Campus Ace Girl-Chapter 516 - 517: Tang Yuan, Some Things are Dependent on Fate
Gu Yuanshan grew even angrier. "Do you take me for a fool? Today’s award was for KO! Didn’t you claim it was Mingzhu before? Didn’t you have Mingzhu impersonate KO?"
He scoffed. "So, you’ve picked up a stone only to drop it on your own foot. Luckily, this news hasn’t spread yet; otherwise, the Gu family’s reputation would be utterly ruined."
Tang Yuan wanted to deny it, but looking at Gu Yuanshan’s livid expression, she dared not retort.
This was undoubtedly an admission.
Gu Yuanshan hadn’t wanted to strike her, but he couldn’t tolerate it any longer, especially in his foul mood.
His chest heaved. "Also, tell Mingzhu to give up that idea! A man of King Jingyao’s status and experience isn’t someone a young girl like Mingzhu can handle. Stop embarrassing us!"
He was usually quite refined and rarely spoke so harshly, especially not to his own wife and daughter.
Tang Yuan, feeling both humiliated and furious, looked at Gu Yuanshan. "What about Gu Anxi? You saw her tonight. She clearly has a boyfriend, so why is she still entangled with Jingyao?"
Gu Yuanshan stared at her, watching her vehemently defend Mingzhu, and his anger suddenly cooled.
He said very calmly, "Whether that child is good or bad, it’s up to her parents to educate her. If worst comes to worst, the Bo Family is there to raise her. We are the least qualified people in the world to do so."
He paused before continuing slowly, "Mingzhu is the one you should be disciplining."
Tang Yuan still covered her face, her usually immaculate hair now slightly disheveled. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Yuanshan, do you think this is all my fault?"
Gu Yuanshan was much calmer now. "My meaning is clear. Just fulfill your duties as Mrs. Gu."
Tang Yuan laughed through her tears. "Yuanshan, you act so righteous, but the scales in your heart have long been tipped!"
Gu Yuanshan’s simmering anger instantly flared up again. "Tang Yuan, some things are a matter of fate. Mingzhu doesn’t have that destiny! Aren’t you afraid of breaking her by forcing this?"
He sneered. "You think I’m biased? Let me tell you, Anxi’s destiny has already changed. She’s destined for greatness, do you know why? Her fate is intrinsically linked with King Jingyao’s. Surely you understand what that implies? And you still want Mingzhu to throw herself at him, to be his damn mistress?"
Tang Yuan was utterly stunned.
Gu Yuanshan’s chest heaved violently. "I didn’t want to say this because I know Anxi and Bo Xichen have a good relationship. King Jingyao asked me about Anxi twice, and I lied both times. A man of King Jingyao’s standing would never marry someone who’s practically a walking disaster."
Tang Yuan remained stunned. After a long pause, she finally spoke softly, "You can tell him Mingzhu’s destiny is very good..."
Gu Yuanshan couldn’t bear it any longer. He slapped her again, his chest aching with anger. "Tang Yuan, do you have no heart? Mingzhu is your daughter! Do you really want her to marry a man so much older than her, just to satisfy your vanity?"
Gu Yuanshan had made a terrible mistake once before. Besides, as a man of status, he would never let his own younger daughter humiliate herself by fawning over a much older man.
Tang Yuan’s behavior showed she didn’t even put him in her eyes. Moreover, it felt as if she was looking down on him.
A cold sneer touched the corner of Gu Yuanshan’s lips. "Your own heart isn’t right; don’t corrupt the child."
With that, he sternly ordered Tang Yuan out. Not a shred of affection remained between them.
Tang Yuan was truly disheartened. She composed herself as best she could and went to the second floor.
Gu Mingzhu was sitting in the study, lost in thought. The moment Tang Yuan entered, Mingzhu noticed the five-finger print on her mother’s face and pursed her lips. "Did Dad hit you?"
Tang Yuan forced a smile. "It’s nothing."
She hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Mingzhu, about Mr. Wang... you should give up. Your father doesn’t agree, and you saw today, Mr. Wang seems to admire Gu Anxi greatly."
Saying this, Tang Yuan felt incredibly conflicted, unsure of what to do.
Gu Mingzhu stared at her, then said after a long moment, "I understand."
Her reply was the ultimate display of her stubbornness.
She hadn’t been particularly fond of that man to begin with. Especially when she discovered his fondness for Gu Anxi, she felt... aside from jealousy, a touch of disdain.
Besides, the current turmoil in the family was all because of Gu Anxi.
Seeing Mingzhu’s response, Tang Yuan felt somewhat relieved. She offered a few more words of comfort before going to her own room to tend to her injuries. She knew Gu Yuanshan wouldn’t return to spend the night. Alone, she drew a bath, her spirits exceptionally low.
Now, she truly only had Mingzhu left.
That child, Gu Anxi, was truly her bane!
In the second-floor study, Gu Mingzhu sat there, quiet and still.
She was looking at a photograph—the candid shot of Gu Anxi and King Jingyao in the car.
Gu Mingzhu smiled faintly. She opened a popular website, registered a new account, and uploaded the photo. She accompanied it with a few lines laden with insinuation. Naturally, the new account had no traffic yet.
On the eve of King Jingyao’s birthday, she would buy 100,000 views for it. One could only imagine the impact then.
How could Gu Anxi possibly remain in the Bo Family then?
Her being seen with King Jingyao would surely invite public scorn!
A man like King Jingyao would never take the blame for a scandal. He would most likely announce a girlfriend at that point.
She was betting it would be Lin Hua.
She no longer cared about status or men; she just wanted to see Gu Anxi dragged through the mud.
Gu Mingzhu smiled softly, a hint of coldness and bitterness in her eyes.
Gu Anxi had forced her to this point; no one else was to blame!
On another note, Gu Anxi attended a welcome banquet for foreign dignitaries, held at a very exquisite location, of course.
King Jingyao had other matters to attend to on the way back, so he had his driver take her home.
When Gu Anxi returned to Si Garden, it was already half-past ten. She happened to see Bo Xichen’s car pulling in just as she arrived. She jumped out of her car, calling, "Uncle Bo!"
She then exchanged a few words with King Jingyao’s driver, who then drove off.
Turning, she climbed into Bo Xichen’s car. He asked with a faint smile, "Why are you back so late?"
She held up her trophy. "I went to the celebration banquet."
Bo Xichen smiled. "The prize money—shouldn’t you buy me a gift with it?"
Gu Anxi exclaimed, "This is what I earned through hard work! Uncle Bo, aren’t you being a bit too much?"
He stopped the car and chuckled softly. "I work so hard taking care of you every day... What, not even a single gift?"
His suggestive tone made her blush slightly. Biting her lip, she said, "Alright, alright, I get it." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
She hopped out of the car and scampered ahead. Bo Xichen didn’t chase, strolling leisurely behind her. He lit a cigarette along the way, finishing it just as he reached the Orchid Room.
Inside, the girl was sprawled on the sofa, seemingly lost in thought. He walked over. "What are you thinking about?"
Gu Anxi mumbled absently, "Wondering what to get Uncle Wang for his birthday."
