Chapter 50: The Jade Bracelet Passed Down to His Wife

Chapter 50: The Jade Bracelet Passed Down to the Wife

He hadn't figured out how to give it to him; he'd just brought it on a whim.

Ever since they'd last parted, he'd been thinking about whether he could tell him everything the next time they met.

But his existence came with rules. He couldn't let anyone know he'd been reborn; otherwise, he wouldn't even get a chance to finish his mission—he'd be wiped out on the spot.

If he just came out and said it, there was a good chance someone would find out his secret.

He was torn—he didn't want to watch Xie Yean suffer anymore, but if he just blurted it out, the risk was way too high.

He could just say it, but he'd need to lay the groundwork for his lie.

What he'd been doing all along wasn't just getting closer to lay that groundwork—he also wanted Chi's parents to figure it out on their own.

But that second option didn't seem likely to work.

The food came out quickly.

The two ate and chatted, having a great time.

Just then, the TV mounted on the wall next to them started playing the most popular idol survival show in the country this season.

Chi Xingcun glanced at it casually, then immediately whipped his head back and froze.

On screen, there was a young guy practicing singing in a practice room.

Chi Xingcun's eyes slowly widened as he turned to look at the guy across from him.

Xie Yean was pressing his hand to his forehead, trying to cover his whole face. He was totally stunned—how could his show be playing at exactly this moment?

"Xie... Yean, that's you!"

Xie Yean lifted his head a little, not wanting to face it. His handsome face was flushed with a faint blush.

"Yeah, it's me." His voice was deep, low, and surprisingly clear.

Chi Xingcun finally broke into a smile. "Xie Yean, you're amazing!"

He really meant it. Xie Yean was seriously incredible—just when you thought he'd hit rock bottom, he always found a way to survive.

But in the book, Xie Yean had refused to get into

, because everyone knew the entertainment industry was dirty.

And Xie Yean, even if he didn't think of himself as above it all, had no desire to get mixed up in that kind of place.

Xie Yean actually didn't want to reveal what he was doing, because he... liked him, and he didn't want him to see him struggling.

He just wanted Chi Xingcun to spend his money.

Hearing what the guy in front of him said, he paused a little and looked up. The noble young master in front of him didn't look down on him—he knew that people in rich circles looked down on newcomers in the entertainment industry.

Even already-famous idols and actors had to kowtow to them.

"Young master, stop praising me like that." He wanted to hide his feelings, but his cold, hardened heart was always useless around Chi Xingcun.

"Why not? I'm just telling the truth." Chi Xingcun blinked earnestly.

Xie Yean had no comeback.

"Xie Yean, having the courage to do this is already amazing~ Don't sell yourself short! You're so much better than so many people, so much, so much, so much~ I should learn from you!" Chi Xingcun said seriously again.

Xie Yean finally couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips. He could never argue with the young master. "I understand, young master."

"So... which company did you sign with?" Chi Xingcun kept asking.

"Xinghe," Xie Yean replied.

After the shock and admiration wore off, Chi Xingcun's heart ached again.

"Are you tired?" Every time he made that pained face, it was like he was about to cry.

The guy across from him didn't know if he was tired or not—he just knew he couldn't stand to see him make that face.

Xie Yean stared at him for a few long seconds, then reached out and covered Chi Xingcun's eyes with his hand. "I'm not tired. This isn't worth you making that face, young master."

Chi Xingcun pulled his hand away. "Why are you covering my eyes?"

Xie Yean chuckled softly. Propping his face on one hand, he tilted his head, his eyes unconsciously gazing at Chi Xingcun with pure affection.

Chi Xingcun felt a little awkward and couldn't bring himself to meet his eyes.

"Does it pay well?"

It was like he was running a background check, but Xie Yean willingly told him everything—his salary, what he did day to day.

Since he couldn't hide it, if the young master wanted to know, he'd tell him everything.

......

Halfway through their meal, an uninvited guest showed up.

"What a coincidence, young master."

A hand landed familiarly on his shoulder. Chi Xingcun turned around—it was Qin Liyi.

"What are you doing here?" He was totally surprised.

He suddenly realized he seemed to run into Qin Liyi a lot, in all kinds of places.

"Our team-building spot happens to be right around here." Qin Liyi said slowly, totally confident.

Chi Xingcun followed his gaze—a group of classmates was gathered on the street outside, then went into a hotpot restaurant.

Qin Liyi stared at Chi Xingcun with a half-smile, then leaned down, his lips close to Chi Xingcun's ear, his voice low: "Bad boy."

Chi Xingcun instinctively covered his ear. Bad boy? What did he do wrong?

"You—go do your team-building. I'm eating with someone else." Chi Xingcun shoved him.

And because he was pushed away for someone else, Qin Liyi was pissed—though it didn't show on his face.

His gaze slowly dropped, landing on the backpack under the table that held the bracelet.

He reached out, grabbed the bag, and slung it over his shoulder.

"Good boy, enjoy your meal. I'll be waiting outside."

Chi Xingcun was stunned for a second. Seeing him walk off with the bag, he immediately got up and followed.

"Things, things are inside..."

At the door, Qin Liyi finally caught up to him.

"What things?" Qin Liyi played completely clueless.

Of course he knew—he'd seen everything on the surveillance footage, how the young master had brought the heirloom bracelet.

Chi Xingcun said, "The bracelet..."

"The bracelet?"

Playing the helpful one, he fished the bracelet out for Chi Xingcun, though Chi Xingcun hadn't meant to take it out—he just wanted Qin Liyi to be careful with it.

"Wow~" Qin Liyi exclaimed in mock surprise, then his tone changed, "Are you going to propose to him?"

"Huh?" Chi Xingcun froze.

"Isn't this the bracelet the Chi family passes down to their in-law?"

Everyone in high society knew it was meant for Chi Xingcun's future partner, whether male or female.

"No..."

Chi Xingcun tried to sidestep it, but Qin Liyi scooped him up.

Then, Chi Xingcun was bundled into the car.

"Then tell me, why did you bring this jade bracelet here?"

"What are you doing!" Chi Xingcun pushed him. "Xie Yean is still inside!"

Qin Liyi: "Not my damn problem. If he even tries to steal you away, I'll kill him."

"..." Chi Xingcun stared at his threatening expression and kicked him. "Don't get any weird ideas. It's not..."

Qin Liyi loomed over him, staring at his face—the moment he saw that Chi Xingcun had brought the jade bracelet to meet Xie Yean, he completely lost it.

The heirloom jade bracelet wasn't something just anyone could see.

He'd only ever seen it at an auction.

Chi Xingcun had brought the jade bracelet back to his villa but never shown it to him.

How could anyone not lose their mind over being treated so differently?

Still, he had calmed down a lot now. How could the young master possibly give the jade bracelet to Xie Yean?

A nobody with average looks, a gloomy personality, and zero good qualities?!

Right, impossible.

"Didn't you have that team thing? Why aren't you there?" Chi Xingcun tried to change the subject.

But Qin Liyi obviously wasn't that easy to change the subject on.

He pulled the jade bracelet out of the bag—it gleamed with a pale moonlight even in the dark—took Chi Xingcun's hand, and slowly slid it onto his wrist.

"This is yours. Don't let it fall into anyone else's hands..." Qin Liyi's eyes were cold, trailing off before he finished.

Of course the young master could give it to whoever he wanted, but if anyone actually took that bracelet... he'd be seriously pissed.

"Qin Liyi, Xie Yean is still inside..."

Chi Xingcun racked his brain and finally managed to get away from Qin Liyi, heading back inside to say goodbye to Xie Yean.

Chi Xingcun was just about to whip out his card to pay when Xie Yean had already beaten him to it and handed over his card.

Chi Xingcun was taken aback and immediately shoved his card at the cashier, telling them to give Xie Yean's card back.

Xie Yean gave a helpless smile, blocked him, and in that split second grabbed Chi Xingcun's card back, tucking it into the bag Chi Xingcun was carrying, then paid with his own card.

Chi Xingcun tried to resist but got pulled into Qin Liyi's arms.

Qin Liyi stood behind him and said casually, "I eat your food, live in your house, take your money—what's the big deal about buying you a meal?"

Chi Xingcun quickly clapped a hand over his mouth and glared at him. "Don't say that."

Qin Liyi stopped moving. When Chi Xingcun let go, he added, "Is he that fragile?"

Which earned him another glare from Chi Xingcun.

The three of them went their separate ways.