Chapter 84#
Xiao Wu took his phone, walked out, and called the bookstore’s landline from the path outside.
After all, Zhao Rong had previously hung up on Qiao Nanqi when he called from his own phone, and Zhao Rong had just rejected the breakfast he delivered. Who knew if he would even pay attention to them?
To be safe, it was better to call the bookstore’s landline.
Sure enough, the busy signal only rang a few times before the call was picked up.
“Hello?” The voice was not Zhao Rong’s.
“It’s me,” Xiao Wu said. “Is Mr. Zhao still there?”
In the bookstore, Liang Youjun, holding the receiver of the landline, glanced at Zhao Rong, who was idly organizing books by the shelf.
Zhao Rong obviously realized that this call didn’t sound like it was from a customer; he was turning his head, questioning him with his gaze.
Liang Youjun said to him, “It’s that Assistant Wu.”
“The boss is still here,” he then said to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu tried his best to use a polite tone as he repeated Qiao Nanqi’s question from earlier.
Liang Youjun was stunned for a moment.
When Xiao Wu finished speaking, he even thought he had misheard, or perhaps he had taken someone else’s call and mistaken the person.
Zhao Rong was still waiting for him to speak. “What did Xiao Wu say?”
“Ah, he said, um…” Liang Youjun uncharacteristically started to hesitate.
On the other end of the phone, Xiao Wu also seemed to sense his hesitation and actually said in a friendly manner, “Just relay it directly; this is the master’s meaning. He is waiting now, so please.”
Liang Youjun had no choice but to tell Zhao Rong, “He asked us if there’s anything else we’d like to eat. If we’re willing to wait a bit, they’ll send it over together once it’s ready.”
Zhao Rong’s movement of organizing the bookshelf stalled for a moment.
He was currently holding a book, preparing to tuck it into the gap between other books. At this moment, his movement paused, and the book’s landing point deviated slightly, directly hitting another book and making a dull, slight thud.
“Did Qiao Nanqi ask that?”
“Yes.”
He hadn’t expected Qiao Nanqi to go to this extent.
He knew Qiao Nanqi was being good to him, but in the end, he didn’t want to see this man putting aside his pride to please someone like this.
He seemed somewhat conflicted.
On one hand, he thought of using deliberate sharpness and the fake act with Liang Youjun to make Qiao Nanqi retreat, to prove that Qiao Nanqi couldn’t persist.
But Qiao Nanqi persisted, and he felt a bit…
Just like the first time he called Qiao Nanqi, he actually felt in his heart that it was impossible for anyone to fantastically rush to the hospital, but seeing the person actually arrive, he had a sense of illusory unreality.
An inexpressible complexity washed over his heart. Zhao Rong was silent for a moment, lowered his eyes, repositioned the book correctly, and said, “Forget it.”
After saying that, he turned around and went to the other side of the bookshelf with the books from the basket.
There was no need for Liang Youjun to speak; on the other end of the phone, Xiao Wu had already heard Zhao Rong’s answer.
“Why don’t you just tell me what you like to eat?” Xiao Wu thought for a moment and said, “I will relay Mr. Zhao’s meaning. But I have to report back to the master; just consider it as sympathizing with us errand runners.”
These words made Liang Youjun feel a bit empathetic.
He thought again about those things Zhao Rong had said to him before, hesitated for a moment, and gave Xiao Wu the name of a breakfast dish.
That actually wasn’t something Liang Youjun himself liked to eat.
It was something Zhao Rong had wanted to eat when he accompanied him for breakfast two days ago. It was only because they went late that the stall had sold out.
Coincidentally, the nearby breakfast shop hadn’t made this dish these past two days, and Zhao Rong wasn’t someone who liked to make a fuss over small things, so he hadn’t eaten it yet.
Xiao Wu’s side seemed to really want to race against time. After learning the answer, he quickly said several “thank yous” and hung up.
Dozens of minutes later, Xiao Wu arrived again carrying the basket with breakfast.
This time, there was an extra dish in the basket.
It was exactly the one Liang Youjun had just mentioned. Only, compared to the other dishes, the person who made this one was clearly a bit unskilled, as if making it for the first time; it was somewhat lacking in appearance.
Zhao Rong looked at the things in Xiao Wu’s hand, then glanced at Liang Youjun.
Liang Youjun raised his hands: “My mistake.”
Zhao Rong: “…”
At this point, Zhao Rong had no choice but to take it. “Thank him for me—”
He paused, took back the subconscious words, and changed them to: “Thank him for me and Youjun.”
Xiao Wu thought of the reddened area on their master’s hand, and the haggard look from rushing back from Yangcheng to Zhuxi overnight without rest. In the end, he followed Qiao Nanqi’s instructions and simply said truthfully, “If you accept it, that is the greatest thanks.”
Zhao Rong remained silent.
He put the basket on the table to the side and called Liang Youjun over to have breakfast.
Xiao Wu saw Liang Youjun starting to take those things out and arrange them, then turned and left.
When he returned, before Xiao Wu could say anything, Qiao Nanqi saw his empty hands and immediately smiled.
“He ate?”
“They had already started eating when I left.”
“The new dish…”
“Eaten together.”
Qiao Nanqi’s eyes dimmed slightly, yet he still smiled: “That’s good. From now on, come here at this time every day.”
Judging by this, he actually intended to do this every single day from now on.
He even seemed quite happy.
Was it really that happy?
Xiao Wu really wanted to ask.
This wasn’t even just Zhao Rong eating.
Qiao Nanqi didn’t need to lift a finger for anything he wanted to eat, yet at this moment, he preferred to stay awake just to prepare breakfast for Zhao Rong and… the person by Zhao Rong’s side. That side merely accepted the kindness, but this side already felt like rain after a long drought.
He thought about how such days would go on endlessly, not knowing until which day he would have to persist, and he felt it was too bitter.
But their master only tasted the sweetness.
On the other side.
After Liang Youjun arranged the breakfast and saw Xiao Wu’s figure slowly disappear at the street corner, he put down his chopsticks.
Zhao Rong was still holding his chopsticks and spoon, asking him, “Why did you tell him?”
“Assistant Wu told me he had to report back,” Liang Youjun rolled his eyes guiltily. “He’s just working for someone else, it’s not easy, so I just said it…”
He immediately stood up: “I’ll go continue organizing the bookshelves. Boss, you eat. If you don’t eat, I’ll come and throw it away in a while.”
“Go do your work.” Zhao Rong said peevishly.
Liang Youjun scurried off to the side.
Zhao Rong lowered his head, smelling the fragrance of the food wafting from the winter melon soup, looking at the dish he had wanted to eat for two days that had just been made, and then thinking about how this man actually didn’t care about the rejection that was actually a bit harsh just now…
He still picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful to his lips, gently blew on the rising steam, and took a sip.
The temperature was just right.
The taste… was very familiar.
He had to admit, it was indeed thoughtful.
Back when he still lived at Qiao Nanqi’s house, Aunt Li had made this soup for him many times.
He originally thought this was made by a cook Qiao Nanqi found locally in Zhuxi, but the technique was clearly not the habit here in Zhuxi.
Made by Aunt Li? Did Qiao Nanqi bring Aunt Li here too?
Zhao Rong ate the other dishes, confirming again and again that this was Aunt Li’s cooking habit.
“Youjun,” he called out, “when you have time in the next couple of days, help me buy a gift for a middle-aged woman.”
Ever since that morning, Zhao Rong didn’t reject Xiao Wu coming to deliver breakfast anymore.
Only, those breakfasts varied every day, the taste completely matching his palate, and the ingredients were so exquisite that not a single flaw could be found in even a seasoning; one could tell at a glance that the person preparing them had spent a lot of effort.
When Zhao Rong was harsh to Qiao Nanqi, it was instead a somewhat inexpressible competition, but thinking that Qiao Nanqi was going to bother Aunt Li to make these, he felt a bit embarrassed.
So he had Liang Youjun prepare a gift for him and asked Xiao Wu to bring it to Aunt Li when he came one day.
“For Aunt Li?” Xiao Wu was taken aback.
“Yes,” Zhao Rong smiled, “she works hard after all.”
Xiao Wu thought Zhao Rong was thanking Aunt Li for her care when he was at Qiao Nanqi’s house before. He took the gift, planning to bring it to Aunt Li next time he went back to Yangcheng.
Seeing Xiao Wu accept it, Zhao Rong felt relieved and gradually became used to the breakfast every morning.
In a flash, spring was about to arrive.
The air was still chilly, but it carried a slight dampness, and the sun was becoming increasingly warm, as if ready at any moment to spill over with vibrant spring spirit.
Zhou Yueqing was at the hospital entrance. Seeing Zhao Rong get out of the car, she smiled. Before she could speak, she saw Qiao Nanqi get out from the other side, and her smile immediately froze.
After Qiao Nanqi had previously told her his intentions directly, he indeed hadn’t held back at all, indeed bringing a group of people to start from scratch in Zhuxi. He didn’t do anything with Zhao Rong, nor did he cooperate with Ruan Cheng, as if he truly were a lone wolf coming to Zhuxi to expand territory, disdaining those shortcuts and underhanded methods, being so open and upright that it was beyond reproach, yet breaking through with such force that Zhou Yueqing had no power to fight back.
Although Qiao Nanqi had only been here for a short time, Zhou Yueqing could already see the decline of their Zhou family.
She realized belatedly that the hospital in her hand was her entire bargaining chip, yet because of her initial short-sightedness, she had thrown this chip out first.
Now the contract was signed, and they were just waiting to hand over the personnel today; she had no options left.
She had originally thought to leave a trick up her sleeve in the hospital’s personnel today, placing some of her own people—anyway, Zhao Rong was an outsider who knew nothing and wouldn’t be able to tell.
When the time came, the Zhou family would certainly have no power to fight back in Qiao Nanqi’s hands, but on Zhao Rong’s side, if she left some of her own people in the hospital to understand Zhao Ming’s situation, she might even be able to tamper with the treatment; there might still be a way out.
Who could have thought Qiao Nanqi would actually come along?
Zhou Yueqing’s teeth were almost crushed.
“Miss Zhou?” Zhao Rong walked up to her and called out.
Qiao Nanqi also walked slowly to Zhao Rong’s side.
He was currently wearing a long trench coat that didn’t reach his knees, deep black, with a casual checkered white shirt underneath. His figure was tall and slender, his back straight. Just standing by Zhao Rong’s side, he clearly didn’t say anything, yet he made Zhou Yueqing feel greatly pressured.
Zhou Yueqing managed a smile and said with ambiguous meaning, “Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qiao have a good relationship.”
These words seemed to hit Qiao Nanqi’s sore spot; his eyes moved slightly. He had just had a decent expression, but now his face suddenly darkened.
“We—”
“Yes,” Zhao Rong smiled slightly, his tone peaceful, “we are friends.”
Qiao Nanqi’s expression paused.
“Yes, friends,” he said.
The atmosphere between these two was too strange; one could feel it without even looking closely.
Zhou Yueqing looked at Zhao Rong, suppressed some thoughts that flashed by for a moment, and smilingly had someone lead Zhao Rong and Qiao Nanqi to the office upstairs to hand over those personnel documents.
Zhao Rong was always very easy to talk to; he nodded and followed the person up.
Qiao Nanqi walked slower; he walked behind Zhao Rong, one hand in his pocket, his expression solemn.
When passing Zhou Yueqing, he suddenly stopped.
“Miss Zhou,” his tone was completely different from when he spoke to Zhao Rong just now; the gentleness wrapped in his voice had completely dissipated, leaving only a deep, cold chill, “I consider everything I do in Zhuxi to be open and upright. In business, winning and losing are normal—underhanded methods are not a long-term solution.”
After saying that, he lifted his foot and followed Zhao Rong into the elevator.
Zhou Yueqing remained in place, her heart sinking to the bottom.
Was this more than just a warning?
Qiao Nanqi probably already knew what she had done before he even came.
These two had already gone up now; the backhand she left was probably useless.
She frowned, thought for a moment, and turned to look at the security guard on duty at the hospital entrance.
The matters to be handled today were relatively important, so the hospital’s security guards had been called out for duty. They were currently hanging around outside, with the leader standing at the entrance.
When she planted people before, she had only tampered with the personnel in administration and doctors; basic workers like these scattered ones were basically noticed by no one.
She walked up and called the lead security guard to the side.
“How should I address you?”
“My surname is Lin. Everyone calls me Old Lin. Miss, feel free.” Old Lin smiled flatterly. They earned money through hard labor and had no concept of the coming and going of these high-level people; they only knew that every time the person in front of them came, she was welcomed by high-level staff, so her status must be extraordinary.
As for the rest, he didn’t know at all.
This was exactly what Zhou Yueqing valued.
She softened her tone: “Old Lin, listening to your accent, are you from the rural outskirts?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
“Have you bought a house in the city?”
“This, how could I afford that with my salary. I just want to save some money and go back to the village to build a house.”
“That’s so hard. How about this: you help me keep an eye on the movements in the hospital in the future. I have several properties in the city center; I’ll pick one for you when the time comes, how about it?”
When Zhao Rong stepped into the elevator, he happened to see the way Qiao Nanqi turned his head to speak to Zhou Yueqing.
His gaze was sharp, his expression stern.
Coupled with the fact that this man was already very tall, when he looked down slightly at people, even his lower eye-line could exude confidence.
It was just that his confidence wasn’t achieved by having a stiff face; on the contrary, Qiao Nanqi was smiling slightly, every movement composed.
—Clearly, before getting out of the car, this man was still pressing his voice, turning his head to ask him gently: “I recently found some rare books with appreciation value, they are all unique copies. Should I send them to your shop to be displayed?”
Zhao Rong hadn’t answered at the time, but seeing his silence, Qiao Nanqi had smiled.
Presumably, these things would appear in the bookstore before long.
During this period, they had been like this.
Ever since the breakfast that greeted every morning was accepted by Zhao Rong, Qiao Nanqi, besides being busy with establishing a foothold in Zhuxi during the day, basically spent all his extra time coming to the bookstore for Zhao Rong. If Zhao Rong was busy himself, he would just sit there, occasionally reading a book, or else processing work matters there.
Zhao Rong would sometimes reject his various attempts to curry favor, but Qiao Nanqi seemed to have long ago seen through Zhao Rong’s intention to vent his anger; no matter how cold the words were, this man hadn’t retreated.
And Zhao Rong always didn’t want to see this man putting aside his dignity and pride; after a few more times, he still relented.
He seemed to have made a bit of a miscalculation.
He could resist those sudden approaches and guilt like a flood or a beast, but he was somewhat unable to ignore this kind of constant, subtle persistence.
Unconsciously, after Qiao Nanqi followed him into the car today, he realized with a start—how did he agree to let this man follow?
Truly…
Truly a bit spineless.
To cover up his miscalculation, he had deliberately kept a cold face and hadn’t spoken on the car. Qiao Nanqi didn’t mind, saying a few words to him from time to time, not frequently, and his gentleness actually carried just the right sense of boundaries.
This kind of Qiao Nanqi almost made him forget who this person really was.
Until this moment, seeing the calm confrontation between Qiao Nanqi and Zhou Yueqing.
Seeing Qiao Nanqi step forward, Zhao Rong immediately looked away.
But he reacted too late. Before he could look away, he had already collided with Qiao Nanqi’s gaze.
This person stood still by his side, the elevator doors closed with a “ding,” a momentary sense of weightlessness came, and the floor numbers on the display screen slowly rose.
Qiao Nanqi suddenly spoke: “…Were you looking at me just now?”
Zhao Rong was caught out; he subconsciously blinked quickly, his face still maintaining composure.
After a moment of silence, he felt that avoiding the topic was really losing momentum. He stared at the two overlapping shadows in the elevator mirror, seeing the slightly swaying hem of Qiao Nanqi’s trench coat.
“Yes.”
He lowered his voice and said, “I just felt that you…”
Wind leaked in from the gaps. Zhao Rong smiled frankly, looked up, and looked at the eyes in the door mirror: “The way you were in front of Zhou Yueqing just now was actually quite good.”
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