The small figure nestled in his arms gradually stopped sobbing, leaving only faint tremors and the occasional sniffle.
Gu Chengyu lowered his head, gently rubbing his chin against the soft crown of her hair, his voice tender beyond words: "There, there, no more tears. Let's go home?"
All he wanted was to whisk this frightened, tear-stained little thing away from this sordid place and shut the door behind them to comfort her properly.
To his surprise, Su Qianqian, her face still buried in his chest, shook her head.
She lifted her tear-streaked, rabbit-like eyes and said in a soft, stubborn voice, "Not yet."
Gu Chengyu frowned slightly. "Hmm? Where else do you want to go?"
"You... you haven’t finished that bet yet, have you?"
Su Qianqian sniffled, her small arms still wrapped around his waist as she tilted her face up to look at him, her gaze tinged with jealousy and defiance. "I want to watch. I want to see you settle that bet."
Gu Chengyu’s heart clenched. Without hesitation, he refused, "No! That place is a mess—nothing worth seeing. It’ll only upset you!"
The memory of the unsavory scenes in the private room made his skin crawl, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her stepping foot in there again.
"Why can you stay, but I can’t?"
Su Qianqian’s lips puckered stubbornly, her resolve unshaken. "I’m going to watch! I want to see it with my own eyes—I want to see you cut ties with her for good!"
Gu Chengyu stared at her stubborn little face and defiant eyes, feeling a headache coming on.
This little troublemaker—just when he’d finally calmed her down, she was digging her heels in again.
He knew exactly what was fueling her jealousy. If he didn’t let her witness the resolution herself, she’d never rest easy, even at home.
He sighed, equal parts exasperated and indulgent.
Reasoning with her was pointless, and he couldn’t bring himself to scold her again.
"Fine, you can watch," Gu Chengyu conceded. "But not in Yun Que."
Keeping one arm firmly around her waist, he pulled out his phone with the other and dialed the bar owner directly.
The call connected instantly.
"Clear out a private room on the floor below. Send up tea and snacks—nothing inappropriate."
The reason he didn’t choose the top floor was simple: Yun Que was the only private room there, with its interconnected suites and VIP lounges.
After hanging up, he looked down at the girl in his arms and explained, "We’ll use a room downstairs. I’ve arranged it. Lin Shu will come too, and we’ll settle everything there."
He pinched the tip of her small nose playfully. "Happy now, you little mule?"
Su Qianqian finally gave a satisfied hum, nuzzling her head against his chest like a clingy kitten.
Gu Chengyu guided her downstairs.
The VIP room below wasn’t as spacious as Yun Que, but the view was excellent.
The sofa was plush and comfortable, the air lightly scented with tea, and the low table was already set with delicate pastries and fresh fruit—a world apart from the debauchery upstairs.
Gu Chengyu settled Su Qianqian onto the sofa and ruffled her hair. "Sit here and watch, alright? They’ll be here soon."
He took a seat beside her, pulled out his phone, and opened the small group chat with only Shen Que, Qin Yu, and Zhou Yu’an.
His long fingers tapped swiftly across the screen, his message curt and to the point:
[Dress properly and get downstairs now. This ridiculous bet ends tonight.]
After sending it, he wrapped an arm around Su Qianqian and asked in a low, soothing voice, "Who told you to come here?"
Su Qianqian ducked her head slightly and mumbled, "Lin Shu... she cornered me in the hallway this afternoon. She showed me the address and said... you two still had unfinished business."
Gu Chengyu’s eyes turned icy.
The moment the message was sent, Shen Que, Qin Yu, and Zhou Yu’an’s phones chimed in unison.
"Ding."
"Ding."
"Ding."
The three notifications cut through the strange tension lingering in Yun Que.
The background music had been turned down, and whispers still circulated about what had just happened.
Shen Que, irritated, shoved away the woman trying to cling to him again and pulled out his phone.
When he read Gu Chengyu’s message in their group chat, his expression darkened.
A private room downstairs? Telling everyone to dress properly and gather there to settle the bet?
His mind immediately flashed to the teary-eyed woman at the door—Su Qianqian.
This was all for her, wasn’t it?
Not only had Gu Chengyu chased after her to comfort her, but now he was bringing her back to witness the conclusion firsthand?
This wasn’t about the bet at all. It was about giving her closure.
A bitter, sour feeling twisted in Shen Que’s chest.
The same innocent little flower he’d admired at the company during the day had somehow become the person Gu Chengyu cherished most—enough to make him bend his own rules like this?
He almost blurted it out, the way he always did—joking to Qin Yu and Zhou Yu’an about how hilarious it was that Gu Chengyu’s new flame was the very same girl he’d taken a liking to earlier.
But the words died in his throat.
Shen Que forced a smirk, masking the turmoil inside as he raised his voice, deliberately loud and mocking:
"Wow, would you look at that? His Highness Gu has spoken! Everyone, dress decently and head downstairs—we’re wrapping up this stupid bet tonight."
His gaze swept over the room, lingering on the disheveled guests. "You heard him! Tuck in your shirts, straighten your skirts—no more clinging to each other like animals."
His tone sharpened on the last words. "Wouldn’t want to offend His Highness and his new favorite with our indecency, would we?"
"Damn it!"
Qin Yu had seen the message too. He shoved Xia Wei off his lap and started buttoning his half-open shirt with rough, impatient movements.
"Dress properly?" he grumbled. "Since when does Gu Chengyu care about that? He’s seen me in worse states!"
"What, has he turned over a new leaf? Acting all high and mighty now?"
Despite his complaints, he tightened his belt buckle with practiced efficiency.
Zhou Yu’an adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze flickering between Shen Que’s forced nonchalance and Qin Yu’s irritable muttering. Amusement glinted in his eyes.
He stood, his voice calm. "Let’s go. I’m curious to meet the person who’s made Chengyu break his own rules."
His eyes briefly landed on Lin Shu, still frozen on the sofa, her face ghostly pale.
The rest of the room stirred to life—women hurriedly smoothing their rumpled dresses and fixing their hair, men buttoning shirts and shrugging on discarded jackets.
Shen Que, now composed, let out a derisive chuckle.
His gaze drifted to Lin Shu, still in her swimsuit, staring blankly at the floor.
He sauntered over and nudged the trench coat she’d thrown aside earlier with the toe of his shoe.
"Hey."
His voice was cold.
"Lin Shu. Stop spacing out. Pick it up and put it on."
He leaned slightly closer, his voice low and laced with scorn and indifference, "After all, some people can't stand the sight of your indecent behavior."
"Cover yourself up. Don’t offend anyone’s eyes."
Lin Shu’s body trembled as Shen Que’s words cut deep, humiliating her.
Yet she dared not retaliate.
In this industry, resources were scarce, but newcomers kept sprouting up like weeds.
Her fingers dug into the sofa, nails nearly snapping under the pressure.
Under the gazes of those around her—some pitying, some disdainful, others merely amused—she slowly bent down, picked up the trench coat, and clumsily wrapped it around herself.
Shen Que didn’t spare her another glance, striding ahead toward the private room’s exit.
Qin Yu followed, muttering curses under his breath.
Zhou Yu’an walked at the rear with effortless grace, like an elegant spectator ready for the next act of the drama.
The others trailed behind.
Lin Shu, bundled in the coat, trudged at the very end of the group, each step heavier than the last.
Her heart burned with resentment—why was she treated this way?
