Cecilia Gu spent the afternoon with Jane Gu, finding a cozy spot to sip tea, bask in the sun, and enjoy a relaxing massage.
For Jane Gu, this was the first time she’d experienced such an easy, carefree life. Everything felt almost unreal.
Just as the two were happily reminiscing about childhood, a sudden ringtone abruptly cut off their conversation.
Cecilia Gu impatiently reached for her phone. As she glanced at the screen, her expression froze.
It was Howard Gu!
Cecilia Gu quickly glanced at Jane Gu, then answered the call. Before she could say anything, Howard Gu’s voice came from the other end: “Cici, is your mom with you?”
“What do you want?” Cecilia’s voice was icy and distant.
Cecilia’s cold response made Howard Gu pause for a moment. He hesitated, then said, “I tried calling your mom, but her phone isn’t reachable.”
Cecilia raised her eyebrows at Jane Gu, got up from the lounge chair, and walked aside to take the call. “Why are you looking for her?”
“I…” Howard Gu hesitated, then steeled himself and said, “Cici, your mom’s house is so big, she can’t live there alone. Could you let your grandma stay there for a few days? You know, I don’t have enough rooms here, and your aunt needs to rest for her pregnancy. It’s always noisy—no one can get any sleep.”
Cecilia Gu smiled at the scene.
Who gave him the nerve?
He actually wants Grandma Gu to move into Jane's house?
Howard Gu, who gave you the right to decide all this?
No wonder Jane wants to expose Howard Gu.
Such an outrageous ex-husband, truly rare!
"Sorry, I can't decide for Mom," Cecilia replied coldly. "You've already remarried. Mom shouldn't get involved in your matters, right?"
"Isn't this house under your name? You're the owner! What's wrong with letting Grandma stay a few days? Your mom has cared for her for years. Your aunt never helped, can't take care of her. Even if you left the Gu family, you're still a Gu!" Howard Gu said forcefully on the phone. "Let Grandma stay, what's the problem? Do you have no conscience? The Gu family raised you for years, is this how you repay us?"
Cecilia turned around, surprised to see Jane.
Cecilia really laughed.
The Gu family's outrageousness, I've always known.
But to reach this level, it's truly unheard of!
Cecilia spoke word for word: "I remember I already paid for all those years you raised me. Besides, should I thank you for reminding me to change my surname now? I don't mind being called Jane Xi Xi, it sounds nice."
Cecilia's words left Howard Gu speechless.
Howard Gu could only lower his voice and beg: "Xi Xi, don't say that. We're still family. Your mom living alone in that big house is a waste. We're family, it's just one room for Grandma Gu, it won't bother anyone."
"Who says it won't bother us?" Cecilia sneered. "Didn't Grandma Gu like your new wife? Why not go to her instead of the ex-wife you bullied? Wasn't divorce enough? Do you really want to keep tormenting us? Dad, where do you get the nerve? Who gave you the right? If you touch this house, I'll tear it down before you step in!"
With that, Cecilia hung up the phone without hesitation.
"Sorry, I can't make decisions for Mom," Cecilia said coldly. "You've already remarried, Mom shouldn't get involved in your matters."
"Isn't this house under your name? You're the owner! What's wrong with letting Grandma stay a few days? Your mom has cared for her for years. Your aunt never helped, can't take care of her. Even if you left the Gu family, you're still a Gu!" Howard Gu insisted.
Cecilia turned around, surprised to see Jane.
Jane waved her hand, "Alright, don't hide it from me. I know everything. Your dad already begged me a few days ago to let Grandma Gu move in."
Cecilia was stunned.
But to be this outrageous, it's truly unheard of!
"I thought living alone in such a big house was a bit wasteful too. But before I could agree, Grandma Gu..." Jane gave a bitter smile. "Forget it, it's too embarrassing to say out loud."
"Mom, what happened?" Cecilia sensed some gossip and pressed, "Tell me! What could be so ridiculous?"
Jane pulled Cecilia down to sit. "It's nothing new. You know how the Gu family is. Your dad wanted to send Grandma Gu here for a few days, but then Grandma Gu started telling everyone this house belonged to the Gu family, and I'm just the pitiful ex-wife who wasn't kicked out after the divorce. She tried to take over the whole house."
Cecilia stared in shock.
Only Grandma Gu could pull off something so outrageous!
Talk about stealing someone's nest—she did it with such confidence!
"Thank goodness for the neighbors. They helped explain the house ownership to everyone," Jane said helplessly. "When Grandma Gu saw them defending me, she started cursing us, saying we were disgraceful and ought to be punished... That mouth of hers, you know how it is. She can turn black into white and white into red. Good thing you left the deed and notarized the property, or I'd have no way to prove anything."
Cecilia nearly fainted from rage.
"So what happened next?" Cecilia was dying to know how it all turned out.
"That night, your dad's new wife got into a fight with Grandma Gu—she's younger and kicked Grandma Gu out, refusing to let her in. What happened next was even wilder. After being thrown out, Grandma Gu ran into the doctor who did your dad's surgery. Turns out, the doctor remembered her and said, 'Howard Gu's infertility can be treated now at our hospital.'"
Jane chuckled, "At first Grandma Gu didn't believe it, so she made a huge scene—even dragged the doctor to the police station. To prove he wasn't lying, the doctor brought out the test results: Howard Gu really is infertile. That news stunned Grandma Gu, and then she remembered your dad's new wife is already six months pregnant. That's when she realized Howard's been cheated—there's no way that baby is his."
Cecilia burst out laughing, totally unrestrained.
When Grandma Gu got home, she tried to drag the new wife off to the hospital for a DNA test. Howard Gu got caught in the middle and ended up getting beaten up. Turns out, you can't do a DNA test until the baby's born. Grandma Gu refused to accept the child, but the new wife wasn't so easy to bully—she threw a fit at the hospital, yelling that the family wanted her to abort just because the baby's a girl. The hospital staff scolded Grandma Gu. Grandma Gu couldn't admit she was actually worried the child wasn't Howard's—she'd never live it down. So she just swallowed the humiliation herself.
After they got back from the hospital, those two fought even worse. The whole neighborhood heard about it—someone even asked me about it!" Jane laughed. "Honestly, I'm just glad I divorced Howard Gu early. Otherwise, I'd be stuck with that family forever."
Cecilia exclaimed, "I have to hand it to him—he's still calling me to borrow the house, even after all this! That kind of nerve is something else!"
Jane couldn't help but laugh, "Yeah, I kind of admire his guts too. If it weren't for Leon Mai, I don't know what I would've done..."
"Then what happened?" Cecilia was very interested in what happened next.
Jane replied, "I heard that night, your dad's new wife fought with Grandma Gu, and being younger, she kicked Grandma Gu out and wouldn't let her in. What happened next was even more dramatic. After being thrown out, Grandma Gu ran into the doctor who did your dad's surgery. That doctor remembered her and said, 'Howard Gu's infertility can be treated at our hospital now.'"
Cecilia was stunned.
Could it be that Mom and Leon Mai...
Cecilia suddenly laughed, "Hurry up and tell me, I bet it's even more exciting!"
Jane laughed too, "That's right. At first Grandma Gu didn't believe it, grabbed the doctor and made a huge fuss—even to the police station. To prove he wasn't lying, the doctor brought all the test results, showing Howard Gu really is infertile. This news shocked Grandma Gu. Then she remembered your dad's new wife is already six months pregnant. She realized Howard had been cheated—there's no way that child is his."
Cecilia laughed out loud, feeling relieved.
"When Grandma Gu got home, she grabbed the new wife and tried to drag her to the hospital for a DNA test. Howard Gu got caught in the middle and was beaten up. Turns out, you can't do a DNA test until the baby is born. Grandma Gu refused to accept the child, but the new wife wasn't easy to bully—she threw a fit at the hospital, shouting that the family wanted her to abort just because the baby was a girl. The hospital staff scolded Grandma Gu. Grandma Gu couldn't admit she was actually worried the child wasn't Howard's, so she just swallowed the humiliation herself."
After returning from the hospital, the two fought even worse. The whole neighborhood knew about it—someone even came to ask me. Honestly, I'm just glad I divorced Howard Gu early. Otherwise, I'd be stuck with that family forever."
Cecilia gave Jane a knowing look, "Mom... you and Mr. Mai..."
Jane's cheeks suddenly turned red. She stammered, "What are you thinking, kid? It's not like that! He just can't cook, so I helped him out..."
"Really?" Cecilia teased, drawing out her words. "But I think Mr. Mai treats you very well..."
Jane blushed even more, unable to meet Cecilia's eyes.
Just as Cecilia was teasing Jane, her phone rang again.
Cecilia picked up, "Hello...?"
"Do you need me to come get you two?" Charles Yin's voice came through the phone. "I just finished up."