Chapter 59: Rejection

Shen Xingran was speechless for a moment.

As the crowd around them drew closer, he finally found something that aligned with his imagination.

Gu Ningqi held a large gift box in his hand.

He clutched it before him, not putting it down even when speaking to Shen Xingran.

There must be a meticulously prepared gift inside.

Shen Xingran didn't know how to respond to Gu Ningqi's request for pants with the right emotions.

To change the subject, he reached out and tugged at the gift box in Gu Ningqi's hand, asking, "Brother Ningqi, what's this in your hand?"

Unexpectedly, Gu Ningqi dodged his touch, still guarding the gift box tightly, dismissing the question with, "That's not important!"

Shen Xingran was utterly confused.

It seemed there was no way to avoid the situation entirely.

Some people around them, unable to contain their curiosity, asked Gu Ningqi, "Brother Gu, what... happened to you?"

Gu Ningqi's body tensed up.

After a moment of struggle, he mustered a response, "There was an issue when we landed, but I was so worried about Ranran that I rushed over without changing my clothes."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood and their faces immediately displayed sentiments of admiration.

For someone like Gu Ningqi, who came from such an esteemed background, to disregard his image just to see Shen Xingran sooner – what could be a stronger testament to true love?

Shen Xingran was taken aback, his face also showing signs of touched emotions.

He had thought that Gu Ningqi was unprepared, but now realized the true value in this gesture.

Now, everyone in the high society of the entire capital city knew that the heir of the Gu family, Gu Ningqi, loved Shen Xingran so much that he cared not for his appearance.

Yet... upon seeing Gu Ningqi's attire, Shen Xingran paused.

He decided that in the future, no matter how urgent the situation was, he should still take the time to tidy himself up.

This was indeed a bit...

Seeing everyone's expressions, Gu Ningqi also realized that he had unintentionally found a good excuse.

He coughed lightly, and the awkwardness on his body dissipated. He regained his usual confidence and composure.

He didn't even bother changing his clothes.

After all, they had already seen most of it. It was a symbol of his "deep emotions."

Later, he would have to explain the "reason" for his current state in front of everyone while still dressed like this.

Only then could he alleviate the embarrassment of his entrance.

As he pondered this, Gu Ningqi glanced down at the large gift box in his hand and hesitated for a moment.

How about...

Changing your pants first?

But there was no time for that.

Upon hearing that the successor of the Gu family, Gu Ningqi, had arrived, guests who were either friends with the Gus or seeking to establish ties had already gathered around.

Gu Ningqi had no choice but to extend his empty hand, firmly grasping Shen Xingran's wrist. He furrowed his brows and expressed his concern, "How could I possibly let you be alone in an event like today?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, intending to brush away the hair from Shen Xingran's forehead.

Only then did he realize that he was still holding onto the enormous gift box.

Gu Ningqi paused, switched hands, and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm right here with you now."

Watching this scene unfold, their friends couldn't help but cup their faces, almost succumbing to the sweetness overload.

A hint of sweetness also crept onto Shen Xingran's face.

But the moment Gu Ningqi's hand touched his hair, Shen Xingran couldn't help but frown and sniff.

Where was this strange smell coming from?

However, Shen Xingran still remembered the task at hand.

Seeing that the situation was gradually unfolding according to his plan, he immediately put on a pained expression, took a step back, and whispered, "Brother Ningqi, please don't."

"Ranran, don't retreat from me," Gu Ningqi frowned as well.

Shen Xingran simply turned around.

He closed his eyes for a moment before saying, "We're no longer engaged."

Gu Ningqi walked around to face him, his voice filled with emotion, "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't you know my feelings for you?"

Shen Xingran understood men like Gu Ningqi, who were somewhat arrogant.

The more you rejected them, the more persistent they became.

He bit his lip and shook his head.

Seeing this, Gu Ningqi's expression indeed darkened. "Who has been filling your ears with nonsense? Your father or your mother?"

He sneered. "Even if my grandfather were here, the one I would fulfill the marriage contract with would still be you."

The Gu family was an equally powerful clan compared to the Ji family.

With Gu Ningqi's words, Shen Xingran's value had once again been subtly elevated in the eyes of those around them.

This stirred envy among the onlookers.

Shen Xingran felt even more pleased within.

The two of them were engaging in a back-and-forth that resembled a romantic drama.

At that moment, someone with sharp eyes pointed at a figure not far away and said, "Isn't that Lu Ran?"

Gu Ningqi had already found out that the young master of the Shen family who had been found was now called Lu Ran.

Hence, upon hearing this, he immediately followed the direction the person had indicated.

The banquet was crowded with people, and Gu Ningqi failed to discern whom the individual was referring to.

Noticing that Gu Ningqi hadn't seen, the person stomped their foot in frustration, "He went over there, ah! Can't see him anymore!"

Gu Ningqi sneered.

He took Shen Xingran's hand, "I must see who this Lu Ran is, to dare bully you?"

Walking hand in hand with Shen Xingran through the crowd for a while, Gu Ningqi paused again.

He suddenly recalled the youth he had encountered in the restroom.

In the bathroom of the Shen family's villa, there was still a dog on a leash.

Seems to be a guest attending the banquet as well.

At the mere thought of that boy, whose face beamed with a mischievous grin as he casually kicked him into the partitioned space, Gu Ningqi couldn't help but feel a slight tremble in his calves.

He wasn't particularly keen on revisiting that moment.

Even the very thought of facing that youth was unbearable.

However...

With so many people at the banquet, it's not that coincidental to run into each other, right?

He merely intended to confront Lu Ran, and then promptly head upstairs to change his clothes afterward.

After a moment of contemplation, Gu Ningqi continued walking with a resolute pace.

Finding a scapegoat was indeed necessary.

He had been on the receiving end of Shen Xingran's constant hang-ups lately, causing him to harbor resentment.

Just now, he had been inexplicably pranked, and if he didn't vent his frustration on someone, he felt he would explode.

Aside from this emotional impulse, Gu Ningqi had a clear rationale behind his actions.

Just now, he had entered in disarray, and most of the guests had witnessed it.

He couldn't go to each guest individually to explain his "passionate" speech repeatedly.

But picking a fight with Lu Ran was different.

Lu Ran was the highlight of the entire banquet. Any interaction between him and Lu Ran would undoubtedly become the focus of the guests' attention.

At this moment, if he scolded Lu Ran fiercely and then held Shen Xingran's hand to demonstrate his affection, it would serve two purposes.

Not only would he vent his frustration, but he would also clarify the reason for his current state under everyone's watchful eyes.

It was a brilliant move!

Gu Ningqi had calculated this well.

With a cold expression, he strode forcefully through the banquet, holding Shen Xingran's hand, capturing the attention of all on their way.

Unbeknownst to him, many guests had followed behind.

Even those who didn't join in couldn't help but steal glances at Gu Ningqi.

They were curious to see what the beleaguered heir of the Gu family was up to.

Gu Ningqi was pleased with the reaction he had provoked.

Just as everything seemed to be in place, his arrogance faltered, and he froze on the spot.

"What's wrong, Brother Ningqi?" Shen Xingran asked, perplexed.

Gu Ningqi remained still, not offering a reply.

He stood there like a small animal in the wild that had suddenly turned to stone upon encountering a predator.

Shen Xingran gave him a look before pressing on, "I guess I should leave after all. I shouldn't have come to this banquet..."

Normally, Gu Ningqi would be heartbroken to hear such words from Shen Xingran.

Yet, Gu Ningqi still didn't respond at this moment.

The corner of his eye caught a glimpse in a certain direction.

Just a few steps away from them, amidst an array of extravagant and flashy shoes, a pale yellow fluffy tail lay incongruously on the floor.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, the owner of the tail retreated with its own fluffy little bottom.

A small yellow mongrel was revealed.

The puppy shook its head and sniffed the air before fixing its gaze precisely on Gu Ningqi.

As if recognizing him as someone it had just met, the puppy wagged its tail warmly in a friendly manner.

When the little yellow dog looked up at people with its head held high, it was incredibly adorable.

It even wore a pink harness with two tiny rabbit dolls hanging from it and the leash. This image was utterly charming in every way.

Yet, the instant the dog set its eyes on Gu Ningqi, the latter seemed to have encountered some terrifying beast, and he hastily took a step back.

A crowd was following behind him.

With this sudden retreat, he immediately stepped on the foot of the person behind him.

The man let out a yelp, drawing even more attention.

Just seconds ago, Gu Ningqi had been basking in the gazes of others.

Now, he wished he could crawl back into his shell.

He even silently chanted to himself: Don't look, don't look, don't look!

But it was all in vain.

Seemingly hearing the commotion, the leash of the rabbit trembled slightly, tensing up momentarily.

Following the leash upward, one could see...

Only to see the end of the leash vanish between fair, slender fingers.

Those hands were delicate, yet not frail, with the joints hinting at an unripe strength.

While holding onto the leash, his fingers couldn't help but playfully pinch the ears of the rabbit doll now and then.

In Gu Ningqi's horrified gaze, the owner of the fingers retreated a step and turned their attention towards him.

There stood the very youth Gu Ningqi could not bear to dream of, his brows arching in a subtle yet pointed manner.

His gaze swept across Gu Ningqi and Shen Xingran standing beside him, then lingered on the crowd behind them. "Oh, are you looking for me?"

After that, he turned his attention back to Gu Ningqi and exclaimed, "You still dare to show up?"

Gu Ningqi's body remained rigid.

One of the people behind him pointed at the devil and said, "That's Lu Ran!"

Gu Ningqi's mind went blank. He turned to confirm, "He's Lu Ran?"

"Yes!" the person replied.

Gu Ningqi turned his gaze back to Shen Xingran.

His eyes seemed to be accusing: Why didn't you tell me earlier?

If he had known, he would never have come.

This look set off alarm bells in Shen Xingran's mind.

What did it mean?

Could it be that Lu Ran and Gu Ningqi had already seen it?

Gu Ningqi began to have second thoughts. "Suddenly, I remembered that I have something else to attend to," he said.

He turned to leave, but Shen Xingran reached out and held him back.

Looking up at him with a pitiful expression.

Lu Ran found their display cloying and interrupted their tender gaze with a voice full of sarcasm.

"Hey, Mr. Gu, don't we have an arranged marriage between our two families?"

None of the onlookers had expected that the newly acknowledged young Master Shen would be the first to bring up the matter of the engagement.

They were momentarily confused by Gu Ningqi's reaction.

At this moment, as Shen Xingran held onto him, the sudden surge of fear in Gu Ningqi's heart gradually subsided.

This was not the restroom; it was the grand ballroom.

So many people were around!

What could Lu Ran possibly do?

Once his fear dissipated, the pent-up anger surged forth.

Gu Ningqi scoffed softly.

Just as he was about to question Lu Ran, he found himself at a loss for words.

Wait?

What was he supposed to ask?

Should he inquire why Lu Ran had suddenly pushed him into this predicament without any reason?

How could he possibly ask such a question?

The moment he did, wouldn't everyone know that he had been trapped in the bathroom?

Gu Ningqi's lips quivered, feeling utterly frustrated yet unable to voice his grievances.

Lu Ran, however, grew impatient with his hesitation and spoke bluntly, "Get rid of this absurd engagement immediately."

Silence ensued around them.

The news of the engagement had spread like wildfire, and those attending the banquet were all aware that they were there to witness the young master's humiliation.

To everyone's surprise, Lu Ran had actually rejected the proposal himself.

Even Shen Xingran was momentarily stunned.

It was only fun to snatch something that others desired.

Lu Ran's attitude...

Strangely, it made him feel as if he had fought for a pile of trash.

Over there, Chen Sheng and his group approached, greeting Lu Ran.

Lu Ran left after throwing out a few words.

After a few steps, he heard Gu Ningqi roar from behind, "Stop!"

The sudden yell startled everyone present.

In the next moment, Gu Ningqi's face flushed red as he hurriedly caught up and demanded, "No, you need to explain this to me. Why... why did you cancel the engagement!"

The onlookers' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when Gu Ningqi spoke.

What was Gu Ningqi trying to say?

This dramatic scene had surpassed everyone's expectations.

Lu Ran, who was initially about to be publicly rejected, had taken the initiative to cancel the engagement.

It was rumored that Gu Ningqi, who was deeply in love with Shen Xingran, had been stiff and distant ever since he laid eyes on Lu Ran.

Upon learning of his rejection, he had chased after him to confront him in anger!

Shen Xingran's expression turned stiff.

This turn of events deviated too far from his script, leaving him momentarily unsure of how to react.

In that moment of stunned silence, Gu Ningqi took another two steps forward.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed ready to tear them out in fury as he relentlessly pursued the question, "You know what I'm talking about, tell me! Why?!"

Well, well!

The tone of unrequited love!

Some people had already started looking at Shen Xingran with peculiar glances.

Shen Xingran's face had turned ashen.

Lu Ran found the situation rather amusing.

He turned to Gu Ningqi and pretended to be solemn as he shook his head. "The reason... Let's just drop it."

"No! You have to explain it to me!" Gu Ningqi insisted.

Was he really asking about the reason behind the rejection of their engagement?

He was clearly seeking an explanation for being pinned against the toilet!

He had no grudges against this Lu Ran; they were complete strangers.

Why would this person be so ruthless?

Even if he was indeed harboring anger in his heart and had planned on dealing with this person today, he had also prepared a barrage of insults.

But hadn't those plans yet to come to fruition?

Why would they do such a cruel thing to him?

Lu Ran sighed again and said, "Forget it, it's not appropriate to say."

As he turned to leave, his demeanor piqued the curiosity of those around him.

The Gu family was a prominent first-tier aristocratic clan.

As Gu Ningqi was the undisputed heir among the younger generation and the Gu family held shares and voting rights in the Shen family's board, marrying Gu Ningqi was equivalent to securing a voice in the Shen family's board of directors.

By all accounts, it seemed like an undeniable advantageous situation.

Why would this newly acknowledged young Master Shen reject such benefits and opt for refusal?

Gu Ningqi reached out to stop him, declaring, "You're not leaving until you clarify!"

Lu Ran looked at him helplessly.

His expression seemed to say, "You're forcing me to say this."

Then, with his lips at a tepid 37 degrees, he uttered cold, heartless words:

"Of course, it's because you're small and short. Even as a bottom, I'd be disappointed."

The surrounding area fell silent for several seconds.

Only the band continued to perform with dedication.

It was when they realized what Lu Ran had said.

With a swish.

All eyes shifted uniformly towards Gu Ningqi's lower body.