Chapter 303 - 273: Does Not Belong to You
Chapter 303: Chapter 273: Does Not Belong to You
"You..." Wu Xiaowen stared at Gu Shaojun’s calm, cold expression, at a loss for words.
Tang Yaxuan said through her tears, "Brother Shaojun, so many people know I’m your fiancée. For so many years, you’ve taken care of me and cherished me. Now... are you going to be as heartless as Grandma and Grandpa? Are you abandoning Xuanxuan too?"
"Xuanxuan, however I may have treated you before, all that care and affection was only because you carried the title of a Tang Family Girl. My adherence to the marriage contract was for the same reason. Gu Shaojun is supposed to marry the Tang Family Girl, and you are not her. You’re just a mistake. Now that the real Tang Family Girl has returned, *she* is my fiancée. You know this perfectly well in your heart. You and I have no relationship whatsoever!"
"No! I don’t understand!" Tears streamed down Tang Yaxuan’s face, blurring her vision until she could barely open her eyes. "You were clearly so good to me. You remembered what I liked and disliked, and you gave me gifts every year for my birthday and holidays. The feelings between us were so real... You can’t possibly like Mo Xiaoman. It’s just for... just for... Brother Shaojun, is family status really that important? Aaaah... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH!"
"Oh, darling, don’t rush. Speak slowly..." Wu Xiaowen took out a handkerchief to wipe Tang Yaxuan’s tears with one hand while gently patting her back with the other, doing her best to soothe her. She shot a reproachful glare at Gu Shaojun, as if blaming him for upsetting Tang Yaxuan.
Gu Shaojun remained expressionless. ’I’ve completely lost hope in Wu Xiaowen,’ he thought. ’I fully support Xiao Man cutting ties with her. A mother like this is just painful to watch. It would be better to not have one at all.’
He paused, waiting for Tang Yaxuan to catch her breath and calm down a little before speaking again. "Xuanxuan, you first came to my house when you were seven. How could I have been in love with you? I only ever saw you as a little sister. As for the yearly gifts, I need to make this clear: I wasn’t the one who sent them. I never had the time. Grandma assigned that task to Shaozheng. That’s why Gu Shaozhen is the one who knows your preferences best! As for whether I like Mo Xiaoman, my answer is this: the two of us will be happy together until we’re old. And regarding family status, yes, that’s something to be particular about. Mo Xiaoman and I, we are a perfect match in status, a union made in heaven!"
Tang Yaxuan’s mouth hung open as she stared blankly at Gu Shaojun. After a moment, she slowly collapsed into Wu Xiaowen’s arms, her body trembling as she sobbed quietly, tears streaming down her face like a silent river.
Wu Xiaowen’s heart ached for her. Unable to bear it any longer, she glared at Gu Shaojun and scolded, "Shaojun, how could you do this? You’re too heartless! Do you know what this behavior is? It’s... being fickle and abandoning the old for the new!"
Gu Shaojun looked at Wu Xiaowen coldly, his tone indifferent. "Aunt Wu, your definition is incorrect. Just like how you took the wrong baby all those years ago, and then prevented Uncle Qingyun from finding Xiao Man. You were absurdly wrong! Fortunately, Xiao Man and I can still renew this marriage arrangement. Otherwise... do you have any idea how many people would hate you? Half an hour. Our conversation should be over. Goodbye."
With that, Gu Shaojun stood up and began to walk away. Almost simultaneously, Tang Yaxuan struggled out of the dazed Wu Xiaowen’s arms and threw herself at Gu Shaojun, crying out, "Brother Shaojun! I don’t believe you don’t like me anymore... You don’t realize it yourself, but you always call me ’Xuanxuan’! Brother Shaojun, only the people closest to me call me that..."
Countless passersby stopped to watch the scene unfold, but Gu Shaojun acted as if they weren’t there. He forcefully pulled Tang Yaxuan off him. "I told you, don’t get my clothes dirty!"
He pushed her back toward Wu Xiaowen and made her sit down. "Ms. Wu, please control your adopted daughter. How old is she? This is a terrible look."
Tang Yaxuan choked out, "Brother Shaojun, are you saying you dislike me because I’m too young? But Mo Xiaoman is the same age as me!"
"She’s different from you. You can’t be compared to her."
"Why? Ever since I was little, Mother raised me strictly, all so I could be worthy of you, Brother Shaojun! Mo Xiaoman... what part of her is better than me?"
"In my eyes, Xiao Man is better in every way. And that’s the truth. Your character and upbringing are inferior to hers, to say nothing of your looks."
Gu Shaojun glanced at Wu Xiaowen. "On that note, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, Ms. Wu. You were once hoping that Mo Xiaoman would be an ugly monster, weren’t you? Xiao Man nearly developed a complex because of it! In this world, a birth mother like you is probably one of a kind."
Wu Xiaowen was in the middle of wiping Tang Yaxuan’s tears with a handkerchief and didn’t expect Gu Shaojun’s sudden remark. Her expression changed instantly. Her eyes darted around at their surroundings before she glared furiously at Gu Shaojun.
"It’s not your place to judge me! You have no right!"