The Queen of Masks

Chapter 3: Such a Beautiful White Lotus

Nancy Gu's mother, Helen Ye, and Ella Zhou are cousins. Ella's parents died in a car accident when she was fifteen, and the Ye family kindly took her in to care for her. On the surface, Ella and Helen are close sisters who share everything, but secretly, Ella has always been jealous of Helen being better than her. To take revenge on Helen, she secretly got involved with Tim Gu.

Less than three months after Helen died during childbirth, Tim and Ella obtained a marriage certificate. If we talk about seducing men, Ella is indeed the pioneer of mistresses.

When caught red-handed, Ella was furious inside. Suppressing her anger, she feigned grievance as she looked at Tim: "Old Gu, can you believe what she's saying? I'm at least her elder; I only said one thing to her and got slandered like this. I guess I really can't say anything in this family anymore. Boohoo... Being a stepmother is truly suffocating for me."

Seeing his wife humiliated, Tim angrily scolded: "Nancy Gu! How can you speak to your Aunt Zhou like that? You uncultured brat! I'll teach you a lesson!" He raised his hand and stepped forward to hit her.

Nancy quickly took a step back. The slap missed its target, leaving Tim stunned.

"Are you still daring to dodge? You're just useless; I shouldn't have brought you back from the countryside in the first place."

Nancy sneered coldly. "If it weren't for worrying that I would become your stain, would you have brought me back?"

As Tim's business grew larger over the years, the Gu family's status in Ping City rose higher as well. To clear himself of the stigma of "promoting while losing his wife," he began doing charity work vigorously and was even honored as Ping City's "Most Beautiful Philanthropist."

With all these accolades piling up over the years and his hypocritical image established, deep down he couldn't help but feel guilty and worried that rivals would exploit his abandonment of his biological daughter for their gain; that's why he reluctantly brought Nancy back.

It's quite laughable that Tim only had this one biological daughter yet neglected her since birth. Before she turned seven, she lived with her uncle; after turning seven, he dumped her at her cousin Sherry's house where she stayed for eleven years without him ever visiting or even calling to check on her.

A teenage girl who had never felt parental love growing up under someone else's roof—being beaten or scolded by relatives daily—felt like living in hell every moment.

Even now recalling those memories made Nancy empathize deeply with them.

Having been publicly exposed by Nancy Gu, Tim trembled with rage. His eyes bulged angrily: "I see you've grown wings! If you're capable enough then get out of the Gu family! Better yet—never set foot in this house again!"

Tim was confident that this girl wouldn't dare leave; if she did leave the Gu family she'd have no choice but to return to a hard life in the countryside—she'd be foolish not to seize what little opportunity she had now.

At that moment, Xena Gu stepped forward from beside them. "Dad, maybe Nancy just acted impulsively; after all, she's engaged to Mo Jiang since childhood. If Nancy truly likes Mo Jiang... then I'll just step aside."

Xena’s words seemed supportive of Nancy on the surface but actually confirmed Nancy's seduction of Mo Jiang while showcasing Xena’s own kindness and generosity.

Her statement instantly evoked pity from Tim. "What engagement? Who believes in such things nowadays? Xena dear—you silly child! She's done something unforgivable against you yet you're still defending her? Mo Jiang likes you—don't forget you're the true young lady of the Gu family."

"Dad! I just don't want to put you in a difficult position nor do I want Nancy feeling upset; as an older sister I should give way to my younger sister.

"

Ella Zhou also pretended to cry pitifully while looking at Xena: "Xena dear—I know you're kind-hearted but some things can be let go while others cannot—you and Mo Jiang are truly meant for each other!"

Mo Jiang squeezed through the crowd until he stood before Xena. "Xena—you must believe me! Nothing happened between me and her—I only have feelings for you."

Xena’s eyes reddened slightly: "Mo Jiang brother—I know how good you've been to me—but Nancy is my sister; I don’t want her feeling uncomfortable."

Mo Jiang tightly grasped Xena’s hand: "Feelings cannot be forced; I really have no feelings for Nancy at all! Xena—you can't always think about others!"

To prove how sincere his love for Xena was, Mo Jiang shot an icy glare at Nancy. "Nancy Gu—this is my last warning: stop using such despicable tactics! I will never like you! Today I'm letting it slide because it's about Xena—but if there's a next time—I won't let you off so easily!"

The reason he appeared at Hilton Hotel today was because Nancy used Xena's identity sending him messages inviting him over using Xena’s phone. Hilton Hotel was where he often dated Xena so he didn’t suspect anything wrong.

When he arrived at room 1705 and saw that it was actually Nancy inside instead of Xena—he realized he'd been tricked.

What infuriated him more was that Nancy had drugged him with aphrodisiacs inside that room—he almost made a huge mistake then!

Thinking about it now filled Mo Jiang with disgust towards Nancy. By now many people had gathered around them. Because Xena was a well-known pianist in Ping City—and coupled with being beautiful—the locals admired her greatly.

Someone pointed at Nancy mockingly: “Isn’t she Miss Second from the Gu family? Hmph—it’s obvious from looking at her face she's not innocent!”

"This Nancy Gu is shameless—even going after her sister's boyfriend!" "I heard that Xena treats this sister very well usually—it’s surprising she could do something so vile.”

"Hmph—what second miss from the Gu family? She’s merely an adopted daughter—the real young lady is clearly Xena!" "I heard they took her in out of kindness but ended up raising someone ungrateful."

"Is there such a thing? It seems these poor folks aren't worth pitying—they're nothing but ungrateful wolves!" Hearing everyone ridicule Nancy made a glimmer of satisfaction flash across Xena's eyes. Hmph—a fool doesn’t deserve to compete with me—the title of Miss Gu belongs solely to me!

Nancy silently observed everything happening before her.

“Xena—isn't it time for you to explain why I went into room 1705?”

Due to heart issues requiring medication long-term control, According to original memories—it turned out that she went into room 1705 because Zina deceived saying she'd left medicine behind at hotel needing help fetching it while waiting downstairs for Mo Jiang.

One must admit Zina had clever tactics! To ruin another person's reputation without hesitation using one's own man as bait!

"Nancy—you want me explaining what exactly?" Zina feigned confusion. Nancy sneered coldly: “Room 1705 is booked under your name right? You said your medicine was left there—and since you'd wait for Mo Jiang—you asked me go fetch it—isn’t that correct?”

Zina frowned slightly as coldness flashed briefly across those eyes. This dumb pig usually lacked courage speaking among crowds—but how dared she question publicly now?

“Nancy—that room may be mine—but honestly—I never asked you fetch any medicine!” To prove innocence,Zina pulled out a bottle from purse: “This bottle I've carried myself—how could I'd ask someone else?”