"The CEO Wants to Add Me as a Friend?!"
[Calm down! What are you freaking out about? It was just a smile! Get a grip!]
"One minute—time's up!"
Tang Keyi practically fled from Qin Zhiyan's gaze, relief flooding him.
Luckily, the alcohol had already painted his cheeks pink, masking any further flush.
While Tang Keyi struggled to hide his fluster,
Qin Zhiyan remained as composed as ever—outwardly, at least.
This game...
isn’t bad.
But his approval vanished the next minute.
Qin Yilin, drawing a block with vengeance in mind, declared:
"Praying for ‘Make out with someone for ten minutes’!"
He squinted at the text:
"Kiss the second person to your left."
Second to the left?
That would be—
"Tang Keyi! I volunteer!"
Qin Yilin started to rise, only to freeze under two scalpel-sharp stares.
He turned.
Qin Zhiyan was smiling at him.
The kind of smile that said,
Try it and die.
Qin Yilin instantly surrendered.
"Nope! I’ll drink!"
Later, under Qin Zhiyan’s laser glare,
another Qin cousin "accidentally" toppled the entire Jenga tower—
losing the game but secretly relieved.
When the boss wants you to lose, you lose.
As midnight approached, the group gathered by the floor-to-ceiling windows,
counting down to the fireworks over the river.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
The city’s grand clock tower mirrored the numbers on its screen.
"Three, two, one—Happy New Year!"
The sky erupted in color.
Han Qiuqiu and Tang Keyi snapped selfies, backs to the spectacle.
Later, curled on a sofa, Tang Keyi edited the photos.
Qin Zhiyan sat beside him.
"What are you doing?"
"P-tuning for my We's Moment post."
Tang Keyi clarified,
"Not for me, obviously—for the others."
[I’m naturally flawless. Who needs edits?]
[...Okay, maybe a tiny touch-up. Barely counts.]
"You took photos with everyone."
Qin Zhiyan’s tone was deceptively light.
"Why not me?"
Tang Keyi paused, studying Qin Zhiyan’s dead-serious expression.
[Is he... feeling left out?]
[Kinda cute???]
"President Qin,"
he teased,
"want a selfie?"
"Yes."
They leaned in.
"One, two, three—cheese!"
"Now edit mine too,"
Qin Zhiyan ordered.
[Wow, who knew he was this vain?]
Tang Keyi zoomed in, hunting for flaws—and failed.
[This face is unfairly perfect.]
[...Though mine’s slightly more perfect.]
Qin Zhiyan: Pot, meet kettle.
After adjusting the lighting, Tang Keyi showed the result.
"Good?"
Qin Zhiyan barely glanced.
"Send it to me."
"Oh. Right—we’re not contacts."
They’d always communicated via calls.
Qin Zhiyan pulled out his phone and flashed his QR code.
"There. Now send it."
Once saved, Qin Zhiyan eyed Tang Keyi’s draft post.
"Are you posting our photo?"
"Huh?"
[What’s gotten into him tonight?]
"Post it,"
Qin Zhiyan said, steel beneath the casual tone.
"But..."
Their relationship was already the subject of gossip.
A joint photo would fuel endless speculation.
"Am I not part of tonight? Why exclude me?"
Tang Keyi could’ve sworn he heard hurt in that voice.
[I’m hallucinating.]
[Qin Zhiyan doesn’t do hurt.]
"Fine, fine. Posting."
He added the photo.
[Might as well own it. People will talk anyway.]
The moment he hit send, a like and comment appeared—
from Qin Zhiyan.
His profile was just his name.
His comment: Happy New Year.
Then, softly beside him:
"Tang Keyi. Happy New Year."
The voice was winter pine and jade chimes.
Tang Keyi turned, his smile a blend of ethereal charm and mischief.
"President Qin, Happy New—"
Darkness.
Not just the room—the entire city’s lights vanished.
Qin Zhiyan’s voice cut through the sudden chaos:
"Stay where you are. Don’t move."
"Keyi!"
Han Qiuqiu’s panicked shout came from across the room.
"Where are you?"
"Don’t move, Qiuqiu!"
Qin Yilin held him back.
"It’s too dark—you’ll fall!"
No moonlight pierced the overcast sky.
The blackness was absolute.
Qin Zhiyan frowned.
Why isn’t Tang Keyi responding?
"He’s next to me,"
he called.
"He’s fine."
Silence from Han Qiuqiu.
Qin Zhiyan turned, whispering:
"Tang Keyi?"
No answer.
Not aloud.
Not even in his thoughts.
Something was wrong.
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