kang Ming to all of you."

Though he said "all of you," his eyes were fixed solely on Qin You.

Qin You glanced around the long table, already grasping the purpose of this family gathering—something Qin Hengzhong had only disclosed to him in advance.

Qin Hua also looked at Qin You, with feigned casualness: "Dad, it's Lunar New Year. Maybe we shouldn't bring this up now?"

Qin Hengzhong raised his hand and stood from the table.

He walked behind Kang Ming and rested a hand on his shoulder. "This matter... I originally intended to bury this secret. But now, there's no point in hiding it anymore."

Qin You raised an eyebrow.

Qin Hengzhong turned to him. "Kang Ming... he's biologically your father's son."

Upon hearing this, Qin Hua felt a sinking feeling.

The patriarch prized face above all. The love child would never be openly acknowledged unless there was some face-saving arrangement.

Sure enough.

The next moment, Qin Hengzhong continued, "But Kang Ming isn't the kind of love child you think he is."

He glanced at the others before focusing on Qin You again. "In fact, a full year before Kang Ming's birth, Qin You, your parents had already secretly divorced. I only learned of this after your father fell ill."

*System gasped*: "Host, none of this was recorded in the original plot..."

Qin You showed no reaction.

Not just these details.

From what he recalled, Kang Ming's illegitimate status had never been exposed, and the original host had smoothly maintained his position as general manager.

At least until Qin Hengzhong suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away, the original host had lived large—before being driven out of the Qin family.

Qin Hengzhong wasn't finished. "So, Kang Ming is just your father's son from another relationship. He never harmed your mother or you."

Qin Yi couldn't help but ask, "But Dad, if that's the case, why does Kang Ming have the Kang surname? And why did he only join the company four years ago? Given Eldest Brother's personality, if he knew Kang Ming was his own flesh and blood, would he have let him remain estranged?"

"It's complicated—"

Qin Hengzhong's tone was calm, clearly unwilling to elaborate on her questions. "Your brother didn’t even know Kang Ming’s mother was pregnant."

Qin Yi wasn’t buying it.

It sounded like an excuse. But since it came from the old man, even if she doubted it, she wouldn’t call him out.

After speaking, Qin Hengzhong scanned the room.

Kang Ming stayed quiet.

The younger generation remained dead silent.

Qin Yi asked a few more questions, but after her initial surprise, she went back to picking at her dessert. Qin Hua, meanwhile, kept shooting worried glances at Qin You.

Qin Hengzhong slowly turned his gaze to Qin You—

Seeing Qin You's unchanged expression, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his mind.

This kind of calm under pressure was one of the reasons he valued Qin You so much.

To take over the Qin Group, skills, personality, and attitude—all were essential.

And Qin You had it all.

The only flaw was his practically zero drive—almost no ambition at all.

But remembering that Qin You had grown up alone since childhood, Qin Hengzhong couldn’t stay mad at him.

At this thought, he let out a quiet sigh.

He was already aware that Qin You had transferred the Xiyuan shares to Liu Wangshu, and it wasn’t exactly shocking.

After all, Qin You was kind-hearted and always put others first, refusing even to go after those who set him up—much less calling off an engagement.

Yet, precisely because of his sensitivity, suddenly learning about his parents' early divorce and having a half-brother probably hit him hard.

"As for the second matter."

Qin Hengzhong thought, his voice hardening as he announced it, "As you’ve seen, Qin You has recovered from his illness. Starting on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, he will step back into his role as the general manager of the Qin Group."

This news came even more abruptly.

Qin Hua narrowed his eyes, realizing that things had gone completely off-script and were now out of his hands.

Kang Ming had shaken off the ‘bastard’ tag, standing as a legitimate member of the Qin family.

As for Qin You’s relationship with a man, it seemed no one cared anymore, like it never even happened.

Qin Hua looked across the table.

Seeing Qin Hengzhong walking toward Qin You, he closed his eyes briefly, then smiled when he reopened them.

If the first attempt failed, there would be a second.

He just needed to find another opportunity—just wait and see.