BPDSB Chapter 50: President Qin, forced to crawl under the table

The phone vibrated for a long time. Xu Xiliu held it in his hand, stared at the lit-up screen, clicked his tongue, and could not help complaining to Qin Li beside him, whose expression was still somewhat dark: “Your uncle is absolutely seriously messed up. He planted me at your side, was that not just so he could use me to do some shady things that cannot see the light of day? He saw it just now too, knew you brought me over. Now he clearly knows I am stuck by your side and cannot get away, yet he still insists on calling. Is he afraid I will not get exposed?”

“I don’t know what he’s thinking either, using this kind of move where you injure the enemy by a thousand and harm yourself by eight hundred.”

Qin Li heard this and gave a mocking laugh. “This is not the first time he’s done this.”

The phone kept vibrating without stopping, relentlessly. Just listening to the sound was already irritating, let alone the fact that the person on the other end was something thoroughly unpleasant.

Xu Xiliu waited a few more seconds before saying, “But it’s fine that he’s calling. This way, you can listen in as well and hear what he actually wants to do.”

He was referring to the so-called evaluation period the man had mentioned, observing whether he had completely defected.

Now that the villain was calling, he was even willing to share the call content on the spot. Was that not enough to prove his sincerity? It was simply a perfect opportunity.

For a moment, Qin Li did not react to what Xu Xiliu meant. He instinctively wanted to ask, but saw that the young man had already answered the call and put the phone to his ear. He could only shut his mouth and fix his dark gaze on him.

Xu Xiliu let out a “hello.”

Qin Zhangyuan was very displeased, speaking in a sarcastic, yin-yang tone. “Doctor Xu, why did you hang up on my call just now?”

Xu Xiliu had already expected the villain to bring this up, so he replied calmly, “Because Qin Li was still beside me.”

Although Qin Li had previously confirmed that his personal doctor indeed had contact with his uncle who had always wanted him dead, and the young man had admitted it as well, this was the first time he had seen him talk to Qin Zhangyuan face to face. In that instant, his cheeks tensed, displeasure rising in his chest, and he very much wanted to snort coldly. But at the moment he was about to let out that snort, he worried it would interfere with the young man’s phone call, so he forcibly held it back, turned his head away in a huff, and grew even more displeased.

He heard that when his personal doctor spoke to Qin Zhangyuan on the phone, even the way he addressed him had changed. Before, he would always call him Mr. Qin with a gentle smile and warm tone. Now it was just two cold words, Qin Li. So this was how the other party addressed him in private?

Still, hearing his name spoken from the young man’s mouth actually sounded quite nice. If only the tone could be a bit gentler, it would be even better……

Over there, Xu Xiliu’s call continued. After hearing his explanation, Qin Zhangyuan did not take it seriously and continued pressing relentlessly. “Then why can you answer it now?”

Xu Xiliu remained calm. “Because Qin Li has gone to the restroom and isn’t beside me right now.”

Upon hearing this, the Qin Li who could no longer hold it in and Qin Zhangyuan on the other end of the phone let out cold snorts at the same time.

Qin Zhangyuan was momentarily puzzled. Why did his snort have a double echo? Was there something wrong with the phone?

He glanced at his phone and found nothing unusual, so he continued, mixing coaxing with threats in a deliberately inscrutable manner. “Doctor Xu would do best to clearly recognize his own identity and remember who he is working for. That is the most important thing……”

Xu Xiliu directly ignored it, smiling as he responded with a few perfunctory hmms.

Qin Li beside him saw how smoothly Xu Xiliu fabricated lies without even blinking, and grew even more sullen and angry, especially at the line about him going to the restroom. He could not help glaring. Xu Xiliu caught sight of it. While perfunctorily dealing with the old geezer on the other end of the phone who only knew how to paint empty promises, he gently smiled, soothingly patted the man’s shoulder, blinked, and signaled that this was just adapting to the situation, telling him not to be angry.

Qin Li was startled by the light pat. His heart stirred, and subconsciously he grabbed the hand that was still resting on his shoulder and had not yet been withdrawn, drawing it into his palm and gently rubbing it.

Xu Xiliu froze, his gaze surprised.

But seeing that the man did not look angry, he relaxed. He let him hold his hand however he wanted, while he himself focused on dealing with the strange and troublesome Qin Zhangyuan on the other end.

He asked, “Then Mr. Qin, what exactly are you looking for me for right now?”

He did not believe that the villain had called just to say this kind of repetitive nonsense. He guessed that probing whether he was still loyal was one aspect, and on the other hand, the man probably needed him to do something.

Sure enough, as soon as he said this, Qin Zhangyuan stopped his long-winded speech and asked, “Why did Qin Li bring you here?”

Xu Xiliu thought for a moment and said, “His health is not good. There is a chance something could go wrong at any time, so no matter where he goes, he brings me along, just in case.”

He deliberately leaked a bit of false information to the other party, suggesting that although the man looked fine now, he was actually weak inside. It would confuse him somewhat and also serve as a patch-up for the last call.

Qin Zhangyuan heard this and gave a half-smile that was not quite a smile. “Is that so? Then my nephew really trusts you now?”

Xu Xiliu replied modestly, “It’s thanks to Mr. Qin’s care.”

Qin Zhangyuan said coldly, “Doctor Xu makes it sound so good, but why do I see him today looking so energetic, just like he isn’t sick at all?”

Xu Xiliu did not panic in the slightest and softly sighed. “There’s a term called a last flash of brilliance. I’ve been strictly following what Mr. Qin instructed me to do. Besides, men are all like this. It’s a matter of pride. No matter how bad their body is, they can’t let outsiders see it. Even if they have to put on an act, they have to put on a good show. In reality, at home, he can’t even finish half a bowl of food.”

Qin Li beside him stared with his eyes wide open.

What did he mean by pride?

What did he mean by not even being able to finish half a bowl of food?

In a daze, Qin Li was transported back to the days when his personal doctor had said he was weak.

But there was nothing he could do to stop the young man from talking. He could only stand to the side with a darkened face, grinding his teeth, while lowering his head to viciously knead and squeeze the other party’s fingers to vent his anger.

Xu Xiliu and Qin Zhangyuan went back and forth, responding move for move. The crisis gradually eased.

Later, Xu Xiliu was getting a bit impatient and was just about to make the excuse that Qin Li was coming back and hang up, when he suddenly heard the villain on the other end suspiciously pop out another question. “I’ve been on the phone with you for so long. Qin Li didn’t notice?”

He froze for a moment, his mouth moving faster than his brain as he continued fabricating. “He’s constipated. He won’t be coming out anytime soon.”

Qin Li beside him: “……”

So angry it turned into a laugh.

Qin Zhangyuan raised his brows. “Is that so.”

“Since that’s the case, I’ll come find you. There’s something I need to tell you. Where are you right now?”

Xu Xiliu’s eyes widened slightly. He was confused about what the villain was trying to pull this time, but he still gave his location. “At the buffet counter.”

Only then did he belatedly realize that Qin Li was still standing beside him with a dark expression. If the villain came over, would the two of them not end up facing each other directly? That would not do. He immediately added, “How could I trouble Mr. Qin to come over personally? It would be better for me to go to you instead……”

“No need. I’m nearby. I’ll be there in a moment. Just wait where you are.”

After saying that, he hung up, not giving Xu Xiliu any time to react at all.

Xu Xiliu stared at the call-ended screen in a daze.

When it finally sank in, he was completely stunned.

What was wrong with this villain, acting on a whim like this?

He hurriedly put away his phone and grabbed Qin Li, his voice turning urgent. “Did you hear that? Your uncle is coming over!”

“…I heard.” Not only that, he also heard that he was weak, that he was not up to it, that he could not finish even half a bowl of food in a meal, that he was constipated, and a whole pile of other black material.

Qin Li fixed Xu Xiliu with a pair of sinister dark eyes.

“You heard it and you’re still standing there? Hurry up and find a place to hide. Qin Zhangyuan will be here any second!” Xu Xiliu was anxious to death.

On the phone, everything was fine. He could fool the villain however he wanted, since the other party could not see him. But once the other party came over and they were not prepared, if the villain directly saw Qin Li still at his side, would he not immediately realize he had been lying?

Although he was not worried about blowing his cover with the villain right now, Xu Xiliu also did not want to do it so soon. Who knew what that lunatic villain might do?

He anxiously looked around and found that the area near the buffet counter was spacious and open, but there were not many places to hide. The decorative large flower vases were big enough, but with a tall Qin Li behind them, it would still be too cramped. They could leave immediately, but the villain had just said on the phone that he was nearby and would probably arrive very soon. Leaving in a hurry at this moment might very well result in them running straight into him.

Xu Xiliu looked at Qin Li, who was standing there without moving at all, and said irritably, “Don’t just stay silent. Hurry up and think of somewhere you can hide.”

Qin Li scoffed when he heard this. “Why should I hide? If he comes, he comes. What do I have to be afraid of?”

Xu Xiliu almost rolled his eyes at him. “We agreed not to give ourselves away!”

A proactive, carefully planned defection and a sloppy, full-of-holes defection were completely different concepts. Since he had already chosen to do this, Xu Xiliu naturally preferred the former.

He glanced at the man who was standing there stubbornly, face dark, gripping his hand and refusing to move. He pressed his lips together, stopped bothering with him, and went to look for a place to hide someone on his own.

A strong sense of danger surged up in his heart. Xu Xiliu’s expression tightened, feeling that the villain was about to arrive at any moment. His gaze rapidly swept around the surroundings, finally settling on the buffet table in front of him. His peach-blossom eyes lit up.

Running farther away now was too late. This buffet table was just right. It was long and large, hollow underneath, with a long velvet tablecloth hanging down that could cover the bottom. It was a perfect piece of cover.

It was just a bit unfair to a tall Qin Li with long arms and long legs.

But who cared about that!

Xu Xiliu was delighted and hurriedly reached out to push the man.

Xu Xiliu looked at Qin Li, who was standing there without moving at all, and said irritably, “Don’t just stay silent. Hurry up and think of somewhere you can hide.”

Qin Li scoffed when he heard this. “Why should I hide? If he comes, he comes. What do I have to be afraid of?”

Xu Xiliu almost rolled his eyes at him. “We agreed not to give ourselves away!”

A proactive, carefully planned defection and a sloppy, full-of-holes defection were completely different concepts. Since he had already chosen to do this, Xu Xiliu naturally preferred the former.

He glanced at the man who was standing there stubbornly, face dark, gripping his hand and refusing to move. He pressed his lips together, stopped bothering with him, and went to look for a place to hide someone on his own.

A strong sense of danger surged up in his heart. Xu Xiliu’s expression tightened, feeling that the villain was about to arrive at any moment. His gaze rapidly swept around the surroundings, finally settling on the buffet table in front of him. His peach-blossom eyes lit up.

Running farther away now was too late. This buffet table was just right. It was long and large, hollow underneath, with a long velvet tablecloth hanging down that could cover the bottom. It was a perfect piece of cover.

It was just a bit unfair to a tall Qin Li with long arms and long legs.

But who cared about that!

Xu Xiliu was delighted and hurriedly reached out to push the man.

“Quick, quick, hide here. Squat down and get in!”

“…What?” Qin Li was shocked.

“How can this place hide someone?”

It was short and small. Did he seriously want him to squat inside??

Qin Li, who had been raised in comfort and privilege since childhood, had never done something like this. Even his gaze was full of disbelief.

He stood stiffly in place, his entire body spelling out resistance.

He said stiffly, “Not going.”

“Of course it can hide you. Hurry up. I feel Qin Zhangyuan is about to arrive. This place is the closest and most convenient. No need to run. Just be a little wronged, be good.” Xu Xiliu soothed softly, but his movements were decisive and swift without a second thought.

Seeing that the man was still standing there unmoving, he simply went hands-on. With one forceful push, he pressed the unprepared Qin Li down, then manually helped him adjust into a better position. While urging him on, he lifted the tablecloth and stuffed him inside, finally saying, “Shh. Don’t make a sound later. Come out only when I tell you to.”

After that, Xu Xiliu straightened the hanging tablecloth. Seeing that half of the man’s arm was still exposed, he even stretched out his foot and kicked it inside.

Under the table, Qin Li’s body stiffened. Maintaining that wronged, crouched posture, he glanced at the arm that had just been kicked, his expression turning even more incredulous.

This little fox actually dared to treat him like this?

He even kicked him??

With his foot???

If he had gone in even a bit slower just now, that kick would have brushed right across his face!

Qin Li ground his teeth, his face so dark it could merge with the pitch-black underside of the table.

At this moment, after finishing all of that, Xu Xiliu straightened his body, smoothed the wrinkles in his clothes, and adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose that were slightly askew.

The next second, Qin Zhangyuan’s figure appeared from the entrance.

He turned around and put on a perfect smile.

Qin Zhangyuan rolled over in his wheelchair at an unhurried pace, his gaze cautiously surveying the surrounding arrangements. He found nothing out of the ordinary and did not see the figure of his nephew either. Still, he frowned, his tone unpleasant. “Why are you in a place like this?”

“There’s food.” Xu Xiliu gestured to the half-eaten items behind him. “The desserts here are quite good. Would Mr. Qin like some?”

“No need. Let’s get straight to business.” Seeing the half-eaten food, Qin Zhangyuan thought for a moment about the timing. It seemed the other party indeed had not lied, so he waved his hand, his expression impatient.

Xu Xiliu maintained a gentle, polite smile.

“In a couple of days, there will be a cruise banquet. There will be many people at this banquet, all figures with status and standing. Many media outlets will also be on board. I will find a way to get Qin Li there as well. You don’t need to worry about that. What you need to do is increase the dosage of the medication, make his body worse and his mental state poorer, and then have him suffer an episode during the banquet. Do you understand?”

Qin Zhangyuan stared at him intently.

Xu Xiliu’s expression did not change at all upon hearing this. Instead, he asked, “Then Mr. Qin, will you be attending in person?”

Qin Zhangyuan said arrogantly, “It’s not convenient for me to go. You just mind your own part.”

“I see.” Xu Xiliu understood and nodded lightly.

Seeing that he obediently agreed, Qin Zhangyuan snorted. With the serious matters finished, his whole demeanor softened again, revealing that fabricated air of refined scholarship. If not for the lingering gloom in his eyes and the chilling words he had just spoken, simply looking at his well-maintained face with a hint of handsomeness, one might truly believe he was a gentle, kind, handsome middle-aged man.

Qin Zhangyuan started his routine empty promises again. “As long as Doctor Xu understands, once my unruly nephew is taken care of, you can have whatever you want. I’ve heard Qin Li’s temper isn’t that good. Doctor Xu must have suffered quite a bit during this period, right? It’s fine. Everything will be over soon……”

Under the table, Qin Li listened to the young man’s clear, pleasant voice responding perfunctorily from time to time, contrasted with his damned uncle’s hoarse, duck-like voice cursing him. He was holding it in so hard that the veins on his forehead were about to pop.

Even though he was not doing anything right now, he still felt an inexplicable sense of stifled humiliation, like he was sneaking around doing something shady.

So much so that as he crouched underneath, he could not help clenching his fists.

Xu Xiliu listened to the villain’s long-winded speech until his ears were almost growing calluses. If the villain were not just painting empty promises with words here, but instead had slapped down a huge check and told him to go all out, Xu Xiliu thought he might not even dislike him as much as he did now.

The gentle smile on Xu Xiliu’s face was about to crack. Thinking that the man suffering under the table was probably about to lose patience as well, he weighed his words and interrupted the villain before he could continue drawing his big cake. “I think Mr. Qin should leave soon. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be good if someone notices later.”

He deliberately added, “It’s already been almost ten minutes.”

Qin Zhangyuan also realized the issue. He cut off his speech, casually added a line about Doctor Xu doing a good job, then left with the anticipation of Qin Li’s imminent public disgrace.

Only then did Xu Xiliu let out a sigh of relief.

He thought to himself that the villain had finally left. Even the fake smile on his face was about to fall apart.

After watching Qin Zhangyuan’s figure disappear from sight, he turned back around, bent down, lifted the drooping velvet tablecloth, and grasped Qin Li’s hand inside, trying to pull him out as he spoke softly, “He’s gone. You worked hard. Are you okay now……”

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Xiliu suddenly heard a familiar voice calling him from behind. “Doctor Xu!”

His body jolted. Some instinctive reaction surged up from his body, prompting him to fling the hand he had just grabbed back inside. Subconsciously, he even stretched out his foot and kicked the person farther in. Then he dropped the tablecloth back down in one motion, straightened up again, and put on a perfect smile.

Inside, Qin Li: “……???”

He looked at the hand that the young man had decisively flung away, then at his shoulder where he had been kicked again, a faint shoe print still left on the suit. His dark eyes widened in disbelief once more.

…He actually did it again!

Outside, Zhang Li rushed over, panting.

“Doctor Xu, are you alright? I just saw Qin Zhangyuan come over from outside,” Zhang Li explained.

He had originally been following Xu Xiliu to ensure his safety. Earlier, when his boss brought Doctor Xu over to the buffet area, Zhang Li glanced in, saw that his boss and Doctor Xu seemed to be getting along well, and tactfully did not go in to act as a third wheel. Instead, he stayed outside to keep watch and give instructions to the others.

Who would have thought he would spot Qin Zhangyuan.

After all, his boss and that man were sworn enemies.

He hurried over anxiously, but only saw Xu Xiliu alone. Zhang Li froze for a moment and asked in confusion, “Where did President Qin go? Wasn’t he with you just now, Doctor Xu?”

Xu Xiliu replied succinctly, “I’m fine.”

“Mr. Qin went to the restroom. He’ll be back soon.”

“I see.” Zhang Li scratched his head. He had been planning to report this to his boss. “That’s a relief then. I thought something had happened. Earlier, when I saw President Qin with you here, I was afraid of disturbing you two, so I didn’t come in…”

Xu Xiliu was puzzled when he heard that.

Disturb them?

What was there to disturb?

Then he remembered the man still suffering under the table, who had been just about to come out, only to be forced back in again because of an accident.

He thought, if you do not leave soon, your boss is really going to put this on your tab.

Zhang Li was completely unaware. Seeing the drinks on the buffet table, his eyes lit up. He came over and quickly downed a cup. “There are drinks here. I was dying of thirst. I don’t dare drink the alcohol outside, but drinks are fine…”

Xu Xiliu watched this big, clueless guy pace back and forth right where Qin Li was crouching. The half of a leather shoe sticking out underneath visibly stiffened, then was awkwardly and wrongedly pulled back in. He could not help laughing.

There was no way he could let Qin Li come out right now. Qin Li himself probably would not want to either. Being seen by a subordinate crawling out from under a table would be humiliating. And he was an extremely proud and stubborn person. He definitely would not allow himself to lose face like that. In fact, when Xu Xiliu had shoved him in earlier, it had all been done while the man was off guard.

It would be best if there was not a single person around when he came out. Only then would that petty and thin-skinned man feel a bit more comfortable.

Xu Xiliu could already imagine the man’s darkened expression when he emerged and could not hold back a laugh.

He quickly reined it in and found an excuse to send the clueless Zhang Li away. “Ahem, well, Mr. Qin just said for you to go over there for a bit and keep an eye on Qin Zhangyuan.”

Xu Xiliu casually named a direction.

Zhang Li nodded, drained the rest of the drink in his cup in one go, and wiped his mouth boldly.

“Alright.”

Then he hurried off again.

Only after Zhang Li’s figure disappeared did Xu Xiliu turn back with an apologetic expression. He lifted the tablecloth and pulled the man underneath out.

“Sorry, sorry. Are you okay? I panicked just now and shoved you back in…”

Qin Li looked disheveled, his handsome face dark. Holding onto the young man’s hand, he awkwardly bent low and crawled out from under the table. Hearing this, he let out a cold laugh.

But just as he was about to stand up, his leg went weak and he dropped straight down onto one knee.

This startled Xu Xiliu badly. He hurriedly grabbed him. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Qin Li’s face turned even darker. Keeping his body stiff, he ground his teeth. After a long moment, he spat out two gloomy words.

“…My leg’s numb.”

Damn it.