Back to the 1980s: Transmigrated as the Bigshot's Pampered Wife-Chapter 28: Fainting Twice from Anger

Gu Jiaojiao woke up at eight in the morning. She had gone to sleep at nine the previous night, getting a full eleven hours of rest.

This was something that had never happened in her previous life. It wasn’t that she was a poor sleeper back then, but that she was used to the endless grind.

When she was a student, she was a top scholar, and that wasn’t something you could achieve easily.

After she started working, she was an exemplary employee, and that title wasn’t something you could get casually either.

She had achieved it all through her own hard work. After all the hardships she had endured in her past life, she could have just coasted to victory in this one.

But she still wanted to do even better in this life, so she had to keep working hard.

"Jiaojiao, you’re awake. Want to sleep a little longer?" The man’s magnetic voice was so pleasant to hear.

"Time to get up. School starts in two days. I want to use this time to make some more money."

"I have a salary. I can support you."

"I’m so high-maintenance. It takes a lot of money to keep me afloat."

"That’s fine. I can eat a little less..."

"No, don’t even think about it. Your body needs nutrition the most. Get yourself healthy, then you can earn money for me to spend."

"Okay. Everything I have is yours."

It was the sweetest cheesy line, but the man said it with a dead-serious expression that made it impossible not to believe him.

After the two of them washed up, they found the three members of the Su family had already left. There was warm millet porridge in the pot, along with some meat buns.

On the table were smashed cucumber salad and hard-boiled eggs. The two enjoyed their lovely breakfast before heading out to collect money from Houzi.

*

A few uninvited guests had arrived at the Dong Family’s home: Old Sir Gu, Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, and their two sons.

Mr. Dong, Ren Xiaofang’s husband, was seated in the place of honor in the living room with Old Sir Gu.

The Gu Family had ridden in Uncle Dong’s car, traveling overnight into the city. They looked travel-worn, only arriving as the sky began to lighten.

As soon as Ren Xiaofang got out of bed, she saw the room full of people. "Heavens, where did these beggars come from?"

Her shriek was loud enough to shatter the heavens, making everyone’s hearts tremble.

"My apologies for the disturbance, we came in a hurry... COUGH COUGH..." Old Sir Gu managed to say before breaking into a severe coughing fit.

"Xiao Fang, have you no manners?" Mr. Dong roared in a powerful voice.

The Dong family’s stepmother, Ren Xiaofang, rolled her eyes in anger. With a huff, she turned and went back to her room.

She slammed the door loudly behind her. Out of sight, out of mind.

Ren Xiaofang’s shriek not only made the Gu Family’s hearts tremble, but it also startled the Sheng family next door.

Mrs. Sheng loved watching the Dong Family’s drama unfold. Her family had a household assistant to cook and clean.

With nothing else to do in the morning, Mrs. Sheng stood on her balcony to watch the spectacle at her sworn enemy’s house.

She did overhear a few things. It turned out the Gu Family had come—her daughter’s adoptive parents, and Jiaojiao’s biological parents. ’Why did they take so long to arrive!’ she wondered.

’If they had come earlier, our family wouldn’t have become so estranged from Jiaojiao, to the point of being like fire and water.’

"Uncle Sheng, Aunt Sheng, my grandfather invites you and Sheng Xinglian to our house."

After the clear voice called out, the sound of graceful footsteps followed.

Then, the Sheng Family’s main gate opened to reveal a gentle and elegant girl wearing a long, snow-white dress.

She wore a knitted shawl over it, her silky, straight black hair hanging loose. Her shimmering eyes were gentle and captivating.

It was Dong Lili, the second daughter of the Dong Family’s eldest son. Mr. Sheng and his two sons greeted her.

"I’ll be going then, Uncle Sheng. Aunt Sheng, please come over for breakfast."

Dong Lili had a crush on the Sheng family’s eldest son, Sheng Shijing, but her step-grandmother and Mrs. Sheng did not get along at all.

Sheng Shiwen stared blankly at Dong Lili’s retreating figure. He had liked her since they were children, and she didn’t seem to dislike him, always having a lot to say to him.

He didn’t realize that her fondness for him was simply an extension of her feelings for his brother—the "love me, love my dog" effect. It wasn’t romantic affection.

"Dad, will Mom go to the Dong Family’s house?" asked Third Sheng, who was rather oblivious and didn’t yet understand matters of the heart.

Sheng Shiwen perked up his ears to listen. He also wanted to know, but more than that, he wanted to go to the Dong Family’s house himself.

"Go ask your mother. Tell her the Gu Family is here and ask if she’s going. Also, ask if Xingxing is going."

"Dad, I’ll go see them too. They are my adoptive parents, after all," Sheng Xinglian said, gracefully descending the stairs. She was also wearing a white dress.

Sheng Shiwen thought his sister’s dress wasn’t as becoming as Dong Lili’s, but he kept his opinion to himself.

Mr. Sheng felt a sense of relief upon hearing his daughter’s words. "Then let’s eat breakfast quickly and head over."

In the end, Mrs. Sheng went after all. The Sheng and Dong families had always maintained contact; she just didn’t get along with her cousin.

There was drama to watch, so how could she possibly miss it? Little did she know, the joy she felt now would be matched only by her regret later.

The Dong Family hadn’t split their household. The eldest son’s wife had cooked some white rice congee, while the second son’s wife went out to buy soy milk, fried dough sticks, and buns.

Although the Gu Family was starving, they didn’t eat much. Many of them were ill; only the second son, Gu Jingtai, was healthy.

The eldest Gu son drank a cup of soy milk and ate nothing else. Mrs. Gu only had a little of the white congee.

When Mr. Sheng entered with his children, the Dong Family had just finished their breakfast and were clearing the dishes.

Sheng Xinglian stood between Mr. and Mrs. Sheng, not addressing Old Sir Gu, let alone Mr. and Mrs. Gu.

Mr. Sheng politely greeted Mr. Dong and also expressed his deep gratitude to the Gu Family for taking care of his daughter.

Old Sir Gu politely thanked the Sheng Family in turn for raising Jiaojiao for them.

The two families were chatting harmoniously, but Sheng Xinglian was rolling her eyes so hard they could have seen the sky, a look of utter impatience on her face.

Gu Jingtai seemed to have expected this. Unfazed, he supported his mother, afraid she might faint from anger.

Old Sir Gu glanced at the granddaughter he had raised without much expression. He had weathered far greater storms in his life.

The one who couldn’t bear it was Eldest Brother Gu, Gu Jinghua. He was six years older than Sheng Xinglian.

He had practically raised this younger sister himself, pouring all his affection into her. "Lian’er... have you been well?"

"Who are you? And who gave you the right to call me Lian’er?" Sheng Xinglian didn’t recognize Eldest Brother Gu at all.

Gu Jinghua was so emaciated he was almost unrecognizable. When he had come home on leave from the army, Sheng Xinglian had seen him in his prime, looking distinguished and full of vigor.

"Hua Zai!" Mr. Sheng cried out in alarm.

Gu Jinghua, pushed over the edge by the sister he had raised, fainted. Dong Qihua darted forward to catch his cousin.

It wasn’t time for work or school yet, so everyone was still at home. Dong Qihua carried Gu Jinghua to a recliner.

Doctor Sun had been called over early that morning, as Old Sir Gu and Mrs. Gu were already half-dead to begin with.

Mrs. Gu also fainted from anger at Sheng Xinglian’s words. Pandemonium broke out in the Dong household as Gu Jingtai shot a hateful glare at Sheng Xinglian.

Mr. Sheng felt he had lost a lot of face, and Mrs. Sheng’s cheeks burned with shame. Meanwhile, Sheng Shiwen’s eyes had been glued to Dong Lili ever since he walked in.

Why did Sheng Xinglian show the Gu Family no respect? Because she knew their luck had run out, and they weren’t worth wasting her emotions on.

"Dad, Mom, I’m leaving for school. I only came over to tell the Gu Family one thing: your daughter is Gu Jiaojiao. I have nothing to do with you."

After saying her piece, Sheng Xinglian turned and left without a backward glance, not forgetting to adopt the swaggering, splay-footed gait she associated with city folk.

Gu Jinghua, who had just been revived, was so enraged that he fainted again.