At the start, I tricked the school beauty, and ended up with twins?

As soon as Gu Yu's words left his mouth, not only was Ying Hong stunned, but Lin Xinyue was as well, and even the surrounding customers and sales staff were dumbfounded.

The next second, Ying Hong burst into laughter, "Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter. Who do you think you are? Are you the manager? Saying it's not open to us means it's not open? That's ridiculously funny!"

Pang Qinglong beside her looked at Gu Yu with disdain—how could anyone show off like this?

Even he didn't dare to claim he could take over this specialty store!

You must know this is Modu, and it's the incredibly valuable Xuhui Commercial Street!

Although this store appears to be only sixty square meters, its price is surely upwards of three million yuan!

This location is a hot spot on the commercial street, where just fifty thousand yuan per square meter is already a bargain!

How could this guy, who looks just like a poor college student, possibly own such a store?

It's purely big talk!

Not to mention Ying Hong and Pang Qinglong, even the customers around didn't believe it, and neither did Lin Xinyue standing behind Gu Yu.

She knew that Gu Yu usually worked part-time at the Student Affairs Office!

How could he look like he owned such a shop?

Could Gu Yu have spoken in the heat of the moment and said something wrong?

Lin Xinyue discreetly reached out and tugged at the back of Gu Yu's clothing, hoping he would stop talking.

However, Gu Yu turned back and gave her a calm look.

For some reason, as she gazed into Gu Yu's clear eyes, Lin Xinyue felt a strange, inexplicable belief!

Could this shop really belong to him?

Lin Xinyue found her own thoughts somewhat absurd.

On the other side, Ying Hong had had her fill of laughter. She raised her hand to wipe away the tears that had resulted from her laughter.

She casually took out a small mirror from her bag and, while touching up her makeup, said with disdain, "Tsk, what a laugh, almost ruining my makeup. If this store were yours, I'd eat all six of these lip glosses from the counter today!!"

After quickly fixing her foundation, Ying Hong frowned and reached out to pull sales clerk Wang Sisi away from Lin Xinyue.

Just then, the female store manager, who had been talking to VIP customers in a back private room, rushed out frantically with her phone and called out, "Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Gu Yu?"

The sales staff turned their heads to see the manager and then searched among the customers to see if there was anyone named Gu Yu.

"Sisi? Why are your eyes red and your makeup smudged?"

The store manager approached, looking puzzled at her new sales clerk.

"Ah, Manager, I'm fine..."

Wang Sisi quickly shook her head and stealthily pulled her hand back into her sleeve.

As the store manager was about to continue questioning, Gu Yu suddenly spoke up:

"Hello, I'm Gu Yu."

The manager paused, then her face immediately displayed an extremely professional and perfect smile as she extended her right hand to Gu Yu:

"Ah! Mr. Gu, it's good to meet you! We were just informed that our store's rental contract has expired, and you've also notified us that you've already arrived at the store, so I need to discuss the renewal with you while I'm here."

Gu Yu shook her hand gently and nodded, "Yes, the matter of the lease renewal is not urgent. I believe you have more important things to handle right now. There are two individuals here causing a disturbance to your business order, having insulted and struck this lady."

"What? Really?" The manager's expression was one of shock, then she turned her gaze towards Ying Hong and Pang Qinglong who were still in disbelief that Gu Yu actually owned the store.

"Sisi? Is what Mr. Gu saying true?"

The manager's face immediately darkened—Wang Sisi was her personally recruited clerk, and she'd been insulted and struck in her own store? Wasn't that like slapping her own face?

"Hmm..."

Wang Sisi nodded like a pecking chicken and buzzed like a mosquito.

Seeing Wang Sisi nod, the manager's face turned even darker than charcoal!

Since Wang Sisi nodded, it had to be true!

After all, there were surveillance cameras in the store, and Gu Yu and Wang Sisi couldn't possibly be lying to her.

"You two! Please immediately apologize to our employee and clarify our staff's reputation to the present customers!"

The manager's tone was decisive, clearly someone who was fiercely protective of her staff.

Ying Hong and Pang Qinglong regained their composure by then. Hearing the manager's words, they were extremely embarrassed, but to save face, they were reluctant to admit their mistake.

"If you are not willing to do so, we'll have no choice but to call the police!"

Seeing the two unmoved, the manager didn't waste more words and took out her phone to dial 110.

Before she could make the call, a vigorous and authoritative voice came from the store entrance:

"Ms. Ying Hong, someone has reported to our Haidong District Public Security Bureau, and you are now involved in a criminal case with a large amount of money at stake. Please come with us!"

A middle-aged policeman and a young policeman strode in.

That response time was incredibly fast!

The store manager was dumbfounded, glanced at his still dialing phone, and hurriedly hung up.

Before Ying Hong could even speak in her defense, under the light, a pair of shiny handcuffs were snapped onto her wrists.

"No, have you got the wrong person?"

It wasn't until her hands were forced behind her back that Ying Hong realized what was happening and started to hastily defend herself.

"The plaintiff has provided conclusive evidence; we do not make mistakes in arrests. If you have any defense or demands, we will continue to investigate them after you come back with us."

"It's a miscarriage of justice! Officer! Pang, you gotta explain to the officer for me!"

Desperately gripping the ground, Ying Hong started to beg her boyfriend who was standing nearby.

Pang Qinglong immediately turned his head away as though he didn't know Ying Hong.

Ying Hong fell into despair, and her energy drained instantly as she let the police lift her up and take her away.

Just then, Gu Yu unexpectedly spoke up, "Officer, may I say a few words?"

The two policemen stopped in their tracks and nodded, "Go ahead."

Ying Hong's lifeless eyes lit up immediately, thinking that Gu Yu was going to defend her. She began to struggle, "Classmate! My good classmate! It was my fault before! Please clarify for me to the officer! As long as I'm okay, I'll be your girlfriend!"

Before Gu Yu could say anything, Lin Xinyue got angry, "Wishful thinking! Gu Yu is my boyfriend!"

"Xinyue, let me speak," Gu Yu reached out to pull Lin Xinyue close to him, and then scoffed at Ying Hong, "You're mistaken, I have no intention of clarifying anything for you."

The middle-aged officer urged, "Hurry up, we are on duty and need to take the suspect back quickly."

Gu Yu nodded, then grabbed Wang Sisi's forearm, gently pulling up her sleeve to reveal the reddened and swollen wound from the chain of Ying Hong's purse that even broke the skin and bled at the wrist.

A one-foot-long, one-inch-wide, angry red mark that was even bleeding at the wrist bone was starkly exposed in front of everyone.

Wang Sisi instinctively tried to hide her arm but was held by Gu Yu, "Don't hide it, I am standing up for you."

Lin Xinyue also nodded, "Exactly! Since the police are here, we definitely need to get this cleared up!"

Seeing the two of them stand up for her, Wang Sisi felt so moved she was about to cry.

"Officer, look at this lady's hand, it was that woman who hit her with the chain! Everyone here is a witness, and there's surveillance in the store! She also hurled insults!" Gu Yu, holding Wang Sisi's hand, directed the accusation at the stunned Ying Hong.

"Hiss—That looks pretty bad!"

The middle-aged officer frowned deeply and carefully examined the wound, his eyes expressing a mix of distress and anger.

He felt pity because he had a daughter about the age of the salesperson before him.

The anger was because this suspect had just committed one crime and was already committing another, showing complete disregard for the law! Absolutely incorrigible!

He looked coldly at Ying Hong, who slumped on the ground, "Your trouble is now more than just one case."

Then he said to the younger officer, "Xiao Hu, stay and gather evidence, then take this girl for a medical examination of her injury!"

"Yes!" Xiao Hu crisply responded, standing at attention.

Ying Hong lay limp on the ground, refusing to get up, and even attempted to scratch at the middle-aged officer.

"This is resisting law enforcement and attacking an officer! If you don't want additional charges, I advise you to behave yourself!"

The middle-aged policeman scolded coldly, then forcefully pulled Ying Hong up and escorted her away.

Officer Xiao Hu took out a compact camera and a notebook among other items and walked to the side, smiling at the people, "Please come over and assist me with the evidence collection."

So, the customers and salespeople went one by one to assist in the evidence collection.

After completing the evidence gathering and giving his employee Wang Sisi time off to get the injury assessed, the store manager hurried over to Gu Yu, "Mr. Gu, let's talk about renewing the lease!"

"Alright…" Gu Yu nodded. He hardly dared to turn around, feeling the gaze of suspicion fixed on his back, as if trying to see right through him.

Lin Xinyue's light voice came from behind him, "You go talk to the store manager. We'll talk after you come out."

——————

Today is the eighth National Memorial Day; the author is in Nanjing, observing a moment of silence!

Remember history, strive for self-improvement!

Cherish peace, and advance with all citizens!