"If you die, the guardianship will no longer exist."
As these words fell, the room fell silent, followed a minute later by an uproar of gasps and murmurs.
Everyone was stunned, their breaths catching in their throats.
Liu Dong even stumbled back two steps in fright.
No one doubted Gu Nanyan’s words, even though her tone was indifferent and her expression casual.
Liu Dong’s scalp prickled, her entire body going weak.
No one spoke, the atmosphere thick with tension. Susu’s small face turned deathly pale.
Gu Nanyan thought she had frightened her.
She adored children—each one was a beacon of hope, brimming with infinite possibilities—so Gu Nanyan treated them with boundless patience.
"Did I scare you?" Gu Nanyan walked over to Susu, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. She gently touched the girl’s cheek, her voice impossibly soft. "Don’t be afraid. I was just trying to scare her. I won’t hurt her."
With that, she smoothed Susu’s hair. "Susu’s current mother isn’t good, so I’ll fix her up and give you a better one, okay?"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
What did she an? "Fix" Liu Dong?
That woman clearly didn’t love Susu—how could she possibly be "fixed"?
Susu was even more confused, trembling slightly. She didn’t understand what Gu Nanyan was saying.
But she knew that Nanyan-jiejie was doing this for her sake, so she nodded obediently, her eyes filled with trust.
"Good girl."
Gu Nanyan stood, her gaze shifting to Liu Dong.
Liu Dong took a step back, barely managing to stay upright with Zhao’s father and mother holding her up.
Summoning her courage, she shouted, "Gu Nanyan, stop trying to intimidate ! Everyone here is a witness! If anything happens to , the police will co after you!"
"That’s right," Zhao’s father chid in. "We’ll all testify."
Susu reached out and grabbed Gu Nanyan’s hand. "Nanyan-jiejie, don’t."
It wasn’t that she cared about Liu Dong—she just didn’t want Gu Nanyan to dirty her hands for soone so worthless.
Gu Nanyan sighed softly. She really had frightened Susu.
Back in Great Qi, she had grown accustod to such thods—her instincts were too ruthless. But this was the modern world; she needed to restrain herself.
Whether as the Princess of Zhenguo or as the elder sister who raised her younger brother, Gu Nanyan had always doted on children.
Even when she sensed Huo Junya’s ill intentions or heard her speaking ill of her, she had rely ignored her, never resorting to suppression.
For children, she was endlessly indulgent.
Thinking Susu still cared about Liu Dong, she whispered, "Don’t worry. Not only will I not harm her, but I’ll also give you a gentle mother in return."
Feng Chengxi was baffled and blurted out, "Your Majesty, are you planning to replace Susu’s mother?"
What kind of nonsense was that? Could mothers just be swapped out like that?
Gu Nanyan shot her a cold glance.
Feng Chengxi imdiately shrank back, not daring to say another word—though inwardly, she was still puzzled.
If Liu Dong wasn’t being replaced, how could she possibly beco gentle?
It made no sense.
Liu Dong and the others were equally confused. Just as everyone was lost in thought, Liu Dong’s phone rang.
It was her elder sister-in-law.
Liu Dong frowned.
Why was her elder sister-in-law calling?
Their relationship had never been good. When Liu Dong first married into the Su family, she had suffered plenty of mistreatnt from her in-laws. But Liu Dong was fierce and stubborn, fighting back tooth and nail, so the battles had been evenly matched.
A few years ago, when Old Su was diagnosed with ALS and needed constant care, her in-laws finally backed down, no longer daring to provoke her.
Liu Dong answered the phone rudely. "What do you want?"
Whatever was said on the other end made Liu Dong’s face twist in fury. "What?! Old Su wants a divorce?!"
The declaration stunned everyone.
Susu’s eyes widened as she looked at Gu Nanyan.
Gu Nanyan, assuming the girl was worried about her parents separating, reassured her, "Don’t worry. Once your father gains custody, and you turn eighteen in two years, they can remarry."
Feng Chengxi’s lips twitched. Damn, Gu Nanyan is ruthless.
This move was brilliant—forcing Liu Dong and Susu’s father to divorce so the father could take custody away from Liu Dong.
Genius. Absolute genius.
But Liu Dong wouldn’t give up so easily.
Liu Dong, realizing Gu Nanyan’s sche, lifted her chin defiantly. "Hah! I’m not divorcing him."
Gu Nanyan ignored her.
Liu Dong continued yelling into the phone, "Bullshit! On what grounds? I’ve been holding this family together all these years! Without , Old Su would’ve died long ago!"
Her elder sister-in-law’s voice rose in response. "You dare say that? You took care of Old Su? He’s covered in bedsores—did you lift a finger?
Old Su was cared for by my mother and Susu! You never helped! Agree to the divorce now, or I’ll expose all your dirty secrets!
Don’t think I don’t know—you took money to bully Susu!
If you agree now, out of respect for the two children you bore for the Su family, I’ll spare you so dignity. Otherwise, we’ll sue you and make sure everyone knows what you’ve done!"
"You bitch!" Liu Dong roared. "The Su family is bullying ! Just wait—I’ll bring my brothers over, and we’ll settle this properly!"
Too enraged to focus on Susu, Liu Dong hung up and imdiately called her mother.
"Mom, where are Elder Brother and Younger Brother? The Su family wants to divorce Old Su."
She expected her mother to join her in cursing the Su family.
Instead, Liu Dong’s mother said, "Then divorce him. We all want you to."
Liu Dong was stunned into silence.
Her mother continued muttering, "Dong, just get the divorce over with. Stop tornting Susu. She’s your own flesh and blood—how can you be so cruel?"
Heartbroken that even her own mother wouldn’t stand by her, Liu Dong’s eyes reddened. "Mom… am I not your daughter?"
Liu Dong’s mother replied, "You are my daughter, but I’m also Elder Brother and Younger Brother’s mother.
Soone ca to our family and offered to treat Elder Brother’s illness, get Elder Nephew a job, give Younger Brother and his wife money to start a business, and even enroll Younger Nephew in a top school."
Liu Dong was devastated. "What about ? You only care about them—what about ?"
Liu Dong’s mother said simply, "I favor sons over daughters."
Liu Dong: "…"
She hung up, utterly defeated.
A mont later, her son called. His first words were, "You’re a bad mom! I don’t want you! You sold Jiejie—you’ll sell next!
Divorce Dad! I’m staying with him and Jiejie! We’re a family—you get out!"
Before Liu Dong could react, her son’s grandmother’s voice ca through the phone. "Susu’s mother, divorce my son. If you refuse, we’ll sue you.
We have proof you took money to slander Susu online and even sold her. You don’t deserve to be a mother.
The money is in a card, and we have it now.
If you don’t agree to the divorce, we’ll take you to court."
With that, the call ended abruptly.
Liu Dong collapsed to the ground, completely broken.
In just one night, she found herself abandoned by all.
After a long silence, she slowly raised her eyes, glaring venomously at Gu Nanyan. "It was you! You did all this, didn’t you?"
Gu Nanyan lifted her gaze indifferently, her voice icy as she addressed Liu Dong. "You bullied the weak—why shouldn’t I crush you with my strength?
Didn’t you boast how easily you could manipulate Susu?
Well, let tell you—handling you is just as effortless for .
This is nothing more than giving you a taste of your own dicine. Can’t even bear that?"
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