He Sent Me Hangover Medicine at Midnight

The private room at the club was extremely private, with excellent soundproofing.

Even though outside the traffic was heavy and the lights were bright, the only sound that reached inside was the soft, soothing melody of a piano piece.

Yu Renzhi was practically sprawled across the booth, stretching out his limbs and letting out a long, comfortable sigh.

“Work never ends all year. These are the only couple of days I can actually relax a little.”

“Of everyone here, you have it the easiest.” Wang Qitang, having just resolved his biggest dilemma, was in high spirits. He laughed. “Why can’t you hold yourself up?”

Of the four, Qin Jianhe had been the first to take over the family business, though strictly speaking, it wasn’t exactly a proper succession.

After all, years ago, when Qin Xusheng suddenly fell ill and became bedridden, Wang Xin, using who-knows-what methods, had managed to convince him to hand Q.L. over to her own younger son, Qin Wei’an.

Qin Wei’an was two years younger than Qin Jianhe, only nineteen at the time—an age for chasing pleasure and having fun. He had none of the necessary knowledge or bearing.

Back then, all their family friends were worried for Qin Jianhe, urging him to take control of Q.L. as soon as possible.

After all, Q.L. wasn’t just the Qin family’s company; it was also the fruit of Nie Fengjun’s life’s work.

Without Nie Fengjun, with only Qin Xusheng’s limited ability, Q.L. would never have had a chance to carve out a place in the fashion world.

Not to mention that Nie Fengjun still held thirty percent of Q.L.’s shares.

Q.L.’s performance directly affected Nie Fengjun’s personal interests.

But while everyone else panicked, only Qin Jianhe and his mother, Nie Fengjun, remained remarkably calm.

Qin Jianhe continued his studies and practiced managing his stock portfolio.

Since turning eighteen and opening his own brokerage account, he had never taken money from his family again.

He played the stock market with great skill, and through it sharpened his vision amid the waves of economic fluctuation.

He held his breath for more than two years.

Until Q.L.’s problems became increasingly severe.

Qin Wei’an, raised in the palm of Wang Xin’s hand, was inherently lazy and had no business acumen whatsoever. There was no way he could manage a company as large as Q.L.

Failing to control the company’s senior members was one thing, but the key issue was that during the two years of Qin Wei’an’s tenure, Q.L. had several major production incidents.

The most absurd one involved an unnoticed design modification made during production that went all the way to stores worldwide without anyone catching it.

Departmental disconnect was severe.

For an internationally renowned luxury brand, this error was far too low-level.

At the time, it also caused quite a stir.

Q.L.’s status and reputation in the fashion world rapidly declined as a result.

The brand, consistently ranked in the top five for many years, quickly plummeted. Not only did it fall out of the top tier, but Q.L. also became a laughingstock in the industry.

At the same time, because of Qin Wei’an’s nepotism and his campaign to purge dissidents, Q.L.’s previously healthy and positive corporate culture became toxic. Office politics intensified.

People focused on their work were suppressed, while sycophants rose rapidly like they were riding an elevator.

Eventually, even Meng Da was kicked out of his position as head of the design department.

Many designers left, and those who remained lost the motivation to develop new products. Under such circumstances, most people chose to barely meet their deadlines, collect their paychecks, and call it even.

This directly led to Q.L. producing no further masterpieces.

By the end of the second year, Q.L. was publicly shamed for plagiarizing other brands’ designs.

It was at this point that Qin Xusheng finally realized the severity of the problem.

With the company on the verge of collapse, no matter how much he favored his younger son, he had to swallow his pride and beg for help from Nie Fengjun and his elder son.

At the time, Nie Fengjun said nothing. She respected Qin Jianhe’s decision.

Qin Jianhe had just come out of the rooftop pool. Although he was dressed in ordinary jeans and a T-shirt, with his dark hair still damp and his dark phoenix eyes sweeping over everyone coldly, he was still so sharp that people hardly dared meet his gaze.

Even Qin Xusheng was secretly startled.

“Fine.” After learning Qin Xusheng’s purpose, Qin Jianhe spoke calmly. “I want your shares.”

Qin Xusheng nearly fainted on the spot from anger.

Of the Qin Group’s shares, aside from those publicly traded, Qin Xusheng himself held thirty percent, the same as Nie Fengjun.

“If you take all the shares, what will your brother do in the future?” Qin Xusheng asked.

“Brother?” Qin Jianhe smiled faintly at him. “If you had been able to control yourself even a little, I wouldn’t have such a convenient ‘brother’ in the first place.”

He added, “Since you treated Q.L. as your precious son’s toy, let him enjoy playing with it. When it’s broken and scattered, don’t complain. You can’t have it both ways.”

Qin Xusheng, enraged, was admitted to the hospital that very night.

When he woke up, he was left with nothing but humiliation and resentment toward Qin Jianhe.

There was no other way. Control of Q.L. was in Qin Jianhe’s hands, and he was the one who had come begging.

Moreover, he had to unwillingly transfer nineteen percent of his shares.

Qin Xusheng began to regret it.

If he had handed the company to Qin Jianhe from the start, he might have received at least a shred of gratitude and warmth.

But instead, after begging and pleading, all he got was cold disdain and mockery.

And what hurt him most was that nineteen percent of the shares.

Nineteen percent was Qin Xusheng’s bottom line.

Any more, and combined with Nie Fengjun’s thirty percent, mother and son would completely control Q.L.

What he didn’t know was that long before this, Qin Jianhe had already bought up as much of Q.L.’s publicly traded stock as possible.

After the share transfer agreement took effect, he immediately began selling his own shares, shorting Q.L.

Capitalizing on shareholders’ extreme disappointment with Q.L., he acquired all ten percent of the outstanding shares for himself.

Qin Xusheng had failed utterly and was so angry he coughed up blood on the spot.

Wang Xin threw a huge tantrum, but Qin Jianhe didn’t even see her, simply having her thrown out.

Qin Jianhe formally took over Q.L., and in just two years he not only righted the sinking ship but also pushed Q.L.’s ranking into the top three for the first time.

This battle, both internally and externally, was practically legendary.

As a result, among those studying fashion, almost everyone knew the name Qin Jianhe.

Compared to Qin Jianhe, Wang Qitang’s burden, while not light, was at least supported by a harmonious family and loving parents who guided him, making his succession a natural progression.

Meng Qingyan, though not yet considering returning to the family business, had carved out his own place in the entertainment industry.

Only Yu Renzhi, with nothing substantial to do all day, was the one who complained the most about being tired.

“Ah, you just don’t get it.” Yu Renzhi sighed, sprawled out. “No matter what situation a person is in, if you’re going to be tired, you’re going to be tired.”

As he spoke, he reached out a hand. Wang Qitang, good-natured, placed a glass in it.

* * * *

There was a knock on the private room door. They assumed it was the server bringing fruit, but when the door opened, it was Zhang Yuntang.

Wang Qitang immediately stood and went to greet him.

“How did you get here?”

“Meeting a friend.” Zhang Yuntang smiled, his eyes bright as he looked at Wang Qitang. “Heard you guys were here, so I came by to say hi.”

“Come in, come in.” Wang Qitang took his hand in his own.

“Oh, sister-in-law’s here!” The previously formless Yu Renzhi immediately sat up straight when he saw Zhang Yuntang.

“Mm.” Zhang Yuntang smiled warmly. “I was about to head home when I found out you were all here. Thought I’d stop by.”

“Sister-in-law, have a seat.” Meng Qingyan stood up and offered the spot next to Wang Qitang to Zhang Yuntang.

The Zhang family was in the battery cathode business, which aligned perfectly with the Wang family’s future transition.

Though theirs was an arranged marriage, their relationship was quite good.

“Speaking of which,” seeing Zhang Yuntang reminded Yu Renzhi of something, “Xiaoyu, shouldn’t you invite your sister-in-law out? It’s rare to have everyone together.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yuntang’s eyes widened with curiosity as he looked at Qin Jianhe.

“Yu Ge is seeing someone?” he asked. “Who? Do I know them?”

Given Qin Jianhe’s status, someone worthy of him in the capital would be extremely rare. Zhang Yuntang quickly ran through possibilities in his mind, his curiosity growing.

“Just an ordinary kid from a normal family.” Seeming to read his thoughts, Qin Jianhe pushed a glass toward him and spoke calmly.

“Someone I don’t know?” Zhang Yuntang blinked.

“I’ll call her for you, sister-in-law.” Seeing Qin Jianhe make no move, Yu Renzhi proactively dialed.

“Hey, sister-in-law.” The call connected. Yu Renzhi’s eyes lit up. “You free today? Come hang out!”

“Give me the phone.” Before he could finish, Qin Jianhe reached out.

Yu Renzhi instinctively dodged, but meeting Qin Jianhe’s dark, heavy gaze, he obediently handed it over.

“Where are you guys?” Ye Zhiqiu’s smiling voice came through the receiver.

“Having drinks at the club.” Qin Jianhe looked down, the cold aura around him inexplicably fading.

“Qin Jianhe?” Ye Zhiqiu laughed. “Yu Renzhi said I should come over?”

He added, “Is this another ‘assignment’?”

“No.” Qin Jianhe said. “If you don’t want to come, don’t. Don’t force yourself.”

A soft laugh came from the other end, followed by a brief silence.

Though he had secretly poured a lot of the liquor into the trash after Uncle Wang passed out, he had still drunk a fair amount of strong white liquor tonight. His head was still a little heavy.

He raised a hand to rub his faintly throbbing temples, propped his chin on his hand, and looked out the window at the star that always seemed to occupy the same spot in the vast, distant sky.

After last night’s snow, today’s sky was even clearer.

Even that star seemed a little brighter than usual.

Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t help drifting off slightly.

This was the second time.

The first was last night, when Qin Jianhe had brought him home, prompted by Gao Wenye’s message.

Unconsciously, his thoughts turned to the past.

In the past, Qi Xin would always use his own difficulties and hardships to get him to help, to beg him to make sacrifices for him.

Even knowing a client was interested in him, he would still take Ye Zhiqiu along to business dinners to secure orders.

All kinds of situations—once, twice, countless times.

But now, Qin Jianhe was telling him that if he didn’t want to, he didn’t have to.

Perhaps his silence stretched on too long. The man’s deep voice came through the phone.

“Hmm?”

“Hmm.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

He hadn’t spoken for a while, and combined with the alcohol, this response was slightly drawn out, carrying a lazy, husky tone.

“You’ve been drinking?” Qin Jianhe asked.

“Hmm.” Ye Zhiqiu responded again, then after a moment said, “Had some white liquor.”

“Where are you now?” Qin Jianhe asked. “I’ll send someone to take you home.”

“I’m at home.” Ye Zhiqiu laughed. He was in a good mood today and couldn’t help talking more. “You worried about me?”

Qin Jianhe didn’t answer. After a long moment, he asked, “Do you have any hangover medicine at home?”

“No.” Ye Zhiqiu said. “Aunt Zhao said she’d make me some hangover soup.”

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe responded quietly. “Since you’ve been drinking, get some rest early.”

“Okay.” Ye Zhiqiu said, his tone different from usual—sounding very obedient.

Unconsciously, a smile crept into Qin Jianhe’s eyes.

“Goodnight.” He said, and hung up.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Yu Renzhi finally dared retrieve his phone. Seeing the smile in Qin Jianhe’s eyes, he couldn’t help clicking his tongue. “Nothing’s even happened yet, and he’s already such a devoted husband.”

He mimicked Qin Jianhe’s phone voice in an exaggerated tone: “If you don’t want to come, don’t. Don’t force yourself.”

At this, everyone laughed, Zhang Yuntang most of all.

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe looked up, a faint smile touching his eyes and brows. “You have a problem with that?”

“No, no, how would I dare?” Yu Renzhi quickly said, then complained, “Relying on you to invite your sister-in-law out? I can’t even see a door. I’ll just invite her myself next time.”

“What’s wrong?” Meng Qingyan also asked. “Sister-in-law drank too much?”

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe responded quietly, then looked down and dialed his driver. “Uncle Li, buy some hangover medicine and take it to the Ye residence.”

Even Wang Qitang laughed this time.

He squeezed Zhang Yuntang’s hand. “I used to always say he was a wooden block or an ice cube. Seems I was wrong.”

“Yep.” Zhang Yuntang laughed. “You’ve still got a lot to learn from Yu Ge.”

* * * *

Worried Ye Zhiqiu might already be asleep, when he reached the Ye residence, Uncle Li didn’t contact Ye Zhiqiu. Instead, he directly rang the electronic doorbell at the gate.

Soon, the gate opened and Aunt Zhao hurried out.

“Who are you?” Aunt Zhao looked doubtfully at Uncle Li, but quickly remembered.

This was the man who had come to pick up the young master before.

“Hello.” Uncle Li said, using the name of Qin Jianhe’s family’s old housekeeper’s grandson, Zhang Qingfeng. “Mr. Zhang asked me to deliver this hangover medicine for Mr. Ye Zhiqiu.”

“You specially came all this way just to deliver hangover medicine?” Aunt Zhao was incredulous.

“Yes.” Uncle Li nodded. “Thank you. If Mr. Ye isn’t asleep yet, please have him take one before resting. He’ll sleep more comfortably that way.”

“Oh… oh, oh…” Before Aunt Zhao could fully react, Uncle Li had already gotten back in the car, skillfully turned around, and headed back the way he came.

“Oh dear,” Aunt Zhao sighed. “Isn’t the young master getting along so well with that young master Qi? And now this Zhang fellow is being so attentive…”

“Can’t figure it out,” she shook her head. “Really can’t figure it out.”

“Who is it?” Ye Zhixia was playing games in the living room. Seeing Aunt Zhao muttering to herself as she came in, he asked.

“Someone delivering hangover medicine for the young master.” Aunt Zhao shook the bottle in her hand and smiled.

Of the three young masters in the house, generally Ye Zheng was called “Da Shaoye” (Eldest Young Master), Ye Zhixia was called “Xiao Shaoye” (Little Young Master), and Ye Zhiqiu was simply called “Shaoye” (Young Master).

Hearing this, Ye Zhixia sat up straight and asked with an ambiguous smile, “Who is it?”

“It’s that grandson of the Qin family’s old housekeeper.” Aunt Zhao smiled. “A very thoughtful child.”

Ye Zhixia snorted disdainfully and held out his hand. “I’ll take it up for him.”

“Little Young Master.” Aunt Zhao handed over the medicine. “The young master drank quite a bit. Please don’t argue with him anymore.”

She pointed upstairs. “The master is home today too.”

“I know.” Ye Zhixia said, getting up and heading upstairs.

* * * *

The light was still on in Ye Zhiqiu’s room. Ye Zhixia tried the door; it was locked. He knocked.

“Who is it?” Ye Zhiqiu’s voice came faintly from inside.

“Me.” Ye Zhixia pressed his ear against the door, listening for any movement inside.

After a long moment, the door finally opened. Ye Zhiqiu stood there in his bathrobe, hair dripping wet, fresh from a shower.

The hot water had suffused his skin with a delicate pink, making it especially soft and delicate.

Ye Zhixia: “…”

Every time he saw Ye Zhiqiu’s unconsciously alluring state, he felt suffocated.

Then his thoughts turned to Gao Wenye again, and he felt even more restless and irritated.

“What do you want?” Ye Zhiqiu looked at him.

He really had drunk quite a bit. Even his usually clear eyes were bloodshot.

“Bringing you medicine.” Ye Zhixia shook the hangover pills.

“So generous?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “Or did you specially come to bribe me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Ye Zhixia entered Ye Zhiqiu’s room and closed the door. “This is from the grandson of the Qin family’s old housekeeper. He specially had someone deliver it for you.”

He emphasized the words “grandson of the old housekeeper” heavily.

Ye Zhiqiu paused, taking a moment to realize the medicine was from Qin Jianhe.

“Give it to me.” He held out his hand.

“Seriously, Ye Zhiqiu.” Ye Zhixia smiled contemptuously. “Do you really love hanging out with servants that much? First this housekeeper’s grandson, then Uncle Wang. You even went into his shabby little room and drank with him all night…”

Ye Zhixia laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone so willing to degrade himself.”

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu wasn’t angry. He tilted his head slightly, his smile meaningful. “Maybe I’ll even become sworn brothers with the driver’s son someday.”

Ye Zhixia frowned, not understanding what Ye Zhiqiu was talking about.

“You really are drunk.” He tossed the medicine box into Ye Zhiqiu’s palm with disgust and turned to leave.

* * * *

The small box wasn’t heavy, but it felt weighty in his hand.

Ye Zhiqiu clutched it tightly for a long moment before reaching for his phone.

When he picked it up, he saw the group chat had started up again at some point.

He ignored it for now and first opened his chat with Qin Jianhe.

“Got the hangover medicine. Thanks for your trouble. You really didn’t need to…”

His fingers paused over the keyboard for a moment. He deleted the last few words.

He hit send. A new message appeared on the screen.

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Got the hangover medicine. Thanks for your trouble. Bowing.jpg]

Qin Jianhe replied quickly.

[QIN: Take the medicine and rest early.]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Okay.]

After sending this, he was briefly quiet, lost in thought.

Then he got up, took the medicine, and went back to the bathroom to dry his damp hair.

Whether it was the medicine taking effect or something else, after coming out of the bathroom, Ye Zhiqiu felt much better.

He sat on the edge of the bed and opened the four-person group chat.

Over a dozen unread messages. Ye Zhiqiu scrolled to the top and started reading.

[Prosperity: Has your Ye Zhixia’s movie with Gao Wenye wrapped yet? @One Leaf Knows Autumn.]

[Li Shao: Why the sudden interest in Ye Zhixia?]

[Lele: And then?]

[Prosperity: Hah, don’t even mention it. That Movie King Gao is so snobbish. At first, because Youyou’s pretty, he was quite polite to her. Later, I guess he found out from his assistant that Youyou’s mom is our housekeeper, and his face immediately darkened.]

[Prosperity: What’s wrong with being a housekeeper? Has my Youyou ever taken a single grain of rice or a sip of water from him since she was little? So ridiculous.]

[Prosperity: My Yanyan is a double Best Actor winner— younger than him, better looking. When he’s on stage with my Youyou, he never looks down on her at all. Who does he think he is?]

[Prosperity: Ye Zhixia falling for him—talk about blind.]

[Li Shao: He hasn’t been blind for just a day or two.]

[Lele: Gao Wenye’s own background isn’t exactly high, is it?]

[Prosperity: I think his dad was a truck driver? So what? A truck driver raising a son to become a Best Actor should be a point of pride, something respectable. No one ever cared about his background. Only he cares, hiding it all away. I heard he hasn’t visited his parents in years. An ungrateful piece of shit. If I were his dad, I’d wish I’d strangled him back then.]

[Prosperity: If this movie casts Gao Wenye, I’m not letting my Youyou take it. Even if I have to support her for the rest of her life.]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: …]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Wasn’t it just a couple of days ago someone was saying they’d come work for me if they couldn’t find a job?]

[Prosperity: … Hehe.]

[Li Shao: Let’s meet up tomorrow morning. Have to stay up with the elders tomorrow night for New Year’s Eve.]

[Prosperity: Okay.]

[Lele: So jealous you three are all in the same place. I can’t make it back.]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: I’m going to sleep now. Bye.]

[Li Shao: This early?]

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Mm. Goodnight.]

After sending the last message, Ye Zhiqiu turned off the light.

Someone had told him several times to rest early. He shouldn’t stay up.

* * * *

During the New Year, Tao Ruoqing had card games every day.

Though she called it playing cards, it was largely to give Ye Zhixia more opportunities to be seen among the wealthy wives.

Incidentally, the topic of Gao Wenye pursuing Ye Zhixia would certainly come up, highlighting his popularity.

After breakfast, when Ye Zhiqiu went out, Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Li had already arrived.

The two wives were extremely skilled at social niceties. Each handed him a red envelope.

Upon hearing this, Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun made him treat them to lunch, instantly emptying both envelopes.

After lunch, they wanted to go to the arcade, but Ye Zhiqiu left early to meet Zhang Mian at a nearby coffee shop.

“Here.” Zhang Mian pushed a thick stack of documents and a pen across the table as soon as they met.

“All this needs signing?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.

“You should see how long it’s piled up.” Zhang Mian smiled.

“Alright.” Ye Zhiqiu took a sip of coffee, asked the server for two sugar cubes, and uncapped his pen.

“Everyone’s cutting back on sugar.” Zhang Mian watched him. “How come you love sweets so much? Not afraid of gaining weight?”

“Life’s bitter enough already.” Ye Zhiqiu signed rapidly. “How could I get by without a little sweetness?”

“What if I told you,” Zhang Mian suppressed his own smile, “that New Power has given a definite answer? Would you still think life’s bitter?”

The pen paused. Ye Zhiqiu’s head snapped up.

“What?” he asked. “Zhang Mian, what did you say?”

“I actually got the news last night, but Wang Qitang only gave a verbal commitment, so I didn’t tell you. Didn’t want to get your hopes up over nothing during the New Year.” Zhang Mian smiled, forwarding two new emails to Ye Zhiqiu’s inbox. “But they moved fast. Their legal department drafted the contract and sent it today. You’ll need to review the terms in a bit.”

“Have you seen it?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.

“Yes.” Zhang Mian said. “The broad strokes are fine. Some minor details might need adjustment.”

He paused. “That’s why I wanted you to take a look too.”

“It’s New Year’s Eve today.” Ye Zhiqiu laughed. “Even if we sign, it’ll have to wait until after the holiday. I’ll take it home and read it.”

“That’s what I thought. This way you have plenty of time and can be thorough.” Zhang Mian said.

As Ye Zhiqiu bent his head signing, Zhang Mian sipped his coffee and chatted about other company matters.

“The other day,” he smiled, “your older brother came to our factory.”

“Oh?” Ye Zhiqiu looked up.

“Wanted to cooperate with us.” Zhang Mian chuckled. “You should have seen his face when I said no.”

Having lost several diaphragm clients, Yeding was now only surviving on chargers and charging stations.

Though not on the verge of collapse, their profits were nowhere near what they used to be.

Ye Hongxian couldn’t not be worried.

“He just left?” Ye Zhiqiu resumed signing.

“He kept conceding on terms.” Zhang Mian said. “But I remembered what you said, don’t worry.”

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu capped his pen and checked the time.

“You have somewhere to be?” Zhang Mian asked.

“Yeah.” Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

When he’d left, Mrs. Zhang had mentioned that since it was New Year’s Eve, the card games would break up early.

Calculating the time, it was almost over.

“Go ahead, then.” Zhang Mian stood. “I should get home for New Year’s too.”

They parted at the coffee shop entrance and went their separate ways.

* * * *

When he arrived home, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Wu were just leaving together. Tao Ruoqing stood under the eaves seeing them off.

“Xiaoqiu’s back.” Mrs. Wu hadn’t seen him that morning. She quickly took out the red envelope she’d prepared earlier and tried to give it to him.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wu.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

“Where have you been?” Mrs. Wu smiled. “Out on a date?”

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled, noncommittal.

There were no secrets in these wives’ social circles. Ye Zhiqiu had accidentally run into Mrs. Zhang once when he was eating with Qi Xin.

His relationship with Qi Xin was probably already common knowledge.

“Who’s the family?” Mrs. Wu asked with a smile.

“The son of my mother’s old classmate.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled innocently. “His surname is Qi.”

He added, “But my dad doesn’t really approve. When it’s finalized, I’ll send you wedding candy.”

By only mentioning Ye Hongxian’s disapproval, Ye Zhiqiu implied that Tao Ruoqing supported the relationship.

And since the boy was the son of her old classmate, perhaps she had even arranged the match herself.

She’d just been so dismissive of Gao Wenye at the card table, yet here she was favoring some nobody surnamed Qi?

Wasn’t it because this child wasn’t her own?

Always going on about how much she loved and cherished him — all snake-hearted words.

Poor motherless child…

Mrs. Wu silently sighed, giving Ye Zhiqiu a meaningful look.

The boy might be a bit spoiled and willful, but it would be a shame to waste looks like his.

“Child,” Mrs. Wu said quietly, “sometimes, you should listen more to your father.”

With that, she hurried off to catch up with Mrs. Zhang.

Ye Zhiqiu watched her retreating back and smiled faintly.

Wasn’t Tao Ruoqing the one who loved using these wives’ social circles to spread rumors?

Now let her taste what it was like to be trapped by gossip.

“Xiaoqiu?” Tao Ruoqing called from under the eaves.

“Hmm?” Ye Zhiqiu turned and walked towards her.

“What did Mrs. Wu say to you?” Tao Ruoqing asked with a smile.

“Nothing much.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled, showing her the red envelope. “Mrs. Wu gave me this.”

His beautiful eyes curved into a lovely arc as he softly remarked, “So festive.”