Chapter 4

There was a loud argument going on inside. Though Gu An’an was anxious, she didn’t dare interrupt. After waiting in the hallway for several minutes and hearing the noise only grow louder, she decided to report her little issue some other time.
Not wanting to approach the group of wealthy heirs upstairs, she went downstairs and sat quietly on the edge of a sofa in the living room.
The younger generation of the Xie family was also there, but no one paid her any attention.
That suited her just fine, she had no interest in talking to them either. She lowered her head and started scrolling through her phone.
By chance, she came across the school confession wall and forum. As expected, the campus sweetheart “Little White Flower” was trending again. After the freshman gala made her a sensation, new gossip now accused her of “two-timing.”
As Gu An’an scrolled idly, she suddenly spotted a post about herself “Let’s Expose That Rich Family Bootlicker.”
When she clicked it open, there were over a thousand comments, all listing “evidence” of her fawning over Lu Xingyu.
The replies were a sea of insults.
Gu An’an: “...” Damn it. Sure, she had licked boots a little, but not that badly!
After a while, cars began arriving one after another. The Xie family members were all gathering. Eventually, a servant went upstairs to inform the old master.
This time, besides the eldest daughter’s family, both the second and third uncles had returned to the old house.
Soon after, the old man came down, supported by Madam Xie.
His eyes swept over the crowd below. Not seeing Xie Jinxing, he gave a cold snort through his nose.
When Xie Jinxing finally descended, he had swapped his silver-gray formal suit for a smoky blue one, apparently planning to go out later. The perfectly tailored designer suit emphasized his tall frame. As he adjusted his cuffs, his gaze naturally drifted over the younger guests.
He had the kind of narrow, upturned peach-blossom eyes that carried an effortless charm; when expressionless, they looked lazy and indifferent.
When his gaze swept over Lu Xingyu, the young man’s shoulders stiffened instinctively.
As a rich second generation himself, Lu Xingyu had feared no one growing up, except this uncle who, despite only being seven years older, completely overshadowed him in every way. One look from his “Uncle,” and Lu Xingyu immediately sat up straight.
When Xie Jinxing’s gaze brushed over Gu An’an, it paused almost imperceptibly before he strode past the living room and took a seat at the head of the dining table.
Gu An’an’s eyelids twitched, but she didn’t dare look up.
The Xie family dining table was a long, European-style piece straight out of a palace, topped with a spotless surface beneath a sparkling crystal chandelier. Dinner had already been prepared, everyone was just waiting for the last few to arrive.
Grandpa Xie was in high spirits, his wrinkles stretched wide with a smile.
A full family reunion, he even told Butler Zhao to bring out his prized vintage red wine. “An’an, come sit here.”
He called her first, a sign of just how much he favored her. Ignoring the glances from others, Gu An’an obediently went over and took a seat beside him.
The Xie family wasn’t overly strict despite being an old-money household. They valued etiquette but weren’t rigid about it. At family dinners, seating was casual. Madam Xie glanced at the only outsider, Gu An’an, then told a servant to take the wine away. “Dad, your health still isn’t good. Better not drink.”
The others joined in persuading him.
Grandpa Xie’s health had declined in recent years, and his doctors had explicitly forbidden alcohol. But he had always loved wine, he would seize any excuse for a drink. Still, under his eldest daughter’s stern gaze, he reluctantly gave up, grumbling under his breath.
It was their first family reunion in nine years. No one wanted to spoil the mood, so dinner remained harmonious.
The Xie family, however, was impossibly busy, five people, three CEOs, and two university professors. Each either ran a multinational corporation or headed a major research project. Before long, Madam Xie received a work call and left, followed shortly by her husband.
Throughout the meal, Lu Xingyu kept sneaking glances at Gu An’an. The girl who used to practically wear a sign reading “Lu Xingyu’s Little Sweetheart” now kept her head down, eating quietly without sparing him a single look.
Lu Xingyu felt a pang in his chest, though he refused to admit it. Clearly, she must be plotting something.
Gu An’an was waiting for the right moment.
When dinner finally ended and the last car engine faded, she rushed off to find the old man.
The butler had already told him about her troubles. Grandpa Xie smiled kindly and invited her to sit down.
The garden glowed with the soft light of sunset as gardeners trimmed flowers in the distance. A pot of tea steamed on the table, it was all calm and serene.
Gu An’an dutifully confessed everything the original body had done wrong, lowering her head and promising to never repeat those mistakes. “...Grandpa Xie, I don’t want to withdraw from school.”
The old man didn’t think it was such a big deal, kids quarrel all the time.
“You really don’t like Xingyu anymore?” he asked in the end, focusing only on that.
Gu An’an blinked. His ability to pinpoint the key issue was truly impressive. Out of everything she’d said, he only caught that. After a pause, she nodded. “Mm. He doesn’t like me, so I shouldn’t like him either.”
The old man was silent for a while but didn’t scold her.
In his opinion, Gu An’an and his grandson were a good match, similar in age, looks, and academics. Neither the Lu nor Xie family cared much about social rank; they valued good character more. The two had grown up together, surely, with time, affection would follow.
But if it couldn’t be forced, then so be it.
“What about your Second Uncle’s son, Shen Si? Or your Third Uncle’s boy, Yang Xu? Do you get along with them?”
Gu An’an: “...” Just how exactly had her grandfather saved Grandpa Xie’s life back then? Did he carry him on his back up three thousand blood-soaked steps? Why did it feel like she could choose any of his grandsons?
She quickly shook her head, insisting she only wanted to focus on studying and had no plans for romance.
The old man patted her head kindly. “That’s fine. Just study hard. Don’t worry about the school matter.”
With his assurance, she finally relaxed.
After chatting for a bit, the old man grew tired and went to rest. Gu An’an didn’t disturb him, she gathered the things he’d given her and went home.
By the time she returned to her rented apartment, it was already dark.
After a quick shower, she finally opened the bag she’d brought back from the Xie estate. Inside was a pile of snacks, the old man knew she loved the chef’s treats and had packed plenty for her.
Digging deeper, she found an envelope at the bottom.
Inside was a card. On its back, in the old man’s strong, bold handwriting, were three characters: “Pocket Money.”
Gu An’an was stunned. Then moved. Then immediately grabbed her coat and rushed out to check the balance at a nearby ATM.
Her soul nearly left her body, a huge sum! How had Grandpa Xie guessed she was broke? A full 100,000 yuan!
He really did love her.
She bound the card to her account right away and paid a full year’s rent in advance.
Her landlady was so shocked she called to ask if Gu An’an was terminally ill otherwise, how could someone who usually begged for extensions suddenly be so generous?
Gu An’an was in such a good mood she forgave the woman’s nonsense.
Still, with over seventy thousand left, she felt uneasy keeping that much cash at home.
After some thought, she snapped a deadpan selfie, converted it to black-and-white, and took it to the old-style photo studio next door. She had it printed as a 30x20 cm portrait, framed it in vintage wood, and wrapped white flowers around it. The result had a distinctly... memorial portrait vibe.
Satisfied, she hung it right across from the door.
With money in hand and the school matter supposedly handled, she finally felt at peace.
After skipping class for several days, it was time to go back.
She’d braced herself for chaos upon returning but surprisingly, the next few days passed quietly. The confession wall, however, was still buzzing, mostly about “Little White Flower.”
Apparently, while Gu An’an was hiding out, Su Ruan had been working part-time at a bar and caught the attention of some rich heir who said she resembled his “first love.” He wanted her to be his stand-in. Su Ruan bravely refused... but not entirely.
Her hesitation turned into a melodrama of “she runs, he chases, she cannot escape.”
Somehow, Lu Xingyu found out. He was moved by Su Ruan’s “plight” and stepped in to protect her.
Normally, any pest would flee the moment Lu Xingyu intervened. But this rich heir wasn’t ordinary, he was a Shanghai bigshot, known as the “Crown Prince of Hu Circle.” A direct confrontation between the “Beijing Crown Prince” and the “Shanghai Crown Prince” wasn’t going to end neatly. If it got too loud, both families would hear, yet if he didn’t act, Su Ruan might suffer. So, Lu Xingyu began guarding her full-time.
Some bored bystander recorded the whole thing and uploaded it to the school confession wall, where Shen Shan saw it.
Shen Shan, furious beyond words, stormed over to “teach them a lesson.” And that’s how everyone, Su Ruan, Shen Shan, and Lu Xingyu, ended up at the police station.
With all three gone, Gu An’an’s peaceful attendance in class stunned everyone.
See, although she majored in directing at Jingchuan University, a top-tier major, Gu An’an’s reputation for being a hopeless romantic was legendary. She rarely attended class, always chasing after Lu Xingyu. Wherever he went, she followed.
“Didn’t she always brag about being Lu Xingyu’s childhood sweetheart? He’s in police custody and she’s still here?”
“He must’ve dumped her.”
“Word is, Young Master Lu forbade her from coming within ten meters of him. If she does, he’ll have her expelled from Jingchuan. This time, he means it! I heard from a student council senior that his family even went to the admissions office last week. She’s probably scared now!”
The girls whispered behind her, munching sunflower seeds.
...
Expressionless, Gu An’an turned back toward the blackboard, frowning at the lecture.
The original body hadn’t studied seriously once. Her knowledge of her major was thinner than the homeroom teacher’s hair. She flipped through the textbook, genuinely worried she’d graduate unemployed. Would she have to start over from freshman year?
Just as she was stressing, there was a commotion at the door.
She bit her pen and looked up. Several men stood there, led by one in a sharp suit with an arrogant bearing. He scanned the room, asked the professor for the attendance sheet, then said, “Is Gu An’an here?”
Gu An’an: “?”
Once she confirmed they meant her, she followed them out in confusion, only to be taken to the administration office.
The teacher there immediately announced that she was to be expelled.
“...Why?” She’d already spoken with Grandpa Xie, she thought this matter was settled.
The teacher hesitated, avoiding her eyes. “This is the administration’s decision.”
His tone was firm, brooking no argument.
“What’s the reason?”
“Cheating. A serious offense. You’re being dismissed.”
Gu An’an rifled through her memories.
The original owner’s grades weren’t great but were never bottom-tier either. College exams weren’t like high school, professors usually gave study guides, and she’d been decent at last-minute cramming. Cheating? Impossible.
“I didn’t cheat.”
“Whether you admit it or not doesn’t change the evidence,” the teacher snapped impatiently. “The proof’s already been sent to admissions. We’re just following procedure. Please understand.”
“No chance to explain?”
He turned his head away, refusing to answer.
Holding the expulsion notice, Gu An’an’s face went rigid. Without a word, she left the office.
She didn’t need to think hard about who was behind this.
Who else but Lu Xingyu!
She took a deep breath, but the anger wouldn’t go down. Damn it! She’d already apologized, didn’t that mean things were over? How could he still have her expelled? So much for being a gentleman, was bullying cannon fodder some kind of hobby?
She quickly pulled out her phone and messaged him. No reply.
She called. He didn’t answer.
Yet on his social media, he was actively posting. The jerk had already been released from the police station and was now at a cat café downtown with Su Ruan, who was dressed in a maid outfit.
Perfect. Have someone expelled, then go flirt and pet cats.
Scum couple!
Fuming, Gu An’an called the Xie family and, between sobs, explained the situation.
Grandpa Xie comforted her. “Don’t cry, An’an. Grandpa will handle it.”
By “handle,” he meant assigning the task to the person most conveniently nearby, Xie Jinxing, whose university happened to be right next to hers.
When Xie Jinxing received the call, he was in the middle of a meeting. He raised a hand to pause the ongoing tri-party discussion between Q University, the national research institute, and Stanford. Frowning, he listened as the old man relayed the story. “This trivial matter, you couldn’t have someone else deal with it?”
“Aren’t you right next door?” the old man countered gruffly. “Who else could move faster than you?”
Then he sighed heavily. “Ah, that poor child has no parents, no family to rely on. Bullied like this outside, imagine how scared she must be... pitiful thing. She even called me crying, it breaks my heart. It’s my fault, I failed her grandmother...”
The muscle between Xie Jinxing’s brows twitched.
He and the old man often clashed, but not enough for him to ignore this kind of plea. Since the old man had gone full emotional blackmail, he couldn’t exactly refuse.
After a long pause, he hung up, turned back to his colleagues, and said coolly, “Continue.”
The meeting carried on, and when it finally ended, Xie Jinxing rose from his seat, slowly, deliberately.