Chapter 107

Xie Huai attended Shen Fengkai’s welcome-back banquet alone, having been invited under Qi Xu’s name. It was clear that Fengkai had likely noticed Xie Huai’s feelings for Qi Xu.

Shen Fengkai was competent enough, but among the younger generation of the Shen family, he was fairly ordinary. If Qi Xu hadn’t challenged him, and Shen Laoye’s faction had been absorbed under Fengkai, the Shen Corporation would not have developed so quickly.

Fengkai was a few years older, more experienced in matters of the heart. From that phone call, Xie Huai could sense his emotions—it wasn’t surprising he hadn’t hidden them well. Perhaps he hadn’t even intended to. When someone hears that a person they like has been hurt, true or not, it’s impossible to stay composed.

In this unspoken crush, Qi Xu had occupied almost half of Xie Huai’s life at age twenty-eight.

Qi Xu mattered far more to him than he had realized; Xie Huai should have realized it sooner.

The first time they met after returning to the country, at the celebratory banquet, he spotted Qi Xu immediately among the glittering crowd. Though he had seen him over the years, it had never been this close.

The closer he was to Qi Xu, the faster his heart raced, leaving him flustered and nervous, just like the first flutter of excitement he had felt years ago.

The large private room held only Shen Fengkai. He smiled warmly at Xie Huai when he arrived, a smile that was almost predatory.

Xie Huai remained calm and composed, undoing one button on his jacket as he pulled out a chair to sit.

Fengkai handed him the menu. “I’m not sure of your tastes, unlike Zeyu, who knows you well. I ordered a few dishes—see if there’s anything you like.”

Xie Huai accepted the menu but put it down, not missing the implication. “Brother Shen, there’s no need to test me through others. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Indeed, if this were a simple welcome-back banquet, more people would have been present. It was bound to end awkwardly otherwise.

Fengkai said, “After college, Zeyu followed you to study in M country. From his low spirits every time he returned home, I should have realized your friendship wasn’t as close as I thought. Out of concern for my brother, I looked into it. Zeyu simply didn’t fit into your circle, so he came back after graduate school.”

“Didn’t fit” was an understatement. Xie Huai’s circle was on a level Zeyu could not reach. In the past two years, outside of classes, Zeyu had no idea where Xie Huai was.

When they went abroad, Old Xie, for the sake of Shen-Xie family relations, asked Xie Huai to keep an eye on Zeyu. At first, he did—but soon, Xie Huai immersed himself in his studies, ignoring Zeyu entirely.

Xie Huai responded calmly: “Just classmates. Should I take special care of every classmate?”

Fengkai’s mouth twitched. “Qi Xu isn’t just a classmate to you, right? I just don’t understand why, with so little interaction, he’s special to you.”

Xie Huai said, “I don’t need to answer that.”

Fengkai, keeping his emotions in check, continued in the guise of Qi Xu’s elder brother: “He isn’t gay and won’t go that way. Let this stop here.”

Fengkai hoped to leverage consensus with Xie Huai to ensure Qi Xu’s cooperation on a project. Anyone experienced in business would understand the underlying meaning.

Fengkai believed he controlled both the Shen family and Qi Xu, but if Qi Xu chose to act independently, his status would plummet.

Xie Huai scoffed. “From what I know, Qi Xu barely interacts with the Shen family. You don’t represent him, and you can’t refuse me on his behalf.”

Back when Shen Laoye was alive, Qi Xu didn’t even visit for the New Year. Now, the connection with the Shens was purely blood-related.

Fengkai said, “Even if Qi Xu’s relationship with the Shens is poor, I’m his brother. With our parents—surely we can act for him.”

Xie Huai didn’t flinch. Instead, he threatened, “Even if we’re not together as partners, even just as friends, the Xie family will help him seize power without limit. Brother Shen, your CEO position is precarious—and your uncle’s chairmanship could also be at risk.”

Fengkai’s face darkened instantly. Xie Huai wasn’t bluffing. If outside forces entered a corporate power struggle, the Xie family would outweigh even his fiancée’s background. With their help, Qi Xu’s victory was certain.

He was lucky his brother was emotionally distant and wary of outsiders. And lucky that in their youth, they hadn’t maintained a friendship. Mature now, Qi Xu would never accept Xie Huai’s favor.

Fengkai continued, “You underestimate Qi Xu. If he wanted power, he would have accepted the arranged marriage his father suggested long ago. He still considers you in Zeyu’s camp. Do you think he’d accept your goodwill?”

Even an outsider like Fengkai understood their situation. Xie Huai certainly did too.

Though Qi Xu was polite when addressing him as President Xie, his eyes and subtle reactions showed unfamiliarity, even lingering hostility from youth.

Xie Huai didn’t dwell on this. Having been back less than three months, he couldn’t intervene in Qi Xu’s personal life, but at work, he could operate subtly. If Qi Xu resisted, he would not force the issue—it would backfire.

There was still time.

The so-called welcome-back banquet ended awkwardly. No dishes were even served. Both knew each other’s weaknesses, and negotiations were impossible. Another meeting would be needed.

Beyond official meetings, their only private encounter in this period had been at Shen Zhuohai’s birthday banquet.

They’d missed the chance to be honest at Xie’s father’s birthday banquet.

This time, they could only hope for calm circumstances, allowing them to sit and speak without malice. Whatever was said, Qi Xu needed to know Xie Huai meant no harm.

Xie Huai had few shared memories with Qi Xu—just a few days condensed from four short years of college, plus these three months back in the country, and the two weeks in the hospital yet to come.

That was all he had.

On the day of Shen Zhuohai’s birthday, Xie Huai had already prepared a gift. Attending was just for family, but since waking, a heavy, indescribable feeling pressed on him, leaving him breathless.

The family butler noticed and immediately called the household doctor. No physical issues were found.

Emotion, however, cannot be cured by medicine.

Sitting on the sofa, listening to the butler’s nagging—about not overworking because of youth—Xie Huai barely registered it.

Xiao Guai had grown plump, golden and glossy. Sensing his mood, the dog nudged his leg with its head.

Xie Huai bent to pat him. “This afternoon, I’ll take you to see the one who saved you.”

The butler noted, “Xiao Guai has his final vaccine shot today.”

Xie Huai smiled. “No problem. There’ll be other opportunities.”

By afternoon, his agitation had grown worse. During meetings, he drifted repeatedly, almost missing errors in subordinate reports—unprecedented for him.

After the meeting, he left early for the Shen residence, focused entirely on seeing Qi Xu.

Crossing the threshold, he felt a strange calm, like the quiet before a storm.

Learning that Qi Xu was already inside, Xie Huai lost his composure and strode past the servants.

What happened next would haunt him forever.

Qi Xu slipped, losing balance and tumbling down the stairs. His neck struck a step weakly; a wound formed on his head, slowly oozing blood. In less than a second, crimson spread across the first-floor carpet.

Terror gripped Xie Huai’s heart. The metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils, and his hanging hands shook uncontrollably.

Shock and disbelief enveloped him.

He realized he might lose the most important person in his life.

A sharp, high-pitched scream echoed from the stairs. Xie Huai snapped awake, running forward. “Qi Xu!”

At the sound of his name, Qi Xu closed his eyes completely.

Chaos erupted throughout the Shen residence. Even those emerging from the study were stunned.

Zeng Yun collapsed in shock, Shen Zhuohai leaned against the wall, and Shen Fengkai was the last out, frozen in disbelief at Qi Xu’s lifeless form below.

No one in the Shen household could take charge. Xie Huai immediately called an ambulance, reporting Qi Xu’s condition in a tense voice, his hand shaking uncontrollably on the phone.

Calm and composure were gone.

Until the professionals arrived, Qi Xu could not be moved. Xie Huai kept calling his name repeatedly, without pause, receiving no response.

He wanted to reach out, to brush the hair from his face, but stopped.

Sobs came from the stairwell. He wanted to tell them not to cry—the person was still alive—but he couldn’t say anything besides calling Qi Xu’s name.

The ambulance arrived quickly. The medical team began emergency care. Xie Huai followed, as did Shen Fengkai.

Xie Huai didn’t want him there, but he couldn’t sign consent forms or critical condition notices.

He watched silently as Qi Xu was wheeled into the emergency room. Soon, Shen Zhuohai and his wife arrived, supported by others, while Zeng Yun sobbed uncontrollably.

The rescue went on for hours. Doctors repeatedly came out for signatures. Shen Fengkai panicked, clutching their hands, begging them to save his brother.

The doctor waved him off. “We’ll do our best.”

Then returned to the ER.

Xie Huai leaned against the wall, numb, unmoving for hours. His mind was taut, eyes fixed on the single light still burning.

When Shen Zeyu noticed the situation, the rest of the Xie family arrived, even Elder Xie himself.

Elder Xie, cane in hand, saw his grandson’s disheveled state and Qi Xu under emergency care, and was overcome with regret.

If only they hadn’t interfered or pressured… maybe this could have been avoided.

Fate is merciless; realization came too late.

Qin Huansi urged Xie Huai to sit, but he felt nothing, unaware of the outside world.

Qin Huansi, eyes red, grasped his hand—cold and lifeless like ice.

Xie Huai looked down at his hand. His fingertips were stained, the blood darkened to deep brown.

He rubbed the only connection he had to Qi Xu, eyes stinging.

Time passed. Finally, the emergency room light went out, and Qi Xu was moved to the ICU.