Two tall men approached Qin Yue, taking her by the arms and dragging her out of the hotel without hesitation.
Watching this scene from a distance, Zhang Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, while the woman beside her frowned. "Are all Chinese men this bad? Treating a weak woman so roughly, not gentlemanly at all."
Hearing the woman call Gu Xingdong a bad person, Zhang Wan'er's smile faltered for a moment. However, considering his special status, she suppressed her displeasure and replied in perfect American English, "Miss Alice, Commander Gu is a rare and good man. He didn't bully that girl; she was the one pestering him. He simply didn't want to be promiscuous or attract unwanted attention, so he rejected her in this manner!"
Alice did not change her impression of Gu Xingdong after Zhang Wan'er's explanation. She then asked, "If I heard correctly, wasn't that girl his colleague?"
Zhang Wan'er nodded. "Yes."
Having received the desired answer, Alice seemed confused. "As colleagues, shouldn't he have given her some face? Why did Commander Gu make things so awkward? He's not gentlemanly at all, not like our American men!"
Zhang Wan'er took a deep breath, constantly telling herself that Alice was the head of Philian Company, and their visit to Kyoto was for friendly exchange. She couldn't let things escalate, as it could affect international relations!
With this thought, Zhang Wan'er suppressed her anger again. She then curved her lips upward, a bitter smile appearing on her face. Shaking her head, she said, "To be frank, none of this is Commander Gu's fault. It's because there's a jealous woman in his family! Commander Gu got along well with everyone in the army. But because the woman he married is unreasonable and constantly instigates conflict between Commander Gu and the women in the army, things like this happen today."
"A jealous woman?" Alice's expression didn't change much when this topic was brought up. After all, she already had a wife, and maintaining relationships with other women was considered normal, especially in their country, America. Perhaps Kyoto still retained the custom of women not being jealous and needing to be generous. Alice again felt that Kyoto was a very feudal place, unchanged after so many years, just as her mentor had said!
Seeing that Alice didn't react much to this matter, Zhang Wan'er continued, "Aren't you curious why this woman met such a tragic fate, Miss Alice?"
"Why?" Alice asked indifferently.
"Because that woman treated Commander Gu's wife to a meal, and then happened to be targeted. Commander Gu's wife was subsequently trafficked to a small mountain village. This incident became widely known a while ago, and everyone knows that Commander Gu's wife spent several days and nights in a mountain village with another man. Although it was said to be kidnapping, would nothing happen between a man and a woman alone? Most importantly, Commander Gu's wife adopted the daughter of the person who trafficked her. Isn't this a sign of a guilty conscience? Poor Commander Gu, such an excellent man, is now rumored to have been cuckolded!" Zhang Wan'er finished with a feigned sigh of helplessness.
Alice opened her mouth, about to ask Zhang Wan'er what this had to do with her. Slandering others behind their backs was very rude. But before she could speak, Zhang Wan'er continued, "This girl just treated Gu Xingdong's wife to a meal, and something happened. As a result, her company went bankrupt, and even her godfather was implicated, with rumors circulating about him! Directly cutting off someone's path forward, isn't that the same as forcing someone to their death?"
Alice nodded in agreement. Girls should have good intentions and not be aggressive or unreasonable over minor matters.
As the two were discussing, a commotion suddenly erupted in the lobby. A group of men wearing black masks entered, carrying weapons. A soldier shouted, "Commander Gu, there are intruders in the hotel!"
Gu Xingdong's expression grew solemn as he saw the menacing group. He then commanded, "Protect Miss Alice. The rest of you, come with me to apprehend these unruly and ill-intentioned individuals!"
The intruders immediately began firing their weapons indiscriminately. Zhang Wan'er quickly pulled Alice down behind a table. In this critical moment, Zhang Wan'er did not forget to speak up for Gu Xingdong. "Miss Alice, please stay hidden. Leave this matter to Commander Gu; he will surely ensure your safety."
Alice, hearing the sounds of breaking glasses and the panicked screams of people around her, turned deathly pale. She swallowed hard and nodded blankly. "I believe that Chief Yang sent you here to protect me, so I entrust this matter to you!"
Zhang Wan'er nodded and, unable to contain her curiosity, lifted the curtain at the corner of the table. She saw Gu Xingdong engaging in a fierce battle with the intruders. Zhang Wan'er's eyes filled with adoration. Only such a man was worthy of her, and no matter the cost, she would become Gu Xingdong's woman.
The attackers fought as if they had nothing to lose, surging towards Gu Xingdong. Everyone's attention was focused on the group in black, failing to notice a rather young-looking girl approaching Zhang Wan'er and Alice. Fortunately, Zhang Wan'er was also from the military. Although not as skilled as Gu Xingdong, she knew basic self-defense. Therefore, she noticed the girl approaching them immediately.
"Miss Alice, be careful!" Amidst the panic, the girl showed no emotion. Zhang Wan'er, sensing something was amiss, quickly pulled Alice aside to dodge. As she suspected, the girl was not there with good intentions. The moment Zhang Wan'er made a move to resist, the girl swiftly pulled a sharp dagger from her waistband.