Chapter 77.2

Tao Yi Xi was speechless at his confidence. “… This sir, you’ve got the wrong person. I don’t recognise you. I apologize but I have things to do, so I must be leaving now.”

She did not want to waste any time with him and stood up to leave.

Zhou Xing’s eyes widened, and he loudly declared in the middle of the busy restaurant, “Didn’t your mother tell you? She has given you to me and even took two million as a deposit!”

In just one short sentence, the amount of information it contained was staggering.

The other patrons in the restaurant turned their gazes towards them, curious and mostly disdainful, especially towards the ‘given away’ Tao Yi Xi.

Tao Yi Xi paused in her steps, recalling the unpleasant end to her last conversation with Xia Yan. Her mother had mentioned the Zhou family over the phone… so this was the kind of ‘outstanding’ person Xia Yan was talking about.

As soon as she hesitated, Zhou Xing seized the opportunity to grab her wrist. The feel of her delicate skin sent a thrill through him, but his words remained crass, “I’m giving you face by letting you be my girlfriend. Who do you think you are, trying to act all high and mighty with me!?”  

This was Zhou Xing’s usual tactic. Exploiting a girl’s sense of shame to achieve his goal, and it almost never failed. Moreover, her mother had already taken his money, putting her at a moral disadvantage.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Tl oyp nlavykd pbl oswze nsxrzu sclekldvzu. Tkp vbwxc nyalpple bla pjkd xsal kdewztldvzu zkjl y pzkxu pdyjl oayrrkdt vktbvla yaswde kvp ralu.

Ekvb y pbyar vwt, Mys Zk Dk vakle vs rwzz bla byde yoyu, cwv Hbsw Dkdt oyp ralryale yde vktbvldle bkp takr.

Fbl nyzxzu pvyvle, “Sltyaekdt vbl xsdlu, usw pbswze qkde vbl rlapsd obs vssj kv. Lso zlv ts sq xl!”

“Ebyv? Pke usw yde uswa xsvbla vbkdj usw nyd eswczl-naspp xl? Fkdnl usw vssj vbl xsdlu, usw pbswze es yp usw’al vsze.”

Oxcszeldle cu bkp pvaldtvb yp y xyd, Hbsw Dkdt clnyxl lhld xsal caygld, yvvlxrvkdt vs alynb ynaspp vbl vyczl vs vswnb bla pzldela oykpv. Fsxlvbkdt bl bye clld vlxrvle vs es qasx vbl xsxldv bl zyke lulp sd bla.

Rd bkp xkde, vbkp osxyd oyp bkp, ps obyv oyp vbl byax kd y pzktbv vswnb?

Fldpkdt bkp xyzknkswp kdvldv, Mys Zk Dk vldple wr. Rv bye clld ulyap pkdnl pbl zypv qswtbv, pbl oyp wdpwal kq bla pjkzzp bye clnsxl awpvu.

Tla dlahlp olal sd bktb yzlav yp pbl alxykdle nsxrzlvlzu pvkzz, oykvkdt qsa Hbsw Dkdt vs nsxl nzspla ps pbl nswze elzkhla y elnkpkhl czso. Ebyv pbl eke dsv alyzkgl oyp bso wdplvvzkdt bla zynj sq alpkpvydnl yrrlyale vs y nlavykd psxlsdl obs oyp oyvnbkdt.

“Tao, Yi, Xi.”

A familiar voice called her name with clear, imposing enunciation.

The man, in a well-tailored suit, looked calm and elegant, but his steps were brisk and forceful as he approached her side.

Tao Yi Xi first breathed a sigh of relief, only to feel embarrassed by the degrading situation she was caught in.

Who did not want to leave an impression on their ex that they were doing just fine even without them?

Moreover, he should not be here at this moment.

Gu Jing Yuan’s expression tensed and his gaze hardened. When he noticed her evasion, his lips pressed together even more firmly.

Although he did not intervene directly, his overbearing presence and piercing gaze pierced through Zhou Xing.

Having been pampered all his life and surrounded only by indulgent pleasures and frivolous friends, Zhou Xing had never faced such a powerful form of oppression. His heart pounded and in a moment of panic, he instinctively loosened his grip on Tao Yi Xi.

When he finally regained his composure, Zhou Xing snarled in agitation, “Who the fuck are you? And this is between my girlfriend and I, why the hell are you sticking your nose into other people’s business?!”

Gu Jing Yuan furrowed his brows as his gaze fell on her, “Girlfriend?”

Tao Yi Xi looked down, immediately denying, “No.”

Having been embarrassed by Tao Yi Xi’s denial, Zhou Xing retorted loudly, “Just you wait and see!”

He dialled his phone on speaker, and the woman on the other end spoke ingratiatingly, “Young Master Zhou, have you found Xiao Xi yet? Her colleague told me that this is the right hotel.”

It was a familiar and nauseatingly flattering tone.

Gu Jing Yuan glanced at the downcast Tao Yi Xi.

Zhou Xing, fueled by the anger he had been accumulating from them, lashed out at Xia Yan, “Don’t you fucking know how to teach your daughter properly?! You demanded two million upfront, with eight million more upon the completion of our deal, but now your daughter refuses to acknowledge it! Let me tell you, if you dare to play me for a fool, not only will I destroy you, but I’ll also find someone to skin you alive!”

In high society, the Zhou family’s status was not the highest, but it was not low either. Zhou Xing, being the youngest child of Zhou family, had been spoiled since childhood. He was a typical young master with a reckless demeanour. Backed by his family reputation, he was not one to be trifled with when triggered.

Xia Yan quickly apologized, “Young Master Zhou, I’m so sorry. I’ve told her about it before but she’s just being difficult. Let me call and talk to her right away. Please calm down.”

“No need! She’s right here. You better settle this!”

Zhou Xing threw the phone onto the table in front of Tao Yi Xi, drawing even more attention from the remaining diners. Their heated gaze suffocated her.

Staring at the active call, Tao Yi Xi’s lips turned pale, her eyes filled with disappointment and fatigue.

Suddenly, a firm and well-defined hand ended the call and tossed the phone back to Zhou Xing, before summoning the restaurant manager.

“Clear the place, I’ll cover everyone’s tabs.”

The manager, recognizing Gu Jing Yuan, complied immediately, “Yes, President Gu.”

Being blatantly ignored and interrupted, Zhou Xing was like a ruffled chicken and he smashed his phone in fury. The shattered glass fragments scattered causing the remaining customers to gasp.

Gu Jing Yuan remained unfazed by Zhou Xing’s actions. The significant height difference between them made Zhou Xing feel the contempt and disdain emanating from Gu Jing Yuan’s gaze.

“Who the hell are you?!”

He was the most pampered young master of the Zhou family, and the messes he created will always be resolved by his family. Why was there a need to be afraid of this person in front of him?!

With this thought, Zhou Xing regained his confidence and roared at Gu Jing Yuan, “Do you know who I am?! Tomorrow, I’ll ruin you and you’ll have no way to survive in the capital anymore!”

“Oh?”

Zhou Xing was extremely certain, “You’re done for!”

Gu Jing Yuan smiled coldly, “Then I’ll be waiting.”

Although Zhou Xing was unwilling to admit defeat, he knew he could not touch his ‘girlfriend’ today. As he left, he shot a hateful glare at Tao Yi Xi.

After Zhou Xing stormed away, only the two of them remained in the empty restaurant.

Tao Yi Xi’s phone started buzzing incessantly with incoming calls.

Just as Gu Jing Yuan glanced at her phone, Tao Yi Xi cancelled the call and blocked the number.

His gaze shifted from the phone to her face, staring intently without speaking.

He was waiting.

During this tense moment, Tina called.

Yet, before Tao Yi Xi could speak, Tina accused, “Ashley, are you trying to embarrass me?”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about! You clearly have a personal relationship with President Gu, yet you talk about voluntarily stepping down from the position of the project lead. So you’re just playing me, huh? Waiting to see me make a fool of myself, aren’t you?!”

Tao Yi Xi frowned, confused by Tina’s words.

“This project…” She hesitated, suddenly aware of Gu Jing Yuan’s presence, “I’ll explain when I get back.”

Tina, humiliated and envious of Tao Yi Xi’s supposed influence with Gu Jing Yuan, lashed out, “Do it yourself, bitch!” and hung up.

Tao Yi Xi sighed, finally addressing him, “President Gu, thank you for your help just now.”

Her gratitude carried a tone of distance, which made Gu Jing Yuan’s smile even colder.

“You’re thanking me? You abandoned the project for a matchmaking date, and here I am, worried that I might’ve ruined your marital match.”

Tao Yi Xi, hearing his sarcasm, bit her lip, not bothering to explain the supposed date to him as they only had a professional relationship. She replied formally, “I’m not suitable to handle this project.”

“And why not?” His voice was cold, “You think our past will affect your professionalism and work?”

His question hit her hard, reminding her that she was the only one still stuck in the past.

Her lashes fluttered, and then she forced a smile that he knew all too well, “You’re right, I’ve overestimated my abilities.”