Chapter 1040: suffocating Under The Weight of Her Defeat

How insignificant the Zhang family was. If not for Zhang Mei holding his secrets over his head, and the fear that their fallout might cost him his position, he would have divorced her long ago. Why should he tolerate the indignity of the Zhangs?

Today, of all days, they had the audacity to push Gu Zi away, ruining the perfect opportunity–he couldn’t let that slide. He was not about to relent. “Zhang Da, do you think I owe you something? You want to come and go as you please? Fine. But if you don’t, get lost!”

Gu Shan’s voice rang with a finality that made everyone freeze. He was about to upend the table in his fury, and Zhang Da and the others were startled into silence.

Was it really necessary to go this far?

Zhang Da, not one to back down, glared at him, ready to clash, and the two men were on the verge of coming to blows.

The crowd stepped in, pulling them apart before the situation escalated further. The tension was thick, and no one had an appetite to continue the meal.

As people slowly began to leave, some offered a word of consolation to Gu Shan.

“Actually, Gu Zi isn’t wrong,” one voice interjected, “the two families already swapped daughters long ago, their records transferred–only the surname remained unchanged. But the truth is, neither side owes the other anything. From now on, just live your lives. Be good to your elders and kind to Gu Zi and Lin Miao.”

“Indeed,” another added, “it’s pointless to dwell on the past. Don’t hurt Gu Zi’s feelings any further, and don’t turn your back on Lin Miao either. What matters now is cherishing the people in front of you. Gu Zi has her own parents; don’t worry about her.”

With that, the guests began to trickle out, the atmosphere now deflated. Lin Miao’s graduation celebration had unraveled into an awkward and unresolved end.

Mrs. Chen, noticing the shift in the mood, exchanged a quiet glance with Gong Zhan. Their own conversation about divorce would have to wait. Together, they stood up to leave, knowing it wasn’t the right moment.

Meanwhile, Zhang Da and his family stormed out of the restaurant, furious and feeling cheated. The day had gone completely wrong–they hadn’t enjoyed the meal, and now they had effectively ruined things with Gu Shan.

Zhang Da’s wife, puzzled, muttered, “What is wrong with Gu Shan? He’s never been so protective of Gu Zi. Why is he so defensive today?”

Zhang Da, fuming, grumbled, “Who knows what’s gotten into that old fool? Why waste time thinking about it? From now on, don’t involve yourself in his family’s mess. Anyone who does will be cursed!”

Just as they reached the front of the restaurant, a group of people stopped in their tracks, eyes wide as they stared up at the banner hanging above the entrance.

Zhang Da, bemused, called out, “What’s so special about the door? It’s not like it’s made of gold.”

A woman with a stylish haircut stepped forward, her voice filled with excitement. “Not gold, but this is close enough! This is extraordinary! Gu Zi… she’s actually the provincial top scorer! Our neighborhood has a provincial top scorer now. We’re going to be famous!”

At first, the others were stunned, but one couldn’t hold back the sharp remark. “You were just telling Gu Shan to move on from the past. Gu Zi moved out of the big compound ages ago. She’s no longer part of it–what does her provincial rank have to do with us?”

The woman, undeterred, retorted, “Of course it matters! Gu Zi grew up in our compound. She was always exceptional! I knew she was destined for greatness!”

Zhang Da looked up at the banner, suddenly speechless, while the rest of the Zhang family stood frozen, struggling to process the news. After a long pause, one of them stammered, “Is Gu Zi really the provincial top scorer? That’s… not possible, right? Could it be someone with the same name?”

Just then, Jin Long, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but intervene. “Not my sister-in-law? Well, then which of your ancestors dug up a treasure to get a provincial top scorer? Do you really think my sister-in-law would care about Lin Miao’s party? Let me tell you straight–today’s celebration was all planned by my brother, Su Shen, for Gu Zi. It’s for her, so you all might want to leave. We need to clear the place soon.”

The Gu and Zhang families stood in stunned silence, as if the very air around them had frozen. For the Zhang family, the shock was palpable. They had no idea what had just hit them. Of course, it explained everything–Gu Shan’s sudden change of heart. Gu Zi had come back a provincial top scorer, a triumph so rare, it felt like a gift from the heavens themselves.

But before they could fully process the shock, Jin Long had already begun to usher people out.

Lin Miao, standing a distance away, stared at the banner, her jaw clenched so tight her teeth nearly cracked. Her lips were bleeding from the pressure. She had lost–again. Completely and utterly.

How could this be? Despite everything she had done, all her effort, why was she still so far behind Gu Zi? She felt as though she would suffocate under the weight of her defeat.

Her breathing grew shallow as she pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the panic rise. The world spun around her, and with a final rush of dizziness, Lin Miao collapsed.

Zhang Mei screamed in shock as the family scrambled to get her to the hospital.