Chapter 54: The Collapse Is Yet to Come

Gu Wenyan stayed at the Bo Family to confirm many details about moving in later, and after having a meal with Bo Sihan, she returned to the Gu Family.

When she returned, the atmosphere in the house was quite stiff, lacking the laughter and joy of the past.

After all, Gu Mianmian had previously been very skilled at coaxing the family into happiness; whether it was the parents or the several older brothers, they would all be in high spirits because of her actions.

In this home, Gu Mianmian had indeed been like a ray of sunshine.

But ever since she returned, she had kept herself locked in her room, not even coming downstairs for meals, having the servants bring them up instead.

The three young masters of the Gu Family all had their own work to attend to, and even the father had gone out, leaving only the mother at home.

Seeing Gu Wenyan return, Ye Yiwen hurriedly pulled her to sit on the sofa: "You say, your sister... she has received a lesson this time, shouldn't we avoid being too harsh on her?"

Gu Wenyan calmly countered: "What kind of behavior do you consider to be too harsh?"

"This time she caused the second brother great harm. Not discussing me, just the second brother... he is also your son, and you know how much he values his Art Gallery Opening Ceremony, don't you?"

Gu Wenyan's words were filled with certainty: "If a problem really arises, it will be very difficult to get the second brother to calm down."

Previously, Gu Mianmian had always been the youngest child in the family; although not biologically related, she was still Ye Yiwen's daughter, so she had habitually spoiled her.

Ye Yiwen had treated Gu Mianmian as her most precious treasure, but now, reminded by Gu Wenyan, she realized that this time it had indeed nearly affected her own biological son.

She sighed helplessly: "Your sister wasn't like this before. I think she... must just be going through some temporary problems, and she will definitely get better in the future."

"Mother, I also hope my sister can get better, but you also know that her state of life before and now are completely different."

Hearing Gu Wenyan's words, Ye Yiwen could not help but fall into deep thought, even telling her quite bluntly: "I am very worried about your sister now, that she won't be able to overcome this hurdle in her heart."

She truly realized this problem now.

Hearing her mother say these words, Gu Wenyan knew that her efforts over these past few days had been effective.

After exposing Gu Mianmian this time, her mother already had a clear understanding that this daughter of hers was not entirely without flaws.

It was just that in the past, Gu Mianmian's life had been very happy, without the slightest hardship or setback, so she only ever showed her best side.

But now that there was a comparison, it was possible for Gu Mianmian to reveal her true colors.

The current Gu Mianmian made Ye Yiwen start to worry.

In the future, no matter what Gu Mianmian did, it would be easier for Gu Wenyan to expose her.

However, comfort was still necessary. Under Gu Wenyan's soothing, Ye Yiwen's emotions gradually became peaceful: "Sigh, you child, you suffered so much when you were young, yet you can still have such mature thoughts now; it hasn't been easy for you."

Having never received their guidance, Ye Yiwen still saw in Gu Wenyan the fine qualities a young lady of a prominent family should possess.

She couldn't help but feel she had been too muddled in the past; how could she have thought she couldn't see a single merit in her? She had truly been blinded...

After her mother went to sleep, Gu Wenyan looked upstairs, roughly guessing what Gu Mianmian wanted to do.

Gu Mianmian would continue to use similar methods to elicit sympathy from her family, and with a proper apology and admission of fault, this hurdle would pass just like that.

At least her parents, eldest brother, and Gu Yeting were all doting on her; only the second brother...

Gu Yefeng likely wouldn't completely disown her as a sister because of this incident, and in the future, Gu Mianmian would still receive enough doting.

Unfortunately, Gu Wenyan would not give her that much time to prepare.

The next morning, she went out shopping, and by the way, "accidentally" spread the news that all of Gu Mianmian's pocket money had been cut off.

She let the socialites and daughters in this circle know that Gu Mianmian had temporarily lost her favor.

And the thing they would definitely do now was to contact Gu Mianmian to watch the spectacle.

Especially those young ladies who might have always been ranked behind her and even had to flatter Gu Mianmian; now that they felt the time was right, they would find ways to get back at her.

As it happened, Gu Wenyan went to a café in the afternoon that many socialites loved to frequent, where those socialites were gathered, taking photos and spending money after being tired from shopping.

She also heard the discussion about Gu Mianmian from their mouths.

"I must invite Gu Mianmian to my birthday party. I hadn't planned on inviting her, but now I absolutely must find her!"

"Yes, let's just see what kind of gift Gu Mianmian can give you this time. I heard she doesn't have a single cent left and can't even bring out a decent gift."

"I've long found her eyesore. No matter what, she doesn't have a drop of Gu Family blood in her, yet she still dreams of being a Gu Family Daughter, thinking that she, someone picked up, could have everything!"

"I don't like her either. Thinking about her status, she actually isn't fit to associate with us at all. This time, I really want to see what else she can do..."

Gu Wenyan smiled with satisfaction.

When she returned home, Gu Wenyan happened to see Gu Mianmian coming out of her room, her face pale, looking gaunt and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

Gu Mianmian bit her lip, looking at Gu Wenyan pitifully, her eyes filled with resentment: "Sister."

"Going out?"

"No, I just came out to pour a glass of water."

"Oh, I heard while shopping earlier that quite a few people are planning to invite you to their gatherings. Are you going?"

Gu Mianmian's expression changed: "I, I think I won't go. It's better if I just stay home for now."

"That's true. If you go out now, wouldn't everyone just talk about the mistakes you've made these past few days?" Gu Wenyan chuckled, "The good image you worked so hard to build in front of them has completely shattered; everyone is looking at you with fresh eyes now."

"Sister, could you please stop mocking me? I know I made a mistake, I deserve to die, but..."

"Alright, I won't say anymore. You are indeed quite miserable; after all, everyone is trying their best to exclude you now."

Gu Wenyan reminded her in a soft voice: "Everything you once possessed will return to my hands."

Having finished her provocation, Gu Wenyan walked away leisurely, leaving Gu Mianmian alone to struggle with her final psychological battle.

Gu Mianmian thought she could still keep her composure; suffering a little grievance these past few days was no big deal.

But she soon discovered that the things that would cause her to collapse were still to come.

She actually heard from the family servants that her mother was preparing to clear out another study upstairs to redesign it into a bedroom for Gu Wenyan...

That study had previously been the calligraphy room the eldest brother often used; now it was actually going to be given to Gu Wenyan?!