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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His investigator’s efficiency was quite high. Two days later, he gave Li Shuo a reply. Xu Darui did borrow from a loan shark, and he is now hiding around.

Li Shuo continuously received various requests from Xu Darui. He did not reply. He planned to leave the matter to the assistant to deal with it, but it was definitely not now, perhaps only years later. If Xu Darui is not allowed to suffer this time, next time he might have the courage to gamble again. Li Shuo is not his ATM.

He has been really busy these days. Various social activities were very frequent in a matter of a year. He still had to spare time to deal with the information he has in hands. For several days, he could only sleep for three or four hours, which led to him having poor spirits. Fortunately, Zhao Jinxin has not come to him these past few days. Zhao Jinxin will definitely force him to do things with him. However, when he is at home, his dad hasn’t talked to him much for several days.

On New Year’s Eve, a family of three dressed up nicely to attend the Spring Festival Gala of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In the past few years, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has become wealthier. The commerce has been able to invite many domestic and foreign celebrities. The level of the program is also quite high. However, Li Shuo doesn’t pay much attention to the entertainment industry, and he does not know the people who attended.

As the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Zhao Rongtian’s family is naturally the most watched. He remembers that when he had never met Zhao Jinxin before, Li Shuo had heard of how handsome Zhao Rongtian’s son was but he just hadn’t run into him.

As soon as the Zhao family appeared, it caused a little commotion. Zhao Rongtian sat at the main table composed of New York politicians and the president and vice presidents of the Chamber of Commerce, and Li Shuo’s father passed by. The family members of these people are sitting nearby.

Li Shuo watched Zhao Jinxin lead Mrs. Zhao over and sat beside them with a smile.

“Li Shuo, why did you lose weight after a few months?” Madam Zhao asked with a smile.

Li Shuo smiled and said: “There were too many things to be busy before, and I felt more tired than going to work. Auntie is looking more glorious than when I saw you last time.”

The two chatted a few words and Mrs. Zhao went to talk to Li Shuo’s mother.

Zhao Jinxin leaned forward slightly and whispered in Li Shuo’s ear: “Did you not rest well these days? What are you busy with?”

“Busy socializing.”

“I feel distressed when I see you have dark circles under the eyes.” Zhao Jinxin quietly held Li Shuo’s hand.

Li Shuo twitched, but instead of pulling it out, Zhao Jinxin dragged his hand under the tablecloth and gently rubbed his thumb.

Li Shuo glanced at him, his eyes full of warning.

Zhao Jinxin smiled softly, blinked his eyes slightly, and said “missing you” with his mouth.

Li Shuo has no choice but to let him go. Li Shuo knew that Zhao Jinxin was very good at teasing people on such small details. No matter how deliberately he did these behaviors, it would not make people feel offended. But he himself needs to ring the twelve-minute alarm bell to resist the surge of heart.

Zhao Jinxin’s charm has never diminished, he just doesn’t want to continue to indulge himself in it.

After the host made the opening remarks, the deputy mayor of New York took the stage to give a speech, followed by Zhao Rongtian.

Zhao Jinxin smiled and said to Li Shuo: “My dad really has style, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you are willing, he will also be your dad in the future.”

“Be serious.” Li Shuo tried to withdraw his hand again, but he was still unsuccessful. Zhao Jinxin holds his hand until his palm was sweating, and he still refused to let it go.

“I mean it.” Zhao Jinxin whispered, “I can come out on the spot with just one word.”

Li Shuo frowned and ignored him.

“You don’t believe me.” Zhao Jinxin suddenly let go of his hand and stood up.

Li Shuo was so frightened, he grabbed Zhao Jinxin’s arm and whispered: “What are you doing!”

The people next to them were also taken aback and looked at them one after another.

Zhao Jinxin blinked slyly: “I want to go to the bathroom.”

Li Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn’t dare to make conservative guesses about people like Zhao Jinxin.

Mrs. Zhao suddenly pulled Zhao Jinxin’s sleeve: “The light in the bathroom in the lobby is broken. Mom will go with you.”

Li Shuo was taken aback, and suddenly remembered that Zhao Jinxin had interrupted his meeting with Han Feiye for fear of the darkness. He always felt that Zhao Jinxin was acting like a baby. But could it be that his fear for darkness was… true?

Zhao Jinxin seemed a little embarrassed: “Mom, why do you have to accompany me? I’ll just go to other floors.”

Madam Zhao looked at Li Shuo, she leaned over to Li Shuo, and whispered, “Li Shuo, can you accompany Jinxin to the bathroom? The light is broken, I’m afraid he… er, he will fall. ”

Li Shuo patted her hand and said softly, “Okay.”

The two got up and walked out of the banquet hall.

As soon as he left the house, Li Shuo said, “You really want to go to the bathroom?”

Zhao Jinxin shrugged: “No, the heater inside is too high, it’s so hot to me.”

Li Shuo paused: “Are you really… afraid of the dark?”

“It’s true, but after I grow up, I have overcome a lot of it.” Zhao Jinxin took Li Shuo’s arm and laughed, “Besides, Uncle Li will protect me, right?”

Li Shuo paused, still unable to restrain his curiosity: “Why are you afraid?”

“I went surfing when I was a child, and I was hit by a surfboard. I was blind for a few days. Since then, I’m afraid of the dark, but as long as someone accompanies me, I am not afraid.” Zhao Jinxin blinked, “Will Uncle Li accompany me?”

Li Shuo coughed slightly: “You are such an adult, so you should learn to overcome your inner fears.”

“Sometimes……”

Li Shuo’s mobile phone text message interrupted him. Li Shuo looked down and saw that it was from Xu Darui again, but this time it was not a text message. It was a file attachment. He curiously opened the text message, which contained a media player. He glanced at Zhao Jinxin, then turned and walked towards the corner.

Zhao Jinxin looked at him curiously.

After he walked to a quiet place, Li Shuo pressed the play button. He originally thought it was a video, but he didn’t expect it to just be an audio. When it played, it was a man crying. He was so frightened that he shook his hand and quickly pressed pause.

Zhao Jinxin heard something vaguely a few meters away, he said: “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” Li Shuo’s heart was pounding, and he could vaguely recognize that it was Xu Darui’s cry. Could it be that Xu Darui was loaned to usury… he was a little afraid to think further, he wanted to teach Xu Darui some lessons, but If there is any serious physical injury, he will be in trouble, but he will calm down quickly. If Xu Darui has been violently used, how can he send the audio to him? If you want to send it, you should send it to your family. The loan shark read their text messages?

Li Shuo took a deep breath, put the phone on his ear, and pressed the play button again. There are cries and Xu Darui’s vague begging continued to be heard inside, but the more he listened, the more he felt that something was wrong until he heard his own voice. …

Li Shuo was shocked all over.

This audio seems to be… the conversation he had when he went to confront Xu Darui with the suspicious points of the accounts! Xu Darui cried and begged him not to expose it, and promised that as long as the working capital was in place, the loan fraud could be covered up perfectly. Therefore, they talked in the middle of the night and talked with a languid heart. He felt soft for a while and committed what a mistake regretted most….

Li Shuo’s face was pale. He didn’t expect Xu Darui to record the sound at the time. He thought that only the two of them knew about the night, but he didn’t expect Xu Darui to keep this handle on him!

The more he listened, the colder he became. What frightened him was not the audio that threatened him, but the wickedness of the human heart.

“Li Shuo.” Zhao Jinxin suddenly pulled Li Shuo’s shoulder.

Li Shuo stared at Zhao Jinxin with wide eyes. His mind is completely blank.

Zhao Jinxin grabbed the phone and put it to his ear but the audio had already ended.

Li Shuo reacted, grabbed the phone and asked calmly, “What’s the matter?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhao Jinxin touched his face, “What did you hear? Someone sent something to you?”

“Someone asked me to borrow money.” Li Shuo shrugged, “It’s nothing. I will let my assistant handle it.”

Zhao Jinxin frowned and wanted to get the phone again but Li Shuo put the phone in his pocket: “This matter has nothing to do with you.”

“Why does your business have nothing to do with me?” Zhao Jinxin said solemnly, “Li Shuo, I am your man. No matter what happens to you, it has something to do with me, especially troublesome things.”

Li Shuo pushed him away: “My own business, I will deal with it myself. Do you look down on me? Don’t be nosy?”

Zhao Jinxin sighed: “The most I get from you now is rejections.”

“Then you may not get enough of them yet.” Li Shuo was irritated, and naturally there was nothing good that can come out of his mouth.

A look of hurt flashed across Zhao Jinxin’s eyes, and his eyelids drooped.

Li Shuo was also very unhappy in his heart. He didn’t want to touch any bad luck for the Chinese New Year, but he already has it bad, and he really didn’t have the energy to deal with Zhao Jinxin. He clasped the phone in his trouser pocket and strode towards the banquet hall.

Zhao Jinxin punched the wall with his fist, full of unwillingness.

Li Shuo returned to his seat and took out his mobile phone. Xu Darui’s text messages really followed him, one by one, very brief, but he could see that his mental state was a little unusual.

“Brother, I don’t want to go this far, you forced me.”

“Even you look down on me.”

“I, Xu Darui, is a loyalist. I didn’t use it against you at the time. I am now driven to a dead end. You are not willing to help me.”

“Why didn’t you stop me at the time? Aren’t you the most upright?”

“Why don’t you stop me?”

“Li Shuo, do you hate me? I have nothing now, and I am not afraid of anything.”

“Li Shuo, help me, don’t force me.”

Li Shuo only felt that his eyes were dim. It’s like something is stuck in his chest and he couldn’t get it out no matter what. His breathing turns heavy.

He did not expect that his momentary softness at the time would cause the situation like this. He did not deliberately harm others, did not intend to make illegal profits, but got himself into such a troublesome situation, even after paying a sufficient price, he still couldn’t get away from his past mistakes.

Xu Darui’s actions also made him feel cold. He settled his mind and replied to Xu Darui: Wait.

He decided to stabilize Xu Darui first, and then think of a way. An audio clip cannot be used as evidence to prosecute him. Moreover, the case has passed so many years, but it is enough to cause him a lot of trouble. His reputation would be destroyed again. It is much more important than money. But if he succumbed to Xu Darui’s threat, it is likely that he would really become a cash machine.

He wonders if he can use some extraordinary means…

Unknowingly, Zhao Jinxin has sat back beside him.

Li Shuo glanced at him, put his phone in his pocket, and continued watching the show as usual.

After the show ended, some people stayed for dinner, most of them were representatives of overseas students or working people whose families were not in the states, while others went home to have a reunion dinner.

Zhao Rongtian invited Li Shuo’s family to have a reunion dinner. Li Shuo knew that this would happen. He didn’t know if it was his illusion. He felt that the two families were getting closer and closer, but thinking about his father and Zhao Rongtian’s bond of interest, the relationship between the two families must be handled well so he must be reasonable.

So, the two families went to Zhao Rongtian’s house by car.

Zhao Rongtian’s mansion was decorated with a festive atmosphere. It was originally a rare Chinese mansion in the Upper East Side. At this time, the color of the lights and decorations are a very representative touch of red for the Chinese New Year in Manhattan.

The New Year’s Eve dinner has already been prepared. As soon as they walked in, the servants began to serve the food, and the two families spent a lively Chinese New Year together.

Looking at the joyous smiles on the faces of the elders, and Zhao Jinxin’s gentle gaze at him from time to time with a smile, Li Shuo suddenly realized that the picture was so beautiful that people couldn’t bear to interrupt it.

But this beauty is only on the surface. Zhao Jinxin’s threatening expressions, eyes, and words are still stamped in his mind frame by frame…

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Next update: 2022/01/24 (on Knoxt), 2022/01/26 (on Wattpad)