Big Bad Wolf (TC)
Qi Xing went home and fell into a deep sleep, only to be awakened at nine in the morning by a call from Yang Kaiming.
"Qi Shao, are you okay? Did Ye Xingzhou take you home last night? Did he do anything to you?"
Yang Kaiming's voice sounded uncertain, as if afraid of upsetting Qi Xing. Qi Xing, still groggy, closed his eyes a few times and vaguely recalled that Ye Xingzhou did indeed bring him back last night.
Then what happened?
Scenes from last night replayed slowly in his mind, freezing at the moment when Ye Xingzhou pinned him down and said, "Why not? Didn't you say you were as beautiful as a flower?"
Sitting up suddenly, his drowsiness vanished, and his phone slipped from his hand, landing with a "crash" on the floor. Yang Kaiming exclaimed from the other end, "Qi Shao? What's wrong?"
Qi Xing picked up his phone and cursed, "How dare you ask me what's wrong? You're asking me about last night now? If something happened to me, it would be too late for you to come and collect my body. Can I count on you?"
Yang Kaiming asked cautiously, "So, did he do anything to you?"
Qi Xing, furious and embarrassed, replied, "Get lost."
Five minutes later, he stood in front of the bathroom sink, looking at the red marks on his neck, shoulders, and collarbone, and raised his middle finger.
Ye Xingzhou is a beast, no doubt about it.
Fuming with anger, Qi Xing paced around, unable to vent his frustration. He kicked the trash can and then jumped around holding his foot in pain.
He couldn't deceive himself. The marks on his body clearly indicated that Ye Xingzhou had taken advantage of him. Ye Xingzhou was really scheming against him.
...Scheming against him?
Realizing this, Qi Xing's hair stood on end, and he shivered with dread.
Thinking of Ye Xingzhou's sinister face, he wished he could punch him again right there.
At ten thirty, Qi Xing appeared at the company's entrance and went straight to the chairman's office.
He hadn't planned to come to the company today but half an hour ago, Qi Ronghua had called, sounding serious and demanding that he come to his office.
Qi Xing could easily guess that his father was upset about last night. While he had always been out playing, he had never returned home so drunk before. He knew a lecture was inevitable.
Qi Ronghua was indeed angry. Even though he spoiled Qi Xing, he didn't want a son who was good for nothing and just eating, drinking, and having fun. Especially since last night he was brought home by Ye Xingzhou. Although Qi Ronghua felt that Ye Xingzhou, despite his young age, was too cunning, the fact that his son was so far behind someone like him made him feel dissatisfied. So from today onwards, he decided to pay more attention to his son's upbringing.
"From now on, wherever I go, you'll follow. Learn to do proper things with me."
Qixing blurted out, "What's the difference between that and going to jail?"
Qironghua raised an eyebrow, "Is following me to do legitimate business the same as going to jail?"
"Not much difference, I guess," Qixing chuckled nervously, "So, should I go out partying with you, Dad?"
Qi Ronghua grabbed a document from the table and threw it at Qixing, who swiftly dodged it.
"Don't talk nonsense here," Qi Ronghua scolded, seeing Qi Xing in his high-collar cashmere sweater, which only fueled his anger further. "When did I ever go out partying? What were you doing outside again, mingling with who knows who? Look at how you came back last night! If it weren't for Young Master Ye sending you back, were you planning to spend the night with some questionable people? How many times have I told you to find a serious relationship, settle down, and focus on your career? Haven't you listened to a single word I've said?"
When mentioning Ye Xingzhou, Qi Xing's tone wasn't any more accommodating. "Then why don't you go ask him, Dad, who I was mingling with outside?”
Qi Ronghua 's voice paused, suspiciously asking, "What do you mean? How did you get involved with him privately? And why did you ask someone to bring him a tie yesterday?"
Qi Xing certainly wouldn't say that Ye Xingzhou was scheming against him; that would be too embarrassing. Nor would he admit that he was trying to compete with Ye Xingzhou. Otherwise, his father would peel his skin off. He replied casually, "No private involvement, I accidentally dirtied his tie before, so I compensated him. It was just a coincidence that we met again last night."
With that said, Qi Ronghua didn't dwell on it. Given his son's character, he didn't think Ye Xingzhou would be interested in dealing with him. Last night was probably just about saving face by escorting Qi Xing back.
"Forget about any private involvement, just don't get too close to him. Also, stop hanging out with those shady people outside. Forget about what happened yesterday but there can't be a next time."
After lecturing his son, Qi Ronghua added, "Young Master Ye will come to the company personally later to discuss an investment project with me. You'll also listen in. If you don't understand, it's fine; you'll learn gradually. We'll also treat him to lunch."
Qixing replied, "..."
Was it too late to leave now?
Ten minutes later, Qi Ronghua 's secretary knocked on the door, saying that Ye's people had arrived. Qi Ronghua immediately got up to greet them.
Qi Xing lazily stood up and caught sight of Ye Xingzhou walking in, still looking well-groomed, with the fist marks on his face already gone. He came with three or four people and greeted Qi Ronghua warmly, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
After exchanging a few words, Ye Xingzhou's gaze turned to Qi Xing, and he extended his hand.
Amidst the onlookers, Qi Xing resisted the urge to roll his eyes and reached out his hand.
"Mr. Qi, nice to meet you."
Ye Xingzhou's tone was indifferent, as if it was just a routine handshake but Qi Xing could clearly feel the squeeze when their palms met. Before he could glare at him, Ye Xingzhou casually let go and continued talking to Qi Ronghua.
Qi Xing was filled with anger but remembered that this was his father's office. He dared not act rashly and endured it.
Afterwards, both parties sat down and got straight to the point.
Ye's people were here today to discuss project financing with Ronghua Corporation. Ye Xingzhou was indeed not an ordinary businessman when it came to discussing business. He was calm and composed, handling things with ease, exuding a presence that was no less than those seasoned foxes in the business world.
Despite Qi Ronghua 's smooth sailing in the business world over the years, encountering someone like Ye Xingzhou made him feel some pressure, even though this person seemed polite and gentle on the surface.
Qi Xing watched coldly from the sidelines, increasingly finding Ye Xingzhou distasteful. Taking advantage of the situation and acting shamelessly was Ye Xingzhou. Now, he was putting on a show of being a respectable person in front of his father, which also irritated Qi Xing. He wished he could tear off Ye Xingzhou's facade right then and there, letting everyone see what kind of person he truly was.
"Young Master Ye spoke so eloquently, but all he wants is for my father to invest money, asking for ten billion upfront and claiming a return rate of over ten times. Who knows if you're just boasting? The Ye family is wealthy and influential enough to invest on their own. Why drag others into it?”
Qi Xing opened his mouth to pick at flaws, and Qi Ronghua hesitated for a moment but didn't interrupt him. Ye Xingzhou's gaze shifted over, and he calmly said, "Whether it's boasting or not, it's written in the proposal. Mr. Qi can evaluate it himself after reading through. As for why we want Ronghua Corporation to join, as I just mentioned, it's because Ronghua Corporation has the capability."
Qi Xing casually flipped open the proposal on the coffee table and skimmed through several pages. The company seeking financing was an energy technology company, with only three original shareholders, and Ye's family being the largest shareholder. The target amount for Series B financing exceeded 5 billion, with Ye's family leading the investment. The founder of this company also accompanied Ye Xingzhou today to help Qi Ronghua answer technical questions.
Qi Xing couldn't determine the quality of the project, but his father had indeed been investing in high-tech industries for the past few years, aiming to expand his business portfolio in this area. So, Ye Xingzhou's visit seemed to align with his interests.
As Ye Xingzhou and Qi Ronghua continued their conversation, Qi Xing remained distracted and didn't pay much attention.
Qi Ronghua showed interest in the project, although he didn't give an immediate approval. But there was something to discuss. However, a project worth ten billion wouldn't be finalized in just a day or two.
By noon, Qi Ronghua proactively suggested inviting Ye Xingzhou and his team to have lunch together, and Ye Xingzhou didn't refuse.
Qi Ronghua had some matters to attend to, so he asked Qi Xing to accompany Ye Xingzhou's group downstairs first.
Without his father around, Qi Xing didn't bother to pretend and ignored Ye Xingzhou directly in the elevator. Ye Xingzhou remained calm behind him, seemingly unfazed by the attitude despite coming to discuss business.
When the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened, Ye Xingzhou suddenly turned his head and whispered in Qi Xing's ear with an extremely low voice, "There are marks on the back of your neck too."
Even with a high-collar cashmere sweater, it couldn't conceal the marks from last night when he helped Qi Xing.
Qi Xing's expression changed but Ye Xingzhou had already stepped out of the elevator.
Throughout the whole encounter, Ye Xingzhou maintained his composed and gentlemanly appearance, and nobody besides Qi Xing noticed that brief interaction.
Qi Xing forcefully suppressed the urge to confront him right there and reminded himself to stay calm. Ye Xingzhou might be a lunatic, but he wasn't, and he shouldn't lower his own standards.
During the drive to the hotel, Qi Xing looked back at Ye Xingzhou's car behind them, pursed his lips, and asked Qi Ronghua beside him, "Dad, are you really planning to invest in this project? I feel Ye Xingzhou's character is questionable. Shouldn't you reconsider?"
Qi Ronghua chuckled and replied, "What does it matter? Even if he's a murderer, when it comes to business, it's just business. This project does have potential, and your grandfather also thinks highly of him. I have no reason to refuse business that comes knocking on our door."
Qi Xing asked further, "Did you have much interaction with the Ye family before? Why did Ye Xingzhou come to you now? When did this happen?"
Qi Ronghua casually mentioned, "Just a couple of days ago, after attending a wedding at the Ye family's."
Qi Xing wanted to inquire more, but his father continued, "I didn't want to tell you about these things before but now I think it's better to mention it. People like Ye Xingzhou, no matter how unsavory the methods might be that got them to where they are, it's none of our concern. With families like theirs, I've seen people with questionable characters a lot, so what? Business is business. We just need to be cautious and not let them scheme against us. Considering character issues, that's something to think about only when it comes to choosing in-laws."
Qi Xing pondered for a moment and decided to keep quiet. It was best not to say anything more.
Big Bad Wolf (TC)
Qi Xing went home and fell into a deep sleep, only to be awakened at nine in the morning by a call from Yang Kaiming.
"Qi Shao, are you okay? Did Ye Xingzhou take you home last night? Did he do anything to you?"
Yang Kaiming's voice sounded uncertain, as if afraid of upsetting Qi Xing. Qi Xing, still groggy, closed his eyes a few times and vaguely recalled that Ye Xingzhou did indeed bring him back last night.
Then what happened?
Scenes from last night replayed slowly in his mind, freezing at the moment when Ye Xingzhou pinned him down and said, "Why not? Didn't you say you were as beautiful as a flower?"
Sitting up suddenly, his drowsiness vanished, and his phone slipped from his hand, landing with a "crash" on the floor. Yang Kaiming exclaimed from the other end, "Qi Shao? What's wrong?"
Qi Xing picked up his phone and cursed, "How dare you ask me what's wrong? You're asking me about last night now? If something happened to me, it would be too late for you to come and collect my body. Can I count on you?"
Yang Kaiming asked cautiously, "So, did he do anything to you?"
Qi Xing, furious and embarrassed, replied, "Get lost."
Five minutes later, he stood in front of the bathroom sink, looking at the red marks on his neck, shoulders, and collarbone, and raised his middle finger.
Ye Xingzhou is a beast, no doubt about it.
Fuming with anger, Qi Xing paced around, unable to vent his frustration. He kicked the trash can and then jumped around holding his foot in pain.
He couldn't deceive himself. The marks on his body clearly indicated that Ye Xingzhou had taken advantage of him. Ye Xingzhou was really scheming against him.
...Scheming against him?
Realizing this, Qi Xing's hair stood on end, and he shivered with dread.
Thinking of Ye Xingzhou's sinister face, he wished he could punch him again right there.
At ten thirty, Qi Xing appeared at the company's entrance and went straight to the chairman's office.
He hadn't planned to come to the company today but half an hour ago, Qi Ronghua had called, sounding serious and demanding that he come to his office.
Qi Xing could easily guess that his father was upset about last night. While he had always been out playing, he had never returned home so drunk before. He knew a lecture was inevitable.
Qi Ronghua was indeed angry. Even though he spoiled Qi Xing, he didn't want a son who was good for nothing and just eating, drinking, and having fun. Especially since last night he was brought home by Ye Xingzhou. Although Qi Ronghua felt that Ye Xingzhou, despite his young age, was too cunning, the fact that his son was so far behind someone like him made him feel dissatisfied. So from today onwards, he decided to pay more attention to his son's upbringing.
"From now on, wherever I go, you'll follow. Learn to do proper things with me."
Qixing blurted out, "What's the difference between that and going to jail?"
Qironghua raised an eyebrow, "Is following me to do legitimate business the same as going to jail?"
"Not much difference, I guess," Qixing chuckled nervously, "So, should I go out partying with you, Dad?"
Qi Ronghua grabbed a document from the table and threw it at Qixing, who swiftly dodged it.
"Don't talk nonsense here," Qi Ronghua scolded, seeing Qi Xing in his high-collar cashmere sweater, which only fueled his anger further. "When did I ever go out partying? What were you doing outside again, mingling with who knows who? Look at how you came back last night! If it weren't for Young Master Ye sending you back, were you planning to spend the night with some questionable people? How many times have I told you to find a serious relationship, settle down, and focus on your career? Haven't you listened to a single word I've said?"
When mentioning Ye Xingzhou, Qi Xing's tone wasn't any more accommodating. "Then why don't you go ask him, Dad, who I was mingling with outside?”
Qi Ronghua 's voice paused, suspiciously asking, "What do you mean? How did you get involved with him privately? And why did you ask someone to bring him a tie yesterday?"
Qi Xing certainly wouldn't say that Ye Xingzhou was scheming against him; that would be too embarrassing. Nor would he admit that he was trying to compete with Ye Xingzhou. Otherwise, his father would peel his skin off. He replied casually, "No private involvement, I accidentally dirtied his tie before, so I compensated him. It was just a coincidence that we met again last night."
With that said, Qi Ronghua didn't dwell on it. Given his son's character, he didn't think Ye Xingzhou would be interested in dealing with him. Last night was probably just about saving face by escorting Qi Xing back.
"Forget about any private involvement, just don't get too close to him. Also, stop hanging out with those shady people outside. Forget about what happened yesterday but there can't be a next time."
After lecturing his son, Qi Ronghua added, "Young Master Ye will come to the company personally later to discuss an investment project with me. You'll also listen in. If you don't understand, it's fine; you'll learn gradually. We'll also treat him to lunch."
Qixing replied, "..."
Was it too late to leave now?
Ten minutes later, Qi Ronghua 's secretary knocked on the door, saying that Ye's people had arrived. Qi Ronghua immediately got up to greet them.
Qi Xing lazily stood up and caught sight of Ye Xingzhou walking in, still looking well-groomed, with the fist marks on his face already gone. He came with three or four people and greeted Qi Ronghua warmly, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
After exchanging a few words, Ye Xingzhou's gaze turned to Qi Xing, and he extended his hand.
Amidst the onlookers, Qi Xing resisted the urge to roll his eyes and reached out his hand.
"Mr. Qi, nice to meet you."
Ye Xingzhou's tone was indifferent, as if it was just a routine handshake but Qi Xing could clearly feel the squeeze when their palms met. Before he could glare at him, Ye Xingzhou casually let go and continued talking to Qi Ronghua.
Qi Xing was filled with anger but remembered that this was his father's office. He dared not act rashly and endured it.
Afterwards, both parties sat down and got straight to the point.
Ye's people were here today to discuss project financing with Ronghua Corporation. Ye Xingzhou was indeed not an ordinary businessman when it came to discussing business. He was calm and composed, handling things with ease, exuding a presence that was no less than those seasoned foxes in the business world.
Despite Qi Ronghua 's smooth sailing in the business world over the years, encountering someone like Ye Xingzhou made him feel some pressure, even though this person seemed polite and gentle on the surface.
Qi Xing watched coldly from the sidelines, increasingly finding Ye Xingzhou distasteful. Taking advantage of the situation and acting shamelessly was Ye Xingzhou. Now, he was putting on a show of being a respectable person in front of his father, which also irritated Qi Xing. He wished he could tear off Ye Xingzhou's facade right then and there, letting everyone see what kind of person he truly was.
"Young Master Ye spoke so eloquently, but all he wants is for my father to invest money, asking for ten billion upfront and claiming a return rate of over ten times. Who knows if you're just boasting? The Ye family is wealthy and influential enough to invest on their own. Why drag others into it?”
Qi Xing opened his mouth to pick at flaws, and Qi Ronghua hesitated for a moment but didn't interrupt him. Ye Xingzhou's gaze shifted over, and he calmly said, "Whether it's boasting or not, it's written in the proposal. Mr. Qi can evaluate it himself after reading through. As for why we want Ronghua Corporation to join, as I just mentioned, it's because Ronghua Corporation has the capability."
Qi Xing casually flipped open the proposal on the coffee table and skimmed through several pages. The company seeking financing was an energy technology company, with only three original shareholders, and Ye's family being the largest shareholder. The target amount for Series B financing exceeded 5 billion, with Ye's family leading the investment. The founder of this company also accompanied Ye Xingzhou today to help Qi Ronghua answer technical questions.
Qi Xing couldn't determine the quality of the project, but his father had indeed been investing in high-tech industries for the past few years, aiming to expand his business portfolio in this area. So, Ye Xingzhou's visit seemed to align with his interests.
As Ye Xingzhou and Qi Ronghua continued their conversation, Qi Xing remained distracted and didn't pay much attention.
Qi Ronghua showed interest in the project, although he didn't give an immediate approval. But there was something to discuss. However, a project worth ten billion wouldn't be finalized in just a day or two.
By noon, Qi Ronghua proactively suggested inviting Ye Xingzhou and his team to have lunch together, and Ye Xingzhou didn't refuse.
Qi Ronghua had some matters to attend to, so he asked Qi Xing to accompany Ye Xingzhou's group downstairs first.
Without his father around, Qi Xing didn't bother to pretend and ignored Ye Xingzhou directly in the elevator. Ye Xingzhou remained calm behind him, seemingly unfazed by the attitude despite coming to discuss business.
When the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened, Ye Xingzhou suddenly turned his head and whispered in Qi Xing's ear with an extremely low voice, "There are marks on the back of your neck too."
Even with a high-collar cashmere sweater, it couldn't conceal the marks from last night when he helped Qi Xing.
Qi Xing's expression changed but Ye Xingzhou had already stepped out of the elevator.
Throughout the whole encounter, Ye Xingzhou maintained his composed and gentlemanly appearance, and nobody besides Qi Xing noticed that brief interaction.
Qi Xing forcefully suppressed the urge to confront him right there and reminded himself to stay calm. Ye Xingzhou might be a lunatic, but he wasn't, and he shouldn't lower his own standards.
During the drive to the hotel, Qi Xing looked back at Ye Xingzhou's car behind them, pursed his lips, and asked Qi Ronghua beside him, "Dad, are you really planning to invest in this project? I feel Ye Xingzhou's character is questionable. Shouldn't you reconsider?"
Qi Ronghua chuckled and replied, "What does it matter? Even if he's a murderer, when it comes to business, it's just business. This project does have potential, and your grandfather also thinks highly of him. I have no reason to refuse business that comes knocking on our door."
Qi Xing asked further, "Did you have much interaction with the Ye family before? Why did Ye Xingzhou come to you now? When did this happen?"
Qi Ronghua casually mentioned, "Just a couple of days ago, after attending a wedding at the Ye family's."
Qi Xing wanted to inquire more, but his father continued, "I didn't want to tell you about these things before but now I think it's better to mention it. People like Ye Xingzhou, no matter how unsavory the methods might be that got them to where they are, it's none of our concern. With families like theirs, I've seen people with questionable characters a lot, so what? Business is business. We just need to be cautious and not let them scheme against us. Considering character issues, that's something to think about only when it comes to choosing in-laws."
Qi Xing pondered for a moment and decided to keep quiet. It was best not to say anything more.
