Chapter 65 Chapter 65 "I love you."
The car drove through a street where vegetable markets and shops were concentrated and entered an old residential area.
As Qiao Zhuo looked around, he had only one feeling - there were people everywhere.
The house is different from what he imagined, and Tan Du insists on making it "lively" to the end.
There are ornaments on every tabletop that can be used to place things. There is a lazy sofa just a few steps into the living room. The big sofa in the middle is crowded with pillows and surrounded by carpets, which looks very warm.
Tan Du pulled out a pair of cotton slippers with pistachio embroidery from the shoe cabinet and bent down to put them on him. "These are specially prepared for you."
"Then I am also half the owner of the house?" Qiao Zhuo asked.
"The whole thing." Tan Du smiled.
"Show the landlord around." Qiao Zhuo raised his eyebrows.
"Please."
One bedroom, one living room, one kitchen and one bathroom, a typical single-person residence.
"Can you still catch Boss Qiao's eye?" Tan Du asked.
"It's a little small," Qiao Zhuoyi said, sitting by the bedroom bay window, his palms propped up behind him, leaning back slightly and moving his calves. "But it's cozy."
"Really?" Tan Du leaned forward. Qiao Zhuo raised his eyelids and asked cautiously, "What are you doing?"
Tan Du smiled, brushing his lips against the side of his neck. He grabbed his wrist and felt it, then frowned and said, "It's still cold. The air conditioner heats up slowly. Take a bath first, and then you can eat comfortably later."
As soon as Qiao Zhuo entered the bathtub, he found that the person who had filled the bathtub with water had only closed the glass door when leaving.
He sighed heavily, and Tan Du walked back: "Boss Qiao, do you need any other service?"
"Are you planning to be a hooligan by not closing the door?" Qiao Zhuo asked.
Tan Du looked innocent and imitated him: "I was afraid I couldn't hear you."
Qiao Zhuoyi looked up at him and made a gesture.
Tan Du squatted down: "Why..."
Caught off guard, he was splashed with water. He grabbed the hem of his shirt with both hands and pretended to pull it up: "Invite me?"
"Misunderstanding." Qiao Zhuo said seriously, "I'm hungry and need to eat."
Tan Du bit his earlobe and said, "You can eat it after washing it."
"You're lying, Boss Tan." Qiao Zhuo returned to the living room after washing up. The dining table was empty. He walked into the kitchen and complained, "Where's the food?"
"Here." Tan Du lifted the lid of the steamer. "Let it cool outside."
Qiao Zhuoyi reached out and grabbed a piece of braised beef and put it in his mouth: "Hmm, delicious, did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, strictly follow my grandmother's recipe. Can it be salty or not?"
"Hmm," Qiao Zhuoyi stuffed a piece into his mouth, "What's in the pot?"
"Chicken soup, it's almost done." Tan Du scooped out a spoonful and said, "Try it."
"Smells good," Qiao Zhuo scratched his chin, "He can produce so much in such a short time. Boss Tan is really capable."
Tan Du raised his eyebrows, a laugh spilling from his chest. He lowered his head and rubbed his fangs on his fingers: "Of course I can do it."
"...Fuck." Boss Qiao, who had been teased, waved his hand to hit him. Boss Tan picked up the dishes at the right moment and said, "Be careful. Let's get ready to eat. Boss Qiao will teach you a lesson later."
"Okay, you wait."
Warm wind was blowing, and Qiao Zhuoyi was taking a bath and enjoying hot soup. He fell comfortably on the sofa, his eyes darkening. Tan Du had this ability. Being by his side, he could forget all his powerlessness and unbearableness.
The sofa was filled with the smell of the owner of the house. He picked up the pillow and moved his body. His whole body was warm and he felt extremely comfortable.
Tan Du came out of the shower, pulled the man into his arms, and sniffed his neck for a few times, "It feels right now."
Why did both of them feel like blankets? Qiao Zhuo laughed and raised his arm to smell it: "What's that smell?"
"It smells like life." Tan Du fiddled with his earlobe. "It smells like something threatening."
"That's a problem." Qiao Zhuo's ears turned red uncontrollably, and he patted the back of his hand, "Don't touch me."
Tan Du smiled, his hand slipped down and he rubbed his belly: "Are you full? I should have known not to make so much. Why are you eating like a child without restraint?"
Qiao Zhuo poked him in the waist: "Are you restrained?"
On this point, Boss Tan was indeed in the wrong. He rubbed his nose, smiled, and did not refute.
"Have you prepared anything else?" Qiao Zhuo asked, not letting him look into the refrigerator since he entered the door.
"Guessed it?" Tan Du sighed, "What a pity, you can't eat it today."
"Let me see." Qiao Zhuoyi said.
"We agreed to just take a look." Tan Du emphasized.
"Tsk, so annoying." Qiao Zhuoyi couldn't wait to stand up.
Tan Du entered the kitchen and carefully took out the box from the refrigerator.
The cake was not a surprise to Qiao Zhuoyi. What surprised him was the crooked pattern on it. He could vaguely make out an animal that could barely be described as resembling a tiger or leopard.
"Can you see it?" Tan Du rubbed his nose and pointed to the location. "The head is here, and the wings are here."
He turned his fingers twice and said with difficulty: "It's a Pi..."
"Pixiu." Qiao Zhuoyi took over the conversation, placing his forearm to the side and gesturing, "When did you..."
Tan Du tapped his phone with his chin. "I took a picture of you while you were still asleep, and then... ahem, I just drew a picture..."
I dare not say that it is a description, otherwise it would damage Master Qiao’s reputation.
Qiao Zhuo felt his heart filled with warmth and sniffed.
Tan Du smiled and pinched his neck: "Boss Qiao, do I have to pay copyright fees?"
"I've infringed your rights." Qiao Zhuo pushed him away with red eyes and took out his cell phone to take pictures.
"Zhuo Yi."
Qiao Zhuo glanced over in response. His upper body was leaning against the table, lazily curved into an arc. His fingers disobediently smeared some cream on his lips, and his slightly widened starry eyes sparkled.
Snap——
This scene was framed in the camera.
"We agreed not to eat tonight." Tan Du put away his phone contentedly, then leaned over and sucked his finger.
Qiao Zhuo's scalp exploded in an instant and he was speechless.
Tan Du stood up slowly, took the cake and put it back in the refrigerator.
Qiao Zhuo gritted his teeth, wondering how come he was fooled every time.
The main lights in the living room are turned off, and three warm lights are arranged in a staggered manner from high to low, making people feel completely relaxed.
Qiao Zhuoyi walked around and took out a bottle of red wine from the sideboard. Tan Du came out and took it, put his arm around his waist and said, "Here."
Only then did Qiao Zhuoyi discover that there was a hidden staircase deep in the corridor, and there was a small attic when he went up.
There was a sofa chair by the window, and Tan Du pulled him to sit down: "Look."
Qiao Zhuo's eyes narrowed. The car entered the community from the south. He didn't realize that on the other side of the house, across the river, was the most prosperous city center, and the river surface was dotted with bright lights.
"Does it look like an inverted starry sky?" Tan Du asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Qiao Zhuoyi leaned into his arms, found a comfortable position, and said, "When we were little, grandpa liked to take us to the platform to watch the stars. If Qiao Yuyi and I didn't quarrel, mom would give us popsicles."
Tan Du didn't look at him, nor interrupt him, but held his hand and listened quietly.
"Back then, Qiao Tingjin still appeared to be a good husband and son-in-law. After all, it was Grandpa who funded his university education. Later, Mom fell ill and passed away, and Grandpa raised Qiao Yuyi and me. Qiao Tingjin was worried that the old lady would become overthinking without support, and he himself was too grief-stricken, and seeing us would remind him of Mom." Qiao Zhuoyi sneered, "What a pity he didn't go into acting."
Tan Du patted the back of his hand.
"At the time, everyone thought he was affectionate and responsible, until one day, when my grandfather was passing by on business, he discovered that he was already married. This was nothing, at most it exposed his false image of affection. But my grandfather was so angry that he fell ill."
"Is there any other reason?" Tan Du asked at the right time.
"They have a daughter who's just a few months younger than Qiao Yuyi and I, and they cheated on their spouse." Qiao Zhuo said in a deep voice, "It's not over yet. Do you know the name of the woman standing next to him today? Zhang Yuru. That's my mother's name."
Tan Du frowned: "Coincidence or?"
"It's true that her original last name was Zhang, but she changed it on purpose. A fortune teller said it would bring good luck to Qiao Tingjin. Qiao Tingjin had her change it so he could continue to portray himself as a deeply affectionate person. Whether others believe it or not, he's incredibly self-satisfied. Every time Zhang Yuru calls herself 'Mom' in front of me, I feel sick."
Qiao Zhuo's voice trembled and he curled up.
Tan Du hugged him tightly and gently stroked his head: "Take a deep breath, Zhuo Yi, don't hurt yourself."
After a moment of silence, Qiao Zhuoyi slowly calmed down.
Tan Du thought of something: "Your maternal grandfather's surname is Zhang. Was he the ringmaster in Grandma Xu's original opera troupe?"
"Yes," Qiao Zhuo replied. "Grandma Xu and Grandpa Guan took good care of us. At Grandpa's funeral, Grandma Xu pointed at Qiao Tingjin and Zhang Yuru and cursed them in front of everyone. They were afraid of her, so they didn't dare come to the old street, and I was able to have some peace and quiet. When we were in the city, Zhang Yuru came over every few days to make her presence felt, for fear that Qiao Tingjin would remember me as his son again and her money would be reduced.
"Qiao Tingjin has been selfish his entire life. The older he gets, the more he cares about continuing the family line. But that's impossible with me. He and Zhang Yuru's daughter don't have a son, so he wants Lele to change his last name to Qiao.
"Actually, this isn't the first time this has happened."
Last time, Qiao Tingjin had other conditions. Qiao Zhuoyi took Lele back at that time and had a big fight with him and refused to compromise. However, Qin Yun Company's business was affected, and he felt very uncomfortable, so he did not have any contact with Qiao Yuyi for a long time.
"That's why Yu Yi specially sent Yueyue and Lele here last time," Tan Du said, "She didn't blame you."
"I know." Qiao Zhuoyi said.
The past couldn't be changed, and Tan Du didn't want him to recall it. He took away the wine glass, gave him a sip of hot water, and asked softly, "What about today? How did Boss Qiao win?"
Qiao Zhuo perked up at the mention of this. He excitedly recounted the previous events, then raised his chin and asked, "Boss Tan, guess what?"
"How about Boss Qiao tell me what trick you learned from me?" Tan Du clutched his chest. "Isn't it a beauty trap?"
"You're sick." Qiao Zhuo hit him.
Tan Du snorted softly, remembering the expressions of the three people who came out of the box, and asked, "Did you show the video to the Cheng family?"
Qiao Zhuoyi snapped his fingers: "He wants to save face, right? I'll tear his face off in front of the person he cares about the most."
This is the lesson learned from Tan Du's response to Dian Heng: grasp the other party's pain points to protect your own rights and interests.
And show weakness at the right time to let the other party let down their guard.
Qiao Tingjin believed that everything was written on his face and he was straightforward, and he never thought that he would use tricks.
"Brother Liang helped me find out. Qiao Ting had a funding problem when he joined the company. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to find a partner with his father. After I made such a fuss, the Cheng family couldn't afford to give him a low price. He's too busy to take care of himself, and that makes things easier for Lao Qin and Qiao Yuyi. Even if the final payment is delayed this time, I still have savings. If all else fails, I can take on a few more orders."
"Well done," Tan Du said, rubbing his hand, "But don't be too strong."
"I know."
Tan Du was about to say that he had some spare money, but after thinking it over, he changed his words: "Boss Qiao, would you consider taking my order?"
Qiao Zhuoyi sat up and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm jealous," Tan Du said with a pout, "others can have your designs on them, but I don't."
"What nonsense," Qiao Zhuo clicked his tongue and kicked him. "Cellphone."
Tan Du picked it up from the coffee table next to him. Qiao Zhuo opened the software and pulled out the totem picture.
"Is this the one Dian Heng wanted?" Tan Du smiled. "My modeling job doesn't count."
Qiao Zhuo glanced at him, swiped his finger, and changed the picture.
The composition is similar to the previous one, but you can tell at a glance that the person who created the latter one put more thought into it.
Qiao Zhuoyi whispered, "This is the finished product I'm satisfied with. I didn't give it to Dian Heng."
Tan Du took it and looked at it carefully for a while: "These eyes?"
"Don't look like it?" Qiao Zhuo raised his finger and touched his eyelid.
"Looks like it." Tan Du's eyes were glued to the picture, and the unexpected surprise made him a little overwhelmed.
"It's drawn according to the distribution of your bones." Qiao Zhuoyi reached into his shirt and pressed his fingers against his back, stopping at a joint. "Here, I'm telling you, there's a mole."
"Yeah." Tan Du's voice was hoarse.
Qiao Zhuo withdrew his hand and pointed at the end of the eye in the picture: "It's exactly here."
The little red in the midst of all the black is very eye-catching. The overall divinity of the totem is broken by this teardrop mole, adding a sense of falling into the mortal world.
Looking closely at the entire totem, there was a layer of white light around the edge. Tan Du thought: "What is this?"
Qiao Zhuo's eyes wandered, and he coughed lightly, "The night of the power outage."
He had originally envisioned sitting on a lotus platform, but Xiang Yuan had already done something similar, and besides, he didn't want anyone sitting on the altar.
"Then Boss Qiao will look at me?"
"I've seen it, what do you think?" Qiao Zhuoyi was fearless.
Tan Du turned over and pinned the man down: "Speaking of which, I have to thank Yueyue and Lele. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be able to enter Boss Qiao's door."
"Tsk," Qiao Zhuo raised an eyebrow, "Are you in a hurry to marry me?"
Tan Du smiled and said, "Then will you marry her?"
"Let me think about it carefully." Qiao Zhuo said.
"Then tattoo the totem on me first, and it'll be a done deal," Tan Du said, "otherwise I'll regret it."
Qiao Zhuo shook his head. It would be painful to stab such a large area. There was no need to do that.
Tan Du was about to say something else when Qiao Zhuoyi suddenly narrowed his eyes and pushed his shoulder, motioning him to look outside.
In the night sky, drones arranged numbers——
10, 9, 8...
After the number "1" spread out, there was a bang and the fireworks exploded.
Two shadows overlapped on the floor.
They kissed in a space that belonged only to the two of them, amidst the vast and bright sky and earth, putting everything aside to enjoy their first New Year's Eve together.
Things gradually calmed down outside the window, and "last year" came to an end.
Qiao Zhuoyi clearly heard Tan Du say "I love you" in his ear, like the first stitch of a tattoo, which made him shed natural tears and he couldn't recover for a long time.
He confessed the past that he didn't want to talk about, allowing Tan Du to completely enter his world.
But the other person's world is still shrouded in fog, and his sanity is fluctuating.
Qiao Zhuo looked at him for a while, curled the corners of his lips, tapped his forehead, and replied with three words.
"I know."
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