Chapter 48

Rong Qi didn’t see the video immediately because he had been attending a financial conference earlier that day.

At his level, public business events were inevitable.

When the conference ended, everyone lingered to socialize.

Surrounded by others, Rong Qi engaged in conversation for quite some time until his secretary found an excuse to extricate him.

He was planning to return directly to the office, but as he stepped into the hallway, he saw He Yunze standing there, head down, focused on his phone. Rong Qi had noticed him earlier during the conference but hadn’t greeted him.

Although they had graduated from the same high school, they weren’t close.

He Yunze, seemingly hearing movement, looked up, and their eyes met.

Rong Qi indifferently averted his gaze and, accompanied by his assistant and others, prepared to leave.

“President Rong,” He Yunze called out suddenly, stepping forward.

The assistant, He Zhuoyuan, blocked his approach.

He Yunze chuckled lightly. “Old classmates meeting again—can we chat for a bit?”

He Zhuoyuan hesitated, surprised to learn they were old classmates, and turned to look at Rong Qi.

“I don’t think we have any past worth reminiscing about,” Rong Qi replied coldly.

“Looks like you haven’t seen this yet.” He Yunze raised his phone, playing a video on the screen.

Rong Qi watched as a stranger struggled against several people trying to restrain him and then lunged at Cheng Li. Failing to reach her, the man grabbed something from a table and hurled it at her.

As the coffee splashed across half of Cheng Li’s body, Rong Qi involuntarily closed his eyes.

At that moment, it felt as though the coffee had been thrown at him instead.

He Zhuoyuan noticed the video and his boss’s expression, a sinking feeling forming in his chest.

If anyone knew the relationship between Rong Qi and Cheng Li, it was him.

Rong Qi signaled for everyone else to leave, leaving only himself and He Yunze.

“What are you trying to say?” Rong Qi’s gaze turned icy.

He Yunze stepped closer. “You probably know who that man is—Gao Zhihe.”

Rong Qi remained silent.

“I’ve heard that Fanhai and Qiyu are about to collaborate. So, I can imagine why Cheng Li was in such a hurry to deal with Gao Zhihe.” He Yunze stared at Rong Qi, then furrowed his brow slightly, as though troubled. “Strange, isn’t it? Whenever Cheng Li gets involved with you, bad things seem to follow.”

“What gives you the right to say such things?” Rong Qi’s temperament had always been distant, especially toward strangers. But now, his suppressed fury lowered the room’s temperature by several degrees. His sharp, intimidating gaze was almost unbearable.

He Yunze’s expression faltered slightly under Rong Qi’s oppressive aura.

“Even if you don’t know my relationship with Cheng Li,” Rong Qi said coldly, his voice cutting, “you have no right to speak for her.”

He Yunze, realizing he had angered Rong Qi, raised his hands slightly in a gesture of apology. “Sorry, I was speaking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart. Besides, you and Cheng Li have nothing to do with each other anymore, so this matter has nothing to do with you.”

At that moment, the fury on Rong Qi’s face seemed to crack.

He Yunze had unknowingly struck his weak spot.

It was Rong Qi who had asked Cheng Li to handle Gao Zhihe.

“Alright, I know you’re busy, so I won’t take up more of your time.” He Yunze smiled faintly but added one last remark before leaving:

“Don’t mind what I said earlier. Just nonsense from an old classmate. Still, I’m happy to see you doing so well and achieving so much.”

He Yunze’s formal tone of address and apparent respect were almost mocking.

After getting into the car, Rong Qi immediately tried to call Cheng Li.

But unexpectedly, her phone was constantly busy.

Unable to reach her, Rong Qi showed a rare moment of panic. “Go to Fanhai.”

“Now?” He Zhuoyuan, sitting in the front passenger seat, looked surprised.

The driver, hearing the instruction, quickly changed routes toward Fanhai.

In the back seat, Rong Qi leaned against the chair, briefly closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he stared blankly at the car’s ceiling, lost in thought.

This wasn’t his first confrontation with He Yunze.

But their positions were entirely reversed compared to before.

When Rong Qi’s mother had fallen seriously ill, his grandparents had borrowed money from nearly everyone they knew to afford her treatment. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t save her.

After her passing, while death ended her suffering, it didn’t erase the debt she left behind.

Rong Qi’s grandparents had modest pensions, but they barely made a dent in the enormous debt. Proud and self-reliant, they never asked others for help.

To pay back what they owed, they set up a small stall selling fried snacks near First High School.

Fortunately, business was decent because of the nearby school and heavy foot traffic. It also allowed them to keep an eye on Rong Qi while he studied.

At first, Cheng Li didn’t know that the elderly couple running the stall were Rong Qi’s grandparents. She only found out when they were absent for a week due to illness and somehow tracked down their address.

In their cramped and somewhat shabby rental, Cheng Li and Rong Qi unexpectedly crossed paths.

Rong Qi had found it amusing. How much did she like those snacks to track them down? But Cheng Li looked like she had uncovered his biggest secret.

She assumed Rong Qi didn’t want others to know about his connection to the elderly couple, as he had never helped at the stall.

In truth, Rong Qi didn’t care.

But his grandparents did. At First High, many students came from wealthy families, arriving in luxury cars after class. They didn’t want Rong Qi to be looked down on by his peers and forbade him from helping at the stall.

Afterward, neither Cheng Li nor Rong Qi brought up their encounter again.

At school, they remained strangers.

But Cheng Li continued buying snacks from his grandparents’ stall. One evening after a late study session, she even helped out when the line was long.

That night, a group of vocational school students ordered six snacks.

When they got their food and prepared to leave on their motorcycles, Cheng Li called out, “Hey, you haven’t paid yet!”

The leader of the group, a long-haired boy, immediately became interested when he heard a pretty girl call out to him. Smirking, he asked, “What did you say, beautiful?”

Cheng Li frowned slightly but reminded him again, “Pay up. You haven’t paid yet.”

“We already paid,” the long-haired boy replied, leaning in closer, his eyes fixed intently on her.

Cheng Li was known for her beauty, and she was very popular even among the diligent students at her school. To these delinquent boys, she was utterly captivating, and their gazes lingered inappropriately.

Grinning, the long-haired boy said, “There’s a milk tea shop up ahead. How about I treat you to a drink?”

That day, Rong Qi had been delayed by his teacher, so he arrived at his grandparents’ stall later than usual. As he approached, he overheard the boys teasing Cheng Li.

“What are you doing?” Rong Qi stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of her.

The delinquent sneered up at him. “I’m talking to this pretty lady. What’s it to you?”

Rong Qi’s grandmother, hearing the commotion, hurried over. “Alright, alright, it’s just a few oil cakes. Think of it as a treat from me.”

“What treat? As if we can’t afford them!” the long-haired boy snapped, pulling out a handful of coins and tossing them in their direction.

Several coins hit Rong Qi squarely.

Standing behind him, Cheng Li frowned deeply and scolded, “Show some respect. Paying for what you eat is basic decency.”

Cheng Li wasn’t someone who usually jumped to defend others, but she couldn’t stand seeing these people bully the elderly couple. They worked hard late into the night to make a living, yet these boys had the audacity to try to skip paying.

“Why don’t you teach me what respect is?” The long-haired boy ignored Rong Qi and reached around him, attempting to approach Cheng Li directly.

Just as Rong Qi was about to lose his temper, a voice suddenly called out from the roadside.

“Cheng Li.”

Everyone turned to see a black Audi A8 parked nearby, its window rolling down to reveal He Yunze in the passenger seat.

He Yunze quickly got out of the car and walked toward them with a smile. Looking at Cheng Li, he said, “Sneaking out for snacks again? My mom’s car is just over there. Let’s go, and I’ll give you a ride home.”

Cheng Li had never been fond of He Yunze and had no intention of riding in his car. “I’ll wait for my mom here. She’s getting off work soon,” she replied curtly.

“Oh, Mrs. Ling hasn’t left yet? Alright, I’ll wait too. She should be heading over from the school soon, right?” He Yunze spoke with a relaxed confidence, his gaze unflinching as he glanced at the delinquents.

Hearing him mention a teacher, the boys were visibly unsettled. Adding to their discomfort was the luxurious Audi A8 He Yunze had just stepped out of—a clear sign of wealth and status.

Recognizing that they were outmatched, the group quickly mounted their motorcycles and sped off.

Rong Qi watched coldly as what could have escalated into a serious conflict was effortlessly defused by a few words from He Yunze.

After the delinquents left, He Yunze turned to Cheng Li with an exasperated tone. “Why waste your time talking to people like that? They’re nothing but scum. Every word you say to them is a waste of your breath.”

“Mind your own business,” Cheng Li replied icily.

He Yunze wasn’t bothered by her retort. “Fine,” he said lightly. “But I’ll be sure to mention this to Mrs. Ling later. I guess you won’t be coming here to snack anymore.”

As he spoke, he cast a disdainful glance at the half-eaten oil cake in Cheng Li’s hand. “Greasy stuff like that—how do you even enjoy it?”

His tone was casual and familiar, the kind Rong Qi had never used with anyone. Standing silently nearby, Rong Qi felt like an outsider, unable to interject.

Cheng Li, irritated, shot back, “I just like it. Not everyone’s a rich kid like you, eating fancy foreign pastries. I’m Chinese, and I’ve got a Chinese palate.”

She then cast a quick, cautious glance at Rong Qi, seemingly worried that He Yunze’s words might have offended him.

“Alright, alright,” He Yunze said, feigning resignation. “How about you buy me one, so I can give it a try?”

Cheng Li couldn’t take his arrogant tone any longer. “You? Worthy of eating this?” she snapped.

With that, she turned and walked away, completely ignoring him.

From beginning to end, Rong Qi stood on the sidelines, silent and unable to find a place in their conversation.

He had always known that Cheng Li and He Yunze were childhood friends. Even at school, rumors swirled about the two of them. People said that if they were to date, even the teachers wouldn’t oppose it—in fact, they might even support it.

This was the first time Rong Qi had witnessed the two of them interacting in front of him. Even without words, the familiarity between them was undeniable.

He thought the matter had ended there.

But a month later, after an evening study session, Rong Qi noticed the same group of delinquents loitering near the school gate, smoking and chatting. Because Rong Qi was wearing the school’s uniform, they didn’t pay him any attention as he walked by.

As he passed them, he overheard one of them saying, “Boss, I found out who that girl was. The one you saw that day is definitely the school beauty. She was famous for her looks back in middle school.”

“Is she pure?” the long-haired boy asked.

“Pure, of course. Back in middle school, plenty of guys chased her, but she didn’t give anyone the time of day.”

Rong Qi stopped a short distance away, crouching down as if to tie his shoelaces, and listened.

“She’d be worth the effort,” the long-haired boy said, taking a deep drag on his cigarette.

“Her first time is definitely still intact,” his sidekick said sleazily. “Boss, you just have to go for it.”

The long-haired boy laughed. “Three years of being restrained, but one impulsive moment—totally worth it.”

Though these delinquents might not have the courage to act on their words, the vulgar boasts were enough to ignite Rong Qi’s simmering rage.

After waiting for a long time, the long-haired delinquent grew impatient and kicked one of his underlings, saying, “Why haven’t we seen her yet?”

“I heard she lives in Jiayuan Residential Complex. Should we go there to block her?”

Without hesitation, the three of them hopped on their motorbikes and headed toward Jiayuan Complex.

Jiayuan Complex.

That was where Cheng Li lived.

Rong Qi realized then that their target was indeed Cheng Li.

Without further thought, he grabbed a piece of broken stone from a flowerbed by the roadside and hurled it at the long-haired delinquent’s head.

As the delinquent let out a howl, Rong Qi went wild, attacking the other two with the stone.

Before long, his hands were covered in blood—whether it was his or theirs, he couldn’t tell.

Their fight broke out close to the school, quickly catching the attention of the school’s security guards.

That night, all of them were taken to the police station.

The school sent teachers to handle the situation. The homeroom teacher, seeing Rong Qi, immediately assumed he was the victim and assured the authorities that Rong Qi was an outstanding and well-behaved student.

Since it was a fight involving students, and given the stark difference in character between the two sides, coupled with the fact that the incident occurred near the school, the delinquents were deemed the instigators.

The matter was quietly resolved.

Later, it was discovered that these three had previously extorted other students from the school. As a result, the school tightened security at the gates, and those delinquents never dared to return.

As for Rong Qi, although no one knew the true reason behind the fight, the story of him taking on three delinquents and not losing spread throughout the class. Everyone thought he was impressive.

That evening, on the way home after dinner, Rong Qi unexpectedly ran into Cheng Li.

The two brushed past each other until Cheng Li stopped and called out, “Rong Qi, don’t take those people to heart.”

It was the first time Cheng Li had initiated a conversation with Rong Qi.

He looked at her, dumbfounded.

It seemed she had thought about it for a long time before making up her mind. She said, “Your future is full of promise, so don’t let people like that drag you down or waste your life on them.”

After saying that, she waved her hand and walked away.

Not far away, He Yunze, who had been playing basketball, also witnessed this scene.

He threw the basketball to the side, much to the silent frustration of his teammates.

After some hesitation, He Yunze walked over.

Just as Rong Qi’s lips began to lift in a small smile, He Yunze stood in front of him, their eyes meeting.

Between young men, especially when they like the same girl, there’s always a sense of rivalry.

Although Rong Qi had never expressed his feelings, the first person to notice them was, ironically, the one he disliked the most.

He couldn’t stand the way He Yunze interacted with Cheng Li—the natural closeness that Rong Qi himself had never experienced.

At this moment, He Yunze looked at Rong Qi and said calmly, “Cheng Li is very innocent, so I think it’s best if you don’t drag her into messy situations like this.”

That one sentence drew a clear line of defeat.

Yes.

This time, he had stopped the delinquents, but it was because of him that the situation had arisen in the first place.

A boy with nothing to his name couldn’t even say, “I can protect her,” with confidence.

Because he had nothing.

What protection could he offer?

…

The vibration of his phone startled Rong Qi, pulling him out of his long reverie.

He thought it might be Cheng Li calling, so he hurried to check, but it turned out to be someone else.

After taking the call, the car arrived at the base of the Fanhai building.

Rong Qi was about to step out when He Zhuoyuan hesitantly said, “President Rong, we’re still in the middle of an acquisition deal with Fanhai. Your appearance might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. How about I go upstairs and invite President Cheng down?”

Rong Qi took a deep breath. “Do it quickly.”

He Zhuoyuan indeed worked quickly, returning in less than ten minutes.

When he got back in the car, still catching his breath, he said, “President Cheng isn’t at the office. I overheard her colleagues saying she had some personal matters and went home.”

The driver, without needing instructions, immediately knew where to go.

However, Cheng Li wasn’t at home.

She had been called to her grandmother’s house after receiving a phone call.

Cheng Li hadn’t expected that a simple video online could reach her grandmother—who didn’t even know how to browse the internet—so quickly.

The credit for this, of course, went to her cousin, Duan Yuling.

It was a coincidence that the last time Cheng Li had visited her grandmother, Duan Yuling was away in Hong Kong shopping for her wedding.

Cheng Li had been busy since then and hadn’t visited again.

The two weren’t particularly close as cousins; they rarely stayed in touch and had very different personalities.

After graduating, Duan Yuling had drifted through life without a proper job, eventually meeting her current wealthy boyfriend.

Their families quickly arranged for them to marry.

These days, her life revolved around shopping and flaunting it online.

Cheng Li had occasionally come across Duan Yuling’s posts on social media, filled with luxury items.

When Cheng Li arrived at her grandmother’s house, she was surprised to find both her mother and father there as well.

“Dad, aren’t you working today?” Cheng Li asked, puzzled.

Her grandmother immediately interjected, “How can he possibly focus on work when his daughter is in a situation like this?”

Cheng Li couldn’t help but laugh when she heard this. “Grandma, what’s wrong with me?”

“Come on, sis, don’t hide it. I’ve seen the video online. Really, for just a job, you go through so much suffering. Why bother?” Duan Yuling said lazily.

Cheng Li looked at her. “You showed it to Grandma?”

The smile on Cheng Li’s face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold expression.

To be honest, Duan Yuling did feel a little intimidated by Cheng Li. After all, in this family, Cheng Li was the only one who wouldn’t indulge her.

When they were younger, if Duan Yuling dared to provoke Cheng Li, she would undoubtedly get a beating.

Although Grandma would scold Cheng Li afterward, it never stopped her from doing it again.

Grandma looked at Cheng Li and said, “How much does your company pay you? Is it worth losing face like this? Getting scolded and splashed with coffee? Aren’t you some kind of chief something? Why are you still suffering like this?”

An aunt nearby chuckled. “Mom, you don’t understand. Nowadays, titles like ‘chief’ or ‘manager’ on a business card don’t mean much.”

“Alright, you shut up,” Cheng Dingbo snapped, clearly annoyed by the others’ focus on Cheng Li.

The aunt immediately retorted, aggrieved, “Second brother, why are you yelling at me? We’re just concerned about Cheng Li. As soon as Lingling saw this, she told me right away because she was worried she might be suffering outside. Do you think I’m trying to mock you?”

Well, that covered all bases, didn’t it?

Finally, Cheng Li spoke up. “Grandma, it’s really not that serious. Just some minor work-related friction.”

“Minor friction? You reported someone and got them sent to jail. Minor friction? Someone splashed coffee on you?” Grandma clearly wasn’t easy to fool, though she seemed to know an awful lot for someone of her age.

Cheng Li gave an unkind glance at Duan Yuling, who quickly defended herself. “This is all from online gossip. It really has nothing to do with me.”

“Alright, just as well. Lingling said earlier she could talk to her boyfriend and see if he could get you a position at his company. At least in a family-connected business, you won’t suffer such grievances.”

Grandma spoke with such confidence.

Cheng Li nearly laughed in exasperation. “Such a good job should be left to Duan Yuling herself.”

“And you,” Grandma turned to Ling Shuanghua. “You always say you love your daughter the most, but you just let her suffer like this without doing anything?”

Mrs. Ling, who had been silent since Cheng Li arrived, finally spoke. “I’ll talk to Cheng Li about it properly.”

Only then did Grandma seem satisfied.

As the three of them left the house, Cheng Li was still speechless. “That Duan Yuling really has a big mouth. And Grandma—she called me back in such a hurry I thought something serious had happened.”

“I won’t see you off. I still need to go back to the office,” Cheng Li said to her parents.

She took out her phone, intending to call a ride, but Ling Shuanghua snatched it away, her expression serious. “Get in the car.”

“What’s going on?” Cheng Li asked, puzzled.

Seeing her daughter’s indifferent attitude, Ling Shuanghua raised her voice. “You’re asking me what’s going on? Why don’t you ask yourself? What kind of parent can bear to see their child being bullied?”

Cheng Li had no choice but to explain, “Mom, for the last time, this was really just an accident. It’s no big deal.”

If anything, she was the one who had sent Gao Zhihe to the detention center.

“This time it was coffee. Next time, what if it’s acid?” Ling Shuanghua became more agitated as she spoke, wishing Cheng Li would resign immediately.

Cheng Li couldn’t help but laugh at her mother’s overactive imagination. “I promise, it won’t happen again.”

“Your promises mean nothing. You’re coming home.”

Knowing her parents wouldn’t listen to reason, Cheng Li had no choice but to get in the car and return home with them.

Even Cheng Dingbo, who had been defending her earlier, firmly sided with Mrs. Ling this time.

In their eyes, the company had become a treacherous place, and Cheng Li absolutely couldn’t return.

“I told you, our company will soon be back on track. Once it’s acquired, my shares will be worth a lot of money,” Cheng Li tried to explain seriously.

“What’s the point of money? It can’t buy back dignity after suffering grievances,” Mrs. Ling retorted.

Cheng Li gave up arguing.

Clearly, her parents were beyond reason at this point.

Finally, Cheng Dingbo, who had remained quiet, said softly, “Cheng Li, you need to think about how your mom and dad feel. Do you know how much it hurts us to see you suffer? You’ve grown up without us laying a finger on you. We’ve kept you safe in the palm of our hands. That cup of coffee splashed on you—it felt like it was splashed on me.”

Mrs. Ling turned to her daughter. “Did you hear that? And your dad was crying on the way over earlier.”

Cheng Dingbo: “…”

Cheng Li looked out at the sky, now veiled in twilight, and said nothing.

After all, her parents were only so upset because they cared about her.

Being cared for like this—it actually felt pretty nice.

So Cheng Li fell silent, giving up on trying to argue with them.

The three of them arrived home. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Mrs. Ling was startled to see someone standing at their door.

It was Cheng Li who recognized him first. “Rong Qi.”

Seeing that she had returned safely, Rong Qi visibly relaxed and said softly, “I called you, but you didn’t answer.”

“My phone?” Cheng Li started to reach for it, then remembered her mother had taken it earlier and never given it back.

Mrs. Ling opened the door and called out, “Come in quickly; it’s so cold outside.”

“Can I have a word with Cheng Li first?” Rong Qi asked quietly.

There was something pitiful about his tone that Mrs. Ling couldn’t ignore. She immediately replied, “Go ahead, go ahead. We’ll head inside and start dinner.”

The door closed behind them, leaving just the two of them in the hallway.

Cheng Li saw the look on his face and couldn’t help but sigh. “So, you’ve seen it too.”

She stepped forward, reaching out to hold his face.

But to her surprise, Rong Qi suddenly leaned back, avoiding her touch.

Cheng Li sighed again. “Don’t you start too. I’ve been nagged at all afternoon—first by my grandma, then by my parents. Really, I’m fine. It was just a cup of coffee. After it was spilled, I threw away the clothes…”

As she spoke, Cheng Li realized she might have said too much.

“It’s my fault,” Rong Qi suddenly said, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his voice came out hoarse.

Cheng Li froze.

Rong Qi stared at her, his dark eyes filled with emotions so layered that she couldn’t decipher them. Finally, in a low voice, he said, “I was the one who asked you to deal with Gao Zhihe.”

He had forced her into it.

Cheng Li opened her mouth but didn’t hesitate this time. She stepped forward and cupped his face in her hands.

“Rong Qi, it was just a cup of coffee. I wasn’t hurt at all, really. That day, I had already arranged to meet the police. I purposely chose a public place like a café. I took all precautions to ensure I wouldn’t get hurt. So don’t take this on as your responsibility.”

Cheng Li looked him straight in the eyes and said earnestly, “Even without you, I would have made the same choice.”

“So don’t worry so much. I’m really okay.”

When he still didn’t respond, Cheng Li noticed something unusual about his emotions.

“And anyway, you saw the video, didn’t you? Even with coffee spilled on me, didn’t I still look great?” She tried joking to lighten the mood.

But it was no use. He remained unchanged.

Finally, Cheng Li spoke softly. “Honestly, I preferred how you looked that day in the meeting room. What’s going on with you today?”

Rong Qi placed his hands on her shoulders, as if he’d made up his mind.

“It’s because I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”

Cheng Li opened her mouth but said nothing.

She could sense he wasn’t finished.

“It’s because I care about you.”

Outside, the faint sounds of teenagers laughing and playing in the hallway could be heard. Through the thin door, the muffled voices of her parents discussing dinner drifted from inside.

The lively atmosphere of the world outside seemed to fade away.

It felt as though an invisible glass dome had descended, enclosing just her and Rong Qi.

Cheng Li’s heart began to swell, slowly, deliberately. Opposite her, the emotions swirling in the man’s eyes gradually settled, narrowing to a single focus.

In the end, his gaze held only one person.

Finally, in the dimly lit hallway, Rong Qi’s voice rang out, clear and resolute.

“It’s because I like you.”