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After Qi Xing's graduation ceremony, he returned to China in late December. His father gave him a half-month break and instructed him to start working at the company after New Year's Day.
This provided the perfect opportunity for him to handle the move in with Ye Xingzhou..
It was Qi Xing who proposed moving in with Ye Xingzhou.
At the time, Qi Ronghua's face turned green, and he remained silent for a long while. Wang Cuilan was the first to respond: "Since we agreed before, we can't go back on our word now."
The one who wanted to "go back on his word" looked embarrassed but, unable to lose face, insisted: "You can move, but you can't live at his place. You're not marrying him. What would that look like? Can't our family afford a house? I'll buy you a place, and if he wants to move in with you, that's up to him."
Qi Xing didn't mind.
Living in whose house made no difference to him.
The new place wasn't far from his home.
Qi Ronghua specifically bought a villa for him with a better neighborhood and location than Ye Xingzhou's place. The villa's size and average price also surpassed Ye Xingzhou's property.
When Old Chen found out, he joked that the old man clearly had a competitive streak, but as long as Qi Xing was happy with it, that was all that mattered.
Qi Xing was indeed quite pleased.
If this was how his father chose to compete, he wouldn't mind seeing more of it.
After moving, Qi Xing would return to have meals with his parents every weekend. If Ye Xingzhou had time, he would join them. Although Qi Ronghua still grumbled on the surface, his attitude toward Ye Xingzhou was gradually improving.
As long as he kept a level head and compared his son to the children of his business friends, whether sons or daughters, who else had a child as capable as Qi Xing, who could find a partner like Ye Xingzhou?
Thinking this way, Qi Ronghua felt a sense of pride and even began to view Ye Xingzhou more favorably.
Moreover, his son was now quite impressive.
After returning to China, Qi Xing re-entered the company directly into a core department and learned the ropes at the board of directors.
He handled serious matters with poise, looking every bit the qualified second-generation heir.
Outsiders often praised him, saying "a tiger father doesn't raise a dog son," which greatly comforted Qi Ronghua and boosted his pride. He felt that in a few more years, he could retire and enjoy his golden years.
"My dad thinks too highly of me. He even said he’s going to give me more tasks. I ran off as soon as I got off work today," Qi Xing sprawled on the sofa in Ye Xingzhou's office while sighing deeply. "Being a lazy bum is so much easier."
Ye Xingzhou finished reviewing the last document, so he looked up and said, "If you really don’t want to do it, take a break. You can pick it up again when you feel like it."
Qi Xing: "Will you support me then?"
Ye Xingzhou smiled: "Sure."
Qi Xing felt his heart flutter at that smile. He crawled off the sofa and leaned over the desk while grinning: "Ye Xingzhou, I’m richer than you now, aren’t I?"
Ye Xingzhou had transferred most of his assets to Qi Xing, so technically, Qi Xing was indeed wealthier. The question of who was supporting whom was up for debate.
Ye Xingzhou put down his pen before leaning back in his chair then crossed his long legs and continued to smile as he looked at Qi Xing.
Qi Xing raised an eyebrow: "What’s so funny? Am I wrong?"
Ye Xingzhou: "No."
Qi Xing pointed at him: "Then why did you say you’d support me? Just empty words, huh?"
Ye Xingzhou nodded and smoothly changed his tone: "Then work hard and support me instead."
Qi Xing had never seen someone with such thick skin. He turned and sat on Ye Xingzhou’s lap.
Ye Xingzhou wrapped his arms around him as Qi Xing’s hands reached up to pinch his face: "Let’s see how thick your skin really is—ouch!"
Ye Xingzhou’s hand brushed a sensitive spot on Qi Xing’s waist, making him gasp and glare.
"There’s a business banquet tonight. Want to come?" Ye Xingzhou asked.
Qi Xing’s attention immediately shifted: "Business banquet? No way."
He hated these boring social events.
Ye Xingzhou: "Then head home first."
Qi Xing tugged at the man’s tie, reluctant. He’d already come, so he didn’t want to go home alone: "Fine, I’ll go with you."
At the banquet, Qi Ronghua had just finished mingling with others when he overheard someone mentioning the Ye family.
He pricked up his ears to listen.
The conversation revolved around Ye Xingzhou’s recent acquisition of another company.
His swift and decisive actions, and often employing aggressive tactics, had left others in the industry still in the observation phase while he had already made his move, seemingly disregarding any unwritten rules of the business world.
Of course, business was business, and there were no real "rules" to speak of. But Ye Xingzhou’s reputation for being uncompromising and relentless was well-known. Yet, he always got what he wanted, which inevitably led to behind-the-scenes chatter.
Qi Ronghua listened to their envious remarks, thinly veiled as praise, and couldn’t help but smirk.
"If he can offer what others can’t, of course he’ll win. Business isn’t about first-come, first-served. It’s about who has the resources to call the shots. You make it sound like he stumbled upon some great fortune," Qi Ronghua interjected with a smile and with his tone light but it make hard for others to retort.
No one expected him to speak up like this.
His cheerful demeanor made it unclear whether he was defending Ye Xingzhou or simply stating facts.
Someone else joked: "Chairman Qi, it seems you’re quite close with Young Master Ye. Your company’s investment in Xingneng Technology has been a huge success. I heard it was Ye Xingzhou who personally brought the opportunity to you. We’re all envious. If there are more such projects in the future, we’ll have to rely on you and Ye Xingzhou to let us share in the profits."
Qi Ronghua cursed inwardly and thought: You old fool, mocking me for kissing up to Ye Xingzhou while also eyeing the profits I’ve made. Dream on.
He replied with a forced smile: "That’s just what he should do."
The others: "???"
Qi Xing arrived at the banquet with Ye Xingzhou after it had already started. As soon as he entered, he spotted his father chatting and laughing with others.
He froze.
"Ye Xingzhou, you jerk, you didn’t tell me my dad would be here?" Qi Xing was ready to turn around and leave.
Ye Xingzhou remained calm: "I thought you knew."
He had no idea.
He’d left work as soon as he could.
"Let’s go over and say hello," Ye Xingzhou said and placed a hand on Qi Xing’s shoulder to guide him forward.
Qi Xing forced a smile.
Coming with Ye Xingzhou instead of his father—he could already imagine the look on his dad’s face.
As soon as Ye Xingzhou appeared, people began approaching him to exchange pleasantries.
Most didn’t know who Qi Xing was—he rarely attended such events. Even if they’d seen him at Old Chen’s birthday party over two years ago, few remembered his face.
But Ye Xingzhou’s romantic escapades were well-known. Seeing a young, attractive man like Qi Xing accompanying him, and noting their intimate demeanor, everyone quickly put two and two together.
Just as Ye Xingzhou was about to introduce Qi Xing, Qi Ronghua called out from the crowd: "Qi Xing!"
Qi Xing flinched and whispered "I’ll be right back" to Ye Xingzhou, and hurried over to his father.
Many were surprised, but Ye Xingzhou made no attempt to explain and just casually continued his conversations.
Qi Ronghua pulled Qi Xing aside.
If they hadn’t been in public, he would’ve grabbed his son’s ear: "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?"
Qi Xing was slightly guilty: "It’s not some shady event. Why can’t I come to a business banquet…"
"I’m not saying you can’t come," Qi Ronghua fumed but used a lower voice to scold him. "But you shouldn’t have come with Ye Xingzhou. Didn’t you see how those people were looking at you? Those jerks definitely think you’re Ye Xingzhou’s kept lover. You might not care about your reputation, but I do!"
"Well, I am his lover," Qi Xing retorted. As for who was supporting whom, that was just part of their dynamic—it didn’t matter to him.
Qi Ronghua couldn’t help but smack the back of his son’s head: "You little brat, are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"Alright, I’ll stop," Qi Xing conceded. "I’m already here. You’re not going to make me leave, are you?"
Qi Ronghua: "Stick with me. Don’t wander off."
For the rest of the banquet, Qi Xing was forced to stay by his father’s side, mingling, toasting, and listening to others praise him while subtly flattering his father. He rolled his eyes inwardly and regretted for the thousandth time that he’d come tonight.
Finally, Ye Xingzhou approached them: "Uncle Qi."
Qi Ronghua grunted in response, clearly displeased that Ye Xingzhou had brought Qi Xing without consulting him.
Surrounded by onlookers, Ye Xingzhou glanced at Qi Xing, who had had a few drinks, and said: "It’s getting late. I’ll take Qi Xing home."
He’d come to meet a foreign investor, and now that the purpose was fulfilled, there was no need to stay.
Qi Ronghua frowned, but Qi Xing had already set down his glass and quickly moved to Ye Xingzhou’s side: "Dad, we’re leaving."
Qi Ronghua: "..."
This little brat.
Once in the car, Qi Xing slumped against Ye Xingzhou’s shoulder with his eyes closed: "I shouldn’t have come tonight."
Ye Xingzhou gently massaged his temples while smiling softly: "Let’s go home."
The next day was the weekend.
Qi Xing, as usual, brought Ye Xingzhou to his parents’ home for dinner.
Qi Ronghua was reading the newspaper when they entered.
He turned his face away.
Wang Cuilan nudged him: "Our son and Xingzhou are here. You said you’d cook today, so get to it."
Qi Ronghua set down the newspaper then straightened up, and decided to address the matter at hand, so he gestured to them: "Sit."
Qi Xing, seeing his father’s expression, knew he was up to something. He wanted to resist, but Ye Xingzhou squeezed his hand before pulling him down to sit calmly.
"Wang Cuilan and I only have Qi Xing as our child," Qi Ronghua began.
Ye Xingzhou listened attentively.
Qi Xing: "Dad..."
Wang Cuilan smiled and interrupted: "Let your father speak first."
Qi Ronghua continued addressing Ye Xingzhou: "I’ve always thought about Qi Xing’s future—marriage, children, how much I’d need to prepare and where to hold the grand banquet. I’ve gone over it countless times in my head, and I’ve already prepared everything. But now he’s chosen you, a man. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never have grandchildren, and as long as he’s happy, I’ll let him be. But the two of you can’t keep living in this ambiguous state."
Qi Xing couldn’t help but interject: "It’s not ambiguous. We got married in the U.S. two years ago."
Qi Ronghua glared: "I know you registered your marriage. Your mother knows, your grandpa knows, and maybe a few close friends. But who else? I’m not even talking about whether it’s legal here. Your marriage is like a secret. People who don’t know will just think you’re in some illicit relationship."
Qi Xing: "I don’t care about that..."
"I do," Qi Ronghua snapped. "You two can’t go on like this without any formal recognition. Your reputation will suffer."
The old man had spent the entire night thinking about it while growing more and more uneasy. Whether it was his son or Ye Xingzhou, they couldn’t continue in this unclear state and let others gossip and mock their relationship.
Ye Xingzhou calmly asked: "Uncle Qi, what do you suggest?"
Qi Ronghua: "I’ll swallow my pride and suggest this: Why don’t you become our sworn family? We’ll hold a ceremony, and from then on, you and Qi Xing will be sworn brothers. Living together or being close in public won’t raise any eyebrows."
He had his own ulterior motive, of course. If Ye Xingzhou became their sworn family, he’d be less likely to mistreat Qi Xing, as it would be a matter of honor.
But he seemed to forget that Ye Xingzhou, who had dealt with his own blood relatives without hesitation, wouldn’t care about something as trivial as a sworn family.
Qi Xing was speechless: "Dad, that’s just burying your head in the sand."
Besides, he didn’t want to be Ye Xingzhou’s sworn brother. Ye Xingzhou was more like his sugar daddy.
Moreover, what would it mean for Ye Xingzhou to become a sworn family with his parents? Would Ye Xingzhou then call his father "Dad"? How could he ever address him like that?
No way. Absolutely not.
Ye Xingzhou: "I don’t think that’s a good idea."
Qi Ronghua’s brow furrowed, and his expression stiff.
Wang Cuilan sighed: "I told you they wouldn’t agree. You’re making things more complicated than they need to be. Let’s just get straight to the point—they should hold a wedding banquet. Once that’s done, their relationship will be out in the open."
Qi Xing was stunned.
His parents were suggesting they hold a wedding banquet? He’d never even considered it.
Qi Ronghua, perhaps feeling slighted by Ye Xingzhou’s rejection, grumbled: "You two decide."
Wang Cuilan turned to them: "What do you think?"
Qi Xing instinctively looked at Ye Xingzhou, who was already gazing at him: "Do you want to?"
Qi Xing: "I..."
Under Ye Xingzhou’s gaze, his turbulent emotions gradually calmed, and he nodded slowly: "Yes."
It was a conversation similar to when they’d first discussed marriage. Ye Xingzhou’s eyes softened with a smile: "Alright."
Qi Xing also smiled. As long as he didn’t have to call his sugar daddy "Dad," turning their clear relationship into something unspeakable, he didn’t care.
Qi Ronghua, watching their exchanged glances, felt a headache coming on. He snorted because his still not entirely pleased.
But Wang Cuilan had the final say: "Then it’s settled. I’ll inform Old Chen, and we’ll plan everything properly to make this a grand and joyous occasion!"