Song Que was caught off guard by the question and blurted out, “I just lost my footing. It is nothing.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Wangye’s expression turned cold and serious. Just as Song Que expected him to press for more, Qin Wangye said in a low voice, “Get in the car.”
Song Que felt a bit uneasy.
The car was warm. Song Que sat side by side with Qin Wangye, who leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed, remaining silent. Song Que’s mind began to race. Saying he had lost his footing was indeed a dismissive excuse. Since Qin Wangye had asked, he clearly viewed him with the concern one shows a friend, or at the very least, a business partner. Either way, it was out of kindness, and he, being someone accustomed to being cautious and maintaining professional distance rather than intimacy, had surely caused offense. Besides, it was not as if his injury was a shameful secret.
Song Que turned his head to steal a quick glance at Qin Wangye, looked away, then looked again. Qin Wangye’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and Song Que waited for him to speak, but the silence persisted.
“In the past, my ankle was frostbitten,” Song Que said hesitantly.
Qin Wangye opened his eyes.
“I was young then and did not receive treatment in time. It dragged on for a while. It was fine at first, but later, whenever it was rainy or overcast, it would ache. But it really is not serious,” Song Que continued.
Qin Wangye’s face revealed neither joy nor anger.
The two had been separated for several years. Song Que’s understanding of Qin Wangye came from calm, detailed observation. In their student days, Qin Wangye did not hide much; as a pampered young master, he did not need to. Whether he was happy or unhappy, his expressive features made it clear. What Song Que did not know was that this had changed a long time ago. The more chaotic the storm in Qin Wangye’s heart, the calmer he appeared on the surface.
Qin Wangye had many questions. For example, what did “did not receive treatment in time” mean? Why had it been delayed? If it were not serious, why would it ache in rainy weather? Song Que’s short sentence masked a wretched past that Qin Wangye could not imagine, no matter how hard he tried. Qin Wangye felt a tightness in his chest, a heaviness that had not dissipated since he first saw Song Que upon his return.
Just when Song Que thought Qin Wangye was no longer interested, he heard the man say in a low voice, “Medical technology is advanced now. Can it not be cured?”
“It is not that. I have seen experts, had scans, and had it checked. They just said I was young and to take good care of it.”
“Have you seen a traditional Chinese medicine doctor?”
Song Que replied, “I have. The results were all about the same.”
Qin Wangye nodded. “I see. I understand.”
Song Que saw his furrowed brows relax slightly and wanted to ask if he was no longer angry, but he felt it would be abrupt. Qin Wangye had no reason to be angry. The air in the car was no longer so heavy, and Qin Wangye even chatted with Song Que about business.
They reached the club shortly after. The chilly wind remained, and a light, cool rain brushed against their faces. Song Que’s ankle did not hurt as much, and by deliberately concealing it, he walked as if nothing were wrong.
As the door pushed open, thunderous electronic music filled the room. The people on the dance floor were dancing with abandon, and dim red and blue lights flickered before their eyes. Yet, none of this was as distracting as Shao Fuguang’s loud voice. “Drink! Drink! I did not lose this round, did I? Are you going to drink or not?”
“President Qin is here!”
Shao Fuguang looked toward them, one leg still propped up on the table, his face flushed red. Qin Wangye gestured, and Shao Fuguang immediately sat up straight.
Gu Yushuo did not like these kinds of occasions and had not come, but Zhou Jiang, another acquaintance of theirs, was there. Song Que had met this person before; his family ran a one-stop business for luxury cars. Anyone in the circle who wanted to modify their car sought him out. Song Que had no need for such services and had only exchanged nods with Zhou Jiang at a few banquets.
Qin Wangye’s arrival stirred everyone’s thoughts, but what surprised them even more was that Song Que had come along with him.
“What is the big deal? The Beihai Road project is already in Song Que’s hands. Now that he is in a partnership with the Qin family, President Qin probably has not seen Song Que’s true colors and thinks he is a good guy,” said Li Chengping. His voice was low, audible only to a few friends nearby.
“You still have such a grudge against Song Que?” a friend laughed. “Is it just because you lost the bid earlier? It is not worth it, Old Li. Song Que is on the rise now; there is no need to offend him.”
Li Chengping snorted at these words. He sat in the dim light, casually observing Song Que from across several tables, from his refined eyebrows to his sharp jawline. Li Chengping knew clearly that he could not compete with Song Que, but why should this man ignore him? The day he had extended his hand, Song Que had not even bothered to shake it back. That dissatisfaction slowly turned into resentment, making Li Chengping find Song Que an eyesore.
Li Chengping kept staring, but before he could catch Song Que’s attention, he saw Qin Wangye suddenly look toward him. In an instant, Li Chengping felt as if Qin Wangye had seen through him from his hair down to his very organs.
“Do you know that guy in the glasses sitting opposite us?” Qin Wangye asked.
Song Que looked over as well. Because Li Chengping was the only one in the group wearing glasses, they locked eyes immediately.
“We have had some contact.”
Qin Wangye noticed Song Que subconsciously frown in distaste. “You are not on good terms?”
Song Que thought for a moment and said, “Not exactly. After he lost the bid to me, he invited me to play at Fengxue Bay.”
Qin Wangye’s expression cooled. That was a place privately known for curiosity-seeking and violence. In previous years, even boxing matches held there had resulted in deaths. At night, it was a den of depravity. Even someone as playful as Shao Fuguang rarely ventured there. For Li Chengping to suggest Fengxue Bay, his intentions were obvious. The way Li Chengping’s gaze had lingered on Song Que just now was sticky and unpleasant.
Qin Wangye said, “Anyone who goes to that place has no morals. They are not worth befriending.”
Song Que agreed, “That is exactly what I thought.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Shao Fuguang walked over. “Let us play cards together.”
Qin Wangye replied, “The table is full.”
Shao Fuguang clicked his tongue. “You cannot just stand there. I will accompany you to start another table.”
Qin Wangye looked back at Song Que. “President Song, join us.”
The three of them, plus Zhou Jiang, made exactly one table. Zhou Jiang was not as casual with Qin Wangye as he was with Shao Fuguang, but fortunately, there was Song Que, who was a topic of much discussion. Qin Wangye had brought him here, but his true intentions remained unknown.
After three rounds of cards, Zhou Jiang and Shao Fuguang had drunk their fill. Shao Fuguang’s eyes went blank, and he could not help but ask Qin Wangye, “Why did you play a three just now? You knew Song Que had a single four. If he played that, his straight would have cleared his hand, and I would have lost!”
Song Que, who had just drawn a card, almost dropped it.
Qin Wangye glanced at him. “Do I look like a god?”
“It is not your first-time counting cards,” Shao Fuguang accused. “You did it on purpose!”
“I played blindly; I just did not like the look of that three.” Qin Wangye took a sip of tea. “Hmm? Why is there a hint of jasmine?”
Song Que said, “That is my tea.”
“What?”
“President Qin, you are drinking my tea,” Song Que said with difficulty.
“Oh, my apologies.” Qin Wangye calmly placed the cup back down. “Does President Song mind? If you do, I can replace it.”
Song Que shook his head. “It is fine.”
Zhou Jiang finally understood. Ah, there is nothing to debate. Brother Ye must really think highly of Song Que.