Rong Ma was present, representing the old lady, and said to Qin Tianlang, "Young Master Tianlang, you've never been able to beat Young Master Tianyi. Young Master Tianyi has nothing else, but he's always been stronger than you since he was little."
"Come on, try me if you dare," he continued to provoke Qin Tianyi.
Gu Susu could feel that Qin Tianyi was furious, but he was restraining himself with an unimaginable self-control.
Rong Ma stood between them and said to Qin Tianlang, "Young Master Tianlang, that's enough. It's not good for anyone if this escalates."
While Rong Ma was speaking to Qin Tianlang, Qin Tianyi had already carried Gu Susu downstairs and left the large house.
Gu Susu nestled in his arms. Seeing his eyes turn chillingly cold as soon as they stepped out, like a calm sea that could unleash a storm at any moment.
She gently tugged at his clothes and whispered, "Fortunately, you and Rong Ma came in time. He didn't succeed. I didn't go to him on my own; he… he set a trap to frame me…"
But no matter how she explained, Qin Tianyi still didn't say a word to her, making her feel as if she had done something wrong, filled with shame and confusion.
The old lady was waiting in the living room of the small house. Upon seeing Qin Tianyi carrying Gu Susu back, she immediately asked, "Is she alright?"
Qin Tianyi remained expressionless and did not answer.
It was Rong Ma who spoke, "She's fine. Fortunately, Young Master Tianyi and I arrived in time. It seems Young Master Tianlang has been watching the young madam closely and will attack her at any opportunity."
Qin Tianyi suddenly let go, and Gu Susu's feet touched the ground. She almost lost her balance, clutching the suit jacket Qin Tianyi had draped over her, leaning back against him to steady herself, appearing shaken.
The old lady looked at her and asked, "Why did you go to the big house? Didn't Tianyi say you weren't feeling well?"
Gu Susu lowered her head and explained softly, "After breakfast, I felt better, so I thought I'd go to the room where Tianyi used to live in the big house to get some things. But I didn't expect to go to the wrong room… Qin Tianlang, he… he…"
She choked up, unable to continue.
"Get what things?" the old lady pressed.
"Some of my clothes. I couldn't find them here, so I thought they were in that room from when I got married." Gu Susu answered quickly. This was the excuse she had prepared last night, just in case she was discovered, so she would have a reason.
She never expected that what happened today would be far more terrifying than being discovered.
The old lady said, "Oh," and then added, "From now on, if you need anything, have Rong Ma get it for you. Don't go over there yourself."
"Okay, I understand." She would never go there again.
Rong Ma sighed and said, "Old Madam, Young Master Tianlang is a year older than Young Master Tianyi. He should get married and have someone to manage him…"
"He's not without parents; this old lady doesn't need to worry about his marriage. If two people indulge this child too much in his reckless behavior outside, and now he's causing trouble at home, it's too much!" the old lady said angrily.
Rong Ma tried again, "This is something the eldest young master and his wife should handle, but perhaps the old lady could offer a gentle reminder. If he gets married, he might settle down."
The old lady snorted coldly, glanced at Tianyi and Gu Susu, and waved them away, "Tianyi, take Susu back to rest. I'll have Rong Ma send up some nourishing soup later to help you both calm down."
"Okay, Grandma," Qin Tianyi replied, turning and heading upstairs first.
Gu Susu stared at his retreating back for a few seconds, then awkwardly followed him upstairs.
As soon as she entered the room, she headed for the bathroom. The thought of Qin Tianlang nearly kissing her made her feel disgusted, and she needed to wash herself thoroughly.
"Stop! Why did you deliberately go to Qin Tianlang's room? Do you really like him?" Qin Tianyi asked, his face dark.
Gu Susu extended a tightly clenched fist, then opened her palm. In it were a few strands of hair she had pulled from Qin Tianlang's head. "For this."
Qin Tianyi looked at the strands of hair, confused, then quickly understood. "You're helping Ai Yiwei."
Gu Susu clenched her fist again and lowered her hand, nodding. She told the truth, "She asked me to help her, and then she sold me out."
"Then she and Qin Tianlang are quite a match." Qin Tianyi knew that Jin Meiyao and her son had long harbored resentment towards Gu Susu, and Qin Tianlang would surely strike hard when he had the chance.
He felt a chill of fear just thinking about it. Fortunately, he had instructed Rong Ma to keep an eye on Gu Susu before he left.
Rong Ma had been monitoring Gu Susu's every move. Seeing her enter the big house and then Qin Tianlang's room, she sensed something was wrong and quickly called Qin Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi's left eye had been twitching all morning, and he had a feeling something was about to happen. He had been delayed at the Qin family entrance before leaving. When he received Rong Ma's call, he hadn't reached the company yet, so he immediately told the driver to turn back.
Upon his return, without waiting for Rong Ma to explain the details, he rushed directly into the big house. Rong Ma had already obtained the key to Qin Tianlang's room from another servant and, following Qin Tianyi, opened the door.
When he saw Gu Susu disheveled, with another man pressing down on her, he wished he could kill that man, regardless of who he was.
Since his mother's death, he had been feigning ignorance with great ambition. He had never felt that pretending to be foolish was a bad thing, but in that moment, he no longer wanted to play dumb. He wanted to advance his plan.
Gu Susu gritted her teeth and said, "I don't have a sister like that." She then walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
She turned on the faucet, folded Qin Tianyi's suit jacket, and placed it aside. Leaning against the bathtub, she slowly slid down.
She still clutched the strands of hair tightly in her hand. The unpleasant events of the past flashed back in her mind like a movie.
Burying her head between her knees, she let tears stream down like a bursting dam.
After coming out of the bathroom, she saw Qin Tianyi sitting at the desk, working on his laptop.
She vigorously wiped her hair with the towel hanging around her neck, then carefully lay down on the bed, feeling utterly exhausted and wanting nothing more than to close her eyes and sleep.
However, she still couldn't sleep, her heart filled with lingering fear. After a while, Qin Tianyi lay down behind her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Don't touch me. You were right, I'm very dirty, really dirty," Gu Susu said weakly.
Qin Tianyi seemed not to hear her, pressing his face against her hair. "Dirty? I only smell fragrance. You're quite clean after your bath."
Gu Susu felt a surge of shame and anger, having no desire to engage in further intimacy with him. She struggled, "I'm not joking. I'm too dirty to be worthy of someone like you…"
"Don't move. I just want to hold you and sleep well. You kept getting up during the night, and I didn't sleep well either," Qin Tianyi interrupted her calmly.
She felt a sense of disorientation. His words made her nose sting. She stopped struggling. Last night, she had deliberately induced diarrhea, which had indeed prevented them both from sleeping well.
Before long, his breathing became even and deep beside her ear, as if he had fallen asleep.
Unconsciously, she snuggled closer into his embrace, feeling a sense of warmth and security. Soon, she drifted into a hazy sleep.