C35 Enchanted(part I)

I might as well have gotten a good night's sleep.

"I didn't want to either," Gu Zhiwei said earnestly, looking at her. "My dad forced me to attend."

Chung Shuang's expression turned even icier. "I heard you had excellent scores on your college entrance exams. Why have you let yourself go so much since starting university?"

Gu Zhiwei looked down and chuckled, "Good grades don't really mean much."

Gu Ruoshan's grip on her chopsticks tightened, and she managed a strained smile. "You make a good point, sister. But as students, we have our responsibilities. Reading more and learning more can never be a mistake."

Chung Shuang nodded approvingly. "Ruoshan is a good girl. You should take a leaf out of her book."

Gu Zhiwei narrowed her striking eyes. "Indeed, a diligent student like Gu Ruoshan would never skip class, would she?"

With Old Mrs. Bo's backing, a newfound boldness shone in Gu Ruoshan's eyes. "I don't have the luxury of being as free-spirited as you. Skipping class is something I would never dare to do."

At this, Gu Zhiwei's eyes twinkled with a profound amusement. "Yet, I heard that Old Mrs. Bo ran into you at the business district on Tuesday afternoon and you escorted her home. If I'm not mistaken, Tuesday afternoons are packed with classes. So, how did you happen to be in the city center square to help the lost Mrs. Bo find her way home?"

Old Mrs. Bo paused, taken aback for a moment.

Gu Ruoshan's breath caught, and she lowered her gaze to conceal the flurry of panic and guilt. She spoke with an embarrassed tone, "I wasn't feeling well that day, so I took leave to visit the hospital. Afterward, I thought I'd stop by the city center square for some food, and that's when I encountered Mrs. Bo."

Old Mrs. Bo nodded, as if everything made sense now.

Gu Ruoshan's smile was slight, knowing that even Old Mrs. Bo believed she was the one who had escorted her home.

Even if Gu Zhiwei claimed it was she who had helped Old Mrs. Bo that day, no one would believe it.

As long as she maintained that she was the one who had taken Old Mrs. Bo home, no one would question the veracity of the story.

Steadying her nerves, Gu Ruoshan looked up, feigning confusion. "Sister, is there something about this that you're questioning?"

Gu Zhiwei's anger turned to laughter as she prepared to strike back.

But the hand resting on her thigh was unexpectedly enveloped by a warm, large hand.

She paused, glancing at the distinguished and handsome man beside her.

Bo Yandong gazed down at her with tender eyes.

However, when he shifted his gaze to Gu Ruoshan, the warmth vanished. "Miss Gu, this evening's gathering is the Bo family's banquet. As a guest, you've deliberately stirred up trouble at the dinner table. The Miss Gu Ruoshan, reputed to be gentle and generous, seems to be quite the opposite."

Old Mrs. Bo glared at her grandson with indignation. "You rascal, what are you talking about? Where did Ruoshan start any conflict? It was clearly Gu Zhiwei who provoked her first!"

"Grandma, please, don't be upset," Gu Ruoshan implored, her eyes brimming with tears as she turned to Old Mrs. Bo, "The fault is mine. I shouldn't have come."

Yandong's expression darkened, his grip on Zhiwei's fingers tightening slightly.

Chung Shuang caught his stern look and became even more convinced of Zhiwei's beguiling nature.

Her usually composed grandson had never caused such discomfort before. Surely, it must be Zhiwei's influence!

"Ruoshan, you have nothing to fear," Chung Shuang reassured her, taking her hand. "You are the only one I see as my granddaughter-in-law. No matter who else tries to scheme their way into the Bo family, they will never have my recognition."

Gu Ruoshan bowed her head, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, Grandma."

Her face bore a mask of sorrow, but her eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve.