Chapter 116: Trust, Respect, and Love

It took Qiao Yuan only seven or eight seconds to transition from arrogance and contempt to shock, then to fear and wariness.

The violent shaking of his eyes and the slight trembling of his arms both betrayed the tempestuous waves currently surging in his heart.

In the next second, he actually forced out a smile that looked even more wretched than crying.

"Heh, hehe. Just now I... I was just talking nonsense, please don't mind me. We are... we are all good classmates. It is Gu Yang's blessing, his good fortune, to be able to find such a wonderful girl."

This sudden change in attitude left everyone present utterly bewildered.

Gu Yang could clearly feel the fear emanating from Qiao Yuan.

Fear of Su Yan.

Among everyone, Dong Si understood Qiao Yuan the best, and her confusion reached its peak.

He had explicitly said before that he intended to use this class reunion to make Gu Yang look embarrassed, yet that girl had only said a single sentence, and it had scared him like this?

After a brief silence, Zhang Hui tried to smooth things over again. This time, however, Qiao Yuan remained silent, sitting obediently in his chair as if he had become invisible.

Curiosity and gossip filled everyone's minds, but due to Gu Yang's status, no one dared to say anything more.

After several rounds of drinks and several courses of food, the meal began to wind down.

Gu Yang greeted Su Yan and then stood up to go to the restroom.

Qiao Yuan immediately put down his chopsticks and followed him.

Once the two had left, the atmosphere at the dining table became much more relaxed.

"Sisi, are you planning to marry Qiao Yuan?"

"Yes." Dong Si did not hesitate at all regarding the matter of marriage.

She already belonged to Qiao Yuan. Even if she didn't have much feeling for the man, marrying him meant she could live a life of luxury and fine food for the rest of her life.

However, the words that followed from the group completely plunged her into an abyss.

"Previously, our classmates thought you were after the Qiao family's money, but now we truly see you in a new light."

Dong Si froze slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Don't tell me you didn't know? The Qiao family has gone bankrupt. Now, I'm afraid that aside from their large manor, there isn't anything else of value left."

Dong Si's breath hitched, and her emotions instantly became agitated.

"That's impossible!"

Seeing her reaction, everyone naturally understood something, and sympathetic gazes fell upon her one after another.

"It's true. We all know. If you don't believe us, ask the Class Monitor."

Although Zhang Hui didn't speak, his sympathetic expression provided a definitive answer.

Dong Si's vision went dark, and she nearly fainted.

***

In the restroom.

As Gu Yang finished using the facilities and stepped out, he saw that Qiao Yuan was actually standing right outside.

"Gu Yang, I have something to say to you."

"I have nothing to say to you." Gu Yang's expression was nothing but cold.

Qiao Yuan suddenly said irritably, "It's about your fiancée! She has secrets about her that you don't know!"

The Su Yan who had treated his eyes in that room that day was truly terrifying; even now, she could still strike fear into him.

He didn't even know why he was telling Gu Yang this now, but he simply wanted to tell him that that Su Yan was absolutely no ordinary girl!

A shadow crossed Gu Yang's eyes. "Qiao Yuan, do not let me hear another single word about Yan Yan from your mouth!"

This was a threat.

It was the first time Qiao Yuan had seen Gu Yang looking so sinister, and he was utterly horrified.

Whether it was back in school or after entering society, Gu Yang had always been gentle and humble in front of them. It had reached the point where he had even forgotten Gu Yang's status and background, acting completely without restraint.

But now, he finally realized he had been wrong.

How could someone born into such a family, and someone who could thrive so successfully in the capital, possibly be naive and kind-hearted?!

"I, I really have no ill intentions this time. Your fiancée, that Su Yan, she..."

"Enough."

Gu Yang forcefully interrupted whatever he was about to say and walked straight past him.

Qiao Yuan hadn't expected it to turn out this way, but he was truly unwilling to let it go.

"Gu Yang, do you really not want to know her secrets?"

Absolutely no one could allow their fiancée to carry secrets, especially not someone like Gu Yang.

Gu Yang's footsteps stopped, but he did not turn around.

"You don't understand what respect is, what trust is, and even less do you understand what love is."

Qiao Yuan froze completely in place, unable to recover for a long time.

At that moment, around the other corner of the hallway, Su Yan walked back nonchalantly.

Ten minutes later, Gu Yang and Su Yan left the class reunion.

The night sky was dotted with stars, and the moonlight was bright and clear.

The two of them strolled along the street.

"Were you happy today?" Gu Yang's only purpose in coming today was to make her happy.

Su Yan replied, "I was happy."

Although she hadn't obtained any useful information, compared to that, there were indeed things that made her happier.

"That's good. I'll be returning to the capital tomorrow. You must be good while you're at home," Gu Yang instructed tenderly.

Aside from being reluctant to part, he was also worried.

"Okay."

"You can call me. There's a phone at my place, so it's very convenient." Gu Yang hadn't expected there would come a day when he would be so preoccupied with someone.

"Mm."

The darkness of the night obscured Su Yan's expression, making it impossible for Gu Yang to tell if she was truly listening or just being perfunctory.

"Yan Yan, is there nothing you want to say to me?"

Gu Yang suddenly felt a strong desire to receive some words of advice from her, even if it was just one or two sentences.

Su Yan paused her steps, appearing to actually think seriously.

Gu Yang felt a sense of anticipation.

"Next month, probably around the middle of the month, you should be careful when going out. Especially when attending social functions; try not to drink, otherwise, it's easy to attract 'peach blossom luck' (romantic entanglements)." Su Yan spoke very seriously, trying her best to be precise with the timing.

Gu Yang: "..."

"It's best to keep the talisman I gave you on you. That Taoist priest's charms are very effective. There's nothing else."

Through his facial features and complexion, Su Yan had deduced very clearly that during this recent period, his wealth and career luck would be very smooth, but his romantic luck would not be so good, and he might encounter some minor trouble.

However, it wasn't a major problem.

"Yan Yan, do you mean for me to maintain my virtue while I'm away and not go around provoking other women? Don't worry, I am a man with a fiancée; I know what I should and shouldn't do."

Gu Yang could only interpret Su Yan's words based on his own understanding.

"It's not that you provoke others, it might be that others provoke you. Anyway, just remember what I said." Su Yan had done her best.

Gu Yang felt a bit of regret for bringing her to the class reunion, thinking that she only believed many women would provoke him because she had heard those female classmates talking.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. Those in the capital who knew him, and even those who didn't, basically all knew that he was extremely repulsed by women throwing themselves at him.

(End of Chapter)