By the time the interview ended, sunlight was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto Zhao Pingchuan. He rose and shook the reporter's hand, composed in manner and gracious in speech. There was nothing flamboyant about him, yet it was clear that the legend who had once dominated the business world had not only returned, but had become more mature and more clear-sighted.
The reporter praised him sincerely. "Mr. Zhao, thank you so much for your cooperation. Today's interview was excellent. We'll prepare it for publication as soon as possible."
Zhao Pingchuan replied politely, "Thank you. I appreciate your hard work."
Chen Qi, who had been waiting by the door, came in, shook the reporter's hand warmly, and led the visitors out.
Zhao Pingchuan walked to the door and saw the young man waiting nearby.
Ji Ran was wearing a white sports jacket with two black stripes down the side today, looking full of youthful energy. When he saw Zhao Pingchuan come out, a smile spread across his face. "Ge, are you finished?"
Zhao Pingchuan nodded and took his hand. "Why didn't you wait for me in the office?"
Ji Ran glanced at the transparent glass wall, his eyes full of stars. "I wanted to watch your interview."
He leaned closer and whispered, "Ge, you looked so handsome just now!"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled and pinched his fingertips, his gaze darkening. Ji Ran had always liked praising him before, but now that their relationship had changed, it gave Zhao Pingchuan other thoughts.
No, it's still too soon. Zhao Pingchuan stroked his hair. "You're such a sweet talker."
"It's true!" Ji Ran widened his eyes, afraid Zhao Pingchuan would think he was flattering him. "I can't imagine how many people you'll charm when the interview comes out."
A gentle, mature young entrepreneur, with a distinctive air shaped by his experience and knowledge, sitting there in a suit and leather shoes with a faint smile on his face-it was impossible to look away.
Zhao Pingchuan pressed a finger to the corner of his lips and said meaningfully, "What anyone else thinks has nothing to do with me. As long as our Ranran likes me, that's enough."
Ji Ran's face grew a little hot, but he still nodded earnestly. "I do!"
Just then, Lin Zhou passed by carrying a computer. He gave the two of them a puzzled look, feeling that something was strange.
Zhao Pingchuan met his gaze openly.
Lin Zhou frowned in frustration. Unable to figure anything out, he waved a hand. "It's nothing. I'm just passing by."
He walked away with the computer, and Ji Ran laughed. "I think Brother Lin noticed something," he said quietly.
Zhao Pingchuan didn't mind. "They'll find out sooner or later."
Chen Qi was the first to figure it out. It had to be said that women were more perceptive than men about this sort of thing. She had already felt that Zhao Pingchuan and Ji Ran were a little too close; even biological brothers weren't that intimate.
And now, whenever the two were in the same room, they might as well have been in a world of their own. Their gazes lingered on each other, and every little gesture between them seemed suspicious.
One time, after reporting on her work in Zhao Pingchuan's office, Chen Qi couldn't hold back any longer. She asked, eager for gossip, "Old Zhao, can I ask you something personal?"
Zhao Pingchuan lifted his chin slightly. "Go ahead."
"You and Ji Ran-" Chen Qi drew the words out, deliberately leaving the question unfinished.
Zhao Pingchuan's lips curved up, and he nodded. "It's what you think."
Chen Qi silently mouthed something, then rushed over excitedly. "You're serious? Don't people say a rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow?"
Zhao Pingchuan rarely saw her behave so impulsively. He said helplessly, "I couldn't be more serious. Given my relationship with Ji Ran, could I joke about something like this?"
That was true. Chen Qi was persuaded. The two had lived together for so long, bound as closely as bone and sinew. How could they possibly be playing around with something like this?
She pointed a finger at Zhao Pingchuan from a distance. "You're ruthless."
Zhao Pingchuan smiled, relaxed. "Our feelings are mutual."
Chen Qi couldn't help speaking up for Ji Ran. "The way your Ji Ran is, he listens to everything you say. How could he possibly refuse you?"
Zhao Pingchuan said nothing, but his smile held a rare hint of smugness.
Chen Qi smiled too. As his longtime friend and partner, she was naturally happy for Zhao Pingchuan. She said earnestly, "Congratulations."
Zhao Pingchuan answered just as earnestly, "Thank you."
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Chen Qi was about to leave. Her hand was already on the doorknob when she turned back, a mischievous look on her face. "Can I tell people?"
If she had to keep it to herself, she'd rather not have known at all!
Zhao Pingchuan spread his hands. "Go ahead."
He hadn't intended to hide it in the first place.
Chen Qi's efficiency never disappointed, and this time was no exception. In just one day, everyone in the company knew.
The other employees weren't that close to Zhao Pingchuan and didn't dare gossip about their boss to his face. But Lin Zhou, Chen Mo, and the others had no such reservations. As soon as they got the chance, they clamored for Zhao Pingchuan to treat them.
Zhao Pingchuan agreed and invited both his and Ji Ran's friends to dinner, making it an official announcement of their relationship.
Several of Ji Ran's colleagues were hearing the news for the first time, and their mouths fell open in O shapes. Lin Lin in particular, who had once had a crush on Zhao Pingchuan, wiped imaginary cold sweat from her brow. "Good thing I came to my senses," she said, still shaken.
Everyone burst out laughing, easing their initial surprise.
Lin Zhou grinned mischievously. "You hid it well! We really thought you saw Ji Ran as your little brother."
Chen Mo nodded in agreement. Zhao Pingchuan usually doted on Ji Ran so much that he really did seem like a brother-con.
Zhao Pingchuan and Ji Ran exchanged a glance and both smiled. "He's my little brother, and my boyfriend too," Zhao Pingchuan said.
"Ooh~~~" everyone jeered.
Zhou Jianghua wore a knowing expression. "Family ties and romantic love-you've skipped straight to the final stage of evolution."
Before today, Ji Ran hadn't been sure everyone would accept their relationship, and he had prepared himself for the possibility that someone might mind. Whatever anyone else thought, he was going to be with his ge, but he was still very happy to receive everyone's blessings.
By the end of the meal, everyone had enjoyed themselves. The others left first, while Ji Ran accompanied Zhao Pingchuan to pay the bill.
As they walked out of the restaurant, two people approached them head-on. More precisely, there were four: two walking in front, followed by two men in suits who looked like bodyguards.
When the two sides met each other's eyes, they were all taken aback.
Ji Ran's good mood vanished. Was this what people meant when they said enemies were bound to cross paths?
Gu Xingye walked up to them and curved his lips at Zhao Pingchuan, though his gaze was cold. "Mr. Zhao, what a fateful meeting."
Zhao Pingchuan inclined his head slightly. "Mr. Gu, what an unfortunate coincidence."
There was really no need for the two of them to pretend everything was peaceful between them.
The person beside Gu Xingye was naturally Jiang Jinyue. Ji Ran hadn't seen him in months and could hardly recognize him. It was still a little chilly in early spring, and Jiang Jinyue wore a long khaki trench coat over a white shirt. He looked so frail his clothes seemed too heavy for him.
Ji Ran was stunned. What on earth had happened to him?
Jiang Jinyue's vacant eyes moved to the face of the person in front of him, and he paused. His gaze lingered for a moment on Zhao Pingchuan and Ji Ran's joined hands, then he gave Ji Ran a smile so faint it was barely visible.
It was his first genuine smile in six months, offered in return for that precious kindness.
Ji Ran's eyes flickered. He didn't think he deserved such a gesture; after all, he had stood by more than once when Jiang Jinyue was in mortal danger.
The worry in his eyes was obvious. Gu Xingye didn't notice, but Jiang Jinyue understood and gave a slight shake of his head.
He also knew it was best not to let Gu Xingye know the two of them had any connection. Their encounter was brief, and the four parted ways again.
Only after those two had entered the restaurant did Ji Ran say to Zhao Pingchuan, "Ge, I think something's really wrong with Jiang Jinyue."
All the vitality seemed to have been drained out of him.
Zhao Pingchuan had noticed too. He tightened his grip on Ji Ran's hand and sighed. "He's probably under house arrest by Gu Xingye now."
Ji Ran recalled the entanglements between the protagonist gong and shou in the original book. This actually wasn't the first time one of them had put the other under house arrest, but it looked especially serious this time.
He couldn't help asking, "If you love someone, can you really bear to watch him lose his freedom?"
Zhao Pingchuan said, "Maybe for Gu Xingye, losing him is harder to accept than having Jiang Jinyue hate him."
Ji Ran nodded. That was indeed Gu Xingye's way of doing things.
He looked up at Zhao Pingchuan curiously. "Ge, what about you? What would you do?"
Zhao Pingchuan imagined Ji Ran looking at him with that kind of disappointment, and a dull ache spread through his heart. Whether Ji Ran hated him or he lost Ji Ran, either would hurt more than being killed.
Zhao Pingchuan pulled Ji Ran into his arms, holding him tightly. "I won't let you hate me, and I won't let you leave me," he said in a low voice.
Ji Ran hadn't expected such a strong reaction. He suddenly remembered that Zhao Pingchuan already felt insecure because of what had happened to his younger sister, and immediately regretted asking. He patted Zhao Pingchuan's back, his heart aching, and comforted him gently. "I shouldn't have said that, Ge. We won't reach that point. I'll always love you, and I'll always stay by your side."
"Mm." Zhao Pingchuan held him for quite a while before his emotions finally settled a little. He released Ji Ran but kept hold of his hand. "Let's go home."