Grandfather Gu glanced at the anxious face of Xingren before turning to the board of directors, " You all must be confused because as why I have called for this emergency meeting since we recently met at the company's anniversary banquet. However, there is a reason why I gathered all of you here on short notice."
"I wanted to introduce you all to someone whom you need to see frequently in the future."
Upon hearing his words, everyone started assuming whom he is going to introduce officially. Is he going to announce Yuhan and Xingren's engagement officially and acknowledge him as part of the Gu family? What they have now is the unofficial verbal promise, are they going to make it official?
Gu Zhang gritted his teeth and glanced at Xingren who was breaking out in cold sweat. He possibly won't-
With a gracious smile on his face, Grandfather Gu announced, " Let me officially introduce to you, My precious Granddaughter, Gu Nuan."
"..."
Xingren's heart that was racing as if she was running for an hour with her best running speed stopped all of a sudden upon hearing his announcement. She clasped her trembling hands and was hoping that he wouldn't do what she was thinking.
Just like her, Xu Nuan was also confused and lost. What is he planning to do? She stared at Grandfather Gu in confusion and was surprised to see the confidence and power in his eyes, it was the first time she was seeing him like this.
The man who always looked at her with his weak-tender gaze has turned into a powerful businessman.
Everyone in the room was speechless and confused at his announcement. What was there to announce? Of course, everyone knows that the girl Xu Nuan is the adopted daughter of the Gu family and his granddaughter, what was the special reason to introduce her?
Mr. Xin who was looking at Xu Nuan with a hateful gaze after being told off by the Grandfather Gu earlier frowned upon hearing his words and spoke again, " Mr. Gu, you gathered us to announce this? We all know that you have adopted this girl and she is your granddaughter, but this is not something to be announced in this official setting. Are you making fun of us for calling us to announce something as irrelevant as this?" he asked while pointing at Xu Nuan who was still trying to figure what's going on.
Gu Zhang pursed his lips and turned to Gu Jianhong, " Father, Mr. Xin is right. Let's not talk about this now. We have important matters to discuss." He placed a hand on the old man's hand, signaling him to not speak further, and turned to everyone.
Xingren sighed in relief seeing Gu Zhang taking over the meeting. Seeing Gu Zhang leading the meeting, she also gained her confidence and straightened her shoulders, and looked at everyone with her regained confidence.
" Everyone, I apologize to you for disturbing your precious time. Since you all are here, why don't we discuss the next project Gu Corporation is gonna ta-
Xu Nuan frowned seeing Gu Zhang's rude action and the way he humiliated Grandfather Gu by interpreting him in between in front of everyone. He is the chairman of the company and this kind of behavior is rude and gives the wrong message to others.
Before she could say anything, she heard a powerful-deep voice that interrupted Gu Zhang, causing the conference room to fall into ghostly silence.
" I haven't finished my words yet!!"
Grandfather Gu leaned forward and turned to Gu Zhang with dark expressions, " President Gu, Don't forget that I am the chairman of the company. I am the one supposed to head this meeting, you can't interfere in between carelessly."
" Father, I wasn't-
" I am letting you go this time but there won't be next time. I will take action next time if anyone dares to interfere when I am talking. I might be old but I still hold the right to make major decisions in the company. So be careful!" He warned him coldly.
Gu Zhang was speechless when Gu Jianhong told him off in front of all the board of directors. Father...since when he became so authoritative?
Gu Jianhong turned to everyone ignoring, embarrassed Gu Zhang and Xingren, and said, " I called for this meeting to announce an important piece of news regarding my granddaughter, Gu Nuan."
" As you all know, she used to live in an orphanage and has been adopted by our family after which she became Gu Nuan from Xu Nuan. However, there is something that you all need to know."
He paused and took a moment of silence to look at everyone before speaking, " Gu Nuan, is not an adopted daughter of Gu family, instead….she is the blood of the Gu family, daughter of my son and daughter in law, Gu Zhang and Lin Ran."
Xingren: "....."
Xu Nuan: "...."
Everyone: "....."
Xingren's eyes widened in shock upon hearing his announcement. He...How can he? She stared at him in disbelief, wondering why did he reveal this when there wasn't any need to do this?
Everything was going smoothly, Xu Nuan was living separately and there weren't any issues, then why?
Xu Nuan who attended this meeting out of fun was shocked to hear his surprise announcement which caught her off guard. She wasn't expecting it, not even a bit.
" Father, what are you-
Gu Zhang's words were interrupted by the opinions of the board of directors who were not only shocked but confused as well.
" Mr. Gu, Are you saying that Gu Zhang has another daughter? But...aren't Xu Nuan and Xingren of the same age? Could it be they're twins?" One of the board of directors asked in confusion.
The truth behind birth in high society can be messy and complicated, who knows that they had twins but one went missing or something. It's a high possibility.
Xu Nuan was impressed with this fictional theory but hated the idea of having Xinrgen as her blood-sister. She prefers to be orphaned rather than being her real sister.
" Mr. Gu, don't tell me….is Xu Nuan an illegitimate daughter of Gu Zhang and you want to acknowledge her now? I knew it was strange when the Gu family adopted a girl out of nowhere. So it was to hide the messy affairs of the Gu family." Mr. Xin scoffed seeing the dirty side of the Gu family.
" I hope your family's dirty affairs don't come in between the works of the company. We have our money invested in it, I hope you don't make any rash decisions and spill milk at our money." He taunted.
Xingren held her head down and clutched her hands tightly as people made different theories, making her want to dig a hole and hide in it. Their gazes….it's humiliating.
Gu Zhang also gritted his teeth in embarrassment upon hearing the disgusting stories made by people.
Grandfather Gu glanced at Xu Nuan and saw her shocked expressions. He smiled at her gently and shook his head, 'telling her to not worry' with his gaze.
He cleared his throat and spoke, " The truth is, Xu Nuan is the legitimate daughter of the Gu Family and the true heiress of the Gu Corporations. I hope you can refrain from making irrelevant stories and rumors. "
His powerful words made others glance at Xingren whose complexion was pale and was avoiding everyone's doubtful gazes.
Yuhan glanced at pale Xingren and pursed his lips. Xu Nuan is the real daughter of the Gu family? His mind was blank as he was speechless, not expecting to find out this kind of truth at this meeting.
" Father, don't talk anymore. Just stop it." Gu Zhang pleaded desperately seeing Xingren's ashen expressions and her trembling hands.
Avoiding his son's pleadings, Grandfather Gu continued, " When my daughter-in-law, Lin Ran gave birth to a daughter, another woman birthed a daughter at the same time, in the same hospital. However, due to some confusion, both children got swapped. My granddaughter, Gu Nuan, was swapped and was living the life of an orphan in an orphanage, away from her family until we found out about the truth and brought her back to her family."
" In the past, we couldn't reveal the truth due to social pressure and was worried that it might be difficult for the children to face the bitter truth. However, it's high-time when the truth should be revealed and Gu Nuan should be given the right position in the family."
" She doesn't deserve all the taunts and indifferent attitude from the people for being an adopted daughter when she is the blood of the Gu family."
Grandfather Gu's announcement caused chaos in the meeting room, leaving everyone in shock. However, the most shocked person at this moment was...Xingren. She felt the floor under her feet to be slipping away.
The identity she was proud of, the family name she always relied on, seemed to be pushing her from the highest mountain, making her fall from high to down real quick.
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