CH 71

In the room enclosed on all sides with the lights turned on making the room perpetually as bright as day, Su Shiqing sat on the bed, hugging his arms. It was clearly not cold, but was still shivering, his eyes wide open and flickering around in fear.

He thought that he would be rescued soon, but after such a long time, his hope was shattered little by little.

Mr. Zheng would come to see him every day, talk to him, and tell him about the current situation.

Su Shiqing himself didn’t know how many times he begged Mr. Zheng. He tried his best to convince Mr. Zheng, promising that Qin Yue and the others would definitely give him benefits after he went out.

But Mr. Zheng was unmoved.

Mr. Zheng persisted in wanting him to fall in love with him.

Su Shiqing was about to collapse mentally.

There were footsteps outside the door again, Su Shiqing buried his head on his knees, weeping silently.

Why was it always him who got hurt?

Since childhood, he had never hurt anyone, and he was willing to treat everyone with a tolerant heart.

Even if others treat him badly, he would not harbor hatred in his heart.

But why, why were there still so many people who didn’t like him?

Why? Su Shiqing couldn’t figure it out, he clealry wished that everyone would have a good life and everyone would be happy.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer, Su Shiqing sniffed, thinking with despair: He had to gather his energy again to deal with Mr. Zheng’s madness.

“Shi Qing!”

“Shi Qing! Are you inside?!”

It was the voices of Chu Haoyi and Qin Yue.

Su Shiqing raised his head, with an ecstatic expression on his face: “I’m here! I’m here! Ah Yue! Hao Yi! I’m here!”

Mr. Zheng locked the door of this room tightly every time. Although it was a wooden door, Su Shiqing couldn’t break it open with only his strength. After trying a few times, he gave up and could only wait for others to rescue him.

There was the sound of colliding on the door from outside, and the door frame was shaking non-stop.

Su Shiqing covered his mouth with his hands, afraid that he would burst into tears.

When Qin Yue’s face appeared within Su Shiqing’s field of vision, he finally couldn’t help but rush forward. He threw himself into Qin Yue’s arms, but he didn’t see Chu Haoyi’s lonely expression standing beside Qin Yue.

Chu Haoyi’s fists were clenched tightly. As long as Qin Yue was around, no matter what he said or did, Su Shiqing would not be able to see him.

No one cared about his dedication, and no one would feel distress for him.

“Did that surnamed Zheng do anything to you?” Qin Yue held Su Shiqing’s face in his hands, and then touched Su Shiqing’s arms, “Are you injured?”

Su Shiqing wiped his tears and said in a choked up voice, “I’m not hurt, I’m just scared, I thought you wouldn’t come find me, I don’t know how I survived this whole time…..”

Qin Yue gently patted Su Shiqing’s back, and softly comforted him: “It’s okay, you will never encounter such a thing again, I will protect you well.”

Su Shiqing couldn’t help but nod.

Standing there, Chu Haoyi felt completely like an outsider.

He didn’t even want to look directly at Su Shiqing.

“Hao Yi.” Su Shiqing finally noticed him.

Chu Haoyi looked over.

In Qin Yue’s arms, Su Shiqing smiled weakly at Chu Haoyi. He was like a flower blooming in the dust. Although he was so weak, he was still eye-catching, with a kind of abused beauty.

“Hao Yi, thank you for coming to save me.”

Chu Haoyi’s voice trembled a little: “It’s nothing.”

Su Shiqing added, “You are my best friend.”

Chu Haoyi smiled with difficulty: “Yeah.”

Best friend.

Chu Haoyi couldn’t describe his current emotions.

He only felt that his limbs and internal organs were getting colder and colder.

For so many years, he had accumulated strength, hoping that one day when he returned to China, he could support Su Shiqing and build a world for Su Shiqing that would not let him be hurt or sad. During his most difficult and bitter days, it was thoughts about Su Shiqing that helped get him by.

Though he clearly told himself countless times that as long as Su Shiqing lived happily, he didn’t matter.

But at this time, he felt unwilling again.

How was Qin Yue better than him?

Was it because Qin Yue was the heir of the Qin family, but he was only from the Chu family?

But did Su Shiqing know that Qin Yue was no longer the heir of the Qin family?

Chu Haoyi was very conflicted in his heart. He didn’t want to watch the scene of Qin Yue and Su Shiqing expressing their love for each other again, so he turned around and said, “I’m going back first.”

Su Shiqing leaned his head on Qin Yue’s shoulder, tightly clutching Qin Yue’s clothes, and did not look at the back of the departing Chu Haoyi.

Qin Yue carried Su Shiqing out and looked straight ahead: “I will deal with surnamed Zheng. You don’t have to think about anything, just take care of your health first.”

Su Shiqing tilted his head: “Ah Yue, there is something that I don’t know whether I should tell you or not.”

Qin Yue looked down at him: “What is it?”

“The reason why I was locked up by Mr. Zheng…..is…..is because…..” He seemed to be unable to continue, bowing his head and crying.

Qin Yue hugged him even tighter, as if he could pass on his own strength to him.

Su Shiqing sobbed a few times, and finally continued, “Ah Zhen, he, Ah Zhen…..”

“Because I went to work at Qin Group, Ah Zhen thought I was trying to get close to Uncle Qin, and he hit me before I could even explain myself…..” Su Shiqing finally couldn’t help himself, and burst into tears, saying with difficulty while crying, “I didn’t, I’m wasn’t, I never thought of getting close to Uncle Qin, I just want to work in Qin Group, learn more things, and help you in the future.”

“I was beaten unconscious by him, and when I woke up again, I was locked up by Mr. Zheng.”

Su Shiqing wiped his tears: “I don’t know why he hates me so much that he wants to treat me like this?”

He never mentioned the real reason why he went to the Qin Group, nor did he mention that it was him who got into contact with Mr. Zheng.

He spoke extremely sincerely, as if what he said was the truth. He kept wiping away his tears, which wet the front of Qin Yue’s shirt.

Qin Yue frowned, his eyes full of anger: “How could Xiao Zhen treat you like this?!”

Su Shiqing became more and more pitiful: “I, I told him before that if he really can’t let you go, I’m willing to fulfill the two of you.”

“Ah Yue, I don’t have to fight with him.” Su Shiqing said, “I know that you grew up together, and your relationship is very deep, which is beyond my comparability, but I don’t think there is such a thing as a first-come, first-served rule when it comes to relationships. But Xiao Zhen is also my friend, if he must be with you, I can also step back.”

Su Shiqing sobbed, “I just hope that the three of us can return to our original friendship.”

Qin Yue looked at Su Shiqing with complicated eyes: “Shi Qing, you don’t hate him even though he treats you like this?”

Su Shiqing shook his head: “It’s me, I was the one who failed him, I shouldn’t have met you, I shouldn’t have talked to you, let alone…..fall in love with you.”

“You’re just too kind.” Qin Yue’s thumb brushed against Su Shiqing’s cheek, as if he wanted to wipe away all of Su Shiqing’s tears, as gently as if he was touching a piece of tofu that would crumple when touched.

Su Shiqing bit his lip and leaned weakly against Qin Yue’s chest.

He was brought back by Qin Yue to the house that Qin Yue specially bought for him. This house was a duplex with two floors and had more than 200 square meters. Su Shiqing’s father, Su Yuan, and mother, Ge Lan, both live in this house. They also haven’t seen Su Shiqing for a long time.

When encountering each other suddenly, both sides were stunned for a while.

Su Shiqing didn’t expect that his parents had never returned to the Su family.

But Su Yuan and Ge Lan did not expect their son to come back in such a state of embarrassment.

Su Yuan also knew about Su Shiqing and Qin Yue’s affairs now, and his attitude was much worse than Gu Lan’s supportive attitude. In his eyes, it was shameless for his son to mix with men, so while enjoying the benefits brought by Su Shiqing with peace of mind, at the same time he hated his son for being gay.

In a way, he and Su Shiqing really deserved to be father and son.

“Dad, Mom.” Su Shiqing stood with difficulty and hugged Ge Lan, “Mom!”

Both mother and son sobbed together.

Su Yuan was asking Qin Yue to explain himself at this time: “Mr. Qin! What happened to Shi Qing?! Why is he in such a bad state? Since you can’t take good care of Shi Qing, don’t come to see Shi Qing anymore. This family does not welcome you.”

Qin Yue: “Uncle Su, it was indeed my negligence before, but I can guarantee that I will not let Shi Qing be in danger again.”

“Dad!” Su Shiqing said quickly, “Don’t blame Ah Yue, Ah Yue doesn’t know anything, if you want to blame someone, blame me, it’s my own problem!”

Seeing that Su Shiqing was still defending him, Qin Yue’s heart softened into a puddle of water. He swore to Su Shiqing, “Shi Qing, I will definitely give you justice. I will go find Shen Zhen now.”

This was the first time that Qin Yue had called Shen Zhen by his full name, and Su Shiqing was instantly overjoyed.

He and Qin Yue have been together for so long, but every time Qin Yue mentioned Shen Zhen, he would call him Xiao Zhen, and his tone was very intimate.

Even though he never said anything, it didn’t mean he didn’t mind.

Su Shiqing persuaded: “Xiao Zhen and Uncle Qin have a very good relationship now, don’t go to him, lest Uncle Qin won’t even like you anymore too, I…..I’m fine…..”

“It’s okay for me to be wronged.” Su Shiqing sniffed, “Anyway, I’m used to it. Isn’t it always like this since I was a child?”

Being bullied in the Su family, he could only endure it.

Being kicked out of the Qin family, he could only endure it.

Not being welcomed by the Shen family, and being hated by the Chu family.

He couldn’t do anything.

Su Shiqing bit his lower lip, but at least, Qin Yue loved him.

Chu Haoyi loved him.

Even that crazy Mr. Zheng loved him.

Didn’t being loved by excellent people mean that he was also an excellent person?

“There will be a gala tomorrow night.” Qin Yue said to Su Shiqing, “Shen Zhen will also go, and I will take you with me when the time comes, and I will definitely give you justice. No matter what, Shen Zhen should apologize to you.”

Su Shiqing looked at Qin Yue, and shook his head with tears in his eyes: “No, what if Uncle Qin hates you even more? I don’t care, I can bear how I am treated, but I cannot accept you being wronged.”

Qin Yue pulled Su Shiqing into his arms, and said softly: “It’s okay, if I can’t even protect my lover, what kind of man am I?”

Su Shiqing: “Ah Yue…..”

The two of them seemed to have completely forgotten that Su Yuan and Ge Lan were watching from the sidelines.

——

“Tomorrow’s gala.” Shen Zhen straightened his tie and said to his assistant, “Can I not attend?”

The assistant said helplessly: “CEO Shen, it’s a once-a-year gala, so it’s better to go.”

Shen Zhen sighed, and it seemed that he couldn’t escape from it: “Okay, you give me the information of the guests who will be attending tomorrow.”

“You come with me tomorrow.” Shen Zhen said to his assistant, “You will be reimbursed for all expenses, and your salary will be increased by two points this month.”

The assistant nodded immediately: “Okay!”

Shen Zhen smiled and said, “You won’t even refuse a bit?”

The assistant also laughed: “That’s money you’re talking about, anyway, I have nothing to do tomorrow night either.”

On the night of the gala, it was Qin Xing’s driver who came to pick up Shen Zhen.

“Mr. Qin told me before he left that if you need to use the car during this time, to call me.”

The driver said: “I don’t drink alcohol, and I don’t drive while tired. It’s very safe.”

Shen Zhen felt as if everyone had realized that he paid special attention to safety.

It might be because he died once, so Shen Zhen cherished life very much.

Don’t mention drunk driving, he had never even run through a red light once, and even if it was a yellow light, he would stop the car obediently.

The assistant’s surname was Li, Li Xiaolin. This name was very unisex. One couldn’t tell whether it was a man or a woman just by listening to the name. She was wearing the evening dress that Lin Yuan had someone prepare for her. Participating in this level of social gathering, and as Shen Zhen’s female companion, she did not sleep at all the night before due to the excitement.

Such that she got up in the middle of the night and read the information of all the guests again, trying her best to be able to match the photos with the people when seeing them in person.

“Very beautiful.” Shen Zhen said to Li Xiaolin, “You have a very good figure.”

Li Xiaolin blushed a little, and carefully looked at Shen Zhen’s profile. She was sitting next to Shen Zhen, and at this time she felt that the temperature in the car was so high that she couldn’t breathe.

The plot of the novel “The Domineering CEO Falls in Love with Me” that she had read before suddenly emerged.

This kind of beginning, could it be…..

Li Xiaolin fantasized for a while, and blushed like an apple.

Shen Zhen also noticed it, and he asked, “Is the heat too high?”

The driver also said, “Then I’ll turn it down a little bit.”

Li Xiaolin shook her head vigorously: “No, no, the heat is not very high.”

Shen Zhen: “You don’t have a cold, do you? If so then don’t go tonight, I’ll take you to the hospital first?”

Li Xiaolin said excitedly: “No, I don’t have a cold, I’m just too nervous!”

Shen Zhen was doubtful: “Really?”

Li Xiaolin: “It’s more real than pearls!”

Shen Zhen: “Then okay, if you feel uncomfortable, tell me earlier, don’t bear it.”

Li Xiaolin breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay.”

She calmed down her heartbeat, but still paid attention to Shen Zhen involuntarily.

He had a good figure, good looks, and had a gentlemanly demeanor. As his assistant, she also knew that Shen Zhen’s private life was also very clean.

So young yet he was already a CEO.

Such a man must have many suitors, right?

If one could be with him, one must have a very happy life, right?

Li Xiaolin’s thoughts wandered into the sky.

Don’t know who had such luck. If she had such luck, she would really celebrate by setting off firecrackers.

The gala was held in a hotel on the outskirts of the city. This hotel occupied a large area, but it was more of a green environment and was built like a manor. After entering the iron gate, passing through the garden and fountains, one could see the hotel’s true face.

Shen Zhen opened the car door, got out of the car, politely put his hand on the top of the car door, and waited for Li Xiaolin to come out before he withdrew his hand.

The doorman opened the door, and Shen Zhen took off his coat and handed it to the attendant standing on the side.

Li Xiaolin followed behind Shen Zhen, her heart beating non-stop.

“It’s Young Master Shen!”

“It’s rare to see you. I thought you wouldn’t come this time.”

“What Young Master Shen? Now it’s CEO Shen.”

Many people came to say hello, and Shen Zhen also greeted back politely.

“Is this CEO Shen’s girlfriend?” Someone suddenly asked about Li Xiaolin.

Li Xiaolin quickly said: “No, I am…..”

Shen Zhen interrupted: “We’re friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend.”

After Shen Zhen said that, of course the other didn’t continue to ask questions tactlessly.

“I seem to have seen Eldest Young Master Qin just now.” Someone said suddenly.

“He’s over there, does CEO Shen want to go over?”

Most of them know that Shen Zhen and Qin Yue have been playmates since childhood, but they didn’t know what happened afterwards.

Shen Zhen waved his hand: “No need.”

The person who mentioned Qin Yue had an embarrassed expression on his face, but he quickly said, “That’s right, it’s common to see each other after all.”

After finally chatting with a bunch of people, Shen Zhen finally found a sofa and sat down. He was not hungry, nor did he want to eat snacks, let alone drink alcohol.

Li Xiaolin asked worriedly: “CEO Shen, we will just be sitting here?”

Shen Zhen nodded: “What else, anyway, I just came to have a look, and there is no need to establish a good relationship with them.”

When there were benefits, these people would naturally rush forward.

No matter how good the relationship was, if there were no benefits then it was useless.

Li Xiaolin was still a little worried. In her view, all the people attending this gala were big shots.

Shen Zhen: “If you’re hungry, there are desserts on the table, or you can ask the waiter to order what you want.”

Li Xiaolin shook her head: “No need, I’ve been trying to lose weight recently.”

Shen Zhen glanced at her: “You are not fat, just fit.”

Li Xiaolin’s face turned red again. This kind of careless seduction was the most deadly.

Just as Shen Zhen was about to sit here until the gala was over, the light in front of him was suddenly blocked, casting a shadow.

Shen Zhen raised his head, and what he saw was Qin Yue’s angry face.

Qin Yue seemed to be holding his breath, and said through gritted teeth: “Shen Zhen, come out with me.”

Shen Zhen asked inexplicably, “Why?”

Qin Yue: “If you don’t want to fight with me in public and lose face in front of everyone, it’s better to go out with me.”

Li Xiaolin also saw that Qin Yue’s intentions were not friendly, so she plucked up her courage and said: “Mr., Mr. Qin, if you have anything to say, you can contact the lawyer. If you do anything to CEO Shen, I will call the police now and sue you for intentional injury.”

Qin Yue glanced at Li Xiaolin with an unkind expression.

Li Xiaolin choked instantly.

Shen Zhen stood up from the sofa and looked at Qin Yue face to face. The distance between them was no more than ten centimeters. Qin Yue’s eyes were full of anger, but Shen Zhen’s eyes were emotionless and still.

The two sides confronted each other, and neither of them moved.

“Shi Qing, did you hit him?” Qin Yue asked.

Shen Zhen: “En, I did.”

Qin Yue: “You also handed him over to surnamed Zheng?”

Shen Zhen didn’t quite understand, he sneered and said, “Qin Yue, use your brain when you speak, who is surnamed Zheng?”

Qin Yue lowered his voice: “Shen Zhen, don’t play dumb.”

The two just looked at each other, and Li Xiaolin was so anxious that she almost cried.

“What’s happening between CEO Shen and Eldest Young Master Qin?”

“Argument? Didn’t they have a good relationship before?”

“Who knows? Young people have big tempers, so there must be some friction?”

Qin Yue: “You should give an explanation for what Shi Qing had suffered during this period of time, shouldn’t you?”

“What explanation?” Shen Zhen looked at Qin Yue expressionlessly, “He did it to himself, yet I have to give him an explanation?”

Qin Yue clenched his fist tightly, as if he was about to swing it at Shen Zhen’s face in the next second.

Qin Yue: “You aren’t sorry for what you have done even now? Shi Qing never hurt you, but you have always hated him. Aren’t you ashamed of your viciousness?”

“Ashame?” Shen Zhen tilted his head and smiled at Qin Yue: “The only thing that makes me feel ashamed is that when he first appeared, I should have made him disappear from my eyes forever.”

“Why are you so cruel?” Qin Yue was extremely angry, his fists trembling slightly.

Shen Zhen: “Let’s go.”

Qin Yue was taken aback for a moment: “Go where?”

Shen Zhen sneered and said, “Aren’t you going to take me to a quiet place? Let’s go.”

With so many people watching, it would be difficult for him to beat up Qin Yue.

Originally he thought that Su Shiqing and Qin Yue could stay away from his sight, but since they came out to find fault by themselves, they couldn’t blame him.

The two walked towards the corner of the garden in silence.

Shen Zhen saw Su Shiqing sitting by the small fountain almost at a glance.

Su Shiqing lost weight, but not much. His lame leg was well concealed, and if he walked slowly, one wouldn’t be able to see it at all.

“Ah Yue!” Su Shiqing came over, but stopped when he saw Shen Zhen. His face turned pale, as if he remembered the time when he was pushed down to the ground by Shen Zhen and beaten viciously.

Except for that incident with Shen Li, he was only beaten by Shen Zhen.

His fear of Shen Zhen rose at this moment.

“Su Shiqing.” Shen Zhen didn’t even spare Su Shiqing a look, “Isn’t the lesson from last time not enough?”

Su Shiqing trembled: “No, no, I persuaded Ah Yue, but Ah Yue didn’t listen to me…..”

“Shi Qing!” Qin Yue finally couldn’t help but said, “Can’t you not be so gentle? It’s him who did the wrong thing, not you!”

Su Shiqing looked at Qin Yue, and tears fell from the corners of his eyes again.

“This drama is a bit lame.” Shen Zhen watched from the side with folded arms.

Shen Zhen: “I’m not very interested either.”

Su Shiqing: “…..Xiao Zhen, you should have calmed down now, right? I, I, I can forgive you for treating me like that before, as long as you are no longer like before…..”

“Forgive?” Shen Zhen seemed to have heard some joke, “You, forgive, me?”

“Why should I ask you to forgive me?”

“Apart from Qin Yue and Chu Haoyi, what chips do you have?”

Shen Zhen smiled and said: “By the way, I don’t even care about Qin Yue and Chu Haoyi now.”

Shen Zhen turned to look at Qin Yue, the smile on the corner of his mouth turning a bit evil: “Are you sure you want to shed all pretenses of cordiality?”

“If you decide so, it doesn’t matter to me.”