The Heiress's Game

Gu Yunjin stayed at the Gu family's old house for two months and met Gu Zhenxing twice.

One was the welcome dinner on the day I returned, and the other was a chance encounter in the corridor. Gu Zhenxing had just come out of the elevator when she called out "Dad." Gu Zhenxing glanced at her, nodded, and said, "You're back. Have you eaten?"

Before she could answer, his phone rang. He picked it up and walked past her, his voice becoming light and gentle as he reached the end of the corridor—"Teacher Zhu, what brings you here to call me today?"

She stood at the top of the stairs, listening to her father's footsteps and laughter disappear around the corner of the corridor. She paused for a few seconds, then continued downstairs to eat breakfast.

Two months, two opportunities to meet.

She chose to live at the Gu family home because, frankly, she figured it was Gu Zhenxing's stronghold, and if she appeared in front of him a few more times, she could eventually build some father-daughter bond.

But she soon discovered that this idea was wildly wrong.

Gu Zhenxing rarely comes back to the Gu family home; he has too many homes.

His apartment in the city center was next to the group's headquarters, and he would sleep there when he worked late.

His penthouse suite at the Zhenxing Medical Center has his designated bedroom, where he spends the night after each anti-aging treatment.

There is a private villa at the suburban golf club, and Zhao always stays until the very end after every gathering.

These "homes" are scattered across different locations in the city, and the Gu family's old house is just one of them—and the one they return to the least.

Relatively speaking, the Gu family did not mistreat her materially. In the second week after she returned to China, Gu Zhenxing had his secretary deliver several property documents to her—a two-bedroom hotel-style apartment in the city center and a townhouse in the suburbs, both of which were already registered under the name of Gu's Real Estate, and the transfer procedures were completed quickly.

Wang Manyun smiled and said, "Your dad loves you. He specially picked out these outfits for you."

Gu Yunjin took the document and obediently said thank you, Dad.

She knew this wasn't affection, but standard equipment—Gu Mingcheng owned over a dozen properties, and Gu Mingyue had five before marriage. The two properties given to her were the minimum required for the status of "Second Miss of the Gu Family," no more, no less, just enough to shut up outsiders.

As for her allowance, ever since the day she went abroad, the Gu family office's financial system has automatically deposited a sum of money into her account every month, and it has always been a six-figure sum.

She never asked how the figure was determined, because she had checked Gu Mingyue's monthly credit limit, which was much higher than hers. But she didn't care.

She wanted to move out. This idea had been swirling in her mind for almost a month, not because she felt stifled, but because it was so inefficient.

She spends too much time performing every day, while the things that really need to be done are left until late at night.

If she continues to live like this, not only will the Gu family discover her true strength, but she herself will be slowed down.

She needed a place of her own, and Gu Yunjin had already thought of a place.

It was the piece of land her mother left her.

The land was purchased by Su Wanning after her divorce. After Su Wanning passed away, the right to inherit the land fell to Gu Yunjin without any dispute—she was Su Wanning's only daughter, and there was no other legal candidate for the distribution of the inheritance.

The subsequent inheritance procedures, property transfer, and annual land use tax were all handled by the Gu family's family affairs management office and placed under Gu Yunjin's name.

For twelve years, nobody has really cared about this land.

So when the construction team drove the first pile into the ground, and when the house built according to the blueprints drawn by the designer that Su Wanning had asked was finally completed, no news reached the Gu family's old residence.

Even if they knew, they wouldn't care.

Two osmanthus trees were planted on that plot of land, one in front of the east wing and the other next to the hanging flower gate.

The natural wood swing can seat two people. The bedroom window faces south, and in winter the sunlight shines on the blankets, just like the one Su Wanning wrote on the draft paper back then.

Gu Yunjin chose a day when Wang Manyun was in a good mood.

Wang Manyun sat on the sofa in the living room, flipping through an auction house catalog, with a freshly brewed cup of Longjing tea beside her.

Gu Yunjin sat down on the sofa next to her.

"Mom, I want to move out."

Wang Manyun paused in her page-turning motion, looked up, put down the catalog, and turned her body slightly to the side.

Her expression shifted quickly—first surprise, then concern, and finally a softened displeasure, as if she had been hurt by her stepdaughter's words.

"What's wrong? Are you not comfortable staying here? Is the house too big and you feel stuffy?"

Or you could invite some friends out—you mentioned last time that Sister Mingyue invited you over, but you never seem to go as often as before?

"No, Mom." Gu Yunjin's voice was still that obedient tone.

"It's very nice here, and you've been especially kind to me. I'm just used to living alone abroad."

I've been back for two months now; I can't live at home forever. I'm not going to work or school; I need to have my own rhythm of life.

Wang Manyun looked at her, already making plans in her mind.

Moving out is a good idea.

She lives here, and I have to keep an eye on her every move. Gu Mingxuan is only twelve years old. I'm already too busy taking care of my son every day, so I also have to spare some energy to play the role of a good stepmother.

It's good that she's leaving.

"It's not easy to explain to your dad. You've only been back for two months and you want to move out again. What will your relatives and friends think when they find out?"

People who don't know better will think it's because I, as your stepmother, can't tolerate you. How can I face anyone if word gets out?

Besides, the old house is so big, it's not like you're missing a room. You can stay in your room, it doesn't bother anyone else.

"I'll go talk to Dad myself," Gu Yunjin said.

Wang Manyun glanced at her, picked up the auction catalog, and turned a page.

"That's fine. You're used to living alone abroad, so it's a bit restrictive for you to stay here all the time when you come back."

"Your dad is the kind of person who responds better to gentle persuasion than force; you know what to say."

Her tone became lighter, and she even offered suggestions before looking down at the catalog and waving her hand.

"Go ahead, go ahead. If there's anything you need Mom's help with, just say so. Have you found a new house yet? If not, I'll have someone contact someone for you."

Gu Yunjin said it wasn't necessary, she had already found someone.

Wang Manyun's tone was casual: "Where did you find a house? The two your dad gave you? The location is alright, but they're a bit small—how about I have my secretary get you a bigger one?"

Gu Yunjin placed her hand on the stair railing, leaned out to the side, and said, "No need, this is enough," her tone carrying just the right amount of obedience.

Wang Manyun didn't ask any more questions, nor did she say anything more.