Chapter Four: Notorious Reputation

The old man nodded repeatedly. "You child, you rushed back as soon as you got off the plane without getting a proper rest. It’s all that boy Linzhou’s fault."

"Why blame me?" Gu Linzhou retorted, displeased. "She’s the one who doesn't want to be a pampered socialite; the Gu family hasn't given her any less than what she’s entitled to."

"Brother Linzhou." A delicate voice rang out from behind. Xu Nannan slipped out from his other side and grabbed his arm. "Where did you go just now? I couldn't find you anywhere."

After saying this, she looked at Old Master Gu and called out sweetly, "Grandpa."

Gu Linzhou pulled his arm away. The old man glanced at Xu Nannan and asked, "Did you not see your sister-in-law?"

Only then did Xu Nannan look at Fu Luoning. "Hello, sister-in-law."

Fu Luoning smiled at her but did not respond.

"Alright, alright, it’s about time." The old man nudged Gu Linzhou. "Take Luoning and dance the opening dance."

Gu Linzhou looked at Fu Luoning with dark, inscrutable eyes and held out his hand. "Please, Mrs. Gu."

Fu Luoning silently placed her hand in his, and the two walked toward the dance floor. As the melodic music began, they danced together for the first time, and Gu Linzhou could clearly sense the woman’s displeasure.

"What are you unhappy about?"

Fu Luoning glanced at him. "Just focus on your dancing."

"Is it such a grievance to dance with me?"

"Do you want another kick to your foot?"

Gu Linzhou’s expression turned cold. As the dance reached its finale, he pulled Fu Luoning abruptly into his arms. Amidst the surrounding applause, he leaned into her ear. "You pinched me earlier; if you step on me again, I’ll pin you right here and kiss you."

Fu Luoning shoved him hard, but the man held her tightly, leading her off the dance floor.

He took a glass of juice from a waiter's tray and handed it to her. Fu Luoning didn't even look at it; instead, she picked up a glass of red wine from a nearby table and took a light sip.

The two stood in silence for a moment before Song Yuzhou walked over and greeted them politely. "Linzhou, sister-in-law."

Fu Luoning smiled slightly. "Mr. Song."

"Such a pleasant face for others," Gu Linzhou sneered.

"Sister-in-law, I need to discuss something with Linzhou."

Fu Luoning nodded gently. "Go ahead."

Gu Linzhou hadn't even agreed yet, and she was already being so accommodating. He looked at her, but Fu Luoning avoided his gaze. As she raised her glass to take another sip, a hand reached out and intercepted it. She looked over to see Gu Linzhou downing the wine himself, his eyes dark as he looked at her. "Drink less, Mrs. Gu."

He set the empty glass on the table and turned to leave with Song Yuzhou.

Fu Luoning acted as if she hadn't heard him, turned, grabbed a glass of sparkling champagne, and drank it slowly.

There were many in this circle curious about her, as she rarely appeared in public. She hadn't been standing alone for even a minute before scattered individuals began to hover around her as if by chance.

The Gu family was at the very pinnacle of the hierarchy in Shengjing City. Even if her marriage was miserable, she was still the nominal Mrs. Gu, and everyone wanted to make an impression and get familiar with her.

Fu Luoning dealt with these socialites and ladies with perfunctory politeness, not lingering on any conversation. Lin Mianyue walked over with Xu Nannan and dispersed the crowd. "Luoning, come with me. I’m going to introduce you to some people."

Fu Luoning set down her champagne. "Coming, Mother."

She offered an apologetic smile to the ladies around her. "I’ll invite you all for afternoon tea when I have the time."

She followed Lin Mianyue, who lowered her voice, her tone filled with displeasure. "Our Gu family isn't for just anyone to climb onto; don't go around befriending useless people."

Xu Nannan, clinging to Lin Mianyue’s arm, glanced sideways at Fu Luoning and let out a soft, mocking scoff.

"Well, going by your standards, Mother, I suppose you don't think much of anyone here," Fu Luoning remarked.

Lin Mianyue turned around, her eyes sharp. "Are you talking back to me?"

"I’ve been talking back to you for a long time now," Fu Luoning met her gaze directly. "Or do you intend to lecture me in public about not associating with these 'useless' people?"

Lin Mianyue had never been satisfied with this daughter-in-law. When Fu Luoning first married in, she had intended to treat her like a soft persimmon to be squeezed. To her surprise, Fu Luoning was a woman who was soft on the outside but hard on the inside.

Lin Mianyue stiffened her face and silently led them out of the banquet hall.

Once they were outside and away from the crowd, Xu Nannan spoke up. "Fu Luoning, how can you speak to your mother-in-law like that?"

"And what gives you the right to speak to me like that?" Fu Luoning’s gaze turned sharp. Xu Nannan recoiled at the look and hid behind Lin Mianyue.

Lin Mianyue frowned. "Your current status is a gift from the Gu family. If you were still just a Miss Fu, you wouldn't even have the qualifications to attend the old man’s birthday banquet."

"Isn't your own status also a gift from the Gu family?" Fu Luoning replied with a blank, cold smile, then looked at Xu Nannan. "And isn't she the same?"

Xu Nannan gritted her teeth, glaring at Fu Luoning with malice.

"Sharp-tongued—I don't know why the old man chose someone like you." At this moment, Lin Mianyue dropped her elegant facade, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction toward Fu Luoning.

Fu Luoning looked Lin Mianyue over and shook her head. "In that case, I suppose Xu Nannan isn't even worth 'someone.' The old man was satisfied with me back in Yunhai City, yet he can't even stand the person you’ve raised by your side."

She knew exactly what Lin Mianyue was unhappy about. Lin Mianyue had planned to have Xu Nannan, whom she had raised, marry her own son, but she hadn't expected Fu Luoning to appear out of nowhere.

When she first married into the Gu family, Lin Mianyue found fault with everything she did. After tolerating it a few times, Fu Luoning stopped holding back. Everyone knows how to give someone the cold shoulder, and since she hadn't planned on spending her whole life with Gu Linzhou, there was no reason to tolerate this difficult mother-in-law.

"Fu Luoning!" Lin Mianyue couldn't win the argument. "This is your upbringing! You were raised outside, after all; no wonder the Fu family couldn't teach you any better."

Fu Luoning blinked. Lin Mianyue thought she had touched a sore spot, but instead, Fu Luoning smiled. "Mother, are you questioning Grandpa’s judgment?"

Lin Mianyue’s expression froze. After all, Fu Luoning was the one chosen by the old man. To say she had a bad upbringing was essentially slapping the old man in the face.

Lin Mianyue took a few deep breaths. "What daughter-in-law doesn't show filial piety to her in-laws? Look at you—I say one word, and you snap back with another."

"I listened to everything you said when I first married in," Fu Luoning said, looking at her. "But you never had a kind word or a pleasant look for me. You never missed a chance to find fault. If you want to talk about filial piety, the mother-in-law must be kind first."

Lin Mianyue was so angry her chest heaved. "No wonder you couldn't cultivate any feelings with Linzhou after marrying him. With that sharp tongue of yours, it’s no surprise he’s surrounded by scandals outside."

Fu Luoning shook her head repeatedly. "He was a well-known playboy long before I married him. Surrounded by scandals? He is a scoundrel through and through."

"You...!"