Chapter 50: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Scumbag Crushing 28
A low chuckle vibrated from Gu Youchen’s chest, his lips sliding from Ning Qingqing’s ear to her lips. “So, Qingqing, let’s celebrate.”
Ning Qingqing was confused. “Celebrate what?”
“Celebrate the promise,” Gu Youchen said, then captured her lips.
The last thought in Ning Qingqing’s mind was—
Sure enough, a celebration kiss.
Whether it was because she had been coaxed into a good mood or not, Ning Qingqing felt that today’s kiss was exceptionally sweet.
Gu Youchen’s words kept echoing in her mind: “I’ve never liked anyone else. I only like you.”
Her breath grew hot as she wrapped her arms around Gu Youchen’s neck, responding to him.
It was a long time before Gu Youchen managed to pull himself out of the intimacy.
He looked at Ning Qingqing seriously. “Qingqing, you don’t need to be jealous in the future, and definitely don’t be sad. Because I don’t like anyone else, and I won’t have ambiguous relationships with anyone else.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Mm, I know.”
She immediately added, “Me too.”
They were both guests today; this really wasn’t the place for lingering affection.
So, no matter how sweet his little wife was in his arms, he couldn’t continue to indulge.
Reluctantly pecking Ning Qingqing on the corner of her lips one more time, Gu Youchen hugged her for two seconds before letting go.
He checked his and Ning Qingqing’s clothes to make sure they weren’t messy, then used a tissue to wipe the lipstick from his own lips. Once he was sure their appearance was fine, they returned to the main hall together.
Passing the restroom, Ning Qingqing went in to touch up her makeup.
Her face, lips, and ears had all been kissed by Gu Youchen. She wondered how many chemicals he had ingested.
Fortunately, she usually wore light makeup, so it should be fine, right?
Her cheeks didn’t need blush anymore because her complexion right now looked better than any blush could achieve.
Her lips were fuller, and applying a little lipstick instantly brightened her look.
Ning Qingqing smiled at herself in the mirror and found her smile very sweet.
It looked like the face of someone in love.
In love…
She suddenly realized that her current state with Gu Youchen really resembled a young couple passionately in love.
Although they had already registered their marriage, they were gradually getting familiar with each other. There was freshness, expectation, and it seemed every day brought a different mood.
She realized she probably truly liked Gu Youchen.
Although it might not be deep yet, she would miss him when they were apart, get jealous because of him, and couldn’t help smiling happily when she was with him.
But obviously, she couldn’t tell him yet, lest he get arrogant.
Oh no, lest he push his luck—his behavior in the company restroom today was a prime example!
After the two returned, the young masters of the Tan family wheeled out a multi-tiered cake. The lights in the hall were dimmed.
Everyone sang the birthday song together. Old Master Tan made a wish and blew out the candles. The lights came back on, and the birthday star cut the first slice of cake.
Afterward, the Tan family members distributed the cake. Tan Xin took a piece for Ning Qingqing, then looked at Gu Youchen. “You don’t seem to eat sweets. Will you have a small piece just for the occasion?”
However, Ning Qingqing said, “Give him a piece the same size as mine.”
Tan Xin assumed it was just playful banter between the newlyweds, so she gave Gu Youchen a piece as well.
Ning Qingqing looked at the man beside her and couldn’t help smiling. “Youchen, so they don’t know your secret?”
The man nodded, eating elegantly. “Mm, only my wife knows.”
Ning Qingqing’s ears turned red. She felt like she had been flirted with.
People continued chatting in groups of twos and threes. Li Lan and Gu Heng also took Ning Qingqing and Ning Ruojun to introduce them to their close acquaintances.
Since Old Master Tan was getting on in years, when the time was right, the birthday banquet came to an end.
After saying goodbye and leaving the Tan residence, Ning Ruojun went to stay at Ning Qingqing’s apartment as usual. She had to fly abroad early the next morning. Nie Yu would bring her luggage from Nancheng, and they would meet overseas.
Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing dropped Ning Ruojun off upstairs before going back down together.
As soon as they got into the car, the man used the excuse of fastening Ning Qingqing’s seatbelt to lean over and kiss her lips. “I want to see which is sweeter, my wife or the cake.”
Who knows how long passed before he finally let her go, satisfied, and started the car.
Traffic in the Imperial City was light at night. They didn’t turn on the AC, letting the natural breeze blow through.
While waiting at a red light, Gu Youchen suddenly turned to Ning Qingqing. “Qingqing, when you’re done with your busy period, shall we go to Qingtang Town together?”
Ning Qingqing was surprised. “You want to go?”
Actually, she didn’t have many ties left there. After her grandmother passed away, the only people she knew well were the landlady of the Xu Family Inn and her daughter, Nan-Nan.
But Nan-Nan was no longer in town. She was in her teens now. Because of her flexibility, she had been scouted by the provincial gymnastics team in elementary school. She spent most of her time training and rarely went back.
The neighbors she knew were also less familiar now because she had returned less frequently over the last two years.
Everything was changing, except for that small town.
Gu Youchen said, “I want to visit the place where you grew up.”
What he didn’t say was that he wanted to make up for the time he couldn’t be close to her in the past.
“Okay.” Ning Qingqing nodded in agreement. “Once things at my company are sorted out, we’ll go together. It’s a good opportunity for my grandmother and teacher to see you.”
Her grandmother and Elder Zhang were both buried on the mountain in Qingtang Town, in accordance with their last wishes.
“Okay.” Gu Youchen nodded.
As soon as they got home, Gu Youchen’s phone rang. It was his cousin, Qin Yanyue.
He swiped to answer. “Yanyue.”
Qin Yanyue’s voice sounded pitiful. “Cousin, can you do me a favor tomorrow afternoon?”
Gu Youchen could guess what it was from her tone. “Speak. What favor? I have time.”
Qin Yanyue was instantly overjoyed. “Cousin is the best! I have a cultural performance tomorrow evening that needs parent support, but before the performance, the teacher said she wants to see my guardian…”
Gu Youchen asked, “Where are my aunt and uncle?”
Qin Yanyue stammered, “They have something to do and can’t go.”
Gu Youchen pretty much guessed it. “What bad thing did you do that you need to call a parent before a cultural performance?”
Qin Yanyue sounded pathetic. “It’s just… yesterday’s final exams. I missed one subject… I had something to do at the time.”
Gu Youchen knew his little cousin’s grades were decent, but she was sometimes mischievous. She probably skipped the exam to do who-knows-what.
He said, “I’ll ask your sister-in-law if she has time.”
Qin Yanyue had only recently heard that Gu Youchen had actually won over the pretty sister. She was thrilled. “Okay! I really want to see the pretty sister again too!”
Gu Youchen said coolly, “Oh, seeing her for the first time officially, and it’s for something embarrassing like being called in by a teacher.”
Qin Yanyue gave an ingratiating laugh. “Um, then I’ll try harder during the performance?”
Gu Youchen turned to ask Ning Qingqing, “Qingqing, do you need to work overtime tomorrow?”
Ning Qingqing replied, “I shouldn’t need to overtime for the Si family project. For my own company, I might need to do some online research at home, but I don’t need to stay at the office.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “I’ll have Zhou Linghang get busy with the research soon. My cousin has a cultural performance tomorrow evening. Shall I pick you up after work to go support her?”
Ning Qingqing had heard Gu Youchen mention before that he had a cousin ten years younger than him, so she was quite curious. “Sure, let’s go cheer for the little sister tomorrow.”
The next day, Ning Qingqing was busy almost all day at work. When she received Gu Youchen’s call, things had finally wound down a bit.
The two went to Qin Yanyue’s middle school together.
The girl was 16 this year, in her first year of high school, going into her second year next term. Because she missed an exam, she had been specifically called in for a make-up exam today.
At the school gate, Qin Yanyue eagerly watched for people coming in.
When she saw Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing walking in hand in hand, she hurriedly ran over. “Cousin!”
Ning Qingqing looked at the girl running over. At first, she looked familiar, then she realized it was the girl she had seen at the library.
She was surprised. “It’s you?”
Qin Yanyue pretended to be shocked as well, widening her eyes. “Ah, Pretty Sister!”
Then she pulled on Gu Youchen’s arm and exaggeratedly said, “Cousin, so my sister-in-law is the Pretty Sister I mentioned to you before! Ahhh, fate is so amazing!”
Gu Youchen glanced at her sideways, mouthing silently: Overacting.
Qin Yanyue had already familiarly linked arms with Ning Qingqing. “Sister-in-law, the first time I saw you, I thought you were perfect for my cousin. Hehe, this is great!”
Ning Qingqing also found this girl cute. Compared to someone like Shen Zhiyu, she was a hundred times better.
She rubbed Qin Yanyue’s hair. “I didn’t expect you to be Youchen’s sister.”
The three chatted and laughed as they arrived at the teacher’s office. Qin Yanyue instantly put away her smile, looking at Gu Youchen timidly with puppy eyes.
Gu Youchen nodded at her and walked in with Ning Qingqing.
They walked up to Qin Yanyue’s homeroom teacher. The teacher looked up and met Ning Qingqing’s eyes. “Qingqing?”
Ning Qingqing hadn’t expected Qin Yanyue’s homeroom teacher to be her former teacher as well. She quickly said, “Hello, Teacher Zhang.”
Teacher Zhang stood up. “Qingqing, haven’t seen you in years. Why are you here today?”
With that, her gaze moved past Ning Qingqing to Qin Yanyue. “Qin Yanyue, as far as I know, you have no relation to Qingqing, right? Didn’t I tell you to bring a parent?”
Qin Yanyue pointed at Gu Youchen. “Teacher, this is my Little Uncle.”
To show that he could bear the title of ‘guardian,’ she proactively raised Gu Youchen’s generation by one level.
Only then did Teacher Zhang look at Gu Youchen. Then, seemingly recalling a memory, she said, “Mr. Qin, I’ve seen you before.”
Gu Youchen thought she might have seen him in a financial interview and wasn’t surprised. He simply said, “Yanyue is usually mischievous and has caused you trouble.”
Teacher Zhang pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yanyue is smart, but sometimes she doesn’t know her priorities. She said her father is busy with business and has no time, so please mention it to your brother later. Tell him to discipline the child properly. She’s in high school now; she can’t just rely on being smart and not pay attention. The second year is a watershed for grades; she can’t go on like this…”
Gu Youchen could only nod cooperatively. “Okay, I will tell my brother.”
After saying that, he said to Qin Yanyue, “Yanyue, make a promise to Teacher Zhang.”
Qin Yanyue hurriedly obeyed obediently.
Teacher Zhang nodded. “Alright, don’t let this happen again!”
Then she turned to Ning Qingqing. “Qingqing, I remember now. This Mr. Qin came looking for you before. Did he find you?”
Ning Qingqing was stunned. “Looking for me?”
Seeing her confusion, Teacher Zhang instinctively thought she had remembered incorrectly.
She asked, “You and Mr. Qin…”
Ning Qingqing said, “I married him.”
Teacher Zhang was shocked. Thinking of Shen Zhiqian, she seemed about to say something but stopped. However, her gaze fell on Gu Youchen, still puzzled.
She couldn’t be mistaken. Seven years ago, this man seemed to be just a teenager, and he had come looking for Ning Qingqing.
After chatting with Teacher Zhang for a while longer, Qin Yanyue had to prepare to enter the cultural performance, so the three left.
Qin Yanyue played the guzheng that night. It was a duet with another girl playing the flute, and the effect was excellent.
After dropping the girl home, Ning Qingqing felt more and more that Teacher Zhang wouldn’t remember incorrectly. So she asked, “Youchen, did you go to our school?”
Gu Youchen nodded. “Mm, to find you.”
Hearing him say this, Ning Qingqing actually didn’t believe it. She thought, Gu Youchen probably did go, and Teacher Zhang saw him, but the person he was looking for was probably Shen Zhiqian…
That night, Zhou Linghang actually sent over a proposal. Ning Qingqing read it before bed and thought it was quite good. She wrote some detailed notes and sent it back.
As a result, she was still yawning a bit when she woke up the next morning.
Seeing she was sleepy, Gu Youchen didn’t let Ning Qingqing drive. He had the driver drop her off at her company first before going to the Gu Corporation.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked into the lobby, he saw Kenny, who had been waiting there.
“President Gu!” Kenny finally caught Gu Youchen. “Can I have ten minutes of your time? I…”
Gu Youchen rarely granted permission this time. “Let’s talk in the conference room.”
Kenny’s eyes lit up. Finally, a chance to apologize!
Entering the conference room, he didn’t dare waste time and got straight to the point. “President Gu, I was blind and failed to recognize greatness. I shouldn’t have targeted your wife. I am truly sorry! Please be the bigger person and overlook my faults. Luoqing is innocent. You…”
Hearing this, Gu Youchen raised his eyes indifferently. “Who did you just mention? I don’t know her.”
Kenny had to patiently explain. “Si Luoqing, my cousin. I know you are a busy man and might forget, but she is currently banned. It really is…”
Gu Youchen tapped his finger lightly on the table. “Mr. Si, you might be mistaken. First, I am not clear about people in the entertainment industry, and I don’t know the person you mentioned. Second, you targeted my wife. You should apologize to her, not come to me.”
Kenny choked, momentarily unsure how to explain.
Gu Youchen looked at him, his tone hard. “If she weren’t my wife, if her mother weren’t the President of Ning Chuang, would you be apologizing to her today?”
Kenny’s face looked ugly, but he could only force a smile. “President Gu, sometimes I’m just too careless. You see…”
Gu Youchen dismissed him directly. “I don’t accept your apology. Letting you come up today was just to tell you clearly: the reason I hit you on the tennis court that day was because you pushed my wife in the elevator at the Shen Corporation building, causing her lower back injury. I don’t like underhanded tactics, and I hope you keep your claws to yourself in the future. Don’t touch my people!”
Kenny’s heart tightened. Seeing that Gu Youchen had no intention of saying another word, he could only bow and scrape as he left.
Walking out of the Gu Corporation office building, he weighed whether he should go find Ning Qingqing to apologize.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Si Luoqing, her voice complex. “Kenny, do you remember that boy standing next to Ning Qingqing we met at the art exhibition?”
Kenny’s heart skipped a beat. “I remember. I remember he called Ning Qingqing ‘sister’.”
Si Luoqing’s voice trembled. “I just accidentally saw a photo of him with our company’s popular boy band. Only then did I find out—he is the crown prince of the head office!”
Kenny was shocked. “What?!”
Si Luoqing continued, “I asked friends. His surname is Tan. The boss of the head office is Tan Haize—Ning Ruojun’s ex-husband from Ning Chuang Capital!”
Kenny stood rooted to the spot, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cave. “So, Ning Qingqing is Tan Haize’s daughter? She just took her mother’s surname after the divorce?”
“Yes.” Si Luoqing took a deep breath. “The person who truly banned me is the top boss of my agency!”
After a long while, Kenny finally said, “I just came out of Gu Youchen’s office. He said he doesn’t accept my apology.”
Si Luoqing made a determined decision. “I’m coming to find you now. We will go find Ning Qingqing to apologize.”
Kenny gritted his teeth. “Okay.”
That morning, just after Ning Qingqing finished a call with Zhou Linghang, she heard the receptionist say that Kenny and Si Luoqing were looking for her.
“Let them go to the small conference room,” Ning Qingqing said. She busied herself for another half hour before walking into the small conference room.
Seeing her enter, the two people in the conference room stood up in unison. “Miss Ning.”
Note: Regarding the photo being of Qingqing, the clues will be released gradually. Once they reach Qingtang Town, everything will be revealed, and then we can have some good stuff (intimacy)! Hmm, tables turn. How does everyone want these two scumbags dealt with?
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