After Liu Wan was taken away by Li Lin and Wang Hu, the atmosphere at the dinner became harmonious.
After Liu Dong repeatedly promised Gu Chenan that he would make Liu Wan apologize to him, Gu Chenan didn't pursue the matter further.
However, he warned Liu Dong that if Liu Wan dared to speak disrespectfully to him or Su Qianmo again, he shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.
Liu Dong understood that Gu Chenan wasn't bluffing, but rather had the real power to back up his words, and he nodded repeatedly in agreement.
After dinner, Gu Chenan left the restaurant with Su Qianmo under the watchful eyes of everyone outside the private room.
Right after Gu Chenan left, Liu Dong had Wang Hu send out a pre-written apology message under the name of Golden Crown KTV.
The apology was simple, essentially stating that Liu Dong took responsibility for all previous incidents with Gu Chenan, sincerely apologizing to both Gu Chenan and Su Qianmo, and promising never to trouble Gu Chenan again.
This apology message caused an uproar throughout the entire city.
Previously, Liu Dong had made a show of saying he would find powerful people to deal with Gu Chenan, but now he was apologizing so sincerely?
What was going on? What exactly had happened?
Though people didn't understand the full story, they could piece together some clues from this incident.
Liu Dong had first sought help from powerful figures, then immediately apologized to Gu Chenan - this clearly showed that even those powerful people were no match for Gu Chenan!
Realizing this, the entire city began speculating about Gu Chenan's true identity.
At this time, those who had seen Gu Chenan at the restaurant today shared what they had witnessed, leaving everyone even more confused.
Gu Chenan had come to Liu Dong's dinner with Su Qianmo, and had struck Liu Wan again despite Liu Dong's many subordinates being present?
What was going on?
Didn't Liu Dong have any reaction?
Everyone who knew Liu Dong was aware of how much he doted on his daughter - how could he watch Gu Chenan hit Liu Wan without responding?
These questions were quickly answered by those who had been present.
Of course Liu Dong had reacted - by comforting Gu Chenan not to be angry, then having Wang Hu and Li Lin drag Liu Wan away.
When this news emerged, everyone was stunned.
Gu Chenan had hit Liu Wan in front of Liu Dong and his subordinates, and Liu Dong not only didn't get angry but even tried to calm Gu Chenan down?
Just who was Gu Chenan really?
He could make Liu Dong stop talking about finding powerful people to deal with him, didn't face any consequences for hitting his daughter in front of him, and even received an apology in the end.
This series of events carved out an image of Gu Chenan in the minds of everyone in the city.
Powerful influence, mysterious background!
The whole city was suddenly abuzz with speculation about Gu Chenan's true identity.
Meanwhile, in Gu Chenan's long-inactive class group chat, Liu Dong's apology message had also stirred up a commotion.
"Holy shit, Liu Dong apologized to Old Gu, and so sincerely?"
"What's going on? Liu Dong actually bowed his head to Old Gu? Who could have imagined this?"
"Everyone online is saying Old Gu's background is terrifying - is this true?"
"Don't know, but it's strange. Ever since Old Gu's beautiful girlfriend appeared, he seems like a different person. He turned Caiying into the city's biggest beauty company, repeatedly taught Liu Wan a lesson, and now even made Liu Dong apologize. Do you think Old Gu has been hiding something from us?"
"Right? Who would believe Old Gu doesn't have backing? Liu Dong said he'd find powerful people to deal with Old Gu but nothing came of it, and instead he ended up apologizing."
"More than just apologizing - someone saw Liu Dong treating Old Gu and his girlfriend to dinner today, and Old Gu hit Liu Wan right in front of Liu Dong."
"See? See? Who would dare say Old Gu doesn't have backing when he can do things like this?"
While the group chat was buzzing with discussion, Gu Chenan didn't even look at it, but there was one person who was paying close attention to every movement in the group.
Song Xiaoli.
When she saw Liu Dong's apology message, she was already shocked beyond words. What happened to finding powerful people to deal with Gu Chenan?
How did it end up with him apologizing to Gu Chenan instead?
The apology aside, Gu Chenan hit Liu Wan right in front of him and he had no reaction?
Song Xiaoli wasn't standing up for Liu Wan - she was angry, extremely angry.
In high school, Gu Chenan had been nothing but a pathetic admirer who only knew how to curry favor with her, and he even spent two years playing video games at home after graduating from university. How did he now become a company boss and live such a good life?
Moreover, Gu Chenan had caused her boyfriend to break up with her, yet his life was going so well?!
This couldn't stand!
It was because of these thoughts that Song Xiaoli had viewed Liu Wan and Liu Dong as people who could help her get revenge, but now that Liu Dong had bowed his head to Gu Chenan, who else could help her get revenge?
Song Xiaoli was grief-stricken and furious, violently smashing her water glass on the floor.
"Gu Chenan, all I did was ask you to lend me money to buy a phone back then, and you dumped me without a word?!"
"Yes, fine, I was the one who suggested breaking up, but you didn't say a single word to try to keep me - you're too much!"
"I- I won't forgive you! Never!"
Song Xiaoli was panting, her eyes red.
Though she was still cursing and swearing even now, even she understood that this was nothing but impotent rage.
If Liu Dong couldn't deal with someone, how could she?
Afterward, she could only remain like a mouse in the shadows, looking up at Gu Chenan's brilliant figure that towered like a giant tree, and despite her thousand hatreds, she could only spend her life wallowing in these dark alleys.
This ending eerily matched what she had said to Gu Chenan at the class reunion:
"We're no longer on the same path."
As for everything that was happening, Gu Chenan was completely unaware. He had only glanced at Liu Dong's apology message on his way home, and after seeing that the tone was appropriately sincere and met his requirements, he paid it no more attention.
Now, he was lying by the swimming pool in his estate, holding Hoshino Kannon in his arms, sipping cocktails and sunbathing.
The boring and monotonous life of the young master Gu from the novel had returned.
If there was any difference, it was that he no longer had to worry about the novel's protagonist Dragon King Lin Yu causing trouble at any moment.
But then again, although Lin Yu had terrified Gu Chenan for a period, the later back-and-forth battles with Lin Yu had been quite fun. After returning to reality without Lin Yu, things felt a bit boring.
Now that the Liu Dong matter was resolved and Caiying was developing steadily, Gu Chenan truly had nothing to do.
"Sigh, so boring."
Gu Chenan sighed.
"I think it's fine. If you're bored, you can read novels with me."
In his arms, Hoshino Kannon, wearing a black bikini, waved her phone.
"Peerless Dragon King?"
Gu Chenan raised an eyebrow.
"Mm-hmm."
"Nah, I've already finished it. It's not that interesting," Gu Chenan shook his head.