Chapter 83: I'm Bringing a Friend Along

He Huanhuan flopped down beside her and asked curiously, "But why did you suddenly bring up favoring boys over girls?"

Qi Meili reached out and tapped her on the head. "Idiot, because that's exactly what he's doing—favoring boys over girls!"

She sat up straight and asked He Huanhuan seriously, "Think about it—aren't your two brothers older than you? And neither of them is married yet."

He Huanhuan nodded. "Right."

"That's exactly the problem!" Qi Meili snapped her fingers with a look of great wisdom. "Compared to you, aren't they way better suited for a marriage alliance? Their ages are right too—you're only twenty!"

"This is textbook favoritism toward boys, because marriage alliance is the only use you have to them."

Qi Meili snorted coldly. "That old geezer is rotten to the core!"

He Huanhuan nodded. "I know."

It was just that at first, she thought she wouldn't stay in this world for long. She thought she'd still go back, so she didn't make a big deal out of it.

"But things are different now."

She looked at Qi Meili with total seriousness. "Meili, now that you're here, everything's changed."

She could feel it—they probably couldn't go back so easily anymore. She wasn't just drifting through this world in a daze anymore; she might have to live here with Meili for a very, very long time.

So she needed to plan properly for herself.

She leaned against Qi Meili's shoulder. "Meili, I'm so glad you're here."

She wasn't alone anymore, and that was wonderful.

Qi Meili wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "Don't worry, I'm always here!"

They were best friends, and no matter what ghosts and monsters or scheming rich girls came their way, they'd face them together!

Early the next morning, Gu Chacha drove straight back to the Gu family estate.

She sat demurely beside Jiang Yulan, listening to her question: "I heard from Jingchen that Han Mo's car accident this time was caused by Han Xuan?"

Gu Chacha nodded, her expression downcast. "It was him. He was too impulsive, so..."

"Chacha." Jiang Yulan frowned deeply and grabbed her hand. "If he can go that far against his own brother, that kind of man is no good. You can't stay with him!"

Gu Chacha blinked, and tears streamed down her face instantly. "Mom, he tricked me. But he's been taken away now—I won't pay him any more attention..."

Seeing her cry so pitifully, Jiang Yulan quickly pulled her into a hug to soothe her. "Silly child, I'm glad you're willing to listen. I was worried you'd be angry with me."

"Of course not, Mom. I know you truly care about me."

Gu Chacha looked up at Jiang Yulan between sobs. "Mom, since sister is back, shouldn't we throw her a welcome dinner?"

Jiang Yulan nodded. "Your eldest brother has already arranged it. We're going to Junyue Ting at noon to welcome Huanhuan and Han Mo."

Gu Chacha leaned obediently against Jiang Yulan's shoulder. "Mom, can I bring a friend along?"

Jiang Yulan smiled and nodded. "Of course! Huanhuan's friend is staying at the house too. One more pair of chopsticks won't make a difference."

She assumed the friend Gu Chacha mentioned was some girl she was close to. She never imagined that the moment Han Xuan was locked up, Gu Chacha would already have someone new.

Gu Chacha didn't say anything more, because she feared her parents wouldn't approve. She planned to have Brother Bao show up directly at Junyue Ting at noon. By then, with so many people around, her parents would have no choice but to go along with it even if they weren't happy.

For now, though, her attention had drifted to He Huanhuan. "Sister's friend? When did sister make a new friend?"

Jiang Yulan smiled. "She's an old friend from Huanhuan's hometown. She used to look after Huanhuan a lot."

Gu Chacha's eyes flickered. "Is she staying at the house now?"

Jiang Yulan nodded. "The two of them are very close. Huanhuan said no need to prepare a separate room—they'll share a bed."

Gu Chacha bit her lip and said nothing more.

But the envy in her heart couldn't help but sprout. That third floor used to be hers. Even He Huanhuan's friend could stay there now, yet she herself had been completely cut off from it.

She forced the bitterness back down deep inside. She told herself none of that mattered anymore.

She had already moved forward. She was living a bigger, bolder life now.

Meanwhile, He Huanhuan was just like her old self—obediently under the family's thumb, a pawn in a marriage alliance.

Get married, have kids, lead a completely ordinary life.

That was the kind of life she wouldn't live for even one more day.

Everything she wanted, she would get on her own.

She pulled out her phone and sent Brother Bao the address for Junyue Ting. A reply came back almost instantly: an OK.

She lowered her eyes, listening to Jiang Yulan chatter on about mundane family matters.

On her phone screen, Brother Bao's WeChat was pinned to the very top.

International piano competition—she was going to win that prize.

She would become a world-renowned artist, living her whole life under the spotlight, basking in admiring and envious gazes.

She let out a quiet sigh. Thank you, Han Xuan.

If he hadn't taken her to Southeast Asia, she'd never have found this path.

It was dangerous, sure, but it was glamorous.

She loved the feeling of the spotlight on her. She, the center of all eyes, would shine like this forever.

The elevator made a mechanical hum, and a smile instantly bloomed on her face as she turned with Jiang Yulan to look.

In the elevator, He Huanhuan and Qi Meili stepped out, laughing.

Gu Chacha rose gracefully. "Sister, is this your friend? How..."

The compliment she'd prepared died in her throat the moment she saw Qi Meili.

As He Huanhuan's spiritual guide, Qi Meili's aesthetic truly leaned into punk rebellion.

Her body was covered in dazzling tattoos that nearly blinded Gu Chacha.

So much yellow, so much blue, so much red...

How could one person have so many colors on them?

Was she a dye vat reincarnated?

Qi Meili grinned and waved at her. "Hey there, fake heiress."

Gu Chacha's face stiffened, and then she caught sight of the big peony tattoo on Qi Meili's hand, and froze again.

"Um, miss..." She tried to say something, but her eyes kept darting around Qi Meili's tattoos, completely unable to focus.

There were just too many focal points on her body!

Qi Meili plopped herself down right next to the two of them, looking supremely relaxed, and asked, "When do we eat?"

Last night she and He Huanhuan had gotten so excited chatting that they'd talked until the wee hours, and they'd slept straight through until now. She was starving.

Jiang Yulan tried her best to sit up straight, like a student called on by the teacher. "I had the maid save you both some breakfast. Why don't you have a little something to tie you over, and then we'll head straight to Junyue Ting, alright?"

She sat stiffly, not daring to even glance at Qi Meili.

Last night it had been dark, so she hadn't noticed Qi Meili's tattoos at all.

Now in the light—lord, it was terrifying!

The two of them went into the dining room and found Gu Jinghan sitting at the table in silence, eating his meal.

Seeing them, he raised an eyebrow quickly. "See that? That nuisance is back again."

He couldn't stand talking to Gu Chacha, so he'd come straight to the dining room after getting up.

And when he'd heard Gu Chacha was heading to Junyue Ting, he'd almost decided not to go at all.

If it weren't for...

His eyes rolled around slyly, and he leaned in, gossip written all over his face. "Guess what I just overheard? Gu Chacha's bringing a friend to lunch at Junyue Ting."

Definitely not any real friend, he thought. He had to go and see the show for himself!