Chapter 7

Large tears rolled down Xu Yun'er's face. With that pitiful expression, men would easily believe whatever she said.

If not for the fact that she had known what Xu Yun'er was like, Gu Jiuci's heart would have softened for her as well.

It was all because of this seemingly innocent face that she had been tricked so badly in her last life!

Was Xu Yun'er not just feigning innocence? She was the truly innocent one!

"Cousin, I was too stubborn before. How heartbroken you must be to have given up Brother Yutang to me to make me happy!

"But everything is better now. I truly don't like him anymore, so you don't need to keep this act up anymore.

"Actually, you and Brother Yu-... no, Jiang Yutang, make a great pair!"

"I wish you two all the joy. A trashy man and a bitch, may you be happy together forever!"

Halfway through her words, Gu Jiuci felt that "Brother Yutang" was too disgusting to say and immediately changed to using his name.

At this moment, she was unconsciously resting into Huo Mingche's embrace, so she missed the slight shock that flashed through the man's eyes.

"It's not like that! It's really not like that! Ah Ci, listen to me explain..."

Xu Yun'er's face was pale from fright. This had clearly been a trap laid out for Gu Jiuci. How had it backfired on her?

However, this panic only continued for a second before Xu Yun'er began to act innocent and pitiful again.

"Ah-choo!"

Gu Jiuci purposely let out a sneeze and interrupted Gu Jiuci's words. She raised her head and blinked her large eyes as she looked pitifully at Huo Mingche.

"I think I caught a cold..."

Huo Mingche's dark eyes narrowed slightly. The next second, he swept up Gu Jiuci in a bridal carry and headed into the hall.

Throughout the entire affair, Xu Yun'er had been completely ignored, as if she was nothing but air.

"Since everything has been resolved, let's go inside quickly. Otherwise, the guests inside won't know what's going on."

Grandfather Huo spoke lightly and the elders followed him inside. They completely ignored the tearful Xu Yun'er.

Su Furong glanced worriedly at her daughter, then quickly turned and followed Gu Qingyuan to leave.

Until now, Xu Yun'er had never been so completely ignored in her entire life!

As she stared in rage at the retreating image of Huo Mingche carrying Gu Jiuci, she clenched her fists tightly. Her long nails dug into her palms, but she did not even notice the blood.

"Gu Jiuci, my shame today is all because of you. I will return it with interest in the coming days!"

"Yun'er! Why did you deny our relationship so vehemently in front of Gu Jiuci? Do you really not like me?"

Standing behind Xu Yun'er, Jiang Yutang questioned her angrily.

It was fine for Gu Jiuci, a woman he didn't like, to deny it, but if Xu Yun'er did so, he would not be able to endure it.

"Do you still not understand my heart?"

Xu Yun'er turned around with tears in her eyes and looked pitifully at Jiang Yutang.

"It's all for your sake! In the situation just now, if I don’t remove myself from the situation, what would she think?

"What would happen to your family business? What would happen to our plan?"

Seeing her tears, Jiang Yutang's heart melted. He immediately pulled her into his embrace and tried to cheer her up.

"Baby, it's all my fault. I was crazy with anger! In the future, I will listen to you! Don't cry."

Hidden out of Jiang Yutang's view, Xu Yun'er's face was dark and her tears had stopped long ago.

She swept a disdainful gaze over Jiang Yutang. "This idiot, he can't even compare to one of Huo Mingche's hairs!"

In the beginning, Xu Yun'er was caught by Jiang Yutang's family background. Thus, while she used Jiang Yutang to bring down Gu Jiuci, she also secretly flirted with him.

However, once Huo Mingche appeared, Xu Yun'er truly understood what it meant to be from a wealthy family, what it meant to be a true man.

All she wanted was to marry into the Huo Family. Jiang Yutang had become a mere pawn in her hands.

To bring down Gu Jiuci, she had to endure her disgust and feign affection to keep this idiot happy.

Why? That idiot Gu Jiuci could easily obtain Huo Mingche, but in what way could she compare to her?

"Ah-choo!"

Huo Mingche took Gu Jiuci to a guest room to rest. After he put her down, she immediately let out another sneeze.

Had she actually caught a cold? Or was Xu Yun'er secretly cursing her?

At this moment, a suit jacket landed on her body, still warm from the man's body heat.

Even she hadn't felt cold, yet the man had long noticed such a minute change.

"Thank... Ah!"

Gu Jiuci was just about to express her thanks when she and the jacket were pulled firmly into the man's embrace, making her let out a startled cry.

"Xiao Jiu'er, did you catch a cold?"

Huo Mingche's voice was deep and magnetic, like a low note of a cello. It carried a deep charm. He called her "Xiao Jiu'er" and a deep yearning was entwined in every word. It was different from what everyone else called her.

Gu Jiuci couldn't stop herself from raising her eyes to meet that pair of deep eyes, those elegant features, and the slightly pressed lips...

"Thump, thump!"

Suddenly, her heart thundered in her chest, drowning out every other sound.

Gu Jiuci frowned slightly at this strange and unfamiliar sensation that she was not used to. Was this feeling...

The two of them were very close, particularly as she just happened to raise her head and Huo Mingche just happened to be leaning down. Separated by mere millimeters, their breaths mingled and the intimate atmosphere slowly stretched out...

Gu Jiuci stared fixedly at Huo Mingche with slightly closed eyes. She felt a little drunk.

"Ah Ci! Let's go... Oh my! Huo Mingche! What are you doing to my sister?!"

Gu Qijue had just stuck his head in when he saw the scene in front of him. Charging in angrily, he pulled Gu Jiuci away before she even realized what was happening.

No, she was not completely pulled away. Huo Mingche had a tight grasp on her other hand.

The man's cold eyes were as sharp as a blade as they landed on Gu Qijue's face. The murderous intent was very real.

"Let go."

In an instant, Gu Jiuci clearly felt the temperature of the room drop a dozen degrees. Her goosebumps popped up again.

Gu Qijue was also regretting his decision. Just before, he had seen his sister being defiled and he had not managed to control himself. Now it was over... Was he going to die?

"Ah Ci, the dinner has finished. We should be leaving now..."

Just as Gu Jiuci thought that it was all over for her and her second brother, the door opened and a tall, well-dressed man with a gentle aura walked in. This was Gu Jiuci's eldest brother, Gu Qian.

His name came from "modest gentlemen", gentle as jade. He was suited to his name.

"Big brother!"

Gu Jiuci shouted these words as a cry for help. Upon seeing her brother, she immediately felt more at ease.

"What are you all doing?"

"N-n-nothing..."

Taking advantage of her second brother and the devil's surprise, Gu Jiuci immediately let go of both their hands.

In that instant, the temperature in the room dropped again.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Gu Jiuci's forehead and she forced herself to speak gently to the devil.

"Brother Che, if there's nothing else, I'll be going home."

The words "Brother Che" seemed to have a special magic. The corners of the man's cold and hard eyes gradually softened, and the atmosphere in the room was no longer so oppressive.

"Mingche, we'll be taking Ah Ci home now," Gu Qian said lightly.

Huo Mingche did not reply, but just nodded his head.

Walking out of the guest room, Gu Jiuci let out a heavy breath and unconsciously patted her wildly thumping heart.

Just then, why had her heart beat so quickly when she was face-to-face with Huo Mingche?