The information Fu Quan had provided was incredibly valuable to Gu Wan’er.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open. Everyone turned to look—and sure enough, it was Ye Shishi. A waiter wouldn’t have barged in like that; at the very least, they’d have knocked first.
“Well, well. You two are here too.” Ye Shishi shot Lu Zhengzhi and Fu Quan a dismissive smirk. In her eyes, these two were traitors—siding with an outsider who’d just waltzed in from somewhere else.
Fu Quan and Lu Zhengzhi merely nodded in response. Before all this, they would’ve stood up and respectfully addressed her as “Sister Ye.”
Ye Shishi let out a cold laugh. Once she’d taken down Gu Wan’er, she’d deal with those two as well.
“What are you staring at?!” Ye Shishi suddenly snapped at Yu Xiaoduo. The moment he’d walked in, his eyes had been locked on her—and Gu Wan’er wasn’t even doing anything about it.
Gu Wan’er shot Yu Xiaoduo a puzzled look. You’re actually checking her out? Am I not prettier than her?!
Yu Xiaoduo winked back at her. As the elders always say, looking at beautiful things helps you live longer. I’m just following their advice.
Still, Ye Shishi was way too arrogant. Even after getting completely shut out last time, she was still running her mouth.
Ye Shishi glared at Yu Xiaoduo. You’re not the same Yu Xiaoduo you used to be. You’d better watch yourself around me.
“What are you staring at?! Never seen a handsome guy before?!” Yu Xiaoduo suddenly barked out, startling everyone at the table.
Gu Wan’er almost burst out laughing—she’d said the exact same line before.
Ye Shishi couldn’t be bothered to trade barbs with Yu Xiaoduo. She pulled out a chair and sat down, her long, shapely legs immediately drawing attention. Gu Wan’er gave Yu Xiaoduo a sharp jab—stare too long and you’ll get pinkeye.
Yu Xiaoduo wanted to argue—if she didn’t want to be looked at, why dress like that in the first place?
“Bring him in!”
Two burly men dragged in a burlap sack. Through the white fabric, faint traces of blood could be seen seeping through. Gu Wan’er still wasn’t quite used to this kind of scene.
At Ye Shishi’s signal, the men opened the sack. When Gu Wan’er saw who was inside, she could hardly believe her eyes.
“Fu Yangxue!”
Even Lu Zhengzhi and Fu Quan looked surprised. Yu Xiaoduo, on the other hand, didn’t seem too shocked—he’d been involved in this mess himself. That Fu Yangxue would pull something like this made sense; it was just obsession turning into resentment.
At that moment, Fu Yangxue was beaten black and blue. When his eyes met Gu Wan’er’s—elegant, untouchable—an overwhelming sense of inferiority surged from deep within him. All he wanted was to crawl into a hole. This was worse than death.
“Sister Ye, I was wrong. I’ll never do it again.”
Ye Shishi kicked him over with one foot. “Stay away from me!”
Though knocked to the ground, Fu Yangxue quickly scrambled back into a kneeling position, his groveling demeanor on full display.
“Gu Wan’er, I’ve found your man. Break his limbs or crack his skull—it’s up to you.”
The moment Ye Shishi finished speaking, Fu Yangxue crawled on his knees to Gu Wan’er’s feet and started kowtowing—thump, thump, thump—the sound echoing through the room.
“Wan’er—no, Miss Gu—I was out of my mind. When I saw you had a boyfriend, this thought crept into my head: if I can’t have you, then no one should. I deserve to die. I deserve to die.” He kept bowing his head as he spoke, blood trickling down his forehead. He was really doing it—no faking. It left Gu Wan’er completely dumbfounded.
The whole private room echoed with the sound of his forehead hitting the floor. The blood on the tiles spread more and more with each thud, every impact seeming to land squarely on Gu Wan’er’s chest.
“That’s enough!” Gu Wan’er ordered in a low voice.
Fu Yangxue paused for a moment, then continued kowtowing. “Thank you, Miss Gu! I’ll never be foolish again! Thank you, Miss Gu!”
Yu Xiaoduo sighed inwardly. That was way too easy. Weren’t you the one who said you’d break his hands? A few knocks on the floor and your heart softens.
Fu Yangxue turned and started kowtowing to Ye Shishi. She didn’t even look at him. “Get lost.”
“Thank you, Sister Ye! Thank you, Sister Ye! I’m rolling, I’m rolling!” And with that, he literally rolled himself out the door. Even Lu Zhengzhi was taken aback—he’d never seen Fu Yangxue like this. Fu Quan adjusted his glasses, noting how quickly Fu Yangxue had changed his tune.
Once Fu Yangxue was gone, Ye Shishi said flatly, “Gu Wan’er, we’re even now.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m out!”
Though she didn’t really want to, Gu Wan’er felt obliged to say, “Why not stay and have dinner with us?”
“I’m not eating with traitors.” With that, Ye Shishi walked off, leaving behind an intriguing silhouette. Yu Xiaoduo couldn’t help but think, Damn, that’s a nice behind—childbearing hips for sure.
Gu Wan’er stomped on Yu Xiaoduo’s foot in annoyance. Look at those wandering eyes—practically crawling into her rear end.
“I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” Gu Wan’er said apologetically. These guys had been doing just fine before, and now they’d made an enemy out of Ye Shishi because of her.
Lu Zhengzhi waved it off. “Sister-in-law, don’t be so serious. I’ve been annoyed with her for a long time anyway.”
Fu Quan just smiled to himself—you’re just traumatized because she whooped your ass, aren’t you?
One by one, the dishes started arriving. Lu Zhengzhi let out a whistle. “Sister-in-law, you’re way too generous! There’s only four of us—this is way too much food!”
Gu Wan’er hadn’t expected Bai Jie to order so much either.
The scar-faced man standing nearby relayed the message: “Mr. Bai said that since Miss Gu was drunk yesterday, you need to nourish yourself today.”
Lu Zhengzhi and Fu Quan both sat up a little straighter when they heard that. Mr. Bai is treating Sister-in-law this well? So the whole table was arranged by Mr. Bai?! Holy crap!
Brother Yu, you’re in danger, man. Mr. Bai might have his eyes on Sister-in-law!
A wave of warmth washed over Gu Wan’er. Bai Jie is so thoughtful—she’s abroad and still thinking about me.
Yu Xiaoduo, meanwhile, was lost in thought. If a woman like Bai Jie became your wife, she’d warm you to death.
No, no—how could I betray my little Yunque? She can warm me to death too. But Bai Jie is more captivating… Ugh, so torn—who to choose?
Whatever, I’ll stick with Yunque. Bai Jie would just be walking into a death trap.
——–
Outside Haoting, Fu Yangxue wiped the blood from his forehead as he walked along the street, pulling out his phone to make a call.
“Brother Pan, it’s all taken care of.” A grin spread across Fu Yangxue’s bloodied face, making him look downright terrifying.
“Oh? How’d you manage that?”
“I know Gu Wan’er pretty well. She may seem cold on the surface, but she’s soft inside. You just have to grovel hard enough—throw yourself at her feet and she caves.”
“Well, well, you’ve got some skills. Don’t worry—stick with Brother Tang and you’ll be set.”
“Thanks, Brother Pan.”
After hanging up, Pan Wei let out a sigh of relief. Good thing Fu Yangxue hadn’t sold him out. Not that it mattered if he did—he could always deny it, since the tampering with the car was his doing. As long as he didn’t fess up, no one could pin it on him.
Fu Yangxue was relieved too. Climbing the Tang family’s ladder meant he’d never run out of opportunities. Even if he only got scraps, he’d still strike it rich. A few forehead-knocks? Small price to pay.
Just then, two cars pulled up beside him. Fu Yangxue thought they were the ones he’d called for.
When he saw Ye Shishi’s face through the window, his legs went weak. This woman was nothing like the soft-hearted Gu Wan’er.
“Sister Ye.” Fu Yangxue put on his most ingratiating tone.
Ye Shishi raised her hand, and two men got out of the car behind hers—carrying a burlap sack. Fu Yangxue’s face went pale with fear.
“Sister Ye! Sister Ye! You told me to get lost just now!”
“I said get lost—not roll this slowly. Take him away.”
“Sister Ye, I’m sorry! I—mmph mmph mmph…”
