Chapter 251: Panicked

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Panicked

Gu Nuan Nuan had just stepped through the Gu Family’s gate when Chen Suxiang eagerly rushed over, a look of urgency on her face. "Nuannuan, is it true what people are saying outside? That your mom found you a stepfather?"

"What if it is, and what if it isn’t?" Gu Nuan Nuan said flatly.

"How can you be so dense, child?"

Seeing her nonchalant expression, Chen Suxiang grew even more anxious. "If it’s true, a stepfather is just as bad as a stepmother! It makes a huge difference." She sighed, putting on a solemn expression as if she had only Gu Nuan Nuan’s best interests at heart. "If it’s true, you can’t possibly agree to it. You have to use every trick in the book to stop this from happening. Otherwise, what will your mother’s things have to do with you in the future? Won’t it all just go to your stepfather and whatever little brats he has with your mom?"

"My mom can give her things to whoever she wants. I don’t have the time to be thinking about it all day." Gu Nuan Nuan scoffed, walking forward without breaking her stride.

"You child, why are you so clueless? I heard the man your mom is marrying is a cripple who only got a job thanks to your uncle’s charity. If it weren’t for the money, why would a young, unmarried man like him even look at a divorced woman like your mother? Don’t you be blind like your mom and only realize you’ve been swindled out of everything when it’s too late." Seeing Gu Nuan Nuan’s attitude, Chen Suxiang became even more frantic. Ever since the Zhang family had risen in prominence, and Zhang Minzhen and her own granddaughter had been living a life of luxury, feasting with Zhang Minzhen’s side of the family, Chen Suxiang had often schemed about getting her eldest son and Zhang Minzhen back together.

In fact, the reason she had tormented Tao Jianren so viciously back then was also with the thought of making her step aside.

But she also knew she couldn’t rush things, especially since the gossip surrounding Tao Jianren’s death hadn’t completely died down over the years. It would be best to let her plans lie for a few more years...

She had originally thought, so what if the Zhang family and Zhang Minzhen were rich now? Who would want a divorced woman? Even if someone did, it would be some undesirable reject, and the Zhang family would surely never agree. So, there was no rush. She could take her time planning. But she never would have imagined...

She stomped her foot. "They always say the original spouse is the best! You child, don’t you want your own mom and dad to be together, so that everything they have will be yours one day?"

"Actually, I don’t want that. Not one bit." Gu Nuan Nuan stopped and looked at Chen Suxiang with sarcasm. "Some people might be missing a hand or a foot, but as long as they haven’t given up on themselves, they can’t be called cripples. Their bodies may not be as whole as an average person’s, but their actions show that their hearts are far stronger than most, earning them respect from the bottom of one’s heart. Also, you’re wrong about something else. My Uncle Song didn’t get where he is today by relying on the Zhang family’s charity. On the contrary, the Zhang family has its current momentum and is developing so well precisely because it has many capable people like him, all working together and contributing their efforts."

Gu Nuan Nuan’s sarcastic expression and words stung Chen Suxiang to the core, and her face went pale then red. But Gu Nuan Nuan wasn’t finished. "No matter who my mom marries, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s my mother. She’s not old, and she has more money than she could spend even if she threw it in a river every day. Tell me, why should she stay single and save herself for someone? Why shouldn’t she get married? My grandpa, grandma, uncle, and I all think Uncle Song is great. He’s not some old, poor, ugly man with bad prospects. He’s handsome, he has his own money, and he’s good at making it. Best of all, he’s never been married, has no other children, and most importantly, doesn’t have a wicked mother-in-law at home who would deliberately make things difficult for my mom."

Chen Suxiang opened her mouth, but no words came out. "..." Her lips twitched with jealousy.

"Besides, my Uncle Song actually fell for my mom a long time ago. That’s why back when my uncle bought big villas in the city for my grandpa, my grandma, himself, and my mom, Uncle Song bought one right next to them. It’s perfect for them now that they’re getting married. The deed to that villa is already in my mom’s name. Uncle Song said it was his betrothal gift. He also said he doesn’t want my mom’s dowry. From now on, my mom’s money is her own, and every penny he earns will also be hers." Gu Nuan Nuan stared at Chen Suxiang, continuing to provoke her. "Grandma, after hearing all this, are you still going to say Uncle Song is marrying my mom for her money? Go on, try and find another man like that. I dare you."

"...There’s no man like that in this world! He... he’s just saying all that to fool you! You’ll see after they’re married," Chen Suxiang said, her voice hoarse. Her throat was incredibly dry, and the jealousy in her eyes was so obvious a blind person could see it. "That’s when he’ll show his true colors. By then, it’ll be too late for your mom to have any regrets."

"My Uncle Song has already transferred the house to my mom’s name, and all the money he’s saved over the years is in her hands now. If anyone should be worried about someone changing, it should be him worrying about my mom, right?" Gu Nuan Nuan glanced at her grandmother’s twisted face with amusement, suddenly feeling that "showing off" to someone like this was pointless. She shook her head and, this time, walked away quickly without giving her a chance to catch up, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Impossible. There’s no way such a foolish man exists in this world. And even if there was, he wouldn’t be for someone like Zhang Minzhen... If she remarries, what will happen to my eldest?" Chen Suxiang was still muttering to herself in disbelief. She didn’t see her eldest son standing not far away, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, his face twisted into a demonic grimace.

Holding an empty water bucket, Gu Jiayi watched them from the side. She had been hesitating for a long time, wanting to get water but trembling with fear, not daring to step forward. She was terrified of disturbing them and bringing some undeserved disaster upon herself. But she really couldn’t wait any longer. If she waited any more, the pot on the stove would boil dry, and if the food inside burned...

She shivered, filled with immense regret. ’Why didn’t I make an extra trip to fill the bucket before I started cooking?’

「Main Hall.」

Gu Wu, who was smoking a pipe, saw Gu Nuan Nuan come in. Knowing she didn’t like the smell of smoke, he immediately extinguished his pipe before asking, "What brings you here at this time?"

The words had barely left his mouth when, before Gu Nuan Nuan could answer, they both heard a sharp cry, which then abruptly stopped.

Gu Wu frowned. "Not a single day of peace." He then remained seated, showing no intention of moving.

Gu Nuan Nuan pursed her lips into a smile. She didn’t even need to guess to know that voice belonged to Gu Jiayi.