Chapter 29: Good Night

Han Xuan lay on the bed, his face full of satisfaction, watching as Gu Chacha put her clothes on one by one.

He lit a cigarette and suggested, "It's already so late. Why not just stay the night?"

They weren't teenagers with curfews, were they?

Gu Chacha shot him a disgusted glare. "Are you an idiot?"

If they spent the night out at the very beginning of their relationship, what would her father think of them? Of him?

She ordered him curtly, "Get up. Drive me home."

"Fine."

Han Xuan stubbed out his cigarette, put on his clothes, and followed her downstairs.

In the elevator, Gu Chacha looked at the countless glowing lights outside the window, feeling dazed.

How had her world turned upside down in just a few short days?

She had become the fake daughter who had taken over He Huanhuan's life. Her mom and dad had become He Huanhuan's parents. Her brothers had all become He Huanhuan's brothers.

Her second brother wouldn't even give her a kind look, and even her eldest brother was no longer on her side.

Not to mention that damn Han Mo. She had given him a better choice, and he just turned a blind eye!

He was still trying to win over He Huanhuan!

Why?

Why was fate treating her so unfairly?

If everyone was against her, then she wouldn't hold back.

She had no choice. She had to do what she had to do.

Suddenly, a large hand wrapped around her waist. Han Xuan pulled her close affectionately. "What are you thinking about?"

She wrinkled her brow in disgust. "Can you stop being so frivolous?"

Hearing this, Han Xuan burst out laughing. "Chacha, we've done far more frivolous things than this. What are you shy about?"

Gu Chacha barely kept herself from rolling her eyes. How could two brothers born from the same father be so different?

She wasn't particularly fond of Han Mo, but compared to Han Xuan, he was far more presentable.

When comparisons were made, the disgust in her heart grew until it became unbearable.

But for now, she could still tolerate it.

As long as she had something to gain, she could endure.

She slapped his hand away from her waist and snapped, "Watch yourself. We're still in the early stages. Don't let my dad catch on."

Just a couple of days ago, she had cried and pleaded with her father to pursue Han Mo. She couldn't suddenly get involved with Han Xuan now.

That would be too obvious.

The car drove back to the Gu family estate. Gu Chengye and his wife were strolling in the courtyard, and when they looked up, they saw Han Xuan in the driver's seat.

Gu Chengye frowned. "Why did Chacha go out with the second son of the Han family?"

His old friend Han had two sons who were complete opposites: Han Mo was steady and capable, while Han Xuan was flashy and reckless. The contrast was sharp.

He had always admired Han Mo, as Chacha well knew, so why was she mixing around with Han Xuan now?

The car slowly rolled up. As the door opened, Han Xuan flashed a bright, ingratiating smile. "Uncle and Auntie, enjoying your evening walk?"

Gu Chengye nodded coldly, then turned to Gu Chacha with a questioning look. "When did you two start hanging out?"

Gu Chacha pretended not to catch the underlying concern in her father's question and answered with a smile, "We just had dinner together. He was on the way, so he gave me a ride home."

Just a meal together—nothing more.

Gu Chengye nodded and said to Han Xuan, "It's getting late, Xuan. You should head back now. Drive safely."

A polite dismissal.

With a cheerful grin, Han Xuan replied, "I'll be off then. Bye, Uncle and Auntie."

The car quickly drove out of the Gu estate. Through the rearview mirror, Han Xuan glanced back.

In the darkness, the massive estate looked like a sleeping tiger—seemingly harmless but full of hidden aggression.

He snorted coldly. "You old bastard. I'll make you pay later."

The car surged forward, speeding away into the distance.

Back in the courtyard, Gu Chengye turned to Gu Chacha, his expression darkening. "Chacha, come with me to the study."

Jiang Yulan patted Gu Chacha's hand gently. "Talk nicely to your father. Don't make him angry."

Gu Chacha nodded obediently and followed Gu Chengye into the study.

Once inside, Gu Chengye asked directly, "Why are you hanging out with Han Xuan?"

Gu Chacha looked down, silent.

Gu Chengye sighed. "I asked you a question."

Gu Chacha's eyes reddened instantly. "Is my father still willing to listen to me?"

"What do you mean? When have I ever refused to listen to you?"

Her eyes grew misty. "Father gave Han Mo to sister. What could I do? I..."

Gu Chengye interrupted her with a tone of frustration:

"But that doesn't mean you should get mixed up with Han Xuan! Do you know what he's like? He's nowhere near good enough for you!"

Tearfully, Gu Chacha moved closer to sit beside him. "Father, did you know that Uncle Han kicked Han Mo out of the company?"

Gu Chengye was startled. "When did that happen?"

Was his old friend Han that foolish?

Gu Chacha lowered her voice. "Just last night, right after the birthday party ended. Uncle Han completely removed Han Mo from the company, and this morning, Han Xuan stepped into the role."

"And that's why you went to dinner with him?"

Gu Chengye shook his head disapprovingly. "Chacha, you've made a mistake. That boy—what can he ever accomplish?"

Within a month at most, Old Han would have to beg Han Mo to come back.

Gu Chacha looked at him with innocent, teary eyes. "Father, he invited me to dinner. I was curious about what happened in their family, so I went. There's nothing else to it."

"Better be nothing,"

Gu Chengye said, frowning. "Han Mo and Huanhuan are getting along quite well. If you get involved with Han Xuan... what kind of image would that project? Do our daughters have to settle for the Han family sons?"

He had chosen Han Mo carefully after considering everything; it wasn't a decision limited to the Han family!

He had no respect for Han Changyong.

Gu Chacha nodded obediently. "I understand, Father."

"But, Father..."

She casually asked, "Since Han Mo was kicked out of the company, will our family's cooperation with the Han family continue?"

She needed to know whether her father intended to work with the Han family as a whole or just with Han Mo for the East City project.

If it was just Han Mo, then she would have to reconsider Han Xuan's value.

A one-night stand was nothing.

But if she gambled her entire future on him and it collapsed, she'd be finished.

The question seemed offhand, so Gu Chengye didn't dwell on it. He nodded and said, "Of course, it will continue."

The Han family held a weak position in Jiangcheng, making them ideal partners for him.

If he chose another family, leverage in the upcoming project would be diminished.

That's why he had initially selected Han Mo as a son-in-law: the boy was smart, understood what he cared about, and handled things with tact.

Hearing his confirmation, Gu Chacha smiled lightly, She stood up. "Father, I'm going to bed now."

So her father planned to cooperate with the Han family.

Then Han Mo didn't matter anymore.

As long as Uncle Han didn't involve Han Mo, he would never recover.

So what if he was trying to win over He Huanhuan? What did she have? Nothing but a shabby background?

Hmph!

Once in bed, she picked up her phone. On the chat page, there was a new conversation pinned to the top.

She opened it, tapped the screen lightly, and sent a message:

Good night.