Song Shuhua was a little stunned. "Tonight? You're taking her tonight?"
They had originally planned on using Gu Shengsheng's presence to get closer to the Lu Family.
After all, the Lu Family's missing son was presumed dead. That was why so few people were willing to marry him to ward off bad luck, only to end up a living widow.
But the Lu Family was a renowned and powerful family in Beijing City, with enough influence to reach all the way to Rui City and help their family out of its predicament.
So for Mrs. Lu Sr. to say something like this now struck Song Shuhua as very sudden.
The old matriarch ignored Song Shuhua, turning to Gu Shengsheng instead. "Are you willing to leave with us tonight?"
'Of course she wasn't willing!'
Gu Shengsheng still had to go to the market tomorrow.
She had promised her fans she'd finish this segment. She had to at least wait until after she completed her challenge tomorrow before she could leave.
She replied calmly, "I have something to do tomorrow. I can leave tomorrow night or the day after. I can just go over by myself then."
'It's just a marriage to ward off bad luck anyway. I'm sure all I have to do is show up. They can't possibly be planning a wedding, can they? How presumptuous that would be.'
Mrs. Lu Sr. studied her with a shrewd gaze. "Miss Gu, what is your line of work?"
"..." Gu Shengsheng had no intention of revealing that she hunted for bargains and gambled on stones at street stalls.
The Lu Family would never leave her alone if she did.
For the sake of her own peace and quiet, she made something up on the spot. "I don't have a job. To be honest with you, Grandma, I just want to be a full-time housewife."
"Getting a bit of pocket money every month and being able to go out and travel... that's my dream life."
"If possible, I'd love to have a few kids and raise them myself. That would make my life complete."
'In any case, there's no husband in the picture, so it's not like one is going to pop up and expose my lies!'
She was good at playing the part of a virtuous, gentle wife. She could just say whatever!
After she finished, she looked at Mrs. Lu Sr. with a sincere expression.
The old woman nodded. "Mm, in that case, your monthly allowance will be about 750,000. As for your freedom, that won't be restricted."
"It's just that when you return to Beijing City, we may have to hold a banquet to introduce you to everyone. It's just... with my grandson not here, I'm afraid a wedding won't be possible."
Gu Shengsheng gave an airy wave of her sleeve and said decisively, "No problem."
'This is my dream life! The sooner I get married into the family, the better.'
At the mention of Lu Shijing, the boy who had disappeared, both Mrs. Lu Sr.'s and Madam Lu's eyes filled with sorrow.
No one else spoke.
After all, he was a once-in-a-generation genius of the Lu Family.
Even after being missing for three years, and after three years of searching, he had never been found.
Now, their only hope was to find a young woman to marry him and change their luck. Perhaps it would end their misfortune. Perhaps he would come back...
It was just a sliver of hope, but a hope like that was enough to sustain them for a while.
Mrs. Lu Sr. had long since seen that this young woman was full of tricks, but she found it amusing. 'Oh my, a granddaughter-in-law like this is certainly interesting.'
She stood up as well. "We'll head back to Beijing City first. Shengsheng, you can just come over directly when you're ready."
She leaned closer to Shengsheng. "Grandma knows you're a free spirit and don't want to travel with us."
Gu Shengsheng also broke into a beautiful smile, revealing two faint dimples. It seemed she hadn't smiled like that once since the beginning.
It was dazzling.
The Lu Family entourage left. Gu Shengsheng didn't bother communicating with her parents and went straight upstairs.
Gu Rongrong, tired of standing, clung to her parents and cried, claiming her sister had been harsh with her.
But Gu Shengsheng had always been the type to ignore what others thought and march to the beat of her own drum.
As she slept in her room, behind a wonderfully soundproof door, she couldn't hear any of the complaints about her from downstairs. She even had several sweet dreams.
To be honest, Gu Shengsheng was indeed a bit desperate to get married now.
Once she was at the Lu Family's estate, where she knew no one, she could truly let loose.
Besides, how could she not be thrilled about marrying into a life of a wealthy socialite—free and without a husband?
Not having to see that nuisance Gu Rongrong would also be a delight.
The next morning, Gu Shengsheng got ready to go to the market. She didn't have many belongings, so she just took her phone, bank card, and ID, not planning to come back.
Seeing Guan Wutian about to leave for work, she said, "I've booked my plane ticket for tonight. I'll go straight to the Lu Family's place."
Song Shuhua said with a smile, "Good, good. We appreciate the trouble, Shengsheng."
They were naturally delighted. As long as Gu Shengsheng went to the Lu Family, all the funds would be secured. Then, the family could reclaim its former glory, and at the very least, Guan Wutian's company could get back on its feet.
Guan Wutian looked at her, his eyes cold. "You want to ask about your grandmother from the countryside, don't you!"
"Yes." 'As expected, talking to a clever man who meticulously calculates his own interests is different. There's not a trace of emotion in his eyes, only calculation.'
Guan Wutian said, "After you attend the banquet at the Lu estate and are acknowledged as a Lu daughter-in-law, your grandmother will be sent back to the countryside."
"Back to where she belongs."
Hearing this, Gu Shengsheng felt a great sense of relief.
She and her grandmother had always depended on each other. If she ended up harming her grandmother because of this, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
As long as her grandmother was back in the village, she could find a way to go back and take care of her, or hire someone to do it.
Once she had enough influence in Beijing City, she could buy her grandmother a house, and it would be much more convenient for her to live there.
With that in mind, Gu Shengsheng left the house.
Song Shuhua cursed at her back, "Ungrateful brat! We treated her like our own daughter! Isn't she only able to marry into the Lu Family because of us?"
"And now she leaves without a single word to us."
She was truly furious.
This Gu Shengsheng was nothing like their dear Rongrong, whom they had raised themselves; she didn't know how to be considerate at all.
Guan Wutian asked, "What has she been doing these past few days, leaving early and coming back late?"
"Don't worry. She's just been wandering around the market, joining in the hustle and bustle. She probably hasn't seen a big city before, having spent so much time in the countryside."
"What future could she possibly have? She's destined to be bullied by the Lu Family. It's a good thing Mrs. Lu Sr. and Madam Lu are kind-hearted; otherwise, her life would be much harder."
"Now that I think about it, that Mrs. Lu Sr. is so nice. If I had known, I wouldn't have let Gu Shengsheng come back to enjoy this good fortune. This was supposed to be Rongrong's opportunity." As she spoke, her voice was tinged with helplessness and worry.
Guan Wutian said, "Nice? What's so nice about it? With Lu Shijing dead, the main branch of the Lu Family is finished. There's no way they can rise again."
"They still look impressive on the surface, but given time, Lu Chaoyang will swallow up everything they have."
"Who knows how much dirty business goes on inside a big family like that. Gu Shengsheng isn't necessarily going off to live a good life."
Hearing that her life might not be so easy, Song Shuhua finally breathed a sigh of relief. This meant their previous decision hadn't been wrong.
Gu Rongrong listened to her parents' conversation from behind a pillar.
She couldn't hide the smile on her face.
She had no desire to go to some village and spend the rest of her life with some wretched old woman.