Yu Zhiqiu glanced at He Mingliang, then quickly returned his gaze to the curly-haired young master.

In a gentle voice, he asked with concern, “You didn’t get splashed, did you, Wendong? Here, turn around and let me check.”

Qi Wendong—the Qi family’s new young master—recovered swiftly from the sudden fright.

After a courteous “Thank you, I’m fine,” his eyes held a trace of puzzlement and inquiry as he looked at Yu Zhiqiu.

Yu Zhiqiu noticed the expression but didn’t react outwardly.

He moved Qi Wendong behind him, frowned, and raised his voice at You Lie—the eldest young master of the You family—who was striding over from the other side of the hall:

“You-ge, looks like something—or someone—that shouldn’t be in your hotel’s staff slipped through.”

Yu Zhiqiu deliberately spoke loudly enough for the entire room to hear.

By then, You Lie had already rushed over. “Sorry, so sorry—Little Qi, did it get on you?”

Then he spun, eyes blazing, and glared at the server.

He Mingliang immediately picked up the thread with a furious tirade:

“Are you blind? Don’t know how to carry a tray? Didn’t see Little Qi sitting right here? What’s your name? Who’s your supervisor? Don’t bother coming back tomorrow—take your supervisor with you and get out. The Himalayas Hotel doesn’t keep trash like you!”

The server, full of apology and unease, hung his head and murmured, “I’m sorry,” “Yes, yes,” repeatedly apologizing to Qi Wendong.

Before Qi Wendong could respond, Yu Zhiqiu smiled and said to You Lie, “You-ge, if you ask me, I’d say a rival planted a mole in your group.”

Unhurried, he added, “An ‘accident’ at an event like this—what else is it if not a deliberate attempt to make Wendong resent your family’s brand?”

You Lie’s expression shifted at once.

He grabbed Qi Wendong’s hands, about to speak, but Qi Wendong beat him to it.

“Don’t worry, You-ge,” he said calmly. “I won’t be bothered by such a low-grade trick.”

He smoothed his collar, eyes drifting toward the server.

“But a ‘spy’ who pulls stunts like this probably isn’t just unfit for the Himalayas Hotel, is he? If he slips into another arm of the You family, who knows what damage he might cause.”

The Qi young master’s tone stayed warm and even, without a trace of temper.

But at those words, the server, who had been huddled and apologizing, panicked.

He jerked his head up, flustered. “Young Master! I wasn’t—”

“Quiet!!” You Lie snapped, voice cracking like a whip.

The server froze, utterly lost, and his pleading gaze drifted—instinctively—to one spot.

Following that gaze, Qi Wendong lifted his eyes and locked onto a table deep in the hall.

Three people sat there.

The organizer of the event, the blue-floral youth, and a spectacled young master.

Most of the room was watching the commotion—among them the organizer and the blue-floral youth, both looking up toward Qi Wendong.

Only the spectacled young master had his head down, cutting a piece of steak.

Sensing the odd mood in the room, he glanced up, puzzled.

The moment he did, his eyes met Qi Wendong’s.

He paused, dipped his chin in polite greeting, and offered a friendly smile.

The system: “Host, is that him? In the original, this third You son loved pulling shady tricks!”

Lin Chen: “Heh.”

Holding the spectacled youth’s gaze, Qi Wendong spoke lightly to You Lie. “Of course, if your younger brother is unwilling, forget it.”

He did nothing to muffle his voice.

The spectacled youth’s expression tightened—just a fraction.

A few scattered “oohs” rippled through the hall.

You Lie’s face went dark instantly.

He didn’t need to investigate whether Qi Wendong had named the right person—nine times out of ten, it was his dear brother at it again.

Drawing a breath, he told the server, enunciating every word, “Wendong is right. From today onward, none of the You family’s businesses will hire you. Out.”

The server’s face collapsed. “No—Young Master—no—”

Security from both sides of the hall swept in, hauling him away without a moment for pleading.

Deeper in the hall—

“Wow,” the blue-floral youth murmured, impressed. “Sharp thorns on that one.”

“Composed under pressure, decisive in action. Good,” Li Yunhui said, chin propped in appreciation.

The blue-floral youth crossed his legs, ornaments chiming. “Worth befriending.”

Li Yunhui made no comment. He flicked a glance at the spectacled You Siyin and whispered, “You’ve been marked~”

You Siyin’s smile had gone stiff. He sipped wine, working to steady himself.

Airily, he said, “It’s fine. I’ll find a chance to apologize. But compared to me… someone else must be fuming right now.”

…

At the same time as the banquet, Qi Xiuyi was “participating” from home via a sort of live feed.

He was not enjoying himself.

Or rather—

Aside from a brief interlude, his mood had steadily nosedived.

And ten minutes ago, it plunged off a cliff.

[Qi-ge, that guy’s here.]

[XXA, XXB, XXC went up to talk to him.]

[XXD, XXE, XXF, XXG went up too.]

[…also went up.]

[He’s pretty good at socializing, huh. Qi-ge, did he prep beforehand? Wow—names on point, even their preferences—kind of impressive!]

[…He Mingliang went over. Tsk tsk, they’re hitting it off.]

[Hiss—Qi-ge, Zhiqiu-ge went up too… whoa, a server spilled soup on him!]

[OMG, Qi-ge, Zhiqiu-ge pulled him away—h-he dodged it!]

[Wait—Qi-ge, isn’t Zhiqiu-ge always with you??? You—you didn’t tell him you wanted that guy to get a little embarrassed at the party???]

…As if.

Didn’t tell him?

Ha.

The first person I—called—was—Yu Zhiqiu!!!

He’d known Yu Zhiqiu since their teens.

All these years, if they didn’t “wear the same pants,” they at least bought the same ones.

They partied together.

Got chewed out together.

Snuck out at night under house arrest to vent and complain.

He had always considered Yu Zhiqiu a confidant, a brother.

And he had always believed Yu Zhiqiu saw him the same way.

Otherwise, why would Yu Zhiqiu support him so much while his father’s funds were frozen?

Hundreds of thousands—nearly a million—lent without hesitation, essentially his “petty cash” these past months—no IOUs!

If that wasn’t absolute trust, Qi Xiuyi wouldn’t believe it!

But…

How?

How could Yu Zhiqiu, knowing he planned to make a move, help Qi Wendong at a time like this?!!

Huh?!!

Outside Qi Xiuyi’s room, two servants were stationed, as always.

Suddenly, they heard another crash of smashing and thumping inside.

The short-haired servant rolled his eyes in secret; the long-haired one took a breath and, forcing gentleness, called through the door, “Young Master…”

“Get out!!! Leave me alone!!!”

The furious roar came through, but the long-haired servant picked up the faintest hitch—like a sob—beneath it.

She blinked, wondering if she’d misheard.

Hesitant, she whispered to the short-haired one, “Did you hear… is the young master… crying?”

The short-haired servant pursed his lips. “Impossible! You know what he’s like—what kind of temper he has. Even with Mr. Qi punishing him like that, he never sheds a tear. How could he…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

From inside, a tiny sound of weeping.

The weeping thickened into choking sobs.

Then louder, and clearer.

His throat couldn’t hold it back—at last, the person inside burst into full-throated wailing.

The short-haired servant stared, stunned. “Th-this…”

After fumbling for words, he managed in a whisper, “He… he didn’t cry the day before yesterday… why cry today…?”

The long-haired servant gazed at the door, full of pity, and sighed. “I guess the young master… finally realized what’s real.”