Don’t Fall for Me… Even If You Kiss Me Like That

Holy shit!

A million thoughts stampeded through his mind, but Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t get a single word out.

Innocent young men really did love the thrill… he sighed internally.

Qin Jianhe held him tight, kissing him fiercely, his lips and tongue demanding.

When he finally caught his breath, Ye Zhiqiu managed, “We’re about to board.”

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe paused. “A few minutes left.”

“President Qin knows how to have fun.” The more innocent he seemed, the more Ye Zhiqiu wanted to tease him. “If there was more time, would you want to try it here too?”

Qin Jianhe didn’t answer, but his arms tightened around Ye Zhiqiu’s waist, squeezing the breath out of him. Then he leaned down again.

But this time, he didn’t kiss his lips. He kissed the laughing eyes that held a hint of mischief. His lips were hot but gentle, without any force.

“Hey.” Ye Zhiqiu lowered his voice, finding it amusing. He closed his eyes, smiling. “Qin Jianhe.”

“Hm?” Qin Jianhe’s low response came as he looked down at him seriously.

“Your kissing skills have improved,” Ye Zhiqiu said with a knowing smile. “Practiced with someone the last two days?”

“Nonsense.” Qin Jianhe laughed too, his voice deep. He lightly flicked Ye Zhiqiu’s forehead. “That’s a punishment.”

Ye Zhiqiu wrinkled his nose, smiling. He was about to speak when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He thought it was Gao Yang or Wang Ru, but it was Qi Xin.

Qi Xin had insisted on seeing him off, but Ye Zhiqiu had refused. He’d only given up when he heard Ye Zheng was taking him.

Now he was calling, either because he’d seen the email with the designs or because he was worried about his travel plans.

Qin Jianhe’s eyes went cold when he saw the name on the screen. “Why does he call so much?” And he always seemed eager to talk to Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu laughed and hung up.

Qin Jianhe was a man of few words. Even teased like that, he’d only said “nonsense.”

If it were Qi Xin, he’d probably be apologizing and explaining for ages.

He laughed again and was about to speak when he heard someone enter the restroom.

Before he could react, Qin Jianhe tilted his chin up and kissed him again, his lips hot and fierce, with a hint of a playful bite.

Their breath was hot, suppressed, mingling in the small space.

The newcomers were a young couple with a child. The child had spilled something on his clothes, and they were cleaning him up, murmuring reassurances. They didn’t notice the locked stall.

Ye Zhiqiu was pressed against the door, his head tilted back. His lips were still tingling when he heard the family leave.

Qin Jianhe pulled back, resting his forehead against Ye Zhiqiu’s.

Their breath was fast, uneven, tangled together.

Ye Zhiqiu looked up, dazed, meeting Qin Jianhe’s dark, deep eyes. They were focused on him with an intensity that made his heart skip.

“Hey.” He tried to step back, nearly hitting his head on the door. Qin Jianhe caught him, his hand cushioning the impact, and pulled him close.

“Qin Jianhe,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “There’s a limit. This… it feels like we’re dating. Don’t cross the line.”

His phone rang again. This time it was Gao Yang.

“Less than ten minutes,” Gao Yang said. “When are you coming back?”

Ye Zhiqiu cleared his throat, not looking at Qin Jianhe. “Be right there.”

There was still time, a few minutes. If Qin Jianhe weren’t so intense.

The way he looked at him, like fire under dark water, was unsettling. It made him think of the screenshot he’d sent yesterday.

He’d thought it was odd. Now he realized it seemed like an explanation. Like he was checking in.

He was about to leave when Qin Jianhe took his wrist.

“Wait.” His voice was steady, his eyes lowered, his expression unreadable.

He fixed Ye Zhiqiu’s collar, his clothes, his messy hair. When he was done, he stepped back.

“I’m going.” Ye Zhiqiu looked up.

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe nodded and walked out with him. “I promised you a gift from Hong Kong.”

“Did you get one?” Ye Zhiqiu stopped, curious.

Qin Jianhe was wearing a casual coat over a blue sweater and black jeans. No place for a gift.

Qin Jianhe smiled. “Come.”

He took Ye Zhiqiu’s wrist and led him down the narrow hallway. Around the corner, his driver, Uncle Li, was waiting with a shopping bag.

Ye Zhiqiu recognized the airport store logo.

Qin Jianhe took the bag. “For you.”

He was about to say something about the gift being from the airport, not Hong Kong, when he saw the smaller box inside. And the small tins of chocolate from his office.

He understood. It was thoughtful.

If he went back with a gift, people would ask questions. But a bag from the airport store was nothing.

He looked at Qin Jianhe, his heart warm.

“What is it?”

“Open it later.”

He nodded. It was time.

“Good luck,” Qin Jianhe said.

After a few steps, he called him back.

“Be safe. Whatever you do.”

Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “I will.”

* * * *

When Ye Zhiqiu returned, they were boarding.

He’d just made it. Meng Da was checking the list.

“Xiao Ye, just in time.”

Wang Ru saw the bag. “Want me to take that?”

“No, thanks.” He smiled. “Just some chocolate. I’ll share.”

Zhou Lang’s group was ahead. He heard. “I told you, Teacher Xiao Ye is still a kid.”

He’d been at Q.L. for years. Losing to Ye Zhiqiu was a first. People knew it wasn’t over.

His assistants laughed.

Gao Yang and Wang Ru were angry.

Gao Yang muttered, “Young actors are more popular.”

“Old actors have more skill,” someone shot back.

“You have to have skill to be an ‘old actor,'” Wang Ru said. “Teacher Xiao Ye is young, but he’s already a champion. Some people are old, but not skilled.”

Wang Ru was nervous, but she knew she had to stand up for Ye Zhiqiu.

Zhou Lang was taken aback. He’d never been spoken to like that by an assistant.

He smiled coldly. “You’re Wang Ru?”

She knew a threat. “Yes. Someone like you could crush me.”

People from other groups laughed. Some applauded.

Ye Zhiqiu was looking at his phone.

“Enough,” Meng Da said. “Let’s go.”

As they went through the gate, Wang Ru asked, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Ye Zhiqiu showed her his phone. He’d recorded the whole thing.

Arguing with Zhou Lang was one thing, but this was more effective.

Wang Ru smiled. She’d been nervous, but now she felt better.

He was about to post it when Qi Xin called again.

He answered.

“Xiaoqiu.” Qi Xin’s excitement was clear, even when he tried to hide it.

“I’m boarding. Make it quick.”

“Good luck. I’ll be busy, but I’ll try to see your show.”

“Work on your company. That’s more important.”

Qi Xin was quiet. “Thank you, Xiaoqiu.”

He’d seen the email. Three in the morning. He felt guilty, knowing Ye Zhiqiu was working while he slept.

“I’ll be good to you,” he said.

Ye Zhiqiu laughed, a soft sound. “I’m counting on it.”

Another call came in. Qi Xin saw Jiang Nan’s name. He frowned and hung up.

He told himself Jiang Nan was important, part of his past. But he knew he was spending less time thinking about him.

He used to check his page constantly. Now, days passed.

He’d never ignored his calls before. He used to dream of it.

Now, he was thinking of Ye Zhiqiu.

He told himself this was all to be with Jiang Nan, but his feelings were changing.

When Tao Ruoqing asked, he felt uncomfortable. He used to see her as a help, now as something else.

“I will.” Ye Zhiqiu hung up.

He posted the video. Then he put his phone on airplane mode.

He slept on the plane, waking as they landed in New York.

The airport was busy. People were greeting each other.

Meng Da and Zhou Lang were well-known. Ye Zhiqiu, not yet.

People asked about him, nodded from a distance.

Zhou Lang was popular. People called him a master.

Then someone whispered in his ear.

He checked Weibo. The video was there. His words, his threats, were online.

Comments were harsh.

[This Zhou Lang, he threatened a factory. He’s on the Q.L. website. And now he’s threatening a woman?]

[Everywhere, bullying. He reminds me of my team leader.]

People were talking about Ye Zhiqiu, the champion.

[We won’t buy his clothes anymore.]

Zhou Lang was shaking. He knew who posted it.

He wanted to confront Ye Zhiqiu, but they were in public.

He cursed. “PR? What are they doing?”

His assistant made a call. When he hung up, he looked strange.

“The PR department said President Qin told them to leave it.”

Zhou Lang was confused. How did Qin Jianhe know?

He got on the bus. He bumped Ye Zhiqiu’s shoulder as he passed.

Ye Zhiqiu just smiled. “Teacher Zhou, are you okay?”

Zhou Lang was angrier.

At the hotel, his room was across from Ye Zhiqiu’s.

He waited for him.

“Ye Zhiqiu. Is this fun?”

Ye Zhiqiu opened his door. “If you’re worried about your reputation, think about your actions.”

Zhou Lang laughed. “I’ve been here for years. Do you think you can beat me?”

Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “You’re the one trying to beat me. If you want to blame me, go ahead. I’ll wait.”

He went inside and closed the door.

Zhou Lang stood there, then slammed his own door.

Ye Zhiqiu opened the box. It was from Qin Jianhe.

He opened it. Inside was a new pair of the shoes he’d seen in Qin Jianhe’s closet.

His size. The packaging was intact.

He tried them on. They fit.

He took them off carefully.

He sent a message.

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: How did you get these? Thank you. I love them.]

Qin Jianhe had just finished work. He smiled.

He’d found them at a pawn shop in Hong Kong. The owner had called his clients. Someone had them.

Money was no object. It was finding them. The owner had paid a high price.

[Qin Jianhe: Just lucky. I’m glad you like them.]