My Elite Boss Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 7

Qi Jiezhi wasn’t usually one to rush. After all, it didn’t really matter what time he got back, since no one was ever waiting for him.

But today was different. He knew for certain that, at this very moment, someone was waiting.

Qu Mingluo and his driver were both waiting for him.

He couldn’t quite put into words how it felt, but the sensation of being expected was actually quite pleasant. He didn’t have to squeeze onto crowded public transport like usual, nor did he need to keep an eye on transit schedules. All he had to do was head downstairs, slide into the car, and someone would take him home.

Because Qi Jiezhi knew such days were rare and precious, he cherished them all the more. He knew that once Xi Xingyu’s parents returned, he would no longer be staying at Seaview Bay. Though, if he really thought about it, Xi Xingyu’s parents weren’t actually that much older than Qu Mingluo.

“Hello, President Qu,” Qi Jiezhi greeted Qu Mingluo when they met.

“It seems you’re still used to calling me that. I suppose telling you otherwise was useless,” Qu Mingluo remarked. His tone was flat, as if he were simply stating a fact without any underlying emotion.

Even so, Qi Jiezhi felt that something had shifted. To him, the situation was inherently a bit awkward, and he wasn’t entirely sure what title he should be using.

Qu Mingluo was his employer, the elder relative of his student, and the top executive of the company. Using a formal title felt appropriate, but Qi Jiezhi worried that if he stopped using it, he might appear disrespectful.

The distance from Seaview Bay to the company was quite far. If not for the driver, Qi Jiezhi wondered if Qu Mingluo would have chosen to live there at all. He didn’t ask, though. Even if he was sharing a ride, he had no right to interfere in the other man’s choices.

For the next few days, this was likely how things would be. It was better to get used to it early, to get used to his company.

Qi Jiezhi reflected on it and realized this dynamic wasn’t bad at all. In fact, their current relationship felt more like being roommates. Back when he lived in the school dorms, he often did things and spent time with his roommates, finding it convenient to have someone heading to the same place.

Once Xingyu’s parents returned, he would just move out. After a few days of readjusting, he’d return to his original lifestyle. Qi Jiezhi vowed not to waste any more time or emotional energy on such trivial matters.

When they arrived, Xi Xingyu was waiting as usual, peeking his head over the second-floor balcony to watch them.

“Brother Qi, Brother!” Xi Xingyu shouted, “Hurry up! I made mini cakes for both of you today!”

Hearing this, Qi Jiezhi instinctively glanced at Qu Mingluo. He hadn’t forgotten what Qu Mingluo had told him earlier that day.

“We’re coming up now,” Qu Mingluo called back.

Qi Jiezhi’s eyes immediately filled with a hint of concern.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Qu Mingluo said softly. “Xiao Xing is smart, but he isn’t that perceptive yet.”

He finished his sentence as they walked upstairs, falling silent once they reached the top. It was clear he intended to play along with Xi Xingyu rather than maintain a stiff attitude. Seeing this, Qi Jiezhi naturally kept quiet. This was their family matter, after all, he had no right to meddle or say anything out of turn.

Whenever Xi Xingyu saw them, he would first look at their faces and then nod with satisfaction.

“Can’t you two just stay with me forever?” Xi Xingyu asked. “I really like you both.”

“Xiao Xing, when you’re a few years older, you’ll start finding us annoying,” Qi Jiezhi teased.

“Brother, don’t lie to me. Even if that happens, I need you both here right now,” Xi Xingyu countered. “That’s just an excuse for running away, Brother told me that a long time ago.”

Qi Jiezhi immediately shifted his gaze to Qu Mingluo. “You tell him things like that?”

“It might not have been this brother who told him,” Qu Mingluo replied smoothly.

Qi Jiezhi froze for a moment before realizing that the “brother” Xi Xingyu referred to might not actually be Qu Mingluo.

“Xiao Xing,” he asked, “do you have another brother?”

Xi Xingyu blinked, flashing a mischievous grin. “It’s a secret!”

Qu Mingluo walked over and ruffled his nephew’s hair. “Weren’t you going to give us the cakes? Why haven’t you brought them out yet?”

Hearing this, Xi Xingyu immediately dashed toward the kitchen, his footsteps thumping loudly.

Qi Jiezhi looked at Qu Mingluo, his eyes full of questions. Qu Mingluo didn’t explain. He simply sat on the sofa, the cartoon bandage on his temple catching the light. Qi Jiezhi didn’t press him.

Qi Jiezhi walked over. “President Qu…”

“We aren’t at the office,” Qu Mingluo reminded him.

Qi Jiezhi smiled slightly. “Mr. Qu?”

Qu Mingluo looked up at him with a calm gaze. “That still sounds quite distant.”

Feeling a bit at a loss, Qi Jiezhi said, “Well, I can’t exactly call you ‘Brother’ like Xiao Xing does, can I?”

“There’s no reason why you couldn’t.”

After deliberating for a long moment, Qi Jiezhi finally managed to say, “Brother Ming.”

“Jiezhi.”

Qi Jiezhi was momentarily stunned. He realized Qu Mingluo must know that the two characters of his name only carried their full meaning when used together. That was why he hadn’t shortened it to something like “Xiao Zhi.”

A moment later, Xi Xingyu ran out carrying the cakes. The two plates featured little animals, one was a white rabbit, and the other was a grey rabbit.

“The white rabbit is for Brother Qi!” Xi Xingyu pushed the white rabbit plate toward Qi Jiezhi and gave the other to Qu Mingluo. “Brother wears grey clothes every day, so his is a little grey rabbit.”

Looking at the two rabbits, Qi Jiezhi couldn’t help but laugh. “They’re drawn so cutely!”

“Brother taught me how to draw them!” Xi Xingyu said proudly. “He said Brother Qi looks like a rabbit!”

Qi Jiezhi blinked in surprise and turned to look at Qu Mingluo.

Qu Mingluo was looking down at his cake, feigning complete ignorance, but the slight reddening of his ears betrayed him.

Confused, Qi Jiezhi asked, “Do I really look like a rabbit?”

“You don’t,” Qu Mingluo muttered. “I never said that.”

“Yes, you did!” Xi Xingyu insisted. “Brother definitely said Brother Qi has round eyes just like a rabbit!”

Qi Jiezhi laughed, watching Qu Mingluo’s profile. The man remained looking down, but a faint flush had crept up his neck, like a disguise that had been seen through.

“Thank you,” Qi Jiezhi said. “Brother Ming, the rabbit is very cute. I quite like it.”

Qu Mingluo finally looked up and met his eyes. Their gazes locked for a second before they both quickly looked away, like a touch they didn’t quite dare to sustain.

“Eat the cake,” he said. “I’m curious to see what Xiao Xing’s creation tastes like today.”

The three of them sat on the sofa with Xi Xingyu in the middle and Qi Jiezhi and Qu Mingluo on either side. The cake was strawberry flavored. The cream had collapsed slightly, but the sweetness was just right, not too heavy.

“Brother Qi,” Xi Xingyu asked, “is it good?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Then I’ll make you another one tomorrow!”

“That sounds great.”

“And the day after that too!”

“Then your brother will definitely object,” Qi Jiezhi joked, ruffling Xi Xingyu’s hair. “Don’t tire yourself out.”

“I won’t!” Xi Xingyu chirped.

It was clear he was currently obsessed with baking, so it wouldn’t be right to discourage him. However, Qi Jiezhi was secretly a little worried about Qu Mingluo. He couldn’t eat too much cake, so how was he going to handle this?

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