Chapter 84: Skilled in Both Literature and Combat
Xu Youyou hadn’t expected that after so many years, seeing Madam Gu’s all-too-familiar face would still make her feel so disgusted.
Madam Gu hadn’t changed at all—still so full of herself.
She could understand why the three Gu brothers, having spent years with Gu Xueying, had developed a natural preference for their fake sister.
But what she had never understood was why her biological mother had already despised her before even getting to know her.
Sometimes, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly the long-lost daughter of the Gu family or merely an enemy sent to destroy their so-called happy family.
And now, Madam Gu was even resorting to threats to get what she wanted.
Xu Youyou smirked. “Gu Fengchuan isn’t dead yet?”
Madam Gu snapped, “You little bastard! How dare you curse your own brother!”
Xu Youyou raised an eyebrow. “Who are you calling a little bastard?”
Madam Gu’s eyes widened with rage. She immediately caught onto the wordplay and spat, “You ill-mannered wild girl!”
Xu Youyou remained completely unfazed. “Oh, right, right—just a wild girl with dead parents.”
Madam Gu was so furious she felt dizzy.
Gu Xueying quickly stepped in, her voice soft and coaxing. “Sister, our mother carried you for ten months and nearly lost her life in childbirth. She has suffered so much all these years—why can’t you try to understand her?”
Xu Youyou found the speech entirely predictable. Every time something happened, Gu Xueying would insert herself, say a few manipulative words, and somehow make Madam Gu hate her even more.
In her previous life, Xu Youyou had practically torn her heart out for the Gu family, but all they ever wanted was her literal heart.
Now that she no longer harbored any delusions about them, dealing with them was as easy as breathing.
She smiled coldly. “Say it a little louder, why don’t you? Let everyone here know that I’m the real Gu daughter while you’re just a fake.”
Gu Xueying’s expression shifted, her eyes flickering with panic.
Even Madam Gu, usually so full of herself, looked suddenly fearful.
Xu Youyou knew exactly what was going through her mind.
Although the Gu family had lost their biological daughter, their adopted daughter, Gu Xueying, had built an excellent reputation in high society. She had a real chance at marrying into a top-tier family, which would elevate the Gu family’s status even further.
Madam Gu cared about Gu Xueying, but what she truly cared about was the power and influence she could bring.
If the truth got out—that Gu Xueying was just an adopted daughter—it would damage her value in the marriage market. All the resources the Gu family had invested in her would go to waste.
Madam Gu’s brain was working frantically. She looked at her biological daughter with disdain and whispered, “So this is why you snuck in here? Just to announce your identity to high society?”
Xu Youyou was honestly stunned by her delusions. She casually replied, “Go ahead and keep provoking me. Maybe I really will shout it out loud.”
Madam Gu clamped a hand over her own mouth, but her eyes were filled with realization.
Gu Xueying lowered her voice, still pretending to be the reasonable one. “Sister, our parents have their own difficulties. I know my identity and have never wanted to take anything from you. Please don’t make things harder for Mom.”
Xu Youyou looked at Gu Xueying’s pitiful expression as if she had just asked for something utterly unreasonable.
“Why are you explaining things to her?” Madam Gu snapped. “If she had any decency, she wouldn’t just stand by and watch her brother die!”
Gu Xueying quickly followed up with, “Sister, our big brother is still waiting for you to save him. Please don’t let your anger at me get in the way of saving your own blood relative.”
Xu Youyou scoffed. “You all really are one big, loving family. If the Gu family cares so much about each other, and you’re so desperate for my help, I might be willing to donate my bone marrow.”
Madam Gu immediately grew suspicious. “You must be plotting something.”
“What could I possibly want?” Xu Youyou said, feigning innocence. “I’m just a greedy, money-loving woman, right?”
Madam Gu’s eyes filled with wariness. “You’re really asking for 10 billion?! Keep dreaming!”
Xu Youyou burst into laughter. “You’ve taken too long to bring me the 10 billion, so the price has gone up. Now it’s 50 billion. I want the entire Gu family’s fortune, or the deal’s off.”
Madam Gu gasped, about to curse, “He’s your own brother! How can you be so shameless—”
Before she could finish, Xu Youyou picked up a glass of juice and tossed it right in Madam Gu’s face.
“A woman your age should wash out her mouth with some juice,” Xu Youyou said coolly.
Madam Gu was so enraged she nearly jumped up. “How dare you! I’m your mother! You unfilial girl!”
Xu Youyou smiled. “Shout louder. Let everyone know about our relationship.”
High society cared deeply about appearances. Madam Gu couldn’t afford to let the truth slip out without her husband’s approval. It was as if Xu Youyou had grabbed her by the throat—she wanted to scream but didn’t dare make a sound.
Even Gu Xueying was stunned.
For the first time, she realized that while Xu Youyou did want money, she genuinely had no intention of acknowledging the Gu family.
Now that Madam Gu had been humiliated, Gu Xueying felt equally mortified. And seeing how Xu Youyou didn’t hesitate to act so recklessly, she didn’t dare provoke her any further.
“Mom, your dress is dirty. Let’s go to the lounge and clean it up,” Gu Xueying urged.
Madam Gu was still fuming. “We’re just going to let her go?! The Lu family’s banquet is no place for such an uncivilized guest. Go tell Shaoyan to throw her out—she snuck in and must be removed immediately!”
Gu Xueying winced. Ever since the gambling stone incident, she had been trying to keep her distance from Lu Shaoyan. If she went to him now, he might misinterpret it as a sign of interest.
Thinking quickly, she whispered, “Mom, Madam Chen has been watching you this whole time. Let’s go to the lounge first.”
Madam Gu and Madam Chen didn’t get along. At the mention of her, Madam Gu hesitated. “Fine, let’s go to the lounge. I’ll deal with that wretched girl later!”
She stormed out of the banquet hall, convinced she could hear Madam Chen laughing at her.
Not far away, Mother Lu watched the entire scene with wide eyes. She hadn’t been close enough to hear their conversation, but Xu Youyou’s smooth, decisive move—dumping juice all over someone—was impossible to miss.
“I was just about to step in and help the girl,” Mother Lu murmured to her husband, “but it turns out she taught me a lesson instead. She’s impressive—she held her own against two people without even flinching.”
Father Lu clicked his tongue in admiration. “No wonder Jingyao likes her. The girl’s got both brains and brawn!”
