Chapter 749: Chapter 648: Wolves, Jackals, Tigers, and Leopards

Xiao Man tugged on Pang Xiaoji’s sleeve. "This birthday party is a big deal, huh? Are there a lot of performances? You even got Zeng Rong to be the host."

Pang Xiaoji looked down toward the floor below and snorted. "My Brother He and his crew are great at having fun and goofing around, what do they need a host for? You really don’t know? Zeng Rong is always following Gu Shaozheng around now. Wherever Gu Shaozheng goes, she goes. Last time, at your birthday party, you and Brother Gu had just left when she came right in. She was sticking to Gu Shaozheng the whole time then, too. Everyone’s saying she’s trying to pursue Gu Shaozheng."

Xiao Man’s eyes widened. "Zeng Rong is pursuing Gu... You’ve got to be kidding!"

Pang Xiaoji snickered. "It is a joke. Everyone knows Zeng Rong has a thing for Second Brother Gu, but isn’t Second Brother Gu married now? Then Zeng Rong started acting all smitten with Gu Shaozheng, so of course, people started speculating wildly."

Xiao Man rolled her eyes. ’They just kept guessing and guessing until they came up with that? This bunch of gossips has way too much time on their hands.’

After going up to the second floor and greeting everyone, Xiao Man noticed that the Cheng Yamei and Cheng Yaji sisters, who usually hung out with Pang Xiaoji, were nowhere to be seen. She asked about them casually. A few people snickered, then started chattering all at once, leaving Xiao Man confused. Pang Xiaoji, who was always blunt, hadn’t thought to mention it earlier, but now she dropped another bombshell on her:

"You haven’t seen Zhao Teng either, right? Don’t Zhao Teng and Cheng Yaji go to school together? They were always coming and going on the same bike, saying it was ’on the way.’ Oh, and on rainy days when they couldn’t ride, he’d give a ride to Cheng Yamei, too. The truth is, Zhao Teng and Cheng Yaji have been secretly together for a long time. The day before yesterday, they had a fight and broke up for some reason. One minute they’d just said they were breaking up—they hadn’t even parted ways yet—and the next minute, Cheng Yamei, who was waiting on the side, just started strolling down the street holding hands with Zhao Teng! Cheng Yaji almost went crazy. Now the two sisters are like fighting cocks. They can’t see each other. The moment they do, it’s a fight to the death. Don’t be fooled by how Cheng Yamei usually looks all soft and weak; she fights like her life depends on it. She scratched up Cheng Yaji’s face. I really didn’t expect it. To be honest, I don’t think much of Cheng Yamei. I mean, how could you do something like that? So what if Zhao Teng is a little handsome? He was almost her brother-in-law! No matter what, she shouldn’t have been so desperate, acting like she hadn’t seen a man in several lifetimes. Besides, Cheng Yaji might not have been serious about breaking up. Didn’t this just completely block off her path to getting back together? How could she not be furious? It’s a blessing from Buddha she didn’t cough up blood and die like Lin! Anyway, those three... I’m staying far away from them. I would never invite them to the same place. We have to be on guard in case they start a fight and someone gets killed over a single disagreement. We’d be held responsible, right?"

Xiao Man: "..."

’I’m truly stunned. One bizarre story after another; it’s too much to process.’

Parties with young people were always straightforward. Unlike the adults, who had to follow a strict step-by-step procedure, some people were already starting to whoop it up and have fun before the banquet was even over. The activities that followed were all based on what everyone wanted to do—they played however they pleased, and everyone at the party had a great time.

Xiao Man stuck with Pang Xiaoji, mingling in the crowd, smiling and greeting familiar faces, and chatting about whatever came up. When everyone clamored to drink, she had a little. When the music started, the large rotating disco ball made her dizzy, sending lights flying everywhere. It was time for wild dancing, and she wanted to leave. She didn’t know how to do any of that breakdancing or headbanging stuff, nor did she want to learn. Pang Xiaoji yelled, "You and Tang Haohao must be real brothers, you’re both so boring!" and offered to take her to a spot with other people who weren’t dancing. Xiao Man smiled and told her to go have fun, that she could take care of herself. If she disappeared later, it just meant she’d gone home, so there was no need to worry.

After weaving through large and small groups of people a couple of times, she saw Gu Shaozheng. He was standing by the edge of the dance floor talking to someone, swirling a wine glass in his hand. His eyes were hazy, giving him the half-drunk, roguish look of a playboy, but Zeng Rong was nowhere in sight.

Gu Shaozheng saw Xiao Man too. He seemed clear-headed enough. He put down his glass and walked over. "Done partying? I’ll take you home."

Xiao Man said, "I can get home by myself."

Gu Shaozheng put his arm directly around her shoulder and started walking her out. "You might be fine, but I’m not. If Brother Gu finds out I brought you out and then just abandoned you, he’ll beat me up."

Xiao Man was speechless. She struggled a bit against his arm and gave him a look that said: ’And you think acting like this, with no regard for appearances in front of everyone, won’t get you beaten up by Brother Gu?’

Gu Shaozheng looked completely unconcerned. "What’s the relationship between our two families? As long as you haven’t officially married into the family, you’re still my little sister. I’m not worried about that."

"Gu Shaozheng, don’t forget, Brother Gu and I held a wedding banquet in the countryside during the Spring Festival. You witnessed it yourself."

Gu Shaozheng chuckled. "Then why don’t you dare to openly live in the same room? Because it’s not legal. It only really counts after you’ve gotten the marriage certificate, right?"

Xiao Man didn’t want to bicker with him. She changed the subject to something she was curious about, wanting to needle him a little at the same time. "I saw you with Zeng Rong. Why are you two suddenly so close? A lot of people are saying she’s pursuing you. Is it true? Are you planning to be... are you preparing to take over Gu Shaofeng’s hot potato?"

She stuck out her tongue. She’d almost blurted out "rebound guy." If he asked her what that meant, she wouldn’t be able to explain it.

Gu Shaozheng shot her a glare. "What’s with that expression? Do I look that stupid?"

"But I saw you two standing together with my own eyes. A pair of predators, you really looked the part."

"What ’pair of predators’... Holy crap!" Gu Shaozheng finally got it. He pointed at Xiao Man, roaring with laughter. "It’s ’a talented man and a beautiful woman,’ not... Hahahaha! Fine, you and my brother can be the ’pair of predators’! Oh man, you’re killing me, hahahaha!"

While he was roaring with laughter, Xiao Man snatched the car keys and slid directly into the driver’s seat. "You’re too worked up to drive. I’ll drive!"

"Don’t mess around! You don’t even know how to drive! If you crash, we’re both goners. Get out!"

"I do know how to drive. Gu Shaojun taught me, and our family driver lets me practice sometimes. If you’re too scared to ride with me, then don’t get in. I’ll go by myself!"

"No, no, I’ll ride, okay? If my brother taught you, it should be fine. Mmm, I know you two are formidable. A pair of predators, right? Hahahaha..." Another burst of uncontrollable laughter followed.

Xiao Man couldn’t be bothered with him. Looking at the cars parked haphazardly on both sides, she carefully maneuvered the car out of the parking space and slowly turned onto the straight road. There were no oncoming cars, so she slammed on the gas and accelerated. Gu Shaozheng was surprised for a moment, then burst out laughing again. "Not bad, not bad! A pair of predators indeed!"

Now Xiao Man was in the mood to pry some information out of him. "Everyone in that room was watching, you know. They know that you and Zeng Rong are the real ’talented-man-and-beautiful-woman.’"

"Don’t talk nonsense. There’s nothing going on between me and her. You gave me doctor’s orders yourself—I’m staying away from women."

"That’s temporary. I only said for one year. You’re the one who insisted on making it three to five years. That’s just cutting off your nose to spite your face. You’re actually worried that... a certain part of your body won’t get better, aren’t you? It just proves you understand what ’getting close to women’ really means better than anyone. That doesn’t conflict with being in a serious relationship."

Gu Shaozheng’s face turned red. He dropped the subject of ’getting close to women’ and clarified very seriously, "Even if I were to date someone, it would never be Zeng Rong. She only looks for me to ask about Second Brother Gu’s situation. What’s wrong with these people? Lumping me together with her... just how badly do they wish me ill?"

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