Page 40

Chi Ning: ...

It seemed he really hadn't seen him.

But that wasn't his fault either.

Qin Heng's casual suit was in the same style as Xu Jiahao's, looking carefree and eye-catching. Zhang Qiuwen, on the other hand, wore a stiff black suit and stood off to the side like a bodyguard, so he had been automatically overlooked.

Chi Ning tugged at the hem of his clothes, feeling a little guilty.

How strange. Zhang Qiuwen was such a tall guy—how had he failed to notice him back then?

"Zhang Qiuwen." Qin Heng called out, rummaged in his pocket, and pulled out that thick stack of business cards.

He shoved the assorted, perfume-sprayed business cards into Zhang Qiuwen's hands, then patted his shoulder. "Your lucky day has come. Men and women alike—pick whichever you want."

Zhang Qiuwen: ...

Come on, bro. You were even going to help Chi Ning out of this predicament?

You were done for. You'd fallen hard.

Speechless, he clutched the cards and asked, "Want this good fortune for yourself?"

A hint of amusement appeared on Chi Ning's face.

The three of them had stood there for too long. Quite a few guests had seen Qin Heng toss the business cards to Zhang Qiuwen.

Shen Xichun frowned and said to the person beside her, "Brother, I told you this wouldn't work. Qin Heng clearly isn't interested in women. You'll have to find a boy instead."

"Where am I supposed to find someone better-looking than Second Young Master Chi in our family? How about you try cutting your hair short?"

Shen Xichun sneered. "Are you sick? With a brain like yours, you'd better stop fighting for the family fortune. Go abroad with me and study some art to cultivate your character. Or, if nothing else, surrender to Brother Shen and be his lackey. He cares about appearances, so for the sake of his reputation, he won't do anything to you."

As she spoke, Shen Xichun looked back toward Chi Ning.

Having given away the cards, Qin Heng seemed to have shrugged off some burden. He stretched out his long arm and hooked it around Chi Ning's shoulders, smiling at Zhang Qiuwen. "I don't want your good fortune."

Zhang Qiuwen's teeth ached from the sweetness. He felt like a dog passing through the banquet hall for no reason, only to get kicked.

Chi Ning smiled and put an arm around Qin Heng's waist, but quickly let go. "Come on. Uncle Xu must be getting impatient."

He had only meant to show everyone that he and Qin Heng had a good relationship—that they were friends.

But Qin Heng suddenly stiffened.

Chi Ning watched the smile on his face fade a little, as though he had become angry.

Chi Ning froze. Before he could explain, Qin Heng's hand moved from his shoulder to the back of his neck.

His palm was scorching, almost warming Chi Ning's mind into a daze. Qin Heng gently pinched the flesh at the back of Chi Ning's neck, tilted his head, and pressed his lips to Chi Ning's ear. "Don't scratch my waist. It tickles."

Everyone wore different expressions.

The conversation in the banquet hall abruptly fell silent. Chi Ning and Qin Heng were even closer than they had imagined.

Half the people looked toward Xu Jiahao, waiting for him to react.

Xu Jiahao stood lazily with a glass of champagne in hand and smugly asked Chi Yang, "My son. What do you think?"

Chi Yang stared fixedly at Qin Heng's hand around Chi Ning's neck and ground out, "A. Fine. Young. Man."

Xu Jiahao smiled. "He is indeed clever, but your younger brother is even better."

Not far away, Chi Baichuan turned his head. "How so?"

"Straightforward, honest, kind-hearted, and sweet-talking." Xu Jiahao counted them off on his fingers, then patted Chi Baichuan on the shoulder. "Brother Chi, you really know how to raise kids."

Chi Baichuan felt rather pleased with himself. Before he could enjoy it for more than a few seconds, though, Xu Jiahao added, "I originally wanted to take Chi Ning as my godson. Too bad he already has a father."

Chi Baichuan: ?

No, he now had every reason to suspect that Xu Jiahao's motives for cooperating with the Chi family were impure!

He considered Xu Jiahao a friend and business partner, but Xu Jiahao wanted to steal his son?

And not only did Xu Jiahao want to steal him, Chi Ning even liked Qin Heng a little!

It was a crush, too!

Like father, like son!

Chi Baichuan took a deep breath and pretended to sound regretful. "Ah, what a pity. You two simply aren't fated to be father and son."

Xu Jiahao thought that wasn't necessarily true. He still had a roundabout plan; it all depended on his outstanding godson.

He waved at Qin Heng. "Come, meet your Uncle Chi."

Qin Heng withdrew the hand around Chi Ning's neck and walked properly over to Chi Baichuan, extending his hand. "Hello, Uncle."

Not only did he shake hands, he even gave a slight bow while doing so.

It was difficult for Chi Baichuan to find fault with him at all.

His feelings were complicated.

He feared that Qin Heng liked Chi Ning and would trick him away.

Yet he also feared that Qin Heng did not like Chi Ning and would break his heart.

For the moment, Chi Baichuan could not treat this kid normally, so he could only drag over his eldest son. "Chi Yang, come meet him."

Qin Heng and Chi Yang went through the same routine again.

Chi Yang gripped Qin Heng's hand and squeezed hard as if wringing out a towel, but Qin Heng's eyes did not even flicker. He even smiled at Chi Yang.

Chi Ning had seen Qin Heng acting arrogantly at school, seen him ruthless, and seen him poised and tactful around him, but he had never seen him this polite.

This kind of politeness from a junior toward an elder was different from his usual manner.

In short, two words—good at pretending.

After thinking it over, Chi Ning said to his eldest brother, "You all chat. I'll go take a look around."

Chi Yang said, "Mm. Be careful. Don't drink anything someone else gives you."

"Okay." Holding his orange juice, Chi Ning walked toward Sun Boxing.

Xu Jiahao and Qin Heng would not harm his eldest brother, but Sun Boxing was different.

He had to stay true to his original intentions and remember his mission.

The moment Sun Boxing saw Chi Ning, the fingers holding his wineglass tightened. He quickly looked away and turned toward Shen Minyi in the distance.

But Shen Minyi was not looking at him at all. His eyes were fixed directly on Chi Ning.

Sun Boxing viciously thought: Why didn't Chi Ning trip and fall?

It would be best if he fell embarrassingly, so the orange juice could stain that designer custom-made suit jacket.

Unfortunately, Chi Ning not only did not fall, but walked steadily into the group of younger guests.

Gu Zhe, seated in the corner, brightened up. He squeezed over in a few quick steps, smiling warmly with narrowed eyes. "Congratulations! You got five percent of the shares. From now on, you can lie back and count your dividends."

Sun Boxing curled his lip. Was Gu Zhe really stupid, or just pretending?

Was this something worth celebrating? It meant the Chi family had excluded their younger son from corporate management.

Chi Ning must hate it, right?

Chi Ning clinked his orange juice against Gu Zhe's and smiled. "Yeah. I can lie back and count my dividends."

Starting next year, he would have more money than he could spend.

The seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds looked at one another. Chi Ning's smile was so sweet... sweet enough to give someone diabetes.

Chi Ning's gaze swept over Sun Boxing without drawing attention, and he let out a performative sigh.

Gu Zhe looked puzzled. "Isn't lying down and counting money fun? Why are you sighing when you're getting rich? If I had that much money, I'd hold a concert at Yangcheng Grand Theater and give away the tickets for free!"

Chi Ning's mouth twitched.

Gu Zhe threw an arm around Chi Ning's shoulders like they were old buddies. "Don't be unhappy just because I came over to talk to you. I went to see a psychologist, and he said that my tendency to fall for people easily is a psychological illness. As long as I switch boyfriends more often, it can be cured, so I've decided to change boyfriends every two weeks."

Chi Ning said, "Huh?"

Are you sure that wasn't a quack?

After thinking for a moment, he said softly, "I wasn't sighing because of you."

"Then what was it?" Gu Zhe was like a pretty little fool, following Chi Ning's lead. "If there's anything you need help with, I'll do it without hesitation!"

After carefully choosing his words, Chi Ning said, "Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that this matter... maybe... I'm not saying for certain... but..."

Sun Boxing held his breath for so long that he nearly suffocated, then heard Chi Ning say, "I think I've fallen for someone I shouldn't have."

Gu Zhe froze. Gu Zhe did not understand.

He said, "Huh?"

Chi Ning twisted his fingers, lowered his voice, leaned close to Gu Zhe's ear, and spoke softly enough that only Gu Zhe and Sun Boxing could hear. "If you fell for the son of a business rival, what would you do?"

Sun Boxing's heart gave a violent thump, and his throat tightened.

Although Chi Ning had not named anyone, he knew exactly who Chi Ning meant. It was definitely Shen Minyi. It had to be Shen Minyi!

Gu Zhe said, "If I were pursuing someone... I'd give him what he wanted to make him happy."

His eyes rolled as he tried to figure out who it was. There were only Qin Heng and Zhang Qiuwen around Chi Ning.

Who was it?

A business rival? Shen Minyi?

That wouldn't do, would it?

Chi Ning's taste could not possibly be that bad.

Gu Zhe kept feeling that this might be a lie, but he had no proof.

Chi Ning said quietly, "But I can't give him what he wants."

Sun Boxing thought, I can give it to him. Originally, he had planned to slowly gather information on the Chi family laboratory's data. If he took it step by step, he would obtain it someday.

But that would not work now. He knew exactly how much Shen Minyi liked Chi Ning.

If Chi Ning truly took the initiative, there would be no place for him in the future.

Sun Boxing's back broke into sweat. He stood and headed toward Shen Minyi. No one could be allowed to know Chi Ning's thoughts.

He had to...

He had to...

The first moment Sun Boxing saw Shen Minyi, his heart nearly leaped from his throat. He reached out, grabbed Shen Minyi's wrist, and pulled him into a corner. "Brother Minyi... I just heard Chi Ning say he has someone he likes."

"It is..." You.

He paused, then said, "It's Qin Heng."

Out of the corner of his eye, Chi Ning caught sight of Sun Boxing and Shen Minyi huddled together, and the corners of his lips curved upward.

Someone like Sun Boxing, who could abandon himself for the person he liked, definitely would not be able to sit still after hearing those words.

Second update

Chi Ning happily swung his foot.

He had provoked Sun Boxing because he wanted to make him anxious and expose a weakness. But Sun Boxing becoming so desperate that he went directly to Shen Minyi was truly outside his expectations.