Chapter 52: Zhao Dong Seeks Sympathy

In the following period,

Zhu Nan kept in touch with Wang Haoran using a Feixin alias.

Zhu Nan said she requested Uncle Lai to report Zhao Dong’s situation in detail under Zhao Ruilong’s name.

As a result, Wang Haoran gained more detailed information on Zhao Dong’s movements.

So, he had Old Mo instruct Xu Yan and Chen Hao to “coincidentally” encounter Zhao Dong at restaurants, luxury stores, KTVs, and even on the main streets.

Sometimes, Xu Yan and Chen Hao even brought a group of friends to cooperate with Zhao Dong’s show-off and face-slapping.

Ding ding ding, a total of 400 fate points.

However, as this happened more frequently, Zhao Dong’s protagonist halo stopped decreasing.

As for Zhao Dong, he still hadn’t quit his waiter job. Besides wandering around getting mocked and then showing off and face-slapping, his daily activities included visiting Lin Qingzhi at the flower shop.

Meanwhile, Uncle Lai was still diligently managing the restaurant for him.

Using the installed bug, Wang Haoran knew Zhao Dong and Lin Qingzhi’s current relationship.

Every time Zhao Dong visited the flower shop, he would “recount his sorrowful love” to Lin Qingzhi, sharing how painful it was after being “dumped.” He’d also mention things like, “I love flowers, but my ex-girlfriend hated them. She only liked branded bags.”

Using “flowers” as an excuse, he aimed to draw closer to Lin Qingzhi.

As for Lin Qingzhi, she would comfort Zhao Dong with words like “look on the bright side” and “you’ll find someone better.”

Seeing that Zhao Dong hadn’t succeeded in his scheme yet, Wang Haoran decided to intervene.

Using buying flowers as an excuse, he had built a close relationship with Lin Qingzhi, always presenting himself as the “innocent boy choosing flowers for his beloved.”

After continuous effort, Wang Haoran estimated that his and Zhao Dong’s favorability in Lin Qingzhi’s eyes were about the same.

Upon hearing Zhao Dong seeking sympathy from Lin Qingzhi again, Wang Haoran decided to act.

Driving to the flower shop, he saw Zhao Dong from a distance, happily placing two flowers on his electric scooter, satisfied, and then returning to “Stars and Sea” to continue “experiencing life.”

Getting out of the car, he entered the flower shop.

Inside, Lin Qingzhi was helping customers wrap flowers. Once she finished, she looked up and saw Wang Haoran standing there, smiling.

“Wang Haoran, are you here to buy flowers for your girlfriend again?”

Wang Haoran didn’t answer. Instead, he took a seat on a stool beside Lin Qingzhi, showing a sorrowful smile.

After a moment of silence, when the atmosphere was right, Wang Haoran spoke in a pained voice.

“Miss Lin, if I want to mourn a lost love, which flowers should I choose?”

Hearing this, Lin Qingzhi was startled.

“Wang Haoran, don’t tell me… you broke up with your girlfriend?”

“Break up… We were never together, to begin with; how could we break up…” Wang Haoran laughed self-deprecatingly, his tone filled with pain. (tln : yea boyyyy time to rizz)

Then, looking straight at Lin Qingzhi with teary eyes, he asked, “Miss Lin, would you listen to my story?”

Without waiting for Lin Qingzhi’s reply, Wang Haoran began narrating his “sweet yet bitter love.”

“Actually… it was always unrequited love on my part. I never confessed to her.”

“She already has a boyfriend.”

“Every time I came to buy flowers, it was just to satisfy myself.”

At this point, Wang Haoran’s face showed a nostalgic expression, the pain on his face easing a bit.

“Miss Lin, you know, the first time I saw her, it was love at first sight. I couldn’t help but want to protect her.”

“At that time, she was being publicly humiliated by her ex-boyfriend, with terrible accusations like cheating, gold-digging, and being a slut I’ve slept with.”

“Passersby pointed fingers at her, but I didn’t believe she was like that, so I secretly investigated their relationship.”

Glancing at the attentive Lin Qingzhi, Wang Haoran continued.

“After investigating, I found out the truth was the complete opposite!”

“They had been in a relationship for three years, initially very good, but one day, the guy’s biological father found him.”

“His biological father was very wealthy and powerful, instantly turning him into a rich heir.”

“His attitude changed, starting to look down on his girlfriend.”

“But he didn’t want to be labeled as unfaithful, so he devised a plan. He started drinking, being violent, and hurling insults.”

“Over time, she couldn’t take it anymore and broke up with him.”

“Hearing about the breakup, the guy was delighted inside but pretended to be a victim!”

“How could someone be so despicable…” Lin Qingzhi listened in disgust.

“Exactly! And when he discovered I was investigating, he warned me that if I meddled, my family would go bankrupt!”

“My family has some money, but compared to his father, it’s nothing.”

“I wanted to seek justice for her but was afraid…”

“Sigh, it’s my weakness. I kept hesitating. When I finally decided to look for her…”

“She had already found someone who loves her!”

“I pretended not to know and watched her from afar, but now she’s getting married, and I can’t deceive myself anymore!”

Wang Haoran held his head in pain.

Listening to Wang Haoran, Lin Qingzhi imagined a scene: a boy sitting in a car, holding flowers, watching a girl walk away, his eyes filled with deep affection but too humble to approach…

Lin Qingzhi couldn’t help but pat Wang Haoran’s shoulder.

Wang Haoran deliberately looked up and took out his phone, opening a photo.

“I… really should let go… Look at her, how happy she is…”

Curious, Lin Qingzhi looked and saw a wedding photo. The couple in the picture was smiling brightly.

“Sigh, you…”

Lin Qingzhi wanted to console him but noticed something odd.

The girl… looked familiar…

Wait, isn’t that Zhao Dong’s ex-girlfriend, Xu Yan?

Stunned, Lin Qingzhi asked, “What’s this girl’s name?”

Great question! If you didn’t recognize her, I’d have to explain more!

Wang Haoran was overjoyed inside but showed a look of deep affection and bitterness.

“Xu Yan… Yanzi… isn’t it a beautiful name?”

“And… her ex-boyfriend?”

“…That despicable man’s name is Zhao Dong!”

Ignoring Lin Qingzhi’s shocked expression, Wang Haoran continued indignantly.

“You know, Zhao Dong is shameless!”

“He knows Yanzi has a new boyfriend and keeps causing trouble!”

“To him, Yanzi is his property. If he can’t have her, no one can!”

“He always pretends to be a victim while secretly using his power to make her and her boyfriend’s lives miserable!”

“Fortunately, I secretly recorded evidence on my phone. Otherwise, no one would know how insane Zhao Dong is!”

Lin Qingzhi was stunned, instinctively asking.

“Can I see your… evidence?”

“Of course!”

Wang Haoran, the master editor, opened the video player.

Lin Qingzhi saw Zhao Dong in the videos.

In the videos, Zhao Dong either wore a restaurant uniform or old T-shirts, clashing with well-dressed people.

But Zhao Dong always had various high-status individuals backing him.

Zhao Dong wore a smug expression, while Xu Yan and her new boyfriend looked miserable.

Finally, Zhao Dong’s image of a “deeply affectionate but heartlessly hurt victim” in Lin Qingzhi’s mind shattered.

tln : well played.