Chapter 18: You’re Not Even One-Tenth as Good as Her!

Gossip spreads like wildfire.

Within two days, the events that transpired at Cen Xi’s celebration party had reached every corner of the capital’s social circle.

The most discussed topic was undoubtedly Gu Linchuan, the uninvited guest.

For instance, he had fallen in love with a poor student, even going so far as to abandon his childhood sweetheart and his fiancée from a well-matched family.

Another example was Gu Linchuan’s brawl with Chen Zexu, the youngest son of the Chen family, for this impoverished student, resulting in injuries for both.

In comparison, Qiao Shuyi’s fall into the water and the incident with the high-pressure water hose directed at Gu Linchuan and Liang Man seemed insignificant.

Qiao Shuyi had a WeChat group with her close friends, including Sheng Tang, where they would often share gossip and rumors.

From their conversations, Qiao Shuyi learned about the aftermath.

Gu and Chen families had a partnership, but due to the fight between Gu Linchuan and Chen Zexu, the Chen family abruptly terminated their collaboration with the Gu family, causing the latter to lose millions.

The Chen family also suffered losses, but not as severe as the Gu family.

Gu Mingcheng was so enraged by the incident that he ended up hospitalized. Gu Linchuan, who visited his father in the hospital, was slapped twice and pressured to break up with Liang Man.

However, Gu Linchuan, a stubborn soul, refused to budge.

Qin Shuang wept uncontrollably on the sidelines.

In short, the Gu family was in a state of utter chaos.

Qiao Shuyi learned about this from her close friends in the group.

Knowing that Gu Linchuan was struggling, Qiao Shuyi felt a sense of relief.

Although she was aware that many people were mocking her behind her back, saying that Gu Linchuan would rather choose a powerless and impoverished student than her, so what?

She was merely the subject of gossip, and she had suffered no loss.

These rumors also reached Qiao Shuyi’s parents, who were furious.

“What do you mean Gu Linchuan doesn’t want my daughter? It’s clearly my daughter who doesn’t want him! What does he think he is?!”

“He dares to argue with my daughter for that vixen! Does he think our Qiao family is made of straw?!”

That night, Qiao Shuyi’s father began planning to suspend his cooperation with the Gu family.

Initially, he cherished the decades-long friendship between the two families and, with the sentiment of “even if the marriage doesn’t work out, the friendship remains,” he had not terminated his partnership with the Gu family.

But, who would have thought that Gu Linchuan would disregard the Qiao family’s reputation so blatantly.

Since that was the case, he would no longer have to hold back his feelings.

The first partnership to be terminated was the medical equipment project with the Gu family, where the Qiao family was responsible for production, while the Gu family handled sales channels.

Upon learning that Qiao Shuyi’s father had unilaterally canceled the partnership, Gu Mingcheng practically crawled out of the hospital and rushed to the Qiao residence.

“Jianye, didn’t we already agree on this? Your equipment will be sold by me, and I’ve already reached an agreement with the hospitals! Why are you doing this?”

“No need.”

Qiao Shuyi’s father sat on the main seat, his expression cold. “I’ve already found a new distributor, and I’ll pay you every penny of the breach of contract fee. We have no need to collaborate anymore.”

Gu Mingcheng became anxious. The breach of contract fee was far less profitable than selling the equipment.

Moreover, the medical equipment produced by the Qiao family was of high quality and reasonably priced, with many hospitals vying for it, making it effortless for him to sell everything.

However, Qiao Shuyi’s father was adamant, and there was clearly no room for negotiation.

“The hospitals have already recognized me. If you switch distributors now, they won’t accept it. Old Qiao, are you going to watch your hard-earned products rot in the warehouse?!”

“Don’t you worry about that. It’s my own business if they rot in the warehouse!”

“You! You’re crazy!”

Gu Mingcheng rushed over in a frenzy, only to leave grumbling.

Later, Qiao Shuyi’s father canceled several other partnerships. Gu Mingcheng came a few times, but he didn’t even get through the door of the Qiao residence.

Throughout this entire ordeal, Gu Linchuan never showed his face.

That evening, Qiao Shuyi was having fun at the JM Club with Sheng Tang and a group of close friends.

In the middle of their enjoyment, the door to the private room was suddenly flung open with force.

Gu Linchuan, his face filled with anger, appeared at the doorway. Without a word, he barged in.

His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Qiao Shuyi, who was amidst the crowd. He lunged towards her, attempting to grab her hand, but she swiftly dodged him.

The music, which had been playing, was abruptly paused.

Qiao Shuyi’s angry voice echoed throughout the private room. “Gu Linchuan, what are you doing?!”

“Come with me!”

He reached for her again, but Qiao Shuyi was unable to dodge in time and he grabbed her wrist.

“Let go!”

Sheng Tang, who had appeared behind Gu Linchuan, grabbed a wine bottle from the table and smashed it against his head.

Gu Linchuan immediately released his grip, slowly sinking to the ground, clutching his head. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Qiao Shuyi, filled with malice. With difficulty, he uttered, “Qiao Shuyi, are you satisfied now? My dad is in the hospital, my mom is sick, are you happy?”

“Your parents being hospitalized isn’t my fault! What does it have to do with me?” Qiao Shuyi frowned, her face filled with disgust.

She remembered that Gu Mingcheng had been discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago.

What happened? Did he get readmitted?

“How is it not your fault? If your father hadn’t canceled all our partnerships, would my dad have been so enraged that he suffered a heart attack? And how could my mom have collapsed from exhaustion after staying up all night to take care of my dad?”

So that’s how it was…

Qiao Shuyi chuckled. “You know why my dad canceled the partnerships, don’t you?”

Gu Linchuan gritted his teeth. “I know! It’s because I left you at the engagement party, so you hold a grudge against me and made your father cancel the partnerships to get revenge on our Gu family!”

“Qiao Shuyi, you’re narrow-minded and vengeful. No wonder I fell for Manman. You’re not even one-tenth as good as her!”

After Gu Linchuan finished his words, the entire private room fell into an unprecedented silence. Everyone stared at him as if he were an idiot.

Sheng Tang covered her mouth in surprise.

Could it be that his head was damaged by the bottle?

“Then what are you here for?” Qiao Shuyi propped her chin in her hand, watching him with amusement.

“Of course, it’s to make your father resume the partnerships! He can’t cancel them!”

His tone was so matter-of-fact that even Qiao Shuyi was taken aback.

“I can’t do that.” Qiao Shuyi smiled. “I’m not even one-tenth as good as your Manman. She’s so amazing, you should go to her.”

“You!”

Gu Linchuan was about to say something else, but he suddenly felt a wetness in his palm.

He brought his hand to his eyes, then closed his eyes and fainted.

Seeing the blood on his hand, Qiao Shuyi recoiled in disgust.

Gu Linchuan was afraid of blood.

She had known this since childhood.

Perhaps it was because of his fear of blood that he hadn’t chosen to kill her with a knife or any other weapon in her previous life, but instead opted to set her on fire.

Their fun was interrupted, and Sheng Tang, unhappy, kicked him with her foot. “He’s not dead, is he?”

Qiao Shuyi reached out and checked his nose. “He’s still breathing.”

In the end, it was the club staff who called an ambulance and sent Gu Linchuan to the hospital.

Well, now the whole family was in the hospital.