Chapter 29: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Villain-Bashing 7 part 1
Ning Qingqing could still smell the clean scent of the man on her. There was no smell of alcohol; Gu Youchen clearly hadn’t been drinking.
She widened her eyes, repeating Gu Youchen’s words: “Help me get them back?”
Seeing her wide, round eyes, Gu Youchen found her exceptionally cute and couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle Ning Qingqing’s hair.
He replied softly, “Mm, help you get them back.”
He deliberately emphasized the word ‘get’.
Seeing his seriousness, Ning Qingqing couldn’t help but feel excited. She nodded, “Okay, can I watch?”
Gu Youchen smiled, his cold and frosty demeanor melting away: “No problem, I’ll call you then.”
“Mm-mm!” Ning Qingqing nodded, her eyes shining with excitement.
Gu Youchen patted her back: “I’ll go arrange it now.”
“Okay!” Ning Qingqing went into the women’s restroom.
Coming out of the corridor, Gu Youchen glanced at the private room next door.
Inside, Si Luoqing and Kevin were still standing, talking to Director Su with fawning smiles.
Gu Youchen returned to his own private room and asked Ye Peicheng, “How is your relationship with Director Su?”
Ye Peicheng said, “Director Su is a friend of my father and also has a good relationship with the Shen family.”
Gu Youchen glanced over there: “Those two bullied my wife.”
Hearing this, everyone in the room sat up straight: “Wow, anyone who dares to bully Brother Chen, let’s get them!”
Ye Peicheng said, “I’ve also been following the Si family’s situation. The Shen family won’t help. Shen Yiyuan is a man who always prioritizes profit; he won’t do charity for the Si family, so Si Luoqing’s attempt to get close to Director Su through the Shen family is basically impossible.”
Pausing, he continued, “Of course, since they came here, we need to see Shen Zhiqian’s attitude.”
In short, if Shen Zhiqian, unhappy after being rejected by Ning Qingqing, spoke up for Si Luoqing, Director Su, out of consideration for his relationship with Shen Yiyuan, would also give Si Luoqing a hand. However, if Shen Zhiqian didn’t help, Si Luoqing would be on her own.
Director Su is a famous director in the industry, his reputation built not on hype, but on award-winning films. His art films have won awards almost universally abroad, while his commercial films consistently rank among the top three at the box office. Therefore, his casting choices are usually spot-on. If Si Luoqing didn’t have some real talent, the chances of her being chosen were slim.
“Peicheng, arrange a tennis game with that Kevin.” Gu Youchen pondered for a moment, “Isn’t there an indoor tennis court next to the club?”
Upon hearing this, Ye Peicheng immediately understood Gu Youchen’s intentions. Gu Youchen planned to use Kevin as a target to show Director Su that none of them were on Si Luoqing’s side. Then, regardless of whether Shen Zhiqian helped Si Luoqing or not, his influence wouldn’t be enough to sway Gu Youchen and Ye Peicheng.
“Okay.” Ye Peicheng stood up, and as he passed Gu Youchen, he jokingly teased, “Youchen, with such a good husband performance, are you going to get another kiss from your wife when you go home?”
Gu Youchen rubbed his temples.
This joke was really relentless…
Ye Peicheng walked out of the private room corner and directly lifted the beaded curtain of the adjacent room.
Seeing him, many people greeted him proactively: “Mr. Ye.”
The Ye family is also a top-tier family in Di City, but Ye Peicheng enjoys acting, so he has focused on the entertainment industry for years, the kind who would inherit billions if his acting career failed. Therefore, even though Ye Peicheng and Gu Youchen have a good relationship, Shen Zhiqian’s friends wouldn’t dare to snub him.
“It’s rare to have time off from filming, I’m gathering with friends here today, so I came to say hello to everyone.” Ye Peicheng said, his gaze sweeping over the somewhat awkwardly standing Si Luoqing and Kevin.
The two quickly greeted him: “Mr. Ye, hello, I’m—”
Unexpectedly, Ye Peicheng smiled amiably first: “I should have met you, Miss Si, I’ve heard your songs.”
Si Luoqing didn’t expect the other party to know her, and was immediately delighted. Since the news about her family’s downfall broke, many people had been subtly suppressing her. In the past, her family handled everything, but now without their support, everyone wanted to take a shot at her. Unexpectedly, Ye Yingdi (Ye the actor) didn’t show any unusual signs, and even greeted her proactively!
Then Ye Peicheng looked at Kevin: “I’ve seen you too, you’re quite capable!”
Kevin immediately smiled: “Thank you for your affirmation, Mr. Ye, I’m just a small figure in the industry.”
Ye Peicheng nodded, then said to everyone, “We’ve had quite a bit to drink, shall we go play tennis next door?”
Shen Zhiqian leaned back in his chair, he had taken medicine and felt much better, but his stomach still ached slightly. When Ye Peicheng came over, he was a bit puzzled as to why he suddenly came to greet them. Now, hearing Ye Peicheng mention tennis, Shen Zhiqian suddenly guessed something—
He abruptly turned his head and looked through the beaded curtain towards the adjacent private room.
There, Gu Youchen was rolling up his shirt sleeves and taking off his watch.
Shen Zhiqian’s heart suddenly ached indescribably.
He remembered what Wang Qian said on the phone that night, about Kevin bullying Ning Qingqing in the elevator!
So Gu Youchen suddenly asked his best friend to invite everyone to play tennis to get revenge for Ning Qingqing!
When did they become so serious about each other?
Moreover, Shen Zhiqian knew Ning Qingqing’s personality. When she was bullied, she didn’t even tell him. After so many days, Ning Qingqing actually specifically asked Gu Youchen to help her get revenge?
Thinking of this, Shen Zhiqian stood up: “Tennis? Fine.”
Seeing him get up, a friend worriedly held him back: “Brother Qian, your stomachache hasn’t healed yet, what tennis? Rest!”
“Mr. Ye is going to play tennis, how can I not go?” Shen Zhiqian also took off his watch and said to Kevin, “Let’s go, let’s play a few games with Mr. Ye.”
Kevin immediately nodded: “Okay!”
He had spent a long time trying to engage in awkward conversation with everyone, but no one paid attention. Even Director Su, seeing that Shen Zhiqian didn’t say anything, didn’t understand Si Luoqing’s self-recommendation. Now that Shen Zhiqian had also invited them, Kevin and Si Luoqing seemed to see a bright future again!
“Do you mind if I invite a few more friends?” Ye Peicheng said, calling for Gu Youchen.
Zhou Linghang, who loved gossip, wouldn’t miss such an occasion. He quickly rushed over excitedly.
Thus, a large group of people walked out, and because there were two public figures among them, screams echoed through the club one after another.
Gu Youchen walked behind, and as he passed Ning Qingqing, he lifted the beaded curtain and said to her, “Beauty, do you want to join us for tennis next door?”
Seeing him pretending not to know her and using such an address, Ning Qingqing couldn’t help but twitch her mouth.
Ning Qingqing’s colleagues were all excited: “Wow! Does the handsome guy need a cheerleader?”
Gu Youchen’s lips curled slightly: “Mm, but my cheerleader is enough by herself.”
His gaze fell on Ning Qingqing, his beautiful eyes deep and alluring.
Ning Qingqing was pushed out by her colleagues: “Qingqing, go and have fun, call us if anything!”
They had just seen that Gu Youchen came out with Ye Peicheng, their clothes were obviously custom-made, and their aura was definitely not something a fraudster could portray. Moreover, the tennis court was right next door, so there was no safety issue.
Ning Qingqing stood up, her cheeks inexplicably flushed, she nodded: “Okay, I’ll be your cheerleader.”
Amidst the cheers of her colleagues, Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen left.
Once outside, Gu Youchen reached out to hold her hand, and bowed his head: “Do you want to play personally later?”
The night breeze blew, Ning Qingqing’s hand was held in Gu Youchen’s palm. This was their first time holding hands outside, and in front of so many of his friends. Her heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster. She asked, “But I’m not strong enough, will it be okay?”
Gu Youchen’s fingers intertwined with hers: “It’s alright, I’m strong.”
Ning Qingqing was suddenly nervous and excited: “Okay, then maybe you go first, and then we’ll play doubles later?”
“Okay.” Gu Youchen said, pulling her to the tennis court.
There were quite a few people on the court, no one paid attention to Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing, but that didn’t mean Shen Zhiqian wouldn’t notice. He didn’t see them when he came in, so he stood at the entrance.
Gu Youchen led Ning Qingqing in, and he saw them immediately.
The two didn’t seem to notice him at all, chatting and laughing along the way, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.
Shen Zhiqian stood there in a daze, realizing that they weren’t acting for him.
He suddenly thought of a sentence he had seen online:
My nine years with you, why did it lose to your nine days?