Chapter 106: Do You Love the Golden Fourth Brother?
Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Do You Love the Golden Fourth Brother?
Jiang Xiubai left quietly, and returned just as quietly.
Gu Zhao had a good night’s sleep.
The next morning, she was woken up by Uncle Fu.
"Do you have any friends you’d like to invite, Miss Gu? I’m working on the invitations. If I get them written now, I can have them sent out tomorrow."
Uncle Fu was thrilled. The manor hadn’t been this lively in a long time!
Ever since Miss Gu returned, it had been anything but quiet! Last night, after Miss Gu and the others went out, the Second Young Master even had him buy fireworks.
He bought several truckloads!
The Second Young Master was so ecstatic that he set some off that very night, which angered the Eldest Young Master enough to come downstairs for a fight.
Gu Zhao thought for a moment, then, counting on her fingers, she rattled off a long list of names, even adding Yu Xiaowei.
Yu Xiaowei had contacted Gu Xulin to express her immense gratitude to Gu Zhao. Her career had been going much better since she’d gotten away from the Yu Family!
Gu Zhao didn’t invite Tong Yunxin. Gu Xulin had previously told her that Tong Yunxin’s father was in prison, and Tong Yunxin herself had been taken in by her grandmother, who lived abroad.
Uncle Fu wrote them out dutifully, filling out so many by himself that his hand started to tremble.
Gu Xulin ended up writing the last few. Gu Zhao had wanted to write them herself, but Gu Xulin stopped her after she finished just one.
"Your handwriting is divine! These mere mortals aren’t worthy of seeing it!"
Gu Zhao was secretly pleased.
’My brother really gets me!’
In the blink of an eye, the night of Gu Zhao’s birthday arrived.
The entire manor had been meticulously decorated.
Dreamy, iridescent rainbow ribbons hung from the branches of every tree in the manor, each one topped with a tiny decorative light, making them beautiful even at night.
The main event was set up on the lawn in front of the villa. A blue and white tulle canopy stood in the center of the grass, with strings of crystal beads and colorful balloons dangling from its ceiling.
Blue and white tables and chairs were arranged around the perimeter. Intersperced among them were long banquet tables laden with champagne towers and a wide assortment of desserts.
The lawn was bordered with arrangements of fresh flowers, predominantly in shades of blue.
As evening fell, guests began to arrive. They were either from prominent families on good terms with the Gus or they were friends of Gu Xulin and his brothers.
"Big King, Big King, Big King!!!" The moment Zhong Mingrui arrived at the manor, he couldn’t help but stare at all the delicious food. It wasn’t until he saw Gu Zhao riding out on a Tibetan Mastiff that he finally tore his eyes away and ran over excitedly.
"Big King! Your place is huge! And there’s so much delicious food! If I can’t afford to support my brother anymore, can I come here for handouts?" Song Yi also ran excitedly to Gu Zhao’s side.
Song Zhe scratched his head and didn’t object.
He’d been as unlucky as ever during the days without Gu Zhao.
"Sure, sure! As long as I’ve got meat, you’ll have broth!" Gu Zhao waved magnanimously.
The Tibetan Mastiff grumbled unhappily.
"There’s enough for everyone. You get the bones."
"Zhaozhao." Yu Xiaowei walked over with a smile on her face. Her complexion had improved so much since she’d left the Yu Family.
"Can I livestream this? My fans were so excited when they found out I was invited, and they’re clamoring to see."
’Gu Zhao didn’t mind. A chance for a stealth flex? Awesome.’
Yu Xiaowei started her livestream, and just like that, Gu Zhao was whisked away again by Gu Xulin, spinning like a top.
The Tibetan Mastiff was carrying her all over the place.
"Hello! Everyone, guess where I am~" Yu Xiaowei greeted her stream, then flipped her camera to show her surroundings.
The chat exploded.
[AHHHHHHHHH!! This is straight out of my dreams! Basically, this is my house! This is my birthday!]
[I mean, I celebrated my birthday like this in my past life too. I was one of the streamers.]
[I’ve typed the word ’jealous’ so many times my keyboard is broken!! I’m gonna revolt! Monkey King, step aside! Let me take over! You can go cosplay a Water Ghost!]
Gu Zhao had been summoned inside the villa, where an excited Uncle Fu was explaining how she should make her grand entrance. Meanwhile, Gu Xulin handed her another outfit and told her to change.
He also strictly forbade her from riding the Tibetan Mastiff out, insisting it would scare the many children present.
Gu Zhao was reluctant, and the Tibetan Mastiff felt even more wronged.
Once she was ready, Gu Yunqi took the stage. The speech was supposed to be given by the eldest brother, but Gu Xingyu was hiding in the villa and hadn’t appeared. Besides, for him, speaking in front of so many people was a fate worse than death.
Gu Yunqi was dressed in a modern, elegant, dark gray suit. Its clean tailoring accentuated his tall, trim figure.
Peeking from the doorway, Gu Zhao let out a gasp of admiration. "His waist is so narrow!"
Luckily, Gu Yunqi didn’t hear her. He still had a fountain pen in his hand as he greeted everyone with a smile.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the birthday banquet for my little sister, the fifth daughter of the Gu family, Gu Zhao."
With that, he looked across the way.
Gu Zhao wore a pale blue princess gown, dotted with countless glittering diamonds that sparkled under the lights.
She wore a custom-made sapphire tiara on her head.
Gu Zhao fought to keep the corners of her lips from turning up. ’Steady! Don’t laugh!’
’If I laugh, I’ll lose my cool!’
Suppressing a smile, she slowly walked toward Gu Yunqi. But just then, Gu Zhao heard two familiar voices.
She had a sudden bad feeling, but it was too late.
"Xiangxiang!! We’re here!"
"Xiangxiang! A day without you feels like three years! I’ve missed you so, so much!! Let me give you a hug!"
Two Haast’s Eagles swooped down from the sky and pounced right on Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao’s pupils widened. "Nooo!!"
Haast’s Eagles: What? You *do* want us?
’Alrighty! Here we come!’
The two giant eagles tackled Gu Zhao to the ground.
"Good heavens! What kind of eagles are those?!"
"Those are Haast’s Eagles! I watched the variety show Miss Gu was on!! Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m seeing them in real life!"
The guests buzzed with discussion, utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat was going wild.
[I thought they’d left! They actually followed her back to the country! That’s true love right there!]
[So jealous, so jealous! Monkey King, I’m your most loyal soldier! Let me be in an episode, please!!]
[Who the hell started the rumor that Gu Zhao isn’t loved by the Gu Family?! She’s wearing the latest kids’ design from VHS! It’s one-of-a-kind! And that thing on her head is worth tens of millions! If that’s ’unloved,’ then what am I, a maggot in a shithole?]
In the hospital, Ye Zuiyi lay on her bed, her eyes filled with hatred as she watched the livestream. Today was her birthday too. Why did Gu Zhao get to have a lavish birthday banquet, while she was stuck in the hospital from a rat bite?!
’It’s Gu Zhao! This is all her fault!!’
’A lavish birthday banquet! That was supposed to be mine in my past life!’
’Gu Zhao stole everything that should have been mine!’
She quickly typed and sent a comment: [Ugly as sin! You shady rat! She stole someone else’s life!]
[Gu Zhao should die!!]
[Daily question: when is Gu Zhao going to die?!!]
[The Gu family is only throwing it for her to save face! Nobody loves Gu Zhao!]
Ye Zuiyi spammed more than ten comments in a row, venting her fury.
Others in the chat immediately started a flame war with her.
Gu Zhao, oblivious to all this, struggled to her feet. She stood there for a silent second, her hair a complete mess.
A second later, her spirits were restored. ’Might as well embrace the chaos! No more pretending to be prim and proper!’
Her hair was a mess, with a stray feather that had somehow gotten stuck in it.
Gu Zhao got up and walked toward Gu Yunqi. Big Eagle and Little Eagle flanked her like two knights escorting their princess.
After the formalities, it was time for the part Gu Zhao was most excited about!
Presents.
Gu Zhao’s eyes immediately landed on Gu Xulin’s gift: an enormous box.
It was nearly as tall as Gu Xulin himself.
"Bao’er! I prepared two of your absolute favorite things for you!"
Gu Xulin was exceptionally smug. He was certain his gift would be Gu Zhao’s absolute favorite!
The box was opened, revealing its contents.
A life-sized, glittering, solid-gold statue of Gu Xulin!
Gu Zhao’s eyes were glued to it!
"Brother! I hereby declare you my favorite brother!!"
Gu Xulin preened.
Meanwhile, at the gate, Jiang Xiubai was getting anxious as security guards blocked his way.
"Y-y-you... can’t come in!"
"Hurry, call the police! A kid has kidnapped three people!!"