Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Envy and Jealousy
Mu Ziquan was in the middle of a pleasant conversation when he was interrupted. He felt a surge of irritation, his brow furrowing in displeasure as a chill emanated from him.
Seeing Mu Ziquan’s unhappiness, Gu Jiaojiao followed the direction of the voice. Standing at the entrance to the Mu Family’s living room were several women of various ages.
The one in the center was a very aristocratic-looking matron. She appeared particularly regal and opulent, which also gave her an unapproachable air.
In short, she was the type who liked to scrutinize people, find fault, and was difficult to get along with. She was the one who had just spoken.
To the matron’s left was a beautiful young woman, around twenty years old.
She looked innocent and harmless, dressed in a pure white dress that highlighted her slender, willowy figure. She was the type to inspire protectiveness in men.
However, her eyes, when looking at Gu Jiaojiao, were filled with hostility. Gu Jiaojiao took a second look and confirmed it was indeed hostility.
"Ziquan certainly has good taste. This young lady is quite beautiful. I think she’s a good match for you."
The old woman on the matron’s right said with a beaming smile. She appeared to be the matron’s elder.
Upon hearing this, the matron’s brow furrowed noticeably. She didn’t refute the statement, but her gaze on Gu Jiaojiao grew even more malicious.
"Grand-aunt, you must be joking. It takes more than just a pretty face to be worthy of Ziquan. Someone as outstanding as Ziquan isn’t a match for just anyone."
The young woman’s voice was soft. She even covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled, but her eyes held a new trace of venom as she looked at Gu Jiaojiao.
Gu Jiaojiao was dressed in tight jeans and a black crew-neck T-shirt today, revealing a pair of long, slender, and perfectly straight legs.
She wore a pair of white vulcanized shoes. The sight was enough to make anyone weak in the knees.
The black T-shirt made her skin look as white as snow, and a faint blush on her cheeks was reminiscent of a sunset sky.
She could take the most ordinary clothes and wear them with an air of unattainable high fashion.
The young woman was filled with an indescribable mix of envy, jealousy, and hate. She knew she couldn’t compare to Gu Jiaojiao.
So, the more she wanted what she couldn’t have, the more she wanted to tear the other person down. This was pure, red-eyed jealousy.
From the young woman’s acidic words, Gu Jiaojiao could tell she was very interested in Mu Ziquan.
Gu Jiaojiao, pushing Mu Ziquan’s wheelchair, leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"Grand-nephew, is this girl one of your admirers? But why is she targeting me for no reason?"
Mu Ziquan replied with a faint smile, "They’re distant relatives from my grandmother’s side of the family. They’ve probably mistaken you for my girlfriend."
Hearing Mu Ziquan’s words, Gu Jiaojiao felt the urge to curse. It was one thing to be targeted by some young girl when she went to the Han family’s place with Su Shuochi.
But to be mistaken for a couple just for being with Mu Ziquan, too? ’This is just my rotten luck!’
But she couldn’t very well get angry at Mu Ziquan, so she said teasingly, "These nosy busybodies must have nothing better to do than spread nonsense."
Mu Ziquan was slightly taken aback by her words, then chuckled softly. ’I wonder what she really thinks of me,’ he mused.
He also leaned close to Gu Jiaojiao’s ear and whispered, "Great-Aunt, Grandpa told me not to call you ’Great-Aunt’ in front of outsiders. How are we supposed to explain this?"
Gu Jiaojiao’s face bloomed into a smile. "Isn’t that easy? Just tell them I’m the caregiver your family hired."
"COUGH, COUGH..." Mu Ziquan choked on his own saliva. After a few coughs, he said, "That’s... probably not a good idea, is it?"
Seeing Mu Ziquan dithering, Gu Jiaojiao’s clear voice rang out.
"Grand-aunts and aunts, I am the caregiver hired by the Mu Family. How could I possibly be worthy of the distinguished Young Master of the Mu Family? You must be joking."
With that, Gu Jiaojiao boldly pushed Mu Ziquan’s wheelchair past the women and headed straight for the living room.
Seeing this, the young woman strode forward and said coolly, "The Mu Family is hosting a banquet today. There’s no need for a lowly caregiver like you to go inside."
After speaking, she even tried to push Gu Jiaojiao aside, intending to take over pushing Mu Ziquan’s wheelchair herself.
Gu Jiaojiao was speechless.
’What the hell! Is that even a thing?!’
She sidestepped and quickened her pace, causing the girl to stumble and nearly fall. The girl shrieked, "You classless tramp, get out!"
Mu Ziquan finally lost his patience. He turned back, his face cold, and gave her a look. He asked flatly, "Who are you? Since when are you the one calling the shots in the Mu Family?"
The girl’s expression changed slightly. She said timidly, "It’s... what Aunt wanted."
Mu Ziquan glanced at the matron. Seeing she didn’t object, his expression darkened further. "Which aunt? Where is she?"
The cutting remarks that came from Mu Ziquan’s mouth were like barbs, piercing the heart with a chilling and unsettling effect.
The matron trembled under Mu Ziquan’s gaze. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak, but that she couldn’t find her voice.
The young girl seemed to realize her misstep as well, and her face grew even paler. "Grand-aunt... look at Ziquan..."
"Liqing, you’ve overstepped. This is the Mu Family residence, not a place for you to run wild," the old woman said, her tone displeased.
A flash of hurt appeared in the girl’s eyes, but she still forced herself to say, "Ziquan hasn’t blamed me, so why are you saying that?"
"You!" The old woman was so angry her chest heaved, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of a retort.
She could only shoot Liqing a harsh glare before turning and walking into the living room. The moment she left, the girl’s expression fell completely.
Her lips pouted high, her eyes filled with grievance as she tugged on the matron beside her. "Aunt..."
Seeing the girl’s distress, the matron took two steps forward. "Ziquan, your home is filled with guests today. There’s really no need for this little caregiver to go inside. Liqing meant well."
"Exactly! Aunt is right! If you know what’s good for you, get out of the way. Let me push Ziquan..."
"I think the one who should get out is you," Mu Ziquan said, turning his head to glare at the two of them.
The young girl, who had been speaking so freely, heard Mu Ziquan’s voice and looked up to meet his deep, cold, and desolate gaze.
She shivered involuntarily.
’I’m doomed.’
Those two words replayed endlessly in her mind.
She, who considered herself as beautiful as a flower and was pursued by countless talented young men, was seen as nothing more than germ-infested trash in Mu Ziquan’s eyes.
"WAAH... WAHHH..." The girl ran crying into the living room.
She left the matron standing flustered at the door. The matron’s eyebrows twitched, a frosty glint in her eyes. "Ziquan, it’s not that your cousin-aunt is trying to criticize you..."
"Stop. You said it yourself: ’cousin-aunt.’ A cousin once removed is practically a stranger, you understand? People like you, who can’t stand to see others do better than them, are not worthy of being relatives of my Mu Family. Mu Shan, throw them out."
The matron stood frozen to the spot at the door. She never would have dreamed that her great-aunt’s grandson would be so ruthless.
Back where she came from, she was a person of considerable standing.
But she also knew that her husband’s success back home was entirely dependent on the Mu Family.
