Campus Ace Girl-Chapter 331 - 332: Great! We, the Bo Family, will not participate in this banquet this time.
He turned around and tugged the little girl’s ear. "You started acting wild as soon as we got to the hospital, and you call yourself a patient’s angel!"
"Fang Ming was just complimenting me," Gu Anxi grinned.
The assistant nurse beside them couldn’t help but chime in, "Young Master Fang is usually a difficult patient to care for, but today he hasn’t been picky at all. He has been entirely cooperative."
Dr. Bo glanced at Gu Anxi, his gaze icy.
Only then did Gu Anxi sense that something was amiss. Realizing she was about to be severely scolded, she quickly begged for mercy. He only relented when she quietly promised not to misbehave again.
She nestled into his arms and cooed, "Little Uncle, you’re so kind."
He chuckled, patting her small head. "Only because you’re our family’s little one."
She quietly leaned against his chest...
The New Year was approaching, and the Bo Family finally received the invitation. As expected, Gu Anxi was not included. Tang Yuan personally delivered the invitation to Si Garden, and Lady Bo received her.
As host and guest took their seats, Lady Bo casually flipped through the invitation before stating, "I will discuss this with Nian Yao, but Tang Yuan, we may not have time to spare this year."
Tang Yuan smiled. "Is there anything particularly important happening?"
Lady Bo sipped her tea. "We have a new child in our family; it’s very busy. Xichen needs to visit Anxi’s family in Qingcheng. When he returns, our home will inevitably be lively with celebrations. If a child who has just joined our family is neglected, wouldn’t her parents think the Bo Family lacks courtesy?"
The subtext in these words was an admonishment. Tang Yuan was momentarily taken aback, unable to compose a proper response.
Her decision not to invite Gu Anxi had taken a lot of contemplation. After all, that girl wasn’t particularly close to her, nor did she have a good relationship with Mingzhu. Bringing her back into the family fold felt more like a burden. Furthermore, Mingzhu’s movie was entering the casting stage. Although Chu Ci wouldn’t be in it, they had managed to cast an accomplished actress and an A-list male star. Director Nie had said the film was projected to make at least a billion. With all this, Gu Anxi was no longer that important. It took quite a bit of persuasion from Tang Yuan before Gu Yuanshan finally agreed. At this point, she knew Lady Bo would be upset, but Tang Yuan still harbored her own selfish intentions. She couldn’t allow Gu Anxi to steal Mingzhu’s limelight before the movie was released.
Tang Yuan smiled faintly. "I know you’ll have objections to me not inviting Anxi. But wouldn’t it be more appropriate for her to attend after she and Xichen are married?"
Lady Bo smiled indifferently, "A well-thought-out plan, befitting the famous Mrs. Gu of Beicheng."
Tang Yuan smiled. "We look forward to the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Bo at that time."
Lady Bo didn’t beat around the bush. "Everyone wants to spoil our little girl. We don’t want her to feel the slightest bit wronged. Mrs. Gu, the Bo Family appreciates your good intentions."
She paused, her tone growing colder. "As for this banquet, the Bo Family will not be attending."
Tang Yuan remained composed, "Is Mr. Bo of the same opinion?"
Lady Bo smirked. "A husband and wife should be of one mind."
Tang Yuan was somewhat startled.
Lady Bo continued, "If the Family Head and his wife cannot act in unity, their family’s decline isn’t far off. Tang Yuan, you should focus more on the Gu family’s interests rather than your personal prestige and self-interest. I’ve said my piece. You should think it over carefully."
Tang Yuan felt deeply insulted. She hadn’t expected Lady Bo to dare speak to her so harshly to her face.
But Lady Bo certainly dared!
She was the First Lady of Beicheng, General Lin’s legitimate daughter from a powerful maternal family. And Tang Yuan? What was she, really? Wasn’t she just a secretary who had used her looks to climb into Gu Yuanshan’s bed? Did she think that becoming Mrs. Gu and undergoing a supposed transformation made her superior? In her, Lin Yun’s, eyes, Tang Yuan would always be an embarrassment, someone who couldn’t be presented in polite society. Moreover, she had cruelly abandoned her own child, Anxi, which made Tang Yuan even more detestable.
After Lady Bo’s stern words, Tang Yuan managed a forced smile and excused herself.
After leaving the Bo residence, sitting in her car, she thought, ’At worst, the Jiang family and the Chu family will still attend.’ As long as the Gu family benefits... Once this idea took root, it became all-consuming. She later mentioned it to Gu Yuanshan when she returned home.
Gu Yuanshan paced back and forth in his study. When he finally stopped, his eyes burned with resolve. "The Bo Family always thinks they’re the number one family in Beicheng. It’s time we showed them the Gu family’s strength!"
Tang Yuan smiled. "I was thinking the same thing, Yuanshan. Besides, I don’t believe they’d really skip such a grand event just because of one child. There’s no precedent for them missing it."
Gu Yuanshan nodded. "Exactly! I don’t believe they can remain stubborn until the end."
He said to his wife in private, "Since that child is unwilling to return, we can’t force her. Who knows what kind of trouble would arise then?"
Tang Yuan was about to speak when Gu Ning, leaning against the doorframe, sneered, "Big Brother, you’re like that foolish king, completely bewitched by his Daji. You believe anything she says? The Bo Family wouldn’t dare refuse to come? What kind of nonsense is that? That’s a new one on me. I’ve only ever heard that no one in Beicheng dares to disrespect the Bo Family; I’ve never heard of the Bo Family not daring to disrespect someone else! Big Brother, have you not been sleeping well lately? You’re daydreaming in broad daylight!"
Gu Yuanshan reprimanded his sister, "Your sister-in-law and I discussed this and agreed! Why must you always target her?"
Gu Ning walked in. "Isn’t it perfectly understandable that Anxi refuses to acknowledge you? You’re planning this banquet clearly to isolate her. Is that how parents should behave? If you want to make amends, you can. Invite her openly and generously, without expecting any benefits from Anxi. Sincerely apologize. People aren’t unfeeling. Given time, Anxi might accept you. But you two! Before you’ve even tried to reconcile, you’re already scheming for advantages. The moment you see no benefits, you try to crush her... It’s truly been an eye-opener for me!"
