Chapter 35#

After Qiao Nanqi returned home, he called Xia Yuantu and asked him to keep an eye on company matters over the next couple of days, as well as the dirty laundry uncovered from the connection between He Nan and Chen Ze.

Afterward, he instructed Xiao Wu to go to that pet shop on the corner of Changxi Road and ask the owner if they were willing to sell the entire shop for a high price.

What he really wanted to take away was only that litter of stray cats Zhao Rong had been caring for for ten years.

Previously, he wanted to bring them home because he felt they carried a sliver of warmth planted in his youth, which might help him forget some of Zhao Rong’s traces. Now, he wanted to bring them home because they were traces of Zhao Rong.

But Zhao Rong wouldn’t answer his calls, and even if he did…

He actually didn’t know how to start telling Zhao Rong that he now knew about the past that had accumulated in every insignificant day and night over the last ten years—the past he had never mentioned and never listened to.

After much thought, it seemed better to just buy the entire pet shop and move those few stray cats to his old house on Changxi Road.

Xiao Wu was presumably frightened by his boss’s sudden move to buy a pet shop, fearing Qiao Nanqi’s state was so off he was going mad. He said tremulously, “Sir, are you sure about buying this shop? It’s a pet shop; we currently have no development direction in this area…”

Qiao Nanqi swept a glance at Xiao Wu.

He had been looking more haggard than usual these past few days, and his features, adorned by that faint mole below the outer corner of his left eye, naturally carried a hint of gloom, appearing even more deep and solemn now.

With just a glance, Xiao Wu didn’t dare say another word. He took the task and turned to leave.

Yet Qiao Nanqi suddenly spoke just as he reached the door: “Tell me…”

Xiao Wu hurriedly braked his steps: “What?”

“What do you think…” Qiao Nanqi paused, his eyes lowered, his expression unreadable, “of how I treated Zhao Rong?”

Xiao Wu immediately stammered: “Wha—wha—what? Mr. Zhao?”

He looked at Qiao Nanqi’s expression, seemingly trying to guess Qiao Nanqi’s intention to see what kind of answer would satisfy his boss.

But Qiao Nanqi’s face was slightly darkened, with no other expression, making it truly impossible to tell.

He could only say: “Quite well…?”

Qiao Nanqi didn’t speak.

Xiao Wu continued: “The agreement you signed with Mr. Zhao offered many benefits. I usually follow you to handle many private matters, and seeing your other friends… they aren’t nearly as good to their lovers as you were.”

“Didn’t you also transfer several large sums of money to Mr. Zhao? Oh, right, and the shares in our main company—didn’t you give a portion to Mr. Zhao as well? When Mr. Zhao came to the company, you also made arrangements for him…”

As he spoke, he noticed that Qiao Nanqi’s expression didn’t change much, yet for some reason, the atmospheric pressure in the room felt like it was getting lower and lower. He had to steel himself and say: “Compared to others, your treatment of the lover by your side—”

“Go and get the business done quickly.” Qiao Nanqi interrupted him directly.

He stood up, not even glancing at Xiao Wu, his gaze landing somewhere unknown, his entire being exuding a listless aura.

He only left Xiao Wu with his back as he turned and walked into the bedroom.

The only thing left was the muffled sound of the door closing.

By the time the cats were brought back, it was already the next day.

The kittens seemed a bit startled upon arriving at the new home. After so many years, the cat Qiao Nanqi was most familiar with seemed to have passed away, and the younger ones didn’t recognize him at all.

Just as he crouched down, wanting to pick one up, the little thing lunged away in fright, instantly slipping under the bed.

The others were in a similar situation.

He sighed silently and slowly stood up.

The young girl at the pet shop’s front desk was momentarily dazed when she saw that the person who paid a high price for the shop within a single day was actually Qiao Nanqi. She finished settling the items for cat care, took the compensation Xiao Wu gave her, and was about to leave when Qiao Nanqi called out to her.

“…When he asked you to settle the cats, did he mention anything else,” Qiao Nanqi couldn’t help but ask, “any person or matter related to these cats?”

The girl shook her head: “No.”

Qiao Nanqi’s gaze darkened, and he finally let her leave.

Yesterday, he had called Zhao Rong several more times. Without exception, not a single call was answered.

The latest message was one he sent this morning, consisting of only one sentence.

—“It’s not that I don’t like you.”

This was the sentence that had been stuck in his throat after Zhao Rong hung up the phone.

After sending this sentence, he waited anxiously for the entire morning, checking his phone every few minutes.

But the message seemed to have sunk into the sea, with no ripples appearing.

A few times when it was truly unbearable, he looked at the chat records and couldn’t help but scroll up.

What he found was mostly messages sent by Zhao Rong.

“What time are you coming home today?”

“I asked Sister Li to make a few dishes you haven’t eaten in a long time. See if there are any you don’t like anymore.”

“I just went out for drinks with Liu Shun. Sorry, I couldn’t turn it down.”

“I’m picking you up at the airport. Is the flight delayed?”

“…”

In all these instances, his side was either a single word like “Okay” or “Mm,” or no response at all.

In the past, he hadn’t even looked closely at these messages. Now, every sentence had turned into a sharp thorn or blade, gouging his heart inch by inch.

But he couldn’t get any response from Zhao Rong, so he could only look at these old messages.

Clearly it was painful, yet he couldn’t stop.

When Zhao Rong sent him messages before, was this how he felt?

Meaningless anxiety, meaningless waiting.

Holding onto that one-in-ten-thousand hope, willingly tasting the bitterness.

What if he had replied a bit more back then?

Now that he wanted to speak more with Zhao Rong, Zhao Rong wouldn’t respond to him anymore.

Qiao Nanqi stared at the chat history for a long while.

Then, he switched out and tapped on the address Xia Yuantu had sent him.

The night was deep.

The workday was long over, yet the new district was still brightly lit, and the commercial area was bustling with figures.

This area was the most prosperous part of Yang City since it expanded from the old district to the new district. Land was at a premium here; even for someone with a family background like Liu Shun, wanting an apartment here required their parents to be merciful enough to give them a large sum of money.

When Zhao Rong arrived at the bar entrance, Liu Shun was scrolling through his phone, wondering why Zhao Rong had proactively chosen this place.

“Liu’er,” Zhao Rong walked up and patted him on the shoulder, “What are you looking at so intently?”

Liu Shun looked up, about to speak, but froze the moment he saw Zhao Rong.

Zhao Rong was very different today.

Different from his memory, and different from the state he expected Zhao Rong to be in now.

Among people like them, few actually worked seriously. They usually wore all sorts of messy things, practically wanting to hang a pile of street-style jewelry on themselves. When Zhao Rong used to mix with them, although he wasn’t flashy, his style wouldn’t have looked out of place in a nightclub.

But today, Zhao Rong was only wearing a white sweater with a simple deep blue shirt underneath. It was slightly loose but not oversized, perfectly outlining his lean yet tall figure.

Standing here so clean, the lights behind him seemed like a defilement of the clamorous world.

Zhao Rong didn’t look particularly destitute either; one could even say he was in… a good mood?

He didn’t look at all like someone whose family had just collapsed.

While Liu Shun was dazed, Zhao Rong had already started walking inside, asking as he went, “Has Yu Xian arrived?”

“He’s here,” Liu Shun followed him in. “Third Young Master, why did you choose this place? We didn’t come here often before. They only sell fine liquor, and the prices aren’t low. With so many people this time, the total bill will be equivalent to a month of my pocket money. Given your current… if Yu Xian makes things difficult for you in this regard, how about I secretly pay for you first?”

“It’s fine, no need.”

“I’m still a bit worried. Haven’t you stopped going to Young Master Qiao’s company these past two days? Yu Xian somehow got news; he’s very well-informed. Just now he was saying you were thrown away after being used by Young Master Qiao—pah! No pearls from a dog’s mouth.”

“Don’t get worked up.”

“What do you plan to do today? I’ve prepared all my pocket money…”

The music in the bar was incessant, thumping against one’s eardrums.

The light was extremely dim, with multi-colored lights flickering, casting an aura of decadence.

Perhaps it was because he had come to such places too often before, or because he hadn’t been back during this period, but standing here now, Zhao Rong felt uncomfortable all over.

Without those constraints, his disgust for these places burst out all at once.

Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to come often in the future.

He and Liu Shun walked inward and arrived at a round table where about a dozen people were already seated by the dance floor.

Some were familiar faces, a few he had never seen before—unsure which families they were from—and two or three were quite good-looking, clearly brought along by someone to show off. When people like them hung out, they liked to bring along a few people who couldn’t actually enter their circle by birth but were exceptionally beautiful. Sometimes if someone caught another’s eye, they’d have a fling; it was a matter of mutual need.

As Zhao Rong approached, the person sitting on the outermost edge didn’t recognize him. Seeing him draw near, the person whistled and said to Liu Shun, “Yo, Liu Shun, you brought him? Not bad!”

Zhao Rong didn’t speak, only smiled, and sat in the empty seat on the outer edge.

Liu Shun spat at that person: “What are you talking about! This is Third Young Master.”

“Third Young Master?” The person was stunned. “From which family?”

The others also saw Zhao Rong.

This question hit right where it shouldn’t. Those who knew Zhao Rong didn’t know how to speak, and for a moment, silence fell, leaving only the unending music of the bar.

After a moment, someone spoke up: “Yeah, I’m curious too. Which family’s Third Young Master? Isn’t the Chen family gone? Could it be the Qiao family’s? After all, this Third Young Master has been staying at the Qiao family’s company, and he doesn’t look like his family is destitute at all. Who knows how much money is in his pockets.”

The speaker was Yu Xian.

Hearing this, Zhao Rong wasn’t particularly angry.

He knew it would be like this before he accepted the invitation; he came specifically to resolve this. Although he wouldn’t be staying in Yang City in the end and these rumors or his reputation were inconsequential to him, he didn’t want these people to gossip about Zhao Ming every day when they talked about him behind his back. That’s why he made this appointment today, intending to shut these fools up once and for all.

Yu Xian hadn’t liked him for a day or two.

Unlike him, who was recognized because Chen Fengnian had no children, Yu Xian was a legitimate descendant of a prestigious family. Unfortunately, he himself was useless; he was very skilled at dating and keeping lovers, but his serious business was a mess. Two years ago, his inheritance rights were suddenly snatched away by an illegitimate son who appeared out of nowhere with impressive ability.

Unable to deal with the one in his family who was better than him, he naturally transferred his disgust to others. For the past two years, he had been at odds with Zhao Rong, whose background was illegitimate.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have specifically made this appointment today—wasn’t it just to see Zhao Rong make a fool of himself?

“I just don’t know if the money given by others as charity is enough for you, Third Young Master. If it’s not enough, we’re all friends,” Yu Xian pointed to the row of liquor on the table, “If you drink until I’m happy, it’s not impossible for everyone to lend you a bit.”

Zhao Rong looked up at Yu Xian.

He unhurriedly poured a full glass of the strongest liquor. He didn’t drink it himself but pushed it in front of Yu Xian.

He said, “Young Master Yu is right; I do have quite a bit of money in my pockets.”

He raised his hand and called over the nearest waiter, saying loudly, “Please take note: all bills for everyone present today are on me—except for Young Master Yu.”

“Of course, if Young Master Yu drinks until I’m happy, it’s not impossible for me to include yours as well.”

Zhao Rong usually did things gently and tactfully, never having been so sharp. After these words came out, even Liu Shun was dumbfounded.

Yu Xian froze, his face turning green.

He couldn’t afford the bill for the entire place and couldn’t suppress Zhao Rong. Nor would he drink the liquor Zhao Rong pushed in front of him.

He had truly lost face.

His original intention was to mock Zhao Rong, so when Liu Shun initially suggested this place, he was quite pleased—after all, the Chen family was bankrupt, and if Zhao Rong came to this place, he’d surely have to rely on them.

But Zhao Rong came, and he came neither humble nor arrogant, looking not at all destitute.

Furthermore, Zhao Rong’s sentence just now wasn’t a simple treat, but the bill for everyone present.

The consumption here wasn’t low to begin with. How much would the total bill for all tables in one night be?

Didn’t the Chen family collapse? Where did he get the confidence?

Could it be he really has something with Young Master Qiao…

“If I really had dealings with Big Qiao,” Zhao Rong seemed to see through his thoughts at a glance, “with all the gossip you’ve been spreading lately, would you still have the leisure to be sitting here?”

Yu Xian’s words were stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

Zhao Rong sat there, eyes slightly lowered, hands folded, his tone returning to its usual peacefulness: “Young Master Yu, so this glass of liquor—are you drinking it?”

Yu Xian’s expression was ugly, unable to say anything in response.

What Zhao Rong said was actually correct. If Zhao Rong really had something with Big Qiao, with Big Qiao’s methods, how could he let them talk trash at will?

But if Zhao Rong had no relationship with Big Qiao and for some reason wasn’t as destitute as they imagined, then wouldn’t their performance today be a waste of effort, making a joke of themselves instead?

Yu Xian didn’t move.

Zhao Rong said no more, waiting for Yu Xian to leave.

Sure enough, after a short while, Yu Xian stood up with a dark face, grabbed his coat, and left.

The few people who came with him didn’t have the face to stay either and followed him out dejectedly.

Those people were raised in luxury since childhood and cared most about face and dignity. They had no face left tonight, so they certainly wouldn’t proactively bring this up again. The rumors would collapse on their own.

Zhao Rong’s goal was achieved.

He had rarely been so aggressive; just now was intentional. Now that Yu Xian and his group were gone, and the people left at the table were all brought by Liu Shun, he relaxed.

He didn’t know that at another table nearby, through the obscure and dim light, Qiao Nanqi was sitting there, staring intently at him.

He just leaned back in his seat and asked the waiter to bring him a cup of crisp Longjing tea in the alcohol-scented bar.

Only then did Liu Shun snap out of it and say, “Third Young Master, my card might not be able to cover that much at once. Should I call my dad? The bill for the whole place… oh boy…”

Zhao Rong was amused by him: “When did I say you had to pay? I said it’s on me, so it’s on me.”

“You have it? Didn’t your family—” He covered his own mouth.

“The Chen family is bankrupt, and I can afford to pay; they’re two separate things.” Zhao Rong didn’t mind at all people talking about the Chen family, since he hated them too. “Don’t worry, it won’t cost much. I invested in this bar.”

Liu Shun hadn’t recovered from the previous situation when Zhao Rong’s words dazed him again.

Fortunately, he was a genuine empty-headed second-generation rich kid. Such matters couldn’t stay in his head for more than three rounds. Before long, they were chatting about other topics.

Liu Shun pointed to a young man around twenty years old beside him and asked Zhao Rong, “Third Young Master, what do you think of him?”

The young man was quite good-looking. Zhao Rong hadn’t seen him before, but for some reason, the features seemed a bit familiar.

Because of the familiarity, his gaze lingered on the other person’s face for a moment, just in time to meet the other’s eyes. The person looked at Zhao Rong, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

Zhao Rong: “?”

Liu Shun leaned in and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, “Aren’t you alone now? The one you want to pursue, cough, the difficulty is really too high. I thought since you like that kind of look, I found someone similar these past few days. If you’re interested, then we don’t have to fight Big Qiao for his person, right…”

Zhao Rong: “.”

He finally knew who those familiar features reminded him of.

Liu Shun patted the young man: “What are you dazing for? Go sit by Third Young Master.”

the man stood up, walked around the table, and headed toward Zhao Rong.

Zhao Rong originally wanted to refuse.

But in that moment of thought, he remembered Fang Zhuoqun asking if he still liked Qiao Nanqi, remembered Zhao Ming asking if he still planned to get married, and remembered that even if he fulfilled the marriage contract with Lu Xingping, they would part ways immediately after getting the inheritance…

In a moment of distraction, the person was already about to sit down right next to him.

Before he could say anything, someone suddenly grabbed his hand and violently pulled him away from the young man who was about to sit down.

Zhao Rong bumped into a man’s chest and looked up to see a familiar face.

Under the dim bar lights, Qiao Nanqi’s sharp features were hidden in the shadows, looking exceptionally deep.

He looked down to meet Zhao Rong’s gaze, his grip on Zhao Rong’s wrist tightening.

Zhao Rong was stunned.

The next moment, he violently pulled back his hand from Qiao Nanqi’s grip and retreated several steps.

Only when there was a gap wide enough for two people between them did he stop, looking at the man who shouldn’t have appeared here at all.

“What are you doing?”