"Is a woman like that even worth it?" A cold voice rose from behind, filled with disdain.
Chen Yishu turned his head around to see Guan Zhe with his hands in his pockets standing a few steps away, his gaze following the direction Gu Qili had left from, smirking, "Chen Yishu, only the high society sleeps with her, and your Chen Family hasn’t even set foot in that circle yet. If you’re thinking of chasing after her, you might as well give up now."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Yishu strode forward and grabbed Guan Zhe by the collar, almost lifting him off the ground since he was taller than Guan Zhe.
"Everything I’m saying is the truth. You’ve seen those photos. I’ve been chasing her for so long without even receiving a glance from her. I used to think she was just not into me, but it turns out she disdains our Guan Family for not being rich or powerful enough. A woman like her, with a twig of poplar and willow’s heart, only looks at money. You must be blind to let her toy with you like that, you..."
"Shut your damn mouth." Before Guan Zhe could finish, Chen Yishu had already punched him right on the brow bone.
Guan Zhe cried out in pain, clutching his rapidly swelling face and pointing at Chen Yishu, cursing, "Chen Yishu, you motherfucker, why hit me? I was just trying to warn you."
Chen Yishu raised his fist again, and Guan Zhe knew he was no match, awkwardly retreating several steps without daring to speak any further. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Chen Yishu couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and threw a warning glance before turning away.
"What a spineless wretch, can’t even handle a woman, what right do you have to challenge my brother Yishu." Hu Jiaojiao popped out from nowhere, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at Guan Zhe and quickly went after Chen Yishu.
Watching them walking away, Guan Zhe clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with an intense hatred and resentment that couldn’t be dissolved.
Can’t handle her? Who says he can’t handle her?
It was past nine o’clock by the time Gu Qili finished her evening supplementary class.
She had promised Mu Shuoqian to stay at Jingshan before graduation, so no matter how late, she had to return.
After leaving the school campus, Gu Qili waited for the bus at a nearby stop. There weren’t many people out at night, and she stood alone in the empty bus shelter.
The night buses ran infrequently; one had just departed when she arrived, so it would be another fifteen minutes before the next one.
Gu Qili paced the area aimlessly, counting the square tiles on the ground out of boredom.
"Gu Qili." Suddenly, a voice from behind startled her. Just as she was about to turn around, a cold hand covered her mouth and a strong arm wrapped around her waist, dragging her towards the shrubbery behind.
Large poplar trees lined the road, their leaves dense and the dim streetlight scarcely revealing anything when looking in from the outside.
The man was taller than her, with a sturdy build, and dragged her inside despite her struggles to break free, to no avail.
The ground was wet and slippery from recent rain, and soon Gu Qili’s canvas shoes and jeans were covered in mud.
He didn’t stop dragging her until they reached a thick poplar tree. The night street was desolate, unlikely to draw anyone’s attention here.
By the moonlight, Gu Qili finally saw his face clearly and exclaimed in surprise, "Guan Zhe, it’s you?"
"I offered you money last time and you refused; this time, even if you beg me crying, I won’t give you a penny," Guan Zhe said with a vicious look, a bandage still on the corner of his eye, "Gu Qili, stop pretending to be so high and mighty. So many people have been with you, it doesn’t make a difference to add one more."
Gu Qili slapped him across the face, "Shameless."
Touching his sore cheek, Guan Zhe sneered, "Who’s the shameless one here? Those photos are plastered everywhere. Come on, let me taste what it’s like to be with a high society social butterfly."
As Guan Zhe lunged at her, Gu Qili knew she was no match for him. Without a second thought, she turned and ran, only to be tackled from behind by Guan Zhe, mud splattering all over her clothes and face.