Chapter 555 I Can Take You as My Concubine

Chapter 555: I Can Take You as My Concubine

Zhou Yunyi’s expression was complicated as he lowered his voice. "You don’t have to pretend to be calm in front of me. I heard—your family wants to marry you off to that old widower who killed three wives, don’t they?"

Gong Qingniang found Zhou Yunyi’s demeanor absurd, and the words "What’s it to you?!" nearly slipped out.

But she remembered Xingxing was still present—she couldn’t set a bad example for the young girl.

Taking a deep breath, Gong Qingniang put on a more refined air. "What’s it to you? If you’ve got so much free time, Young Master Zhou, perhaps you should focus on how to marry your beloved Miss Wang instead?"

Zhou Yunyi stared fixedly at Gong Qingniang. "I knew it—you’re still bitter."

At this point, Gong Qingniang genuinely believed Zhou Yunyi was insane.

She inhaled sharply, but before she could speak, Yu Yongbai strode over with a face like ice.

Yu Yongbai stepped protectively in front of Gong Qingniang, his voice icy. "Young Master Zhou, discussing such matters with a young lady in public is downright disgraceful!"

Zhou Yunyi frowned, ignoring Yu Yongbai, and instead locked eyes with Gong Qingniang behind him. "Qingniang, we were betrothed since childhood. I know you still have feelings for me. But my heart belongs to Jia Jia—we were never fated to be together."

Gong Qingniang wanted to gag at his words.

Just as she was about to snap, "Are you insane?" Zhou Yunyi suddenly furrowed his brows, as if making a noble concession. "...I know you don’t want to marry that widower. I can speak to your family—I’m willing to take you as my concubine! That way, you won’t have to marry him..."

Yu Yongbai couldn’t take it anymore. He kicked Zhou Yunyi squarely, cursing outright—a rare loss of composure. "In your dreams, you pathetic fool!"

Zhou Yunyi stumbled back from the blow, furious. "You again! I’ve tolerated you long enough!"

Gritting his teeth, he barked, "Kill him!"

Though Yu Yongbai hadn’t brought any men with him this time, Zhou Yunyi only had two or three guards. Yu Yongbai held his own—just.

But Gong Qingniang couldn’t stand by and watch. The moment Zhou Yunyi ordered his men to attack Yu Yongbai, she snatched a hairpin from her hair and lunged forward, jabbing the sharp tip against Zhou Yunyi’s throat. "Stop!"

Zhou Yunyi didn’t believe she’d actually hurt him. He opened his mouth to speak—only for Gong Qingniang to jab the pin into his neck without hesitation.

The sharp pain seemed to jolt him awake. Staring at Gong Qingniang in disbelief, he snarled, "Have you lost your mind?! For a mere merchant, you—"

Gong Qingniang sneered. "Young Master Zhou still looks down on merchants as always. How *generous* of you to lower yourself and offer to take me as your concubine."

Zhou Yunyi ground his teeth. "You ought to thank me!"

Gong Qingniang let out a derisive snort.

"Get lost! I don’t need it! I’d rather marry that old widower than be your concubine. What makes you so special?" Her gaze was filled with disdain as she glared at him.

Zhou Yunyi stared at her, stunned.

But Gong Qingniang felt a cathartic release in being blunt with someone like him. Decorum be damned, she sneered, "A hypocrite like you—preaching morality while looking down on everyone, yet knee-deep in hypocrisy—how could anyone be blind enough to fall for you?"

"Spending thousands of taels on Wang Jia Jia must be thrilling, no? Cut her off and see if she still bothers with you!"

That hit a sore spot. Zhou Yunyi nearly leaped up. "How dare you insult Jia Jia like that!"

Gong Qingniang was done with him. She pushed Zhou Yunyi with force, sending him stumbling forward.

"Get lost!" she spat in disgust.

Zhou Yunyi’s veins bulged in his neck with rage. Glaring at her, he suddenly smirked. "Fine! I’ll wait for the day you come begging to me!"

With that, Zhou Yunyi stormed off.

However, having been kicked and stabbed in the neck, he didn’t exactly make a graceful exit.

Gong Qingniang watched his retreating figure and spat on the ground. "What a psycho!"

Yu Yongbai remained silent, his brows tightly furrowed.

Gong Qingniang turned to him, concerned. "Mr. Yu? What's wrong?"

Yu Yongbai frowned. "...Zhou Yunyi losing it like this reminded me of something."

Gong Qingniang looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Yu Yongbai coughed, slightly uncomfortable. "...Earlier, I looked into Wang Jiajia's family. Her brother is a gambler. Several casino bosses keep him around as a cash cow, bleeding him dry from time to time."

Gong Qingniang caught on, her own frown deepening. "...The Wang family isn’t well-off—otherwise, the Marquis of Weibei’s household wouldn’t keep stonewalling Wang Jiajia’s entry. So, her brother’s gambling debts..."

"Were paid off by Zhou Yunyi!"

"So, Zhou Yunyi suddenly losing it and saying he wanted to take me as a concubine was because he couldn’t keep bailing out Wang Jiajia’s brother and was looking to shake me down for cash instead?"

Gong Qingniang’s analysis made her even more disgusted. "...I should’ve finished him off with that hairpin!"

"But it’s also a coincidence," Yu Yongbai said, looking at Gong Qingniang. "Just now, we suspected your Second Uncle and Third Uncle were frequently withdrawing money due to gambling. Then Zhou Yunyi comes over spouting that creepy crap, and on top of that, Wang Jiajia’s brother is also a gambling addict..."

Gong Qingniang’s eyes lit up. "There might be a connection here!"

"Exactly."

The two exchanged a glance. Both were doers and were itching to dig into this separately.

Xingxing saw them off, then noticed Bai Xiaofeng pulling Gui Geer along, grinning from ear to ear as she ducked over from the teahouse across the street. In a stage whisper, she asked Xingxing, "They’ve left?"

Xingxing nodded.

Bai Xiaofeng beamed. "...So, she really is your future sister-in-law?"

Xingxing nodded again. "Unless something changes, yeah."

She then cautioned Bai Xiaofeng, "Second Aunt, since Second Brother hasn’t formally proposed yet, we can talk about it among ourselves, but we shouldn’t spread it around."

Bai Xiaofeng was all smiles. "Ah, yes, yes, I know. I understand... Ah, that girl really does seem wonderful—such fire in her! I like her already. Come on, since they’re gone anyway, Xingxing, give me the scoop—what’s her deal?"

Bai Xiaofeng dragged Xingxing back into the teahouse’s VIP room.

Gui Geer shrugged and followed the two upstairs to the VIP room.