Chapter 250 If the Gu Family Can Survive the Crisis

Gu Qianhan glanced at him. It turned out that Xiao Qingyuan wasn't completely brainless; he actually knew that he didn't like Grand Secretary Liu's daughter.

"You've ruined my reputation, who else should I mess with if not you?"

Gu Qianhan casually asked, "Where's your maid who's always by your side? Why didn't you bring her out today?"

Xiao Qingyuan glared at him: "Stop thinking about Huayi. I don't like her anymore. Even if you take her away, I won't care!"

"You've already fallen out of love with her? Isn't the young master known as the most devoted and loving man in Dafeng? How could he be so fickle?"

"What's it to you if it's my business? If you're short of women, go to the brothel, stop thinking about me all the time!"

"You can have a place like the 'Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion'; I find it too dirty."

After Gu Qianhan finished speaking, she stepped out of the private room.

Xiao Qingyuan watched his retreating figure, feeling dizzy with anger.

Fortunately, Liao Youhe and Xin Huailin comforted him, and he finally calmed down: "Moji, pour some wine. Today, I will drink with Brother Liao and Brother Xin until we're both drunk!"

...

Zuixianlou (Drunken Immortal Pavilion)

Shen Wantang was chatting with Gu Qianning when she saw Gu Qianning point out the window: "My second brother is back. Oh, it seems he bought something."

Shen Wantang looked out the way she pointed and saw Gu Qianhan walking this way, with his servant Jixiang carrying two ornaments.

A moment later, Gu Qianhan went upstairs and entered a private room.

Gu Qianning stood up and stepped forward, snatching the ornament from Jixiang's hand: "Second brother, did you buy this for me?"

"Um."

Gu Qianhan responded faintly and stood by the window.

Gu Qianning picked up two ornaments and showed them to Shen Wantang: "Atang, look, these are so interesting!"

The ornaments are small, hollowed-out balls woven from bamboo strips, with bells hanging from them. Inside the balls are small bamboo animals; one ball contains a rabbit, and another a fox. Although they are made of bamboo, they are all lifelike.

A gust of wind blew in, making the bells tinkle and the sphere spin, causing the little rabbits and foxes inside to roll around, which was quite cute and interesting.

Shen Wantang chuckled: "It is quite interesting."

However, even though it looked like she was just trying to coax a child, she didn't know that Gu Qianhan had such a tender side, willing to buy these little trinkets to please her younger sister.

But the next moment, Gu Qianning handed two balls to her: "Which one do you like? Pick one!"

Shen Wantang glanced at Gu Qianhan subconsciously, and when she found that he was also looking at her, she quickly looked away: "This was given to you by your second brother, how could I accept it?"

"What's the big deal? Second Brother bought two, one for each of us is just right! Come on, pick one."

Shen Wantang was still hesitating.

Gu Qianning was unhappy: "A-Tang, you don't dislike my things, do you? Aren't we good friends? I gave you a bamboo ball and you don't even want it?"

Shen Wantang couldn't refuse this now. Helplessly, she pointed to the little fox and said, "I want this one."

Gu Qianning cheered again. She handed the little fox to Shen Wantang and spun around with the little rabbit in her arms: "I was born in the Year of the Rabbit, this is perfect for me!"

What was said unintentionally may have been taken to heart by the listener.

Shen Wantang's fingers, which were fiddling with the bell, paused.

Gu Qianhan specially bought two, one of which was his sister's zodiac sign. He had roughly calculated that if she wanted one, she would definitely want the other.

He picked this little fox out especially for her.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Shen Wantang gently shook her head again.

Not necessarily. Maybe the little fox was bought for his sister too. After all, picking two identical little rabbits wouldn't make much sense.

She started fiddling with the bell again, watching the spinning ball and the little fox rolling around inside, and couldn't help but smile. She had to admit, these little toys for entertaining children were really fun; she'd never played with any of these in either her past or present life.

Gu Qianhan leaned against the wall by the window, watching the smile on Shen Wantang's face, and her hardened heart softened.

Perhaps spurred on by Xiao Qingyuan, he didn't keep his distance from her this time. He stood by the window, very close to her, so close that he could almost touch the hem of her clothes.

The winter sun shone through the window, falling on Shen Wantang and casting a soft, warm glow upon her, adding a dazzling brilliance to her already outstanding appearance.

Her sister's laughter and voice drew her attention. She didn't see him looking at her, nor did she see the ambition and greed for her hidden beneath his cold exterior.

If the Gu family can weather the crisis, he thought he wouldn't be able to control himself; he would use every trick and scheme to win her back.

If the Gu family cannot weather the crisis...

No, we can definitely get through this!

Gu Qianning's heart pounded as she watched her second brother staring intently at Shen Wantang. Afraid that Shen Wantang would notice something was wrong, she kept talking to her.

While Shen Wantang was playing with a ball, she kicked her second brother hard.

Gu Qianhan winced in pain and then looked away.

But Gu Qianning was afraid that he would lose control of himself again. If Shen Wantang discovered her second brother's wolfish ambitions, how would he face her in the future?

She could only lie and say that she had something to attend to at the manor, hurriedly said goodbye to Shen Wantang, and left with Gu Qianhan.

After leaving Zuixianlou and getting into the carriage, Gu Qianning's face turned cold: "Second brother, you wanted to give A-Tang something, and I helped you, and she accepted it. But could you please be more mindful of the way you looked at her just now? It was like you were a wolf! You looked like you wanted to devour her!"

Gu Qianhan's voice remained indifferent and flat: "You're overthinking it."

Gu Qianning said angrily, "I'm not stupid!"

Her second brother never gave her anything, let alone bought her any strange or fun trinkets to coax her. When he brought those two balls back, she knew they weren't for her, but for Shen Wantang.

He just wanted to make people happy.

"Second brother, this can't go on. You're going to give me a heart attack. Maybe you should just stop seeing A-Tang."

She suspected that if no one else was around, he might lose his temper and pull her into his arms—at least, that was the meaning behind the way he looked at Shen Wantang just now.

Gu Qianhan did not respond to her. He told her not to see the Crown Prince again, but she couldn't do it either.

He's already died once, so how could he possibly let go of the chance to see Shen Wantang again?

Seeing that he didn't respond, Gu Qianning knew he was unwilling. She earnestly said, "Second brother, she's married now. She has a husband. If you really care about her, you should stay away from her. You should be a gentleman and not a petty person who covets another man's wife!"

Gu Qianhan said indifferently, "I have never said that I am a gentleman. It is better to be a villain than a gentleman."

"Second brother, she doesn't like you!"

"Shut up."

"I'm not taking you to see her anymore!"

"Then you can forget about ever seeing the Crown Prince again."

"Gu Qianhan!"

"As I just said, it's better to be a petty person than a gentleman."