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Qi Xing didn't stay long at the hospital; he quickly found an opportunity to escape.
Being friends with benefits with Ye Xingzhou? He might as well let Ye Xingzhou shoot off a round at his forehead first.
The next meeting was half a month later, at Mr. Chen's seventieth birthday celebration, a grand banquet held at Qingping Garden.
Mr. Chen had always been low-key over the years and rarely made public appearances. This was the first time he hosted such a grand birthday banquet, specifically asking Qi Xing to come early and saying he wanted to introduce his grandson to everyone.
Qi Xing was shocked: "Grandpa, you really want everyone outside to know about our relationship?"
Mr. Chen chuckled, "When have I ever hidden it? It's you and your dad who are always afraid of trouble and unwilling to disclose our relationship. Now that you're in the company and starting to do serious work, as my only grandson, of course, I want to pave the way for you."
So, Grandpa was making such a big deal out of the birthday banquet for him.
Qi Xing sniffed while feeling a bit touched.
However, this feeling didn't last long.
When the banquet started, he was busy attending to guests. And even being repeatedly receiving surprised, envious, and flattering gazes and the feeling of being touched turned into numbness, eventually evolving into impatience.
But no matter how impatient he was, he had to hold back his temper and wear a smile while accompanying his Grandpa greeting guests and toasting or being toasted.
"This kid was mischievous when he was young. He used to climb trees to steal bird eggs, go into the water to catch fish and even messed with the flowers I painstakingly nurtured. I was so angry I spanked him. But now that he's grown up, although he's still a bit loud, he's smart enough. He graduated from university and is already working in the company with his dad and even able to handle projects on his own."
Mr. Chen smiled as he introduced Qi Xing to a group of old men. First downplaying and then elevating. Letting people know that his grandson wasn't a newcomer but someone he had raised since childhood, just like a biological grandson. He also hinted that Qi Xing would take over Qi Ronghua's business in the future and his face would be Qi Xing's face.
Qi Xing awkwardly smiled, wishing he wouldn't mention those embarrassing childhood stories.
Laughter erupted around him and everyone chimed in with flattering words for Qi Xing.
No matter what everyone thought in their hearts with Mr. Chen pulling such a stunt today, who would dare to say that Qi Ronghua was an unrefined nouveau riche in Huaicheng City? At least he had a son!
Even Qi Ronghua and his wife tried to sneak away but people still flocked over to chat and get close.
Ye Xingzhou also arrived and came over to toast Mr. Chen just as he heard this and his gaze shifting to Qi Xing, and he complimented him, "Young Master Qi is quite interesting."
As he spoke, his gaze subtly drifted downward, seemingly lingering around Qi Xing's waist and hips, not obvious. Probably the only person being stared at noticed it.
Qi Xing silently rolled his eyes, suspecting that this beast only heard the words "spanked" and was fantasizing about him.
Ye Xingzhou extended his wine glass while raising an eyebrow at him.
With countless pairs of eyes on him and a smiling Grandpa beside him, Qi Xing, despite his reluctance, raised his hand and clinked glasses with him.
He couldn't help but curse Ye Xingzhou in his heart; this guy had turned back into a model citizen, full of life in just half a month. Why didn't he twist his foot and make him limp forever?
Afterward, Mr. Chen took him to continue mingling with other guests. Qi Xing casually scanned the crowd and spotted Lin Zhinian, whom he hadn't seen in a while.
Lin Zhinian was there with his second uncle. Seeing that there were fewer people around Mr. Chen, Lin Zhinian's second uncle immediately brought Lin Zhinian over to toast.
Qi Xing had no good feelings toward this second uncle and was too lazy to listen to the nonsense he was saying to his Grandpa, so his gaze fell on Lin Zhinian.
Lin Zhinian looked a bit tired, probably because he had been busy with a national touring art exhibition recently and he clearly didn't want to be at this occasion today.
Qi Xing discreetly observed him. He still felt a bit of longing for this teacher but despite that longing and thinking of the good things Ye Xingzhou had done made him feel embarrassed. He didn't know how Lin Zhinian would view him now.
"How's your art exhibition going, Teacher Lin?" Qi Xing took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
Lin Zhinian perked up to respond, "I just got back yesterday. I've already been to three stops and there are four more to go. It should all wrap up before the end of the year."
As he spoke, Lin Zhinian's expression paused slightly. He had already seen Ye Xingzhou not far behind him and being surrounded by people. In the crowd, the graceful Ye Xingzhou was still the most eye-catching one. Lin Zhinian looked at him for a moment then his gaze returned to Qi Xing's smiling face, feeling inexplicably blocked in his heart.
Since that night, he hadn't contacted either Ye Xingzhou or Qi Xing again. He didn't know the truth of Ye Xingzhou's words but if it was a joke, at least in his understanding, Ye Xingzhou never made such jokes.
He had actually sensed it early on; from the very beginning, Ye Xingzhou had shown interest in this Young Master in front of him.
Qi Xing was still saying something but Lin Zhinian hardly heard it.
When his second uncle finished chatting with Mr. Chen and walked back, he heard his second uncle lower his voice and sneer, "Qi Ronghua's luck is really good; he managed to get close to Mr. Chen. No wonder his son looks down on everyone," Lin Zhinian finally came to his senses. He frowned and stopped him from continuing, "Second uncle, don't say that. There are too many people here. Be careful not to be overheard."
Lin Zhinian's second uncle scoffed then glanced in Ye Xingzhou's direction, sighed and smiled a bit, "At least you're somewhat useful. Although Xingneng Technology has nothing to do with us, Ye Xingzhou already said yesterday that he would introduce a good project to us. You need to work harder to keep close to him as the benefits he can give us in the future will definitely be more than this."
Lin Zhinian felt very uncomfortable with his second uncle's tone with his face stiff but didn't respond. His second uncle probably realized that the occasion was inappropriate and finally shut up, moving on to find someone else to socialize with.
The birthday banquet continued and Qi Xing remained by Mr. Chen's side, acting as a good luck charm. Not only was his smiling face starting to stiffen but his hand holding the wine glass also ached. He hadn't eaten much and was feeling a bit dizzy from all the toasting.
"Grandpa, I can't take it anymore; I really need to go to the bathroom." He couldn't hold it in any longer and planned to use the excuse to step outside for some fresh air.
Mr. Chen laughed and waved his hand, "Alright and go take a break. I'll have someone call you later."
Qi Xing was waiting for this sentence and quickly put down his wine glass and ran off.
He didn't go far, first heading to the restroom. Inside, some people were chatting idly and gossiping about his relationship with Mr. Chen and after a couple of sentences, they brought up the Ye family.
"Did you hear that Ye Xingzhou's cousin had a car accident a few days ago and is now paralyzed from the waist down?"
"Really? Is that true? That guy was quite impressive when he was with Ye Xingzhou's dad. But in less than a year, he ended up like this. It's really lamentable. I wonder if it's because he offended Ye Xingzhou..."
As Qi Xing walked in, the people gossiping fell silent upon seeing him and quickly snuffing out their cigarettes then leaving.
While he was using the restroom, he thought about what they had just said. Ye Xingzhou's cousin? Wasn't that the one who got scared out of his wits at Ye Wanqing wedding? He actually ended up paralyzed?
After finishing up, he planned to go to the nearby lounge to lie down for a bit. He thought everyone would be in the main hall but when he opened the lounge door, he found someone else inside—none other than the unfortunate Ye Xingzhou.
Ye Xingzhou's suit jacket had been accidentally splashed with wine and he had come to change. When he looked up and saw Qi Xing, he adjusted his cuffs and sat down on the sofa then casually lit a cigarette.
His driver took away the clothes he had changed out of, leaving only the two of them in the lounge.
Qi Xing was at a loss as leaving would make it seem like he was afraid of Ye Xingzhou but staying made him feel uneasy about this person.
Ye Xingzhou exhaled a puff of smoke and called out to him, "Come here."
Qi Xing was displeased with his demeanor and retorted, "Ye Xingzhou, your character is really poor because if not, then why did you get splashed with wine again?"
"How much have you drunk?" Ye Xingzhou countered. This kid's face was flushed, probably from having been toasting and being toasted non-stop.
Qi Xing was indeed a bit dizzy and didn't feel like moving. He slumped into the single sofa, closed his eyes and didn't want to deal with him.
Ye Xingzhou finished his cigarette while leaning back on the sofa while his gaze fixed on him.
"After the banquet, come with me."
Qi Xing kept his eyes closed, expressionless, and said, "My parents are here."
"Your parents are chatting with others. Your mom said she wants to go shopping abroad with her friends after this and your dad is going on a business trip out of town."
Ye Xingzhou exposed him with two sentences.
Qi Xing's mouth twitched; his parents really were going out of town. If it weren't for attending Grandpa's birthday banquet, they would have left during the day.
He tilted his head, opened his eyes and glanced at Ye Xingzhou but did not immediately respond.
Maybe he had drunk a bit too much, and his mind wasn't clear. Ye Xingzhou's suggestion did indeed tempt him; after all, it's better to be familiar than unfamiliar, and he wasn't the only one who knew the taste of it.
But seeing Ye Xingzhou's smug expression made him feel annoyed. Even if he wanted to go with this person, he had to beat him up first.
Thinking this, Qi Xing got up, loosened his tie, and cursed, "I'll beat you, you old rogue," and lunged at him.
The result was that he fell right into the trap.
He landed directly on Ye Xingzhou's lap, gripping the collar of Ye Xingzhou's shirt with both hands, wanting to throw a punch at his face. But before he could hit him, his hands were caught.
Qi Xing hissed, frowning in annoyance.
Ye Xingzhou didn't even change his position, leaning back against the sofa and looking at him, "Want to fight again?"
Qi Xing mumbled, "Not fighting anymore; my hand hurts."
His hand had been holding the wine glass for so long that his wrist was sore and now being pinched by Ye Xingzhou, it hurt quite a bit.
Ye Xingzhou glanced at him, rubbing the inside of his wrist with his thumb.
That spot was quite sensitive for Qi Xing, and he couldn't help but squirm and forget to struggle.
They were too close as their breaths mingled, especially since Qi Xing was still straddling Ye Xingzhou. Realizing what was pressing against him, he cursed under his breath, "Beast."
Ye Xingzhou didn't let him go and instead continued to knead his wrist while his other hand slipped under Qi Xing's suit jacket, reaching up to his waist through his shirt.
A few minutes later, the lounge door was pushed open again. Lin Zhinian stopped at the door, stunned at the sight of the two entangled on the sofa.
Ye Xingzhou suddenly looked up at him, his gaze cold and sharp, as if it were laced with ice.
Qi Xing seemed to sense something, groggily turning his head. Upon seeing Lin Zhinian's stunned expression, his drunkenness vanished instantly and he instinctively pulled back while awkwardly tumbling off Ye Xingzhou's lap and onto the carpet.
Lin Zhinian turned and strode away.
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