Qin Wangye had not done it on purpose. He was worried that the big-mouthed Shao Fuguang might say something that would make Song Que feel awkward, so he had been busy rambling and not paying much attention. He reached for a cup of tea, but as it turned out, their cups were quite close to each other.
Song Que’s ears turned red. While Qin Wangye found it amusing, he simply drank the entire cup of jasmine tea in one go.
Shao Fuguang remarked, “How could you be so brazen?”
“We are all friends,” Qin Wangye said calmly. “Besides, Manager Song does not mind.”
Song Que added, “It is fine.”
Shao Fuguang’s intoxication was setting in. With a safety net like Qin Wangye by his side, he lost his filter. “Is it not true, Manager Song? You are so easy to talk to now. Everyone else says you are the King of Hell among the new elites of Zhaocheng.”
Zhou Jiang stuffed a piece of orange into Shao Fuguang’s mouth. “Just eat, just eat.”
Song Que did not think these were pleasant words. He subconsciously looked at Qin Wangye. The man was also looking at him, a hint of a smile overflowing from his deep eyes, which were cast in the dim light.
“Brother Ye, I have two friends coming over in a while,” Zhou Jiang said.
Qin Wangye replied nonchalantly, “Suit yourselves.”
Shao Fuguang’s luck at cards was abysmal. Looking like he was about to throw up after his last drink, Qin Wangye felt a bit repulsed and also bored, so they stopped playing and moved to the sofa to play dice.
When Qin Wangye sat down, he took a calm look at Song Que’s ankle and thought about the scent of jasmine from earlier.
As one round of people grew tired and another group arrived, Song Que did not pay any attention to who was coming through the door.
Until a deliberate, loud voice rang out: “Brother!”
Song Que’s body stiffened. The surrounding sense of relaxation and comfort vanished in an instant, and his expression turned serious. He looked at the newcomer.
Ji Yangle.
Song Que had declined Bian Jirou’s repeated requests, yet this person still managed to find his way here.
Ji Yangle was dressed fashionably, his chestnut-colored hair fluffy and slightly curled, making him look very young. His eyes were excessively bright, as if they had been carefully scrubbed by some emotion. It was a bit affected, but because it had been this way for a long time, it still seemed natural.
Having been pampered and raised in luxury, he could not help but be a bit arrogant.
In truth, Song Que did not really understand Ji Yangle. They could have gone their whole lives without crossing paths again. Ji Yangle clearly hated him, yet he kept popping up every so often.
For instance, right now.
Zhou Jiang stepped forward to chat with a man accompanying Ji Yangle. Song Que immediately understood; someone had guided them here.
“Big Brother, I cannot believe you are actually here!” Ji Yangle looked delighted and moved to hug Song Que. “I missed you so much.”
Changing faces might be Ji Yangle’s favorite game, but Song Que did not like it, and now he had the capital to refuse things he did not enjoy.
“Get lost!” Song Que said coldly.
Ji Yangle stopped in his tracks, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. The joy on his face quickly faded, replaced by awkwardness and embarrassment. “Brother, what is wrong?”
Because of this interlude, the surrounding noise died down, and everyone looked at them intentionally or unintentionally.
Ji Yangle’s face was filled with grievance, only his pupils remained pitch-black, staring at Song Que like an abyss.
“Manager Song,” the man who had entered with Ji Yangle said with displeasure, “was that necessary?”
Song Que had no more interest in this. Just as his lips moved, he heard Qin Wangye say calmly, “Oh? And what exactly is considered necessary?”
Upon seeing Qin Wangye, the man first called out, “Manager Qin!” and then apologized with a smile, “There might be some misunderstanding here.”
“If there is a misunderstanding, can you not use your mouth to explain it? Manager Song is a friend I invited. Is it your place to question him?”
“Manager Qin, I am sorry.” This time, it was Ji Yangle who spoke. He had a pleasant voice, youthful and vibrant. Once he softened his tone, there was a sense of coquetry that made people feel soft-hearted involuntarily. “It is my fault for coming here abruptly without greeting you first. My brother and I have a bit of a misunderstanding.”
Song Que’s eyelashes drooped slightly.
“Brother,” Ji Yangle’s tone was cautious and fawning, “please do not be angry with me, okay? Just tell me where I went wrong. And Mom, she misses you very much.”
Song Que wanted to laugh.
As it turned out, he did not laugh, but Qin Wangye chuckled softly first.
What a display of deep brotherly love, and he even managed to bring up Song Que’s mother. Misses him? How could she miss him? Song Que had injured his ankle as a child, and it had not fully recovered even now. If anyone in that family had truly cared, things would not be like this. Ji Yangle had been playing the role of the victim since he walked in; did he really think everyone else was brainless?
That day, Shao Fuguang had spoken a bit about Song Que’s background. Afterward, Qin Wangye had investigated everything he needed to know.
He still remembered helping his teacher grade papers back in high school. The student representative had handed over an application for financial aid, and the first page was Song Que’s, showing he had only 120 yuan on his cafeteria card for the entire month.
Ji Yangle was a bit surprised. “Manager Qin?”
Qin Wangye narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold and serene. For a moment, Ji Yangle felt a panic as if his throat were being strangled, and his expression almost cracked.
Qin Wangye ignored him further and turned his head to look at Song Que, seeing the snowy-white corner of his eye that even the dim light could not hide. His pupils were dark and lifeless, as if the joy and happiness from moments ago had been an illusion.
Extremely unlucky.
“Shao Fuguang,” Qin Wangye stood up.
“Huh?” Shao Fuguang was still oblivious to the situation.
Qin Wangye continued, “Let us meet up another day.”
After saying this, he asked Song Que, “Manager Song, shall I send you home?”
Song Que was more than willing; even the tension caused by Ji Yangle’s sudden interruption had dissipated significantly. He could see that Qin Wangye was speaking up for him. “That would be trouble for you, Manager Qin.”
As Song Que stood up, he supported himself on the wine table with his right hand. He paused in place for a moment before walking to Qin Wangye’s side.
Qin Wangye had told himself a hundred times to take it slow, but at this moment, he could not help but grab Song Que’s forearm. Without paying attention to anyone else, the two left directly.
Before stepping out, Song Que looked back. Ji Yangle was still maintaining his previous pose.
Once outside, the biting air rushed into his nostrils, suddenly clearing his mind.
They stood side-by-side on the steps waiting for the car. Qin Wangye frowned. “That one from the Li family, is something wrong with his brain?”
“The Ji family,” Song Que corrected him gently. “Ji Gaoshan’s son is indeed not smart. His grades in academic subjects are a total mess.”
Qin Wangye was surprised by this answer, yet found it cute. Looking to the side, he happened to catch Song Que’s thick, long eyelashes blinking lightly.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he quickly looked away.
The driver pulled the car over.
Qin Wangye was still holding Song Que’s forearm, providing him with slight support, regardless of whether Song Que was still in pain or not; at the very least, it made things less strenuous.
“You really need to have someone look at this problem of yours,” Qin Wangye said very seriously.
“Okay, I will go to the hospital again this weekend.”
If Pei Cheng heard this, he would probably clean out his ears and ask Song Que to repeat himself. If you are going to listen to him, then may I ask what was the reason for you not reporting to the hospital despite my constant urging?
There was no reason; it was just that when Qin Wangye said it, Song Que would do it.
Late at night, there were not many pedestrians or vehicles on the road. It took just over ten minutes to reach the gate of Song Que’s villa.
The car with the unfamiliar license plate would not have been allowed in, so Song Que had the security guard at the gate register it.
Qin Wangye lowered the car window to look at the environment outside.
“Manager Qin, do you want to come in for a cup of tea?” Song Que asked.
Qin Wangye raised an eyebrow. “At this hour?”
Song Que was startled. “I did not mean anything else.”
“Song Que,” Qin Wangye interrupted, “I was teasing you. You do not need to be so cautious all the time.”
Song Que smiled faintly.
“Go on in. I will come over for a visit another day. When that time comes, I will have to trouble Manager Song to have some tea prepared.”
Song Que’s expression brightened. “Certainly.”
The headlights flashed as the car drove off into the night.