Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Hua Ying'an guessed that when she apologizes later, Gu Nanyan will definitely pretend to be gentle and generous, showing her own kindness.

She told herself that she must suppress her temper and must not get angry.

Gu Nanyan can pretend, but she, Hua Ying'an, can pretend even better.

She shouldn't care about momentary gains and losses, the key lies in the end result.

Arriving at the study room, Zhan Yiran still knocked gently on the door.

After a moment, a woman's cold voice came from inside: "Come in."

Hearing this, Zhan Yiran tugged at Hua Ying'an's sleeve, asking her to stand here and not go in.

Zhan Yiran went in first, inquiring about Gu Nanyan's opinion: "Elder Sister-in-Law, I brought Elder Sister Hua to apologize to you, do you want to see her?"

Gu Nanyan lifted her gaze from the book, looked at Zhan Yiran, and nodded: "Let her in."

To her surprise, Gu Nanyan showed quite an air, even making Hua Ying'an wait.

She was quite displeased, her hands clenched into fists, only then could she suppress the anger in her heart.

Entering the study room, Hua Ying'an tugged at the corner of her mouth, making her voice sound a bit gentler: "Miss Gu, I'm sorry. I was too much. I shouldn't have called you a vase, and I shouldn't have threatened you. I'm really sorry."

"Finished apologizing?" Gu Nanyan looked up.

Hua Ying'an nodded.

"Then, you can go out." Gu Nanyan unceremoniously ordered her out.

Hua Ying'an was startled, she had thought that Gu Nanyan would pretend to be a pure white lotus, pretending to forgive her.

She didn't expect Gu Nanyan to be so indifferent.

Hua Ying'an turned to look at Zhan Yiran subconsciously. This time it wasn't her fault, she had already apologized. Gu Nanyan was the one bullying people now, Zhan Yiran couldn't possibly still protect Gu Nanyan, could she?

Zhan Yiran was also stunned for a moment. She didn't understand why her elder sister-in-law was so cold, but she knew that her elder sister-in-law wouldn't be cold without a reason, there must be a cause.

She asked sincerely: "Elder Sister-in-Law, are you not forgiving Elder Sister Hua?"

Gu Nanyan turned a page in her book before she spoke: "Hmm."

"Why?" Zhan Yiran asked.

Hua Ying'an was even more curious than Zhan Yiran, why indeed?

Gu Nanyan turned her gaze, glancing at Hua Ying'an indifferently.

Her gaze was very light, yet it seemed to see into Hua Ying'an's heart, making her lowly scheming exposed in an instant.

For the first time, Hua Ying'an felt at a loss.

"Whether it's sincere or insincere, I can tell the difference. If you don't want to apologize, you don't have to come. There's no need to trouble yourself."

Gu Nanyan's voice was unhurried and indifferent, without any ripples. She didn't mean to mock Hua Ying'an, she was merely stating a fact.

Hua Ying'an's face changed, she didn't expect Gu Nanyan to expose her on the spot.

Zhan Yiran, on the other hand, was wide-eyed, looking at Hua Ying'an incredulously. There was disappointment and sadness in her eyes: "Elder Sister Hua, I'm so disappointed in you. How could you be like this? Don't you realize your mistake? If you don't want to apologize, then don't. There's no need to pretend!"

"Little Yiran..."

Hua Ying'an anxiously wanted to explain, but Zhan Yiran wouldn't listen at all. Instead, she got angrier and even pushed Hua Ying'an, trying to push her out.

And Hua Ying'an was even more shocked. She realized that compared to Gu Nanyan, she was too selfish, too narrow-minded, and too insignificant.

Her feelings for Zhan Yiran were not entirely pure. She hoped that Zhan Yiran would like her, reciprocate her feelings, and support her unconditionally. Therefore, when she found out that Zhan Yiran treated Gu Nanyan even better, her initial reaction was to feel wronged and in disbelief, feeling that Zhan Yiran had let her down.

The so-called kindness she showed Zhan Yiran was only skin-deep. She didn't care about Zhan Yiran's feelings, or her future. Everyone said that Zhan Yiran was a little rebellious girl, but she never thought about helping Zhan Yiran, only trying to please her to win her over. Hua Ying'an felt she was really hypocritical.

She took in the sight of Zhan Yiran at present, who had removed her smoky makeup, replaced her flashy clothes, and the whole person had become vibrant. This must have all been the work of Gu Nanyan.

Gu Nanyan was the one who truly cared for Zhan Yiran.

Zhan Yiran was still looking down, after a while, she lifted her eyes, teary-eyed, and looked at Gu Nanyan, "Elder Sister, what should I do? What should I do?"

"It's simple. Apologize to her for me, and privately tell her not to do this in the future. Express your disappointment and talk things out."

Gu Nanyan spoke gently, teaching Zhan Yiran bit by bit.

"Yiran, you are still young, and when you grow older, you will encounter more complex relationships. You need to learn to analyze calmly and find ways to reconcile."

Zhan Yiran looked up, listening to Gu Nanyan's words attentively.

Hua Ying'an stood by, watching the scene in front of her, feeling a mix of emotions that she couldn't put into words.

At first, she thought Gu Nanyan was scheming against her, deliberately saying she wasn't sincerely apologizing, trying to undermine her relationship with Zhan Yiran.

But in the end, Gu Nanyan stopped Zhan Yiran and even spoke up for her.

Initially, Hua Ying'an thought Gu Nanyan was hypocritical.

But after listening to Gu Nanyan's words, Hua Ying'an realized that Gu Nanyan was genuinely worried for Zhan Yiran.

Gu Nanyan was teaching Zhan Yiran not to hurt those who cared for her and guiding her on how to handle such complex relationships.

In comparison to Gu Nanyan, Hua Ying'an fell short.

All she knew was to please Zhan Yiran. While she did care for Zhan Yiran, she never thought from Zhan Yiran's perspective, only knowing to satisfy her.

At this moment, Hua Ying'an truly realized that she was inferior to Gu Nanyan.

She scoffed at herself, recalling how she used to think Gu Nanyan was a cunning person, using tactics to win over Zhan Yiran.

Now it seems she was the most superficial, the most manipulative one.

Zhan Yiran was not a fool, how could she not know who truly cared for her?

Even Zhan Yiran's mother was not a fool, the lady of the Great Qi's Zhan family, how could she not see through these games? Since she approved of Gu Nanyan, it showed that Gu Nanyan had admirable qualities.

Having listened to Gu Nanyan's words, Zhan Yiran understood, but she was still a bit hesitant, looking worriedly at Gu Nanyan, "Elder Sister, Elder Sister Hua said those things about you, her apology afterwards wasn't sincere, won't you be angry?"

"Silly girl." Gu Nanyan ruffled the little girl's hair.

She, the esteemed princess of the Great Qi, would she care about such trifling words?

During the time of the Great Qi, she faced even more obstacles and endured slander far more frightful than any modern-day online abuse.

She, Gu Nanyan, was never one to fear public opinion.

She would show the world that she had the ability to stand at the pinnacle, that even as a woman, she could lead a nation towards prosperity and wealth.

She would make those who doubted her feel ashamed of their judgment;

Make those who slandered her have no place to hide;

She, Gu Nanyan, was more than worthy of the title 'The Pillar of the State', and she truly deserved it!