GUL Chapter 26: The Bitter Supporting Male Rewrites the Script Online

Cang Ming’s question stunned Qin Zishi. For several seconds, his mind was in complete chaos, unable to think.

“President Cang, what do you mean?” He asked back blankly.

“Your guarantee is worthless to me.” Cang Ming spoke slowly, word by word.

He maintained his consistent coldness. No affirmation, no praise, no encouragement. In front of Qin Zishi, he remained the emotionless Cang Ming.

Qin Zishi felt a sharp pang of hurt. Just as he was about to argue, Cang Ming looked at Xu Yizhi and instructed, “Go there yourself. If there’s a problem, terminate the negotiation.”

Xu Yizhi nodded, then smiled at Qin Qing: “Want to see Europe?”

Before Qin Qing could nod, Cang Ming added, “The political situation there is unstable, with frequent riots. Take more bodyguards.”

Xu Yizhi raised an eyebrow and understood the implication. He shook his head regretfully and sighed, “You stay at the company. It’s too dangerous there. I’ll go alone.”

Qin Qing smiled and nodded, silently accepting his two superiors’ arrangements. The matter was settled, with no consideration for Qin Zishi’s feelings.

Qin Zishi held back as long as he could, then exploded: “President Cang, I negotiated this contract. Why won’t you send me? Do you know how many times I flew to Europe to make this cooperation happen? The conditions there were terrible. I caught malaria once and almost died. I lost over ten pounds in just a few days. I gambled my life on this project. President Cang, why won’t you give me a chance to prove myself, but instead favor Qin Qing so much? Is it because Qin Qing is better looking than me? You believe whatever he says. You shouldn’t be this unprofessional.”

Qin Zishi took a deep breath and gritted his teeth: “I think you know very well why Qin Qing came to Lanyu. Why do you still indulge him? Are you…”

He didn’t dare continue, because he suddenly realized the atmosphere in the office had become terrifying. Qin Qing smiled faintly. Wasn’t his purpose in coming to Lanyu precisely to be a stepping stone for this man? He had simply woken up before sacrificing himself. Cang Ming slowly leaned back in his chair, his eagle-like eyes fixed on Qin Zishi, his dark pupils covered in frost, his chill oppressive.

“Unprofessional?” He spoke heavily. “Let me ask you, how did Qin Qing perform on the interview day?”

Qin Zishi, who had been full of indignation, stiffened.

“Based on his performance, was there any problem with me hiring him?” Cang Ming pressed.

Qin Zishi was silent for a long moment before shaking his head in embarrassment. On the interview day, Qin Qing had indeed defeated his opponent.

“After joining Lanyu, has his performance been excellent?” Cang Ming raised his sharply defined chin.

Qin Zishi had been watching Qin Qing’s performance constantly, not to care for him, but to find fault. But over all these days, Qin Qing’s excellence was plain to see. He shook his head again, his face growing paler.

“Is there a possibility that this contract contains the trap he mentioned?” Cang Ming looked down with cold eyes.

Qin Zishi nodded very slowly and stiffly. That note could indeed lead to the consequences Qin Qing had described.

“Then tell me specifically, where exactly have I been unprofessional?” Cang Ming’s somber tone carried a hint of impatience.

Qin Zishi opened his mouth, but no words came out. Qin Qing’s work performance was flawless. As for his small mistakes, spilling coffee, dropping documents, deliberately falling into someone’s arms, etc., as long as Cang Ming was magnanimous enough, they were insignificant. Even more, Cang Ming seemed to enjoy them somewhat. Public was public, private was private. Cang Ming had always kept them clearly separate. But that was precisely the problem. Before, Cang Ming only had public, no private. Now, Qin Qing had become his “private.” He had private feelings for Qin Qing. Privately paying attention to him, privately treating him leniently, privately protecting him. Qin Zishi couldn’t understand, and even more, couldn’t accept this change. Things weren’t supposed to be like this.

Before he could sort out his tangled thoughts, Cang Ming spoke coldly: “After the investigation is complete, if President Xu finds the project has no issues, I’ll make you the head of the International Investment Department, in charge of this project. Additionally, all overseas investments will be under your control and decision. You’ll be the third-in-command at Lanyu. If President Xu finds problems and needs to terminate the project, then leave Lanyu immediately. You said you’d stake your career. I agree. Is that professional enough?”

Qin Zishi looked up in disbelief. His heart pounded wildly, a mix of fear and ecstasy. Becoming the third-in-command at Lanyu at just twenty-five- what a glorious achievement. What a glamorous life. Even losing all the Qin family’s assets, this deal was a win. When that happened, Qin Huaichuan and Qin Guangyuan would surely shamelessly come to claim him. Ji Lan would boast to all her friends about how outstanding a child she had raised. Everything Qin Qing had taken from him would return. Lanyu’s International Investment Department controlled tens of billions in liquid assets. Such enormous wealth would bring enormous power. Being flattered, fawned over, pursued, and respected would become the norm. Flowers and applause, glory and praise would come rolling in. The thought made his blood boil. Qin Zishi’s head heated up, and he said hurriedly, “President Cang, I accept your arrangement.”

996, hiding under the sofa: “…”

Meow meow meow? Was it hearing things? Just a moment ago it was fine; how did a military order suddenly get issued? Qin Qing leading the protagonist shu astray was one thing, but why was the protagonist top joining in? Were they trying to kill the plot? Could this world still be saved? Would they all end up destroyed together?

Overwhelmed with grief, 996 shed bitter tears, but didn’t dare cry out loud. Qin Qing gently traced his slightly raised lips with his slender, rounded fingertips. He had already guessed that this deal wouldn’t go through. That afternoon, Xu Yizhi flew to Europe. Qin Qing returned to his office and continued working. Suddenly, he felt an itch on his ankle. Looking down, he saw a cat pancake sliding around his feet, making rustling sounds.

“Qin Qing, save me.” 996 begged.

“How?” Qin Qing’s thin lips curved, unable to help but laugh.

“I don’t know. Figure it out. I won’t cause trouble anymore.” 996 blinked its big innocent eyes, making a promise it could never keep.

Qin Qing laughed silently for a while, then went to the warehouse manager and asked for a pump. A few minutes later, 996 was back to its round, chubby self.

It spat out the pump tube and said tearfully, “Qin Qing, we’re really done for this time, meow.”

Qin Qing flipped through a thick Commercial Law book and asked casually, “How are we done for?”

“The plot is done for. If Qin Zishi leaves Lanyu, all the subsequent plots will be butterfly-effected away. The world will inevitably restart, and then we’ll both die, one dead and one injured. A miserable ending. Are you satisfied, you bastard?”

996 grabbed its thick tail and wiped its sad, desperate tears.

Qin Qing was silent for a long time before speaking slowly, “So that project really is a scam.”

996: “Is that the point? The point is that once Qin Zishi leaves the company, the plot will collapse. Once the plot collapses, you’ll die. What are you even trying to achieve?”

996 kept scratching its head, full of confusion and anger.

“Because the person you secretly love doesn’t love you, so you’re rushing to your death? How pathetic are you?” 996 jumped on the desk and roared in Qin Qing’s ear.

Qin Qing flipped through the document slowly, his tone calm: “Without love, I would indeed die.”

996: “…”

After a long pause, 996 murmured in disbelief, “But you don’t look like a love-struck fool at all.”

Qin Qing smiled, his voice soft but helpless: “No, not love-struck. I mean it literally.”

996 was baffled: “Literally? Isn’t that still love-struck?”

Qin Qing didn’t want to explain, so he fell silent.

996 pleaded earnestly: “Qin Qing, what do you really want? Don’t you think you’re living without any purpose now? Going against the plot will get you killed. Do you really want to die? For someone who doesn’t love you, you’re just giving up on life? I look down on you.”

Qin Qing closed the document, a faint smile on his lips, his soft voice carrying a hint of strange mischief: “Everything I’m doing now is, of course, to live. You don’t really think I want to die, do you?”

“Damn it. I can’t understand you anymore. You say you want to live, but you won’t follow the plot. What do you actually want? Just die and be done with it. I’m done with you.”

996 scratched Qin Qing hard with its paw and disappeared in an instant. 996 was missing for half a month. Xu Yizhi had also been in Europe for half a month, with no news yet about whether the project would succeed. Qin Zishi couldn’t sleep every night, anxious. Qin Qing, on the other hand, was performing better and better, receiving several departmental awards. One day, Qin Huaichuan took Qin Qing to a business banquet. The event was high-profile, inviting all the prominent figures in Haishi.

After socializing for a while, Qin Qing found a quiet balcony to rest. The balcony was filled with potted plants, including large clusters of hydrangeas, small marguerites, and patches of monstera and white roses.
Blue, pink, white, green.

Rich, light, deep, pale.

All kinds of flowers competed to release their fragrance toward Qin Qing, making him relax completely.

He had only taken a small sip of champagne when steady footsteps approached from behind. Qin Qing turned around and straightened up: “President Cang, you’re here too.”

If an event of this caliber didn’t invite Cang Ming, it wouldn’t be considered high-class at all. Thinking this, Qin Qing smiled. Cang Ming held a shallow crystal glass, half-filled with amber liquid. A slightly bitter, sweet vanilla scent drifted over. It was probably a high-proof whiskey. Qin Qing breathed in the aroma and felt even more relaxed. Cang Ming walked slowly to stand beside him, following his gaze to look at the night sky. This was the first time the two of them were alone.
996, who had been missing for half a month, suddenly appeared from somewhere and said, “Qin Qing, go seduce Cang Ming. This is another plot point.”

Qin Qing was startled for a moment, then slowly laughed to himself: “You really should be called 996. I’m starting to admire your dedication to work.”

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