Chapter 40#

Zhao Rong didn’t know how to react for a moment.

He had finally gotten a genuine cup of coffee, but Lu Xingping’s words nearly made him spit it out.

Lu Xingping was much sharper and more direct than he had anticipated.

He had originally planned to tactfully gauge Lu Xingping’s attitude, but before the meal had even started, Lu Xingping had taken the initiative to bring up the topic so bluntly.

Zhao Rong held the cup with both hands, feeling the warmth seeping through, his fingers gently rubbing against its surface. It took him a few seconds to suppress the momentary fluster.

He looked up and met Lu Xingping’s gaze.

Lu Xingping raised an eyebrow: “Trying to guess my stance?”

Zhao Rong: “…”

If you could tell, there was no need to say it out loud.

Steadying himself, Zhao Rong smiled and said, “Why would Senior think it’s about the engagement? No one has mentioned it in years. It’s just a joke.”

“That engagement was arranged by my parents and your grandmother because the Lu family was on the verge of collapse back then.”

Lu Xingping picked up the small golden spoon from his cup, slowly stirring his coffee. The rising steam seemed to veil his words in mist.

“But later, the Lu family no longer needed that support, and I never took that engagement seriously,” he said, not even bothering to hide his original attitude. “But even then, I wondered—how could this work? How could they guarantee that two people who didn’t like each other would be willing to fulfill such an absurd engagement? Although you were brought back into the Chen family midway, Chen Fengnian was the head of the Chen family before he passed away, and you were his only son. It would have been too easy for you to find a suitable match. There was no need for this.”

“This engagement must have had some other leverage. It’s just that your heart has always been set solely on Nanqi, and that leverage couldn’t outweigh his place in your heart.”

“And then you voluntarily broke up with Nanqi, yet you started showing up around me more often.”

Zhao Rong sighed.

He said, “Maybe I’ve developed feelings for Senior instead?”

Lu Xingping took a sip of coffee and set his cup down unhurriedly.

He said, “That’s not how you look at someone you like.”

Zhao Rong fell silent.

Perhaps the past eleven or twelve years had indeed left too deep an imprint on him.

Those words abruptly made him forget the previous topic. He lowered his gaze, avoiding Lu Xingping’s eyes, and said with some self-mockery, “Is it that obvious?”

So obvious.

Even Lu Xingping knew how he looked at Qiao Nanqi.

Qiao Nanqi must have always known, too. But rejection and acceptance could coexist. Qiao Nanqi had accepted it calmly, yet never truly reciprocated.

Zhao Rong couldn’t deny that when he first heard Qiao Nanqi say the word “like,” there had been a flicker of feeling in his heart—after all, this was the person he had pursued for so many years. Those words could even stir the deepest, most hidden ache within him.

Even if a passing stranger said such words, it would cause at least a ripple of emotion. Let alone when the one saying it was Qiao Nanqi, who had once reached out to him when he had fallen into the mire.

But that flicker couldn’t linger for even a moment, precisely because he had once seen things too clearly.

The clearer he was, the more helpless Qiao Nanqi’s current behavior made him feel.

Putting aside the ten years of acquaintance, during the year and more they were together, if only there had been even a hint of active reciprocation.

And then there was Lu Xingping. Over the years, regardless of Lu Xingping’s thoughts, Zhao Rong had noticed Qiao Nanqi’s special attitude toward him. On the first day Zhao Rong moved into Qiao Nanqi’s home, Qiao Nanqi had suddenly broken his promise, returning home with Lu Xingping in tow. Even during the past year or so, when Qiao Nanqi was sometimes neither at the company nor at home, and Zhao Rong went to pick him up as a driver, Qiao Nanqi would always send him an address—Lu Xingping’s home. And so on…

Such was this “liking.”

Zhao Rong pushed aside the tangled thoughts.

Seeing Lu Xingping waiting for him to continue, he composed his expression and said, “Actually, until just now, I was still hesitant about whether to bring up the engagement.”

“Oh? Not hesitating now?”

Zhao Rong nodded.

“Senior is right. This engagement does have a leverage that binds me. Apart from me and the people who handled it under a confidentiality agreement, no one alive knows about it.”

“And now there will be one more—me?”

“I hope it will only be Senior.”

“Personally, I think my professional ethics regarding privacy protection are quite high.”

On that point, Zhao Rong had full confidence.

For the past month, he had been approaching Lu Xingping like this, and as Qiao Nanqi’s close friend since childhood, Lu Xingping didn’t seem to have mentioned anything to Qiao Nanqi. It felt like being friends with this person meant that in their interactions, the world consisted only of the two of them, without worrying about affecting others or the burden of being discovered.

He thought to himself that even though Lu Xingping was so blunt in his speech, he still found interacting with him quite easy—and this was why.

He decided to get straight to the point: “—If we get married, the half of the inheritance my grandmother left behind will enter a joint account under both our names.”

Zhao Rong spoke seriously. He deliberately sat up straight, his tone solemn and steady, neither humble nor overbearing, neither hurried nor slow.

After saying it, he felt much more relaxed.

He had told the truth; how Lu Xingping would react was beyond his control.

But Lu Xingping didn’t show any particular attitude. Instead, with rare surprise, he drew out his words and said meaningfully, “That’s a heavy leverage, much heavier than I guessed. Do you know how much half of the Chen family’s assets are worth?”

Zhao Rong nodded. “Before my grandmother passed away, I was in her hospital room and watched her make her will.”

When the Old Madam Chen died, the Chen family was far more prosperous than it had ever been under Chen Zehe—otherwise, half of the inheritance wouldn’t have been frozen. Even after Chen Zehe and He Nan had spent years conspiring together and squandering much of the family’s wealth, the remaining half still allowed the Chen family to maintain such prominence in Yangcheng.

“I know there’s nothing between Senior and me,” he said. “Given Senior’s current situation, you can afford to turn down even such a large sum.”

After all, this wasn’t like an ordinary person simply finding a place to register a legal relationship. With a legal relationship, besides this inheritance, Lu Xingping would have to bear the risks of such a marital tie affecting the Lu family’s various businesses. Moreover, given Zhao Rong’s previous awkward relationship with Qiao Nanqi, if Lu Xingping actually went through with the engagement, it would inevitably create trouble with Qiao Nanqi.

“For me, it’s just marriage. For Senior, it would mean taking on certain risks and inconveniences. But if we can obtain this money, we can split it half and half, or… I can take a smaller share.”

Lu Xingping examined Zhao Rong.

His glasses slightly reflected the light, making it hard for Zhao Rong to read his expression. But he could feel the weight of that gaze scanning him.

Lu Xiaoyue’s voice came from the kitchen: “Brother! Zhao Rong! I’m done!”

She said, quickly walking over to them and patting Lu Xingping on the shoulder: “Come help me set the table.”

Lu Xingping smiled, withdrew his gaze from Zhao Rong, and got up to help Lu Xiaoyue.

Zhao Rong, not about to stay idle, quickly followed.

It was as if they had just been casually chatting in the living room without mentioning anything significant.

During the meal, Zhao Rong didn’t bring up the engagement, and Lu Xingping acted as usual. They chatted like ordinary friends about various events from their over twenty years of life. Zhao Rong had eaten with Lu Xingping before, but mostly when Qiao Nanqi was dining with Lu Xingping and brought him along. He hadn’t participated much in the conversation, his attention fixed on Qiao Nanqi.

It turned out that when the horizon expanded, the same person could lead to different kinds of interactions.

As they talked, Lu Xingping mentioned their university days.

Lu Xiaoyue exclaimed in surprise: “…Ah, so brother and Zhao Rong were schoolmates? I only learned that today. Zhao Rong, you never mentioned it.”

Zhao Rong picked up a piece of green vegetable and said, “I was very ordinary in university. Nothing worth mentioning.”

“How is that possible? Brother went to one of the two best universities here. You…” She paused, perhaps remembering the common opinions about Zhao Rong.

Among people like them, the capable ones were fine, but the incapable often relied on their parents’ donations to secure a spot.

Lu Xingping, however, showed no hesitation and directly voiced the question on Lu Xiaoyue’s mind: “Did the Old Madam Chen arrange it for you?”

Over the years, Zhao Rong had grown accustomed to others’ impressions of him. Lu Xiaoyue’s reaction—blurting things out but quickly stopping herself—was actually rare. He didn’t mind; he just shook his head and said, “I was nineteen when I returned to the Chen family.”

Nineteen.

That was past high school age. He had already entered university.

Lu Xingping’s expression showed understanding. Watching Zhao Rong eat a piece of vegetable, he said, “It’s so salty, yet you can swallow that?”

Lu Xiaoyue put down her chopsticks: “Brother!!!”

Zhao Rong laughed heartily.

Before he left, Lu Xingping sent Lu Xiaoyue away and walked Zhao Rong to the door.

Throughout the entire meal, neither had mentioned the engagement again.

Zhao Rong had mentally prepared himself for Lu Xingping’s silent rejection. He hadn’t expected that, as he opened the car door to get in, Lu Xingping would suddenly say, “I’ll consider the engagement. I also hope you’ll consider it and make sure you’ve thought it through.”

Zhao Rong paused.

This statement not only left the door open for the engagement but also almost handed the initiative back to Zhao Rong.

“Want to know why?”

“Is my expression that obvious?”

“Do I even need to see your expression?”

Zhao Rong laughed out loud.

Lu Xingping said, “What you said is very true. Although that sum of money is almost absurdly large, I don’t need to take on the risks or sacrifice my own marital status. But…”

“Maybe it’s because of my own situation.”

“I respect the courage you once had, to give up such a huge leverage from the Chen family in pursuit of a solitary island.”

With that, Lu Xingping turned and walked back inside.

Zhao Rong was somewhat dazed by Lu Xingping’s attitude, which was ten times better than he had imagined. He got into the driver’s seat in a trance and closed the door, suddenly recalling the mention of Lu Xingping’s romantic storyline in the original text.

He rolled down the window and called out to Lu Xingping’s retreating figure: “Senior, is there someone you like? Will the engagement affect—”

Lu Xingping glanced back slightly. “She’s no longer alive.”

Zhao Rong was taken aback.

Lu Xingping had already stepped inside and gently closed the door.

Qiao Nanqi stood in front of the hospital room.

The room seemed specially designed, with the wall facing the corridor made of thick, transparent glass, appearing both sturdy and unobstructed.

Anyone standing outside this glass wall could look in and see everything inside.

At this moment, apart from the relevant doctors, only one person lay in the hospital bed.

It was more accurate to say he was strapped down than lying down.

This person was He Nan.

A few months ago, he was still enjoying a prosperous life, able to provoke Qiao Nanqi from within the Qiao family’s old residence. But after Qiao Nanqi successfully uprooted all his influence within the Qiao family and exposed all the misdeeds he and Chen Zehe had committed, Qiao Nanqi’s father—who had spent his life scrambling for profit—finally went mad.

After going mad, he had been receiving treatment in the Qiao family’s hospital, and Qiao Nanqi occasionally came to “visit” him.

Recently, these visits had become particularly frequent.

At this moment, He Nan, in the throes of his madness, had his limbs bound with restraints. He struggled incoherently, having become a complete madman. Apparently concerned he might bite his tongue, something was placed in his mouth, yet he still mumbled indistinctly, repeating a few words.

The doctor said to Qiao Nanqi, “His condition was stable the past couple of days. Today, for some reason, he suddenly relapsed…”

Qiao Nanqi said indifferently, “Because I came.”

He had been standing here watching his mad father for an entire afternoon.

This was not something a person in a normal state would do.

Medical staff came and went, but no one dared to speak. Xiao Wu had been accompanying him for a long time, and seeing Qiao Nanqi’s expression grow increasingly somber, he said nervously, “Sir, you’ve been standing for so long. Would you like to sit down and rest?”

Qiao Nanqi glanced at him.

Xiao Wu immediately fell silent. Even the doctors nearby didn’t dare speak.

For a moment, only He Nan’s indistinct mumbling remained.

Xiao Wu listened and unconsciously looked into the hospital room.

Qiao Nanqi noticed his movement and suddenly said, “Do you want to know what he’s saying?”

“S-s-sir, I-I-I—”

“He’s saying ‘bastard.’”

Xiao Wu’s eyes widened. He held his breath, not daring to blink.

But it was Qiao Nanqi’s next words that truly terrified him.

“He’s calling me a ‘bastard.’”

The implications packed into those four words were enormous. Xiao Wu’s legs went weak, and he nearly knelt before his master.

Yet, as he trembled with fear, Qiao Nanqi seemed completely immune to words that would enrage any normal person. His expression didn’t change; his tone didn’t even waver. When he had first arrived in the afternoon and seen He Nan, his expression had been far more frightening than it was now.

Another moment of silence followed, punctuated by He Nan’s frantic, indistinct repetition of “bastard.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Qiao Nanqi asked Xiao Wu, “Isn’t Zhao Rong preparing for the share transfer with you? When is he coming?”

Xiao Wu was puzzled—didn’t their master know these things? Couldn’t he just ask Zhao Rong directly when he was coming? Why ask him, an errand runner?

Despite his confusion, he dutifully replied, “Yes, Mr. Zhao said he should come on Monday to pick up the documents. He’ll call me then. I’ve prepared all the documents… Sir, are you going to…?”

“Prepare another agreement for me.”

“Also for Zhao Rong to sign.”

As he uttered Zhao Rong’s name, another wave of uncontrollable emotions surged within him.

Qiao Nanqi forcefully suppressed them.

He had finally seen a precious forever. He didn’t want to let go.