Page 18

Chi Ning pondered for a moment. "Xu Jiahao won't believe you."

Qin Heng thought, That's true.

Chi Ning looked very well-behaved, and the contrast was even more striking when he stood beside him.

He studied Chi Ning's expression.

There was no anger or dissatisfaction on Chi Ning's face, only a trace of confusion. His entire face seemed to say: How could you be this kind of person?

In his previous life, Qin Heng had been humble and courteous around him, knowing when to advance and retreat. He would get embarrassed after saying even slightly suggestive things. He had never teased him like this.

Then Qin Heng suddenly said, "I don't care why you lied to Brother Xu, and I won't expose you. I can even teach you how to act."

Chi Ning had seen him at his most miserable, so pretending was pointless. He might as well stop pretending altogether. Chi Ning might not be particularly skilled at dealing with people, but he was very smart. Going by his habits, he would definitely offer some tuition after agreeing.

Chi Ning's fists clenched.

What did he mean, want to learn? I'll teach you?

Now he could not even be bothered to pretend anymore?

He turned his head away and said angrily, "You don't want to help me rent it, right? Zhang Qiuwen should be an adult too. I'll just ask Zhang Qiuwen for help."

Chi Ning stepped past Qin Heng, but halfway through, someone grabbed his wrist.

Qin Heng's gaze darkened. Clutching Chi Ning's thin wrist, he gritted his teeth and said, "You're willing to help anyone, aren't you?"

He and Zhang Qiuwen had come from the same orphanage. They fought together, ate together, and could earn money together. They were brothers who had grown up wearing the same pair of pants. But he simply did not want Chi Ning to bypass him and go help Zhang Qiuwen.

Chi Ning twisted his wrist free and said coldly, "Not exactly. I'm picky about who I help."

Qin Heng laughed in anger. He did not know what was wrong with himself, but he jabbed, "Me, Ye Xinran, Zhang Qiuwen... who's next? Are you planning to help every person you meet?"

Chi Ning gave an oh and turned back openly. "How did you know I helped Ye Xinran?"

Thinking of the faint sound that had come from behind the wall that day, he suddenly understood. "You saw it?"

Chi Ning looked straight into Qin Heng's eyes. "Qin Heng, whether I'm helping people, how many people I help, and exactly who I help—what does any of that have to do with you?"

Qin Heng froze for a moment, his eyes lowering.

Chi Ning was right. It had nothing to do with him.

He had no good intentions, and whether Chi Ning would be deceived had nothing to do with him.

Zhang Qiuwen was so close to him and such an honest person. He should be happy that someone was willing to help him.

Besides, Chi Ning was not his. What right did he have to meddle so much?

Even if Chi Ning really started hanging around with him in the future, he could still help whoever he wanted. Qin Heng could not restrict Second Young Master Chi's freedom.

Qin Heng's thoughts were a tangled mess, and he said nothing for a long while.

Watching him, Chi Ning suspected that he had gone too far and felt a tiny bit guilty. Little Qin wasn't even the one who deceived me. Why do I always take it out on him?

"I, well... Zhang Qiuwen is your friend, isn't he?"

The explanation was somewhat clumsy, and he even stammered a little at the start.

Qin Heng's brows relaxed, and his dark eyes instantly brightened. "So Zhang Qiuwen benefited because of me?"

Then what about Ye Xinran?

His mood improved, and his brain started working again.

He knew he could not ask that second half, so he swallowed it down.

Qin Heng blinked and sold out his brother without hesitation. "Zhang Qiuwen isn't an adult."

Chi Ning had never met Zhang Qiuwen in his previous life. How could he know whether that was true or false?

But after being reborn, he had learned to be more cautious!

"Really? I'll ask him before making a decision. You acknowledged Xu Jiahao as your godfather. He won't treat you badly, and he might even give you a place to live. You probably don't need a place as badly as Zhang Qiuwen does."

Qin Heng clenched his back teeth, his face calm. "Fine. Go ask."

Though he could not understand why, he simply did not want Chi Ning getting too close to Zhang Qiuwen.

Especially over something as intimate-sounding as renting a place.

After Chi Ning left, Qin Heng took out the Little Smart phone he had recently bought for work and texted Zhang Qiuwen: [If Chi Ning asks how old you are later, say you're seventeen.]

After leaving the restroom, Chi Ning asked Zhang Qiuwen. The answer he got was unexpected.

Zhang Qiuwen said, "I'm seventeen. Otherwise, why would I call Qin Heng Brother?"

Chi Ning pondered. "That makes some sense."

Looking at it that way, Qin Heng really was the only one who could help.

Fine. He would talk to Qin Heng again after he got off work.

He sighed softly, picked up a cue stick intending to play for a while, then thought better of it and put it back.

Hmm... Jiang Shijie had sat on that pool table. It was kind of filthy.

Frowning, Chi Ning returned to the sofa.

When Qin Heng came out of the restroom, he saw Chi Ning sitting obediently on the sofa, looking troubled.

His lips curved. It seemed Zhang Qiuwen had managed to keep it hidden.

So innocent. How had he been raised?

When Chi Ning had gone to confirm it earlier, Qin Heng had been holding his breath, terrified something would go wrong.

He had not expected the little lamb to have grown a little cautious—but only a little.

Noticing his gaze, Chi Ning turned around. "You're back?"

He had just acted fierce toward him, and now he needed his help again, so he could not help feeling a little embarrassed. "After you get off work, shall we find a place and properly discuss the rental?"

His voice softened as he spoke, somehow carrying a hint of coquettishness.

Qin Heng's ears grew hot for no reason. "Okay."

In his mind, a little cartoon white lamb was cursing, "How could you deceive him? You're really awful. Once he finds out, he'll definitely hate you."

On the other side, a little black wolf stood with his hands on his hips and argued righteously, "I was never a good person. I'm used to deceiving people. Young Master Chi likes gentle approaches, not forceful ones. Look how well he treats Mo Yuanzhou. What else can I do? As long as he doesn't find out, it's fine."

The little white lamb lost the argument and fell silent in anger, leaving only the little black wolf to strut smugly.

Qin Heng reined in his thoughts and headed toward Xu Jiahao. "I get off late, at eleven-thirty. If you get hungry, go eat first."

Chi Ning glanced at the now-empty value-size bag of chips. Forget hungry—he was even feeling a little stuffed.

It was his first time indulging in chips like this. It felt good, but also a little greasy.

"I'm not hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of burly men in suits walked in through the entrance.

There were too many to count at a glance, but there were ten in total. After entering, five stood side by side. The last two pulled open the glass doors and lifted the plastic curtain, allowing a middle-aged man in a royal blue suit to enter the billiards hall.

He was slightly overweight but still generally handsome. His face had clearly been well maintained, rosy and radiant, carrying the air of a man riding high on success. Yet his slightly loosened tie revealed a trace of anxiety.

Chi Ning withdrew his gaze.

Shen Zongze. President Shen.

He would recognize him even if he turned to ashes.

In his previous life, Shen Zongze had bribed the Chi family's shareholders and secretly seized control over Chongning's decision-making power.

His son, Shen Minyi, had drugged him and stolen an entire hard drive of patent data.

"Mr. Xu." Shen Zongze stood before Xu Jiahao and extended a hand. "Hello."

Xu Jiahao did not even stand up. He sat behind the counter like an old master. "Hello."

The Chi family and the Shen Family were competitors, bitter enemies.

The way Xu Jiahao handled this represented where he stood.

Personal matters and business matters had to be kept separate. He could have a good relationship with Chi Ning, but whether he would stand with the Chi family still depended on how much potential President Shen had.

Xu Jiahao clasped his hands and smiled. "President Shen, quite the grand display. You brought so many bodyguards? My little billiards hall can barely fit them all."

Shen Zongze thought, Wasn't I afraid that if you got angry, you'd have someone cut me up and smuggle me off to Myanmar?

He smiled. "Business competition has been fierce lately. I'm guarding against that person from Jiurong Prestige City."

Xu Jiahao raised a brow. Someone living in Jiurong Prestige City and fighting the Shen Family—wasn't that the Chi family?

He turned to Chi Ning. "Second Young Master Chi, anything to say?"

Shen Zongze looked toward the dim corner.

A fair, well-behaved-looking young man was lounging sideways on the sofa, his hand propping up his chin as he watched them with interest in his eyes.

At first, Shen Zongze was struck by his appearance, but he quickly suppressed any improper thoughts.

With the Chi family's younger son here, things were different.

He had initially feared offending Xu Jiahao. Now he was even more afraid that Jiang Shijie would stir things up and make the usually neutral Xu Jiahao side with the Chi family.

Damn it, how had the Jiang Family produced such a jinx?

"Me?"

Chi Ning scratched his cheek with a bent finger. "I've been coming to Boss Xu's place to have fun for a month now, and I haven't brought bodyguards even once. There's no need. Boss Xu is very nice."

Shen Zongze nearly burst into curses.

Nice, my ass!

He was pretending. He was vicious-looking and ruthless!

Did you even know what Xu Jiahao did for a living?

His ability to lie with his eyes open was truly perfected.

Xu Jiahao was a little amused. It was the first time anyone had called him a good person.

The feeling... was quite strange, but not bad.

Xu Jiahao said, "President Shen, let's discuss compensation directly. Jiang Shijie sat on the table Young Master Chi had rented and broke it. What do you think?"

Shen Zongze nearly failed to catch his breath. It had not been explained clearly over the phone. If he had known the person Jiang Shijie offended was Chi Ning, he would not have come! He would have made Jiang Shijie figure it out himself.

Damn unlucky bastard.

It would have been one thing to offend Chi Ning somewhere else, but he had offended him here at Xu Jiahao's place and even damaged Boss Xu's favorite pool table. Wasn't that forcing Xu Jiahao to side with the Chi family?

Now it was over. Trying to win Xu Jiahao over with more money was impossible. He would be thanking heaven and earth if he could pay Xu Jiahao to remain neutral. "Boss Xu, this is one million. I had poor judgment in choosing a business partner and offended you. Please accept it as my apology."

Xu Jiahao accepted the check, did not even glance at it, and tossed it aside.

Shen Zongze was not likable at all. The mud on his bodyguards' shoes had dirtied the small mat at the entrance of the billiards hall.

His expression remained neither pleased nor angry as he opened the counter drawer and took out five one-million chips.