365: They deliberately spread rumors.

Zhang Xiaorou met with Zhang Mianmian; the two had a pretty good relationship and would often correspond by letter.

Seeing Zhang Mianmian with red-rimmed eyes and looking unhappy, she asked what had happened. Naturally, Xiao Yi acted as the mouthpiece and explained the situation.

After listening, Zhang Xiaorou was also extremely angry.

"It's not even certain if she is real or fake. She bullied Mom and me before, and now she's bullying you, Older Female Cousin. It's just too much..."

When Zhang Mianmian heard this, she was secretly delighted. She hadn't expected Xiao Niannian to not only bully her but also offend Zhang Xiaorou.

Her Younger Female Cousin, Xiaorou, was just like her. Though she looked soft and weak, her methods were anything but small.

Zhang Mianmian looked at Zhang Xiaorou gently and said, "Younger Female Cousin Xiaorou, it doesn't matter if she bullies me, but why is she bullying you too? You are so kind..."

Hearing Zhang Mianmian's words, Zhang Xiaorou became even angrier.

"Hmph, I don't know what methods she used to trick Uncle and Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu, and now she has coaxed the two Older Brothers into being so good to her..."

Zhang Xiaorou was truly angry. She had always hoped for her mother to marry Uncle so that she could become a daughter of the Gu Family, and then she could change her surname.

Now that Xiao Niannian had returned, she had even stolen her identity.

Now, Uncle and Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu were extremely distant toward her mother and her.

Now that her Maternal Grandparents had returned, Xiao Niannian and the Older Brothers would definitely go to the old Zhang residence in a few days.

Her mother hadn't had a chance to meet with Uncle alone for these past few months. Her mother had even gone to Uncle's workplace, but Uncle hadn't seen her.

"Don't be angry. Let's eat first. Later, I'll take you both to Maternal Grandparents' house."

In the days since the Adoptive Mother and the others returned, Zhang Fu had deliberately spread some rumors to make the Zhang family feel that Xiao Niannian was a very calculating person, and that the matter of recognizing her as a relative was only acknowledged by the brother-in-law, which then led Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu to acknowledge it. She still didn't know why the brother-in-law had acknowledged Xiao Niannian's identity. If only she knew that.

The old Zhang residence.

In the past, the Zhang family's status and position were not as high as the Gu Family or the Lu Family. Over the years, Eldest Maternal Uncle Zhang and the second maternal Uncle had both pursued careers in politics, which was slightly more impressive than their peers, but compared to those in the Compound, they were still somewhat lacking.

These people held posts in Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, and other places, so they rarely returned to the Capital City. Old Master Zhang was also recuperating in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province.

"Have you spoken to Niannian on the phone?" Old Madam Zhang asked her two daughters-in-law.

"Mom, Niannian is attending the Military Academy, and we don't know the school's phone number. A few days ago, I called her In-law mother, and she said she would be back on the train today..." replied the Eldest Maternal Uncles Wife.

"I'll give her In-law mother a call to see if Niannian has arrived home yet."

Back when Old Madam Zhang was in Shanghai, her Son-in-law had called her and the Old Man to say that Niannian had been found, but their daughter had not yet been found, and he also confirmed that Niannian was indeed their biological Maternal Granddaughter. However, the specific details were still not clear.

"Niannian, come over and answer the phone."

Hearing Grandma's words, Xiao Niannian walked over. "It's your Maternal Grandmother calling."

Xiao Niannian took the phone and called out, "Maternal Grandmother."

Hearing Niannian's voice, Old Madam Zhang's eyes reddened. "Oh. Niannian, you're on break. When are you coming to Maternal Grandparents' house?"

Xiao Niannian glanced at her older brother and second brother. "Tomorrow morning." "Good."

After Xiao Niannian spoke a few words with Old Madam Zhang, she spoke a few more with Old Master Zhang. Afterward, Gu Yuan and Gu Jin also spoke with their Maternal Grandparents.

Although Xiao Niannian had received a few calls from her Maternal Grandparents, she had never met the relatives from the Zhang family, so she didn't have very deep feelings for them yet.

Xiao Niannian was also trying to find ways to investigate her mother's disappearance, and her father was also constantly searching.

Just after finishing the call with the Zhang family, Xiao Niannian was preparing to go upstairs to rest when she heard a familiar voice at the door. "Sister Xiao." Shen Yan's voice rang out.

"Grandpa Gu, Grandma Gu..." Shen Yan was usually very sweet-talked; most of the Grandparents in the Compound liked him very much.

"Sister Xiao, you're finally back."

For the first three days after Shen Yan arrived home, his Grandparents loved him very much and doted on him in every way. From the fourth day on, he wasn't as precious anymore. Moreover, he didn't know what his brother had said, but his family made him get up around 6:50 every day to run and exercise, and he had to train in the training room for an hour or two during the day. They had never been this strict with him before.

His brother was truly ruthless; even though he wasn't at home, he still managed to discipline him like this. Just like what Sister Xiao said, the struggle for succession had always been this way. Hmph, when his brother returned, he would definitely defeat him.

However, these past few days had really been different. He had sparred with several friends in the Compound, and none of them could beat him.

"Xiao Yan is here, sit down quickly." Grandma Gu greeted Shen Yan with a smile.

Gu Yuan and Gu Jin's gazes toward Shen Yan were not as gentle. When they were in the City Name previously, Shen Yan liked to hang around their younger sister, listened to her in everything, and called her Sister Xiao every chance he got. They suspected that Shen Yan had designs on their younger sister. Therefore, they had been wary of Shen Yan all these days.

"What are you here for?" Gu Jin asked directly.

Grandma Gu heard her second Grandson's words and glared at him.

"My Grandparents heard that Sister Xiao is back and would like to invite Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu, along with Sister Xiao and Brother Gu Yuan and Brother Gu Jin, to be guests..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan and Gu Jin became even more wary. The two exchanged a look.

Seeing the expressions of Gu Yuan and Gu Jin, Shen Yan immediately understood what they meant and quickly explained, "My Grandparents heard that Sister Xiao taught me a lot over the past few months, which helped my grades improve by dozens of places, so they want to thank Sister Xiao..."

So that was what it was about. Seeing her Older Brothers' expressions, Xiao Niannian pursed her lips and smiled.

How could she not know why her Older Brothers had been displeased with Shen Yan these days? She had explained it before, but her Older Brothers were still wary of Shen Yan, so she didn't say much more.

If her Older Brothers knew about Lu Jing's intentions, would they get into a fight with him? However, her Older Brothers were very skilled, and they knew their limits, so they definitely wouldn't fight too severely.

She thought back to the time when her father was displeased with Lu Jing.

Hearing this, Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu said with a smile, "Niannian and the others are going to her Maternal Grandparents' house tomorrow. How about the day after?"

"Of course that's fine."

After agreeing on the time, Shen Yan hurriedly ran away. He didn't want to be stared at by Gu Yuan and Gu Jin anymore.

He didn't dare tell Gu Yuan and Gu Jin that the one truly watching Sister Xiao was Brother Lu, not him. If he said that, Brother Lu would definitely beat him up when he found out later.