Qi Mu’s expression darkened completely.
Jiang Shao had caused trouble before, but there had always been some reason for it, and he had at least known where to draw the line. This was the first time he had behaved so completely unreasonably.
Qi Mu had no idea why Jiang Shao was so intent on targeting Fang Ming Qian, but his behavior had clearly crossed the line of what Qi Mu could tolerate. Even if he was Long Aotian, that did not give him the right to be this rude!
Fang Ming Qian was Qi Mu’s guest.
Qi Mu knew perfectly well that he could not keep Jiang Shao in line. After all, there was probably no one in this entire world who could.
But he could stay away from him.
In any case, this meal was already ruined.
Qi Mu stood up and said to Fang Ming Qian, “I’ll take you back to your hotel.”
Jiang Shao had been secretly pleased with himself, but his expression immediately froze.
Qi Mu was going to take Fang Ming Qian back to his hotel?
Why was he always so eager to take people home? Remembering what had happened the last time Qi Mu had taken him back, Jiang Shao’s thoughts immediately became chaotic again… Fang Ming Qian was obviously after something. If Qi Mu personally took him back while also feeling guilty toward him, wouldn’t that be giving Fang Ming Qian exactly the opportunity he wanted?
He had somehow managed to make things worse instead.
Jiang Shao wiped the smugness from his face and finally put on an apologetic expression. He stood up as well. “It was my mistake. I’ll take President Fang back.”
There was no way Qi Mu dared let this formidable ancestor do that.
He strongly suspected Jiang Shao had no good intentions and planned to beat Fang Ming Qian up on the way back.
Qi Mu was just about to refuse.
Jiang Shao spoke first and cut him off. “President Qi, don’t you have a meeting tonight?”
Qi Mu: “…”
He remembered that he really did have a meeting that evening, but even so, he could not let Jiang Shao take Fang Ming Qian back. A troubled expression crossed his face. If necessary, he could have Driver Zhou take Fang Ming Qian while he called a cab home himself…
Fang Ming Qian was indeed furious with Jiang Shao, but when he saw Qi Mu looking troubled, he still took the initiative to say, “It’s fine. I’ll call my driver to pick me up.”
Since Fang Ming Qian himself had suggested it, and this really was the best solution at the moment, Qi Mu nodded and sighed. “All right.”
They sat there and waited for the car.
This time, Jiang Shao finally behaved himself. He sat quietly without saying another word.
But Qi Mu was still angry with him and did not look in his direction even once.
Jiang Shao sat there with a taut expression and his lips pressed tightly together. He had actually already restrained himself quite a lot.
Back when he still hung around with that group of spoiled rich kids in the capital, whenever someone rubbed him the wrong way, he would immediately tear into them. Getting physical was hardly unusual either, which was why those people were all somewhat afraid of him and never dared act presumptuously in his presence. If Jiang Shao had not been worried about making Qi Mu angry, why would he have endured this much? Yet Qi Mu was still dissatisfied with him…
Jiang Shao felt irritated and strangely aggrieved. Qi Mu had clearly been taken in by that hypocritical bastard. Fang Ming Qian had obviously brought his own car and driver, yet he had still deliberately come alone to ask Qi Mu out to dinner. Could Qi Mu really not see that something was wrong?
How could Qi Mu be this oblivious?
Jiang Shao turned away from Fang Ming Qian. He was afraid that if he kept looking, he might genuinely want to kill him.
Fortunately, the car arrived before long.
Qi Mu stood and escorted Fang Ming Qian outside.
They stopped beside the business van.
Qi Mu apologized again. “I’m really sorry about tonight. Tomorrow I’ll show you around City C.”
Fang Ming Qian remained patient and gentle with Qi Mu, without the slightest sign of displeasure. “All right.”
Then his gaze swept over Jiang Shao, and a helpless, wry smile appeared on his face. After seeming to hesitate for a moment, he quietly asked, “Tomorrow… will it just be the two of us?”
Qi Mu’s face flushed with guilt, and he hurriedly said, “Of course!”
He would have to be insane to bring Jiang Shao along again!
After receiving Qi Mu’s definite answer, Fang Ming Qian’s eyes curved with a smile.
As he turned to get into the car, he casually cast Jiang Shao a faint glance.
Jiang Shao caught that look, and his face darkened until it seemed blacker than the night itself.
That despicable, hypocritical bastard!
Jiang Shao had only just managed to suppress the urge to hit someone when Qi Mu’s cold voice reached him again.
Qi Mu said flatly, “You don’t need to come with me tomorrow.”
Then he got straight into Driver Zhou’s car. Without waiting for Jiang Shao to get in, he slammed the door shut with a bang.
Leaving Jiang Shao standing there alone.
The cold wind from the river blew past him.
His overheated mind finally began to cool.
Jiang Shao lowered his head blankly.
He stared at the solitary shadow the streetlight cast beneath his feet.
What exactly had he been doing tonight?
He had behaved like some jealous, reckless teenager who had completely lost his head, doing things so absurd, ridiculous, and unreasonable that even he found them laughable. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for Qi Mu to be angry with him?
But what frightened Jiang Shao even more was—
He cared about this person.
Cared so much that…
It seemed he had lost all sense of restraint.
…
The next day, Qi Mu went to see Fang Ming Qian.
Jiang Shao asked Zhan Xiao Hui for the day off and did not go to the company either. Instead, he went to see Lu Jin Wen.
Inside a private room—
Jiang Shao drank in gloomy silence.
Lu Jin Wen watched him knock back one glass after another without stopping him. He knew Jiang Shao’s alcohol tolerance. This amount was nothing.
Lu Jin Wen leisurely sipped his tea. Only after Jiang Shao had drunk for a while did he finally drawl, “Didn’t we agree there was no need to meet unless something came up? What, got your heart broken again?”
Jiang Shao set his glass down with a loud clack and said coldly, “Since when did you become a relationship expert?”
Lu Jin Wen gave him a mysterious smile. “For a man of my vast life experience, there’s very little that escapes my eyes.”
Jiang Shao scoffed. “Then you got it wrong this time.”
Unhurried and unruffled, Lu Jin Wen coaxed him patiently. “Why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I can give you some advice.”
Jiang Shao frowned. “I suspect Fang Ming Qian is after something by getting close to Qi Mu.”
Lu Jin Wen gave him a meaningful look. “So you care this much about your boss? You even want to control who he spends time with?”
Jiang Shao choked for a moment before saying, “I just think there’s something wrong with Fang Ming Qian.”
Lu Jin Wen took a sip of tea. “There’s nothing wrong with Fang Ming Qian.”
Jiang Shao gave a cold laugh. Impossible. That man looked suspicious no matter how Jiang Shao looked at him. He refused to believe there was nothing wrong with him.
What, had Fang Ming Qian fallen in love with Qi Mu at first sight or something?
Lu Jin Wen smiled at him. “I know Fang Ming Qian very well. He’s a decent person. There’s nothing strange about him spending time with Qi Mu, so what exactly are you getting jealous about?”
Jiang Shao instantly bristled. “I’m not jealous!”
Wait…
Jiang Shao stared coldly at Lu Jin Wen and demanded, “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Why did he keep defending that hypocritical bastard?
Lu Jin Wen helplessly spread his hands. “I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m just telling the truth.”
Jiang Shao vaguely felt as though some boomerang had come flying back and stabbed him squarely in the chest. The corner of his eye twitched.
“Besides, Fang Ming Qian is an important client and the president of a publicly listed company. If I were Qi Mu, I’d choose him too. I certainly wouldn’t choose an unruly troublemaker like you who refuses to listen and causes problems all day long.” Lu Jin Wen sighed deeply. “Frankly, I’m amazed Qi Mu hasn’t fired you yet. The man has the patience of a saint.”
Jiang Shao: “…”
My hands are itching. I really want to hit someone.
Lu Jin Wen was not remotely afraid. With the earnest air of someone offering heartfelt advice, he continued, “Young people shouldn’t have such bad tempers. Fang Ming Qian hasn’t even done anything to you, so why are you meddling in his business? Look at yourself. If even Fang Ming Qian gets on your nerves, who can you stand? Don’t tell me Qi Mu is the only person you can tolerate?”
Jiang Shao abruptly shot to his feet. The legs of his chair scraped across the floor with a harsh screech.
He stared coldly at Lu Jin Wen.
Sure enough, coming to Lu Jin Wen when he was already in a bad mood only made him feel worse.
This meal was over.
Jiang Shao turned to leave.
But Lu Jin Wen called after him. “Wait.”
Jiang Shao impatiently looked back. “Spit it out.”
Lu Jin Wen stared deeply at Jiang Shao as though trying to see straight through him. After a long while, he finally asked slowly, “You haven’t actually gotten serious about him, have you?”
Jiang Shao’s expression stiffened slightly. Then he immediately resumed his usual careless, rebellious demeanor and scoffed. “What are you talking about?”
Lu Jin Wen chuckled softly. “Nothing. Just a friendly reminder. You won’t be staying here much longer. Once you leave and Qi Mu finds out you’ve been lying to him, he definitely won’t forgive you… So maybe you should stop worrying so much about things that have nothing to do with you. Don’t you think?”
This time, Jiang Shao appeared perfectly calm.
But the hand tucked inside his trouser pocket suddenly clenched into a fist.
Several seconds later—
He arrogantly lifted his chin, gave a dismissive snort, and turned away as though nothing had happened.
Lu Jin Wen watched Jiang Shao’s retreating figure with an intrigued look in his eyes. He raised an eyebrow and took another sip of tea.
Now this is interesting.
He had known Jiang Shao for ten years.
He had watched the gloomy, restrained teenager Jiang Shao once was grow into the unruly young playboy he appeared to be now, looking down on the entire world. But Lu Jin Wen knew that all of it was merely a facade. Jiang Shao had simply grown accustomed to hiding himself behind these masks, slowly burying the person he used to be.
But now—
Lu Jin Wen seemed to be catching glimpses of something he had thought had disappeared long ago: Jiang Shao’s real… vividly alive self.
Wasn’t this more interesting than corporate warfare?
…
At ten that morning, Qi Mu went to the hotel to pick up Fang Ming Qian.
First, he took Fang Ming Qian to see the local financial district and introduced him to City C. At noon, they ate at a Michelin restaurant, and in the afternoon, Qi Mu took him around an art museum.
Without Jiang Shao beside them causing trouble, the day passed quickly and easily.
After dinner, Qi Mu invited Fang Ming Qian to take a walk along the river.
Fang Ming Qian readily agreed.
Both banks of the river in City C were lined with high-rise buildings. At night, all their lights came on, and multicolored neon glowed in dazzling patches, creating a completely different view from the daytime. Bridges stretched between the two banks like ribbons of light, pleasure boats moved across the river, and the waterfront promenades were filled with people out walking or exercising, as well as clingy couples huddled together against the winter cold.
A slightly cool evening breeze brushed over their faces.
Walking there felt like becoming part of the city’s nightscape.
The two strolled along at an unhurried pace.
After spending the entire day together, they felt more familiar with each other, and their conversation had become much more relaxed.
Qi Mu smiled. “Our city’s pretty nice, isn’t it? I was originally going to bring you here yesterday. Shame we didn’t get the chance.”
Fang Ming Qian smiled as well. “Seeing it today is just as good.”
“Besides…” Fang Ming Qian paused before slowly adding, “Sometimes, doing something a little later might actually turn out to be better.”
Qi Mu thought about it and agreed. “That’s true.”
Fang Ming Qian glanced at the man beside him. After a while, he suddenly let out a soft sigh.
Qi Mu looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
Fang Ming Qian smiled helplessly. “I was wondering when you planned to talk business with me.”
Qi Mu froze. “Business?”
Fang Ming Qian looked at him seriously. “I know you spent today showing me around purely because you consider me a friend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also discuss the cooperation we need to discuss. Don’t you think?”
Qi Mu had not forgotten about it. He had simply planned to bring it up tomorrow. He had not expected Fang Ming Qian to raise the subject himself, and he was somewhat surprised.
Qi Mu could not help laughing. “Clients who take this much initiative are pretty rare.”
Fang Ming Qian answered frankly, “I came to City C on a business inspection in the first place. The production line will be established soon, so finding suitable suppliers is urgent. Naturally, a dedicated professional like me has to make the most of every minute and get down to business.”
Since Fang Ming Qian had put it that way, Qi Mu no longer felt any need to be reserved. He openly invited him, “Then please come visit our company tomorrow, President Fang.”
Fang Ming Qian nodded. “All right. But I’ll say this upfront: just because you’re my good friend doesn’t mean I’ll give you special treatment. Our suppliers are selected through competitive bidding.”
Qi Mu gave a small laugh. “Of course.”
They arranged a time for the next day. Qi Mu would show him around the R&D center and factory. Qi Mu had complete confidence in the quality of Qi Corporation’s products.
Once that was settled, neither of them mentioned business again.
Instead, they continued strolling and chatting.
Streetlights stood every ten meters along the riverbank, their soft glow falling like little clusters of pale flame. But between each pool of light remained stretches of darkness the lamps could not reach.
Jiang Shao stopped walking.
He stood in the darkest space between two streetlights, hiding himself in the shadows as he watched the two men ahead of him chatting happily.
Whenever they spoke, they turned to look at each other, both wearing relaxed, gentle smiles.
Fang Ming Qian seemed to say something funny, making Qi Mu laugh for quite a while. Then Qi Mu looked back at him and said something Jiang Shao could not hear, and Fang Ming Qian’s gaze seemed to soften.
They looked no different from any of the other couples strolling along the river.
Without realizing it, Jiang Shao clenched his hand.
The sight before him hurt his eyes, yet as though deliberately tormenting himself, he refused to look away.
Jealousy and violent hostility churned together inside his chest. He had mints ready in his pocket, but he did not take one. Instead, he allowed the violent side of himself free rein, wanting to walk over and destroy everything that offended his eyes.
But just as he was about to step forward—
Lu Jin Wen’s words suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Lu Jin Wen had said that if Qi Mu discovered Jiang Shao had deceived him, Qi Mu would not forgive him. Sooner or later, Jiang Shao would have to leave this place…
In an instant, confusion and fear surged over him like the icy river, washing away all the resentment and violence burning inside him.
All that remained were the ashes after a raging fire—soaked through, without even a single spark left to glow.
What right did he have to stop them?
In Qi Mu’s eyes, he was only an employee.
And not even a good one—just an unruly employee who made Qi Mu worry, get angry, and feel helpless.
There might have been a few accidents between them, a few moments, but to Qi Mu, none of them meant anything.
Jiang Shao knew he should leave.
If he left before Qi Mu noticed him, at least he would not look quite so pathetic.
Yet his feet seemed to have stopped obeying him. They remained rooted to the spot, unable to move forward or retreat.
He could only watch helplessly as the two men came closer and closer.
Until the person ahead happened to glance over and revealed an expression of surprise and confusion.
Qi Mu had not expected to see Jiang Shao here.
He instinctively stopped and did not come any closer. Frowning slightly, he asked, “Jiang Shao, why are you here?”
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