Chapter 17: Humiliating Oneself
When Gu Fengchuan heard this, he couldn’t help but be tempted.
The seat Xu Youyou was sitting in was right next to Lu Jingyao. Everyone in Shanghai wanted to establish a connection with Mr. Lu, and the Gu family was no exception.
Coincidentally, Gu Fengchuan had a project recently and hoped to involve Mr. Lu in it.
In no time, the siblings reached an agreement. However, Gu Xueying, used to hiding behind her brother, lagged slightly behind.
Gu Fengchuan walked up to Xu Youyou without feeling that his actions were inappropriate.
“Youyou, it’s rare to have this opportunity. Let’s sit together and strengthen our bond,” Gu Fengchuan said, barely offering an excuse.
With that, he plopped down beside Xu Youyou—right next to Mr. Lu.
Xu Youyou was baffled by his actions.
“We’re family. You’ll return to the Gu family sooner or later,” Gu Fengchuan added.
Gu Xueying chimed in, “Sister, I’ll do my best to help you integrate into the Gu family.”
She also sat down.
Xu Youyou was only a step behind in reacting, but she wasn’t stupid. Watching the siblings’ self-serving behavior, it was clear they weren’t there to bond with her but to gawk at Lu Jingyao.
“I mean, aren’t you two a little too full of yourselves?” Xu Youyou frowned.
Gu Fengchuan turned his head and casually said, “Youyou, you’re part of the Gu family. You should prioritize the bigger picture.”
Gu Xueying added, “Sister, I know you still hold a grudge against me, but making a scene in public will only embarrass the family. Please calm down.”
Perhaps because of her second life, Xu Youyou no longer let Gu Xueying’s words provoke her as easily.
She smiled at the siblings and said, “It seems you both are truly shameless.”
Under their puzzled gazes, Xu Youyou raised her voice slightly and called over a staff member. “These two aren’t my companions, yet they’re occupying my space. Could you do something about it?”
The staff member quickly approached. “Mr. Gu, Miss Gu, your seats are in the back row. Taking someone else’s place puts us in a difficult position.”
Gu Fengchuan pointed at Xu Youyou and said, “She’s my sister. We’re family; it’s all the same.”
Xu Youyou sneered, “You’re surname is Gu, I’m Xu. How are we family?”
After glancing at the three of them, the staff member gestured politely for the Gu siblings to leave.
Feeling embarrassed, Gu Xueying cast a glance at Lu Jingyao and lowered her voice. “Sister, my brother has an important project to discuss with Mr. Lu. Now isn’t the time for you to be willful.”
Gu Fengchuan also glared at Xu Youyou, sure that she would relent for the sake of the bigger picture.
To his surprise, Xu Youyou raised her voice again. “The Gu family? The so-called prestigious Gu family of Shanghai? Just because you don’t have front-row seats, you think you can snatch someone else’s? Have you no shame?”
The argument in the front row had already drawn attention, but Xu Youyou’s loud voice caused the entire room to fall silent. All eyes turned to the Gu siblings with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
Gu Xueying’s face turned bright red—she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Gu Fengchuan stared at Xu Youyou in disbelief.
“Are you insane?” he demanded, shocked that his so-called “sister” was giving him no face at all.
Xu Youyou rolled her eyes. “You’re the one stealing someone else’s seat, and I’m the crazy one?”
The staff member, nervous about the escalating scene, tried to mediate. “Mr. Gu, all the guests here are distinguished. If this gets out of hand, it won’t reflect well on your family.”
Realizing he couldn’t get his way, Gu Fengchuan returned to his seat, furious and confused.
His research indicated Xu Youyou grew up in an orphanage and had a timid, introverted personality. Under normal circumstances, a girl like her would silently endure such treatment rather than cause a scene.
But Xu Youyou wasn’t behaving like he expected—she was far more confident and sharp.
Gu Xueying, too, had never imagined she’d be humiliated like this. She regretted not having sleeves to hide her face behind as she slunk back to her original seat.
Although she missed the chance to get close to Lu Jingyao, her competitive spirit burned brighter. She viewed Xu Youyou as a rival and was determined to block her path back to the Gu family.
“Sister must still be angry with me,” Gu Xueying muttered to Gu Fengchuan, pretending to be sympathetic. “Even if she is, she shouldn’t embarrass you like this in public.”
Gu Fengchuan snorted coldly. “That orphanage brat has no manners or upbringing. She’s nothing compared to you.”
Hearing her brother’s words eased Gu Xueying’s embarrassment, though her gaze remained fixed on the front row.
Lu Jingyao, having witnessed the Gu siblings’ spectacle, couldn’t help but glance at Xu Youyou again.
“What’s her connection to the Gu family?” he asked his assistant, Liu.
Liu, looking somewhat helpless, replied, “Mr. Lu, I only know that she appeared out of nowhere. She grew up in an orphanage and recently won the lottery. She bought a luxury apartment in Tomson Riviera outright, but we couldn’t trace the source of her wealth.”
Lu Jingyao wasn’t displeased with Liu’s report. Instead, his curiosity about Xu Youyou deepened.
After shooing away the “flies,” Xu Youyou resumed flipping through the auction catalog.
Soon, the auctioneer took the stage, signaling the start of the event. The staff, relieved that the front-row drama had ended, hoped nothing else would disrupt the proceedings.
The first item up for bid was a pink diamond necklace, starting at 2 million yuan.
Xu Youyou admired its brilliance but had no interest in wearing heavy jewelry, so she didn’t place a bid.
Neither did Lu Jingyao, clearly not here for the necklace.
Just as Xu Youyou was waiting for the item to sell, a familiar voice called out a bid.
She turned and saw Gu Fengchuan.
“If you like it, I’ll buy it for you,” he said, smiling at Gu Xueying.