"Gu Yaoyang, he doesn't have the surname Gu."
This was something she'd overheard accidentally while in the capital, using her excuse of caring for the injured Gu Yaoqing to stay at the Gu family's old residence.
After Gu Yaoyang left the Gu family's old residence that day, the Gu family head had shut himself in his room for a long time, not coming out for two full days.
It was during that time, when she wanted to show her concern and invited the Gu family head to eat, that she personally heard him discussing this matter with another elder of the Gu family.
Gu Yaoyang didn't have the surname Gu at all; he was sent to the Gu family by a long-time friend of the Gu family head, entrusted to them before his death!
Therefore, no matter how outstanding Gu Yaoyang was, he could never become the next head of the Gu family, because his surname wasn't Gu!
Being entrusted to the Gu family before death proved that Gu Yaoyang's original family was either a declining aristocratic family or ordinary commoners.
Looking at it this way, marrying Gu Yaoqing was the most sensible choice.
The countless times of anger and regret she had felt before now made her realize how fortunate and wise she was!
If she had married Gu Yaoyang, her life would truly have been ruined!
This matter was still a secret, but as long as it was a secret, there would always be a day for it to be revealed.
If Gu Yaoyang were to be kicked out of the Gu family then, Xia Qingtian would also end up with nothing.
She, however, was the ultimate winner.
"You mean Gu Yaoyang isn't a Gu family member? He was adopted or taken in?" Xia Qingtian narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, "Evidence?"
"What era are we in that we still need so-called evidence? A simple paternity test can easily reveal everything." Yu Linwan's tone was so matter-of-fact that it sounded incredibly credible.
But Yu Linwan herself lacked credibility.
In Xia Qingtian's opinion, Yu Linwan was a love-struck fool with ambition but no integrity.
Not only did she pester her ex, but she also plagiarized ideas from her ex's company. And that ex was her brother-in-law, which was… outrageous!
Xia Qingtian had always thought Yu Linwan and Gu Yaoqing were a perfect match, both seeming to have something wrong with their minds.
But no matter how flawed they were, Yu Linwan shouldn't be fabricating something like this…
As Xia Qingtian pondered, Yu Linwan extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray, crossed her legs, and chuckled, "Xia Qingtian, I know what you're up to. If you want to marry into the Gu family, you should be smart and find a Gu family member.
Even if the secret of Gu Yaoyang's identity is hidden by the Gu family, as long as Gu Yaoqing becomes the next family head, he can kick Gu Yaoyang out whenever he wants with just a word. By then, even if you've painstakingly married Gu Yaoyang, you'll still end up with nothing.
However, if you are obedient and Gu Yaoyang is sensible, perhaps there might be other possibilities."
Yu Linwan felt that Xia Qingtian was just like her, resorting to any means to achieve her goals.
Since Xia Qingtian had already hooked up with Gu Yaoyang, she wouldn't let go easily.
Rather than finding another Gu family member, Xia Qingtian would cling to Gu Yaoyang's status.
At that time, both of them would be at her mercy, and then…
Yu Linwan's lips curved into an arrogant and triumphant smile.
Revenge for grievances, repayment for insults.
She would get back all the unfairness and humiliation she had suffered from these two, with interest!
"I'll reserve a spot for an artist for you in the talent show of Wanyuan Entertainment. You can partner with Mo Jianing then." Yu Linwan said casually.
Hearing Mo Jianing's name, Xia Qingtian's mouth twitched, and her face was filled with disgust.
Was Yu Linwan deliberately trying to disgust her?
"I'll consider it." Xia Qingtian didn't refuse outright, as this was a matter concerning Gu Yaoyang, and she needed to think carefully.
"Alright, take your time to consider. I'll give you one day. Tomorrow, same time, rosapub." Yu Linwan said, preparing to leave. As she turned to get her bag, she intended to glare at Xia Qingtian to assert her dominance, but by the time she turned, Xia Qingtian had already vanished.
Her desire to express herself suddenly unmet, Yu Linwan gritted her teeth in anger, "Uncouth creature!"
As soon as Xia Qingtian left rosapub, she immediately called Gu Yaoyang, "What are you doing?"
"Working overtime." Gu Yaoyang shifted his gaze from the computer screen and asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Can't I call you for any other reason?" Xia Qingtian said speechlessly, "Where are you? I'll come find you, Xiaoyao Pavilion?"
"I'm at Gu's." Gu Yaoyang glanced at his watch and said, "Where are you? I'll come pick you up?"
"No need, I'm very close to Gu's." Xia Qingtian got into the car and told the driver, "Go to Gu's Entertainment."
"Yes, young lady." The driver responded and drove towards Gu's Entertainment.
As they passed a congee shop, Xia Qingtian temporarily asked the driver to stop, bought two bowls of congee, mixed them with some side dishes, and then continued towards Gu's Entertainment.
By this time, most of the employees at Gu's Entertainment had already left. Xia Qingtian took the president's exclusive elevator directly to Gu Yaoyang's office, "I brought you supper."
"Thank you." Gu Yaoyang thanked her, saved his document, then stood up, walked around the desk, and headed towards the guest sofa.
Xia Qingtian had already taken out and arranged the two bowls of congee and side dishes, "They're still quite hot, eat carefully."
"They smell delicious." Gu Yaoyang sat down, took the cutlery, and chuckled, "I am actually a bit hungry now."
"I wasn't hungry originally. When you asked me on the phone, I started to feel a little hungry," Xia Qingtian also chuckled.
After they had eaten for a while, Gu Yaoyang saw Xia Qingtian engrossed in her food and asked out of curiosity, "Did you come here just to bring me supper?"
"No, I came from rosapub." Xia Qingtian finally spoke, "Yu Linwan is like a persistent sticker, I can't shake her off. I just dealt with her."
"You don't need to pay attention to her," Gu Yaoyang said. "She wouldn't dare do anything to you."
"But she threatened me using you!" Xia Qingtian said to Gu Yaoyang, looking helpless.
"Using me? I can threaten you?" Gu Yaoyang's eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn upwards.
"She said you aren't a Gu family member, that you were entrusted to the Gu family head by his dying old friend." Xia Qingtian picked up a piece of pickled radish and said, "This pickled radish is good, very crisp."
The smile on Gu Yaoyang's lips froze, his expression somewhat rigid. After a few seconds, he recovered and said, "So that's how it is."
"Do you feel any impact?" Xia Qingtian asked Gu Yaoyang.
"It's strange, I don't feel any impact," Gu Yaoyang replied after thinking carefully. "Instead… I feel relieved."