When it was past four o’clock in the afternoon, Qi Yueran found He Jian’s temporary villa according to the address. He Jian had ordered the servant to wait for him in advance. As soon as the car arrived at the gate, the iron door opened. Before he got off, a servant came up to lead him.
Although He Jian had just arrived in QuanLin City and lived here temporarily, the villa was not small; no smaller than the villa of Qi Family. The interior decoration was also of high grade. Despite it being very high-end, it did not appear like a nouveau riche.
As soon as Qi Yueran was led into the villa by the servant, Han Pinggao came over and said, “Mister Qi, Third-shao is waiting for you in the study. Please follow me.”
Qi Yueran nodded and followed Han Pinggao up to the second floor. The study was in the innermost room on his left side. After knocking, He Jian’s voice was heard from inside. Han Pinggao opened the door for him and waited until he got in before closing the study room door again.
He Jian invited Qi Yueran to sit down and said with a smile: “You are first to come to my home.”
Qi Yueran glanced at the expression of He Jian. He wasn’t fully prepared for what was coming and had no idea what He Jian’s attitude was to the news hyped by the Qi Family. If it was him in He Jian’s shoes, he definitely would be upset. He said, “Mister He, I’m here to apologize this time…”
“Was it about the ‘I propose to you’ article?” He Jian picked up his eyebrow and suddenly thought that Wu Kai would be angry when he saw that article when he had thought of a high-profile way to send those roses openly, which was to let the outside world know that he and Qi Family were going to be in-law. Who would have thought that Master Qi took the initiative to gain the upper hand and changed it to He Jian who sent those roses?
“Yes,” Qi Yueran said: “I think Mister He guessed it, too. My dad made that news without consideration.”
He Jian was silent for a long time. As soon as the news came out, he’d heard from his family again. Just now, He-Lao[1] didn’t call Han Pinggao but called him directly and told him to go back as soon as possible. He Jian was reprimanded for a long time. After he had hung up the phone, Madam He secretly called him again to say something about bringing someone home together and that she supported her son, no matter what status [the person was], as long he liked [the person].
He Jian did not to know whether to laugh or cry. He felt that to marry his “self” was like a fantasy story; absurd and ridiculous. But he was silent after laughing; if he and Qi Yueran were married, there would be a fair reason to take care of him and protect him. Moreover, He Jian had lived in the Qi Family for more than 30 years, he knew Father Qi very well. Father Qi had wanted him to marry other wealthy and influential clan for many times, but at that time, he devoted himself to Qi Yuexin and his relationship with Father Qi became more and more rigid…
Qi Yueran suddenly saw that he was lost in thought and spontaneously calling out to him in a low voice: “Third-shao?”
“Nn…” He Jian then returned to his senses and said, “Then what about your opinion; would you like to marry me?”
Qi Yueran didn’t expect that he would say such sentence after being stupefied; his eyes were wide open staring at He Jian in astonishment. He didn’t speak at once. After the astonishment passed, he calmed down. He pursed his mouth as if he was hesitating.
In a wealthy and influential clan, marriage was essential, at least to expand their wings. Qi Yueran was a realistic person, who had already passed the age of delusion romance. What he wanted was a career, not to be trampled on by others and not to be excluded by others. He Jian’s sudden question made him hesitate.
He Jian knew his “self” best. Qi Yueran liked his older brother, but this relationship bore no fruit. It’s impossible for these two people to get married. Even if Qi Yueran didn’t marry now, there would surely be an alliance marriage after that. He also wouldn’t be happy to face a person he didn’t like or even a person he hated every day.
He Jian said: “We can reach certain conditions. After marriage, I can stay out of your personal life, you can draw the support from He Family’s power, but this should be within my capability. Ah yes, if one day you have some someone you like, you can tell me. Merry meet and merry part.”
After listening, Qi Yueran couldn’t help but frown. What He Jian said was all for his own advantages, so then wouldn’t this marriage a pie from the sky? He thought for a moment before he said, “I don’t quite understand. What benefits does Mister He actually want from me? Isn’t it obvious that Mister He suffers a loss?”
Being asked that, He Jian laughed. If it was someone else, they wouldn’t be so stupid to do loss business, but He Jian came to Quanlin precisely to take care of this “self”. If He and Qi Yueran got married, of course, Qi Yueran wouldn’t be restricted and could be better protected. When Qi Yueran found someone he liked, he could also dissolve the marriage. If Qi Yueran formed an alliance marriage with other people, it wouldn’t be easy to part without hard feelings.
“I have my reasons. Maybe I’ll tell you later.” Of course, He Jian wouldn’t tell the real reason to Qi Yueran. “You can rest assured that I didn’t mean to harm you.”
Qi Yueran felt that he himself couldn’t make sense of this He Family’s Third-shao. Before He Jian came, everyone had heard of his notorious style, but when Qi Yueran met the person himself, he didn’t think it was true.
Qi Yueran said: “….I need to consider it for a bit.”
“I will leave the day after tomorrow to go back home,” He Jian said: “My old father urgently called me back home. If you have considered it and agreed, then come home with me.”
Qi Yueran was even more astounded. He didn’t expect He Jian would want to take him to He Family so soon. Although Qi Family was one of the top powerful and aristocratic families in Quanlin, it still made Qi Yueran feel nervous as he heard about going to meet the He Family.
He Jian made Qi Yueran stayed for dinner and wanted to send him back to Qi Villa after that. However, Qi Yueran refused by saying that he would be fine by himself and He Jian didn’t insist.
When Qi Yueran returned to Qi Villa, it was past nine o’clock in the evening. When he entered the yard, he looked up and saw the light in the studio on the second floor was on. When he entered the villa, he didn’t see the shadow of his father, so he went directly to the second floor.
Qi Yuexin was just about to enter the studio with a glass of juice when Qi Yueran hurriedly came over to push the wheelchair for him as he said, “Ge, why did you come out to get something? Just let others help you.”
“It’s fine,” Qi Yuexin smiled and shook his head. “You’re back. Was it busy in the company today? You’re so late.”
Qi Yueran hesitated for a moment before he answered vaguely. He didn’t say about going to He Jian’s house and of course, he didn’t say anything about He Jian’s proposal.
Qi Yueran pushed Qi Yuexin into the studio. At a glance, he saw that the painting on the easel was a new one and it was still a painting of He Jian.
Qi Yueran feigned to be thoughtless as he asked, “Ge, why did you draw Mister He? Do you like him?”
Qi Yuexin smiled. He didn’t deny or affirm, only said: “I’m staying at home and can’t go anywhere, I haven’t met any outsiders. But Mister He is a rare guest, who else can I draw? What’s more, Mister He helped me find a doctor to treat my leg. What do you think if I send him a painting? But I’m afraid he won’t like it.”
Qi Yueran felt uncomfortable when he heard this, thinking that sure enough, his older brother really had a good feeling for He Jian. Suddenly it occurred to him, did He Jian also like his older brother?
He Jian said that he would not interfere in his personal life after marriage and supposing that he liked someone, how could He Jian consent to him going out and sleeping around without interfering? Wouldn’t He Jian be wearing a green hat? Qi Yueran felt that He Jian’s marriage with him was definitely not because He Jian liked him. Could it be that He Jian like Qi Yuexin?
The first time He Jian came to Qi Villa, he was lost in thought when he saw Qi Yuexin and Qi Yueran remembered the expression in his eyes at that time, which seemed in complex. Then he made great efforts to find a doctor to treat Qi Yuexin’s leg, which must indicated that he was very concerned about him.
The more Qi Yueran thought about it, the more he felt it was the truth. It was only that He Jian couldn’t marry his older brother under the pressure of his [He]family, so He Jian turned to him as a substitute. It sounded unpleasant to say but which respected household would be willing to bring home a man who couldn’t walk or work?
Qi Yueran felt a little uncomfortable in his heart and went back to his bedroom after spending time with his older brother for a while. He felt very tired today. After filling hot water, he sat in the bathtub to relax and used his phone to browse the news aimlessly. There was no doubt exceptional that all the Quanlin’s gossip news was in the names of him and He Jian. It was said lively and realistically as if they were caught red-handed in bed.
Qi Yueran looked at a few of them and thought that the paparazzi were very funny. After laughing, he felt tangled up again. He didn’t give He Jian an answer. He shouldn’t have hesitated about the pie falling from the sky, but when he thought of his older brother and He Jian, he hesitated.
After taking a bath, Qi Yueran was ready to go to bed. When he passed the mirror at the bathroom door, he stopped. He didn’t look that much alike with his older brother. His older brother hadn’t come out of the house for a long time that his skin was quite white and he also had a pretty neutral face. Even he thought his older brother was very pretty. But it was not the same for him.
He Jian said that he would leave the day after tomorrow. Qi Yueran knew that time was very tight, but he still needed to think carefully. Only after he came into a decision in the next afternoon, he went to see Father Qi and told him about it.
Father Qi was so happy that he believed his hype had made an effect and Qi Yueran agreed. He suddenly thought of something and said, “Right, about Xiao Xin’s legs. Last time, the doctor said to take Xiao Xin to another place for treatment as our city doesn’t have enough facilities. This is the perfect time for you to follow He Jian to return to He Family. You talk with He Jian to take Xiao Xin with you.”
Qi Yueran didn’t know whether He Jian would agree or not. After all, they were going to He Family. He didn’t know whether He Jian would be willing for him to bring one more person gratuitously.
Qi Yueran went out of the study and called He Jian. When He Jian heard that he agreed, he felt very complicated. He said: “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow. About your Ge, we’ll bring him together.”
Hearing his straightforward agreement, Qi Yueran thought that his guess was actually on point. After a long time, he said: “…..Okay. The north of the city…”
“I’ve left someone to deal with the business in the north of the city. It’s estimated that the construction will be started when we come back.” How could He Jian know that Qi Yueran’s thought strayed from his meaning? He wouldn’t regard his “self” as a substitute.
Note:
[1] He-Lao = previously Elder He (He Jian’s dad). I’ll use –lao (laoye=master) and –shao (shaoye=young master) as they are in pinyin. I think I did mentioned in previous note.
When it was past four o’clock in the afternoon, Qi Yueran found He Jian’s temporary villa according to the address. He Jian had ordered the servant to wait for him in advance. As soon as the car arrived at the gate, the iron door opened. Before he got off, a servant came up to lead him.
Although He Jian had just arrived in QuanLin City and lived here temporarily, the villa was not small; no smaller than the villa of Qi Family. The interior decoration was also of high grade. Despite it being very high-end, it did not appear like a nouveau riche.
As soon as Qi Yueran was led into the villa by the servant, Han Pinggao came over and said, “Mister Qi, Third-shao is waiting for you in the study. Please follow me.”
Qi Yueran nodded and followed Han Pinggao up to the second floor. The study was in the innermost room on his left side. After knocking, He Jian’s voice was heard from inside. Han Pinggao opened the door for him and waited until he got in before closing the study room door again.
He Jian invited Qi Yueran to sit down and said with a smile: “You are first to come to my home.”
Qi Yueran glanced at the expression of He Jian. He wasn’t fully prepared for what was coming and had no idea what He Jian’s attitude was to the news hyped by the Qi Family. If it was him in He Jian’s shoes, he definitely would be upset. He said, “Mister He, I’m here to apologize this time…”
“Was it about the ‘I propose to you’ article?” He Jian picked up his eyebrow and suddenly thought that Wu Kai would be angry when he saw that article when he had thought of a high-profile way to send those roses openly, which was to let the outside world know that he and Qi Family were going to be in-law. Who would have thought that Master Qi took the initiative to gain the upper hand and changed it to He Jian who sent those roses?
“Yes,” Qi Yueran said: “I think Mister He guessed it, too. My dad made that news without consideration.”
He Jian was silent for a long time. As soon as the news came out, he’d heard from his family again. Just now, He-Lao[1] didn’t call Han Pinggao but called him directly and told him to go back as soon as possible. He Jian was reprimanded for a long time. After he had hung up the phone, Madam He secretly called him again to say something about bringing someone home together and that she supported her son, no matter what status [the person was], as long he liked [the person].
He Jian did not to know whether to laugh or cry. He felt that to marry his “self” was like a fantasy story; absurd and ridiculous. But he was silent after laughing; if he and Qi Yueran were married, there would be a fair reason to take care of him and protect him. Moreover, He Jian had lived in the Qi Family for more than 30 years, he knew Father Qi very well. Father Qi had wanted him to marry other wealthy and influential clan for many times, but at that time, he devoted himself to Qi Yuexin and his relationship with Father Qi became more and more rigid…
Qi Yueran suddenly saw that he was lost in thought and spontaneously calling out to him in a low voice: “Third-shao?”
“Nn…” He Jian then returned to his senses and said, “Then what about your opinion; would you like to marry me?”
Qi Yueran didn’t expect that he would say such sentence after being stupefied; his eyes were wide open staring at He Jian in astonishment. He didn’t speak at once. After the astonishment passed, he calmed down. He pursed his mouth as if he was hesitating.
In a wealthy and influential clan, marriage was essential, at least to expand their wings. Qi Yueran was a realistic person, who had already passed the age of delusion romance. What he wanted was a career, not to be trampled on by others and not to be excluded by others. He Jian’s sudden question made him hesitate.
He Jian knew his “self” best. Qi Yueran liked his older brother, but this relationship bore no fruit. It’s impossible for these two people to get married. Even if Qi Yueran didn’t marry now, there would surely be an alliance marriage after that. He also wouldn’t be happy to face a person he didn’t like or even a person he hated every day.
He Jian said: “We can reach certain conditions. After marriage, I can stay out of your personal life, you can draw the support from He Family’s power, but this should be within my capability. Ah yes, if one day you have some someone you like, you can tell me. Merry meet and merry part.”
After listening, Qi Yueran couldn’t help but frown. What He Jian said was all for his own advantages, so then wouldn’t this marriage a pie from the sky? He thought for a moment before he said, “I don’t quite understand. What benefits does Mister He actually want from me? Isn’t it obvious that Mister He suffers a loss?”
Being asked that, He Jian laughed. If it was someone else, they wouldn’t be so stupid to do loss business, but He Jian came to Quanlin precisely to take care of this “self”. If He and Qi Yueran got married, of course, Qi Yueran wouldn’t be restricted and could be better protected. When Qi Yueran found someone he liked, he could also dissolve the marriage. If Qi Yueran formed an alliance marriage with other people, it wouldn’t be easy to part without hard feelings.
“I have my reasons. Maybe I’ll tell you later.” Of course, He Jian wouldn’t tell the real reason to Qi Yueran. “You can rest assured that I didn’t mean to harm you.”
Qi Yueran felt that he himself couldn’t make sense of this He Family’s Third-shao. Before He Jian came, everyone had heard of his notorious style, but when Qi Yueran met the person himself, he didn’t think it was true.
Qi Yueran said: “….I need to consider it for a bit.”
“I will leave the day after tomorrow to go back home,” He Jian said: “My old father urgently called me back home. If you have considered it and agreed, then come home with me.”
Qi Yueran was even more astounded. He didn’t expect He Jian would want to take him to He Family so soon. Although Qi Family was one of the top powerful and aristocratic families in Quanlin, it still made Qi Yueran feel nervous as he heard about going to meet the He Family.
He Jian made Qi Yueran stayed for dinner and wanted to send him back to Qi Villa after that. However, Qi Yueran refused by saying that he would be fine by himself and He Jian didn’t insist.
When Qi Yueran returned to Qi Villa, it was past nine o’clock in the evening. When he entered the yard, he looked up and saw the light in the studio on the second floor was on. When he entered the villa, he didn’t see the shadow of his father, so he went directly to the second floor.
Qi Yuexin was just about to enter the studio with a glass of juice when Qi Yueran hurriedly came over to push the wheelchair for him as he said, “Ge, why did you come out to get something? Just let others help you.”
“It’s fine,” Qi Yuexin smiled and shook his head. “You’re back. Was it busy in the company today? You’re so late.”
Qi Yueran hesitated for a moment before he answered vaguely. He didn’t say about going to He Jian’s house and of course, he didn’t say anything about He Jian’s proposal.
Qi Yueran pushed Qi Yuexin into the studio. At a glance, he saw that the painting on the easel was a new one and it was still a painting of He Jian.
Qi Yueran feigned to be thoughtless as he asked, “Ge, why did you draw Mister He? Do you like him?”
Qi Yuexin smiled. He didn’t deny or affirm, only said: “I’m staying at home and can’t go anywhere, I haven’t met any outsiders. But Mister He is a rare guest, who else can I draw? What’s more, Mister He helped me find a doctor to treat my leg. What do you think if I send him a painting? But I’m afraid he won’t like it.”
Qi Yueran felt uncomfortable when he heard this, thinking that sure enough, his older brother really had a good feeling for He Jian. Suddenly it occurred to him, did He Jian also like his older brother?
He Jian said that he would not interfere in his personal life after marriage and supposing that he liked someone, how could He Jian consent to him going out and sleeping around without interfering? Wouldn’t He Jian be wearing a green hat? Qi Yueran felt that He Jian’s marriage with him was definitely not because He Jian liked him. Could it be that He Jian like Qi Yuexin?
The first time He Jian came to Qi Villa, he was lost in thought when he saw Qi Yuexin and Qi Yueran remembered the expression in his eyes at that time, which seemed in complex. Then he made great efforts to find a doctor to treat Qi Yuexin’s leg, which must indicated that he was very concerned about him.
The more Qi Yueran thought about it, the more he felt it was the truth. It was only that He Jian couldn’t marry his older brother under the pressure of his [He]family, so He Jian turned to him as a substitute. It sounded unpleasant to say but which respected household would be willing to bring home a man who couldn’t walk or work?
Qi Yueran felt a little uncomfortable in his heart and went back to his bedroom after spending time with his older brother for a while. He felt very tired today. After filling hot water, he sat in the bathtub to relax and used his phone to browse the news aimlessly. There was no doubt exceptional that all the Quanlin’s gossip news was in the names of him and He Jian. It was said lively and realistically as if they were caught red-handed in bed.
Qi Yueran looked at a few of them and thought that the paparazzi were very funny. After laughing, he felt tangled up again. He didn’t give He Jian an answer. He shouldn’t have hesitated about the pie falling from the sky, but when he thought of his older brother and He Jian, he hesitated.
After taking a bath, Qi Yueran was ready to go to bed. When he passed the mirror at the bathroom door, he stopped. He didn’t look that much alike with his older brother. His older brother hadn’t come out of the house for a long time that his skin was quite white and he also had a pretty neutral face. Even he thought his older brother was very pretty. But it was not the same for him.
He Jian said that he would leave the day after tomorrow. Qi Yueran knew that time was very tight, but he still needed to think carefully. Only after he came into a decision in the next afternoon, he went to see Father Qi and told him about it.
Father Qi was so happy that he believed his hype had made an effect and Qi Yueran agreed. He suddenly thought of something and said, “Right, about Xiao Xin’s legs. Last time, the doctor said to take Xiao Xin to another place for treatment as our city doesn’t have enough facilities. This is the perfect time for you to follow He Jian to return to He Family. You talk with He Jian to take Xiao Xin with you.”
Qi Yueran didn’t know whether He Jian would agree or not. After all, they were going to He Family. He didn’t know whether He Jian would be willing for him to bring one more person gratuitously.
Qi Yueran went out of the study and called He Jian. When He Jian heard that he agreed, he felt very complicated. He said: “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow. About your Ge, we’ll bring him together.”
Hearing his straightforward agreement, Qi Yueran thought that his guess was actually on point. After a long time, he said: “…..Okay. The north of the city…”
“I’ve left someone to deal with the business in the north of the city. It’s estimated that the construction will be started when we come back.” How could He Jian know that Qi Yueran’s thought strayed from his meaning? He wouldn’t regard his “self” as a substitute.
Note:
[1] He-Lao = previously Elder He (He Jian’s dad). I’ll use –lao (laoye=master) and –shao (shaoye=young master) as they are in pinyin. I think I did mentioned in previous note.
