The broth hadn’t even fully come to a boil, but the fragrant steam was already rising, filling the modest private room with an enticing aroma.
This was the second floor of an old wooden building, looking somewhat aged, yet impeccably clean inside.
Sunlight fell on the solid wood window frames, creating a quiet, warm atmosphere.
Ye Zhiqiu instinctively leaned into the light, turned his head, and looked at Qin Jianhe.
“When are you going back?”
Qin Jianhe didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned over, took away the dipping sauce bowl that had too much chili oil, and replaced it with a fresh one.
Sunlight fell on the hand holding the bowl, and on the forearm exposed by his rolled-up sleeves.
The long, smooth lines of muscle shifted with the light, looking incredibly beautiful and incredibly sexy.
Instinctively, Ye Zhiqiu’s eyelashes fluttered, like a furry little brush tickling the heart.
Qin Jianhe’s gaze dropped, his eyes growing slightly veiled.
“The day after tomorrow at the latest, maybe tomorrow,” he said, his voice calm.
“There’s an important meeting I need to attend back home.”
The broth finally boiled.
Tiny bubbles rose from the bottom, bursting on the surface.
Out of habit, Qin Jianhe took the serving chopsticks and put some lamb in Ye Zhiqiu’s pot.
“The broth and sauces here are quite authentic,” he said.
“Uncle Fu recommended it.”
“Uncle Fu?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.
“Mm.” Qin Jianhe smiled faintly. “My mother’s current boyfriend.”
Ye Zhiqiu was silent.
Nie Fengjun had been a legend in the fashion world many years ago.
Back then, whether it was her talent, or her courage to give up superior conditions and a bright future abroad for love, returning to China regardless of everything to build a business from scratch with Qin Xusheng—all of it was legendary.
“Talent” and “love” were the two most inescapable labels attached to Nie Fengjun back then.
Ye Zhiqiu knew this because, after entering fashion school, he had followed his teachers in appreciating many of Nie Fengjun’s classic works in class.
Back then, his teachers loved to use her work as examples of what “timeless” truly meant.
Ye Zhiqiu was deeply impressed by Nie Fengjun’s talent, so much so that he had specially looked into her background.
But by the time he discovered her, she was no longer that young, beautiful designer.
Unlike Qin Jianhe, she still appeared in public occasionally, but mostly at various economic and business conferences.
By then, she had already become the standard image of a powerful businesswoman.
Before, Ye Zhiqiu had never compared himself to Nie Fengjun.
To him, she was an untouchable, goddess-like figure.
But after his rebirth, he couldn’t help but feel, more than once, that their experiences had some similarities.
Although Nie Fengjun was far less miserable than he was, the betrayal she suffered was still devastating enough.
For so many years, there had been no news of her having another relationship.
Ye Zhiqiu had assumed that she, like him, had long since given up on love, focusing only on money and career, which was why she had been able to lead Ruiyi to such great heights.
But that wasn’t the case.
He couldn’t help feeling a little dazed.
Nie Fengjun still had the courage to start over.
He admired her courage and strength, but at the same time, he felt his own path was lonelier and more desolate.
“Surprised?” Seeing him momentarily stunned, Qin Jianhe smiled slightly.
The lamb that had just been put in was now cooked through.
Qin Jianhe picked it up and placed it on the plate in front of Ye Zhiqiu.
“Not really.” Ye Zhiqiu shook his head, his expression quickly returning to normal.
“Teacher Nie is still quite young. It’s only natural for her to continue pursuing her own happiness.”
“Yes.” Qin Jianhe looked at him.
“My mother is in her fifties and still has the courage to seek her own happiness…”
He paused.
“What about you, Professor Ye?”
“Me?” Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
Since childhood, he had been deliberately guided by Tao Ruoqing.
Spoiled, willful, aggressive, fickle, lazy—he was practically worthless.
And because he lacked a sense of security, he had never liked the wealthy young men who pursued him.
Regardless of their status, he had never been generous with a kind word.
If not for Qi Xin, who had Tao Ruoqing’s understanding to guide him, he might have gone through his entire previous life without ever meeting someone who truly captured his interest.
In everyone’s eyes, he, Ye Zhiqiu, used his looks to act outrageously and never took any man seriously.
So naturally, he was still the same now.
Since his rebirth, he had deliberately integrated with the person he was before meeting Qi Xin in his past life.
By now, this mask was probably welded to his face.
Ye Zhiqiu didn’t believe Qin Jianhe could see any cracks in it.
“My happiness doesn’t need to be chased.”
He smiled, looking at Qin Jianhe through the steam rising from the hot pot.
Those beautiful eyes held a hint of mischief.
“They’re never in anyone else’s hands. Only in my own.”
Qin Jianhe looked at him quietly, not speaking for a moment.
In a sense, what Ye Zhiqiu said wasn’t wrong.
Because for many years before, he had…
But precisely because of that, he was once again certain that Ye Zhiqiu must have been hurt before.
People like this all share a very obvious trait: they don’t trust anything from the outside world.
And that is the most direct manifestation of a lack of security.
Qin Jianhe had experienced it himself.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ye Zhiqiu picked up a steaming slice of lamb, blew on it, and asked with some amusement.
“Are you that fascinated by me?”
Perhaps because he had eaten too much Western food the past two days, even though it was a clear broth, the thin slice of lamb still impressed him.
“Delicious,” he said.
He also took some and put it on Qin Jianhe’s plate across from him.
“Reciprocity, President Qin.”
The second manifestation of a lack of security: unwillingness to be in anyone’s debt.
Qin Jianhe made his assessment.
As a child, he had gone through a long period of darkness.
At six or seven years old, even though he was terrified, he had had to prepare himself mentally for the possibility of losing his mother at any moment.
Even so many years later, he still occasionally dreamed of those turbulent years when he couldn’t see tomorrow or the future.
Even so, he was now willing to break through the hard shell that had confined him for nineteen years, wanting to try with him.
But Ye Zhiqiu wasn’t.
Qin Jianhe couldn’t imagine what Ye Zhiqiu must have been through.
It must have been something extremely painful.
So painful that no spark of hope remained in his heart.
It felt like someone had squeezed his heart hard, and a sharp pain suddenly hit him.
Qin Jianhe’s expression didn’t change, but in that sharp pain, he also felt a faint, hidden relief deep inside.
He was very relieved that he hadn’t sent that message saying, “Let’s try.”
If he had sent it back then, Ye Zhiqiu would have surely turned away coldly.
Not to mention the two of them being able to eat hot pot together now, even whether Ye Zhiqiu would still be working at Q.L. would be uncertain.
From the very beginning, Ye Zhiqiu had never hidden his imperfect side from him.
His vengefulness toward Jiang Nan, his fickleness and deliberate pretense toward Qi Xin, his stubbornness and sharpness in never yielding to anyone…
Qin Jianhe understood.
Ye Zhiqiu had never thought about being with him.
Or perhaps, he had never thought about being with anyone.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, or didn’t care…
It was that he was afraid.
“Thank you.” Qin Jianhe’s voice was slightly deep as he looked down and ate.
Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him and put white radish and beef balls into the pot.
“This broth will definitely be good for radishes,” he said carefully, not letting the steam burn his hand.
“Let me.” Qin Jianhe leaned over slightly and took over from Ye Zhiqiu.
“Did your uncle recommend any other reliable restaurants?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.
Because he was eating quickly, a thin sheen of sweat had appeared on his forehead, glistening in the sunlight.
“Yes,” Qin Jianhe said. “I’ll take you when we’re back.”
“Aren’t you leaving soon?” Ye Zhiqiu said.
“It would be fine to just write them down for me. I can take Wang Ru and the others to eat there.”
“Alright,” Qin Jianhe said.
“Uncle Fu knows a lot of local Chinese restaurants.”
Seeing Ye Zhiqiu’s curious look, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“I’ll give them all to you when we’re back.”
Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes curved.
“Actually, you don’t have to,” he said.
“A few would be fine. We’re going to London in a few days.”
He paused.
“Does your uncle know London well? If he knows any good restaurants there, could you recommend those to me as well?”
Qin Jianhe laughed and shook his head slightly.
“He’s never been to London.”
Ye Zhiqiu was a little surprised.
“He didn’t come to New York for leisure,” Qin Jianhe explained.
“His ex-wife and daughter live here.”
Ye Zhiqiu: “…”
That seemed a bit complicated.
He didn’t ask further, afraid of inadvertently touching on something sensitive.
As if knowing what he was thinking, Qin Jianhe smiled faintly.
“Uncle Fu’s ex-wife is surnamed Wang,” he said.
She’s a very good person. Aunt Wang is an internationally renowned thoracic surgeon.
“They separated because one was in China and the other was abroad, and their feelings slowly faded over the years of living apart.”
He paused.
When my grandfather was sick, Aunt Wang specially came back to China to perform the surgery.
“She and my mother are now very good friends. You don’t need to be so cautious.”
“Oh.” Ye Zhiqiu slowly blinked, then nodded slightly.
His phone rang on the table.
Seeing Qi Xin’s name, Ye Zhiqiu instinctively calculated the time in China.
It was already one in the morning.
For Qi Xin to call at this hour, he must have something very important.
Ye Zhiqiu answered the phone casually while eating, and conveniently put it on speaker.
“Xiaoqiu.” Qi Xin’s voice came through, carrying a note of humility from the very first word.
“What is it?” Although Ye Zhiqiu’s goal was to make him a miserable wreck, hearing Qi Xin’s voice, so devoid of any backbone, still made him feel disgusted and contemptuous, and his tone naturally carried impatience.
In front of him, Ye Zhiqiu made no effort to beautify himself, Qin Jianhe assessed once again.
“Your show today is in a few hours, right?” Qi Xin asked.
Consistently, no matter what request he had, he would first express concern for Ye Zhiqiu.
“Yes,” Ye Zhiqiu said, blowing on the piece of kelp he had just picked up, his tone carrying its usual commanding edge.
“Don’t just ramble about useless things. Get to the point.”
“You’re eating?” Probably hearing the commotion on Ye Zhiqiu’s end, Qi Xin couldn’t help asking.
What are you eating? When you come back, I’ll make you steamed fish head with chopped chili?
Ye Zhiqiu: “…”
Ye Zhiqiu’s moist, red lips pressed together, and he didn’t speak for a moment.
Qi Xin waited for a while, finally realizing that these words also seemed to fall into the “useless things” category.
He paused, then finally got straight to the point.
“The show here is the day after tomorrow,” he said, then suddenly stopped.
Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu’s chewing movement also paused.
Although Qi Xin hadn’t finished speaking, he had already guessed the rest.
Ye Zhiqiu laughed, his beautiful eyes filled with cold mockery and disdain.
“And then?” he asked.
“The thing is,” Qi Xin said, a bit hesitant, but after a moment’s pause, he still said it.
“Each piece needs to list a designer. I was thinking, since you’re working at Q.L. now, your name probably shouldn’t appear elsewhere. What do you think…”
“What do I think?” Ye Zhiqiu asked, slowly biting into a beef ball.
“What do you think about using my name?” Qi Xin finally said.
Before his voice had even faded, Qin Jianhe’s expression across the table instantly turned cold.
That cold, sharp, powerful aura suddenly burst forth.
The air fell silent.
Ye Zhiqiu slowly finished eating that beef ball.
Just as expected.
In his past life, Qi Xin had only made such a request after Ye Zhiqiu was truly trapped.
Back then, they had married early, shared everything, and Ye Zhiqiu had never been cautious about sending his designs.
So, with Qi Xin’s deliberate avoidance, no evidence had been left behind.
But it was different now.
Every design had been sent to Qi Xin’s email.
Ye Zhiqiu found it somewhat amusing.
He couldn’t tell if Qi Xin had become dumber, or if he was just too eager to succeed, or if he thought that Ye Zhiqiu, deeply in love with him, would naturally be willing to sacrifice for love.
The most likely possibility, Ye Zhiqiu thought, was that he considered Ye Zhiqiu’s contract with Q.L. to be his soft spot.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
After a moment, Ye Zhiqiu slowly said, “Sure.”
He added, “Thank you for thinking of me like this.”
On the other end, Qi Xin was overjoyed, thanking him profusely.
He paused, then finally got straight to the point.
“The day after tomorrow is the main show here.” Qi Xin suddenly stopped.
Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu’s chewing paused as well.
Although Qi Xin hadn’t finished speaking, he had already guessed the rest.
Ye Zhiqiu laughed, his beautiful eyes filled with cold mockery and disdain.
“And then?” he asked.
“The thing is,” Qi Xin said, struggling a bit, but after a moment’s hesitation, he still said it, “Each piece needs to list a designer. I was thinking, since you’re at Q.L. now, your name probably shouldn’t appear elsewhere. What do you think…”
“What do I think?” Ye Zhiqiu asked, slowly biting into a beef ball.
“What do you think about using my name?” Qi Xin finally said.
Before his voice had even faded, Qin Jianhe’s expression across the table instantly turned cold.
That cold, sharp, powerful aura suddenly burst forth.
The air fell silent. Ye Zhiqiu slowly finished eating that beef ball.
Just as expected.
In his past life, Qi Xin had only made such a request after Ye Zhiqiu was truly trapped.
Back then, they had married early, shared everything, and Ye Zhiqiu had never been cautious about sending his designs.
So, with Qi Xin’s deliberate avoidance, no evidence had been left behind.
But it was different now. Every single design had been sent to Qi Xin’s email.
Ye Zhiqiu found it somewhat amusing. He couldn’t tell if Qi Xin had become dumber, or if he was just too eager to succeed, or if he thought that Ye Zhiqiu, deeply in love with him, would naturally be willing to sacrifice for love.
The most likely possibility, Ye Zhiqiu thought, was that he considered Ye Zhiqiu’s contract with Q.L. to be his soft spot.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. After a moment, Ye Zhiqiu slowly said, “Sure.”
He added, “Thank you for thinking of me like this.”
On the other end, Qi Xin was overjoyed, thanking him profusely.
“Xiaoqiu,” he said, “you must be pretty tired lately, right?”
He had been following a few rehearsals with Jiang Nan recently, and already found it quite exhausting. Thinking about an international show, it must be even harder.
“Where are you tired?” Qi Xin said attentively. “When you come back, I’ll massage you again.”
Ye Zhiqiu: “…”
Instinctively, he looked up at Qin Jianhe.
Qin Jianhe was also looking at him, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Ye Zhiqiu: “…”
Wait. Ye Zhiqiu paused for a moment, then suddenly realized.
He was doing things openly and aboveboard. Why should he feel guilty?
“Ahem,” Ye Zhiqiu cleared his throat. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
“Okay, okay, you go ahead,” Qi Xin said, then couldn’t help expressing his longing. “Xiaoqiu, I miss you. I miss you so much.”
Damn. Ye Zhiqiu cursed silently, raised his hand, and hung up expressionlessly.
Qi Xin’s sentence was cut off halfway, forced to stop.
But he was used to Ye Zhiqiu’s unpredictable temper by now, so he didn’t think much of it.
Besides, there was a lot of good news today, and Qi Xin’s attention quickly shifted elsewhere.
After confirming that Ye Zhiqiu would continue to support him, Tao Ruoqing had finally sent the two million he needed today.
It wasn’t just about making money. More importantly, she saw how obsessed and devoted Ye Zhiqiu was to Qi Xin.
After years of painstaking effort, they were at the final push. Naturally, she didn’t want to waste the opportunity.
So now, even though it was already the early hours of the morning, Qi Xin had no desire to sleep at all.
He had just returned from the venue for the day after tomorrow’s show, and now that he had the money, he couldn’t wait to order the materials needed for the orders.
After busying himself at the computer for a while, Qi Xin did one final check, then sent the orders to Zhou Hao via email.
In the middle of the night, surprisingly, Zhou Hao was also awake.
That day, when he had happened to run into Ye Zhiqiu at the shopping mall near Q.L. and unintentionally learned that his loyal friend, who would have done anything for him, actually looked down on him so much, his heart had turned cold.
After returning, he had calculated the amount of money his company had tied up in Qi Xin’s unpaid invoices.
He hadn’t realized it until he calculated. The total was shockingly high. He hadn’t imagined it would be that much.
If he could collect that money and take out a loan, he could even order a new piece of equipment.
Wouldn’t it be better to use his money where it mattered most? Zhou Hao thought. Why bother trying to please someone who didn’t appreciate it?
Because of this, he had proposed shortening the payment terms to Qi Xin.
Right now, he was preparing the documents needed for the loan.
When he received Qi Xin’s order, he clicked on it and took a look.
The order quantity was indeed substantial, and Qi Xin mentioned in the email that he would send the deposit tomorrow.
In the past, Zhou Hao would have been happy.
But now, he felt that Qi Xin was quite hypocritical.
Didn’t he have money? And yet he had still wanted to extend the payment terms.
Really…
Zhou Hao closed the email with some exasperation, planning to deal with it tomorrow.
* * * *
Zhou Hui had gradually hit her stride. With Qin Jianhe present as well, the show that day went very smoothly.
Qin Jianhe didn’t go backstage. He sat in the audience the entire time.
Although he rarely appeared in public, many people in the industry still recognized him, so as soon as he appeared, there was an immediate stir on site.
And when the photographers learned his identity, they also turned their lenses toward him before the show even started.
Before the show was even over, the news that Qin Jianhe had personally come to New York for the exhibition had already spread.
His high-definition photos were everywhere online.
Netizens were powerful. Not only did they instantly push the name “Qin Jianhe” to the top of the trending searches, but they also dug up old gossip about the Qin family.
[Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! Just seeing his profile last time was already stunning. This full-frontal photo is an absolute showstopper.]
[His charisma instantly outshines the supermodels on stage.]
[When I used to watch CEO dramas, I always felt something was missing. Today I finally know what it was. Young pretty boys could never pull off that cold, aloof, yet elegant aura of a real CEO from a wealthy family. Holy crap, the CEO genre finally has a face it can use.]
[Hiding such a handsome face is such a waste. Welcome, President Qin, to make your debut alongside your friend Meng Qingyan.]
[LOL. I’ve heard from people in the industry that Q.L. was almost ruined by the second-generation heir. Old Qin had no choice but to let President Qin come back. Now look at that second-generation heir, Qin Wei’an. Can he even compare to one of Qin Jianhe’s toes? Who knows why their father is so biased. Isn’t he blind?]
[He probably couldn’t be biased even if he wanted to. Apparently, when President Nie divorced, she was severely depressed. Under those circumstances, of course Old Qin wanted custody. He was afraid his ex-wife might jump with their son one day. But in court, Qin Jianhe chose to go with his mother himself. It’s said that for all these years, he’s been like a stranger to Old Qin.]
[Whoa, whoa, whoa! Is there gossip?]
[I can’t reveal too much. I only know that Qin Jianhe later also saw a psychologist and was once surrounded by reporters. That’s why many people in the industry say his reluctance to face the public might stem from that experience.]
[That’s nonsense, right? If he was surrounded by reporters, there would definitely be photos and records. I just searched online, and there’s nothing at all.]
[You guys seriously underestimate the PR capabilities of real wealthy families. I remember this incident. Qin Jianhe was indeed surrounded. Over a dozen media outlets were vying for the story at the time. But very quickly, all related news was pulled. At the time, Old President Nie was still in charge of Ruiyi. When he found out, he immediately intervened, and every photo and article was deleted. But the little boy in the photo was so good-looking, I saved one. Image.jpg.]
In the photo was a young Qin Jianhe.
He looked about eight or nine years old.
Although he was still young, those dark eyes were already deep and black.
Facing the group of reporters closing in around him, his eyes were cold, his face completely expressionless.
Even though he was still very young, he already vaguely resembled the man he would become.
Extremely beautiful and extremely sharp, only his features weren’t as deep as they were now.
[Holy crap, damn! He was already that good-looking at such a young age.]
[Those reporters are heartless. Flashing their lights in a child’s face like that. Don’t they have any conscience?]
[I’ve suddenly become President Qin’s fan, like a mother.]
[Damn. Such a cute child. How could his father just give up on him for the sake of his own urges? The child was already psychologically affected. How could he still get it up outside? Absolutely disgusting. What’s the difference between him and an animal?]
[That’s why cheating men should just be castrated. Harming your own wife isn’t enough. What did the innocent child do wrong?]
[…]
* * * *
Backstage at the show, Wei Tingjin had already finished his two looks. Only Zhou Hui was left for the finale.
After several days in a row, she had become completely proficient with the familiar process.
Even Zhou Hui had completely integrated. Ye Zhiqiu was genuinely much more relaxed.
Since the finale still required waiting a while, he lowered his head and opened his phone.
He had intended to look at the messages in the group chat, but as soon as he opened it, he saw Qin Jianhe’s name in a Weibo push notification.
He paused for a moment, then still clicked on it.
All kinds of comments and information came flooding in. The more Ye Zhiqiu read, the tighter his brow furrowed.
Qin Jianhe was already incredibly strong now. Ye Zhiqiu was sure he wouldn’t be affected by this.
But still, having old wounds torn open so bloody like this wouldn’t be comfortable for anyone.
After a moment’s pause, Ye Zhiqiu stood up, went around the edge of the backstage, and hid behind a pillar at the junction between front and back, secretly looking toward the audience.
The lights in the audience were dim. He couldn’t see Qin Jianhe’s expression clearly.
But he was sitting there, elegant and refined, with an innate powerful presence. He didn’t look like someone who had seen that content.
“Gao Yang.” Ye Zhiqiu returned. “Call the office, the President’s secretary office or the PR department. Ask them if they’ve noticed that hot search about President Qin.”
“What hot search?” Gao Yang was momentarily stunned, but he still immediately took out his phone and dialed.
The call was transferred to the President’s secretary office. Gao Yang spoke quietly for a moment, then hung up.
“They’re already handling it,” Gao Yang said. “It should be taken down soon.”
After speaking, he remembered he didn’t even know what the content was, and immediately lowered his head to click on it.
Ye Zhiqiu sat back down in his chair, expressionless, watching Gao Yang’s mouth slowly form an ‘O’ shape.
Time flew by. When Zhou Hui went on stage, Ye Zhiqiu opened Weibo once more.
That related hot search about Qin Jianhe was gone from the list.
He stared at the screen quietly for a long moment, then slowly looked up, his heart quietly sighing in relief.
* * * *
The news of Qin Jianhe’s arrival in New York had not only caused a frenzy among netizens back home but had also quickly reached some local cooperation partners.
After the show ended, Ye Zhiqiu received his message.
[QIN: I have a dinner engagement tonight. I’ll be back late.]
At that time, Ye Zhiqiu was still at the ordering event, listening to clients and buyers present various proposals.
Most of these inquiries had come up in previous shows. The colleagues in charge of the ordering event already had a good grasp of things, and it was going very smoothly.
Plus, Zhou Lang was also on site, so Ye Zhiqiu didn’t stay long.
He grabbed a quick dinner outside and returned to the hotel.
After dealing with work emails and messages, Ye Zhiqiu took a shower.
Coming out of the bathroom, he unlocked his phone again and opened their four-person group chat.
Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao hadn’t been idle these past few days. They had been running around looking at apartments for him.
There were a few decent ones. Li Shaojun organized them and sent them to him.
Ye Zhiqiu scrolled through the specifics of each apartment while drying his hair.
Some had links on real estate websites. Others had photos Li Shaojun had taken himself inside the rentals.
Ye Zhiqiu looked slowly.
Over time, one apartment with luxurious renovation, located very close to the company, caught his eye.
By luxurious, he didn mean ornate or gaudy.
On the contrary, the interior was very simple, but Ye Zhiqiu could tell at a glance that the materials and soft furnishings must have been expensive.
[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Did you see this one in person?]
[Li Shao: Yes. This is the one I meant to tell you about. Apparently, the owner is abroad and has completely entrusted it to an agent. The owner’s intention is to find a reliable person to take care of the place. The rent isn’t expensive either. Take a look. If it’s suitable, I’ll book it for you.]
[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Which floor?]
[Li Shao: Top floor. It’s clean and bright inside, and the furniture is well-chosen. I liked it at first sight.]
[One Leaf Knows Autumn: If the price is about right, book it for me. If it’s too low, offer a bit more. I don’t want to take advantage.]
[Li Shao: OKK. I’ll do it right away.]
Ye Zhiqiu checked the time.
[One Leaf Knows Autumn: No rush. Rest well first, then handle it.]
After sending the message, he put his phone down, opened his computer, and started drawing.
But after a few strokes, he stopped again.
He picked up his phone, unlocked it, and opened Weibo. Suddenly, he wanted to search for the keyword “Qin Jianhe” again.
He had already typed the character for “Qin,” then suddenly laughed and put the phone back down.
Sitting at the computer, he worked until ten o’clock in the evening, when there was finally a knock on the door.
Ye Zhiqiu got up and opened the door. But before he could even speak, Qin Jianhe’s tall figure stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
“Come in first, my brother.” Ye Zhiqiu was startled. He quickly dragged the man inside and closed the door.
As soon as the door closed, Qin Jianhe pressed him against it and kissed him.
Qin Jianhe had a faint scent of alcohol on him, but he wasn’t drunk. His lips, kissing Ye Zhiqiu’s, were incredibly soft and incredibly hot.
This kiss was very deep, and the emotion behind it seemed just as intense.
Despite himself, Ye Zhiqiu thought of that hot search from the afternoon.
How could Qin Jianhe not know?
There were so many cameras pointed at him.
Even if he hadn’t seen the discussions at their peak with his own eyes, given how smart he was, he could probably guess most of it.
Ye Zhiqiu inexplicably felt a bit soft-hearted. He instinctively closed his eyes and stood on his tiptoes to meet him.
The contact between their lips gradually softened, leaving only intimacy.
Finally, Qin Jianhe rested his forehead against Ye Zhiqiu’s.
He looked down at him, extremely focused.
“So this is what it takes to make you call me ‘brother’?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
“It’s just ‘brother,’ isn’t it?” Ye Zhiqiu laughed, unusually accommodating tonight.
“Do you like it?” he asked. “If you do, I can call you that anytime.”
“Alright then, Ye Zhiqiu.” Qin Jianhe held his hand and kissed the corner of his mouth, very lightly. “Come on, let’s do it.”
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! 🙂