OFR – Chapter 365 Closing the Palace (Part 1)

“Let’s just find a restaurant that’s open. You pick the place.”

Just stepping out of his luxury villa, Mu Bai smiled faintly at Qian Yiwen’s message as he typed his reply.

Truthfully speaking, Mu Bai had always held a good impression of this girl who had once played the role of his “shield” just as he had been hers.

Her looks and figure could easily be rated around ninety-five out of a hundred, making her a goddess second only to Xiao Xiao and Han Mengyun. Her personality was open and natural, without pretentiousness or affectation.

On top of that, she was independent—relying on her own hands and wits to carve out a place in the online novel industry.

So in today’s world, Qian Yiwen could be considered one of those rare, flawless girls—someone worthy of being called a perfect goddess.

And such a girl would spark goodwill in anyone. Mu Bai was no exception.

Author’s Note:

After much thought, I’ve decided to wrap this story up here.

I owe an apology to the readers who have enjoyed this novel. I truly am sorry, but as the author, I feel powerless to continue. My writing skills can’t keep up with my ideas anymore. Many of the plotlines I envision feel great in concept, but when written out, they come across as immature.

Perhaps this “Godly Patron” genre was always meant to be straightforward power-fantasy, not something weighed down by over-thinking.

So instead, I’ll give you a simple overview of what happens afterward.

Future Plot Summary:

Mu Bai and Qian Yiwen share a meal and spend New Year’s Eve together, their relationship growing closer.

Later, at Qian Yiwen’s invitation, Mu Bai accompanies her to Shanghai for an author convention. Along the way, they run into Li Shao from Shanghai—a wealthy second son of the Li Group, previously introduced as the buyer of Mu Bai’s near-priceless ghost orchid.

Having heard about Mu Bai from his older brother, and recognizing the extravagant Koenigsegg, Li Shaoyun deduces that Mu Bai is none other than the legendary “Cold Young Master.”

Li Shao invites Mu Bai to join in a fundraising effort at the IP convention. Though Mu Bai has little interest at first, an investment subplot gets triggered, and he agrees.

At the convention, because Mu Bai looks so young and handsome—and is not an author himself—many mistake him for Qian Yiwen’s boyfriend. Some jealous authors even sneer, calling him a “kept pretty boy.”

But when the vice chairman of the hosting site spots Li Shao, he rushes over in deference. Li Shao, regaining his aloof demeanor, acknowledges him casually—then turns and shows warm respect toward Mu Bai.

Those who had mocked Mu Bai moments before are instantly left red-faced.

The event escalates when the chairman of the site, backed by Penguin Empire’s investors, tries to monopolize all the IP rights while giving the Li Group only crumbs.

In response, Li Shao invites Mu Bai to join forces. Together, they throw down over ten billion yuan, crushing the plan and seizing eighty percent of the shares. Li Shao, eager to curry favor with Mu Bai, even offers to hand all the shares over to him.

Mu Bai, utterly unfazed by sums that would stagger others, waves it off:
“Li Shao, you’re overthinking. I was just tossing in a bit of money, picking up a few hot IPs for a friend’s entertainment company, nothing more.”

This casual dismissal of billions stuns the entire audience.

Later, Mu Bai picks up some of the hottest upcoming IPs as gifts for Dongfang Jing and Mu Xiaoxiao, then quietly leaves with Qian Yiwen.

Back in Nanjing, Qian Yiwen, shocked by Mu Bai’s true status, doesn’t pry—she only asks if they can remain good friends.

Smiling indulgently, Mu Bai assures her, “Of course we can.”

But as she watches him walk away, Qian Yiwen feels the distance between them widening—not just physically, but in status. The gap she once thought her hard work could close now seems infinite, unreachable in a lifetime.

When Mu Bai returns home after the New Year, Xiao Qing is back at the villa. They share a warm time together, eating hometown snacks she brought. She posts a photo of Mu Bai’s side profile on her Moments, sparking a flurry of funny, jealous comments from her classmates.

Soon, Lantern Festival approaches.

In Beijing, within a hidden, extravagant courtyard, a man in his forties wearing a black Zhongshan suit steps out, followed by two of the most formidable bodyguards in China—and Rong Qingwen.

This man is none other than Rong Tiancheng, Qingwen’s uncle.

Because Mu Bai had once shown him kindness, Rong Qingwen tries persuading his uncle to spare him:
“Uncle, Mu Bai—Cold Young Master—he’s the kind of man who returns kindness a hundredfold. But if forced into a corner, he’ll fight to the death. I fear you may risk too much. As one of the six leaders of the Rong clan, your position is too exalted to be endangered over a young man.”

But Mu Bai is only a side objective. Rong Tiancheng’s real targets are the formidable Xie Tianhua, who has been blocking the Rong clan’s expansion in Nanjing, and a highly respected elder of the Nalan family.

Hearing his nephew’s plea, Rong Tiancheng studies him quietly, then—rarely—rests a hand on Qingwen’s shoulder:

“Qingwen, you are the only male heir of your father and me. In the future, when you weigh matters, you must strip away sentiment—family, friendship, romance—all of it. They only cloud your judgment. Only利益—interests—matter. Don’t think me cold. This world has always been this way. Compassion is a luxury reserved for those who stand above all others.”

“You are far from that level.”

His deep, black eyes bore into his nephew’s.

Qingwen’s reason told him his uncle was right. Yet he could not accept it. He could not imagine a life where even his uncle’s safety didn’t matter, where all emotions turned into cold calculations.

Sensing this, Rong Tiancheng added words Qingwen would remember for a lifetime:

“If you wish to keep such emotions—this costly luxury—then you must climb. Climb high enough to withstand the devastation such feelings will one day bring. That is your only path.”

“And do not worry for me. You still don’t understand what the name ‘Rong Tiancheng’ means in the eyes of the world.”