I just got resurrected. 💀💀

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Chapter 367: Coming Uninvited

Aunt Wang spoke with a tone of disdain, "Stop pretending to be wealthy. No matter how genuine your knock-offs may appear, you're still country bumpkins. You have no sense of propriety, coming to a wedding feast empty-handed. How can you have the nerve?"

Aunt Wang and her husband exchanged a knowing glance, their faces adorned with a contemptuous smile that suggested they saw through everything. They suspected that the couple, Gu Zi, had spent all their money on their outfits to save face, leaving them with nothing to buy a gift. The thought amused them greatly.

They couldn't fathom why Gu Shan and Zhang Mei would invite such people to the banquet. These country bumpkins were simply not fit for such an occasion. Aunt Wang was about to voice her thoughts when her husband stopped her.

Her husband was well aware that their own gift was not of any significant value. It was merely everyday items like cigarettes, alcohol, and biscuits that others had given them and they hadn't finished. This made them seem more considerate than the empty-handed Gu Zi couple, but there was no need to voice this so loudly. He was not willing to lose face alongside his wife.

He was also in a hurry to meet Deputy Chief He. He had brought a bottle of fine wine that he had been saving, intending to present it to the Deputy Chief. He had heard that the Deputy Chief had already arrived and he did not want to be delayed by this couple any longer.

He chastised his wife, saying generously, "You're not young anymore, yet you talk so much. Gu Zi is the adopted daughter of the Gu family, it's only right that she's here. Let's stop talking about this and go in. Gu Zi, you go in first."

The tall, thin man appeared polite and humble at this moment, but in reality, he was afraid that entering with Gu Zi would damage his reputation. That's why he urged them to go in first, a move that was hypocritical and pretentious.

Gu Zi and Su Shen saw through his act but didn't mind. They didn't want to have much to do with these people. Gu Zi declined his offer, saying, "Uncle, why don't you take Aunt Wang in first? You seem to be in a hurry. My husband and I are not."

Aunt Wang snorted coldly and said to her husband, "See? She doesn't appreciate it. Let's not bother with her. Whether she can get in or not is still a question. She might just be here to cause trouble. Let's go."

Aunt Wang's husband, seeing Gu Zits indifferent expression, was taken aback. He thought to himself that Gu Zi, who was no longer the Gu family's darling, was ungrateful. He had spoken earlier to save her face, but she didn't appreciate it. Well, then he wouldn't bother with her anymore.

"Let's go in then. Gu Zi, you and your husband take your time," they said, turning to walk towards the entrance. Aunt Wang's mocking voice floated back, "Let's see if Zhang Mei invited them or if they came uninvited. There will be a good show to watch soon, haha..."

Aunt Wang and her husband entered first, followed by Gu Zi and Su Shen, who were at the entrance giving their wedding gift. Gong Xin had just returned and spotted her darling Gu Zi. She rushed over, took her hand, and exclaimed dramatically, "You're finally here! I've missed you so much! Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

Gong Xin, in the company of Gu Zi and Su Shen, bypassed Aunt Wang and her husband, heading straight for the elevator. Upon recognizing Su Shen and Gu Zi, Aunt Wang was about to express her displeasure, but her eyes fell on the young mistress of the Gong family. Aunt Wang and her husband couldn't help but wonder, how did Gong Xin end up so close to Gu Zi, and by such a coincidence?

Before they could ponder further, they hurriedly approached to greet her. "Isn't this Miss Gong Xin? What a coincidence to see you here. How come you're here?"

Everyone in the compound knew the young mistress of the Gong family. She was known for her free-spirited nature and distaste for social obligations. It was rare for them to even catch a glimpse of her, so running into her now was an opportunity they couldn't pass up.

However, Aunt Wang found it strange. Weren't Gong Xin and Gu Zi always at odds? Yet, today they stood together without any sign of disagreement, even standing quite close. It was odd.

The sight of the two standing harmoniously together made Aunt Wang somewhat uncomfortable. She preferred seeing them at odds; it was more familiar and reassuring.

Gong Xin cast a cold glance at Aunt Wang and her husband. She had no idea who these people were, but she detested dealing with those who tried to curry favor with her.

She moved closer to Gu Zi and said irritably, "What's so coincidental? Shouldn't I be here for my brother's wedding today?"

"Of course, of course. My dear, this is Gong Xin, the daughter of Mr. Gong. Isn't she beautiful? She's as stunning as a movie star!" Aunt Wang introduced Gong Xin to her husband with a wide grin, acting as if she was well-acquainted with her. However, to Gong Xin, this felt invasive and highly annoying..

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Chapter 368: My Darling Gu Zi

Aunt Wang's husband hastily chimed in, "Indeed, indeed. She is like a flower in our courtyard. I wonder who will be fortunate enough to bring this flower home. They would be truly blessed."

He thought to himself how well she matched his son in age. If Gong Xin could become his daughter-in-law, the mere thought made him ecstatic.

However, Gu Zi found Wang and his wife's flattery amusing. She glanced at her friend Gong Xin, whose face was particularly unpleasant at the moment, and couldn't help but laugh.

Unbeknownst to Wang and his wife, they were stepping on Gong Xin's toes with their flattery. Gong Xin despised being referred to as a flower, a pretty but useless thing.

Miss Gong had always strived to prove her independence. She would never willingly be a mere flower. Their dreams of plucking this flower were utterly absurd.

Aunt Wang noticed Gu Zit s mocking smile and frowned, "Gu Zi, why are you still here? What are you laughing at? Don't you know that Xin Xin doesn't like seeing you? You should leave."

Ignoring her, Gu Zi looked at Gong Xin. Her pitiful eyes melted Gong Xin's heart. Who said she didn't like seeing Gu Zi?

Annoyed, Gong Xin retorted, "If my Gu Zi wants to laugh, she'll laugh. What's it to you? What are you doing here? How dare you speak of my Gu Zi like that?

Who do you think you are? Who are you calling a flower? Dare to say it again?"

Gong Xin's eyebrows furrowed, her tone clearly impatient. Wang and his wife blanched at her words, especially when she referred to Gu Zi as "my Gu Zi." Wang's wife was particularly upset. When had Gu Zi become Gong Xin's darling?

Just as she was about to retort, the elevator doors opened. Gong Xin led Gu Zi inside, pressing the close door button, "I don't want to share a ride with you. You can wait for the next one." Wang and his wife were left standing outside the elevator, their faces blank with surprise.

Inside the elevator, Gong Xin caressed Gu Zi's hand, holding it tightly. Despite her tough exterior, she confessed, "I called you 'my Gu Zi' on purpose to spite them. I don't really think of you that way."

Gu Zi looked at her, her lips curling into a smirk. She replied, "Sure, sure. Our Miss Gong Xin, Gu Zits biggest enemy, would never consider Gu Zi as her darling!"

The elevator halted on the upper floor, and the trio emerged, making a beeline for the banquet hall on the third floor. It was nearing noon, the time for the banquet to commence, and the guests had already taken their seats. Consequently, those who arrived at this hour inevitably became the center of attention, observed by all as they made their entrance.

Moreover, the sight of Su Shen and Gu Zi together was striking, their handsome and beautiful figures impossible to ignore. The number of eyes drawn to them increased steadily.

Gong Xin and Gu Zi were familiar faces to everyone, but their joint appearance today was unexpected. It seemed as if Gong Xin had come to escort Gu Zi in. Had the two adversaries reconciled?

There were rumors that Gu Zi had married and moved to the countryside, wedded to an older man. Where was this older man? When some guests spotted the tall, imposing man standing over six feet tall beside Gu Zi, they felt a sense of foreboding. Could the older man be the handsome, well-dressed gentleman beside her?

He hardly resembled a country bumpkin. If someone claimed he was a nobleman, they would believe it. They were certain he couldn't be Gu Zi's husband. Perhaps her husband was too unsophisticated to be seen in public, so Gu Zi had come alone. Could this be the infamous Captain He, rumored to be on par with Gong Zhan?

Good heavens, if this was indeed Captain He, he was not just on par with Gong Zhan, he was even more masculine! But something didn't add up. Captain He was supposed to be around the same age as Gong Zhan, yet this man appeared quite mature.

Many eyes were drawn to Su Shen, sparking a flurry of whispers. The commotion caught the attention of those at the head table. Upon hearing that Captain He had arrived, Gu Shan and Zhang Mei were eager to rise and greet him. Gu Shan had just been wondering why Mrs. He and Captain He hadn't shown up yet, and here they were!

Lin Miao also excitedly followed, only to find that the arrivals were not Captain He, but Gu Zi and Su Shen.

Upon seeing Gu Zi, Gu Shan asked, "Where is Captain He? Please invite him over. There's no more room at the head table, so you and Su Shen will have to sit at the next table. Mom and Dad have saved seats for you."

Gu Zi didn't particularly care whether she could sit at the head table. Upon hearing Gu Shan's words, she raised her voice a few notches to clarify, "Captain He didn't come with us. Please don't be mistaken, everyone. This is my husband, Su Shen, not Captain He.."

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Chapter 369: The Real He Ming

Gu Zi's voice had risen, but as a former broadcaster, her voice quality was excellent. Even when she raised her voice, she exuded a unique charm.

She introduced her husband with a balanced pride and humility. The two of them standing together now seemed even more compatible than when she had stood beside Gong Zhan.

The crowd was stunned. Wasn't it said that she had married a butcher from the countryside? Which butcher looked like this?

Looking at his suit and leather shoes, his high-end wristwatch, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that these were all genuine. They were not like Aunt Wang and her husband, who were naive enough to think they were fake and meant to deceive people.

Those who had been waiting to see Gu Zi make a fool of herself suddenly fell silent. The fact proved that Gu Zi, after leaving Gong Zhan, seemed to be able to find someone even better.

Aunt Wang and her husband walked in just in time to witness this scene. They were a bit confused. Why were Gu Zi and her husband the center of attention?

Seeing Aunt Wang in a daze, her husband nudged her, "Go find Deputy Chief He, what are you standing there for? Do you want to clean toilets for the rest of your life?"

The man didn't really care if she would be cleaning toilets for the rest of her life. The key point was that the salary for cleaning toilets was not as high as her previous position. Aunt Wang came back to her senses and hurriedly went to find Deputy Chief He with her husband.

Su Shen watched as Gu Zi confidently introduced herself. He couldn't help but smile, standing straight with his arm around Gu Zi. The aura he exuded made everyone around him feel insignificant.

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei were overjoyed. They returned to the main table and sat down. Gu Zi and Su Shen took their seats at a table next to the main one. As soon as they sat down, Boss Huo squeezed over, wanting to switch seats with the person next to Su Shen.

Who wouldn't want to give face to Boss Huo? The person immediately switched seats with him. Boss Huo sat next to Su Shen, feeling much more comfortable. The previously silent Boss Huo was now laughing like a Laughing Buddha, even urging Su Shen to drink with him.

The people nearby were a bit puzzled. Why did Boss Huo seem to particularly like this country man? Looking at them, they seemed quite familiar with each other.

The people sharing the table, who had initially held themselves in high regard and unwilling to converse with a countryman like Su Shen, now began to strike up conversations with him, all for the sake of pleasing Boss Huo. Even their glances towards Gu Zi carried a hint of flattery.

Su Shen, however, responded simply, his attention wholly focused on caring for Gu Zi. The pair seemed extraordinarily affectionate.

Gong Zhan, seated at the head table, watched all of this with a displeased expression. Particularly irksome was the sight of Gu Zi and Su Shen, so perfectly matched, which stung his eyes and left them dry. What was so special about this man that he deserved such attention? How was this country bumpkin better than him?

For the first time, Gong Zhan felt that his relatives were embarrassingly inferior. He was irritated, and even Lin Miao, seated next to him, received his cold shoulder. Lin Miao felt wronged, and her pride had been inflated by the attention she had received earlier. She didn't indulge Gong Zhan's petulant attitude and responded with a cold expression.

But Gong Zhan had no regard for her at the moment. His mind was filled with thoughts of Gu Zi, a woman full of cunning tricks. He was certain she was still not over him, otherwise, she wouldn't have come from so far away to attend the wedding banquet. She even brought along her man and deliberately flaunted their affection for him to see.

Gong Zhan stared at Gu Zi, his gaze fixed on her slender waist. He even believed that she was intentionally showing it off to him, refusing to accept their separation.

At that moment, Su Shen cast a cold glance in his direction, draping his suit jacket over Gu Zi. He raised his voice slightly, telling Gu Zi, "Put this on, don't catch a cold."

Gu Zi obediently nodded, saying she understood. She instinctively leaned into Su Shen, their closeness evident even while eating. It was clear to anyone that Gu Zi was quite happy in her marriage. Only Gong Zhan thought they were putting on a show.

Mr. Gong felt extremely awkward. He had never imagined that he would be seated at the same table as He Ming. What's more, He Ming didn't seem to be here just for the wedding banquet. From the moment he saw He Ming, Mr. Gong's heart had been in his throat.

At that moment, Aunt Wang and her husband were trying to speak with He Ming. He Ming, however, looked impatient and dismissed them with a few words. Aunt Wang and her husband left with green faces.

Mr. Gong, watching this, whispered to his wife, "I told you, this is the real He Ming. What on earth is he here for?"

Mrs. Chen glanced at him and reassured her husband, "He probably doesn't mean any harm. Didn't they say he was invited by the Gu family?"

No sooner had Mrs. Chen's words fallen than a commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall, drawing everyone's attention..

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Chapter 370: She's Up To Something

The guests at the main table turned their gazes towards the entrance. At a table adjacent to the main one, Gu Zi calmly peeled an orange for Su Shen, offering it to him with the words, "To quench your thirst."

Gu Zi felt that they had traveled a long way to attend this event, and it would be a shame to let hunger spoil the show. Su Shen accepted the orange with a word of thanks, his gaze never leaving Gu Zi. Every now and then, he would reach out to gently brush a stray hair from her forehead. His tender attentiveness made Boss Huo shudder. It was terrifying, too terrifying. When had Su Shen ever acted this way before?

At the entrance of the banquet hall, several individuals dressed in police uniforms appeared. The one leading the group was particularly tall and robust, his energetic demeanor and striking features drawing more than a few lingering glances.

Before anyone could speculate about his identity, he produced his badge and announced to the crowd, "Police business. The host of the banquet, please step forward!"

The room fell silent. Police business? What was going on? The guests exchanged puzzled glances, completely at a loss.

Gu Shan and the others at the main table also looked questioningly at He Ming.

They had invited Captain He to the banquet, but they certainly hadn't asked him to conduct an investigation. Gu Shan, feeling inexplicably nervous, asked, "Deputy Chief He, what does your son mean by this?"

Among the guests, some recognized the leading officer as He Ming's son, Captain He. This only added to their confusion. Wasn't Captain He here to attend Lin Miao's banquet?

Why was he in uniform, announcing that he was here on official business? And judging by his demeanor, he certainly didn't seem to be joking.

He Ming, however, appeared perfectly composed. It was clear that he knew exactly why his son was here. He didn't even bother to feign ignorance, stating flatly, "You'll have to ask your daughter about that."

Gu Shan turned to Lin Miao, but she could only shake her head in bewilderment. She had no idea what was going on.

Upon hearing He Ming's words, Mr. Gong's expression immediately turned serious. Although he didn't know what had happened, he knew He Ming well enough to be certain that he was here to watch the show. It seemed that today's event was likely to be disrupted.

He rose to his feet and said to Gu Shan, "Don't ask so many questions. Go deal with the official business first and figure out what's going on." With that, the Gong and Gu families left their seats and approached Captain He and his team. The other guests also crowded forward, eager to understand the situation.

Seeing them approach, Captain He walked straight towards Lin Miao in their midst. Without any pleasantries, he began to question her, "Miss Lin, did the Gu family contribute to the cost of today's banquet?"

His manner was far from that of a friend greeting a friend. This left the surrounding guests puzzled. Weren't Lin Miao and Captain He supposed to be close? He addressed her as Miss Lin with such unfamiliarity, it didn't seem like an act.

Under the suspicious gazes of those around her, Lin Miao feigned calmness and replied, "Yes, the Gu and Gong families jointly funded today's banquet. Captain He, is there a problem?"

Captain He shook his head, signaling a man dressed in a tailcoat to step forward. The man presented a stack of banknotes to the crowd. "There should be no issues," Captain He announced, "Could you all please confirm whether the money that the hotel manager has just presented is the same amount you handed over to the Golden Sun Hotel for today's banquet?"

Mr. Gong and Gu Shan, among others, stepped forward one by one to verify the money, each nodding in affirmation.

Captain He's subordinates then called Gu Shan and Zhang Mei aside for questioning. In a formal tone, Captain He addressed Lin Miao, "Miss Lin Miao, we would like your cooperation in investigating the theft of the Lin family's three thousand yuan gift money. We need you to accompany us to the police station..."

At these words, Lin Miao's face drained of color. Her lips trembled involuntarily, and her fingertips quivered.

How could it be because of this? Hadn't this matter been settled? Wasn't MO Li already on her side?

Lin Miao was utterly baffled. She had thought that by bribing MO Li and quickly spending the gift money, the matter would be impossible to trace.

"What's going on?" The others were also taken aback, their eyes darting between the Gong family and Lin Miao, as if demanding an explanation.

Mr. Gong's face darkened. Mrs. Chen's usually composed smile froze on her face. Gong Zhan's brow furrowed as he stared coldly at Lin Miao. His gaze then shifted to Gu Zi, who hadn't followed them. A thought forcefully emerged in his mind: She's the one causing trouble!

Gong Zhan was convinced it must be Gu Zi. She couldn't bear to see Lin Miao marrying him, so she must have orchestrated today's events..

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Chapter 371: Can't Bear to See Her Doing Well

Gong Zhan was certain that Gu Zi had come for him. For reasons unknown, this realization quickened his heartbeat. He seemed to be eagerly anticipating the manifestation of this thought.

In the heat of the moment, he paid little mind to the fact that this incident could potentially tarnish the reputation of his family, the Gong. There were many guests at the scene, all awaiting an explanation from both the Gong and Gu families.

Lin Miao, observing the men in police uniforms before her, felt a sense of impending doom. What was she to do? How was she to handle this situation?

She noticed Gong Zhan's gaze drifting towards the main table, where Gu Zi was also looking in their direction. Meeting Gu Zi's large, bright eyes, Lin Miao shuddered involuntarily. Her gaze remained fixed in that direction as she rushed towards Gu Zi.

With a pale face, she grabbed Gu Zi's hand and pulled her up, angrily saying, "Sister, you must be here to take revenge on me, aren't you? Gu Zi, I know you can't stand the thought of me marrying Gong Zhan, but you shouldn't have chosen such an important occasion to cause a scene!"

Lin Miao couldn't believe it. How could it be on such an occasion? The Gu and Gong families, the people of the courtyard, Gong's relatives – they were all present. If she were to be taken away by the police under such circumstances, wouldn't it be akin to a death sentence?

She couldn't be taken away at this time, absolutely not! She had to hold onto Gu Zi. As long as she held onto Gu Zi, she would be fine. It was this Gu Zi who had stolen her luck!

With Lin Miao's outburst, all eyes turned to Gu Zi. Indeed, it would have been acceptable if Gu Zi, who had married so far away, hadn't returned today. But she had come, dressed in her finest with her husband, clearly expecting something to happen.

Everyone had witnessed how infatuated Gu Zi had been with Gong Zhan. The Gu and Gong families should have anticipated that Gu Zi would cause a scene today. However, they had taken no precautions, and the Gu family had even reserved seats for Gu Zi and her husband.

Fear was evident in everyone's eyes. They felt that Gu Zi was a woman of deep schemes and a ruthless heart.

Regardless, the Gu family had raised Gu Zi. Even if she was unwilling to see Lin Miao marry Gong Zhan, she shouldn't have used the Gu family's reputation as a joke.

Seeing everyone accusing Gu Zi, Gong Zhan felt that their thoughts were not far from his own. He said to Gu Zi, somewhat annoyed, "Stop these games. Today is an important day. You need to clear things up with Captain He."

At this moment, Gu Shan and Zhang Mei entered. They looked at Gu Zi as if she were an enemy. Gu Shan was observing Gu Zi with a new, distant gaze, as if the woman before him was a stranger, akin to an ungrateful wolf.

They should have seen it coming when Lin Cheng had previously slandered Lin Miao, claiming that she had taken the money from their house. He had even confronted Lin Miao at the entrance of the courtyard. It was clear that Gu Zi had been deliberately manipulating things from behind the scenes.

It was strange that they hadn't given it much thought, nor had they pursued it further. Gu Zi had repeatedly used this matter to slander Lin Miao, attempting to tarnish the reputation of both Lin Miao and the Gu family. Today, she had even brought the police to the banquet on such a joyous occasion. This behavior was simply despicable!

After being taken out for questioning, Gu Shan and his wife returned to the banquet hall, irritated by the incessant and irrelevant questions. As he had suspected, Gu Zi was now targeting Lin Miao.

Gu Shan felt that he had fallen into a trap. He was certain that Gu Zi, Su Shen, and He Ming had conspired together, intending to embarrass both the Gu and Gong families.

He was momentarily confused. Not to mention that Gu Zi, due to her marriage to a rural man, surely harbored resentment towards the Gu family. Su Shen, too, probably held a grudge because the Gu family had once looked down upon him.

Moreover, He Ming was a sworn enemy of Gong's leader. The three of them conspiring together could only mean trouble.

Gu Shan now regretted inviting He Ming and the others to boost his own reputation. But it seemed too late for regrets.

Zhang Mei tearfully pleaded, "Gu Zi, if there are any mistakes, they are ours. If you have any grievances or hatred, direct them at us. Please don't harm Miao Miao. Our Gu family has owed her for over a decade. We only want to make amends now. Why can't you bear to see her doing well?"

Suddenly, Gu Zi became the target of everyone's attacks. Even Mr. Gong and Mrs. Chen looked at her with incomprehension. In their eyes, Gu Zi had always been a good child.

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Chapter 372: Irrefutable Evidence

Even after Lin Miao returned to the Gu family, Gu Zit s reluctance to abandon the comforts of the Gu household for a rural life had been a disappointment.

However, both Mr. Gong and Mrs. Chen had always genuinely believed that Gu Zi was superior to Lin Miao.

After careful consideration, they concluded that Lin Miao was the Gu family's biological daughter. Moreover, Lin Miao's simplicity and her easier- to-manage nature led them to accept her marriage into the Gong family.

However, they were increasingly unable to understand Gu Zi. Could the events of today truly be Gu Zi's revenge on them?

Faced with this situation, Gu Zi did not back down. She shook off Lin Miao's hand and retorted with a faint smile, "Uncle Gu, Auntie Zhang, Miss Lin, it was your family who invited me to this wedding banquet. Why is it that when something goes wrong, you want to pin the blame on me?"

Lin Miao, whose hand had been shaken off, tried to approach Gu Zi again. However, Su Shen stepped in front of Gu Zi, ruthlessly pushing Lin Miao away and shielding Gu Zi in his arms.

Witnessing this scene, Lin Miao felt a chill in her heart. This man was her husband in her previous life. She had thought that he harbored some unique feelings for her.

But the cold gaze he had just given her made her realize that Su Shen held no special feelings for her. How could this be? They were husband and wife in their previous life!

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei supported their staggering daughter, accusing Gu Zi, "How could you push Miao Miao! Are you saying that the investigation today wasn't orchestrated by you? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the investigation happened during Miao Miao's banquet?"

Gu Zi found this accusation laughable. She replied, "Regarding the matter of the three thousand yuan gift money, I indeed hope that the truth can be revealed. But how could I have the power to arrange today's events?"

"If we must discuss this, Lin Miao's connection to the missing three thousand yuan is indeed significant. I suggest that you, Uncle Gu, stop struggling and cooperate with the investigation to save Captain He and his team a wasted trip."

Gu Zi had agreed to attend the banquet hosted by Gu Shan, hoping to witness some drama. Ideally, Captain He and his team would find evidence in time, leading to Lin Miao being taken away during her own wedding banquet. This would alleviate the resentment she harbored for Lin Miao, who had stolen the money and forced her to marry into a rural family.

However, she couldn't possibly arrange for the police to act and arrest someone. If anyone was to blame, it was Gu Shan and his family's excessive vanity. They had invited the He family, leading to this coincidence.

All she had done was remind Su Shen to inform Captain He to investigate the direction of the money and pay close attention to Lin Miao's spending habits.

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei's brows furrowed in frustration, "You insolent girl, what nonsense are you spouting? How could our Miao Miao possibly be involved in the theft of three thousand yuan? It's clear that you're the one causing trouble! Captain He, there must be a misunderstanding. Our Miao Miao hasn't been at the Lin's for a long time, let alone taking their money."

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei hurriedly tried to explain to Captain He who had followed them, but his attitude was even more rigid than before. He ordered his two subordinates to take control of Lin Miao directly.

Captain He was utterly disgusted by Lin Miao's shamelessness. Did she think the police were here for a free meal? Without sufficient evidence, how could he possibly act at this time? The Gu family's excuses were nothing more than an insult to their investigative abilities.

Captain He declared coldly, "Today, Lin Miao must come with us. Please trust in the police's ability to handle this matter. Without concrete evidence pointing to Lin Miao, we would not rashly arrest anyone."

Captain He truly didn't understand why the Gu couple stubbornly believed that Gu Zi was trying to harm Lin Miao. Others might not know, but ever since Su Shen personally reported the case, he had been fully responsible for it.

He loved to follow clues and gather evidence in his investigations. He believed that an arrest should only be made when it was convincing to everyone. He would never arrest someone without reason, let alone at someone else's behest.

He explained, "A few days ago, I sent someone to investigate and found that Lin Miao had recently withdrawn money from a bank in town. We followed up and found out that Lin Miao has an account at the town bank and has been withdrawing money from it. This is a significant discovery.

"After further investigation, this account is under Lin Miao's name. The time it was opened corresponds exactly with the time the gift money went missing, and a total of two thousand five hundred yuan was deposited at the time of opening."

Lin Miao was a poor student from the countryside, how could she possibly have over two thousand yuan in savings before returning home? There was certainly more to this than met the eye.

...

Chapter 373: The Crucial Clue to Cracking the Case

The information provided by MO Li earlier indicated that during the same period, Lin Miao had treated her high school classmates to a lavish meal. They all assumed that Lin's family had struck it rich in the countryside, but in reality, they were extremely poor.

Captain He speculated that the extravagant meal was likely paid for with a portion of the three thousand yuan gift money, leaving only two thousand five hundred yuan to be deposited into the bank.

However, MO Li was now unwilling to testify, rendering her statement unusable. Despite this, Captain He was well aware that Lin Miao's bank account in the town was the crucial clue to cracking the case.

After sorting out these details, Captain He formally applied for an investigation order to scrutinize this deposit. With the assistance of bank personnel, he obtained a list of the account's transactions.

The list revealed that Lin Miao had made multiple withdrawals from this account, purchasing items beyond her means, such as watches and complete sets of gold jewelry. After buying these luxury items, Lin Miao simply stored them away without using them.

It was clear that Lin Miao was trying to quickly spend all the money. To put it bluntly, she was laundering it.

Recently, the Gu family was planning a banquet and had borrowed a considerable amount of money. Unable to resist, Lin Miao withdrew the last thousand yuan from the account to cover the banquet costs. In her mind, this completely eliminated the worry associated with the three thousand yuan.

Upon arriving at the hotel today, Captain He immediately had the manager present the banquet money from the Gu and Gong families. Upon inspection, it was indeed as suspected. Only one thousand yuan came from the town bank, with the rest originating from the city bank.

The serial numbers of the money from the town bank perfectly matched the withdrawals from Lin Miao's account, indicating that this thousand yuan was indeed from her account. The question then arose: where did Lin Miao get this money?

Listening to Captain He, Lin Miao felt her vision darken and her legs weaken. How could this be? She thought that in this era, once money was spent, it was untraceable. How could Captain He investigate so thoroughly?

Gu Shan, recalling something, spoke up in Lin Miao's defense, "Of course the money is earned by our Lin Miao. Our Miao grew up in the countryside, often going hungry and enduring hardships. She has always balanced school with work, and she's very diligent. Is it so strange that she has some savings to live a better life?"

Hearing Gu Shan say this, Lin Miao's heart raced and she was too flustered to speak. These were all lies she had told to show off her capabilities to Gu Shan and the others. Where had she ever worked?

At the Lin household, she didn't have to do anything. The stories of going hungry were fabrications she had made up to gain sympathy from Gu Shan and the others.

Gu Zi stared at Lin Miao, her gaze icy cold. So, it was on such baseless tales that Lin Miao had been playing the victim to the Gu family? How shameless! She couldn't help but speak up for Lin's family, "Lin Miao, is this how you repay the family that raised you?"

Lin Miao was desperately trying to break free from the grip of the police officers. Zhang Mei also rushed over, clinging to her and refusing to let go. At this point, Lin Miao had no time to respond to Gu Zi's accusations, her mouth was busy denying everything.

"I didn't take the money, I didn't take any money from the Lin family, I really didn't. Sister, if you still can't let go of Gong Zhan, you can just say it. I can step back, there's no need to make it so that everyone gets embarrassed. What good does this do you?"

Lin Miao's face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying. Zhang Mei watched, her heart aching as if a knife was slicing through her flesh. Yes, Gu Zi was intentionally trying to make Lin Miao, the Gu family, and the Gong family embarrassed!

Pointing at Gu Zi, Zhang Mei rebuked angrily, "Gu Zi, you're really here to harm us. Our Gu family has raised you, yet you repeatedly hurt our biological daughter. You're truly heartless!"

Everyone watched as Zhang Mei spoke so angrily, and as Lin Miao cried so pitifully. They didn't care about the truth, they just felt that Gu Zi was indeed ruthless.

She must have known in advance that Captain He was going to investigate and arrest people today, yet she didn't warn her foster parents. She just watched as they were humiliated. How dark her heart must be.

Regardless of the truth, today should not have been the day for it to be revealed. It made it difficult for everyone to save face. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, their resentful gazes turning towards Gu Zi.

But before they could voice their condemnation, a tall figure stepped in front of Gu Zi, shielding her from their reproachful glances. That man was Gu Zi's husband, Su Shen.

...

Chapter 374: Gu Zi Didn't Accuse Her

The majority of people in the banquet hall were seeing this man for the first time, yet his presence was so commanding that they would not easily forget him. There was something about him that demanded attention. When their gazes met his cool, aloof eyes, any hint of aggression they might have harbored was instantly quelled, replaced by a profound sense of intimidation.

Who among them would dare to raise their voices against him? All they could do was listen quietly as his deep, cold voice echoed through the room. His tone was low and aristocratic, leaving no room for anyone to question him.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gu," he began, "the formal accusation regarding the theft of the three thousand gift money was made by me, Su Shen, and the Lin family, not Gu Zi. So, if you have any other doubts, you can direct them at me.

"You two have no right to accuse my wife, Gu Zi. When you forced her to fulfill Lin Miao's marriage contract with me, her marriage was already a repayment for your kindness in raising her."

Su Shen revealed the truth about Lin Miao accepting his gift money and then reneging on their marriage. He publicly thanked Gu Zi for marrying him. After he finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Captain He on the opposite side.

Captain He nodded in confirmation, "Yes, it was not Gu Zi who accused Lin Miao. Lin Miao is already a confirmed suspect. Her motive was likely to take the money, causing the Lin family to be unable to repay the gift money, forcing Gu Zi to marry into the Su family in her place.

"We have been investigating secretly for a long time. There is no lack of evidence, and there is no defamation or framing involved."

The crowd was stunned by Su Shen and Captain He's revelations. The information was overwhelming. They knew that Gu Zi had suddenly married and moved to the countryside, but they didn't know that she had done so in place of Lin Miao. They were shocked to learn that Lin Miao had a marriage contract in the countryside!

Moreover, Lin Miao had accepted the gift money, reneged on the marriage, and possibly stolen the money from her foster parents. She didn't want to marry, but she took the money and left Gu Zi to clean up her mess. Her intentions were truly malicious!

"I can't believe that the biological daughter of Captain Gu is such a person. Not only is she not as beautiful as Gu Zi, but her heart is also so vicious. There's no saving her, take her away quickly!"

They lamented how Gu Zi, a well-rounded and talented woman, would make such a decision to marry into the countryside. At first, they thought it was due to the shock of an identity swap that drove Gu Zi to such lengths.

After learning about Gu Zit s marriage, many young men in the compound expressed their regret. Although Gu Zi was a bit difficult to handle, her beauty and abilities were more than enough to match most of the young talents.

However, the reality was as it was. After their lamentations, life went on as usual. Little did they know that all of this was orchestrated by the Gu family themselves. It was outrageous and cold-hearted.

Although Gu Zi was an adopted daughter, she had been raised for over a decade. Did the Gu couple not have any affection for her?

"The actions of Captain Gu and his wife are truly astonishing. They actually forced their adopted daughter to clean up their biological daughter's mess, and even let their biological daughter take over Gu Zi's original fiancé. How shameless! How could our Gong family become in-laws with such people!"

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei found themselves publicly exposed, their faces paling in sheer panic.

They were left with no choice but to admit, "Yes, we were wrong to force Gu Zi to marry. But isn't Gu Zi doing well now? Haven't we done a good deed with ill intentions? However, Captain He, we assure you that the dowry wasn't taken by our daughter..."

Captain He retorted coldly, "According to our investigation in Little Lin Village, Lin Miao has never cooked a meal for herself since childhood. The Lin family may be poor, but they never let their child go hungry.

"Lin Miao's pocket money for school was earned by her brother Lin Cheng through his part-time jobs. Lin Miao has never worked to earn money, and we found no evidence of her having any job experience prior to her work at the radio station."

Upon hearing this, the crowd shook their heads in disbelief. They had initially thought Gu Zi to be ungrateful, but it seemed that Lin Miao was the real culprit!

To think that Lin Miao's foster parents and family had treated her so well, how could she slander them with such a clear conscience? Her heart must be as black as coal.

The middle-aged woman who had led the gifting of gold bracelets to Lin Miao earlier, now blushed with embarrassment. She stormed up to Lin Miao, wordlessly removed her bracelet from Lin Miao's wrist, and declared loudly, "Officer, I'm merely taking back what's mine. This woman doesn't deserve such a high-end gift."

The police did not intervene. Seeing this, others mustered the courage to approach Lin Miao and retrieve their own gifted gold jewelry from her neck or wrist. They were no longer afraid of getting embarrassed.. After all, could they be more embarrassed than the Gu family?

...

Chapter 375: On-Site Evidence Collection

Lin Miao was suspected of stealing a hefty sum of three thousand, a sum that was by no means small even to them. How audacious of her!

Moreover, the money was a betrothal gift from someone else. She had taken the money, refusing to marry, and left her adoptive family to bear the blame. She then ran off to the city and stole Gu Zit s fiancé, and now they were married.

Although the wedding banquet couldn't proceed as planned, it was a fact that Lin Miao and Gong Zhan had already obtained their marriage certificate. A person like Lin Miao was not fit to be Mrs. Gong. Some things couldn't be changed now, but she should never be allowed to keep the gold jewelry.

Thanks to the police maintaining basic order, everyone's actions in retrieving the gold jewelry were somewhat restrained. However, due to the large number of people taking the gold, Lin Miao's neck and wrists were left with several red marks, and her hair was a mess, making her look particularly disheveled.

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei stood there, their faces alternating between shades of gray and white, clearly still in shock from certain truths.

They remembered that Lin Miao had never spoken well of her adoptive family, so they naturally assumed that their daughter had been living a life of unimaginable hardship these years.

They had also visited the previous Lin family home, located in a mountainous area, which was so poor it was hard to look at. Therefore, they were even more convinced that Lin Miao had not had an easy life these years and wanted to make it up to her.

When the two families had mistakenly taken the wrong child, it was the adults' negligence that had caused Lin Miao to bear the hardship alone. They felt guilty and wanted to make amends. What was wrong with that? Why had things turned out this way!

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei couldn't help but look at Lin Miao. She was now being controlled by others, her expression panicked and helpless, crying pitifully. She couldn't even lift her head to answer Gu Zi's questions.

The couple now had no choice but to understand that Lin Miao had not been telling the truth about the Lin family after returning to the Gu family. But perhaps she did it to gain more of their care and affection. It was a pity she had used the wrong method.

Looking back, when Lin Miao had said she could use her own private money to cover the cost of the banquet, Gu Shan and Zhang Mei had been very proud of their daughter. Now they knew that the money was such a thorny issue. The Gu couple was confused.

While Lin Miao was indeed at fault, Gu Zi shouldn't have been so cold-hearted and relentless in revealing the truth. At least for the sake of them raising her for so many years, she should have let Lin Miao off the hook and resolved the issue privately, shouldn't she?

Although they had lived each other's lives for many years due to the identity swap, the mistake was not caused by Gu Zi. But Gu Zi had indeed enjoyed the good days that originally belonged to Lin Miao.

After all, Lin Miao had lived in the countryside for her. No matter how much the Lin family loved her and didn't make her work, it was still the countryside. How could it compare to life in the city?

As Lin Miao was on the verge of being taken away for questioning by the police, Zhang Mei hurriedly caught up, pleading, "You can't arrest my daughter, Captain He, can't we settle this matter privately? Gu Zi, I'm telling you, I demand that this matter be handled privately!"

Gu Zi stood to the side, unable to muster a smile. At this point, they still believed this matter could be resolved privately? Lin Miao was intentionally stealing! She calmly spoke, "I'm sorry, Aunt Zhang, I'm not the plaintiff."

Upon seeing this, Captain He also shook his head with a cold expression, "This case is very serious, it was intentional. Even if the plaintiff requests to settle privately, it's unlikely that the suspect will walk away unscathed. Mrs. Gu, you are also a member of the compound, you should not need me to explain these things. Also, please take us to your home, we need to do some on-site evidence collection."

Due to Captain He's investigation order, the Gu family had no reason not to comply. Gu Shan and Zhang Mei ultimately had no choice but to accompany the police, along with Lin Miao, to the Gu residence to collect evidence. The Gong family, He Ming, and Boss Huo were also called in as witnesses.

In the end, the police found all the luxury items Lin Miao had purchased with the gift money in her room. With the person and the stolen goods apprehended, there was no room for denial. The stolen goods and the suspect, Lin Miao, were immediately taken back to the police station for further investigation.

Upon hearing that the bride had been arrested at the Gong and Gu family's banquet, the compound was abuzz with people coming to watch the spectacle. They watched as Lin Miao, the biological daughter of the Gu family who had only recently been found, was taken away in a police car.

This scene not only served as a harsh slap in the face for the Gu family, but also inexplicably slapped the reputable Gong family. Their reputation was tarnished, and He Ming left with Boss Huo, both looking quite satisfied with the outcome..

...

Chapter 376: She Didn 't Do It Intentionally

Mr. Gong and Mrs. Chen's faces were ashen, a testament to their disbelief at their unprecedented miscalculation. They had always thought of Lin Miao as untalented but easily controllable, yet she had managed to cause such a disaster before even stepping foot into their home!

In retrospect, their decision to allow the Gu family to abandon Gu Zi and marry Lin Miao into the Gong family seemed like a colossal mistake. Unfortunately, regret was futile now, as the situation had already been set in stone.

"Mr. Gong, Mrs. Chen, you can't leave, you must help Miao Miao," Zhang Mei pleaded, clutching onto Mrs. Chen's hand. She watched helplessly as her daughter was taken away in a police car, her heart shattering into pieces.

At this point, the Gong family was Lin Miao's last hope. Surely, they wouldn't stand by and let their daughter-in-law go to jail. After all, the Gu and Gong families were now in the same boat.

Mrs. Chen, who was usually kind and amiable, was now flushed with anger for the first time in public. She shook off Zhang Mei's hand and said, "Your Gu family has really screwed us over this time. Lin Miao brought this upon herself, what can we do?"

Mr. Gong remained silent, his brow furrowed as he quickly led his wife away. Gong Zhan was also pulled away by Gong Xin.

Zhang Mei felt a wave of darkness wash over her, nearly fainting. Luckily, Gu Shan was there to steady her.

Gu Shan whispered in her ear, "Stop making a scene, haven't we been humiliated enough? Let's go to the police station and find Gu Zi. Maybe she can persuade Su Shen to drop the charges."

With the situation as it was, Gu Shan had no choice but to force himself to remain calm. However, he couldn't just stand by and watch Lin Miao go to jail. They had to salvage the situation. As long as Lin Miao didn't end up in jail, there was still room to negotiate. Otherwise, the Gu family would never be able to lift their heads again.

Gu Shan and Zhang Mei took a taxi to the police station. As they approached the entrance, they ran into Su Shen and Gu Zi, who were about to leave. Su Shen, as the plaintiff in this case, had just arrived at the police station with Captain He. Now that he was leaving, it seemed that a verdict had already been reached in Lin Miao's case.

Gu Shan quickly stepped forward to stop Su Shen and Gu Zi. Zhang Mei grabbed Gu Zi's hand, her tears and snot flowing freely.

"Little Zi, you can't leave. What will happen to Miao Miao if you go? She's your sister, you can't really let her go to jail, can you? I know your father and I have wronged you. Miao Miao has done many things wrong and she didn't tell us the truth about many things. But you have to forgive her. She's young, she didn't do it on purpose..."

Even though Zhang Mei was still upset with Gu Zi, she knew that now was not the time to vent her anger. Her only goal at the moment was to persuade Gu Zi to spare Lin Miao. She was willing to do anything, even if it meant begging or Imeeling in public.

Lin Miao had been caught stealing money, and if convicted, she would inevitably go to jail. The Gu family could not bear the shame of having a daughter in prison, and the Gong family could not tolerate a daughter-in-law behind bars. It was utterly disgraceful!

Zhang Mei was aware that Lin Miao had made a grave mistake. However, she believed that Lin Miao's actions were probably due to the imbalance she felt after discovering her true origins, having lived in the countryside for over a decade.

As Lin Miao's mother, Zhang Mei understood her daughter's resentment. How could she bear to place all the blame on Lin Miao?

Gu Zi had enjoyed the benefits of the Gu family for over a decade. Surely, the conditions provided by the Gu family over the years were worth more than the three thousand yuan in dowry money?

Although the Gu family had forced Gu Zi to marry in place of Lin Miao, which was admittedly extreme, it hadn't harmed her. After all, her current comfortable life was a result of marrying Su Shen in place of Lin Miao. It was unjust to let Lin Miao go to jail.

Gu Zi watched as Zhang Mei cried pitifully. To an outsider, it would seem as if Zhang Mei had suffered a great injustice.

However, Gu Zi knew that Zhang Mei was simply heartbroken for her biological daughter. She didn't want the Gu family to lose face because of Lin Miao's imprisonment. Therefore, she was trying to play the emotional card with Gu Zi, her adopted daughter, in hopes that Su Shen would drop the charges.

Gu Zi dared not show them any sympathy or leniency.

Having decided to find and legally deal with the thief who stole the three thousand yuan, she would not interfere with the outcome. Especially considering that Lin Miao had stolen the money with the intention of making the original owner suffer, and the consequences had fallen on her, the one who had transmigrated into this story.

Although she didn't understand why Lin Miao hated the original owner so much that she constantly plotted against her, Gu Zi, as the victim of this theft, was determined that Lin Miao, the mastermind, must pay the price!

...

Chapter 377: Returning the Stolen Goods Doesn't Absolve the Crime

At present, Zhang Mei had already lowered her stance, pleading with her. If Gu Zi continued to adopt a hardline attitude, it would make her seem too unfeeling. After all, the people before her were her foster parents.

Gu Zi's eyelashes fluttered, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye, her gaze filled with sorrow as she looked at Zhang Mei.

"Auntie, " she began, her voice trembling, "Sometimes I really wonder, have you truly treated me as your daughter these past eighteen years? If so, why could you so easily sever your affection for me? 

"From the moment you had me marry in Lin Miao's stead, to when you wanted me to give up my job at the radio station for her, you've only ever seen Lin Miao. You've never truly seen me..."

As Gu Zi wept, Zhang Mei's own tears seemed to falter, her eyes filled with confusion. Why was Gu Zi crying? Had they really treated her so unfairly?

Zhang Mei was taken aback, her only option was to respond along the lines of the conversation, "Xiao Zi, you've misunderstood. We've always considered you our daughter!"

"Really?" Gu Zi retorted, "If you truly considered me your daughter, you wouldn't keep asking me to let Lin Miao off. Don't you understand? This isn't about whether I can forgive her or not. She took the money herself, I didn't steal it and frame her. On the contrary, she wanted to steal the money, forcing me to marry in her place.

"Looking at it now, it seems pitiful that Lin Miao was caught on the day of the banquet. The Gu and Gong families were humiliated, and everyone lost face. But if she hadn't taken the money, none of this would have happened. I didn't cause this. When I was forced to marry in the countryside, wasn't I deserving of pity?

"I gave up everything to marry in her place. Did you ever consider me then? Did you ever think about what would have happened if I hadn't met Su Shen? Have you ever considered what my situation would be like now?"

Gu Zi's situation at the time, if she hadn't been a transmigrator, would have been akin to a blind and mute marriage. She would have had to follow the lifestyle of her husband, whether he was a chicken or a dog. If she had married a violent and cruel butcher, her life would have been a living hell.

But did the Gu family ever care about this? All they wanted at the time was to sever ties with Gu Zi, to have their own biological daughter marry into the Gong family. They treated Gu Zi like a plague, wanting to send her far away, hoping to never have contact with her again.

Zhang Mei was not unaware of these things, but she had indeed never considered them from Gu Zit s perspective. Now that Lin Miao had stolen the money, causing harm to Gu Zi and the Lin family, she had no reason to ask Gu Zi not to pursue the matter. Especially since Gu Zi was not the real plaintiff in this case.

As Gu Zi spoke, Zhang Mei's face turned beet red. The guilt she felt towards Gu Zi began to awaken and spread from her heart. In the end, it was their Gu family who had wronged Gu Zi!

Soothingly, Su Shen drew the weeping Gu Zi into his arms. At that moment, Gu Zi's heart pounded with a warmth that was both startling and comforting. Even though the words she had just used to silence Zhang Mei were harsh, they were the truth, a truth both she and the original owner of her body had painfully faced. If the original owner were still here, she would undoubtedly be as heartbroken as Gu Zi was now.

Zhang Mei was at a loss for words, casting a pleading look at her husband, Gu Shan. His face was flushed, and he let out a low sigh. Eventually, Gu Shan found his voice, but it was directed at Su Shen. Seeing Gu Zi in such a state, if he continued to argue with her, it would only make him seem in the wrong.

"Su Shen, " he began, "we admit that it was our Lin Miao who was wrong. But the dowry you willingly gave her back then... How about this? We'll find a way to make up the three thousand yuan, and you drop the charges. There's no need for Lin Miao to go to jail, right?"

After comforting Gu Zi, Su Shen turned his cold gaze towards Gu Shan. His voice was particularly distant and frosty, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with the man before him.

"Captain Gu, you should be careful with your words," he warned. "Since ancient times, theft has been a crime that cannot be absolved simply by returning the stolen goods. Although returning the stolen goods may lighten the punishment, it does not absolve the crime. If you insist on handling things according to your own principles, you might as well contact the police directly. "

With that, Su Shen guided Gu Zi towards the exit of the police station, ignoring the couple. Zhang Mei tried to follow, but Gu Shan stopped her. Shaking his head, he spoke in a grave voice, "He's right. This is a theft crime. Returning the stolen goods doesn't absolve the crime.. We're done for, completely done for!"

...

Chapter 378: Request

The incident involving Lin Miao was far from a simple matter of disgracing the Gu and Gong families. Gu Shan was on the verge of a promotion, a time when any mishap could jeopardize his chances. Yet, here they were, embroiled in this scandalous affair. It was a disaster.

"Will this affect your promotion?" Zhang Mei asked her husband, the gravity of the situation only just dawning on her. The sky seemed to be falling. Gu Shan had been waiting for a promotion for years, and this golden opportunity could not be lost.

Gu Shan waved his hand, his face etched with distress. "Enough," he said, "Let's first understand the situation, then we'll figure out a solution. We cannot let this incident affect my promotion."

After leaving the police station, Su Shen and Gu Zi went to have lunch and then visited Papa Lin in the hospital. They also informed him and his wife about the events that had transpired at the banquet.

Gu Zi found it difficult to continue when she began to recount the hardships

Lin Miao had endured in the Lin family for over a decade. Seeing her struggle, Su Shen took over, relaying the painful details. Gu Zi didn't stop him. As heart-wrenching as the story was, Gu Zit s parents needed to hear it.

"I think it's important for you to understand what kind of person Lin Miao is," Su Shen told his in-laws.

Upon hearing this, Gu Zits parents merely smiled and shook their heads. They understood Su Shen's intentions. "We have long since disowned Lin Miao," they said.

Su Shen continued, "The police will likely come to take statements tomorrow. Think about what you want to say. It's best to lay everything out so this matter can be settled."

Gu Zi's parents exchanged a glance. Mother Lin spoke, "That's fine. Once this is over, we should sever all ties with them. There's no need for any further contact." This applied to both the Gu family and Lin Miao.

Fearing that Gu Zi's parents might not be able to handle any unexpected situations the next day, Su Shen and Gu Zi decided to stay the night in the hospital's family room.

Gu Zi, worried about their children, borrowed a phone from the front desk and called the office at the pig farm, asking Jin Long to request Aunt Zhang's help to look after the kids for the night. Su Shen watched his wife, his heart aching for her.

The next morning, Su Shen returned early with breakfast. The steaming soy milk and crispy fried dough sticks awakened Gu Zi's taste buds. After breakfast, she felt rejuvenated, her fatigue vanishing.

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her delicate and beautiful face. It made her skin appear exceptionally fair, almost translucent, like a finely carved piece of jade.

Sitting beside her, Su Shen watched her eat breakfast, finding the sight pleasing to his eyes. His actions were not limited to just observing, however. Occasionally, he would reach out to tuck away a loose strand of hair that threatened to fall into her face, or he would scrape up the last bits of food at the bottom of her bowl, or he would use a napkin to gently wipe away crumbs from the corners of her mouth...

In the morning, the police arrived. Captain He brought along a subordinate to take statements from Gu Zit s parents and Gu Zi, and to understand their demands.

Gu Zits parents and Gu Zi all spoke truthfully, not one of them felt pity for Lin Miao. She was merely reaping what she had sown. Moreover, the Lin family had already shouldered the blame for her actions for a long time, they had been more than fair.

Papa Lin said, "We don't have any other demands, we just hope that the stolen money can be returned to its rightful owner. As for how the thief should be punished, we leave that to the law, we trust in the justice system."

In addition to Papa Lin's request, Gu Zi added, "Lin Miao was fully aware of the consequences her actions would bring before she committed the theft. She knew it would cause her adoptive parents to be wrongfully accused, yet she still stole the money. I believe Lin Miao's actions are unforgivable. Moreover, her actions have caused my parents to suffer greatly, she needs to compensate them for the damage to their reputation."

Gu Zi believed that the stolen money must be returned, but the compensation could not be overlooked. The Lin family should not have to bear the burden of her actions without recompense.

Gu Zi could not forget the first time she saw the Lin couple, the image of the dilapidated house in the mountain valley.

If Lin Miao had not acted as she did, the Lin family, despite their poverty, would not have had to live in such a drafty, broken-down house. Therefore, Lin Miao must pay compensation.

After hearing Gu Zi's demands, Captain He nodded, instructing his subordinate to record them. He said, "Your demands are reasonable, we will pursue them as such."

Although Captain He was young, his years of service in the police force had exposed him to all sorts of people and situations, granting him a basic ability to judge different characters..

...

Chapter 379: Too Cold-blooded

A chilling realization dawned upon Captain He as he observed the parents of Lin Miao. They were the epitome of kindness and integrity. If not for Gu Zi's demand for compensation, they would not have even mentioned any additional recompense. It was hard to fathom how such a couple could have raised a child as ungrateful as Lin Miao.

After they had escorted Lin Miao back to the police station the previous day, they had conducted a thorough interrogation. It was now clear that Lin Miao's motive for stealing the three thousand yuan gift money was to seek revenge on Gu Zi. She believed that Gu Zi had stolen her life, forcing her to grow up in the countryside and depriving her of a better living environment.

In Lin Miao's eyes, everything that belonged to the Gu family should have been hers. Gu Zi had no right to it, and Gong Zhan should have been her betrothed, never Gu Zi's. She didn't believe she had taken anything from Gu Zi because she saw herself as the rightful heiress of the Gu family. She believed that if Gu Zi hadn't usurped her life, she wouldn't be as successful and dazzling as she was now.

However, she had never considered that the mistake of the two families swapping their children was not Gu Zi's fault.

When she discovered her true identity and returned to the Gu family, her heart was filled more with jealousy and a desire for revenge than with joy.

Lin Miao claimed that she now realized her mistake and would return the stolen money, hoping for Gu Zi's forgiveness. She promised to treat her as a sister.

But in the eyes of Captain He, Lin Miao had not truly recognized her error. Her apologies and remorse were merely attempts to evade legal responsibility. She underestimated the law; a few insincere words of repentance would not earn her leniency.

Throughout the previous day, Lin Miao had not once mentioned the kindness of her adoptive parents, the Lin couple. She only pleaded for Gu Zits forgiveness because she knew that, even if they were disappointed in her, the Lin couple would not bear to hold her accountable for too much. They would not have many demands.

But Gu Zi would hold her accountable, so she only remembered to apologize to Gu Zi. Initially, some of the police officers felt sympathy for Lin Miao. After all, it was true that the Gu family was better off. If Lin Miao had grown up in the Gu family, she would have had more advantages.

However, after the interrogation, those officers who had sympathized with Lin Miao sighed in disappointment. They believed Lin Miao to be a thorough ingrate.

In her heart, there was only profit and loss. The kindness of the Lin family was dismissed as non-existent simply because their rural living conditions were not good enough. She even lied to her biological parents, claiming she had a hard life to gain their sympathy.

People often say that even the longest acquaintance with a dog can breed affection. Yet, after eighteen years of living with her foster parents, Lin Miao could turn her back on them without a second thought. She had left them to bear the brunt of the villagers' scorn and suffer hardships. Such a person was simply undeserving of sympathy.

Moreover, it seemed that Lin Miao was inherently less fortunate than Gu Zi. Gu Zi's superiority was not limited to her family background.

Like Lin Miao, Gu Zi had also been switched at birth. However, shortly after returning to her biological parents, she had already begun to consider their needs. In contrast, Lin Miao was only concerned with herself. She was truly cold-blooded!

Captain He believed that some people were shaped by their environment, but there were others who were inherently heartless, like Lin Miao.

Furthermore, Lin Miao was still young. Despite her youth and lack of significant hardships, she harbored such dark thoughts. It was truly terrifying. Such a person was indeed suitable for a stint in prison, to undergo the state's reformation.

After confirming the record and statement, Captain He left with his team. He went to the military compound to inform the Gu family that Lin Miao would be temporarily detained. Once the trial results were out, Lin Miao would be sent directly to prison.

Captain He said to Gu Shan, "You should prepare yourselves. Also, try to make up for the three thousand stolen as soon as possible. This will affect Lin Miao's sentencing. Once the amount for the compensation for reputation damage is determined, you will also need to pay it promptly."

Lin Miao had spent the three thousand on numerous luxury items. Now, the police department could recover some of the money through their investigation, but the Gu family would have to make up for the remaining deficit. It was not a small sum.

The Gu family had already spent a lot of money on this banquet and previous receptions. They had also borrowed money. In addition, Gu Shan was up for a promotion, which had also been a significant expense. They were already living beyond their means.

Upon hearing Captain He's words, Gu Shan felt like closing his eyes and letting everything pass.. Life had become unbearable!

...

Chapter 380: Seeking the Gong Family's Help

After Captain He and his team left, the Gu family's phone continued to ring incessantly. Gu Shan and Zhang Mei felt overwhelmed, yet they dared not hang up nor answer the calls.

Without even answering, they knew these calls were from debt collectors. After the incident at yesterday's banquet, it was likely that all their friends and relatives were aware of their predicament.

However, with the difficulty they were facing in repaying Lin Miao's embezzled funds, how could they possibly repay these debts? For now, their only option was to avoid answering the phone and take things one step at a time.

Zhang Mei couldn't help but shed tears at the thought of Lin Miao spending her days in prison. "Should we go and beg Gu Zi again? I really can't bear to see Miao Miao go to jail. She hasn't even enjoyed any good days since she returned. "

Gu Shan closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, standing up to say, "Your pity won't change anything. Don't worry too much. Don't forget, Lin Miao is now the Gong family's daughter-in-law. She and Gong Zhan are legally married. The Gong family can't possibly ignore this."

Even if the Gong family was furious, they couldn't possibly ignore this matter. Gu Shan felt that instead of seeking Gu Zi, who they had deeply hurt, it would be more likely to change the situation by seeking the Gong family.

Upon hearing her husband's analysis, Zhang Mei felt it made sense. She immediately prepared herself to go to the Gong family and plead for mercy, thick-skinned as it may be.

The head of the Gong family was not at home, and Mrs. Chen was in charge. Mrs. Chen deliberately made Zhang Mei wait a long time before coming out, but as Gu Shan had said, the Gong family, no matter how reluctant, had to face this matter.

Mrs. Chen said, "In the end, you were too unkind. I never thought you would treat Gu Zi like that. After all, she is a child you raised for over ten years.

"I've discussed it with the head of the family, and there's no better way to handle this than to ask for Gu Zi's forgiveness. Only then can Lin Miao possibly avoid going to jail."

Mrs. Chen and Mr. Gong were not fools. Given the current situation, even if their family's reputation was paramount, they would not resort to illegal means to get Lin Miao out. They had to take the legal route, which was to seek Gu Zi's forgiveness.

With a remorseful expression, Zhang Mei said, "We were foolish. We know we were wrong. We have also sought out Gu Zi, but she seems unwilling to forgive. We really don't know what to do. Please, we ask for your help!"

Mrs. Chen shook her head in dismay. The actions of the Gu family were indeed difficult to forgive. Yet, she found herself in a position where she had no choice but to seek Gu Zits forgiveness.

Having done her research, Mrs. Chen knew that Gu Zi and Su Shen had not returned to the village the previous day. Instead, they had gone to visit Mr. Lin in the hospital, where they remained. She decided to make the trip to the hospital herself.

She asked Zhang Mei to return home first, then set off for the hospital with her daughter, Gong Xin. The purpose of bringing Gong Xin was clear; she hoped that her daughter could help smooth things over. As far as she knew, Gong Xin and Gu Zi were on good terms.

Gong Xin did not refuse her mother's request. Although she believed that Lin Miao deserved her prison sentence, she was a member of the Gong family. She had enjoyed all the benefits the family had provided since she was a child. In such a situation, she had no reason to be indifferent.

She despised Lin Miao, but she loved her family and her relatives. Gong Xin only planned to accompany her mother, Mrs. Chen, to make an appearance. She had no intention of actually persuading Gu Zi to forgive Lin Miao.

Lin Miao's actions were such that she deserved to be in prison and reform herself. If it hadn't been for Captain He's investigation, Gong Xin would never have known how much Gu Zi had suffered. Lin Miao deserved to be punished!

The incident with Lin Miao was indeed a disgrace to the Gong family and would make her brother Gong Zhan lose face. However, Gong Xin believed that they had made their own choices and should bear the consequences. She was willing to accompany her mother to see Gu Zi, but she wholeheartedly agreed that Lin Miao should be imprisoned according to the law!

Upon their arrival at the hospital, Mrs. Chen and Gong Xin met with Gu Zi's parents. They informed them that Gu Zi and Su Shen had gone out to buy something for them. They were aware of Mrs. Chen's purpose and pleaded with her not to trouble their daughter.

Mrs. Chen was always a gentle and polite woman. Seeing this simple and honest rural couple, she couldn't help but sigh. Gu Zi was indeed a good child. It was their Gong family's misfortune to lose her. However, she still had to ask for Gu Zi's forgiveness..

...

Chapter 381: Mom, You're Wise

In a gentle voice, Mrs. Chen addressed Mr. and Mrs. Lin, "Please rest assured, we are not here to cause trouble for Gu Zi. We are merely seeking the best possible solution."

Mrs. Lin shook her head, speaking forthrightly, "Your so-called 'best solution', isn't it just asking Gu Zi to step back? You, like the Gu family, have abandoned Gu Zi, yet you always come to her for your needs. If this isn't causing trouble, then what is?"

Mrs. Chen was taken aback by the blunt accuracy of the words from such a seemingly simple woman. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Upon reflection, however, she understood that their actions had indeed been excessive. After all, it was their Gong family and the Gu family who had jointly abandoned Gu Zi. The fact that this mother was defending Gu Zi so fervently today showed that she truly loved Gu Zi.

Interestingly, the mother's features bore a slight resemblance to Gu Zi. Furthermore, this rural couple was not as coarse as Mrs. Chen had initially imagined. They were kind, well-mannered, and gentle.

In that instant, Mrs. Chen's face flushed slightly. Perhaps she shouldn't have made this visit, as it had made her realize that she might have made a grave mistake.

Upon learning of Gu Zit s background, Mrs. Chen had indeed looked down on her. The thought of Gu Zi returning to her original rural family, with a pair of rural parents, made Mrs. Chen believe that Gu Zi's value had significantly decreased.

Perhaps it was because she had been away from the countryside for too long, but she had developed a sense of disdain for rural people. She even thought that rural people were incapable of forming a good relationship with their Gong family, due to the difference in social status.

So, no matter how excellent Gu Zi was, Mrs. Chen still allowed the Gu family to replace Gu Zi with Lin Miao, fulfilling the marriage agreement with Gong Zhan.

Even though Lin Miao was far less outstanding than Gu Zi, Mrs. Chen felt that Lin Miao might be more suitable simply because she was the Gu family's biological daughter.

In the end, they had brought this trouble upon themselves by accepting Lin Miao. Now that trouble had arisen, both the Gong and Gu families were reaping what they had sown, and they had no one else to blame. She had no right to seek Gu Zi's help!

Outside the door, Gu Zi heard the words of Mrs. Lin to Mrs. Chen, feeling a warm surprise in her heart. She hadn't expected that Mrs. Lin could see the situation so clearly and speak up for her when Mrs. Chen came knocking.

Gu Zi felt truly fortunate. The mother of the original host was such a wonderful woman! Initially, she was somewhat displeased knowing that Mrs. Chen was coming, but now, the gloom in her heart was completely dispelled. She walked into the ward, politely greeting Mrs. Chen and Gong Xin.

Without waiting for Mrs. Chen to speak first, Gu Zi took the initiative to discuss the matter of Lin Miao with her. Gong Xin looked at Gu Zi with confusion, wondering what game she was playing.

Gu Zi paid no mind to Gong Xin, instead, she spoke truthfully to Mrs. Chen about her feelings towards Lin Miao and the Gu family.

When Gu Zi mentioned her arrival in the countryside, and the very unfriendly Aunt Chu she encountered who nearly had her chased away by dogs, she choked up.

When she spoke of the locals' negative views of her due to Lin Miao's broken engagement, Gu Zi held back her tears.

When she talked about the hardships the Lin family had to endure because Lin Miao took the money, Gu Zi couldn't help but cry, her eyes turning red. In such a situation, even the best-prepared words could not be spoken.

Mrs. Chen, being a person of deep feelings, couldn't help but shed tears as well. If one were to put themselves in her shoes, anyone with a shred of conscience would find it hard to ask Gu Zi to forgive Lin Miao.

Gu Zi knew that Mrs. Chen was actually a very kind and gentle woman, so she used this to her advantage to block her words. She would not forgive Lin Miao, nor did she have any reason to do so.

Mrs. Chen understood and said weakly, "Gu Zi, your uncle and I didn't consider your feelings, leading to today's outcome. Let's pretend I never came today." Regardless, Mrs. Chen decided not to interfere in this matter anymore.

Gong Xin, who had accompanied Mrs. Chen, left with her, feeling a bit dazed and not quite understanding what had happened.

It wasn't until they left the hospital that she understood Mrs. Chen's inner thoughts. Gong Xin immediately gave her mother a thumbs-up, "Mom, you're wise!"

There wasn't much to say about Lin Miao's matter. If the Gong family chose the wrong daughter-in-law, then it was their loss. The important thing was to recognize and correct the mistake! Gong Xin's mood greatly improved because of her mother's attitude..

...

Chapter 382: A Ray of Hope for Miao Miao

Upon returning home, Mrs. Chen and Gong Xin were greeted by the presence of their son, Gong Zhan. Mrs. Chen knew, without a doubt, that her son had been anxiously awaiting her news. Although he had said nothing, she understood that the matter at hand was a matter of the Gong family's reputation, and he was deeply concerned about the outcome.

For the many years she had been married into the Gong family, had she not always prioritized the family's honor over her own? If she could salvage the family's reputation, she was willing to swallow her pride and humble herself, which was why she had sought out Gu Zi.

However, after meeting with Gu Zi, Mrs. Chen had come to a new understanding. She had no intention of intervening any further, nor did she see any reason to plead with anyone. She made her stance clear to her son, stating that she would not consider bailing Lin Miao out. It was time for Lin Miao to take responsibility for her actions.

"The situation with Lin Miao is a result of our family's poor judgment, and we must bear the consequences," she told him. "You shouldn't let this matter trouble you any longer. Focus on your work, do what needs to be done. Especially now, it's important not to give others any more reasons to criticize you."

Gong Zhan nodded, his gaze filled with confusion as he looked at his mother. She was not one to easily compromise. Had Gong Xin said something to her? Or had Gu Zi used some trick to change her mind?

Gong Xin noticed the stubble on her brother's chin that he hadn't bothered to shave, adding a touch of ruggedness to his handsome face.

Seeing her brother's somewhat disheveled appearance, Gong Xin felt a pang of sympathy. She didn't react angrily to his suspicious gaze, but instead asked him softly, "Brother, would you like some water?"

She picked up the teapot, ready to pour him a drink, a peace offering of sorts. She didn't want to add to Gong Zhan's worries. She wouldn't pity Lin Miao enough to help her escape blame, but she also didn't want to upset Gong Zhan at this time.

Gong Zhan, understanding his sister's intentions, accepted the cup of water she offered and took a sip without saying a word. Sometimes he found his sister annoying, so much so that he wanted to strangle her, but in crucial moments, she never added to his troubles. Instead, she often made warm gestures that made him feel grateful for her.

However, Gong Zhan still felt frustrated. He had always been a model figure in the family, excellent and untarnished. How could he have a wife in prison? It was unacceptable.

Over the past few days, he had given it a lot of thought. He had considered filing for divorce from Lin Miao, who had tarnished their military marriage. He had the right to apply for a divorce, and he was certain that if he did, it would be granted.

But they had only just gotten married. To divorce at the first sign of trouble was not something a respectable family would do, and it was certainly not something he, Gong Zhan, could do.

For the sake of his own reputation and that of the Gong family, Gong Zhan could not consider divorce at this time. Divorcing would only tarnish his reputation further, branding him as heartless and unfaithful.

Gong Zhan believed that the best course of action at the moment was to do everything within his power to prevent Lin Miao from being imprisoned. The crux of the matter, he surmised, lay in Gu Zi's attitude. Perhaps, he thought, it was time for him to step in and have a conversation with her.

Gong Zhan was confident that if he were to intervene, Gu Zi would surely relent, and Lin Miao's predicament could still be salvaged. However, he could not bring himself to approach Gu Zi directly, as he felt it would be beneath his dignity. Consequently, Gong Zhan did not take immediate action.

The Gu family, on the other hand, was desperate to keep Lin Miao out of jail. Upon hearing that even Mrs. Chen had failed to persuade Gu Zi, they were as frantic as ants on a hot pan, running hither and thither, but to no avail.

In the end, the Gu couple had no choice but to approach the Gong family.

Swallowing their pride, they implored Gong Zhan to intervene personally. "Miao Miao may have made countless mistakes, but she is your wife now. If you don't help her, she will truly be left to her own devices. We visited her yesterday, and she said she misses you and worries about your well-being..."

As Zhang Mei spoke, she broke down in tears, painting a pitiful picture. She portrayed Gong Zhan as Lin Miao's savior, and how could Gong Zhan remain unmoved? Especially since he had been waiting for them to seek his help, this gave him a valid reason to visit Gu Zi in the countryside.

Without further delay, Gong Zhan set off for Daqing Village after lunch, driven by Uncle Yang. This brought some relief to Gu Shan and Zhang Mei.

Zhang Mei felt that while others might fail to persuade Gu Zi, Gong Zhan would surely succeed. In everyone's memory, Gu Zi had always been obliging towards Gong Zhan. This was good news; it meant that their Miao Miao had a chance!

On the way, Gong Zhan instructed Uncle Yang to drive slowly. He exuded an air of confidence and calmness, as if he were not panicking about the situation at all..

...

Chapter 383: Couldn't Muster Enthusiasm

Uncle Yang had words on the tip of his tongue, aching to be spoken. However, as he observed the young master's arrogant demeanor, he ultimately chose to remain silent. His words would fall on deaf ears. It would be best to let the young master experience failure on his own.

In Daqing Village, at the Su residence, Gu Zi had been bustling about since returning from the city. She spent her days teaching Li Hua how to make spicy soup and an assortment of accompanying snacks, while also researching recipes for marinated meat.

Gu Zi had noticed that the pig farm produced a significant amount of waste daily. Pig innards, trotters, and head meat were often left over, unwanted and unsellable. More often than not, these leftovers were discarded, leading to a great deal of waste.

Gu Zi contemplated utilizing these leftovers to create marinated meat dishes for sale. This would not only reduce waste but also, if successful, bring a considerable income to the household. It was a win-win situation.

Gu Zi had also discussed with her sister-in-law, Li Hua, the possibility of selling spicy soup as the main breakfast item at their town shop. The shop wouldn't need to close during the rest of the day; they could sell their homemade marinated meat, thus generating additional income.

Li Hua and Mother Lin could achieve financial independence by managing the shop, ultimately leading the Lin family on the path to prosperity. The mere thought of this made Gu Zi's blood boil with excitement.

Just yesterday, Gu Zi had taken Li Hua to the town to scout for a suitable shop location. Her sister-in-law had even asked her to help think of a name for the shop.

As for the matter of securing the shop location, Gu Zi had mentioned it to Su Shen upon her return. The man had assured her that he would take care of it, to which Gu Zi responded with unreserved delight.

Today, like any other day, Gu Zi was busy as ever. However, it was Saturday, and Su Bing and Su Li were home. They had finished their homework on Friday and were now helping their mother look after their younger sister.

With someone else to look after little Lele, Gu Zi could focus more on her work, thoroughly enjoying the process.

After blanching the pigs trotters, Gu Zi set them aside. She crushed a large piece of old ginger and tossed it into the hot oil, followed by a handful of Sichuan peppercorns. As she added the pig's trotters and began to stir-fry them, the sizzling sound of the oil was oddly pleasing to her ears. Gu Zi found herself inexplicably delighted by the noise.

The large pig's trotters, each split into two, filled more than half the pot. They quickly turned a light golden brown under her deft stir-frying. Gu Zi scooped them out, filling two large bowls to the brim.

Just as she was about to fill another pot with water, she heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. Glancing at her watch, she noted it was only two in the afternoon. Could it be that Su Shen had returned early?

Dropping what she was doing, she hurried to open the door. To her surprise, it wasn't her husband Su Shen who had arrived, but Gong Zhan.

Disappointment washed over Gu Zi. She had been all ready to greet her man with a hug and a kiss. Why was it him? She sighed, unable to muster any enthusiasm.

Gong Zhan noticed the change in Gu Zi's eyes, from hopeful to dull. A corner of his mouth tightened, and a wave of displeasure washed over him.

However, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the woman before him. She seemed even more radiant and attractive than before, her figure seemingly fuller.

Although she was wearing an apron that concealed part of her outfit, Gong Zhan could easily imagine what she looked like beneath it. A vivid image of her without the apron appeared in his mind, a sight too striking to ignore.

She wore a long-sleeved shirt with a white base and orange flowers, the V-neck revealing a small patch of her fair skin. Her figure was voluptuous yet slender at the waist.

Her lower half was clad in a skin-colored skirt that accentuated her waist. The hem of her shirt was tucked into the waistband of her skirt, making her look tall and elegant, her figure graceful.

Her long hair was tied back behind her ears. With just a touch of makeup, her large eyes and petal-like lips were enough to make her stand out. She looked radiant and poised, seductive and passionate, with an inherent air of nobility in her gaze.

Gong Zhan remembered that she used to dress like this for him, hoping to catch his attention. But back then, he had thought her attire too mature, too calculating, not realizing that it was simply the natural allure of a woman.

Even now, as she stood there in her apron, looking as if she had just finished some household chores and run out of the kitchen, beads of sweat on her fair forehead, she still exuded a strong feminine charm. It was the kind of charm that softened a man's heart upon sight.

Only now did Gong Zhan realize that this woman, who had once constantly sought his approval, was so captivating. His heart fluttered inexplicably, and a tingling sensation spread within him..

...

Chapter 384: No Such Plans

Gu Zi, upon realizing that the man before her was not Su Shen, chose to remain silent. She had no interest in why Gong Zhan was there.

He was the male protagonist of the original novel, and he possessed an undeniably handsome face. However, with the presence of the dashing Su Shen, Gong Zhan's attractiveness held no sway over her.

Gu Zi stood silently in place, even taking a large step back to create distance between them.

Unable to bear the awkward silence any longer, Gong Zhan took the initiative to speak. "Gu Zi, aren't you going to invite me in?"

Gu Zi raised an eyebrow at his suggestive tone. She looked at him quizzically and replied honestly, "I have no such plans. Are you here to see me? What do you want? Speak plainly."

As a married woman, Gu Zi was very conscious of maintaining a certain distance, Her tone was decidedly aloof.

She remembered that in the original novel, the male protagonist had a knack for creating ambiguous relationships with the women around him. Now, Gu Zi understood that this man was intentionally creating such ambiguity.

He had no boundaries, unlike her husband Su Shen. She suddenly missed him and yearned for his kisses. Gu Zi made no effort to hide her disdain for Gong Zhan. She looked at him indifferently.

Gong Zhan felt a sense of unease. Gu Zi's attitude towards him should not have been this way. She used to always pamper him and give him everything good.

Perhaps it was because he had married Lin Miao, and Gu Zi was still holding a grudge, intentionally acting cold towards him. It must be so.

He had come today because of Lin Miao. Gu Zi must have guessed it. Her indifference was understandable. Gong Zhan decided not to hold it against her. He said, assuming a magnanimous tone, "Gu Zi, stop fooling around. Let's talk seriously."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zi couldn't help but twitch her mouth in disbelief. What nonsense was he spouting? She hadn't caused any trouble. She certainly wouldn't start now!

Gu Zi had also guessed why he was here. He was now Lin Miao's legal husband, and their interests were intertwined. Lin Miao's imprisonment not only embarrassed him but also had many implications. He certainly couldn't stand by and watch Lin Miao go to jail, so he must have come to plead for mercy.

But was his self-perception too good? This was his attitude when asking for a favor! Gu Zi was speechless. He didn't even have the demeanor of someone asking for help. Was he here to ask for a favor or to annoy her?

Gu Zi responded coldly, "Mr. Gong, we're not that close, are we? It would be better if you didn't speak so ambiguously. Also, whatever you have to say, say it here and quickly. I have a lot of things to do in my room."

Gong Zhan watched her, her tone cold and impatient, and his face involuntarily darkened.

He admitted that their plea for leniency on Lin Miao's behalf was inherently unfair to Gu Zi. After all, if it weren't for Lin Miao taking that money, Gu Zi wouldn't have had to marry into this godforsaken place and become a wife to a rural man.

But the deed was done. He had personally come to ask for her forgiveness. What more did she want? Was she determined to create a scene that couldn't be resolved?

In a cold voice, he said, "Don't think I have ulterior motives. I just want to discuss Lin Miao's situation. After all, you and Lin Miao are sisters. She is also the biological daughter of your foster parents. Can you bear to see her go to jail and bring shame to your foster parents and me?"

Uncle Yang, watching from the car, felt the atmosphere growing increasingly strange. What a mess! The way the young master looked at Miss Gu was unmistakably the way a man looks at a woman. He had previously insisted that he didn't love her, that he felt nothing for her. Now that they were married to different people, he was clearly playing with fire!

After much thought, Uncle Yang decided to get out of the car. He couldn't let them continue their conversation alone. It wouldn't look good if someone saw them and misunderstood.

What Uncle Yang didn't know was that before he got out of the car, Mrs. Wang had already seen Gong Zhan talking to Gu Zi. Seeing them alone, Mrs. Wang immediately had an idea. She ran off to gossip with the village women, making sure that everyone knew that Su Shen's wife was having an affair right at her doorstep.

Upon hearing Gong Zhan's words, Gu Zi felt even worse. She didn't bother to respond to him, instead retorting, "I can bear it. What can't I bear? You're really funny."

Gong Zhan was taken aback. If he had previously thought that Gu Zi's coldness towards him was due to jealousy and temper, he now truly felt the chill of her indifference..

...

Chapter 385: Quite Tragic

Her eyes were beautiful, clear and moist, yet they held an unmistakable hint of sarcasm. There was no joy, no excitement, not even a hint of thrill. It was as if she genuinely didn't want to interact with him. Why was that?

He had noticed that Gu Zi was different from the Gu Zi he used to know. Gong Zhan found it hard to accept. She was not like before. She no longer prioritized him in everything. In her heart now, Gong Zhan was merely a stranger.

The Gu Zi who used to laugh for him, feel sad for him, lose herself for him, and even make a scene for him, seemed to be gone forever. In that moment, Gong Zhan felt as if he had lost something very important, leaving a gaping hole in his heart.

But it was just a fleeting moment. Gong Zhan quickly recovered, telling himself that it was nothing, that he had never really liked Gu Zi.

He steered the conversation back to Lin Miao's matter, calmly asking, "What conditions do you need to forgive Lin Miao, to keep her out of jail?"

Uncle Yang came over and greeted Gu Zi. Seeing Uncle Yang there, Gu Zits expression softened a bit. She had a good impression of Uncle Yang and wouldn't ignore him just because she was indifferent to Gong Zhan.

However, she was truly speechless with Gong Zhan, so even with Uncle Yang present, her attitude towards Gong Zhan didn't improve.

Without any hesitation, Gu Zi said, "I will not forgive Lin Miao, nor do I want to get involved in any of her affairs. As far as I'm concerned, the theft case has been closed. So, you should leave."

Gu Zi felt that the original host's love was unworthy. Seeing Gong Zhan's attitude, she knew that this man was actually quite cold-blooded.

The woman he liked was always a set of characteristics and persona, not a specific person. Once the woman lost the traits he liked, he would immediately look for those traits in other women, falling for someone else. He could never like just one person.

In other words, if a woman met his preferred traits, he would accept her.

For instance, the original host always made delicious food for him and cared for him without asking for anything in return. He actually liked the original host for these reasons.

MO Li knew how to handle such men. Her only mistake was not thinking thoroughly. She only thought about handling the man, forgetting that his family could not be manipulated in the same way.

So, Gu Zi believed that manipulating Gong Zhan was the most boring and least challenging act. It was utterly dull. Yet, the original host had not seen through this throughout her life. She deeply loved Gong Zhan, even choosing to give up everything for him, choosing death. It was quite tragic.

Gong Zhan was infuriated by Gu Zits lack of consideration. His handsome face turned dark with anger. He had traveled all the way from the city to this godforsaken place to plead with her, which was already a great concession on his part. Yet, she was so ungrateful, it was infuriating!

"I will certainly return, but not because you are driving me away, Gu Zi. Don't be so ruthless in your actions; you will regret it!"

Gu Zi didn't take his words seriously. She leisurely retorted, "Whether I will regret it or not is my business. I'm doing quite well now, so why haven't you left yet?"

For a moment, Gong Zhan was at a loss for words. He was stunned, and after a long pause, he said with furrowed brows, "Gu Zi, don't push your luck! Do you think it's meaningful to cling to this matter? It only makes you more annoying.

Haven't the Gu family and Lin Miao agreed to repay the three thousand yuan? What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Uncle Yang was quite surprised to see the two of them arguing. He had previously noticed that Miss Gu didn't seem to have any special feelings for the young master, but he had no idea that she was now bold enough to argue with him. What was he to do?

The young master, usually so good at maintaining his aloof demeanor, was now arguing without regard for his dignity...

Gu Zi was not to be outdone. She retorted, "1 find it very meaningful. Making criminals serve their sentences according to the law is a great service to the country and the people. I'm accumulating merit. I advise you not to meddle.

"Furthermore, I don't care if you like me or not. I am who I am. I won't change for you. That would make me seem low-class. I don't want that.."

...

Chapter 386: He Was Admitted To Hospital

Uncle Yang found himself at a loss, his mind spinning in confusion. He had been about to persuade Gong Zhan, but Gu Zi's relentless words had thrown him off balance. Now, he wanted to counsel Gu Zi, but he had no idea where to start. After all, he thought Gu Zi had made some valid points, and he even found her rather endearing.

Gong Zhan, on the other hand, was taken aback by the harsh words. A twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth. Both the Gong and Gu families were far from ordinary, with the Gong family even being exceptionally distinguished. Yet, Gu Zi had belittled them as if they were worthless, an affront he found utterly outrageous!

When had Gu Zi's tongue become so venomous? He began to think that the countryside was indeed not a good place, as it seemed to turn everyone into shrewish women.

Gong Zhan deeply regretted his decision to come here. It was truly a misfortune. From the start, he shouldn't have meddled in women's affairs. The issues were trivial, but dealing with them was a massive headache! These women were too petty!

Seeing Gong Zhan fall silent, Gu Zi lost her patience to continue the confrontation. She bid Uncle Yang goodbye and turned to enter the house. However, Gong Zhan's anger only grew. He had never been so harshly berated by a woman before, and he thought Gu Zi was utterly ungrateful!

Gong Zhan reached out and grabbed Gu Zits wrist, his voice cold as he warned, "The Gu family has already decided to repay the money. There's no need to make such a fuss! Gu Zi, I think we should talk this over. I don't want my visit to be pointless!"

Uncle Yang, seeing this, was about to dissuade Gong Zhan from resorting to physical force when a boy with a dark gaze rushed out.

Behind him followed a slightly shorter boy, who was carrying a little girl. The girl was holding some wild berries, her mouth stained purple from eating them. Purple juice dripped from the corner of her mouth, making her look as if she had been poisoned, which startled Uncle Yang.

"You can't bully my mom! Let her go!" Su Bing stepped forward, trying to push away the man who was holding his mother. How dare he take advantage of his mother's solitude to bully her! It was despicable! They should never have gone to pick wild berries, which had given this villain an opportunity.

Su Li put his sister down next to a large yellow dog and also rushed forward, grabbing the man's leg and trying to pull him away. "Let go of my mom, or when my dad comes back, he'll beat you into a pulp!"

Su Le was not to be outdone. Seeing her mother being bullied, she followed her brother as soon as he put her down. She brandished the branch with the purple berries as a weapon, ready to take on the bad man.

Uncle Yang was on the verge of a breakdown, torn between who to intervene with first – the young master or the children? In the ensuing chaos, no one noticed the emergence of another towering figure, only a chilling sensation creeping up their spines.

Following a loud cry from the little girl, Su Le, everyone turned to see Gong Zhan, who had been sternly pulling Gu Zi aside to clarify matters, now hurtling out of the Su family's courtyard. He tumbled several times in the muddy ground ahead.

Then, another figure blurred into motion, lunging at him. The two men grappled in the mud, both towering and powerful, their movements professional and forceful. The scene was nothing short of heart-stopping.

Back in town, the Gu couple, who had been waiting for good news from Gong Zhan, instead received word that he had been admitted to the hospital. They hurried to the city hospital with bewildered expressions, accompanied by the Gong family.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, Captain He and his team were already handling the situation. It was then that the Gu and Gong families learned that Gong Zhan had been bullying Gu Zi and his children at the entrance of the Su family's residence. Su Shen, who had been returning home with meat, had witnessed the scene, leading to the fight between the two men that ended up in the hospital, even alerting the police station.

Captain He was also troubled. To be honest, both men were not ordinary. One was the son of Chief Gong, a major in the military, and a bona fide member of the elite.

The other was the darling of the military region, the apple of many military bigwigs' eyes. Although he had retired, his status was not to be underestimated. The police station dared not rashly take them in for questioning, and could only call their parents, asking them to handle the matter themselves.

However, in Captain He's view, Gong Zhan was undoubtedly at fault. What was he thinking, going to someone else's doorstep to bully their wife and children, pulling and tugging at them? It was utterly disgraceful.

Not to mention Su Shen, even he, if faced with such a situation, would have given Gong Zhan a beating.. It was completely unacceptable and could potentially leave a psychological scar on the woman!

...

Chapter 387: Bullying Gu Zi

Captain He instructed his subordinates to explain the issue with Gong Zhan to the Gong family elders. The news left Gong Zhan's parents, Chief Gong and Mrs. Chen, utterly dumbfounded.

The faces of the Gu family couple were equally stunned. They had hoped that Gong Zhan would have a productive conversation with Gu Zi. But now, they were shocked to find out that Gong Zhan had chosen to bully Gu Zi instead. They had never expected Gong Zhan to be such a person.

Gong Zhan, noticing everyone's horrified expressions, felt his face sour. He shot a cold glance at Uncle Yang, "Uncle Yang, aren't you going to defend me? You saw everything, I didn't do anything."

Uncle Yang responded with a gentle smile, adjusting the bandage on Gong Zhan's hand, and said impartially, "You shouldn't have grabbed her. To outsiders, it looks like you were bullying her."

Gong Zhan pulled his hand away, his face souring further as he distanced himself from Uncle Yang. Uncle Yang didn't say anything more. In his view, their young master was simply lacking in maturity, and today's incident might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Meanwhile, Gu Zi was still in the counseling room, feeling dazed even after the entire psychological counseling session. She couldn't understand what had just happened.

She didn't know why Su Shen had suddenly returned, thrown away the pork belly in his hand and kicked Gong Zhan. Then, Gong Zhan, a big man himself, was sent flying through the air like a fairy from the sky. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Gu Zi would never have believed it.

After all, Gong Zhan was a tall man, over 1.85 meters, who had grown up practicing martial arts. His strength was not to be underestimated. But he had been sent flying by Su Shen, and was even trampled and beaten in the mud. Su Shen had hit him ten times before he could even land a punch. It was a pitiful sight. Su Shen was indeed formidable!

This was probably a setup where ten male leads couldn't beat one villainous father. Her man was so handsome! He scored major points for protecting his wife and children! But what Gu Zi didn't understand was why the police had immediately arranged for a psychologist to counsel her?

Before Gu Zi could figure out the answer to this question, there was a commotion outside the counseling room. The door was then opened, and Chief Gong, Mrs. Chen, and Gong Xin walked in.

As soon as Gong Xin entered, she rushed towards Gu Zi, holding Gu Zi's face in her hands and examining her closely. She then checked the rest of Gu Zits body, finally noticing a red mark on her wrist.

Gong Xin said angrily, "My brother is such an idiot. How could he do such a thing? He bullied a woman for that wicked woman Lin Miao. Mom and Dad, you must teach your son a lesson."

Mr. Gong and Mrs. Chen arrived with an air of embarrassment, their faces flushed with regret. Being a man of few words, Mr. Gong offered a brief apology before making a swift exit.

Mrs. Chen approached Gu Zi, taking her hand and saying, "We never imagined Gong Zhan would behave so foolishly, nor did we expect him to seek you out. Your Uncle Gong will take him to the military for proper discipline, and we will ensure he mends his ways. I'm at a loss for how to express my guilt. Please, accept this as a token of our regret."

As she spoke, Mrs. Chen pulled a gold bracelet from her bag. The bracelet had originally been intended as a wedding gift for Gu Zi upon her marriage into the family. When the marriage didn't happen, Mrs. Chen had planned to keep it as a keepsake. Now, she found herself giving it to Gu Zi for an entirely different reason, though it served its purpose nonetheless.

Gu Zi weighed the bracelet in her hand, surprised by its heft. She had no desire to accept anything from the Gong family, but the weight of the bracelet suggested its considerable value.

Gong Zhan's actions that day were indeed baffling, but considering that Su Shen had already given him a beating and his mother's apology was sincere, Gu Zi decided not to press the matter further.

Moreover, the Gong family was not just any family. Even if she didn't want much contact with them, it was best not to offend them.

Gu Zi nodded and accepted the gold bracelet. A smile finally appeared on Mrs. Chen's face. 'Gu Zi, you've always been a sensible and outstanding child," she sighed. "I was very fond of you from the beginning."

It was a pity, she thought, that they were not destined to be mother and daughter-in-law.

"Mom, you're okay now, that's great!" Just as Mrs. Chen and Gu Zi finished speaking, several children entered the room. Two boys and a little girl, chubby and adorable.. 

Upon hearing her brothers call out to their mother, she toddled towards Gu Zi, calling out, "Mom, mom, hug!"

...

Chapter 388: How Old-fashioned!

"Ah, little Lele, what's that on the corner of your mouth? It looks like you've been poisoned," Gong Xin intercepted little Su Le midway, cradling the little child in her arms and wiping away the purple stain on her lips.

Gong Xin had always felt a special bond with Su Le. Whenever she saw her, she wanted to hold her close. Of course, the main reason was that Gu Zi had made her so adorable. Who could resist a sweet, soft little bundle of joy?

"What's this?" Mrs. Chen's eyes lit up as she looked at the little girl in her daughter's arms. She seemed familiar. She had seen Gu Zi carrying her before. After some time apart, the child seemed to have become fairer, plumper, and more lively. She hadn't expected Gu Zi to be so good at raising children.

It was strange, she remembered that Gu Zi didn't like children before. It seemed that people do change and grow!

"Mother, isn't she adorable? This is Lele, Gu Zi's daughter," Gong Xin handed Su Le to Mrs. Chen, whose face broke into a doting smile. At her age, she had long wanted to hold her grandchildren.

However, Gong Zhan's tumultuous marriage had left her waiting. Even after he finally got married, there were complications. She didn't know when she would be able to hold her grandchild.

As for Gong Xin, she had little hope. Gong Xin had always been a tomboy, carefree and casual. When asked to go on arranged dates, she reacted as if it were a matter of life and death. There were no signs of any ambiguous male companions around her. It was tough!

"Let me hold you, little Lele. Here's some red envelope money from grandma," Mrs. Chen said, pulling out five hundred yuan from her purse and stuffing it into Su Let s little hand.

Su Le was a little money-lover. She clutched the money tightly and refused to let go. Then she turned and ran towards Gu Zi, as if she were absconding with the loot, amusing both Gong Xin and Mrs. Chen.

For a moment, Mrs. Chen and Gong Xin seemed a little dazed. What were they doing at the hospital again? Ah, never mind, the child was too adorable. They wanted to take her home!

Mrs. Chen felt a mix of emotions. These three children, none of whom were Gu Zi's biological offspring, were all raised so well by her. Besides Su Le, the two older boys had also changed a lot. They looked energetic and their faces were rosy.

Although they were still thin, it was clear that they were starting to gain weight. This was the look of happiness.

Especially the older boy, Mrs. Chen could tell. His gaze was distant and cold, but it was different when he looked at Gu Zi, his stepmother.

If she could treat other people's children as her own, how bad could Gu Zi be?

She shouldn't have believed those rumors back then. But it was too late for regrets now. She could only watch as a good woman became someone else's daughter-in-law. The concept of social status had truly ruined things. How old-fashioned!

Mrs. Chen and Gong Xin played with Lele for a while before returning the child to Gu Zi. They exchanged a few words, advising her to rest well and to forgive Gong Zhan for his foolish actions this time.

Afterward, Su Shen entered, intending to take his wife and child away. Mrs. Chen spoke with him briefly, expressing her apologies once again.

Previously, Mrs. Chen hadn't paid much attention to Gu Zits rural husband. It was only now that she took a good look at him. Judging by his appearance and demeanor, it was hard to believe that he was merely a pig farm owner.

Mrs. Chen had heard that he had also served as a soldier. Indeed, there was a unique masculinity and toughness about him that was characteristic of successful men, a quality that could only be honed on the battlefield. Even the best upbringing couldn't instill this, and it was a quality that even her own son lacked.

Yet, Mrs. Chen saw it in him. Moreover, he was not inferior to any of the decorated veterans she had met. This man was not as simple as he appeared. Mrs. Chen then gave each of the two boys a red envelope containing five hundred yuan, insisting that Su Shen and Gu Zi accept it.

Su Shen didn't care about the money. He just didn't want his wife to have too many ties with the Gong family, so he left the decision to Gu Zi.

Gu Zi wasn't one to refuse money. Moreover, she understood Mrs. Chen's character. She just wanted to resolve the issue at hand, unlike the Gu family who gave money in exchange for greater benefits. If she refused, it would seem as if Gu Zi lacked vision. Without any hesitation, she let the children accept the money and left the hospital with Su Shen and the children.

After they left, Gong Xin laughed and said, "What do you think, mom? Isn't Gu Zi naturally born with a wealthy fate? Even if she didn't marry into our Gong family, she could still strike gold in the village.."

...

Chapter 389: He Was Done!

Though Su Shen was considerably older than Gu Zi, he was only thirty and in the prime of his life. He was also a successful businessman, his future bright and promising.

Gong Xin didn't believe that only those in the military compound had a promising future. In an era where everyone was venturing into business, those who could carve out their own path also had a promising future. Why should a man confine himself to a single corner?

Mrs. Chen's face softened, the smile she had for strangers disappearing to reveal her true expression. Her lips pressed together slightly as she said, "Indeed, when you compare him to your brother, he may not necessarily be worse off..."

Because they had only heard one side of the story from Lin Miao and the Gu family, everyone had assumed that Gu Zi had married poorly, that a beautiful flower had been wasted.

But now, looking at Su Shen, tall and handsome, full of masculine charm, mature, stable, and successful, Mrs. Chen could see that he was also very cunning, not just ordinarily so. If he were in the military, her own son might not even be able to compete.

Gu Zi had married such a man, and this man had genuinely fallen for her.

"Isn't that the truth? He might have a good background, but he's always been crushed in fights. This is the first time I've seen my brother beaten so badly. We should go check on him."

Gong Xin led Mrs. Chen away to find her brother, all the while continuing to criticize him. It seemed as though the mother and daughter both believed that if they finished their criticism now, they wouldn't have to do it to his face later and hurt his pride.

Mrs. Chen couldn't help but frown slightly. This Gong Xin was fine until she brought it up, but once she did, Mrs. Chen felt ashamed for her son.

He had been trained from a young age by his military father, and had become the undefeated champion of the new generation in the military compound. How could he be pinned to the ground by Su Shen, and find himself unable to fight back? It was embarrassing, incredibly so. The embarrassment had even reached the countryside!

When Mrs. Chen saw her son, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She scolded her son, "Gu Zi used to like you so much, and this is how you repay her affection? Taking advantage of her when she's vulnerable, without a shred of gentlemanly conduct. Don't you understand the concept of parting on good terms? Everyone thought you were going to make peace, to ask for forgiveness. But you, you've only made things worse."

The Gu couple standing nearby were also speechless, quietly agreeing, "Yes, son-in-law, we're not trying to criticize you, but how could you do such a thing? You're bringing shame to the younger generation of the compound. You're also letting Miao Miao down."

Gong Zhan sat on the bench, his blue complexion unattractive. Yet, his pride prevented him from offering any explanation. Uncle Yang, seated beside him, seemed equally unperturbed, showing no inclination to provide any elucidation. Gong Zhan decided to let it be, let them think what they wanted!

He was done meddling in Lin Miao's affairs. He couldn't solve them, and they only brought him trouble. What a nuisance!

After leaving the hospital with their children, Gu Zi and Su Shen headed to the jewelry store. Su Shen instructed Gu Zi to cash in the gold bracelet. Gu Zi was somewhat perplexed; the bracelet actually suited her style quite well.

Seeing her hesitation, Su Shen's face darkened, his voice carrying a hint of frostiness, "Can't bear to part with it?"

Gu Zi nodded, "A bit, mainly because I think it's quite beautiful." From the backseat, their son Su Li agreed with his mother's sentiment, "Dad, mom looks really good wearing it. It was a compensation from Grandma Chen, we shouldn't sell it."

Su Shen glanced back at him, "Don't speak. This is none of your business."

His voice was stern, and Su Li dared not utter another word. Gu Zi understood then, Su Shen was deeply concerned about this matter. She began to comprehend what was bothering him; it was probably because the bracelet was a gift from Gong Zhan's mother. She had overlooked this fact.

For some reason, upon realizing this, Gu Zi felt a sense of secret delight. She took Su Shen's hand and said, "Su Shen, let's go cash it in. Su Bing, Su Li, take care of your sister and wait for us in the car."

Gu Zi had Su Shen roll down a window, so the children wouldn't have to worry while waiting in the car. They wouldn't be gone long, they would return once they had cashed in the bracelet.

After their parents left, Su Li took out his five hundred yuan and admired it, "Brother, our piggy bank is going to have a feast!"

He planned to put all the money into the piggy bank, hoping to fill it up one day. His mother had told him that when that day came, he would become a man. He wanted to be a man, so he was determined to save money!

Su Bing looked at him wisely, not sharing his brother's excitement. Su Bing knew that growing up was inevitable, not a result of a full piggy bank.

However, he also planned to save this money, to use it where it was needed.

...

Chapter 390: Committed to Taking Responsibility

In no time at all, Gu Zi and Su Shen returned. Su Li looked at Gu Zi's wrist in confusion, "Mom, why did you bring the bracelet back? Aren't you going to cash it in?"

Su Bing, feeling that his younger brother lacked insight, chimed in, "The pattern is different. This one is a dragon and phoenix, the previous one was mandarin ducks playing in the water."

Though he didn't understand the significance, Su Bing was accustomed to adults doing seemingly illogical things and didn't react with the same shock as his younger brother. Su Li scratched his head, indicating that he really didn't understand this maneuver.

Gu Zi couldn't help but give a thumbs up to her eldest son's observational skills. Su Shen, this mature man, was quite thoughtful. He had asked her to cash in the bracelet given by Mrs. Chen and then chose a different style to give her. In this way, the bracelet became his gift. His little scheme was rather endearing!

She hadn't expected this man to have such a petty side. Strangely, she found herself somewhat fond of it.

The family arrived home before dusk. Gu Zi looked at Su Shen, covered in yellow mud, and found him surprisingly rugged and appealing. She didn't find his dirty appearance off-putting at all. It seemed she was truly falling in love.

Nevertheless, she urged him to go take a bath. Regardless of anything else, the day's events had been rather unfortunate, and a good wash was in order.

Su Shen, however, was in no rush. He took their son, Su Le, from Gu Zi's arms and handed him to their eldest son, then asked Gu Zi to go upstairs and prepare his bath.

As Gu Zi followed him upstairs, she noticed the bruises on his face and hands from his fight with Gong Zhan.

She couldn't help but recall the scene of him fighting in the mud earlier. It was both amusing and a little heartbreaking. She gently teased him, "You're not as young as you used to be. Don't be so impulsive in the future. It's a shame about that prime piece of pork belly."

Just as Gu Zi closed the bedroom door, Su Shen pulled her into his arms. Pinching her soft waist, he pushed her against the door. The mud on his face was intentionally rubbed onto her fair neck. They were husband and wife, and he wanted to dirty her too, so they could wash together.

"Do you pity that piece of meat? Are you heartbroken?" Su Shen was quite relieved. At least from the time of the incident until now, Gu Zi hadn't been angry with him for beating up Gong Zhan. For him, this attitude was quite good. He didn't dare to hope for more.

"Ouch, don't bite me, be gentle. This fabric is expensive," Gu Zi pleaded in a soft voice as he bit her nipple through her clothes, almost making her knees buckle.

The man continued his rough actions, his mouth on her breast, the fabric there wet with his saliva. It looked particularly decadent. His face, slightly scraped, looked especially wild and defiant, enough to make anyone weak at the knees.

Gu Zi couldn't bear to reject him. In fact, she had wanted to kiss him just moments ago, but the presence of the children had held her back. Now, as he brazenly made his move, it was in perfect alignment with Gu Zi's desires.

He was well aware of her longing for him. He traced her large eyes and upturned nose with his rough fingertips, then moved to her delicate, rosy lips, and her exquisite, captivating collarbone. Had Gong Zhan ever kissed her lips? He didn't know.

But what he was certain of was that he was the only one who had tasted her, made love to her, heard her soft moans, and taken her in various positions. He had marked her as his own, and as her husband, he was committed to taking responsibility for her.

The man gradually straightened up, holding her in his arms, and let out a satisfied sigh. "Your breasts are so soft, so fragrant. It's been too long since I've tasted them."

He was tall and handsome, his towering figure like a sturdy mountain peak, protecting her within. Desire burned in his eyes, ready to burst forth at any moment.

Gu Zi was surrounded by his strong masculine scent, finding it hard to catch her breath as she melted into his arms. They had been busy with their own affairs these past few days, and it had indeed been a while since they had been this intimate.

No wonder she had mistaken the sound of a car for Su Shen's return earlier that day. The moment she had rushed out, her skin had inexplicably tingled with anticipation, yearning for his kisses, his touch, the entanglement of their bodies.

The desire between the man and woman was like dry wood meeting a raging fire, ready to ignite at any moment. Su Shen pulled Gu Zi into the bath, but they didn't even have time for a tender moment in the tub before his passionate kiss came crashing down on her. Gu Zi found herself pinned to the bed, her scalp tingling, her lips trembling uncontrollably, her tongue hooked by his, the sensation overwhelmingly pleasurable.

The man's large hand covered her smooth thigh, caressing upward along the inside of her leg. He parted her evenly proportioned, beautiful legs, his knee pressing against the soft spot behind hers. He buried his head in the crook of her collarbone, nuzzling and nibbling.

...