Chapter 20: Unqualified

Meng Yueling let out a cold laugh. “What misunderstanding could there possibly be? Brother Xuduan’s assistant already told me everything!”

Brother Xuduan. His assistant.

At that, Gu Ci instantly understood what was going on.

Madam Bai patted Meng Yueling’s hand in a soothing gesture. “Shixian, your niece is just like the rest of your second branch—no sense of propriety at all.”

A wave of blackness swept across Chu Shixian’s vision, her face burning with embarrassment. At that moment, she truly regretted bringing Gu Ci back! Sure enough, a child not raised by her side would pick up all the vulgar habits of poverty and backwardness. If it were her own Zhiran, how could she possibly have done something so disgraceful?

She opened her mouth, guilt etched across her face as she looked at Madam Bai and Meng Yueling. “Yueling, Aunt Chu apologizes on her behalf, all right?”

With these words, Chu Shixian was essentially admitting for Gu Ci that she had seduced Meng Yueling’s boyfriend.

Meng Yueling snorted and turned her head away.

Madam Bai remained composed and unhurried, but her gaze toward Gu Ci brimmed with disdain. “Shixian, there’s no need for you to apologize for her. She isn’t your daughter—none of this has anything to do with you. If anyone should apologize, it ought to be her.”

“She’s not a child anymore. She makes mistakes and still expects her aunt to clean up after her?”

At this, Chu Shixian’s heart lurched violently. She shot Gu Ci a warning look. “Gu Ci, hurry up and apologize to Yueling! If you don’t, even I won’t be able to help you!”

Meng Yueling looked at Gu Ci with a triumphant glint in her eyes, chin raised high. “I want her to slap herself three times and loudly admit she’s just a shameless little vixen!”

Chu Shixian rubbed her forehead and waved her hand, exhausted. “As long as you feel better, Yueling.”

Gu Ci’s cool, elegant brow held a hint of indifference; she had no desire to entangle herself further with them.

She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Qi Xuduan: “Your girlfriend is with me.”

Qi Xuduan replied almost instantly.

“???”

“Gu Xiaoci, tell me, since when do I have a girlfriend?”

Gu Ci raised her brows, replying slowly, “Nothing.” Then she turned to Meng Yueling. “So, you’re Qi Xuduan’s girlfriend?”

To Meng Yueling and the others, this sounded like brazen denial and deliberate provocation.

Madam Bai sneered. “Shixian, don’t blame me for being harsh today. I simply have no patience for these vixens who think a pretty face can carry them anywhere.”

—

Chu Shixian’s anger flared. “Gu Ci, how could I have such a shameless… niece!”

She was here apologizing on Gu Ci’s behalf, but how did Gu Ci respond? By pouring oil on the fire!

Did she really think she was anything without the Gu family?

With a sigh, she shot another apologetic look at Meng Yueling. “Never mind, Aunt Chu, it’s not your fault,” Meng Yueling replied, arms folded and lips curled in a cold smirk. “If I’m not Brother Xuduan’s girlfriend, does that mean you are?”

She tossed Gu Ci a malicious glance, then looked to Chu Shixian and Madam Bai. “Mom, Aunt Chu, I’d like to handle this myself. Why don’t you both go ahead?”

Madam Bai cast a light glance at Gu Ci, then took Chu Shixian’s arm. “Let the children settle their own affairs. Let’s not keep Master Shen waiting.”

Chu Shixian understood all too well that Meng Yueling and Madam Bai intended to teach Gu Ci a lesson.

Yet Gu Ci remained languid, leaning against the wall playing with her phone, completely unbothered.

No longer wishing to speak, Chu Shixian’s expression turned cold. “Fine! Gu Ci, your parents will be arriving in Songdu soon. From now on, I won’t concern myself with anything you do!”

This was a clear signal that the Gu family would no longer involve itself with Gu Ci.

Of course, she was so eager to distance herself only because she feared implicating Gu Zhiran or their family—she didn’t want to offend the Meng or Bai families either.

Gu Ci’s lips curled faintly, but she said nothing.

Madam Bai looked pleased. She issued a final instruction to Meng Yueling: “I’ll leave two bodyguards here for you. Teach her a lesson, but don’t go too far—she’s still your Aunt Chu’s niece.”

Chu Shixian’s eyelids twitched, but she said nothing and didn’t glance at Gu Ci again.

On the way, she asked Madam Bai, “Weren’t you heading to the conservatory? Why are you back so soon?”

Madam Bai’s eyes sparkled with a smile as she lowered her voice, “There’s an important guest from the capital inside. We didn’t want to disturb him. Only Master Shen went in to greet him. Apparently, the gentleman is waiting for someone, so Master Shen didn’t linger.”

She claimed it was out of respect, but in truth, they simply weren’t qualified to enter. Chu Shixian understood perfectly.

She glanced toward the conservatory, awe and envy flickering in her gaze. “I wonder who that might be…”

If only the Gu family could have the fortune to know someone of such status—someone even more eminent than Madam Bai and Master Shen.

Yet Madam Bai gave her a look that brooked no inquiry. “Some matters are best left alone.”

After returning, Chu Shixian and Madam Bai apologized to Master Shen for the delay.

—

Madam Bai’s smile was all surface, no warmth. “Yueling and that girl need to talk. Let them work it out themselves.”

Everyone understood, though, that she’d left Meng Yueling two bodyguards.

Gu Zhiran spoke softly, “Aunt Bai, maybe it’s a misunderstanding? My cousin’s family lived in the countryside for years; I had no idea she knew Yueling’s boyfriend… maybe she didn’t either…”

Chu Shixian cut her off. “Enough, Zhiran, you don’t need to speak for her.”

“Let’s go,” Master Shen said, his brows knit in displeasure. He had just witnessed Gu Ci striking Meng Yueling and was naturally displeased with her. Zhiran, however, always saw the best in everyone…

He spared no more glances for Gu Ci and headed toward the door.

Seeing that Master Shen’s displeasure did not extend to the rest of the Gu family, Chu Shixian and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Once they left, Meng Yueling no longer held back. She sneered viciously, advancing on Gu Ci with the two bodyguards in tow.

“Weren’t you so arrogant just now, Gu Ci? Let’s see how you act when even the Gu family has washed their hands of you. What do you have left?”

She raised her hand, malice gleaming in her eyes as she directed the bodyguards, “Swell her face for me, strip her, and toss her out of the Imperial Banquet. Let’s see who she seduces next!”

“Yes, miss!” The bodyguards grinned menacingly, closing in on Gu Ci step by step.

Yet, just as they were about to touch her, Gu Ci lazily rolled up her sleeves, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Did you really think…”

She lifted her leg and, with one swift kick each, sent both men flying!

With two heavy thuds, the men crashed to the ground.

Meng Yueling, convinced the bodyguards would protect her, had never considered the possibility of being overpowered by Gu Ci.

She raised her hand, intending to strike Gu Ci herself, but in that instant Gu Ci seized her wrist and, with a graceful and decisive movement, flipped her over her shoulder.

Meng Yueling landed hard, hair in disarray, pain radiating through her body.

Gu Ci finished the sentence she’d left hanging, her tone languid, “You thought you could wait for them to leave?”