Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon

Chapter 997: What Do You Want?

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

As soon as Zhang Mei finished speaking, she grabbed Lin Miao’s hand and marched straight into the Su family home without waiting for an invitation.

Gu Zi didn’t stop them—she had opened the door, after all, and had no intention of backing down from this confrontation. Calmly, she closed the courtyard gate and followed the mother and daughter, maintaining a deliberate distance.

Once inside, she gestured politely but coldly. “Please have a seat, Aunt Zhang.”

Zhang Mei, seemingly satisfied with this semblance of respect, glanced around the room before sitting down. Her sharp eyes immediately spotted the teapot on the table.

Without hesitation, she poured herself a cup, as though she were the mistress of the house, and took a sip. Her lips puckered in mild dissatisfaction. “Your husband makes so much money, but you can’t even spring for better tea to serve your guests? Some things, like appearances, are worth spending on.”

Gu Zi raised a brow, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Money doesn’t fall from the sky, Aunt Zhang. Su Shen earns his living through hard work; I can’t just squander it. Besides, I didn’t know you were coming. After all, last time, when Su Li was kidnapped, didn’t you say you’d never associate with our family again? Anyway, let’s not dwell on the past. What brings you here today?”

Unbothered by Zhang Mei’s insinuation, Gu Zi couldn’t help but internally shake her head. The tea Zhang Mei was drinking was a cheap variety Gu Zi had bought specifically to clean furniture. She had brewed a pot earlier to use for polishing, but before she could pour it into a basin, the mother and daughter duo had shown up. Watching Zhang Mei drink it so boldly, Gu Zi felt equal parts amused and relieved—at least it wasn’t the good stuff.

Zhang Mei’s face darkened at Gu Zi’s calm response. She set the teacup down with a decisive clink. “You know perfectly well why I’m here. Gu Zi, why would you humiliate Lin Miao by mentioning her time in prison time in front of her classmates? Do you have any idea how damaging that could be? If the school hears about it and refuses to let her sit for the college entrance exams, her future will be ruined! You used to be so thoughtful—what’s happened to you?”

Gu Zi had already guessed the reason for their visit. Lin Miao must have gone home crying, complaining about her embarrassment at school, prompting Zhang Mei to charge over in her typical, unreasonable fashion. Naturally, Zhang Mei wasn’t here to discuss right or wrong—she was here to defend her precious daughter.

Gu Zi had no intention of accommodating them.

“Aunt Zhang,” she began evenly, “I don’t have the time or inclination to visit Lin Miao’s school and gossip about her past. If you’re upset, perhaps you should ask Lin Miao why she spread rumors about me at not one, but two schools. According to her, your marriage troubles with Uncle Gu were my fault. I didn’t even tell anyone that your divorce was because Uncle Gu had an affair—I was considerate enough to keep that to myself. But you think I should stay silent when asked whether Lin Miao served time? Facts are facts. Did she, or did she not, go to jail? Did she, or did she not, steal?”

Zhang Mei’s face flushed red, and she opened her mouth to argue, but no words came. Cornered, she dropped her accusations and pivoted. “Both of you were at fault in this matter. Let’s just leave it at that. The important thing now is to figure out a way forward. Surely you can do something to help your sister, right?”

Gu Zi’s lips quirked up in a faint, knowing smile. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

Zhang Mei turned to Lin Miao, who, picking up on her cue, adopted an apologetic tone. “Gu Zi, I’m sorry. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have said those things. I don’t blame you for what you said in front of the school.”

Gu Zi chuckled softly. “Well, aren’t you magnanimous? So, what is it you want from me?”

Zhang Mei took over, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “It’s actually quite simple. Since you’re preparing for the college entrance exams yourself, you won’t need your job at the newspaper much longer, right? Why not let Lin Miao take over? If she can’t sit for the exams, at least she’ll have a stable job. And if she does make it to college, we can find someone to cover for her temporarily. Once you graduate, the position will be yours again. Wouldn’t it be better to hand it over to family than to let an outsider take it?”

Her face practically lit up with delight as she made her pitch, as though she were doing Gu Zi an enormous favor. After all, jobs at the Guangcheng Daily were highly coveted—practically impossible to get without connections. If she could secure it for Lin Miao, it would be a tremendous boon for their family and an opportunity to curry favor with others. @@novelbin@@

Gu Zi listened to the entire spiel with a calm, icy detachment. So this was their real goal: her job. These people never ceased to amaze her with their audacity.

Letting out a soft laugh, she replied coolly, “That doesn’t sound quite right. The Gu family has its hands full these days, and I’d rather not trouble you with my affairs. I’ll handle my own work arrangements.”

Hearing this, Zhang Mei’s smile vanished. Her tone sharpened. “Gu Zi, I don’t think you understand. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Lin Miao chimed in, feigning reluctance. “Mom, maybe we shouldn’t push Gu Zi. After all, we’re not blood-related…”