Chapter 51: Luo Xing Accused of Being a Homewrecker

"What are you hiding from?" Gu Shiyan pulled her leg onto his knee.

The gesture made his task easier, and he quickly finished putting on her socks.

He stood up.

Luo Xing stepped aside in her comfortable white sneakers. The suit lay on the ground, and she glanced at him.

Gu Shiyan appeared unconcerned, maintaining his aloof and cold demeanor.

"Thank you," Luo Xing said as she bent down to pick up his suit.

But Gu Shiyan got there first, lifting the suit collar with one hand.

"Let me help you—"

"No need." Gu Shiyan carried the suit to pay.

Luo Xing stopped him and paid herself.

They walked side by side through the mall, but once outside, Gu Shiyan tossed the suit he was carrying.

Luo Xing instinctively assumed he discarded it because she had stepped on it.

He was a germaphobe; once, Luo Xing tried to share a milk tea with him like other couples, but Gu Shiyan never accepted.

"Let’s go," Gu Shiyan turned his gaze to Luo Xing.

Luo Xing was puzzled. "Where to?"

He spun a cigarette case between his fingers, "Back to the auction."

They should still make it in time.

Luo Xing's gaze lingered for a moment. "You go ahead. I'll wait for you outside."

Gu Shiyan lowered his eyes, his long, straight lashes half-shadowing his gaze. "Bullied and afraid to fight back, so you hide?"

Luo Xing looked down at her spotless white shoes. "If I can't afford trouble, can't I at least avoid it?"

She tilted her head toward Gu Shiyan. "You think everyone is like you, with family to back you up even after a fight?"

"So timid?" Gu Shiyan's voice was low and cool, his lashes overly long under the sun.

"That's my attitude toward life." Luo Xing tried to walk ahead, but Gu Shiyan caught her wrist.

"Your attitude is to run from everything?"

He pulled her across the crosswalk, back to the auction hall.

The manager hurried forward.

Seeing Luo Xing with Gu Shiyan made his heart tremble.

Had he known this young lady was connected to Gu Shiyan, he would never have thrown her out for Miss Liu’s sake.

Gu Shiyan cast the manager a glance, distant and cold, laced with the oppressive air of someone accustomed to power.

"What’s your name?" His voice was tinged with indifference.

The manager, feeling as if sitting on pins and needles under Gu Shiyan’s gaze, answered softly and cautiously glanced at Liu Mingyue.

After all, it was for her sake he had forced this young lady out.

Liu Mingyue had already seen Gu Shiyan bring Luo Xing in, and just as they entered, Luo Xing shook off Gu Shiyan's hand.

"Gu Shiyan, did you bring her?" Liu Mingyue frowned, clearly unimpressed by Luo Xing.

"I'm her escort, is there a problem?" Gu Shiyan's white silk shirt was creased, and he calmly fiddled with his cuffs.

Liu Mingyue sneered, "Are you joking? Can she afford anything here?"

Gu Shiyan’s lips curved into a lazy smile, full of charm. He looked at Luo Xing, "I brought you back so you could pay."

Liu Mingyue was caught off guard. "She’s paying?"

Luo Xing responded, "Where do I pay?"

She removed her phone case and took out the card Gu Taihua had given her, then replaced the case.

The manager's eyes widened at her actions.

Who puts a black card away so casually?

He swallowed nervously. "How should I address you, miss?"

She had Old Gu's card—could she be one of the seldom-seen young ladies of the Gu family?

"Luo Xing."

But Liu Mingyue snatched the card from her hand, still refusing to believe it. "How could she have this? Gu Shiyan, did you give her Grandpa Gu's card?"

Gu Shiyan’s slender fingers took the card from Liu Mingyue and returned it to Luo Xing.

"Liu Mingyue, let me remind you: she’s under the old man’s protection now. I’m her escort. You still dare to bully her?"

Gu Shiyan shrugged, his gaze lowered toward Luo Xing, "My lady, I have nothing to do with her."

He draped an arm around Luo Xing’s shoulder and led her toward the auction room, his tone casual, "Don’t go telling the old man on me later."

Liu Mingyue hurried after them. "Gu Shiyan, didn’t you break up with her?"

Gu Shiyan, arm around Luo Xing, tugged at his loose collar and looked coldly at Liu Mingyue, "Now you’re meddling again. What, you want to pursue our young lady?"

"Who—who wants to pursue her!" Liu Mingyue sputtered.

"Then why are you following us?" Gu Shiyan rubbed his brow. "Are you planning to be our young lady's companion?"

Luo Xing: …

"Ahem!" Luo Xing shook her head. "Miss Liu, let’s not. I don’t need that."

Infuriated by their banter, Liu Mingyue glared at Gu Shiyan. "Does Uncle Gu know about you and her?"

She turned to Luo Xing, "You two are from different worlds, you know? Have you met his father? He’ll never accept you!"

Luo Xing opened her mouth, raised a hand to her lips, and looked at Gu Shiyan in surprise. "You’re a daddy’s boy?"

Gu Shiyan shook his head, "I’m not."

Luo Xing turned to Liu Mingyue, "He’s not, see?"

Liu Mingyue’s eyes reddened with anger. She looked at Gu Shiyan, "Are you sure you want to treat me like this for her?"

Gu Shiyan tightened his arm around Luo Xing’s shoulder, his tone lazy. "Ah, are you that important?"

"I’m telling Uncle Gu!" Liu Mingyue snapped, pulling out her phone to call.

"He’s probably busy right now." Gu Shiyan glanced at his watch, then at Liu Mingyue, "Want me to call for you?"

Seeing the intimacy between them, Liu Mingyue’s face contorted with rage. She took a deep breath, "So Uncle Gu hasn't mentioned it to you?"

She looked at Luo Xing, forcing a cold smile. "His father has already arranged with my family that, when he returns from studying abroad, we'll be engaged! You’re the third party here!"

Luo Xing gripped the card in her hand, her eyes calm. "Did I ever say we’re a couple? He’s just my escort."

She shifted, freeing herself from Gu Shiyan’s arm. "So whatever’s between you two has nothing to do with me. You should talk to him, not me."

Gu Shiyan’s aura suddenly dropped.

He stared at Luo Xing, "So you really don’t care what happens to me?"

Luo Xing kept her eyes down, not meeting his gaze. "Here’s the card. Return it when you’re done."

She shoved the card into his hand, but Gu Shiyan didn’t move.

She looked up at him.

Her heart clenched—the coldness in Gu Shiyan’s eyes was unlike anything she’d ever seen.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously as she slipped the card into the pocket of his suit trousers.

Without a word, she walked away.

Liu Mingyue watched her receding figure and gave a cold laugh. "See? She never liked you."

She stared at Gu Shiyan, "She didn’t hesitate to give you up just now."