"Misunderstanding?" Lin Shu let out a bitter laugh, as if hearing the most absurd joke. Looking at Su Qianqian's delicate, white-flower facade, which she was desperately clinging to even now, Lin Shu felt her stomach churn with disgust.
"Where were you last night? Who were you with? Do I need to remind you?"
Su Qianqian's eyelashes fluttered lightly. She lowered her gaze and said in a small voice, "I wasn't feeling well yesterday, I went to rest early..."
"Rest?"
Lin Shu interrupted her, her voice twisted. "You mean resting in Gu Chengyu's bed? So comfortable from his touch you forgot yourself, right? You slut! You certainly wasted no time climbing into his bed! Putting on this innocent, pure act in front of me, while behind my back you use such cheap tricks to seduce a man!"
Her words grew uglier, dripping with filthy jealousy.
Su Qianqian lifted her eyes. Those dewy almond-shaped orbs were already brimming with unshed tears, making her look even more pitiful and delicate.
She sniffled softly, her voice choked with sobs. "Sister Shu, how can you say such things about me? I didn't..."
"It's not what you think between him and me..."
Seeing her teary-eyed, wronged expression, Lin Shu was practically exploding with rage!
That look again! It was this exact look that had fooled everyone!
"Not what I think?"
Lin Shu trembled with anger, pointing a finger at Su Qianqian's face and shouting uncontrollably, "Then you tell me what it is! Or are you saying Gu Chengyu himself is blind enough to fall for a little assistant like you?"
"Su Qianqian, you might fool others, but you can't fool me! You're a complete and utter whore—"
"Enough!"
A cold, low voice suddenly cut through Lin Shu's uncontrolled roar from the doorway.
Both women turned to look.
Gu Chengyu stood at the entrance, his expression terrifyingly dark. No one knew how long he had been there.
He strode in, directly placing himself in front of Su Qianqian, shielding her completely behind him with an absolutely protective stance.
"Lin Shu, if you don't shut your mouth now, I'll make sure you never speak again," he said, his voice devoid of warmth, even laced with disgust.
Seeing him shield Su Qianqian without a moment's hesitation, Lin Shu froze on the spot, all color draining from her face.
Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
Did he even remember that she had also been his woman, once his most favored one?
Hiding behind Gu Chengyu's back, Su Qianqian lightly grasped his sleeve with her small hand, peeking out with just half her face, timid and pitiful like a helpless kitten.
Gu Chengyu glanced at her, his anger intensifying. He turned back to Lin Shu, his voice even colder. "Who gave you the nerve to make a scene here?"
He couldn't even be bothered to hear her explanation. He directly took out his phone and made a call, his tone indifferent. "Send two people up. Escort the unwanted guest out."
Lin Shu's face turned as pale as paper, her body swaying unsteadily.
She couldn't believe he would just have her thrown out like this? Without leaving her even a shred of dignity?
In less than a minute, two security guards appeared at the door, bowing slightly to Gu Chengyu. "Young Master Gu."
Gu Chengyu didn't spare Lin Shu another glance, merely waving his hand.
The two men understood. They stepped forward, flanking Lin Shu. "Miss Lin, this way, please."
Lin Shu took one last look at Su Qianqian, sheltered behind Gu Chengyu. The woman was blinking her eyes at her from the gap in the man's arm, her innocent expression tinged with a hint of mockery.
The studio door closed, shutting out the outside world.
Only then did Gu Chengyu turn around, lowering his head to check if the young woman was hurt.
Su Qianqian threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and intermittent sobs escaped her, sounding utterly pitiful.
Gu Chengyu's heart melted completely. His large hand gently patted her back, his voice soft. "Alright, it's over now. She's gone."
"Were you scared?"
Su Qianqian nodded against his chest, then lifted her tear-streaked, rain-soaked-pear-blossom face. "She cursed me... said such horrible things..."
Tears fell like pearls, continuously.
Gu Chengyu's heart ached. He used his fingers to wipe away her tears. "She's insane. Don't take her words to heart. She won't dare bother you again."
"She also said I was... was climbing into your bed..." Su Qianqian choked out, deeply wronged, her tears falling even harder. "Said I used cheap tricks to seduce you."
"Chengyu, I'm not like that. I didn't."
She cried until she was breathless, her soft body trembling against him.
Gu Chengyu quickly held her tighter, a pang of pain and fury gripping his heart.
That madwoman Lin Shu actually dared to insult her like this!
"I know, I know," he soothed repeatedly, lowering his head to kiss her hair.
His tone was firm and tender. "My Qianqian is the purest, the most innocent. I know."
He cupped her tear-dampened face, his thumb carefully wiping the tears from the corner of her eye. Looking into her eyes, he spoke clearly, word by word:
"I know it was your first time that night. You gave me your untouched self."
"It was I who took you. It was I who pursued you. It wasn't you climbing into my bed."
Su Qianqian's sobs gradually quieted, though she still hiccuped slightly. Her watery eyes gazed up at him, full of dependence and grievance.
Gu Chengyu's voice held remorse. "It's my fault. I didn't protect you sooner, giving her a chance to bully you."
Seeing her like this—soft, pitiful, and utterly reliant on him—his protective and possessive instincts surged to an unprecedented height.
He lowered his head and kissed her slightly pouted lips, tasting the salty bitterness of her tears. His annoyance with Lin Shu grew even stronger.
"Don't cry anymore, sweetheart," he coaxed patiently, his thumb stroking her smooth cheek. "I'll teach her a lesson. I guarantee she'll never dare appear before you again, alright?"
Only then did Su Qianqian slowly stop crying. She buried her face back into the warmth of his chest and answered in a soft, thin voice, "Mmm..."
Her soft arms wrapped around his waist as she nestled against him, as if he were her only anchor.
Gu Chengyu, feeling the warm, fragrant softness in his arms, held her tight with deep satisfaction.
As for Lin Shu? He would make her pay for today's words and actions.
