Qin Nian decisively decided to change the subject.
“Mr. Feng, why are you in the kitchen? Are you looking for something to eat?”
“No, I came to find you.”
Qin Nian was a bit surprised. He took off his apron, hung it on the side, and obediently followed Feng Wang out of the kitchen.
They walked to the sofa in the living room. Qin Nian sat upright, his hands on his knees, eyes fixed on Feng Wang, like a student facing a principal’s lecture.
He was being a bit too well-behaved.
“I heard you’re going to participate in a variety show in a few days?”
Qin Nian nodded. “Yes.” He wasn’t sure why Feng Wang brought this up.
“Have you considered staying with the Feng Family instead of going?”
Qin Nian was puzzled. “If I don’t go, I’ll have to pay a penalty fee.”
“You don’t need to worry about the penalty fee. I can pay it for you.”
The person in front of him seemed so naive. If he went into the entertainment industry, he might be bullied terribly. Besides, this whole thing was orchestrated by Gu Huai, who surely had no good intentions.
Initially out of the loop, Qin Nian’s eyes widened when he heard this. He realized what Feng Wang had said. That penalty fee was in the millions.
Although he didn’t know why Feng Wang suddenly brought this up and was willing to pay the penalty for him, he still firmly refused. “No.”
Qin Nian thought for a moment. “Mr. Feng, are you worried that if I go to the variety show and don’t play the piano, you’ll have insomnia?”
Qin Nian knew how painful insomnia could be.
He had discussed Feng Wang’s insomnia with Feng Ning. Qin Nian fully understood the pain Feng Wang had endured since childhood and could understand why Feng Wang didn’t want him to leave. But he had no reason to let Feng Wang pay that penalty fee for him.
Qin Nian said, “Don’t worry. As long as I have time, I’ll definitely come back. If Mr. Feng’s insomnia doesn’t improve, I’ll keep playing the piano for you until one day my playing no longer works.”
As he spoke, the young man subtly observed the man’s reaction. His words seemed like a gentle negotiation, almost as if he were coaxing a child.
What did he take him for? Like Feng Yuanyuan, an innocent child?
It was kind of cute.
“Tsk.”
“Then you better remember what you said.”
Qin Nian didn’t understand why Feng Wang said that, but he smiled. “Of course.” He extended his pinky. “Does Mr. Feng also want to make a pinky promise like Yuanyuan?”
Feng Wang looked at the young man’s extended, swaying pinky and agreed with pleasure. “Of course.”
Qin Nian: ?
How old are you?
Feng Wang extended his pinky and hooked it firmly around the young man’s.
Feng Wang’s hand was strong and well-defined, while Qin Nian’s was fair and slender, with a slight softness.
When Feng Wang’s pinky touched Qin Nian’s, the next moment, he hooked it tightly.
The sudden sense of restraint made Qin Nian’s eyes widen.
He was instantly at a loss, trying to pull his hand back, but it was firmly hooked.
“Mr. Feng?”
Qin Nian tried to remind Feng Wang to let go.
Feng Wang had no intention of letting go. He tightened the hook and even flaunted it in front of Qin Nian’s eyes.
“I remember there’s a nursery rhyme for pinky promises, isn’t there? You haven’t recited it yet. If you don’t, it won’t work.”
Recite the rhyme?
There was indeed one when making pinky promises with children, but…
Qin Nian imagined two grown men making a pinky promise and reciting the rhyme.
No matter how he thought about it, it was embarrassing. Qin Nian even wanted to close his eyes and pretend none of this happened.
Seeing no reaction from him, Feng Wang added, “Or are you trying to back out?”
He even sighed dramatically, “I knew it. You talk big, but when it comes down to it, you show your true colors. Only someone as naive as me would believe you, Mr. Qin.”
Qin Nian: …
Why is this happening?
“Stop it, stop it.”
To prevent himself from dying of embarrassment from Feng Wang’s words, Qin Nian lowered his head and softly mumbled, “Pinky promise, a hundred years without change.”
As soon as he spoke, his face burned so much he could hardly stand it. Qin Nian could almost imagine how red his face was.
He kept his head down, unaware that Feng Wang was staring at him.
Taking advantage of his shyness, Feng Wang’s gaze was utterly unrestrained.
He couldn’t see the young man’s expression, but judging by the earlobes that were almost dripping with blood, Feng Wang could guess what kind of scene was on the young man’s face.
“A hundred years, no change!”
Feeling a sense of relief, Qin Nian quickly withdrew his finger after finishing the last word.
Feng Wang, who had been staring at Qin Nian’s earlobes, was momentarily distracted and realized that the pinky he had hooked was pulled away, leaving only a faint warmth.
He looked at the young man’s retreating hand, feeling a bit of regret.
Qin Nian pulled his hand back, not daring to look at Feng Wang.
He turned his back to Feng Wang, stammering, “I’ll go check on the soup… the soup… how the soup is doing.”
The ingredients had just been added, so it wasn’t doing much.
Of course, Qin Nian knew that. He just needed an excuse to leave.
It was too embarrassing, really too embarrassing.
No, no, the one who should be embarrassed is Feng Wang for suggesting the pinky promise. Qin Nian, why are you embarrassed?
However, reason couldn’t overcome Qin Nian’s impulse of embarrassment.
Without waiting for Feng Wang’s response, Qin Nian had already dashed to the kitchen.
He clumsily picked up a ladle, pretending to be busy, opened the soup pot, and stirred it repeatedly. Stirring the not-yet-boiling chicken soup, he silently thought,
Next time, next time I won’t make any casual promises.
Qin Nian began packing his things.
He asked the staff member responsible for him, the same person who had called to invite him.
Her name was Qi En’zi. En’zi was a recent college graduate, new to the workforce, and had joined the production team of “Starlight Brilliance.” For her, it was quite a good job.
“Do you need me to pick you up tomorrow?”
“No need. Just tell me the meeting location. I’ll be there on time.”
“Okay.”
The meeting place was at a mansion on the outskirts of Ning City.
Qin Nian didn’t prepare much. He packed some clothes simply. First, Qi En’zi told him the production team would prepare everything, and for the sake of the show’s effect, guests weren’t allowed to bring too much. If the production team deemed something inappropriate, it might be confiscated. Second, Qin Nian considered it a business trip, only this time he had to complete some tasks, and the process would be recorded.
After packing, Qin Nian prepared to play the piano for Feng Wang one last night.
On the morning of departure, the four of them were having breakfast.
Feng Yuanyuan hummed and hawed, very reluctant to see Qin Nian go.
Previously, at Feng Ning’s ex-husband’s place, Feng Yuanyuan hadn’t lived well. After coming to the Feng Family, due to special circumstances, she couldn’t go out much. Finally, someone came to play with her and pamper her. Feng Yuanyuan was very happy. Now that he was leaving, she was naturally reluctant.
Feng Ning could see her daughter’s reluctance. While feeding Feng Yuanyuan, she said, “Mr. Qin is only going away for a few days, not forever.”
Feng Yuanyuan pouted, “But I just don’t want him to go.”
Feng Ning said, “I went to England, and you weren’t this reluctant. You’re making me sad.”
She put down her chopsticks, seemingly about to cry. The child’s attention was immediately drawn to her mother. “That’s not true. I miss you too, Mom.”
Qin Nian and Feng Wang: …
Feng Wang personally drove Qin Nian to the mansion.
Yang Huan was driving.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Yang Huan focused on driving, not daring to say a word.
He was actually amazed at how quickly the relationship between Feng Wang and Qin Nian had developed.
The boss personally sending someone off, should I be surprised? But ever since Feng Wang met Qin Nian, hasn’t he always personally taken him everywhere?
It vividly illustrated what it meant for even an iron tree to bloom.
When they arrived at the mansion, several RVs were already parked at the entrance, and staff were bustling about.
Yang Huan found a discreet spot to park the car.
He dutifully went to the trunk to get the luggage.
Just as he took the items out, he heard his boss say to Qin Nian, “Remember what you said.”
Yang Huan immediately felt his gossiping spirit ignite.
This domineering tone was seamlessly integrated with all kinds of CEO dramas.
Although Yang Huan didn’t watch dramas, his girlfriend did. Not only did she watch, but she also forced him to watch with her.
Yang Huan perked up, eagerly listening.
Qin Nian thought of that incredibly embarrassing pinky promise. He glanced at Yang Huan, and with someone else present, he wasn’t as easily embarrassed. He looked at Feng Wang, nodded with a straight face.
“I, I, keep my word.”
Please don’t bring it up again.
He added silently in his heart.
No expected blushing.
Feng Wang probably knew why. For the first time, he felt that Yang Huan, his capable assistant, was somewhat in the way.
Feng Wang ruffled Qin Nian’s hair. “Off you go.”
Qin Nian pursed his lips and obediently said, “Goodbye, Mr. Feng.”
Feng Wang watched Qin Nian’s departing figure.
Yang Huan, shaking his head, couldn’t help but glance at Feng Wang, pretending to ask casually, “Mr. Feng, did you make a promise with Mr. Qin?”
Feng Wang responded with a hum. “We made a pinky promise.”
Pinky promise?
Yang Huan furrowed his brow, sensing that things weren’t simple, and was shocked by his boss’s childlike behavior.
He tried to find a topic, laughing, “I thought Mr. Feng only accepted contracts for promises.”
His words reminded Feng Wang, who glanced back at him. Indeed, compared to a pinky promise, a contract seemed more secure.
However, Qin Nian wouldn’t feel shy because of a contract, nor would a contract involve physical contact. In this sense, a contract seemed less effective than a pinky promise.
Feng Wang wasn’t too troubled. At worst, he’d grab both the pinky promise and the contract.
He succinctly said, “You don’t understand.”
Yang Huan: …
What they didn’t notice was that in a distant corner, an inconspicuous camera captured everything.