Chapter 39.1: This is a betrothal gift for my future wife

Ye Tianhui had now arrived at the Ye family but hadn’t mentioned it to Jiang Lingfeng yet. She could bring more food with her and go to his place tomorrow, or perhaps even make a trip to the hut and visit Jiang Lingfeng’s grandma and little sister—why not?

The next day was her second time placing a bet in the inter-class competition. But checking the schedule, it was set for the evening, a dusk match.

So she wasn’t in a hurry and planned to go out and wander around today.

She tidied herself up briefly, then took out a letter she had written the night before, addressed to Feng Suqin. She planned to find a chance to send it back to the mainland.

She tied her hair into a ponytail and asked Li Jie to prepare some pastries for her—those made at home were better than the ones sold outside. She wanted to take them to Jiang Lingfeng to try.

But just as she was about to head out, Tan Ma showed up.

Perhaps because she was here to relay an order from the Master, she acted especially reserved, lifting her chin slightly as she looked at Ye Tianhui and said, “The Master gave instructions. There are important guests today. Miss Tianhui, please get yourself ready and head over to the Master’s side in a bit. He wants to introduce you.”

Her gaze swept over Ye Tianhui’s athletic wear, and a trace of critical disdain appeared in her eyes. “Please choose something presentable, at least.”

Ye Tianhui wasn’t surprised by her attitude.

Back in ancient times, those powerful old wet nurses and eunuchs strutted around arrogantly too. They acted the same way toward the less-favored princesses in the palace.

But naturally, she had no reason to tolerate someone like this. Now that she had entered the Ye family, she had no intention of putting up with such treatment.

She said calmly, “Tan Ma, since you’re here to pass on the Master’s words, then be clear about the specifics. Don’t be vague. Otherwise, if word gets out, people might think that at your age, you’re not even as sharp as a young maid and can’t even relay a message properly.”

Tan Ma immediately understood that Ye Tianhui wasn’t someone easy to deal with and replied, “I heard the guests are from an old family friend. One of them just returned from overseas. The Master values them and wants you to meet them.”

As she spoke, she looked Ye Tianhui up and down. “To meet such guests, one must, of course, pay attention to decorum.”

Ye Tianhui: “An old family friend?”

Tan Ma nodded slightly. “Yes.”

Ye Tianhui observed her expression and had a rough guess.

For such guests to suddenly appear, and for them to be labeled as “important,” it had to be the Gu family.

If she had intentions regarding the marriage alliance with the Gu family, this would naturally be a great opportunity. And Tan Ma deliberately withholding the truth was clearly trying to make her miss this chance?

She smiled faintly and couldn’t help thinking—this Ye family had so many factions. That lady of the house who appeared calm and unbothered must also have her own schemes.

When she looked at Tan Ma like that, the latter started to feel a little uneasy.

Though Tan Ma was experienced—after all, she held a high position in a powerful family like the Ye’s—being stared at by Ye Tianhui’s pitch-black eyes made her feel as if all her thoughts had been laid bare.

Just a young girl, yet her gaze was so sharp. Truly unexpected.

Ye Tianhui, seeing Tan Ma’s obviously guilty expression, withdrew her gaze with a smile and said coolly, “Didn’t the Master say there’s a party in a few days where I’ll be officially introduced? As for now, I’ll pass. Besides, I have plans today. I’ve made an appointment with a friend.”

Tan Ma clearly relaxed a little but still said, “Miss Tianhui, this is an order from the Master. Are you sure you won’t go?”

Ye Tianhui: “I’m not going.”

Tan Ma: “The Master said this guest is very important.”

Ye Tianhui glanced at her. “Are my eyes not working, or are your ears not working? What did I just say—didn’t you hear?”

Tan Ma was stunned. Ye Tianhui’s tone was calm and light, but the pressure behind her words was overwhelming.

She was silent for a moment before lowering her head and saying, “Then… I’ll inform the Master.”

Ye Tianhui opened the door to the walk-in closet and casually added, “Oh, I’m heading out. Get a driver ready for me.”

Tan Ma was surprised at that and looked at her.

She stood before the closet, leisurely picking among the expensive, fashionable clothes.

She’d given the order to prepare a car without even sparing Tan Ma a glance.

What a proper young lady’s demeanor.

Tan Ma felt a pang of irritation mixed with amusement. A girl from the mainland, who used to look like a sweet potato freshly dug from the earth—always thinking about food and getting excited over the simplest treats, probably hadn’t even seen a proper bathtub before.

And now, just a few days in, she was already acting like a real heiress, with all the airs and graces.

New money, that’s all!

Suppressing her disdain, Tan Ma still replied, “Miss Tianhui, I’ll let the maids know to call and register for a car. But the drivers in the house are limited. One of them is reserved for the Master’s daily use, and the other two may or may not be available.”

While picking out clothes, Ye Tianhui could tell from Tan Ma’s tone that she was annoyed at being ordered around.

She couldn’t be bothered to argue.

This Tan Ma needed to be taught a lesson. Soon, she would make her pay a small price.

Rummaging through the clothes, she finally found a set—a blouse and long pants. Simple and casual. Perfect for today’s outing.

After Tan Ma left, she changed into the outfit and checked herself in the mirror. Not bad at all.

These expensive designer clothes might not look special at first glance, but they felt great on the skin and gave her a stylish, trendy look—a very strong Hong Kong flair.

She quite liked how she looked now. Just then, a maid came over to say the car was ready. Ye Tianhui headed out and got into it.

The house was located halfway up the mountain. The benefit: a stunning view of Victoria Harbour. The downside: you had to have a car to get out—there were no taxis, no public buses, not even trams without a long walk.

But then again, everyone who lived here was rich and had their own cars and drivers.

Sitting in the backseat, Ye Tianhui admired the view from the mountainside, going over her plans for the day.

As she was thinking, the car slowed down. She instinctively looked outside and saw a procession of luxury cars making their way up from the foot of the mountain—all high-end brands.

She couldn’t help glancing over again.

Based on the distribution of mansions along this road, the lineup of luxury cars, and the timing, this must be the Gu family’s motorcade.

As expected, today’s occasion was highly formal—most likely Old Master Gu and several of the younger generation were all attending. Otherwise, such a grand display wouldn’t make sense.

She naturally understood that even if she avoided it this time, she wouldn’t be able to do so forever. Sooner or later, she was bound to run into the Gu family.

But it didn’t matter. She knew very well what kind of person she was. She might be able to pull off other things, but as for a marriage alliance—

Maybe in the next life!

Besides, Gu Zhixin didn’t fancy her anyway. He was probably still upset over that golden clutch his sister missed out on.

……….

At that very moment, in the stretch limousine that had just passed by on the opposite side of the road, Gu Shizhang sat with his eyes slightly closed, resting.

Seated next to him were Gu Zhixin and Gu Jiayue.

Gu Shizhang hadn’t said a word. At first, the siblings were silent too. Eventually, Gu Jiayue began to speak in a low voice. “I had already picked out that handbag. I was going to buy it. I called Mummy, she agreed, and I was just about to pay when I turned around and saw it hanging from her wrist.”

Mentioning it again, Gu Jiayue grew furious, practically grinding her teeth. “She even raised her hand to wave at me on purpose. She did it deliberately, to show off in front of me. What did I ever do to offend her that she’d treat me like this?”

Gu Zhixin exhaled lightly, suppressing the frustration in his heart.

He had been in a low mood these past few days, not because of anything else, but because of Ye Tianhui.

That day, when Ye Wenyin injured her hand, he had naturally offered some comfort—but who would’ve thought Ye Tianhui saw it.

She was likely already upset about how close he was with Ye Wenyin. Seeing that scene probably made her furious, leading to a misunderstanding that he didn’t care for her at all.

Gu Zhixin sighed, feeling that women were always full of drama, easily jealous and prone to overthinking.

But then again, she was from the mainland, not raised by the Ye family. Compared to those who grew up properly in the Ye household, she was lacking. How could she not feel inferior?

With such insecurity, how could she dare believe that he truly had feelings for her?

She must be really upset…

Gu Zhixin, thinking about all this, began to drift into a daze.

He had initially wanted to maintain a proud stance, pretending not to care, making her chase after him desperately. Then, at the perfect moment, he would suddenly confess: “Actually, I like you,” and she would burst into tears of joy—and they could finally be together.

But looking at things now, he figured he should probably give her some explanation, offer her some hope. Let her know he only saw Ye Wenyin as a sister.

Hearing Gu Jiayue complain, he casually replied, “Don’t be too upset. Maybe she just liked the bag and bought it. Who would deliberately try to upset you?”

Gu Jiayue nearly exploded: “Ge, whose side are you on?”

Gu Zhixin: “I’m siding with reason, not emotion!”

Gu Jiayue bristled, “That’s exactly what nouveau riche are like. Maybe she’s never even seen anything nice before. And Grandpa even told us to get along with her when we see her. Who wants to get along with some hick girl? What could she possibly understand!”

Gu Zhixin quickly tried to calm her. “Grandpa’s just doing it out of respect for Old Master Ye.”

Gu Jiayue sneered. “Ge, I’m warning you ahead of time. If you really listen to Grandpa and get involved with that mainland bumpkin, I’ll never accept it! Don’t tell me—”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you actually like that mainland girl?”

Gu Zhixin, caught off guard, blushed instantly and denied it reflexively, “Like her? No way. Me? Like a girl from the mainland? Never. Absolutely not!”

That finally made Gu Jiayue feel better. “Ge, you studied overseas, you’ve got both education and status. So what if she’s the Ye family’s daughter? Her Cantonese is terrible, her English is off, she’s practically illiterate, sloppy, brash, and ridiculously rude. There’s no way I’d ever accept a woman like that as my sister-in-law!”

Gu Zhixin wasn’t pleased to hear that and gave her a sidelong glance. “Don’t say that. Grandpa might get angry if he hears.”

Gu Jiayue huffed, “We’re just talking in private. How would Grandpa know? And besides, I really don’t understand what Grandpa is thinking—why he’s even considering letting a country girl marry into the Gu family!”

Just as she said that, the air inside the vehicle suddenly grew heavy.

Then came a cool, faint voice: “Jiayue.”

The voice was cold and calm, soft but weighty.

The moment he spoke, both Gu Zhixin and Gu Jiayue froze in surprise. They looked at each other, instantly guilty.

It was Gu Shizhang who had spoken.

Gu Shizhang wasn’t much older than them, but he was completely different.

He was the Old Master’s youngest child, born late in life. From the moment of his birth, he had been showered with love. At the time, the Old Master was already in his twilight years, and he gave Gu Shizhang more affection and attention than he had ever shown to any of his other children.

And Gu Shizhang truly was no ordinary child.

He had never cried since birth, showed no interest in things other children liked, recognized characters at three, and began reading at four. Exceptionally bright and gifted, he not only excelled in sports but also had an astonishing artistic talent. At fourteen, he was admitted to one of the top schools in the UK, and by twenty, he had earned his doctorate.

One could say that Gu Shizhang’s first twenty years were nothing short of brilliant—he was a once-in-a-century genius in the Gu family and the Old Master’s greatest pride.

At twenty, with his doctorate in hand, he planned to return to Hong Kong to join the family business. But on his way back aboard a private jet, the plane encountered severe turbulence and crashed.

Gu Shizhang miraculously survived and spent two months bedridden.

But two months later, he seemed to have seen through the ways of the world. He gave up everything he had once pursued and instead began traveling across the globe. He even made his way into the mainland for several months of travel.

Regarding Gu Shizhang’s various actions, everyone felt regret, but the Old Master Gu let him be.

Now twenty-five years old, Gu Shizhang returned to Hong Kong once every year or two, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. Almost no one in the family had any contact with him anymore.

As for the younger uncle, all the grandchildren of the Gu family held him in great awe, not daring to even breathe loudly in his presence.

He didn’t speak much, his words were concise and sparing, but when he did speak, those deep black eyes of his would look at people as if they could see right through them.

It could be said that, aside from the Old Master, the person the grandchildren feared most was Gu Shizhang.

Originally, this younger uncle was elusive and didn’t live in Hong Kong, so everyone more or less treated him as if he didn’t exist.

Who would have thought that a few days ago, this younger uncle suddenly returned—not to handle any particular matter, but to find fault with Gu Zhixin, giving him a harsh scolding that left Gu Zhixin terrified.

After that scolding, he left, and everyone let out a small sigh of relief.

But now, in the past few days, he suddenly returned again—and this time, he looked as if he planned to stay for a long while.

What surprised everyone even more was that today, Gu Shizhang—who usually kept to himself and rarely interacted with others—actually took the initiative to say he wanted to accompany the Old Master to visit Old Master Ye.

Thus, a simple visit instantly became complicated, and all the grandchildren carefully accompanied them.

Originally, Gu Shizhang rode in a car alone, but since there were many people this time, Gu Zhixin and Gu Jiayue were assigned to his car to travel together with him.

Both of them were uneasy and cautious.

That was why, after the car had been driving for a while, since Gu Shizhang hadn’t spoken a word, as if he didn’t exist, the two thought he had fallen asleep and started whispering to each other.

Who could have expected they would wake this god up!

Now, with that light tone from Gu Shizhang, the two were immediately startled.

Gu Zhixin quickly gathered his thoughts and said, “Little Uncle.”

Gu Shizhang slowly lifted his thin eyelids, his gaze falling on Gu Zhixin’s face.

Gu Zhixin felt as if that gaze carried a hint of chill—an eerie kind of chill.

Gu Zhixin moved his lips slightly before saying, “Little Uncle, you’re awake. I thought you were asleep. Did we… wake you up?”

Gu Shizhang said, “What were you two just talking about?”

Gu Zhixin quickly replied, “Nothing really, Jiayue was just talking about buying clothes.”

Gu Jiayue hadn’t expected her brother to drag her into it with a single sentence, so she quickly added, “Little Uncle, we were talking about a friend from one of the family friends—just casual mention, nothing important.”

Gu Shizhang’s slightly cold gaze landed on Gu Jiayue. “Friend? Mainland girl?”

Gu Jiayue hadn’t expected Gu Shizhang to have heard them so clearly, and could only respond, “Yes… from the mainland…”

Gu Shizhang lightly tapped the leather armrest beside him with his fingertips and said coolly, “Oh? And where did you learn to say things like that?”

A chill rose in Gu Jiayue’s heart. She quickly explained, “Other people say that, I didn’t… I didn’t say it.”

She hurriedly added, “We were just talking. It’s someone else’s business.”

Gu Shizhang withdrew his gaze and looked out the window.

Outside the window, a car happened to drive past from the direction of the mountain villa, brushing past theirs.