Chapter 12#
World 1: The Tragic Supporting Male Lead Changes the Script Online#
Qin Huaichuan brought Qin Qing down from the second floor.
The long table in the dining room was already full of food. Qin Guangyuan sat at the head seat, Ji Lan sat next to him, with Qin Zishi next to her.
Seeing his grandson coming, Qin Guangyuan showed a gentle smile, pointed to the table full of dishes, and said kindly: “Come eat.” He didn’t mention a word about the infighting between the two grandsons.
Qin Qing bowed slightly and called Grandpa, but didn’t sit down. Instead, he pulled out a chair for Qin Huaichuan and waited for his father to sit first.
Every move, every nod and smile of his was so elegant and decent. Even though Qin Zishi had enjoyed twenty-five years of wealthy life and elite education in the Qin family, he couldn’t cultivate this noble air all over his body.
Qin Guangyuan smiled more and more satisfied, and personally served a bowl of soup for his grandson.
Qin Qing took the soup, thanked Grandpa, and then personally served a bowl of soup for Qin Guangyuan, Qin Huaichuan and Ji Lan each. His manners were quite thoughtful, but he didn’t even spare a glance for Qin Zishi. He didn’t even bother to pretend the so-called brotherly love and respect.
But no one felt he was narrow-minded or behaved improperly. Whatever he did seemed so natural.
Qin Zishi gripped his chopsticks tightly, trying his best to suppress the humiliation in his heart. He knew Qin Qing was deliberately ignoring him. Such cold treatment was more embarrassing than secret rivalry and provocation.
When he regarded Qin Qing as the enemy of his life, the other party didn’t put him in his eyes at all. Isn’t this ridiculous?
Qin Zishi gritted his teeth too tightly, so that his lips and face appeared very pale.
Ji Lan looked at him worriedly and suddenly spoke: “Zishi was investigated by the police.”
Qin Zishi’s already embarrassed heart was tortured by a stronger sense of shame at this moment. How could mom say this out loud? Wouldn’t Qin Qing be even more proud if he knew?
Qin Zishi’s temples throbbed, as if a burst of anger was about to erupt.
Qin Qing wasn’t surprised at all, and said calmly: “Is it because of taking kickbacks from POC? This is bribery, will he go to jail?”
Ji Lan’s eyes reddened, as if she would cry in the next second.
Qin Huaichuan and Qin Guangyuan put down their chopsticks, their faces gloomy.
996, who had just jumped onto the dining table ready to steal a few braised prawns, was so scared that its fur exploded: “Meow? What did you say just now? Qin Zishi is going to jail? He is the male lead! How can the male lead go to jail?”
Qin Qing sighed faintly, and said seemingly blaming yet helpless: “No wonder President Li gave such a big order to Qin Corporation. It turns out you have long formed an alliance of interests. Don’t you know this is illegal?”
His tone at this moment was exactly like an elder brother who loves deeply and blames earnestly, while secretly hitting back at President Li’s words “I signed with you for the sake of Zishi’s face”.
What face or not, the two were just colluding in evil deeds.
Qin Zishi took several deep breaths repeatedly before gently placing his chopsticks on the table and smiling: “I didn’t take bribes. The police have already investigated, those who should be arrested have been arrested, facts prove I am innocent.”
The evidence on the surface had long been disposed of by him, and he also found a few scapegoats, while he himself was clean. But he couldn’t say these words publicly.
Qin Zishi suppressed his anger and smiled: “Mom, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Ji Lan choked: “How can I not worry about your affairs.”
Qin Guangyuan said coldly: “It’s good as long as your ass is wiped clean.”
Qin Huaichuan warned: “Don’t do this kind of thing again in the future. The Qin family is not poor, and hasn’t shorted you on food and drink.”
These words instantly made Qin Zishi’s cheeks flush. Shame, embarrassment, secret hatred, anger, all kinds of negative emotions piled up in his heart.
He thought Qin Qing’s return would have no impact on him. Such a petty citizen who didn’t even have a university diploma and had struggled at the bottom of society for more than ten years couldn’t be his opponent at all.
But he was wrong. From meeting until now, he seemed to have never gained the upper hand. If he hadn’t borrowed the power of President Cang and President Xu, maybe he would have been swept out long ago.
Dad and Grandpa’s words belittled him as if he were a beggar who opened his eyes at the sight of money. Perhaps deep in their hearts, they would also sigh—indeed dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a mouse…
Qin Zishi didn’t think further about those humiliating words. He clenched his fists, trying to grasp something. And he soon realized that the only things he urgently needed to grasp now were Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi.
Those two people were his biggest reliance.
Ji Lan suddenly put her hand on the back of Qin Zishi’s hand, and put her other hand on Qin Qing’s hand, saying extremely earnestly: “You two brothers stop fighting, get along well, okay? You split the family property equally, no one gets more, no one gets less. My property is also split equally, you can take it now. Stop fighting, mom is very worried.”
Qin Zishi held Ji Lan’s hand back and said aggrievedly: “Mom, believe me, I never targeted Qin Qing. Those words said by President Li were completely his own decision. I didn’t expect Qin Qing’s reaction to be so big. He is too sensitive, but I can understand him. Mom, I will pay attention in the future. I will definitely get along well with him.”
These words made Ji Lan show a gratified expression.
However, Qin Qing gently withdrew his hand, first drank a mouthful of soup unhurriedly, then picked up a napkin and wiped his hands carefully.
“Property can be split equally, can love be?” He put down the napkin and asked such a sentence calmly.
“What?” Ji Lan was stunned.
Qin Qing stood up and said lightly: “After I resigned, did you comfort me? I was wronged outside, did you worry about me? If your motherly love cannot be split equally, why should the property be split equally?”
Ji Lan looked up at him, her face full of uneasiness: “You, what do you mean?”
Qin Qing leaned down, stroked Ji Lan’s hair gently, with a slight smile in his voice: “Mom, I forgot to tell you, what I want has always been everything.”
Everything of what? All the property or all the motherly love? Or does he want to hold everything in his hand and not share a bit with others?
Ji Lan looked at this son in disbelief. He smiled so beautifully, his gesture of stroking her temple hair was so gentle, but the words he said were terrifying.
Qin Huaichuan and Qin Guangyuan didn’t make a sound, but their expressions were satisfied. Such ambition fully met their requirements for an heir.
Qin Zishi’s heart pounded, and an unprecedented sense of crisis hit him like a wave. Qin Qing’s words were undoubtedly a challenge to him. Get everything? Then is there still a place for him in this family?
“I’m going to interview at Lanyu Technology tomorrow. Mom, can you wish me all the best?” Qin Qing supported himself on the dining table with one hand, put his arm around Ji Lan’s shoulder with the other, and asked intimately.
“You’re going to Lanyu? What are you going to do at Lanyu?” Ji Lan’s voice suddenly rose.
Qin Guangyuan was also surprised, but immediately smiled. This grandson dared to think and dared to do, this was very good!
The chopsticks in Qin Zishi’s hand fell on the table with a clatter, and then he suddenly looked up at Qin Qing, panic and anger hidden in his eyes.
“Mom, won’t you wish me all the best?” Qin Qing didn’t answer, his lowered eyes full of hope and attachment, as if he really longed for his mother’s encouragement.
Ji Lan pursed her pale lips and spoke with a trembling voice: “Of course I wish you all the best. Why are you going to Lanyu, what do you want to do to Zishi?”
She was afraid of this person.
Afraid of his revenge and paranoia.
Qin Qing suddenly lowered his head and interrupted Ji Lan’s words with a light kiss on her forehead.
“Thank you, Mom. With your encouragement, my interview will definitely be very smooth.” His extremely magnetic voice was wrapped in joy and satisfaction, like a child who received a lot of love from his mother.
However, Ji Lan felt that this kiss pierced her skin like a thorn.
Qin Qing used his slender jade-like fingertips to slowly arrange Ji Lan’s temple hair behind her ear, then straightened up and bid farewell politely: “I’m done eating. Grandpa, Dad, take your time. Zishi, see you at Lanyu tomorrow.”
He waved his hand, smiling very gently and kindly.
Qin Zishi also hurriedly put on a smiling face, but a dark storm rolled up in his eyes.
Is this Qin Qing’s declaration of war?
996 picked up a braised prawn and quickly chased after Qin Qing.
“Meow! You are OOC! The way you fought for property just now looked like a big villain, not a tragic supporting male lead!”
“What is OOC?”
“OOC is Out Of Character.”
“Do you know that roses have thorns?”
“I know, meow.”
Qin Qing chuckled a few times and didn’t answer again.
“What do you mean, meow? Hey, don’t walk so fast, wait for me! Is there any connection between roses having thorns and you being OOC? Your topic change is too stiff!”
The chubby cat’s noisy voice slowly faded away…
The next day, Lanyu Technology Building.
Qin Zishi came to the HR department and indeed found Qin Qing’s name on today’s interview list.
He pulled out Qin Qing’s application materials, took them to the top floor, and knocked on the door of the president’s office.
“President Cang, I’m sorry to disturb you.” Qin Zishi bowed ninety degrees and said rather uneasily, “There is something I want to report to you.”
He placed Qin Qing’s application materials squarely on the table.
Cang Ming, who was flipping through a document, glanced at the materials indifferently, his tone very light: “Is there any problem?”
Qin Zishi quickly explained: “I found my brother’s application materials at the HR department. Our company has always only recruited top students from international famous schools. My brother only has a high school diploma and no work experience. I think he is not suitable. I asked HR, they said my brother seemed to have used my relationship to get in, but I personally knew nothing about it. Maybe my dad or my mom used my name to persuade the HR manager. I’m sorry President Cang, this is my fault. I’ll make my brother leave immediately.”
Qin Zishi bowed again, his face full of guilt and self-blame.
Cang Ming said without raising his head: “Since the person is here, let him finish the interview before rejecting him.”
Such trivial matters were never taken to heart by him. He wouldn’t even look at that material again.
President Cang’s reaction was completely within Qin Zishi’s expectations. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: “Okay President Cang, I will ask the HR department to reject my brother. This kind of thing will absolutely not happen again in the future.”
“Deduct two months’ salary from the HR manager, you notify down.” Cang Ming said coldly.
Qin Zishi, who had always been at odds with the HR manager, was not afraid of offending the other party at all.
He bowed, “Okay President Cang, I will notify down. If there is nothing else, I will leave first, you are busy.” He walked slowly to the door, as if hesitating, or struggling, so he stopped and turned to look.
Cang Ming was still reading the document, his tone cold: “Anything else?”
Qin Zishi walked forward quickly as if determined, and put his phone on the table.
“President Cang, I think it is necessary for you to watch this video. I forwarded a copy to your phone.”
The video was playing, and a woman’s voice full of instigation came: “…Go seduce President Cang. You snatch President Cang over, see how Qin Zishi can still be proud! You look ten thousand times better than Qin Zishi…”
Cang Ming finally raised his head and looked at the phone screen. His already deep and dark eyes darkened a bit more when touching Qin Qing’s face.
Qin Zishi said rather embarrassedly: “This video was sent to me by a guest on the day of the birthday banquet. Based on this conversation, I have reason to suspect that my brother came to work at Lanyu with ulterior motives.”
He bent down deeply and apologized again: “President Cang, I feel very sorry. I seem to have caused you a lot of trouble.”
In the video, Qin Qing sniffed a white rose and was smiling gently and slowly.
He was indeed very beautiful.
This kind of beauty was even unique.
But Cang Ming was indifferent.
He lowered his head again and said lightly: “No need for an interview. When the person comes, you tell him to leave directly.”
The corners of Qin Zishi’s thin lips finally couldn’t help rising.
“Okay President Cang, I will tell him privately. Today I am also one of the interviewers, I will uphold the company’s consistent high standards.”
Cang Ming waved his hand to let the person out.
Qin Zishi looked at the man’s serious and cold face, then left quietly. Walking outside, he held up Qin Qing’s application materials, stared at the exceptionally good-looking headshot, and smiled contemptuously.
“Qin Qing, you can never snatch away my things.” He muttered in a low voice while tearing Qin Qing’s materials into pieces.
Qin Qing arrived at Lanyu Technology Headquarters on time.
He looked up at this gray-black building towering into the clouds, facing the majestic aura it emitted. Clouds floated and surged at the top of the building, then slowly dispersed. Such a vast sky would also be pierced by such a huge building.
In fact, the seven or eight buildings around this building all belonged to Lanyu Technology. In Hai City where land is expensive, it occupies the best location and the largest area. It is not an exaggeration to say it is a business empire.
Qin Qing took the elevator to the 19th floor. The corridor was full of interviewees, and every one of them was cramped and nervous.
An HR gave Qin Qing a number plate.
996 said happily: “Meow, you are indeed the last one to interview, just as written in the script!”
Qin Qing smiled, staring at this number plate, his eyes darkening. Will what is written in the script definitely happen?
996 hesitated for a while and said carefully: “I’ll give you Cang Ming’s location, you go follow the plot now?”
The location coordinates were quickly sent to Qin Qing’s sea of consciousness. He found that Cang Ming was in the smoking room on the 19th floor.
“Follow what plot?” Qin Qing took out a pack of cigarettes from his suit pocket and walked unhurriedly towards the direction of the bright red coordinate.
“I’ll tell you the plot when you get to the smoking room.” 996 pretended to be mysterious, but actually felt a little nervous. It felt that Qin Qing was getting harder and harder to control.
Qin Qing came to the smoking room and was about to push the door, but several men in suits walked out first, looking a bit nervous. Seeing Qin Qing, they opened their mouths, wanting to warn a few words, but glimpsing the number plate held in his hand, they immediately shut their mouths and walked away.
Not colleagues from the same company, naturally there is no need to deal with each other.
Qin Qing knew why these people left in a hurry. If a carnivore suddenly breaks into a flock of grass-eating sheep, the sheep will naturally scatter and flee.
Qin Qing pushed the door open and looked inside, then found that there was not one beast here, but two.
Two tall men stood by the window. One of them stood straight, his broad shoulders, lean waist, and overly long legs were all wrapped in a luxurious black suit.
Hearing the door opening, he didn’t make any movement, his gaze still fixed on the scenery outside the window. Sharp long eyebrows slanted to the temples, shadows floating in his pitch-black eyes. The overly strong physique and cold deterrent aura made the air around the man full of tension.
No wonder the people originally in the smoking room fled one after another. No one could withstand the oppressive aura emitted by the man for a long time.
This person was Cang Ming.
Standing next to Cang Ming, the man in the royal blue suit was Xu Yizhi. He stood leaning against the window, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other gently flicking the ash, slowly exhaling pale blue smoke from his nose.
Hearing the noise, he looked over carelessly, like a lazy beast.
He glanced at Qin Qing lightly, and also swept over 996.
996’s fur exploded, arching its back and asking, “Qin Qing, did he see me?”
“I don’t know either.” Qin Qing unconsciously tightened his grip on the door handle.
Xu Yizhi raised his eyebrows and actually squinted and smiled.
He remembered this creature that looked completely different from the people around.
Qin Qing didn’t step forward to greet the two bosses, just nodded and smiled slightly.
Just then, a hand suddenly covered his beautifully lined back and pushed hard.
“What are you doing blocking here? Don’t others want to enter?” An impatient female voice came from behind.
Qin Qing was pushed into the smoking room. Looking back, it was a female employee with neat short hair rushing in.
Seeing Qin Qing’s face clearly, she was stunned for a long while, her impatient tone suddenly became very gentle, even carrying a few points of sweetness and softness inconsistent with her age: “I’m sorry, I was too reckless just now. You didn’t get hurt anywhere, right?”
After speaking, she discovered the two bosses standing by the window.
She hurriedly withdrew her gaze from Qin Qing’s face, then bent down and greeted the two bosses respectfully, and finally walked to the farthest corner, lit a cigarette, and smoked silently facing the wall.
Compared to those male employees who fled in a hurry, she was much bolder.
Qin Qing took the opportunity to walk into the smoking room, away from Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi, and stood still in front of a floor-to-ceiling window.
Xu Yizhi withdrew his gaze, squinted at the outside of the window, and said inaudibly: “How do you plan to deal with this one this time?”
Cang Ming’s smoking action was still so careless. Qin Qing’s invincible beauty had no attraction for him. He didn’t love men, nor did he love women.
“Today is the last time he appears in front of me.” Cang Ming said lightly.
Xu Yizhi laughed in a low voice and said somewhat regretfully: “What a pity.” Although he said so, there was not much regret in his emotionless pitch-black eyes.
“Guess what they are saying?” 996 hid behind Qin Qing like a thief.
“I can’t hear.” Qin Qing played with the cigarette case, looking relaxed, but his heart was undulating.
He was a monster. Even if he entered a mortal body, his five senses were stronger than ordinary people. At such a close distance, he shouldn’t be unable to hear the conversation between those two people.
However, the fact was that he really heard nothing. This made him wary and nervous.
To alleviate this nervousness, Qin Qing looked at the spring colors outside the window.
The flowers in this city were blooming, looking down like a cloud of pink smoke. Those were clusters of cherry blossoms and peach blossoms.
“What plot exactly do you want to follow by bringing me here?” Qin Qing frowned and asked.
“Uh, that…”
996 stood up like a human, rubbed its two chubby paws together, and said shamelessly: “The entire plot below can be summarized in four words - seduce Cang Ming. You will follow these plots, right? You can get 20 points for seducing once!”
“What?” Qin Qing’s fingertips playing with the cigarette case couldn’t help pausing.
Xu Yizhi and Cang Ming standing at the other end of the room didn’t make any movement, but their eyes darkened.
In an instant, Xu Yizhi smiled with interest, “Keep him, hmm?” He exhaled a mouthful of pale blue smoke at the beautiful scenery outside the window, his narrow eyes flashing with interesting light.
“I don’t have time to play this kind of boring game.” Cang Ming also exhaled a mouthful of smoke, his tone as cold as winter.