Chapter 17: Revenge Yourself
When Gu Fengchuan heard all this, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
Xu Youyou was sitting right next to Lu Jingyao — a man many in Shanghai sought to connect with. Naturally, the Gu family wanted in too.
Coincidentally, Gu Fengchuan had a new project and hoped to rope Mr. Lu in.
The siblings quickly came to an unspoken agreement, though Gu Xueying, used to hiding behind her brother, lagged a step behind.
Gu Fengchuan confidently strode over to Xu Youyou, not seeing anything wrong in his approach.
"Youyou, it's rare to get an opportunity like this. Let's sit together and talk," he said, trying to sound casual.
He slid into the seat next to her — the one closest to Lu Jingyao.
Xu Youyou's eyes narrowed in silent suspicion.
"We're family. Sooner or later, you'll return to the Gu family..." Gu Fengchuan added, attempting to justify himself.
Gu Xueying chimed in, "Sister, I'll do my best to help you fit in with the Gu family."
She sat down beside them.
Xu Youyou's reaction was a beat slow, but she wasn't naive. Watching them chatter to themselves without acknowledging her, she fixed her gaze on Lu Jingyao with bright, shining eyes.
"I said, aren't you a little too presumptuous?" Xu Youyou frowned.
Gu Fengchuan glanced over and said lightly, "Youyou, as Gu family's child, you should put the big picture first."
Gu Xueying added, "Sister, I know you still hold a grudge, but this is a public place — saying the wrong thing will only make us look bad. Please calm down."
Having lived a long time, Xu Youyou was no longer so easily provoked by Gu Xueying's words.
She smiled politely at the siblings and said, "You really are full of yourselves."
Under their confused gazes, Xu Youyou raised her voice slightly and called to the staff, "These two aren't my companions, but they're taking up my seat. Could you please look into it?"
Staff promptly came over. "Mr. Gu, Miss Gu, your seats are in the back row. It's inappropriate to occupy others' spots."
Gu Fengchuan pointed at Xu Youyou, "She's my sister. Family members don't distinguish between seats."
Xu Youyou sneered, "Your last name's Gu. Mine's Xu. How are we family?"
After carefully listening, the staff made a quick call to the Gu siblings.
Gu Xueying glanced awkwardly at Lu Jingyao and whispered, "Sister, brother has important business with Mr. Lu. Now's really not the time to be stubborn."
Gu Fengchuan fixed a serious look on Xu Youyou, sure she'd see the bigger picture.
But Xu Youyou's voice rose again, clear and loud:
"Gu family? Just because your family is wealthy, you think you can claim first-row seats? Snatching someone else's spot like this? Shameless!"
The commotion caught the attention of those behind. The crowd instantly hushed, eyes turning toward the Gu siblings with curiosity and judgment.
Gu Xueying's cheeks burned with shame. She wanted to disappear on the spot.
Gu Fengchuan's eyes widened, staring at Xu Youyou in disbelief.
"Are you insane?" he hissed. "How dare you be so disrespectful."
Xu Youyou rolled her eyes. "Do you even have a right to claim that seat?"
Staff, sensing the tension might boil over, hurriedly pulled Gu Fengchuan aside.
"Mr. Gu, there are many important guests present. It would be bad for the Gu family if this escalated."
Gu Fengchuan's plan to gain leverage had completely backfired. Anger mixed with confusion.
According to his investigation, Xu Youyou had grown up in an orphanage — shy and reserved. Normally, such a girl would shrink from conflict, never cause a scene.
But Xu Youyou was nothing like he expected.
Gu Xueying, mortified, cursed the dress that made hiding her face impossible. She slunk back to her original seat.
Though she missed the chance to talk to Mr. Lu, she now saw Xu Youyou as a fierce rival — a lion defending its territory — and would stop at nothing to block her path back into the Gu family.
"Is Sister really angry with me? Even if she is, she wouldn't dare embarrass me in public like this," Gu Xueying said to Gu Fengchuan in frustration.
Gu Fengchuan snorted coldly. "That orphan brat has no manners or refinement. She's worse than you."
Gu Xueying felt comforted by her brother's insult but kept her eyes glued to the front row.
Lu Jingyao watched the family drama unfold and glanced at Xu Youyou several times.
"What's her connection to the Gu family?" he asked Assistant Liu quietly.
Assistant Liu looked helpless but confessed, "Mr. Lu, this Miss Xu just suddenly appeared. She was born in an orphanage and recently won the lottery. The house in Tang Chen Yipin was suddenly in her name. The source of funds is clean but unclear."
Lu Jingyao didn't blame him — he simply kept watching Xu Youyou.
After shooing away the pesky flies, Xu Youyou returned to the auction brochure before her.
Soon, the auction host announced the start of the event.
The staff breathed a sigh of relief — Xu Youyou's bold presence had kept them on edge.
The first item: a dazzling pink diamond necklace, starting at two million yuan.
Xu Youyou glanced over but didn't like heavy jewelry, so she had no intention to bid.
Lu Jingyao beside her clearly wasn't there for the necklace either.
She waited as the necklace was sold — then suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
Turning, she saw Gu Fengchuan bidding.
"If you like it, I'll buy it for you," he smiled at Gu Xueying.