For a moment, Qi Yan’s expression froze on her face.
Gu Yan’s expression also darkened—what were the odds they’d run into him right here?
The cashier was on the left.
The table that had just called out “Teacher Tang” was on the right, so he hadn’t looked in their direction.
Gu Yan instinctively reached out to grab Qi Yan’s arm, afraid she might charge over.
But Qi Yan just smiled at her, paid the bill, and said, “Let’s go.”
Just as they reached the entrance and Gu Yan was starting to relax, she heard another remark from that table.
“Teacher Tang, this is my cousin. Since you’re both single, I thought I’d introduce you.”
Qi Yan’s feet rooted to the spot. She hadn’t quite caught what the woman said.
By the time Gu Yan tried to pull her back, Qi Yan was already walking over.
A sense of impending disaster washed over Gu Yan, and she hurried after her.
“Teacher Tang, what a coincidence.” Qi Yan’s voice trembled slightly.
Tang Qingru, who had been drinking water, paused abruptly, his fingers gripping the cup turning pale.
Gu Yan quickly held Qi Yan back, worried she might say something rash.
“Teacher Tang, what a coincidence running into you here for hot pot,” Gu Yan chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.
Tang Qingru set down his cup, his expression neutral. “Indeed, what a coincidence. Are you two here for hot pot as well?”
Gu Yan nodded, but Qi Yan was staring intently at the gentle-faced woman sitting across from him.
Shifting her gaze to Tang Qingru, Qi Yan smiled faintly. “Teacher Tang, she’s not right for you.”
The scene fell into complete silence, broken only by hushed whispers from the neighboring tables.
One of the men frowned and asked, “Teacher Tang, are they your students?”
If they were students, why would they speak like that? The people who had been trying to set Tang Qingru up were now thoroughly confused.
Qi Yan kept her eyes fixed on Tang Qingru for a long moment before finally saying, “Goodbye, Teacher Tang.”
With that, she grabbed Gu Yan’s hand and headed downstairs.
Tang Qingru watched their retreating figures, sighed silently, and turned back to explain to the others that it was just his students joking around.
Downstairs, Gu Yan found Qi Yan crouched with her head buried in her knees.
Gu Yan sighed softly. “Yan Yan.”
She had known all along that Qi Yan hadn’t gotten over him—one encounter, and she fell apart completely.
After a long while, Qi Yan stood up, looking exhausted. “Xiao Yan, can I stay at your place tonight? I don’t want to go home. My parents will just nag me endlessly, and I’m so tired.”
Gu Yan nodded and opened the passenger door for her. “Of course.”
They drove back in silence, Qi Yan staring out the window, lost in thought.
During the ride, Gu Yan called Qu Xiao to let him know she was bringing Qi Yan over for the night.
Qu Xiao agreed immediately and said he’d have the guest room prepared.
By the time they arrived at Rose Garden, Qu Xiao was already waiting at the entrance.
Dressed in black pajamas and standing nearly 190 cm tall, he blended into the darkness—were it not for the faint glow of the cigarette in his hand.
Seeing Gu Yan approach, he stubbed out the cigarette and ruffled her hair.
“Little one, welcome home.”
Gu Yan smiled up at him and gave him a big hug. “Uncle Qu, you smell so good.”
“Ahem, there’s still a living person here. Please pay some attention.” Qi Yan rolled her eyes.
It was only then that Gu Yan remembered and quickly released Qu Xiao to introduce them.
Unexpectedly, Qu Xiao spoke first, “Miss Qi, hello. I’m Gu Yan’s husband, Qu Xiao.”
Qi Yan sized up Qu Xiao and nodded. She had heard about this man before—the first time was during her high school years.
She’d heard it from her parents, who described him as ruthless, arrogant, and domineering, with hardly any positive adjectives.
But seeing how gentle he had just been with Gu Yan, she began to wonder if her parents had been misled by gossip.
Qu Xiao took the suitcase Gu Yan had been pulling for Qi Yan. “Let’s go inside first. It’s a bit cold out here—don’t catch a cold.”
Gu Yan smiled at him and led Qi Yan inside.
The three of them sat down in the living room, where a servant brought them hot water.
Qi Yan looked around at the Chinese-style decor, surprised that someone like Qu Xiao hadn’t chosen a European or American design.
After chatting for a while, Qu Xiao personally took them upstairs to the guest room on the second floor.
Gu Yan had originally planned to sleep with Qi Yan tonight, but Qi Yan promptly pushed her out.
“You’re a restless sleeper. You should stay with your husband instead. I’m going to sleep now.”
As soon as the door closed, Qi Yan leaned against it and slid down weakly, tears finally falling uncontrollably.
She bit her arm hard to keep herself from crying out.
Tang Qingru, it turns out you’ve been doing just fine these three years without me. Only I’ve been clinging to those ridiculous, pathetic memories, struggling through each day.
Outside the door, Gu Yan looked worriedly at the closed door.
Qu Xiao wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go back to our room first.”
Gu Yan sighed and called out toward the door, “Yan Yan, if you need anything, just call me.”
Qu Xiao tapped her head lightly. “Don’t you know this door has excellent soundproofing?”
He had a point.
Gu Yan took out her phone and sent a message, watching as Qi Yan replied:
“Okay, goodnight.”
Only then did she return to the room with Qu Xiao, her face still full of concern. She had no idea how their lives would unfold from here.
Qu Xiao held her close and asked, “What’s wrong? You’re frowning so much you look like a little old lady—not cute at all.”
Gu Yan sighed and recounted what had happened at the hot pot restaurant.
Qu Xiao’s brow furrowed as well. “You’re saying the young lady who caused that huge scandal with my brother back then was Qi Yan?”
Huge scandal?
Gu Yan turned to him in confusion. “What do you mean? Did they have some kind of conflict?”
Qu Xiao nodded. “You were only about sixteen then, and your parents probably didn’t tell you. There was news in the capital about their improper relationship. Later, her family confronted my brother, but I don’t know what happened after that.”
Gu Yan sighed heavily again. “But Teacher Tang was just tutoring her—he wasn’t even her actual teacher.”
Qu Xiao looked at her. People often let worldly views blind them, ignoring what they truly want.”
“Just like homosexuals, they too are not accepted by society’s gaze. In others’ eyes, they are disgusting, dirty, and lowly. Some people might even drive them to death, pushing them into being labeled as having problematic sexual orientations.”
“Actually, regarding such matters, it’s fine not to support them, but there’s no need to defame them either. Everyone has their own choices. Roses don’t necessarily have to grow into pine trees – what the heart desires is the right direction.”
Gu Yan looked at Qu Xiao in disbelief, unable to understand why he was suddenly telling her these things.
Qu Xiao gazed at her, pressing his forehead against hers. “I’m telling you this because I want you to know that no matter what choices they make, the path is theirs to walk. We can’t make choices for them. All we can do is stand behind them and support them when they’re pushed into the spotlight.”
Gu Yan reached out and embraced him, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
Qu Xiao gently patted her back, thinking that just like them, if he were powerless and without influence, people would still point fingers at them.
That’s just how humans are – even when their own lives are complete messes, they can’t stand to see others doing well.
So they’ll stand on moral high ground to criticize you, denying all your excellence.
And at that time, whether it’s your sexual orientation, your appearance, or even your age – everything becomes their excuse to push you into the abyss.
If you can’t remain unaffected, then resist.
If there’s no justice, then believe in karma.
…
The next day.
When Gu Yan woke up, Qu Xiao had already gone to the company. She sat up and rubbed her head.
They hadn’t done anything last night – Qu Xiao had simply held her as they fell asleep.
She remembered Qu Xiao seemed to have said many things to her, but she had only heard them vaguely and unclear.
Remembering that Qi Yan was still here, she got up to knock on her door, only to find it open.
She called out, “Yan Yan.”
Aunt Mei downstairs heard her voice and called out, “Madam, your friend was picked up by her family this morning.”
Gu Yan returned to her room and picked up her phone. As soon as she turned it on, she saw a message from Qi Yan saying her parents had come to pick her up and she had gone back first.
Worried, Gu Yan called her, but her mother answered saying she was changing clothes, so Gu Yan hung up.
After changing clothes, Gu Yan went downstairs and drove to the Gu Corporation.
Just as she parked, she saw Xu Tao’s car also parked at the entrance.
Frowning, Gu Yan walked in. She went upstairs and pushed open the office door to find Xu Tao sitting inside. Her face immediately turned cold.
“What are you doing here?”
Xu Tao stood up from the sofa, looking at Gu Yan with an unpleasant expression as he pressed, “Why didn’t you tell me the Gu Corporation had reopened?”
Gu Yan let out a light laugh, walking to the desk to put down her bag and keys. She looked at him calmly. “When I asked you to lend me money before, you said you had none. So I didn’t think it necessary to tell you.”
Xu Tao frowned and walked up to Gu Yan, his expression frighteningly grim. “Gu Yan, be honest with me – did you climb into Qu Xiao’s bed? Is that why he’s helping the Gu Corporation make a comeback?”
Gu Yan looked at him coldly. “None of your business. If you have nothing else, please leave. I have work to attend to.”
Xu Tao grabbed Gu Yan’s hand unwillingly. He had never even touched her, yet Qu Xiao had gotten there first. The thought made a fire burn in his heart.
If only I hadn’t listened to Qin Yao back then, keeping Gu Yan a virgin might have been useful later. Now I’ve gained neither the person nor the money.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He directly grabbed Gu Yan and threw her onto the sofa.
“Gu Yan, since you chose to abandon me to please Qu Xiao, let’s see if he still wants you after I’ve touched you.”