Gu Jiаyan, whеn questiоnеd, showеd a fliсker оf hesitation on his faсe. Hе glanсed at Gu Wanrou, who tugged lightly at his sleevе, pursed hеr lips, аnd put on аn ехprеssiоn оf enduring injustiсe in silenсе, аttеmpting to covеr up for Gu Аn’аn.
Whеn he lоoked up аgain аt Gu Аn’аn, hеr faсe was еxрressionlеss, as if she didn’t саre at аll whаt hе hаd to say.
Reсаlling how she had refused to арologize tо Wаnrou еаrlier, Gu Jiаyаn snоrted сoldly and quickly made up his mind. He spoke in a frigid tone:
“Gu An’an just pushed Rou Rou down the stairs.”
“What!”
This revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. The guests present were stunned by such a scandalous secret from a wealthy family.
Some looked in Gu An’an’s direction and whispered to those beside them, “That must be the one the Gu family just brought back.”
“Tsk tsk, having grown up in the countryside, she really is ruthless.”
“These stairs are so high—a fall could easily be fatal. No wonder Gu Jiayan is so angry. If I saw correctly earlier, Gu Wanrou even seemed to try to cover for her a little.”
“I’ve always heard that Gu Wanrou is gentle, kind, and generous, but I never believed it. Which wealthy young lady doesn’t have some shady tricks up her sleeve? But it seems now it might actually be true.”
“Tsk tsk, the Gu family is in for quite a show tonight. On one side, there’s the gentle and generous adopted daughter raised since childhood; on the other, the biological daughter who grew up in the countryside, ruthless and cunning. Let’s see how Gu Wencheng chooses tonight.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Gu Wencheng, who was now surrounded in the center of the crowd.
Having understood the whole story, Gu Wencheng’s face darkened completely. Especially since this had become a spectacle in front of Lu Xiao, he looked at Gu An’an, the one who had caused this embarrassment, with utter disgust and roared:
“Gu An’an, get down here right now!”
With this outburst, everyone instantly understood.
Gu Wencheng had chosen the more generous and gentle Gu Wanrou. For a moment, the looks directed at Gu An’an couldn’t help but carry traces of pity and sympathy.
The corner of Gu Wanrou’s lips lifted almost imperceptibly. In front of all the guests, her desire to perform grew even stronger. She stepped forward, blocking the servants who were about to escort Gu An’an down, and put on a fearless expression:
“Dad, An’an just made a small mistake in the heat of the moment. I’ve already forgiven her.”
“Please don’t punish her, okay? Besides, it was my fault to begin with. If I had been more careful going down the stairs, I wouldn’t have fallen.”
“Even now, Rou Rou, you’re still speaking up for her. You’re just too kind-hearted,” Gu Jiayan chimed in indignantly from the side.
He looked up at Gu Wencheng standing ahead, adopting a righteous and solemn demeanor:
“Dad, Rou Rou has grown up with us all these years. Even without blood ties, she’s no different from a biological daughter.”
“Now look at Gu An’an. Apart from sharing the Gu family’s blood, she lies habitually, steals at school, and now she’s even pushed Rou Rou down the stairs. If I hadn’t been right there, who knows how much Rou Rou would have suffered at her hands.”
“In that case, why not just kick her out of the Gu family?”
“Yes, kick her out of the Gu family!”
The surrounding guests had only heard that Gu An’an grew up in the countryside but didn’t know the details.
Now, hearing this, their eyes lit up with excitement.
“Heavens, she actually stole something too. This real daughter the Gu family found is truly too…”
The society matron speaking didn’t know how to describe it, but at their social class, they most despised petty thieves. Her gaze toward Gu An’an was now filled with disdain:
“If that’s the case, then kicking her out is actually quite fitting. Even the servants in our household wouldn’t stoop to stealing. Her behavior has completely disgraced the Gu family.”
Although everyone around was whispering discreetly to avoid Gu Wencheng, their occasional glances still made him feel as if needles were pricking his back. Not to mention Lu Xiao was standing beside him, waiting for his decision.
Waving his hand, a stern flash passed through his eyes as he looked at Gu An’an. “Butler, pack the second young miss’s belongings and have her escorted out later.”
Gu An’an, who had only recently been brought back to the Gu family, was about to be thrown out—right in front of everyone.
Gu Wanrou’s lips curved slightly upward as she lifted her gaze triumphantly toward Gu An’an.
She had always said it: even if Gu An’an was the Gu family’s biological daughter, what did it matter? Between her and Gu An’an, the Gu family would always choose her.
Everyone watched silently as the butler led servants to pack Gu An’an’s belongings from her room—a small leather bag was enough to hold everything.
The butler stood before Gu An’an, extending his hand with surface-level respect but inner contempt:
“Second Young Miss, please.”
Everything had reached its conclusion. The matter was perfectly resolved, the villain expelled from the household.
The surrounding guests began to disperse gradually, discussing the events that had just unfolded among themselves.
Amid the crowd, Lu Xiao stood still with his arms crossed over his chest. He had a feeling things wouldn’t end so simply.
Sure enough, Gu An’an didn’t disappoint him. She suddenly dropped a bombshell:
“I installed a surveillance camera at the stairway earlier. Family Head Gu, do you dare let everyone take a look?”
What? There’s more to this?
If she installed surveillance in advance, then whatever happened earlier would be clear at a glance.
The high-society guests who had begun drifting apart in small groups now returned, wine glasses in hand.
The smile on Gu Wanrou’s face froze. Gu An’an had installed surveillance in advance? That bitch!
Then everything she said earlier must have been recorded. Gu Wanrou panicked.
By now, Gu Wencheng had turned around, his gaze inscrutable as he looked at Gu An’an.
Gu Jiayan stood nearby, shouting, “Gu An’an, even at death’s door you refuse to admit your wrongdoing. Who knows what ulterior motives you had installing surveillance at home? I saw with my own eyes how you pushed Rou Rou.”
He then turned to Gu Wencheng:
“Dad, don’t let her deceive you.”
Gu Wanrou chimed in as well: “Yes, An’an, when did you install surveillance? I didn’t know about it. I know you don’t want to be expelled from the Gu family, but there’s no need to tell such lies.”
After speaking, she looked toward Gu Wencheng. “Dad, when it comes down to it, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t taken An’an’s place, none of this would have happened.”
“It shouldn’t be An’an who leaves—it should be me.”
“Send me away instead. From now on, you and An’an can live well together. I’ll… come back often to visit you all.”
Gu Wanrou’s sudden strategic retreat immediately won nods of admiration from many present.
Gu Wanrou let out a soft sigh of relief, beginning to relax.
Until she watched Gu An’an, expression cold, lower her head and tap on her phone. In the next second, a familiar female voice rang out:
[“Gu An’an, so what if you’re the Gu family’s biological daughter? When we have a conflict, they’ll believe me first, not you.”]
[“Do you know why? Because before you were brought back, I bribed the person sent to investigate your background.”]
[“With just a little money, your records of hardship and suffering in the countryside were changed to show failing grades, poor character, shamelessly stealing from classmates, writing self-criticisms, receiving disciplinary action, and nearly being expelled.”]
Boom!
None of the people present were fools. Even though the recording from the phone was slightly distorted, they could immediately recognize it as Gu Wanrou’s voice.
For a moment, they looked at Gu An’an, then at Gu Wanrou.
They didn’t know whether to be more shocked that Gu An’an had actually installed surveillance, or that Gu Wanrou was such a skilled actress.