âDonât say anything anymore. Youâre pure and kind-hearted. I canât tell that Qiao Xi has wild ambitions. Youâve already been disfigured by her, yet youâre still trying to speak up for her. Youâ¦â
With that, Madam Gu was about to call a servant over to help Shen Ying get up when the door was kicked open from the outside with a bang. Song Shiyu retracted his leg elegantly and smiled at the shocked crowd before standing behind Gu Zheng.
Gu Zheng stood outside the door and said in a voice that sounded as though he was a demon from hell, âMadam Gu, who do you want to punish?â
His eyes were cold and merciless, like a venomous snake. Madam Gu broke out in a cold sweat.
âGu⦠Gu Zhengâ¦â
Madam Gu was shocked for a moment before realizing that the guilty party was Qiao Xi. What was she afraid of?!
Thus, she gnashed her teeth as she looked at Qiao Xi who was behind Gu Zheng. âGu Zheng, Qiao Xi disfigured Shen Ying. You canât protect such a vicious person anymore!â
Gu Zhengâs gaze landed on Shen Ying indifferently as he chuckled. âDisfigured?â
Shen Ying thought that Gu Zheng was concerned about her, and tears welled up in her eyes. âBrother Gu Zheng, donât blame Miss Qiao. Itâs my fault. I shouldnât have resisted Miss Qiao. I shouldâve obediently let herââ
Her words were interrupted by a cold laugh from Gu Zheng.
In just a few words, Shen Ying seemed to have told him that Qiao Xi had beaten her up for no reason. Shen Ying wanted to resist, but Qiao Xi beat her even more cruelly.
Shen Ying had fully displayed the art of speaking.
Madam Gu was flustered and exasperated. âGu Zheng, Shen Ying is already disfigured. Why arenât you comforting her?! Are you going to protect that woman? What kind of drug did Qiao Xi, that vixen, give you that youâre protecting her so much that you donât even care about your relationship with Shen Ying? Youâve known each other for the past 20 years!â
Madam Wang wiped her tears. âForget it. Our Shen Ying just isnât blessed enough. All these years, Shen Ying has been thinking about Gu Zheng. She thought that she could be with Gu Zheng, but Miss Qiao interfered⦠Boo-hoo, itâs Shen Yingâs fault. She shouldnât have liked Gu Zheng, nor should she have a deep affection for him.â
Shen Ying bit her lip. âYes, itâs my fault. I should have hidden my love for Brother Gu Zheng deep in my heart. I shouldnât have confessed to Brother Gu Zheng on an impulse and make Miss Qiao Xi overthink thingsââ
Gu Zheng interrupted her coldly. âMake Qiao Xi overthink things? So what did you tell Qiao Xi?â
Shen Ying paused for a moment. Could it be that Gu Zheng also felt that Qiao Xi is not worthy of him? Was Brother Gu Zheng also disappointed in Qiao Xi now?
At the thought of this, she sobbed softly. âMiss Qiao warned me to stay away from you, Brother Gu Zheng, but you and I are childhood sweethearts. Our friendship canât be severed just like that. I only told the truth, but Miss Qiao suddenly got angry. She said that Iâm as shameless as a mistress who is interfering in someone elseâs marriage. Brother Gu Zheng, I donât understand why Miss Qiao is targeting me like this. Although I think sheâs wrong, Iâm too stupid to retortââ
âSheâs wrong? Whatâs wrong with what she said?â Gu Zheng sneered.
Shen Yingâs expression froze.
Gu Zheng looked at her coldly. âMiss Shen, you said that youâve liked me for many years and that weâre childhood sweethearts?â
Shen Ying stammered, âY-Yes.â
âWhy donât I know about you and me being childhood sweethearts?â Gu Zhengâs tone was neither fast nor slow. âYou said that youâve liked me for many years, so why havenât you confessed before? Why did you have to say this in front of my wife after I got married⦠Whatâs your intention behind doing this? Is it wrong for Qiao Xi to say that youâre like a mistress?â
Shen Ying widened her eyes in disbelief.
âMiss Shen, you and I werenât childhood sweethearts. You deliberately lied to drive a wedge between me and my wife. I know my wifeâs character very well. If she really did warn you to stay away from me, then Iâll be very happy. It means that she knows how to cherish me and protect me.
âItâs a pity that my wife isnât like that. If no one bullied her, she wouldnât even know how to retort. Itâs also because of her kindness that you guys are bullying her time and again. If she really did hit you today, Iâll set off firecrackers at the Gu familyâs door to celebrate.â
The room was silent for a few seconds. Gu Zhengâs words were too shocking.
After an unknown period of time, Shen Yingâs tears and sobbing broke the silence. She cried noisily. âI-Iâm sorry, Brother Gu Zheng. I didnât know that I would cause you so much trouble. Boo-hoo⦠I just love you too much. I couldnât control myself. Itâs my fault. I shouldnât be here. I shouldnât have been in Miss Qiaoâs way⦠I did something wrong, so I should be punished by Miss Qiaoâ¦â
Seeing Shen Ying cry so miserably, Madam Wang could not help but cry as well.