Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Gu Chengfeng was grilling meat in front of the "cabin."

Rong Yuan had considered the possibility that this guy might pull something, but in fact, he didn't.

As annoyed as Gu Chengfeng felt, he was grilling quite seriously. He burned all the meat, then grilled another batch.

Later, his girlfriend couldn't stand watching and helped him grill. Gu Chengfeng was unwilling: "Why should I let you wait on them? Don't do it, I'll handle it."

Tao Ling said, "But I think your second cousin's husband is a pretty nice person. He won but didn't make things hard for you, so don't be angry anymore."

Otherwise, just hearing how arrogant Gu Chengfeng was back then would have been enough reason to give him a harder time.

Gu Chengfeng snorted but didn't refute that. Still, he didn't think Rong Yuan was being kind—wasn't there a third condition left? Who knew if he wasn't saving some big move for later.

Gu Chengfeng said, "You're just too soft-hearted."

Tao Ling smiled without defending herself, carefully grilled several skewers of beef and lamb, plus seafood and vegetables, arranged them nicely on a plate, and handed them to Gu Chengfeng.

Gu Chengfeng, grumbling and defiant, slammed the plate heavily in front of Rong Yuan: "Eating what I grilled, aren't you afraid it'll upset your stomach?"

Rong Yuan said, "My appetite is great—sorry to disappoint you, young uncle."

With that, he sniffed, took a bite, and chewed slowly, his mouth greasy. He noticed Tao Ling had helped, and her grilling was much better than that idiot Gu Chengfeng's attempt. If it had been too burnt, he really wouldn't have dared to eat it. He waved to Tao Ling in thanks, which only made Gu Chengfeng angrier.

Gu Chengfeng being angry made Gu Shenhan feel pleased, so he took a skewer as well. The sun was just right at this time, with a breeze. Sitting under the umbrella, feet on the grass, he felt completely relaxed.

The earlier displeasure from arriving had vanished. Gu Shenhan turned his head to look at Rong Yuan and instinctively brushed his hair out of the way: "It's about to fall into the meat."

At home, Rong Yuan usually wore a hairpin, but Gu Shenhan thought a hairpin wouldn't match today's outfit, so he came out with his hair down. He wasn't used to it at first—who goes out with their hair loose? But he'd seen many people here like that, and nobody found it strange, so he went with the flow.

Eating was indeed inconvenient, especially outside with the wind.

Gu Shenhan got up and went to ask Wen Jie and the other ladies if anyone had a spare hair tie.

He came back with one and handed it to Rong Yuan.

Rong Yuan was eating shrimp, his hands greasy, looking for a napkin. Gu Shenhan directly pulled his stool over and sat behind him: "Don't move."

Rong Yuan stiffened slightly: "..." Could a fake couple act like this?

He lowered his head, his face and neck turning the color of cooked shrimp.

With fair skin, any change was visible, especially today in a black shirt that made it even more obvious. Gu Shenhan stared at the delicate nape of his neck and felt as if distant horse hooves were pounding on his heart—thud, thud, thud, like thunder drums.

He had never tied anyone's hair before, so he did it clumsily. After he finished, it was crooked.

Someone nearby chuckled—it was Wen Jie and other guests. They sat together chatting, watching Gu Shenhan and Rong Yuan interact.

Everyone loves beauty; who wouldn't enjoy looking at beautiful people? Especially when handsomeness and beauty come together, an extremely pleasing sight.

A kind lady reminded him: "Mr. Gu, tie the ponytail a bit higher, gently pull the elastic, and align the two ends. Your husband is good-looking; any hairstyle won't affect his good looks."

Gu Shenhan followed her advice and redid it. Without a comb, he used his fingers instead, the smooth black strands slipping through his fingers. He gathered them together and tied them. Turning to look, he found it much better—the hair wouldn't get messy, wouldn't interfere with Rong Yuan's eating, and it framed his radiant face even more clearly in front of him.

Gu Shenhan stared at him, unable to look away.

Rong Yuan, too shy to meet his eyes, smiled gratefully at the lady who had offered advice.

Gu Shenhan took the opportunity to introduce her: "This is our Qianhai Shipping sales director, Ms. Zhang Rui. You can call her Sister Zhang."

Rong Yuan said, "Sister Zhang."

Zhang Rui waved at Rong Yuan: "You ride really well. I saw you on the track earlier. Have you had special training? It looked very professional."

Rong Yuan said, "I don't really remember how I learned. Maybe it was to take photos of me riding in Hanfu?"

That was the most suitable answer he could think of.

Zhang Rui believed him and laughed: "If I get a chance, I'll have you teach me. I just wonder if Mr. Gu would be willing to spare you."

Gu Shenhan: "Sister Zhang, remember to bring me along when you look for him, then I'd be happy to."

The people around laughed along, but inwardly they were somewhat surprised. Those who worked at Qianhai and were sitting here were all people of status with their own sources of information. Word had it that Gu Shenhan's takeover of Qianhai's international business was inseparable from his marriage to Rong Yuan. Some had also found out that Rong Yuan's grandmother had an old acquaintance with Old Madam Gu, and Gu Shenhan hadn't originally seemed to intend to marry Rong Yuan.

Frankly speaking, this was a transaction. But now, Gu Shenhan's treatment of Rong Yuan didn't seem just transactional.

At that moment, Rong Yuan said to Gu Shenhan, "Han Ge, I need to use the restroom."

Gu Shenhan stood up without thinking: "Come on, I'll take you."

Rong Yuan said, "No need, I can go myself."

He had already memorized all the common public restroom signs. And if this place wasn't public, with so many people around, there would certainly be some signs, right? It couldn't be that he needed to ask every time.

Gu Shenhan thought it wasn't far, so he didn't insist on following, just asked someone where the restroom was and told Rong Yuan.

Rong Yuan entered the "cabin" and found that the first floor was half changing rooms, one after another with locks on the doors. The other half seemed to be where horse feed was stored? Large bags of stuff piled up in the room; he thought that must be it.

Not far from the feed storage was the restroom—with separate left and right entrances. When he went in, he didn't see anyone, but he noticed a pungent odor. It was unpleasant, like varnish, but gradually became cloyingly sweet.

Rong Yuan sniffed; it seemed to be coming from above.

After relieving himself, he looked up and the smell got stronger?

Oh no!

Rong Yuan quickly covered his mouth and nose, stumbled, and steadied himself by grabbing the door handle. At that moment, the handle moved on its own, and a man with a knife quickly squeezed in from outside!

Rong Yuan stepped back in fright: "Who—who are you? Help—"

"Shut up!" The man pointed the knife at him, his face ferocious. "If you yell, I'll kill you, strip you naked, and throw you out! Your husband left my family no way to live, so you're not getting off easy either! Now strip!"

Rong Yuan was shocked: "You want to ruin my honor?!"

The man paused and hissed, "Who wants your honor? Today, I'm making the Gu family lose face! Now strip!"

Wasn't that still ruining his honor?!

"I'd rather die than strip! Kill me if you dare!" Rong Yuan thought being seen naked by an outsider was worse than death.

"You're asking for it!" The man pressed the knife against his face. "Strip or not?!"

"No!" He would rather die than be humiliated!

Gritting his teeth, Rong Yuan suddenly leaned back, dodging the attack at lightning speed.

The man was stunned by his reaction.

In the blink of an eye, Rong Yuan seized the opportunity, gripping the man's wrist and slamming it hard against the wall.

Clang! The dagger hit the floor and skittered away.

Rong Yuan tried to flee, but the man grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and picked up the dagger. "You think you can run?"

The sharp blade pressed against Rong Yuan's face: "Believe me, if you move again, I'll slash your face."

Rong Yuan gasped heavily: "This is against the law."

The man said: "My whole family is about to lose their lives, why should I fear the law?! You stripping or not?"

His strength was slowly draining away. His vision kept blurring. This couldn't go on.

His hand trembled as he reached for his shirt buttons...

Then he gritted his teeth, turned his head to avoid the blade, and grabbed the man's wrist and drove the dagger into the door. The dagger tip gouged a dent in the door, and then his shirt ripped open with a tearing sound, leaving his shoulder and back exposed and cold, followed by a searing pain!

Rage gave Rong Yuan a burst of strength. He lowered his shoulder and bent his knees, slamming into the man's ribs. When the man doubled over, Rong Yuan clenched his fists and hit him hard on the back of the neck.

The man went limp, wobbled, and crumpled to the ground.

Rong Yuan's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He stumbled back, then ran out yelling, "Han Ge, help! Someone threatened me with a knife!"

In a peaceful society, this was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky. The guests, who had been chatting and drinking, immediately stirred, standing up and staring in shock toward the cabin.

They saw Rong Yuan clutching his back with one hand, the other hand covered in blood, and a gash on his face—a chilling sight.

Gu Shenhan was the first to rush over, catching him and pulling him close: "Lao Xiao! Go check what happened! Sister-in-law, get the first-aid kit!"

Wen Jie quickly told someone to get the first-aid kit.

Xiao Ke and several other men went into the cabin to assess the situation.

Rong Yuan trembled all over from fear, his back ached, and his body felt feverish and weak. The thought of it made him shudder. He grabbed Gu Shenhan's clothes: "Han Ge, I want to go h-home..."

Gu Shenhan held him loosely while checking his back wound and dialing 911. The gash on his shoulder and back was half a palm in length! The cut on his face was also severe. He pressed on the wound to stop the bleeding as he explained the situation to the dispatcher, then asked, "What exactly happened?"

Rong Yuan shook his head.

He seemed to be getting worse—his body was hot, and the pain was fading. He wanted to hold someone, to...

Shame nearly consumed him.

At that moment, Xiao Ke called: "Boss Gu, we might need to call the police. It's Fei Wendong's brother."

Even though he was close by, Xiao Ke called instead of coming out, meaning he had a reason to stay inside.

Gu Shenhan looked at Wen Jie: "Sister-in-law, I need to call the police about this."

He was already dialing—clearly not asking, only informing.

The person in his arms had an abnormally high fever and was clearly unwell. And how did Fei Wendong's brother even get in?

With blood already spilled, there was no reason not to call the police. Wen Jie nodded: "I've already let your brother Zheng know; he's on his way. Don't worry, I'll make sure this is handled."

The first-aid kit arrived, and Gu Shenhan personally disinfected and bandaged Rong Yuan's wounds.

Rong Yuan shuddered from the pain, but held back. What he found unbearable now was another kind of torment.

Gu Shenhan noticed too: Rong Yuan's body temperature was abnormally high, his breath scorching hot, and his lips were bitten raw, yet he refused to let go!

Rong Yuan repeated: "Han Ge, I want to go home."

"But we need to wait for the police, and you need to see a doctor." He had already called for an air ambulance; the helicopter would be faster than driving. He wasn't sure if Rong Yuan's reaction was just from some drug or something more dangerous.

"Can we go back to the car?" He desperately wanted to cool down and didn't want anyone to see him like this.

Gu Shenhan remotely drove the car to park nearby and helped Rong Yuan in first. Then Zheng Weiping and Gu Chengzhi got out of a car along with their group.

Seeing the blood on Gu Shenhan's hands, Zheng Weiping's face darkened: "What the hell happened? I heard Rong Yuan was injured. Does the attacker hold a grudge against him?"

Gu Shenhan's gaze fell on Gu Chengzhi: "They don't even know each other. If there's a grudge, it's with Qianhai. So I will get to the bottom of this."

Fei Wendong owed Qianhai freight fees. Gu Shenhan had decided to stop providing transport services for his company—that was perfectly justified. Even if they stopped the transport, there were still ways to solve the problem while alive. But for Fei Wendong to send his brother to do something like this seemed unlikely. What could he gain? Unless someone had promised them something.

Zheng Weiping hurried into the cabin, looked around, then came out: "Isn't this Fei Wendong's brother? Fei Wendong is one of Qianhai's major clients. Wouldn't it be better to downplay this?"

He never wanted bloodshed at his wife's birthday party! This wasn't what he and Gu Chengzhi had agreed on!

Gu Chengzhi hadn't expected this outcome either. He had only wanted Fei Wenxi to threaten Rong Yuan, then take the chance to exaggerate to the crowd how cold and ruthless Gu Shenhan was in pushing clients to the brink. That would stir up trouble online and give Gu Shenhan a hard time with the Qianhai board.

People sympathize with the weak, and public opinion would pressure the board into attacking Gu Shenhan.

But things had taken this turn, and now Rong Yuan was the victim.

Gu Chengzhi asked: "Is Xiao An okay?"

Gu Shenhan said grimly: "No, he's not. So I will definitely pursue this."

With that, he got into the car. Rong Yuan glanced at him, sweating profusely, his eyes red and pitiful, but only glanced before turning his head away, as if wanting help but not daring to ask.

Seeing this, Gu Shenhan gently pulled him into his arms.