One Word Changed, Characters in Chaos

She turned around with a tremor, hoping what she heard was just an illusion.

Then.

She saw Pei Yue.

Pei Yue… really was here…

Despair washed over Ye Bingtong’s face instantly.

“Pei Yue, things aren’t what you think,” Ye Bingtong tried to explain.

Pei Yue chuckled coldly but didn’t look at her. He calmly said to Gu Cheng, “Do you really think that after your car accident, she was so deeply committed and caring, refusing to annul your engagement, and took care of you all the time?”

Gu Cheng’s heart missed a beat.

Those difficult times.

They had cemented Ye Bingtong’s position as the moonlight in his heart.

Could it be.

All of it was fake?

Ye Xiao had already read the plot and was feeling quite emotional at this point.

In the book.

Gu Cheng was the backup boyfriend over and over again—he had thought about giving up too.

But every time, just by remembering how passionately Ye Bingtong had pulled him out from the darkness, Gu Cheng’s heart would soften and he would once again be driven by Ye Bingtong.

In this life.

Though many things in the plot had changed, that experience was still very precious to Gu Cheng.

Who would have thought.

Such preciousness was a lie from beginning to end.

“Pei Yue, you…” Ye Bingtong’s heart skipped a beat, and she tried to stop Pei Yue.

Pei Yue looked at her coldly, then said without hesitation, “You probably don’t know, right? Back then, Ye Bingtong and I had already exchanged contact information. When you broke your leg, she sent me many messages.”

“She said she had a friend who had a car accident who, although had their life spared, broke both legs. If it were her, she would have preferred to die on the spot rather than be a burden to others as a disabled person for life.”

Ye Bingtong got up and grabbed Pei Yue, “Pei Yue, stop talking, let’s go home, let’s go home now!”

Panic filled her voice.

She knew very well.

As long as this filter was still there, once this was over, she could think of something else and still get benefits from Gu Cheng.

But.

If even this was clarified, then she would really have no chips left.

Pei Yue glanced at Ye Bingtong coldly; he waved his sleeves and flung her aside.

Then, he continued to lock eyes with the pale-faced Gu Cheng and went on, “She also said that in order to not disappoint her family and to maintain her facade of kindness and gentleness, she had to come to your place to keep you company. But in reality, every time she saw your broken legs, she felt so disgusted she wanted to vomit.”

Gu Cheng’s face turned even paler.

He slowly looked at Ye Bingtong.

Why.

Why be so fake.

If she really detested him so much, why not just leave outright, why feign refusal when he proposed to annul their engagement?

Why?

That’s right, he actually knew the answer, didn’t he?

Gu Cheng couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

Ye Bingtong had always been crafting the image of the good girl.

She was gentle, considerate, and kind.

How could such a person leave her fiancé after he broke his legs? So, no matter how much she didn’t want to be associated with a disabled person, on the surface, she had to pretend.

But he…

Actually believed all these lies.

Looking back now, he really didn’t know any better.

At the time, he should have insisted on breaking off the engagement; that way, Ye Bingtong wouldn’t have had such a hard time.

Pei Yue looked at Ye Bingtong and Gu Cheng with a somber satisfaction on his face, “Gu Cheng, do you think Ye Bingtong came to see you today because she still has feelings for you? No, she regrets losing the life of luxury. She only sees you as a stepping stone.”

“She is forcing herself to come to you just to have the kind of life she had before, to someone she feels nauseous just looking at—a disabled person,” said Pei Yue with a malicious smile. “To her, you have always been nothing but a tool, from beginning to end.”

“Pei Yue, don’t spout nonsense,” Ye Bingtong’s voice trembled, as she tried to stop Pei Yue from continuing.

Pei Yue laughed coldly, “Am I spouting nonsense? I still have all the messages you sent me back then. Do you want me to make them public now? Right, at that time she didn’t even dare to admit you were her fiancé, only claiming you were ‘a friend.’ Because even then, she was already head over heels for me. Gu Cheng, you’ve been wearing a green hat for much longer than you think.”

Ye Bingtong looked at Pei Yue near the brink of collapse.

Why!

Why is Pei Yue here?

Why does he have to say these things?

Is he trying to destroy me now?

“Brother Gu, I actually…” Ye Bingtong struggled to say something.

Gu Cheng quietly watched her.

Ye Bingtong tried to speak but found herself unable to.

Claim it wasn’t true?

Say it was Pei Yue talking nonsense?

But.

She herself knew it was all true.

Looking at Pei Yue now, if she pushed him too far, he might really disclose their past conversations. That situation would only be more embarrassing.

“What’s the matter, still waiting for her explanation?” Pei Yue mocked, “Too bad. She can’t explain anything. Because Ye Bingtong has been just as despicable and shameless as me from the very beginning!”

Ye Bingtong’s face grew paler, and she just shook her head, unable to utter a single word.

Gu Cheng said calmly, “Ye Bingtong, since our engagement has been called off, from now on, what men and women do is none of each other’s business. You don’t need to come looking for me anymore. I’m not foolish enough to be used over and over again. I also wish you and Pei Yue a long and everlasting union, never to part.”

It was meant to be a blessing.

But coming from Gu Cheng, it sounded almost like a curse.

Ye Bingtong’s body swayed involuntarily.

Pei Yue had witnessed the events of the evening.

With Pei Yue’s temperament, he would certainly lash out, and being with him would bring no good.

Ye Bingtong even felt an impulse to run away immediately.

Yet Pei Yue had already grabbed her, smiling as he said, “Then, I thank Young Master Gu for his blessing. Ye Bingtong, I’ll be taking her away first. You all keep enjoying yourselves.”

With those words,

Pei Yue forcefully dragged Ye Bingtong away.

Ye Bingtong cast a frantic glance at Gu Cheng, her expression seeming to beg for him to rescue her.

But.

Gu Cheng just calmly looked away.

Everyone has their own choices.

And everyone must bear the consequences of those choices.

So it was with him.

And so it was with Ye Bingtong.

After Pei Yue forcibly took Ye Bingtong away,

Gu Yan couldn’t help but glance at his younger brother.

Gu Cheng’s expression at that moment was extremely calm as if he had suddenly grown up.

Noticing his brother’s gaze, Gu Cheng smiled and said, “Bro, I was fooled before, which caused you all worry. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”

The name Ye Bingtong would never affect him ever again.

Gu Yan also couldn’t help but nod in relief.