Gu Anran walked slowly toward Li Meirong.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
For a moment, Li Meirong actually felt… uneasy.
"What?" Li Meirong sneered, forcing herself to remain arrogant. "Are you going to hit me?"
She knew Gu Anran wouldn't dare.
Not in public.
Not in front of so many elites.
Gu Anran's lips curved slightly.
"Of course not."
Her voice was gentle.
And then—
She turned.
Before anyone could react—
Slap!
Slap!
Two crisp sounds echoed through the hall.
Gu Yuhan staggered backward, both cheeks instantly swelling red.
"You b*tch! How dare you hit me?!" Gu Yuhan screamed, completely shedding her innocent facade.
Gu Anran didn't even look at her.
Her gaze remained fixed on Li Meirong.
"Whatever you do to me," she said calmly, "I will return to your daughter. Double."
Her tone wasn't loud.
But it carried.
The crowd fell silent.
Li Meirong's face turned pale.
"You said I ruined your daughter's life," Gu Anran continued casually. "Where is the evidence? Did anyone see me take her to that room?"
Her eyes slowly swept across the guests.
"From what I saw… perhaps she went willingly."
A wave of whispers spread through the hall.
Gu Anran tilted her head slightly, looking at Gu Yuhan.
"Sister, you really know how to enjoy yourself."
Her smile turned faintly mocking.
"But three men at once… wasn't that a bit too much to handle?"
The venue exploded with suppressed laughter.
Gu Yuhan felt as if her entire world collapsed.
She wished she could disappear.
"Gu Anran!" she shrieked hysterically. "You were the one who pushed me into that room!"
Gu Anran blinked.
"Oh? Don't be ridiculous."
Her voice was steady.
"I've been downstairs socializing all evening. Everyone here saw me. The only time I left was when my dress was stained — and even then, I returned quickly."
She paused deliberately.
"The room belongs to the Song family. Only someone with close access could use it."
Her eyes sharpened.
Her eyes sharpened.
"This is my first time attending a banquet at the Song Mansion. Are you suggesting I somehow gained control of their private rooms within minutes?"
The logic was airtight.
The crowd nodded subconsciously.
It made sense.
"If I didn't see the video of Miss Gu pushing her sister, I would have believed her completely."
A lazy voice cut in.
Song Qingshen.
"What video?" Xie Niangli leaned over curiously.
Song Qingshen showed him his phone.
Xie Niangli's eyes widened.
"F*ck… This Miss Gu deserves a Best Actress award."
Not far away, Lu Zhenyu had already seen it.
His expression didn't change.
But his eyes darkened.
"Destroy the surveillance footage," he said calmly. "Make sure no one else gets it."
Song Qingshen froze.
"…Second brother?"
"You heard me."
Lu Zhenyu's tone remained indifferent.
"Do it. That subway land you wanted? It's yours."
Song Qingshen immediately stood up.
"I'll handle it."
As he walked away, Xie Niangli poked Lu Zhenyu's shoulder.
"Second brother… don't tell me you're enchanted by that Miss Gu?"
Lu Zhenyu lazily swirled his wine.
His gaze, however, never left Gu Anran.
Back in the center of the hall—
Gu Yuhan was trembling.
"Sis," Gu Anran said softly, suddenly switching her tone. "You've been caught enjoying yourself. Why drag me into it?"
She lowered her head slightly, squeezing out a few tears.
"I've taken the blame for you since we were children. Can you please let me go this time? I really can't help you anymore."
The shift was seamless.
From ruthless to pitiful.
From sharp to wounded.
The crowd began murmuring loudly.
"This Second Miss is shameless."
"She's caught red-handed and still blaming her sister."
"She always pretended to be gentle… I can't believe this."
"The eldest Miss truly carries herself like a proper heiress."
The words struck Gu Yuhan like knives
.
For the first time—
She realized.
She had completely lost.
And Gu Anran?
She stood there, looking fragile.
But her eyes—
Were cold.
"Gu Anran! How dare you plot against Yuhan and still pretend to be innocent?!"
Song Yichen stepped forward, his face flushed with anger.
The moment he spoke, all eyes shifted to him.
Gu Anran looked at him slowly.
Then she blinked.
"I'm sorry," she said lightly, tilting her head. "Are you intellectually challenged?"
For a split second—
Silence.
Then the hall erupted into laughter.
Song Yichen's face turned from red to purple.
"Look, sister," Gu Anran continued lazily, turning to Gu Yuhan. "Your Yichen truly loves you. After such a grand scandal, he still rushes to shield you and shift the blame to me."
Her lips curved faintly.
"That kind of devotion is rare. You should treasure it."
The sarcasm was unmistakable.
She paused.
Then added softly, "After all… you two are rather well-matched."
Her gaze swept over them meaningfully.
"In background. In temperament. In identity."
The implication hung heavy in the air.
Whispers began spreading again.
"The eldest Miss is right… isn't Song Yichen an illegitimate son?"
"And the Second Miss of the Gu family was also born to a mistress before being recognized."
"They're truly made for each other. Both raised by… similar mothers."
The words were hushed—
But deliberate.
Each sentence struck like a blade.
Song Yichen's fists clenched tightly.
Gu Yuhan looked as if she might faint.
Gu Anran, however, was satisfied.
The fire had spread exactly where she wanted it to.
There was no need to stay any longer.
She turned gracefully.
"Teacher Bai," she said gently, her earlier sharpness completely gone. "I'll be leaving now. I have something else to attend to. I promise I'll call you later."
Teacher Bai looked at her with undisguised concern.
"Take care of yourself. And don't let anyone bully you when I'm not around."
His gaze turned cold as it swept over Gu Yuhan and Li Meirong.
After witnessing tonight's scene, he finally understood—
This child had not grown up peacefully.
Gu Anran smiled softly.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I can take care of myself. And if I can't… I'll run to you for help."
Her tone was playful, light.
As if she hadn't just destroyed someone publicly.
She then turned toward Old Madam Song.
"Matriarch Song, I apologize for disturbing your banquet. I'll visit another day to properly express my regrets."
Old Madam Song studied her for a few seconds.
There was a faint frown on her face—
But also something else.
Interest.
"Very well," the old lady said slowly. "I'll be expecting you."
That reply surprised Gu Anran slightly.
But she merely nodded politely and walked toward the exit.
As she reached the doorway—
Her steps paused.
Across the hall, Lu Zhenyu was watching her.
He held a wine glass lazily between his fingers.
There was a faint, almost amused smile on his lips.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second—
Something sharp flashed between them.
He had seen through her.
Every expression.
Every tear.
Every calculated move.
The timid girl she had pretended to be during their first encounter—
Had vanished completely tonight.
Gu Anran's heartbeat skipped once.
Then she calmly looked away and increased her pace.
Behind her—
The Gu family members hurried out, faces grim.
"Finally," Ming Lin muttered as he finished his drink, "the show has come to an end."
Lu Zhenyu didn't respond.
His gaze remained fixed on the now-empty doorway.
No.
The show had only just begun.