Chapter 3: Hospital, Argument

Haicheng.

Hospital.

The mid-August weather was scorching, heat wave after heat wave rolling in, yet none could drown out the arguing inside Room 107.

"Zhang Xiuli, what do you mean? Didn't we agree earlier that you'd raise Gu Zhiji and I'd raise Gu Cheng'an? What are you pulling now?" The woman's voice was cold, her suppressed tone laced with anger, but mostly indifference.

"She's Gu Bo's daughter. If you don't raise her, who will?" Zhang Xiuli carried a designer handbag, wore various precious jewelry, and sported meticulously permed curls. She didn't look at Tang Yun, instead bowing her head slightly to examine her freshly done nails, her tone thoroughly cutting and cold, her attitude even more indifferent than Tang Yun's.

"She's Gu Bo's daughter, but isn't she yours too?" Compared to Zhang Xiuli, Tang Yun dressed much more plainly. Her clothes were wrinkled, washed to a faded white, her appearance ordinary, her complexion somewhat sallow, exhaustion written across her brow, yet she still forced herself to rally.

"Previously, Gu Xiyue's guardians were you and Gu Bo. Now that Gu Xiyue has returned to the Gu family, Gu Zhiji's guardians should be you and Gu Bo as well." Zhang Xiuli's expression didn't change, her attitude firm. Plainly put, she simply refused to raise Gu Zhiji.

"Is she your daughter or mine? Why should I raise her?" Tang Yun grew increasingly angry, hands at her sides clutching her clothes, tightening and tightening. "You clearly know Gu Bo's current situation, yet you still dump Gu Zhiji on me. Do you have a conscience? That's your biological daughter."

Hearing Tang Yun's words, a flash of impatience crossed Zhang Xiuli's brow. "Regardless, I'm not raising her. She's Gu Bo's daughter, you're Gu Bo's wife now, so you should raise her. If you won't, fine, let her go back to the Gu family."

"You... you clearly know the Gu family already..."

Gu Zhiji being kicked out by the Gu family wasn't a secret in Haicheng.

Though neither Zhang Xiuli nor Tang Yun were from Haicheng, the Gu family had long since called to notify them to come collect her.

The previous few times, both sides had found excuses to delay.

But this time, the Gu family had issued a final ultimatum: whoever it was, within three days, the person had to be picked up.

And today happened to be the third day.

Hearing Tang Yun's words, Zhang Xiuli's expression remained cold, not the slightest intention of yielding.

She and Gu Bo had been divorced for five years. When she remarried back then, she hadn't even taken her own biological son. Now... why would she raise a Gu Zhiji?

If Gu Zhiji were obedient and well-behaved, it might be different. After all, she was a daughter meticulously raised by a prestigious family like the Gu's. Not to mention she'd learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, just that face alone—standing there like a vase—could secure her considerable value.

When she first learned of the swapped children, she had indeed wanted to take her to the Yu family.

But she was too much trouble.

Even the Gu family couldn't control her.

A daughter like that, she couldn't afford.

Seeing Zhang Xiuli's attitude, Tang Yun understood her meaning. But Gu Zhiji—she didn't want to raise her either. She wasn't her biological daughter, and her family's current situation meant even an extra pair of chopsticks was a burden.

Gu Zhiji's notorious reputation had spread all the way to Yueqi Village. She had no time to serve a spoiled young miss.

"In that case, let Gu Zhiji choose for herself." Tang Yun gritted her teeth, addressing Zhang Xiuli coldly.

After divorcing Gu Bo, Zhang Xiuli had turned around and married into a prestigious family in Yan City.

As long as Gu Zhiji was smart, given her personality, she'd definitely choose Zhang Xiuli.

Hearing Tang Yun's words, Zhang Xiuli's face cooled at a visible speed. Clearly, her thinking aligned with Tang Yun's—she was certain Gu Zhiji would choose her.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept staying at the Gu family all this time.

"Let her choose? Her choice is useless. I won't raise her."

Tang Yun, hearing this, stopped caring. She ignored Zhang Xiuli—once the person in the bed woke up, she'd let her choose.

But as she turned, she discovered.

The girl on the bed had woken up at some unknown time.

(End of Chapter)