Chapter 8: Then Let's Raise Some Hell Together (Please Keep Reading)

Gu Qingwan was stunned for a moment. This was the first time Lin Yichen had refused her invitation, and he had done so in such a perfunctory way. In the past, even if Lin Yichen was busy, he would always finish his business and meet her later. Why had Lin Yichen become so odd after Gu Luosheng returned?

Gu Luosheng had a simple bowl of noodles outside and then began planning what kind of work she could do to earn money. Finding a job was really difficult for her; she had been expelled from university in her sophomore year by Gu Yunzhou, so she didn’t even have a diploma. Strictly speaking, her highest qualification was high school.

With only a high school education and no skills, perhaps only service industry jobs would suit her... But the service industry was a tough path, and unless absolutely necessary, Gu Luosheng didn’t want to go that way.

“Maybe I should start a snack stall?” For the past five years, her greatest hobby had been cooking for herself. She even had a recipe book, and she had mastered many dishes from it, her flavors rivaling those of some restaurant chefs.

Snack stalls were all the rage now. It was said that setting one up for a few days could earn a month’s salary for an average person. Of course, Gu Luosheng wasn’t naïve enough to believe such claims. Her immediate goal was simply to support herself, relying neither on the Gu family nor Gu Yunqi.

“Perhaps I’ll sell barbecue?” The idea settled in her heart. Barbecue had a decent profit margin—a vegetable costing a few cents could be sold for ten or even dozens of yuan. It was hard to imagine how much those barbecue stall owners earned in a night.

Gu Luosheng acted at once, heading straight to Yun City’s largest second-hand market, planning to buy a barbecue cart. There were plenty of second-hand barbecue carts for sale, in all shapes and sizes. What surprised her most was that someone had converted an old-fashioned bicycle into a barbecue cart—it was quite amusing.

But if she were to sell barbecue on a bicycle, it would look far too unreliable. In the end, Gu Luosheng chose a barbecue cart converted from a tricycle, fully equipped, and paid five thousand yuan to take it home. The money was what she had saved up over five years of moving goods.

Spending it was painful, but investment must come before reward. Gu Luosheng drove the cart to a free parking lot and locked it up. Then she started researching strategies—how to prepare the dishes, set prices, pick the right street, and so on.

By the time she finished, night had fallen. That was enough for today. She found a Sha County “Grand Hotel” and feasted, then rented a shared bicycle to ride back to the Gu house.

As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Yunzhou and Gu Qingwan sitting on the sofa. To her surprise, Gu Yunzhou’s face was swollen like a pig’s head. Gu Qingwan was carefully applying medicine to his face.

"Pfft!" Gu Luosheng laughed unceremoniously.

“Gu Luosheng!” Gu Yunzhou was immediately agitated upon seeing her, which tugged at his wounded face.

“What’s the matter?” Gu Luosheng was curious. He had left home in good shape that morning—how had he ended up like a pig’s head by evening?

“Gu Luosheng, what exactly is your relationship with Lin Yichen? Are you two still involved?” Gu Yunzhou asked irritably.

“Lin Yichen? There’s nothing between us.” Gu Luosheng replied calmly. From leaving home five years ago to returning now, she hadn’t exchanged many words with Lin Yichen.

“Then why did he come to fight me?”

“Hm?” Gu Luosheng frowned. Lin Yichen had done this to Gu Yunzhou?

Seeing her confusion, Gu Yunzhou began to doubt himself. Was getting beaten really unrelated to Gu Luosheng? Then what was wrong with Lin Yichen, attacking him out of nowhere?

“Qingwan, I told you Lin Yichen is unreliable. He might even have violent tendencies!” Gu Yunzhou turned to Gu Qingwan, baffled as to why Lin Yichen was so desirable. With Gu Qingwan’s status as a Gu family heiress, what kind of man couldn’t she have?

Gu Qingwan didn’t believe Lin Yichen would attack Gu Yunzhou without reason. “Second Brother, there must be some misunderstanding. Brother Yichen isn’t that kind of person…”

“You can’t judge by appearances. He’s probably just putting on a gentlemanly act in front of you.”

“……”

Gu Luosheng didn’t care to listen to this sibling drama, nor did she imagine Lin Yichen would stand up for her by fighting Gu Yunzhou. Gu Yunqi hadn’t returned home yet—he was likely working overtime or socializing at the company.

Gu Luosheng went back to her room. She hadn’t sat long before someone knocked on her door. The person waited for her permission before entering.

“Come in!” Gu Luosheng called.

Aunt Wang, wearing an apron, opened the door and asked, “Miss Gu, Second Young Master and Miss have already had dinner. Would you like me to heat some food for you?”

Gu Luosheng felt a warmth in her heart. Such concern, though minor, was precious to her.

“Aunt Wang, I’ve already eaten. Thank you.”

“Then I’ll leave you to rest, Miss Gu!” Aunt Wang glanced outside, then hurried in to hand Gu Luosheng a bottle of ointment.

“Miss Gu, I bought this medicine at the pharmacy this afternoon. The doctor said it would help your injury heal faster—try it tonight.”

“I’ll go get back to work!”

Before Gu Luosheng could respond, Aunt Wang had already left her room.

Gu Luosheng stared at the brand new, unopened ointment for a long time, lost in thought.

……

The next morning.

Gu Luosheng checked herself in the mirror after getting up—her swelling had almost subsided. She stepped into the living room to find Aunt Wang wiping the table. Upon seeing Gu Luosheng, Aunt Wang hurried into the kitchen and brought out breakfast.

“Aunt Wang, good morning!”

“Good morning, Miss Gu!” Aunt Wang smiled at her and continued wiping the table.

“Aunt Wang, why don’t you join me for breakfast?”

“Miss Gu, I’ve already eaten.” Gu Luosheng wasn’t sure if that was true, but guessed Aunt Wang was probably afraid the Gu family would see her eating.

“Aunt Wang, has my eldest brother left?”

Aunt Wang shook her head. “Miss Gu, the eldest young master didn’t come home last night.”

Oh…

Footsteps sounded on the stairs—it had to be Gu Qingwan or Gu Yunzhou. Gu Luosheng lowered her head, deliberately avoiding the newcomer.

“Miss, good morning!”

Gu Qingwan ignored Aunt Wang and sat down next to Gu Luosheng. Aunt Wang hurried to the kitchen for Gu Qingwan’s breakfast.

“Luosheng, you’re up so early! How did you sleep last night?”

“There’s no one else here, so you don’t need to pretend with me,” Gu Luosheng replied, feeling a wave of disgust.

Footsteps came from the stairs again. Gu Qingwan immediately grabbed Luosheng’s untouched warm soy milk and poured it over her own face. “Ah! Sister Luosheng, what are you doing?”

Gu Luosheng’s eyebrows twitched. Gu Qingwan was acting up again. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t hold back either.

Gu Luosheng dropped to the floor, clutching her stomach in apparent pain.