“Big sister-in-law, what brings you here lately?” The speaker was Gu Hengzhi’s half-brother, Gu Xuan. In the novel, Gu Xuan wasn’t described in much detail—just a spoiled rich second-generation who lived off the family wealth and wasted his life idly.
“Watch your words, dear. Sister-in-law has been very busy with work,” said the exquisitely dressed woman sitting beside Gu Xuan, his wife Lin Anqi. If Gu Xuan was an empty-headed fool, then Lin Anqi was the “chip” inside that straw-filled head—calculative and sharp.
Sitting between them was their daughter, Gu Xiyu. Ever since they entered, she hadn’t even looked at them properly. In wealthy families, girls were often spoiled and arrogant, and with this morally twisted family’s influence, she had grown even more conceited and dismissive. The novel had mentioned many times that Xiao Tuanzi’s childhood trauma—this family of three—was largely responsible.
Su Wancheng said, “I’ve been busy studying and working. Coming so late today—it’s my fault for being inconsiderate.”
As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Moreover, the Gu family clearly understood the pros and cons of this relationship.
Gu Zhenghua smiled kindly and waved his hand. “It’s good for young people to be ambitious. Come, sit down.”
Xiao Shimu also greeted them, “Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt.”
Everyone then took their seats.
“Wancheng is becoming more and more graceful and elegant,” said the woman sitting beside Gu Zhenghua—his wife Qin Yingrong. She was covered in jewelry, every inch of her exuding wealth, her gaze sharp and penetrating.
“Aunt Qin, you’re looking younger and younger too,” Su Wancheng replied with a smile.
“Sir, dinner is ready,” a servant announced.
“Good, good. Let’s eat and talk afterward,” Gu Zhenghua said as he stood up.
At the dining table
The meal was suffocatingly tense. The only one eating happily was Gu Xiyu. The table was full of seafood, but Xiao Tuanzi disliked fishy smells, and Gu Hengzhi barely touched his chopsticks.
Su Wancheng also had no appetite in such an atmosphere.
The meal ended with each person harboring their own thoughts.
Gu Hengzhi and Gu Xuan were called into the study.
In the living room
“Wancheng, is the food not to your taste? Why did you eat so little?” Qin Yingrong asked with concern.
“No, I’m just dieting, so I didn’t eat much,” Su Wancheng replied with a smile. Not asking during the meal, but asking afterward—what kind of afterthought concern was this? she thought sarcastically.
“So sister-in-law is still dieting even though she’s already so thin,” Lin Anqi said, somewhat envious of Su Wancheng’s model-like figure. “I wanted to lose weight too, but Xuan won’t let me.” Her tone was sweet, openly showing off her happiness.
“Wancheng, you haven’t been coming around much, so I understand… You and the young master of the Li family were childhood sweethearts, practically destined to end up together. How did it end up like this…” Qin Yingrong said with feigned regret.
If it were the old Su Wancheng, she would have definitely exploded. The incident with Gu Hengzhi had always been a thorn in her heart, and Qin Yingrong bringing it up now was clearly an attempt to test her reaction—and preferably provoke a scene.
“Mrs. Qin, Hengzhi is quite good,” Su Wancheng said calmly.
Lin Anqi grew anxious. “Sister-in-law, you’re not planning to fight for it anymore? You and President Li were such a perfect match—how could you just give up?” Su Wancheng still held shares in the Li family. If those shares were transferred to Gu Hengzhi, combined with his existing holdings, he would gain absolute control over the Gu family—something none of them wanted to see.
Su Wancheng raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting I cheat on my marriage?”
“N-no, I mean… how can you be with a wild—”
“Enough!” Qin Yingrong cut her off sharply.