Watching Gu Hongda, who had been acting all high and mighty just moments ago, now getting dragged around and beaten up by Gu Hongyun left everyone momentarily stunned.
The contrast was just too extreme!
The most shocked of all was Lan Yihe.
He had genuinely believed this young master of the Gu family was some untouchable big shot, capable of anything—only to find out that the million-yuan-per-bottle "Jade Beauty Elixir" was bought with embezzled company funds!
He had been sucking up to a useless rich kid?!
The thought alone made Lan Yihe feel like he'd swallowed a fly—utterly disgusted.
After a chaotic flurry of punches and kicks, Gu Hongyun seemed to tire himself out. Wiping sweat and fanning himself, he finally stopped.
This wasn’t the first time!
Damn bastard never learns!
Unlike most people, Gu Hongyun didn’t really care about the embezzled million yuan—that was small potatoes.
But using his car to pick up girls?!
That was a death wish!
That flashy pink Lamborghini was his pride and joy—worth over nine million! Back in the day, it had accompanied him on conquests through nightclub after nightclub, drawing flocks of women wherever he went!
Just imagining this guy driving his car to woo girls—maybe even doing unspeakable things in it—made Gu Hongyun’s blood boil.
Gu Hongda, face covered in blood, cowered like a quail, begging pitifully: "Hongyun, I was out of my mind! There won’t be a next time!"
Gu Hongyun pulled out his car keys and kicked him hard: "Get the hell out of here!"
If this bastard weren’t his cousin, Gu Hongyun would’ve already had him shot!
"Sorry for the disturbance—holy shit, Boss Yi!"
Only after cooling down did Gu Hongyun notice An Yi and the others, his expression instantly shifting to shock.
Hearing the title "Boss Yi," Lan Yihe was equally stunned.
Who was Gu Hongyun?
The "Little White Dragon of Jiangbei"! The number of women he’d bedded surpassed the number of tea leaves Lan Yihe had ever steeped.
Without relying on his politically connected parents, he’d built two companies from scratch.
Just last year, under the guidance of his district-chief father, Gu Hongyun had been named one of Jiangbei’s "Top Ten Outstanding Youths"—far surpassing the likes of Qiu Xu, who only knew how to flaunt his family name.
Yet this incredibly impressive figure was addressing An Yi with the honorific "Boss"!
This wasn’t just respect—it was outright fawning.
Old Lady Lan was equally bewildered, staring at An Yi, unable to fathom what made this seemingly ordinary guy so special.
Lan Yihe’s mind reeled.
Now he understood why this guy had nearly crippled Qiu Xu yet walked away unscathed.
Clearly, there was more to him than met the eye!
"My apologies, Boss Yi—I had no idea you were here," Gu Hongyun said with an ingratiating smile. Then, spotting Lan Ruoxi, he exclaimed, "Ah! CEO Lan! We’ve met before—do you remember?"
"CEO Lan?"
Lan Yihe froze, then flushed with excitement, his entire body buzzing.
See that?!
Even Gu Hongyun had to address him respectfully as "CEO Lan"!
"Hello, Young Master Gu," Lan Ruoxi nodded politely.
Lan Yihe gaped at her, petrified.
Wait—not him?
But how could this little girl be a CEO?!
No way!
Gu Hongyun rubbed his hands sheepishly. "My visit today was rather abrupt—I had no idea you were part of the Lan family. Last time we met was too rushed. Our company is very interested in your Jade Beauty Elixir. Could we discuss a potential collaboration?"
"Jade Beauty Elixir?"
Lan Yihe’s throat went dry, as if stuffed with a sanitary pad.
His eyes bulged like a dead fish’s as he stared at Lan Ruoxi in disbelief.
The Jade Beauty Elixir—was it really her company?!
Impossible!
No way!
Just half a year ago, this girl had been begging at the hospital for 200,000 yuan to cover medical bills!
How could this happen so fast?!
Gu Hongyun looked at Lan Ruoxi eagerly.
As a businessman, he knew the potential of the Jade Beauty Elixir.
Countless companies across Xia were eyeing this product. If he could secure an early investment, the returns would be unimaginable!
When Lan Ruoxi didn’t respond, Gu Hongyun pressed on excitedly: "Our company is willing to invest 100 million for a 5% stake!"
Lan Yihe and Old Lady Lan exchanged glances, their shock evident.
A hundred million…
That was beyond their comprehension—and it only bought 5%?!
Lan Ruoxi frowned slightly.
A mere 100 million for 5%?
Were they dreaming?
She offered a polite smile. "The decision isn’t mine to make. An Yi is the real owner of our company."
"Boss Yi!"
Gu Hongyun’s eyes lit up with realization.
An Corporation!
Of course! Now it made sense why a cosmetics company had such a ridiculous name—the boss’s surname was An!
An Yi replied coolly, "No need for investment. We’re not short on funds, and we’re not looking for partners right now."
Gu Hongyun took in An Yi’s indifferent demeanor and the tension in the room, realizing this wasn’t the time for business talk.
Pushing further would only backfire.
So, with exaggerated deference, he handed over his business card, grinning obsequiously. "Boss Yi, my apologies for any misunderstandings. A wise man overlooks minor grievances—in business, harmony brings prosperity. Money isn’t an issue; we can discuss details another time. I’ll take my leave now."
With a cheerful wave, Gu Hongyun dragged the battered Gu Hongda out by the collar like a dead dog.
Once he was gone, the room fell silent.
Lan Yihe gazed at An Yi as if beholding a deity, his voice trembling. "Nephew-in-law—no, CEO An! Is An Corporation really yours?"
"That’s right," An Yi replied calmly.
Old Lady Lan clasped her hands excitedly. "I knew it! I always knew Ruoxi was destined for greatness!"
Lan Yihe opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to speak.
Noticing his pathetic expression, An Yi smirked. "What’s on your mind, fatty? Spit it out!"
Swallowing hard, Lan Yihe forced a smile. "CEO An, if you and Ruoxi really end up together, blood is thicker than water—I’d be your uncle, right? Well, lately, your uncle’s been in a bit of a tight spot—"
"Sorry, but I’m just a figurehead. Ruoxi handles all company decisions—she holds 20% of the shares. If you want something, ask her."
An Yi’s tone was firm.
"20%?!"
Lan Yihe and Old Lady Lan locked eyes, their shock deepening.
Gu Hongyun had just offered 100 million for 5% and been turned down.
Yet Lan Ruoxi owned 20%!
How much was that worth?!
Even Lan Ruoxi was stunned.
She whispered urgently, "An Yi, what are you saying? Do you even realize what 20% means?"
"I’m serious."
An Yi shrugged with a smile. "So, money matters aren’t my concern. Don’t come to me for loans."
Hearing this, Lan Yihe turned hopeful eyes to Lan Ruoxi. "Ruoxi, your uncle’s at his wit’s end. Two million would be nothing to you—you wouldn’t leave me hanging, would you?"
Lan Ruoxi glanced at An Yi, bewildered.
An Yi met her gaze, his expression serene.
How could the CEO in charge of his company tolerate being constantly harassed by these despicable mediocrities!
Some matters required her to settle them personally!
--
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
