"....."
"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"Little Hua, you're so outdated."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!!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
