Huh? Are villainous bosses this easy to flirt with?

Chapter 182 Brother Qing, wait for me!

Zhao Lei raised an eyebrow and ignored him, then turned to Xie Qing and said, "Teacher Xie, join my team. My ball skills are better than his."

"Bullshit, don't spout nonsense. When have I ever been worse at basketball than you?!"

"Your performance is inconsistent; I'm much more consistent than you."

"Stable my foot! They're clearly not as good as me!"

"..."

The two were like two elementary school students locked in a fierce battle, exchanging words back and forth, neither willing to give an inch, their intense stance suggesting they were vying for the title of world number one.

The volume of each sentence, rising higher and higher, crashed through the air like sharp pebbles rubbing against each other. Xie Qing, caught in the middle, felt her ears ache from the friction.

"I prefer playing solo and I'm not used to playing in teams. If you really want to play together, you can try finding other people."

The obvious rejection was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the two's enthusiasm to continue the "debate".

Zhao Lei felt a little regretful, while Bao Xin's expression immediately darkened, but he still tried to force a smile, "Well, then I'll go ask the others."

……

After a satisfying meal, everyone set to work according to the plan laid out at the table: some wanted to go back to rest and said goodbye, while most others, still wanting more, agreed to go upstairs to the billiards room for a game.

As Xie Qing walked along the corridor and turned a corner, he suddenly heard someone call his name. He stopped and turned around, but didn't see anyone.

Director Mi Qiwu looked puzzled when he suddenly stopped. "What's wrong?"

"nothing."

Xie Qing shook her head and was about to leave when the shouts she had just heard became clearer and more urgent.

"Brother Qing..."

"Brother Qing, wait for me."

That voice...it sounds so familiar...it's Tao Tao!

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a small figure, like a yellow lightning bolt, suddenly darted out from around the corner and pounced straight into Xie Qing's arms.

Tao Tao practically clung to Xie Qing, her voice soft, "Brother Qing, Brother Qing, I missed you so much..."

"I miss you too."

Xie chuckled and pinched the baby fat that had grown back on Tao Tao's face. "Looks like you weren't lying to me. The flesh on your face has finally returned."

Since returning from Anping County and parting ways—more than two months to nearly three months—Tao Tao has been sending Xie Qing a selfie every now and then to prove that she is taking good care of her health.

Wearing a pair of yellow duck overalls, Tao Tao tilted her head slightly, her chubby face and pink lips pouting gently. "Those are all photos I took myself, not photoshopped."

Xie chuckled and replied, "Yes, I know."

Mi Qiwu, standing nearby, glanced at Tao Tao and asked, "Xie Qing... and who is this?"

The rest of the crew were also very curious about who was so close to Xie Qing, and they all secretly pricked up their ears.

Xie introduced him succinctly, "My younger brother."

"So you have a younger brother."

Mi Qiwu pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Tao Tao and Xie Qing—they just didn't look alike.

Xie Qing nodded in response, then looked at Tao Tao again, raised her hand and touched the other's fluffy, soft chestnut-colored hair, "What are you doing here? Did you come alone?"

Tao Tao's eyes curved into crescents, and she quickly waved her hand to explain, "No, I came with my eldest sister and third sister. My eldest sister came here to discuss business, but I didn't like that atmosphere, so my third sister took me out to walk around and get some fresh air. I didn't expect to see you as soon as we came out."

He grabbed Xie Qing's arm, blinked his big almond-shaped eyes, and asked, "Brother Qing, now that I've recovered, can I come back?!"

Tao Tao is no longer as thin as she was two months ago. She has regained her health, her face has color, and she looks much more energetic.

"of course can."

Xie chuckled and then casually added, "As long as your family is willing to release them."

Xie Qing knew from the moment Tao Tao returned that there was a very high chance he wouldn't come back.

After all, given how much the Tao family dotes on their youngest son, when Tao Tao returned home emaciated last time, the entire family would most likely blame him for the reason he became like that.

It would be good enough if they didn't retaliate; how could they possibly let their most beloved youngest child walk into a "fire pit" again?

Sure enough, Tao Tao furrowed his delicate eyebrows upon hearing this, clearly indicating that his family disagreed.

He murmured, his lips trembling like a frightened fawn, as he whispered, "I'll secretly go with you..."

Xie Qing chuckled and tapped Tao Tao's head. "Tao Tao, you're underestimating your family's strength. Do you think they can't find out?"

Tao Tao looked dejected, his face contorted in a grimace as if he were trying to think of a solution. Just then, a pair of strong hands suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed his wrists.

With a tremendous pulling force, he was pulled back a few steps.

"Third sister..."

Tao Tao turned her head and saw that it was her older sister. She called out to her sister with a little guilt.

The crew members, upon seeing this suddenly appearing, tall and handsome man, were utterly astonished: "Third...Third Sister!"

Tao Yue crossed her arms and snorted softly, "So, Taobao baby still knows I'm your third sister?"

Upon seeing Xie Qing, he followed her around without looking back, completely forgetting about his own sister!

"Third sister, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you behind."

Tao Tao apologized very readily.

Looking at her big, bright eyes, Tao Yue felt as if her heart had been struck. She patted her cute little brother's hair and said, "Tao Tao, how could your sister bear to be angry with you?"

If anyone's going to be angry, it should be Xie Qing.

I really don't know what kind of hallucinogenic drug the other party gave her brother. The two of them had only met once at the Tao family's birthday banquet, but Tao Tao was like he was bewitched. More than two months ago, he actually went to that small, runaway county to find Xie Qing without his family's knowledge.

When Xie Qing returned home, her younger brother, whom she had spoiled since childhood, was terribly thin. Even so, he still insisted on defending Xie Qing, saying that it had nothing to do with Xie Qing and that it was Xie Qing's problem.

The family didn't entirely believe this explanation, but even if they didn't, there was nothing they could do, since Huo Yunting was standing behind Xie Qing.

Tao Yue looked Xie Qing up and down, wondering if he had some kind of brainwashing technique and had secretly brainwashed her younger brother!

His younger brother's trust and affection for Xie Qing was simply mindless.

She doesn't even get this kind of treatment!!!

Thinking of this, Tao Yue clicked her tongue in annoyance and pinched her younger brother's chubby cheeks, saying, "You little ingrate."

Tao Tao's face was being pinched, and his speech was indistinct, "Shanjie, Buyaoniwodilian..."

Why do they all like to pat his head and pinch his cheeks?

"It feels so good."

Tao Yue chuckled and let go of her younger brother's hand, then put her arm around his shoulder. "Let's go, to your older sister's place."