“Much better.” With a genuinely sweet smile plastered on her face, she knocked on the door.

The housekeeper, who was eavesdropping with Yue Linze, thought, ‘She feels better, but Mr. Yue doesn't look so good.’

He was about to offer some words of comfort when the sound of knocking echoed from the phone. He immediately composed himself, focusing intently on the sounds from the other end.

Tao Yu waited patiently after knocking. Soon, the door opened, revealing Zhou Yanran. Both women froze, clearly surprised to see each other.

Zhou Yanran's eyes flashed with jealousy as she took in Tao Yu's expensive clothes and brooch. This was the outfit Yue Linze had given her. This woman was truly shameless, always trying to climb the social ladder.

“Hello, Miss Zhou,” Tao Yu said with a smile. If there was anyone here who could make her feel even slightly relaxed, it was undoubtedly this treasure of a girl.

Zhou Yanran glanced back inside and lowered her voice. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see Mr. Gu,” Tao Yu replied with a smile.

Zhou Yanran scoffed. “No need. You’re not welcome here. Leave.”

She started to close the door, but Tao Yu quickly wedged her foot in, stopping it. A pushing and pulling match ensued. In terms of strength, how could the pampered Miss Zhou be a match for Tao Yu? Her face quickly turned red. After a moment, she angrily exclaimed, “I said you’re not welcome! Have you no shame?”

“Miss Zhou, that’s a bit harsh. I’m here to see Mr. Gu, not Mr. Linying. How does that make me shameless?” Tao Yu looked at her innocently.

Zhou Yanran paused, her face darkening. That foolish moment when she’d sought out Yue Linze was the stupidest decision of her life, but that didn't mean it had to become her permanent black mark.

With a dark expression, she said, “Do you think you can threaten me forever with this little bit of information you have? Don't think I don't know who you are. You're just…”

Before she could finish, Yue Linying's voice came from inside. “Who’s there?”

Zhou Yanran startled, suddenly worried that her conversation with Tao Yu had been overheard. She had been scolded by Yue Linying yesterday and didn't want to endure another round of humiliation.

Tao Yu, unconcerned with Zhou Yanran’s current emotional state, immediately raised her voice in response to the question from inside. “Mr. Linying, it’s Tao Yu. I heard Mr. Gu was injured, and Linze asked me to come and see him.”

Knowing she'd been overheard, Zhou Yanran raised her voice as well. “If it weren’t for you, Uncle Gu wouldn’t be injured! How dare you come see him?!” She wanted to make it clear she had nothing to do with Yue Linze and Tao Yu.

Tao Yu’s lips twitched. Was this woman’s idiocy innate? Gu Yansheng’s injury seemed to be from a fall. How could they be blamed for that?

After a moment of silence, Yue Linying said, “Come in.”

Tao Yu gave Zhou Yanran a sidelong glance, plastered on a professional smile, and entered. Yue Linying was adjusting Gu Yansheng's pillows. He straightened up, and upon seeing Tao Yu, he froze. After a moment, realizing his expression was a bit rude, he quickly said, “I apologize. Miss Tao looks quite different from yesterday, so I didn’t recognize you for a moment.”

“It’s understandable, since we’ve only met once,” Tao Yu replied politely, inwardly rolling her eyes. Although she hadn't been in a relationship, she’d had her share of admirers. How could she miss the admiration in Yue Linying's eyes?

She could see it, and so could the astute Gu Yansheng. Yue Linze, who was eavesdropping, also picked up on something from that brief silence.

The housekeeper felt the temperature in the room drop and couldn't help but shrink back a little.

“Alright, you can leave,” Gu Yansheng said, frowning at Yue Linying.

Yue Linying, sensing the displeasure in his tone, tensed up and quickly nodded, leading the recently arrived Zhou Yanran out of the room.

Now alone with Gu Yansheng, Tao Yu watched as he ignored her, sitting on the bed and attending to his business matters. She immediately understood he was deliberately giving her the cold shoulder.

Unfazed, she stood for a while, and when her legs grew tired, she promptly sat down in the chair beside the bed. These people weren't Yue Linze, so she certainly wasn't going to put up with any of their nonsense.