Chapter 409: Chapter 368: Would You Like to Invite Me to Your Wedding Celebration?
Zhuo Yuqing probably guessed that it was about this matter. When Tang Tianyou was mentioned, she couldn’t help but think of the last time she saw him, his dejected and dispirited appearance.
He had stayed by Gu Qili’s side for so many years without asking for anything in return, always playing the role of friend and protector. Now, he could finally retire, but he wouldn’t feel relieved. For him, this was just the beginning of an endless loneliness.
He once told her: If we fall in love, I’ll be with you until the end; if we’re not meant to be, I’ll ensure you are safe and sound.
Zhuo Yuqing felt pity for him, but she clearly knew, she even constantly urged him to find someone suitable for him, yet his stubbornness left her helpless.
"Qili, my brother won’t give up until he’s at the end of his rope, so you better tell him."
"Okay, I’ll call him now," Gu Qili sighed, "Yuqing, if you have time, also try to persuade him."
"I will, don’t blame yourself, who can be clear about matters of the heart."
Gu Qili was about to call Tang Tianyou, but for such matters, she felt it necessary to talk to him face-to-face. After all, Tang Tianyou was more than just a friend to her. He had saved her life several times and stood by her when she needed help the most. Without Tang Tianyou, she didn’t know what her life would have become.
Gu Qili drove to Tang Tianyou’s casino, which was at its busiest time of the day; the casino was filled with gamblers, most of them tourists.
As soon as Gu Qili entered, a waiter greeted her: "Miss, what would you like to play?"
"Is Tang Tianyou here?" Gu Qili said directly, "Just tell him someone named Gu Qili is looking for him."
"Please wait a moment." The waiter left and soon came back, Tang Tianyou’s steps even quicker, "Why have you come here?"
"I have something to discuss with you." It was too noisy inside, Gu Qili had to raise her voice.
"Come here." Tang Tianyou pulled her into the office at the back, "Call me before you come next time. It’s chaotic here, what if you run into bad people?"
Gu Qili smiled: "You treat me like a child. I can still distinguish between good and bad people."
Inside his office, Tang Tianyou took a cup and poured hot water: "What matter requires your personal visit?"
Gu Qili said thanks and took the cup; seeing his face unable to hide the surprise for her visit, she felt words choked in her throat that she just couldn’t utter.
Only now did she realize, how powerful the words of rejection are. It was like a knife being thrust straight into one’s heart, a white knife going in and a red knife coming out.
On the way here, she had prepared her speech, but now she found herself unable to speak it out. Did she really want to hurt someone who had been so kind to her? Yet she knew well the saying: a prolonged pain is worse than a short one.
Gu Qili held the cup, and never spoke a word.
Tang Tianyou was very smart. Seeing her hesitate and avoid his gaze, he had already guessed what was likely. That day at the kindergarten’s gate when he saw her get into Mu Shuoqian’s car, he knew he had no chance anymore.
"Qili," he suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, "you want to invite me to your wedding, right?"
When Gu Qili heard these words, her nose suddenly felt sore, and her long-suppressed emotions burst forth uncontrollably. Her eyes reddened as she looked at him, her lips trembling slightly: "I’m sorry, Tianyou."
"Fool, what are you sorry for." Tang Tianyou squatted in front of her, his hands pressing on hers that held the cup, "I know, you can’t bear to tell me, but I already know some things."
Gu Qili looked at him in surprise.
"One day, I saw you and Mu Shuoqian at the kindergarten’s gate, and later, I secretly followed you a few times. I realized that you have reconciled. Qini is your son, and Mu Shuoqian is Qini’s father. You three should be together. Moreover, wasn’t the misunderstanding already resolved?"
He didn’t know what the misunderstanding was, but if Gu Qili could forgive and reunite with Mu Shuoqian, surely they must have resolved their issues. Otherwise, how could such deep hatred turn back to love?
Gu Qili’s voice was choked with emotion. Although Tang Tianyou spoke lightly, his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his inner turmoil.
"It was me who misunderstood Mu Shuoqian all along. He has done many things for me, which I only learned about recently. Tianyou, it’s not that you aren’t good enough, it’s just..."
"Qili, I’ve said it, no need to apologize, and don’t blame yourself. You’ve never wronged me." Tang Tianyou released her hands: "Whenever you need me, no matter when, I’ll be by your side. Even if you’re married and have children, I’ll still be there whenever you call. Since I can’t protect you, let me guard your happiness. You won’t deny me even this, will you?"
"Tianyou, you deserve to find a better girl,"
He chuckled lightly, his tone filled with helplessness: "Before, I thought I could find someone better, but then you came along. Where else could I possibly find someone better?"
Gu Qili sniffled but didn’t speak, knowing well that everything can be forced except for feelings.
"Let’s go, since we’re here already," Tang Tianyou pulled her up from the couch, "Have you played before?"
"No." Gu Qili was quite curious: "My dad often comes to play, but he doesn’t let me."
"It’s actually quite interesting, as long as you don’t get addicted, it’s a nice entertainment."
Tang Tianyou took Gu Qili to the VIP area on the second floor, and he got some chips from the croupier and stacked them in front of her: "Play."
"How much is one chip?"
"Fifty thousand."
Gu Qili blinked in disbelief: "Throwing one is fifty thousand?"
Tang Tianyou couldn’t help but ruffle her hair: "Silly, you throw at least five at a time."
"I don’t want to play, what if I lose?" This is money we’re talking about, even though it’s not her money, Tang Tianyou’s money was hard-earned, just randomly letting her gamble makes her feel even more nervous than using her own money.
Tang Tianyou suddenly leaned close to her and said: "The Gambling God of Aus City is sitting next to you, still afraid of losing?"
Gu Qili thought about it, it seemed to make sense. With him by her side, and she also knows this game—it was many years ago that Bai Chengxi and the others had taught her.
Gu Qili played a few rounds and found that she was incredibly lucky, she had already won a lot.
Tang Tianyou was sitting next to her, mostly watching her play, occasionally offering a word or two of advice.
The two were having a great time when Gao Ruobing walked out of the VIP room, her luck tonight was terrible, losing for over an hour, and the more she played, the more frustrated she became, so she had to step out for some air, only to stumble upon a major scandal.
No wonder the two sitting together looked so familiar—one of them was Tang Tianyou, the owner of this place, and the other was her nemesis, Gu Qili.
Seeing how close the two of them were sitting, and the occasional whispers,
who would have thought Gu Qili could be so daring, hooking up with Aus City’s wealthiest,
With this thought, Gao Ruobing walked to a corner and made a phone call.
"Dad, do you have Mu Shuoqian’s number?"
The number of Mu Shuoqian had been hard to obtain, and stored in her phone but never used.
Gao Ruobing quickly received a message and dialed the number directly.
After three rings, the call was picked up, a low and magnetic voice answered, and she knew it was Mu Shuoqian himself.
"Who is this?"
"Mr. Mu, hello, I am Gao Ruobing." Gao Ruobing introduced herself calmly.
Mu Shuoqian frowned, not interested in any Gao Ruobing or Gao Ruoxue, and abruptly ended the call with his hand.
Listening to the dial tone from the phone, Gao Ruobing was incredulous; she couldn’t believe Mu Shuoqian had hung up on her so decisively—the Gao family was, after all, a prominent family in Aus City, how could he be so rude?
Gao Ruobing, frustrated but left with no choice, redialed the number; this time it took much longer to get answered, Mu Shuoqian’s impatient voice came through: "Do not call this number again, otherwise, bear the consequences."
Gao Ruobing, panicked and throwing aside any pride, said loudly: "It’s about Gu Qili, don’t you want to know?"
Indeed, her words had effect; the other side went silent, but the call was not disconnected.
Gao Ruobing took a deep breath, looked towards that VIP room, and announced confidently: "Gu Qili is currently playing cards with a man in the casino, Mr. Mu wouldn’t you like to come and see?"
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