I Won’t Give You the Satisfaction

Gu Nianzhi knew who Ai Weinan was, of course, and was annoyed. Ai Weinan was just a nobody; she did not deserve the gratification of instant recognition.

Gu Nianzhi made a show of looking Ai Weinan over. She said, with a cheery smile on her face, "My name is Gu Nianzhi. Do I know you?"

Ai Weinan sputtered. She stared at Gu Nianzhi, her eyes wide with surprise. "You don't recognize me?"

"Oh? Should I? Why?" Gu Nianzhi was determined not to give her any sort of emotional satisfaction.

Ai Weinan had not expected this at all.

She had assumed Gu Nianzhi thought of her as an eyesore, a thorn in her side…

But here was Gu Nianzhi, saying she didn't remember her at all.

That can't be right!

Ai Weinan recalled what Mei Xiawen had told her about Gu Nianzhi: she was an orphan, with only a distantly related uncle acting as her custodian. Her family was poor.