Chapter 17

Chi Baichuan looked refined and easygoing. "Are you dating that little brat?"

"N-No." Chi Ning's face turned bright red.

After coming back, he seemed to no longer like Qin Heng, but he couldn't deny it now.

Chi Ning swallowed, so nervous that his mouth had gone dry. "He doesn't know I like him."

Those words wouldn't hold up under scrutiny. If his father and brother went to Qin Heng to confirm it, he would be completely exposed.

Chi Ning hurriedly added, "I didn't tell him. Yesterday, we just happened to chat for a bit while walking down the street. Just casual conversation."

The boy lowered his head, looking wronged and dejected. His bangs fell over his forehead, hiding some of his expression. Seeing him look so pitiful, as if merely talking to someone was enough to satisfy him, made Chi Baichuan's heart ache.

He thought it would have been better if they really were dating.

What kind of taste did that Qin guy have? How could he not like someone like this?

Unrequited love... Then that paparazzi report was fake. Before dinner, he had thought his son had been tricked into getting a room with someone.

President Chi's feelings were complicated. This seemed harder to handle than a business deal worth several hundred million.

He advised, "You're still young. The people you like as a child can change quickly."

Maybe he would stop liking him once he grew up.

"Wait a little longer. Be friends first. See whether you still like him after graduating high school."

After graduation, they would go their separate ways!

No matter how much he complained inwardly, Chi Baichuan kept up appearances. "If you still like him then, go pursue him. Dad supports you."

Pursue him, my ass. Dad just thinks you shouldn't start dating so early.

Chi Ning slowly let out a breath of relief.

Great, he had bluffed his way through it.

To Chi Yang and Chi Baichuan, that sigh was clearly one of relief for Qin Heng, making them even more depressed.

Chi Ning's eyes shifted as he remembered helping Xu Jiahao and the Chi family establish a business partnership. Obediently, he said, "Yesterday..."

Chi Yang's heart tightened, terrified that he was about to hear something earth-shattering again.

Chi Ning said, "After I finished playing yesterday, I asked Boss Xu whether he could work with our family. Boss Xu agreed."

Chi Baichuan: ...

Huh?

Who had his son brought in for him?

"Xu Jiahao?"

"Yeah." Chi Ning thought for a moment. "Boss Xu asked me to tell you when I got back. If there's no problem, you can call and arrange a time to discuss it in person."

Chi Baichuan was dazed. "All right."

Xu Jiahao had always maintained absolute neutrality. He had an eccentric personality, with most of his businesses overseas and in Australia Province. He had even stated before that he did not want to get involved in Yangcheng's mess.

How had his son managed to pull him into their camp?

With sincerity?

The Chi family's meal was an uneasy one.

Meanwhile, Qin Heng was so busy that he had not even eaten.

One in the afternoon.

A photography studio on West Street in Gangnan, Yangcheng.

Qin Heng stared blankly at the developed photographs.

He had taken time out of his meal break to get the photos developed. That paparazzo was a lousy person, but his photography skills were not bad. The photos had a hazy quality to them. At first glance, Chi Ning looked as though he were leaning against Qin Heng's chest.

There were twenty photos developed from the roll, but only two had captured Chi Ning.

Another was of Chi Ning opening the curtains in the morning. It must have been secretly taken from outside the window. In the photo, the boy still looked sleepy, while morning light passed through the window and his thin sleepwear, outlining his slender waist.

"Do you want the negatives?" the photo studio owner asked.

"Shred them." After checking the negatives, Qin Heng shredded them himself and tossed them into the trash. "How much?"

The owner said, "Forty."

Qin Heng paid, taking only Chi Ning's photos and leaving the rest on the counter. He looked at the person in the pictures as he calculated.

Today was the second day of vacation, and the first day Chi Ning's supply of bayberry juice had run out.

Yesterday, Qin Heng had deliberately not mentioned renewing the order because he wanted to see whether Chi Ning would come looking for him in person for the bayberry juice.

If he did, Qin Heng had ways to make Chi Ning order another two months' worth. If he did not, then Qin Heng would ask directly.

Qin Heng imagined that the boy might sit in a corner of the billiards hall, lowering his voice as he asked whether he could order bayberry juice for another summer vacation.

Qin Heng could not help smiling. Then he would—

Qin Heng suddenly froze.

The first thing he had thought of was not how to earn another six hundred from Chi Ning!

No, it was even more serious than that. Over the past two days, not only had he failed to make money, he had even spent some because of Chi Ning.

Qin Heng suddenly realized and returned to the billiards hall.

The new billiards table Boss Xu had bought had apparently been delivered at some point. The door curtain was wide open, and workers were carefully replacing the table. Zhang Qiuwen stood outside supervising them.

Qin Heng walked over. "Do you think I'm generous?"

Zhang Qiuwen thought, What the hell are you talking about?

"More like stingy, right?"

Qin Heng nodded. "That's what I think too."

Zhang Qiuwen: ...

Brother, you sure are self-aware.

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Qin Heng's forehead. "If I spend money on someone without expecting anything in return, and after spending it, the first thing I think of is his smile, what do you think that means?"

Zhang Qiuwen's eyes lit up. "I know!"

Qin Heng's throat tightened. "Let's hear it."

Zhang Qiuwen said, "You want to acknowledge him as your dad."

Qin Heng: ...

Why were you so dense?

"Brother Qin, what kind of expression is that?" Zhang Qiuwen pondered it for a moment, then suddenly understood. "You already have the answer you want in your heart, so why ask me? Were you testing me?"

The moment Chi Ning arrived at the door, he heard Zhang Qiuwen's words. He eagerly leaned closer. "Testing what? Let me hear it too."

"Nothing," Qin Heng said. His heartbeat sped up slightly as he made something up. "Zhang Qiuwen is messing around."

Zhang Qiuwen: ?

Brother, don't be ridiculous.

If it wasn't wanting to acknowledge him as a dad, then it was wanting to trick him into becoming a little sister-in-law. What was so hard to admit?

Who was the sister-in-law? Was he pretty?

Zhang Qiuwen looked at Chi Ning, his brain short-circuiting. He thought that if the person was not as good-looking as Chi Ning, he would not acknowledge him.

Qin Heng smiled at him, then raised a hand and undid the buttons of his shirt.

Zhang Qiuwen reflexively shuddered. "Right, I was joking."

He changed the subject. "The new billiards table is here. You came at just the right time. Want to try it out?"

Chi Ning suffered badly in summer and was terrified of heat. After being in the sun for a while, his face was damp with sweat. He did not want to play at all. He just wanted some ice-cold bayberry juice.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten to renew his order when last month ended. He probably would not get any today.

Ah, forget it. Sitting in the air conditioning would be fine too.

Once the workers finished setting up the table, they filed out. As Chi Ning went inside, he ran into Boss Xu, who was heading out.

Xu Jiahao said, "What a coincidence. Your dad just called and asked me to go discuss a partnership."

Chi Ning nodded. "Then I'll wish you a pleasant partnership in advance."

Xu Jiahao was so charmed that he could not speak.

He felt that if Chi Baichuan were willing to let him raise his son for two days and fulfill his dream of father-son bonding, their partnership would definitely be extremely pleasant.

As soon as Xu Jiahao left, Chi Ning pressed his face in front of the standing air conditioner and narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.

The icy air blew directly onto his face. His body gradually cooled down, but his throat felt even drier.

Chi Ning licked his lips and looked at Qin Heng. As if asking casually, he said, "How come I haven't seen you selling bayberry juice lately?"

"It's too hot. The ice melts easily."

After saying that, Qin Heng instinctively added, "Yangcheng's shopping street isn't a tourist attraction. Only locals go there. In heat like this, fewer people come out to shop, so it won't sell."

He seemed to naturally know how to draw Chi Ning's attention to himself. All of it was true. Chi Ning was softhearted, so after hearing that, he would definitely...

"Then I'll order another two months' worth." Chi Ning took out six hundred, though he still felt disappointed, thinking Qin Heng probably had not prepared any in advance today.

Qin Heng took the money and casually tucked it into his pocket. Then he turned around, took out a bottle of ice-cold bayberry juice and a small bag of frozen bayberries that he had hidden in the freezer long ago, and handed them to him. "I brought a bottle, and there's also a bag of frozen bayberries."

"Wow!" Chi Ning accepted them in surprise. He pressed the frozen bayberries against his cheek. They worked far better than the air conditioner.

Smiling, he said, "How did you know I like eating these in summer?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he froze.

Lately, he seemed to have become a little childish from being spoiled by his father and brother. Maybe a happy family always made people want to be children.

Chi Ning secretly raised his eyes.

The corner of Qin Heng's lips lifted, as if he were smiling.

Chi Ning became alert. "Are you laughing at me?"

"No." Qin Heng coughed lightly and turned away.

He had rehearsed this scene several times in his head, but Chi Ning's reaction was even more vivid and adorable than he had imagined.

How could a few bayberries make him this happy?

Chapter 17

Chi Ning cooled his face with the frozen bayberries for a while, then soon started playing. He ate while playing, one cheek puffing out from time to time.

Like a little squirrel storing food.

Zhang Qiuwen looked dazed.

He had known Qin Heng for years, yet he had never seen Qin Heng bring him anything tasty. How long had he known Chi Ning? He had even given away frozen bayberries that could have made money.

Was this what they called being blinded by lust?

Qin Heng glanced at Zhang Qiuwen. "Have you stared enough? There aren't many customers right now, so go practice for a while. There's only a little over a month until the competition. If you don't place, I won't split the prize money with you."

Zhang Qiuwen knew his billiards skills were not as good as Qin Heng's, but the gap was not that big.

How was Qin Heng trying to make him practice? He just did not want anyone staring at Chi Ning.

Zhang Qiuwen's thoughts ran wild.

Could the "smiling face his brother thought of first" be Chi Ning's?

Zhang Qiuwen watched distractedly.

Chi Ning had already finished the frozen bayberries and was drinking the bayberry juice.

The bayberry juice was cold too. Condensation formed on the bottle once it touched the air, and it got his hand wet whenever he touched it. He could not eat and play at the same time.

He could only go to the counter to buy tissues.

Just as he took out his money, two new customers came in, wanting to rent a table.