Chapter 223: A Heroine Rejects Fate

"I heard you saved Qingya."

Shen Tian glanced toward Lu Chen.

"Partially."

Lu Chen smiled faintly.

Gu Qingya spoke.

"He stopped the sniper."

Old Master Gu’s eyes widened.

"The sniper?"

Gu Qingya’s expression became colder.

"Grandpa, you were not told everything."

The old man looked toward Lu Chen.

Lu Chen nodded.

"There were two teams."

Old Master Gu’s face became serious.

Yin Suyi stepped closer.

"Which is why we invited you."

She looked toward Lu Chen.

Then...

Her gaze changed.

Cold.

Assessing.

She had already received his complete file.

At least...

The parts conventional intelligence could find.

Mercenary operations.

Deaths.

Rumors.

Missing years.

Connections to foreign war zones.

A dangerous man.

And now...

He was attached to another young woman through an unwanted engagement.

Yin Suyi disliked him immediately.

Lu Chen sensed it.

He smiled.

"Madam Yin."

"Mr. Lu."

No warmth.

None.

Gu Qingya noticed.

For the first time that day...

She felt someone powerful was entirely on her side.

Not her grandfather’s.

Not Lu Chen’s.

Hers.

Yin Suyi took her hand gently.

"You’ve had a difficult day."

Gu Qingya’s expression softened.

"I’m alright."

"You will sit beside me."

Old Master Gu laughed.

"Madam Yin, Qingya..."

Yin Suyi looked toward him.

He stopped.

"Of course."

Gu Qingya nearly smiled.

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Tian saw.

Then...

His own smile appeared.

This dinner was going to be interesting.

. . .

Everyone sat.

Yin Suyi placed Gu Qingya to her right.

Shen Tian to her left.

Lu Chen was seated across from Shen Tian.

Old Master Gu beside him.

Shen Yan chose a chair near her brother.

Su Yue and Chi Lingxi sat farther along the table.

Ling Shuangxue opened the security report.

Dinner began.

For several minutes...

Conversation remained formal.

Old Master Gu discussed the attack.

Ling Shuangxue explained the financial trail.

Gu Qingya examined the documents.

Lu Chen remained quiet.

Then...

Ling Shuangxue displayed the first major finding.

"Tianlong Systems transferred sixty million yuan through three intermediary companies."

Gu Qingya’s eyes narrowed.

"To Red Scorpion?"

"Indirectly."

"How certain?"

"Ninety-three percent."

Lu Chen looked toward Ling Shuangxue.

"You found that in a few hours."

She glanced at him.

"Two."

He smiled.

"Impressive."

Ling Shuangxue returned to the document.

"I know."

Bai Xue covered a laugh.

Gu Qingya examined the names.

"Tianlong has been attempting to force us out of the defense technology market."

Old Master Gu looked concerned.

"Would they risk assassination?"

Ling Shuangxue shook her head.

"The company itself?"

"Probably not."

"Someone inside?"

"Likely."

She highlighted one executive.

Zhou Kang.

Vice president.

Major shareholder.

Known connections to underground gambling.

Debts.

Recent foreign travel.

Lu Chen stared at the photograph.

His Black Wolf network had delivered the same name.

Shen Tian noticed his reaction.

"You found him too."

Lu Chen looked toward him.

"Maybe."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Slow."

The table became silent.

Su Yue lowered her eyes to hide amusement.

Chi Lingxi did the same.

Lu Chen leaned back.

"You intercepted one bullet."

"And found the employer first."

"You had corporate records."

"You had mercenaries."

Their eyes met.

Old Master Gu laughed nervously.

"Young men enjoy competition."

Yin Suyi looked toward him.

"They are not children."

He became quiet again.

Gu Qingya placed the report down.

"What is the next step?"

Lu Chen answered immediately.

"I’ll take Zhou Kang."

"No."

She looked directly at him.

His smile faded slightly.

Gu Qingya continued.

"We gather evidence."

"Turn it over to authorities."

"Secure the company."

Lu Chen shook his head.

"He sent men to kill you."

"That does not give you permission to execute him."

"He’ll try again."

"Then we stop him lawfully."

Lu Chen stared.

Gu Qingya held his gaze.

She did not bend.

Shen Tian watched.

Then...

He smiled faintly.

Gu Qingya noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re smiling."

"I respect your answer."

For a second...

Her expression softened.

Lu Chen saw.

Again.

His hand tightened around the chopsticks.

Not enough to break them.

Barely.

Old Master Gu sighed.

"Qingya, Lu Chen has experience with these people."

"I know."

"He protected you."

"I know."

"Then..."

"That does not mean he decides for me."

The old man became quiet.

Yin Suyi calmly spoke.

"She is correct."

Every person at the table looked toward her.

Yin Suyi continued.

"Protection does not create ownership."

Lu Chen’s expression changed.

The words were clearly directed at him.

Old Master Gu frowned.

"Madam Yin, the engagement..."

"Was arranged without Gu Qingya’s consent."

Silence.

Gu Qingya stared at Yin Suyi.

Old Master Gu looked uncomfortable.

"It was a promise between families."

Yin Suyi’s gaze became freezing.

"Then the families may marry one another."

Bai Xue choked on her drink.

Su Yue covered her mouth.

Shen Tian looked toward his mother.

She remained perfectly serious.

Old Master Gu opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Lu Chen leaned forward.

"Qingya will accept eventually."

Gu Qingya’s face hardened.

Shen Tian’s smile disappeared.

Yin Suyi looked toward Lu Chen.

"What makes you believe that?"

Lu Chen’s confidence returned.

"Because she hasn’t known me long enough."

Gu Qingya stared at him with disbelief.

He continued.

"I’ll protect her."

"Handle her enemies."

"Give her anything she needs."

"She’ll understand."

Gu Qingya spoke quietly.

"I understand perfectly."

Lu Chen looked toward her.

She continued.

"You do not listen."

"You decide."

"You assume."

"And whenever I tell you what I want..."

"You treat it like a temporary inconvenience."

The table became silent.

Lu Chen’s expression finally became serious.

Gu Qingya did not look away.

"You saved my life today."

"For that..."

"I am grateful."

"But gratitude is not love."

"It is not consent."

"And it does not make me yours."

Lu Chen stared.

For the first time since returning...

His confidence cracked.

Only slightly.

Fate around him surged violently.

Xu Ning appeared beside Shen Tian.

[Host.]

A system screen opened.

Major Relationship Destiny destabilized.

Gu Qingya rejecting forced attachment.

Fate at risk: 15,000

Shen Tian’s eyes narrowed.

This wasn’t his action.

Not directly.

Gu Qingya was fighting Fate herself.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Lu Chen slowly placed his chopsticks down.

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