Chapter 42

Chapter 42

During the lunch break, after confirming through Xie Tan that Xia Wanzhi was indeed at her Studio, Xie Qiyan instructed Yu Fei to bring the drafted contract and head toward the Xingyao Building.

As he drove, Yu Fei was busy imagining a sweet romantic drama in his head. However, once they arrived at the Xingyao Building and met Xia Wanzhi, he found that her attitude toward his boss hadn’t changed at all.

“Are you trying to back out?” Xia Wanzhi asked nervously, her expression guarded.

Xie Qiyan sat with a touch more nonchalance than usual. Perhaps due to some lingering trauma, he didn’t touch a single drop of the water Xia Wanzhi poured for him today.

“Sign it,” Xie Qiyan said, pushing the document in front of her.

He was a man of action and wouldn’t deign to go back on his word over such a trivial matter.

Allowing Xia Wanzhi and her Studio to stay wouldn’t affect him in the slightest. On the contrary, because Xia Wanzhi had received this favor from him, she would be exceptionally grateful.

Xia Wanzhi eyed him suspiciously for a few moments, read through the document meticulously, and then decisively signed her name.

Regardless of anything else, saving the Studio was the most important thing.

Besides, it wasn’t like Xie Qiyan could actually sell her off.

Once the signature was finalized, their partnership officially began. As he was about to leave, Xie Qiyan let a question he had been brewing for a long time slip out: “What kind of tea was that you brewed last night?”

Xia Wanzhi looked up instinctively. “Do you like it? Should I give you some?”

Xie Qiyan suppressed a surge of irritation. “I’m asking what it’s called.”

“I think it’s called Ginseng Eight-Treasure Tea.” Xia Wanzhi recalled the name. Since she was in a good mood from saving the Studio, she added a few more words, “Thousand-year ginseng-it’s a top-tier tonic.”

Xie Qiyan: “…”

To ensure their future cooperation remained pleasant, Xia Wanzhi gave Xie Qiyan the last remaining packet of Ginseng Goji Eight-Treasure Tea she had at home.

Xie Qiyan immediately shoved it to the bottom of a drawer the moment he got back.

It was only after several days of not seeing Xia Wanzhi that he finally managed to push the whole incident to the back of his mind.

–

Inside a VIP Club, the atmosphere was lively with music and dancing. This was a playground for the children of wealthy families. The massive hall was filled with large booths, styled somewhat like a high-end bar.

Zhou Yu had his right arm around a woman, clinking glasses and drinking heartily with his friends.

Men and women were mingled together, and the sounds of flirtation and debauchery were grating to the ear.

“Young Master Zhou, stop drinking.” Sun Lingzhi leaned softly against Zhou Yu, reaching out to snatch his glass away.

Most of the people at the table were friends they had grown up with, including Xie Lin and Xie Nan.

Seeing this, someone teased, “So Young Master Zhou likes bold women! Hahaha! No wonder those others couldn’t catch your eye before!”

Sun Lingzhi’s body stiffened.

Zhou Yu cast an indifferent glance toward the speaker, then lowered his head to sip from the rim of the glass Sun Lingzhi was holding.

Sun Lingzhi followed his lead and fed him the wine.

The cheering and heckling were incessant.

“I heard Xia Wanzhi wasn’t kicked out of the Xingyao Building,” a voice suddenly cut through the noisy chatter.

Zhou Yu reflexively pushed Sun Lingzhi away, his eyes sharp. “What did you say?”

“Doesn’t my cousin know yet?” Xie Lin sat with his legs crossed, playing with the hair of the woman beside him. He gave a wicked smile. “Everyone else has left that building, but Xia Wanzhi’s Studio is the only one that hasn’t moved.”

“Xie Qiyan made an exception only for Xia Wanzhi. Young Master Zhou, why don’t you tell us if they’ve struck some kind of deal?”

It was as if a light bulb had gone off.

Zhou Yu’s muscles tensed, and his clenched fists trembled slightly. In the silence, he slammed a fist into the glass on the table.

Blood seeped out, staining the transparent glass red.

Sun Lingzhi jumped back in fright, watching Zhou Yu with ragged breath.

“Just a trade of power for sex,” Xie Nan mocked, looking like he was enjoying the show.

Zhou Yu raised his furious eyes. “Who are you talking about?”

Xie Nan snorted. “Who else? Your fiancée and Xie Qiyan. Oh, wait-your ex-fiancée now.”

“With Xia Wanzhi’s face and body, who could resist if she tried to seduce them?” Once one person started, the other playboys lost all restraint, breaking into a chorus of laughter.

“Oh? Seducing who?” a cold voice suddenly broke in.

Before one of them could even react, he blurted out, “Xie Qiyan, obviously.”
As those words fell, the air seemed to freeze, and no one dared to utter another syllable.

Realizing a storm was brewing, the group-including Zhou Yu-hardly dared to breathe.

The newcomer’s aura was cold and imposing, as if he carried a built-in noise-canceling system.

“B-b-b-big Brother…” Xie Nan, who had just been speaking, stammered. He had no idea when Xie Qiyan had arrived or how much he had overheard.

Not long ago, Xie Qiyan had caught him making a major blunder at work. Using his lack of professional focus as an excuse, Xie Qiyan had exiled him to a small city a thousand kilometers away to lead a project in the mountains. He had only just returned this morning, and here he was, caught red-handed again.

“Quite lively in here, isn’t it?” Xie Qiyan lowered his gaze slightly to survey the room. Although it was Xie Nan who had spoken to him, his eyes were fixed on Zhou Yu.

He noted the lipstick mark on Zhou Yu’s face and the woman standing beside him.

No one knew why Xie Qiyan had appeared here.

They only knew that after today, another entry would be added to Xie Qiyan’s blacklist.

“Oh, look, we ran into some acquaintances.” Jiang Baichuan, who had followed close behind, patted Xie Qiyan on the shoulder. After scanning the room, he sat down without being invited. “You don’t mind two more people, do you?”

Most people in this group both feared and hated Xie Qiyan. After all, he had been parachuted back into the family and had done those appalling things. They were all aware of his status as an illegitimate son and had mocked him plenty when they were younger. But now, most only dared to gossip behind his back; the moment they were in front of the man himself, they all turned as cowardly as tortoises.

But it was different with Jiang Baichuan.

Jiang Baichuan had been involved in his family’s business since his teens. His connections and status made him a veteran among this crowd.

Their feelings toward him were more akin to awe and respect.

Xie Qiyan was a loner; no one had ever seen him close to anyone. There were rumors that he was tight with the president of the Jiang Corporation, but no one believed it at first. Now, it wasn’t up to them whether they believed it or not.

As Xie Qiyan withdrew his gaze, someone immediately vacated a seat and invited him to sit.

Deeming it dirty, he instructed a waiter to bring a blanket to cover the seat first.

Jiang Baichuan let out a laugh and followed suit, asking for one as well.

Xie Nan suppressed a surge of anger.

Today was his welcome-back party, and these two were clearly here to crash it.

In the entire room, only Zhou Yu was so stiff that his face had turned pale. He was breaking out in a cold sweat as if he had been caught in bed with another woman.

Xie Qiyan didn’t deign to look at Zhou Yu any longer.

“Where were we? Continue, continue.” Jiang Baichuan crossed his legs, acting as if he were livening up the atmosphere while actually just enjoying the show.

No one dared to make a sound.

Relatively speaking, this wasn’t the Jiang Baichuan they knew.

A high-and-mighty figure like Jiang Baichuan wouldn’t normally stoop to engage with them like this.

But the fact was right in front of them.

Someone must have touched a nerve, prompting them to personally step in and join the ‘festivities.’

That nerve was Xia Wanzhi.

They had just been talking about Xia Wanzhi when these two arrived.

“We were talking about how your Little Sister Xia seduced me,” Xie Qiyan said, playing along to ‘liven up’ the mood.

When the realization hit, everyone gasped.

“Nonsense! Little Sister Xia is so pure. Why don’t you say you’re the one seducing my Little Sister Xia?” Jiang Baichuan began to argue with an exaggerated air.

Everyone: “…”

“No, no, no.” Jiang Baichuan gave a roguish smile and deliberately pivoted. “Shouldn’t Little Sister Xia be yours? Since when did she become mine?”

Hearing this, Sun Lingzhi hung her head very low, watching as Zhou Yu’s fists clenched tighter and tighter.

Blood was seeping into the floorboards.

Xie Qiyan looked up at Jiang Baichuan with a flicker of displeasure.

Jiang Baichuan raised an eyebrow, knowing he had overacted.

This VIP Club was members-only, but it was a far cry from a true elite establishment. The threshold wasn’t that high; ordinary wealthy scions could get in.

However, the club usually actively sought out the powerful and influential. For instance, Xie Qiyan had only accepted the invitation today as a favor to Jiang Baichuan.

He hadn’t expected to witness such a good show firsthand.

“President Xie, President Jiang, let’s drink, let’s drink!” Someone finally found the courage to lead the way in moving past the topic. Others followed suit, their lips twitching into forced, sycophantic smiles.

Xie Lin glanced at Xie Qiyan, worried he would hold a grudge, and insisted on explaining: “Big Brother, everyone is drunk. They’re just talking nonsense…”