Gu Family Manor.
"Grandma! I missed you so much!"
Gu Yingying put on an adorable act as she threw herself into Grandmother Gu's arms.
Grandmother Gu affectionately ruffled Gu Yingying's head, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Oh my, my Yingying has grown so much."
"It's only been a year, but you've become even more beautiful."
Gu Yingying beamed at the praise, giggling. "Thank you, Grandma!"
Grandmother Gu nodded with a smile before turning a slightly reproachful gaze toward Gu Yunrou. "So, you finally remembered to visit this old lady today?"
The latter gave an awkward smile and quickly stepped forward to loop her arm through Grandmother Gu's. "I’ve just been so busy with work. But the moment I had time, I rushed right over!"
"Hmph. Busy, busy—always busy. Might as well forget about us old folks altogether."
"Grandma~~"
Meanwhile.
Ignored by everyone, the patriarch of the Gu family, Gu Tianlong, sat stiffly by himself, sipping tea with an air of solemnity.
"Old Master Gu, why are you drinking tea all alone over here?"
Gu Yan strolled over casually, picked up a cup, and poured himself some tea with a grin.
Gu Tianlong frowned slightly at the sight and let out a displeased snort. "Still as disrespectful as ever."
Despite his words, having someone finally acknowledge him eased Gu Tianlong’s mood just a little.
"We’re family—no need for such formalities. All those rules just make things tedious."
Gu Yan took a slow sip of tea, then flashed a bright smile at Gu Tianlong. "By the way, dear Grandpa, do you happen to know any geniuses with management skills? Mind introducing me to a couple?"
The construction of Hope’s Light was complete, and the divisions were set. While he could easily find ordinary talent, managerial experts in the martial arts field were harder to come by.
Since this was his own organization, he needed top-tier management personnel.
Gu Tianlong set down his teacup and shot Gu Yan a mildly irritated look. "No wonder you came over—just buttering me up for a favor."
"Old Master Gu, how could you think that? I came over because I missed you dearly!"
"I just happened to remember this matter and mentioned it in passing."
"If you don’t want to help, forget it."
"To think you’d doubt me like this—my heart is shattered!"
Gu Yan clutched his chest dramatically, his face contorted in exaggerated pain.
"......"
Gu Tianlong’s expression twitched. Is this really my son Tianming’s child? My grandson?
He may have stopped chasing after Shen Wan’er from the Shen family, but how did he turn into such a clown?
Still... since his grandson was asking for help, he couldn’t refuse.
So.
"Enough with the act."
Gu Tianlong took another sip of tea, his face impassive. "Old Man Luo from the Jianghai Luo Family is a good friend of mine. Their family specializes in martial arts training."
"They should have the kind of talent you’re looking for."
Hearing this.
Gu Yan blinked. "Old Master Gu, how did you know—"
He was about to ask how Gu Tianlong knew he needed someone for martial arts management when—
Gu Tianlong cut him off with a cold snort. "Your father took ten elite guards from the Gu Family. It wasn’t hard to guess they were for you."
"What you do outside is your business. If you need resources, the Gu Family will support you."
"But remember this..."
Gu Tianlong set down his cup and fixed Gu Yan with a stern gaze. "Handle what you can on your own."
"But if you ever face someone or something beyond your means, come to the family immediately."
"Don’t try to shoulder it alone."
Gu Yan fell silent for a moment, touched.
So this is the bond of a powerful family?
The unity of a so-called "villainous" clan?
He took a deep breath and smiled. "I will. Thank you, Grandpa."
Grandpa...
Gu Tianlong’s brows lifted slightly, but he said nothing, simply returning to his tea.
Then, suddenly.
As if remembering something, Gu Tianlong glanced at Gu Yan. "By the way, how are things between you and that girl from the Leng Family?"
"Rumors are spreading. When are you going to clarify things?"
The moment these words left his mouth—
Whoosh!
Gu Tianlong suddenly felt multiple pairs of eyes boring into him.
He stiffened and turned toward the source.
Instantly, sweat trickled down his back.
His wife, Grandmother Gu, was staring at him with a deceptively gentle smile.
Meanwhile, his two granddaughters were laser-focused on Gu Yan.
??
What? Did I say something wrong??
Gu Yan, however, remained unruffled. "Qingqiu and I are doing wonderfully."
"But we’re taking things slow. It’s not as exaggerated as the rumors make it out to be."
"I plan to bring Qingqiu to the family gathering and make an official announcement then."
As Gu Yan finished speaking—
Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying’s expressions grew increasingly strange.
When they heard he intended to bring Leng Qingqiu to the gathering, an indescribable feeling settled over them.
Gu Yan set down his teacup and smiled at Grandmother Gu. "Is that alright, Grandma?"
Grandmother Gu’s lips curved upward as she nodded. "Your love life is your own. You decide."
"Thank you, Grandma."
With her approval, the matter was settled.
Before leaving the Gu Family Manor.
Gu Yan ran into an unexpected person.
Namely—
"Young Master Gu, the family gathering is approaching soon."
"I’m sure Young Master Zihua will be looking forward to seeing you then."
Xuehua, the maid he hadn’t seen in a long time, stood blocking Gu Yan’s path.
Though she tried to hide it, the triumphant glint in her eyes didn’t escape Gu Yan’s notice.
Back then, Gu Yan had made a deal with her—if she could refrain from seeing or contacting her beloved Young Master Gu Zihua until the gathering, he wouldn’t expose their relationship.
In fact, he’d even help them elope.
And now, that deadline was almost up.
Gu Yan knew exactly what she was hinting at, so he feigned resignation. "Ah, I didn’t think you’d last this long. Guess I lose this time. I admit, your perseverance is impressive."
"Hmph. Thank you for the praise, Young Master."
"Xuehua has matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."
She bowed slightly to Gu Yan and the others before walking away, already dreaming of her reunion with Young Master Gu Zihua at the gathering.
"?"
"Since when were you and Xuehua so close, Gu Yan?"
"Gu Yan, is she your—"
Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying eyed him suspiciously.
Gu Yan’s lips twitched. "How on earth did you get the idea that we’re close?"
"That was pure hostility, not friendliness."
"And also..."
He turned to the two women still trailing him. "Why are you still following me?"
"I’m going home now, ladies."
At this, Gu Yunrou looked puzzled. "If we don’t follow you, where else would we stay?"
"Exactly."
Gu Yingying nodded and shot a glare at Gu Yan. "Brother, don’t even think about ditching us. Since we’re in Jianghai now, as the local big shot, you’d better take responsibility for us."
"??? What on earth are you talking about?"
"Is Grandmother and Grandfather’s place not big enough for you two?"
Gu Yan slowly typed out a few question marks in his mind.
Were these two sisters seriously planning to follow him back home??
Just the thought of it made him glance at the two smirking, scheming sisters in front of him.
For a moment, the corner of his mouth twitched.
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.
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?!
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
