Gu Bichen was about to turn eighteen. As the only heir of the Gu family in Jingzhou, his marriage was bound to attract all eyes.

With the saying "the pavilion nearest the water enjoys the moonlight first" in mind, Gu Suqiu had no intention of letting someone else benefit for nothing.

Unfortunately, among all those cousins on her mother’s side, there wasn’t a single young person of the right age for Gu Bichen.

Not long ago, after Lin Xiaoxiao was brought back, Gu Suqiu saw a chance when she looked at this timid child who had seen so little of the world.

Thankfully, she was still young and there was room to mold her.

From a distance, Yuan Tingfang saw the two of them and walked over with a smile to greet them.

Gu Suqiu sized her up. "You’re from the Yuan family?"

"Sister Qiu, I’m Yuan Tingfang."

"I remember now. Your father is Yuan Han, one of De Ren’s shareholders."

Yuan Tingfang gave an embarrassed little smile.

"You’re in the same class as our Bichen, right?"

Yuan Tingfang froze for a second, then replied immediately, "Yes."

"How’s the relationship between you two?"

Yuan Tingfang said a bit shyly, "Gu is very good to me."

Gu Suqiu narrowed her eyes slightly, taking in the girl before her.

"Bichen is a gentleman carefully raised by the Gu family; he’s good to everyone."

With that, she left arm in arm with Gu Yonghe.

Only then did Yuan Tingfang notice the girl following behind Gu Suqiu.

In an instant, she understood what that look from Gu Suqiu just now had meant.

Ever since Yu Ruohuan died, the great boulder pressing down on her head had disappeared. Only then could she breathe the air of freedom. These past days had practically been the happiest period of her life so far.

It had, of course, also awakened her ambition.

Back then, Yu Ruohuan treated Gu Bichen as her exclusive possession and would not allow anyone to covet him, so naturally she hadn’t dared harbor any improper thoughts.

But now...

Yuan Tingfang hooked up the corner of her lips. The position of the young madam of the Gu family was not something she couldn’t compete for.

Today Madam Gu was the birthday star. Dressed in a festive red, front-opening Tang jacket, she had swept away her sickly air, looking spirited and vigorous.

Gu Chengzhao pushed the wheelchair and helped the old lady into the RV.

Gu Bichen asked, "Where’s my mom? On such an important day, don’t tell me she’s still buried in the lab?"

"You know your mom’s a workaholic. We’ll go to the hotel first to receive relatives and friends. She’ll head straight there when she’s done."

Hearing this, Gu Bichen nodded.

"What about An’an, will An’an come?"

After Madam Gu met Shen You’an once, she’d been bringing her up ever since.

Smiling, Gu Bichen laid a blanket over the old lady’s legs. "Of course she’ll come, don’t worry."

Shen You’an picked up Rong Xianning, who had just finished shooting a commercial. Because he had to be on camera, he was wearing makeup, his hair slicked with a good amount of hair gel, styled to look more mature.

Shen You’an opened her makeup bag, pulled out a makeup-removing wipe, and handed it to him. "Wipe that makeup off your face."

Rong Xianning said nothing and obediently did as he was told.

Shen You’an took out a white suit. "Change into this."

There was a space in the back of the RV specifically for changing clothes; once the curtain was pulled, nothing could be seen.

After Rong Xianning changed, Shen You’an fussed with his hair a little, parting it slightly so the soft fringe brought out a fresh, youthful air.

The boy had red lips and white teeth; even without a hint of powder he was already at his most vivid and lively. Brimming vitality and a gentle, refined aura coexisted perfectly in him—brilliant as the sun, clear and lustrous as the moon.

"You’re not afraid I’ll sell you off?"

Rong Xianning smiled. "Then I’ll help you count the money."

"Since when did you get such a slick tongue?"

"Alright, on a serious note, we’re going to Madam Gu’s birthday banquet today."

Rong Xianning’s lids lowered slightly, eyelashes long as crow feathers casting a shadow that hid the emotions in his eyes.

"Gu Bichen’s grandmother."

"Yes."

Shen You’an looked at him and sighed.

"Aning, there’s something I can’t keep from you any longer. The truth is, your background..."

"I know."

The boy lifted his head, and in his jet-black eyes there flashed an indescribable gleam, as if it were containing a great many emotions and secrets.

Shen You’an’s throat tightened. She suddenly found a trace of unfamiliarity in the boy before her.

"You...know?"

Rong Xianning lowered his lids again, murmuring, "I know."

Shen You’an looked at him in silence. Yes, he was that smart—how could he not have suspected?

Sometimes the truth doesn’t need you to dig to the roots, nor does it need that single sheet of appraisal report. For someone truly intelligent, a single sentence or a single look from another can be enough to glimpse the whole leopard through a spot and suddenly grasp the mystery.

The boy sat quietly, head bowed in silence, his thin shoulders looking as if a gust of wind could knock them over.

Shen You’an recalled that coat draped over her in her past life when she had been in a state of wretched despair, bringing her warmth; that thread of warmth had once accompanied her through night after night of raging cold winds.