She Owes Lin Miao
Lin Miao shook her head and smiled, speaking in a weak tone, "Dad, Mom, I don't blame you. I have been doing well all these years. At least they raised me."
Upon hearing her words, Gu Shan and Zhang Mei's hearts ached. Their daughter displayed an incredible amount of resilience. Despite the bitterness evident in her eyes, she pretended to be strong.
They had treated Gu Zi exceptionally well, providing her with the finest things from a young age and ensuring she had a comfortable life. They were determined to prevent her from experiencing hardship and deprivation.
However, when they looked at their biological daughter now, it was clear that she had suffered from a young age. Forced into farm work, she had become emaciated and frail, frequently plagued by relentless coughs.
The more they thought about it, the more dissatisfied they felt. Though Gu Zi was innocent, in the end, she had enjoyed the good life that Lin Miao was owed. This was the debt they owed Lin Miao, and also the debt Gu Zi owed her.
Gu Shan commented, "Initially, I had some reservations about coming here.
Before arriving, he had been reminiscing about their ten years together. They had raised Gu Zi, and it was impossible to deny the bond they had developed.
However, now that he assessed the situation, he realized there was no need to be overly polite.
Zhang Mei embraced Lin Miao and nodded. "Yes, Miaomiao, our poor daughter. We will do our best to make it up to you in the future."
Witnessing Lin Miao's calculated reaction, they were deeply moved by her composure. She sobbed weakly and leaned on Zhang Mei for support, as if her legs could barely bear her weight.
She assured them, "No, Mom and Dad. It doesn't matter how I lived in the past. Now that I'm with you and you love me, I'm the happiest person."
Gu Shan and Zhang Mei's hearts nearly shattered. How much pain and hardship must their daughter have endured for her to be this selfless and sensible?
This further solidified their determination to reclaim the money. Zhang Mei said, "This money should rightfully belong to Miaomiao and the Gu family. That girl, Gu Zi, is heartless. When she deliberately sold her job to Gong Xin, we should have known she cared more about money than us."
At the foot of the mountain, Lin Cheng and his wife were busy preparing dinner, while Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin sat with Gu Zi and Su Shen on a stone bench in front of their house, chatting.
Gu Zi observed both the inside and outside of the Lin family's humble abode. Despite their extreme poverty, the place was kept remarkably clean.
The house was surrounded by lush greenery, and while there were some mosquitoes, there wasn't a single fly in sight. Even the stone table and bench were spotless.
Mr. Lin felt a bit sorry about their limited hospitality. He said, "Little Zi, Su Shen, I apologize that we can only offer you a seat here. Have some pumpkin seeds; we dried them ourselves."
He asked his wife to search for some snacks, but she couldn't find any.
Eventually, she managed to locate a large bag of freshly dried pumpkin seeds.
Su Shen and Gu Zi could sense the nervousness of their hosts. To put them at ease, the two grabbed a small handful of pumpkin seeds and started munching on them.
Gu Zi even peeled a few for Su Le, saying, "Come, Lele, try these authentic farmer's pumpkin seeds. We'll ask Grandpa and Grandma to bring some back later."
Su Shen chimed in, "They actually taste quite good."
Mr. and Mrs. Lin were about to say something when they abruptly stood up and inquired, "Miaomiao, you're back too! Are these Mr. and Mrs. Gu?"
Gu Zi and Su Shen also rose to their feet and turned to see Lin Miao and the Gu couple.
Lin Miao did not say anything and hid behind the Gu couple. When they saw Gu Zi and a man there, they were a little surprised, but they quickly concealed their emotions.
Gu Shan adjusted his neatly pressed suit and confidently stated, "Now that all relevant parties are present, we won't beat around the bush."
He turned his gaze toward Gu Zi and continued, "We don't hold a grudge for your previous actions, such as coming to the city to sell your job. As long as you return the money to Miaomiao now, we won't pursue the matter any further."
As Gu Shan spoke, Lin Miao couldn't help but keep her eyes fixed on Su Shen and Gu Zi.
Su Shen was tall and handsome, and Gu Zi was exceptionally beautiful. Their compatibility was evident no matter how you looked at it.
Lin Miao couldn't help but recall what people had said in her previous life. They claimed that when she stood next to Su Shen, those who didn't know them would think she was a nanny accompanying a wealthy businessman. They didn't appear like a couple at all.
Compared to Gu Zi, she felt inadequate. She was blessed with the good genes of the Lin family and was exceptionally beautiful herself.
Growing up in a well-off environment in the Gu family had endowed her with dignity and grace in every gesture.
Regardless of how meticulously she cared for her appearance and how elegantly she dressed, she believed she still looked like an ugly duckling when standing next to Gu Zi.
Her envy and resentment towards Gu Zi ran deep. It was Gu Zi who had deprived her of the good days she should have enjoyed, making her feel inferior to Gu Zi in every aspect..