Qi Hong was back?

Qi An’an was a little dazed. Qi Hong was absolutely a background NPC in the novel, just a completely insignificant side character who barely got a mention. He hadn’t been a good father to either Book Qi An’an or Qi Zhen.

When he did appear, it was much later in the story, when he saw that Qi Zhen had cozied up to a big shot. He then tried to play the doting father role to get some benefits. But in the end, it didn’t work. He didn’t even need to be dealt with by Jiang Lu personally. Just one of Jiang Lu’s subordinates casually dismissed him from the stage.

That part had the vibe of a filler chapter. Qi An’an hadn’t liked it much, and she had even less favorable feelings toward the character himself. Seeing him come in with that gloomy face only made her feel more annoyed.

Qi Hong was in the prime of his life. He wore a well-fitted suit and looked well-maintained, though his expression was far from pleasant. He looked like he was there to stir up trouble. The moment he stepped into the house, he glanced around with a dark face and then suddenly froze.

The change in his expression was so subtle that no one noticed— except for Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu withdrew his gaze from Qi Hong’s face, glanced at Qi Zhen, and finally let his eyes fall on the small suitcase.

His pupils were pitch black, devoid of any light.

“What’s going on here? What are you all doing?” Qi Hong looked around, a bit confused by the scene before him. He frowned as he asked.

Couldn’t he tell it was a birthday celebration? Anyone could see it was a party with friends gathered. Qi An’an shook the streamer in her hand and said, “It’s a birthday party.”

Oh, this father clearly had no clue. She added, “It’s Ah Zhen’s birthday today.”

Qi Hong said nothing.

The room had clearly been carefully decorated, every detail showing thoughtfulness and care. The coffee table was piled with gifts, none of them perfunctory.

There was no way all this had been prepared last minute. After scanning the room, Qi Hong’s face grew even darker.

Even just standing there, he radiated an imposing presence. He turned a cold gaze toward Qi Zhen. That day on the phone, she hadn’t said much and kept emphasizing how well Qi An’an treated her. Indeed, she had been treated well.

However…… Qi Hong gave the suitcase a glance. “An’an threw you a birthday party and decorated all this, and you’re packing a suitcase? What are you doing?”

Qi Zhen stammered, “I-I was just tidying up a bit.”

“What do you mean tidying up? Early in the morning with a suitcase that small?! Someone throws you a birthday party and you feel wronged or something?” Qi Hong suddenly exploded.

The feeling of being deceived was bad enough. But this kind of elegant, hard-to-expose trickery, made it all the more nauseating.

Qi An’an had no idea why Qi Hong had so much fire in him. All she knew was that he didn’t like Book Qi An’an. The moment he walked in and gave her that look, she had thought he was targeting her.

Who could’ve guessed that he was actually lashing out at Qi Zhen?

The mood had been pleasant just moments ago, and now he’d ruined everything. Qi An’an frowned and asked, “You…… Why did you suddenly come over? How about you go rest in the study first? I’ll have Uncle Chen bring you some tea.”

Qi Hong gave Qi Zhen a flat, unreadable look, then turned to study Qi An’an. As he looked at her, his tone unexpectedly softened, “An’an’s grown so much. Dad doesn’t have anything urgent. I haven’t seen you in a while. I had a bit of free time lately, so I thought I’d come visit.”

As he looked at his younger daughter, he couldn’t help but feel surprised. She was nothing like the impression he remembered. Qi An’an used to always have a gloomy face and barely spoke, let alone smiled. From the moment she was born, he hadn’t paid much attention to her. But now that he saw her clearly, he realized that his little girl had actually grown into someone lively and lovely. The once lifeless eyes had turned into bright, smiling ones. The dimples on her cheeks made her look cheerful and sweet— enough to melt one’s heart.

Qi Hong smiled as he ruffled Qi An’an’s hair. “An’an, you’ve changed a lot from when you were little. Why are you being so distant with Dad? Why aren’t you calling Dad?”

It’s not just that I have no emotional bond with you, Book Qi An’an hasn’t seen you in years either.

Qi An’an was completely thrown off by his sudden display of fatherly affection. With a stiff face, she awkwardly murmured, “……Dad.”

Standing at the back of the crowd, Jiang Lu appeared calm on the surface, but the hand hanging at his side had already clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white.

Qi Hong could tell it wasn’t appropriate to stay any longer. He straightened his collar and said, “I must’ve come back at the wrong time today, interrupting you kids. I’ll head off first. Have fun. An’an, take good care of your friends. Dad’s going to check on the branch office and I’ll come back tonight to spend time with you.”

After smiling and saying that to Qi An’an, he gave Qi Zhen a cold, meaningful glance before turning and walking away.

That single look made cold sweat break out on Qi Zhen’s back. She bit her lip slightly, the panic in her heart growing stronger and stronger. Qi Hong didn’t act like a good father in front of her because he genuinely liked her. To put it bluntly, he was just interested in the role play.

His fatherly love could be given to her, or to someone else.

Qi Zhen felt extremely uneasy. She had no idea what that look from Qi Hong meant.

As she stood there distracted, she suddenly felt the weight in her hand lighten. Qi An’an had taken her suitcase.

Qi Zhen’s behavior today had stirred something in Qi An’an. And Qi Hong’s arrival was also suspicious…… but the thought barely arose before Qi An’an suppressed it. No. The female protagonist in the novel is kind and innocent. This must be a coincidence.

Her expression remained sincere, her round eyes bright and clear.

“Ah Zhen, don’t pack today. Put this back, okay?”

Qi An’an was doing this on purpose to mock her!

Qi Zhen suddenly saw it all clearly. She had seriously underestimated Qi An’an. She had sensed something unusual about her on day one. She should have stayed more alert.

Qi An’an must have guessed Qi Zhen went to their father and tattled. That’s why she went along with it and put on this warm family scene. It was to make their father dislike Qi Zhen and, with one move, win favor for herself too.

Not only that, Qi An’an had used such clever methods to defeat Qi Zhen, leaving her completely defenseless. And now Qi An’an even dared to look at Qi Zhen with such innocent eyes. The other party was clearly enjoying the joke!

Qi Zhen nearly coughed up blood. She forced out a gentle smile through clenched teeth. “Give it to me, An’an. I shouldn’t be packing at a time like this. I really didn’t expect you to surprise me like this. I’ll put the suitcase back in my room.” Her smile grew wider. “An’an, thank you for preparing all this so thoughtfully. I’ll always remember this birthday.”

They were all teenagers, and the mood had easily become lively. Qi An’an was cheerful and full of smiles, and Qi Zhen was gentle and well-mannered. Everyone had a good time.

There was only one small regret. Qi An’an had hoped for a sweet moment, but it never came. Jiang Lu sat to the side, barely speaking to anyone, and didn’t even glance at Qi Zhen once.

Later that evening, when they were seeing everyone off, the two boys who had gotten quite familiar with Qi Zhen walked ahead chatting with her. Seizing the moment, Qi An’an quietly asked, “Jiang Lu, you didn’t seem too happy today. Did something happen?”

Jiang Lu replied with a question of his own, “Were you happy?”

“Of course. Do I look like I wasn’t?” Qi An’an touched her face in confusion and smiled sweetly at him.

Jiang Lu said nothing.

She did look happy.

But what kind of father says something like ‘An’an is already this grown up’? That was the kind of thing a distant relative who hadn’t visited in years would say.

“Look at you frowning like that.” Qi An’an tilted her head. “I used to think you were already pretty mysterious, but now you seem even more mysterious than before.”

Seriously, she couldn’t figure out what was going on in his head anymore. She’d thought Jiang Lu came to Qi Zhen’s birthday party because he had a bit of a crush on Qi Zhen. Who knew he’d go the whole day without even giving Qi An’an sugar?

Jiang Lu lowered his head and looked at her. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “What would you think if Qi Zhen didn’t live here anymore?”

Qi An’an was stunned. “Not live here? Then where?”

“I don’t know.”

It was a vague and cryptic question, but Qi An’an was used to how Jiang Lu was. She gave it some real thought before answering seriously, “It’s no big deal. If she wants to stay, she stays. If she doesn’t like it here, then she shouldn’t force herself. As long as she’s comfortable, that’s what matters.” After spending a few days together, Qi An’an sensed that Qi Zhen wasn’t very comfortable there. No matter how much care she offered, Qi Zhen never seemed at ease.

In the original story, Qi Zhen started living at school once she entered high school. Qi An’an liked her, but she wouldn’t try to stop Qi Zhen either. They would still see each other at school every day.

As long as both of her cubs were happy, everything would be fine.

Jiang Lu fell silent for a moment after she finished. “Very soon.” He finally said.

“Very soon what?” Qi An’an asked, puzzled.

Jiang Lu didn’t answer. His gaze fell on Qi An’an, carrying a barely perceptible tenderness.

He saw it clearly now. Very soon, Qi Zhen would be gone.

────ρя


Not long after the birthday party was over, Qi Hong showed up again.

After a few words, he announced without leaving room for argument, “It was a mistake on my part to have Ah Zhen move in. I’ve thought about it, and it’s really not appropriate for you both to live together. I’ll find her another place to stay.”

He changed his tune so quickly? Before Qi An’an could say anything, Qi Zhen obediently agreed, “I understand, Dad. I was thinking the same thing. It’s better if I don’t disturb anyone. Thank you and Brother for worrying about me. And thank you, An’an, for taking care of me these past few days.”

After that, Qi Zhen gave Qi An’an a gentle, sincere smile. Seeing Qi Zhen was willing to go, Qi An’an nodded in agreement and helped her pack.

What a pity. It looked like there wouldn’t be any sweet moments to enjoy this summer. She could only hope for something when school started. But maybe that was for the best. Once the semester began, she wouldn’t have to rack her brain trying to push the two together. With both of them being academic top scorers, they were bound to end up in the same class.

Qi Hong left quickly. Thus, Qi An’an entered her solo vacation mode. With a private home theater upstairs and an open-air pool downstairs, she finally got to experience the lazy life of a wealthy heiress.

Under the blazing summer sun, the girl’s skin became even more fair and translucent, like the most delicate lotus bud waiting to bloom. By the end of the summer, Qi An’an had shed a bit of her childishness and begun to radiate the gentle sweetness unique to young girls.

And every bit of that change, Jiang Lu took in with his own eyes.

Since Qi Zhen’s birthday, Jiang Lu had come to a clear realization that he barely knew anything about Qi An’an. A warm and lively girl like her, he’d thought she must’ve been pampered by her whole family.

But that wasn’t the truth.

He knew Qi Zhen had brought it all on herself. Once Qi Hong grew furious, there was no way she could continue living there. She was bound to leave. But the other party’s final words to Qi An’an had left him uneasy.

Jiang Lu had gone to Qi An’an’s house two days in a row, watching from a distance, worried Qi Zhen might pull something. But she behaved herself, stayed quiet and proper, and eventually moved out.

Only then did the suffocating pressure in Jiang Lu’s chest ease.

But even after Qi Zhen was gone, he couldn’t stop himself. Every few days, he went again. He didn’t dare get too close and he just stood quietly outside the gate, stealing a glance. Like a greedy thief who had gotten away with it once or twice, he couldn’t help himself from going back for more.

Qi An’an was spraying pesticides on the flowers in the garden. She looked more beautiful than the blossoms themselves.

She had grown up bright and lovely, like a pearl glistening in the sun. And he had long since become one with the abyss.

Jiang Lu had secretly come seven or eight times over the summer. The last time was just before the school term began. The autumn breeze had started to stir, and the summer heat was fading.

That day, Jiang Lu left through the side gate of the neighborhood like always. Right away, he saw a car parked by the road. His steps faltered, eyes dark as he stared for a moment before walking calmly toward it.

Qi Yan opened the car door and got out, resting one hand casually on it. His face was expressionless. “Long time no see. You knew I was waiting for you?”

Jiang Lu nodded. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have parked here.”

Qi Yan gave a dry smile, his gaze complicated. “You really don’t act your age. Get in the car. You know I’ve got something to say.”

Jiang Lu got in without any change in expression.

Qi Yan drove them to an old square on the outskirts. It was remote and poorly maintained, so there were rarely people around, especially at this hour.

“You’re smart.” Qi Yan said, lighting a cigarette after parking. He tapped it on the window frame. “I bet you can guess what I want to talk to you about.”

Jiang Lu was silent for a moment. “I know.”

“Want one?” Qi Yan offered him a cigarette.

Jiang Lu didn’t hesitate much and took it, lighting it up with practiced ease.

“I really didn’t expect this.” Qi Yan said, laughing without warmth. “We got rid of Qi Zhen but didn’t keep an eye on you. You’ve basically become a regular at our house these days— oh wait, a regular outside the house.”

He smiled, but his eyes were cold, devoid of any amusement. “I didn’t know enough about you before. I’ve been digging into your background lately. Not just an unacknowledged bastard child, your mother is a prostitute, too.”

Jiang Lu’s hand at his side slowly clenched tighter and tighter.

“Don’t take it personally. I’m just stating facts.” Qi Yan smiled. “I’m not saying this to humiliate you. If it weren’t necessary, I wouldn’t choose to hurt you with words. You’re not good enough for An’an. I thought you’d realize that on your own, but I didn’t expect someone would still need to spell it out for you.”

Jiang Lu’s hand suddenly loosened. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, “She doesn’t know I came.”

Qi Yan nodded. “Exactly. That’s the only reason I’m still being polite to you. You came to secretly see my sister without doing anything else. I’ll consider it a sign you still have a shred of conscience.”

He warned coldly, “But if you keep being this shameless and try to get close to her again, I won’t let you off so easily.”

Jiang Lu tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly careless, yet piercingly sharp.

Qi Yan felt a chill in his chest. This Jiang Lu was so young yet already carried such presence. The boy was calm, composed, and completely unshaken. He didn’t take the threat seriously at all. Someone like this…… how could Qi Yan possibly let him near Qi An’an?

“Jiang Lu, I actually admire you— a lot. Your talent, and you as a person.” Qi Yan said in a low voice. “I looked into certain things quite deeply, but still found almost nothing. I can only say that your methods are not only ruthless but also watertight. A person like you will eventually find someone who matches you in every way. But that person won’t be An’an. She’s gentle and innocent. The two of you aren’t suited at all.”

Jiang Lu’s gaze shifted to the cigarette between his fingers. It was almost finished, the tip flickering faintly.

“Can I trust you?”

Qi Yan frowned. “What?”

Jiang Lu asked in a deep voice, “Will you truly protect her? Someone like Qi Zhen…… how could you let that person live near her? Isn’t that disgusting?”

“Nothing like that will ever happen again.” Qi Yan said after pausing for two seconds.

“And your father,” Jiang Lu’s voice turned cold as he commented, “he’s stupid and blind.”

He rarely spoke so harshly, but the lingering fury inside him surged when he mentioned it.

Though the insult was aimed at Qi Hong, Qi Yan didn’t seem to care. “He doesn’t deserve to be An’an’s father. I’m the one who raised her. I’ve taken care of everything in her life. I’m her brother. I would never harm her. An’an will never become a pawn in a family alliance. She’s beautiful, sweet-natured, and comes from a good background. I’ll find her a partner from a respectable family— someone with excellent character and education, someone gentle and well-mannered. You don’t meet those standards.”

Jiang Lu listened quietly. As Qi Yan described it, he seemed to already see a refined man holding Qi An’an’s hand, gently leading her further and further away from his world.

Possessiveness churned in his chest again and again, but in the end, Jiang Lu admitted Qi Yan wasn’t wrong.

He took a deep breath and, as if immune to pain, crushed the still-burning cigarette with his fingers. “If nothing unexpected happens, Qi An’an and I won’t be seeing each other again.”

“Not only that, I want your name completely erased from her life.” Qi Yan sighed, his tone sinking, “I don’t care whether this is fair to you. I’ll be the bad guy if I have to.

I know you have excellent grades. If all goes well, you’ll be the top scorer in this year’s high school entrance exams, and the college entrance exams in the future too. You’ll become someone no one can forget. But I don’t want An’an to remember you standing at that kind of peak.

If you can accept an ordinary life, I can offer compensation after you start college. If you’re willing, the lead artist position at my company will still be waiting for you. If that still feels unfair, I’ll even give you two percent of the company’s shares.”

Qi Yan said everything in one breath, sounding completely sincere. He wasn’t joking. He was trying to alter the life Jiang Lu was meant to have, but at the same time, he wanted to make sure he still had an equally brilliant future.

But Jiang Lu remained silent throughout, unhurried and unfazed. He neither accepted nor refused. He had the air of a natural negotiator, with a steady pace and an unshakable presence.

Qi Yan felt helpless. He had no choice but to reveal another card, “I looked into it. You’re estranged from your mother. She’s done many cruel things to you in the past, and now that she’s regained her strength, she won’t let you go easily. A pedestal that’s too high is easy to fall from. I doubt you want someone to dump a bucket of filth on you when you’re basking in the spotlight.”

Jiang Lu gave a short laugh. “Sounds like if I don’t agree, the one pouring filth on me will be you.”

Qi Yan didn’t deny it. “So think it over carefully.”

He didn’t want to become enemies with someone like Jiang Lu unless absolutely necessary. Even now, the boy’s edge was this sharp, and he’d only grow more uncontrollable in the future. But if Jiang Lu really crossed the line, Qi Yan wouldn’t back down either.

Qi Yan thought for a moment, then opened a voice recording in the car. “Listen to this.”

It was a recording of him and Qi An’an talking in the car from long ago.

The recording began with Qi Yan’s slightly stern voice, “No puppy love allowed.”

Then came Qi An’an’s crisp, soft reply, “No such thing, I swear. Even if I were to fall in love early, it wouldn’t be with him. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Lu’s face finally turned pale.

That voice was so lovely, but every word struck directly at his heart.

He couldn’t help remembering that day, when Qi An’an had used that same sweet voice to say, “His name is Jiang Lu— ‘Jiang’ as in river, and ‘Lu’ as in land. He’s super smart and a top student. He ranks first in every exam and it’s insane how good he is. He’s like a legend at our school! And he’s kind, gentle, and full of compassion. Plus, he’s really good-looking. Honestly, he’s just perfect in every way. Totally amazing.”

He closed his eyes. His heart thudded dully and slowly against his chest— once, then again.

How rare. Qi Yan glanced at the boy. He had said so much, yet Jiang Lu’s expression never changed. Only this one moment finally revealed a flicker of emotion.

At last, Jiang Lu said, “I know what I have to do. But remember, this isn’t because of you.”