An Nuan dealt with Gu Yan Sheng's hypocritical greetings.
She returned to the villa.
In the hall, Li YaJu was almost worried sick, "Nuan Nuan, where did you go last night? Your dad and I almost called the police."
"I got drunk with Qi Qi last night and stayed over at her place." An Nuan lied.
In her previous life, she had always been principled and kind-hearted, never lying or harming others, not even on guard.
This life, she had to learn to adapt.
For instance, she didn't think some well-intentioned lies were unacceptable.
"You kids really worry me, getting drunk for no reason. Look at you, your face doesn't look so good today." Although Li YaJu's tone still carried worried blame, seeing her daughter come back safe and sound put her much more at ease.
"Where's Dad?" An Nuan changed the subject.
"He went to work," Li YaJu said. "The company still has so much going on, he can't always be away."
An Nuan nodded.
But in that moment, she began making plans.
"Do you have something to discuss with your dad?" Seeing An Nuan lost in thought, Li YaJu asked.
"No." An Nuan shook her head. "By the way, Mom, did you see the news today?"
"What news?"
"You didn't see it? Let me show you." An Nuan quickly unlocked her phone and pulled up the news content. "See it?"
Li YaJu looked closely.
The huge headline read: "Low-key socialite Li YaJu: Let me reintroduce you to high society."
The news featured a breathtakingly beautiful photo of Li YaJu's face and perfect figure.
Li YaJu still felt a little shy.
After all, she had never been in the public eye like this for so many years. Everything last night felt like a dream to her, being flattered, envied, watched, even resented.
For the first time, she felt a sense of pride.
Even now, her heart was still pounding.
"I won't go into the news details, they're just flowery descriptions. Let me read you some of the comments," An Nuan was also in a very good mood.
In the car ride back, after hanging up Gu Yan Sheng's call, she had opened up her news app and saw the headline story about her mom.
She had arranged for the news on purpose, but the huge reaction was not her doing.
She cleared her throat and read the comments aloud.
"This is what you call a sudden clap of thunder. Don't some show-off rich ladies feel ashamed now?"
"The number one socialite in Qing City, no one but Li YaJu."
"Who's saying Madam An is low-born and unpopular? Tell me, years later, how many noble ladies born into rich families can still throw such a grand birthday party with their own name?"
"Don't lie to me, this woman is clearly only 30..."
"Nuan Nuan," Li YaJu suddenly interrupted her.
An Nuan was still happily reading at that moment.
When she looked up, she saw her mother's eyes brimming with tears.
An Nuan quickly asked with concern, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"I'm just suddenly overwhelmed realizing my Nuan Nuan has grown up," Li YaJu smiled through her tears. "She even knows how to surprise her mom now."
An Nuan was a little surprised.
"Last night's birthday party, you prepared it for me, right?" Li YaJu said outright.
"It was Dad's thoughtfulness too."
"I always thought I didn't care about fame, status, wealth...I thought all I needed was for our family of three to live well and happy. But last night, I have to admit I really enjoyed being the center of attention. I also just realized that all women have vanity..."
"Dad and I overlooked your feelings." An Nuan wiped away her mother's tears.
"Nuan Nuan," Li YaJu looked at her daughter, "Thank you so much."
"Mom," An Nuan gripped her hand tightly and said resolutely, "From now on, I will definitely make our family better! I'll make sure those who looked down on us can never climb up to us again!"
Li YaJu was stunned by An Nuan's determination.
The next second she smiled gently.
From now on, she would never belittle herself again, even more so she wouldn't let her daughter belittle herself!
...
At the Gu House.
After Gu Yan Sheng got off the phone with An Nuan, his tender expression instantly faded.
Of course he wouldn't really go to work at the company.
He had been too indulgent last night, leaving him with no energy at all today.
He had barely managed to call An Nuan just now to deceive her feelings...
That foolish woman, give her a piece of candy and she would devote herself to him.
He returned to the living room and sat on the sofa.
"Ah!" Ni Lan suddenly let out an uncontrollable shriek.
Gu Yan Sheng looked at his mother. "What's wrong?"
"What's this about the number one socialite in Qing City being no one but Li YaJu?! What about me! What about me!" Ni Lan looked at the comments on the news article on her phone, becoming completely deranged.
Gu Yan Sheng was also not looking so good now.
Thinking of the An family stealing the spotlight last night, he was also quite angry.
After all, he and An Nuan were getting married soon.
For the An family to hold such a grand party before the wedding, were they deliberately trying to force him to hold an even grander wedding?!
He didn't want to give An Nuan's woman too much!
"Mom, I want to kill that An Nuan bitch!" Right now Gu YanXuan was also on the sofa, her eyes swollen.
She had apparently been crying all night since leaving the An family party yesterday.
She had only calmed down a little this morning.
But whenever she thought about her humiliation last night, she couldn't help gnashing her teeth, wishing she could cut An Nuan into thousands of pieces.
She didn't even know how she could continue socializing in high society circles anymore.
She didn't even dare leave the house now, or chat in her usual social groups, for fear of being reminded of her embarrassment last night.
"What's the rush!" Ni Lan was also in a bad mood.
She had never imagined there would be a day when she would be pushed to this point by Li YaJu.
In her mind, in all of Qing City, even North Wen Country, among the elite families, the only one who could compete with her was Madam Ye Yun Yu Qing. Yun Yu Qing relied on the Ye family being ranked first to have an advantage. When her son entered the upper crust, being crushed by her would be inevitable.
Yet now, she had actually been completely overshadowed by the ordinary Li YaJu.
She couldn't swallow this insult either.
Thinking of the bracelet she had gifted Li YaJu last night that was completely beneath Li YaJu, and the stark contrast with Yun Yu Qing's gift, she even heard some gossiping ladies badmouthing her for being pretentious, lacking taste and sincerity at the later banquet...
Ni Lan's expression was extremely ugly. She snarled viciously, "Just wait until An Nuan marries over, I have ten thousand ways to torture her to death!"
"Me too!" Gu YanXuan also looked vicious. She didn't forget to remind Gu Yan Sheng in that moment, "Brother, you can't go soft then!"
"Go soft?" Gu Yan Sheng gave a cold laugh, as if he had heard the funniest joke.
For that woman he didn't love one bit, he wished she would die as quickly as possible after he finished using her!
