TVMCC Chapter 86
by VolareChapter 86 is a second-best option.
With the passing of Grandpa Yun, the Yun residence was devoid of festive decorations. Jiang Qiu was also absent, leaving the entire villa cold and quiet, save for the sound of the television.
Yun Yi watched the rather boring soap opera.
Aunt Zhang stood beside him, looking at the empty Yun household and then at the lonely young master, a wave of sadness washing over her.
As dusk approached, Aunt Zhang turned on the lights. Yun Yi seemed to only then notice her, “Are you tired from standing all day?”
“I’m not.”
“Have a seat then.”
“No need…”
Yun Yi looked up at her, “But I’m bored all by myself. Aunt Zhang, can you watch TV with me? It’s almost the finale.”
His light-colored eyes held a plea, a loneliness that even the drama couldn’t convey.
Aunt Zhang’s eyes reddened, and she quickly agreed, secretly wiping away tears where Yun Yi couldn’t see.
She didn’t sit too close to Yun Yi, just on the side, proper and respectful.
Even sitting, she couldn’t stay still, getting up to make tea, then to fetch fruit. Seeing that Yun Yi didn’t eat any, she brought over a plate of dried fruit and started shelling them.
Yun Yi felt helpless.
When Aunt Zhang presented him with a small plate of shelled pistachio nuts, Yun Yi finally couldn’t help but speak, “Aunt Zhang, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“Young Master, just say it.” Aunt Zhang looked a bit fearful, as if she was afraid of him.
“When school starts, I want to move to another house. Would you come with me?”
Aunt Zhang was slightly stunned, but without asking anything, she nodded. “Okay.”
At seven o’clock in the evening, fireworks exploded outside, but Yun Yi was listless. He sat motionless on the sofa, turning his head to look out the glass window.
This was the first New Year he’d spent here.
It was no different from before.
Still empty.
Aside from the fireworks in the sky, there was nothing.
But fireworks were fleeting, and after the noise, darkness returned, with smoke obscuring the stars that should have been there.
Yun Yi retracted his gaze, his eyes falling on the small plate of shelled pistachio nuts. Then, he stood up, took the plate, and went upstairs.
Compared to Yun Yi’s leisure, Jiang Qiu was much busier.
The New Year’s Eve dinner was not only a family gathering for the Qin family but also proof of Qin Tingli’s recognition of Jiang Qiu as his son.
Jiang Qiu and Qin Zhici received the same treatment, both seated to the left of Qin Tingli, in order of age.
He Shi stood behind Qin Tingli, glancing at his son, only to find him looking at Qin Zhici with a strange expression.
Butler Zhong also stood behind Qin Tingli, side by side with He Shi.
Almost all the branches of the Qin family were present, respectfully seated in their places.
When Qin Tingli’s father passed away, many had tried to get involved, but they were all expelled from the Qin family by Qin Tingli’s iron fist. Even with the protection of the Qin family, they could live comfortably in the Alliance District, but they still had to consider Qin Tingli’s feelings.
In the past, with only one son, Qin Zhici, the Qin family branches always thought that the Qin family would belong to Qin Zhici. Who would have thought that an S-rank alpha would suddenly appear?
Qin Tingli sat in the main seat, and Butler Zhong handed him a pair of chopsticks.
“It’s just a family dinner. No need to be restrained.”
With that, he picked up his chopsticks, and the family dinner officially began.
During the meal, Qin Zhe raised a glass to Jiang Qiu, who was sitting next to the main seat, eating silently. “Jiang Qiu, let’s have a drink. I’ve heard you’re back, but I’ve been too busy to visit.”
Just as Jiang Qiu was about to raise his glass to stand, Qin Tingli put down his chopsticks, his expression unchanged.
“Clack!”
The chopsticks made a crisp sound as they landed on the table.
Seeing this, Qin Tingkong tugged at Qin Zhe’s wrist, “Alright, Jiang Qiu is still young and can’t drink.”
Despite being rejected, Qin Zhe’s expression didn’t change. Qin Tingli’s statement gave everyone present a sense of the competition.
Over the years, no one had ever asked Qin Zhici to propose a toast at Qin family gatherings.
Qin Zhici’s one glass of wine was enough for Qin Tingli to destroy a company, demonstrating the noble status of the future person in charge of the Qin family.
Now it seemed that this second son was the same.
For a moment, no one was sure what Qin Tingli was thinking.
It was really hard to say who would ultimately win control of the Qin family.
Jiang Qiu didn’t take this episode to heart. Throughout the meal, the thought of grabbing his phone crossed his mind countless times.
He hadn’t contacted Yun Yi all day.
He wondered what Yun Yi was doing today, whether he had eaten properly, whether he had watched the fireworks outside.
He knew Yun Yi liked pretty things.
Fireworks were beautiful, so Yun Yi would like them, right?
Jiang Qiu wanted to go back so badly. All the Qin family members in front of him only made him feel hypocritical.
Thinking this way, he became even more restless.
After seeing Qin Tingli’s statement, Qin Zhici’s eyes darkened instantly.
The hand holding his water glass tightened, his knuckles turning white.
This kind of treatment was putting him on the fire to be roasted.
Everyone knew that his position, Qin Zhici, was not as good as a bastard son of the Qin family.
He Yuetang behind him did not miss Qin Zhici’s movements.
At that moment, He Yuetang regretted it a little.
The Qin Corporation was very important to Qin Zhici, so important that even if he was exhausted the day before, Qin Zhici would still get up on time the next day and go to work with a tired body.
If, one day, Qin Zhici really lost the Qin Corporation…
He Yuetang pinched his palm hard.
He cursed his hesitation and entanglement.
If the Qin Corporation fell into Qin Zhici’s hands, he would never be able to stand by Qin Zhici’s side openly.
Qin Tingli would not allow Qin Zhici to marry an alpha who could not have children.
Nor would he let Qin Zhici marry a servant casually.
He had no way to mark Qin Zhici in this lifetime, his pheromones were forever rejecting him, and he would never get a sense of security from Qin Zhici.
But he just loved him.
He had to love him, even if it meant resisting physiological rejection.
It wasn’t until the end of the gathering that it was ten o’clock in the evening.
Qin Tingli paid attention to his health, and ten o’clock was his regular bedtime.
After he left, all the Qin family members left one after another, leaving only Qin Zhici and He Yuetang standing at the door, facing Jiang Qiu, who was hurrying away.
It wasn’t until Jiang Qiu drove out of the Qin family’s old residence that Qin Zhici instructed He Yuetang to get the car.
When getting into the car, Qin Zhici paused, then turned and went to the driver’s seat.
On the road, a silver-gray car was chasing a black car.
Qin Zhici was driving himself. He had been holding a breath in his heart. Over the years, Qin Tingli had taught him too many times to not show his emotions, and he had grown up according to Qin Tingli’s requirements.
With just one level of difference, he had become the backup option in his father’s eyes, the fallback plan B.
How could Qin Zhici be willing to accept that?
The silver-gray car suddenly accelerated, making a buzzing sound.
This sound wasn’t too loud in the night filled with fireworks.
But the screeching sound of the cars colliding was enough to darken Jiang Qiu’s face.
This was the car Yun Yi had given him.
He was usually afraid of bumping it on the road.
Jiang Qiu slammed on the brakes, got out with a grim face, first checked the car door with the paint scraped off, then looked at Qin Zhici, who got out of the car with a cigarette in his mouth, looking provocative.
“Qin Jiang Qiu, where are you going on New Year’s Eve?”
Jiang Qiu clenched his fist, looked at the eyes that were so similar to his, and threw a punch.