My Elite Boss Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 11

“That’s right!” Xi Xingyu said with no small amount of pride, “Brother Xiao Qi is amazing, we made it look so good together!”

Qu Mingluo gave a soft “Mhm” and sat down on the sofa, placing his glass on the coffee table with a light clatter to mask his unease.

“Teacher Xiao Qi,” he suddenly spoke, using that specific title, “do you have any plans for tomorrow morning?”

Qi Jiezhi paused, uncertain of what was coming next, “No, Xiao Xing’s lesson is in the afternoon.”

“Then take the morning off to rest, the day after tomorrow, we’re taking Xiao Xing to the amusement park,” Qu Mingluo told him.

“Eh?”

Qi Jiezhi hadn’t expected this. He had originally planned to spend the next few days constantly accompanying Xi Xingyu.

“Actually, there’s no need for that,” Qi Jiezhi said, “I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

Qu Mingluo looked up at him, “You have your own things to do.”

“I…” Qi Jiezhi wanted to argue, but when he met Qu Mingluo’s gaze, he realized he truly had no rebuttal.

He did have free time, and he did have personal matters to handle.

“Brother Ming,” he spoke tentatively, “you don’t have to look after me like this.”

He wanted to say more, but considering Xi Xingyu was present, he held back.

“It’s settled then,” Qu Mingluo said, “Xiao Xing agrees too.”

Xi Xingyu nodded immediately upon hearing this. Seeing the two of them in agreement, Qi Jiezhi naturally couldn’t say anything else.

In truth, he had no idea what he was going to do. Moreover, having grown used to staying at Xi Xingyu’s place, he didn’t really want to go back to his own.

So, despite being told to make his own arrangements, Qi Jiezhi chose to stay in and sleep. When he woke up, he spent his time on the balcony looking out at the sea.

Seaview Bay certainly lived up to its name. The scenery was exquisite, giving one the feeling of having the whole world in view just by standing upstairs.

He didn’t mind staying here alone, as long as Qu Mingluo didn’t see him.

Qi Jiezhi wasn’t sure why he thought that way, but he soon realized he might be afraid that Qu Mingluo would find him boring, or think his inner world was empty. This realization made him feel a bit dejected, yet there was nothing he could do.

He didn’t have any sophisticated hobbies. He knew nothing about golf, which wealthy people enjoyed, nor did he understand wine or coffee. Those things were entirely out of his reach.

While he was lost in thought, Qu Mingluo returned.

Qi Jiezhi had been sitting on the balcony, and as soon as he heard movement, he climbed out of the rattan chair.

“Brother Ming,” Qi Jiezhi walked over to greet him.

“You didn’t go out?” Qu Mingluo asked.

“Brother Ming, didn’t you tell me to rest?” Qi Jiezhi replied, “Being here is rest for me.”

Qu Mingluo looked at him, something shifting slightly in his gaze.

“I thought you’d go for a stroll,” he said, “there are some new shops that opened near Seaview Bay.”

Qi Jiezhi smiled, “I’m not much for moving around.”

The moment he said it, he realized his answer was quite dull, and he wasn’t satisfied with it himself.

But Qu Mingluo didn’t say anything. Instead, he took something out, “A gift for you.”

Qi Jiezhi was stunned, “Eh?”

“I figured you might not go out,” Qu Mingluo told him, “I was afraid you’d be bored.”

Now Qi Jiezhi truly didn’t know what to say. Qu Mingluo was incredibly thoughtful. He had given him time to rest without demanding anything in return, simply wishing for him to be happy.

“Brother Ming, I feel bad accepting another gift,” Qi Jiezhi said, “you already gave me clothes last time.”

“Xiao Xing wanted me to give it to you,” Qu Mingluo told him, “open it and see.”

Since he put it that way, Qi Jiezhi could only nod. When he opened the box, he found a star necklace inside.

He looked at Qu Mingluo. The man’s expression hadn’t changed, and it didn’t seem like he was lying.

“Then thank you, Brother Ming. Please thank Xiao Xing for me as well,” Qi Jiezhi said, “I won’t thank him separately.”

Qu Mingluo nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the necklace. Following his gaze, Qi Jiezhi looked down at the silver star lying quietly in the box.

Actually, this didn’t seem like a style Xi Xingyu would choose. The boy usually preferred much cuter designs.

“Brother Ming,” he hesitated, “do you want to see how it looks on me?”

Qu Mingluo took the initiative, “I’ll put it on for you.”

“Okay,” Qi Jiezhi said, “thank you, Brother Ming.”

Qu Mingluo took the necklace from the box and walked behind Qi Jiezhi. He carried the scent of cedarwood.

Qi Jiezhi tilted his head up slightly, feeling Qu Mingluo’s fingers brush against the back of his neck. The touch was light, yet it made Qi Jiezhi’s breath hitch for a moment.

He admitted, this was his own problem. But he could hear Qu Mingluo’s shallow breathing behind him, so close that he could count his own heartbeats.

“There,” Qu Mingluo said.

Qi Jiezhi turned around, meeting Qu Mingluo’s eyes directly.

“Brother Ming…” he started, his voice a bit raspy.

“It suits you,” Qu Mingluo said, his gaze lingering on the man’s neck.

Qi Jiezhi looked down. The star rested just below his collarbone, making him look even more attractive. It really was a perfect fit.

“Brother Ming,” he paused, “thank you.”

Qu Mingluo smiled, “I won’t disturb you further. Go get some rest. You still have a lesson with Xiao Xing tonight, and we’re going out tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Qi Jiezhi said, “you should rest well too, Brother Ming.”

Qu Mingluo nodded and turned toward the elevator. The wound on his forehead had healed, so he no longer needed the cartoon bandages. At this moment, his face was shown in its entirety.

Qi Jiezhi watched his back disappear around the corner of the second floor, his fingers unconsciously tracing the necklace at his throat.

He returned to the balcony and sat back down in the rattan chair. As the sea breeze gently ruffled his hair, he felt a bit dazed.

Before dinner, Qi Jiezhi changed his clothes. The star necklace was hidden by his shirt so Xi Xingyu wouldn’t see it. This was to prevent Qu Mingluo’s excuse from being exposed.

Xi Xingyu chattered excitedly about their plans for the amusement park while Qu Mingluo occasionally offered a response, though his eyes frequently drifted toward Qi Jiezhi.

Qi Jiezhi kept his head down while eating, not saying much. He felt that in such a setting, it wasn’t his place to speak.

“Why aren’t you guys saying anything? Do you not want to go out with me?” Xi Xingyu asked, sounding quite pleased with himself.

“No,” Qi Jiezhi said, “since you’re the most excited, it’s best that you make the arrangements.”

“Brother Xiao Qi,” Xi Xingyu suddenly leaned in, “the star on your neck is so pretty!”

“Didn’t you give it to Brother Xiao Qi?” Qu Mingluo asked him.

“Oh, right!” Xi Xingyu said, “It suits Brother Xiao Qi so well.”

Qi Jiezhi laughed, suddenly feeling his heart race.

“Thank you, Xiao Xing,” he said softly, “I really like it.”

However, he didn’t look up at Qu Mingluo when he said it. It was obvious that Qu Mingluo was the one who bought it, and there was no need to point it out. The man had used a good excuse simply because he was afraid Qi Jiezhi would feel embarrassed.

And Qi Jiezhi was indeed embarrassed, even though he knew very well that such things were nothing to Qu Mingluo.

After dinner, Qi Jiezhi took Xi Xingyu to do his homework. The boy was very bright, and these tasks were never a struggle for him.

Qu Mingluo didn’t disturb them. Once the homework was finished, Xi Xingyu held Qi Jiezhi’s hand and went downstairs to find Qu Mingluo. He was truly looking forward to the amusement park tomorrow.

When they arrived downstairs, Qu Mingluo’s gaze stayed on them, and his eyes specifically dropped to their joined hands. Qi Jiezhi, however, didn’t notice and said nothing.

“Brother is always busy, and Mom and Dad never take me. They always have the butler or someone else take me,” Xi Xingyu said, “I’m really excited for the two of you to play with me.”

His tone was clearly upbeat, proving he had been looking forward to this for a long time. Neither Qu Mingluo nor Qi Jiezhi wanted to let him down.

“I know,” Qi Jiezhi said, “don’t worry.”

Qu Mingluo ruffled the boy’s hair, “Behave yourself tomorrow, don’t bully Brother Xiao Qi.”

Xi Xingyu protested, “Brother, don’t talk nonsense, I’m not that kind of person.”

He still sounded a bit childish when he spoke, but it was clear he was being serious and not joking.

“As if I don’t know you,” Qu Mingluo teased mockingly.

Xi Xingyu looked at Qi Jiezhi, “Brother Xiao Qi, look at my brother, isn’t he bullying me?”

Qi Jiezhi asked him, “What is your brother saying about you?”

“I’m saying you just like pretty things,” Qu Mingluo said, “do you dare look at your Brother Xiao Qi and say you don’t?”

Xi Xingyu muttered, “But Brother Xiao Qi is very good-looking, isn’t he?”

“But I’m not wrong about you either, am I?” Qu Mingluo teased him on purpose.

Xi Xingyu said to Qi Jiezhi, “Brother Xiao Qi, look at him, he bullies me like this every time. He’s like this even when you’re here, he’d be even worse if you weren’t.”

“How can he be like that?” Qi Jiezhi played along, “That really is too much, Brother Ming.”

“Since both of you think I’m being too much…”

He paused there, his gaze moving back and forth between the two of them.

“How about I just don’t go tomorrow, and the two of you can go instead?”

Upon hearing this, Xi Xingyu started coughing, “No, no, I didn’t hear that!”

“Brother Xiao Qi, help me say something, quick!” Xi Xingyu looked at Qi Jiezhi with pleading eyes.

“But if your brother has made up his mind, there isn’t much I can do. What should we do?” Qi Jiezhi asked with a smile.

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