Best Mom of the Year

Gu Luosheng's eyes brimmed with tears of excitement.

I know it's a little greedy to think this, but I still want to dream just this once. If only this shop were mine.

Xia Zhiyun blinked. Seeing that the clerk was about to fill out the paperwork, she said leisurely, "Put Gu Luosheng down as the owner. This is my homecoming gift to my daughter."

Gu Luosheng's beautiful eyes instantly widened. "No, no, no... this gift is far too expensive. I can't accept it."

Ahhh! I want it so badly, but shouldn't I show a little restraint? Why is this gorgeous woman so generous, too? She really has every good quality rolled into one. I hereby declare her the Best Mom of the Year.

Gu Luosheng was puzzled, too. Why was this different from the novel she had read?

Why was the mother in the novel different from the mother she had now?

Whatever. She liked her mother the way she was now.

"Why can't you accept it? This is Mommy's way of making it up to you. You suffered so much before. You deserve all of this." Xia Zhiyun held Gu Luosheng's hand, her heart aching for her daughter every time she looked at her.

What a wonderful child. It was all her fault for not bringing her biological daughter home sooner.

There was no point in saying any more now. She just needed to treat her biological daughter well from now on.

"Then... I'll accept it for now. If I make any money in the future, I'll give you half, Mom," Gu Luosheng said through gritted teeth.

Well, Mom is pretty. Giving her half isn't a bad deal.

Gu Luosheng reassured herself inwardly.

Xia Zhiyun almost laughed out loud.

Her precious daughter was simply too adorable.

Xia Zhiyun then helped Gu Luosheng pick out a few pretty pieces of jewelry to wear.

Meanwhile, Gu Luoxi stood off to the side, resentfully poking at her phone.

Dad felt a little sorry for Gu Luoxi.

He cleared his throat. "Come on, let's get something to eat. Isn't the grilled fish at Lin Shang Xixi's favorite? It's nearby, too. Let's go there now."

"Sure." Gu Luoxi forced a smile.

Just then, Xia Zhiyun suddenly went pale and struggled painfully for breath.

"What's wrong?" Gu Jingsheng was startled and hurried forward to hold his wife.

Xia Zhiyun's beautiful face was contorted with pain, but she couldn't get a single word out.

Oh no, oh no! How did I forget about Gu Luoxi sticking needles into that doll...?

"Get her to the hospital," Gu Luoxi said with feigned concern.

What the hell is a hospital going to do? Doctors can't break that gu curse. That doll is what's causing all this.

Xia Zhiyun's eyes widened as she looked hopefully at her biological daughter, her gaze pleading: Save me.

"Mom, don't panic. Go to the hospital first. I'll go home and get something for you."

Gu Jingsheng was terrified that something would happen to his wife and had no time to worry about Gu Luosheng. He hurriedly called an ambulance to take Xia Zhiyun to the hospital.

Gu Luoxi stayed with them the entire time. Once they arrived at the hospital, she even bustled about arranging for doctors, looking every bit the devoted daughter.

After returning home, Gu Luosheng rushed into Gu Luoxi's room. She rummaged around for ages before finally finding the doll riddled with needle holes.

"Gu Luoxi is seriously ruthless."

The doll had been made in Xia Zhiyun's likeness, with her birth date and time attached to it. This thing... was sinister enough to actually kill someone.

If it wasn't dealt with quickly, Xia Zhiyun might even... suffocate to death.

"What are you doing?" Just then, the housekeeper suddenly appeared.

Startled, Gu Luosheng dropped the doll.

The housekeeper picked it up and took a look. "Well, well! I never imagined you'd dare curse Madam behind her back. I'm telling her right now!"

Gu Luosheng's mouth twitched. "No, could you take a proper look? This came out of Gu Luoxi's room. It has absolutely nothing to do with me."

The housekeeper sneered. "I saw you take it out of your own room. A country bumpkin like you thinks she can slander our young lady? You did this on purpose! You're jealous because the eldest young lady is beautiful, talented, considerate, and cultured."

"Stop, stop, stop. Are you practicing tongue twisters? If you want to suck up to her, do it to her face. Saying it to me won't help. I'm not passing it on for you." Gu Luosheng was utterly exasperated.

The Qing dynasty had fallen ages ago. Why were there still bootlickers like this around?

If this housekeeper traveled back in time, she'd last three episodes.

"Hmph, I'm only telling the truth. Now that you've pulled this sneaky stunt, you'll be kicked out of the Gu family any minute!"

"Auntie Wang, what's going on? Why are you making such a racket? Don't you know I'm painting?" Gu Bai came out of his room with a frown.

The housekeeper hadn't known Gu Bai was home and hurriedly apologized. "I'm sorry, Second Young Master. I didn't know you were home. I just saw that the eldest young lady had made this doll. I was so alarmed that I shouted."

"What is that thing?" Gu Bai looked at what the housekeeper was holding in confusion.

"This is something that can seriously damage a person's vitality. Madam's birth date and time are written on it, too. Now the eldest young lady has actually been sticking needles into it. Clearly, she's..." The housekeeper didn't finish, but her meaning was obvious.

Gu Bai looked at Gu Luosheng. "My mother brought you home, and this is how you repay her? You actually want to hurt her?"

"I didn't. That isn't mine," Gu Luosheng explained.

"You're still denying it? I saw it with my own eyes," the housekeeper said angrily.

At that moment, Gu Luosheng actually thought of Nanny Rong. This attitude... was uncannily similar.

How had she forgotten? Gu Luoxi had enjoyed such smooth sailing because practically everyone around her helped her along. This housekeeper was one of them.

Just then, Xia Zhiyun and the others returned.

Gu Luosheng had already pulled the needles out of the doll, so Xia Zhiyun was completely fine now.

"Madam, thank goodness you're all right. I was scared to death just now. Luckily, I stopped the eldest young lady in time." The housekeeper hurried to claim credit.

Drama queen.

Gu Luosheng felt as though a huge stone were pressing down on her chest.

System, I don't want to do this anymore. Can I just run away?

Host, clear up this misunderstanding, and your System Store will unlock. After that, you can have anything you want.

Can I have an unbelievably gorgeous guy?

System: Why is everything so laggy today? I can't hear anything my esteemed host is saying.

Gu Luosheng: ...

Was it really too much to ask for a gorgeous guy with eight-pack abs and twelve-out-of-ten looks, who would kiss her, cuddle her, and sleep with her to soothe her wounded soul?

"You're saying Shengsheng made this doll?" Xia Zhiyun asked.

The housekeeper nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. The moment I came out, I saw the eldest young lady holding it. I was wondering... could the eldest young lady have something against us?"

"I think you're the one who has something against me!" Xia Zhiyun's expression suddenly turned stern.