Chapter 5: Who Spread Such Rumors?
1240 Words
Ten minutes later, Gu Shenyan arrived at the beach. He parked the car, got out, and walked towards the direction of the shore, where he spotted the solitary figure of Ye Qinru sitting on a bench.
She looked like a helpless creature, hugging her own shoulders, motionless like a sculpture.
Honestly, knowing she was the woman from that night, he surprisingly didn't despise her. His initial aversion towards this marriage arrangement had somewhat dissipated upon realizing she was the bride.
He had accepted her proposal, turning this forced marriage into a contractual one. And she actually thought he had some hidden ailment, which he found amusing.
The future stretched out before them, and he was beginning to anticipate an interesting married life.
"What are you thinking about?" Gu Shenyan sat beside Ye Qinru, casting a sideways glance at her.
His presence momentarily distracted her.
"Gu Shenyan, you're here..." Ye Qinru turned to him, resting her forehead against his chest, and softly said, "Let me lean on you."
She treated him like a vulnerable friend, so naturally, she saw him as a confidant.
Gu Shenyan hesitated for a moment. The hand he subconsciously raised to push her away paused before eventually stopping. "What happened?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly felt bad," Ye Qinru gently shook her head, caressing Gu Shenyan's chest, causing him to feel a bit ticklish. He looked down at the back of her head. "Why are you feeling bad?"
There must be a reason for everything, and Gu Shenyan furrowed his brows slightly.
"Stop asking, just let me lean on you for a while," Ye Qinru closed her eyes and stopped talking, silently worried about Yang Limei.
The March seaside was still chilly, with a biting coldness in the air. The salty sea breeze made her shiver involuntarily, so she rubbed her arms.
"Let's go. You might catch a cold," Gu Shenyan patted Ye Qinru's shoulder.
"Thank you."
When she looked up at Gu Shenyan, the tearful expression in her eyes had retreated, leaving behind reddened eyelids.
"Ye Qinru," Gu Shenyan looked into her eyes, "since we have a cooperative relationship, if you have any problems, you can tell me, and I'll help you solve them."
He noticed her unusual behavior.
"Really, there's nothing wrong." Ye Qinru shook her head. "Women tend to be sentimental, and I'm no exception."
"As you wish." Gu Shenyan gave Ye Qinru a deep look, then got up and walked towards the car.
He had given her a chance, but if she refused to speak, he wouldn't force her.
Ye Qinru pursed her lips and followed his lead, walking towards the car.
Once inside, Ye Qinru didn't feel like talking. She rested her head against the car window.
Glancing at her, Gu Shenyan started the car and drove off, trying to find a topic. "How was your visit to the Ye family today?"
"Not pleasant," Ye Qinru sighed lightly, glancing at Gu Shenyan. "Actually, both of us are pitiful. Ye Xinyu refused to marry you because of rumors about your health, and the Ye family forced me into a marriage to save my mother. You're actually a good person, but people underestimate you behind your back."
Damn it!
Gu Shenyan cursed inwardly. If he found out who spread these rumors, he'd make sure that person regretted it.
"Also..." Ye Qinru hesitated, seemingly unsure whether to speak up.
"Go on." Gu Shenyan saw Ye Qinru's hesitant expression and guessed it wasn't going to be good news.
"There's a rumor that you drove a former wife crazy, and she's still in a mental hospital."
Ye Qinru's words made Gu Shenyan's fingers tighten on the steering wheel, and he glanced at her with deep eyes. "Are you afraid?"
"No," Ye Qinru shook her head honestly. "Gu Shenyan, I know you're not a bad person, and rumors are not to be believed anyway."
"Oh?" Gu Shenyan raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you believe the rumors about my health condition so firmly?"
Ye Qinru's cheeks reddened, and she stammered, "Because Grandma said... and your behavior..."
Gu Shenyan glanced at her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes and continued driving.
Seeing Gu Shenyan avoiding the topic, Ye Qinru wondered if the rumors were true after all.
What kind of incident could drive a woman crazy?
No wonder she and Gu Shenyan didn't have a wedding ceremony when they got married. With this incident involving the Ye family, they naturally wouldn't want to attract attention and gossip.
Seeing that Gu Shenyan wasn't going to speak, Ye Qinru sat silently, looking out of the window at the receding scenery.
If only time could turn back, she would have strongly advised Yang Limei to divorce the year Ye Guoqiang had an affair. Then none of this would have happened.
In her heart, Yang Limei's car accident had to be related to Ye Guoqiang.
A melodious ringtone interrupted Ye Qinru's thoughts. She took out her phone and saw that it was Lin Xiaoya calling. Answering the call, "Xiaoya, what's up?"
"Qinru, why haven't you been to school for two days? I asked the teacher, and they said you took a leave of absence. What's going on?" Lin Xiaoya's voice came through the phone, causing Ye Qinru to move the phone away from her ear until she finished speaking.
"Where are you? Let's meet up and talk," Ye Qinru said, then brought the phone back to her ear.
"Alright, see you in half an hour at the usual place."
"Okay."
Ye Qinru hung up the phone and glanced at Gu Shenyan. "Um... I made plans to meet Xiaoya. I won't go back to the Ye family for now."
Was she seeking approval after the fact? She didn't know if Gu Shenyan would agree.
"Where are you meeting? I'll take you there," Gu Shenyan said, not opposing Ye Qinru's decision.
Relieved that Gu Shenyan didn't object, Ye Qinru sighed. "Near A University, at a dessert shop."
...
When the car reached a point not far from A University, Ye Qinru quickly said to Gu Shenyan, "Let's park here, I'll walk from here."
"Why? Afraid of being seen?" Gu Shenyan glanced at Ye Qinru, who nodded earnestly. "Yes, if my classmates see me getting out of your luxury car, rumors about me being kept by a wealthy person would probably spread throughout the entire school."
"Okay."
Gu Shenyan didn't make things difficult for Ye Qinru and parked the car by the side of the road.
As she opened the door and got out, Ye Qinru bent down to speak to Gu Shenyan through the car window. "Thank you for bringing me here. You can go back now, I'll take a taxi home later."
“On the second day of our marriage, and we're already entering and leaving separately. Are you trying to make Grandma suspicious?” Gu Shenyan glanced at his wristwatch, his voice low.
"Do we have an hour?"
"Enough," Ye Qinru nodded. Her purpose in meeting Lin Xiaoya was just to chat.
After all, their relationship was particularly close, and Ye Qinru felt it wasn't quite right not to inform Lin Xiaoya about her marriage.
"Why aren't you hurrying? The clock is ticking," Gu Shenyan pointed at his watch, and Ye Qinru immediately turned and headed towards their agreed meeting spot.
Watching her sprinting figure, he couldn't help but raise a slight smile, seeing clearly that she was a woman of principles.
- Writer
