Chapter 24: Radiant Like the Sun

 

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After finishing dinner at Ye Xingzhou's house, Qi Xing immediately got into his own car and left. 

He never wanted to come to this cursed place again. Offering himself up like this was a testament to his audacity. If it were someone else, they might as well hang themselves.

That damn Ye Xingzhou.

He had taken note of this debt.

The next day, Ye Xingzhou's people actually delivered the car. Qi Ronghua looked at him with suspicion and Qi Xing could only say that he liked the car and asked Ye Xingzhou to lend it to him for a few days.

Qi Ronghua didn't quite believe it. "You asked him and he agreed? Do you two have that kind of relationship now?"

Qi Xing replied expressionlessly, "He's rich anyway, so he doesn't care about this car."

Although this car was probably just the payment for his services in Ye Xingzhou's eyes but since he had already paid, he might as well take some benefits.

For the next week, Qi Xing seemed to have learned his lesson and became obedient. He followed Qi Ronghua to work and went home for dinner after work and no longer dared to go out and fool around again.

The investment in the Xingneng Technology project proceeded smoothly. Qi Xing was the nominal person in charge but he didn't need to personally handle everything. When Ye Corporation invited him, he would send his father's assistant instead. After all, the same trick wouldn't work twice.

He certainly wouldn't admit that he was afraid of Ye Xingzhou but if he could avoid him, he would. After all, normal people couldn't communicate with beasts. 

He didn't want his reputation to be tarnished any further and he still valued his dignity and integrity.

On Friday afternoon, his grandpa called and asked Qi Xing to visit Qingping Garden tomorrow morning. He said he had made an appointment with some old friends to go fishing at a farmhouse outside the city and asked Qi Xing to join them.

Qi Xing was not happy about it. 

"Grandpa, why do you want me to join you guys for such a boring activity like fishing?"

"You little rascal, if I ask you to come, you come and don't be so picky," Mr. Chen jokingly scolded him. "I also invited that Ye Xingzhou to come and introduce you guys to each other."

When Qi Xing heard Ye Xingzhou's name, his forehead throbbed. "Do you really think highly of him? You even want to introduce him to your old friends?"

Mr. Chen said, "He's quite capable. I heard he recently got your father to invest in a project together. So why do you have such a bad opinion of him?"

Qi Xing cursed inwardly. Wishing he could skin Ye Xingzhou alive.

Of course, even though he threatened Ye Xingzhou using his grandpa, he wouldn't actually tell Mr. Chen about this embarrassing matter.

After hanging up the phone, Qi Xing had an idea and sent a message to Yang Kaiming.

After waiting for two weeks, his patience was already exhausted. 

Tomorrow was the perfect opportunity and he was determined to teach Ye Xingzhou a lesson no matter what.

The next morning, Qi Xing drove to Qingping Garden and then rode in Mr. Chen's car to the farmhouse outside the city.

On the way, Mr. Chen instructed him, "Be a bit more charming when you meet people later and don't let Ye Xingzhou outshine you."

Qi Xing absentmindedly replied that he understood but his mind was already far away. 

That wasn't his purpose for coming today.

They arrived at their destination at half-past ten.

The farmhouse was located in a remote suburb with a large lake and a wild forest on the mountain behind it. Mr. Chen  would often come here to fish and Qi Xing had accompanied him a few times before.

Ye Xingzhou and Mr. Chen's friends arrived one after another. Mr. Chen introduced them to each other and these individuals were all influential figures in Huaicheng City who rarely showed themselves. Among them was someone who came from Beijing. Without Mr. Chen's introduction, it would be impossible for outsiders to establish a relationship with them.

Qi Xing had the natural skill of pleasing his elders. With his enthusiasm and a few playful remarks, he easily made the old men smile and laugh.

Ye Xingzhou wasn't as outgoing as him but he was stable and considerate. The gifts he brought weren't expensive but they suited each person's preferences.

The elders gathered by the lake to fish and a few stoves were set up nearby to stew fish, grill fish and make fish soup. Qi Xing and Ye Xingzhou were in charge of tending the fire.

Qi Xing didn't know how to do this kind of work, so he just sat on the side and watched.

Ye Xingzhou took off his suit jacket then rolled up the sleeves of his shirt which revealed his nicely toned muscles in his arms and started working in a skilled manner.

Qi Xing was lost in his thoughts for a moment as his gaze landed on Ye Xingzhou. He looked at Ye Xingzhou's arms and waistline while reminiscing about the red marks he left on Ye Xingzhou's waist last time. He thought that he should have gripped him tighter back then.

Ye Xingzhou happened to look up and Qi Xing immediately looked away. Ye Xingzhou handed him a skewer of freshly grilled fish, saying, "Try it."

Qi Xing replied, "I'm not eating it because who knows if you poisoned it."

Since Qi Xing refused to eat, Ye Xingzhou put the grilled fish back and sat down beside him with his hands in his pockets.

Qi Xing wanted to move away but Ye Xingzhou took a sip of his mineral water and said, "Come to my place tonight."

Qi Xing was taken aback and thought, What nonsense are you talking about?

Just as he was about to sarcastically retort, Ye Xingzhou's hand which was in his pocket, suddenly reached out and rested on his lower back.

Qi Xing immediately grabbed his wrist and glanced at Mr. Chen and the others who were chatting happily nearby. He lowered his voice and scolded, "Have you had enough? Do you even realize where we are?"

Ye Xingzhou remained composed. His fingers pressing on his spine and persistently massaging downwards. Finally, he even reached the sensitive area near his coccyx. Qi Xing was already sensitive in that area, and being massaged like that by Ye Xingzhou in broad daylight in front of his grandpa made him shudder and almost let out a cry, "You—"

Ye Xingzhou casually withdrew his hand then took another sip of water and said, "You're so sensitive. Can an average person satisfy you?"

Qi Xing retorted, "If you want to fight, just say it!"

Ye Xingzhou replied, "You can't beat me. Every time you fight with me, you just lose. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

He continued, "Come to my place tonight."

Can you stop talking nonsense?

Qi Xing now felt that it was a waste of his breath to scold him but Ye Xingzhou continued, "Are you not afraid that I will tell your grandfather and your father about these things?"

Qi Xing was almost amused. He hadn't even complained to the authorities, yet this jerk was using it to threaten him?

Ye Xingzhou said, "Doesn't your father know that you're messing around with men outside? That little celebrity and Lin Zhinian, how many affairs do you have outside and how much do your parents know?"

Qi Xing's face instantly turned extremely ugly. Ye Xingzhou glanced at him and said, "I hit the nail on the head, didn't I? Your parents even monitor what time you come home. You're probably afraid to let them know who you hang out with outside."

Qi Xing asked, "What do you want?"

Ye Xingzhou didn't say anything more and just raised his chin, saying, "Your grandfather is coming over."

While others were still fishing, Mr. Chen handed over his fishing rod and came over for a cup of tea. Ye Xingzhou stood up and Qi Xing, suppressing his anger, stood up as well.

"Is Mr. Chen not fishing anymore?" Ye Xingzhou asked first.

Mr. Chen smiled and waved, "I'm tired so I want to take a break. Do you have tea?"

Ye Xingzhou checked the things they brought and realized they forgot the tea leaves. He went to the small villa behind to get them.

After he left, Mr. Chen gestured for Qi Xing to sit down while retracting his gaze from Ye Xingzhou's back. "Why do you look flustered again? Did you argue with Ye Xingzhou?"

Qi Xing grumbled, "What argument? I'm just full."

Mr. Chen teased him, "But you're still fuming now. I've known you since you were little. Whenever you get angry, you glare and bite at people because you feel wronged and try to retaliate in every way possible."

Qi Xing protested, "I don't..."

Unable to keep a straight face under Mr. Chen's teasing, Qi Xing changed the subject, "The fish soup is ready. Grandpa, why don't you have a bowl of soup first? I'll help you serve it."

Mr. Chen didn't let him off the hook and while sipping the soup, he continued, "This kid Ye Xingzhou is also quite talented. Why do you look down on him so much? He's not that bad, right?”

"I just find him unpleasant," Qi Xing snorted.

Mr. Chen was a bit curious, "What did he do to you exactly?"

Qi Xing certainly wouldn't tell the truth, "Our personalities clash. We're just not compatible."

Mr. Chen shook his head with a smile, "I actually think he's quite good. Young, talented and good-looking. If I had a granddaughter, I would consider him as a potential son-in-law."

Unable to stand it, Qi Xing said, "Grandpa, what's wrong with you and my dad? You both clearly know he's untrustworthy, yet now you're all singing his praises. Have you both been charmed by him? Are you saying he's good with that kind of character? Aren't you afraid of inviting trouble by letting someone like him into the family? And Grandpa, you're mistaken. He likes men, so having a granddaughter wouldn't make a difference."

"Is this about the last time with that Teacher Lin?" Mr. Chen nodded knowingly, "I see. You also took a liking to him, so you're at odds with Ye Xingzhou. It's normal that you find him unpleasant. Young people these days are quite interesting."

His parents might not know about his orientation but Mr. Chen did and he enjoyed teasing Qi Xing about it.

Qi Xing fell silent directly. 

He shouldn't have said anything.

When Ye Xingzhou returned with the tea leaves, Mr. Chen had half a bowl of soup and didn't feel like having tea anymore. He was called back to continue fishing.

Ye Xingzhou sat back down and Qi Xing stood up to leave but Ye Xingzhou reached out and pulled him back down.

"Where are you going?"

This guy had a rogue look about him. 

Qi Xing pushed away his hand and ignored him.

Ye Xingzhou lit a cigarette casually and said, "Your grandfather is quite interesting."

Qi Xing glanced over and Ye Xingzhou smirked, "Son-in-law, huh? He doesn't have a granddaughter but he does have a grandson."

"Why are you eavesdropping on people's conversations again?" Qi Xing looked disgusted, "What's it to you if he has a grandson? Just because we slept together twice, so you think you have deep feelings for me and want to talk about love with me?”

Ye Xingzhou didn't immediately respond. His eyes behind the smoke stared at Qi Xing for a moment and made Qi Xing feel on edge before Ye Xingzhou turned his head and said in a softer tone, "You're overthinking it."

Qi Xing breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't the best response but he was truly afraid that Ye Xingzhou would agree. Then if was, he would have to run away overnight.

"Sleep with me one more time." Ye Xingzhou suddenly said.

Qi Xing was completely speechless. 

How could this guy be so shameless?

Ye Xingzhou's gaze returned to him, "One last time."

Qi Xing replied, "I'll believe it when pigs fly."

He stood up but he didn't forget to kick Ye Xingzhou before he went to the lakeside to join the elderly fishing group.

Ye Xingzhou leisurely continued smoking while his gaze followed Qi Xing.

This guy would burst into laughter one moment then exaggerate and joke around. 

No matter what he did or who he talked to, he was relaxed and carefree with a bright smile as radiant as the sun.

Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, Ye Xingzhou's gaze rested on the side of Qi Xing's face which illuminated by the sunlight. After a moment, he slowly exhaled the smoke.

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