His Venomous Former Boss Chased Him And Beat Him Fiercely Chapter 21

Entering the Residence

A fine spring rain was falling outside. The lights were turned on in the hospital room, the brightness dispelling the previously ambiguous atmosphere.

Kong Xunwen went into the bathroom to change clothes.

He had just asked if he could go home to recuperate, and Qiu Zhijie said he would ask the doctor.

After changing, Kong Xunwen opened the door and started packing his things. Before long, the hospital room door opened, and Qiu Zhijie walked in.

“The discharge procedures are complete.”

Kong Xunwen acknowledged him. There wasn’t much to pack; he mostly just tidied up the blankets and such.

He turned his head, holding his phone: “How much was it?”

Qiu Zhijie didn’t answer, saying, “Let’s go. My car is downstairs. You can take my car home.”

Kong Xunwen walked up beside him and looked up.

Qiu Zhijie avoided his gaze.

He raised his hand and manually turned Qiu Zhijie’s face toward him: “How much was it?”

Qiu Zhijie pursed his lips, sounding slightly uncomfortable as he said, “Don’t be so formal with me.”

“How much was it?”

Seeing that Kong Xunwen wouldn’t accept that, Qiu Zhijie finally lowered his eyes to meet Kong Xunwen’s gaze: “Consider it the lodging fee for me staying at your place.”

Kong Xunwen released his hand, but Qiu Zhijie’s gaze didn’t shift. He looked somewhat helpless: “You’ve really made up your mind, haven’t you?”

He opened his mouth to say something else, but Qiu Zhijie spoke first: “I know you won’t accept it right now. I know you’re going to reject me without you having to say it.”

“But I won’t give up. You know me.”

Kong Xunwen stared into Qiu Zhijie’s eyes for a few seconds, knowing he was serious. He didn’t waste any more breath, turning his head—a slight turn—and walking toward the door.

Qiu Zhijie was a step slow.

The young man turned back from the front, his tone carrying a hint of impatience, or perhaps frustration: “Didn’t you say your car was downstairs? Since you’re volunteering to be my driver, you should be diligent!”

A hint of a smile appeared in Qiu Zhijie’s eyes, and he stepped forward as instructed.

When getting into the car, Kong Xunwen deliberately sat in the back left seat, as if putting his earlier comment about the driver into practice.

Qiu Zhijie said nothing, simply opening the driver’s door, sitting down, and driving him home.

His movements were extremely familiar.

As soon as Kong Xunwen got out of the car, he saw the children drawing circles on the ground by the door, bored.

Upon seeing him, the children immediately stood up and rushed over.

Little Boss was serious and worried: “What happened to you?”

Little Bai’s eyes were full of concern, and he pointed to his own forehead: “Did you hurt your head?”

Ni’er leaned against Little Bai, also looking up worriedly: “Brother Kong, what happened to you?”

Pangpang held up the steamed bun in his hand, looking a little reluctant: “Eat something yummy and it won’t hurt anymore.”

Yezi nodded repeatedly from the side.

Kong Xunwen felt a warmth in his heart from the concern of his little friends. He declined Pangpang’s kind offer of the bun and briefly dismissed the injury on his forehead: “It’s nothing, I just accidentally fell.”

Behind him, Qiu Zhijie was openly carrying large bags and packages inside, most of which were newly purchased items.

The children were greatly relieved by Kong Xunwen’s answer, and their attention immediately shifted to Qiu Zhijie behind him.

Pangpang took a bite of his bun and tilted his head.

Ni’er leaned her head on Little Bai’s shoulder, confused: “Is this big brother moving house?”

Kong Xunwen’s expression was calm: “Yes, he’s moving in to be my servant.”

Qiu Zhijie’s slowed footsteps quickened again. Even hearing that remark, he showed no displeasure.

The children, however, started exclaiming and discussing the new word.

“A servant, what’s that?”

“A person?”

“Is it a friend?”

Pairs of innocent eyes looked at Kong Xunwen.

Kong Xunwen silently chastised himself and explained: “It’s not a good word, don’t learn it. I was just joking.”

“Ah—” the children drew out the sound.

Before long, the children went home. Coming to find Kong Xunwen this afternoon was an exception; their parents were waiting for them at home.

After agreeing to meet tomorrow, Kong Xunwen said goodbye to the children.

Standing at the door, watching their retreating backs, he silently thought, See you tomorrow.

Qiu Zhijie walked up, pulling a cart. As he passed Kong Xunwen, he left a remark: “Are you really not going to help me carry anything?”

Kong Xunwen turned without hesitation and walked inside, pulling the door shut behind him. The door slammed against the frame with a bang, then bounced back open.

Qiu Zhijie, pulling the cart loaded with new items, walked up, pushed the rebounding door back into place, and continued pulling the cart inside.

Kong Xunwen sat in the living room, watching Qiu Zhijie transport his belongings—all into the living room—trip after trip.

Then the man squatted down, resting his arm on a package, the bluish-purple veins visible along his forearm, and looked up to ask him: “Aren’t you going to find me a place to live? Landlord?”

Qiu Zhijie certainly looked like a tenant who had paid the rent and could now act without restraint.

But his tone was too calm; he clearly didn’t care.

Kong Xunwen stood up: “Follow me.”

He turned his head and noticed that Qiu Zhijie, who was following him, wasn’t carrying anything. He paused, but said nothing, continuing to lead the way.

They left the living room and went up the stairs, flight after flight.

Kong Xunwen led Qiu Zhijie to his territory, the empty third floor. He raised his hand and gestured: “You’ll live here.”

Qiu Zhijie was silent for a moment, looking at Kong Xunwen.

Kong Xunwen looked back calmly: “Is there a problem?”

Qiu Zhijie shook his head: “No.”

While Qiu Zhijie was busy like a moving ant, Kong Xunwen didn’t help at all. He even leaned against the wall nearby and asked him: “Has CEO Qiu been demoted? Why don’t I see your assistants?”

He looked genuinely curious.

Qiu Zhijie was still holding items. Hearing the question, he looked up at Kong Xunwen: “I didn’t ask them to come.”

Kong Xunwen saw his eyes flicker away for a moment, but it quickly vanished. Qiu Zhijie continued: “This is your home. I didn’t think you’d want them here.”

“Oh,” Kong Xunwen said, turning his head, then turning around and heading downstairs.

Qiu Zhijie stood on the stairs, looking down. The young man’s quickened pace, the slightly tight, white-knuckled grip on the wooden railing, the lifted hem of his clothes—he thought about their recent conversation.

Perhaps his mother was right; be direct.

Although he wasn’t sure if the young man was truly moved by it, if it made him happy, it was worth doing.

He couldn’t figure it out, so he arbitrarily interpreted the other party’s reaction just now as him liking it.

Liking his recent statement, or perhaps liking the information revealed in that statement.

Either way, it was a good thing.

Kong Xunwen unconsciously walked into the streaming room, which was also his studio. Qiu Zhijie’s last sentence hadn’t been much; at most, he was surprised that Qiu Zhijie would explain so much to him.

He just genuinely didn’t know how to face what was revealed in Qiu Zhijie’s eyes, something like… cherish.

After spacing out for a while, Kong Xunwen started tidying up his slightly messy studio.

It wasn’t too messy, just the area where he had fainted. It was quickly cleaned up. Kong Xunwen composed himself before leaving the studio.

Qiu Zhijie was no longer moving back and forth.

Kong Xunwen went upstairs. He was curious what the third floor looked like now, and how Qiu Zhijie would arrange the room.

As for whether showing up so suddenly was a problem?

He was the owner of the house. What was wrong with moving around in his own home?

His steps became more determined.

As he got closer, sounds from upstairs reached him. It sounded like Qiu Zhijie was on the phone.

“…It’s afternoon here, Mom.”

Although it was unethical, Kong Xunwen inexplicably stopped and listened.

Regarding Qiu Zhijie’s family, the public, including the studio staff, had many speculations. Because of his excellent family background, he himself looked like the kind of protagonist often seen in novels—

A favored child of heaven who had suffered trauma, hid his wounds, and waited for another protagonist to save him.

Everyone had many fantasies about this “other protagonist.”

Kong Xunwen had heard others discussing it many times, always treating it as gossip, never actively inquiring, just listening when others brought it up.

He just never expected it to involve him now.

Qiu Zhijie had turned on the speakerphone, so the voice of the person on the other end echoed in the empty room, though the echo wasn’t too noticeable since some items had already been placed inside.

“We’re having a family gathering, and we thought of you, so I called.” Unsurprisingly, Qiu Zhijie’s mother’s voice was cold.

“A family gathering?” Qiu Zhijie seemed slightly surprised.

“Yes, yes, yes, Little Qiu, it was your second aunt who asked your mother to call. Why didn’t you come to the family gathering this time?”

It was a cheerful voice.

Qiu Zhijie responded, and the two exchanged pleasantries. It was clear their relationship wasn’t particularly close.

Kong Xunwen prepared to go downstairs. Eavesdropping wasn’t a respectable thing to do, and he shouldn’t be doing it.

Well, mainly, there wasn’t much excitement to be heard in this call.

But then he suddenly heard the next sentence.

“By the way, Little Qiu, you still haven’t started dating, have you?”

Kong Xunwen’s steps paused. The next moment, he wanted to hurry away.

But he still couldn’t escape. His ears honestly listened: “My friend’s child is very nice. Would you like to make friends?”

Qiu Zhijie’s tone was calm and firm: “Friends, yes. Anything else, no.”

The person on the phone changed again.

When Kong Xunwen heard that, his first reaction, honestly, was a secret delight.

He had calmly accepted his feelings. He wasn’t without affection for Qiu Zhijie. Qiu Zhijie was a very good person. Although the implication that he had liked him before was confusing, it was clear that he was now presenting an attitude suitable for dating.

If he were still his healthy self, the only thing he would need to worry about was whether Qiu Zhijie’s family would object, but he certainly wouldn’t refuse because of that.

It was Qiu Zhijie’s mother’s voice, somewhat cold, but now carrying a hint of comfort: “I know you are currently pursuing someone; it’s just hard to tell them. Don’t worry about what your second aunt just said.”

Kong Xunwen suddenly looked up. His foot, which had slowed down to descend, somehow almost missed a step. His foot landed heavily, making a loud sound.

…

Kong Xunwen was thinking about how to make Qiu Zhijie believe he hadn’t been deliberately eavesdropping.

Even though he had been deliberately eavesdropping.

Qiu Zhijie’s voice paused for a few seconds before continuing. After a few more sentences, he said goodbye to the person on the other end and hung up. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps.

Kong Xunwen turned around. Since he had been discovered, he didn’t want to panic and flee, so he simply walked up the stairs.

The two stood face to face. Qiu Zhijie was already taller, and Kong Xunwen was currently on a lower step. Looking up made his neck a little sore, and he frowned.

He saw Qiu Zhijie take a step back: “Did you come up to help me?”

Kong Xunwen continued up the steps expressionlessly, walking past Qiu Zhijie.

The incident was probably glossed over now.

The look of hesitation returned to Qiu Zhijie’s eyes behind him. He wondered if he should be direct right now.

The interpersonal skills he had learned over the past two decades seemed useless at this moment. He looked at the young man’s back, feeling like he couldn’t read anything.

Finally, he remembered what he had thought about earlier on the stairs.

He spoke: “Did you hear those words just now?”