Chapter 12#
Zhao Rong was stuck for a good while.
Fortunately, in his two lifetimes, what he was best at was carving out a path through the twists and turns of people’s hearts, making the conversation comfortable for both himself and the other party.
He quickly recovered from the awkward feeling and said: “It’s just that I haven’t contacted Senior for too long, Senior don’t expose me.”
Lu Xingping laughed a few times on the other end.
This call came suddenly, but generally thoughtful people would have glossed over it. However, Lu Xingping said directly: “Your words are too obedient, looking like you have ulterior motives.”
Zhao Rong choked on the spot.
He didn’t want to carve out a path in Lu Xingping’s twisted mind; he just wanted to tie a knot in Lu Xingping’s throat.
How could he forget Lu Xingping’s character setting.
This was a white moonlight who looked gentle and polite on the surface but could make people autistic as soon as he opened his mouth—and Lu Xingping’s merciless words were usually intentional.
He coughed twice again and braced himself: “So isn’t this coming to ask Senior what to do…”
“Hearing your voice, you really are sick,” Lu Xingping finally said something Zhao Rong could take, “There are specialties in every field. I’ll ask my private doctor to go see you.”
Accompanying Lu Xingping’s voice, the originally very quiet environment on the other end of the phone rang with piano sounds.
The piano sound was very close to Lu Xingping, still in the prelude, and Zhao Rong heard it immediately. The person playing the piano was very skilled, a melodious tune flowing down without any pause.
Although only hearing the background piano sound on the other end of the phone, although unable to see the situation on Lu Xingping’s side, Zhao Rong could imagine Qiao Nanqi’s good-looking hands on the piano keys.
It was Qiao Nanqi playing the piano.
This person was overlooking from a height and doing everything with ease. Even playing the piano in his spare time could make Zhao Rong unforgettable about those melodies.
This piece, Qiao Nanqi had played in the piano room the few times he was at home.
At first, when Zhao Rong heard it in the room, it wasn’t too smooth. After a few times, it became like now, even hidden in the background sound of the phone, it was still melodious and smooth.
Like a wisp of morning breeze brushing over green pines, or water droplets splashing from a clear spring gently landing on green leaves. Refreshing and relaxing.
If Young Master Qiao was born in an ordinary artistic family, he would definitely become an outstanding pianist.
Zhao Rong used to like secretly listening to Qiao Nanqi practice the piano next to the piano room.
Or with Qiao Nanqi’s permission, sitting quietly behind the piano bench watching and listening.
Whenever he heard or saw Qiao Nanqi playing the piano, he would always involuntarily stop everything in his hands.
But this time he was just stunned for a moment, then turned over lazily wrapped in the quilt on the bed, didn’t say that he had actually seen a doctor once just now, and said with a hoarse voice: “Okay, I can’t crawl up to go to the hospital now either.”
He paused and added: “But Senior just send me the doctor’s contact information, I’ll contact him myself, otherwise it’s too much trouble for you.”
“Can you still contact when you are sick?”
“Just a bit dizzy, aren’t I talking to Senior now?”
“With this strength why not call the hospital?”
“…” Zhao Rong looked at the sky.
“Do you need me to go see you with the doctor?” This question was very polite, obviously just a feint inquiry. If he really wanted to come, it wouldn’t be a question.
He understood very well and said: “Thank you Senior, no need.”
They said no more and hung up the phone.
Lu Xingping didn’t ask the reason for Zhao Rong’s sudden call, and Zhao Rong didn’t mention any questions about Qiao Nanqi.
Before long, Lu Xingping sent him the private doctor’s phone number via text message.
Zhao Rong felt this result was not bad either.
He wanted to rebuild a good relationship with Lu Xingping and return to the interest marriage where “Zhao Rong” and Lu Xingping took what they needed in the original work. He must know if Lu Xingping was in the situation of loving but not getting in the original work, and also must know Lu Xingping’s attitude towards this marriage contract.
No matter which one, he had to gradually get closer to Lu Xingping, so that he could propose the plan to fulfill the marriage contract later.
As long as there was favor, this favor borrowed and returned, slightly not paid off clearly, would become a back and forth involvement. With more involvement, naturally they would become familiar enough to slowly let down their guard.
Actually, if letting Lu Xingping help him call a doctor, or directly letting Lu Xingping bring the doctor along, this favor owed could be bigger.
But Qiao Nanqi was mostly with Lu Xingping.
He knew that Lu Xingping and Qiao Nanqi definitely had nothing until now, otherwise with Qiao Nanqi’s character, he couldn’t have lived in Qiao Nanqi’s house until today. But even if there was nothing, these two might be discussing those arts and music he didn’t understand at this moment, or saying some words Qiao Nanqi would never mention to him.
His call coming in, although disturbing, was justifiable.
Letting Lu Xingping arrange for him in front of Qiao Nanqi again, wouldn’t it alert the snake?
He didn’t want to clamor in front of Qiao Nanqi now.
He hadn’t taken a step yet. If he alerted the snake now, letting Qiao Nanqi discover his intention and apply pressure to obstruct, wouldn’t it be extremely difficult later?
It was better to avoid being noticed by Qiao Nanqi first.
After pulling back this plot with Lu Xingping, he would leave Yang City, not to be an eyesore to Young Master Qiao.
Lu Xingping’s private doctor came very quickly and left even faster.
Zhao Rong had already had a drip and taken medicine. Calling Lu Xingping was completely superfluous. The doctor came just to check him again and left him some medicine.
Zhao Rong privately gave this doctor a big red envelope, letting the person leave satisfied.
He wasn’t greedy either. Successfully owing Lu Xingping a favor with this call was already good.
After the doctor left, he sent a message to Lu Xingping. With a fever, he dizzyingly typed a long string of thanks, forcibly describing such a small matter of calling a doctor to see him extravagantly. Finally, he concluded with a sentence that he would definitely thank him after recovering.
After finishing these, the tossing of this day finally ended.
Zhao Rong shrank in the soft quilt, with only half of his face outside. His slightly hot cheek due to fever pressed against the quilt, the touch cool.
He shrank in comfortably again, burying his whole person under the quilt. Before long he was very hot again. But he still buried himself. Even lying in a strange hotel room at this moment, he actually felt very secure.
As if he just didn’t want the thing he couldn’t get all along, but it wasn’t a loss. Instead, the obstacle covering the sky and sun in front of his eyes was finally moved away. He looked up, and it turned out the sky was so high.
The night was heavy.
Zhao Rong took the medicine, already full of sleepiness, and fell asleep in a moment.
Lu Xingping hung up the phone and turned back to look at Qiao Nanqi sitting by the piano.
Qiao Nanqi obviously knew who called the moment he called out Zhao Rong’s name.
But his piano playing movement didn’t pause at all. Those hands with distinct joints slid on the keys. Even if the piano sound couldn’t be heard, it was an excellent enjoyment for the viewer’s vision.
When he finished playing a piece, Lu Xingping said: “Zhao Rong’s call, are you going home?”
Qiao Nanqi frowned slightly.
“Why did he call you?”
“Said he had a fever. Wanted to tell you through me, right? Maybe believed those rumors outside, thinking I have something with you. I just asked my private doctor to go see him, do you want to go home and take a look?”
“Since he saw a doctor, then nothing serious.”
“You frowned, looks like you are still a bit worried. Are you a duck? Stubborn mouth but body honest. Alive and kicking, didn’t die either.”
“…” Qiao Nanqi subconsciously raised his hand to touch between his eyebrows, seeing Lu Xingping’s teasing look, knew the other party was just probing his subconscious reaction. He put down his hand and continued, “I will go home tonight.”
In his impression, Zhao Rong had no health problems. How could he be fine during the day and have a fever at night?
Mostly just wanted him to go back early.
He would just go back later.
“Not leaving now? Mainly at this time, if you play again, it will disturb Xiaoyue’s sleep. Or you play some lullaby.”
“…”
Qiao Nanqi completely didn’t know that Zhao Rong was no longer at home.
He was always patient with Lu Xingping: “He was fine when I went out, not sick. I indulged him a bit recently, raised a bit of his temper, no need to pay attention.”
Lu Xingping spread his hands: “Isn’t it normal to have a temper with a lover? People always have higher expectations for the person they like.”
“He and I can’t be counted as lovers.” Qiao Nanqi’s expression paused slightly.
His tone was flat, seeming very certain.
If saying like, there should be some. But there are not many things a person can love in this life, yet things to like are as many as ox hairs. So many that stray cats on the roadside, a bit of leaf tip on a spring branch, even the white clouds passing in the vast sea, can be included in the range, really not considered anything special.
Lu Xingping said to him: “The person is sick and called me, looking for you in a roundabout way. Just go along with it a bit and it’s over.”
Qiao Nanqi put away the music score and closed the piano lid, “No need.”
He never needed to go along with Zhao Rong.
This had always been Zhao Rong’s “job”.
Last year.
When they just got together, Zhao Rong once complained to him that he didn’t come home often and never went out with Zhao Rong.
Qiao Nanqi didn’t want to listen.
He didn’t like Zhao Rong being there when he got along with those people. Didn’t like it before they got together, and didn’t want to bring Zhao Rong along even more after getting together—most of the times Zhao Rong made him feel unhappy were here.
He ignored Zhao Rong’s complaint. Zhao Rong had just got along with him as a partner at that time, not very sensible yet, and sat in the small hall on the second floor for a night that night.
Qiao Nanqi felt annoyed watching, closed the door and slept alone.
Early the next morning, when Qiao Nanqi got up at seven o’clock according to the rule, Zhao Rong had already made breakfast personally.
Walking down from the stairs, before reaching the dining room, he smelled a slight scent of cooking oil and smoke. The gray plaid apron on Zhao Rong hadn’t been taken off yet, bending over and busy by the dining table.
Zhao Rong actually wasn’t very good at cooking. The mess on the dining table was enough to show Zhao Rong’s flurry.
But no matter how flustered, he still tried his best.
Hearing the sound of Qiao Nanqi going downstairs, he turned his head. Although there was some fatigue on his face, he still wore a smile, a pair of lying silkworms more obvious.
Looking at him, Qiao Nanqi thought of a cat curling up its body and lazily opening its eyes for a moment.
He walked forward, Zhao Rong put away all his temper, smiled and said to him: “Good morning.”
As if nothing had happened.
After that, Zhao Rong never complained again. He knew Qiao Nanqi could end this relationship at any time, no longer willful, never asked or mentioned what shouldn’t be asked or mentioned. Except for some small things—such as Qiao Nanqi hoping he could read books and learn piano—always complying in public but opposing in private, he was very reassuring both in and out of bed.
Qiao Nanqi never accommodated Zhao Rong.
Zhao Rong would always figure it out himself.
So this night, when Qiao Nanqi left Lu Xingping’s house and didn’t see Zhao Rong at home, he did nothing.
Everything would be the same tomorrow.
Just like the night he ignored Zhao Rong a year ago, he slept peacefully in the room for a night, and Zhao Rong would stand outside waiting for him to come out, smiling and saying “Good morning” to him.
But the next day, Qiao Nanqi didn’t see Zhao Rong come back.
Not only the next day.
—Zhao Rong didn’t come home for four consecutive days.