Chapter 9#

Against the light, most of Qiao Nanqi’s face was hidden in the shadows. Zhao Rong could only feel the man’s gaze fixed on him.

The back seat was very spacious. There was still a distance wide enough for a person between them. However, this distance lengthened Qiao Nanqi’s scrutinizing gaze, making it heavy.

Realizing what he had said, Zhao Rong couldn’t care less about the disobedient tuft of hair on his head anymore. He slowly lowered his raised hand, supporting himself on the slightly cold seat surface.

He lowered his head, avoiding Qiao Nanqi’s gaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man’s hand very close to him and instinctively shrank back a little.

In the past, when he still had hope, such a gaze specially cast by Qiao Nanqi would have made him happy. Now, with no attachment left, the direct stare seemed to carry the weight of a thousand pounds, making him somewhat breathless.

Zhao Rong turned his head and looked out the window.

He originally intended to avoid Qiao Nanqi’s gaze, but as he looked, he unconsciously began to watch seriously.

The rain hadn’t stopped yet. The road surface was wet. The wheels rolled over, splashing water droplets, bringing a rustling yet dull sound.

Fine raindrops hung on the window. The distance was gloomy. Seeing that night was about to fall, the heavy traffic couldn’t cover the overwhelming gloom. This should have been a day that naturally made people feel low, and the car window in front of him was tightly closed, but Zhao Rong felt as if he had already smelled the moist air and the scent of vegetation on the green belt through the window.

In the past ten years, if he had the chance to sit side by side with Qiao Nanqi in the back seat of a car, his heart and eyes would be full of the man sitting next to him. Turning his head now, he realized there was scenery on the other side too.

Watching and watching, he began to think about what he would do after the plot of “The Return” ended.

The matter with Lu Xingping had to be resolved, but he also had things he wanted to do himself.

Over the years, in order not to be targeted openly or secretly by his two cousins, he had always been very “dutiful” in being a rich playboy—fooling around under the eyes of everyone in Qiao Nanqi’s company during the day, and continuing to fool around in the pile of rich young masters at night. But he hadn’t done nothing in these years.

He could…

“What’s wrong with your hair?” The man’s voice suddenly came.

Zhao Rong looked at the tuft of hair that was vaguely sticking up in the rearview mirror and said, “Pressed while sleeping.”

This was tantamount to saying that he was lying down before going out and hadn’t prepared at all.

Qiao Nanqi frowned slightly, and the trace of inquiry that had just risen disappeared.

Zhao Rong had always been like this.

He said indifferently: “Prepare earlier next time.”

Zhao Rong nodded and said very obediently: “Okay.”

Anyway, it was written in the marriage agreement that he would maintain a marital relationship with Qiao Nanqi when Qiao Nanqi’s inheritance rights were unstable. When the plot ended, let alone inheritance rights, the entire Qiao family would belong to Qiao Nanqi. His obligations on the marriage agreement would have long been fulfilled.

They actually didn’t have any legal relationship anymore.

There wouldn’t be a next time anyway.

Zhao Rong agreed quickly, and Qiao Nanqi’s expression eased slightly.

Being with Zhao Rong, Zhao Rong could silently find a suitable place in his life, not disturbing people, just staying there. Whatever he said, even if Zhao Rong didn’t want to do it, he wouldn’t contradict him.

None of the Chen family members could speak nicely, and Zhao Rong was completely not the type he would like—gold and jade on the outside, rotten cotton on the inside—but surprisingly, he could make him feel at ease.

Qiao Nanqi didn’t say anything more.

Zhao Rong didn’t try to make conversation like before either, blindly looking out the car window.

The car was unusually quiet, but Qiao Nanqi and Zhao Rong’s expressions seemed as usual.

The galaxy came with the night. The driver drove through the red lights and green wine of Yang City for nearly an hour before arriving at an old house of the Qiao family in the suburbs.

This was originally where their family of three lived when Qiao Nanqi’s mother was alive. She liked quietness, so He Nan accompanied her to live in the far suburbs. But later, after Qiao Nanqi’s mother passed away, the relationship between Qiao Nanqi and He Nan plummeted. He Nan moved to a property under his own name, and Qiao Nanqi also moved to that small house on Changxi Road. This place was completely empty. Over the years, the ones living in the whole house were actually some servants.

Only at this time would He Nan and Qiao Nanqi come over. The whole house was brightly lit, exactly like a play. Only when the specific scene arrived and the specific actors arrived did the play begin.

Hypocritical yet real.

As soon as the car stopped, someone came to both sides of the car with umbrellas and opened the doors for Zhao Rong and Qiao Nanqi.

As soon as he got out of the car, Qiao Nan’s tall figure stood under the umbrella, and the servant holding the umbrella had to raise his arm high.

Zhao Rong took the umbrella handle into his own hand: “I’ll do it myself.”

Qiao Nanqi didn’t wait for him and had already walked a distance ahead. Zhao Rong had to take the umbrella and quickly follow.

Although he followed behind Qiao Nanqi and could only see the back of this person under the umbrella through the fine rain curtain, Zhao Rong knew Qiao Nanqi’s expression at this moment without looking. It must be gloomy—because the person holding the umbrella was trembling with fear.

This was normal. Qiao Nanqi had this dead look every time he saw He Nan, let alone in such a place that could evoke memories.

Not to mention Qiao Nanqi, even Zhao Rong, every time he stood in front of the door, always had a trance-like feeling.

Qiao Nanqi was because of his biological mother; he was because of Qiao Nanqi.

He had also… stayed here for a few days.

When they passed through the flower garden and arrived at the dining room on the second floor, He Nan was already sitting there.

He was dressed in a solemn black suit, his figure rather thin, his facial features looking rather sinister, with an air of shrewdness at first glance. Zhao Rong had secretly compared He Nan and Qiao Nanqi very early on. These two didn’t look alike at all. Whether in appearance or personality, there was no connection that a father and son should have.

Seeing Zhao Rong, He Nan, as expected, showed displeasure just like before, but couldn’t say anything.

Qiao Nanqi glanced at him, then dragged Zhao Rong to sit at another part of the dining table, not saying a word from beginning to end. Just now he looked gloomy, but at this moment he looked calm.

Dishes were served one by one, and He Nan finally spoke: “Old Qin was taken away yesterday—you leaked Old Qin’s affairs.”

“Yes,” Qiao Nanqi nodded, the corner of his mouth raising a slight arc, “He cooked the books and forged contracts. As your assistant for so many years, who knows how much he held you back. Shouldn’t I have exposed him?”

He Nan tightened his grip on the chopsticks and gave a fake smile: “Really promising.”

“You flatter me.”

“You show no mercy; aren’t you afraid of being hated and retaliated against?”

“Then die together, doesn’t matter.” Qiao Nanqi rarely showed a slightly indifferent expression, his tone unexpectedly a bit innocent, “I just don’t want to make you happy—Dad.”

At this moment, Zhao Rong was sitting beside Qiao Nanqi, recalling this part of the plot in his mind.

There was no clear timeline for this part in the original book, just saying that after a period of time, everything settled when He Nan couldn’t retrieve the situation. He always thought this “period of time” was a few months or even a year or so, but judging from the fact that He Nan’s assistant had already had an accident, it should be only one or two months.

While dutifully acting according to his agreement with Qiao Nanqi, arrogantly asking the servant to peel shrimp for him, he thought about how to come up with a way to have more contact with Lu Xingping as soon as possible.

But the tension over there suddenly spread to Zhao Rong’s side. He Nan lost face several times by Qiao Nanqi. Perhaps unable to find a place to vent, he glanced at Zhao Rong who was leisurely eating and said: “You have so much time to discipline my friends and assistants for me, why not discipline this bastard beside you, idling about and doing nothing.”

Qiao Nanqi said without thinking: “When did you fall so low as to compare with trash?”

He slowly wiped his hands with a warm, moist towel, looking calm, before continuing: “You just came back and are tired. Zhao Rong and I should be leaving.”

Zhao Rong’s movement paused.

He was just eating the peeled shrimp meat with a smile. At this moment, the smile was still there, but there was no smile in his eyes.

He seemed not to have heard what He Nan said just now, just paused for a moment, then continued to smile and greet the servant to help him crack the crab shell. He was born with a pair of peach blossom eyes. As long as his eyes curved slightly, all emotions could be easily hidden.

Neither He Nan nor Qiao Nanqi paid attention to him anymore.

Before long, these two father and son in name only finally ended their “pleasantries”. He Nan achieved his goal of probing Qiao Nanqi’s attitude, and Qiao Nanqi angered He Nan enough. Only Zhao Rong ate through the whole process.

Before leaving, just as Qiao Nanqi turned around, Zhao Rong slowly stood up and called out to He Nan who was leaving quickly.

“Mr. He. Qiao… Young Master.”

Qiao Nanqi subconsciously looked back at him.

Zhao Rong said word by word: “I can’t be counted as trash, nor am I a bastard. I have a mother, she is very good.”

Before his voice fell, he turned and left.

Unlike before, waiting for Qiao Nanqi to take a step, he followed closely behind this person.

He walked out of the gate alone, without looking back at He Nan and Qiao Nanqi’s reactions, and went straight into a car parked not far from the gate.

That was called by him just now.

The taxi driver turned around and asked him where to go.

Zhao Rong took out his phone and called Liu Shun.

“Liu’er, you said last time you found a new venue, want to play?”

“Yes, now.”

Zhao Rong hadn’t drunk so much alcohol in one go for a long time. After drinking with Liu Shun for just a while, although not drunk, his face was covered with crimson.

Fortunately, the bustling and noisy bar counter was dim and mixed with flashing lights, making it hard to see people’s faces clearly. He relaxed, without disguising any expression, raised the glass and said again: “Come, one more cup.”

“Go go go!” Liu Shun clinked glasses with him and chatted, “You haven’t played with everyone these few days, don’t know there’s new gossip recently.”

“Tell me for a laugh.”

“Wasn’t it rumored a while ago that Boss Qiao doesn’t like that one from the Lu family anymore, and is with a female star every day recently? Oh my, yesterday that female star was directly terminated. Why? Heard she just gossiped a bad word about someone. Who do you think it is?”

“…Who else?”

“I thought so too. Who else could it be besides that one from the Lu family? Speaking of Young Master Qiao, who among us isn’t afraid of him? My parents talk about how amazing he is in front of me every day, yet he fell for Lu Xingping. It’s really a wonder.”

“Indeed a wonder,” Zhao Rong laughed a few times, “Another cup.”

“Impressive, Third Young Master,” Liu Shun was dizzy, “Haven’t drunk for so long, alcohol tolerance is still so good. But why did you drink so much today? Did your family’s that one leave?”

Zhao Rong laughed: “No.”

He swirled the ice wine in the glass, listening to the music behind him and the sound of ice cubes hitting the glass wall in front of him. The shaking lights stung Zhao Rong’s eyes a bit. He slowly closed his eyes, tilted his head, and drank it all in one gulp.

“The sun came out from the west,” Liu Shun said.

Zhao Rong put down the glass forcefully and signaled the bartender to give him another one.

He slowly raised his hand, shaking his left hand without any ornaments in front of Liu Shun.

“Liu’er,” his smile grew wider, “I’m getting a divorce.”

Liu Shun was obviously dumbfounded.

Zhao Rong had liked someone for many years. Friends in their circle knew this. Zhao Rong was as serious as could be about that one, as persistent as could be, and protected that one’s existence very well. For so many years, their group of people just didn’t know who that one was.

In their group, some changed partners once a month, but Zhao Rong alone couldn’t be pulled away by eight horses. They had discussed it in private many times, but Zhao Rong was loyal and had a good temper. They all liked to drag Zhao Rong to play together, and no one had gossiped in front of Zhao Rong.

But just the wedding ring on Zhao Rong’s ring finger every time they met was enough to prove everything.

But it was fine two days ago; in the blink of an eye, the wedding ring was gone.

He stammered: “Di, divorce? Now? How about, how about talking when sober? Think again?”

Zhao Rong shook his head.

With his trained alcohol tolerance, this little wine didn’t make him drunk at all, nor did he need to sober up.

The background noise in the bar was too loud, making the conversation seem a bit intermittent. To let Liu Shun hear clearly, Zhao Rong raised his voice and said: “I’m getting a divorce.”

Several people around turned their heads to look.

Zhao Rong ignored them completely, took the newly mixed drink, took a sip, and continued to say to Liu Shun: “Originally planned to wait a few months to part on good terms, today…”

“Forget it,” he raised the glass and clinked it lightly against Liu Shun’s glass, “Celebrate my divorce.”

Liu Shun was obviously still confused. Only when he raised his glass to respond to Zhao Rong’s toast did he react, saying in a trance: “Celebrate your being single.”

Zhao Rong’s gaze paused.

He lowered his voice this time: “That doesn’t need to be celebrated in a hurry.”

“Ah!?”

“Right, I almost forgot. You fool around outside every day, have a lot of gossip. I want to ask you about someone. We all know him, just haven’t seen him often recently. I don’t know his current situation.”

Zhao Rong wanted to confirm the current status of Qiao Nanqi’s white moonlight, his former fiancé, first.

In the original work, Lu Xingping always had someone in his heart, but that person couldn’t marry Lu Xingping for some reason. Only then did Lu Xingping fulfill the marriage contract with “Zhao Rong”. The relationship between the two only involved interests, not feelings.

But if the current Lu Xingping didn’t have this romantic storyline from the original work, and he didn’t have feelings for Lu Xingping initially, pursuing him, if he really succeeded, wouldn’t he be letting Lu Xingping down instead?

Being with someone without liking them, this was no different from Qiao Nanqi’s current behavior.

He had to ensure the existence of Lu Xingping’s romantic storyline first.

Liu Shun waved his hand: “Speak!”

“It’s my former fiancé, Lu Xingping.”

He had just said no rush to celebrate being single, and then mentioned this name immediately. The connection was obvious.

Liu Shun, who was drinking, choked right away, coughing more than ten times before saying in shock: “That one from the Lu family?”

Zhao Rong nodded.

“No, Third Young Master, are you crazy!?” Liu Shun suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in front of Zhao Rong, “…You, you want to snatch someone from Boss Qiao!? If you want to find someone to stay by your side, buddy, I will definitely help you choose carefully. There are all kinds available to sleep with, but you this this this, why sleep with the one Boss Qiao wants to sleep with? Have you thought clearly?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

He said.

He had slept with Young Master Qiao himself countless times.