"A bad reputation?" Lin Chuxia could not understand, how did her admission to a university have anything to do with the An Family's reputation?
"Yeah, if you only get into a third-tier, bottom-of-the-list school, how do you expect others to look at Mom and Dad?" An Mingzhu said.
"Heh, so you think they would be proud if I repeated a year?" Lin Chuxia was amazed by An Mingzhu's twisted logic. What's wrong with third-tier universities, did they offend her in some way?
Going to university is the same for everyone, why should I be considered honorable if I get into a top university, but a disgrace if I go to a third-tier one?
"Chuxia, if you don't want to repeat the year, then don't. Worst comes to worst, Mom and Dad can just pay to get you into a better school. That would be better for you too." After saying this, An Mingzhu's eyes suddenly sparkled as she turned to Xie Jinya, "Mom, why don't you talk to Dad about it? I think it's a great idea."
Given the An Family's situation, even if they paid for Lin Chuxia to attend a university, it wouldn't be a very good one. And because of this matter, Xie Jinya and An Guosheng would lose face; after all, having such a useless daughter who couldn't even get into university would definitely worsen their impression of Lin Chuxia.
"There's no need. I have already received the admission notice," Lin Chuxia said coldly, not waiting for Xie Jinya to speak. "The school I've been accepted into was my own choice, and I'm very satisfied with it, so I won't bother you."
"Chuxia, you've already got the admission notice?" Upon hearing this, An Mingzhu was stunned. She initially thought Lin Chuxia couldn't even get into a vocational college. It seemed that she got accepted into one?
Lin Chuxia frowned, "What, are you unhappy that I received the admission notice?"
An Mingzhu quickly realized that her expression was inappropriate and hastily said, "No, no, no, Chuxia, you've misunderstood me. I was just so happy that I froze for a moment. I'm truly happy for you... Chuxia, can you please not always think so badly of me? I genuinely love you like a real sister."
"Don't even! This whole 'loving me like a real sister' thing, forget about it. I'd be grateful if you could just stop showing me that 'you've bullied me but I dare not speak up' pitiful face." Lin Chuxia rolled her eyes at An Mingzhu, picked up the last steamed bun on the plate, and walked away while eating.
An Mingzhu's expression froze instantly, her face alternating between red and white, which looked rather amusing.
"She's like an ungrateful dog biting Lu Dongbin without recognizing the kind heart!" Xie Jinya snorted, and then turned to An Mingzhu with a gentle voice, "Mingzhu, don't mind that girl. She can go to whatever school she likes!"
For Xie Jinya, the fact that Lin Chuxia was not willing to go to a good school was somewhat a relief.
With Lin Chuxia's grades, it would cost them millions to get her into a good school, money Xie Jinya had no intention of spending on Lin Chuxia!
With that extra money, she'd rather buy more pretty clothes and high-quality skincare for herself and her precious daughter!
"Mom, I'm just a bit sad. I didn't expect Chuxia to hate me so much. I genuinely like her and treat her like a sister. Maybe Chuxia thinks I stole her place and the love of our parents, and that's why she resents me so much and targets me. I don't blame her..."
An Mingzhu covered her face, looking truly pained, "I really don't blame her at all. But Mom, it does hurt. I was young too, I didn't understand anything. If I could, I wish I'd never been switched at birth, then Chuxia wouldn't hate me so much... Actually, it doesn't matter if Chuxia doesn't like me, but what I can't stand is that she doesn't really care for you and Dad, and even resents you for having lost her back then..."
The words at the beginning weren't so bad, but what An Mingzhu said next caused Xie Jinya's face to abruptly change, "That damn girl... she never should have been acknowledged as part of the family in the first place!"
Seeing this, An Mingzhu did not hesitate to add fuel to the fire, "Mom, when Chuxia and I were swapped at birth, it was against your will too. You even suffered so much because of it back then. Chuxia doesn't care about you, but how could she blame you guys for that..."
Xie Jinya's face turned extremely ugly, "That damn girl, truly an ingrate she is! Luckily mom has you. In this lifetime, I will only recognize you as my daughter."
"But, mom, it's Chuxia who is related to you by blood, the two of you are the real mother and daughter..."
"What does that matter? Have you ever seen a daughter who is so disrespectful to her own mother? Does she even consider me her mother at all?" Xie Jinya said through gritted teeth.
"But I've always felt inferior to Chuxia because I am not mom and dad's biological daughter. Recently, I've been thinking that it would be so much better if I were the one related by blood to mom..."
"What are you talking about? How can that ungrateful brat compare to you? Look at you, well-read and mannered, becoming famous with a book right after graduating high school. And ever since you were young, you've excelled in both dance and piano; how can she compare to that?"
"But all that is useless, the fact remains that I am not mom's biological daughter, and Chuxia crushes me with just that point alone. I really envy Chuxia, oh how I wish I were the biological daughter of mom and dad..."
"Nonsense, you are your parents' biological daughter! You're my only daughter, as for the rest, I don't acknowledge them!" Xie Jinya took quite a while to console An Mingzhu.
"Thank you, mom." An Mingzhu lifted her head from Xie Jinya's arms and wiped away her tears, "Right, I was just so upset just now I forgot to ask. Which university did Chuxia get accepted to? Mom, which university do you think Chuxia got into?"
"Definitely not any good school. Don't worry about her, she's an embarrassment!"
Xie Jinya didn't want to talk about Lin Chuxia, and just as well An Mingzhu wasn't keen on her either, so they quickly moved on and happily chatted about the latest fashion and jewelry...
Having left the An Family residence, Lin Chuxia hailed a car and went straight to Jincheng's largest home decor market.
At that moment, Gu Yuheng was in a meeting with a group of executives. The meeting was reaching its climax when suddenly, a piercingly clear cellphone ringtone "ding-dong" sounded abruptly.
Instantly, the once somewhat noisy conference room fell silent as a grave.
Who on earth was it? Didn't they know phones should be turned off during a meeting? Having been at Gu Group for so long, how could they not know that President Gu hated it most when people played with their phones during meetings?
Everyone exchanged nervous glances, all stiffened up, daring not to move a muscle. They tried hard to recall whether they had shut off their phones before entering the meeting room, and if they had, whether it was possible that it hadn't been done properly and had turned back on...