Shen Qiuqiu was having a great time eavesdropping on gossip. Crouched in a corner, completely absorbed, she suddenly felt someone tap her on the back.
She turned around to see Gu Zhouye, his face full of urgency. He handed her a baked flatbread.
A hint of reproach was in his expression.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at the station? What are you doing here?”
Shen Qiuqiu quickly pulled Gu Zhouye aside. She glanced over at Song Qiang and Wang Lixia, who were still talking in the distance, then sighed in relief and looked at Gu Zhouye helplessly.
“I’ll tell you when we get home. Let’s go.”
They didn’t say much on the way back. Shen Qiuqiu was preoccupied with the gossip, while Gu Zhouye kept glancing at her, as if waiting for her to start a fight.
But Shen Qiuqiu’s expression was calm. When they returned to the village, they were greeted by the sound of crying. Ding Rui came out of her room and was about to speak to Shen Qiuqiu when Shen Qiuqiu cut her off.
Shen Qiuqiu whispered a few words in Ding Rui’s ear.
“Go tell Zhou Qian this news first. I have something to deal with.”
Gu Zhouye was completely confused. But Shen Qiuqiu pulled him toward their home.
“Come inside. I want to show you something.”
Once they were in the room, Shen Qiuqiu pulled out the new clothes she had bought for Gu Zhouye.
“I got you new clothes. Go try them on.”
The dark-colored coat made Gu Zhouye look even more tall and dashing.
Gu Zhouye looked at Shen Qiuqiu, hesitating.
“Shen Qiu, about today… the truth is…”
Shen Qiuqiu waved her hand dismissively.
“The truth is what? That you still have lingering feelings for Bai Kerou?”
Just mentioning it made Shen Qiuqiu’s blood boil. He had even wanted to meet her alone! Although Shen Qiuqiu’s rational mind told her Gu Zhouye must have had a reason, she couldn’t help being a little angry.
Seeing the slight disappointment on Shen Qiuqiu’s face, Gu Zhouye inexplicably felt relieved.
It was like what he had always worried about. Deep down, he wanted Shen Qiuqiu to truly love him. But at the same time, he felt that someone like Shen Qiuqiu could probably love anyone.
That wasn’t an insult. The ability to love was simply too rare.
Shen Qiuqiu saw that Gu Zhouye wasn’t saying anything and grew anxious. She kicked him.
“Well? Say something!”
Gu Zhouye suddenly smiled.
“So you’re jealous?”
Shen Qiuqiu was stunned, then got even angrier.
She took a deep breath, looked at Gu Zhouye, and said softly.
“Gu Zhouye, do you know who I saw today?”
Seeing the expression on Shen Qiuqiu’s face, Gu Zhouye knew this woman was up to mischief. He smiled helplessly.
“You saw me with Bai Kerou.”
Shen Qiuqiu shook her head.
“No. I saw two people from our village — a man and a woman — holding hands.”
Gu Zhouye frowned. The shouting outside was growing more intense. He wanted to go check the situation, but Shen Qiuqiu grabbed his hand.
“Don’t go yet. Guess first.”
Gu Zhouye looked at Shen Qiuqiu helplessly.
“Just tell me.”
“I won’t. Not unless you kiss me.”
Shen Qiuqiu was beating around the bush, venting her anger at him in this roundabout way. Gu Zhouye found the woman before him utterly adorable. He was just about to reach out and pinch Shen Qiuqiu’s cheek when—
Several people rushed in from outside, led by Lin Dazhi. Shen Qiuqiu’s temper flared. She stood up and glared furiously at Lin Dazhi, only to see helpless resignation written all over his face.
Lin Dazhi clasped his hands at Shen Qiuqiu in a pleading gesture.
“Shen Qiu, please come with me. There’s about to be a huge fight.”
…
When they arrived at the scene, the first thing Shen Qiuqiu saw was Song Qiang’s shirt, torn into shreds like tassels. Wang Lixia was in even worse shape — beaten once before, and now beaten again. It was truly pitiful.
The victor, Zhou Qian, pointed at Wang Lixia with venomous fury.
“Lin Dazhi, if you don’t deal with this slut, I’ll go straight to the leadership and raise hell!”
Shen Qiuqiu, who had been dragged there against her will, glanced at Gu Zhouye with a gossipy look.
Her expression said: There. Now you don’t have to guess.
When Zhou Qian saw Shen Qiuqiu arrive, she quickly grabbed Shen Qiuqiu and Ding Rui and announced to the crowd, “My witnesses are here! Ding Rui, Qiuqiu, tell everyone!”
Wang Lixia looked up and glared viciously at Shen Qiuqiu, her eyes seeming as if they wanted to devour her.
At that moment, Song Qiang suddenly found his backbone. He stood up and looked straight at Zhou Qian.
“Zhou Qian, I never liked you. The only reason I got together with you was because Lixia rejected me.”
The moment those words came out, even Shen Qiuqiu — let alone Zhou Qian — was so furious she wanted to hit someone.
Zhou Qian slapped Song Qiang so hard his face swelled up instantly.
“You bastard! Why didn’t you say so sooner?!”
Zhou Qian had a violent temper. She turned around, grabbed a kitchen knife, and started walking toward Song Qiang. Seeing that things were about to get out of hand, Lin Dazhi and the others quickly stopped her.
Shen Qiuqiu was watching the drama unfold with great fascination. Gu Zhouye couldn’t help but look at her.
“If I did something to wrong you, would you come at me with a knife?”
Gu Zhouye recalled what Bai Kerou had said to him at noon. His heart ached.
Shen Qiuqiu shot Gu Zhouye a glare.
“I’m not that kind of person. I’d just find someone else.”
Gu Zhouye held Shen Qiuqiu’s hand tightly.
After much persuasion from the crowd, Zhou Qian threw the knife aside and collapsed to her knees, covering her face and sobbing. Unlike Wang Dahua, she had no family by her side. She had nothing.
Bai Xueying, whose injuries had just healed, walked out supported by Xiao Yi. She tried to help Zhou Qian up. Shen Qiuqiu, watching from the side, curved her lips into a smile.
She knew Bai Xueying wouldn’t be able to resist playing the good person. And she wanted her to play that role.
Bai Xueying looked at Zhou Qian tenderly.
“Qianqian, don’t be sad. I’ll always be here for you!”
Zhou Qian suddenly shoved Bai Xueying’s hand away. Amid the crowd’s astonished stares, she cursed Bai Xueying loudly.
“Stop pretending to be kind! You’re the worst one of all!”
Everyone froze and turned to look at Bai Xueying, who looked equally bewildered.
Zhou Qian glared coldly at Bai Xueying and spat out the rest.
“Because Xiao Yi had a thing for Wang Lixia, you pushed Wang Lixia into seducing one man after another. You’re the evil spirit behind Wang Lixia!”
The blame shifted to Xiao Yi. He quickly waved his hands in denial.
“I didn’t! I really didn’t!”
Xiao Yi had only thought Wang Lixia was pretty and said a few extra words to her. How was he supposed to know Bai Xueying’s jealousy ran this deep?
Shen Qiuqiu let out a cold laugh. This was exactly right. In the original book, no woman prettier than the heroine ever had a good ending. And no woman the male lead showed even a hint of liking ever fared well either.
Wang Lixia suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Back when Song Qiang was chasing me, I went to ask Bai Xueying for advice. She said Song Qiang came from a family with too many brothers, said he wasn’t a good person. Then she told me Sun Yuming was interested in me. I’ve been ruined by this vile woman!”