Song Que had just pulled himself out of that suffocating and bizarre scene, and he was still a bit dazed. He did not understand why Qin Wangye had appeared so suddenly, so he whispered, “Brother Ye.”
Qin Wangye did not speak. He led him backward, and Song Que instinctively followed in his footsteps.
Once they reached a safe position, Qin Wangye abruptly released Song Que and then pressed down on his shoulders. He did not hold back his strength, and his grip was so tight that Song Que’s bones ached.
Qin Wangye leaned in close, his breath spraying against Song Que’s neck. His aggressiveness in his rage was laid bare, as if he could bite his prey to death at any moment. In the small gap between their bodies, heat surged, and then it all transformed into the sharpness pressed against Song Que’s lower back.
Having lived through wind and rain all these years, Song Que had long since become indifferent. But at this moment, the hair on his neck stood on end, and the alarm in his heart was sounded to its maximum volume.
Song Que had to admit that, for once, he was truly afraid.
“Brother Ye.” Song Que turned slightly, just enough to see a strand of Qin Wangye’s jet-black hair. “Old Liu’s actions were dangerous just now. I was pulling him back; there was nothing else to it.”
Qin Wangye remained silent.
Song Que emphasized, “Really.”
However, it was useless; his shoulders only ached more.
Finally, Qin Wangye spoke, with a hint of gnashing his teeth, “Do you take me for a fool?”
Song Que: “…”
“Brother Ye.” Song Que involuntarily softened his voice. “I was wrong. It hurts a bit; can we talk this over properly?”
“Sure.” Qin Wangye sneered. “Song Que, you had better explain this clearly.”
Song Que’s mind was a mess; he did not even know what he needed to explain.
Qin Wangye backed away and released Song Que. Only then did Song Que feel that the stifling air had become breathable again.
Then, as he turned around, he was slightly stunned.
It turned out that the two black cars he had seen earlier belonged to Qin Wangye and the others. Gu Yushuo and Zhou Jiang were there as well.
Zhou Jiang wore the same expression as Qian Feiwen. If one had to describe it, it was that he was shrinking his neck, not daring to let out even a whimper. Gu Yushuo was calm, but he was frowning slightly, evidently also worried that Qin Wangye might lose his temper.
In the deathly silence, Gu Yushuo spoke, “What exactly happened?”
From Gu Yushuo’s perspective, even though Song Que had been standing near the edge earlier, he was still safe. Qin Wangye had been quite happy initially, talking to him on the road about how serious Song Que was in his work and how the Gu family’s investment in this project would be a guaranteed profit. Gu Yushuo had been quite surprised, as it was rare for Qin Wangye to praise someone like that. As a result, once they got upstairs and saw Song Que, Qin Wangye had first paused in surprise, and then his aura had exploded into a rage. Before he could even see what was happening, Qin Wangye had already pulled him away.
Furthermore, the way he brought him back was quite unique. The two of them were like a synchronized shadow play; you step back, I step back. Qin Wangye did not like close physical contact with people. Ever since he graduated from middle school, he had stopped playing human pyramids with other boys. Even when Shao Fuguang stood too close, he would feel awkward. Gu Yushuo understood that Qin Wangye matured very quickly.
But why, when he held Song Que, did he not even let go of his fingertips?
Gu Yushuo was smart. He pondered for a moment and finally grasped the key point amid the slivers of confusion that had arisen in his heart since Qin Wangye’s return.
At the same time, Gu Yushuo felt it was all very ridiculous. Had these two actually had any past interaction?
“Nothing.” Qin Wangye’s expression was as dark as water. “Yushuo, we will chat about whatever later. You look at the place first. Manager Song and I.” He looked at Song Que, his eyes deep and gloomy. “We have something to clear up.”
Song Que awkwardly turned his head away.
Qin Wangye sneered. Do you think you can hide from it?
Qin Wangye turned and walked away. Song Que thought for a moment, then stepped forward to follow.
When passing by Gu Yushuo, Song Que stopped.
Gu Yushuo looked at him, puzzled.
“Mr. Gu,” Song Que said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “I would like to ask, when General Manager Qin is angry, how do you coax him?”
Song Que nodded.
His gaze was sincere and beautiful. Gu Yushuo also wanted to help, but he truly could not. “I am sorry, but I have never made him angry, so I do not know either.”
Song Que: “…Thank you.”
Downstairs, they waded through the muddy water toward the main gate. The rain was fine and dense, but not heavy, and soon their faces were wet. Song Que raised a hand to wipe it away, and he heard Qin Wangye, standing not far away, say sternly, “Is Manager Song not known for being decisive and fearless in the face of life and death? Why are you dragging your feet now?”
The mockery in his tone caused Song Que’s heart to ache for a moment.
Song Que took a large step, stepped onto an uneven brick, and faltered. He raised a hand to steady himself against the wall.
Qin Wangye watched coldly, the dull edges of the phone in his pocket pressing painfully against his palm.
Song Que walked step by step until he was in front of Qin Wangye.
Qin Wangye lowered his eyes to see Song Que’s pale face, with moisture gathered on his eyelashes, expressing little emotion.
“Manager Song’s current appearance is truly pitiful.”
“Brother Ye.” Song Que began, “Please do not speak like that.”
“How am I speaking?” Qin Wangye said coldly.
Song Que had coaxed someone before, but that method would not work now; he had to try a different approach.
Song Que pursed his lips and thought for a moment, then lifted his gaze to fix it on Qin Wangye’s cuffs.
A section of the man’s strong, healthy wrist was exposed.
Song Que hardened his heart and reached out, figuring the worst that could happen was being rejected by Qin Wangye.
But as soon as he raised his arm, his own wrist was gripped by Qin Wangye first.
Song Que was stunned, and then a handkerchief with a hint of warmth gently wiped the rainwater from his face. The movement was significantly more tender than before.
“The rain has gotten heavier,” Qin Wangye said. “Let us go to the car first.”
Song Que’s body was cold, but a steady stream of heat was being transmitted from his wrist.
Qin Wangye was very angry; it could be said that he was furious. Others might not have understood the change in Song Que when he stood at the edge of the high building, but he saw through it at a glance.
Qin Wangye knew that Song Que had not had it easy, which was why he had overcome every obstacle to return.
Yet that scene told him with brutal clarity: Idiot, you are a bit too late.
Qin Wangye had previously been full of fantasies about the future. He had enough patience to wait for Song Que to confess, then tell him that he actually knew everything, and that nothing could block their path anymore. However, Qin Wangye’s confidence, combined with the arrogance deeply ingrained in his bones, was a rope that could potentially snap with just one fragile sway from Song Que. It was less that Qin Wangye was angry and more that he was afraid. He was afraid he would not be able to hold onto Song Que.
At this moment, he even loathed himself a little.
Once they were in the car, Qin Wangye took a clean towel from the back and placed it gently on Song Que’s knees.
Song Que said thank you and picked it up to wipe his hair and face.
After he finished, Song Que handed the towel forward. “All done.”
Qin Wangye also gave himself a brief wipe.
Song Que was quite nervous. Talk, talk about what? Those things were truly hard to put into words, and besides, it was all in the past; it had just been a momentary daze and not nearly as scary as it looked.
“Are you very cold?” Qin Wangye watched as Song Que clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
Song Que replied, “Yes.”
Qin Wangye’s jawline tightened, and he seemed to swallow some emotion back down. He glanced at the time and felt that arriving early was also fine, so he gave the driver a destination, and the driver immediately started the car.
“Brother Ye, where are we going?” Song Que asked.
Qin Wangye’s tone was normal again. “You will know when we get there.”