[ABO] The Despised One Becomes an Internet Sensation After Marriage - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Ever since Gu Xingchen arrived, Fu Shiyan’s smile had vanished, and the atmospheric pressure around him plummeted. Xu Zhimian, oblivious to the change, gave a dry cough and shot back at Gu Xingchen: “…And you think that’s something to be proud of?”

Gu Xingchen raised his hands in mock surrender. “I wouldn’t dare, Teacher Xu.”

Mr. Lin chuckled. “Hahaha, and here I thought I needed to introduce you two. I didn’t realize you were already so close.”

Xu Zhimian shook his head. “We’re not close, not at all.”

Gu Xingchen’s tone turned suggestive. “We just have a relationship where he taught me how to solve problems… hand-in-hand.”

Xu Zhimian: “…”

Hand-in-hand. Three perfectly normal words, yet coming from his mouth, they sounded lingering and intimate.

“Since you aren’t close, there’s no need to get reacquainted,” Fu Shiyan interjected coldly.

Mr. Lin: “…”

The atmosphere turned subtle in an instant.

Gu Xingchen wore a lazy, roguish smirk. As his eyes met Fu Shiyan’s, the undisguised hostility unique to Alphas flared up between them. Even their leaking pheromones became sharp and aggressive.

The smile on Gu Xingchen’s face deepened. “And this is… President Fu?”

Seeing the look on Fu Shiyan’s face, Xu Zhimian’s heart skipped a beat. He glared at Gu Xingchen, but Fu Shiyan caught the look and interpreted it as a private exchange of signals. Shiyan added: “If you want to reminisce about old times, stay here.”

With that, Fu Shiyan turned on his heel and walked away without looking back.

Xu Zhimian: “…”

Crap. Fu Shiyan is actually angry.

He shot Gu Xingchen one last warning look, but Gu Xingchen only arched an eyebrow at him playfully.

“…” Xu Zhimian couldn’t be bothered with him and hurried to catch up with Fu Shiyan, inwardly cursing Gu Xingchen. What’s wrong with that guy? Now Fu Shiyan is pissed.

Mr. Lin was taken aback. He turned to scold Gu Xingchen: “Look at what you’ve done!”

Gu Xingchen shrugged indifferently, a smile spreading across his lips. Making Fu Shiyan uncomfortable was a genuine pleasure.

…

Fu Shiyan had walked a short distance away and was already surrounded by people trying to strike up a conversation. Xu Zhimian took one look at the group and stopped in his tracks.

The people talking to him were high-level executives of luxury brands, famous directors, and renowned producers.

Since he wouldn’t be able to contribute to that conversation anyway, why not get something to eat? He had been eyeing the dessert table for a while.

Fu Shiyan kept an eye on Xu Zhimian from the periphery. He was angry, yes, but the purpose of bringing Zhimian today was to help him “show his face” and build connections. As long as the boy walked over, he could set the Gu Xingchen matter aside for the moment.

Instead, he watched as Xu Zhimian paused, then turned around and headed straight for the dessert table.

“…” He let out a frustrated, mirthless laugh.

…

The Gossip

“Don’t underestimate Qi Qingran.”

Xu Zhimian had just taken a bite of a strawberry mille-feuille when he heard someone speak. He was standing behind a pillar that shielded him from the view of the people at the dessert table.

“Even though his last name is Qi, his relationship with the head of the Fu family is anything but ordinary.”

“Who? The one in power?”

“Yes. You’d better not provoke Qi Qingran.”

“How ‘not ordinary’ are we talking?”

Xu Zhimian chewed his pastry, thinking to himself: Of course it’s not ordinary. Fu Shiyan treats him like family.

“I was a classmate of theirs. Qi Qingran and the Fu guy used to have a ‘thing’.”

Xu Zhimian’s fork froze in mid-air. He listened as the two continued: “Their breakup was incredibly messy. The Fu family didn’t approve of them being together, so in Fu Shiyan’s name, they sent Qi Qingran away to an arranged marriage with the Lu family.”

The fork clattered to the floor.

“But the marriage never happened because the Lu patriarch passed away. However, in the will, one-third of the shares ended up in Qi Qingran’s hands. Look at him now—in just a few years, he’s practically taking over the Lu family. There’s no way he could have done that without the Fu guy’s secret support.”

The other person sounded skeptical. “Don’t think the worst of people. Maybe he just had the talent to climb up on his own?”

“Tsk, you don’t believe me?” the first person said quickly. “Did you forget the bidding eight days ago? Qi Qingran wasn’t supposed to get that plot of land, but one phone call brought the Fu guy running. Who dares to bid against the Fus? The land ended up in his hands.”

Eight days ago. Xu Zhimian leaned down to pick up his fork and stabbed it into the unfinished cake. He thought blankly: Eight days ago was the sixth day of filming ’21 Days’. No wonder Fu Shiyan left in such a hurry after that call.

“You shouldn’t spread rumors. The Fu guy is married now, and they seem to have a good relationship.”

“You’re so naive. Alphas in high positions are all old foxes. Playing ‘model couple’ is easy. Besides, try touching Qi Qingran and see if Fu Shiyan doesn’t destroy you…”

The voices dropped lower, but every word reached Xu Zhimian’s ears: “What man can ever forget his first love? Especially a high-tier beauty like Qi Qingran.”

The air conditioning in the ballroom felt freezing. Xu Zhimian felt a chill spread through his entire body. His feet felt numb. After a long moment, he walked away from the back of the dessert table.

…

Rain and Jasmine

Fu Shiyan finally found Xu Zhimian standing in front of a painting. The Omega had been missing all evening and was now staring silently at the artwork, lost in thought.

It was an oil painting of beautiful jasmine flowers on a branch, being battered into disarray by a torrential downpour. A few petals had been knocked loose, drifting in the air.

Helpless, fragile, yet beautiful. The title of the painting was Rain and Jasmine.

Thinking of the earlier incident, Fu Shiyan stopped. He knew I was angry, yet he has the leisure to stand here looking at art? He’s getting bold.

The two of them walked into the auction hall without saying a word. Fu Shiyan’s expression was icy. Xu Zhimian, his thoughts muddled by the gossip he’d overheard, had temporarily forgotten that Fu Shiyan was supposed to be the one mad at him.

He looked down, searching for “Qi Qingran” on his phone.

His fingertips trembled slightly as a heavy sense of loss washed over him. Qi Qingran was truly perfect. Educated at elite schools, holder of dual degrees from a top university. He had once worked alongside Fu Shiyan to turn the tide for the company; Glory Group’s current success was largely thanks to him.

Then, sent to the Lu family for an alliance, he revived the decaying Lu clan in just four years, turning it into one of City A’s top enterprises.

Furthermore, Qi Qingran was breathtakingly beautiful. He possessed an untainted, ethereal aura, like a snow lotus blooming on a high mountain—noble and distant. Just looking at him made everyone else seem dull.

A childhood sweetheart, a comrade-in-arms, and the deepest, most unforgettable first love.

No wonder Fu Shiyan always said they were just putting on a show. With such a brilliant first love and such a profound history, how could he, Xu Zhimian, ever compare?

Fu Shiyan watched as Zhimian stared intently at his phone the entire time. He let out a soft, sharp laugh, a surge of inexplicable irritation rising in his chest.