Chapter 36: Keep Up the Act

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That night, I lay awake, and so did she.

The difference was that she became ever more certain of what she wanted, while I sank into deep uncertainty.

I could not understand why Liu Zhuyin had suddenly changed, nor could I fathom the meaning behind her tearful confession that day.

But the one thing I knew for certain was that no matter how she changed, she and I… had ultimately become a thing of the past.

The following day, I threw myself into work.

The foreign investment project was a difficult one. If I wanted to secure it, I would have to devote all my energy to it.

After a busy morning, I called Bai Beichuan that afternoon and arranged to meet him at his company.

Though he was the young master of the Bai family, he had several older brothers above him.

Even so, he was capable.

The project was enormous. The Liu Group and the Luo Group alone probably could not handle it.

I had asked him for help the day before and now owed him a favor. Bringing him into the partnership could be considered a way of repaying him.

“Big brother, I suppose you’re short of money?”

“This foreign investment project is a huge prize, but it’s incredibly difficult to secure!”

“Are you really confident? And you’re kind enough to invite me in?”

The moment I proposed the partnership, he curled his lips, his face full of disbelief at my supposed generosity.

“You’re judging a gentleman with a petty mind.”

“I’m practically giving you money for free, and you’re still acting so coy!”

“If you don’t dare, then forget it!”

I glared at him, and Bai Beichuan covered his mouth to hide a laugh.

“Fine, I’ll accept your kindness.”

“But let me be clear—I’m not truly accepting it out of gratitude. You invited me into this project today not only because of whatever scheme you have in mind, but also because you want to repay me for what I did for the Liu family.”

He had seen straight through me, and I did not bother to hide it.

“That’s right. Thank you for helping with the Liu family’s affairs.”

After discussing the foreign investment project with him for a while, I went downstairs.

Who could have expected that the moment I reached the lobby, I would run into Liu Zhuyin and Ning Yuanzhou?

Ning Yuanzhou had deliberately changed into a suit, dressing himself up to look every inch the gentleman.

He was so smug that, if he had a tail, he could have held it high enough to reach the heavens.

Liu Zhuyin, meanwhile, followed beside him with an expression of helplessness.

“Yuanzhou, why don’t we just forget it? I already thanked President Bai yesterday. There’s really no need to go again…”

Ning Yuanzhou shook his head repeatedly.

“How could we? He helped you, so of course I have to thank him.”

“Besides, with my connection, perhaps the two of you might even work together in the future.”

I was dumbfounded when I heard that.

Why did it sound as though he had taken credit for everything that happened yesterday?

He really had no shame.

Still, I could not be bothered to argue with him. When I saw the two of them, I was just about to lower my head and slip past before they noticed me.

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Who could have known that Ning Yuanzhou’s eyes were so sharp?

He spotted me at once.

“Mr. Gu!”

He had already been in high spirits, but seeing me made him even happier.

Liu Zhuyin was also startled when she saw me. A flicker of unease crossed her face, and she hurriedly explained, “Well… President Bai helped me yesterday, so I came to thank him.”

She offered the explanation anxiously. I gave a slight nod and, with no intention of engaging them, prepared to leave.

But Ning Yuanzhou suddenly began speaking with pointed sarcasm.

“Mr. Gu, have you really abandoned the Liu Group completely?”

“Even if you and Ah Yin are divorced, you were husband and wife once. Have you forgotten all that the moment you turned around?”

“You really are heartless.”

I frowned and glanced at him, but still could not be bothered to respond.

“Forget it. You’re cold and ungrateful. What can we say?”

“But don’t worry. With me here, I’ll never let Ah Yin be bullied, no matter what.”

“What you refuse to help with, I’ll handle.”

“What you can’t handle, I’ll handle too!”

He was firm and imposing, brimming with confidence.

He looked as pleased with himself as the Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Little did he know that he was nothing more than an oversized macaque.

Liu Zhuyin had already guessed that I was the one who had helped her; otherwise, she would not have said those things the night before.

And with Bai Beichuan deliberately arranging to meet Liu Zhuyin before seeing me, even an idiot could have figured out the truth.

Yet Ning Yuanzhou thought the credit belonged to him.

Liu Zhuyin could not bear to expose him, and he truly dared to climb higher on that borrowed branch.

Sure enough, her expression shifted, and helplessness filled her face.

“Heh. Impressive.”

“The Ning family may have fallen into decline, but who would have thought that its former young master would still be so capable?”

The Ning family had declined precisely because of Ning Yuanzhou.

I said that deliberately to remind him not to put on an act in front of me.

Others might not know what kind of person he was, but I knew perfectly well.

For the sake of wealth and glory overseas, he had taken most of the Ning family’s assets.

But what had actually happened?

He had been stripped bare, kicked back, and returned like a stray dog.

And yet he had the shamelessness to swagger around as though he were some grand figure.

Ridiculous.

“You…”

Ning Yuanzhou understood the sarcasm in my words. Gritting his teeth, he challenged me coldly.

“Yes, my Ning family has fallen.”

“But I’m still willing to give everything I have for Ah Yin.”

“What about you? You were nothing but a live-in son-in-law of the Liu family. Now that you’ve made something of yourself and gained a reputation in the industry, you abandoned the Liu family?”

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“Oh, that’s right!”

“I heard you’ve attached yourself to the Luo family’s heiress as well. That’s just the sort of person you are. You became so addicted to being a live-in son-in-law that you can’t stop.”

His sarcasm escalated into a personal attack.

“Yuanzhou! Shut up!”

Before I could answer, Liu Zhuyin rebuked him sharply.

“Ah Yin, you…”

“Enough! Stop talking. I know exactly how much Yichen did for the Liu family.”

“You know nothing, so stop making reckless accusations.”

It was the first time Liu Zhuyin had ever reprimanded Ning Yuanzhou.

It was also the first time she had defended me in front of him.

Her reaction surprised me greatly, but it made Ning Yuanzhou even more furious.

“Ah Yin, why are you defending him?”

“Wasn’t what I said true?”

“He’s standing by while the Liu Group falls apart, refusing to help, yet he’s carrying on with the Luo family’s heiress.”

“Could it be… could it be that you don’t know?”

Ning Yuanzhou looked as though he had suffered some enormous injustice. Liu Zhuyin’s expression also darkened.

But she said nothing.

Instead, she turned to look at me, a faint trace of inquiry in her eyes.

It was as though she were asking about my relationship with Luo Mingzhu.

Even though she had seen us together, even though she believed that I still loved her, no woman could remain indifferent to such a thing.

I found it tiresome and had no desire to explain. I turned and prepared to leave.

But at that very moment, Bai Beichuan happened to come downstairs.

“Oh, you’re all standing here. Why didn’t you come upstairs?”

Naturally, he directed the question at Liu Zhuyin.

“I…”

Before she could answer, Ning Yuanzhou strode forward.

“Hahaha, Brother Bai, it’s been ages since we last met.”

“But I’m glad to see that our friendship hasn’t diminished in the slightest.”

“Yesterday, I gave you a call, and you still helped me take care of the matter.”

“My brother, I’m truly grateful!”

Ning Yuanzhou’s face was full of excitement. As he spoke, he cast a provocative glance at me.

He alone seemed to be living in a world of his own.

I, Bai Beichuan, and even Liu Zhuyin all wore strange expressions.

I found it laughable, Liu Zhuyin felt helpless, and Bai Beichuan simply had no intention of sparing his feelings. He opened his mouth to reveal the truth.

“What are you talking about? This has absolutely nothing to do with you…”

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