My Elite Boss Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 22

Qu Mingluo nodded. “Alright, if you don’t like this one, I have others…”

His voice trailed off as he spoke, sounding completely different from his usual, poised self.

“Brother Ming, you seem so worried. What are you actually afraid of?” Qi Jiezhi asked.

“I’m worried you won’t like my house, but most importantly…” Qu Mingluo paused. “That you won’t like me either.”

“I don’t dislike you,” Qi Jiezhi said softly.

“Then that means you do like me. If you like me, can we date?” Qu Mingluo asked, then immediately added, “Was I too direct?”

Qi Jiezhi replied, “Actually, I really want to give you an answer, but right now, I can’t even see my own thoughts clearly.”

“I overstepped. I’m sorry,” Qu Mingluo said. “I spoke out of turn. It’s not your fault.”

“That’s not what I meant. Let’s head up and take a look first,” Qi Jiezhi told him.

In truth, he had developed feelings for Qu Mingluo long ago; it wasn’t something that had just appeared. To him, although Qu Mingluo was a leader at work, emotionally, he felt more like a “brother” someone close, rather than a distant figure.

Qi Jiezhi got out of the car and walked alongside him. For some reason, he felt a strange, inexplicable flutter in his chest. Even the first time he visited Xi Xingyu’s home, he hadn’t felt this odd. The reason was obvious: it was the person standing right in front of him.

This was Qu Mingluo’s home, his private sanctuary. From the moment Qi Jiezhi stepped into the courtyard, his emotions felt a bit uncontrollable. For him, this was a completely different experience. He was already quite familiar with the layouts at Seaview Bay, having stayed at Xi Xingyu’s place for a while, but Qu Mingluo’s garden was impeccably maintained, clearly the result of significant investment.

“Xiao Qi, take a look and see if you like this unit. If you do, we’ll register your fingerprints.”

Qi Jiezhi nodded. “Okay.”

The moment the door opened, the scent of cedar greeted him. Glancing down, he saw a pair of slippers already set out.

“Brother Ming, do you usually… not live alone?”

Qi Jiezhi felt that it would be normal for someone of Qu Mingluo’s age and status to have a romantic history. It wasn’t impossible for someone to be around him constantly, but the thought made Jiezhi feel a bit uncomfortable. A man like Qu Mingluo…

Before he could finish the thought, Qu Mingluo said, “They were prepared specifically for you.”

“Really?” Jiezhi’s eyes immediately lit up with joy.

“Really,” Qu Mingluo said, then asked, “What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing…” Qi Jiezhi felt a bit embarrassed. Even though he had been thinking it, he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

“Perhaps there are things I haven’t told you,” Qu Mingluo began. “Qi Jiezhi, I’ve never been in a relationship, and I’ve never liked anyone else before.”

“Oh, okay, I…” Qi Jiezhi felt awkward, as if his thoughts had been seen through instantly.

Qu Mingluo said, “Don’t overthink it. Just see if you like the place first.”

Qi Jiezhi realized that Qu Mingluo was a man with very clear goals. No matter what happened in between, he never forgot his original intention.

Soon, he followed him through several rooms. He could tell the interior design was quite similar to his office at the company. It was clear Qu Mingluo lived here alone; the double sets of items were obviously new, prepared specifically for Jiezhi’s arrival. While Qu Mingluo had been staying at Xi Xingyu’s place these past few days, he must have arranged for his domestic staff to get everything ready.

“Someone usually comes by to cook and clean, but there won’t be anyone else in the house besides us,” Qu Mingluo told him.

“It’s your home,” Qi Jiezhi said, trying to draw a boundary.

After all, they weren’t officially together yet. In Jiezhi’s own mind, when he thought about the houses he might one day be able to afford, Seaview Bay wasn’t even on the list. This was the kind of place people were either born into or never attained. He didn’t want to crave something he couldn’t reach, as he felt such delusions would only bring him trouble.

“That’s not how it is,” Qu Mingluo said. “If you like it here, it’s your home too.”

Qi Jiezhi replied, “For a long time, ‘home’ was a word I longed for, because I didn’t have one.”

He couldn’t even raise his head to say those words. To him, those were hidden pains he hadn’t shared with anyone for years. He never wanted to use his past to gain sympathy, but at this moment, he couldn’t quite keep his emotions in check.

“If you can forgive my boldness,” Qu Mingluo said, “I’d like to give you a hug.”

His eyes were sincere, filled with genuine hope. Qi Jiezhi didn’t want to argue with himself anymore. He felt he truly needed a hug right now, so he nodded. His nose felt a bit stingy, and he struggled to keep his composure.

Qi Jiezhi felt that Qu Mingluo had no reason to lie to him. If the man only liked his face or wanted something from him, he had plenty of other ways to get it without saying things like this—words that sounded as if he truly felt a great deal for him.

“You’re too tense,” Qu Mingluo said. “The situation is this: I like you, but I’m not sure how you feel about me, so the decision is in your hands.”

Qi Jiezhi nodded, only half-understanding, but feeling Qu Mingluo’s immense gentleness. The man’s demeanor at the office was entirely different from how he was here. Moreover, dating him wouldn’t even feel like a typical “office romance” His level was simply too high for Jiezhi to reach, perhaps even after many years.

Qi Jiezhi realized his thoughts were drifting too far. They hadn’t even started, yet he was already worrying about the distant future. This gave him a premonition: he would eventually say yes. But he knew he wouldn’t say it today.

“Brother Ming, I think I do want to date you, but not right now,” Qi Jiezhi asked. “Do you think I’m being unfair?”

“Even if you never date me in the end, I still want to invite you to live here with me,” Qu Mingluo said. “I like you, and these are things I want to give to you. Do you understand?”

Qi Jiezhi could only nod.

“So, you like this house and you’ll stay here with me, right?” Qu Mingluo asked.

“I will,” Qi Jiezhi said bashfully. “I don’t really have any special requirements. This is something you’re choosing to give me.”

“If I insisted on giving you something you didn’t like, that would be a mistake,” Qu Mingluo said. “It would be normal for you to lose interest in me then.”

“That’s not it,” Qi Jiezhi said. “I never thought that way.”

“You deserve this,” Qu Mingluo told him. “You deserve even better things than what you have now.”

“If that time ever comes, I’ll take you somewhere even more vast and free,” Qi Jiezhi promised.

“I’d like that.”

Qu Mingluo sounded genuinely excited. Qi Jiezhi felt like he was just making empty promises, yet Qu Mingluo didn’t mock him. Only someone like Jiezhi would talk about “vastness and freedom,” while someone like Qu Mingluo could simply leave whenever he wanted. Still, he didn’t discourage him.

Qi Jiezhi knew he shouldn’t let a few words decide his entire future, but he couldn’t help but look forward to it. Qu Mingluo seemed like someone who could truly grow alongside him, regardless of how much time it took.

I shouldn’t overthink, Jiezhi thought. I should just focus on the present.

“Xiao Qi, since you’re moving in, remember to cancel the lease on your old place,” Qu Mingluo said. “No need to pay twice.”

“Okay,” Qi Jiezhi said. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Qu Mingluo said. “I’ll have someone help move your things. You can arrange them however you like.”

“I don’t have much. I can get them myself, I’m not that busy,” Qi Jiezhi said.

“Alright,” Qu Mingluo replied. “If that’s what you’ve decided, that’s fine.”

Qi Jiezhi wasn’t sure what he was feeling. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed by his old address, but he didn’t really want Qu Mingluo to see it. Even if Qu Mingluo sent someone else, he still felt hesitant.

They went back to Xi Xingyu’s house first to pick up Jiezhi’s things. The sight made Xi Xingyu look like he was about to burst into tears.

“It’s okay, Xingyu. We’ll still come over to spend time with you,” Qu Mingluo comforted him.

“Really?” Xi Xingyu asked sadly.

Qu Mingluo said, “Of course. I’ll definitely be coming over. Why don’t you ask Brother Qi?”

Qi Jiezhi found the question pushed back to him, so he nodded. “Xingyu, of course I’ll come back. I still have to give you lessons.”

He then said to Xi Xingyu, “You should probably ask your brother if he will really come back. I never heard of him visiting much before.”

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