Ruan Chutang woke up naturally, opening her eyes to find it was already ten in the morning.
“Ah—” she stretched lazily, “It feels so good not having to go to work.”
Ruan Chutang got out of bed, freshened up, and went downstairs for breakfast.
Aunt Zhang, the housekeeper, had prepared breakfast for two.
Ruan Chutang glanced at the empty seat opposite her but said nothing.
Seeing Ruan Chutang come down, Aunt Zhang asked curiously, “Miss Ruan, is the young master not coming down for breakfast today?”
Ruan Chutang took a sip of the century egg and lean pork congee before replying, “He didn’t come back last night, so probably not.”
“Oh.” Aunt Zhang realized she had overstepped and didn’t ask further, turning back to the kitchen.
After finishing breakfast, Ruan Chutang received a message from Jiang Shixu.
[Tangtang, should we go for a custom-made engagement dress or choose a brand’s latest season collection?]
Would there still be time for a custom-made dress?
Come to think of it, she didn’t even know when the engagement was scheduled.
She asked: [What’s the date for the engagement?]
Jiang Shixu: [It hasn’t been decided yet. How about we finalize it once you’ve wrapped things up and returned to Jiangcheng?]
Ruan Chutang: [Alright, I’ll be done here in nine more days.]
Jiang Shixu: [Okay.]
Worried that a custom-made dress might not be ready in time, Ruan Chutang replied: [Let’s go with the latest season collection from a brand. I’ll pick one out.]
Jiang Shixu: [Alright, let me know once you’ve chosen.]
Just as Ruan Chutang was about to exit WeChat, a red notification dot suddenly appeared on Gu Zechuan’s chat window.
She tapped to open it and saw a video.
In the dimly lit private room, a drunken Gu Zechuan leaned against Chen Wan’s chest, murmuring, “Wanwan, you’ve finally come back… I… I knew it, I knew you’d come back… I’ve waited for you for five years…”
In the background, there was noisy cheering, and Ruan Chutang faintly recognized a few voices—Gu Zechuan’s close friends and Su Qiuyi.
All of them were people she knew.
In the video, Chen Wan held Gu Zechuan and smiled softly, “Zechuan, you’re drunk.”
Gu Zechuan nuzzled against Chen Wan’s chest, his words fragmented, “I… I’m not drunk… I’m perfectly clear-headed… You’re Chen Wan, you’re the one I love most, right? See, I’m perfectly sober…”
Someone in the background asked, “Zechuan, if Chen Wan is the one you love most, what about Ruan Chutang?”
Gu Zechuan: “Who’s Ruan Chutang? I… I only love Wanwan…”
“Sister-in-law, Brother Zechuan is absolutely smitten with you,” Su Qiuyi’s voice chimed in. “Look at how he clings to you when he’s drunk—you’re all he sees and cares about.”
Hearing this, a flicker of mockery passed through Ruan Chutang’s eyes.
The title “sister-in-law”—in the three years she had been by Gu Zechuan’s side, she had never once heard it directed at her.
It wasn’t surprising, really. That group of people had never truly regarded her as Gu Zechuan’s girlfriend.
“How can Ruan Chutang be so shameless? Chen Wan is back, yet she still sticks around without any sense of awareness,” said Su Qiuyi’s best friend—the same girl who had claimed the necklace Ruan Chutang gifted was fake and had often given Chu Tang cold looks in the past.
Su Qiuyi’s voice followed immediately: “A girl like her, coming from an ordinary background, would never easily let go of someone like Brother Zechuan, a rich second-generation heir.”
Ruan Chutang lowered her gaze, a cold, humorless smile curling at the corner of her lips. Su Qiuyi would never say such things to her face.
Chu Tang was now certain that the disdain she had seen in Su Qiuyi’s eyes on her birthday was no illusion.
Su Qiuyi appeared friendly and amiable on the surface, but deep down, she was no different from those people—looking down on her from the very start.
“Chen Wan, don’t worry, we’re all on your side.”
“Exactly, none of us like that Ruan Chutang. She should take a good look at herself and stop trying to squeeze into our circle.”
“I think Ruan Chutang has read too many romance novels about domineering CEOs falling in love with ordinary girls. She’s probably dreaming of marrying into a wealthy family. It’s hilarious—she probably doesn’t even realize she’s nothing but a clown in our eyes.”
“Seriously, she’s not even on the same level as us. Zechuan is just having fun with her. Now that Chen Wan is back, Ruan Chutang should just get lost.”
Ruan Chutang remained unruffled.
She knew Chen Wan had posted this video partly to assert her dominance and partly to humiliate her, to make her face reality and leave Gu Zechuan sooner.
That was exactly what Chen Wan had in mind.
After posting the video, she imagined Ruan Chutang watching it, heartbroken and in tears, then breaking up with Gu Zechuan and slinking back to her hometown in disgrace.
What she never expected was that the words spoken by those people in the video had no impact on Ruan Chutang whatsoever.
In the video, Gu Zechuan was still clinging to Chen Wan, whispering sweet nothings. Disgusted, Ruan Chutang exited the video and didn’t watch any further.
Her fingers danced across her phone screen as she typed out a message.
[I really am not on the same level as you all.]
Seeing the message, Chen Wan curled her lips into a smirk and quickly replied using Gu Zechuan’s WeChat.
[At least you have some self-awareness.]
Reading this reply, Ruan Chutang let out a soft scoff. The Gu Group’s modest business was nothing compared to even a random subsidiary under her family’s umbrella.
The meager profits the Gu Group made each year were less than what Ruan Shaodong casually invested in a single project.
The Ruan family had been in business for four generations, and by her time, they had become one of the top ten wealthy and influential families in the country. She truly was not on the same level as ordinary rich second-generation heirs like Gu Zechuan.
Those people could never have imagined that Ruan Chutang’s “Ruan” was the same “Ruan” as Ruan Shaodong’s.
This little episode did nothing to dampen Ruan Chutang’s mood.
On this rare day off, she stayed in, lounging around and browsing the official websites of various luxury brands all day, selecting gowns for her engagement.
After much deliberation, Ruan Chutang narrowed it down to three gowns but found herself struggling to choose.
The first gown was in a new Chinese cheongsam style, with a champagne-colored base and light pink embroidery dotted with tiny diamonds. Three delicate pearl chains on each side started at the collar, draped diagonally over the upper arms, and extended to the back. The gown was dazzling and sweet in style, perfectly suited for a young woman.
The second was a moon-white strapless gown in a solid color, featuring a rose design around the bust. It was fitted at the waist and hips, with a mermaid-style skirt that trailed on the floor, exuding mature elegance.
The third was a milky-white off-the-shoulder princess tulle gown, with a sheer outer layer and scattered water-red rose petals adorning the skirt, radiating romantic grace.
She posted pictures of these three gowns on her social media with the caption, “Can’t decide! Which one do you think looks best?”
Within just over ten minutes of posting, she received numerous likes and comments.
Jiang Shixu: [They’re all beautiful. If you like them, buy all three and wear them interchangeably.]
Her childhood best friend Zhou Xueluo also liked and commented on the post.
Xueluo: [Wow, Tangtang has such great taste! All three look perfect on you. Have your Shixu gege buy them all—it’s not like he can’t afford it.]
Another close friend Chen Yuanyuan commented: [Buy, buy, buy! Little Princess Tangtang looks good in anything!]
Xiao Xiao: [Wow, wow, wow! Something’s up! Sis, why are you picking out evening gowns? Are you getting married?]
As Ruan Chutang scrolled through, among the likes and well-wishes from friends and family, a few comments stood out painfully.
Su Qiuyi: […]
Jiang Yuzhou: [Chutang, why did you post this…?]
Lin Chen’an: [Sis, you really dare to dream, huh? I’m dying laughing.]
Colleague A: [These are all new arrivals from luxury brands. Maybe check the prices before posting to show off… You can’t even afford to rent them, let alone buy them.]
Colleague B: [So rich. Your life is my dream.]
Gu Zechuan: [?]
Seeing this, Ruan Chutang raised an eyebrow. It seemed Gu Zechuan had sobered up.
Just as she was thinking this, she received a message from Gu Zechuan.
[Delete that post from your Moments!]
Ruan Chutang: [No.]
Gu Zechuan: [Openly forcing marriage? Did you not listen to a word I said before?]
Ruan Chutang: [Oh.]
Gu Zechuan: [Ruan Chutang, know when to stop.]
Ruan Chutang didn’t respond further.