Tang Yunzheng, disregarding etiquette, knocked on the Su family's door late at night. Aunt Chen opened the door and, seeing Tang Yunzheng, was somewhat surprised. "It's Yunzheng! Are you looking for Mianmian? She's not home."
Upon hearing this, Tang Yunzheng frowned even deeper. Remembering how Su Mianmian had avoided answering his video calls lately, he had a suspicion. "Aunt Chen, is Su Mianmian not home tonight, or has she been away all this time?"
"This…" Aunt Chen hesitated. After all, it was a servant's business, and she couldn't speak carelessly about such matters. Just as she was thinking about how to answer Tang Yunzheng, Su's mother came downstairs. "Aunt Chen, please let Yunzheng in."
Tang Yunzheng walked into the living room and saw Su's mother, as usual, placing some of his favorite snacks in front of him. A sudden pang of sadness gripped his heart. "Aunt Su, could you tell me what really happened between Su Mianmian and Gu Yizhou?"
Su's mother smiled. "I knew you'd come asking after you found out, but it's been a little later than I expected. You and Mianmian were so close before, I always thought..." She trailed off, realizing she'd misspoke. "Never mind, let's not talk about that. Fate is something you can't predict until the very last moment."
Tang Yunzheng instinctively guessed the rest of Su's mother's unfinished sentence—she still believed Su Mianmian would end up with him.
So, everyone thought he and Su Mianmian were a couple, only he himself had been oblivious... Thinking of this, Tang Yunzheng's heart churned, his eyes stinging with tears, and he rubbed his cheeks.
"Aunt Su, Su Mianmian didn't do it willingly, did she? She's so young, and Gu Yizhou is eight years older than her. How could you and Uncle Su bear to let her go?" Su's mother didn't answer Tang Yunzheng's question directly, only smiling.
"It was indeed Mianbao's own choice. Although Gu Yizhou is a few years older than her, he knows how to take care of people. Since it's come to this, don't think too much about it." Tang Yunzheng didn't get any answers and left the Su family home in a daze, sitting outside the gate for a whole night.
As dawn approached, Aunt Chen went out to buy groceries and was startled to see Tang Yunzheng sitting at the gate. "Yunzheng, why are you still here?"
Tang Yunzheng's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was terribly pale. He tugged at Aunt Chen's sleeve and pleaded, "Aunt Chen, please tell me, okay? Why did Su Mianmian suddenly marry Gu Yizhou? You've watched me grow up since I was little, please, just out of pity for me, okay?"
Aunt Chen couldn't withstand Tang Yunzheng's persistent pleading and sighed, "Yunzheng, I can tell you this, but you absolutely mustn't say I told you, otherwise…" "Aunt Chen, don't worry, I promise I won't tell."
After receiving Tang Yunzheng's promise, Aunt Chen told him everything she knew. Tang Yunzheng was utterly shocked upon hearing this. "So, Su Mianmian only married Gu Yizhou out of necessity for Su Yang's sake?"
"How could Su Mianmian be so stupid? This is marriage, not something to joke around with!"... When Su Mianmian woke up in the morning, Gu Yizhou wasn't beside her. His pillow was untouched, as if he hadn't slept in the previous night.
After getting ready, Su Mianmian left the bedroom. Gu Yizhou was in the kitchen making breakfast, his shirt sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms with bulging veins. Seeing Su Mianmian, Gu Yizhou smiled. "Breakfast will be ready soon. Go wait outside for a while."
Su Mianmian said "Oh," but didn't go out. Instead, she went into the kitchen, glanced at the pan, where a golden fried egg sizzled, releasing an enticing aroma. "Were you working all night?"
Gu Yizhou turned off the stove and placed the fried egg on a plate. "No, it was around 2 AM. I was worried about waking you, so I slept in the guest room." Su Mianmian felt apologetic. "I'm a very sound sleeper; I'm usually not disturbed."
Gu Yizhou smiled, carrying a plate in one hand and holding Su Mianmian's hand in the other, leading her into the dining room. "Afraid of me?" Seeing Su Mianmian's lowered head and silence, he said, "Okay, I'll understand next time." A blush crept onto Su Mianmian's face, for some reason.
Even though Gu Yizhou's words were completely serious, without a hint of flirting, she still felt a little shy. Halfway through breakfast, Gao Ze arrived, waiting in the living room to report the day's itinerary to Gu Yizhou.
Gu Yizhou slowly wiped his mouth, told Su Mianmian to finish her breakfast, and then got up and moved to the living room. Su Mianmian silently ate her fried egg, her eyes secretly glancing towards the living room.
Gu Yizhou had just come out of the bedroom after changing his clothes. He was wearing a gray shirt, the collar buttoned all the way up, and was holding a matching tie, wrapping it around his neck.
With slender fingers, he deftly tied the tie. Gu Yizhou tilted his head slightly, lifted the knot, and a neat Windsor knot was formed. Gao Ze stood to the side, simultaneously reporting to him.
Gu Yizhou's gaze was fixed straight ahead, his expression cold and stern. He occasionally uttered a syllable or two, as if issuing an order. Su Mianmian felt that Gu Yizhou's aura at work was incredibly powerful. That authoritative, aloof demeanor was completely different from how he flirted with her in private.
Su Mianmian was engrossed in observing him when Gu Yizhou suddenly glanced at her. Feeling guilty, she quickly forked a piece of fruit and stuffed it into her mouth. Because she swallowed too fast, it got stuck in her throat, causing her to cough.
Gao Ze was saying that there was a contract with Xinda that needed Gu Yizhou's personal signature at 2 PM. The man in front of him suddenly frowned and strode towards the dining room. Gao Ze followed Gu Yizhou's gaze and saw a hint of urgency on his usually calm and composed face.
He gently patted Mrs. Gu's back while bowing and asking, "How are you? Are you alright? I told you it's still early, no rush, take your time eating." His gentle and coaxing manner was truly eye-opening for Gao Ze. This wasn't raising a wife, it was raising a daughter!
...In the back seat of the black Maybach, Gu Yizhou was adjusting Su Mianmian's beret. "It'll get colder these next few days, don't refuse to wear more clothes just to look good." Gu Yizhou's hands were warm, and his gaze towards Su Mianmian was focused.
Su Mianmian felt a warmth creep into her heart, lowered her eyes, and her eyelashes trembled slightly. "I know." Gu Yizhou thought Su Mianmian was incredibly obedient at this moment. He couldn't help but touch her cheek, and just as he sat up straight, the car suddenly braked sharply.
Caught off guard, Su Mianmian and Gu Yizhou were simultaneously thrown forward, then slammed back against their seats. Gu Yizhou immediately checked on Su Mianmian, "Are you alright?" Su Mianmian was still somewhat dazed, but shook her head, "I'm fine."
Gu Yizhou was relieved, then turned to the driver with displeasure, "What happened?" The driver stammered, "Mr. Gu, someone suddenly rushed in front of the car." Gao Ze frowned, "Mr. Gu, it seems to be Madam's classmate." Classmate?
Su Mianmian had a premonition. Just as she was about to lean out to look, someone knocked on the window from the outside. Su Mianmian turned her head and met Tang Yunzheng's angry eyes. Because the car window was one-way, Tang Yunzheng couldn't see inside.
But he knew Su Mianmian was inside. He knocked and shouted, "Su Mianmian, get out of the car! I have something to say to you!" Su Mianmian opened her mouth, then instinctively reached for the car door.
Gu Yizhou grabbed her hand. "Ignore him. Didn't you explain everything to him yesterday?" Su Mianmian pursed her lips, her hand hesitantly lowering from the door lock, but Tang Yunzheng knocked even more urgently.
"Su Mianmian, if you don't get out, then run me over today!" Su Mianmian frowned, looking at Gu Yizhou. "Maybe I should go see him. It'll just be a few words, quick."
Gu Yizhou's expression darkened. His gaze swept over Tang Yunzheng, his eyes darkening further, and he uttered four chilling words. "Three minutes."
As Su Mianmian pushed open the car door, Tang Yunzheng was about to knock on the window again, his fist raised high. When he saw Su Mianmian, his brows furrowed even more, his gaze piercing the car interior. He yanked her out of the car. "Su Mianmian, what are you doing? I've been calling you for ages, didn't you hear me?" Su Mianmian broke free from Tang Yunzheng's grip, rubbing her hand where he had gripped her sorely. "What are you doing so early in the morning?" Tang Yunzheng asked, hands on his hips, panting. "Nothing, Su Mianmian, I have something to tell you."
Su Mianmian looked up at Tang Yunzheng. He looked dejected today, his eyes red-rimmed, his face pale, and his usually meticulously styled hair was a messy pile on his head.
Su Mianmian frowned. "I already explained everything clearly yesterday. Is there anything else?" Tang Yunzheng pressed his tongue against his back teeth. Ever since Aunt Chen told him the truth, he hadn't been able to sit still for a moment.
The thought that Su Mianmian had been forced to marry Gu Yizhou for Su Yang's sake made his heart ache. He felt he had to do something. After thinking about it all the way home, he decided he had to "rescue" Su Mianmian from Gu Yizhou!
"What do you call explaining yourself clearly? Is 'marrying Gu Yizhou' all you're doing to me?" "Su Mianmian, do you think you're so great, sacrificing your life for Su Yang's love?"
"You're so reckless. Do you even know Gu Yizhou? Do you know how many girlfriends he's had before, or if he's keeping other women around? And yet you dare to get close to him?" Gao Ze sat quietly in the car, his eyes downcast.
The conversation outside was only partially audible. Gao Ze swallowed hard, secretly glancing at Gu Yizhou in the back seat through the rearview mirror. He saw Gu Yizhou sitting calmly, his gaze lingering on the scenery outside the window. Gao Ze silently gave Gu Yizhou a thumbs up in his mind.
No wonder President Gu was able to secure the position of CEO of the Gu Group at such a young age. If it were anyone else, they would probably have lost their temper long ago after being spoken of like this in front of their wife.
But what Gao Ze didn't notice was that Gu Yizhou's fingers, resting on his knees, were slightly curled, and blue veins bulged on the back of his hand. Gu Yizhou's gaze remained fixed on Su Mianmian's slightly reddened wrist. He wondered how much force Tang Yunzheng had used when he pulled her to make her wrist so red. Su Mianmian was unaware of the gazes from the people in the car.
She was very disgusted by what Tang Yunzheng had just said. "Tang Yunzheng, where did you hear those things?" "Don't worry about where I heard them, just answer me!"
Su Mianmian sighed. "Fine, I'll answer you. Yes, I married Gu Yizhou for my sister, but I don't think I'm any great."
"The marriage alliance with the Gu family was arranged by the previous generation. There was no rule that it had to be my sister. Before, because I was young, even though she had someone she liked, she still agreed to the marriage alliance to protect me. And why, after knowing the truth, couldn't I turn the tables and fulfill her pursuit, her love?"
Su Mianmian took a deep breath. "Anyway, I don't have anyone I like, so it doesn't matter who I marry." Upon hearing this, Gu Yizhou's eyes flickered slightly behind his glasses, and his fingers involuntarily tightened their grip. Tang Yunzheng continued, "Who said you don't have someone you like? Don't you like me?
You've liked me for so many years, everyone thought we'd be a couple. I don't believe you'd change your mind so quickly!" Su Mianmian thought Tang Yunzheng was truly bewitched. "Tang Yunzheng, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Tang Yunzheng seemed to have made up his mind, gripping Su Mianmian's shoulders with both hands, his face solemn. "It's just a marriage alliance, you divorce Gu Yizhou and form an alliance with the Tang family!"
Before he could finish speaking, Tang Yunzheng suddenly felt a dark shadow attack from behind. Just as he was about to turn around, a fist accompanied by a gust of wind struck his left cheek.
With a dull thud, Tang Yunzheng's head was knocked to the side, and his body staggered several steps due to the immense force.