Seeing Qi Sijing look away, Lin Xingye chattered even more enthusiastically in his head.
[Little Fish loves Tea Bag~ His heart goes blank when he sees Tea Bag~]
Qi Sijing gritted his teeth in fury.
As soon as Lin Xingmo finished, Lin Xingye picked up where he left off. "Little Fish's grandpa, this is a little something we prepared-ow!"
Qi Sijing suddenly stepped forward, and Lin Xingye's forehead bumped straight into his chin.
Before Lin Xingye could figure out what had happened, Qi Sijing raised a hand and pinched his cheek hard.
"Idiot, pay attention when you're talking to Grandpa. Stop staring at me." Qi Sijing sounded stern, but his eyes held a smile.
Old Mr. Qi was startled by his sudden movement and failed to notice what Lin Xingye had just said. He chided Qi Sijing for rudely interrupting a guest, though his face wore a kindly smile.
Lin Xingye's cheek had been pinched red, but he also realized what he had just said.
[Little Fish is messing everything up! Little Fish is messing everything up!]
A little embarrassed, he hurriedly presented the gift. "I hope you like it, Grandpa Qi."
Once the two of them stepped away, Li Hanwen immediately put on a flattering smile and delivered the birthday wishes he had spent so long preparing, even making a point of quoting verses by Old Mr. Qi's favorite poet.
Without pausing after his well-wishes, he launched into an introduction of his carefully chosen gift. To please Old Mr. Qi, he had tapped countless connections for information.
Only a few days ago, he had heard that the old man had recently become particularly fond of a certain poet's work.
It had taken considerable effort to obtain an original handwritten piece by that poet.
Yet, to his surprise, Old Mr. Qi's expression remained indifferent. He merely asked Qi Sijing to accept the gift for him and thanked Li Hanwen for his thoughtfulness.
Li Hanwen had hoped to chat a little longer, but Bo Xi arrived at some point, and Old Mr. Qi naturally ignored him outright.
Listening to their easy laughter and conversation, he could only walk away awkwardly.
Just then, someone who wasn't watching where he was going bumped into him. Before he could lose his temper, the man steadied him. "I'm sorry, sir. Did I hurt you?"
He was a very beautiful young man who looked utterly innocent. His slender, petite figure, paired with that pitiful, harmless expression, could instantly stir anyone's protective instincts.
His eyes were full of apology.
For some reason, although the young man was good-looking to begin with, he suddenly seemed irresistibly alluring to Li Hanwen, making him want to do something to him...
"You are?"
Qin Ke smiled shyly. "Hello, my name is Qin Ke. I came with a friend today."
He hadn't been idle these past few days. He had taken the opportunity to approach plenty of wealthy young men, hooking up with quite a few and earning plenty of affection points, especially from the one who had brought him today.
That man's family was roughly on par with the Lin Family in status. Otherwise, he couldn't have brought Qin Ke inside.
Although Li Hanwen wasn't one of his targets, the system had told him that Li Hanwen wanted to get revenge on Lin Xingye by arranging an "accident" between the two of them.
Then he could turn Lin Xingye into a useless househusband, manipulate and torment him at will, and even swallow up the Lin Family's assets to use as a stepping stone for his own advancement!
So today, not only would Qin Ke help him arrange that "accident," he would also make Li Hanwen his-his for the taking.
That would certainly give him even more leverage in dealing with Lin Xingye.
Using someone else to do your dirty work had always been effective, hadn't it?
Maximum returns for minimum cost, while he remained spotless and innocent in the end, with none of it having anything to do with him.
Seducing Li Hanwen was even easier than he had imagined. Soon, he was leading the man toward a deserted corner.
Watching Li Hanwen's dejected figure from behind, Lin Xingye secretly gloated.
In his previous life, Li Hanwen had only learned Old Mr. Qi's preferences by asking him. There was no way he could have found out through other connections.
This was wonderful news he had deliberately had Xu Chen leak~ As if Old Mr. Qi would like it!
[Hehehehehehehe-cough, cough, cough!]
Lin Xingye said, "Cough, cough!"
He had laughed a little too gleefully and choked.
Cheng Yu and An Shi, who had just entered: ...?
They had heard him before they even saw him.
A broad hand gently patted his back. "Xingye, are you all right?" came a concerned voice.
He turned and met Bo Xi's worried gaze, unable to help praising him inwardly.
[Bo Fishy really is the best. So handsome, and so gentle and considerate.]
[Too bad he has terrible taste.]
[Enough. My heart aches for you, bro.]
Faced with Lin Xingye's grateful expression, Bo Xi was momentarily speechless.
What exactly went on in that little head of Lin Xingye's?
Qi Sijing, who had just been smacked by his grandpa for laughing out loud: Heehee.
Most of the guests had arrived. Old Mr. Qi hadn't bothered with much ceremony for this banquet, either. He offered a few brief words of thanks before stepping off the stage.
Soon, everyone in the banquet hall began mingling.
Lin Xingye glanced around and discovered that both Li Hanwen and Qin Ke were missing, leaving him vaguely uneasy.
[Weird. Tea Bag has a chance like this, and he isn't trying to hook up with Fishy?]
As he turned his head, An Shi took his hand.
Confused but polite, Lin Xingye said, "Hello?"
An Shi asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Although he had no idea why An Shi had suddenly come over to show concern, it was concern all the same, so he politely brushed it off. "It's nothing. Thank you."
Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, An Shi's expression returned to its usual indifference. "Then, may I ask something else? Can I study you?"
Lin Xingye immediately snatched his paw back.
[I know An Shi's eccentric, but wh-wh-what is this? Is he mutating?]
[Now he wants to experiment on people? Isn't one freak like Qi Sijing enough? He wants in too??]
The eccentric An Shi: ?
His expression visibly soured, a rare display of emotion for him. He pressed his lips together but ultimately couldn't hold back. "Lin Xingye, you're nuts."
"Here's my card. Although this isn't my field of research, you're still welcome to seek treatment."
With that, he walked away stony-faced, leaving Lin Xingye utterly dumbfounded.
Had An Shi just insulted him?
Whether he got insulted didn't matter. Who would have thought An Shi could actually insult people?
An Shi's steps faltered. His body trembled slightly, and he walked away even faster.
Soon, Li Hanwen returned from the corner with a trace of satisfaction on his face. Although he hadn't won Old Mr. Qi's favor, he had still made... quite a gain.
Spotting Lin Xingye eating pastries in a distant corner, he sneered inwardly and picked up two glasses of wine. With a few movements, he dropped a tiny pill into one of them.
He carried the glasses over. "Mr. Lin, I think there's been... a misunderstanding between us."
He put on his usual, thoroughly sleazy smile, attempting to exude charm.
Lin Xingye gave no response, his eyes full of contempt.
[Blech~ Blech~ Blech~]
The others: Have you considered what that feels like inside our heads?
[Keep pretending, you bastard. You dare try to set me up with a glass of drugged wine? You deserve to die!]
The others, who had been perfectly composed a moment earlier, all stiffened at those words.
Lin Xingmo clenched his fists.
A chill entered Bo Xi's gaze as he watched the two of them from afar.
Cheng Yu's amused expression vanished, and his face darkened.
An Shi frowned. Lin Xingye might be asking for a beating, but that didn't mean just anyone could bully him.
Qi Sijing... Qi Sijing was different. He charged right in with a left hook.
Before you continue