C25 Too Much Attention

"Director Lu can't even safeguard his own reputation, yet he seems to be quite invested in my affairs."

The statement carried a double meaning.

Lu Jingyue chuckled and clapped his hands, signaling to the crowd, "Since Director Gu has brought it up, I should clarify the situation between Ye Tian and myself. It's been the hot topic of recent gossip, so please refrain from speculation. There's nothing to it."

Ye Tian had been ready to breathe a sigh of relief, but upon seeing Gu Qinian's increasingly sour expression, she had an epiphany.

Wasn't this confirming the rumors in front of everyone?

She blamed herself for not realizing it sooner!

With no other choice, Ye Tian awkwardly reiterated Lu Jingyue's denial, though whether the listeners believed them was another matter entirely.

"Qinian, about Yuanhua..." Ye Ziyan hesitated, "We were wrong, but Yuanhua had no ill intentions. Perhaps we shouldn't terminate the contract after all."

She was willing to go with the flow and give Ren Yuanhua a hand, especially in front of Gu Qinian.

Gu Qinian nodded, "Fine, Ye Tian can shoot until she's satisfied."

At his words, both Ye Ziyan and Ren Yuanhua couldn't conceal their joy. Ye Tian stared at Gu Qinian in astonishment. Was he serious?

But then she realized he must have hurried over after hearing about her slapping Ye Ziyan, likely seeking to retaliate on Ziyan's behalf.

That would explain it.

"Director Gu, perhaps you should seek someone else. You set the contract, but I was the one who signed Ye Tian. I have other plans for her," Lu Jingyue stated firmly.

Ye Tian was taken aback that Lu Jingyue would step in to assist her, and she gave him a grateful glance.

With the conversation at this point, any further insistence might seem confrontational.

As the workday neared its end, Ye Tian found a moment to visit the surveillance room. She copied the video footage and sent it to Gu Qinian. She didn't want him harboring any deep-seated misunderstandings about her. After all, they were married, and since she was innocent, providing evidence was the logical step.

What mattered most to her was making Gu Qinian realize that his reasons for 'punishing' her were entirely unfounded. She hadn't mistreated Ye Ziyan at all; it was Ye Ziyan who had staged the whole incident.

She had convinced herself that her performance was quite convincing.

As night fell, Ye Tian made her way back to the Jinghao Apartment, only to find, both unexpectedly and not, that Gu Qinian was there. He stood before the living room's floor-to-ceiling window, seemingly awaiting her arrival.

It wasn't that Ye Tian was full of herself, but the man's demeanor screamed that he was about to demand answers. Hadn't she sent him the video? Why was he still upset? Perhaps Little White Lotus had been whispering in his ear again?

Clearing her throat to announce her presence, and with thoughts of her grandfather in mind, she decided to be the first to concede, "I apologize."

Only then did he turn to face her, his gaze piercing and unsettling.

"Ahem. I really shouldn't have argued with Little White Lotus, upsetting her. Does my apology suffice?" Ye Tian said nonchalantly. It was just words, after all; they wouldn't cost her anything. She could repeat them ten times if necessary.

Gu Qinian's expression darkened, his whole being radiating anger.

"After all the trouble you went through to marry me, now you're cozying up to Lu Jingyue. What's your endgame?"

Ye Tian was taken aback, her face a mask of confusion. The conversation had shifted gears too quickly for her to catch up. She was still pondering Little White Lotus, and now she was accused of cozying up to Lu Jingyue?

If the man couldn't speak without barking, he might as well stay silent. Nobody was mistaking him for a mute.

"The esteemed Gu Qinian of Gu's Group believes in gossip? I told you, I'm not involved." Her words were already at the edge of her patience, and the accusation was just adding insult to injury.

"A fly won't land on a flawless egg."

"And your ancestors said not to speak without evidence," she snapped back without reservation.

Evidence, indeed.

Gu Qinian, usually sharp-tongued, suddenly realized his excessive preoccupation with Ye Tian was not a good sign.

"I won't be coming back tonight," he declared, grabbing his coat and striding out.

Love it or leave it, she thought, as if I was waiting for you anyway.

She was completely perplexed!

Ye Tian made a contemptuous gesture toward the closed door before striding back to her room.

Muttering to herself, she thought, This man is truly bizarre. His mood swings are even more unpredictable than the London sky.

Just as Ye Ziyan settled in, her phone rang with a call from Gu Qinian, who was on his way to pick her up.

Overjoyed, Ye Ziyan quickly freshened up, thrilled that Gu Qinian finally seemed to need her. She was about to search for a condom when she chided herself for her foolishness. Wouldn't it be even better if she got pregnant?

Eagerly, she headed downstairs to the sound of his approaching car.

Gu Qinian had turned off the engine, his mood now steady. As he saw Ye Ziyan approach with enthusiasm, he reminded himself that she was the one he loved.

"Qinian," Ye Ziyan cooed.

Despite the rush, she had managed to apply a delicate layer of makeup.

"Yeah, get in," Gu Qinian said, a trace of irritation in his voice as he caught the scent of her perfume. The car took off.

Ye Ziyan instinctively clutched her seatbelt, her heart a tumultuous mix of excitement and anxiety. She stole glances at his profile, her heart bursting with joy. Was he really in such a rush?

But upon reaching their destination, Ye Ziyan was taken aback.

A bar? Weren't they supposed to get a room?

Then it hit her – alcohol was indeed the best remedy.

Ye Ziyan poured drinks for Gu Qinian one after another, careful not to overdo it. She had no desire to spend the night with someone incapacitated by drink.

She also noticed the predatory stares from women nearby. Their shameless eyes, set on snatching someone else's man, did not escape her. Yet, she seemed to forget that she was no different.

In fact, she was worse, having taken credit for others' efforts and claimed the man as her own.

"Qinian, let's leave," she suggested.

If they continued drinking, they'd be too inebriated to do anything else.

Gu Qinian nodded, "Alright, let's go. I'll take you home."

Ye Ziyan paused, surprised. Had she heard him correctly? He was taking her home?

She hurried to catch up, looping her arm through Gu Qinian's and biting her lip, "Qinian, let me stay with you. I want... I want to be your woman."

She didn't want the man to silently move her hand away. He repeated, "It's too late. I'll take you home."

Ultimately, Ye Ziyan was "returned to her original place."

Ye Yongcheng, already asleep from excitement, mistook the sound of Ye Ziyan slamming the door for a burglar. Upon realizing it was his daughter, he was confused. "Weren't you with Gu Qinian..."

Before he could finish, Ye Ziyan headed upstairs. From this, Ye Yongcheng understood the situation without needing to ask further.

Could it be that Gu Qinian didn't like women?

But then Ye Yongcheng dismissed his ridiculous notion with a shake of his head. It was impossible; otherwise, with Gu Qinian's status, he wouldn't have needed to marry Ziyan. He was just being overly eager.

Ye Ziyan felt the same way.