"Mr. Zhao Qi, what brings you here?"

Lu Nanzhi calmly gazed at the man before her, neither inviting him in nor telling him to leave.

And so, they maintained a somewhat stiff, somewhat awkward distance… Zhao Qi stood at the door, Lu Nanzhi sat on the sofa inside.

"My father sent me."

After a moment, Zhao Qi confessed honestly, cautiously inquiring, "May I come in and sit down?"

Lu Nanzhi lowered her eyes, holding a teacup. The tea inside was already cold, reflecting her downcast face… The conversation about the Zhao family had just begun, and her feelings towards them, and towards Zhao Qi, were complex.

If he were an incompetent, utterly useless playboy… yet, after their marriage, he hadn't touched her with a single finger. He understood the meaning of this marriage better than she did.

Outside, many people called Zhao Qi a vile piece of trash.

In reality, the description of "mud" was most apt.

He was incapable of being propped up, and he knew he was incapable… so he only squandered within the limits allowed by his family's legacy, drinking, having fun, making friends with hangers-on. According to his way of "consumption," the Zhao family's vast wealth could easily support him for a lifetime.

He was a pile of mud, and a qualified pile of mud at that.

But if he had, in these years, applied to take over some projects as an "heir," using his own opinions to replace the decisions of the Hua Zhi executives… that would have been a real disaster.

A few wrong decisions, and the Zhao family would collapse within a few years. The fall of a great building often happens in a single dynasty, a single evening, a single moment, a single person.

"They're dancing outside…"

Seeing that his wife didn't seem to object to his presence, Zhao Qi slowly entered, moving very lightly. He closed the door, came to the sofa, his posture and expression somewhat restrained, and said slowly, "I saw your sister… She's been gone from the capital for ten years."

Lu Nanzhi didn't know what to say, and just gave a soft "mm."

Ten years.

Actually, she felt a slight sense of relief. The fact that Zhao Qi could say "ten years" meant he still remembered what happened back then, instead of just saying "many years," "a long time ago," those vague, sentimental words like the people outside…

That was the only polite greeting.

Because even someone as foolish as Zhao Qi knew… that there was nothing to say on the subject of greetings. He and Lu Nanzhi only had a nominal marital relationship, their connection as thin as water. There was no such thing as "a hundred days of grace for a day's marriage." Just being able to enter this reception room was already a great stroke of luck.

He confessed frankly, "Actually… my father sent me."

“…I know.”

Lu Nanzhi took a sip of the lukewarm tea, composing herself. She looked at the man before her, and said slowly, "But I really didn't expect that Councilor Zhao would have you contact me first…"

What kind of trick was this?

Today's free dance party was actually a silent battlefield without smoke.

Chen San from the Nanwan faction had immediately had a private talk with her, hoping to confirm her final opinion on the Awakening Act… and to further establish a coalition and cooperative relationship between the two sides.

But so far, Cui Zhongcheng and Zhao Xilai had made no move.

They had come to the Freedom Hall, but hadn't participated in the reception room conversations, nor had they come to find her… it seemed they were waiting for the symphony concert in the hall to begin.

So, these two wanted to make a grand finale appearance.

But Zhao Xilai had actually sent out an… unexpected "vanguard."

"Father wanted me to come and see you…"

Zhao Qi chuckled softly and said, "Actually, I didn't really want to come, or rather, I didn't dare to come, because to me… you are such a distant, sacred, ethereal existence."

A bit of flattery, but seeing that Lu Nanzhi didn't react at all.

Zhao Qi didn't waste any more words, but went straight to the point.

"Father hopes you can change your attitude regarding the Awakening Act… Hua Zhi will fully support all your political views, except for the Act." Zhao Qi took out a contract from his pocket. "This is my father's will, which has not yet been made public."

He placed the contract on the table, slowly pushing it over, while staring into his wife's eyes, and slowly said, "The Zhao family will donate 51% of the shares of Hua Zhi Tower, and you will have absolute control of Hua Zhi… This far exceeds the wealth that Mr. Lu Cheng possessed in the past, having increased dozens of times in ten years. You will become the most prominent and greatest woman in Dongzhou, and even the entire Five Continents, second only to the one in the Northern Fortress."

The shares of Hua Zhi were for wealth.

The seat of a councilor was for power.

Lu Nanzhi silently looked at the contract. She didn't open the document, but she was shocked by Zhao Xilai's boldness just by hearing the words… This kind of concession was even more outrageous than cutting off flesh, and was definitely not comparable to the conditions offered by Nanwan.

"Father doesn't have much time left. If all goes well, then after he leaves, he will leave me with a simple trust fund. The Zhao family will still exist, but it will no longer be the master of Hua Zhi… just like it was ten years ago." Zhao Qi's voice was very soft. "If you are willing, you can choose to end your relationship with the Zhao family at any time… At that time, I will voluntarily end my marriage with you, and return to you a clean and unburdened reputation."

Besides wealth, power… and the reputation that had been built up over many years.

All of it was presented to her.

This guy who seemed like a pile of mud actually said words that could affect the entire Five Continents' structure.

"I… don't understand."

Lu Nanzhi rubbed her temples. She murmured softly, "I don't understand why things have become like this… This kind of decision doesn't seem like Councilor Zhao's style."

The Zhao family, losing everything.

All of it was being done for her benefit.

"You've chosen the wrong person to say these things to." Zhao Qi shrugged helplessly. "I know my own position very well. I'm just an idiot, and I can't think about such profound questions… so, I can't give you any answers."

"All of the above are the words that my father wanted me to convey. If you have any confusion, it seems that you will need to have a good talk next."

Having said this, Zhao Qi's sitting posture suddenly changed. He began to sit very seriously, and his words also became very earnest. "Actually, I also have something that I want to say… even if I am a useless piece of trash."

"Not long ago, I also watched your speech about the alternate councilors…"

"Father seemed very shocked. This matter was unexpected by everyone. I heard that Hua Zhi was holding a celebration banquet at the time." Zhao Qi laughed softly. "These guys opened their champagne, preparing to celebrate the great victory of the Act War in advance, and then the camera turned, and you said that you opposed it, and everyone was stunned… It was really an interesting picture, but it's a pity that I wasn't there to witness it in person."

"I don't know why, but I had a feeling that you would oppose it."

Zhao Qi said lightly, "I have no evidence, and I haven't thought about it… it's just a feeling. From the day you married into the Zhao family, I felt that you would eventually stand up one day, and stand on the opposite side of the Zhao family."

"Now it seems that my premonition was quite accurate."

Young Master Zhao laughed self-deprecatingly, "So a long time ago I asked myself… If one day Lu Nanzhi comes to the opposite side of the Zhao family, how should I deal with myself? The media in the capital are right, I am just a useless piece of trash, living a good life all because I have a good father. If one day my father is gone, I will be nothing."

"A woman like you marrying into the Zhao family is a blessing for the Zhao family, but a disaster for me… because once you become my opponent, even if ten of me are tied together, I will still be vulnerable."

Lu Nanzhi silently looked at Zhao Qi.

She was now beginning to doubt… was this really the pile of mud that had been cursed, despised, and looked down upon by millions of people?

Could a person who had such a clear understanding of himself… still be a pile of mud?

"What do you want to say?"

"What I want to say is very simple… If I can't prevent the worst from happening, then why should I struggle? It's better to continue being a bum." Zhao Qi said softly, "Actually, I just want a sum of money… a sum of money that is enough for me to eat, drink, and have fun. For you, for the Zhao family, this sum of money is just a drop in the bucket, right?"

Reality gave me a heavy punch.

How can I not be knocked down?

Some people choose to withstand the pressure, straighten their backs, and try to stand up—

But Young Master Zhao's idea was very novel… I just need to lie down… then no one can knock me down.

"If you insist on holding an opposing opinion, then this struggle will gradually evolve into a war of attrition. Father will definitely revise his will, and I will still be the ultimate heir." Zhao Qi said softly, "I came here today just to say something inauspicious, but perhaps something that might happen—"

"If the old man leaves during the struggle, have you thought about what will happen?"

Lu Nanzhi was silent.

If the will was revised and Zhao Qi became the largest controlling shareholder of Hua Zhi, then this foundation, which countless people had put their heart and soul into, this building that her father regarded as a dream, would collapse before long.

"A struggle doesn't necessarily have to have one side win."

"It could also be… a lose-lose situation."

"This—is the meaning of my coming here, to avoid a lose-lose situation from happening."

"I don't care about ten billion, a hundred billion, because it's too much… I can't spend it all in this lifetime. What use is Hua Zhi to me? Since everyone wants me to be a waste, then I'll just continue to be a waste." Zhao Qi smiled shamelessly, "I came to you because I hope to retain the capital to be a waste… Before, I was sponging off my parents, but now it's just a change of person, and I've become a gigolo. I don't care."

"If I back down, cooperate… I believe your progress will be very smooth, right?"

“……”

Lu Nanzhi looked at Zhao Qi. Today's conversation gave her a new understanding of the man before her. He was definitely not as useless as the public perceived him to be. At least he had self-awareness, and he was shameless enough… to take his father's efforts as a bargaining chip without any morality to exchange for actual benefits.

For herself.

This was a good thing.

Zhao Qi's retreat and cooperation would make this struggle much easier, and all she had to pay was "a little money."

But Lu Nanzhi did not give a clear attitude. She just gave this calm reply: "If you just wanted to say these words… then you can leave."

Hearing the order to leave.

Zhao Qi took a deep breath and said, "I have one more thing to do here today…"

He reached into his pocket and said sincerely, "I have prepared a gift for you, a necklace. If you don't mind, wear it at the upcoming concert. Father will know that we have talked, and that we have talked quite well."

Just as Zhao Qi was about to take out the necklace box—

The lights in the reception room suddenly went out.

Not just the reception room.

The entire Freedom Hall, the reception room, the main hall, and several side halls, along with the corridors, all went out in an instant, plunging into darkness.