‘Bye Qing Qing,’ Yuan Gun Gun said and waved bye to Luo Qing Qing.

‘Bye Gun Gun,’ Luo Qing Qing said.

Hao Yan Che held Yuan Gun Gun’s hand and they walked together to the front entrance. Luo Qing Qing walked to the buffet table, and happily ate. But none of guests dared to go near Yu Cheng Su, because they were scared to offend Hao Yan Che.

Zhao Rong Fen stopped Han Yan Che at the front entrance.

‘CEO Hao, I’m sorry about what happened tonight,’ Zhao Rong Fen said.

Yuan Gun Gun remembered what her daddy told her, the world was unfair. Hao Yan Che kicked a person, but Zhao Rong Fen had to apologise to Hao Yan Che.

‘CEO Hao, I hope you’ll accept my sincere apologies,’ Zhao Rong Fen said and bowed.

Yuan Gun Gun thought it wasn’t right for an elder like Zhao Rong Fen who looked like a fifty-year-old man to bow to a younger man.

‘Che…’ Yuan Gun Gun whispered in Hao Yan Che’s ear.

‘CEO Zhao, you don’t need to be like this,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘It’s not your fault.’

‘CEO Hao is someone who knows right from wrong,’ Zhao Rong Fen said

Zhao Rong Fen’s back was sweaty. He was relieved Hao Yan Che wasn’t angry at him.

‘Che, let’s go home,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Hao Yan Che led Yuan Gun Gun to the car. Yi Tu opened the passenger door, and they sat in the back seat.

Later that night at the Hao Mansion’s study room, Yuan Gun Gun sat quietly on a chair.

‘Are you mute?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘It’s Miss Lu’s fault,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Miss Lu couldn’t outwit Qing Qing so Miss Lu wanted to hit Qing Qing.’

‘You don’t need to play a hero every time you see someone in a fight,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘But Qing Qing saved me at school,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘She’s capable of defending herself and other people,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Do you think you can do the same?’

‘No,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Then why did you get involved in another person’s business?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun looked down at the floor.

‘If you know you’re weak then don’t play the hero,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Go to bed.’

Yuan Gun Gun left the study room in tears.

‘Come out,’ Hao Yan Che said to Hao Yan Ming.

Hao Yan Ming stepped out of the shadows.

‘Your senses are still sharp,’ Hao Yan Ming said. ‘I thought someone in love like you would lose all their senses.’

Hao Yan Che scoffed.

‘How can you treat your woman like that?’ Hao Yan Ming asked. ‘She only had good intentions. You made her cry pitifully.’

‘Someone who can’t defend themselves need to avoid trouble,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘She has you, why does she need to know how to defend herself?’ Hao Yan Ming asked.

‘Did you come here to lecture me how I should treat my woman?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘I’m not that free,’ Hao Yan Ming said. ‘I came here to prepare for your funeral.’

Hao Yan Che walked to the door.

‘How hateful,’ Hao Yan Ming mimicked a female’s voice. ‘You don’t know how to be gallant.’

Hao Yan Che walked outside the study room, slammed the door, and Hao Yan Ming smiled at the closed door.

In the master bedroom, Yuan Gun Gun took a bath and changed into a nightshirt. Then she locked herself in the bathroom and cried. She only wanted to help Luo Qing Qing, because Luo Qing Qing saved her at school. But Hao Yan Che scolded her heartlessly. She felt like she was useless standing next to someone strong like Hao Yan Che.

‘Yuan Gun Gun, come out here,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yuan Gun Gun wiped her tears, and opened the bathroom door.

Hao Yan Che looked at Yuan Gun Gun’s pink face from crying.

‘Did you stay in the bathroom to suffocate yourself?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘No,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Then why did you lock the bathroom door?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘I’m sorry,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

***

End of Chapter Ninety-Seven