Luo Jin was vomiting uncontrollably in the restroom, completely drained.
She slumped weakly on the floor in front of the toilet, and only after she had thrown up everything in her stomach did she begin to feel slightly better.
When she finally stopped vomiting, she forced herself to stand, swaying as she made her way to the sink and turned on the faucet to wash up.
In the mirror, the girl’s face was pale and bloodless. Tears of physiological response to violent vomiting had welled in her eyes, leaving her eye sockets red and making her look pitiful.
The doorknob turned. The next second, Fifth Madam Gu and Gu Qinghan entered.
Click—the door was locked from the inside.
Luo Jin’s heart tightened. She was about to speak.
“Mom, you…”
Slap!
Before she could finish, Fifth Madam Gu slapped her across the face, cutting her off.
Luo Jin’s head was forced to the side. Her ears rang loudly.
It took her a long moment to recover. She turned back in confusion and humiliation.
“Mom… what are you doing?”
“Don’t call me Mom. I’m not your mother—I could never give birth to a shameless daughter like you!”
Fifth Madam Gu interrupted her again, her tone full of disgust. “We sent you abroad for studies hoping you would improve yourself, not so you could use our money to sell your body overseas!”
The words “sell your body” made Luo Jin’s pupils contract sharply.
She covered her face, staring at her in disbelief.
“What did I do to deserve you calling me something so filthy?”
“You still dare ask what you did?” Fifth Madam Gu’s gaze subtly swept over her lower abdomen. Despite her restraint as a refined lady, she was clearly suppressing her anger. “Tell me—whose bastard child are you carrying?”
Luo Jin froze for a moment, then quickly understood.
“You misunderstood. I’m not pregnant. I just feel unwell.”
“You’re still lying!”
Another slap landed. Both sides of Luo Jin’s face immediately swelled.
“Qinghan called you and clearly heard you fooling around with a man…”
“I said I just twisted my ankle by accident!” Luo Jin could no longer suppress her anger after being slapped twice, and she raised her voice.
Fifth Madam Gu paused, looking at her with suspicion.
Gu Qinghan also looked as if she had seen a ghost.
Luo Jin had really lost her mind—how dare she shout at her mother?
Luo Jin quickly realized her tone had been improper. She pressed her temples and softened her voice.
“I just have stomach issues. It’s not morning sickness, and I was not fooling around with any man.”
From beginning to end, she had only ever had one man—Gu Tangzhou.
But she could not say it, nor did she dare.
“If you’re not pregnant, then we’ll go to the hospital and find out.”
With that, Fifth Madam Gu called out toward the door.
“Come in.”
Two bodyguards immediately rushed in and grabbed Luo Jin’s arms without hesitation, dragging her out.
Luo Jin had not expected Fifth Madam Gu to be this forceful.
For five years abroad, she had lived with integrity. The only exception was today—when Gu Tangzhou had forced her once after returning.
Pregnancy was impossible, but she feared that at the hospital, something else might be discovered.
“Mom, I’m really not pregnant. Why won’t you believe me?”
She tried to persuade her.
But Fifth Madam Gu did not listen at all.
“Qinghan doesn’t lie. Besides, if you’re not pregnant, why are you afraid of a check-up?”
“Moreover, you are about to get engaged to Second Young Master Chu. A premarital health check is necessary.”
The words struck Luo Jin like a bolt of lightning.
If she really went, the fact that she was no longer “pure” would be exposed.
“I will never marry Chu Qinzhi!”
She refused outright.
What kind of person Chu Qinzhi was—she had worked so hard over the years to build herself up through education and effort. It was not to end up married to someone like him.
She had her own goals and dreams.
Even though the Gu family had raised her, she would not repay them by sacrificing her entire life in such a way.
Fifth Madam Gu looked at her coldly, clearly not expecting her to refuse.
As expected—an ungrateful wolf that could not be tamed.
Her expression darkened. “Take her away.”
Under the gaze of everyone in the Gu family, Luo Jin was forcibly dragged into a car by bodyguards.
Fifth Madam Gu did this deliberately in front of everyone to show that they were unaware of Luo Jin’s “disgraceful behavior.”
She could not allow Luo Jin to ruin her and her daughter’s reputation.
Luo Jin was taken to the hospital by force.
At the entrance, she happened to run into Old Master Gu and Gu Tangzhou, who were just coming out.
The girl was restrained by two bodyguards. Her face was pale, but the moment she saw him, a spark lit up in her eyes.
It was brief—like a shooting star—gone in an instant.
Luo Jin lowered her lashes. What was she even expecting? That Gu Tangzhou would help her?
Impossible.
Gu Tangzhou frowned slightly.
His gaze fell on Fifth Madam Gu.
“What is this?”
Luo Jin’s supposed public “morning sickness” had been witnessed by everyone.
Fifth Madam Gu had not expected Gu Tangzhou to be here.
Wasn’t he supposed to be resting? Why was he here with the Old Master?
Her face turned ashen. “I brought her for a check-up. First, to see if I failed in discipline, and second, to clarify things after today’s incident.”
She then added carefully, “Old Master, why are you here? Are you feeling unwell?”
The Old Master had also seen what happened at the banquet.
“Nothing serious. Tangzhou accompanied me for a routine check-up.”
The Old Master glanced at Luo Jin briefly.
He had no impression of the girl Fifth Son had brought back, nor any particular fondness.
The Gu family was large; keeping one more person did not matter.
But if that person caused trouble, they could be discarded at any time.
Seeing them about to leave, Fifth Madam Gu said, “Old Master, I’ll take her for the examination first.”
As they passed by, Gu Tangzhou suddenly said in a cold tone:
“Indeed. The Chu family also needs an explanation.”
Fifth Madam Gu’s hands tightened instantly.
What did Gu Tangzhou mean by bringing up the Chu family now?
Gu Qinghan’s eyes widened slightly, glancing back and forth between him and Luo Jin.
Could Second Brother… be helping Luo Jin?
The Old Master looked at her. “The Chu family?”
He valued face greatly; any attempt to “trade a daughter for status” was absolutely unacceptable to him.
Fifth Madam Gu forced herself to remain calm.
“The Chu family intends to form an alliance through marriage. Coincidentally, Qinghan is interested in the Chu family’s eldest son, so I am currently considering it with Madam Chu.”
“If Luo Jin has done anything improper, it may also affect Qinghan, so…”
“Is that all?” the Old Master asked sharply.
His gaze was piercing, as if seeing through everything.
Fifth Madam Gu nearly could not hold her composure.
“…Yes, that’s all.”
Among all his children, Fifth Son of the Gu family was the least capable.
Thus, he often resorted to underhanded schemes.
The Old Master was not opposed to ambition—but it must never cross his bottom line.
He looked at her deeply.
“I am old, not foolish.”
“There are things I will not interfere with if they do not cross the line. But remember this…”
“No matter what, you must never bring shame to the Gu family.”