PFC Chapter 1634 Moths to a Flame
Chapter 1634 Moths to a Flame
Dean Zhang had booked a private room in advance, located at the very back on the third floor. Once the door was closed, most of the noise from outside was blocked out.
"Director Qin, please take a seat." Dean Zhang pulled out the chair in the main seat, his face beaming with smiles.
Qin Hao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down readily. Yu Deshui sat down next to him on the left, and Lao Zhao and the other project team members took their seats in turn. On the design institute's side, Dean Zhang sat to Qin Hao's right but deliberately left a seat between them.
Huang Yimei stood at the door, glanced around at the seats, and hesitated about where to sit.
Dean Zhang's eyes darted around, and he patted the empty seat next to Qin Hao: "Xiao Huang, come, come, sit here. You and Director Qin are classmates, young people have common topics, sit together and chat."
Huang Zhenhua's expression immediately changed, and he stood up abruptly: "Dean, Rose can sit next to me."
After saying that, he strode over, pulled out the chair to Qin Hao's right, plopped down, and then beckoned to Huang Yimei, "Rose, sit over there, next to Director Wang."
Huang Yimei was both annoyed and amused by her brother's series of actions.
In this way, Huang Zhenhua became like a wall, firmly separating Qin Hao and Huang Yimei.
The atmosphere in the private room fell into a subtle silence for a moment.
Dean Zhang's smile froze on his face, and his lips twitched.
Yu Deshui lowered his head and drank his tea, pretending not to see anything.
Qin Hao, on the other hand, remained calm, even sporting a faint smile. He picked up the menu on the table and casually flipped through it: "Dean Zhang, what are this restaurant's signature dishes?"
"Ah? Oh, their hand-cut mutton is absolutely amazing." Dean Zhang quickly chimed in, "And their lamb spine, stewed in a rich broth, is incredibly flavorful. If you don't like that, Director Qin, we can have seafood too; their seafood is quite fresh."
"No need, I grew up in Beijing and I really like this kind of food." Qin Hao closed the menu, leaned back in his chair, and glanced casually at Huang Yimei across from him.
Huang Yimei was talking to Director Wang with her head down, her face turned to him, her ponytail hanging over her shoulder, revealing a section of her fair neck. The warm yellow light in the private room illuminated her face, making her features as soft as an oil painting.
Huang Zhenhua noticed Qin Hao's gaze and coughed heavily.
Qin Hao looked away, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and his smile remained.
Not urgent.
Since the project has already been handed over to the design institute, he'll have plenty of legitimate reasons to visit them. Does Huang Zhenhua really think he can keep his sister tied to his belt?
The dishes were served one after another.
The hand-cut mutton was indeed excellent, as thin as paper, changing color in just three seconds in the pot, and melting in your mouth when dipped in sesame sauce. The lamb spine was stewed until tender, falling off the bone with a touch of chopsticks, and the marrow was incredibly flavorful.
Dean Zhang raised his glass: "Director Qin, Deputy Director Yu, thank you for your company's trust in our design institute. On behalf of all my colleagues at the design institute, I toast to you both."
Qin Hao picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Dean Zhang's, and downed it in one gulp.
Dean Zhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him drinking so heartily. He was worried that this young master would be too delicate and act coy at the dinner table, which would make it impossible to negotiate a business deal.
"Director Qin, you have a great capacity for alcohol!" Dean Zhang refilled his glass. "Come on, let me toast you again."
"Dean Zhang, you're too kind." Qin Hao picked up his wine glass and downed it in one gulp.
Yu Deshui watched from the side, his eyelids twitching. He had seen Qin Hao a few times at the company, and in his impression, this young master was just a spoiled brat. He never expected him to be so fierce at the drinking table. He downed half a jin of 52-proof liquor in two gulps, without even turning red in the face or panting, as if he were drinking plain water.
Huang Zhenhua sat beside him, his anger burning ever brighter. So he picked up his wine glass and stood up.
"Director Qin has such a high alcohol tolerance, he shouldn't be short of a drink from me, right?" Huang Zhenhua's voice was stiff.
Qin Hao looked up at him and smiled: "Is Engineer Huang planning to let bygones be bygones with a drink?"
Huang Zhenhua's face darkened: "If you're going to drink, then drink. There's no need for so many formalities."
Dean Zhang kicked Huang Zhenhua under the table, but Huang Zhenhua remained unmoved, his eyes fixed on Qin Hao.
Qin Hao laughed. Huang Zhenhua was trying to take him down at the dinner table and give him a hard time.
interesting.
“Alright, since Engineer Huang has said so, then I shall respectfully comply.” Qin Hao raised his wine glass and clinked it with Huang Zhenhua’s.
They both tilted their heads back and downed their drinks in one gulp.
After finishing his drink, Huang Zhenhua remained expressionless and refilled the bottles for the two men.
"Director Qin, this second toast is to thank your company for giving our design institute this opportunity."
"Of course."
Another cup.
"The third toast is to wish us a pleasant collaboration."
"It's a pleasure working with you."
After three drinks, Huang Zhenhua's face began to flush. But he gritted his teeth and picked up the bottle again.
"Director Qin, this fourth cup—"
The two went back and forth, and Dean Zhang watched with bated breath. Several times he tried to interrupt and persuade Yu Deshui to drink, but Yu stopped him with a look.
Yu Deshui was a seasoned veteran, and he could tell at a glance that Qin Hao's alcohol tolerance was significantly better than Huang Zhenhua's; after drinking for so long, his face hadn't even turned red.
Sure enough, after a few more rounds, Huang Zhenhua started acting strangely.
His eyes were unfocused, he slurred his speech, and his hand holding the wine glass was trembling.
"Come on...again..." He stretched out his hand unsteadily, his five fingers spread open, but his fingers were no longer under his control and could not be curled up.
"Mr. Huang, shall we take a break?" Qin Hao asked with concern.
"Stop...stop what! I...I can still drink!" Huang Zhenhua slammed his hand on the table, knocking over the wine glasses and spilling wine all over the table.
Then his head began to sink, as if weighed a ton, slowly drooping down until it hit the table with a thud and remained still.
There was a two-second silence in the private room.
"Brother?" Huang Yimei called out tentatively.
Huang Zhenhua did not respond.
Huang Yimei stood up, walked around the table to Huang Zhenhua's side, and nudged his shoulder: "Brother, what's wrong?"
Huang Zhenhua made a muffled sound, as if he said something, but no one could understand him. Then he swayed and slid off the chair.
Huang Yimei quickly tried to support him, but Huang Zhenhua was over 1.7 meters tall and weighed 150-160 kilograms. How could a young girl like her support him? The two of them stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
"Brother! Wake up!" Huang Yimei's face turned red with anxiety.
Huang Zhenhua was completely unconscious at this point, groaning incoherently, slumped in the chair like a lump of mud.
Seeing her brother's state, Huang Yimei was both angry and anxious. She looked up at Dean Zhang and said, "Dean Zhang, can you help me? My brother... I can't handle him by myself."
Dean Zhang subconsciously stood up, about to speak, when he suddenly saw Qin Hao wink at him.
Who is Dean Zhang? Having spent decades navigating the complexities of the system, his ability to read people is unparalleled. He instantly understood Qin Hao's meaning.
"Well..." Dean Zhang's expression turned troubled. He clutched his lower back, grimacing as he sat back down. "Xiao Huang, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that my old back... I twisted it while moving flowerpots at home last night, and it still hurts terribly. I really can't muster any strength."
As he spoke, he even rubbed his lower back with great seriousness, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.
Huang Yimei was stunned.
Yu Deshui, watching from the side, chuckled inwardly. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then suddenly exclaimed, "Oops!" and slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot, I have a meeting at the company this afternoon. I need to hurry back and prepare the materials. Old Zhao, have you guys finished eating?"
Old Zhao was a shrewd man; he understood from just one look at Yu Deshui and quickly put down his chopsticks: "We're done eating, Deputy Director Yu, shall we go now?"
"Let's go, let's not delay our business." Yu Deshui stood up and bowed slightly to Qin Hao: "Director Qin, we'll head back to the company now."
After saying that, he called to the project team and fled the private room as if escaping. Old Zhao was the last to leave, and he even closed the door behind him.
The two vice presidents of the design institute and Director Wang of the office also realized what was going on, and they all got up to say goodbye.
In less than thirty seconds, only three people remained in the private room.
Qin Hao, Huang Yimei, and Huang Zhenhua, who was completely drunk and unconscious.
Huang Yimei stood there, looking at the empty private room, then at her brother slumped in his chair, and finally her gaze fell on Qin Hao.
Qin Hao slowly picked up a slice of mutton, dipped it in the pot for three seconds, took it out, dipped it in sesame sauce, and put it in his mouth, chewing it with relish.
"Yes, the lamb here is really good." He nodded and picked up another slice.
Huang Yimei took a deep breath.
She's not stupid.
"Alright, stop pretending." Huang Yimei puffed out her cheeks. "You deliberately got my brother drunk just so I'd ask you for help."
Qin Hao put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and looked up with an innocent expression: "We need to make this clear from the start, I never forced your brother to drink. He was the one who kept trying to get me drunk; I just have a higher alcohol tolerance than him."
Huang Yimei stood up helplessly, looking at her good-for-nothing brother with a mixture of exasperation and amusement: "With such a low alcohol tolerance, you still challenged others to drinking contests. Now you've made a fool of yourself."
"Okay, it was my brother's fault." She turned to Qin Hao, her tone softening. "I apologize on his behalf, alright?"
"That's more like it." Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction and stood up.
He walked over to Huang Zhenhua, bent down, grabbed one of Huang Zhenhua's arms, draped it over his own shoulder, and then, with a straight back, lifted Huang Zhenhua up on his back.
The movements were swift and decisive, completed in one smooth motion.
Huang Yimei was stunned for a moment.
Although her brother wasn't particularly strong, he was still a big man weighing around 150 or 160 pounds. Qin Hao carried him like he was carrying a sack of rice, without even breaking a sweat.
"What are you standing there for? Grab your bag and let's go." Qin Hao turned to look at her.
"Oh, oh." Huang Yimei snapped out of her daze, quickly grabbed her and her brother's bags, and jogged after him.
-
The Huang family.
Huang Jianzhi and his wife Wu Yuejiang were sitting in the living room.
Huang Jianzhi leaned back on the sofa, holding a book in his hands, his reading glasses perched on his nose, engrossed in reading. Wu Yuejiang sat on the other side in a wicker chair, a magazine spread out on her lap, but her attention was clearly not on the magazine; she would occasionally glance up at the wall clock.
It's almost 1 a.m.
"Old Huang, you said Zhenhua and Rose won't be coming back for lunch, and they won't even call?" Wu Yuejiang put down his magazine, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
“The children are all grown up and have their own lives.” Huang Jianzhi didn’t even look up as he turned a page of his book.
“I’m not worried about Zhenhua, but I’m mainly worried about Rose.” Wu Yuejiang frowned. “She just started her internship at the design institute; I don’t know if she’ll adapt.”
"What's there to be uncomfortable about? With her brother around, how could anyone bully her?"
"The Dao is also like this."
Wu Yuejiang picked up the magazine again, but before she could read two lines, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door.
Bang bang bang!
The knocking was urgent and loud, as if something terrible had happened.
Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang stood up at the same time, looked at each other, and both saw a hint of tension in each other's eyes.
Wu Yuejiang walked quickly to the door and opened it.
Huang Yimei stood outside the door, her forehead beaded with sweat, her cheeks flushed, and she was panting heavily, as if she had run a distance.
"Rose? What's wrong—"
Wu Yuejiang's words caught in his throat halfway through.
Because she saw that behind Huang Yimei, a tall young man was carrying her son.
That's right, it's about carrying.
Huang Zhenhua slung over Qin Hao's shoulder like a sack of potatoes, head down, arms hanging limply, swaying with his steps.
"What...what happened?" Wu Yuejiang quickly stepped aside. "Why did your brother drink so much?"
Before Huang Yimei could answer, she helped Qin Hao get Huang Zhenhua into the house.
"Which side is the bedroom?" Qin Hao asked, feigning difficulty.
"This way, this way." Wu Yuejiang quickly led the way and pushed open the door to Huang Zhenhua's bedroom.
Huang Zhenhua's bedroom is small, containing a single bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. The desk is piled with blueprints and design books, and the walls are covered with his own architectural sketches, including the corner tower of the Forbidden City, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven, and several modern buildings, all with smooth lines and solid skills.
Qin Hao put Huang Zhenhua on the bed and made him lie on his side.
Huang Jianzhi followed him in and stood at the bedroom door with a furrowed brow.
"Water...water..." Huang Zhenhua lay on the bed, frowning, mumbling incoherently.
Wu Yuejiang hurried to the living room to pour water. She returned with the water glass, about to hand it to her son, when Huang Yimei intercepted it halfway.
Huang Yimei took the water glass, tilted her head back, and gulped it down in one go. Then she let out a long sigh: "I'm so thirsty."
"This child, why is she even stealing water?" Wu Yuejiang glared at her daughter reproachfully, then turned and went to the living room to pour two more glasses of water.
One cup was placed on Huang Zhenhua's bedside table, and the other was handed to Qin Hao.
"Xiao Qin, have some too. Look at you, you're all sweaty. You've worked hard."
Qin Hao took the water glass, tilted his head back, and gulped it down in one go. Water dripped down his chin, which he casually wiped with his sleeve. "It's nothing, no trouble at all, just a quick task."
As he spoke, his breathing became slightly rapid, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead under the light. The back of his shirt was also soaked with sweat, clinging to his body and vaguely outlining the contours of his back muscles.
He definitely looks very tired.
In reality, given Qin Hao's physical strength, carrying Huang Zhenhua for those few steps would be effortless for him.
He did it on purpose.
There was no way around it; the original owner's reputation was simply too tarnished. If he didn't resort to some cunning tactics, how could Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang possibly lower their guard against him?
Seeing Qin Hao covered in sweat, Wu Yuejiang felt sorry for him: "Sit down and rest, I'll get you a towel."
"Auntie, you don't need to trouble yourself—"
"No trouble at all, just wait here."
Wu Yuejiang turned and went to the bathroom, came out with a clean towel, and handed it to Qin Hao. Qin Hao took it, wiped the sweat from his face, and thanked her.
Huang Jianzhi stood at the bedroom door, looking at his son who was drunk and unconscious on the bed, and then at Qin Hao wiping sweat in the living room. His brows remained furrowed.
"Rose, what exactly happened?" he asked in a deep voice.
Huang Yimei put her water glass on the coffee table and recounted what had happened in a rather irritable manner.
After listening, Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang looked at each other in bewilderment.
There was a few seconds of silence.
"Xiao Qin, I'm so sorry," Huang Jianzhi said first, his tone apologetic. "Our son, even though he's over thirty, is still so impulsive. I'm sorry you had to see this today."
Qin Hao waved his hand, a bitter smile on his face: "Uncle Huang, please don't say that. Actually, it's mainly my fault. I was unreliable before, and my reputation is bad, so it's normal for Brother Huang to have a negative opinion of me."
He spoke these words with sincerity, his eyes were open and honest, and there was even a hint of self-deprecation in them.
Wu Yuejiang hardened her face: "One thing at a time! You didn't offend him, so it's wrong of him to cause you trouble for no reason. When he wakes up, I'll make him apologize to you."
"Auntie, you really don't need to—"
"What do you mean, 'not needed'?" Wu Yuejiang interrupted him. "People should be reasonable. He's a grown man, thirty years old, and still so impulsive. What kind of behavior is that?"
Huang Jianzhi watched from the side, his eyes flickering.
Qin Hao sat for a while longer, drank a glass of water, and then got up to say goodbye.
"Uncle Huang, Aunt Wu, I'll be going now. Brother Huang drank quite a bit, let him sleep a little longer, and when he wakes up, he can drink some honey water to help him sober up."
"Okay, okay, Xiao Qin, take care." Wu Yuejiang saw him to the door. "Come over for dinner another day, Auntie will cook you something delicious."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Qin Hao nodded to Huang Yimei, then turned and went downstairs.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.
Huang Yimei closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh. This afternoon had been incredibly exhausting for her.
Huang Jianzhi walked to the sofa and sat down. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Rose, how did your brother meet Xiao Qin? And why are they drinking together?"
Huang Yimei then recounted the events at the design institute.
After listening, Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang exchanged a glance.
The couple's decades-long tacit understanding is enough with just a glance.
They both saw the same doubt in each other's eyes.
"Rose." Huang Jianzhi cleared his throat. "Go back to work, and ask for a day off for your brother. He definitely won't be able to go this afternoon."
Huang Yimei glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost 1:30. She nodded, picked up her bag, walked to the door of Huang Zhenhua's bedroom, and glared inside.
Huang Zhenhua lay on the bed, snoring loudly.
"Hmph, you were sleeping so soundly, while I was kept awake for ages," Huang Yimei muttered angrily, then turned and left.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the living room for a moment before falling silent.
Only Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang remained in the living room, along with the even snoring coming from the bedroom.
Huang Jianzhi walked to the door of Huang Zhenhua's bedroom, glanced at his son who was drunk and unconscious on the bed, and then gently closed the door.
He sat back down on the sofa, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly frowned.
"I feel like this is too much of a coincidence."
Wu Yuejiang was tidying up the water glasses on the coffee table when he heard this and paused in his actions.
"You think so too?" She looked up, her brows furrowed as well.
Huang Jianzhi leaned back on the sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest in a slow and rhythmic manner.
"Think about it," he said slowly. "The Qin family's company needed a design institute to do planning, and they just happened to choose Zhenhua Institute. And Rose just happened to be interning at that design institute..."
He paused, then looked at Wu Yuejiang: "How many coincidences are there in this world?"
Wu Yuejiang remained silent for a few seconds, placed the water glass on the coffee table, and sat down opposite Huang Jianzhi.
"you mean……"
“He’s clearly after the roses,” Huang Jianzhi said with certainty.
Wu Yuejiang did not refute.
She was also a university professor, having taught for decades and met countless students; her judgment of character was no less than her husband's. She had witnessed Qin Hao's behavior from beginning to end.
That young man is incredibly skilled.
Speak appropriately, act thoughtfully, know when to show weakness and when to shine.
“However…” Wu Yuejiang suddenly smiled, “If that’s really the case, then this Xiao Qin has really gone to great lengths to manipulate our daughter.”
Upon hearing this, Huang Jianzhi's face immediately hardened.
"Why do I hear a hint of smugness in your tone?" He glared at his wife. "Don't forget, this young Qin is no pushover. Aren't you afraid your daughter will be fooled by him?"
Wu Yuejiang did not answer immediately.
She was silent for a few seconds, then looked up and met her husband's eyes.
"Old Huang, putting the past aside, do you admit that Xiao Qin is quite outstanding in many ways?"
Now it was Huang Jianzhi's turn to fall silent.
He leaned back on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, and remained silent for a long time.
Have to admit.
Qin Hao's physical attributes are indeed outstanding. He's 1.85 meters tall, with deep-set, well-defined features and a tall, well-proportioned figure; he exudes an indescribable charisma just by standing there. He and his daughter would be an absolutely perfect match.
As for his family background—given Qin Hao's influence in projects worth hundreds of millions, the Qin family's wealth was far greater than he had imagined. Moreover, Qin Hao's appointment as project director at just over twenty years old at least indicated that he held a position within the family business and was not the kind of marginalized playboy.
As for the inner workings...
Huang Jianzhi recalled his recent interactions with Qin Hao.
Although he dared not say he knew Qin Hao very well, there was one thing he was certain of—this young man was definitely not the kind of brainless spoiled brat.
They might even be smarter than most of their peers.
But the more this happened, the more uneasy Huang Jianzhi became.
A handsome, rich, and intelligent young man who is also a seasoned player in the dating scene is irresistible to any girl.
"No matter what, I still disagree," Huang Jianzhi finally spoke, his tone resolute. "Although Rose has never lacked suitors since she was little, she's never had a serious relationship. She's a complete novice in this area; how could she possibly compete with a seasoned player like her?"
Looking at her husband's serious expression, Wu Yuejiang smiled and shook her head.
"What's the use of your disagreement?" She picked up her water glass, took a sip, and said slowly, "I see how much Xiao Qin cares for our daughter; our daughter might not be able to handle it."
"Hmph." Huang Jianzhi sneered, "Our daughter isn't stupid. She knows it's a pit of fire, why would she jump in?"
"Haven't you heard the idiom 'like a moth to a flame'?"
Huang Jianzhi's expression froze.
Wu Yuejiang put down her water glass, stood up, and walked to the window. Outside, it was a June afternoon in Beijing; the sun was blazing, the leaves of the plane trees shone brightly, and cicadas chirped incessantly in the trees.
“Old Huang, our daughter is all grown up now, and there are some things we can’t control.” Her voice softened. “Deliberately trying to stop her might even backfire.”
Huang Jianzhi opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't find a reason to refute it.
He leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh.
Outside the window, cicadas chirped incessantly; summer was in full swing. (End of Chapter)