The Abandoned Daughter's Second Chance

Chapter 617: Chapter 533: Explanation

Gu Shaoqin and Gu Shaoling also gathered around. Gu Shaoqin lovingly patted his sister’s head and teased her with a smile, "Is it that good? Let us have a taste, too?"

Gu Shaoying glanced down preciously at the small cloth pouch she held in both hands, a little reluctant. But she was a good sister who knew how to share. After just a moment of hesitation, she picked one out with her little fingers and fed it to Gu Shaoqin. She even leaned in close to his face, looking all serious, and asked, "Brother, isn’t it delicious?"

Gu Shaoqin nodded repeatedly. "It’s delicious! Thank you, Shaoying!"

Gu Shaoying was very happy and held up another one for Xiao Man. Xiao Man smiled and said, "Shaoying, you’re so sweet. You can have it. I already had plenty on the mountain."

Shaoying then turned and offered it to Gu Shaoling. "Sister, hurry and try it! It’s super sweet!"

Gu Shaoling was furious that Gu Shaoying was giving her something someone else had rejected. She tilted her head up and sneered contemptuously, "I’m not eating that. It’s just some random thing that grows in the weeds outside. Who knows what snakes or toads have licked it? It’s filthy! And probably poisonous. Let’s see if it kills you!"

Shaoying: "..."

She looked at the small berry in her hand, then turned to look at Xiao Man. Then, with a NOM, she popped the berry into her mouth, smacked her lips with relish, and said with a grin, "It’s not dirty! And it’s not poisonous. See? I ate it and I’m not dead!"

Xiao Man was amused by the little foodie. She crouched down, hugged her, and said, "Sister Xiao Man picked these especially for Shaoying, so how could they be poisonous? Not only are they not poisonous, but this kind of fruit actually has detoxifying properties and is good for your body. Don’t listen to some people. What she’s doing is called ’sour grapes’!"

"Who are you talking about? Who?" Gu Shaoling glared at Xiao Man.

Xiao Man met her gaze calmly. "Whoever I’m talking about knows it in their heart. Seeing how worked up you are, it must be you!"

"Tang Manman, you’ve gone too far!"

Gu Shaoling’s face turned pale with anger. She jabbed her sharply filed fingernails straight at Xiao Man’s face. Xiao Man leaned back just enough to avoid getting the tip of her nose poked.

Gu Shaoqin quickly stepped forward and pulled Gu Shaoling’s hand away. "Shaoling, what’s gotten into you? Don’t go too far, or you’ll be punished again. Summer vacation is starting, and they’ll send you to the beach to be sun-dried like a salted fish!"

Xiao Man let out a laugh. ’In my previous life, Gu Shaoqin was a famous figure in the legal world—gentle, dignified, and polite. He was rarely sharp-tongued, but the one or two times he was, his words were devastating. So he had the potential all along. It’s already showing now that he’s a fifteen-year-old boy.’

Gu Shaoling couldn’t shake off Gu Shaoqin’s grip and pointed at him with her other hand, cursing, "You spineless lackey! Wagging your tail so hard, trying to beg for a reward? Don’t forget, this is the Gu family, not the Tang family! You’re a disgrace!"

Gu Shaoqin had been about to say something to her, but his expression turned indifferent at her words, and his eyes grew cold. He let go of Gu Shaoling. "You’re the one begging for rewards, aren’t you? You think she’s giving you all those expensive things for free? Shaoling, I’ve warned you. You’d better not keep doing things your own way. When you really get punished, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself!"

Gu Shaoling lifted her eyes, glanced quickly at Xiao Man, and huffed, "Mind your own business! You’re allowed to praise her and say how wonderful she is, so why can’t I think the other one is better?"

After speaking, Gu Shaoling turned and walked away, apparently heading back to her own courtyard.

Gu Shaoying’s face was stained purple-red from eating the berries. A nanny came over and led Shaoying away to wash her hands and face. Xiao Man asked Gu Shaoqin curiously, "What were you and Shaoling talking about? What was all that about ’how wonderful she is’ and ’the other one is better,’ plus the ’spineless lackey’ and ’begging for rewards’? Who is this ’other one’?"

Gu Shaoqin was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Last time, before Eldest Brother left, he told the adults in the family about Second Miss Sun. Shaoling and I overheard. Second Miss Sun went to Eldest Brother’s military camp and claimed to be his best friend. Eldest Brother said it wouldn’t have mattered if she were a man, but she’s a young woman—what are people supposed to think? His commanding officer misunderstood and thought they were in that kind of relationship. Even though most people know Eldest Brother is already engaged, they’ve never met his actual fiancée, have they? It would be strange if they *didn’t* misunderstand. So, Eldest Brother was very unhappy, and Grandpa was angry too. He told Grandma to just be polite enough for propriety’s sake, but that there was no need to get too close to Second Miss Sun. He didn’t want outsiders to get the wrong idea and make our own people uncomfortable. After that, whenever Second Miss Sun came to visit, Grandma would deliberately avoid seeing her. With no one asking her to stay, she wouldn’t stick around for long. But then, somehow, she had another bright idea and started seeking out Shaoling specifically. She picks Shaoling up from school every day, and then they come home together. By following Shaoling, she naturally gets to see Grandma, and she ends up staying to eat with the family again. Shaoling has even invited her to stay over... This morning, I heard Grandma tell Shaoling: ’Manman is going to the South in a day or two, so today our two families should have a nice get-together. We won’t be inviting other guests over.’ But Shaoling went out this morning and insisted on bringing Second Miss Sun back. She even deliberately avoided Grandma and Auntie, letting Second Miss Sun rest in her room. She just told me that she plans to bring Second Miss Sun out at dinner and have her sit right next to you..."