Chapter 75: On the Surface

In the photo, a man and a woman are holding hands.

The woman wore a dark red cheongsam, a jade pendant dangling from her collarbone. The man beside her wore an old-fashioned black suit, a pocket watch gleaming from his waistcoat. His tall figure was oppressive, his neatly combed hair letting down a wisp.

The two stood on the terrace of an old-style house, with blurry lights behind them.

She leaned in his arms, looking affectionate.

"How could this person..."

The first time he saw the photo, Qu Ge frowned in surprise.

Because the man in the photo looks very much like Qiao Xuan!

Rong Zhoubai explained, "This is Jasmine and her first love. I was probably only five or six years old when they took this photo."

He pointed to the lower right corner of the photo, where the date was displayed - 2001/08/18.

Photo taken twenty-four years ago.

At that time, Qu Ge was not yet born and Qiao Xuan was just a child, so of course it was impossible for them to appear in this photo.

But the person in the photo looks so much like him.

A bold guess suddenly came to Qu Ge's mind.

"Where is this man now?" she asked Rong Zhoubai.

Rong Zhoubai answered swiftly: "He's dead."

"ah?"

"His name is Zheng Xiao."

Rong Zhubai pulled out a chair and sat down, slowly talking about the past -

"Not long after Jasmine and Zheng Xiao got together, she started clamoring to marry him. But my father wasn't happy with Zheng Xiao and secretly sent a number of people to investigate his background."

"Later, for unknown reasons, Zheng Xiao suddenly died at home. Police investigations revealed he was murdered."

"After Zheng Xiao's death, Jasmine was devastated and never recovered. But within a year, she suddenly became a completely different person..."

Recalling the past, Rong Zhubai's face became solemn.

He remembered that when they were young, he and Jasmine had been as harmonious as real siblings.

At that time, his mother Rong Ying treated Jasmine as her own daughter and loved her very much, but she was strict with him, her own son.

Their family was very happy, and Jasmine was even closer to Rong Ying than he was.

Until that winter, a year after Zheng Xiao’s accident.

Jasmine's personality changed drastically overnight. She became gloomy and grumpy, and was full of hostility towards him.

She targeted them everywhere, and the manor was filled with endless noise every day...

"Not long after, my mother and I were kidnapped. The kidnappers locked me in a dark box with only a crack through which I could see outside."

"I watched with my own eyes as the kidnappers insulted my mother, chopped off her fingers and gave them to my father, asking him to pay a ransom for us."

"Unfortunately, when my dad and the police arrived, my mom was already dead."

When talking about these things, Rong Zhoubai spoke calmly, as if he was just telling a fictional story, not a tragedy that happened to him.

Qu Ge frowned and covered his mouth in surprise.

She never imagined that this seemingly frivolous and dissolute young man actually carried such a heavy past!

No wonder he's claustrophobic.

That day they were trapped in the elevator, and he kept calling for his mother, shaking with fear...

Behind all this, there is actually such a truth.

She gently raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder soothingly.

Although she didn't say anything, this action was enough to express her comfort.

Rong Zhoubai would not bring up irrelevant past events for no reason.

Qu Ge thought about it and guessed what he meant: "Was this kidnapping instigated by Jasmine?"

"That's right. I only confirmed this two or three years ago. She was the one who killed my mother!"

Although he tried hard to restrain himself, the hatred buried deep in his heart still ignited the anger in Rong Zhoubai's chest.

He clenched his fists unconsciously, and a terrifying murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

"Moli believed that it was my father who sent someone to kill Zheng Xiao. So, she attacked my mother and me, and at the same time stirred up trouble in the group. She wanted to destroy everything that was most important to my father as revenge."

“She succeeded.”

"After my mother passed away, my father became seriously ill and could no longer support the family independently. Most of the power fell into Jasmine's hands."

"Later, Jasmine met He Qing, your father. They got married within three months of knowing each other, and He Qing became her most capable assistant within the group."

Having said that, Rong Zhubai paused.

He poured himself a glass of water, trying to quench the restless anger in his chest.

Qu Ge was a little confused.

"I thought He Qing was on the same side as you."

"Honestly, I've never been able to see through him." Rong Zhoubai said with a hint of self-mockery. "At first, he obeyed Jasmine in everything. But later, he gradually cultivated his own power and began to break away from Jasmine's control. Over the years, I don't know how he gained my father's trust. By the way, did you see the ebony cane in his hand that day?"

"Yes, I remember."

The cane with a ruby ​​as big as a goose egg on the top looks very luxurious at first glance, and no one can ignore its existence.

Speaking of it, Rong Zhoubai suddenly frowned and said seriously, "That cane is the symbol of the White family's century-old heritage. Everyone in Canada knows its legend. The White family's rise and fall depends entirely on this cane."

"Why is such an important thing in He Qing's hands?!"

"Last month, my father died of a serious illness. Before he passed away, in front of everyone, he specifically left his cane to He Qing."

"Wait…last month?"

Qu Ge was stunned and stunned for a moment.

In her impression, Rong Zhoubai had been in Jiangzhou City during this period, helping her deal with the Qiao family.

His father's death was such a big thing, but he never mentioned it to her!

Thinking back, she suddenly remembered: "So, you suddenly disappeared for half a month at that time, was it because of this incident?"

"Um."

"I'm sorry, I don't know..."

"Nothing. He's been ill for so long, I've actually been mentally prepared for this."

Rong Zhubai shrugged nonchalantly, with even that familiar smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

But she clearly saw that his fingers hanging by his side curled up unconsciously and then quickly loosened.

No one can remain indifferent when a loved one passes away.

These days, he always acted calm and composed in front of her, as if he had never had any worries in his life.

It was not until this moment that she realized——

It turned out that those always-curved brows were hiding the hidden pain that he didn't want her to notice.

Qu Ge was silent for a moment, feeling mixed emotions.

She moved her lips, but ultimately said nothing.

Things have passed, and any comfort now seems too deliberate, unable to cover up the pain or warm the heart.

She returned to the previous topic: "So, why did your father choose to give the cane to an outsider and not to you?"

"Give it to me?" Rong Zhoubai laughed out loud. "Everyone in Canada knows that I'm a notorious good-for-nothing. If that thing falls into my hands, the White family will probably be finished."

Rong Zhoubai teased himself with a smile, as if he didn't care about this unpleasant reputation at all.

But Qu Ge knew in his heart that he was definitely not the uneducated and prodigal son as the rumors said.

"I'm afraid you're just playing dumb." She pierced his mask without hesitation. "Your father was worried that if he gave you the cane, you'd be targeted by Jasmine and put yourself in danger. So, he gave the cane to He Qing, using him as a decoy to keep Jasmine in check. Sooner or later, suspicion and rifts will arise between them because of this cane. When that happens, you'll definitely find an opportunity to strike back."

"Tsk, you little girl..."

"Why, was I wrong?"

"Your mind works so quickly, be careful not to be too clever!"

Qu Ge understood his father's hidden intention in just a moment, and her keenness made Rong Zhoubai feel uneasy.

He liked her intelligence and insight, but also hated that she could easily see through the calculations he wanted to conceal.

He stared into her clear eyes, which reflected his tangled thoughts.

How he wanted to protect her from these undercurrents.

But he also understood that with her personality, she was destined to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, even if there was a bottomless abyss ahead!

Rong Zhoubai's sudden serious expression allowed Qu Ge to see through his thoughts again.

Before he could speak, she interrupted, "Let me make this clear, don't even think about sending me away. We're allies. You help me deal with the Qiao family, and I'll help you deal with Jasmine. I owe you this."

A moment ago, Rong Zhoubai was still considering when to send Qu Ge to Europe.

Qin Shuzhi is protecting her over there, and Jasmine's hands can't reach that far, so she must be safe.

But before he could utter these words, Qu Ge hit him back with one word.

He couldn't do anything to her, so he could only smile bitterly: "How can you, a little girl who hasn't even finished college, help me?"

"I am He Qing's illegitimate daughter. My identity is your best helper right now."

Qu Ge pointed it out in one word.

He Qing and Jasmine appear to be a loving couple, but in reality they have long been living in disharmony and acting in opposition to each other.

Jasmine has been unable to conceive for many years and has no children of her own, which has always been the deepest pain in her heart.

During this period, He Qing searched everywhere for his illegitimate daughter who had been missing for many years, which was undoubtedly a repeated test of Jasmine's bottom line.

From the last time Jasmine sent people to block the airport, it is not difficult to see her opposition to this matter.

Now, when the news from Jiangzhou City broke out, Jasmine thought Qu Ge was dead and just let her guard down.

At this time, if Qu Ge suddenly appeared in front of everyone as He Qing's daughter, it would be a slap in Jasmine's face!

By then, it will be difficult for this seemingly married couple to turn back!

Qu Ge's ideas coincided with Rong Zhoubai's.

At the beginning, he took the initiative to offer to help He Qing find his biological daughter just to see this situation.

The existence of this illegitimate daughter will be the best catalyst for the deterioration of their relationship.

Once they start fighting among themselves, he will have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the situation.

However……

Different times, different circumstances.

Rong Zhoubai is now unwilling to release Qu Ge as bait.

He frowned and remained silent for a long time, wondering if there was any other better alternative.

Seeing him hesitant, Qu Ge suddenly reached out: "Lend me your phone."

"what?"

Rong Zhoubai asked as he handed over the phone.

Before he could react, Qu Ge had already dialed the number...