Chapter 618: Chapter 533: Explanation, Part 2

Xiao Man was speechless. ’Did Gu Shaoling really want to upset and annoy me so badly that she’d risk being punished, all just for a moment of satisfaction? And Second Miss Sun... Gu Shaojun had been so cold and resolute, personally snatching that little wooden puppet from her hands and scolding her, saying that taking something without permission was no different from stealing. Wasn’t his attitude clear enough? Yet she still hasn’t given up! Does she really think she’ll get a chance if she just keeps persisting? I really can’t figure them out. I guess people’s minds just work in completely different ways.’

Gu Shaoying, her hands and face now clean, cheerfully ran back and pulled Xiao Man along to see the turtles. Gu Shaoqin smiled as he watched them walk away, then turned to leave himself. He was wrestling with a small problem. ’Shaoling tried to threaten and bribe me into helping her go against Manman. How could I ever do that? Even if Manman and Big Brother weren’t engaged, I could never bring myself to hurt her. And now that I know, I can’t possibly keep it a secret.’

’Second Miss Sun is still in Shaoling’s courtyard right now. Should I tell Granny Gu? Shaoling told me not to, but if I don’t, she’ll just end up getting punished by Grandpa later. Ugh, she’s such a handful!’

After looking at the turtles, Xiao Man and Shaoying headed back. They ran into Sun Meirong by the side gate of the back garden. Xiao Man glanced around briefly but didn’t see Gu Shaoling; Sun Meirong was alone.

Second Miss Sun wore a snow-white dress and white high-heeled shoes. Even the watch on her wrist was silver-white. Set against her long, smooth, raven-black hair that draped over her shoulders, she looked ethereal and otherworldly—a pure and stunning beauty, like a goddess untouched by the mortal world.

Sun Meirong spoke first. "I was waiting specifically for you. Can we talk?"

Xiao Man replied, "It’s almost time for dinner. Let’s talk while we walk, so no one has to come looking for us."

"Just ten minutes. That’s plenty of time," Sun Meirong said.

Xiao Man nodded. "Then be quick about it. The little one can’t wait long."

She said a few soothing words to Shaoying. The little girl blinked her big eyes, glanced at Sun Meirong, then obediently trotted to the side of the pebble path. She crouched down and began parting the grass to search for little ants.

Sun Meirong put on an aggrieved expression. "Do you have some sort of misunderstanding about me? I’m so hurt that you keep targeting me like this! The truth is... I genuinely love Granny Gu, and I love the atmosphere of the Gu family. My brother might have told you, the Sun Family is a big family too, but we don’t have this same feeling. With Granny and Grandpa Gu around, the brothers here are so united and close. Granny Gu is as kind and loving as my own grandmother. From the very first time I visited, I loved it here. It feels more like home to me... As for Shaojun, I only admire him the way a younger sister looks up to her older brother. I have no other intentions. So please, don’t read too much into things. Please don’t think so terribly of me!"

"Are you done? Is it my turn now?" Xiao Man asked, looking at the gentle and delicate Sun Meirong, whose eyes were rimmed with red and looked ready to spill over with tears. ’I’m getting a whole new appreciation for the phrase "don’t judge a book by its cover,"’ she thought. ’How could I have ever mistaken Sun Meirong for some noble, proud, artistic soul? Holy hell, she’s such a dazzling "white lotus" she could blind someone.’

Sun Meirong continued, "You’re my great-grandfather’s last disciple. Our entire family considers you one of our own. You even hold more shares in the company than I do, but I’ve always treated you like a sister and have never said or done anything to you. By the same logic, you shouldn’t be obstructing my relationship with the Gu family."

"Stop! Miss Sun, please explain: How exactly have I been obstructing your relationship with the Gu family?" Xiao Man was starting to get angry. This whole nonsensical speech was exhausting to listen to, and in the end, she was the one being accused.

Sun Meirong lifted her chin to look at her, her eyes full of condemnation. "You haven’t said it outright, but your actions, and your family’s actions, all show your rejection of me. The Gu family and the Tang family were acquainted first, and the Sun Family came later, so of course they have to consider the Tang family’s feelings. Just now, Shaoling even told me you declared, ’It’s either her or me. If she’s here, I’m leaving!’ To make you happy, the Gu family could only ask me to leave. Manman, what gives you the right to be so domineering and rude? What did I, or the Sun Family, ever do to offend you? Don’t you feel the least bit guilty for treating me this way?"

Xiao Man: "..."

’She had so many retorts on the tip of her tongue, but she was so furious she didn’t even know where to start. Now *this* was what it meant to be utterly infuriated!’

Just then, Shaoying got tired of playing by herself and wanted to go back. She ran over and hugged Xiao Man’s leg. Xiao Man patted her back soothingly and sneered:

"Time’s up, so I’ll keep it brief. One, I have never sabotaged or obstructed your relationship with the Gu family or Granny Gu. That line you heard from Shaoling—’It’s either her or me. If she stays, I go’—I absolutely did not say that. Two, I’m not misunderstanding you. You absolutely do have improper designs on Gu Shaojun; there’s no question about it. Three, being able to receive guidance from Imperial Doctor Sun was my own good fortune and has nothing to do with you or the Sun Family. As for why the Sun Group gave me shares, you can go home and ask your father and brother what the real reason is."

After she finished speaking, Xiao Man picked up Shaoying and started to leave, but Sun Meirong grabbed her arm, her face a mask of grief and indignation. "Explain yourself! How do I have ’improper designs’ on Shaojun? That’s slander!"

"Is that so? On your trip to the South, you used the excuse of delivering medicine to the military district to go all the way to Shaojun’s barracks. You doted on him and were constantly by his side. If things had gone your way and Gu Shaojun had returned your feelings, you would have succeeded. Would you still be calling it slander then?"

"You—how could you think that? I was just there to find scenery for my sketches!" Sun Meirong’s face flushed red, then went pale, changing colors like a chameleon.

"Oh, I know. You, the great Miss Sun, had to ’experience life,’ didn’t you? You wanted to wash Shaojun’s clothes and make his bed. Too bad he wasn’t having any of it!"

Sun Meirong’s composure finally broke, and she let go of her arm. Xiao Man, holding Shaoying, walked away without a single look back.

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