When news that Gu Chen's father had been abandoned by his family reached Zhou City, the Zhou Family began thinking of breaking off the engagement, and Zhou Xue'er was no exception. But breaking off an engagement and being cast aside were as different as heaven and earth!
Zhou Xue'er had schemed and plotted, even trying to make the Gu Family propose breaking off the engagement themselves. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Gu Chen would dare do something so bold! He had cast her aside in full view of everyone! She, Zhou Xue'er, had never suffered such humiliation.
"Hiss-" Gasps filled the classroom. Even Jiang Yu, lying on the floor, was full of shock. The sight was utterly stunning!
"Y-you dare cast me aside?!" Zhou Xue'er's eyes widened in shock, her noble, icy countenance crumbling in an instant.
"That's right!" Gu Chen looked at her coldly. "Zhou Xue'er, I was once infatuated with you. That was my own stupidity. Now I've seen your true colors. My Gu Family will never let a woman like you through its doors!"
Trembling, Zhou Xue'er took several deep breaths, trying to calm her fury. But the humiliation still gnawed at her heart, and she said in a shaking voice, "Your Gu Family? What Gu Family do you have left? You and your father have both been cast out, so what gives you the right to cast me aside? Don't forget, if it weren't for our Zhou Family, could you have gained a foothold in Zhou City? You ungrateful wretch, how dare you cast me aside!"
Smack! A crisp slap rang out. Gu Chen struck Zhou Xue'er hard across the face.
With that slap, Zhou Xue'er's pride was mercilessly trampled underfoot. She shook all over with rage, clutching her face as she stared at Gu Chen in disbelief. "You dare hit me?"
This once-discarded young master had not only dared cast her aside, but had also dared hit her! She was the lofty eldest young lady of the Zhou Family, while Gu Chen was nothing but an abandoned outcast!
"Take the letter and get out!" Gu Chen's gaze was merciless as he gave the cold command.
Tears streamed down Zhou Xue'er's face. She pointed at Gu Chen, but couldn't say a word. Her tears did not make Gu Chen feel guilty; instead, they brought him a rush of satisfaction. This woman who thought so highly of herself had finally gotten a taste of the consequences of her own actions!
"Gu Chen, you'll regret this!" Zhou Xue'er tore up the letter and fled under the needle-sharp gazes of the crowd.
The classroom fell silent. Everyone stared blankly at Gu Chen. No one had expected the usually gentle and refined young man to have such a ruthless and decisive side!
"Gu Chen..." Su Qingqing started to speak, then stopped, her eyes full of worry.
"I'm fine." Gu Chen shook his head, then turned to Jiang Yu's lackeys. "What are you standing there for? Want another beating?"
Gu Chen's actions had stunned the lackeys. Only now did they come back to their senses and hurry to help Jiang Yu out of the classroom. Before leaving, Jiang Yu made sure to hurl a threat: "Gu Chen, you're finished! Without the Zhou Family's protection, just wait and see how I deal with you at school!"
"Heh."
Gu Chen gave a cold laugh, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. That smile sent a shiver through Jiang Yu, and he hurriedly quickened his pace.
"Gu Chen, you were too impulsive." Su Qingqing gritted her teeth and stepped forward, wanting to offer him a few words of comfort, but she didn't know where to begin.
She said to Gu Chen worriedly, "It's one thing that you hit Jiang Yu, but you cast Zhou Xue'er aside in public. The Zhou Family definitely won't let this go, will they?"
"A true man must know what he should and should not do." Gu Chen spoke with pride and indignation. "I've lived in misery this past month! Now, I'm going to settle every one of these scores!"
When a Divine Emperor raged, corpses would float for a hundred miles! Back on Heavenly Nether Star, who hadn't known his temper? Who had dared provoke him? Now that he had been reborn, how could he continue to endure in silence?
Every grudge that needed settling, he would settle!
"But..." Su Qingqing was still worried.
"No more buts. Go back to class."
Gu Chen gave her a somewhat gentle look, because she knew that Su Qingqing's concern for him was genuine. Then he turned and left.
He headed to the office of his homeroom teacher, Song Qianhan. Song Qianhan was a veteran teacher who appeared to be in his fifties. In the eyes of his students and colleagues, he was not only a dedicated educator, but also a source of wise counsel.
Now, however, after hearing Gu Chen's request, he adjusted his black-framed glasses and said in surprise, "What did you say? You want to withdraw from school?"
"Yes." Gu Chen stood straight. "I want to withdraw."
"Why withdraw now? The graduation exams are only two months away!" Song Qianhan frowned. "What madness has gotten into you?"
"I haven't gone mad," Gu Chen said calmly. "Staying at school is a waste of time for me."
"A waste of time?" Song Qianhan laughed in anger. "Are you saying my teaching is a waste of time?"
"I don't mean any disrespect to you, teacher," Gu Chen explained. "I have reasons that leave me no choice but to withdraw. I have things to do."
"A student's greatest task is to study hard!" Song Qianhan said angrily. "Everything else is none of your concern!"
Just then, an old man with a full beard, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, walked in and said with a cheerful smile, "Old Song, I knew you'd be here. Come, help me solve this problem."
At the sight of the old man, Song Qianhan's expression softened somewhat. He said to Gu Chen, "Step outside for now."