Chapter 68: Eloping

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As the car neared home, Qi Xing received an unexpected call. This time, it was Lin Zhinian.

"Young Master Qi, your father just called me and asked about the kidnapping in America." Lin Zhinian said right off the bat.

 

Qi Xing was surprised. "He even got your number?"

 

Lin Zhinian explained, "I don't know how he got my number and I know you don't want your family to find out about this, but I heard the seriousness in his voice and when he kept asking me questions, I couldn't resist and told him everything. I'm sorry about that. Your father also asked me about my past with Ye Xingzhou, and I told him the truth."

 

Qi Xing: "..."

 

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Ye Xingzhou with a sigh and said, "You shouldn't come up with me."

 

Ye Xingzhou pulled over to the side of the road. "Can't I go?"

 

Qi Xing: "No."

 

The kidnapping was already a thorn in his parents' side, and bringing in Lin Zhinian’s matters only made things worse. So, Ye Xingzhou going up now would be like pouring oil on fire.

 

"If you don't want me to go up, I won't go up for now." Ye Xingzhou reminded him, "Put your phone on speakerphone and keep the line open. Talk to your parents calmly and don't deliberately provoke them. If your father hits you, just dodge."

 

Qi Xing: "I know, I'm not an idiot."

 

Ye Xingzhou: "Tell them you want to talk to them. If they agree, I'll go up."

 

Qi Xing nodded. As he got out of the car, he paused for a moment and turned back to kiss Ye Xingzhou.

 

Ye Xingzhou looked at him with his brows slightly furrowed.

 

Qi Xing: "Ye Xingzhou, no matter how much my parents object, I won't leave you. Don't worry."

 

Ten minutes later, Qi Xing walked deep into his house. 

His parents were both there with their faces not looking good and waiting for him in the living room, ready for battle.

 

Qi Xing frowned, remembering Ye Xingzhou's words about not provoking them. He walked over and sat down obediently, even taking the initiative to greet them: "Dad, Mom."

 

Qi Ronghua didn't respond, his face cold. Wang Cuilan asked first, "Your Uncle Li said you were kidnapped in Las Vegas, and it had something to do with Ye Xingzhou. Is that true?"

 

Qi Xing: "You've already asked Teacher Lin, and you know the whole story, right? It's like that. Ye Wan Yao wanted to deal with Ye Xingzhou, so he kidnapped me and Teacher Lin. Later, Ye Xingzhou found someone to rescue us. I'm fine."

 

Wang Cuilan: "Such a big thing and you call it fine? Why didn't you tell us about it before?"

 

Qi Xing: "I..."

 

Qi Ronghua coldly interjected: "Of course he wouldn't dare to mention it. Because Ye Xingzhou was kidnapped, how dare he speak up? I told you before that Ye Xingzhou is untrustworthy. Their whole Ye family is a bunch of wolves and tigers. He wouldn't listen, and now that something has happened, he still doesn't know to be afraid. He insists on messing around with that man."

 

Qi Xing retorted: "Dad, your words are biased. Ye Xingzhou was also a victim in this incident. You're saying that the victim is guilty. What does this have to do with Ye Xingzhou? The one who's not human is Ye Wan Yao."

 

"How is it not related to him? If you stayed away from him, would you have been targeted by Ye Wan Yao? Why did he kidnap you and not others?"

 

"Ye Wan Yao didn't target me, he targeted Teacher Lin. I was having coffee with Teacher Lin at the time, so we were taken together."

 

"What's the difference? He was targeted because of Ye Xingzhou, wasn't he? Ye Xingzhou and that Lin family kid are not clear-cut, you're the one who's blindly devoted and got yourself involved!"

 

Qi Ronghua was also holding back. Today, he didn't scold or even hit Qi Xing like he did last time, but his words were even more forceful, expressing his disapproval of Qi Xing and Ye Xingzhou's relationship.

 

Wang Cuilan, fearing that the father and son would start arguing again, didn't give Qi Ronghua a chance to speak and asked Qi Xing herself: "Do you know what kind of relationship Ye Xingzhou has with that Teacher Lin?"

 

Qi Xing: "High school classmates. They used to be together, but they're not anymore."

 

Wang Cuilan hesitated: "Are you sure they're not together anymore? Why did everyone say they were a couple not long ago? We saw Ye Xingzhou taking that Teacher Lin to all sorts of social events, it wasn't fake. If it wasn't for that, I don't think Ye Wan Yao would have targeted him."

 

Qi Xing was immediately speechless. Ye Xingzhou was using Lin Zhi Nian, but if he said it, his parents would only think that Ye Xingzhou was not a good person.

 

"He's not clear-cut with that Lin family kid, he's ruthlessly swallowing their company, and he's still hanging onto you, this fool. Only you think he's good and protect him everywhere. You're not afraid he'll use the same trick on you?" Qi Ronghua was angry again. He really wanted to pry open his son's head and see what was inside.

 

Qi Xing: "...How can he use the same trick on me? Dad, you're not Lin Hongfei. Can he cheat your company from you? Besides, he pulled you in to invest in the Star Energy Technology project, and you made real money, right?"

 

Qi Ronghua choked: "How could I, your father, be as greedy and stupid as that Lin Hongfei?"

 

"So that settles it," Qi Xing spread his hands, "Since Ye Xingzhou can't get anything from me, how could he be with me with ulterior motives? You're just overthinking."

 

Wang Cuilan: "But maybe he's just playing around? You said he used to be good with that Teacher Lin, and he could completely disregard their past and not care about his life or death. What if he does the same to you in the future?"

 

"Mom," Qi Xing was helpless, "In that situation, Ye Xingzhou knew that Ye Wan Yao would plant a bomb. Do you think he should let me be kidnapped and bombed because of their past?"

 

Wang Cuilan immediately said, "Of course not!"

 

Qi Xing: "You think Ye Xingzhou is heartless and cold-blooded for choosing me, suspecting that he'll do the same to me in the future. If Ye Xingzhou had chosen someone else, you would have hated him even more. No matter what he does, it's wrong in your eyes. And he knew there was a bomb, but he still went to risk his life before Ye Wan Yao released me. Isn't that enough? How many people would be willing to risk their lives to save someone? Even if he changes his mind in the future, at least at that time, he was truly devoted to me. So why can't I be devoted to him?"

 

Wang Cuilan seemed to be swayed by his words and nudged Qi Ronghua beside her. But Qi Ronghua still had a sullen face and didn't buy it at all: "It doesn't matter if he's devoted or not. He's too dangerous and troublesome, and he's offended too many people. Who knows if there's another Ye Wan Yao around him?"

 

"Then Dad, you were so wild back then, and I was kidnapped because of you. It was Grandpa who sent someone to find me. Do I need to sever our father-son relationship? Are you being reasonable?"

 

"Do you have any conscience, you little bastard? I'm your father, I'll always be your father, I won't protect you now and then stop protecting you later. Can he do that? Even if he swears and vows, it doesn't count. He'll change his mind once, he'll change his mind twice. Once he changes his mind, you'll be the next Lin family kid! That kid almost got blown to pieces!"

 

"Then maybe I'll kick him out first? Why can only he change his mind, I can't?"

 

"If you really had the guts, you wouldn't have run away with him at his beck and call. I know you, you have 'I can't live without him' written all over your forehead."

 

Qi Xing was stunned. His father actually thought he couldn't live without Ye Xingzhou? What had he done to give his father this impression?

 

"I didn't..."

 

"You know whether you did or not, humph."

 

"Then you said I can't live without him, why are you still objecting to us? What if I really can't live without him?"

 

Qi Ronghua wanted to take off his shoe and hit the kid, but Wang Cuilan glared at him, he grunted and barely held back.

 

Wang Cuilan was worried: "Son, are you really set on that Ye Xingzhou? Why don't you take a look around? I've noticed that your father's company has a lot of outstanding young men who graduated from prestigious universities, they're all very capable and good-looking. Even if you don't like your Uncle Li's son, you can take a look at others first."

 

Qi Xing: "Mom, Dad runs a legitimate company, not a brothel."

 

Qi Ronghua couldn't hold back anymore, he threw his slipper at Qi Xing. Qi Xing dodged quickly.

 

"Anyway, I said no, and that's it. If you still acknowledge me and your mother, go break up with him immediately. I won't agree to your relationship. I'd rather have him not be around!"

 

Qi Xing: "Dad, how can it be 'I'd rather have him not be around'? You can't just give him a huge check like in the dramas and send him away. Would he take that from you?"

 

Unless his father gave Ye Xingzhou all of Ronghua Capital, but with Ye Xingzhou's personality, he would gladly accept it and refuse to leave.

 

He raised his hand for his parents to see clearly: "Uncle Li should have told you, Ye Xingzhou and I registered our marriage over there, right? This is the wedding ring. You said last time that we couldn't get married, but we already did."

 

The plain ring, completely unadorned, still blinded Qi Ronghua: "What's the point of getting married over there? It's not legal here, and I won't acknowledge it!"

 

Qi Xing completely forgot about not provoking his father, and said whatever came to mind: "It's not legal here, but the company I own over there just went public. We didn't do a prenuptial agreement, so if we really go to court over there for a divorce, it'll be a long battle."

 

Qi Ronghua's face turned green when he heard this: "You little bastard! Do you know how much that company is worth now?! Are you crazy to be so generous?!"

 

Qi Xing: "Ye's also has a branch over there. Ye Xingzhou just finalized a deal with someone to expand their company's investment business over there. I should be fine."

 

Qi Ronghua finally managed to catch his breath: "No, even if you go to court, you have to divorce him!"

 

Qi Xing: "It's better to tear down a temple than to break up a marriage..."

 

Qi Ronghua's second slipper flew over.

 

Half an hour later, Qi Xing went back to his room and sent a message to Ye Xingzhou: "Why don't you go back first? My dad is sitting at the door with a feather duster, he won't let me go out again."

 

Ye Xingzhou: "Get some rest."

 

Qi Xing put down his phone, still a little depressed.

 

Wang Cuilan came in, closed the door, sat down and asked him, "Your father's not here now, tell me, are you really set on that Ye Xingzhou?"

 

Qi Xing: "Mom, back then, Grandpa also said that Dad was always causing trouble outside, he was rough and not a good person, he didn't even have a real job, he absolutely wouldn't allow you to be with him. Didn't you still marry him? Do you regret it now? And I'm not a girl, I don't need him to be responsible for me, I don't need him to protect me unilaterally. I'm an adult, I'll be responsible for myself."

 

Wang Cuilan: "Are you really not afraid of him changing his mind? Aren't you worried that he'll hurt you?"

 

Qi Xing thought for a moment: "...I think he's more worried about me changing my mind."

 

Wang Cuilan was silent for a moment: "I understand."

 

"Mom, don't worry. If you can live well, I can definitely live well. I'm not going to let myself get taken advantage of." Qi Xing's tone was light.

 

Wang Cuilan understood her son. This kid had always been an optimist, he was like that back then, and he's still like that now. It's actually them, his parents, who are always worried.

 

"You know your father's temper. He's also doing this for your own good. Don't always argue with him, and don't always say things to upset him."

 

Qi Xing: "Fine, fine. Can Ye Xingzhou come up and talk to him?"

 

Wang Cuilan: "Next time. He's angry at the sight of you both now, and he's still mad about Ye Xingzhou not giving him face last time. Let him calm down."

 

Qi Xing snorted: "That's because Dad is unreasonable. He just starts hitting people."

 

After Wang Cuilan left, Qi Xing got up and went out to get some water. His father was still sitting at the entrance, holding the feather duster and closing his eyes, seemingly meditating.

 

Qi Xing was speechless. Qi Ronghua opened his eyes and glared at him when he heard the noise. He immediately turned around and went to the dining room.

 

Let him guard, can he stay up all night?

 

Without any understanding of his old father's good intentions, Qi Xing went back to his room and fell asleep. He was woken up by his alarm at two in the morning.

 

He got out of bed in the dark and went out. He heard Qi Ronghua's rhythmic, even, and regular snoring from the entrance. Qi Xing tiptoed over, his father's feather duster was still in his arm, but he was asleep.

 

After leaving the house, he immediately went downstairs. Ye Xingzhou's car was still parked there, as expected.

 

Qi Xing opened the door and got in. Ye Xingzhou opened his eyes and looked at him.

 

"Let's go, Ye Xingzhou."

 

Ye Xingzhou was half-lying in the seat, watching him without moving. Qi Xing had just fastened his seatbelt when he looked up and met Ye Xingzhou's gaze. He thought for a moment, then unfastened his seatbelt, leaned over, propped his hand on the side of Ye Xingzhou's seat, and chuckled softly, "What are you looking at me for?"

 

Ye Xingzhou's gaze stayed on the side of his face, where there was a noticeable red mark: "Your face."

 

Qi Xing reached out and touched the spot he was staring at: "It's not my dad who hit me, I slept on it."

 

Ye Xingzhou also reached out and gently rubbed it: "Why didn't you sleep well at home?"

 

"I slept at home, but you couldn't stay here all night, could you?" Qi Xing said casually.

 

Of course, he knew what Ye Xingzhou meant. It would be best if he stayed at home and waited for his father to calm down, but he wasn't that kind of person.

 

"Besides, I don't know about you," Qi Xing grabbed his tie, wrapped it around his fingers, "If I really listened to my dad, you would have come to my house to snatch me away."

 

Ye Xingzhou lightly hummed, straightened his seat, and started the car: "I'll take you to see my mother, are you coming?"

 

Qi Xing: "Now?"

 

Ye Xingzhou: "Coming or not?"

 

Qi Xing laughed again: "Ye Xingzhou, is this considered running away?"

 

"Running away is not a good term, don't say it casually." Ye Xingzhou reminded him.

 

Qi Xing "Oh"ed, threw out a "Call me when we arrive," sat back in his seat, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

 

Ye Xingzhou drove for a short distance before pulling over to the side of the road. He took a blanket from the back seat and covered Qi Xing with it. He sent a message to Old Chen.

 

"I'm taking Qi Xing out for a couple of days. Please inform Qi Shu and the others. When we come back, please help me arrange a meeting with Qi Shu and the others. I'll talk to them about Qi Xing and me in person."

 

Qi Xing, asleep, turned over in his sleep, muttering "Ye Xingzhou" in his sleep. He seemed to be smiling, who knows what beautiful dream he was having.

 

Ye Xingzhou watched him quietly for a moment, then started the car again.

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