Su Qianqian’s mind went blank as she took in the scene—a room full of disheveled men and women, among them Gu Chengyu.
Seeing it with her own eyes made her sick to her stomach.
Just two days ago, he’d had her weak in the knees in bed, yet here he was, frequenting places like this, letting women get close to him.
Even if he hadn’t actually touched them, it still disgusted her.
And then there was Lin Shu’s infuriating smirk.
She turned and ran, tears blurring her vision, unable to see where she was going. She just wanted to get as far away from that place as possible.
But she hadn’t gone more than a few steps when a strong hand clamped around her wrist from behind.
"Qianqian!" Gu Chengyu’s voice rang out above her, urgent and frantic.
Su Qianqian was forced to turn around, her tear-filled eyes meeting the face that shattered her heart.
"Let me go!"
Her voice trembled with tears, soft and hoarse, as she struggled against his grip. Her tears kept falling, dampening her pale cheeks and landing on the back of his hand where he held her.
Instead of releasing her, Gu Chengyu brought his other hand up, cupping her tear-streaked face.
His palm was warm and dry, his touch clumsy.
"Don’t run! Listen to me!" he demanded, tilting her face up to meet his gaze, his eyes burning with desperation.
"It’s not what you think! There’s nothing between me and her!"
Su Qianqian stared at him, his hands framing her face, but the ache in her chest only grew sharper.
Her sobs hitched, tears flowing harder as she accused, "You’re lying!"
"I saw her—dressed like that, pressed up against you! And you swore it was only ever me!"
"Liar… you promised…"
"I didn’t!"
Gu Chengyu’s voice was firm, his brows furrowed as his fingers tightened slightly, as if willing her to see the truth in his eyes.
"I didn’t lay a finger on her! She was the one throwing herself at me!"
His chest tightened as he took in her red-rimmed eyes and the tears still rolling down her cheeks.
He took a deep breath, forcing his voice to soften. "There’s a reason. Before you showed up, I made a stupid bet with Shen Que and the others…"
He hesitated, as if embarrassed, but rushed on, "A bet on whether Lin Shu would crawl back begging for a second chance. The deadline was tonight."
"She lost a game and pulled this stunt herself."
"I only let her come so she could swallow her pride in front of Shen Que and admit she was wrong. That’s all!"
"Who told her to dress like that? Disgusting!"
Gu Chengyu watched as the girl before him continued to sniffle, her big eyes still swimming with hurt. His heart ached.
He brushed his thumb gently across her damp cheeks. "Don’t cry, Qianqian."
"You’re the only one for me. She’s not worth your tears."
He bent down, his tall frame leaning closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "When I say you’re the one in my heart, I mean it."
"Anyone else? I wouldn’t even bother touching them."
Su Qianqian stared back, trapped by the intensity in his eyes.
His words—bet, act, didn’t touch her—replayed in her mind.
She understood, but the scene still stung.
He was filthy.
And she hated filth.
But she had no choice but to stay with him.
Her breath hitched, her nose red, her lashes still glistening with tears.
She studied Gu Chengyu’s face, his expression earnest and anxious, her lips pursed in doubt.
"Really?" Her voice was small, like a kitten who’d been wronged but was now being coaxed.
Seeing the slight shift in her gaze, Gu Chengyu felt some of the tension ease.
He nuzzled her cheek lightly, his voice tender. "Really. I swear."
"After you, I haven’t let another woman near me—not even a fingertip!"
Su Qianqian blinked up at him, his fervent promises sinking in. Her nose was still pink, but the tears had stopped.
She lowered her head slightly, her lips still pouting as she mumbled, "...Fine."
Gu Chengyu was about to pull her into his arms, to take his poor, heartbroken girl home and spoil her rotten—
When suddenly, she jerked her head up, her cheeks puffing out in outrage.
Her eyes, now even clearer from crying, glared at him accusingly.
Gu Chengyu’s heart lurched, his pulse spiking.
What now?
His brows knitted together, his expression wary.
Su Qianqian lifted a delicate finger and jabbed it into his chest, her voice sharp and indignant.
"Fine, you didn’t touch her! But you looked!"
Her lips jutted out, the memory of that chaotic room fueling her anger.
"In there—all those people! Dresses barely staying on! And you saw everything, didn’t you? Did you enjoy it?"
Her eyes welled up again.
"Did you like seeing other women’s bodies like that?"
The image of Lin Shu in that skimpy outfit, the other girls draped over those men—it made her chest ache.
Gu Chengyu reeled.
Looked?
He’d been too busy trying to end that damn bet to notice anyone!
Then it hit him—the mess in that room.
Women, men, half-dressed…
Shen Que had undone his belt, hadn’t he? Or was it Qin Yu?
A surge of possessiveness and fury roared through him.
"Me? Look?"
His voice rose, laced with jealousy he didn’t even recognize.
His grip on her face tightened as he leaned in, his breath hot against her skin.
"You’re one to talk, Su Qianqian!"
His dark eyes narrowed, his voice rough with barely leashed anger.
"When you barged in, where were your eyes, huh?"
"That place was a disaster! Did you see something you shouldn’t have?"
The thought of her witnessing that debacle—Shen Que, Qin Yu, any of them half-naked—
It sent a violent possessiveness surging through him.
"Answer me!" he growled.
"Where did you look? Did you see anything filthy?"
Su Qianqian blinked, stunned.
Her lips parted, her wide, innocent eyes staring up at him—completely forgetting her own anger.
She stared at the handsome yet stormy face of the man before her, etched with irritation and jealousy.
Unbelievable—he actually dared to snap at her!!!
It was him who had come to this chaotic place first!
It was him who had been sitting with Lin Shu, dressed like that!
And now he had the nerve to turn the tables and scold her?
Resentment, anger, and frustration surged through her all at once.
“Gu Chengyu!”
Su Qianqian shouted his full name, her voice still sweetly delicate, her cheeks flushed with fury. “How dare you yell at me?”
She struggled to free herself from his grip on her face, but her strength was no match for his. All she could do was glare at him with wide, fiery eyes, like an indignant kitten puffing up in defense.
“Wasn’t it you, Young Master Gu, who came here to play first?”
“I didn’t even know what it was like inside! I just… just pushed the door open!”
“I barely had time to see anything before you chased me off in a rage!”
The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt. Her eyes began to redden again, her voice trembling with accusation. “What right do you have to shout at me?”
