Chapter 2: That Mountain Belongs to Our Family

Guan Qishen believed he had offered her the best choice. Unexpectedly, when Guan Xuxu looked at him, her expression was utterly indifferent.

“No need.”

Once, in order to gain their affection, she had learned to cook, to massage, to carve, and even personally crafted protective charms for each member of the family—doing everything she could to be good to them. Yet it had never earned her a shred of genuine care.

Even when she nearly lost her life for Guan Ruirui’s sake, not one of them spared her a glance.

Such a family was no longer something she would ever long for.

Hearing her flat and decisive refusal, Guan Qishen’s face darkened. He thought Guan Xuxu was far too ungrateful. Without the Guan family, what kind of life could she possibly live?

“Qishen, why waste words on her? Even if she gave up the spot now and begged to stay, our family wouldn’t take her back! And she shouldn’t even dream of taking a single thing from the Guan household!”

Seeing the moment, Guan Ruirui stepped forward, feigning the posture of one trying to persuade her. Yet her voice dropped so only the two of them could hear, laced with smug triumph.

“Big Sister, I forgot to mention earlier—two days ago, Pei Gege confessed to me. We’re planning to get engaged soon. I know you’ve always liked Pei Gege, but I still hope you can give us your blessing.”

Guan Xuxu stared at her boastful face, expressionless, and asked flatly,

“Who told you I liked him?”

Guan Ruirui froze, clearly not expecting such a reaction.

According to her plan, upon hearing that the man she supposedly liked had confessed to someone else, shouldn’t Guan Xuxu have collapsed in anguish, weeping on her knees?

But Guan Xuxu only looked at her as if she were a fool.

“Even though you’re blind, I’ll still give you my blessing. After all, when two disasters come together, at least they won’t be able to bring harm to anyone else.”

Perfect.

Hearing those words, Guan Ruirui’s pupils contracted sharply, her composure nearly shattering.

But Guan Xuxu ignored her entirely and turned to the rest of the Guan family.

“The cost of raising me all these years—I’ll repay it. From this day forward, there will be no ties between me and your family.”

The Guan family had schemed against her fate. Now she cut off that bond completely. The calamities Guan Ruirui had once pushed onto her would, from now on, return to Ruirui twofold.

Repaying the cost of upbringing—she had settled the debt of their so-called kindness.

With both the debt of upbringing and the bond of fate severed, even if Guan Xuxu were to act against the Guan family in the future, she would no longer bear any karmic burden.

Her gaze lingered one last time on the bracelet around Guan Ruirui’s wrist. Then she said,

“You won’t be able to keep that bracelet. Before long, I’ll make sure you return it to me with your own hands.”

Having spoken, Guan Xuxu turned away without the slightest hesitation and walked out alone through the gates of the Guan family villa.

Bai Shuqin watched her departing back, so furious she could hardly form words.

“Look at her! Truly an ungrateful wolf cub. If it weren’t for Ruirui’s sake, I would’ve driven her out long ago!”

At the right moment, Guan Ruirui slipped her arm through her Mother’s and soothed her gently. “Big Sister must have just been overwhelmed at suddenly learning she’s being sent to such a poor place. She probably couldn’t accept it right away. Mother, don’t be angry with her.”

“You… you’re just too kindhearted.” Bai Shuqin sighed helplessly at her younger daughter, then glanced in the direction Guan Xuxu had gone, cursing under her breath.

“Struck like that and not even a scratch on her—who knows what kind of monster possessed her body. Fortunately, we took the chance to send her away, otherwise who knows how much more she would have harmed our family.”

“Enough. Not another word.” Father Guan’s deep voice cut through, ending the topic outright.

What the four members of the Guan family did not realize was that the moment Guan Xuxu stepped out of their villa courtyard, the blazing sun that had loomed over the Guan household was suddenly veiled by thick clouds, and even the air around them seemed to cool by a few degrees.

From the shadowed corners came the faint rustling sound of unseen voices, snickering and whispering in hushed discussion.

“She’s gone, she’s finally gone.”

“This house is ours now, hee-hee-hee.”

…

June’s sun blazed with searing heat, yet as Guan Xuxu walked all the way to the gates of the villa district, not a trace of heat clung to her body—there wasn’t even a single bead of sweat at her temples.

She pulled out her phone from her pocket. Earlier, Father Guan—Guan Baosheng—had given her the contact information of her biological parents, though she had yet to reach out.

What she knew about her true parents was very little.

But living deep in the mountains, poverty was a certainty. The college entrance exams had just ended; afterward would come University. If her biological parents could not afford to support her studies, she would find a way to earn the money herself.

As for the rumors that she might be sold off into marriage once she returned—Guan Xuxu didn’t worry about that in the slightest.

In this world, there was no one who could sell her.

With these thoughts in mind, she pulled up the number, her fingertip hovering over the call button. Just then, the distant rumble of cars reached her ears.

Looking up, she saw along the tree-lined road ahead a fleet of more than a dozen identical black Maybachs slowly approaching.

The Guan family’s villa district was not among the city’s top-tier estates, but luxury cars were still a common sight. Guan Xuxu simply assumed it was another wealthy boss from the community making a show of power. She shifted slightly to the side so as not to block their convoy from entering.

Just as Guan Xuxu shifted aside, preparing to make way, the dozen Maybachs suddenly came to a synchronized halt directly in front of her, forming two neat rows.

Moments later, the car doors swung open. Chauffeurs in black suits and gloves swiftly stepped out, lining up in two precise columns—clearly well-trained. One of them moved with particular respect to open the rear door of the central car.

Guan Xuxu raised an eyebrow. The first thing she saw was a long leg encased in dark-gray suit trousers stepping onto the pavement. A man emerged—tall and slender, his frame straight and commanding. His impeccably tailored suit of the same shade emphasized his strikingly handsome features, exuding an air of elegance and noble refinement.

The man’s gaze fell on her as he approached with measured steps. His voice, low and rich, sounded pleasant to the ear.
“Guan Xuxu?”

Studying the man’s features, Guan Xuxu caught a faint familiarity in his brows and eyes, something uncannily similar to her own. She had already guessed his identity.
“I am.”

The man’s eyes dropped to the phone in her hand, still lingering on the unmade call. He clicked his tongue softly, then extended his hand and, without warning, pressed the dial button for her.

The very next second, a clear ringtone chimed from the phone in his pocket. He took it out and raised the screen before her eyes. Lowering himself slightly to match her height, his lips curved in a smile.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m your Big Brother, Jiang Huai.”

Guan Xuxu: …

Her gaze lingered silently on the impossibly handsome “Big Brother” before her, then shifted past him toward the fleet of cars and the line of perfectly disciplined chauffeurs. It took her a long moment before she finally found her voice.

“I heard… that our parents live in the mountains…”

The unspoken meaning was clear: This spectacle doesn’t exactly look like the family I was told about.

Jiang Huai, thinking she was about to say something else, simply replied, “The old home is indeed in the mountains.”

He paused briefly, then added, “But that mountain belongs to us.”

Guan Xuxu: …

So, not only were her biological parents not poor, they actually… owned an entire mountain?

What kind of people could even own a whole mountain?

Did the state allow that?!