"Even if I'm wronged and have to pay compensation, I won't give this to them."

Her voice was very soft.

But it struck Gu Lianzhou's heart like a heavy hammer, clear and resolute.

With a slight thought, he slowly tightened his arms.

A pair of cold, sharp eyes slowly swept across the surroundings, their gaze filled with warning.

It's obvious they're protecting their own.

Min Min was startled. Looking at Ah Zhen, who had just climbed out of the water in a disheveled state, she said to Shen Zhiyi in a trembling voice, "I... I can let it go for Brother Lianzhou's sake..."

Gu Lianzhou pursed his thin lips and said nothing. He simply raised his hand, picked up a glass of red wine from the table beside him, and handed it to Shen Zhiyi.

"Take it."

Shen Zhiyi looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, staring at him in bewilderment.

"Splash it back," Gu Lianzhou said coldly.

Since we can't clear up someone else's accusations, we might as well accept them as fact.

An eye for an eye.

His eyes were unfathomable as he looked straight at her. "With my brother here, we can bear any outcome."

Shen Zhiyi's eyes widened in surprise.

Seemingly encouraged by his words, she took the wine glass, mustered her courage, walked up to Min Min, and splashed the wine on her skirt!

The bright red wine drew an arc in the air and landed steadily on Min Min.

It slid down her hair and skirt.

"Ah—!" Min Min screamed, her face filled with shock.

Before she could react, Shen Zhiyi, like a startled deer, darted behind Gu Lianzhou, grabbed his clothes tightly with both hands, and peeked out.

They acted as if they had someone backing them up, allowing them to do whatever they wanted.

Gu Lianzhou raised his eyebrows.

Feeling the strength with which she gripped the hem of his clothes, a strange yet intense urge to protect him welled up inside him.

He involuntarily turned around and stood protectively in front of her.

She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the crowd, and said casually, "My little sister is ignorant and has offended Miss Min."

"I will send someone to deliver a limited-edition, latest-edition dress to your home, explain everything that happened today, and apologize to your parents."

Min Min's face turned deathly pale.

Should we talk to her parents?

Wouldn't that just let them teach her a lesson?!

She remembered the huge deal Gu Lianzhou had just signed and collapsed to the ground.

Gu Lianzhou ignored them and left with Shen Zhiyi in his hand.

...

After arriving home, Gu Lianzhou got out of the car and walked to the back of the villa's hall, where he suddenly stopped.

He turned around and looked at Shen Zhiyi, who was following closely behind him.

His gaze slowly descended.

It was fixed on their still intertwined fingertips.

"How much longer do we have to hold him?" he asked, his Adam's apple bobbing.