Beautiful As Flowers (TC)
The next morning, Qi Xing went to Lin Zhinian's studio again.
Lin Zhinian had just finished recording and returned, busy cleaning up the messy studio with a few assistants. Qi Xing greeted him as he entered, and Lin Zhinian stood up with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Sorry, Qi Shao¹, it's still a mess here, I can't entertain you."
"Shao" is an honorific title used to address someone respectfully. It is often translated as "Young Master" or "Young Lord" in English. In this case, "Qi Shao" (祁少) would translate to "Young Master Qi" or "Master Qi," depending on the level of formality desired in the translation.
Qi Xing waved his hand. "Lin Zhinian, why don't you sit down and rest for a while? You're sweating, how's your hand?"
"I'm fine," Lin Zhinian said. "Qi Shao, did you come to get your phone?"
"I came to see you, and yes, I'll take my phone too." Qi Xing picked up his phone from the table and put it in his pocket. "When do you think you'll be better? How about lunch together?"
Lin Zhinian looked hesitant. "I'm afraid it won't be possible today. We won't be able to clean up before noon and in the afternoon, I have an appointment with a lawyer and a real estate agent. I can't go out."
"A lawyer?" Qi Xing asked casually. "Is it the one Ye Xingzhou arranged for you?"
Lin Zhinian nodded. "Yes, fortunately Ye Xingzhou helped."
Qi Xing said unhappily, "You should have told me earlier. I could have helped you find a lawyer too. The legal advisors my dad's company works with are capable; it's just a small matter."
"Thanks but I'd rather not trouble you," Lin Zhinian thanked him again.
Qi Xing felt dissatisfied. That jerk Ye Xingzhou was cold, boring, and had issues but he couldn't figure out what Lin Zhinian saw in him.
"Last night when I asked you about the flowers, I actually sent you a bouquet before, directly to the art exhibition, but Ye Xingzhou threw it away. He's shameless, handling other people's things like a thief, isn't he?" Qi Xing tried hard to paint a negative picture of his rival, hoping to make Lin Zhinian see Ye Xingzhou's true colors.
However, Lin Zhinian didn't seem to appreciate it, looking more embarrassed. "Xingzhou probably didn't mean it. He knew I'm allergic to flowers. Sorry, Qi Shao."
"Forget it, there's no need to apologize," Qi Xing said, losing interest in the topic. "You still don't want to have lunch?"
Lin Zhinian replied, "Not today, maybe next time."
Qi Xing shrugged. "Alright, next time it is."
Before leaving, he asked one last question, "Will Ye Xingzhou come to accompany you to see the lawyer this afternoon?"
Lin Zhinian paused before answering, "No, he's busy with work."
Satisfied, Qi Xing left with a smug expression. Since Ye Xingzhou was so indifferent to Lin Zhinian, Qi Xing was determined to win him over sooner or later.
Failing to eat with Lin Zhinian, Qi Xing drove around the streets with no particular purpose and ended up at the company.
Having just graduated from college, Qi Xing was idling away at his family's company, serving as an assistant manager in a peripheral department. He showed up after ten in the morning and left before five in the afternoon. If there was something to do, he wouldn't show up and no one could say anything to him.
Qi Xing lacked ambition; after all, his father was exceptionally lucky and successful in making money. Qi Xing could live off his family's wealth for generations, so why bother being a workaholic?
When he was bored, Qi Xing remembered what Ye Xingzhou said last night about compensating for the tie. It was just a tie; he could afford it. So, he made a call to his father's personal assistant, who promptly agreed to handle it by noon.
With that matter settled, Qi Xing pushed it out of his mind.
At four-thirty, Yang Kaiming called him, asking him to go out for drinks in the evening and inquiring if he had picked up the car from last night.
Qi Xing replied with just two words, "Bad luck."
He wasn't keen on going because he knew he would be teased by Yang Kaiming and his group. However, Yang Kaiming mentioned that Ye Wanqi would probably be there tonight, at their usual nightclub. That piqued Qi Xing's interest—he had grievances to settle.
Qi Xing pondered for a moment and changed his mind, "Alright, I'll go."
At eight in the evening, Qi Xing showed up at the nightclub where Yang Kaiming and the others were just starting their first round of drinks.
Qi Xing immediately became the center of attention, everyone asking if he had won against Ye Wanqi last night. Qi Xing didn't want to talk about it. "Where's that guy? Wasn't he supposed to come? Haven't seen him."
Yang Kaiming said, "Not this early. He'll probably show up at the second round here. Don't worry, I've got someone keeping an eye, he won't run away."
Qi Xing was somewhat annoyed. After drinking two glasses of wine and making small talk, feeling bored, he stood up and headed to the restroom outside.
As soon as he entered, he encountered someone he knew. The person approached him hesitantly, greeting him with a soft and resentful voice, "Qi Shao."
Qi Xing glanced at him. It was the little star he had taken a liking to before, almost forgetting about him.
The little star approached with a slightly pitiful expression. "Qi Shao, it's been a long time. Have you been busy?"
Seeing the other person's mannerisms, Qi Xing felt a wave of disgust. He wondered if he had been blind to be interested in someone like this.
He didn't say anything, just looked at the other person with a half-smile. The little star couldn't gauge his mood and tried to please him, "Qi Shao, my new movie is releasing soon. Would you like to watch it? I can give you tickets."
Qi Xing asked leisurely, "How many scenes do you have in the movie? Can you even manage three minutes of screen time?"
The little star looked embarrassed. "Yes, I have a few scenes, almost three minutes."
"Just three minutes? Isn't that a waste of my time?" Qi Xing's tone turned cold. "Do you think I have nothing better to do?"
The little star said with a red face, "But you said you wanted to watch before..."
"I also thought of having you in my bed before, but you didn't agree, did you?" Qi Xing interrupted him bluntly.
The little star's face turned even redder. "I can now."
He flatly rejected him, causing the young star's face to flush even redder. "Before, it was my fault for not being sensible. Qi Shao, you don't have to lower yourself to my level..."
"Who's lowering myself to your level," Qi Xing impatiently interrupted, "Stop flattering yourself. What? Couldn't land the rich wife, so now you're thinking of me, this young master?"
"Well, if you kneel down and clean my shoes with your tongue, I'll reluctantly give you a chance to turn over a new leaf."
Qi Xing had no qualms about humiliating others. The young star put on airs for a while, but finally couldn't maintain the facade. There was a fleeting flash of anger in his eyes as he looked at Qi Xing with disdain but he restrained himself, gritting his teeth and crouching down, holding Qi Xing's shoe in his hands.
Seeing him hesitating without taking the next step, Qi Xing raised his foot, using the toe of his shoe to lift hia chin, observing the mixture of humiliation, anger, and forced attempts to please him on his face. He chuckled, "You really are shameless, aren't you?"
"I used to have some genuine feelings for you but you kept hesitating to submit to me. I could overlook that as your pride. But then you went off to seduce some old enough to be your mother. What were you after?"
"Just because she's a woman and I'm a man? I, the young master, am as beautiful as a flower. How am I beneath her?"
As he finished speaking, a light laughter suddenly came from outside the door. It wasn't loud, but it was hard to ignore.
Qi Xing frowned, retracting his leg and taking two steps back toward the door. Sure enough, it was Ye Xingzhou, leaning against the wall outside the restroom, smoking. It was unclear how long he had been eavesdropping.
"What are you laughing at? Does Young Master Ye like playing the sneak thief?" Qi Xing cursed, opening his mouth.
Ye Xingzhou's smile at the corner of his mouth faded, and he glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Beautiful as a flower?"
Qi Xing: "..."
Someone should sew this person's mouth shut and mine as well from two minutes ago.
The young star also came out, still not giving up, hesitantly calling out to Qi Xing. Qi Xing glared at him. "Get lost."
The young star slinked away dejectedly, and Qi Xing ignored Ye Xingzhou, heading back into the restroom.
Ye Xingzhou followed him in, and Qi Xing turned to look at him, growing more impatient. "You even want to watch me pee?"
Ye Xingzhou leaned against the sink, continuing to smoke, showing no intention of leaving.
Qi Xing couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore, turning back to attend to his own business.
Ye Xingzhou's gaze traveled down to his buttocks, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke.
This guy was wearing a tailored suit, the light grey fabric wrapping around his perky and round buttocks. Due to the movement of urinating, his buttocks involuntarily tightened, but he was completely unaware.
Two minutes later, Qi Xing returned to the sink, washing his hands briskly and tidying up his messy hair.
As he looked at himself in the mirror, he still felt that his earlier words were not wrong. He was naturally beautiful and that young star must be blind.
When he glanced away from the mirror, he noticed Ye Xingzhou staring at him from behind. Qi Xing frowned. "What does Young Master Ye want?"
Turning around, he was about to say something when Ye Xingzhou suddenly leaned forward with his cigarette in his mouth, flicking his wet bangs.
Qi Xing was taken aback, and as Ye Xingzhou's hand slid down his face, Qi Xing was so surprised that he almost slipped and fell, but Ye Xingzhou's arm quickly caught and supported him.
"Are you a pervert?" Qi Xing regained his composure, feeling embarrassed and angry.
Ye Xingzhou calmly withdrew his hand. "I've said it before, every time someone touches you lightly, you look like you've been harassed. With that attitude, why are you imitating others in pursuing men?"
Qi Xing: "You...!"
Ye Xingzhou: "No swearing."
"What's it to you if I pursue Mr. Lin? You don't like him, yet you won't let me pursue him. Is that fair? Do you find it amusing to keep things you don't like under your control?”
Qi Xing was truly annoyed. He had always had an easy life but for the first time, he encountered Ye Xingzhou, a troublemaker who always seemed to appear in front of him.
Ye Xingzhou: "Hmm."
Qi Xing: "Hmm what?"
Ye Xingzhou seemed pleased with Qi Xing's frustrated expression. He spoke cheerfully, "Beautiful as a flower. Quite fitting."
Qi Xing retorted, "I'll gift you those four words then as it suits you better, Young Master Ye."
Ye Xingzhou shrugged off the remark, casually extinguishing his cigarette on the sink. He said slowly, "Whether I like it or not doesn't matter. If it's mine, I dislike others touching it."
Qi Xing understood now. "So, if someone touches your car, you'd rather set it on fire? Are you out of your mind?"
"Just pretend I am," Ye Xingzhou glanced up at him. "If it's something I like, I'd be even more upset if others touched it. If anyone dares to touch..."
Qi Xing couldn't help but ask, "What if they do touch?"
Ye Xingzhou's tone turned cold. "Then they'll find out."
Qi Xing felt uncomfortable hearing this and thought,
Who are you threatening? I'll touch it because I want to.
And he clearly knew that Ye Xingzhou didn't like Lin Zhinian, so what nonsense was he talking about?
He wasn't interested in wasting time with Ye Xingzhou, so he turned to leave. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him back forcefully.
Before Qi Xing could react, Ye Xingzhou's other hand swiftly slid from his waist to his buttocks, using a very provocative technique to squeeze. Qi Xing's eyes widened, ready to throw a punch if not for Ye Xingzhou holding his right hand.
"You—"
Ye Xingzhou quickly let go of him, stepping back as if nothing happened. He acted as though it was all Qi Xing's imagination. "Let's go."
Qi Xing's mind was racing with anger, ready to confront him then and there. Just then, Yang Kaiming's voice came from outside, "Qi Shao, are you growing mushrooms in the restroom? Haven't come out yet?"
Ye Xingzhou casually reminded him, "Your friend is here."
Qi Xing held back his anger, took a deep breath, and said fiercely, "Next time, I'll settle the score with you."
Seeing Qi Xing storm out of the restroom, Yang Kaiming was about to ask but Ye Xingzhou followed, giving him a cold glance.
Yang Kaiming choked up, Qi Xing had already left in big strides. He hurried to catch up, lowering his voice, "Why is Ye Xingzhou here? Did Qi Shao just get taken advantage of by him in the restroom?"
Qi Xing: "... Get lost.”
Translator thought:
Hahaha Pervert Young Master Ye
Beautiful As Flowers (TC)
The next morning, Qi Xing went to Lin Zhinian's studio again.
Lin Zhinian had just finished recording and returned, busy cleaning up the messy studio with a few assistants. Qi Xing greeted him as he entered, and Lin Zhinian stood up with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Sorry, Qi Shao¹, it's still a mess here, I can't entertain you."
"Shao" is an honorific title used to address someone respectfully. It is often translated as "Young Master" or "Young Lord" in English. In this case, "Qi Shao" (祁少) would translate to "Young Master Qi" or "Master Qi," depending on the level of formality desired in the translation.
Qi Xing waved his hand. "Lin Zhinian, why don't you sit down and rest for a while? You're sweating, how's your hand?"
"I'm fine," Lin Zhinian said. "Qi Shao, did you come to get your phone?"
"I came to see you, and yes, I'll take my phone too." Qi Xing picked up his phone from the table and put it in his pocket. "When do you think you'll be better? How about lunch together?"
Lin Zhinian looked hesitant. "I'm afraid it won't be possible today. We won't be able to clean up before noon and in the afternoon, I have an appointment with a lawyer and a real estate agent. I can't go out."
"A lawyer?" Qi Xing asked casually. "Is it the one Ye Xingzhou arranged for you?"
Lin Zhinian nodded. "Yes, fortunately Ye Xingzhou helped."
Qi Xing said unhappily, "You should have told me earlier. I could have helped you find a lawyer too. The legal advisors my dad's company works with are capable; it's just a small matter."
"Thanks but I'd rather not trouble you," Lin Zhinian thanked him again.
Qi Xing felt dissatisfied. That jerk Ye Xingzhou was cold, boring, and had issues but he couldn't figure out what Lin Zhinian saw in him.
"Last night when I asked you about the flowers, I actually sent you a bouquet before, directly to the art exhibition, but Ye Xingzhou threw it away. He's shameless, handling other people's things like a thief, isn't he?" Qi Xing tried hard to paint a negative picture of his rival, hoping to make Lin Zhinian see Ye Xingzhou's true colors.
However, Lin Zhinian didn't seem to appreciate it, looking more embarrassed. "Xingzhou probably didn't mean it. He knew I'm allergic to flowers. Sorry, Qi Shao."
"Forget it, there's no need to apologize," Qi Xing said, losing interest in the topic. "You still don't want to have lunch?"
Lin Zhinian replied, "Not today, maybe next time."
Qi Xing shrugged. "Alright, next time it is."
Before leaving, he asked one last question, "Will Ye Xingzhou come to accompany you to see the lawyer this afternoon?"
Lin Zhinian paused before answering, "No, he's busy with work."
Satisfied, Qi Xing left with a smug expression. Since Ye Xingzhou was so indifferent to Lin Zhinian, Qi Xing was determined to win him over sooner or later.
Failing to eat with Lin Zhinian, Qi Xing drove around the streets with no particular purpose and ended up at the company.
Having just graduated from college, Qi Xing was idling away at his family's company, serving as an assistant manager in a peripheral department. He showed up after ten in the morning and left before five in the afternoon. If there was something to do, he wouldn't show up and no one could say anything to him.
Qi Xing lacked ambition; after all, his father was exceptionally lucky and successful in making money. Qi Xing could live off his family's wealth for generations, so why bother being a workaholic?
When he was bored, Qi Xing remembered what Ye Xingzhou said last night about compensating for the tie. It was just a tie; he could afford it. So, he made a call to his father's personal assistant, who promptly agreed to handle it by noon.
With that matter settled, Qi Xing pushed it out of his mind.
At four-thirty, Yang Kaiming called him, asking him to go out for drinks in the evening and inquiring if he had picked up the car from last night.
Qi Xing replied with just two words, "Bad luck."
He wasn't keen on going because he knew he would be teased by Yang Kaiming and his group. However, Yang Kaiming mentioned that Ye Wanqi would probably be there tonight, at their usual nightclub. That piqued Qi Xing's interest—he had grievances to settle.
Qi Xing pondered for a moment and changed his mind, "Alright, I'll go."
At eight in the evening, Qi Xing showed up at the nightclub where Yang Kaiming and the others were just starting their first round of drinks.
Qi Xing immediately became the center of attention, everyone asking if he had won against Ye Wanqi last night. Qi Xing didn't want to talk about it. "Where's that guy? Wasn't he supposed to come? Haven't seen him."
Yang Kaiming said, "Not this early. He'll probably show up at the second round here. Don't worry, I've got someone keeping an eye, he won't run away."
Qi Xing was somewhat annoyed. After drinking two glasses of wine and making small talk, feeling bored, he stood up and headed to the restroom outside.
As soon as he entered, he encountered someone he knew. The person approached him hesitantly, greeting him with a soft and resentful voice, "Qi Shao."
Qi Xing glanced at him. It was the little star he had taken a liking to before, almost forgetting about him.
The little star approached with a slightly pitiful expression. "Qi Shao, it's been a long time. Have you been busy?"
Seeing the other person's mannerisms, Qi Xing felt a wave of disgust. He wondered if he had been blind to be interested in someone like this.
He didn't say anything, just looked at the other person with a half-smile. The little star couldn't gauge his mood and tried to please him, "Qi Shao, my new movie is releasing soon. Would you like to watch it? I can give you tickets."
Qi Xing asked leisurely, "How many scenes do you have in the movie? Can you even manage three minutes of screen time?"
The little star looked embarrassed. "Yes, I have a few scenes, almost three minutes."
"Just three minutes? Isn't that a waste of my time?" Qi Xing's tone turned cold. "Do you think I have nothing better to do?"
The little star said with a red face, "But you said you wanted to watch before..."
"I also thought of having you in my bed before, but you didn't agree, did you?" Qi Xing interrupted him bluntly.
The little star's face turned even redder. "I can now."
He flatly rejected him, causing the young star's face to flush even redder. "Before, it was my fault for not being sensible. Qi Shao, you don't have to lower yourself to my level..."
"Who's lowering myself to your level," Qi Xing impatiently interrupted, "Stop flattering yourself. What? Couldn't land the rich wife, so now you're thinking of me, this young master?"
"Well, if you kneel down and clean my shoes with your tongue, I'll reluctantly give you a chance to turn over a new leaf."
Qi Xing had no qualms about humiliating others. The young star put on airs for a while, but finally couldn't maintain the facade. There was a fleeting flash of anger in his eyes as he looked at Qi Xing with disdain but he restrained himself, gritting his teeth and crouching down, holding Qi Xing's shoe in his hands.
Seeing him hesitating without taking the next step, Qi Xing raised his foot, using the toe of his shoe to lift hia chin, observing the mixture of humiliation, anger, and forced attempts to please him on his face. He chuckled, "You really are shameless, aren't you?"
"I used to have some genuine feelings for you but you kept hesitating to submit to me. I could overlook that as your pride. But then you went off to seduce some old enough to be your mother. What were you after?"
"Just because she's a woman and I'm a man? I, the young master, am as beautiful as a flower. How am I beneath her?"
As he finished speaking, a light laughter suddenly came from outside the door. It wasn't loud, but it was hard to ignore.
Qi Xing frowned, retracting his leg and taking two steps back toward the door. Sure enough, it was Ye Xingzhou, leaning against the wall outside the restroom, smoking. It was unclear how long he had been eavesdropping.
"What are you laughing at? Does Young Master Ye like playing the sneak thief?" Qi Xing cursed, opening his mouth.
Ye Xingzhou's smile at the corner of his mouth faded, and he glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Beautiful as a flower?"
Qi Xing: "..."
Someone should sew this person's mouth shut and mine as well from two minutes ago.
The young star also came out, still not giving up, hesitantly calling out to Qi Xing. Qi Xing glared at him. "Get lost."
The young star slinked away dejectedly, and Qi Xing ignored Ye Xingzhou, heading back into the restroom.
Ye Xingzhou followed him in, and Qi Xing turned to look at him, growing more impatient. "You even want to watch me pee?"
Ye Xingzhou leaned against the sink, continuing to smoke, showing no intention of leaving.
Qi Xing couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore, turning back to attend to his own business.
Ye Xingzhou's gaze traveled down to his buttocks, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke.
This guy was wearing a tailored suit, the light grey fabric wrapping around his perky and round buttocks. Due to the movement of urinating, his buttocks involuntarily tightened, but he was completely unaware.
Two minutes later, Qi Xing returned to the sink, washing his hands briskly and tidying up his messy hair.
As he looked at himself in the mirror, he still felt that his earlier words were not wrong. He was naturally beautiful and that young star must be blind.
When he glanced away from the mirror, he noticed Ye Xingzhou staring at him from behind. Qi Xing frowned. "What does Young Master Ye want?"
Turning around, he was about to say something when Ye Xingzhou suddenly leaned forward with his cigarette in his mouth, flicking his wet bangs.
Qi Xing was taken aback, and as Ye Xingzhou's hand slid down his face, Qi Xing was so surprised that he almost slipped and fell, but Ye Xingzhou's arm quickly caught and supported him.
"Are you a pervert?" Qi Xing regained his composure, feeling embarrassed and angry.
Ye Xingzhou calmly withdrew his hand. "I've said it before, every time someone touches you lightly, you look like you've been harassed. With that attitude, why are you imitating others in pursuing men?"
Qi Xing: "You...!"
Ye Xingzhou: "No swearing."
"What's it to you if I pursue Mr. Lin? You don't like him, yet you won't let me pursue him. Is that fair? Do you find it amusing to keep things you don't like under your control?”
Qi Xing was truly annoyed. He had always had an easy life but for the first time, he encountered Ye Xingzhou, a troublemaker who always seemed to appear in front of him.
Ye Xingzhou: "Hmm."
Qi Xing: "Hmm what?"
Ye Xingzhou seemed pleased with Qi Xing's frustrated expression. He spoke cheerfully, "Beautiful as a flower. Quite fitting."
Qi Xing retorted, "I'll gift you those four words then as it suits you better, Young Master Ye."
Ye Xingzhou shrugged off the remark, casually extinguishing his cigarette on the sink. He said slowly, "Whether I like it or not doesn't matter. If it's mine, I dislike others touching it."
Qi Xing understood now. "So, if someone touches your car, you'd rather set it on fire? Are you out of your mind?"
"Just pretend I am," Ye Xingzhou glanced up at him. "If it's something I like, I'd be even more upset if others touched it. If anyone dares to touch..."
Qi Xing couldn't help but ask, "What if they do touch?"
Ye Xingzhou's tone turned cold. "Then they'll find out."
Qi Xing felt uncomfortable hearing this and thought,
Who are you threatening? I'll touch it because I want to.
And he clearly knew that Ye Xingzhou didn't like Lin Zhinian, so what nonsense was he talking about?
He wasn't interested in wasting time with Ye Xingzhou, so he turned to leave. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him back forcefully.
Before Qi Xing could react, Ye Xingzhou's other hand swiftly slid from his waist to his buttocks, using a very provocative technique to squeeze. Qi Xing's eyes widened, ready to throw a punch if not for Ye Xingzhou holding his right hand.
"You—"
Ye Xingzhou quickly let go of him, stepping back as if nothing happened. He acted as though it was all Qi Xing's imagination. "Let's go."
Qi Xing's mind was racing with anger, ready to confront him then and there. Just then, Yang Kaiming's voice came from outside, "Qi Shao, are you growing mushrooms in the restroom? Haven't come out yet?"
Ye Xingzhou casually reminded him, "Your friend is here."
Qi Xing held back his anger, took a deep breath, and said fiercely, "Next time, I'll settle the score with you."
Seeing Qi Xing storm out of the restroom, Yang Kaiming was about to ask but Ye Xingzhou followed, giving him a cold glance.
Yang Kaiming choked up, Qi Xing had already left in big strides. He hurried to catch up, lowering his voice, "Why is Ye Xingzhou here? Did Qi Shao just get taken advantage of by him in the restroom?"
Qi Xing: "... Get lost.”
Translator thought:
Hahaha Pervert Young Master Ye
