Chapter 17: Living Together? Cohabitation?

Seeing Song Tao appear, Ye Binglan felt a headache coming on and for the moment could not spare a thought for Chu Tian.

"Young Master Song, don't joke like that. You know perfectly well my elder sister's temperament. How could she possibly bring a kept man back to the company?" Ye Binglan forced a smile, thinking only of how to gloss over the situation.

"Haha! I knew Qingxue would never fancy another man. As expected, it's all nonsense. She can only ever be my woman." Song Tao threw his head back in laughter, his voice tinged with narcissism.

Yet before his laughter had faded, an untimely voice interjected.

"Sorry, I'm the kept man you were just talking about!"

Chu Tian's sudden remark instantly cast a pall over the atmosphere.

Song Tao's laughter stopped abruptly, his face turning dark as he finally noticed Chu Tian standing nearby.

"Chu Tian, don't talk nonsense here. You're just the new employee my sister brought in, definitely not her kept man," Ye Binglan said anxiously, turning to glare at Chu Tian and desperately signaling him with her eyes.

But Chu Tian ignored Ye Binglan completely.

"Binglan, some things can't be concealed. Why should we deceive this guy?" Chu Tian sighed, as though he were an honest man simply speaking the truth.

Ye Binglan's face stiffened, realizing there was no way to smooth things over now. She thought Chu Tian was courting disaster.

"Boy, what did you just say?" Song Tao gritted his teeth, interrogating him as if he were a criminal.

"The relationship between Qingxue and me is none of your concern, and you have no right to ask," Chu Tian replied with a faint smile, disregarding the threat in Song Tao's eyes.

"Kid, perhaps you don't know who I am yet. I'm the heir of the Song family from Tianmen!" Song Tao narrowed his eyes, revealing his identity in an attempt to intimidate Chu Tian.

"The Song family of Tianmen?" Chu Tian remained indifferent, turning to Ye Binglan. "Binglan, is this family so impressive?"

"Hahahaha! So it turns out you're just a clueless fool," Song Tao retorted, his tone full of arrogance. "Let me tell you, the Song family supplies all the raw materials for Qingxue Group's cosmetics. In other words, the fate of Qingxue Group is in my hands."

"If you dare to make things difficult for Qingxue Group, I won't hesitate to wipe out your entire Song family."

Chu Tian smiled calmly, uttering the most domineering words in the most tranquil tone.

At this point, the situation had developed beyond Ye Binglan's ability to mediate. She sighed and refrained from saying another word.

"Boy, you want to destroy the Song family?" Song Tao's expression darkened and he shouted, "That's the funniest joke I've ever heard. Do you think you represent Qingxue Group? Bring out Liu Qingxue—I want to see if she'll stand up for you, if she dares to!"

"Who's looking for me?"

At that moment, the elevator doors opened again, and Liu Qingxue appeared before them.

The conflict between Chu Tian and Song Tao in the lobby had already been reported to Liu Qingxue.

Song Tao tossed aside the roses in his hand, demanding, "Qingxue, you're just in time. What exactly is the relationship between you and this guy?"

Originally, Liu Qingxue intended to clarify that there was nothing between her and Chu Tian, but faced with Song Tao's aggressive questioning, she changed her mind.

"The relationship between Chu Tian and me is none of your concern. Who are you to question me?" Liu Qingxue's face grew cold, her reply echoing Chu Tian's earlier words.

Neither had discussed their response beforehand, yet they spoke in perfect unison.

"You..." Song Tao was momentarily lost for words.

He and Liu Qingxue were merely business partners, not lovers, and indeed had no right to interrogate her private life.

"Don't forget, Qingxue Group owes its current success to the Song family's supply of medicinal materials. If the Song family cuts off the supply, Qingxue Group will collapse immediately," Song Tao said, his expression grim and his anger mounting.

"If you wish to cut off the supply, that's your choice. But this is the territory of Qingxue Group. I don't want to see you here causing trouble anymore," Liu Qingxue answered, unmoved. Her pride would not allow her to be threatened.

Moreover, Chu Tian was her junior disciple, and he had just saved her—there was no way she would repay kindness with betrayal.

Her words caused a stir throughout the lobby.

No one could have imagined that Liu Qingxue would risk offending Song Tao, a supplier, for the sake of a kept man.

Such behavior was truly reckless!

The Song family was Qingxue Group's largest supplier of medicinal materials; if they stopped supplying, Qingxue Group would be forced to the brink.

Liu Qingxue was usually a calm and wise CEO, so why would she make such a foolish decision over this man?

It seemed to confirm the old saying: once a woman is blinded by love, there's nothing she won't do.

Even someone as clever as Liu Qingxue, the ice-cold CEO, could not escape this fate.

"Xiao Tian, pay him no mind. Come with me," Liu Qingxue said, ignoring Song Tao and leading Chu Tian away.

Seeing this, Song Tao could no longer restrain his rage.

"Wretch! You always feign innocence in front of me, and now you keep a man right before everyone. I swear I'll make you regret this!" Song Tao, furious, stomped the roses he'd thrown to the floor.

"Young Master Song, though I don't approve of my sister's actions, I will not tolerate anyone insulting her," Ye Binglan said darkly, issuing a command: "Security, escort this lunatic out. I don't want to hear any more nonsense."

At her words, Qingxue Group's security guards immediately surrounded Song Tao, ready to usher him out.

"Fine, fine! Liu Qingxue, Ye Binglan, I'll remember you both. Just wait..." Song Tao stormed out, seething with anger.

...

Qingxue Group, underground parking lot.

"Sister, it seems I'm not really suited to stay at your company," Chu Tian said from the passenger seat, rubbing his temples.

"Are you afraid Song Tao will retaliate?" Liu Qingxue asked.

"I'm not afraid of Song Tao. It's just that everyone thinks I'm your kept man, and I don't want to tarnish your reputation," Chu Tian replied, shaking his head, concerned solely for her sake.

"Alright. Tomorrow is Qingxue Group's IPO launch. At such a sensitive time, I don't want any unnecessary complications."

"If you don't wish to join Qingxue Group, we'll put that matter aside for now."

"But the doors of Qingxue Group will always be open to you!"

Liu Qingxue gripped the steering wheel, turned to look at Chu Tian, and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"By the way, why don't you move in and live with us?"