Night Fire Lingering

Gu Yanci took Wen Yan's hand and exchanged pleasantries with the newly arrived guests.

Luo Beiqing arrived arm in arm with He Tingchuan. When she saw Wen Yan from afar, she raised her hand to greet her. Then she saw Wen Yan and Gu Yanci holding hands and raised an eyebrow.

Wen Yan: "..." For some reason, I felt a guilty feeling, like I had cheated on my wife and didn't dare to look her in the eye. Damn it!

He Tingchuan casually handed the gifts he brought to the Gu family steward in charge of signing for them. He glanced at Gu Yanci and Wen Yan holding hands and said, "Young Master Gu seems to be in a very good mood today. It's the old lady's birthday, and you're in high spirits because of this happy occasion."

Gu Yanci glanced at Luo Beiqing's arm linked with He Tingchuan's and said, "You too."

Both of them spoke with hidden meanings, creating a somewhat subtle atmosphere.

Wen Yan and Luo Beiqing exchanged a glance for a second, and almost simultaneously withdrew their hands from their men's sides.

"He Tingchuan, I'm going to the restroom," Luo Beiqing said.

Wen Yan pointed at Luo Beiqing: "I'll take her to the restroom."

After saying that, the two of them walked away hand in hand.

Gu Yanci: "..."

He Tingchuan: "..."

Wen Yan and Luo Beiqing walked to the deserted garden and pointed at each other in perfect unison: "Something's up?"

Two seconds later, Luo Beiqing said first: "In my eyes, being Mrs. He is a professional identity, and I have always been a dedicated person."

She entered the venue arm in arm with He Tingchuan, as Mrs. He, not as Luo Beiqing.

"My situation is a bit complicated," Wen Yan said, smacking her lips.

“Then let’s talk about something exciting,” Luo Beiqing said.

“The exciting thing is—” Wen Yan thought for a moment, then said succinctly, “I took the initiative to sleep with Gu Yanci last night.”

Luo Beiqing was stunned and slowly raised a thumb.

"Good job!"

"..."

Luo Beiqing cleared her throat and asked, "Why did you take the initiative to sleep with him? What good deed did he do that you wanted to reward him for?"

“I just feel that we are still husband and wife. He actually does pretty well in every other way except for not loving me,” Wen Yan added. “He has been doing exceptionally well these past two days, so it’s quite pitiful to see him holding back to take a cold shower.”

"?" Luo Beiqing looked at Wen Yan and shook his head.

"What do you mean?" Wen Yan asked.

“I just suddenly feel sorry for Young Master He. Miss Wen, you’re too soft-hearted. I don’t care about such formalities.” Luo Beiqing chuckled. “If it were me, I would hope he could die from holding it in, and preferably never get an erection again.”

Wen Yan: "...Just say this to me, don't let a third person know."

It's common knowledge that Wen Yan and Luo Beiqing have a good relationship. Apart from the birthday banquet ceremony, the two were almost always together. The former is the birthday boy's darling, while the latter is notoriously spoiled, the kind of person whose parents died and no one cares about her, so no one dares to mess with her.

Wen Yan and Luo Beiqing were happy to have some free time.

Until a noble lady glared at Wen Yan openly, her eyes full of warning.

"Who is that?" Luo Beiqing asked curiously.

Wen Yan said, "Gu Jingxi's mother."

-

Wen Yan didn't rest well last night, so she found a quiet place to take a nap in the afternoon.

After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock on the door of the lounge.

Wen Yan opened the door with a puzzled look in her eyes, and a young man in his early twenties was standing outside.

The man was dressed in a formal three-piece suit. He had handsome features and his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Gu Yanci's, but he was not as sharp or mature as Gu Yanci. He carried the dual temperament of a recent graduate entering the workforce and a pampered young master.

Wen Yan's previously gentle expression suddenly turned cold, and she was about to close the door without saying a word.

The door was blocked by the man with lightning speed:

"Yan Yan! I have something to tell you!"

Wen Yan couldn't close the door, nor could she get out, and felt very unlucky.

"Gu Jingxi, I'll only give you five minutes." Wen Yan glanced at her watch and started the timer. "Speak if you have something to say."

The man stared intently at the beautiful Wen Yan, his eyes brimming with joy and love.

"Yan Yan, I heard you're getting a divorce from Third Brother! I've never let go of my feelings for you, I still love you, and I want to take care of you for the rest of my life! For the past three years, I've been waiting for you to divorce Third Brother. I... I want to start over with you!"

The last four words were shouted especially loudly, as if making an oath.

It seems there's nothing important to do.

That's just plain crazy!

Wen Yan felt that today was really unlucky, and she suppressed her anger: "Gu Jingxi, please move aside!"

"Yan Yan, Third Brother doesn't love you. He married you out of necessity! But I'm different! I love you, I don't mind that you've been married before, and I'll be good to you for the rest of my life! Believe me!"

Everyone should remind her that Gu Yanci had no choice but to marry her!

Wen Yan laughed in anger: "Gu Jingxi, what are you saying? Do you think I'm inferior just because I'm divorced?"

"That's not what I meant!" Gu Jingxi hurriedly explained, "but that's what most people think."

Wen Yan was too lazy to argue with him: "Gu Jingxi, you and your parents took the initiative to cancel the engagement when I needed you the most. What right do you have to say you love me?"

Gu Jingxi is the fifth son in the Gu family and Gu Yanci's cousin. Gu Jingxi's mother and Wen Yan's mother were college roommates and both married and moved to the capital, maintaining a close relationship. Before her death, Wen Yan's mother arranged a marriage between Wen Yan and Gu Jingxi, hoping that her daughter would have someone to protect her after her passing.

However, the human heart is the most unreliable thing!

Wen Yan's mother had just passed away when Wen Yonghai married Wan Ying, and Wen Yan's engagement was canceled. With no more scruples, the Wen family took advantage of Wen Yan's serious injury to Wen Muzhi to send the isolated and helpless Wen Yan to a mental hospital.

"Yan Yan, I didn't want to cancel the engagement. It was my parents' decision, not mine! But things are different now. I'm grown up now. I'm capable of protecting you, I can support you, I—"

Can you afford to raise it?

Gu Jingxi's voice was interrupted by a familiar male voice.

Gu Jingxi stiffened, her face paled, and she turned around rigidly.

Wen Yan leaned against the door, lazily watching Gu Yanci walk over.

Gu Yanci's expression remained normal, but upon closer inspection, a chilling look appeared in his eyes.