Chapter 68 part 1
When Bai He woke up, Qin Yao was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Sitting up in bed, he stared blankly for a moment, as was his habit, before looking at the chair beside him where Qin Yao’s shirt lay.
It was a busy season, but Qin Yao, having a rare moment of free time to make Xiao Bao a nutritious meal, had gotten up early. Everything was just about ready. Checking the time, he saw it was exactly eight o’clock. Just as he was about to go to the bedroom to wake Bai He, arms wrapped around him from behind.
Qin Yao paused for a second, wiped his hands clean, and turned to hug him back, only to find Bai He wearing his shirt with no pants underneath.
“Xiao Bao, you…”
Bai He didn’t speak. Qin Yao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He could actually feel Xiao Bao’s clinginess these days; he was much more proactive than before.
“Little Bai He, is your heat coming early?” Qin Yao kissed Bai He’s forehead, hugging him as gently as possible. Last night, he had left some marks on Bai He’s waist from gripping it too hard, and they probably hadn’t faded yet. He gently rubbed Bai He’s waist. “Should we go to the hospital again and ask Brother Li?”
Bai He buried his head in the crook of Qin Yao’s neck, carefully sniffing the other man’s pheromones. Hearing this, he nodded. “Let’s go this afternoon.”
After speaking, he squinted and sniffed Qin Yao again, which made Qin Yao feel a bit heated. He carried Bai He back to the bedroom, kissed him enough, then carried him back out. He didn’t let Bai He change clothes, even getting his own pants for Bai He to wear before he was satisfied.
“I received the email.” Bai He put down his chopsticks. “Reporting to the planning team tomorrow.”
“Xiao Baobei is amazing.” Qin Yao raised his hand to ruffle Bai He’s hair.
“Do you think there’s a need to be wary of what Zhang Yao said?” Bai He asked Qin Yao.
It went without saying what they needed to be wary of. Zhang Yao said Guan Jiayu’s CORONET was merging with Qingtian, and CORONET was already a spent force before the merger, so the main responsibility would definitely lie with the head of Qingtian, who was Guan Jiayu’s brother.
The two brothers were cooperating on the surface, but no one knew the actual situation. However, the merger was naturally not good for FREE.
Especially since Xingchen was currently gaining momentum and being eyed by so many people.
“There is a need.” Qin Yao smiled. “But all fear stems from insufficient firepower. FREE isn’t afraid; we have plenty of guns and ammo.”
“Has the storyline for Xingchen‘s next phase already started?” Bai He asked.
“Mm, the version update is in a month, so we’ve started working on it. We are indeed short of people. Xiao Bao, you guys, and that Zhang Yao… if he has the skills, we won’t refuse anyone. It’s just that Zhang Yao, that kid…” He tutted inexplicably as he spoke, his face full of displeasure.
Bai He recalled Zhang Yao saying that Qin Yao’s dislike for him wasn’t a new thing.
“Zhang Yao has made games before,” Bai He said. “He should have skills.”
Hearing this, Qin Yao looked up. “Xiao Bao, are you speaking up for him?”
“No.” Bai He shook his head. “If he really has skills, he can pass the interview on his own without me saying anything. I mentioned this because the game he participated in before was a very famous competitive game in my world. I was thinking, if competitive elements could be used in exploration games, or if we could analyze Qingtian’s current situation through Zhang Yao, would it be beneficial to FREE?”
Qin Yao slowly lowered the hand holding the chopsticks. He narrowed his eyes at Bai He. “Xiao Bao, you’ve given me an idea.”
Bai He made a confused sound, only to see Qin Yao walk over and kiss him. “Zhang Yao has to stay. If he has real skills, then it is indeed a good thing.”
Bai He nodded. He wanted to take the opportunity to mention Zhou Sheng, but Qin Yao’s phone rang at that moment.
He had to wait for the other person to answer the phone while he continued eating breakfast slowly.
The call took more than ten minutes. After hanging up, Qin Yao’s expression was clearly not as good as before. Bai He noticed. “What’s wrong?”
“Guan Jiayu and Bai Lu are getting married. The wedding banquet is next week. Invitations have been sent to everyone in the circle. Our family has to go.” Qin Yao gripped his phone. “That was Big Dad on the phone just now. He will attend the banquet and asked what my plans are.”
“What did you say?” Bai He looked up at him.
“I have to go too.” Qin Yao sat down opposite Bai He. “Xiao Bao, Guan Jiayu and Bai Lu getting married suddenly isn’t right.”
Bai He understood the strangeness of it. He was quiet for a moment. “Should I ask Zhang Yao?”
“…” Qin Yao suddenly looked unhappy, turning his head away. “Fine.”
Bai He smiled bitterly. He took out his phone, but before he could unlock it, Zhang Yao called.
After connecting, he spoke first. “Qin Yao is here too. I’m putting you on speaker?”
Zhang Yao paused. “Okay.”
Bai He then turned on the speakerphone and went straight to the point. “Guan Jiayu and Bai Lu are getting married?”
“Yes, I called you to talk about this.” It was very quiet on Zhang Yao’s end; he was likely at home. “Guan Jiayu has no choice. He is now a pawn of the Guan family. The Guan family didn’t think highly of Bai Lu originally, but they need a big, sensational banquet for hype to push certain recent industries.”
“What industries?” Qin Yao spoke up then, scoffing. “His brother’s company’s products? Is it Qingtian? It seems the heir to the family head position is someone else?”
Zhang Yao was silent for a moment, then asked, “Have you received the banquet invitation?”
Bai He responded, “Uncle Qin has already received it.”
“I have to remind you, this banquet might not be just to hype their companies. Based on my experience in various worlds, this could be a Hongmen Banquet (a trap). They might try to trip you up,” Zhang Yao said. “Guan Jiayu can’t be the family head anymore, but don’t underestimate the madness of someone heading towards rock bottom.”
Bai He and Qin Yao exchanged glances, instantly understanding.
Qin Yao had a principle: if others didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t deliberately mess with them. Even when he was going against Guan Jiayu before, he always maintained this principle. In all fairness, he really hadn’t deliberately screwed Guan Jiayu over; it could only be said that Guan Jiayu’s current situation was caused by his own actions.
So sometimes he really didn’t understand why Guan Jiayu was so obsessed with messing with him.
“Human jealousy is a terrifying thing.” Zhang Yao’s voice suddenly came from the phone. Qin Yao froze upon hearing this, only to hear Zhang Yao continue, “FREE is currently a hot commodity in the circle. It would be strange if the wolves and tigers of the Guan family didn’t covet it. The resume I submitted just passed. FREE has a bright future; don’t let it get pitted just like that.”
So he was talking about the Guan family. However, there was some truth to this guy’s words. Qin Yao accepted this Zhang Yao a little more. “Alright, I know. Thanks.”
The other side was quiet again for a moment. “You’re welcome. Wish me success in the interview.”
“…” Qin Yao chuckled again. “If you have the skills, you’ll naturally succeed. Hanging up.”
At this moment, Bai He suddenly remembered something. He pressed his hand on Qin Yao’s hand. “Wait.”
Zhang Yao hadn’t hung up yet. Bai He asked, “Zhou Sheng, you’re there, right?”
There was a deathly silence on the other end, then suddenly a low laugh. It was indeed Zhou Sheng. Then the person listening to the phone switched, and Zhou Sheng’s voice came through. “What?”
Bai He glanced at Qin Yao and carefully said, “You should try not to go overboard.”
Zhou Sheng laughed again. “I didn’t do anything to him. Bai He, we agreed this was a gift from you to me. You can’t take it back.”
“Zhang Yao isn’t an object to begin with; how can I give him to you?” Bai He retorted, unwilling to show weakness. “I’m not interfering with you guys, just reminding you not to go overboard.”
“Oh~” Zhou Sheng laughed somewhat unscrupulously this time. “Bai He, you definitely haven’t played around much. How do you know if he likes it or not?”
Bai He frowned. At this moment, Qin Yao took the phone. “Play your games, but don’t say it out loud to us. Xiao Bao said not to go overboard, so watch it. Zhang Yao is about to formally join FREE, so don’t be thinking about doing that stuff all day, bro. Alright, hanging up.”
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