I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

"No! The little girl is quite pitiful. I'm taking care of her like a younger sister. I don't have any other dirty thoughts, really."

Gu Yan quickly explained to Cecilia.

"Yeah?"

"I haven't even told you what dirty thoughts you have?"

"An admission without being asked?"

Cecilia's voice was cold.

Gu Yan couldn't hold back any longer. He realized now that nothing he said mattered; Cecilia was just looking for trouble.

But... is it just his imagination?

After he finished explaining, Shen Youyao lowered her head even further, and the sadness emanating from her body almost materialized.

Gu Yan was completely baffled.

Damn, we can't stay here!

He made up his mind to slip away first, and then catch Bai Zikong, who had disappeared somewhere, and force him to start working again.

"Well... Miss Cecilia, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now!"

He chuckled dryly, and as he spoke, he secretly grabbed Shen Youyao's wrist, "Have fun!"

After saying that, he grabbed Shen Youyao and turned to run away.

The moment he took his first step.

"Whoosh—Bang!!!"

A silver-gray shadow pierced through the air with a sharp whistling sound, and suddenly slammed into the ground less than ten centimeters in front of his toes!

It was a metal pipe, as thick as a wrist, that had flown in from who-knows-where!

It was as if it had been thrown by an invisible force, deeply embedded in the hard playground tiles, with more than half of it sinking in!

The exposed part was still trembling slightly, emitting a low hum.

Gu Yan suddenly stopped, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her brow.

He turned his head stiffly.

In her wheelchair, Cecilia Chen slowly lowered her slender, pale fingers that had been raised slightly.

Her icy blue pupils remained completely still as she gazed at him, as if the terrifying steel pipe that had nearly pinned him to the ground was merely a feather tossed aside.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

Even Zhang Zihao, who was hiding behind the tree, opened his mouth wide, and Huang Mao was so frightened that a tuft of hair sticks up.

Holy crap... Miss Chen's superpowers are terrifying!

Of course, it's not just Zhang Zihao.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

Everyone was terrified by the steel pipe that was driven deep into the ground.

That's not a plastic prop, it's real metal!

With just a light lift of his hand... it pierced through more than halfway?

Zhang Zihao hid behind a tree, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets, his mind racing.

Good heavens... Miss Chen's superpower is too domineering!

If this were to prick someone... He shrank his neck, suddenly realizing that the two slaps his old man usually gave him were like tickling.

The staff members playing the roles of tourists were even more terrified, barely breathing.

They had only heard that the Chen family's young lady was very talented, and although she didn't show much this time, it was still enough to broaden their horizons.

Moreover, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that Miss Chen's attitude towards Master Gu is definitely not ordinary!

Who would use this method to retain employees?

Chen Sinian stood a few steps behind his daughter, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He was caught in a dilemma: whether he stepped forward or not.

Should I speak up for Gu Yan? My daughter will definitely be even angrier.

Help his daughter? What will happen to Liya's illness if Master Gu abandons his responsibilities?

He could only pray silently in his heart.

Master Gu, may you have good fortune and be prepared to adapt to any situation...

"Cough cough."

"Miss Cecilia, is there... anything else?"

"It's not very nice of you to stop me like this."

Gu Yan looked at the steel pipe in front of her feet that was still trembling slightly, blinked, and then slowly turned around, managing to squeeze out a gentle smile on her face.

Cecilia almost laughed in exasperation at his sudden change in demeanor, so different from his gentle appearance just moments before.

Seriously, if you don't get serious, all you do is laugh it off and run away, right?

"Master Gu hasn't completely forgotten about the auction, has he?"

"Do you think you can just brush off the past with a few words and forget everything you did?"

Her icy blue eyes locked onto Gu Yan, her voice flat yet carrying an invisible pressure.

Gu Yan was taken aback.

Why does this sound so familiar?

Forget it, now is not the time to think about this.

Impressed!

He had noticed that Cecilia hadn't mentioned it before, and assumed that she was shy or had forgotten, so he thought the matter was over and done with it!

I never expected to find him waiting here!

Subconsciously, a fleeting glint of seven-colored light flashed deep within his pupils as he looked into Cecilia's mind.

Above the castle, which was still in ruins, golden specks of light were now mixed in. I was happy.

Leaping red flames, anger.

There was also a somber blue mist, a sense of sadness.

What the heck? How come it has all sorts of emotions?

How can he make a judgment?

Gu Yan only glanced at it for a moment before immediately deactivating her ability.

Although Cecilia's mental ruins were a little better than last time, looking at them for too long was still too much of a strain on her frail body.

Cecilia keenly caught the strange glint that flashed in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Master Gu... do you want to read my mind?"

She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair falling down, and asked softly.

Gu Yan's heart tightened, and she quickly waved her hand, "Professional habit! It's purely a professional habit!"

"Miss Cecilia, please don't misunderstand!"

His mind raced. "So, how does Miss Cecilia dare to ask me to make amends?"

"At least give me a chance, okay?"

Last time at the auction, he was able to get away with it by taking advantage of Chen Sinian and several family heads being present, and by exploiting the girl's shyness.

What now?

Bai Zikong has disappeared, there are no helpers, and the script has fallen apart. We really have no choice but to bite the bullet and improvise.

Cecilia narrowed her eyes, seemingly deep in thought about how to deal with him. Time seemed to stretch out, and every second felt unbearable for Gu Yan.

Just then, a tiny voice broke in.

"Could...could I take the punishment in place of Brother Gu Yan?"

Shen Youyao raised her head at some point, her heterochromatic eyes behind her black-rimmed glasses filled with fear, yet she looked at Cecilia with unusual determination. "Please... don't hurt Gu Yan."

Gu Yan was taken aback at first, then a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

Youyao... she still knows how to repay kindness! It wasn't for nothing that I took such good care of her!

But he soon realized something was wrong.

Why did he feel that the air pressure around Cecilia was lower?

That look... seems to be getting colder and colder?

"Gu Yan, where did you pick up this lover from?"

"Such deep affection makes me feel like I'm caught in the middle."

Sure enough, Cecilia's gaze slowly shifted from Shen Youyao's face to Gu Yan's, a cold smile curving her lips.

"She's not a lover! She's just a friend. A regular friend."

Gu Yan quickly clarified, her face plastered with utmost sincerity, "Miss Cecilia, you are kind-hearted, beautiful, and broad-minded. You certainly won't hold it against us, right?"

Upon hearing Gu Yan praise her for being kind-hearted and beautiful, Cecilia's icy blue eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, and the icy aura around her seemed to soften slightly.

Shen Youyao, however, secretly grabbed Gu Yan's clothes, holding on very tightly.

Are they just ordinary friends?

Gu Yan-ge clearly likes my body...

She lowered her head, feeling empty inside, overwhelmed by a strong sense of resentment.

A growing sense of unease also accompanied it.

It seems she really is going to break up with Gu Yan.