Shen Mian'in smiled and nodded, listening as Old Madam Gu added, "However, you'll have to change how you address him to 'Eldest Brother'!"
"Since you're Huaizhi's girlfriend, don't be such a stranger," Old Mr. Gu also said.
Shen Mian'in nodded, her face red.
Gu Luo'an, at the side, lowered his eyes in frustration.
Originally, if he and Shen Mian hadn't broken off their engagement...
When Shen Mian visited, she should have called Gu Huaizhi's eldest brother 'Eldest Uncle'
But now, she actually had to call him 'Eldest Brother'.
How ridiculous.
"I'll call Eldest Brother when I get back," Gu Huaizhi said.
Old Madam Gu then said to Shen Mian, "Quick, open it and see if you like it."
Shen Mian'in opened the box. Inside lay a yellow diamond necklace.
Never mind its excellent quality; just its size alone was truly substantial.
The entire necklace was composed of thumb-sized yellow diamonds.
"This... is too valuable." Shen Mian hadn't expected the Gu family's eldest son, whom she had never even met, to send such an expensive gift.
"Your Eldest Brother said he couldn't come back this year, so he felt he couldn't be remiss with propriety," Old Madam Gu said with a smile. "During Chinese New Year, he'll make it up to you with an even better gift."
The Second Son (Mr. Gu) couldn't help but ask, "Mom, doesn't Eldest Brother know she was originally Luo'an's fiancée?"
"I told him when I called him," Old Madam Gu said.
"You know your Eldest Brother; he's always straightforward and magnanimous in his actions." Speaking of Eldest Gu, Old Mrs. Gu was completely satisfied.
Fortunately, of her three sons, only the Second Son was unpresentable.
And as a result, the wife he married and the son he fathered were the same.
But thankfully, Eldest Gu and Gu Huaizhi were both good.
Otherwise, Old Mr. Gu wouldn't have felt at ease entrusting all the overseas business to Eldest Gu.
The Gu family was powerful in China, but abroad, they were, after all, outsiders, not comparable to those local foreign enterprises.
Moreover, they often faced suppression from those foreign governments.
Therefore, Eldest Gu's responsibility for Gu Corporation's overseas branches was even more challenging.
This also demonstrated the Gu elders' trust in Eldest Gu's abilities.
The Second Son was dissatisfied: "Eldest Brother knew and still..."
"Your Eldest Brother said there were some things he couldn't conveniently say directly to you, so he told me," Old Mrs. Gu said.
"Your Eldest Brother said that when Mian and Luo'an got engaged, your family kept it extremely quiet. We only knew she was a daughter of the Su family; we knew nothing else. During holidays, New Year, and our birthdays, you never invited Mian over."
"We also mentioned wanting to meet the young lady. Since they were engaged, if the family elders didn't make an appearance, people would say we lacked courtesy and even think our family was arrogant and didn't value the girl. What family that cherishes their daughter would be willing to let her marry into such a situation?"
It was just unexpected that the Su family actually agreed.
This was enough to show that Shen Mian'in wasn't treated well in the Su family.
Old Madam Gu added, "Therefore, back then, he (Eldest Brother) also couldn't prepare a welcoming gift for Mian as an elder."
"But this time, as she's visiting with Huaizhi, your Eldest Brother couldn't pretend not to know. He had to make up for the lacking courtesies from before."
Old Madam Gu looked at Gu Huaizhi with satisfaction and said, "Your Eldest Brother also said that Huaizhi is someone who can handle things, is responsible, and that it's very good he could bring Mian'in back."
Hearing Old Madam Gu's words, Gu Huaizhi's mood clearly improved.
After hearing what Old Madam Gu said, Shen Mian'in became genuinely very curious about Eldest Gu.
It seemed he was a person with a very free-spirited yet very reasonable character.
She was just really curious how, with the Gu family's upbringing style, they could have raised a 'bad bamboo shoot' like the Second Son.
The Second Son, being told off by Old Madam Gu, his expression grew increasingly unsightly.
The Gu elders were always like this, never satisfied with him.
They always compared him to Eldest Brother and Gu Huaizhi, saying he was inferior in every way.
He didn't understand, where was he inferior!
The chef finished preparing dinner, and it was all laid out on the table.
The Gu elders weren't very keen on going out for lively occasions nowadays.
Usually, they would stroll outside and participate in some activities for seniors.
But for occasions like birthdays, they preferred to celebrate at home.
The old residence had a chef who knew the elders' tastes and preferences well.
Being comfortable at home was better than going to a restaurant.
Old Madam Gu happily pulled Shen Mian to dine.
Only then did Shen Mian remember she had prepared a gift she hadn't given yet.
She had heard the objections from the Second Son and his wife as soon as she entered, so she hadn't had a chance to present her gift.
Shen Mian hurriedly gave the gift to Old Madam Gu: "Old Mrs. Gu, this is your birthday gift. Happy birthday!"
"Didn't you call me 'Auntie' when you came in? Why 'Old Mrs. Gu' again?" Old Madam Gu happily accepted the gift. "Actually, I'd prefer you to call me 'Mom'."
"Calling 'Mom' requires a 'change-of-address fee'," Gu Huaizhi said from the side.
Shen Mian'in: "..."
Shen Mian'in couldn't help but glare at Gu Huaizhi. 'Why is he causing trouble?'
Seeing the two of them exchanging glances, Old Madam Gu smiled even more happily, held Shen Mian's hand, and said, "We won't let you be wronged. This time, we must give you a grand engagement banquet."
"Auntie..." Shen Mian exclaimed, losing her voice for a moment.
'Old Mrs. Gu even knows about this?'
"Huaizhi is so old already."
"Mom," Gu Huaizhi couldn't help but call out.
How is he old?
He was Old Madam Gu's late-in-life son.
Old Madam Gu glanced at him with a smile: "You're seven years older than Mian, how is that not old?"
"I really didn't expect that at your age, you'd manage to 'eat tender grass' (date someone much younger)," Old Madam Gu teased, then continued to Shen Mian'in, "He's so old, and he's finally in a relationship. While we're happy, naturally, we also need to know who his girlfriend is."
"For this, don't blame us," Old Madam Gu said.
Shen Mian shook her head.
Given Gu Huaizhi's status in the Gu family, it was natural for the family to be extremely cautious about his girlfriend.
"Previously, Huaizhi said he was pursuing you and told me not to investigate you," Old Madam Gu said truthfully.
But Shen Mian didn't know about this matter. She looked at Gu Huaizhi in surprise.
There was actually such a thing, and he hadn't mentioned it.
Gu Huaizhi had indeed forgotten about this; it wasn't an intentional concealment.
Old Madam Gu continued, "Naturally, I respect you both. He also asked me to trust his judgment, so I didn't investigate."
"It wasn't until last week when he took you to your company and openly announced your relationship that I realized it was you," Old Madam Gu explained.
"However, when I heard your name at the time, it only sounded familiar; I couldn't recall immediately."
"Later, after Aunt Hu reminded me, I remembered who you were. However, I only knew you had been engaged to Luo'an; I didn't know much else," Old Madam Gu said.
"Only then did I investigate further."
"Upon investigating, I learned you had suffered so many grievances." Old Madam Gu glanced unhappily at the Second Son's family. "Moreover, these grievances were caused by our family."
"We're sorry."
Shen Mian'in hurriedly shook her head.
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