Before Gu Chengyu could even think of a reason, the concert arrived.
Inside the small concert hall of the Galaxy Art Institute, the lighting was soft and the atmosphere relaxed.
This was organized by Qin Yuwei and a few like-minded friends, and most of the attendees were familiar classmates and teachers.
Su Qianqian was wearing a long taro-purple dress today, her long hair slightly curled. Compared to her former delicate charm, she now carried a bit more of a big star's gentle composure.
As Qin Yuwei's special guest, she sat in the front row.
Zhou Yu'an sat not far behind her at a diagonal, his gaze occasionally falling on her, gentle and focused.
Qin Yuwei, meanwhile, was like a busy little bee, one moment adjusting equipment on stage, the next sneaking over to Zhou Yu'an's side to wink and make meaningful faces. Her matchmaking intentions were obvious, making Su Qianqian feel somewhat helpless.
She had made up her mind to make things clear to Yuwei after the concert ended; she really had no romantic interest in Zhou Yu'an.
Halfway through the concert, during the intermission, Qin Yuwei bounced over, grabbed Su Qianqian's hand, and said:
"Qianqian, Brother Yu'an has a new research proposal he wants to show you. It's in the back lounge. Go see him, please!"
As she spoke, she practically pushed Su Qianqian toward the backstage area without waiting for an answer.
Su Qianqian, helpless, had to get up.
She actually wanted to use this opportunity to make things clear with Zhou Yu'an as well, to stop Qin Yuwei from playing matchmaker any further.
Su Qianqian and Zhou Yu'an had just met when a voice cut in.
"Qianqian."
Su Qianqian turned around.
She saw Gu Chengyu, who had appeared at the corridor entrance at some point, his posture tall and straight, but his expression frighteningly dark.
His gaze swept over her, then past her, landing on Zhou Yu'an beside her.
He knew she would be here today and had wanted to engineer a chance encounter, but he never expected to stumble upon such a scene.
"Ah Yu? How did you..." Su Qianqian's question was left unfinished.
Zhou Yu'an spoke first: "Chengyu? You're here too?"
Gu Chengyu looked at Zhou Yu'an and Su Qianqian standing together, then at Qin Yuwei's clearly guilty and evasive gaze. He understood everything now.
Zhou Yu'an, one of his best brothers? Actually had designs on his woman?
How dare he?
Gu Chengyu suddenly stepped forward and, without any warning, threw a fierce punch at Zhou Yu'an's face!
"Thud!"
Caught off guard, Zhou Yu'an's wire-rimmed glasses were knocked flying, clattering to the floor.
He himself staggered back several steps, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Gu Chengyu! What are you doing!" Su Qianqian cried out in alarm, moving to support Zhou Yu'an.
Her action further provoked Gu Chengyu.
He yanked her back behind him, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Zhou Yu'an, his voice seeming to grind out from between his teeth:
"Zhou Yu'an! I considered you a brother! And you dare to covet my woman behind my back?"
Qin Yuwei's face paled with fright: "Brother Yu'an!"
Zhou Yu'an wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes also turning cold.
He slowly straightened up. Without his glasses, his eyes lost their usual gentleness, revealing a hint of cold detachment. "Gu Chengyu, what's wrong with you?"
"I'm what's wrong?" Gu Chengyu let out an angry, cold laugh, gripping Su Qianqian's hand. "You arranged to meet her alone! What were you planning?"
Su Qianqian was both angry and anxious: "Gu Chengyu, it's not what you think."
Qin Yuwei, who hadn't realized Gu Chengyu was still involved with Qianqian and now knew her good intentions had backfired, hurriedly explained:
"I'm sorry, I was the one who asked Qianqian to come. I was the one playing matchmaker. It has nothing to do with Brother Yu'an."
Su Qianqian looked at the growing number of curious onlookers, then at the two men facing off like drawn bows. She felt a headache coming on.
She took a deep breath, forcefully shook off Gu Chengyu's hand, and first walked up to Zhou Yu'an: "Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry you got dragged into this. Your injury..."
"It's nothing," Zhou Yu'an interrupted her, his voice calm, though the look he gave her was somewhat complicated.
Su Qianqian then turned to the frightened Qin Yuwei, her tone softening: "Yuwei, I apologize too, for causing such a scene at your concert."
After saying this, she turned and walked over to Gu Chengyu, who was still radiating hostility. Looking into his furious eyes, she felt both angry and helpless.
She reached out a slender, pale hand and gently took his large one, her voice softening: "Let's go."
Gu Chengyu was in the midst of his rage and wanted to say more, but meeting her clear eyes, that frantic energy was inexplicably subdued a little.
He tightly clasped her hand in return, as if afraid she would run away, shot Zhou Yu'an one last fierce glare, and then allowed her to lead him, striding away from the chaotic scene.
Gu Chengyu remained grim-faced the whole way, taking Su Qianqian to his car.
As soon as the car door closed, it shut out the outside world.
He pressed her against the seatback, his eyes looking like they wanted to devour her: "Where did he touch you? When did this start? Su Qianqian, you..."
"Gu Chengyu!" Su Qianqian interrupted his interrogation, frowning slightly, though her voice remained soft and gentle. "Be reasonable, will you? There's nothing between me and Zhou Yu'an! Today was all Yuwei's wishful thinking. I was just going to find him to make things clear when you showed up and started hitting people without even asking what was happening!"
"Wishful thinking?" Gu Chengyu's chest heaved with anger. "Then what's with the way he looks at you? Why would Qin Yuwei try to set you up? There's no smoke without fire!"
"You still can't hit people!" Su Qianqian was getting angry too, her cheeks puffing out slightly. "And besides, even if he did have some thoughts, wouldn't me refusing be enough? Are you really that insecure?"
These words slightly dampened Gu Chengyu's fury.
He stared at her, his gaze still dangerous: "Yes! I am insecure! Su Qianqian, you're driving me crazy! You blow hot and cold, pushing me away one moment and letting me close the next. I can't get a hold on you!"
He lowered his head and kissed her lips, not releasing her until they were both breathless, then rested his forehead against hers. "Qianqian, you can't give anyone else a chance. I'll go insane..."
Seeing the unease in his eyes, Su Qianqian's heart softened again and again.
She let out a soft sigh and reached up to touch his knuckles, which were slightly reddened from the punch. "You idiot."
"Don't hit people so recklessly next time," she said quietly, with a touch of heartache—though not for Zhou Yu'an.
"If he dares to get close to you again, I'll hit him again," Gu Chengyu said stubbornly, but then lowered his head to nuzzle the tip of her nose, an intimate gesture.
Su Qianqian was helpless against this side of him that was both crazy and clingy, so she could only soften her voice to placate him: "Alright, alright, there won't be a next time. I'll keep my distance from him from now on, okay?"
Only then did Gu Chengyu seem somewhat satisfied. He pulled her tightly into his embrace, holding his treasure close.
"Qianqian, I like you so much," he murmured in her ear.
Su Qianqian leaned against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, and finally gave him a soft hum of acknowledgment.
Oh well. With this jealous, possessive madman, it seemed there wasn't much point in arguing logic anyway.
And lately, it felt like he had finally clued in... he really knew how to handle her.
