149: I've really learned my lesson this time; I'll never dare to mess with her again.

Gu Xiheng felt displeased seeing his close friend compete with him for her, and he spoke stiffly.

"No need to trouble yourself. Ai Yue is part of our Yingjin Safety Tower; she can just stay with us!"

"The place where you all are staying is already crowded enough. Wouldn't it be a grievance for Miss Ai Yue to stay there? It's better if I arrange another place for her."

Gong Qiuqiu spoke to Gu Xiheng with a gentle smile, but his eyes were filled with determination. He then turned to ask Ai Yue, "What do you think, Miss Ai Yue?"

For Ai Yue, she would return respect to whoever gave it to her.

She smiled softly and said politely, "Thank you for your kindness, Colonel Gong. I came for the Auction, and since there are still three days left, I have some private matters to attend to. I won't trouble you."

Gong Qiuqiu saw Ai Yue's reluctance and did not push further. "In that case, I won't force you. I am hosting the Auction; I will arrange a private booth for you then, so please do not refuse."

Ai Yue hesitated slightly, but Gong Qiumu, who was beside her, leaned in and said, "Sister Ai Yue, why are you still hesitating? Those with private booths have priority in bidding. Don't let it go to waste; plus, it can save a lot of unnecessary trouble."

Ai Yue felt a bit tempted after hearing this.

"Miss Ai Yue, please don't decline. The strong deserve such things."

Gong Qiuqiu said straightforwardly.

"Alright then, I will accept Colonel Gong's favor," Ai Yue finally said.

Gong Qiuqiu was visibly happy. "Just call me Qiuqiu. Calling me Colonel Gong sounds too distant."

The corners of Ai Yue's mouth twitched; she really couldn't bring herself to say the name "Qiuqiu."

The name rolled around in her mouth twice but she still didn't say it, swallowing it back down. She wasn't that familiar with him yet, not to the point of calling him such an intimate name.

"My name is Ai Yue. Just call me Ai Yue!"

"Alright, Ai Yue."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going first." After greeting them, Ai Yue left without looking back.

Gu Xiheng saw that she didn't even spare him a glance, knowing in his heart that she was angry and blamed him.

But at this moment, he was also very angry.

He said stiffly, "Young Master Gong, shouldn't you be going? What are you looking at? She's already far away."

Seeing his awkward behavior, Gong Qiuqiu couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Gu Xiheng, look at your resentful face. It's hilarious. It's truly rare to see you like this."

Gu Xiheng stared at him with eyes full of killing intent, wishing he could start a fight.

Just then, Gu Xitian said in a low voice with a hint of a sob, "Brother, let's leave quickly. I want to go back. I'm never coming out again, and I never want to see that bi— that fierce, fierce woman Ai Yue again!"

Everything that happened today had indeed terrified her. Just now, she had truly felt the aura of death in Ai Yue's eyes; that feeling was truly suffocating.

"Alright, you're not a child anymore. Can't you control your mouth? Don't say certain things so easily. If you keep stirring up trouble like this, I'll have no choice but to send you back," Gu Xiheng said irritably.

Regarding his sister's conduct, he had lectured her no less than ten times, but every time she promised well, yet at the critical moment, she couldn't control her mouth. He was also very helpless.

"I've really learned my lesson this time. There won't be a next time," Gu Xitian said aggrievedly.

Mo Li said sarcastically from the side, "Truly, when people try to teach, they can't learn; when events teach, they learn at once!"

"Cousin, can you not use that tone with me? It's really hurtful. You're my biological cousin!" Gu Xitian was very sad seeing that no one was comforting her.

Mo Li couldn't stand to see girls cry. Seeing her start to weep, he immediately said, "Alright, my little ancestor, as long as you don't act up in the future, I'll speak to you nicely."

"Hmph, Sister Siyu is still the best to me. If she hadn't been seriously injured and stayed at the base to recover, if she were here and saw me being bullied like this, she would definitely stand on my side and help me."

After Gu Xitian finished speaking, she walked forward quickly, no longer paying attention to her two brothers.

Seeing this, a flash of heartache appeared in Yan Li's eyes, and he immediately chased after her, wanting to offer some comfort but not knowing what to say.

He could only silently follow behind Gu Xitian.

Gu Xitian noticed Yan Li following her and rolled her eyes at him. "What are you following me for? Hmph, you're just the same. When I encountered danger, you just stood there watching, watching me be tormented by others."

Yan Li wanted to retort, but he didn't know what to say. Indeed, he had no chance to step forward and save her. Ai Yue's speed was too fast; no one could react. By the time they did, there was no longer an opportunity to save her.

"Hmph, are you mute? Usually you say you'll protect me, that you'll protect me with your life, but when the critical moment comes, you're just afraid of death! Hmph, you're all talk. Stay away from me from now on; I don't want to see you!"

"No, you've misunderstood. I really wanted to save you, but I didn't dare go up then. Ai Yue's knife was right at your eye. You know that Ai Yue is a ruthless person; I was afraid my actions would provoke her and cause her to hurt you."

Yan Li explained hurriedly.

But at this moment, Gu Xitian couldn't hear anything. She only wanted comfort, only wanted someone who could empathize with her and stand on her side.

Rather than one piece of logic or explanation after another.

Yan Li was also very self-reproachful for failing to protect the girl he loved, letting her be threatened right before his eyes.

"Xitian, believe me, it won't happen next time!"

"Hmph!" Gu Xitian rolled her eyes at him, ignored him, and quickened her pace.

Yan Li followed closely behind her, gazing affectionately at Gu Xitian's back, muttering to himself, "I love you so much, how could I bear to see you bullied? I would give my life for you!"

...Not far from the Trading Center, Ai Yue vanished into her space. Not wanting Gu Xiheng and the others to bother her, she planned to stay in the space for three days and only come out when the Auction began.

Ai Yue's guess was correct; over the next few days, several groups of people came looking for her.

This included Gu Xiheng, Mo Li, Gong Qiuqiu, and others. The one who looked for Ai Yue the most was the lively youth Gong Qiumu; he hadn't given up and wanted to play matchmaker between Ai Yue and his brother.

The few who couldn't find her weren't worried, because they knew Ai Yue would eventually show up.

After these days of recuperation, Cheng Siyu's injuries were mostly healed. Ever since she found out that Gu Xiheng had run into Ai Yue and that the group had even been saved by her, she had felt uneasy.

She knew that Gu Xiheng must be full of gratitude toward Ai Yue, and his favorability toward her had surely increased significantly.

She was somewhat anxious and desperately wanted to find Ai Yue for a confrontation.

She originally wanted to use the incident of Ai Yue bullying Gu Xitian as a pretext to drag Gu Xitian along to find Ai Yue and warn her to stay away from Gu Xiheng.

Unexpectedly, when Gu Xitian heard that Cheng Siyu wanted to take her to find Ai Yue, she was so scared that she shook her head repeatedly. "Sister Siyu, we'd better stay away from Ai Yue. She's too terrifying."