Cen Songbai fiddled with his ears. With such a loud voice, it would be a waste if she didn't go into singing. She could sing those female high notes.
There's currently a singing show called "The Good Voice" that's quite popular. It would be a loss if Gu Yun'an wasn't on it.
However, he considered himself a gentleman, so he didn't say anything. Instead, he sat there quietly and waited for her to finish crying.
After venting her emotions, Gu Yun'an also stopped crying.
Her face was a little red. Her handkerchief was also covered in snot and tears now, so she couldn't give it back.
"I'll wash it clean and give it back to you."
"No need, it's just a handkerchief."
To be honest, Cen Songbai was actually a little disgusted. It wasn't like he couldn't afford a new handkerchief.
"Your makeup is messed up. Let's fix your makeup before we go in."
Hearing this, Gu Yun'an hurriedly opened her bag, took out a mirror, turned her back, and started reapplying her makeup.
Oh no, oh no, oh no! Her image!
What girl would cry so ugly like her!
She even had a snot bubble!
Shen Tang felt that she shouldn't keep hiding the fact that she was wearing a vest from him, so she was going to come clean.
But unexpectedly, Gu Huaian suddenly said, "It's fine now, let's go in."
"Oh..."
As they walked, Shen Tang noticed there were more gazes looking her way, some were friendly while others were not. But she didn't care.
Outsiders' opinions had never affected her conscience.
And her conscience followed a famous quote - "None of my business, none of your business."
She wasn't living for others to look at.
A slightly overweight middle-aged man walked over with a smiling face. "President Gu, Madam Gu, my daughter made some mistakes just now. I've had her sent back already. Please forgive her."
Judging by this, the man should be YOYO's father.
"It's nothing. Just ask her not to do this again in the future."
Shen Tang knew who the real culprit was behind the scenes. She just didn't expect that woman to be so stubborn - she still wouldn't expose Zhou Qinglian even at this point. It seemed like the two had a genuinely good relationship.
She wondered if YOYO's father knew that the elder Mr. Zhou had coerced him into doing his bidding outside.
"Don't worry, I'll educate her properly when I get back."
"Mm."
Seeing Gu Huaian nod, the visible relief on the man's face was visible to the naked eye.
"Then I won't disturb President Gu anymore."
Not long after, Zhou Qinglian's father also came over.
He looked refined and cultured, with dark circles under his eyes - rather like he had overindulged himself. He also had a young and beautiful girl in his arms.
"Huaian, long time no see."
Gu Huaian gave a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Uncle Zhou."
The man's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Tang. "Oh my, is this your girlfriend? She's so pretty."
Shen Tang suppressed the displeasure in her heart and greeted him.
Simply because the way he looked at her was too lustful - not the way an elder looks at a junior, but the way a man looks at a woman.
Gu Huaian took two steps forward to shield Shen Tang. "Uncle Zhou, we have other matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave first."
Although he didn't really want them to leave so soon, he still felt somewhat intimidated by Gu Huaian, so he forced out an easygoing laugh. "Let's catch up some other time then. By the way, have you seen Lianlian? Where has that girl run off to!"
Apparently he was unaware of what had just transpired.
It was hard to say if he truly didn't know or if he was feigning ignorance.
"We've seen her. We'll get going first." Gu Huaian said, then pulled Shen Tang by the hand and headed out.
Gu Yun'an and Cen Songbai followed closely behind.
As he watched their retreating backs, Zhou's facade slowly crumbled away and he spat in disdain.
...
YOYO had just taken a hot shower. Her head still felt faint and she suspected she might be running a fever.
Zhou Qinglian felt guilty. "I'm sorry, YOYO. I didn't think she would actually—"
"I don't blame you. It was my choice to help you."
Hearing this, Zhou Qinglian's eyes instantly reddened. "What do you mean by that?"
"Are you having regrets?"
YOYO turned her face away without directly answering the question.
"Didn't you notice how Gu Huaian was looking at Shen Tang?"
Zhou Qinglian's expression changed instantly. How could she not have noticed!
Ever since Gu Huaian arrived, his eyes had been fixed on Shen Tang the entire time. The fondness in his eyes was something she had never seen before.
That's right - fondness.
She also felt that she probably didn't stand a chance anymore, but how would she know for sure if she didn't try?
She was unwilling, unwilling to just give up like this.
YOYO sighed. "Sister Lian, please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you should just give up. President Gu, he... anyway, you have no chance."
Zhou Qinglian pursed her lips stubbornly.
After a period of silence, she finally spoke. "You know my family circumstances. I have countless half-siblings. If I don't pave a way out for myself, I have no prospects for the second half of my life. Do you have the heart to watch me marry an old man, or go wash dishes for others?"
YOYO's heart softened once more.
She had grown up together with Zhou Qinglian since childhood, and they had a deep bond. She also understood the messy affairs in the Zhou family.
If Zhou Qinglian didn't find a backer, her father would marry her off to further the family's interests.
The only other path was to forfeit her status and flee, condemning herself to a commoner's life of salt, oil, vinegar and tea for the next half of her life.
People like them were pampered and spoilt. They wouldn't be able to withstand such hardship. Just the thought of having to swallow chaff and vegetables in the future was even more unbearable than death.
"So what are you planning to do?"
Zhou Qinglian hesitated. "Give me some time to think..."
It seemed unlikely there would be any opportunities from Gu Huaian's side. The only option she could think of was to make a move against Shen Tang.
But Shen Tang's combat abilities were too high. She didn't follow conventions and was as slippery as a loach. Zhou Qinglian found it hard to get a good grasp of her.
Although she wasn't a good person, she still wouldn't go as far as to hire assassins for murder.
She had hit an impasse with this matter.
YOYO heaved another sigh. As a friend, she had already done all she could.
But Zhou Qinglian was clearly one who refused to turn back without driving up against the wall. She couldn't be persuaded, she really couldn't!
She only hoped that Zhou Qinglian wouldn't do anything irreparable.