He Quietly Stood Behind Me

The man’s palm was warm and dry.

Holding his hand like that, there was an indescribable sense of security.

It reminded Ye Zhiqiu of childhood nights, when a sense of security was scarce, and he would cocoon himself completely in his blanket.

That small space was dark, but warm and comfortable.

He would often curl into the tiniest ball and fall deeply asleep.

The hand holding his gave a gentle shake.

Ye Zhiqiu tilted his face up slightly.

“Alright,” he said.

“Then I won’t hold back.”

The young man was exceptionally good-looking.

His face seemed carved by God himself, every feature perfectly placed—almost too beautiful to be real.

Except for that light pink mole on the tip of his nose…

What appeared to be the only flaw on that face actually brought the whole to life, making him especially vivid.

With his face tilted up like that, one almost felt the urge to lean down and kiss him.

Qin Jianhe’s gaze deepened slightly.

But the smile in his eyes remained.

After a moment’s silent exchange, he looked away without expression.

Ye Zhiqiu also smiled and lowered his eyes.

He aimed the camera at their intertwined hands and began snapping away.

After covering various angles, he boldly reversed their roles, hooking his fingers through Qin Jianhe’s long ones.

Click, click, click.

Might as well take as many as possible.

Who knew if he’d get another chance?

If circumstances permitted, he’d do exactly what Jiang Nan did to torment him in his past life—hit him with this every few days.

Tit for tat.

Jiang Nan deserved to experience that torment, that hopelessness of being fried in oil forever.

One acted up, the other smiled through it all.

Throughout, Qin Jianhe watched Ye Zhiqiu’s movements with an amused gaze, utterly cooperative.

Yu Renzhi and Wang Qitang’s jaws nearly dropped.

Holy crap, even that aloof bastard could be like this?

Love really did make people lose their minds.

Only when Ye Zhiqiu had taken his fill and reluctantly released Qin Jianhe’s hand did Yu Renzhi finally yelp.

“Hey, you two! Bullying us singles?”

Then he remembered something and turned to Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun.

“You two single?”

“Single.”

They nodded in unison, like puppets.

“Kids are so cute.”

Wang Qitang laughed.

“Being with you makes me feel young again.”

“Ignore him.”

Yu Renzhi said.

“He loves acting like an elder.”

“Oh right.”

Yu Renzhi suddenly remembered something.

“Don’t you have a friend named Tang Le? Why didn’t he come?”

“Mm.”

Ye Zhiqiu nodded with a smile.

“Why? Do you know him?”

“He was at the racetrack last time, wasn’t he?”

Yu Renzhi said.

At the mention of the racetrack, not only Qin Jianhe, even the usually composed Wang Qitang couldn’t help glancing at Ye Zhiqiu with a smile.

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

He shouldn’t have asked.

Now Yu Renzhi would drag up his shame again.

Seeing the young man’s unconscious lip bite, Qin Jianhe’s mouth curved faintly.

“Anyway, he contacted me a few days ago.”

Yu Renzhi said.

“Asked me to put in a word about Q.L.’s designer assistant position—could he get an interview?”

“If I hadn’t seen you today, I’d have totally forgotten.”

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqiu said nothing, just smiled faintly.

But Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun’s expressions instantly became subtle.

Noticing this, Yu Renzhi asked, “You didn’t know about this?”

A moment of silence.

The answer was obvious.

“He came to you using Xiaoqiu’s name, didn’t he?”

Jin Baobao asked.

He had, indeed.

Yu Renzhi didn’t deny it.

Jin Baobao laughed coldly, his expression turning icy.

As a friend, Jin Baobao always believed mutual help was only natural.

If a friend needed him, he’d go to bat without hesitation.

But that kind of relationship had to be built on mutual respect.

Tang Le using Ye Zhiqiu’s name to ask Yu Renzhi for a favor, without even telling Ye Zhiqiu—that in itself was extremely disrespectful.

Not to mention, Tang Le knew perfectly well, just like they did, the connection between Yu Renzhi and Qin Jianhe.

He said he just wanted an interview, but with Yu Renzhi putting in a word, how could Qin Jianhe refuse him?

Tang Le had played his hand beautifully.

He got the benefit, and Ye Zhiqiu carried the debt.

Jin Baobao felt it wasn’t worth it for Ye Zhiqiu.

But Ye Zhiqiu didn’t seem to care.

He smiled at Qin Jianhe and asked, “Is that okay?”

“You’re the future boss.”

Qin Jianhe without any change in expression tossed the question back.

“You decide.”

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

This guy…

Even if word got out, people would only envy Ye Zhiqiu for sleeping with Qin Jianhe.

If Tao Ruoqing found out…

“Forget it, then.”

Ye Zhiqiu’s smile was light and clear.

“I’ve seen Q.L.’s recruitment notices.”

“They’re strict about experience and availability.”

“If Lele goes, the benefits might not outweigh the cost to his studies.”

“It’d be counterproductive.”

Tang Le.

He seized every opportunity to gild himself.

Q.L., even just a lowly assistant—with that on his resume and his degree, he’d be hot stuff in the job market.

Ye Zhiqiu wasn’t about to give him that chance.

“Could you please,” Ye Zhiqiu looked at Yu Renzhi, “let him know?”

“Tell him it was HR’s decision.”

Qin Jianhe said flatly, looking up.

“Got it.”

Yu Renzhi blinked, watching the two of them sitting together like a painting.

Noticing his movement, Qin Jianhe glanced at him.

“Eat.”

With Jin Baobao and Yu Renzhi, the two live wires, the meal was thoroughly enjoyable.

After dinner, Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun exchanged a glance and tactfully stood.

“Xiaoqiu, you and President Qin take your time. We’ll head off.”

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

The youngsters were so perceptive.

The elders couldn’t lag behind.

Hearing this, Wang Qitang and Yu Renzhi also stood.

“Life is short. Can’t waste the night. We’re off too.”

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

With everyone gone, Ye Zhiqiu also stood.

“President Qin.”

He was polite and distant again, stepping back half a step with a faint smile.

“They’re gone. No need to perform anymore, right?”

Qin Jianhe slowly retrieved his coat and draped it over his arm, looking down at him.

“I’ll take you home.”

“You’re a busy man…”

“Let’s go.”

Qin Jianhe said.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t insist further.

Someone like Qin Jianhe had absolute control over his environment and relationships.

In certain matters, refusal wasn’t an option.

They walked side by side.

Ye Zhiqiu put his down jacket back on, pulled on his knit cap, and wound his scarf around his neck, wrapping himself tightly.

His mouth and nose were loosely covered by the scarf, making his eyes seem even more expressive, like autumn water.

Noticing Qin Jianhe’s gaze, those eyes curved slightly.

“Is your car at the gym?”

Ye Zhiqiu asked.

“Q.L.”

Qin Jianhe said succinctly.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

They walked in silence.

Only when a delivery bike sped along the sidewalk at an intersection did Qin Jianhe raise a hand, shielding Ye Zhiqiu.

Maybe it was instinct from Qin Jianhe’s upbringing, or just habit.

But Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t help pausing.

Such protective gestures might be familiar to most people.

For Ye Zhiqiu, it was the first time in his life.

The light turned green.

Qin Jianhe stepped forward.

Realizing Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t followed, he stopped and turned.

“Oh.”

Ye Zhiqiu blinked, snapping out of it.

“Coming.”

He jogged to catch up.

For some reason, a hint of a smile appeared in Qin Jianhe’s eyes.

“I wasn’t rushing you,” he said.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled too, saying nothing.

But somehow, the tension and awkwardness that had gripped him since seeing Qin Jianhe at the restaurant suddenly relaxed.

He looked across the street.

Q.L.’s building was tall.

Though it was the weekend, scattered lights were on.

Correspondingly, the gym was brightly lit.

“President Qin.”

Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t help asking.

“Are you familiar with the MMA coaches?”

“Why?”

Qin Jianhe asked.

“You want to train?”

“Yeah.”

Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

At this, Qin Jianhe gave him an unreadable look.

“Oh.”

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly realized something.

He laughed.

“Don’t misunderstand. Me coming here has nothing to do with you.”

“The owner is the brother of Baobao’s senior.”

“Good environment, decent discount.”

He paused, explaining, “Running into you today was pure coincidence.”

“I didn’t mean that.”

They reached the car.

Qin Jianhe rested his hands on the wheel.

“I meant you have zero foundation.”

Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

True.

“You should be working on basics first.”

“Once you’ve got those down, then think about finding the right instructor.”

Qin Jianhe started the engine.

“Your address?”

Ye Zhiqiu gave it.

“Though, if you stick with it,” Qin Jianhe added, “Coach Zhou Hong is a good choice.”

“She’s a woman, but her technique is probably the gym’s best.”

“Broad coverage and practical.”

“Thanks.”

Ye Zhiqiu nodded, making a mental note.

The car fell silent again.

Ye Zhiqiu opened his chat app and pulled Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun into a new group.

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Keep today quiet.]

[Prosperity: Why? If it were me, I’d want the whole world to know. Blind their dog eyes.]

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

He thought for a moment, then slowly typed.

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Qin Jianhe and I barely know each other. Mutual interest, maybe, but it’s not stable yet. If everyone finds out now, it could cause problems.]

[Prosperity: I get it. There’s a saying—’holding a treasure invites theft.’ You’ve got the head of the Qin family—that’s one big treasure. People will definitely target you.]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: …More or less.]

[Prosperity: OKK. Shaojun’s driving. I’ll fill him in later. Don’t worry.]

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and opened his photo album, carefully examining the photos he’d just taken.

Every one was beautiful.

Every pose was incredibly intimate.

Unconsciously, Ye Zhiqiu looked up again, his gaze landing on Qin Jianhe’s hands on the wheel.

They were actually quite fair.

Against the black steering wheel, they had a cool, metallic elegance, like gold-rimmed glasses.

As the car’s lights shifted, the silver ring on his pinky occasionally glinted coldly.

Much like Qin Jianhe himself.

Just casually resting on the wheel like that was enough to draw the eye.

Maybe it was because he’d photographed those hands so much tonight, but Ye Zhiqiu’s grip on his phone unconsciously tightened.

He instinctively wanted to aim the camera and click away.

He restrained himself and reopened his album, selecting a shot of their hands intertwined.

In it, Qin Jianhe’s pinky ring was especially eye-catching.

Ye Zhiqiu silently uploaded it to Moments.

The caption was sickly sweet: “Never let go of my hand, okay?”

Then he set visibility to “Only Jiang Nan” and hit send.

Two deadly strikes in one day.

How was Jiang Nan feeling?

He must hate him by now, right?

Well, this was Jiang Nan’s own game.

You never know how much it hurts until it’s played on you.

Ye Zhiqiu’s lips curved in a faint, cold smile.

His phone vibrated in his palm.

Ye Zhiqiu snapped back and looked down.

Seeing the caller ID, his eyes lit up.

This was the call he’d been waiting for.

“President Qin.”

Ye Zhiqiu looked up at Qin Jianhe with a smile.

“I need to take this.”

“Go ahead.”

Qin Jianhe said flatly.

“Hello, senior? What did Professor Zhang Wenyuan say?”

Ye Zhiqiu asked eagerly as soon as the call connected.

Zhang Wenyuan was a renowned professor of leather art design, currently teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts.

His previous close disciples were now influential in the fashion world.

Ye Zhiqiu had only connected with this senior through roundabout introductions.

The senior currently worked abroad.

One of his colleagues was one of Professor Zhang’s disciples.

That colleague had noticed this year’s fashion design competition.

Upon learning Ye Zhiqiu wanted to study under his master, he’d been very enthusiastic.

Taking advantage of the weekend, he’d contacted his teacher.

“Unfortunately, Professor Zhang is getting on in years and doesn’t have the energy.”

“He’s no longer accepting students.”

The senior’s voice came through, somewhat regretful.

“But the professor did see your work.”

“He believes you’re already poised to shine in fashion.”

“There’s really no need to pursue a different path.”