Wen Yulan’s call came unexpectedly, but Ming Qi didn’t think much of it. He gestured for everyone to wait a moment, then stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with his phone to answer.
As soon as he left, Min Zhengyue lowered his voice and asked Meng She, “What does he want with my Brother Ming?”
Meng She shook his head, then asked curiously, “Young Master Min knows Wen Yulan?”
“Of course I do.” Min Zhengyue shifted his posture, crossed his legs, casually stroking the cat on his lap as he scoffed, “A hypocrite. Of course I know him.”
The words “hypocrite” echoed in Meng She’s mind. It surprised him a little. As far as he knew, Wen Yulan had a very good reputation outside. Even though he was the second young master of the Wen family, he didn’t act spoiled at all. He was gentle, polite, and had an unbelievably good temper. Almost everyone at the university regarded him as a campus idol.
Once, when Meng She visited Ming Qi on set, he even saw Wen Yulan personally send a stray cat to the vet and say he wanted to adopt it—only later rehoming it because he turned out to be allergic to cat fur.
No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t match the word “hypocrite.”
Maybe Min Zhengyue just disliked him because Wen Yulan had once shown interest in Ming Qi?
But Min Zhengyue didn’t seem like that kind of person either.
While Meng She was still curious and about to ask more, Ming Qi had already ended the call and returned to the mahjong table. As soon as he sat down, he noticed all three pairs of eyes staring straight at him. He paused mid-motion while putting his phone away and blinked a little uncomfortably.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Then he narrowed his eyes, glancing suspiciously at the neatly arranged tiles in front of him.
“You didn’t secretly switch my tiles, did you? I was about to win!”
Meng She / Min Zhengyue / Qin Jing: “……”
Meng She coughed lightly and pressed him back down, coaxing, “Relax, no one touched your tiles. We wouldn’t sabotage you right when you’re about to win.”
Ming Qi wasn’t familiar with mahjong, and his luck was terrible. In an hour, this was his first winning hand. If they had really cheated him, it would’ve been outrageous.
“We were just curious—what did Wen Yulan call you for? Was it still about you and Mr. Yu?”
That guess had been in Meng She’s mind for a while. In his view, it was very possible Wen Yulan had realized Ming Qi’s relationship with Yu Qinzhou and gotten anxious.
But Ming Qi’s next sentence nearly made Meng She spit out his drink.
Ming Qi said, “A-Yulan said he’s getting married and invited me to be his best man.”
Meng She’s voice shot up instantly, “Who? Getting married? And he invited you to be best man?!”
Ming Qi thought he hadn’t heard clearly, so he repeated, “A-Yulan. Wen Yulan.”
Meng She: “……”
Wait—how did this suddenly turn into getting married?
And—
“Bro Ming, why don’t you look surprised at all?”
He wasn’t completely calm, of course. It was just that Wen Yulan had never mentioned having a partner before, but given that he came from a wealthy family, arranged marriages were normal. He had even heard Min Zhengyue mention that in some elite circles, newlyweds sometimes only introduced themselves properly on their wedding night.
Besides… he himself had been married for almost half a year and hadn’t told Wen Yulan either.
Wen Yulan didn’t have to report his entire relationship life to him.
Ming Qi’s explanation made sense, but Meng She still found it unbelievable. During their conversation, Qin Jing silently adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Behind the lenses, his narrow eyes flashed with a dark glint before he gently asked, “Mr. Ming, did you agree? Has Young Master Wen set a date for the wedding? Should I prepare a suit for you to attend the banquet?”
Ming Qi shook his head. “I didn’t agree.”
He had asked Wen Yulan about the wedding date—it was in a week.
If it had been months later, he definitely wouldn’t have refused the best man role. But a week was too soon, and he wasn’t sure when Yu Qinzhou’s “net” against the Yu old master would be fully tightened.
So he declined the best man position. He did say he would attend if he had time, but either way, he would send a very generous red envelope.
Not only out of friendship with Wen Yulan, but also as an apology for not being able to serve as best man.
“Better not go. Forget about it. Bro Ming, win this hand!”
At Min Zhengyue’s urging, Ming Qi’s attention immediately returned to mahjong.
…
Wen Family Residence.
Wen Yulan stood by the window, eyes lowered.
As he recalled the young man politely saying, “A-Yulan, I might not be able to attend your wedding,” his gaze turned cold and still.
He turned and walked back to his desk, opening one of the folders on his computer.
Wen Yulan opened the file.
Inside were only two photos.
One was the one he had once saved from Ming Qi’s social media—besides Ming Qi, there was also a hand wearing a green gemstone vine-shaped ring.
The other was an accidental collision between Ming Qi and Yu Qinzhou at the airport a few days ago.
Wen Yulan enlarged the photo.
He clearly saw that when Ming Qi fell into Yu Qinzhou’s arms, the man’s right hand was wrapped around the young man’s waist—and on his ring finger was a ring.
The shape was not fully visible, but the vine design with green gemstones was too distinctive. At the very least, Wen Yulan had never seen a second one like it.
Only at that moment did he realize: Ming Qi and Yu Qinzhou had known each other long ago.
Thinking back to the day at Chunqiu Residence when he called Song Yin and Yu Qinzhou overheard it, and the photos of Ming Qi on a private island, his expression darkened further.
The study door was pushed open.
Song Yin walked in carrying milk and fruit. “A-Yulan, are you hungry? I cut some fruit for you.”
The sudden voice made Wen Yulan’s expression shift instantly. Coldness and gloom were immediately covered by a gentle, jade-like warmth. He calmly closed the file on the computer desktop, then stood up smiling, taking the tray and kissing the corner of Song Yin’s lips.
“Why did you bring it yourself? You could’ve left it to the servants.”
Song Yin glanced at him and laughed softly. “Of course because I wanted to see you. Are you still working? Don’t overwork yourself.”
“I wasn’t working,” Wen Yulan said gently. “I was arranging wedding matters for a week later. I’ve also contacted a few friends to be my groomsmen.”
“I’ll help too. Is there anything you want me to handle?” Even though Wen Yulan and both families had told him he didn’t need to do anything, Song Yin still took the wedding seriously.
“Come here and we’ll talk.”
“Alright.”
…
Yu Qinzhou returned to Xijing Bay at ten at night.
He casually tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa and loosened his tie. Behind him, Qin Jing spoke quietly about the day’s events.
“The Wen family’s young master invited Mr. Ming to attend his wedding.”
Yu Qinzhou’s fingers paused as he pulled off his tie. A trace of coldness flowed through his eyes.
“Underestimated him. He managed to get in front of the old man so quickly. He does have some ability.”
Qin Jing continued, “However, Mr. Ming refused.”
At the mention of Ming Qi, the coldness in Yu Qinzhou’s eyes gradually softened. He let out a low laugh.
“Ming Qi is smart.”
He said no more, walking upstairs toward the master bedroom.
Just as he reached the hallway, Ming Qi walked out carrying a cat in loose sleepwear. His face was clean and beautiful, and he smiled when he saw him.
“Little Eight kept scratching at the door. I knew you were back, so I came out to check.”
Yu Qinzhou naturally wrapped an arm around his shoulder and guided him back inside.
“Even Little Eight heard me come home. You didn’t?”
“I’m not a cat. My hearing isn’t that good.”
Then he changed the subject. “Did you eat dinner?”
“I did.” Yu Qinzhou glanced at him as Ming Qi put the cat down. “I heard from Qin Jing that your friend invited you to a wedding?”
“Mm, but I refused.”
“Refusing is better. Who knows what might happen otherwise.”
His tone carried a deeper meaning, but before Ming Qi could ask, Yu Qinzhou had already walked into the bathroom.
Ming Qi’s attention was immediately pulled elsewhere, and he quickly forgot about Wen Yulan’s wedding.
While waiting for Yu Qinzhou to shower, he opened the “ZhouQi CP” fan community, watching fans scream about how perfectly matched they were. Ming Qi found it amusing, but his fingers honestly kept leaving likes.
Then he exited and casually glanced at the trending list—only to freeze.
#Jiang Haoze Arrested#
…Jiang Haoze?
He clicked in immediately.
The post was from marketing accounts, but it sounded extremely certain: a drug party at a villa, reported to police. Not only Jiang Haoze was taken away, but also several minor celebrities and the heir of Changfeng Media.
Ming Qi thoughtfully supported his chin.
Although the news sounded sudden, Jiang Haoze’s name being tied with Gao Heng already made it believable.
He sent the screenshot to Min Zhengyue.
Min Zhengyue replied immediately: I was just eating this gossip and planning to tell you, but you saw it first.
77: So it’s real?
Min Zhengyue: It’s real. Also, one of the minor celebrities mentioned is someone you know.
Ming Qi wasn’t surprised—after all, Gao Heng and Fang Qing were a couple. But then Min Zhengyue added another name: Le Siyan.
Seeing those three characters, Ming Qi paused.
Min Zhengyue: It’s a big mess. It’s not just Jiang Haoze—Jiang family business projects also have issues. They might be done for.
The Jiang family…?
Before he could type, Yu Qinzhou had already walked behind him, glanced at the chat, and instantly understood.
“Jiang Haoze and his whole family are probably going to prison.”
“His parents too?”
“Mm.” Yu Qinzhou’s voice was calm. “Besides money laundering, police are also investigating Jiang Rui’s car accident back then. It’s very likely connected to Jiang Haoze’s parents.”
Ming Qi froze slightly.
Yu Qinzhou gently stroked his hair.
“When everything is over, I’ll take you to see them. Okay?”
Ming Qi knew “them” referred to Ming Yun and his partner, and Jiang Rui.
He suppressed his emotions and nodded.