Chapter 85#
Chapter 85#
The elevator arrived.
Zhao Rong stepped out slowly.
Qiao Nanqi stood in place, stunned for a good while.
That one sentence actually made him feel that, besides just being able to stay by Zhao Rong’s side, there was actually a slight possibility… that he might have a chance.
It wasn’t until the elevator doors were about to close again that his eyes brightened slightly, and he quickly followed.
Zhao Rong had already met with the person in charge of the reception.
The other party handed him the personnel documents and gave a brief introduction. Zhao Rong then asked, “Is all the personnel information in here?”
“Yes, please take a look. If there are no issues, just sign it.”
Qiao Nanqi had already walked up to his side again. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Rong said, “There are. Many issues.”
The receptionist’s smile turned awkward. “How could that be…”
Qiao Nanqi was also somewhat surprised. “Zhao Rong, you…”
He had followed Zhao Rong today because he knew Zhou Yueqing wouldn’t behave quietly; fearing Zhao Rong might suffer a loss, he had followed him into the car early that morning.
Zhao Rong smiled. “Do I look like the kind of greenhorn who does nothing but wait to sign off on a handover?”
He sat down with the documents, picked up a pen, and right in front of the person responsible for the handover, flipped through page by page, occasionally crossing out names.
With every name he crossed out, the receptionist’s expression grew uglier.
Yet throughout the process, Zhao Rong kept a smile on his face. With his head lowered, the grip on his pen was neither too heavy nor too light; there wasn’t a hint of restraint or nervousness.
Qiao Nanqi stood aside, staring for a while, and stopped speaking.
It was true—Zhao Rong was no longer the same Zhao Rong from the time in Yangcheng.
The Zhao Rong before him wasn’t an illegitimate son picked up on a whim to live under the protection of the Chen family. He had his own capital; he already had his own company and team in Zhuxi, and even the projects he was collaborating on with Ruan Cheng were already in preparation.
He had already established himself in this world by relying on what he possessed.
Qiao Nanqi had checked the depth of the relationships between those people and the Zhou family one by one; would Zhao Rong not have checked as well?
Zhao Rong would.
Qiao Nanqi realized he had been overthinking.
Thus, he stopped interfering in the process. He simply stood by and watched Zhao Rong handle the handover, occasionally lending a hand like an assistant with trivial tasks like sorting documents.
The rest of the time, he was entirely focused on watching Zhao Rong.
Zhao Rong could feel that fervent gaze from start to finish.
When Mr. Qiao set aside that submissiveness he only ever showed in front of him, he sat silently to the side. His eyes were very bright, and the faint mole at the corner of his eye softened his features. His gloom was neutralized by his smile, making him look every bit the refined gentleman.
Others passing by couldn’t help but glance their way, though it was unclear who they were trying to catch a glimpse of.
Once everything was handled, Zhou Yueqing and the handover team watched them get into the car with ashen faces. After Xu Xin closed the rear door for Zhao Rong, Zhao Rong finally said to Qiao Nanqi beside him, “Are you done staring?”
There was actually a hint of gritted teeth in his tone.
He had been harsh and stern with Qiao Nanqi so many times before; now, suddenly dropping his guard and speaking in a questioning manner made Qiao Nanqi turn his head sharply.
“I’m sorry…” he said instinctively. “I’ll be careful next time.”
The car drove slowly along the road. The streets were congested, moving in fits and starts.
During these intermittent pauses, Qiao Nanqi slowly registered the tone of that “question.”
It sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth, but in reality, it still carried Zhao Rong’s habitual gentleness and softness. It wasn’t an interrogation; instead, it felt like…
“Zhao Rong,” he said cautiously, feeling a bit emboldened, “Just now… you didn’t mean you were disgusted by me looking at you?”
Those were quite possibly the most daring words Qiao Nanqi had spoken since coming to Zhuxi.
A few minutes later.
Mr. Qiao stood by the roadside, watching as Xu Xin helplessly closed the car door and drove away.
The late winter wind carried a hint of the moisture that would soon come with early spring, blowing cold and feeling quite desolate. Yet Qiao Nanqi raised his hand and touched his face—the smile was still there.
He actually hadn’t dared to smile in front of Zhao Rong at that moment.
But while in the car, he thought of the cats belonging to Zhao Rong that he was currently keeping at his house. Whenever he picked them up, they would always struggle a few times and show their claws, but once they were truly in his arms, they would retract those sharp claws and only cry out in embarrassed anger.
Yes, embarrassed anger.
The way Zhao Rong acted just now was truly too much like embarrassed anger.
He thought this way instinctively. Before the thought was even complete, his impulse took over, and by the time he realized it, he was already laughing.
As a result, he had laughed himself into his current predicament.
Qiao Nanqi had no choice but to call Xiao Wu.
“Sir?”
Qiao Nanqi glanced at the road sign, gave Xiao Wu his current location, and said, “Come pick me up.”
Xiao Wu was a bit confused. “Weren’t you going with Mr. Zhao to handle the handover of the Zhou family’s hospital?”
“The handover is done,” Qiao Nanqi seemed to be in a good mood and was a bit more patient as he explained, “It’s just that I got kicked out of the car.”
Xiao Wu: “?”
Judging by that tone, it didn’t sound like he was kicked out of the car; it sounded like he was kicked out of bed—
In the car.
“Xiao Zhao,” Xu Xin said while driving, giving a “tsk,” “You have a heart of iron.”
Zhao Rong naturally knew who Xu Xin was talking about. “It’s not like he doesn’t have anyone to pick him up.”
“I see that over the past two months, your relationship with Mr. Qiao has been pretty good,” Xu Xin said casually. “I can see you don’t actually dislike him that much. Why not just give it a try?”
“I don’t dislike him?”
“I’m at least the only one among us with a family; you think I can’t tell?”
“Oh. Brother Xu, you’re not here to try and persuade me, are you?”
“How could I? In matters of the heart, no one can persuade anyone else; only you can know for sure. I was just thinking back to when Mr. Qiao first arrived and we were all chatting. Your sister-in-law asked you if you would ever feel moved if Mr. Qiao really stayed here for good, after several months or years. You said you didn’t know.” Xu Xin let out a sighing laugh. “I think you know perfectly well.”
“Didn’t you just say I was iron-hearted?”
Xu Xin burst into laughter. Only then did Zhao Rong realize he had been led in circles by Xu Xin’s logic.
What was all this about being soft-hearted or hard-hearted? Why were there so many twists and turns?
In the end, Xu Xin was simply asking him: if things continued like this, would he finally have the courage to look back?
He finally told the truth. “Actually, when sister-in-law asked me then, I didn’t answer because the question itself was wrong.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it.”
“I’ve only ever felt my heart beat for one person in this lifetime. There’s no such thing as ‘becoming’ moved now. Today, I’m just a bit… how should I put it? Brother Xu, do you want sister-in-law to be well?”
“That’s a given. Your sister-in-law is pregnant now. Even though it’s early, I’m worried and scared all day. She still wants to go to work. If I tell her not to, I can’t bring myself to say it; she doesn’t like idling at home. Oh, it’s really tearing me apart. Saying something feels wrong, and not saying anything feels wrong too.”
Zhao Rong let out a “pfft” and laughed. “There you go.”
Xu Xin understood. “I see it now. You, sometimes you look like you have a good temper, but your character is actually very stubborn. Yet, while you’re stubborn, I also feel you’re actually quite soft-hearted. Keep tossing and turning then; you’re young, anyway.”
Listening to this, Zhao Rong thought to himself—how could I just be soft-hearted like that?
I won’t be.
They reached another red light.
Zhao Rong instinctively looked out the car window, but not knowing what he was looking for, he quickly turned back.
“By the way, Xiao Zhao,” Xu Xin said suddenly.
“Hmm?”
“Your third uncle still hasn’t been caught. I saw that the wanted posters have reached Zhuxi. I hope he hasn’t run to our neck of the woods.”
“He’s quite capable, isn’t he? Don’t worry, I carry an alarm with me. Nothing should happen.”
“…"—
The next day, Zhao Rong asked someone to help move Zhao Ming to the hospital. He had specially prepared a fully equipped ward that was laid out just like an apartment for Zhao Ming to live in.
The diagnosis and treatment plan from the previous period were also finalized. The doctor called both Zhao Rong and Qiao Nanqi to come in for a detailed discussion. The reason Qiao Nanqi was called was that the young master had already coordinated with the doctors earlier. With Xiao Wu handing out business cards, people were naturally grateful.
Qiao Nanqi came as soon as he received the call.
Upon arrival, he learned that Zhao Rong had gone with Ruan Cheng for a site inspection in the outer suburbs and probably wouldn’t be back until the afternoon. Since the treatment plan couldn’t be discussed with Qiao Nanqi alone, Qiao Nanqi simply went to see Zhao Ming, intending to wait for Zhao Rong in her ward.
This was his first time visiting Zhao Ming since coming to Zhuxi.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t had the time before, or that he didn’t want to come; he simply hadn’t dared.
He had finally managed to have this harmonious time with Zhao Rong. Since Zhao Rong hadn’t relented on these matters, he naturally didn’t dare to take the initiative.
But today…
Or rather, what happened yesterday had actually made his heart, which he hadn’t dared to stir for so long, feel a hint of eagerness.
Maybe, just maybe?
He had previously tested the waters by asking Xu Xin about the history between Zhao Rong and Liang Youjun. Xu Xin had just waved it off. “What? Does Xiao Zhao look like the type to fall for Xiao Liang? Look at Xiao Liang; he can’t even understand a workbook.”
It was clear that the relationship between the two, at least when he asked Xu Xin, had not been made public.
The relationship between Zhao Rong and Liang Youjun might not be one of mutual love. It could just be that Zhao Rong was keeping a lover by his side. Perhaps he would get tired of it eventually, or Liang Youjun would take the money and leave; in any case, it wasn’t necessarily permanent.
If that were the case, would he still have a chance when the time came?
Even just a tiny chance would be enough to sustain him.
With this mindset, Qiao Nanqi visited Zhao Ming. As he peeled an apple for her, the movement of the knife in his hand was somewhat light and brisk.
“…I misunderstood you before,” Zhao Ming said suddenly while they were chatting about various topics. “Later, Xiao Rong told me I had the wrong person. I’m sorry.”
Qiao Nanqi already understood this. Zhao Rong and Lu Xingping’s wedding felt like a scar from long ago, no longer capable of stirring waves in his heart. He still wore a slight smile as he said, “It was my fault for not introducing myself and causing the misunderstanding. It has nothing to do with you.”
Zhao Ming’s eyes curved into a smile, revealing a look very similar to Zhao Rong’s. She said, “But I won’t get it wrong now. Xiao Rong brought Youjun over before and said he is his lover. Youjun also comes every few days. I recognize him; I won’t remember the wrong person.”
Qiao Nanqi’s hand paused, and the tip of the knife nearly pricked his finger.
All his previous assumptions and thoughts were suddenly doused by this bucket of cold water.
—“Lover.”
Zhao Rong had already brought Liang Youjun to meet Zhao Ming?
Not a lover for temporary needs, but a partner.
Had he… thought too much?
Zhao Rong’s recent attitude wasn’t one of softening; it was simply the open-mindedness shown toward a friend from the past.
The next moment, the ward door opened with a “creak.”
Zhao Rong stood at the door, still seemingly carrying the chill from outside. His movements were somewhat hurried, clearly arriving as soon as he had finished his work.
Liang Youjun stood behind him. As soon as the door opened, he tilted his head and smiled at Zhao Ming. “Good afternoon, Auntie!”
Having said that, he only then noticed Qiao Nanqi sitting by the bed. He immediately straightened his head and even took a step back.
“Ahem, good afternoon to you too, Mr. Qiao!”
Qiao Nanqi didn’t look at Liang Youjun at all. From start to finish, his gaze was fixed on Zhao Rong.
He saw Zhao Rong seem to freeze for a moment upon seeing him after opening the door. Then, Zhao Rong’s eyes flickered; he actually pursed his lips and lowered his head slightly, concealing his other expressions as he whispered, “Mm, good afternoon.”
Before the words had even faded, Qiao Nanqi watched Zhao Rong walk in, sit down on the other side of the bed, and even give him a smile.
In an instant, it looked exactly like the way Zhao Rong used to look every time he saw him years ago.
Qiao Nanqi should still have been immersed in his earlier hope, and he should have been overjoyed by this slightly softened attitude. But then he thought of the “lover” Zhao Ming had mentioned and looked at Liang Youjun sitting nearby. This joy felt as if it were being roasted over a fire.
Held in his palms, it was scorching hot.
He suddenly wanted to tell Zhao Rong: don’t smile at me anymore.
If too much hope is given, it easily turns into an impossible luxury.
He had almost thought too much just now.
The author has something to say: OOC Theater
Rong: (Smiles)
Dog: Wuwu, he’s with someone else but he’s still flirting with me.