Qin Si accepted the blank check, filled it out, and handed it to Ji Shileng.
Ji Shileng retrieved his watch and passed the check to Xiao Liao.
Xiao Liao’s hand trembled uncontrollably as he accepted it, as though he still thought this was a dream.
A hundred million star credits—something countless people could only dream of—had landed so effortlessly in his hands.
Ji Shileng glanced up, his long, dark lashes casting shadows beneath his eyes, and asked Qin Si casually, “Shall I put the watch in my pocket?”
“Put it on for me?”
Qin Si swiftly removed his own watch and held his wrist out before him.
Ji Shileng: “…”
“Can’t you put it on yourself?” he muttered.
Despite the complaint, he had already fastened it around Qin Si’s wrist and even given it a satisfied pat.
Qin Si was equally pleased.
He adjusted his shirt cuff, concealing the expensive watch.
Then he took Ji Shileng’s wrist, untied the untidy ribbon at his cuff, and fashioned it into a beautiful bow.
The spectators: “…”
What was wrong with these two?
Did they think no one had noticed the watch Qin Si had originally been wearing?
Its design was understated and restrained.
But those familiar with such things had already recognized it as a custom Patek Philippe.
The two watches belonged to different categories, making it difficult to say which was more expensive. Neither was remotely cheap.
Ji Shileng shook his head slightly. His vision was doubling everywhere. He knew he could not drink any more.
He had mixed wine, spirits, and beer all evening. At first, it had seemed harmless, but the effects grew stronger the longer he drank.
He gave Xiao Liao a slight nod and spoke quietly.
Most of the group was watching him, however, so everyone heard him clearly.
“Shuise attracts all sorts. Anyone eyeing that check should forget about it”
His voice was nonchalant.
“If anyone takes Xiao Liao’s check, they’re taking on the Ji family”
Once he finished, Qin Si asked whether they could leave early.
Ji Shileng propped his chin on one hand, taking a moment to respond.
Lifting his half-lowered eyelids, he told the owner, “Everyone’s tab tonight is on me. Have fun”
It was his way of announcing that he was leaving.
The owner immediately picked up a microphone to make the announcement. No one else dared try to keep Ji Shileng there.
“We’ll head off, then. Enjoy yourselves”
Qin Si rose first and pulled Ji Shileng to his feet.
As they passed the dance floor, crowded with moving figures and erupting cheers, something belatedly occurred to Ji Shileng.
“Wasn’t Su Ke dancing just now?”
If he was leaving early, he ought to let Su Ke know.
Qin Si glanced over. Su Ke was nowhere to be seen in the middle of the dance floor.
“Ji Shifeng probably hauled him off”
Ji Shileng looked at him and made a questioning sound, his voice thick with alcohol, his eyes puzzled.
“I came to Shuise with Ji Shifeng and the others to discuss some matters”
Seeing no reason to hide it, Qin Si explained directly.
“When we finished and stepped out onto the second-floor corridor, we saw the two of you”
At the sight, he had felt as though the world were collapsing.
Ji Shileng: “…”
What an extraordinary coincidence.
He did not ask what business Qin Si had been discussing with his family. Such things did not interest him.
He beckoned over a valet and asked, “Has Su Ke’s car been taken?”
The valet approached with a respectful bow and recounted exactly what he had seen.
“Mr. Ji brought Young Master Su out a few minutes ago”
He produced Su Ke’s car keys.
“They said someone would come for the car tomorrow”
“Then that’s fine”
His head heavy with alcohol and the band’s relentless percussion, Ji Shileng said slowly, “I knew it. Someone as respectable as you wouldn’t come to a club”
Qin Si chuckled.
“Do I look like someone who never goes clubbing?”
“Ji Shifeng hardly ever comes unless it’s for business. Ji Shiyun doesn’t come either”
Ji Shileng concentrated on keeping himself steady.
Then he added, “You know how they are. I’ve felt for ages that every last one of them intends to spend their life married to work”
Qin Si nodded in agreement. Ji Shiyun looked every inch the accomplished businesswoman; a nightclub seemed entirely at odds with her formal attire.
Ji Shifeng’s reputation as a workaholic was equally well established.
Ji Shileng did not forget to conclude, “Apart from Su Ke, the Ji family’s honorary member, I’m the only one in the family who does nothing useful”
Of all the people Qin Si could have fallen for, he had chosen the Ji family’s one idle young heir.
In truth, when Qin Si had seen Ji Shileng surrounded by people, lipstick marks scattered over him, the violent anger inside him had almost become impossible to contain.
Yet the moment those misty eyes turned toward him, his heart had melted.
Everyone had their own life to live. What mattered was that Ji Shileng enjoyed his.
Besides, as no more than a friend, he had no right to pass judgment. All he could do was make sure Ji Shileng stayed safe.
Rather than answer, Qin Si asked, “Did you have fun tonight?”
Ji Shileng paused, then nodded firmly.
“It was all right”
Which meant he had enjoyed himself very much.
Only then did Qin Si return to his remark about doing nothing useful.
“Then being happy is enough, isn’t it?”
There was nothing wrong with being idle. No rule said that a person had to do any particular thing.
Happiness was enough.
Qin Si spoke again, his voice quiet but utterly serious.
“Xiaoshi, I’ve never thought you were wasting your life. I only want you to be happy”
They had just reached Shuise’s entrance. A bright full moon hung against the blue curtain of the sky, unexpectedly gentle.
Ji Shileng belatedly pieced Qin Si’s words together. He went still for a moment, then smiled.
“You really are different from them”
Qin Si looked down at him, curious about what had prompted that.
“My family treats me well because we’re family. So it doesn’t matter if I’m idle and never do anything useful. They just want me to enjoy my life”
Then his tone shifted.
“But you’re different. At least for now, there’s no unbreakable bond between us”
“There’s nothing like that tying us together, yet you don’t call me idle, and you still think my happiness is enough”
Ji Shileng spoke slowly.
“I have reasonable grounds to suspect you’re spoiling me into ruin”
“I’m not flattering you to hurt you. I want you to be happy because I like you”
Qin Si stopped walking, enunciating each word slowly.
“Besides, everyone has a different idea of what counts as wasting your life”
“Then what’s yours?”
Qin Si did not brush the question aside. Instead, he considered his words carefully.
He asked something Ji Shileng had not expected.
“Do you think life necessarily has to be spent doing things we must do, or things we want to do?”
A gust of wind swept over Ji Shileng, clearing a surprising amount of the alcohol-induced haze from his head. Yet his eyes still shimmered, soft and unfocused.
Ji Shileng heard himself answer, “Not necessarily”
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