C47 I'll Give You

Did this jerk take the wrong pill today? Why is he speaking with such a foul mouth, as if anyone provoked him?

Ye Tian's clear eyes reflected his icy demeanor. She was tempted to snap back at him, but then she remembered that it was Lu Jingyue who had extended the invitation. It wouldn't be right to cause a scene at his event, so she bit her tongue and held back.

But while Ye Tian showed restraint, Gu Qinian was relentless.

"Ye Tian, you seem quite keen to cozy up to Director Lu. Are you hoping to climb the ladder by clinging to a man's coattails?"

"Clank!"

The sound of chopsticks hitting the plate echoed as Ye Tian, visibly annoyed, wiped her hands with a napkin and tossed it aside. Her gaze, now icy, shifted back to Gu Qinian.

Her lips curled into a mocking smile, her expression dripping with contempt.

"Director Gu, for someone who's the CEO of Gu's Group, your comments are shockingly tasteless. Have you had some personal experience in that area?"

At her words, Gu Qinian's eyes grew darker, his chiseled features tensing as he struggled to contain his annoyance.

You! Who asked you to provoke me? Well, if that's how it is, I'll just have to return the favor to your precious white lotus!

Ye Ziyan, on the other hand, couldn't have been happier. She saw Gu Qinian's mockery of Ye Tian as a clear sign of disdain, and it delighted her.

Her eyes gleamed with cunning as she gently shook Gu Qinian's arm, feigning affection.

"Qinian, don't be so harsh. She's still a girl, after all. Speaking like that, where does that leave her dignity?"

She laughed softly, her words subtly stoking the fire.

"Besides, I don't think Ye Tian is really after Director Lu. Just yesterday at the photography competition, I saw a man cheering her on. He even called her 'Sweet Tian,' now that's genuine affection!"

At this, Lu Jingyue's eyebrows lifted slightly, while Gu Qinian's face turned utterly sour.

Ye Tian's brow furrowed, a look of impatience crossing her face as she shot back without hesitation.

"Can't you speak properly? You were all bluster and aggression yesterday, but around men, your voice becomes sickeningly sweet. It's so creepy, it gives me goosebumps."

Ye Ziyan was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ye Tian to play her cards so unpredictably. The embarrassment was evident on her face as she bit down hard on her teeth in frustration.

Yet she wasn't about to give up. With a sly glint in her eye, she feigned innocence and spoke up.

"Come on, you can't fool me. I saw it with my own eyes. That man is extraordinary, and he's so kind to you. No one would believe he doesn't have feelings for you."

Ye Tian's lips twisted into a sneer, her gaze turning icy.

"What's my relationship with him to you? Does it concern you at all? You're clearly clueless, so why are you spreading rumors?"

Ye Ziyan, taken aback by such a bold comeback, turned to Gu Qinian for support.

"Qinian, I..."

Here we go again!

That was her only move!

While Ye Tian was internally grumbling, Gu Qinian unexpectedly interjected, "Ye Tian."

This time, however, his voice wasn't filled with stern warning. Instead, Ye Tian detected a note of seething frustration.

She looked up to meet Gu Qinian's dark expression, the annoyance in his eyes unmistakable.

Was he upset? She hadn't even said anything substantial.

He was seriously angry today, coddling his precious white lotus.

Without a trace of emotion, she averted her gaze and casually picked up her chopsticks, muttering, "Let's just eat and go our separate ways."

But Gu Qinian, seemingly off-kilter today, wasn't about to let her off the hook.

"Go our separate ways? Ye Tian, which home are you referring to?"

Ye Tian's brow furrowed, about to protest his relentless badgering, but Gu Qinian had already turned to Lu Jingyue with a mocking look.

"Director Lu, you'd better watch out. Some women have no scruples and are full of deceitful plans. You never know when they might try to outsmart you."

He let out a scornful laugh, a flicker of unacknowledged rage in his eyes.

"Moreover, with your status, what kind of woman can't you have? Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and not be blinded by those manipulative, faithless types."

It was clear to everyone there that his barbed words were aimed at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian clenched her jaw, internally cursing the despicable man to no end.

Seriously? He rushed over here just to insult me?

She inhaled deeply, ready to snap back with a retort, when Lu Jingyue, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.

"Director Gu, I appreciate your generosity, but you may not be aware that some women are exceptionally talented, shining naturally like stars, which naturally draws more admirers. However, that doesn't imply these women are flirtatious," he said, turning to glance at Ye Tian with a warm gaze and a charming smile.

"Ye Tian is one of my team members, and I greatly value her skills. I recognize her as an extraordinary woman, and this admiration has led me to seek her friendship. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way; many others do too, like the man Miss Ye Ziyan just mentioned."

He paused, lifting his gaze to meet the increasingly stormy eyes of Gu Qinian, his smile widening slightly.

"Exceptional people tend to attract each other, after all. Ye Tian is like a piece of shining gold, and it's only natural that she would have some remarkable admirers."

Ye Tian's eyes widened as she took in his words, wishing she could give him a thumbs-up on the spot.

Look at that! Listen to that!

Now that's the art of conversation!

Why is it that with the same tongue, some can speak so eloquently, while others' words reek?

She felt a rush of satisfaction but managed to show only a modest smile, laughing off the compliment.

"Director Lu, you're giving me too much credit. That person is merely a friend, not an admirer," she said, before quickly adding, "Besides, I'm too busy to think about such things right now. Work is my top priority. Don't worry, boss, I won't let you down!"

With that, she gave a respectful bow.

Her playful demeanor brought a smile to Lu Jingyue's face, and he nodded in response, "Mmm, I trust you."

Meanwhile, Ye Ziyan watched the exchange, feeling as if her heart was being scratched by a cat's claws.

Ye Tian was nothing but a lowlife—why did she always have people treating her well?

Beside her, Gu Qinian watched the pair intently, a tempest brewing in his usually placid eyes.

He could sense that Lu Jingyue was deliberately defending her, which only served to fuel his rage even more.

In that instant, he found the woman's smile to be unbearably blinding!

Fifteen minutes later, the dinner concluded amidst an eerie silence.

Ye Tian, feeling disgruntled as she observed the two men, finally relaxed as if a great burden had been lifted.

But just as she was about to rise, Gu Qinian abruptly stood up, and his deep voice resonated above her.

"Ye Tian, let me take you home."