Bo Jin used to quite like her, but now that she had her precious Anxi, and Anxi had fallen victim to a sche, her feelings for Gu Mingzhu had cooled. She smiled faintly. "In that case, Anxi and I will go over. After all, we’re all acquaintances."
Gu Anxi hugged her arm. "Aunt, I won’t join your gathering of elders. We can have dinner together tonight."
Bo Jin smiled and patted her hand. "Good girl. I’ll go straight to the office later. Wait for Xichen to pick you up from school. Don’t run about, understand?"
She gave instructions like a matriarch, and Gu Anxi nodded with each word, exceptionally obedient.
Bo Jin was thoroughly satisfied and couldn’t resist stroking her small face again before leaving with Tang Yuan.
As they left, Gu Mingzhu bit her lip. Once Mother reminds Aunt Bo Jin about Fang Ming, she probably won’t like Gu Anxi so much anymore.
Gu Anxi started to leave, but Gu Mingzhu called out to her, "Gu Anxi."
Gu Anxi turned, a half-smile on her face. "What, you really want to cultivate a relationship with ?"
Gu Mingzhu’s pretty face tensed. "Gu Anxi, don’t get complacent too soon."
"Oh, really?" Gu Anxi kicked a pebble and glanced at the sky. "I’m just wondering. Aren’t you Mingzhu, the ’Bright Pearl’? Why are you living like a ’Demon Pill,’ constantly comparing yourself to others? Aren’t you tired?"
With that, she waved her hand. "I have no interest in fighting with you. Don’t co seeking your own humiliation."
Gu Mingzhu was so angry she stomped her foot. She had never t anyone more arrogant than Gu Anxi! As long as Gu Anxi is in Beicheng, I’ll never be able to shine!
「anwhile」
Tang Yuan, intending to curry favor with Bo Jin, chose a restaurant Bo Jin particularly loved. After they sat down and ordered, the two wealthy won faced each other.
Tang Yuan spoke first. "Bo Jin, it feels like ages since we last sat and chatted like this."
Bo Jin smiled. "I’ve been quite busy lately."
Tang Yuan nodded in understanding. "I get it. It’s not easy being a career woman."
Bo Jin shook her head. "No, it’s because of matters at ho."
Hearing this, Tang Yuan deeply empathized, as she herself had suffered Gu Ning’s overbearing nature. Thankfully, Gu Ning didn’t live with them, so she didn’t have to endure constant frustration!
However, Bo Jin lived with her brother and sister-in-law. Tang Yuan thus assud Bo Jin was on bad terms with Madam Bo, thinking that if she could offer so counsel and gain Bo Jin’s trust, it would then be natural to bring up Mingzhu.
So, Tang Yuan ventured, "Are you not getting along well with Madam Bo?"
Bo Jin looked sowhat surprised, then smiled. "Where did your thoughts wander off to, Yuanyuan? Anxi was sick a few days ago, and the whole family was terribly worried. Add work on top of that, and of course, things have been a bit hectic."
Tang Yuan was taken aback.
It wasn’t a problem between sisters-in-law? Just Gu Anxi being sick?
She lowered her head and silently sipped her coffee.
Bo Jin asked softly, "Aren’t you concerned about what illness the child had, or how she got sick?"
Tang Yuan forced a smile. "She looks fine now."
Bo Jin felt a pang of disappointnt but kept her expression neutral. "My brother and sister-in-law took good care of her; she recovered in two days."
Tang Yuan was dazed for a mont. Coming back to her senses, she gripped Bo Jin’s arm and whispered, "Bo Jin, tell the truth. What is your brother and sister-in-law’s attitude toward Gu Anxi? Do they really not care about Anxi’s birth characters?"
Bo Jin was quite angry. "Xichen has already brought Anxi ho, and my brother and sister-in-law treat Anxi as their own flesh and blood, doting on her. Your question implies Xichen is trifling with a girl’s feelings! When has our Xichen ever accepted any girl’s affections? If he weren’t exceptionally fond of her, why would he commit so early? As for what you call a ’Demon Pill’ or not, the Bo Family doesn’t believe in such things."
Bo Jin added sharply, "My eldest brother’s exact words were: ’If the Gu family doesn’t want such a good child, then we, the Bo Family, will raise her.’"
Tang Yuan was dumbstruck.
It took her a mont to rember her purpose. She said in a low voice, "But her reputation at school is bad. You saw it yourself today."
Bo Jin was furious.
She had initially been willing to endure this al. They were all middle-aged; they couldn’t be too childish!
But hearing those words disgusted her!
How could a biological mother say such a thing?
A flicker of anger crossed Bo Jin’s face. She spoke coldly, "Tang Yuan, what are you trying to imply? That our Anxi is two-timing?"
Tang Yuan, surprised by her anger, instinctively explained, "That’s not what I ant!"
Bo Jin sneered. "If that’s not what you ant, then what did you an, Tang Yuan? I may not have children, but even I know how to care for soone. Don’t you feel any guilt for framing Anxi just to benefit your Mingzhu?"
With this, Bo Jin’s dislike extended to Gu Mingzhu as well. Bo Jin rarely fell out with people, but now that it involved her precious Anxi, she had no choice but to drop the pleasantries.
Anxi might seem aloof, but she genuinely repays everyone’s kindness. She’s good-hearted, wonderful, and outstanding. This biological mother of hers must have had her conscience eaten by a dog! Even Wang Keru, for all her lack of capability, is a hundred tis better than Tang Yuan!
After venting her anger, Bo Jin left directly, without eating.
This encounter effectively severed her ties with Tang Yuan.
Tang Yuan’s heart trembled.
Bo Jin cared so deeply for Gu Anxi, and so did the entire Bo Family!
If Gu Anxi stayed in Beicheng and her true parentage was revealed one day, wouldn’t I be condemned by thousands?
No, I must maintain my image! I can’t... my reputation can’t be ruined!
With trembling hands, Tang Yuan took a sip of water. Just then, a light laugh sounded beside her. "Sister-in-law, enjoying your al? You don’t look too happy. By the way, Bo Jin is supposed to be your closest friend, isn’t she? Why did she leave in a huff, not even finishing her al with you?"
Tang Yuan looked up to see Gu Ning.
The person she envied and hated the most.
Tang Yuan quickly regained her composure. "Isn’t it normal for friends to have so disagreents?"
Gu Ning chuckled, gloating, "For the renowned Mrs. Gu of Beicheng, it’s hardly normal. You’re so perfect, after all. When have you ever openly quarreled with anyone? Oh, that’s right. You only abandon baby girls in secret!"
Tang Yuan lowered her voice. "Gu Ning, was that my decision alone?"
Gu Ning sneered and launched into a tirade. "Back when my eldest brother was hesitating, it was you, the ever-so-considerate Mrs. Gu, who made the ruthless decision, claiming to prioritize the ’bigger picture’! Your decision almost ruined Anxi’s life and indirectly cast a shadow over Changqing’s childhood. Do you know why he dislikes you and Mingzhu? It’s because you abandoned his sister!"
Gu Ning spoke with relish. She had been in England at the ti and found the whole affair utterly unbelievable when she heard about it.
It was one thing for my eldest brother, who dabbled in divination, to believe such nonsense. But Tang Yuan was the child’s biological mother! And for her to act with such ’righteous’ ruthlessness in abandoning her own kin truly astounded .
Being dressed down by Gu Ning like this, Tang Yuan felt utterly humiliated.
Gu Ning lost interest in continuing. She said lazily, "Tang Yuan, watch yourself. You wronged that child from the start, and you’re still harming her now. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?"
Tang Yuan tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Divine retribution? Gu Ning, don’t you think that child has returned for revenge?"
"Are you insane?" Gu Ning scoffed. "It’s bad enough that you’re twisted, but you’ve corrupted the perfectly fine Mingzhu too!"
With that, Gu Ning left.
I know what Gu Yuanshan and Tang Yuan are planning. They want to use the banquet to isolate Anxi, don’t they?
Claiming she’s not one of the Four Great Families?
Does that woman even have the right to decide such a thing?
Gu Ning narrowed her shrewd eyes.
I can’t sway my eldest brother, but soone else can!
「Without delay」
Gu Ning dispatched a trusted subordinate to Qingcheng to find Granny Chen—also known as Gu Rong.
Heh. Trying to play mind gas, Tang Yuan? You’re still far too green!
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