His Venomous Former Boss Chased Him And Beat Him Fiercely Chapter 82

And Not Presentable

After this busy period, Qiu Zhijie finally had some free time. The weather was gradually cooling down, and the two of them needed to put their travel plans on the agenda.

But before that, Kong Xunwen was still plotting one thing—birthdays.

Both of their birthdays.

This was the first birthday they would spend together, and since their birthdays were conveniently only a day apart, it was certainly worth preparing for properly.

However, how exactly to prepare and what to do… he hadn’t figured out yet.

He was even debating whether to plan a surprise or discuss it with Qiu Zhijie.

After all, they hadn’t celebrated milestones like their hundredth day together, unlike some couples in the throes of new romance.

Of course, that kind of celebration really didn’t suit them.

Lost in thought, Kong Xunwen unconsciously left a meaningless mark on his sketchbook.

So, what exactly should they do? Or perhaps nothing too special was needed?

“What’s wrong?”

The sudden voice from behind nearly startled Kong Xunwen. After recognizing the voice, he didn’t turn his head, waiting in silence.

“Birthday?” Qiu Zhijie looked at the word Kong Xunwen had unconsciously written on the pad, finally realizing what he had been thinking about lately.

Kong Xunwen noticed the word on the pad too. Since it had been seen, there was no need to make a choice anymore, but he still didn’t speak.

Qiu Zhijie realized something was off and leaned closer. “Why aren’t you talking to me?”

“Why do you walk without making any noise?” Kong Xunwen finally frowned.

“Did I scare you?”

Qiu Zhijie moved closer. Kong Xunwen scooted his chair away, and the person beside him followed, moving closer again. He scooted further, and the other person followed again…

After several attempts, Kong Xunwen realized how childish this behavior was. “…Enough. Why are you so immature?”

Without giving Qiu Zhijie a chance to retort, he immediately continued, “So, do you have any ideas for your birthday?”

Qiu Zhijie choked, paused, then laughed. “Alright, alright, I’m the immature one.”

Kong Xunwen gave him a matter-of-fact glance, signifying his agreement with that statement.

Qiu Zhijie smiled helplessly, yet his movements were completely natural. He picked Kong Xunwen up from the chair and settled them both onto the nearby sofa. Only after they were intimately close did he answer the question.

“Since our birthdays are only a day apart, let’s celebrate them together.”

“You remember that?” Kong Xunwen raised his head in surprise from his embrace.

Qiu Zhijie feigned displeasure and stopped smiling. “Did you forget that I liked you back then?”

Kong Xunwen blinked, suddenly pulling back slightly, raising his hand like a microphone for an interview. “So, when exactly did you fall for me?”

“…” Qiu Zhijie thought back. Kong Xunwen waited, then heard him say,

“I don’t know,” Qiu Zhijie said. “But I noticed you the moment I first saw you.”

Kong Xunwen tilted his head: ?

Qiu Zhijie smiled again. “You were the most unique and best-looking one there at the time.”

Perhaps seeing Kong Xunwen’s speechless expression, he thought for a moment and added, “But I genuinely like you, and I even gave you a gift for your birthday before.”

“A gift?” Kong Xunwen instinctively spoke, then thought about it. In the end, he didn’t retract the question. Why didn’t he remember Qiu Zhijie ever giving him a gift?

He hadn’t even received any extra, mysterious gifts.

Qiu Zhijie looked even more confused. “Didn’t you say later when I asked that you were using it well? That set of paint.”

“Paint?” Kong Xunwen remembered. Now that it was mentioned, he understood, but…

“It was delivered home in a box from the studio. Anyone would assume it was a studio perk, alright?”

Qiu Zhijie: “…”

“But, when I asked you later…”

Later?

Kong Xunwen thought about it, his expression hard to describe. “You’re my boss. Asking about that, while a bit strange, wasn’t completely out of line.”

Qiu Zhijie fell silent. After a moment, he buried his head against Kong Xunwen. “So, how should we celebrate our birthdays?”

“Is there anywhere you want to go?” Kong Xunwen lowered his gaze to the person on his shoulder, following his lead in changing the subject.

The head on his shoulder shook.

He couldn’t rely on him at all. Kong Xunwen pressed his own head down onto the head resting on his shoulder, looking out the window.

Then he lowered his head and started scrolling through his phone.

He swiped through videos one by one.

“In this life, you absolutely cannot miss…”

Qiu Zhijie squinted. He had been too stressed recently, and even after returning, there were still some loose ends to tie up. Now he was finally fully resting, and being near the familiar scent made him feel even more secure. He was unknowingly getting sleepy, listening to the sound beside him without paying much attention.

Marketing accounts were always like this.

Then a word popped into his ear: “Bungee jumping.”

The video continued its introduction. Kong Xunwen focused on the screen, unaware that the person on his shoulder, who had been on the verge of sleep, had opened his eyes.

His dark eyes were completely alert.

After a moment, his pupils shifted, and his gaze fell upon the young man’s profile. His expression was unreadable, but the prolonged stare was enough to convey something.

“Do you want to try this?”

Although the room wasn’t silent, Kong Xunwen was startled by the sudden voice next to his ear. He turned his head and saw Qiu Zhijie’s serious face looking at the phone screen.

Qiu Zhijie wasn’t looking at him, only repeating, “Do you want to go?”

Kong Xunwen didn’t speak, just watched him.

Qiu Zhijie finally turned his head, smiling nonchalantly. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say we didn’t know where to go for our birthdays? Isn’t this perfect?”

Kong Xunwen withdrew his gaze and casually swiped away the video that was starting to replay. “It’s too dangerous. I want to cherish my life.”

Qiu Zhijie looked over this time.

Kong Xunwen tilted his head at him. “What? Did you think I didn’t want to live?”

“I didn’t,” Qiu Zhijie said softly.

“Hmph.” Kong Xunwen gave a light snort, not answering the question, but continuing, “Don’t think too highly of yourself. This isn’t just because of you.”

Qiu Zhijie laughed, leaning in to rub against the young man’s cheek. “Oh? Why isn’t it because of me? If not for me, then who?”

“There are many,” Kong Xunwen said. At this, the expression of the person beside him changed. Kong Xunwen seemed not to notice, counting on his fingers. “My teacher.”

Qiu Zhijie didn’t say anything.

“…My fans, those few kids, and…”

Before he could finish counting, Qiu Zhijie pinched his cheek. “And me?”

Kong Xunwen struggled, mumbling, “You? You’re far down the list, I haven’t gotten to you yet.”

That wasn’t what Qiu Zhijie wanted to hear. He pinched Kong Xunwen’s face, turning it, and leaned in to kiss him, blocking that mouth that was deliberately trying to annoy him.

*

The plans for the birthday itself were never finalized. The two of them… Kong Xunwen started the day completely unplanned.

The weather was overcast today. He hadn’t stayed up until midnight to wish Qiu Zhijie a happy birthday yesterday, convinced by a single sentence from him.

“No matter what, the first person you say ‘Happy Birthday’ to will be me.”

So, in the dim room, the first thing Kong Xunwen did upon waking was reach out and pinch the cheek of the still-sleeping Qiu Zhijie to wake him up, then mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep:

“Happy birthday.”

Qiu Zhijie opened his eyes and looked at the window. “Same to you.”

“…”

He woke up very quickly once his eyes were open. In a moment, he said, “Isn’t it still very early?”

Kong Xunwen looked too, speechless. “The weather is bad today.”

He lazily snuggled closer to Qiu Zhijie, burying himself under the covers, and closed his eyes. “If it’s really bad, let’s not go out today.”

Qiu Zhijie took a few seconds to reply. “Okay.”

Kong Xunwen suddenly lifted his head, revealing his eyes, which curved into a smile. “Just kidding.”

“You have plans today, right?”

Qiu Zhijie paused slightly, then his brow twitched, but not because of the question. It was because of the abdominal muscles being poked beneath the blanket. His hand under the covers also reached out.

They had done some exercise before bed last night to promote sleep, so the path was smooth and unobstructed now, skin against skin.

Kong Xunwen’s hand was caught and pulled into an embrace, placed around Qiu Zhijie’s firm waist. He looked down and then heard Qiu Zhijie speak above his head.

“If you don’t want to go out, we won’t. We have plenty of things we can do at home.”

That hand seemed to be moving towards a somewhat dangerous area.

Kong Xunwen: “No! I want to go out!”

Qiu Zhijie’s movements didn’t stop. His lowered dark eyes were deep. “It’s fine. My plan is for the evening. We can leave around three in the afternoon. I’ve prepared everything. We still have enough time now.”

Kong Xunwen’s head emerged. His other hand, wearing a watch, landed in Qiu Zhijie’s palm. The man lifted it to check the time, confirming, “It’s still early.”

With both hands restrained and breath drawing near, Kong Xunwen quickly turned his head. “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”

Suddenly, everything stopped. In the silence, Qiu Zhijie burst out laughing, releasing him.

Kong Xunwen finally realized, “Were you messing with me?”

Qiu Zhijie was still laughing. Kong Xunwen narrowed his eyes, suddenly flipping over and pressing down on the person who was laughing so happily, and pinched his cheek again, though this time with much more force.

They wrestled for a while before deciding to call a truce. Then, a phone vibrated.

It was Qiu Zhijie’s phone.

Qiu Zhijie stretched out his arm to grab the phone. Kong Xunwen got off Qiu Zhijie and leaned over to look at the caller ID with him.

It was a video call.

Note: Mother.

Right, today was Qiu Zhijie’s birthday.

But…

The two exchanged a look, each seeing their current appearance reflected in the other’s eyes. They were a mess from playing around and looked utterly unpresentable. Their hair was tousled, Qiu Zhijie had red marks on his face, and his upper body was bare.

The phone was temporarily set aside. The two hurriedly got up, put on clothes, buttoning each other’s shirts, and smoothing out wrinkles and collars.

Finally, they stood in front of the sink to check their appearance before returning to the phone, managing to answer the call just before it disconnected.

Kong Xunwen stayed out of the frame for the moment.

Appearing before Qiu Hanzhuo and Shi An was Qiu Zhijie, dressed in neat pajamas.

Qiu Hanzhuo subtly raised an eyebrow.

Qiu Zhijie greeted them.

Qiu Hanzhuo nodded. “It’s your birthday today. Happy birthday. Since you’re not having a party this time, I’ll have the gift sent directly.”

Qiu Zhijie nodded. “Okay.”

“By the way, where is Xunwen?”

Kong Xunwen then entered the frame and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Qiu.

Qiu Hanzhuo smiled at him. “Tomorrow is Xunwen’s birthday, if I remember correctly.”

“You haven’t,” Kong Xunwen was a little surprised. “Thank you for remembering.”

Qiu Hanzhuo’s smile turned slightly teasing. “Of course, I remember. Little Qiu used to tell me about your fate every time around this date.”

“If you had been born just one hour later, you would have been born on the same day.”

Kong Xunwen looked at Qiu Zhijie beside him.

Qiu Zhijie’s composure had been well-honed. He nodded calmly. “It is our fate.”

After that exchange, the atmosphere lightened considerably. The four of them chatted harmoniously across the small screen, with Shi An being the only one who didn’t speak often.

Just before the call ended, Qiu Hanzhuo smiled gracefully and said to Kong Xunwen, “My parents are no longer alive, and there are no other elders in the family worth meeting. Meeting us is enough. There’s nothing to worry about on our side. Find some time to go abroad and get your marriage certificate.”

Kong Xunwen was stunned, but Qiu Zhijie seemed very calm, interjecting, “We will consider it.”

Qiu Hanzhuo looked at the two of them, her smile unwavering, and then looked at Kong Xunwen. “Then I look forward to you visiting the house later.”

She curved her eyes, showing a hint of mischief. “Little Qiu’s childhood home.”