Chapter 288 - 287: Confidence

Chapter 288: Chapter 287: Confidence

He Wenjie was so red-faced he was speechless. Beside him, Bai Rong awkwardly chimed in, "He was just comforting me, so we didn’t hear the doorbell."

Everyone knew it was just an excuse—and a poor one at that—but Gu Qingyin put on a look of sudden realization and smiled graciously. "It’s alright. Let’s talk inside. The wind out here is getting a little chilly."

Bai Rong stepped aside. "Please, come in."

Gu Qingyin smiled faintly and stepped forward first. Huo Yunjing followed at an unhurried pace, his cold gaze sweeping over He Wenjie. Though he didn’t visibly pause, the look alone was enough to make one’s heart pound with fear.

Only after Manager Wang had also entered did He Wenjie compose himself and walk in last.

Everyone sat down on the living room sofas, naturally splitting into two sides.

Bai Rong and He Wenjie sat on one side, Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing on the other, with Manager Wang standing by their side.

Gu Qingyin got straight to the point. "I hear you’re not satisfied with the compensation offered by the resort?"

Bai Rong was about to speak when He Wenjie grabbed her by the wrist. The latter said coldly, "When has our Miss Bai ever suffered such a fright? She’s been left with psychological trauma! You think you can just gloss over it with a few light words? It’s not that simple!"

Gu Qingyin nodded. "Then what are your thoughts, Miss Bai?"

He Wenjie started to speak again, but another glance from Huo Yunjing stopped him. A jolt of fear shot through him, and he froze, not daring to utter a sound.

Bai Rong didn’t notice anything was amiss and said, "It’s really not a major issue. I’ll be fine after a few therapy sessions. I go regularly anyway, so it’s not a big deal."

Gu Qingyin smiled pleasantly. "The resort has a psychologist on staff. If Miss Bai would trust us, we can have them come over right now."

After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Rong nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Gu Qingyin replied, "It’s the least we can do."

Manager Wang, ever the professional, immediately called the on-site clinic.

The resort was in a remote location, so medical facilities had been a key consideration since its inception. Though called a clinic, it was like a small hospital, capable of treating everything from headaches and fevers to internal and external injuries. They even had an industry-renowned psychologist on staff to tend to the guests’ mental well-being.

While they waited for the psychologist, Gu Qingyin’s gaze shifted to He Wenjie. "Do you have any other complaints, sir?"

He Wenjie’s expression soured, but with Bai Rong’s attitude softening, it would be ridiculous for him to keep making a fuss. He could only shake his head, but then he couldn’t help but ask, "So, are the compensation terms we discussed before still valid?"

Gu Qingyin offered a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Of course they are."

Upon hearing this, He Wenjie’s expression relaxed slightly.

"However..." Gu Qingyin’s tone shifted as she added a condition with a gentle smile, "it only applies to guests who received an invitation."

’In other words, you freeloaded your way into the resort without an invitation, and now that something’s happened, you expect compensation? Keep dreaming.’

It wasn’t that the resort was short on cash. Had the man’s attitude been better, they would have turned a blind eye and let it go—after all, they had treated the companions of other guests equally and provided them with compensation.

But He Wenjie was truly obnoxious. He had absolutely no self-awareness, and just looking at him was enough to rub you the wrong way.

"What’s that supposed to mean?!" He Wenjie shot to his feet, his face livid. "So what if you’re rich? Does that give you the right to look down on people?!"

A corner of Gu Qingyin’s mouth twitched. "I’m not looking down on you. But money doesn’t grow on trees. There has to be a valid basis for compensation. After all, the gifts we provide aren’t cheap."

This only made He Wenjie want the compensation more. "Doesn’t the invitation say you can bring a family member? How am I not considered an invited guest?"

Gu Qingyin chuckled. "Manager Wang, could you please explain to this gentleman what ’family member’ means?"

Manager Wang puffed out his chest and announced loudly, "Generally speaking, a ’family member’ refers to individuals in one’s immediate household, such as parents, spouses, and children. The legal definition, in addition to those just mentioned, also includes grandparents and grandchildren."

He paused, then asked with a perfectly straight face, "May I ask, Mr. He, which of these categories do you fall into?"

He Wenjie’s complexion went from red to white, then to a greenish hue, shifting for a moment like an automatic color palette.

Miss Bai stood up, shielding He Wenjie behind her. Her expression was composed as she said, "My apologies. Ah Jie is from an ordinary background; he doesn’t understand these matters."

Gu Qingyin feigned a look of sudden realization and glanced at Bai Rong with pity. "Miss Bai, you deserve better."

Bai Rong instantly turned beet red, burning with shame.

’I never realized He Wenjie was so petty and foolish before,’ she thought. ’He’s utterly unpresentable.’ The rush of infatuation she’d felt earlier instantly faded.

Bai Rong glanced at the man sitting beside Gu Qingyin. He hadn’t said a word, and while he seemed unassuming, he radiated a powerful aura that made it impossible to ignore him.

’Some comparisons are just brutal,’ she thought.

Now that everything had been said, and with the psychologist arriving just then, Gu Qingyin rose to take her leave.

Outside the gate, Manager Wang stayed behind. He had to wait for the psychologist’s initial report.

Gu Qingyin left the golf cart for him and started walking back with Huo Yunjing, hand in hand.

The sun had begun to set, casting an orange-red glow across the horizon. Against the azure sky, the scene was as beautiful as an oil painting.

An idea struck Gu Qingyin. Tugging on Huo Yunjing’s large hand, she said, "Let’s not go back just yet. Let’s go to the flower field to take pictures. It must look amazing right now."

Huo Yunjing glanced at the fading daylight, then scanned the area, his eyes landing on a golf cart parked by the road. He pulled her toward it. "Hop in. I’ll drive fast."

Gu Qingyin nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay! Floor it!"

The flower field wasn’t close, and even at top speed, the golf cart could only go so fast. They rushed and managed to catch the very last of the daylight, snapping a photo they were reasonably happy with.

Gu Qingyin posted the unedited photo directly to her social media feed.

Huo Xingchen was the first to see it. He hit ’like’ before realizing something. ’Wait, isn’t that the flower field where the murder just happened? The body was barely removed, and they’ve already reopened it? That seems a bit much.’

’Yeah... mainly because it’s a little rough on the guests’ nerves.’

The Song Family was due to arrive at midnight, so the two of them didn’t stay out long. They went back for a nap, woke up in the middle of the night for a snack, and received a call from Manager Wang before they could even finish eating. The Song Family was here.

Gu Qingyin replied with a calm "Mm," completely unruffled. "Receive them as planned. We’ll be over in a little while."

Manager Wang’s tension instantly melted away. "Of course, Madam."

When he returned to face the Song Family, his entire demeanor was different. To put it simply, his back was ramrod straight, and he seemed to be brimming with confidence.

The members of the Song Family who had arrived exchanged glances, wondering to themselves, ’It was just one phone call. What could have caused such a drastic change in him?’