Back to the Past: The Rise of the False Heiress Marrying the True Tycoon-Chapter 1074: One of Her Greatest Miscalculations
Gu Zi was utterly speechless. Was Gong Xin clueless or just pretending to be? She knew full well how Jin Long felt about her, yet she somehow remained oblivious to the fact that her actions might break his heart.
Poor Jin Long—falling for someone this emotionally dense was truly tragic.
Still, this wasn’t the worst-case scenario. If Gong Xin and Wu Hao were only pretending to be together, Jin Long still had a fighting chance. There was no point in pushing the issue if Gong Xin herself wasn’t ready to define her relationship with Jin Long.
With that thought, Gu Zi decided she had done enough for the day and took her leave.
Gong Xin only got into the car once Gu Zi had pedaled off into the distance. But even as she settled into her seat, she found herself overwhelmed by Wu Hao’s mother’s excessive enthusiasm.
By the time they reached the courtyard, she grabbed the first excuse she could think of—claiming she needed rest—and promptly escaped the clutches of the Wu family.
The moment Gong Xin disappeared inside, Madam Wu turned on her son, twisting his ear with the precision of a seasoned enforcer.
“You little fool! How can you still be hung up on that Gu Zi after all these years? What on earth do you see in her? Gong Xin is an absolute gem—good family, stable career, planning for university! She’s a hundred times better than that Gu Zi.”
Wu Hao winced, shielding his ear as he edged away. “Mom, I already agreed to go on dates with Gong Xin, and we’re getting to know each other. What more do you want? Gong Xin wasn’t feeling well today—she needed help. What does that have to do with me?”
Madam Wu huffed, somewhat appeased but still unwilling to let him off entirely. “I just don’t want you to waste your time and let a good girl slip away. Tomorrow, you’re bringing fruit and snacks over to Gong Xin’s place. She’s the darling of the Gong family—you need to treat her right.”
Wu Hao muttered under his breath, “All you care about is status…”
Madam Wu’s expression darkened instantly. She had half a mind to smack him, but in the end, she restrained herself. After all, this was her own son—if she damaged him, she’d only be hurting herself. She swallowed her frustration and let him go. For now.
Meanwhile, at the Gong residence, Gong Xin barely made it through the door before her mother, Madam Chen, pounced. “Why are you alone? Don’t tell me it didn’t work out again?”
Gong Xin groaned dramatically, collapsing onto the sofa like a felled tree. “I went to the hospital, not a matchmaking event! Can we not rush this? Don’t you think we should actually get to know each other first?”
Madam Chen’s brows knitted in disapproval. “What’s there to know? Wu Hao is well-educated, reliable, and sincere. What’s your problem with him?”
Gong Xin shrugged lazily. “You used to say Lin Miao was a great choice too. And look how that turned out—Brother ran off to escape from it all.”
Madam Chen pursed her lips, momentarily speechless. Indeed, forcing Lin Miao into the family had been one of her greatest miscalculations…
…
Back at home, Gu Zi wasted no time dialing Jin Long’s number. “I got to the bottom of it—Wu Hao is just a decoy. You still have a chance, so stop sulking.”
The relief in Jin Long’s voice was evident. “Are you serious? Oh my God, Gu Zi, you’re the best! From now on, you’re my number one VIP—everything at Golden Sun is on the house!”
Gu Zi chuckled. “You sound ridiculously happy. But listen, Gong Xin isn’t getting any younger. Even if it’s not Wu Hao, there will be others. If you’re serious about her, you need to act fast. She needs to figure out her own feelings before it’s too late.”
There was a brief pause on the other end before Jin Long hesitantly admitted, “This is my first time chasing a girl. I have no idea what I’m doing. What if I mess up and scare her away?”
Gu Zi rolled her eyes. “You’re overcomplicating things. Gong Xin isn’t that hard to understand. Just keep it simple—show her, tell her, make her feel it. Gifts, flowers—classic moves.”
Jin Long hesitated. “But we’re just friends. If I suddenly start giving her gifts, she’s going to think it’s weird.”
Gu Zi sighed. “Fine, I’ll coach you. Gong Xin is a foodie, right? Start by inviting her to your restaurant to try new dishes. She won’t say no. Once she’s there, ask for her feedback—make her feel important. And then, when she’s least expecting it, thank her with a small gift. Nothing over-the-top, just a nice gesture. Do this a few times, and when the moment feels right, take things a step further—maybe a movie date. And, Jin Long, don’t just stay in the ‘friend zone.’ A little well-timed hand-holding wouldn’t hurt.”
