Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon-Chapter 1116: Defending Gu Zi

Tang Xue remained firmly convinced that Gu Zi had an inappropriate relationship with today’s car owner.

But Li Juan, despite sharing a long acquaintance with Tang Xue, dared not echo such an accusation without any evidence. She knew Tang Xue’s temperament all too well — if contradicted too many times, a scene was inevitable.

As Li Juan struggled to find a diplomatic answer, she glanced up and caught sight of Chen Xi, striding hastily across the street, scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.

Everyone knew Chen Xi was intent on pursuing Tang Xue, so naturally, he must have come looking for her. Without missing a beat, Li Juan nudged Tang Xue and whispered, "Chen Xi is coming for you."

The moment Tang Xue spotted him, all her frustration toward Li Juan evaporated. In a flutter of nerves, she hastily smoothed her freshly styled hair, pulling Li Juan along casually toward Chen Xi, pretending to be nonchalant.

Lately, Chen Xi had seemed busy, rarely making an appearance to lavish her with attention, and Tang Xue couldn’t help but panic. Was he still upset over the fiasco at the last networking event?

Now that Chen Xi had sought her out, she certainly wasn’t about to quarrel with him. After all, considering how long Chen Xi had adored her, it was understandable he might feel betrayed — she could forgive a little anger.

The three of them — Tang Xue, Chen Xi, and Li Juan — had been classmates back in high school. During Tang Xue’s second year, her father had managed to claw his way into a more rarefied social circle, uprooting the entire family to the capital.

Tang Xue transferred to an elite school filled with the offspring of the city’s richest and most powerful families. There, she met Chen Xi — a bona fide rich kid — along with countless others who were either swimming in old money or drenched in political connections.

Being a transfer student from out of town, Tang Xue had initially been something of a pariah; most classmates couldn’t be bothered to talk to her. Her first friend had been Li Juan — a country girl from the capital’s outskirts, who found it just as difficult to fit in among the polished scions of privilege. It had been Li Juan who had extended the olive branch first.

Of course, it hadn’t taken long for nosy busybodies to start whispering about Tang Xue’s background, sneering that her family had betrayed their roots to climb the social ladder. Chen Xi, even back then, had stepped in gallantly, shutting down the gossip with such force that no one dared to trouble her again.

Tang Xue could still remember the way her heart had fluttered that day — she had truly been smitten.

She had even spoken about Chen Xi to her parents. But they had been unimpressed. While Chen Xi’s family was undeniably wealthy, they lacked the clout that truly mattered in the capital.

Here, where aristocratic lineage and political influence reigned supreme, mere money was not enough. Her parents forbade her from dating him outright, though they also insisted she not alienate him. A rich heir with connections was, after all, still a valuable asset.

At the time, Tang Xue had been furious at their pragmatism and ended up sulking for weeks. But later, after being paraded around the glittering soirées of the city’s debutante circles, she had seen the light.

Her parents were right. In a place like this, the streets were paved with privilege. She, Tang Xue, was young, beautiful, educated — why shouldn’t she aim even higher? Chen Xi liked her; he would always be there. If she wished, she could secure a spot as Mrs. Chen any day she chose.

Meanwhile, Chen Xi had indeed spotted Tang Xue and Li Juan. But he had more pressing concerns at the moment. Approaching briskly, he asked, "Tang Xue, Li Juan, you haven’t seen Gu Zi, have you? She didn’t come out with you?"

The question hit Tang Xue like a slap. Her smile froze awkwardly. Chen Xi hadn’t come to see her — he was looking for Gu Zi?

She was well aware that Gu Zi was breathtakingly beautiful. Whenever they walked together, heads would turn, and strangers would approach them asking for Gu Zi’s number. Tang Xue had never minded before; after all, she had her own admirers.

But now? Now, even Chen Xi was fixated on Gu Zi?

Had he been absent these past few days because he had been busy fawning over her?

A surge of humiliation burned Tang Xue’s cheeks. Her voice sharpened as she snapped, "Why would we come out with Gu Zi? She’s probably busy climbing into some tycoon’s luxury car."

Chen Xi, who had assumed Gu Zi had already left campus, paused at Tang Xue’s words. Something about her tone — snide, almost venomous — sat wrong with him. Calmly, he said, "Whatever rumors you’ve heard, I suggest you forget them. Gu Zi isn’t that kind of person."

He was defending Gu Zi. Defending her — against Tang Xue!

Tang Xue felt a lump rise in her throat. This was the first time Chen Xi had ever taken someone else’s side against her.

"I’m not making things up," she insisted, her voice trembling slightly with indignation. "Li Juan and I saw it with our own eyes! She got out of a super fancy car — it even had a national flag on it! Su Shen is just a businessman. Since when do businessmen get to fly a flag on their cars? Li Juan, tell him what you saw!"

Cornered, Li Juan shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet either of their eyes. After a long, painful pause, she finally murmured, "Tang Xue, Gu Zi is married now... There’s probably some misunderstanding. Let’s just drop it."

Tang Xue turned on her, her voice rising in disbelief. "Li Juan, just answer me — did you or did you not see Gu Zi get out of that luxury car?"