Chapter 172: Cast Her Into Shadow

Gu Wenyan, seeing that Bai Ran and Bao Mu were still in a daze and had not responded, searched online for the journal articles on botany she had published during her university years and showed them to the two women.

Her attending university had indeed happened before she returned to the Gu Family.

But at that time she had no connection whatsoever with the Gu Family, and did not feel she needed to tell the Gu Family about these matters.

Gu Wenyan had always been a good student since childhood; in others' eyes, the place where she lived did not offer a particularly good learning environment, yet her own talent and outstanding ability to learn were exceptional, and later, with the guidance of a neighbor—a certain retired university professor—she became even more in her element in her studies.

So at thirteen, she took the college entrance examination and was admitted to A Da.

In truth, young prodigies like Gu Wenyan were extremely common at A Da; she was somewhat noticeable during her university years, but not so eye-catching as that. m.

Not long after Gu Wenyan finished university and returned, the Gu Family people came to fetch her; when she went back, she had originally thought that having family by her side, their companionship, would be a very happy feeling.

Unfortunately... the warmth she wanted was never given to her, and in the end it harmed her...

Gu Wenyan's expression cooled slightly, and amid everyone's astonishment and shock she rose to her feet: "Auntie, I am very glad you could invite me to visit today. Si Han and I are truly in love, and we already have a marital relationship recognized in the eyes of the law."

"Although I may not match the perfect image of a daughter-in-law you have held in your mind until now, if you can accept me, I will also respect Si Han's mother."

"But if you cannot accept me... no one in this world can stop the feelings between him and me."

After saying this, Gu Wenyan turned and left; the other guests, realizing the situation was no longer appropriate, also took their leave one after another.

Bai Ran thought about how she had been unable to seize a complete advantage in the very thing she took pride in, and could not help feeling some dissatisfaction in her heart.

But wanting to maintain her elegance in front of Bao Mu, she did not say much more, and instead offered comfort: "Auntie, perhaps you should think it over carefully—the relationship between her and Young Master Bo."

She only wanted to outdo Gu Wenyan; she did not necessarily have to involve herself in their relationship, so the words she spoke could be considered sincere.

But Bao Mu at this moment fell into a contradictory state—to accept her own failure... would mean admitting the prejudice she had held against Gu Wenyan during this period.

When a person possesses a certain status and power, it is very hard for her to calmly accept her own mistakes; even if she clearly knows in her heart that she has erred, she is unwilling to apologize.

So, upon hearing Bai Ran's words, she said instead: "So what? In terms of education, even if she finished university at such a young age, can she boast the experience of further study at a higher-ranked international institution like you? I believe she still cannot compare to you."

"Besides... even if these things are similar, in other merits, Gu Wenyan is absolutely no match for you..."

The news that Gu Wenyan had already completed her university courses spread throughout the entire upper-class social circle, carried by the departing guests.

The Gu Family members had all heard the rumors outside before they learned that Gu Wenyan had actually completed her university courses in full before returning to the Gu Family.

Ye Yiwen held her hand: "Yan Yan, why didn't you tell Mama before? After you came back, we were still thinking of sending you to university... but..."

"Although at that time you wanted to send me to university, Gu Mianmian felt that with my grades, I didn't have the qualifications to get into university and would only lose face, so you later gave up on that idea, right?"

After Gu Wenyan finished saying this, Ye Yiwen visibly froze for a moment, and said full of apology: "It was Mama's fault back then..."

"It's all in the past."

Gu Wenyan no longer cared so much about the things that had happened before.

Gu Mianmian had just come out of her room and overheard their conversation; unsure whether to step forward or step back, she could only stand in place, extremely awkward.

Gu Wenyan glanced over at her, and asked, as if in passing: "Gu Mianmian, how are your university courses going? Have you finished them? Seeing how relaxed you've been lately, it doesn't seem like you're very busy?"

"I... I..." Gu Mianmian was struck dumb for a moment.

Her university place had been bought with money in the first place; in the past the Gu Family had never cared whether her grades were good or bad, but now that there was a comparison, she was suddenly made to look inferior by contrast, cast into shadow and dimmed of all light.

Ye Yiwen glanced over at Gu Mianmian, and a trace of reproach inevitably surfaced in her gaze; recalling the things Gu Mianmian had said before, she could not help but feel how much dissatisfaction had built up toward this adopted daughter.

Especially after Gu Yeting hurried back, he was utterly overjoyed: "Yan Yan, so you're also a graduate of A Da—in that case, you'd count as my junior..."

Only then did Gu Wenyan deliver a piece of news that left him extremely shocked: "When I had just entered the school, you had only just graduated; at the time, as the school's outstanding graduate representative, you gave a speech on the stage... and I was the outstanding new student representative."

Of course, they had missed each other by a few months, and so had never run into one another.

Realizing that he had missed the chance to get to know his own younger sister earlier, Gu Yeting's mood suddenly turned very sour; he regretted his past neglect of her, and regretted even more that he had never known he had such a younger sister.

A trace of sorrow flashed across Ye Yiwen's face: "Your father and I should never have sent you to the countryside back then because of those prophecies..."

Back then, because she had worried that Gu Wenyan's birth horoscope clashed with the Gu Family and would affect the safety of her sons and her husband... after discussing it with Gu Jue, she had decided to send her to the countryside.

But thinking about it now, she deeply regretted it—how could she have believed such words.

How could Gu Wenyan possibly bring harm to them? Perhaps if she had been raised in the Gu Family all along, it would have been a good thing for the family instead...

Gu Yeting could not help but say: "Mama, from now on don't go believing those mystical so-called predictions—how would they know the fortune or misfortune of the future? In my view, Yan Yan can only be this family's lucky star, and absolutely not the evil star they claimed."

Ye Yiwen said helplessly: "Yes, I regret it now. From now on I will slowly make it up to you double... and compensate for everything back then."

Gu Wenyan neither agreed nor refused.

If they wanted to make it up, then let them make it up; as for when she would truly forgive them, that was a matter for the future...

As the family talked, Gu Mianmian seemed like an extra; with no one paying attention to her, she quietly went back upstairs.

At night, without anyone noticing, Gu Mianmian entered Wang Ma's room: "Damn it, when exactly are you going to make your move? Gu Wenyan must be made to disappear from this world completely!"