Just as Yi Qingju was about to push away the man in front of her, a low yet suppressed voice filled with anger suddenly rang out.
"What are you doing?"
Yi Qingju was given a fright and raised her eyes to meet Qi Weiran's amber eyes shrouded in a thin chill, peering at her over Xie Zhiyu's shoulders.
Although his expression was still as impassive as always, for no reason, the first thought that popped into her mind was—
He's angry.
Upon hearing Qi Weiran's voice, Xie Zhiyu, who had been holding Yi Qingju, gracefully withdrew his hand and took a step back.
"Mr. Qi, you've misunderstood. Just now Madam happened to trip and fall, and I just helped steady her."
He looked sincere with a calm tone. His light-colored eyes stared frankly at the formidable man before him without avoidance.
At this time, Yi Qingju walked up to him and stood in front of him. Her cat-like eyes gazed at him carefully: "Sir, he's right. I stumbled and fell just now. Please don't misunderstand."
【What are you angry about?】
Qi Weiran lowered his eyes to look at her, and immediately questioned her coldly: "Who allowed you to come here?"
Yi Qingju bowed her head and bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes: "I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't know I wasn't allowed here. It's all my fault."
【You'll do it again next time】
【I'm very sorry that I discovered your secret】
【I knew the TV series were all fake, how could rich and powerful people not indulge in carnal pleasures. Turns out you were acting out an unrequited, deep obsessive love script all along. If you can't get her, then imprison her and not let anyone see her】
【Tsk, just one step away. How could he be willing to just be his boss. Judging by the way he looks at him, it's far from innocent】
Qi Weiran: "......"
Oddly, his anger suddenly deflated.
He didn't even know how to refute her in that moment.
"You go out first."
He said coldly.
Yi Qingju pursed her lips, a flash of hurt in her eyes.
But she obediently left in fits and starts.
【Goodbye, my shift is over】
Yi Qingju's purpose of leaving in fits and starts was not only to maintain her image, but also to conveniently observe the interaction between the two.
In the moment the elevator door closed, Yi Qingju caught a glimpse of the two sitting opposite each other.
Her emotions instantly became complicated. Qi Weiran's attitude was nowhere near how he would treat an ordinary gardener. There must be something dubious between them.
But her interest was merely out of gossip, not genuine curiosity.
【Hehe, I should go back and calculate how much compensation I can get from Qi Weiran for cheating】
Qi Weiran pursed his lips.
She had all but plastered her intentions on his face.
Looking at the plate on the table with traces of cream left, Qi Weiran raised his head to look at the man before him: "I don't remember allowing you to talk to her on your own accord."
Although Xie Zhiyu was smiling, there was no smile in his eyes: "You only said I'm not allowed to talk to outsiders, but judging by how you sent her away just now, you're clearly protecting her."
"What's this, have you truly fallen for a tool?"
He enunciated the word 'like' heavily, his tone faintly mocking.
Qi Weiran's expression didn't change. He merely lifted his somewhat cold eyes to glance at him once.
Xie Zhiyu didn't continue on that topic. He just said warningly: "Even if you don't believe me, you have to take the medicine. If your health continues this decline, I can't even be certain if you'll live past thirty-five, let alone fifty."
Having said that, he stopped talking.
Qi Weiran stood up and looked down at him condescendingly. His voice carried a chill: "Do your own job well."
What genetic illness. It was merely the poison from his childhood that was meant to send him to the Western Paradise, but underwent some changes and caused changes to his body instead.
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhiyu's long, straight lashes drooped down, quivering, concealing all emotions within.
Yi Qingju had just sat in the shuttle and arrived at the main building entrance when she immediately spotted Auntie Zhang anxiously looking around and waiting by the door.
The moment Auntie Zhang saw her, she heaved a huge sigh of relief and ran over here, even forgetting to change out of her slippers.
Yi Qingju felt a warmth in her heart.
"Auntie Zhang."
"Madam, the Master didn't vent his anger on me, did he?"
The gratitude on the tip of Yi Qingju's tongue instantly took a detour.
She then deliberately put on a slightly distressed expression, reluctance swirling in her eyes. Her lips moved a few times but no words came out. Finally it morphed into a regretful sigh.
Auntie Zhang's heart instantly clenched: "Is the Master going to fire me?"
"I watched him grow up... ever since he was little... listening to my violin music growing up."
Yi Qingju nodded solemnly, and patted her shoulder comfortingly. Still, she didn't say anything, just gave another sigh.
So when Qi Weiran strode into the lobby, the words he originally wanted to interrogate them with were instantly swallowed back down at the sight of the two sitting on the sofa like zombies. The moment they heard movement, they twisted their heads to stare wide-eyed at him.
Had the apocalypse arrived silently?
Should he make a run for it?
He hadn't spent all that money he earned to his heart's content yet.
"Sir, you're back."
The two stood up in perfect unison.
Auntie Zhang nervously wrung her hands and took the initiative to admit her mistake: "It was me who forgot to tell Madam about this. If you want to blame someone, then blame me. Even if you chase me out, I won't have any complaints."
When Yi Qingju saw her like this, she suddenly felt a little guilty.
But the next second, Auntie Zhang raised her head to reveal a kind smile to Qi Weiran: "It was just that I watched the Young Master grow up and managed this Qi Mountain Villa for many years, working hard and caring for this family day in and day out."
"If the Young Master wants to chase even a bit of my affection away, then go ahead and do it."
Yi Qingju: "....."
The older ginger was indeed more pungent. Turned out her tricks were all child's play compared to this auntie.
Qi Weiran didn't understand what she was saying at all, but he still maintained a profoundly mysterious expression as he said to Auntie Zhang, who had a defeated look: "Make Basque burnt cheesecake for today's dessert."
Yi Qingju remembered that it seemed to be Tuanzi's favorite.
Upon hearing this, Auntie Zhang instantly beamed delightedly.
"Sure, sure."
Seeing that Auntie Zhang had headed towards the kitchen, Yi Qingju was about to follow when Qi Weiran didn't seem intent on letting her off.
"You, come over."
Yi Qingju's body froze.
Then she obediently walked over.
【Weren't you avoiding me lately? What do you want from me?】
【Dare to look me in the eye, brat?】
Qi Weiran faltered.
Was he avoiding her?
Even with immense effort trying to control it, he still couldn't help following that imaginary voice to ponder further. This made Qi Weiran feel an uncontrollable irritation.
"You're not allowed to go there from now on."
"No matter what that person said to you, forget about it starting from now."
He said a few brief sentences before getting up from where he sat just moments ago. With one hand buttoning up his suit jacket, the man walked out, as if avoiding something.
From beginning to end, he didn't glance at Yi Qingju once.
【I haven't even asked who that person is yet】
【Not only are you not punishing me, you're not even scolding me now】
【What's up with you? 】
【Forget it, why do I even care about him. Go on then, I have a face reveal appointment with a male streamer in a couple days, hehe】
Qi Weiran, who had been striding out, seemed to halt for a split second, but Yi Qingju felt it might have been her imagination.
After he left, Yi Qingju sneakily went to find Auntie Zhang.
"Auntie Zhang, you know what's on the 18th floor, right?"
When Auntie Zhang heard her mention this, an embarrassed expression flitted across her face. Before she could escape, she was pulled back by Yi Qingju.
"I heard Huadon released a new series of violins. I saw you looking at their ads the other day."
Auntie Zhang's expression remained unchanged as she shifted her hand away: "Madam, working for the Qi family for so many years didn't come easy—"
"You see, I've already booked it for you. It can be delivered next week," she showed her the order confirmation on the website.
Aunt Zhang held her arm again: "Please don't tell anyone I told you this."
Yi Qingju's face lit up with joy.
"Young Master Xie is actually the cousin of my husband."
"The Xie family committed a grave mistake. After my husband came to power, he spared Young Master Xie's life for the sake of Old Madam, but Young Master Xie could only be imprisoned there to atone for his sins. As for what exactly he did, I do not know."
After listening to this brief account of the past, Yi Qingju was lost in contemplation after Aunt Zhang left.
