As expected, once Charles Yin finished speaking, everyone at the table grew awkward.
Only Jenny Gu's eyes burned even brighter!
How could such a gentle and thoughtful man end up as her brother-in-law?
Because the Yin family proposed marriage, Jenny Gu's wedding plans were ruined too.
Helpless, she could only go to the hospital for surgery.
And using this as an excuse, Grandma Gu directly took the two hundred thousand yuan Old Mrs. Yin gave Helen Gu.
Now she wants Helen Gu to squeeze another two hundred thousand out of Cecilia Gu!
But for Jenny Gu, even four hundred thousand isn't enough to make up for what she's lost!
She wished she could take everything that belonged to Cecilia Gu!
Recently, Cecilia Gu has been cramming dining etiquette. She may not be as graceful as Charles Yin, but compared to her relatives, she's doing way better!
Jenny Gu tries to act like she knows all about dining etiquette too, but honestly, she's never learned it.
She can only copy Cecilia Gu—whatever Cecilia does, she does too.
But honestly, this kind of imitation just makes her look ridiculous.
Charles Yin took it all in, the mockery in his eyes completely undisguised.
Those relatives from the village—when have they ever eaten food this good?
Everyone was stuffing their faces, grease dripping everywhere.
Cecilia Gu honestly wanted to dig a hole and hide herself!
Watching those relatives wave their chopsticks around and scramble for food, she suddenly realized something painfully clear: there's no such thing as the most pathetic—only more pathetic!
Thankfully, the food wasn't on a rotating table, or Cecilia Gu would've totally lost her appetite!
Charles Yin only picked at his food a few times before putting down his chopsticks.
No wonder he couldn't eat, having to face this crowd...
After all, his obsession with cleanliness is famous!
Just sitting here is already the limit of his patience.
Jenny Gu saw Charles Yin's eyes flicker, and suddenly gathered her courage, raising her glass to him. "Brother-in-law, let me toast you!"
Charles Yin glanced up slightly.
Even though his face showed no emotion, just that tiny gesture was enough to make Jenny Gu's heart flutter and her mouth water.
With just one glance, Charles Yin saw right through Jenny Gu.
Such a clueless woman!
Good thing Cecilia Gu isn't a real Gu by blood!
That thought popped into Charles Yin's mind.
Jenny Gu held up her glass for ages, but Charles Yin completely ignored her.
Jenny Gu started feeling awkward and turned to Cecilia Gu instead. "Cousin, let me toast you!"
Cecilia Gu didn't like Jenny Gu either, but with so many eyes watching at the table,
she could only say, "Didn't you just have a miscarriage? You should focus on recovering, not drinking."
Jenny Gu's face looked like she'd just been slapped.
She slammed her glass down on the table, her eyes instantly turning hostile.
If it weren't for you, Cecilia Gu, she would've never had to get rid of that baby!
If it weren't for you, Cecilia Gu, her wedding would've never been ruined!
Uncle Eric Gu and Aunt Linda Gu had just gotten two million from Charles Yin, so of course they were all smiles for their benefactor.
Aunt Linda Gu quickly said, "Jenny, your cousin is just looking out for you! Once you're recovered, you can drink as much as you want!"
The Yin family is loaded—definitely not people you want to offend!
Jenny Gu shot another venomous glare at Cecilia Gu, as if she was the cause of all this.
Grandma Gu had almost finished eating. Her eyes shifted as she spoke to Cecilia Gu, "Cecilia, you've been away for quite a while. Grandma's missed you. After dinner, come to my room—I have something to ask you."
Here it comes! Finally!
Mom couldn't get the money—now Grandma's going to do it herself?
Grandma's really pulling out all the stops to buy Jenny Gu a house!
Cecilia Gu quickly glanced at Charles Yin, who discreetly nodded at her.
Seeing the subtle exchange between Charles Yin and Cecilia Gu, Jenny Gu's anger flared even higher!
She was finding Cecilia Gu more and more unbearable.
If only Cecilia Gu wasn't around, maybe she could take her place at Charles Yin's side.
"Sure, I have a few things to ask Grandma too," Cecilia Gu replied, feeling more suffocated and weary by the minute in this house.
She had to get her mom out of here!
Now that Uncle and Aunt's debts were paid off, her parents didn't have to stay in the countryside under the excuse of debt anymore!
Grandma Gu heard Cecilia's reply and finally smiled with satisfaction.
Hmph, little brat, you think you can fight me?
Even if you're married off, you still have to cough up the money!
Cecilia Gu glanced at her mom reassuringly, then got up and followed Grandma Gu to her room.
Cecilia Gu honestly hadn't been to Grandma's room much.
No real reason—if you're not liked, of course you're not invited over.
Compared to Jenny Gu, her visits to this room could be counted on one hand.
When she was a kid, aside from school, she was helping her parents in the fields, then cooking, doing laundry, and cleaning at home. Who had time to hang out in Grandma's room?
Now that she's married, she finally gets the "honor."
Too bad she stopped caring a long time ago!
As soon as Cecilia Gu entered the room, Grandma Gu's face instantly dropped, all smiles gone.
Cecilia Gu couldn't help but scoff to herself.
Even now, Grandma can't resist putting her in her place! Does she really think Cecilia is still the same as before?
"Cecilia! Has your mom talked to you yet?" Grandma Gu asked bluntly. "Why haven't you paid up?"
Cecilia Gu purposely put on a surprised face and said, "Grandma, what are you talking about? I don't get what you mean."
Grandma Gu gritted her teeth in frustration.
Still pretending with me!
"Cecilia, here's the thing," Grandma Gu said, trying to sound gentle. "Your parents only have you, and now that you're married, they're left alone. So I took the initiative to buy them a house. You know how expensive houses are in the county—two hundred thousand isn't enough. We need another two hundred thousand to close the deal! Since your husband has money, you should pay it all at once. That way your parents will have a place to retire!"
If Cecilia Gu hadn't seen the truth thanks to Charles Yin, she might've actually believed it!
She almost wanted to applaud her grandma—give her thirty-two likes for this performance!
What an act!
She was clearly trying to take Cecilia's money to buy Jenny Gu a house, but made it sound like it was for her parents!
"Really? Grandma, buying a house is a big deal—why didn't you talk to me first? Did you sign the contract yet? Let me see it. You're getting older, so you gotta be careful not to get cheated!" Cecilia said on purpose, knowing full well Grandma would never show her the contract.
Sure enough, Grandma Gu's face changed instantly!
Of course she wouldn't let Cecilia see the contract!
Jenny Gu's name was written right on it!
"What? You don't trust your grandma now?" Grandma Gu's face grew even more sour. "Cecilia, you're still a Gu, no matter what. Even if your parents aren't your birth parents, they raised you! You wouldn't just turn your back on them, would you?"
"Grandma, what are you saying? I would never do something like that! I just told Mom she should come live with me in the city. Charles and I have a huge house—three floors, a luxury villa, with gardens covering more than ten acres. There's plenty of room for all of us." Just thinking of how her mom was bullied made Cecilia furious, and her tone grew firm. "Maybe you could help persuade Mom. I really want my parents to live with me!"
Grandma Gu hadn't expected Cecilia to turn the tables, and her voice turned cold. "No way! Your mom can't leave the countryside! If she goes, who'll do all the work there?"
Cecilia Gu scoffed, "Those chores in the countryside were never supposed to be my parents' responsibility!"
"Hmph, your dad's surgery cost a fortune, and your mom willingly signed IOUs for your uncle and aunt! Black and white, she can't just refuse to pay, right?" Grandma Gu continued, her tone harsh.
Cecilia Gu let out a light laugh, her smile dripping with sarcasm. "Seems like Uncle, Aunt, and Grandma all have their own secrets!"
"What do you mean?" Grandma Gu didn't believe her son would keep secrets from her. She just thought Cecilia was being stingy.
"Just now, Charles and I paid off all my parents' debts. Charles was generous—he gave Uncle and Aunt two million, and signed the contract. Now my parents owe no one anything! As for the farm work, Uncle and Aunt can find someone else." Cecilia rattled this off in one breath, feeling the weight lift off her chest. "Did Uncle and Aunt not tell Grandma about the money? That's not how our family works! Even the money my in-laws gave Mom went straight to Grandma, so how can Uncle and Aunt keep so much and not say a word?"
"What! What did you say? Two million!" Grandma Gu was shocked by the number and shouted, "Why didn't I know? How could you give them that money? I was the one who paid for the surgery!"
"I wouldn't know," Cecilia replied, purposefully looking regretful. "I was just a kid when Dad had his surgery, didn't understand anything. Aunt always said the money was hers, and she had the IOU, so I just assumed it was hers. All these years, Grandma never explained it!"
Grandma Gu was left fuming after hearing Cecilia's words!
Two million!
That’s no small sum!
Two million would be enough for her to live in comfort for several lifetimes!
"Since Grandma said you want to buy my parents a house, why don’t we go see it in the county after dinner? If it’s for their retirement, I need to see it for myself to feel at ease!" Cecilia said on purpose.
Grandma Gu had no interest in seeing the house now. Her mind was spinning at the thought of two million!