Chapter 05
 Itâs Only Right to Share Sister Peiâs Burden
In a VIP booth on the second floorâ
Gu Chengnian was lounging lazily on a leather sofa, long fingers holding a cigarette as he chatted and laughed with a few friends.
The moment Pei Nianâan spotted him, she instinctively lowered her head to check the hem of her dress.
Her pink haute couture gown set off her porcelain skin beautifully, making her look sweet and delicate.
Pei Nianâan smiled and was just about to walk over when loud arguing broke out from the booth nearby.
âWhat are you acting so high and mighty for, huh? Youâre just a waitress!â
The voice came from a greasy, overweight man.
âYouâd be better off with me than slaving here, wouldnât you? Come on, have a drink with your big brotherâitâs no big deal!â
As he spoke, the man reached for the waitressâs waist.
Pei Nianâan frowned.
Before she could react, the waitress in a white shirt and black vest suddenly splashed a glass of wine right into the manâs face.
Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, her side profile strikingly clean and pretty under the neon lights.
âSober up!â she said clearly, her voice calm but firm.
âSo what if youâve got a bit of money? I earn my pay with my own handsâthereâs nothing shameful about that. Please, show some respect!â
Pei Nianâan raised a brow.
This waitress had some fire in her.
And⊠she looked familiar.
Looking more closely, Pei Nianâan rememberedâ
Wasnât this the âsaintâ who stopped Yu Zhi earlier that afternoon?
At that moment, Wen Ying slammed down her empty glass and glared at the man before turning to leave.
But the fat man wasnât about to let her go. He grabbed her arm and roared,
âYou think you can lecture me? Do you even know who I am? If I donât teach you a lesson tonight, youâll never learn your place!â
âLet go of me!â Wen Ying struggled, but the man pinned her down on the sofa.
More and more people stopped to watch, but no one dared to step in.
Just as Pei Nianâan took a step forward, Gu Chengnian suddenly moved.
Bam!
One sharp kick sent the two-hundred-pound man rolling to the floor.
âWho the hellââ the man started to curse, but one of his companions grabbed him.
âDonât! Thatâs Young Master Gu!â
The man froze, his expression changing instantly. After glaring at Wen Ying, he slunk off into the crowd.
Gu Chengnian reached out a hand toward Wen Ying.
âAre you all right?â
Still shaken, Wen Ying looked upâand upon recognizing him, she quickly slapped his hand away.
âI donât need your fake kindness.â
âWow~â
From the next booth, one of Gu Chengnianâs friends whistled.
âOur Young Master Gu just played hero! Sweetheart, shouldnât you at least say thank you?â
Wen Ying straightened her rumpled collar and sneered.
âYou rich people are all the same. Whatâs there to thank? You bully people first and then act like saviors.â
How dare she talk to her Chengnian-gege like that?!
Pei Nianâan couldnât stand it any longer.
âHey!â she stormed up, pointing a finger at Wen Ying.
âChengnian-gege went out of his way to help you! How can you be so rude?!â
Wen Ying glanced between Pei Nianâan and Gu Chengnian, then gave a cold smile.
âAh, so youâre together.â
She picked up the fallen tray.
âExcuse me, I still have work to do.â
As she turned to leave, she accidentally bumped into someoneâspilling a glass of wine right onto Gu Chengnian.
The dark liquor spread across his white shirt like an ink stain.
âChengnian-gege!â Pei Nianâan cried out, grabbing Wen Yingâs wrist.
âAre you blind?! Do you even know how much that shirt costs?!â
Wen Ying froze.
Then, biting her lip, she said softly,
âIâm sorry, sir.â
She looked directly at Gu Chengnian, completely ignoring Pei Nianâan.
âI didnât mean to. If you take the shirt off, I can have it dry-cleaned for you.â
âDry-cleaned?â Pei Nianâan shrieked.
âThis is a limited edition piece! You think dry-cleaning will fix it?!â
Wen Ying took a small step back, knuckles white around her tray.
âPei Nianâan, donât push me. Thatâs the best solution I can offer.â
The crowd snickered quietly.
Wen Yingâs face turned pale.
Pei Nianâan gave a disdainful snort, ready to lash out againâ
but Gu Chengnian suddenly spoke.
âThatâs enough, Nianâan.â
He brushed at his shirt, his gaze sweeping over Wen Ying before settling on Pei Nianâan.
âItâs just a shirt. No need to make things difficult for her.â
Then he turned back to Wen Ying.
âItâs fine. You donât need to pay for it. Go.â
âBut Chengnian-gegeâ!â Pei Nianâanâs voice trembled with anger.
âShe clearlyââ
âNianâan,â Gu Chengnian finally looked at her.
âI said itâs over.â
âŠ
By the time Yu Zhi rushed into the bar, Pei Nianâan was sitting alone in the booth, glaring daggers at Wen Ying.
âSister Pei!â
Hearing her voice, Pei Nianâan turned around. Seeing Yu Zhi had come alone, she frowned.
âWhere are the people I told you to bring?â
âHold on, donât get mad yetâwhat happened?â Yu Zhi panted.
âThat saint again!â Pei Nianâan stomped her foot angrily.
âChengnian-gege helped her, and she still didnât appreciate it! She even spilled wine all over him!â
She grabbed Yu Zhi and sat her down.
âI canât take it anymore! Iâm going to slap her face off!â
Yu Zhi: ââŠâ
Typical vicious supporting actressâalways so direct and violent.
âNo, no, Sister Pei, rememberâforce comes in pairs! Even if you slap her silly, what if you hurt your beautiful hand? Iâd be heartbroken!â
Yu Zhi held Pei Nianâanâs hand dramatically.
Pei Nianâan frowned.
âWho said Iâd do it myself? Youâll do it for me!â
Yu Zhi: â…But Iâm your person, arenât I? If I hit her, everyone will know you ordered it. Thatâd be terrible for your reputation!â
Pei Nianâan hesitated.
âThen what do you suggest?â
Yu Zhiâs eyes lit up.
âSister Pei, we definitely canât hit her.â
âWhy not?!â Pei Nianâan glared.
âThink about it,â Yu Zhi lowered her voice,
âYoung Master Gu just defended her, didnât he? If you go after her now, wonât that make him look bad?â
Pei Nianâan froze.
âThen⊠what should I do?â
Yu Zhi seized the moment.
âYouâre noble and elegant, Sister Pei. Why bother with someone who just carries trays? Arguing with her would only lower your status. What would Young Master Gu think if he saw that?â
The mention of Gu Chengnian made Pei Nianâan waver.
Yu Zhi leaned in even closer.
âBesides, itâs actually a good thing she didnât thank him! Imagine if she hadâshe couldâve used the chance to cozy up to himâŠâ
Pei Nianâanâs eyes went wide.
âShe wouldnât dare!â
âExactly.â Yu Zhi spread her hands innocently.
âIf you go after her now, youâll just give her another excuse to get close to Young Master Gu. Youâre way too smart to fall for that, right, Sister Pei?â
Pei Nianâan blinked, realizing Yu Zhi made perfect sense. She patted Yu Zhiâs shoulder.
âDidnât think you were this clever!â
Yu Zhi gave her best flattering grin.
âItâs only right to share Sister Peiâs burdens!â