Chapter 171 - You… Are You Sure It’s Safe for You to Continue at This Pace? (1/2)
“Does that mean that you disagree?” Jian Yi had not been expecting this at all.
“It’s up to you who you show these to. You can give them to Song Yu’s parents and even provide them with your kind explanation,” Qi Chengzhi said, “I’d never intended to hide this from them their whole lives.
“If they come to hate me for it, or force me to divorce Song Yu, then I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn their forgiveness. I am the man their daughter loves. No matter how much they hate me, they won’t disregard Song Yu’s feelings. As she loves me, I am confident that our journey together will continue as such.”
“You’re that sure that Song Yu won’t grow to hate you, too? You know she despises deceit. In the face of your lie, mine seems insignificant, yet she still holds it against me. She won’t even look me in the eye. Do you really think she’d forgive you and continue loving you after learning of all you’ve done?”
Qi Chengzhi arched an eyebrow, his deep-set, ebony eyes staring into Jian Yi’s. If he put it like that, did it mean he had yet to tell Song Yu?
“Regardless, I already said it’s up to you. If you want to let Song Yu and her parents know, go right ahead.” He placed a distinguished hand atop the doorknob, preparing to leave.
“But, Jian Yi, don’t expect that you will continue to hold your post as the vice-president– nor even that of a lowly manager. You’ll be demoted to a common employee, and you’ll suffer through your remaining days at the company. A person as egotistical as you would definitely quit, right? Nevertheless, no company would dare to hire someone from the Qi family, even if they were only a son-in-law.
“Perhaps you intend to start your own business, then, since you, in your insurmountable arrogance, never wanted to work beneath someone, anyway.” Qi Chengzhi took a breath and stared straight at Jian Yi, his dark eyes smoldering. “From what I’ve gathered, though, your current relationship with Qi Chengyue is not at a stage where she would support the notion of you owning a start-up. Am I wrong?
“You married Chengyue because of her status and money. What can you do without financial support from the Qi family?” Qi Chengzhi looked disdainful. “Jian Yi, let me remind you that everything you own as of now was given to you by the Qi family. The Qi family can bring you glory, but, just as easily, we can cause your greatest humiliation. Success or destruction, we are capable of granting you either. You have to understand that, in these circumstances, where the Qi family has made you the man you are today, you are a fool to come and attempt to threaten one of their own, much less the next head.”
Qi Chengzhi scoffed, giving him a perfunctory, derisive glance as he did so.
Jian Yi’s chest grew tight and his breath came out in short and shallow heaves. He could not understand how Qi Chengzhi had intimidated him, when he was the one with the upper hand!
He wanted to punch the smug look off Qi Chengzhi’s face.
Before he could say or do anything, however, Qi Chengzhi opened the door and left.
The door was left swinging on its hinges, unshut. His expression unchanging, Jian Yi hurled his fist at the frame, a loud, metallic clang resounding throughout the room.
…
…
Song Yu had just finished eating when Qi Chengzhi rang the doorbell. Aunt Yang was busy cleaning in the kitchen.
She ran to open the door, preparing a pair of house slippers for him before he stepped inside. As she waited for him to change his shoes, she took his bag.
“Weren’t you going out tonight? Why are you back so early?”
“I just went there to show my face. I didn’t feel like staying.” Qi Chengzhi lowered his head to study her expression, uncertain as to whether she had learned the truth regarding the Song family’s bankruptcy.
Even though he had behaved in such an assertive manner toward Jian Yi at Shengyue, he still had his fears.
Song Yu looked as she always did, the way she tilted her head to gaze up at him as tender as always.
“You haven’t eaten then?” Song Yu asked, brushing her cheek. “Is there something on my face? You keep looking at me as if there’s something on it.”
Qi Chengzhi chuckled and bent to peck her lips. “Not yet.”
“Why don’t you say so earlier? I just finished eating. If you had called while you were on the way, I could’ve waited for you.” Song Yu’s brows curved into a frown.
Qi Chengzhi lifted his hand, his bony, slender fingers rubbing the area between her eyebrows as if trying to ease out their crease.
Song Yu burst out laughing and grabbed his hand.
“I was worried about traffic. I didn’t know when I’d reach. In all honesty, I hadn’t expected to leave so soon after arriving, but the opportunity presented itself and I took it.” His mellow voice was light and harmonious, abating her concerns.
“What do you want to eat? I’ll cook for you,” Song Yu announced.
“What did you eat?”
“Since it was only Aunt Yang and me, we mixed cucumber with bean curd skin and had stir-fried gai-lan.”
“I’ll have the same thing then. Cook me a plate of gai-lan,” Qi Chengzhi said.
“Okay.” She let him get changed into more comfortable clothing while she prepared the vegetables.
At this point, it was too late to steam rice, so she switched the main dish to fried noodles.
After Qi Chengzhi had changed and come down, he caught sight of Song Yu cooking and leaned against the doorway to observe her. She was alternating between frying the vegetables and checking on the bubbling pot of noodles beside her.
Stealthily, he approached her.
Song Yu did not notice him. Aunt Yang, however, did and had the good sense to exit the kitchen in silence.
Song Yu was about to ask Aunt Yang where she was headed all of a sudden, but, as she turned, her eyes landed on Qi Chengzhi.
She blushed. “What are you doing here? I’m cooking; don’t fool around!”
Qi Chengzhi said nothing. He wrapped both arms around her waist and lowered his head to rest his chin on her shoulder. Then, his head tilting, he pressed his lips to her exposed neck.
Although she was rather calm, her skin, from the back of her neck to the tips of her ears, was bright red.
She turned her head and saw Qi Chengzhi’s half-lidded eyes, his pupils almost completely hidden by his long, thick lashes.
“What is with you today?” She asked, sensing his peculiar state of unrest.
“Nothing,” he mumbled into her neck, his voice low and raspy. His emerging stubble, invisible to the eye, tickled her and she nearly laughed.
“I just feel like it’s so nice to have you waiting for me at home to cook me dinner.”
She smiled, a blissful, buoyant feeling expanding in her chest.
Song Yu turned her head and kissed his forehead. “Me, too. I feel very happy to welcome you home and cook for you.”
Qi Chengzhi pressed his palm to her abdomen. He massaged it for a moment, then, unconsciously, moved lower, his fingers brushing the hem of her pants.
“Qi Chengzhi!” Song Yu blushed violently and hissed, “I’m cooking for you here. Told you not to fool around! Aunt Yang may enter at any time.”
“Aunt Yang left when she saw me. She won’t come in if I’m here,” Qi Chengzhi said while peppering kisses to her skin.
Song Yu grabbed his probing hand and ordered, “Go get me a plate for the vegetables.”
Qi Chengzhi remained stationary. She snapped, “Hurry up!”
Qi Chengzhi gave her a deep kiss before he did as she asked.
Song Yu plated the vegetables and strained the cooked noodles. Then she put them into a pan and stir-fried them briefly.
After placing them in front of Qi Chengzhi, she said, “If you’re coming home without eating, remember to give me a call. I’ll wait for you.”
He mumbled a wordless response.
Song Yu chuckled. She knew that sentimentality was not something that came easy to him. She sat down beside him and watched him eat.
“Oh, right. Remember Grandmother told me yesterday to introduce her to someone who’d be compatible with Chenglin?” Song Yu rested her chin on her hands and gazed at him.
“You found someone?” Qi Chengzhi ate another mouthful of noodles.
“I actually thought that Ruan Danchen might be rather suitable. She has a good personality and character. Chenglin is also not the kind of person who cares about a girl’s family background and status. But, when I mentioned it to Ruan Danchen, she rejected me outright,” Song Yu laughed.
“You told her that you wanted to introduce her to Chenglin?” Qi Chengzhi paused.
“I didn’t specify who it was. I thought that, if she didn’t hit it off with Chenglin, I’d just introduce her to someone else. Anyway, she said that she wants to find an ordinary guy, not a rich one.”
“Her thinking is rather unique. It’s different from the other women in this era,” Qi Chengzhi said with a grin.