Gu Qingyu’s tone was gentle, his demeanor polite and courteous; even when refusing someone, he didn’t make them feel embarrassed, it simply seemed he truly couldn’t do it.
Li Jiayue felt a bit disappointed. Had she known that Gu Qingyu wouldn’t play billiards, she wouldn’t have chosen this place.
But she also didn’t know what Gu Qingyu actually liked—this had been a misstep. She should have asked Wen Ying in advance.
Seeing Gu Qingyu already seated beside Wen Ying, Li Jiayue stepped forward and handed the cue to Wen Ying. “Yingbao, want to play a couple of rounds?”
Wen Ying looked interested and took the cue, standing up.
Li Jiayue was pleased, quickly taking the seat vacated by Wen Ying, and turned to start a conversation with Gu Qingyu, only to see him nod and smile at her.
He then got up and walked toward the billiard table as well.
Li Jiayue was momentarily taken aback but didn’t think much of it, assuming he was just curious and wanted to watch others play.
With Gu Qingyu gone, sitting alone here was dull, so she got up and followed.
Although Wen Ying had played billiards before, she wasn’t very skilled and missed a few shots.
As Wen Ying bent to aim, holding the cue, suddenly her hand was held, and a warm chest pressed against her back.
“You hold it like this…”
The fresh, familiar scent drifted to her nose, and the man’s gentle, clear voice reached her ears. Wen Ying froze for a moment and turned to look.
Gu Qingyu was looking down at her. Through his glasses, Wen Ying could see her reflection in his pupils.
His eyes were brown, slightly lighter than most, giving a clean, soft impression.
“You said you didn’t know how,” Wen Ying asked.
Gu Qingyu whispered in her ear, “I lied to her.”
His unfinished breath seemed to linger in her ear, and Wen Ying was stunned again as his clear voice sounded above her: “Focus.”
Gu Qingyu held her close, one hand supporting her waist. “Keep your body level.”
Li Jiayue was already stunned.
She stood a short distance away, watching the intimate posture of the two, who seemed completely unaware of themselves, and fell into brief silence.
Li Jiayue thought perhaps Gu Qingyu was just more familiar with Wen Ying, and because of his good relationship with Brother Tingchuan, he was only helping her out of consideration.
She shook her head, sweeping away any improper thoughts.
Li Jiayue stepped forward a few steps. “Yingbao, didn’t Brother Tingchuan teach you before? Why do you still need someone else to teach you?”
Though teasing and inquiring, her words also reminded Gu Qingyu that Wen Ying already had a fiancée and to maintain some boundaries.
But Gu Qingyu seemed entirely oblivious, bending closer to ask in her ear, “Did Tingchuan teach you?”
“Yes,” she replied.
As her shot went in while he held her hand, Wen Ying’s face lit up with a smile, her mood visibly lifted, even mentioning Brother Tingchuan no longer felt unpleasant.
“How did he teach you?”
Gu Qingyu’s large hand on hers tightened slightly, leaning closer. “Was it like this when he taught you?”
Wen Ying frowned, annoyed, and pushed him away. “How else would he teach me?”
Gu Qingyu didn’t mind being pushed at all, and continued to ask, leaning down. “So, am I better at teaching than he is?”
This question was clearly inappropriate.
Li Jiayue watched the men’s subtle competitiveness, her breath catching. She lowered her head quickly, not daring to speak.
The other two were awkwardly silent.
Wen Ying didn’t think much, only finding Gu Qingyu repeatedly bringing up Brother Tingchuan irritatingly.
Back then, she had loved playing with Brother Tingchuan, and he had taught her billiards a few times, but he had no patience.
Whenever she asked him to teach her, he’d get impatient after a couple of moves, leaving her to practice alone.
Compared to that, Gu Qingyu was much more patient and never tired of teaching.
But she didn’t want to say that out loud.
“I’m done,” Wen Ying said, tossing the cue into Gu Qingyu’s arms and sitting on a nearby sofa to drink.
Gu Qingyu also put the cue down and sat beside her.
Li Jiayue remained silent.
She had originally arranged for Wen Ying to be here to create an opportunity between herself and Gu Qingyu.
But it was obvious now, Gu Qingyu clearly liked Wen Ying. She wondered if Wen Ying and Brother Tingchuan knew about this.
Li Jiayue clenched her teeth, unwilling to accept it.
Wen Ying already had such a good fiancée; why was she taking another man’s attention?
Billiards had lost its fun, so they moved to the bar to drink and listen to music.
Li Jiayue glanced at the two whispering together and scrolled through her contacts, eventually finding someone familiar with Brother Tingchuan to get his number.
Excusing herself in the restroom, she called Brother Tingchuan.
He was a bit impatient upon hearing it was Wen Ying’s friend.
He knew all of Wen Ying’s so-called friends were only after benefits, yet she seemed unaware.
He was about to hang up and warn the person who gave out his number when Li Jiayue added, “Brother Tingchuan, Yingbao is on the third floor of Old City Time. Would you like to come?”
Thinking he didn’t seem to like Wen Ying very much, and possibly there was a small lover involved, Li Jiayue hurriedly added, “Yingbao wanted you to come, but you know, she’s shy, so she asked me to say it.”
Unaware, Brother Tingchuan had already grabbed his coat and was rushing out.
“I’ll be there right away.”
With that, he hung up.
Li Jiayue came out of the restroom and peeked at the two sitting together, relieved to see they hadn’t noticed her.
She wasn’t scheming; she just wanted Gu Qingyu to restrain himself when Brother Tingchuan arrived.
Wen Ying, aside from her family background, had no advantages over her.
Once he gave up his thoughts about Wen Ying, he would see her worth.
Li Jiayue arranged her smile and stepped forward to speak when suddenly someone exclaimed, “Isn’t this Wen Ying?”
A melodious female voice, with surprise and laughter.
All heads turned. The woman was slender, graceful, and naturally approached them.
“Xu Yanxi.” Wen Ying frowned, clearly displeased.
Xu Yanxi ignored her expression and looked at Gu Qingyu, pausing slightly before smiling in greeting. “So Mr. Gu is here too?”
Being from the same social circle, they all knew each other, even if not closely.
Gu Qingyu held his glass and smiled, nodding at her, acknowledging her greeting.
Xu Yanxi then turned to Wen Ying: “May I sit here?”
Wen Ying frowned, about to refuse, but Xu Yanxi, sensing her intention, seated herself before Wen Ying could speak, smiling politely: “Thanks.”
“Quite forward,” Wen Ying muttered, getting up to sit opposite her.
Xu Yanxi seemed completely unbothered. “Aren’t we friends?”
“Who says we’re friends?”
“Well, we’ve known each other since childhood. How can you be so heartless?”
Gu Qingyu observed the exchange and recalled Wen Ying’s initial attitude toward him.
Looking at Xu Yanxi’s behavior and speech, he fell silent.
He seemed to understand why Wen Ying had disliked him before.
Li Jiayue saw the seat beside Gu Qingyu open after Wen Ying moved, thinking it was her chance.
As she stepped forward, Xu Yanxi slid closer to Gu Qingyu and smiled apologetically at her: “Sorry, could you sit beside me?”
Li Jiayue, furious, had to grudgingly take the nearby vacant seat, unable to confront Xu Yanxi due to her family background.
Soon, Brother Tingchuan arrived.
Seeing Gu Qingyu here, he paused briefly, then noticed Xu Yanxi beside him, his gaze lingering.
Wen Ying frowned. “Who called him here?”
Gu Qingyu’s gaze swept Li Jiayue’s face, his eyes restrained, saying nothing.
Brother Tingchuan was momentarily stunned but didn’t overthink it, assuming Wen Ying couldn’t lower her face, and stepped forward to sit beside her.
Wen Ying tried to move but was restrained by Brother Tingchuan.
He scanned the people around them, lowering his voice: “Wen Ying, can we talk privately?”
He wanted to apologize and explain, but here was too public.
Wen Ying was indifferent: “I have nothing to say to you.”
At first, she felt guilty and thought maintaining appearances would suffice, but after the banquet, she realized some people could never be placated; the more you appease, the more they take advantage.
So now, she wouldn’t show even the slightest cordiality.
Seeing this, Brother Tingchuan looked around and realized Wen Ying wouldn’t talk, sighing: “Wen Ying, I know I was wrong that day, it was my misunderstanding, please forgive me?”
Everyone was surprised.
Brother Tingchuan was known for his pride, rarely bowing to anyone, and now he was humbling himself before Wen Ying.
The rumors seemed completely inverted.
Wen Ying didn’t show a hint of emotion, moving slightly away: “Don’t bother me.”
Gu Qingyu, an outsider, could choose to believe her without watching the surveillance.
Her fiancée, however, not only didn’t trust her but stood against her, siding with an outsider to criticize her.
And now he had the audacity to ask for forgiveness?
Seeing this, Brother Tingchuan held her hand, promising: “Wen Ying, please, I really know I was wrong, I misunderstood you. I shouldn’t have left you alone, but we’re going to spend our lives married. Can’t you forgive me just once?”
As he said “spend our lives married,” Gu Qingyu’s fingers lightly tapped the glass in his hand.
His gaze fell on the hands intertwined between them, and under his lenses, his eyes darkened.
Before Wen Ying could speak, he stood up first, a smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes: “Excuse me, I’ll leave for a moment.”