Part 2
It was much the same for Ning Qingqing. Since she had rarely attended such formal gatherings with Shen Zhiqian in the past, she was also a fresh face to everyone.
The Gu family and Ning Ruojun took the couple around to meet the elders in the circle. After making the rounds, practically everyone knew that the Gu Corporation and Ning Chuang were now one entity.
Ning Chuang was relocating to Dicheng, and the Gu Corporation had deep, steady roots here. Any way you looked at it, it was a win-win alliance.
No one cared about the feelings between Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing; most people present valued the interests at stake.
Just then, more people walked in. Ning Qingqing turned her eyes and saw Shen Yeyuan and Shen Zhiyu.
She was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Shen Yeyuan to bring his daughter instead of Shen Zhiqian to this banquet.
The two approached Old Master Tan and presented their gifts. After introducing Shen Zhiyu, Shen Yeyuan smiled and said, “Zhiyu just finished her college entrance exams, so I thought I’d bring her out for a visit. You are familiar with Zhiqian; coincidently, he’s a bit ill recently and is resting at home.”
Old Master Tan smiled. “Zhiyu is pretty and lovely too; she looks very much like you! How did Zhiqian get sick? Wasn’t he in good health before?”
Shen Yeyuan explained, “That child has a lot of social engagements. He drank alcohol and then got blown by the air conditioning, so he has a slight fever and cough. He’ll be fine after resting for two days.”
Old Master Tan nodded. “Young people need to take care of their health too. Otherwise, when you reach my age, how will you go fishing?”
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was quite lively.
Seeing Ning Ruojun and the others, Shen Yeyuan walked over and greeted them warmly. “President Ning is here too? Has President Ning already moved over?”
Ning Ruojun shook her head. “Not until next week. Today I happened to have time, so I brought Qingqing and the others to take a look.”
Shen Yeyuan also greeted Gu Youchen’s parents.
Amidst the pleasantries, Shen Zhiyu stared at Ning Qingqing, who was holding Gu Youchen’s arm, and a strong wave of emotion surged in her heart again.
But she had always been afraid of her father, so she dared not say much.
Finally, when the pleasantries were over, she couldn’t help but mutter, “Dad, that Ning Qingqing is here too! She was originally my brother’s girlfriend, but now she’s actually with Gu Youchen!”
“Keep your voice down!” Shen Yeyuan scolded in a low whisper. “She is married to Gu Youchen. The Ning and Gu families are united in marriage; everything is solidified!”
“What?!” Shen Zhiyu almost lost her voice. “What Ning family? What is the relationship between her and that President Ning you greeted?”
Shen Yeyuan snapped impatiently, “Ning Qingqing is the daughter of Ning Chuang Capital’s President, Ning Ruojun. Do you understand now? Now the two families are allied by marriage. Don’t think I don’t know about your little crush on Gu Youchen. You’d best put that heart away!”
Before Shen Zhiyu could even process the shock of Ning Qingqing being the daughter of so-and-so, she reacted as if someone had stomped on a sore spot, quickly denying, “How could I have feelings for Gu Youchen? He is my brother’s nemesis! I hate him the most!”
Although she said this, her voice couldn’t help but tremble.
What the heck is Ning Qingqing? How could she marry Gu Youchen? And what is that Ning Chuang Capital?
Wasn’t Ning Qingqing a Cinderella? Since when did she become a wealthy young miss?
She wouldn’t listen! She didn’t believe it!
She wanted Gu Youchen to have no wife, to be alone forever!
However, Shen Yeyuan had absolutely no interest in comforting his daughter’s conflicted feelings. He planned to use today to connect with old friends in the circle.
So, telling Shen Zhiyu not to run around, he went straight to find people to chat with.
Shen Zhiyu felt awkward and miserable standing there alone. Holding a glass of champagne, she walked around a bit. Aside from discovering a few unknown men trying to hit on her, there were surprisingly few acquaintances she could talk to.
Why hadn’t any of the socialites from her circle come today?
Just as she was getting angry, Shen Zhiyu saw that Ning Qingqing was alone. Her eyes lit up instantly.
Two minutes prior, Ning Qingqing had gone to the restroom.
Gu Youchen waited for her at the door.
But just as she came out, she heard a female voice filled with surprise: “Youchen!”
Ning Qingqing instinctively looked over and saw a tall girl with short hair and exquisite features walking toward Gu Youchen.
Gu Youchen clearly knew her and seemed quite familiar, nodding at her. “Fiona.”
Tan Xin stood before him with a smile. “I had a feeling you would come for my grandpa’s birthday.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “I came with my family.”
Tan Xin asked, “How is it? Have you adjusted to being back in the country for a while?”
Gu Youchen responded, “It’s going well. I’m already married.”
Tan Xin showed a surprised expression, then smiled immediately. “Which family’s daughter is it?”
Gu Youchen said, “The daughter of President Ning from Ning Chuang Capital.”
Tan Xin nodded. “I hear Grandpa mention President Ning often, saying she is the most driven woman he has ever met.”
Thinking of Ning Qingqing, the corners of Gu Youchen’s lips couldn’t help but reveal a smile. “Mn, but my wife is much gentler.”
Ning Qingqing was some distance away from them. Seeing the two chatting happily, she momentarily didn’t know if she should continue walking up to them.
Just then, a voice sounded beside her. “You don’t know who that is, do you? That is the Fourth Miss of the Tan family. She has been studying abroad and went to the same school as Brother Gu.”
Ning Qingqing turned her head and looked at Shen Zhiyu. “So? What does that have to do with you?”
Shen Zhiyu felt sour inside, but her expression was triumphant because now someone was there to be sour with her. “Brother Gu went there for high school, and Sister Tan Xin went for university. They were in the same school and the same major. I heard my dad say before that the Gu Corporation would likely form a marriage alliance with the Tan family, referring to the two of them!”
Ning Qingqing glanced over there and saw that the two people talking seemed to laugh at the same time.
It was indeed rare for her to see Gu Youchen laugh like that in public settings; his eyes even seemed to hold a gentleness.
Even though she knew Shen Zhiyu’s words were untrustworthy and that these people loved to embellish things, she still felt a stifling emotion rise up, blocking her chest and making her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Yet, Ning Qingqing showed no excess expression on her face. She simply looked calmly at Shen Zhiyu. “Oh, so what? The person married to Youchen now is me, not her, and certainly not you.”
Shen Zhiyu hadn’t expected to be exposed again. She told herself she didn’t like Gu Youchen at all—these people were blind! She was just helping her brother gather intelligence on his opponent!
They all misunderstood her, wronged her!
Thus, Shen Zhiyu spoke even more unscrupulously. “So what if you’re married? Look how happily they’re chatting. When have you ever seen Brother Gu so relaxed chatting with another girl? Hmph, I think you are just a third party. Who knows how you interfered to make Brother Gu marry you!”
Hearing this, Ning Qingqing’s gaze suddenly turned cold. “Miss Shen, you are already 18 years old. You should understand some principles. Some things cannot be said carelessly. Careless words come with a price!”
Shen Zhiyu instinctively wanted to retort, but she suddenly remembered that before coming, her father had specifically warned her to behave, or else her university allowance would be halved.
And on her brother’s side, because she had provoked Ning Qingqing—causing Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen to get their marriage certificate—Shen Zhiqian still hadn’t cooled down and wouldn’t give her a single cent of extra allowance.
If she argued with Ning Qingqing now and her father saw it, she would be finished.
She felt wronged in her heart, and actually squeezed out a few tears of sadness.
Ning Qingqing couldn’t be bothered with Shen Zhiyu’s mood. She looked at the two people chatting familiarly over there, and the uncomfortable feeling in her heart grew like a vine wrapping around her breath.
Just then, Old Master Tan called her. “Qingqing, come here.”
Ning Qingqing quickly gathered her thoughts and walked over quickly.
Gu Youchen had been waiting near the restroom for Ning Qingqing. After chatting with his old classmate for a while and not seeing her, he turned his confused gaze around, only to discover that Ning Qingqing had already gone to the other side.
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