Chapter 972: Gu Shan Is Having An Extramarital Affair

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“They’re just stalling, plain and simple,” Gong Xin fumed, her arms flailing slightly for emphasis. “They don’t want the divorce to go through. My parents, being the ‘keep-it-classy’ types, don’t want to make it a public spectacle. They’re worried about people gossiping, so they’re putting everything off until after the college entrance exams. But honestly, it’s disgusting.”

Gu Zi listened to Gong Xin’s tirade, easily picking up on her frustration. She could practically feel the irritation radiating off her friend. Lin Miao was clearly exploiting the Gong family’s tendency to prioritize appearances, weaponizing moral guilt to her advantage. But something about the situation nagged at Gu Zi.

“Wait a minute,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Why is Zhang Mei in the hospital? What happened?”

Gong Xin’s expression shifted conspiratorially as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Apparently, it’s because of your foster father. You know he’s been trying to divorce your foster mother for a while now, right? Poor Zhang Mei thought that once Lin Miao got out of prison and came home, things would settle down. But Gu Shan’s still dead set on the divorce, and the whole ordeal made Zhang Mei so upset, she landed in the hospital.”

Gu Zi’s mind flashed back to the original novel. In that storyline, Gu Shan’s divorce drama had also sent Zhang Mei to the hospital, but it had been handled so much more… gracefully. Thanks to Lin Miao’s almost supernatural “main character halo,” any potential troublemakers had been dealt with swiftly, leaving the family intact and enviable in the eyes of others.

Sure, rumors of Gu Shan’s infidelity had floated around back then, but the public still saw the Gu family as the picture of domestic harmony. After all, in any era, a man’s indiscretions were considered forgivable, something to be quietly endured for the greater good of the family. Women were expected to grin, bear it, and keep the peace.

But this wasn’t the novel anymore. Things had clearly spiraled out of Lin Miao’s control. Gu Shan and Zhang Mei’s relationship was in absolute shambles, and Gu Zi was almost certain Gu Shan’s affair wasn’t just a rumor. If he was this desperate to end the marriage, there had to be another woman—and that woman was very likely someone already close to them.

Gu Zi sighed inwardly. What kind of protagonist is Lin Miao, anyway? Instead of focusing on the chaos unraveling within her own family, she kept fixating on petty schemes to target Gu Zi. Was this supposed to be some sort of strategy?@@novelbin@@

Gong Xin, noticing Gu Zi had zoned out, leaned forward with concern. Before she could speak, Gu Zi dropped a bombshell. “Gong Xin, I’m almost positive my foster father is having an affair. And that woman? She’s right there in their circle.”

“What?!” Gong Xin’s hands flew to her mouth in shock. “No way! I thought Gu Shan wanted the divorce because he was sick of Zhang Mei. Plus, there was that incident where Zhang Mei embarrassed him in front of his boss. But an affair? And the woman’s in their circle?”

Gong Xin’s curiosity was practically bursting at the seams, but before she could press for more details, Gu Zi cut her off with a knowing smirk. “The person in question is pretty obvious. But I need you to help me spread a few words—make sure Lin Miao hears them. Once she does, you’ll figure out who it is soon enough.”

The wheels in Gong Xin’s head began to spin, her love for gossip fully ignited. “Oh my God, I have to know who this woman is! Don’t worry—I’ll handle it. You can count on me. Anyway, I’d better go now. I’ve got things to do.”

With that, Gong Xin practically flew out of the Su household, eager to share the juicy tidbit with her mother. But as she passed by the pavilion on her way back to the courtyard, she overheard a small group deep in conversation.

Curiosity piqued, she stopped to listen.

“Zhang Mei’s been in the hospital for weeks now,” one woman sighed. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through. First, she raises someone else’s child as her own, only for that girl to end up belonging to someone else’s family. Her biological daughter, meanwhile, spends years suffering in the countryside. And just when Lin Miao finally comes home, she gets thrown in jail. Then Zhang Mei herself falls ill, and now her marriage is falling apart. The poor woman’s life is nothing but tragedy.”

Another chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. “Well, isn’t Lin Miao’s prison sentence all because of that foster daughter? I heard they could’ve settled things quietly, but Gu Zi insisted on pressing charges. And now that Zhang Mei’s in the hospital, Gu Zi hasn’t even visited once, even though she lives in the city! I never would’ve guessed Zhang Mei raised someone so heartless.”

A third voice joined in, brimming with indignation. “Gu Zi’s gotten full of herself ever since marrying that businessman. She’s living it up in a big mansion in the city, acting like her foster parents don’t exist. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the one behind Zhang Mei and Gu Shan’s divorce drama—probably still bitter about being married off to the countryside because of Zhang Mei’s meddling. That girl holds grudges, not gratitude!”