Chapter 500 - 438: Love
Chapter 500: Chapter 438: Love
Gu Shaojun didn’t keep Bai Junfan waiting. He reached out and tucked a soft strand of Xiao Man’s hair behind her ear, a small gesture to calm the passionate torrent in his heart. Then, looking at Bai Junfan, he said,
"I’ve long known that you went to Ping County two years ago to visit Manman and stayed for three days. I’m guessing it was Manman’s two friends from her hometown who told you they liked you. They were also the ones who gave you the dorm key, weren’t they? Manman would never have given you the key, because I had been to Ping County a few days before you. I installed locks on her bedroom and all her drawers, and I told her: no unauthorized people are allowed in her room, and she is absolutely not to give the house key to an outsider. Manman only let you inside because you were from Beijing and claimed to be an old friend of the Tang family. Those two young girls, on the other hand, gave you the key without a second thought because you were in uniform. That was an act of trust, of admiration even. You should never have betrayed and defiled that trust, trying to use it to cause trouble!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Junfan’s face flushed beet red. "Gu Shaojun, explain yourself!"
"You don’t understand? Why did you say those things to Manman just now as I was walking over? Anyone can see your intentions crystal clear!" Gu Shaojun stared coldly at Bai Junfan. "You may claim to be pursuing her, but your methods are underhanded. Bai Junfan, are you even qualified to speak of love? You’re not worthy of talking to my Manman. From now on, stay far, far away from her! If I catch you crossing the line again, I won’t be so polite!"
"And what are you going to do about it?" Fury flared on Bai Junfan’s flushed face. He was the proud heir of the Bai Family; he wouldn’t be threatened so easily.
"Gu Shaojun, we have the same experience, the same rank. What right do you have to slander me like this? Do you think you’re so incredible just because you got lucky with a few military honors? Has it all gone to your head? Don’t forget, those were collective achievements. Every one of our comrades shares in that glory. You didn’t do it alone, so you have no reason to be so arrogant and look down on everyone!"
He turned to Xiao Man, gesturing with his hand as he continued, "What right do you have to forbid me from seeing Manman? Even without an engagement, our families have been friends for generations, and we’re good friends! You’re the one using an engagement to restrict her freedom. By what right? Manman is young and beautiful, with countless excellent men pursuing her. She deserves to have more and better choices. Her life should be brilliant and colorful, but because of an engagement arranged by your ancestors, you’re forcing her to give up an exciting world and countless talented men. You’re trapping her in a tiny cage with only you for company, suppressing all her joy! How cruel can you be? And how innocent is she in all this? Gu Shaojun, why don’t you tell us yourself, let everyone be the judge—is that fair to Manman? Gu Shaojun, I’ll throw your own words back at you—*you* have no right to speak of love, because you don’t understand it!"
Bai Junfan’s tirade left both Gu Shaojun and Xiao Man stunned. Fortunately, the fountains had been turned on full blast for scenic effect, and the sound of the splashing water muffled the hostility in his voice, so few people noticed the three of them.
Gu Shaojun was furious, but he also saw Bai Junfan’s true nature more clearly. On the surface, the man seemed clean-cut and decisive, but he was rotten to the core. He had a whole repertoire of dirty tricks. If you weren’t patient and sharp, he could easily get what he wanted or just talk his way out of trouble.
"Bai Junfan..." Gu Shaojun began in a low voice, but Xiao Man tugged on his arm. He looked down to see her blinking at him, her impish expression both adorable and amusing. He couldn’t help but soften his tone. "What is it? You don’t want me to talk to him?"
Xiao Man pouted. "There are a lot of guests today. You two can find another time for this. This was supposed to be about me clearing things up with him, but it somehow turned into two men debating the nature of love, and I didn’t even get a chance to speak."
Gu Shaojun felt a little awkward and patted the top of her head. "Well, we’re a team. My words are your words, and your words are mine... Okay, fine. I’ll just say a few more words and then head inside. I’ll leave the floor to you!"
Xiao Man was speechless.
’He still had to get a few more words in before leaving? This guy looks so proper and stern, but it turns out he’s the type who just has to have the last word, isn’t he?’
Gu Shaojun turned back to Bai Junfan, his demeanor now perfectly calm. "First, let me correct you on something. You should already know this, but our experience levels aren’t the same. I’m two ranks above you. As for why our records show us as equals? Let me fill you in—for the six Huaxia military officers sent to the academy in Country M for advanced studies, all of our records—aside from name, age, and blood type—were made identical. Second, regarding those military honors you mentioned, the top brass has the final say, not you or me. You’ll soon see that I do, in fact, have reason to be proud! But I won’t let it go to my head. My Manman can rest easy on that. Third, yes, I am relying on the engagement our ancestors arranged for us, and I thank the ancestors of the Gu and Tang Families for it! What I feel for Manman isn’t confinement. We were born to belong to each other, destined to love and support one another. I may not understand love, but from the day Manman and I met, a love that is ours alone began to grow in our hearts, and its roots run deep. ’To hold your hand, and grow old with you.’ I will make our happiness like a fine wine, growing richer and more fragrant with time."
Gu Shaojun’s "few more words" had turned into a long-winded speech. If Zheng Shaojin hadn’t stepped out onto the veranda to call him, he might not have stopped at all.
Bai Junfan’s face was pale, his expression ghastly. What made it worse was that Gu Shaojun didn’t leave. He simply nodded to Zheng Shaojin, then casually stuck his hands in his pockets, took a few steps away, and stopped. He stood there, his bright eyes fixed on Xiao Man. The message was clear: ’I’m waiting for you. Hurry up and say your piece so we can go back inside!’
In this situation, neither Bai Junfan nor Xiao Man had any desire to prolong the conversation.
Xiao Man thought for a moment and decided not to bring up Yang Liu’er. She had originally planned to use that information to land a devastating blow on Bai Junfan. ’You already have an engagement, and you’ve even consummated your relationship with the girl, making it a common-law marriage back in the countryside. Yet you came all this way to pursue someone else? By what right? And what if Tang Manman had actually accepted your advances? What would you have done? Would you have just heartlessly abandoned that other girl? What did she do wrong? The poor, unfortunate girl!’
’So this is the ’choice’ you were talking about? Bai Junfan, are you even fit to speak of love?’
Under Gu Shaojun’s watchful gaze, Xiao Man spoke in an understated tone. "I don’t claim to understand love, but I know it’s incredibly precious. Shaojun and I are together, and we both enjoy the sweetness and happiness that love brings. We cherish it, and I know we will be even happier in the future. Because of that, I try to respect anything related to love. When you confessed to me and gave me this letter two years ago, it was out of respect that I didn’t just hand the matter over to Shaojun. I insisted on waiting to see you in person. But now, I feel that was pointless. Perhaps I simply thought too highly of you back then. Bai Junfan, I’ve returned your letter today. And here is my formal response to your confession: I have Gu Shaojun. In my eyes, he is the best, most outstanding man in the world. He is the man I love. From now on, please do not bother me again."