Chapter 15: The Best Position
Xu Youyou instinctively turned toward the voice.
Gu Xueying.
She looked younger than in Xu Youyou's memories—her demeanor more naive, her schemes not yet polished.
Xu Youyou had to summon every ounce of willpower to stop herself from rushing forward and tearing into her. Her fists clenched so tightly, her nails nearly drew blood from her palms.
"Brother, did I say something wrong? My sister's eyes look so scary," Gu Xueying said weakly, her voice trembling just enough to stir sympathy.
At those words, Xu Youyou immediately masked the hatred in her eyes.
Gu Fengchuan turned and saw only a calm, composed Xu Youyou. Though he felt something was off, he still patted Gu Xueying's hand and reassured her, "It's fine. Our parents said you are the daughter of the Gu family—you don't need to be afraid of anything."
Disgust curled in Xu Youyou's stomach. She no longer saw any reason to waste time with these people. Without another word, she turned and walked toward the auction venue.
But the pair wasn't done yet.
"Where have you been these past days? Your old landlord wouldn't tell me where you moved. I even sent someone to investigate and still couldn't find you," Gu Fengchuan said, his tone cautious, as if expecting another outburst.
Xu Youyou shot him a glance. "Where else could I go? Obviously, I was hiding from you."
Gu Fengchuan looked around and said, "Mom and Dad miss you. Don't be stubborn. You're a girl—why make life harder for yourself out there? You'll be cared for at home."
Xu Youyou rolled her eyes. Cared for? The Gu family's care was worse than being poor outside. She may have lacked money, but at least she had her dignity.
"I'm doing just fine on my own. Don't bother me," she said coldly.
Gu Fengchuan sneered, "I find it hard to believe someone raised in an orphanage and fresh out of university could survive in this job market."
Their raised voices were starting to attract attention. People around them began whispering and glancing at Xu Youyou with intrigue. The word "orphanage" made more than one eyebrow rise.
Xu Youyou froze.
If she had been worried about face in her previous life, Gu Fengchuan had freely smeared hers now. Yet in that same life, he had never once revealed that Gu Xueying wasn't the real Gu daughter. Even when Gu Xueying had a single blemish, he went out of his way to shield her.
It hit Xu Youyou with final clarity—Gu Fengchuan had never seen her as anything more than a weed he could trample.
"I am from an orphanage. So what? Why do you keep clinging to me? What does it have to do with you?" she said, raising her voice.
"We're related! You're part of the Gu family—"
Before he could finish, Gu Xueying suddenly clutched her head and cried out, "Brother… My head hurts."
Instantly, Gu Fengchuan turned all his attention to her. "Xueying, are you okay?" He guided her to sit and called staff over for warm water.
Once Gu Xueying was settled, he looked back, intending to continue speaking to Xu Youyou—only to find she had already disappeared into the venue.
"Brother…" Gu Xueying looked up weakly. "I'm really scared. What if people find out I'm not the Gu family's biological daughter? They'll laugh at me."
Gu Fengchuan quickly took her hand and reassured her, "Don't worry. You'll always be the Gu family's eldest daughter. At worst, we can say you and Xu Youyou are twins, and she got lost as a child and was only recently found."
"But I don't look like her at all. Won't people start to question it? Ever since she returned, you don't seem to see me the same way," Gu Xueying said, her voice soft and heartbroken.
That look of hurt on her face made Gu Fengchuan feel guilty. She had been treasured like a princess since childhood—how could he let her feel insecure now?
"You'll always be my most important sister."
"But we don't even look alike…" she whispered.
"Yes, we do. Of course we do! Anyone who sees us can tell we're siblings," he said quickly.
Despite his reassurances, a flicker of unease crossed his heart. Still, he pushed the feeling down.
"I wish I were their real daughter… I love our parents and brother so much," Gu Xueying said quietly.
Gu Fengchuan clenched his jaw. "Then we'll tell the world that she is the adopted one. She doesn't know how to behave, always picking fights. Let her prove herself before we even consider acknowledging her as one of us."
Seeing how easily Gu Fengchuan accepted her hints, Gu Xueying held back a smile of triumph.
"But… will she be sad?" she asked, feigning concern.
"Sad? Does she look sad to you? She hasn't even contacted us for days—she's been running wild. Who knows what she's been doing out there."
Gu Xueying's expression turned thoughtful. "She is prettier than me. No wonder she got that invitation…"
Gu Fengchuan's face darkened. "She's a pauper from an orphanage. Who knows how she got in? Probably by some disgraceful method."
His conviction grew—there was no way he could allow his parents to formally recognize Xu Youyou. If she had anything scandalous in her past, it would only shame the Gu family.
Feeling satisfied, Gu Xueying stood up. "I feel better now. Let's go inside."
Gu Fengchuan nodded and helped her into the auction venue.
Her mood was much improved, especially with the thought that Xu Youyou could only ever be the Gu family's adopted daughter.
As they stepped inside, she couldn't help asking, "I wonder if Mr. Lu came today…"
Gu Fengchuan frowned with jealousy. "You're always thinking about Mr. Lu. I wouldn't have brought you if I knew that."
Gu Xueying coaxed gently, "Brother, you know Mr. Lu once helped me. I just want to thank him in person, that's all."
Though still irritated, Gu Fengchuan didn't argue further. But the moment they entered the auction hall, both of them froze.
Xu Youyou was seated front and center, in the best seat in the house.
Gu Xueying's face changed. "That seat… wasn't that Mr. Lu's exclusive seat in the past? How could she be sitting there?"