Shen Mianyin's expression turned cold. The way they spoke made it seem as if she had done something utterly disgraceful.
With a faint, icy smile, she replied, "Why don’t you go back and ask your fathers and brothers? Ask them if they’ve ever smiled and toasted clients while negotiating business deals."
"You!" Fang Xiaoyue was momentarily stunned, her anger briefly subsiding.
Then, with a malicious glint in her eyes, she said, "Shen Mianyin, you still haven’t apologized to Qingqing, have you?"
Shen Mianyin stared at them coldly. Zheng Siyu, catching on, immediately chimed in, "Exactly, have you apologized to Qingqing?"
Shen Mianyin let out a cold sneer. "Why should I apologize to her?"
Zheng Siyu raised her voice. "You stole Qingqing’s identity as the Su family’s heiress! You enjoyed over twenty years of luxury in the Su family, while Qingqing suffered over twenty years of hardship outside. And you still have the audacity to ask why you should apologize? You’re a thief! You stole her life—don’t you think you owe her an apology?"
"Did I have the power to just be born and switch places with Su Yiqing, then replace myself in the Su family?" Shen Mianyin sneered.
"Whoever made the mistake should apologize. You should be asking Su Yiqing’s parents to apologize to her, not me—it’s not my fault."
"If you two are just looking to waste time, then go take a walk somewhere else," Shen Mianyin said bluntly.
Shen Mianyin was about to go to the restroom when, unexpectedly, they blocked her path again.
The three of them blocking her made Shen Mianyin feel cornered.
"Have you three had enough already?" Shen Mianyin said impatiently.
"You’re not leaving until you apologize to Qingqing!" Zheng Siyu declared firmly.
Shen Mianyin rolled her eyes, thinking that Chairman Chen should have finished using the bathroom by now. She turned around, preparing to go back to her room to use it.
Unexpectedly, Fang Xiaoyue quickly stepped forward, clicking her high heels as she moved to stand directly in front of Shen Mianyin, arms spread wide. "We said, you’re not leaving until you apologize to Qingqing!"
Zheng Siyu then moved to block Shen Mianyin from behind.
Seemingly casually, Su Yiqing positioned herself at Shen Mianyin’s side, effectively trapping her.
Zheng Siyu, speaking from behind Shen Mianyin, said, "Shen Mianyin, do you not understand what we’re saying? We’re telling you to apologize to Qingqing!"
Su Yiqing, while blocking Shen Mianyin’s path, shook her head helplessly. "There’s no need for that."
"Qingqing, you’re just too good-natured," Fang Xiaoyue said. "That’s why this fraud has been able to walk all over you and won’t admit it!"
Zheng Siyu added, "And you still call her ‘sister’? She’s not your sister, not in any way she deserves to be!"
Fang Xiaoyue sneered. "Shen Mianyin must be dreaming of returning to the Su family!"
"She’s just trying to play the victim now," Zheng Siyu said, convinced she had it all figured out.
"Who cares about the Su family," Shen Mianyin replied bluntly. "Don’t worry, I’ll never go back there. I deeply regret ever growing up in the Su family."
"Fine, you’re still defiant!" Fang Xiaoyue was about to say more when she suddenly paused.
Zheng Siyu snapped, "Call someone over to teach this bitch a lesson!"
As soon as Zheng Siyu finished speaking, she noticed Fang Xiaoyue suddenly look toward Shen Mianyin and herself, a mix of shock and tension on her face.
"Xiaoyue, what’s wrong?" Zheng Siyu asked, puzzled. "Call someone already."
"Yeah, call someone," came the cool, familiar voice from behind Zheng Siyu.
Shen Mianyin turned to look, and Zheng Siyu turned to follow her gaze simultaneously.
Just in time, Shen Mianyin saw that Gu Huaizhi was standing behind Zheng Siyu.
"Gu... Gu San Ye..." Zheng Siyu stammered in fear. "I... I didn’t expect you to be here too."
(T/N : San Ye = Chinese honorific used to address a third son in a family or to show respect to someone of high status.)
Gu Huaizhi’s expression grew even colder. It wasn’t clear who had started it, but now everyone outside either called him Chairman Gu or San Ye—an unnecessary honorific that made him sound older than he was.
His icy face only made Zheng Siyu more nervous.
"San Ye, what a coincidence," Fang Xiaoyue said, her face turning red.
She couldn’t help but think about how Gu Huaizhi had just heard everything she’d said.
What must he be thinking of her now?
Although Gu Huaizhi was older and distant in the circle, privately speaking, she, and many like her, had often secretly wished they could be the one to marry Gu San.
Shen Mianyin sighed quietly, her face turning red with embarrassment as she couldn’t bring herself to look at Gu Huaizhi.
"Why is it so noisy?" Gu Huaizhi asked in a cold tone.
Fang Xiaoyue thought that this was her chance to finally get a word in with Gu Huaizhi—an opportunity to make an impression.
She decided to take the risk and said, "Have you heard of this Shen Mianyin, San Ye?"
"She’s pretending to be the Su family’s daughter, taking Qingqing’s place for over twenty years," Fang Xiaoyue said angrily.
"We’re upset about it and want her to apologize, but she’s shameless and refuses to admit her wrongs. I’ve never seen anyone so lacking in self-respect."
"Why does it matter to you?" Gu Huaizhi retorted coldly.
"What?" Fang Xiaoyue was momentarily taken aback.
"Did Shen Mianyin just start walking and then walk straight into the Su family?" Gu Huaizhi asked.
Fang Xiaoyue: "..."
"Speak," Gu Huaizhi said in a cold tone.
"There isn’t, but—"
"Did Su Yiqing tell you to make Shen Mianyin apologize?" Gu Huaizhi asked again.
"No..." Fang Xiaoyue’s face turned red as she continued.
"Did Su Yiqing beg you to help her?"
"No..."
"Are you just bored and looking for trouble?" Gu Huaizhi asked coldly.
"We…"
Fang Xiaoyue’s eyes filled with tears as she was pressured by Gu Huaizhi’s stern tone, almost on the verge of crying.
But Gu Huaizhi didn’t show any mercy.
"You just wanted to call someone to teach Shen Mianyin a lesson?"
"No… San Ye… San Ye, you must have misunderstood," Zheng Siyu stammered nervously.
"Tch!" Gu Huaizhi sneered. "Do I look like an idiot to you? I may be older in rank, but my age isn’t that much different."
"San Ye, we..." Zheng Siyu tried to justify herself. "We were just trying to scare her, just to make her apologize..."
"Who did you want to call to teach her a lesson?" Gu Huaizhi didn’t even let her finish. "Call them in now, let’s see how you intend to ‘teach’ her."
"I… I can’t. We... we can’t call anyone," Zheng Siyu frantically shook her head, denying it.
"Get lost," Gu Huaizhi spat out a single word.
Zheng Siyu and the other two were dumbfounded, thinking they had misheard.
Although Gu Huaizhi had a reputation for being unapproachable, he was always proud and composed in front of others. But now... he actually swore?
It was hard for them to associate Gu Huaizhi with vulgar language.
Seeing them frozen in place, Gu Huaizhi grew even more impatient. This time, he spoke more slowly: "Get lost."
Zheng Siyu and the other two immediately turned red with embarrassment.
They had been scolded by Gu Huaizhi.
Zhou Jingqi shook his head and said coldly, "If the three of you don’t leave now, do you want President Gu to have someone escort you out?"
It was only then that they realized Gu Huaizhi’s words were indeed directed at them.
Zheng Siyu and Fang Xiaoyue shot a resentful glance at Shen Mianyin before leaving with pale faces.
This incident must never reach their families.
Su Yiqing gave Shen Mianyin a glance full of ambiguous meaning before following Zheng Siyu and Fang Xiaoyue out.
Gu Huaizhi lowered his head to look at Shen Mianyin and asked, "Why do you always seem to run into trouble?"
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