Chapter 193: Stupid and Vile, Get Out of My Old Mansion

For the past few years, Wang Shufen had been far too arrogant and domineering. She hadn’t used the tactics that helped her climb the social ladder in a long, long time.

’Playing the victim is far more effective than throwing a hysterical fit. Her husband used to be annoyed with her, but isn’t he on her side now?’ Wang Shufen gloated internally.

But on the surface, she was shedding tears for Second Master Lu.

At this, Second Master Lu’s heart ached for her. "Mom, Shufen’s here. I’ll bring her over. She must have had a rough day."

Mrs. Lu Sr. said nothing, simply placing a piece of food on Shengsheng’s plate. "The chef at the old residence is from Chuanxi. His cooking is excellent. How about we bring him over to the courtyard house next time?"

"Sounds great." Gu Shengsheng nodded. The food was indeed delicious.

Just then, Wang Shufen, who was now seated, said, "Mother, are there any other chefs you like? I can have someone hire them for you."

"I was too focused on fighting and competing before, and I neglected many things. Now, I just want to treat you all well. After all, we’re a family."

Second Master Lu chimed in, "It’s true. Shufen has really changed a lot recently. She’s become the gentle and charming woman she was when we first got married."

"With Chaoyang’s recent troubles and the major crisis at the Lu Group, all of us have been scrambling to help. We wanted to ask you over to discuss it, but Shufen said she’d rather jump off a building than bother you."

A look of alarm crossed Mrs. Lu Sr.’s face. ’Just how terrifying is it when a hysterical shrew suddenly has a complete change in personality...?’

Mrs. Lu Sr. stopped holding back. Seeing her foolish son defending his wife, she snapped, "This is how she manipulated you when she was the other woman, isn’t it?"

"A dog can’t be taught not to eat filth. Now she just has to crook her finger, and you go crawling back. I have nothing more to say to a fool like you."

"Mother!" Second Master Lu’s eyes were red. "When Big Brother was alive, you let him make all the decisions. Then it was Shi Jing. As your second son, when will I ever earn your favor?"

Wang Shufen quickly grabbed his hand. "Don’t talk about this right now..."

"There’s an outsider present. Don’t give her a reason to laugh at our expense," she said, shooting a look at Gu Shengsheng.

She was making sure her husband noticed.

Gu Shengsheng smiled. ’It’s only been a few days, but Second Madam Lu has gotten smarter. She’s learned how to use others as her weapon.’

Following her lead, Second Master Lu looked at Gu Shengsheng and said, "See? Now Mother would rather live outside with an outsider than come home. My wife and I are being branded as unfilial. I can’t go on living like this."

Mrs. Lu Sr. remained surprisingly calm. "Then what is it you want?" she asked.

She then glanced at Wang Shufen with a cold smile. "Or rather, what have the two of you schemed up to force me to do?"

’First the threat of jumping off a building, then this whole act, and now they’re using our mother-son bond as a weapon. They must be after something.’

Second Master Lu said nothing, merely looking toward his wife.

Sure enough, Second Madam Lu said, "Lately, we’ve been running around everywhere looking for help. The Lu Group is truly at the end of its rope."

"But this is the legacy Shi Jing left behind. If it all falls apart on Chaoyang’s watch, won’t our family be condemned for eternity?"

"Shengsheng is Shi Jing’s wife, after all. Shi Jing’s company is about to go under, and she’s so capable now. I heard she makes more in a single day than a large corporation’s entire revenue."

At this point, she hesitated before continuing, "So, we’ve all decided... to use Gu Shengsheng’s money as working capital for now..."

Before she could finish, Mrs. Lu Sr. slapped her across the face. "Say that again?"

Tears streamed down Wang Shufen’s face as she put on an expression of extreme forbearance. "Mother! Even if you don’t agree, I have to say it. For the past few years, haven’t you, Sister-in-law, and Big Brother all been living off the money Chaoyang earned?"

"So why can’t we have this outsider chip in to bail us out?"

Mrs. Lu Sr. slapped her again, this time knocking her to the floor. Wang Shufen trembled with rage. ’I can’t believe this old hag is so strong!’

Mrs. Lu Sr. pointed at her, livid. She looked at Second Master Lu, who was shielding her, and demanded, "You’re really going to protect her?"

"Mother, Shufen isn’t wrong. You and Sister-in-law have both gone mad. Why are you so good to an outsider, while you treat us like your enemies?"

"Because you’re not worthy!" Mrs. Lu Sr. cursed. "Look at you! Do you have any of the dignity I had at your age? You understand nothing. You were led astray by a homewrecking vixen when you were young. You cheated on your ex-wife. I thought you had changed over the past few years."

"But it turns out it was just because you’d grown tired of Wang Shufen. Now that she’s acting all delicate and dependent again, you’ve completely lost your mind!"

"Mother..." he tried to interject.

But Mrs. Lu Sr. shouted him down. "Shut up!"

"I have no son like you. My whole life, I’ve lived with integrity. You are my disgrace. Don’t you understand that?"

"Get out. This old residence is my home. Take your wife and get out. Don’t even think about targeting Shengsheng."

At this, Wang Shufen looked at Gu Shengsheng, her face full of hatred. "I really don’t know what’s so great about this Gu Shengsheng."

"You’d abandon your own family’s company for someone like her? Besides, as Lu Shijing’s wife, Gu Shengsheng is all tangled up with that Ryan. Ryan is the one trying to take over our company! Is it possible Gu Shengsheng planned this whole thing?"

Gu Shengsheng looked at her with pity. "You’re always so focused on analyzing everyone else. Why not take a look at yourself for a change?"

"The company isn’t being stolen. It’s failing because your son is incompetent. He was handed immense wealth and a fantastic foundation, but his lack of ability means it will all come to nothing."

"To put it simply, he’s pathetic."

"Incompetent," Gu Shengsheng said, looking at her. "And it’s not just your son who’s incompetent. The way you are now... you and your husband are incompetent, too."

Gu Shengsheng looked at her with a pitying gaze. "You know, the limitations of one’s social class are the hardest to overcome. Look at you. Even after all this time, you’re still just the other woman."

"Do you know why you feel like everyone around you treats you badly? It’s because you’re not in the same class as them. You’re too shameless. You have your limitations. You’re fundamentally incapable of understanding."

This patient explanation only enraged Wang Shufen, who shot to her feet and lunged at Gu Shengsheng.

’Right now, all she wanted to do was hit someone, to completely lose it!’

Gu Shengsheng dodged effortlessly while continuing to taunt her. "Look at you. After all those years of pretending to be so cultured, this is what you resort to?"

"How pathetic."

Even Mrs. Lu Sr. was a little surprised. ’This child, Shengsheng, is so young, yet her words are so venomous.’

’They stabbed right where it hurt. Still, for a person like that, it was exactly what she deserved to hear.’