Gu Qi Shen's voice was deep and cold, and everyone around instantly fell silent.
Qin He was startled. What did he mean she was the woman he was pursuing?
This banquet was being broadcast live across the entire internet.
From the crowd, Qian Zi Mo, having had his fill of gossip, made his way through the throng, his frail appearance prompting bodyguards to part the people for him.
He stopped in front of Fang Ruo Nan and, with the air of a noble young master, gave a weak cough.
Qin He silently rolled her eyes.
"Miss Fang, Qin He is my sworn sister. If you show her even a shred of disrespect again..." Qian Zi Mo narrowed his fox-like peach blossom eyes. "I guarantee you'll be kicked out of Jiang Cheng tonight."
Jiang Cheng was the Qian family's territory, so Fang Ruo Qi dared not utter a word.
She still wanted to participate in the competition.
"Fine, Qin He, we'll settle this on the field!" Fang Ruo Nan turned to leave.
Qian Zi Mo gave his bodyguards a look, and immediately two men blocked Fang Ruo Nan's path.
"Apologize," Qian Zi Mo said slowly.
His demeanor, that of a refined, ailing gentleman, made his words seem reasonable to those present.
Fang Ruo Nan's eyes turned red, tears welling up.
She was supposed to apologize to Qin He?
On what grounds!
"If Miss Fang refuses to apologize, the cooperation between Fang Corporation and Gu Corporation will be terminated," Gu Qi Shen said coldly. "As for Fang Corporation's plan to develop Ruo Feng Garden in Qing Cheng, that can also be halted."
Qian Zi Mo, fanning the flames, appeared troubled. "In that case, Jiang Cheng will also not welcome Ruo Feng Garden."
Not just Jiang Cheng, but likely Hai Cheng as well, considering the Ming family's presence there. The impact of three super-tier cities rejecting Ruo Feng Garden would be immense.
Fang Ruo Nan could almost imagine her father's furious reaction.
"I-ap-o-lo-gize!" She looked at Gu Qi Shen and spat out the words through gritted teeth.
"You're not apologizing to me, you're apologizing to Qin He," Gu Qi Shen corrected.
A spark of anger flared in Qin He's eyes. Gu Qi Shen had just declared his pursuit of her in front of so many people, was he intending to leave her no room to retreat?
Fang Ruo Nan looked at Qin He with difficulty and said hatefully, "Qin He, I'm sorry!"
It was Fang Ruo Nan who had instigated this whole affair.
"I don't accept your apology, but you can leave now," Qin He said, her voice like shards of ice.
Fang Ruo Nan felt dizzy. As the eldest daughter of Fang Corporation, this was the greatest humiliation she had ever experienced.
Qin He!
But with so many people watching, she could only leave in bitterness.
As soon as she exited the banquet hall, Fang Ruo Nan's tears began to fall.
Zhang Cai Yu hurried after her. "Miss Fang, please don't be sad."
"Bitch, Qin He is such a bitch!" Fang Ruo Nan spat out through clenched teeth.
Zhang Cai Yu quickly covered her mouth. "Miss Fang, please speak softly, there are cameras here."
Fang Ruo Nan calmed down slightly, her eyes still red as she looked at Zhang Cai Yu. "You came out to mock me?"
"How could I? I've always admired you, Miss Fang, and I believe your abilities are far superior to Qin He's. But there's nothing that can be done. Qin He is Gu Qi Shen's love interest and Qian Zi Mo's sworn sister. This..." Zhang Cai Yu looked conflicted.
Fang Ruo Nan took a deep breath, staring at Zhang Cai Yu, and quickly devised a plan.
"I recall Li Ai is your cousin, right? She's been quite close to Qin He lately."
"What do you mean?"
"Have Li Ai do something for me. If it succeeds, Fang Corporation will invest in your brand, and your shareholders won't cause trouble then, will they?"
Zhang Cai Yu's eyes flickered. "Let's discuss this after we get back."
...
In the banquet hall, Qin He looked coldly at the two men before her.
She asked Qian Zi Mo, "When did I become your sworn sister? Do your parents know you're making this up?"
Qian Zi Mo smiled gently. "What, is being my sworn sister so troublesome?"
It was indeed troublesome! The four managers of Qing Yan Mansion were originally friends, and now she was expected to call Qian Zi Mo "brother"?
If not for being at the banquet, Qin He could imagine what Qian Zi Mo would do. He would be utterly shameless, provoking her to call him brother.
She stared at Qian Zi Mo for a moment, then turned to Gu Qi Shen.
Gu Qi Shen smiled faintly. "I wasn't lying."
Qin He turned and placed her wine glass on the table. "It's impossible between us."
After a failed marriage, another failed romance. Neither worked out.
Perhaps she and Gu Qi Shen truly had fate but no destiny.
"I can wait for you," Gu Qi Shen's voice came from behind her.
Qin He dared not turn to look him in the eye, but she knew her heart was pounding like it would leap out of her chest.
She couldn't turn back. She had to look forward.
Qin He turned to Qian Zi Mo, who immediately dropped his look of amusement.
"I'm leaving now." Qin He turned and walked away.
Li Ai, who had been frightened from the start, saw Qin He leaving and quickly followed, feeling somewhat lost as she trailed Qin He out of the banquet hall.
"Miss Qin—" Li Ai followed by Qin He's side.
Qin He turned to Li Ai. "Li Ai, from now on, just call me Qin He. No need for Miss Qin. We're peers, so no need for 'you' either."
Li Ai nodded.
They walked on the beach, Li Ai looking as if she had something to say but couldn't bring herself to.
Qin He's mood was complicated. She knew Li Ai must want to ask about Gu Qi Shen.
However, since Li Ai didn't speak up, she wouldn't bring it up either.
When they returned to the villa, only Zhang Cai Yu and Fang Ruo Nan were sitting in the living room. They were talking and didn't expect Qin He to return so soon, looking startled.
Fang Ruo Nan's expression was grim. She immediately got up and went back to her room.
A heavy thud echoed from the second-floor door.
Qin He poured herself a glass of water and leaned against the table, her gaze lowered.
...
The livestream chat was exploding with comments, nearly obscuring the entire screen.
[What kind of romantic plot is this? Why did Qin He leave so abruptly?]
[I don't know. The livestream only caught Gu Qi Shen's confession, so sweet! But what did Qin He say to Gu Qi Shen afterwards?]
[Qin He seemed unhappy. What more could anyone ask for? I would have pounced on him!]
Amidst the chatter, in a dilapidated rental room near Qing University.
Shen Yi Lin watched Qin He drinking water on the livestream screen, his left hand subtly clenching the fabric of his shirt.
He liked his "sister," but he knew she was a radiant star, someone unrelated to him.
He just wanted to watch her, to see her happy.
A soft sound came from the door, followed by the smell of alcohol.
Shen Yi Lin immediately got up and went to the door. Shen Yi Cong returned from outside, a bottle of liquor in his hand.
Unlike the competent assistant Shen Yi Lin he was during the day at Qin Corporation, Shen Yi Cong sat on the sofa, loosened his tie, his movements rough and casual.
Beneath his disheveled hair, his hawk-like eyes held a wicked glint.
Shen Yi Lin frowned. "Brother, why are you drinking again?"
"This drink today was necessary," Shen Yi Cong said, unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt. "Yi Lin, still watching the livestream?"
"En, Gu Qi Shen confessed to sister today, but sister doesn't seem happy."