Chapter 154: Feeling Hopeful

Wang Ma sighed: "How could I possibly tell anyone… Silly child, I will protect you well…"

Gu Mianmian felt somewhat reassured after receiving Wang Ma's promise.

No one would ever know… who she truly was…

Gu Mianmian's secrets had indeed been well hidden until now; no one knew about them, so no one had ever understood what she had been concealing all these years.

And Gu Wenyan did not have the mind to bother with Gu Mianmian. Just as she had anticipated, she had now become the apple of everyone's eye.

In a short span of time, quite a few people tried to reach her through the Gu Family's connections, hoping to obtain from her a chance to get close to the eminent monk Daoyuan.

However, Gu Wenyan refused everyone who made such requests.

And told them to go directly to Bao Sihan.

If they had the ability, they could go pester Bao Sihan and see whether Bao Sihan had the patience to deal with them.

As for the Gu Family members, there was still that possibility.

Bao Sihan, however, would not have the patience.

Nevertheless… Gu Wenyan did not put it too bluntly either; she would maintain the relationships that could be of use.

These connections might come in handy in the future.

That day, Gu Wenyan did not go to the company. She slept until she woke naturally, and when she came downstairs, she saw Wang Ma.

Wang Ma greeted her politely: "Eldest Miss, would you like breakfast?"

"No, thanks… Where is Gu Mianmian?"

"Eldest Miss, the Second Miss has gone to the company."

"Oh."

Gu Wenyan had taken the day off today. As for why she wasn't going to the company…

Because she wanted to spend her time first on some important matters of her own.

A few days ago, some official institutions had approached Gu Wenyan, hoping she would help cultivate some new flowers and plants.

The visitors' identities were rather important, and there was also the chance to deal with officials. Gu Wenyan did not want to refuse outright, so she agreed to cooperate with them and help out.

For Gu Wenyan, it was indeed just a small effort, something she could do very easily, hardly anything of great importance.

Wang Ma saw Gu Wenyan head to the back courtyard but said nothing more.

However, after a while, she appeared in the back courtyard: "Eldest Miss, what are you—"

Gu Wenyan said coolly: "I'm busy with my own affairs. You don't need to worry about it. Go rest."

Wang Ma's expression was troubled: "Yes, Eldest… Eldest Miss, I have something I'd like to say, if I may?"

"If you think it shouldn't be said, then don't say it."

Gu Wenyan looked at Wang Ma with a tight, mirthless smile. She knew perfectly well that Wang Ma could not be up to any good—she was surely scheming of ways to harm her.

Wang Ma's face showed a flash of awkwardness, then she quickly continued: "But I still feel I ought to tell you, so that you know."

"Know what?"

"The Second Miss—she, her emotions have been a bit off lately."

"Gu Mianmian's emotions being off is nothing new, it's been going on for more than a day or two. Why are you telling me this? Go tell Father and Mother and the young masters—"

Anyway, the young masters had been coming home every day lately, so Wang Ma could just go find them.

Wang Ma was deeply troubled: "Eldest Miss, I know that from now on, you are the Gu Family's eldest miss… so I feel you still need to know."

"Fine, tell me. What's wrong with Gu Mianmian?"

"The Second Miss… often cries in secret."

"So?"

"She actually really wants to make peace with you, but…"

Gu Wenyan said dismissively: "So what does that have to do with me?"

"I just feel you should know that the Second Miss isn't actually as bad as you imagine. Perhaps you could try to get to know her again."

"Is that so? Noted."

Not a single word of what Wang Ma had said to her would she take to heart; she simply did not care.

If they thought she was still the same person as before, easily won over with a few kind words…

They were far too naive.

After Gu Wenyan finished cultivating these flowers, she thought for a moment, then brought out an orchid from her own courtyard that she was very pleased with, had someone deliver it to the Bo Family as a gift for Bao Mu.

Whether Bao Mu wanted it or not, her good intentions were conveyed. She would often do similar things in the future.

One day, Bao Sihan's mother would realize that a daughter-in-law like her could not be found anywhere in all of Jingcheng, even if you searched with a lantern.

Bao Mu had previously found fault with her in every way.

But that was all a misunderstanding from the past.

From now on, she would absolutely never think that way again.

When Bao Mu received the orchid Gu Wenyan had sent, she immediately recognized how fine its quality was, clearly understanding it was no cheap thing, but a very difficult-to-cultivate orchid.

Seeing the change in her expression, Lan Tian could not wait to stir trouble: "You absolutely must not be fooled by Gu Wenyan's small favors! That's the trick she's best at!"

"Didn't Gu Wenyan use these flowers and plants to win over the young masters of the Gu Family before? And then… that Gu Second Miss lived in the Gu Family for so many years, yet in the end got nothing! Now there are already signs of her falling out of favor…"

Lan Tian deliberately sighed: "Who knows, in the future she might even be driven out of the Gu Family… She lived there for a full twenty years, yet in the end… Tell me, how capable is Gu Wenyan?"

She said this to hint to Bao Mu that Gu Mianmian had lived in the Gu Family for so many years, yet would still be replaced in the end.

And as for Bao Sihan's mother… what about her? Perhaps one day, because of Gu Wenyan's various schemes, she too would no longer matter in her own son's heart and be overlooked by him.

Lan Tian watched the changes in Bao Mu's eyes and smiled silently.

With her whispering in her ear all day long, she refused to believe that Gu Wenyan could truly live happily after marrying into the Bo Family!

She would sooner or later drive Gu Wenyan out!

Lan Tian's eyes rolled as she thought of something else to remind her: "Actually, Madam, there's a way you can resolve all these problems without shedding a drop of blood."

Bao Mu's sharp gaze swept toward Lan Tian: "What way?"

"You could ask Gu Mianmian for help. Think about it — although you have this status, so it's inconvenient for you to do anything, Gu Mianmian is different…"

"Gu Mianmian and Gu Wenyan have long had conflicts between them, with so many problems already in existence. She would certainly be willing to deal with Gu Wenyan, and when that time comes…"

Bao Mu seemed to be seriously considering how feasible this method was. Lan Tian quickly egged her on: "You don't show yourself, so it won't affect the relationship between you and the Head of the Family. In the end, you can also wash your hands of it completely. Isn't that wonderful?"

"You think about these things every day, don't you? Just hoping I'll drive Gu Wenyan out?"

"Madam, I'm also doing this for your sake. And weren't all those things Gu Wenyan did to me before because she doesn't take you seriously?"

Bao Mu gave a cold snort: "Go contact her for me. Invite her to the house as a guest. Keep the whereabouts secret — don't let anyone else find out."

"Yes, Madam! I'll go arrange it right away!"

Lan Tian felt things were going her way, the corners of her mouth almost splitting to her ears.