Qin Ci was a mad dog

Xie Zhitan took Hua Jian back to the private restaurant they had visited yesterday.

When it was time to order, Xie Zhitan let Hua Jian choose the dishes and went outside to make a call.

Everyone in the Xie family except Xie Zhiyan and Hua Jian preferred light food. Taking Xie Zhitan's profession into account, along with the two hundred thousand in spending money he had given him...

Hua Jian cheerfully ordered a whole table of bland, lightly seasoned dishes.

Listening to the server read out the dishes beside him, Hua Jian nodded to himself, convinced he really was the world's best little brother.

It was another twenty minutes before Xie Zhitan finally returned.

By then, all the food had been served.

Same room, different company. As Xie Zhitan looked at the dishes covering the table, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

He took back his earlier opinion.

Of his two younger brothers, one was still worth keeping.

At least Hua Jian knew he preferred light food and couldn't eat anything too oily or spicy.

Hehe, I bet I've really touched my second brother. Wonder if he'll double my spending money next time. Something to look forward to.

The boy looked perfectly serious, but inside, he was giggling away.

Xie Zhitan couldn't help laughing. How had he never noticed what a little money-grubber Hua Jian was?

The brothers had only just started eating when a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

They both looked up just as someone violently shoved the door open from outside with a bang.

"Young Master Qin, there really are guests in here! I'm terribly sorry for disturbing your meal."

It was the man who had driven the Koenigsegg yesterday: Qin Ci, the biggest fucking idiot in the novel, with an IQ below zero.

Xie Zhitan frowned. "Qin Ci, what are you doing?"

Without a word, Qin Ci pulled out a chair and sat beside him.

The server was frantic. "Young Master Qin, your private room is on the other side. I'll take you there right away."

Qin Ci turned toward Xie Zhitan and drawled, "No need. I'm with him."

Xie Zhitan frowned, then turned to the server. "Sorry for the trouble, but please bring another bowl and a pair of chopsticks."

Relieved that the two really did know each other, the server said, "Of course. Please wait a moment."

Qin Ci casually tipped up his chin. "Who's this? Your little lover? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Xie Zhitan disliked his attitude and warned him quietly, "Qin Ci, don't talk nonsense."

Tsk, tsk. This heir to the wealthy Qin family had huge muscles and a microscopic brain.

It was incredible that someone like him had anything to do with the highly intelligent Xie Zhitan.

Hua Jian smiled politely. "Hello. I'm my second brother's younger brother."

It was such an odd introduction that Qin Ci visibly froze.

He straightened a little and glanced at Xie Zhitan. Seeing his dark expression but no denial, Qin Ci frowned and pressed, "I've met Xie Zhiyan. What kind of brother are you?"

"His own flesh and blood, with different fathers and different mothers."

"You!" Qin Ci felt the little bastard was messing with him. He was about to curse him out when something flashed through his mind.

Right. He had gone drinking with Xie Zhiyan, who had mentioned the dull-witted burden his stepmother had brought into the family.

"So you're that deadweight who wouldn't let out a fart even if someone beat you three times."

"Qin Ci!" Xie Zhitan was truly angry now. He shot to his feet and snapped, "You're being incredibly rude. Get out."

Qin Ci was angry too. After parting ways with Xie Zhitan yesterday, he had grown more furious the more he thought about it.

Which of the people who hung around him didn't go along with whatever he wanted?

Only Xie Zhitan had made him lose face in front of Shu Yao, while Shu Yao had kept going on about how cultured and gentle Xie Zhitan was.

Seething, Qin Ci said, "Xie Zhitan, don't push your luck. I haven't even taken you to task for giving me attitude in front of Shu Yao yesterday. If you yell at me again today over this deadweight, our friendship is over!"

Hua Jian hurried to intervene. "Hey, don't be angry, second brother. Sit down, both of you."

At the mention of Shu Yao, Xie Zhitan's disgust for Qin Ci soared to its peak.

He drew a deep breath. "We were only ever classmates, not friends. We have nothing in common. Please leave."

He opened the door. The server outside stood there awkwardly, unable to decide whether to come in or back away.

"Xie Zhitan, you really think you're something just because you're from that insignificant Xie family? I'm Qin Ci, and being friends with you is doing you a favor. You fucking dare to be picky?"

Sensing trouble, Hua Jian lunged forward and stood in front of Xie Zhitan.

Qin Ci was about the same height as Hua Jian, but he was muscular and completely reckless. If he lashed out in anger, someone with Xie Zhitan's build would certainly be seriously injured.

"Young Master Qin, that's not what my second brother meant. You-"

"Fuck off!" Qin Ci pointed viciously at Hua Jian. "Who the fuck are you to stick your nose into my business? I'll remember you. Get in my way again, and I'll fucking kill you!"

Hua Jian's expression turned cold too. Fuck, why was this idiot Qin Ci acting like a mad dog?

Xie Zhitan pulled Hua Jian aside and stood before Qin Ci, saying coldly, "I'll say it one more time. Please leave."

Qin Ci's face alternated between livid and pale. Just as Hua Jian braced himself, Qin Ci angrily lowered his hand, shoved the server aside, and left.

Holy shit, that mad dog finally left.

Hearing that, Xie Zhitan instantly laughed. Many of Qin Ci's foreign classmates had indeed called him a mad dog when he was studying abroad.

"Second brother, wait here for me."

"Where are you going?"

Hua Jian didn't answer. He darted off and vanished.

Qin Ci climbed into his car, his face livid. Before he could start the engine, someone knocked on his window.

It was that deadweight. A chilling smile spread over Qin Ci's face. The suicidal little bastard had actually dared to follow him.

"Young Master Qin, let's talk this out." As soon as Qin Ci got out, Hua Jian backed up two steps. Raising both hands, he smiled. "You and my second brother are good buddies. Everything that happened today was my fault. Could we exchange contact details so I can make it up to you another day?"

Qin Ci sneered, looking the boy up and down. His clothes looked like shit.

He was about to refuse when he suddenly gave an intrigued smile. "You've got some nerve."

"My second brother reads a lot, and he has a lot of rules. He doesn't have any friends. You're his first, Young Master Qin."

Hua Jian watched Qin Ci's expression as he spoke. Only when he saw no sign of anger did he continue, "Everything today was my fault. You're a generous man, so please don't take it to heart."

Qin Ci stared coldly at Hua Jian, then soon took out his phone. "Cut the crap. Add me."

"Ding."

Qin Ci locked his screen and climbed back into the car. The luxury sports car's engine roared to life.

Watching the rear of the car disappear, Hua Jian curled his lips into a smile.

He lowered his head and sent Xue Pan a message: [Hurry up and recover. In a couple of days, I'll take you racing to earn money and pay off your debts.]

Qin Ci had a racing team. Since Hua Jian had such a good opportunity to get acquainted with him, he might as well use it.

Besides, Qin Ci and Xie Zhitan's friendship wasn't as fragile as the novel had made it sound.

At least that little tyrant Qin Ci hadn't actually laid a hand on Xie Zhitan just now.

Xie Zhitan seemed tired. His brow remained tightly furrowed throughout the rest of the meal.

When he dropped Hua Jian off at the apartment, he reminded him again to call him immediately if he ran into Qin Ci.

Hua Jian obediently agreed.

Still, Shu Yao, the protagonist bottom, had so many different suitors and close male confidants around him that they were impossible to count.

To his despair, Hua Jian discovered that these potential male leads all seemed to have some connection to him!

Every day was utter chaos, packed with an incredible amount of drama.

If Hua Jian didn't tell anyone, who would guess he had only entered this novel a week ago?

With a rare moment to spare, Hua Jian lazily started a livestream at home while working on an art commission.

The original owner of his body had genuinely loved drawing and had begun accepting commissions long ago, not to make money, but simply because he enjoyed it.

"Hua Jian" had even paid out of his own pocket to clients who were dissatisfied with his art style.

He was tired of saying how ridiculous it was.

After the livestream began, the room was as quiet as ever.

He wondered if that "L" would stop by.

The thought flashed through his mind, then he quickly immersed himself in his drawing again.

At the same time, on the top floor of the Bo building.

A ding sounded in the quiet room.

The phone screen beside Bo Lin's hand suddenly lit up, then went dark again.

As the minutes and seconds ticked by, Xie Zhiwei's thoughts drifted far away while he waited on the sofa.

"Mr. Xie."

Bo Lin's voice suddenly rang out. Startled, Xie Zhiwei immediately snapped back to attention.

"I believe Lu Zexi has already told you where I stand." Bo Lin casually set the documents on the table. "Business is business. You may have been Lu Zexi's classmate, but I never make a deal at a loss."

"President Bo, thank you for reconsidering Minghua. Minghua is willing to concede another percentage point to Bo. I hope you'll reconsider."

"Two percentage points."

Xie Zhiwei silently cursed his outrageous demand.

He managed a smile. "President Bo, that's..."

Bo Lin lowered his eyes calmly. "If that works for you, Mr. Xie, you can come sign the contract tomorrow. Once the banks open for business on Monday, the first payment can be transferred into Minghua's account."

Xie Zhiwei thought of the call Xie Zhitan had made to him over lunch.

After considering it for a moment, Xie Zhiwei sighed inwardly, but smiled and extended his hand. "President Bo, here's to a successful partnership."