chapter 17
Cheng Yu was so furious that her chest felt tight, her face as dark as coal.
“You—!”
That damned girl. She was going to kill her someday.
Gu Qingning had lost all interest in wasting words with them. Her cold gaze swept toward Aunt Lin.
“Where’s my backpack? Bring it here.”
With Cheng Yu present, Aunt Lin felt much bolder. Her tone was dripping with mockery as she said,
“Miss Qingning, I’m sorry, but my leg was hurt earlier—by you. It’s aching so badly that I can’t climb the stairs. I’m afraid I can’t fetch your backpack.”
Gu Qingning gave a short, cold laugh.
“Oh? So that’s why you were able to jump down from upstairs just now?”
Aunt Lin’s mouth snapped shut.
“Uncle Wan, go get the bag Qingning asked for,” Gu Zhao ordered calmly.
The butler didn’t dare defy him.
“Yes, right away.”
As he turned to go upstairs, he caught sight of Cheng Yu’s displeased expression. Bracing himself, he went up anyway.
Cheng Yu pressed on aggressively.
“Ah Zhao, that’s one thing—but what about the jewelry and the guard who was injured? How do you plan to deal with those?”
“Aunt Cheng,” Gu Zhao said slowly, his tone polite but firm. “I respect you as an elder. But I think you know perfectly well what caused all of this today. If we tear each other apart, what’s the point?”
He smiled faintly.
“Grandfather and the others will be back in a few days. If the household is in chaos when they return, I imagine it won’t be easy for you to explain, either.”
Cheng Yu’s face turned ashen. She opened her mouth to retort.
“I—”
Before she could speak, Gu Zhao interrupted her with a pleasant smile.
“Aunt Cheng, I think it’s best we smooth things over today. Let’s put this matter to rest peacefully, don’t you think?”
Though his tone was phrased like a question, there wasn’t the slightest hint of room for negotiation.
Gu Qingning tilted her head, studying her third brother seriously for the first time.
He might look easygoing—but clearly, he wasn’t someone to trifle with either.
Cheng Yu clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her nose nearly crooked from rage.
But she could only swallow her anger and the blood that came with it.
Forcing a smile, she softened her voice.
“I just lost my temper earlier. I didn’t mean to speak so harshly, Ah Zhao, don’t take it to heart. You’re right—we’re all family. No need to make things unpleasant over a few pieces of jewelry.”
She continued sweetly,
“The Old Master is busy with important matters. Let’s not trouble him with such trivial things. We’ve talked it out here—so everything’s fine now.”
Just then, the butler came downstairs carrying a white backpack.
It was old and a bit grimy, looking rather shabby.
“Miss Qingning, your backpack,” he said, holding it out with both hands. His eyes flickered nervously, betraying a trace of guilt.
Gu Qingning took the bag without hesitation and slung it over her shoulder.
Without a backward glance, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Seeing that, Gu Zhao immediately stood and followed her out.
Once the siblings were gone, Cheng Yu could no longer stand being there either. Snatching up the leftover jewelry from the table, she stormed upstairs.
“Madam!”
Aunt Lin hurried after her, completely forgetting her earlier claim of leg pain.
Once inside the bedroom, Cheng Yu could no longer contain her temper. She swept everything off the dressing table with a crash.
She was furious.
“Madam, why did you give in so easily? You just let that girl Gu Qingning walk away like that?” Aunt Lin complained indignantly.
Cheng Yu sat down on the sofa, her expression dark.
“That brat Gu Zhao basically threatened me. What else could I do?”
If only she’d had a son—but she’d given birth to a daughter instead. The Old Master had always favored the Gu family’s three brothers. If Gu Zhao went to complain to him, the Old Master would definitely take his side. In the end, she’d gain nothing but his disapproval and ruin the image she’d worked so hard to maintain all these years.
After calming down, she warned coldly,
“Don’t touch the room on the third floor for now. And from now on, be careful what you say and do. Don’t give Gu Qingning any handle to use against us.”
Aunt Lin nodded quickly.
“I understand.”
Good night, everyone~ I’ll update again tomorrow morning!
