Chapter 151: Since We’re Chasing Thrills, Let’s Go All the Way – 5

The guests were eating up the drama with blood-pumping excitement. Most of them had only come to the Su Family’s banquet out of politeness. Who would’ve thought the Gu siblings would show up at such a small event? Not only that, they nearly came to blows over the Su Family’s two young ladies.

But… wasn’t Su Ying the one Gu Tianyou broke off the engagement with? Hadn’t she become a cast-off? How did she suddenly turn into Gu Lian’s fiancée?

The entire venue fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Gu Tianyou, with his broad shoulders and narrow waist, casually held Su Fufu in his arms, his gaze calm. Gu Lian stood tall and elegant, her beautiful eyes practically spitting fire.

A flicker of a smile flashed in Su Fufu’s eyes, but she quickly put on a pitiful expression and looked up at Gu Tianyou. “Brother Tianyou, I don’t know what’s going on, but my sister’s hurt so badly, I…”

“You pushed her!” Gu Lian cut her off coldly. “If you dare try to deny it again, I’ll make sure your reputation is ruined today!”

Tears welled up in Su Fufu’s eyes as she bit her lip and lowered her head, not daring to speak further.

Yu Liuxue winced in pain, baring her teeth. The System quickly asked with concern, “Host, are you alright?”

Yu Liuxue rolled her eyes unceremoniously. “Do I look like I’m alright to you?”

The System was speechless. It hadn’t expected the Host to go this far, escalating a minor incident into such a massive, unmanageable spectacle. After this uproar, not only had she completely stolen the spotlight from the main couple’s engagement announcement, but she had also ensured that the entire upper-class circle would be talking about her for at least a month.

Gu Tianyou suddenly noticed a trace of blood seeping from Su Fufu’s tightly clenched fist. He immediately frowned and gently pulled her hand toward him, his tone softening. “Fufu, what happened to your hand?”

Just as Su Fufu was about to loosen her grip, Yu Liuxue calmly gave Pei Yiling a subtle look from within the crowd. Then, with a dramatic roll of her eyes, she fainted right into Gu Lian’s arms. Gu Lian was startled and quickly caught the bloodstained figure in white, trembling as she shouted, “Doctor! Where’s your Su Family’s private doctor?!”

Su Fufu, who had just started to relax her grip, instantly clenched her hand again. “……”

When no one responded, Gu Lian immediately picked up Yu Liuxue and strode out, cursing loudly as she went. “You don’t even have a private doctor? And you still dare call yourselves a prestigious family?! If anything happens to Su Ying today, none of you will escape responsibility!”

The gossip-hungry guests suddenly felt like collateral damage in a storm.

Cheng Susu finally arrived after hearing the commotion. She only caught a glimpse of Gu Lian carrying Yu Liuxue away and had no idea what had just happened. Her main concern was still her daughter, so she hurried over to Su Fufu. When she saw the blood seeping through Su Fufu’s fingers, she turned pale with shock. “Fufu, what happened to you?”

She glanced at the overturned table and the shattered wine bottles on the ground. The scent of red wine and champagne mingled with a faint trace of blood in the air. Cheng Susu instinctively assumed it was all Su Ying’s doing. Her face darkened immediately. “How did your hand get so badly hurt? Where’s Su Ying? Where did she go?”

Cheng Susu might have been in the dark, but everyone else had seen everything. Watching her blindly lash out at Su Ying, her friends exchanged glances, each seeing the same deep disdain in the others’ eyes.

So she really was a fox spirit who clawed her way up from being the mistress. Even if she made it to the top, she’d never become a true phoenix. People used to say Su Ying was arrogant, unreasonable, jealous, and ruthless. But now it seemed more likely that this mother-daughter duo had been scheming to frame Su Ying all along.

Today, everyone had seen it clearly with their own eyes. It was Su Fufu who deliberately provoked things first, which led Su Ying to retaliate. And it was Su Fufu herself who accidentally broke the wine bottle and cut her own hand, then tried to pin the blame on Su Ying. Su Fufu probably thought things would go as smoothly as they had in the past. Who could’ve predicted that the recently rejected Su Ying’s physical and mental state would be so fragile that a light push from Su Fufu would send her crashing down, getting seriously injured in front of everyone?

At that moment, someone in the crowd let out a soft sigh. “Miss Su is truly pitiful.”

Pei Yiling hadn’t fully understood Yu Liuxue’s earlier signal, but now, seeing everything unfold, her heart ached. So this was the kind of life Miss Su had been living in the Su Family all these years? A vicious stepmother and a foolish father above, and a scheming white lotus of a sister below. Her situation was already so dire, yet she had still reached out to help Pei Yiling without hesitation, pulling her out of the mire.

Pei Yiling lowered her lashes to hide the emotion in her eyes. After composing herself, she gracefully lifted her skirt and stepped forward. “Miss Su, I know a bit of medicine. Let me help treat your hand.”

After Gu Lian and Yu Liuxue left, Su Fufu finally released her clenched palm, tears streaming down her face. Her hand was covered in blood, with two shards of glass embedded in her palm. Cheng Susu’s face turned ghostly pale. She didn’t care who Pei Yiling was anymore and immediately said gratefully, “Thank you. Please, Miss Pei, come this way.”

Once Su Fufu and the others were out of sight, the chaos finally began to settle. But now, no one was in the mood to enjoy the evening. Everyone was itching to rush home and gossip about what had just happened.

The Su Family wasn’t considered a major player in the elite circle, but the Gu Family was a different story. They were top-tier—if Gu Lian so much as stomped her foot, the whole upper-class world would be talking for days.

And now, the siblings of this top-tier family were on the verge of turning against each other. How could anyone not be thrilled?

The older guests were focused on the power dynamics and hidden interests at play, while the younger ones were obsessed with this unprecedented drama. So much so that when Su Fufu returned with Gu Tianyou, along with Cheng Susu and Su Zhenchuan, to officially announce her engagement to Gu Tianyou, barely anyone paid attention.

Su Fufu bit her lip, her heart filled with resentment. It was all Su Ying’s fault! If Su Ying hadn’t copied her and faked a fall, all the attention tonight would’ve been on her. She had endured so many years, finally secured her engagement with Gu Tianyou, and yet no one seemed to care.

It felt like punching a pillow—no resistance, no satisfaction.

Su Fufu lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion. “Brother Tianyou, do you think… do you think I pushed my sister on purpose, just like everyone else does?”

Before Gu Tianyou could respond, Cheng Susu snapped, “Don’t talk nonsense! Yingying just lost her balance. How could that possibly be your fault? Your hand is so badly injured. Don’t go out these next few days—just stay in bed and rest.”

Su Fufu tugged at the corners of her lips, forcing a weak smile. She didn’t tell Cheng Susu the truth.

She was thoroughly enjoying this moment. Her parents were completely biased in her favor. Her sister’s ex-fiancé was utterly devoted and obedient to her. Right now, she was the most pampered princess in the world.

Gu Lian rushed Jade Liuxue to the hospital in a panic. As soon as they reached the entrance, a large group of top-tier doctors swarmed over. After efficiently placing Jade Liuxue onto a surgical gurney, they immediately wheeled her into the operating room. Some began removing glass shards, others stitched wounds, and others bandaged them up. With Gu Lian sternly overseeing everything from outside—and with the weight of the Gu Family looming over them—no one dared to breathe too loudly. They treated Jade Liuxue’s injuries with more care and seriousness than they had their college entrance exams.

An hour and a half later, all of Jade Liuxue’s wounds had been treated. Every doctor let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Isn’t this the eldest young lady of the Su Family? Why did Miss Gu bring her in? Are they that close?”

No one could blame them for being confused. After all, the two had never had much to do with each other before. The doctors exchanged glances, then tacitly wheeled Jade Liuxue out of the operating room. Gu Lian immediately stepped forward, frowning as she asked, “Is she alright?”

The most senior doctor replied, “She’s fine. But Miss Gu, she does have a bit of hypoglycemia…”

Gu Lian suddenly recalled what Su Ying had said to her after falling into the water. Her frown deepened. Could it be that the Su Family wasn’t even feeding Su Ying properly? A prestigious family like that, and they were abusing the legitimate daughter?

Jade Liuxue was still on an IV drip. Gu Lian picked up her phone, and when she saw the public announcement of Gu Tianyou’s engagement to Su Fufu, her smile turned cold and forced. Clenching her phone tightly, she slowly dialed a number.

“Grandfather, Big Brother abandoned the Su Family’s eldest daughter without permission and got engaged to the second daughter instead…”

Old Master Gu nearly passed out from rage when he heard that.

Gu Lian paused, then added, “Grandfather, our Gu Family is a reputable and respected household. What my brother did not only puts us in a dishonorable position, it’s also deeply unfair to the Su Family’s eldest daughter.”

“As a member of the Gu Family, I should contribute to the family as well.” Gu Lian said softly, “So from now on, I’ll take Big Brother’s place and marry Su Ying instead.”

Old Master Gu nearly kicked his legs out and went straight to meet his ancestors. “???”

Your brother abandoned the fiancée I personally arranged for him, just to marry her half-sister? And now you, in the name of serving the family and salvaging our reputation, are volunteering to marry the very fiancée I originally chose for your brother?

Are you two trying to kill me, this still-healthy old man, with anger?!

Utterly disgraceful descendants!

This was no small matter. Gu Tianyou was the acknowledged heir of the Gu Family. He had agreed to Su Zhenchuan’s proposal back then largely out of respect for Su Ying’s maternal grandparents. Although Xi Mu had died young, the elderly couple from the Xi Family had always been worthy rivals whom Old Master Gu admired. If Tianyou married Su Ying, the old Xi couple would spare no effort in supporting their granddaughter’s husband. They would become a powerful backing for Tianyou. With the Xi Family’s full support, the Gu Family would rise to even greater heights.

But now, Old Master Gu’s head throbbed with fury.

He couldn’t help but curse, “Do you know why I chose Su Ying as your brother’s fiancée in the first place? It was because—”

“I know,” Gu Lian replied calmly.

Old Master Gu choked, then his eyes widened in disbelief. Even his mustache quivered with rage. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to compete with your brother for the family inheritance?!”

Gu Lian gave a faint smile. “Why not?”

Old Master Gu was speechless at his granddaughter’s bold and righteous answer.

“You two are going to be the death of me!”

After returning home, Pei Yiling couldn’t calm down. Today, she had watched helplessly as her benefactor was bullied by Su Fufu, and she couldn’t do anything to help. Worse still, she had to pretend to side with Su Fufu and even helped treat her wounds to gain her trust, drawing Cheng Susu’s attention in the process.

She sat dazed on the balcony. Ronghua quietly handed her a cup of hot water.

“Sis, did something upset you?”

Pei Yiling gave a soft laugh and shook her head. She looked at her little brother. “Ronghua, do you want to go home?”

Ronghua blinked in confusion. “Wherever you are is my home.”

“No, I mean the Gu Family.” Pei Yiling looked at him seriously. “Don’t you want to reclaim your rightful place and make those who once bullied our mother pay for what they did?”

A storm surged in Ronghua’s dark eyes. He trembled slightly, then slowly lifted his head.

“Sis, I’m just an illegitimate child.”

“Other than Mom and you, no one even knows I exist. Would they acknowledge me?” Ronghua gave a bitter smile, his gaze dimming again. Who wouldn’t want to reclaim their name, rise to prominence, and make those who hurt their mother and sister pay? But…

“They will, because you’re outstanding.” Pei Yiling said firmly. “I’ll ask Miss Su to help you.”

“As long as you remember her kindness when you return to the Gu Family, and protect her—don’t let the second Miss Su bully her—I’ll ask for her help.”

Ronghua was stunned. After a long silence, he slowly looked up.

“Can I really do that?”

The anesthesia had worn off. When Jade Liuxue slowly opened her eyes, the morning sun of the next day was already shining in. Gu Lian was sleeping soundly beside her. The stitched wounds ached, and Jade Liuxue pressed her dry lips together. She sat up and reached for the water glass nearby. But her grip slipped, and the glass fell to the floor with a loud clatter, startling Gu Lian awake.

Gu Lian looked up and saw those watery eyes staring at her. She instinctively picked up the cup, poured a fresh glass of warm water, and said gently, “The doctor said the wound might hurt a lot. Try to bear with it.”

Jade Liuxue took several sips before she finally relaxed. Leaning against the white pillow, her long lashes drooped.

“Miss Gu, you really didn’t have to go this far for me. Tianyou is your biological brother.”

Gu Lian’s temper flared instantly. Her red lips pressed into a tight line. Biological brother? I treated him like one, but he never treated me like a sister.

Because of Su Fufu, she had been scolded by her own brother countless times. Before Su Fufu entered the picture, she had never suffered such grievances. As the Gu Family’s eldest daughter, even her grandfather had never spoken harshly to her. And who was Su Fufu to dare scheme against her?

Gu Lian’s expression darkened, but she knew Jade Liuxue was still a patient, so she forced herself to stay calm.

“You don’t need to talk about this anymore.”

Jade Liuxue forced a small smile. She looked at Gu Lian with tear-filled eyes, then quickly looked away.

“Besides, Miss Gu, you don’t need to claim I’m your fiancée just because you feel sorry for me and want to protect me.”

“Even if my mom doesn’t love me and my dad doesn’t care, I still have my grandparents. They truly love me. Even if Tianyou breaks off the engagement, I can still go back to them…”

The more Gu Lian listened, the more annoyed she became. She shot a sharp glare, and Jade Liuxue immediately shut her mouth. Gu Lian’s gaze was icy.

“Who said I feel sorry for you?”

“I, Gu Lian, don’t need a reason to marry someone.”

Jade Liuxue bit her lip lightly, her expression dimming.

“But Miss Gu, didn’t you say you were completely straight?”

Gu Lian: “……”

Gu Lian ignored the comment. Once the anesthesia wore off, Yu Liuxue would be discharged from the hospital. Yu Liuxue originally wanted to return to the Su Family, but Gu Lian was absolutely against it. “Either go to your grandparents’ house, or come to mine. You choose.”

Yu Liuxue actually wanted to go home with Gu Lian, but right now, she was playing the role of a Su Fufu-style white lotus. With a look of deep regret, she called the driver, then turned back with a soft smile and said to Gu Lian, “Miss Gu, why don’t you come by my house for a while? My grandparents said they’d like to thank you in person.”

Gu Lian didn’t think much of it and agreed.

She wouldn’t feel at ease unless she personally sent Su Ying back to the Xi Family.

Old Master Xi and Old Madam Xi had already heard about what happened at the Su Family the night before. The two of them had been so worried they hadn’t slept a wink. It wasn’t until Yu Liuxue called that morning that they finally felt some relief. Old Master Xi flew into a rage and smashed the stone table in the courtyard. “If the Gu Family is going to be heartless, then don’t blame the Xi Family for being unjust! Yingying is the treasure I hold in the palm of my hand. If Gu Tianyou dares to let my precious granddaughter suffer, then he’d better not expect any mercy from me!”

“Even if it ends in mutual destruction, I’ll make the Gu Family pay the price!”

Old Madam Xi didn’t say anything, but the stern look on her face showed her anger. “And Su Zhenchuan, along with that woman.”

Half an hour later, Gu Lian and Yu Liuxue arrived at the Xi residence. After the servants reported their arrival, the elderly couple hurried out. Their eyes were full of concern as they looked at Yu Liuxue, but the moment they noticed the Gu Family member standing beside her, their expressions immediately darkened.

Gu Lian had genuinely thought the Xi elders would welcome her. But when she saw the look on their faces, her heart instantly grew uneasy.

At that moment, Old Master Xi spoke. “Thank you, Miss Gu, for bringing Yingying back. I’m an old man now, so I won’t bother seeing you off.”

Gu Lian suddenly felt so wronged that she couldn’t help but grit her teeth. It was all that Fox Spirit Su Fufu’s fault. This was clearly her brother’s mess, yet she was the one being blamed. Everywhere she went, people had always treated her with courtesy and respect. She had never suffered this kind of humiliation before.

Seeing Gu Lian’s eyes turn misty, Yu Liuxue quickly said to the elderly couple, “Grandpa, Grandma, it’s all thanks to Miss Gu getting me to the hospital in time yesterday that my wounds didn’t get infected.”

“Today, Miss Gu was only acting out of concern. She insisted on bringing me home because she was worried something might happen to me.”

Only then did the couple’s expressions soften slightly, though they still didn’t seem particularly fond of Gu Lian. “If that’s the case, then thank you, Miss Gu.”

Yu Liuxue quickly turned and took Gu Lian’s hand. “Come in and have a glass of water before you go.”

Old Master Xi snorted coldly at that, but didn’t stop them. Gu Lian blinked a few times and said, “Alright.”

Old Master Xi radiated an icy aura, and though Old Madam Xi wasn’t as sharp, she didn’t look any easier to get along with either. Gu Lian sat there feeling like she was on pins and needles, growing more and more indignant and aggrieved. She set down her glass, took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and summoned her courage to speak. “Grandpa, Grandma, I want to marry Su Ying.”

The sudden address of “Grandpa” and “Grandma” from a stranger made the elderly couple immediately snap their heads toward Gu Lian. Their expressions remained blank as they replied, “The Gu Family is a powerful and prestigious household. I’m afraid we’re not worthy of such a match.”

The barbed words made Gu Lian’s temper flare even more. She pressed her lips tightly together, then said seriously, “I’m not like my deranged brother. I mean what I say.”

“My brother mistook a pebble for a pearl, but I’m not like him.” Gu Lian clutched the hem of her clothes. “He’s no longer fit to be the future head of our family.”

“That’s why I’ll compete with him.”

Only then did the Xi elders exchange a surprised glance, but they still didn’t soften. “We’re old and get tired easily from talking. Miss Gu, please see yourself out.”

Though Gu Lian was unwilling, she had no choice but to leave. Yu Liuxue wanted to walk her out, but Gu Lian looked down at her and said, “Get some rest. I’ll come see you in a couple of days and go with you to get your stitches removed.”

Yu Liuxue smiled sweetly. “Okay.”

After Gu Lian left, the elderly couple immediately gathered around Yu Liuxue. “Yingying, didn’t you say you knew what you were doing? Then why did you end up in this state?”

Old Madam Xi gently touched her forehead, heart aching. “What if it leaves a scar?”

Yu Liuxue shook her head lightly. “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m really fine. These little wounds don’t hurt at all. If you don’t believe me, look.” As she spoke, she raised her hand to press on the injury, but Old Madam Xi quickly grabbed her hand, eyes brimming with tears. “Don’t touch it.”

Yu Liuxue leaned against Old Madam Xi’s shoulder and giggled. “You really don’t need to worry about me. In a few days, you’ll understand everything.”

It had been a full week since Gu Tianyou and Su Fufu went public. The elite social circles had been buzzing nonstop. Over tea and meals, everyone was talking about Su Ying, Su Fufu, and Gu Tianyou. What happened that night—Yu Liuxue being bullied by Su Fufu and Gu Lian tearing into her own brother on the spot—still felt fresh in everyone’s memory.

Some people completely believed Yu Liuxue’s version of events, but others suspected it was all a drama she had staged herself.

Some even nearly came to blows with their friends over it.

“Second Miss Su has always been gentle and polite. How could she possibly be so cruel and vicious? Even if what happened that night was an accident, then Su Ying can only blame herself for not standing steady.”

Someone immediately retorted, “Victim blaming? What, you live inside Su Fufu’s head now? How do you know she’s not two-faced? Be honest, compared to Su Ying’s injuries, weren’t Su Fufu’s little scratches nothing? She got a tiny cut and ran crying to Gu Tianyou, but Su Ying? She was seriously hurt and still tried to protect Su Fufu. Isn’t it obvious who’s good and who’s bad?”

Still, most people’s attitude toward the whole incident was: a dogfight, with fur flying everywhere.

As a result, no one really paid attention to Gu Tianyou and Su Fufu’s relationship going public.

Su Fufu nearly bit through her lip. Even though she had gotten everything she wanted, she couldn’t feel happy at all. In fact, she was deeply troubled. Cheng Susu walked in. “Stop worrying. All you need to do now is keep a tight grip on Gu Tianyou’s heart and marry him. Once he takes over the family, you’ll be the noble and powerful Mrs. Gu. Your father and I will bask in your glory.”

Though those words sounded reassuring, Su Fufu still looked displeased. “Isn’t it only a matter of time before Brother Tianyou takes over? He’s already made our relationship public. Don’t worry, Mom. He’s not getting away from me.”

Just then, Su Zhenchuan suddenly rushed home. Cheng Susu and Su Fufu hurried downstairs. “What happened?”

Su Zhenchuan yanked off his glasses and smashed them to the floor, glaring at Su Fufu with a sinister expression. She instinctively took a step back in fear. Su Zhenchuan looked away and growled, “The Gu Family’s illegitimate son has shown up.”

“Illegitimate son?” Su Fufu’s face turned pale. “The Gu Family has an illegitimate son?”

Cheng Susu tensed up. “Did the Gu Family acknowledge him?”

Three days ago, Pei Yiling brought Pei Ronghua to see Yu Liuxue, her heart filled with anxiety. Yu Liuxue poured her a cup of tea, which Pei Yiling hurriedly accepted. After a long inner struggle, she finally blurted everything out.

“Miss Su, I beg you, please help Ronghua. His health is getting worse by the day. If he doesn’t get surgery soon, I don’t know how much longer he can hold on.”

“He’s so smart. He picks up everything instantly. He’s always been my pride. But…” Pei Yiling wiped her tears. “I’ve taken him to countless hospitals. They all said his condition is too rare and they don’t dare operate. Even if someone is willing to try, the surgery and post-op care would cost a fortune.”

“All these years, I’ve worked myself to the bone trying to save up, but I’ve barely scraped together a fraction of the cost. I don’t mind the hardship, but his mother entrusted him to me before she passed. I can’t let her down…”

Yu Liuxue couldn’t help but smile faintly at the System. “I knew it.”

The System was startled. “Host, when did you figure it out?”

Yu Liuxue gave a mocking laugh. “How could I miss such a melodramatic plot twist? I slogged through half a month to finish this book line by line. If I didn’t catch anything, how would I justify these two dark circles under my eyes?”

System: “…” As expected of you. You actually managed to finish it. Ruthless.

Yu Liuxue looked troubled. “I’m afraid I can’t help you with this.”

Pei Yiling quickly looked up. “No, you can! As long as you can help arrange a chance encounter for Ronghua, so someone from the Gu Family notices him, he’ll be saved.”

“If Miss Su is willing to lend a hand, Ronghua is willing to serve you loyally for the rest of his life.”

Yu Liuxue frowned again, clearly reluctant, but finally gave a hesitant nod. “Alright, I’ll give it a try. For now, let him stay here with me.”

Pei Yiling gratefully agreed, then happily left Pei Ronghua at the Xi residence. When Yu Liuxue stepped outside and saw the frail young man, she was startled. “Father Gu’s genes are seriously too strong. He looks just like Gu Tianyou and his sister!”

The System replied with a blank face. “This is a melodramatic world. What did you expect?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” I let my guard down.

Yu Liuxue’s wound was ready to have the stitches removed, and today Gu Lian had come specifically to take her to the hospital. Over the past few days, Gu Lian had been arguing nonstop with Gu Tianyou, but he remained cold and indifferent, as if she were just a petulant child. His attitude only made Gu Lian even more furious.

With anger bottled up inside, Gu Lian was unusually quiet today. Yu Liuxue didn’t mind. After the stitches were removed, Gu Lian politely escorted her back home. The Xi elders had heard bits and pieces about the recent drama in the Gu Family, so their attitude toward Gu Lian had softened considerably. Gu Lian nearly burst into tears.

Just as she was happily about to leave, a familiar face flashed in her peripheral vision. That brief glimpse almost made her think she was looking in a mirror. Gu Lian immediately turned around and saw a frail young man leaning against the wall, coughing violently, blood faintly visible on the tissue in his hand.

Gu Lian frowned and, almost involuntarily, walked toward him.

A shadow fell over his head, and Ronghua instinctively looked up. Gu Lian gasped in shock. “Big Brother?!”

“No.” Gu Lian’s brows furrowed tightly. “You’re not my brother. Who are you? Why do you look so much like him?”

Ronghua weakly put away the tissue. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

The more Gu Lian thought about it after leaving, the more unsettled she felt. In the end, she couldn’t resist turning back to bring the frail boy crouched by the wall into her car. “Come with me.”

Ronghua sat obediently in the car, his pale face evoking a pang of sympathy. Gu Lian clenched her fists, her heart pounding uncontrollably. Could this boy be part of the Gu Family? If so, then her brother wouldn’t be the sole heir anymore. She had always wanted to compete with him for the position, but clearly, she couldn’t do so openly yet. This boy’s sudden appearance was the perfect cover—he could draw all of her brother’s attention away.

Gu Lian couldn’t help but turn her head and smile faintly. Did Su Fufu really think marrying an heir meant she could rest easy? No, the Gu Family had another male heir.

Gu Lian took out her phone. “Ten minutes. I want everything on this person.”

Ronghua looked like he could drop dead at any moment, so Gu Lian didn’t dare delay. She immediately called for a family doctor. The moment the doctor saw him, his hand trembled in shock. “Miss Gu, this young man is…?”

Gu Lian didn’t answer, only urged him. “Just hurry up and examine him.”

That evening, as members of the Gu Family returned home one after another, they hadn’t even sat down before hearing the news that Gu Lian had brought home an illegitimate child. Father Gu was instantly pinned to the sofa by Madam Gu and beaten with a feather duster.

Father Gu jumped up and down, protesting pitifully. “Honey, I swear it’s not me! I really didn’t go out and seduce anyone! This has nothing to do with me!”

Madam Gu was furious. “You’re the only man in this generation of the Gu Family. If it’s not you, then what, did I make him myself?!”

The feather duster didn’t hurt, but Father Gu felt deeply wronged. When he saw the culprit, Gu Lian, strolling in leisurely, he sprinted over like an Olympic sprinter. “Xiao Lian, what’s going on here?!”

Gu Lian blinked innocently. “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that, Daddy?”

At once, the feather duster came flying again. Father Gu yelped and ran away, then went to find Old Master Gu with a serious expression. “Dad, I swear it’s not me.”

Old Master Gu shook his head. “Go see the boy first.”

When the two entered Ronghua’s room, Old Master Gu immediately landed a punch on Father Gu. “He looks like he came out of the same mold as you, and you’re still saying he’s not yours?!”

Father Gu: “…” I’m more wronged than Dou E¹.

The Gu Family was in chaos that night. Word spread quickly, and soon the news reached Gu Tianyou. He immediately dropped the documents in his hand, grabbed his car keys, and rushed home, his expression icy.

An illegitimate son had shown up at the Gu Family’s doorstep? At a time like this?

Clearly, he was here to fight for the inheritance.

Gu Tianyou gripped the steering wheel coldly. He would never let anyone walk all over him.

The news of the Gu Family’s illegitimate son spread like wildfire. In the blink of an eye, it became the hottest gossip of the month, rivaling the scandal of the Gu siblings turning against each other over the Su Family’s second daughter. Onlookers everywhere sighed, “The rich really do have the juiciest drama.”

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all, Yu Liuxue, was being pampered with delicious food by her grandparents. Her wound was healing well, but she stubbornly refused to use any scar removal products. As she popped a cherry into her mouth, she said, “I want the whole world to see how they treated me.”

Old Madam Xi was heartbroken. “But you don’t need to punish your own appearance for it.”

Yu Liuxue thought for a moment. “That’s true.” Then she reluctantly applied the scar treatment to her wound.

Under Yu Liuxue’s careful orchestration, Ronghua’s appearance threw all of the Gu Family’s plans into disarray. As Old Master Gu and Father Gu waited anxiously, the DNA test results finally came back—Ronghua was 100% a Gu Family member, and Father Gu was indeed his biological father.

Father Gu was immediately beaten up by the entire family. Madam Gu locked herself in her room, crying her eyes out and sinking into despair.

Gu Tianyou felt a bitter taste in his heart as he looked expressionlessly at the sleeping boy. This was his brother in name, but also a rival vying for the family inheritance. He had already heard that this boy named Ronghua was in poor health and needed surgery—an extremely risky one at that. Though he hadn’t taken him seriously, Gu Tianyou didn’t dare to let his guard down.

He was already of age. As soon as their father announced his retirement, he should have rightfully inherited his position and become the head of the Gu Family. But now, at this critical juncture, this mess had suddenly appeared.

Ronghua never mentioned his mother, but Gu Tianyou had his own ways of finding out.

He was convinced that this illegitimate child’s appearance was premeditated, and he was determined to uncover the people behind him.

After stepping out, Gu Tianyou ran into Gu Lian. She let out a cold snort and walked straight past him. The once-close siblings had suddenly become like enemies. Gu Tianyou frowned and called out, “Xiao Lian.”

Gu Lian turned back. Gu Tianyou said calmly, “We need to talk.”

“Talk? About what?” Gu Lian was seething. “About when you and Su Fufu are getting married?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Big Brother, are you seriously thinking about marriage at a time like this? Mom and Dad are on the verge of divorce!”

Before Gu Tianyou could respond, Gu Lian turned and walked away. She had already found all of Ronghua’s background information and was in a hurry to explain everything to her mother, so Gu Tianyou was quickly pushed out of her mind. Holding a stack of evidence, Gu Lian pushed open Madam Gu’s door and said softly, “Mom, Dad didn’t cheat. Look, here’s what I found…”

Madam Gu, eyes red, looked up. After a moment of hesitation, she took the documents.

After reading the truth, she was at a loss for words. Finally, she let out a deep sigh. “The grudges of the previous generation have nothing to do with the children. The child is innocent.”

“Tell your father to arrange for his hospitalization.”

Since she was the one who stirred this up, Gu Lian quickly and cautiously asked, “Then Mom, you’re not angry anymore?”

Madam Gu immediately let out a cold snort. “I’ll deal with you and your brother later!”

“You two are getting more and more out of hand! If there’s a misunderstanding between you, then sit down and talk it out. You’re siblings—there’s no grudge between siblings that can’t be resolved…”

Gu Lian forced a smile. “Mom, you know that Big Brother has never yelled at me before.”

Madam Gu was stunned. Gu Lian’s eyes turned red. “But ever since he met that Su Fufu, he’s been snapping at me all the time because of her. Tell me, we’re the real siblings, so why am I not even worth as much as an outsider?”

Gu Lian didn’t want to stay at home today, so she went out and checked into a hotel she had been holding onto for half a month.

During this time, Pei Ronghua officially changed his name to Gu Ronghua, was added to the family registry, and acknowledged his ancestry, causing a massive stir across various circles.

Meanwhile, Pei Yiling had successfully gained Cheng Susu’s trust. No matter what event Cheng Susu attended, she would almost always bring Pei Yiling along. Pei Yiling gradually replaced Su Fufu’s position.

She and Su Fufu were about the same age, but Pei Yiling was younger, more beautiful, and more capable. Combined with her background, Cheng Susu treated her almost like a real sister. This inevitably stirred up Su Fufu’s jealousy. To drive Pei Yiling away, Su Fufu began using the same tactics she had once used against Su Ying. But this time, she was caught red-handed by Cheng Susu. The mother and daughter had a huge fight at home, nearly escalating the matter to Su Zhenchuan.

Unfortunately, a major project at Su Zhenchuan’s company had run into trouble, and he was overwhelmed. He didn’t even have time to go home, let alone deal with his wife and daughter. He was practically living in the company dormitory.

Yu Liuxue stared with her mouth wide open. “I remember I told Pei Yiling to get close to Cheng Susu so she could seduce Su Zhenchuan?”

The System replied in a deadpan tone, “That’s what I remember too.”

The two exchanged a glance. “…?”

Subway Grandpa Looking at Phone.jpg

After being humiliated by Pei Yiling, Su Fufu happened to run into Yu Liuxue, who had just returned to the Su Family. She immediately took out her anger on her. Yu Liuxue fell to the ground before she could even react, but before she had a chance to perform her usual act, Su Zhenchuan came in with a beaming smile, leading in Madam Gu and the Gu siblings.

Su Fufu quickly stepped back a few paces. The moment Su Zhenchuan saw Yu Liuxue sitting on the floor, he immediately barked, “You still know how to come home?”

Gu Lian frowned and strode over to help Yu Liuxue up. Then she turned a cold gaze on Su Fufu. “Did you bully Yingying again?”

Su Fufu quickly shook her head with a pitiful look. “I didn’t. Big Sister fell by accident.”

Madam Gu gave Su Fufu a second look.

Yu Liuxue also spoke up softly, “Miss Gu, my sister is telling the truth. I just lost my balance. Sorry for worrying you.”

Madam Gu’s visit today was clearly about Su Fufu’s marriage. Su Zhenchuan, worried that the prize was slipping through his fingers, immediately snapped at Yu Liuxue, “Go upstairs!”

The project at his company was in serious trouble. If he could finalize the marriage between Fufu and Gu Tianyou now, he might be able to weather the crisis unscathed. Even though people were saying Gu Tianyou’s position as heir was shaky, how could an illegitimate child possibly be more qualified than someone like Gu Tianyou, who had grown up in the Gu Family?

The most urgent task now was to tie Gu Tianyou firmly to his side.

Seeing Su Zhenchuan yell at Yu Liuxue, Gu Lian immediately shielded her like a mother hen. “Uncle Su, please show Yingying some respect. If you dare disrespect my fiancée again, I’ll go propose marriage to the Xi Family instead.”

Su Zhenchuan instinctively looked at Madam Gu. She smiled slightly. “I’m here today to discuss the engagements between Tianyou and Xiao Lian with your two daughters.”

Not just Fufu? Su Ying too?

Su Fufu immediately bit her lip. What right did Su Ying have?!

Everyone sat down, each harboring their own thoughts. After the servants served tea, Madam Gu took the initiative to ask, “I wonder what President Su thinks?”

This matter was rather tricky. Gu Tianyou was the Gu Family’s eldest son, yet he was to marry Su Fufu. Meanwhile, Su Ying was the Su Family’s eldest daughter, but she was to marry Gu Lian. This crisscrossed arrangement made it hard for either family to save face, no matter who got engaged first. After all, how could the older brother marry after the younger sister, or the younger sister marry before the elder?

If he dared let Su Ying marry first, Gu Tianyou would probably object on the spot. But if Su Fufu married first, Gu Lian wasn’t someone easy to push around either.

Su Zhenchuan suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Just then, Yu Liuxue spoke up softly, “Though Fufu and I are half-sisters, we’ve always been close, like real siblings. Naturally, we wouldn’t fuss over such a small matter.”

Su Fufu thought she was giving in and her eyes lit up. She quickly chimed in, “Yes, the bond between my sister and me is beyond question.”

Gu Lian frowned. She looked at Yu Liuxue. Sisterly bond? Did Su Ying hit her head last time or something?

Su Zhenchuan had been waiting for this exact line from Yu Liuxue. Just as he was about to follow her lead and smooth things over, he heard her sincerely suggest, “So, why don’t my sister and I get engaged at the same time?”

“Wouldn’t a double engagement be a perfect high-society tale of joy?”

“Recently, there have been all kinds of rumors about the relationship between me and my little sister. These suspicions have deeply hurt the bond between me and Fufu. But if we were to get engaged at the same time, wouldn’t those rumors collapse on their own?” Yu Liuxue turned her head and gave a faint smile to Su Fufu, whose face had gone pale. “Isn’t that right, little sister?”

Su Fufu’s face turned ashen. Engaged at the same time? You’ve really got the nerve to come up with that!

Are you still not over Brother Tianyou? Is that why you’re trying to use this opportunity to pull a bait-and-switch and end up marrying the right man by getting in the wrong bridal sedan?!

Translator’s Notes