chapter 14
What she saw was completely different from what was written in the report.
They were practically two different people.
Suddenly, that tall and slender figure slowly turned around. Before he could withdraw his probing gaze, their eyes met from across the space.
Although he had seen her photo before, seeing her in person made Gu Zhao’s eyes light up.
Her skin was porcelain pale, her features delicate and refined. Especially those cool, clear eyes—still and calm, yet hiding a sharp edge. The faint lift at the corners of her eyes carried a trace of hostility, and her entire presence radiated an aura that said: not someone to mess with.
Gu Zhao thought, How could anyone call this kind of girl weak?
While he was sizing her up, Gu Qingning was also looking at him.
Just like the rumors said, the third young master of the Gu family was as elegant as a jade tree—handsome, refined, and naturally gentle in manner.
After a quick glance, Gu Qingning turned her head aside, clearly losing interest.
With her hands casually in her pockets, she took long strides as if to leave.
“Stop right there.”
Cheng Yu’s sharp, commanding tone cut through the air.
Her voice carried an authority that made people instantly bristle.
Gu Qingning ignored her and kept walking.
Under everyone’s gaze, Cheng Yu was once again blatantly ignored. Even the best temper couldn’t hold up to that.
“What are you all standing around for? Grab her!”
The guards rushed forward at once.
Gu Qingning shifted to the side.
Raising her knee, she kicked one of them squarely—sending him flying.
Her movements were swift and powerful, shocking the remaining guards into stillness.
Taking advantage of the moment, Gu Qingning’s steps were light and precise as she moved straight toward Cheng Yu.
There was no warning—no one even had time to react.
A cold hand seized Cheng Yu’s neck. Her breath caught.
When she turned, she found the girl’s calm, expressionless eyes only inches away, so close they sent a chill through her bones.
Gu Qingning’s lips curved faintly. “Now, do you see who’s catching who?”
Cheng Yu’s expression twisted. In all her life, she had never been grabbed by the throat—much less by some impudent little girl.
She refused to back down. “Gu Qingning, if you dare lay a hand on me, do you really think you’ll leave here alive?”
Gu Qingning let out a soft, lazy chuckle. “Whether I can leave here or not isn’t your concern. The real question is—will you live to see tomorrow’s sun?”
Her fingers tightened. Pain flashed across Cheng Yu’s face.
“Qingning, don’t!”
A worried voice cut through the tense silence, louder than the rustling wind. The guards stepped aside to let Gu Zhao through.
He walked up, his eyes glancing at the hand gripping Cheng Yu’s throat. His doubts only deepened.
But now wasn’t the time to ask questions.
He smiled gently, his tone soft. “Qingning, be good. Let her go first. We can talk about this calmly.”
Gu Qingning lifted her eyes to him, her gaze cold and unfamiliar. “Why should I listen to you?”
Gu Zhao was momentarily taken aback. “I…”
“Miss Qingning, the third young master is your real brother—same father, same mother,” the butler quickly interjected, thinking she didn’t recognize him.
Gu Qingning’s tone was indifferent. “So what?”
The butler: “…”
He was having a really hard time.
“Qingning, just let her go first, all right? Whatever’s wrong, you can tell Third Brother,” Gu Zhao coaxed softly.
“Why would I tell you?” Her voice was flat, emotionless.
Gu Zhao said, “I’m your brother. Whatever’s happened, tell me. I’ll help you handle it.”
Gu Qingning’s eyes were calm as she replied with an innocent face and the most biting words: “Shouldn’t people solve their own problems? Didn’t your teachers ever teach you that?”
Gu Zhao’s mouth twitched. “…”
Big brother, second brother, save me, he thought silently.
“Qingning, violence is never right. If someone bullied you, just tell me. As long as I’m here, no one will dare lay a hand on you,” he continued, trying to soothe her.
Housekeeper Lin couldn’t hold back anymore. “Third Young Master, it’s clearly she who bullied Madam! You can’t take her side!”
Gu Zhao shot her a cold glare. “When did I say outsiders could interrupt when we siblings are speaking?”
Seriously, could this woman pick a worse time to make things harder for him?
Lin shrank back and went silent.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gu Zhao saw Cheng Yu’s face turning purple. Worried that Gu Qingning might actually strangle her, he hurried to say, “Qingning, please—trust me just this once. Let her go first. I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
He didn’t care if Cheng Yu lived or died—but if Qingning accidentally killed her, things would get messy.
Gu Qingning gave him a glance, then looked at Cheng Yu again before slowly loosening her grip.
“Cough—cough.”
Finally able to breathe again, Cheng Yu stumbled back a few steps, putting distance between them.
Aunt Lin rushed forward to support her, patting her back anxiously. “Madam, are you all right?”
Cheng Yu’s face was flushed red from coughing. She glared at Gu Qingning with venomous eyes and rasped, “I’ll tell the Old Master that you dared to defy your elders—and even laid hands on me!”
Gu Qingning cast her a cold, sidelong look, entirely unmoved.
“Do whatever you want. You can even go tell the King of Heaven for all I care.”
Gu Zhao barely suppressed a laugh. For a moment, he regretted not coming home sooner to see his little sister.
That sharp tongue of hers—she might actually outdo their second brother.
Cheng Yu gritted her teeth. “You—”
“Mrs. Cheng,” Gu Zhao interrupted her smoothly, his tone mild but firm, “if there’s something to say, just say it clearly. There’s no need to make such a scene.”
“If this gets back to Grandfather, I don’t think it’ll end well for you either.”
Cheng Yu was skilled at playing the victim. She ignored the fact that she’d bullied Qingning first and instead complained tearfully, “Ah Zhao, how can you talk like that? You saw it yourself—she had me by the throat, even threatened to kill me! Am I, as her elder, not allowed to discipline her a little?”
“Yes, I’m your stepmother, but I’ve treated you three brothers with kindness for all these years. Yet you defend her so blindly—it truly breaks my heart.”
Gu Zhao frowned, racking his brain for a way to defuse the situation without making things worse for Qingning.
If this blew up, it wouldn’t end well for her.
“Can I go now?”
Her cool, detached voice broke the tense silence.
Gu Zhao looked at the girl and blurted, “Where are you going?”
“Anywhere but here,” she said flatly.
Cheng Yu snapped, her voice sharp with rage. “You injured so many people and think you can just walk away? Dream on!”
She had lost face in front of everyone. If she didn’t make Qingning pay, she wouldn’t be Cheng Yu.
Gu Qingning gave her a sidelong glance. “You’re the one who told them to come at me. They got hurt because of you. Shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourself?”
Her words sounded oddly logical—absurd, yet somehow convincing.
The butler and guards had to physically restrain themselves from nodding in agreement.
Afraid the situation might spiral again, Gu Zhao quickly ordered, “Uncle Wan, dismiss everyone for now. And call a doctor to treat the injured.”
“Yes, sir.” The butler nodded and led the guards away.
Soon, the courtyard was quiet again.
Gu Zhao said calmly, “Mrs. Cheng, let’s talk inside. No need to make a spectacle of ourselves out here.”
Then he turned to Gu Qingning. “Qingning, you come too.”
