Chapter 73 The truth is out; I don't want to get entangled anymore.

A faint tobacco scent mixed with the cool aroma of pine instantly enveloped her.

When the people around saw that the person who came was Fu Beichen, their faces showed fear, and they all stepped back, instantly clearing a space.

"Fu Beichen! What are you doing?"

Gu Xingnian was both shocked and angry. She placed her hands on his firm chest and tried to push him away.

He didn't move an inch; instead, he tightened his grip on her waist, making her unable to move.

He lowered his head, his hot breath spraying onto her sensitive earlobe.

"You stood me up tonight." The voice was low, with a hint of gritted teeth.

Gu Xingnian stiffened for a moment, then turned her face away as if nothing had happened.

"I'm sorry, I forgot."

The man's chest heaved noticeably. He moved closer, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe.

"Come with me."

He had a lot to say, and now, immediately, he wanted to make it clear to her.

"Let me go!"

Gu Xingnian struggled to get up.

The gazes cast upon her from all directions—curious, inquisitive, and speculative—were like countless fine needles pricking her.

This made her extremely embarrassed, and her cheeks flushed red.

"President Fu." A clear male voice interrupted.

Lu Lie walked over at some point and stood in front of the two of them. His face was expressionless, but his tone was clearly cold.

"You came here and immediately stole my girlfriend. Isn't that a bit much?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Beichen scoffed.

He loosened his grip on Gu Xingnian slightly, but one hand remained on her waist, asserting his dominance.

He looked at Lu Lie with icy eyes.

"President Lu needs to change his habit of taking what others love."

"Beloved?"

Lu Lie laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, but his eyes swept sharply towards Fu Beichen.

"Could it be that President Fu's 'beloved' is someone else entirely?"

The veiled meaning in those words was obvious to everyone.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Lu Lie stopped looking at Fu Beichen and gently said to Gu Xingnian, "Niannian, go ahead and find Xinyao."

Gu Xingnian felt as if she had been granted a pardon and immediately broke free from Fu Beichen's arm.

He practically turned and ran, quickly merging into the crowd to find his junior sister.

Fu Beichen stood still, his gaze fixed intently on her retreating figure as she fled in panic.

Until that golden figure disappeared from sight.

He then turned away, expressionless, and walked straight to the smoking area outside the banquet hall.

A cigarette was held between his fingers, the scarlet flame flickering in the night.

The party finally came to an end, and the guests left one after another.

A black Bentley was discreetly parked in the most conspicuous spot at the hotel entrance.

Fu Beichen leaned against the car door, the cigarette between his fingers burned out.

He stared at the hotel's revolving doors, his eyes unreadable.

When Gu Xingnian and Xin Yao appeared at the door.

He stubbed out his cigarette, strode forward, and grabbed Gu Xingnian's wrist before she could react.

The force was so great that she couldn't help but cry out in pain.

“Fu…”

She didn't get to finish her sentence. Fu Beichen acted forcefully, giving her no chance to resist.

He opened the car door and shoved her into the back seat.

The car door slammed shut.

The car engine started, and like an arrow released from a bow, it quickly merged into the traffic and disappeared into the night.

The whole process was incredibly fast.

"Senior Sister!"

Xin Yao turned pale with fright and chased after the car for a few steps, but it was already far away.

She took out her phone, her fingers trembling, and quickly dialed Lu Lie's number.

"Senior brother! Something terrible has happened! Senior sister has been forcibly taken away by President Fu!"

After hanging up the phone, Lu Lie's eyes flashed with a sinister light as he dialed an unfamiliar number.

"I'm only giving you fifteen minutes. If you still can't do it right, you know what I'll do. I don't need useless people here!"

...

The car sped along the unfamiliar highway.

In the back seat, Fu Beichen's arms were wrapped around her like iron clamps.

"Fu Beichen! What are you doing! Stop the car! Let me out!"

Gu Xingnian struggled, twisting her body.

A sharp pain shot through her wound, and she frowned deeply.

"Did you touch the wound?" Fu Beichen's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of heartache.

"Don't move, and I'll let you go."

His tone softened, but he didn't loosen his grip.

"Stop the car! Driver, stop the car!" Gu Xingnian ignored him and shouted towards the front.

A few seconds of deathly silence fell inside the car, broken only by the roar of the engine.

Finally, Fu Beichen's deep voice rang out: "Stop the car at the bay ahead."

The car drove up a hillside overlooking the sea and slowly came to a stop.

The driver was sensible; he turned off the engine, got out of the car, and ran away quickly, disappearing into the distant woods.

"Fu Beichen, what exactly do you want?" Gu Xingnian pushed open the car door, and a blast of cold air rushed in.

She leaned against the car door, the sea breeze blowing fiercely, lifting her long hair and smearing it all over her face.

"You know what? Your constant pestering is really bothering me and making me feel terrible!" Her voice was weary.

Fu Beichen got out of the car, the sea breeze making his expensive suit flutter.

He took off his coat and casually draped it over Gu Xingnian's slender shoulders.

She neither refused nor thanked them, but simply gazed at the surging black waves in the distance.

"I'm sorry!" Fu Beichen said. "I just wanted to have a proper talk with you, but you never gave me the chance."

Gu Xingnian turned her head and looked at his angular face.

The streetlights illuminated his straight nose and tightly pursed lips.

He was tall and upright, and even in the dim light, he exuded a commanding presence.

"Fu Beichen," she suddenly asked, "has he ever known how to love?"

The sea breeze howled, as if trying to swallow her voice.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

Then, he fell silent.

A long silence is more chilling than the sea breeze.

He was unsure, and he dared not answer.

Gu Xingnian understood everything from his silence. She tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a calm yet almost cruel smile.

“Fu Beichen, stop pestering me. You’re just unwilling to let go of a woman who once loved you so much.”

She looked at him, her eyes clear yet filled with despair, yet stating the facts with unwavering clarity.

"Actually, it's not a big deal. You'll get used to it eventually. People you used to see twice a month aren't really that important!"

She frowned slightly, then suddenly curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile.

Fu Beichen suddenly turned to look at her, his dark eyes fixed on her face.

“Gu Xingnian,” his voice was a little hoarse, “I’ve been feeling a bit confused lately, and I only feel at ease when I see you.”

This statement is like a pebble thrown into stagnant water.

She stared at him intently.

"Fu Beichen, losing someone you don't love isn't scary."

This was also what she kept telling herself.

Her tone was calm, but it sounded heartbreaking!

Looking at her like this, Fu Beichen felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.

He reached out uncontrollably, wanting to brush her wind-blown hair aside.

He paused just as his fingertips were about to touch her cheek.

“Gu Xingnian, listen to me…” he said urgently, “I know everything, I know everything.”

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long..."

He spoke as if he were confessing, his tone carrying a cautiousness he himself was unaware of.

Gu Xingnian raised her eyes to meet his gaze, "Fu Beichen, what did you say?"

"Actually..." He took a deep breath, wanting to tell her that he knew about what happened twelve years ago, and that he hadn't intentionally forgotten her.

The shrill ringtone of a cell phone suddenly shattered the tranquility of the seaside.