Welcome to My Game

When morning classes ended, Tang Le automatically looked toward Ye Zhiqiu’s seat beside him as usual.

On Ye Zhiqiu’s desk, alongside his professional textbooks, was a copy of “The Complete Book of Leather Craft Techniques.”

Tang Le leaned in curiously and saw that he’d already read nearly half of it.

“Why are you studying leather craft techniques?” Tang Le asked.

“Just killing time,” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

“Killing time?” Tang Le protested. “You study, you work, and you still have time to read other professional books…”

He continued, “Meanwhile, just my own major’s coursework and assignments are already crushing me.”

“Xiaoqiu,” Tang Le tugged at Ye Zhiqiu’s sleeve. “Teach me. How do you manage your time?”

In the past, Ye Zhiqiu would have helped Tang Le organize his studies and assignments.

But now, he just smiled.

“I don’t have a choice,” he said. “Our company has an event with another brand coming up, so I’m familiarizing myself with leather goods production in advance.”

“Oh, I see.” Tang Le nodded understandingly and pulled out his phone to check the time. “Stop reading for now. Let’s go eat. If we’re late, there’ll be nothing left.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Zhiqiu’s phone suddenly rang.

The phone was sitting on the corner of the desk. Tang Le caught sight of Qi Xin’s name immediately.

“He’s still pursuing you, huh?” Tang Le asked with a smile.

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu nodded. “I was just about to tell you—I can’t eat with you today.”

He blinked. “Qi Xin made a special lunch and brought it over.”

“Ooh~” Tang Le grinned. “How romantic.”

Then he asked, “So what’s the situation between you two now?”

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t answer. He packed up his things with a smile and waved at Tang Le.

“I’m off.”

His steps were light and quick.

His tall, graceful figure soon disappeared from Tang Le’s sight.

Tang Le stood quietly for a moment, a faint smile on his lips.

Then he lowered his head and sent Tao Ruoqing a message.

Ye Zhiqiu had been busy lately. They spent less and less time together.

Correspondingly, Tang Le had less information to provide to Tao Ruoqing.

The decline in his usefulness made Tang Le somewhat uneasy.

After all, this was the first chance he’d ever had to change his fate.

He didn’t want to miss it.

After sending the message, he hesitated for a moment.

Then he opened his contacts and dialed the second opportunity to change his fate.

The phone rang for a while before the other side finally picked up.

“Hello, who’s this?”

“Hello, Mr. Yu. I’m Tang Le, a friend of Ye Zhiqiu’s,” Tang Le said. “We met at the Zhuoxin celebration banquet and at the racetrack that day.”

He’d secretly saved the number when Yu Renzhi exchanged contacts with Jin Baobao, so Yu Renzhi didn’t have Tang Le’s number saved.

But he still remembered quickly.

“Oh, it’s you,” he said, a hint of confusion in his voice. “Something wrong? Is Xiao Ye looking for me?”

That couldn’t be right. If Ye Zhiqiu wanted him, why would he have someone else call?

“No,” Tang Le chuckled. “It’s like this. Q.L. is currently hiring designer assistants. I looked at the job responsibilities, and I can handle them all. But the company requires relevant work experience. So I was wondering if you could put in a good word with President Qin…”

His tone grew more urgent.

“Not asking for special treatment. I just want a chance to interview.”

“I see.” Yu Renzhi paused thoughtfully. “Q.L.’s designers are very busy. Their assistants have heavy workloads and deal with a wide range of responsibilities. That’s why they have those requirements. If you’re still in school, it would likely affect your studies.”

“But Xiaoqiu is a student too,” Tang Le said. “He mentioned before that Q.L. had extended him an invitation.”

How could Ye Zhiqiu be the same?

Ye Zhiqiu was the gifted type.

As Meng Da put it, he didn’t need to produce much—just one or two outstanding pieces per season would suffice.

But Yu Renzhi couldn’t say that so bluntly.

Too discouraging, right?

Besides, this was Ye Zhiqiu’s friend.

“If you think you can handle it, I’ll put in a word for you,” Yu Renzhi said.

“Thank you, brother,” Tang Le said immediately, even changing his form of address. “Whether it works out or not, I’m deeply grateful. When do you have time? Let me treat you to a meal?”

Whether getting into Q.L. or establishing a connection with Yu Renzhi, both would benefit Tang Le immensely.

But Yu Renzhi didn’t give him that chance.

Though warm and sociable, he wasn’t like that with everyone.

If Tang Le weren’t Ye Zhiqiu’s friend, he might not even remember who he was.

“No need. It’s just a small favor.” Yu Renzhi hung up.

* * * *

At the same time, Ye Zhiqiu had already brought Qi Xin to the artificial lake near the school gate.

Several pavilions lined the lake, each with stone tables and benches.

In spring and summer, when the lotus flowers filled the pond, people often rested here.

But now, with winter approaching, the lotus had long withered.

The pavilions offered no shelter from the wind, so the area was deserted.

Ye Zhiqiu led Qi Xin into one of the pavilions and sat down.

His smiling gaze fell on the insulated food container in Qi Xin’s hands.

“Just simple home cooking.” Qi Xin opened the container and began taking out dishes like presenting treasures. “See if you like any of it.”

Four dishes and a soup.

Among them was even stir-fried beef with green peppers.

He’d clearly put real effort into this.

But Ye Zhiqiu showed no appreciation.

He tasted the chicken soup first and gave his ruthless assessment: “You used an electric stove, didn’t you? No flavor. This kind of soup needs to be slowly simmered over charcoal to taste right.”

Then he picked up a piece of fried eggplant.

He spit it out after one bite. “Bleh, bleh, bleh. This oil is no good.”

If Qi Xin had managed to maintain a faint smile until now, by the time Ye Zhiqiu got to the cola chicken wings, his smile was faltering.

“These wings are a bit gamey.” Ye Zhiqiu took one bite and set it down.

“Too much water in the tomato eggs.”

“The beef with peppers is passable, but the beef is overcooked.”

Qi Xin: “…”

God knows, he’d specially woken up early this morning to carefully select fresh ingredients at the market.

To prepare all this, he hadn’t even gone to the company all morning.

Watching Ye Zhiqiu pick at a few bites of the beef with green peppers, frustration and anger rose together in Qi Xin’s chest.

“These are dishes I learned back in school. Back then, just being full was enough.” He forced himself to stay calm. “I’ll practice more.”

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu looked at him. “Good luck.”

That “good luck” somehow inexplicably dispersed Qi Xin’s anger.

Leaving only endless frustration.

“Okay,” he said. “Tell me what you want to eat. I’ll make it and bring it to you tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled innocently. “I’ll think about it and text you.”

* * * *

Days passed amid Ye Zhiqiu’s picky critiques and Qi Xin’s fluctuating, nearly suffocating emotions.

Negotiations were Sun Wei’s domain.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t attend.

After work, he waited for Qi Xin to pick him up, and the two drove to the hotel hosting the dinner.

The dinner was buffet-style.

Food, drinks, and beverages were set up in the small hall near the entrance.

Further inside was the lounge area.

“Come, Director Jiang.” Sun Wei stood up when she saw Ye Zhiqiu enter. “Let me introduce you. This is our company’s designer, Ye Zhiqiu.”

Jiang Nan stood with a smile.

But when he saw Qi Xin beside Ye Zhiqiu, he froze.

Qi Xin’s steps halted abruptly.

Instinctively, he put some distance between himself and Ye Zhiqiu.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Zhiqiu stopped and looked at Qi Xin with a faint, knowing smile. “You know Director Jiang?”

“No.”
“Just alumni…”

They spoke simultaneously, but their answers didn’t match.

Now, the others who’d been sitting drinking and chatting noticed the commotion and looked over, puzzled.

“So… do you know each other or not?” Ye Zhiqiu laughed, watching the embarrassment creep onto both their faces.

“We’re alumni.” Qi Xin had no choice but to explain. “Director Jiang probably never noticed me before.”

“Hello, I’m Qi Xin,” he introduced himself.

“Hello, fellow alumnus.” Jiang Nan played along.

Watching their awkward, strained acting, Ye Zhiqiu chuckled ambiguously.

He unwound his scarf, took off his coat, revealing the suit underneath.

Even just the coat had already shown off his perfect figure.

But in the fitted suit, he instantly outshone Jiang Nan standing beside him.

“Hello, I’m Ye Zhiqiu.” Ye Zhiqiu extended his hand with a smile.

“Hello, Jiang Nan.” Seeing the appreciative look Qi Xin gave Ye Zhiqiu, Jiang Nan felt deeply unsettled.

“Have you eaten?” Sun Wei asked Ye Zhiqiu.

“Not yet.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled and sat beside Sun Wei, then instructed Qi Xin, “Get me some food.”

The usual commanding tone.

After recent exposure to Ye Zhiqiu’s “training,” Qi Xin had become quite capable of enduring humiliation.

But today, being ordered around by Ye Zhiqiu in front of Jiang Nan—in front of his crush—he truly felt the shame of his dignity being trampled.

Why did Jiang Nan have to be here?

Of all the coincidences…

If he’d known this was the battlefield he’d be walking into, nothing could have made him come.

But Qi Xin didn’t dare defy Ye Zhiqiu’s command.

He’d just been about to sit down.

Now he had to stand up again.

“Okay,” he said. “What would you like?”

“Anything.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled gracefully. “I’m not picky.”

Qi Xin: “…”

Screw that.

You’re not picky?

Even a ghost wouldn’t believe that.

Seeing him obediently head out, Sun Wei chuckled. “Suitor or boyfriend?”

“Suitor, I guess?” Ye Zhiqiu laughed. “I heard this hotel’s food is good. Brought him to broaden his horizons. You have no idea…”

He wrinkled his nose. “How awful his cooking is.”

Jiang Nan: “…”

Damn. Qi Xin actually cooked for Ye Zhiqiu.

When Jiang Nan glanced over, Ye Zhiqiu smiled slightly in acknowledgment.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Director Jiang.” He reached across Sun Wei and held out his WeChat QR code. “Here, let’s connect.”

In his past life, Jiang Nan had taken the initiative to add him on WeChat, monitored his posts, and targeted him with precise attacks.

This time, it was time to switch positions.

Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes were so beautiful.

So clean and pure inside…

Jiang Nan paused briefly, then raised his phone to scan the code.

Things were fine on their end.

But Qi Xin, who’d just reached the door, was completely frozen.

They added each other. What about him? What was he supposed to do now?

He was terrified Ye Zhiqiu might see his interactions with Jiang Nan.

And equally terrified Jiang Nan might witness his eagerness to please Ye Zhiqiu…

Wasn’t this dinner supposed to be fun? Felt more like it was out to kill him.