Chapter 1033: Lin Miao’s Celebration Party
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After receiving her scholarship, Gu Zi was surrounded by leaders from the Education Bureau, all eager to pose for photos.

The flashing lights of the cameras created a whirlwind of attention, but Gu Zi stood there, radiant as ever. Her gaze naturally drifted to the crowd, and there, at the edge of the stage, stood a tall figure, his eyes fixed solely on her. The moment their eyes met, an unspoken connection passed between them, deep and undeniable.

Gong Zhan, positioned in a prime spot with a clear view of the stage, watched the exchange between Gu Zi and Su Shen with a complex expression. At this point, he lacked the courage to even step forward and offer his congratulations.

In that brief, painful moment, he came to a bitter realization–someone as brilliant as Gu Zi would thrive no matter who she was with. She was exceptional on her own. The truth settled painfully in his chest: he had missed his chance.

He turned to Gong Xin and said with a forced smile, “Congratulate her for me later. I’m leaving now. You stay and enjoy the celebration.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and left, his back stiff as he walked away.

Gong Xin watched her older brother’s retreating figure, then glanced over at Gu Zi and Su Shen.

By now, Gu Zi had stepped down from the stage, and Su Shen had made his way over to her. The sight of the two together–so harmonious, so right–made Gong Xin understand her brother’s hasty exit. He had always been the one to let go of good things, and perhaps this was just another example.

She felt a flicker of sympathy for him, though not much. In the end, it was his own fault for letting Gu Zi slip away.

Quickly, Gong Xin shook off her brother’s departure and turned her attention back to the moment. She rushed over to Gu Zi, enveloping her in a tight hug. “My amazing sister, you did it! You’re the provincial top scorer! I’m so proud of you! Let me share in your good fortune! I’m taking the university entrance exam next year, and I hope I can score well, too!”

After a couple more rounds of congratulations, Gong Xin felt like she had spoken on behalf of her brother, and now, Gu Zi was her role model. She was determined to study hard for the exams, aiming for a good university–she may not aspire to be a provincial top scorer like Gu Zi, but a good school was still necessary. Gong Xin had realized how reckless she had been in the past.

Gu Zi smiled brightly, letting Gong Xin hug her tightly. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t have a chance to tell you this morning–everything happened so quickly. But you’re here now, which is perfect. Tonight, Su Shen is hosting a celebration dinner at Golden Sun Hotel. You should come, too!”

When Gong Xin heard the venue was at Jin Long’s hotel, she pouted playfully. “I’m coming, of course, but not one person bothered to tell me about it! Not even Jin Long! Hmph, I’m mad at him, not you.”

Gu Zi laughed and defended Jin Long. “You’re wrong to be upset with him. He probably didn’t tell you because he’s swamped with work. He’s organizing the whole thing–Su Shen’s booked the venue for the evening. Jin Long is busy running his hotel. Don’t forget, he’s going to be the future owner of Golden Sun Hotel. You’ll be seeing him at the top soon enough!”

Gong Xin’s cheeks flushed at the mention of the future plans. She fiddled with a lock of her hair, clearly embarrassed. “Who’s going to be the future owner? Not me, that’s for sure…”

By noon, the banquet rooms at Golden Sun Hotel’s first floor were filling up with the Gu family, gathered to celebrate Lin Miao’s entrance to university.

Lin Miao, dressed in a new outfit and looking every bit the part, enjoyed the compliments of her family and friends around the table.

Earlier that morning, Lin Miao had planned to visit the school with Zhang Mei to check her exam results. However, they ran into an acquaintance who worked at the education bureau, and with a simple phone call, their plans were quickly changed.

There was no need to visit the school–her exam score had come in at 400 points. While not high enough for a prestigious university, it was enough to guarantee a spot somewhere.

Though Lin Miao wasn’t entirely satisfied with her score, she knew it wasn’t a reflection of her true abilities. During the exam, two subjects had thrown her off, and if it weren’t for those distractions, she was certain she would’ve done better.

But, given her history, passing the exam at all was a triumph. After all, she had been through so much to even get this far. And the praise she was receiving from those around her was more than enough to ease the sting.

Her father, Gu Shan, had secured a private room at Golden Sun Hotel for the event. He had also heard that the venue was going to be closed for a private function that evening, but after some careful negotiation, he was granted permission to use the room for their lunch. He had made sure to remind everyone that they had to leave before 3 p.m. to avoid disrupting the evening’s celebrations.

As the room filled with guests, everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the most important guest–Gong Zhan. His presence would signify so much, especially with the newly rekindled hopes for Lin Miao and his marriage. After all, Gong Zhan was the son of a powerful official.

At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd, excitedly calling out, “Look! It’s Gong Zhan! He’s here! Lin Miao, aren’t you going to greet your husband?”

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