Chapter 973: Lin Miao Did Steal The Money
Chapter 973: Lin Miao Did Steal The Money
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Gong Xin watched as the women’s gossip grew more heated by the second, her face darkening with each passing moment. Unable to hold back any longer, she stepped forward and snapped at them.
“You’re all talking nonsense! No one falsely accused Lin Miao of stealing the betrothal money—it’s a fact. Since that’s the case, she deserved to be held accountable for her actions and was arrested. What does any of this have to do with Gu Zi?
“And another thing—why should Gu Zi be obligated to visit Aunt Zhang Mei? Did you all conveniently forget how the Gu family treated her in the first place? Just to bring their adopted daughter back, they sent Gu Zi to the countryside as a stand-in bride. She was lucky Su Shen turned out to be kind. Otherwise, who knows how horribly she might have suffered? If it were me, I’d probably hate Aunt Zhang Mei to death, but Gu Zi didn’t even think that way! And now you’re blaming her instead?
“You people are so quick to twist right and wrong. And to think you’re the wives of military officers—supposedly women of honor. Yet here you are defending a thief like Lin Miao. I hope when she steals from you someday, you’ll be just as understanding!”
The group fell silent, recognizing Gong Xin as the daughter of a high-ranking officer—someone they could not afford to offend. They were all well aware of how close Gong Xin and Gu Zi had become lately.
Gong Xin always stood up for Gu Zi, and speaking ill of her in Gong Xin’s presence was bound to end badly. Worse, what if Gong Xin went home and reported this to her father? That could mean serious trouble for their husbands.
What puzzled them, however, was how the two had gotten so close in the first place. After all, Gong Xin had always disliked Gu Zi. Yet ever since Gu Zi left the compound and married into the countryside, their relationship seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
Still, not everyone was willing to back down. One of the older women, feeling her years gave her some authority, muttered under her breath. “It’s true Lin Miao stole the money. And yes, the Gu family may have treated Gu Zi unfairly in the past. But they did raise her all those years. Even so, did she really have to send Lin Miao to prison? She turned the entire Gu household upside down—can she really say she bears no responsibility for that?
“And let’s not forget Gu Shan and Zhang Mei are now on the brink of divorce. If you ask me, that’s Gu Zi’s doing too. She’s clearly out for revenge against the Gu family. Miss Gong Xin, just because you’re partial to Gu Zi doesn’t mean you can defend her blindly.”
The speaker was the wife of one of Gu Shan’s subordinates. Gu Shan’s demotion and workplace struggles had affected her husband’s career as well, leaving her resentful. She firmly believed Gu Zi had gone too far and didn’t hesitate to voice her frustrations.
Gong Xin recognized the woman instantly and quickly pieced together the situation. She had always shown respect to these older women, calling them “Auntie” and “Madam,” but today, as they attacked her dear friend, she wasn’t about to play nice.
Without skipping a beat, Gong Xin shot back, “Bullshit! I said Gu Zi’s not at fault, and I stand by it!
“And as for Gu Shan and Zhang Mei’s divorce—don’t you dare pin that on Gu Zi either! Zhang Mei ruined her own reputation when she sided with human traffickers after Gu Zi’s adopted son was kidnapped. Do you think people wouldn’t talk? Even the senior officials found out, and Gu Shan lost his face—and his chance at a promotion. That’s why his attitude toward Zhang Mei changed.
“Besides, let’s be honest here. A man like Gu Shan—middle-aged, successful, and image-conscious—would never risk public scandal and insist on divorce unless something serious happened. Don’t pretend you don’t know what that means.”
Gong Xin didn’t stop to soften the blow. She gave them a cold snort and turned on her heel, walking away without sparing them another glance. The women she left behind stood frozen, their faces a mix of shame and embarrassment.
But embarrassment quickly gave way to realization. These women were no fools. They could read between the lines. For Gu Shan, a man so obsessed with appearances, to risk the stigma of divorce—it had to mean one of two things. Either he truly couldn’t stand Zhang Mei anymore, or there was already another woman in the picture.
As that thought sank in, someone gasped. “Wait, does this mean the rumors about Captain Gu having an affair were true all along? My God, he never seemed like that type of man!”