Unmatched Chapter 34

Chapter 34 The Spell of Love

It is said that proximity to vermillion makes one red, and proximity to ink makes one black—there is truth to this.

Xie Qi, driven by a love-addled brain, chased Zhao Shuyi a thousand miles from Fengjing City to Shencheng just to accompany him on his business trip. Their clinginess was outrageous, and under Xie Qi’s influence, Zhao Shuyi’s work efficiency dropped significantly.

That evening, when Ye Zhao knocked on the door for the second time to discuss business, Zhao Shuyi, who usually prioritized work, surprisingly said, “No rush, let’s talk tomorrow.”

“…”

Secretary Ye glanced toward the bedroom and wisely decided not to disturb them.

This was a night not meant for work.

“I love you” seemed to be a secret spell between lovers. Even if it was just a “reward” and not entirely genuine, it could still breach the strongest defenses in a person’s heart.

Xie Qi melted into a puddle of honey, unable to speak or act, simply holding Zhao Shuyi in a daze, savoring the endless afterglow of the “spell.”

Zhao Shuyi couldn’t ignore him or leave him; the slightest movement resulted in him being pulled back and locked into Xie Qi’s embrace. The atmosphere was so thick it was suffocating, yet the feeling was incredibly novel and wonderful.

When they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms, they didn’t know what time it was. Zhao Shuyi had business to attend to the next day, and knowing Xie Qi didn’t want to separate, he simply brought him along.

This was slightly irrational, but not a big deal. In the morning, they visited the branch company. In the afternoon, they returned to the hotel, where Zhao Shuyi held a video conference with his confidants at the headquarters, with Xie Qi listening in.

During dinner that evening, Ye Zhao was present, and they discussed work openly, strategizing their next steps.

Although he had been listening in all day, Xie Qi’s mind wasn’t focused on the main issues, leaving him utterly confused. Only now did he seriously ask, “What exactly are you investigating?”

“Auditing the accounts,” Zhao Shuyi replied. “My Second Uncle worked in Shencheng a few years ago, and there are quite a few dirty, hidden accounts.”

“How dirty?”

“Embezzlement, money laundering, and possibly something more serious,” Zhao Shuyi said. “I’ve investigated several times before but never found evidence. He was cautious and handled everything that needed to be processed as soon as he returned to the headquarters. I thought the investigation would have to be dropped, but unexpectedly, we have new leads now.”

Xie Qi asked, “What leads? Your Second Aunt?”

Zhao Shuyi ignored his teasing term and nodded. “He had something shady going on with the Apparel Division. It’s highly likely he used their business operations for his schemes. No wonder the branch company was clean; we couldn’t find anything here.”

If Zhao Shuyi’s guess was correct, then Bai Fangchun was more than just his “Second Aunt.”

Secretary Ye handed over the documents, showing them Bai Fangchun’s resume.

Bai Fangchun came from a poor background in a small county under Shencheng. Because she was smart and beautiful, she was highly regarded during her school years. She attended university in Shencheng, becoming Zhao Huaicheng’s junior from the same school. She met him when he returned to their alma mater for a speech.

Their relationship grew closer, and she accompanied Zhao Huaicheng everywhere under the guise of being his personal secretary until she joined Chaoyang Group, where she rapidly advanced within the Apparel Division.

According to Bai Fangchun’s personnel file, her performance was outstanding, showing no signs of being a connected hire who used backdoors. Colleagues described her as a “career-driven strong woman.”

A few years later, after Zhao Huaicheng was transferred back to the Fengjing headquarters, Bai Fangchun voluntarily resigned, citing a “change in career planning.” Judging by her son’s age, the so-called “change in career planning” was her pregnancy.

Bai Fangchun has not returned to the workplace and is currently a full-time mother caring for her son. Theoretically, she has no income, yet her standard of living is very high. This is circumstantial evidence of her continued relationship with Zhao Huaicheng.

Zhao Shuyi wasn’t concerned with their romantic relationship; he only wanted to know how much Bai Fangchun knew about or participated in Zhao Huaicheng’s dirty accounts from back then, and whether evidence could be dug out from her.

To get to the bottom of it, Zhao Shuyi stayed in Shencheng for two extra days.

The good news was that he found more than expected, including the fact that a certain fabric supplier Bai Fangchun frequently collaborated with while employed was a small company disguised as a large foreign enterprise, which had declared bankruptcy and been deregistered long ago. It looked very much like a shell company used for illegal operations.

The bad news was that although he uncovered a lot of information, there was no direct, conclusive evidence that could lead to a conviction.

The investigation stalled here. All available files, documents, and relevant personnel had been checked. Secretary Ye tactfully suggested that further progress was impossible and that continuing the search would be unlikely to yield the desired results.

It seemed this trip would end in disappointment.

Xie Qi remembered his persona as a “supportive partner” and wanted to help, but unfortunately, he couldn’t. He consoled Zhao Shuyi, saying, “There’s plenty of time. You’ll have many more opportunities to take down your Second Uncle later.”

Zhao Shuyi shook his head slightly and told Ye Zhao to book the return flight.

It was the evening of November 23rd. Zhao Shuyi was in low spirits and smoked two cigarettes on the hotel balcony. He couldn’t be away on business for too long, or Zhao Huaicheng would grow suspicious, and once he was on guard, it would be even harder to investigate.

They booked a flight for noon on the 24th. Zhao Shuyi was stern-faced all morning, speaking little, mostly lost in thought.

But upon reaching the airport, just before boarding, his mind stirred, and he suddenly changed his mind: “I need to see Bai Fangchun.”

Ye Zhao was taken aback. “Are you planning to speak with her directly?”

“Yes,” Zhao Shuyi said. “A clever woman like her wouldn’t fail to keep a backup plan. If she knows how to look out for herself, she must have something in her hands.” Something to use as leverage for constantly demanding things from Zhao Huaicheng, or rather, for self-preservation.

This was obvious.

But having something in her hands and being able to extract it from her were two different matters.

Zhao Shuyi had the confidence to negotiate, but the thought of meeting Bai Fangchun herself—his unknown Second Aunt, Qin Zhi’s rival—made his mood subtle.

Zhao Shuyi had hated Qin Zhi and Zhao Huaicheng since childhood, disdaining them as family and viewing them as a shameless, immoral, disgusting collective—the misfortune of his destiny.

But Zhao Shuyi had never doubted that Zhao Huaicheng didn’t love Qin Zhi.

They were not a collective; they were just an ordinary couple whose relationship wasn’t solid, and they could potentially break up.

How would Qin Zhi feel if she learned about Bai Fangchun’s existence?

Should he feel schadenfreude along with sympathy?

Zhao Shuyi frowned, cast aside the distracting thoughts, and turned to Xie Qi. “I’ll go see her alone. You go back first; you don’t need to wait for me.”

He meant well, not wanting to affect Xie Qi’s work, but the other man didn’t appreciate it, sticking to him like chewing gum. “No, I want to go with you.”

Zhao Shuyi had no choice but to bring him along. They left the airport, returned to the city, had a quick meal, and then, timing it carefully, went to find Bai Fangchun in the afternoon.

Her address had been found long ago, but showing up unannounced was too abrupt, and she might not accept an invitation. It was reported that she picked up her son from school promptly at five every afternoon. Zhao Shuyi parked near the residential area—on the road she had to take home—and waited patiently, chatting with Xie Qi.

They were driving a car from the branch company, which wasn’t conspicuous. Zhao Shuyi sat in the passenger seat, keeping Bai Fangchun’s appearance from the phone photo in mind, including her license plate number.

Bai Fangchun wasn’t driving today. She walked along the sidewalk, one hand holding a school bag, the other holding her young son.

The woman was as beautiful as she had been in her youth. Her smooth long hair fell over her shoulders, and she smiled, looking gentler than in the photo. Due to good maintenance, her age was hard to pinpoint.

From a distance, the little boy beside her was eating an ice cream cone, his face hidden. Zhao Shuyi and Xie Qi watched for a long time until he finally looked up, revealing his full face.

Before Zhao Shuyi could say anything, Xie Qi suddenly spoke. “Truly a member of your Zhao Family. The little boy looks a bit like you.”

“…” Zhao Shuyi was speechless. “How am I supposed to respond to that? Should I compliment your eyesight?”

“You flatter me,” Xie Qi joked. “What should you call him, a younger brother? I don’t think you can hide this from your mother. You might as well tell her early so she can prepare. Otherwise, it will be trouble when the boy grows up.”

Zhao Shuyi didn’t immediately grasp his meaning. “Prepare for what?”

“The fight for the family assets, of course,” Xie Qi said. “Your mother gave all her shares to your Second Uncle and has nothing left herself. Does she plan to give up everything and live on love alone?”

“…”

Zhao Shuyi hadn’t had time to think about this, still pondering whether Qin Zhi would be hurt. Xie Qi had skipped the emotional entanglement and fast-forwarded straight to the inheritance battle. He truly was the eldest young master of the Xie Family, experienced in fighting off illegitimate children since childhood.

“It’s none of my business. She’ll have to look out for herself,” Zhao Shuyi said coldly, his mood worsening slightly. He didn’t want to dwell on the topic. Seeing the mother and son approaching, he opened the car door. “Wait for me here.”

Xie Qi watched him walk toward Bai Fangchun through the car window, waiting patiently.

Today, Zhao Shuyi was dressed in his usual suit and tie. His height alone gave him a strong sense of presence. As he approached, Bai Fangchun was clearly startled.

Xie Qi saw Zhao Shuyi hand her a business card and say something. The woman instinctively shielded her son behind her.

Then, at Zhao Shuyi’s invitation, they walked one after the other into the coffee shop across the street.

…

Xie Qi waited for over two hours.

It was dark when Zhao Shuyi returned. Xie Qi was slightly drowsy, resting his head on the steering wheel. Zhao Shuyi handed him the dinner he had bought at the coffee shop: two sandwiches and a latte.

As the car door closed, Zhao Shuyi loosened his tie and sighed deeply.

“How did your talk with her go?” Xie Qi asked. “What was the result?”

“It was alright.” Despite saying that, Zhao Shuyi was in a poor mood, even more subdued than before he left. “I lied to her, saying we found crucial evidence and could initiate prosecution, involving the judicial authorities. She would likely face jail time.”

This wasn’t entirely false, just not entirely true.

Zhao Shuyi was skilled at manipulation and threats, and the other party happened to be guilty and had a major weakness. “She cares most about her son, and she knows my Second Uncle only wants the boy, not her. If she goes to jail, it would suit my Second Uncle perfectly—he wouldn’t risk being dragged down to save her. He would only kick her while she’s down, distance himself, and take the child.”

Zhao Shuyi unwrapped a sandwich, frowned as he took a bite, and swallowed before saying softly, “So I offered her a ‘way out’: cooperating with me. If she can provide evidence of Zhao Huaicheng’s crimes, I will send her and her son abroad with a large sum of money, guaranteeing them a comfortable life.”

“Did she agree?”

“She’s still considering it.”

“She needs to consider that?” Xie Qi said. “Instead of pinning her hopes on a scumbag who won’t marry her, she should grab a big payout and run away.”

Zhao Shuyi remained silent. Xie Qi glanced at his expression. “This went pretty smoothly, so why the long face? What’s bothering you?”

Zhao Shuyi didn’t answer.

Xie Qi pondered for a long time, unsure if his guess was right: Was Zhao Shuyi feeling down after seeing the deep bond between the mother and son?

“Forget it, Zhao Shuyi.” Xie Qi took his chin and kissed his cheek. “You’re upset because of other people, but they can’t see it. I’m the one who gets the cold shoulder. That’s really unfair to me.”

“…” Zhao Shuyi paused slightly, then finally smiled. “Alright, I won’t let you suffer.”

They finished their sandwiches in the car and drove back to the hotel. They would stay one more night and return to Fengjing tomorrow.

Although the trip had its twists, it wasn’t fruitless. Zhao Shuyi’s mood improved significantly on the return journey.

When he arrived, he only had Secretary Ye with him, but on the way back, he had an extra person—Xie Qi—who stuck to him like a secretary, watching him constantly.

However, Secretary Ye watched him to observe his mood and anticipate his next move. Secretary Xie, on the other hand, wasn’t thinking about business but was full of romantic notions.

Zhao Shuyi was wearing a new suit today, and the matching tie was a different color, tied personally by Xie Qi that morning.

Zhao Shuyi’s demeanor at work was very different from his private one. Although both were aloof and lacked expression, he was more authoritative when dealing with subordinates, and he had to display the unique tolerance and responsibility of a superior.

In contrast, his private gaze was sharper, more direct, even caustic, as if everyone before him were fools to be played with.

But there weren’t many people Zhao Shuyi had the opportunity to play with. If he had to choose the most entertaining one, it would undoubtedly be Xie Qi.

That spell of love seemed to have affected him too. Every glance Xie Qi cast his way was noticed, and every subtle, restless emotion was captured.

He had become sensitive.

It was as if he had suddenly tuned into Xie Qi’s frequency. Invisible radio waves transmitted through the air, and he could hear Xie Qi’s heartbeat, and what’s more, he knew he could control it.

The feeling was highly addictive.

But Zhao Shuyi said nothing. The more restless Xie Qi became, the more composed he remained, enjoying the sight of Xie Qi growing anxious over his coldness.

Zhao Shuyi deliberately maintained his “coldness” the entire way, feigning sleep on the plane.

It was strange; Xie Qi’s anxious gaze could actually pull him out of his heavy and oppressive work, making him suddenly forget his worries and just want to smile.

He felt Xie Qi watching him constantly. Thinking he was truly asleep, Xie Qi took off his jacket and covered him, but his hand reached under the clothing and quietly grasped Zhao Shuyi’s wrist.

The skin where he was held tingled slightly. Zhao Shuyi thought that if Xie Qi initiated a kiss right now, he wouldn’t refuse.

But Xie Qi was surprisingly restrained. Aside from holding him, he made no other moves until they arrived in Fengjing over three hours later.

Zhao Shuyi had been pretending to sleep at first, then drifted into a semi-conscious state, no longer fully awake. When they landed, Xie Qi woke him up and asked if he wanted to go straight to the company or eat first.

Zhao Shuyi countered, “What about you? Where are you going?”

Xie Qi hesitated slightly, then stated frankly, “I’m going with you.”

“…” Zhao Shuyi instantly laughed. “Xie Qi, do you like it that much? Can’t you leave me?”

Xie Qi snatched the jacket off him and put it back on. “No, I don’t. I’m going home then. I won’t go with you.”

As they disembarked, Xie Qi walked quickly ahead, deliberately avoiding looking at Zhao Shuyi, as if this could salvage some dignity.

Ye Zhao, walking behind, had no idea what drama these two masters were performing now. He secretly glanced at Zhao Shuyi, who showed no reaction, allowing Xie Qi to walk away and part ways with them.

The temperature in Fengjing was much lower than in Shencheng; the cold air was biting as they exited the airport. Xie Qi hadn’t walked far before he deflated and turned back toward Zhao Shuyi. Although he had lost the battle of actions, his mouth was still tough. “What if I follow you? Is that not allowed?”

Zhao Shuyi pretended to be serious. “Of course, it is. I didn’t say no.”

Xie Qi scowled and took his hand.

The driver was already waiting. They sat in the back, and Ye Zhao sat in the passenger seat. When he turned back to ask “Where to,” Zhao Shuyi named a restaurant.

They spent two hours eating dinner.

After the meal, they had to separate, each having their own busy schedule. Although Xie Qi always said, “I’m not busy,” or “It doesn’t matter,” he actually had a lot of work and couldn’t repeatedly neglect public duties for private matters.

Zhao Shuyi wasn’t stupid; he understood without Xie Qi having to say it.

He understood even more why Xie Qi was willing to delay work to accompany him—the romance had been so intense these past few days that it needed constant fueling to prevent the fire of passion from dying out.

It was best to let it burn fiercely, even more fiercely, and seize the opportunity to refine true gold…

Had true gold been refined? It didn’t seem so yet.

As they parted ways at the restaurant entrance, Xie Qi looked at him, hesitant to speak.

They were only separating for a few hours and would see each other when they returned home that night, yet Xie Qi was filled with sorrow and melancholy, as if he feared this brief passionate affair would end and Zhao Shuyi would “stop loving” him the moment he turned away.

“What time are you coming home tonight?” Xie Qi asked softly.

“It depends,” Zhao Shuyi said. “I’ll try to be early.”

“Okay.”

Xie Qi had his answer but still didn’t leave, seemingly waiting to hear something else.

Standing in the cold wind at the entrance, Zhao Shuyi watched him quietly. “I’m leaving. The driver is waiting.”

“Wait.” Xie Qi suddenly grabbed his hand. “Zhao Shuyi, if you like it, actually—”

“Hmm?”

“You can treat me however you want.”

“…”

“I mean, like that day.” Xie Qi’s cheeks were pale from the cold, but his ears were slightly flushed. “As long as there are still… rewards, I can accept anything.”

He murmured, “Can you keep loving me forever?”