C22 Betrayed

The eyes that once sparkled with clarity in her memory, eyes that would curve into a bridge at the sight of her, were now shrouded in darkness, utterly devoid of light.

And it was all her doing!

"No..." Gu Ruoshan shook her head, retreating two steps with a face ashen as paper.

Gu Tingchuan and Lin Li's expressions also shifted dramatically as they watched the slender youth approach with faces of stone.

"Waiter! Quick, get this blind man out of here!" Lin Li shrieked.

"Who dares?!" Gu Zhiwei's voice boomed, her presence turning icy and formidable.

No one dared to speak up or even cast a glance her way.

Only Bo Yandong, standing quietly in a corner, watched Gu Zhiwei command the stage with the poise of a deity. A slow smile crept across his lips.

This woman was far more unconventional than he had anticipated.

Oddly, he found himself not only unbothered by her but also harboring a sense of admiration.

As he observed her aloof visage, a complex light flickered in Bo Yandong's eyes.

Down below, Gu Ruoshan quickly regained her composure.

She dashed onto the stage and positioned herself behind Gu Zhiwei, hissing in a whisper meant only for them, "Is this why you came today? Gu Zhiwei, are you intent on destroying my birthday party?!"

"What if I am?" Gu Zhiwei responded icily, without so much as a glance back. "I will reclaim everything you took from him, intact!"

A jolt of fear shot through Gu Ruoshan, panic glinting in her eyes.

Her hand clenched subtly at her side, yet she feigned a gentle smile, reaching for Gu Zhiwei's hand. "Sister..."

Bang!

The sound reverberated through the room.

Everyone froze in place.

"Ah!" Lin Li's scream pierced the air as she rushed toward where the two had fallen. "Ruoshan! Ruoshan!"

The other guests were thrown into disarray, swarming the scene.

On the outskirts, Bo Yandong and Ning Yishu sprang into action, charging through the crowd.

Bo Yandong's lips were a tight line, his face a mask of chilling resolve.

Ning Yishu was calling out for Gu Zhiwei while forcing his way through the crowd, causing the man's face to grow even colder.

He glanced back at Gu Zhinan, who stood frozen in place, looking utterly lost. People rushed past the boy, bumping into his slender frame and nearly knocking him over several times.

After a moment's consideration, Bo Yandong decided to look after Gu Zhinan. He knew that in the event of an emergency, Gu Zhiwei would never want Gu Zhinan to get hurt.

Bo Yandong quickly approached Gu Zhinan and reassured him in a soft voice, "Don't be scared."

Gu Zhinan recognized his voice and nodded, still shaken. "Where's my sister? She said she had a surprise for me tonight. I thought I heard her voice earlier."

Bo Yandong cast a worried glance at the crowd and replied in a gentle tone, "She's alright. She'll be here very soon..."

"Where's Zhiwei?!" a voice full of surprise and concern cut off Bo Yandong's reassurance.

He paused, looking up to see a path had been made through the throng of people.

Ning Yishu stood amidst the crowd, his question echoing with disbelief.

Next to him was Gu Ruoshan, silently weeping in Lin Li's embrace, with Gu Tingchuan standing by, his expression one of sheer anger. Gu Zhiwei, however, was conspicuously absent.

In the midst of a public space, a person had vanished without a trace!

Leaning on Lin Li's shoulder, Gu Ruoshan spoke through her tears, "My sister got angry and pushed me. I lost my balance and fell. It wasn't intentional."

"I'm not interested in your excuses," Ning Yishu said, his gaze icy. "Tell me, where is Zhiwei?"