The First Time He Said No

The colorful neon lights flickered, reflecting in Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes, giving his ambiguous, smiling gaze a flowing, iridescent quality, a strange beauty mixed with a touch of cold detachment.

Tang Le was quiet for a moment, not speaking.

For some reason, he felt that Ye Zhiqiu seemed different from before. But to say exactly how, he couldn’t quite put it into words.

Because, in a way, the Ye Zhiqiu of the past and the present weren’t that different. The same arrogance, the same self-righteousness, the same cleverness…

For instance, regarding the reconciliation with Lin Xuehua today, from start to finish, he had never said he was willing.

But, well, it was Ye Zhiqiu…

How could he possibly care about others’ feelings?

Even his kindness towards him was only because his own situation was so poor that Ye Zhiqiu felt compelled to protect his self-esteem.

Out of fellow feeling, out of pity, or perhaps because keeping him around maximized the happiness of those wealthy second-generation kids…

Tang Le kept his expression neutral, but couldn’t help mocking himself inwardly.

He didn’t even know if he was mocking Ye Zhiqiu’s hypocritical kindness, or mocking himself.

Mocking himself for hating others’ pity and sympathy, yet using his own weaknesses to elicit that pity and gain advantage.

But this was the first time that Ye Zhiqiu, faced with his show of vulnerability, hadn’t given him a clear answer.

“It’s nothing,” Tang Le forced back the words that had risen in his throat, changing his tune. “You know the biggest thing for me is school.”

“Xiaoqiu,” he said. “When you have time, could you help me organize my thoughts? Lately, I haven’t been sleeping well, and I feel like I’m falling behind.”

He smiled, looking at Ye Zhiqiu with a hint of humility.

Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t stand that look. No matter how difficult the request, when he looked at him like that, he would grit his teeth and agree.

But this time, Ye Zhiqiu just looked back at him with that same ambiguous smile.

Only when Tang Le began to feel a flicker of unease did he spin the car key on his fingertip.

“Have I ever not helped you with that kind of thing?” he said, with a slight smile.

See, he was overthinking, Tang Le thought. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief and pushed his luck.

“This competition is really important to me,” he said. “Xiaoqiu, could you help me plan and advise?”

He desperately wanted to beat Lin Xuehua. On his own, he had no confidence.

But if Ye Zhiqiu could guide his overall train of thought, it would be crucial, both for crushing Lin Xuehua and for getting a good placement.

With a good placement, he could apply for a designer assistant position at Q.L., right?

Even if, as Yu Renzhi had implied, Q.L. didn’t hire current students, then he just had to wait a little over a year, until the end of his junior year. As a senior, he could apply for an outside internship.

It sounded like a long time, but with something to hope for, it didn’t seem so long anymore.

Besides, after entering Q.L., if he performed well, he could be promoted to designer.

Then, with a little help from Tao Ruoqing, Ye Zhixia, or Gao Wenye, his future might not necessarily be worse than Ye Zhiqiu’s.

In that moment, Tang Le’s dead heart reignited.

He looked at Ye Zhiqiu expectantly, more sincerely than ever before.

But Ye Zhiqiu just smiled.

“Lele,” he said, “competitions are very personal. They’re a true test of your individual ability. If you have questions about your coursework, I’ll certainly answer them. But competition entries…”

He paused, looking at Tang Le. “Sorry.”

This was almost the first time Ye Zhiqiu had refused Tang Le so directly.

Having been rebuffed twice, Tang Le grew cautious.

He quickly realized he might have been too eager.

His image in front of Ye Zhiqiu had always been unassuming, without desires. That was why Ye Zhiqiu was willing to protect him, sympathize with him.

For Ye Zhiqiu, that image was probably Tang Le’s most useful tool.

But now, driven by his intense desire, he couldn’t help letting his wants show on his face.

And wanting to cheat to gain an advantage was completely out of character.

Tang Le lowered his eyes and immediately apologized.

“Sorry, Xiaoqiu,” he said with an unperturbed smile. “I’m probably just a little impatient.”

He needed to maintain his usual demeanor: never caring about winning or losing, even-tempered.

And Ye Zhiqiu, falling for it, would smile at him with his usual tolerance.

“I’ll take you back to school,” he said, smiling. “I have some work to do when I get home.”

Tang Le nodded, and they got into the car.

This time, he finally sat back in the passenger seat.

The apartment Tang Le was renting was close to the school, only a ten-minute walk, even faster by car. Soon, the car stopped at the school gate.

Before getting out, Tang Le hesitated, his hand on the door handle, and finally spoke again.

“Xiaoqiu,” he said, “if it’s convenient, could I come to your office during your lunch break to ask you questions about schoolwork?”

This was about more than just schoolwork.

Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

Although Tang Le was trying hard to suppress it, in Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes, the desire on his face hadn’t diminished much.

It was laughable that he hadn’t seen through it in his past life.

In that life, not only had he completely given up the chance to work for a big company to help Qi Xin and Qiyun, but even if he had been at Q.L., hearing this, he probably would have thought Tang Le was just being diligent and would have given him everything.

“Our company has strict security. We don’t usually let strangers in,” Ye Zhiqiu said calmly. “Besides, my assistants often have questions for me during breaks. How about…”

He smiled at Tang Le. “You email me.”

Hearing this, Tang Le had no choice but to nod and get out of the car.

Watching his figure disappear through the school gate, the last trace of a smile faded from Ye Zhiqiu’s face.

Instinctively, he reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand around the peach-flavored lollipop.

He wanted to eat it.

But just as he pulled it out and started to unwrap it, he stopped.

There was only one. He was a little reluctant to.

There was a supermarket not far ahead. Ye Zhiqiu thought for a moment, put the lollipop back in his pocket, and turned the car toward the supermarket.

Once inside, he went straight to the snack aisle.

All kinds of jellies, candies, cookies, nuts… their beautiful wrappers glittering under the bright lights, very eye-catching.

He looked intently, trying to find the same candy he had in his pocket.

Suddenly, a little girl’s voice came from nearby. “Daddy, Daddy, I want that one.”

The soft, childish voice made Ye Zhiqiu look up, and his eyes met those of Zhao Zhi, who was holding the child.

It was unexpected, but in front of the other’s family, Ye Zhiqiu still greeted him politely.

“Teacher Zhao,” he said with a smile.

Zhao Zhi’s wife was also there, bent over, putting jellies into a reusable bag. Hearing this, she looked up.

“A friend of yours?” she smiled gently at Zhao Zhi, taking the child from him. “I’ll take her to the playground. Catch up with your friend.”

“Okay,” Zhao Zhi said.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled, watching the mother and daughter disappear around the end of the aisle, then turned back to Zhao Zhi. “Got a minute?”

Zhao Zhi nodded, not refusing.

Not only did he not refuse, he didn’t even look guilty.

They stopped in front of a relatively deserted aisle. Zhao Zhi turned back.

“I heard you joined Oubai, Teacher Zhao,” Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile. “That was a good move.”

Ye Zhiqiu had learned about Zhao Zhi joining Oubai from Zhang Lan after returning to the office. The fashion world was small, almost no secrets. As soon as Zhao Zhi arrived, many people at Q.L. had heard.

As a mid-range brand, Oubai couldn’t compare to Q.L. in reputation or influence. But Zhao Zhi was joining as Oubai’s fashion director, which was different.

After all, with his abilities, he hadn’t progressed in years under Zhou Lang, and probably never would. But at Oubai, as director, he might actually push his career and reputation higher.

“You could say I’m not too unlucky,” Zhao Zhi said modestly.

“Was it luck, or a way out that Teacher Zhou gave you?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled, speaking slowly. “Or perhaps ‘compensation’ is a better word?”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhi’s eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

“Did I guess right?” Ye Zhiqiu asked with a smile.

Putting aside professional skills, in Zhao Zhi’s eyes, Ye Zhiqiu was just a kid. He hadn’t expected him to be so sharp.

“Sorry, that was an accident,” Zhao Zhi said. “No matter what you say, it’s still just speculation.”

Without evidence, it was just speculation.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have resigned voluntarily instead of being fired, branded as notorious.

Even bumping into Zhou Hui had been rehearsed countless times, seemingly flawless.

Even if there was surveillance, it couldn’t directly prove he had done it on purpose.

“What if I said I had evidence?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled, tilting his head.

Zhao Zhi frowned at him. After a long moment, he laughed. “What evidence could you have for something I never did?”

He didn’t plan to say any more.

He had only come over because he was afraid Ye Zhiqiu would make a scene in front of his family, damaging his image in his wife and daughter’s eyes.

“The only reason I came with you was to draw a line under the past,” Zhao Zhi still denied it, but his tone was sincere. “Things happened so fast, I never had a chance to apologize properly. I came today to make up for that.”

He paused, then looked seriously at Ye Zhiqiu. “I’m sorry.”

He wanted to cut ties with the past, live cleanly, maintain his image in front of his family, and rise quickly… Zhao Zhi wanted everything.

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu’s lips curved into a cold arc.

Seeing Zhao Zhi about to leave, he called his name again.

“Zhao Zhi.”

This time, he used his name, not “Teacher Zhao.”

“You know about Zhou Lang’s harassment of female employees and taking credit for their designs, right?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.

Zhao Zhi’s body stiffened, his face darkening.

“Where did you hear that?” he asked.

Although Zhou Lang’s team had an oppressive atmosphere, given his influence in the industry, it was also as tight as a drum.

That was why the scandal hadn’t broken until much later in his past life.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t have any inside information. He was just making a reasonable inference based on the scandal that had erupted in the fashion world in his past life.

A dog couldn’t change its nature. Neither could a person.

Being that bad wasn’t a sudden thing. There must have been signs.

Even if he didn’t have evidence yet, it was enough to scare Zhao Zhi.

After all, if Ye Zhiqiu knew such a secret, then according to normal logic, someone must have turned against Zhou Lang within his team, even gathering evidence.

Then, the fact that Zhao Zhi, at Zhou Lang’s direction, had maliciously damaged Ye Zhiqiu’s exhibition piece would certainly not stay hidden.

And the other person might even have left behind recordings or other substantial evidence.

Who was it? And what had they left?

Zhao Zhi’s mind raced.

Thinking about how confidently Ye Zhiqiu had claimed to have evidence, Zhao Zhi slowly turned back, his eyes fierce.

But Ye Zhiqiu just looked at him with a smile. He raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging.

If Zhao Zhi hadn’t yet found a job and was lying low, Ye Zhiqiu might not have moved so quickly. But he had joined a new company and had a bright future ahead of him.

Zhao Zhi was in his mid-thirties.

This might be his last chance in life, or the highest position he could ever reach…

Joining Oubai, going from bowing and scraping to Zhou Lang to being a director, anyone would feel ambitious.

Finally out from under someone else’s shadow, everyone would want to prove themselves.

If Ye Zhiqiu released his evidence now… forget ambitions, his entire life would be ruined. Completely.

No one would take that risk.

No matter how strong Zhao Zhi’s alliance with Zhou Lang, it was only when their interests aligned. When his own interests were threatened, that was a different story.

Watching Zhao Zhi’s face pale, Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

In any kind of bet, to win, you have to bet on human nature. And now, he knew he had won this round.

“Can you tell me now?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled, returning to his old address. “Teacher Zhao?”