The Third Year After The Breakup, He Knelt and Begged to Get Back Together - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: “Call your sister-in-law, I’m drunk…”

The younger brother, who had depended on him since childhood, saw through his emotions at a glance and said, “Ge, have you not been eating well? I feel like you’re even thinner than the last time I saw you.”

In truth, Qi Mingfeng ate fairly well at He Xian’s place; Auntie Sun’s cooking was excellent.

Perhaps it was his poor mood; he didn’t eat much and wasn’t putting on weight, something He Xian had criticized him for several times.

But he couldn’t tell Qi Huan about his situation with He Xian.

If Qi Huan knew he had sold himself to He Xian for medical fees, he would likely faint from anger on the spot.

Qi Mingfeng stalled, “I’ve been a bit busy lately. I’ll be more careful from now on. How are you doing?”

Qi Huan shook his head, “The doctor said I’m recovering very well. I might be able to have the surgery in a few days.”

Qi Mingfeng was overjoyed. “I’ll go talk to the doctor once the caregiver arrives.”

Hearing that Qi Huan had regained consciousness, Qi Mingfeng’s mind was filled only with seeing him. Since Brother Jiu had left and the caregiver was still on the way, he had to stay here to accompany Huan.

“You’ve really lost a lot of weight,” Qi Huan said, his cool hand touching Qi Mingfeng’s cheek, unable to hide his self-reproach. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. You had to work to raise me when we were kids, and just when I finally started working and could repay you, I got this illness.”

Qi Mingfeng held Qi Huan’s hand in his palm and comforted him softly, “Didn’t we agree not to talk like that? Without you, I might not even be alive.”

Qi Mingfeng and Qi Huan were not biologically related. He grew up in an orphanage, and back then, adoption regulations were loose; his adoptive father had successfully taken him in despite already having children.

When he was fourteen, an “accident” happened at home.

It was Qi Huan who pushed him out of harm’s way.

Later, when he and He Xian broke up and Ruan Zhiyan came to ruin him, it was Qi Huan who gambled his own life to protect him.

Even when things went wrong for him recently, it was Qi Huan who helped him regardless of his own future.

Without Qi Huan, he might not have survived until now.

Qi Mingfeng reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Qi Huan’s eyes. “The boss of Bin Se is a very good person and an old fan of mine, so he lent me a sum of money. We’ll pay it back slowly once you’re better. We’re still young, right?”

Qi Huan sniffled and then nodded vigorously, “Right. Then you can go abroad for further studies and fulfill your dreams.”

Qi Mingfeng added, “There’s more good news. My teacher paid the tuition for the XB course a long time ago. If I can achieve excellence, I’ll get a full tuition waiver for QM Academy, plus a scholarship.”

Qi Huan finally broke into a smile. “Really? That’s wonderful!”

Qi Mingfeng sat at the head of the bed, pulling Qi Huan into his arms and swaying slightly. “Really. You know how Teacher does things. If the situation over there is good, we can even consider settling down there.”

Qi Huan: “Okay! We’ll buy a big house. Besides the bedroom, you’ll need a workspace.”

Qi Mingfeng: “We’ll buy it. We’ll buy a house as big as the one we used to live in.”

Qi Huan was physically weak; after the brothers spoke for a while, he couldn’t hold out and fell asleep.

Once the caregiver arrived on time, Qi Mingfeng went to find Qi Huan’s attending physician to get a thorough understanding of his condition.

This was the best thing that had happened to him in two years.

Qi Huan’s condition was stabilizing. With a bit more rest, he could have surgery by the end of the month.

According to his current savings, he was still a little short for the surgery, nutrition, and recovery fees, but he could use another account to continue taking demo commissions.

He had already figured out the path for taking demos, and at his level, the demos didn’t really have a distinct personal style; even if they were thrown in front of Ruan Zhiyan, the man wouldn’t recognize them.

As long as he held on a bit longer, he could take Qi Huan far away and let their lives return to the right track.

That day would surely come.

…

An entertainment club in C City.

The private box was luxuriously decorated, with gilded and painted chandeliers hanging across the ceiling. Someone had adjusted the lighting to be dimly suggestive, and the music was so lingering it invited stray thoughts. Several wealthy and powerful men sat in groups on the sofas, with wine bottles and glasses cluttering the tables.

He Xian sat alone in the center, a wine glass with a bit of dregs left still in his hand.

It had been four days.

He hadn’t gone home for four whole nights, and Qi Mingfeng hadn’t urged him to return even once. Even when he came back the next morning wearing brands Ruan Zhiyan usually wore—brands he himself had never touched before—Qi Mingfeng hadn’t asked a single question!

Was he really that generous?!

Seeing his displeased expression, a friend leaned over and bumped his shoulder, “Isn’t the cooperation with the higher-ups finalized? What is President He still worrying about?”

He Xian said impatiently, “It’s not about business.”

The friend exchanged a look with another person who had leaned in and teased He Xian, “Oh, not business? Our President He must have a new flame. No wonder you called us all out for drinks. What, is the one at home throwing a tantrum?”

“A rare sight, President He. Which family’s young lady is it, or which young master?”

“If you ask me, they’re just spoiled. Our President He is so excellent and usually so busy, yet they still make trouble for him.”

“What are you all talking about? It must be our President Ruan. Didn’t he just trend with President He a couple of days ago? Those photos looked great.”

Hearing the words “President Ruan,” He Xian snapped displeasurably, “Stop talking nonsense. I haven’t changed the person by my side.”

The friends were stunned, looking at each other. They asked uncertainly, “Is it… that celebrity from before?”

He Xian: “Nonsense, who else could it be?”

He was the unfavored younger son of the family. His eldest brother was ten years older and had already begun taking over the He family’s power. He also had several older siblings who were incompetent but had personalities that the elders liked.

His parents were very superstitious. When he was born, a fortune teller said he would “clash” with his eldest brother. His parents, who doted on the eldest, had disliked him since he was a child, and others followed suit, never giving him a kind face.

It was hard to imagine that in a great family like the He’s, he, a biological son, actually had to pick up his brother’s hand-me-downs, including clothes.

Of course, the act of “picking up trash” didn’t last long, because the eldest brother found out and would rather burn things than leave them for him.

His life became even harder.

Fortunately, the family cared about appearances, so from then on they didn’t mistreat him materially, but it wasn’t much better.

He realized that if he wanted a good life, he had to fight for it, to snatch it.

With his clever mind and ruthless methods, he hacked out a path for himself.

Simultaneously, “snatching” became his habit, especially snatching things from He Hui.

When he learned that He Hui had taken an interest in Qi Mingfeng, he naturally began to pursue him.

No wonder He Hui was moved; a youth of eighteen or nineteen was like a new willow in spring—simply standing there was pleasing to the eye.

It was the most vibrant age.

And the easiest age to deceive.

Qi Mingfeng grew up in an orphanage and wandered around with a “tag-along” younger brother when he got a bit older. Kids like that are easily starved for love. If someone could understand the hardships of his journey, say a few words of “you’ve worked hard,” and ideally reach out to help when he was vulnerable, it would let him know he could be loved and supported.

Add to that an understanding and respect for his love of music, and a timely display of one’s own vulnerability—showing that one also needed him—and there was basically no problem.

But He Hui also knew these tactics.

At that time, many people felt He Hui was the true heir of the He family. The talent agency he found for Qi Mingfeng and the contract he offered were both superior. With Qi Mingfeng’s talent, he deserved a higher starting point.

But Qi Mingfeng chose him.

He had instinctively asked Qi Mingfeng why he didn’t choose He Hui.

Qi Mingfeng said:

“You love design very much, but you can give up your passion for your goals. I can’t do that.

He Xian, the way you are steadfast and work hard for your goals is incredibly handsome. In my heart, you are the most outstanding person, far more outstanding than your brother.”

When he said those words, Qi Mingfeng’s bright eyes seemed to glow, making the “him” in those eyes seem to glow as well.

He was suddenly very glad he had snatched the person to his side. Qi Mingfeng belonged to him.

He knew the Ruan family couldn’t tolerate Qi Mingfeng, but he selfishly didn’t want Qi Mingfeng to return to them. He only offered a tiny bit of lukewarm help and never truly intervened.

Qi Mingfeng was a person of deep sentiment; having one younger brother was enough. He didn’t want anyone else taking away Qi Mingfeng’s attention.

During the years they were together, Qi Mingfeng loved him unreservedly, absorbed all his temper, and was willing to coax him patiently.

But they had been apart for two years. Now that they had met again, it seemed many things had changed.

Especially Qi Mingfeng’s attitude toward him.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t sense the hidden coldness, but he thought it was just the friction of reuniting after separation.

But how could Qi Mingfeng not even care about Ruan Zhiyan? He used to flare up at the mere mention of Ruan Zhiyan, yet now he acted as if the man were invisible.

He Xian finished the wine in his glass and spoke to his friend with a darkened face.

“Call your sister-in-law. Tell him I’m drunk and to come pick me up.”