What to do if you become the female lead's best friend?

Chapter 27

"Xiao Teng, I’m your sister too," Gu Ling forced a stiff smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "How could I not be part of the Gu family?"

"Sorry," Gu Teng chuckled lightly, casually brushing back the sweaty curls on his forehead without even bothering to look at Gu Ling. "But the only sister listed on my household registry is her," he said, nodding toward Gu Jin.

To Gu Teng, Gu Ling was nothing more than an annoying pest. They had no blood relationship, nor any real bond, so he felt no need to be polite to her. If it weren't for Grandmother Gu's insistence on raising her and Father Gu's helplessness as Grandmother Gu grew more confused with age, Gu Teng would have long since slapped her away for repeatedly provoking Gu Jin. There was no way he'd tolerate her antics any longer.

But the bright side was that Gu Jin, who used to be reduced to tears by Gu Ling's shameless remarks, had finally learned to fight back this time. Gu Teng, who had always seen his sister as an innocent little bunny, was pleasantly surprised and relieved.

"Why are you still playing basketball in this heat? Look at how much you're sweating," Gu Jin said as she tossed her bag onto the sofa, adjusted the air conditioning to a cooler temperature, and poured a glass of warm water for Gu Teng, personally handing it to him. "Don't catch a cold. Drink some water."

"Nagging like an old lady," Gu Teng grumbled, quickly taking the water from her hand despite his words of complaint. "You're such a pain."

The siblings continued their banter, completely ignoring someone else's presence.

Standing in the corner, Gu Ling clenched her fists as she watched the scene before her unfold.

It was the same as always! She was also a Gu, wasn't she? So why did they treat her like an outsider?

Even though she had a thousand complaints in her heart, Gu Ling knew better than to say anything with Gu Teng present. She was well aware that her only support was Grandmother Gu. While Grandmother Gu favored her over Gu Jin, if it came down to choosing between Gu Jin and Gu Teng, the only male heir of the Gu family, there was no doubt who Grandmother would side with.

She bit her lip silently, glaring at Gu Jin with resentment.

One day, everything you have will be mine, she vowed to herself.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded behind her.

Gu Ling's eyes flickered.

Grandmother Gu emerged from her room, immediately spotting Gu Ling staring enviously at the playful Gu Jin and Gu Teng on the sofa.

She was over sixty years old, of medium build, with a few wrinkles on her face, and half of her long hair had turned white, neatly tied up behind her head.

Although the old lady had lived in the countryside for many years, Gu Changsheng and Li Mingxia were not unfilial. They regularly sent a large sum of money to her account each month. Aside from worrying about this adopted granddaughter, her life was quite comfortable.

And so, even her footsteps were full of energy.

"Xiao Jin is back," Grandmother Gu said with a stern face, slowly walking over to Gu Ling and stopping beside her. She raised her voice, "I thought I wouldn't see you again until I was in my grave."

She pulled Gu Ling to sit on the sofa with her, adopting a protective stance as if afraid that Gu Jin and Gu Teng would bully her precious granddaughter.

The sofa seemed too soft for her liking, so she shifted her position, trying to make herself more comfortable.

"Grandma, you can't wrong me," Gu Jin said, holding back Gu Teng, who was about to speak up for her. She took out a solid gold bracelet from her bag, smiling as she spoke. "I was late coming back because I was busy preparing a gift for you."