Local Stronghold

The slap resounded through the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Even Liu Wan, who had been howling like a mad dog, was suddenly struck dumb.

From the moment she appeared, Su Qianmo had maintained an elegant and pure demeanor. No one could have imagined that she would not only slap Liu Wan but also deliver such a fierce rebuke.

"Did... did Su Qianmo really just say that?"

"She was so pleasant and refined when talking with us earlier. I never thought she was this type of person."

It wasn't just the others - even Gu Chenan was stunned.

He never imagined Su Qianmo would slap Liu Wan in front of so many people for his sake.

In the novel world, though Su Qianmo was cold and aloof, she had never behaved like this before.

As everyone reeled in shock and Gu Chenan puzzled over this, Su Qianmo smoothed her bangs and addressed Liu Wan, who stood frozen in place: "I don't know who you are or why you're saying these things, but let me tell you - while I may be the CEO of Caiying, Chenan is the owner!"

"This slap wasn't just for insulting Chenan, but also for insulting Caiying's owner!"

Her words sent another wave of shock through the crowd.

"What?! Gu Chenan is Caiying's owner? Is that for real?"

"Why didn't Gu Chenan say anything earlier?"

"Is Ms. Su serious? Is Gu Chenan really Caiying's owner?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation, unable to determine the truth.

Su Qianmo turned back, her icy gaze sweeping over the assembled guests: "Ladies and gentlemen, you invited us from Caiying here today, and we came in good faith. As for who this mad woman is and how she appeared, I won't ask. But I think..."

Her eyes narrowed as she continued, "...it's time for us to leave!"

Su Qianmo's words, coupled with her ice-cold demeanor and overwhelming presence, instantly cowed everyone present.

Though no one knew who Liu Wan was, Su Qianmo's speech left them all feeling like scolded children, quickly apologizing.

"We're so sorry, Ms. Su. We truly invited you here in good faith."

"Ms. Su, we apologize for our poor hospitality. We're truly sorry."

"Please calm down, Ms. Su..."

Ignoring the apologies and placating words around her, Su Qianmo walked straight to Gu Chenan's side and took his arm. "Let's go, Chenan. We're leaving."

...

In the car on the way back.

Su Qianmo sat with her arms crossed, angrily staring out the window.

"Still angry?" Gu Chenan asked.

"Mm-hmm." Su Qianmo nodded, then turned to face him. "Do you know that crazy woman?"

"I do," Gu Chenan shrugged. "She was the blind date I went to meet the day you first arrived in the real world."

"So it was her?!" Su Qianmo gritted her teeth. "That's going too far. If this were in that world, I'd make sure she could never speak again!"

"Huh?"

Gu Chenan was taken aback. He never thought Su Qianmo was this type of person.

What he didn't know was that Su Qianmo had once ordered someone to kill Lin Yu for his sake, though it hadn't succeeded.

"Calm down. I've already let it go. You're quite hot-tempered," Gu Chenan teased.

"I just can't stand hearing people talk about you like that!" Su Qianmo fumed.

Then she asked, puzzled, "Why didn't you tell everyone your identity right away? Wouldn't that have prevented that madwoman from saying such things?"

Gu Chenan shook his head with a smile. "Even if I had said it, few would have believed me."

He added, "Especially with that crazy woman there."

"Because of your family background and past experiences in this world?" Su Qianmo asked.

"Exactly," Gu Chenan nodded and smiled. "Think about it - I'm known as a shut-in who hasn't worked for two years and just played games in a rented apartment. In that situation, who would believe I'm Caiying's owner?"

"Ah, that's true," Su Qianmo had to admit.

"So, regardless of whether those people believe it or not, we just need to focus on doing our own thing," Gu Chenan said.

Hearing this, Su Qianmo suddenly felt a strong sense of unreality.

The Gu Chenan in the novel would never have said something like this. Though she knew this was the real world, she still felt disoriented at times.

"Is this what you're really like?" Su Qianmo asked with a smile.

"Like what?" Gu Chenan smiled back.

"Not caring about others' opinions, and much more peaceful than in the novel."

"Which version of me do you prefer?" Gu Chenan turned to look at Su Qianmo.

Love shone in Su Qianmo's beautiful eyes as she replied, "I like you no matter what you're like."

"Haha," Gu Chenan laughed. "Same here. I like you no matter what you're like."

He added, "Actually, the real me isn't that different from the novel version. If the police weren't real here, I'd want to kill Liu Wan on the spot."

"But not being able to kill her doesn't mean I won't do anything."

"What do you mean?" Su Qianmo frowned in confusion.

"I don't mean anything," Gu Chenan grinned. "It's just that her dad and my dad are childhood friends. But her dad is more successful than mine - he owns a few nightclubs and a small real estate company. He's somewhat well-known in the city."

"Well-known? A big family?" Su Qianmo raised an eyebrow.

"Not really a big family, more like a local boss," Gu Chenan turned back to her. "After this incident, even though our dads are childhood friends, her dad definitely won't let me off easy."

"Oh no, what should we do?" Su Qianmo was a bit worried.

After all, the current Gu Chenan wasn't the young master of the Gu family from Donghai like in the novel.

But what she didn't know was that he soon would be.

Gu Chenan smiled and tapped his head. "Don't worry, I have a cheat code."

...

Back in the banquet hall.

Everyone regretted Su Qianmo's departure and was greatly displeased by the day's commotion.

Many glared angrily at Liu Wan, whose cheek was still red and swollen.

They had invited Caiying's CEO out of respect, and she had graciously accepted.

Who could have expected some crazy woman to appear out of nowhere and relentlessly attack the CEO's fiancé?

Whether or not Su Qianmo's fiancé was really Caiying's owner, Liu Wan should have shown some restraint out of respect for Su Qianmo.

But no, she just kept going, getting more and more worked up!

She even forced Su Qianmo to take action herself!

Though they had only interacted with Su Qianmo for less than an hour, everyone could tell from her speech and demeanor how refined she was.

To make Su Qianmo resort to violence - Liu Wan was really something else!

Ignoring the stares, Liu Wan pushed open the banquet hall doors and went straight to the restroom. Finding an empty spot, she immediately called her father.

"Hello? Waaah, Dad!" As soon as the call connected, Liu Wan burst into tears.