Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon

Chapter 1009: Building A Greater Empire
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

When the topic of Gong Zhan came up, Lin Miao’s face flushed a deep shade of crimson.

How could she possibly know what Gong Zhan’s current situation was? Ever since his release, she hadn’t even seen him once.

However, she knew better than to admit this out loud. The motives behind these people’s questions were far from simple. If they discovered just how distant her relationship with Gong Zhan truly was, they would undoubtedly give her the cold shoulder.

After a brief pause, Lin Miao crafted her response carefully. “As you all know, Gong Zhan sustained some injuries during his trip to the capital. He’s not in a position to attend such a large gathering at the moment. However, he specifically instructed me to entertain all of you on his behalf. Once his health improves—and after my college entrance exams are over—we’ll host another gathering to properly thank everyone.”

She hoped this explanation would suffice, at least for now. All Lin Miao could do was get through this moment. Perhaps if she managed to get into a prestigious university, Gong Zhan might finally see her in a better light. By then, she planned to make a greater effort to mend their relationship. Surely, it wasn’t too late to win him back.

Gong Xin, being the loyal best friend that she was, made a point of visiting Gu Zi as the college entrance exams approached. She even brought a thoughtful little gift along.

Coincidentally, just as Gong Xin stepped out of her car, she ran into Jin Long, who had also come to pay his respects.

Jin Long had driven himself in a sleek, silver compact car. His outfit was impeccably sharp: a tailored suit and a neatly combed hairstyle that exuded a businesslike charm.

The sight of him caught Gong Xin off guard. For a brief moment, he looked like a completely different person. Then it hit her—Jin Long was now the heir of Golden Sun and had already taken over the reins of management. Technically, he was the boss of the renowned hotel chain. Today, his appearance screamed professionalism.

She greeted him with a playful grin. “Boss Jin, you’re looking quite impressive today with this getup!”

Jin Long hadn’t expected to bump into Gong Xin, and the moment he saw her, he hurried over to help carry her things. “Really? You think I look good like this?”

Walking alongside him, Gong Xin chuckled. “Of course! You’re a big boss now—a man with social standing. This look suits you perfectly. I’m sure anyone would find it appealing.”

Jin Long’s face reddened slightly. He had just come straight from a meeting and hadn’t had the time to change. Initially, he had worried that this style might make him appear too old-fashioned. But hearing Gong Xin’s praise filled him with newfound confidence.

Well then, he thought, maybe this was the look to stick with. If he built Golden Sun into an even greater empire, surely Gong Xin would admire him even more.

On the morning of the college entrance exams, Gu Zi’s first task was to take out the bottle of perfume Su Shen had given her. She took a light sniff of its subtle, elegant fragrance, which instantly refreshed her mind and lifted her spirits. Today would go smoothly—she could feel it.

She selected a simple yet comfortable outfit: a white T-shirt paired with loose-fitting jeans. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, brushing her bangs back to keep her face unobstructed. The result was a look that radiated youthful energy.

Carefully, she packed her essentials into a white crossbody bag she had specially bought for this occasion. Made of sturdy fabric, the bag could hold everything she needed for the next two days of exams.

Downstairs, Su Shen had already prepared breakfast for the entire family, with particular attention paid to Gu Zi’s meal.@@novelbin@@

Her plate featured a balanced spread: a pan-seared steak paired with a fried egg and sausage, a bowl of vegetable salad (the veggies had been lightly blanched to avoid any risk of an upset stomach), a glass of warm milk, and a small slice of steamed Malay cake for dessert. The table was nothing short of a feast.

One of the clerks from the slaughterhouse had stopped by early that morning to drop off some documents.

Seeing Su Shen in an apron, serving dishes with the precision of a professional chef, the clerk was so stunned that he couldn’t help but steal a few glances.

‘So this is what they mean when they call him a wife-doting maniac,’ the clerk thought. ‘Not only did he skip work to accompany his wife to her exams, but he even played the role of chef. No wonder he’s so successful—clearly, spoiling your wife leads to prosperity!’

As the family gathered for breakfast, little Su Li, unaware of the importance of the exams, chattered incessantly with Gu Zi, asking her endless questions. Patient as ever, Gu Zi responded to her younger son as she always did, but the two other males at the table quickly lost their patience. With stern expressions, they stepped in.

Su Shen frowned. “Your mom has an important exam today. Stop making so much noise and eat your breakfast quietly!”

Su Bing, ever the action-oriented one, took things a step further. He grabbed Su Li’s plate and led the boy out of the dining room. “Come on, I’ll eat with you in the living room. Let’s not disturb Mom.”

Seeing her second brother being dragged away, a piece of steak still hanging from his mouth, Su Le burst into giggles. But her laughter was short-lived.

Moments later, Su Bing returned and, without a word, picked her up as well. He carried her off to the living room, leaving the little girl pouting and on the verge of tears.

With the two younger siblings out of the way, Su Bing rushed upstairs and returned with a neatly packed box. He handed it to Gu Zi. “Mom, I prepared this stationery kit for you. It’s got everything you might need—pencils, all sharpened, a ruler…”

Gu Zi smiled, her heart warmed by the gesture. “Su Bing, you ran out here just to give me this? Thank you. But don’t worry, your dad already prepared everything I need. Just take care of your siblings at home with your aunt, okay? Your dad has made all the arrangements.”