"But isn't she not his fiancée anymore?" Old Mrs. Gu looked puzzled. "Why are you always getting so worked up about this?"
"Mom, aren't you worried that if this gets out, people will say our Gu family is improper? The nephew's former fiancée, after breaking off the engagement, gets involved with his uncle!" Mrs. Gu, in her agitation, blurted out rashly.
But immediately, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Looking again, the two Gu elders and Gu Huaizhi were all looking at her. Their gazes were stern, carrying a warning.
It left Mrs. Gu momentarily speechless.
Gu Huaizhi said coldly, "Who would dare to say anything?"
Feeling the Gu elders' gazes soften slightly, Mrs. Gu could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
She took a deep breath before saying, "Even if they don't dare to say it to your face, they'll whisper it behind your back, or think it in their hearts."
"So what?" Gu Huaizhi sneered. "I know I can't make everyone like me. When they flatter me to my face, is it really because they like me?"
"How many people flatter me to my face and curse me behind my back?" Gu Huaizhi said indifferently. "Since it's all the same, then me being with Mian'in makes no difference."
It was all just flattering to the face and gossiping behind the back anyway.
"That's right," Old Madam Gu said. "No one can make everyone like them. Since that's the case, just do what you like."
"What makes our family respected has never been just our character, but even more so, the Gu family's power and influence." Old Madam Gu chuckled. "Do you think your family is flattered by outsiders because they like you?"
Old Madam Gu pursed her lips. With the character of her second son's family of three, how could that be possible?
"Aren't they saying behind your backs that if it weren't for the Gu family backing you, who would bother with you?" Old Madam Gu shot them a glance. "Honestly, if you weren't my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, I wouldn't even bother with you."
"Mom, you..." Mr. Gu felt that Old Madam Gu saying this in front of Shen Mian'in, an outsider, was too embarrassing for them. "How can you say that?"
"Then how should I say it?" Old Madam Gu said with a puzzled look. "Weren't you the ones who said you were afraid of outsiders gossiping behind your backs?"
"You yourselves have been gossiped about plenty. How can you not be used to it?" Old Madam Gu turned to Shen Mian and said, "From now on, there will inevitably be people gossiping behind your back."
Shen Mian'in hadn't expected the Gu elders to have such an attitude.
Her originally nervous and apprehensive heart calmed down amidst Old Madam Gu's repeated defenses.
Shen Mian's eyes were a little red. She had never imagined that on her first visit, given her past relationship with Gu Luog'an, she would receive such defense and support from the Gu elders.
With reddened eyes, Shen Mian nonetheless managed a smile. "I've never been short of people gossiping about me either."
"See, the person involved doesn't care, so you don't need to worry about it," Old Madam Gu said.
Mr. Gu: "..."
Mrs. Gu: "..."
Was 'that' what they were worried about?
"Mom, Luo'an is also involved!" Mrs. Gu said hastily. "If this gets out, how will Luo'an face people? Won't others think that Luo'an was cuckolded?"
"Wei Minqiu!" Old Madam Gu shouted Mrs. Gu's full name. "Today is my birthday! If you know how to talk, then talk. If you don't, then shut your mouth!"
Gu Huaizhi said coldly, "Gu Luo'an has been fooling around with Su Yiqing outside. Does he think no one knows?"
"That's all a misunderstanding," Mrs. Gu said. "Besides, since they've already broken up, there's nothing wrong with each of them pursuing new relationships."
"Yes, so Mian is dating me," Gu Huaizhi said with a slight smile. "Since everyone knows they've already broken up, how can there be any talk of being cuckolded?"
"Besides, I've finally found a girl I like," Gu Huaizhi said. "Unlike Gu Luo'an, who has a rich love history—if one is gone, there's always another."
"As for me, I either don't date, or if I do, it's with marriage in mind," Gu Huaizhi said. "Second Sister-in-law wouldn't want me to die alone, would she?"
"I didn't mean that," Mrs. Gu said. 'It just can't be Shen Mian!'
"Regarding this matter, your mother and I both agree," Old Mr. Gu stated his position. "You two shouldn't have so many objections."
Mrs. Gu never would have thought that the person who almost became her daughter-in-law would now become her sister-in-law (wife of her husband's younger brother).
Seeing Shen Mian's pitiful act, Mrs. Gu's anger flared up.
How could this Shen Mian'in be so capable!
She broke off the engagement with Gu Luo'an and immediately hooked up with Gu Huaizhi.
Mrs. Gu suddenly realized. No wonder Shen Mian was so desperate, making a huge fuss everywhere about breaking off the engagement with Gu Luo'an back then.
It turns out she had her sights set on Gu Huaizhi even back then.
She had to let Gu Huaizhi know she was single so she could seduce him!
Mrs. Gu shot Gu Luo'an a fierce glare.
How could he not even control one woman!
Gu Luo'an was very annoyed. Back then, he didn't want to break off the engagement; on the contrary, it was Mrs. Gu who kept urging him to do it quickly.
Has she forgotten all that now?
At this moment, the doorbell rang again.
After a while, Aunt Hu came in carrying a large box, saying with a smile, "It's a gift from the Eldest Master's family."
Shen Mian'in looked curiously at Gu Huaizhi.
She hadn't failed to notice that the eldest Gu family son was not present in the room.
"Eldest Brother's family is abroad managing a branch of Gu Corporation. They can only come back during Chinese New Year," Gu Huaizhi said. "So every year for birthdays, they always send a gift on time."
Shen Mian nodded. She didn't know much about the eldest Gu family branch.
However, the second Gu family was already causing enough headaches. Not knowing the eldest Gu family's attitude, having one less family branch present was actually a bit of a relief for Shen Mian.
Opening the box, Old Madam Gu took out a square box and gave it to Shen Mian. "Mian, come here. This is a gift your Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law specially prepared for you."
"For me?" Shen Mian stepped forward in surprise.
"Yes, I told them that San'er is in a relationship," Old Mrs. Gu said.
Shen Mian looked at Gu Huaizhi.
'Gu Huaizhi is called San'er (Third Son) at home?'
Even though the presence of the second Gu family branch was quite uncomfortable, Shen Mian couldn't help but show a teasing smile.
Gu Huaizhi felt helpless, but it was quite good if it could make Shen Mian happy for a moment.
"So, they said they couldn't come back today, but they specially prepared a gift for you too," Old Mrs. Gu said with a smile.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu had ugly expressions on their faces at the side.
'The eldest branch really knows how to conduct themselves.'
'It's none of their business, yet they pull a stunt like this.'
"Thank you, Mr. Gu (referring to the eldest brother)," Shen Mian said. "It's a pity Mr. and Mrs. Gu (eldest) aren't here. Could I ask you to convey my thanks to them?"
"What's the problem with that?" Old Madam Gu said. "Later, have San'er call them back and properly thank his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law."
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