Volume One, Chapter 14: The White Lotus’s Performance

In the blink of an eye!

Amidst the crowd, two tall figures shot forward like arrows released from a bow, breaking through the chaos and rushing swiftly in her direction!

Time seemed to stretch endlessly.

The anticipated searing pain never came.

Just a moment before the glass shards rained down, she caught sight of a white silhouette...

Then, a broad, warm chest suddenly collided with her back, enveloping her tightly in an embrace.

The heavy impact nearly suffocated her, but what followed was an unshakable sense of safety.

The crackling sound of glass shattering and falling echoed deafeningly by her ears, yet it was muffled by a protective barrier.

That person had used his body to shield her from everything.

The cacophony gradually subsided. Gu Xingnian trembled, fluttered her eyelashes, and slowly opened her eyes.

Before her was Lu Lie’s sharply defined jawline and the urgent, worried gaze in his deep eyes, unhidden and raw.

His arms were wrapped tightly around her, the heat of his body seeping through her thin dress.

“Are you hurt?”

His voice was slightly breathless from exertion as his eyes quickly scanned her body, examining carefully.

“Where does it hurt? Tell me.”

Gu Xingnian shook her head, still not fully recovered from the shock.

At that moment, a sobbing voice came from the other side—it was Jiang Kexin, her voice choked with tears.

“Brother Bei Chen!”

Gu Xingnian turned toward the sound, her heart tightening sharply.

She saw Jiang Kexin collapsing into Fu Beichen’s arms, crying bitterly, clutching his arm tightly.

“You’re bleeding! Brother Bei Chen, your hand is injured!”

On Fu Beichen’s left hand and forearm, several clear scratches oozed blood, staining the expensive white fabric of his suit.

The glass shards were unexpectedly sharp—enough to tear through fabric easily. Had they cut her skin directly, it would have been a bloody mess.

“Wuwu... I’m sorry, Brother Bei Chen...”

Jiang Kexin sobbed uncontrollably, her performance full of theatricality.

“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have stood so close... If you hadn’t been protecting me, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt...”

As she spoke, she carefully cradled Fu Beichen’s injured hand, tears flowing freely.

Gu Xingnian stared blankly at Fu Beichen two steps away.

He had also rushed headlong in this direction just now.

As fast as Lu Lie.

In that instant, a faint, forbidden flicker of hope had risen within her heart.

But now, reality delivered its loudest slap.

So... the reckless dash he made moments ago was never for her.

It was for Jiang Kexin—his beloved.

Even though she was also in danger, the only person he saw was Jiang Kexin.

Her heart felt as if it were pierced by countless tiny needles, a dull ache spreading through her chest, making it hard to breathe.

It turned out, his recklessness had never involved her.

Fu Beichen’s gaze passed over Jiang Kexin’s head and landed on Gu Xingnian.

Seeing her safely held in Lu Lie’s arms, the flash of alarm in his eyes quickly faded, settling into an unfathomable calm.

He didn’t even ask if she was alright.

Then, lowering his head, his tone gentler than Gu Xingnian had ever heard, he used his uninjured hand to lightly pat Jiang Kexin’s back, soothing her:

“Don’t cry. I’m fine.”

After a pause, he added, “As long as you’re okay.”

You’re okay.

Those words landed like a resounding slap across Gu Xingnian’s face.

Burning, stinging pain.

Lin Qi hurried over, anxious.

“Mr. Fu, you’re injured. Please come with me to the medical room for treatment.”

Fu Beichen nodded, allowing Lin Qi to carefully support his injured arm.

Before turning away, he didn’t glance back once at Gu Xingnian.

The group’s general manager, Mr. Lin, also rushed over.

He directed staff to quickly clean up the mess and loudly reassured the startled guests.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the small accident that occurred. Please remain calm.”

“Medical assistance has been arranged. Please proceed to the rest area...”

Yet Gu Xingnian’s gaze remained fixed on Fu Beichen’s retreating figure until he vanished around the corner.

The dense ache in her chest didn’t lessen; it only intensified.

She knew clearly that something had shattered completely along with that collapsing champagne tower.

Shattered beyond repair.

As if it could never be pieced back together.

Not long after, the scene was spotless, revealing no trace of the earlier accident.

Jiang Kexin reappeared in the banquet hall and walked straight over to Gu Xingnian.

“Gu Xingnian, you shouldn’t be here. You’re an orphan. Do you really think your face alone is enough to secure the position of Madam Fu? Don’t be delusional. Brother Bei Chen has always liked me.”

Jiang Kexin’s voice was full of righteous indignation, deliberately trying to provoke her, continuing to shout:

“You should know, if you ruin the relationship between Brother Bei Chen and me, my mother won’t let you off.”

Indeed, she invoked her mother.

Gu Xingnian looked at her coldly, eyes as icy as frost.

A long-forgotten face flashed through her mind—the very face that had dragged her into endless misery.

Jiang Kexin fanned the flames further:

“Gu Xingnian, you should face reality. In such a dangerous moment just now, Brother Bei Chen came to save me first. Do you know what that means?”

Gu Xingnian stared at the woman and said coldly, parting her crimson lips:

“Jiang Kexin, how pathetic you are!”

Suddenly, Jiang Kexin snapped.

“Gu Xingnian, what did you say? Now that Brother Bei Chen doesn’t love you, you’re the one who’s truly pitiful! Don’t you know? When you had your miscarriage, he was in my bed.”

Jiang Kexin covered her mouth to laugh, fully aware of the devastating impact of her words.

Gu Xingnian’s eyes darkened for a moment before regaining their usual color.

“Well then, Miss Jiang, you’d better work hard to make it official quickly.”

Jiang Kexin sneered confidently.

“Gu Xingnian, I have plenty of ways to make Brother Bei Chen kick you out with nothing.”

At that moment, Sheng Weiwei happened to walk over.

Hearing Jiang Kexin’s spiteful words, her anger flared, but a cold smile curved her lips.

“Oh? Isn’t this the great Jiang, the queen of acting?”

Sheng Weiwei’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft — just enough for a few nearby people to hear, her sarcastic tone unmistakable.

“Such an outfit today, you’d think you were here to walk the red carpet.”

Jiang Kexin’s smile stiffened. She turned to see Sheng Weiwei, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes before she quickly replaced it with a polite fake smile.

“Miss Sheng, you jest. Today is the Fu Group’s fiftieth anniversary. Of course, I must dress formally to show respect.”

“Respect? Hah!”

Sheng Weiwei scoffed and stepped closer, lowering her voice, her gaze sharp as a poisoned blade.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone cheat so openly and yet act so self-righteous and at ease about it. Miss Jiang, with your psychological makeup, you’d be wasted not starring in spy thrillers!”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Jiang Kexin’s face instantly changed, her voice sharp and nearly losing composure as she almost spilled her drink.

“Sheng Weiwei, don’t slander me!”

“Am I slandering you? Don’t you have some sense of self-awareness?” Sheng Weiwei raised an eyebrow, her tone increasingly cutting.

“You were bragging about your courage in bed just now, and now? A few words and you’re shattered? Tsk, tsk, too low a level.”

Some nearby began to notice the commotion, casting curious glances their way.