Gu Xichen felt his father's thinking was far too simplistic. "That's because you've never met her in person. If you had, I'm not sure she wouldn't tear you to shreds with words alone. But if you insist on giving it a try, go ahead and invite her yourself. I won't be the one to ask."
"Then call her to the house," his father replied. "Tell her I wish to see her."
Gu Xichen hesitated. "She wants nothing to do with me. I can't be sure she'll come—but I'll give her a call."
He pulled out his phone and dialed Gu Lili. He briefly stated that Gu's father wished to meet her. To his surprise, she agreed.
So the family simply waited for her arrival.
"Xichen," Gu's mother said with a smile, "I heard you've broken up with your girlfriend. You're at the age to settle down—shall I arrange a few introductions to some fine young ladies from respectable families?"
"No need," he said coolly. "I'll choose my own woman."
She nodded with approval. "Very well. Choose one you truly like."
…
Gu Lili arrived shortly after half past two.
She wore a pleated skirt, a soft knit top, and a shawl draped gracefully over her shoulders. On her feet were striking crimson heels, and a delicate handbag hung from her arm.
Tang Qingli personally escorted her into the Gu residence.
As the pair entered the drawing room, their eyes swept over the three members of the Gu family seated within.
For a moment, all three were stunned by her presence—until Gu's father was the first to recover. He stood up quickly, gesturing warmly. "Ah, Lili, you've come. Please, have a seat."
Madam Gu smiled graciously and called to the servants, "Quickly—serve the tea."
Only Gu Xichen remained seated, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her.
Gu Lili handed her purse to Tang Qingli, adjusted the shawl on her shoulders, and moved forward with unhurried elegance. She crossed one leg over the other as she sat down and spoke with poised sarcasm, "I heard Master Gu wanted to see me. I'm curious what pressing matter could compel such a busy man to meet with an idle drifter like me?"
There was reason behind her deliberate use of the term "idle drifter."
First, it was a fact—she was indeed unemployed.
Second, during her engagement to Gu Xichen, Gu's father had voiced strong objections, and in a phone call with her master, he had scornfully referred to her as just that: a jobless nobody.
Angered at the time, she had told her master she would rather break off the engagement than force it—Gu Xichen was hardly irreplaceable.
But her master had insisted on the match.
Whether Gu's father recalled this, one could not say—but an awkward smile crossed his face. "How can you call yourself a drifter? You are the wife of Long Yubei, the young madam of the Long family. That title alone is more than most could dream of."
"Then let's not waste time. Say what you came to say."
"Lili," he began, "now that your master has passed and you stand alone without any family, the Gu family would be honored to become your kin. What do you think of that?"
"There are plenty of orphans in this world without a family—why don't the Gu family offer to adopt them?" Her voice sharpened. "And if you dare say this is out of respect for my master, I will slap that face of yours until it's crooked. Now that you realize I am the Long family's daughter-in-law, you suddenly want to claim kinship? What are you thinking? Did your brain fall off and get chewed by dogs?"
But Gu's father, thick-skinned and seasoned by the years, remained composed. "It's merely a suggestion. If you agree, well and good. If not, there's no harm done. But the Gu family is no obscure household. With us at your back, no one would dare call you some nameless mountain girl—you'd be known as a distinguished lady of the Gu family."
Gu Lili let out a low chuckle. "My apologies, but I'd rather remain a nameless mountain girl than become some manufactured heiress of yours. I bear the Gu surname because my master did, not because of your so-called family. If you think I'll call a man who abandoned his wife 'father,' you'd better bring me a ladder—because I'd need one hell of a step to stoop that low."