Chapter 60

The situation became intensely awkward.

Ling Yu hadn’t expected Gu Qing to be so uncooperative.

Even with her audacity and convincing acting skills, a brief crack appeared in her expression.

Meanwhile, Fifth Uncle Gu didn’t dare utter a word.

Ling Yu glanced at him, but he silently indicated that she should resolve the situation herself.

The moment Gu Qing looked up, she saw Ling Yu seeking help from Gu Bingtao instead of her.

Every trace of expression disappeared from her face, and gloom gathered in her eyes.

When Ling Yu raised her head, she met Gu Qing’s dark, unfathomable pupils.

Gu Qing possessed phoenix eyes with hidden double lids. When she looked down at someone, the folds overlapped, lending her gaze an innately cold, beautiful, and severe quality.

So… what was wrong with her now?

Ling Yu was utterly bewildered.

Of everyone beneath the heavens, Gu Qing was the most difficult to handle.

Did I betray her in my previous life or ruin her entire family? Why does Gu Qing insist on treating me so badly in this one?

Had she not been preserving the last shred of her disguise, Ling Yu would already have punched her.

She struggled to rearrange her ferocious expression. When she raised her head again, she familiarly pouted at Gu Qing through her dreadful makeup.

“What’s the problem? It isn’t as though I stole your wife. What harm would it do to greet me?”

Gu Qing’s long lashes lowered.

Standing against the light, she stared unwaveringly at Ling Yu, her face appearing bitterly cold beneath the shadows.

Her expression seemed to say: So many people covet you, yet you still dare argue with me?

For a moment, Ling Yu even felt Gu Qing might attack her. The gaze directed at her seemed determined to devour her alive.

Ultimately, however, Gu Qing did nothing.

She withdrew her gaze.

Just when everyone assumed she wouldn’t acknowledge this gaudy delinquent again, Gu Qing remarked slowly and casually,

“I don’t feel like calling her that.”

Why should she push her own wife toward someone else?

And someone like Fifth Uncle Gu?

Did he deserve her?

Gu Qing’s voice carried suppressed anger, but Ling Yu easily interpreted it incorrectly.

To her ears, Gu Qing’s expression said: And you think you deserve it?

That was exactly how Ling Yu understood it.

She glared viciously at Gu Qing, speechless.

A man of Gu Bingtao’s age marrying a young woman who could have been his daughter wasn’t particularly respectable in anyone’s eyes.

Gu Qing had inherited the old man’s rigid, detached nature and always spoke bluntly.

It wasn’t surprising that she refused to acknowledge Ling Yu as her future Fifth Aunt.

What startled everyone was how mercilessly she rejected the title in public, openly humiliating Fifth Uncle Gu.

Yet the old man stood beside her without intervening, tacitly approving her behavior.

Anyone with eyes could tell that Old Master Gu didn’t accept the girlfriend Fifth Uncle Gu had brought home tonight.

Third Uncle Gu glared furiously at Gu Bingtao, angry that he had brought such an unsuitable woman into the family home.

But anger aside, they couldn’t allow the atmosphere to remain deadlocked.

Third Uncle Gu signaled to Third Madam Gu. After exchanging a glance, the couple understood each other.

Third Madam Gu quickly stepped between them, casually smoothing over the situation. She then supported the old man and guided him toward the head of the dining table.

Ling Yu glanced at Gu Qing.

The woman had turned partly away and was walking beside Old Master Gu. Though she appeared to be speaking to him with lowered eyes, Ling Yu had the strange sensation that Gu Qing was still monitoring her.

She blinked.

The next instant, Gu Bingtao appeared before her with a furious expression.

Suppressing his temper, he warned in a low voice, “I told you not to speak. Why did you insist on opening your mouth?”

Ling Yu wore the expression of an elderly man staring helplessly at a phone.

“I wanted to talk. My reason couldn’t control my mouth.”

Gu Bingtao seethed.

“If you ruin tonight’s family dinner, I have no objection to forcing Ling Taiguo out of Gangcheng.”

His tone was severe.

If the old man refused to acknowledge Ling Yu, Gu Bingtao’s plan to use his impending marriage to secure a leadership position in the parent company would almost certainly fail.

Although he feared that this pervert might harbor designs on him, Gu Qing had just publicly humiliated him, while Old Master Gu had completely ignored him.

With nowhere else to vent, Gu Bingtao’s usual violent, lawless temper surged, and he directed his threat at Ling Yu.

Ling Yu raised her brows, then unexpectedly answered with complete compliance.

“All right. I understand.”

Gu Bingtao hadn’t expected her to be so agreeable.

Still uneasy, he continued, “To be safe, you should say absolutely nothing. Even if my eldest uncle asks you a question, don’t answer. Understood?”

Ling Yu nodded.

Gu Bingtao was looking around irritably. He turned toward her and repeated, “Do you understand or not? Are you mute?”

Ling Yu blinked her large eyes.

Her expression became mournful, as though she might cry.

Gu Bingtao scoffed.

This trick again.

Forcing himself to gather his courage, he looked directly at the perverted delinquent’s horrifying appearance.

Then he saw her dark-gray lips move. A sickeningly sweet smile hung in her eyes, while her throat emitted a series Read on BaiLianTales of terrifying, hoarse wheezes.

“Heh… heh… heh…”

Gu Bingtao’s gaze froze upon the opening and closing of her gray lips.

Three seconds later, he staggered backward three steps like a man with Parkinson’s disease.

His movements were so frantic that a gelled lock of hair fell untidily across his face.

Fifth Uncle Gu clutched his chest and panted, no longer daring to look at the pervert beside him.

“Why are you making that sound?”

Ling Yu suppressed her laughter and tilted her head.

From that angle, she could see Fifth Uncle Gu’s terrified, bloodless face. Afraid the useless old man might genuinely suffer a heart attack, she decided not to push further.

Blinking innocently at Gu Bingtao, she said, “Bingtao, you told me not to speak. I’m obeying you. But if I don’t talk, I tend to go ‘heh, heh, heh.’ Isn’t it adorable?”

Staring into his eyes, she covered her mouth as though afraid he might become angry and emitted another string of hoarse chuckles.

“Heh… heh… heh…”

Fifth Uncle Gu barely kept his legs beneath him. His complexion alternated between blue and white.

He drew a deep breath and forced a smile.

After a moment of silence, he admitted defeat and said wearily, “Perhaps you should continue talking.”

Ling Yu smiled mischievously.

“All right.”

“…”

Not far away, Gu Xiu was nearly dying from laughter.

She hadn’t noticed Ling Yu’s performance earlier. But a minute ago, she saw Gu Qing staring toward Fifth Uncle Gu and followed her gaze out of curiosity.

She never expected to witness something so magnificent.

“Where did that immortal come from? Hahahaha! I’ve never seen Fifth Uncle so terrified of a woman. ‘Heh, heh, heh’—how did she even think of that? I wonder where she learned it.”

Standing beside her, Gu Qing curved her lips meaningfully.

“It’s a convincing imitation. She’d look even more authentic in a wheelchair.”

Gu Xiu scratched her head.

“What?”

“Who does she resemble? And what does a wheelchair have to do with it?”

When Ling Yu raised her head, she happened to meet Gu Qing’s gaze.

Their eyes met.

Ling Yu detected an obscure trace of amusement in Gu Qing’s blue eyes.

But when she tried to examine it more closely, Gu Qing calmly looked away.

The seating arrangement at the Gu family dinner followed age and seniority.

From Ling Yu’s position, she could only see Gu Qing preparing to pull out her chair. Gu Xiu stood beside her, and the two appeared to be discussing Ling Yu, occasionally glancing in her direction.

Gu Xiu seemed to ask a question.

Gu Qing looked at Ling Yu, moved her lips, and slowly uttered a name.

“Gu Ting.”

Ling Yu blinked.

Then she blinked again.

She was absolutely certain that Gu Qing’s lips had formed the name Gu Ting.

Ling Yu’s entire body went rigid.

Her face stiffened in toe-curling embarrassment.

She had merely borrowed Gu Ting’s perverted expression and adapted it slightly.

Yet even that had been enough for Gu Qing to recognize the reference.

Ling Yu tried to numb herself with the thought that language was vast and complex. Perhaps she had misread Gu Qing’s lips.

But the emotionally oblivious Gu Xiu called out again,

“What? Who’s Gu Ting?”

She spoke loudly enough that it was impossible not to hear.

Ling Yu’s heart sank.

At last, she understood why Gu Qing had refused to address her earlier.

The woman had known she was acting from the beginning.

Ling Yu lowered her eyes.

The mirrored elevator wall reflected her unbearable appearance. Then she looked at the old man beside her.

For the first time in her life, Ling Yu had humiliated herself so thoroughly—especially before the one person she least wanted to lose against.

This was outrageous.

So outrageous that she no longer dared look at Gu Qing’s expression.

Given Gu Qing’s merciless personality, she might already be planning how to expose her.

Ling Yu found the situation impossible to describe.

Was this really necessary?

She had only come here to perform. Why did she have to encounter Gu Qing yet again?

Did Gu Qing’s intelligence truly need to be so high that she could see through and expose everything?

Ling Yu could only pray that Gu Qing would show some kindness tonight.

Even if she wasn’t naturally kind, she should at least repay old favors. They had once been physically intimate, after all. One night as wives ought to earn a hundred days of grace.

Public humiliation was a minor concern. What mattered was preserving the character she had worked so hard to create tonight.

Ling Yu raised her head belatedly and followed Gu Bingtao to the table.

The Gu family’s dining table was a luxurious, palace-style European banquet table made from ornately carved wood.

An assortment of dishes and small desserts had already been arranged across it.

A row of servants stood behind the chairs and pulled them out with practiced precision.

As a great family, the Gu clan maintained a strict seating order based on age and seniority.

Old Master Gu sat at the head of the long table, while everyone else was arranged outward according to generation.

Ling Yu sat beside Fifth Uncle Gu.

Based on family seniority, Gu Qing happened to occupy the seat immediately below hers.

Across from Gu Qing sat the eldest young master of the Gu family, Gu Haozhe. Gu Xiu sat beside Gu Qing.

Remembering how she had exposed herself earlier, Ling Yu guiltily glanced at Gu Qing after sitting down.

But Gu Qing ignored her completely.

She unfolded her triangular napkin and requested a menu from the servant behind her.

Even at a relatively simple family dinner, a great clan like the Gu family provided every guest with a customized menu.

This ensured that most of the dishes served on a person’s plate suited their preferences.

No one would need to rise and lean across the table to reach a distant dish. Such behavior was extremely unauthorized copyimpolite at a formal family dinner.

Ling Yu accepted the menu from the servant and considered what she wanted to eat.

Gu Qing had already finished ordering.

She returned the menu to the servant and said calmly, “Add a glass of milk. That will be all.”

Ling Yu clicked her tongue internally.

Gu Qing actually shared one of her preferences.

Before she could express her surprise, Second Uncle Gu stood and accepted a piece of calligraphy from a housekeeper.

Second Madam Gu glared at him.

“Is anything so urgent that it can’t wait until after dinner? Must Eldest Uncle personally discipline you?”

She sounded reproachful, but her gaze rested upon Old Master Gu.

No proper great family displayed calligraphy during dinner.

Her husband loved painting and calligraphy, but even he shouldn’t lose his sense bailiantales.comof propriety at a family banquet.

Afraid the old man might blame him, Second Madam Gu spoke first to protect him.

Old Master Gu waved at her from the head of the table.

“Dinner hasn’t begun yet. There’s no need for so many rules.”

Seeing Second Uncle Gu treasure the piece, the old man’s face gained a little more warmth.

He smiled.

“All of you should examine it as well. Bingcheng, Bingkang, and Xiao Qing said it was good, but none could explain why. Share your opinions.”

The calligraphy had been written by the old man himself.

He had practiced calligraphy for many years, and this piece was probably the most spirited work he had ever produced.

As people aged, they sometimes became childlike and sought validation.

Second Uncle Gu carefully passed the work around for everyone to admire.

Unfortunately, no one could identify precisely what made it exceptional.

Disappointment appeared on Gu Qinglang’s face, but he said nothing.

At that moment, Gu Bingtao suddenly looked toward Ling Yu and interjected,

“If I remember correctly, you studied literary history at TJ University. Can you understand Eldest Uncle’s calligraphy?”

Gu Bingtao didn’t truly expect Ling Yu to answer.

He merely wanted to improve the old man’s impression of her. At the very least, she had studied abroad.

If he married such a “talented woman,” then she wouldn’t be entirely useless. Later, when he used the marriage to negotiate a position in the company, the discussion might proceed more smoothly.

Gu Bingtao deliberately raised his voice so everyone could hear.

The dining table fell silent.

He cast a pleading glance at Third Brother Gu.

The next instant, Third Madam Gu skillfully continued the conversation and offered generous praise.

“Oh? Xiao Yu studied at TJ University? That’s remarkable. If I remember correctly, Xiu Xiu had to work Read on BaiLianTales extremely hard to receive an offer from TJ University.”

Before Ling Yu could say anything foolish and destroy the atmosphere, Gu Bingtao joined Third Madam Gu’s performance.

“Yes. Her professional abilities are excellent. After graduating, she immediately received an offer to become a professor at the University of Gangcheng.”

Those words were intended for the old man.

Everyone present was shrewd. After listening for only a moment, they understood Fifth Uncle Gu’s intention.

Still, no one exposed him.

Everyone’s attention rested on Ling Yu, so no one noticed Gu Xiu narrow her eyes.

She suddenly raised her head and stared at Ling Yu’s profile for a long time before asking abruptly,

“You studied literature at TJ University? Then we’re alumni. Which graduating class were you in?”

Ling Yu: “…”

She no longer wanted to speak.

Beside her, Fifth Uncle Gu happily answered on her behalf.

“She entered TJ University’s graduate literature program in 2022. Second Niece, now that you mention it, Ling Yu graduated in the same year as you.”

The name Ling Yu struck Gu Xiu’s nerves.

She abruptly sprang from her chair and stared unwaveringly at Ling Yu’s profile.

Just as she was about to speak, Gu Qing forcibly pressed down on her shoulder.

Gu Qing lifted her eyes.

Her blue gaze rested meaningfully on Gu Xiu’s face, half-lowered and distinctly displeased.

“This is a family dinner,” she warned calmly.

The implication was clear: Sit properly.

Like a rigid school disciplinarian, Gu Qing tapped Gu Xiu’s chair before forcing her back into it.

Ling Yu paused.

She looked at Gu Qing’s expressionless profile and, for one brief moment, [bailiantales.com]felt that Gu Qing was helping conceal her identity.

Something stirred in her chest.

When Gu Qing returned to her seat, Ling Yu lowered her voice and asked in a tone only the two of them could hear,

“You…?”