Chapter 3: What Does Blood Relation Matter?

Housekeeper Shen was certain that Gu Ci didn’t own anything of real quality, and contempt flickered deep in his eyes. Gu Ci glanced sidelong at him, not bothering to utter a syllable, and stepped directly into the car.

Shen, oblivious to the way Gu Ci regarded him as if he were a fool, assumed she was merely guilty and launched into a lengthy lecture, “Miss Gu Ci, I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve walked roads. Whatever little tricks you’re plotting, I see right through them. But let me give you some advice: don’t try these petty maneuvers again…”

Just then, a faint whirring sound came from outside. Shen instinctively turned toward it, only to see a silver suitcase rolling along on its own, “climbing” up beside Gu Ci’s open car door before settling motionless inside.

The way it smoothly boarded the car, its intelligence was astonishing.

Shen’s words abruptly ceased. He suddenly remembered that Miss Zhi Ran owned a smart suitcase too—costing nearly twenty thousand—yet it could only follow her on flat ground. Automatic recognition and boarding? Impossible, and even a mildly inclined path defeated it.

This high-tech suitcase slapped him with the truth, exposing how childish and ridiculous his assumptions and words had been!

Gu Ci spoke with a cool indifference, “Housekeeper Shen, you’re no spring chicken, but your tastes are certainly heavy.”

His face flushed, alternating between pale and green. Thankfully, his phone rang just then, rescuing him from his embarrassment.

As the car started, Gu Ci took out a sixteen-step Rubik’s Cube and began to idly twist it. The silver edges, radiant colors, and gentle glow danced between her fingers.

After ending his call, Shen glanced at Gu Ci and then closed his eyes to rest.

Two hours later, the car rolled into Pine City and stopped before the Gu family villa. Shen opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of Gu Ci still fiddling with the cube in the rear-view mirror, unable to stop himself from sneering.

It was all for show—two hours and the cube was still a mess?

“Miss Gu Ci, stop playing. We’ve arrived.”

Gu Ci looked up, tossed the cube into her backpack, and got out.

What Shen didn’t know was that the “mess” on the cube’s surface matched the topography of Pine City.

He also didn’t know that once the cube was thrown into her backpack, it turned fully silver, its sleek metallic finish identical to the block adorning Gu Ci’s wrist.

As she stepped inside, laughter and lively conversation spilled from the living room.

“Mrs. Bai, thank you for helping Zhi Ran become an apprentice.”

“I’m only introducing you to the master. Zhi Ran’s talent is what earned her the opportunity.”

“Don’t say that, Mrs. Bai. In all of Pine City, only you could secure Zhi Ran a meeting with Master Shen.”

Hearing the commotion at the door, the three women in the living room turned to look at Gu Ci.

Upon seeing her, it was as if someone had pressed the off switch—the room fell instantly silent.

The girl’s features were exquisite, her skin almost too pale, but her plain attire and unbranded clothes stood starkly against the surrounding opulence.

The girl linked arm-in-arm with a lady saw Gu Ci’s face and her eyes darkened.

She was quick to stand, smiling gently and warmly approaching Gu Ci as if to take her hand, “Sister, you’re here! Come in, this is your home, don’t be shy.”

She wore subtle makeup and a new elegant dress from Chanel, radiating refinement. This was Zhi Ran, the “Miss” Housekeeper Shen had mentioned, and the woman she clung to was Gu Ci’s birth mother, Chu Shixian.

Gu Ci responded indifferently, avoiding her hand.

The other refined lady sipped her tea, eyeing Gu Ci critically, “And this is…?”

Chu Shixian looked at Gu Ci, dressed in unbranded clothes and slouching lazily, unable to bring herself to introduce her as her other daughter.

Her mind blank, she felt Mrs. Bai’s questioning gaze and blurted, “She’s Zhi Ran’s cousin, Gu Ci, here to stay with us for a while.”

The words barely left her lips before the air seemed to freeze, the room suddenly chilling.

None of them could pinpoint the source of the cold, and each assumed it was only their own imagination. After a moment, the atmosphere thawed.

Mrs. Bai adjusted her shawl and laughed, “Ah, that explains it. I wondered who you were—so you’re the one from your family…”

She didn’t finish, but the disdain in her tone was unmistakable.

Chu Shixian managed a strained smile, avoiding Gu Ci’s eyes, and introduced her, “Ci Ci, this is Mrs. Bai, our guest.”

Gu Ci’s eyes were deep black. She replied with a hint of amusement, “Understood, Aunt Bai.”

Hearing “Aunt Bai” from Gu Ci, Chu Shixian stared at her in disbelief, as if her heart were gripped in anger. Her body trembled.

Yet, with Mrs. Bai present and Zhi Ran’s apprenticeship at stake, she suppressed her pain and fury. “Ci Ci, you must be tired from your journey. Go rest in your room.”

She worried Gu Ci’s presence would ruin the Gu family’s image in Mrs. Bai’s eyes.

At her words, Aunt Wang came over, outwardly respectful. “Miss Gu Ci, please follow me.”

Aunt Wang inwardly scoffed—no one had prepared a room for Gu Ci. Her eyes flashed with malice, and she led Gu Ci to the most remote room on the second floor.

Once out of sight of Chu Shixian and the others, Aunt Wang’s respectful facade vanished. She jerked her chin at the door, “Here, go in yourself. Don’t come out unless you have to—no need to offend the ladies’ eyes.”

Gu Ci pushed open the door and was immediately assaulted by dust.

She stepped aside, covering her nose, regarding the room Aunt Wang had brought her to.

The space was cluttered with miscellaneous items, dusty curtains drawn, making the already cramped room feel even more oppressive.

Her suitcase stopped outside the dusty storeroom.

“This is my room?” Gu Ci asked.

Aunt Wang folded her arms, indifferent.

Aunt Wang had watched Zhi Ran grow up and considered her a daughter. These past days, Zhi Ran had barely eaten or slept, secretly crying in her room, yet acting strong in front of everyone.

Seeing her so vulnerable, Aunt Wang couldn’t bear to let Zhi Ran be hurt by an outsider.

So what if Gu Ci was blood-related? Zhi Ran was the one who had stayed by the master and mistress all these years!

Thus, Aunt Wang had already resolved to put Gu Ci in her place, to stop her from coveting what wasn’t hers.

Yet, Gu Ci walked toward another direction.

Seeing that the girl didn’t meekly enter her room as expected, Aunt Wang felt a pang of anxiety.

But then she remembered Gu Ci was just a country girl bluffing, and calmed herself.

To her surprise, Gu Ci began opening doors to other rooms one by one—from storage room to music room to dance studio—showing no sign of stopping!

Now Aunt Wang panicked for real. She hurried to Gu Ci’s side, lowered her voice, and demanded harshly, “What are you doing?”

Gu Ci ignored her and opened another room.

Inside was a pink princess bed, pink sofa, and pink carpet, making the entire room look impossibly girlish.

As Gu Ci opened that door, Aunt Wang’s expression changed…