C8 The Funeral

Within the Lan Family's opulent estate, the funeral for the late patriarch, Lan Wu, was underway. The estate, once her home, was filled with family members clad in white mourning attire, while representatives from the nine great families arrived to pay their respects.

Lin Qingwan surveyed the familiar surroundings with a sense of change; the people were the same, yet everything felt different. Accompanied by Gu Mingfeng, she followed the old butler into the grand hall.

Atop the spiritual altar, photographs of Lan Wu in life were displayed. Lin Qingwan and Gu Mingfeng each took a moment to honor her memory, after which the butler introduced them to a dignified man in his fifties.

"Head of the house, the Gu family's Second Young Master and the Ninth Lady have arrived to offer condolences for the former patriarch," announced the butler.

The man was Lin Qingwan's great-uncle, Lan Chengye, a towering figure in a white mourning suit, his eyes alight with a steady presence.

Lin Qingwan's gaze sharpened. She had not anticipated her own death would be entwined with his.

Gu Mingfeng extended a hand to Lan Chengye, greeting him with a resonant tone, "Hello, I'm Gu Mingfeng."

Lan Chengye gave a curt nod, his gaze lingering on the marred side of Gu Mingfeng's face before summoning his daughter.

Dressed in the same mourning attire, Lan Yan approached, her poised figure and delicate features evident despite her somber dress. Her eyes, however, betrayed a touch of haughtiness.

Upon seeing the disfigured half of Gu Mingfeng's face, she gasped in shock, stepping back in disbelief. "Dad, is that really Gu Mingfeng from the Gu family? What happened to his face? It's terrifying!"

Lan Chengye's expression grew stern. "Yan'er, enough of your antics. He is indeed Gu Mingfeng, and your betrothal to him is already arranged. Come and greet him properly."

"I refuse to marry such a repulsive man," Lan Yan huffed, taking a seat on a nearby chair, legs defiantly crossed.

Lin Qingwan's eyes shifted to Gu Mingfeng. Despite Lan Yan's scorn, he remained unruffled, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, mocking smile.

Inwardly, Lin Qingwan nodded in approval. With such composure and grace, Gu Mingfeng was clearly no ordinary man.

She shook her head with a sardonic chuckle and glanced at Lan Yan, her voice cool and detached. "I had this notion that the Lan Family was something special, but it turns out they lack basic manners too!"

"Excuse me, who are you referring to?" Lan Yan sprang to her feet, eyeing Lin Qingwan with a smirk. "You must be the Gu family's adopted girl, right? I've heard all about how you fawn over celebrities, even loaning them money for villas. You're quite the fool, aren't you?"

Lin Qingwan appeared unfazed, almost relishing the conversation. "Indeed, I do miss the times I spent with those celebrities..."

She was cut short by the piercing glare of Gu Mingfeng, which prompted a silent, bitter smile. The domineering man was keeping a tight rein on her. She then turned back to Lan Yan and said, "Miss Lan, I may be a fan, but I don't see the harm. It's just money spent. Unlike you, Miss Lan, who, if I recall correctly, have had your share of toyboys and even went through pregnancies and abortions for them."

Lan Yan's face twisted at the mention of her past—a well-kept secret within the Lan Family, a scandal that had nearly resulted in her expulsion by the then family head, Lan Wu.

Regaining her composure briefly, Lan Yan lashed out at Lin Qingwan, "You're spouting utter nonsense! Where did you even get such an idea?"

With a deliberate slowness, Lin Qingwan pulled out her phone, her lips curling into a deeper sneer. "Miss Lan, your little plaything himself confided in me. I happen to have his number—shall I give him a call?"

"No!" Lan Yan's hand shot out, pressing down on Lin Qingwan's phone—a tacit admission of the truth. As the realization set in, her face contorted with embarrassment, her gaze fixed on Lin Qingwan.

Lan Chengye approached with a jovial laugh. "My dear niece, pay no mind to such baseless rumors. I know our dear Yan Er well enough; she's incapable of such deeds."

"Really?" Lin Qingwan's smile carried a hint of significance as she tucked her phone back into her pocket. In truth, she was merely putting on a show; everything unfolding was already known to her from her past life. She didn't even possess the young man's phone number.

"Qingwan, we're at the Lan Family's funeral for the former patriarch. It's not the place for commotion," Gu Mingfeng chided as he pulled Lin Qingwan behind him. His tone was stern, but his intention was to shield her.

Several men in black suits began to close in on Lin Qingwan, subtly directed by Lan Yan. But as the situation unfolded, they dispersed.

The warmth and dryness of Gu Mingfeng's large hand unexpectedly endeared him to Lin Qingwan. She looked up at him with feigned innocence and complained, "Second Brother, you've mentioned this is the Lan Family patriarch's funeral, but your fiancée is behaving terribly, shouting and causing a scene. Aren't you going to correct her? If this gets out, it will bring shame not only to the Lan Family but to our Gu Family as well, especially since she's to marry into our household!"

Her words incensed Lan Yan, who yelled back, "Who says I'm going to marry that monster and join your Gu Family?"

Lin Qingwan smirked and remarked, "Second Brother, she's making a scene again. How disgraceful!"

Her voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, drawing their attention.

Lan Chengye, the new head of the family, scowled. He turned to Lan Yan and commanded, "Lan Yan, this is a funeral, not a place for your antics. Kneel and beg for forgiveness from the former patriarch this instant!"

In that moment, Lin Qingwan's gaze shimmered with a cold intensity. Though she had been reborn into another's life, this was, after all, her own funeral. Lan Yan's behavior had crossed a line for her. If she could have proven her identity then and there, she might have ended Lan Yan with a single slap.

After being reprimanded by her father, Lan Yan had no choice but to kneel before the spirit tablet of the former patriarch, Lan Wu, and kowtow deeply several times.