Chapter 19: Qi Xu’s Troublesome Admirers

The anger in Chu Shixian’s heart flared up uncontrollably. “Did she ask you to tell me about transferring schools? Is she bullying you at school?”

Hearing this, Gu Zhiran’s face turned pale and she shook her head repeatedly. “No… I should just go back to where I belong…”

With that, she hurried anxiously toward Gu Ci. “I’ll go bring my sister over. After all, she just arrived. If Master Shen is willing to teach her piano, that would be best.”

How could Master Shen possibly want to teach piano to a country bumpkin fresh from the sticks?

The thought that Gu Ci had treated her Zhiran so badly, and would soon disgrace the Gu family in front of Master Shen, made Chu Shixian instantly reject the idea she’d just had.

“Zhiran, don’t go. I’ll talk to her!” Chu Shixian, restraining her anger, grabbed Zhiran and strode quickly toward Gu Ci.

When she reached Gu Ci, her face darkened completely. “Why are you here, Gu Ci? This isn’t your place! Go back at once!”

Gu Ci found it all baffling.

She sidestepped Chu Shixian’s hand, about to speak, when Chu Shixian, barely holding back her fury, unleashed a barrage of words.

“What grudge do you have against the Gu family that you insist on causing trouble in every possible way? Can’t you stop embarrassing yourself regardless of the occasion? You even schemed your way into Imperial Banquet—how clever you are! Let me make it clear today: Zhiran will always be my daughter. Someone as heartless as you will never replace her!”

Gu Ci stepped back, a hint of cold irony in her brow. “What makes you think I came here for you?”

Chu Shixian was startled, then replied without thinking, “If not for this, what else would bring you here? You couldn’t possibly be eating here, could you?”

She sneered. “Without the Gu family’s support, someone of your status could never dream of dining at Imperial Banquet in this lifetime! Get out, or I’ll call security!”

Just then, a server from Imperial Banquet approached them, polite and distant. “Excuse me, may I interrupt?”

Chu Shixian composed her expression, gave Gu Ci a warning glance, and asked with reserved elegance, “Is there something I can help you with?”

However—

After greeting her, the server turned to Gu Ci, beaming. “Miss Gu, your dessert is ready.”

The server’s appearance was like a slap across Chu Shixian’s face.

Gu Ci really was here to eat?

Moreover, Imperial Banquet never offers takeaway service to regular members, which meant—

Chu Shixian’s face flushed and paled in quick succession.

She forced herself to maintain a graceful smile until the server left, though her heart was unsettled.

Once the server was gone, even in her agitation, Chu Shixian softened her tone and smiled. “Oh, child, why didn’t you tell your mother you were dining at Imperial Banquet? You went out yesterday and didn’t even call, making me so worried.”

“Ci Ci, tell Mama, are you…”

At that moment, a woman draped in luxury brands, heels clacking, strode up to them with an aggressive air.

She raised her hand, domineeringly, and swung it toward Gu Ci. “You wretch! Are you the one seducing Brother Xuduan? So young and already scheming to lure men, shameless! Let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!”

Gu Ci caught the woman’s hand mid-air.

A flicker of resentment flashed in the woman’s eyes. She raised her other hand and again tried to strike Gu Ci.

“You wretch, courting death!”

But before her hand reached Gu Ci, it was seized.

Gu Ci twisted her arm and slapped her hard.

A crisp sound rang out, and a bright red handprint appeared on the woman’s face.

Looking up at her, Gu Ci remained as languid as ever, but her voice was chill and impossible to ignore. “If you want to die, just say so. There’s no need to shove your face over for a beating.”

She glanced coldly at the arrogant woman before her, feeling no recognition.

Suddenly slapped, Meng Yueling was utterly incredulous. “You dare hit me? Do you even know who I am?”

She struggled, only to find Gu Ci’s grip impossibly strong—she couldn’t break free.

Meng Yueling was livid. “Let go of me!”

Chu Shixian, recognizing the woman as Mrs. Bai’s daughter Meng Yueling, turned pale.

She hurriedly tried to pull Gu Ci’s hand away. “Ci Ci, this is your Aunt Bai’s daughter. Please let her go, alright?”

Then, she turned to Meng Yueling, trying to mediate. “Yueling, Ci Ci is a good child. Maybe you’ve mistaken her for someone else? She slapped you, but Auntie will apologize for her. Let’s sit down and talk it over, shall we?”

“Aunt Chu?” Meng Yueling turned to look at Chu Shixian, trembling with anger. “You know her? She shamelessly dined here with my boyfriend, and I caught her red-handed. What’s there to talk about?”

Chu Shixian’s face darkened instantly.

So Gu Ci had gotten into Imperial Banquet through such shameless means?

Chu Shixian also recalled the car Zhiran mentioned picking up Gu Ci when she left the Gu family.

Just then, Master Shen and his entourage returned down the same path.

Meng Yueling’s voice was loud enough for Master Shen’s group to overhear.

Mrs. Bai’s connections in the capital, being married into the Meng family, allowed her to know people like Master Shen and serve as a bridge between them.

Chu Shixian knew from previous conversations with Mrs. Bai that Meng Yueling was highly favored in the Meng family. She never imagined that, at this critical moment for Zhiran’s apprenticeship, Gu Ci would get entangled with Meng Yueling’s boyfriend!

At that moment, Mrs. Bai herself approached, clearly having seen her daughter.

Chu Shixian suddenly raised her hand and slapped Gu Ci’s face hard.

“You disgraceful creature! Let go of Yueling and apologize to her, now!”

Such shameful words directed at Gu Ci, with Master Shen and others watching, made Chu Shixian’s face burn with humiliation.

She wished she’d never given birth to Gu Ci.

Gu Ci tilted her head aside, but Chu Shixian’s sharp nails still scratched a thin red line across her cheek, stinging sharply.

Gu Ci’s eyes darkened, and she laughed coldly. “You believe everything you hear—did a dog eat your brain?”

Chu Shixian’s vision swam with rage. She bit out, “Are you still refusing to apologize?”

At this moment, Mrs. Bai arrived, her disdainful gaze sweeping lightly over Gu Ci. She asked Meng Yueling, “What happened, Yueling? Why are you in Songdu?”

“Mom, you’re here too?” Seeing Mrs. Bai, Meng Yueling immediately became aggrieved. “I came with Brother Xuduan, but who would have thought this shameless woman secretly arranged to meet him! I caught her red-handed, and she even brazenly dared to hit me!”

Seeing the vivid handprint on Meng Yueling’s face, Mrs. Bai’s anger rose.

She recognized the girl before her as Gu Changfeng’s niece, whom she’d seen at the Gu family days ago, so she restrained herself, giving Chu Shixian some face, and asked, “Is there some misunderstanding?”