Rebirth: She is Ready for a Counterattack!-Chapter 344 - 343: Fang Shaonan’s Hope

Gu Xiaoqing was chatting with Fang Shaonan while eating, but by this stage, she no longer needed help; everything else had been taken over by the groom’s side.

Gu Xiaoying was also busy shuttling between the banquet tables, accompanied throughout by Liu Ming, the groom, making Xiaoqing feel the ceremony was perfect.

The team members from Liu Ming’s brigade were quite talented; the host’s eloquence could easily rival that of many future wedding company hosts, skillfully setting the tone, making the ceremony innovative, and giving Liu Ming’s parents a lot of face.

After finishing the meal, she bid farewell to Gu Xiaoying. From today onwards, happiness belongs to someone else’s family.

Fang Shaonan drove Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaojie home.

Fang Shaonan drove the car himself.

The car was bought as soon as he returned; it was a Buick, an imported car.

First, he opened the back door to let Gu Xiaojie in, then opened the passenger door for Gu Xiaoqing, who initially wanted to sit in the back with Gu Xiaojie.

But seeing this, she didn’t insist.

She could tell Fang Shaonan had something to say to her, and she touched the necklace in her purse, the gift Fang Shaonan had given her.

She had never found the right opportunity to return it to Fang Shaonan; it had always been in her purse for a good moment to give it back.

The car drove smoothly, with Gu Xiaojie playing games on his handheld console in the back seat. At fourteen, he’d grown over one meter seventy, resembling a young man.

However, his playful nature was still evident; fortunately, he excelled academically, not needing much supervision from Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei, always ranking in the top three in his class. Thus, the family adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards his gaming.

Fang Shaonan glanced at Gu Xiaojie through the rearview mirror; the boy was immersed, fully focused on his game. The console was one he had brought back from the United States—a cartridge-based system popular with boys.

"Xiaoqing, you have a year and a half until graduation. Do you have any plans? Will you stay in Shanghai, or come back here?"

Fang Shaonan was about to start work and hoped to be in the same place as Gu Xiaoqing. If she stayed in Shanghai, it would be far too distant to pursue a relationship realistically.

Just like the distance between the United States and China, any intention would be hard to realize.

Gazing at the swiftly passing scenery outside the car window, Gu Xiaoqing casually said, "I plan to stay in Shanghai. I have my own business there now, so it feels like a familiar place where I’d like to strive."

This has always been Gu Xiaoqing’s plan.

The branch of the milk tea shop and future chain stores were already on track. The company has been registered, the office is fully operational, and the employees are mostly her university classmates, making it unlikely for Gu Xiaoqing to return any time soon.

Fang Shaonan felt a bit disappointed; this was different from his expectations.

His parents had arranged a position in the city’s military unit, as Fang Shaonan had been a military school student, with all procedures linked to the army, fulfilling all the criteria and not considered favoritism.

Because of his foreign credentials, Fang Shaonan could directly enter the ranks of middle-level leaders in the military, now holding the rank of a battalion commander.

Fang Shaonan really wanted to be with Gu Xiaoqing, but he couldn’t abandon his work to chase her to Shanghai.

The military life was his preferred path and career, a lifelong choice.

Hence, the feeling of disappointment was understandable.

"Why don’t you want to come back? After all, you have family here, and your parents hope you’ll return."

Fang Shaonan attempted to persuade her. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Gu Xiaoqing was surprised, not expecting Shaonan to say this.

"My business there is stable now; I can’t leave it just for family and come back. As for our family’s business, I’ve never considered it mine. I prefer pursuing my own independent career unrelated to family matters. Everything here will belong to my sister and brother; I’ve never had the intention to compete with them."

Xiaoqing spoke truthfully; after the incident involving Gu Xiaoying and Shang Wenming, she’d thought about it for a long time.

Gu Xiaoying’s resentment and complaints, including the instigation and ultimately the betrayal many saw as her sister being unreliable, were seen by many as her being an ungrateful white-eyed wolf.

But Xiaoqing felt there was a rationale.

Everyone has ambitions.

If a person never has demands for their life, living comfortably under others’ arrangements, how is that possible? Unless they’re a fool.

Real people change with time and environment, with ambitions gradually revealing themselves. Without ambition, desire, or change, it’s impossible.

However, people differ; some, driven by ambition, might hurt others or even themselves for it.

But others have limits and boundaries, affecting how they conduct themselves and the outcomes they achieve.

Xiaoqing understood that her sister, Gu Xiaoying, wasn’t bad; she wouldn’t really harm the family for anything without a limit.

"Xiaoqing, I wish you’d come back here for me; is that not possible?"

Fang Shaonan hopefully said.

He wasn’t sure if he mattered enough to Gu Xiaoqing to change her mind.

Gu Xiaoqing brushed aside a lock of black hair from her eyes, "Fang Shaonan, we’re childhood friends. I feel friendship for you, nothing more. I hope you feel the same."

She wasn’t unaware of Fang Shaonan’s feelings, but like Fang Shaohan, Shaonan wasn’t her type. Fang Shaohan stirred some emotions, but Shaonan only shared friendly affection.

This rejection didn’t bring any psychological burden.

She took the necklace from her purse and hung it on Shaonan’s car’s rearview mirror.

The gently swinging necklace sparkled brilliantly in the air.

Fang Shaonan was speechless.