Two hours ago.
Dusk was coming, and the conference room was still filled with a stagnant atmosphere. The discussion was at an impasse. The staff who spoke oozed fine sweat from the forehead, and from time to time he looked at the handsome man in the main seat with the afterglow.
When the second obvious long-term stuttering appeared in the speech, the man interrupted: "That's all?"
His expression was still warm, but his eyes were stern, and the invisible pressure made people breathless.
The employee immediately bowed his head nervously and apologized: "I'm sorry, Mr. He, it's my problem..."
In the anxious ending, the screen of He Xiao's mobile phone next to the notebook lit up.
He caught a glimpse of the name of the caller and quickly picked up.
A familiar voice came from the receiver.
"Brother, are you busy today? Do you have to work overtime? I must go home for dinner tonight. I have something very important to say--"
He Xiao listened to his brother's nagging, his eyes softened, and he responded, "Okay."
When he hung up the phone and looked around the cautious subordinates in the conference room, he said lightly, "The meeting is over."
The secretary beside him immediately picked up his notebook. Before He Xiao, in a suit and leather shoes, got up and left, leaving only a plain sentence, "Call me next time when you are ready."
After seeing the boss walk out of the conference room, everyone finally breathed a long sigh of relief, and the employee who had just spoken wiped his sweat and collapsed on the back of the chair.
Fortunately, Mr. He's brother's call came in time.
Almost everyone thinks so.
Although they could not hear Mr. He's phone, from his behavior of answering the phone in the middle of the meeting, and the slight changes in his demeanor, these outsiders could accurately guess who called.
He Xiao, who usually became fierce and made a career at a young age, had a very good relationship with his only brother He Qiao.
In the rich families that are usually full of entanglement of interests and calculations, it is rare for the He family to have a fairly harmonious atmosphere.
Perhaps the structure of this family is particularly simple - his father He Huaili started his business from nothing when he was young. He and his childhood sweetheart, who died young wife, started from a roadside snack shop. Later, he worked alone. After nearly 40 years of ups and downs, he finally became the well-known giant catering giant, Wanjia Group.
There is no intertwined family relationship within Wanjia Group, only He Huaili himself, who sleeps all night, and later his eldest son He Xiao, who is quite business-minded.
He Huaili's other son has not been in the public eye, which is said to be because he is not interested in doing business, but in any case, such a huge family property, no matter how the two brothers divide it, is enough to spend several lives.
In a word, Wanjia Group's business map is huge. He Huaili is busy all day long, leaving not much time for his family. His current wife, Sheng Xiaoyue, is kind and frank, and takes good care of his brothers.
Perhaps the eldest brother is like a father, and He Xiao, who is ten years apart, has a very close relationship with He Qiao.
This is a story that everyone knows.
A story that makes sense and can't be mistaken.
Half an hour later, He Xiao stepped into the house in the twilight and untied his tie.
Today's sunset is pink.
There is a bouquet of fresh pink roses stained with dew on the table, which contrasts with the bright face of Sheng Xiaoyue, who is serving it with scissors.
Seeing that He Xiao came back so early, Sheng Xiaoyue took the initiative to say, "Did He Qiao also call you?"
He Xiao nodded. She was even more puzzled and pointed to the bouquet in her hand: "It was said that it was bought at the flower shop on the way home. Why did he go to the flower shop when he had nothing to do?"
"I don't know." He Xiao asked, "Where is he?"
Sheng Xiaoyue put the pink rose with trimmed flower branches into the vase, and said in a blank tone, "I'm looking through your father's wine cabinet. It's hot as soon as I come back."
He Xiao comforted in a gentle voice, "I'll go and have a look."
When he walked into the cellar, he saw He Qiao holding his mobile phone. He looked at the screen for a while, and then looked at the signs on the wine cabinet, as if he was looking for which bottle of wine was more expensive.
Hearing the movement from the stairs, He Qiao turned his head and immediately said, "Brother, you're back."
"Hmm." He Xiao stood in the middle of the stairs and looked down at him on the steps. "The wine on the top of the first row of cabinets is the best."
He Qiao followed the reputation and took it down carefully: "Can I take it as a gift? Uncle's generation should all like bars?"
"It depends on who you want to send." He Xiao smiled, "What's the important thing today?"
Hearing this question, He Qiao put down the wine bottle and cleared his throat. After brewing for a moment, he solemnly took out something from the pocket of his shirt on his chest.
"I'm married."
The dim light in the wine cellar is faintly dyed with the golden words on the big red cover.
There was a fleeting accident on He Xiao's face.
After a brief silence, he looked at He Qiao's expectant eyes and asked, "with Xiaochi?"
"Right." He Qiao's excitement overflowed, "Brother, you're right. He's a very special person."
He Xiao's subordinates consciously pressed the stair railing and said in a gentle tone: "But you just met yesterday. Why did you decide to get married today?"
He Qiao's action exceeded his expectations.
"I like him." He Qiao's answer was simple and crisp, "So does he."
It shouldn't be this answer.
He Xiao's attitude became more and more patient: "I don't object to you two getting along, but isn't it a little too fast?"
He thought of something and said in a low voice, "Are you two messing around again? Just like losing the bet, so I went to the hospital to draw blood?"
A trace of unnaturalness flashed in He Qiao's expression, and he categly denied it, "Of course not! How could I make a joke about such a thing?"
He Xiao looked at him, and the fingers pressed on the railing gradually relaxed, reminding him in the posture of his brother, "Marriage is not child's play."
It seems that he has found the fragment of the correct answer.
"I know, I didn't tas a child's play." He Qiao lowered his head, "I really like him."
"What about him?"
"So is he." The eyes of the obedient brother in front of him flashed, "He took the initiative to get married."
He Xiao recalled the red-haired young man he had seen in the morning.
To be fair, except for the influence of his background, his brother is obviously gloomy in front of Chi Xueyan.
Just like He Qiao's concern after the blind date: Maybe he is too boring.
But Chi Xueyan took the initiative to be interested in such a He Qiao, and even decided to get married in a hurry.
Strong partners, unequal feelings, hasty decisions, difficult-to-determinate motivations...
Everything will lead to the element of unhappiness.
He Xiao seems to have caught a glimpse of the puzzle that will be slowly filled with time in the future.
So his fingers left the rail, and his voice slowed down: "This is your marriage, and you should decide for yourself. If you think it's right, just do it."
The good-tempered brother habitually indulged him.
"Thank you, brother!"
He Qiao was so excited that he looked up at He Xiao, who was standing on the steps, and pleaded, "Will you help me convince my father?"
He Xiao smiled and did not answer directly, but looked at the bottle of wine that was put aside: "Uncle Chi loves to drink. You are right to send wine."
"Aunt Han is a little superstitious. She has told Xiaochi's fortune, so she asked him to go on a blind date."
"Dad is coming back soon. Don't stay down there too long."
He Xiao turned around and left the wine cellar, and the warm ending dissipated on the cold steps.
For a long time, He Qiao, who stopped in place, picked up the bottle of wine with an expressionless face.
Conceited people often only believe in the answer they want in their hearts, and they are always sure that things will not be beyond control.
It is not too difficult to follow this guideline and deal with the deep-minded He Xiao.
He Qiao walked up the stairs silently, and his clear footsteps echoed in the quiet space.
In the story that he hasn't told Chi Xueyan in detail, the vicious villain Chi Xueyan is not the only one who can't have a good end.
After more than 20 years of naive and stupid days, He Qiao in the story has been indulging in the illusion of happiness deliberately woven by He Xiao, mistakenly seeking his brother's recognition and approval until everything he had in his life collapsed and fell into the abysss unable to turn back.
This is one of his most regretful things before he died.
He Qiao will not let this regret happen again.
Like Chi Xueyan today, he also has to try best to change the fate of destruction.
The night outside the window is deep.
Under the reflection of light pink roses, a surprising dinner was spread out on the table.
Sheng Xiaoyue is very easy to coax. She saw the new car that He Qiao had just bought, which was completely different from the aesthetics of the past. She remembered her son rushing out of the door last night, and the roses she suddenly wanted to bring back tonight. She almost instantly believed in this surging love.
She does not object to this sudden marriage, and even supports her son who is falling in love at the moment - as long as He Qiao feels happy.
Sheng Xiaoyue only complained that He Qiao secretly took away the household registration book without saying a word, which made her miss the important moment when her son received the certificate. Also, she should have come back with Chi Xueyan today.
He Huaili, who rarely went home early for dinner, was different.
He has reached the age of knowing fate. His dark short hair is mixed with a little silver thread. He has just come back from inspecting a factory. His expression is exhausted, but he still listens carefully to his youngest son's story about this ups and downs, especially sitting side by side with his partner, watching the photographer's excitement when he presses the shutter.
After listening, He Huaili didn't say a word. In He Qiao's increasingly nervous eyes, he nodded gently and signaled the family to eat first. His gentle and stern demeanor was very similar to He Xiao.
To be precise, it is He Xiao who looks like him.
He Qiao didn't take two bites and couldn't help saying, "Dad, you won't object to us being together, will you?"
He asked eagerly, so He Huaili had to put down his chopsticks and answer his youngest son in a deliberate tone: "I don't object."
Before He Qiao was happy, he heard his father continue, "But I don't support it."
"I think you lack understanding of each other and should get along with each other for a longer period of time." He Huaili's voice was calm, "The certificate has been received. We can only do this first. As for the wedding, we will consider it later."
He Qiao wanted to say something else, and He Xiao, who had been listening, said.
"Let's eat first. The food is going to get cold." He Xiao gave his brother a dish, "Let's talk about it later."
Immediately, he turned his head to look at his father with a smile, "Dad, I've seen Xiaochi. He's a good young man."
He Huaili didn't say yes or no. He listened to the extremely measured eldest son turn to talking about trivial things in life, and occasionally said a few words.
He Qiao finished dinner in a hurry, took the jade he asked his mother for, and the wine he had chosen before the meal, and was in a hurry to go out.
Sheng Xiaoyue is making a list of books to buy for the housekeeper. Half of them are about how to manage marriage, and the other half are about how parents get along with their married children. Seeing this, she stopped him and said, "What are you going to do?"
He Qiao glanced at his father sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper and coughed lightly, "I ordered flowers and rings, and now I'm going to get them."
Sheng Xiaoyue finally reacted and put on a complaining tone with a smile: "It turns out that the flowers sent to me were brought by the way."
"I was wrong, mom." He Qiao walked out and coaxed her, "I'll buy it for you tomorrow."
"I'm kidding you. Come back early at night." Sheng Xiaoyue looked at his back, thought for a moment and quickly added, "It's okay if you don't come back. Remember to tell your family!"
"I'll be back." He Qiao's last voice came, "Dad, anyway, you don't drink. I only took a bottle--"
He Huaili shook his head helplessly and silently turned to the next page of the newspaper.
The newlyweds couldn't wait to leave the house, and their steps were full of light joy.
His figure was lengthened by the street lamp in the garden, and in the dark night, it was almost rendered into a completely strange shape.
He Xiao stood in front of the window and stared at his brother's back thoughtfully.
Until he walked into the garage, he looked back at the direction of the house, and then raised his hand to his respected brother as usual.
He Xiao nodded in response with a smile.
It's still the innocent and simple younger brother.
The flame-red sports car swayed.
Heqiao picks flowers, takes rings, wraps gifts, and visits the elders who meet for the first time.
Chi Xueyan had a good start, so he decided to continue the play of pretending to be in love.
In the strange Chi family restaurant, the chilled mung bean soup is full of dense and cool sweetness.
After a brief chat with He Qiao for a while, Aunt Han dragged away Uncle Chi, who looked amazing. Aunt Ling finished work and had a rest. The elders tacitly left space for him and Chi Xueyan.
Chi Xueyan, who had just had dinner, thought for a few seconds and invited him: "Would you like to go out for a walk?"
He Qiao heard his gentle voice: "Okay."
The evening breeze outside blows the face, and the heat is sandwiched with repressed humidity, like a silent storm.
After a long day, in the night of the cicadas, He Qiao's heart finally surged with a trace of fatigue.
When facing his family, he pretended to be a completely different person.
When facing Chi Xueyan, you should carefully consider how to deal with the relationship with the dangerous villain.
It is not easy to walk in a strange and complicated story.
He wants to get the support of He Huaili, the head of the family, hold a wedding as soon as possible, and then naturally move out of his home and start a relatively free new life.
The "lover" around him knew nothing about his thoughts, but just looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.
The moonlight like water fell on the tip of his flame-like hair.
"Have you finished them?" Chi Xueyan asked.
He Qiao knew what he was asking and replied, "My father still needs time to accept it."
"So your brother passed the customs." Chi Xueyan also understood what he said and praised, "Awesome."
He Qiao didn't say anything more and stood quietly in the quiet night full of moonlight.
For a long time, Chi Xueyan suddenly laughed softly and looked at him: "Are we accomplices?"
Only accomplices who know each other's secrets and conspire to deceive their close relatives.
He Qiao thought that this seemed to be a more appropriate adjective than a partner.
Without waiting for him to respond, Chi Xueyan asked again, "I remember you said that you don't like men?"
He Qiao nodded gently.
"Then you will work a little harder than me." Chi Xueyan seemed to be thinking about him seriously, "We are all married, and physical contact in front of outsiders is always inevitable."
He Qiao said, "I will cooperate."
"Really?" Chi Xueyan looked at him with interest and said meaningfully, "My parents must be secretly looking at us behind the window now."
He Qiaoxin was fully witchy: "Do you want to hold hands?"
Chi Xueyan looked at his hand, couldn't help laughing, and mocked, "This is a handshake."
He touched Tonghe Qiao's arm, motioned to put it down, and then walked forward: "Let's go for a walk."
He Qiao walked side by side with him on the grass.
The grass under his feet was soft and continuous. At some ordinary moment, a warm warmth surged from the palm hanging on the side of him.
Chi Xueyan bent her eyes to look at him, as if she had found something interesting: "Be patient, just think of it as a friendship between partners."
He Qiao's steps paused slightly, and soon he recovered naturally.
He touched a temperature that seemed to make people breathe for a moment.
So he quietly removed the tight force of his palm and took the initiative to find the gap between his fingers until he interlocked with the ten fingers of the people around him.
Looking from behind, this is obviously a pair of close lovers, with slanted dark reflections snuggled on the road.
Chi Xueyan raised his eyebrows and said, "You learn quite fast."
"What should I call you?" He Qiao looked as usual under the dim yellow street lamp, holding hands with him, and his voice was gentle. "Xiaochi?"