Volume One, Chapter 8: This Birthmark Is Easy to Treat

“Since when did I say I wouldn’t eat anymore?” Gu Caiwei found it utterly baffling.

“Then does eating not shut you up?”

“You!” Gu Caiwei was so angry she slammed her chopsticks down on the table with a sharp crack.

“Chenxiao, why are you being so difficult?” Gu Chenxiao’s tone remained cold; he had no intention of hiding his displeasure in front of the family.

“Yan Chu is my wife now.” His words were resolute and unequivocal.

Although he and Yan Chu shared no affection, Gu Caiwei openly making trouble for Yan Chu was, in essence, a slap in his own face!

Gu Caiwei’s expression changed; she hadn’t expected Gu Chenxiao to be so harsh toward his own elder sister for the sake of an outsider.

Yan Chu looked at Gu Chenxiao with a hint of gratitude.

Even if there was no love between them, Gu Chenxiao was still standing up for her, giving her respect.

Gu Caiwei’s eyes were filled with disdain. “Wife? When you were sick as a child, some charlatan spouted nonsense and our parents hastily betrothed you two. I think this girl came into our family just to get her hands on the Gu family fortune!”

Gu Caiwei was unwilling to accept it.

Since Gu Chenxiao’s birth, their parents had poured all their energy and attention into him.

Now, Gu Chenxiao had a wife again.

Seeing how their mother was all smiles, clearly charmed by this little enchantress, it was obvious that she would have a share of the Gu family wealth in the future.

Another person meant another rival for the inheritance.

Why should that be?

“Fortune?” Gu Chenxiao’s eyes darkened. “Even if Yan Chu was after money, she saved my life, and that alone is worth it.”

“You!” Gu Caiwei was at a loss for words.

“That’s enough!” Grandmother Gu scolded sharply. “Usually, I turn a blind eye to your quarrels, but today is Yan Chu’s first visit! Must you lose all sense of propriety in front of her?”

Yan Chu understood at once.

It seemed the family atmosphere at the Gu household was truly worrying.

Gu Chenxiao had eight elder sisters, and the Gu couple had been so prolific likely just to produce a son; the eight sisters were essentially paving the way for Gu Chenxiao.

But these sisters were far from harmonious, each harboring her own schemes.

On the surface, Gu Chenxiao appeared to be showered with love, but in reality, he bore the weight of countless resentments.

“Mother, have you ever truly understood what kind of person Yan Chu is?” The voice was dripping with disdain.

The speaker was Gu Chenxiao’s fourth sister, Gu Xiaoxuan.

Adjusting her glasses, she said, “Regardless, if she came from a wealthy family, we wouldn’t doubt her intentions. I think third sister’s analysis is quite accurate.”

Gu Xiaoxuan fixed her gaze on Yan Chu. “You cling to my brother’s side, aren’t you here for the money?”

Yan Chu gave a helpless smile. “Even if I wanted to leave...”

She glanced at Gu Chenxiao. “But your brother’s little body isn’t really suited to be struck by lightning again, you know.”

Gu Xiaoxuan was utterly bewildered by Yan Chu’s words. Perhaps it was a lawyer’s reflex, hearing such nonsense, she felt compelled to retort.

Gu Chenxiao’s gaze turned icy as he stared straight at Gu Xiaoxuan. “Fourth sister, the person I choose doesn’t need your approval.”

Yan Chu quietly observed from the side, feeling a mix of warmth and helplessness over the family’s turmoil.

City folk really did have endless schemes.

This meal was doomed to be unpleasant. Just as Madam Gu was about to quiet the mouthy sisters, a loud voice barged in through the door.

“Why didn’t you wait for me to eat?”

Two people came in.

The one leading was a girl heavily made up, wearing a red slip dress, her eyes full of disdain.

Behind her was a younger girl, head bowed, eyes timid.

She was delicate and pretty in a school uniform, radiating innocence.

The only flaw was a pale red birthmark, about the size of a baby’s palm, on the right side of her face.

Grandmother Gu smiled kindly. “Ah, Shu Yi and Ruo Ruo are home from school. Come in quickly!”

The heavily made-up girl was Ran Shu Yi, a freshman and the daughter of the Gu family’s second sister.

Gu Ruo Ruo was the daughter of the sixth sister, a senior in high school. Because of her facial flaw, she had long been insecure and had even suffered bullying.

Yan Chu immediately recognized their identities and noted the obvious hostility Ran Shu Yi bore toward her.

Yet as far as she recalled, she had never provoked her.

Ran Shu Yi’s hostile gaze scrutinized Yan Chu. “Grandma, don’t we usually wait for me to eat? Why today...”

Grandmother Gu quickly explained, “Shu Yi, Grandma thought you had evening classes and worried your aunt would be hungry waiting too long.”

Ran Shu Yi’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “Oh, I see. I thought some important guest came, needing such a big fuss.”

The implication was clear: Yan Chu was insignificant, not worth this aunt’s attention.

Gu Ruo Ruo sat across from Yan Chu, looking uneasy, quietly calling, “Aunt.”

Yan Chu smiled gently at her and was about to reply when Ran Shu Yi interrupted.

“Gu Ruo Ruo, don’t bring your sycophantic act from school into the house!” Ran Shu Yi sneered. “‘Aunt’ indeed! With that poor look, she’s not worthy.”

“Shu Yi!” Gu Ruo Ruo’s sixth sister, Gu Ruolin, frowned in anger. “How can you say such things about your sister?”

Gu Ruo Ruo’s second sister, Gu Rong, took it further. “Isn’t my daughter right? Your Gu Ruo Ruo is bullied at school, always bowing and scraping in front of classmates. Isn’t that just being a sycophant?”

Gu Ruolin’s heart shattered.

The bullying...

She hadn’t known a thing!

Gu Ruo Ruo kept her head low.

Gu Ruolin knew this wasn’t the time to ask and swallowed her emotions, holding back tears.

Yan Chu noticed the birthmark on Gu Ruo Ruo’s face and smiled warmly.

“Ruo Ruo, you know, your birthmark is actually very beautiful.”

Her voice was gentle and sincere; her eyes held no mockery, only admiration.

Gu Ruo Ruo looked up, surprised.

She hadn’t expected this new aunt to say such things.

She was used to people pointing and whispering about her mark, used to being ignored and ridiculed, but Yan Chu’s words gave her a warmth she’d never felt before.

“Really?” Her voice trembled slightly.

Yan Chu nodded and smiled. “You don’t need to feel ashamed because of others’ opinions. Your beauty shines from within.”

Tears welled in Gu Ruo Ruo’s eyes, a warm feeling of understanding and acceptance flooding her heart.

Ran Shu Yi scoffed. “Who would appreciate someone without outer beauty? Like you, without a good family background, you’ll never compare to a wealthy heiress and are not worthy to marry into the Gu family!”

Gu Ruo Ruo, affected by the words, lowered her head again.

Yan Chu tilted her head. “You have a point, but what if Gu Ruo Ruo had outer beauty?”

She looked at the birthmark on Gu Ruo Ruo’s face and smiled confidently.

“That birthmark isn’t hard to treat!”