Chapter 53: A Marriage Alliance
Wang Gege blinked. She looked at Young Lady Gu before slowly looking up at the ceiling.
"Above?" She tilted her head thoughtfully, "Above where?"
Her gaze wandered upward once more. "Heaven?"
The entire restaurant instantly fell silent.
Qing’er, who had just been gently pulled behind Wang Gege, stared at her Young Madam in slight confusion.
Young Lady Gu’s expression froze and for the first time in her life, someone had responded to her arrogance with such an absurd question.
How dare you?!" Her voice echoed throughout the second floor. "Don’t you know who I am?"
Wang Gege slowly took a step forward. The distance between the two women gradually shortened until they stood only a few steps apart.
She met Young Lady Gu’s furious gaze without the slightest intention of retreating.
"Who?" Her voice was calm.
There was no trace of fear nor was there any hint of mockery. It was simply a genuine question.
Young Lady Gu’s expression instantly twisted with anger. "You..."
She had never been questioned like this before, not once. Her fingers tightened around the sleeve of her robe before she finally lost the last of her patience.
"Guards!" Her sharp voice echoed across the restaurant, "Hold her down!"
Several guests instinctively rose from their seats, while the restaurant attendants’ faces turned deathly pale. No one had expected the situation to escalate to this point.
The guards exchanged glances before immediately stepping forward.
Their heavy footsteps echoed across the wooden floor as they steadily closed the distance between themselves and Wang Gege.
The surrounding guests instinctively retreated several steps, unwilling to become involved in the confrontation.
Only Wang Gege remained where she was.
Qing’er’s face immediately turned pale. "Young Madam..."
Almost instinctively, she stepped in front of Wang Gege once more despite the burning pain on her cheek.
"If they wish to touch Young Madam..." Her trembling voice carried an unexpected firmness, "They will have to get past this servant first."
Wang Gege looked at Qing’er’s slender figure standing protectively before her. She found herself slightly stunned. In her previous life, she had always thought servants in historical dramas were simply people who followed orders.
But this young girl was willing to stand in front of her without the slightest hesitation.
A warm feeling quietly stirred within her chest. She gently placed a hand upon Qing’er’s shoulder, "Qing’er."
The young maid instinctively turned around. "Young Madam..."
Wang Gege smiled faintly. "Move behind me."
Qing’er immediately shook her head, "No. This servant will protect Young Madam."
Wang Gege couldn’t help letting out a small laugh.
"You silly girl." She gently pulled Qing’er behind her. "If anyone is getting hit today..." She paused briefly before facing the approaching guards once more. "It certainly won’t be you."
She slowly lifted her gaze and looked directly at Young Lady Gu.
Wang Gege quietly adjusted her footing.
Although this body was somewhat weaker than the one she had in her previous life, the countless hours she had spent learning taekwondo had left more than just memories.
If these people truly wished to settle matters with force, she was not afraid to respond in kind.
Just as the guards were about to seize her, a deep, calm voice suddenly echoed from the staircase.
"What are you doing?"
The approaching guards instinctively halted.
The entire restaurant fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
A tall figure slowly ascended the final few steps.
Xie Rong appeared exceptionally elegant in his lilac robes. In one hand, he carried a small bundle of freshly gathered blossoms, their stems neatly tied together with a simple silk cord.
Wang Gege instinctively tilted her head.
"Flowers?" She murmured under her breath, her curiosity momentarily replacing the tension from moments ago.
Just as she unconsciously took a step toward him...
"Xie Rong Gege!"
A delighted voice suddenly rang throughout the restaurant.
Before anyone could react, Young Lady Gu hurried past Wang Gege and stopped before Xie Rong.
Her eyes immediately reddened.
She lightly flicked a handkerchief and covered her lips as though she had finally found someone to rely upon.
"Xie Rong Gege..." Her voice quivered pitifully. "I’m so glad you’ve come."
Wang Gege’s footsteps halted and her brows slowly knitted together.
"Gege?" She instinctively repeated the form of address under her breath before looking back and forth between the two of them.
For some inexplicable reason... That single word sounded particularly unpleasant to her ears.
"Xie Rong Gege..." The Young Lady Gu lowered her eyes pitifully before softly complaining, "You came at the perfect time."
She lifted a trembling finger and pointed toward Wang Gege. "She... she struck my servant."
The entire restaurant fell silent. Every guest subconsciously looked toward Xie Rong.
After all, everyone in the capital knew that before the accident, the Gu Residence and the Xie Residence had once discussed a marriage alliance.
Although it had eventually fallen through, many still believed the two families remained on cordial terms.
Young Lady Gu herself clearly thought the same. She quietly waited for Xie Rong to speak on her behalf.
However, several breaths passed but not a single word came. Xie Rong merely stood there quietly, the bundle of fresh blossoms still resting naturally in his hand.
Young Lady Gu’s smile gradually became stiff.
"Xie Rong Gege?" She called out softly once more.
Still... No response.
A trace of panic quietly flashed across her eyes.
Almost instinctively, her gaze swept over Xie Rong’s attire before lowering to the flowers he carried. Only then did she seem to realize something. Her eyes immediately brightened.
"So..." A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "Did Gege come here looking for me?"
She lowered her head shyly before gently smoothing the sleeves of her lavender robe.
"No wonder..." Her smile slowly returned. "I was wondering why Gege happened to be wearing the same color as me today."
She glanced at the fresh blossoms in his hand before lowering her head once again. "And these flowers... Were they also prepared for me?"
The entire restaurant became strangely quiet.
But instead of answering her, Xie Rong’s head turned toward Wang Gege.
His calm voice sounded exactly as it always had, "Furen... Did anyone hurt you?"
Hearing that, the entire second floor instantly fell silent.