Seeing the disdain in their eyes, Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but want to laugh. A simple stone stool, one that everyone in the neighborhood had sat on at some point, was good enough to sit on. If they didn’t want to sit, fine, but what was with the pretentiousness?

Gu Chengzhang suppressed his irritation and sat down beside her. “Xingzhao, aren’t you running a supermarket now? I have a batch of goods that I can sell to you at half the cost price.”

Hearing this, Gu Xingzhao raised an eyebrow. Half the cost price? Since when did this old man become so generous? She didn’t buy it. “No need. My supermarket is small, and I can’t sell that much. You should keep it for yourself.”

With that, she stood up to leave, but Guan Lian blocked her path.

The couple flanked her on either side, persuading her earnestly. “Xingzhao, think about it. At such a low price, you can make a huge profit, no matter how you sell it!”

“Yes, it’s a surefire win. You won’t have to stay in that small supermarket in town. You could even move to the city.”

Their unusual behavior made Gu Xingzhao suspect something. Yesterday, Gu Chengzhang must have tried to sell the goods to the wholesale factory but failed. If he was willing to offer them at half price, he was either desperate for money, or there was something wrong with the goods.

If it were the former, the factory owner, Lao Li, would have taken them, so it must be the latter—there was something wrong with the goods, and no one wanted them. That’s why the couple turned to her.

Understanding this, Gu Xingzhao sneered inwardly. The old man was really calculating.

Now that she understood why they had come, she felt a wave of disgust, as if she had swallowed a fly. She had no intention of wasting any more time with them. “Don’t bother. Even if you gave them to me for free, I wouldn’t take them.”

The couple’s faces darkened. “What’s wrong with you, child? Why won’t you listen to reason?!”

Gu Chengzhang could no longer maintain his polite facade and started cursing at Gu Xingzhao. “I’m your father! You have to listen to me! Are you refusing the face I’m giving you?!”

He tried to assert his authority as the head of the family, attempting to intimidate Gu Xingzhao. “I’m telling you, if you piss me off, you won’t even have that old house to live in!”

Guan Lian, playing the good cop, gently persuaded her, “Xingzhao, don’t be mad at your father. He’s only thinking of your best interests. After all, you’re still living in your father’s house.”

Seeing them try to use the house to threaten her, Gu Xingzhao sneered. “Old man, do you really think you’re in charge?”

“The house was bought by my grandfather. The ownership was transferred to me a long time ago. You didn’t really think that after my grandfather passed away, the house would belong to you, did you?”

She was grateful her grandfather had been clear-headed enough to make a will early on. Otherwise, the house would have ended up in the hands of this scumbag.

Gu Chengzhang’s face turned ugly. He hadn’t expected the old man to leave the house to his granddaughter. Traditionally, it was always the sons who inherited. What kind of nonsense was this?

Guan Lian frowned deeply. She had always known there was an old house in her husband’s family. She hadn’t cared about the shabby place before, but circumstances had changed. Selling it could bring in some money. How could it have ended up with that little brat?

Seeing Gu Chengzhang’s face darken like the bottom of a pot, Gu Xingzhao said in a low voice, “Oh, and by the way, my father is long dead, and my mother remarried. The household registration book only has my name on it, so don’t bother me again, or I’ll call the police.”

With that, she walked past them and headed home, ignoring the curses Gu Chengzhang hurled after her. She was ready to strike with a bolt of lightning if they dared to lay a hand on her!

In that moment, Gu Xingzhao seemed to see the figure of herself from ten years ago, standing outside the Guan family’s door, enduring humiliation. But now, she had grown into someone who could protect herself, no longer needing guardians.

With a loud bang, she locked the supermarket door, shutting out the buzzing flies.

The three of them stood outside, still holding the gifts they hadn’t managed to give away, occasionally attracting curious glances from passersby.

Guan Lian glared at her husband, her face sour. “That little brat didn’t take the bait. What do we do now?”

Gu Chengzhang took a few deep breaths, then turned to Guan Shun. “You said she’s really popular online right now. What’s that about?”

Guan Shun pulled out his phone and played a few videos from the past few days for them. “This is it. The views have already exceeded a billion, and the likes are close to ten million!”

He had originally planned to take a photo with Gu Xingzhao and post it online, hoping to gain some followers. Maybe he could even become a minor celebrity or get noticed by a director, and start a career in acting or reality TV.

Guan Lian was astonished. “That many people?”

This was as much attention as some celebrities got. How had this little brat gotten so lucky?

Watching the videos, an idea began to form in Gu Chengzhang’s mind. He turned to his stepson with a smile. “Xiaoshun, do you want to be famous?”

Guan Shun nodded eagerly. He dreamed of being a star.

After sending off the strange family, Gu Xingzhao had just sat down when she heard He Zhen calling for her.

He Zhen held a paper tube and called out tentatively, “Divine One, Divine One, can you hear me?”

Gu Xingzhao immediately responded, “I’m here. What is it?”

Hearing the Divine One’s reply, He Zhen was awestruck. This small paper tube could actually transmit messages? Such a divine object!

With trembling hands, she carefully placed the paper tube back on the table, fearing she might damage it.

“There has been progress on the matter you asked me to handle. Today, I took those paintings to a business that hasn’t won first place in several years. The owner agreed as soon as he saw the paintings and even said that if he wins first place this year, he will reward us generously.”

Gu Xingzhao was surprised. Had things really gone so smoothly?

“I’ve already prepared the fireworks. I’ll send them over in the next couple of days. In the meantime, use some of the money to rent a new house in the city and hire a few reliable guards.”

Once the reputation of the fireworks spread, and everyone in the city knew about them, there would definitely be people with ill intentions. He Zhen and her daughter would be in danger living outside the city.

He Zhen hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly either. When the owner had seen the paintings, it was as if he had found a priceless treasure.

After some thought, she figured it must have been because the paintings were so beautiful.

But of course, with such exquisite craftsmanship, anything from the Divine One would naturally be extraordinary.

He Zhen was filled with gratitude and warmth. She understood that the Divine One was concerned about their safety.

“Understood. I’ll go to the city tomorrow to find a new house and rehire the previous guards and maids.”

Gu Xingzhao was a bit concerned. “Are they reliable?”

He Zhen reassured her, “They’re trustworthy. They used to work for us before. My father-in-law gave them severance pay to help them get by. Several of them have even brought us things recently.”

She was confident about this.

Only then did Gu Xingzhao feel relieved. She asked about the business, “By the way, which company did you approach?”

She had heard Lu Qing mention a few well-known businesses in the capital, but she wasn’t sure which one it was. This one seemed like a good partner.

He Zhen replied, “It’s the Xu family business, Divine One.”