Chapter 1588 - 1586: Past and Present Lives 24

Chapter 1586

"Anything else?"

Xia Ruqing squinted her eyes and pondered.

"You don’t seem to have anything else on you!"

Zhao Junyao nodded angrily.

"That’s right!"

"From what I understand, people here always carry bags when they go out!"

Both men and women are no exception.

Even big shots like his father in this life wouldn’t go anywhere without a briefcase, where they keep personal items.

"I’ve also looked at his photos!"

"In almost every photo of him in this life, he’s wearing something called a watch on his wrist!"

"But when you found me, I had nothing on me but clothes, isn’t that strange?"

Xia Ruqing nodded firmly.

"It is very strange!"

"It’s like someone deliberately took those things away to prevent anyone from discovering your identity!"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Exactly!"

"That’s why I suspect this is a murder!"

For the first time, she feels a solemn respect for the person before her; Xia Ruqing is impressed and admires him.

"No wonder you are His Majesty the Emperor; indeed, your mind is meticulous, transparent, and brimming with wisdom!"

Such lavish praises he had grown tired of in his past life.

But hearing them now from her lips, he’s still immensely pleased, just without showing it.

"So I suspect that only when the truth of his death is revealed can I return from here!"

Xia Ruqing suddenly realized and nodded vigorously.

"Yes!"

"When all your friends and family know the truth, you... would be truly dead!"

Once truly dead, you can go back.

Such bizarre events probably only occur in the moments between life and death.

"It must be!"

Zhao Junyao nodded his head in satisfaction.

At this moment, he is unaware that his past life has long ended, only lacking memories of the person before him.

Go back? Where can he go back to!

Just being able to meet her in Another World is already a special blessing from heaven.

...

"Let’s not talk about that anymore!"

"That European tour, do you like it?" Zhao Junyao changed the subject.

Xia Ruqing’s expression was indifferent.

"What’s there to like or not like? I haven’t been, never hoped to go, still need to work, and probably don’t have the time!"

"Why don’t I give this ticket to your fiancée, and you go together!" She wouldn’t join the excitement.

Europe tours are not something a slum girl like her can afford??

Zhao Junyao was a bit unhappy.

"Whoever wins it should go? The news has already been released; if we switch people last minute, it might not look good!"

Xia Ruqing reassured him.

"It won’t, you can say I don’t have time, or I’m not feeling well, or find some other reason!"

"Don’t worry, I will come out to clarify; it won’t affect the Zhao Group’s reputation!"

Zhao Junyao was a bit anxious.

"Do you think that’s all it takes?"

"We did the draw ourselves, and if in the end we send our own people, how will it look to others?"

"Can’t afford that Silver?"

"It’s money!" Xia Ruqing couldn’t bear it and corrected him.

"Can’t afford that money?" Zhao Junyao corrected himself.

Xia Ruqing: "..." Can’t I just not go?

She tried to reason.

"The law of this world stipulates that a man can only have one wife; marrying two is illegal!"

"So, engaged people should keep a distance from the opposite sex; it’s common sense and moral baseline. Do you understand?"

"If I go with you, I’d be criticized as a mistress, interfering, and you’d be accused of having an affair!"

Though she didn’t want to say these things, such moral baseline issues need clarification to prevent misunderstandings.

She definitely doesn’t want Shih Wanxin to come knocking again; that woman really would do anything.

Zhao Junyao froze for a long moment before speaking in shock.

"I’ve heard about this!"

"But it’s just a trip; why involve so much!"

Xia Ruqing continued trying to convince him.

"You know it’s a trip, but others might not know?"

He probably hasn’t heard of ’internet violence’ yet.

"You know that thing called the internet is powerful; information can spread instantly!"

"So, in this world, there’s truly no wall that doesn’t leak, everyone knows what you’re doing, then spreads it, making rumor after rumor!"

"Understand?"

Zhao Junyao suddenly realized!

"Then, in that case!"

He waved his hand and took out that lottery ticket from his pocket.

"I’ll give this ticket to you; you and your friends can go together!"

"I’ll also cover the expenses for another person; you three go together!"

He finally understood some of her meaning.

In this world, kissing and hugging in public isn’t embarrassing, but traveling with a woman other than one’s fiancée is.

Zhao Junyao was quite speechless about this.

"What a ridiculous rule!"

Xia Ruqing looked at the ticket, hesitated, and did not take it.

"But doesn’t your fiancée also want to go?"

Zhao Junyao casually replied.

"I can take her too!"

"Since you regard me as a friend, I certainly can’t let you suffer rumors! Just take it!"

Among friends, giving away a ticket should be fine.

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and had no choice but to take it.

"Thank you!"

Wenwen and Xiaoxiao will be thrilled beyond belief.

Zhao Junyao was also pleased.

"That’s more like it!"

Finally finding a balance, people in this world really live a tired life; many things seem to be done for others to see.

It’s strangely similar to his past self.

...

"It’s getting late, let’s go eat!"

Xia Ruqing glanced around and quickly refused.

"Better not, it’s very expensive here!"

"It’s not good if others see us; I better head back!"

Zhao Junyao looked at the bustling street below and once more missed the good old days.

In his past life in the palace.

He could do as he wished; who dared say anything?

But thinking again, compared to such trivial matters, this world is much better than that one.

At least there’s no famine, no plague, and people live and work in peace much more.

With that thought, his aversion faded.

"Then let me take you back!" Surely that’s okay!

As a friend, he couldn’t leave her here unattended.

Xia Ruqing rarely nodded.

"Alright!"

But still feeling conflicted and guilty, weren’t they supposed to not take favors easily? Yet she accepted.

If Shih Wanxin comes knocking again, what should she do?

Still feels like she’s in the wrong!

But the person before her is so straightforward in calling her a friend, she couldn’t reject him.

Torn between two choices, truly in a dilemma!

...

When they got downstairs to the underground parking, Zhao Junyao’s personal driver was still waiting.

Xia Ruqing felt a bit guilty but got back in the car.

The two returned all the way to the old residential building, got out, climbed the stairs.

Having delivered her home, naturally, he would stay for a meal.

Nothing fancy, just a bowl of noodles each, with a poached egg.

Zhao Junyao sat at the table, Xia Ruqing at the bedside; they actually ate with relish.

The taste wasn’t great, but for Zhao Junyao, it felt oddly familiar.

Like he had it somewhere before? Strange!