The person on the other end of the phone clearly flinched, then came a stream of gentle laughter, obviously overjoyed, "Xiao Er, have you finally come around? Coming around is good, that's Daddy's good child!"
Gu Xiaoer tugged at the corner of her mouth sarcastically, no longer showing any emotional fluctuations. She remained ice-cold to Gu Zhengjin on the other end of the phone: "Daddy, this is the last time I'll call you that, thank you for giving me life, and thank you for raising me. From now on, the Gu Residence, you, and those two people, none of you have anything to do with me anymore..."
"I've always been saddened by why Mom died so young, she was still so young... But now, I actually feel relieved, relieved that Mom didn't have to see what you've become..."
"Where is the address? I can go there by myself."
Gu Zhengjin, at a loss for words, listened to Gu Xiaoer's calm voice, recalling the gentleness and beauty of that young woman, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. He felt something slipping away from him rapidly, eluding his grasp forever.
...
At one in the afternoon, despite her insistence that she would attend, Gu Zhengjin still worried she would change her mind, so he sent a car to pick her up.
Halfway through the journey, the car stopped in front of a high-end beauty salon.
Following Gu Zhengjin's instructions, a stylist had already been prepared to receive Gu Xiaoer.
Gu Xiaoer couldn't help but sneer ironically. She had never seen Gu Zhengjin be so thoughtful before, it was only once he found her useful that he became so meticulously considerate.
After more than two hours of getting ready, only when the stylist exclaimed, "How beautiful!" did Gu Xiaoer realize she had been "made over."
Looking blankly at the reflection in the mirror with her hair styled in a princess updo, her light makeup made her face appear charming and striking. She had a good foundation to begin with, and now, with just a little enhancement, she seemed like a different person.
Such meticulous preparation should satisfy President Wei and his son, shouldn't it?
"Miss Gu, which gown would you like to wear?" A clerk came over, pulling a rack full of dresses, with risqué, sexy, and princess styles all available.
"This one," she indicated with her delicate hand, picking out a black cocktail dress.
The stylist hesitated, having heard that today was supposed to be a joyous occasion for this young lady, she shouldn't be wearing black.
"Miss, the makeup you have on today is more suited to the red palette!"
Gu Xiaoer withdrew her hand and, without looking up, sat down back at the vanity desk, "You all decided already, why bother asking me?"
"This..." The stylist quickly offered a compensatory smile: "Miss Gu has good taste, let's go with the black one." Service workers knew that getting on the wrong side of the client was akin to getting on the wrong side of money—and who would do that!
Arriving at the Haoting Hotel, the parking lot was already filled with numerous vehicles.
Gu Xiaoer hadn't yet gotten out of the car when an attendant came over to guide her.
"Miss Gu, right? Please follow me," the female attendant said with a slight bow, gesturing invitingly.
Despite her confusion, she followed the attendant.
It was not until the attendant led her into a private room, devoid of people, that Gu Xiaoer finally voiced her doubt, "Aren't I supposed to go to the banquet hall?"
As someone set up for an arranged meeting, one certainly shouldn't be in such a place.
Moreover, she was attending today as Gu Zhengjin's youngest daughter, so it stood to reason she should make her entrance with Gu Zhengjin.
The attendant shook her head, puzzled, and with a simple "This is what President Wei instructed," she closed the door to the private room on Gu Xiaoer.
On the second floor of the Haoting Hotel, a lavish feast was about to begin. Although all the guests were aware that tonight's protagonist was a fool, who could ignore such a character when her father was a formidable figure, and especially since Shenghan was also sending representatives over?
This was an excellent opportunity to curry favor with influential figures, and nobody wanted to miss out.
In a corner of the hall, Wei Feng finally squeezed his way through the layers of people crowding around him and found a quiet spot to call Han Luoli.
"Boss, I just went upstairs and I think I saw Miss Gu."