C13 Huo Niannian Angrily Retorted the Unreasonable Motherinlaw!

Forty minutes later, Gu Tingshen parked outside the imposing Gu family estate, and alongside Huo Niannian, made their way to the majestic front door to ring the bell. They were warmly received by Uncle Zhang, the esteemed butler, who welcomed them with a beaming smile and led them inside.

"The Old Master is currently practicing his calligraphy in the study, and your father is out in the backyard," Uncle Zhang advised them. "You may want to visit him there first before heading upstairs to the second floor." As he spoke, he thoughtfully laid out a pair of slippers for each of them before they entered the home.

Gu Tingshen quickly changed into his slippers and headed straight for the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. Huo Niannian took a moment longer with her shoes and, upon looking up, found herself face-to-face with a middle-aged woman dressed in a light blue satin cheongsam. The woman's hair, styled in tight curls, was elegantly pinned up, and her phoenix eyes revealed a sharp, critical nature. It didn't take long for Huo Niannian to deduce that this was Gu Tingshen's stepmother, Yin Jie.

"Hello, Aunt," she greeted politely.

Yin Jie surveyed Huo Niannian with obvious disdain and, without bothering to reply, turned to Uncle Zhang and instructed, "Fetch a plastic bag for Miss Huo's shoes. I can't tolerate the odor of such inferior leather."

"You!" Yin Jie seethed, barely holding back her anger, and snorted with contempt, "You, a mere girl from a poor village, have managed to ensnare our Tingshen with your petty tricks, yet you dare to be so insolent."

Huo Niannian nonchalantly picked up her shoes and handed them to Uncle Zhang, saying, "Thank you for the trouble. I wouldn't want the sharp stench here to taint them."

That was just like Niannian; she would repay kindness tenfold. But if someone crossed her, she would not hesitate to retaliate in kind, never one to suffer in silence.

"You!" Yin Jie was livid, yet she had to suppress her rage, snorting coldly, "You, a poor girl from the village, using underhanded tactics to latch onto our Tingshen, sure have a sharp tongue."

Yin Jie, as the second wife, had been scheming to secure the family business for her son since marrying into the Gu family. But her son was only ten, and the Old Master did not acknowledge her illegitimate child. Only after the Old Master's passing could she possibly fight for her younger son's rights.

So, she planned to marry her daughter to Gu Tingshen, ensuring her and her children's firm status in the Gu family by having her daughter bear offspring.

But Gu Tingshen had always rejected Gu Yufei, and even Tingshen's father insisted that, despite no blood relation, Tingshen and Yufei, being akin to siblings, could never marry.

As Yin Jie contemplated how to force their hand, Huo Niannian's sudden appearance only fueled her anger.

Yet Niannian simply smiled and retorted, "If I'm accused of depending on a rich man, does that mean you're guilty of stealing someone else's husband?"

Yin Jie was so infuriated she nearly fainted.

Her daughter, Gu Yufei, hurried to support her mother, shooting a bitter look at the aloof Gu Tingshen, "Elder Brother Tingshen, how can you just watch her bully us like this?"

Niannian's heart raced with unease as she sneaked a peek at Tingshen. He had cautioned her against causing trouble before she came, but she couldn't hold back.

Fearing Tingshen's anger, she was taken aback when he picked up a piece of green bean cake, walked over to Niannian, and placed it in her mouth, saying, "Eat more, talk less. If you make my stepmother and sister angry again, wait and see how I'll handle you tonight."

With that, Tingshen casually draped an arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the backyard.

Niannian blushed, nibbling on the green bean cake. What kind of reprimand was this? It felt more like a public display of affection!

It appeared that Tingshen wasn't one to be easily swayed either...

Witnessing the scene, Yufei's eyes brimmed with tears. She turned to her mother, asking, "Mom... do I really stand no chance now?"

Yin Jie cast a sympathetic glance at her daughter, hissing venomously, "That girl thinks she can compete with my daughter for a man? I'll make her regret it."

"Mom, what if we pay someone to disfigure her? Then we'll see if Tingshen still wants her."