Winner Takes All

Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)

Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)

Translator: 月野 見事 (TsukinoMigoto)

Protagonists ：黎朔 (LiShuo), 赵锦辛 (ZhaoJinXin)

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After Li Shuo got home, he called Wen Xiaohui and told him that his assistant would deliver a box of fruit he brought back from Sanya for him.

Wen Xiaohui talked with him for a while, and asked cautiously: “Brother Li, are you in a bad mood? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, why do you ask?” Li Shuo pretended to ask lightly.

“Oh, no, listening to your voice, it was as if there is no energy. You must be tired.”

“Well, kind of. Eat the fruit while it’s fresh, okay?”

“Okay, thank you. Oh, yes…” Wen Xiaohui continued, “Well, Shao Qun was discharged from the hospital.”

Li Shuo let out a flat “Oh”. He didn’t care what Shao Qun was doing, it would be better to never hear this name that is related to Zhao Jinxin.

“He and Cheng Xiu are moving back to the capital, just recently.”

“That’s fine, it will be easier for us to meet in the future.”

“Yes, yes, with our support, Shao Qun will definitely not dare to bully Cheng Xiu in the future.”

Li Shuo smiled, but didn’t answer.

“By the way, Brother Li, I have recently met a few friends. There are models, actors, and small business entrepreneurs. Their conditions are good. When will you be free? I’ll arrange an appointment for them to see you.”

Li Shuo smiled lightly: “Xiaohui, thank you, but I haven’t adjusted yet. I want to relax for a while by myself.” They all said that the best way to forget a relationship is to start a new relationship. He also tried to get in touch with others such as Xiao Qi. But as it turned out, it was extremely embarrassing. Before he felt he was ready, he didn’t plan to date anyone anymore.

“I know, I know, it’s better to be single, really. I think I was a prodigal son who wandered through the flowers back then. I was like a free wolf galloping on the grassland. But now I have to report in advance when I even go out for a drink. Ugh.”

Li Shuo was amused by Wen Xiaohui’s description of what seems to be ‘inconsistent with the real thing’: “So, it’s hard for you to be in love.”

“No, my man is too strict.” Wen Xiaohui laughed and said, “So, really, it’s good to be single.”

“Well, it’s good to be single.” Li Shuo also sighed with emotion.

Most of the bad things in this world are due to the first thought.

The next day, Li Shuo received a text message from Zhao Rongtian, with only a few words: OK, I will return to China tomorrow.

Li Shuo decided to run back to Sanya today, otherwise if he were in Beijing, it would be impossible not to meet with a certain someone.

As soon as he booked a ticket to go back there, his dad called and he had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, Mr. Li said happily: “I heard that your Uncle Zhao and Auntie are going back to China to inspect the branch office. By the way, I want to have a look at our son. Your mother and I plan to come back with them. We have not returned to China for more than two years.”

Li Shuo can only agree: “Yes, I will take you to Sanya to see.”

“Okay, we can find Lao Cui for a drink, haha.”

Mrs. Li grabbed the phone: “Son, is it cold in China, what clothes should I bring?”

Li Shuo had to patiently analyze what to wear for the current season and at the same time sent a text message to his assistant, canceling the plane ticket to Sanya.

He thought, if he has to see Zhao Jinxin at the time of his parents arrived, he has to find excuses to avoid it.

The four elders landed at the Capital Airport in the morning in the next two days. Li Shuo thought that in Zhao Jinxin’s current state, his phone might not able to be reached. He probably wouldn’t be able to pick them up so he drove to the airport.

When he arrived at the airport, Zhao Jinxin did not come. Instead, it was Shao Wen who came, and the two of them were a little embarrassed to meet each other but they said hello politely.

Li Shuo got in touch with his parents and went to greet Zhao Rongtian and his wife.

Zhao Rongtian held Li Shuo’s hand and patted him on the shoulder: “Li Shuo, the last time I asked you for help, I am grateful, thank you.”

Li Shuo said sincerely: “Don’t say that, I didn’t do nothing, I really didn’t help much, I’m very embarrassed.”

“Hey, I don’t blame you for this. When I come back from this trip, I have to see what this kid was doing.” Zhao Rongtian frowned, and didn’t know if he was talking to Li Shuo or talking to himself, “Since he had grown up, he’s never been like this, it’s weird…”

Li Shuo pretended not to hear and took the fucking luggage: “Let’s go. Let’s go home.”

The two families separated at the airport. Li Shuo took his parents and went straight to his house.

On the way, Mr. Li asked him about Zhao Jinxin: “Hey, what’s the matter with Jinxin? It’s been a long time since I went to work that Lao Zhao kept secretly talking about him, it couldn’t be something wrong with him, right?”

“It’s okay, I went to see him. He is okay. Maybe he’s too young and just being lazy.”

“Jin Xin really likes to play.” Mrs. Li said, “You forget how much he made his parents worry about when he was younger.”

“Isn’t that how he is when he was young? When our son was young, our son organized some anti-discrimination demonstrations and went to Africa to help teach.”

Li Shuo was helpless: “Dad, I wasn’t playing with what I do. And there is nothing wrong with it. This is not the same thing.” For him now, public welfare is a social obligation, not a way of self-realization. There is a fixed percentage of public welfare expenditures in the annual financial budget, but he will never do anything with enthusiasm and fanfare as he did when he was young. Of course, he is still proud of his passion when he was young. How can this be compared with Zhao Jinxin?

He didn’t want to compare anything of himself with Zhao Jinxin.

Mr. Li smiled and said: “That’s true but it’s still Xiao Shuo that makes us worry.”

After returning home, Li Shuo settled his parents together, so his dad and Mr. Cui had a phone call. Mr. Cui went abroad to discuss business again. The Sanya project is currently being followed up by Cui’s staff. It’s going pretty good.

Li Shuo intends to invite Zhou Jinxing out for a meal tomorrow and give his dad a detailed account of the project. Unexpectedly, Zhao Rongtian made an appointment for dinner the next day.

Li Shuo agreed on the surface, but in the afternoon of the next day, he began to pretend to have a headache and escaped the two parties.

After dinner, Mr. Li asked Li Shuo curiously: “You really don’t know what happened to Jinxin? Didn’t you hear any news? He has lost a lot of weight and he is not very energetic.”

Li Shuo listened to this name, originally it was a pretended headache, but it seemed to have become real headache this time, he said: “I really don’t know.”

“Oh. By the way, you and I will go to Ennan tomorrow morning and check things out together.”

Faced with work, Li Shuo couldn’t find any more excuses to avoid, so he had to agree.

Mrs. Li gave Li Shuo a weird look and said nothing.

Before going to bed, Mr. Li went to take a bath and Mrs. Li took the opportunity to enter Li Shuo’s room, as if she wanted to say something.

“Mom, what’s the matter?” Li Shuo patted the bed for her to sit down, “Are you looking for me? Come sit down.”

Mrs. Li tightened her shawl and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Li Shuo somewhat solemnly: “Son…”

Li Shuo frowned and looked at her, her preoccupied look made him very puzzled. She was obviously fine before dinner. Could it be… what did Zhao Jinxin told her?! He suddenly became a little nervous. He gently shook her hand: “Mom, what’s the matter? There is nothing to hide in between us.”

“Are you… hey…” Madam Li asked embarrassingly, “Did you break up with Jinxin?”

Li Shuo was prepared in his heart. Although surprised, he did not show it. He smiled calmly: “Mom, what are you talking about?” He didn’t know if his mother really knew it or if she only guessed it.

“Don’t lie to me, once Ah Guang leaked information to me when I asked him.” Madam Li sighed, “I can understand why you are hiding it from us. I also dare not let your father know. If your Dad knows, he will be mad.”

Li Shuo calmly said: “Mom, me and him are all grown-ups and we are in free to be with whoever we want. Even if Dad knows about it, there is nothing to be angry about. Besides…” He lowered his eyes, “We already broke up now and there is no need to talk about it anymore.”

“Oh!” Madam Li sighed heavily, seeming to be a little frustrated, but she didn’t know how to vent, and finally raised her fist and punched Li Shuo lightly, “You really…you dare to say that your father won’t be angry!”

Li Shuo smiled bitterly: “Mom, this is our business, just don’t let dad know. Why are you angry?”

“Why am I angry? I am angry with your character who attracts bees and butterflies! Jin Xin is not an ordinary person. He is the son of your father’s friend and boss. You can’t just throw him away.”

“…” Li Shuo was speechless.

Mrs. Li shook her head and sighed: “Xiao Shuo, don’t take your feelings so casually. You just get together casually, just broke up casually, how can this work? Jinxin is younger than you and may have some personalities that caused disagreements. It’s just a few months now. If I see him sad like that, I feel guilty.”

Li Shuo rubbed his eyebrows and really felt a splitting headache. He whispered: “Mom, things are not what you think. We… well, we can’t get along, we broke up peacefully.”

“Peaceful breakup?” Mrs. Li raised the volume, “Today Jin Xin kept coming and asking me about you, and he had lost a lot of weight. Do you dare to say that it has nothing to do with you when he becomes like that?”

Li Shuo opened his mouth, unable to refute for a while.

From the point of view of others, he is indeed more like the ‘guilty party’, and it is impossible for him to say the ins and outs of the two people’s relationship to public.

Mrs. Li said uncomfortably: “Xiao Shuo, your mother really wants you to find someone to settle down with quickly. At that time, Ah Guang said that when you and Jin Xin were together, you looked so happy. He happened to also be a sheep and the relationship between our two families was good. Okay, it’s just a plus. Relationship matters can’t be forced, but sometimes you can’t just give up. Mom still hopes that you will think about it and resolve the conflicts between you. It’s not easy to be together but if you are destined, isn’t it good?”

Li Shuo felt very uncomfortable. He wanted to tell his mother how much grievance and pain this relationship had left him in his heart, and he believed that he had done nothing wrong, but looking at his mother’s worried, caring and enthusiastic eyes, he naturally couldn’t say it. He could only evade the important matter and said lightly: “Mom, believe me, we broke up. And it is definitely not because of me.”

Mrs. Li said earnestly: “I know, he must be immature and made a mistake, but you have to give people a chance to correct themselves, right? Mom didn’t force you to do something, I just give you reason. Even if that person is not Zhao Jinxin, I would say the same thing.”

No matter how many details, Li Shuo can’t say it because of his dignity and it’s useless to talk about it anymore. Two couples with a large age gap broke up. The older one looks chic and the young one looks depraved. Anyone will have judgment similar to his mother’s. He had no choice but to admit his fate, nodded, and said perfunctorily: “Mom, I know. I know it in my heart.”

Mrs. Li patted him on the shoulder, then looked at him carefully, smiled faintly, there seemed to be a little sadness in her eyes.

Li Shuo was a little uncomfortable when he saw this: “Mom, just go to bed early.”

Mrs. Li sighed softly: “Sometimes I wonder if it is my fault for spoiling you that your love journey becomes so rough.”

Li Shuo teased: “Then should I thank you or should I blame you?”

“It doesn’t matter if you thank me or blame me. Mom just wants you to be happy.”

Li Shuo touched her forehead lightly with his own forehead: “I will. Go to sleep.”

After Mrs. Li left, Li Shuo fell back on the bed, thinking about the conversation between his mother and him. He was really helpless and uncomfortable. His mother was right. According to his mother’s thinking, if his father knew that he ‘dumped’ Zhao Jinxin, he would be furious. Fortunately, they have properly broken up. Fortunately… Zhao Jinxin has left without looking back.

Just thinking about seeing Zhao Jinxin tomorrow, tonight is destined to be a sleepless night again.

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Next Update: 2021/10/11

*Translator’s Note: ‘Lao Cui/Zhao’ which means ‘Old Cui/Zhao’. Don’t know if I used ‘Lao’ or not previously but I decided to stick to ‘Lao’ from now on and also ‘Xiao’ instead of ‘Little’. I’m also actually contemplating whether to use ‘Ge’ instead of ‘Brother’ and ‘Shushu’ instead of ‘Uncle’. But right now, I don’t have the time to go back and fix things. I have to defend partials of my thesis’ results to my University Committee members this semester so I’ll be extremely busy. Ayyy isn’t it funny that people always think that Li Shuo is the one with casual feelings? But in some ways, I think that’s good too. Meh.