“…Don’t keep saying that.”
Nie Luo spoke, but his hand didn’t move.
Fan Qing loved the way Nie Luo complied with him—reluctant, yet earnestly following through on his promise.
He could tell Nie Luo didn’t truly like him yet, but this sincere response still made his heart race.
This was… really something.
Fan Qing chuckled softly in his heart.
He was almost losing track of who was more captivating between him and Nie Luo.
Their palms rested lightly against each other, yet soon both began to sweat slightly.
Fan Qing felt it, and Nie Luo noticed it too.
They exchanged a glance, yet neither moved their hands away.
Fan Qing couldn’t bear to.
Nie Luo was responding to the look in Fan Qing’s eyes.
…Ah, he really was transparent.
Even in a room with three people, he seemed almost nonexistent.
Jing Yi felt like burping.
Watching this was fun, sure—but why did it feel like he was so full he could even burp out the taste of this couple’s “dog food”?
“By the way, Nie Ge…”
Fan Qing hesitated, then suddenly remembered something else.
He paused, then looked at Jing Yi.
Jing Yi slowly typed a question mark.
What? Was there a topic he wasn’t allowed to hear? That wasn’t fair!
Forget it.
Fan Qing decided Jing Yi could hear what he wanted anyway.
He spoke softly.
“Nie Ge, when you’re dealing with the company… watch out for Jing Yuan.”
He wanted to make his meaning clear, in case Nie Luo didn’t understand.
“Check if he’s in the office, and be careful of unknown people around you.”
Nie Luo’s expression shifted slightly.
This wasn’t the first time Fan Qing had mentioned Jing Yuan.
But this time, he finally understood the hint.
“You mean what happened before?”
Fan Qing nodded.
It was hard to believe Jing Yuan could act like a character from a story, so Nie Luo hesitated, phrasing it delicately.
“He’s always been eyeing your position, trying to overthrow you. The first time I met you, I happened to overhear his plans.”
But Fan Qing didn’t know exactly how Jing Yuan had acted against Nie Luo.
Given that, how was he supposed to help Nie Luo stay vigilant?
Fan Qing frowned, thinking.
Should he really prevent Nie Luo from touching anyone else’s food or drink?
But that wasn’t practical.
Suddenly, Fan Qing considered finding a reliable assistant for Nie Luo.
Not impossible, right?
Jing Yi couldn’t hold back anymore.
“What are you guys talking about? I don’t understand a word.”
He scratched his head, looking bewildered.
“That Jing Yuan guy… is he really a bigger threat to Nie Luo than the company?”
Why was Fan Qing specifically warning Nie Luo about him?
Fan Qing gave him a rare approving look and nodded.
“His threat is indeed not small.”
Even though the storyline in his mind had completely collapsed, Fan Qing knew the truth.
If it weren’t for the butterfly-effect changes he’d caused, Jing Yuan would have eventually walked down the path of power and dominance dictated by the story.
And on this path, one enormous stumbling block was undoubtedly Nie Luo.
Fan Qing couldn’t help but glance at him.
A face of unparalleled beauty, icy to the core, yet somehow irresistible—his coldness practically dared anyone to peel it back and glimpse the forbidden desire beneath. Flawless in every way, anyone seeing that face would have to admit it: he was a king in this circle.
But what made him even more terrifying was that he wasn’t just a pretty face.
Acting, music—without his looks, Nie Luo still possessed the sheer talent to dominate this industry.
A person like that… if Jing Yuan wanted to walk the path of dominance, Nie Luo would inevitably be the obstacle he needed to eliminate.
So Jing Yuan had been quietly targeting Nie Luo all along—he surely knew that the further Nie Luo went, the stronger and more untouchable he would become.
Fan Qing understood all of this.
But he couldn’t say it aloud.
Because revealing the truth would raise another question—how exactly did he know about Jing Yuan’s intentions?
Fan Qing lowered his brow slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
Jing Yi listened and became even more confused.
“But Jing Yuan doesn’t seem that threatening right now. His theft of Nie Luo’s resources, with that idiot manager… it’s already been exposed. Won’t that make his path even harder? How is he still a threat?”
Shouldn’t the company itself be the bigger danger?
Nie Luo was like a living Buddha—if he decided to leave, no company would dare hold him back easily, right?
That reasoning would be sound… if it were anyone else.
Fan Qing knew better.
“I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Nie Luo’s voice echoed softly in the room.
Fan Qing looked up sharply at him.
Nie Luo’s expression remained calm, but his gaze on Fan Qing was serious.
“If he makes you worry this much about me, then I’ll pay attention.”
Jing Yi rolled his eyes.
Ah, got it. So this was the little couple’s… oh, maybe not even a couple yet.
It was just their private little dynamics, and completely none of his business.
“Nie Ge, you…”
Fan Qing couldn’t hide his excitement.
Especially when he could see the seriousness in Nie Luo’s expression.
Nie Luo hesitated, worried about being misunderstood.
“Previously…”
He paused, lowering his voice slightly.
“My manager… did make me aware of something. Jing Yuan… it’s because of the manager’s bias.”
He carefully chose his words.
“I don’t fully understand why, but it’s the truth.”
He lightly patted Fan Qing’s hand.
“Now that I know about it, I’ll be careful.”
Even if he didn’t fully trust Fan Qing, he was willing to be cautious.
Fan Qing understood, and he couldn’t help but admire Nie Luo’s earnestness even more.
He felt a small thrill of satisfaction.
Having Nie Luo agree to humor him had been a moment of impulsive passion—but now it had brought such a reward.
He gently scratched Nie Luo’s palm.
“Since you say that, Nie Ge, I can relax.”
It tickled a little.
Nie Luo’s hand moved slightly, and he gave a small nod.
“Yes, you can relax.”
Fan Qing tilted his head slightly, shoulders rising.
This person… really was too cute.
Nie Luo didn’t stay long. He was in the eye of the storm, and taking the time to deliver a gift was already the utmost effort.
Fan Qing understood.
By nine o’clock, Nie Luo stood, ready to leave.
He couldn’t stay any longer.
After donning his mask and hat and disguising himself, Nie Luo hurried off.
Fan Qing watched his car leave from the window, then slowly returned to the sofa.
His mood was excellent.
These past few days… truly a streak of good fortune.
“Leaving?”
Jing Yi was still seated on the sofa.
Fan Qing looked at him.
“You’re not going?”
With the apartment compromised and matters in hand, Fan Qing would stay at the company tonight.
And Jing Yi… still lingering after watching the scene?
Jing Yi chuckled sheepishly.
“I’m just… checking on my brother.”
“Checking on? Which brother? What are you checking for?”
Fan Qing asked while picking up the cup to wash it.
He’d gotten used to using a glass cup for tea lately, and it felt slightly odd.
Jing Yi scampered after him.
“Of course it’s old Nie! He’s my best brother.”
Fan Qing tilted his head slightly.
“He still needs you to ‘check on’ him?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “Have you forgotten that I’m the one pursuing him?”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Jing Yi threw back his head and sighed dramatically.
“It’s precisely because I haven’t forgotten that I worry you might get scared off by his… unshakable seriousness. You’re the only one I’ve seen who actually gets a reaction out of him. As a brother, I just hope he can… find someone.”
Fan Qing wiped the cup and brewed his tea, still a little puzzled.
“Why would I be scared off?”
He looked at the pink thermos and smiled meaningfully.
See? That just made it even more endearing.
Jing Yi was speechless.
He leaned over, studying it carefully.
“…You’re serious?”
He scratched his head. “…You really don’t think there’s anything off about him giving you a thermos as a gift?”
Really?
When he had chased other girls, wasn’t it always about romance, elegance, or thoughtfulness?
At worst, sending a big red envelope would make them happier.
Wasn’t Fan Qing doing something… a little off here?
Or maybe it’s just that he’s never pursued a man before, so he doesn’t get it?
But if he were being pursued, surely he’d expect a proper watch!
Who in their right mind would be happy with a thermos as a gift?
Jing Yi’s expression twisted in rejection.
“What’s wrong with it?”
Fan Qing blew gently on the cup and took a small sip.
Seeing this, Jing Yi slumped back on the sofa, eyes wide.
“So… I’m just out of touch with the times? People actually like a thermos?”
Fan Qing couldn’t help laughing at him.
“Look, since you’re the company boss, I’ll tell you why.”
“Please do.”
Jing Yi immediately flipped to a kneeling position on the sofa, face earnest.
He really wanted to understand.
“Let me ask the Second Young Master a question first.”
Fan Qing set the cup down and elegantly leaned back on the sofa. He spoke slowly, deliberately.
“Recently I’ve been in the office a lot. Did the Second Young Master notice that my original cup was broken?”
Jing Yi froze.
He was speechless.
He forced out a dry chuckle. “…It really broke?”
Fan Qing’s expression was one of “told you so.”
He calmly added another point.
“In fact, my cup broke back at the villa. The Second Young Master didn’t notice, right?”
Nie Luo had noticed.
And he’d remembered it.
Fan Qing thought about that, and all he could feel was how irresistibly cute Nie Luo was.
Jing Yi rubbed his nose.
“Then… then he could do as I suggested—tie a watch onto the cup.”
He refused to accept it. “A thermos is worth how much, really?”
Fan Qing looked at him with a mixture of pity and amusement.
“Hasn’t the Second Young Master ever heard the saying?”
Jing Yi: “What?”
Fan Qing raised the cup with meaning.
“One cup.”
Then he calmly got back to work.
A long night ahead—why not see what he could do for Nie Luo?
“One cup?”
Jing Yi scratched his head, then slowly pulled out his phone to seek clarification.
“What does it mean if someone gives me a cup?”
The top reply in the search bar read:
“Giving you a lifetime.”
Jing Yi’s pupils constricted.
He was utterly shocked.
He stared in disbelief.
Wait a minute…
Fan Qing, you’re acting like a straight man too?
No wonder he said he couldn’t keep up with these two.
It wasn’t him—it was just that these two people…
Were way too… down-to-earth sweet.