Chapter 20: Gu Qingwan's Heart in Turmoil

“Oh? Who is it? Point her out to me quietly—I promise not to tell anyone!” Gu Luosheng’s heart surged with curiosity. What kind of woman would a man as handsome as Shen Mo be interested in?

Shen Mo realized he had let something slip. Looking at the tipsy Gu Luosheng, he’d spoken without thinking. Since Shen Mo remained silent, Gu Luosheng didn’t press further.

“Aren’t you going to join your friends?” she asked.

Shen Mo replied gently, “I don’t like crowded places. It’s quieter here with you.”

“You’re not using me as a shield against admirers, are you?” The more Gu Luosheng thought about it, the more possible it seemed. Before Shen Mo arrived, there had been people coming up to talk to her—no doubt the same was true for him. Now, together, they were blocking each other’s would-be suitors.

“Can’t I? Just think of it as doing me a favor,” Shen Mo followed her lead without missing a beat.

Gu Luosheng’s eyes sparkled, bright and playful. “Fine! When you finally win over the one you like, I’ll ask her for compensation for all the admirers I’ve turned away on your behalf!”

“Deal.”

…

Lin Yichen was about to return to his group of business partners when, unexpectedly, Gu Yunzhou appeared before him.

“Well, well, Lin Yichen. I thought I recognized you, but didn’t expect it really was you!” Gu Yunzhou, visibly agitated, seized Lin Yichen by the collar. “Why are you here at this banquet? You’re betrothed to my sister—don’t you forget that!”

Lin Yichen looked at him with calm indifference. “So what? We’re not married yet, are we? As long as the wedding hasn’t happened, nothing is set in stone. For all you know, I might not end up marrying Gu Qingwan at all.”

“You—” Gu Yunzhou’s eyes widened, fury blazing within them. Unable to restrain himself, he landed a punch on Lin Yichen’s face.

Rubbing his reddened cheek, Lin Yichen said coolly, “Think of that as payback for the punch you gave me back then. Try it again and I’ll hit back too.”

Gu Yunzhou’s friends quickly pulled him back, urging him to calm down. Causing a scene at Drunken Immortal Pavilion would only earn them the enmity of the powerful interests behind it, which could spell trouble for their family’s business.

“Hmph!” Lin Yichen snorted coldly, brushing past Gu Yunzhou.

As nine o’clock approached, Gu Yunqi sent Gu Luosheng a message, telling her to meet at the front entrance so they could go home.

Gu Luosheng downed the last of her wine and waved at Shen Mo. “Shen Mo, my brother’s calling—I have to go.”

“See you,” Shen Mo replied. He wanted to walk her out, but thought it might be too forward. So he simply said, “Alright. Good night.”

When Gu Luosheng reached the door, Gu Yunqi and Gu Yunzhou were already waiting.

Gu Yunqi caught the scent of alcohol on her and grinned. “Luosheng, you’ve had quite a bit to drink, haven’t you? Did any of the young gentlemen catch your eye?”

Gu Luosheng shook her head. “No. But I did find a few prospective sisters-in-law for you. Did you get their friend requests?”

Gu Yunqi was momentarily taken aback, then realized what she meant. “So that’s why so many people tried to add me! You leaked my contact info, didn’t you?”

Gu Luosheng laughed sheepishly. Meanwhile, Gu Yunzhou stood by with a frosty expression, as if the world owed him money. Gu Luosheng had no interest in provoking him further and said nothing.

Gu Yunqi, on the other hand, was in high spirits. He hadn’t expected to strike such a substantial business deal at the event.

Back at the Gu residence.

Gu Qingwan was still awake, her mood visibly sour. Gu Luosheng greeted Gu Yunqi and went straight to her room to shower and sleep.

While bathing, she noticed the rash on her neck hadn’t faded—she’d forgotten all about it. She really shouldn’t have drunk so much tonight. Well, starting today, she’d abstain from alcohol.

After her shower, she could still hear voices in the living room.

“Second Brother, are you sure you weren’t mistaken? Why would Yichen go to that banquet… And even if he did, maybe it wasn’t to meet other heiresses…”

“Qingwan, I couldn’t have been mistaken—he told me himself, and my friends heard it too. He said that as long as he’s not married, nothing is settled. He might not marry you in the end.”

“Lin Yichen is no good! Qingwan, let’s just stay away from him. This engagement isn’t worth it!”

Gu Luosheng was baffled—what was going on? Were they berating Lin Yichen just because he’d attended the banquet? She hadn’t realized how deeply Gu Qingwan felt for him; maybe she simply couldn’t accept what Gu Yunzhou had told her.

But none of this concerned Gu Luosheng. In fact, she would be more than happy if Lin Yichen and Gu Qingwan were inseparable.

Gu Qingwan didn’t sleep a wink that night. In the morning, Gu Yanfeng and Ren Fang saw her reddened eyes and felt a pang of sympathy.

“Qingwan, I’ll arrange to meet with Yichen again and have him make things clear. If he doesn’t want this marriage, we won’t keep you waiting. You’re not getting any younger,” Gu Yanfeng said shrewdly. There was no need for a daughter of the Gu family to humble herself before the Lin family.

It wasn’t as though their daughter couldn’t find a worthy man.

“That’s right! If you lose a man, you can always find another. Look at Luosheng—she was once so fond of Yichen, but she’s moved on,” Ren Fang chimed in, comforting Gu Qingwan.

“Dad, please make sure you talk to Yichen!” Out of all that was said, this was the only thing Gu Qingwan took to heart.

Gu Yanfeng and Ren Fang were resigned—after all, their daughter truly liked Lin Yichen. Still, the Lin Group was powerful; a union between the two families would undoubtedly boost the Gu Group’s standing.

Gu Yanfeng was a man of action. In front of Gu Qingwan, he called Lin Yichen to arrange a meeting.

Lin Yichen, realizing he couldn’t avoid the issue any longer, agreed to meet at nine o’clock at the Gu Group.

When Gu Qingwan learned of this, she wanted to go with her father. Unable to dissuade her, Gu Yanfeng finally agreed to take her along.

Ren Fang sighed deeply. Both her daughters were infatuated with Lin Yichen—was his charm really so irresistible?

“Auntie, good morning!” Gu Luosheng, up early, greeted Ren Fang as she left her room.

Ren Fang was momentarily confused but, seeing the empty living room, realized Gu Luosheng was addressing her.

“Luosheng, come here!”

Gu Luosheng, puzzled, walked over.

“You don’t have to change how you address me. It’s perfectly fine if you want to keep calling me Mom.”