“Go right ahead.” Xuan Shi’an kept his eyes fixed on Shiyao’s bloodless face, slowly sipping his tea with an unhurried air. “A person with impure motives — they deserve to learn their lesson.”
Old Feng passed all the photographs to Gu Jingye and said with a smile, “These are the evidence.”
“Mm.” Gu Jingye pocketed the photographs and hesitantly opened his mouth. “Uncle, I’ve known Ningning for five or six years. She wouldn’t accept…”
He glanced at Shiyao and closed his mouth.
Everyone present was sharp enough to understand. Old Feng’s eyes crinkled at the corners with a smile, and he proactively stepped in to explain. “It’s all a misunderstanding — all of it. Miss Shiyao is simply staying as a guest in our residence. Young Master Xuan has absolutely no relationship with her.”
“Although the outside world has been spreading rumors, young Master Xuan has never once acknowledged to the media that he and Miss Shiyao are in a romantic relationship.”
Indeed, every time Xuan Yanyu had accepted an interview, he had never brought up that he and Shiyao were in a relationship. When media reporters had asked, he had never clearly stated that he and Shiyao were a couple.
Even that one time right after he woke up, his response had been the ambiguous: “If Shiyao wants to hold a wedding, you should go ask her.”
Gu Jingye frowned. “It’s true he never acknowledged it — but brother Yu also never denied it. He let the tabloids splice and publish footage online without a word. Doesn’t that amount to tacit…”
He didn’t get the rest out. He felt the icy chill of Xuan Shi’an’s gaze and his scalp prickled with unease.
Old Feng cheerfully handed Gu Jingye a cup of tea. “Mr. Gu ought to know what should and shouldn’t be said in front of Miss Yan. We can’t let Miss Yan get the wrong impression. When Mr. Gu speaks with Miss Yan, he should also think of Miss He. As for everything Master Xuan has said today, Mr. Gu might as well simply forget it.”
Gu Jingye’s pupils gave a startled jolt. Think of Xiaxia before he speaks?
“Not going to drink?” Old Feng kept his smile and raised the teacup.
“I…I’ll drink.” He was, after all, only in his twenties — and right now he was frightened enough to flinch.
“Off to the company.” Xuan Shi’an stood, satisfied. Old Feng caught his meaning and turned to Xiao Wan, Qiuci, Xiaoyue, and the others. “Take good care of Master Xuan’s guests together with Shiyao.”
“Understood, Butler Feng.” Xiao Wan nodded with a smile.
Shiyao pressed her fingers together, her expression quite unpleasant. Xiao Wan and the others were servants of the Xuan residence — while to the outside world, she was A’Yao’s girlfriend. Yet in front of a guest, Uncle Xuan had placed her on the same level as Xiao Wan and the others, asking her to attend to his guest.
Why did he show her so little face, making her this embarrassed?
The moment Xuan Shi’an and Old Feng walked out of the main hall, Gu Jingye gave Shiyao a faint, cool smile. “Miss Shi, I still have things to attend to — I’ll be taking my leave first.”
“Wait.” Shiyao suddenly thought of something. She grabbed Gu Jingye’s arm, pleading, “About the photograph — can we just let it go?”
Gu Jingye stared at Shiyao. Looking at her tearful expression, he immediately understood. Uncle Xuan’s ideal daughter-in-law was Ningning, so she had wanted to destroy Ningning’s image in Uncle Xuan’s eyes.
“Miss Shi, I’m afraid not. We can’t just let this go.” Gu Jingye pretended not to know who had taken the photograph, his voice carrying a subtle note of scorn. “Didn’t you also hear what Uncle Xuan said just now — a person with impure motives must be taught a lesson.”
“The person who took the photograph had no ill intent.” Shiyao gripped his sleeve tightly.
She had only wanted to know — to test whether someone of Uncle Xuan’s standing and status would write off the daughter-in-law he had chosen over a single photograph.
Unfortunately, as things stood, the answer was clearly no.
“How do you know there was no ill intent? Do you realize how much trouble it could cause for me and Ningning if this spread?”
“Can’t you just issue a denial?” Shiyao hissed.
Gu Jingye opened his mouth, then found he suddenly understood Uncle Xuan completely. Setting aside the vast gap between Shiyao’s background and brother Yu’s — her manners were lacking too. If he ever had a son in the future, this wasn’t the kind of daughter-in-law he’d want his son to marry either. Brother Yu really had terrible taste.
“Young Master Xuan.”
“Young Master Xuan.”
“…”
Qiuci, Xiao Wan, and the others saw Xuan Yanyu walk in and called out respectfully.
Xuan Yanyu gave a nod. He swept a glance at the two who were engaged in an argument, and was just about to move on when Gu Jingye, snapping to his senses, shook off Shiyao’s hand and darted over to Xuan Yanyu, explaining hurriedly, “Brother Yu, it’s a misunderstanding — a total misunderstanding. Miss Shi suddenly grabbed my sleeve. Don’t get the wrong idea about us.”
The man gave a slight curve of his lips, his voice coming out in an unhurried, casual tone. “I won’t.”
“Good.” Gu Jingye exchanged a few more pleasantries before saying, “Brother Yu, I’ll take my leave first — I won’t disturb you any further.”
“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu’s long, slender fingers loosened his tie. He had already unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Looking at his loosened tie, he simply took it off entirely and tossed it to Ye’an, who was standing behind him, then stepped toward the stairs.
Shiyao pressed her lips together and shifted her gaze away, not daring to look at him. The collar of his shirt fell open, revealing the clean, defined lines of pale collarbones, and his prominent Adam’s apple moved up and down — sensual in its carelessness, effortlessly and unintentionally captivating.
She patted her own face. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Gu Jingye, who was almost out of the main hall. She called out loudly, “Wait a moment.”
At the staircase landing, Xuan Yanyu’s brow furrowed faintly, a flicker of impatience crossing his eyes.
“Mr. Gu, please wait.” Shiyao jogged over to Gu Jingye, nearly begging. “About the photograph — is there any way you could drop the matter?”
Gu Jingye flicked a glance up at Xuan Yanyu. The latter was climbing the stairs in long, unhurried strides without pausing.
“No.” Since Xuan Yanyu didn’t care either way, Gu Jingye had no desire to simply let it go.
“A’Yao.” Shiyao turned, looking at the man at the top of the stairs pressing the elevator button, her lips moving slightly. “Could you say something to Mr. Gu?”
Ye Jian, walking behind Xuan Yanyu, raised an eyebrow. Young Master Xuan must surely be regretting not having taken the elevator from the first floor.
“What is it?” The man turned back. He rested his arm on the stair railing, looking down at Shiyao from above. Behind the dark depths of his eyes was a thread of weariness.
Shiyao pretended not to notice. She said softly, “I…I took a photograph of Mr. Gu and a girl. I didn’t mean any harm — I just thought they looked very well-matched together. I didn’t think Mr. Gu would press the matter of me taking their picture without permission.”
The man clicked his tongue twice. A faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. “But Jingye isn’t wrong. You photographed them without their consent — shouldn’t he hold you accountable for that?”
Gu Jingye’s eyebrows lifted. He almost wanted to whistle in approval — brother Yu still had a good head on his shoulders and wouldn’t simply take his girlfriend’s side on principle.
Feeling distinctly humiliated, Shiyao pressed a hand to her abdomen and gave a pained smile. “A’Yao — couldn’t you say something to Mr. Gu, for the sake of the baby?”
Xuan Yanyu tapped his fingertips against the stair railing, his expression neutral as he looked at Shiyao. “What was in the photograph?”
“Just the two of them hugging.” Shiyao said, looking pitiful.
Xuan Yanyu’s gaze landed on Gu Jingye. “Did it cause any problems for you?”
Gu Jingye shook his head reluctantly. He understood — by asking the question this way, brother Yu was going to shield Shiyao after all.
“Have Shiyao apologize to you — and this matter can be considered settled.” Xuan Yanyu’s words came down like a gavel. He turned and stepped into the elevator.
Gu Jingye breathed out and had no choice but to swallow his grievance.
“Mr. Gu, I offer you my apology.” Shiyao looked at Gu Jingye with a smile on her face.
Gu Jingye tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Mm.”
If she truly wanted to apologize, how had she managed not to say a single “I’m sorry,” instead smiling brightly and saying: “I offer you my apology.”
Well — someone has people to back them up.