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Yu Ningxuan stood in the distance, incredulous, watching Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong walk hand-in-hand towards the main seat where Old Master Gu was seated. When did they get together? She had always only dared to admire Meng Jingdong from afar, never daring to speak to him proactively. But Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong were so intimate—what was their relationship?
“Mom, what’s going on with them?”
Gu Yalan was also unsure: “Let’s ask your grandmother after it’s over. If they have a relationship, they’ll probably announce it at the banquet, right?”
Announce it? Doesn’t that mean it’s a done deal? Yu Ningxuan felt a pang of displeasure. How could it be Lu Tian? Her character is so bad, how could Meng Jingdong be with her?
But weren’t they silently announcing it to the world? Did the Meng family need to make a big fuss about everything they did? Yu Ningxuan recalled a piece of gossip from a classmate a while ago, saying that Meng Jingdong had already gotten a marriage certificate. She didn’t believe it at the time, but later, when she went to look for the news again, it had been completely deleted.
Gu Yalan knew what she was thinking, but Meng Jingdong didn’t even know Yu Ningxuan, so what other relationship could there be?
“Xuanxuan, Meng Jingdong is nothing. Don’t compete with Lu Tian. We need to be careful right now. A little bit of grievance is better.”
Yu Ningxuan nodded absentmindedly. Seeing that she didn’t refute her scheming as she used to, Gu Yalan felt relieved. Old Mrs. Gu had always doted on her since she was a child, because she was thoughtful. When people get old, they hope their children will be by their side. Whoever is obedient and filial will be favored by Old Mrs. Gu. Besides, she didn’t do what happened back then, so the Gu family wouldn’t hold her responsible. As long as they get through this awkward period, they can still interact with the Gu family in the future. Does it matter whether she’s biologically related or not? She still has over forty years of inseparable family ties.
After the mother and daughter finished their socializing near Old Mrs. Gu, Gu Yalan naturally took Old Mrs. Gu’s arm. Tian Jing subconsciously wanted to let go, but Old Mrs. Gu timely held her hand, her eyes kind and apologetic.
Tian Jing’s heart softened, and she accompanied Old Mrs. Gu, with Gu Yalan on one side, to see off her well-connected elderly friends.
Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong stood together, their attention focused on Gu Yalan and her mother, afraid that Tian Jing might bump into Gu Yalan, who was like an invisible person. If she caused Gu Yalan to miscarry, it would be impossible to explain.
“What are you worried about?” Meng Jingdong, who had been standing near her, suddenly asked.
Lu Tian remained impassive: “I’m worried about my mother being taken advantage of. Is that wrong?”
Meng Jingdong was clearly taken aback. Since Lu Tian disrupted the engagement ceremony between Yu Han’s families, she seemed to have changed her personality. When she saw him, she was first nervous and then assertive. After signing the agreement, that nervousness completely disappeared, and she spoke to him absentmindedly. Are women so fickle?
He good-naturedly shook his head, not paying much attention to her affairs.
Meng’s father didn’t stay long. This visit was mainly because of the relationship between Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong. It wouldn’t do to not interact as relatives, so he just made an appearance and left quietly. Tian Jing couldn’t leave, so Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong saw him off.
“You two go ahead and have fun. I’ll go with the driver. Jingdong, take care of Tiantian.” Meng’s father said gently, his eyes full of wisdom.
Lu Tian didn’t dare meet his gaze, naturally taking Meng Jingdong’s hand and saying, “Dad, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Meng’s father waved his hand, and the driver quickly started the car and left. The two of them walked back to the banquet hall. Under the cover of night, Lu Tian subtly let go of his hand, letting out a sigh of relief.
“Hey, you two lovebirds hiding here?”
A playful voice came from a nearby car. They looked over, and the window rolled down, revealing a handsome man with an amused expression, his gaze on their hands. Lu Tian recognized him at first glance but couldn’t remember where she had seen him.
The handsome man opened the car door and walked towards them, tall and elegant. He must have been smoking in the car because he smelled strongly of tobacco.
“Lu Tian, let me introduce you. This is Lu Zhengyang, my aunt’s brother.”
Lu Tian’s eyes lit up, and she proactively extended her hand: “Hello, my name is Lu Tian, the ‘Lu’ of ‘deer’.”
The two shook hands, touching lightly before immediately separating.
“Jingdong, if you have something to talk about, I’ll go ahead.”
Meng Jingdong nodded noncommittally: “Go ahead.”
She smiled at Lu Zhengyang, lifted her skirt and walked towards the banquet hall. Even after she had walked far away, she could still hear Lu Zhengyang’s questioning voice: “Your wife seems afraid of you?”
“No, she’s a little tired from the busy banquet today.”
The rest of the conversation was lost in the wind. Lu Tian sighed. She finally met the original male protagonist. Lu Zhengyang was the son of the Lu family’s parents, born unexpectedly at nearly forty years old. The original novel didn’t reveal the relationship between the original protagonist and Lu Chengyang, and naturally didn’t mention that Lu Zhengyang was Lu Tian’s uncle.
The long-legged uncle was here today to protect Yu Ningxuan. In the original plot, they got drunk and slept together when Yu Ningxuan was heartbroken and despairing. The long-legged uncle had a sudden infatuation, and his feelings for Yu Ningxuan grew stronger.
She opened her phone calendar to see the time she had marked when she first time-traveled. It was about five months before the original protagonist died in an accident. When she read this novel before, she skimmed through it, only remembering the most general plot.
Many things would happen in these five months: Lu Chengyang and Old Master Gu died one after another; Gu Yalan miscarried; Old Mrs. Gu scolded the original protagonist; Yu Ningxuan and Lu Zhengyang got engaged; and the original protagonist had to act recklessly in just five months—divorce Meng Jingdong, encourage the female protagonist to strive forward, promote the relationship between the male and female protagonists, deepen the dislike of many male supporting characters towards her, and then die tragically on next year’s Valentine’s Day.
It’s a tight schedule…
By the time the guests left, it was late at night. The five Gu brothers went out drinking with friends; the uncle and aunt were also socializing; only Tian Jing’s family and the elderly couple were left in the living room. After Gu Yalan and Yu Ningxuan came in, they smiled ingratiatingly at Tian Jing.
“Mom, we’re going back now.”
“Okay, be careful on your way.” Old Mrs. Gu didn’t want to keep them, afraid of misleading Tian Jing. They were originally mother and daughter, but now they were like strangers. Old Mrs. Gu wanted to get closer to Tian Jing and cultivate their feelings, but seeing the disappointment on Gu Yalan’s face, she felt a little reluctant. Seeing that Old Master Gu didn’t speak, she held back and didn’t say anything.
Gu Yalan just wanted Old Mrs. Gu to see her grievance, and as soon as the effect was achieved, she left immediately. Tian Jing saw everything, barely suppressing the fire in her heart, and said, “Dad, Mom, we should go home too. I have things to do at the company tomorrow.”
Old Master Gu hesitated, and Old Mrs. Gu blurted out, “Why do you always have things to do at your company?”
After saying that, seeing Tian Jing’s bad complexion, she changed her words: “I’m afraid you’re too tired.”
“What’s so tiring about running my own business?” Tian Jing didn’t like Old Mrs. Gu’s tone. She was decisive in her actions and didn’t like scheming. Originally, she had no resentment, but now, comparing the two, she couldn’t help but feel resentful, so her words were not so pleasant.
Lu Tian lowered her eyes and said nothing. Logically speaking, Tian Jing’s return to the Gu family was a good thing, adding to her success and making it easier to advance her career. But the Gu family kept Gu Yalan in her original position, and knowing her identity yet still allowing her to usurp her place, anyone would find it unbearable. She didn’t want to quarrel with the Gu’s parents, so she simply avoided it.
But Old Mrs. Gu also hoped Tian Jing would stay by her side, so there would inevitably be conflicts. Gu Yalan, as the beloved daughter, would play her role at the right time, exacerbating the conflicts and pushing the mother and daughter further and further apart. In the plot, the original protagonist was even more indignant than Tian Jing, which concealed Tian Jing’s thoughts. Now that the original protagonist was gone, Tian Jing’s emotions were in full view.
Old Master Gu sighed, “Jingjing, don’t be angry. I’ll compensate you for what happened just now. Dad promises you, okay?”
He was old and sincere, so Tian Jing couldn’t bear to continue being angry. The Gu and Yu families were in-laws. If Gu Yalan didn’t divorce her husband, Yu Shao, then the Gu family would have to consider the Yu family. Moreover, if they went to find Old Mrs. Tian for compensation, even if they squeezed her dry, they wouldn’t get anything. After weighing everything, it turned out that being wronged was the most wronged one.
However, it was one thing to understand this in her heart, but it was another thing to see what her biological mother did. Tian Jing hadn’t expected much maternal love to begin with, and now it was completely shattered.
“I understand, Dad, Mom. I was just angry just now. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken like that.” Cutting off the knot is Tian Jing’s character from a young age. Since she didn’t care about Old Mrs. Gu’s affection, she might as well get what the Gu family owed her to expand her company. With strength comes power. So what if Gu Yalan grew up in the Gu family? She would eventually step on Gu Yalan and make her look up to her!
Old Master Gu breathed a sigh of relief and took out the compensation he had prepared for them, including what the Yu family had given on behalf of Gu Yalan and Old Mrs. Tian. Because they knew about the relationship between Lu Tian and Meng Jingdong, the portion for Lu Tian was temporarily doubled.
There were properties, shops, cash, and jewelry. Tian Jing glanced through it roughly and asked uneasily, “Dad, actually, you don’t need to do this. I…”
“Jingjing, this is what should be compensated to you and Tiantian. You suffered so much outside for so many years. It’s Dad’s fault. This little compensation is nothing. The Gu family owes you, and we’ll make it up to you slowly. You are the only biological daughter of the Gu family. This is your home, and you are the master here!” Old Master Gu made a final decision.
“Yes, Jingjing, don’t worry. Mom loves you the most. After all, you are my biological daughter!” Old Mrs. Gu said emotionally.
Tian Jing was moved and held the hands of the elderly couple: “Dad, Mom, I will definitely come back often to accompany you. I also want to make it up to you. For so many years, I haven’t been able to live up to your expectations…”
“Don’t cry, child. Now our family is reunited, and we have a long time to come!” Old Master Gu hadn’t been so emotional for a long time.
“Yes, Grandpa and Grandma, don’t get too excited. Let’s talk slowly.” Lu Tian, who had also received her performance fee, diligently handed tissues to the three of them. At the same time, she gave Tian Jing a thumbs-up in her heart. Not only did she get compensation, but she also made the Gu’s parents feel even more guilty, unknowingly enhancing their family ties, achieving multiple goals at once!
Author’s Note:
Real benefits are more important.
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