Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Ye Weian glanced at Zhou Huaichen, wondering why he was smiling again.

Zhou Huaichen had been smiling ever since their meeting today.

Yet, when this man smiled, he seemed even more captivating, like a purple crystal core exuding a rich grape aroma that left him enchanted.

Ye Weian looked at Zhou Huaichen again and said, "Stop smiling, I’m focused on serious business."

—[Your smile is so distracting, I can’t concentrate on work.]

Zhou Huaichen: "..."

He let out a soft cough, pressing a fist to his lips to conceal his smile, and said, "Alright, please carry on with your work."

Ye Weian nodded in satisfaction and turned to Yan Qing, saying, "Sign it."

Yan Qing: "..."

Ye Weian’s tone was utterly cold: "If you don’t sign, then pay back the money."

Yan Qing bit his lip and glanced at Zhou Yongnan.

What else could Zhou Yongnan do but appeal to Zhou Huaichen? "Uncle, isn’t Mr. Ye’s agreement a bit too harsh..."

Zhou Huaichen calmly cut him off: "I think it’s perfectly fine."

Yan Qing, eyes red, said with a hint of jealousy, "Mr. Zhou, why do you keep taking his side?"

This remark made Zhou Yongnan realize something was amiss. He frowned, "Uncle, Ye Weian is an outsider; I’m your nephew."

Zhou Huaichen looked up at him, "If you had listened to me, you wouldn’t be here today."

Zhou Yongnan’s expression darkened.

His uncle, much like his grandfather, had a poor impression of Yan Qing and had always disapproved of his involvement with him.

By coming here to support Yan Qing today, he had clearly displeased his uncle.

"I..." Zhou Yongnan struggled for a long time, but not a single word escaped him.

He knew his uncle wouldn't help him.

Seeing that Zhou Huaichen was unwilling to assist, Yan Qing shot him a resentful look before turning to Ye Weian and saying coldly, "Don’t you dare regret this... Even if you kneel before me begging later, I will never forgive you..."

Ye Weian: "Oh."

He tapped the agreement with his pen, "Sign it."

Yan Qing: "..."

With red eyes, he glared fiercely at Ye Weian for a long moment, then covered his face and bolted out.

Ye Weian instructed his special assistant to stop him: "You can only leave after signing."

Yan Qing: "..."

He angrily scrawled his name, threw the pen, and fled.

Zhou Yongnan glared at Ye Weian: "Just you wait!"

After delivering his threat, he cast a resentful glance at Zhou Huaichen before departing.

Ye Weian contentedly handed the agreement to his two special assistants, instructing them to draft a plan for generating buzz between Yan Qing and the artists under his company, to be implemented starting the next day.

Before the special assistants left, Ye Weian added, "Find someone to draw a set of zombie cartoon images, characterized by a handsome and chill vibe."

Special Assistant: "?"

Zhou Huaichen, however, chuckled softly.

After the special assistants left and only the two of them remained in the room, Ye Weian looked at Zhou Huaichen and said, "My work is done."

—[You can smile now.]

—[Your grape-flavored smile is sweet.]

Zhou Huaichen, the unwitting participant: "..."

The corners of his lips curved into a deeper smile as he said nonchalantly, "I heard you pulled your investment from Yan Qing’s new drama."

Ye Weian admired his face, "Yes."

Zhou Huaichen met his gaze, his eyes deep, "You spent a lot of money promoting him before. Why the sudden change of heart?"

Ye Weian shook his head, "My mind hasn't changed."

Zhou Huaichen: "Oh?"

Ye Weian felt there was no need to conceal anything from this hidden big boss and replied honestly, "My goal in all this is still to be with Yan Qing."

Zhou Huaichen’s smile faltered slightly, "Being with him?"

Ye Weian sensed that his grape scent seemed to have turned a bit bitter.

Ye Weian: "?"

He didn’t understand why the sweetness had suddenly vanished.

Zhou Huaichen looked at him, "Do you like Yan Qing?"

Enough to resort to any means, even coercion?

Ye Weian shook his head, "No."

—[What’s there to like about Yan Qing?]

Zhou Huaichen lightly tapped the teacup with his finger, "Then why are you so determined to be with him?"

Ye Weian naturally couldn’t tell him about the system, so he simply said, "I have my reasons."

Zhou Huaichen fell silent.

Ye Weian felt his grape scent become even more bitter and looked at him, puzzled, "Are you unhappy?"

Zhou Huaichen looked at him quietly, saying nothing.

Ye Weian tilted his head, "Once the cute zombie king emojis are ready, I’ll send them to you right away."

—[So don't be upset.]

Zhou Huaichen heard his inner thoughts, his eyes flickering slightly.

After a moment, he lowered his gaze and murmured, "Alright, send it over when you're done."

The system, having listened to the entire conversation, suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Big Boss Zhou.

Ye Weian was a straight man—one who had spent ten years as the king of zombies in the apocalypse. What complex emotions could he possibly harbor?

The entire meal was enjoyable, except for the slight bitterness in the grape scent emanating from Zhou Huaichen at the end, which left Ye Weian a little displeased.

What he didn’t know was that when Zhou Huaichen bid him farewell and returned home, closing his eyes to rest in the car, the ache in his heart deepened.

...

As Zhou Huaichen’s car drove away, Ye Weian prepared to return to the company to meet with an artist.

The system suddenly spoke up, [Host, be careful of Zhou Yongnan and Yan Qing. They will likely make a move against you in the next few days.]

Ye Weian wasn’t worried.

Based on the original plot, those two would likely try to frame him for assault.

He asked the system, "You’re a high-tech product, so you know hacking, right?"

The system replied, [I do, but...]

Ye Weian said, "If Yan Qing tries to frame me during a live stream, cut the internet connection and nip his scheme in the bud."

The system: "..."

The host is truly cunning!

But this method was indeed the most direct and effective.

Ye Weian truly wasn’t concerned about Yan Qing and Zhou Yongnan’s schemes. His mind was on something else entirely.

"I feel like Zhou Huaichen is a bit unhappy. Did something happen to him?" He rubbed his chin and asked the system.

The system: "..."

The system said, [Host, you care too much about Zhou Huaichen. This isn’t a good sign.]

The system asked, [Have you fallen for him?]

Ye Weian replied, "I do like him."

The system: "!!!"

Ye Weian added, "He’s like my favorite crystal core—I adore him."

The system: "..."

It once again felt sympathy for Zhou Huaichen.

Ye Weian thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps there’s an issue with the Zhou family’s business. Later, I’ll offer him an infrastructure project in Africa."

After all, the Ye family couldn’t handle it alone, so collaborating with the Zhou family made sense.

"Win-win," Ye Weian said cheerfully.

The system: "..."

Host, you have no heart!

For the third time, it sympathized with Zhou Huaichen.

Author's Note:

Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!