Wang Dezhi had some personal connections with Yan Zhaoming. During holidays, Yan Qi would accompany his father to visit the Wang residence, and Wang Dezhi had seen him many times.
The young man always appeared polite and liked to smile, but what kind of “gentle, naive sweetheart” could a family like the Yans actually raise? Yan Qi was surely just another little fox in disguise.
Wang Dezhi wisely stepped back, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and smiled evasively. “Xiao Qi, it’s a misunderstanding. I just wanted to reminisce with Xueyan. You know, he used to be with Huaying. Even though he isn’t anymore, the old sentiments remain. It’s hard to run into each other, so I naturally wanted to say a few words and express my nostalgia.”
“So that’s how it is.” Yan Qi smiled as well, his eyes curving into crescents with a touch of childishness. “Seeing you two from afar, I thought you were about to fight, so I rushed over to check. Thankfully, it was just a misunderstanding on my part.”
Wang Dezhi laughed twice and said, “As an elder, how could I possibly fight with a member of the younger generation?”
“He has a kind and gentle temperament; he wouldn’t fight anyway.” Yan Qi turned to glance at Song Xueyan. “This place is quiet, and we have some secrets to discuss. Mr. Wang, please excuse us.”
Yan Qi did not call Song Xueyan by his name, referring to him only as “he”—a subtle form of intimacy. While there was an official distinction between elder and junior, Wang Dezhi was merely a parasitic figure who relied on Wang Ruizhe to make a living. Yan Qi, the legitimate crown prince of the Yan family, could maintain politeness, but he would never truly respect him.
Wang Dezhi understood this perfectly.
As he left, he couldn’t help but look back in Song Xueyan’s direction, but Yan Qi shifted slightly, blocking his line of sight with his shoulder and back. This movement was an unmistakable warning—a sign of protective, exclusive ownership over Song Xueyan.
Yan Qi tilted his head slightly, his eyelids half-lowered, his eyes as sharp as blades—cold and impatient. Wang Dezhi felt his body stiffen, quickly looked away, and hurried away.
Hearing the footsteps fade, Song Xueyan cleared his throat and asked, “Why did you come here?”
Yan Qi would never admit that he had felt a sense of foreboding the moment he saw Wang Dezhi’s name on the guest list. Even though he knew Wang Dezhi wouldn’t dare do anything disastrous today, he preferred to make the trip for his own peace of mind. He looked down at Song Xueyan, his tone triumphant. “Was I incredibly cool just now?”
“Yes.” Song Xueyan pursed his lips, his voice low and soft. “Incredibly cool.”
“Wow,” Yan Qi whispered. “The way you speak, it sounds like you’re acting coquettish.”
Song Xueyan raised his eyelids and shot him a cold glare. Startled, Yan Qi leaned back, pouting, “Fine, fine, I’m the one with bad ears; I heard wrong, okay?”
He let go of Song Xueyan’s wrist, his fingertips lingering to stroke the skin before he turned to walk down the steps, muttering under his breath, “How could you possibly be acting coquettish? Who is Song Xueyan? He’s an ethereal immortal, the world’s top-ranked ice cube! How could being coquettish have anything to do with you? It clearly doesn’t. Asking you to act coquettish is probably as difficult as taking your life…”
Song Xueyan followed behind Yan Qi, listening to his rambling, and asked seriously, “Are you scolding me?”
“How could I possibly scold you?” Yan Qi turned around with his hands on his hips. Seeing Song Xueyan’s suspicious expression, he immediately held up four fingers and looked at the sky. “If I were scolding you, may the heavens strike me”
BOOM!
A muffled rumble of thunder exploded across the horizon.
“Uh…” Yan Qi was stunned, the hand he had raised stiffened, and he immediately pulled it back. He lowered his head, not yet able to tell if Song Xueyan was mocking him, when Song Xueyan suddenly transformed into a bolt of lightning, rushing straight toward him!
“How—”
The word “what” stuck in his throat before he could finish, as Song Xueyan slammed a palm onto his forehead! Then, he felt Song Xueyan leap into his arms, wrapping his arms around his head, forcing Yan Qi to hunch over and stumble into Song Xueyan’s embrace.
Damn! Why is Song Xueyan suddenly hugging me!
They stumbled forward with four feet tangled, finally reaching the shelter of the corridor’s eaves.
Song Xueyan glanced at the dark clouds gathering in the sky, his lips and muscles tense. Yan Qi poked his head out from Song Xueyan’s chest, like a potato sprouting from the soil.
Yan Qi looked at Song Xueyan, bewildered. Before he could speak, he saw Song Xueyan’s downcast eyes and furrowed brows, looking very displeased.
“Blabbering nonsense all day long! Would you be happy if you really got struck by lightning? How old are you to be playing such dramatic games of swearing oaths? Do you think you’re in a tragic soap opera?”
Yan Qi was stunned by the scolding, unable to help but respond, “It’s normal for it to thunder on a rainy day; it’s just a coincidence, it’s called dramatic flair. Besides, I wasn’t really scolding you. Heaven doesn’t strike people at random, and you should be a firm materialist don’t believe in these ghosts and gods.”
Another clap of thunder exploded.
Song Xueyan’s expression stiffened; he didn’t even dare look at the flashes of light in the sky. “There are always exceptions in life; there are many mysterious and strange things in this world.”
Yan Qi wanted to argue further, but seeing Song Xueyan’s lips pressed into a thin, tight line he looked so genuinely angry—Yan Qi inexplicably decided to concede. “Fine, fine, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. I won’t make blind oaths again, okay?”
Song Xueyan’s hands were still wrapped around his shoulders, tightening. Yan Qi finally realized something wasn’t right this wasn’t anger.
Thunder clapped repeatedly one, two… short but startling.
As the continuous rumbling began, Yan Qi suddenly tightened his arms, pulling Song Xueyan into his embrace and taking the lead.
The two collided; Song Xueyan stood as stiff as a wooden doll, not daring to move. Yan Qi patted his back and whispered, “The way you hugged me just now doesn’t suit you. I really want to know what it looked like when you jumped up to hug me—it must have been hilarious.”
“You try laughing and see what happens.” Song Xueyan buried his face in Yan Qi’s chest, exhaling as if deflated.
“I won’t laugh; I’m afraid you’ll beat me up.” Yan Qi patted his back gently, his other hand covering the back of his neck. “Look, if I hug you like this instead, it’s much more harmonious. Next time you want to hug me, remember to hold my waist. Don’t jump up and grab my neck; it looks like a monkey climbing a tree.”
Song Xueyan gripped the fabric of Yan Qi’s shirt tightly, unhappy. “You called me a monkey.”
Yan Qi couldn’t hold it in and laughed. However, feeling Song Xueyan obediently stiffen in his arms, his voice hoarse, he realized the man was truly terrified. This appearance felt incredibly novel, but it also stirred a different emotion in his heart one a hundred times more intense than mere novelty, leaving him suspicious, confused, and inexplicably fearful.
Why did I instinctively pull him into my arms? And why am I coaxing him like a child?
Yan Qi breathed in the scent of Song Xueyan, his eyes heavy with complex emotions.
As the thunder died down, the rain began to pour.
Wang Dezhi returned to the banquet hall just as he ran into a rushing Tu Ming.
Tu Ming took a step back, his eyes lingering on Wang Dezhi’s gloomy face. It seemed he had suffered a setback—it appeared Song Xueyan hadn’t let him get the upper hand. He grabbed Wang Dezhi’s arm and said enthusiastically, “I was looking for you all over the place! Where were you hiding?”
“I went to the restroom.” Wang Dezhi barely managed to twitch his lips into a smile. “I’m truly sorry, brother. I just got a phone call and had an urgent matter to attend to. It’s your big day, but I can’t stay any longer. When you’re free another time, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
“Work comes first, why apologize?” Tu Ming pulled him toward the exit, being excessively attentive. “Come, come, I’ll send you off.”
Wang Dezhi was personally seen off by Tu Ming and was even stuffed with two bottles of whiskey. Tu Ming was all smiles, his service even more perfect than a hotel manager, but Wang Dezhi felt something was off.
Why does this old guy seem so eager to get rid of me?
He scoffed internally, waved at Tu Ming, lowered his car window, and drove away.
Watching the luxury car depart, Tu Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
Although both Wang Dezhi and Song Xueyan were on the list of invited guests, he had expected Song Xueyan not to show up. He had been shocked to see him earlier, but fortunately, Wang Dezhi had been drinking in the lounge at that time; based on their positions, he shouldn’t have been able to see Song Xueyan.
He hadn’t expected them to cross paths anyway.
Tu Ming sighed, still feeling uneasy, and decided to take out his phone to call Song Xueyan. When the other party answered, he asked, “Hey, Xueyan, are you okay?”
“Mr. Tu.” A young man’s voice came from the other end. “This is Yan Qi.”
“Yan Qi ah, Yan Qi?!” Tu Ming lowered his voice. “Young Master Yan, are you with Xueyan?”
Yan Qi said, “He’s in the restroom. Does Mr. Tu need something?”
“No, no, just checking in.” After exchanging a few pleasantries, Tu Ming quickly hung up. “Damn, doesn’t Xueyan’s phone have the same ‘Keep Out’ protection screen as his personality?”
The car, now far away, stopped at a red light as a call came in.
Wang Dezhi put it on speaker. “Hello?”
“Did you go and provoke Yan Qi?”
Wang Dezhi gripped the steering wheel, feeling guilty. “No”
“No, my ass!”
A short while ago, Wang Ruizhe had been drinking with a mistress, his hands roaming, when his phone suddenly vibrated. He opened it to see Yu Jingchen had sent a “smiling” emoji on WeChat, which almost scared him limp. He called to ask about the situation, and Yu Jingchen’s voice had been calm but carried an inescapable authority, with Fu Yanle in the background making sarcastic, provocative comments.
Wang Ruizhe said, “Tell me every word Yan Qi said to you, word for word.”
Wang Dezhi didn’t dare to lie and repeated it immediately.
After listening, Wang Ruizhe was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Yan Qi moved to Nandu to develop his career, right under Yu Jingchen’s nose. You provoked him, which means you provoked Yu Jingchen. Don’t you know how fiercely protective Yu Jingchen is? Even if Yu Jingchen doesn’t care, do you really think Yan Qi is a docile little bunny? When that kid gets stubborn, even his father can’t restrain him; he can only rely on his mother’s gentle policies! I’m warning you: stop making trouble for me out there, or I won’t be able to protect you.”
Wang Dezhi slammed his foot on the gas pedal. “Understood.” He smiled fawningly. “I’m sorry, big brother. I’ve wasted your time.”
The other side hung up directly. Wang Dezhi’s face stiffened, feeling even more frustrated than the gloomy weather outside. He cursed under his breath and dialed another number.
The ringing went on until the end, but the other side didn’t pick up.
“Fuck.” Wang Dezhi dialed again, face taut as he waited.
Finally, the other side answered. “Hello? Mr. Wang.”
Wang Dezhi said coldly, “Get over here.”
Yuan Mo replied with a drawn-out “Mmm,” and said coaxingly, “I’m sleeping? I can’t get up. Can we do this another day—”
“I’ll sleep with your mother!” Wang Dezhi was furious. “Are you fucking trying to act high and mighty with me like Song Xueyan? Go get some plastic surgery first! Half an hour, the usual place, or don’t bother showing your face in this industry again!”
After saying goodbye to Tu Ming, Song Xueyan and Yan Qi left the banquet hall.
Yan Qi had driven alone, so he ended up giving Song Xueyan a ride back. He opened the driver’s side door, but when he turned around, he saw Song Xueyan reaching for the back door handle.
“What are you doing?” Yan Qi asked in disbelief. “What country’s leader are you?”
Song Xueyan looked up. “Huh?”
“Huh what?” Yan Qi commanded. “Sit in the passenger seat.”
Song Xueyan pulled his hand back and slid into the passenger seat.
Yan Qi buckled his seatbelt, waited two minutes, and couldn’t help but say, “Put on your seatbelt.”
“Okay.” Song Xueyan buckled up.
Yan Qi turned his head and stared at him for a long time, then said with surprise, “Are you a robot? I give you a command, and you move once? Or are you just a child who doesn’t understand anything?”
Song Xueyan glanced at him and said calmly, “Please drive.”
Fine.
Yan Qi drove out of the underground parking lot. Song Xueyan’s peripheral vision was secretly glued to the hands gripping the steering wheel. Yan Qi’s skin was very pale; at this moment, the back of his hand was slightly tense, making the blue veins look even more distinct and vivid. His fingers were long and slender, and upon closer inspection, there was a small black mole on the middle knuckle of his right hand.
The phone rang. Yan Qi said, “Help me answer it.”
“Okay.” Song Xueyan looked at the screen. “It’s your brother.”
He answered the call and put it on speaker. Yu Jingchen’s voice filled the car. “A-Qi, are you still at the Tu residence?”
Yan Qi said, “On the way back.”
“The rain is heavy outside, drive slowly. Don’t be reckless.” After Yan Qi gave a perfunctory “Oh,” Yu Jingchen added, “I’ve spoken to Wang Ruizhe; he will discipline Wang Dezhi. Wang Dezhi relies on others for his living; he will behave for a while.”
Yan Qi mocked, “He’s already half in the grave.”
Yu Jingchen laughed. “You’re still young, yet so overbearing. You don’t know how to filter your speech when you’re out there.”
This is him coming to hold me accountable for that ‘friends’ wives are not to be touched’ comment!
Yan Qi glanced at Song Xueyan and said guiltily, “Brother, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”
The way he doubled up the word “brother” always sounded mushy. Yan Qi usually despised it, but every time he used it, it was because he was asking for a favor.
Yu Jingchen understood, but didn’t let him off the hook. “Shall I repeat it to jog your memory?”
“I just had a flash of inspiration—I understand now.” Yan Qi sat upright, looking straight ahead. “I’m acting in a film, so I was influenced by my character and got too into the role. That’s a good thing, though. Even though mature actors can get into and out of roles quickly, I’m not mature yet, am I? Besides, I said it bluntly because Wang Dezhi wouldn’t forget it in a heartbeat. Brother, don’t you think I’m right?”
Yu Jingchen: “Oh.”
“Really!” Hearing Fu Yanle’s voice vaguely in the background, Yan Qi immediately changed strategies. “Besides, this is what they call ‘loving the house and its crow’ if Brother Yanle knew, he would definitely praise me. You and Brother Yanle must be of one mind. Scolding me is the same as scolding Brother Yanle.”
“When did I scold you?” Yu Jingchen realized his game. “Changing the subject, using Le-le as a shield—you definitely have a guilty conscience.”
Catching a glimpse of Song Xueyan, Yan Qi perked up his ears and argued eloquently, “My heart is as clear as a mirror; no evil can touch me!”
Yu Jingchen chuckled and said pointedly, “A-Qi, don’t I know you?”
If there was nothing happening, you’d be open and honest. Your silence just proves your guilt.
Yan Qi froze, and just as he was about to speak, Yu Jingchen hung up. Song Xueyan locked the phone screen and put it back in its place, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything, but Yan Qi felt like his tail had been pinched, his entire body tense.
The heavy rain continued throughout the drive, and the two finally returned to the hotel.
They changed into slippers in the entryway. Yan Qi was walking quickly toward the bedroom when he heard Song Xueyan call him from behind. He stopped and turned, assuming a high-and-mighty posture. “What?”
Song Xueyan walked up to him and said, “I haven’t thanked you yet.”
Yan Qi said, “No need, it was a small effort.”
Going to the banquet, stepping up to help, or comforting the Song Xueyan who was afraid of thunder all of it had been his own choice, even if he felt there was something “wrong” with his behavior and was currently bewildered by it.
But that didn’t change the fact that he did it to satisfy his own desires; he didn’t need thanks or gratitude.
“I still have to say it.” Song Xueyan looked at him. “Thank you, Yan Qi.”
The ice layer shattered. The look directed at him was focused and soft. Yan Qi felt his spirit waver and suddenly changed his mind. He retorted, somewhat urgently, “What’s the use of saying thank you? You have to give me a thank-you gift.”
Song Xueyan didn’t seem to care about his sudden shift in attitude. He pondered for a moment and said, “Then close your eyes and hold out your right hand. I’ll give you your gift.”
“You have it on you?” Yan Qi looked Song Xueyan up and down. “Other than yourself, the only valuables you have are the clothes and shoes you’re wearing. I don’t wear used clothes, you know.