Chapter 72: Dad, Mom

After just a few hours of travel, they arrived in the neighboring province.

This was the first time since Zhu Niao ran away from home that she had ventured this far from where she lived.

When she saw the vehicle enter the Manor, Zhu Niao finally understood.

So Gou Yu’s father was working as a driver for a wealthy family. No wonder he was dressed in a full suit when he came out.

Not to mention anything else, being a driver for someone living here meant the salary had to be pretty high.

She had heard that once you got on good terms with rich people, the things you could casually get your hands on were just ridiculously extravagant.

“Old Gou,” Zhu Niao’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “how many holy relics do you think have fallen around here? Should we go scavenging at midnight?”

Gou Yu was momentarily speechless.

After entering the Manor, the car slowed down considerably—only slightly faster than Zhu Niao’s usual walking pace.

“Hey Old Gou, have any of these rich folks ever tipped you with gold coins? Or are there any rich daughters here? Are they pretty?”

Zhu Niao chattered on like a lively skylark right beside Gou Yu’s ear.

“I haven’t spent much time here,” Gou Yu said with a touch of nostalgia as he looked out the car window.

Hearing this, Zhu Niao thought about it and it made sense.

After all, Gou Yu had mostly been wandering outside with her. The two of them relied on each other to survive in the wilderness; neither had returned home.

She had originally thought that as long as they had each other in their eyes, that would be enough.

But now it was different. Gou Yu still had a home to return to. His family was waiting for him, unlike her.

She looked over at the middle-aged man in the driver’s seat, who was full of Gou Yu’s image.

That’s so nice. If only she could be like that.

“As for the rich daughter, haven’t you met her?” Gou Yu finally answered Zhu Niao’s other question after a pause.

Of course, he meant his good little sister, who should be home by now.

“Oh, so you have met her.” Zhu Niao thought of Liu Xie.

But Liu Xie didn’t quite match her image of a rich daughter.

She had never seen a rich daughter who cursed like a sailor and stole her roommate’s leftover food.

A real rich daughter should be like the store manager’s daughter—gentle, generous, considerate, and polite.

The car stopped in front of the Great Mansion’s entrance.

Zhu Niao didn’t think much of it. When Gou Yu opened the door, she followed right behind him, clutching the cat as they stepped out.

By the slowly opening trunk, Gou Yu anxiously bounced his leg while waiting.

Zhu Niao, meanwhile, looked around curiously.

She tugged at Gou Yu’s sleeve. “Hey, isn’t that the rich person standing by the gate? They look exactly like the kind who would set up a scam for a college entrance exam candidate who failed the independent admission.”

Gou Yu glanced over but quickly pulled his gaze back. “That’s my dad.”

“I know you want to escape poverty, but a person must have dignity; you can’t call a thief your father,” Zhu Niao began to lecturing Gou Yu earnestly.

Gou Yu paused, “That’s my real father.”

Zhu Niao was stunned. She looked at the man standing by the gate, then back at Gou Yu.

They really did look quite alike.

Wait a moment.

She seemed to understand something.

“Old Gou,” Zhu Niao’s expression was complicated, “Your dad’s not dead?”

Tilting his head, Gou Yu looked back at her, puzzled.

Zhu Niao added, “Well, that’s really rough for you.”

Now she understood better—the truth was right in front of her.

“Didn’t expect you to be a rich man’s illegitimate son. It must be so painful not being able to meet your own father, huh? I get it, I really do.”

Gou Yu laughed bitterly.

“Does my family have to be this broken?”

“Are there any other options?” Zhu Niao surprisingly retorted.

“That’s all wrong. Don’t guess anymore. Just wait and see,” he said.

Lowering his head, Gou Yu took out the luggage. Before it even touched the ground, another formally dressed aunt took it and carried it inside.

He was still a bit unaccustomed to this lifestyle where everything was handed to him on a silver platter.

“Son’s back! Long time no see, come let Mom see you,” a woman who looked like a wealthy madam approached.

Especially her glittering bracelets and rings, almost dazzling Zhu Niao’s eyes under the sunlight.

At that moment, Zhu Niao formed an initial impression.

She looked exactly like the kind of overly kind mother you’d find in a drama about mistaken identities between rich daughters.

No.

Why was she calling Gou Yu “son”?

Zhu Niao suddenly felt that things were not quite what she had guessed.

Moreover, this noblewoman said she wanted to take a good look at her long-unseen son, but she was walking toward Zhu Niao instead.

Then she began circling around Zhu Niao, looking her over.

Startled, the little bird shrank her neck and took tiny steps closer to Gou Yu.

Seeing this, Gou Yu immediately pulled the little bird behind him, facing his mother.

“Don’t scare others,” he said.

But the kindly looking noblewoman peeked her head again to look at Zhu Niao hiding behind Gou Yu.

“Did you hire this girl to fool me and your dad?” she said suspiciously, then gave a deep bow.

The noblewoman was stunned. The cigarette in Gou Yu’s father’s hand fell to the ground as he was smoking.

Then, the noblewoman, who reacted first, grabbed Gou Yu by the collar.

“If you let her run away, you won’t have a place in this family anymore. When you come back, I’ll have your dad break your legs.”