Chapter 5: Confrontation Between the Real and Fake Heiress

Each has their own argument, and neither is willing to back down. Gu Yunqi preferred to believe that there must be some misunderstanding between Gu Luosheng and Gu Qingwan, which had led to their mutual estrangement.

Gu Luosheng, not wanting to make things difficult for Gu Yunqi, gently tugged his hand and said, “Big brother, let it go…”

“Let it go?” Gu Yunzhou’s voice was sharp, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Gu Luosheng, why are you pretending to be pitiful? Didn’t you declare so confidently this afternoon that you were leaving the Gu family? Why are you back now, acting all shameless?”

“Second brother, please don’t speak to Sister Luosheng like that…” Gu Qingwan tried to calm Gu Yunzhou’s temper.

Gu Yunzhou patted Gu Qingwan’s head. “Qingwan, you’re just too kind. That’s why Gu Luosheng bullies you.”

Kind? Gu Luosheng almost laughed aloud when she heard that word. If anyone was the most insincere among them, it was undoubtedly Gu Qingwan. No one was better than her at shifting the blame for her own misdeeds onto Gu Luosheng. Once, Gu Qingwan had ruined Father Gu’s favorite painting, and in front of everyone, she accused Gu Luosheng of doing it. Despite having no evidence, Father Gu and Mother Gu believed her without question.

This blind trust had subjected Gu Luosheng to countless injustices.

“Gu Yunzhou, don’t make me slap you. Even if Luosheng has made mistakes, they must have been unintentional—there must be a misunderstanding. Besides, you’ve essentially held her prisoner for five years. Do you feel no remorse at all?” Gu Yunqi, far more mature than Gu Yunzhou, radiated an aura that nearly matched that of Father Gu. Instantly, Gu Yunzhou dared not retort, though his eyes still brimmed with defiance.

“Apologize!”

“…Sorry.” Though Gu Yunzhou was unwilling a thousand times over, he still bowed his head before Gu Yunqi.

Gu Yunqi gave a cold snort. “Mom and Dad are both away on business. If they find out you’ve practically imprisoned Luosheng, who knows what they’ll do to you.”

Hearing this, Gu Luosheng felt a chill in her heart. Would her parents really speak up for her? If that were true, they wouldn’t have ignored her for the past five years. When she had driven into Gu Qingwan, they ought to have listened to her explanation—instead of blindly accepting Gu Qingwan’s words.

Gu Yunqi took a deep breath and spoke gently to Gu Luosheng, “Luosheng, take your things to your room.”

“Aunt Wang should have dinner ready soon,” he added.

Aunt Wang wiped her hands on her apron and said, “Young master, second young master, young miss, dinner is ready. You can come eat now.”

“Alright.”

At the dining table, the atmosphere remained tense. Gu Yunzhou served Gu Qingwan a piece of shrimp. “Qingwan, eat more. Look how thin you’ve become lately. Have you not been eating properly again?”

“Second brother, how am I thin? I’ve actually gained two pounds this month. If I keep gaining weight, I’ll never get married…” Gu Qingwan’s voice was syrupy sweet, making Gu Yunzhou’s heart melt.

“Luosheng, you eat too!” Gu Yunqi placed a piece of baby cabbage on Gu Luosheng’s plate. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give her some meat, but he remembered she loved baby cabbage most.

“Thank you, big brother!” Even though things with Gu Yunzhou had been tense, Gu Luosheng’s heart felt warm. At least someone in this family truly cared for her, was willing to listen, and would speak up for her.

After dinner, Gu Yunqi received a call from work, and, pulling Gu Yunzhou along, hurried off to the company. Gu Luosheng returned to her room.

Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. Before she could answer, someone opened it.

“Sister Luosheng, may I come in?” Gu Qingwan stood there, looking apologetic, her sincerity seemingly genuine.

Gu Luosheng’s voice was soft, yet cold. “You’ve already come in, haven’t you?”

Gu Qingwan had already pushed open the door; asking for permission was pointless now.

With a slight curl of her lips, Gu Qingwan closed the door behind her, then sauntered over and unceremoniously sat on Gu Luosheng’s bed, wrinkling the once-smooth quilt with a few careless movements.

“Why did you come back, Sister Luosheng?”

Gu Luosheng’s gaze flickered as she looked up at Gu Qingwan, whose eyes shone with provocation.

“Gu Qingwan, I’ve never wronged you—why do you insist on framing me?”

“No wrongs between us? Sister, have you forgotten how you stole eighteen years of my life?” Gu Qingwan’s smile was still as sweet as ever, which only made Gu Luosheng despise her more.

“Those eighteen years weren’t my choice. I didn’t even know my own origins. Even so, when you returned to the Gu family, I gave way to you at every turn—so why do you press me so hard, even going so far as to accuse me of hitting you with my car?”

If looks could kill, Gu Luosheng’s eyes would have torn Gu Qingwan to shreds.

Gu Qingwan extended her right hand, admiring her manicured nails. “Sister, forgive me, but I have a flaw—I can’t stand seeing anyone touch what’s mine.”

“If anyone does, I’ll make their life a living hell.”

“Sister, you shouldn’t have come back.”

Gu Luosheng’s eyes trembled. She couldn’t understand how Gu Qingwan’s heart could be so vicious. She had never wanted to compete with Gu Qingwan for anything.

After learning she was not the real daughter of the family, Gu Luosheng had always been careful, never once harboring any inappropriate thoughts.

“You came just to say this?” Gu Luosheng fixed Gu Qingwan with a wary look, afraid she was up to her old tricks again.

But now, with both Gu Yunqi and Gu Yunzhou out, no one was around to witness Gu Qingwan’s performance.

“There’s one more thing,” Gu Qingwan said coldly. “Today, why did Lin Yichen take a slap for you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Liar! Five years ago, when second brother hit you, Lin Yichen just stood by. Why didn’t he help you then? Have you kept in touch with him all these years? Have you been seducing him?” Gu Qingwan was clearly dissatisfied with Gu Luosheng’s reply. Lin Yichen had never been so indifferent to her before—he had changed after meeting Gu Luosheng.

“Gu Qingwan, I don’t like Lin Yichen. Aren’t you so capable? Why not make him like you yourself?”

A cold laugh escaped Gu Qingwan as she rose, glancing down at Gu Luosheng. “Listen to me, Gu Luosheng—this is the Gu family. I have a thousand ways to destroy you.”

“If you obediently leave tomorrow, I’ll at least let you keep your reputation. Otherwise… you know what will happen.”

“I don’t mind making what happened five years ago happen again. Let’s see who Mom and Dad and our brothers believe—you, or me.”

Gu Luosheng stared right back, retorting sharply, “Gu Qingwan, since you show no courtesy, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”