Chapter 14 “They look quite good together as a couple. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of cutting in between them?”

Luo Xing had taken tennis lessons before—just two classes, but they were still lessons. Plus, since it was vacation, Shen Que and Yao Xiangming often invited her to play, so she had picked up a thing or two.

Just as she was thinking she might give it her best shot, a scene flashed through her mind: Gu Shiyan, in order to save the heroine, competing against the captain of Rong University’s professional tennis team and emerging victorious in the end.

Her carefully prepared stance faltered. Luo Xing straightened up, no longer ready to spring into action.

She looked across the court at Gu Shiyan, who was already in position.

She questioned herself inwardly—what was she doing here?

Why was she playing tennis with Gu Shiyan?

Was she here to serve as a contrast for the future Gu Shiyan and Su Mo?

To highlight how cold and indifferent Gu Shiyan was toward her, his cannon-fodder ex-girlfriend, making Su Mo seem even more special and his affection for her even deeper?

“I… give up.” Luo Xing looked at Gu Shiyan, her eyes clear and gentle.

Gu Shiyan tightened his grip on the racket, gazing at Luo Xing, his voice low, “What did you say?”

Luo Xing took a breath, her eyes already rimmed with red. “I said, I give up. I give up!”

She let her racket fall, lowered her head, and walked off the court.

Shen Que picked up her bag and water bottle, caught up with her, and didn’t forget to call out to Yao Xiangming, “Don’t forget to bring Xing Xing’s racket back.”

Gu Shiyan’s racket slipped from his hand and hit the ground.

Li Zhao and Yi Chuan came over.

Yi Chuan watched Luo Xing’s retreating figure, then glanced at Gu Shiyan’s racket on the ground. “What happened to you two? Everything was fine just now, I looked at my phone for one second and suddenly you were both gone?”

Li Zhao picked up the racket. “So what now? Weren’t we supposed to let her win? Now she’s left, how are we supposed to lose?”

“Forget it, just play your own game.” Gu Shiyan shoved the ball into Li Zhao’s hands. “I have something to do, I’m leaving.”

Li Zhao watched Gu Shiyan’s back as he walked away. “What’s up with him this time?”

Yi Chuan stuffed the racket into Li Zhao’s other hand. “Isn’t it obvious? Chasing after a girl.”

Li Zhao scoffed, “Impossible. Does our Yan look like someone who’d chase after anyone? It’s always women chasing him, not the other way around.”

Yi Chuan shook his head. “I’ll say it again, Luo Xing is pretty clever.”

Gu Shiyan had just left the tennis court when Gu Liang called. He hung up.

A moment later, a message popped up.

[You’re just going to leave a girl there by herself?]

[Where are your manners?]

Gu Shiyan pressed the power button, turning off his phone. As he stepped outside, he spotted Shen Que.

He hurried to catch up.

“Xing Xing!” Shen Que, carrying the water bottle and bag, followed behind Luo Xing, not daring to reach out and grab her.

“At least tell me what’s wrong, will you?”

“Shen Que, stop following me. I can go back by myself. You go ahead.” Luo Xing walked on, head down, not caring where she was going.

“How can I possibly let you wander around alone like this?”

“I’m not a child anymore,” Luo Xing’s voice trembled.

“You’re not a child? Then what are you doing now? Is this how an adult behaves? Getting angry out of nowhere, ignoring everything, throwing your stuff down and storming off?”

Shen Que kept close behind her. “That racket you threw on the ground was a gift from Brother Luo Zhou, wasn’t it? Did you ever think, if we didn’t bring it for you, you’d have lost it?”

Luo Xing stomped harder. “I’m already like this, why are you still harping on about the racket?”

“You say you’re not a child, but you’re acting just like one.” Shen Que grabbed Luo Xing’s arm. “Or why don’t you squat under that billboard and have a good cry? When you’re done, you can talk to me.”

With her arm held, Luo Xing couldn’t walk away. She turned her head, unwilling to let Shen Que see her face. “I’m not crying, who’s crying?”

“Fine.” Shen Que let go, stepped back a few paces, and watched as Luo Xing slowly squatted down.

She edged her way toward the billboard.

Shen Que couldn’t help but laugh at her combination of pride and childishness.

Once Luo Xing settled herself behind the billboard, head buried, her shoulders shaking, Shen Que quietly walked over and stood beside her.

Gu Shiyan watched them from a distance.

He ran over, only to be stopped by the red light.

Traffic surged past, the wind from the cars whipping his face, the smell of gasoline and asphalt filling his nose.

Half a minute felt like an eternity.

Every second dragged on.

Gu Shiyan watched the red numbers count down.

Finally, the light turned green.

He was about to step onto the crosswalk when a car pulled up beside him.

The window lowered, revealing Gu Liang’s face.

“Get in.”

Gu Shiyan glanced at the green light, ignored Gu Liang, and started walking away.

He’d barely gone a few steps when two men got out of the car.

Gu Shiyan, blocked, turned, anger flaring as he confronted Gu Liang. “What do you want?”

“Get in.”

“Whatever you and that woman do is none of my business—get married if you want, bring whoever you like into the house, I don’t care. Just let me go.”

Gu Liang rolled up the window.

The two men blocking Gu Shiyan didn’t budge.

Gu Shiyan glanced at the red light, frustration burning in his chest. He yanked the car door open and got in.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

Sitting in the back seat, he locked eyes with Gu Liang in the rearview mirror.

“Take me up ahead first,” Gu Shiyan said, voice steady, showing no weakness.

“Who’s up ahead to make you act like this?” Gu Liang gestured, and the driver turned the wheel.

Gu Liang noticed the old men’s watch on Gu Shiyan’s wrist, a model from over a decade ago. With his hands clasped, Gu Liang’s gaze fell on the stream of cars ahead. “Didn’t I buy you a new watch? Why not wear it?”

“Not like you—changing women more often than I change watches.”

Gu Liang closed his eyes, the veins on his temple throbbing as a delicate, clear face flashed through his mind.

His mouth was even sharper than his mother’s.

The car pulled over to the side. Behind them, an impatient driver honked, but after spotting the license plate, slunk away.

“So, is that your… little girlfriend?” The last four words were laced with personal spite.

Gu Shiyan sat in the car, his eyes growing darker.

Outside, Luo Xing was curled up on the ground, Shen Que standing guard beside her like a protective spirit.

Gu Shiyan’s gaze fell on Shen Que’s hands, holding Luo Xing’s bag and water bottle.

At last, his eyes stopped on Luo Xing’s crouched figure.

Gu Liang, seeing this, jabbed at Gu Shiyan’s heart. “And is that her boyfriend? Are you pining after her alone?”

Gu Shiyan: “…”

“They make a fine couple. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of cutting in?”

Gu Shiyan was silent for a while.

He lowered his gaze. “You brought me here just to say this?”

“We’re going back to the Huafu district.”

Gu Shiyan looked at him. “Even if you take me back now, I’ll just come out again later. Why bother?”

“You’re going to see your sister today.”

“Fine, my mother’s living it up in heaven now,” Gu Shiyan sneered, and before Gu Liang could react, added, “With my stepfather’s child, right?”

“You—!” Gu Liang grabbed the jade carp ornament from the car and hurled it at the back seat.

It landed beside Gu Shiyan, then rolled under the seat.

The driver held his breath; that jade carp, tossed so casually, was worth several years of his salary.