I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 18

Chapter 18: Qingbao’s Tip

“You sit up here. Get some experience.”

Thus spoke the great CEO Huo Li, who had already gone bankrupt.

Chu Qing: “…”

Chu Qing asked sincerely, “CEO Huo, may I ask, what was the reason for your bankruptcy before?”

Huo Li asked, “What do you think?”

Chu Qing replied with the same sincerity, “It must be because CEO Huo, you were too much of a rogue, too naughty, and had too many lovers, so you weren’t focused on work.”

“Tsk.” Huo Li rubbed his chin. “Our Qingbao… has learned to be bad.”

He even learned how to be sarcastic.

Huo Li reached out and beckoned to Chu Qing.

“Qingbao, come here.”

Chu Qing looked at Huo Li, puzzled.

“Come here.” Huo Li’s eyes were smiling, looking countless times gentler than usual.

Chu Qing obediently walked over to the piano.

“Mr. Huo!”

The next moment, he was pulled into Huo Li’s arms and sat down on his lap.

“Mr. Huo…”

“Our Qingbao even knows how to tease me now,” Huo Li said, holding Chu Qing by the waist and planting a light, fleeting kiss on the hair by his ear. “Hmm?”

“I… I’m sorry…” Chu Qing’s face instantly flushed red. He curled into a ball and said nervously, “Let me down…”

“I like it very much.” Huo Li took Chu Qing’s wrist and gently placed it on the piano keys. “Play for me,” he said in a low voice.

“I…”

“Be good, Qingbao. I want to listen.”

Chu Qing’s voice was like a mosquito’s buzz. “Can you let me down?”

“Shh,” Huo Li’s voice was also very quiet. “You play first…”

Chu Qing’s hands were trembling a little.

Right now, he was sitting on Huo Li’s lap!

And Huo Li was sitting on the piano bench, in front of the piano.

The piano had always been sacred to Chu Qing, but at this moment, with the two of them so ambiguously close, Chu Qing even felt a sense of sacrilege, a transgression against music.

With his head bowed, Chu Qing said in a trembling voice, “N-No…”

“I’m not doing anything to you, am I?” Huo Li said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Why do you look like I’ve bullied you terribly?”

With one arm around Chu Qing’s waist, Huo Li gently tapped the tip of Chu Qing’s nose with his other hand. “Little one, your thinking is wrong. You won’t be able to play ‘Red Gauze Shadow’ like this.”

In truth, Huo Li also couldn’t bear to see Chu Qing struggle so much with the song’s emotion.

As a musical creator, Chu Qing wasn’t stupid. He understood what the song was about and could grasp its emotions, but he just… couldn’t let go.

Perhaps it was due to introversion or fear, or perhaps it was because of his long-term seclusion. Maybe it was the first time he had to do something like this. In any case, Chu Qing just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Although Chu Qing didn’t say it, he naturally wanted to present this song well with all his heart.

Huo Li decided to give him a push.

When Huo Li mentioned “Red Gauze Shadow,” Chu Qing immediately lost his nerve.

Huo Li rested his head on Chu Qing’s shoulder, able to smell the scent of milk in his hair.

So fragrant…

Chu Qing shrank his head, his ears about to bleed. Better to get it over with, he thought, and quickly began to play.

Even in this situation that was driving him crazy, Chu Qing’s fingers could still subconsciously find the correct keys, playing the smoothest melody with the most perfect touch.

The first note flowed from his fingertips. Halfway through, this time it wasn’t just Chu Qing himself; even Huo Li could feel the difference.

Chu Qing felt that everything was a mess.

His fingers were completely out of control, his mind was in chaos, and he couldn’t feel anything.

Huo Li couldn’t hear it, but Chu Qing could hear the subtle mistakes.

It was no longer perfect, and some parts were even too rushed.

It wasn’t just the music that became rushed; Chu Qing’s breathing did too.

Because of Huo Li. His hand was kneading the small of Chu Qing’s back, slow and deliberate.

Huo Li’s touch was very light, very subtle, but it sent goosebumps all over the sensitive Chu Qing’s body.

But Chu Qing had a principle of finishing a piece once he started, so he could only grit his teeth and endure, trying to pour strength into his fingers.

When it came to the part that required singing, Chu Qing steadied his voice and began. However, he couldn’t hold the final notes. His voice was soft, as if he were suppressing something, and it wavered unsteadily.

The hand behind him also made it impossible for him to concentrate.

After finally hitting the last note and finishing the performance, Chu Qing was nearly exhausted. He had wanted to struggle to his feet, but when he tried, he found that his body, from his waist to his legs, had gone soft.

“Qingbao’s waist is very sensitive.”

“…” Chu Qing’s hands were trembling a little.

Looking at the pale Chu Qing, Huo Li frowned and pinched his ear. “Scared silly?”

“My legs, my legs are weak…” Chu Qing was about to cry.

Huo Li was stunned.

Chu Qing was about to explode on the spot.

Huo Li remained perfectly at ease, in complete control, but Chu Qing, after all, was sitting on his lap and could naturally feel his breathing growing heavier and a subtle change in a certain place.

God knows how he had managed to perform under these circumstances.

Beast! What a beast…!

But Huo Li was still holding him tightly, and Chu Qing had no strength to struggle.

Chu Qing was uncomfortable, and so was Huo Li.

“Qingbao… you’re teasing me again,” Huo Li’s voice was hoarse.

“I’m not!” Chu Qing finally found his strength, struggled to his feet, and looked at Huo Li, for once, a little angry.

Both of their breaths were a little ragged.

Finally, Huo Li stood up and moved to the side. “I was wrong.”

Chu Qing pouted.

This Mr. Huo… he was always like this, acting like a rogue first and then apologizing.

Seeing Chu Qing glaring at him, puffed up with anger, Huo Li’s heart beat a little faster.

He felt like he had really shot himself in the foot. He had wanted to tease Chu Qing, but had instead been teased to the point where he couldn’t fight back.

They stood on opposite sides, facing each other for a moment. Huo Li raised his hand. “I’ll leave first.”

Chu Qing naturally knew what Huo Li was going to do and looked down at his own feet.

After Huo Li left, Chu Qing finally let out a sigh of relief and patted his own face.

Oh my god…

Chu Qing forced himself to calm down and opened the recording he had just made on his phone.

He listened for a moment, but the more he listened, the more ashamed he felt.

The music was lighter and more rushed than usual, and the singing…

“…”

Just now, Chu Qing had been focused on playing and singing. Listening to it now, he realized his voice… was very suggestive.

Chu Qing covered his face, feeling utterly mortified.

No wonder Huo Li had reacted that way.

Chu Qing wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it. He had only been touched on the waist, so why couldn’t he keep his composure?

The only good thing was that Chu Qing had probably finally grasped the mood of the song.

Chu Qing practiced for a little while longer, then turned and went back to his dorm room.

“…Oh my god,” An Yize said, clicking his tongue in amazement. “Why is your face so red?”

“…Is it very red?”

“Just look in a mirror and you’ll know,” An Yize said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. “Whoa, looks like you had a good nightlife.”

Chu Qing hurriedly clarified, “I was just, I was just practicing ‘Red Gauze Shadow’…”

“Huh? You practiced ‘Red Gauze Shadow’ and ended up like this?” An Yize laughed. “Then what are you going to do during the public performance? Play ‘Red Gauze Shadow’ on stage and make your face turn red?”

“…” Chu Qing thought, So was Huo Li helping me release myself and explore my feelings?

An Yize also pointed out, “You’re just too uptight.”

“I’ll work hard,” Chu Qing said, taking a deep breath. He thought that Huo Li was right. As a musician, he naturally had to be able to handle any style of music. How could he be limited just because the style was different?

So, before going to sleep, Chu Qing sent a message to Huo Li on WeChat.

Chu Qing: Thank you, Mr. Huo.

Huo Li: ?

Chu Qing: /smiley face

Huo Li: Payment for services and thank you fee.

Huo Li felt extremely wronged. He clearly had a sponsor, yet he still had to rely on his own hand.

Before Huo Li could send “let’s video call,” he received a red envelope with one hundred yuan.

Huo Li: “…”

So fcking practical.*

With a blank expression, Huo Li clicked to accept it, then sent Chu Qing two hundred yuan.

It was a password-protected red envelope, one that Chu Qing could only claim after saying the phrase.

—Huo Li, come to my room and serve me immediately.

Chu Qing: “…”

Please read less of those kinds of novels…

This overbearing CEO’s kink… no one would believe it if he told them.