The Third Year After The Breakup, He Knelt and Begged to Get Back Together - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

You’re calculating against He Xian like this; he might even…

With Meng Ying present, the preparations for the engagement ceremony advanced rapidly. Qi Mingfeng could hardly keep up with Meng Ying’s efficiency.

The most miraculous part was that even though he was busy as a spinning top during the day, he still had time to accompany He Xian at night. Meng Ying truly lived up to his reputation as He Xian’s most capable assistant; he arranged everything perfectly for him.

By the third day, he was already following Meng Ying to look at the formal wear they would wear for the engagement.

Qi Mingfeng didn’t care what he wore, but in front of Meng Ying, he still had to put on an act—pretending to be very interested, pretending to be in love with He Xian.

When he had agreed to return to C City with He Xian at the bar, he thought He Xian wanted to humiliate him; he figured that once He Xian had enough of humiliating him, perhaps in less than three months, He Xian would tell him to get lost.

Later, he discovered He Xian wanted to keep him by his side permanently. He realized the crisis, but it was too late, and he had no other way out except to wait for Qi Huan’s recovery to flee.

And now, He Xian even wanted to get engaged to him.

Breaking up after dating is worlds apart from being dumped after a publicly known engagement.

When that time comes, He Xian will kill him.

When he told this to his small boss (the one providing the side work), the boss sighed and said: “If it really doesn’t work out, just make do with He Xian. Just treat it like having a sugar daddy.”

It was absolutely impossible for him to live his life with He Xian.

No matter how tired or bitter things got, he could persevere because he viewed himself as a human being. A person lives a lifetime; how can they not encounter difficulties? But every minute and every second he spent with He Xian, he felt he was more wretched than a dog.

He had also suffered internal conflict over whether these thoughts made him “an ingrate who curses the benefactor after eating,” but when he thought about how he shouldn’t have had to experience any of this—and that He Xian bore half the responsibility for his current state—he forgave half of himself.

He could endure three months, but now that He Xian wanted to lock him in a cage for a long time, he couldn’t take it.

No matter how risky, he had to leave.

Qi Mingfeng found an excuse to send Meng Ying away, put on his sunglasses, pulled up his mask, and slipped into a nearby coffee shop.

In a corner of the coffee shop sat a man also wearing large sunglasses. Qi Mingfeng walked directly to the man and sat down.

“I only have fifteen minutes. You should be clear about Meng Ying’s efficiency.”

Last time, Ruan Zhiyan had suggested giving Qi Mingfeng money to send him abroad and was rejected. Now that Qi Mingfeng was taking the initiative to find him, it was inevitable that Ruan Zhiyan would act condescendingly.

He took off his sunglasses and carelessly blew a speck of dust off them: “Then speak faster.”

In the past, although Qi Mingfeng had spent several years in the entertainment industry and had been highly popular, everyone from his manager to his assistants had been He Xian’s people. He Xian didn’t like him having too much contact with others, so he hadn’t built up any network.

After thinking it over, the only person he could currently reach who had the ability to help him escape—and might be willing to—was Ruan Zhiyan.

Qi Mingfeng wasn’t annoyed by Ruan Zhiyan’s attitude. He said calmly: “Three million, plus that house on Nanxiang Road, and I will take Qi Huan and leave C City.”

Ruan Zhiyan looked like he had heard a joke and said mercilessly: “Are you made of gold? That house on Nanxiang Road is worth eight figures now.”

Qi Mingfeng: “That was originally my property. You know very well in your heart how you got your hands on it.”

Ruan Zhiyan was dismissive: “Regardless of how I got it, it’s in my hands now. If you can return once, you can return a second time. Why should I pay tens of millions for such an uncertainty?”

Ruan Zhiyan’s concern wasn’t without reason; Qi Mingfeng could understand it.

He took a small box out of his pocket, placed it on the table, and opened it.

The materials used for the ring He Xian made by hand were top-tier, and it sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight and the coffee shop lights.

“He Xian and I are getting engaged. Next Saturday.”

Ruan Zhiyan’s face changed instantly, looking exceptionally colorful like a tipped-over paint palette: “He actually…”

Qi Mingfeng smiled sarcastically: “He designed it himself, and made it with his own hands. How about it—is President He’s ring worth this price?”

One had to know that He Xian’s assets had too many zeros to count, and he was a generous man. Setting that aside, the title of the partner of the head of the He Group alone was enough to walk tall anywhere.

But the prerequisite was that after Qi Mingfeng gave it up, the marriage contract would indeed fall onto Ruan Zhiyan’s head.

Ruan Zhiyan naturally understood this logic: “If whoever has this ring can marry the head of the He Group, then of course it’s worth it. But you also know that’s impossible.”

“How is it impossible?”

Qi Mingfeng toyed with the ring with his fingertips as he spoke of his plan.

“I’ve taken over the preparations for the engagement ceremony, and Meng Ying is cooperating with me. When the time comes, I’ll have Meng Ying leak word that He Xian’s engagement partner is a member of the Ruan family, and that this engagement is to fulfill the marriage contract set by the elders years ago.

“The engagement will be held on an island in Country F. I’ll find an excuse to have He Xian go there first. As soon as he leaves, I will immediately vanish with Qi Huan.

“By then, the guests will have gathered on the island, and with the ceremony about to begin, He Xian will discover I’ve fled the wedding. He is so proud; it’s certain he won’t want to be engaged to me anymore. You will then appear with the ring at the opportune moment to solve his urgent problem, ensuring he doesn’t lose face in front of everyone. Combined with the fact that the He and Ruan families already have a marriage contract, He Xian will likely agree.”

Ruan Zhiyan thought for a moment: “And you? You’re calculating against He Xian like this; he might even have the heart to kill you.”

Qi Mingfeng spread his hands: “I only resorted to this because I have no choice. Trading with you is already the best option I can think of right now.”

“Are you really willing to give it up? That’s He Xian,” Ruan Zhiyan looked at him searchingly. “Something you once craved so much—you’re just going to throw it away?”

“He lied to me for four years, and you’ve been targeting me all this time. If it weren’t for you two, I wouldn’t be living this miserably now. Frankly, seeing both of you makes me feel sick,” Qi Mingfeng urged. “Meng Ying is about to come back. Make your decision quickly.”

Ruan Zhiyan was clearly torn. The temptation of the conditions Qi Mingfeng offered was massive; correspondingly, the risk was also massive.

Even if He Xian swallowed this bitter pill, would he (Ruan) have a good time afterward?

But if he let Qi Mingfeng and He Xian get engaged, he wouldn’t have a good life either.

As time ticked by, Qi Mingfeng checked his phone and stood up to leave.

Before he had fully stood straight, Ruan Zhiyan called out to him.

Ruan Zhiyan: “I agree.”

Qi Mingfeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He actually hadn’t been certain Ruan Zhiyan would agree. Luckily, he did.

He took a contract out of the inner layer of his bag—one that was nearly identical to the one Ruan Zhiyan had forced him to sign two years ago.

“Sign it. Let the item return to its original owner.”

Ruan Zhiyan was still hesitating but signed the contract nonetheless. After pushing it back to him, he said: “Give me the ring.”

Qi Mingfeng: “There’s still the three million.”

Ruan Zhiyan: “I’ll give it to you when you return.”

“I’ll give it to you when I return as well,” Qi Mingfeng tucked the ring away again. “Let’s wait until it’s time to depart for Island F. That way, He Xian won’t get suspicious because the ring is missing. I’ll visit the Ruan house in a couple of days; have the rest of the things ready.”

He put the contract back in his bag, zipped it up, went to the front counter to pick up the two coffees he had ordered in advance on the mini-program, and walked quickly out of the shop.

When he returned to the entrance of the custom tailor shop, he happened to meet Meng Ying, who had just finished picking up the items.

He pretended nothing was wrong and handed a coffee to Meng Ying. Meng Ying said thank you, his gaze naturally turning toward the coffee shop.

Qi Mingfeng’s heart tightened, only to hear Meng Ying speak as if in casual conversation: “Teacher Qi, your sleep isn’t good; you should drink less coffee.”

“I don’t usually drink it,” Qi Mingfeng smiled. “Preparing for the engagement lately has been too busy. Luckily I have you helping, or I’d really be busy to the point of fainting.”

Meng Ying said politely: “Don’t say that, Teacher Qi. The job President He assigned me is to push for the smooth holding of the engagement ceremony. This is all within my duty.”