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Chapter 88: Subconsciously, he showed a look of fear.
“Want one?” Li Hongqiong turned the open end of the cigarette box toward Qi Tongzhou.
“…No.” Qi Tongzhou refused with a stubborn expression.
“Do you think this is Huo Niansheng’s idea?” Li Hongqiong asked back, “What is your basis for suspicion?”
“… ” Qi Tongzhou was stunned, unable to answer for a moment.
“Look, your intuition tells you it’s related to him, because someone just targeted Xiao Chen.” Li Hongqiong said lightly, “But why retaliate against your friend? Haven’t you thought carefully—the last post was made by him.”
“I don’t believe it. Why would he do this?” Qi Tongzhou felt a little sweaty on his back and didn’t dare to think further.
“Oh.” Li Hongqiong smiled faintly, still leaning on the table, “Then what are you asking me for?”
“I can’t take it anymore.” Qi Tongzhou finally couldn’t bear it, “Just tell me directly.”
“I understand. Your friend, who seems open-hearted has another side in private. He’s just a petty person; it’s not that easy to accept,” she said, “He’s still targeting someone you’ve liked before. It’s that simple. You have to choose a side.”
“It’s not like before; it’s not past tense,” Qi Tongzhou denied in his heart. But another thing had already shaken him.
He wanted more evidence, so Li Hongqiong showed him: “What you see online is only part of it. You haven’t seen how he used to slander others. Of course, I don’t deny that taking a phone to repair and having it stolen is too coincidental. It’s like walking on a dark path and bumping into ghosts. When you try to manipulate others, be prepared to be manipulated yourself. That’s how the world works.”
After reading, Qi Tongzhou remained silent, his face displaying a myriad of complex emotions.
He was confused. The image of the loud, boastful moderator who threatened to post photos from a thousand floors up and almost gave him high blood pressure with their arguments, and the image of Mu Qing, who genuinely helped him and felt as pure as mountain snow—these two images couldn’t be reconciled.
For two seconds, he even wondered if Li Hongqiong was deceiving him.
Then he felt remorse in his heart. She had no reason to deceive him.
Li Hongqiong was the one he could trust; he should believe that she wouldn’t mislead him.
Qi Tongzhou made one final struggle: “Even if he did something wrong, I don’t approve of his unscrupulous methods.”
He was convinced it was done by Huo Niansheng. Li Hongqiong, cigarette between her fingers, smiled without directly answering, “Then you also have to accept that different people have different methods. You have your way of doing things; others have theirs. My cooperation with Lao Huo is stable, and I want to continue that stability. So sometimes, a little sincerity is necessary.”
Qi Tongzhou widened his eyes in astonishment.
Li Hongqiong casually extinguished the cigarette.
“Alright, adult matters; you kids don’t need to ask about the rest.”
Actually, there was another reason she didn’t mention it. Mu Qing felt that Qi Tongzhou was easily influenced and wanted to gain benefits from him without giving anything in return. He had the ability to make Qi Tongzhou follow him around every day, but unfortunately, Miss Li couldn’t stand it.
Do you think you’re so great? Do you think you’re superior to everyone else?
After drinking tea in Li Hongqiong’s office, Qi Tongzhou felt a bit dazed when he left.
He tried calling Mu Qing, but his phone was still off.
But he didn’t even know what he wanted to confirm anymore.
It’s just that Qi Tongzhou wasn’t the only one sighing and wondering, “How could a certain someone be this kind of person?”
Now, in the school, many students were also discussing this hot topic.
Zheng Bingyi had ordered the original post to be deleted, but the controversy sparked by this information theft had not completely subsided. He hadn’t remembered that he still needed to manage how students were talking about it afterward. And what interested the students more was what was happening around them—
The person involved was a prominent figure on campus, attractive, and somewhat famous, almost winning the title of campus star champion.
It was hard to believe that such a glamorous student had been sabotaging those around them all along. Who could have imagined?
Hackers had cracked Mu Qing’s accounts that he had bought, and students either didn’t pay attention to where this information came from, or if they did notice, they couldn’t trace the source. In any case, it kept popping up continuously. The more past remarks were dug up, the more sensational the scandal became.
Some people summarized the timeline and relationships, and these spread lively in group chats across different grades and classes.
But inevitably, this put Chen Wengang in the spotlight too.
Li Hongqiong’s remark about everyone having their own way of doing things was correct after all. She wasn’t Huo Niansheng.
She was protective, but only to the extent that it was natural for an older sister to be protective of her younger brother.
Chen Wengang could understand, but he had received quite a few probing private messages on his phone, affecting his normal life.
Among them, he only replied to You Ying: “I won’t be going to school for a while. Call me if anything comes up.”
Then Chen Wengang called Li Hongqiong, and there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by what seemed like a puzzled chuckle.
She countered, “Don’t you feel a sense of relief, like finally clearing your name?”
Chen Wengang thought for a moment, realizing it wouldn’t make much sense to bring up Huo Niansheng, but he simply reminded her, “It’s okay, not really. But regardless, words can be powerful. Even if you’re the sympathetic party, being talked about and pointed at isn’t necessarily easy.”
Li Hongqiong said, “Understood, my apologies.”
Fortunately, there wasn’t anything urgent at school that required his immediate attention, so Chen Wengang spent his time packing and moving his belongings.
However, over the past few days, there has been an unavoidable subtle tension in the Zheng household as well.
From the butler to the kitchen staff, everyone cautiously avoided any related words. Zheng Bingyi, on the other hand, remained composed, not mentioning anything that had happened. It was Huo Meijie who constantly sighed. As an aunt, she felt like her good intentions had been taken advantage of. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became.
As the mistress of the household, even if she couldn’t mediate every dispute, she believed she had fulfilled her responsibility of taking care of the children. How could she have imagined that her husband’s nephew would be secretly stabbing her in the back?
Every day at the dinner table, Zheng Maoxun and Zheng Baoqiu listened to their mother’s complaints, unsure of what to say, just eager to finish their meal and leave the table.
Mu Qing, on the other hand, wasn’t at home. After being summoned for a conversation by Zheng Bingyi in the early hours of the morning, he left while it was still dark outside and didn’t return.
Uncle Lin seemed to still be in contact with him. He privately informed Chen Wengang, saying that Mu Qing was staying in a nearby hotel to lay low.
It was about a week later when Mu Qing suddenly returned to the Zheng household without making any noise.
He didn’t alert anyone; most likely it was Uncle Lin who opened the door. Around nine o’clock in the evening, a soft knock echoed on Chen Wengang’s bedroom door.
As soon as Chen Wengang opened the door, he saw the indifferent expression on Mu Qing’s face. Mu Qing said, “I’m also moving out.”
Chen Wengang was stunned, setting aside the roll of transparent tape. “Have you already told yifu?”
“Of course,” Mu Qing replied, smiling coldly at him. “Do you think I can still stay at home?”
For a moment, they were at a loss for words. Chen Wengang heard his phone ring. He picked it up. It was not a familiar acquaintance this time, but Meng’s daughter from last time. She apologized for being busy recently and explained that the delivery time for the custom-made ring had to be postponed.
Chen Wengang replied with understanding, “No problem.” Then he looked up, and Mu Qing was still standing at the door.
He couldn’t understand: “There’s one thing I’m really puzzled about. Is there really such a thing as fate? Why is it that you’re so lucky? It seems like you’ve never hit rock bottom; there’s always someone standing up for you, always someone to help you out of trouble. So I really hate you for that; I don’t deny it. But have I really caused you any harm? No. Because everyone is protecting you. Look, now someone is making me suffer just for you.”
Chen Wengang found it a bit ridiculous. “Words can be powerful; they can cause harm. Have you found a place to stay?”
At this, Mu Qing stared at him. “Uncle gave you a house, and you’re feeling perfectly fine about it.”
Chen Wengang didn’t answer him, but it wasn’t a secret either.
He was leaving home, and Zheng Bingyi promised him a place to stay, which was known by everyone in the family. Originally, it was supposed to be an ordinary house, but a few days ago, Lawyer Cao came to handle the property transfer, and suddenly it became a townhouse in a villa complex.
It seemed like Zheng Bingyi was initially disappointed in his adopted son, but after this altercation, he suddenly remembered his good qualities of restraint, understanding, and being considerate.
Mu Qing said, “With your attitude, even though you’re clearly taking advantage, you still act as if you’re superior to everyone else.”
Chen Wengang chuckled. “You’re wrong; I don’t think I’m superior.”
He ushered Mu Qing out and said, “Be kind to others; be kind to yourself. It’s better to be a good person; the world might treat you better.”
There wasn’t much else to say.
The next morning, Mu Qing finally appeared at the breakfast table.
Huo Meijie’s resentment had not subsided, and when she saw the culprit, she couldn’t help but vent her anger.
Mu Qing just kept his head down, still maintaining his previous low-profile appearance, as if nothing had happened.
Mrs. Zheng couldn’t help but feel even angrier, but Zheng Bingyi stopped her, his expression stern. After finishing her meal, she put down her chopsticks and returned to her study.
After breakfast, the eldest and second young master both went to the company.
Uncle Lin brought in several boxes for packing.
Chen Wengang slowly walked to Mu Qing’s room and heard him tear the transparent tape inside.
Zheng Baoqiu followed along with a heavy heart, whispering from behind, “I never expected things to turn out like this.”
“What do you mean, ‘like this’?” Chen Wengang also lowered his voice.
“Both of you moving out, I mean. Of course, you left on your own accord, but he was practically kicked out. It’s like night and day.”
“Don’t use idioms incorrectly,” Chen Wengang said, “He wasn’t kicked out. Otherwise, where would your dad’s reputation go?”
“In the past, when I spoke ill of him, you told me not to speak recklessly. But now, compared to him, I’m just a novice. Now you won’t stop me from speaking out? Then I have nothing else to say,” Zheng Baoqiu said, making a stubborn expression. Chen Wengang smiled and patted her shoulder.
She asked again, “There’s a lot of talk at school. Do you think he’ll have the nerve to go back to class?”
“Of course he will. You can’t just give up your diploma because of this,” Chen Wengang replied.
In his past life, he had been in a reversed situation, being blamed by everyone, but he endured it wherever he went.
After about ten days or so, the rumors slowly diminished.
Qi Tongzhou had accepted the fact that he misjudged people.
After realizing it, Mu Qing’s actions naturally made him feel deceived and used. However, the more Qi Tongzhou thought about it, the more guilty he felt, especially towards Chen Wengang. But with Chen Wengang not showing up at school for a long time, he kept thinking about what to say to him but couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Director Li called to ask if he had time to help organize some books at the welfare home, and Qi Tongzhou agreed. When he arrived and changed his shoes at the entrance, he unexpectedly stumbled upon Chen Wengang leading a group of children in crafting activities using picture books.
They were using empty milk cartons to make small houses; their aprons were smeared with paint. Surprisingly, Huo Niansheng was there too, lounging in a nearby chair. The chair was low, his knees propped up, and his arms rested on them, also wearing a paint-smeared apron.
Qi Tongzhou stood at the doorway, utterly bewildered for a moment.
A group of children gathered around the table, and one of them with a turnip-shaped head asked, “Why does Teacher Chen smell like smoke?”
Huo Niansheng smiled, “There’s no smoke; it’s the smell of moxibustion.”
Was this the demeanor of someone who frequented flashy nightclubs?
The children widened their eyes, asking, “What’s moxibustion?”
Chen Wengang patted her head, then looked up, meeting Qi Tongzhou’s gaze, and smiled at him.
Qi Tongzhou composed himself, suppressing his astonished expression, and returned a friendly smile to them.
Unconsciously, they got busy until noon, had lunch, and it was time for an afternoon nap. Qi Tongzhou prepared to leave, but before going, he wanted to have a few words alone with Chen Wengang.
As he untied his apron and stepped out, he saw the two of them chatting and laughing in the yard from a distance.
Chen Wengang leaned against the wall while Huo Niansheng was speaking to him.
In the afternoon sunlight, their faces were illuminated, and their aprons, splattered with colorful paint, exuded a sense of tranquility.
Chen Wengang had a smiling expression, and suddenly, Huo Niansheng took out a box and opened it, flashing something in front of Chen Wengang’s eyes.
Chen Wengang froze, raising his head to look at him.
Huo Niansheng’s expression couldn’t be seen clearly, but he leaned closer and said a few words in a low voice.
Chen Wengang leaned his back against the wall, facing him, unable to express any particular expression. He stared at Huo Niansheng, then suddenly recoiled backward, subconsciously revealing a look of fear in his eyes.
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