GUL Chapter 17 : The Bitter Supporting Male Rewrites the Script Online

Xu Yizhi held the knot of the tie close to Qin Qing’s Adam’s apple. The warmth of his fingers and the tense alertness of having his vulnerable spot controlled slowly transformed into an inexplicable palpitation. Qin Qing unconsciously swallowed, then vaguely noticed his cheeks growing hot. This was the precursor to blushing. If he really showed a bashful expression, flushed cheeks, moist eyes, in front of this man…

Qin Qing’s scalp tingled. He wanted to step back and break free from the man’s hold. But Xu Yizhi released his tie first and sat back down, propping his forehead with a pleased laugh. He laughed, his gaze fixed on Qin Qing’s slightly flushed, handsome face, his eyes gleaming with keen interest.

“Before you join, how about I give you an interview too?” Xu Yizhi squinted, his tone languid.

“Please go ahead.” Qin Qing nodded politely, then licked his dry lips.

“I have just two questions. First, what do you hate most?” Xu Yizhi looked at Qin Qing without blinking, his gaze eventually settling on those moist, glossy lips.

This question had nothing to do with work. Qin Zishi looked at Xu Yizhi in surprise, then at Cang Ming. Cang Ming, who was usually so professional, raised no objection. He too was watching Qin Qing, his attention unusually focused as if he also wanted to know the answer to this overly personal question. Their attitude was very strange! Qin Zishi slipped his hands into his pockets, clenching them into fists.

Qin Qing thought for a moment and answered, “What I hate most is being misunderstood, doubted, denied, and ignored.”

What we hate most is often what we are forced to endure. So this answer revealed Qin Qing’s past. He had been misunderstood, doubted, denied, and ignored. It was hard to imagine someone like him receiving such unfair treatment.

Xu Yizhi’s smile gradually faded, his eyes darkening. “Second question, what do you desire most?”

Qin Qing pondered, then answered, “What I desire most is to be trusted, chosen, and cherished.”

And these three answers could be summed up in two words, “to be loved.” But at this point, on the brink of destruction, being loved or not seemed irrelevant. Making himself as comfortable as possible was what really mattered. Qin Qing looked up slightly, giving Xu Yizhi a gentle smile. That openness and acceptance made him shine. Xu Yizhi’s dark eyes brightened in turn. He nodded with interest and smiled.

He didn’t offer any comment, only waved his hand. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Qin Qing politely took his leave. Just as he reached the door, he turned back to look at Cang Ming. Cang Ming hadn’t expected him to look back. He straightened his already upright back even more, his expression stern, his eyes dark as he returned the gaze. This was the first time since they’d met that Qin Qing had looked directly at him.

“President Cang, shouldn’t you apologize to me?” Qin Qing said gently.

“What?” Cang Ming was taken aback. Qin Qing was the first person to stump him with a single sentence.

“Would you apologize for your preconceptions and arrogance?” Qin Qing bowed slightly, making the suggestion with great sincerity.

Cang Ming fell silent, his sharp eyes radiating displeasure and pressure. Qin Zishi stared at Qin Qing in amazement, his hidden fist slowly relaxing. He had just thought Qin Qing was frighteningly clever, but now he seemed to be acting foolishly! Xu Yizhi leaned back in his chair, his thin lips slightly curling, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Qin Qing tilted his head, speaking gently, “If it were me, my character wouldn’t allow me *not* to apologize.”

Well said…

If Cang Ming didn’t apologize, then Cang Ming lacked character. Xu Yizhi covered his mouth with his hand, laughing deeply and cheerfully. And Cang Ming showed an expression of speechless, restrained embarrassment. Besides Xu Yizhi, Qin Qing was the first person to ever make him feel so flustered. Xu Yizhi watched Cang Ming’s amusing expression, moving from a low chuckle to open laughter, slowly applauding. The once serious, silent conference room had suddenly become lively. The other two interviewers finally relaxed. President Xu was in such a good mood; maybe they wouldn’t get scolded for their unprofessional performance today? Qin Qing held the door handle, his head slightly tilted, a hopeful smile on his face.

Looking at those hopeful eyes, Cang Ming’s gaze darkened. Finally, he spoke slowly: “I’m sorry.”

Qin Zishi’s relaxed fist suddenly clenched; he could barely suppress his shock and jealousy. He had never seen Cang Ming apologize to anyone!

“It’s okay.” Qin Qing’s lips curved into a gentle smile, the delighted sparkle in his eyes as beautiful as a sky full of stars.

Looking at those sparkling eyes, Cang Ming, whose tone had been stiff, softened and naturally added, “I apologize for my arrogance and preconceptions.”

Qin Qing smiled again. This time, it wasn’t reserved; it was radiant. A sight more brilliant than the late spring sun outside the window. Both Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi’s eyes darkened.

Qin Qing pulled open the conference room door and walked out. After only two steps, he turned back and said slowly, “President Cang, thank you.”

“Thank me for what?” Cang Ming was stumped again.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity.” Qin Qing completed his sentence, then strode away.

With his hands in his pockets, his retreating figure was as light as a flower petal in the spring breeze. The lightness of his stride conveyed his joy.

Xu Yizhi laughed heartily, slowly applauding. Then he looked at Cang Ming and teased, “This is the last time he’ll appear before you? Hmm?”

Cang Ming recalled his earlier presumptuous words, his expression briefly awkward. The coldness in his eyes quietly faded, turning gentle. He was smiling, though no one could notice. Qin Zishi listened to Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi’s conversation, his heart plummeting into the abyss. No one had ever captured their attention like Qin Qing. When Qin Qing returned to the Qin family home, Qin Huaichuan and the others were out. He went to his room and slept, only waking at dusk.

“What are you doing?” Qin Qing walked to the balcony, his voice full of surprise.

“None of your business!” 996 retorted.

“You’re in this state, and you won’t let me help?” Qin Qing crouched down, sighing helplessly.

There was 996, this little fat cat, leaning against the balcony railing, lying on its back with its round belly exposed, holding a cigarette in one paw and a bottle of booze in the other, indulging in smoke and drink. In just a few hours, it seemed to have gotten rounder. Smoke and drink really do fatten you up.

“You go seek your death, I’ll drink my booze. We don’t interfere with each other!” 996 roared at Qin Qing.

“How about I bring you up a plate of dried fish?” Qin Qing stood, his tone resigned.

996 turned its head away, silent for a moment, then said sullenly, “Bring two plates.”

Qin Qing’s lips curved slightly, as if about to smile, but he quickly suppressed it. “Okay, two plates. Wait here.”

After delivering the dried fish to 996, Qin Huaichuan, Qin Guangyuan, and Ji Mingtang gradually returned home.

“Grandfather, why are you here?” Qin Qing, who had been watching TV in the living room, stood up with a smile. “Here to go fishing with me? Wait, I’ll go change.”

“Don’t smile if you don’t feel like it. Grandpa knows you’re upset.” Ji Mingtang handed his cane to a servant and walked over to pat his grandson’s back.

“What am I upset about?” Qin Qing looked puzzled.

“You failed the interview, wouldn’t that make you upset?” Qin Guangyuan also walked into the living room, his tone gruff.

Qin Huaichuan’s expression was somewhat grim, but he said nothing. With two elders present, this wasn’t the time to discipline his son.

“Failed the interview? Who said that?” Qin Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Zishi texted us.” Qin Huaichuan sat on the sofa opposite Qin Qing, his tone somber.

“What exactly did he say?” Qin Qing pressed.

Qin Huaichuan unlocked his phone and tossed it to his son.

Qin Qing picked it up and read through it.

Ji Mingtang sat beside him, chattering: “If you got eliminated, it doesn’t matter. Come work at my company. What position do you want? Director? Manager? How about I retire early and give you Ji Corporation? Use it for practice. I’ll steer from the side. I can still live another ten or twenty years. I’ll train you up. Don’t be scared, Grandpa’s got your back!”

This unconditional indulgence and affection made Qin Qing look at Ji Mingtang with surprise.

Qin Huaichuan objected, “Dad, don’t say that! You can’t spoil children like this!”

“I’ll spoil him if I want! You can manage the Qin family, but you can’t manage my Ji family! My things, I give them to whoever I want!” The stubborn old man Ji Mingtang immediately exploded.

But Qin Qing covered his face and laughed softly. To be chosen, trusted, and cherished. He had just said these warm emotions were unattainable dreams. Now someone was offering them to him with both hands.

Qin Qing tossed down the phone, sat beside Ji Mingtang, put his arm around the old man’s shoulder, and smiled, “Grandfather, I was hired.”

“What?” Three voices exclaimed at once.

“I said I was hired.” Qin Qing answered only Ji Mingtang.

“Wasn’t your competitor Gong Cheng?” Qin Huaichuan couldn’t believe it.

“Gong Cheng was eliminated.” Qin Qing said simply.

Qin Guangyuan stood up, his expression serious. “What exactly happened? Come to the study and tell us properly.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go to the study.” Ji Mingtang took Qin Qing’s hand and headed upstairs, eager to hear his grandson’s exploits.

When Qin Zishi returned home, the first floor was empty, but his father’s, grandfather’s, and grandfather’s shoes were lined up at the entrance.

“Where are they?” Qin Zishi asked a servant.

The servant pointed upstairs. “In the study.”

Qin Zishi went up to the second floor. Before he even reached the study, he heard waves of laughter- his father’s, his grandfather’s, his great-grandfather’s. Praises followed one after another, all brimming with pride.

“Look at my Qin Qing, how clever! So what if he’s a Yale graduate? So what if he worked on Wall Street for a few years? That impressive? If Qin Qing had grown up with me, who knows how successful he’d be now! He might have started his own company, standing shoulder to shoulder with Cang Ming!”

Ji Mingtang’s booming voice rang out, followed by proud laughter.

“Grandfather, take it easy, don’t pop your own bubble,” Qin Qing teased.

Another burst of laughter erupted from the study, along with applause. Everyone was happy. In twenty-five years, Qin Zishi had never experienced such joy and ease. The thought of chatting so casually with his great-grandfather, even teasing him, was something Qin Zishi would never dare to imagine. Without the same bloodline, they were truly excluded…

Qin Zishi slowly walked up to the third floor, each step weighed down by gloom. Ten minutes later, Ji Lan returned. The servants laid out the meal and rang the bell. Everyone filed into the dining room and took their seats. Smiles were on every face, except Qin Zishi’s, which was forced. Only he knew the agony churning inside him.

Ji Lan put a piece of braised pork in Qin Qing’s bowl, smiling, “Qin Qing, if you fail the interview, it doesn’t matter. You can go work at Qin Corporation. If you lack ability, have your father give you a cushy job- no real responsibility, just clock in, drink tea, and relax. Have him give you some shares too- a few million in dividends every year- a comfortable, free life. What do you think?”

This “dividends without responsibility” path was usually the only way out arranged for black sheep of wealthy families. Ji Lan was saying this to make her son stop fighting. What she really wanted to protect was Qin Zishi’s interests. Ji Mingtang slammed his chopsticks on the table with a loud bang. Qin Huaichuan and Qin Guangyuan’s expressions also turned sour. Qin Zishi gripped his chopsticks, his palms sweating. He had nearly forgotten. Earlier, his mother had texted asking about Qin Qing’s interview results, and he had said some unfavorable things. He had sent the same to his father.

Now that the truth contradicted what he’d said, what would his family think of him? His performance today had laid bare his own foolishness. He had received the best education, the finest resources, yet he couldn’t match Qin Qing’s few months of intensive study. Qin Qing’s talent made him, an otherwise excellent person, seem dull. Wouldn’t his father and grandfather’s favor shift toward Qin Qing? Qin Zishi’s emotions churned, jealousy burning, but he dared not show it.

He lowered his head, face red, and whispered awkwardly, “Mom, Qin Qing was hired.”

“What? Qin Qing was hired? Impossible!” Ji Lan still refused to believe.

“Yes, I was hired. Thanks to Qin Zishi’s great influence, President Cang let me into the legal department out of respect for him.” Qin Qing put a piece of broccoli in his mother’s bowl.

He knew his mother watched her figure every day and couldn’t eat anything too greasy.

“Ah, I see. Then you should thank Zishi. See how much he looks out for you.” Ji Lan brightened.

But she didn’t notice; aside from Qin Qing, whose lips were slightly curved, every man at the table had an expression uglier than the last. Qin Zishi’s flushed face turned purple, burning with shame, wanting to disappear on the spot. When would Qin Qing ever let go of that “great influence” joke? Qin Huaichuan and Qin Guangyuan cast dark glances at Qin Zishi. They couldn’t help but feel disgust toward this adopted son.

Saying good things about Qin Qing was out of the question; hoping for his failure was Qin Zishi’s true thought. He had simply trusted too much in credentials and underestimated Qin Qing’s abilities, leading to this embarrassing situation.

Ji Lan happily put a piece of fish in Qin Zishi’s bowl and said gently, “Seeing you brothers support each other makes me happy. Zishi, you’re better educated and more capable than Qin Qing. At the company, you must help him.”

“Heh…” Qin Qing picked up a pea and suddenly chuckled softly.

Qin Zishi shot a quick glance at him, his face burning as if scorched. Every word his mother said was a poisoned barb to him. So Qin Qing didn’t even need to speak to cause him endless shame and torment!

“Mom, Qin Qing got the job on his own merits. I didn’t help him. I’m probably not even as capable as he is.” Qin Zishi was forced to admit this cruel reality.

It was agonizing, like a knife to the heart. The suppressed inferiority and panic surged up endlessly. Sitting in his chair, Qin Zishi felt as if he were on a torture device.

“I know his abilities well enough. The legal department isn’t even a good department anyway,” Ji Lan muttered.

She still refused to acknowledge her biological son’s excellence.

Ji Mingtang couldn’t hold back any longer. He slammed the table and shouted, “I regret being too busy with work back then to raise you properly. Look at how you’ve turned out, unable to distinguish close from distant. You think the legal department is just any place? Do you even know who heads the legal department? It’s Xu Yizhi!”

Ji Lan was stunned. She only knew Xu Yizhi was Lanyu’s second-largest shareholder, not his specific position.

“Do you know how Xu Yizhi made his fortune?” Ji Mingtang demanded angrily.

Ji Lan shook her head blankly. She only knew Xu Yizhi and Cang Ming were practically equals.

“Xu Yizhi made his fortune through mergers and acquisitions. In over a decade of work, he’s never failed. Whoever he sets his sights on gets devoured. Can you afford to provoke someone like that? Cang Ming may seem unapproachable, but he’s upright. Xu Yizhi’s methods are completely different. If he set his sights on the Qin family, it could go bankrupt and restructure overnight, becoming one of his holdings the next. What makes you think he’s on equal footing with Cang Ming? How much do you think Qin Zishi’s influence is worth in his eyes?”

Ji Mingtang slammed the table, scolding sentence by sentence. Ji Lan was too ashamed to lift her head. Qin Zishi’s face flushed red.

Ji Mingtang looked at his grandson, softening his expression, and said earnestly, “Your choice was right. Working alongside Xu Yizhi, you’ll learn in one year what others can’t in ten. Be smart, be cautious, and learn well from him.”

Qin Qing nodded silently.

Ji Mingtang’s worried expression quickly lightened. He said confidently, “My grandson is so smart. He’ll definitely earn Xu Yizhi’s trust. If he doesn’t like you, it’s because he’s blind!”

Qin Qing covered his teary eyes and laughed softly, “Grandfather, you really love me too much.”

Ji Mingtang’s cheeks reddened slightly, then he laughed heartily, “You’re my grandson; if not you, who else?”

His eyes darkened, fixing coldly on Qin Zishi. “If you want to compete, do it within the Qin family’s little domain. Don’t covet the Ji family’s wealth. I’ve already revised my will. You get nothing from the Ji family!”

Qin Zishi looked up, his face pale.

Ji Lan shrieked, “Dad, what are you saying? Zishi is also your grandson! You watched him grow up!”

Ji Mingtang pressed his lips together, his expression cold. For various reasons, he had never felt close to this grandson.

At that moment, Qin Guangyuan also spoke slowly: “Zishi, just focus on working at Lanyu. Back when you graduated, I asked you to join the family business as management. You refused. You said you wanted independence. I respected that decision then. I hope you’ll stick to it now.”

What did that mean? His heir status had been revoked? Qin Zishi looked at his grandfather at the head of the table in a daze, then turned to his father in panic. After several incidents, the answer to whether his biological son was worth cultivating had already formed in Qin Huaichuan’s mind. If even Xu Yizhi thought highly of his son, why shouldn’t he? If a few months of intensive study could bring him this far, how much potential did he truly have?

With a biological son to inherit the business, why would he hand the Qin family to an outsider? Especially since Qin Zishi had been frequently buying things for Shen Mingshu and Qin Bao’er lately. Giving him the family fortune would only benefit those scheming women.

Thinking this, Qin Huaichuan said flatly, “Lanyu is an international company with far better prospects than Qin Corporation. Zishi, just stay at Lanyu. Qin Qing, learn well from President Xu, then come back and help your father in a few years.”

And so, before the battle of succession even truly began, Qin Qing had already won. Cang Ming had given Qin Zishi a zero for his performance. Now Qin Huaichuan had done the same. An heir with no vision, no decisiveness, and only petty schemes would only lead the family business to ruin. 996, who had come downstairs after finishing its dried fish to check the plot’s progress, happened to hear this pronouncement. It collapsed onto the floor and fiercely pressed its paws into its own philtrum.
“Damn it, that’s the death of me. Has the plot really gotten this chaotic?”

“Qin Qing, hurry up and buy me some oxygen tanks. I need oxygen.” 996 called out weakly.

Qin Qing pressed his lips together to suppress a smile. However, to Qin Zishi, his smile was the cruelest form of mockery. If he could, Qin Zishi would have flipped the table and stormed out. But having already lost everything, he could only suppress his overwhelming shame and anger, sitting there stiffly. He had to endure. As long as he could stay in the Qin family, he could find a way to make his father and grandfather change their minds.

Ji Lan’s eyes reddened as she cried out, “Dad, Huaichuan, this isn’t fair. Zishi was raised by us with our own hands. How can we treat him like this?”

Qin Qing’s heart suddenly split open with a bleeding wound. An unbearable pain washed over him. This wasn’t his own emotion. It was the remnants of the original owner’s soul burning out. Perhaps this was the real reason the original owner had left early. He had two mothers, yet neither of them loved him.

Qin Qing closed his eyes briefly, then spoke in a hoarse voice: “I stayed in the Shen family for over a decade. No bedroom, no books to read, no one to care for me. Was that fair?”

Ji Lan, who had been ready to argue for Qin Zishi, suddenly fell silent.

Qin Qing looked directly at her and asked, “Do you think I received fair treatment?”

Ji Lan had no answer. She knew what kind of life her son had lived. She couldn’t call it fair. She couldn’t even call it treatment befitting a human being.
Qin Qing stood up and slowly wiped his hands with a napkin, his voice heavy: “Mom, you want to compensate Qin Zishi for the unfair treatment he’s received. But have you ever thought about compensating me? Can you give me a little more of your care? Can you give me a little more of your attention? Can you give me a little more of your love?”

Ji Lan fell into an extremely awkward silence. She couldn’t. Ultimately, her heart still favored the child she had raised with her own hands. Twenty-five years of mother-son bond, no one could replace that.

Qin Qing shook his head slowly, smiling bitterly: “Mom, you see, that is the greatest unfairness of all.”

With that, he turned and left. Ji Mingtang shot a vicious glare at Qin Zishi and Ji Lan, then chased after him.

Qin Guangyuan and Qin Huaichuan were silent for a moment, then spoke in unison: “Zishi, you should move out.”

The chopsticks in Qin Zishi’s hands clattered onto the table.

996 was stunned for a moment, then raised its paws helplessly and shouted: “Give me a tank of oxygen. Quick. I’m suffocating.”