chapter 65

The scene fell into a strange silence once again. Everyone’s gazes were focused on Tang Anru, waiting for her to give an explanation.

“I didn’t. Why did you frame me like this?” Tang Anru’s delicate and pale face revealed a trace of grievance. She kept trembling her weak shoulders like she had suffered a great grievance. “Is it my fault that Mingran chose me over Qin Shu?”

“I don’t need anyone to choose me.” Qin Shu curled her red lips and smiled faintly. She was confident and calm, with a trace of wanton and glorious beauty being contained between her eyebrows.

Many people present were reminded of the same poem in their minds: The peach tree beams so red, how brilliant are its flowers!

Qi Mingran looked at Qin Shu, and an extremely complicated light flashed through his eyes. He couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the woman in his arms, as if this was the only way to prove that he had made the right choice.

Facing so many people present, Qi Mingran forcefully suppressed the irritation in his heart and said to Ling Mohan, “Colonel, we’re having this anniversary banquet of the military industry group here tonight. I am very sorry for such an unpleasant incident. I also apologize to your secretary, Miss Qin, I’m sorry. But this is a private matter between us. It’s more appropriate for us to settle it in private. I’d like to ask Miss Qin to find another time, so that we could sit down together and talk about any misunderstandings between us.”

“No need.” Ling Mohan’s face was cold and he directly refused Qi Mingran on behalf of Qin Shu. His tone was tough without the slightest intention of negotiating.

Qi Mingran’s expression became even more embarrassed.

Qin Shu was a little annoyed. If Tang Anru hadn’t pestered her, she wouldn’t have made herself a funny monkey attracting people’s attention on such an important occasion. She didn’t want to reveal her personal affairs with Qi Mingran and Tang Anru to the public.

“Don’t contact me again in the future. We’re done,” Qin Shu said indifferently and turned around to leave.

Su Xiaoya hurriedly pulled her back and whispered, keeping her voice down, “Darling, are you going to spare that bitch and scum just like that?”

“I’m sparing myself too.” Qin Shu was a little resigned. “Don’t you see how embarrassed I’m feeling now? Look at those people, they think they’re righteous, but they’re actually laughing at us. They only treat this matter as a joke to talk about in free time.”

Of course Su Xiaoya knew that. When she followed her mother into the Mu family, there were a lot of gossipy talking behind her back.

She understood the horror of verbal violence. Some seemingly insignificant jokes were actually the most painful.

However, Su Xiaoya was just too angry to let it pass.

Qin Shu added, “Grandpa Ling is resting upstairs and doesn’t know about all these messy things. If he knows, he will have to worry about me again. He is old, and I don’t want to upset him because of these shitty things about me.”

“Alright, I’ll spare that bitch and scum!” Su Xiaoya angrily stomped her feet and held Qin Shu’s hand. “Let’s go, darling, let’s take a rest for a while, don’t be bothered by these people.”

After Qin Shu left, more than half of the crowd who were watching the fun scattered.

Standing in front of Qi Mingran, Ling Mohan gave off an extremely powerful pressure with his tall figure and fierce aura.

He stared coldly at Qi Mingran. “Qin Shu is my girl, stay away from her!”

Qi Mingran pursed his lips tightly and just let the other party pass by. A sense of frustration arose from the bottom of his heart.

He had been a proud son of heaven since he was young. Whether it was his appearance, family background, or his own abilities, he was extremely outstanding. Many people could only stand below and look up at him.

However, in front of Ling Mohan, he didn’t have the slightest advantage!

That man was too strong!

Tang Anru snuggled up in Qi Mingran’s arms and said softly, “I’m sorry, Mingran. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have appeared at the banquet. If I hadn’t met Qin Shu, none of this would have happened.”

“It has nothing to do with you. Don’t think too much.” Qi Mingran comforted her perfunctorily and then walked out with her in his arms.

The two of them left the banquet hall quickly.

Qin Shu leaned lazily against the railing on the second floor and glanced at their departing figures. Qi Mingran or Tang Anru could no longer stir up the slightest ripple in her heart.

No matter what happened between her and Tang Anru in the past, no matter how good the relationship between the Tang and the Qin family was, they couldn’t go back.

Xia Lun walked over with a glass of tequila. When his gaze fell on Qin Shu, he couldn’t help but reveal a trace of appreciating expression in his eyes.

He had seen many beauties, all kinds of them, but Qin Shu was the one who attracted him the most.

“It’s been a long time.” Qin Shu noticed Xia Lun standing beside her. She moved her head sideways and curled her lips into a smile, her features as gorgeous as a blooming watercolor painting.

Xia Lun’s eyes lit up slightly. He felt a little dry in his throat, so he picked up his glass and took a sip. Then he teased, “It’s been a while, and you’ve become so beautiful that I almost didn’t recognize you. Is this the Qin Shu I know?”

Qin Shu also looked him up and down and suddenly laughed, “I almost didn’t recognize you either. Were you mining in Africa?”

Before, Xia Lun had fair skin, but now he was wheat-colored. This made him look a little less feminine and more wild than before.

“Boss sent me out on a mission and I just came back.” Xia Lun didn’t care about these changes in his appearance, but about something else. “Tsk, are you and our boss in love?”

On the day when Qin Shu had a car accident, Xia Lun happened to be sent on a mission.

When he returned a month later, he keenly noticed that there seemed to be something different between Qin Shu and Ling Mohan.

He couldn’t tell what he was feeling in his heart. He seemed to be a little depressed and regretful, but he also seemed to be relieved in secret.

Actually, deep down in his heart, Xia Lun was very resistant to liking someone.

Liking someone meant that all freedom would be turned into responsibility, binding him firmly. If one day he could never return from his mission, the person he left behind would definitely be in great pain.

Qin Shu did not know what he was thinking in his heart. She raised her eyebrows and said, “You’ve asked me twice the similar questions. Are you worried that your boss is too bad-tempered and can’t find a wife, so you’re trying to match him up? Don’t worry, look at all those beautiful women present. They’re all staring at him.”

As she spoke, Qin Shu suddenly felt a sharp gaze shot over.

She looked up and found that Ling Mohan was looking at them this way in the middle of the hall downstairs. His pair of black eyes were staring at her with a cold expression, seemingly he was a little unhappy.

Of course, his temper was always uncertain, and he often had a cold face. No one else could tell that he was any different from usual now.

But Qin Shu had been with him for a long time, and she knew that it was a warning. What was that bastard warning about?

Qin Shu felt puzzled. Xia Lun suddenly said, “Hey, I’d better stay away from you. The boss’s gaze is about to cut me alive.”

Qin Shu, “…”

Xia Lun walked away with the champagne in his hand. Qin Shu immediately felt the chill pressuring on her body disappear.

When she looked at Ling Mohan again, he had already turned his gaze away.

Qin Shu was speechless. This bastard was too domineering. He didn’t even allow her to talk to Xia Lun. He must be a psychopath!

…

Night shrouded the entire city, and the neon lights were blurry and beautiful, indicating that the bustling night life had officially begun.

Unfortunately, Qi Mingran was no longer in the mood to enjoy this banquet.

“I’ll have the driver take you back.” He let go of Tang Anru in his arms and helped open the car door for her.

Tang Anru was stunned. “Aren’t you coming with me? Where are you going?”

Qi Mingran pursed his lips and did not say anything. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly. It seemed that the banquet tonight had made him very upset.

Seeing his indifference, Tang Anru could not help but stand on tiptoe and lean forward. However, her pink lips were pushed away before she could touch his cheeks.

“Mingran, why are you …” Tang Anru widened her eyes in disbelief. Her tears quickly rolled in her eyes. She was as beautiful and delicate as a lily.

A trace of apology flashed across Qi Mingran’s face. He hugged Tang Anru and whispered, “Sorry, I’m in a bad mood. You can go back and rest first.”

“I want to stay with you.” Tang Anru raised her face and looked at him gently. Her eyes were tender and filled with concern and affection.

Normally, in this situation, Qi Mingran would definitely feel sorry, but at this moment, when he thought of the harsh words everyone discussed at the banquet, his mood was terrible.

Qi Mingran took Tang Anru’s hand away and said impatiently, “Be good, be sensible. I will go back later.”

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Tang Anru suddenly hugged him from behind and tightly wrapped her hands around his waist. She sobbed, “You’re blaming me. I know you’re blaming me in your heart … I’m sorry, Mingran, it’s all my fault. I embarrassed you. I didn’t know Qin Shu was here for the banquet. If I knew she was here, I wouldn’t come, and I wouldn’t make things so difficult for you.”

Qi Mingran held her hands for a long while, then pulled them away forcefully. He walked away without looking back.

Tang Anru stood under the street lamp and covered her mouth, crying softly. Her thin and slender back looked beautiful and fragile, causing the passersby to feel pity for her.

The driver got out of the car and said with concern, “Miss Tang, let me take you back.”

Tang Anru shook her head and choked, “Don’t worry about me. Go find Mingran. I’m so worried about him.”

“But …” The driver was put in a dilemma. “Mr. Qi told me to send you back.”

“What are you worried about? He doesn’t want to care about me now.” Tang Anru felt so wronged that tears fell down her cheeks. “Go away, I want to be alone for a while.”

Tang Anru refused to get on the car, and the driver and she were just stuck in a stalemate.

Just at this moment, someone quickly walked over and grabbed Tang Anru’s arm with great concern. “Anru, what’s happening? Are you all right? Didn’t you go to attend the banquet of the military industry group with Qi Mingran? Why are you here?”

Tang Anru raised her head, her eyes hazy with tears. Suddenly, she threw herself into the other party’s embrace. “Yang Bin, Mingran blamed me!”

Yang Bin hugged Tang Anru’s soft body and immediately panicked. He was both happy and concerned, holding her tightly while trembling.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Nobody blames you.” Yang Bin comforted her awkwardly. His face was filled with pity, and he was also very angry. “If he bullies you, I’ll teach him a lesson for you!”

Tang Anru cried in Yang Bin’s arms for a while before she raised her head and said to the driver, “Leave us alone. I want to stay with my friend for a while.”

The driver looked at Yang Bin suspiciously, and then looked at the way the two of them hugged each other. He thought to himself that, what kind of friends were they and why did they hug each other like that? If Mr. Qi found out, he would probably be even angrier.

Of course, the driver was not a gossipy person.

Seeing that Yang Bin cared for Tang Anru so much and Tang Anru trusted Yang Bin a lot, the driver knew how to behave in such a delicate situation. He said, “Alright, Miss Tang, be careful. I’ll go back first.”

After the driver drove away, Yang Bin comforted Tang Anru for a while longer before taking her into his car and leaving.

He never imagined that after he took Tang Anru to his house on this night, something that he had been dreaming of so long would happen!