Even if Tang Yuxiu were the last man on earth, she'd rather kill herself than settle for someone like him!
Because she'd definitely go crazy with him!
Gu Yan tossed her phone onto the bedside table and pulled the covers over her head to sleep.
The next evening, Xue Xianglan asked her out for dinner.
Going out with Xue Xianglan always meant visiting upscale and tasteful places.
She chose the very restaurant that Gu Yan stopped by last time.
The restaurant still had piano music playing, its nighttime melody was transparent and beautiful, possessing a soothing charm.
Xue Xianglan sighed upon seeing her entranced look, "If you like it, why do you care so much?"
Gu Yan snapped back to reality, smiling bitterly, "I'm not you, to live recklessly and spend frivolously."
Thinking of her family, Xue Xianglan felt a pang of resentment, "When have they ever been good to you! They only know how to take advantage of you, and you're foolish enough not to refuse!"
Gu Yan replied helplessly, "What can I do? If they hadn't adopted me, I would've starved to death. I wouldn't be sitting here with you, having this conversation."
"Even so, haven't you repaid their kindness after all these years?"
"People say a drop of water should be returned with a burst of spring; besides, in the eyes of outsiders, I'm still their daughter. How can a daughter abandon her parents?"
Xue Xianglan snorted coldly, "They're exploiting your mindset to unrestrainedly and conveniently oppress you."
"They have no kids themselves."
"Knowing they have no kids and yet treating you so poorly! They're truly courting disaster! For so many years, you've been fending for yourself since high school, and couldn't attend university because of them, supporting them for seven years! How many years did they actually support you? If I were you, I would have severed ties with them long ago!"
Gu Yan was the adopted child of the Gu Family. Since Mrs. Gu couldn't have children, they adopted her just to have someone for old age care. But after all, she wasn't born to them, and they never went through the parenting process; they didn't know how to be parents.
At that time, Gu Yan was already nine. After they brought her back, apart from providing food and shelter, they never gave her a bit of familial warmth.
Besides that, they often made her do this and that, not caring if she could manage it, and would scold or hit her at the slightest dissatisfaction.
Gu Yan always had good grades, skipping three grades in elementary school. While neighbors praised her, the Gu Family only made her do chores, wondering why she bothered studying so much.
For the first three years of elementary school and junior high, the Gu Family supported her, as the tuition was not high. But when she reached high school, they thought it was too expensive and refused to let her attend. She was unwilling, so she worked to earn her tuition and living expenses, diligently completing high school.
She got accepted into a top university, but the Gu Family adamantly refused to let her continue, claiming she was grown up and could earn money, forcing her to work.
She had no choice but to compromise. Until today, at twenty-two, she has been working alone outside for seven years, also supporting the Gu Family for seven years!
Mrs. Gu's mentality has always been, since she brought her back and fed her, she must obey, do everything she's told, and must take care of them until they die!
Gu Yan knew that Xue Xianglan had a lot of issues with the Gu Family, so she kept quiet, waiting for her to vent.
Xue Xianglan gave her an exasperated look that couldn't turn steel into iron, feeling sorry for her deep down but not showing it.
Gu Yan's self-esteem is strong; as long as she can still work, she won't allow anyone to pity her.