That guy Qi Zhongjing must have an ulterior motive; don’t be fooled. Think about how he used to play tricks on him behind his back, humiliate him, and “dig at the corners” of his relationships.
“Didn’t I say it? It’s a gift for you, a wedding gift. Do you not like it?” Qi Zhongjing frowned, appearing genuinely troubled.
“This wasn’t part of the transaction,” Meng Lingyao refused to accept the explanation.
He tried his best to draw a clear line with Qi Zhongjing: a deal was a deal, and he wouldn’t accept any other messy things being mixed in.
“It’s not a transaction.” Regarding the word “transaction” that Meng Lingyao had mentioned countless times—though it was hard to swallow—Qi Zhongjing had no choice since it was the means by which he achieved his goal. He could only slowly try to change the other’s perception. “This is a gift.”
Qi Zhongjing’s expression was far too serious. Meng Lingyao suddenly laughed, as if he finally understood everything. “President Qi is truly generous. I really like this gift.”
Was it because he had satisfied the man? That made sense. After all, it was perfectly normal to bestow some favors after pleasing a patron.
He hypnotized himself into believing it was a transaction, struggling to keep them on equal footing.
Yet the other person repeatedly reminded him that their status was not equal. He was the subordinate, the one who should rightfully accept everything given by the superior.
This gift of Qi Zhongjing’s truly hit the mark. If the Meng Corporation’s shares were held by Qi Zhongjing, Meng Lingyao would definitely lose sleep once he found out. Now, they were all given to him.
If he still had that so-called backbone, he wouldn’t have accepted Qi Zhongjing’s transaction in the first place.
It was the same logic now: the gift was in his hands, and it was absolutely impossible to throw it back.
But the feeling left him struggling and ashamed.
“For you, it’s worth it.” Qi Zhongjing and Meng Lingyao were on two different wavelengths. To Meng Lingyao’s self-mockery, he offered a rather dry bit of sweet talk.
Qi Zhongjing recalled the “36 Strategems of Love” he had read about and, combining it with the current situation, gave the reaction he thought he should.
Qi Zhongjing was playing the script of “Marriage First, Love Later,” while Meng Lingyao was playing “Enduring Humiliation for the Greater Good.”
Originally intending to have a heated back-and-forth with Qi Zhongjing, Meng Lingyao suddenly seemed to lose all his strength as he recognized his current “status.”
“I’m hungry.” He quickly changed the subject, tossed the document bag aside, sat down, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat.
Seeing Meng Lingyao dodge the topic, Qi Zhongjing felt a slight pang of regret; he still had plenty more to say.
“How is the situation at the Meng Corporation now?”
“Fine.”
“If you need any help, tell me.”
“I don’t need it for now.”
Qi Zhongjing wanted to engage in small talk, but Meng Lingyao wasn’t cooperating. The conversation at the table was painfully sparse.
…
After dinner today, though Qi Zhongjing really wanted to spend more time alone with Meng Lingyao, he had some work on hand. He went into the study to handle it. A desk had been prepared for Meng Lingyao in the study as well, though it appeared he had no use for it yet.
Meng Lingyao wandered downstairs for a bit before returning to stand by the floor-to-ceiling window to admire the night view. Looking at the brightly lit world outside, he suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile, perhaps thinking of his pathetic life.
He fished a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and took one out. Under the stimulation of nicotine, his mood relaxed for a fleeting moment.
When Qi Zhongjing came out, he saw Meng Lingyao looking desolate. His back exuded an endless vulnerability, and half of his profile was blurred by the rising smoke of the cigarette.
In the past six months, Meng Lingyao had changed a lot.
He was more restrained and serious; the burden he carried had forced the once dazzling and unbridled young master to be extremely careful with his every word and action.
Qi Zhongjing couldn’t help but step forward, reaching out to pat his shoulder in comfort. In an instant, Meng Lingyao withdrew all vulnerability. He became like a hedgehog, bristling with aggression, and the gaze he shot over contained none of the fragility from a moment ago.
“Smoking too much isn’t good; it harms your health.” Out of a thousand things he could have said, Qi Zhongjing only uttered this one sentence.
Meng Lingyao stubbed out the cigarette, a faint scent of tobacco lingering on him. He said crossly, “Is there a smoking ban in your house? You’re acting like this is a public place.”
His tone was full of sarcasm. How could he let a guy like Qi Zhongjing see his weakness?
He cursed himself inwardly for that moment of sentimentality, feeling it was an embarrassment to have Qi Zhongjing witness it.
In front of an enemy, how could one be vulnerable?
“You can smoke, but in moderation. Watch your health.”
“Fine, got it. I won’t smoke in your house next time,” Meng Lingyao waved him off impatiently. “So many rules.”
“It’s our home,” Qi Zhongjing insisted stubbornly.
Meng Lingyao disagreed but didn’t want to argue. “Whatever.”
…
Tonight was another day of sharing a bed. After washing up and lying down, Meng Lingyao checked in with the medical team at home regarding his brother’s condition, scrolled through work groups, and put his phone down when there was no special news.
Beside him, Qi Zhongjing held an English book, reading it intently. Meng Lingyao glanced over; the man seemed very focused. The bedside lamp outlined his handsome features, and his serious expression was undeniably attractive.
The CEO in pajamas had shed his usual thunderous professional persona; his immersion in the book added a touch of scholarly elegance.
Affectation…
In Meng Lingyao’s eyes, there were only those two words. Unable to sleep anyway, he fished out his phone again and opened a game he had played for a long time.
Originally, the room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Qi Zhongjing turning a page.
Now it was noisy, with frequent “bang-bang” gunshots, character dialogue from the game, and musical effects breaking the silence of the room.
Bang! Bang!
As Meng Lingyao went on a killing spree in the game, Qi Zhongjing couldn’t turn another page. His gaze settled on Meng Lingyao.
As Meng Lingyao had guessed earlier, the man was indeed “posing” to showcase his charm and radiate pheromones at every moment.
He had even checked his post-wash look in the bathroom mirror several times; even the posture of turning pages was choreographed.
Yet the meticulously prepared look didn’t cause a ripple in Meng Lingyao; it wasn’t even as attractive as a single game match.
“…” Unimpressed.
Feeling defeated, Qi Zhongjing put the book down and stared at Meng Lingyao playing his game.
With a pair of eyes staring from the side—and with a look as resentful and brooding as a vengeful spirit—Meng Lingyao noticed no matter how immersed he was.
Meng Lingyao turned his head and frowned: What?
Qi Zhongjing gave an innocent look: Just watching.
Something is wrong with him… After a moment of silent eye contact, Meng Lingyao was the first to surrender. Fine, sleep. Out of sight, out of mind.
He closed his phone, clicked off the bedside lamp, and pulled the duvet over his head, turning himself into a silkworm cocoon.
Tonight, as usual, Qi Zhongjing made no moves.
Compared to his vigilance yesterday, Meng Lingyao was much more composed today.
…
However, the next morning, Meng Lingyao still woke up in an embrace with Qi Zhongjing, their limbs heavily intertwined.
“…” Is my sleeping posture really this bad?
The “Chuh-Han border” of last night was now a zero-distance fit. Was he serious?
He even seemed to hear the other man’s heartbeat, and he could feel the other’s breath spraying against his face.
He got goosebumps all over.
Silently pulling himself out of the man’s arms, Meng Lingyao felt like he had achieved Zen.
He didn’t even feel like exerting the effort to bicker with Qi Zhongjing. He drifted into the bathroom to wash up and change.
After breakfast, the two—who were officially registered as married—left the house at the same time, driving in two different directions. There wasn’t much talk; mainly because Meng Lingyao had a low desire to communicate. If Qi Zhongjing said eight sentences, he was doing well to reply with one.
Qi Zhongjing actually wanted to drive his wife to and from work, but Meng Lingyao never gave him the chance.
…
“Is that guy Qi Zhongjing, the decision-maker of the Qi Group, insane?!” This was the first thing Qin Qingsheng yelled when he met Meng Qiang, his face twisted with rage.
They had overestimated their own abilities and underestimated the magnitude of the Qi Group.
They thought they could use rumors to shake or pressure the Qi Group, but they hadn’t expected Qi’s foundation to be so solid that their minor antics weren’t even worth notice.
The Qi Group didn’t care a bit about the rumors in Y City and continued to go about their business as usual.
To them, this was undoubtedly infuriating.
What was more heart-stabbing than giving your all only for the opponent to be so indifferent they don’t even spare you a glance?
The Qi Group’s blatant attitude said: You and I are not in the same class.
“What is there to be angry about? The Qi Group is at its peak; naturally, they despise our threats,” Meng Qiang said. Although he was also fuming, he saw things more clearly than Qin Qingsheng.
The Qi Group was too stable, especially after the young decision-maker took office. He possessed an incredibly sharp business sense, not only maintaining the previous status quo but expanding in every direction. An old-money family’s heritage was already deep, and now the person in charge had maxed out his business skills.
Everyone praised President Qi for being young and promising.
For them, they could rely on family ties to easily set a trap for Meng Lingyao—emptying the Meng Corporation first, then creating a capital chain gap, and finally pressuring him with outside forces to leave him with nowhere to turn for help.
They were using the advantages of timing, geography, and connections, but their foundation was far inferior to the Qi Group’s. Those they collaborated with were greedy for the Meng Corporation and wanted to carve up the profits.
But once the Qi Group stepped in, those thoughts began to shrink. They might complain verbally, but because the Qi Group’s attitude was consistently forceful, they would only grumble in their hearts while withdrawing their hands.
Those people were the type who wouldn’t release the hawk until they saw the rabbit; no matter how greedy they were, they would have reservations.
This was an issue Meng Qiang had considered before.
Qi Zhongjing’s attitude and the Qi Group’s stance were both paramount.
But he would still let Qin Qingsheng act. If the kid from the Qi Group were truly intimidated, that would be great. But if he weren’t, the one offending people was the Qin family; what did it have to do with Meng Qiang?
Meng Qiang calculated these matters clearly, essentially using Qin Qingsheng as a frontman.
The one contacting people was Qin Qingsheng; he, Meng Qiang, had never contacted anyone behind the scenes to pressure the Qi Group.
Qin Qingsheng, being used as a tool, had no self-awareness at all and was even annoyed by Meng Qiang’s composure. “How can you be so calm? Now that the Meng Corporation has capital injection from the Qi Group, it’s getting more and more stable. It will be too difficult for us to move against them in the future.”
Now, the entire Meng Corporation had been refreshed with new blood. They couldn’t get their hands on the old employees, and even if they managed to plant new people, it wouldn’t have any effect in the short term.
Driven by high salaries and promising prospects, the Meng Corporation was united. Even though they had damaged the foundation before, as long as the Meng Corporation maintained this indomitable momentum, where could they find a place to strike?