Chapter 9

After her mother had passed away, Aunt Fu treated her the best. She practically loved her like her own daughter. However, in her previous life, she had listened to Xu Yun'er's words and believed that as a servant, Aunt Fu's mothering was an attempt to control her.

Afterward, she had become very cold toward Aunt Fu and demanded that she couldn't call her by her name. Instead, she had to add the title "Miss" as a show of respect.

Even so, Aunt Fu still treated her very well. In her previous life, after she went to prison, Aunt Fu had come to visit her a few times.

"Aunt Fu, come in!"

Gu Jiuci answered the knock guiltily and stared at the door as she hugged her pillow.

"Miss Ci, the young master said that you barely ate anything at dinner. I just heated up..."

Aunt Fu began speaking enthusiastically the moment she entered, but as she spoke, she was afraid that Gu Jiuci would become irritated so she carefully stilled her tongue.

"Thank you, Aunt Fu. I will drink it while it's hot."

Gu Jiuci slipped off the bed, took the milk from Aunt Fu's hands, and began drinking it immediately.

Aunt Fu stared with disbelief at Gu Jiuci. "Has the young lady been bewitched? Why is so suddenly so obedient?"

"Miss Ci, are you..."

"Aunt Fu, just call me Ah Ci in the future. Previously, I was immature. I know you want what is best for me. I understand."

Aunt Fu was startled. Looking at the lightly made-up and elegant Gu Jiuci in front of her, it was as if she saw the charming, polite, and endearing girl of the past.

Gu Jiuci understood that Aunt Fu might not be able to immediately adjust to her change and she didn't plan to press her too hard. As time went by, Aunt Fu would slowly come to realize.

"Oh, right. Aunt Fu, this bedspread and carpet are too ugly.

"Help me find someone to change all of it tomorrow. As well as all the strange accessories on the shelves, the odd clothes in the wardrobe...

"Get rid of everything. Normal style furniture is fine... Aunt Fu? What are you thinking about?"

Halfway through her words, Gu Jiuci realized that Aunt Fu was staring at her in a daze. She waved her hands in front of her face and Aunt Fu returned to her senses.

"No problem, I'll do that in a moment. Miss... Ah Ci, you've truly grown up now, you've become mature," Aunt Fu said, her eyes red.

"People eventually have to grow up and learn what kind of people are worth treasuring and what kind of people are worth loving."

Gu Jiuci replied meaningfully with a light smile. She was answering Aunt Fu as well as speaking aloud for herself to hear.

...

That night, Aunt Fu helped Gu Jiuci change out her bedspread, carpet, and even her curtains.

A snow-white bedspread and light-pink curtains finally made her room seem like the living space of a normal girl.

As Gu Jiuci admired her room with satisfaction after her shower, she suddenly heard the door open, and Xu Yun'er walked in.

"Ah Ci, are you asleep..."

Seeing the completely different room as she walked in, Xu Yun'er forgot her words in shock.

Gu Jiuci frowned at her. "Cousin Yun'er, do you not know to knock before coming in?"

Xu Yun'er was used to Gu Jiuci's straightforward tone and didn't sense that anything was wrong. As usual, she walked straight in, pulled out Gu Jiuci's chair, and sat down.

"Ah Ci, we've always been like this."

"Always been like this..."

Gu Jiuci laughed coldly to herself. "Does she really think she's part of the Gu Family?"

It seemed that the first thing she had to do was chase Xu Yun'er out of the Gu Family...

Gu Jiuci sat down on the side of the bed with her towel in her hands. Her expression was calm and she spoke lightly.

"It's so late, do you need something from me?"

"Ah Ci, why are you being so cold toward me? Are you still angry at me?

"I swear that there is nothing between Jiang Yutang and me. We aren’t in a relationship!"

To demonstrate her sincerity, Xu Yun'er acted as if she was going to kneel down. She had thought that Gu Jiuci would definitely react, but unexpectedly, Gu Jiuci did nothing to stop her.

Their eyes met and Gu Jiuci didn't say anything. She just watched Xu Yun'er calmly.

Xu Yun'er's knees hovered in the air and the atmosphere was incomparably awkward.

"Ah Ci, do you really want me to kneel to you?" Xu Yun'er asked pitifully.

Tears sparkled in her eyes as she gazed at Gu Jiuci.

"It was you who wanted to kneel. I didn't make you kneel," Gu Jiuci said rudely, not showing her any face.

In reality, she was about to throw up with disgust.

There were only the two of them here. She had no need to put on an innocent expression, as there was no one to see it.

Xu Yun'er was gnashing her teeth, but on the surface, she acted as if nothing had happened and returned to her chair.

"Speaking honestly, do you really have no feelings for Yutang at all? Even in front of the devil Huo Mingche's face, he still wanted to take you away!

"He truly loves you!"

As expected, she had come to probe for her feelings!

"I'm already engaged. You know how scary Huo Mingche is. Alas... Perhaps it was not meant to be between me and Jiang Yutang."

Gu Jiuci purposely feigned regret as she let out a sigh. There was even a trace of sorrow on her face.

"No! You and Jiang Yutang are a match made in heaven. As long as you persist, no one can separate you two. Ah Ci, you should be brave!"

Seeing Gu Jiuci's mood and reaction, Xu Yun'er let out a breath. "So, Gu Jiuci still does have feelings for Jiang Yutang. She had only been pretending in front of Huo Mingche today."

Xu Yun'er spoke encouragingly and grew more excited as she spoke.

Gu Jiuci didn't want to listen to her blather on. She buried her head in her pillow with feigned unhappiness to hide her impatience and waved her hand.

"Cousin Xun'er, I'm too tired. Don't say any more. Let me think about it alone."

"Ah Ci..."

Xu Yun'er still wanted to say more, but Gu Jiuci was no longer talking.

She was also afraid that saying too much would arouse Gu Jiuci's suspicion so she rose and said, "Then I'll go now. Ah Ci, don't be too unhappy. I will help you think of ideas."

The door creaked and Xu Yun'er shut the door as she left.

In the corridor, Xu Yun'er's innocent gaze darkened. She immediately took out her phone and called Jiang Yutang's number as she walked toward her own room.

Back inside the room, Gu Jiuci raised her head and smiled coldly in the direction of the door.

If she spoke the truth and chased Xu Yun'er out of the house, it would be letting her off too easily!

She would make Xu Yun'er experience tenfold, a hundredfold the misery she had suffered in her previous life!

"Xu Yun'er, I have plenty of time. I will play along with you!"

Gu Jiuci unconsciously touched her chest, looking for the teardrop gemstone out of habit, but she found nothing.

"Crap! My family heirloom is still with the devil!"

Gu Jiuci let out a startled cry and her face paled. She immediately searched for her phone before remembering that she had already thrown her phone away...