CH 3

Qi Xing said he had taken a liking to Lin Zhinian but hadn’t taken it too seriously. It had been several days since the charity banquet, and he had almost forgotten about it.

It was on a certain night at a nightclub when Qi Xing was drinking and playing cards with others. Yang Kaiming and the other dandies who knew his intentions in pursuing Lin Zhinian brought up the topic, and that’s when he remembered.

Throwing down the cards in his hand, he casually shrugged and said, “What’s the rush? When I say I’m going to pursue someone, I definitely will.”

Someone teased him, “Didn’t you pursue that young celebrity before? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already bored because you couldn’t perk his interests?”

Qi Xing didn’t bother to explain, 

Yang Kaiming chimed in, “You guys don’t understand Qi Xing. He likes those pure, unpretentious, genuinely devoted white lotuses who don’t care about his money. Do you think such people truly exist? That’s why he’s always on the pursuit, but he can never catch up.”

They all burst into laughter, and Qi Xing rolled his eyes. “You guys just watch. This time, I will definitely succeed.”

“Really, Qi Xing? I heard that Lin the Great Painter is actually related to the Ye family. Are you daring to compete with him for someone?”

“That’s right, Ye Xingzhao is not ordinary at all. None of those high and mighty old folks from the Ye family ended up in a good situation in his hands. Qi Xing, I don’t think you match up to him, It’s better to forget about it.”

“Beautiful people can be found anywhere. Why bother competing with someone like Ye Xingzhao for Lin Zhinian?”

Various voices chimed in,, but Qi Xing didn’t pay attention to any of them.

Was Ye Xingzhou really that amazing? He didn’t feel that he was inferior to Ye Xingzhou in any way. He had set his sights on Lin Zhinian, and he wouldn’t give up without pursuing him.

So, the next day, he headed straight to Lin Zhinian’s art exhibition.

It was Qi Xing’s first time in such a place, and he sent a WeChat message to Lin Zhinian when he arrived at the entrance. Lin Zhinian came out to greet him after about ten minutes. Qi Xing caught sight of him walking out, dressed in retro suspenders, a white shirt, and wearing a beret. He exuded an artistic vibe, and Qi Xing couldn’t help but whistle softly in his mind, he really was attractive.

Lin Zhinian came over to greet him, saying, “Sorry, Qi Xing. It’s the weekend, and there are quite a few people here. I was chatting with someone and came out late.”

“It’s alright. I came uninvited,” Qi Xing generously replied.

Lin Zhinian invited him inside.

The exhibition hall wasn’t large, but it was tastefully decorated with an artistic atmosphere. Lin Zhinian led Qi Xing inside and explained the artworks along the way.

Qi Xing listened absentmindedly. He was more interested in the people painting rather than the flowers he couldn’t appreciate. He didn’t go there today to see an art exhibition at all.

Finally, they stopped in front of an oil painting near the floor-to-ceiling window. Lin Zhinian briefly mentioned the name of the painting, without going into as much detail as with the others. Qi Xing’s gaze lingered on it for a few extra seconds, lost in thought.

He knew the painting, “The Youth’s Wish.” It had won a gold award at a well-known international art exhibition the previous year, and it had led Lin Zhinian to fame.

The painting depicted a slender boy with his back to the viewer, peering into the only beam of light in the darkness. The overall tone of the painting was somewhat heavy and oppressive, but it was intentionally placed by the brightest spot near the window. The light inside and outside the painting seemed to overlap, conveying a certain metaphorical meaning.

Before coming, Qi Xing had looked up information about this art exhibition online and came across an interview with Lin Zhinian where he mentioned this painting and its special significance. However, he didn’t explicitly explain what it meant in the interview.

“Sir  Lin, can I buy this painting?” Qi Xing turned his head and asked with a smile.

Lin Zhinian directly refused, “I’m sorry, Qi Xing. I have no intention of selling this painting.”

“That’s a pity,” Qi Xing expressed some regret, “Is it because this painting holds a special meaning for you?”

Lin Zhinian looked slightly embarrassed, “I’m sorry, it’s a private matter.”

“Oh, alright then,” Qi Xing shrugged, “Let’s forget about it.”

As they were talking, a voice suddenly came from behind them, “Zhinian.”

Qi Xing turned around and saw Ye Xingzhou again. He had just entered the exhibition hall, took off his suit jacket and draped it over his arm. He was impeccably dressed, with glasses perched on his nose and his hair neatly groomed, exuding an elite aura.

Lin Zhinian went to greet him, slightly surprised, “Xingzhou, why are you here?”

Ye Xingzhou didn’t explain much, “Come with me for a moment.”

Lin Zhinian mentioned that he had made an appointment with a professor to visit the exhibition that day, and he didn’t want to break it at the last minute.

Ye Xingzhou said, “You go ahead, I’ll wait for you at the café outside.”

Lin Zhinian just breathed a sigh of relief when Qi Xing called out to him, “sir Lin, I’ve come all the way here just to invite you to dinner?”

Lin Zhinian could only apologize, “I’m sorry, Qi Xing. Let’s make plans for another time.”

“Alright,” Qi Xing shrugged, “I’ve only just met you, so I’m aware i can’t compare to others.”

Lin Zhinian became even more embarrassed and apologized to him again.

Ye Xingzhou cast a cold glance at Qi Xing but said nothing. He turned around and left first.

Five minutes later, at the café.

Qi Xing pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Ye Xingzhou, raising an eyebrow at the man looking back at him, “Shall we chat?”

Ye Xingzhou’s expression was cold and indifferent, neither confirming nor denying. Qi Xing went straight to the point and asked, “What’s your relationship with sir Lin?”

Ye Xingzhou didn’t answer immediately, just calmly looked at him.

Qi Xing maintained his composure and returned his gaze. With only the distance of a coffee table between them, he finally saw clearly the eyes hidden behind the silver-framed glasses—narrow and restrained, pressed beneath sharp eyebrows. The eyes were deep in color, untroubled as they stared at people, resembling frost.

He felt annoyed inwardly and said, ‘Hey?’

Ye Xingzhou asked, ‘how is my relationship with him your business?’

His tone was contemptuous. Qi Xing confirmed once again  the person in front of him was truly unlikeable.

‘I plan to pursue sir Lin. Originally, your relationship with him had nothing to do with me, and it doesn’t affect what I will do. But to avoid making things difficult for sir  Lin, I thought I should inform you first. If you don’t say anything, that’s fine. Anyway, I’ve set my sights on him.’ Qi Xing leaned back in his chair, assuming a relaxed posture while maintaining an arrogant attitude.

Ye Xingzhou picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and casually replied with two words, ‘do as you please’’

Qi Xing’s gaze stopped on his face, and he smiled. ‘I don’t think you and him are a match at all.’

Ye Xingzhou remained calm and asked, ‘Why do you say that?’

‘Intuition,’ Qi Xing pointed to his own head and made a shooting gesture toward Ye Xingzhou. ‘My intuition has always been accurate, and I sense that your thoughts toward him are impure.’

When pursuing a beautiful person, it’s necessary to have a good understanding of a formidable rival.

The previous night, when his group of friends mentioned Ye Xingzhou, some of them were well-informed and casually gossiped. They said he was the eldest son and illegitimate child of the Ye family patriarch. He was only brought back from the outside world when he was in his teens. Before the patriarch passed away, he had been low-key and average. No one expected that after the patriarch’s death, he would suddenly emerge, unite with the other shareholders and directors of the company, forcefully seize power, and successfully get rid of any Ye family members who didn’t submit to him.

Although that was the case, there were always some people who didn’t dare to provoke him in significant matters but intentionally caused trouble for him in other ways. Among his uncles and elders, some tried to interfere in his marriage, using it as a means to control him.

‘I heard that last month his uncle publicly played matchmaker for him at a social event, causing quite a scene. Since then, he has been seen frequently with the painter Lin.’

The  young men laughed and joked about the affairs of others, treating it as entertainment. Qi Xing casually listened but paid attention to what he heard.

Ye Xingzhou probably wasn’t afraid of others gossiping about his sexual orientation. However, for the Ye family, who considered themselves the so-called upper class, those old folks with their esteemed positions probably couldn’t bear the humiliation.

Ye Xingzhou remained unmoved, not taking his provocation seriously. He no longer paid attention to Qi Xing.

Glancing at his watch, he stood up, preparing to leave.

Qi Xing, who was being ignored, was unhappy and called out, ‘Hey, you said you were waiting for sir Lin here. He hasn’t arrived, and you’re leaving already. Is your patience that short? ‘

Ye Xingzhou picked up his suit jacket and put it back on his arm. As he passed by Qi Xing, he stopped, turned his head, and looked at him.

Qi Xing raised his eyes and met the direct gaze behind the lenses, perceiving a clear scrutiny in those black, profound eyes. His expression froze for a moment, and he instinctively raised his voice a bit, ‘What? Can’t admit it when you’re exposed?’

Ye Xingzhou silently watched Qi Xing, who resembled a belligerent rooster, shaking his crest and fanning his tail feathers, posturing and acting arrogantly. He had seen many such people before, and if there was anything different about  Qi Xing it was probably that he was exceptionally good-looking, with coquettish eyes fluttering about as if he were flirting with someone, although he himself seemed unaware of it.

Ye Xingzhou had previously met Qi Ronghua, who appeared to be a lucky upstart according to most people but seemed shrewd in his eyes. He didn’t expect his son to have the same qualities.

A waste of a good-looking appearance.

Qi Xing felt increasingly uneasy under Ye Xingzhou’s silent gaze. Before he could furrow his brows, Ye Xingzhou’s slender fingers, with distinct knuckles, suddenly reached out and stopped by the side of his face.

Qi Xing was taken aback, and Ye Xingzhou’s fingertip had already brushed past his jaw. The clear and warm touch made him shudder, almost causing him to jump.

‘What are you doing?’ Qi Xing asked impatiently.

Ye Xingzhou calmly withdrew his hand. His face showed no expression, but his tone carried mockery. ‘With just a touch, you already have the look of being taken advantage of. With your current state, do you think you can pursue someone like i do ?’

Qi Xing: ‘…’

After coming back to his senses, his blood surged, his face turned red, and he stared at Ye Xingzhou with anger. The man who had ‘taken advantage’ of him had already left gracefully.

Qi Xing couldn’t bear it any longer and flipped him off as his retreating figure grew distant.”