In the client reception room of the shopping mall.
Fang Lu, her hair a disheveled mess, tearfully complained, “Ziqian, she was the one who started it.”
Gu Ziqian acted as if he hadn’t heard.
He only stared with heartache at the two nail scratches on Fang Mian’s face and asked, “Does it hurt?”
Fang Lu looked at him in disbelief. “Gu Ziqian, I—”
“Shut up!” Gu Ziqian glared at her fiercely.
Fang Lu pressed her trembling lips together, her eyes reddening.
“Mr. Gu, here are the band-aids you asked for!”
Gu Ziqian took them from the client manager and tore off the packaging.
Just as he was about to apply one to Fang Mian’s face…
Fang Mian raised her hand to stop him. “I’ll do it myself.”
Gu Ziqian’s eyes flickered, and he paused. “Let me help you. You can’t see where to put it.”
Fang Mian’s lips moved slightly, but she said nothing more.
After gently applying the band-aid, Gu Ziqian’s tone was filled with tenderness. “Do you want to shop a little longer, or would you rather go home with your mom?”
Fang Mian’s sharp, stubborn gaze swept over Jiang Yan and her daughter. “I want them to apologize to my mom!”
Otherwise, she couldn’t swallow this anger no matter what!
Fang Lu sobbed in her own defense. “Ziqian, look at my hair—she pulled out half of it…”
“She told you to apologize. Didn’t you hear her?” Gu Ziqian’s imposing eyes were dark and terrifyingly bright.
Seeing that the situation wasn’t going well, Jiang Yan wisely stepped in to appease on her daughter’s behalf. “I’ll apologize, I’ll do it.”
After all, it was just a few words—it wouldn’t cost a penny.
As long as it didn’t affect the relationship between Gu Ziqian and Lulu, she could settle today’s score another day.
She put on a fake smile and said lightly, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
Her perfunctory attitude was infuriating to see.
Fang Mian had no intention of letting her off so easily. “Not an apology to me—an apology to my mom. A sincere, 90-degree bow of an apology.”
Jiang Yan stiffened.
Fang Lu clenched her fists angrily, standing up for her mother. “Fang Mian, don’t go too far!”
Fang Mian replied calmly, “I am going too far. What are you going to do about it?”
“You—”
Gu Ziqian’s face turned cold with extreme displeasure. “Apologize to Auntie!”
Fang Lu bit her lip, on the verge of tears, not daring to speak.
Seeing how fiercely Gu Ziqian was defending Fang Mian, Jiang Yan knew this apology was unavoidable.
For the sake of enjoying a life of luxury in the future, she would temporarily endure today’s humiliation.
Jiang Yan walked respectfully up to He Lan and bent her noble spine. “Sister-in-law, today we spoke carelessly and offended you. I sincerely say… I’m sorry!”
Seeing her goal achieved, Fang Mian couldn’t be bothered to continue the argument. “Mom, let’s go home.”
Gu Ziqian quickly seized the opportunity to show goodwill. “Then let me drive you!”
“No need. You can go back to your date and keep your new flame company.”
These words made Gu Ziqian’s eyes light up with wild joy.
Fang Mian was jealous.
Jealous of him and Fang Lu!
She still cared about him, at least a little.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have disregarded her image and fought Fang Lu in public, all for his sake.
Having reached this conclusion, Gu Ziqian was in high spirits.
He immediately explained eagerly, “She’s just a temporary fling. If you don’t like her, I’ll break it off with her right away!”
Who he chooses to be with or break up with is none of her business.
Fang Mian said indifferently, “Suit yourself!”
After Fang Mian and He Lan left.
Fang Lu asked with a pained expression, “Do you really only see me as a fling?”
Gu Ziqian glanced at her expressionlessly, “What else? Did you really think you could marry into a wealthy family and become my Mrs. Gu? Do you even have the qualifications for that?”
“Before me, you had several boyfriends. Your innocence was lost long ago. But our Mianmian, from start to finish, has only ever been with me. Can you compare to her? And…”
Gu Ziqian suddenly grabbed her by the throat, “I’m warning you! From now on, stay away from our Mianmian. If you ever upset her again or deliberately pick on her, I won’t let you off!”
Fang Lu, deprived of oxygen, turned pale, “Ziqian… let go… I can’t breathe…”
Gu Ziqian glared at her fiercely before releasing his grip.
Fang Lu immediately gasped for air, looking utterly disheveled.
Suddenly, her hand was gently taken by Gu Ziqian.
She looked up at him joyfully, her eyes filled with tenderness, “Zi…”
Gu Ziqian removed the diamond ring from Fang Lu’s finger.
Then he took his card from her purse.
“Since giving you these things has upset my baby, I’m taking them all back. As for the sports car, consider it compensation. From now on, stay away from my Mianmian.”
Without a hint of reluctance, he turned and walked away.
“No… Ziqian! You can’t treat me like this!”
Fang Lu, devoid of dignity, lay on the ground, clutching Gu Ziqian’s leg desperately, “That woman is heartless, she doesn’t love you. How can she compare to me, Fang Lu? Only my love for you is wholehearted. Can’t you see that?”
Gu Ziqian crouched down and patted her face as if she were a little dog, “Back in high school, when I hid my identity as a rich second-generation heir, your eyes weren’t so full of wholehearted devotion…”
Fang Lu’s heart turned cold.
“Only Fang Mian didn’t care about wealth or status. Not only did she work part-time to buy me food, but she also mended my torn clothes and helped me with my studies.”
Gu Ziqian pried her hands away and shoved her aside forcefully, “I may be foolish, rich, and easy to deceive, but that doesn’t mean I’m an idiot! I just enjoy spending money for fun.”
After giving Fang Lu a scornful look, Gu Ziqian walked away without looking back.
“Mom…” Fang Lu collapsed into Jiang Yan’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, “He doesn’t want me anymore! What should I do?”
Jiang Yan was also filled with anxiety, “It’s over, it’s over. The duck isn’t even fat yet, and it’s already flown away. Mom doesn’t know what to do either!”
Listening to her daughter’s heart-wrenching cries, a sudden flash of malice appeared in her eyes, “It’s all that damned Fang Mian’s fault! It’s all because she keeps haunting us!”
“She didn’t even move far enough away. If only she would leave Xiangcheng forever… disappear from Longguo forever! Then Gu Ziqian wouldn’t be so indecisive.”
Jiang Yan looked down at Fang Lu’s face, gently stroking her daughter’s facial contours, “If you get some more plastic surgery… to look just like Fang Mian, then Ziqian will surely be devoted to you and never have eyes for her again.”
Fang Lu instantly stopped crying, her entire demeanor clearing of its earlier gloom.
She murmured, “You’re right, why didn’t I think of that?”
Her eyes instantly lit up with excitement. “Mom, you’re so clever! Once I marry into a wealthy family and become a rich lady, I’ll definitely take good care of you!”
Jiang Yan smiled dotingly. “You’re my only daughter. If I don’t treat you well, who else would I treat well?”
Fang Lu beamed, snuggling into her arms and acting coquettishly. “Mmm! Mom treats me the best! I love you so much, Mom!”
Fang Mian, just you wait!
Early the next morning, Gu Ziqian updated a post on his social media.
“Loving you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow!”
The accompanying photo was a picture of him and Fang Mian from their high school days.
In the photo, their youthful faces were both lit up with simple, pure smiles.
Bright as a beam of light.
Fang Mian hadn’t seen it at all.
Because she had long ago changed Gu Ziqian’s settings to hide his social media updates and posts from her.
But Gu Tingye, as a member of Gu Ziqian’s family, saw it.
He even zoomed in on the photo, examining it inch by inch.