TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 111

Chapter 110: Walking the Path You Walked

Chapter 110 Walking the Path You Walked

When the knock sounded, Zhuo Huaimo thought it was Qi Yanwang returning.

He got up to open the door, but froze in place when he saw the figure outside.

Qi Linchuan leaned against the doorframe, his suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders, the top two buttons of his shirt undone.

He was swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, his gaze raking shamelessly over Zhuo Huaimo.

“Director Zhuo, won’t you invite me in for a seat?” His voice was slightly hoarse with drink.

Zhuo Huaimo subconsciously took half a step back: “Is something the matter?”

“Can’t I come see you if there’s nothing the matter?”

Qi Linchuan chuckled, suddenly reaching out to touch Zhuo Huaimo’s tie,

“Such an exquisite bow tie, is it Lao San’s style?”

His fingertip brushed teasingly against his Adam’s apple, and Zhuo Huaimo abruptly slapped his hand away: “Please show some respect.”

“So fierce?”

Qi Linchuan was not annoyed, but instead stepped closer,

“Can Lao San satisfy you? That man of his…”

Warm breath tickled his ear, “Is too proper.”

“Second Brother!”

Qi Xiaoman’s voice came from the direction of the bathroom, “What are you doing!”

The little girl’s hands were still wet, and she ran over barefoot, pulling Zhuo Huaimo behind her.

Qi Linchuan shook his wine glass: “Xiaoman, adults are talking, children shouldn’t interrupt.”

“This is Third Brother’s room!”

Qi Xiaoman’s cheeks flushed with anger, “If you keep this up, I’ll tell Grandpa!”

“Tattletale.”

Qi Linchuan scoffed, his gaze still fixed on Zhuo Huaimo’s face, “Director Zhuo, how about coming to my zoo sometime? I just got some new white peacocks, their feathers are even more beautiful than the ones that socialite touched last time…”

“Qi Linchuan!”

Qi Xiaoman suddenly raised her voice, “Third Brother will be back soon!”

This finally made Qi Linchuan’s expression change slightly.

He took two steps back, raising his glass in a toasting gesture: “Just kidding.”

As he left, he said in a voice only Zhuo Huaimo could hear, “Tomorrow night at eight, meet me at the greenhouse behind the mountain.”

After the door closed, Qi Xiaoman immediately locked it and turned around, her eyes red: “Sister-in-law, don’t pay him any mind! Second Brother is just a bastard!”

Zhuo Huaimo handed her a tissue: “It’s okay, I didn’t take it to heart.”

“No, I have to tell Third Brother!”

Qi Xiaoman took out her phone, “Second Brother is getting more and more out of line, last time at the family dinner he even…”

Zhuo Huaimo pressed her hand down: “Don’t worry, I can handle it myself!”

Qi Xiaoman bit her lip, then suddenly said softly: “Actually, Second Brother wasn’t like this before.”

She wrung her fingers, “When we were little, he would even make me flower crowns, but ever since Big Brother came back from Switzerland…”

“Big Brother has always been jealous of Third Brother.”

Qi Xiaoman lowered her voice even more, “Even though he’s the eldest grandson, Grandpa has always favored Third Brother the most.”

She pointed to the Chinese-style courtyard outside the window: “Do you know why Big Brother doesn’t let anyone in there? Because there’s a wall of honor, covered with Third Brother’s awards—international chess champion, gold medal in the youth science competition…”

“When he was fifteen, Third Brother won against Big Brother in a financial simulation competition, and the next day he was locked in the wine cellar.”

Qi Xiaoman clenched her fists, “But when Grandpa found out, he gave Third Brother the project in the Asia-Pacific region instead.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s heart was shaken.

“The most ridiculous thing is,”

Qi Xiaoman gave a wry smile, “The less interested Third Brother is in the family business, the more Grandpa wants to hand it over to him. Big Brother tries his best to show off, but instead…”

Footsteps suddenly came from downstairs, and Qi Xiaoman immediately fell silent.

The footsteps stopped outside the door, followed by Qi Yanwang’s deep voice: “Huaimo?”

Qi Xiaoman winked at Zhuo Huaimo and tiptoed to open the door: “Third Brother!”

She slipped out sideways, not forgetting to make a face as she left, “I’m leaving now!”

Qi Yanwang walked in with the coolness of the night dew on him, casually draping his coat over the back of a chair: “What did Xiaoman tattle to you about this time?”

“Nothing.”

Zhuo Huaimo took the hot milk he offered, “We were talking about your childhood.”

Qi Yanwang undid his cufflinks, revealing a faint scar on his wrist: “Was Grandpa’s attitude okay today?”

“Better than I expected.”

Zhuo Huaimo gently stroked the scar with his fingertip, “This is…”

“From when I was fifteen.”

Qi Yanwang said calmly, “The wine cellar door scratched me.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s heart tightened, and he suddenly reached out to hug him.

Qi Yanwang was stunned for a moment, then chuckled: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Zhuo Huaimo buried his face in his shoulder, “I just suddenly wanted to hug you.”

Qi Yanwang stroked his back, then suddenly frowned: “Why do I smell Second Brother’s cologne on you?”

Zhuo Huaimo’s body stiffened.

“Did he come to see you?” Qi Yanwang’s voice turned cold.

“Yes.”

Zhuo Huaimo briefly recounted what happened, glossing over the ambiguous invitation, “Xiaoman was there, so he didn’t dare to go too far.”

Qi Yanwang’s eyes darkened, and he took out his phone to send a message: “We’ll go back to the country tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

Zhuo Huaimo raised his head in surprise, “I wanted to play for a few more days.”

“This place has made you suffer.”

Qi Yanwang cupped his face in his hands, gently caressing the corner of his eye with his thumb, “I don’t want to see you being bullied by them anymore.”

Zhuo Huaimo held his hand: “I’m not that fragile. Besides…”

He blinked, “I haven’t gone to the back mountain to see the maple leaves, haven’t tasted the almond tea from that century-old shop you mentioned, and haven’t even found your secret base from when you were a kid.”

Qi Yanwang’s expression softened: “But…”

“And,”

Zhuo Huaimo leaned closer to his ear, “I want to see the place where you grew up. Where was that photo of you and Xiaoman in front of the fountain in your study taken? Is the library you used to frequent still there?”

Qi Yanwang’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice slightly hoarse: “You went through my photo album?”

“Yes.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s ears turned slightly red, “I want to understand you more.”

Qi Yanwang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly picked him up in his arms: “Then we’ll go now.”

“Now?”

Zhuo Huaimo exclaimed, “It’s almost midnight!”

“Perfect, no one will bother us.”

Qi Yanwang was already carrying him out, “I’ll take you to my secret base from when I was a kid.”

The rose garden under the moonlight was serene and beautiful. Qi Yanwang led Zhuo Huaimo through winding paths, finally stopping in front of a glass greenhouse.

“This is…”

“Grandpa’s greenhouse.”

Qi Yanwang pushed open the carved iron door, “I’m the only one who dares to sneak in here!”

Inside the greenhouse, starlight scattered silver radiance through the glass roof.

“This place is beautiful, I really like it!” Zhuo Huaimo said softly.

The night breeze rustled, bringing the fragrance of roses.

Zhuo Huaimo turned around, gazing into his lover’s eyes in the moonlight: “So, can we stay a few more days? I want to see the place where you lived.”

Qi Yanwang looked into his eyes and finally relented: “Okay.”

But then he became serious, “But you have to promise me, stay away from Second Brother.”

“I promise.”

Zhuo Huaimo smiled and leaned closer, “Besides, don’t I have you to protect me?”

Qi Yanwang lowered his head and kissed his lips, the moonlight plating them with silver.

As dawn broke, Qi Yanwang dug Zhuo Huaimo out of bed.

“It’s only five o’clock…”

Zhuo Huaimo groggily burrowed into his pillow, but was attacked on the back of his neck by cold fingertips, instantly jolting him awake.

Qi Yanwang smiled and put a sweatshirt on him: “We’ll miss the market if we’re any later.”

As the black sports car drove out of the manor, the sky had just begun to turn a fish-belly white.

Zhuo Huaimo was wrapped in Qi Yanwang’s cashmere scarf, watching the scenery outside the window rush past: “Where are we going?”

“The old city.”

Qi Yanwang steered with one hand, holding his hand with the other, “There’s a tofu pudding shop there that’s been open for sixty years.”

Morning mist drifted through the old alleyways, and the bluestone roads were still wet with water.

Qi Yanwang skillfully turned into an inconspicuous little shop, the copper bell on the wooden door jingling.

“Two bowls of savory tofu pudding, sweet sesame cake with fried dough sticks.”

He finished speaking to the proprietress in the local dialect, then turned to explain, “I used to come here a lot!”

The steaming tofu pudding was served, its surface covered with a layer of bean curd skin.

Zhuo Huaimo imitated Qi Yanwang, dipping the crispy fried dough sticks into it, and his eyes lit up when he took a bite: “Delicious!”

Qi Yanwang reached out to wipe the sesame seeds from the corner of his mouth: “Slow down.”

The sun gradually dispersed the fog, and the market became lively.

Qi Yanwang led Zhuo Huaimo through the stalls, stopping from time to time to buy strange things—ceramic birds that sing, grasshoppers woven from palm leaves, rainbow candies in glass bottles.

“Did you used to wander through the market like this when you were little?” Zhuo Huaimo asked, holding up a cotton candy.

“Yes.”

Qi Yanwang helped him brush away the stray hairs from his forehead, “But back then I always had four bodyguards following me, it was annoying.”

When they reached a crossroads, Qi Yanwang suddenly covered Zhuo Huaimo’s eyes: “I’ll show you something.”

He counted to three and let go, and Zhuo Huaimo saw the jacaranda trees blooming simultaneously along the entire street, purple petals falling like rain.

An old artist on the roadside was playing an accordion, the melody melodious.

“They only bloom for a few days each year.” Qi Yanwang wrapped his arms around him from behind.

Zhuo Huaimo leaned back in his arms, then suddenly turned around: “Let’s take a picture.”

The owner of the photo studio on the roadside was an old man with white hair, who smiled when he saw Qi Yanwang: “Young Master has grown so big.”

He took out an old-fashioned camera, “Same spot as before?”

On the wall of faded old photos, a young Qi Yanwang stood under the jacaranda tree with a tight face.

Now, in the same spot, he was holding his lover and smiling gently.

“I want to enlarge this one.”

Qi Yanwang pointed to the newly taken photo, “And hang it in our bedroom.”

In the afternoon, they went to the harbor and boarded a white yacht.

The sea breeze was salty and humid. Zhuo Huaimo leaned on the railing, watching dolphins leap out of the water, when Qi Yanwang suddenly hugged him from behind.

“Are you cold?” Qi Yanwang’s chin rubbed against the top of his head.

Zhuo Huaimo shook his head, but he was wrapped even tighter in his windbreaker: “I’ll take you somewhere.”

The yacht stopped near a private island, a picnic basket set out on the pure white beach.

Champagne was chilling in an ice bucket, next to boxes from Zhuo Huaimo’s favorite dessert shop.

“When did you…” Zhuo Huaimo turned his head in surprise.

Qi Yanwang had already opened the champagne: “I arranged it this morning while you were asleep.”

He poured two glasses, “Try this, the island’s specialty mango.”

As the sun set, they lay on the beach watching the sunset.

Zhuo Huaimo suddenly rolled over and propped himself up above Qi Yanwang: “I’m very happy today.”

“It’s just the beginning.”

Qi Yanwang stroked his brow bone, “Tonight I’ll take you to see an underground band perform.”

After night fell, they changed into casual clothes and sneaked into a jazz bar in the old city.

In the dim light, Qi Yanwang protected Zhuo Huaimo in the booth, his fingertips tapping lightly on his palm to the rhythm of the drums.

The lead singer, a red-haired girl, suddenly blew a kiss in their direction: “This next song is for the sweet gay lovers in the corner!”

Amidst the whistles from the audience, Qi Yanwang generously raised their clasped hands, and Zhuo Huaimo hid in his arms, blushing.

On the way back, Zhuo Huaimo leaned against the car window, dozing off.

Qi Yanwang turned up the air conditioning, hearing him ask vaguely: “Where are we going tomorrow?”

“Wherever you want to go.” Qi Yanwang said softly.

Zhuo Huaimo had already fallen asleep, his eyelashes casting small shadows under his eyes.

Qi Yanwang gently kissed his hair.

In the rearview mirror, a black car was following not too far behind.

Qi Yanwang’s eyes turned cold, and he sent an encrypted message.

As they turned at the next intersection, the car was blocked by three motorcycles.

Moonlight shone on Zhuo Huaimo’s sleeping face, and Qi Yanwang gently held his hand.

These hands can make breathtaking movies, and also pull him out of the dark past.

For this, he is willing to fight the whole world.

When Zhuo Huaimo and Qi Yanwang returned home, they found that the whole house was still brightly lit, and the old man was still waiting for them inside…