19: 19.
Vengeance Entanglement With Love 19: 19.
Vengeance Entanglement With Love Just as Leng Qingqiu was trying to comfort her conflicted mind, Gu Yan gently pulled her out into the open courtyard.
Although it was already the season of frost, the high-hanging sun cast direct rays that made her body feel a sudden, comforting wave of warmth.
Stepping onto the soft lawn, Leng Qingqiu felt a bit dazed.
It felt like an eternity since she had last left the confines of that dark study.
Time was always so precious to her that she never allowed herself a single moment for rest.
Yet, ever since Gu Yan arrived, all of her rigid plans seemed to have been completely thrown into disarray in just a matter of days.
This courtyard once held countless memories of her and her family.
Gu Yan held her hand tightly as they strolled along the garden path.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled, moving shadows over the two of them.
Sensing that she was deeply lost in a silent memory, Gu Yan did not disturb her, content to simply hold her hand in silence.
A stray leaf drifted down from a branch, and Gu Yan reached out with his free hand to catch it.
Looking at the surrounding scenery, he chuckled softly.
“Qingqiu, your family’s courtyard is beautifully maintained.
The plants and hedges are arranged just right.” Hearing his voice, Leng Qingqiu snapped out of her memories.
She lifted her head toward the blue sky.
If her eyes could still see, she believed the clouds would be breathtaking at this exact moment.
Recalling a distant piece of her childhood, a soft smile appeared on her face.
“Yes, I know it must be very beautiful.
This was my father’s favorite courtyard when he was alive.
All the landscaping and plant arrangements here were personally designed by him.
After he passed away, I took on the full responsibility of keeping it exactly as he left it.” As the words left her lips, her mood became slightly downcast.
Gu Yan took a deep breath, looking at her profile.
For a moment, his usual smooth talk failed him, and he genuinely didn’t know the right words to comfort her.
Sensing the sudden quiet beside her, Leng Qingqiu shook her head softly.
“It’s not your fault.
After all…” She turned her face directly toward him, her voice taking on a subtle, calculating edge.
“My father’s death has nothing to do with you.” While her underground network had confirmed that the tragic massacre five years ago had no direct correlation to Gu Yan himself, who could absolute guarantee that the powerful Gu family as a whole wasn’t involved behind the scenes?
It was precisely this heavy concern that forced her to maintain a strict, emotional distance from him.
Sometimes, she even rationalized that by keeping Gu Yan close and utilizing his attachment to her, she might eventually be able to uncover whether his family had any hidden ties to that fateful night.
Gu Yan caught the unusual shift in her tone.
Comparing it to his knowledge of the original book’s script, he could easily guess her underlying concerns.
Because of the horrific tragedy she had survived, she simply couldn’t—and wouldn’t—allow herself to fully trust anyone from the wealthy families.
Realizing the sheer depth of her isolation, Gu Yan tightened his grip on her small hand.
His voice lost all of its playful banter, turning entirely serious and solemn.
“Qingqiu, please believe me.
I will protect you forever.
I will protect you forever and ever, and I will never let anyone hurt you again.” Leng Qingqiu heard his earnest vow and couldn’t help but smile slightly.
A hint of dark amusement rippled through her heart.
Protect her?
There were too many terrifying secrets in this world that an ordinary young master like Gu Yan knew absolutely nothing about—the hidden ancient martial arts world, the lethal warriors.
Those were superhuman entities who could deflect high-caliber bullets with their bare flesh.
How could an ordinary mortal like him possibly stand by her side until the bitter end?
And yet…
his tone was so sincere that she found herself entirely unable to mock his ignorance.
Dismissing her dark thoughts, her smile softened.
“Protection isn’t something that can be achieved just through words.
But it’s good that you harbor such strong determination to keep me safe.” She paused for a brief moment, considering something.
Then, acting on a sudden impulse, she reached up her free hand and gently touched his cheek, a warm smile curling the corners of her mouth.
“Anyway…
thank you.” Whoosh…
A sudden autumn breeze swept through the garden, the rustling leaves creating a gentle melody that perfectly accompanied her words.
Time seemed to stand still in the courtyard at that exact moment.
Feeling the cool skin of her palm against his cheek and looking down at her genuine, smiling face, Gu Yan froze in shock.
Thump!
Thump!
Even though Leng Qingqiu had already lowered her hand and turned her face away to hide her expression, his heart refused to calm down.
Gu Yan raised his own hand, pressing it flat against his rapidly beating chest.
This…
this feeling…
Oh no.
I think I’m completely done for.
This time, it’s for real.
I’ve genuinely fallen in love with Leng Qingqiu.
On the other side of the path, Leng Qingqiu kept her back turned to him, feeling a sudden, burning warmth rush up her cheeks.
Damn it…
why did I just say something so uncharacteristic?
It was so embarrassing.
How could a calculated mastermind like her blurt out such a childish, vulnerable phrase?
This was awful, and it was entirely Gu Yan’s fault for making such a dramatic declaration in the first place.
No, I need to get back to the safety of the study right away.
Just as she was opening her mouth to demand that he guide her back inside the manor, Gu Yan’s voice cut her off, bursting with sudden excitement.
“Qingqiu!
I’ve just had another burst of inspiration!” “Inspiration?” she asked, thoroughly startled and confused.
“What kind of inspiration?” “I just composed a brand-new song in my head!
Qingqiu, do you want to hear it?” His claim sparked a genuine wave of curiosity in her mind.
He had composed an entire song?
Just now, in a matter of minutes?
Granted, she had listened to his rendition of ‘Love Confession Balloon’ in the kitchen, but he had explicitly stated that was an old project he had spent years drafting.
How could a person possibly compose a decent melody in a handful of seconds?
Leng Qingqiu naturally didn’t believe a word of it.
But seeing his face light up with such pure enthusiasm, she didn’t have the heart to crush his spirits.
She gave a slight nod.
“Alright.
Go ahead and sing.
But the moment you finish, I am going straight back to the study to finish my reading.” Gu Yan nodded, a bright smile breaking across his features.
“Deal.” Leng Qingqiu prepared herself to simply humor his performance, perking up her ears to track his voice.
But the very next second, a melody rang out that caused her entire frame to tremble.
“I hear raindrops falling on the green grass…” “I hear the distant school bell ringing…” “But I don’t hear your voice…” “Meaningfully…
calling my name…” “When I fell in love with you, I didn’t understand feelings…” “Only after parting did I realize how deeply it was etched in my heart…” The acoustic quality of his voice was exceptionally soft and melodious, carrying a warm, deeply relaxing cadence.
Listening to the words, Leng Qingqiu felt as though she were sipping a cup of perfectly brewed hot tea on a winter day, a profound sense of peaceful tranquility washing over her soul.
What on earth is this feeling?
She unconsciously pressed her hand against her chest, her heart fluttering.
This song was similar to ‘Love Confession Balloon’ in the sense that it was a narrative about the deep affection between a man and a woman.
But compared to the playful romance of the first song, this melody felt far more bittersweet—it was a poignant reminder to fiercely cherish the happiness standing right in front of you before it slips away.
“It sounds so incredibly and fascinating…” Leng Qingqiu murmured under her breath.
Without even realizing it, her heavy mental guards completely collapsed, and she stood in absolute silence, listening to the pure, ringing clarity of Gu Yan’s voice as the song gracefully built toward its emotional climax.
“It turns out you are the luck I want to hold onto the most…” “It turns out we and love were once so heartbreakingly close…” “Meeting you was so fortunate…” “But I’ve lost the right to cry for you…” — As the last notes of the melody drifted away, Gu Yan stepped forward and gently took Leng Qingqiu’s hand.
His expression was soft, and his voice held a quiet tenderness.
“Qingqiu, I love you.
I don’t ever want to leave your side.” “And I don’t want you to leave me either.
Please, let me protect you for the rest of our lives, okay?” Leng Qingqiu was still deeply immersed in the beautiful emotions of the song.
Hearing his sudden, earnest vow, she finally snapped back to reality.
She tilted her face up toward him.
Even though her eyes could not see his expression, she could clearly feel the weight of his devotion.
It was pure, passionate, and entirely unshielded.
Ah…
forget it.
Leng Qingqiu let out a quiet, internal sigh.
Forcing her tone back into its usual calm, detached tone, she replied, “No.” “Huh?!” Gu Yan stood dumbfounded, his romantic momentum instantly grinding to a halt.
But just as he was gearing up to voice a dramatic protest, he heard her add in a soft, low murmur, “You’re far too weak.
Let me protect you instead.” “Being my man is a dangerous position.
It might get you killed very quickly.” Leng Qingqiu wasn’t joking in the slightest when she delivered that warning.
As the hidden controller of the Night Organization and a survivor harboring a deep, bitter grudge, her path was destined to be a thorny, blood-soaked road of no return.
Standing right beside her, Gu Yan absorbed her words.
Far from finding her warning chuunibyou or dramatic, a surge of pure, ecstatic happiness flooded his chest.
Because metamorphically speaking, her choosing to frame him as “her man” meant— “Qing…
Qingqiu, by saying that…
do you mean…?” Gu Yan swallowed hard, his voice hesitating as a wave of sheer disbelief washed over him.
“?” This absolute silly, do I genuinely have to spell out every single implication for you?
Leng Qingqiu’s perfect brows knit together slightly.
Wrenching her hand free from his grasp, she turned on her heel and began marching back toward the safety of the manor.
“I don’t know!
Figure it out yourself!” “Hey!
Qingqiu, wait for me!
I’m sorry!
Qingqiu!” Gu Yan broke into a joyful trot, quickly catching up and sticking tightly to her side like a shadow.
A look of mild, tsundere grimace manifested on Leng Qingqiu’s face at his persistence, but she didn’t take any active measures to push him away.
She simply let out another quiet, resigned sigh in her heart.
Fine.
Let it be.
She would just view this brief indulgence as a bit of emotional compensation for him, in exchange for her comfortably utilizing the massive financial and political capital of the Gu family network behind his back.
— Heavenly Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.
This was the mid-tier pharmaceutical and cosmetic development firm founded and operated entirely by the Shen family.
Their core commercial pipeline relied heavily on skincare production and retail cosmetic distribution.
Inside the sprawling Chief Executive office, Shen Wan’er was currently in an foul mood.
Her brows were tightly knit as she stared intently at the depressing rows of financial data flashing across her computer screen.
Standing across from her desk, her personal secretary, Zhang Qing, kept her head nervously bowed, her fingers tightly interlaced.
“Ms.
Shen…
I honestly don’t comprehend the underlying catalyst, but every single supply chain vendor and corporate client who previously established contracts with us has suddenly cancelled their purchase orders and withdrawn their investment capital.” “Our primary manufacturing lines have already been forced into a shutdown.” “The massive batch of premium raw chemical materials we purchased on credit last week is currently sitting idle in the logistics warehouse.” “But…
but the hard deadline for our final accounts payable settlement is rapidly closing in.” “If…
if we fail to secure alternative corporate partners to inject liquid funds within the next seventy-two hours…” The more Shen Wan’er absorbed the catastrophic update, the more intense her internal irritation grew.
She clutched her styled hair tightly between her fingers, her eyes flickering with deep panic and uncertainty as she stared blankly at the declining profit graphs.
How could a market shift of this magnitude occur overnight?
Why was her business suddenly collapsing?
Zhang Qing’s words felt like literal needles piercing straight through her vanity.
Every single one of their long-term enterprise partners had coordinated a simultaneous cancellation of their contracts.
Because the Shen family had historically maintained these commercial relationships based on verbal trust and mutual high-society connections, the fine print of the contracts lacked any standard financial penalty clauses for a sudden breach of terms.
Now, with their order volume entirely wiped out, the firm possessed absolutely zero capacity to settle the massive invoice for the raw materials they had hoarded.
Without active corporate orders, they had no functional method of generating new liquid income.
The daily revenue trickling in from their brick-and-mortar retail boutiques was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
Historically, over eighty percent of their corporate revenue was anchored entirely by high-volume business-to-business contracts.
“What are our strategic options?” Shen Wan’er muttered to herself, her eyes clouded with anxiety.
To make matters worse, the calendar was hitting the end of the monthly cycle, and the company hadn’t even cleared the payroll balance for their factory laborers and corporate staff.
Was it truly possible that a brilliant, self-made businesswoman like her was going to succumb to a standard liquidity crisis?
Noticing her employer’s deep distress, Zhang Qing’s face twisted into an indignant, angry scowl.
“Ms.
Shen, those corporate owners are genuinely despicable and spineless.” “It is as if they all sat down in a boardroom and explicitly agreed to cancel their contracts at the exact same second.” “They…
they used to act so friendly and accommodating whenever they visited our headquarters.” Zhang Qing felt she was witnessing a classic demonstration of how transactional and fickle the corporate world could be.
Although she lacked the high-level clearance to understand the geopolitical shifts causing the crisis, she could intuitively sense that this was the brutal reality of a coordinated economic boycott.
Coordinated…
As Shen Wan’er mentally looped that specific word, her entire posture suddenly froze.
A look of sudden shock rippled across her features.
Wait a minute…
Her analytical social brain instantly connected the scattered variables.
If dozens of independent, prominent business owners had suddenly and seamlessly agreed to dismantle their lucrative ties with the Shen family overnight, there could only be a singular, unifying entity commanding that tier of leverage in Jianghai City.
Shen Wan’er’s expression turned grim, her beautifully manicured fists clenching so hard her knuckles creaked.
“Well played, Gu Yan…” “So…
this is the depth of your ruthlessness?” she hissed under her breath.
Whipping her head up, she leveled a cold stare at her secretary.
“You are dismissed, Zhang Qing.
Vacate the room.
I have an alternative, private channel to resolve this bottleneck.” Zhang Qing flinched slightly at her sharp tone, then offered a hasty nod.
“Understood, Ms.
Shen.” The heavy office doors clicked shut, leaving Shen Wan’er entirely alone in the silent space.
She took a series of deep, stabilizing breaths, forcing her racing heart to calm down before reaching into her designer bag to retrieve her smartphone.
Opening her contact directory, her thumb rapidly scrolled through the alphabetical registry until it rested on a highly familiar name.
The screen boldly displayed: [Gu Yan].
Shen Wan’er’s expression turned unpleasant as her eyes locked onto those characters.
Damn it…
She had explicitly sworn to her friends just last night that she would never lower her standards to contact him again.
But she had clearly underestimated his desperation.
To forcefully attract her attention and break her silence, the man had actually resorted to deploying his family’s massive conglomerate network to sabotage her livelihood.
Her anxiety rapidly morphed into a wave of pure, aristocratic fury.
Gu Yan, your psychological manipulation tactics are truly abhorrent.
Steeling her resolve, she tapped the screen to initiate the call.
In her knowledge, Gu Yan’s previous stunt of turning off his phone and rejecting her initial call was nothing more than a petty, hard-to-get game meant to induce anxiety.
Now that he had successfully backed her into a corner and achieved his ultimate goal, Shen Wan’er was confident that he would eagerly answer within a single ring to savor his victory.
However…
to her absolute horror, the moment the line attempted to connect, the exact same mechanical voice note blasted through her speaker.
[ We’re sorry.
The number you have dialed has been restricted, or is currently unavailable.
Please try your call again later.
] !!
Shen Wan’er’s entire face froze in pure disbelief.
She pulled the phone away from her ear, staring blankly at the screen to verify the digits.
This was undeniably his personal, primary number.
How could this be?
If Gu Yan had merely been throwing a temporary tantrum yesterday, there was zero logical reason for his primary line to remain restricted today.
Could it be…
A terrifying possibility flashed through her mind, but she instantly slammed the thought down.
It was impossible.
According to her ironclad familiarity loop of his past behavior, Gu Yan was a submissive satellite who would never, under any circumstances, permanently sever his connection to her.
“It’s a glitch.
It has to be a network error,” she whispered to herself.
For the first time in her life, a distinct trace of genuine, raw panic flickered across her face.
Her fingers trembling slightly, she quickly exited the dialer and opened their chat window.
The last archived message was from several days ago—a lengthy, worshipful text from Gu Yan begging her to grant him an evening date so he could formally confess his love.
With a heavy, suffocating weight settling into her chest, Shen Wan’er rapidly typed out a message and hit send: [ Gu Yan, are you active?
We need to have a discussion regarding the corporate accounts.
] The very millisecond the text left her device, a sharp, crimson exclamation mark materialized directly adjacent to the speech bubble.
[ Message delivery failed.
You are currently unable to send messages to this contact.
] “He…
he actually blocked my profile?” Shen Wan’er murmured, her gaze turning completely blank as she stared at the red error symbol.
A profound, icy chill swept through her entire body, and an unscripted, terrifying realization well up in her heart—something had gone fundamentally, catastrophically wrong with her fervent admirer.
“Why?
Why on earth would Gu Yan blacklist my account?” “What caused this change?” “No…
no..
no.
This must be a joke.
I must find him and demand a face-to-face clarification!” Her tone turned frantic and hurried.
Completely abandoning ceo composure, she snatched her car keys off the desk.
Hastily shouldering the limited-edition luxury handbag that Gu Yan had custom-ordered and gifted her for her previous birthday, she bolted out of the CEO office and sprinted toward the executive elevator.