Chapter 115: Moxi Skincare Products

Gu Changfeng and Gu Changrong are five years apart, but Chu Shixian married Gu Changfeng, who is five years her senior, making her the same age as Su Wan.

Chu Shixian has always been fastidious about her skincare, and among her circle of wealthy socialites, she has always been the one who maintained her appearance the best. Before today, she never believed that any woman her age could look better than she did—especially her sister-in-law, who had spent all those years in the countryside with Gu Changrong. Chu Shixian had never bothered to look at this sister-in-law properly, yet she was certain that the woman’s skin could not possibly be better than her own.

However, one glance today shattered all her confidence. How, exactly, could Su Wan’s skin be so flawless? Chu Shixian could not fathom it. She was the one who used expensive skincare products daily, while Su Wan was merely a country woman exposed to the wind and sun. Yet, Su Wan’s complexion was undeniably superior. Chu Shixian could even imagine that if they were to go out together, others would surely mistake her for the older of the two. And yet, moments ago, she had been smiling as she told Su Wan to take care of her skin so she wouldn't become a "yellow-faced woman."

Gu Jinyan cast a casual glance at the skincare set Chu Shixian had brought over, then shifted his gaze to her face. "Aunt, oh, no—I mean no offense, of course, but I just think you seem to be the one who needs a bit more maintenance."

Chu Shixian’s chest heaved, her face stiffening as she struggled to find a reply.

Su Wan shot Gu Jinyan a warning look before saying to Chu Shixian, "This looks like it’s for younger women. It would be better suited for Zhiran. I have the skincare products A-Ci gave me, and they are more than enough. It would be a waste to leave this with me."

Upon hearing that the products were for a younger demographic, Gu Zhiran felt a sudden, inexplicable jolt and instinctively frowned.

Moxi skincare products were indeed divided into two lines: one for young women and another for women in their thirties and forties. Even though most people knew Moxi was a high-end brand, very few were aware of this distinction. The line for older women was so incredibly popular and in such high demand that the Gu family had failed to secure any of it, managing to purchase only the series for younger women—the very one they had brought to Su Wan.

Logically, even if Su Wan wanted to decline, she should have told Chu Shixian to take them back for herself. Instead, she had suggested giving them to Zhiran. It was possible Su Wan was just speaking off the cuff, but there was another possibility: that she actually knew about Moxi’s product lines.

Gu Zhiran quickly dismissed this thought with a faint, mocking smile. Su Wan was just an ordinary woman, not even a city dweller; how could she possibly have access to that level of information? Curious, she turned to Su Wan with an eager expression. "What did Sister give you, Aunt? Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Sister give anyone a gift before."

At these words, Chu Shixian’s expression darkened even further. Gu Jinyan found the comment grating. He chuckled, his tone dripping with "friendly" advice. "Cousin Zhiran, you’ve never seen it because your world is small. When your experience is limited, it’s best not to speak out and make a fool of yourself."

Gu Zhiran’s hands, resting on the sofa, tightened. Even though she and Gu Ci were both Gu Changfeng’s daughters, and she had always been the one more favored by his family, this cousin had never been so affectionate toward her, nor had he ever stood up for her before. Now that Gu Ci had been here for only a few days, the hearts of the entire second branch of the Gu family had tilted entirely in her direction.

Even though she had always treated the second branch with politeness and sent them gifts during the holidays, their affections had drifted to parts unknown. Gu Zhiran didn't crave their favor, but she had known them for years—it felt deeply unfair that they would cast her aside due to a mere blood connection, choosing instead to embrace a Gu Ci who had only been here for a few days. They were even willing to be so rude to her for Gu Ci’s sake.

She lowered her eyes, forcing a smile, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I’m sorry, Cousin. I didn't mean any harm. I truly have never seen it before..."

Chu Shixian, however, had taken Gu Zhiran’s words to heart, her frustration mounting. It wasn't just anger that Su Wan had rejected the expensive gift she had bought; it was a deep, unacknowledged, and inexplicable jealousy. Gu Ci had never bought anything for her own biological mother, yet she had chosen to spend money on skincare for Su Wan, a woman who had absolutely no relation to her!

She laughed in anger, casting a look of disdain at Gu Ci. "Sister-in-law, what kind of skincare did Gu Ci give you that makes you turn down Moxi? Why not take it out and let me see?"

Su Wan wiped the smile from her face, turned, and went into the bedroom, returning with the products Gu Ci had given her. "This is it. After using it, my skin has felt so much better these past few days. All credit goes to A-Ci."

She opened the lid and squeezed a little onto her hand, wanting Chu Shixian to try it so she could see how good the gift was. Su Wan hoped, in that moment, to make Chu Shixian regret her actions, to make her realize what a wonderful daughter she had missed out on.

However, Chu Shixian recoiled, avoiding Su Wan’s hand with a look of utter disgust. "What kind of generic, no-name brand is this? Don’t ruin my skin with that!"

Seeing the unbranded product, Chu Shixian felt a sense of vindication. She had known all along that a country bumpkin like Gu Ci wouldn't give anyone anything decent.

"Sister-in-law, really now—you dare put this kind of cheap, no-name trash on your face? You’ll regret it if your skin gets ruined!"

Gu Zhiran also chimed in with a feigned tone of curiosity. "Wait, isn't this the same skincare product Sister was using when she first arrived? Does Sister really like using this stuff?"

"When she first arrived" clearly implied her time in the countryside. Back then, Gu Ci couldn't possibly have had the money to buy good skincare, so she must have been using inferior products. The fact that she was now giving such low-quality goods to an elder was, in Gu Zhiran's mind, incredibly disrespectful. She didn't believe for a second that Su Wan would remain unbothered after hearing this.