Before, she was too far away to make out clearly, but her demeanor stood out conspicuously amongst the crowd. As he got closer, her beautiful face delivered a strong visual impact that left Gu Shaozhen stunned for a good three seconds. Watching her turn around and leave without a word, Gu Shaozhen cursed under his breath and quickly followed to block Yun Ya’s path.
Yun Ya stopped in her tracks, raised her eyes, and looked at him quietly, "Please step aside."
Gu Shaozhen’s gaze lingered on her face, fascinated and teasing, as the corner of his mouth quirked up, "And what if I don’t?"
It was clear he was playing the hooligan.
The few people behind him were laughing and joking, spouting dirty words non-stop. It was a tough situation indeed, with trouble both in front and behind.
A few onlookers watched from a distance, yet no one dared to come forward to help.
Gu Shaozhen often hung out here and everyone was aware of his temperament, which is why no one dared to cross him.
Yun Ya somewhat regretted coming to the seaside for some air, having run into a gang of thugs. However, she wasn’t the type to fear trouble. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I am Miss Yun from the Yun Family, Ji Yunya. If you wish to make an enemy of the Yun Family, then I have nothing to say."
Gu Shaozhen narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up the girl before him in secret.
Miss Yun from the Yun Family, Ji Yunya?
The Yun Family was all too familiar in Jiangzhou; almost no one did not know of them. The reason why Miss Yun might have the surname Ji was not clear to everyone, but Gu Shaozhen knew very well—his aunt’s niece was married to the current head of the Yun Family.
The Yun Family was a special existence in Jiangzhou. No one could shake their wealth and standing, yet they always failed to integrate with the local, well-established families. In addition, with incessant rumors and scandals involving the Yun’s, their lives were more thrilling than the intrigues of the entertainment industry, unable to blend into the real high society, and hence there was a sense of them being in a league of their own.
"Ji Yunya? Why would Miss Yun have the surname Ji? If you’re going to lie, at least come up with a better name," someone jeered sarcastically.
"If you’re clueless, then don’t spout nonsense. The Yun’s were formerly known as the Ji’s. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the illustrious name Ji Huaixi; Old Master Ji is this Miss Ji’s grandfather."
Though these men loved to party, they knew there were limits. Clearly, there were some whom they couldn’t afford to provoke.
Upon hearing about the Yun Family, their enthusiasm cooled considerably. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel[f]ire.net
"Ji Yunya? Is it the one reported in the newspapers as the top socialite? Never expected to see her in person today. She really is beautiful."
Yun Ya, hearing the comments behind her, remained expressionless. Her clear eyes looked at Gu Shaozhen.
Gu Shaozhen chuckled, "The so-called number one socialite really is unparalleled in elegance. What do you say, care to join this young master for a drink?"
This was clear harassment until the end.
Yun Ya didn’t know where this Gu Shaozhen got the nerve from. She had already declared her affiliation with the Yun Family, and yet he still dared to press on. Then again, it was well known that her relationship with Yun Shu and Yun Shen wasn’t good. Although she was indeed the legitimate Miss Yun, her actual worth was a matter of speculation.
"My driver is waiting for me, and if I get home late, my father and grandmother might worry. I hope you understand, Mr. Gu," she implied that she was accompanied by a bodyguard, and if he dared to make an inappropriate move, her father and grandmother would not let him off the hook.
Regrettably, this tactic was useless against Gu Shaozhen.
"Is that so? Then I shall escort you home myself and explain to President Yun and Lady Yun," he said with a hooked smile, about to reach for Yun Ya’s arm. Yun Ya, not expecting him to be so persistent, was about to step back when suddenly a foot kicked out from behind her, targeting Gu Shaozhen’s outstretched arm. Gu Shaozhen felt a numbness in his wrist and stepped back, clutching his arm.
He looked angrily at the young man who had stepped forward, "Ning Zihuan, what do you think you’re doing?"
The young man, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, stood elegantly beside Yun Ya. He turned to glance at her and softly asked, "Are you alright?"
Yun Ya raised her eyes to look at the young man before her, her lips curving into a gentle and relieved smile.
The soft timbre of her voice made the young man’s heart skip a beat. He hastily looked down, concealing the brief flicker of emotion in his eyes as he clenched his hands into fists by his sides.
"Ning Zihuan, you’re trying to play hero? Pick a better time. Don’t be a complete ingrate," Gu Shaozhen cursed fiercely.
"You’re not to touch her," the young man’s voice was calm, yet it inexplicably struck fear in one’s heart.
Gu Shaozhen hated it when others tried to lead him by the nose. Ning Zihuan’s words completely disregarded his dignity. His face flushed with shame, he said, "If you back off now, I won’t hold this against you. Otherwise, I’ll take care of you today as well."
Without another word, Ning Zihuan kicked out at Gu Shaozhen’s chest. Caught off guard, Gu Shaozhen was sent flying backward, landing heavily on the sand, unable to get up for quite a while.