Chapter 22#

Once certain thoughts surface, no matter how large the waves are, they cannot be suppressed; instead, they pull up even more thoughts.

Qiao Nanqi thought of them.

And he wanted to see Zhao Rong even more.

He parked the car, put the Rubik’s Cube in the compartment in front of the passenger seat, and went upstairs.

The lights upstairs and downstairs lit up with his movements, brightly illuminating the villa with a tangible clamor, yet there was no trace of anyone else in the entire house.

Every part of the house remained as orderly as it was at the beginning, the European-style decoration making it all seem even more cold and silent. The blanket on the living room sofa was folded squarely, nothing on the coffee table had changed, and the bedroom was empty—one didn’t even need to touch the bed to know there was no warmth under the covers.

It was clear that Zhao Rong had not returned.

Qiao Nanqi had an almost demanding requirement for tidiness; everything in the house, even if used, had to return to its original place afterward.

From the first day Zhao Rong moved into his house, he had been particularly sensible in this regard, not at all like a young master used to being cared for. He always consciously tidied up any traces of his presence.

But this sensibility, which had once satisfied Qiao Nanqi, now made it impossible for him to even determine if Zhao Rong had ever been back.

Qiao Nanqi’s rather hurried footsteps subconsciously slowed down.

He glanced at his phone—there were many unread messages, but none from Zhao Rong.

There was a time when, no matter when he opened his phone, he could see messages from Zhao Rong, whose contact name was still quite casual. Now, he had changed Zhao Rong’s contact name to something formal, but that name had sunk into the sea, never to surface again.

His fingertips swiped up and down, opening and closing the chat box. After closing it, he felt hesitant and opened it again, only to see the message Zhao Rong had sent him: “Not coming back.”

After this cycle repeated for a while, Qiao Nanqi finally closed the chat box.

If he didn’t come back today, it was impossible he wouldn’t come back later.

He turned off the screen and walked into the study, intending to light some sandalwood and do some work as usual.

But before Qiao Nanqi’s hand could touch the lighter, his gaze first hit a thin layer of dust on the shelf.

His movements paused, and only then did he remember that for nearly a week, no hourly worker had been called to the house.

These things were always handled by Zhao Rong.

In the period just after Qiao Anqing’s death, He Nan had wished he would disappear as well. Some of the servants at home were bullies who sensed He Nan’s attitude and weren’t kind to him when he was young. Qiao Nanqi couldn’t stand living there and moved out, but because of this, he became wary of servants and still didn’t like having live-in housekeepers or servants.

In the past, he would call hourly workers to tidy up when he was free, but he had to supervise them himself.

Later, Zhao Rong moved in, and imperceptibly, these matters were gradually handled very appropriately by Zhao Rong. But these things were too trivial, too minute. He had been busy for over a year, spending little time at home, and had never noticed.

There was also Sister Li.

Zhao Rong would always instruct Sister Li on what dishes to prepare and what time to start cooking so it would be just right before he returned for dinner.

With Zhao Rong away, these matters, now without someone to handle them, suddenly popped up one by one, impossible to ignore.

Qiao Nanqi had a strong obsession with cleanliness, yet his movements paused, and strangely, he actually lightly touched that layer of dust on the shelf that had settled because no one had cleaned it.

His fingertips were immediately stained with fine dust.

The gritty sensation immediately triggered Qiao Nanqi’s subconscious disgust, making him want to wash away this thin layer of dust instantly and rid himself of the unpleasant emotion.

—It was very similar to the feeling he had when he discovered Zhao Rong wasn’t home.

He suddenly lost interest in lighting the incense.

Late autumn moved one step further.

After a few days of clear skies, there was a continuous downpour.

These few days could be said to be Zhao Rong’s most “destitute” yet most enjoyable days in years.

Earlier, as everything followed the plot of The Return Journey, He Nan, Chen Ze, and those villains and cannon fodder from the original book had already been utterly defeated. Chen Ze seeking him out that day was merely a deathbed struggle. On the day Zhao Rong returned to the company, Chen Ze was taken away for investigation because of his past misdeeds. He Nan could no longer suppress the development of events, and the Chen family was truly finished at this moment.

As the news spread, some people like Liu Shun came to ask him about the situation tentatively, their words mostly carrying some pity—after all, in their eyes, the Chen family’s bankruptcy meant Zhao Rong’s downfall.

But only Zhao Rong himself knew that he wanted to see those pieces of trash from the Chen family reach this point more than anyone else.

This meant he was finally free of all ties, and the world was wide open to him.

The name “Zhao Rong” no longer belonged to a surname for which he had no affection.

Even without the half of the inheritance Grandmother Chen left him, he wasn’t truly incapable of anything. If push came to shove, he could pick up what he learned in his previous life and study it again. If Qiao Nanqi really was ruthless and included him in the same category as Chen Ze and the others, he naturally wouldn’t be a match for the male lead of this world and would simply admit defeat; starting from scratch wasn’t out of the question.

Moreover, the current Qiao Nanqi seemed to be a gentlemanly ex-boyfriend.

Amidst the rumors, everyone thought Zhao Rong would be disheartened, nervous, and fearful, and would pointlessly abandon his dignity to beg for help like Chen Ze. Zhao Rong didn’t. He ignored those fair-weather friends he used to avoid and only replied “I’m fine” to people like Liu Shun who genuinely cared to ask.

Not only was he fine, but he was also very happy.

He seemed like just a minor cannon fodder in these storms, making a brief appearance before everything collapsed around him, having nothing more to do with it.

He was just living his own life.

Zhao Rong had been going to the company regularly these past few days.

He wasn’t just pretending to idle like before, when his biggest task every day was trying to catch an extra glimpse of Qiao Nanqi.

He was taking advantage of the current opportunity to look at project materials that couldn’t be seen outside, and he would even ask Xiao Wu about some parts.

And after leaving the company in the evening…

Zhao Rong held an umbrella, and under it stood a girl with long black hair, wearing a deep blue shirt dress.

The girl had large round eyes, an oval face, and a slight smile, looking quite elegant and ethereal even standing in the rain.

Ahead.

Lu Xingping was wearing a plain black hooded sweatshirt and common denim jeans, with the cuffs neatly folded up at the ankles. Walking through the university town with a backpack, he could easily blend in with the students.

He walked out holding an umbrella, the solid black long-handled umbrella covering the upper half of his face.

Rain slid down the ribs of the umbrella, creating a hazy curtain. The water splashing on the ground bounced up again; in the short time it took to walk down the courtyard path, his folded cuffs were still soaked with raindrops.

When he reached Zhao Rong, he finally lifted the umbrella slightly, revealing his refined and gentle face.

With a movement of the handle, the umbrella tilted forward slightly.

Lu Xiaoyue ran from under Zhao Rong’s umbrella to under Lu Xingping’s in a few steps, grabbing Lu Xingping’s arm and saying, “Brother, the rain is so heavy, let’s go inside first.”

Lu Xingping glanced at her, then looked at Zhao Rong and smiled: “Zhao Rong, come in and sit for a while. It’s not safe to drive in such heavy rain.”

Rarely did he not leave Zhao Rong speechless.

As expected, it’s different with Lu Xiaoyue around.

Zhao Rong naturally couldn’t refuse: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior.”

Lu Xiaoyue tilted her head at him, then followed Lu Xingping into the house.

Zhao Rong followed closely behind.

That Zhao Rong would send Lu Xiaoyue home today wasn’t exactly an accident—although it seemed like one to Lu Xingping and Lu Xiaoyue.

His primary reason for going to the company was partly to learn things for future use, but more importantly, to have more contact with Lu Xingping, who would go to the company to pick up his sister.

Today, at off-duty time, the rain hadn’t let up but had grown even heavier. When Zhao Rong went downstairs, he happened to see Lu Xiaoyue waiting for a driver.

He and Lu Xiaoyue had met a few times long ago; they weren’t close, but they knew each other.

So Zhao Rong went directly to ask Lu Xiaoyue why she hadn’t gone home yet.

It turned out that Lu Xingping’s consultation time with a patient had exceeded expectations, so he had to arrange for a driver to pick her up. But by the time the driver received the message, it was already rush hour and raining heavily. The driver was stuck in traffic and couldn’t get out. Let alone at this off-duty time, even normally, it was hard to get a taxi in the area where the main company was located during such heavy rain.

Lu Xiaoyue was waiting awkwardly downstairs at the company.

She just happened to be spotted by Zhao Rong.

Without a word, Zhao Rong took the initiative to offer Lu Xiaoyue a ride home.

But he hadn’t expected Lu Xingping to be at home.

Lu Xiaoyue went upstairs with the hot coffee Lu Xingping had brewed for her just in time. Zhao Rong sat on the sofa and took the hot plain water Lu Xingping handed him.

Looking at the steam rising from the cup, he actually had the thought, “As expected, it’s plain water again.”

Zhao Rong: “…”

“You seemed surprised to see me?” Lu Xingping sat down on the other side and asked casually.

“Hmm?” Zhao Rong hadn’t expected his emotions to be so easily read. “Because Miss Lu told me you were busy with work and couldn’t come to pick her up… I thought you weren’t home.”

Lu Xingping pointed to a closed door next to the music room.

“I work here.”

Zhao Rong’s gaze followed his finger, and he blinked slowly.

“I’m not a workaholic like Nanqi. I usually don’t care about our family company matters unless they’re major. My main profession is a psychologist.”

He leaned back slightly against the sofa. “Usually, patients come to my house. The music room is on the first floor because sometimes music is also my tool. You can understand it as me opening a studio, and the studio just happens to be at home. So I’m usually at home, but right now, you can sit for a bit and then go back; I have to head out soon.”

Zhao Rong understood, and at the same time, a trace of envy rose in his heart.

The male lead’s “white moonlight” truly is the male lead’s “white moonlight.”

Although Lu Xingping wasn’t as deep yet bright as Qiao Nanqi had been since childhood, he was ultimately a dazzling person.

In his youth, he had turned around his family’s business, but now he was a hands-off boss, working as a psychologist at home. His personality was the polar opposite of Qiao Nanqi’s, yet they were both equally free-spirited.

Fortunately, he, this minor cannon fodder, was now heading toward such a life as well.

The wind and rain outside were too heavy. Zhao Rong’s health wasn’t great, and his hands were a bit cold.

The warmth of the hot water transferred through the cup made him very comfortable. He held the water cup with both hands, sitting cautiously, and said, “Then how much do you usually charge, Senior? Help me relieve some pressure as well.”

He was joking, just to start a conversation.

Normally, a person would respond with something like “What pressure do you have?”, and Zhao Rong could then talk about his work these past few days, the life that was constantly changing, and many other things.

Unexpectedly, Lu Xingping gave him a meaningful look and said, “Didn’t I already counsel you the last time you came to my house?”

Zhao Rong was stunned.

“I gave you that book.”

So he was talking about the matter with Qiao Nanqi.

True, in the eyes of people like Lu Xingping and Xia Yuantu who were close to Qiao Nanqi, he was a illegitimate son recognized halfway by the Chen family, a “straw man,” ignorant, and with a mind full of fantasies—a toad wanting to eat swan meat, liking Qiao Nanqi.

“I think I told you, Senior, that Mr. Qiao and I have broken up.” Actually, they divorced—after all, they had signed a marriage agreement. But he and Qiao Nanqi never had a formal legal relationship from beginning to end. Qiao Nanqi had never once worn the wedding ring he bought. Their relationship over the past year or so truly didn’t deserve that word.

At most, it was a breakup.

“I remember,” Lu Xingping arched an eyebrow. “It’s just that from this moment on, you seem to be a bit more resolute than I thought. That book, you didn’t read it after taking it home?”

“I’ve read it.”

“Many people repeatedly read books they like.”

“Why?”

“Because if you read it a few more times, you might have a different interpretation. When I used to read, I was very picky and rarely liked a book, so once I found one that suited my taste, I would read it several times.”

“I’m not that kind of person,” Zhao Rong paused and softened his tone, speaking each word as if breaking it down. “If I really like something and have seen it once, no matter what the ending is, I won’t watch it a second time.”

Xia Yuantu searched around and finally saw the protagonist of today’s celebration feast by a landscape pond on the edge.

The rain was pattering, and Qiao Nanqi stood under the eaves before the heavy rain. Just one step out, and he would be surrounded by the torrential rain.

But as Xia Yuantu looked at Qiao Nanqi’s backlit silhouette, although he couldn’t see Qiao Nanqi’s expression, he felt that Qiao Nanqi wasn’t looking at the rain, but really wanted to plunge headfirst into it.

“What are you doing here?” Xia Yuantu stepped forward and stood beside Qiao Nanqi, only to find that the splashing rain outside the eaves was already hitting him. “Want to take a shower?”

Qiao Nanqi: “…”

“Xingping was delayed by a patient. He just called and said he’s leaving right now. Everyone’s here to celebrate the good day you’ve achieved your wish. Don’t just stand here like a mushroom.” Xia Yuantu couldn’t see Qiao Nanqi’s expression, only the side of his face with a faint mole at the corner of his eye—it seemed a bit gloomy. “Old Qiao, you’ve been acting strange these past few days.”

Today’s celebration feast, while called a celebration, was actually just a few friends gathering to celebrate Qiao Nanqi’s successful achievement of his goal, making sure He Nan would never recover.

He and Qiao Nanqi had known each other since childhood and were very clear about the grievances between Qiao Nanqi and He Nan.

Back then, Qiao Nanqi’s mother, Qiao Anqing, could be said to have been completely driven to death by He Nan. Qiao Nanqi personally saw Qiao Anqing jump to her death and had been at odds with He Nan ever since, in what could even be described as a life-and-death struggle. For this day, many plans had been laid over the years. To make He Nan lower his guard, Qiao Nanqi, who had never bowed his head, had even taken the initiative to show weakness several times.

Xia Yuantu knew too well how long Qiao Nanqi had waited for this day.

But Young Master Qiao’s current state… those who didn’t know might think he was regretting breaking with his father.

Qiao Nanqi’s state was definitely wrong.

But Qiao Nanqi was always the type to keep things buried in his heart and wouldn’t say anything if asked, so Xia Yuantu simply stopped asking.

Equally strange was Zhao Rong.

With all the trouble Chen Ze has been in these past few days, no one in the circle didn’t know. Everyone was saying the Chen family was finished, and Zhao Rong, the illegitimate son, would have nothing.

But Zhao Rong seemed as if he had encountered some happy event. Not only did he come to the company every day, but he also seemed to be in a good mood. Sometimes he would even catch Xiao Wu or even himself to ask some work-related questions.

The Young Master who should have been satisfied was here staring at the rain curtain absent-mindedly, while the “straw man” waste who should have been disheartened was gleeful every day.

“Still standing here? Let’s go—”

“I’m not in the mood.” Qiao Nanqi, who had been silent all along, suddenly interrupted him.

Perhaps because he hadn’t spoken for too long, Qiao Nanqi’s voice was a bit low and hoarse, blending with the continuous rain like a low murmur.

“You guys have fun. All expenses today are on me.”

With that, he turned, picked up his trench coat hanging to one side, and left—without an umbrella.

Xia Yuantu didn’t even react for a moment and didn’t dare to stop Qiao Nanqi.

By the time he came to his senses, Qiao Nanqi’s silhouette had already disappeared around the corner.

“Strange… each one is more abnormal than the last…”

Qiao Nanqi didn’t hear his childhood friend’s murmur.

He didn’t even use an umbrella; he put on his trench coat and rushed directly into the rain. By the time he got into the car, his trench coat was soaked, and water droplets slid from the tips of his hair down his cheeks.

The air conditioner in the car turned on automatically, blowing warm air.

Qiao Nanqi still felt a bit cold.

Zhao Rong didn’t come to today’s gathering.

He had specifically asked Xiao Wu to leak the news of their gathering tonight to Zhao Rong.

But Zhao Rong seemed not to know; he didn’t show up, and there wasn’t even a message.

No, it should be said that from the day Zhao Rong didn’t return home, he hadn’t sent him a single message on his own initiative.

When Zhao Rong first mentioned “breaking up,” he had always thought Zhao Rong was just acting out because he was spoiled.

In the past, he didn’t even have to do anything, and Zhao Rong would take the initiative to come and apologize to him.

Now Zhao Rong might want more, but he didn’t want Zhao Rong to leave and was willing to give more; Zhao Rong would definitely come back on his own.

But Zhao Rong still hadn’t.

Qiao Nanqi drove home alone again.

He was still the only one at home.

Just like before Zhao Rong moved into his house, it was empty, without a bit of life, not like a home.

The dust on some high cabinets was left uncleaned, piling up more and more, and the trash cans in the study and living room were stuffed with scrap paper and garbage. These things had been ignored since the day Zhao Rong left, as if notifying Qiao Nanqi day after day how long Zhao Rong had been gone.

It’s been so many days.

Zhao Rong wasn’t acting out with a breakup, nor was he using his departure to make demands.

Zhao Rong was serious about moving out, and up to this point, he hadn’t made any attempt to contact him or move back.

But he had just discovered that he still hoped Zhao Rong would be by his side in the future. Just like before.

Qiao Nanqi could actually recall the mood and details of every time he saw Zhao Rong, but he hadn’t looked back on them before and hadn’t known he actually remembered so clearly. Looking back slightly now, he could understand the root of everything in an instant.

He didn’t like Zhao Rong mixing with his friends, didn’t want to see Zhao Rong close to others, didn’t like Zhao Rong associating with those playboys, didn’t want to see a half-drunk Zhao Rong with flushed cheeks arm-in-arm with those people…

He also felt like teasing Zhao Rong whenever he saw him, liking to use the most primitive way of declaring ownership…

Whether it was what he liked to see or what he didn’t, these biased demands naturally hid a clear yet elusive word: “future.”

If there were no future, he wouldn’t care at all about what he liked or hated.

—He seemed to have always taken it for granted that Zhao Rong would accompany him forever.

He was the person who believed in “forever” the least.

He had never invested much attention or effort in Zhao Rong. After Zhao Rong left, everything between them only rested on Zhao Rong’s one-sided affection and the marriage agreement from a year ago that was an exchange of interests. It had always been Zhao Rong constantly approaching.

He felt it was impossible for Zhao Rong to leave. This recognition had merged into the long years, becoming a fact that couldn’t possibly change; he didn’t need to worry.

Looking back now, when he first met Zhao Rong, the other party was looking at him with a gaze of admiration so obvious it was almost tangible. Since then, every time they met, Zhao Rong’s eyes were increasingly filled only with him. Very obedient, very submissive, very… unchanging.

Maybe even an always well-behaved kitten would have some temper and demands.

He took out his phone and dialed Zhao Rong’s number.

He would personally pick Zhao Rong up.

Zhao Rong only liked him and had liked him for many years. Even if he left, he wouldn’t have anyone else he liked.

Zhao Rong also had a very soft heart and cherished old feelings. Their first meeting was just a whim of charity from Qiao Nanqi, yet Zhao Rong had remembered it from the age of fourteen until now.

Since he was going personally, it was impossible for Zhao Rong not to come back.