Her cold tone and awe-inspiring gaze truly intimidated Mrs. Gu.
If only Ji Yunhuan were just an unknown woman. But in City A, there were quite a few people who knew Ji Yunhuan, especially... Qi Cheng...
Qi Cheng was the Gu Family's supporter. If he found out about this, would he be angry?
With some hesitation in her heart, Mrs. Gu still refused to admit that she had been intimidated. She threatened, "I came to see you today to tell you to cut off all ties with our Yu Bai. And Qi Cheng is not someone a lowly woman like you can cling to. Stay away from him! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
"Mrs. Gu, is this a threat?" Ji Yunhuan looked at her with a half-smile. "Do you think I, Ji Yunhuan, am afraid of threats?"
"You're not afraid, but your brother is still in the hospital."
The mention of her brother brought a flicker of pain to Ji Yunhuan's eyes. Damn, she hated being threatened the most in her life. Yet now, two random people could threaten her.
Just as she hesitated, a respectful voice came from behind Mrs. Gu, "Ms. Ji."
Ji Yunhuan looked up and saw a neatly dressed woman standing there. Behind her stood the noble and indifferent Qi Cheng.
When Qi Cheng had left last night, he had said he would come over in the morning. Ji Yunhuan hadn't taken his words seriously, nor did she know when he would come. Now it seemed he had arrived just in time.
Mrs. Gu and Gu Xinran also turned to look. They didn't pay much attention to the woman but noticed Qi Cheng.
"Qi Cheng!" both of them exclaimed in unison.
Qi Cheng had already stepped up the stairs. "It's quite lively early in the morning." His concerned gaze fell on Ji Yunhuan. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me to get up? Why are you up so early?"
She didn't remember him saying that, but Ji Yunhuan knew he was helping her out.
After feeling helpless for so long, she now realized how wonderful it was to have someone come to her aid.
Mrs. Gu and Gu Xinran had not expected Qi Cheng to show up here, especially since their conversation proved his relationship with Ji Yunhuan was not ordinary. Both of their faces looked very unpleasant now.
Ji Yunhuan coldly glanced at the two, making sure to push all the responsibility onto them. "Someone came to threaten me early in the morning. How could I sleep?"
Qi Cheng raised his eyebrows. She was quite good at taking advantage of the situation.
However, he liked her proud and slightly cunning nature.
Although he didn't intend to treat her particularly well, he inexplicably didn't like seeing her suffer at the hands of others.
He turned to look at Mrs. Gu and Gu Xinran behind him. "You two seem to be in high spirits."
Gu Xinran couldn't hold back any longer and questioned, "Why are you here? And why are you with her?"
Damn! She deeply regretted giving Ji Yunhuan the opportunity to meet Qi Cheng earlier.
If she had let Ji Yunhuan go quietly that day, none of this would be happening.
Mrs. Gu, however, was calmer than Gu Xinran. She smiled to ease the tension. "Qi Cheng, why are you here so early? Yu Bai said he saw you here last night, but I didn't believe him, so I came to check."
"My woman lives here, so I came to see her. But as for you... Yu Bai said he has nothing to do with Yunhuan anymore. This means Yunhuan has nothing to do with the Gu Family. Yet you two came here early in the morning to check on my woman. I'm really grateful." After saying this, he gestured for the woman who had come with him to enter Ji Yunhuan's house.
Ji Yunhuan looked at him in confusion. "What are you having her do?"
"You'll see soon."
He did not rush to drive away Mrs. Gu and Gu Xinran. He walked through Ji Yunhuan's living room and onto the balcony. This house had nothing special, but it did have a good balcony. Sitting on it, one could see the dilapidated buildings around and the river not far away. The sunlight was warm, making such a morning incredibly soothing.
The woman who had followed Qi Cheng here was a servant he had brought from home. At this moment, she had already brewed several cups of tea and placed them on the wooden table on the balcony. The table was not very stable. It wobbled with a touch, causing ripples in the tea.
Ji Yunhuan watched him treat this place like his own home, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.
Back when she was still Ms. Ji, there had been many men pursuing her. But she had never seen a man with such poise.
Even his calm demeanor now commanded respect.
His nobility was something ordinary people couldn't imitate.
He glanced at her lightly and patted the spot beside him. "Sit down."
"I still have to go to work." Although she was delayed by Mrs. Gu and Gu Xinran, she hadn't forgotten her responsibilities.
Qi Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you can still make it to work now?"
He reached out to pull her to his side, forcing her to sit down. "Your brother is in the hospital. No matter how hard you work, you can't make enough money."
"I have a way to solve this." The Ji Family had been wealthy before. When the family suddenly went bankrupt, her parents, though well-intentioned, couldn't prepare anything for her, and all the family's funds were frozen. However, there were many things left behind. She had sold some items and kept others as mementos. She definitely didn't want to sell them, but when push came to shove, she had no other choice.
Qi Cheng had said he wanted to marry her. Having the status as Mrs. Qi was enough for her. She couldn't bring herself to ask him for help, nor did she want his money.
She'd find another way, unless she was utterly desperate.
"Solve it?" Qi Cheng looked at her helplessly. "This time it's like this. What about next time? If you were so skilled, you wouldn't be working so many part-time jobs."
Ji Yunhuan turned her face away, feeling a bit desolate.
The year her family encountered trouble, she was nineteen and a sophomore in college. After the incident, she had to abandon her studies. As a college dropout, it was extremely hard for her to find a decent job. She now worked part-time jobs with no future...
While they were talking, Gu Xinran, who had been left outside, could no longer contain herself. She walked onto the balcony, glaring jealously at Ji Yunhuan sitting close to Qi Cheng.
"Ji Yunhuan! Have you no shame!"
"How am I shameless?" Ji Yunhuan replied coldly.
Gu Xinran gritted her teeth and glanced at Qi Cheng. She couldn't believe Qi Cheng could think favorably of Ji Yunhuan. Even if he was infatuated with her, it was only temporary. She also couldn't believe Qi Cheng could be interested in a woman who was already engaged.
"You are clearly my brother's fiancée, yet you're with another man!"