Chapter 15

Five little gold coin-like objects glittered under the counter lights.

He said, "You're too polite, Mr. Shen. Take these five hundred. When you have time, come to Australia Province and give my business some patronage. Before you go, clean up the trash around you."

Shen Zongze couldn't figure out Xu Jiahao's intentions.

Was Xu Jiahao taking his side?

One million exchanged for five million, and they were casino chips. He could even use them to win even more cash.

Was this a gesture of goodwill?

As long as he dealt with Jiang Shijie, that was enough?

Chi Ning vaguely understood. When Shen Zongze looked over, he turned his head away as if sulking.

Qin Heng wanted to speak but held back. Xu Jiahao's handling of the matter was too ambiguous, and he couldn't make sense of it either.

Shen Zongze pocketed the little gold coins, straightened his tie, and left looking smug and pleased with himself.

Without hesitation, Chi Ning walked over to Xu Jiahao and asked, "Brother Xu, are you going to work with Shen Zongze?"

Xu Jiahao looked surprised. "Of course not. I'm neutral right now."

Chi Ning:?

Really? But his attitude just now hadn't seemed like it.

Still, being neutral meant he wasn't cooperating with Shen Zongze. Chi Ning understood. "All right, then I won't ask my dad to bother you."

Xu Jiahao: ...

If anyone else had said that, they might have been playing hard to get. But when Chi Ning said it, he had probably genuinely misunderstood.

He sighed. "But I won't be neutral in a little while. Go back and tell your dad. We can find a time to talk later."

The Shen Family was a complete mess. They wouldn't last long.

The Chi family had raised someone like Chi Ning, which meant they had plenty of backing. Chi Yang was probably nothing like the rumors outside said; he couldn't be too bad.

"Really?" Chi Ning brightened immediately.

Xu Jiahao added, "I'll use Shen Zongze's money to get you a new pool table. From now on, I'll reserve the first spot for you."

Chi Ning: Woohoo~

Thinking about Shen Zongze's face when he found out that the money he had lost was being used to improve his rival's son's billiards experience, Chi Ning felt so satisfied he nearly laughed out loud.

Qin Heng finally got it. Xu Jiahao was planning to play both sides on the surface while secretly choosing the better side.

Then what were those five million in chips for?

Xu Jiahao made a call and told the person on the other end, "If Shen Zongze comes over there to patronize our business, make sure you take good care of him. Be hospitable."

He stressed the words "take good care."

Qin Heng: ...

Got it. Boss Xu was planning to scam President Shen out of his money.

He was using five million in chips to hook a bigger fish.

There was no need to think any further. Qin Heng could call him godfather right now.

Xu Jiahao was really something.

Chi Ning figured it out too and let out a breath.

Shen Zongze would definitely take his anger out on Jiang Shijie. The Chi family had gotten a huge advantage for free.

11:43 p.m.

Qin Heng got off work and looked at the person sprawled crookedly across the sofa, nearly asleep. "Chi Ning?"

"Mm?" Chi Ning answered groggily, then said in a daze, "Brother Heng, didn't I tell you not to come pick me up?"

Qin Heng's breathing caught. "What did you call me?"

Chi Ning abruptly woke up.

This wasn't the research institute!

"Nothing." Chi Ning brushed it off vaguely. After getting up and finishing his call with the realtor, he turned to Qin Heng. "Come on, let's go see the place."

The young realtor had been worrying over his lack of sales. The moment he heard there was money to be made, he rushed out from home and led the two clients into the development while introducing the property.

"This isn't a new development. The owner has gone abroad and entrusted everything to us. Since the place is large and requires an annual lease, no one has rented it for almost a year."

Chi Ning gave a quiet acknowledgment and looked at the house, where the lights had already been turned on.

It was a small two-story townhouse, with two units in one building. Its size was perfect for conducting experiments. The refrigerator and appliances were all there, while the living room had no sofa or television. It was spacious and open, making it ideal for arranging experimental equipment.

The only thing left in the entire hall was an ornament on top of the shoe cabinet by the entrance.

He was too sleepy. After putting on the shoe covers, he lost his balance as he stood up and tipped toward the shoe cabinet. The moment he braced himself against it, the ceramic ornament on top fell.

The realtor was too far away to rush over in time.

Qin Heng's heart tightened. By reflex, he reached out, hooked an arm around Chi Ning's waist, and took a step back.

Even through the thin shirt, he could tell how narrow that waist was.

Chi Ning leaned into the crook of Qin Heng's arm, his fingers pressed against the tense muscles in Qin Heng's arm. Then he heard a brief, steady warning:

"Careful."

Chapter 15

Crash! The ornament hit the floor and shattered.

The realtor hurried over, intending to check on the client. But when he got close, he felt a little unnecessary, so he could only crouch down and gather the broken ceramic pieces.

The shards were sharp. Qin Heng tightened his hold around Chi Ning's fingers, easily pinching the soft flesh of his hand as he led the seemingly stunned Chi Ning another step back.

The broken ceramic was so sharp. What if he got cut?

Chi Ning wanted to say something but stopped himself, feeling as though Qin Heng's scorching palm was about to melt him.

What was going on? Why was Qin Heng's hand so hot?

Could he be overheating?

The air fell silent for a moment, leaving only the crisp clinking of ceramic fragments as the realtor cleaned them up.

The realtor was panicking. He was terrified that his commission would shatter along with the ornament.

Chi Ning had come looking for a house during the day as well. Although the realtor had found the boy familiar at the time, he had still refused him on the grounds that minors couldn't rent property.

Only after returning to the sales office did he remember that this was the Second Young Master Chi who had appeared in Yangcheng's gossip tabloids some time ago. There was no way Chi Ning couldn't afford rent, and the realtor had instantly regretted it.

He had thought he had missed his chance, but in the middle of the night, Second Young Master Chi had come back with an adult. That was enough to show how determined he was to rent a place.

In the realtor's mind, a script gradually took shape: a young master throwing around money and eloping with his lover. By the time he finished cleaning up the mess on the floor, the story had progressed to the little couple making love wildly in the villa, oblivious to the world around them.

"Mr. Chi, I'm terribly sorry. Do you still want this house?"

"Doo-doo-doo!"

The realtor's business and the phone both rang at once.

Chi Ning jumped in surprise, quickly slipped out of Qin Heng's protective reach, and answered the phone. "Hello?"

Qin Heng rubbed his fingers together, then clenched them into a fist and shoved it into his pocket.

The realtor inwardly went, Oh ho.

Feels good, doesn't it? Couldn't bear to let go of that feeling, so you wanted to keep it in your fist?

Chi Ning understood the realtor's teasing look. The warmth at his waist instantly spread through his body. He didn't hear a word the caller said and reflexively replied, "Huh?"

Chi Baichuan: ...

"Dad's asking why you still aren't home. It's almost one in the morning. It's dangerous."

Chi Ning said, "Oh?" That had been the most intimate physical contact he had experienced in either lifetime.

His mind had stalled, and he felt a little guilty. "I-I'm on my way back."

Chi Baichuan: Was he... that easy to fool in his son's eyes?

What road was that quiet? There wasn't even the sound of a single car?

He probed, "Where did you go today? What have you been doing for so long?"

"I was playing pool at the billiards hall." Under the realtor's increasingly teasing gaze, Chi Ning stammered, "I-I'll be back soon. I'm hanging up now. Bye, Dad."

Chi Baichuan said in surprise, "What billiards hall is still open at this hour—"

Beep beep beep...

The call ended. More than half of Chi Baichuan's sleepiness vanished as he looked at the empty house, and sorrow suddenly welled up inside him.

His eldest son was acting outside for the sake of the family business. They had just had a huge fight today, and he had deliberately driven him out of the house. His younger son had suddenly become lively and was having so much fun he had forgotten to come home. His beautiful wife's career ambitions shone brightly as she worked hard overseas alone, leaving him to guard an empty bedroom by himself.

Lonely.

Chi Ning hung up and let out a long breath. "Bring me the contract. I'll take this place."

The realtor was delighted and had just reached for a pen when he was stopped.

Qin Heng said, "Look more carefully."

Chi Ning was confused. "Look at what? Isn't it pretty good?"

Qin Heng sighed, led Chi Ning around the place from top to bottom, then said to the realtor:

"The water heater hasn't been used in a long time, has it? The water pressure is a little weak. Replace it."

"There's a problem with the gas stove ignition. Did you even inspect it?"

"The bathroom drainage isn't smooth. Were the floor tiles repaired? There's a problem with the waterproofing. Why didn't you mention it just now? What, do you think I'm easy to talk to?"

"Trying to fool me?"

"The washing machine wiring was re-soldered, right? You expect us to use a washing machine that could break at any time?"

Qin Heng checked the wiring and lights as well, finding several bulbs that wouldn't turn on. "Replace everything before we sign the contract. This annual rent is expensive, and your agency commission is more than enough. I don't need to spell it out for you, do I?"

The realtor hadn't expected to run into someone so tough.

Realtors usually concealed such problems whenever they could. After all, few people could spot them, and any little advantage was still an advantage.

Who could have expected...

There was a ruthlessness about Qin Heng that didn't match his age. The realtor dared to bluff Second Young Master Chi, who looked easy to fool, but he didn't dare try it with Qin Heng.

"I'll get everything replaced as soon as possible. Leave me a phone number, and come inspect it again the day after tomorrow." The realtor didn't even dare ask Chi Ning for a deposit and politely escorted the two of them out of the development.

Chi Ning was dumbfounded. Even after getting into the taxi, he kept staring at Qin Heng.

Qin Heng had kept up an act all day and was a little tired. He lounged lazily against the backseat, tilted his head, and gave a soft laugh. "What are you looking at? Is this the first time you've met me?"

This was how he was in private: calculating over every last detail and never willing to take a loss. Not only was he bad-tempered, but he held grudges too. He was also extremely practiced at fighting, threatening people, and causing trouble.

"Do you regret it?" Qin Heng asked quietly.

Did Chi Ning regret saving him?

Did he regret suggesting they rent a place?

Did he regret knowing him?

Chi Ning said, "Mm?"

The topic had jumped too suddenly into something so emotional that he couldn't quite keep up.

But Qin Heng was so guarded around others. He must have suffered many losses and hardships when he was young.

Chi Ning said softly, "These past years must have been hard for you, right? When you were younger, did a lot of people bully you, take advantage of you, and even cheat you out of money? Being more cautious is a good thing. This is good. It means you won't be easily deceived."

Qin Heng froze.