The imposing man strode in before anyone could check the situation, his phoenix eyes fixed on the trio standing together like a family of three.
As he approached, Gu Jiangyan's surging anger calmed, like a still sea surface, with no one knowing the turmoil beneath.
The night lights cast shadows, dividing them. Gu Jiangyan's icy voice dripped with sarcasm, "Jian Junruo, are you that desperate? You found another man after just half a day apart? One man isn't enough for you, so you need a second, a third?"
Jian Junruo's face instantly flushed red, both angry and indignant, "Gu Jiangyan, what do you take me for?"
Gu Jiangyan sneered, "Don't you know who you are? Who took advantage of me when I was drunk to get involved with me? And who secretly left and gave birth to the child?"
Jian Junruo trembled all over with anger, a chill spreading through her.
She never knew that in Gu Jiangyan's eyes, she was such a self-degrading person! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Gu Jiangyan's sarcastic gaze swept over the brother and sister standing together like a golden couple. He paused slightly upon seeing Jian Sheng, "Jian Junruo, your private life is none of my business, but don't corrupt the child. I don't want my daughter seeing anything inappropriate. Sheng Sheng, I'm taking her. Have a good time, you two."
He signaled to a bodyguard beside him. The burly bodyguard immediately stepped forward, reaching to take Jian Sheng.
Jian Sheng dodged the bodyguard's outstretched claws and hid behind her mother, cautiously watching Gu Jiangyan.
She suddenly felt her father was a stranger at this moment, making her instinctively want to stay away out of fear.
Jian Junruo shielded her daughter tightly, glaring at Gu Jiangyan, "Gu Jiangyan, do you have to be so heartless? You can misunderstand me, but I will never give Sheng Sheng to you!"
Gu Jiangyan felt a surge of irritation, especially seeing the clingy little girl who had been snuggling up to him and acting spoiled not long ago, now hiding timidly behind Jian Junruo and looking at him. The irritation grew even stronger.
He pursed his thin lips, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, and he looked at the bodyguard displeasedly, "What are you waiting for?"
The bodyguard jolted and reached out to push Jian Junruo aside to snatch the little girl from her embrace.
Jian Junyu, stunned by this action, reacted and rushed to help. He was intercepted by other bodyguards brought by Gu Jiangyan.
Worried about his sister, Jian Junyu immediately resorted to fisticuffs.
The bodyguards were not to be trifled with, especially since they knew a bit about their boss's private life and guessed that this pretty boy might be a rival. They attacked without holding back.
At this moment, Jian Sheng was bewildered.
This scene wasn't in the plot, was it? How could her dad be fighting with her mom?
Was it a butterfly effect caused by her not dying?
It wasn't until a bodyguard forcefully grabbed Jian Sheng's arm, trying to snatch her from her mother's embrace, that Jian Sheng snapped back to reality. Baring her tiny teeth, she let out a fierce cry and bit the bodyguard's arm.
The bodyguard instinctively let go, and at the same time, felt a sudden surge of immense strength push him back two steps. He looked at Jian Sheng and Jian Junruo with disbelief.
Before the bodyguard could make another move, Jian Sheng broke free from her mother's embrace, glared with wide eyes, and said in a fierce, childish tone, "You all stop! Otherwise, I'll get serious!"
Instantly, everyone who heard her burst into laughter. Even the bodyguard who had just been pushed back by the strange force chuckled after his initial shock.
No one took her words seriously, even finding the child endearingly naive.
What serious threat could a little girl with no teeth pose?
Or perhaps not, if the little girl threw a tantrum at the boss, they might be the ones to suffer.
Thinking of this, the bodyguards shivered in unison, deciding they must be careful when taking the young lady away. What if she got a bump or bruise, and the boss sought retribution?
However, when the bodyguard tried to grab Jian Sheng again, he once again felt that same strange force pushing him away.
Concurrently, the bodyguard entangled with Jian Junyu seemed to be pushed by something, involuntarily taking a few steps back and creating distance between himself and Jian Junyu.
These bodyguards noticed the oddity in each other's actions, their eyes meeting.
'You felt it too?'
'You too? How strange, why would we both feel pushed away at the same time?'
'Could there really be something supernatural?'
'Impossible, believe in science, don't be superstitious.'
Hesitant, they dared not continue their attack and quickly scurried over to explain the situation to Gu Jiangyan.
Gu Jiangyan's brows furrowed, sensing that things were not simple.
The fear in Jian Sheng's eyes dissipated, and she stood firmly in front of Jian Junruo, her head held high like a proud little swan.
However, when she saw Gu Jiangyan, a lingering sense of hurt and rejection made Gu Jiangyan incredibly agitated.
"Damn it!" Gu Jiangyan cursed under his breath and waved his hand, telling the bodyguards to stand by.
Jian Junyu seized the opportunity to knock down the last bodyguard blocking him. Disheveled, he quickly shielded his mother and sister. Spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground, he said hatefully, "Gu Jiangyan, if you dare to touch my little sister and niece today, I'll make you pay with blood!"
Gu Jiangyan, who was about to say something, froze, and said word by word, "You... what... did... you... say?"
Jian Junyu rushed forward and grabbed Gu Jiangyan's collar, "I said! I will make you pay the price!"
Being so close, even in the darkness of night, Gu Jiangyan could clearly see Jian Junyu's features, which bore a striking resemblance to Jian Junruo. Gu Jiangyan's expression changed, and he asked again, "What did you just say they were to you?"
Jian Junyu's cheek was scraped during his fight with the bodyguards, and his clothes were covered in dust, making him look quite disheveled. However, facing Gu Jiangyan, he did not back down. Pointing at Jian Junruo and Jian Sheng, his voice boomed with rage, "That's my sister! My own sister! From the same mother!"
The bodyguards who had gathered to pull Jian Junyu apart immediately dispersed. It wasn't their place to intervene in their boss's family dispute.
Gu Jiangyan suddenly understood that he might have misunderstood something.
He looked at Jian Junruo, his expression complicated, "Why didn't you explain?"
Jian Junruo's voice was indifferent, tinged with endless disappointment. She retorted, "If I explained, would you believe me?"
Gu Jiangyan pried Jian Junyu's fingers off his collar one by one. He showed no guilt or apology for his misunderstanding, and sneered, "With your history, how could I believe you?"
"Heh," Jian Junruo wearily waved her hand. "Think whatever you want. I have nothing to say to you."
Gu Jiangyan remained rooted to the spot. "I admit I misunderstood you this time, but I have to take Sheng Sheng back. Where she came from, that's where she should go."
Jian Junruo almost laughed in disbelief, "Gu Jiangyan, I never realized how shameless you were before!"
As they argued, they continued their spat as if no one else was around.
Jian Sheng watched in astonishment as the situation spiraled in a direction she completely failed to comprehend. She scratched her head in frustration, "Adults' worlds and emotions are so complicated."
Jian Junyu, disregarding his appearance, sat down beside Jian Sheng and nodded in agreement, "It is indeed complicated. So, my suggestion is to tie them both up. One to take back, and the other to be thrown into the river."