GUL Chapter 28: The Bitter Supporting Male Rewrites the Script Online

Cang Ming stood on the balcony, silently watching Qin Qing leave. That fat cat also chased after him. Qin Qing hurried to the garden outside, helped the girl trapped in her enormous skirt to her feet, and gently wiped the tears from her face. No one knew what he said, but the girl burst into loud sobs, and Qin Qing held her gently, waiting patiently. Cang Ming blinked his unfathomable eyes, feeling an inexplicable heaviness in his heart. Not because of the girl’s crying, not because there were no stars or moon tonight. Qin Qing led the girl away by the hand, and Cang Ming remained on the balcony, staring at the few small ground lights glowing in the lawn.

Warm yellow light shone through the grass, tinged with a clear, pale green glow, little by little, like spirits hidden in the earth. Would God love such lights? Cang Ming shook his head, his turbulent thoughts returning to indifference. He put down his empty glass and turned to leave, passing through the elegantly dressed crowd, past the dazzling array of refreshments, past the elaborately decorated floral arrangements. Everyone’s eyes followed him, filled with various desires: wanting to attach themselves to him, to scheme, to possess. But ultimately, what they truly wanted was the money and power he represented. Cang Ming frowned in disgust, reaffirming that God would not love this kind of world.

“President Cang, the banquet has just begun. Won’t you stay a little longer? Later, the piano master Edman will perform, and there will also be a solo by Teacher Pei Liu.” The event organizer chased Cang Ming all the way to the door, speaking anxiously.

If Cang Ming left after only twenty minutes, the banquet’s reputation would surely suffer greatly.

The organizer nervously tried to persuade him: “We’ve prepared a private room for you. If you find it too noisy, you can rest there alone. When the performance starts, we’ll…”

Cang Ming raised his hand, intending to silence the organizer.

Just then, Qin Huaichuan walked past the door while on the phone: “Where did you go? You left in the middle of such an important banquet? Zhou Linlin? Don’t get involved in her affairs. You’re coming back? Good, hurry up. I’ll wait for you.”

This call was undoubtedly for Qin Qing. Cang Ming slowly lowered his raised hand and adjusted his watch strap instead. The black dial was like the night sky, with the regular movement of gears as the only decoration. Tonight there were no stars or moon, but there was a quietly blooming flower.

“I’m just going to the restroom.” Cang Ming said coldly.

The organizer, drenched in sweat, was speechless. The atmosphere was extremely awkward. After a long pause, the organizer bent over, gestured repeatedly, and personally led Cang Ming to the restroom. Cang Ming stood in front of the sink for a while before turning on the faucet and slowly washing his hands. A golden lily was placed in a vase nearby, its petals dotted with water droplets, its tender stamens trembling slightly in the air from the vent. Cang Ming didn’t know why he had come back, nor why he was waiting here. But seeing this flower, his unfathomable eyes showed a hint of gentle ripples. He did something he would never have done before, something inexplicable. He reached out with his wet fingertip and gently touched the golden petals, feeling their vitality and softness.

Half an hour later, Cang Ming was still standing on that quiet balcony, which offered a view of the club’s back entrance and anyone who might be coming or going. He took out an exquisite gold cigarette case from his pocket and frowned impatiently. As he idly toyed with the cigarette case, seven or eight young women in elegant attire walked over to the balcony area, chatting animatedly. They spoke in turns, laughing in unison. They seemed to be getting along well, but in truth, each of them would glance at Cang Ming, posing and flirting. Anyone could see that they were just trying to get Cang Ming’s attention. Cang Ming’s brows furrowed deeply, his patience wearing thin.

Suddenly, one of the women said mockingly, “Yourou, do you think Zhou Linlin will dare to come to banquets anymore?”

Zhou Yourou sighed: “Uncle thinks she’s an embarrassment. He probably won’t let her come anymore.”

“Yourou kindly told her that dress was fake, and she hit you. How ungrateful.”

“When I saw her walk into the banquet hall, I almost thought a cake had come to life.”

“Heeheehee, hahaha.”

The women covered their mouths and laughed together. Cang Ming took a cigarette from his gold case and put it between his lips with a frown. How could God love this kind of world? It was too boring. As he flicked the lighter, a glint of light passed through Cang Ming’s lowered eyes. His furrowed brows had unconsciously relaxed. Within his field of vision, Qin Qing walked slowly through the back door with a tall woman. As they passed the lawn with its small ground lights, Qin Qing stopped. He reached out and gently brushed the lush grass around the light with his fingertips. He truly loved these bright, colorful things, both man-made and natural.

Cang Ming held a cigarette in his mouth and a lighter in his hand, but he had forgotten what he wanted to do. He walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down. As if sensing his gaze, Qin Qing straightened up and looked up. Tonight there were no stars or moon, but Qin Qing’s eyes, reflecting thousands of lights, held stars and moon within them. Cang Ming removed the cigarette and silently curved his thin lips. As if sensing his pleasure, Qin Qing smiled with curved eyes.

A few minutes later, the banquet hall doors were pushed open by attendants, and Qin Qing led Zhou Linlin slowly inside. Zhou Yourou and the others, who had been laughing so smugly just moments ago, now seemed to have been struck mute. Their eyes widened, their mouths gaped open, staring in disbelief at this woman who had just been the subject of their mockery but was now completely transformed. Zhou Linlin had cut her waist-length hair into a sharp, stylish short cut. Her heavy makeup was washed away, replaced by light, natural tones. No colorful eye shadow, no bright red lips, only sharp eyeliner and bold brows. The pink cake-like gown was replaced by a black suit matching Qin Qing’s style. A white shirt tucked into her slender waist, narrow black trousers, and ten-centimeter heels made her straight legs look impossibly long.

Simple diamond watch and black earrings were enough to exude elegance. Her high cheekbones and slightly masculine features, which had once been considered flaws, now became her unique advantages. Among all the women in dresses, she was the most free-spirited and eye-catching. Everyone was looking at her, their eyes filled with awe. 996, who had chased after Qin Qing, was also forced to bathe at the styling studio and was dressed in a tiny black suit with a plaid tie.

“What a magnificent entrance, meow.” 996 walked the red carpet with a cat’s gait, its green eyes squinting with pride.

“Still mad that I cut your hair?” Qin Qing whispered in Zhou Linlin’s ear.

Zhou Linlin, standing tall with her chin raised high, immediately said, “Brother, I was wrong. I was blind and ungrateful.”

A melody of piano music began, and couples walked onto the dance floor.

Qin Qing took Zhou Linlin’s hand and whispered with a smile, “Come on, enter your battlefield.”

Zhou Linlin barely had time to gasp before Qin Qing spun her into the waltz. An elegant waltz usually required flowing skirts, but Zhou Linlin’s long, straight legs spun even more beautifully than any skirt. She wasn’t ugly; she just hadn’t discovered her own beauty. And Qin Qing, dancing with her, was widely recognized as Haishi’s most beautiful person. His looks far surpassed those of his grandmother, who had once been called the Pearl of Haishi. His androgynous, bewitching beauty could only be matched by someone as strikingly handsome as Zhou Linlin. The two seemed made for each other, inspiring envy, fascination, and jealousy. Zhou Yourou and her clique watched Zhou Linlin’s triumphant return with hatred and resentment.

“Why is Qin Qing dancing with her?” one woman whined, close to tears.

“Did he help her plan that outfit? I heard from my mom that Qin Qing has amazing taste and often buys clothes for Aunt Ji. Aunt Ji has been looking more beautiful lately, all thanks to Qin Qing. My mom even wants to adopt him as her godson.”

“Why is Qin Qing helping Zhou Linlin? Isn’t he your cousin?”

These words made Zhou Yourou tremble with rage. She gritted her teeth, randomly invited a man, and entered the dance floor. Her friends quickly followed, drawing their partners closer to Zhou Linlin. Zhou Linlin panicked and nearly missed a step.
Qin Qing gently patted her back and whispered softly, “Look at these people. Some are like gloxinias; they look colorful and vibrant, but too much rain will rot their roots. Others are like orchids in a hidden valley; they seem cool and elegant, but too much sun will wither their leaves. And some,”

He glanced at Zhou Yourou as she spun past, and said meaningfully, “Some are like dodder. They seem delicate and harmless, but they have no roots of their own. They can only cling to others, greedily sucking out nutrients.”

Hearing this, Zhou Linlin couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Seeing her finally smile happily, Qin Qing also laughed softly.

“Tell me, what kind of flower are you?” He took her hand and spun her.

Zhou Linlin spun back into his arms: “I’m not a flower. I’m a tree. I want strong roots and dense branches. I want to withstand wind, rain, and scorching sun.”

“Exactly right.” Qin Qing smiled approvingly. “If you want to be a queen, why learn to be a princess?”

Zhou Yourou happened to pass by and heard this, her face turning sour. Zhou Linlin was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. She spun, freely expressing her emotions, and her striking appearance made her boldness seem perfectly natural. No one found her inappropriate or rude. On the contrary, everyone, men and women alike, found her exceptionally charming. Even Zhou Linlin’s parents, who had been so embarrassed earlier, now looked proud.

Cang Ming watched the pair on the dance floor, his eyes dark. The cigarette between his teeth had long been removed, crumpled, and tossed into the ashtray. After watching for a moment, Cang Ming suddenly stepped off the balcony and strode toward the dance floor, taking two glasses of amber whiskey from a passing waiter’s tray.

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