GBT Chapter 104

The dishes were served not long after, Zhang Zhen pulled out his chair and stood up.

Jiao Bai stopped him, puzzled, slurring, “Brother, where are you going?”

Zhang Zhen pushed the chair back in: “Downstairs.”

Jiao Bai swallowed the food in his mouth: “You’re not eating here?”

“I’m going to talk to the brothers about something.” Zhang Zhen hurriedly walked towards the exit, finding it increasingly awkward to be a third wheel.

Downstairs, Qi’s bodyguards were sitting on high lemon crates, drinking, eating, and watching TV.

Everyone heard the sound of footsteps coming downstairs and looked over in unison, then, unsurprisingly, stretched out their hands, beckoning, “Come on, Brother Zhen, we saved you a spot.”

Zhang Zhen sat down, and a glass of iced beer was shoved into his hand, which he tossed aside: “I’m driving, not drinking.”

“Drink up, there are guys outside who don’t touch alcohol, let them drive.” Qi Er gestured with his mouth towards the restaurant entrance.

Zhang Zhen’s gaze shifted over, and Qi Huai, who was standing at the door watching the traffic, turned his head.

Their eyes met, and they both looked away. One followed the literary path, returning from studies abroad with a belly full of ink, valued by the head of the family; the other took the martial path, having attended school for only a few years, growing up at the head of the family’s side—they had no common language.

“Brother Zhen, did Master Qi have you book a room yet?” One of the brothers burped out after a drink.

Zhang Zhen’s mind didn’t catch up: “Book what room?”

The brothers gave him suggestive winks.

The peanut in Zhang Zhen’s chopsticks trembled and rolled onto the table: “Get lost, my Bai Bai is still young.”

Influenced by his brother, he occasionally threw out a couple of curses, with a similar tone.

Qi Er told the story of Young Master Bai selecting flowers for Master Qi, adding a lot of his own embellishments. After he finished, he patted the boss’s shoulder: “A son grown up won’t stay, Brother Zhen.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Everyone at the table was already wondering how much money they had in their accounts to decide how big of a red envelope they could give.

Zhang Zhen glared: “Eat your food.”

Everyone chuckled and laughed, without a serious bone in their bodies—when they weren’t working, they were all just overgrown kids.

“That,” Zhang Zhen picked up a peanut and ate it, “Did you guys see the wedding news about that young master of the Cen family online?”

The chatter at the table paused subtly, and the brothers started discussing it all at once.

“How could we not see it, it’s been pushed at us all day.”

“Me too, it’s the first thing that pops up when I open my phone; it’s hard not to see it.”

“It’s quite the spectacle.”

“The young master likes little lolis who aren’t too smart, who would have thought, really didn’t expect it.”

“…”

“I just think that the Cen family’s soon-to-be lady, I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere.” Zhang Zhen’s pace slowed down. “Do you guys have that feeling?”

Everyone collectively shook their heads—no.

Zhang Zhen was about to say more, but Qi Er preemptively scooped a spoonful of braised beef for him: “Brother Zhen, eat your food.”

At the top floor, Jiao Bai and Qi Yi Liao were the only two people, the servers having all retreated.

It was the first time Jiao Bai had dined at an open-air restaurant, and his mind wandered between the starlit sky, the cluster of illuminated skyscrapers, and Qi Yi Liao across the candlelight—he couldn’t settle down at all.

“Third Brother, Li Jue may be playing Wang Yu, but he’s just dressing up as a woman; it’s still that face, he didn’t get plastic surgery.” Jiao Bai looked for a topic in the overly beautiful atmosphere. “If my brother sees him, he’ll definitely…”

Qi Yi Liao gracefully cut his steak: “His condition has improved, and with a little care, he’ll be fine.”

Jiao Bai thought, that’s right. He’s much better now than he was a few months ago.

“Then are you attending the wedding?” Jiao Bai put down his knife and fork, held the napkin on his lap and leaned forward, his eyes bright and piercing, not being subtle with his hint at all.

Qi Yi Liao put a piece of steak into his mouth, chewing slowly and methodically: “In principle, I should be attending.”

Jiao Bai waited for a long time before impatiently saying, “Can I go with you?”

Qi Yi Liao lifted his eyelids.

Jiao Bai suddenly took a breath. The look in the man’s eyes opposite him, for a moment, was both sorrowful and regretful, vanishing in an instant like an illusion.

Where’s the cat? It hasn’t opened its eyes in a long time.

Jiao Bai firmly believed that it wasn’t dead, but just asleep. When its master’s emotions fluctuated greatly, it would definitely react.

Since some unknown time, Qi Yi Liao’s activity level had been steadily rising, stopping at 49.9.

When the activity level of other friends reached that number, Jiao Bai would ponder the opportunity to break 50. When it came to Qi Yi Liao, Jiao Bai didn’t think about it; he subconsciously avoided it, not wanting to calculate what kind of bloody event would occur.

But if he didn’t calculate and didn’t actively fight for opportunities big and small, how would he complete the task?

Having struggled all the way here, only two of the eight targets remained unresolved. Victory was close at hand.

After completing the task, no matter what happened afterwards, it would be a completely new beginning.

Jiao Bai’s internal conflict was sometimes strong and sometimes weak. When it was weak, he would ignore it, live his little life, and ponder the progress of another friend. Once that sense of conflict grew stronger, he would become very irritable.

Like now.

Jiao Bai grabbed the napkin and put it on the table: “I’m not eating anymore.”

“Eat a little more.” Qi Yi Liao nodded. “Otherwise, you’ll be hungry at night.”

“Even if I eat it all, I’ll still be hungry at night.” Jiao Bai pouted. “Western food isn’t about the amount you eat; it’s about the atmosphere, which is filled with money.”

Qi Yi Liao teased: “Then what atmosphere are you eating?”

Jiao Bai looked at him: “What do you think?”

The corners of Qi Yi Liao’s eyes crinkled with a smile, his gaze gentle and deep as he stared at him.

Jiao Bai got up: “I’m going to the washroom.”

As soon as the young man left, Qi Yi Liao put his fork aside. He picked up a napkin and slowly wiped the oil from his lips, picked up his wine glass, and took a sip of wine.

The next moment, Qi Yi Liao used a clean part of the napkin to cover his lips, and he coughed a few times.

The napkin was crumpled into a ball, with a spot seeping bright red blood.

On a summer night, there were so many people strolling that their toes almost touched each other.

Jiao Bai and Qi Yi Liao were taking a leisurely walk on a secluded street.

Qi Huai was driving a car a few meters behind them. Of all the people, he was the only one who hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, so the task of sending the two masters back to Lanmo Mansion fell on his shoulders.

“You still haven’t answered the question I asked you at the restaurant.” Jiao Bai quickened his pace to get ahead. He turned around, looking at Qi Yi Liao while walking backwards.

Qi Yi Liao seemed to be thinking about some official business, unusually absent-minded: “Hmm?”

Jiao Bai stopped and waited for Qi Yi Liao to walk towards him. He repeated the question from the restaurant.

“If you want to go, then go.” Qi Yi Liao pinched the back of Jiao Bai’s neck, turning him around, his large palm falling on his back, pushing him forward. “When you go, if others approach you, trying to flatter you and inquire about your relationship with me, don’t put on a nasty face.”

Jiao Bai: “…”

“I can say whatever I want?” Jiao Bai wanted to look back, but his neck was being pinched, forcing him to move forward.

Qi Yi Liao said in his ear, “Whatever you want.”

Jiao Bai walked for a while, then realized that the strength on his neck was weakening, and the temperature of the fingers pinching his flesh was also starting to cool, and was sweaty. He turned his head: “What’s wrong?”

Qi Yi Liao’s chest was against his back, the breathing in his throat a little rapid and heavy: “Uncle’s tired; let’s find a place to rest.”

Jiao Bai looked around and didn’t see any benches, so he simply pulled Qi Yi Liao to sit down on the grass on the side of the road.

Below was a lake, the moon bathing in the water, shimmering.

Jiao Bai lay down, using the lush green grass as a pillow, and tugged at Qi Yi Liao’s gray shirt: “How are you feeling now?”

“It’s nothing. I’ve been working overtime continuously recently, just a little tired.” Qi Yi Liao rubbed the corner of his forehead.

“Is the company that busy?” Jiao Bai didn’t understand.

Qi Yi Liao smiled and sighed, his voice low and almost inaudible: “Time is pressing.”

The sound of a small tricycle came over; it was an old man selling popsicles. Only then did Jiao Bai remember that there was a scenic spot not far away, with a temple on the mountain.

“Want to eat a popsicle?” Qi Yi Liao lowered his head and looked at him for a long time. “Get up and buy one.”

Jiao Bai didn’t really want to eat one.

“Go ahead.” Qi Yi Liao said hoarsely, “Buy one for me too. I’ve never eaten a popsicle in my life. I want to try it.”

Jiao Bai went.

The old man’s small tricycle was parked on the side of the road. He only sold one kind of popsicle: old-fashioned popsicles for one yuan each.

Jiao Bai scanned the QR code to pay, but as he was entering the password, he felt inexplicably uneasy. Then, a terrible premonition rushed into his heart, and he turned around and ran.

The old man hurriedly shouted, “Young man, you haven’t taken your popsicle yet.”

“Keep it!” Under Qi Huai’s gaze, Jiao Bai returned the way he came. Qi Yi Liao’s figure was no longer on the grass. He was lying motionless by the lake below.

Jiao Bai’s brain was congested: “Qi Yi Liao!”

He rushed down the slope, lost his footing, and fell next to Qi Yi Liao, getting a mouthful of grass and mud.

After that, everything was chaotic for Jiao Bai, until he was standing in the cold, white corridor of the research institute, and Qi Yuan Zhang slapped him, he regained consciousness and reflexively dodged.

At the same time, Zhang Zhen also stopped Qi Yuan Zhang’s hand, the smell of alcohol on his breath suppressed by the fiendish aura surrounding him, his other hand clenched into a fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

Qi Yuan Zhang broke free from Zhang Zhen’s restraint, she angrily shouted at the person standing behind him, “Xiao Huai, you come with me!”

Qi Huai’s clothes were a bit disheveled, which was the result of helping Jiao Bai fish out the chairman, so at this time, when he heard Qi Yuan Zhang calling him, he didn’t say anything and followed her.

Jiao Bai lowered his head, picking at the mud in his fingernails.

Zhang Zhen put his arm around him, very forcefully, “How is Third Brother’s body…Those days last year when you were imprisoned by Shen Ji, Third Brother fainted twice, and each time he was sent to the research institute in time for treatment. After you were rescued, he vomited blood, and Qi Yuan Zhang prescribed a lot of medicine for him. He hasn’t had that kind of situation again in the past six months. I thought the medicine he was taking was useful…”

The incoherent voice stopped abruptly. Zhang Zhen’s breathing tightened. What if tonight wasn’t the first time Third Brother had fainted this year? What if it had happened before, but just not in front of him, where he could see it?

Jiao Bai’s shoulders were gripped by Zhang Zhen until they hurt, and he was trembling all over, not from the pain, but from anger.

“Brother, why didn’t you tell me about his vomiting blood?” Jiao Bai questioned.

Zhang Zhen’s eyes dodged: “I was afraid you’d worry.”

“So now I’m just like a fool, completely unprepared!” Jiao Bai’s eyelids suddenly twitched. He was prepared. From a certain point of view, he probably knew Qi Yi Liao’s condition better than anyone else in the world.

Under Qi Yi Liao’s refined and elegant exterior was a trapped, bloody, cold body.

“Karen…” Jiao Bai felt his pocket, but he didn’t know where his phone had fallen in the car. He grabbed Zhang Zhen’s arm. “Quick, contact Karen!”

Zhang Zhen shivered, and he quickly dialed Karen’s number.

Jiao Bai discovered something, and his face turned ashen. Qi Yi Liao’s avatar was turning white. Jiao Bai clenched his teeth so he wouldn’t curse out loud.

The cat was still in that appearance.

Jiao Bai said in his heart, cat, be strong, I haven’t untied the thin wire for you yet; give me a chance.

The cat didn’t wag its tail, didn’t open its eyes, and didn’t ask him for help.

Jiao Bai leaned against the wall and wiped his face, the chaotic breaths filled with the smell of dirt—this was the third friend whose avatar had a white border.

The first was Qi Zi Zhi, who only had a white circle around him, with no flowers.

The second was Li Jue, with half of the white flower outlined. At that time, Jiao Bai was panicked and anxious. Knowing that Li Jue had the protagonist halo and wouldn’t die, but would only pithim, he still had to rush up the mountain, but Zhang Zhen stopped him, and the bloody event still happened.

This time it was Qi Yi Liao’s turn. Jiao Bai couldn’t say what he was feeling, he couldn’t describe it. He thought a lot, but it seemed like he didn’t think about anything, and he forgot where he was.

Karen didn’t come; Qi’s lawyer came, carrying a thick stack of documents.

The lawyer walked towards Jiao Bai. At that moment, some old-fashioned plot rushed into Jiao Bai’s mind. At the same time, a piercingly cold sensation pierced into the top of his head, instantly crawling up the back of his head and flowing down his shoulders. He was cold all over and couldn’t stand up.

The lawyer stopped in front of Jiao Bai and politely said, “Young Master Bai, hello.”

Jiao Bai was expressionless.

One of the room doors in the corridor opened, and Qi Yuan Zhang quickly came out: “Lawyer Zhou, why are you here?” She wanted to know even more, why didn’t the research institute notify her before letting a lawyer in.

Lawyer Zhou didn’t answer. His boss had told the research institute that at some point, he would be allowed to enter.

Now was that time.

Just then, a fast and loud sound of footsteps came from one end of the corridor, and all of Qi’s senior executives appeared there. An hour ago, they had received an email from the chairman.

No wonder the company had been frequently working overtime during this period, no wonder the chairman was so eager to finalize the company’s major projects this year, rushing to roll them all out and avoid major risks.

The chairman was paving the way for the person he had chosen. Only after it was paved could he rest easy.

Jiao Bai made eye contact with the senior executives, his head dizzy, and he didn’t want to say a word. Clearly he had already eaten a lot of bloody events, some thick, some thin, with all sorts of flavors, but with this one in front of him, he just wanted to shut up and not touch a bite.

Not long after, in the nearby room, Lawyer Zhou took out those documents one by one, his lips opening and closing, spitting out an extremely large amount of wealth.

This was Qi Yi Liao’s will.

It was all for Jiao Bai, everything was left to him.

Jiao Bai quickly flipped through the documents, grabbing the paper after flipping through a few, and then threw it on the ground: “My name is on there, but I personally have no…”

Jiao Bai didn’t finish his sentence. From Lawyer Zhou’s eyes, he realized a fact: regardless of the circumstances under which his name was signed, he had to be the inheritor of this will.

Jiao Bai didn’t have time to think about which night Qi Yi Liao took advantage of him being asleep to grab his hand and sign it, or which several nights he had, and glared at Lawyer Zhou and the senior executives: “You’re employees; I won’t make things difficult for you. I just want to know, what’s going on now?”

“The chairman’s intention is that before he wakes up, you, Young Master Bai, should help him oversee the company.” The portly uncle, relying on having sat next to the future chairman’s wife, spoke on behalf of everyone.

“How can I help?” Jiao Bai wanted to laugh, but the corners of his mouth were too heavy to pull up. “You can’t not know that I was last year’s college entrance exam taker.”

“The company has already passed the busy period, and it won’t be busy next. There are no urgent matters, barring any unforeseen circumstances,” said the portly uncle.

Jiao Bai thought of Qi Yi Liao’s continuous overtime work, and he took a deep breath, controlling his emotions.

“When the documents need to be signed, Young Master Bai can directly affix the chairman’s seal,” said the portly uncle, supplementing under the colleagues’ eye instructions.

Jiao Bai stood in the light, his face turning green: “Seal? I don’t know where it is.”

“It’s usually in the chairman’s safe, as for the password…”

Jiao Bai shook his head: “He never told me.”

The portly uncle didn’t believe him: “Why don’t you try at Qi’s?”

Jiao Bai suspected it was also a dual iris and fingerprint authentication, and he suddenly stopped talking. That old man Qi Yi Liao, he didn’t know how much he had planned.

“Wouldn’t affixing the seal to every document arouse suspicion?” Jiao Bai looked at the elites who were all staring at him.

This time, another senior executive spoke up: “If you can imitate the chairman’s handwriting, so that ordinary people can’t tell, that would be for the best.”

Jiao Bai was just about to say he couldn’t when the scene of him and Qi Yi Liao carving words together flashed before his eyes. He was too familiar with Qi Yi Liao’s handwriting, and he had unconsciously imitated it. Moreover, Qi Yi Liao had also taught him how to write.

He plopped down into the chair.

“Unless absolutely necessary, it’s best not to imitate handwriting; that’s against the law, and it might cause trouble in the future,” said Lawyer Zhou, who was sorting the documents.

Jiao Bai chuckled: “Why is the situation getting bigger and bigger? Your boss might wake up in a little while.”

“If the chairman wakes up, everyone will be happy, but we have to plan for the worst.” The portly uncle swallowed a mouthful of saliva under Jiao Bai’s sharp gaze. “Young Master Bai, last year, Shen’s released a lot of unfavorable reports about the Qi family, and Qi’s suffered no small storm because of it. There can’t be a second injury.”

Jiao Bai didn’t speak.

Zhang Zhen pushed open the door and came in, followed by Qi Huai. They had argued outside. The former’s face was red and his neck was thick, while the latter’s lenses were broken.

“Qi’s direct line only has Third Brother left, Qi Yuan Zhang doesn’t do business, and Third Brother’s aunt is even more ignorant.” Zhang Zhen pressed down on his brother’s thin shoulders, his voice dry. After Qi Huai analyzed the situation for him, he took a few pills to recover. “There are some good ones in the collateral branches, but it’s hard for them to take on the great responsibility.”

Jiao Bai pointed at Qi Huai: “He can do it.”

Qi Huai took off his broken glasses, his thin eyelids raised slightly: “I can’t.”

Jiao Bai glared over—then I can do it? Everyone’s gone crazy; are you following them too?

Qi Huai bent down: “I will assist you.”

Jiao Bai suddenly understood. Qi Huai was also Qi Yi Liao’s arrangement.

Damn it!

“Are you done talking?” Qi Yuan Zhang’s cold voice sounded outside the door.

Jiao Bai thought, that lady doesn’t like him, so she definitely wouldn’t agree with everyone’s approach.

Who knew that as soon as Qi Yuan Zhang came in, she said: “Last year, Shen’s released some news about the Qi family head’s health problems, some true, some false. Later, news spread that he fainted during a social engagement. The rumors have been around for a long time, and this time it can’t be hidden. It’s better to proactively release the news and take the initiative.

“Tell the outside world that it was a fall and he needs to rest quietly, and he won’t be attending any events for the time being.” Qi Yuan Zhang smoothed her short hair, through which you could almost see her blue scalp, and her plain face turned to Jiao Bai. “You impersonate him to handle the company’s affairs.”

Qi Yuan Zhang took out several photos from her white coat: “These are the children your chairman picked out this year to be cultivated as successors. The object hasn’t been determined yet. These children are all taking classes.”

“You release the news that the Qi family already has a successor so the outside world knows that even if the chairman is ill, the Qi family is still not in chaos.” She pressed the photos on the table, her words clear.

Jiao Bai rubbed the back of his cold neck. Zhou Lanlan’s mother was indeed a Qi family member; as the director of a hospital, even at this time, her mind was still so clear.

“The first thing to deal with now is the Cen family’s wedding banquet next week.” Qi Yuan Zhang’s deep features were tense. “The scale is too grand, and the outside world is watching. The Qi family must attend. Even if the chairman is recuperating, someone will be sent.”

She looked at Jiao Bai, estimating the price of the goods, looking down on him but having no choice but to use him, and could only make do for the time being: “Zhang Zhen and Xiao Huai will accompany you to come forward and get through this hurdle of the Cen family.”

Jiao Bai was scraped on the backbone by Qi Yuan Zhang’s eyes. He gave a wry smile: “In what capacity do I go?”

The portly uncle’s voice rang from the ranks of the senior executives: “The future Mrs. Qi?”

Jiao Bai squinted: “Who would believe it?”

Including Zhang Zhen, everyone was silent.

There was no one who didn’t believe it. It had already been recognized in the circle last year.

The room suddenly fell silent, so silent that it was hard to breathe. Jiao Bai grabbed Zhang Zhen’s arm, using his strength to get up: “Qi Yuan Zhang, I want to go in and see my Third Brother.”

Qi Yuan Zhang stared at Jiao Bai.

“What, can’t even look?” Jiao Bai sneered. “Then why are you still letting me manage Qi’s?”

Qi Yuan Zhang took off her glasses and pressed her swollen eyelids a few times: “One minute.”

“What can I do in one minute? I can’t even say a few words.” Jiao Bai said, “It’s not like I’m visiting someone in prison. Don’t put a time limit on it. I’ll come out after I’m done seeing him.”

Qi Yuan Zhang wanted to throw the glasses over, but she was wary of the half-madman beside the young man, and she endured it.

Among a pile of blindingly white, unfamiliar instruments, Qi Yi Liao was lying flat on the hospital bed. Aside from the lack of color on his face and the bruised skin on his forehead from the fall down the slope, there was nothing unusual, as if he had been tired for a long time and was finally able to fall asleep.

“Old pervert.”

Jiao Bai stood in front of the hospital bed, his limbs trembling. The temperature here was too low, lower than the ward he had stayed in last year. He rubbed his stiff fingers: “This time, don’t force yourself to wake up. Take good care of yourself.”

“Even if something happens to me again, don’t wake up,” Jiao Bai said. “I can handle it myself. You don’t have to worry about me; don’t worry.”

“Your second sister, lawyer secretary, trusted subordinates, everyone is being rushed onto the shelf like ducks, and I’m that duck.” Jiao Bai paused. “No, it’s not them rushing me; the duck herder is you.”

“Since you’ve prepared so much, then I’ll take care of it for you for a while,” Jiao Bai snorted.

“Live longer, old pervert.”

“That night at the graveyard, you didn’t deliberately avoid it, letting me touch the metal cage and guiding me to discover your biggest secret, to force me to share your pain, did you? You dragged me into the water, and I’m still soaking in the water, think of me.”

“…”

“Damn, it’s so cold.”

“…”

“My phone is in the car, and the keys are still on it. I’ll go get the phone back later.”

“…”

“You hold on, and we’ll play games again. You always say next time. You wake up and we’ll play. I have a secret to tell you.”

“There’s a secret, and I thought about it, and I’ll tell you now.”

“Although for you, it’s not much of a secret.”

There was only Jiao Bai’s disjointed voice in front of the hospital bed. He was so cold that his teeth were chattering, his voice trembling, and ice was forming on his eyebrows.

Qi Yuan Zhang didn’t tell him that the temperature inside was so low. Researchers who came in would definitely wear special clothes.

“Old pervert,” Jiao Bai bent down, his frozen blue hand placed on Qi Yi Liao’s heart, feeling the weak rise and fall. “I know you like me.”

“I like you too.” He lightly hummed, “The same kind of like you like me.”

Jiao Bai’s cold lips came closer, like a child playing house, clumsily pressing on Qi Yi Liao’s lips, licking them once: “Like you.”

The rise and fall under his hand was gone.

Qi Yi Liao’s heartbeat stopped.

At that instant, Jiao Bai’s mind rang with an electronic prompt.

[Congratulations to player Jiao Bai, the seventh friend’s activity level has broken through 50. Victory is closer to you. Keep it up!]