One week before New Year’s Eve, Qin Xuan was detained on suspicion of intentional injury. However, because the Qin family had informed the media in advance and handled crisis public relations well, the Qin family’s stock was not significantly affected.
This matter did not cause much stir in the outside world, not even trending on hot search, but it became gossip for some people in the circle.
Qin Rui’s health had not yet recovered, and Qin Yanren spent a lot of effort stabilizing the Qin family. He had been carefree in his youth, but now nearing sixty, he was constantly worried about the family business. In less than half a month, he seemed to have aged ten years.
When Zuo Chi saw Qin Yanren in the meeting room, he sighed at the visible white hair that he couldn’t hide.
Although it met Sheng Li’s conditions, the decision in Qin’s family was not solely Qin Yanren’s to make. After convincing the shareholders, Qin Yanren arranged a preliminary negotiation with Zuo Chi. If all went well, they could sign an investment intent agreement after the New Year.
Zuo Chi did indeed lack startup capital for projects, so even though he knew Sheng Li had intentionally facilitated the investment, there was no reason to refuse. In the business world, one couldn’t ignore opportunities and benefits; he knew Qin Yanren’s willingness to agree was also due to his confidence in their company’s future development. As long as he could profit, he wouldn’t be failing Sheng Li’s arrangement.
After discussing business matters, Qin Yanren asked Zuo Chi, “How’s your hand recovering?”
“I went for a check-up yesterday. The doctor said it’s recovering quickly, and I can remove the cast before the New Year.”
“That’s good.” Qin Yanren nodded. “As an elder, I admire you. You started your own company, which shows both courage and ability. It’s a pity our Qin family has no connection with you.”
Zuo Chi awkwardly smiled, “How’s Qin Rui doing now?”
Qin Yanren: “His body is a bit weak, he has to use a wheelchair to get around, but his spirits are still good.”
Zuo Chi dryly comforted him: “As long as he actively rehabilitates, with his physical condition, I’m sure it won’t be long before he can walk again.”
Qin Yanren sighed: “I hope so. I just hope that before I fall, he can uphold the Qin family’s legacy, so that my father can rest in peace.”
After meeting Qin Yanren, Zuo Chi received a call from Zuo Yi. Zuo Yi questioned him on why he was opposing the Zuo Group, disrupting the cooperation between the Zuo family and the Qin family.
Zuo Chi suspected that Sheng Li played a role in this, feeling somewhat pleased but offered no explanation: “We are both in real estate; competition is inevitable.”
Zuo Yi gritted his teeth: “Isn’t your surname Zuo? What’s the point of snatching the cooperation away?”
Zuo Chi calmly replied: “Yes, I am surnamed Zuo. So why should I let the Zuo Group fall into Zuo Lie’s hands instead of mine? I don’t have a preference for making wedding clothes for others.”
Zuo Yi was enraged but didn’t respond.
Zuo Chi knew he hit the mark, hung up the phone first, and then blocked Zuo Yi’s number.
Two days later, Shu Qingyu called him again. She didn’t mention the business matter, only asking if he would come home for the Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Last Chinese New Year’s Eve, Zuo Chi was still Sheng Li’s fiancé, celebrating at the Sheng family mansion. This year, he had severed ties with the Sheng family and wouldn’t return home. For him, his home was now his own three-bedroom apartment.
He declined, saying he would spend it like any other day.
Shu Qingyu suggested: “Then how will you spend it alone?”
Zuo Chi replied casually: “Just like any other day.”
Shu Qingyu said: “Aunt Chen isn’t going back to the countryside this year. I’ll ask her to bring you some food.”
Zuo Chi declined: “Don’t trouble her. She already has enough on her plate with all the guests for the New Year.”
Zuo Chi thought to himself that this Lunar New Year couldn’t possibly be worse than the last.
Until the day before New Year’s Eve, he was busy with work. On New Year’s Eve morning, he allowed himself to stay in bed a little longer than usual.
He woke up at 6:30 AM but felt guilty for getting up early on a day off, so he covered his head and lay back down. He woke up again at 9:00 AM, replied to two WeChat messages, muttering about people starting to send New Year greetings so early in the morning.
After replying, he lay back down again and slept until 10:30 AM, feeling satisfied.
After washing up, he went to a nearby restaurant that was still open in the shopping district for a meal. He packed a portion for dinner when he left.
Around 3 or 4 PM, WeChat groups became lively with New Year’s activities. Zuo Chi joined in the red envelope games in work groups. Whether it was luck or not, he seemed to win most of the time he participated.
Every time he sent out a red envelope, a crowd would respond with “Thank you, boss” emojis flooding the screen.
Zuo Chi sent out a flurry of red envelopes and then edited a message with New Year wishes in the chat box.
He copied and pasted official greetings into various work groups, not noticing that Sheng Li’s profile picture suddenly jumped to the top, prompting him to send Sheng Li a message too.
Sheng Li: “Ah Chi, Happy New Year!”
Zuo Chi: “Happy New Year. Thanks to our team formed last year, let’s continue to work together next year and achieve new successes.”
Sheng Li: “?”
Zuo Chi: “Oops, wrong chat.”
Sheng Li: “Boss, what are you up to?”
Zuo Chi: “Sending out red envelopes.”
Sheng Li: [Red envelope]
Zuo Chi: “I don’t need this little money.”
Sheng Li: “…”
Sheng Li: “I’m begging you to accept it.”
Sheng Li: [Pleading emoji]
Zuo Chi stared at the red envelope cover, suspicious it might be 520 (I love you), but when he opened it, it was just this year’s New Year digits, relieving him.
Sheng Li: “Have you removed your plaster cast?”
Zuo Chi: “Yeah.”
Sheng Li: “Want to play a game?”
Zuo Chi thought why not since he had nothing else to do: “Sure.”
He clicked on the link Sheng Li sent. It took a few minutes just to update the game because he hadn’t played in a while. He entered the game room where there were only the two of them.
Their accounts had an intimacy level of over 900, labeled as “brothers.”
Sheng Li also saw the icon representing their “brother” relationship, finding it particularly striking. He mischievously tried to switch it to a “couple” relationship, but within a minute, received a notification that Zuo Chi had rejected the request.
No surprises there.
Undeterred, Sheng Li persisted.
They found teammates and opponents. Sheng Li let Zuo Chi choose the game character first: “Are you going to play DPS?”
Zuo Chi, not holding back: “Sure, I’m better than you.”
“…That’s for sure.” Sheng Li picked a support-like character and followed Zuo Chi closely in the game.
Their cooperation was seamless, securing two early kills. Zuo Chi focused entirely on the game while Sheng Li kept talking in the voice chat.
“Xiang Yiqun and Zhou Jing are probably getting married this year. Zhou Jing’s father finally agreed.”
“Xu Hui’s still filming on New Year’s Eve; he won’t be coming back this year.”
“Tai Xingyu’s parents are still abroad; it’s just him and his brother at home. He’s so bored, spamming group chats alone.”
Zuo Chi: “Why don’t you invite him to play with us?”
“…Actually, I was playing with him earlier, but as soon as you agreed, I kicked him out of the room.”
Zuo Chi “…”
That round ended in just over ten minutes, and they won without any suspense.
Sheng Li was about to start another game when Zuo Chi heard Sheng Changyu’s voice from Sheng Li’s side.
Sheng Changyu said, “Why are you playing games? Go chat with your grandpa.”
Sheng Li replied, “Aren’t Second Uncle and the others chatting with Grandpa? They’re talking about things from decades ago, I can’t join in.”
Sheng Changyu: “But you can’t just play games here.”
Sheng Li: “I have something important to do.”
Zuo Chi: “You’re at your grandparents’ house? Maybe you should stop playing then.”
“Let’s play,” Sheng Li said, moving to a different spot, “I’m on the balcony now. There’s nothing for me to talk about with them. If I say anything, they start urging me to get married and want to introduce me to someone.”
Zuo Chi replied, “Oh, Young Master Sheng, with your reputation, do you really need an introduction? Another arranged marriage?”
Sheng Li sounded a bit frustrated, “Don’t say that about me. I’ve really changed. I won’t marry anyone else.”
Zuo Chi, who couldn’t stand to be harsh, initially wanted to mock Sheng Li but couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“And you?” Sheng Li asked, “Are you at Cheng Xiangwan’s place or…”
Or with Qin Xu?
Zuo Chi: “I’m at home.”
Sheng Li, sensing the implication, asked uncertainly, “You’re alone?”
Zuo Chi: “Yes.”
“Damn,” Sheng Li said excitedly, getting up, “I’m coming over right now.”
Zuo Chi was stunned, “It’s not appropriate to leave your grandparents’ place for New Year.”
Sheng Li: “I can’t let you spend New Year alone.”
Sheng Li wanted to spend New Year with Zuo Chi, but he couldn’t find a good excuse. Who was he to Zuo Chi? Although after the car accident, Zuo Chi’s attitude towards him had improved, and he was no longer cold or avoiding him, he was not Zuo Chi’s boyfriend. He feared that too much concern and closeness would push Zuo Chi further away.
He didn’t want to make Zuo Chi uncomfortable or let his life be disturbed by rumors.
But he couldn’t control his feelings; he couldn’t suppress his longing for him.
He knew Zuo Chi wouldn’t go back to the Zuo family, so he might go to Cheng Xiangwan’s place, or perhaps spend the New Year with Qin Xu, like they had watched the fireworks together on New Year’s Eve.
Thinking of that scene by the riverbank made Sheng Li’s heart ache.
How could Qin Xu let Zuo Chi spend New Year alone?
Sheng Li rushed to the living room, ready to leave. Sheng Changyu couldn’t stop him, “Where are you going?”
Sheng Li turned his head, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’ll come back to visit tomorrow or the day after. I have something urgent to do now.”
Sheng Changyu: “Where are you going?”
Sheng Li whispered in a voice only he could hear, “I’m going to spend New Year with Ah Chi.”
