Ji Yunhuan scoffed contemptuously, "Are you joking? Even though I said I wouldn't break off the engagement with you, you need to understand that my relationship with your Gu Family has long been over. From now on, I don't want to see you anymore."
She no longer wanted to see anyone from the Gu Family happy, nor would she, as she did in the past, consider herself a part of their household or think about marrying into their family.
"Ji Yunhuan, you're too much!" Gu Yubai snapped angrily.
He had thought that over the past few years, her personality had changed somewhat. How had she reverted to her old ways?
"Is this what you call too much? I can do even worse!" She walked to Qi Cheng's side and sat down. "Didn't you say he's your cousin? If you're afraid I'll be with him, then I'll just have to be with him!"
"You..." Gu Yubai was so angry he nearly spat blood, wishing he could slap her twice. "Don't be so shameless! Do you think someone like my cousin is someone you can climb up to? Don't forget, you're no longer the Ji family's eldest daughter. You're nothing!"
"That's none of your concern. Didn't you see your cousin is sitting right here in my house? I didn't force him to come. Why are you yelling at me?"
She sat calmly beside Qi Cheng, as if they already had a very intimate relationship.
Gu Yubai's gaze flickered uneasily over Qi Cheng, noticing that Qi Cheng didn't show any disgust towards Ji Yunhuan. Normally, he would have pushed any woman away who got this close to him.
But now...
Not only did Qi Cheng let Ji Yunhuan get this close, but he was also sitting in this shabby house of hers.
"Cousin, you wouldn't really have feelings for Ji Yunhuan, would you? You should know, although she looks fine, her personality is terrible. As you can see, she's only flirting with you to get back at me." He gave up trying to reason with Ji Yunhuan and directly persuaded Qi Cheng. He believed Qi Cheng was a reasonable person and wouldn't be interested in a woman with such a bad temper.
Qi Cheng glanced at Ji Yunhuan, who was close to him. Her alluring fragrance reached him again. Her face bore an unmistakable arrogance, along with deep disdain for Gu Yubai.
Qi Cheng wasn't stupid. He knew Ji Yunhuan stayed close to him to use him against Gu Yubai.
So far, he didn't have any deep connection with her.
However, seeing her like this, he didn't want to expose her bluff.
He smiled and put his arm around Ji Yunhuan. "Thank you for your concern, Yubai, but I don't need others to tell me what to do."
"But..." Gu Yubai's eyes widened at the sight of their ambiguous stance, and his stomach churned with anger.
Yet, in front of Qi Cheng, he dared not act too presumptuously.
Qi Cheng cut him off. "You've described her so poorly. It looks like you're not interested in this fiancée of yours. You shouldn't be worried that I would mistreat her, right?"
"Of course not." It seemed there was no woman who could take advantage of Qi Cheng.
However, the thought of Ji Yunhuan being with Qi Cheng made him uneasy. Gu Yubai didn't know what to say.
Ji Yunhuan coldly told him to leave. "It's very late. You should go! You're not welcome here!"
Gu Yubai loathed her deeply. He shot her a glance, then turned around and left, though humiliated.
"Wait!" Just as he reached the door, Ji Yunhuan's voice called from behind. He stopped.
Ji Yunhuan approached him, returning the money he had just placed on the table. "Take this. Leave the keys to my house."
So he wouldn't come over without permission again.
Gu Yubai looked at the money she handed over and, in a fit of pique, took it before throwing the keys to her. "Ji Yunhuan, you'll regret this someday!"
What was Qi Cheng? It was well known he was never faithful to any woman and would never truly fall in love with anyone.
To him, women were just playthings.
"That's none of your concern." Ji Yunhuan pushed him out and closed the door forcefully.
As the door slammed shut, a heavy pain pierced her heart.
She remembered when her father passed away. All her relatives refused to visit, fearing being implicated with the Ji Family. When she was isolated and helpless, Gu Yubai told her, "It's okay, you still have me. I will take care of you from now on!"
Over the years, whenever she felt she couldn't go on, he was always there, giving her a bit of hope so she could persevere.
However...
What she treasured meant nothing more than pity to Gu Yubai.
Unbeknownst to her, she had already become an annoying burden to him.
She was a proud person. She would never forget the humiliation she faced at the Gu Family's house, nor would she ever forgive this man.
Qi Cheng remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. Feeling his burning stare, she turned around and met his slightly mocking eyes. "Are you really not reluctant at all?"
Otherwise, she wouldn't look so desolate.
He had thought a cold person like her wouldn't care about anything.
Yet...
She did care about something.
Ji Yunhuan laughed coldly. "Reluctant for what? Apart from my brother, I have nothing in this world I can't let go of!"
"Is that so?" Qi Cheng stared into her eyes. Those clear eyes bore no emotion.
Yet, her eyes were so mesmerizingly beautiful.
He had never seen a woman more beautiful than her.
"Whether it is or not is none of your business. Ji Yunhuan only owes you a favor. With your wealth, I can't afford to repay you. But I'm still grateful for your help that day, which made it less humiliating for me to leave the Gu Family."
She knew how embarrassed she had been when she left the Gu Family. If not for Qi Cheng's intervention, Ji Yunhuan might have become the laughingstock of the entire town.
"So?" Qi Cheng looked at her.
Did she mean she intended to repay the favor?
"I have to go to work at eight tomorrow. You must leave by six."
Qi Cheng was taken aback.
She was already standing in front of him, looking down at him. "One night with Ji Yunhuan to repay your favor. Is that enough?"
Wasn't this what he wanted?
For this, he had been investigating her life and had been incessantly pestering her.
Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
Although she had never thought to give her first time to a man so hastily...
She consoled herself, thinking it was just like hiring a gigolo.
Qi Cheng looked calmly at her. As she spoke, she was very composed, without a hint of embarrassment on her face.
"Are you sure you won't regret this?" With her pride, he could imagine how much courage it took for her to make this decision.