Chapter 995: How Ridiculous

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

When Lin Miao and her mother stepped out of the car, they were immediately met with the sight of a crowd gathered outside the Su family’s house. For a moment, both froze in place, exchanging a glance that brimmed with jealousy so palpable it almost spilled over.

Who would have thought that so many people now fawned over Gu Zi? Though it was obvious that these weren’t wealthy individuals, it was enough to ignite the envy burning in the mother-daughter duo’s hearts.

The contrast was unbearable. The Gu family had become the laughingstock of the entire military compound, yet Gu Zi was now being sought after by this many people. The sheer irony of the situation was like a slap in the face to Lin Miao and her mother, filling them with an ache they could hardly suppress.

The tenants of the nearby housing complex were quick to notice the arrival of two new faces at the Su family’s gate.

Noticing their refined appearance and expensive attire, someone muttered to the group, “Must be relatives of the Su family visiting.”

Curious and eager to ingratiate themselves, a few hurried forward with warm greetings. “Hello, may we ask who you are?”@@novelbin@@

Lin Miao and Zhang Mei quickly masked the jealousy in their eyes. Zhang Mei, in particular, straightened her back, raising her chin high as if on cue. She had carefully dressed for the occasion, wearing her finest outfit to flaunt her status. After all, what did it matter if Su Shen had money? At the end of the day, he was just a businessman, a far cry from the dignity of a military family.

And now, standing in front of these obvious commoners, Zhang Mei saw it as her duty to make her superiority unmistakably clear.

“I’m Gu Zi’s foster mother,” Zhang Mei declared with a saccharine smile, her voice dripping with authority. “And this is my daughter, Gu Zi’s younger sister. We live in the military compound. It’s no surprise you don’t recognize us—we rarely make it out this far. But I’m curious… why are you all gathered outside my foster daughter’s home?”

The words “military compound” landed like a spark in dry grass. The onlookers immediately turned more deferential, their gazes tinged with awe.

Someone quickly chimed in, “Ah, no wonder the two of you look so distinguished. A military family! That explains it. We hadn’t met you before, madam, but it’s an honor. We’re from the tube building over there, Gu Zi’s neighbors, you could say.”

Another tenant stepped forward, eager to explain. “Yes, yes, we’re here to apologize to Gu Zi. We had some misunderstandings before and said things we shouldn’t have. Now, because of us, the Su family has stopped supplying pork to our building. We’ve learned our lesson and came to make amends. But no matter how much we call out to her, she won’t open the door. She must still be upset.”

Their enthusiasm and flattery made Zhang Mei’s chest swell with an almost-forgotten sense of pride. It reminded her of the days when Gu Zi still lived with them, when her extraordinary achievements had brought the Gu family endless admiration within the military compound.

How glorious those days had been. Now, instead of basking in admiration, she endured ridicule and scorn. It was almost unbearable.

Sensing her mother’s nostalgia, Lin Miao stepped in smoothly. “If you’re here to apologize to my sister, shouldn’t she invite you inside? Standing around outside like this isn’t very polite, is it?”

Zhang Mei snapped out of her reverie. No matter how impressive Gu Zi might have been in the past, she wasn’t her biological daughter. When it came down to it, the only person she could truly rely on was Lin Miao. What was she doing reminiscing about the past? It was foolish.

Composing herself, Zhang Mei adopted a stern, motherly demeanor and echoed her daughter’s sentiment. “Exactly! It’s unacceptable for her to leave neighbors standing out here. Gu Zi, open the door!” she commanded, raising her voice toward the house.

Her tone bolstered the tenants’ confidence. With Gu Zi’s foster mother here, they felt their chances of a successful apology had skyrocketed. Surely Gu Zi wouldn’t dare disobey her.

Inside, Gu Zi had been watching the scene unfold through the window, her arms crossed and her expression one of thinly veiled irritation.

These two again? She couldn’t believe Zhang Mei and Lin Miao had the audacity to show up here. Shouldn’t they be busy dealing with the mess surrounding Zhang Mei’s affair? Instead, they had the time to parade around as if they still held authority over her.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why they were here. After their encounter at the school earlier, where she’d publicly exposed Lin Miao’s stint in prison, Lin Miao must have run home crying to Zhang Mei. And now the two had come knocking, like persistent ghosts refusing to leave her alone.

When Zhang Mei’s voice rang out, demanding she open the door, Gu Zi raised an eyebrow, amused by the audacity. She didn’t bother to move. Instead, she leaned against the doorframe, addressing them through the crack in the door with an indifferent tone. “And what exactly brings the two of you here?”

Zhang Mei, maintaining her lofty posture, replied with faux authority, “We came to see you, of course. And we need to talk. But first, open the door. Look at this—everyone’s gathered outside your home. What kind of impression does this make? You’re an adult now; you should know better than to ignore your neighbors.”

Gu Zi smirked, her gaze shifting to the tenants. “Didn’t you already explain everything to this… Aunt Zhang? What more is there to discuss? Why are you still crowding my doorstep?”

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