Defeated on Danmei AI Translations

Chapter 1

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:26:01 +0000

Chapter 1#

Zhao Rong told the waiter to open all the rows of alcohol on the table.

He lowered his head and eyes, playing with the dice in his hand for a while, then slumped onto the soft sofa in the KTV private room, his whole person sinking into the shadows.

The dim lights in the private room rotated dizzyingly with the rhythm of the song, occasionally sweeping across Zhao Rong’s face.

Chapter 2

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:26:01 +0000

Chapter 2#

Zhao Rong felt that it wasn’t a good idea to keep troubling Fang Zhuoqun like this.

He was nostalgic, even keeping the notebooks he had used and the pens that had run out of ink. In the past, he couldn’t bear to part with them, but now he felt that they were just things.

He sent a message to Fang Zhuoqun, saying that he would take care of these little things and that there was no need to trouble him to check on them in the future.

Chapter 3

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:26:01 +0000

Chapter 3#

They had already lived together for more than a year and had lain on the same bed countless times, so Zhao Rong wouldn’t be hypocritical.

Qiao Nanqi had needs, and so did he.

Even if they seemed to be in harmony but were actually at variance, they were still most familiar with each other’s bodies.

Zhao Rong raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the light mole at the end of Qiao Nanqi’s left eye.

Chapter 4

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:26:01 +0000

Chapter 4#

His stomach was ruined like this in order to get closer to Qiao Nanqi back then.

Zhao Rong was brought back to the Chen family when he was nineteen.

This point was exactly the same as the plot in the book “The Return”. When Zhao Rong transmigrated, the original body was only nine years old. He lived in this world for ten years before reaching this time point where it intersected with the plot in the book.

Chapter 5

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 5#

Ten or so years, to an old person approaching the end of their life, was not a long time.

But in the eyes of young people in their twenties or thirties, it was practically most of their lives.

Actually, the “Zhao Rong” in “The Return” and Qiao Nanqi didn’t meet so early, nor did they know each other for that long.

In the plot of this book, “Zhao Rong” was a cannon fodder who appeared in the latter half, the first step for Qiao Nanqi to suppress the Chen family.

Chapter 6

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 6#

Qiao Nanqi turned his head and glanced in the direction of the master bedroom.

The door was already closed, only a little light leaking from the crack. It was quiet inside, unknown what the person inside was doing.

In the past, when Zhao Rong saw Qiao Nanqi at home, he would come up and sit aside.

He wouldn’t do anything, just quietly stay there, either looking at Qiao Nanqi or looking at his phone. If Qiao Nanqi felt he was annoying, he didn’t need Qiao Nanqi to mention it; he could understand with just one expression and would get up and leave by himself.

Chapter 7

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 7#

Zhao Rong was woken up by Qiao Nanqi for a moment, and although he fell asleep later, he couldn’t sleep very deeply. He kept dreaming lightly, with some images flashing back and forth.

In short, it was all Qiao Nanqi.

Even in his sleep, he held a grudge against Qiao Nanqi for waking him up just now. Looking at Qiao Nanqi’s appearance in front of him, the words he didn’t dare to say during the day poured out all at once.

Chapter 8

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 8#

Thinking of this, Zhao Rong’s eyes paused slightly.

He was too familiar with the name Lu Xingping. From the moment he returned to the Chen family, this name was frequently mentioned as his fiancé. Later, following Qiao Nanqi, he often saw Lu Xingping, whether at the company or at home.

Sometimes when Qiao Nanqi stayed at Lu Xingping’s house for too long, Zhao Rong had to act as a driver to pick him up.

Chapter 9

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

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.

Chapter 10

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 10#

Zhao Rong was amused by Liu Shun’s reaction.

He and Qiao Nanqi had kept their relationship hidden really well.

Actually, he hadn’t done anything. When the two signed the marriage agreement, a few people from the Qiao and Chen families knew.

Up to now, others at most knew that he held an idle position in Qiao Nanqi’s company—this was too normal. Who hadn’t mixed a relationship to stay in another or their own company?

Chapter 11

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 11#

Zhao Rong was dragged straight home by Qiao Nanqi.

He hadn’t been this drunk in a long time, his whole person dizzy, speaking completely without thinking.

He only knew he had said some “silly words” that he hadn’t spoken for many years. The man, who originally had extremely low air pressure, seemed to slightly relax his grip on his hand.

They stood silently facing each other for a while at the corner where the restroom corridor came out. The tune of that gentle love song slowly came to an end. Except for a few jumping notes, the surroundings quieted down, with only some indistinct conversations from all directions.

Chapter 12

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 12#

Zhao Rong was stuck for a good while.

Fortunately, in his two lifetimes, what he was best at was carving out a path through the twists and turns of people’s hearts, making the conversation comfortable for both himself and the other party.

He quickly recovered from the awkward feeling and said: “It’s just that I haven’t contacted Senior for too long, Senior don’t expose me.”

Lu Xingping laughed a few times on the other end.

Chapter 13

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 13#

Many things happened in the past few days.

First, He Nan’s assistant was taken away for cooking the books. Then, several major companies under He Nan’s control ran into trouble one after another—either directors were reported, or legal representatives had problems.

While He Nan was overwhelmed and unable to attend to himself, Chen Zehe also encountered the same trouble.

After all, when Old Mrs. Chen passed away suddenly, Chen Zehe had borrowed a lot of help from He Nan to compete with Chen Er. Over the years, these two parties were more or less intertwined with interests. With He Nan in trouble, Chen Zehe naturally couldn’t escape either.

Chapter 14

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 14#

The day Zhao Rong’s fever completely subsided, the sun happened to be shining brightly.

Lu Xingping had a piano exhibition.

To express his gratitude, Zhao Rong prepared a gift. He put on a suit properly, tidied himself up meticulously, sprayed a little perfume, and appeared at the exhibition site with the invitation Lu Xingping gave him.

In this circle, everyone knew each other more or less.

Zhao Rong used to appear beside Qiao Nanqi, mostly as a foil, or a plaything that Qiao Nanqi brought along on a whim. Those eyes fell on him, always carrying a bit of lightness and contempt.

Chapter 15

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 15#

The staff on the side had already cleared up the scattered billiard balls. Qiao Nanqi raised the long cue, aiming at the balls piled together on the table, without looking at Xia Yuantu.

But while his gaze fell on the billiard table, his attention unconsciously listened to the busy tone of the call on Xia Yuantu’s mobile phone. That was the sound before the other side picked up. Zhao Rong seemed to have set a ringtone, which was not a monotonous busy tone, but a melodious love song, seemingly one often heard in the streets and alleys in recent years.

Chapter 16

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 16#

Zhao Rong maintained his smile.

Thanks again to Young Master Qiao for training him to maintain a smile no matter what the situation.

“Since I’m already here,” he turned his head, his gaze bypassing Lu Xingping and glancing vaguely inside Lu Xingping’s house, “you won’t make me stand here, right? In a while, the security guard might come ask me for contact information.”

“?”

“Thinking I’m a new colleague.”

Chapter 17

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 17#

Zhao Rong did not stay at Lu Xingping’s house for too long.

He chatted with Lu Xingping for a while, but still couldn’t ask about the thread of the original story—whenever he tentatively asked Lu Xingping if there was anyone he liked, Lu Xingping would always evade it lightly.

But being unable to ask was, to some extent, an answer.

If there really wasn’t anyone, why was Lu Xingping so wary?

Chapter 18

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 18#

The car window slowly rose, cutting off the slightly cold air outside, leaving only full warmth.

The night was heavy, but the clouds slowly dispersed, leaving a brilliant starry sky.

The wind was gentle, wrapping a lower temperature unknowingly. Early autumn was moving towards late autumn, and the green trees by the roadside turned yellow day and night.

This night was as quiet as usual.

But Zhao Rong slept very well.

Chapter 19

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 19#

Qiao Nanqi was in a meeting.

The head office was extremely busy these days.

He caught He Nan and his people off guard, yielding substantial results. Those shares and post-acquisition matters all had to be dealt with one by one; just meetings alone, there were several in a row each day.

He wasn’t actually too serious in meetings, sometimes even smiling and chiming in. But if something went wrong, Qiao Nanqi wouldn’t hold back his temper; truly a strict boss, though not hard to get along with.

Chapter 20

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:44:03 +0000

Chapter 20#

Zhao Rong did indeed return to the company.

He woke up early in the morning, replied to the pile of messages on his phone, searched for the information he needed, and then continued to ponder how to obtain the inheritance his grandmother left him.

He had probed Lu Xingping a few times. This person was exactly as described in the original novel: seemingly gentle and approachable, yet sharp and straightforward when interacting, without putting pressure on others. However, it wasn’t easy to get close to him; there was always a hidden distance in their polite exchanges.

Chapter 21

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:24 +0000

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.

Chapter 22

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:24 +0000

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.

Chapter 23

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:24 +0000

Chapter 23#

Zhao Rong didn’t stay at Lu Xingping’s for long.

But this interaction was more pleasant than the last. Although Lu Xingping was still sharp-tongued, he didn’t make Zhao Rong completely speechless.

Zhao Rong quietly discovered that he and Lu Xingping were actually polar opposites in terms of life experience and personality. But if he looked deeper, he and Lu Xingping were actually somewhat similar.

Lu Xingping was free-spirited; once he decided on an idea or concept, he would stick to it. He didn’t have high material pursuits and instead followed his own thoughts. His entire being radiated casualness. If Qiao Nanqi’s life was the kind of sharp edge Zhao Rong wanted to possess, Lu Xingping’s life was the best kind of gentleness Zhao Rong could have achieved if he didn’t have his role in the plot and hadn’t fallen for Qiao Nanqi.

Chapter 24

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:24 +0000

Chapter 24#

Zhao Rong’s tone was actually very gentle.

He was only in his twenties, but no matter what he said, his tone always felt as if it had been washed in the long river of time—unhurried, naturally carrying a hint of tenderness in every word.

This tenderness was consistent with his overall aura; he could get along with anyone and withstand any kind of temper. Although he appeared cheerful, he didn’t have the slightest bit of the recklessness typical of young masters raised in luxury. There was a contradiction in him: a calmness like a distant, long river, despite having his edges smoothed by life.

Chapter 25

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:57:24 +0000

Chapter 25#

That night, Qiao Nanqi had many dreams.

First, he dreamed of the memories of Qiao Anqing that he had frequently seen in his dreams over the years. Then he remembered the time Zhao Rong sat outside the door all night, and the scene of Zhao Rong turning and smiling at him when he woke up and saw Zhao Rong busy in the dining room.

What followed in quick succession were the images of Zhao Rong looking at him over the years.

Chapter 26

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:16:43 +0000

Chapter 26#

Before Liu Shun could finish his first sentence, Zhao Rong already knew the purpose of this call.

He subconsciously lowered his eyes, his gaze wandering aimlessly. His mind was blank; he felt nothing, yet he also felt something.

He felt nothing because hearing even a few words related to Qiao Nanqi didn’t stir a single ripple in his heart.

He felt something because he thought many things in this world were quite strange.

Chapter 27

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:16:43 +0000

Chapter 27#

Qiao Nanqi was momentarily stunned.

The sound of the chord he had just pressed had completely dissipated. In this silent music room, he watched from afar as a relaxed and casual smile spread across Zhao Rong’s face.

Such an expression, even in Qiao Nanqi’s memory, did not often appear on Zhao Rong’s face.

Whether in action or character, Zhao Rong always held back a fraction.

A few years ago, when Zhao Rong was frequently plied with alcohol by them, he would laugh when he was having fun, but he never laughed heartily out of bounds. Watching Zhao Rong with such a smile that didn’t seem happy but rather a bit tired made Qiao Nanqi very irritable.

Chapter 28

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:16:43 +0000

Chapter 28#

Zhao Rong spent a long time chatting with Zhao Ming.

The doctor had once warned him that with Zhao Ming’s illness, there was no telling when she might completely lose lucidity or even get worse. Whenever he had the chance, he should encourage her to talk more to keep her mind active.

Zhao Rong kept this firmly in mind. These days, as long as Zhao Ming was lucid when he visited, he would engage her in conversation.

Chapter 29

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:16:43 +0000

Chapter 29#

Early morning.

The temperature had dropped a bit more. The withered yellow branches by the roadside were now almost completely bare. Fallen leaves on the ground rose with the wind, burying themselves in the soil, emitting a fresh yet somewhat decaying scent as the wind dispersed it.

Amidst the sound of honking, the morning sun rose silently into the sky.

Like a daily ebb and flow floating in the heavens.

Chapter 30

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:16:43 +0000

Chapter 30#

Fang Zhuoqun, who was helping Zhao Rong process the transfer of assets, suddenly turned his head: “You said your old man is a psycho?”

“…” Zhao Rong raised his foot and gave him a light kick, “Go away, I wasn’t talking about you.”

“Hold on a second,” Zhao Rong said to the person on the other end of the line.

He didn’t want to affect others’ work, so he stepped out into an empty corridor.

Chapter 31

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 31#

Afternoon.

After Zhao Rong and Fang Zhuoqun finished their business, they returned to the sanatorium to have lunch with Zhao Ming.

Fang Zhuoqun was not one to stay idle; he talked incessantly during the meal. From the stories of Zhao Rong’s youth that he had told Zhao Ming countless times, to the trivial yet interesting things he had encountered in recent years, and finally mentioning his upcoming marriage to his girlfriend.

Chapter 32

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 32#

Changxi Road was in the old city area. Except for a few main streets that retained their character, other places were quite lonely.

The area near Changxi Road used to be a not-so-prosperous district of small western-style houses, and at this moment, it was even more deserted.

In front of the nearest pet shop, there were few figures.

The young girl at the front desk yawned, glanced at the clock, and counted down to the end of her shift.

Chapter 33

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 33#

A wave of bitterness surged in his heart, yet it was mixed with a hint of heart-stirring warmth.

When he wrote that address on the palm of the young Zhao Rong years ago, he didn’t know his family would fall apart in the near future, didn’t know he would live in the old house on Changxi Road, and didn’t know he and Zhao Rong would meet again years later.

Chapter 34

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 34#

The Milky Way flowed slowly.

Flickering lights reflected in the night sky, obscuring a hint of muted brilliance.

Zhao Rong sat by the window, head tilted, eyes lowered, the lower half of his face hidden in the shadows of the light, his expression unclear.

He didn’t know how long he had been sitting there.

“Sir?” The waiter called out to him, looking a bit troubled. “We’re closing, you…”

Chapter 35

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

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.

Chapter 36

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 36#

Qiao Nanqi looked at him and stepped closer.

Zhao Rong raised his eyes, and the smile that had been in them during his conversation with Liu Shun and the others vanished instantly.

When Qiao Nanqi had appeared earlier, things had happened so fast that Zhao Rong hadn’t even had time to be surprised. Now that he had regained his composure and sensed the puzzled looks from everyone at the table, Zhao Rong lowered his voice and said, “What are you doing here?”

Chapter 37

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 37#

Qiao Nanqi froze.

He still had his head lowered against the side of Zhao Rong’s neck, pinning Zhao Rong’s hands, covering him in what seemed like an embrace. But the strength in his hands had unknowingly and slowly withdrawn.

They were so close that even their breaths were slightly intertwined, yet they seemed worlds apart.

At this moment, he didn’t even know what to do.

When he didn’t receive any reply to the message he sent Zhao Rong earlier, he had prepared himself for Zhao Rong’s rebuttal.

Chapter 38

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 38#

When Liu Shun arrived at Zhao Rong’s place, he pushed the door open directly as Zhao Rong had instructed.

As soon as he entered, he saw the living room with not a single light on. The French windows at the far end were wide open, a chilly wind blowing in, and the drawn curtains on either side swayed in the breeze, giving a desolate feel.

There seemed to be a bundle of bedding by the window, bulging, as if something was hidden underneath.

Chapter 39

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

Chapter 39#

In his over twenty years of life, Qiao Nanqi had rarely encountered a situation where someone deleted his contact information.

So much so that when he saw the message fail to send, he did nothing at first, just staring at the failure notification on the screen. It wasn’t until blood from the cut on his fingertip smeared onto the screen, as glaring as the failure notice itself, that he reacted.

Chapter 40

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:09:34 +0000

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.

Chapter 41

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 41#

Xiao Wu nodded habitually before reacting: “Prepare another copy? Is there any other handover document that needs to be supplemented?”

Qiao Nanqi was still looking into the ward.

The person in the ward who was going crazy in a wretched state was clearly his father, but he seemed to enjoy watching this scene quite a bit, just looking on calmly without averting his gaze.

He knew he had been losing control again these past few days.

Chapter 42

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 42#

Qiao Nanqi’s eyes were very red.

Upon hearing Zhao Rong’s last two sentences, a flash of bewilderment even crossed his eyes for a moment.

Those were words he had never imagined would come out of Zhao Rong’s mouth. He always thought Zhao Rong was still that gentle and obedient person; even if he was angry or unhappy, at most it would be a rejection like before.

But every time, he seemed to encounter a different Zhao Rong.

Chapter 43

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 43#

“What happened to your mouth?” Xia Yuantu pointed at Qiao Nanqi’s lower lip.

Qiao Nanqi sat down to one side, offering no answer to the question.

It wasn’t even late at night, yet he looked utterly exhausted, resting his forehead on one hand with his eyes half-closed.

Whether it was Xiao Wu or Xia Yuantu, they were starting to get used to him being in this state.

Xia Yuantu saw through it at a glance: “What’s going on with you and Zhao Rong again?”

Chapter 44

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 44#

Xia Yuantu was momentarily at a loss for words.

Looking at Qiao Nanqi’s current state, it was far more than just “falling for him.”

Young Master Qiao used to not even return home if his work wasn’t finished, but lately, he had been absent-minded every single day. He had even gone through indirect channels to buy a useless pet shop at a high price just to raise a few kittens. These past few days, he had been carrying a bottle of stomach medicine with only a few pills left, making roundabout inquiries everywhere about Zhao Rong’s past physical condition.

Chapter 45

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 45#

By the time Xiao Wu had prepared the items Qiao Nanqi needed, more than half a month had passed.

Qiao Nanqi required all information and traces related to Zhao Rong that could be found on the surface, which was no simple task. Zhao Rong had grown up in Yang City. Before being recognized and brought back to the Chen family at nineteen, he and Zhao Ming had lived a life of drifting through the streets and alleys, moving from place to place. There were naturally many locations to account for. Following the tracks to understand the trajectory of a person’s life from childhood to adulthood was not the work of a single day or night.

Chapter 46

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 46#

A long time passed.

There wasn’t a single sound in the room; even the sound of breathing had to be carefully captured.

The heavy atmosphere, nearly condensing into substance, almost suffocated Xiao Wu. Standing to one side, he neither dared to leave nor knew if he should stay. He always felt that their boss definitely wouldn’t want anyone to see him like this now, yet he didn’t even dare to make a sound, not even dare to move.

Chapter 47

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 47#

After speaking, Zhao Rong felt a bit dazed himself.

Qiao Nanqi really seemed different from the one in his memory.

Was it that he had been so stuck for so many years that he never truly understood him, or had something happened to Qiao Nanqi in the days after his departure?

Zhao Rong didn’t think too much about it.

It wasn’t important.

When he said those words earlier, it was mainly because he had been pushed to his limit by Qiao Nanqi blocking him several times in a row. Another part of the reason was that he was certain Qiao Nanqi couldn’t possibly respond, and might even directly become angry.

Chapter 48

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 48#

After Zhao Rong returned home, he first organized his wording and sent Ruan Cheng an extremely official message, the general content of which was to thank him for the cooperation and his subsequent plans.

He was still in Yang City for now, and he didn’t want many people to know about his plans to leave. So he didn’t mention that he actually intended to settle in Zhuxi in the future, only saying that he was interested in investing in that area.

Chapter 49

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 49#

Qiao Nanqi heard the sound of the phone vibrating, but he didn’t move.

He sat on the bed, calming his breathing, and waited for a long while.

But the purpose of that call seemed to be to wake him up. After it was automatically hung up when time ran out, the caller didn’t give up and actually called again and again, never stopping from beginning to end.

By the time Qiao Nanqi had slightly extracted himself from the nightmares of his sleep, he picked up his phone and took a look, only to find that this persistent person was Xia Yuantu.

Chapter 50

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 50#

These words hit the bullseye with unerring accuracy, choking back all the words Qiao Nanqi had just held in his throat. Every time they met after Zhao Rong left, it was as if he were getting to know a new Zhao Rong. At this moment, he even wondered how the once gentle Zhao Rong could become sharp enough to say such words.

He stood before Zhao Rong; clearly, he was the one looking down at him, yet he was the one left with nothing.

Chapter 51

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 51#

Zhao Rong hurriedly stepped forward, picked up his phone, and opened the chat box. Sure enough, following his question, Lu Xingping had replied with just a single word: “Okay.”

He stared at the screen for a while before coming to his senses and saying to Liu Shun: “Let’s go.”

The rooms they had booked were on the top floor, and there were only a few. The hallway was empty; Lu Xingping should have already taken Lu Xiaoyue home. As for the room Qiao Nanqi stayed in last night, the door was open, and someone was cleaning inside. It seemed Qiao Nanqi had left long ago.

Chapter 52

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 52#

“I heard Mr. Zhao has recently gotten in touch with the Zhou family?”

Ruan Cheng unhurriedly cut the steak in front of him. Although his head was lowered, he seemed to glance at Zhao Rong from time to time, as if trying to observe his expression.

The Zhou family was also a prestigious family in the Zhuxi area, not much different from Ruan Cheng’s family, and they were even somewhat at odds. In these past few days, the marriage contract between Zhao Rong and Lu Xingping had been finalized. Once the two obtained a legal relationship, a sum of money would enter his account, giving him naturally greater confidence and capital.

Chapter 53

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 53#

The hand with which Qiao Nanqi held the business card didn’t retract for a moment.

The wind blew, making his hand somewhat cold, yet it seemed incomparable to the coldness brought by Zhao Rong’s words.

Just now, Zhao Rong spoke as if it were a casual matter, but he still noticed the pauses and corrections in his speech. When mentioning going home, Zhao Rong paused and changed it to “at your place.”

Chapter 54

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 54#

A few days later, Lu Xingping and Lu Xiaoyue returned from their trip.

As they had previously discussed, Zhao Rong finally called the number left for him after Old Madam Chen passed away years ago, which was intended for him once he made a will.

The other party was a lawyer named Lin.

Perhaps because Zhao Rong hadn’t made a move for so many years, the other party thought he would never come looking. When he first received the call, he didn’t even react to who Zhao Rong was for a moment.

Chapter 55

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 55#

The starry night arrived with the wind.

The night had just fallen; it was a good time. Even in the rather desolate villa area, the sound of car engines passing by could still be heard from time to time.

In the midst of the faint bustle, Qiao Nanqi was home alone.

As usual, he went into the study, lit agarwood to calm his mind, and then opened his phone.

Chapter 56

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 56#

The next day.

Zhao Ming’s caregiver had a temporary family emergency and called to ask Zhao Rong if she could take leave.

Zhao Rong inquired and found that Zhao Ming was in good spirits today; she had been knitting a scarf on the sofa since early morning. So he let her go home to handle things first, tidied himself up, and had Xu Xin drive him to the nursing home.

Chapter 57

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 57#

After saying this, Zhao Rong turned around, picked up the scarf Zhao Ming had just knitted for him this morning from the sofa, put on his coat, and walked to the backyard.

Before he opened the door, there was no sound in the room except for the noise of his walking.

Qiao Nanqi seemed to have been standing in place without moving.

He walked into the small courtyard and sat directly on the steps.

Chapter 58

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 58#

Regarding Ruan Cheng’s matter, it couldn’t be explained in a few words, so Zhao Rong asked Xu Xin to come directly to his house.

As Xu Xin entered, he asked him: “Xiao Zhao, you mentioned that driver from Young Master’s family, has he come looking for you again?”

“No,” Zhao Rong shook his head and frowned, “I was wondering too. Did you see him when you came?”

Xu Xin said: “No. But don’t worry too much. That person doesn’t have much brains, so he probably doesn’t have much capability either.”

Chapter 59

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 59#

Zhao Ming assumed he hadn’t heard clearly and repeated: “Aren’t you two about to hold a wedding? Xiao Rong just called me and said he was going to pick out wedding rings and wouldn’t be coming today. I thought you wouldn’t be coming either.”

The words “wedding” and “wedding rings” appeared so unexpectedly that Qiao Nanqi took a deep breath of cold air. Only after calming down slightly did he say: “Did you perhaps remember wrongly?”

Chapter 60

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:54:41 +0000

Chapter 60#

Inside the house.

Zhao Rong had indeed come to Lu Xingping’s house.

After buying the wedding rings, he had come to Lu Xingping’s house with the catalog containing the information on that pair of wedding rings and everything prepared over the past few days to finalize the wedding details with Lu Xingping.

Many things could be resolved by hiring people; they only needed to choose the appropriate method according to the wedding specifications Old Madam Chen had originally required.

Chapter 61

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 61#

The terrain of Yang City was flat, and snowy days were always windy.

In the whistling wind, the fine snow on the ground was slightly swirled, looking like rolling white sand. The hem of Zhao Rong’s scarf swayed, mirroring his heart at this moment.

He still hadn’t managed to remain calm regarding the past misunderstandings. Hadn’t his earlier loss of composure in front of Qiao Nanqi been precisely because he still harbored resentment?

Chapter 62

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 62#

Outside the car, the wind and snow had somehow returned with a vengeance. Slanting snowflakes drifted down, covering the entire earth.

Under Qiao Nanqi’s despairing gaze, Zhao Rong pulled open the rear car door and stepped out anyway.

Qiao Nanqi immediately followed him out of the car, stepping forward quickly to stand in front of Zhao Rong, pleading in a low voice: “Don’t go, listen to me…”

Zhao Rong didn’t move. “I’ve finished listening to what you had to say.”

Chapter 63

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 63#

When Xia Yuantu first received Zhao Rong’s call, he thought Qiao Nanqi’s request for reconciliation had simply been rejected by Zhao Rong again. This childhood friend of his was sometimes quite normal and sometimes had an exceptionally bad temper; it wasn’t surprising for things to get a bit strained when he was agitated.

He went to Zhao Rong’s house with the intention of mediating.

However, when he reached the front of the house, he saw Qiao Nanqi leaning against the door from a distance. Flying snow continued to hit him and hang on his hair tips, but he didn’t move, head lowered, thinking about something unknown.

Chapter 64

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 64#

Inside the massive venue capped with a glass roof, the clear sky and sunlight outside fully covered the area, yet not a bit of the cold wind could blow in. It was warm as spring inside, but not quite hot; once you stepped in, you could feel the temperature was just right.

It was evident that someone was behind the scenes regulating all of this.

At intervals, long European-style white tables were covered with luxurious tablecloths. In front and behind hung many balloons in fresh colors. On the tables were various pastries, famous wines, and cakes that ordinary people might not even be able to name…

Chapter 65

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:43 +0000

Chapter 65#

Xia Yuantu was stunned.

Qiao Nanqi’s words were no different from the resolute and vigorous manner he had shown while working together all these years. This childhood friend of his had always been a natural superior; whatever he said or did, his words carried a steady weight that made people willing to believe him.

But at this moment, in his ears, it sounded like a calm facade over madness.