Chapter 13 Gu Jinshu is trying to sow discord?

Lin Jinxiu nearly ground her molars to pieces. “Hmph! If the school really expels her, that’d be perfect! My suspension and self-reflection are all thanks to her!”

“What? You got suspended for reflection?” Gu Chuxue’s eyes widened instantly, her breath hitching. “What happened?”

Lin Jinxiu reluctantly recounted the events to Gu Chuxue. But Gu Chuxue only really heard the part about “Professor Zhang Pingtian taking Gu Jinshu as a student.”

No wonder she had seen her at Professor Zhang’s house—so that was it.

Wait, no. How could Gu Jinshu have earned Professor Zhang’s favor? Could it be that she had a talent for studying traditional Chinese medicine?

No way!

A vague sense of panic welled up in Gu Chuxue’s heart. Gu Jinshu must not surpass her in any way—otherwise, everything she currently possessed could easily become Gu Jinshu’s instead.

“Chuxue?” Lin Jinxiu noticed that Gu Chuxue’s face had grown even paler and called her softly out of concern.

Gu Chuxue slowly turned her stiff neck to look at Lin Jinxiu, forcing a strained smile. “I’m fine.”

Lin Jinxiu frowned, her grip on Gu Chuxue’s arm tightening slightly. “Don’t worry. Gu Jinshu is just some girl from a mountain village with no real knowledge—how could she ever compare to you?! Uncle and Auntie Gu only recognize you as their daughter! Only you can make them proud.”

After saying that, Lin Jinxiu suddenly remembered her own engagement. “By the way, have you taken wedding photos with Lin Qinghai yet?”

“Not yet.” Gu Chuxue shook her head. Thinking about their upcoming wedding brought a trace of warmth to her heart. “Qinghai is busy. We’ll take them when he has time.”

“I have a friend whose family runs a photo studio, and they’re amazing at it. I’ll introduce you to them,” Lin Jinxiu said with a smile. “Wedding photos are a big deal—we have to capture our most beautiful selves. Best to change into several outfits and take lots of shots!”

Gu Chuxue smiled faintly. “Alright.”

“Oh? Are you home alone?” Lin Jinxiu asked casually, though she clearly had a hidden motive.

Gu Chuxue nodded lightly. “My brother’s been working overtime at the hospital lately. Why? You didn’t come to see me? Don’t tell me you came for my brother instead?” she teased, pretending to be angry.

“Of course I came to see you…” Lin Jinxiu’s cheeks flushed at the mention of her girlish crush. But if she could see Gu’s elder brother too, all the better.

“Jinxiu, my mom likes you a lot too. You’ll be our family’s daughter-in-law sooner or later.” Gu Chuxue patted Lin Jinxiu’s hand gently and teased in a low voice, “We’ll probably have the most harmonious sister-in-law relationship ever!”

“Yes! Closer than real sisters!”

Lin Jinxiu chatted with Gu Chuxue for a long time—from noon until six in the afternoon. Seeing that Gu’s elder brother still hadn’t come home, she figured he must be working late again and left reluctantly.

Once she was gone, the smile faded from Gu Chuxue’s lips, and a faint unease rose in her chest.

…

Hearing movement downstairs, Gu Chuxue was the first to go down. Niu Chunli and Gu Zehua had gone to meet old friends today and were back late.

“Hm?” Niu Chunli was puzzled to see the housekeeper still cooking. Could it be that Chuxue hadn’t eaten yet? She was about to ask when she caught sight of her daughter coming down the stairs. She immediately turned to ask, “Your dad and I already ate outside. You haven’t eaten yet?”

“No.” Gu Chuxue shook her head, her mind clearly elsewhere. Her hesitant expression made Niu Chunli’s heart tighten.

“Something wrong?” Niu Chunli asked gently. “Tell Mom.”

“…Nothing.” But her face practically had “something’s wrong” written all over it.

Niu Chunli didn’t believe her. “Say it.”

Gu Chuxue’s eyes reddened. “Mom, you said Professor Zhang and Grandpa were old acquaintances, so by rights, our family’s relationship with him shouldn’t be bad. At the very least, when we go to him for treatment, he wouldn’t say unpleasant things. But when we went today…”

“People like him, with real skill, often have sharp tongues and tempers,” Niu Chunli comforted, thinking her daughter was just overthinking.

Gu Zehua, overhearing this, frowned. There was such a thing?

“That’s not it.” Gu Chuxue shook her head seriously. “At first, I thought so too. But this afternoon, Jinxiu came and told me something—Jinshu is now Professor Zhang’s student.”

“When did she transfer to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department? That’s absurd! She can barely read properly, and she thinks she can be a doctor?!” Gu Zehua said angrily.

“I saw her at Professor Zhang’s house today!” Niu Chunli’s face darkened. “Remember, last time we saw him, Professor Zhang didn’t speak so harshly. Could it be that Gu Jinshu said something to him?”

Whatever she said, it couldn’t have been anything good.

Going out and tarnishing her parents’ reputation—this child really had been spoiled beyond repair!

“Tell her to get back here immediately!!” Gu Zehua cursed in fury.

“Dad, don’t be angry—you’ll hurt your health.” Gu Chuxue soothed him.

With such a well-behaved daughter to compare to, Gu Jinshu’s lack of manners stood out even more.

“I’ll go to the school tomorrow,” Niu Chunli said gravely, determined to put an end to this.

A faint smile flashed in Gu Chuxue’s eyes. Gu Jinshu, in this life you’ll never surpass me.

——

The next morning, after breakfast, Zhang Pingtian and Gu Jinshu headed to campus—he had classes all morning.

Halfway through the lecture, Zhang Pingtian noticed Niu Chunli standing at the classroom door. Clearing his throat, he told the students, “Please start previewing the material on your own.” Then he stepped outside.

“You again?”

“Professor Zhang, I’m here about Jinshu. I just heard she transferred to the TCM department?” Niu Chunli craned her neck to look into the classroom. Sure enough, she spotted Gu Jinshu sitting in the second row.

Gu Jinshu’s calm, unreadable eyes met hers, and Niu Chunli felt an odd twinge in her heart. This daughter seemed different now—no longer clinging to them like before.

“Yes, I can understand that. After all, when you’re busy taking care of your adopted daughter’s miscarriage and postpartum recovery, naturally your own daughter’s matters won’t be a priority.” Zhang Pingtian’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

The smile on Niu Chunli’s lips froze. “Professor Zhang, I don’t believe I’ve ever offended you. Why speak with such barbs? Or is it that Jinshu’s been saying nonsense about us? She was raised in the mountains, hasn’t seen much of the world, and isn’t close to us. If she did say anything, you shouldn’t take it to heart.”

“Oh? So from what you’re saying, I’m the kind of fool who believes whatever anyone tells me?” Zhang Pingtian sneered, his smile not reaching his eyes. “You two… really wasted all those years of reading the sages’ books!”