Chapter 17: Gu Wanrou: “You couldn’t have me, so you joined forces with Gu Siqing to ruin me!”

As soon as everything became clear, the faces of those outside changed. An old woman slapped her thigh and exclaimed, “This family is always doing immoral things—no wonder they got robbed clean! Heaven finally opened its eyes!”
“They’re really rotten to the core.”
“The younger brother is their only heir, yet they don’t support him—instead, they squeeze him dry.”
“All these years, Siqing was nearly crushed numb by their exploitation!”

…
Their back-and-forth sounded like an opera performance. Bai Cuiyan immediately pulled a long face and snapped, “You gossiping busybodies, stop talking nonsense! My daughter got into college on her own merits!”

The moment she said this, everyone shot her a look of contempt. She instantly felt utterly humiliated. She wanted to storm over and slam the door shut, but someone was already blocking the doorway. Some even smugly raised their eyebrows and pulled out sunflower seeds to snack on. They’d only leave once this drama ended—no one said it wasn’t public viewing!

This infuriated Bai Cuiyan so much she nearly fainted from anger. What a bunch of uncivilized people, she cursed internally—without realizing she had just insulted herself too.

The police officer continued reprimanding Gu Wanrou under everyone’s gaze. Gu Wanrou, overwhelmed by shame, wished she could disappear.

Just then, Gu Ruizhuo entered from outside. Seeing the officer scolding Gu Wanrou, he rushed forward and shouted, “What are you doing?! Why are you talking to my sister like that?!”

The officer’s face darkened but replied patiently, “This is only an initial inquiry. We need your sister to come with us to the station to assist with an investigation.”

As he spoke, they prepared to take Gu Wanrou away.

Gu Ruizhuo blocked their way, arms outstretched. “What do you mean by taking my sister? Who gave you the right?!”

The officer replied, “Gu Wanrou is suspected of impersonating Gu Siqing to get into college. If that’s true, it’s a criminal offense.”

Thinking Gu Ruizhuo didn’t understand, he repeated it again.

But Ruizhuo snorted and snapped back angrily, “Mind your own business! This is a family matter! The acceptance letter came to our home, and whoever we decide goes to college, that’s who goes. What’s it to you?!”

After saying that, he even smugly brushed his hair aside, feeling like a hero standing up for his sister, even proud of the way he’d stood up to the police.

He smiled slightly and was about to say more, determined to show everyone his family wasn’t to be bullied—

But the officer cut him off with a stern rebuke. “That kind of thinking is completely wrong. What she did is impersonation—a crime. What belongs to someone else should be returned to them. Do you not understand that?”

“Take her away,” the officer ordered sharply, clearly done with the nonsense.

They grabbed Gu Wanrou and also turned to Gu Siqing, “Comrade Gu Siqing, please come with us as well for investigation.”

Gu Siqing smiled calmly. “I’ll cooperate.”

Two officers restrained Gu Wanrou. She struggled, glaring stubbornly. “You have no evidence! You can’t take me!”

“I got into college on my own! You’re slandering me!”

She remained calm, confident that in this era, there wouldn’t be much evidence. As long as she stuck to her story, they wouldn’t be able to find anything.

Shen Qingyan watched the whole scene coldly. At her words, he sneered.

“Gu Wanrou,” he called, “there’s an old saying: ‘If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it yourself.’”

“Did you forget who my mother is?” Shen Qingyan reminded her gently.

Her expression changed immediately.

He continued, “I had my mother go see the university president yesterday and retrieve the student files. Everything’s been made clear. You just need to cooperate now—the evidence is already waiting for you at the station.”

With that, Gu Wanrou’s last bit of hope crumbled. She whispered in disbelief, “How is that possible?”

Just as she was escorted to the doorway, she locked eyes with Gu Siqing. Hatred flared in her gaze.

It’s her fault… She thought bitterly. She already married Shen Qingyan, so why did she have to take my college spot too?

Even though Shen Qingyan was crippled, he still got a generous monthly stipend. Life with him would’ve been fine. And she even accepted those two brats! She should’ve been grateful to me!

What good does reclaiming her college spot do her now?

Gu Wanrou had long treated that college acceptance as her personal property. Now she hated Gu Siqing with a burning fury.

Why did she have to ruin me?!

Fueled by rage, she suddenly broke free from the officer’s grip and lunged at Gu Siqing.

“Why did you ruin me?! Are you jealous of me?!”

“Yes! That’s it! You’ve always been jealous—jealous that I was loved growing up while your parents died early!”

“Do you know why your parents died early? It’s because of you—”

But before she could finish, Gu Siqing’s hand struck her across the face—“Smack!” The room fell silent.

Gu Siqing’s eyes were as sharp as knives. “You can say whatever you want about me—but if you insult my parents again, next time I’ll knock your teeth out.”

Even though she hit someone, the officers didn’t stop her. After all, Gu Wanrou had started it and crossed a line by slandering her parents. Who wouldn’t snap?

“Jealous of you?” Gu Siqing took a step forward, locking eyes with her.

“What do you have that’s worth being jealous of?”

She scoffed with contempt.

“The college spot was mine from the start. You stole what belonged to me and now have the nerve to say I’m jealous of you? Gu Wanrou, where’s your shame?”

“You stole my life. I’m just taking back what’s mine.”

She gave one last cold glance at Gu Wanrou. “You really thought sneaking into college under my name made you some noble, prestigious student?”

“Now that everything is exposed, you’re saying I did it out of jealousy?”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Each word hit Gu Wanrou like a blade, making her tremble with fury. Having just been slapped, she met Gu Siqing’s gaze and didn’t dare mention her parents again.

Instead, she turned to Shen Qingyan and yelled venomously, “Shen Qingyan! You teamed up with her to bring me down just because you liked me in the first place! But I didn’t marry you because you’re a cripple!”

“You couldn’t have me, so you and Gu Siqing plotted to destroy me—isn’t that right?!”

The more she spoke, the more convinced she became.

After all, she had heard it clearly from inside the house—it was Shen Qingyan who called the police.

In her mind, it all made perfect sense now.

He couldn’t get me, so he called the police out of resentment. This is love turned to hatred!