The living room was so quiet that the sound of leather shoes hitting the floor was exceptionally clear, like a spell that seemed to penetrate one's heart step by step.
The three looked up at the newcomer, each with a different expression.
Jiang Yu's face remained expressionless, but his clenched hands betrayed his inner turmoil; Song Yuxi's expression was obvious, her eyes were red from crying, and she stared fiercely at the newcomer.
Compared to them, Fang Zhi's face was pale, and her beautiful eyes were filled with complex and barely perceptible bitterness.
The man stood tall and slender opposite the group.
His handsome face remained expressionless in the backlight, and his expensive handmade suit paired with gold-rimmed glasses made him appear refined and elegant.
"Zhizhi." Qi Shen walked towards Fang Zhi, who was sitting alone on a sofa. As he walked, he spoke in a low, slow voice, revealing a hint of nonchalance, "Why didn't you tell your brother beforehand that you had guests coming to the house?"
"I was quite busy with work at the group, so I got back a little late. On behalf of Zhizhi and myself, I would like to apologize to you both. I hope you don't mind."
The words conveyed apology and humility.
But the man's gaze never lingered on Jiang Yuzhe or Song Yuxi, who was glaring at him.
From the moment he came over until he sat down next to Fang Zhi.
His gentle and refined appearance, coupled with his quiet and unassuming arrogance, were perfectly embodied in him.
"Brother." Fang Zhi forced a stiff smile.
"Mm." Qi Shen, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, naturally and affectionately took the girl's hand. After a moment, his handsome brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and looked at her calmly.
"Why are your hands so cold?" The man's gentle tone carried an unsettling undertone.
"The central air conditioning might be too cold." Fang Zhi's eyelashes trembled.
Qi Shen gave a soft "hmm," held the girl's soft, boneless hand, and instructed, "Next time you come to the living room, wear something thicker, or tell the servants to turn up the temperature."
Jiang Yu watched helplessly as the person he liked interacted with another man.
He wanted to step forward and rebuke him, but the bloody reality was still before him. He wasn't afraid of Qi Shen, but his parents were still being implicated because of him.
Fang Zhi's fingers moved slightly in the man's palm.
He rarely showed his impatience so openly; he always maintained a charming smile. His behavior just now was deliberately intended to embarrass Jiang Yuzhe and the other man.
He could treat them like that, but she couldn't do nothing. Fang Zhi lowered her eyes and spoke softly to ease the awkwardness between Jiang Yuze and Song Yuxi.
"Brother, these two are my classmates. You've met one of them before, Jiang Yuze and Song Yuxi."
Qi Shen tightened his grip on Fang Zhi's hand, but not so much as to hurt her. He glanced meaningfully at the girl's fluffy head, then looked at Jiang Yuze.
Jiang Yu looked directly at him, at this handsome man who was in his prime, not even thirty yet, and already at the pinnacle of power and wealth.
Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, he forced himself to calm down and slowly said, "Mr. Qi, it's been a long time."
"Jiang, too." Qi Shen smiled faintly, his tone as calm as ever, as if nothing had ever happened between them. "It's almost dinner time, why don't you stay and have dinner with us?"
When men clash, it's always about tactics, status, and ability. A single glance is enough to decide the outcome.
Even though he was six years older than Qi Shen and couldn't compare, Jiang Yu knew he had lost.
He might not reach the same level as Qi Shen when he reaches Qi Shen's age; even if he does, it's still six years, how could Qi Shen possibly stand still and not move forward?
"No need for a meal." Jiang Yu's thin lips pressed into a straight line. "I'm here to see Mr. Qi about something."
Qi Shen seemed not to hear, lowering his eyes to look at the hands he and the little girl were holding.
Silence fell once again.
Song Yuxi couldn't bear to see Jiang Yuzhe suffer humiliation time and time again, but the other side was Qi Shen. Not to mention the Jiang family, even if you added their Zhou and Song families, none of the three families could stand up to him.
“Mr. Qi,” she said, her tone wary and cautious, “you should know very well why we’re here.”
Fang Zhi couldn't hold back any longer after she spoke, her soft voice pleading, "Brother..."
Qi Shen lifted his eyelids to look at the little girl's expression and felt that it was about time.
If this drags on any longer, Zhizhi will probably remember for the rest of her life the humiliation of a boy who likes her being humiliated here.
He wouldn't do something so foolish and counterproductive. His goal was to erase her memories, not to deepen them.
Qi Shen released the girl's hand, stood up, and looked down at Jiang Yuze with a calm smile on his handsome face. He said casually, "Since you have something to discuss with me, Jiang, you shouldn't mind coming to my study to talk."
Upon hearing that Qi Shen wanted to speak privately, Fang Zhi instinctively thought he was still targeting Jiang Yuze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she grabbed the man's arm, her voice trembling slightly, "Brother, is there something we can't talk about here?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu paused, a thought flashing through his mind: was she afraid something would happen to him?
"Zhizhi wants to hear?" Qi Shen narrowed his eyes, a shadow crossing his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses. "Or are you afraid something might happen later?"
Is she worried about Jiang Yu?
Doesn't he know? He's already warned her that the more she cares about someone, the more he wants to destroy them.
Fang Zhi looked up at him, and the man had a effeminate smile on his lips, as if he were asking a casual question.
Seeing the undercurrent in his eyes, she instantly sobered up, realizing that if the answer didn't meet his expectations, Jiang Yu's request would definitely not be fulfilled, and she would also suffer.
She pursed her lips, avoiding the man's gaze:
"I'd like to hear it, but I'll pass. I prefer my brother to tell me himself."
Qi Shen was taken aback, then his chest heaved, and a low, slow laugh escaped his throat. After the laughter subsided, he patted the girl's head and said affectionately, "Okay."
He liked it, and even though it was a lie, he believed it this time.
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