Xie Zhitan had never heard Qin Ci speak in that tone before.
The young master came from a privileged background and had always been arrogant, never taking anyone seriously.
Now Qin Ci seemed drunk, his voice slurred and clinging.
There was none of his usual bossiness, none of his arrogance.
"...It's just a small matter." Xie Zhitan felt something was off. "Should I call you again once you're back in the Imperial Capital?"
"No. Tell me now. What little matter could possibly trouble the Xie Family's second young master to call me himself?"
Though his words were commanding and steeped in alcohol, they were surprisingly hard to find annoying.
"I want you to help me look into someone."
"Who? A man or a woman? Don't tell me it's someone you're in love with?"
Xie Zhitan paused again. He kept feeling that he had chosen the wrong time to make this call.
Qin Ci didn't have a second's patience to spare, his expression darkening. "Hello? Xie Zhitan, say something. Fuck, don't tell me it really is someone you're in love with? Then what am I supposed to do? Hello? Hello?"
Xie Zhitan's brow twitched. "It's my stepmother, Hua Yingrou. Qin Ci, you're drunk. I'll call you another day!"
The rapid beeping on the phone jolted Qin Ci awake.
Only then did he realize what he had said.
Jiang Yueming, who had followed him out, called to him tentatively. "Young Master Qin, are you all right?"
Qin Ci turned stiffly. "I'm going back home."
Jiang Yueming said, "...Didn't you say the Imperial Capital was too stifling?"
Qin Ci's father was on the verge of advancing another step in his career. Back home, his family kept Qin Ci on a tight leash, leaving him unable to do much of anything.
Seeing how low