Xie Yang pretended not to see that Qiu Xing was angry. He took out his mobile phone and flipped through the comments under Mu Zhouyi’s rehearsal video. Then he sent a WeChat message to Qin Cheng and Hu Biao.

An hour later, the car parked in the open-air parking lot deep in the sanatorium. Xie Yang and Qiu Xing get out of the car and went to the small building.

Qiu Xing’s face was very gloomy as he walked. He didn’t look at all like he was coming to celebrate Chinese New Year. He looked more like he was collecting debts. Xie Yang followed behind Qiu Xing and was in a good mood.

Before entering the small building, Xie Yang called out to Qiu Xing. Qiu Xing immediately stopped and looked at Xie Yang. “What?”

Xie Yang reminded him. “Be closer.” Then he walked next to Qiu Xing and gestured to go inside. “Let’s go.”

…How was walking side by side being closer?

The expectations in Qiu Xing’s heart were pierced and extinguished. His gaze dropped to Xie Yang’s hand hanging beside him. He wanted to grab it but he was ashamed to take the initiative to reach out his hand. He held back, hesitating and hesitating until they had arrived in the small living room where Mother Qiu was waiting.

Qiu Xing, “……”

Mother Qiu’s mind was clear. She was sitting on the sofa and listening to the news. Once Qiu Xing came in, she looked up and frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you happy to see me? Why are you making such a long face?”

Qiu Xing hurriedly adjusted his expression and stepped forward to sit opposite his mother. “No, that’s not it. Mom, how are you feeling these days?”

“Very good.” Mother Qiu looked up at Xie Yang and she examined him from head to toe. “Yang Yang, you seem to have grown taller?”

Xie Yang was about to answer when Qiu Xing took a step forward and spoke in a strange manner. “20 years old and still growing. The developmental period is really late.”

Xie Yang and Mother Qiu both stared at Qiu Xing.

“……” Qiu Xing bowed his head and poured himself a cup of tea. He took a sip and pretended to be calm.

“Auntie, I really did grow taller. “ Xie Yang looked at Mother Qiu while naturally walking to Qiu Xing’s side and sitting down. He took the tea that Qiu Xing had just drank and took a sip. Then he put down the tea cup and raised his hand to undo the scarf around his neck.

Qiu Xing lowered his head to stare at the tea cup in front of him that had been ‘stained’ by Xie Yang. His Adam’s apple moved and he turned to Xie Yang. “You…”

“What is it?” Xie Yang put down his scarf and looked at Qiu Xing. Then he laughed and leaned over to help undo Qiu Xing’s scarf. “Why don’t you take off the scarf? The heating in the room is so strong. Aren’t you hot?” He intimately helped Qiu Xing take off the scarf. Then he helped straighten Qiu Xing’s collar and his fingers seemed to accidentally touch Qiu Xing’s Adam’s apple.

Qiu Xing instantly straightened. Mother Qiu and Xie Yang stared at Qiu Xing again. Xie Yang asked, “What’s the matter?”

“……” Qiu Xing stiffened. He glanced at his mother before saying, “Nothing, I’m going to the bathroom.” Then he turned and strode away.

Mother Qiu shifted her gaze to Xie Yang. Xie Yang stared back calmly. Mother Qiu asked, “Is it fun to tease him?”

Xie Yang nodded honestly. “It’s very fun.”

Mother Qiu smiled and she asked with a bit of a wicked heart, “How long do you think he will take to come back?”

“At least five minutes.”“Then he has grown a bit from before.” Mother Qiu turned off the news that was being broadcasted and said, “Ah Xing’s complexion looks better.”

“He really is getting better. After his heart surgery, he sleeps a lot longer than before and his appetite is better. His complexion would be even better if he wasn’t so busy at the end of the year.”

Mother Qiu nodded. Then she picked up a small photo album from the shelf next to her and placed it on her lap.

“Previously, I advised Ah Xing to go see a doctor and he always agreed in a perfunctory manner. I knew what he was thinking in his heart… then he suddenly called me and told me he had an operation…” She stopped talking and touched the album before staring seriously at Xie Yang. “Xie Yang, choosing you was the most correct decision I have ever made in my life. Thank you.”

Xie Yang noticed that Mother Qiu’s eyes were slightly red. He got up and sat next to her, holding the hand that Mother Qiu placed on her lap. He took the opportunity to use his ability while comforting her, “There is no need to thank me. Auntie, don’t worry, he will keep getting better.

***

Six or seven minutes later, Qiu Xing returned. Xie Yang had returned to his spot and was chatting with Mother Qiu about the koi in the pond.

Qiu Xing pretended to sit calmly next to Xie Yang. Then he saw there was another cup of tea in front of Xie Yang and his expression collapsed. He stared at the tea cup in front of him and his fingers moved. He reached out and took a sip like a thief. Then he quickly put down the tea cup and tried to join the topic. “The number of fish in the lake is increasing. Some of them must be released next year.”

Mother Qiu stopped talking, stared at Qiu Xing’s feigned calm appearance and suddenly sighed. Qiu Xing frowned with doubt.

“They will be released.” Xie Yang naturally continued the conversation like he hadn’t noticed anything.

It was lunch time when they finished chatting. The three people moved to the dining room. Xie Yang fulfilled his duties with due diligence. He sat next to Qiu Xing while eating and took the initiative to serve Qiu Xing vegetables and soup. He rolled up his sleeves and talked to Qiu Xing in a very close manner.

Qiu Xing’s reaction went from being stiff at the beginning to getting used to it and slowly enjoying it. He also occasionally responded. For example, he gave Xie Yang a pickle and the person’s aura visibly became brighter.

Mother Qiu saw Qiu Xing’s silly appearance and wanted to say something. Finally, she closed her mouth.

After the meal, Mother Qiu returned to her room. Before leaving, Xie Yang and Qiu Xing were assigned to go out and buy Spring Festival couplets and goods.

In fact, the sanatorium had everything available and they just needed to mention it to the people in the logistics department. However, Qiu Xing became muddled like his mother and completely forgot. He sent his mother back to his room and told Xie Yang, “Go to the supermarket.”

Xie Yang nodded. He went to the small living room and picked up their coats and scarves. Then he distributed the coat and scarf to Qiu Xing before wearing his own.

“How old are you? You can’t even wear your clothes well.”

Qiu Xing abruptly stepped forward and reached out to help Xie Yang tidy up his coat and hat. Then he helped Xie Yang button up his coat to the collar. Finally, he took the scarf and carefully wrapped it around Xie Yang.

Xie Yang lowered his hand and smiled at Qiu Xing. Qiu Xing was showing disgust and impatient but he was faintly smiling.

Qiu Xing asked, “Why are you smiling? Are you proud that you can’t put on clothes?”

Xie Yang smiled and shook his head. Once Qiu Xing helped him put on the hat, he stepped back and said, “Thank you.”

Qiu Xing hummed and once again had a noble and cold expression. “Wear your gloves yourself and remember to wear a mask. You have to cover your face when you go out. I don’t know what is so good about being an artist.”

“The advantage is that I can make money faster.”

“The people who make money quickly are always the people with capital in their hands.” Qiu Xing out on his coat and deliberately picked up his scarf very slowly, glancing at Xie Yang.

Xie Yang pretended not to receive the hint. He took out a mask and put it on. Then he walked to the hallway to change shoes. “That’s why I need to make money and accumulate capital quickly. Once I have accumulated enough money, I can go behind the scenes.”

Qiu Xing stared at Xie Yang’s back with a flat mouth. He put the scarf and gloves on himself and finally couldn’t hold back. “A person without a conscience—”“What?” Xie Yang suddenly turned back.

Qiu Xing shut up. He walked to the hallways with a cold face to change shoes and replied, “Nothing.”

***

The sanatorium was too distant and it took 10 minutes to drive to the nearest supermarket. After getting in the car, Qiu Xing tried to tell Xie Yang about the traditional virtues of China. As a result, the moment he prepared a good sentence, Xie Yang’s phone rang.

Qiu Xing, “……”

The call was from Xie Xiu and Xie Xie Yang picked up directly.

“Yang Yang.” Xie Xiu’s voice was full of joy. “I hope you and President Qiu are having fun during the new year. You don’t have to go home to see us. In addition, thank President Qiu for the additional investment. I promise to run the resort well! I also won’t forget about the hotel! I won’t disgrace you!”

Additional investment? Hotel?

They exchanged a few words before Xie Yang hung up the phone. He questioned Qiu Xing, “Did you invest additional money in Xie Xiu?”

Qiu Xing immediately looked away and picked up the tortured magazine. “I just expanded the project appropriately. Since I have decided to do it, I should try my best to expand it as much as possible. In addition, since you want to be a public figure, you should pay attention to your hotel. Don’t let Xie Xiu embarrass you.”

Was this secretly trying to help him clarify those bad rumours?

Xie Yang glanced at the magazine in Qiu Xing’s hand. “Is that magazine good?”

Qiu Xing changed his sitting posture in an uncomfortable manner and flipped through the magazine. “Not bad. There is a stock market trend analysis that is well written and is worth reading repeatedly.

“I’d like to see it too. Come over a little bit and let’s look at it together.”

Qiu Xing glanced at Xie Yang.

Xie Yang questioned, “Aren’t you going to show me?”

“…You want so many things!” Qiu Xing suppressed his happiness and moved over to place the magazine in front of Xie Yang. “Look.”

Xie Yang leaned over. Since he was next to Qiu Xing, he leaned toward Qiu Xing. He held the magazine and really started to read it.

Qiu Xing looked down at Xie Yang’s face that was very close to him. The corners of his mouth curved up but he quickly pressed them down. He stared out the window but then slowly shifted his gaze back to Xie Yang’s concentrated face. Then he moved the magazine toward Xie Yang again.

Xie Yang abruptly turned to Qiu Xing. “I don’t understand this very well. Can you explain it to me?”

Qiu Xing hurriedly glanced out the window, controlled his expression and looked back at Xie Yang. “You only have a good attitude when asking me for something… what can’t you understand?”

Xie Yang pointed to a place.

Qiu Xing glanced at it and hummed. “You can’t even understand this… Listen carefully, I’ll say it just once.”

The stock market analysis essay wasn’t too long. Qiu Xing explained it to Xie Yang and then shifted to talking about the foreign economic situation and domestic economic policies. In the front, Zhou Miao was full of dismay.

Once they got off the car, Qiu Xing walked like the wind while Xie Yang followed behind Qiu Xing in a leisurely manner with his hands in his pockets.

There were many people in the supermarket. Qiu Xing frowned as soon as he entered. Once he saw someone almost bumping into Xie Yang, his face finally darkened. He reached out and pulled Xie Yang to his side to protect this person. Then he emphasized. “Keep close.”

Xie Yang obediently walked next to Qiu Xing.

They finished shopping and returned to the car. Qiu Xing’s expression finally improved and he picked up the magazine again. “Do you understand this? Let me check.”

Zhou Miao, who was drinking water, was unfortunate enough to choke.