Forgotten Love - Chapter 5
“Huaian, aren’t you curious how I managed to drive a wedge between you and Yang Fan?”
Gu Huaian still looked annoyed, but he raised his eyebrows, signaling me to continue.
“Yang Fan once got addicted to gambling. He borrowed money from you three times, and you couldn’t bear to refuse, so you lent it to him each time.”
“Later, when he came for the fourth time, you weren’t home, so I firmly turned him down.”
“I told him the previous money didn’t need to be repaid. But if he kept pestering you, I’d send him to the police station for reformation.”
After saying this, I deliberately paused.
Sure enough, Gu Huaian’s gaze showed clear disapproval.
“How much did he borrow? Even if you didn’t want to help, you didn’t have to threaten him…”
“The first three times totaled 500,000, and the fourth time he wanted another 200,000.”
“So it’s not even a million… and you still wouldn’t help him?”
Gu Huaian’s brows furrowed tightly, his tone full of reproach:
“Just because of this, you made me break up with a brother I’ve been close to for nearly ten years?”
As a reckless second-generation rich kid,
A million meant far less to eighteen-year-old Gu Huaian than brotherhood.
I curled my lips, unable to help but sneer:
“A million isn’t much? Do you know, after Dad died, I once saw you in a restaurant staring at someone’s leftovers, almost about to eat a few bites?”
“Bullshit!”
Clearly, he couldn’t believe he’d ever been that down and out.
Gu Huaian angrily reached out to me:
“Where’s the photo? If I was really that miserable, you’d definitely keep it from every angle to tease me with later!”
“You didn’t actually eat it…”
I spread my hands, looking regretful:
“Too bad, I had my phone out at the time.”
Gu Huaian gave a sarcastic “hmph.”
But after all, a young man’s feelings can’t be hidden.
Seeing the tension on his face melt into relief,
I smiled, though my heart couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy.
“Hey, about Ah Fan-what really happened?”
Gu Huaian’s tone was serious.
So I dropped the joking and replied solemnly:
“What if I told you that Yang Fan, because of that 200,000 gambling debt, deliberately spiked my drink, trying to take photos to blackmail me-would you believe it?”
“You-you’re lying, right? Ah Fan would never…”
Gu Huaian’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
“Do you think I’d make up a story about hurting myself just to trick you?”
Immediately, all color drained from his face.
After a long moment, he asked cautiously:
“Then-did you…?”
I lowered my head, silent.
Someone gripped my shoulder tightly.
The voice in my ear grew urgent:
“What about those photos? Were they all destroyed?!”
“Shen Qingruan, I’m sorry, I-I didn’t know Yang Fan did something so vile to you…”
“The next time he comes to me, I’ll beat him up good, just for you!”
“You… don’t you mind?”
My body trembled, and my voice shook with it.
“Mind what? It’s not your fault!”
Gu Huaian suddenly raised his voice.
Seeing I wouldn’t look up, he anxiously pulled me into his arms.
Clumsily, he patted my back again and again.
“Don’t cry. Just think of it as being bitten by a dog-it’s been so long, the wound should’ve healed by now.”
“It’s all my fault. If I’d refused Yang Fan earlier, he wouldn’t have taken revenge on you.”
“I didn’t protect you well enough. I’m sorry, I…”
Listening to Gu Huaian’s trembling voice, I felt that if I kept playing, it would go too far.
I quickly looked up and winked at him:
“Hehe, I’m not crying…”
“That day, thanks to you arriving in time, Yang Fan didn’t succeed.”
The regret in Gu Huaian’s eyes froze instantly.
He stared at me expressionlessly.
A single tear fell from his reddened eye, landing right on my face.
“Shen Qingruan! Is it fun to mess with me?!”
He gritted his teeth.
Gu Huaian, flustered and exasperated, tried to push me away.
I quickly grabbed his arm, clinging to him.
“Come on, I’m just teasing you~ You don’t know, these past years you’ve listened to everything I say, never arguing with me anymore.”
“…Let go.”
Gu Huaian said coldly, but his push was weak.
“Don’t be mad, little brother Huaian.”
Unable to hold back a laugh, I leaned close to his ear:
“That day, you already stood up for me. Not only did you beat Yang Fan up, but you personally dragged him to the police station afterward.”
“Can you not get so close?!”
Gu Huaian turned his head away in disgust, but his ears were bright red.
My gaze slid from his moving Adam’s apple to his exposed chest.
For a moment, my mind wandered.
“By the way,”
I hooked my arms around Gu Huaian’s neck, pulling him closer.
My warm breath brushed his ear:
“That day, you also… helped me with the drug.”
