My Elite Boss Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 20

Qi Jiezhi said, “I was just thinking about what happened last night, and I wondered if my colleagues might start gossiping.”

He knew that if he chose to remain silent, Qu Mingluo wouldn’t feel at ease; instead, he would worry. So, he simply spoke his mind.

“Don’t worry, none of that will affect you,” Qu Mingluo promised him.

In truth, what Qi Jiezhi wanted wasn’t necessarily a promise like that. He already knew that Qu Mingluo had the power to solve problems and could look after him. To Qu Mingluo, company matters were always under his control, and he wouldn’t let a bad situation just happen.

“Thank you.” Qi Jiezhi looked at him and smiled, then added, “President Qu, don’t worry, I will definitely work hard.”

Qu Mingluo nodded, “Go ahead and get busy, come up at noon.”

“Will do.”

An arrangement might feel awkward at first, but after a while, the feeling fades. Now, Qi Jiezhi felt it would be strange if he didn’t go up. After all, he had been in this routine since his second day at the company. The more time passed, the more he got used to it.

Since everyone already knew, they likely wouldn’t say much else. As for the idle gossip, Qi Jiezhi couldn’t do much about it, nor could he force others to shut up.

He hadn’t been in the office the day before, so when he went upstairs today, he felt many eyes on him. However, despite his absence, he wasn’t sluggish when it came to handling his morning tasks.

Qi Jiezhi worked through the morning and headed up at lunchtime. Because he had visited this floor so many times, he now felt a strange sort of affection for the number “28.” It wasn’t because of anything specific, but rather the familiarity of seeing it so often. He also found it interesting that some people used that number as a shorthand for Qu Mingluo himself. After all, Qu Mingluo did practically live on that floor.

“You look much better,” Qu Mingluo noted. “I’m glad I didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

Qi Jiezhi instinctively looked down at his phone, because it felt like every time Qu Mingluo said something like that, he was about to transfer money to him.

“What are you worried about?”

Qi Jiezhi shook his head, but his eyes caught the necklace on Qu Mingluo’s neck. He knew exactly where that necklace came from, it was the one he and Xi Xingyu had picked out together yesterday. The fact that he was wearing it so openly for everyone to see suggested he was satisfied with it.

“Thank you,” Qu Mingluo said, touching the necklace.

Qi Jiezhi replied, “Xingyu really liked it.”

At this point, he felt the two of them were actually quite similar, for instance, they both loved using Xi Xingyu as an excuse.

They ate lunch together as usual, and then Qi Jiezhi brushed his teeth and took a nap. He truly felt accustomed to this now, as if his entire life was intertwined with Qu Mingluo. Yet he also knew that once Xi Xingyu’s parents returned to the country, he couldn’t continue staying at Seaview Bay and imposing on them. Qu Mingluo wouldn’t stay there either; it was all temporary.

A few days later, Xi Xingyu delivered the news to Qu Mingluo and Qi Jiezhi that his parents were about to return. Xi Xingyu was, of course, very happy.

Qi Jiezhi said, “That’s wonderful.”

He was genuinely happy too, as he cared deeply about Xi Xingyu’s feelings. They had been looking out for each other’s emotions and opinions for a long time now.

“But if they come back, can you two promise not to move out?” Xi Xingyu asked, his voice carry a hint of a plea.

“Xingyu, if your parents are back, we would be intruding,” Qu Mingluo explained gently. “It will still be very easy to see us if you want to.”

“But it won’t be as convenient as it is now. I want things to stay the same,” Xi Xingyu said with such a pitiful expression that Qi Jiezhi didn’t know how to comfort him. He had always cared about the boy’s reactions, and if small gestures could make him happy, he was more than willing to do them.

“You shouldn’t trouble Brother Qi,” Qu Mingluo told him.

Xi Xingyu suddenly fell silent. He knew that bothering others wasn’t right, and the more he liked someone, the less he should behave that way.

“Okay…”

“Xingyu, your parents are coming back soon, you should be happy,” Qi Jiezhi coaxed him.

Xi Xingyu thought about it and realized he was right, so he nodded and stopped dwelling on his sadness. Qi Jiezhi understood these mood swings; Xingyu was young and couldn’t fully process every situation. It was normal for a child his age.

However, even though Qi Jiezhi had known this day would come, he still felt a twinge of something different. Just as Xi Xingyu said, once they stopped living there, he and Qu Mingluo wouldn’t be so close anymore. He still had a few days left, and since he didn’t have many belongings, he could easily move back to his rental. He kept these thoughts to himself, as they were his own business.

Over the next two days, things at the office remained the same. But Xi Xingyu made one small request, he asked if Qi Jiezhi and Qu Mingluo could sleep in the same bed with him.

Qi Jiezhi hadn’t expected such a request, but Qu Mingluo said, “If you’re asking because you’re going to miss us, I can stay with you, but you have to ask Brother Qi what he thinks.”

Xi Xingyu nodded, “Okay.”

Then he looked at Qi Jiezhi with those incredibly pitiful eyes. Qi Jiezhi felt as if the boy could see right through him, and he simply couldn’t refuse. Xi Xingyu was adorable, and people naturally paid attention to him. His sharp wit and intelligence made him a very captivating presence.

“Alright,” Qi Jiezhi finally gave an affirmative answer.

So, for those two days, they all shared the bed. Since Xi Xingyu slept in the middle, they didn’t see any problem with it. Each of them had their own quilt, so they didn’t disturb one another. Spending time in such an atmosphere began to affect Qi Jiezhi’s own mood. He knew these weren’t long term experiences, so he could easily adjust his state of mind.

The only real concern was Xi Xingyu. He understood the boy’s anxiety and clinginess, given the environment he grew up in. If it weren’t for this specific situation, Qu Mingluo probably wouldn’t have appeared before him so often, so it was natural for the boy to feel reluctant to let go. He tended to like people who were closer in age or who understood him best. Qi Jiezhi knew that outside of his classmates, the boy didn’t have many friends to grow up with nearby. He couldn’t help but worry about him.

The next day at the office, Qu Mingluo asked Qi Jiezhi during lunch what his thoughts were on the matter.

“I’m definitely worried about Xingyu. To be honest, I’ll miss him too,” Qi Jiezhi said. “But I only moved in because I accepted the high pay you offered. Now that his parents are back, it’s not right for me to continue intruding.”

Qi Jiezhi spoke without hesitation because that was truly how he felt. There was no reason to hide it. To him, this was the proper way to handle things.

He didn’t see any issue with his logic, but after he finished speaking, he noticed Qu Mingluo fall silent, his expression turning serious.

“Did I say something wrong?” Having spent so much time together, Qi Jiezhi felt comfortable enough to ask directly when he saw the change in expression.

“No,” Qu Mingluo said. “I can tell you really like Xingyu.”

Qi Jiezhi replied, “Xingyu is so cute, I don’t think anyone could help but like him.”

“True, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about,” Qu Mingluo asked him. “Xiao Qi, have you ever thought about changing your current situation?”

Qi Jiezhi didn’t immediately grasp what he meant. If it was about his lifestyle, he certainly hoped for something better. He believed that, given the choice, anyone would consider a better option.

“What I mean is,” Qu Mingluo began, “would you like to move to Seaview Bay?”

“Xingyu’s parents are back, I can’t keep intruding. It wouldn’t be appropriate,” Qi Jiezhi said firmly, his eyes resolute.

“That’s not what I meant,” Qu Mingluo said. “There are many houses in Seaview Bay. You could pick one you like.”

“Brother Ming, stop joking. Even if there are rentals in that villa area, I couldn’t afford the rent,” Qi Jiezhi said. “I know you mean well, and I thank you.”

“Perhaps what I’m saying is…” Qu Mingluo met his gaze directly. “I’d like to invite you to move into a different house. Mine. What do you think?”

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