Chapter 17

Better to take it step by step. That would be safer.

With that thought, Qin You continued, "For example, all these years, you've come this far on your own. I know it must have been hard. If you ever want someone to talk to, I'll always have time."

Mention the past.

Think of the past.

In particular, the darkest days during the Pei Family's bankruptcy must have been the target's greatest shadow. No matter how tactfully he put it, it would be enough.

After all, his goal wasn't to get the target to tell him about the past, but to make the target remember the past itself.

To his surprise, however, the target's reaction wasn't as severe as the information had indicated.

Yan Tingshen merely said mildly, "I've long been used to living like this. There's no question of whether it's been hard."

The infighting in the Yan Family hadn't started when he took over the company.

Having grown up in that environment, he'd long known what kind of scheming he would face in the future.

He'd expected it, so he'd never given the supposed hardship much thought.

Qin You looked at Yan Tingshen.

He could tell the indifference in the target's voice wasn't an act.

The target wasn't pretending to be calm; he truly didn't care.

That past had left no shadow on the target's heart. Even the traces it had left were faint.

The system scratched its head too. [That's strange, Host. Why isn't the target reacting at all? His favorability hasn't budged, either...]

Qin You said, [There's something wrong with the information too. What use are you, aside from issuing missions?]

[...] The system was overcome with sorrow at his contempt. [Boo-hoo, it's not my fault! The Main System sent down the information. I didn't know there was anything wrong with it either... Host, why don't you try something else?]

It hurriedly opened the panel and displayed the target's other likes and dislikes.

Qin You said, [Next time.]

He'd tried two things today, already exceeding what he'd planned. Any more work would go against his new principles for this life.

The system felt aggrieved. [Okay...]

As Qin You turned around, his phone rang in his pocket.

He took it out and answered Cui Ling's call.

"Young Mr. Qin, are you at the hospital?"

Cui Ling kept his voice low, sounding as though he were up to something. "The Chairman's downstairs. Do you want to come out first?"

He didn't say where Qin You should come out of.

But clearly, he'd guessed where Qin You would be.

Remembering that the second-generation heir didn't want the Chairman to know about him and Yan Tingshen, Cui Ling had looked for a chance to call Qin You and warn him as soon as they reached the hospital.

Qin You immediately stood up. "What's going on?"

Cui Ling said, "No—he's getting into the elevator. Young Mr. Qin, I have to hang up."

Qin You put his phone away and said to Yan Tingshen, "I'm going out for a bit. Get some rest."

Yan Tingshen asked him, "Is something wrong?"

Qin You smiled. "Don't worry, it's nothing."

Both the target and the protagonist were in the hospital. Even if Qin Hengzhong came here, he could still mistakenly believe that Qin You was close to Yan Tingshen.

Yan Tingshen didn't press him.

Qin You said goodbye to him and went out.

When he reached the nurses' station, Qin Hengzhong and his group happened to step out of the elevator.

Seeing Qin You, Qin Hengzhong frowned. "Qin You? Weren't you unhurt last night?"

Qin You said, "I came for a follow-up on my hand."

Cui Ling lowered his head without saying a word.

Qin Hengzhong suspected nothing. "Good, you're here too. Come with me to see your dad."

At that, Qin You looked at Cui Ling.

Only then did Cui Ling nod.

That was what he hadn't had time to say: the Chairman's visit had nothing to do with Yan Tingshen. He was here to see the president.

A nurse was showing them the way. "This way, please."

As Qin You followed the Chairman into the secure passage, Cui Ling stayed in the waiting area with the others.

Thinking that the second-generation heir must have come to see Yan Tingshen again, he shook his head and instinctively looked toward Yan Tingshen's room.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he turned around, he saw Yan Tingshen standing by the door not far away. Meeting his gaze startled him badly.

But after waiting a moment, he saw that Yan Tingshen had no intention of going back inside, and there was nowhere for him to hide. He could only brace himself and go over.

He couldn't very well stand there by himself after seeing him. Leaving aside Yan Tingshen's status, he couldn't neglect someone Qin You had specifically arranged to stay here.

When he reached Yan Tingshen, Cui Ling first asked, "President Yan, do you need anything?"

Yan Tingshen asked instead, "Did Old Qin come to see Qin You?"

Surprised that he'd brought it up himself, Cui Ling answered truthfully, "Yes, and he's also here to see the president."

Even if he didn't say it, the second-generation heir would tell him anyway.

He'd gone to save Yan Tingshen again and again, even risking his life. What did it matter if Yan Tingshen knew where the president was recuperating?

Yan Tingshen understood.

When nothing more followed, Cui Ling looked at him and said hesitantly, "President Yan, about Young Mr. Qin and Miss Liu yesterday..."

A glance from Yan Tingshen left the words stuck in his throat. For a moment, he could neither get them out nor swallow them.

Yan Tingshen said, "There's no need to tell me about President Qin's private affairs."

Cui Ling's face stiffened as he watched him turn and walk away.

It seemed Qin You still hadn't clearly explained to Yan Tingshen that the blind date had been a pretense to deal with the Chairman.

Actually, he really didn't want to deal with President Yan.

Mostly because he lacked the courage to speak to him face-to-face.

He'd finally worked up the nerve just now and had meant well, wanting to explain things. But faced with Yan Tingshen, his attempt had fallen apart before he could finish half a sentence.

Cui Ling watched the nurse close the door to the room. He wanted to leave, but his feet hesitated.

The second-generation heir didn't even know how to have a secret crush.

The blind date was fake. It was such an important matter, and he'd been caught red-handed, yet he hadn't explained himself at the first opportunity.

Considering his generous raise, he wanted to help Qin You.

But at the thought of Yan Tingshen, his desire to help waned again.

Should he go in and say something...?

Anyway, Yan Tingshen didn't have those kinds of feelings for Qin You at all. Going in would just be a waste of breath...

He hesitated outside the door for a long time.

Then Cui Ling gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and rang the doorbell after all.

Chapter 17

Qin You came out of the special passage a short while later.

On his way back to Yan Tingshen's room, before he reached the door, he saw Cui Ling sneaking out.

Cui Ling turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of Qin You. "Young Mr. Qin..."

Seeing his reaction, Qin You glanced into the room and asked in his usual tone, "Finished talking?"

Cui Ling's heart tightened instead. "Yes..."

Qin You said, "What did you say?"

Cui Ling didn't hide anything and told him the truth. "I just explained what you said when you met Miss Liu—"

Qin You smiled.

Cui Ling's voice trailed off involuntarily.

He'd been watching Qin You the whole time.

Qin You hadn't moved, and his hands were still casually tucked into the pockets on either side of his trench coat. He looked as languid as ever, but at the sight of that smile, an invisible pressure suddenly washed over Cui Ling, making it hard for him to continue defending himself.

It was the first time he'd seen Qin You smile like that.

It wasn't like the occasional instruction that brooked no question, nor was it like him calmly stating a fact—

The smile gave him a faint sense that Qin You was displeased. Though it lasted only a brief moment, the eyes hidden behind his glasses seemed to reflect the cold light on the lenses, leaving Cui Ling's hands cold.

"Young Mr. Qin..."

Qin You was looking at him too, his smile unchanged. He merely said, "When you get back to the company, arrange a handover."

Cui Ling was stunned. "Young Mr. Qin, I..."

"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to leave my office, and your pay and benefits won't be reduced."

Qin You said, "From today on, you only need to do the work that falls within your responsibilities. Leave everything else to the new hire."

Cui Ling stared at him blankly, his hands clenched tight. He still wanted to make his case. "Young Mr. Qin, I know I was the one who broke our agreement this time, but my intention was—"

"Assistant Cui."

Qin You cut him off. As he walked past him, he raised a hand and patted his shoulder. "Tell the new hire that I don't need someone by my side who acts on their own initiative or knowingly does what they shouldn't."

Cui Ling felt as though the shoulder Qin You had patted had instantly turned to stone.

He'd never expected that, just because he'd come to say a few words and clear up a small misunderstanding between Qin You and Yan Tingshen, Qin You would nearly kick him out altogether.

He didn't mean to boast, but he'd thought that with how laid-back Qin You was, even if he got angry upon finding out, he wouldn't be too upset, because Qin You still needed him to deal with the Chairman.

Now, Qin You had indeed left him to deal with the Chairman, but he'd also taken him off the field and put him on the bench. It was so simple and decisive that it caught him off guard.

It was just a few words...

Qin You had already pushed open the door to the room.

But before he went in, he met Yan Tingshen's eyes and couldn't help smiling. "Have you been here the whole time?"

Yan Tingshen said, "Yes."

He'd been about to go out before Qin You arrived, and had intended to step away after hearing his voice. But he'd only been recovering for a short time, and neither attempt had succeeded in time.

He didn't explain those reasons to Qin You in detail.

Qin You didn't mind, either. He simply closed the door and asked, "Are you tired?"

Yan Tingshen looked at those smiling eyes.

He hadn't managed to step away just now and had heard their conversation clearly.

He also understood clearly that beneath those seemingly easygoing, warm peach blossom eyes lay a severity and ruthlessness that were hard to notice, yet unmistakably real.

That was Qin You's true nature.

Once he made a decision, there was no room for argument.

"You didn't want me to know what you said to Miss Liu?"

Hearing Yan Tingshen's question, Qin You smiled. "Of course not."

Now that he'd confirmed the blind date had no effect on favorability, it made little difference whether the target knew about it.

What he'd said to Cui Ling had nothing to do with anything else. He'd meant exactly what he said.