TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 73
by VolareChapter 71: Qi Dog, Completely Tamed
Qi Yanwang stared at the trending news on his phone screen, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
The photo of Lin Yan being carried onto the ambulance, covered in blood, pierced his eyes.
“President Qi?”
The secretary cautiously pushed the door open and entered. “Lin Yan’s manager just called, saying the medical expenses…”
“I’ll cover them in full.”
Qi Yanwang interrupted her, “And add another five million as compensation in my personal name.”
He paused, “Don’t let the media know.”
Once the office was quiet again, Qi Yanwang walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Sunlight shone through the glass onto his pale face, but it couldn’t dispel the chill in his bones.
He remembered what Zhuo Huaimo had said when he woke up from a nightmare that night,
“Don’t sign!”, remembered the almost-collapse in the other party’s reaction when he saw him injured—
Could all of this really just be a coincidence?
He spun the phone in his palm three or four times, ultimately placing it back on the table.
He couldn’t make that call. Zhuo Huaimo needed to focus on filming right now, he couldn’t be distracted by this matter again.
What’s more…
If he showed that he cared, he’d be even less able to escape that strange vortex!
*Ding—*
The incoming call display showing the two words “Huaimo” made Qi Yanwang’s hand tremble, and the phone almost fell to the ground.
“Hello?”
He tried to make his voice sound relaxed, “Have you arrived at the filming location?”
A howling wind came from the other end of the phone, and Zhuo Huaimo’s breathing was a little rapid,
“Did you see the news?”
Qi Yanwang twisted his fingers,
“Yes, just a regular safety accident, it’s been taken care of.”
He chuckled intentionally, “Luckily I listened to you and didn’t take this role, otherwise I’d be the one trending now.”
Silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.
“Are you afraid?” Zhuo Huaimo suddenly asked.
“What?”
“What if all of this was originally because of me?”
Zhuo Huaimo’s voice seemed to come from very far away.
Qi Yanwang’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Outside the window, a sparrow crashed into the glass, making a dull thud.
“It has nothing to do with you.”
He heard himself say, “Don’t think nonsense! Accidents in explosion scenes are normal, didn’t Hollywood also have one last year…”
He was interrupted before he could finish.
“What if it’s just because of me?”
These words were like an ice pick straight into his heart.
Qi Yanwang straightened up abruptly, “Zhuo Huaimo!”
He called him by his full name, which was rare, “Listen, this is just an accident. What you need to do now is to focus on filming *Early Spring* well, don’t take all the responsibility on yourself!”
“Promise me.”
Zhuo Huaimo’s voice suddenly became very light, “Stay away from any danger recently.”
Qi Yanwang looked at his reflection on the glass—that smile was as stiff as a clumsy actor,
“I promise. You too, don’t overwork yourself.”
Qi Yanwang’s desk was piled with the accident investigation reports from *Fire Line*.
The police’s final conclusion was spread out on top—”Accidental accident caused by aging equipment,” each word stamped with a bright red seal.
He repeatedly reviewed every page of evidence, even personally met with the explosion technician and on-site witnesses.
All clues pointed to a common work error, with no traces of human intervention.
“Satisfied?”
Yu Fengran put the coffee in front of him, “Even the criminal police said you were overthinking it.”
Qi Yanwang didn’t respond, just scanned the investigation report and sent it to Zhuo Huaimo.
The phone quickly lit up with a reply, “Understood.”
Three short words, even the punctuation marks exuded alienation.
In the two weeks that followed, their conversations became shorter and shorter.
Zhuo Huaimo always said he was filming night scenes, the number of video calls went from once a day to once every three days, and finally only the routine “Good morning” and “Good night” remained.
Qi Yanwang stared at the phone screen, which was still on the conversation from three days ago,
“Is filming going smoothly today?”
“Yes.”
“It’s getting colder in Yunnan, remember to add clothes.”
“Okay.”
This restrained politeness was more suffocating than an argument.
Qi Yanwang remembered two years ago, Zhuo Huaimo was like this before he left, replying slower and slower, until one day he disappeared completely.
The floor-to-ceiling windows of the office reflected his gloomy face.
His finger hovered over the call button for a long time, finally pressing down hard.
The phone rang seven times before it was answered.
“Are you busy?” Qi Yanwang’s voice was hoarser than he imagined.
“Just finished work.” There was the sound of equipment being moved noisily on Zhuo Huaimo’s side.
“We need to talk.”
Qi Yanwang cut straight to the point, “About the *Fire Line* accident…”
“I’ve seen the investigation report.”
Zhuo Huaimo interrupted him, “It really was an accident!”
Zhuo Huaimo just wanted to end the conversation between the two as soon as possible, to stop his words!
“Then why the hell are you—”
Qi Yanwang braked suddenly, took a deep breath,
“Zhuo Huaimo, listen. If you keep avoiding me because of this damn accident, I’ll fly to Yunnan right now and drag you back, and *Early Spring* can forget about filming too.”
Rapid breathing came from the other end of the phone.
“I’ve been very well-behaved recently.”
Qi Yanwang suddenly softened his tone, “All the interviews I take are indoors, all the new dramas I’ve turned down, I either stay at the company or go home.”
He paused, “I’ve even hired four more bodyguards, Yu Fengran laughs at me every day…”
A barely audible chuckle came from the receiver.
Qi Yanwang pressed his advantage, “Today the security company even recommended me bulletproof suits, can you believe how outrageous that is?”
“…Did you buy them?” Zhuo Huaimo’s voice finally had some warmth.
“I bought three sets.”
Qi Yanwang was being serious, “Black, gray, navy blue.”
Silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.
“Huaimo?” Qi Yanwang panicked.
“I’m sorry…”
Zhuo Huaimo’s voice was nasal, “I’m just… too scared.”
Qi Yanwang’s heart clenched into a ball, “I know. But you can’t push me away just because you’re scared.”
He tapped the microphone lightly, “Remember what you promised me? Once *Early Spring* is finished…”
“I remember.”
Zhuo Huaimo took a deep breath, “Give me some more time!”
In Qi Yanwang’s office, the sunset outside the floor-to-ceiling windows dyed the entire Jiang City orange.
He leaned back in his chair, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, the phone screen was lit, displaying the just-ended video call—
Zhuo Huaimo’s face looked a little tired in the camera, but with a faint smile on his lips.
“Remember to eat on time.”
Qi Yanwang instructed one last time, “I go home every day after work!”
Zhuo Huaimo nodded, “Yes, be good!”
After hanging up the phone, the corners of Qi Yanwang’s mouth unconsciously rose.
During this time, he reported his itinerary religiously every day, even taking pictures of what he ate for lunch and sending them over.
Although Zhuo Huaimo verbally disliked him for being annoying, the speed of his replies was noticeably faster, and occasionally he would proactively ask if he was busy today.
—This feeling of being managed was damn sweet.
The phone suddenly vibrated, and Liu Jinchen’s name popped up on the screen.
“President Qi!”
The music was deafening on the other end of the phone, “It’s my birthday today, you’re not going to ditch me again, are you?”
Qi Yanwang raised an eyebrow, “My one at home won’t allow it.”
“cao!” Liu Jinchen was so angry he almost smashed his phone,
“The whole country knows that Zhuo Huaimo is filming in Yunnan, what the hell are you doing, hatching eggs at home?”
“I promised him I’d go out less.”
Qi Yanwang walked to the cloakroom, his fingers sliding across the row of neatly ironed suits, “This is the self-cultivation of a good man.”
“Self-cultivation my ass!”
Liu Jinchen gritted his teeth, “You don’t even look like a CEO anymore, you’re practically a homebody! Company, home, that’s your whole life, even Li Yang said you’ve been appearing and disappearing lately!”
Qi Yanwang chuckled, “Li Yang is going too?”
“Just arrived!”
Liu Jinchen suddenly lowered his voice, “And Old Zhou, Director Chen, they’re all acquaintances! President Wang even brought the new artist he signed…”
Qi Yanwang frowned, “I’m not going.”
“You goddamn—”
Liu Jinchen was so angry he was panting, “Fine, I’ll call Zhuo Huaimo right now, and tell him you won’t even come to my birthday!”
“Don’t!”
Qi Yanwang sat up straight immediately, “He’s filming, don’t bother him. I’ll apply myself!”
Apply?
Liu Jinchen rolled his eyes and hung up the phone!
When he dialed Zhuo Huaimo’s number, he felt inexplicably apprehensive.
“Hello?”
Zhuo Huaimo’s voice came from the other end.
“Um…”
Qi Yanwang was uncharacteristically stammering, “It’s Liu Jinchen’s birthday today, and he’s forcing me to go.”
Silence for two seconds on the other end of the phone.
Qi Yanwang added immediately, “If you don’t want me to, then I won’t go!”
“Go ahead.”
Zhuo Huaimo’s voice was very calm, “Just be careful.”
Qi Yanwang was stunned, “…You agree?”
“Yes.”
Zhuo Huaimo seemed to smile, “I can’t let you have absolutely no social life. Is it at his clubhouse?”
The corners of Qi Yanwang’s mouth couldn’t help but rise, “It is! I promise I’ll be home before twelve.”
“Okay!”
After hanging up the phone, Qi Yanwang was in an extremely good mood.
He picked up his suit jacket, hummed a little tune and walked out of the office, even sending a message to Liu Jinchen for the first time ever,
“Wait for me, daddy’s coming soon.”
Half an hour later, Qi Yanwang’s black Maybach stopped in front of the clubhouse.
The clubhouse’s private room was filled with smoke.
Liu Jinchen put an arm around his shoulder, “Yo, President Qi is willing to come out?”
“Less talk.”
Qi Yanwang avoided the offered glass of wine, “I’m just sitting for half an hour and then I’m leaving.”
Li Yang chimed in jokingly, “Whipped by his wife?”
Qi Yanwang lowered his voice and said, “Remember to promote me in the CP fan group, I don’t mind them writing fanfiction, thanks, I love to read it!”
Li Yang couldn’t take it anymore, looked him up and down with strange eyes, and even cursed,
“You’re such a pervert!”
Qi Yanwang took out his phone and took a panoramic photo of the private room and sent it to Zhuo Huaimo, with the message,
“All guys, the artist that President Wang brought is also a guy.”
Liu Jinchen rolled his eyes, “Cao, hopeless.”
Zhuo Huaimo replied instantly, “Isn’t that more dangerous then?”
Qi Yanwang, “I don’t like guys, I only like you!”
Zhuo Huaimo took a sip of coffee and replied quickly,
“What time will you guys be done?”
Qi Yanwang, “I’m leaving after sitting for half an hour!”
Zhuo Huaimo, “You can have fun for a little longer today!”
This was seen by Liu Jinchen.
“Look look look! Sis-in-law said you can have fun for a little longer since we’re all familiar, you’re not allowed to leave early today!”
This sudden “pardon” made Qi Yanwang inexplicably panicked, he quickly grabbed the phone,
“What’s wrong? Are you angry? Or should I go back right away!”
Zhuo Huaimo smiled helplessly, “I’m not angry, listen to me, have more fun! It’s rare that so many connections are here!”
Have more fun?
Qi Yanwang couldn’t help but feel that this was a test in disguise!
“Big Brother Qi, you don’t drink alcohol, have some water!”
Just as Qi Yanwang was getting lost in his thoughts, Xiao Zhu, holding a bottle of mineral water, stood next to him…