Chapter 17

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

"N-Not yet." Chi Ning's face flushed bright red.

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

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

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

Chi Ning hurriedly patched things up. "I didn't tell him. Yesterday, we just chatted for a while while walking down the street. Just casual conversation."

The boy lowered his head, looking wronged and listless. His bangs fell over his forehead, hiding part of his expression. Seeing him look so pitifully content just from talking to someone made Chi Baichuan's heart ache.

He thought it would be better if they really were dating.

What kind of taste did that Qin guy have? How could he not 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.

Boss Chi felt conflicted. This was harder to handle than a business deal worth several hundred million.

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

Maybe he wouldn't like Qin Heng anymore once he grew up.

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

By then, they would go their separate ways!

No matter how much he grumbled inwardly, Chi Baichuan kept up appearances. "If you still like him then, go after him. Dad will support you."

Go after him, my ass. Dad just thinks you shouldn't start dating so soon.

Chi Ning slowly let out a breath.

Great, he had fooled them.

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

Chi Ning's eyes shifted as he remembered the matter of bringing Xu Jiahao and the Chi family together for a collaboration. He obediently said, "Yesterday..."

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

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

Chi Baichuan was speechless.

Huh?

Who had his son brought in?

"Xu Jiahao?"

"Yeah." Chi Ning thought for a moment. "Boss Xu asked me to come back and tell you. 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, and most of his businesses were overseas and in Australia Province. He had even stated before that he didn't want to wade into Yangcheng's muddy waters.

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

With sincerity?

The Chi family's meal was an emotional roller coaster.

Meanwhile, Qin Heng was so busy that he hadn't even eaten.

One in the afternoon.

A photo studio on West Street in Gangnan, Yangcheng.

Qin Heng stared blankly at the developed photographs.

He had taken time out from eating to get the photos developed. The paparazzo was a terrible person, but his photography skills were decent. The pictures came with a hazy atmosphere; at first glance, Chi Ning looked as though he were leaning against Qin Heng's chest.

Twenty photos had been developed from the roll, but only two had Chi Ning in them.

There was another photo of Chi Ning opening the curtains that morning. It had probably been taken secretly from outside the window. In it, the boy looked fresh from sleep, and morning sunlight streamed 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 personally tore them apart and tossed them into the trash. "How much?"

"Forty yuan."

Qin Heng paid, taking only the photos of Chi Ning and leaving the rest on the counter. He looked at the person in the photos and began calculating.

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

Yesterday, he had deliberately not brought up renewing the order, just to see whether Chi Ning would come looking for him personally for the bayberry juice.

If Chi Ning came, Qin Heng had ways to make him order another two months' worth. If he didn't, Qin Heng would ask directly.

Qin Heng imagined the boy sitting in a corner of the pool hall, lowering his voice as he asked whether he could order bayberry juice for another whole summer.

Qin Heng couldn't help curling his lips. Then he would—

Qin Heng suddenly froze.

The first thing he had thought of wasn't how to make another six hundred yuan from Chi Ning!

No, it was worse 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 came back to his senses and returned to the pool hall.

The new pool tables Boss Xu had bought had apparently arrived at some point. The entrance curtain was wide open, and workers were carefully replacing the tables. 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. "I think so too."

Zhang Qiuwen was speechless.

Big brother, you really 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 was speechless.

Why were you so damn dense?

"Brother Qin, what's with that expression?" Zhang Qiuwen thought it over, then suddenly understood. "You already have the answer you want in your heart, so why ask me? You wanted to test me, didn't you?"

The moment Chi Ning reached the door, he heard Zhang Qiuwen's words. He eagerly leaned over. "Test what? Let me hear too."

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

Zhang Qiuwen was baffled.

Brother, don't be so ridiculous.

Either he wanted to acknowledge a dad, or he wanted to trick himself into getting a little sister-in-law. What was so hard to admit?

Who was this sister-in-law? Was he good-looking?

Zhang Qiuwen looked at Chi Ning, and his brain short-circuited. He thought that if the person wasn't as good-looking as Chi Ning, he wouldn't accept him.

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

Zhang Qiuwen shuddered on reflex. "Yeah, I was joking."

He quickly changed the subject. "The new pool tables are here. You came at just the right time. Want to try them out?"

Chi Ning suffered terribly in summer and was deathly afraid of the heat. After standing in the sun for a while, his face was damp with sweat. He had no desire to play pool at all; he only wanted ice-cold bayberry juice.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten to renew his order at the end of last month. He probably wouldn't get any today.

Ah, forget it. Sitting in the air conditioning would do just fine.

After placing the pool tables, the workers filed out. When Chi Ning went inside, he ran into Boss Xu, who was heading out.

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

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

Xu Jiahao was so sweetened by his words that he couldn't 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 affection, their partnership would definitely be incredibly 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 straight onto his face. His body gradually cooled down, but his mouth felt even drier.

Chi Ning licked his lips and looked at Qin Heng, asking casually, "Why haven't I seen you selling bayberry juice lately?"

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

After saying that, Qin Heng instinctively added, "Yangcheng's shopping streets aren't tourist attractions. Only locals go there. With weather this hot, fewer people are out shopping, so it won't sell."

He seemed to naturally know how to draw Chi Ning's attention to himself. Those were all true facts, and Chi Ning was softhearted. Once he said that, Chi Ning would definitely—

"Then I'll order another two months' worth." Chi Ning took out six hundred yuan. Thinking that Qin Heng definitely hadn't prepared anything in advance today, he still felt disappointed.

Qin Heng took the money and casually stuffed 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, and handed them over. "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 to his cheek. The ice worked far better than the air conditioning.

He smiled. "How did you know I like eating these in summer?"

As soon as the words fell, he froze.

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

Chi Ning secretly glanced up.

The corner of Qin Heng's lips was raised, as though he were smiling.

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

"No." Qin Heng cleared his throat and turned away.

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

How could a few bayberries make him this happy?

Chi Ning chilled his face with the frozen bayberries for a while, then quickly started a game of pool, eating as he played. One of his cheeks puffed 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 him money.

Was this the legendary "blinded by beauty"?

Qin Heng shot Zhang Qiuwen a glance. "Have you looked enough? There aren't many customers right now. Go practice for a while. The competition is in just over a month. If you don't place, I won't split the prize money with you."

Zhang Qiuwen knew his pool skills were inferior to Qin Heng's, but not by much.

Qin Heng didn't actually want him to practice pool. He just didn't want anyone staring at Chi Ning.

Zhang Qiuwen's thoughts ran wild.

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

Zhang Qiuwen watched distractedly.

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

The bayberry juice was icy too. Moisture condensed on the bottle after it came into contact with the air, leaving his hand wet whenever he touched it. There was no way to eat and play pool at the same time.

He could only go to the counter to buy some tissues.

Just as he took out his money, two new customers who wanted to rent a table came in through the door.