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They both continued to pretend as if nothing had ever happened, choosing to maintain that facade for the sake of each other’s well-being.

The following day, Gu Ziyu prepared a generous breakfast spread. Gu Ci, sporting dark circles under her eyes and yawning frequently, couldn’t hide her fatigue. Gu Ziyu called out, “Daddy, aren’t you coming down for breakfast?”

Just as Gu Ziyu finished speaking, Lu Zhiyuan appeared.

Gu Ziyu beamed with sweetness. “Brother, it’s time for breakfast. I made your favorite omelet.”

“Gu Ci, you’re exploiting child labor. Making him cook at such a young age,” Lu Zhiyuan remarked in a teasing tone.

“The breakfast you’ve been enjoying for the past few days was all made by him,” Gu Ci replied, her gaze fixed on his nonchalant expression. She poured him a glass of milk. “Did you sleep well?”

“It was pretty good!” Lu Zhiyuan replied.

“Last night, I went to your house. You were still training. How did you manage to arrive here earlier than me?” Gu Ci inquired.

“I’m a racer, and I drive faster than Li Jiang,” Lu Zhiyuan explained.

“Li Jiang told me you were still training, so I was quite surprised to see you here,” Gu Ci mentioned.

“It was supposed to be training, but Old Lu insisted that 1 come back,” Lu Zhiyuan clarified.

“Then why didn’t you talk to me when you saved Jinjin and me?” Gu Ci asked.

“I was in a rush to settle the score with Old Lu,” Lu Zhiyuan responded.

“But I didn’t see you when I went downstairs,” Gu Ci noted.

“When I was helping you and Jinjin, I scratched my hand. I went back to my room to take care of it. From upstairs, I witnessed Zhou Jinjin giving Lu Shixiu a beating and even knocking out a tooth,” Lu Zhiyuan disclosed.

Gu Ci bit into her omelet, processing the details of his explanation.

Gu Ziyu observed his parents. Their interactions were seemingly normal but feeling oddly off to him. His black eyes darted back and forth, trying to make sense of it. They were both smiling as if discussing everyday matters, yet he couldn’t shake off the strange feeling in his gut.

“Do you train all day and all night? Don’t you ever sleep?”

Lu Zhiyuan gulped down his milk in one go. “Gu Ci, what are you trying to say?”

“I truly admire your dedication to such intense training,” Gu Ci replied, her smile faint. “You must be exhausted.”

Lu Zhiyuan shrugged it off. “It’s nothing.”

“That day when you took me to run laps, it was quite thrilling. How about taking me for a few night laps?” Gu Ci suggested.

Lu Zhiyuan’s smile froze on his face. Their eyes locked, and there was an undeniable spark, an electric tension between them. Gu Ziyu silently poured another glass of milk for Lu Zhiyuan.

Lu Zhiyuan regained his smile, a wild and untamed demeanor shining through. “Some people were terrified to tears. How pitiful. And you still want to run laps?”

“Some people may appear composed, but they lack the courage to take me for a few rounds that night,” Gu Ci glanced towards his crotch, playfully blinking. “They finished too quick.”

Lu Zhiyuan was left speechless, unable to respond.

Gu Ziyu watched as his father stormed off in anger, a sense of excitement bubbling within him. It felt like he was inching closer to securing his place as his mother’s top priority. “Mom, you always give in to Dad’s demands. Why did you two argue?”

“Did we argue?” Gu Ci pursed her lips and replied, “My dear, you’ll understand when you grow up. This is just a part of Dad and Mom’s dynamics.”

“Then maybe it’s better if I don’t understand,” Gu Ziyu responded.

Glancing at the time, Gu Ci went to find Zhou Jinjin. Zhou Jinjin had already finished breakfast at the buffet. The 78th floor of Worldwide consisted of both offices and various sports-related companies and television stations. Many people came and went throughout the day. However, Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci had their exclusive elevators and separate entrances, so they rarely crossed paths with others.

In reality, the building housed not just offices but also dining and shopping facilities.

Upon arriving at the Zhou family’s residence, Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were surprised to see Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Minghua present. Gu Chuyun was also there. It seemed that Zhou Jiaming and the Lu family’s project were facing difficulties, with excessive early-stage investments leading to potential failure. Jiang Minghua had been invited for dinner to discuss a loan from Hualan Bank. The old lady and the Zhou family’s matriarch were mahjong buddies, so they had brought them along. Before leaving, they happened to encounter Gu Chuyun, and the old lady insisted on her joining them. If Jiang Minghua knew that Gu Ci would be there, he would surely try to stop her forcefully.

It was an expected encounter on a narrow path, and Lu Zhiyuan regretted coming to the Zhou family’s residence. He wondered what Gu Ci, his Cici, would think. He realized that coming here was a mistake.

Gu Chuyun was taken aback to see Gu Ci, but she held the old lady’s hand proudly. With the old lady’s protection, she felt confident. She made it clear to Gu Ci that while this woman may be her grandmother, the person she loved was Gu Chuyun, not Gu Ci!

Gu Ci was dismissive and unaffected by Gu Chuyun’s words. She couldn’t care less.

“Zhou Jinjin, you dare to come back!” Zhou Jiaming erupted in anger at the sight of her. Jiang Minghua called out softly, “Gu Ci, why are you here? Come and sit with Uncle.”

That one sentence managed to quell Zhou Jiaming’s anger. Gu Ci nodded lightly at Jiang Minghua, acknowledging his presence. Zhou Jinjin greeted him and headed upstairs. In the living room, Zhou Jiaming’s wife, Li Li, and Old Madam Zhou were present.

Li Li smiled and waved at Gu Ci. “This must be Ming Yue’s daughter, right? She looks just like her. Gu Ci, please have a seat. What do you like to eat? Your mother and I were classmates and good friends.”

Gu Chuyun was left speechless.

Gu Ci sat down and exchanged greetings with Li Li. She quietly sipped her tea, seemingly oblivious to the old lady’s presence. The old lady felt uneasy, perceiving Gu Ci’s apparent disregard. “How rude.”

“Grandma, please don’t get so angry. Gu Ci has always been like this since she was young. It’s not good for her health if you get too upset,” Gu Chuyun interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Gu Chuyun and I, we are separate entities!” Gu Ci’s dark eyes remained calm. “You may treat her as your grandmother, but she is a stranger to me.”

Silence fell upon the room, everyone was rendered speechless by Gu Ci’s straightforward declaration.

Li Li, covering her mouth with her hand, couldn’t help but laugh. This little girl had an unwavering temperament, just like her mother. She possessed a strong personality, unafraid to be true to herself, whether it meant being dark or light.

With just one sentence, Gu Ci managed to offend the old lady, yet she seemed unfazed by it.

Jiang Minghua felt his face burning with embarrassment. “Gu Ci, please don’t misunderstand. Today, Gu Chuyun came to visit your grandmother, so we happened to go out together.”

“It doesn’t matter!” Gu Ci placed her teacup down, and a servant promptly refilled it. “I don’t care.”

“You…” Old Mrs. Han’s tone was displeased. “You are so narrow-minded at such a young age. What has Gu Chuyun done to deserve this treatment? She didn’t compete with you for shares, so why can’t you tolerate her?”

Gu Ci smirked sarcastically, finding the old lady’s words to be hypocritical. “If anyone dares to harm my son, I will make sure they pay dearly, no matter where they try to hide. Yes, I may be petty and unable to tolerate my enemies being free and unrestrained. It’s truly unfortunate for my mother to have a mother like you. People grow cold, some things stay the same, people change, and the bond of kinship becomes empty. The child has been dead for eighteen years. You must have forgotten what she looked like.”

The old lady’s blood pressure skyrocketed, her face turning red. Gu Ci’s words struck at the core of her heart, causing her vision to blur. Chaos ensued in the living room. Jiang Minghua hurriedly administered blood pressure medication and emergency heart-saving pills to the old lady. He wanted Gu Ci to speak less, but he felt helpless and filled with sorrow.

Tears welled up in Gu Chuyun’s eyes. “Gu Ci, even if you don’t acknowledge her as your grandmother, please don’t provoke her. Her health is fragile, and she had bypass surgery. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off the hook.”

Gu Ci clapped her hands mockingly. “Such a heartwarming relationship between grandmother and granddaughter.”

Li Li scrutinized Gu Ci, realizing that this girl’s temper was unbending and easily provoked.

Zhou Jiaming ordered someone to call an ambulance and reprimanded Gu Ci. “She is still your grandmother. Even if you are not filial to her, you should show some respect. Your bad temper is a concern, and I fear Zhou Jinjin may be led astray by your influence..”