Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

He clearly looked upon Lin Che very favorably. Lin Che was also extremely good at pleasing Old Master.

It seemed that even if Mo Huiling joined the family with a child, her status would depend completely on her child. It would probably be very difficult for her to play any tricks.

Gu Xiande enjoyed his meal quite a bit. Once he was done, he turned around and instructed someone to get a photographer here so that they could actually take a family portrait.

“In the future, I’ll display Little Che’s family portrait together with this one. Wouldn’t that be great?”

“Yes. Father, you have such good taste. Little Che’s family portrait was truly well-made. Little Che, you’re really skillful with your hands.” Seeing that Lin Che was receiving favor from Gu Xiande, the youngest aunt hastily started to flatter her.

Gu Lanshan could not be bothered. Anger coursed through her when she saw Mu Wanqing’s arrogant expression, but she did not dare to refuse to take the photograph. She could only follow the rest of them.

Naturally, a family portrait excluded outsiders completely. Mo Huiling sat there and watched all of them stand up and walk out. Everyone ignored her as well. She stood up hastily, wanting to pull someone back and ask what she should do.

Should she just sit here?

“Hey… First Aunt… Second Aunt… Jingze…”

However, no one paid any heed to her. She could only watch them leave the table in a row, leaving her to stand there alone at a loss as to what to do.

All the other guests in the room were looking at Mo Huiling. They were smiling and pointing at her. Mo Huiling did not even need to listen to them to know that they were definitely mocking her.

She clenched her fists secretly and thought furiously to herself.

This damned Lin Che. Damn her… why did Gu Jingyu come here? Why was he suddenly on such good terms with her to the point that he actually listened to her and came directly to the old Gu residence?

If Gu Jingyu didn’t come and made everyone to pay attention to Lin Che and Gu Jingyu, she would not have… been left high and dry.

—

Outside, the entire family was ready and all of them were clustered together to take a family portrait.

Gu Xiande pulled Gu Jingyu to him. “Your room is the same as it was. Come back and stay here when you’re free.”

Gu Jingyu said, “Yes, I understand. I’ll come back when I’m free. But I’ve been filming overseas recently…”

“Don’t go overseas all the time. Being on the plane for more than ten hours isn’t good for your health.”

“Yes, yes. I know. But you should just look after your health since you’re old.”

“If there’s no way for you to avoid taking a plane… I’ll get someone to book a plane for you tomorrow. Use our private route. Don’t keep fighting for a plane with your brothers. It’s always easier for you to schedule your time if you have your own plane.”

“Dear me. I’m still not used to your sudden generosity.”

“Oh you. You brat. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. If you don’t want it, I’ll just give it to Little Che.”

“I want it, I want it. Why would I not want it? Sister-In-Law and Second Brother have their own plane. Why would you give them more? Why would a couple need so many airplanes? Will they even be able to use them all?”

Lin Che thought to herself in disbelief. She would not dare to ask for a private plane either… if people found out that she had a private plane, they would definitely kill her with criticism.

Gu Xiande gesticulated for Gu Lanshan and the others to go out and greet the guests first. He was tired and would not be going out.

He merely looked at Lin Che and sighed. He said, “Little Che, I know that it wasn’t good to let Mo Huiling in. But so many people were watching…”

Lin Che looked down. “I know…”

“No, you don’t understand. Things like these happen every day in our circle. Not every man is as loyal as Jingze. There are so many rotten apples in the bunch and so many people with bad inclinations. So many people have mistresses and illegitimate children outside. If I didn’t let Mo Huiling in, they would speculate. They might think that I defied their expectations by refusing to let such a thing happen and it might make them unhappy. Their unhappiness doesn’t mean anything, but I would have a hard time being the head of the family if I lost their support. Every head of the family closes an eye to things like these. Otherwise, if some people do what they want and everyone in the family knows about it, but I interfered with their household affairs, it would look bad. That’s why I can’t be too harsh on Mo Huiling.”

Although Lin Che was naive, she was also aware that no one was obliged to think in your shoes. She knew that Gu Xiande was already treating her very well as his granddaughter-in-law. It was unrealistic of her to expect more care and concern from him.

Lin Che said, “I understand, Grandfather.”

“Alright. You’re a good girl. Little Che, I can guarantee that once she gives birth to the child, we won’t acknowledge it whether or not it belongs to Jingze. We won’t let her become a part of the family either.”

Lin Che smiled. “I believe Jingze. The child can’t be his.”

“I also think that Jingze won’t do something as uncertain as this. But the child hasn’t been born yet, so she will definitely twist the facts if we say otherwise. We don’t have proof either, so we can’t force her to abort the child. We can’t force her to do a DNA test either. Otherwise, she’ll blame it on us if anything untoward happens to the child in the process. Once the child is born, we’ll be able to tell if it belongs to the Gu family. You can’t lie about something like blood relations. We’ll do a test once the child is born. It will be much easier. When the time comes, the evidence will be clear as day. It would be impossible for her to deny it.”

“Yes, Grandfather. I understand.”

Everyone saw Gu Xiande continue speaking to Lin Che for a long time. They could not help but feel slightly jealous. Gu Xiande looked at Mu Wanqing and scoffed. Then, she bluntly said, “Looks like this daughter-in-law of yours has really learned a few of your tricks. Look at how good she is at pleasing people.”

Mu Wanqing looked at Gu Lanshan. “Father thinks for himself. It’s pretty much impossible to try and trick him. After all, Father has seen through so many people and so many things over the years. Thus, if Father really likes someone, it’s not something that we can control either. If you can’t take it lying down, you can ask him why he treats Little Che so well. It’s pointless to take it up with me.”

“You… who’s taking it up with you? I have an issue with Lin Che? Huh. Do you think I would have an issue with someone younger?”

Gu Lanshan walked off immediately and Mu Wanqing paid no heed to her too.

After coming out, Lin Che found Gu Jingyu with one look.

“Senior Jingyu.” She ran up to him, looked at him, and said, “Senior Jingyu, I’m really glad that you were able to come here today.”

Gu Jingyu looked at Lin Che and tilted his head. He glanced meaningfully at Gu Jingze behind him. “It was Second Brother who approached me first.”

“What?” Lin Che asked in surprise, “It was Gu Jingze who approached you first? Why?”

Gu Jingyu said, “Second Brother said that you prepared a gift for Grandfather. He even said that if I didn’t come… Grandfather might feel embarrassed and flare up at you immediately. I was worried that I would really have to clean up your corpse if I didn’t come, so…”

Gu Jingze had actually done this behind her back?

So he had planned everything from the start. No wonder… when he had just found out about her present, he did not oppose it at all and even helped her out.

This old fox…

Lin Che really felt that she had lost to Gu Jingze.