Even without Wang Qin saying anything more, Gu Anxi could guess what was happening.
She stared at the man. "Don’t come looking for her again."
The middle-aged man’s eyes lit up at the sight of Gu Anxi; she was truly a stunning young woman, far more attractive than his stepdaughter. Greed flashed in his eyes. "Little Qin, is this your classmate?"
Wang Qin was disgusted by his lecherous gaze and urged Gu Anxi, "Let’s go."
The man stepped forward to pull Wang Qin back.
Gu Anxi swiftly slapped his hand away, her voice cold. "Don’t come looking for her again."
The man grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. "Feisty little thing, aren’t you? Why don’t you take Wang Qin’s place and keep Uncle company?"
Gu Anxi pulled Wang Qin and started to leave. Wang Qin was scared, pressing herself close against Gu Anxi.
Since they were at the school gate, the man didn’t dare to act too forcefully. He just spat on the ground in frustration.
Then, a slender figure walked up to him and smiled gently. It seemed she had said something to him!
Meanwhile, Gu Anxi and Wang Qin walked to the bus stop together.
Gu Anxi, her hand resting on her backpack, coughed lightly. "If you run into trouble, you can find me."
Wang Qin, still not completely calm, whispered, "Thank you, Gu Anxi." She curved her lips slightly. "Actually, you’re not as cold and distant as you seem."
"Well... I don’t usually meddle in others’ business." Gu Anxi looked at Wang Qin and said softly, "Remember to find me if anything comes up. My phone number is..." She took out a pen, wrote her mobile number on Wang Qin’s palm, and then walked away with a cool and easygoing air.
Wang Qin called out after her, "I’ll definitely help you submit an extra painting!"
Gu Anxi paused for a moment, then continued to walk.
Wang Qin bit her lip. She envied Gu Anxi—not for her beauty, but for her strength. Gu Anxi never cared about others’ opinions or what they said. Even though the Gu family had fallen into such a state, she was still living well. Wang Qin clenched her small fists.
She returned to the private house where her maternal grandmother lived and worked overtime late into the night to finish Gu Anxi’s painting. Early the next morning, she secretly wrote Gu Anxi’s name on it, submitted it in her stead, and then retrieved her own.
In a corner of the classroom lay a few paintings handed in by other students. Lin Qi picked one from the middle of the pile and showed it to Shen Wanqing. "Does this look like Gu Anxi painted it? Isn’t her hand injured? Besides, I’ve never seen her paint before."
Shen Wanqing smiled reservedly. "It’s not painted very well."
"Of course, it’s not as good as your work, Wanqing. If you submit yours, it will definitely be the most outstanding," Lin Qi said, laying on the flattery thick. At Qing University, the most influential senior student was Qin Siyuan, and since he was Shen Wanqing’s boyfriend, Lin Qi naturally spared no effort in currying favor.
After Lin Qi finished, Shen Wanqing said softly, "I’m not really suited to participate in such a small-scale event."
"That’s right. Elder He’s event is where you should be focusing your efforts." Lin Qi asked with great envy, "How are your preparations coming along?"
Shen Wanqing looked a bit awkward and didn’t reply. Her painting technique was not an issue, but Professor Gao always said her work lacked a certain artistic depth or mood.
Shen Wanqing was quite vexed by this. So, that evening, when Qin Siyuan took her to the Qin family home to meet Qin Siling, she was preoccupied with these thoughts.
The day Qin Siling returned, the Qin family made such a grand affair of it, as if an imperial consort from ancient times was returning to the palace. Qin Siling had been quite pampered since she was young and didn’t hold Wang Keru, her stepmother, in high regard. Wang Keru, for her part, had previously looked down on Qin Siling’s father. However, after the Gu family fell, she had shamelessly come to the Qin family, practically begging.