The driver in the front seat nearly dropped his jaw, about to glance through the rearview mirror, when he caught Gu Qingyu’s warning look.
He immediately sat up straight, not daring to look again or make a sound.
Gu Qingyu instructed, “Go to Yushui Bay.”
“I said I’m going home with you!” Wen Ying emphasized each word, “Not to my own house!”
Gu Qingyu thought of the time she had played him and smiled faintly. “You’re coming home with me, in what capacity?”
Wen Ying replied casually, “Doesn’t matter, as long as you like it.”
Gu Qingyu’s expression grew colder. “I can’t take you home.”
“Is it because Brother Tingchuan abandoned me, that you also look down on me?” Wen Ying pressed her lips together, glancing at him.
Gu Qingyu was momentarily taken aback by the question. He had no contempt for her; he simply didn’t want to be toyed with any longer.
He had always been outcome-oriented. Since Wen Ying had no intention of annulling their engagement, he saw no reason to continue the matter.
He also knew clearly that Brother Tingchuan liked Wen Ying and had no intention of ending the engagement, only that his actions had caused misunderstanding for outsiders, himself at first, and even Wen Ying.
If he were rational enough, he should have told Wen Ying that Brother Tingchuan actually liked her, so they could clear up the misunderstanding.
Yet beneath Wen Ying’s exquisite, beautiful eyes, Gu Qingyu found himself unable to utter a word.
For a moment, he recalled the sight of her on the swing, her eyes slightly red.
It was hard for anyone to resist being looked at that way.
“Go to Beidi Villa.” Finally, he changed his mind.
Gu Qingyu thought to himself that Brother Tingchuan wasn’t entirely at fault.
Whatever the reason, he had protected another woman and criticized his fiancée—that was true. He left his fiancée to care for another woman—that was also true.
Beidi Villa was Gu Qingyu’s private residence. He had originally intended to return to his old mansion, but now, with Wen Ying, that was clearly impossible.
The driver pricked up his ears, curious for gossip as usual.
Upon hearing Brother Tingchuan’s name, he immediately guessed the girl’s identity, astonished.
When Gu Qingyu gave the order, he snapped back to reality, stepped on the accelerator, and headed to Beidi Villa.
Upon arrival, Gu Qingyu didn’t immediately get out, but casually looked at the driver. “You know what to say and what not to say, right?”
The driver nodded hastily. “Yes, yes, don’t worry, Young Master Gu.”
He only listened to gossip, never daring to speak out. The job was well-paid, easy, and light, and he wasn’t about to risk losing it.
Wen Ying closed the car door, looking around with a critical snort. “This place looks plain, not even a single flower, feels cold and empty.”
She preferred livelier surroundings.
Gu Qingyu smiled. “I don’t have time to grow flowers.”
“You don’t have to do it yourself. You can hire someone to do it.” Places like Yushui Bay had gardeners to tend the plants.
Gu Qingyu didn’t respond. He disliked interruptions in his private space.
He led her into the living room, asking with a smile, “Want something to drink?”
Wen Ying sat on the sofa, thinking for a moment. “A glass of wine.”
Gu Qingyu had a fully stocked collection, including a private underground wine cellar.
He poured a glass of red wine, handed it to Wen Ying, and sat beside her. “This one is low in alcohol, not sure about the taste. Try it.”
Wen Ying sipped it—it was quite good, slightly sweet.
“How is it? Good?” Gu Qingyu asked.
“You should taste it yourself.”
Gu Qingyu smiled, about to pour himself a glass, when suddenly her lips pressed softly against his.
The red wine’s aroma lingered on her lips, with a hint of sweetness.
She smiled like a mischievous cat. “How is it? Good?”
Gu Qingyu fixed his gaze on her, eyes dark beneath his glasses. Seeing him silent, Wen Ying leaned in and kissed him again.
Her purpose in coming home with him was hardly innocent; this wasn’t just about drinking wine.
Wen Ying shifted, first kneeling by his side, then sitting on his lap, kissing him repeatedly, as if tasting a soft, juicy jelly orange.
The man let her kiss him, holding her slender waist, eyes lowered, never responding. Wen Ying, frustrated, was about to start unbuttoning him—
Suddenly, a rapid phone ringing broke the moment.
Wen Ying released him, picked up the phone, and answered.
“Wen Ying, where are you?”
Hearing Brother Tingchuan’s voice, Wen Ying’s expression paused, glancing down at Gu Qingyu beneath her.
His large hand lightly caressed her soft waist, eyes dark and deep, long lashes lowered, lips slightly curved, unreadable.
She felt a moment of embarrassment.
But recalling that Brother Tingchuan was with another woman and had abandoned her, she dismissed all feelings.
Her tone was cold. “What does it matter to you where I am?”
“Wen Ying, don’t be angry. Give me the address, I’ll come find you, okay?”
Brother Tingchuan’s rare humble, coaxing tone surprised her; she wondered if he had taken some medicine by mistake.
She paused, releasing Gu Qingyu, about to speak, but he caught her hand.
Wen Ying looked at him questioningly, but he only smiled, snatching the phone from her.
She blinked, and he smiled at her.
In the next instant, she was pinned back on the sofa. Surprised, she exclaimed, and his thin lips covered hers.
Her scream was immediately silenced; the person on the line heard only a faint “hello, hello.”
Wen Ying’s lips and tongue were restrained, her tip tingled, breathing rapidly, unable to speak, only attempting to reach for the phone.
After a couple of tries, a warm, large hand pressed her hand against the top of her head.
“Hello! Wen Ying! What’s wrong? Say something!”
The person on the other end grew increasingly anxious, voice panicked. Wen Ying’s beautiful eyes, slightly reddened from the struggle, glanced toward the phone.
A cold, clean hand picked up the phone and, in front of her, cut the call.
Gu Qingyu didn’t even glance at it, then kissed her lips twice, like a punishment, finally releasing her to whisper hoarsely by her ear, “Since you’re with me, why are you thinking of another man?”
Wen Ying gasped, lips tingling and probably swollen.
She pushed him, scolding, “Are you crazy?”
Thinking she feared Brother Tingchuan would find out, Gu Qingyu held her hand, squeezing it lightly, smiling. “Why? He doesn’t know you’re here, he won’t find you naturally.”
The phone rang again—Brother Tingchuan.
Gu Qingyu glanced at it, kissed her hand, and whispered enticingly, “Ignore him, let him worry a bit, don’t you think?”
Wen Ying had no intention of caring about Brother Tingchuan.
She was only curious. “Aren’t you concerned about your brotherly bond anymore?”
Gu Qingyu only smiled silently. After their first encounter, any notion of brotherly loyalty with Brother Tingchuan had long burst like a bubble.
Now, thinking about that bond was too late.
Wen Ying slightly tilted her head, biting his throat lightly, voice muffled. “I won’t be responsible for you.”
The man groaned, gripping her hand tighter.
Gu Qingyu leaned slightly back, then down, capturing her full, slightly swollen lips, hoarse. “You’re not new to being irresponsible.”
“You didn’t say that last time.” She had stormed off in anger before.
The heated breath between them spread, phone still ringing relentlessly, yet both ignored it.
The red high-fashion gown was half-fallen, the skirt pushed to her waist, revealing long, fair legs.
Sweat traced the contours of his face, dripping onto Wen Ying’s fair skin.
Her body trembled, toes curled, a low sound escaping her lips. Gu Qingyu leaned down, kissing her lips, murmuring indistinctly, “It’s fine to indulge occasionally.”
For twenty-seven years she had lived strictly, never stepping out of line, yet one moment changed everything, irreversibly.
Gu Qingyu never expected this day to come.
A few days ago, he still thought of cutting ties with Wen Ying, returning their lives to the original path.
Now he understood that from the moment she entered his room, their trajectories had shifted, unlikely to return to normal.
He didn’t know his exact feelings for her, only that now, he wanted her.
……
After leaving the hospital, Brother Tingchuan called Wen Ying.
Though Wen Ying had erred first, he himself was at fault for abandoning her.
He knew she must be furious; they had quarreled too many times recently. Brother Tingchuan didn’t want an irreparable fallout.
He planned to step back, calmly talk to her, clarify things, and then schedule their wedding, ensuring future harmony.
Before he could say much, the call was cut off.
Recalling the startled voice from earlier, Brother Tingchuan panicked.
He instructed the driver toward the banquet hall while repeatedly calling Wen Ying, yet no one answered.
He also called the Wen residence, learning she hadn’t returned.
Rushing to the banquet hall, he was told she had long since left.
He asked urgently, “Where did she go? Did she say where she was going?”
The staff tidying the venue shook their heads. “Sorry, sir, we don’t know. Maybe check the surveillance?”
Brother Tingchuan had no choice but to review the parking lot cameras to trace her departure.
The person in charge led him to the monitoring room. The staff there asked curiously, “Why are we reviewing Miss Wen’s footage again?”
“Again?” Brother Tingchuan keyed in on the word, frowning. “Who else has reviewed it?”
“Well, something happened earlier today, right? Mr. Gu had us pull the footage to clear Miss Wen’s name.” The person in charge felt awkward; after all, this Fu gentleman was Miss Wen’s fiancée, yet had sided with another woman.
Even so, as heir to the Fu Group, they dared not offend him. They could only state the facts.
Brother Tingchuan froze, realizing belatedly. “What do you mean?”
The staff, unsure how to explain, played the previous video again for him.
He hadn’t expected this outcome. His expression shifted multiple times, finally settling on shame.
He had…misunderstood Wen Ying?
“Found her, Miss Wen seems to have left in Mr. Gu’s car.”
The staff’s excited voice immediately snapped Brother Tingchuan back to reality.