"Your car is still at my office. Do you want me to have it sent to your home or to your dorm?" He Zeqing asked in a low, cautious tone, making sure no one else could overhear their conversation.
He stood at the edge of the sliding door leading to the pool, facing Qi Jianyi, who was absorbed in admiring the flowers around the pool.
Qi Jianyi flinched, startled by his sudden presence. "Send it to my dormitory," she replied, her voice tense. She met his gaze with a stern warning in her eyes. "And don't tell my parents. I don't want them asking unnecessary questions."
With a rare, playful smile, He Zeqing asked, "Why were you drunk in the middle of the day?"
"I wasn't really drunk, okay? I just got a little tipsy, that's all," Qi Jianyi replied, her smile strained. She playfully tapped He Zeqing's chest with her fingers, her eyes flashing a warning as she turned to walk away.
"Really? Tipsy enough to let a stranger take you home?" He Zeqing added, his tone tinged with concern as he stopped her in her tracks.
Qi Jianyi rolled her eyes, clearly irritated by the sudden suspicion. "Young Master Song is your friend," she retorted, her voice edged with impatience. "And if I had taken a taxi, the driver would still be a stranger. There's no difference." She shot him a pointed look before continuing on her way.
"Still, you should've called your driver," He Zeqing insisted, his tone firm.
"And let my parents find out I was drunk in the middle of the day when I was supposed to be in class? Absolutely not!" Qi Jianyi replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.
He Zeqing suddenly grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. "Next time you get drunk, call me. It's dangerous to be out alone like that."
Qi Jianyi sighed, tapping his shoulder lightly as if to brush off his concern. "What are you, my brother now? Cousin, don't worry about me, okay? I know how to take care of myself," she said, her voice weary.
"You're lucky you ran into Chengfeng. What if it had been someone with bad intentions?" He Zeqing shot back, clearly unwilling to let the matter go.
For the first time, Qi Jianyi found herself genuinely surprised. The cold, aloof male lead of this CEO novel was starting to sound more like a nagging mother than the distant figure she had known.
She couldn't help but smile, revealing a perfect row of white teeth. "I understand, I'm really grateful to him too. Alright? Are we done here?" she said, her tone light but sincere.
"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" He Zeqing frowned, clearly frustrated by her nonchalance. He hadn't expected it to be so difficult to get through to her.
"Every word, I swear!" Qi Jianyi assured him, nodding her head earnestly.
But despite her words, He Zeqing could see the playful glint in her eyes and the smile on her lips. It was clear she wasn't taking his concerns to heart, no matter how seriously he spoke.
"Jianyi, you—"
"Cousin Zeqing, please. I understand," Qi Jianyi interrupted him, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Zeqing, Jianyi, what are you two whispering about over there?" Mrs. Qi called out, her voice carrying a note of curiosity. She was taken aback, wondering when her daughter and her nephew had become so close as to be sharing secrets in hushed tones.
Qi Jianyi gave He Zeqing a reassuring glance before turning to address her mother. "It's nothing, Mom. Cousin Zeqing just had a quick question for me."
Mrs. Qi accepted this explanation with a nod and decided not to dwell on it further. "Alright, then. Stop whispering and come over here. Dinner's ready," she said, gesturing towards the dining room. With that, she walked away, leaving the young cousins to follow at their own pace.
Qi Jianyi hurried to catch up with her mother, eager to avoid any further conversation with He Zeqing. She quickened her pace, not wanting to be left alone with him, lest his incessant nagging resume.
On the other hand, He Zeqing stood there, momentarily stunned by Qi Jianyi's abrupt departure. He couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow become so unpleasant that she felt the need to flee from him. Was he really that bothersome?
…
"Zeqing, how's your company doing?" Grandpa He asked, picking up his chopsticks. "I heard you've invested in a new movie."
Among all his grandsons, Grandpa He was the most optimistic about He Zeqing. He believed that Zeqing had exceptional potential to surpass all expectations. Despite this, He Zeqing chose not to immediately inherit the family business. Instead, he was determined to forge his own path and build his own empire from scratch.
Naturally, Grandpa He wholeheartedly supported He Zeqing's ambitions. He was convinced that his grandson had the potential to build a business far greater than anything they had previously achieved.
All of Grandpa He's faith in He Zeqing proved well-founded, as within just three years of its founding, Crescent Co. had risen to become the top entertainment company in the industry.
He Zeqing swallowed his food, nodded at his grandfather, and responded, "The company is doing well. I've reviewed the scripts for the new movie, and I believe it has great potential to be a hit."
"Alright, Grandpa believes in you," Grandpa He said with a satisfied nod. "By the way, how's Chengfeng doing? I heard he was forced into retirement, and he hasn't returned to his grandparents' house since the incident. You should try to convince him to come back home instead of staying away. Old Man Song has been pestering me to get you to talk to him."
At the mention of Chengfeng, Qi Jianyi, who had been focused on her meal, suddenly became attentive. She was particularly intrigued by the young man's military background and found herself eager to learn more about his story due to the gossip she heard yesterday.
"Chengfeng is doing well," He Zeqing replied after a thoughtful pause. "But Grandpa, you know how stubborn he is. I don't think it's wise for us to intervene."
Grandpa He nodded, understanding the situation. He knew that Chengfeng's recent troubles were not something he could easily meddle in.
The young man had even refused to speak with his own family, let alone with outsiders. If it hadn't been for his prideful close friend's request, Grandpa He would have refrained from interfering entirely.
"You think I enjoy meddling in his affairs?" Grandpa He said with a hint of reluctance in his voice.
"It's his grandfather who's been persistently bothering me. If it weren't for the fact that his pride prevents him from directly asking for help, I believe he would have been on his knees begging you. So, Zeqing, do me a favour and speak with Chengfeng, will you? I'd appreciate it."
Grandpa He's tone softened as he was reminded of his friend's distressed face. Reluctantly, he lowered his pride and asked his grandson for this favour, hoping that Zeqing's intervention might help resolve the situation.
He Zeqing sighed and reluctantly agreed to his grandfather's request. After all, the old man was still his beloved grandpa, and He Zeqing couldn't simply turn his back on him. After a moment of contemplation, he finally said, "I'll try."