Chapter 6: You Didn't Steal This Card, Did You?

“Heh… I don’t believe big brother can always protect you!” Gu Qingwan tossed out the words lightly and left Gu Luosheng’s room.

Gu Luosheng clenched her fists, the light in her eyes flickering uncertainly. She neither courted trouble nor feared it. Since Gu Qingwan insisted on entangling her, she didn’t mind seeking justice for the five years of youth she’d lost; she was determined to stay in the Gu household for good.

Night had fallen. Gu Luosheng lay on the bed, its softness enveloping her in comfort, yet she felt strangely out of place. Her body was long accustomed to the hard wooden beds of the countryside.

Unconsciously, her thoughts drifted back to five years ago, recalling those early days moving goods in the warehouse—aching back and limbs, gradually replaced by numbness. The faint floral scent lingering on the quilt calmed her heart, and soon she slipped into sleep.

The next morning.

As was her habit from years of early rising to move goods, Gu Luosheng went to the window. She pulled it open and gazed out at the villa’s back garden.

There were many flowers, but not a single one she loved.

Once, when she was still the true daughter of the Gu family, Gu Yunzhou had helped her plant her favorite camellias in the back garden of the villa. But after Gu Qingwan arrived, with just a casual, “Second brother, I like oleander,” Gu Yunzhou had spent the night uprooting nearly ten years’ worth of camellias.

Gu Luosheng rubbed her brow and stepped out of her room.

To her surprise, Gu Yunqi was sitting in the living room, eating breakfast.

“Luosheng, you’re up early! Come, sit!” Gu Yunqi beckoned to her, then turned to Madam Wang, “Madam Wang, bring out that breakfast, please!”

“Yes, young master.”

Gu Luosheng sat beside Gu Yunqi, softly greeting him, “Good morning, big brother.”

“You’re up so early—couldn’t sleep well?”

“No, I’m just used to early mornings.”

Hearing this, Gu Yunqi guessed a few things and shifted the conversation, unwilling to bring up topics that might upset her. “After breakfast, I’ll take you to buy some proper clothes.”

“Big brother, you’re busy with work. I can go by myself.”

“Be good!” Gu Yunqi feigned annoyance, though his tone remained gentle as ever. “I told Mom and Dad last night that you’re back. They didn’t say much. Just settle in and live here as you like.”

Madam Wang brought out the breakfast: steamed buns and soy milk.

“Try these—they’re your favorite spicy tofu buns,” Gu Yunqi said with a smile.

Madam Wang chimed in, “Miss Gu, young master made these buns himself last night.”

Gu Luosheng felt a warm glow inside. She picked up a bun and took a small bite; the taste was perhaps the same, but it no longer seemed as delicious as it once did.

As she ate, Gu Yunzhou came yawning down the stairs.

“Oh, buns today? What’s the filling?” Without a second thought, he snatched one from in front of Gu Luosheng and took a bite.

“Spicy tofu buns? Big brother, did you make these? Your cooking is as good as ever!”

Gu Yunzhou shot him a glare. “I made them for Luosheng.”

Gu Yunzhou shrugged, “Big brother, why do you always side with Luosheng? I’m your real brother, aren’t I?”

“Yunzhou, mind your words,” Gu Yunqi said, growing exasperated by his brother’s rudeness. When would Yunzhou finally change this bad habit?

Gu Yunzhou remained unfazed, “I’m just telling the truth! If Grandpa hadn’t adopted her and let Mom and Dad raise her for twenty years, who knows which mountain village she’d be in now!”

“That’s enough!” Gu Yunqi slammed his hand on the table, startling Gu Yunzhou into silence.

After calming himself, Gu Yunqi called on Gu Luosheng to go out with him to buy clothes.

On the drive, Gu Yunqi spoke first, “Luosheng, don’t take Yunzhou’s words to heart.”

Not wanting him to worry, Gu Luosheng replied with a smile, “Big brother, I don’t mind. I know second brother’s temperament.”

Her words eased Gu Yunqi’s frown considerably. “You always put my mind at ease. Pick any clothes you like later, I’ll pay.”

The clothes Gu Yunqi took her to buy were all quite expensive. Gu Luosheng wanted to pay for them herself, but the words never made it out.

After shopping, Gu Yunqi planned to send her back to the Gu house. “Luosheng, just relax and have fun these next few days. Here’s a card with some money; the password is your birthday. Take it.”

“Big brother, I can’t accept this card.”

She didn’t want to owe Gu Yunqi too much. They weren’t truly siblings; he had no reason to treat her so well.

“Take it, or I’ll be upset!”

“Thank you, big brother…” Unable to refuse him, Gu Luosheng accepted the black card.

Gu Yunqi smiled, “Alright, be careful when you go out—don’t let anyone trick you. Call me if anything happens.”

“Oh, right. We don’t have each other’s phone numbers yet, do we?” Gu Yunqi added her on WeChat, then headed to work.

Gu Luosheng opened Gu Yunqi’s social media feed, filled with work updates—he was a true career man.

Carrying her new clothes, she returned to the Gu house. Madam Wang rushed forward to help her, but Gu Yunzhou stopped her.

“Madam Wang, don’t help her.”

Madam Wang retreated helplessly.

As Gu Luosheng was about to head to her room, Gu Yunzhou blocked her path. He snatched a shopping bag, glanced at the label, and frowned, “Clothes from this brand cost at least a hundred thousand. Can you afford it?”

“Big brother bought them for me.”

“Oh?” He also noticed the black card in her hand and reached to grab it. Gu Luosheng tried to dodge, but burdened with clothes, she couldn’t move quickly enough.

In the end, the black card ended up in Gu Yunzhou’s hand.

“Is this big brother’s card?” He saw Gu Yunqi’s name on it.

“You didn’t steal it, did you?”

Gu Yunqi was the outstanding eldest son of the Gu family, while Gu Yunzhou was the wayward second son—his business acumen couldn’t match Gu Yunqi’s or their father’s. He hadn’t inherited a single gene for commerce. He spent money recklessly, but their father set strict monthly limits. By mid-month, his pocket money was always gone.

He had asked Gu Yunqi for a black card before, but was always refused. His first reaction was that Gu Luosheng must have stolen Gu Yunqi’s black card.

Otherwise, why would Gu Yunqi give his black card to her and not to him?

“That card was given to me by big brother! If you don’t believe me, call him and ask right now!”

Gu Luosheng snatched the card back from Gu Yunzhou’s hand, her action thoroughly enraging him.