Witnessing the grand spectacle before her, a smile slowly curved Jiang Zhi's lips.
The miserable days of the past were over. From now on, her future was paved with smooth roads. All of this, she had obtained entirely through her own efforts. This gamble, she had bet right.
Unable to be at the scene herself, Jiang Miaomiao had the system pull up the live feed of the event for her to watch.
The venue was packed. Aside from media reporters, the Wang couple was also present, there to witness the formal ceremony where Jiang Zhi would be acknowledged as Old Master Gu's goddaughter.
Old Master Gu first exchanged pleasantries with the media, then began recounting the care he had shown Jiang Zhi over the years. Jiang Zhi maintained an elegant smile throughout, nodding graciously.
After the round of formalities, it was time for the ceremony.
Old Master Gu looked at Jiang Zhi with a kind, affectionate smile. "One could say I've watched Zhizhi grow up. She's been sensible and well-behaved since she was a child. I've long considered her part of the family."
[Original text: A bright smile spread across Jiang Zhi's face. "Old Master Gu has taken such good care of me all these years. I've long considered myself your goddaughter."]
Seeing this part of the plot, Jiang Miaomiao slowly raised an eyebrow.
[System, change 'goddaughter' to 'godmother'.]
On the scene, under the glare of countless camera flashes, Jiang Zhi beamed brightly. "Old Master Gu has taken such good care of me all these years. I've long considered myself your godmother."
Once Jiang Zhi finished speaking, the previously noisy venue suddenly fell silent.
?
Godmother?
Netizens watching the live stream were also dumbfounded.
[What did everyone else hear? I think I heard Jiang Zhi say 'godmother'?]
[I heard 'godmother' too.]
[Did Jiang Zhi have a slip of the tongue, or...?]
Everyone had heard 'godmother'. Old Master Gu, being the closest to Jiang Zhi, naturally heard it clearly as well.
He couldn't help but frown.
What nonsense is Jiang Zhi spouting now?
Hasn't she gotten over this habit of talking nonsense yet?
But with the Wang couple present and the cooperation contract between the two families not yet finalized, he absolutely had to maintain the appearance of being extremely fond of Jiang Zhi.
[Original text: Old Master Gu smiled benevolently. "Yes, I've also wanted you to be my goddaughter for a long time. There just wasn't an opportunity before. Today, we can finally become family."]
[System, continue changing 'goddaughter' to 'godmother'.]
They saw Old Master Gu smiling warmly at Jiang Zhi. "Yes, I've also wanted you to be my godmother for a long time. There just wasn't an opportunity before. Today, we can finally become family."
Tao Yirou and Gu Beichen, standing nearby, both looked at Old Master Gu with confusion.
What is he talking about?
What godmother?
The live stream comments were also stupefied.
[If Jiang Zhi just had a slip of the tongue earlier, then what about Old Master Gu?]
[No, seriously, is it goddaughter or godmother?!]
Worry etched across Tao Yirou's face. She subtly tugged at Old Master Gu's sleeve. "Master, what are you saying?!"
With so many media and reporters present, how would this look to them?
Old Master Gu, however, was not receptive. Irritated, he shook her off. Then, stepping forward, he took Jiang Zhi's hand and led her to the seat of honor.
Next, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he knelt down before Jiang Zhi. "Respected Godmother, please accept this bow from your godson."
?
Huh?
Everyone was stunned.
No one could believe their eyes.
Even the Wang couple was so shocked their mouths formed perfect 'O's.
Originally, they had suspected that Old Master Gu taking Jiang Zhi as his goddaughter was merely a ploy to finalize the cooperation with them, essentially using Jiang Zhi.
But now, seeing Old Master Gu, at his age, acknowledge Jiang Zhi as his godmother... it seemed his fondness for her must be genuine.
But... to prove he's good to Jiang Zhi, did he have to make her his godmother?
Is the generation gap right?
Watching the live stream, netizens were so shocked the screen flooded with question marks.
[Am I dreaming?]
[Wasn't Jiang Zhi Gu Beichen's fiancée? I thought it was weird enough when rumors said he'd take her as a goddaughter, but now it's a godmother?]
[Wouldn't that make Jiang Zhi senior to Gu Beichen?]
[And not just by one generation.]
[Wait, then how would the child in Jiang Zhi's womb address Old Master Gu?]
[This relationship is way too messy. Can someone tell me what they're even trying to do?]
Everyone at the press conference was whispering and discussing, but Old Master Gu paid no attention. As if no one else was there, he kowtowed three times to Jiang Zhi. When people nearby tried to pull him up, he roughly shoved them away.
Seated in the place of honor, Jiang Zhi sat poised and serene, accepting Old Master Gu's prostrations as if everything was perfectly normal.
Gu Beichen's frown was deep enough to crush a fly. He simply couldn't believe what he was seeing.
What in the world are they doing?
Old Master Gu wasn't finished. After he was done, he pulled Tao Yirou to kneel as well. "You are my wife, so naturally, you should follow me in calling her Godmother. Hurry up and kowtow to Godmother a few times."
Tao Yirou couldn't believe her ears. "Master, what are you saying? Have you gone mad?!"
She was the wife of the chairman of the Gu Group! He actually wanted her to kowtow to Jiang Zhi?
He's insane!
Jiang Zhi was just a fake heiress kicked out by the Jiang family. Sure, she had a stroke of luck saving the Wangs' child, but so what?
Since when did an elder kneel to a junior?
And this Jiang Zhi woman actually had the nerve to sit on that high seat, taking the master's kowtows for granted. She was utterly without breeding!
Seeing Tao Yirou's refusal, Old Master Gu forcefully pressed down on her shoulders, forcing her to her knees before Jiang Zhi.
"Woman, where are your manners? Hurry up and kowtow to Godmother!"
He even lowered his voice, leaning close to her ear to threaten, "If you don't do as I say, do you even want to keep your position as Madam Gu?"
Biting her lower lip in humiliation, yet to preserve her status as Madam Gu, Tao Yirou reluctantly kowtowed three times.
The media and reporters on the scene were already petrified.
What on earth is happening?
Weren't they saying Old Master Gu was taking on a goddaughter?
How did it become paying homage to a godmother?
But it wasn't over yet. After Tao Yirou finished kowtowing, Old Master Gu's gaze fell upon Gu Beichen.
"Beichen, come over here quickly. Pay your respects to your God-grandmother. Kowtow to her properly."
Gu Beichen: ?
He was about to lose his mind.
What the hell is going on?
Has Dad suddenly lost his mind?
Seeing Gu Beichen standing frozen, Old Master Gu suddenly flew into a rage. "Beichen! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and kowtow to your God-grandmother!"
Gu Beichen was also furious. "Dad, what are you doing? Have you gone crazy?!"
Old Master Gu seemed completely unaware of how absurd his actions were, just incessantly shouting for Gu Beichen to kowtow.
Gu Beichen was truly at a loss. Seeing that reasoning with his father was useless, he turned his gaze to Jiang Zhi.
"Zhizhi, get up quickly. Don't join Dad in this nonsense."
To his surprise, Jiang Zhi, seated in the high chair, looked down at him with a haughty expression, as if waiting for his obeisance.
Gu Beichen was utterly dumbfounded.