OL CH36

Having dealt with Ji Yirou, Mu Jingming instructed his subordinates that very day to schedule a visit with Chensu Studio.

M Company was renowned in the industry, so whether or not Chensu agreed to an acquisition, they had to grant them this courtesy. Bai Su, however, was somewhat surprised that the visitor specifically asked to see him, rather than Xiao Lei, the registered head of the company.

Although the request was rather abrupt, Bai Su agreed after weighing his options.

Hearing that his little partner—who had explicitly promised to go on a date with him—now had to make a trip to the studio on account of that Mu family brat, Chen Tian was deeply displeased and protested immediately.

Yet Bai Su was simply too good at acting sweet and wheedling; unable to resist, Chen Tian eventually surrendered to a barrage of kisses and cuddles. Even so, he pouted aggrievedly and insisted on tagging along to the game studio.

Due to early budget considerations, Chensu Studio wasn’t located in the city center, instead situated in a slightly outlying district. However, the standalone two-story building had a wonderful environment, where a group of like-minded youths strove happily together.

Because the work was grueling, requiring frequent overtime and late-night system maintenance, the building was equipped with dormitories, showers, and a recreation room.

For the team members, this place felt like a second home; more than half chose to live directly in the dorms, which not only saved on rent but also made work convenient, allowing them to troubleshoot issues around the clock.

Seeing Chen Tian arrive, Xiao Lei and Heipi ran over enthusiastically to greet him.

They had accepted their boss’s relationship with Qin Yichen quite easily.

As kids from the orphanage, they had received immense support from the Qin Corporation. In their hearts, the head of the Qin family was a great benefactor—generous without reservation, impeccable in character and appearance, and keeping a clean record without a trace of scandal.

Though an older man, didn’t people always say older men knew how to dote on someone better?

Xiao Lei had long seen through Bai Su’s feelings for Qin Yichen; now that it was reciprocated, they were mostly just thrilled for their boss.

After exchanging pleasantries with the staff, Chen Tian followed Bai Su into his office.

Watching his little lover bustler around serving tea and washing fruit for him, Chen Tian felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. Wrapping an arm around Bai Su’s shoulders, he planted a kiss on his cheek and chuckled softly: “Stop fussing. Don’t you have to deal with the Mu family rep soon?”

“We were supposed to go out together today… Uncle Qin, I’m sorry!”

At the thought of ruining their very first date, Bai Su felt acutely guilty.

Hearing this, Chen Tian ruffled his hair and rested his forehead against his, consoling him: “Aren’t we out together right now? Just remember to make it up to me later.”

With that, Chen Tian cast a suggestive glance toward Bai Su’s lips, making the boy blush even harder.

Unfortunately, before the freshly minted lovers could get mushy for long, their uninvited guest arrived.

At Bai Su’s insistence, Chen Tian had to stay quietly inside the office, peering through a slit in the drawn blinds as Bai Su went out to the reception room to meet the visitor.

The newcomer was a young man in his twenties, immaculately dressed and seemingly refined and gentle. Browsing casually through his memories, Chen Tian recognized him as Mu Jingming, the youngest son of the Mu family.

For a mere acquisition of a tiny studio, was it really worth a personal visit from him? This stirred some suspicion in Chen Tian’s mind.

Speaking of which, the name Mu Jingming sounded somewhat familiar.

Chen Tian combed through the detailed plotline, only to realize that in the original story, Mu Jingming was quite a prominent villain.

In the original plot, Mu Jingming had a fling with Ji Yirou.

To extract benefits from the Ji family, he had actively seduced Ji Yirou, feigning affection. Egged on by Ji Yirou, Mu Jingming had used proxies to cause plenty of trouble for the female lead, Su Zhaozhao, but unexpectedly became intrigued by the pure and hardworking female lead in the process.

After wringing what he wanted from the Ji family, he tossed Ji Yirou aside and set his sights on the female lead. Employing despicable schemes to sow discord, he had created numerous misunderstandings between the male and female leads. Fortunately, his tricks were unmasked by those around her, and the male lead, Qin Fei, eventually went through considerable effort to reduce him to cannon fodder.

Who would have thought that while Ji Yirou seemed to have faded into obscurity under his own influence, Mu Jingming had resurfaced—and crossed paths with Bai Su.

Chen Tian frowned; this Mu Jingming was bad news.

Out in the reception room, Bai Su, who was conversing with Mu Jingming, felt an equal lack of fondness for the man.

Although the other acted courteously, the way his gaze clung to Bai Su made him feel as though he were being watched by a venomous serpent.

Conversely, Mu Jingming’s impression of Bai Su was overwhelmingly positive. Seeing him in photos, he had only known the youth was attractive; meeting him in person, he hadn’t expected him to be this captivating.

Though he appeared to be a sunny young man, a brief exchange revealed pragmatic and solid substance in his speech. Every gesture held a spark of brilliance; no wonder he had stood out enough to be taken in by the head of the Qin family.

Now, relying solely on his own abilities, he had built Chensu Studio so well. Mu Jingming was certain that in time, Bai Su’s future would be boundless.

His original plan to suppress Chensu vanished completely upon seeing Bai Su and factoring in the Qin family behind him.

If he could win Bai Su’s favor—or even claim the youth for himself—he might extract even greater benefits from the Qin family through him. No, Bai Su alone was already a rare gem.

Mu Jingming had never discriminated by gender; gazing at Bai Su’s fair complexion and sharp, bright eyes, he grew increasingly delighted.

Yet whatever roiled in his mind, he revealed not a trace on the surface. His speech remained gentle and his etiquette impeccable; anyone else would surely have developed a strong liking for him.

“Although we weren’t able to reach an acquisition deal for Chensu, I never expected we’d hit it off so well. Bai, I believe we could be good friends. It’s getting late—how about we grab lunch together during the break?” Mu Jingming asked with a smile.

Bai Su politely shook his head with an apologetic smile. “My apologies, I have some urgent matters to attend to next, so I’m afraid I cannot accept your invitation. Perhaps another time.”

Seeing Bai Su decline so decisively, Mu Jingming didn’t press the matter. However, as he shook Bai Su’s hand upon leaving, he seemingly brushed a finger across the crook between Bai Su’s thumb and forefinger.

Bai Su instinctively furrowed his brows. But catching only a look of pure propriety in the man’s eyes without any overt anomaly, he could only bury the discomfort and politely see him off.

Yet Chen Tian, watching them intently every second, caught the subtle tell. He saw the malicious glint that flickered in Mu Jingming’s eyes when looking at Bai Su.

This set off alarm bells in Chen Tian’s chest, putting him on high alert.

When Bai Su returned to the office, he found Chen Tian wearing an overcast expression.

“Uncle Qin, what’s wrong? Why are you unhappy?” Bai Su hurried over to ask.

“Nothing,” Chen Tian shook his head. “I just have a bad feeling. Seeing Mu Jingming just now, I feel that brat is no good. Xiao Bai, keep your distance from him, and stay on guard in your daily dealings.”

“I got it,” Bai Su nodded. Seeing Chen Tian’s furrowed brow remain tight, inspiration struck, and he leaned in teasingly: “Say, Uncle Qin… you wouldn’t happen to be jealous, would you?”

Seeing the man’s ears flush red at his words, Bai Su’s eyes widened in amazement. He hadn’t expected his usually mature and composed Uncle Qin to actually get jealous over him!

The realization was delightfully thrilling; Bai Su threw himself into Chen Tian’s embrace, nuzzling against his chest like an affectionate puppy.

Chen Tian couldn’t keep his stern face on. Chuckling helplessly, he pulled the youth into his arms and kissed him over and over.

In the days that followed, Bai Su threw himself into the development of the large-scale MMORPG Divine Realm.

Although Chen Tian felt a twinge of resentment over having less time together due to his lover’s hectic schedule, Bai Su was far too sweet-tongued for him to ever stay mad.

Moreover, he recognized his little partner’s drive to prove himself; once he understood that, he didn’t mind as much.

Still, the playful grievances had to be aired, and every kiss or cuddle owed had to be tallied in his mental ledger.

Personnel and funds diverted from the Qin Corporation flowed in, injecting fresh blood into Chensu Studio and serving as their greatest backing.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the semester at B University began. Since game development was at a critical juncture, Bai Su requested a leave of absence for initial military training, only appearing once formal classes started. As soon as classes ended, he would rush straight back to the studio.

After another busy month or so, Divine Realm finally entered beta testing. Even in the testing phase, the large-scale online game earned glowing reviews.

Gameplay footage shared by beta testers went viral across the internet, making Divine Realm the most eagerly awaited title of the year.

Blowing up like this before the official launch was unprecedented for any game, yet it was well within Bai Su’s expectations.

When testing concluded and the servers officially opened, the breathtaking graphics, rich storyline, and immersive gameplay captivated players, making Divine Realm the hottest sensation in the gaming world.

Inside M Company, Mu Jingming loaded up Divine Realm, his eyes full of admiration.

Having operated in the gaming industry for years, Mu Jingming possessed sharp discernment. He had long heard that Bai Su was the lead creator and that eighty percent of the game was his personal handiwork. Although Mu Jingming had known Bai Su was exceptional, he hadn’t anticipated such formidable skill.

He had previously exchanged contact info with Bai Su, and though they hadn’t met in person since, he checked in on him occasionally. Bai Su had remained politely distant, clearly unwilling to have any contact outside of work. Yet Mu Jingming was far from discouraged; on the contrary, his interest in Bai Su only deepened.

Having recently acquired classified files from the Ji family through Ji Yirou, Mu Jingming had been occupied with tearing off a massive chunk of flesh from the Ji Corporation, reaping immense profits. Only now did he have the bandwidth to turn his attention back to Chensu.

He never expected that in such a short window, Bai Su would deliver such a spectacular surprise.

Recalling the detailed background check his men had conducted on Bai Su, he realized the boy wasn’t merely a child taken in by the Qin family.

Gazing at the photographs where Bai Su and Qin Yichen held hands in undeniable intimacy, it was blatantly clear the two were lovers.

Who would have thought the head of the Qin family, a man who had kept himself impeccably pure for years without a single rumor, was now romantically entangled with the youth he had raised?

It seemed this Bai Su was far more alluring than imagined. Only someone like this was worthy of his concerted efforts.

Tapping his fingers against the desk, the image of the youth’s handsome, clean-cut face rose in his mind, and the corners of Mu Jingming’s mouth curled into a smile of absolute acquisition.

In the days that followed, having freed up his schedule, Mu Jingming frequently sought Bai Su out—either visiting Chensu Studio or showing up at B University.

He was clever enough not to confess feelings outright, instead using potential partnerships with Chensu as a pretext. That way, Bai Su couldn’t flatly turn him away, especially since Mu Jingming handled his boundaries adeptly. Given M Company’s clout, even if they didn’t collaborate, it was unwise to offend them.

Mu Jingming could sense Bai Su’s guard against him, which only elevated his esteem for the boy. Later, he used every opportunity to talk shop with Bai Su, putting on the facade of someone who simply admired his talent and wanted to be friends.

The person most disgruntled by Mu Jingming’s clinging was Chen Tian.

With such a sly, treacherous man fixating on his beloved, Chen Tian was practically drowning in vinegar. Whenever he had a free moment, he personally drove Bai Su to and from school and work, leaving Mu Jingming no chance to corner him alone.

Bai Su was secretly thrilled to see his Uncle Qin jealous, resolving in his heart that once the launch stabilized, he would dedicate quality time to his lover.

But plans rarely keep up with reality. Just as the server launch stabilized, B University issued a notice regarding a high-profile academic exchange conference in Country A lasting about two weeks, requesting Bai Su to attend as one of the student delegates.

Bai Su’s entrance scores were beyond reproach; though he spent little time on campus, his peers knew he was the mastermind behind Chensu Studio.

The university regarded him as a rare prodigy and the pride of B University, prompting the department head to personally petition him not to decline.

Faced with such earnest entreaties, Bai Su could hardly say no. Still, the prospect of being separated from Uncle Qin for half a month made him reluctant.

Yet the conference centered heavily on internet finance and technology, offering opportunities to network with industry giants, glean fresh perspectives, and learn cutting-edge skills—prospects Bai Su found genuinely enticing.

Ultimately, under Chen Tian’s warm encouragement, Bai Su agreed to go.

Though it was his first time in a foreign land, Bai Su felt little discomfort. Armed with genuine expertise, he performed brilliantly at the symposium, bringing immense honor to his university. Only one week of the itinerary was dedicated to lectures and seminars, while the second was reserved for collaborative research.

Surrounded by top-tier talent, Bai Su gained substantial insights.

During that first week of study, he worked harder than anyone, hoping to absorb knowledge as fast as possible so he could compress the subsequent research schedule, wrap things up early, and fly straight back to Uncle Qin.

Yet unexpectedly, on the very first day following their collaborative research session, as Bai Su walked back to the dormitory, a female classmate came bounding over with a laugh, patting his shoulder: “By the way, Bai Su, your uncle is in the papers! Did you see it?”

Chen Tian had driven to B University to pick him up numerous times, so quite a few classmates had seen him.

But because Bai Su always addressed him as “Uncle,” and because Chen Tian carried such a commanding, elite aura—clearly much older and established than college students—everyone assumed they were simply a close uncle and nephew, having no clue they were romantic partners.

As CEO of the Qin Corporation, Qin Yichen was a fixture in business magazines, so hearing that his uncle was in the news didn’t strike Bai Su as unusual. He simply offered her a polite smile.

Seeing Bai Su respond, the girl leaned closer, unable to contain her gossip: “So you already know! Then the rumors about the Qin Corporation CEO entering an arranged marriage alliance are true? When’s the wedding date? You’re not going back home only to find yourself with a brand new aunt, are you?”

Hearing this, Bai Su realized something was terribly amiss. His expression changed instantly: “What do you mean by that? What marriage? What aunt?”

“You don’t know?”

The classmate blinked, taken aback by his odd reaction, and immediately handed her phone over for him to see. Bai Su looked down at the entertainment section of the news site, where several candid paparazzi snapshots were prominently featured.

And no matter how blurry the photos were, he recognized the man at a single glance—it was his Uncle Qin!

Walking beside him was a woman. Though only her back was captured, obscuring her face, her figure was graceful and her clothes exquisitely lavish.

In the photos, the woman clutched Chen Tian’s arm intimately. And his usually stern, stoic Uncle Qin was actually wearing a rare, tender smile.