That evening was exceptionally agonizing for Qi Xin.
Although Ye Zhiqiu didn’t order him around like usual, a single glance from him was enough to send Qi Xin scurrying.
To outsiders, it made him appear unusually attentive, thoughtful, and careful.
Even Sun Wei couldn’t help but praise him repeatedly.
Correspondingly, Jiang Nan’s expression grew increasingly dark.
Qi Xin had considered just playing dumb.
But he was still terrified Ye Zhiqiu might suddenly lose it.
If that happened, he’d lose even more dignity and face.
So Qi Xin could only endure.
The more Jiang Nan was present, the more he cared about others’ opinions, the more he had to endure.
As evening deepened, someone switched on the small dance floor in the center.
Accompanied by soothing music, the disco ball overhead began to rotate slowly.
Catching Ye Zhiqiu’s smiling gaze, Qi Xin quickly stood up.
He bowed gallantly and extended his hand, inviting Ye Zhiqiu to dance.
“Director Jiang, care to join in?” Sun Wei asked with a smile.
“Later.” Jiang Nan declined politely, his eyes fixed on the two unusually intimate figures on the dance floor.
They stood very close.
Their steps were in perfect sync.
Moving together, advancing and retreating, as if they’d practiced together many times.
Not only Jiang Nan was slightly surprised—even Qi Xin was unusually amazed.
This was his first time dancing with Ye Zhiqiu, yet their movements were flawless.
“Don’t you think we’re exceptionally in sync?” he couldn’t help asking.
“Aren’t we?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.
Aren’t they?
He and Qi Xin had been together for ten years, married for almost nine. He’d adapted to everything about Qi Xin…
How could they not be in sync?
“Since we’re so in sync,” Ye Zhiqiu looked up with a smile, “tonight you dance only with me. No one else.”
His tone was possessive.
Qi Xin was momentarily startled.
Instinctively, he turned his head, wanting to look at Jiang Nan.
“What’s wrong?” Ye Zhiqiu laughed, cold and mocking. “Need to check with your alumna first? Get her instructions?”
“No.” Qi Xin said quickly. “Why would I look at her?”
“Let me guess why you’d look at her.” Ye Zhiqiu tilted his head slightly, those beautiful eyes holding a teasing smile. “Have you two actually known each other all along?”
Qi Xin: “…”
“But then again,” he denied it himself, “isn’t it normal for alumni to know each other? Why did she deny it?”
Qi Xin: “…”
His back prickled. He felt cold sweat starting to form.
“Oh~” Ye Zhiqiu drew out the syllable. “She looks down on you. Too embarrassed to acknowledge you in public. Or maybe she’s in a relationship, but your connection isn’t exactly clean, so she needs to keep her distance in front of others?”
Qi Xin: “…”
His foot slipped.
Every hair on his body seemed to stand on end at this almost accurate guess.
“We’re not so in sync anymore, are we?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.
“You’re really…” A thin layer of sweat covered Qi Xin’s forehead. “How could that be?”
“Really?” Ye Zhiqiu looked at him with a smile, his warm, soft fingertips gently brushing the sweat from Qi Xin’s temple.
“Just joking.” He laughed. “Why are you so scared?”
Qi Xin: “…”
Who jokes like that?
Who?
Did he know his legs were trembling?
Did he know he’d been scared limp?
“Look how wonderful their chemistry is.” Outside the dance floor, Sun Wei smiled at Jiang Nan. “Xiao Ye is smiling so happily.”
Jiang Nan twitched the corner of his mouth.
The wine glass nearly shattered in his grip.
Since childhood, he’d been accustomed to being the center of attention.
Given Jinqi’s far superior status to VIA, he’d originally assumed Ye Zhiqiu would be groveling before him today.
Instead, Ye Zhiqiu had brought Qi Xin and caught him completely off guard.
Not only that, but everything Ye Zhiqiu said was elegant and composed.
Then, out of nowhere, a remark involving Qi Xin would make Jiang Nan feel like he’d swallowed a fly—nauseated and uncomfortable.
Watching that person smile like a flower on the dance floor, Jiang Nan looked away.
“I heard Ye Zhiqiu only has a few months’ collaboration with your company?” he asked casually.
“Yes.” Sun Wei didn’t hide it. “With his talent, our company really is beneath him.”
“But regardless, you could be considered his discoverer.” Jiang Nan smiled faintly. “Treating his discoverer like this—isn’t that a bit cold?”
“Me? His discoverer?” Sun Wei took a sip of wine. “Truth is, Xiao Ye is the one who gave VIA a helping hand.”
In just half a month, Ye Zhiqiu had submitted ten collections to her.
Each one already patterned, sized, with every accessory and material clearly organized.
And every single design had pre-order numbers far exceeding other new products on the official website.
Two of them had opened for pre-orders just two days ago.
In that short time, thousands of pieces had sold out.
Such optimistic sales prospects had even started bringing back many lost customers.
This year’s performance at VIA was already guaranteed to be stable with growth.
Something Sun Wei couldn’t have even dreamed of just half a month ago.
Just then, a song ended.
The dance floor lights brightened.
Sun Wei applauded Ye Zhiqiu and Qi Xin as they walked back hand in hand.
“Beautifully done,” she said with a smile.
At the same time, Jiang Nan stood up.
“Alumnus.” He extended his hand to Qi Xin. “Shall we dance one?”
Qi Xin: “…”
This was exactly what he’d been dreading.
Instinctively, Qi Xin looked at Ye Zhiqiu.
Noticing his movement, Jiang Nan was furious, but the arrow had already left the bow—he had no choice but to follow through.
“May I?” He also looked at Ye Zhiqiu, asking with a smile. “Xiao Ye?”
“Why not?” Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes curved playfully. “Dancing with Director Jiang would be an honor. If Director Jiang wants him, take him.”
“That won’t do.” Sun Wei laughed at this. “Can’t have Xiao Ye making such a big sacrifice for our company.”
Sun Wei hadn’t caught the threat in Ye Zhiqiu’s words.
But Qi Xin understood perfectly.
Ye Zhiqiu was warning him: if he dared go, he’d better never appear beside him again—just go straight to Jiang Nan.
“Sorry.” Qi Xin guiltily avoided Jiang Nan’s gaze. “A bit tired from dancing just now. Next time, I’ll make an appointment with you.”
Jiang Nan’s hand was still extended.
Hearing this, he felt both embarrassed and humiliated.
Even Sun Wei was slightly surprised.
She was about to intervene when Jiang Nan, his face cold, turned around.
“President Sun,” he said. “It’s getting late. We’ve more or less finalized the cooperation details. I’ll head back now.”
Before Sun Wei could react, Jiang Nan had already stalked toward the exit, all grace abandoned.
* * * *
On the way back, Qi Xin drove in gloomy silence.
The image of Jiang Nan storming off kept replaying and fermenting in his mind.
Fueling his anger.
Increasing his helplessness.
Yet he had absolutely no grounds to lose his temper.
Because tonight, Ye Zhiqiu had been more gentlemanly and polite to him than ever before.
He hadn’t even said a single harsh word.
Ultimately, tonight’s misfortune stemmed from his unexpected encounter with Jiang Nan.
Qi Xin didn’t suspect Ye Zhiqiu’s words on the dance floor.
After all, such a secret crush—he hadn’t even told his best friend.
How could Ye Zhiqiu possibly know?
Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t know.
His words, though inadvertently touching on part of the truth, were ultimately just jealousy over his and Jiang Nan’s initial strange behavior.
Jealousy…
His heart suddenly lurched.
Qi Xin abruptly realized something.
So, Ye Zhiqiu’s possessiveness—not wanting him to dance with others—was also just jealousy and possessiveness?
The emotions in his heart abruptly shifted.
Qi Xin couldn’t help turning to look at Ye Zhiqiu.
Ye Zhiqiu had drunk quite a bit tonight.
Probably a little drunk, he was now leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, resting.
The injury on the young man’s face had long healed.
His fair, delicate skin, under the fragmented lights rapidly flashing by in the night, shone with a jade-like, soft and lustrous sheen.
In the flickering light and shadow, the elegant curve of his upturned nose created an incredibly beautiful silhouette, as handsome as a comic book character.
The anger in his heart helplessly dissipated.
A deep sense of defeat washed over him.
Accompanied by a strange joy—because Ye Zhiqiu was jealous.
Qi Xin took a deep breath, forcing down these complex and chaotic emotions.
When he came to, the car had already stopped at the Ye family gate.
Seeing Ye Zhiqiu slowly open his eyes, he leaned over.
“We’re here.”
“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu responded faintly, then suddenly looked up at him.
“Delete each other,” he said.
His voice was slightly hoarse from the brief nap, but his tone was exceptionally cold.
Qi Xin: “…”
Just moments ago, at the hotel parking lot, when saying goodbye to Sun Wei, Ye Zhiqiu had been perfectly normal.
Just moments ago, he’d confirmed Ye Zhiqiu’s feelings for him…
Qi Xin didn’t understand why Ye Zhiqiu would suddenly turn on him.
Inexplicable panic crept into his heart.
Instinctively, he grabbed Ye Zhiqiu’s wrist.
“If I did something wrong, tell me clearly. Hit me, yell at me—I don’t care. But don’t do this.”
Ye Zhiqiu looked at him calmly, his eyes cold and mocking.
“I kindly brought you to meet more people in the industry. Sun Wei, Director Jiang—networking with either would be your blessing. And you?”
Ye Zhiqiu raised his hand and patted Qi Xin’s face—not hard, but extremely humiliating.
“You give me attitude?”
Qi Xin’s mind went blank for a moment.
He realized Tao Ruoqing must have inadvertently revealed his family’s clothing business.
“Who do you think you are?” Ye Zhiqiu slowly leaned closer to Qi Xin, staring him down with oppressive intensity.
“You’re worthy?”
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂