Chapter 60: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Scum-Bashing 38
Ning Qingqing took Gu Youchen’s phone and kept scrolling back.
He had posted a lot of jokes. Ever since a certain day after they met, he posted them constantly. At first, it was fixed at every evening, but after they got together, it became less regular.
It seemed that whenever he saw something funny, he would share it in his Moments along the way.
Ning Qingqing had asked him early on why he posted jokes, and he said they were for a specific person to see.
At that time, Ning Qingqing thought Gu Youchen had an important client who just happened to like reading jokes every day.
She never expected that ever since he learned he could group contacts, he had actually been showing them only to her.
Ning Qingqing’s gaze fell on the time Gu Youchen posted his first joke, and she was suddenly stunned.
She remembered that day.
She was still at the Shen Corporation then. Si Luoqing was going to take over a Shen Corporation endorsement deal and seemed to have a good relationship with Shen Yeyuan.
At that time, everyone in the company was gossiping, wondering if the “boss’s wife” was about to change.
Although she trusted that Shen Zhiqian wouldn’t suddenly have a change of heart, it was impossible not to be affected by the rumors.
That day, she happened to run into Si Luoqing going to lunch with Shen Zhiqian and his father. Ning Qingqing was in a bad mood, so she left the company alone to clear her head.
The reason she remembered the time so clearly was that she was drafting Si Luoqing’s contract, and she had checked the date on it several times.
It was exactly that noon when she was scrolling through Moments that she saw Gu Youchen, who never posted anything, post several jokes in a row.
She was even amused by a joke about a stutterer, and her low spirits improved significantly.
Every day after that, she would see the jokes Gu Youchen posted. It gradually became almost a habit, putting her in a good mood before she went to sleep every night.
But she only realized now that from beginning to end, Gu Youchen was silently comforting her alone.
At this moment, the surroundings were noisy and lively. Zhou Linghang had even picked a new song and was singing it, sounding a bit like ghosts wailing and wolves howling. Yet, Ning Qingqing’s heart became unusually quiet and soft.
She felt cherished, treasured, and earnestly pampered by an outstanding man.
She grabbed Gu Youchen’s arm, and while no one around was paying attention to them, she quickly pulled him down a bit and kissed him.
However, just at this moment, the goofball Zhou Linghang suddenly turned his head. “Surprise!”
It was a line from his song.
But he was caught off guard seeing his sister-in-law stealing a kiss from Brother Chen.
Brother Chen’s expression was stunned at first, then a smile rippled at the corners of his lips. The smile expanded, and his eyes were filled with starlight.
And with Zhou Linghang’s “surprise” amplified by the microphone, everyone looked over.
Ning Qingqing had been requested by Gu Youchen before that every kiss couldn’t just be a peck like a dragonfly skimming the water before retreating. So her lips were still lingering on Gu Youchen’s cheek. The surprise in the man’s eyes hadn’t completely vanished before joy dyed his brow.
Coincidentally, the rotating spotlight swept over and landed on the two of them, instantly highlighting them as if putting them under a spotlight.
Ning Qingqing’s head buzzed, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to do.
The crowd around them had already started to jeer and cheer. “Wow, Sister-in-law is initiating a kiss with Brother Chen! Look at our Brother Chen, the corners of his mouth are about to fly into space!”
“Come on, come on, kiss again! We didn’t see it clearly just now!”
“How can a cheek kiss be enough? If you’re going to kiss, kiss on the lips! Where’s the French kiss? Let’s go!”
“Hurry up, where are the lights? Photographer? Get ready! Action!”
Ning Qingqing’s cheeks burned, and she was too embarrassed to speak.
She quickly retreated from Gu Youchen’s cheek, tugged at the hem of the man’s clothes, and looked at him for help.
So, Gu Youchen extended his arm and scooped her up, hiding her in his embrace.
The surroundings were still noisy. Ning Qingqing played the ostrich, hearing nothing but Gu Youchen’s heartbeat.
Thump, thump, incredibly fast, as if it were about to take flight.
Ning Qingqing’s heart calmed down somewhat instead. She thought, So just one kiss from me gets such a big reaction from someone?
The crowd was still joking. “Holy crap, my Brother Chen’s ears are red!”
“No way, no way? Brother Chen, don’t tell me you’re still a virgin?”
“Damn, it’s possible! Brother Chen, are you a virgin or not?”
The crowd began to besiege Gu Youchen.
Gu Youchen couldn’t be bothered with them, nor did he want to prove he wasn’t a virgin anymore. After all, once he proved it, Ning Qingqing in his arms would definitely be even more embarrassed.
While everyone was talking and laughing, they suddenly heard a knock on the private room door.
Immediately after, someone turned the handle and walked in.
When they saw a woman in her forties at the door, many people were stunned.
Only Zhou Linghang recognized Xue Wenlan at a glance, so he deliberately said, “Auntie (Dama), did you go to the wrong place? Our place isn’t suitable for square dancing!”
The emotions Xue Wenlan had brewed up almost made her pass out when she heard this.
She took a deep breath. “I didn’t go to the wrong place. I came to find Qingqing—”
With that, she finally saw Gu Youchen, and Ning Qingqing, whom Gu Youchen was protecting in his arms.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She remembered the last time she saw Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing was at the entrance of the bridal shop. At that time, Ning Qingqing went to try on wedding dresses alone. Perhaps because she saw her and Shen Zhiqian, she called Gu Youchen over.
Gu Youchen stood up for Ning Qingqing, but in Xue Wenlan’s view, that was just a man’s possessiveness at work.
She didn’t think he truly loved Ning Qingqing. She had always firmly believed that Gu Youchen married Ning Qingqing just to annoy Shen Zhiqian.
So she felt that as long as she appeared today and made Gu Youchen lose face in front of his friends, he would definitely divorce Ning Qingqing later.
That way, her son would have a chance.
Although she still didn’t hope for her son to marry a divorced Ning Qingqing, there was no other way—who asked Shen Zhiqian to like her?
As long as Shen Zhiqian was happy, she could still get as much living allowance as before, maybe even an extra bonus. Then, when meeting those wealthy wives, her back could be straighter!
But the current situation seemed different from what she had imagined!
After all, Gu Youchen didn’t know she was coming, so there was no need to act specifically for anyone. The expression he had while holding Ning Qingqing just now seemed very happy?
Could it be that Gu Youchen really fell in love with Ning Qingqing?
This wouldn’t do! She couldn’t let such a thing happen! She had to nip it in the bud!
So Xue Wenlan adjusted her breathing and walked step by step toward Ning Qingqing.
Everyone looked at her in confusion. Only Gu Youchen locked onto her with sharp eyes, a gaze that made her shudder.
Xue Wenlan bit the bullet and followed her original plan. After all, she was more afraid of having no money—
“Qingqing, I was wrong!”
Her shout gave Ning Qingqing goosebumps all over.
Before Ning Qingqing could speak, tears squeezed out of Xue Wenlan’s eyes.
“It was me who was too mean. When you were with Zhiqian, I obstructed you at every turn, which broke your heart! I know I was wrong now. Can you stop acting out of spite, please?”
“I know, you were with Zhiqian for so many years; it’s impossible to forget just like that. It’s all because I said some nasty things that made you angry with him, and you married someone random out of spite. But how can you be happy like this?”
“I came here today specifically to apologize to you. Child, I’m sorry. In my heart, you were already my daughter-in-law long ago! Wasn’t the wedding house for you and Zhiqian prepared long ago? As long as you come back…”
She didn’t give anyone a chance to interrupt, speaking very fast and saying a lot in one breath. She directly slapped the label on Ning Qingqing that she still liked Shen Zhiqian and only married Gu Youchen out of anger.
If one didn’t know the truth, they might really think this was the reality!
Gu Youchen turned to Zhou Linghang and said, “Turn off the background music.”
Zhou Linghang quickly turned off the playing music, and the private room instantly became quiet.
Gu Youchen felt Ning Qingqing poking her head out from his arms. He wanted to comfort her and say he would handle it, but Ning Qingqing blinked at him, indicating she could solve it herself.
Ning Qingqing came out of Gu Youchen’s embrace, looked at Xue Wenlan, and said word by word:
“Ms. Xue, I remember the last time we met, I already told you that we are just strangers. I hope you won’t come in front of me to say ambiguous things again. It seems you forgot.”
Xue Wenlan was still wiping her tears. “Qingqing, don’t be like this. I won’t break your heart again in the future—”
Ning Qingqing looked at her and asked a soul-striking question: “Are you out of money?”
Hearing this, Xue Wenlan stiffened, an incredulous expression appearing in her eyes.
Ning Qingqing smiled knowingly. “You’re out of money because your son cut your living allowance, so you set your sights on me!”
Zhou Linghang and the others were still confused, not knowing the critical relationship involved.
Ning Qingqing continued, “You think if you come to make a scene at my and Youchen’s gathering, causing Youchen to feel he lost face, he will divorce me. Then I’ll be single, and there will be a possibility with your son. That way, your calculating scheme will be achieved?”
Xue Wenlan hadn’t expected Ning Qingqing to guess so accurately. Her chest heaved as she wanted to argue.
However, at this moment, Gu Youchen held Ning Qingqing’s hand and said, “I won’t separate from Qingqing. Regardless of whether she had been in a relationship before, from the moment we registered our marriage, she is my wife.”
Saying that, he looked coldly at Xue Wenlan. “Tell me, if I call your son right now, will your living allowance be halved again?”
Xue Wenlan trembled.
Gu Youchen had already taken out his phone, found Shen Zhiqian’s number, and dialed it directly.
Shen Zhiqian never thought there would be a day he’d receive a call from Gu Youchen.
He looked at the number, paused, but still answered. “President Gu.”
Gu Youchen said, “President Shen, your mother came to crash my wife’s and my party. Please trouble yourself to come to Room 103 at Night Charm to take her away, otherwise, I will call security.”
Shen Zhiqian’s temples throbbed, and he almost gritted his teeth. “Okay, understood.”
He didn’t even need to guess to know what embarrassing thing his mother had done!
After hanging up, he grabbed his car keys and left immediately.
In the private room, an unspeakable chill rose from the soles of Xue Wenlan’s feet.
It’s over. The story didn’t go as she predicted at all. Gu Youchen didn’t feel Ning Qingqing had embarrassed him, so she was done for!
Xue Wenlan wanted to leave, but Ning Qingqing spoke up. “While we’re at it, let’s make things clear to you once and for all today!”
After saying that, she leaned close to Gu Youchen’s face and kissed him domineeringly on the lips, speaking as if declaring sovereignty:
“See this? The person I like is Gu Youchen. I have nothing to do with your son anymore! Breaking up with him wasn’t out of spite, and marrying Gu Youchen wasn’t out of spite. Everything was a choice I made following my heart!”
“Your son and I never planned to get married, and there is no so-called wedding house, so please don’t confuse the public with nonsense!”
Xue Wenlan hadn’t expected Ning Qingqing to be so tough now.
In the past, Ning Qingqing was always polite in front of her, giving way even when Xue Wenlan gave her attitude!
And now…
Gu Youchen had been stamped by Ning Qingqing’s lips. The burning temperature seemed to still be there. He held Ning Qingqing’s hand, half-coquettishly saying, “Qingqing, declare sovereignty again.”
Saying that, he looked like he was waiting for Ning Qingqing to kiss him.
Ning Qingqing’s cheeks were a bit red, but she still leaned over and kissed Gu Youchen’s lips again.
Her heart, originally full of anger, turned soft at this moment.
The man chuckled low, turning passive into active, deepening the kiss.
The surrounding friends started cheering again. “Wow, come on, come on, keep going!”
Xue Wenlan was surrounded by everyone’s cheers and wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
However, the door was guarded by Zhou Linghang, and she couldn’t get out.
Until there was movement at the door—Shen Zhiqian had arrived.
Zhou Linghang opened the door and gestured with his chin at him. “President Shen, your bio-mom is quite something. Watching our Brother Chen and Sister-in-law kiss without blinking the whole time!”
Shen Zhiqian almost choked on a mouthful of blood hearing this. With a dark face, he looked at Xue Wenlan and said, “Let’s go.”
Xue Wenlan could only obediently go out. Her gaze swept around, but she didn’t see Shen Zhiyu.
Obviously, her comrade was very fake and had already run away upon seeing things go south.
Shen Zhiqian left with her without even looking at Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen in the private room.
He couldn’t describe his mood at this moment.
Silent all the way to the parking lot, only then did he look at Xue Wenlan, his eyes filled with ice. “Living allowance reduced by another 1,000. For every time you seek her out, it drops another 1,000. You can try finding her again!”
With that, he pulled open the car door and got in.
Xue Wenlan dared not sit in the front, so she could only open the back door and get in, breathing the oppressive air.
That night’s little interlude didn’t seem to spoil the mood of Ning Qingqing, Gu Youchen, and the others.
Everyone planned to party until midnight. Especially Zhou Linghang, who had already prepared some interesting games.
Just then, the private room door was opened again. It was Qiao Xiaomian.
Still wearing her work suit, she muttered as she walked in, “Doesn’t anyone need to work? Pity me, this working stiff!”
As she spoke, she suddenly saw Zhou Linghang next to Gu Youchen and froze.
And when Zhou Linghang saw her, he almost dropped the microphone in his hand.
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