Volume One, Chapter 14: Big Brother Will Buy You Some Candy

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Wen Li:...
Photos? Witnesses?
No photo shows her in bed with Zhou Huaqing; is there anyone who can come forward to prove it?
Truly, beauty invites trouble. Even a simple matter like her period stirs this group into a frenzy, as if they've never seen the world before.
Who here doesn't have a chaotic private life or some hidden quirks? So high and mighty.
Jiang Chen clenched his fists tightly again.
Zhou Huaqing sat on the sofa, his face previously polite, now his entire aura had turned cold and dark.
If Jiang Chen was a quick-tempered puppy who could be calmed with a gentle stroke, Zhou Huaqing was a fierce wolf—cross him, and if he doesn’t tear a piece of your flesh off, he won’t easily let it go.
How much he rips off depends entirely on his mood—consider this a warning of the consequences.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Shen Yuzhi jumped in just in time.
“It's just a quarrel between a young couple. Mind your own business. Haven’t you ever been in love? Breaking up one day, calling off engagements the next—it’s normal. They fight in bed but make up by the bedside.”
His words implicitly took Jiang Chen’s side.
Some mindless followers chimed in, “Exactly, exactly.”
Since this was his team’s mess, he had the most say; though it wasn’t that serious, if it escalated to a fatality, he’d be implicated too.
“Heh.” He Qianqian was unappreciative, snorting coldly.
The scene grew more strained.
Qi Min knew this whole incident started with Wen Li, and only Wen Li could resolve it. Approaching her side, he affectionately grabbed her arm and said,
“Wen Li, Qianqian didn’t mean it; it’s all just words that got out of hand. Now that it’s cleared up, there’s no problem. Qianqian was in the wrong.”
“Here’s the deal—I’ll have her apologize to you, and after that, no one brings this up again.”
He seemed eager to turn foes into friends, giving everyone present a graceful exit.
But of course, someone had to be the one wronged—a classic play to satisfy all parties.
Wen Li smiled gently at Qi Min but said nothing, unwilling to accept her “kindness.”
She was clever; his words only threatened and warned her.
If Wen Li took the step down, the matter between her and Jiang Chen would be buried as a thing of the past.
If she did not, then Qianqian’s deliberate harassment would be one thing, but a guilty conscience another—and the “rumor” between her and Zhou Huaqing would remain forever unresolved.
“All right, an apology is fine. I accept hers.”
Zhou Huaqing, one of the parties affected by the rumors, was the first to speak for Wen Li.

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Quite presumptuous.
“...” Wen Li rolled her eyes at him, as if he were the head of the family. Even if she disagreed, she had no choice but to agree.
Qi Min breathed a sigh of relief, nudged He Qianqian encouragingly, signaling her to quit while ahead and not stir up more trouble.
He Qianqian struggled out a perfunctory “sorry.”
Zhou Huaqing put a hand behind his ear, “Speak louder, I’m hard of hearing.”
He Qianqian raised her voice a few decibels, “Sorry.”
Still, it was no match for her previous loud gossip.
Zhou Huaqing asked again, “Who are you apologizing to?”
Reluctantly, He Qianqian lowered her head, “Wen Li, sorry.”
The apology came late.
What He Qianqian and Qi Min did was more than a simple matter, not something a shallow apology could resolve.
But Wen Li thought, perhaps she should give everyone some face, and keep her own dignity intact.
Her gaze settled on Jiang Chen, whose gold-rimmed glasses reflected harshly, obscuring the eyes behind them.
She couldn’t tell if those eyes were as bright and pure as before, eyes that only saw her.
Wen Li nodded in acceptance, “Mm.”
An end to all grudges over the past.
Zhou Huaqing stood and passed by He Qianqian, his gaze a warning, tone light and teasing.
He said, “If you spread rumors about me again, I won’t hesitate to give you a chance to experience firsthand how I usually have fun.”
Then he strode decisively toward the door of the private room.
“Brother Huaqing, you’re leaving just like that?”
Was he here purely to stir up trouble?
At the door, Zhou Huaqing suddenly remembered something important. Back turned to everyone, he glanced at Wen Li with irritation and said,
“Let’s go. The apologies are done. Why are you still standing there? Waiting for someone to bow to you?”
His tone carried a subtle command.
Wen Li nodded absentmindedly, “Oh,” and followed his pace.

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Hmm? No, why should I listen to him?
Forget it.
After Wen Li followed Zhou Huaqing away, Ling Dan quietly appeared beside Shen Yuzhi, arms crossed, calmly asking,
“So this is the ‘good show’ you mentioned?”
Indeed, it was quite a spectacle—she was stunned and captivated.
But to what end?
“...” Shen Yuzhi felt offended, helplessly patting his good friend Jiang Chen on the shoulder, offering condolences.
No matter how unwilling, one must learn to slowly accept this harsh reality.
Turning away, he plunged back into the world of fame and fortune behind them, busy with damage control and silence enforcement.
If tonight’s uproar leaked out, from tomorrow on, all the wealthy families in South City would be lining up to throw him welcome banquets.
The threshold of the Shen family’s residence would be trampled.
Zhou Huaqing strode with long steps, soon standing by a car, opening the driver’s door. Just as he was about to get in, he saw Wen Li lingering, glancing back every step. He shouted at her,
“Stop staring.”
“Who gave you the right to decide for me?”
Wen Li’s eyes instantly reddened; emotions long suppressed surged forth. She crouched down and began to cry.
Zhou Huaqing panicked, unsure what to do. Approaching her, he raised his hand, then lowered it, unable to find comforting words.
“Don’t cry. Big brother will buy you candy.”
Not skilled at soothing, Zhou Huaqing half-kneeling beside her, began to threaten in turn,
“If you keep crying, I’ll call your brother to come get you.”
Wen Li looked up slightly, tear-streaked face and watery eyes meeting Zhou Huaqing’s gaze with a pitiful expression.
She said, “Zhou Huaqing, you’re really annoying.”
Zhou Huaqing dared not say more and launched into a triple apology.
“Okay, okay, I’m annoying. Stop crying, my dear.”
“You’re making me embarrassed. People will think I’m bullying you, and more rumors will spread.”
“They’ll say I’m so good I wear you out until you cry. How ridiculous.”
Sure enough, Zhou Huaqing couldn’t stay serious for more than two or three seconds.
“You’re crazy.”