Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 661: "Welcome to the family son,"

"You two will not see each other until the wedding," Wen Qinxi declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Both families agreed."

Qie Xieling’s protests were muffled against Qie Ranzhe’s back, his words of dissent lost in the fabric of his father’s jacket. "This isn’t fair!" he managed to say, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief.

But his father was resolute, carrying him out of the condominium, leaving behind a stunned and confused Luo Muchen. "My phone!" yelled Qie Xieling and his dad hastily walked over to grab the phone on the coffee table. For a moment he couldn’t tell the phones apart because they were the same. The only difference was the phone cases.

"Welcome to the family son," he said with a smile so bright you would think he had won a Grammy.

"Thank you," he said his voice barely audible as he struggled to process what had just happened. Wen Qinxi caught up with her son and husband at the elevator. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

When the elevator doors opened Qie Ranzhe put him down. He was certain that Qie Xieling wouldn’t run back now. "This is ridiculous Dad. Why can’t I see him?" asked Qie Xieling as his dad gave him back his phone.

"You two will spend the rest of your lives together so what is two weeks? Actually nope it’s one week and six days. It’s not that long," he said and Qie Xieling mumbled his dissatisfaction.

His father didn’t say anything the entire time. He was just standing there staring at the numbers flashing on the display panel like he was going to eliminate them from existence.

When they got home the house was quite noisy. His grandmother was probably on their second bottle of wine and his uncle was playing a game with Machu while drinking beer. Airen was bringing over snacks as they entered the room.

"Congratulations cutie Lin," said Airen while pinching his cheek with her calloused fingers.

The entire room turned around when they heard her say that. "Oh, my poor baby has grown up. Nana is so happy. Come here and give me a guy," said Nana Qie as she got up in a hurry. Qie Xieling was hugged till he couldn’t breathe.

"My turn, move over," said Grandma Wen. When she hugged him she said something telling.

"When you go to your mother-in-law’s you should be obedient, okay?" she said.

Qie Xieling, "..."

’Excuse me? Who was going where?’ he thought before Machu almost swept him off his feet.

"I am so proud of you. If he bullies you you know where to find me. I will set him straight," said the good old doctor who would break the code of medical ethics for him.

Qie Xieling, "???"

"Give me that," said Wen Danzhe taking his phone. Before he could say anything his phone was replaced by another one, "Your father’s orders. Congratulations Lin Lin." After taking his phone his uncle dared to hug him tightly. Qie Xieling felt like he was having an unreal dream. What the hell was going on?

His dad passed him a glass of wine and led him to the couch to sit down next to him. Qie Xieling took a sip in a daze. He couldn’t even hear what his dad was saying. It was only when his dad placed his hand on his shoulder that he came back to himself.

"... I am surprised you are taking this well," said Wen Qinxi and Qie Xieling who had no idea what he said asked,

"Take what well?"

"Your father picking you up after classes for the next two weeks. You will go to the company with him till you get married. Don’t be mad at him. He just wants to spend more time with you," he said and Qie Xieling felt emotional for some reason. He glanced around looking for his father but he wasn’t there.

He thought he would return soon but after half an hour of waiting it became clear that he wasn’t coming back anytime soon.

He got up to look for him. The celebratory sounds of laughter faded in the background as he stepped outside. The biting chill breeze made his flushed cheeks cool down a bit. It seemed to sober him up a little.

His steps were silent against the marble floor as he walked toward the faint light in the secluded part of the estate.

He knocked softly on the heavy wooden door, the sound seeming too loud in the quiet of the night. He pushed the door open and peered inside.

His father was sitting in the embrace of an overstuffed armchair by the window. The glow from the table lamp cast shadows across his face, revealing a somberness that Qie Xieling had rarely seen. A glass of whiskey sat untouched on the side table, its amber contents reflecting the light like captured fire.

He walked over quietly making sure not to disturb him. When he saw what his father was holding in his hands Qie Xieling’s steps halted. He was carefully holding a faded paper mache he clumsily crafted when he was a kid. It was a Father’s Day gift he made for him and he had worked extremely hard on it too.

Qie Ranzhe’s eyes were distant, lost in thoughts that seemed to weigh heavily on him. The lines on his face spoke of a silent struggle, a battle between the joy of his son’s future and the nostalgia of the past.

"Xi Xi, why are you sneaking arou—," he said only stopping abruptly when he saw who it was. "Oh, it’s you."

"You sound disappointed," replied Qie Xieling his voice gentle. He sat down next to him not sure what to say next.

Qie Ranzhe chuckled softly before taking a sip. "Your dad is the only one who usually comes here so I thought it was him," he said and Qie Xieling nodded his head that he understood. He wasn’t allowed here alone when he was a kid because he drew stick figures on a million-dollar painting. To this day the family of six stick figures was still there reminding him of his crime. His father was angry at the time but he still didn’t get it fixed. That’s because he said it made the painting even better.

Qie Xieling smiled thinking about it. "You still kept that?" he asked looking at the terrible paper mache.

"You think I would throw away anything you made for me? I kept everything," he said pointing at the cabinet in the corner.