Chapter 285: Failing to Appreciate a Favor
Mr. Xu shot Gu Fei a cold glare. "What does this have to do with you? Don’t think you can talk to me like that just because Su Chen has your back! The Ning’an Marquis Mansion isn’t so weak as to be afraid of one Su Chen!"
"Besides, let’s be clear. You’re nothing but a plaything. If you’re lucky, the best you can hope for is to be Su Chen’s concubine."
Gu Fei was so angry she actually laughed. ’You’re the one who’ll be a concubine! Your whole family will be concubines!’ She pointed toward the door. "Get out. Get out right now."
Mr. Xu smacked his folding fan sharply against his palm. "You’ve got some nerve, girl. No one has ever dared to tell me to ’get out’!"
His expression darkened as he looked from Gu Erlang to Lan Zhi. Lan Zhi quickly flinched, hiding behind Gu Erlang.
He sneered. "And as for you," he said, turning to Lan Zhi. "It’s your great fortune that I’ve taken a liking to you. I was originally going to show you respect by sending someone to properly propose marriage, but who knew you’d be so ungrateful."
"Since that’s how you want it, fine. No need for betrothal gifts. Tomorrow, I’ll be back to take you by force!"
With that, Mr. Xu turned and left, his servant trailing behind him.
Hiding behind Gu Erlang, Lan Zhi was so frightened she had already started to cry.
Gu Erlang’s chest heaved. In his entire life, he had never been bullied so brazenly.
Gu Fei let out a long breath. "Lan Zhi, go back to your room for now."
Lan Zhi shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Gu Fei. "What are we going to do if he really comes tomorrow?"
Gu Erlang gritted his teeth. "If he dares to come tomorrow, I’ll fight him to the death!"
He turned and grabbed Lan Zhi’s hand. "Don’t worry. I’d die before I let him take you."
A vein throbbed on Gu Fei’s forehead. "Alright, alright, Er Lang. Weren’t you going to make a barbecue? We already bought all the food, so go get it started."
Gu Erlang fumed, "I’m not making it!"
How could he possibly be in the mood for a barbecue when Lan Zhi was about to be taken away by force?
He grabbed Lan Zhi’s hand. "Come on, let’s go home."
Lan Zhi didn’t move, her eyes fixed on Gu Fei.
Gu Fei gave Gu Erlang a cold look. ’He’s eighteen years old. Can’t he use his brain for once?’
"Home?"
"You think Mr. Xu wouldn’t dare go to our house to take her?"
Gu Erlang froze for a second, then said with grim determination, "If our house isn’t safe, then... then I’ll leave here with Lan Zhi."
Gu Fei sneered. "Even if you leave Ping’an City, do you really think Mr. Xu wouldn’t be able to find you?"
Frustrated and furious, Gu Erlang clutched his hair. "This won’t work, and that won’t work! So what do we do? You tell me what to do!"
He suddenly stomped his foot hard. "I’ll... I’ll go kill that Mr. Xu! That will solve everything!"
Gu Fei rolled her eyes dramatically. "Fine. Go kill him."
"I’m afraid you’d be beaten to death by his bodyguards before you could even get close to him."
After being shot down by his sister again and again, Gu Erlang fell into a sullen silence.
Gu Fei’s tone softened. "Er Lang, you need to use your head when something like this happens."
’Although this probably wasn’t a problem that could be solved by just thinking, either.’
"We’re just common folk, and they’re powerful nobles. Fighting them would only lead to our own suffering."
’Power could crush you alive.’
She steadied her breathing. "Alright. Er Lang, go make your barbecue. Lan Zhi, you go work on your embroidery. I’ll think of a way to handle this."
Lan Zhi blinked, then looked at Gu Fei and said suddenly, "Little Fei, why don’t you go ask the Young Master Heir for help? He can definitely help us."
Gu Fei sighed. "He’s not in Ping’an City right now. He’s gone off to fight pirates."
’Besides, why would he help us?’
"Not in Ping’an City?" Lan Zhi cried out, and the tears she had just managed to hold back began to stream down her face again.