Chapter 52

Standing side by side with him in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the dazzling afternoon sun was unobstructed and shone directly on Guan Ying's face, making it bright and hot.

"According to what you said, didn't I fail to protect Jiawei?"

Zheng Juyong didn't mean for her to reflect on herself at this moment. He smiled bitterly and said, "Didn't you just say that we shouldn't mix the two?"

The half-full bottle of mineral water in Zheng Juyong's hand refracted the light into several colorful spots, which just happened to fall on the chest of his black T-shirt, as if lighting up a colorful heart inside.

The more brilliant a heart is, the more regrettable it is when it's broken. Guan Ying patted his shoulder, a hint of regret: "It really can't be confused. I've already broken up and gained experience. You're different. Qiao Qi is your first love, right? Well, think about it, most first loves don't work out. The fact that you two have reached the stage of engagement is already a..."

"You also think that I'm lucky, right?" He looked at her as if he had been expecting this for a long time. "From the day she agreed to my proposal until now, I have always considered it my luck."

Guan Ying just wanted to say, "I have no regrets now."

To her, saying "lucky" at this moment wasn't kindness, it was cowardice! She retracted her hand: "Hey, Zheng Juyong, don't tell me you're just going to admit it like this? Are you so in love that you've lost your self-respect?... Even if Qiao Qi really gave birth to this child, would you admit it? Not only that, but for Qiao Qi's sake, would you even hide it from her uncle and aunt, letting this child have the surname Zheng without knowing it? Do you have any bottom line?!"

Zheng Juyong squeezed the water bottle in his hand, and the colorful lights on his chest gathered into a faint floating light, swaying left and right.

"Oh, I was wondering why Qiao Qi would suddenly agree to your proposal. You've been following her around for the past four years, and she's already got you figured out!" Guan Ying turned around to get the flyer again, fanning it vigorously, causing her collar and hair to fly up. She laughed angrily, "Haha, you're really amazing, Zheng Juyong!"

Guan Ying's attitude took a sharp turn for the worse, and he returned to the "Little Overlord of West City" that he was familiar with in his childhood.

In fact, Zheng Juyong had not made up his mind yet.

He just misunderstood Guan Ying's advice to him to "be more open-minded" as asking him to just muddle through. After all, the child was gone, and pursuing the matter any further would be a waste of time. Although he admitted that he felt a little ashamed of himself when he thought about it this way, it was still a possibility.

Now, after being ridiculed by her, he realized she meant he should "be more open-minded" about the breakup. She also mentioned another possibility: if the child hadn't been harmed, what would he do in the future? Would it really be as she said... He actually felt a little scared...

Although he hadn't made up his mind yet, he felt too embarrassed to stand with her. He retreated to the chair by the table and tossed the crushed empty water bottle into the trash can. "That's all your speculation... Qiao Qi isn't as bad as you say. I've watched her get to where she is today. It's not easy for her to achieve what she has today... You don't understand her world. In that environment, there are many things she can't control, and they're not always her intentions..."

"Ha! Haha!" Guan Ying slapped the hardcover flyer until it was limp. "I don't really understand the entertainment industry, but I'm a woman too. I can see her thoughts better than you! Okay, I won't argue with you, you love-brained bastard. You know me. I won't stand by and watch my uncle and aunt be kept in the dark. This isn't just a matter between you and Qiao Qi anymore. I thought you were making progress and a straightforward man, so I saved your face. I didn't expect you to be such a coward in relationships! I'm not going to beat around the bush with you. Do you even know who you're up against?!"

Zheng Juyong pulled back his hair and reluctantly uttered three words: "Qian Shaowei."

Guan Ying felt a little disappointed: "It's not him!"

Zheng Juyong argued, "It couldn't have been anyone else! I saw it with my own eyes."

Guan Ying: “Huh?”

Zheng Juyong: "At the Burj Al Arab, after you went into the women's dressing room by the swimming pool and rescued Qiao Qi, I was worried that the paparazzi had been lurking there for a few days and had more than one camera, so I secretly followed them... While chasing the paparazzi, I saw Qian Shaowei. He hurriedly pulled his suitcase into the elevator across the street. I recognized his back... I'm not as stupid as you say..."

"Heh! No wonder you didn't follow us that day. Turns out you went to chase that paparazzi? You're really thoughtful. No, I should say, you're really patient!" Guan Ying said in a weird tone.

Zheng Juyong sighed and said, "I didn't want to tell you so much... Now that I think about it, he might be worried about the child..."

Guan Ying thought he was being ridiculous. "What can I say about you? How did you endure that on the day of the engagement party?!"

Thinking back, he was actually busy dealing with Qiao's parents, who had traveled a long way, and taking care of a drunken Uncle Zheng and a sullen Aunt Zheng. He wasn't around Qiao Qi all the time, and his expression towards her wasn't particularly good. He'd assumed it was because he'd pretended to be pushed down by Qiao Qi during intermission, but there was actually more to it... He didn't even know Qiao Qi was pregnant at the time, so he must have taken a risky move!

Zheng Juyong lowered his head. It was not a fighting cock at all, it was clearly an ostrich!

"Hey, I told you before, that silver chain on Qiao Qi's hand, Q&Q, means Qiao & Qian!" Guan Ying threw the torn flyer into the trash can. "Have you ever thought about why Qian Shaowei tolerated Qiao Qi's proposal and even served as your witness? He and Qiao Qi had already discussed this!"

Zheng Juyong raised his head at this time, his eyes wide open. Things happened too quickly and he was extremely confused. He was able to connect the causes and effects mentioned above with his remaining rationality. As for longer-term and more far-reaching things, he had never even thought about them!

Guan Ying reminded her, "Although Qian Shaowei is using you, he doesn't intend to harm you. In fact, when he got Qiao Qi to accept your proposal and witnessed your engagement party, it seemed more like he was compensating you... Is there anyone you can think of who might be your opponent, or rather, who might be your opponent, Qiao Qi, and Qian Shaowei? For example, who has a grudge against you? This was deliberately messed up by someone. I don't have any evidence right now, but I do know one thing: it was Zhang Rong who helped that person do it."

"What?!" Zheng Juyong's palms suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. "Are you saying that Qiao Qi's fall was rigged? I've discussed this with Sister Ling several times before about high heels not being suitable for Qiao Qi, and the agency has been paying close attention to it ever since. I always felt that this shouldn't have happened... But how could it be Zhang Rong? How did you know all this?"

Guan Ying then told him the whole story in detail.

Zheng Juyong was stunned. It took him a long time to digest what he heard before he responded, "So, that paparazzi was a private detective hired by Zhang Rong? Did she already know us at that time, or even before that?"

"Don't you think she came too quickly at Fangxiang Pavilion that night? In short, now that you know, it's best to stay away from Zhang Rong. She is not the same kind of person as us. The strength of Lido Group is not something we at Xicheng Steel can handle." Guan Ying said this, as if he had just told her to stay away from Daniel.

Zheng Juyong was still skeptical. "I can't think of anyone I've offended. Qiao Qi certainly hasn't. She's completely focused on music, and whenever she encounters any tough issues, Sister Ling handles them for her. If she encounters something Sister Ling can't handle, she'll ask Qian Shaowei to help resolve it."

Guan Ying nodded: "That's for Qian Shaowei. Qiao Qi is the target, and you may very well be a variable. From the engagement party to last night, Zhang Rong has actually reminded me twice to get you out. Now she has already made a move on Qiao Qi. She is rich and courageous, and the people behind her are even more powerful. These people together dare to do anything! If you still get involved, she probably won't remind you a third time. Zheng Juyong, this matter is far more serious than you think. You'd better make a quick decision and don't drag down Xicheng Steel. You should know how much pressure Uncle Zheng is under now. Do you really want your uncle and aunt to get to the point of divorce before you give up?"

Zheng Juyong looked at her blankly. He had only thought it was a game between him and Qian Shaowei, but he had not seen the cruel murderous intention hidden behind it. Reality was stranger than fiction. How could he accept it for a moment?

Guan Ying glared at him: "What are you still hesitating about?"

Zheng Juyong: "If it's really as dangerous as you say, what will Qiao Qi do alone?"

Guan Ying: "I've made it so clear, and you're still worried about her? Not only does she have an agency, but she also has countless netizens who are outraged for her! As for you, you only have your uncle and aunt!"

Zheng Juyong licked his lips again: "I...my mind is too confused, please let me calm down..."

Guan Ying raised her hand to check the time: "Auntie will soon wake up. Do you know that Auntie's condition has been very bad recently? She will probably have to stay up all night in the ward tonight... If you don't want her to have a serious illness like my father, please feel sorry for your mother too!"

Zheng Juyong supported himself on his knees, bent down, and pulled his hair into a mess.

Guan Ying sighed, stood up, and walked towards the corridor. Before opening the door and leaving, she mustered up her courage, turned around and said to him from behind, "Zheng Juyong, if you don't know how to tell her, or if you simply can't get rid of her, you can tell others that I'm pregnant too... I'm going to Seattle soon, and no one can find me, so you can do whatever you want! Anyway, all of you know how to use the child to make a fuss, so I don't need to teach you..."

Zheng Juyong's shoulders slumped.

She opened the door swiftly and left with a bang.

When she returned to the room, Aunt Zheng had already woken up and was resting against the headboard. Seeing that she was out of breath when she came back, she asked with concern, "Why are you so out of breath? Did you see your old classmate?"

The note left by Guan Ying said that she was going out to meet a college classmate who had returned from studying abroad in Seattle, and wanted to ask about renting a house near the school.

"Oh, I saw it. It's so hot outside, I only took two steps and it happened."

Aunt Zheng turned her head and looked out the window. "You've been in the UAE for so long, and I never heard you complain about the heat there. Since you've postponed the flight, you can't arrange accommodation in advance... Is it because that classmate didn't help you?"

Guan Ying wiped the sweat off her forehead and said, "Well, I thought he'd changed a bit, but it turns out he's still as stubborn as ever! He's a good person, but he's not very efficient and stubborn!"

Aunt Zheng seemed lost in thought, then smiled wryly as she tried to comfort her. "Well, we're classmates, so don't blame him. Your Uncle Zheng is the same way. People like them are stubborn and may not seem very bright, but they have good hearts. You can tell a person's character right away, so it's easier to be with them."

Guan Ying pouts, isn't that just the same old thing?