Volume One, Chapter 13: Doused with Water

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Jiang Wenhua’s usually refined face held traces of concern, his eyes full of deep affection. “Xiao Yu, I’ve come to apologize to you. I hope you can forgive me. I even prepared a gift for you…”

Zhou Xianyu clicked her tongue lightly, growing somewhat impatient. She tilted her head slightly and shot Jiang Wenhua a glance. “Why won’t you just disappear?”

“I don’t accept your apology, nor do I need your gift. The best gift would be for you never to appear in front of me again.”

Jiang Wenhua thought she was still angry and earnestly pleaded, “Xiao Yu, I only want what’s best for you… What would it take for you to forgive me? Even if you want to be mad at me, you shouldn’t force yourself to be with Gu Qichuan.”

Zhou Xianyu was so amused by the absurdity of his words that she laughed in disbelief. How had she never realized before just how shameless he could be?

She responded bluntly, “Are you crazy? If you’re sick, go get treatment. Why are you losing your mind in front of me?”

Jiang Wenhua’s eyes widened. Her words were harsh and unreserved, drawing the attention of some nearby onlookers who whispered among themselves.

Jiang Wenhua was a man who cared deeply about his dignity. He believed he had already humbled himself repeatedly, especially before someone like Zhou Xianyu, who had once been down-to-earth and patient with him.

He looked at Zhou Xianyu with disappointment. She rolled her eyes and, clutching her plate, moved away from him.

She decided it was better to keep her distance; his foolishness was contagious. She almost wanted to smash the cake on her plate into his face on the spot.

Meanwhile, Gu Qichuan, who had been watching Zhou Xianyu closely, showed no visible emotion. Holding a glass of red wine, he spoke calmly with others, his eyes betraying no ripple of feeling.

But when he saw Jiang Wenhua approaching Zhou Xianyu from afar, his fingertips clenched tightly around the glass rim. His sharp features receded into the shadows, his expression unreadable as he took a sip.

It was him again.

Though the conversation around him faded into background noise, Gu Qichuan’s mind was overwhelmed by dark bitterness and jealousy, a shadow flickering in his cold gaze.

When he caught the faint smile playing on Zhou Xianyu’s lips, his emotions reached a peak. His breath grew heavy as his cold eyes fixed intently on her every move.

Dark and possessive thoughts flared within him, the urge to monopolize her growing stronger. He felt he should confine her, so she could only see him, smile at him alone, and cling to him in his arms, begging for mercy. No one else could steal even a fraction of her attention.

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Despite these thoughts, his face remained calm and unreadable, giving no hint of the turmoil within or any suggestion of madness.

That was until Zhou Xianyu suddenly turned and scanned the crowd for him. Her bright eyes sparkled, and she offered him a radiant smile as she walked toward him.

Gu Qichuan’s fierce gaze faltered, then gradually softened. His stern features relaxed.

With purpose, Zhou Xianyu made her way through the crowd toward Gu Qichuan, but was suddenly brushed on the arm by a waitress. Water from a tray spilled onto her black dress, leaving a faint wet stain.

The young waitress gasped in dismay and immediately apologized, bowing quickly. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to! Someone seemed to have pushed me just now… I really apologize!”

Having done this kind of work for years, she knew the guests here were either rich or noble. The dress she was wearing was far more expensive than anything she could ever afford. Her face turned pale, her eyes moist with panic.

Zhou Xianyu lowered her shimmering eyes to inspect her dress. She gently brushed the water with her fingertips, relieved it was just water and not red wine or something worse, though still slightly annoyed.

Gu Qichuan had already arrived beside her from a distance, his brows knitting together as he spoke softly, “Are you alright? Go upstairs to change first, you might catch a cold.”

Lin Yue also came over from another direction, calling for the butler to escort Zhou Xianyu upstairs. “Yes, yes, go upstairs and change.”

Zhou Xianyu’s delicate features scrunched slightly. She glanced at the frightened waitress and said, “She didn’t mean it.” Then she followed another waitress upstairs to change.

Gu Qichuan’s cold gaze swept over the waitress being led away by the butler. He scoffed lightly, “Check the surveillance later to see if she really did it on purpose.”

Lin Yue nodded, signaling the butler, who responded with a subtle nod.

At an event like this, the waitstaff were professionally trained, and such a careless mistake was unlikely. Coupled with the waitress’s panicked claim that someone had pushed her, anyone with a bit of sense would know someone was deliberately trying to embarrass Zhou Xianyu.

The person hiding in the crowd hadn’t expected Gu Qichuan to take it so seriously and darkened at the thought, growing increasingly anxious.

Jiang Wenhua, meanwhile, jumped in to play the peacemaker. With a smile on his face, he tried to ease the tension. “It’s just a small matter. I’m sure Xiao Yu won’t mind. Isn’t Mr. Gu making a big fuss over nothing?”

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The crowd immediately fell silent. Some looked at Jiang Wenhua as if he were mad. Had he really lost his mind? How dare he challenge Gu Qichuan?

Gu Qichuan narrowed his dark eyes and, speaking in a cold, deliberate voice, said with a hint of amusement, “A big fuss? Anything concerning her is a big deal. Mr. Jiang, perhaps you’re meddling too much…”

Jiang Wenhua met his wolfish glare, and his heart sank sharply. For a moment, he felt as if some terrifying force was staring him down. His lips moved, but no words came out.

Nearby, Zhou Lide and his wife Liu Zelan stood watching. Zhou Lide frowned as he saw Jiang Wenhua silenced by Gu Qichuan’s pressure and shook his head silently.

Then he realized something and scanned the crowd. “Where’s Qianqian?”

Liu Zelan gasped and started looking for Zhou Qianqian. “She was right beside me just now. When did she disappear? It’s alright, the child probably went to the restroom. She’ll be back soon.”

Zhou Lide, however, had a vague feeling of unease. He nodded but said nothing.

—

Zhou Xianyu followed the waitress upstairs and entered a room. She didn’t rush to change but sat on the edge of the bed, thinking carefully.

She knew the waitress hadn’t acted intentionally. She had clearly seen someone push the waitress as she passed by, but the movement was too quick and the crowd too dense for her to see clearly.

There was no need to guess—it was someone from Zhou Qianqian’s group.

The memory of falling down the stairs in her previous life was still vivid. This time, Zhou Xianyu intended to make Zhou Qianqian pay the same price—to let her taste the bitterness of pain.

Her expression grew subtle as she looked at her dress, which was now a little disheveled. She leisurely picked out a short dress of a similar color to change into, then slowly left the room.

The second floor felt isolated from the first; there was not a soul in sight, though the melodious music from downstairs still floated faintly through the air.