Lin Yin witnessed that scene as well. A slight change registered on her face as she reached out and took her daughter’s hand.
“You’re back. Come, have a seat,” Gu Huaian said as he remained seated and tilted his chin at the mother and daughter pair.
Gu Yunci glanced at the plainly dressed but still stunningly beautiful Gu Qingxin and mentally snorted. She deliberately adopted a fragile persona as she said, “Qingxin, you only greeted grandmother and father when you came in. After all, my mother and I are also your seniors. How can you be so rude?”
Gu Qingxin stared at Gu Yunci, her dark and clear eyes filled with sarcasm. “Did you greet my mother in the first place? After all, isn’t my mother also your senior?”
That casual statement rendered Gu Yunci speechless. Tang Rongling, who was peeling an apple, halted his movements as he finally lifted his eyes to glimpse at Gu Qingxin. His gaze served as a warning to her.
Gu Qingxin felt another unexpected stab in her heart. Her teeth dug into her lips subconsciously as she averted her eyes pitifully, unable to continue to look at his hurtful gaze.
Tang Rongling rose and greeted Lin Yin, “Auntie.”
Lin Yin glanced at him. There was nothing but disappointment in her eyes.
“Since you have guests today, we won’t bother you. We’ll drop by another day.” Lin Yin took her daughter’s hand and prepared to leave. She had already guessed the reason why they had been summoned to the Gu family mansion today. Things were just as she thought. The Gu family was starting to make plans for Gu Qingxin.
This was something that she would never allow.
“Since you know that we have guests today, how can you be so rude? Your many years of experience being Madam Gu have been for naught.” Old Madam Gu had always disliked her daughter-in-law. Lin Yin always regarded her with a cold face, and always seemed indifferent to everyone she encountered.
“Come and greet the guests. This is Madam Meng, and this is the second young master of the Meng family, Meng Zhengling,” Gu Huaian introduced the guests to Lin Yin and Gu Qingxin.
The gazes of Madam Meng and Young Master Meng fell on Gu Qingxin. Madam Meng was evidently unsatisfied, but Young Master Meng’s cynical attitude transformed when he saw Gu Qingxin. He looked very interested in her.
“Take a seat and we’ll talk.”
“It would be good to talk it out for once and for all. After today, I never wish to step into the Gu family mansion again,” Lin Yin thought.
…
Lin Yin’s personality had always been rather cold. She sat in the living room wordlessly. The Meng family members kept looking at her daughter, their gazes made her feel very uncomfortable.
Zhou Manting, on the other hand, was smooth and slick in social situations. Compared to Lin Yin, she was much more suited to be the lady of a family. She took care of everyone well, and on the surface, seemed to treat Lin Yin and Gu Qingxin as courteously as she treated the rest.
Tang Rongling handed the peeled apple to Gu Yunci, who received it shyly. She thanked him sweetly with a look of pure bliss on her face.
Tang Rongling smiled lightly at her as he tucked some stray hair behind her ear indulgently.
Gu Qingxin knew that she should stop paying attention to Tang Rongling. After that day, she ceased to have anything to do with that man.
Yet, old habits die hard, and how could she be expected to change overnight after over ten long years? Constantly noticing his every move had long become something that was considered important and natural in her life.
Gu Qingxin studied Tang Rongling’s gentle and attentive appearance and felt her heart grow numb from the pain. “After more than ten years of our relationship, when has Tang Rongling ever looked at me so tenderly?” she thought.
Back then, she stubbornly thought that Tang Rongling just naturally had a cold disposition and that he treated everyone the same. It did not mean that he was not fond of her, but now she knew how wrong she had been.