Chapter 371: Chapter 371
Although Yun Wei is the daughter of the Yun Family, the Yun Family’s status in An City is quite mediocre, neither significant nor particularly influential. The loss of the Yun Family would not cause any change in An City.
However, the Lu Family is different. Not only does the Lu Family possess extensive assets, it is also a prestigious family in An City that has shaped its history for a century. The CK Corporation dominates most of An City’s economic development.
In fact, Song Qiao’s identity was not simple either a few years back. Despite being unwelcomed by the Song Family, merely holding the empty title of the Song Family’s daughter, behind Song Qiao stood the Mu Family—her maternal grandfather’s family—which used to be a powerful clan in An City. However, their decline later on is precisely why Gu Linyuan’s mother, even when Song Qiao and her son were together at first, did not oppose. It was because she believed that Song Qiao could bring benefits to her family, so she did not stop them immediately.
Later on, when the Mu Family went bankrupt, and Yun Wei just happened to return to the country, Gu Linyuan’s mother, who was always seen favorably, naturally became restless.
After all, Gu Linyuan’s mother is ultimately a snobbish woman.
Gu’s mother naturally does not believe Song Qiao is Lu Jingchen’s wife. She thinks women like Song Qiao should not have a good life, unable to marry into a family with a status higher than the Gu Family, let alone the dominant Lu Family in An City.
Suddenly, casting aside her own status, she assumed Song Qiao was pretending and spoke bluntly, "Song Qiao, have you no shame? Daring to impersonate the Young Mistress of the Lu Family, do you know impersonating this identity could get you arrested by the police? They could make your life worse than death. Do you really think you can miraculously turn from a sparrow into a phoenix?"
Perhaps for the first time, Gu Linyuan saw his mother being so... indiscreet. He knew what kind of person his mother was, but he had never witnessed such a scene before, and her words were so repellent.
Even if he didn’t know of Song Qiao’s current status as Lu Jingchen’s wife, Gu Linyuan still harbored some affection for Song Qiao. His expression turned dark, and he firmly grasped his mother’s arm, saying sternly, "Mother, do you realize what you are saying? Song Qiao indeed is the Young Mistress of the Lu Family. Even if she weren’t, you would have no right to speak to her in such a manner."
Song Qiao’s gaze fell upon Gu Linyuan, a slight shift in her eyes, yet she said nothing more, rather surprised at Gu Linyuan’s change.
If it was in the past, Song Qiao knew that Gu Linyuan had always been very obedient to his mother, which was why he sided with his mother during their breakup rather than believing in Song Qiao.
But seeing Gu Linyuan treat his mother now, Song Qiao would be lying if she said she wasn’t surprised.
Although not shocked, it was more than she had expected.
Gu’s mother stared at her son with wide, disbelieving eyes, seemingly not expecting her own son to treat her that way, to actually defend another woman. Her face distorted grotesquely as she turned not towards Gu Linyuan but towards Song Qiao, her words biting with anger, "Are you bewitching my son, you woman? What spell have you cast on him? What right does an unloved daughter of the Song Family have to stand beside my son? Let me tell you, Song Qiao, unless I die, you will never set foot in the Gu Family’s doors..."
The shop assistant frowned slightly. Even though she had seen her fair share of rich ladies and heiresses at work, this was the first time she encountered a ’shrew’ of a noblewoman. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
In the eyes of the shop assistant, Gu’s mother had descended into ’judging people based on their status’ and even being ’unreasonably harsh’, fitting the profile of a particularly malicious noblewoman.
Her face turned unpleasant, after all, just now Mr. Lu had come with Mrs. Lu. Although she didn’t know where Mr. Lu had gone to, she was very aware that Mr. Lu came today to buy a ring with Mrs. Lu. And the doting look that Mr. Lu gave Mrs. Lu earlier was seen by everyone in the shop, they could imagine how much Mr. Lu adored Mrs. Lu.
If something happened to Mrs. Lu here, they would be in deep trouble.
Even though she knew she was no match for Gu’s mother, the shop assistant still stood her ground, wanting to retort, since her boss was Mr. Lu, and he was the one who paid their wages.
But before the shop assistant could speak up, Song Qiao had already stood up, arms crossed, with a sneer, addressing Gu’s mother directly, "Don’t worry, even if the Gu Family begs me to marry Gu Linyuan, I, Song Qiao, wouldn’t consider it for a second."
The commotion here had already attracted the attention of many customers in the jewelry store, all wealthy, influential, or powerful figures in their own circles. Women usually loved to gather around where the excitement was, and a lot of them began to discuss what was happening around them.
However, Song Qiao maintained an unchanged expression, her face filled with scorn as she looked at Gu’s mother, whose face had turned extremely unsightly at her words.
Gu’s mother did not anticipate Song Qiao to fight back with such righteousness, her face flushed red with anger.
Yun Wei, witnessing the scene, realized this was the perfect opportunity to curry favor with Gu’s mother and, by the way, completely oust Song Qiao from Gu Linyuan’s side. She immediately stepped forward in her high heels and pointed at Song Qiao, berating, "You wretch, who do you think you are? Do you really think you’re worthy of entering the Gu Family? Stop your delusional daydreams. You’re destined to remain a sparrow and never become a phoenix; you’re fated for a life of toil..."
Song Qiao looked at Yun Wei in front of her. Was this what a daughter from a rich family looked like? Her speech was so vile and lacking in restraint; Song Qiao unexpectedly found herself disdaining Gu Linyuan’s taste—how could he fancy such a woman?
At this moment, Gu Linyuan was incredibly aggrieved, worn out by the scene his mother and Yun Wei were causing.
Yun Wei was never really his type; he always knew that she was a willful and spoiled woman. Initially, when he broke up with Song Qiao and chose to be with Yun Wei, he often found himself reminiscing about Song Qiao’s good temperament and character.
Truly, Yun Wei couldn’t hold a candle to Song Qiao. Not to mention that Song Qiao naturally exuded a composed aura. Besides, Song Qiao, without any makeup, looked far better than Yun Wei with her meticulous makeup.
"My wife Lu Jingchen, wanting to marry into the Gu Family?" Just as Yun Wei continued with her tirade, a voice with an undertone of coldness and sarcasm came from behind Gu Linyuan and the others.
Upon hearing Lu Jingchen’s voice, Song Qiao instantly lifted her head to look, and saw a man with a cell phone in hand, dressed in a white shirt and slacks, approaching with a tall, straight figure and a dark expression on his face.
Gu Linyuan’s face changed at the sound of Lu Jingchen’s voice. He turned his head and saw Lu Jingchen, who had just returned from a phone call to check if Song Qiao had picked out a ring, and his complexion paled as well.
The color drained from both Gu’s mother and Yun Wei’s faces as well; they glanced at each other, both reading confusion, fear, and incredulity in the other’s eyes.
Although Yun Wei had never met Lu Jingchen in person, she had seen news reports about him because of Zuo Yuqing’s incident. At that time, she had sensed that this man was no ordinary man, even more formidable than her Linyuan, but knowing she didn’t match up to Lu Jingchen, she never harbored any unrealistic desires.
Even if she did, she had no chance to approach a man like Lu Jingchen.
Gu’s mother had met Lu Jingchen before, but it was several years ago at a family banquet. Though her memory wasn’t vivid, she immediately recognized him from his features and aura as the current president of CK Corporation—Lu Jingchen.
Gu’s mother was at first confused by Lu Jingchen’s words. Watching Lu Jingchen approach, her lips moved slightly, and finally, with caution, she spoke, "Mr. Lu, what a coincidence."
Although she, as the Gu family’s mistress, was accustomed to having her way outside, in front of the Lu Family, the Gu Family was nothing. The Lu Family could decide the fate of the Gu Family with just a word, and that’s why Gu’s mother greatly feared Lu Jingchen.
Gu Linyuan looked at Lu Jingchen. Although he disliked the man, he had to admit that only Lu Jingchen could afford Song Qiao such special privileges, and indeed, his own status couldn’t compare to Lu Jingchen’s.
Today, Gu Linyuan decided not to plead with Lu Jingchen for his mother. It was not because he feared Lu Jingchen or lacked filial piety.
It was because if Gu’s mother didn’t learn her lesson today, she would continue to be unchecked in the future.
As for Song Qiao, he hadn’t truly given up on her, always thinking there would be chances in the future. Yet sometimes, he also knew that if in the end Song Qiao wouldn’t be with him, he still needed to find a woman he loved to marry.
If he didn’t restrain his mother now, the one to be insulted like Song Qiao in the future would be his wife.
Confronted with Gu’s mother’s timorous face, trying to please, Lu Jingchen’s lips curled slightly. He spoke with an indifferent tone, "That should be me speaking to Mrs. Gu. I’m not sure what meaning there is in bothering my wife. Has she caused you any displeasure? And those words Mrs. Gu just said, could you please explain them to me? I didn’t quite understand some of them."
Lu Jingchen’s expression was indifferent, betraying no emotion, his voice as if discussing an especially simple topic. However, Song Qiao, who had been familiar with Lu Jingchen for so long, knew very well.
Lu Jingchen was... truly angry.
Song Qiao looked at the man before her, and an unusual emotion surged in her heart for a moment.