Chapter 11 – So, You Two Broke Up?
Novel Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 黎朔 (Li Shuo -MC), 赵锦辛 (Zhao Jinxin -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Li Shuo’s mind went blank in an instant.
The few short lines of text almost became blurry as he stared at them. He forcefully pressed the dial button, but as expected, the phone was turned off. He angrily kicked the table with a strong force and dialled his assistant’s number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. Li Shuo had long forgotten that it was the middle of the night in China. As soon as the call connected, he growled, “Where is Li Chengxiu?!”
The assistant was stunned. It was not because he was not fully awake, but because he had followed Li Shuo for more than three years and had never seen his boss so fierce. He stammered, “Ah… Li…- Li Chengxiu?”
“Where is Li Chengxiu?!”
“He… he is…” The assistant became a bit more alert, “Isn’t he at home? I was going to pick him up tomorrow to help him move to the hotel.”
Li Shuo forcefully wiped his face, forcing himself to calm down. “Xiao Guo, I need you to go to Li Chengxiu’s house now. He might have left.”
“Left? I talked to him on the phone during the day. We set the moving time.”
“Go now and confirm, then get back to me.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I’ll go right now.” The assistant hurriedly scrambled out of bed.
After hanging up the phone, Li Shuo paced anxiously around the room and read the text message several more times. Despite the plain language, he still sensed a hint of despair in it.
It was highly likely that Shao Qun had found Li Chengxiu and threatened him with his own issues…
He had been worried about something happening for the past couple of days. And now it has happened. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about Shao Qun causing trouble. But he had hoped that after meeting Shao Qun, Li Chengxiu would become more disheartened and more willing to come to his side.
But he actually just left like that?!
Where would he go? Who would he turn to? Would he still contact him?
Li Shuo felt his emotions boiling over—worry, confusion, and anxiety all rushing out. If it weren’t for the long distance making it hard to reach, he wouldn’t be so nervous.
He waited restlessly in the room for half an hour before the assistant called back.
Li Shuo still held onto a sliver of hope. “How is it?”
“There’s really no one at home.” The assistant’s voice sounded like he was on the verge of tears. “I asked the security guard. He said Li Chengxiu left during the day with his luggage. Mr. Li, what should we do?”
Li Shuo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Book me a flight ticket. I’m going back.”
“But Mr. Xiang said you absolutely cannot return…”
“Never mind that. Book me a flight…” Li Shuo calculated the fastest time he could pack up and get to the airport from New York. “A flight within the next seven hours.”
“…Okay, okay.”
“Check all the transportation information you can find and make sure to locate Li Chengxiu.”
“Yes!”
Li Shuo rubbed his temples roughly. He threw his phone aside and began packing his luggage.
He couldn’t think about anything else right now. Even if Li Chengxiu wanted to break up with him and would rather leave than come to the U.S., the pain and despair he read in that text message was enough to make him understand that Li Chengxiu needed help. How could he possibly continue his vacation at a time like this?
He hastily packed his luggage, grabbed the suitcase, and wanted to open his door to head downstairs.
As soon as he opened the door, Zhao Jinxin was about to knock, his hand still in mid-air. His gaze fell on Li Shuo’s suitcase. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going back to China.” Li Shuo brushed past him, ready to leave.
Zhao Jinxin pressed down on his shoulder. “What’s going on? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“I don’t want to explain. There’s an urgent matter. I have to go back immediately.” Li Shuo tried to push him aside.
Zhao Jinxin grabbed Li Shuo’s arm, pulled him in front, then used his right arm to lock around Li Shuo’s neck, almost hugging him tightly. With a swift spin, he dragged Li Shuo back into the room.
The series of movements was too quick and too smooth. Before Li Shuo could react, Zhao Jinxin had already kicked the door shut. Although Li Shuo didn’t know martial arts, he felt like Zhao Jinxin’s move was a gentle, modified version of a chokehold. His neck was locked but it was not suffocating. However, he couldn’t break free.
Zhao Jinxin quickly released him and stood blocking the door. He smiled at Li Shuo.
Li Shuo dropped his suitcase angrily. “What are you doing?! I really have an urgent matter!”
“You promised to drink with me tonight.” Zhao Jinxin said innocently.
“Can’t you prioritise things properly?”
Zhao Jinxin shrugged and said seriously, “I don’t know what’s happening in China. But have you forgotten that going back now is risky?”
“I know. But I have to go back.”
“Why?”
“This has nothing to do with you.”
Zhao Jinxin spread his arms, smiling. “If you don’t tell me, I won’t let you go. Babe, you really can’t beat me.”
Li Shuo clenched his fists. He didn’t have the energy to verify if Zhao Jinxin was serious. He took a deep breath. “Li Chengxiu might be missing.”
Zhao Jinxin was stunned. “What?”
Li Shuo said irritably, “I can’t explain it to you. I just need to go back. Move aside.”
Zhao Jinxin remained standing firmly in front of the door. “Missing? Why?”
“What does it have to do with you?” Li Shuo raised his voice. “He sent a text message and then disappeared. This could be serious. Can’t you be reasonable?”
Zhao Jinxin’s expression changed slightly. “Left? He left on his own?”
“Yes!”
Zhao Jinxin pondered for a moment. “If he left, what’s the point of you going back?”
“You…-”
“-Whether you go back or not, if he can be found, he’ll be found. If not, he won’t be. Besides, if you go back and something happens, how much energy will you have left to look for him? You’ll only make things worse by going back.”
Li Shuo was momentarily speechless.
Zhao Jinxin approached, pressing his shoulders to make him sit down. “Calm down first. From the time you came back to your room until now, only a little over an hour has passed. This means you received the news and made a decision in such a short time. Don’t you think that’s too impulsive and reckless?” His voice was gentle and soothing, with a reassuring power.
Li Shuo stared blankly at the carpet. His rigid posture slowly relaxed, accompanied by a sigh.
Zhao Jinxin squatted in front of him, holding his hand, and smiled. “If you think it over, you’ll understand. Don’t be anxious, don’t be impulsive. You’re not acting like your usual self.”
Li Shuo forced a smile. The conversation had reached this point, and he certainly understood. He really couldn’t go back. When it came to finding someone, he could spend money and leverage connections, both of which he could do over the phone. If he went back and got detained, he’d be caught in a dilemma, unable to manage either end.
But he was in such turmoil that he couldn’t even sit still.
Zhao Jinxin squeezed his palm. “I wish you were this anxious for me.”
Li Shuo couldn’t meet Zhao Jinxin’s eager gaze for a moment. He averted his eyes and stood up.
Zhao Jinxin was very different from when they first met. At their first meeting, this man was frivolous and unruly, like a beautiful but venomous snake. He was always advancing step by step, making him only suitable for distant admiration. Later, Li Shuo discovered Zhao Jinxin’s love for pouting, acting spoiled, and flirting, but always within boundaries, making it impossible to dislike him and often even finding him somewhat charming. As their interaction deepened, Li Shuo gradually felt confused and puzzled by Zhao Jinxin’s apparent affection. He also saw the tenderness behind his playful facade.
Li Shuo’s impression of Zhao Jinxin had soared from rock bottom to a high point. Now, he even felt a tinge of guilt for not being able to reciprocate Zhao Jinxin’s enthusiasm.
Zhao Jinxin stood up as well. “I have many friends in China. I will definitely help you find him. Now is not the time to be distant with me. Finding him is the most important thing, isn’t it?”
Li Shuo opened his mouth to reject it at first. But then slowly nodded. “Jinxin, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Zhao Jinxin lightly hooked Li Shuo’s chin with his index finger. “So, you two broke up?”
Li Shuo was slightly stunned. “Do we have the time to think about that now?”
“Stop avoiding it. Isn’t Li Chengxiu’s attitude clear enough?”
Li Shuo turned his face away. “He’s having a hard time right now. Whether we break up or not, I just want him to be well and I will help him regardless.”
“You’re really a good person,” Zhao Jinxin said softly.
For some reason, Li Shuo felt a hint of sarcasm in those words. He thought he might be overthinking it. Or it might be because Zhao Jinxin was jealous.
Li Shuo shook his head. “Jinxin, let me have some quiet time alone.”
“Okay.” Zhao Jinxin patted his shoulder. “Send me all the information you have so far. I’ll contact my friends to help. Don’t worry, we will find him.”
Li Shuo nodded gratefully.
Since it was still early morning in China, Li Shuo anxiously waited for updates. He repeatedly recalled every detail since meeting Li Chengxiu. The more he thought about it, the more he felt stifled.
He was a bit unwilling to accept it. He prided himself on being an upright, kind, and self-disciplined person. He never deviated significantly in his actions and had always been quite popular. Why was his love life always so troubled?
Not counting the childish feelings from his teenage years, his most beloved and like-minded boyfriend from college had broken up with him because he had cold feet about going to Africa together. Over the years, no matter who he dated, he treated them sincerely and with respect, yet every relationship inevitably ended in a breakup.
He couldn’t even be sure if he had done something wrong.
There was one person who had honestly told him that he was too rational, that he couldn’t feel like he was much loved.
Thinking of that person, a quirky young man he once liked and who happened to be a mutual friend of his and Li Chengxiu, he took out his phone and dialled his number.
An extremely impatient voice answered on the other end, “Who is it?”
“Xiaohui, it’s me, Li Shuo.”
“Uh…” The voice became clearer. “Hey? Li Da Ge, why are you calling so late…or so early? What’s up? Waking up two hours early means being sleepy all morning.” As he spoke, he yawned loudly.
“Xiaohui, has Chengxiu contacted you recently?”
“Not recently. He called me today saying he was going to visit a relative.”
“Which relative, and where?”
Wen Xiaohui, realising something was wrong, responded anxiously, “He didn’t say. What’s going on?”
“He left, sent me a text message, and then turned off his phone. We can’t find him.”
“What!” Wen Xiaohui shouted. He then added, “Maybe he really did go visit a relative. He seemed pretty normal when he called today. Maybe his phone just ran out of battery?”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple,” Li Shuo said gravely. “If Li Chengxiu contacts you again, you must tell me immediately. Or if you can think of anywhere he might go, let me know.”
“I… I’ll think about it right away.”
Li Shuo locked himself in his room, desperately trying to find Li Chengxiu through various channels. The entire afternoon passed in the blink of an eye. As the day fully awakened in China, there was still no news of Li Chengxiu.
Suddenly, a knock on the door pulled Li Shuo from his dark thoughts. He said, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Zhao Jinxin walked in. He was smiling. “It’s time to go have a drink with me.”
Li Shuo sighed, “I’m in no mood right now…-” He paused mid-sentence and changed his mind. Sometimes, alcohol is exactly what one needs, like right now. He wanted nothing more than to get thoroughly drunk.
Seeing through his thoughts, Zhao Jinxin blinked his eyes and said, “Come with me.”
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*Translator’s Note: And that’s Wen Xiaohui, the MC from ‘Additional Inheritance’ by the same author. Someone has translated it. You may check that novel out. -K
*Proofread by 2024.07.24* I’m currently in the middle of the proofreading stage of my first ever translation; ‘Winner Takes All’. Lots of changes will be made especially to titles such as ‘Brother’ will be changed to ‘Ge’ and ‘Uncle’ will be changed to ‘Shushu’. I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free so please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on Wattpad.
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