Campus Ace Girl-Chapter 624 - 625: Greatly Shocked! Congwen is a Woman
At night, at King Jingyao’s private villa.
Fragrant scents and elegant figures mingled, a captivating sight.
Naturally, the evening’s focus was Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu was renowned for her beauty within Beicheng’s elite circles. However, she had always maintained a low profile, and Mr. Min rarely brought her out, so opportunities to see such beauty up close were few. Tonight, in a fruit-colored gown, Zhou Yu reached a new height of beauty, completely overshadowing Tang Yuan, who was also present.
Tang Yuan and Gu Mingzhu’s arrival was met with a fair degree of welcome. This was mainly because Tang Yuan was now divorced, and high society buzzed with rumors that Mr. Min had divorced Zhou Yu to acknowledge his biological child, who had been left with the Gu family. With Tang Yuan and her daughter now potentially joining the Min Family, their status had naturally risen, and many felt the need to curry favor with them.
Amidst the fawning and flattery, Gu Mingzhu, clutching an expensive handbag, grew a little conceited, her eyes scanning the room. "Mom, Congwen and Zhou Yunchen still haven’t arrived. Do you think they don’t dare to show up?"
Tang Yuan, possessing more worldly wisdom, knew a relationship between her and Mr. Min was impossible. He treats women as disposable items; there’s no sincerity there. However, Mingzhu might have a chance.
Therefore, her reaction to the flattery was ambivalent. Hearing Gu Mingzhu’s words, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of displeasure. "Mingzhu, you need to forget about Shen Congwen. For a grown man to willingly submit to another is already spineless enough. Why are you still thinking about him? Don’t be fooled because he’s the president of An Pu now; that’s just Zhou Yunchen using him. That Zhou fellow and... Gu Anxi are cut from the same cloth. Shen Congwen has been honest and naive since childhood; he’s no match for them. He’d be sold and still help them count the money!"
Gu Mingzhu bit her lip. "I know, Mom. I’m not thinking about him anymore. I just... want to see if he has the nerve to attend, and I want to witness his ultimate downfall."
Tang Yuan patted her hand. "It’s best that you think that way."
She sighed. "Speaking of which, I practically watched Congwen grow up. It’s a pity what’s become of him. He won’t have a good end. You shouldn’t associate with him anymore, or it will tarnish your reputation."
Gu Mingzhu smiled. "Mom, I understand." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
She added in a low voice, "When Uncle Min arrives, I’ll chat with him."
Tang Yuan lowered her voice. "Be more discreet. After all... this matter... In any case, don’t let it become common knowledge."
She had her own calculations, of course. If Mingzhu could win Mr. Min’s favor, even without being formally acknowledged by the Min Family, Mr. Min would still help her to some extent. With Mr. Min on her side, Mingzhu’s future path would be much smoother.
From the current situation, it seemed Mr. Min was indeed quite fond of Mingzhu.
Just as they were speaking, Zhou Yunchen arrived. Being a prominent figure favored by King Jingyao, he was naturally a target for everyone’s flattery. It was common knowledge that King Jingyao was grooming Zhou Yunchen as his successor.
This was another reason Gu Mingzhu disliked him intensely, for Zhou Yunchen and Gu Anxi were allies. She watched Zhou Yunchen chat with others, acting as if that incident had never occurred. His skin is truly thick, she thought.
She shot a look at a middle-aged man. Receiving the signal, the man began to casually, yet intentionally, bring up President Shen in conversation with Zhou Yunchen, making various insinuations about President Shen’s good looks.
"With President Shen’s looks, if he were an opera singer in the old days, he could have become a famous star. His features and physique are truly impeccable," the man said, his expression quite suggestive.
The older men nearby chimed in, ostensibly agreeing, but covertly mocking the rumored secret relationship between Mr. Zhou and President Shen.
Zhou Yunchen was incredibly thick-skinned, practically impervious to such barbs. Hearing this, he merely smiled faintly. "You’re all flattering her too much! Although Congwen is good-looking, in an opera house, she’d at most be suited for a Qingyi role; how could she possibly play a Xiaosheng?"
The man who had spoken earlier exclaimed, "Oh! But Qingyi roles are played by women, and Xiaosheng roles are for men. Mr. Zhou, you must be joking! Or perhaps you already think of President Shen as a woman?"
A wave of amusement rippled through the crowd.
Zhou Yunchen was a relative newcomer, and these people were accustomed to stirring up trouble. Not only were members of Mr. Min’s faction present, but even some on King Jingyao’s side harbored jealousy and had their own criticisms. While they wouldn’t dare kick him while he was down, they were certainly eager to watch the drama unfold.
Zhou Yunchen, holding a champagne flute, chuckled. "Mr. Li, your words are laden with meaning, but you’ve hit the nail on the head. I, Zhou, might make mistakes in minor matters, but I don’t err in the grand scheme of things. President Shen and I have had a strong connection since our school days, and we’ve been waiting for each other all these years. Now that the clouds have parted to reveal the moon, I can certainly accept your congratulations."
He paused, then continued, "As for thinking of President Shen as a woman, that’s not wrong either. But my Congwen has always been a woman. So where does ’thinking of her as one’ even come into it?"
After he spoke, the room fell utterly silent. Everyone was stunned.
What? Zhou Yunchen said Shen Congwen is a woman?
"How is that possible?" Gu Mingzhu suddenly interjected. "Brother Congwen practically grew up in the Gu family, and he’s always been a boy!"
Zhou Yunchen feigned surprise. "Miss Mingzhu, is that really so?" He paused for a moment. "Or could it be that you two were actually in love, and I was the third wheel?"
At his words, Gu Mingzhu’s pretty face flushed red, and she was rendered speechless. After a long moment, she said, her face cold, "In any case, he *is* a man."
Zhou Yunchen smiled. "You seem quite angry. But what I find strange is that the Gu family has had so much going on lately, anything seems possible. What with ’heaven-sent demon spawn,’ then ’swapping the prince for a wildcat,’ not to mention ’a field of green hats’... and now this business with Congwen... It could truly be a grand drama. I believe many people would enjoy watching and be interested, wouldn’t you agree?"
Gu Mingzhu was furious, her voice barely a whisper. "Zhou Yunchen, stop trying to change the subject! You and Shen Congwen are impossible."
"Why impossible?" Zhou Yunchen smiled. "Today, with everyone gathered, I’m also basking in Mr. Wang’s good fortune. President Shen and I are expecting a child."
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the room again.
Mr. Zhou and President Shen are having a child? Whose child is it? And who’s carrying it? Those two... Don’t tell me President Shen really *is* a woman?
Just then, the sound of a car pulling up came from outside. Zhou Yunchen smiled faintly. "That must be President Shen. I’ll go meet her."
The banquet hall fell into an even deeper silence.
Zhou Yunchen walked out quickly, looking every bit the expectant husband greeting his wife.
Gu Mingzhu stood frozen on the spot. No way... Brother Congwen... is really a woman? And pregnant?
「In the courtyard」
Shen Congwen opened the car door and stepped out. The moment she did, Zhou Yunchen took her hand. "Let’s go in."
Shen Congwen was wearing a three-piece women’s suit today. It was sharp and tailored, yet it also accentuated her distinctly feminine curves. Though still a suit, the style was completely different, and no one would doubt she was a woman.
「Inside the banquet hall」
No one spoke. Shen Congwen appeared perfectly at ease. Zhou Yunchen got her some food and placed it in her hand. "You’re pregnant now. Eat more. Gaining some weight will make it more convincing."
He said it casually, as if speaking to a buddy.
Shen Congwen had been working overtime until just now and was indeed hungry. Munching on the food, she murmured, "Since when am I pregnant?"
"To increase credibility, we need to work harder," Zhou Yunchen said shamelessly. "I racked my brains to come up with this plan for your sake."
Shen Congwen didn’t believe him for a second. She snorted. "More like for your own benefit, right?"
This man always says nice things, claiming he doesn’t care about her figure or anything, yet he’s constantly trying to fatten her up, hoping she’ll gain some weight...
Zhou Yunchen just smiled, his gaze soft and tender as he watched her. That look was clearly one of deep affection.
Watching them from afar, Gu Mingzhu was deeply shaken. She couldn’t believe her eyes—
The Brother Congwen she had adored for so many years... was actually a woman!
She couldn’t accept it. In a fit of impulse, right in front of everyone, she lunged forward, her hand reaching out...
The next second, she froze, stunned.
Before Shen Congwen could react, Zhou Yunchen had already slapped Gu Mingzhu’s hand away.
His face darkened. Even if Congwen was a woman, he wouldn’t let anyone else touch her.
Except for Gu Anxi, of course. With him, there was nothing he could do; he couldn’t win a fight against him, nor could he out-argue him...
