Yu Qinzhou did not miss Wen Yulan’s fleeting figure. And if he wasn’t mistaken, the person walking with Wen Yulan wasn’t the Song family’s young master, but the eldest son of the Fan family, Fan Jie.
Recently, the struggle between Zhou Jing and Wen Hechun had already become open and obvious. Zhou Jing’s intention to use the Fan family’s connections to completely push Wen Hechun out of the Wen Group wasn’t a bad move.
However, in Yu Qinzhou’s view, the Fan family’s people were somewhat foolish—and so was this heir.
He curled his lips slightly, glanced down at his watch, and easily redirected Ming Qi’s attention away from Wen Yulan.
“Ah Yue is probably waiting. Shall we go in?”
“Mm.”
Even if that person really was Wen Yulan, Ming Qi had no intention of greeting him. After all, Wen Yulan still didn’t know about his relationship with Yu Qinzhou.
They entered the private room that had already been reserved. The moment Min Zhengyue saw Ming Qi, he greeted him excitedly, “Qi-ge, long time no see! How’s your hand?”
“It’s fine,” Ming Qi smiled at him. “Just waiting for the stitches to be removed.”
Min Zhengyue said “that’s good,” and immediately called for him to sit down. Then he turned to Yu Qinzhou. “When I came earlier, I saw a few people from the Fan family.”
Ming Qi didn’t know much about the high-society circles in Jing City, so he didn’t react much to the name “Fan family.” He simply held the Longjing tea the server brought and sipped it slowly. Yu Qinzhou glanced at him, noticed he hadn’t eaten breakfast, and casually instructed the staff to serve food quickly. Then he said indifferently, “And?”
Min Zhengyue thought to himself: wow, brother, you’re really calm. Did you forget that the old man once tried to arrange a marriage for you with the Fan family’s daughter?
He glanced at Ming Qi with a meaningful look and leaned in to explain the situation quietly.
Unexpectedly, Yu Qinzhou didn’t get angry at all. He only gave Min Zhengyue a faint look.
Min Zhengyue blinked. “Why are you both so calm?”
Ming Qi looked innocent. “Because he already told me.”
Min Zhengyue: “……”
No wonder.
Then he added, “Anyway, I’m not just telling you this to watch my brother’s reaction. I also want to say this—Qi-ge, stay away from the Fan family. Those people love doing disgusting things.”
Although Ming Qi didn’t know them, he still nodded obediently.
…
Halfway through the meal, Ming Qi went to the restroom. Yu Qinzhou followed him out.
Min Zhengyue started to say something, then swallowed it back.
Right—Ming Qi’s hand was injured; his left hand wasn’t very convenient.
“You don’t have to follow me,” Ming Qi said quickly, noticing his “tail.” “I can manage on my own.”
Yu Qinzhou simply lifted his gaze. “I’ll wait outside. Call me if anything happens.”
Ming Qi didn’t object.
These past few days, Yu Qinzhou had been treating him like some extremely expensive, fragile vase—afraid he might break with even the slightest mishap.
As soon as they left, a figure appeared at the door of the private room.
Fan Jie adjusted his already immaculate suit and knocked. After hearing a “come in,” he pushed the door open.
What greeted him was the best private room in the restaurant, floor-to-ceiling windows with curtains drawn to the sides, and a view of blooming flowers outside.
But Fan Jie only paused for a second before shifting his gaze to the dining table.
He only saw Min Zhengyue, lounging lazily in his chair and looking at him with raised brows.
For a moment, Fan Jie was stunned. But when he noticed there were three sets of tableware, he relaxed slightly and smiled.
“I just finished a meeting nearby and thought you might still be here, so I came by to say hello.”
Min Zhengyue didn’t miss his glance at the table, nor did he miss his intention. He immediately put on a fake smile. “Is that so? Well, you’ve said hello. I won’t keep you then, Young Master Fan.”
Fan Jie’s smile stiffened.
He hadn’t expected Min Zhengyue to be so blunt. No matter what, the Fan family still had standing in Jing City. And given Old Master Yu’s preference for profit, the fact that he had even considered an engagement with the Fan family showed their status.
Yet this was the attitude he got? In the end, it was just relying on Yu Qinzhou’s status.
And yet—that was exactly the status he wanted.
Fan Jie suppressed the faint anger that suddenly surged in his chest, pretending he did not understand Min Zhengyue’s words. He went ahead and struck up conversation on his own: “I just seemed to have seen Chairman Yu? Is Young Master Min eating together with Chairman Yu today? Chairman Yu really values you, this younger brother.”
Min Zhengyue: “……”
He really had thick skin, still able to talk to himself like that.
Min Zhengyue gave a fake smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s alright. After all, I don’t have any improper intentions toward my brother.”
Fan Jie: “……”
This Min Zhengyue really was completely impervious.
Min Zhengyue couldn’t be bothered to waste time with him anymore, speaking in a perfunctory yet blunt and unpleasant way: “You also know who is currently in charge of the Yu Corporation. I suggest you keep your eyes open and don’t provoke my brother. Otherwise, the Fan family, which spent so many years finally climbing up, who knows if it might fall back down again.”
Now Fan Jie’s expression really changed.
He silently stared at Min Zhengyue’s smiling face. After a moment, he finally took a step back. “Then I won’t disturb Young Master Min anymore.”
Fan Jie left quickly. Min Zhengyue watched his back and slightly curled his lips. If you said Fan Jie was stupid, he really was stupid—he even thought of using the Old Master Yu to pressure the Yu family into a marriage alliance. If you said he was smart, he wasn’t entirely clueless either.
But it was understandable. After all, who would easily give up the Yu family, such a huge piece of fat meat?
Not long after, Yu Qinzhuo returned with Ming Qi. Seeing them walk in one after the other, Min Zhengyue couldn’t help but complain a few words: “Did you two fall into a pit?”
Ming Qi: “……We just went for a walk in the garden.”
Min Zhengyue usually acted like a playboy, but the intelligence inherited from his family was there. With a quick turn of thought, he immediately understood and showed a sudden realization expression.
Damn.
His brother really was ruthless.
“You already knew Fan Jie came, right? So you left him for me to deal with?”
“Facts prove you handled it well.” Yu Qinzhuo curled his lips. “Fan Jie was mostly sent by the old man to test whether I really found a little lover from the entertainment industry.”
Min Zhengyue understood.
When Yu Qinzhuo’s father was still in charge of the Yu Corporation, Old Master Yu liked to interfere. Now that the person in power had changed, that habit still hadn’t changed. His mindset was still stuck in the time when he held authority, not realizing that Yu Qinzhuo was not like his father.
He quietly glanced at Ming Qi, only to find Ming Qi looking serious, even with a somewhat strange look of anticipation on his face.
Min Zhengyue: “?”
He couldn’t help asking, “Brother Ming, why do you look like you’re actually looking forward to the old master discovering that Brother Yu really found a little lover?”
Ming Qi replied politely, “Because role-play is reaching its climax.”
From the moment he and Yu Qinzhuo entered into a contractual marriage, he had already prepared to face the Old Master Yu’s storm of pressure. For that, he had even practiced kissing skills with Yu Qinzhuo, using different methods to increase intimacy between them.
Now it was finally time to test the results. How could he not be happy?
But clearly, Min Zhengyue didn’t understand.
He turned to look at Yu Qinzhuo and found Yu Qinzhuo smiling faintly, clearly understanding the meaning behind those words.
Fine. Husband-and-wife secrets, huh? He really was an outsider.
They didn’t mention Fan Jie or Old Master Yu again. Min Zhengyue instead brought up Qiu Tuo and some recent interesting gossip, which Ming Qi listened to with great interest. By the time it was time to leave, Ming Qi still looked reluctant, as if he couldn’t bear to part with Min Zhengyue.
Yu Qinzhuo glanced over lightly. His gaze wasn’t particularly sharp, just unusually deep and heavy. Min Zhengyue immediately straightened his back and coughed. “Brother Ming, you should go back and rest. Next time I’ll continue sharing gossip with you.”
“Alright.”
The three of them headed to the parking garage together. Although the restaurant had strong privacy protection, Ming Qi still wore a mask just in case. Back in the car, Ming Qi curled up in the back seat and dozed off. Yu Qinzhuo pulled him into his arms. After getting used to Yu Qinzhuo’s scent, Ming Qi’s acceptance of this kind of intimacy was absurdly high.
Because his body’s reactions were even more honest—he slept soundly.
Yu Qinzhuo tilted his head and looked at the young man buried in his arms, his brows softening. He picked up his phone and saw a message from Min Zhengyue:
Brother, I still don’t understand why you deliberately avoided Fan Jie?
Min Zhengyue had been holding it in, but his curiosity couldn’t be contained. Based on his understanding of Yu Qinzhuo, beneath that steady personality was an equally unruly nature. He could shut Fan Jie down completely on his own—Yu Qinzhuo could do even more.
Yu Qinzhuo’s fingers rested lightly on Ming Qi’s cheek as he replied after a moment: He is not yet suitable to appear in front of the old man.
Old Master Yu had built the Yu Corporation with considerable means. Even though he no longer held power, his network was still extensive. Dealing with a small celebrity like Ming Qi would be effortless for him.
Of course, Yu Qinzhuo could protect Ming Qi—but he did not trust himself to guarantee protection at every time and every place.
Sometimes, the biggest taboo was arrogance.
He wanted Ming Qi by his side, but only on the premise that Ming Qi was safe and well.
Just as Meng She had said—happy, healthy, and carefree.
…
After resting for a period at West View Bay, Ming Qi’s hand was finally ready for stitch removal.
“Recovery is not bad.” The family doctor said with a smile.
Ming Qi lowered his head to look at his hand, but Yu Qinzhuo was already one step ahead, gently touching the scar with his fingertip. The newly grown tender flesh felt slightly itchy under the touch. Ming Qi awkwardly spread his fingers and asked softly, “Is there a problem?”
Yu Qinzhuo sent the doctor away via Cen Jing, then led Ming Qi into the bedroom and took out a tube of ointment from the bedside drawer. “The scar is a bit obvious. I’ll apply medicine for you.”
Ming Qi didn’t really care about the scar, but since Yu Qinzhuo said so, he curiously asked, “Does this work well?”
“Berner’s latest anti-scar product. Hansen strongly recommended it. It should be effective.”
Hansen—
Ming Qi remembered him—he was Yu Qinzhuo’s college classmate who had the words “go f*** your ancestor” tattooed on him.
He remembered that Hansen’s family seemed to be in the pharmaceutical business.
He obediently let Yu Qinzhuo apply it, feeling the slightly cool ointment being spread smoothly over his skin. His gaze soon moved from Yu Qinzhuo’s fingers to his face. The man’s brows and eyes were lowered, his attention focused and serious. Ming Qi’s heart trembled faintly again.
This kind of Yu Qinzhuo was very attractive—so attractive it was easy for someone to fall for him.