Chapter 21#

The fire escape fell silent instantly, with only the sound of Zhao Rong’s gradually steadying breath and Qiao Nanqi’s light breathing.

Zhao Rong was waiting for Qiao Nanqi to speak, while Qiao Nanqi was waiting for Zhao Rong to explain.

Neither of them spoke. The deserted stairwell was quiet and dim, desolate as if it had stored time itself.

Zhao Rong didn’t quite understand why Qiao Nanqi remained silent.

Wasn’t he the one who sought him out first?

“So…” He broke the silence first, “What exactly is the matter?”

He had spent many years guessing Qiao Nanqi’s moods and thoughts in silence. His patience had been worn thin over ten years; he didn’t want to play this wordless guessing game anymore.

He wasn’t here to waste time with Qiao Nanqi in a place like this.

Qiao Nanqi looked down slightly at Zhao Rong.

Zhao Rong’s skin was very pale, and whenever his emotions fluctuated, an uncontrollable flush would always creep onto his cheeks.

Under the dim light, his slightly reddened face was very noticeable, stirring one’s heart. Yet Zhao Rong’s expression was very indifferent, devoid of his usual submissiveness and gentleness, replaced by a hint of coldness. This contradictory mix of spring-like warmth and slight coldness lingered on him, like peach blossoms blooming amidst winter snow.

It was a side of Zhao Rong that Qiao Nanqi had never seen before.

He watched, but his heart was filled only with irritation.

Zhao Rong had just taken the initiative to break up with him.

He had never imagined Zhao Rong would say such a thing.

How could that be?

Zhao Rong liked him so much.

Over the years, Zhao Rong had always looked at him with anticipation, his light black eyes bright and clear; no one could fail to see what was hidden within them.

“I didn’t agree to the breakup,” he said.

Zhao Rong gave him a look of incomprehension.

After a moment’s thought, he understood.

Young Master Qiao was set in his ways; he was likely annoyed that the closing word “breakup” wasn’t spoken by him.

This was easy to solve.

The Qiao Nanqi in The Return Journey had an unpredictable temper and was vindictive. Although the Qiao Nanqi he knew didn’t differ much from the original character, perhaps because verbal descriptions differ from reality, or because Qiao Nanqi had more emotional anchors—like his “white moonlight” Lu Xingping—the Qiao Nanqi before him was still easier to talk to than the one in the novel.

This matter could be negotiated.

“The agreement has ended,” Zhao Rong said seriously. “According to the terms of the agreement—which you drafted yourself—we have no legal relationship. If you’re unhappy, you can consider it as you dumping me. Anyway, we never made our relationship public. Only our families know. You can tell them you didn’t want me anymore.”

Qiao Nanqi had already brought down the Chen family. At this point, no one would disbelieve him if he said he had dumped Zhao Rong.

He paused.

“If there’s nothing else, and you’re not looking to buy back my shares, then I’m going to the administrative department to get my office assigned,” his hand reached for the doorknob and pulled open the fire escape door. “I’ll be going now.”

Bright light from outside spilled in.

Zhao Rong paused only slightly to ensure no one was passing by before stepping out and leaving.

Qiao Nanqi stood where he was.

Watching Zhao Rong’s back, he subconsciously thought Zhao Rong would turn around.

Like every time before, without him needing to say anything, Zhao Rong would turn to look at him or walk quickly to his side.

But that slender back moved further and further away until it disappeared around the corner, leaving behind only silence.

The feeling of watching a back grow smaller and more distant was indeed uncomfortable.

In the past dozen years, Qiao Nanqi had countless times left Zhao Rong with such a receding, never-turning back.

But now, just as he had realized he had reserved a place for Zhao Rong in his future, Zhao Rong had suddenly left.

Having been precocious and the center of attention since childhood, in his twenty-eight years of life, this was the first time he experienced such a complex and unpleasant emotion.

He took a deep breath, his brow furrowed without him realizing it.

The phone in his pocket vibrated again, calling back Qiao Nanqi’s thoughts and pulling him slightly out of his boundless irritability.

He lowered his gaze, took out his phone, glanced at the screen, and then swiped to answer.

Xiao Wu’s urgent voice came through immediately: “Sir, Mr. Zhao went to ask the administrative department if things are handled. So, about the office…”

Qiao Nanqi paused inwardly.

That’s right, Zhao Rong had made this request as soon as he arrived at the company.

Zhao Rong had worked at his company for over a year, always in the idle position Xiao Wu had specially arranged. He had never exercised any shareholder rights before. Now that he claimed he wanted to leave, isn’t he still at the company, and hasn’t he refrained from selling his shares?

Zhao Rong couldn’t possibly leave him.

Just as Xia Yuantu said, it might just be because of the Chen family matter. Wanting to ditch his old idle position and requesting a new office was just his way of hoping for more. Mentioning others’ misunderstandings earlier was probably also because of a topic Zhao Rong had complained to him about long ago—that their relationship was never public.

Qiao Nanqi didn’t want to play these games of using a “breakup” to make demands anymore.

He could perhaps satisfy some of Zhao Rong’s requests. After all, for him now, it wasn’t much of a hassle.

He could occasionally bring Zhao Rong along to social engagements—as long as Zhao Rong sat obediently beside him. He could also give Zhao Rong the treatment he deserved at the company, and even be a bit more lenient, leaving some of the Chen family’s remnants for Zhao Rong.

When the time came and Zhao Rong found out, he would naturally come home and apologize to him.

“Just follow the procedure,” he told Xiao Wu. “The company shares were bought with his own money, and he is a shareholder. This is his right.”

Xiao Wu hesitated: “You said before, Mr. Zhao…”

“Said what?” Xiao Wu handled all of Qiao Nanqi’s trivial matters, and he had instructed Xiao Wu on more than one occasion regarding Zhao Rong. For a moment, he couldn’t recall.

“You said Mr. Zhao doesn’t know anything, so don’t let him touch those…”

Qiao Nanqi had a faint impression.

Compared to the friends around Qiao Nanqi, calling Zhao Rong “ignorant” was being kind. Sometimes when Zhao Rong wasn’t around, others would even call him “that straw man picked up by the Chen family.”

Qiao Nanqi used to have to guard against He Nan while secretly planning against those close to He Nan. He was on edge every day and couldn’t afford a single mistake. With Zhao Rong by his side knowing nothing, he had naturally instructed Xiao Wu not to let Zhao Rong mess things up.

Now those people were no longer a threat; at most, there was only Qiao Ruoye, whom he could handle.

“Whatever Zhao Rong wants to do, tell me first.”

Xiao Wu tremulously agreed.

Qiao Nanqi’s expression softened slightly. He put away his phone and slowly walked out of the stairwell.

On the other side, after saying “goodbye” to Qiao Nanqi, Zhao Rong felt unexpectedly calm.

This was the first time they had met privately since he had silently moved out of Qiao Nanqi’s home. He had thought that seeing Qiao Nanqi again might cause him to waver slightly, as he was the man he had chased for ten years.

But he didn’t.

Just like when he replied to Qiao Nanqi’s message this morning, he only thought about ending things as quickly as possible.

Fang Zhuoqun had always said he was stubborn since they were young. Thinking about it now, it was true.

He was stubborn enough to chase a heartless man like Qiao Nanqi for ten years, and also stubborn enough to turn around and leave without any intention of looking back.

He didn’t need time to move on from this relationship because it had never truly begun.

Or rather, he had been gradually waking up every day since signing the marriage agreement with Qiao Nanqi. He had been trying to extract himself for over a year, and by now, he was invulnerable.

More than that, he was worried Qiao Nanqi would stop him from coming to the main company, in which case he would have to find another way to approach Lu Xingping.

But it seemed his worry was unnecessary.

Under the curious yet hesitant gazes of Song Xinxin and others, Zhao Rong finished packing his belongings. After waiting for a while, when the administrative staff didn’t show up, Xiao Wu personally came to take him to an office near the top floor of their building.

The room was large, with only a few other offices of similar specifications nearby. it was fully equipped—even using it as a temporary apartment wouldn’t be an issue.

He originally just wanted a suitable status to facilitate his contact with Lu Xiaoyue; he truly hadn’t expected Xiao Wu to arrange such a large office for him.

Moreover, the furnishings inside were sparkling clean, clearly tidied up within the last few dozen minutes.

When Zhao Rong hadn’t moved out of Qiao Nanqi’s home, he was the one who supervised the hourly workers’ cleaning; he knew very well the time and efficiency required for such things.

At first glance, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did you hire ten cleaners for this? Actually, I wasn’t in that much of a hurry. Once it was confirmed, I could have just waited at home.”

Xiao Wu, who was drinking water, coughed awkwardly: “It’s nothing, it’s only right.”

Fearing Zhao Rong would ask more questions, he preemptively asked, “Is there anything you need? Just give me a list of anything missing. As for company files, the computer on the desk already has the company software installed. You can view anything you have permission for.”

Zhao Rong probed: “Can I see the personnel distribution of the entire company?”

“That’s no problem—it’s not confidential. I’ll print it out and bring it over.”

“Thank you.”

After Xiao Wu left, Zhao Rong sat at the computer and tinkered for a while.

He had used this software before, but with different permissions. It didn’t take long to learn; in about ten minutes, he had a rough idea of what permissions he had.

It was much more than what he had before.

Had Qiao Nanqi not only given up the idea of buying back his shares but also generously allowed him access to these?

In the book, Qiao Nanqi’s romantic storyline was negligible, and it didn’t mention the ultimate fate of the woman who entered into a marriage of convenience with him. In his impression, whether from the original novel or his understanding over the years, Qiao Nanqi was not someone who clung to the past or was sentimental.

The grievances between Chen Ze and those people with Qiao Nanqi were in the past, and his breakup with Qiao Nanqi was now. Zhao Rong had originally prepared for a difficult path ahead, but he hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.

That dog actually has a bit of a conscience.

Maybe it’s still because he’s a “straw man.” Qiao Nanqi probably thinks it wouldn’t make a difference even if he had access, so he doesn’t care.

And he indeed wouldn’t do anything.

He couldn’t afford to touch the male lead’s career arc. He just wanted to follow his own plotline as cannon fodder; even being “slapped in the face” by his “ex-husband” Qiao Nanqi was fine.

Zhao Rong tidied up some of his things that had been at the company, brewed himself a cup of steaming tea, and sat at the spacious desk, selecting a few documents using his permissions.

The Qiao family had many industries. Initially, they were into investments and some product companies, but after Qiao Nanqi took over, he decisively established a main company focused on cutting-edge technology, thereby pushing the entire Qiao family forward by a huge leap.

These were all plot points in the “overpowered male lead” web novel The Return Journey, and all of them were Qiao Nanqi’s achievements in each segment of the story.

Now that the plot was concluding, having swallowed the Chen family’s assets and those originally held by He Nan, the project files were a dazzling array. Zhao Rong didn’t feel envious; he had no interest in others’ things.

What he was looking at were Qiao Nanqi’s documents regarding the company’s research direction, management processes, and market analysis.

He had already been investing in some things, but he wasn’t much of an expert since he hadn’t had access to this kind of information. By looking at these more, his future investments could be more accurate.

Zhao Rong wanted to get that money if possible, then leave Yang City, do some investing or business in his old hometown, and use those funds to open an orphanage, living out a peaceful and uneventful life.

Even if he couldn’t get that half of the inheritance, he wouldn’t stay in Yang City.

No matter how long he lived in this world within a book, or how real and complete this world was, he was ultimately not the “Zhao Rong” of the original story. Over the years, although Zhao Rong had always associated with those wealthy playboys, there weren’t many he truly bonded with. The only one he could talk to about everything was Fang Zhuoqun, whom he had known since the early days. He certainly couldn’t see Chen Ze and those people as family; his only true family was Zhao Ming, who was now not very lucid.

He had stayed in Yang City and dealt with these people before because of Qiao Nanqi.

In the final analysis, he had no sense of belonging here.

Since there was information here that could help him learn more about things useful for his future life in Zhuxi, as long as he was staying here anyway, he might as well look at them more.

He was never one to enjoy being ignorant.

For so many years, Zhao Rong had lived almost in a state of repression. While trying hard to be closer to Qiao Nanqi, he also had to live under the eyes of the Chen family, always keeping his identity as cannon fodder and the plot in mind. He had money, but his life wasn’t as free as when he was alone and unsupported in his previous life.

Now that the plot had ended, Chen Ze and those people had no more chances to cause trouble, and he and Qiao Nanqi no longer had any relationship…

He could do whatever he wanted.

Acting willfully is sometimes defined as being reckless, but no one can say that it’s not living for oneself.

Zhao Rong didn’t want to have any more interactions with Qiao Nanqi, nor did he want to be someone who one-sidedly chased after another person, but he had to admit that Qiao Nanqi taught him this point.

Zhao Rong had never lived willfully before or after transmigrating into the book; he always had to consider many things. He was an orphan before, and while studying, he was always worried about his future life. After transmigrating, he and Zhao Ming depended on each other, and he was busy working for medical expenses before being recognized by the Chen family. After being recognized by the Chen family, he had to make himself look like a playboy, drinking wine he didn’t like at all and “chatting happily” with those arrogant people.

In both lives, he had lived like a marionette.

Qiao Nanqi was different.

Even in his lowest point during his youth, in the years just after Qiao Anqing’s suicide, Qiao Nanqi could do whatever he wanted.

He wanted to break with He Nan, and he moved out of the Qiao house before he was even an adult.

He took a call from the fourteen-year-old Zhao Rong, and if he wanted to go to the hospital, he went.

He wanted to change the business direction of the entire Qiao family industry, and he directly took the lead, successfully cutting through the complications in just a few years.

It was as if he was born knowing how to live freely yet brilliantly, so heartless that everyone around him was willing to follow.

Zhao Rong had chased this person’s light for so many years and seen it, which was why he had such a deep concept of it.

Heartless and free-spirited. This thing was a sharp blade in Qiao Nanqi’s hands, but in Zhao Rong’s hands, it was a lamp held while walking toward the rest of his life.

He chuckled as he thought about it, and after a while, his attention returned completely to those documents.

When Zhao Rong was in university, because he knew the future development of the plot, he chose the seemingly unambitious Chinese major. In his previous life, to support himself, he had studied engineering, the most suitable for finding a job—after years of torture from terminal illness treatment and more than ten years of transmigrating, he had long forgotten those things.

Reading these project materials wasn’t particularly easy for him.

But as he researched and learned, he didn’t feel particularly tired; instead, he was focused.

Time flew by.

The sky was covered with a layer of faint blue, and birds streaked across the clouds.

The tea on the desk was steaming, emitting a faint fragrance, quietly cooling down minute by minute.

Before he knew it, dusk descended, and the golden light slashed across the cool air, stinging Zhao Rong’s eyes.

Zhao Rong was dazed for a moment. He glanced at the time and was startled to find it was already past five.

The Milky Way was slowly flowing into the sky from the east.

Looking out the window, the surrounding skyscrapers had lit up one lamp after another, like another Milky Way flowing on earth.

Xiao Wu had sent him a message via the company software two hours ago, asking if he needed the forms from personnel now.

He didn’t see it at the time. Ten minutes ago, Xiao Wu told him to contact him anytime when he needed them.

Now it was off-duty time. Zhao Rong didn’t want to make someone else stay late for his sake—after all, his marriage contract with Lu Xingping wasn’t something that could be settled overnight.

He briefly replied to Xiao Wu, saying he would take them tomorrow.

After sending the message, he left.

He hadn’t visited Zhao Ming for a few days; today was a good time to accompany her.

Xiao Wu brewed a cup of tea for Qiao Nanqi, who was still sitting at the desk—Mr. Qiao didn’t like alcohol or coffee, only this kind of elegant thing.

This was already the fourth cup he had brewed this afternoon.

Qiao Nanqi’s mood was clearly off during the meeting today. Not many people wanted to talk work with him at this critical juncture, and President Qiao hadn’t received many documents since the afternoon.

Qiao Nanqi always kept business and personal matters separate. When work wasn’t finished, he would stay overnight at the company, but if work was done, he wouldn’t stay long. Today was different. Although it was quiet, Qiao Nanqi just sat in his office, seemingly not busy with anything, but he didn’t leave.

He had drunk several cups of tea, and time seemed to have stopped for Qiao Nanqi.

This wasn’t the only thing about Qiao Nanqi that was more abnormal than before.

There was also Zhao Rong.

Others weren’t sure, but Xiao Wu knew.

Over the past year or so, he had handled many matters concerning Zhao Rong for Qiao Nanqi. Even that marriage agreement between Zhao Rong and Qiao Nanqi was set up by him contacting a lawyer.

He had seen Qiao Nanqi’s attitude toward Zhao Rong with his own eyes.

In fact, even though he knew about the marriage agreement, he had always regarded Zhao Rong as a lover Qiao Nanqi was keeping. Qiao Nanqi would call him over when he was happy but would never talk about serious business with him. Sometimes the two of them would stay in the top-floor office for half a day, and Qiao Nanqi would leave neatly dressed, while Zhao Rong would have to pale-facedly clean up the aftermath. A few days ago, Qiao Nanqi had even asked him to transfer a large sum of money to Zhao Rong, which looked exactly like the kind of payment a wealthy young man would give to coax a lover.

Zhao Rong had also accepted it without any hesitation, clearly being very aware of his status.

So, Xiao Wu understood why Zhao Rong only had an idle position in the company before, with his status as a shareholder being negligible.

After all, Qiao Nanqi couldn’t let a trophy lover interfere in these matters.

But today, not only did Qiao Nanqi personally seek out Zhao Rong in full view of the company, but he also had him handle everything Zhao Rong needed, granting him many permissions that only people like Xia Yuantu could have.

He even told him to keep an eye on Zhao Rong’s needs.

Could it be that he was truly in love?

It wasn’t impossible.

Good-looking, good-tempered, and deeply in love with Mr. Qiao—it was actually Xiao Wu who found it strange that Qiao Nanqi had been so indifferent before.

He walked forward with the tea cup, glanced at it, and sure enough, the computer screen was black.

And Mr. Qiao was sitting there properly, his back straight, holding a solved Rubik’s Cube in his hand. He wasn’t playing with it, just holding it and looking at it, head slightly bowed as if thinking about something.

Even when he approached, Qiao Nanqi didn’t look at him.

He looked closely and noticed that Qiao Nanqi didn’t seem as unhappy as he was during the meeting.

So he reported the work Qiao Nanqi had just given him today.

“Sir,” he said cautiously, “Mr. Zhao told me to go off duty first and send him the personnel information tomorrow. He should have left.”

Only then did Qiao Nanqi look up at him.

“Left?”

“Presumably.”

As if he hadn’t even seen the freshly served tea, Qiao Nanqi stood up with his jacket and only said to him, “Then you go off duty first.”

Then he left without looking back, before the driver could even be called.

As if he had some urgent business.

In a daze, Xiao Wu only noticed that Qiao Nanqi was still holding that Rubik’s Cube.

…Was there any social engagement that required bringing such a toy?

Qiao Nanqi didn’t have any urgent business.

He drove home with the Rubik’s Cube that had been in his office for several months.

Since Zhao Rong had left the company, he should be heading home.

After all, what Zhao Rong wanted, he had already given. What reason did Zhao Rong have not to go home?

When he saw Zhao Rong after getting home, Zhao Rong would apologize properly to him, and if Zhao Rong had other requests…

It wasn’t that he couldn’t listen.

Qiao Nanqi admitted that as he sat alone at his desk this afternoon, he was thinking about Zhao Rong’s affairs.

He didn’t think about much, just some images and thoughts in his impression were jumping repeatedly. Before, he took it for granted that Zhao Rong would never leave. Most of the time, his thoughts were at most about whether to keep Zhao Rong by his side in the future.

But Zhao Rong’s disappearance over the past few days felt like a huge rock sinking into a lonely sea, letting out a dull but deafening sound of waves. Qiao Nanqi didn’t want such waves to rise again. He liked returning home to see Zhao Rong lying on his side, curled up in the quilt, near the edge, sleeping quietly.

When he returned to his office during the day, he saw the Rubik’s Cube placed at a corner of the desk. The last time he touched it was that dusk when Zhao Rong came to the top floor to find him.

He was processing documents, and Zhao Rong was standing at the door.

He thought Zhao Rong would come in by himself and didn’t pay much attention. When he finished and looked up, he found the young man still standing quietly and obediently at the door, his eyes vacant, as if in a daze.

For a moment, he thought it was a bit cute, and directly by the desk…

That Rubik’s Cube was picked up and played with by Zhao Rong then, and later twisted back into place by his hand.

Qiao Nanqi didn’t like such small toys. He seemed to have been disconnected from childhood and innocence since he was young. Qiao Anqing had once tried to make him like these things like other children, but the final result was always them piling up in a deserted corner gathering dust.

When he noticed this Rubik’s Cube again this afternoon, he suddenly realized that the reason he would put such a small thing that he wouldn’t touch himself on his desk seemed to be because of Zhao Rong.

A few months ago, Xia Yuantu brought some random things to decorate his monotonous office, and he refused them all. Only when he saw this Rubik’s Cube did he think that Zhao Rong always liked these meaningless little things. He thought if Zhao Rong was staying here one day and felt bored, he could use it to pass the time, so he kept it.

It was such a small matter that lingered in Qiao Nanqi’s busy mind all afternoon.

Even on his way home driving, with the Rubik’s Cube lying on the empty passenger seat, he was still thinking about it.

Until the brakes were slowly pressed down, and the car stopped outside the small courtyard of his home.

The streetlights on both sides cast intersecting warm yellow lights, reflecting the starlight and tinged with the cool autumn wind.

A thought sprouted in the night.

He seemed to care about Zhao Rong more than he thought.

Qiao Nanqi thought.