"....."
"Hehe, little brother has become quite humorous."
A shadow flashed across Gu Zihua's eyes before he forced a smile and continued, "Have you been following the technology journals lately, brother? My company's latest technological breakthrough was featured on the front page."
"I heard you still don't have a proper job. Why not come work at my company? I'll arrange a suitable position for you."
As he said this, Gu Zihua kept observing his grandparents' expressions. With his outstanding abilities and such caring consideration for his brother, surely the elderly couple would realize who should be the next heir to the Gu family?
However, the expressions of the two elderly people remained unchanged, which greatly disappointed Gu Zihua. He felt frustrated inside, wondering what else he needed to do for them to consider him as the next heir.
Xuehua felt incredibly moved and delighted. Young Master Zihua truly lived up to his reputation - not only was he excellent, but he also cared so much for his brother.
When Gu Yan heard his brother's words, he should have shown some reaction, Xuehua thought as she looked over.
Instead, she saw Gu Yan looking at Gu Zihua as if he were an idiot: "Are you stupid? I'm already rich, why would I need a job?"
"Besides, I'm busy dating now. Expanding the Gu family is what we young people should be doing."
"Little Hua, you're so outdated."
Xuehua's face showed shock. What? How could Gu Yan use such vulgar language in front of the elders?
She clenched her fists tightly, feeling that such insults toward Young Master Zihua were absolutely outrageous.
Gu Zihua: .....?
He tried to maintain his smile, but inside, he was questioning.
Did I just get insulted? By this useless brother?
I... got insulted?? And... 'Little Hua'? Who does he think he is?!
Gu Zihua's breathing became irregular. No, stay calm, stay calm.
Just treat it like being bitten by a dog - you wouldn't bite back, would you? Besides, Gu Yan seemed to have changed quite a bit compared to last year.
Last year, if he had said something like this, the other party would have lost face and flipped tables in rage.
But it's fine. With such a crude brother, surely grandmother and grandfather would be utterly disappointed in him?
Thinking this, Gu Zihua looked over, but what he saw...
Was a scene he couldn't comprehend at all.
His grandmother, who had maintained a calm expression until now, suddenly had a smile on her face.
Even his stern grandfather showed an amused smile.
Why? Why was it like this?
Gu Zihua couldn't understand. He clenched his fists under the table, trying to calm himself down. Taking a light breath, he stiffly looked at Gu Yan: "Brother, you've changed quite a lot since we last met."
"But I'm saying this for your own good. It's not right to keep using family money. Having a proper job would be better."
"At least people won't look down on you. And about dating - shouldn't you focus more on your career at this age?"
"Perhaps you should really consider coming to work at my company. Not to mention, brother..."
Before he could finish, Gu Yan interrupted: "Sorry, Gu Zihua, but could you be quiet during meals? Don't you know you're being annoying?"
!!
Gu Zihua clenched his fists, putting on an elegant smile: "You're right, brother. Such serious talk should wait until after the meal."
Damn this waste! How dare you disrespect me in front of grandmother and grandfather!
Gu Zihua was filled with rage. He could somewhat guess why Gu Yan had come here - probably because he knew this was his last chance this year.
So he rushed over to make a last-minute good impression on their grandparents.
But! How could I let you succeed?!
Just wait, the more crude and disrespectful you act, the more it highlights my elegant and agreeable personality!
I refuse to believe grandmother and grandfather would still make you the heir after seeing you like this!!
Moreover....
Gu Zihua tried to sense Gu Yan's cultivation level but couldn't detect anything.
He sneered inwardly - clearly still unable to cultivate. How could he possibly compete with me?
After all, as the Gu family's new-generation cultivation genius, he had already reached the level of First-rate Martial Artist. With his talent, elegant personality, and ability to establish a tech company.
PS: [Third-rate Martial Artist, Second-rate Martial Artist, First-rate Martial Artist, Post-Heaven, Pre-Heaven, Master, Grand Master]
[Each realm is further divided into Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, and Peak]
Gu Zihua couldn't think of any reason why his grandparents wouldn't choose him as the heir?!
Xuehua also felt indignant about this. How dare Gu Yan, of all people, compete with Young Master Zihua.
The two elderly people smiled without speaking.
Dinner ended in a strange atmosphere.
After dinner.
Grandmother Gu and Old Master Gu didn't join Gu Yan and Gu Zihua for an after-dinner walk.
Instead, they left the two brothers to walk around the estate alone, saying they should "have a good chat."
Gu Zihua felt uncomfortable just being around Gu Yan.
He had planned to show off a bit more in front of his grandparents after dinner to gain some favor.
But unexpectedly, he ended up stuck with this guy.
Gu Yan and Gu Zihua walked side by side, keeping a distance of one or two meters between them.
Neither spoke first.
Until Gu Zihua couldn't stand the atmosphere anymore, and wanting to see just how much his brother had changed, he smiled and said: "Brother, do you hate me?"
"Because there might be some misunderstandings between us. Have you always thought that I wanted to steal your position as heir?"
At this point, Gu Zihua sighed, looking at Gu Yan with loving eyes: "You're wrong, brother. I never had such thoughts. Your position will always be yours, how could I compete for it?"
"At the annual meetings' votes, remember how you received some positive votes? Those were actually from me."
"But... unfortunately, others don't have faith in you."
Gu Zihua spoke as if he truly cared for Gu Yan's wellbeing, sighing lightly: "I want what's best for you, that's why I hope you'll find a good job, at least something respectable."
"So people won't look down on you. At the very least, if you work at my company, people will know you've changed and are willing to contribute to the family."
"I believe with some effort, you won't receive so many negative votes."
"What do you think, brother?"
As Gu Zihua spoke, he noticed Gu Yan had stopped walking.
He stopped too, smiling as he looked at Gu Yan.
"......"
Gu Yan remained silent, just standing there, staring intently at Gu Zihua's face for one second, two seconds, three seconds.
Just as Gu Zihua was about to speak again.
The next moment.
He saw Gu Yan's face break into a mischievous smile: "Ah, I really can't help wanting to punch you."
"Brother, what do you me-"
Before he could finish, Gu Zihua's pupils contracted.
He saw the mischievous smile on Gu Yan's face vanish instantly, replaced by a cold, emotionless expression.
His hand suddenly clenched into a fist and swung forward with lightning speed!!
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
+ Slow Paced + Main Character Thrives Together with His Disciples】 Transmigrated into a cultivation world, Chu Xingchen awakens a discipleship system that reveals the tags of his disciples! Starting from scratch, he builds the strongest sect. Disciple One: Li Yingling 【Gold Tag: Genius Cultivator】【Purple Tag: Extremely Lucky】【Blue Tag: Bewitchingly Beautiful】 Disciple Two: Li Hangtian 【Gold Tag: Reincarnated】【Purple Tag: Ruthless and Decisive】【Blue Tag: Loyal and Noble】 Disciple Three: ??? 【Orange Tag: Alluring Demoness】【???】【???】 Thus, in the cultivation world, an unremarkable little sect appears out of nowhere, but little do others know that each member of this sect is a powerhouse in their own right. The book is also known as: Cultivation? It's Exactly Like This!
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
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.
