Chapter 20

The mere thought of Chi Ning possibly ending up with someone else in the future made Qin Heng feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, jealousy surging beyond his control.

Gu Zhe seemed to have caught hold of something, lifting his little chin. "Go on, say it. What? You don't even dare say that?"

Thinking of how he had eavesdropped just now, Qin Heng feared Chi Ning might have done the same.

Unable to figure out what Chi Ning was thinking, and afraid they might not even remain friends in the end, he said ambiguously, "Who I like has nothing to do with you."

Gu Zhe snorted.

Coward. Just wait and see how I make things difficult for you later!

Qin Heng watched Gu Zhe walk away, and an chibi little wolf appeared in his mind.

Its lips flapped as it yammered, "Even if Chi Ning likes you, he only likes the version you're pretending to be. You've hidden yourself so well that he has no idea how nasty your true nature is."

His breathing quickened. What if Chi Ning really fell for the half-disguised Qin Heng? Would he have to keep pretending for the rest of his life?

The thought was like a parasite clinging to his bones, making him restless the instant it surfaced.

Maybe he should peel back a little of himself and let Chi Ning see?

Qin Heng lifted the door curtain and entered the billiards hall. He saw a boy in Gangnan International High School's uniform standing in front of Chi Ning.

He paused, instinctively studying Chi Ning's expression.

Chi Ning looked over the immature yet sanctimonious face before him, his expression cold. "Shen Minyi, what do you want with me?"

He raised a hand to rub his temple. "Given our relationship, isn't it inappropriate for us to meet in private?"

Shen Minyi said, "What do the grudges between the adults have to do with you and me?" He sat down on the sofa beside Chi Ning.

"We both took part in the provincial competition. We should have gone to the national competition together. Why didn't you go? Why insist on throwing yourself away like your older brother?"

Chi Ning curled his lips and looked toward Qin Heng, who had just entered.

Following his gaze, Shen Minyi let out a cold laugh. "You become like those you keep company with. You've really learned to go bad."

He took a first-place gold medal from his pocket and placed it by Chi Ning's hand. "This should have been yours."

Qin Heng could barely control his thoughts. If only he could hide Chi Ning away. Fuck, every last one of them was coveting Chi Ning, yet Chi Ning had no idea! Shen Minyi was on an entirely different level from Gu Zhe as an opponent.

Chi Ning glanced at the gold medal, then caught sight of Qin Heng's leather shoes from the corner of his eye. He looked up and met those deep eyes.

Chi Ning froze for a moment before instinctively smiling at Qin Heng. "What's wrong?"

His tone was gentle, completely different from how he had spoken to Shen Minyi moments ago.

Shen Minyi clenched the hand hidden at his side into a fist.

Qin Heng smiled and raised a hand, brushing aside the hair hanging before Chi Ning's eyes to reveal those star-bright eyes. His fingers hovered beneath Chi Ning's eye.

Chi Ning felt his cheek lightly brushed by Qin Heng's knuckles.

Chi Ning:?

Qin Heng took out the gold medal he had not yet had the chance to present, pulled open the dark green ribbon, and hung it around Chi Ning's neck. "Mine was earned through my own ability."

Chapter 20

Chi Ning held the heavy gold medal.

The relief on the medal seemed hand-carved, made with 3D hard gold craftsmanship. Beautiful stalks of wheat curled around a tiny blue gemstone in the center, so exquisite it looked fake.

Chi Ning brought it to his lips and lightly bit it with his canine tooth.

Soft. It was real gold.

The national competition one was not. He had bitten it in his previous life; it was an alloy.

Holding the medal, Chi Ning was a little dazed. "You're really giving it to me?"

Qin Heng said, "Mm."

Chi Ning gave an oh, his gaze shifting between the medal and Qin Heng.

Though Qin Heng's expression was steady as iron, that slab of iron seemed a little hot.

So hot that he was like a medium-rare steak, sizzling.

Shen Minyi cursed under his breath, his breathing growing a little rapid.

He had liked Chi Ning for more than two years. They had been evenly matched rivals, always neck and neck in competitions.

He lost more often, but that was nothing.

It was not embarrassing to lose to someone he liked. Chi Ning was too smart; it was normal that he could not beat him.

Until this time, when Chi Ning did not go to the national competition.

He had bypassed his father and spent a long time asking around before learning that Chi Ning had not only skipped it, but had also taken ten days off at once. Afterward, he had even stopped attending evening study sessions, spending every night at the billiards hall playing pool, throwing himself away just like Chi Yang!

At first, he had not believed what the paparazzi wrote. He had not believed Chi Ning would date a thug who could not even keep up with school, but seeing it with his own eyes left him no choice.

Shen Minyi thought, It would be best if the Chi family went bankrupt.

Once they went bankrupt, he could ask his father to take Chi Ning in. Chi Ning was innocent and naive anyway; if he were placed in a laboratory, he would not be able to stir up any trouble. The Chi family was already on the verge of collapse. If something really happened, Chi Ning might come to beg him with reddened eyes and tears brimming in them, with nowhere else to turn.

How adorable.

Shen Minyi sneered. "You would rather have this kind of trashy gold medal? There are plenty of people willing to sell you things like this if you spend money."

Chi Ning frowned. "Spend money?"

He looked up at the television still broadcasting the match inside the billiards hall.

On the screen, the host commentating on the game shouted, "Beautiful! Contestant Qin must have practiced snooker. After realizing he could not clear the table in one shot, he used the force and angle of his shot to create an obstacle, using an object ball to block the cue ball's path and seal off his opponent's shooting route. If his opponent wants to take a shot, he will definitely foul! We can see that his opponent seems stunned and simply cannot find an angle to strike from!"

Chi Ning's expression turned strange. "You really underestimate competitive sports."

Shen Minyi was briefly bewildered.

Of course, he was not questioning where the medal had come from. He meant that billiards competitions themselves had little value.

Besides, American pool competitions had only risen in recent years, and the Olympic Committee had not even recognized them.

Did Chi Ning not understand?

Shen Minyi glanced at Qin Heng, then withdrew his gaze dismissively.

Forget it. He was just some nobody. The Chi family was about to collapse; there was no need for him to compete with someone so lacking in money and influence.

It was beneath him.

He rose to his feet. "There are overseas competitions in senior year as well. Your teachers should contact you. Opportunities are rare, so don't miss this one again. Don't make a joke of your future."

Chi Ning inwardly spat several times.

If he went, he would not only be making a joke of his future, but of his whole family.

You hypocrite are utterly hateful. Don't appear in my sight for even one more second.

Shen Minyi did not take the gold medal with him when he left, and Chi Ning picked it up to inspect it.

Qin Heng's heart tightened.

With a turn of his wrist, Chi Ning threw the medal into the trash can with a bang, using enough force to make the bin wobble.

Qin Heng broke into a smile, as happy as if he had won a battle.

Xu Jiahao also breathed a sigh of relief. It was not that he had selfish motives; he simply could not raise a son like this in this lifetime. Chi Baichuan guarded his son like the apple of his eye, so there was no way Chi Ning could be tricked away.

If he still wanted Chi Ning to call him Dad, he would have to rely on his cheap godson, Qin Heng, to win him over and bring him home. Then Xu Jiahao could give him a red envelope and openly listen to Chi Ning call him Dad.

If this were Australia Province, he would already be openly posting a sign at the billiards hall entrance saying, "Shen Family and dogs not allowed."

This was fucking annoying.

Xu Jiahao wanted to give Qin Heng a push. "All right, you finally won a gold medal. Take the day off today. Do whatever you want."

Qin Heng said, "Mm, thanks, Dad."

After thinking for a moment, he said to Chi Ning, "I bought everything on your list. Do you want to go take a look now?"

Chi Ning checked the time. It was not too late.

Shen Minyi's appearance had sounded an alarm for him.

The business struggle would not end just because Jiang Shijie was gone. A giant like the Shen Family would be difficult to bring down.

He had to hurry and finish the patent data. Once his family's shares were recovered, he would release it openly. Once it became public, the Chi family could begin mass production without delay, and they would definitely be able to seize the Shen Family's market.

Thinking this, Chi Ning stood. "Let's go take a look now. There's a lot of stuff, so it probably won't be finished anytime soon."

Most laboratory instruments could not be used simply by unpacking them; they needed calibration. Some were so delicate that improper placement could even damage them, so they had to be handled carefully.

The two took a taxi to the villa they were renting. The paparazzi had not uncovered this place yet, so it was very safe.

Qin Heng turned on the lights and pointed at the boxes of all sizes on the first floor. "Most of it is here. There's more upstairs. I chose the master bedroom on the second floor for my room. Everything else is yours."

Chi Ning walked over and saw the steel frames for the laboratory tables standing upright to one side. The entire hall was nearly impossible to walk through.

With so much stuff, who knew how long it would take to set everything up.

He stood on tiptoe, avoiding scattered items as he made his way to the center and hurriedly began assembling the lab table.

The steel frames were incredibly heavy. Chi Ning struggled to hold them steady, and when tightening the screws, he could only brace them with his shoulder. Before long, sweat covered his forehead.

Soon, the weight on his shoulder lightened.

Qin Heng steadied the steel frame and said to Chi Ning, who was crouched on the floor, "I'll help." He crouched beside Chi Ning, taking a screwdriver and tightening the screws on the other side.

Young men ran hot.

Though they were not touching, Chi Ning could still feel a wave of heat.

He nudged Qin Heng's arm with his elbow. "Go turn on the air conditioner. It's hot."

Chi Ning's face was damp with sweat. He had not taken off the gold medal around his neck yet, and part of the dark green ribbon had grown wet with sweat.

Qin Heng curled his lips. "Should I put the medal away for you?"

Chi Ning paused. "Oh."

He took the thing from around his neck and handed it over, asking casually, "Where are you going to put it?"

It was pure gold. It had to be stored properly.

"The study. I left two desks in there, and one of them is yours. Should I put it on the bookshelf?"

Chi Ning said, "Sure."