You little brat, trying to mess with me? Don't think you can bully me just because you've got the female lead's halo. I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. I don't even need to think to see through these little tricks.
Xia Zhiyun frowned. She hadn't expected Gu Luoxi to accuse someone so casually.
Still, she had raised the girl herself. Xia Zhiyun figured Xixi was worried they would abandon her now that Shengsheng had returned.
"Mom, I... don't know. Maybe I got the wrong impression," Gu Luoxi hurriedly explained.
Xia Zhiyun nodded. "It's all right, Xixi. Don't worry. Your older sister may be back now, but we won't send you away. You'll still be our child. You just need to get along with your sister, understand?"
Gu Luoxi sniffled. "Yes, I will."
Gu Luosheng's eyes darted around. Now she was on full alert.
A moment later, Gu Luoxi took Xia Zhiyun's hand and said cautiously, "Mom, I heard my sister has a pretty bad reputation in the entertainment industry. Will that affect the Gu Family's reputation?"
"It's fine, it's fine. You don't need to worry about that. I won't tell the public I'm the Gu Family's daughter. Just keep treating me as someone who grew up at the Welfare Institute!" Gu Luosheng replied cheerfully.
Ugh, this constant drama is exhausting. I don't even want to clear things up. You'd just find a bunch of haters to smear me afterward, so why bother? I can get the Gu Family's money whether I tell anyone or not. Winning without lifting a finger is the GOAT!
When Gu Jingsheng heard his daughter's thoughts, he felt rather impressed. She seemed quite optimistic, and she had a mind of her own.
Going public now might not be a good thing. People would surely accuse Gu Luosheng of deliberately crafting a persona.
But... what did "GOAT" mean?
"Wouldn't that be too unfair to my sister? It's all my fault. I took her place. Otherwise, none of this would have happened."
"I'm sorry, Sis. I apologize."
As Gu Luoxi spoke, tears came pouring down her face.
No wonder she was the female lead. She could turn on the acting at a moment's notice.
Watching from the side, Xia Zhiyun was heartbroken. "This has nothing to do with you. You were so little back then. The doctor mixed you up. It wasn't your fault. Xixi, stop blaming yourself."
[Ding! Dear host, you just dodged one of the female lead's schemes. Luck +2.]
Just then, the system's voice rang out.
"What's it good for?" Gu Luosheng was now interested in these luck points.
[Cash conversion.]
The system delivered those two words with icy aloofness.
Gu Luosheng's eyes lit up. Turning them into money sounded great.
So far, it looked like she could gain luck points simply by seeing through Gu Luoxi's schemes. Tsk, tsk. Not bad. She would have plenty of fun from now on.
Three days later, it was time to return to the Gu home.
As they left the hospital after being discharged, Gu Luoxi stood motionless at the entrance.
"What's wrong, Xixi?" Xia Zhiyun stopped to ask.
Ha. What else could be wrong? She's putting on an act. Even Doraemon's pocket couldn't hold as much fake innocence as she does. Any second now, she'll say, "I'll stay somewhere else so I won't get in the way of my sister's reunion with everyone."
Gu Luosheng had barely finished that thought...
Gu Luoxi raised her head, her eyes red, and said softly, "Mom, Dad, go home with my sister. I've already booked a ride. I'll stay with a friend for a while so I won't get in the way of her reunion with everyone."
Gu Luosheng snatched her phone. The screen happened to be open to the app, and she smiled. "Little sis, you haven't booked anything on this ride-hailing app. Who's picking you up? Thin air?"
One look was enough for Xia Zhiyun and Gu Jingsheng to understand. Xixi was just putting on a show. She hadn't actually intended to leave.
Xia Zhiyun pressed between her brows. It seemed Gu Luosheng's return really had affected Xixi deeply, but these repeated antics were wearing her out.
"Xixi, we're all family. You're precious to me, too. Even with your sister back, I won't neglect you. So please don't leave, all right?" Xia Zhiyun comforted her gently.
Why do I feel so unnecessary? Seriously, do I absolutely have to acknowledge this family?
[You get to enjoy the drama and have money. What's not to like?]
Good point! If it weren't for that money, I really couldn't be bothered to deal with this fake innocent bitch. Enough said. Today, I, Gu Luosheng, have eyes for money alone!
Hearing that left Xia Zhiyun with a bitter feeling. She already owed her biological daughter so much, and now it seemed... she hadn't struck the right balance.
But Xixi had always been frail and sickly. Xia Zhiyun couldn't simply leave her to fend for herself.
[Host, another challenge is coming right up. Your three older brothers are home, too. Get ready.]
"Why do I get the feeling you're just here to watch the drama? What's wrong with you? As my system, couldn't you actually help?" Gu Luosheng asked, utterly exasperated.
[Host, you need to understand that I'm a drama-watching system, not a helping system. Haven't you noticed I usually stay quiet when there's drama?]
Gu Luosheng's mouth twitched. Yes, it really did stay quiet, hiding in the shadows and secretly enjoying the show.
"Can I block you?"
[Nope. I live and die with my host. As long as you're here, I'm here. When you're gone, I'll still be here.]
So much for living and dying together. They had successfully created a world where she was the only one getting hurt.
Gu Luosheng slung her backpack over one shoulder, ready to see what species of toad her three older brothers were. Oops, no, they should be handsome men.
Her mother was so beautiful that her three brothers couldn't look too bad.
She had barely entered the house, and hadn't even looked up, when she heard the bright, clear voices of three men.
"Xixi, you're finally back! Your third brother has been waiting ages."
"Xixi, why did you go all that way? Just to pick up that... whatever she is? Did you really have to go yourself?"
Gu Luosheng: ?
This guy had quite a mouth on him. Since when had she become a "whatever"?
Was she a thing? She wasn't a thing!
Oh... After thinking it over for a while, Gu Luosheng vaguely recalled that there was something wrong with that phrasing.
She couldn't figure it out, so she gave up.
"Xixi, your fever only just went down. Didn't I tell you to stay home and rest for a few days instead of running around? Why go to so much trouble for an outsider?"
Oho! Today's entertainment is my eldest brother. He's pretty handsome, just my type. He's got a bit of that Daniel Wu vibe, but his brain doesn't work very well. You're a big-shot lawyer, yet you end up behind bars after Gu Luoxi frames you. All those people who praised and respected you call you corrupt and practically drown you in their spit. And here you are, fussing over her...
Her eldest brother, Gu Yan: ?
Who's talking?
Gu Yan was a rather reserved person. Even though he sensed something was off, his expression barely changed.
Lots of you sweeties have said these parents treat the fake heiress too well, so let Haixian explain! After all, she's the daughter they raised for years, so of course they'll view Gu Luoxi through rose-colored glasses at first. But once they hear Gu Luosheng's thoughts, they'll wake up! This isn't a forced attempt to whitewash them. It's a gradual emotional process.
Hehe, I hope you sweeties keep reading. Our darling Shengsheng gets very... unhinged later! It'll be incredibly satisfying! Coming up, there'll be plenty of teaching Gu Luoxi a lesson and enjoying the drama, plus our Sister Sheng going all out and showing you how to roast people without a single swear word... Trust me, you can't go wrong. Listen to Sister Sheng's words of wisdom and enjoy a life of slacking off.
Enjoy your meal, sweeties! Haixian will keep working hard on updates. Romance, drama, and Sister Sheng being unhinged, unhinged, unhinged... it's all on the way!
Before you continue