Chapter 127: It’s Not Your Turn to Act

Ruan Cha spread her hands and said, "You fantasize every day that others are trying to frame your son. Is he mentally challenged or brain-damaged? Is he really that easy to frame?"

After speaking, Ruan Cha turned her gaze to Gu Chengzhe, who was not far away, and sneered, "Stop saying everyone is slandering you. Who would be stupid enough to jump into the water without knowing how to swim, nearly losing half their life just to frame you? After all, your status in the Gu family isn't worth anyone going to such lengths. You lack the academic credentials of that fool Gu Jiayan, and you lack the competence of the second brother. Aside from being arrogant, domineering, and relying on your family's status to bully others, what else can you do?"

Seeing Gu Chengzhe's expression change, Ruan Cha raised one eyebrow slightly. "To put it bluntly, people like you are the parasites of society. You waste air while alive, and even microbes wouldn't want to decompose you when you're dead because you're too disgusting."

Gu Zhenzhi stood beside Ruan Cha, his attention entirely focused on her the moment she spoke. Watching her clench her small fists and seeing her back as she boldly berated Bai Peishan and Gu Chengzhe, his dark eyes flickered. The cold, gloomy look in his eyes gradually softened, replaced by a faint glow.

This was the first time that someone had stood up for him, firmly defending him when everyone in the Gu family was against him. A gentle warmth spread through Gu Zhenzhi’s eyes, and a burning sensation rose from his chest to his throat.

Gu Chengzhe was so angry that his face turned red. As a young master of the Gu family, who had always been held in high regard and never dared to be contradicted, he had never suffered such humiliation. "You—you wretched girl—"

Gu Chengzhe stood up from his seat, rushed toward Ruan Cha, and without hesitation, raised his hand to slap her across the face.

However, the expected crisp sound of a slap never came. Gu Zhenzhi had seized Gu Chengzhe’s wrist. He gripped it with immense force, his hold as hard as iron, tightening it until Gu Chengzhe let out a howl of pain.

Gu Zhenzhi’s eyes were slightly bloodshot, his voice deep and heavy, his suppressed rage threatening to erupt. "No one touches anyone of mine!"

"Let him go!" Seeing Gu Zhenzhi lay hands on his own brother, the old man, nearly blinded by fury, grabbed an ashtray from the edge of the table and threw it at Gu Zhenzhi without a second thought.

Ruan Cha was stunned. Without a moment's hesitation, she lunged toward Gu Zhenzhi—

"Thud!"

The ashtray struck the girl’s thin shoulder with a heavy impact. The dull sound of the collision felt as if it had struck Gu Zhenzhi’s very heart.

His pupils contracted sharply. He released Gu Chengzhe and pulled Ruan Cha into his arms, his voice filled with anxiety. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Enduring the intense pain in her shoulder, Ruan Cha looked into Gu Zhenzhi’s worried eyes and smiled, her brows curving. "Brother Zhizhi, I’m fine..."

Seeing this, the old man felt even more incensed. He had never liked this gloomy eldest grandson; he believed that from childhood, he had been nothing but a troublemaker, and that as long as he was around, the Gu family would never have peace. Now, he had even brought this wretched girl along to abet his behavior.

The old man’s gaze darkened. After a few seconds, he looked at Gu Zhenzhi with a livid face and cold, piercing eyes. "Zhenzhi, I’ll give you one chance: cut ties with this wretched girl and promise never to have anything to do with her again. Otherwise..."

The old man signaled the head butler, and a servant entered the hall carrying a club as thick as an arm.

"If you refuse, I will beat you to death myself today, you base-born wretch!"

Gu Zhenzhi did not hesitate for a moment. His eyes were cold and distant as he looked at the man who felt like a complete stranger. He spoke each word clearly, "I refuse."

Trembling with rage, the old man shrieked, "Someone, pin him down!"