Gu Anran returned to her room, a space so plainly decorated it barely felt like it belonged to the Gu family. A small bed, a simple wardrobe, and a narrow desk filled the room. Compared to Gu Yuhan's luxurious bedroom, this place was like earth compared to paradise.
Yet this was where she had lived for years.
She walked over to the lampstand and gently picked up a framed photograph resting beside it. The woman in the photo was breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair was neatly pinned up, giving her an elegant and graceful aura, and her eyes were filled with endless motherly love as she held a little girl in her arms.
"Mom…" Gu Anran murmured softly, as if afraid her voice might disturb the peace.
Her mother had died when she was only ten years old.
Back then, Gu Anran had thought the world had collapsed. Her mother had been gentle and warm, the kind of woman who would patiently listen to her childish worries and smile as if nothing in the world mattered more. After her death, the Gu Mansion gradually lost all warmth.
Her father changed soon after.
At first, Gu Anran hadn't noticed much. She thought he was simply grieving. But one day, he brought two strangers home—an eight-year-old girl and a woman holding her hand.
He calmly told Gu Anran that the girl was her younger sister, Gu Yuhan, and the woman was her new mother, Li Menling.
Even though her heart ached, Gu Anran didn't object. She swallowed her sadness and accepted them, telling herself that as long as her father was happy, she could endure anything.
But everything began to change after Li Menling entered the household.
It started with the garden.
Her mother had loved orchids—elegant, quiet, and resilient. They had bloomed all over the garden, and Gu Anran used to help water them every morning. One day, she woke up to find the garden bare.
Every single orchid had been cut down.
In their place were bright, flamboyant roses.
When she ran to her father in tears, he only frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Since your stepmother is now the lady of the house, she can do whatever she wants."
That was the moment Gu Anran realized that her mother's place in this house had been completely erased.
Later, Li Menling became even more shameless. She began wearing her mother's jewelry to banquets, boldly claiming they were hers. Necklaces, bracelets—each piece was soaked in memories Gu Anran could never forget.
Worst of all, she had been forced to give up her room.
The spacious bedroom that once belonged to her was handed to Gu Yuhan without hesitation, and Gu Anran was moved into this small, plain room instead.
Yet in her previous life, she had forgiven all of it.
She had been touched by Li Menling's fake concern, deceived by Gu Yuhan's innocent smiles, and softened by her father's rare kindness. She had convinced herself that she was overthinking everything.
How foolish.
"This time…" Gu Anran whispered coldly, gripping the photo frame, "I won't be fooled again."
She carefully placed the photo back on the lampstand and lay down on the bed. The night was quiet, but her resolve had never been clearer.
The next morning, Gu Anran woke up early. After showering and changing into a simple outfit, she went downstairs.
As soon as she entered the dining room, she saw Gu Sheng, Li Menling, and Gu Yuhan already seated at the table, having breakfast together. Once again, they looked like a harmonious family.
"Sister, you're awake," Gu Yuhan said with her usual gentle smile. "Come and join us."
"I'm not interested," Gu Anran replied indifferently. "You can continue."
She turned and walked toward the door.
"Where do you think you're going, you unfilial child?" Gu Sheng demanded harshly.
Gu Anran paused. Slowly, she turned around, her gaze calm but distant.
"You've never cared before," she said coldly.
"So there's no need to pretend now and act like a good father."
With that, she strode out without looking back.
"You— you!" Gu Sheng stammered, his face flushing with anger. Yet beneath his fury was an undeniable trace of guilt that left him momentarily speechless.
"Don't worry, Old Gu," Li Menling said softly, her voice soothing. "She's just being rebellious. Young people are like that. Punish her a little, and she'll come around."
Her words carried a clear implication.
Gu Sheng's expression darkened. "You're right. I'll cut off her credit cards. Without money to go to those indecent places, she'll be forced to behave."
Across the table, Gu Yuhan lowered her head obediently, hiding the joy flashing in her eyes.
At the Lu residence, Lin Feng knocked lightly on the door of the study.
"Come in," a deep voice replied from inside.
Lin Feng entered respectfully. "CEO Lu, I've obtained the information on the girl from the hotel," he reported
Lin Feng entered respectfully. "CEO Lu, I've obtained the information on the girl from the hotel," he reported.
Lu Zhenyu finally reacted. He reached out and took the documents, flipping through them calmly.
"She is the eldest daughter of the Gu family," Lin Feng continued. "Born to the Gu patriarch's first wife, who was also the founder of the Gu Company. According to our findings, the Gu Mansion is registered under the first wife's name."
Lu Zhenyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The eldest Miss also holds thirty percent of the Gu Group's shares," Lin Feng added.
Lu Zhenyu's fingers paused mid-page. A faint, dangerous smile appeared on his lips.
"So…" he said slowly, "she's not as simple as she looks."