8: Who do you think you are, humiliating me in public?

Outside the gates of the Chu Family residence.

The once dilapidated and desolate entrance had now taken on a completely new look.

Not only had it been swept clean, but two high-spirited guards were now standing at the entrance.

These two were descendants of the Chu Family's branch lines. Previously, they held no status in the Family and were the type who just drifted through life waiting for death.

But today, news of Chu He's powerful return and his suppression of the Li Family in one fell swoop had arrived, and everyone in the Chu Family saw hope!

They had volunteered to guard the gates for the Chu Family.

Being able to guard the door for a Foundation Establishment Stage Old Ancestor—saying that out loud would bring honor to their faces!

At this moment, the two stood with their backs straight, looking around with vigilant expressions.

They knew that after today, the Chu Family would inevitably become the focus of attention for the entire Qingyang City, and countless people would surely come to visit or pry.

Their task was to guard this first checkpoint well.

Just then, a magnificent carriage stopped not far away.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a beautiful young girl wearing a goose-yellow dress with a graceful figure stepped down from the carriage.

It was none other than the meticulously dressed-up Zhao Yanran.

She had specifically changed into a brand-new Flowing Cloud Brocade dress today and applied light makeup, adding a touch of a pitiful and delicate temperament to her already outstanding appearance.

She believed that it would be difficult for any man to feel ill will upon seeing her like this.

When the two guards saw Zhao Yanran, they were both taken aback, and then a trace of disgust and vigilance flashed in their eyes.

"Isn't this the Eldest Young Miss of the Zhao Family?"

"What is she doing here? A weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—she's up to no good!"

No member of the Chu Family had any good feelings toward this woman who had kicked them while they were down and severely humiliated their Young Lord.

One of the guards immediately stepped forward, extending his arm to block her.

"Miss Zhao, please stop. This is a restricted area of the Chu Family; no unauthorized persons allowed."

The guard's tone was very stiff, without the slightest hint of politeness.

Zhao Yanran's brow furrowed imperceptibly.

In the past, how would a mere servant of the Chu Family dare to speak to her like this?

But she quickly adjusted her mindset, forcing a gentle smile onto her face. "Brother, I am not an unauthorized person. I am here to... visit Chu He. We are old acquaintances, so please go in and announce me."

"Old acquaintances?" the guard sneered. "Miss Zhao sure knows how to joke. Back at the ceremony, when you tore up the marriage contract in front of the whole city and called our Young Lord a eunuch, why didn't you say you were old acquaintances then?"

These words left her no face at all, directly stripping away Zhao Yanran's dignity.

Zhao Yanran's face instantly turned green and white, embarrassed to the extreme.

She hadn't expected that even a servant guarding the door would dare to humiliate her so publicly.

She suppressed her anger, biting her lip as her eyes reddened slightly, putting on a wronged appearance. "Back then... back then it was my fault. I was blind and misunderstood Chu He. I came today specifically to apologize to him in person. I beg you, let me see him once, alright?"

If it were any other man, her tearful appearance would have likely softened their heart long ago.

But these two guards felt nothing but hatred for her.

"The Young Lord said that the Chu Family's gates are not for any random cats or dogs to enter. Especially those named Zhao." The other guard also stepped up, his tone even colder. "Miss Zhao, please leave. Don't humiliate yourself any further here."

"You!"

Zhao Yanran was so angry that her whole body trembled.

When had she ever suffered such a grievance?

But at the thought of Chu He's current status, she could only force herself to swallow this resentment.

Just as the two sides were at a stalemate, a calm voice drifted out from inside the gates.

"Let her in."

It was Chu He's voice!

Zhao Yanran felt a surge of joy. As expected, he still cares about me! He still wants to see me!

The two guards exchanged a look. Though reluctant, they stepped aside to clear the path.

"Miss Zhao, please."

Zhao Yanran tidied her appearance, took a deep breath, and walked into the Chu Family courtyard with lotus steps.

The courtyard was still the same courtyard, but the feeling it gave off was completely different.

The air seemed to be permeated with a reassuring majesty.

She saw that in the center of the courtyard, the youth she had once utterly despised was standing there with his back to her.

His figure seemed a bit taller than it had been ten months ago, and his shoulders were broader. Though he only wore a simple green robe, standing there, he was like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed—his edge restrained, yet making one afraid to look directly at him.

"Chu He..."

Zhao Yanran spoke softly, trying to use her most tender tone to evoke a trace of his old affection.

Chu He slowly turned around.

Zhao Yanran's heart skipped a beat.

His face was still the same, but his temperament had undergone an earth-shattering change.

In the past, his eyes always held a trace of lingering gloom and resentment.

But now, his gaze was as deep as the sea and as calm as still water; it was the confidence and indifference of someone who controlled everything.

Especially those eyes—the occasional flash of golden light made her heart palpitate.

"What are you doing here?"

Chu He's tone was very flat, showing no hint of joy or anger.

Zhao Yanran's heart tightened, and she hurriedly took a few steps forward, her face wearing a perfectly measured expression of apology and regret.

"Chu He, I... I came to apologize to you. I know I was wrong before. I shouldn't have... shouldn't have said those things to hurt you. I was just confused at the time, forced by my Family, I had no choice... Can you, can you forgive me?"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened again, and crystalline tears welled up, threatening to fall, making her look exceptionally pitiful.

"No choice?" Chu He acted as if he had heard a joke, his lips twitching slightly. "I remember when you tore up the marriage contract, you were quite decisive. You even said something about a fine bird choosing the best tree to perch in. What, is this dead tree of mine worth your 'fine bird' self returning now?"

His words were like an invisible slap, fiercely striking Zhao Yanran's face.

Zhao Yanran's face burned with pain.

"I... I..." She was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.

"Oh, I remember now." Chu He feigned a sudden realization as he looked Zhao Yanran up and down, his eyes full of mockery. "You also said that your future husband must be a dragon among men, capable of taking you to ascend to the Upper Realm. What, does Young Master Wang Teng of the Black Stone City Lord's Mansion not satisfy your requirements?"

Zhao Yanran's face instantly turned deathly pale.

He... he actually knew about the matter with Wang Teng?

"Chu He, there's nothing between me and Wang Teng! That was all the Family's arrangement. In my heart... in my heart, there has only ever been you!" In her desperation, Zhao Yanran didn't care about anything else and immediately began to profess her loyalty.

"Is that so?" Chu He laughed, a very cold laugh. "But how do I remember you also saying that I was a... eunuch who couldn't even father a child?"

He emphasized the word "eunuch" especially heavily.

Zhao Yanran's body trembled violently, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

She knew that this was the most hurtful and irreparable thing she had said back then.

"I... I was talking nonsense! Chu He, listen to my explanation..."

"Enough."

Chu He interrupted her.

The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a cold indifference.

"Zhao Yanran, put away that hypocritical act of yours; it's disgusting to watch."

"I am well aware of your purpose for coming here. It's nothing more than seeing that I'm now at the Foundation Establishment Stage and feeling there's something to be gained, so you regret it and want to come back and cling to me."

"I'm telling you, it's too late."

Chu He approached her step by step, and each step made her feel an immense pressure.

"Back then, when my Chu Family was in trouble and your Zhao Family kicked us while we were down, and you publicly broke the engagement, causing me and the Chu Family to lose all face, you should have expected this day."

"Don't you like reality? I'll show you now what reality is."

He stopped in front of Zhao Yanran, looking down at her from above.

"The current you, in my eyes, is no different from a beggar on the side of the road."

As he spoke, he fished a Low-Grade Spirit Stone out of his Storage Pouch and casually tossed it at Zhao Yanran's feet.

The Spirit Stone rolled twice on the ground and stopped, emitting a faint glow.

"Take it."

Chu He's voice carried no emotion.

"This is a reward for you."

"Now, get out."

"In the future, don't let me see you again. Otherwise, next time, what's thrown at your feet might be your head."

Boom!

Zhao Yanran's mind went blank.

Humiliation!

This was naked, undisguised humiliation!

He actually used a single Spirit Stone to dismiss her?

Just like dismissing a beggar!

Back then, she had stood high above, looking down at Chu He in the mud.

Now, he stood in the clouds and used the same method—an even more cruel method—to return that humiliation to her a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

Boundless shame and regret submerged her like a tide.

She bit her lip hard, her nails digging deep into her flesh until blood flowed, yet she couldn't feel the slightest pain.

Her body was shaking, and her tears finally couldn't be held back, bursting forth like a broken dam.

She wanted to cry out, to question him, to vent.

But under Chu He's cold, emotionless gaze, she couldn't say a single word.

She knew that the last trace of possibility between her and Chu He had been completely severed.

She had lost, lost utterly.

She stumbled as she turned around, like a puppet that had lost its Soul, walking step by step toward the gate.

Every step felt like walking on the edge of a knife.

Just as she was about to walk out of the gate, she saw another carriage stop at the Chu Family entrance.

The carriage's style was very antique, with an emblem of the character 'Medicine' on it.

A woman wearing a light-green dress and a veil over her face stepped down from the carriage.

Though her features couldn't be seen clearly, those eyes exposed were as clear as water, and her temperament was as elegant as an orchid; she was clearly no ordinary person.

Zhao Yanran's heart felt as if it had been stabbed fiercely once again.

She had a premonition that this woman would replace her and stand by the side of the man she had once so disdainfully cast aside, but whom she now could not hope to reach.