Chapter 21 Formal Confrontation
Ji Ying composed herself and said calmly, "I'm in the study reading the company briefing."
Even now, with Gu Yanchen in charge of Chenxi Group, the old lady still holds the title of chairperson.
Although she doesn't pay much attention to how her grandson manages the group, a briefing about the group still appears on her desk every other day.
"This is Gu Lingxue, Auntie's daughter."
This was Ji Ying and Gu Lingxue's first formal meeting, so Gu Yanchen should have introduced them.
However, just as Gu Lingxue obediently stepped forward to greet Ji Ying, Ji Ying ignored them and turned to hang up her coat.
Gu Yanchen abandoned Gu Lingxue and followed.
Ji Ying hung up her clothes and took a step back, which landed right in his arms.
She was startled and tried to get out of his arms, but he held her tight.
"She fainted at the cemetery and refused to go to the hospital, but fortunately it was just low blood sugar, so we'll send her off after the family dinner tonight."
"I don't want to deal with her, and you don't need to tell me anything about her."
She stopped making a fuss, but a sense of alienation crept in.
Ji Ying wanted to get out of his arms.
Gu Yanchen refused.
At this moment, Gu Gong walked over.
"Yan Chen, let's talk."
"We'll talk about it later."
Dissatisfied with Gu Gong's interruption, Gu Yanchen pulled Ji Ying along to try and find another place to argue.
"It's about what you asked about that day," Gu Gong said cryptically.
Gu Yan paused.
Ji Ying took the opportunity to break free from him
With just a little tugging, his wrist was pinched red.
Ji Ying remained silent, lowering her head to rub her hands.
Gu Yanchen's eyes darkened for a moment, but he still left with Gu Gong.
In the living room, Wen Li watched as Gu Gong and his son went outside, and then stroked her daughter's hair with satisfaction.
"Look how good Yan Chen is to you, don't do anything foolish again."
These words were deliberately said to Ji Ying, who was alone.
Gu Lingxue smiled, pursing her lips.
“I was very happy to be back. I was able to pay my respects to my father and spend time with my mother. I am already very content. My brother arranged a charter flight. I will leave after I have dinner.”
Wen Li's eyes revealed her reluctance.
At this moment, the butler brought over a plate of peach shortbread.
Wen Li's eyes lit up as she looked at Ji Ying, her smile barely reaching her eyes.
"Dinner won't be served for another twenty minutes. If you're hungry, have some peach shortbread."
Ji Ying glanced at the plate in the housekeeper's hand.
There weren't enough peach shortbreads to make a whole box.
She understood.
This is what Gu Lingxue left over.
Wen Li was humiliating her in this way.
Not wanting to argue with Wen Li, she turned to leave.
Wen Li, however, had her objections.
"These are peach shortbreads made by an old shop in Wanyang Town. Yan Chen bought them especially for Lingxue. Lingxue thought they were delicious, so she asked the butler to bring them out for everyone to eat. What kind of attitude do you have? Are you looking down on our Lingxue?"
Ji Ying lifted her eyelids, her gaze towards her completely calm.
"If you like it, then eat more. I can't appreciate it; it's not up to your standards."
Wen Li's face instantly darkened.
"Are you saying that Lingxue isn't good enough for you?"
"Interpret it however you like."
"Ji Ying!" Wen Li was angry. "Our Ling Xue is kind and polite. You are an abandoned orphan. You are a cursed star. You are far inferior to her."
Her words were like stabbing Ji Ying in the wound.
Gu Lingxue tugged at Wen Li's sleeve, but Wen Li didn't seem to care.
"What's there to be afraid of? Doesn't she know her own worth? It's already an honor to let her eat your leftovers."
Unable to calm her surging emotions, Ji Ying weighed the consequences of losing her temper and grabbed the plate from the housekeeper's hand, smashing it at her.
"Don't hurt my mother."
Gu Lingxue protected Wen Li without hesitation.
The plate, along with the peach shortbread, hit her on the back with a dull thud, and crumbs of the shortbread tumbled down.
Gu Lingxue trembled, her back a mess.
"Listening to the Snow..."
Wen Li screamed, her face turning pale with fright.
But Ji Ying has no intention of apologizing.
“Ms. Wen, the reason why Grandma doesn’t like you is not because of your past of being promiscuous, but because your values are as bad as gutter oil, dirty, toxic and bubbling everywhere.”
"Who are you calling promiscuous!"
As Gu Gong rushed over, he grabbed Ji Ying's shoulders from behind and turned her around.
Just as the raised hand was about to fall, Gu Yanchen quickly grabbed his hand.
The man's voice was deep, "Father, she is my wife."
Gu Gong ultimately failed to deliver the slap.
He shook off his son's hand and asked, trembling, "She insulted my wife, are you still going to tolerate her?"
At that moment, the old lady also came downstairs and frowned when she saw the mess in the living room.
When Wen Li saw that there was an audience, she cried even louder.
"Lingxue, are you alright? That plate was so big, and she hit you so hard. If it were me, I'm afraid I would have broken my bones."
Gu Gong looked at Ji Ying with a gaze that seemed to want to tear her to pieces.
Gu Yanchen pulled Ji Ying away and walked a few steps to Gu Lingxue, squatting down to pat off the peach crisp crumbs on her back.
"Are you alright?"
Although Ji Ying was far away from Gu Gong, she stumbled before she could regain her balance.
This was the first time she had ever seen Gu Yanchen speak softly and gently to a woman other than himself.
My heart doesn't feel pain, only a sense of desolation rises within me.
Gu Lingxue's face was slightly pale, but she shook her head.
"It's alright, my sister-in-law... she just accidentally hurt herself."
Defending her would only make her more hated. Ji Ying lowered her eyes, pondering how to withstand her deadly blow.
"Should we go to the hospital?"
Gu Yanchen helped Gu Lingxue up.
Gu Lingxue leaned on him to steady herself, a reassuring smile on her face.
"Don't worry, brother, I'm not stupid. I won't pretend to be okay when something's wrong."
"Yan Chen," Gu Gong couldn't swallow his anger, "you must give me an explanation today."
With Gu Lingxue unharmed, Gu Yanchen's gaze finally swept over Ji Ying, his expression stern and scrutinizing, a cold glint in his eyes.
Ji Ying's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she shrank back a little.
"What...what? I'm an abandoned orphan, so I only deserve to eat your sister's leftovers? You married me for your sister's sake?"
Her voice was soft, yet it gripped Gu Yanchen's heart like a knife.
Gu Yanchen frowned.
Grandma Gu flew into a rage and started yelling at Wen Li.
"You vicious woman! You've been married into the Gu family for ten years and you still haven't changed your ways. You're always plotting to get your daughter into my grandson's bed or messing with my granddaughter-in-law. You can forget about having a good life in this house. Get out of here now!"
Gu Gong protected his wife, "Mom, this is clearly Ji Ying's fault."
Old Mrs. Gu showed no mercy, saying, "If you are truly in love with her, then get out of here with her. The Gu family will not give you a single penny in the future."
"I...I'm innocent..."
Wen Li couldn't catch her breath and fainted.
We can't have the family dinner now.
Wen Li was taken to the hospital, and Gu Yanchen brought Ji Ying back to Platinum Bay.
She remained quiet the whole way, and didn't even question him about why he gave the peach shortbread he bought for her to Gu Lingxue.
She reverted to being the sensible Ji Ying, but Gu Yanchen felt uneasy.
The two walked silently into the living room.
Gu Yanchen suddenly stopped, and Ji Ying bumped into his back, almost being bounced away.
"Did it hurt?"
Gu Yanchen reached out to touch her forehead, but she chose to dodge away.
The man's hand froze in mid-air.
Ji Ying gave him a stiff smile. "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going."
Gu Yanchen's expression changed rapidly.
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