Chapter 30: Scornful Eyes
The sky was cloudless, and the sun was brilliant. The warm sunlight shone on the courtyard grass, adding a touch of heat to the greenery.
The originally empty courtyard was now filled with many tables and chairs, and a barbecue grill had been set up.
Shen Zhouyue was busy arranging decorative flowers on the tables.
Yu Tingzhou was out front welcoming guests.
Thanks to Yu Tingzhou’s efforts, Qiu Xingqiu still brought Wen Qiuning along.
Wen Qiuning wore long sleeves and long pants; the top even had a high collar. Aside from his face and hands, not a bit of skin was exposed.
It was early autumn, still carrying some of the summer heat. Wearing long sleeves and pants was truly stifling.
Seeing Wen Qiuning, Shen Zhouyue immediately put down the vase in his hand, handed it to a nanny nearby, and walked quickly toward him.
Knowing Qiu Xingqiu wasn’t to be trifled with, Shen Zhouyue didn’t rush to talk to Wen Qiuning but greeted Qiu Xingqiu first.
“Welcome, Mr. Qiu. Tingzhou is over there. You are both businessmen; you must have a common language…”
Shen Zhouyue said a lot, the core meaning being that he hoped Qiu Xingqiu would go greet Yu Tingzhou and leave Wen Qiuning behind.
Qiu Xingqiu naturally sensed Shen Zhouyue’s intention.
He glanced at Wen Qiuning with a warning look in his eyes, then turned and walked toward where Yu Tingzhou and the others were.
Wen Qiuning’s expression relaxed as Qiu Xingqiu moved away.
“Thank you…”
He knew it was Shen Zhouyue’s help that gave him a chance to breathe.
“Do you want to change your clothes?”
“The temperature outside is still quite high. I see you’re sweating on your forehead.”
If he continued wearing these long sleeves and high collar, he might get heatstroke.
Hearing this, Wen Qiuning panicked instantly.
He clutched his clothes tightly, shaking his head incessantly. “No… no need… I’m not hot…”
Shen Zhouyue felt something was wrong. He reached out and forcefully pulled Wen Qiuning’s arm. Using his body to block the view, he pushed up the sleeve—only to see Wen Qiuning’s arm covered in blue and purple marks, looking like they were caused by fists.
“He hit you!”
Shen Zhouyue’s face was extremely ugly. He even had the impulse to go settle the score with Qiu Xingqiu.
But he was held back by Wen Qiuning.
Accustomed to this, Wen Qiuning pulled his sleeve down to cover the wounds on his arm and whispered, “I… I fell myself…”
This lie was too fake; Shen Zhouyue didn’t believe it at all. But Wen Qiuning gripped his clothes tightly, clearly unwilling to tell the truth.
“He treats you like this; why do you still stay by his side? Can’t you leave?”
Shen Zhouyue felt a sense of frustration at Wen Qiuning’s lack of resolve.
How could Wen Qiuning not want to leave?
But where could he go after leaving?
His paintings had all become Wen Qiusheng’s. He owed Qiu Xingqiu a large sum of money and stuttered somewhat. After leaving, he wouldn’t be able to find a suitable job and wouldn’t be able to survive.
Wen Qiuning smiled bitterly, not knowing what to say.
Seeing him like this, Shen Zhouyue considerately didn’t say more.
“Never mind. Go stay inside the house for now!”
“There’s no sun inside; the temperature shouldn’t be as hot as out here!”
Wen Qiuning glanced inside. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, his eyes met Qiu Xingqiu’s, who was sitting on the sofa.
He quickly withdrew his gaze.
“No… no need…”
He would rather get heatstroke than go inside!
Seeing he really didn’t want to, Shen Zhouyue had to find him a shady spot in the yard.
“Good thing the sun is setting soon, otherwise, dressed like this, you really would have health problems from the heat.”
“After I left that day, did he do anything to you?”
Wen Qiuning pursed his lips and didn’t speak.
Shen Zhouyue was too good to him, making him a bit uncomfortable.
Is there really someone who treats me well without wanting anything in return?
Wen Qiuning didn’t dare to believe it.
“When do you want to meet Wen Qiusheng? I’ll invite him directly to the house then, and you can see him!”
Hearing Shen Zhouyue mention this, Wen Qiuning silently pinched his wrist. After a long time, he slowly nodded.
“Next week!”
Qiu Xingqiu would be on a business trip for those few days, so he would have some freedom.
Shen Zhouyue didn’t know the reason for Wen Qiuning’s arrangement, but he nodded readily. “Alright. Here is my contact information. Tell me when you’re free, and I’ll arrange it for you!”
The two exchanged a few simple sentences. As time passed, everyone came out to the yard.
People gathered in twos and threes.
Yu Tingzhou knew Shen Zhouyue had gone to such great lengths just to meet Wen Qiuning, but seeing him talking and laughing with Wen Qiuning the whole time made him very unhappy.
He walked to Shen Zhouyue’s side. “If you pay too much attention to him, Qiu Xingqiu will be unhappy, and the one who suffers in the end will be him.”
That was true!
Displeasure was already evident on Qiu Xingqiu’s face.
Shen Zhouyue silently withdrew his gaze and walked to Yu Tingzhou’s side.
Yu Tingzhou took the opportunity to wrap his arm around Shen Zhouyue’s waist and walked into the crowd.
Most of the people who came today were neighbors from the area.
Those who could live here were either rich or noble, so everyone knew each other.
However, their families were somewhat unfamiliar with one another.
Yu Tingzhou introduced Shen Zhouyue to the others.
Wen Qiuning, under Qiu Xingqiu’s coercive gaze, also went to his side.
Everyone present was dressed rather lightly; even CEOs like Yu Tingzhou, usually in suits and leather shoes, had changed into casual home clothes.
Wen Qiuning, in his long sleeves and long pants, looked exceptionally odd. Quite a few gazes had already landed on him.
Someone who had a decent relationship with Qiu Xingqiu couldn’t help asking, “President Qiu, is this your lover?”
Qiu Xingqiu smiled but didn’t answer the question directly.
Seeing his attitude, the others immediately understood his meaning.
For a moment, everyone’s eyes on Wen Qiuning became a bit strange. Only Shen Zhouyue looked at Wen Qiuning with worry.
Wen Qiuning clutched his clothes tightly, his body trembling slightly. He lowered his head to hide his expression and ignored the surrounding gazes.
“So that’s how it is!”
“President Qiu really has good fortune!”
“Zhou Dezheng, if you want that kind of fortune too, I can give it to you. Do you want it?”
Hearing this, Zhou Dezheng quickly put on an apologetic smile to the woman beside him. “Qingqing, having you is enough for me. Please don’t overthink it.”
Liu Qingqing rolled her eyes at Zhou Dezheng. “You men are always looking for the next best thing while your mouths are full.”
Zhou Dezheng could only smile awkwardly. Others around began to mock Zhou Dezheng, but after only a few sentences, a young man beside one of the mockers pinched his ear.
“Su Yuhe, are you envious too?”
“Ouch! With a little chili pepper like you here, how would I dare have such thoughts!”
“Hmph, if you dare, I’ll cripple you!”
The two flirted as if no one else was around, drawing an envious look from Wen Qiuning.
But when the other party noticed, he silently lowered his head again.
Shen Zhouyue raised an eyebrow. So, apart from Qiu Xingqiu, all the men who came are henpecked!
Yu Tingzhou hadn’t expected these people to be like this in private either and found it somewhat amusing.
“Your little lover is quite conservative, covering up so tightly. It’s still a bit muggy in this weather.”
Qiu Xingqiu smiled and said, “He has a weak constitution and is afraid of the cold!”
“After all these years, your relationship with the sister-in-law is still so good!”
Hearing Qiu Xingqiu’s words, Zhou Dezheng smiled and took Liu Qingqing’s hand, saying with a touch of nostalgia, “Your sister-in-law suffered a lot following me back then. I can’t let her be wronged.”
“With Brother Zhou’s words, I think the sister-in-law shouldn’t feel wronged!”
Liu Qingqing’s eyes were red by now.
“What wronged? It was all my own willingness.”
“Everything is fine; why bring this up!”
“But President Yu, I heard before that you went against your family and refused to marry. Not long after, you have a spouse. Fate is truly unpredictable!”
Hearing this, Yu Tingzhou looked down at Shen Zhouyue.
If not for him, he wouldn’t have organized this event, let alone become the subject of others’ teasing.
He would have to claim all this back from Shen Zhouyue.
“Indeed. When fate arrives, you can’t stop it even if you try.”
Yu Tingzhou looked meaningfully at Shen Zhouyue, making him look away uncomfortably.
As a result, he noticed Wen Qiuning, who was excluded from the conversation.
“You guys chat; I’m going to the restroom.”
“You look a bit unwell. Want to come with me?”
Shen Zhouyue pretended not to know Wen Qiuning well, asking politely.
Several people present looked at Shen Zhouyue with surprise, feeling he shouldn’t be talking to Wen Qiuning.
Only the man who had just pinched the ear of the man beside him smiled and walked over to Shen Zhouyue and the others.
“I happen to need the restroom too, but I don’t know where it is. Let’s go together?”
Both Shen Zhouyue and Wen Qiuning were a bit surprised, but the three left the area together.
“You… shouldn’t have talked to me…”
Wen Qiuning endured for a long time but couldn’t help saying to Shen Zhouyue.
Shen Zhouyue smiled and said, “They have a good relationship with Qiu Xingqiu, so they will stand on his side. But I know none of this is what you wanted, and I knew you first, so naturally, I will stand on your side.”
“Listening to you, is there a hidden story between him and Qiu Xingqiu?”
The man who had followed them couldn’t help but ask.
Shen Zhouyue and Wen Qiuning remained silent, looking at this person with no intention of explaining.
“Eh? Why aren’t you talking?”
Shen Zhouyue quickened his pace, led them to the restroom, and then said, “Here is the restroom. Didn’t you need to go?”
“I just saw that things were a bit awkward for you guys, so I wanted to ease the atmosphere. I don’t really need to use the restroom.”
“You guys look like you knew each other before. What exactly is going on between him and President Qiu?”
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