Chapter 32: Gu Jinzhou Driven Mad by the Scandal—Ruanruan’s Waist Is in Trouble

Li Shaojue suppressed the scandal, but it had already been seen by many.

At the Su residence, Li Shaojue arrived as soon as he received the call. Su Lan'er was sobbing uncontrollably, and no matter how much Madam Su tried to console her, it was to no avail. Seeing Li Shaojue enter, she quickly stepped aside.

"Shaojue, please comfort her. I’m worried she’ll ruin her eyes from all this crying."

"I will."

Li Shaojue’s eyes were deep, possessing a seductive, tender quality. Who wouldn’t be drawn to a man who was powerful to the outside world but gentle to those closest to him? Not to mention, he was the uncrowned king of the entertainment industry.

Su Lan'er glanced at him, and that very display of deep affection only served to make her feel more aggrieved. Li Shaojue favored delicate, pampered women and was always willing to exercise patience to soothe them.

"Lan'er, it’s all just a misunderstanding."

"Is it really just a misunderstanding?" Su Lan'er couldn't help but complain. "You are Li Shaojue. You call the shots in the entertainment industry. Without your tacit approval, who would dare report a scandal involving you?"

This, indeed, had been his oversight. Li Shaojue’s thin lips pressed into a straight line. The noble, authoritative man lowered his posture to coax her. "Lan'er, forgive me this once, hmm?"

Su Lan'er bit her lip. She knew Li Shaojue had no feelings for Su Ruanruan, but she was still furious. She dialed Su Ruanruan’s number.

"Half a year ago, you cast aside the pride and self-esteem of a Gu family princess to chase after Shaojue for six months, and he ignored you. Now that you’ve run away from home, you’ve truly lost all sense of shame just to get into Shaojue’s bed, haven't you!"

Su Ruanruan’s voice was even more volatile than Su Lan'er’s. "You’re sick! If he hadn’t come to the dance studio to seek me out on his own, do you think I’d be caught up in a scandal with him? Keep your man in check!"

The call was disconnected. Su Lan'er seemed triggered by Su Ruanruan’s words, crying and acting erratically, filled with profound insecurity. Li Shaojue should have continued to comfort her patiently, but an inexplicable sense of restlessness and disgust rose within him. His voice grew colder. "What do you want me to do, Lan'er?"

"Lan'er has no sense of security," Madam Su said guiltily. "Ever since she learned of her background, she has lived in constant anxiety. She fears we will abandon her, and she fears even more that you don’t love her, Shaojue. If only she were our biological daughter; she wouldn't have to suffer so much. My heart breaks to see her like this."

Su Lan'er’s display of grievance stirred Li Shaojue’s pity. Banking on that, she spoke up. "Shaojue, let’s get engaged."

He paused. Li Shaojue’s eyes remained calm, and he smiled faintly. "Alright."

Su Lan'er wiped away her tears and smiled. It was not the smile of a happy woman, but the smile of a victor. She did not love Li Shaojue—or at least, it hadn't reached the level of love—but she enjoyed having him revolve entirely around her.

—

Gu Jinzhou stood on the balcony, smoking. Ever since he saw the scandal and the paparazzi photo of the misaligned kiss, he had already smoked seven cigarettes.

Su Ruanruan bit her hand nervously. Gu Jinzhou hadn't lost his temper; he simply stood on the balcony in silence, smoking. That was even more terrifying!

Summoning her courage, she walked onto the balcony and wrapped her arms around his lean, slender waist. She rubbed her soft, fair cheek against his back.

Gu Jinzhou’s raspy, sexy voice sounded cold. "What is the point of rubbing against my back?"

Su Ruanruan quickly changed positions, rubbing against his chest muscles instead!

The smoke blurred the man’s handsome, gloomy face. He made no move to hold her, his arms hanging at his sides. The cold moonlight made his figure look noble yet desolate.

"I’ll give you three minutes to explain."

Su Ruanruan trembled in his arms. She had prepared herself to be destroyed by him, never expecting to actually be given a chance to explain! Gu Jinzhou was truly a merciful judge!

"Li Shaojue appeared at the dance studio for no reason. You know I’m terrified of him. We were standing very far apart, and the paparazzi intentionally took a photo that looked like a kiss."

When she said the word "kiss," the man’s eyes grew three degrees colder, and his expression became even more dark and menacing. Gu Jinzhou doted on Su Ruanruan, tolerating all her little tantrums and affectations. But he absolutely could not tolerate her being involved with another man, even if it were a lie.

Su Ruanruan was terrified that Gu Jinzhou would die of anger, but she was even more afraid that he would ignore her. She hardened her heart, took his warm, thick palm, and placed it on her hip.

"Hit me! Hit me until you aren't angry anymore!"

"Even if I beat you to a pulp, it wouldn't appease my hatred." Gu Jinzhou’s eyes were bloodshot and predatory, yet he smiled faintly. His elegant, superior brow arched as he forcibly suppressed the evil, filthy impulses deep within him.

"Baby, I know this isn't your fault."

"Go to sleep now."

"Be good."

Su Ruanruan dared not defy his orders, at least not for now. She lay obediently on the bed, only her beautiful, watery eyes visible as she watched him. Gu Jinzhou left the bedroom without taking his cigarettes.

A few minutes later, Su Ruanruan put on her slippers and followed him. She grabbed a servant and asked, "Have you seen Gu Jinzhou?"

The servant replied, "The young master seems to have gone to the boxing room."

Su Ruanruan pursed her lips and headed toward the boxing room. She hadn't done anything, but Gu Jinzhou’s possessiveness was already intense; seeing such an eye-catching scandal, she could only imagine how deranged he must feel inside. It was difficult for him to maintain his composure in front of her.

Inside the boxing room, Gu Jinzhou was wearing professional boxing gloves, throwing punches frantically. The sound of the punches was deafening, each impact seemingly powerful enough to shatter his own chest.

Ruanruan stood at the doorway, her gathered courage vanishing in an instant. But she couldn't leave Gu Jinzhou alone to digest his negative emotions. She walked in, trembling.

The boxing room door closed automatically.

!!!

Well, there was no turning back now; she could only move forward.

Gu Jinzhou was wearing only black athletic pants. His abdominal and chest muscles were drenched in sweat, glistening and incredibly sexy. Droplets of sweat slid down his long, curled eyelashes, making it impossible to discern the expression in his eyes.

"Brother Jinzhou, please don't be angry anymore. Being angry is bad for your health!"

"Hmm." Gu Jinzhou responded, seemingly no longer angry. With a magnetic, gentle voice, he said, "Ruanruan, come here and help me wipe off the sweat."

He held a towel himself, roughly wiping his toned, supple abdominal muscles. The refined, noble young master acted like a rough brute, which had a unique charm of its own.

Su Ruanruan didn't think much of it. In front of Gu Jinzhou, she basically turned her brain off, because no matter how cunning she was, she could never outwit him.

She took the towel to wipe the sweat from his body. Perhaps because the man was fastidious, there was no sweat odor on him. His body was warm, and due to the sweat, his muscles felt incredibly smooth and pleasant to touch. Su Ruanruan noticed the man’s breathing growing heavier.

It was too late when she realized something was wrong. She was pressed onto the sofa. Even though the cushion was soft, she felt dizzy for a few seconds.

"I don't want to... Gu Jinzhou! Gu Jinzhou, please, wake up. You already had your way this afternoon. Can we wait until tomorrow?"

Gu Jinzhou couldn't hear a word she was saying. He kissed her from head to toe, his skillful, experienced technique leaving Su Ruanruan’s struggles weak and futile.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"I’m sorry. I wanted to digest these negative emotions alone, but I couldn't."

"Thank you for keeping me company, baby. Now, you’ll just have to keep me company for the rest of the night."

Listening to his demonic whispers, Su Ruanruan felt both terrified and ashamed. Tears gushed out uncontrollably. The man, driven mad by the scandal, had lost his sanity and had no way to comfort her properly.

She could only wait for tonight to pass, so that when Gu Jinzhou regained his senses tomorrow, he would have to be the one to clean up the mess.