TNSFC – Chapter 15

Gu Qianqian, upon realizing she had actually been intimidated, raised her voice to bolster her courage: “Why should I leave? This isn’t your house.”

In fact, this place was Gu family property, which was another reason Allen was polite to her.

“Did your mother teach you to shout in other people’s workspaces? Knowing there are customers inside, you still insisted on coming in to take a look. If you didn’t come in looking for a scolding, what did you come for? To reminisce with me?”

Que Yining’s voice carried a hint of nonchalance, and she seemed to find the latter part amusing. Compared to Gu Qianqian’s flustered appearance, the difference in their composure was immediately apparent.

Que Yining seemed to grow impatient: “We’re all adults. Can you stop being so unreasonable?”

Allen, standing behind them, was stunned, almost forgetting the task at hand.

Strong, too strong!

It was the first time Allen had seen such a formidable woman. She truly didn’t give the other person any face at all. Even though she was the one who spoke first, she managed to shift all the blame away from herself, and even made it sound reasonable.

This skill, this confidence, this demeanor—awesome was the only word for it.

Gu Qianqian had never been so directly humiliated in her entire life. Although she was cunning and liked to play tricks, she always maintained a facade. No one had ever been so direct, leaving her completely bewildered.

They always said to overcome hardness with softness, but no matter what demeanor she adopted, she couldn’t get a handle on Que Yining. Instead, she only managed to infuriate herself.

Gu Qianqian was on the verge of tears: “It was clearly you who first…”

Que Yining: “Don’t cry in front of me. Is your mother’s health alright?”

This remark connected to the welcome banquet Gu Qianqian had thrown a couple of days ago. Just as Gu Qianqian was about to cry, Que Yining’s sharp retort, implying her crying was inappropriate like mourning, had forcefully stopped her tears.

Gu Qianqian, furious, stomped her high heel, threw out a “I’m not done with you!” and ran off crying.

Que Yining retracted her gaze. Weakling. With such little skill, she dared to fight with her.

She met Allen’s gaze of profound respect and gestured with her eyes for him to continue.

Allen understood and styled Que Yining’s hair with utmost seriousness.

Que Yining knew in her heart that the Little White Lotus wouldn’t let this go. After all, someone so petty couldn’t tolerate being humiliated. But she didn’t care, leisurely closing her eyes to rest.

As for Gu Qianqian, after being wronged, she didn’t stay a moment longer. She stormed home, and the sight of her mother immediately brought tears to her eyes.

Gu Qianqian’s mother, Peng Zhen, was watching TV in the bedroom. Seeing Gu Qianqian enter looking aggrieved, she quickly beckoned her over.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?”

Gu Qianqian: “Mom, you have to help me! I was so furious today! That Que Yining pointed at my nose and scolded me, and she even insulted you! It’s infuriating! I’ll make sure she suffers!”

Peng Zhen wasn’t quite clear on the situation and asked her to speak slowly. After Gu Qianqian finished, she poked her head, frustrated that her daughter wasn’t living up to expectations.

“What happened? You just stood there dumbly and let her scold you?”

Gu Qianqian said angrily, “I didn’t want to! But you don’t know how fierce she looked. I didn’t even have a chance to talk back.”

Peng Zhen: “Alright, next time I see her mother, I’ll say a few sharp words to her. How did she raise her daughter? Really, no manners at all.”

Gu Qianqian pouted. “Isn’t it all because of that bastard born to that unlucky woman who just came back? Que Yining could never get the better of me before. Now she’s backing her up. What does Gu Shanxue think she is! This family will be ours sooner or later!”

She whined in a soft voice, “Mom, when are you going to talk to Dad? Get her kicked out! I’m sick of seeing her every day. She just wants to come back and steal our things. Dad even let her into the company, but not me.”

Peng Zhen calmly patted her back, her eyes glinting with calculation. “Don’t be anxious. What’s ours will eventually be ours. That little bitch shouldn’t even think about getting a single penny’s worth of benefit from us.”

She touched her stomach. “I just wish this belly would be a bit more cooperative. Then we mother and daughter would have nothing to worry about.”

Peng Zhen also felt angry thinking about this. She had been with Gu Chongheng since her teens and had given birth to a daughter. She had also watched that woman, in poor health, go abroad. For all these years, she had been the one in this house. She had gone from her twenties to her thirties, and there had been no lack of attempts, but her belly stubbornly remained unresponsive. If she could give birth to a boy, who would dare compete with her?

Gu Qianqian: “Mom, try a little harder. When Dad comes back, I’ll go complain to him that Que Yining bullied me. What right does she have to scold me?”

Peng Zhen nodded. “Alright. Your dad has always doted on you. It’s almost the New Year. Remember to prepare a gift for him to make him happy. By the way, you should also step things up in other areas. If you marry someone powerful and influential, it will help us in the future.”

Gu Qianqian muttered, “What’s the rush? Aren’t I still choosing? There are plenty of men.”

Peng Zhen: “I’m talking about powerful and influential men, not some Young Master Wang or Young Master Li. Can’t you aim higher? Someone like that Fu Wenjing isn’t bad. His family is wealthy and influential, and he’s handsome. If you could win him over, would I still need to worry about whether I can get pregnant?”

Gu Qianqian originally wanted to express her reluctance because she preferred men who were easy to manipulate, who could be coaxed into doing whatever she wanted. She had only seen Fu Wenjing from a distance a few times, and he looked quite intimidating, so she had no interest in him.

But hadn’t she heard that Que Yining was head over heels for him? If she could snatch him, wouldn’t Que Yining be furious?

Gu Qianqian couldn’t help but smile just thinking about it and nodded at her mother.

Gu Shanxue returned home from the company with Gu Chongheng. She didn’t usually live here. Although this place had once belonged to her mother, it had long since been tainted by outsiders.

But tonight, Gu Chongheng had invited her home for dinner. Gu Shanxue hadn’t wanted to agree, but when she thought about what Gu Qianqian had done at the banquet today, she accepted, planning to come back and disgust that mother-daughter pair.

Sure enough, when those two saw her, they didn’t look pleased. But their displeasure brightened Gu Shanxue’s mood.

Among the four people at the dinner table, Gu Chongheng was probably the only one smiling sincerely.

He even had the cook add two more dishes, smiling lovingly at Gu Shanxue.

“I remember your taste is quite similar to your mother’s; you both prefer light food. Your mother used to love those two dishes made by Nanny Li. You’ll definitely like them too.”

Gu Shanxue nodded, a chill in her heart.

She didn’t know how this man still had the audacity to mention her mother in front of that mother-daughter pair, as if he had never done anything wrong, even fantasizing that she would integrate into this family and fulfill his idea of a harmonious family with a loving father and filial children.

On the other side, Peng Zhen wasn’t in a good mood either. Seeing Gu Chongheng’s nostalgic expression as he remembered that deceased woman, she felt even more resentment in her heart. However, she couldn’t let it show, and instead put on an amiable and approachable expression.

“Yes, Xiao Xue, it’s rare for you to have a meal at home. You must eat to your heart’s content.”

Gu Shanxue didn’t respond. She had returned this time with her own agenda, so she had to endure contact with Gu Chongheng. She would retaliate after her plan succeeded. But for others, there was no need to feign civility or put on an act.

Peng Zhen couldn’t maintain her composure, but seeing that Gu Chongheng said nothing, she could only shut up awkwardly.

Gu Chongheng shifted his gaze from his elder daughter and noticed his younger daughter looking unhappy. He couldn’t help but ask with concern, “What’s wrong, Qianqian? Why do you look so upset?”

Gu Qianqian: “I can’t be happy.”

Gu Chongheng: “What’s wrong? Tell Dad.”

Gu Qianqian’s voice carried a sob: “Dad, is our family much worse compared to Que Yining’s family?”

Gu Chongheng became displeased. “How could that be? Our Gu family might not be immensely wealthy and powerful, but we’re not inferior to just anyone.”

Gu Qianqian shed tears. “Then why does Que Yining always scold me? She’s especially fierce. Last time, she even hit someone. I know Jiejie doesn’t like me, but there’s no need for Jiejie to let her keep insulting me, right?”

Gu Chongheng frowned and looked at Gu Shanxue. “What’s going on, Shanxue? Didn’t you just come back? Do you know that person?”

“I know her,” Gu Shanxue admitted readily, then looked at Gu Qianqian. “She scolded you?”

Gu Qianqian nodded aggrievedly, looking like a fragile victim.

Gu Shanxue: “What did she scold you for?”

Gu Qianqian sobbed, “She said… said I’m a Wild Chicken, sob sob sob, that I can’t compare to a Phoenix like Jiejie… I know I’m not as pretty as you, Jiejie, but how could she scold me like that… Dad, I feel so awful…”

Gu Chongheng slammed the table, his face cold. “This is too much! Shanxue, if she’s your friend, you tell her not to say such things again in the future.”

Gu Shanxue looked up. “Was she wrong in what she said?”

Gu Qianqian cried even harder. Before Gu Chongheng could get angry, Gu Shanxue unhurriedly recounted what had happened at the banquet today.

Gu Chongheng almost had a heart attack. What kind of occasion was that banquet? He looked at Gu Qianqian in shock and asked, “Qianqian, is what your older sister said true?”

Gu Qianqian felt a little guilty and defended herself, “I didn’t do it on purpose. I accidentally bumped into Jiejie.”

At that moment, she had been overcome with anger. She couldn’t suppress the thought and acted out of spite.

Gu Shanxue: “You managed to bump into my back from so far away. It seems you’re quite capable.”

Gu Shanxue hadn’t originally planned to bring this matter up before Gu Chongheng. After all, if she wanted to use tactics, she definitely wouldn’t resort to mere talk in front of Gu Chongheng like Gu Qianqian, letting him judge right from wrong. But Gu Qianqian just had to mention Que Yining.

Next, Gu Chongheng started reasoning with Gu Qianqian, while Peng Zhen tried to mediate from the side. Gu Shanxue had no interest in their family argument. She took out her phone and subconsciously tapped on Que Yining’s profile picture.

Que Yining had posted a new update not long ago: a selfie.

Her long hair was down, and the cool-toned color made her look like a cool and imposing queen.

Gu Shanxue liked the post.