By the end of the year, Jiang Group's stock had recovered somewhat. Outsiders commented that a long-established conglomerate couldn't possibly be toppled by some upstart tech company. Public opinion started shifting again, just like in those novels.
The high society circles of Mingcheng reassessed the situation once more and cooled down.
Qi Cheng wasn't anxious, nor did he ask his husband if something was wrong—he trusted his husband's abilities. Back in January, the media had already reported that Jiang Qifeng was taken away by the police from the Jiang Group's office.
The calm that had settled over Mingcheng's circles now exploded like boiling water.
And Jiang Zhi, who had been absent all this time, finally showed up and knocked on their door.
"Su Su~" Fanfan hadn't seen Uncle Xiao Zhi in a long time. Happily riding his little car over to his uncle, he looked up with his chubby little face and said cheerfully, "Miss duck!"
["苏苏" (Sū Su) is the child's way of saying "叔叔" (Shūshu, meaning uncle)]
[Fanfan says "想鸭" (xiǎng yā, meaning miss duck) instead of "想呀" (xiǎng ya) — which means I missed you!]
He'd dropped another word again.
Qi Cheng glanced at Jiang Zhi—he looked much thinner than the last time they met. His features were sharper and more handsome, giving him a somewhat edgy look, like the prototype of a cold, domineering CEO from a novel.
In the end, it had come to this.
"Sister-in-law." Jiang Zhi said quietly, then rubbed Fanfan's head.
Qi Cheng felt a sudden pang of bitterness in his heart, a little sad. He said, "Your brother hasn't gotten off work yet. I'll give him a call."
"No need. I'll wait." Jiang Zhi said.
The atmosphere felt stiff and uncomfortable, with a clear sense of distance between them. Qi Cheng turned and said, "He'll be really happy to know you're here. If I don't call, he might work overtime forever."
Actually, his husband didn't work overtime—even if he did, he'd just bring work home.
Jiang Zhi nodded and played with Fanfan for a while.
About half an hour later, Bai Zongyin got home. It was raining, and his shoulders were speckled with drops. Qi Cheng saw him and nodded toward the living room, where Jiang Zhi was waiting. Bai Zongyin gently patted the young man's head and said, "It's all right. Let it be."
His husband truly treated Jiang Zhi like a real younger brother—the fact that he'd rushed home after the phone call proved that. But now, saying "let it be" also showed that even his husband wasn't sure whether they could still be brothers.
Qi Cheng squeezed his husband's hand.
Bai Zongyin smiled. "Silly Chengcheng, it's no big deal."
Before he met Qi Cheng, Bai Zongyin's heart held only hatred—his only reason to live was revenge. Even toward his younger brother Jiang Zhi, there had been moments of conflict and hesitation, but when it came down to it, he'd never gone easy. He'd seen this day coming all along.
Later, after meeting Qi Cheng and having Fanfan, Bai Zongyin's heart softened. Take Zhao Zhuo's courtyard mansion, for example—the old him would've scoffed. He couldn't have cared less whether Zhao San went bankrupt or jumped off a building.
Because of Qi Cheng, he had changed. Instead of going for the kill, he was now willing to talk things through with this brother and keep up a polite, surface-level relationship—without either of them having to ruin the other.
"Brother." Jiang Zhi stood up from the sofa.
Bai Zongyin could now walk normally without a cane. He nodded and said gently, "Come with me to the study—"
"Brother." Jiang Zhi was afraid; he frowned.
Actually, from the moment Jiang Group and Zongcheng Technology stood on opposite sides—or even earlier—Jiang Zhi had sensed something. But he'd kept running from it, including just now when he'd knocked on the door, and his sister-in-law offered to call his big brother home early.
Jiang Zhi didn't want his big brother to come home early. He was scared.
"We have to clear things up, Xiao Zhi." Bai Zongyin looked at his younger brother with calm eyes—the little kid who used to follow him around and wet the bed at night, now grown up. "Come on."
So Jiang Zhi walked over, and the two went into the study.
Qi Cheng patted his little goose's head as he rode his tricycle over, then said to Fanfan, who had a face full of question marks, "Big Daddy and Su Su have things to talk about. They'll be out soon. Daddy will play on the slide with you for a while."
Fanfan, still on his little tricycle, looked anxious and blurted out one word: "Porridge!"
["Porridge!" (粥, zhōu) is his cute, toddler way of saying "Go!" (走, zǒu).]
The little tricycle automatically started and zipped away. But before it could go two steps, his dad Qi Cheng grabbed him from behind. "You've been sitting on that tricycle all day. Walk for a while—give those chubby legs some exercise."
"Not chubby!" Fanfan protested seriously.
His protest was ignored, because his dad pinched his chubby cheeks. So he had no choice but to climb off the tricycle and go to the playroom with his dad.
Once they started playing, Fanfan was happy.
Kids are the easiest to fool, Qi Cheng thought. But then he thought of Jiang Zhi in the study.
Sigh—Jiang Zhi isn't a kid anymore, and he shouldn't be fooled either. But then again, this day was always going to come. There's no avoiding it.
They talked for a long time—or maybe it was quick. Qi Cheng kept an eye on the clock; it was only about half an hour, but he was worried about his husband, so it felt like forever. Finally, footsteps came down the stairs.
Qi Cheng looked over—it was Jiang Zhi, looking just as he had when he arrived. He hadn't cried, but he looked completely broken—shattered beyond words. He fled out the door without even a goodbye.
The rain outside was so heavy.
Qi Cheng grabbed an umbrella and ran after him, but couldn't catch up. Through the curtain of rain, Jiang Zhi's figure had already vanished. He immediately went upstairs to find his husband.
"Worried I'd be upset?" Bai Zongyin's negative emotions vanished the moment he saw the young man appear. "Chengcheng, give me a hug."
So Qi Cheng gave his husband a big hug.
And even gave him two kisses!
Bai Zongyin laughed, letting Qi Cheng hold him the same way he'd hold Fanfan, with kissing sounds just like the ones he made with their little goose. Finally, he couldn't help it—he pulled the young man into his arms and gave him a proper kiss between husbands.
"It's all over now."
Qi Cheng didn't ask any more questions.
Jiang Qifeng had been taken in for questioning over the company's tax issues, but the public opinion had clearly collapsed—like the warning signs before an avalanche. Even though they'd struggled to prop up the stock price before, the company still looked like an unassailable mountain from afar. But this signal was the most critical crack that would bring the whole mountain down.
And on February 22nd, Zongcheng Technology officially released its AI smart brain for public sale—it could be called the final blow to the Jiang Group's downfall. On the same day, Jiang Qifeng was taken away again.
Mingcheng's circles thought it would be like last time—just questioning, or maybe bankruptcy and financial issues. But a week later, the police announced that Jiang Qifeng was under investigation for murder.
With all the drama surrounding the Jiang Group lately, plus the news about the eldest son dating a male celebrity, the media had been all over the Jiang family. Reports were flying everywhere—all kinds of stories. The entertainment press was tearing into Yu Qingshi and his young boyfriend, mocking and ridiculing him for once trying to marry into a wealthy family—only to see it go bankrupt so fast, with his future father-in-law turning out to be a murderer.
The financial press focused on analyzing why the Jiang Group had collapsed so quickly.
The most luxurious Jiang family mansion in Qianshui Bay was about to be auctioned off.
Qi Cheng didn't pay too much attention to all these news stories and gossip. He only thought about asking Yu Qingshi on WeChat how Jiang Zhi was doing—but he typed and deleted. Given his position, he stood firmly on his husband's side.
At a time like this, what Jiang Zhi needed most was Yu Qingshi.
The nationwide sensation—"Billionaire Jiang Qifeng murders business partner"—had been in the news for nearly half a month. As the New Year approached, the court date finally arrived.
"Chengcheng."
"Hm?"
Bai Zongyin smiled. "The last trace of hatred in my heart is gone."
They can rest in peace up there now. I've finally found my own path in life.
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