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Qiu Yingying seemed to realize that her words had gone too far, and a hint of guilt appeared on her face, but she still stubbornly said, "But Sister Fan is our good friend, we can't abandon her, she's also very pitiful."
Guan Juer took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and then said, "Little Earthworm, I understand how you feel, but Brother Su Chang also has his own way of doing things. We can't force him to do things he doesn't want to do."
Qiu Yingying lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, then raised her head, her eyes shining with determination: "Guan Guan, I know what you said makes sense, but I still want to try to help Sister Fan. I know Su Chang definitely likes you, and he will definitely help if you ask him for help."
Guan Juer felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing Qiu Yingying's words. She suddenly realized that Qiu Yingying and Fan Shengmei were the same, both trying to take advantage of her. So she coldly said, "Qiu Yingying, I won't tell anyone. Fine, you don't need to come up here anymore. Do whatever you want." Then she hung up the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Guan Juer felt as if she had been pricked by needles, and tears of grievance welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip tightly, trying hard not to let the tears fall, feeling like a puppet being manipulated at will, someone who could use her, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.
Her eyes were lost and helpless, as if she had lost her way. She picked up her phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally dialed Su Chang's number.
The call was quickly answered, and Su Chang's voice came through. Although he didn't know why Guan Juer was calling again, he still asked first, "Guan Guan, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Upon hearing Su Chang's voice, Guan Juer's pent-up grievances burst forth like a flood, and tears streamed down her face like a waterfall.
Her voice was choked with sobs as she said, "Brother Su Chang, Sister Fan... and Little Earthworm... they all bully people!" Tears streamed down her cheeks like broken beads, making her look just like a wronged child.
While crying, Guan Juer recounted her conversation with Qiu Yingying in detail to Su Chang. Her voice trembled, filled with grievance and sadness. Su Chang listened quietly, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of heartache in his eyes, but he wasn't particularly surprised, after all, he knew Qiu Yingying's character perfectly well.
After Guan Juer finished speaking, Su Chang asked, "Guan Guan, what are you planning to do now?"
Guan Juer sobbed as she answered, "Brother Su Chang... I... I don't know either." Her eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness, like a child lost in the darkness.
Su Chang sighed, inwardly lamenting that Guan Juer was still too naive. He thought for a moment and suggested, "Why don't you stay at the villa and be with your sister Andy and the others? See what they think of you. What do you think?"
Guan Juer hesitated for a moment after hearing this, her heart filled with conflict. On the one hand, she felt she wanted to escape from here; on the other hand, she was worried that she would cause trouble for Andy and the others.
After some thought, Guan Juer agreed. Her voice still trembled slightly as she said, "Okay, Brother Su Chang, but..."
Su Chang asked helplessly, "But what is it?"
Guan Juer bit her lip, lowered her head, and whispered, "I'm afraid I'll cause trouble for Sister Andy and the others..."
Su Chang's heart softened upon hearing this. He comforted her, "No, Guan Guan. You know Sister Andy, and Jiang Lai and Xu Li are over there too. They're all very easy to get along with, so you don't need to worry. Besides, you can ask them some questions; it might be of great help to you." Guan Juer nodded, feeling a little more at ease.
Su Chang continued, "I'll have someone come over to help you move your luggage. It'll be good if Xiaoming moves to the 23rd floor. It's better not to have to deal with the people on the 22nd floor."
Guan Juer hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alright then, Brother Su Chang. Thank you..." Her voice was still trembling slightly, but her eyes held a newfound determination.
Su Chang smiled and said, "Guan Guan, you don't need to be so polite with your brother Su Chang. Just take good care of yourself, that's more important than anything else. Call me anytime if anything happens."
“Okay, Brother Su Chang.” Guan Juer nodded, her heart filled with warmth. She knew that in this unfamiliar city, there was someone like Brother Su Chang who cared about her.
······
Dongshan Villa.
"Sixth Sister, who did you say? Who wants to move in?" Jiang Lai asked immediately after hearing Su Fanghe say that Su Chang had arranged for someone else to move in.
Andy and Xu Li also stared intently at Su Fanghe. Su Fanghe simply said calmly, "The young mistresses, the young master said that Miss Guan Juer will be moving into the villa soon, and Third Sister has already gone to pick her up."
"Oh, it's Guan Guan." Andy and Jiang Lai both breathed a sigh of relief when they heard it was Guan Juer.
Seeing their reaction, Xu Li immediately pressed, "Tell me quickly, tell me, who is Guan Juer? What's she like? Is she easy to get along with?"
Andy and Jiang Lai exchanged a glance. Because Jiang Lai had little experience dealing with people on the 22nd floor, she gestured for Andy to speak, and Andy did not refuse.
"Guan Guan is a very innocent and kind girl. She hasn't been out of college for long. Anyway, no one on the 22nd floor dislikes her."
"Wow! She's such a naive little girl, that's good." Upon hearing Andy's words, Xu Li was immediately overjoyed, and then, as if she had thought of something, a wicked smile appeared on her lips.
"How about we put on a welcome ceremony for our new friend, Guan Guan?"
Seeing Xu Li's expression, Jiang Lai and Andy felt that Xu Li's welcoming ceremony was not simple. Andy knew how crazy Xu Li was and was afraid of scaring Guan Juer, so he immediately reminded her, "Xu Li, Guan Guan is not very brave and is very shy. I'm telling you, don't scare her, otherwise Su Chang will probably never forgive you."
"Tch! Who's afraid of him!" Although Xu Li said that, the crestfallen expression on her face clearly showed that Su Chang had left a deep impression on her. Mainly, Su Chang's body was just too beastly; that time, the two or three hours of non-stop punishment...
(Just imagine, there must be a lot of people who want to own this.)
"Alright, stop being so stubborn. Su Chang isn't home. Who are you trying to impress?" Jiang Lai curled her lip in disdain.
"You think you're so great? Don't ask me for help next time." Xu Li retorted irritably, and Jiang Lai couldn't talk back, so she could only glare at Xu Li, who also looked at her with a provocative expression.
After all, Xu Li was their most capable member; even combined, she and Andy couldn't compare to Xu Li. That's why they allowed Su Chang to find other women.
Chapter 118 Jiang Lai's Reminder
"Alright, we'll just go out for a meal together when Guan Guan arrives later." Andy quickly stepped in to smooth things over, otherwise the two women would start arguing endlessly.
"cut!"
"Hmph!" Jiang Lai and Xu Li took the opportunity to back down after hearing Andy's words, but they still didn't get along.
Su Fangyan was quick and soon brought Guan Juer back. As soon as Guan Juer entered the door, she saw Andy, Jiang Lai, and Xu Li coming to greet her.
Guan Juer greeted the three women shyly: "Hello, Sister Andy, Sister Jiang Lai, and Sister Xu Li!" Although Guan Juer did not know Xu Li, she knew Xu Li's name through Su Chang.
Seeing Guan Juer's shy demeanor, Xu Li's playful side emerged, and she teased, "Oh! So you're a shy little sister. Su Chang has good taste."
Upon hearing Xu Li's words, Guan Juer lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. Andy, seeing this, quickly pulled Xu Li aside and glared at her in annoyance.
"Alright, stop teasing Guan Guan." After Andy finished speaking, he looked at Guan Juer and said, "Guan Guan, it's okay. That's just how your sister Xu Li is. You'll get used to it."
"Ah...it's alright! It's alright!" Guan Juer quickly shook her head to indicate that she was fine.
"Oh my! This little sister is so cute, I have to cherish her! I don't know where Su Chang got such good fortune to get such a well-behaved little sister." Xu Li said as she went over to tease Guan Juer.
Guan Juer's face turned bright red, but she still explained, "Sister Xu Li, you misunderstood. Su Chang and I are nothing."
"What?" Andy, Jiang Lai, and Xu Li all exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Guan Juer's words, looking at her with suspicion. It wasn't that they thought Guan Juer would lie, but rather that they knew Su Chang too well. How could Su Chang bear not to take advantage of such a beautiful and delicate young man?
Seeing the surprised expressions on her three older sisters' faces, Guan Juer's face instantly turned bright red. She lowered her head, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, and explained softly, "Brother Su Chang is very good to me, and I like him very much, but..."
All three of them had been through the 630 incident, and although Guan Juer hadn't finished speaking, they knew exactly what she was worried about.
Andy walked over to Guan Juer, gently patted her shoulder, and softly comforted her, "It's okay, Guan Guan, take your time, don't rush! Just follow your heart." Andy's eyes were full of understanding and encouragement, and her smile was as warm as a spring breeze, bringing Guan Juer a sense of comfort.
Xu Li nodded quickly and then comforted her, "Yes, Guan Guan, although Su Chang is a bit of a jerk, he's still very good to us, and he won't force you. Think it through before you say anything, after all, this is a lifelong commitment." Xu Li's expression was full of concern, and she gently held Guan Juer's hand, as if she could give her strength.
Jiang Lai stood to the side, a hint of encouragement in her eyes, but she didn't go forward to comfort Guan Juer. She knew that going up now might make Guan Juer feel even more awkward, so she just stood there silently. Guan Juer looked at the three of them gratefully, her heart filled with emotion.
"Okay, Sister Andy, Sister Xu Li, I understand, and Sister Jiang Lai, thank you!"
"No, I wasn't comforting you, no need to thank me!" Jiang Lai immediately waved her hand, indicating that she shouldn't be dragged into it. She hated all that formality and affectation.
Guan Juer could sense Jiang Lai's goodwill, so she didn't rush to refute him. Instead, she stood there obediently, letting Xu Li's clutches bully her.
Seeing that the others had said enough, Andy slapped Xu Li's hand away and said, "Alright."
He then suggested, "Let's go, to celebrate Guan Guan moving in, let's go to Pinzhentang for a meal."
Xu Li immediately raised her hand in agreement and said excitedly, "We have to go! Su Chang hasn't been back for so long, we should go get something good to eat." It was clear that Xu Li had indeed been craving something for a long time.
Jiang Lai also said, "It's been a long time since I've been to Pinzhentang. Let's go." Her tone was casual, but her eyes revealed anticipation.
With that, the four of them drove away from the villa.
When we arrived at Pinzhentang, it was the weekend and the busiest time for dinner. Several new waitresses had also joined the restaurant, and none of us recognized the four women.
Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan were busy in the kitchen at the moment, so Jiang Lai and the other three women didn't bother them. Instead, they asked the waiter to arrange a private room, ordered a few dishes and drinks, and started chatting in the room.
Andy spoke first, a hint of concern in her eyes, and asked softly, "Guan Guan, how's things going with Ode to Joy?"
Andy was still worried about Xiaoming. At first, she often went back to Ode to Joy, but after moving into the villa, Xiaoming also demanded to be independent. In addition, Su Chang would give Xiaoming some money from time to time, so Andy went there less often.
Upon hearing Andy's question, Guan Juer's mood instantly soared. She lowered her head slightly, her hands unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her dress, and whispered, "Sister Andy, you were right not to stay in Ode to Joy. They..."
Guan Juer then began recounting what happened after Andy left. When she mentioned Fan Shengmei's family, her voice trembled slightly, as if she were struggling to suppress her anger. She took a deep breath and continued, "After Sister Fan's family came, they caused us a lot of trouble. Sister Fan's mother even insulted Su Chang like that; I've had enough. Later, Sister Fan even took advantage of me..."
He then recounted how Fan Shengmei had used him, and briefly described his conversation with Qiu Yingying that day.
The three women all knew something about Fan Shengmei's mother's situation. When they heard that the debt collectors had come to their door, the three women exchanged glances, knowing in their eyes that it was Su Fangxiu's doing. They didn't say anything, but just listened silently to Guan Juer's story.
However, when they heard Fan Shengmei and Qiu Yingying's attitudes, the three women could no longer suppress their anger. Wasn't this clearly bullying Guan Juer because she was honest?
Jiang Lai, being the most straightforward, slammed her hand on the table, stood up abruptly, her eyes wide with anger, and shouted, "Outrageous! Isn't this pure bullying? And that Qiu Yingying, she's completely insane! Come on, Guan Guan, I'll take you to get justice!"
Guan Juer was startled by Jiang Lai's actions and was completely stunned.
Andy and Xu Li quickly stepped forward to pull Jiang Lai away. Andy's face showed a hint of helplessness. She comforted her, "It's alright, Lai Lai, Su Chang will handle it. Besides, now that Guan Guan has moved here, it's good to cut off contact with them. There's no point in arguing with these kinds of people."
Xu Li chimed in, "Yeah, Jiang Lai, why are you doing this? It's better to stay away from people like that. What if you get struck by lightning one day?" Her tone was sarcastic, showing her utter disdain for Fan Shengmei and Qiu Yingying's behavior.
"Pfft..."
Upon hearing Jiang Lai's words, all three burst out laughing.
The laughter instantly eased the tense atmosphere in the private room, and Guan Juer's mood gradually calmed down. She looked gratefully at Andy, Xu Li, and Jiang Lai, secretly rejoicing that she had such three older sisters by her side.
Guan Juer held Jiang Lai's hand tightly and said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Jiang Lai." A hint of determination appeared in her eyes: "But Sister Andy and Sister Xu Li are right. Since they don't consider me a friend, I don't need to have anything to do with them anymore. It won't make me happy if I keep arguing with them, so it's completely unnecessary."
Jiang Lai looked at Guan Juer, shook her head helplessly, and said softly, "Alright, but Guan Guan, you need to change your ways. Once you enter the Su family, your status will be different. Although you can overlook it, the Su family members are not people who can be bullied by just anyone."
Andy and Xu Li then realized that Jiang Lai had been thinking from the perspective of the Su family, while they were thinking more from their own point of view. Andy's face showed a hint of admiration, while Xu Li nodded thoughtfully.
Although Guan Juer didn't understand what Jiang Lai meant, she still nodded obediently and said softly, "Okay, Sister Jiang Lai." Her eyes revealed a hint of confusion, but more than that, they showed her trust in Jiang Lai.
Seeing Guan Juer's obedient demeanor, Jiang Lai couldn't bear to say anything harsh. She could only gently explain, "Guan Guan, Su Chang is an outstanding man. His wealth is probably greater than that of 99% of the people in Shanghai, but he has no one to protect him. He's like a walking cake, and everyone wants a bite. So, everyone in our Su family has to be assertive, otherwise we'll become Su Chang's weakness, and the Su family will be overrun by everyone and devoured. Do you understand?"
Guan Juer was taken aback by Jiang Lai's words. Her mouth gaped open, and an expression of disbelief crossed her face. She had never imagined that Su Chang was in such a dangerous situation, and a sense of worry welled up in her heart.
Andy and Xu Li exchanged a glance, their expressions also grave. They realized that Jiang Lai's words weren't just for Guan Juer, but also a reminder to them. The atmosphere in the private room immediately became heavy, as if suffocating everyone.
At this moment, Su Chang was completely unaware that the four women in Shanghai were worried about him. He was currently focused on preparing dinner at Xu Hongdou's house.
Of course, Chen Nanxing, this "bathroom heater," has always been shining here, and she even claims to be worried that Xu Hongdou will suffer a loss. As for her true thoughts, only she herself probably knows.
As Su Chang cooked, he pondered that he had already spent quite a while in Kyoto, and it was time to return to Shanghai. After all, he wasn't used to being alone in an empty house every day. He secretly wondered how to persuade Xu Hongdou to go to Shanghai with him.
The three sat together at the dinner table. As usual, Chen Nanxing wolfed down his food.
Seeing Su Chang's hesitant expression, Xu Hongdou said irritably, "Just say what you want to say, don't put on this act!"
Su Chang composed himself, took a deep breath, and then said directly, "Hongdou, I've been in Kyoto for quite a while now, and there are still many things waiting for me to handle in Shanghai. Could you come back to Shanghai with me this time?" His eyes revealed a hint of expectation and longing.
Looking at Su Chang's eager gaze, Xu Hongdou felt a little wavering, but when she thought about Su Chang having other lovers in Shanghai, she became somewhat unwilling.
So, she hesitated and said, "Su Chang, if you have something to do in Shanghai, go ahead and take care of it. Or maybe I should stay in Kyoto. I don't know anyone here, and Nanxing is in Kyoto too, I..."
Su Chang naturally understood Xu Hongdou's concerns, so he decided to be honest and lay it all out: "Hongdou, I've already told you about my situation before, and I never intended to hide it from you. With you alone in Kyoto, I can't possibly come to take care of you long-term. Do you think this is appropriate?"
Chapter 119 The Beauty of Peaches
Su Chang paused for a moment before continuing, "Hongdou, I admit you're very beautiful, and I like you a lot too. But I really can't give them up for you. So, I hope you can get along well with them. Besides, there are some things you might find hard to bear alone." As she spoke, Su Chang winked at Xu Hongdou, a sly smile on her face.
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