That was when the Li siblings finally found him and quickly approached, stating their true reason for being here: “By the way, Yifeng-ge, did you know Gu Zhaoping challenged us? She said she wants to compete with Li Xunwen in a talent contest, and she even wants to sign a contract!”
Shen Yifeng’s brow twitched.
He was growing tired of hearing Gu Zhaoping’s name.
How many more times were these two going to bring her up?
“I don’t want to hear it. Don’t tell me anything else.”
Seeing how firm and cold his attitude was, the siblings reluctantly held their tongues.
They had actually wanted to say: Gu Zhaoping was being arrogant enough to challenge Li Xunwen in chess—anyone who grew up with Li Xunwen knew how talented he was.
“If you don’t have anything else, you should go back and rest. Aren’t you filming a show?”
Shen Yifeng finally said, not wanting to see their faces any longer.
Especially since Gu Zhaoping and Valentine were still around.
He had no idea what these two might do next—it was exhausting.
Li Xunxi was a bit disappointed but also pleased that he still cared enough to mention their show.
“Alright then. We’ll head back to the hotel.”
“Remember to watch our show if you have time!”
He wouldn’t.
No way he would.
He didn’t want to see any of them on screen.
“Go,” he replied.
The siblings turned and left, a bit disappointed.
But no one expected that just a few steps later, they would run into Gu Zhaoping.
She had just finished a conversation with some people.
They had all heard her speech at the forum earlier and were quite impressed with her.
Seeing her at the event, many came over to socialize.
Gu Zhaoping handled these kinds of events effortlessly.
Just as the conversation ended, Valentine called her name from afar.
She turned to look.
And in that small moment, she saw two familiar faces.
It took her by surprise.
Gu Zhaoping raised an eyebrow: “Li Xunxi? Li Xunwen?”
She glanced behind them.
“You came all the way here after me? That eager for the next challenge?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
Completely turning the situation on its head!
The siblings were stunned, nearly choking with frustration.
What did she mean by “came after her”?
They were more surprised to see her here than she was to see them!
Shen Yifeng, who had thought he was finally rid of this troublesome pair, was just a short distance away.
And now, in a cruel twist of fate, they had bumped into Gu Zhaoping.
He froze, breath catching, vision darkening.
He almost shouted at them to stop, but it was already too late.
“Are you kidding? We came here following Yifeng-ge. What does this have to do with you?”
They had already said it.
Shen Yifeng really felt like everything around him dimmed for a moment—like a wire had snapped.
Originally, Gu Zhaoping hadn’t noticed him.
He’d hoped to get through the evening quietly by keeping himself busy with small talk.
As long as she didn’t remember to greet the host, he could avoid her the entire time.
But now—there was no more hiding.
Gu Zhaoping’s gaze passed over the siblings, lifted slightly, and locked eyes with Shen Yifeng standing across the room.
What a brutal moment.
Shen Yifeng went rigid.
Now they were truly face-to-face.
He fell silent, not sure what she’d do next.
Would she mock him again?
Tell him to keep the Li siblings in line?
Warn them not to provoke her?
But none of that happened.
Instead, Gu Zhaoping simply withdrew her gaze and said calmly:
“Oh, really?”
“You two really are everywhere. Don’t worry—get ready. The show is happening in the next couple of days.”
The greatest contempt is indifference.
Only in this moment did Shen Yifeng suddenly, faintly realize that truth.
Gu Zhaoping was completely ignoring him.
She showed no emotion at all upon noticing his presence.
Shen Yifeng felt as if his heart were a crumpled leaf being blown in the wind—he no longer knew why he was still so fixated on watching her.
At that moment, the Li siblings were truly infuriated.
And just then, Valentine was walking over, chatting with someone, a smile on his face.
Li Xunwen turned to look at him.
Compared to Li Xunxi, he had always been more quiet and reserved.
But at this point, even he couldn’t suppress the fury burning inside him.
He said coldly: “Gu Zhaoping, did you come here with that young master Laroche?”
The question was sharp, provocative, and seemed to carry a knowing edge.
“Does he know you only came with him to spite your fiancé?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere froze.
Everyone who heard the question fell silent.
Even those who hadn’t initially heard it quieted down as the surrounding voices stopped, turning to look.
Shen Yifeng was the first to understand what was being said.
The moment he did, he nearly passed out.
He was absolutely furious—what were they saying?!
How much more chaos were these two going to cause?!
He wanted nothing more than to rush over and shut them up!
Valentine and Gu Zhaoping were both stunned.
Valentine had no idea what this was about.
Gu Zhaoping, on the other hand, was momentarily confused as to how they had come to such a bizarre conclusion.
The idea was entirely the result of their own assumptions.
Even Gu Zhaoping found it funny.
So much so, that she actually laughed out loud.
She laughed several times in a row, as though the accusation was simply too ridiculous.
But her laughter only enraged the siblings further—it was as if they’d been stomped on.
“Does he even know about your relationship with Yifeng-ge?!”
That was when Gu Zhaoping finally began to piece it together: “You’ve been targeting me this whole time because of Shen Yifeng?”
She had absolutely no memory of these two, no idea why they kept leaping out in front of her again and again.
Only now did she finally understand the root of it.
It was only because she was unfamiliar with entertainment culture that she hadn’t known:
The only ones who take offense at the real girlfriend are the die-hard fans of the fake one.
How could Gu Zhaoping’s attitude be so dismissive?
She wasn’t showing the slightest bit of shame or nervousness in response to their accusations?
Unbelievable.
Everyone around them had heard it—
That she had a fiancé, yet was flirting happily with Valentine.
Did she even have the standing to act like this?
She wasn’t even single!
At that moment, Valentine seemed to finally understand what was going on.
His expression grew slightly serious.
He parted the crowd and walked forward.
“Excuse me, sorry—please make way.”
The siblings paused as he approached them.
Then, Valentine looked at them calmly and solemnly and said: “I understand now.”
“But I’d like to ask—who is this gentleman you’re referring to? Who is this ‘Yifeng-ge’?”
Valentine genuinely seemed to want an answer.
The siblings were stunned.
What was going on with this guy?
Shouldn’t he be angrily questioning Gu Zhaoping?
Why was he still calmly trying to figure out who Shen Yifeng was?
Was he completely missing the point?
Li Xunxi grew anxious.
She pointed toward Shen Yifeng and said:
“That’s him, right there! The host of today’s party—Yifeng-ge, Gu Zhaoping’s fiancé. Now do you understand?”
Valentine followed the direction of her finger and looked over.
The moment their eyes met, Shen Yifeng no longer even felt nervous or stiff.
Instead, he felt a strange sense of relief—like a heavy stone had finally dropped from his chest.
So he found out after all.
All his earlier reactions must have seemed manipulative and awkward now.
But based on what he knew, perhaps it was Valentine who felt even more embarrassed.
Valentine’s pupils contracted slightly—
He finally realized: This was the man who had invited him to the party in the first place.
He was Gu Zhaoping’s fiancé.
Unbelievable.
But what shocked everyone was what Gu Zhaoping said next.
As if she’d finally had enough of the spectacle, she spoke slowly and casually:
“Was it Shen Yifeng who kept it from you, or was my attitude too friendly, making it seem like we were still engaged?”
“I’ve already agreed to break off the engagement with him. You don’t need to be worried on his behalf—I already informed him.”
Gu Zhaoping raised her head and said in a cool tone: Shen Yifeng, are you trying to keep this a secret?
Or are you simply unwilling to make it public?
Shen Yifeng’s whole body tensed.
He looked at her in disbelief.
He was like a bow pulled taut—every muscle locked in place except for the slight twitching in his arms.
He couldn’t move at all.
She actually said it—again.
Just as casually, just as cruelly, just like the last time.
No hesitation.
No second thought.
No mercy.
The Li siblings were stunned.
They couldn’t even understand what she was saying—
They looked at her like she was insane.
What was she saying?
Break off the engagement?
Those were her words?
With Shen Yifeng?
She broke off the engagement with Shen Yifeng?
Did she even realize what she was saying?
They were too shocked to react.
Disbelief.
Panic.
And then—
Valentine finally understood.
He steadied himself, turned, and looked at Shen Yifeng, Li Xunwen, and Li Xunxi.
His tone was calm—completely unshaken—but deeply respectful.
“I understand now.”
Then he turned to look at Shen Yifeng again, and with absolute politeness, he said: “If you are the fiancé—”
“Then…thank you for stepping aside.”