《Shocking! She Returned with a Miniature Bigshot》 Chapter 1 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Dragging her dizzy body, Gu Ci rushed into the restroom and shoved her hand down her throat, vomiting out the alcohol that Gu Chuyun had just forced her to drink. Her body felt like it was on fire, but at least she felt a little better now. To her surprise, she had somehow been reborn into her 18-year-old self on the very night that would change the course of her life forever. It was the fifth day after the college entrance examination, and Gu Chuyun was engaged to Lu Shijie. Tonight was their engagement ceremony. Lu Shijie was the young master of the largest business empire in City A. He held immense power and influence, but he also had a sadistic tendency for bloodlust. At least six women had died under his hand, all of whom had been silenced by the Lu family. Gu Chuyun didn¡¯t want to marry Lu Shijie, so she devised a plan to get him drunk and take advantage of him during their engagement ceremony and then bribed the reporters to cover the story. The next day, news of Gu Ci seducing her sister¡¯s husband at the engagement banquet would spread like wildfire, tarnishing her reputation and causing her to be despised by everyone. She would fall into the depths of despair from then on. Gu Chuyun¡¯s plan was perfect. However, Gu Ci was a ruthless person. When Lu Shijie tried to force himself on her, she stabbed him in the abdomen with a knife, rendering him impotent and incapable of having children. When reporters burst into the room, she was holding the knife while Lu Shijie lay in a pool of blood, barely alive. The Lu family would not let this go easily, and they sued Gu Ci in court. She was sentenced to five years in prison. The Gu family gave up on appealing the verdict, and her mother, Lu Man, cruelly revealed to her that she and Gu Chuyun had been switched at birth and that Gu Chuyun was Lu Man¡¯s real daughter. But Gu Ci didn¡¯t dwell on the past. She emerged from the restroom as a changed woman, no longer the powerless 18-year-old she once was. During her five years in prison, she had learned how to fight and defend herself. When Lu Shijie entered the room, she knocked him out cold. ¡°Gu Chuyun, you¡¯re finished!¡± she declared. She was determined to make Gu Chuyun experience the consequences of her own actions. Gu Ci took Lu Shijie¡¯s phone and unlocked it with his face recognition. She found Gu Chuyun¡¯s chat and glanced at the conversation. As she suspected, Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun had conspired together. Lu Shijie wanted Gu Chuyun¡¯s shares, as well as Gu Ci herself. What scumbags! She sent a message to Gu Chuyun, asking her to come upstairs. Three minutes later, Gu Chuyun pushed open the door with malice in her heart. She was eager to see what fate awaited Gu Ci, the woman who had been defiled by Lu Shijie and nearly died. As soon as Gu Chuyun entered, Gu Ci pounced on her, and Gu Chuyun screamed. Gu Ci covered her mouth, and Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Why was Gu Ci still conscious? ¡°Ahh¡­ahh¡­¡± Gu Chuyun struggled frantically, but Gu Ci punched her and knocked her out. Just as Gu Ci let out a sigh of relief, the door was pushed open once again. Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed to the door, determined to prevent anyone from seeing what had just happened. However, the person who opened the door was a cute six-year-old child, with fair skin and a resemblance to Gu Ci. He held a short knife in his hand and stared at Gu Ci with wide, adorable peach-blossom eyes. ¡°Ziyu?¡± Gu Ci asked in shock. ¡°Mommy?¡± The child¡¯s voice was young and confused. Gu Ci was stunned. She had been reborn into her 18-year-old self. Why was she seeing her precious son again? In her previous life, after serving her five-year sentence, Gu Ci¡¯s hands were ruined by Gu Chuyun, and she could no longer play the violin. Gu Chuyun also ruined her appearance, making her look ugly and disfigured. In her most desperate moments, it was Lu Zhiyuan who protected her and gave birth to their son, Ziyu. After Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s death, she lost her mind. Before she died, the person she was most concerned about and most heartbroken for was her son, Ziyu. ¡°Ziyu¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s tears welled up in her eyes. She hugged him tightly, struggling to stay alive and protect him. She had caused him so much pain, and it tore her heart apart. ¡°My baby, why are you here? Why did you come here?¡± ¡°Mommy, I came to protect you,¡± Ziyu replied, staring at Gu Ci with his beautiful, healthy mother. He had only seen her in pictures. This was his 18-year-old mother. The most beautiful mother in the world, not the mother from the previous life who was neither human nor ghost. In this life, no one would hurt her! He would be her guardian angel. Gu Ci also regained her senses and looked at Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun. This pair of unfaithful people must pay a price. Ziyu felt the killing intent emanating from Gu Ci¡¯s body. He hated them even more! Because of them, he had lost his father since childhood, and his mother had suffered all her life. The tragedy of their family of three was all caused by them. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t dirty your hands. They don¡¯t deserve it!¡± Ziyu said indifferently. He took out a pill, dissolved it in water, and forced Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun to drink it. Soon, Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun felt like their bodies were on fire, writhing in agony and moaning. Gu Ci was taken aback. Her baby was only six years old, how did he know about such a pill? ¡°Killing them would only bring temporary satisfaction. I prefer to watch them fall into the abyss.¡± Just like in her previous life, they tortured her and made her lose everything. But Ziyu was still young and immature, and could only watch them torture his mother and torture him. Gu Ci felt heartbroken. In her previous life, when she lost her mind, she had also tortured Ziyu. Her precious son, Ziyu, should have had a happy and carefree childhood. He should have been a happy and innocent child. However, he had become a little devil. ¡°Mommy, are you upset?¡± Ziyu asked innocently yet cruelly. ¡°Mommy, are you afraid of me? Ziyu will never hurt Mommy.¡± Gu Ci wiped away her tears and suppressed all her emotions. She stroked her son¡¯s tender face. ¡°Mommy¡­just feels sorry for Ziyu.¡± Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun were writhing in agony, rolling together like beasts, soon making embarrassing noises. Gu Ci sneered. Gu Chuyun, welcome to hell! She wanted Gu Chuyun to taste what it was like to be in hell. Ziyu took Gu Ci¡¯s tablet and hacked into the surveillance system of the Gu family, deleting the footage of him and Gu Ci when they left the mansion. In his previous life, the six-year-old Ziyu was already a terrifying hacker, a genius boy who struck fear into people¡¯s hearts. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s done.¡± He tilted his head up and flashed a shy but sweet smile at Gu Ci, like a fake smile from a cute child. Gu Ci¡¯s heart ached at the sight of his smile. She had been insane for six years and had hardly ever seen her son smile. In the past life, this child was always as gloomy as a little demon. ¡°Baby, Mommy still has some things to take care of. Wait for me, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci turned around and went back to the Gu family mansion. At eighteen, Gu Ci was a beauty with snow-white skin and delicate features. She was the envy of the A-city social scene and the daughter of Gu Wenliang, the chairman of Gu Group. Gu Wenliang¡¯s wife, Jiang Mingyue, and his lover, Lu Man, were pregnant at the same time and gave birth to two girls. Lu Man maliciously switched the babies, and Gu Ci was actually Jiang Mingyue¡¯s biological daughter. Jiang Mingyue suffered from postpartum depression and eventually passed away. Three months after her death, Gu Wenliang married Lu Man. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 2 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Man had doted on Gu Ci since her youth, wanting to spoil her so much that she became useless, but she also devoted much care to nurturing Gu Chuyun. As a result, Gu Ci grew flamboyant, bright, arrogant, and domineering, while Gu Chuyun was gentle like water, akin to a flower with understanding. Gu Chuyun had also become a rising star in the violin world, participating in a competition at the tender age of fourteen and winning the championship. Her career had been smooth sailing ever since, and she had consistently been lauded as a genius violinist. Many believed that Gu Chuyun had inherited Jiang Mingyue¡¯s violin talent and was a prodigious talent. However, Gu Chuyun had formed cliques and ostracized Gu Ci since childhood. Due to Lu Man¡¯s status as a mistress, many had accused Gu Ci of being an illegitimate daughter. Every time such accusations were made, Gu Ci would fight back fiercely, her already-arrogant personality becoming even more pronounced. Despite her efforts, Gu Ci had never won against Gu Chuyun, and her reputation was tarnished. Whenever Gu Chuyun¡¯s name was mentioned, people would praise her for her gentleness and rationality, further adding to Gu Ci¡¯s isolation. Whenever Gu Ci is mentioned, it¡¯s always about her being arrogant, narrow-minded, and unable to behave properly. She¡¯s truly an illegitimate child who can¡¯t hold her own. ¡°Xiao Ci, what are you doing here?¡± Lu Man was surprised and frightened to see Gu Ci. Wasn¡¯t she locked up in the room with Lu Shijie? Gu Ci sneered, ¡°If I¡¯m not here, where else would I be?¡± ¡°Xiao Ci, today is your sister¡¯s engagement banquet, don¡¯t cause any trouble,¡± Lu Man felt that Gu Ci had changed. She was even more arrogant, domineering, and proud. As long as Lu Man favored Gu Chuyun, she could always drive Gu Ci crazy. This trick had never failed before. But now, Gu Ci was like a completely different person, stunningly beautiful and exquisite, like a rose with thorns. ¡°Can¡¯t you be more sensible? What¡¯s the occasion today? Why are you making a scene?¡± Gu Wenliang instinctively rebuked Gu Ci upon hearing Lu Man¡¯s words. It had always been like this since they were young ¨C if Gu Chuyun shed a tear, it was Gu Ci¡¯s fault. Recently, Gu Wenliang had heard rumors that Gu Ci was secretly in love with Lu Shijie. Knowing her usual spoiled and capricious behavior, Gu Wenliang was afraid that she would ruin this engagement and spoke to her in a particularly stern tone. To have a crush on her own future brother-in-law was truly embarrassing! ¡°Gu Ci, did you do something again? If you dare to disrupt Chuyun¡¯s engagement banquet, I¡¯ll break your legs,¡± Gu Yaozu blatantly favored Gu Chuyun. He wouldn¡¯t allow Gu Ci to take anything from Gu Chuyun! Everyone preferred the gentle and obedient Gu Chuyun. The guests were all eager to watch the show upon hearing the rumors. ¡°I heard that Gu Ci is secretly in love with Lu Shijie, but can¡¯t have him. Today¡¯s engagement banquet is going to be interesting.¡± ¡°She really has no shame. He¡¯s her future brother-in-law, how can she have the face to do this?¡± ¡°When has Gu Ci ever cared about her reputation? It¡¯s a pity that poor Gu Chuyun has such a sister who has been bullied since childhood.¡± ¡°She is a truly foolish and wicked illegitimate child with poor character. Who in high society would want a daughter-in-law like her? It¡¯s all because Lu Man has raised her to be useless.¡± ¡°She not only bullies Gu Chuyun but even dares to bully the third young master of the Lu family, Lu Zhiyuan.¡± ¡°No wonder, Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t even attend the engagement banquet between the Lu and Gu families.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan hates Gu Ci the most.¡± The guests whispered among themselves, pointing and gesturing towards Gu Ci. She was all too familiar with this scene. Whenever something happened to Gu Chuyun, everyone naturally assumed it was Gu Ci¡¯s doing. Gu Ci spread her hands.¡± What did I do?¡± The guests also joined in the gossip, wondering what Gu Ci had done this time. Lu Man couldn¡¯t say what Gu Ci had done wrong. She hadn¡¯t seen Gu Chuyun and was anxiously asking, ¡°Xiao Ci, stop causing trouble. Mom is very busy today. Have you seen your sister?¡± Gu Ci was about to reply when they suddenly heard a scream from upstairs. ¡°Ahhhh, Mom, help me¡­¡± Lu Man¡¯s face turned pale with fear as she looked towards the staircase. The guests were shocked and curious. Lu Man ran up the stairs, screaming, ¡°Chuyun, what¡¯s wrong? Mom is here, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t say she was a wicked stepmother after seeing this scene? The guests and reporters also rushed up. Gu Yaozu and Gu Wenliang were worried and went upstairs. Gu Ci lazily leaned aside, pouring herself a glass of champagne. The show was about to begin! Upstairs, in Gu Ci¡¯s bedroom, Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun were entangled together. Gu Chuyun was wrapped in a thin blanket, her exposed skin covered in kiss marks, tears streaming down her face. Lu Shijie¡¯s chest was covered in scratches and bite marks, evidence of the intense battle. This scene was captured by the media reporters. ¡°Chuyun¡­¡± Lu Man¡¯s heart shattered when she saw her daughter. She rushed over to hug her, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Lu Shijie, how dare you¡­¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s eyes were sinister. Gu Chuyun hid in Lu Man¡¯s embrace, crying uncontrollably. If they weren¡¯t engaged, this would be a crime scene. Lu Man was intimidated by Lu Shijie¡¯s glare and dared not say anything else. This wasn¡¯t their plan. It should have been Gu Ci lying here, being taken advantage of by Lu Shijie. How could it be her own daughter? ¡°Shut up!¡± Lu Shijie shouted. His head was pounding. How could it be Gu Chuyun? Gu Chuyun was the heiress of the Gu family, inheriting 20% of Jiang Mingyue¡¯s shares. She was also Gu Wenliang¡¯s favorite daughter and the perfect match for Lu Shijie. But compared to the dull and wooden Gu Chuyun, he preferred the wild and gorgeous Gu Ci. Gu Chuyun had long planned to send Gu Ci to his bed. The guests were stunned, taking out their phones to take pictures and videos. The room was filled with the aftermath of passion, and no one had expected the engaged couple to indulge in such behavior before their engagement ceremony. In people¡¯s minds, the image of the pure and noble Gu Chuyun collapsed in an instant, revealing her true nature as a slut. ¡°This is too explosive!¡± ¡°Fuck, this is their engagement ceremony. How anxious would they be to do this now?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the pure and innocent Gu Chuyun to be such a lustful woman.¡± ¡°Oh my god, my image of her is ruined. She was my goddess.¡± Gu Yaozu was furious as reporters and guests continued to take pictures. He drove them away, ¡°Stop taking pictures! Get out of here!¡± ¡°Anyone who spreads this incident will face the consequences from the Lu family!¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s menacing gaze swept over everyone, including the media reporters. Everyone¡¯s heart went cold, and no one dared to offend the Lu family, even though Lu Shijie was an illegitimate son. He was now the young master of the Lu family and the general manager of the Lu Corporation, holding real power. Gu Wenliang also felt that he had lost face. How could his beloved daughter do such an improper thing? ¡°Stop taking pictures, everyone. They are engaged, and it¡¯s normal for them to have a moment of weakness.¡± He desperately tried to cover up for Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie, but the guests felt that something was off. Gu Ci sneered and asked, ¡°If I heard correctly, Gu Chuyun just screamed for help?¡± ¡°Gu Ci, this is none of your business. Keep quiet!¡± Gu Wenliang was furious and spoke with a stern tone, ¡°Are you trying to embarrass us even more?¡± ¡°The one who embarrassed herself is Gu Chuyun, not me.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 3 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Gu Ci, it¡¯s you who framed me,¡± Gu Chuyun accused tearfully, ¡°I was drugged and didn¡¯t know anything, it¡¯s because you like Lu Shijie and wanted to seduce him, but instead you harmed me, how heartless of you.¡± Gu Yaozu glared angrily at Gu Ci, ¡°Gu Ci, so it was you who was up to no good, how can you be so malicious? Gu Chuyun has always accommodated and protected you since childhood, do you have no heart?¡± L¨¹ Man¡¯s eyes also turned red, Lu Shijie is a scumbag, he should have targeted Gu Ci instead! ¡°Gu Ci, what did your sister do to offend you that you would harm her like this?¡± L¨¹ Man asked through her tears. Gu Wenliang raised his hand and slapped Gu Ci hard, ¡°You wicked child, I should have strangled you when you were born!¡± Gu Ci grabbed Gu Wenliang¡¯s wrist with a deep and serious look in her eyes. Gu Wenliang was startled and thrown out by Gu Ci. Gu Ci looked coldly at the family of four and said, ¡°Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie are engaged and in love. They couldn¡¯t help but sleep together. What does that have to do with me? How did I harm her? Gu Chuyun, before you got engaged, I never heard that you didn¡¯t like Lu Shijie. How did I harm you?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone came back to their senses. Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie were engaged, and their intimacy was not Gu Ci¡¯s concern. Why were Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, and Gu Yaozu all cursing Gu Ci without distinguishing right from wrong? ¡°I like Lu Shijie?¡± Gu Ci arrogantly raised her chin. ¡°Is he worthy?¡± Lu Shijie gritted his teeth as he looked at Gu Ci. He knew that he had been set up by her. As soon as he entered the door, Gu Ci knocked him out. By the time he woke up, he and Gu Chuyun had already had intimate relations. She had made him lose face, and he was determined to settle this account. Gu Ci also saw the coldness in Lu Shijie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re dead!¡± Lu Shijie looked at her with a dark expression. He already had a soft and delicate appearance, but now his eyes were even more terrifying. ¡°Tonight, no one will be able to leave!¡± Lu¡¯s bodyguards rushed into the Gu family mansion and subdued everyone. At that moment, the sound of police sirens could be heard. Lu Shijie angrily asked, ¡°Who called the police?¡± Gu Ci casually raised her phone. ¡°I did.¡± Everyone was stunned. People in high society were all astute. Lu Shijie had a terrible reputation for playing women to death and having strange habits. No one was willing to marry their daughter to him. Lu Man didn¡¯t want her daughter to suffer either, and Gu Chuyun hated Lu Shijie. When she unexpectedly found out that Lu Shijie had set his sights on Gu Ci, she came up with a plan to work with Lu Shijie and trap Gu Ci in an inescapable abyss. No one expected that Gu Ci would call the police. ¡°Someone tried to drug and assault me tonight by putting something in my drink. I demand a thorough investigation,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice was calm and indifferent. Everyone was shocked, but Gu Chuyun was trembling with fear and her face turned pale. Gu Wenliang shouted angrily, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Shut up!¡± ¡°We can find out what happened by checking the surveillance footage,¡± Gu Ci replied calmly. ¡°We can¡¯t check the surveillance footage!¡± Lu Man screamed. She couldn¡¯t let Gu Chuyun¡¯s reputation be ruined. ¡°Mom, I was framed. Why won¡¯t you check the surveillance footage? Who is your real daughter?¡± Gu Ci asked coldly, and the guests were also puzzled. Lu Man had always protected Gu Chuyun as if she were her own eyes, so why was she so indifferent to Gu Ci? Since Gu Ci had reported the incident to the police, it was natural to investigate. Many of the surveillance cameras in the Gu family mansion were broken tonight, but strangely enough, the footage of Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie drugging Gu Ci was preserved. Gu Ci knew that this was Ziyu¡¯s doing. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it wasn¡¯t me!¡± Gu Chuyun looked at the guests whispering and felt like everyone was making fun of her. She looked at Gu Ci¡¯s arrogant face and broke down, screaming before fainting in Lu Man¡¯s arms. Faking fainting was her specialty, and it never failed. Every time she pretended to faint, it caused Gu Ci to be disliked and misunderstood by others. ¡°Chuyun!¡± Lu Man¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Gu Ci, how could you be so heartless? She¡¯s your sister.¡± Gu Ci looked at them playfully, as if watching a comedy. ¡°Is she?¡± Lu Man¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Gu Ci¡¯s gaze was too unfamiliar to her. Although she was arrogant and domineering, she had always longed for her mother¡¯s love. Why was she looking at her with such a cold gaze? Why? She couldn¡¯t possibly know the truth. Except for Gu Chuyun, she hadn¡¯t told anyone about this! Gu Wenliang and Gu Yaozu surrounded Gu Chuyun. Everyone was worried about her, and she seemed like an outsider. Gu Wenliang glared at her with resentment. ¡°Wretched child, why did I give birth to such a bastard like you.¡± Gu Yaozu said, ¡°If anything happens to Chuyun, I won¡¯t let you go!¡± In her past life, scenes like this would always sting Gu Ci. She always felt that Gu Chuyun had taken away her mother, father, and brother. Even though she was their biological daughter, why did they all like Gu Chuyun more? She always competed with Gu Chuyun for their parents¡¯ love. But now, she felt nothing when she saw this scene again. This family suffocated her and made her sick. Gu Ci left the mansion, and Ziyu destroyed all the surveillance footage that was harmful to Gu Ci, leaving only evidence of Gu Chuyun¡¯s wrongdoing. He had invaded the Gu family¡¯s security system and monitored them from beginning to end, always protecting Gu Ci. ¡°Ziyu, why did you travel back in time?¡± Gu Ci was puzzled. She couldn¡¯t explain her own reincarnation, and Ziyu¡¯s time travel was even more bizarre. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m happy that I can protect Mom.¡± Ziyu¡¯s innocent and cruel peach blossom eyes were filled with a smile. ¡°Mom, I avenged you after you died.¡± No one who had hurt her could escape. Gu Ci felt bitter in her heart and hated Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun even more. She also hated Gu Wenliang and Lu Man, as they were the source of all tragedies. Gu Ci suppressed her emotions and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Mom will take you to see Dad.¡± * The sun was shining brightly in City A, with clear skies stretching for miles. The World Formula One Championship was being held at the Global Sports Center, with a sea of people cheering on the racers as they competed for this year¡¯s championship. The competition was intense on the track as the racers battled for the top spot. In the stands, fans screamed out the names of their favorite racers and even held up banners to support them. ¡°Go, Lu Zhiyuan!¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, win the championship, win the championship¡­¡± For anyone interested in F1 racing, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name was well known. He was the world¡¯s most dazzling star racer, showing his skills at various campus competitions since he was twelve years old. At eighteen, he started appearing on the F1 circuit, and he had never missed a championship in any competition he participated in. This was the most expensive sport in the world, without a doubt. It was also the most challenging sport that pushed the limits of technology and human capability. Every racer was a hero. ¡°If Lu Zhiyuan wins the championship again this year, he¡¯ll have won three consecutive world championships.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the youngest world champion, with the first place ranking in qualifying races and circuit races, an absolute genius.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also the heir to the Lu family conglomerate, the ultimate winner in life.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 4 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In the stands, Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu were squeezed into the crowd, gazing at Lu Zhiyuan in a daze. To everyone, young Lu Zhiyuan was the shining star in their eyes, the most dazzling man in the world. He drove all women crazy, including Gu Chuyun. She never understood why Gu Chuyun hated her so much, why she wanted to ruin her looks and hands and make her look neither human nor ghost. It wasn¡¯t until later that she found out that it was because Gu Chuyun loved Lu Zhiyuan. And Lu Zhiyuan had been secretly in love with her for ten years. When she was isolated by everyone and felt that the whole world had abandoned her, there was a young man with peerless beauty who had a crush on her for ten years. For her, he gave up his inheritance. When she lost her hands, was disfigured by Gu Chuyun, and fell into the abyss, he bravely protected her under his wings. In the end, he sacrificed himself to protect her, and they perished together. However, when they were young, they were always at odds, and Lu Zhiyuan would often insult her, calling her stupid and desperate to please Lu Man and Gu Wenliang. He would always taunt her for being childish and obsessing over whether her parents loved her or not. Those words of concern always came out as the harshest words, and they would sting her like a hedgehog. But it wasn¡¯t until they fell in love that she understood his heartache, how heartbreaking it was for him to see her stumble and crave for feelings that didn¡¯t belong to her. ¡°Mom, we¡¯re not very sociable,¡± Gu Ziyu said softly, bringing Gu Ci back to her senses. In the stands, the audience was shouting Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name crazily. She and Gu Ziyu were different; they were too quiet. The six-year-old boy next to them shouted until his voice broke, so excited to see the competition. On the other hand, Gu Ziyu was as cold as a doll, just watching the competition coldly. Gu Ci pondered for a moment. ¡°The key is¡­ You don¡¯t look too much like a baby.¡± Gu Ziyu raised his eyebrows. ¡°What do you mean, Mom?¡± Gu Ci chuckled and said, ¡°Baby, you haven¡¯t met him yet. He needs to be cuter.¡± Gu Ziyu nodded in understanding. ¡°I see, Mommy.¡± The next second, Gu Ziyu was like a wild horse that had lost its reins ¨C a small body with a loud voice. ¡°Daddy, come on, come on, come on¡­ Get rid of them, win the championship! Wow, speed up, speed up, bend, speed up, overtake, yeah yeah yeah, get rid of him, yeah, my dad!¡± Gu Ziyu shouted excitedly, urging Lu Zhiyuan on the field. Lu Zhiyuan overtook the car at the bend and took the lead, causing the fans to scream in excitement. Gu Ziyu was even more excited than the fans. His little face was red from shouting. Gu Ci said, ¡°Baby, you¡¯re scaring Mommy.¡± She silently put some distance between herself and Gu Ziyu. Gu Ziyu tilted his head and smiled sweetly. ¡°Am I cute?¡± Gu Ci replied, ¡°Baby, although you¡¯re the cutest in the world in Mommy¡¯s eyes, but¡­ You¡¯re really not suitable to walk the path of a cute baby.¡± A girl who was a fan of Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Kid, is your dad an F1 driver too?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, the most handsome one is my dad,¡± Gu Ziyu bragged proudly about his father. The girl said, ¡°Nonsense. The most handsome one is Lu Zhiyuan. The champion is also Lu Zhiyuan.¡± ¡°My dad is Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Gu Ziyu put his hands on his hips and looked proud, leaving the fans speechless. Gu Ci sounded helpless and amused. ¡°Gu Ziyu, he¡¯s twenty years old this year.¡± The idea of having a six-year-old son was amusing in her mind. In her previous life, she fell in love with Lu Zhiyuan after being released from prison. When she gave birth to Gu Ziyu, she was twenty-five, and Lu Zhiyuan was twenty-seven. Gu Ziyu calmed down, realizing that his father had not reached the legal age of marriage yet. ¡°Hahahaha, Lu Zhiyuan is also my father. For the past three seasons, every time he played, I would kneel and call him father,¡± Gu Ziyu said angrily, striking a noble and cold pose. Gu Ci was speechless, and Gu Ziyu tilted his head and asked, ¡°Does this look like a six-year-old baby?¡± Gu Ci subtly remained silent. On the track, Lu Zhiyuan was being chased by two people from another team. He tried to overtake them in the last lap and almost collided with them. However, he stabilized himself with his big heart. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were filled with fighting spirit. They were bright and burning, like the blazing sun. That was Lu Zhiyuan, who was proud of his success. For twenty years, he had stood at the peak, worthy of being the proud son of heaven! He was the first to cross the finish line and became the champion again. This year, he won the championship in all the races and was the overall champion. The crowd cheered, and the screams soared into the sky. Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes sparkled. He knew how to act like a six-year-old child! He had never seen his father¡¯s living father. His mother knew that he was a little devil. He had to make his father think that he was a cute baby. After Lu Zhiyuan took off his helmet, he revealed a handsome and flamboyant face. His eyebrows were like a painting, gorgeous and eye-catching. It was a classic work of N¨¹wa¡¯s creation. There was nothing imperfect about it. He was handsome and had a flamboyant temperament, just like a young man in a hot-blooded manga. He was also a legend in the history of F1. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he was the only heir to the Lu family tycoon. Before he was three years old, he was plagued by many disasters. He was critically ill several times and his body was extremely weak. The doctors determined that the young master of the Lu family would not live past the age of 18. The year before his first world championship, he was injured and fractured in training before the game. He almost could not play, but he lived himself into a legend. Gu Ci held Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand and ran backstage. When Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s security captain, Li Jiang, saw Gu Ci, he was pleasantly surprised. ¡°Miss Gu, are you here to watch Third Young Master¡¯s competition?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you follow him?¡± Gu Ci frowned. Early in the morning, Gu Ci made a phone call to Li Jiang, instructing him to keep following Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Third Young Master likes to be alone after competitions,¡± Li Jiang replied. Seeing the panic on Gu Ci¡¯s face, he quickly asked, ¡°Miss Gu, is something wrong?¡± Gu Ci dashed towards the lounge, with six-year-old Gu Ziyu struggling to keep up. Li Jiang was met with a cold stare from Gu Ziyu, who ordered, ¡°Follow her!¡± Li Jiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he didn¡¯t have time to question why he had to follow a child¡¯s command. He simply rushed out. Gu Ci had just arrived at the door when she overheard racer Xiao En¡¯s voice. ¡°Ask Gu Ci out tonight. You guys are responsible for getting her drunk. Once the rice is cooked, she¡¯ll be mine.¡± ¡°Just a young girl and you¡¯re so infatuated with her?¡± ¡°I like her. She¡¯s wild and spicy. After I¡¯m done, you guys can have a turn too,¡± Xiao En replied, causing several racers to burst into laughter. The driver burst into laughter, but Gu Ci¡¯s eyes narrowed with hostility. She was about to push open the door when she heard Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice. ¡°Sean, you¡¯re asking for trouble!¡± Kicking the door open, Gu Ci saw Lu Zhiyuan punching Xiao En to the ground with cold and bloodthirsty eyes. Sean was the runner-up of this year¡¯s competition and was known for his strength. After taking a few punches, he picked up a small bronze statue from the lounge and hurled it at Lu Zhiyuan, leaving the other racers stunned. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan!¡± Gu Ci exclaimed in shock as she rushed over to block him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 5 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Her fragrance hit him on his face, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s body stiffened in shock as he looked at Gu Ci in his arms. Following closely behind was Li Jiang, who swung an iron rod toward them. Just as the small bronze statue was about to hit Gu Ci, Sean was hit on the wrist by the iron rod, causing the statue to fall off and him to fall to the side. Li Jiang immediately notified the security team. ¡°Gu Ci?¡± Lu Zhiyuan regained his senses, his face turning ashen. But before he could even scold her, Gu Ci hugged him tightly, crying out his name. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I missed you so much.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. Longing and sadness swept over her, as if she had been trapped in an eternal nightmare. In this moment of embracing him, the nightmare finally came to an end. She had been crazy for six years, thinking of him for six years. Lu Zhiyuan heard Gu Ci¡¯s words clearly and murmured to himself, ¡°What¡¯s the occasion?¡± ¡°Why are you here, Gu Ci?¡± Sean was also surprised to see Gu Ci here, standing in front of Lu Zhiyuan. He was both shocked and jealous. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be enemies? Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Sean, and something crossed his peach blossom eyes, which were always smiling, leaving behind a trace of gloominess that quickly vanished. He laughed lazily and unrestrainedly, ¡°Gu Ci, say it again.¡± Gu Ci looked at him intently. Lu Zhiyuan, who was in his twenties, exuded youthful vigor and unparalleled charm, arrogant and dazzling. Deep yearning and affection were visible in her eyes. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I missed you so much.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. He wasn¡¯t hallucinating; it was indeed real. Lu Zhiyuan raised his hand and touched her forehead, looking puzzled. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever.¡± Sean wanted to go and pull Gu Ci away, but Lu Zhiyuan was quicker. With one hand, he picked up Gu Ci and shielded her behind him. Being a professional race car driver who exercised regularly, he had impressive arm strength. He also had an untimely thought. Gu Ci¡¯s waist was so slender! ¡°Gu Ci, it¡¯s Sean. Do you remember me?¡± Sean looked at her eagerly. He had fallen in love with Gu Ci at first sight during a race held at the university this year, but he had been rejected several times. Gu Ci finally understood why Lu Zhiyuan had fought with Sean after winning the championship in their past life. In their past life, after Lu Zhiyuan won the championship, he had a conflict with Sean and was hit on the head. Gu Ci was imprisoned for five years, and Lu Zhiyuan was in a coma for five years. After they got married, she had asked Lu Zhiyuan why he had fought with Sean, but Lu Zhiyuan had avoided the topic and refused to talk about it. It turned out that he had done it to protect her! ¡°Get lost!¡± Gu Ci frowned in disgust, keeping her words brief and to the point. Sean was taken aback, realizing that Gu Ci had heard what he had said. He quickly explained, ¡°It was just a joke¡­¡± ¡°Li Jiang!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was furious. Li Jiang, who had been watching from the side, quickly led a group of people to take Sean and several other drivers out of the lounge. Gu Ziyu was leaning against the door, and when Li Jiang looked over, he gave him a sweet smile. Li Jiang¡¯s legs almost gave way, and he nearly kneeled down. Why was this cute little kid so terrifying when he smiled? ¡°Uncle Li, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s voice was childish and innocent. Li Jiang was completely confused. ¡°Little young master, do we¡­know each other?¡± Gu Ziyu smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. The security team led Sean and the others, who were grumbling and complaining, away. Gu Ziyu beckoned with his finger, and Li Jiang obediently squatted down. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°That guy named Sean¡­break his legs,¡± Gu Ziyu said the most vicious words in the most harmless voice. It was Sean who had caused his dad to be in a coma for five years in their past life. If not for that, his mom wouldn¡¯t have suffered in prison. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± Li Jiang hesitated. Was this something a child should say? Baby, you look thin, small, and cute, but you exude so much killing intent? ¡°Are you questioning me?¡± Gu Ziyu narrowed his eyes, which were full of charm and flirtatiousness. ¡°I¡­I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Li Jiang never dreamed that he would bow down in front of a six-year-old kid. * Gu Ci desperately wanted to tell Lu Zhiyuan everything, but as soon as the thought crossed her mind, her heart felt like it was being clenched by a hand, causing a suffocating pain. ¡°Gu Ci?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but it felt like he was having a heart attack. He hugged her and placed a hand on her back. ¡°Take a deep breath, don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯m here.¡± Warm and familiar breath enveloped her, and Gu Ci¡¯s eyes were full of Lu Zhiyuan. She held his hand tightly, almost leaving a red mark on his wrist, but couldn¡¯t say a word. Why? Why couldn¡¯t she tell Lu Zhiyuan everything? Liu Zhiyuan picked her up horizontally and strode away. When Li Jiang saw Liu Zhiyuan carrying Gu Ci out, he was very surprised and hurriedly reminded him, ¡°Third Young Master, the award ceremony is about to begin.¡± However, Liu Zhiyuan seemed to not hear him. He carried Gu Ci up to the top floor, with Gu Ziyu following closely behind. What¡¯s wrong with Mom? Helpless, Li Jiang had no choice but to follow them. Gu Ci was indeed more important than winning the championship. Gu Ziyu was like an invisible person, quiet and silent. He followed them all the way until Liu Zhiyuan noticed him. When Gu Ziyu saw Liu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze on him, he showed a sweet and cute smile, so soft and adorable. What would his father say to him? How should he greet his father? But Liu Zhiyuan had no interest in children, even if they were soft and cute. He thought Gu Ziyu was a child brought by Li Jiang, and only took a quick glance before focusing on Gu Ci. For Gu Ziyu, it was his first time meeting his father. He had prepared countless drafts of what he wanted to say, but he didn¡¯t expect his father to completely ignore him. Gu Ziyu pondered gloomily. Was his smile not sweet enough? Was he not cute enough? On the east side of the Global Sports Center stood a 78-story building, with Liu Zhiyuan¡¯s home at the top. Gu Ci¡¯s heart rate went out of control all the way, causing her extreme pain. Even the doctors couldn¡¯t find any problems. Liu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Li Jiang, prepare the car. We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Gu Ci grabbed his hand. As long as she gave up telling Liu Zhiyuan the truth, she wouldn¡¯t feel the pain. She looked up at him and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m feeling better now.¡± ¡°You have a heart disease, and I didn¡¯t even know?¡± Liu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone was unkind. But Gu Ci greedily looked at his youthful face, the arrogant and unrestrained Liu Zhiyuan was the pain in her heart. Gu Ci hesitated, not knowing how to explain. ¡°I don¡¯t have a heart disease. I just felt uncomfortable from running too fast.¡± Liu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, but then his attitude turned harsh as he snapped at her, ¡°Why did you run so fast? Are you trying to be reborn?¡± Gu Ziyu narrowed his eyes, a hint of darkness crossing his expression. In his heart, anyone who dared to say a harsh word to his mother was his enemy, even if it was his own father. Liu Zhiyuan¡¯s image in Gu Ziyu¡¯s mind plummeted to the bottom. Gu Ci chuckled, her eyes slightly red. This familiar tone and attitude were truly her mortal enemy. It was no wonder she couldn¡¯t see that Liu Zhiyuan secretly had a crush on her. Because in front of her, the young master¡¯s temper was never restrained. Liu Zhiyuan took out a can of cherry juice from the fridge and threw it to Gu Ci. She was surprised. This was the brand she loved to drink, but Liu Zhiyuan was an athlete who avoided sugar and fruit juice. Yet, her favorite cherry juice was always in the fridge, even though she had never been to his house before. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 6 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, his name is Gu Ziyu!¡± Gu Ci twisted open the bottle cap and gave Gu Ziyu the cherry juice because he also liked to drink it. This habitual action was both indulgent and sweet. When Lu Zhiyuan looked at Gu Ziyu again, he felt that this little guy was a bit annoying. Gu Ziyu made up his mind to play the role of a cute child and once again showed a sweet smile, naively and cutely shouting, ¡°Hello Big Brother!¡± Gu Ci, ¡°¡­¡± For the first time, Lu Zhiyuan looked at the cute little guy seriously. He was white, tender, and very likable. ¡°Little guy, I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before.¡± Gu Ziyu smiled with his peach blossom eyes bent. ¡°Big Brother, our eyes look exactly the same.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit similar!¡± His eyes were like his, but his face shape was like Gu Ci¡¯s. Lu Zhiyuan felt a strange sense of familiarity. ¡°By the way, Gu Ci, did you come to see me for something?¡± ¡°Li Jiang, why don¡¯t you take Ziyu around for a stroll first.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Li Jiang was obedient and led Gu Ziyu out. Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°Miss Gu, you certainly know how to direct your people.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you uncomfortable wearing that outfit?¡± Gu Ci asked. Lu Zhiyuan was still wearing his snow-white racing suit, which was very restrictive. He said, ¡°Wait for me.¡± He went into the dressing room intending to change into some casual clothes and come back out. But when he looked in the mirror, he saw a teenager whose hair was soaked with sweat and whose whole body was covered in perspiration from just finishing the race. Lu Zhiyuan looked a bit frustrated. Was this the scary-looking guy he had just shown Gu Ci? Did she want him to change clothes because she was disgusted with him? Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath and went into the bathroom. Gu Ci walked around the living room casually. Lu Zhiyuan had become famous at a young age and had a bold and unrestrained personality. But the decoration of his home was minimalist in a cool style. The wall cabinet in the living room was full of racing models and his trophies. Gu Ci curiously looked at each award certificate. He was a championship reaper. Suddenly, she saw a familiar box, a small plastic silver box containing a broken electronic watch. It was the birthday present that Gu Ci gave to Lu Zhiyuan when he was fifteen. That day, she was surrounded by people outside the campus and Lu Zhiyuan helped her out. He shamelessly demanded a reward, and Gu Ci coldly bought him a twenty-dollar electronic watch on the side of the road. That night, she was left alone at home. The nanny said that Gu Wenliang and Lu Man had brought Gu Chuyun and Gu Yaozu to the Lu family¡¯s third young master¡¯s birthday banquet. The digital watch was actually a birthday present that Lu Zhiyuan had asked for. Underneath the box was a stack of greeting cards, all the cards that Gu Ci gave him when they were children. These inconspicuous items were placed together with his championship trophies, appearing abrupt yet unique. ¡°Idiot!¡± An indescribable tingling sensation attacked Gu Ci¡¯s heart. Even after so many years, she still couldn¡¯t figure out why Lu Zhiyuan liked her. And he had liked her for so many years! But why didn¡¯t he tell her? Unrequited love is an endless journey with no destination, with flowers blooming and withering along the way, unnoticed by anyone. From the time she was released from prison to their marriage, and even until Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s death, she had never heard him say ¡°I love you¡±. She even suspected that Lu Zhiyuan liked someone else and just used her as a substitute. But who would risk their life for a substitute! ¡°Don¡¯t touch my things.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice, accompanied by a hint of cold wind, came from behind. Gu Ci turned around and put down the electronic watch. Lu Zhiyuan had taken a shower and changed into a white casual outfit, even blow-drying his hair. He came out looking fresh and neat. ¡°This is what I gave you!¡± she said. ¡°Are you planning to take it back?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. Gu Ci took a deep breath, feeling puzzled and confused. Lu Zhiyuan was always so hot and cold, unpredictable, and she couldn¡¯t figure him out. Gu Ci laughed lightly and said, ¡°If you say one more thing, I¡¯ll take everything back.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was silent. He clenched his fists and then released them. He took out a can of cherry juice that she liked from the fridge and changed the topic very naturally.¡± Do you want some juice?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Ci suppressed a smile, and Lu Zhiyuan handed her the cherry juice. ¡°Why did you come to see me?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Can Ziyu and I stay at your place for a while?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Zhiyuan blurted out, and the living room fell silent. His expression was unclear. Gu Ci was surprised. After she was released from prison, she struggled to survive alone. Lu Zhiyuan wanted her to stay with him at his place and went to great lengths to create all kinds of conditions to make her agree. Why did he refuse when she proposed living together now? Was it because the 20-year-old Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t love her like the 25-year-old Lu Zhiyuan did? Or was it because men like women who play hard to get, and don¡¯t like women who take the initiative? ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Gu Ci put down the juice and didn¡¯t say any more. She looked at Lu Zhiyuan steadily, full of nostalgia and reluctance, as if she had encountered him countless times in her dreams. The sudden separation made her heartache, but it also made her realize one thing ¨C life is unpredictable. Real goodbyes didn¡¯t play out like they did in movies. It¡¯s just a peaceful morning, and someone is forever left in yesterday. Her eyes were too sad, and Lu Zhiyuan felt inexplicably sad. He liked Gu Ci¡¯s smile. Whenever she smiled, his heart would bloom, and he would silently hold it out in front of her, hoping she would smile for ten thousand years more. He couldn¡¯t bear to see Gu Ci sad. Lu Zhiyuan stood up and blocked her in front of him, with a hint of panic in his eyes that was difficult to detect and disappeared in an instant. ¡°I have a house in Binjiang, you can go live there anytime.¡± Gu Ci looked at him silently. ¡°Guanlan Wan also has a villa.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said when she remained silent, ¡°You don¡¯t like it? Then where do you like, I can buy it for you.¡± Gu Ci chuckled and asked, ¡°You can move mountains and part seas for me, but you won¡¯t let me live with you, right?¡± ¡°Gu Ci, do you¡­ know something?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked uneasy and glanced at the box on the wall. He calmed down and explained, ¡°I¡¯m sentimental and also a collector. Don¡¯t think too much.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart sank, and she felt cold all over. This was what it felt like to be rejected by someone she loved. She loved the Lu Zhiyuan five years from now, and forgot that the one in front of her was the twenty-year-old Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, do you like me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked directly into Gu Ci¡¯s eyes, as if trying to see deep into her soul. His eyes were tumultuous, but they quickly returned to calm. He used all his strength to suppress his racing heart and said, ¡°No.¡± Being rejected after confessing one¡¯s feelings was such a humiliating experience. It felt as though it shattered all of her courage. ¡°From childhood to now, I gave you six cards and a digital watch, and you collected them all beside your first championship trophy. You¡¯re an athlete who avoids sugar and fruit juice, but there¡¯s always my favorite cherry juice in the fridge, even though I¡¯ve never been to your house. And now you¡¯re telling me that you don¡¯t like me?¡± Gu Ci chuckled, ¡°So you have a split personality, and the one who likes me is another person. Did I guess correctly?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 7 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Bullshit!¡± Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Lu Zhiyuan had a reflexive reaction. He was always conscious of his image in front of Gu Ci, but he blurted out a swear word, ¡°I don¡¯t have a split personality!¡± Gu Ci raised her eyebrows. That wasn¡¯t the main point, was it? Seeing her confusion, Lu Zhiyuan quickly regained his composure and asked, ¡°Why did you come to stay at my house?¡± ¡°Because I like you and want to pursue you,¡± Gu Ci said casually, but with the utmost sincerity, even though she had just been rejected by Lu Zhiyuan. Years of fantasy had come true in a moment, and the overwhelming joy had lifted him up to the clouds, only to crash down again. Heaven and hell are just flip sides of the same coin. ¡°Gu Ci, this is not funny at all,¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her deeply, restraining himself and trying to hide his emotions, ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me about this matter.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci sighed helplessly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± Lu Zhiyuan tightly grasped her wrist, his voice trembling slightly, ¡°Gu Ci, why? Why do you like me? From childhood to adulthood, we grew up together as childhood sweethearts. But after I turned ten, we had a falling out and you¡¯ve never shown me any good feelings since. If¡­ if you¡¯re not joking, why do you like me? In which moment?¡± There was a kind of inexplicable paranoia in his eyes that no one could understand. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter¡­¡± Gu Ci replied, not understanding his sudden outburst. ¡°It matters!¡± Lu Zhiyuan tightened his grip on her wrist, almost bending his back in a humble manner, like the most devout believer praying for a shred of mercy, ¡°It matters to me!¡± The alarm bells in Gu Ci¡¯s mind were ringing loudly. It seemed that if she answered wrongly, she would be able to defeat Lu Zhiyuan and make him fall into the abyss. Gu Ci cautiously hid her love and replied, ¡°I was just joking.¡± Lu Zhiyuan gritted his teeth, ¡°Gu Ci!¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurting me,¡± Gu Ci reminded him. Lu Zhiyuan quickly released her, and Gu Ci¡¯s skin was white and delicate. He was a racing driver with great strength in his hands and often unintentionally hurt her. Lu Zhiyuan stared at the red mark on her wrist, feeling extremely remorseful. After all, he was a man who could lift Gu Ci with one hand. ¡°Liu Shijie has been bothering me lately, and I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll come looking for trouble. It¡¯s no big deal for me to be alone, but I have Gu Ziyu by my side. That¡¯s why I wanted to come and stay with you for a while.¡± Gu Ci was not a cunning person, ¡°Since you¡¯re unwilling, forget it.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. ¡°What else can there be?¡± Gu Ci replied. Lu Zhiyuan was filled with anger, ¡°Then tell me the truth, why did you make such a joke?¡± Gu Ci hesitated, wanting to say that she wasn¡¯t joking, that she really liked him. She assumed that they were mutually in love, but reality slapped her in the face. ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡± Gu Ci said. Just then, Li Jiang arrived with Gu Ziyu. Lu Zhiyuan looked at Li Jiang, who was following behind Gu Ziyu with a respectful demeanor, which seemed awkward and out of place, like a prince with his personal eunuch inspecting the kingdom. ¡°Hello, Big Brother!¡± Gu Ziyu greeted Lu Zhiyuan with a bright smile. Lu Zhiyuan nodded coldly, and Gu Ziyu sensed that something was off, but didn¡¯t say anything. Gu Ci said goodbye and left with Gu Ziyu. Li Jiang watched them leave and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Third Young Master, why didn¡¯t you ask Miss Gu Ci to stay?¡± ¡°Why should I ask her to stay?¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied coldly. Li Jiang was surprised, ¡°I took Young Master Gu Ziyu around and he said he wants to stay here from now on.¡± He spoke with a very matter-of-fact attitude as if he had never considered that Lu Zhiyuan might refuse. He behaved like a eunuch in charge of the prince, afraid to even breathe as if he had encountered the third prince. ¡°Why do you call him Young Master?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. Li Jiang was bewildered, ¡°I just naturally called him that. What else should I call him?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. Li Jiang didn¡¯t want to waste any more time and proceeded to tell him about the engagement banquet between Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun from last night. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned dark and cold, sinking to its lowest point. Li Jiang took a deep breath, ¡°Fortunately, Miss Gu Ci was smart and avoided disaster. She is unharmed. Today is the final race, and I didn¡¯t want to distract Third Young Master, so I didn¡¯t have time to tell you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger flared up and his sharp gaze was intimidating. Li Jiang continued, ¡°The chairman has blocked the news. After all, it¡¯s a scandal. The Gu family also withdrew their police report. No one dared to mention the matter at the banquet.¡± The chairman of the Lu family¡¯s financial conglomerate, Lu Ze, was a confirmed bachelor. Later, he met the actress Lin Zhi and pursued her relentlessly. He forcibly married her and had Lu Zhiyuan. However, before meeting Lin Zhi, Lu Ze was a confirmed bachelor with countless women, including a C-list actress named Xu Tingting, who gave birth to Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. Lin Zhi had a hot temper and, after learning the truth, divorced him and left A City, never to return. She died in a car accident abroad when Lu Zhiyuan was eight years old, and since then, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s relationship with Lu Ze has been estranged. Lu Zhiyuan is the only heir of the Lu family¡¯s financial conglomerate but he does not want to inherit it. Lu Ze had no choice but to train Lu Shijie. Now, many of the Lu family¡¯s powers have been handed over to Lu Shijie. ¡°Why would Lu Shijie do something so foolish at the engagement banquet if he wanted to get the Gu family¡¯s shares? Investigate the origin of this matter,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold to the extreme. ¡°They are targeting Gu Ci. I think he¡¯s tired of living.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Li Jiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Although Third Young Master Lu had devoted himself to racing and established the Global Sports Center, which owns its own racing team and is the most profitable in the world, he doesn¡¯t care much about the Lu family¡¯s financial conglomerate, but that doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t know anything. He just didn¡¯t want to argue with Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. Gu Ci was his only weakness! Li Jiang continued, ¡°Third Young Master, early this morning, Miss Gu Ci called me and asked me to keep an eye on you as if she knew in advance that you were going to fight with Sean.¡± Lu Zhiyuan paced back and forth anxiously. Gu Ci wanted to stay at his house to avoid Lu Shijie, as she has never been favored in the Gu family. She can¡¯t go back to her family. But if Gu Ci stays at his house, what if she finds out his secret? ¡°There is something that I think you need to know,¡± Li Jiang spoke up with a brave face. ¡°Li Jiang, are you trying to lose your job?!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were filled with rage. Why did he hide so much from him? Li Jiang¡¯s scalp went numb, and he spoke quickly, ¡°Third Young Master, I got someone to break Sean¡¯s legs!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger gradually subsided, but his face was still cold. Li Jiang had to explain, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but it was the little young master brought by Miss Gu Ci who said to break his leg. I don¡¯t know why I followed the command. This was my own decision, and I¡¯ll take the punishment.¡± ¡°Well done. You¡¯ll get triple your year-end bonus,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. Li Jiang¡¯s tense string relaxed, and he began bouncing around on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s bottom line, ¡°Third Young Master, do we need to break his hand too?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. Li Jiang¡¯s spirits were lifted, and he hadn¡¯t expected this unexpected windfall. If he had known, he might have been able to get five times the bonus by breaking Sean¡¯s hand too. He had acted too hastily. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Lu Zhiyuan warned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Third Young Master!¡± The ability to bend and stretch was a prerequisite for working by Third Young Master¡¯s side. Li Jiang didn¡¯t want to serve a master with such a bad temper, but the pay was just too good. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 8 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan paid no attention to Li Jiang and seemed to have made a decision. He grabbed the door and left. Gu Ci remained silent throughout the journey, and Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes were filled with a hint of gloom. People who upset their mothers were always disliked in this world. ¡°Mom, why did Dad reject you?¡± Gu Ziyu asked. Gu Ci tapped the steering wheel gently with her fingers. ¡°Dad is an athlete who needs to train regularly. Besides¡­ he was 25 when he fell in love with Mom. Now he¡¯s only 20 and we don¡¯t know each other well. It¡¯s normal for him to refuse.¡± Gu Ziyu was smart. It would be foolish to deceive him, so she could only tell the truth while still maintaining Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s image. ¡°Uncle Li Jiang said that Dad has liked Mom for many years. If he¡¯s secretly in love with you now, why would he refuse?¡± ¡°Secret love is a self-indulgence. Maybe Dad¡¯s pride is too strong and he doesn¡¯t want us to know,¡± replied Gu Ci. Gu Ziyu, with his small head and big question mark, asked, ¡°Mom, if you¡¯re actively asking him to live together, and he likes you, he should welcome you.¡± Gu Ci hesitated, unable to come up with a lie. ¡°Baby, to tell you the truth, your dad doesn¡¯t like me yet,¡± she finally said. ¡°Ha!¡± Gu Ziyu was angry. ¡°He really has no taste. Mom, don¡¯t like him either.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Then we wouldn¡¯t have you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not okay!¡± Gu Ci glanced at Gu Ziyu, who had a strong possessive streak and looked unhappy. ¡°To have a baby, you need to like Dad too.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s gloomy face became lively with excitement. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The visible joy in Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes and the previously disguised smile suddenly had a warmth to them. Gu Ci¡¯s heart softened. This little baby was so easily satisfied. Gu Ziyu knew that he wasn¡¯t as important to his mom as her dad was, but occasionally being lied to by his mom made him happy enough. He would never be foolish enough to ask his mom who was more important, him or his dad. A flashy sports car whizzed by and parked on the side of the road, forcing Gu Ci to stop her car. Gu Ci rolled down the window and her filter for Lu Zhiyuan from the previous life almost shattered. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, are you crazy?¡± Gu Ziyu thought to himself, Beautiful! The more his mother hated his father, the closer he would be to the number one spot in his mother¡¯s heart. Lu Zhiyuan got out of the car and said, ¡°I changed my mind. You and the little one can come live with me.¡± * Lu Zhiyuan brought Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu back to the Global Sports Center and arranged for them to live downstairs. The downstairs was also a large flat with a similar interior design. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°You can live here, but we need to agree on some ground rules.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s evaluation of Lu Zhiyuan fell from the bottom to the abyss. With a fake smile on his young face, he felt that playing cute in front of Dad might test his acting skills. Your son and wife are staying at your house, and you¡¯re setting ground rules. You¡¯re really something. Gu Ci nodded.¡±Go ahead.¡± Lan Zhuyuan replied, ¡°The competition period is over, and I need to start training again. You guys staying here cannot affect my daily training.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. This was a given. As an athlete, no one could interfere with Lan Zhuyuan¡¯s daily training. She didn¡¯t need him to say it; she already knew. She wanted to see Lan Zhuyuan¡¯s spirited performance on the competition field. In her past life, he had been comatose for five years, and afterwards, she, who was physically and mentally disabled, had consumed all of his attention, causing him to never touch a race car again. ¡°My schedule is different from others, as I train at night,¡± said Lan Zhuyuan, unperturbed. ¡°So, don¡¯t go upstairs at night, but feel free to do as you please during the day.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°What else?¡± ¡°No outsiders allowed inside the house,¡± Lan Zhuyuan replied indifferently. ¡°Unless I agree.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci thought this condition was too normal. She had thought Lan Zhuyuan would propose something more stringent. She knew him well. Racing drivers all have big hearts, and Lan Zhuyuan was no exception. He had a firm will and determination, and once he made a decision, it was difficult to change his mind. Therefore, when Lu Zhiyuan initially refused her request to stay with him, she didn¡¯t explain. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, why did you change your mind? I¡¯ve known you for so many years, and I know your bottom line,¡± she said. Li Jiang secretly thought, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, you are actually Third Young Master¡¯s bottom line.¡± ¡°At the engagement banquet of Gu Chuyun, with something like this happening, and you can¡¯t go back to your own home. Do you want to wander the streets? After all, we grew up together. We can¡¯t just stand idly by,¡± Lu Zhiyuan explained. Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Then, Three Young Master, please give me some living expenses.¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell into a subtle silence. He smiled and asked Gu Ci, ¡°Miss Gu Er, when did we become such impolite acquaintances?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back!¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s competitiveness suddenly emerged, and he felt that his mother could support herself. Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh when he saw the child¡¯s determined face. He took out a black card and handed it to Gu Ci. ¡°No need for that.¡± After settling them in, Lu Zhiyuan took Li Jiang and left. Today, Lu Zhiyuan won the championship, and the Dynasty Racing Team had many celebration activities. After he left, Gu Ci took Gu Ziyu to go shopping. Despite having low material desires, Gu Ziyu insisted on buying the most high-end electronic devices, which cost over four million yuan for a set. Gu Ci looked at the black card given by Lu Zhiyuan suspiciously and said, ¡°What if we max it out?¡± ¡°Is Dad really that stingy?¡± Gu Ziyu asked. Gu Ci silently handed over the black card. Lu Zhiyuan looked at the spending notifications on his phone at the celebration event and raised an eyebrow with a sweet and indulgent smile. He also felt a bit inexplicably satisfied, ¡°She really didn¡¯t hold back.¡± Gu Ci bought five million yuan worth of electronic devices for Gu Ziyu in one breath. Then they bought some daily necessities, clothes, shoes, and other items. Gu Ci enthusiastically helped dress up Gu Ziyu, specifically choosing big brands for him, including gentlemanly, casual, and cool styles. It was as if she wouldn¡¯t stop until she maxed out the black card. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t go out much, so why do I need so many clothes?¡± Gu Ziyu asked. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to go out more often in the future,¡± Gu Ci replied. Gu Ziyu was speechless. ¡°You are Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s son. It¡¯s only natural to spend his money,¡± Gu Ci said. Gu Ziyu could only indulge Gu Ci and let her satisfy her shopping desires. As they passed by the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant, Gu Ci was stunned by a set of red cloud gauze cheongsam inside. It had a slim fit, a standing collar, and was made of rare and exquisite red cloud gauze. The skirt was adorned with large embroidered roses that looked vivid and lifelike. Gu Ci fell in love at first sight and even felt a sense of excitement. Gu Ziyu said, ¡°Mom, you are Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s wife. It¡¯s only natural to spend his money.¡± ¡°You make a good point,¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be his wife sooner or later. I might as well enjoy my rights in advance, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Ziyu pulled Gu Ci into the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant, a high-end fashion brand owned by a renowned international designer named Ji Xuan. A set of his designs was highly coveted by women all over the world. The Dragon Phoenix Restaurant was also a favorite among socialites and wealthy daughters, and A-list celebrities who wore Ji Xuan¡¯s designs usually borrowed them. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 9 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The shop assistant Xiaomei greeted Gu Ci with a smile and welcomed her. They both had a pair of snobbish eyes. Gu Ci was wearing only a few hundred yuan T-shirt and jeans, but her temperament was elegant and graceful. On the other hand, Gu Ziyu looked like a little prince from a wealthy family. Standing there, he seemed to say, ¡°I am very expensive!¡± ¡°I want to try on this cheongsam,¡± Gu Ci pointed to the dress. ¡°Okay, please wait a moment!¡± Xiaomei hesitated for a moment and ordered someone to take down the cheongsam for Gu Ci to try on. Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu waited on the side, but unexpectedly, Gu Chuyun and several other girls were also in the store. ¡°Gu Ci, you actually came to Dragon Phoenix?¡± Chen Ying covered her mouth and smiled contemptuously. ¡°Their high-end gifts start at three million yuan. Do you have that kind of money?¡± Gu Chuyun and the other socialites stood there like stars surrounding the moon, smiling gently without saying a word, allowing others to humiliate Gu Ci. Gu Ci¡¯s face turned slightly cold, but she did not speak. Xiaomei, the shop assistant, could tell that there was a conflict between them and felt a headache coming on. She was most afraid of aristocratic ladies fighting in the store. No one could afford to offend them. ¡°Some people just have no self-awareness and don¡¯t even know their own status. Dragon Phoenix does business by letting anyone in, lowering our standards and taste. Get Gu Ci out of here,¡± said Gu Chuyun, and her friends joined in, united against Gu Ci. ¡°Gu Ci, be smart and get out. Who do you think you are to enter Dragon Phoenix ?¡± said her friends, in agreement. Gu Ci looked at them with deep, mocking eyes. Xiaomei was also very worried and hurriedly informed the store manager. Gu Ziyu¡¯s young face was covered with a sinister veil, secretive and ruthless. He was too young and cute, lacking the power to intimidate, but he coldly made a phone call. Gu Chuyun arrogantly said, ¡°Gu Ci, this is indeed a place you can¡¯t afford. You better leave obediently and avoid embarrassing yourself.¡± Gu Ci felt annoyed and asked Xiaomei, ¡°Does Dragon Phoenix Restaurant still sell this dress?¡± Xiaomei was very troubled. Gu Chuyun was a famous violinist throughout the country, and her friends were all wealthy and powerful. She couldn¡¯t afford to offend them. But Gu Ci¡¯s temperament was not something she could offend either. Most importantly, she thought that Gu Ci would look like a fairy in this dress, and who wouldn¡¯t like a pretty girl? Gu Chuyun was slightly displeased. This store assistant was so short-sighted and couldn¡¯t read the situation at all. ¡°I¡¯ll buy this dress. It¡¯s just a matter of placing an order. You¡¯ll get your commission,¡± she said. The store manager, Anna, rushed over. She was the manager of Dragon Phoenix Restaurant. ¡°Anna, where did you hire this tactless shop assistant? They¡¯re lowering our standards for the sake of commission. I¡¯m buying this dress for Gu Ci today, but we won¡¯t buy clothes from Dragon Phoenix Restaurant again,¡± Gu Chuyun threatened. ¡°You¡¯re not just losing a sale.¡± Xiaomei felt very wronged, but she didn¡¯t dare say anything. Anna couldn¡¯t afford to offend Gu Chuyun, so she adopted a tough attitude with Gu Ci and said, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I¡¯m sorry, but this qipao was designed by our boss and is not for sale. Dragon Phoenix does not sell it. Please leave.¡± Gu Ci sneered and pulled out Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s black card. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again, does Dragon Phoenix sell this qipao or not?¡± Anna was arrogant and contemptuous, but her face changed dramatically when she saw the black card. Cold sweat instantly dripped down her forehead as she asked, ¡°How did you get this black card?¡± Gu Ci looked at her coldly and mockingly. Before she could say anything, her phone, which had been in communication with Gu Ziyu, switched to a video call. A cold voice came through the screen. ¡°Anna, you¡¯re fired!¡± The voice belonged to Ji Cheng, the boss of Dragon Phoenix, and it sounded like the cold wind blowing over an ice sheet. Gu Ziyu held his phone up to Anna¡¯s face. Gu Ci looked at Gu Ziyu in surprise. Ten years later, Ji Cheng was the ruler of the Black Hawk Group, a dark king who was decisive and ruthless. Now, he was still a young man who had not yet seen the world. How did Gu Ziyu get in touch with Ji Cheng? She never expected that Dragon Phoenix was Ji Cheng¡¯s shop. Ji Cheng¡¯s handsome and aloof face appeared on the screen, and Anna was shocked and fearful. ¡°Bo¡­Boss? I was wrong, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know Miss Gu Ci had a black card. I¡­¡± ¡°Go to the personnel department and collect your compensation!¡± Ji Cheng said indifferently. ¡°Xiao Mei, from today onwards, you are the manager of Dragon Phoenix. Similar incidents will not be tolerated in the future.¡± A big pie suddenly dropped from the sky and landed on Xiao Mei¡¯s head, who had just started her job. She was stunned, but thankfully she had gone through training and was able to keep her composure. ¡°Yes, boss!¡± she said. * ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Yamei screamed. She had always admired Ji Cheng, who was mysterious, handsome, and standing at the top of the pyramid. He was the dream closet of every woman. ¡°Gu Ci clearly isn¡¯t worthy. I¡¯m your loyal fan and a VIP of Dragon Phoenix. You can¡¯t betray us.¡± Ji Cheng seemed to have heard a joke. ¡°I designed the clothes, and I can sell them to whoever I want. Gu Chuyun just said that if I sold the qipao to Miss Gu Ci, you would no longer buy clothes from Dragon Phoenix. As you wish, Xiao Mei, put them on the blacklist. Dragon Phoenix will not do business with them.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xiao Mei, who was now the manager, straightened her back. Gu Chuyun, Qiao Yamei, Chen Ying, and others were furious. Wearing Dragon Phoenix¡¯s clothes was a symbol of being a socialite¡¯s daughter, how could Dragon Phoenix put them on the blacklist? ¡°Mr. Ji, please calm down. What did we do to offend you?¡± Gu Chuyun asked in a gentle voice. Gu Ziyu sneered and turned the phone around. Ji Cheng saw the little bun in the picture and, after being surprised, smiled warmly. ¡°Little Bun, are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied.¡± ¡°Say hello to your sister for me!¡± Ji Cheng said gently. ¡°This is the first qipao I designed this year. I hope to meet its owner someday.¡± Gu Ziyu never let Ji Cheng see Gu Ci from beginning to end. Ji Cheng hung up the phone and ignored Gu Chuyun and the others calling out to him. Xiao Mei came forward sincerely and cheerfully. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, let¡¯s try on the qipao!¡± Gu Ci nodded and followed Xiao Mei to try on the qipao. After she entered the fitting room, Xiao Mei came over and retrieved all the clothes that Gu Chuyun and the others had picked out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ladies. You¡¯ve been put on Dragon Phoenix¡¯s blacklist. Please leave, including Anna!¡± Gu Chuyun and the others were shocked and angry. They never expected to be blacklisted by Dragon Phoenix. Gu Chuyun glared at Gu Ziyu fiercely. Who was this guy? How was he able to get a hold of Ji Cheng? Gu Ci was just a powerless Cinderella, so how did she have a black card? ¡°Who are you?¡± Gu Chuyun asked angrily. Gu Ziyu smiled innocently yet cruelly. ¡°I¡¯m Gu Ziyu, your nightmare.¡± Gu Chuyun, Anna, and the others were politely and firmly asked to leave by Xiao Mei. This was a humiliating experience for Gu Chuyun, who hated Gu Ci. She asked Anna, ¡°Whose black card is it?¡± Anna looked bitter and also blamed Gu Chuyun. If she had known that Gu Ci knew Lu Zhiyuan, she wouldn¡¯t have offended her. Now she had lost her job. She said with a bad temper, ¡°It¡¯s Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 10 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Chuyun was shocked. Jealousy and anger intertwined in her heart. She clenched her fists tightly, and hatred spread. Gu Ci, you deserve to die! * Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu returned with a car full of shopping, which was brought to the Global Sports Center. They looked like they were going to stay there for a lifetime. Lu Zhiyuan laughed when he saw this. ¡°Miss Gu sure knows how to shop,¡± Li Jiang said in awe. One qipao cost 15 million, electronic products were 5 million, and there were some miscellaneous items. ¡°Is it too much?¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°You hinted at her to buy whatever she wants.¡± Li Jiang looked at Lu Zhiyuan speechlessly. Miss Gu treats you like an ATM, do you still need to hint at her? Third Young Master, you¡¯re really a lapdog, spending money to win a woman¡¯s smile. You¡¯re too foolish! Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu returned to the Global Sports Center in the evening. The lights were just beginning to come on, and only Li Jiang was waiting for them downstairs. He had already arranged for someone to hang Gu Ci¡¯s clothes in the closet, and everything was well-organized. All the electronic products were moved to the study, and many of them he had never seen before. ¡°Where¡¯s your Third Young Master?¡± Gu Ci asked. Li Jiang smiled. ¡°Third Master¡­oh, Third Young Master is training.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t notice Li Jiang¡¯s slip of the tongue. Gu Ziyu counted the electronic products, and Li Jiang asked, ¡°Young Master, do you need my help?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t know if it was her misconception, but she felt that Li Jiang was a bit of a lapdog to Gu Ziyu. In her previous life, although Gu Ziyu was young, he was a legitimate young master and had a great deal of power. Li Jiang obeyed him without question. She could understand that. But in this life, Gu Ziyu was just a baby, so why were you still such a lapdog to him? ¡°No need!¡± Gu Ziyu said calmly. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll go upstairs first,¡± Li Jiang said. ¡°Miss Gu, if you need anything, call me. Third Young Master will be training all night, and he won¡¯t have his phone with him.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it!¡± Gu Ci remembered something. ¡°Li Jiang, what¡¯s the limit for this black card?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no limit,¡± Li Jiang smiled cryptically. ¡°Third Young Master said you can spend as much as you want. He has plenty of money, so you can even buy a building if you want.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. She didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhiyuan would say that! After all, Lu Zhiyuan swore that he didn¡¯t like her and they had been enemies since childhood. They hadn¡¯t even fallen in love yet. Gu Ziyu secretly added one point to Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s score. Back at the Gu family mansion, Gu Chuyun was furious when she heard from a private detective that Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu were living in the Global Sports Center, under the care of Lu Zhiyuan. She slammed her hand on the dressing table, causing the bottles of cosmetics and perfumes to fall over. ¡°Gu Ci, how dare you go to Lu Zhiyuan! How dare you!¡± Gu Chuyun was so angry that her face contorted. Lu Zhiyuan was hers! He belonged to her! No one could take him away! Whoever coveted him, she would kill them! * At the Global Sports Center, Gu Ci helped Gu Ziyu take out the parts from the box. Gu Ziyu skillfully assembled them. He bought six 50-inch monitors and hung them on the wall. Gu Ci watched his son deftly assembling something and asked Gu Ziyu, ¡°Ziyu, how did you get in touch with Ji Cheng?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed his phone number,¡± Gu Ziyu said lightly. ¡°He will be mine sooner or later. Why not exploit him early?¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t he joined the Black Hawk Group yet?¡± In the previous life, the Black Hawk Group was the world¡¯s largest conglomerate, involved in finance, real estate, artificial technology, and biopharmaceuticals, dominating the industry and an entity that no one could afford to offend. Lu Shijie was able to defeat Lu Zhiyuan because of the support of the Black Hawk Group. After Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s death, Gu Ziyu supported Ji Cheng to seize power when he was five years old. On the night of Ji Cheng¡¯s successful seizure of power with Gu Ziyu¡¯s help, Gu Ci left this world. ¡°Mom, I just didn¡¯t look at you for one night,¡± Gu Ziyu looked quietly at Gu Ci, without resentment or sadness. ¡°You didn¡¯t want me anymore.¡± Gu Ci was stabbed by Gu Ziyu¡¯s gaze. Her Ziyu had experienced so much hardship and sadness to have such a dead-eyed look. ¡°Ziyu, I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Did you not want me because you saw me do something bad, and I¡¯m not the good son you thought I was?¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes were like the cold depths of autumn, chilling to the bone, asking about the confusion he had hidden in his heart. ¡°No!¡± Gu Ci felt bitter in her heart. She touched Gu Ziyu¡¯s face, tears in her eyes. She gently pulled up Gu Ziyu¡¯s shirt, revealing a truth she had never dared to face. Gu Ziyu¡¯s chest and back were covered in scars. These were the evidence of her hurting Gu Ziyu. ¡°Mom really can¡¯t control herself, always hurting Ziyu. My existence seems to be your nightmare. That night, I knew you and Ji Cheng succeeded, and no one could hurt you in the future except for me. So I thought, if there was no mom, you would live better. This thought was uncontrollable, so I left you.¡± Gu Ci looked at Gu Ziyu¡¯s quiet eyes, her heart aching like a knife. ¡°Ziyu, Mom didn¡¯t not want you. Mom was just sick. Can you forgive Mom?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t blame Mom!¡± Gu Ziyu awkwardly wiped away her tears, still quiet. ¡°Mom, are you better now?¡± Gu Ci nodded, holding her son¡¯s cold little hand and kissing it. ¡°Then don¡¯t leave Ziyu again.¡± ¡°I would never.¡± Gu Ziyu thought to himself that he needed to become strong quickly, to become his mother¡¯s protector. Although he disliked his father always occupying the first place in her heart, he would protect his father. As long as his father was okay, his mother would not get sick. Gu Ci whispered, ¡°Ziyu, Mom loves you.¡± Gu Ziyu was stunned, looking at her in shock, forgetting to even fake a smile. This was the first time he heard Gu Ci say she loved him, a love he had longed for in his past life because after his father died, his mother went crazy. In Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes, his mother only loved his father and not him, so she heartlessly abandoned him. Gu Ziyu cried out in his heart that his mother was lying, that she didn¡¯t love him at all. But it didn¡¯t matter, he loved his mother. He smiled and said, ¡°I love you too, Mom.¡± His mother was lying. She loved him, but it didn¡¯t matter. It was fine as long as he loved his mother. That night, Gu Ci had a nightmare about her past life. She sat on the balcony with disheveled hair, with a blank expression. Outside the yard were people sent by Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie to watch over them. Her face was scarred, with two thick and ugly scars running across her cheeks, and her hands were covered in ugly scars. Little Gu Ziyu brought a bowl of sweet soup and slowly fed her. As he fed her, he told her stories, but Gu Ci had no reaction and was still blank. Suddenly, there was a strange music in the room, which stimulated her nerves and drove her insane. She knocked over the bowl in Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand and started beating him wildly, as if she wanted to vent something. Gu Ziyu was beaten until his head was bleeding and his back was cut deeply by broken dishes and chopsticks, but he didn¡¯t make a sound. He looked at Gu Ci with a sad, white face, watching her lose her mind. The music in the room finally stopped, and Gu Ci gradually calmed down. She saw Gu Ziyu lying in a pool of blood, rushed over to hold him, and roared angrily and helplessly. The blood-covered Gu Ziyu quietly and gently wiped away her tears and said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry. Ziyu isn¡¯t in pain¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 11 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation This scene was so eerie, like a horror movie. Gu Ci woke up from the nightmare, covered in cold sweat and tears streaming down her face. She was overwhelmed with sadness and couldn¡¯t let go of the past. Gu Chuyun repeatedly stimulated her with music, causing her to hurt Gu Ziyu repeatedly. When she was sober, she thought about death countless times, but Gu Ziyu still insisted on watching over her, even if it meant being covered in wounds. She entrusted Gu Ziyu to Li Jiang, asking him to take Gu Ziyu far away, but Gu Ziyu came back on his own. In their past life, the mother and son were stuck in a vicious cycle. If she didn¡¯t die, she would eventually kill Gu Ziyu. She felt her illness getting worse and knew that she could only protect Gu Ziyu by dying. Thinking about the past, Gu Ci¡¯s hatred for Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie deepened once again! Gu Ci couldn¡¯t sleep all night and woke up early to go for a run. Despite the presence of a large indoor training facility at the Global Sports Center, she chose to run on the outdoor track, covering eight kilometers in an hour. As the sun began to rise, she realized that her endurance needed improvement and moved to the weight training area for strength training. Upon entering, she saw Lu Zhiyuan wearing a helmet and doing neck exercises. Racing drivers are some of the most well-rounded athletes, requiring endurance, physical fitness, and core strength, all of which are critical to their performance. Even after running a few hundred laps, they still have to maintain their strength. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s core strength was impressive; his body was at a 90-degree angle, supported by a resistance rope, with his legs firmly planted on the ground. His sweat dripped onto the carpet, and his core strength amazed Gu Ci. However, her mind wandered to some inappropriate thoughts. Embarrassed, Gu Ci¡¯s face turned red. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s core strength was stable, and his endurance was incredible. Certain aspects of his physique were also intimidating. A coach was timing Lu Zhiyuan, so Gu Ci didn¡¯t disturb him and moved to the farthest machine for weight training. With her eyes closed, she mechanically exercised and recited a calming mantra in her mind. She was only eighteen years old and was still very pure. She did not want to think too much about such dirty stuff. However, the moment she opened her eyes, she saw Lu Zhiyuan standing in front of her, wiping the sweat off his T-shirt and revealing his tight and beautiful abs. Sweat dripped from his abs, and his male hormones were overwhelming. His adrenaline skyrocketed after exercising, and his shorts were quite short, revealing a certain part that was quite obvious. Gu Ci took a glance and felt a surge of heat, hastily touching her nose. What if her nose bled? How could she explain it? ¡°Are you training this early?¡± Lu Zhiyuan still wiped his sweat with his clothes, walking around like a walking hormone, and he didn¡¯t even realize it. ¡°Don¡¯t you always sleep until you naturally wake up and hate exercising?¡± He had just watched Gu Ci run for an hour upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m exercising to improve my physical strength. I¡¯m too weak,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice trembled, feeling like she had been electrified all over her body. She remembered the first time they had sex in their past life, and she had almost become a rag doll. He had even said with a smirk that she was too weak and needed to improve her physical fitness. Stop, stop, she couldn¡¯t think about it! Gu Ci frantically slapped her own face, feeling like it was burning up. Lu Zhiyuan watched her excitedly beating her own face, his brow furrowing. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°The towel is hanging on your shoulder. Why do you keep using your clothes to wipe your sweat?¡± Gu Ci asked, blushing. Lu Zhiyuan looked down and realized he was still lifting his clothes, revealing his abs. He then looked at Gu Ci¡¯s embarrassed expression and suddenly understood what was going on. He found it unbelievable and asked with a smirk, ¡°Are you blushing just from looking at my abs?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s blushing?¡± Gu Ci retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve been running for an hour, and I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting flustered,¡± Lu Zhiyuan teased, looking at the shy Gu Ci. It was quite refreshing for him. Gu Ci suddenly became vivid in his mind, and he mischievously asked, ¡°Do you want to see something else?¡± He watched Gu Ci¡¯s face turn red as if it was bleeding. He pressed his tongue against his teeth to suppress the desire to bite her, and his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly because of his desire. ¡°Don¡¯t act like a pervert,¡± Gu Ci sighed, but she couldn¡¯t hide her blushing face. She muttered under her breath, ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it before.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. ¡°Just go train already!¡± Gu Ci replied. Lu Zhiyuan laughed and walked away. Gu Ci wasn¡¯t sure if it was just her imagination, but Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s training afterwards showcased his incredible core strength and physical fitness, filling the entire gym with his male hormones. Gu Ci watched a male peacock show off its feathers, feeling speechless and amused. She also felt a little sad, thinking about how vibrant and full of life the twenty-year-old Lu Zhiyuan was. He was like a beam of light that illuminated her whole world. Of course, five years later, he was still her light. But she hoped that Lu Zhiyuan could continue to live his life brilliantly like this. After an hour of strength training, Gu Ci went upstairs. Gu Ziyu, on the other hand, was very disciplined despite not being a fan of exercise. He was a pure homebody, but he woke up every day at 5:30 AM to study computer science, artificial intelligence, and psychology, all from specialized books. When Gu Ci returned, he was finishing a French psychology lecture. Gu Ci didn¡¯t disturb her son and took a shower after resting, preparing breakfast. She knew Lu Zhiyuan too well, so she made an extra breakfast, a high-carbohydrate, and protein one that was specifically for him. Gu Ziyu finished studying and drank the fresh soy milk that Gu Ci prepared, asking, ¡°Mom, why did you make so much breakfast?¡± ¡°Your dad might come down,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Gu Ziyu thought to himself, feeling annoyed. ¡°You¡¯ve never lived with your dad before. Do you have any expectations?¡± Gu Ci asked. Gu Ziyu held his face in his hands, his smile bright. ¡°It must be exhausting to play the role of an innocent and cute baby.¡± Gu Ci laughed and pinched his son¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re cute even if you don¡¯t act like a baby.¡± When Lu Zhiyuan came in, Gu Ziyu smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Good morning, Big Brother.¡± He was truly a master of changing his facial expressions ¨C adorable and cute. Lu Zhiyuan took a shower and changed into clean and refreshing white sportswear. He looked youthful and energetic in his sportswear. Seeing the breakfast prepared for him on the table, Lu Zhiyuan knew it was for him. This was the first real family reunion dinner for the three of them. Gu Ziyu felt conflicted. He didn¡¯t like Lu Zhiyuan because Gu Ci loved him more than she loved her own son. It was Gu Ziyu¡¯s mental block that stemmed from Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s death and his mother¡¯s subsequent mental illness. He felt jealous. Yet, he also liked Lu Zhiyuan and hoped to play the role of a well-behaved and cute child in front of him to win his affection. After all, no one likes a little devil. Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t want Lu Zhiyuan to know his true nature. This was their secret between him and Gu Ci. Lu Zhiyuan also felt Gu Ziyu¡¯s gaze. He had mixed feelings towards Gu Ziyu. He didn¡¯t like anyone else stealing Gu Ci¡¯s attention, not even animals. However, he could sense that Gu Ci cherished and treasured Gu Ziyu very much. On the other hand, he found this little brat whom he disliked quite familiar. It was as if there was some kind of bond between them in another life. Gu Ci drank her soy milk, her eyes scanning between Lu Zhiyuan and his son with the same possessiveness. Genetics truly was fascinating. ¡°Gu Ci, where did this kid come from?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. Gu Ci had already prepared her explanation. ¡°He¡¯s my son¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 12 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan took a sip of his soy milk and immediately choked on it, coughing loudly. Gu Ziyu calmly grabbed a tissue and wiped the soy milk off his hand, smiling sweetly. ¡°Brother, stay calm.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the son I picked up!¡± Gu Ci declared. ¡°How old is he¡­six or seven?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked Gu Ziyu. ¡°Six!¡± Gu Ziyu promptly replied. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re eighteen. How do you have such a big son?¡± Lu Zhiyuan turned to Gu Ziyu and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any family?¡± Gu Ziyu hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat conflicted. ¡°Dad, my family is all right here with me.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s soft and obedient smile revealed a hint of sadness. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me, then I¡¯m just an orphan.¡± Lu Zhiyuan felt an unexplainable sense of reprimand from Gu Ziyu¡¯s calm gaze. ¡°Are you all alone at home? Why are you following Gu Ci? She can¡¯t even take care of herself, and when September comes, she¡¯ll be too busy with university to take care of a child. How can an 18-year-old student raise a child?¡± Lu Zhiyuan advised Gu Ci, ¡°Since he was found, why don¡¯t you send him to the police station? They¡¯ll take care of him.¡± That way, Gu Ci would have one less person to worry about. Gu Ziyu leisurely took a bite of his steamed bun, the points Lu Zhiyuan had earned previously plummeted once again. He knew that his father didn¡¯t like him taking up too much of his mother¡¯s attention, just like him, they were truly father and son. ¡°He has nowhere else to go, and he¡¯s truly in need. I can take care of him,¡± Gu Ci thought to herself, knowing that taking care of a child was not just her responsibility alone. ¡°You can help me take care of him too.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s not my son.¡± Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci were speechless. Gu Ziyu sounded so pitiful as if he was about to cry, ¡°Big brother, I don¡¯t need much to eat, just give me a bowl of rice.¡± ¡°You had two steamed buns, a slice of toast, and two cups of soy milk for breakfast,¡± Lu Zhiyuan mercilessly exposed him, knowing that this little guy was trying to trick him. Gu Ci rubbed her temples and looked at Lu Zhiyuan softly, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him.¡± ¡°But the law doesn¡¯t allow it. You¡¯re eighteen and unmarried, the country doesn¡¯t allow you to adopt a child,¡± Lu Zhiyuan knew Gu Ci was stubborn, and there was no stopping her once she had made up her mind. Gu Ziyu softly suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two get married, then you can adopt me.¡± Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan were both stunned. Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t understand why they were both stunned. ¡°Why not? I¡¯m a gifted child who can make money and support the family. I have a good personality and manners. Isn¡¯t that great?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at Gu Ziyu with mixed feelings, ¡°You¡¯re really good at selling yourself. But there¡¯s no such thing as so many gifted children.¡± Gu Ziyu silently repeated to himself, ¡°He¡¯s my biological father, don¡¯t get angry!¡± He smiled and asked, ¡°So, are you going to get married and adopt me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was very conflicted. What if Gu Ci really wanted to marry him? Should he say yes or no? He felt a bit tempted, but his rational side quickly suppressed those thoughts. However, Gu Ci said something more practical, ¡°He¡¯s not of legal marriage age yet.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was speechless. His worries were unnecessary after all. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame.¡± Gu Ziyu said surprisingly, ¡°Dad, you lost a gifted son.¡± Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. After the three of them finished breakfast, Gu Ci had to go back home to get her household registration book, ID card, and passport. She was in a rush when she left home that day and didn¡¯t have time to take her documents. She left them with Lu Man and Gu Wenliang, but she was still worried. She needed the household registration book to register Gu Ziyu, but fortunately, the restrictions were not as strict now. As soon as Gu Ci left, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened. He looked at Gu Ziyu coldly and asked, ¡°Little guy, were you trying to scam Gu Ci?¡± ¡°Brother, you seem very hostile towards me,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°Likewise, you¡¯re not exactly friendly towards me either,¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled. ¡°No matter how sweet you smile, you can¡¯t hide your hostility. What do you want?¡± ¡°What should I do? Sister likes me,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s smile was bright. ¡°If you bully me, I¡¯ll tell on you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan laughed. ¡°You¡¯re still so young, where did you learn all these tricks?¡± Gu Ziyu smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. Li Jiang came in and said, ¡°Young Master, the Chairman is here.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face instantly darkened. Gu Ci drove Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s sports car back to the Gu family mansion and saw several cars parked outside the gate. Gu Ci didn¡¯t pay much attention and walked inside. In the hall, Xu Tingting, Lu Shijie, Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, Gu Chuyun, and Gu Yaozu were all present. The housekeeper and others stayed far away, not knowing what they were discussing, but their faces were extremely grim. Xu Tingting¡¯s face was filled with anger. ¡°Miss Gu, marriage is not a child¡¯s play. If you want to cancel the engagement, you must give me a valid reason.¡± Gu Yaozu angrily said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Master Lu¡¯s outrageous behavior, could this engagement have been broken? You were already engaged to Gu Chuyun, yet you were also eyeing Gu Ci. You¡¯re greedy and disgusting!¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s eyes turned cold as he looked over. Gu Yaozu was frightened but still wanted to protect Gu Chuyun. Xu Tingting sneered. When she was young, she climbed up the ranks from an eighteen-line actress to land Lu Ze. She even gave birth to Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. How could she be an easy target? ¡°Which man is not lecherous and promiscuous? Gu Chuyun, you should have heard the rumors about him when you agreed to the engagement with Shijie. We didn¡¯t force you to marry him. You did it willingly. At the engagement banquet, you even tried to push your fianc¨¦ onto Gu Ci. If something really happened between Gu Ci and Shijie, would you use it as an excuse to break off the engagement? It seems that you agreed to the engagement just to let my son ruin your sister. Your heart is so dark at such a young age. Do you think everyone is blind?¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s thoughts were exposed. Her face turned red and then pale, feeling ashamed and unable to admit it. She had teary eyes and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­it was Lu Shijie who wanted Gu Ci and forced me to do it.¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun, it was you who said that Gu Ci had a crush on me and couldn¡¯t wait to climb into my bed. Even if something happened, Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t dare to speak up. From start to finish, it was all your plan. Why would I have any reason to ruin my own engagement banquet?¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°You¡¯re really good at distorting the truth.¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, I didn¡¯t!¡± Gu Chuyun cried pitifully. No matter who saw this scene, they would think that Lu Shijie was forcing her and that she was innocent. Gu Ci curled her lips. So it was a dogfight. Interesting! ¡°What do you want?¡± Gu Wenliang couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Lu Corporation. Lu Shijie sneered, ¡°You want to call off the engagement? Fine, it¡¯s simple. Just have Gu Ci marry me instead.¡± Gu Chuyun was overjoyed and Lu Man quickly nodded, ¡°Okay, let Gu Ci marry you. We have no objections.¡± ¡°But the Gu family must provide a dowry of 20% of their shares,¡± Xu Tingting demanded with a bold statement. Gu Wenliang and Lu Man were both shocked. Seeing Gu Wenliang hesitate, Gu Chuyun asked with a pitiful voice, ¡°Dad, are shares more important than your daughter¡¯s happiness?¡± In his heart, Gu Wenliang knew that the shares were indeed more important, but he couldn¡¯t say it outright. Gu Chuyun then used a retreat as an advance tactic and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I don¡¯t want any shares.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 13 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Xu Tingting raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Mr. Gu, what do you think?¡± Gu Wenliang looked at Gu Chuyun and saw that she agreed. They had to resolve this matter as they couldn¡¯t afford to offend Lu Shijie. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s settle it this way. Gu Ci will marry Lu Shijie instead of Chuyun.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes darkened. They were all villains, casually deciding her entire life. Wasn¡¯t it the same way they discussed her fate when they sent her to prison years ago? ¡°If I marry Lu Shijie, will you guys be the ones getting the marriage license for me?¡± Gu Ci lazily walked in from the foyer with black and heavy eyes. ¡°Since you can¡¯t do that, shouldn¡¯t you ask for my opinion?¡± Everyone was surprised that Gu Ci had returned. Xu Tingting chuckled. This was a matter for the Gu family to resolve, and had nothing to do with her. Lu Shijie looked at Gu Ci, his desire growing stronger. The more unattainable she seemed, the more he coveted her. He loved to conquer this kind of fiery rose, and when he got tired of playing, he would deal with her properly. Gu Yaozu was furious. ¡°It¡¯s your good fortune to be able to climb up the ranks of the Lu family consortium!¡± ¡°Lu Shijie, give up on this idea!¡± Gu Ci looked at him coldly. ¡°You and Gu Chuyun, the scumbag and the slut, belong together.¡± Lu Man couldn¡¯t bear to hear her daughter insulted. ¡°Xiaoci, Chuyun is your sister. You must show her some basic respect. The matter is settled.¡± Gu Chuyun spoke gently. ¡°Xiaoci, Lu Shijie loves you so much. He will treat you well.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t marry Lu Shijie!¡± The girl stood under the light, looking so beautiful that she didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary person, but her eyes were filled with a fierce hostility. ¡°You have no choice!¡± Gu Wenliang thought it would be fine if Gu Ci married Lu Shijie. Gu Ci had a fiery personality and might not necessarily suffer in the marriage. As for Gu Chuyun, who was gentle and weak, she would definitely be abused by Lu Shijie. ¡°This is settled. You have to marry whether you like it or not!¡± Gu Ci sneered and headed upstairs, but Gu Yaozu blocked her way. ¡°Gu Ci, our parents have already made the decision. You must agree.¡± ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Gu Ci lifted her eyelids, her hostility soaring. ¡°What¡¯s your attitude? I¡¯m your brother, I¡­¡± Gu Yaozu was about to scold her when Gu Ci kicked him and sent him flying one meter away, hitting the dining cabinet. An antique vase fell and hit him on the head. Gu Yaozu¡¯s head was instantly broken and bleeding, and the pain made his vision turn black. Lu Man screamed and ran to help him up, while Gu Chuyun was also shocked. Gu Ci didn¡¯t look back and went upstairs, cold and aloof. Xu Tingting was shocked. Was Gu Ci always this violent? Lu Shijie licked his teeth, his desire growing stronger. ¡°Gu Ci, I must have you!¡± Gu Chuyun saw Lu Shijie¡¯s greed in his eyes and was very satisfied. No woman could escape from Lu Shijie¡¯s clutches once he set his sights on her. She didn¡¯t want to be so ruthless, but it was her own fault that Lu Zhiyuan liked her. Gu Ci, that was your original sin! ¡°You bastard, stop right there!¡± Gu Wenliang was furious. Gu Ci remained indifferent. She returned to her own bedroom, put her household registration book, ID card, passport, and a few important bank cards into her bag. She was glad that she had turned eighteen and was now an adult. When Gu Ci came downstairs, the place was still in a mess. Lu Man looked at her son, blood flowing from his head, and was tending to his wounds. Gu Wenliang pointed at Gu Ci. ¡°Look at yourself, behaving arrogantly and recklessly. You don¡¯t have a trace of a noble young lady. You even dared to hit your brother. When will you mature and learn to be as well-behaved and sensible as your sister?¡± ¡°Gu Ci, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Gu Yaozu pushed Lu Man aside, raging with anger. He grabbed a baseball bat and swung it at Gu Ci, fast and fierce. He had a volatile temper and would often physically abuse Gu Ci whenever things didn¡¯t go his way. He never saw her as his sister. Gu Ci sidestepped, grabbed the baseball bat, and kicked his knee. Gu Yaozu¡¯s legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground in a sorry state. Gu Ci took the baseball bat and pressed it against his throat. With a chilling killing intent, as if it could pierce his throat, Gu Yaozu looked into Gu Ci¡¯s indifferent eyes, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. Was this the same Gu Ci whom he had casually beaten and scolded since childhood? ¡°What¡­ What are you¡­ Do you want to kill me?¡± Everyone was shocked by this scene! Gu Ci coldly smirked. ¡°I find you repulsive!¡± She dropped the baseball bat, turned around, and left, not wanting to say another word to them. * Xu Tingting and Lu Shijie left the Gu family, sitting in silence. The driver remained quiet, not daring to say a word. ¡°I don¡¯t like that girl, Gu Ci. She¡¯s wild and untamed,¡± Xu Tingting said. She preferred poised young ladies who were obedient and had a sense of dignity. Such women were easier to control. ¡°I want her!¡± Lu Shijie was fond of Gu Ci, this beautiful and intriguing woman. Her appearance was exquisite and pure, and the more wild she was, the more he wanted to conquer her. ¡°There is no better choice than her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault. You don¡¯t even know how to handle women properly. When things go wrong, it tarnishes your reputation. Who would want to marry their daughter to you?¡± Xu Tingting expressed her displeasure. ¡°Mom, I made a mistake!¡± Lu Shijie apologized insincerely. ¡°Dad didn¡¯t say much. I¡¯m still the rightful heir.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan focused solely on his racing career. Otherwise, why would he groom you!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s gaze darkened. He had grown up being overshadowed. Lu Zhiyuan was the legitimate heir, while he was a bastard. Lu Zhiyuan was still a world champion, the shining moonlight in the eyes of girls worldwide. His radiance was so bright that no one could overshadow him. Lu Shijie despised it whenever someone mentioned Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Enough, just quickly handle Gu Ci and secure the shares of the Gu and Jiang families. That¡¯s what matters.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Lu Shijie sneered. ¡°I have plenty of ways to deal with a little girl like her.¡± The phone rang, and Lu Shijie saw that it was Gu Chuyun calling. He reluctantly answered with a displeased expression. ¡°What is it?¡± Gu Chuyun hesitated for a while before speaking softly, ¡°Lu Shijie, about the marriage agreement between you and Gu Ci.. I think it¡¯s best you forget about it.¡± ¡°Are you playing with me?¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s gaze turned sinister. Gu Chuyun hesitantly said, ¡°I heard that Gu Ci is living in the Global Sports Center, and it seems that Lu Zhiyuan really likes her. Uncle Lu favors Lu Zhiyuan the most, and you can¡¯t compete with him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. He angrily hung up the phone. Lu Zhiyuan was taboo for Lu Shijie, and he would destroy anything that Lu Zhiyuan liked. ¡°Who would you choose if you have to choose between Lu Zhiyuan and Lu Shijie, who would you choose?¡± Lu Shijie thought to himself. ¡°Shijie, what are you planning?¡± Xu Tingting looked at her sinister son with a mix of fear and dread. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t interfere in this matter. It has nothing to do with you!¡± Lu Shijie sneered. ¡°If Lu Zhiyuan insists on opposing me, I will make him taste the bitter consequences.¡± In the grand mansion of the Gu family, Gu Chuyun hummed a little tune happily. Lu Shijie was a narrow-minded person who couldn¡¯t handle provocation. Gu Chuyun knew Lu Shijie¡¯s weaknesses. She sipped her wine leisurely, eagerly awaiting the spectacle. On the top floor of the Global Sports Center, Lu Ze scrutinized his surroundings with a critical eye. Lu Zhiyuan had moved to the Global Sports Center two years ago and had never invited anyone over. This was Lu Ze¡¯s first visit as well. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 14 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Ze had a dignified appearance, exuding an aura of authority. Lu Zhiyuan resembled his mother more in terms of looks. Lu Ze had a complex mix of love and hate for his only legitimate son. However, Lu Zhiyuan was becoming impatient. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Must I have a reason to come see you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy and don¡¯t want to entertain you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in playing along with your drama.¡± ¡°Zhiyuan, how about your father discussing a business deal with you today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the Lu Corporation!¡± Lu Zhiyuan lazily propped up his legs. Since childhood, he had a hundred and eight ways to provoke Lu Ze. ¡°The empire you built, you can give it to whoever you want.¡± Lu Ze felt both anger and amusement. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I¡¯ve raised you for so many years, provided you with good food and drink. When you wanted to race, I gave you the best technical team to create the best racing team. When you wanted to start a business, I provided the money. I¡¯ve done my duty as a father. Can¡¯t you behave like a good son for even a single day?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was getting a bit impatient, and Lu Ze shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m getting old, and Lu Corporation needs a successor. You don¡¯t need to worry about Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. I will give them a few small companies that won¡¯t interfere with your position in the company.¡± ¡°Dad, they have been serving you like slaves for so many years, yet they haven¡¯t gained any benefits. It must be so heartbreaking for them,¡± Lu Zhiyuan mocked. Lu Ze¡¯s favoritism was clear as day. He said with dissatisfaction, ¡°Who am I doing this for?¡± ¡°I never expected you to be such a sentimental person, caring about others as well. It¡¯s really surprising,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said sarcastically. ¡°You can talk all you want, but I¡¯m not interested in Lu Corporation.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give it to your elder brother then. Don¡¯t regret it,¡± Lu Ze took a sip of tea and said calmly, ¡°Back then, there was an engagement between the Lu and Gu families. Your elder brother was determined to be tied to the Gu family. Gu Chuyun called off the engagement today, and Xu Tingting took your elder brother to negotiate with Lu Corporation. Gu Wenliang, who forgets about his daughter for personal gain, do you think Gu Ci will marry your elder brother? When you see her, remember to call her sister-in-law!¡± ¡°He¡¯s courting death!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lu Ze shrugged. ¡°Zhiyuan, if he takes over Lu Corporation, he will have complete control. Can you stop him from getting Gu Ci? What you don¡¯t want, many people dream of having.¡± Lu Zhiyuan sneered. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your indulgence, Lu Shijie wouldn¡¯t be so unruly.¡± ¡°A tiger does not eat its own cubs. I¡¯ve tolerated your rebelliousness,¡± Lu Ze shamelessly declared, engaging in a cycle of hurting each other with Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°So, doesn¡¯t Daddy love his good sons equally?¡± Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath. ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Ze was in a great mood. ¡°I¡¯ve said all I needed to. Think about it carefully.¡± With a cheerful tune on his lips, Lu Ze walked away. Li Jiang respectfully bowed to him. Lu Ze was very pleased with Li Jiang¡¯s work. ¡°Carry on with your duties, I¡¯ll take a stroll around.¡± Li Jiang didn¡¯t dare to stop him either. After taking a stroll, Lu Ze realized that he had underestimated Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s businesses. Global Sports Center had a mature business model, and he had seen the profitability of the racing team. Unexpectedly, due to a wrong button press for the 77th floor, he encountered Gu Ziyu. ¡°Grandfather?¡± Gu Ziyu blurted out. How did he come down here? ¡°Little guy, who are you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was Lu Ze¡¯s late-born son. He had been against marriage for many years and didn¡¯t marry until he was thirty-eight, which resulted in Lu Zhiyuan. It was quite normal for a six-year-old child to call him grandfather. Gu Ziyu politely stood up and greeted him. ¡°Hello, Grandfather. My name is Gu Ziyu.¡± He is your eldest grandson, after all. Gu Ziyu had a relatively good impression of Lu Ze. In his previous life, Lu Ze had a stroke and became partially paralyzed due to being ousted by Lu Shijie. Lu Shijie was truly full of malice, using medication to control Lu Ze¡¯s life. He had been lying in the hospital, half-paralyzed, witnessing the death of Lu Zhiyuan and the abuse suffered by Gu Ziyu, enduring great torment. Every week, Li Jiang would bring Gu Ziyu to visit Lu Ze. When Gu Ziyu turned five years old, Lu Ze passed away, transferring all his connections to Gu Ziyu. The grandfather and grandson formed a revolutionary friendship. Lu Ze¡¯s most beloved son was Lu Zhiyuan. If it weren¡¯t for his will being known by Lu Shijie in the previous life, where he left all his shares to Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Shijie might not have dared to gamble everything for power. ¡°Why would Lu Zhiyuan let outsiders live here?¡± Lu Ze blurted out. ¡°I and my sister live here,¡± Gu Ziyu invited the person inside and poured a glass of warm water for Lu Ze. ¡°My sister¡¯s name is Gu Ci.¡± Lu Ze¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan truly has double standards!¡± Lu Ze looked at the quiet and polite child in front of him. The more he looked, the more familiar and friendly the child seemed, which added to his confusion. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Six years old.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t have had a love child at the age of fourteen, right?¡± Lu Ze asked with a smirk, resembling a witch tempting a princess with a poisoned apple. ¡°Would you mind doing a paternity test with me, baby?¡± Gu Ziyu remained silent. ¡°Just kidding, just kidding¡­¡± Lu Ze had many doubts in his mind. This little kid resembled Lu Zhiyuan a lot, especially the aura¡­ it was so reminiscent of the quiet and reserved Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t intend to say much to Lu Ze because neither he nor Gu Ci could reveal too much about their past lives. Suddenly, his phone beeped twice. Gu Ziyu glanced at the phone, his expression turning serious. ¡°Grandfather, excuse me.¡± Gu Ziyu ran out like the wind and went upstairs to find Lu Zhiyuan, his demeanor calm. ¡°Brother, something happened to sister.¡± Gu Ci truly didn¡¯t expect Lu Shijie to be so audacious, daring to bring her to the Nightshade Bar in broad daylight. Lu Shijie lazily crossed his legs and slowly lit a cigar. He got straight to the point, ¡°Gu Ci, your face, your body are your greatest assets. While I¡¯m interested in you, you can still fetch a high price. Once this opportunity is gone, it¡¯s gone. My patience is also limited.¡± He didn¡¯t hide his greed for Gu Ci. Gu Ci¡¯s face was shrouded in shadow, her profile exquisitely beautiful, like a carved jade statue, enticing Lu Shijie. Gu Ci said, ¡°Lu Shijie, who wouldn¡¯t want to be connected with the heir of a prestigious family in A City like the young master of Lu Corporation? But you, after searching around, could only find Gu Chuyun. Why? Because you are a scum.¡± ¡°Provoking me won¡¯t benefit you!¡± Lu Shijie didn¡¯t care about his reputation. No matter how much trouble he caused, Lu Ze could handle it. ¡°As the second Miss of the Gu family, who isn¡¯t loved by their father and mother, your position in the Gu family is also awkward. You are the biological daughter, yet Lu Man dotes more on Gu Chuyun. You hold resentment as well. Marry me, and you can free yourself from humiliation. However you want to retaliate against Gu Chuyun, you can do it!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile as she looked at him. ¡°Whatever you can think of, Gu Chuyun can think of it too. Lu Shijie, you are truly foolish and poisonous. If I hadn¡¯t turned the tables and tricked you into a sham engagement at the engagement banquet, where both face and substance were lost, Gu Chuyun would have seized the opportunity to break the engagement. You would have lost both reputation and wealth. You don¡¯t even have half of Gu Chuyun¡¯s cunning. Your promises are worthless.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 15 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Shijie¡¯s expression turned sinister. He had been careless in being outsmarted by Gu Chuyun. He had always seen Gu Chuyun as a naive beauty, never expecting her to be a deceitful person. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to marry me, who do you want to marry? Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Lu Shijie sneered at her. ¡°Did you know that Lu Zhiyuan once had a cat?¡± Gu Ci naturally knew. It was a cat that Lin Zhi had given to Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan was particularly fond of that cat, but the cat, in turn, preferred Lu Shijie because he bought it many cans of food and kept peppermint plants in his room. Pets and people¡¯s emotions and preferences didn¡¯t always align. Over time, the cat became attached to Lu Shijie. But one day, when Lu Zhiyuan came home from school, he watched helplessly as Lu Shijie killed his cat. Lu Zhiyuan and Lu Shijie got into a fight, and Lu Zhiyuan even knocked out one of Lu Shijie¡¯s front teeth. ¡°It turns out, he pretended to dislike you on purpose, just because he was afraid that the woman he was interested in would be coveted by me. He has been pretending for so many years, and I almost fell for it.¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s blood was boiling as he licked his lips in a sinister manner. ¡°If Lu Zhiyuan knew that the woman he liked was taken by me, married to me, I wonder what expression he would have?¡± Lu Shijie laughed excitedly. ¡°It must be a heart-wrenching pain. I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly disgusting!¡± Gu Ci looked at him coldly. She was well aware that Lu Shijie enjoyed taking things away from Lu Zhiyuan. She had heard about it before. ¡°You and Gu Chuyun are truly made for each other.¡± ¡°Gu Ci, you have no choice.¡± Lu Shijie flicked his cigar and smirked. ¡°The person I set my eyes on, no one can escape from the palm of my hand.¡± He dropped a pill into the wine bottle, giving it a gentle shake, and poured a glass of wine, staring at Gu Ci with an evil gaze. Gu Ci laughed coldly. Those girls who had been hurt by him were also victims of his manipulations. Lu Shijie was displeased with the disdainful look in Gu Ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± he asked. Gu Ci replied, ¡°Lu Shijie, if you can¡¯t perform without drugging yourself, then you¡¯re just impotent.¡± Her words were extremely humiliating and insulting. Lu Shijie¡¯s face instantly darkened, and he angrily stood up, lifting the glass of wine. ¡°I was being nice. Since you don¡¯t appreciate it, then don¡¯t blame me!¡± As Lu Shijie approached with the wine in hand, Gu Ci swiftly moved forward, snatched the glass from him, and delivered a punch to his eye. Lu Shijie was knocked back onto the sofa, and before he could get up, Gu Ci kicked him in the chest, almost stepping on his torso as she forced the wine down his throat. ¡°You¡­ Help!¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s face turned pale with shock. He shouted for his bodyguards, and two guards who were standing by the door entered. Gu Ci quickly stepped back. The wine was originally prepared for Gu Ci, but he didn¡¯t expect that it would have the same effect on him. With a cold smile, he said, ¡°Gu Ci, if you drank this wine, it would be considered a sensual experience. But if I drink it, are you sure¡­ you¡¯ll be able to get out of bed?¡± Gu Ci sneered and poured another glass of wine, all while under the arrogant and malicious gaze of Lu Shijie. She swiftly kicked down his bodyguard and forcefully poured the glass of wine into his mouth. Lu Shijie widened his eyes, ¡°What are you trying to do, Gu Ci?¡± The other burly bodyguard happened to be her enemy from a past life. Gu Ci drew out a small knife and aimed it towards his eyes. However, he was equally tough and managed to evade the attack, delivering a powerful kick to Gu Ci¡¯s abdomen instead. Enduring the pain, Gu Ci swung the wine bottle towards his head, causing the liquid to splash into his eyes. Simultaneously, her knife found its mark in his waist, and she forcefully poured the remaining wine down his throat! The drug¡¯s effect began to take hold within Lu Shijie¡¯s body, igniting a burning desire that made his eyes turn bloodshot. Gu Ci calmly retrieved the knife, saying, ¡°Lu Shijie, since you enjoy forcing women, you should also taste the feeling of being forced.¡± Lu Shijie realized what she was about to do, his face turned pale, and he frantically ran towards the door. Just as he pulled it open, Gu Ci kicked him forcefully, with brutality and malice. The drug¡¯s effect had taken hold within their bodies. ¡°Gu Ci, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lu Shijie roared in anger, but he was restrained by two strong bodyguards who dragged him back onto the sofa in the private room. They struggled with each other like wild beasts. Gu Ci sneered, turned around, and walked away, locking the door behind her. The bar belonged to Lu Shijie, and during the daytime, it was deserted without a soul in sight. Gu Ci encountered no obstacles as she made her way out of the door. Just as Gu Ci stepped out of the bar, two cars rushed towards her, seemingly about to collide, but they spun around in front of her, executing a thrilling drift, and stopped beside her. Lu Zhiyuan swiftly stepped out of the car and approached Gu Ci like a gust of wind. Gu Ci had red marks on her fair and tender arms from the fight. Lu Zhiyuan exuded a fierce aura as he said, ¡°Where is Lu Shijie?¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, he started walking towards the bar. Startled, Gu Ci hurriedly embraced him from behind and said, ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± The scene above couldn¡¯t tarnish Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes, and more importantly¡­ she hoped that in Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart, she would always be the purest, the cleanest girl. Her soft body pressed against him, and all of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger dissipated in an instant. When he lowered his head, he could see her hand on his waist. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her fingers slender and glistening. A warm fragrance wafted through the evening breeze. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s ears burned, his body stiffened, and his face turned red from the heat. This scene was as beautiful as a painting in the sunset. On the other car, Li Jiang remained motionless, refusing to get out. With his phone¡¯s location matching up with his, Gu Ziyu turned off the screen. Gu Ci gently shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re a world champion, and your hand is more precious than his life. He doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± He doesn¡¯t even deserve to be hit by you! Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s lips curved upwards. Gu Ci¡¯s words were like a warm breeze that blew through his heart, dissipating all his anger. He uncomfortably clenched his fist. ¡°You¡­ let go of me first!¡± Gu Ci obediently released him, feeling a bit regretful. The young Lu Zhiyuan was slimmer than he would be five years later, and it felt nice to hold him like that. In the previous life, she also enjoyed embracing him from behind. That way, he couldn¡¯t see her ugly face. ¡°The next time you see him, immediately call the police. No! Call me, I¡¯m more effective than the police!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger simmered. ¡°Lu Sejie¡¯s audacity is growing. He dared to kidnap you even in broad daylight. Why is he so obsessed with you?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ he has a twisted mind!¡± Gu Ci thought to herself. Lu Shijie wanted to defile her, covet her, and it was also a way for him to seek revenge against Lu Zhiyuan. He was willing to do anything that would make Lu Zhiyuan lose control. She couldn¡¯t help but recall Lu Shijie¡¯s words. Did Lu Zhiyuan deliberately act like he disliked her in order to protect her? The thought of his thought process made Gu Ci chuckle. It was so silly, yet so endearing. Lu Zhiyuan tilted her chin, looking down at her from a higher position. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± His exquisite face was immersed in the warm glow, reflected in her eyes. Gu Ci¡¯s heart softened, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Lu Zhiyuan was captivated by the girl¡¯s smile, finding it incredibly stunning. In his memory, Gu Ci rarely smiled. She was willful, proud, and lacked a sense of security. It was more difficult to make her smile than reaching the heavens. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 16 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, why do you care so much if you don¡¯t even like me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan retorted, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m doing it to lower the crime rate.¡± ¡°Oh, a zealous citizen. I¡¯ll make sure to nominate you for the ¡®Touching China¡¯ award this year.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained speechless. A tender and soft voice interrupted, ¡°Are you two done talking, big sister, big brother?¡± Glancing back into the bar with his clear peach blossom eyes, Gu Zi Yu suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of Lu Shijie!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci were both rendered speechless this time. Baby, do you still remember to be a well-behaved and adorable little cutie in front of Daddy? You mustn¡¯t break character! Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Little munchkin, have you been watching too many TV dramas?¡± Gu Zi Yu smiled mischievously, ¡°I¡¯ve actually killed quite a few people.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let the character image collapse, my precious!¡± Gu Ci maintained a polite yet awkward smile. ¡°He¡¯s been obsessing over Hong Kong triad dramas lately¡­ It¡¯s getting to him!¡± Lu Zhiyuan could relate, ¡°I can see that!¡± With an expressionless face, Gu Zi Yu looked at his young parents and couldn¡¯t help but sigh with concern. Being young but having to act mature was quite burdensome. Alright then, he must keep up the charade. It was just too difficult. Why did the big boss have to play the role of an adorable little cutie? The baby was regretting it! * Lu Zhiyuan brought Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu back home, giving a subtle look to Li Jiang before leaving, indicating for him to take care of things. It wasn¡¯t rush hour yet, so the roads weren¡¯t congested. Still, Lu Zhiyuan was puzzled by one thing, ¡°Little munchkin, how did you know that Gu Ci was here?¡± Although he found the little munchkin annoying, he admired the child¡¯s mental composure. Not panicking, not uttering a word, yet being organized and clear-minded. When a six-year-old child encounters such a situation, aren¡¯t they supposed to cry their hearts out? After all, he had watched too many Hong Kong triad dramas. Wasn¡¯t he the least bit flustered? Gu Ziyu had already developed a tracking software that was linked to Gu Ci, allowing him to track her whereabouts throughout. Naturally, Gu Ci had thought of it as well. Gu Ci explained, ¡°I have my phone location tied to Ziyu¡¯s.¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned subtly, not showing any change in his expression. ¡°Why?¡± Gu Ziyu replied, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m relying on others, and I lack a sense of security. So, my sister and I linked our phone locations.¡± Gu Ziyu had intended to evoke some sympathy from his father, but since he wasn¡¯t familiar with the business, it didn¡¯t trigger any sense of pity in Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart. Lu Zhiyuan caught a glimpse of Gu Ci looking at Gu Ziyu so tenderly through the rearview mirror, and his expression darkened slightly. His gaze towards Gu Ziyu turned somewhat cold. Such scheming at such a young age, so calculating! Unaware of what was going through Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s mind, Gu Ci found her son increasingly adorable as he earnestly spoke nonsense. She couldn¡¯t help but ruffle his hair and pull him into her embrace. ¡°Little munchkin, you¡¯re already six years old. Why haven¡¯t you weaned yet?¡± Lu Zhiyuan suddenly spoke up. Gu Ziyu was puzzled. He had intended to play the role of an adorable and soft son in front of his father, but why did his father harbor such animosity towards him? ¡°Brother, are you jealous?¡± Gu Ziyu asked. Lu Zhiyuan felt like someone had stepped on his tail. ¡°Do you even know what jealousy means?¡± ¡°Jealousy means I can freely hug Sister while you can¡¯t, so you¡¯re feeling really annoyed,¡± Gu Ziyu replied confidently. KO! Gu Ziyu won the battle, leaving Lu Zhiyuan speechless. This¡­ explanation deserves full marks! Gu Ci chuckled and hugged Gu Ziyu even tighter. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him.¡± Gu Ziyu looked up and gave a peck on Gu Ci¡¯s cheek. Then, he turned to Lu Zhiyuan with a provoking gaze. He wanted to compete for his father¡¯s affection. Could he win? Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. This little munchkin was truly irritating! Gu Ziyu secretly thought, Dad, you¡¯re also quite annoying! He wanted to compete with his father to become the number one person in Mom¡¯s heart. When Lu Zhiyuan dropped off Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu at the apartment, the last rays of the setting sun vanished, and darkness engulfed the sky. Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the fading light, feeling increasingly restless. He took out a cigarette but decided against smoking it. ¡°Gu Ci, leave the matter of Lu Shijie to me. Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said, leaning against the car door, his gaze blending with the darkening sky. Gradually, a shadow cast over him. ¡°I have some things to take care of. You two go ahead.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Gu Ci held Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand and started walking inside. Gu Ziyu turned back and saw Lu Zhiyuan leaning against the car door. As the city lights started to illuminate the night, the darkness grew deeper. Lu Zhiyuan was enveloped in shadows, his gaze profound and icy. After Gu Ci brought Gu Ziyu into the building, Li Jiang also arrived with his men. Lu Zhiyuan was already seated in the backseat, his eyes closed as he maintained a chilling aura of power. Li Jiang spoke cautiously, barely even daring to breathe, ¡°Third Young Master, where are we going?¡± ¡°To the Lu residence!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice carried a deeper tone. ¡°Yes!¡± Li Jiang took a deep breath and started driving towards the Lu residence, with two cars following closely behind. Li Jiang briefed Lu Zhiyuan on the events at the nightclub, but Lu Zhiyuan seemed to be unaffected, still closing his eyes and maintaining an icy demeanor. Li Jiang couldn¡¯t help but think to himself that Miss Gu Ci was also a ruthless person. Lu Shijie would probably be unable to leave his bed for at least three days. It was truly a ruthless move. Late at night, in Gu Ziyu¡¯s room, a single lamp was still illuminated. He was currently hacking into the security network of the Black Hawk Group¡¯s armed base. For the past two days, he had been continuously attacking the security network of this armed base. He wanted to ensure that Ji Cheng took control as soon as possible! Ji Cheng advised, ¡°Little Milk Bun, I suggest you not act recklessly. The power structure within the Black Hawk Group is extremely complex. Without at least ten years, I won¡¯t be able to climb to the management level, let alone take control. It¡¯s just wishful thinking.¡± ¡°One should still have dreams in life. What if it becomes a reality?¡± Gu Ziyu said lightly. In ten years, the entire Black Hawk Group will be yours! ¡°Baby, I just submitted an application for the management level. But there¡¯s no guarantee I¡¯ll be accepted. The screening process is very strict,¡± Ji Cheng replied. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I helped refine your application. You¡¯ll definitely get in!¡± Gu Ziyu said calmly. ¡°Within three years, you will become the Asian CEO of the Black Hawk Group.¡± Ji Cheng pondered for a moment and shook his head. ¡°Even if I become the Asian CEO, the Black Hawk Group has a total of nine CEOs. As long as Third Young Master is there, he can suppress all the evildoers. The Black Hawk Group will remain stable.¡± ¡°If he dies, the Black Hawk Group will descend into chaos!¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s voice remained calm and unruffled. Ji Cheng had witnessed his ruthless nature and didn¡¯t dare to treat him as a typical six-year-old child. He smiled bitterly and said, ¡°Third Young Master moves in secrecy, and to this day, no one has seen his true face. He must be surrounded by a multitude of highly skilled individuals. How could you possibly kill him?¡± ¡°In the age of the internet, no one can hide their information. I will find him,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s voice remained calm and steady. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a target, and you¡¯ll give me a corpse. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡± In the previous life, he was able to devour the Black Hawk Group. In this life, he would undoubtedly achieve the same! * Gu Ziyu woke up at 5 a.m. and noticed that the light was still on in Gu Ziyu¡¯s room. She squinted her eyes, opened the door, and found Gu Ziyu sitting in front of the computer, having stayed up all night to evade the attacks of opposing hackers. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep all night, Ziyu?¡± ¡°Mom, I just woke up!¡± Gu Ziyu smiled at her and set up a virtual space IP, cutting off the connection and thwarting the enemy¡¯s attacks. Gu Ziyu chuckled, ¡°How about going for a run together?¡± The homebody Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t know how to respond. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 17 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ziyu had a reclusive and eccentric personality. In the previous life, when he was sent to kindergarten, he was isolated. The children at the kindergarten who isolated him and bullied him all ended up with unfortunate outcomes. Combined with the occasional abuse from Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun, Gu Ziyu grew up with the belief that there were no good people in the world. He despised everyone except for Gu Ci, which made him prefer staying at home and not having any pets. All his time was spent on the internet, engaging in battles with other people. As Gu Ziyu was dragged out of the house by Gu Ci for a run, he had an expressionless face and his eyes were filled with resistance. ¡°Children need to sleep early, wake up early, and exercise more in order to grow taller.¡± Gu Ziyu smiled and replied, ¡°Mom, those lies to deceive children won¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°You are a child!¡± Gu Ziyu had no choice but to accompany her, so he went out with her. In order to let Gu Ziyu interact with more people, Gu Ci took him to a nearby park for a run. After running for ten minutes, Gu Ziyu was already panting heavily. Gu Ziyu, who was weak and easily defeated, felt his competitive spirit ignited. He held on for another ten minutes, but eventually admitted defeat. He stood with his hands on his waist, huffing and puffing from exhaustion. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but find him adorable. As the sky gradually brightened, more people joined in the morning run. Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu attracted everyone¡¯s attention. A little girl of similar age to Gu Ziyu came running towards them, wanting to run together with him. The little girl chirped cheerfully and was very lively. She asked Gu Ziyu where he lived, which school he attended, and if they could be friends. She suggested meeting up for morning runs together. Gu Ziyu coldly refused, saying, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Why?¡± The little girl felt hurt by the rejection. With a stern face, Gu Ziyu, at such a young age, had an expression that seemed to say, ¡°No strangers allowed. I don¡¯t like making friends.¡± Just as Gu Ci finished running a lap and returned, she witnessed the situation. The little girl¡¯s heart shattered, and Gu Ci realized that during the two hours they were out for a run, her son had rejected over a dozen children who wanted to play with him. Gu Ci chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Even though you possess the charm of a heartthrob, why do you insist on playing the role of a villain?¡± Gu Ziyu coldly expressed that being a villain felt great. He could be unscrupulous and do whatever he wanted. After returning home, Gu Ziyu took a shower, had breakfast, and went back to sleep. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t come down for breakfast today. Gu Ci checked and found out that the college entrance exam results would be released in a week. With some spare time on her hands, she registered an account on a popular social media platform and posted some violin pieces she had recorded. At noon, a breaking news notification popped up. It reported that Lu Shijie, the young master of the Lu Corporation, was suspected of tax evasion, sexual assault, and intentional harm. He had been taken into custody by the police for investigation. The news sent shockwaves throughout the internet! Lu Shijie¡¯s misdeeds were an open secret within the upper-class society, but on social media, his public image was impeccable. He was handsome, graduated from a prestigious university, came from the influential Lu Corporation, and was currently the CEO of the company. He seemed like a perfect winner in life, and he had attracted a large following online with his righteous and outspoken persona, fearlessly standing up against powerful authorities. As soon as the news broke, the entire internet went into a frenzy. ¡°Lu Shijie has spoken out for abducted women multiple times. I refuse to believe he is capable of such things!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it either. My husband is upright and just. Someone must be framing him.¡± ¡°The waters run deep in these wealthy families. He must have been set up. Last year, Lu Young Master even donated to sixteen schools. He seemed harmless.¡± ¡°I heard that he¡¯s going to join the Lu Corporation¡¯s board of directors next month. I have an immature speculation. Could it be the third young master¡¯s doing? Sibling rivalry and all that.¡± ¡°Ah, get lost! Don¡¯t bring up Lu Zhiyuan. The third young master is a world champion and has never involved himself in family conflicts.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but laugh. Lu Zhiyuan is the legitimate heir, while the other is just a bastard. How dare he try to get involved? Stay far away and don¡¯t get tainted, okay?¡± ¡°It might not necessarily be a family conflict. What about women? I heard that Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Chuyun grew up together, and Lu Shijie was engaged to Gu Chuyun before it was called off. And now he¡¯s been detained right after that. I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s not related to Lu Zhiyuan!¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun is a femme fatale. The two brothers fought over her!¡± ¡°Our Chuyun is so pure and lively. It¡¯s unbelievable. She even inherited Jiang Mingyue¡¯s violin talent. Such a perfect girl, it seems only Lu Zhiyuan is worthy of her.¡± Gu Ziyu looked at the online gossip with his young yet icy voice, ¡°Tsk, bad luck!¡± What did his father do wrong to be paired with Gu Chuyun? Isn¡¯t that an insult to his father? In the era of the internet, Lu Zhiyuan, Gu Chuyun, and the news of Lu Shijie¡¯s arrest were trending topics, especially the one about Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Chuyun being childhood sweethearts who betrayed their brother for love. In a fit of anger, Gu Ziyu managed to bring down the world¡¯s largest social network. For a full ten minutes, the entire social network was inaccessible and couldn¡¯t be refreshed. All the programmers were baffled. What was happening? Everything was fine, so why was there a hacker attack? In this entertainment-driven era, it couldn¡¯t be possible! Gu Ci leaned against the doorway and chuckled lightly, ¡°Baby, we have freedom of speech. We live in a democratic society. Don¡¯t shut others down.¡± ¡°We live in a feudal society,¡± Gu Ziyu replied expressionlessly, his young face filled with displeasure. Gu Ci chuckled, and Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes brightened. His mother rarely laughed, so he would endure for the sake of eliciting another smile from her. Gu Ziyu moved his finger and unblocked the social platform. The programmers at Doufu looked bewildered. ¡°There was just a bug¡­ right?¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s tone turned sinister. ¡°Dad did a great job. I hope the charges can be substantiated.¡± ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Gu Ci said softly. ¡°Your father has always stayed out of internal family conflicts, wholeheartedly focusing on racing. He has a high opinion of himself and disdains getting involved in the fight against Lu Shijie. Whatever Lu Shijie did, Lu Ze has always managed to settle it. He couldn¡¯t find any evidence, so this time he was taken away, probably just as a warning to Lu Shijie.¡± If Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t inherit the Lu family, Lu Ze wouldn¡¯t give up on Lu Shijie. While the news of Lu Shijie being taken into custody for investigation was initially explosive, it unexpectedly took a backseat to the news of Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Chuyun¡¯s engagement. Furthermore, reporters leaked that on the day Lu Zhiyuan won his third championship title, he declined the award ceremony in order to be with Gu Chuyun. Suddenly, the love triangle involving Lu Zhiyuan, Gu Chuyun, and Lu Shijie became the subject of gossip and speculation. Rumors even spread about the two brothers fighting over Gu Chuyun. Surprisingly, Gu Chuyun had become the modern-day princess, and the trending topics were filled with envy for her status as a winner in life, being pursued by the exceptional brothers of the Lu family. ¡°Such bad luck!¡± Gu Ziyu, with an expressionless face, began to remove the trending topics. Although he didn¡¯t want Gu Ci¡¯s attention to be occupied by Lu Zhiyuan, his feelings towards Lu Zhiyuan were complex, filled with jealousy, envy, and a hint of hostility. However, Lu Zhiyuan was someone his mother liked. Anyone who tried to take away something his mother liked deserved to be damned! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 18 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Don¡¯t remove it!¡± Gu Ci said calmly. ¡°This trending topic about Gu Chuyun was definitely paid for. Let her keep it, let it stay as a headline. I want to see how it unfolds.¡± Reluctantly, Gu Ziyu obeyed the instruction. Upstairs, Lu Zhiyuan looked at the persistent trending topic that couldn¡¯t be removed and asked Lijiang, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t want to do this anymore? My trending topic has been up all day, and you can¡¯t take it down?¡± Lijiang lamented, ¡°Third Young Master, it¡¯s unfair. I paid money, paid a lot, but I can¡¯t take it down. The other party is a highly skilled hacker. I have no way to deal with them.¡± ¡°Which hacker is so bored that they keep making me the headline?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­ the hacker wants to see some gossip?¡± ¡°Find that damn hacker and bring them down. I want them dead!¡± Lu Zhiyuan exclaimed. Lijiang smiled awkwardly, trying to maintain politeness, ¡°Third Young Master, the opponent is a top-tier global hacker, definitely among the best. We¡­ can¡¯t trace them.¡± Lu Zhiyuan sneered, ¡°Does the tech team not want their year-end bonuses this year?¡± Lijiang took a deep breath and made another suggestion, ¡°Third Young Master, how about¡­ acquiring the Tudou platform?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Yes, right away!¡± Thankfully, Third Young Master finally told him to leave. Without hesitation, Lijiang quickly departed. Holding his phone, Lu Zhiyuan contemplated sending a message to Gu Ci to explain the trending topic situation. But at the thought of being unable to remove it, he knew Gu Ci would mock his incompetence. Just then, Gu Chuyun posted a statement. Gu Chuyun: I have known Lu Zhiyuan since childhood, and he is a very kind and generous person. He would never do anything to harm his brother. Everyone, please do not overinterpret. This statement defended Lu Zhiyuan while also hinting at their long-standing relationship and not denying the rumors of their imminent engagement. It could be described as hitting three birds with one stone. As soon as Lijiang saw the trending topic, he informed Lu Zhiyuan, who was in training. His gaze turned serious, and he broke his usual pattern of posting racing news on his account by posting a statement. Lu Zhiyuan: I am not acquainted with Gu Chuyun. Don¡¯t try to create false connections! Once Lu Zhiyuan made his statement, another earthquake shook the social network. As a global superstar and the epitome of a top-tier celebrity, his social media accounts typically focused on racing information or advertisements. He carefully controlled the number of advertisements and had previously remained silent when the media spread rumors about his early romance. However, his rare denial quickly shot up to the top headlines. Gu Chuyun was confident that Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t care about what the media said. But she didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s unprecedented denial, which instantly made her the target of ridicule. The fans of both sides engaged in heated arguments, leading to a fierce online battle. Gu Ci thoroughly enjoyed watching the chaos unfold, finding it highly entertaining. Gu Chuyun must be furious, considering her feelings for Lu Zhiyuan. It was quite satisfying, and Gu Ci¡¯s good mood even prompted her to have an extra bowl of lunch. ¡°Mom, we have nothing to do this afternoon. Let¡¯s go watch a movie!¡± Gu Ziyu suggested. In his previous life, he had always wished to watch a movie with his mother. The children next door always boasted about how their parents took them to see animated films on weekends. ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Ci wasn¡¯t in a rush for revenge. When she was reborn, revenge was her top priority, but having Ziyu by her side made her prioritize her love for him. After having lunch, they dressed in matching outfits and headed out. Coincidentally, Lu Zhiyuan came downstairs at that moment, appearing relaxed and dressed in a coordinated color scheme. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked with a half-smile. ¡°To watch a movie!¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t hide her intentions, but she hadn¡¯t planned on inviting Lu Zhiyuan, knowing he had training to attend to. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze swept over them, clearly displeased. ¡°Are you still wearing matching outfits?¡± Gu Ziyu had a look of confusion. Gu Ci remained silent for three seconds before replying, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, these are mother-son outfits.¡± ¡°Who would believe you¡¯re mother and son?¡± ¡°Then who would think we¡¯re a couple?¡± Gu Ci countered. She knew that Lu Zhiyuan had a strong possessive streak, which left a deep impression from their past life. He would be hostile even toward a cat if she showed kindness to it. But his jealousy had gone overboard this time. Gu Ziyu was his son! ¡°Sister, it¡¯s trendy now to have relationships between older women and younger men,¡± Gu Ziyu innocently and naively looked at her. ¡°Sister, wait for me to grow up. I¡¯ll marry you.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. My dear, please don¡¯t provoke him any further. Your father¡¯s jealousy can be unreasonable, so be careful not to push him too far. A hint of gloom passed through Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze, and in an instant, Gu Ziyu became his number one target for vengeance. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to watch the movie.¡± Gu Ziyu was unhappy. He just wanted to have a date with his mother and didn¡¯t want to bring his father along as a third wheel. ¡°I¡¯ll only buy two tickets.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll buy three more,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied. Gu Ziyu, was speechless. ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± Gu Ci looked deeply at Lu Zhiyuan. In fact, going to watch a movie with him was also her wish. In her previous life, after being released from prison with her appearance ruined, she became insecure and depressed, rarely leaving her house and avoiding crowds. She didn¡¯t want to take away the romantic moments that Lu Zhiyuan deserved. Gu Ziyu was a little upset about having an extra third wheel, and Lu Zhiyuan gave him a provocative look. Gu Ziyu took a deep breath; his image as a well-behaved child was starting to crumble. In Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s garage, filled with nearly a hundred cars, he deliberately chose a sports car. ¡°Gu Ziyu, sorry to inconvenience you. Please sit in the back.¡± The sports car had limited space in the back seat, and Gu Ziyu squeezed himself into a tiny space, his eyes welling up with tears. ¡°Sister, he¡¯s bullying me.¡± ¡°Be more magnanimous and don¡¯t stoop to his level,¡± Gu Ci, a master of tears disciplined. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, you¡¯re so childish.¡± Lu Zhiyuan ignored her remarks and proudly showed off his driving skills, overtaking other vehicles on the road. Even though it was a congested urban area, he insisted on driving as if on a race track. Gu Ziyu exclaimed, ¡°Show-off!¡± ¡°Sister¡­¡± Gu Ziyu whimpered all the way, pitifully holding Gu Ci¡¯s hand and acting spoiled. ¡°I feel uncomfortable¡­ I want to throw up.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, slow down,¡± Gu Ci requested. Lu Zhiyuan glanced back at Gu Ziyu and remarked, ¡°Little milk bun, where did you learn your acting skills?¡± ¡°Brother, what are you talking about?¡± Gu Ziyu innocently and pitifully looked at him, then turned to Gu Ci and continued to act spoiled. ¡°Sister, it seems that Brother doesn¡¯t like me. Maybe I should go home and not bother you anymore.¡± Gu Ci took a deep breath, pinching his little chubby face. Baby, we can¡¯t break character. Remember, you were supposed to be an adorable and cute little darling. Why did your character suddenly change? Lu Zhiyuan was indeed afraid that Gu Ziyu would throw a tantrum. If Gu Ci decided not to watch the movie, he would feel at a loss. So, he suppressed his temper, got out of the car, and Gu Ziyu immediately held Gu Ci¡¯s hand, looking proud as he glanced at Lu Zhiyuan. You can¡¯t hold her hand. Lu Zhiyuan smiled ambiguously at him, contemplating the numerous plans he had to abandon him. Throughout the journey, Gu Ci observed the father and son challenging each other¡¯s boundaries, but she pretended not to see anything. The war between men had nothing to do with her as a woman. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, our baby is only six years old,¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but think when she noticed his unfriendly gaze. He was his biological son, so could he just bear with it? After all, his own father had borne with him in the past. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 19 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Except for his appearance, he didn¡¯t resemble a six-year-old baby at all,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you like such a cute baby?¡± Gu Ci asked. But Lu Zhiyuan seemed not to hear, unable to voice his hidden jealousy. The family of three went to watch a Marvel blockbuster movie. Gu Ziyu saw a little child holding popcorn and pouted at Gu Ci, ¡°Sister, I want some too!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci asked Lu Zhiyuan to go and line up to buy popcorn. Lu Zhiyuan wore a hat and a mask, covering himself up completely, afraid of being recognized. He queued up and bought popcorn, along with two cups of cola. Gu Ziyu happily sipped the ice-cold cola, squinting his beautiful peach blossom eyes, visibly content. The three of them entered the movie theater, with Gu Ziyu sitting in the middle, his mother on the left, and his father on the right. Although he constantly teased Lu Zhiyuan, it didn¡¯t hinder Gu Ziyu from feeling fulfilled. This pleasant atmosphere persisted until Lu Zhiyuan continuously spoiled the plot for the mother and son. The movie had been released in Europe and America for a week, and he had already seen the international version. As he watched, he kept spoiling the plot for them, especially for a villain character that Gu Ci liked. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°He dies in the end.¡± Gu Ci exclaimed, ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°You like these bulky types?¡± Lu Zhiyuan said expressionlessly, ¡°Their physique is deliberately built by gaining fat and then bulking up. They have no sense of strength or aesthetic.¡± Gu Ci retorted, ¡°I find it quite aesthetic, and they have plenty of strength.¡± ¡°I could knock him out with a single punch!¡± Explosiveness is the most terrifying aspect of Formula 1 drivers, and they possess immense core strength as well. There was a racing scene in the movie, and Lu Zhiyuan took the opportunity to educate Gu Ci, ¡°This plot is ridiculous. With that kind of inertia, the driver¡¯s neck would have snapped, and yet they land safely. It defies all common sense.¡± ¡°Are their bones made of reinforced steel? How did they survive?¡± he continued. ¡°The muscle guy you like is about to die soon,¡± Lu Zhiyuan added. Gu Ziyu sighed in frustration and silently munched on his popcorn, making a crunchy sound. He never wanted to watch a movie with his father again. A man sitting in the front row couldn¡¯t take it anymore and angrily turned around, shouting, ¡°Can you please shut up and stop spoiling the movie?¡± A woman also lashed out at Gu Ci, saying, ¡°Can¡¯t you control your husband?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was puzzled, ¡°Husband?¡± Gu Ci remained expressionless and said, ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t know him. We just so happened to be placed together.¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell silent. Gu Ziyu happily munched on his popcorn, feeling content now that it was finally quiet. In the next moment, the villain was beaten up like a hornet¡¯s nest, confirming his demise. Due to Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s spoilers, the surrounding audience had mixed emotions and lost their sense of anticipation. The three of them left the movie theater, with Gu Ci holding Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand but maintaining a safe distance. Lu Zhiyuan, who had always been popular, experienced being ignored for the first time. ¡°Are we going home?¡± Gu Ziyu, a self-proclaimed homebody, wanted to continue being a happy recluse at home after watching the movie. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go shopping?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to!¡± Gu Ziyu replied firmly. ¡°Since we¡¯re out, how about we take you to the amusement park?¡± Gu Ci suggested. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes revealed disdain, and Gu Ziyu immediately changed his mind. ¡°Okay then, brother. If you don¡¯t like it, you can go home first.¡± ¡°I also enjoy amusement parks,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. Gu Ziyu thought to himself, ¡°Did Dad intentionally decide to be a third wheel?¡± The family of three went to the amusement park. Both Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci loved thrilling rides, but it wasn¡¯t suitable for Gu Ziyu, who was only six years old. Many rides were off-limits for him. Gu Ci double-checked with the staff repeatedly, ensuring that Gu Ziyu would be okay and allowed to ride. The staff even scolded her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re such an irresponsible parent, letting such a young child participate in such dangerous activities. What if he gets scared? Take him on the carousel and bumper cars instead.¡± Gu Ci felt at a loss for words. Lu Zhiyuan mercilessly mocked Gu Ziyu, who could only ride the carousel and play bumper cars. Gu Ziyu wasn¡¯t interested in the carousel and bumper cars either. He had a daring spirit and enjoyed thrilling rides. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan took him to ride a small roller coaster. While other children were screaming with excitement, this family of three remained expressionless, showing no signs of emotion. Gu Ci regretted her decision. She shouldn¡¯t have brought Gu Ziyu to the amusement park if he couldn¡¯t experience any joy. Gu Ziyu took a liking to the swinging pendulum ride, but due to his age, he wasn¡¯t allowed to ride it. Gu Ziyu pouted and vowed, ¡°I¡¯m going to buy this amusement park!¡± He would then proceed to chase away all the other visitors so he could play by himself, choosing whichever ride he wanted. Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and said, ¡°You¡¯re young in age, but your ambitions are grand. Do you even know how much it costs to buy an amusement park?¡± Gu Ziyu fell silent, and Lu Zhiyuan struck a nerve, saying, ¡°You still rely on me to support you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your¡­ honor to support me,¡± Gu Ziyu stubbornly changed the responsibility to honor. ¡°I might as well raise a cat instead.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t like cats.¡± ¡°How do you know I don¡¯t like cats?¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. Gu Ziyu replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t even like such a cute baby like me, how could you like cats?¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell silent. Gu Ci, with a stern face, said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to play, let¡¯s leave.¡± ¡°We do!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu said in unison, showing their perfect understanding. The family of three stayed at the amusement park until evening, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Gu Ziyu had a great time, playing until he was exhausted and panting heavily. Lu Zhiyuan teased him for having poor endurance. Gu Ziyu looked at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s fit physique with envy and said, ¡°When I grow up, I¡¯ll be just like you.¡± ¡°Little pudgy, from the age of four to eight, I trained for six hours a day. From eight years old until now, I train for 10-12 hours a day. You sleep until you naturally wake up, don¡¯t like going out or being active. You¡¯ll just grow up to be a little fatty,¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and pointed to a chubby kid not far away. ¡°Like him.¡± The chubby kid appeared to be around 150 pounds despite being only 5¡¯3¡å. Gu Ziyu angrily put his hands on his hips and blurted out, ¡°Mom, I want to exchange dads!¡± Gu Ci was at a loss for words. Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. Gu Ci, facing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s stunned expression, kept a straight face and said, ¡°You¡¯ve upset Gu Ziyu and made him say nonsensical things.¡± However, Lu Zhiyuan felt a sense of accomplishment. After all, he managed to infuriate Gu Ziyu, a master of tea art, to the point of losing his composure. It was quite fulfilling. As the sun gradually set and the sunlight disappeared from the horizon, Lu Zhiyuan gazed deeply at the sky. Gu Ci said, ¡°Let¡¯s go have barbecue for dinner tonight. I made a reservation at a restaurant.¡± ¡°Li Jiang contacted me. There¡¯s something to deal with at the company, so I won¡¯t be joining you for dinner,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said softly. Gu Ci was surprised because she didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhiyuan to refuse, considering both he and Gu Ziyu enjoyed eating barbecue. Gu Ziyu was also taken aback. He could sense that Lu Zhiyuan truly enjoyed being with them. Gu Ci didn¡¯t insist and replied, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll take a taxi later.¡± Lu Zhiyuan handed her the keys and said, ¡°Li Jiang will pick me up.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± As the last glimmers of the sunset disappeared, the sky darkened. Lu Zhiyuan calmly and without looking back, walked away from the amusement park, his figure appearing both cold and cool. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 20 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ziyu still wanted to watch the fireworks display, but when Lu Zhiyuan left, he lost interest. He suggested that Gu Ci go home and order takeout. Gu Ci chuckled softly and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been bantering with Dad all day long, so why does your enthusiasm fade as soon as he¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t like me!¡± Gu Ziyu complained. Gu Ci laughed and tousled Gu Ziyu¡¯s hair. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan has been pampered since childhood, surrounded by admirers. He¡¯s become quite arrogant and carefree. If he truly disliked you, he wouldn¡¯t even bother talking to you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan has been teasing her for over a decade. Gu Ziyu pursed his lips, appearing somewhat nonchalant, and Gu Ci didn¡¯t say much either. She took him to the amusement park, and as Gu Ci drove out of the parking lot, she spotted Lu Zhiyuan standing by the roadside. He stood out in the crowd, easily distinguishable. Gu Ci stopped the car next to him. As the lanterns lit up, a layer of darkness enveloped Lu Zhiyuan. He wore a mask, and within his always affectionate peach blossom eyes, there was a hint of cool moonlight and a touch of deep, cold depths. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, hasn¡¯t Li Jiang arrived yet?¡± Gu Ci asked. Lu Zhiyuan looked at her, nodded coldly, and remained silent. Gu Ci said, ¡°Ziyu said he doesn¡¯t want to eat outside. Let¡¯s go home. If you want, you can get in the car and let Li Jiang turn around.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was deep and icy, succinctly saying, ¡°No need.¡± Gu Ci looked at him with confusion. What had troubled him so much that he became so distant and cold? Li Jiang¡¯s car slowly approached, and upon seeing Gu Ci conversing with Lu Zhiyuan, his expression changed slightly. He quickly got out of the car and approached them, saying, ¡°Third Young Master, there¡¯s a bit of traffic on the road.¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced past Li Jiang, causing a shiver to run down his spine. Li Jiang felt a chill, but he smiled lightly and greeted Gu Ci, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Young Master, take care.¡± He hurriedly got back into the car, and Gu Ci merged into the flow of traffic. Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with Dad? Why has he become so distant?¡± ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s encountered something troubling,¡± Gu Ci whispered, lightly tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, lost in thought. Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu ordered barbecue. Gu Ziyu ate until he was stuffed, and Gu Ci invited him to take a walk to aid digestion, but she was mercilessly rejected by Gu Ziyu. Helpless, Gu Ci went alone to the training center to see how Lu Zhiyuan trained in the evenings. However, when she arrived at the training center, it was empty. It was practically Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s personal training facility. She saw a janitor tidying up the equipment and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Auntie, is Lu Zhiyuan not training tonight?¡± The janitor replied, ¡°Young Master always trains during the day. He never trains at night.¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. Both Lu Zhiyuan and Li Jiang had clearly said that they trained at night, occasionally even pulling all-nighters. Who was lying? Meanwhile, Gu Ziyu continued his assault on the security of Black Hawk Group¡¯s armed base. The company invested an exorbitant amount of money each year in cybersecurity to prevent hacker attacks and data breaches. Gu Ziyu had been targeting their network systems for several consecutive nights. Faced with a security team composed of dozens of individuals, Gu Ziyu came close to crippling their system. But in the next second, his computer screen went black. A line of Chinese characters appeared on his screen. ¡°Why are you attacking Black Hawk Group¡¯s security system?¡± Gu Ziyu had roamed the virtual world for many years. He was the king of hackers, but this was the first time someone had been able to trace his location and counter him. The other person was a hacker even more terrifying than him. Impossible! Black Hawk Group had never encountered such a formidable hacker before, and he had never made a mistake in the virtual world. Who was this person? ¡°Who are you?¡± Gu Ziyu remained calm and activated his attack system, initiating a counter-trace. The desire for victory surged within him, and he meticulously examined Black Hawk Group¡¯s list of hackers. ¡°Who I am is not important. Just know that with me here, no one can destroy Black Hawk Group¡¯s defense system. What do you want to do? Can you bear the consequences?¡± the response appeared on Gu Ziyu¡¯s computer screen. Gu Ziyu felt the long-lost bloodthirsty impulse, a masculine aggression. His fingers swiftly input commands into another system, setting it in motion. ¡°Stop your attack!¡± Another message appeared on the computer screen, and a cold smirk formed at the corner of Gu Ziyu¡¯s lips. He understood now. Black Hawk Group¡¯s security system could only withstand his initial onslaught. This new set of instructions utilized technology from ten years in the future, beyond their ability to crack. They could only defend against it. As long as he found a few individuals to cooperate with him, he could still dismantle it. Gu Ziyu¡¯s blood began to boil. How intriguing! So, this was the feeling of encountering a worthy adversary! Just as he was about to send the latest set of instructions, a photo appeared on the computer screen¡ªit was Gu Ci. ¡°Do you want her dead?¡± the message read. ¡°How dare you!¡± Gu Ziyu halted his attack and quickly responded, ¡°If you dare lay a finger on her, I will stop at nothing with Black Hawk Group!¡± ¡°Stop your attack!¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Gu Ziyu assessed the situation. ¡°I hope you keep your word. Otherwise, no matter where you are, I will find you.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s tracking system had never been activated, but now he squinted his eyes and saw the final location. A slight smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°After all, you¡¯re also in City A.¡± In the clash of masters, it all happened in an instant. Gu Ziyu¡¯s computer screen returned to normal, but a chilling light reflected in his eyes. In the virtual world, he had never encountered an opponent. This person had emerged out of nowhere. Who could they be? Upstairs, Li Jiang knocked on the study door. ¡°Third Young Master, your supper is ready.¡± ¡°Come in!¡± came Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s low and calm voice. Li Jiang entered with a tray in hand. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s study was equipped with eight computers, and next door was a well-equipped server room. On the main screen, Li Jiang noticed a blinking red dot that overlapped with Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s location. Li Jiang couldn¡¯t understand hacker technology, so he carefully set down the supper. ¡°Third Young Master, have you found the hacker?¡± Li Jiang asked cautiously. Lu Zhiyuan sat quietly, silent and composed, but exuding an immense sense of pressure. ¡°Li Jiang, thoroughly investigate the background of the child by Gu Ci¡¯s side. I want all their information.¡± ¡°The Young Master?¡± Li Jiang was perplexed. Why did he suddenly want to investigate the Young Master? But he didn¡¯t dare to question. ¡°Yes, Third Young Master!¡± After Li Jiang left, Lu Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes and stared deeply at the nearly overlapping red dots on the screen, his eyes devoid of any emotion. * After Gu Ci¡¯s social media platform released several violin compositions that were recorded in her early years, they unexpectedly gained popularity when they were shared by a violin enthusiast named Zhou Li. Zhou Li was a rising star in the music industry, having debuted at the age of 18 and enjoyed seven years of success. He became the dream of countless young people and was adored by numerous fans. Gu Ci¡¯s violin compositions, which incorporated elements of classical aesthetics, evoked emotions that ranged from poignant and melancholic to grand and majestic, resembling the muster of troops on a battlefield. They quickly gained a following. The ¡°Cherry Apple¡± account on social media gained 500,000 new followers overnight, and most of them were active followers who were passionate about classical aesthetics and violin music. Gu Ci hadn¡¯t anticipated this response. Furthermore, apart from a few adaptations, the majority of her violin compositions were original creations. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 21 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Two of the compositions became viral overnight, and Zhou Li purchased the rights to Gu Ci¡¯s song ¡°Strategy of the Land¡± Gu Ci was reluctant to sell the rights outright and instead agreed to a 70-30 profit split. After Zhou Li added lyrics and released the song, it became an instant hit across the internet, even attracting interest from popular TV dramas that wanted to purchase the rights. Gu Ci received her first profit share, which amounted to over 800,000 yuan. ¡°I¡¯m suddenly rich overnight!¡± Gu Ci flaunted her wealth and bought gifts for both Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu. Lu Zhiyuan received a pair of limited-edition shoes, while Gu Ziyu received a new Lego model. Shortly thereafter, Gu Ci received an invitation from the popular music variety show ¡°Song and Dance Youth¡± on the Potato platform. They wanted her to participate in an episode featuring original compositions, inviting musicians with exceptional creative abilities. The director of ¡°Song and Dance Youth¡± personally came to invite her and offered a signing fee of three million yuan. The variety show would be recorded over two days, with a PK competition, and the winner would advance to the next round. If not, they would film for two days. ¡°Zhou Li will participate, and Gu Chuyun will also be there. Our show has a tremendous following. If Miss Gu can shine on the program, the future is boundless,¡± the director said, observing Gu Ci¡¯s attire, which didn¡¯t indicate any financial need. Her blouse was the latest season¡¯s one-line design, which Zhou Li might not even be able to borrow. The three million yuan may not have been enticing enough for her, so the director brought up the idea of forming a golden boy and jade girl duo. ¡°Did you say Gu Chuyun will also participate?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the director exclaimed. ¡°Miss Gu, are you a fan of Gu Chuyun?¡± Gu Ci replied nonchalantly, ¡°Where¡¯s the contract? I¡¯ve signed it!¡± The director was delighted and signed the contract. The only condition was that the director¡¯s team had to keep it a secret and not disclose that Cherry Apple was Gu Ci. The director thought that Cherry Apple would also bring a wave of popularity and could be bundled with Zhou Li, but Gu Ci declined. The director agreed to her request. Gu Ci also confirmed the shooting schedule and the music studio was set in the picturesque Nanping Mountain, 30 kilometers away from the city center. ¡°If you¡¯re going to film the variety show, who will take care of the child?¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned. The little rascal was only six years old, and she was going to leave him at home? ¡°I can take care of myself,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°Sister, go and do what you want to do.¡± Lu Zhiyuan saw through Gu Ci¡¯s intentions with just one glance. ¡°You decided to go because Gu Chuyun is going, right?¡± Gu Ci had a reserved and aloof personality, not one to seek attention or join in the crowd. The three million yuan was not enough to persuade her to participate in the variety show, and Lu Zhiyuan quickly discovered the reason behind her decision. Gu Ci didn¡¯t bother to defend herself; indeed, it was because of Gu Chuyun that she decided to join the music variety show. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to accompany you, just to make sure Gu Chuyun doesn¡¯t try anything against you,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary,¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re worrying too much.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remembered the ordeal of Lu Shijie and fell silent. He asked Gu Ci, ¡°How did someone who couldn¡¯t even pass the 800-meter run learn martial arts?¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°In dreams.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained speechless. The variety show would only take two days to film, so Gu Ci only packed two sets of clothes. Gu Ziyu was somewhat worried. ¡°Mom, Gu Chuyun can be malicious. You must be on guard against her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear!¡± After packing her things, Gu Ci called Li Jiang and asked him to take care of Gu Ziyu. Li Jiang nodded repeatedly. He had to take care of the Young Master, especially since¡­ well, the Third Young Master had instructed him to investigate the Young Master, but he had no idea where to start. The Young Master seemed to have appeared out of thin air, and now he had a chance to gather some information through casual conversation. Gu Ci had two social media accounts: one was called ¡°Cherry Apple,¡± and the other was simply named ¡°Gu Ci.¡± On her alternate account, Cherry Apple, she had never revealed her face or voice, leaving fans to speculate on whether she was male or female. Gu Ci was aware that most of these fans overlapped with Zhou Li¡¯s fan base, but she had never considered exposing herself. This account was solely meant for quietly sharing her music. On her main account, Gu Ci had posted some personal photos and landscapes. She followed many racing-related accounts and would occasionally repost race events. She also received private messages from a few talent scouts who wanted her contact information, hoping to bring her into the entertainment industry. Before going to bed, Gu Ci would habitually watch two of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s matches until she felt drowsy. The next morning, Gu Ci drove herself to Nanping Mountain. Initially, the production team wanted to pick her up and film some behind-the-scenes footage, but Gu Ci declined. The director felt that Gu Ci was truly aloof and had a big attitude. However, upon observing her demeanor and attire, he didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble. After all, he simply wanted to film the variety show well. In Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s garage, Gu Ci chose a low-profile Porsche 911. The orange sports car cruised up the mountain effortlessly. The director and production crew were already present. Zhou Li, Xu Yingjun, Chen Bolan, Qiao Yamei, and Gu Chuyun had all arrived. They were engrossed in lively conversations. Gu Chuyun had established her persona, and Qiao Yamei was the pampered young lady. Xu Yingjun and Chen Bolan were careful not to offend them, while Zhou Li occasionally exchanged a few words, neither too warm nor too cold. Gu Chuyun wore a white sundress, impeccably made up. Both Xu Yingjun and Chen Bolan were eager to please her. When the Porsche 911 roared in, it caught everyone¡¯s attention. Gu Ci, wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans, with an ordinary backpack slung over her shoulders, looked like a high school student in her appearance. Yet, her breathtaking beauty couldn¡¯t be concealed. She was a girl with bold and striking features, radiating under the sunlight. ¡°Why is Gu Ci here?¡± Gu Chuyun gritted her teeth in frustration. Zhou Li couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her; she was simply stunning, meeting all his aesthetic preferences. Gu Ci greeted everyone with grace. ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Gu Ci.¡± Qiao Yamei and Gu Ci had a longstanding grudge. It was because of Gu Ci that Qiao Yamei had been blacklisted by Dragon Phoenix, and she hadn¡¯t settled that score yet. ¡°Gu Ci, are you deliberately here to provoke Chuyun?¡± Gu Chuyun appeared fragile and vulnerable, eliciting sympathy. ¡°Yamei, please stop.¡± The production team hadn¡¯t expected their music variety show to start off as a battlefield. Qiao Yamei had hidden implications in her words, while Gu Chuyun seemed to have something on her mind. It was evident that there was gossip involved. ¡°I came here by the director¡¯s invitation. If Chuyun doesn¡¯t want to see me, she can kick me out if she has the guts to,¡± Gu Ci retorted without a trace of embarrassment or humiliation. She looked at Gu Chuyun and Qiao Yamei mockingly. ¡°You got blacklisted by the Dragon Phoenix because you provoked Ji Cheng. Don¡¯t shift the blame to me.¡± Qiao Yamei¡¯s face turned red and then pale, her anger rising. Gu Chuyun held her back, shaking her head. This was a live broadcast; they shouldn¡¯t give Gu Ci any attention. Xu Yingjun and Chen Bolan didn¡¯t dare to provoke Gu Chuyun and Qiao Yamei, and the teams were clearly divided. Zhou Li was quite a tactful person. He greeted everyone with a smiling face, appearing familiar with everyone but not overly attentive. He didn¡¯t isolate Gu Ci either. Cai, the director, came over and led them to the music room. The three men and three women would form teams for the ¡°Song and Dance Youth¡± competition and compete for the next round. ¡°Let me explain the rules,¡± Cai said. ¡°The theme for this round is original violin compositions. You will have two days to arrange a new song and then compete. We have professional judges who will vote on whether you advance to the next round. Gu Chuyun, Gu Ci, and Qiao Yamei are all violinists, while Zhou Li, Xu Yingjun, and Chen Bolan are singers. After their performances, they will choose one of you as their partner. Of course, the choice is mutual.¡± The rules were simple: violinists would team up with a singer to perform. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 22 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Chuyun covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯ve only played the violin for a year. Do you even remember how to play?¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay her any attention, exuding an extreme coldness. Cai, the director, silently thought to himself that this girl was quite impressive¡ªcold and fierce. She had a strong presence. Zhou Li couldn¡¯t help but glance at Gu Ci, and Cai believed that Gu Ci must have been thoroughly investigated before being invited. It was unlikely for someone who had only played the violin for a year. Qiao Yamei played the Moonlight Sonata first. She demonstrated skillful techniques and excellent rhythm, and she was satisfied with her own performance. She received applause from Xu Yingjun and Chen Bolan. Qiao Yamei looked expectantly at Zhou Li, but he only gave a symbolic round of applause. She couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed. Deep down, she couldn¡¯t help but think that Zhou Li would choose Gu Chuyun. They had the highest popularity, and Gu Chuyun was a talented violinist. Although Xu Yingjun didn¡¯t have as high of a popularity as Chen Bolan, as a music major, his skills and tone weren¡¯t inferior to Zhou Li¡¯s. Especially Chen Bolan, it would be great if Zhou Li chose her. Gu Chuyun was the second performer. She wanted to win over Zhou Li and knew that he had recently been fond of ancient-style music. She played ¡°The Butterfly Lovers¡± on the violin. Gu Chuyun had practiced the violin for many years, and her performance was melancholic and sorrowful. Xu Yingjun, Chen Bolan, and the entire production crew were immersed in her music, moved by her performance. When the piece concluded, thunderous applause filled the room. Gu Chuyun looked at Gu Ci with a triumphant gaze, her pride ingrained since childhood giving her full confidence. Gu Chuyun firmly believed that she was the best violinist in her age group. ¡°How did I do, Zhou Li?,¡± Gu Chuyun asked Zhou Li with an air of certainty. Zhou Li had the highest popularity and exceptional creative abilities, especially when it came to writing lyrics. Zhou Li smiled, his dimples making him particularly adorable. ¡°You did great, it was refreshing and the best rendition of ¡®The Butterfly Lovers¡¯ I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± The director also smiled and said, ¡°It seems that Zhou Li is very satisfied with Chuyun¡¯s performance. We are all excited to see the sparks that will fly when you collaborate.¡± In the entertainment industry, there were unspoken rules, especially considering this was a variety show sponsored by Hualan Bank. Moreover, Gu Chuyun was the cousin of Jiang Junlin, the CEO of Hualan Bank. The director naturally assumed that she would be partnered with Zhou Li and successfully advance to the next round. As for the others, they were simply there like decoration. ¡°I¡¯m playing ¡±The Butterfly Lovers¡¯ too,¡± Gu Ci said calmly, filling the music room with tension. Qiao Yamei sneered, ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re really overestimating yourself and courting humiliation.¡± Xu Yingjun chuckled and asked, ¡°Are you doing this on purpose? Do you want to compete with Gu Chuyun? Gu Chuyun has been famous for years, while you¡¯re still young. Don¡¯t let your desire for victory get the better of you.¡± Xu Yingjun¡¯s words carried an underlying meaning, mocking Gu Ci for overestimating her abilities. ¡°You¡¯ve only been playing the violin for a year. You could have chosen a simpler piece,¡± Chen Bolan also believed that Gu Ci was bringing it upon herself. He was quite taken by Gu Ci¡¯s beauty, and since Gu Chuyun and Zhou Li were already set to advance, it would be great if he could create a buzz with Gu Ci. Perhaps he could even support her financially, considering he was a celebrity with ample resources. She was truly stunning. Gu Chuyun covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Gu Ci plays very well.¡± Gu Ci silently picked up the violin and sat on the performance stage, playing ¡°The Butterfly Lovers.¡± The sound of the violin was hauntingly bittersweet, carrying the pain of unrequited love and the passion of passionate romance. It culminated in a fervent farewell, a rollercoaster of emotions that touched the heartstrings. Gu Ci was reminded of her own experiences with Lu Zhuyuan, and her performance overflowed with emotions. While her technique might have had slight flaws, her emotional expression compensated for it. Zhou Li watched in astonishment as Gu Ci performed on stage. To him, music that could move people¡¯s hearts was the best music, and this was the best rendition of ¡°The Butterfly Lovers.¡± The director and the production team were fully immersed in the performance, and a few girls even teared up. ¡°Gu Ci¡¯s performance was so profound. I felt like I witnessed a poignant love story.¡± ¡°When Gu Chuyun played, it sounded beautiful. But when Gu Ci played this piece, I felt like I was electrified all over. She¡¯s so powerful.¡± Gu Chuyun felt a mix of anger and astonishment. Gu Ci had secretly learned to play the violin, deceiving everyone. Gu Chuyun felt a sense of panic and jealousy at Gu Ci¡¯s natural talent for playing the violin. After Gu Ci¡¯s performance, a silence fell over the room. Chen Bolan and Xu Yingjun instinctively looked at Gu Chuyun, while Zhou Li applauded enthusiastically. Amidst the silence, Zhou Li asked Gu Ci, ¡°Gu Ci, I choose you. Are you willing?¡± Gu Chuyun remained silent. The members of the production team were shocked and troubled. Music shows also followed a script, and the script for this episode was for Gu Chuyun and Zhou Li to team up and advance to the next round. ¡°I¡¯m willing!¡± Gu Ci smiled lightly. She admired Zhou Li¡¯s musical skills and respected his compositions. When she bought the rights to ¡± Strategy of the Land¡± and the lyrics were tailored to the style of the song, Gu Ci fell in love with it. Annoyed, Qiao Yamei said, ¡°Zhou Li, Gu Ci¡¯s technical skills are far inferior to Chuyun¡¯s. You should choose Chuyun. Why did you choose her?¡± Zhou Li smiled, revealing two adorable dimples. ¡°Music has many ways of expression. I like Gu Ci¡¯s style of performance. It¡¯s a mutual choice. Is there a problem with that?¡± Gu Chuyun was slightly annoyed. It seemed that the rumors about Zhou Li were true, that he didn¡¯t understand social conventions. Wasn¡¯t he blatantly saying that her performance lacked emotion and only had technical skill? Chen Bolan¡¯s mind was quick, and he had initially thought he would be a supporting role. But now, unexpectedly, a pleasant surprise had come. This was a project sponsored by Hualan Bank, so how could Gu Chuyun be eliminated? ¡°Chuyun, I choose you. Is that okay?¡± Chen Bolan asked. Xu Yingjun also wanted to choose Gu Chuyun and gave a coy smile. ¡°Chuyun, since Zhou Li chose Gu Ci, who do you want to choose?¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. Even Director Cai, was in a difficult position. The production team watched this intense power struggle, with the camera zooming in on everyone¡¯s faces. This backstage manipulation was truly remarkable. Gu Chuyun was furious. ¡°Zhou Li, when you received the offer, didn¡¯t you read the script?¡± ¡°What script?¡± Zhou Li was puzzled and looked at the director. Gu Chuyun wasn¡¯t worried either since it wasn¡¯t a live broadcast and could be edited later. ¡°You must choose me. We will advance to the next round, and they are just supporting roles!¡± Everyone was speechless. The director broke out in a cold sweat. He had intended to advise against it, but Gu Chuyun challenged him instead. ¡°Song and Dance Youth is sponsored by Hualan Bank. If you don¡¯t choose me, do you not want to advance?¡± Gu Ci, having learned the art of manipulation from Gu Ziyu, softened her voice. ¡°So there is a script for the variety show. Director, why didn¡¯t you tell me? If I had known I was just a supporting role, I wouldn¡¯t have come.¡± She appeared both aggrieved and sad. Director Cai¡¯s head was pounding, and he blamed Gu Chuyun for being overbearing. Why did she have to expose the hidden rules? ¡°Th-this¡­¡± The situation became extremely awkward. Gu Chuyun sneered, ¡°Gu Ci, from now on, you will always be my supporting role. You don¡¯t have the qualifications to touch anything I don¡¯t want. That¡¯s the rule of the game!¡± The members of the production team were all stunned by her words. No one had expected the variety show to turn into such a chaotic scene. ¡°What script?¡± Zhou Li was puzzled. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 23 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Chuyun sneered, ¡°Didn¡¯t your manager tell you that you have to choose me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± Zhou Li frowned. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have come. Gu Chuyun arrogantly looked at him, ¡°Now that you know, how will you choose?¡± She wanted to let Gu Ci know that this was the rule of the capital market. Even if Zhou Li chose her, she had ways to snatch it away. The same applied to Lu Zhichuan. ¡°I choose Gu Ci!¡± Zhou Li had a good temper, always smiling and cheerful, but when it came to music, he had his own principles. ¡°Music is a pure land. Having power and influence doesn¡¯t mean your music can touch people¡¯s hearts.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Gu Chuyun was so enraged that she lost her composure. ¡°Zhou Li, I can blacklist you!¡± A small singer dared to challenge her. Did she want to be blacklisted? ¡°Oh, the sister of the president of Hualan Bank is indeed impressive. If Zhou Li doesn¡¯t choose you, he will be blacklisted. How remarkable,¡± Gu Ci leaned against the side and looked at her with a faint smile. ¡°You¡¯re acting so high and mighty. Does Jiang Junlin know about it?¡± Jiang Junlin, the current president of Hualan Bank and the eldest grandson of Elder Jiang, was a strict and traditional man. ¡°My brother will definitely protect me!¡± Gu Chuyun, the darling of Elder Jiang and Madam Jiang, didn¡¯t even bother to consider Gu Ci. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re not worthy to mention the Jiang family. It was because of you that my mother died!¡± A hint of malice flashed in Gu Ci¡¯s eyes. Yes, Jiang Mingyue died because Lv Man came to flaunt her pregnancy. And the child in her womb was Gu Chuyun. Qiao Yamei also gloated, ¡°Zhou Li, if you choose Gu Ci, you will be blacklisted. Do you still dare? Hurry up and apologize to Chuyun. She might forgive you.¡± ¡°Then go ahead and blacklist me!¡± Zhou Li said calmly. ¡°I withdraw from ¡®Song and Dance Youth¡¯.¡± Gu Chuyun felt like she had been slapped in her face and the production crew didn¡¯t know how to react either. Such a thing happened on the first day of filming. Did anyone consider the feelings of the production team? ¡°Don¡¯t regret it!¡± Gu Chuyun gritted her teeth. As Zhou Li and Gu Ci left together, Zhou Li hesitated for a moment and turned to ask Gu Ci, ¡°Gu Ci, are you coming with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you off!¡± Gu Ci accompanied Zhou Li. The production team couldn¡¯t stop them. Xu Yingjun and Chen Bolan looked at each other, hastily trying to console Gu Chuyun. Gu Chuyun glared fiercely in the direction where Gu Ci had left and angrily looked at Director Cai. ¡°Cut that segment out for me. If anyone dares to leak it, you¡¯re all done for!¡± Director Cai had a headache. ¡°It¡¯s already been announced. Zhou Li and Gu Ci have both withdrawn. What should we do with the show?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my problem. It¡¯s yours to solve!¡± Gu Chuyun arrogantly walked away. Director Cai was furious. Gu Chuyun had only maintained her good public image in front of her fans. Who could have imagined that she would actually throw a tantrum and ruin this filming? Gu Ci accompanied Zhou Li down the mountain. Zhou Li was on the phone with his agent, getting scolded and warned not to be impulsive. Jiangshan Strategy had become a hit, and he was a top star. Withdrawing from the show would surely invite gossip. Moreover, it was Gu Chuyun they were dealing with! Zhou Li shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°What benefits do I gain from pleasing Gu Chuyun? She¡¯s the heiress of the Gu Group, the granddaughter of the Jiang family who owns Hualan Bank. If she wants to blacklist me, it¡¯s just a matter of her saying so.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do drugs, I don¡¯t visit prostitutes, I don¡¯t have scandals, and my moral character is exemplary. If a brand wants to blacklist me, it¡¯s not my fault,¡± Zhou Li said, indifferent to the consequences. ¡°But she¡¯s Gu Chuyun! You¡¯re just a singer, how can you confront the capital?¡± Zhou Li¡¯s agent was extremely worried. ¡°I thought among the three violinists, Gu Chuyun had the highest level of skill, and I thought you would be satisfied. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t tell you about the script. If I had known, I would have informed you earlier.¡± ¡°Enough, go ahead and make the official announcement. I¡¯m withdrawing from Song and Dance Youth,¡± Zhou Li said in a casual manner. ¡°The money I¡¯ve earned is enough for me to live freely for a lifetime.¡± He hung up the phone without mercy, and Gu Ci could even hear the roar of his agent. Zhou Li turned to her and said, ¡°Gu Ci, sorry for the trouble.¡± ¡°Do you really have no fear of being blacklisted?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Music is my soul, even if I¡¯m blacklisted, I won¡¯t betray it,¡± Zhou Li smiled like a big boy. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t played the violin in a long time. I could tell that you were a bit rusty, but your emotional expression was rich. I really liked it. And you also rearranged two musical passages, which suited your temperament well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I touched the violin,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°Gu Chuyun is targeting me, so don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be blacklisted.¡± ¡°Do you have a grudge between you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re half-sisters from different mothers,¡± Gu Ci said indifferently. ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ the world of wealthy families is deep, I understand,¡± Zhou Li made a gesture to silence himself, no longer prying. ¡°I really like your musical style. Besides the violin, what other instruments do you play?¡± ¡°I can play the violin, cello, piano, drums, and guitar,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°But the one I¡¯m best at is the violin.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Zhou Li enthusiastically extended an invitation. ¡°Are you interested in playing music together? I really like your musical style.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider it and get back to you.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Zhou Li was satisfied. It was difficult for him to find someone who clicked musically with him. ¡°I think you have more talent in playing the violin than Gu Chuyun. She¡¯s purely focused on technicality, something that can be achieved through diligent practice.¡± The so-called prodigy violinist had overstepped her boundaries! Gu Ci understood, but Zhou Li felt that Gu Ci was quite aloof. He added, ¡°You¡¯re also more beautiful than her!¡± ¡°Then you have great taste!¡± Zhou Li burst into laughter. He had been in the industry for seven years and achieved great success. Many socialites were willing to invite him to expensive dinners, but Gu Ci seemed less interested. It felt refreshing to him. But looking at Gu Ci¡¯s appearance, Zhou Li thought that someone who looked like her didn¡¯t need to be too warm towards anyone. Mortals were simply not worthy! After Gu Ci dropped Zhou Li off at his home, she drove back to the Global Center. Li Jiang is cooking for Gu Ziyu, making seafood pineapple fried rice. Gu Ziyu is in the living room reading a book. Li Jiang looks at Gu Ziyu, who is engrossed in reading by the bay window, and can¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Young Master, can you handle spicy food?¡± Gu Ci is not here, so Gu Ziyu remains silent, not even a hint of a smile on his face. Li Jiang isn¡¯t afraid of awkward conversation and says, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ll be starting primary school after September, right? Which school will you be attending? If things aren¡¯t arranged properly, give me your ID card and household registration booklet, and I¡¯ll take care of it for you.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s gaze shifts to the ID card and household registration booklet. He is still an unregistered resident, without an ID card or household registration booklet. Gu Ziyu says, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I won¡¯t go to school.¡± ¡°Not going to school? How can that be? You¡¯ll end up illiterate in the future.¡± Gu Ziyu lifts the English book he¡¯s reading, expressionless, and asks Li Jiang, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°C++ Data Structure Engineering?¡± ¡°I¡¯m illiterate, so what would I do with it? Smash it over your head?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 24 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Jiang couldn¡¯t even catch his breath in front of the Third Master. He was familiar with the process of apologizing, ¡°Young Master, I was wrong, please calm down!¡± Gu Ziyu coolly raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why were you checking my household registration?¡± Li Jiang was speechless. Fuck, was the young master so sharp? ¡°Young Master, we were just chatting casually.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like chatting!¡± Gu Ziyu said lightly, ¡°Just consider yourself mute.¡± Li Jiang felt like crying but had no tears. The young master really resembled Third Master. Despite being so young, he exuded a formidable aura. Clearly, he could be cute and gentle in front of Miss Gu Ci. Is Li Jiang unworthy of that? Gu Ziyu glanced at his phone and frowned in confusion. He calmly said, ¡°Li Jiang, make another serving of spaghetti.¡± ¡°Young Master, do you have such a good appetite?¡± Gu Ziyu looked at him coolly, and Li Jiang felt like the young master¡¯s gaze was saying, ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Gu Ziyu said lightly, ¡°My mother is back.¡± Gu Ci returned at the exact time, and Li Jiang had prepared a serving of pineapple fried rice and a serving of meat sauce spaghetti, beautifully presented. He even freshly squeezed two glasses of cucumber and apple juice. Gu Ziyu loves apples! Gu Ziyu smiled and asked, ¡°Mom, why are you back?¡± ¡°I was kicked out of the variety show by Gu Chuyun.¡± Gu Ci shrugged, showing no sign of anger. Gu Ziyu¡¯s expression instantly darkened, becoming extremely sinister. Li Jiang witnessed Gu Ziyu¡¯s instant change of demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how drastic it was. Gu Ziyu said, ¡°She¡¯s truly tired of living!¡± Gu Ci smiled and didn¡¯t mind Gu Ziyu¡¯s irritated tone. ¡°Do you usually have lunch this late?¡± Li Jiang hurriedly said, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Young Master usually has breakfast late. Have you had lunch? I made spaghetti Bolognese.¡± ¡°Li Jiang, you¡¯re as skillful as ever,¡± Gu Ci said with a light laugh. ¡°I love your spaghetti Bolognese the most.¡± Li Jiang was bewildered. When did he ever cook for Miss Gu Ci? Fortunately, he didn¡¯t dwell on it. He took it as a casual compliment from Gu Ci. After a busy morning, she was indeed hungry. She finished a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese, and both Li Jiang and Gu Ziyu understood why she quit the dance variety show. When Li Jiang mentioned it to Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Zhiyuan wasn¡¯t surprised at all. He had known that Gu Chuyun was also in the variety show and that something unexpected was bound to happen. The outcome was no different. Li Jiang said, ¡°Third Young Master, Song and Dance Youth is sponsored by Hualan Bank. That¡¯s why Gu Chuyun is so arrogant. How about we also invest in creating a program and guarantee Miss Gu Ci¡¯s entry into the finals!¡± Lu Zhiyuan, sweating from his intense training, listened to Li Jiang¡¯s shameless words and mocked, ¡°Splurging money just for a program with no substance. Don¡¯t I have money to buy cars?¡± Li Jiang reminded him with a smile, ¡°Third Young Master, you have 123 sports cars!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t buy more?¡± Li Jiang was speechless. Third Young Master, don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a lapdog. Miss Gu Ci wants to be on a show, yet you¡¯re unwilling to spend money. Such a lapdog is not favored by Miss Gu Ci. Lu Zhiyuan, sitting and doing pull-ups, his young and sexy body bathed in light, said lightly, ¡°With looks like hers, why bother going on a variety show? It attracts bees and butterflies.¡± He even wanted to lock Gu Ci up and enjoy her beauty alone. He didn¡¯t stop her from appearing on this variety show, showing his magnanimity. Li Jiang secretly thought, Oh, so you¡¯re jealous. Tsk, he was the king of jealousy! After Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu finished lunch, Zhou Li also swiftly posted a Weibo message. Zhou Li: Due to uncontrollable circumstances, I am withdrawing from the recording of Song and Dance Youth. Simple, and concise, yet it sparked countless speculations. With a large fan base consisting mainly of female fans, Zhou Li¡¯s manager gathered a few influential fans for a meeting and subtly revealed that Zhou Li had been mistreated. His fans immediately bombarded the official account of Song and Dance Youth, forcing them to disable comments, and then they turned their anger toward the director. Director Cai became a target of public criticism, and he was at a loss. Zhou Li was a top star, and any slight change in his actions would make headlines. Announcing in the morning and withdrawing from the recording at noon, without any illness, pain, or official notice, even ordinary people would speculate, let alone his fans. ¡°Why are we the ones being criticized when this was clearly caused by Gu Chuyun?¡± The assistant director couldn¡¯t help but feel angry. ¡°Because Hualan Bank is our main sponsor!¡± Director Cai replied irritably. ¡°Did they delete the footage we shot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s being deleted right now!¡± The assistant director had no choice. Gu Chuyun had given strict orders that the videos must not be leaked. They had to be deleted, or else they would be in big trouble. The incident of Song and Dance Youth being bombarded also reached Hualan Bank. Hualan Bank was a venture bank with a global reputation and over fifty years of history. After Chairman Jiang retired, his eldest son Jiang Minghua took over as chairman, and his grandson Jiang Junlin was the current president of Hualan Bank. The program was originally arranged by Chairman Jiang as a special favor to Gu Chuyun, but he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it. It was only when Song and Dance Youth was overwhelmed by the negative publicity that Chairman Jiang and his wife called him to handle the situation. Director Cai personally went to meet Jiang Junlin and explained the situation in detail. Jiang Junlin wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, dressed in a sharp suit. He was handsome yet stern. He had interned at Hua Lan Bank when he was eighteen while studying at the same time. After graduating, he worked as the president¡¯s assistant for two years before being promoted to the position of president. He held significant power and authority. Director Cai didn¡¯t dare to exaggerate and showed the deleted video segment to Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin watched in silence, his eyes filled with anger. Director Cai inwardly panicked, hoping that the CEO wouldn¡¯t lose his temper. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Issues arose on the first day of recording, indicating that the selection of personnel for this season was not good. Let¡¯s start over and remove all the guests from this batch.¡± Director Cai tentatively asked, ¡°All of them¡­ including Gu Chuyun?¡± Jiang Junlin threw the tablet aside and his voice turned cold. ¡°Was I not clear enough?¡± ¡°Perfectly clear!¡± Director Cai felt delighted. He didn¡¯t want to cater to someone like Gu Chuyun either. But wasn¡¯t Song and Dance Youth created to ensure Gu Chuyun¡¯s participation? ¡°With such trivial matters, I hope you handle them well and don¡¯t waste my time.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As Director Cai left the office, his legs felt weak. Jiang Junlin¡¯s presence was overpowering, and Director Cai¡¯s heart nearly stopped beating. Once the production team received the confirmed information, they immediately made an official announcement. The production team took responsibility for everything, claiming that there was an error in the theme of this season and that the guest selection would be redone. They promised to provide further updates. Gu Ci was extremely surprised when she saw this statement. If it weren¡¯t for Jiang Junlin¡¯s approval from Hualan Bank, the production team wouldn¡¯t dare to take such action. Gu Chuyun would probably be infuriated. ¡°Darling, can you hack into the production team¡¯s computers and copy the recorded videos?¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°Mommy has a use for them.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Ziyu had remote control access to the High School Musical production team¡¯s data storage computer. Although the videos had been deleted, he could recover them, make copies, and then delete them again. Gu Ci watched the footage, a slight smirk appearing on her lips. Gu Chuyun was arrogant and self-assured. She never expected this video to leak out. It was a perfect opportunity that fell right into her lap. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 25 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation When Jiang Junlin returned home, Gu Chuyun was hiding in her grandmother¡¯s arms, crying with red eyes. Grandpa Jiang, Jiang Minghua, and Lin Chunli were there, comforting her. Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Jiang only had one son and one daughter, and they doted on Gu Chuyun as if she were their own child. After the death of Jiang Mingyue, they treated Gu Chuyun as their precious jewel. In their eyes, Gu Chuyun was even more cherished than their grandson, Jiang Junlin. ¡°Junlin, you came back at the right time. Why was the entire Song and Dance Youth episode canceled?¡± Grandma Jiang felt sorry for her granddaughter. ¡°Your sister has been crying all afternoon.¡± A calm gaze swept over Gu Chuyun as Jiang Junlin replied, ¡°The show was canceled because she made arrogant remarks during the recording, which led to Zhou Li¡¯s withdrawal from the show.¡± Grandma Jiang didn¡¯t care about the future and prospects of a singer. ¡°If Zhou Li withdrew, then find someone else.¡± Jiang Junlin frowned. ¡°Grandma, this is a substantial investment. I don¡¯t engage in ventures that will lead to losses. If she doesn¡¯t want to continue recording, then let¡¯s not do it.¡± ¡°Junlin!¡± Lin Chunli shook her head, indicating that he should be more tactful in his tone. Gu Chuyun cried bitterly, holding onto her grandmother as she accused, ¡°Grandma, my brother is bullying me.¡± ¡°Junlin, apologize to your sister. As her older brother, you should be more accommodating to her,¡± Grandpa Jiang said. Although he was accustomed to Jiang Junlin¡¯s cold demeanor, he still felt sorry for his granddaughter. Jiang Junlin calmly drank his tea and remained silent. Jiang Minghua said, ¡°Junlin, Chuyun said she lost her composure on the show because she encountered Gu Ci. How could you let Gu Ci appear on Song and Dance Youth? Is she worthy?¡± Jiang Minghua favored his sister, Jiang Mingyue, the most. After the exposure of Lu Man¡¯s affair, Jiang Minghua almost killed Lu Man and Gu Wenliang. He was particularly ruthless, showing no kindness even to the child Lu Man had with him. The Jiang family harbored resentment towards Gu Ci. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Man getting pregnant with Gu Ci and coming to provoke them, Jiang Mingyue wouldn¡¯t have given birth prematurely and wouldn¡¯t have died. ¡°The specific affairs of Song and Dance Youth are not under my jurisdiction. The company has so many things to handle, and I can¡¯t handle them all,¡± Jiang Junlin said. Grandma Jiang became extremely angry. ¡°Chuyun is your sister. Her matters should always be on your mind and take first priority. What could be more important than your sister?¡± Jiang Junlin rubbed his temples and his tone became heavy. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, her matters may be your top priority, but for me, my own matters are more important than her petty issues!¡± ¡°You¡­ are you trying to kill me with anger?¡± Grandma Jiang held onto Gu Chuyun, who looked even more aggrieved, and her blood pressure began to rise. ¡°Junlin, drink some water,¡± Lin Chunli poured him a glass of water to ease the tension. ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t get angry. It¡¯s all my fault. My brother doesn¡¯t like me, so please don¡¯t trouble him any more,¡± Gu Chuyun tried to soothe Grandma Jiang with a sense of grievance. ¡°Don¡¯t harm your health because of me.¡± Gu Chuyun had always tried to please Jiang Junlin, but he was just too difficult to please. He had a cold personality and strict self-discipline. Moreover, there was a significant age gap between Jiang Junlin, who was twenty-seven, and Gu Chuyun, who was only eighteen. They didn¡¯t have many opportunities to develop a sibling relationship. Jiang Junlin coldly curled his lips. ¡°Gu Chuyun, you are manipulative. Don¡¯t you dare try to play mind games with Grandpa and Grandma. Are you willing to tell them why you forced Zhou Li to withdraw and tried to suppress him?¡± Gu Chuyun remained silent. Jiang Junlin stood up, took a tablet, loaded the video onto it, and tossed it onto the table. ¡°It¡¯s because Zhou Li chose Gu Ci. Gu Ci plays the violin better than you. Lu Man, in order to appease the anger of the Jiang family, raised Gu Ci while heavily investing in you. But you lost. Out of embarrassment and anger, you lost your composure and threatened to suppress Zhou Li. Gu Chuyun, don¡¯t make excuses for your incompetence and failures. Reflect on yourself!¡± He coldly turned and went upstairs. Gu Chuyun felt deeply humiliated, her eyes red with shame. On the table, there was a video playing Gu Ci¡¯s violin performance, filled with rich and moving emotions, which touched the hearts of those who watched. Grandma Jiang stared at Gu Ci in the video, extremely stunned. Was that Gu Ci? Their family despised Lu Man and Gu Ci, so they had never seen Gu Ci before. She recalled her daughter, Jiang Mingyue, at eighteen. She was unparalleled in beauty, and when she played the violin, she was the most beautiful scenery in the world. Gu Ci and Jiang Mingyue resembled each other by about fifty to sixty percent, with an air of solitary elegance that made them even more similar. Jiang Minghua picked up the tablet, staring at it in a daze. ¡°She is¡­ Gu Ci?¡± Gu Chuyun felt a bone-chilling coldness. They had seen Gu Ci. Lu Man had hidden Gu Ci and didn¡¯t allow her to appear at any social events, fearing that the Jiang family would see her. Lu Man and Jiang Mingyue were cousins and had a certain resemblance. Gu Chuyun also had traces of Jiang Mingyue¡¯s shadow, but Gu Ci was the one who resembled Jiang Mingyue the most. ¡°Grandma, Uncle, are you abandoning me?¡± Gu Chuyun cried in grievance. ¡°If Mom were still alive, she would definitely help me.¡± Grandma Jiang snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°Chuyun, don¡¯t cry. Grandma is heartbroken for you. Don¡¯t worry, Grandma will help you.¡± Jiang Minghua walked upstairs absentmindedly. Jiang Junlin took off his coat and changed into casual clothes. He was about to check two international emails. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t try to persuade me anymore. Gu Chuyun has been spoiled by Grandpa and Grandma.¡± Jiang Minghua sighed. ¡°Mingyue passed away suddenly, leaving only Chuyun behind. Your grandparents dote on her, and you should understand that. I¡¯m not here to persuade you. When I saw Gu Ci playing the violin, I was reminded of Mingyue. I never expected¡­ Lu Man¡¯s daughter resembles Mingyue even more.¡± Jiang Junlin pondered silently without speaking. Jiang Minghua continued, ¡°Chuyun has turned eighteen, and she will inherit 20% of Mingyue¡¯s shares. Your grandfather is urging you to arrange the transfer of shares.¡± ¡°I have some doubts that I have yet to resolve. Let¡¯s postpone the transfer of shares for now,¡± Jiang Junlin replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to give the shares to your sister?¡± ¡°When Aunt passed away, I was already nine years old. Both you and Mom were busy at the time, and it was Aunt who raised me. I remember her facial features, her preferences, and the humiliations she endured. I will never mistreat her daughter.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s voice was cold and deep. ¡°Lu Man has an unscrupulous character and lacks sibling affection. How could she treat Gu Chuyun like her own and abandon Gu Ci?¡± Jiang Junlin took out the documents from his briefcase and handed them to Jiang Minghua. ¡°After seeing Gu Ci play the violin today, I had someone thoroughly investigate everything about Gu Ci. Dad, don¡¯t you find it strange? Even if she wants to favor Chuyun, why treat Gu Ci this way? Gu Ci has shown stronger violin talent since childhood, but Lu Man never allowed her to learn the violin, and she even prohibited her from touching any musical instruments. For so many years, the second young miss of the Gu family has been like an invisible person to us. We have never seen her. At Chuyun¡¯s engagement banquet, she was plotted against and expelled. Now she lives at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s house, and the Gu family doesn¡¯t care. A tiger doesn¡¯t devour its own cubs, so why is she treated like this?¡± Jiang Minghua looked at Gu Ci¡¯s profile, shocked by what he saw. Lu Man intentionally raised Gu Ci as a waste, and the rumors about Gu Ci being useless and willful seemed to be true. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Minghua asked. ¡°Gu Chuyun and Gu Ci were born on the same day in the same hospital,¡± Jiang Junlin replied with profound and calm eyes. ¡°Dad, do you think that¡¯s normal?¡± Jiang Minghua realized a sinister plot. ¡°Lu Man¡­ how dare she!¡± ¡°Investigate it, and we¡¯ll know!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 26 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation At the Global Center, as night fell, Gu Ci walked with Gu Ziyu on the rubber track to aid digestion. Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you confess your identity to Uncle?¡± ¡°Mom attending ¡®Song and Dance Youth¡¯ and playing the violin would definitely lead to Gu Chuyun kicking Mom out of the show. She intentionally provoked Zhou Li to force him to quit. If Cai Director couldn¡¯t handle public opinion, he would definitely go to Uncle. Once Uncle sees Mom playing the violin, he will become suspicious and start investigating.¡± Gu Ci smiled lightly. ¡°Instead of abruptly revealing the truth to him, it¡¯s better to let him uncover it step by step.¡± Gu Ziyu suddenly realized, ¡°I understand. The best hunter always appears in the form of prey.¡± Gu Ci gently ruffled Gu Ziyu¡¯s spiky hair, but her mood was extremely solemn. In the previous life, the ending for the Jiang family was not good. After she was framed and imprisoned, Gu Chuyun used the power of the Lu Corporation to control the board of directors. Upon learning the truth, the grandfather and grandmother were devastated and passed away one after another. Jiang Minghua was expelled from the board, and in her quest to eliminate any potential threats, Gu Chuyun had someone drive a car to injure Jiang Junlin, causing him to lose his legs and spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Gu Ci asked with sadness, ¡°Did Uncle¡¯s legs recover later?¡± Gu Ziyu shook his head, hesitating to speak, appearing conflicted. ¡°Mom¡­ there¡¯s something I want to tell you, but I¡¯m afraid it might upset you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Gu Ci looked at Gu Ziyu¡¯s expression and felt a sense of shock. ¡°Did Uncle pass away?¡± ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s not¡­,¡± Gu Ziyu scratched his head. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t say it. In this lifetime, Uncle won¡¯t encounter any car accidents, and he probably won¡¯t meet you either. Maybe nothing will happen at all. It¡¯s the butterfly effect, you know? A small disturbance can change everything. I won¡¯t tell you to spare you any distress.¡± ¡°Darling, from now on, you won¡¯t have any seasoning for your instant noodles.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat instant noodles!¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°Let¡¯s just go with the flow. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°The things that happened in the previous life may not happen in this life. Everyone¡¯s fate can change.¡± Gu Ci also felt uncertain. But if things were changed? If one traveled back and altered history, would the future still exist? ¡°Mom, I also did something wrong,¡± Gu Ziyu confessed truthfully. ¡°When I was attacking the Black Hawk Group¡¯s network system, someone intervened and traced my location, using you as a threat against me.¡± Gu Ci was astonished. ¡°There¡¯s someone more skilled than you as a hacker?¡± ¡°It seems like this person emerged out of nowhere. In my previous life, I never encountered such a formidable opponent. I don¡¯t know who they are yet, but I¡¯m still investigating,¡± Gu Ziyu felt uneasy. ¡°In theory, my skills are more advanced, and I should be able to trace their address. However, they are incredibly cunning, overlaying their IP address onto mine. Every time I trace it, the addresses overlap.¡± ¡°They¡¯re that skilled?¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes filled with a desire for victory. ¡°I will definitely expose their identity. They dare to overlay their IP address on mine, it¡¯s a direct challenge to me!¡± A thought crossed Gu Ci¡¯s mind. If the other person could trace Ziyu¡¯s location, they must indeed be highly skilled. ¡°Ziyu, do you think you might be in danger?¡± ¡°Definitely not!¡± Gu Ziyu was confident. ¡°The Black Hawk Group hasn¡¯t noticed anything, and there haven¡¯t been any internal reports. The person hasn¡¯t leaked the information, most likely because they want to recruit me.¡± He paused for a moment and continued, ¡°Ji Cheng has successfully passed the selection interviews within the Black Hawk Group¡¯s management. He is now the leader of the Asian Division¡¯s Operations Team. If anything happens, he will inform me in advance.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s phone vibrated, and she received a message from Zhou Li, asking her to check online. There was an exposed entry about her that was currently trending. Curious, Gu Ci took a look and discovered that a blogger had revealed her identity, stating why Zhou Li had quit ¡°Sing and Dance Youth¡± and why the production team had canceled that particular episode. It was all because of her. Gu Ci, the mistress who ascended. The trending entry exposed the scandalous details: Gu Ci, the second miss of the Gu family, was revealed to be the product of her mother¡¯s affair as a mistress. After causing the death of Gu Chuyun¡¯s mother, she grew up spoiled and always bullied Gu Chuyun, turning her into a Cinderella-like figure. Despite being mistreated, Gu Chuyun used her talent to rise and shine, while Gu Ci became a useless and spoiled sibling, participating in the show just to antagonize Gu Chuyun and causing havoc within the production team. Furthermore, it was revealed that Gu Ci had seduced her soon-to-be brother-in-law at Gu Chuyun¡¯s engagement banquet, ruining the event. With such explosive revelations, Gu Ci became the target of public outrage as the mistress, and the online manipulation amplified the narrative. Her reputation took a severe hit, especially with the testimonies from several famous socialites who confirmed her role as the mistress. Her image was solidified as a person with a corrupted character. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, darling. This was expected,¡± Gu Chuyun was skilled in manipulating people¡¯s emotions and influencing public opinion. She pinched her son¡¯s pouting cheeks. ¡°She will soon face the consequences of her actions.¡± Gu Chuyun looked at the trending hot searches filled with people criticizing Gu Ci, feeling delighted in her heart. However, Lu Man cautioned, ¡°Chuyun, be careful. Desperate people can be unpredictable. Now that the people from the Jiang family have seen Gu Ci, what if they start to suspect something?¡± ¡°What can they possibly suspect? Gu Ci is your uncle¡¯s niece by blood. There¡¯s already a blood relation between them. So what if Gu Ci resembles Jiang Mingyue?¡± Gu Chuyun wasn¡¯t worried at all. If everything was exposed, she could simply push the blame onto Lu Man. Still reveling in her triumph, she came across a video being exposed online. It was shared by ten highly popular marketing accounts, revealing Gu Ci¡¯s violin performance and how Zhou Li chose her, which infuriated Gu Chuyun. Gu Chuyun then expressed her intention to blacklist Zhou Li and declared that variety shows were scripted. She even boasted about being guaranteed a spot in the finals, causing her carefully crafted image of an innocent princess to crumble in an instant. This sparked another wave of public outrage. ¡°Fuck, Gu Chuyun, is this your reason for pushing out Zhou Li? You throw a tantrum just because he didn¡¯t choose you?¡± ¡°What the hell, this is so fucking low. I¡¯ll never believe in the image of a star again. Where¡¯s the Cinderella-turned-heroine? What happened to the innocent princess? Did you steal Gu Ci¡¯s script?¡± ¡°The Song and Dance Youth production team needs to come out and explain. Are all variety shows scripted just to promote Miss Gu?¡± ¡°Fuck this, refund us! We¡¯ve been supporting them so much, and it turns out it was all scripted. Refund us, refund us!¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun said she would blacklist Zhou Li. Such arrogance! Capital really is amazing. My brother doesn¡¯t act, he focuses on singing. What bad luck!¡± ¡°She¡¯s the sister of Jiang Junlin, the CEO of Hualan Bank, and also the Gu family¡¯s young miss. No wonder she can blacklist Zhou Li!¡± ¡°If Zhou Li gets blacklisted, Gu Chuyun can expect a backlash. What a stupid move.¡± ¡°Am I the only one who thinks Gu Ci is so beautiful? This beauty breaks the entertainment industry¡¯s ceiling.¡± ¡°Even if she¡¯s a mistress, with such beauty¡­ If I were a man, I would also want to have an affair.¡± ¡°With Gu Chuyun¡¯s arrogant and domineering behavior, who would believe that Gu Ci bullied her and that she took the Cinderella script? Maybe the black material on Gu Ci was actually leaked by Gu Chuyun.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 27 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°To be honest, when it comes to playing the violin, I agree that Gu Ci has a graceful posture and plays better than Gu Chuyun. Zhou Li chose her because he definitely appreciates Gu Ci more.¡± ¡°A talented violinist with a shattered image, feeling humiliated and becoming angry, so they want to suppress Zhou Li. Oh well, the entertainment industry¡¯s princess is truly amazing.¡± As soon as the video was released, there was an outpouring of criticism online. Gu Chuyun¡¯s face turned pale; she couldn¡¯t believe someone would upload that video. Director Cai didn¡¯t dare to do it, and if it got out, it would ruin the Dance of Youth program. Who did it? Was it Jiang Junlin? This is outrageous! Why would he release this video? It would tarnish her reputation, exposing her anger and arrogance to the public. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Gu Chuyun screamed, her head throbbing with pain. She couldn¡¯t accept this painful reality. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t lost¡­ I haven¡¯t lost yet!¡± While the online world was in chaos, Gu Ci remained calm, while Gu Ziyu was puzzled. ¡°With such a big incident happening, why hasn¡¯t Dad said a word?¡± Last time there was a scandal involving Mom, he quickly came out to clarify! ¡°He¡¯s probably busy training!¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Mom can handle this little matter!¡± The trending topics were quickly taken down, and Gu Ziyu discovered that it was Hualan Bank that had removed the trending topics. Both Gu Chuyun and Gu Ci disappeared completely. Gu Ci contemplated in secret. The matter between her and Gu Chuyun had to come to an end. ¡°Darling, Mommy needs to make a trip to Haicheng tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll go with you!¡± ¡°Sweetie, you¡¯re an undocumented individual, so you can¡¯t buy a plane ticket.¡± Gu Ziyu was speechless. * The next morning, Gu Ci packed a backpack and headed to Haicheng. Lu Zhiyuan carried her to the rooftop and they boarded a helicopter to the airport. Gu Ci asked in bewilderment, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Haicheng with you,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was deep, his mood not pleasant. He didn¡¯t bring a bodyguard with him, leaving Li Jiang to take care of Gu Ziyu. At the airport, after going through security, Gu Ci realized they were going to take a private plane to Haicheng. Calmly, she canceled the ticket she had bought for herself. Lu Zhiyuan had a stern face the whole time, appearing somewhat grumpy. He didn¡¯t talk to anyone, closing his eyes and resting on the plane. Gu Ci nudged his arm, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Who upset you?¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°How did I upset you?¡± Gu Ci calmly asked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me when something so big happened last night?¡± Gu Ci replied, ¡°Third Young Master, you yourself said it. You were busy last night, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you with trivial matters.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her intently, then averted his gaze and fell silent. Gu Ci surprisingly sensed a trace of grievance from his expression. What was he feeling hurt about? Gu Ci asked the flight attendant for a glass of cherry juice and casually took an apple. ¡°Want some?¡± ¡°No, I hate apples the most.¡± Gu Ci was surprised. ¡°You hate apples?¡± Lu Zhiyuan coldly snorted and remained silent. Gu Ci assumed he was sulking. Gu Ci stopped talking as well. She wasn¡¯t a girl of many words, preferring solitude and silence. But whenever she grew quiet, Lu Zhiyuan became unhappy again. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Gu Ci held the cherry juice and asked, ¡°Want some?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Gu Ci nodded and continued drinking her juice while reading the newspaper. Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath, annoyed, and snatched her juice, drinking it all in one go. Gu Ci looked at the hint of lipstick on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s lips, feeling her ears and cheeks grow warm. However, Lu Zhiyuan remained completely oblivious. The flight attendants from the Global Center, who witnessed their interaction, were on the verge of laughter. Is Third Young Master really this naive when it comes to love? ¡°Why is your face turning red? Are you feeling hot?¡± Lu Zhiyuan reached out and turned on the overhead air conditioning, allowing the cold air to sweep down. Gu Ci silently wrapped herself in a blanket, but the warmth on her face didn¡¯t dissipate. Being hot-tempered and youthful, Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t notice the cold. He found Gu Ci¡¯s silence rather inexplicable. Unaware of her embarrassment, he glanced at the flight attendants, who were barely holding back their laughter, with a gossipy expression. Gu Ci¡¯s face grew even hotter. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, you¡­ have something on your mouth.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tongue swept across his lips, leaving a trace of lipstick that bloomed like rouge. This unintentional gesture revealed a sense of alluring passion. Once again, Gu Ci experienced the feeling of her heart pounding like a startled deer. This action carried hidden desires. She recalled their previous life when they got married, and he had also eaten her lipstick, indulging in the sensual act of licking every inch of color on her lips. As Gu Ci reminisced, a surge of heat rushed to her head, and her gaze became tinged with desire. Lu Zhiyuan vividly watched a cool and beautiful woman transform into a vibrant entity. His eyes, scorching like the sun, stared intensely at her face, and suddenly, he had the urge to kiss her. ¡°I want to kiss you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. Gu Ci was stunned. Lu Zhiyuan kicked himself. What did he say? His mouth was more honest than his body. ¡°What did you say?¡± Lu Zhiyuan closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and turned over. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Gu Ci watched his evasive figure and couldn¡¯t help but suppress a smile. She ordered another glass of cherry juice, and the cold beverage extinguished the fire in her heart. They continued their journey to Haicheng without any further disturbance. Gu Ziyu had sent the address of Nurse Zhang. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan rented a car and headed to Nurse Zhang¡¯s house. Lu Zhiyuan was shocked when he heard Gu Ci mention the switch between her and Gu Chuyun. ¡°I had suspected it a long time ago. You don¡¯t even resemble her. The daughter of my love rival is cherished like a treasure, while his own flesh and blood is abandoned. Yet you still insist on competing with Gu Chuyun for affection, not realizing that you can never win.¡± Being favored and loved by their parents, Gu Chuyun received all the attention, while Gu Ci was neglected to the extreme. Yet, Gu Ci continuously fought with Gu Chuyun, seeking their parents¡¯ care and love, only to be disappointed time and time again. Over time, her character became more and more obsessive and indulgent. He watched her time and time again, experiencing disappointment, and grievances, and stubbornly concealing her unwillingness, sadness, and self-inflicted wounds. ¡°From childhood to adulthood, you haven¡¯t encountered many good things,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said calmly. ¡°You and Gu Chuyun share the same birthday. She is the little princess adored by everyone, while you are the Cinderella hiding in the corner. Bullied at home, isolated at school. Your musical performances had their strings cut, and your dance performances were knocked off the stage. When you were young, you were always unwilling to accept it and insisted on competing with Gu Chuyun for affection. The result was a complete failure. As you grew up, you finally learned to be clever and hide your talents. Even though you could have been the top of your class, you pretended to be a mediocre student, rebellious and indulgent. And yet, life somehow became a little better. Finally, you made it to adulthood, where you could be independent, only to be targeted by Lu Shijie. It turns out that all of this was because Lu Man switched you and Gu Chuyun when you were young. Gu Ci, what kind of misfortune have you encountered?¡± ¡°I¡¯m even more miserable than Cinderella!¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, how do you know so much about me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan paused. ¡°Because you¡¯re foolish. You insisted on competing with Gu Chuyun, even when it caused you to break your head and bleed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who has suffered and endured hardships since childhood, but why do you care more about it than I do?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 28 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened slightly as he watched her go from a shining young girl to facing various injustices, slowly losing her sharpness and becoming more stubborn and melancholic. He felt more heartache for her than anyone else. The last time he saw Gu Ci genuinely smile was one year when she was playing the violin, enjoying herself and finding joy in it. She had learned a violin piece, and he was her first audience. He felt happiness through her music. Later, the violin was destroyed, and she lost her smile. Since then, she became more and more obsessive and melancholic with each passing year. He watched helplessly as she faced injustice, never crying out in pain or seeking help. He had always been by her side, but she had never called for help. She bore all the pain alone, in solitude. Gu Ci lightly smiled as she looked out the window, not minding Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s silence. Lu Zhiyuan, eyes don¡¯t lie. You like me, even though I don¡¯t know why you¡¯ve always rejected me. But I¡¯m willing to wait. Anyway¡­ I¡¯ve also been waiting for many years. Nurse Zhang lived in a small community by the seaside. After resigning years ago, she came to Haicheng and settled down there. She still worked as a nurse at the People¡¯s Hospital and had a son and a daughter. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan pressed the doorbell. Nurse Zhang was on a day off and at home. When she saw Gu Ci¡¯s face change drastically, she hurriedly tried to close the door, but Gu Ci forcefully kicked it open. She stood at the doorstep, cold and sharp, looking at Nurse Zhang who had fallen to the ground. ¡°What are you afraid of, Zhang Xiaomei?¡± Lu Zhiyuan followed Gu Ci into the room and casually closed the door. Zhang Xiaomei, nearing her forties, had taken good care of herself. She had fair skin and still exuded charm. When she saw Gu Ci coming to find her, she knew that the truth couldn¡¯t be concealed any longer. However, she adamantly refused to admit anything. No matter how Gu Ci questioned her, she dared not admit, ¡°I¡¯m going to call the police. You¡¯ve trespassed into a private residence.¡± She held her phone ready to call the police, and Gu Ci said, ¡°Sure, that¡¯s perfect. The police can come, and we can investigate the hospital¡¯s swapping incident back then together.¡± Gu Ci retrieved the transfer records between Lu Man and herself. Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s legs went weak, and she collapsed onto a chair. ¡°Within fifteen years, I transferred a total of 2 million to you,¡± Gu Ci lazily leaned against a nearby surface and kicked the chair. ¡°Tell me, how did she manipulate you? Since I was able to find you, naturally, I already know that Gu Chuyun is her biological daughter.¡± With the evidence in hand, Zhang Xiaomei couldn¡¯t deny it. She painfully revealed the truth to Gu Ci, ¡°Back then, Jiang Mingyue and Lu Man were brought to the hospital together. Lu Man had given birth before and gave birth within an hour. Jiang Mingyue had a difficult delivery and ended up having a cesarean section in the middle of the night. The baby girl was born much later. The adults were all focused on Jiang Mingyue, and Jiang Minghua got into a fight with Gu Wenliang. The hospital was in chaos, and Lu Man found me. She asked me to switch the identification tags of the two babies. At that time, the ID tags for the two infants had just been made. She gave me 500,000 yuan. My mother had uremia, and we had almost exhausted all the money in our family to treat her. She offered me money and even promised to help me find a kidney donor. I was tempted and foolishly agreed. Miss Gu Ci, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Zhiyuan recorded the conversation, his anger growing. Just 500,000 yuan, and she sold her soul, causing Gu Ci to suffer injustice from a young age, deprived of everything. Damn it! Gu Ci, however, remained calm and unaffected. There was no ripple in her eyes. ¡°What happened afterward? Why did she continue to transfer money to you?¡± Zhang Xiaomei felt embarrassed, but she had no choice but to reveal the truth. ¡°After I came to Haicheng, I married my current husband, and we lived a stable life. However, he got involved in gambling and borrowed money at high-interest rates. I had no choice but to turn to Lu Man and ask for her help.¡± That¡¯s why she had seen Gu Ci. ¡°Money is truly important, isn¡¯t it? One¡¯s integrity can be sold as well, right?¡± Tears poured down Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s face. ¡°You haven¡¯t experienced the pain of having no money, so of course, you can casually say that I sold my integrity for money. I needed to save my mother, to survive. All beings suffer. For the sake of money, people can truly do anything. Those who uphold their integrity simply haven¡¯t been tempted by enough money.¡± Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow, feeling the injustice Gu Ci had endured. ¡°Crime is still crime. Don¡¯t make excuses!¡± Zhang Xiaomei crawled on the ground and knelt before Gu Ci. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I still have two children to support. I beg you, please have mercy and spare me.¡± ¡°Let the law handle it!¡± After obtaining the evidence, Gu Ci left calmly, with Lu Zhiyuan following closely behind. Lu Zhiyuan drove with her to the seaside. The sky was overcast as if it was going to rain, mirroring his state of mind. He hadn¡¯t expected Lu Man to be so malicious. The truth was so embarrassing. ¡°Do you hate her?¡± he asked. ¡°Lu Man?¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t hate her. It¡¯s meaningless.¡± The people she hated were Gu Chuyun and Lu Shijie. Lu Man couldn¡¯t stir up any storms. It was pointless to dwell on the past, and she wanted to avoid the tragedy of this lifetime. But her emotions were still complex. If she hadn¡¯t switched the children, the Jiang family would have fought for custody. Regardless of how Lu Man and Gu Wenliang mistreated her, the Jiang family would have taken her away. Her life would have been completely different. She would have had a loving older brother, as well as an uncle, aunt, and grandparents who doted on her. She wouldn¡¯t have grown up alone, and she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in prison. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Gu Ci. You¡¯re not alone,¡± Lu Zhiyuan embraced her from behind. His embrace had always been warm and reliable for her. The storm was about to arrive, and the sea and sky turned a deep, ink-like black. The fierce wind blew over the restless sea, carrying the dangers preceding the storm. Gu Ci held onto Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t fear the turbulent sea ahead because behind her stood steadfast mountains. * As the typhoon approached, flights were grounded, and Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci found a coastal hotel. Only the presidential suite was available. A lightning bolt struck from the sky, followed by rolling thunder. Lu Zhiyuan stood by the window, raising his hand to check his watch¡ªit was half past five. Torrential rain poured down, and the wind roared. The sea surged and churned. His eyes resembled the darkened sky, echoing the rumbling thunder. In his ears, he heard the sound of a video call between Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu. They asked him to sleep early and said they would return home tomorrow. Gu Ziyu caught a glimpse of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s silhouette through the video call and knew that they were together. Gu Ziyu said, ¡°Okay, Mom. I¡¯ll wait for you to come home.¡± Gu Ci ended the video call and looked at Lu Zhiyuan, remembering his hesitation when booking the room. If it weren¡¯t for the approaching typhoon and the pouring rain, Lu Zhiyuan would have taken her to find another hotel and booked two rooms. She recalled her previous life when they were released from prison, and Lu Zhiyuan took her to a hot spring hotel to relax, where they also ended up with only one room. That night, they sat by the window, talking heart-to-heart over a glass of wine. She poured out the hardships and grievances she had endured during her five years in prison. She wanted revenge, she wanted Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun dead. Lu Zhiyuan was exceptionally silent and calm that night, like a mute listener. She was emotionally overwhelmed, crying in his arms until she fell asleep, comforted by his soothing presence. She begged him to sing her a nursery rhyme, finding solace in his voice. The next day, Lu Zhiyuan said that he deliberately had the receptionist say there was only one room. He wanted to cherish the rare opportunity of being together, away from their usual surroundings, and create a romantic atmosphere. He didn¡¯t want to spoil the mood by booking two separate rooms. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 29 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Just downstairs, Lu Zhiyuan stared at the rain curtain. Gu Ci could clearly see the struggle in his eyes. He didn¡¯t want to share the same room with her. Gu Ci firmly believed that Lu Zhiyuan had a secret crush on her, and in this reincarnation, she naturally treated him as her husband. This was the first time she realized clearly that the twenty-year-old Lu Zhiyuan might truly not have feelings for her. ¡°Gu Ci, I haven¡¯t trained today. I¡¯ll go for a swim downstairs,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, order something to eat. Go to bed early. I might come back later.¡± The presidential suite had one door, leading to two separate rooms that wouldn¡¯t disturb each other. ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci lowered her head to tidy up her skincare products. After Lu Zhiyuan left, she also gazed at the stormy weather, lost in thought. ¡°Have I been blinded by love?¡± Memories were like a knife, always stabbing her, causing her to bleed. She had tried her best not to dwell on her past life. ¡°But if he doesn¡¯t have feelings for me, why does he pay so much attention to me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan had a strong passion for extreme sports and racing. He had stood prominently at the center of the world for many years, seemingly unaffected by money, beautiful women, or power. So why did he specifically focus his attention on Gu Ci? Gu Ci couldn¡¯t understand it. If she couldn¡¯t figure it out, she would let it go. Gu Ci didn¡¯t want to dwell too much on it. She and Lu Zhiyuan were destined to be entangled in each other¡¯s lives. There was no rush to understand everything. After taking a relaxing bath, a call suddenly came from Gu Ziyu. ¡°Mom, you and Dad need to go see Uncle immediately. I sent the location to your phone.¡± Before Gu Ci could ask any questions, she picked up her car keys and headed out. Gu Ziyu said, ¡°Uncle is going to find Zhang Xiaomei in Haicheng. The Haicheng branch of the Black Hawk Group received orders to intercept Uncle. Today, there¡¯s a typhoon in Haicheng. I¡¯ve simulated his driving route. You need to go to the intersection north of Lingnan Road. You should be able to meet him there. Mom, don¡¯t take any risks alone. Take Dad with you.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Gu Ci said softly and hung up the phone. She immediately called Lu Zhiyuan, but there was no answer even after three rings. Gu Ci left a message and left the hotel, driving towards Lingnan Road. After setting up the navigation, another call came in from Gu Ziyu. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Is it Gu Chuyun again? She¡¯s audacious!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not her,¡± Gu Ziyu continued to track the source of the information. ¡°I received a message from Ji Cheng. The orders came from the headquarters of the Black Hawk Group. Gu Chuyun doesn¡¯t have that kind of power, Mom¡­ Mom¡­ contact¡­ Mom?¡± The storm in Haicheng intensified, and the strong winds blew debris onto the road, breaking an electric pole. The lights in two blocks went out, and sporadic lights disappeared in the storm. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t hear clearly what Gu Ziyu was saying. The signal weakened, so Gu Ci hung up the phone, stepped on the gas pedal, and accelerated forward. After meeting Zhang Xiaomei, Jiang Junlin sensed that a storm was approaching. Not long after leaving the house, he realized that two cars had been following him. With the typhoon warning, there were hardly any cars on the streets. Jiang Junlin was forced onto Lingnan Road, where the traffic lights at the intersection had long been extinguished. A car blocked the lane, but the visibility was too low. When Jiang Junlin was forced to brake, he was only a meter away from colliding with the car in front. The two cars behind him stopped ten meters behind. Inside the leading car sat a muscular young man with a shaved head and a pair of intimidating eyes, resembling a bald eagle. Rain splashed onto his wet shirt, and he made a gun gesture towards Jiang Junlin, a murderous intent in his eyes. Jiang Junlin stomped on the accelerator and rushed down the slope, skillfully controlling the car. He crashed through the guardrail and onto another road. The three cars followed closely behind, racing down the slope. The typhoon disrupted the signal, and Jiang Junlin dialed the emergency hotline once again, providing his location and route. However, in the instant he hung up the phone, a momentary lapse of attention caused him to notice a car approaching in the opposite direction. It collided head-on with his car, flipping it over. Glass shattered, embedding fragments into his arm. Jiang Junlin lay inside the overturned vehicle, forcefully kicking open the door and crawling out in a disheveled state. The rainwater mixed with his blood, forming a crimson pool. The four cars stopped by the roadside, and the bald man got out of his car, roughly grabbing Jiang Junlin. ¡°Mr. Jiang, I¡¯m sorry, but your life is worth too much.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Jiang Junlin smirked, swiftly unsheathing his knife. With a cold glint, he aimed directly at the bald man¡¯s eyes. The bald man reacted quickly, tilting his head back and cursing loudly, then kicked toward Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin took the blow, rolling on the ground. The bald man reached for his gun, pointing it at Jiang Junlin. Suddenly, a high beam of light swept across, and the bald man raised his hand to shield his eyes. In that moment, Jiang Junlin took cover behind the overturned car. With thick clouds overhead and rolling thunder, Gu Ci burst through the rain, shattering countless raindrops in her path. She charged towards the bald man, ruthlessly knocking him aside. The bald man flew out, and Gu Ci shouted, ¡°Brother, get in the car!¡± Jiang Junlin reacted swiftly, quickly getting into the car as Gu Ci sped away, leaving the scene behind. ¡°Chase them!¡± The bald man rolled on the ground, then got up and the four cars pursued Gu Ci at full speed. Gu Ci calmly drove the car, while Jiang Junlin looked straight at her. ¡°Gu Ci?¡± Gu Ci opened the storage compartment. ¡°First, stop the bleeding!¡± Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t waste any words. There were only tissues in the compartment, but it would do for his superficial wounds. He casually wiped away the blood. ¡°Head towards the police station.¡± ¡°I know!¡± Gu Ci asked calmly, ¡°Who have you offended?¡± Jiang Junlin crumpled the bloodied tissue and glanced back at the four cars relentlessly chasing them. His voice was cold. ¡°In the business world, harmony leads to prosperity. I¡¯m also curious who is so clueless.¡± A bullet struck the car, and Jiang Junlin quickly ducked down, his voice stern. ¡°Lower your head!¡± Gu Ci also lowered her body as the bald man fired a shot at the tire, causing it to burst. The car became difficult to control. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Can it still run?¡± ¡°It can!¡± Gu Ci glanced at his blood-soaked pant leg and made a right turn into an alley. The two quickly got out of the car and disappeared into the alley. It was a narrow alley in a village within the city. On this stormy day, every household was tightly shut, and rainwater washed away footprints and blood. The two ran through the village, their pursuers¡¯ footsteps splashing through the water behind them. Ahead, a gleam of silver shone brightly as the bald man swung his knife at Gu Ci. Jiang Junlin grabbed Gu Ci¡¯s arm and pulled her towards him, avoiding the dagger. As the bald man kicked Jiang Junlin, Gu Ci agilely moved in front of him and her knife grazed Jiang Junlin¡¯s blade, stabbing the bald man in the thigh. The bald man let out a gruesome scream and retaliated by slashing Gu Ci¡¯s arm. Jiang Junlin fell to the side, his head hitting a stone, rendering him unconscious. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The bald man¡¯s eyes filled with murderous intent. But at that moment, a sharp scream pierced the air. ¡°Ah! Murder, murder!¡± Lights flickered in the village, and the sound of sirens approached from a short distance away. The bald man waved his hand, signaling everyone to retreat, and hastily left. Gu Ci rushed to help Jiang Junlin up. ¡°Brother, wake up, please¡­¡± Jiang Junlin showed no response. Turning to the screaming woman, Gu Ci said, ¡°Call an ambulance, thank you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 30 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The bald man, accompanied by his three lackeys, returned to the Hai Cheng branch. In the pouring rain, a car was parked in the courtyard, its impact on the ground creating scattered shards of raindrops. A tall figure stood in the rain, resembling a deity. The president of the Hai Cheng branch held an umbrella for him, while more than a dozen black-clad special agents stood in the rain, overwhelmed by the oppressive and fierce aura that left them breathless and on edge. As soon as the bald man and his three lackeys entered the courtyard, they were pushed into the rain. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± the bald man shouted. ¡°Third Master is here! Show some respect!¡± The president of the Hai Cheng branch sternly rebuked. ¡°What were you doing out so late?¡± The bald man, upon hearing the name ¡°Third Master,¡± was so frightened that he knelt down and confessed everything about tonight¡¯s events. Just as he was about to raise his head to claim credit, a dagger pierced through the air and directly into his arm, causing a wound far more severe than the one he inflicted on Gu Ci. The bald man gritted his teeth, unable to cry out in pain. His fresh blood stained the water on the ground, creating a red puddle. The president of the Hai Cheng branch¡¯s legs went weak, unable to breathe under the silent and overwhelming pressure. ¡°Who¡¯s your employer?¡± The voice of the Third Master was concealed within the thunderous lightning, yet it possessed an even greater power. * In the hospital, Jiang Junlin remained unconscious, while Gu Ci had received 9 stitches for her superficial wound. It was already 3 o¡¯clock in the morning, and a police officer was taking her statement. Gu Ci said, ¡°I happened to pass by and saw someone surrounding him, so I told him to get in the car and leave. Little did I know that those people would continue to chase after him. They followed us all the way to the urban village, but I have no knowledge of what happened after that.¡± ¡°Do you know the victim?¡± the police officer asked. Gu Ci nodded, ¡°Yes, I know him. He is Jiang Junlin, the president of Hualan Bank.¡± She fabricated a story, ensuring it aligned with Jiang Junlin¡¯s potential testimony to avoid any discrepancies. The police officer inquired further, ¡°Why were you out so late? And why did you pass through Lingnan Road?¡± ¡°I arrived in Hai Cheng with Lu Zhizhuan earlier today. Afterward, we went to find Zhang Xiaomei to inquire about some old matters. When we returned to the hotel, I still had some doubts lingering, so I wanted to go see Zhang Xiaomei again. I am not familiar with the city, especially on a stormy day like today, and I ended up getting lost,¡± Gu Ci replied in a calm tone, feigning pain. The anesthesia had worn off, and the wound indeed hurt. ¡°Since you arrived together with Lu Zhizhuan, where is he now?¡± Gu Ci replied, ¡°When I left, he went swimming. Officer, you can check the hotel¡¯s surveillance footage to confirm. My hand is hurting badly. Can I have some rest?¡± ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s anything further, please cooperate with our investigation,¡± the police officer said. ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci agreed. ¡°I am a law-abiding citizen and will definitely cooperate with the police.¡± After the police officer left, Gu Ci called Gu Ziyu, ¡°Are you okay, Mom?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just wanted to let you know that I¡¯m safe to relieve your worries. You should get some rest. Your uncle is still unconscious, and it may take some time for me to return,¡± Gu Ci said, uncertain about Jiang Junlin¡¯s condition. Knowing that she was safe, Gu Ziyu felt relieved. After hanging up the phone, Gu Ci learned that Jiang Junlin¡¯s surgery had been completed. He had suffered a blow to the back of his head, causing a hematoma, and he was still unconscious. The police had informed Jiang Minghua, his brother. After the anesthesia wore off, the wound throbbed faintly, and Gu Ci looked at Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s profile picture, lost in thought. Her final message to him was that Jiang Junlin had an accident at Lingnan Port, and she wanted to go there. Lu Zhizhuan did not respond. A bolt of lightning struck in front of the window, and the thunder resonated within Gu Ci¡¯s eyes. She removed the needle, put on her clothes, and hailed a car at the hospital entrance to return to the hotel. The hotel appeared as usual. Gu Ci swiped her card to enter the room, which was dimly lit. She entered the adjacent suite, turned on the bathroom light, and saw Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s phone charging on the bedside table. He was sleeping deeply, buried under the covers. Gu Ci¡¯s suspended heart finally relaxed, and she inexplicably sighed in relief. Silently, Gu Ci left the room. At that moment when she turned off the bathroom light, Lu Zhizhuan, who was lying asleep in bed, suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes were as dark as the night, calmly watching her figure. ¡°Am I going crazy?¡± Gu Ci murmured to herself. She found herself harboring some doubts about Lu Zhizhuan, though she couldn¡¯t articulate what exactly she was doubting. But Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s behavior was too out of the ordinary, leaving her perplexed. Gu Ci changed her shoes and placed them on the shoe rack at the entrance. However, she noticed that the rainwater on Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s shoes had not dried yet. Her pupils contracted, and she stared fixedly at the raindrops and¡­ bloodstains on his shoes. Nonchalantly, Gu Ci walked further inside, quietly changed into her pajamas, and lay in bed as if she had never paused at the entrance. Yet her heart pounded in the darkness. Lu Zhizhuan, where did you just go? Gu Ci spent a sleepless night. The torrential rain and typhoon gradually subsided in the second half of the night, and in the morning, the aftermath was a mess. Drizzling rain persisted as Gu Ci opened her eyes at dawn. She had just dozed off in a daze when Lu Zhizhuan woke her up. He furrowed his brow tightly, his eyes bloodshot, showing a mix of pain and anger. However, he never asked who had harmed her. Lu Zhizhuan asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite painful,¡± Gu Ci replied, looking at him. ¡°I sent you a text last night when you were swimming, but you didn¡¯t read it.¡± ¡°I¡­ I was too tired after swimming, so I went straight to sleep,¡± Lu Zhizhuan said, gazing at the light rain outside, his fists clenched. ¡°This won¡¯t happen again.¡± In Gu Ci¡¯s embrace, the softness of the young girl pressed against Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s shoulder. With a slight turn of his head, he could kiss her ear. A tingling sensation coursed through Lu Zhizhuan¡¯s waist as he held her tightly. He gazed at her fair neck swaying before his eyes, longing to lower his head and take a bite, like a wolf seizing a rabbit. A desire to tear her apart surged within him. Gu Ci said, ¡°Lu Zhizhuan, please hold me. It really hurts.¡± The warmth reddened his ears and tingled his heart. ¡°You¡­ You¡­ How old are you that you still act so spoiled.¡± While resisting with his words, he held her even tighter and gently patted her back. Gu Ci looked at his ears, flushed as if bleeding, feeling dry-mouthed and restless. He truly was consumed by lust beyond redemption. The two clung to each other tightly, her fragrance permeating his nostrils as heated blood rushed to unspeakable places. Lu Zhizhuan lifted his leg, shifting to a sideway seated position, changing their posture. His breathing grew heavy as if he had just finished running ten kilometers. He wanted to push her away, but at the same time, he held her even tighter. Upon smelling her hair fragrance, his gaze burned intensely on her nape. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his heated ears were touched by Gu Ci¡¯s chilly nose tip. Lu Zhizhuan felt as if he had been electrocuted, hastily retreating and his face still flushed. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go have breakfast,¡± he said. Before they could have breakfast, a call from the police station came in. Jiang Minghua had also arrived at the hospital and requested Gu Ci¡¯s presence. Lu Zhizhuan accompanied Gu Ci to the hospital, where Jiang Minghua, disheveled yet dignified, greeted them with a gentlemanly and gentle demeanor. She looked too much like Mingyue. She resembled Mingyue too much. Jiang Mingyue, six years younger than Jiang Minghua, was primarily raised by Jiang Minghua during their childhood. Their parents, the Jiang family patriarch, and matriarch, were busy with their business affairs at the time. Jiang Minghua would change his sister¡¯s diapers and take her out to play with toy cars. As Jiang Mingyue grew older, Jiang Minghua would accompany her to extracurricular classes and engage in activities such as playing the piano and painting. Their sibling bond was strong, and when Lin Chunli started dating Jiang Minghua, she had experienced jealousy over Jiang Mingyue¡¯s presence. They even had a breakup due to Jiang Minghua¡¯s attachment to his sister, as he would bring her along wherever they went. Jiang Minghua couldn¡¯t stand to see his sister suffer even the slightest bit. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 31 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He pampered her like this, held her in the palm of his hand, yet fate still toyed with him. His sister, Fanghua, passed away early, and he resented Gu Wenliang and Lu Man to the extreme. If it weren¡¯t for Gu Chuyun being raised in the Gu family, he would have destroyed the entire Gu family long ago. Now, looking at Gu Ci, who resembled Jiang Mingyue, his heart softened infinitely. He realized that perhaps the girl before him was his sister¡¯s daughter, who had suffered mistreatment in the Gu family for eighteen years. They were all at fault. ¡°Chairman Jiang, hello, I am Gu Ci,¡± Gu Ci greeted him softly, and Lu Zhiyuan, who was present, also paid his respects before being called aside to take notes. ¡°Thank you for saving Junlin¡¯s life,¡± Jiang Minghua looked at the slender and upright young girl. ¡°Is your hand seriously injured?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a minor scrape.¡± Jiang Minghua said, ¡°Girls are delicate, so take care and avoid leaving scars.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gu Ci asked tentatively, ¡°Did Chairman Jiang mention the purpose of coming to Haicheng?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say,¡± Jiang Minghua sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll know once he wakes up.¡± After finishing the recording, Lu Zhiyuan came over and possessively blocked Jiang Minghua¡¯s gaze toward Gu Ci. Jiang Minghua sensed the domineering and protective nature of the young man and narrowed his eyes. Are they in love? Years of self-restraint allowed him to hold back this abrupt question. Junlin¡¯s condition worsened, and he was in critical condition. Jiang Minghua called several doctors from City A to conduct a joint consultation. The elderly master and mistress of the Jiang family, as well as Gu Chuyun, also arrived. Everyone was prepared for the worst. The police investigation concluded that day. It was found that three employees from the Hai Cheng branch of the Black Hawk Group had taken money to carry out the task. The evidence was conclusive, although they couldn¡¯t find the employer. The culprits had been caught, and Lu Zhiyuan accompanied Gu Ci to identify them. They quickly identified the four culprits and noticed a penetrating wound on the bald man¡¯s arm. The police were also surprised because the roadside surveillance cameras were damaged during the typhoon. This case would likely take about ten days to investigate, but unexpectedly, the bald man voluntarily surrendered and provided a confession. With the case resolved, another storm brewed. The news of Junlin being critically ill quickly made it to the hot search rankings. There were discussions within Hualan Bank, and even though they issued a statement, it continued to receive significant attention. In the afternoon, the stock price of Hualan Bank plummeted. Gu Wenliang and Jiang Minghua had a conversation, and Gu Wenliang urged him to quickly transfer Gu Chuyun¡¯s shares. Their words were intense and offensive as if implying that Junlin was on the verge of death. It also insinuated that the Jiang family had no intention of giving the shares to Gu Chuyun. This enraged Jiang Minghua, but Gu Chuyun said, ¡°Uncle, I am unaware of this matter. Don¡¯t be angry. I¡­ I can give up these shares!¡± ¡°What is meant to be yours will be yours!¡± Jiang Minghua said, suppressing his anger. However, the grandfather was a person of high integrity. ¡°These shares belong to Mingyue, and they should be given to Chuyun. Prepare a share transfer agreement immediately. We have no intention of appropriating Mingyue¡¯s stocks!¡± ¡°Wait until Junlin wakes up, then we can discuss it,¡± Jiang Minghua replied. ¡°You handle this matter,¡± the grandmother added, angered by Gu Wenliang¡¯s humiliation. The Jiang family had no intention of seizing their daughter¡¯s dowry. They couldn¡¯t tolerate Gu Wenliang pointing fingers and insulting them. Seeing the elderly couple so indignant, Gu Chuyun refrained from persuading them any further. After watching Gu Chuyun perform her act, Lu Zhiyuan said indifferently, ¡°When Junlin fell ill, Gu Wenliang brought up the matter of the stocks. Was he trying to make the best of a bad situation? Grandfather, grandmother, what if¡­ Gu Chuyun is not your biological granddaughter?¡± Gu Chuyun was shocked and nervous, losing her composure. ¡°You¡­ What are you talking about?¡± The grandfather supported the trembling grandmother and anxiously asked, ¡°Lu Third Young Master, what do you mean?¡± Leaning lazily against the wall, a hint of mockery lingered in Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s smile. He was dressed in a casual off-white outfit today, concealing his aggression but unable to hide his derision. ¡°When Junlin came to Haicheng, he was looking for a woman named Zhang Xiaomei. Eighteen years ago, this woman was a nurse at Central Hospital. At the time when Jiang Mingyue and Lv Man gave birth on the same day, she was responsible for taking care of the children. Interestingly, just one month after Gu Ci was born, Zhang Xiaomei resigned and came to Haicheng for no apparent reason. Now, after eighteen years, why did Junlin come to Haicheng alone to find Zhang Xiaomei?¡± Great-Grandfather Lu The grandfather trembled all over, and Jiang Minghua supported him from behind. Lu Zhiyuan had already made it clear that Gu Chuyun and Gu Ci were switched at birth. Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°Third Young Master, even if you like Gu Ci, there¡¯s no need to spew such malicious words. I even suspect that Gu Ci colluded with the culprits to harm my brother. Lingnan Road is so remote, and going to Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s house is not on the way. How did you coincidentally encounter my brother? It¡¯s too much of a coincidence.¡± In reality, Jiang Minghua didn¡¯t fully believe in the coincidence that Gu Ci claimed. He specifically looked at the location of Lingnan Road and investigated Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s house. The excuse of getting lost was quite far-fetched. However, he didn¡¯t expose it and planned to bring it up after Junlin woke up. ¡°If you want to investigate, go ahead!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s protective nature for his son was deeply ingrained. ¡°Gu Ci fought with the culprit in the dark, bleeding and getting injured to save Junlin. I never expected that your Jiang family would bite back. If you want to investigate, I¡¯ll report it to the police!¡± Gu Chuyun trembled with fear as she was scanned by his icy gaze, seeking refuge behind the grandmother who had always doted on her. ¡°Chuyun is also puzzled. Third Young Master, there¡¯s no need to intimidate her.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s investigate!¡± Gu Ci, who had changed her bandages, appeared in the corridor, unmoving like a mountain, standing tall and graceful. The grandfather and grandmother were shocked when they saw her, and Lu Zhiyuan quickly walked to her side, assuming the stance of a protector, encircling his beloved. Gu Ci looked at Gu Chuyun. ¡°Go ahead and call the police, Gu Chuyun.¡± * Junlin remained unconscious, and Jiang Minghua didn¡¯t want to create further trouble. They decided to privately investigate the matter without involving the police. Zhang Xiaomei was quickly brought to the Jiang family¡¯s villa on the island. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan sat in a corner of the sofa, silent and unresponsive. Gu Chuyun attempted several times to engage in a conversation with Lu Zhiyuan, but he ignored her. Fearful, Zhang Xiaomei knelt before Gu Ci and pleaded, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, please spare me. This matter has nothing to do with me. I still have a son and a daughter to support. Please don¡¯t come looking for me again.¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. Seeing Zhang Xiaomei approaching her, Lu Zhiyuan crossed his long legs, blocking her path. He slightly leaned forward, casting a shadow over Zhang Xiaomei, exuding an intimidating aura that made her tremble in fear. He said, ¡°Interesting, you come here and cry injustice to Gu Ci¡­¡± ¡°What does Gu Ci have to do with this matter?¡± Jiang Minghua asked. Zhang Xiaomei gathered her courage and said, ¡°Eighteen years ago, when Jiang Mingyue and Lv Man gave birth on the same day, I was the one who cleaned and inputted the information for the babies. Later, when I fell in love with my husband and he wanted to come to Haicheng to pursue opportunities, I followed him here. But yesterday, Miss Gu Ci suddenly came to find me and offered me money to testify against Lu Man for switching the babies. I¡­ I didn¡¯t want to do it. However, my husband had gambling debts, and I made a foolish decision to agree. They even recorded it, trying to manipulate the situation. Miss Gu Ci said she wanted to obtain shares of the Jiang family and seek revenge on Gu Chuyun. I was truly foolish to agree. In the evening, Chairman Jiang came and asked me about what happened back then, and whether I had switched the two children. I¡­ I tried to defend myself, but Chairman Jiang threatened to call the police. I had no choice but to confess the truth. But this accident with Chairman Jiang, it has nothing to do with me. I was seeking money, not intending to harm anyone. Miss Gu Ci, you¡¯re too ruthless.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 32 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Chuyun was shocked, covering her mouth as tears shimmered in her eyes. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡­ you¡¯re so malicious. What grudge do you have? You came after me, why would you harm my brother?¡± The grandmother¡¯s blood pressure soared in anger, and Jiang Minghua hurriedly gave her medication to lower it. Gu Ci remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Zhang Xiaomei, who was spouting falsehoods. Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°It seems the money did the trick.¡± A flicker of panic crossed Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s lowered eyes. Her hands trembled, and her body shook. The grandfather looked at Gu Ci, who showed no fear, anger, or rebuttal. Her phoenix-like eyes were clear and cold, appearing tranquil from a distance. The grandmother glared at her with hatred. ¡°If anything happens to Junlin, I won¡¯t spare you. Such wickedness at such a young age, it seems the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Jiang Minghua exclaimed anxiously. ¡°The matter hasn¡¯t been fully investigated yet.¡± ¡°Do we still need to investigate? If it wasn¡¯t her doing, then it¡¯s just a remarkable coincidence. She didn¡¯t offer any defense or rebuttal, it¡¯s her. The Lu mother and daughter deserve to die for killing my Mingyue and now targeting Junlin,¡± the grandmother pounded her chest and stomped her feet. ¡°Call the police, arrest her!¡± Gu Ci smirked. ¡°Why worry about finding excuses when there¡¯s already guilt?¡± Zhang Xiaomei trembled even more intensely. Lu Zhiyuan sneered, ¡°Right and wrong should be investigated by the police. Grandma, before the truth is revealed, try not to get too agitated. It would be embarrassing if your beloved daughter gets dragged into this too, considering your ¡®like mother, like daughter¡¯ comment.¡± The grandmother¡¯s blood pressure soared, and her vision blurred. The grandfather hurriedly supported her and patted her back. Gu Ci looked at him with disdain, while Lu Zhiyuan fearlessly stood his ground. No one could bully Gu Ci under his watch, not even a king. Gu Ci looked at Gu Chuyun, her gaze ice-cold. This woman excelled at deceiving others with her innocent and foolish facade, but she had a cunning and meticulous mind. ¡°Within a day of this incident, Gu Wenliang made his move, wanting the shares. You accurately predicted that the prideful Jiang family would refuse to be humiliated and would facilitate the transfer of the shares. If Lu Zhiyuan and I weren¡¯t at the hospital, you would have succeeded. When you faced suspicion, you knew you couldn¡¯t escape, so you shifted the focus and proactively brought up Zhang Xiaomei. I was curious why you dared to mention her. It turns out that within half a day, even when you weren¡¯t in Haicheng, you managed to make Zhang Xiaomei change her story. I must say, I admire your ability to leave no loose ends.¡± ¡°You¡¯re feeling guilty, and the guilty always cry ¡®thief¡¯,¡± Gu Chuyun confidently questioned. ¡°Why did you appear on Lingnan Road? It was pouring rain last night, and the streets were deserted. You couldn¡¯t have driven to Lingnan Road unless you were in collusion with the culprit. I can¡¯t think of any other reason.¡± Jiang Minghua also hoped that Gu Ci could provide a clear explanation, but Gu Ci remained silent. Gu Chuyun gloated, ¡°Grandma, grandpa, uncle, she can¡¯t say anything because she is the one who harmed my brother. She¡¯s deliberately pretending to be pitiful to absolve herself of guilt. She has always been so malicious since childhood.¡± Gu Ci calmly crossed her hands in front of her. ¡°Gu Chuyun, no matter how much you scheme and covet the shares of the Jiang family, don¡¯t forget one thing. Karma exists, and the time for retribution may not have arrived yet. After saying so much, you can call the police. I fear nothing. But before you do, Chairman Jiang, let both her and me undergo a paternity test with Lv Man. The truth will be crystal clear.¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s smile froze, and Gu Ci calmly looked at her. ¡°Dragons give birth to different offspring, but bloodline is an indelible ironclad proof. In just three hours, everything will be settled.¡± Silence filled the hall. Zhang Xiaomei trembled even more intensely, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. Lu Zhiyuan sneered and mocked, ¡°Zhang Xiaomei, what are you trembling for?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Zhang Xiaomei glanced at Gu Chuyun, shrinking back and unable to utter a word. Gu Chuyun, in panic and grievance, held onto the grandmother¡¯s hand as if grasping onto a lifeline. ¡°Grandma, do you believe her more than you believe me? For all these years, I have never mentioned the shares. If I wanted the shares, I would have reminded you as soon as my birthday passed. I am your granddaughter. Can¡¯t you trust your own family instead of believing in an outsider?¡± ¡°Grandma believes in you, my good child. Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± The grandmother comforted Gu Chuyun, harboring prejudice against Gu Ci. Lu Zhiyuan looked at Gu Ci by his side, a hint of pain hidden in his eyes. Gu Ci was like a porcelain statue, perfect and cold, devoid of desires. But as he observed Gu Ci¡¯s relentless pursuit for the love of her family, facing obstacles without giving up, he wondered if she was truly indifferent or just worn down by despair. Gu Chuyun flashed a victorious gaze at Gu Ci. As long as she could manipulate the grandmother, victory would be within her grasp. After defeating Gu Ci, she would swiftly secure the shares and resolve the matter. ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Junlin slowly stepped into the living room with the assistance of a caregiver. There was no color in his face, yet he walked tall and straight, showing no signs of weakness. ¡°Gu Chuyun, you have known all along that you are Lu Man¡¯s daughter.¡± Two police officers followed behind him. Zhang Xiaomei turned pale and collapsed to the ground. Jiang Minghua hurried to support Junlin and asked anxiously, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything when you woke up? Have you undergone a check-up? Where does it still hurt?¡± The grandfather and grandmother also worried that he might feel uncomfortable upon waking. Junlin said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s nothing wrong with my health. Officers, the baby-switching case years ago is a criminal offense. Take Zhang Xiaomei back for further investigation. Both the Jiang family and the Gu family deserve to know the truth.¡± Gu Chuyun slumped on the sofa, her expression filled with panic and despair, seemingly oblivious to Zhang Xiaomei¡¯s cries for help. ¡°The wheel of fate turns, and karma will be repaid. It has always been that way,¡± Gu Ci stood up. She observed everything calmly, like an outsider. Love or hatred, it no longer mattered. ¡°Gu Chuyun, your retribution has arrived.¡± Lu Zhiyuan accompanied Gu Ci out of the living room, while Jiang Minghua supported Junlin and followed them. Jiang Minghua had realized the truth, and his eyes turned red with tears. Gu Ci noticed that Junlin was still seriously ill and struggling to walk, so she stopped in her tracks. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Ci¡­¡± Jiang Minghua¡¯s voice was filled with sorrow, tears welling up in his eyes. ¡°We have wronged you.¡± A gentle breeze brushed against the hem of Gu Ci¡¯s dress. She stood there like a blooming rose in the scorching summer, radiating an exquisite beauty from afar, yet appearing as if she were a flower formed from frost up close. Gu Ci replied, ¡°It was Lu Man who made the mistake, it has nothing to do with all of you.¡± Gu Ci turned around and got into the car. Lu Zhiyuan leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°You have raised Gu Chuyun for eighteen years, showering her with love and affection. I can understand that. But if you want to treat both equally, then keep your distance from Gu Ci. She is different from others. When she gets hurt, it takes ten years for the pain to heal.¡± Lu Zhiyuan got into the car with Gu Ci and they drove away. Jiang Minghua asked in astonishment, ¡°Did we just get mocked by Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°No.¡± Junlin said grimly, ¡°It¡¯s a warning.¡± That was a wolf¡¯s warning to its enemies. He didn¡¯t want anyone to get close to Gu Ci, wishing that she would be alone and that only he would be by her side. On the plane back to City A, Gu Ci pretended to doze off while Lu Zhiyuan casually flipped through a racing magazine. He asked Gu Ci, ¡°How did you know that Junlin was attacked?¡± ¡°The divine has its own ways of knowing.¡± Lu Zhiyuan held a glass of cherry juice and shook it in front of her. ¡°Who is the divine behind you?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 33 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci took the cherry juice from him, her eyes filled with a hint of teasing. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess?¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, ¡°I won¡¯t guess. I want you to tell me.¡± ¡°A question for a question,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s lips were stained with a hint of cherry juice, fragrant and enticing. ¡°Why did you see my message that night but didn¡¯t reply?¡± The sight of that captivating color on her lips ignited a flame in Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. Yet, upon hearing her question, he returned to calmness. It was a mix of ice and fire. He averted his gaze and remained silent. Gu Ci gently tapped her fingers on the crystal glass. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, we both have secrets, which is why we have stories.¡± As the plane arrived in City A, the last ray of sunlight sank behind the mountains, painting the sky with a dreamlike and enchanting evening glow. Lu Zhiyuan had a dinner party to attend, so the two of them parted ways at the airport. When Gu Ci returned home, Gu Ziyu had been waiting for Gu Ci at the doorstep, and she greeted him with a smile, embracing him tightly. ¡°Mommy missed you so much!¡± ¡°I missed you too,¡± Gu Ziyu said, concern flickering in his eyes as he noticed her injuries. ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Gu Ci reassured him, holding him close as they walked inside. Unbeknownst to them, a camera hidden behind the flower bed continued to capture their every move. Gu Ci had brought some local specialties for Gu Ziyu from Hai Cheng. ¡°What about Dad?¡± ¡°He¡¯s attending a dinner banquet. Do you miss him?¡± ¡°I want to tease him, even his own wife needs protection,¡± Gu Ziyu crossed his arms and pouted, displaying a hint of childishness. ¡°If it were me, when I grow up, things like this would never happen.¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but smile and recalled the attack on Jiang Junlin. ¡°Who would want to take Uncle¡¯s life?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t trace the employer,¡± Gu Ziyu handed over the information he had gathered to Gu Ci. ¡°The money was transferred from an underground bank, and we couldn¡¯t trace its source. The order came from Black Hawk¡¯s headquarters, but I don¡¯t know who was behind it. I also investigated the recent projects at Hualan Bank, but I couldn¡¯t find any leads. The Hai Cheng branch handed over the culprits, probably trying to contain the situation and avoid further escalation.¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not Gu Chuyun?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Mom, you think too highly of her. Even if she¡¯s cunning, she doesn¡¯t have that much power,¡± Gu Ziyu replied. ¡°When Gu Chuyun found out about you going to Hai Cheng to find Zhang Xiaomei, she was too preoccupied with herself. She doesn¡¯t have such extensive resources.¡± ¡°Then who could it be?¡± Jiang Junlin was also pondering, wondering who wanted his life. In the business world, harmony brings wealth. Hualan Bank had numerous projects for approval and a vast investment portfolio. He filtered through the recent rejected projects, but still couldn¡¯t find any clues. Jiang Minghua said, ¡°This time, you were fortunate to encounter Gu Ci, who saved your life. But what about the next time?¡± Jiang Junlin poured himself a cup of hot milk, recalling the moment when Gu Ci came rushing in and called him ¡°Brother.¡± Was it just a stroke of luck? Jiang Junlin knew he didn¡¯t mishear it. Gu Ci had learned about his identity and purposely came to save him. But how did Gu Ci know that he would be attacked tonight? ¡°Dad, let¡¯s not worry about me for now. I know what¡¯s going on. Grandpa and Grandma are confused, but don¡¯t you follow their lead. Gu Ci is my sister, not Gu Chuyun!¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s tone was heavy. ¡°Zhang Xiaomei has been escorted back to A City. We must bring this matter to a conclusion and make a decision as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Jiang Minghua sighed. ¡°She does resemble Mingyue in appearance, but their personalities are completely different. Mingyue is like a sunflower, warm and radiant. Gu Ci¡­ seems colder.¡± ¡°We have never shown her any genuine affection, so how can we expect her to greet us with a smile?¡± Jiang Junlin said. ¡°Emotions are not maintained by a piece of paper proving blood ties.¡± ¡°Do you think Gu Chuyun knows about this matter?¡± Jiang Junlin sneered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Meanwhile, Gu Chuyun was already in a panic. As soon as she returned to A City, she sought out Lu Man to discuss the situation. Lu Man was also anxious and restless. Gu Chuyun was arrogantly confident that she could control Gu Ci, so she transferred the money to Zhang Xiaomei using her own account. However, that wouldn¡¯t withstand an investigation. The truth was already set in stone, and Gu Chuyun¡¯s only option was damage control. ¡°Mom, you admit to everything and clear my name. I knew nothing about it. It was all part of your plan, including making Zhang Xiaomei change her statement,¡± Gu Chuyun remained calm. ¡°As long as there are mountains, there will always be firewood.¡± Lu Man looked at Gu Chuyun in shock. ¡°You¡¯re sacrificing me, Chuyun, I¡¯m your mother!¡± ¡°Do you dare say that?¡± Gu Chuyun roared. ¡°Why did you switch me and Gu Ci? And if you did it, why didn¡¯t you eliminate the potential risks? Only dead people don¡¯t lie. Your actions are full of loopholes and utter foolishness. Who can you blame but yourself? And you foolishly told me the truth. You should have kept it to yourself. You often whispered in my ear that I was your biological daughter, and Gu Ci must have overheard it. That¡¯s why she investigated her own identity. From beginning to end, it was your foolishness that caused this calamity. You have to deal with it.¡± Lu Man remained silent. She looked at Gu Chuyun, her eyes swollen and filled with resentment. Her heart ached and softened. ¡°Fine, fine, fine. Mom will handle it. It won¡¯t involve you. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be safe and sound.¡± Gu Chuyun held onto her. ¡°Mom, sacrifice for me once again. It has been eighteen years, and you never abandoned Gu Ci. You raised her. She won¡¯t be sentenced to prison, but her reputation will be damaged.¡± Gu Chuyun couldn¡¯t care less about L¨¹ Man¡¯s emotions. She had lost this game. Ever since her engagement to Lu Shijie that night, everything had spiraled out of control. She had to find a way to steer the situation in the direction she had planned. The investigation into the baby swap case from eighteen years ago was reopened. The evidence was irrefutable. Zhang Xiaomei confessed to the details of the incident. Both Lu Man and Gu Chuyun, as well as Gu Ci, underwent paternity tests. The truth came to light. Old Madam Jiang, who still held onto a glimmer of hope, was deeply disturbed and rushed forward to slap L¨¹ Man. ¡°You wicked woman! You not only killed Mingyue but also targeted her daughter!¡± The shock was too much for the old Madam, and she collapsed to the ground! Lu Man cooperated with the investigation, displaying a good attitude and voluntarily confessing the truth. Gu Wenliang was bewildered, and Lu Man insisted that she alone had orchestrated everything, with Gu Chuyun, Gu Chuyu, and Gu Yaozu unaware of the plan. Old Master Jiang and Lu Man¡¯s mother were biological siblings who used to share a deep bond. With a hunched back and tears streaming down her face, L¨¹¡¯s mother pleaded with Old Mr. Jiang to withdraw the lawsuit, seek reconciliation, and spare L¨¹ Man. Due to Jiang Mingyue¡¯s death, there had been a rift between the siblings for many years. Lu¡¯s mother and Lu Man had little contact during that time. However, blood ties are not easily severed. ¡°Aunt, the person she has wronged is Gu Ci. Whether or not to forgive her is Gu Ci¡¯s decision, and we have no right to interfere,¡± Jiang Minghua rejected Lu¡¯s family¡¯s plea. Gu Ci did not provide a letter of forgiveness, so the matter had to go through the legal process. Lu Man, Gu Wenliang, and Gu Yaozu all called her, hoping that she would offer forgiveness, but Gu Ci avoided them. Lu Zhizhong found a lawyer specializing in such cases for Gu Ci named Wang Lin. Wang Lin explained, ¡°Although it is a criminal case, over the past eighteen years, she arranged for Zhang Xiaomei to swap the babies but did not abandon you. She kept you by her side and raised you. There has been no evidence of mistreatment. In this situation, the sentencing is unlikely to be severe, most likely just a fine.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°No imprisonment?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 34 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°The maximum penalty is a fixed-term imprisonment of more than five years but not exceeding ten years. It has been ten years, and now eighteen years have passed, surpassing the statute of limitations for prosecution.¡± Gu Ci furrowed her brows, suppressing the anger in her heart. ¡°She¡¯s getting off too lightly.¡± After consulting with their lawyer, Lu Man and Gu Chuyun learned that there would be no imprisonment, at most just compensation. Their attitudes changed drastically, and Lu Man didn¡¯t care whether Gu Ci signed the settlement agreement or not. After all, she couldn¡¯t do anything to her. When Gu Ci went to sign the document, Jiang Minghua, Jiang Junlin, Lu Man, Gu Wenliang, and Gu Chuyun were present. Lu Man covered her mouth and chuckled, proudly saying, ¡°Gu Ci, I have raised you for eighteen years, providing you with a life of luxury. I neither abused you nor sold you off to a remote mountain village. The debt of nurturing you is greater than the heavens. You should thank me.¡± ¡°Lu Man, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Jiang Minghua was furious. This pair of cousins had torn their faces long ago. He had once treated both Jiang Mingyue and Lu Man like princesses. ¡°How did you become so heartless and venomous?¡± ¡°Brother, it¡¯s because of the bond of blood and kinship that I raised her well.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Gu Ci signed the document and handed it to the staff. Then she turned to look at Lu Man. ¡°When I was three years old, we went to Haicheng for a trip. You took me to the amusement park and left me there. I couldn¡¯t find you, so I called the police. The police brought me back home. When I was five years old, you took me to the countryside and left me with a rural family, telling me that they were distant relatives. Later, when you left alone, that couple said they would take me to find you. I became suspicious and used the excuse of going to the restroom while waiting at the high-speed rail station. I found the police at the station, and they sent me back home. It¡¯s not that you didn¡¯t want to abandon me, but I had a good memory from a young age. At the age of three, I could recite your phone number and our home address. You couldn¡¯t get rid of me.¡± That year, when she was brought back home in a miserable state by the police, Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, and Gu Chuyun were busy celebrating Gu Yaozu¡¯s birthday at a banquet. No one paid attention to her near miss of being abducted. Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes turned red with anger when he heard Gu Ci recounting the past for the first time. Lu Man suppressed the panic in her heart and smiled. ¡°You were so young. What could you remember? It¡¯s just your paranoid delusion, Gu Ci. They really are distant relatives and wanted to take you to play for a few days.¡± Gu Wenliang impatiently interjected, ¡°Enough. These are all old stories. Don¡¯t bring them up again. After signing the document, let this matter quietly pass. Don¡¯t make it a big deal and affect the reputation of the Gu family.¡± Gu Wenliang didn¡¯t think the matter was particularly serious. After all, regardless of who Gu Ci¡¯s biological parents were, she was his daughter. He simply didn¡¯t like Gu Ci, purely because she was too gloomy and taciturn for his taste. The police officer and prosecutor behind them, who were handling the case, listened to the gossip of the wealthy family with a calm expressions. After all, they had seen all sorts of grand scenes in their line of work, so they remained composed. ¡°Lu Man will issue an apology statement, and the Gu Group will release a statement clarifying the whole incident. Once that is done, I won¡¯t pursue it any further,¡± Gu Ci stated her demand. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. This will affect the reputation and stock price of the Gu Group,¡± Gu Wenliang said angrily. His daughter had always been so tactless since childhood, always poking him where it hurts. Jiang Junlin remained expressionless. ¡°A single word from Gu Ci, and I can make the Gu family disappear from the business world. Mr. Gu, do you prioritize reputation and stock price, or offering her an apology?¡± Gu Ziyu silently gave his uncle a mental thumbs-up. Well done! ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be angry. We are family. It¡¯s better to be harmonious,¡± Gu Chuyun reminded Gu Wenliang appropriately. Gu Wenliang became flustered and angry. ¡°Jiang Junlin, the Gu family hasn¡¯t had any collaboration with Hualan Bank for a long time. And it¡¯s not just your bank that provides loans. You can¡¯t threaten me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see!¡± Jiang Junlin, who had a handsome and refined appearance, was overly sharp. In the world of business, one couldn¡¯t give off too strong an oppressive feeling on the first encounter. That¡¯s why Jiang Junlin wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. These glasses were like a scabbard, concealing his sharpness. He transformed into a cultured gentleman. Even if a wolf wore sheep clothing it couldn¡¯t become a sheep. Gu Wenliang felt the pressure emanating from Jiang Junlin, his heart pounding. He truly feared that Jiang Junlin and the Gu family would clash, stopping at nothing. ¡°Gu Ci, what happened was done by your mother¡­ by Lu Man, going too far. After today, her reputation will be ruined, which can be considered a lesson. We have raised you for eighteen years. Don¡¯t argue with your elders anymore. What¡¯s rightfully yours, Dad won¡¯t deprive you of it.¡± Gu Wenliang¡¯s words were directed at Jiang Junlin and Jiang Minghua. He also compromised under Jiang Junlin¡¯s gaze. ¡°I will issue a statement, and she will offer an apology. Gu Ci, don¡¯t forget, you are also a part of the Gu family. If the Gu family faces any trouble, you won¡¯t be able to escape it either.¡± Gu Ziyu held Gu Ci¡¯s hand and retorted, ¡°No one cares about the meager assets of the Gu family. Only you treat them as treasures. You have no worldly experience.¡± He would build a fortune for his mother. He would be the one to support his mother. Yours truly has plenty of money! Everyone was speechless. Even the judges and police officers who were spectating couldn¡¯t help but laugh. The child used the most innocent voice to speak the most mocking words, devoid of any threat. Jiang Junlin and Jiang Minghua had long wanted to ask who the child accompanying Gu Ci was. ¡°Who are you? The adults are talking, and you, a child, interrupting like this shows your lack of upbringing,¡± Lu Man¡¯s voice turned sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t know where this illegitimate child came from. Don¡¯t you have a home? Always sticking with Gu Ci¡­ Ah!¡± Before Lu Man could finish speaking, Gu Ci slapped her. With great force, Lu Man¡¯s cheek instantly swelled up. Gu Ci remained calm throughout, but when she heard Lu Man insulting Gu Ziyu, she became enraged. ¡°He has a name and a surname. His name is Gu Ziyu.¡± ¡°Do you dare to hit me?¡± Lu Man yelled hysterically, covering her face and turning to the police officer behind her. ¡°You¡¯re all witnesses. Gu Ci hit me. I will sue her.¡± ¡°If you dare to insult Ziyu, I will hit you every time you say it!¡± Gu Ci sneered. Gu Ci emitted such a strong aura of hostility that Lu Man felt as if she had just met her for the first time, feeling both shocked and fearful. ¡°Is the case over? Can I leave now?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t want to get entangled with the Gu family any longer. The police officers and lawyers who were watching the scene nodded. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, the matter is resolved. You can leave now.¡± Gu Ci was about to leave while holding Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand when she was stopped by Gu Chuyun. ¡°Gu Ci, you mentioned that Mom almost abandoned you back then, and you have such a strong hatred towards human trafficking. So where did this child with you come from?¡± Gu Ci slowly turned around, staring at Gu Chuyun. She instinctively tightened her grip on Gu Ziyu¡¯s hand, her expression cautious. Gu Chuyun was up to her tricks again. Gu Ziyu smirked. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°Little friend, where is your home? Why have you been following Gu Ci? Were you kidnapped? You can tell the police uncle, they will help you find your parents,¡± Gu Chuyun asked innocently and naively. ¡°Gu Ci, you wouldn¡¯t be involved in child trafficking, right?¡± Everyone didn¡¯t know what to say. All eyes were focused on Gu Ziyu. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t explain the origin of Gu Ziyu. It was too fantastical, and no one would believe it. If a paternity test were conducted, would Ziyu be treated as a monster? Would he be captured for research? Why did Gu Chuyun bring up Ziyu? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 35 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Child trafficking has already been legislated, and both buying and selling are considered serious crimes with severe punishments. Since Gu Ci moved to the Global Sports Center, Gu Chuyun had sent people to investigate them. She knew that Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu lived together and had an affectionate relationship. However, no one could find out where Gu Ziyu actually came from. Gu Chuyun thought to herself that if Gu Ci had bought him, she would launch a counterattack. The police officers and lawyers behind them were also taken aback. There was obviously something suspicious about Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu¡¯s reactions. ¡°Sister, let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Ziyu shook Gu Ci¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to her.¡± Gu Ziyu knew that this situation was tricky. His origin was a secret that nobody could reveal, and nobody could guarantee what would happen if the secret were exposed. He couldn¡¯t let Gu Ci be associated with the reputation of child abduction. ¡°Gu Ci, if you don¡¯t explain clearly, don¡¯t think you can leave!¡± Gu Chuyun stood in front of her, feeling smug and malicious. ¡°Did you abduct this child? Little friend, don¡¯t be afraid. We will speak up for you.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Gu Ziyu said expressionlessly. ¡°Gu Ci, let¡¯s go home!¡± Jiang Junlin sensed a hint of danger from Gu Ci¡¯s expression and made a quick decision. At the very least, this matter should not be exposed at the police station. Gu Ci had come to rescue him on a rainy night, calm and composed. But when Gu Chuyun asked about the child¡¯s origin, she seemed visibly flustered, which was not normal. It was like a ticking bomb. ¡°Wait, Miss Gu¡¯s words make sense. What¡¯s the deal with this child?¡± a police officer who was more interested in gossip came over, his expression serious. Watching the show and gossiping was one thing, but when it involved child trafficking, they couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye. They would be failing their military uniform. Gu Ci calmly responded, ¡°I encountered him on the way. He was covered in injuries and had no money, so I took him under my care and have been trying to find his family.¡± ¡°Where is your home?¡± the police officer asked. Gu Ziyu provided an address, which the officer noted down. ¡°Do you have your ID?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name? I¡¯ll run a check.¡± Gu Ziyu pursed his lips. His name couldn¡¯t be found in the system. He was an undocumented individual, without household registration, and the address he provided was fake. It wouldn¡¯t withstand scrutiny. ¡°I forgot!¡± he replied. ¡°But isn¡¯t he called Gu Ziyu?¡± Gu Chuyun said. ¡°Gu Ci just said so.¡± Jiang Junlin gave Gu Chuyun a sharp glance, causing her smile to vanish and leaving her both frightened and irritated. Why did Jiang Junlin dislike her? He didn¡¯t even know Gu Ci, yet he was protecting her? Gu Ci was clearly a cold-hearted woman! ¡°Little friend, how old are you? There are four people in the country named Gu Ziyu, but the ages¡­ don¡¯t match yours. Is it possible that we entered the name incorrectly?¡± the police officer in charge of registration was perplexed. A hint of confusion and teardrops appeared in Gu Ziyu¡¯s peach blossom eyes. ¡°Uncle, I am illiterate. I can¡¯t read.¡± Everyone gaped. ¡°Sister, I want to go home. I don¡¯t want to stay here. They are scary,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s teardrops shimmered, displaying a remarkable performance. He appeared pitiful and adorable, evoking sympathy from others. Jiang Junlin pursed his lips and remained silent as he watched the child turn hostile. Gu Ci was accustomed to the baby¡¯s acting skills and remained calm. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home!¡± The police officers realized that something was amiss and stepped forward to stop her. ¡°Miss Gu, you cannot take him away. Even if he is illiterate and can¡¯t read, he must stay here until we investigate thoroughly. Right now, we have reasonable suspicion that you may have abducted a child.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart was hanging in the balance. Several police officers had blocked her path, and she adopted a firm stance. ¡°When handling a case, evidence is required. You accuse me of child abduction, so provide concrete evidence.¡± Jiang Junlin also spoke up. ¡°Even if Gu Ziyu was lost or an orphan, his presence with Gu Ci doesn¡¯t automatically imply child abduction. In handling the case, you must present evidence.¡± ¡°It was our slip of the tongue. Miss Gu Ci and the child must stay here for further investigation!¡± Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t withstand the investigation. If they dug deeper, the problem would arise instantly. In the blink of an eye, Gu Ci couldn¡¯t think of a way to escape. Gu Chuyun felt a sense of satisfaction. ¡°Child abduction is a serious crime, Gu Ci.¡± Unable to disclose the child¡¯s origin, Gu Ci was doomed. This was different from Lu Man¡¯s crime which had surpassed the statute of limitations after eighteen years. This was a severe crime, and if they imprisoned Gu Ci, there were many ways to ensure she met her demise. ¡°I¡¯ve been all alone and suffered so much hardship. Finally, I met a kind-hearted sister. What have we done wrong?¡± Gu Ziyu held onto Gu Ci¡¯s arm, sobbing and choking. He covered his chest, feeling like he couldn¡¯t catch his breath. He was about to feign fainting to try and get out of this situation when several bulletproof cars parked outside the entrance. Several special police officers swiftly got out of the cars and positioned themselves on the left and right. An elderly person with a kind face and neat attire got out of one of the cars and entered the police station. He saw a group of people gathered at the entrance, and his gaze landed on Gu Ziyu, who was pretending to be unconscious with his hand over his chest. The elderly person smiled and asked in a friendly manner, ¡°What¡¯s all this commotion about?¡± Gu Ziyu was stunned. Damn, it¡¯s the old fox! The police officers explained the situation, and the elderly person with a benevolent appearance said, ¡°You really can¡¯t know this child¡¯s identity.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± objected one of the hot-headed police officers. The elderly person took out an identification card and smiled. ¡°National Security has taken over.¡± Silence fell, not a sound could be heard. This was the most mysterious and powerful organization in the country. No one knew how many people were in the Ministry of State Security (MSS), but they knew that when the MSS got involved, it was not a trivial matter, and it definitely wasn¡¯t about child trafficking. The police officers knew, and Gu Ci knew as well. ¡°Ziyu¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice trembled. They were going to take Ziyu away. Would Ziyu be able to come back? Gu Ziyu squeezed Gu Ci¡¯s hand, pretending to be afraid. The old man smiled warmly as he looked at Gu Ziyu, as if he were looking at his own grandson. ¡°He¡¯s so cute.¡± Everyone looked at each other, unsure of the situation. At the provincial MSS headquarters, Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci were invited for a chat. They each had a cup of latte and calmly drank it. The expressions of the mother and son were perfectly synchronized. The old man sat across from them, looking at Gu Ziyu with great fondness. ¡°I am Chen Liangdong, the Director of the International Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of State Security,¡± Chen Liangdong calmly sipped his tea. His glass was filled with strong tea. Gu Ci remained composed. ¡°How do you do, is there something you need from us?¡± Chen Liangdong blew on the foam of his tea in the glass and made a gesture. The screen displayed a segment of space interception, filled with lines of code. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t understand it, but Gu Ziyu could. That day, when he was tracing Jiang Junlin¡¯s location, he forcefully bypassed the satellite firewall and used satellite positioning to locate Jiang Junlin. However, he was cautious and stayed within a three-minute window. In theory, they shouldn¡¯t have been able to track him. Gu Ci had a rough idea that Ziyu might have done something wrong. She said, ¡°Sir, my little brother has a natural talent for computers. He is young and curious, lacking in understanding. If he has done something wrong, I will surely discipline him. Considering his young age, please don¡¯t treat him as an equal. He is still a budding talent of our country.¡± Throughout her words, Gu Ci emphasized Ziyu¡¯s young age and talent, essentially conveying the message that he was still a minor. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 36 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Chen Liangdong chuckled. ¡°Miss Gu, your younger brother¡¯s actions constitute a crime, violating national cyber security. Our counter-espionage department has repeatedly detected attacks on the same frequency band, and it has been confirmed to be your younger brother. While ordinary crimes may be exempted for budding talents, it doesn¡¯t apply within the realm of national security.¡± Gu Ci gaped. Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t bother with pretenses either. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal any of your information. I even helped intercept three messages from M Corporation, resulting in the capture of four spies. Don¡¯t accuse me without evidence.¡± Gu Ci applauded with an expressionless face. ¡°Baby, you did a great job! I wonder what rewards the country has for you.¡± Chen Liangdong applauded as well. ¡°There will definitely be rewards. Miss Gu, rest assured that your baby has a strong sense of protecting our country, and I admire that.¡± Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t help but spray his latte out of his mouth, giving Chen Liangdong a glare. Chen Liangdong was an old acquaintance of Gu Ziyu¡¯s. In his past life, he had controlled the Black Hawk Group from behind the scenes. The Ministry of State Security believed that the Black Hawk Group posed a significant threat to cyber security and wanted to recruit them. The Black Hawk Group was originally registered in Country M and was beyond their jurisdiction. During the financial crisis, they had taken away a large sum of money from the domestic stock market, but everything was legal and legitimate. While Chen Liangdong was coordinating with the people from the Black Hawk Group, he also had the technical department of the Ministry of State Security launch attacks against the Black Hawk Group. He wanted to find out who was behind their security systems. It had proven to be an impenetrable barrier. The two sides had been locked in a battle for nearly half a year. Gu Ziyu felt that this couldn¡¯t go on, so he had to step in and negotiate. An agreement couldn¡¯t be reached. Chen Liangdong appeared to be approachable, with a kind face, but he was tough and ruthless in his methods. He was determined to completely destroy the Black Hawk Group and prevent a capital outflow crisis. Gu Ziyu and Chen Liangdong had been locked in a battle for three years. When Gu Ziyu was nine years old, Chen Liangdong discovered his true identity. Gu Ziyu had expended a great deal of energy during those three years and aged almost ten years, only to find out that his opponent was a nine-year-old kid. Chen Liangdong was immediately shocked by the revelation and was rushed to the hospital. Upon waking up, he constantly tried to brainwash Gu Ziyu, hoping to make him serve the country. The two of them fell into a vicious cycle, trapped in a complex relationship of enemies despite their age difference. ¡°Speak, what do you want?¡± Gu Ziyu, who had battled against Chen Liangdong for several years, saw no need to hide his true self. He took control of the situation. ¡°Sister, why don¡¯t you go out for a walk? I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± ¡°No, I want to listen,¡± Gu Ci insisted. Gu Ziyu compromised, ¡°Alright, old man, go ahead and speak.¡± Gu Ci chuckled softly, ¡°Darling, be polite and gentlemanly.¡± Gu Ziyu sighed inwardly, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s just a habit.¡± Chen Liangdong continued sipping his tea, his expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. He could see who Gu Ziyu was, his character and temperament, and he could also see that Gu Ci had a way of dealing with him. ¡°Master Chen, what brings you to me?¡± Gu Ziyu forced a gentle and friendly smile. ¡°I want to recruit you into the MSS,¡± Chen Liangdong got straight to the point. Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes almost rolled back in exasperation. Here we go again! Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t want to join the MSS in his previous life; he only wanted to be an antagonist, battling wits with old masters. Now that he had come to this life, it seemed like the cycle was starting again. Were they really this relentless in their pursuit? ¡°I¡¯m not interested!¡± ¡°But darling, this is the MSS,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. It was a matter of great pride to be recruited by the agency at the age of six. Gu Ziyu innocently looked at Gu Ci, ¡°But I¡¯m Gu Ziyu.¡± Does joining the MSS make Mom so proud? But I can build my own cyber kingdom. Why should I work for someone else? ¡°It¡¯s really difficult to pass the entrance exam!¡± Gu Ci blurted out. She felt herself leaning toward Chen Liangdong¡¯s side of the scale. She hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Liangdong came to recruit her precious boy into the MSS. If he joined, all the things he had done would be wiped clean. Gu Ci counted the benefits of joining the agency, ¡°It¡¯s the most difficult position to get, and it¡¯s a police position¡­¡± ¡°I still have to become a police officer? No, thank you!¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t have any interest in becoming a police officer. He liked being a homebody, sleeping in, and had no inclination for physical activities. Chen Liangdong smiled and said, ¡°We can relax the requirements for you.¡± Gu Ziyu forced a smile, his expression devoid of emotion. Gu Ci didn¡¯t force him either; they would meet the challenge head-on. ¡°I am genuinely eager to recruit talented individuals, and on behalf of the MSS, I welcome you, little darling. We are lagging behind Western countries in areas such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and internet defense. That¡¯s why we have been cultivating our technical teams. From counter-espionage work to international cross-border tracking, anti-eavesdropping and investigations, and even defense during financial crises, we need cybersecurity talents,¡± Chen Liangdong said with a gentle smile. ¡°Here, you will have access to national resources. You will have freedom, and being able to protect our homeland is every boy¡¯s hero dream.¡± ¡°That makes me dangerous too,¡± Gu Ziyu responded without falling for it. In a few more years, he could achieve what Chen Liangdong promised. He didn¡¯t need to sell himself to the country. ¡°How should I put it? Defending the homeland¡­ I don¡¯t have such lofty ideals.¡± Gu Ci remained silent, holding her latte, concealing a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. In certain aspects, Gu Ziyu resembled Lu Zhiyuan¡ªthey were both untamed and rebellious. ¡°Five insurance and one housing fund, stable salary, the country will take care of you and provides accommodation for you. The average person starts working at 21 after graduating from university and retires at 65, receiving a salary for only 44 years. You can start receiving a salary at the age of six, gaining an extra fifteen years. Isn¡¯t that a good deal?¡± ¡°Do I lack those fifteen years of salary from you?¡± Gu Ziyu licked the coffee from the corner of his lips arrogantly and asked, ¡°You¡¯re proposing using child labor. Have you ever read the labor laws?¡± Gu Ci remained silent. Oh, dear, how did you suddenly become so sharp-tongued? Weren¡¯t you always lofty and believed in the saying ¡°silence is golden¡±? You used to hate arguing with people and considered all disputes a waste of time, didn¡¯t you? ¡°We can always relax¡­ the standards for geniuses,¡± Chen Liangdong¡¯s expression also became subtle, almost stumbling over the words ¡°child labor.¡± ¡°Your legal and moral standards seem to be arbitrarily flexible. How impressive,¡± Gu Ziyu mocked expressionlessly. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m not interested in joining the system.¡± Chen Liangdong changed his strategy. ¡°I checked the household registration system and couldn¡¯t find any information about you. Did you erase your records? Are you hiding some past? Are you running away from someone? Or did you commit a crime?¡± Gu Ci placed her coffee down and spoke seriously, ¡°Ziyu is only six years old. How could he possibly commit a crime? He hasn¡¯t caused any harm. Can¡¯t we handle this matter with leniency?¡± ¡°How did Miss Gu come to know Gu Ziyu? You both share the same surname and bear some resemblance. Are you relatives?¡± Chen Liangdong looked at them with a teasing expression. ¡°You seem to have a good relationship. However, we have also checked Miss Gu¡¯s records, and in your eighteen years of life, there has never been any mention of Gu Ziyu.¡± ¡°I found him on the street,¡± Gu Ci innocently smiled. ¡°He looks like me, and we share a similar fate, so I decided to take him in.¡± ¡°How fortunate,¡± Chen Liangdong expressed his regret. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I find such a genius?¡± Gu Ziyu chimed in, ¡°If you go out on the streets every day looking, you might still have a chance.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 37 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Chen Liangdong wasn¡¯t bothered by Gu Ziyu¡¯s mockery. He was broad-minded. He flipped through some documents but didn¡¯t pay much attention. He said, ¡°Recently, you¡¯ve been attempting to attack the cybersecurity system of Black Hawk Group. Your identity is a mystery. Since we have our eyes on you, either you serve the country or you¡¯ll be under 24-hour surveillance.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Gu Ziyu widened his innocent peach blossom eyes, incredulous. ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Liangdong smiled as he looked at him. ¡°A fifty-one-year-old man threatening a six-year-old kid. Do you have any shame?¡± Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t believe that this old man had even fewer scruples than in his past life. Chen Liangdong touched his face, ¡°If having shame won¡¯t bring me a genius, then I can do without it. Wait¡­ how do you know I¡¯m fifty-one years old?¡± Gu Ci also looked at Gu Ziyu. Perhaps due to Chen Liangdong¡¯s concerns, his hair was graying, making him appear to be in his sixties. He had a scholarly and refined demeanor. Gu Ci hadn¡¯t expected him to be only fifty-one years old. He must have exhausted himself with worry. Gu Ziyu sipped his latte in a sulking manner and didn¡¯t answer. His thoughts raced as his goal had always been Black Hawk Group. Ji Cheng was the trump card he cultivated. If he joined the MSS, he would directly oppose Black Hawk Group. Wouldn¡¯t it be more convenient to manipulate it from within? His biggest worry now was the lack of manpower. If he joined the National Security Bureau¡­ Entering the system was difficult, but getting out was equally challenging. Once he entered, he would be trapped for life. Chen Liangdong found the enigma of the child before him even more intriguing. The situation was turning out to be more interesting than he had imagined, with a greater challenge involved. ¡°Gu Ziyu, you¡¯re not like an ordinary person. Life only offers two or three choices for most people. But you¡¯re different. Every path you choose, you can reach the pinnacle. I see ambition and desire in your young face. Money and power won¡¯t be lacking for you when you grow up. So why not join the Ministry of State Security? It¡¯s a place where you can showcase your abilities. You can save many people and families. You may not have dreams of being a hero, but as a man, you should be worthy of heaven, earth, and your own conscience. You can become that kind of person.¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time Gu Ziyu had faced Chen Liangdong¡¯s gaze. In his past life, he had always dealt with Chen Liangdong¡ªa person who was both his enemy and elder. Throughout his life, he had never received the gaze of an elder. In his memories, Gu Ci was half-mad and half-awake, completely devoid of consciousness in his moments of madness and longing for Lu Zhiyuan when he was awake. His grandfather, Lu Ze, lay on his sickbed, his heart willing but his strength lacking. The education Gu Ziyu received was based on hatred. No one ever taught him what kind of person he should become. The absence of his parents was the greatest regret and pain in his life, so in his past life, he didn¡¯t understand Chen Liangdong¡¯s expectations. During this period of time with Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan, his deeply ingrained beliefs were shaken. At this moment, he could vaguely sense the good intentions behind Chen Liangdong¡¯s expectations from his past life. Chen Liangdong had always tried his best to pull Gu Ziyu back from the darkness, but Gu Ziyu pushed his hand away, preferring to sink into the darkness and guilt. There was nothing in this world that he longed for anymore. No one loved him, and he didn¡¯t love anyone either. However, things were different in this life. He had Gu Ci and he had Lu Zhiyuan. His parents were living safely and healthily by his side. He had never experienced the feeling of having a home before. Every time Lu Zhiyuan came downstairs for breakfast or lunch, Gu Ziyu, despite his annoyance at his hostility, felt a hidden sense of satisfaction in his heart. It was a feeling of reunion that he had never experienced before. He had been emotionally deprived for so many years that he naturally didn¡¯t understand Chen Liangdong¡¯s expectations. But at this moment, Gu Ziyu kept asking himself, ¡°Can I do it?¡± Could he step out of the darkness? When Chen Liangdong engaged in a battle of wits with him, he was also guiding him. Chen Liangdong was the only person Gu Ziyu was willing to meet before his death. Why did he want to meet him? Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t understand, and he didn¡¯t want to understand. Chen Liangdong said, ¡°Ziyu, if you could start over, don¡¯t step into the abyss again. Everyone has the right to happiness, and you can have it too.¡± Chen Liangdong was the only teacher in Gu Ziyu¡¯s life. Gu Ci was also moved by Chen Liangdong¡¯s words. It was her expectation for Gu Ziyu as well. Gu Ziyu lowered his head, and his thick, curly eyelashes trembled gently. As a mother knows her child best, Gu Ci said, ¡°Director Chen, if Gu Ziyu joins the Ministry of State Security, will you protect him no matter what happens?¡± ¡°I swear by the honor of a soldier,¡± Chen Liangdong replied. ¡°No matter what happens, I will ensure his safety.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Gu Ci rubbed Ziyu¡¯s head. ¡°We agree.¡± Gu Ziyu looked up, surprised, at Gu Ci, while Chen Liangdong suppressed his excitement. ¡°Miss Gu, can you make the decision?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Ci thought for a moment. ¡°I hope that you will no longer investigate his identity and background. I can only tell you that Ziyu is just a child. There may be mysteries surrounding him, but he has not harmed anyone.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Chen Liangdong made a compromise for the sake of the genius. He had prepared himself mentally as well. With his extensive experience in reading people, he could tell what kind of person Gu Ziyu was. Now that the child was under his care, he would be a good guide for Gu Ziyu¡¯s growth and loyalty. He truly believed he could mold Gu Ziyu. ¡°Ziyu, trust me, becoming a soldier in the Ministry of State Security, you won¡¯t regret it. One day, you will take pride in it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Gu Ziyu said expressionlessly. ¡°You see through me, yet you still want to keep me by your side. It¡¯s your ability to make me loyal and proud that will determine the outcome.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet and accept defeat!¡± Chen Liangdong snapped his fingers in excitement. A stack of thick contracts and agreements, prepared in advance, was brought in by his colleagues. ¡°Congratulations, Ziyu, you¡¯re the youngest soldier in the Ministry of State Security. Let¡¯s sign the confidentiality agreement.¡± After signing the contracts, Gu Ziyu became directly under the leadership of Chen Liangdong and received his identification card. Gu Ci was shocked for the first time by the efficiency of the relevant department¡¯s work. After registering their household registration, they received their freshly printed identification cards within half an hour. Chen Liangdong stepped in and resolved the dispute between Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu over trafficking. Gu Ziyu remained silent on the way back home. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± Gu Ziyu shook his head. ¡°In my past life, although Ji Cheng controlled Black Hawk Group, he actually served me. I was the true decision-maker of Black Hawk Group. But in this life, I unexpectedly find myself in a relentless battle with the Black Hawk Group¡­ It¡¯s a bit surprising.¡± This sudden shift in fate caught him off guard. He was sprinting down a path completely opposite to his previous life, and he couldn¡¯t seem to stop the car. ¡°We are both walking on a path opposite to our past lives,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°Mom would love to see you in a military uniform when you grow up. You¡¯ll definitely look handsome.¡± ¡°When I grow up, I¡¯ll be even more good-looking than Dad,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s competitive spirit emerged inexplicably as he wanted to compare himself with Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci remained silent. As they returned home, Lu Zhiyuan was training his cornering skills, but Gu Ziyu had no interest in it. He went upstairs first, while Gu Ci sat on the steps, watching Lu Zhiyuan train. Lu Zhiyuan, in his training attire, looked handsome and dazzling. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 38 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation It was like he was sculpted in the likeness of Adonis, giving him a flawless appearance. He was in his prime, full of vigor, and it was the most dazzling age for Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan got out of the car and reviewed the data with his coach on the cornering. After exchanging some words, Lu Zhiyuan took off his helmet, unscrewed a bottle of water, and poured it over his head, extinguishing the heat and sweat with the cold water. He hastily wiped himself off and walked towards Gu Ci on the stands. Gracefully jumping over the railing, Lu Zhiyuan leaned on the steps and looked up at Gu Ci. The sunlight enveloped him with a golden glow. The young and passionate youth asked, ¡°Gu Ci, want to go racing?¡± ¡°Is it fast?¡± Gu Ci asked. A mischievous smile appeared at the corner of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not talking about speed.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s mind once again filled with some inappropriate thoughts. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression and tone were truly suggestive. He reached out his hand and said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you for a few laps.¡± The sunlight enhanced his smile, making it irresistibly charming, confusing Gu Ci¡¯s heart. She sat in the modified race car, and as soon as Lu Zhiyuan stepped on the accelerator, the speed quickly skyrocketed to 180. Gu Ci tightened her seatbelt. After going through a corner, Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡± ¡°NO!¡± Gu Ci replied. Lu Zhiyuan laughed recklessly and unrestrainedly. ¡°Then hold on tight.¡± The speed surged from 180 and rapidly reached 280, without slowing down even in the corners. Gu Ci gripped the handle above her head, her heart pounding. This was nearly the limit for an ordinary person. She felt like she was about to fly out of the window. The scenery passed by like a slideshow, but her expression remained calm. Lu Zhiyuan turned his head to look at Gu Ci¡¯s serious face and burst into laughter. With his laughter, the speed soared to 350, reaching Gu Ci¡¯s limit. Her heart was struggling to bear the intense stimulation. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice trembled slightly. ¡°In my car, you are the safest,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said firmly, his gaze fixed ahead. After passing through a corner, he took a deep breath. ¡°Accompany me to the limit!¡± The speed increased once again, reaching 380. Li Jiang, on the stands, couldn¡¯t help but frown and quip, ¡°Third Young Master, your love is intimidating. Poor Miss Gu Ci, don¡¯t scare her into having a heart attack.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart pounded intensely. In a blurry state, she vaguely heard Lu Zhiyuan say something, but it seemed like an illusion. The sound and scenery merged into a three-dimensional space, hazy and ever-changing. Cold sweat soaked through her clothes from her back, a drop of sweat fell into her eyes, sliding down her cheek. She couldn¡¯t distinguish whether it was sweat or tears. Gu Ci remembered the car accident in her past life. Her body almost convulsed. Just when she couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, the speed slowed down, returning to two hundred. Lu Zhiyuan performed a drift in place, displaying his prowess like a peacock displaying its feathers. His satisfaction and overwhelming emotions almost burst out. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to take you for a ride for a long time.¡± The racetrack was his courage, his medal, and his pride. He had never shared it with anyone. He wanted to let Gu Ci experience his entire world. Gu Ci¡¯s heart continued to race at its limit. The voice of Lu Zhiyuan drifted in her ears. Seeing her tear-streaked face, he was both curious and amused. ¡°Hey¡­ You¡¯re pretty daring. Why are you crying from being scared?¡± Gu Ci unbuckled her seatbelt, and just as Lu Zhiyuan thought she was about to beat him up, Gu Ci roughly grabbed his collar. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s breathing grew heavier. After a moment of shock and confusion, the satisfaction and emotions that couldn¡¯t be released all turned into a strong desire in the blink of an eye. He held onto Gu Ci¡¯s waist, lifting her over the center console. She fell into the front seat, and Lu Zhiyuan leaned back slightly, taking the initiative to deepen the passionate kiss. All the heated blood converged into one place. Gu Ci felt nothing but heat, and the air seemed to be filled with a sticky sweetness. The racing car stopped on the track, its lightness causing it to sway with their movements. Li Jiang muttered, ¡°In broad daylight, with surveillance cameras scattered throughout the racetrack, and¡­ there were also cameras inside the car. Third Young Master, control your primal instincts a bit. This could turn into a scandal.¡± The boundaries between reality and illusion blurred for Gu Ci. She remembered the car accident and the time when she and Lu Zhiyuan were deeply in love, wanting to stick to each other. The brief happiness comforted her for a lifetime. ¡°Hurt me, Lu Zhiyuan¡­¡± Gu Ci whispered against his ear, her words carrying an obvious implication. In Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s mind, it exploded like a fireworks display. His peach blossom eyes gleamed with plunder and conquest, and his hand gripping her waist seemed capable of breaking her. As Gu Ci desired, he brought her pain, which awakened her senses but couldn¡¯t extinguish her desire. In the dim and cramped car interior, Lu Zhiyuan tilted his head slightly. One hand reached into his thick hair, collecting the sweat and scorching heat that filled her palm. A tingling sensation spread through Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s lower back. Fuck! He¡¯d cum prematurely. Gu Ci held onto his neck tightly. After a race and the intense encounter, his body was drenched in sweat, and with the car windows closed, his breath filled her nostrils. Her face felt like it was burning up. Rationality set in slowly as the two of them remained locked in their passionate embrace. Gu Ci dared not move on top of him, her face flushed red. She wished she could just disappear on the spot, her ears almost bleeding. An awkward and silent atmosphere lingered between them. Gu Ci felt on the verge of collapse, thinking, ¡°What kind of mortifying situation is this? Lu Zhiyuan, such a proud person, he must be going crazy with anger.¡± She racked her brains, stuttering out, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Lu Zhiyuan, feeling both angry and embarrassed, pinched her waist. This was definitely one of the most humiliating moments in his life. Oh the shame! Lu Zhiyuan wished he could turn back time and erase this humiliation. ¡°Alright!¡± Gu Ci embraced silence as gold. Thinking back to their first experience in their past life, there didn¡¯t seem to be such an awkward situation. He was¡­ quite something. So¡­ was it because they were too young? A suona tune played on the radio, with its ups and downs, causing both Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan to feel a tingling sensation on their scalps, intensifying the already awkward atmosphere to its extreme. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face turned red. He opened the car door, and Gu Ci practically tumbled out of the car. The air felt fresher, and once Lu Zhiyuan got out of the car as well, Gu Ci instinctively glanced away, avoiding eye contact. Turning around, Lu Zhiyuan gritted his teeth. ¡°Stop looking!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gu Ci obeyed the command as if it were a military order. She turned around, her ears and neck turning completely red. Lu Zhiyuan took off his training jacket and casually tied it around his waist. The suona sound continued, resembling a funeral dirge. ¡°Li Jiang, are you tired of your job?¡± Li Jiang was also helpless. If they let you have your way on the racetrack and something like this happened, just imagine the expressions of our colleagues in the control room. Third Young Master, I did my best for the sake of your reputation. ¡°Third Young Master, do you like the music? Lately, I¡¯ve been really into suona and couldn¡¯t help but play and enjoy it,¡± Li Jiang replied. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 39 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs first,¡± Gu Ci said as she hurriedly left the racetrack, leaving behind those words. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face turned dark, and Li Jiang walked over, secretly wondering, ¡°That was too intense. Third Young Master¡¯s lips are bitten so hard they¡¯re bleeding and he¡¯s still not satisfied?¡± ¡°Third Young Master, why did you tie your jacket around your waist?¡± Li Jiang asked. ¡°Where did you come up with so many questions?¡± Lu Zhiyuan walked briskly towards the rest area and threw out a command, ¡°Turn off that damn music!¡± ¡°A sexually frustrated man is indeed not to be trifled with,¡± Li Jiang shook his head and sighed. As Gu Ci went upstairs, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was flushed, her lips were bitten, and her hair was in disarray. She had the appearance of someone who had just been kissed passionately. She hurriedly tidied herself up, fearing that she would be seen by Gu Ziyu. She thought he would be in the computer room, but to her surprise, he was cooking. ¡°Mom, what happened to your mouth?¡± Gu Ziyu furrowed his small brows. Gu Ci touched her lip corner. ¡°I got a frostbite eating a popsicle.¡± Gu Ziyu, with a serious expression, said, ¡°Mom, be more careful next time.¡± Gu Ci thought of their impatient and ravenous devouring of each other with Lu Zhiyuan, and her ears almost dripping with blood. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She was covered in sweat, so she quickly took a shower and changed her clothes. Just as she finished, she received a call from Jiang Junlin. ¡°Gu Ci, how are you and Gu Ziyu doing? Did you encounter any trouble?¡± ¡°We¡¯re back home, it was just a minor issue,¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t know how to explain the incident with the Ministry of State Security taking them away, but fortunately, Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t inquire further. ¡°Both Gu Group and Lu Man have sent notifications. If you¡¯re not satisfied, brother will acquire Gu Group and give it to you,¡± Jiang Junlin casually mentioned, as if asking her if she wanted to have dinner. Gu Ci calmly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want Gu Group.¡± She wanted to personally seek revenge for her grievances and didn¡¯t need Jiang Junlin to intervene. ¡°Okay, if you have any needs, let me know,¡± Jiang Junlin paused for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s find a time to have a meal at home, alright?¡± Gu Ci remembered the attitude of Old Lady Jiang towards Gu Chuyun and herself. ¡°Let¡¯s make another appointment.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Neither of them was fond of small talk. Jiang Junlin wanted to have a longer conversation with her, but they were still too unfamiliar with each other, and there was nothing to talk about. He reluctantly hung up the phone. Gu Ci had no interest in reading the statements from Gu Group and Lu Man. Combined with the video of Gu Chuyun, it would surely cause a sensation. She became overnight famous, pitied by countless people, the epitome of a Cinderella. Lu Man even forbade her from playing the violin, so she could only practice secretly. Jiang Junlin hired a talented writer to craft a short story that helped cleanse her reputation and control public opinion. Zhou Li: Talent cannot be hidden. Despite being forbidden to play the violin from a young age, Gu Ci is still the violin champion, surpassing my abilities. He spoke out, suspecting him of riding on the trend for attention, but Zhou Li didn¡¯t care. He was a pure musician, unaffected by others¡¯ comments. The one whose image collapsed overnight was Gu Chuyun. Director Cai also seized this wave of attention and, with Jiang Junlin¡¯s tacit approval, extended another invitation to Gu Ci. Gu Ci politely declined. After the incident involving Gu Chuyun, no matter how well she performed, she would be labeled as the little princess of Hualan Bank. Even if she made it to the finals, others would criticize her for being given special treatment, deeming her victory unfair. She didn¡¯t want to wade into that muddy water, and Director Cai had approached her with a trial mentality in the first place. Being rejected didn¡¯t disappoint him; instead, it earned him more respect for Gu Ci. She had a complex heart which was a rare encounter. Gu Ci licked the wound on her lip and went to find Gu Ziyu. He was in the study, staring fixedly at the almost overlapping red dots on the screen. Gu Ci entered without him noticing. ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Gu Ziyu pointed at the red dots on the screen. ¡°Him!¡± Gu Ci pulled a chair and sat next to him, gently rubbing her son¡¯s short hair. ¡°Meeting a worthy opponent means there will be plenty of opportunities for you to face him in the future.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about who he is, and it bothers me,¡± Gu Ziyu said slowly. His soul was not that of a six-year-old child. Gu Ziyu had a relentless determination to achieve his goals. ¡°Since I haven¡¯t encountered a true rival yet, I must defeat him.¡± ¡°Do you want to join the Ministry of State Security because of him?¡± Gu Ci knew that Gu Ziyu wanted to prove his glory, to show that he was the king in this field. In Gu Ziyu¡¯s clear eyes, there was a hint of shyness, an unusual sense of embarrassment. ¡°No!¡± He wanted to join the Ministry of State Security because he wanted to see the pride in his mother¡¯s eyes. He knew that his mother would be proud of him for becoming a member of the Ministry of State Security. So, for his mother¡¯s gaze, he would become her source of pride. ¡°He is from Black Hawk. I have always considered Black Hawk as something within my grasp. If they cannot be controlled by me anymore, if they become my enemies, then I will confront them relentlessly,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes flickered with ambition. ¡°Mom, I have realized that being his enemy excites me more than being his teammate.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. I don¡¯t fully understand the ambition you and your father share to conquer the world from a young age. It seems that both of you have always possessed a burning desire for greatness. As the evening lights cast their gentle glow, upstairs in the study, Lijiang cautiously carried a tray of dinner. Lu Zhiyuan was deeply engrossed in his work, poring over documents and tending to his tasks with unwavering focus. His posture exuded an air of authority, his presence commanding, with only a slight trace of injury on his lip. ¡°Have you reviewed the dossier on Gu Ziyu?¡± Lu Zhiyuan suddenly inquired. ¡°Yes, I have,¡± responded Lijiang, responsible for conducting investigations and thus familiar with the contents. It was an ordinary document, unremarkable at first glance, but Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s dissatisfaction was palpable. Lu Zhiyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the file he was perusing, his tone calm but laced with an underlying sense of trepidation. He remarked, ¡°Is this the extent of the information you were able to procure? What purpose do I serve in keeping you around?¡± Lijiang felt a cold sweat instantly forming on his forehead. ¡°Lijiang, are you thinking of quitting? It¡¯s becoming your catchphrase,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s words seemed to have lost their impact on him. However, if those words were uttered at a different time, by the same person, Lijiang would have almost knelt down in response. ¡°Sir, we couldn¡¯t find any information on the young master. He seemed to have appeared out of thin air,¡± Lijiang defended himself. Lu Zhiyuan must have conducted online searches and found no useful information, which led him to involve Lijiang. Even after another thorough investigation, Lijiang couldn¡¯t find any relevant data. ¡°Miss Gu Ci must know who he is. From my observations, the young master only cares about her and no one else. They share a strong bond, almost like a mother-son relationship.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then bring Gu Ci here¡­¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Lijiang¡¯s face turned red, and he felt on the verge of tears. The implication was that they would bring Gu Ci in for interrogation. ¡°Have you asked Young Master Lu Zhiyuan about it?¡± A sharp gaze from Lu Zhiyuan pierced through Lijiang, and he fell to his knees. ¡°Sir, please reconsider.¡± If anything were to happen to Miss Gu Ci under your watch, my head would be on the line. ¡°Sir¡­ I can¡¯t help but notice the striking resemblance between the young master and you,¡± Lijiang wiped his sweat. ¡°If he were five or six years older, I would suspect that he is your son.¡± Truly, their presence and aura are uncannily similar. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 40 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Bring Ji Cheng to City A. Since Gu Ziyu is supporting him from behind, let him make contact,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°If Gu Ziyu doesn¡¯t give up his attack on Black Hawk, inform¡­ Third Master. We can only protect either Gu Ci or Gu Ziyu.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± After leaving the study, Li Jiang disposed of the documents in the shredder. In the side mirror, Lu Zhiyuan caught a glimpse of himself, his lips bruised. He touched the corner of his mouth, his gaze dark and brooding. Downstairs, Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu were having dinner together, but Lu Zhiyuan did not join them. ¡°Should we call Dad to come down for dinner?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s probably been avoiding me lately,¡± Gu Ci calmly ate her meal. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s shy!¡± After all, with such an embarrassing incident, Lu Zhiyuan would surely avoid her. Gu Ziyu had a lingering doubt in his mind but didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Mom, is tomorrow the day when the college entrance exam results are released? Which university did you get into?¡± ¡°In my previous life, my exam scores were erased, so I¡¯m not sure. But I can make an estimate, and I think I did alright.¡± ¡°But weren¡¯t you a poor student? Can you really make an accurate estimate?¡± Gu Ziyu questioned. ¡°Darling, how could your mother, who gave birth to a son as intelligent as you, be a poor student?¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°But didn¡¯t I inherit from Dad?¡± Gu Ziyu pondered for a moment. ¡°Besides intelligence, I feel like I¡¯m nothing like him.¡± Gu Ci burst into laughter. After finishing her dinner, she scrolled through her social media feed and suddenly came across a post from Qiao Yamei. It was a group photo featuring Qiao Yamei, Chen Ying, Gu Chuyun, and Zhang Xin. They were known as the ¡°Four Princesses of City A¡± on social platforms, famous for their wealth and beauty. The photo was taken at the Lu family¡¯s residence, and Gu Ci recognized the phoenix tree in their yard. Gu Ci glanced at the date and her expression changed slightly. Tonight was the day when Zhou Jinjin had her accident. Amidst all the chaos she had experienced since her rebirth, she had almost forgotten about it. Tonight was also the night of Xu Tingting¡¯s birthday banquet, while Lu Shijie remained in detention awaiting his sentence. To compensate for Xu Tingting, Lu Ze had organized a lavish birthday celebration at the Lu residence. It was during this birthday banquet that Zhou Jinjin had her accident and became a vegetative state. Three years later, she was declared brain dead and her death was pronounced. Zhou Jinjin was Gu Ci¡¯s only friend. As Gu Ci descended the stairs, she called Lu Zhiyuan. The phone rang for ten times without anyone picking up, furrowing Gu Ci¡¯s brows. Normally, Lu Zhiyuan would answer her call instantly unless he was in training. Just as she was about to hang up, the call connected. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I want to go to the Lu residence. Can you accompany me?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Training!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s response was concise and his voice was colder and more somber than usual. ¡°Fine then.¡± Gu Ci knew that the training of an F1 race car driver was extremely demanding. With the June race just ten days away, scheduled to be held in Country M, Lu Zhiyuan had a heavy training workload. As she descended the stairs after ending the call, she was met by Li Jiang who was waiting for her. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I will accompany you to the Lu residence. It¡¯s an order from Master Lu,¡± Li Jiang said. ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t refuse and casually asked, ¡°You used to call him ¡®Third Young Master¡¯, when did it change to ¡®Master¡¯?¡± Li Jiang¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Those who give orders are addressed as ¡®Master¡¯.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t dwell on it and proceeded to call Zhou Jinjin. Zhou Jinjin had always been at the top of her friend circle. Recently, they had a disagreement over a trivial matter and were in a silent battle, both refusing to back down. Gu Ci¡¯s thoughts had been focused on Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu since her rebirth, causing her to forget about Zhou Jinjin. ¡°Li Jiang, drive faster!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Li Jiang accelerated, but Zhou Jinjin didn¡¯t answer any of Gu Ci¡¯s three calls. Li Jiang asked, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, what are you going to the Lu residence for? Lu Shijie is still in custody awaiting trial, and the Chairman cares about his reputation. He won¡¯t be sentenced.¡± Gu Ci no longer cared about Lu Shijie¡¯s situation. ¡°It¡¯s fine, he can¡¯t escape.¡± If Lu Shijie were to be released and cause trouble again, he would inevitably get entangled with the people from the Black Hawk Group. Gu Ci also wanted to know who was helping him and expose that person, so that Gu Ziyu could be at ease. The Lu family banquet was a grand affair with luxury and elegance. The engagement banquet held by the Lu family was in a different league. The guests in attendance were all wealthy and influential individuals. It was well-known that Lu Ze favored Lu Zhiyuan, so when it came to Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun¡¯s engagement banquet, it couldn¡¯t be held at the Lu residence. Lu Ze was too preoccupied with Lu Zhiyuan and intentionally suppressed Lu Shijie. With Li Jiang¡¯s presence, it was easy for Gu Ci to enter the Lu residence. The Lu residence was a large five-story European-style mansion with a vast estate. The party was taking place on the lawn, and the atmosphere was lively. Gu Ci immediately caught people¡¯s attention as she entered the venue. She had become the talk of high society recently. The friends of Gu Chuyun, who had spent over a decade berating her as the illegitimate daughter of a mistress, were now stunned to realize that she was the legitimate heiress of the Gu family. However, it seemed that their group of friends had conveniently forgotten about this fact. Even though Gu Ci was now recognized as a young lady of the Gu family, it didn¡¯t change the fact that the Gu family was under the control of Lu Man and Gu Wenliang. She still had nothing To many people, Gu Ci was still an orphan. The attitude of the Jiang family was not easily discernible to outsiders, but Old Madam Jiang still doted on Gu Chuyun. Tonight, Gu Chuyun wore a set of emerald jewelry, which belonged to Old Madam Jiang. As soon as she arrived, she made sure to inform her group of friends that it was a gift from her grandmother. It was a way of telling everyone that even if the truth about her false status as the phoenix and the true identity of Gu Ci were exposed, it wouldn¡¯t affect her. The twenty years of favoritism from her grandmother had long nurtured a deep bond between them. Gu Ci¡¯s sudden appearance at the banquet alone was very intriguing. Many people were waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Jiang Junlin¡¯s best friend sent him a text message. The lively atmosphere of the banquet seemed to come to a halt as Gu Ci entered. She stood out amidst the glamorous ladies, creating a stark contrast. ¡°Look at what Gu Ci is wearing. How embarrassing!¡± ¡°Oh my, is she trying to be funny? Coming to the Lu family¡¯s banquet dressed like that, she clearly has no regard for the Lu family.¡± ¡°Lu Man has truly spoiled Gu Ci. Even if their identities were swapped, it¡¯s still undeniable that Gu Chuyun and Gu Ci are worlds apart.¡± While others whispered and gossiped, Gu Ci paid no attention. Her gaze scanned the room in search of Zhou Jinjin¡¯s figure. Chen Ying sneered, ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t you have enough money to buy a decent gown? Even the waitstaff here is dressed better than you. It¡¯s truly embarrassing.¡± Gu Chuyun, in her expensive custom-made dress, looked down on Gu Ci with arrogance. Tonight, she appeared under pressure to remind everyone that her identity and status remained unchanged. Even if their identities were swapped, it would still only highlight her as the proud swan while Gu Ci remained the ugly duckling. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re being so rude,¡± Gu Chuyun covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°No wonder, you¡¯ve never attended a banquet before. I¡¯ll teach you the proper etiquette next time.¡± Her group of girlfriends beside her also reveled in schadenfreude. ¡°Even if you wore an imperial robe, you still wouldn¡¯t look like a crown prince,¡± Gu Ci sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just a sorry excuse, pretending to be a princess.¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s expression turned ugly. Gu Wenliang stormed over angrily, ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t you feel shame? Go back home immediately.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Third Master’s Super Power Chapter 41: Third Master¡¯s Super Power Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci looked at him indifferently and walked straight toward Lu Ze. When Lu Ze saw her, he had a kind and gentle expression, as if he didn¡¯t notice her simple attire. ¡°Gu Ci, long time no see. You¡¯re becoming more and more beautiful.¡± His son indeed had high standards, always setting his sights on the most beautiful girls from a young age. ¡°Uncle Lu, can I go find Zhou Jinjin?¡± Gu Ci pointed towards the main residence and asked Lu Ze directly. She didn¡¯t see Zhou Jinjin and was getting anxious. ¡°Sure, go ahead!¡± Lu Ze said. ¡°Jinjin and Shi Xiu arc upstairs.¡± Gu Ci ran towards the main residence. Gu Chuyun felt extremely resentful. No matter how she showed off or boasted, she couldn¡¯t get a single word from Lu Ze. But he treated Gu Ci with kindness and warmth. Wait a minute, Gu Ci is going to find Zhou Jinjin. This was bad! Gu Chuyun made an excuse to go to the restroom and left the party lawn. Gu Ci ran up to the fifth floor and faintly heard Qiao Yamei¡¯s voice, ¡°Zhou Jinjin, Shi Xiu and I are deeply in love with each other. He stopped liking you a long time ago. It¡¯s really pathetic for you to cling onto him like this. You were always just the illegitimate daughter of the Zhou family. He was just playing around with you. Did you really think he genuinely loved you and wanted to marry you? It¡¯s ridiculous! Look at your own status. Your mother was a dancer who climbed into bed and became the second wife of the Zhou family. Who would be interested in you¡­¡± ¡°Qiao Yamei, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Zhou Jinjin rushed up in a rage and started fighting with Qiao Yamei. She grabbed Qiao Yamei by the hair, almost ripping her scalp off. Qiao Yamei fought back in pain as she clashed with Zhou Jinjin. Lu Shi Xiu impatiently shouted, ¡°Zhou Jinjin, that¡¯s enough. Stop causing a scene¡­ Let go of Yamei! Ah, you shrew¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s nails scratched Lu Shi Xiu¡¯s face. Just as Gu Ci reached the top of the stairs, she witnessed Lu Shi Xiu pushing Zhou Jinjin away. Her eyes turned bloodshot, and outside was the balcony. ¡°Lu Shi Xiu, let go of Jinjin.¡± In a panic, Lu Shi Xiu hastily pushed Zhou Jinjin, causing her to twist her high heels and fall off the balcony. Gu Ci quickly rushed up and, in a critical moment, grabbed Zhou Jinjin¡¯s hand. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s body hung in mid-air, her face pale. ¡°Gu Ci¡­¡± ¡°Give me your other hand!¡± Gu Ci forced herself to stay calm. Zhou Jinjin handed her the other hand, but due to the inertia, Gu Ci¡¯s body also leaned out of the balcony. The situation was critical, and she turned her head to look at the frightened Lu Shi Xiu and Qiao Yamei. ¡°Hurry up and come help.¡± Lu Shi Xiu was also shocked and about to come to their aid, but he was grabbed by Qiao Yamei, who kept pulling him back. ¡°This has nothing to do with us. She fell on her own. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go¡­¡± Qiao Yamei dragged Lu Shi Xiu away, and Lu Shi Xiu turned back to take one last look before following Qiao Yamei, leaving Zhou Jinjin behind. As Zhou Jinjin watched Lu Shi Xiu¡¯s heartless departure, her heart grew cold, and tears filled her eyes. The once passionate vows and promises were now nothing more than a fleeting memory. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t hold onto the falling Zhou Jinjin. Her waist was about to lean out, and Zhou Jinjin regained her senses. ¡°Xiao Ci, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have argued with you. I¡¯ve been wanting to call you these past few days but was afraid you would scold me again. You were right, he¡¯s a scumbag. It was my foolishness, my blindness. I was wrong, I¡¯m sorry. Please let me go¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let go!¡± Gu Ci desperately tried to pull her up, but her strength wasn¡¯t enough, and Zhou Jinjin continued to fall. ¡°Gu Ci, let go of me. It¡¯s too dangerous. You¡¯ll fall too.¡± Gu Ci shouted desperately, ¡°Li Jiang, where are you? Help!¡± She watched in despair as Zhou Jinjin kept falling lower. Zhou Jinjin even smiled. ¡°I have you by my side before I die. I can say sorry to you. I have no regrets. Gu Ci, goodbye¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin shook her hand, trying to free herself from Gu Ci¡¯s grip. Gu Ci cried in despair. Why was it that even in this second chance at life, she couldn¡¯t escape such an ending? She could only witness Jinjin¡¯s death again as Zhou Jinjin smiled at her, letting go of her hand. Gu Ci desperately held on, her body completely leaning out of the balcony, teetering on the edge. In that critical moment, a name inexplicably came to Gu Ci¡¯s mind, and she screamed in despair, ¡°LU ZHIYUAN!¡± A gust of wind swept through the sky, carrying the scent of phoenix flowers. Lu Zhiyuan appeared on the balcony as if descending from the heavens. With lightning speed, he reached out and grabbed Gu Ci¡¯s hand as they fell, effortlessly lifting them both back onto the balcony. Gu Ci held onto Zhou Jinjin tightly, concern filling her eyes. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± she asked Zhou Jinjin, who was still in a state of shock. Zhou Jinjin shook her head, unable to comprehend how she had survived. Gu Ci then looked up at Lu Zhiyuan. The sky was vast, and the moonlight filtered through the thick clouds, casting a faint chill on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s shoulder. He wore a black windbreaker, and the balcony wind billowed the edges of his clothing, revealing the faint embroidery of a sickle. Half of his face was illuminated by the moonlight, while the other half remained in darkness. The contrast between light and darkness accentuated his peach blossom eyes, which were usually filled with warmth but now appeared as cold as the moonlight itself. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Gu Ci gazed at him with confusion. This was definitely not the Lu Zhiyuan she knew. ¡°You¡­ Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t answer. He turned his gaze towards the sky, remained silent for a moment, and then silently left the balcony. Gu Ci was flooded with memories from the past, recalling a distant event. When she was twelve years old and just starting junior high, Lu Zhiyuan had won the go-kart race championship and presented her with the trophy. It was his first championship, and he had given it to her. On that day, she had been in a terrible mood due to a fight with Gu Chuyun, and Gu Yaozu had caught her. Gu Yaozu had broken her finger. At that time, Lu Zhiyuan had said, ¡°Gu Ci, if you ever face danger in the future, call my name.¡± Gu Ci had asked why, and Lu Zhiyuan had smiled mischievously, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be by your before you know it.¡± She had always thought that Lu Zhiyuan was joking and had never given it much thought. But when Lu Zhiyuan died, she had desperately called out his name, hoping for a miracle that never came. ¡°Gu Ci¡­ Gu Ci¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s voice brought her back from her memories. ¡°You¡¯re pressing on my leg.¡± Gu Ci snapped back to reality and released her grip. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s ankle was red and swollen. Gu Ci was about to scold her, but before she could, Zhou Jinjin asked, ¡°Is¡­ Is Lu Zhiyuan a twin?¡± ¡°What?¡± Gu Ci was taken aback by the unexpected question. ¡°In TV dramas set in ancient times, it was often depicted that if twins were born, it was considered unlucky, and their identities could easily be confused. Therefore, only one prince would be kept, and the twins would usually be separated as one in the light and one in the dark¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Jinjin, you just narrowly escaped death.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think he doesn¡¯t look like Lu Zhiyuan at all? I¡¯m a hardcore fan of Lu Zhiyuan. I¡¯ve been chasing him for five years. I¡¯m the biggest supporter in the stands. I have a collection of his photos and videos. I swear, he¡¯s definitely not Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Zhou Jinjin insisted, disregarding her injured ankle. ¡°But why do they look exactly the same?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry at how her best friend had become her husband¡¯s number one fan. In her previous life, Zhou Jinjin would always refer to Lu Zhiyuan as her ¡°husband¡± and fiercely attack any girlfriend fans who liked Lu Zhiyuan. If she knew that they were actually married, would Zhou Jinjin sever their friendship? ¡°So, your idol helped you overcome the pain of being betrayed by Lu Shi Xiu, right?¡± Gu Ci said with a wry smile.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: I’m Beating Someone Up Chapter 42: I¡¯m Beating Someone Up Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°He¡¯s already my ex,¡± Zhou Jinjin sneered. ¡°How can an ex be more important than an idol? But if he wants my life, this matter won¡¯t end like this.¡± Gu Ci helped her up. ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Jinjin replied determinedly. Li Jiang rushed up to the balcony, wiping his sweat as he arrived. He had just been parking his car when he heard the commotion. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, are you alright? Did you fall and hurt yourself?¡± ¡°Is Lu Zhiyuan here?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°No¡­ No, I just heard you shouting for help,¡± Li Jiang replied, realizing that if he had heard it, many others must have as well. Zhou Jinjin flexed her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Jinjin descended the stairs, kicked off her high heels, and walked toward Lu Shi Xiu and Qiao Yamei. Gu Ci picked up her own high heels and followed closely behind. Everyone in the room looked at them, pointing and whispering. Zhou Jinjin kicked Lu Shi Xiu, causing him to fall. She grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter¡¯s tray and splashed it on him. Then, she straddled him and fiercely slapped him across the face. The scene instantly descended into chaos, with screams echoing throughout the mansion. No one had expected Zhou Jinjin to be so audacious as to disregard the family¡¯s reputation and actually beat up the second young master of the Lu family within the confines of their own home. Qiao Yamei cried out and attempted to grab hold of Zhou Jinjin¡¯s hair, but she was promptly pushed away by Gu Ci. ¡°Qiao Yamei, you¡¯ve been calling me the daughter of a mistress since we were young. You¡¯re such a b*tch. I never expected you to eagerly embrace the role of a mistress yourself. You truly have no shame.¡± Lu Ze and Xu Tingting rushed over, witnessing the chaotic scene. They immediately pulled Zhou Jinjin away from Lu Shi Xiu. By then, Lu Shi Xiu¡¯s face had already been battered, resembling that of a pig. One of his front teeth had been knocked out by Zhou Jinjin¡¯s relentless assault. Zhou Jiaming broke out in a cold sweat and shouted, ¡°Zhou Jinjin, what are you doing?¡± Lu Ze¡¯s expression turned unfriendly, and those who witnessed the altercation trembled in fear. Zhou Jiaming had been discussing a business project with Lu Ze, taking advantage of Zhou Jinjin and Lu Shi Xiu¡¯s relationship. Now, his son had been beaten up within Lu Ze¡¯s own mansion, leaving Lu Ze¡¯s face extremely displeased. ¡°I¡¯m hitting someone, Father,¡± Zhou Jinjin defiantly replied. ¡°Vixen¡­¡± Lu Shi Xiu struggled to speak, his front tooth missing. Qiao Yamei also pointed at Zhou Jinjin, joining in the scolding. Gu Ci spoke up, addressing Uncle Lu. ¡°Lu Shi Xiu and Qiao Yamei were fooling around upstairs when Jinjin caught them in bed. They were young and in a casual relationship. Neither of them wanted to get married, so they simply broke up. However, they got into an argument on the balcony, and Jinjin fell from the fifth floor. I was the one who caught her, but Lu Shi Xiu and Qiao Yamei didn¡¯t lend a hand. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhiyuan, both of us would have fallen from the fifth floor. Lu Shi Xiu cheated in the first place and didn¡¯t come to our aid. Isn¡¯t it fair for the victim to retaliate?¡± Gu Chuyun and the others were taken aback by her blunt revelation. Both the Qiao and Lu families would lose face as a result. Gu Chuyun silently thought to herself that Zhou Jinjin was just a brainless woman with a large bust. Acting impulsively like this, the Zhou family would surely treat her as an abandoned child. Zhou Jinjin placed her hands on her hips and let out a sigh of relief. The room fell into a heavy silence. Despite her disheveled appearance, messy hair, and injuries, she exuded a fierce determination and intense hatred in her eyes. Pointing at Lu Shi Xiu, she spoke with seething anger, ¡°I hit him because he has completely lost his sense of basic morality. I was in a relationship with him, and I admit that I was blind. I am truly stupid. Lu Shi Xiu, you are the worst man I have ever dated in my life. Uncle Lu, I may have overstepped my boundaries by teaching your son a lesson. I sincerely apologize and ask for your forgiveness.¡± Zhou Jinjin even extended her apology politely to Lu Ze. The room remained speechless, stunned by the unfolding events. Zhou Jinjin paid no mind to the chaotic atmosphere. ¡°Gu Ci, let¡¯s go,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Ci went over to support her, helping her limp out of the Lu family mansion, disregarding Zhou Jiaming¡¯s angry shouts. Xu Tingting, witnessing her precious son being beaten in such a manner, cried out to Lu Ze, ¡°Old Lu, you must avenge Shixiu. He¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Lu Ze interrupted, feeling that he had lost all his dignity. Lately, both of his sons had been causing trouble one after another. Li Jiang drove Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin to the hospital. Zhou Jinjin had sprained her ankle and needed to see a doctor. Li Jiang did his best to help them register and pay for their consultations. He also noticed that Gu Ci was frequently clutching her waist, indicating that she might have been injured as well. During the incident on the balcony, Gu Ci¡¯s waist and abdomen had been pressed against the railing, causing a slight bruise, but nothing too serious. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s ankle was red and swollen, and the doctor advised him to rest for a few days. Since they couldn¡¯t return to the Zhou family and it wasn¡¯t feasible to take Zhou Jinjin home, Gu Ci asked Li Jiang if he could arrange accommodation for them. Li Jiang had the authority to make such decisions, so he arranged for them to stay in a guest room on the 56th floor of the Global Sports Center. Gu Ci went upstairs to retrieve some daily necessities and clean clothes. Meanwhile, Zhou Jiaming kept calling Zhou Jinjin, but Zhou Jinjin didn¡¯t want to listen and decided to block him. ¡°Gu Ci, let¡¯s have a drink,¡± Zhou Jinjin suggested. ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Ci opened a bottle of red wine, and the two of them sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly drinking. ¡°We¡¯ve been in a cold war for half a month, haven¡¯t we?¡± Gu Ci remarked. ¡°Fourteen days,¡± Zhou Jinjin chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was being foolish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all over,¡± Gu Ci said, suppressing the pain in her heart. ¡°You¡¯re still alive, so there¡¯s no reason to be unhappy. We can continue our cold war for the rest of our lives. As long as you live well, it¡¯s fine.¡± She didn¡¯t have the chance to see Jinjin one last time in her past life. ¡°My dad¡­ He will definitely cut off my finances and kick me out of the Zhou family. He has always considered me an embarrassment.¡± The Zhou family was a major player in the real estate industry, one of the leading companies supplying nearly half of the market. The current president of the Zhou family was Zhou Jiaming. He had initially relied on his wife to start his business and had always been aligned with the Yue family. Since his wife was unable to conceive, Zhou Jiaming didn¡¯t dare to have an extramarital affair. However, after the fall of the Yue family, the Zhou family gradually rose to prominence, and Zhou Jiaming¡¯s ambitions grew. Before Zhou Jinjin turned eight years old, her mother had been singing in a dance hall to make ends meet. Being beautiful, she attracted the attention of numerous men and often found herself in disadvantageous situations. As a result, Zhou Jinjin developed a tough and fearless demeanor. At the age of eight, she had even brandished a knife to defend her mother against men who wanted to harm her, nearly landing herself in juvenile detention. Due to Zhou Jiaming¡¯s wife¡¯s infertility, Zhou Jiaming had brought Zhou Jinjin back to the Zhou family to raise as his own. He also provided her mother with a monthly allowance, ensuring that she remained out of the public eye. Alongside Zhou Jinjin, Zhou Jiaming had brought back two illegitimate children as well. Zhou Jinjin made a vow to herself that she would achieve success and provide a better life for her mother. She worked hard in her studies and endeavored to impress Zhou Jiaming. However, Zhou Jiaming, like many others in the family, placed greater value on boys and didn¡¯t hold Zhou Jinjin in high regard. Determined to change her status, Zhou Jinjin shed her gangster demeanor and seamlessly integrated herself into high society, hoping to win the favor of the Zhou family and secure better treatment for her mother. It was during this time that she fell in love with Lu Shi Xiu. Once their love blossomed, Zhou Jiaming¡¯s attitude towards Zhou Jinjin changed drastically, and he became kinder to her mother. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s status within the Zhou family soared, and Zhou Jiaming even regarded Lu Shi Xiu as a potential future son-in-law. He constantly urged Zhou Jinjin to secure Lu Shi Xiu¡¯s commitment or at least an engagement and repeatedly instructed Lu Shi Xiu to be patient with Zhou Jinjin. Zhou Jiaming was well aware of Lu Shixiu¡¯s involvement with Qiao Yamei. When Zhou Jinjin learned about it, she couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer. She hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Jiaming to shamelessly boast about how infidelity was common and that one simply had to endure it until it blew over. He couldn¡¯t afford to damage the relationship between the two families. If Zhou Jinjin and Lu Shi Xiu were to break up, he would be rendered useless. Moreover, Zhou Jiaming and Lu Ze had been discussing a project recently, and Zhou Jinjin couldn¡¯t allow herself to ruin it. She had always been a pawn in Zhou Jiaming¡¯s schemes, desperately seeking the approval of the Zhou family. However, she realized now that it was nothing more than a delusional dream. At least she had finally woken up from it. ¡°I will go to the Zhou family tomorrow to put an end to everything,¡± Zhou Jinjin declared. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you,¡± Gu Ci offered, showing her unwavering support.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: The Truth Is Harsher Than You Think Chapter 43: The Truth Is Harsher Than You Think Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin¡¯s friendship was forged through a fight. When she was eight years old, Zhou Jinjin transferred to Gu Ci and Gu Chuyun¡¯s class. At that time, Gu Ci was a victim of school violence and was isolated by Gu Chuyun, leaving her with no friends. Zhou Jinjin also found it difficult to fit in with the young ladies in the socialite circle, making them both outcasts. Once, Gu Chuyun, Qiao Yamei, and Zhang Xin locked Gu Ci in the toilet and splashed water on her. However, Gu Ci fought back and proved to be stronger than them. Qiao Yamei tried to call the teacher for help, but Zhou Jinjin, who was watching, intervened and even helped Gu Ci close the door. From that moment, the isolation of one person turned into the isolation of two. Throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school, Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were inseparable. Gu Ci was cold and taciturn, while Zhou Jinjin was fiery and talkative. Despite their contrasting personalities, they understood and protected each other. There was only one person that Zhou Jinjin had a crush on, Lu Zhiyuan, and it became their shared secret. No matter how much attention Zhou Jinjin received, Gu Ci never felt left out. She stood by Zhou Jinjin¡¯s side, accompanying her in the pursuit of Lu Zhiyuan. While Zhou Jinjin stood in the spotlight, brandishing her metaphorical spear and cannon, shouting and cheering for Lu Zhiyuan, Gu Ci calmly sat by her side, focusing on her studies and remaining passionate like fire. Their differences made them stand out, but their friendship remained steadfast. ¡°Why are you staying at my husband¡¯s house?¡± Zhou Jinjin confronted Gu Ci, her voice filled with confusion and a hint of annoyance. Gu Ci felt a pang of discomfort, rubbing the space between her eyebrows as her expression shifted subtly. ¡°Can you please not call him ¡®hubby¡¯?¡± He may be your fake husband, but he¡¯s my real husband. ¡°Why? I¡¯ve been calling him my hubby for the longest time, and you¡¯ve never had a problem with it.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s teeth clenched, and she took a deep breath, deciding to address the situation head-on. ¡°What if I¡¯m actually falling in love with him?¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock as if she could swallow an egg whole. Memories of the days when Gu Ci accompanied her to sit in the stands, doing test papers while she competed with Lu Zhiyuan, flooded her mind. It felt as if her entire being was being torn apart. Gu Ci had always harbored a deep dislike for Lu Zhiyuan, and it pained her that her best friend couldn¡¯t share a husband with her. She wanted to make Zhou Jinjin understand her feelings. ¡°You¡­ I¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin and Gu Ci stared at each other, their words tumbling out incoherently. ¡°You actually want to snatch my husband?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pursuing him,¡± Gu Ci clarified, gently rubbing Zhou Jinjin¡¯s face to offer her a warning. ¡°You¡¯ve finally been persuaded by me. You know how amazing and charming he is¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s excitement got the better of her as she unconsciously began extolling Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s virtues. But then her expression changed once again. ¡°If you like him, then you like him. However, you can only share this kind of husband, not monopolize him. Don¡¯t be too ambitious.¡± ¡°I already confessed my feelings to Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Gu Ci revealed. Zhou Jinjin took a deep breath, her eyes shining. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°I got rejected,¡± Gu Ci admitted. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin burst into laughter. ¡°I can¡¯t even compete with someone as beautiful as you. If you¡¯re not his type, then you¡¯re not. Ah, I¡¯m just being silly. How could I have misunderstood my husband like this?¡± Gu Ci looked at Zhou Jinjin¡¯s emotional rollercoaster with a complex expression on her face. Zhou Jinjin scrutinized her with a critical gaze, and the fragile boat of their friendship teetered on the edge. ¡°He¡¯s the dream guy of countless girls. The Global Sports Center he founded is the most successful company in the world. His Dynasty team has won the world championship for four consecutive years, and he himself has claimed the championship three times in a row. He¡¯s so handsome that no one is worthy of him, not even my best friend.¡± Zhou Jinjin grew furious. ¡°Ah, this is unbearable. My best friend wants to pursue my husband. If she actually does, how can I still be your friend? I don¡¯t like you at all now. I believe our friendship has reached its end.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just be just a fangirl?¡± Gu Ci questioned. ¡°What should I? Did I spend money to chase his competitions all over the world just to support him?¡± Zhou Jinjin coldly snorted. ¡°Of course, I want to indulge in fantasies.¡± ¡°Actually, you can see me from a different perspective,¡± Gu Ci suggested. ¡°For example?¡± Zhou Jinjin inquired. ¡°As a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law, what do you think?¡± Gu Ci proposed. ¡°Heh, throughout history, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have been natural enemies,¡± Zhou Jinjin replied. ¡°Silent best friends might be the best state to maintain,¡± Gu Ci thought to herself. Zhou Jinjin was left speechless. She snorted. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan is not someone easy to win over.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you to share all your experiences with Lu Zhiyuan with me,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°I¡¯m quite curious about what he¡¯s like during the night matches.¡± ¡°Are you not curious about him during the day?¡± Zhou Jinjin questioned. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow, smiling mischievously without uttering a word. She playfully pinched her own face. ¡°It seems you¡¯re feeling better. I¡¯ll come to your house tomorrow and accompany you to the Zhou family¡¯s residence.¡± Gu Ci stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator had iris recognition technology, and both the 78th and 77th floors required iris recognition and fingerprint verification. Gu Ci looked up at the surveillance camera and smiled. As she exited the elevator, she found the layout of the 8th floor to be the same as the 77th floor. Standing at the entrance, Gu Ci hesitated. Numerous images flashed through her mind, reflecting moments from her past life and her current one. The confusion and doubts that had been hidden in her heart for so long seemed to have a faint answer. It felt like as long as she courageously moved forward, she would eventually find that answer. In her previous life, Lu Zhiyuan had asked her a question repeatedly, three times. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m more charming at night or during the day?¡± Every time Gu Ci answered, it was night. But now, her heart ached. She had been teasing Lu Zhiyuan, deliberately giving the opposite answer because she knew what he wanted to hear. It had been a habit of theirs since they were young, always playfully contradicting each other. Lu Zhiyuan had pretended as if it didn¡¯t affect him, but how hurt must he have been? Gu Ci¡¯s hand instinctively rose and slapped her own face, turning it red. Time couldn¡¯t be reversed. Regrets were already set in stone. Gu Ci¡¯s confusion deepened, but they didn¡¯t have split personalities. Lu Zhiyuan had fragments of memories from their time together. Why was all of this happening? How could he appear on the balcony of the Lu family¡¯s mansion in an instant, coming from the Global Sports Center? Gu Ci gazed at the long hallway at the entrance, a quiet and eerie silence enveloping it. It felt like a prison trapping her emotions, both her sadness and joy. She longed to see him, yet she feared the encounter. Turning around, Gu Ci headed back to the elevator and descended to the lower floors. She was in a daze, memories replaying in her mind incessantly. Amidst it all, she came to a realization that left her feeling adrift. Deep down, she was certain they were the same person, but what if they weren¡¯t? When Gu Ziyu saw Gu Ci, his expression subtly changed. He quickly grabbed her and sat her down beside him. His cold hand gently caressed her face as he looked at her with a sinister gaze. ¡°Mom, who hurt you?¡± ¡°I can handle it myself,¡± Gu Ci replied, looking at Ziyu with confusion and managing to muster a smile. ¡°I finally understand who you resemble.¡± ¡°Mom?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s words puzzled Gu Ziyu. Gu Ci snapped back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just lost in thought for a moment. Ziyu, Mommy is a little tired and wants to go to bed.¡± ¡°Okay, good night, Mom.¡± ¡°Goodnight, my dear. Mommy loves you!¡± Gu Ci kissed Gu Ziyu, a gesture she repeated every night. Despite being accustomed to it, his ears still turned red, and he remained shy. Gu Ci found herself struggling with insomnia. She tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. Upstairs, Lu Zhiyuan also wrestled with insomnia. Standing on the balcony, clad in black, Lu Zhiyuan gazed at the night sky. The moonlight cast a frosty glow on the ground. Lu Zhiyuan observed Gu Ci through the surveillance camera as she entered the building and witnessed her slap herself. However, he noticed that she stood at the entrance, lacking the courage to take another step forward. Gu Ci, the truth is even harsher than you can imagine.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan Chapter 44: Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation They both continued to pretend as if nothing had ever happened, choosing to maintain that facade for the sake of each other¡¯s well-being. The following day, Gu Ziyu prepared a generous breakfast spread. Gu Ci, sporting dark circles under her eyes and yawning frequently, couldn¡¯t hide her fatigue. Gu Ziyu called out, ¡°Daddy, aren¡¯t you coming down for breakfast?¡± Just as Gu Ziyu finished speaking, Lu Zhiyuan appeared. Gu Ziyu beamed with sweetness. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s time for breakfast. I made your favorite omelet.¡± ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re exploiting child labor. Making him cook at such a young age,¡± Lu Zhiyuan remarked in a teasing tone. ¡°The breakfast you¡¯ve been enjoying for the past few days was all made by him,¡± Gu Ci replied, her gaze fixed on his nonchalant expression. She poured him a glass of milk. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°It was pretty good!¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied. ¡°Last night, I went to your house. You were still training. How did you manage to arrive here earlier than me?¡± Gu Ci inquired. ¡°I¡¯m a racer, and I drive faster than Li Jiang,¡± Lu Zhiyuan explained. ¡°Li Jiang told me you were still training, so I was quite surprised to see you here,¡± Gu Ci mentioned. ¡°It was supposed to be training, but Old Lu insisted that 1 come back,¡± Lu Zhiyuan clarified. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you talk to me when you saved Jinjin and me?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°I was in a rush to settle the score with Old Lu,¡± Lu Zhiyuan responded. ¡°But I didn¡¯t see you when I went downstairs,¡± Gu Ci noted. ¡°When I was helping you and Jinjin, I scratched my hand. I went back to my room to take care of it. From upstairs, I witnessed Zhou Jinjin giving Lu Shixiu a beating and even knocking out a tooth,¡± Lu Zhiyuan disclosed. Gu Ci bit into her omelet, processing the details of his explanation. Gu Ziyu observed his parents. Their interactions were seemingly normal but feeling oddly off to him. His black eyes darted back and forth, trying to make sense of it. They were both smiling as if discussing everyday matters, yet he couldn¡¯t shake off the strange feeling in his gut. ¡°Do you train all day and all night? Don¡¯t you ever sleep?¡± Lu Zhiyuan gulped down his milk in one go. ¡°Gu Ci, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I truly admire your dedication to such intense training,¡± Gu Ci replied, her smile faint. ¡°You must be exhausted.¡± Lu Zhiyuan shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°That day when you took me to run laps, it was quite thrilling. How about taking me for a few night laps?¡± Gu Ci suggested. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s smile froze on his face. Their eyes locked, and there was an undeniable spark, an electric tension between them. Gu Ziyu silently poured another glass of milk for Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan regained his smile, a wild and untamed demeanor shining through. ¡°Some people were terrified to tears. How pitiful. And you still want to run laps?¡± ¡°Some people may appear composed, but they lack the courage to take me for a few rounds that night,¡± Gu Ci glanced towards his crotch, playfully blinking. ¡°They finished too quick.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was left speechless, unable to respond. Gu Ziyu watched as his father stormed off in anger, a sense of excitement bubbling within him. It felt like he was inching closer to securing his place as his mother¡¯s top priority. ¡°Mom, you always give in to Dad¡¯s demands. Why did you two argue?¡± ¡°Did we argue?¡± Gu Ci pursed her lips and replied, ¡°My dear, you¡¯ll understand when you grow up. This is just a part of Dad and Mom¡¯s dynamics.¡± ¡°Then maybe it¡¯s better if I don¡¯t understand,¡± Gu Ziyu responded. Glancing at the time, Gu Ci went to find Zhou Jinjin. Zhou Jinjin had already finished breakfast at the buffet. The 78th floor of Worldwide consisted of both offices and various sports-related companies and television stations. Many people came and went throughout the day. However, Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci had their exclusive elevators and separate entrances, so they rarely crossed paths with others. In reality, the building housed not just offices but also dining and shopping facilities. Upon arriving at the Zhou family¡¯s residence, Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were surprised to see Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Minghua present. Gu Chuyun was also there. It seemed that Zhou Jiaming and the Lu family¡¯s project were facing difficulties, with excessive early-stage investments leading to potential failure. Jiang Minghua had been invited for dinner to discuss a loan from Hualan Bank. The old lady and the Zhou family¡¯s matriarch were mahjong buddies, so they had brought them along. Before leaving, they happened to encounter Gu Chuyun, and the old lady insisted on her joining them. If Jiang Minghua knew that Gu Ci would be there, he would surely try to stop her forcefully. It was an expected encounter on a narrow path, and Lu Zhiyuan regretted coming to the Zhou family¡¯s residence. He wondered what Gu Ci, his Cici, would think. He realized that coming here was a mistake. Gu Chuyun was taken aback to see Gu Ci, but she held the old lady¡¯s hand proudly. With the old lady¡¯s protection, she felt confident. She made it clear to Gu Ci that while this woman may be her grandmother, the person she loved was Gu Chuyun, not Gu Ci! Gu Ci was dismissive and unaffected by Gu Chuyun¡¯s words. She couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°Zhou Jinjin, you dare to come back!¡± Zhou Jiaming erupted in anger at the sight of her. Jiang Minghua called out softly, ¡°Gu Ci, why are you here? Come and sit with Uncle.¡± That one sentence managed to quell Zhou Jiaming¡¯s anger. Gu Ci nodded lightly at Jiang Minghua, acknowledging his presence. Zhou Jinjin greeted him and headed upstairs. In the living room, Zhou Jiaming¡¯s wife, Li Li, and Old Madam Zhou were present. Li Li smiled and waved at Gu Ci. ¡°This must be Ming Yue¡¯s daughter, right? She looks just like her. Gu Ci, please have a seat. What do you like to eat? Your mother and I were classmates and good friends.¡± Gu Chuyun was left speechless. Gu Ci sat down and exchanged greetings with Li Li. She quietly sipped her tea, seemingly oblivious to the old lady¡¯s presence. The old lady felt uneasy, perceiving Gu Ci¡¯s apparent disregard. ¡°How rude.¡± ¡°Grandma, please don¡¯t get so angry. Gu Ci has always been like this since she was young. It¡¯s not good for her health if you get too upset,¡± Gu Chuyun interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. ¡°Gu Chuyun and I, we are separate entities!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s dark eyes remained calm. ¡°You may treat her as your grandmother, but she is a stranger to me.¡± Silence fell upon the room, everyone was rendered speechless by Gu Ci¡¯s straightforward declaration. Li Li, covering her mouth with her hand, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This little girl had an unwavering temperament, just like her mother. She possessed a strong personality, unafraid to be true to herself, whether it meant being dark or light. With just one sentence, Gu Ci managed to offend the old lady, yet she seemed unfazed by it. Jiang Minghua felt his face burning with embarrassment. ¡°Gu Ci, please don¡¯t misunderstand. Today, Gu Chuyun came to visit your grandmother, so we happened to go out together.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Gu Ci placed her teacup down, and a servant promptly refilled it. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Old Mrs. Han¡¯s tone was displeased. ¡°You are so narrow-minded at such a young age. What has Gu Chuyun done to deserve this treatment? She didn¡¯t compete with you for shares, so why can¡¯t you tolerate her?¡± Gu Ci smirked sarcastically, finding the old lady¡¯s words to be hypocritical. ¡°If anyone dares to harm my son, I will make sure they pay dearly, no matter where they try to hide. Yes, I may be petty and unable to tolerate my enemies being free and unrestrained. It¡¯s truly unfortunate for my mother to have a mother like you. People grow cold, some things stay the same, people change, and the bond of kinship becomes empty. The child has been dead for eighteen years. You must have forgotten what she looked like.¡± The old lady¡¯s blood pressure skyrocketed, her face turning red. Gu Ci¡¯s words struck at the core of her heart, causing her vision to blur. Chaos ensued in the living room. Jiang Minghua hurriedly administered blood pressure medication and emergency heart-saving pills to the old lady. He wanted Gu Ci to speak less, but he felt helpless and filled with sorrow. Tears welled up in Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Gu Ci, even if you don¡¯t acknowledge her as your grandmother, please don¡¯t provoke her. Her health is fragile, and she had bypass surgery. If anything happens to her, I won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Gu Ci clapped her hands mockingly. ¡°Such a heartwarming relationship between grandmother and granddaughter.¡± Li Li scrutinized Gu Ci, realizing that this girl¡¯s temper was unbending and easily provoked. Zhou Jiaming ordered someone to call an ambulance and reprimanded Gu Ci. ¡°She is still your grandmother. Even if you are not filial to her, you should show some respect. Your bad temper is a concern, and I fear Zhou Jinjin may be led astray by your influence..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: College Entrance Examination Champion, Gu Ci Chapter 45: College Entrance Examination Champion, Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this, independent and unswayed by others,¡± Zhou Jinjin stated firmly as she dragged her luggage downstairs. She had already packed the remainder of her belongings and arranged for them to be delivered. ¡°I will sever ties with the Zhou family in the future.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Zhou Jiaming seethed with anger. ¡°If I cut off your financial support, how will you afford university? Running away from home just like others, Zhou Jinjin, how dare you?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± Zhou Jinjin retorted. She bowed to Li Li. ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ve let you down.¡± ¡°I have already transferred 500,000 yuan to your account. It should be sufficient for your living expenses and tuition fees,¡± Li Li informed her. ¡°I will repay you,¡± Zhou Jinjin declared. Li Li nodded, appreciating Zhou Jinjin¡¯s ambitious nature. She didn¡¯t have much fondness for Zhou Jiaming¡¯s children, but she admired those with drive and determination. Gu Chuyun¡¯s phone rang, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. She looked at it in surprise and exclaimed, ¡°Grandma, I have been accepted into the Music Department of A University. The college entrance examination results are out.¡± Zhou Jiaming commented, ¡°Chu Yun has done excellently. A University is the top university in the country, and its music department is filled with talented individuals. She is truly outstanding. The old lady has taught her well.¡± ¡°Chu Yun, you truly haven¡¯t disappointed me,¡± the old lady expressed her joy. Zhou Jinjin nudged Gu Ci with her elbow, curious about her exam results. ¡°How many marks did you actually get? It¡¯s fine if you pretended to be a poor student, but did you actually demonstrate your abilities in the college entrance examination?¡± As the old lady calmed down, she pointed at Gu Ci. ¡°You possess none of Ming Yue¡¯s grace. You¡¯re arrogant and spoiled. You have truly been spoiled by Lu Man. Look at Chu Yun in comparison. She¡¯s a prodigious violinist and has been admitted to University A¡¯s Music Department. She possesses Ming Yue¡¯s determination. She¡¯s intelligent and diligent. And you, what do you amount to? You haven¡¯t changed for the better. I heard that you consistently score poorly in your exams. Ming Yue was so clever, yet you haven¡¯t inherited any of that. Did you even manage to get into a third-tier university in the college entrance examination?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Jiang Minghua frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t poke at the child¡¯s weak spots.¡± Everyone had heard about Gu Ci¡¯s arrogance and academic failures. Jiang Minghua had even arranged for Jiang Junlin¡¯s school to donate a building in exchange for Gu Ci¡¯s admission. Seeing Jiang Minghua¡¯s expression, Zhou Jiaming didn¡¯t dare to excessively praise Gu Chuyun. After all, Jiang Minghua and Jiang Junlin held authority in the Jiang family. The old lady clutched her chest, gasping for breath. Her eye blood vessels were red and swollen, as if inflamed. Gu Ci calmly observed the old lady¡¯s rapid breathing and her lips turning black. She spoke with composure, ¡°Old Madam, your symptoms may indicate an infection related to your heart bypass surgery. It would be best to visit the hospital for a check-up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a doctor. Are you cursing me?¡± the old lady retorted. Gu Ci pursed her lips. ¡°Uncle, please take her for a check-up when you have the time.¡± However, Gu Chuyun couldn¡¯t resist flaunting her own achievements, unable to hide the satisfaction in her voice. ¡°Gu Ci, how did you score? Let¡¯s check it.¡± Gu Ci glanced at a message from Gu Ziyu and smiled coldly. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you see the news.¡± She turned to Zhou Jinjin, and the two of them left the Zhou family¡¯s residence together. Zhou Jiaming didn¡¯t dare to stop Zhou Jinjin due to the Jiang family¡¯s influence. They got into the car, and Zhou Jinjin asked, ¡°How did you do?¡± ¡°796,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Damn! That¡¯s amazing!¡± Zhou Jinjin exclaimed, flipping through the headlines on social media. Gu Ci¡¯s name was once again in the spotlight. She was the top scorer in the science subjects of City A¡¯s college entrance examination. Apart from scoring 146 points in Chinese, she had achieved full marks in all other subjects! In the Zhou family¡¯s living room, Gu Chuyun stared at the notifications in disbelief. No wonder Gu Ci had mentioned seeing the news. She had become the top scorer in science in A City. Her earlier self-satisfaction now seemed like a joke. As long as her art college entrance examination score met the passing threshold, it would be sufficient. It couldn¡¯t compare to Gu Ci¡¯s nearly perfect score. Jiang Minghua was elated. ¡°Just as expected of Mingyue¡¯s daughter. She is following in her mother¡¯s footsteps in the college entrance examination. She almost achieved a perfect score. Mom, it¡¯s hereditary.¡± ¡°She must have cheated!¡± Gu Chuyun exclaimed. ¡°She is usually at the bottom of the rankings. How can she suddenly come first in the exams?¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun, mind your words!¡± Jiang Minghua¡¯s face darkened. Li Li didn¡¯t want to get involved in their family¡¯s turmoil, but having known Jiang Mingyue for a long time, she couldn¡¯t help but speak up to the old lady. ¡°Auntie, if Mingyue were still alive, she would undoubtedly be proud of Gu Ci.¡± The old lady¡¯s face burned with pain. Jiang Minghua couldn¡¯t wait to share the good news with Jiang Junlin. Gu Chuyun clenched her teeth, feeling a mix of frustration and anger. Li Li looked at her with a chilly smile, considering her narrow-mindedness as a hindrance to her own achievements. Zhou Jinjin eagerly reposted the headline about Gu Ci being the top scorer in science to her circle of friends. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Check your own score.¡± ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, I should have no problem getting into the University of New York,¡± Zhou Jin jin calmly remarked as she checked her score. ¡°I have everything under control in the finance department. What major are you considering?¡± The choice of major would be based on their exam results. With Gu Ci¡¯s exceptional scores, she had the freedom to choose any major she desired. ¡°Do you want to major in music?¡± Zhou Jinjin asked. ¡°No way!¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t be bothered to study in the same department as Gu Chuyun. It would be dull and meaningless. Her violin skills were already proficient, and if she wanted to pursue further studies, she had her own connections. ¡°By the way, did you bring any photos or videos of Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Zhou Jinjin replied, ¡°I want to keep them to myself.¡± ¡°Sisters should share everything,¡± Gu Ci insisted. ¡°You¡¯re just teasing me!¡± Zhou Jinjin snorted, but there was a hint of amusement in her tone. Gu Ci smiled, and the two of them returned to Zhou Jinjin¡¯s temporary residence. Gu Ci began going through Zhou Jinjin¡¯s collection of records featuring Lu Zhiyuan over the past few years. She realized that Zhou Jinjin was truly a devoted fan of Lu Zhiyuan. Except during exams, she would always be in the stands for every match that Lu Zhiyuan participated in. With matches held at different times of the day, some during the daytime and others at night, Zhou Jinjin had captured them all. Gu Ci deliberately selected the videos and photos from the nighttime competitions to watch. If Lu Zhiyuan had a dual personality, their appearances, and professions would be different. It seemed impossible for him to excel in both racing and other endeavors. However, the videos showed that he was indeed a champion in each competition. He was an anomaly, defying expectations. However, there was a noticeable difference in his demeanor captured in the photos. Even though they were taken with a camera, Gu Ci could sense that during the night competitions, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s temperament seemed to blend into the darkness. He appeared profound and restrained. In contrast, during the daytime, he was vibrant and dazzling. ¡°Gu Ci, ask Lu Zhiyuan out for dinner tonight,¡± Zhou Jinjin eagerly suggested. ¡°It might be difficult to make arrangements,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t dwell too much on Lu Zhiyuan. Zhou Jiaming has cut off your finances, but his wife will provide you with 500,000 yuan. Keep 50,000 yuan for registration fees and leave the rest to me. I¡¯ll help you manage your finances.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 400,000 yuan. At least keep 100,000 yuan for yourself. It¡¯s challenging to transition from extravagance to frugality,¡± Zhou Jinjin contemplated. ¡°I can¡¯t rely solely on this money. There are still two months before school starts, and I need to earn more.¡± ¡°I also need to earn money,¡± Gu Ci asserted. ¡°You still want to earn money? Isn¡¯t the share from Hulan Bank yours?¡± Zhou Jinjin questioned. ¡°I don¡¯t want it!¡± Gu Ci responded firmly. ¡°Why must you reject money? You can go against people, but money is innocent,¡± Zhou Jinjin remarked. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, you can give it to me.¡± Gu Ci lightly flicked her forehead. ¡°Focus on figuring out how to earn money. I¡¯m going upstairs.¡± The fact that Gu Ci had topped the science category in the college entrance examination in A City caused a significant stir. Some netizens raised doubts, claiming it was plagiarism or that she had bought her scores. After all, her academic performance in school had consistently been at the bottom. It was indeed sensational that she had suddenly achieved first place. However, cheating in the college entrance examination was impossible.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Blindsided Chapter 46: Blindsided Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation This matter was easy to investigate, revealing that Gu Ci had been hiding her true abilities all along, likely to avoid drawing attention from the Gu family. She had portrayed herself as a delicate and sympathetic figure, which garnered sympathy from netizens. The more the netizens sympathized with Gu Ci, the more they would criticize Gu Chuyun. Gu Ci went upstairs and noticed that Gu Ziyu was not present. She glanced at a note, which revealed that he was at the training ground. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. No one knew their son better than his mother. Even if given 100 million yuan or the option to stay at home, Gu Ziyu would choose to stay home. Going out was something that would only happen in his dreams. Gu Ci changed into sportswear and headed to the training ground. Two young men in casual clothes stood not far from Chen Liangdong, Gu Ziyu¡¯s coach. Gu Ziyu was undergoing a physical test and running laps. A tall young man was observing and counting on his watch, shaking his head occasionally. Gu Ziyu rolled up his sleeves, panting heavily. It felt like he had been running for miles, but the young man remarked, ¡°Ziyu, you¡¯ve only run 200 meters.¡± Why did it feel as though he had run 2,000 meters? Gu Ci observed Gu Ziyu¡¯s sweaty and chubby appearance, feeling a softness in her heart. His sweat had a pinkish hue, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel fond of him. ¡°I¡¯m not running anymore,¡± Gu Ziyu declared, waving his hand at Gu Ci. ¡°Sister, this old man is lying.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Ci asked, concerned. Gu Ziyu complained, ¡°He said he would relax the conditions for the public examination, but then he sent me a coach who makes me wake up early every day for training.¡± Gu Ci silently sympathized with Gu Ziyu. She adored him wholeheartedly. Due to her guilt and remorse from her past life, she would shower him with endless affection and let others take charge of his discipline. It was exactly what she desired. She maintained a calm expression. Chen Liangdong stood with his hands behind his back, resembling an ancient scholar leisurely strolling in a courtyard. ¡°Ziyu is the most valuable asset of our department. His security level is on par with mine. I want to ensure his safety in all aspects. However, if he encounters danger, it should not be difficult for Ziyu to protect himself. He possesses the minimum requirements of a special forces soldier.¡± ¡°The minimum requirement is not difficult!¡± Chen Fei, the coach, glanced at the stopwatch. ¡°You¡¯re still young, and there¡¯s still room for improvement.¡± Gu Ziyu stared at him with his dark eyes, his strong and undefeated nature refusing to accept defeat. He asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®room for improvement¡¯?¡± Chen Fei scratched his head in honesty. ¡°Why are you getting angry? Isn¡¯t it the truth?¡± Gu Ci nodded, understanding Chen Liangdong¡¯s intentions. She looked at Gu Ziyu and said, ¡°Did you hear that, Ziyu? Captain Chen Fei is experienced and can be your bodyguard while also teaching you. Training and studying are your main tasks, and if there¡¯s an emergency, Chen Fei will be there for you. When school reopens in September, you¡¯ll be studying national defense information and communication engineering and management at University A. And if you have spare time, you can choose another subject that you like.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He didn¡¯t expect such a comprehensive plan for his future. He glanced at Chen Liangdong, then at Chen Fei, and finally at Gu Ci. A sense of determination filled his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, sister,¡± Gu Ziyu said with determination. ¡°I will train hard and excel in my studies. I¡¯ll become someone who can protect you and Mom.¡± Gu Ci smiled and patted his head. ¡°I believe in you, Ziyu. You have the potential to achieve great things. Just remember to take care of yourself and enjoy the process.¡± Chen Liangdong and Chen Fei exchanged glances, both impressed by Gu Ziyu¡¯s determination and maturity. They knew that with his dedication and the guidance of his mentors, Gu Ziyu would grow into a remarkable individual. As the sun began to set, the three of them walked off the training ground together, ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. ¡°He¡¯s going to university?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Ziyu has a PhD in computer science and can complete projects independently. Similarly, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to pursue communications engineering. Should we really make him start from scratch?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be starting from scratch in terms of management. Once he¡¯s tested in other subjects, he can directly pursue a PhD.¡± Gu Ci was left speechless. In September, both mother and son would be enrolling in school at the same time. The mother would be pursuing her bachelor¡¯s degree, while the son would be studying for his PhD? Chen Liangdong noticed her subtle expression and became confused. ¡°You don¡¯t want Ziyu to study at University A?¡± Gu Ci replied, ¡°He¡¯s now the son of the country. You can make the arrangements. I¡¯ll comply.¡± Ever since Chen Liangdong had chosen Chen Fei as Gu Ziyu¡¯s mentor, Gu Ci had complete trust in him. She couldn¡¯t be Ziyu¡¯s teacher, and neither could Lu Zhiyuan. Ziyu needed a teacher who would guide him to be kind and serve his country, and that¡¯s exactly what she desired. ¡°Congratulations on being the top scorer in City A¡¯s college entrance examination this year, young lady,¡± Chen Liangdong said, gently kicking a small stone under his feet. ¡°What major are you considering?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it yet!¡± Chen Liangdong kindly responded, ¡°Opportunity and choice can change a person¡¯s life. If you choose a good major, you can excel in the college entrance examination every year.¡± ¡°Elder Chen, do you have any suggestions?¡± Gu Ci smiled, feeling grateful for the support and guidance she had received. With her family and mentors by her side, she felt empowered to make the right choices for her future. The journey ahead would undoubtedly be challenging, but she was determined to seize every opportunity and create a bright and fulfilling future for herself and her loved ones. Chen Liangdong gently shook his head. ¡°Gu Ziyu is a rare genius, a fortuitous discovery. I have already secured him, and I shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. This is your life, and once you are determined, you will know what choice to make!¡± ¡°Listening to Old Chen¡¯s words is better than reading ten years of books,¡± Gu Ci remarked. She enjoyed conversing with wise individuals like him. He always exuded a calmness and wisdom that people yearned for. He was like a bright lamp guiding the lost towards the right path. In this moment, she was certain that Chen Liangdong would be Gu Ziyu¡¯s guiding light. Chen Fei, as Gu Ziyu¡¯s coach and bodyguard, had to stay at Worldwide. Li Jiang arranged for him to stay on the 55th floor, across from Zhou Jinjin. He devised a strict training schedule for Gu Ziyu, starting at 5:30 in the morning. Gu Ziyu returned upstairs with a dark expression on his face. The Global Sports Center building had a unique arrangement with only one elevator serving three floors: 78, 77, and 55, all of which belonged to Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s private property. The majority of the 55th floor was temporarily allocated for the racers, and when there were no competitions in City A, the entire floor would remain unoccupied. Lu Zhiyuan was the first to receive news of a newcomer moving in, but he refrained from asking any questions. After Gu Ziyu had rested, Chen Fei promptly whisked him away for training on the field. As the evening descended, the lamps were lit, casting a warm glow. Having inquired with Li Jiang, Gu Ci learned that Lu Zhiyuan was training on the track. Inspired, she decided to change into a set of sportswear and examined herself in the mirror. The reflection revealed a girl with long, straight hair adorned in black sportswear, emanating a striking and cool aura. Lu Zhiyuan had a preference for black and gray and despised white the most. However, Gu Ci had a fondness for white, often opting to wear it. In reality, though, Lu Zhiyuan detested the color. Gu Ci then changed into white sportswear and shorts, revealing her long legs. She tied her hair up in an apple bun, creating a fluffy appearance. Her teeth were gleaming white, and her lips wore a shade of vibrant red. She exuded a vibrant and lively energy. Gu Ci descended the stairs to search for Lu Zhiyuan. On the field, there were four coaches and a group of staff members. Apart from Lu Zhiyuan, the team was also engaged in practice. Today was a team training day for Dynasty, so they had to coordinate their efforts. Taking a seat in the stands, Gu Ci focused her attention on the large screen. The camera continually switched to shots of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s racing car. With his helmet on, his expression remained hidden from view. Nonetheless, his racing skills were as polished as ever, capturing Gu Ci¡¯s attention as she diligently recorded his performance. The teams were also cooperating with each other, with Dynasty consistently leading the season in terms of points. The training session concluded at 11 o¡¯clock. Gu Ci completed her recording and leaned against the railing, observing Lu Zhiyuan in the distance. One by one, the racers left the track. Lu Zhiyuan removed his helmet, and Li Jiang handed him a clean towel to wipe off his sweat. Gu Ci approached, her white attire standing out vividly in the nighttime. Lu Zhiyuan caught sight of her from afar, causing Li Jiang¡¯s heart to skip a beat. ¡°Third Master, Miss Gu Ci is here..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Testing Each Other Chapter 47: Testing Each Other Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, leaving Li Jiang perplexed about his thoughts. Sensing the tension, Li Jiang stepped aside. Gu Ci approached Lu Zhiyuan and stated, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I want you to teach me how to race.¡± ¡°There are coaches for that,¡± he replied, his figure blending into the night sky, disappearing into the darkness. ¡°But I want you to teach me!¡± Gu Ci persisted. Taking the lead, Gu Ci sat in the driver¡¯s seat and donned a helmet, fastening her seatbelt. Lu Zhiyuan stood beside the car, his shadow flickering on the ground. He spoke coldly, ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t be stubborn!¡± Rolling her eyes, Gu Ci provocatively asked, ¡°I want to be stubborn. So are you in or not?¡± He looked down at her with coldness, as if she were a stranger. It was a stark contrast to the Lu Zhiyuan who had shown care for her during the day. Lu Zhiyuan walked away, his demeanor icy. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, then!¡± Gu Ci gazed at his retreating figure, a cold smile forming on her lips. The race track stretched out before her, vast and boundless. The moonlight hid behind thick clouds, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s departure exuded an infinite chill. Shaking off her thoughts, Gu Ci focused ahead. She pressed the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow, racing onto the track. The speedometer quickly reached 150 and continued to climb. ¡°Third Master!¡± Li Jiang shouted, his body covered in cold sweat. Did Miss Gu Ci want to risk her life? ¡°This is professional racing. It¡¯s not something you can learn in a day!¡± Lu Zhiyuan suddenly turned around, his gaze gloomy as he watched the racing car speed away. His eyes resembled the calm yet deep sea before a storm. The car accelerated to 250 km/h, causing Li Jiang¡¯s heart to race. ¡°Third Master, Miss Gu Ci will meet with a fatal accident on the race track!¡± ¡°No, she won¡¯t!¡± Lu Zhiyuan responded. At 250 km/h, Gu Ci remained surprisingly composed, skillfully maneuvering the car. As she took a turn, she narrowly avoided hitting the right guardrail but overcorrected and almost collided with the left guardrail, creating an S-shape on the straight track, leaving Li Jiang in a state of shock. Gu Ci glanced at the car¡¯s speed, gritted her teeth, and pressed the accelerator again. The car accelerated to 350 km/h, surpassing her own limits. Unable to maintain control, the car crashed into the guardrail as it turned a corner. Yet, even in that moment of impact, Gu Ci fearlessly looked ahead. Suddenly, the track lights were extinguished. And then, it was like the violent collision never occurred. In the darkness of the track, Lu Zhiyuan appeared beside her, teleporting instantly, and with one hand, he pushed the out-of-control racing car, hurtling at 350 km/h, back onto the track. The car gradually came to a stop. Lu Zhiyuan roughly pulled Gu Ci out of the car. It was then that she realized her legs were weak, barely able to support her. Lu Zhiyuan sinisterly pinched her chin. ¡°Gu Ci, have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Who are you really?¡± Gu Ci questioned, her eyes bloodshot as she shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re not Lu Zhiyuan. You¡¯re not human. Who are you?¡± A normal person couldn¡¯t teleport two kilometers or effortlessly push an Fl car at a speed of 350 km/h with one hand. Was he human or something else entirely? He tightened his grip on her chin, leaning over Gu Ci, his aura engulfing her completely. ¡°Gu Ci, listen carefully. I am the real Lu Zhiyuan.¡± Moonlight filtered through the dense clouds, but it couldn¡¯t warm his eyes. Lu Zhiyuan released his hold on her and departed coldly. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as she asked, ¡°Then where did my Lu Zhiyuan go?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s back stiffened, and he halted on the track. He turned around, observing the tearful Gu Ci. ¡°He was an illusory bubble. One day, he will vanish. Lu Zhiyuan doesn¡¯t love Gu Ci. Don¡¯t harbor delusions.¡± Gu Ci leaned against the racing car and collapsed onto the track. ¡°He was an illusory bubble that would disappear one day, just like in his previous life?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice trembled with anguish. ¡°Liar!¡± She rested her head on her knees, overwhelmed by her grief. In her previous life, there was a night when Lu Zhiyuan had confessed his fondness for white. She had witnessed two versions of Lu Zhiyuan. So¡­ there really were two Lu Zhiyuans. After Lu Zhiyuan departed, the once-extinguished lights on the track instantly flickered back to life. Li Jiang approached with a bottle of water, his expression filled with concern. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, are you alright?¡± Gu Ci raised her head. ¡°He¡¯s the Third Master at night and the Third Young Master during the day?¡± Li Jiang fell silent, feeling embarrassed. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I¡¯m just an employee. If I say anything more, I might lose my job. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. Take a rest, and when you wake up, you can settle the score with the Third Young Master. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s your lackey. He won¡¯t retaliate even if you scold or hit him.¡± ¡°Will he remember what happened tonight?¡± ¡°If the Third Master doesn¡¯t disclose it, he won¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t tell him.¡± ¡°¡­ Alright, I won¡¯t.¡± Gu Ci twisted open the bottle cap, pouring the pure water onto her face, cleansing away the mixture of sweat and tears. Li Jiang was on the verge of stopping her, but he found himself at a loss for words. He offered her a towel instead. Casually wiping her face, Gu Ci inquired, ¡°He has Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s memories, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Li Jiang appeared as if he were contemplating self-destruction. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, please don¡¯t put me, a mere employee, in such a difficult position. I beg of you, have mercy.¡± ¡°The last question remains,¡± Gu Ci pointed towards the distance. ¡°Is he human or a ghost?¡± Li Jiang was left speechless. The next morning, as Lu Zhiyuan descended the stairs for breakfast, he noticed the absence of Gu Ziyu. Gu Ci was busy preparing breakfast, cooking a bowl of wonton noodles, steaming purple sweet potatoes, corn, and squeezing a cup of celery and cherry juice. Lu Zhiyuan inquired, ¡°Where¡¯s Gu Ziyu?¡± ¡°Chen Fei took him to the mountains,¡± Gu Ci responded. Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°He seems unwell all the time. It¡¯s good for him to go out, soak up some sun, and engage in physical activity.¡± Gu Ci served breakfast while Lu Zhiyuan observed the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Did you stay up late?¡± he asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Why?¡± he inquired. ¡°I read a sadomasochistic novel, and it kept me up,¡± Gu Ci confessed. ¡°You¡¯re so emotional. It doesn¡¯t seem like your usual character,¡± Lu Zhiyuan remarked. ¡°You¡¯re so sunny and lively. It doesn¡¯t seem like your character either,¡± Gu Ci retorted. Lu Zhiyuan raised his head and locked his gaze on Gu Ci. His deep, peach blossom eyes glimmered with a hint of affection, and a smile played on his lips. ¡°Then, what is my character?¡± he asked. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, have you heard of the histrionic personality disorder?¡± Gu Ci questioned. ¡°I¡¯m willing to hear the details,¡± he replied. Gu Ci began to explain, ¡°The histrionic personality disorder is characterized by traits such as psychological study, performance, personality disorder, emotional deficiency, lack of empathy, and an inability to establish deep and lasting emotions with people and objects. These individuals are aware of their condition but pretend to be normal. They imitate the words, actions, and emotions of others, striving to establish stable emotional relationships and blend in with society. They may appear shining and dazzling, laughing and crying, but in reality, they lack a true understanding of love, hate, and obsession.¡± Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but draw a parallel to Gu Ziyu. ¡°It sounds quite familiar,¡± he commented, gently peeling the corn. ¡°But if the emotions are artificial, how can we distinguish between what¡¯s genuine and what¡¯s not? His love feels real, as does his sorrow.¡± ¡°The seven emotions and six desires are inherent human instincts. Imitation can only be superficial, lacking true depth and authenticity,¡± Gu Ci explained. ¡°I disagree,¡± Lu Zhiyuan stated firmly.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Idol and Fans Chapter 48: Idol and Fans Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan meticulously removed every strand of corn. If his emotions were genuine, why were his feelings considered false? His self-awareness underwent constant reconstruction, just like his emotions. If they were fake from the beginning, how could he be certain they would remain that way for the rest of his life? ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, self-cognition reconstruction is based on the premise of recovery. If you lose your emotions, they naturally become blank,¡± Gu Ci remarked as she took his corn, broke it, and split it in half. ¡°Life is akin to a play, but a play is not life.¡± While nonchalantly eating his corn, Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly bring up emotional disorders?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been contemplating what major to choose,¡± Gu Ci inquired. ¡°How about psychology?¡± ¡°Not really. I¡¯m not particularly fond of psychiatrists,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your preferences!¡± Gu Ci stood up and poured a glass of celery and cherry juice. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t pester her about her chosen field of study. ¡°My team and I are flying to Lavis. The race is about to begin. We¡¯re leaving tomorrow.¡± ¡°So suddenly?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to leave in three days?¡± ¡°Li Jiang has already booked the tickets.¡± ¡°I want to go too!¡± Gu Ci exclaimed. ¡°Save two seats for us.¡± ¡°Are you really going to watch my competition?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as she sweetly smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to miss any of your matches.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes sparkled with visible happiness. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Are you thrilled?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°I¡¯ll reserve the best seat for you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± When Gu Ziyu returned upstairs, it was already noon. He lay on the sofa like a little salted fish, his sweatshirt soaked with perspiration, his hair dripping, and his legs dangling limply. ¡°Mom, the public examination was too difficult,¡± Gu Ziyu complained. Gu Ci encouraged him before opening a bottle of cola. Gu Ziyu eagerly drank the cold cola, his excitement overflowing. Upon learning that Gu Ci was going abroad to watch the competition, Gu Ziyu blinked. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in racing, and I¡¯m not interested in training either. I¡¯ll choose the lesser of two evils. I¡¯ll go abroad to watch the competition too.¡± ¡°Baby, you are a citizen of our country. You have to comply with our country¡¯s arrangements and stay for training,¡± Gu Ci rubbed his head. ¡°Mommy brought you a present.¡± Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a third wheel?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the brightest third wheel among us.¡± The next day, Gu Ci came downstairs with her luggage. She had no makeup on, and her hair was simply tied up. Zhou Jinjin, wearing a black top with lantern sleeves and jeans, revealing his fair and alluring collarbone, stood in the wind, looking exquisite. ¡°We¡¯re leaving for the airport at five o¡¯clock. What time did you wake up to do your makeup?¡± Gu Ci asked, yawning. Zhou Jinjin raised three fingers. Gu Ci gave him a thumbs up. ¡°You can, but you¡¯ll be on the plane for over ten hours. What¡¯s the point of putting on makeup?¡± ¡°As long as it looks beautiful!¡± Zhou Jinjin eagerly awaited Lu Zhiyuan. Disappointed upon hearing that Lu Zhiyuan had left in the helicopter, Zhou Jinjin asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t he bring you along?¡± ¡°The sun hasn¡¯t even risen.¡± Zhou Jinjin misunderstood and lovingly patted Gu Ci¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have daydreamed. Your journey of pursuing your husband is a long one.¡± Once they met up, Li Jiang sent someone to take them to the airport. The Dynasty¡¯s driver and technical teams traveled on the same plane. Zhou Jinjin and Gu Ci boarded the private plane and settled into the first-class cabin. Since they didn¡¯t see Lu Zhiyuan, the team members boarded one after another. Lu Zhiyuan was in a separate lounge. As the plane ascended with the morning light, Lu Zhiyuan emerged from the room. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s excitement overwhelmed her, causing her to cover her mouth and let out a scream. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, you¡¯re so handsome! I¡¯m your fan. Do you remember me? Zhou Jinjin? We were classmates in middle school and high school. Can you give me an autograph?¡± Zhou Jinjin excitedly exposed her arm. ¡°Sign on my arm. I can go a month without washing it.¡± Gu Ci was left speechless. Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zhou Jinjin hesitated for a moment and then picked up Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s celebrity photos and posters. ¡°We can also sign these.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring a pen!¡± Lu Zhiyuan gazed at the thick stack of postcards and posters, unwilling to sign them. ¡°Got it, got it.¡± Zhou Jinjin turned around and, to the surprise of Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci, produced three watercolor pens. ¡°Red, black, and yellow. Which one do you prefer? I¡¯ve prepared them all.¡± Gu Ci, struggling to contain her laughter, said, ¡°Zhou Jinjin, he has already removed you from his list of fans.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Our Lu Zhiyuan is beautiful, kind, and generous. He won¡¯t be upset.¡± After signing four autographs, Lu Zhiyuan, who was about to refuse any further requests, silently signed six more to make the number round. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°This is my treasure!¡± Zhou Jinjin expressed her satisfaction. Gu Ci half-lay on a thin blanket, engrossed in reading a magazine. Zhou Jinjin and Lu Zhiyuan engaged in conversation, with their discussion mostly centered around Gu Ci. However, Gu Ci continued reading the magazine apathetically, seemingly oblivious to their conversation. When Zhou Jinjin mentioned Gu Ci¡¯s first love, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°First love? Who?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the most handsome guy in our class. He also got into University A this year. Cici had a crush on him for three months¡­¡± Zhou Jinjin turned to look at Gu Ci. ¡°She has moved on now. She¡¯s pursuing you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Gu Ci with a faint smile. ¡°Your first love¡­ Yang Sihang?¡± Gu Ci casually flipped a page of the magazine. ¡°I¡¯ve moved on.¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled coldly. ¡°You change crushes quite frequently.¡± ¡°I like novelty and detest the old. I get bored easily and can¡¯t keep up the chase for long, so I move on to someone new,¡± Gu Ci stated confidently. ¡°I topped the college entrance examination not just because I¡¯m smart. Being pretty helps. 1 pursued him for a few months, but if there¡¯s no chemistry, it means we¡¯re not meant to be.¡± Lu Zhiyuan swung his arm and slammed the door. Zhou Jinjin approached. ¡°How scheming. Did you deliberately make me tell him that you like Yang Sihang? Are you giving Lu Zhiyuan an ultimatum?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ You wanted trouble.¡± ¡°A young girl¡¯s mind is hard to decipher,¡± Zhou Jinjin clicked his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re the top scorer in the college entrance examination, so you¡¯re beautiful. He¡¯s the world champion, so he¡¯s also beautiful. It¡¯s fine if you have a crush on him, but you even threatened to switch targets if he doesn¡¯t reciprocate your feelings. You¡¯re a little ungrateful.¡± Gu Ci smiled but remained silent, engrossed in reading the magazine. Seeing that Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t emerge, Zhou Jinjin covered himself with a thin blanket and pretended to sleep. After a while, Zhou Jinjin asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the hunk sitting across from me? Do you know?¡± ¡°Chen Fei, Ziyu¡¯s coach,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He offended me,¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s face darkened. Gu Ci said, ¡°Take it easy. You already have a conviction for assaulting a soldier.¡± ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°Chen Fei is an actual soldier with the rank of captain,¡± Gu Ci calmly explained. ¡°He¡¯s young and knows how to fight. Don¡¯t provoke him.¡± Zhou Jinjin slapped his forehead. ¡°I was too impulsive. I should have punched him. At least then I could claim innocence because I didn¡¯t know better..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Arrogant Gu Ci Chapter 49: Arrogant Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation When the plane arrived at the casino, it was already noon. The motorcade had a hotel booked for their stay. Zhou Jinjin and Gu Ci were assigned a suite, while Lu Zhiyuan and the racers headed to the track. Having taken a nap on the plane and feeling energized, Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were in high spirits. After lunch, the two of them headed straight to the casino. Legal gambling brought them joy. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Do you have any money?¡± ¡°100,000!¡± Zhou Jinjin boasted, converting all her living expenses into US dollars. She had a stroke of luck and won $30,000 from the first slot machine. Zhou Jinjin was ecstatic. However, after playing blackjack, all $30,000 was returned to the casino. Meanwhile, Gu Ci steadily earned $10,000, using it as her gambling capital. She made a comeback and won $30,000. But then, she got carried away and lost $20,000. Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re addicted to gambling, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Then you give it a try!¡± Within three hours, Gu Ci turned her $10,000 into $100,000. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you know how to gamble?¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°You want to win big?¡± Excited, Zhou Jinjin nodded eagerly. Gu Ci took her to Texas and, in just two rounds of stud, doubled their earnings to $300,000. They then moved to the high-stakes area. By 5 p.m., Gu Ci had already won $3 million. Zhou Jinjin transitioned from excitement to apprehension. ¡°Gu Ci, will the casino let us leave?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t care about this small amount of money,¡± Gu Ci reassured her. ¡°In the casino, some people go bankrupt, and others become overnight millionaires. It¡¯s just part of the norm.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so calm!¡± Zhou Jinjin finally realized that something was amiss. ¡°We grew up wearing the same clothes. How did I not know about this skill of yours? Where did you learn it?¡± ¡°In my dreams!¡± Gu Ci chuckled, reminiscing about the countless things she had learned during her previous life in prison. The two of them indulged in shopping with their newfound wealth. After their shopping spree, Gu Ci handed Zhou Jinjin another $100,000 to satisfy her cravings. While Zhou Jinjin played Russian roulette, she managed to create an electrifying atmosphere among the foreigners around her. She shouted and jumped with excitement. Gu Ci accompanied her like a shadow. Though they were silent, their movements were unexpectedly harmonious. After their exhilarating time at the casino, they headed to a nearby bar frequented by tourists. Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin attracted attention due to their beauty, and people kept buying them drinks. Gu Ci politely declined the advances of the men and asked for two glasses of wine. To her surprise, a woman invited Gu Ci to join her for a drink. ¡°Wow, are you looking for a romantic encounter?¡± ¡°I have a boyfriend,¡± Gu Ci replied, clinking glasses with her elegantly. ¡°We have different interests.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± The girl had a loli-like appearance and dressed accordingly, radiating sweetness and cuteness that made others want to protect her. After clinking glasses with Gu Ci, she left. Zhou Jinjin stared at her pocket. ¡°You¡­ men and women?¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Gu Ci leaned against the bar counter, holding a wine glass, and asked slowly. Zhou Jinjin was taken aback but soon regained her composure. She rubbed her chin, observing Gu Ci closely. ¡°I always felt that something was off, but I couldn¡¯t put my finger on it. I finally realized it today. Cici, you¡¯ve changed a lot since Gu Chuyun¡¯s engagement party.¡± In the past, Gu Ci had been stubborn, gloomy, and beautiful, but she always wore a sour expression on her face, as if she owed millions. She was a typical middle-school rebel who would punch anyone she disliked. Gu Ci¡¯s face remained the same, but the malice and stubbornness between her brows had vanished. Her gaze exuded a calm and powerful aura, a strength that belonged to a woman¡ªgentle yet forceful. Wearing a white shirt, she leaned against the bar counter, radiating independence, beauty, and dominance that attracted the attention of all women. Who wouldn¡¯t be enamored by such a powerful and beautiful woman? ¡°Come on, baby, I¡¯ll buy you a drink. Tonight, I¡¯ll be the woman that makes everyone, men and women alike, envious.¡± Gu Ci smiled and clinked glasses with her, taking a sip. Her alcohol tolerance was average, and Zhou Jinjin knew her limits. Two burly men with buzz cuts approached them, blocking their way. ¡°Allow me the pleasure of buying you a drink!¡± one of the men greedily eyed Gu Ci. Gu Ci stood in front of Zhou Jinjin, raising her glass. ¡°I already have wine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving you face by treating you,¡± the man insisted, showing a tiger tattoo on his forearm, complete with bared fangs and brandished claws. Gu Ci pulled Zhou Jinjin away and left. However, four men surrounded them, eyeing them mischievously. The surrounding patrons fell silent, and Zhou Jinjin grabbed Gu Ci¡¯s hand in fear. ¡°You have ten seconds to leave!¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite arrogant,¡± the man sneered, swirling his wine glass. ¡°No one dares to refuse my offer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t seen much of the world!¡± Gu Ci retorted, snatching his wine glass and throwing it to the ground. The man became furious and closed in on them. Gu Ci pushed Zhou Jinjin away and threw a punch. Screams filled the bar. Five minutes later, the six men lay on the ground, groaning in pain. Gu Ci requested a towel from the bar counter and calmly wiped the blood off her hands. Standing under the night lights in her white shirt, her eyes cold. The man trembled, unable to utter a word. Gu Ci casually tossed the towel aside and downed her glass of wine. Holding the glass, she gently lifted the man¡¯s chin. ¡°Still want to buy me a drink?¡± The man was overwhelmed by her formidable presence, his legs trembling. She didn¡¯t look angry, but she exuded an awe-inspiring aura. Gu Ci gave him a hundred dollars for medical expenses. Clutching the humiliating US dollars in his hand, the man glared at Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin¡¯s retreating figures, filled with hatred. In a corner, Chen Rushi swirled his wine glass with a smile, his gaze fixed on Gu Ci¡¯s back. Someone asked, ¡°Master Chen, what are you looking at?¡± Chen Rushi finished his wine in one gulp, his eyes filled with ambition. ¡°Prey.¡± When Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin returned downstairs, they encountered Lu Zhiyuan and Li Jiang. The day¡¯s training had just ended, and Lu Zhiyuan was about to leave. Dressed in a black trench coat, he stood under the light emanating a deep yet restrained aura of danger. Zhou Jinjin was heavily intoxicated, while Gu Ci¡¯s cheeks were flushed. Li Jiang wanted to say something but didn¡¯t dare to overstep his boundaries. Gu Ci seemed to not notice Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s presence and had no intention of speaking to him. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Gu Ci, you¡¯re in a foreign country. Don¡¯t drink too much. If something happens to you, I won¡¯t be able to explain it to him.¡± Gu Ci curled the corners of her lips and looked at him. ¡°Since he¡¯s an illusion, why should I explain?¡± Li Jiang¡¯s heart sank. Third Master truly stood as an obstacle on Third Young Master¡¯s path to pursuing his wife. Miss Gu Ci treated Third Master and Third Young Master differently. Silently, Gu Ci helped Zhou Jinjin into the hotel. Li Jiang cautiously said, ¡°Third Master, Ji Chi is still waiting for you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan silently got into the car as Li Jiang drove away from the hotel. The colosseum! The city of Lavis buzzed with excitement. Money, beauties, and power were abundant. Lu Zhiyuan sat in the best seat on the second floor of the colosseum, observing the spectacle. A starving brown bear fought against a challenger. The bear¡¯s ribs were broken, and it had already devoured half of its opponent¡¯s arm. Blood dripped, yet the bear provoked the audience, eliciting repeated screams.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Young Man in White Chapter 50: Young Man in White Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Both the man and the brown bear were dragged away, making way for a hungry tiger that had not eaten in seven days. Its roars reverberated through the Colosseum, threatening to tear the roof apart. Suddenly, a figure dressed in white emerged in the arena. The person had short hair and a face that blurred the line between masculine and feminine. He was of Chinese descent, possessing a slender physique with a thin waist and long, bamboo-like legs. The win rate between the tiger and the young man, Ji Yan, stood at an impressive 9:1, and it was still growing. The emcee introduced the young man as Ji Yan, a renowned fashion brand designer who would challenge the reigning Champion Tiger tonight. True to its name, the Champion Tiger had never been defeated. Beast fights were the crudest form of entertainment among the wealthy. The fight commenced, and the tiger lunged at Ji Yan. With remarkable agility, Ji Yan effortlessly dodged the tiger¡¯s attack. Each time the tiger missed, it would immediately counter with another pounce. The audience began to boo. ¡°We didn¡¯t come to watch a game of hide-and-seek!¡± ¡°Fight back! Show some teeth!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward, face it head-on!¡± The arena resounded with disapproving jeers. Ji Yan¡¯s movements were neither too fast nor too slow. This enraged the tiger. The colosseum bell rang, warning both participants. The arena¡¯s cage began to constrict, leaving Ji Yan with limited room to dodge. After missing its target over ten times, the tiger¡¯s hunger fueled its anger. It launched another attack, striking Ji Yan with precision and tearing his white shirt apart. Four bloody wounds appeared on the young man¡¯s back, their sight intensifying the atmosphere of the entire scene. The tiger chased Ji Yan as he continuously circled the Colosseum. With each stride, the tiger inched closer, and in a swift motion, it leaped from the ground, jaws wide open, aiming to seize Ji Yan from behind. In a sudden halt, Ji Yan¡¯s flexible body leaned backward, allowing him to slip under the tiger¡¯s belly. He swiftly punched the tiger¡¯s stomach. In agony, the tiger rolled on the ground, roaring in anger. With one hand planted on the ground, Ji Yan wiped the blood from his face using his thumb. An evil smile spread across his handsome face, instantly breathing life into his features. There was a natural allure to him, his face brimming with vitality. ¡°Come on!¡± Enraged, the tiger lunged at him once more. Ji Yan bent down, leaped forward, and charged toward the tiger. The tiger¡¯s jaws opened wide, but Ji Yan landed a punch to its head. The tiger spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unable to move. Ji Yan slammed his fist into the ground. After three seconds of silence, a loud eruption of noise filled the Colosseum. The bell rang, but the tiger struggled to rise and promptly fell back down. Ji Yan emerged as the victor. With a devilish smile on his face, the white-clad youth waved at the audience. The black diamond earrings dangling from his ears sparkled, adding to his mysterious and bloodthirsty appearance. Lu Zhiyuan remained expressionless, his eyes filled with depth. As the white-robed youth and the defeated tiger captivated the crowd, the youth became the star of the Colosseum. Lu Zhiyuan stood up and left. Half an hour later, Ji Yan walked over, donning a fresh shirt and exuding a tall and slender aura. ¡°Third Master!¡± Lu Zhiyuan nodded, walking ahead with his hands behind his back. Ji Yan followed behind him. ¡°The Colosseum is a dangerous place. You can¡¯t walk by the river without wetting your shoes. Be careful,¡± Lu Zhiyuan cautioned. Ji Yan replied, ¡°Chen Ru enjoys beast fights. To gain his trust, I have to take an unconventional path. Don¡¯t worry, Third Master. I know what I¡¯m doing. This life belongs to you. A mere ferocious tiger cannot claim it.¡± ¡°How is the situation in Europe?¡± ¡°As you predicted, my sudden transfer to Asia caused a significant uproar within the headquarters. The Brown family seeks to win me over and secure a foothold for me in Europe. The Chen family wants me to assist them in the M Nation. I¡¯ve encountered disputes between the two factions during the transition work. I estimate that it will take another month before I can reach City A to handle Chen Rushi.¡± ¡°Half a month. Deal with everything.¡± Ji Yan¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°Understood. Third Master, Miss Chen has been secretly in contact with Lu Shijie. They have formed a partnership using the trust fund of his first love¡¯s current lover. The contact has been ongoing for the past six months.¡± ¡°Xiao En dared to attack me at the racetrack and used Gu Ci to provoke me. Do you think the Chen clan suspects my true identity?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ji Yan replied. ¡°It is too much of a coincidence.¡± ¡°I will entrust this matter to Li Jiang.¡± Lu Zhiyuan paused, looking deeply at Ji Yan. ¡°Why did Gu Ziyu seek you out?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s commanding presence completely enveloped Ji Yan. A chill ran down Ji Yan¡¯s spine as the night breeze blew. Ji Yan confessed, ¡°Third Master, I swear, I am also perplexed by this matter. Why does the young master know me, and why does he support me? I truly have no knowledge of it at all. And¡­ the young master¡­ cough, he desires to kill you and seize power.¡± ¡°A six-year-old¡¯s appearance with the mind of a twenty-six-year-old,¡± Lu Zhiyuan concluded coldly. ¡°He is quite ambitious.¡± Ji Yan dared not speak. When legends clashed, innocent people should not be implicated. Lu Zhiyuan gazed at him intently, causing Ji Yan to break out in a cold sweat. Ji Yan hurriedly declared, ¡°Third Master, I know you suspect me. Yes, I am indeed suspicious. I admit it. You sent me to Black Eagle, and yet the young master found me and divulged everything about me. Moreover, his details were accurate. This is highly unusual. However, as I swore before, I, Ji Yan, will remain loyal to Third Master for the rest of my life. If you pass away, my loyalty will shift to Miss Gu Ci. And if both of you pass away and have children, I will be loyal to your children. If none of you pass away, I will dismantle Black Eagle. I will remain loyal for the remainder of my life and never betray you.¡± Ji Yan was already a well-known designer, but his design work served as a mere side job. In the eyes of many prominent figures, he was considered inexperienced¡­ Just a mere tailor. This life belonged to Third Master, and he would move it wherever it was needed. ¡°Continue to keep in contact with him and find out what his intentions are,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice grew softer. ¡°This child holds grudges. If he intends to dismantle Black Eagle, then Black Eagle must have committed some grave wrong against him.¡± ¡°The young master has been rather distant from the rest of the family recently,¡± Ji Yan wanted to vent his frustrations. This young master was unpredictable. Initially, he was caring and affectionate, but then he turned cold and distant. Lately, he had disappeared altogether. ¡°That is your problem.¡± ¡°Yes, it must be because I am not charming enough. I will reflect on myself!¡± Ji Yan quickly reassured, ¡°Third Master, may I see the young master when I visit City A?¡± ¡°You may,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, his lips curling into a faint smile. ¡°He has tacitly acknowledged that he is your master. Continue with this charade.¡± ¡°My master will always be Third Master!¡± Ji Yan expressed his loyalty without hesitation. When Lu Zhiyuan glanced at him, Ji Yan even displayed a pure smile, making Li Jiang feel a pang of envy. He truly envied Ji Yan. Only he dared to smile in front of Third Master. Lu Zhiyuan reached out his hand, and Li Jiang handed him his phone. Lu Zhiyuan sent a list to Ji Yan. ¡°Get rid of everyone on this list.¡± Ji Yan glanced at the list, his expression turning serious.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: The Fruition of an Unlucky Fate Chapter 51: The Fruition of an Unlucky Fate Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation On the hotel rooftop, the scent of alcohol wafted through the air as a bottle of red wine was emptied. Gu Ci¡¯s face flushed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s rare for me to feel so confused¡­¡± ¡°So what if he has two personalities? I love Lu Zhiyuan. No matter who he is, I will continue to love him. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s rare for me to be so uncertain.¡± Yet, she had lived her whole life in a state of confusion. Even in her previous life, she remained lost until her very last breath. ¡°I can¡¯t go on.¡± Gu Ci clutched her heart. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I can¡¯t do it.¡± She ascended to the rooftop and stood at the edge, calling out Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan!¡± In the next moment, Lu Zhiyuan appeared on the rooftop. The wind tousled Gu Ci¡¯s dress, causing it to flutter in the breeze. ¡°Come down!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was low. Almost instantly, Gu Ci was whisked away from the rooftop as if someone had caught hold of her. ¡°What the hell are you trying to do?¡± ¡°You once told me that if I ever found myself in danger, all I needed to do was call your name, and you would appear within three seconds.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°You weren¡¯t lying to me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan had said this to her when she was a young girl. ¡°He said it, not me.¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°No, it was you!¡± In her previous life, Lu Zhiyuan had uttered those words in the middle of the night. With calm and tenderness, he had said, ¡°Gu Ci, whenever you¡¯re afraid, just call my name. I¡¯ll be by your side no matter where I am.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten.¡± Gu Ci stared at him intently. ¡°What is the connection between the two of you?¡± ¡°As you suspected, he is my alter ego,¡± Lu Zhiyuan spoke lightly. ¡°He was the one who fell in love with you at first sight, not me. I have no attachment to you.¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°Then you wouldn¡¯t mind if I married him?¡± ¡°As long as he is willing.¡± Gu Ci chuckled softly, a mix of laughter and madness. She suddenly seized Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s collar. ¡°Then will you kiss me? Will you sleep with me?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°Liar!¡± Gu Ci gritted her teeth, her gaze piercing into him, searching for any trace of heartlessness. Lu Zhiyuan pried her hand away, his eyes dark. With a clear and gentle voice, he addressed Gu Ci. ¡°He is him, and I am me. Gu Ci, the one who loves you is him.¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°If I want to have a child, whose child would it be?¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell silent. On the rooftop, only the wind continued to blow. ¡°He won¡¯t marry you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan cruelly pointed out the truth. ¡°He cares for you, but he keeps his distance. He will never start a family with you.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s tears fell. In her previous life, Lu Zhiyuan had proposed to her as soon as she was released from prison. Why? Pity her? She was a pitiful wretch, disfigured and with a broken arm. Was the love she had cherished throughout her life merely a cruel joke? ¡°Liar!¡± Gu Ci turned around and made her way toward the edge of the rooftop. ¡°You¡¯re all liars.¡± She climbed up to the rooftop while Lu Zhiyuan remained rooted to his spot. ¡°Gu Ci, I despise threats and empty promises the most. I protected you because I promised him that in his absence, I would protect you. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can manipulate me at will.¡± Gu Ci faced Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°You have his memories, don¡¯t you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, offering no response. ¡°I¡¯m asking you, Lu Zhiyuan!¡± ¡°Yes, I do!¡± Lu Zhiyuan calmly met her gaze. ¡°I am the dominant personality, and he is the secondary one. I possess all of his memories, but he doesn¡¯t have mine.¡± ¡°His emotions, his love, his hate, his joy, and his sorrow¡ªyou observed them as a bystander, indifferent.¡± Gu Ci wiped the tears from her eyes¡¯ corners. ¡°Is that the truth?¡± ¡°Yes, it is!¡± Lu Zhiyuan seemed to have reached his limit. ¡°It¡¯s fine if he and you love each other till the end of time. It has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, the memories of the dual personality are not intertwined.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°You remain indifferent to his grief and happiness. Is that true?¡± Gu Ci opened her arms and smiled at him. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, who are you trying to deceive?¡± Her body fell backward, plummeting from the 65th floor of the building. The wind whistled in her ears. The weightlessness brought dizziness and panic, yet she felt nothing. Gu Ci widened her eyes, gazing at the sky. One by one, the lights on the 65th floor went out. The full moon hung coldly, seemingly mocking the world¡¯s imperfections. A dark figure darted by, and Lu Zhiyuan embraced Gu Ci in midair. The moonlight was faint, and the afterimages danced. Lu Zhiyuan peered at her with an ashen face, while Gu Ci wore a smile. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, are you afraid?¡± She resembled a woman who had descended into the depths of love. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Lu Zhiyuan growled, his voice low and hoarse. Gu Ci reached out and caressed his face, her eyes filled with both sorrow and joy. She arrived at a conclusion. ¡°After more than ten years of acting, your skills are indeed superior to Ziyu¡¯s.¡± Lu Zhiyuan coldly slapped her hand away. ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t test me any further. I don¡¯t care about anything concerning you, and I don¡¯t want to know about the grudge between you and him. If you wish to avoid a lifetime of suffering, you should put an end to this ill-fated relationship as soon as possible.¡± Gu Ci watched his retreating figure and spoke slowly, ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± We already have a son, and this ill-fated relationship has already borne fruit. How can we bring it to an end? Zhou Jinjin had a restful night¡¯s sleep and woke up refreshed. After Gu Ci¡¯s eventful night, everything seemed settled. They made plans for the day, going out to explore after breakfast. Due to Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s demanding pre-match training schedule, he had no time to accompany Gu Ci. Reporters and fans were prohibited from taking photos at the training venue. Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin made travel arrangements and awaited the start of the match. ¡°This can be our high school graduation trip.¡± Having won a substantial amount of money, Gu Ci now had a considerable sum at her disposal. To Zhou Jinjin, it was a fortune. The two of them could enjoy their time in Lavis to the fullest. They visited various attractions during the day, indulged in afternoon tea, rented helicopters for a thrilling experience, and tried their luck at the casino by night. After Zhou Jinjin lost one million out of Gu Ci¡¯s three million dollars, luck favored her once more, and she won an additional two million. One was a gambling virtuoso who effortlessly triumphed, while the other was a master at redistributing wealth, and they harmoniously played their roles. They even attended a beast fight. Their WeChat Moments overflowed with food, drinks, and joy every day. Gu Ci was gradually able to immerse herself in the pleasures of life, leaving behind the bitter memories of her previous existence. She relished every moment, living carefree. On a particular day, they exited the casino and stumbled upon the Lavis Music Festival. Gu Ci excelled at playing the violin, while Zhou Jinjin was skilled in the cello. Spontaneously, they performed an improvisation of ¡°The Butterfly Lovers.¡± Their mastery of the piece was evident as they effortlessly played, earning applause from the entire hall, despite their distinct Oriental features. ¡°The performance by these two young ladies is truly divine. This rendition of Liang Zhu carries a deep sense of sorrow and longing, surpassing the original,¡± a young man applauded and praised with a gentle tone. He had a Chinese face, mature and elegant, with eyes that exuded trustworthiness. ¡°You flatter us,¡± Zhou Jinjin smiled and replied. ¡°It was just an improvisation, nothing worth mentioning.¡± Gu Ci remained silent, for she spotted Ji Ren standing behind the man. Ji Ren still appeared youthful. It was her first time seeing the 21-year-old Ji Ren. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Gu Ci’s Unwanted Suitor Chapter 52: Gu Ci¡¯s Unwanted Suitor Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation She was tall and slender, clad in white, standing amidst a group of burly men, resembling a little white rabbit. Ji Chi smiled warmly at Gu Ci, his smile revealing a small dimple on his right cheek. He possessed a face that was highly favored by countless young girls. ¡°My name is Chen Rushi. I wonder if I have the honor to meet you two ladies,¡± Chen Rushi asked. After the incident at the bar, Zhou Jinjin had become more cautious. Gu Ci¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°I¡¯m Gu Ci. Nice to meet you.¡± Chen Rushi displayed impressive knowledge about music. He engaged in a delightful conversation with Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin, instantly hitting it off. Chen Rushi invited them to have dinner together in downtown Lavis. Salmon and lobster seemed endless, and Zhou Jinjin relished the meal, bubbling with joy. Gu Ci remarked, ¡°Your Mandarin is quite good.¡± ¡°My ancestors also hail from City A. In the 1950s, they came to M Nation to make a living and gradually settled here. However, my family has always cherished Chinese culture,¡± Chen Rushi explained. ¡°My grandmother often played the ¡®Zhu Zhu¡¯ song to soothe her homesickness.¡± Zhou Jinjin chimed in, ¡°Where in City A are you from? Do you speak the local dialect?¡± ¡°I never had the chance to learn the dialect.¡± ¡°This salmon is delicious, and the lobsters are exquisite. Much better than the places we dined at a few days ago,¡± Zhou Jinjin exclaimed. ¡°Uncle Chen, how old are you?¡± Ji Xiong nearly burst into laughter. Referring to Chen Rushi as ¡°Uncle Chen¡± was quite a hit. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-eight,¡± Chen Rushi replied with a composed expression. ¡°You look much younger,¡± Zhou Jinjin remarked, her words flowing freely. ¡°You don¡¯t qualify as an uncle. I¡¯ll call you brother instead.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± With Zhou Jinjin¡¯s lively presence, there was never a dull moment. Ji Chi stood quietly in the background, never uttering a word. Zhou Jinjin and Chen Rushi engaged in an animated conversation. Zhou Jinjin was an enchanting individual¡ªtalkative, straightforward, yet not lacking in depth. They discussed music, relationships, and local customs. Although Chen Rushi¡¯s attention was drawn to Gu Ci, he didn¡¯t expect her to remain aloof except for occasionally glancing at Ji Chi. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of encountering trouble when the two of you travel together in Lavis?¡± Chen Rushi chuckled. ¡°Lavis is a city known for gambling, often referred to as the City of Despair. It¡¯s safer to have your boyfriend accompany you while you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Gu Ci accompanied me to watch the Fl competition. I¡¯m a fan of Lu Zhiyuan. Have you heard of him?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Chen Rushi smiled like a gentleman. ¡°The global racing champion.¡± ¡°Are you here to compete as well?¡± Zhou Jinjin asked excitedly. ¡°Then we¡¯re truly friends.¡± Ji Chi¡¯s eyes lowered as he cast a glance at Gu Ci. She calmly tore the lobster meat apart, seemingly indifferent to the mention of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name. Ji Chi mused to himself, Why does the woman Third Master favor possess the same temperament as him? When the topic turned to racing, Zhou Jinjin became even more talkative. Chen Rushi had a couple of glasses of wine in quick succession, indicating the generation gap between him and the two sisters. He didn¡¯t particularly enjoy racing. ¡°Does Miss Gu have a boyfriend?¡± Chen Rushi inquired. ¡°No,¡± Gu Ci replied nonchalantly. Chen Rushi gently shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. Miss Gu is so beautiful. Arc all men blind?¡± Gu Ci took a bite of the lobster meat. ¡°Perhaps.¡± Zhou Jinjin returned from a brief absence and realized that this gentleman had taken an interest in Little Ci. Zhou Jinjin was her best friend. ¡°Big brother, are you married?¡± ¡°I¡¯m single.¡± ¡°You certainly have a discerning eye.¡± Zhou Jinjin grinned. ¡°May I pursue you?¡± Chen Rushi went straight to the point, his eyes gleaming with a smile. This kind of man held great allure for young girls¡ªhandsome, mature, gentlemanly, and wealthy. Gu Ci finished her lobster, her spirits high. Her icy gaze was immersed in the night. ¡°That¡¯s your business.¡± Zhou Jinjin thought to herself, as expected of you, so cool! ¡°It would be my honor.¡± After dinner, the host and guests had a wonderful time. Chen Rushi, Gu Ci, and Zhou Jinjin exchanged contact details, and Chen Rushi personally accompanied them back to the hotel. ¡°He¡¯s interested in pursuing you. It¡¯s love at first sight,¡± Zhou Jinjin teased, wrapping her arm around Gu Ci¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Beauty is indeed a weapon.¡± ¡°Love at first sight is when a woman is involved,¡± Gu Ci softly remarked. ¡°His watch alone is worth more than ten million yuan. What kind of beauty hasn¡¯t a man like him seen before? What kind of love at first sight could he have?¡± ¡°Why, then, did he pursue you?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­ I¡¯m pretty.¡± ¡°Sorry for interrupting.¡± Zhou Jinjin was momentarily speechless before saying, ¡°He does seem quite appealing. He¡¯s humorous, knowledgeable, and although slightly older, still good-looking.¡± ¡°You just broke up, and now you want to fall in love again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that kind of gentleman. On the contrary, the young man in white behind him is intriguing.¡± Gu Ci hesitated, wanting to say something. In the end, she couldn¡¯t hold it in. ¡°Then give up.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Gu Ci took her pajamas and headed for a shower, not giving a response. Ji Chi accompanied Chen Rushi back to the villa. Throughout the journey, Chen Rushi twirled the black ring on his thumb while Ji Chi focused on his tablet. The atmosphere in the car was quiet and somber. Chen Rushi spoke up, ¡°Gu Ci seems to be more interested in you.¡± Ji Tao curled his lips, his smile mischievous. ¡°In terms of looks, Mr. Chen falls short compared to me. It¡¯s not surprising for a young girl to be drawn to my face.¡± The security guards remained silent, intimidated by the conversation. Chen Rushi remained unruffled. In fact, he chuckled. ¡°So shallow?¡± ¡°The affections of young ladies often revolve around appearances,¡± Ji Chi¡¯s long, narrow phoenix eyes carried a hint of a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you appreciate beautiful girls? Who isn¡¯t shallow?¡± Chen Rushi nodded. ¡°Indeed.¡± Ji Chi closed the tablet. ¡°Mr. Chen has an interest in Gu Ci?¡± ¡°She seems worthy,¡± Chen Rushi stated. Ji Chi nodded. Chen Rushi had a predilection for icy beauties, and he liked them very much. ¡°Whatever I desire, I obtain. If I can¡¯t, I seize it.¡± ¡°In just a few days, she won five million dollars at the casino. With her abilities, she¡¯s not lacking in money.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s seize it,¡± Ji Chi said, spreading his hands, his tone indolent and cruel. Chen Rushi arched an eyebrow. ¡°The easier it is to obtain something, the less valuable it becomes. You¡¯ll understand when you grow up.¡± Ji Chi thought to himself, ¡°I don¡¯t need to worry about growing up. But I do know that if you continue to covet Gu Ci, you won¡¯t live to see your next birthday.¡± Gu Ci finished her shower and dried her hair. As she emerged, she noticed Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s message inviting her to the rooftop. Gu Ci pretended not to see it and joined Zhou Jinjin in playing games. The two of them fought valiantly in the game, dominating the canyon. Gu Ci, being the jungler in the national server, had an excellent rhythm. Zhou Jinjin, as the support, clung to her throughout the game. They roamed the canyon, racking up kills. Out of the top ten kills, Gu Ci secured six of them. Her gold count surpassed that of the mid-lane player. When Lu Zhiyuan called, Gu Ci ended the call and continued playing. Lu Zhiyuan persisted with his calls. Zhou Jinjin quipped, ¡°You¡¯re pursuing Lu Zhiyuan, yet you¡¯re hanging up on him. Playing hard to get, huh?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Ci replied. Zhou Jinjin gave her a thumbs up, lifting her head. ¡°Awesome!¡± The next day. After breakfast, as Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin were enjoying their meal, a man dressed in black arrived with two gifts¡ªone for Gu Ci and the other for Zhou Jinjin. ¡°Miss Gu, these are gifts from Mr. Chen. Please sign for them..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Lu Zhiyuan, Who Do You Think You Are? Chapter 53: Lu Zhiyuan, Who Do You Think You Are? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Chen Rushi presented Gu Ci with a ruby necklace, a thumb-sized gem that was flawlessly cut and clear in color. Zhou Jinjin received an internet celebrity bracelet adorned with five flowers. At noon, the man in black delivered a bouquet of flowers. That night, Chen Rushi arranged a romantic dinner. He showered them with expensive gifts, flowers, and romantic gestures. After dinner, he even secured tickets to a concert that Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin had been unable to obtain, accompanying them to the event. This routine continued for three consecutive days. ¡°What exactly are you doing, Mr. Chen?¡± ¡°Chasing after you!¡± Chen Rushi smiled warmly. ¡°I¡¯m enjoying the process of pursuing you.¡± Gu Ci returned the gemstone necklace. ¡°I can¡¯t accept such an extravagant gift for nothing. This necklace is too expensive. I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°You alone are worthy of it.¡± Gu Ci shook her head and said lightly, ¡°In China, we believe in repaying kindness. I can¡¯t afford such a valuable gift.¡± ¡°Alright, I was impolite.¡± Chen Rushi took back the gifts he had given Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin, but he wasn¡¯t upset. Instead, he meticulously planned their schedule. He is thoughtful and meticulous. Zhou Jinjin felt like a big, bright lightbulb, but she lacked self-awareness. She had turned into a fanatical supporter of the Lu Zhiyuan-Gu Ci couple, doing her best to put an end to any romantic endeavors that came in Gu Ci¡¯s way. ¡°Sooner or later, some scumbag will take advantage of my best friend. Why not let it be Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Zhou Jinjin had transformed from a drug addict to a fan of celebrity couples. One day, Chen Rushi arrived to take Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin out for lunch. As they descended the stairs, Chen Rushi awaited them with a smile. Lu Zhiyuan appeared like a gust of wind, his arm snaking around Gu Ci¡¯s waist as he pulled her into his embrace. With just one hand, he firmly grasped her waist, almost lifting her up to his side. In a domineering manner, Lu Zhiyuan declared, ¡°Accompany me for a meal!¡± Gu Ci was taken aback. ¡°Aren¡¯t you in seclusion for training?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking a break today.¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Chen Rushi with a faint smile. ¡°And who is this, Uncle?¡± Gu Ci was speechless. Zhou Jinjin was speechless. Ji Chi was speechless. Third Master, you¡¯re truly ruthless! To be fair, despite being twenty-eight, Chen Rushi looked quite young. Chen Rushi smiled warmly and extended his hand. ¡°Hello, my name is Chen Rushi. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan gazed at his hand indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m a germaphobc and dislikes shaking hands with others.¡± He referred to himself as a germaphobc. With one hand still wrapped around Gu Ci¡¯s waist, he displayed possessiveness. Lu Zhiyuan scrutinized Chen Rushi, feeling that he posed no threat whatsoever. The young man exuded confidence and a spirited aura. Chen Rushi retracted his hand, clenching it into a light fist. ¡°I understand. Since you¡¯re taking a break, let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s inconvenient!¡± Lu Zhiyuan hooked his arm around Gu Ci and turned around with a smile. ¡°I rarely get a break. Of course, I want to spend some alone time with you.¡± He gently ushered Gu Ci into the car driven by Li Jiang. Lu Zhiyuan turned back and approached Chen Rushi. His eyes held the wintry chill of winter. ¡°Chen Rushi, stay away from my woman!¡± With that, he donned his sunglasses and spoke with an air of coolness. ¡°Li Jiang, take Zhou Jinjin to eat. Don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Young Master!¡± Zhou Jinjin scurried over to Li Jiang¡¯s side, avoiding eye contact with Chen Rushi. Lu Zhiyuan had played a dangerous game. You¡¯re truly incredible, my idol. So arrogant! Chen Rushi remained in his spot, watching as Lu Zhiyuan left with Gu Ci. His calm facade shattered, revealing a brewing storm. Ji Chi¡¯s heart trembled, knowing that he harbored murderous intentions. On the main road of Lavis, Lu Zhiyuan took Gu Ci for a ride. Gu Ci lazily dozed off. Lu Zhiyuan remarked, ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been having a blast these past few days.¡± ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± She hadn¡¯t seen him since arriving in Lavis. All she saw were his nightly appearances. He would train after breakfast and head to the racetrack. By nightfall, he would disappear. ¡°Li Jiang mentioned that you¡¯ve been going on dates with Chen Rushi every day.¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at her profile, a faint smile on his face. ¡°Did you enjoy those dates?¡± Gu Ci opened her eyes. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s jealous? I¡¯m just concerned that you might be deceived!¡± Lu Zhiyuan scolded his romantic rival. ¡°At first glance, he doesn¡¯t seem like a good person. The air around him is recking of bloodlust. He deliberately chose an innocent and beautiful girl like you to draw him out.¡± Gu Ci lowered her head and chuckled. Lu Zhiyuan felt as if someone had stepped on his tail. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Then who should I date?¡± Gu Ci smiled. ¡°At the very least, you should know each other well, be around the same age, and share similar interests.¡± Gu Ci nodded, contemplating for a moment. ¡°How about Li Jiang? He knows you well and is around the same age as you!¡± ¡°Li Jiang is five years older than you!¡± ¡°Five years is fine. I like mature men.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyebrows curved. ¡°Li Jiang is handsome and obedient. These days, girls love this kind of puppy-like guy.¡± ¡°Li Jiang is too busy. He¡¯s with me and doesn¡¯t have time to date you.¡± Gu Ci nodded, giving it some thought. ¡°As for Chen Rushi, you think he¡¯s too old and has a complicated background. His little brother, on the other hand, seems quite appealing. He¡¯s very handsome, and when he smiles, he has adorable dimples. I quite like him too.¡± ¡°Ji Chi? His waist is even slimmer than yours. He¡¯s probably looking for a boyfriend too!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone turned sour, like a lemon. Gu Ci subtly glanced at Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°You know Ji Chi?¡± ¡°Half of my wardrobe consists of high-end designs from Dragon Phoenix. Of course, I know them.¡± Gu Ci gained some understanding. ¡°So not Li Jiang or Ji Chi. Tell me then, who should I date?¡± ¡°Why must you get into a relationship?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eighteen years old, young and beautiful. Why should I waste my time without being in a relationship?¡± ¡°You should focus on studying in school. Why bother with dating?¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, do you want to be my father?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was left speechless. ¡°You don¡¯t like me, and you get angry when others show interest in me.¡± Gu Ci spoke softly. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I¡¯m not your pet or your toy. If you don¡¯t want me, it doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t want me either.¡± The car came to a stop in front of the restaurant. Gu Ci got out of the car, and Lu Zhiyuan chased after her, his voice filled with anger. ¡°Who dares to treat you like a pet or a toy? Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m not aware of what you¡¯re trying to do!¡± Gu Ci looked at him with a cold gaze, her eyes as icy as the winter. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve fallen into an older man¡¯s trap. I¡¯ve been enticed by his sweet words. Older men can be gentle and chivalrous, considerate and polite. It¡¯s normal for them to captivate young girls. After all, I am a young girl.¡± ¡°Chen Rushi is a scion of the Chen family, deeply rooted in M Nation. He¡¯s now the second-in-command of the Blackhawk Group. He¡¯s encountered countless beautiful women and is the most patient hunter. A man like him won¡¯t fall in love at first sight with just anyone.¡± Lu Zhiyuan warned, his voice filled with urgency. ¡°Wake up!¡± Gu Ci responded lightly, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, who do you think you are?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Understanding Chapter 54: Understanding Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°What did you say?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone turned dark. ¡°I said¡­ Who are you to me? What right do you have to control me?¡± Gu Ci laughed coldly. ¡°I might like you and pursue you, but that doesn¡¯t give you the authority to judge me or control me.¡± Despite the scorching afternoon sun, the icy atmosphere between them remained untouched. They parted ways on bad terms, not even eating a meal together or exchanging a single word. When Zhou Jinjin returned to the hotel, she found Gu Ci eating instant noodles. The hotel room was filled with the aroma of the noodles. Zhou Jinjin exclaimed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be having quality time with Lu Zhiyuan? Why are you eating instant noodles in the hotel?¡± ¡°We had a quarrel!¡± ¡°Oh my god, you actually had a fight with my Prince Charming. If he were my boyfriend, I would slap myself a few times just for arguing with him.¡± Zhou Jinjin was straightforward in her remark. Gu Ci looked up at her and gave a meaningful glance. Zhou Jinjin pursed her lips and fell silent. After a moment, Zhou Jinjin spoke again. ¡°Li Jiang mentioned that Lu Zhiyuan came looking for you. He¡¯s been quite busy with his training lately. When he heard that you were dating Chen Rushi, he came to find you. I think¡­ does he like you too?¡± ¡°Racing is his true passion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Zhou Jinjin boasted proudly. ¡°He once said in an interview that racing is his true passion.¡± Gu Ci was conflicted. She didn¡¯t know how to face Lu Zhiyuan. The Lu Zhiyuan during the day and the Lu Zhiyuan at night seemed like two completely different people. She hadn¡¯t fully grasped the dynamics between them, so she vented her anger on him instinctively. In the afternoon, Zhou Jinjin noticed Gu Ci¡¯s frustration and took her to the casino to unwind. However, the news of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s accident during a training match made headlines. Gu Ci clicked on the video and saw that Lu Zhiyuan had made a mistake while cooperating with another driver, resulting in a crash into the guardrail. Gu Ci¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. The memories of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s previous car accident came rushing back. She immediately called Li Jiang. ¡°Li Jiang, where is Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Young Master is receiving stitches.¡± Gu Ci rushed to the hospital, where Lu Zhiyuan was still undergoing the stitching procedure. The shrapnel from the accident had sliced through his abdomen, leaving an eight-centimeter-long wound. It was deep, and his training uniform was stained red with blood. Lu Zhiyuan was scheduled to compete in two days. Worried that anesthesia might affect his performance, he had chosen not to use any. Biting down on a piece of cloth, he endured the pain, his body drenched in sweat. When Gu Ci arrived at the consultation room, she saw the large bloodstain on his abdomen, and her face immediately turned pale. Her mind, occupied by memories, reacted swiftly. Disgust and suffocation filled Gu Ci as she rushed to the bathroom, emptying her stomach of the instant noodles she had eaten earlier. Lu Zhiyuan removed the cloth from his mouth. ¡°Gu Ci, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t respond. The doctor hurriedly checked on her, but she pushed him away. ¡°How is Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°He lost a significant amount of blood, but he¡¯ll be fine after receiving stitches.¡± Gu Ci rinsed her mouth, trying to calm her nerves and suppress the fear in her heart. Ever since Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s previous car accident, she had developed a severe stress response. Even after her rebirth, the stress response still kicked in whenever Lu Zhiyuan was involved in a car accident. ¡°Are you scared of blood?¡± the doctor asked. Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just ran too fast.¡± Seeing that she seemed alright, the doctor stopped pressing further. Lu Zhiyuan had finished receiving stitches, his training uniform soaked in sweat. Gu Ci stared at his exposed abdomen. To facilitate the stitching, Lu Zhiyuan had stripped down to his training suit, leaving his chest bare. As the doctor lowered his training pants, beads of sweat dripped down his chest. Lu Zhiyuan thought it was nothing out of the ordinary. However, when he noticed Gu Ci staring at his abdomen, he became aware of the sensitivity of the wound area. Hastily, he pulled his pants back up. ¡°Stop staring!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice sounded rough. Where would he put his face if she continued to gaze at him like that? ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± How could he, as a man, cry out in pain over such a minor injury? He wasn¡¯t Gu Ziyu. However, Gu Ci¡¯s eyes turned red, and Lu Zhiyuan stared at her in a daze. Was she crying? In his heart, Gu Ci had always been a proud and stubborn young woman. She would rather break her bones than shed tears. They had just quarreled, and she cried the moment he was injured. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t feel the pain from his wound; instead, he felt the blood in his body boiling. His face and ears burned with heat. It was at this moment that he truly realized Gu Ci¡¯s feelings for him. Chen Rushi meant nothing. Gu Ci liked him, so why would she be interested in Chen Rushi? ¡°Gu Ci, come here.¡± Gu Ci walked over, and Lu Zhiyuan gently caressed her hair. ¡°The wound doesn¡¯t hurt. Don¡¯t be sad.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± Gu Ci watched as the doctor wrapped gauze around the wound. How could such a deep wound not hurt? The doctor commented, ¡°There was a time when he fell from a car and broke his bones, yet he didn¡¯t even cry out in pain. His skin is thick, and his flesh is tough. This injury will heal fine.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face turned even paler. Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the doctor coldly. His heart skipped a beat, and he fell silent, refraining from saying anything more. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s car accident had made the news, and a group of reporters had gathered outside the hospital. The Dynasty team¡¯s manager held a press conference, and Li Jiang escorted Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci back to the hotel. After Li Jiang dropped her off at the hotel, he left with understanding. Lu Zhiyuan lay on the bed to rest, but he couldn¡¯t find sleep. Gu Ci sat silently by his side, her eyes red as she stared at him. Her gaze seemed to convey the message, ¡°Kiss me, hurt me. I¡¯m yours.¡± How could Lu Zhiyuan resist such a plea? He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips against hers. He had wanted to do this ever since he was in the hospital. Gu Ci responded with warmth. By the time she regained her senses, Lu Zhiyuan had already pressed her onto the bed. The young and passionate Lu Zhiyuan struggled to control his desires. ¡°What are you doing¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice dropped a few decibels, carrying a hint of complaint and playfulness. Lu Zhiyuan took her hand and showed her how to please him. ¡°You¡¯re so energetic and lively. You should understand¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice grew husky. Gu Ci¡¯s body went numb as she listened. She was powerless to resist his advances, and soon her clothes were drenched in sweat. He left bite marks on her collarbone. The pain brought him back to his senses. Lu Zhiyuan placed one hand beside her ear and struggled to contain himself. Accidentally, she brushed against him with her leg. His eyes burned with desire. The one complaining was actually him. ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t provoke me.¡± Gu Ci obediently lay beneath him, as if giving him full control. The intensity of the scene was so overpowering that Lu Zhiyuan struggled to maintain control. She propped herself up and pecked his lips. ¡°You¡¯re the one who provoked me.¡± Once again, they became lost in each other under the covers, sweating profusely. The wound on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s abdomen couldn¡¯t extinguish the flames of their youthful passion. Gu Ci bit down on his shoulder, and tears streamed down her face. They held each other tightly for a long time. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Lu Zhiyuan hoarsely reassured her, seeing through her fear. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Just like the last time they went racing, Gu Ci had lost control. She didn¡¯t want him to race. The two of them lay side by side under the covers, facing each other.. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Did the accident happen because you were distracted from our argument?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Lu Zhiyuan’s Car Accident Chapter 55: Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s Car Accident Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°No!¡± Lu Zhiyuan exclaimed. ¡°I didn¡¯t control my speed properly when I went through the curve. Gu Ci, accidents can happen on the race track of all kinds. This was just an accident.¡± Gu Ci nodded, still feeling a lingering fear. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°I¡¯ve never had a major accident. Why are you so scared?¡± ¡°In the video, the car flipped over.¡± The moment Gu Ci saw the video, her hands trembled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t fail!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was in high spirits. ¡°I¡¯m the king of the Fl race track.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face turned pale, and she remained silent. Having lost too much blood, Lu Zhiyuan started to feel drowsy. He glanced at his phone. ¡°Gu Ci, you can go back first. I want to rest.¡± It was already past four. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you for a while. After you fall asleep, I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Alright, just remember to go back early.¡± ¡°I will!¡± Lu Zhiyuan had lost a significant amount of blood and fell asleep quickly. Gu Ci rested her head on his hand and pressed it against her cheek. She fell asleep beside him. The lanterns were lit, and night fell. Lu Zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes. The blanket kept him warm. His hand was being used as a pillow by Gu Ci, and his palm was pressed against her cheek. She was sleeping soundly. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze fell upon Gu Ci¡¯s face, and his expression filled with darkness and heaviness. They resembled a loving couple, lying with their necks crossed. Gu Ci¡¯s collarbone bore the imprint of an ambiguous feeling, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s throat tightened. After a moment, Lu Zhiyuan coldly lifted the blanket. Gu Ci woke up, meeting Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s icy gaze. She slowly got up from the bed, while Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t spare her a glance, although his palm still carried her faint fragrance. The two of them shared a silent understanding. They were like strangers, tidying up their clothes. From their body language to their expressions, an air of unfamiliarity surrounded them. ¡°Chen Rushi is very dangerous. Don¡¯t provoke him,¡± Lu Zhiyuan coldly broke the silence. Gu Ci looked at him calmly. ¡°Chen Rushi and I have never met or interacted. If he has his eyes on me, it¡¯s either because of you or Lu Zhiyuan. While you were focused on racing, Chen Rushi wasn¡¯t interested in racing. So I guess he¡¯s here for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite smart!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°But you¡¯re mistaken about one thing. Chen Rushi doesn¡¯t know that I have two faces. He¡¯s just suspicious.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart raced. ¡°Am I his weak point?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at Gu Ci and enunciated each word. ¡°If Chen Rushi wanted to kill him, I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. Do you understand?¡± Gu Ci lowered her head and smiled. ¡°If Lu Zhiyuan is gone, can you still survive?¡± ¡°If we rise, we rise; if we fall, we fall.¡± Lu Zhiyuan sat by the windowsill and poured a glass of wine. Gu Ci said, ¡°No drinking!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. Gu Ci looked at his abdomen. ¡°We have a competition the day after tomorrow. Drinking will affect your recovery.¡± In the corridor, Li Jiang stood uneasily. He wanted to cry but couldn¡¯t shed a tear. Miss Gu Ci, that was Third Master, not Third Young Master. He¡¯s not someone you can order around. When Third Master is angry, his legs go weak. He¡¯s not afraid of anyone. The room fell into silence. Lu Zhiyuan looked at her and put down his wine glass. Gu Ci calmly said, ¡°This body will definitely be my future husband. Please take good care of him.¡± ¡°Gu Ci, I am the owner of this body. I am Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Lu Zhiyuan stood up and looked down at her. ¡°You¡¯re being too presumptuous!¡± Gu Ci was about to say something when Lu Zhiyuan bent over in pain. Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead. Gu Ci was shocked and moved faster than her rationality, quickly helping him to sit down. She brought a glass of warm water and his medication. ¡°Third Master, it¡¯s time to take your medicine!¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked up at her. Due to the pain, his peach blossom eyes were watery. He resembled Lu Zhiyuan. He took the medicine, and it alleviated the pain. Gu Ci said, ¡°Third Master has a heart of stone, but he¡¯s still human. He can feel pain too.¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned slightly. Gu Ci poured him another glass of warm water and handed him the medicine. ¡°You should change your dressing.¡± ¡°No need to worry.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her coldly, keeping her at arm¡¯s length. ¡°Li Jiang will do it.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart ached, and a sour feeling overwhelmed her. ¡°Stay away from Chen Rushi. That¡¯s my decision,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone grew even colder. ¡°You should leave!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart pained. In the afternoon, she and Lu Zhiyuan had embraced and made love, but now, his demeanor had changed. It was as cold as ice, a mix of ice and fire. Gu Ci thought that she would go crazy if she continued like this, let alone Lu Zhiyuan. Zhou Jinjin noticed her pale face and was shocked. ¡°Is Lu Zhiyuan critically ill?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes reddened, and her heart ached. She hugged Zhou Jinjin. ¡°He¡¯s so cold.¡± It wasn¡¯t like this in her previous life. Regardless of which Lu Zhiyuan it was, he had treated her well in her previous life. Zhou Jinjin and Gu Ci had been childhood friends and best friends. They had known each other since they were eight years old and were inseparable. Gu Ci had always been proud and stubborn, never showing weakness. When she was five or six years old, Gu Ci would cry because Lu Man and Gu Wenliang only celebrated Gu Chuyun¡¯s birthday and forgot about her. But by the time she was eight years old, she had stopped shedding tears. She longed for her parents¡¯ love, but she wouldn¡¯t beg for it. Gu Chuyun¡¯s pitiful nature irritated her the most. She would burst into tears at any moment. In junior high school, she got into a fight with the people Gu Chuyun brought along. She was beaten until her little finger broke, but she didn¡¯t shed a single tear. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s heart ached and ached. Her idol turned out to be nothing but a facade. ¡°Babe, don¡¯t be sad. He¡¯s cold, so let¡¯s not pursue him anymore. You¡¯re as beautiful as a flower, and he¡¯s the one trying to climb up the social ladder. Don¡¯t cry. If you cry, I¡¯ll cry too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not watch him race. Let¡¯s go back to China, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll book the plane tickets right away.¡± ¡°Or we can fly to Europe. We can go shopping and relax.¡± Gu Ci rubbed her shoulder. ¡°I want to watch the competition.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay. Then let¡¯s watch the competition.¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s heart ached for her. She thought Lu Zhiyuan seemed to be quite concerned about Gu Ci. Why was he so cold? Gu Ci felt depressed. After soaking in the bath for an hour, Zhou Jinjin sat beside the bathtub. ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s have supper together.¡± ¡°Sounds good!¡± The two of them went to the hotel¡¯s restaurant for supper. Zhou Jinjin watched Gu Ci eat heartily and poured her a glass of cucumber juice. ¡°This lobster isn¡¯t Lu Zhiyuan. Don¡¯t be so ruthless.¡± Chen Rushi entered the dining room with two bodyguards trailing behind him, dressed in black with sunglasses on. ¡°Cici, Jinjin, what a coincidence,¡± Chen Rushi smiled gently. ¡°I came down for supper too. Do you mind if I join you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind!¡± Zhou Jinjin glanced at Gu Ci awkwardly. Gu Ci looked up from her plate filled with food. ¡°This hotel is exclusively booked for the Fl league. It¡¯s for the drivers and team members only. It doesn¡¯t accept outsiders. Mr. Chen, you seem to have quite the connections.¡± Chen Rushi chuckled and said, ¡°A businessman always has some connections. I even managed to get a ticket to watch the competition the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°As long as it makes you happy!¡± Gu Ci wiped her hands and looked at Chen Rushi. ¡°Mr. Chen, you don¡¯t have to try to please me. Honestly, I¡¯m not a fan of racing. I came here to watch it with Jinjin. Whether you pursue me or not is your business. Whether or not to accept you is mine. We¡¯re not compatible, so don¡¯t waste your time on me..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Lu Zhiyuan’s Competition Chapter 56: Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s Competition Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You¡¯ve already said it before. But if you don¡¯t try, how do you know it¡¯s not suitable?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe in trial and error,¡± Gu Ci replied with a frosty expression. ¡°Then tell me, which part of us isn¡¯t suitable?¡± Gu Ci locked eyes with him. Chen Rushi admired her courage. Despite being young, she displayed a maturity and steadiness beyond her years. Gu Ci stated, ¡°Our age difference is not suitable, our family backgrounds don¡¯t match, our interests diverge, and our future plans are incompatible.¡± ¡°Love doesn¡¯t depend on age, background, interests, or future plans,¡± Chen Rushi politely responded. ¡°We can find a way to get along.¡± Gu Ci maintained her calm gaze. ¡°What is it that you like about me?¡± ¡°You have a certain¡­ magnetism that attracted me. Honesty, intelligence, and beauty,¡± Chen Rushi admitted, flashing a charming smile. ¡°After all these years, have you never encountered a generous, intelligent, and beautiful girl by your side?¡± Gu Ci looked at him with a half-smile. ¡°I find that hard to believe.¡± ¡°You always reject those who have feelings for you. Is there someone you have feelings for?¡± Chen Rushi inquired. Gu Ci pondered for a moment. ¡°There is someone I like. Unfortunately, he doesn¡¯t feel the same way about me.¡± After a brief silence, Chen Rushi smiled. ¡°Then he truly lacks taste.¡± Gu Ci laughed at herself. ¡°It¡¯s me who can¡¯t have what I desire. I don¡¯t possess the ability to make him like me. That¡¯s my own issue, not his.¡± She had openly admitted that Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t have feelings for her. Chen Rushi looked at her in surprise. His usually gentle eyes examined Gu Ci¡¯s serene and perfect profile. For a moment, he felt a stir in his heart. Such a beautiful and composed girl was truly captivating. Chen Rushi gazed at Gu Ci¡¯s back and lightly tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°The hunter versus the prey¡­ I must admit, I¡¯m tempted.¡± After Lu Zhiyuan suffered a serious injury, he took a day off from training to focus on recovery. The wound on his abdomen was deep, and the medical team and coaching staff strongly advised him to withdraw from the upcoming competition. Despite being ranked first in the year, there were still more races to come, and participating with an injury posed great risks. However, Lu Zhiyuan was unwilling to give up on the competition. Taking the actual situation into account, he decided to withdraw from the first, second, and third stages of the practice competition and requested direct entry into the qualifying competition. The competition spanned three days, and the qualifying match took place from 10 PM to 11 PM on the second day. If he didn¡¯t participate in any practice matches, he would start last in the qualifying match. The ranking in the qualifying matches also determined the starting order in the main race, where points could be obtained. Zhou Jinjin was a racing fan, but she only had eyes for Lu Zhiyuan. Since Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t participate in the practice matches, she wasn¡¯t interested in watching them. Gu Ci also chose not to attend. After the first day of practice, Gu Ci went to find Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan had just finished his lunch when Gu Ci arrived. He was in the midst of changing his dressing. Li Jiang cleverly handed the task of changing the dressing over to Gu Ci upon seeing her. Gu Ci took a cotton swab to disinfect the wound. It was a deep wound, still showing traces of blood. She furrowed her brows and rcstitched them with precision. Her technique was clean and precise. Leaning slightly over his chest, the breeze in the room tousled her hair, and Lu Zhiyuan caught a whiff of the rose fragrance emanating from it. ¡°Why do you know how to suture?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked, his tone filled with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re so skilled!¡± ¡°Your wound is still bleeding. Can you participate in the competition tomorrow?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t directly answer his question. ¡°No problem!¡± Lu Zhiyuan exclaimed. ¡°If I don¡¯t participate in the qualifying competition, I¡¯ll lose my spot in the main competition.¡± ¡°¡­Alright then,¡± Gu Ci said, her worry evident as she glanced at his wound. After disinfecting it, she wrapped it in gauze. Lu Zhiyuan looked at her long lashes and wondered, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you try to persuade me to give up on the competition?¡± Gu Ci finished wrapping the gauze and gave him a gentle smile. ¡°Because you love it.¡± In her previous life, after being released from prison, Lu Zhiyuan never touched racing again. However, he would secretly watch the replays of every Fl race. Racing was embedded deep within his bones. ¡°Because I love it. Even if you don¡¯t share the same passion, will you support me?¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes reddened. His heart burned with passion, and his blood surged. His enthusiasm and love blazed like a fire. Someone was holding it in the palm of their hand. He had loved racing since he was young. Lu Ze used to say that racing was too dangerous, that it should be for fun and not pursued as a profession. This would always lead to heated arguments, with Lu Ze giving him money as a sponsorship but ultimately aiming to make him give up racing. He was dedicated to racing. He didn¡¯t have many friends, but the ones he had were loyal. They had all vaguely expressed concerns about the dangers of racing and advised him not to become too obsessed. Only the girl whom he had always cherished in his heart never said anything to make him give up, even if she knew he didn¡¯t have feelings for her. Gu Ci said, ¡°I¡¯ll be watching your race from the audience tomorrow.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression subtly turned unhappy. This would be the first time Gu Ci watched him compete seriously. It wasn¡¯t him, Lu Zhiyuan, who was competing, but Third Master. A shadow passed through his mind but was drowned out by Gu Ci¡¯s excitement in understanding him. ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll be in the audience for all your races.¡± Lu Zhiyuan wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her lips. He was eager to prove something, but he didn¡¯t know what exactly. He fumbled around, and his teeth accidentally grazed Gu Ci¡¯s lips. She could feel his passion. He was young and full of energy. ¡°Gu Ci, I will wi.,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s nose nuzzled against hers intimately. His voice was hoarse yet resolute. ¡°Keep watching me, alright?¡± ¡°I will!¡± The next evening, around nine o¡¯clock, the audience was already packed with people. Foreign racing fans shouted the names of their favorite drivers fervently, creating a lively atmosphere. Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin had VIP seats with a great view. They were in separate stands, and there was a large screen in the room. Zhou Jinjin had brought a telescope to better observe the race. In the adjacent VIP stands, Chen Rushi was present. He sat leisurely with Ji Meng, sipping tea. Gu Ci nodded at them. The stands were separated by a screen, so even if they moved away, it wouldn¡¯t affect their view. ¡°Good evening, Cici,¡± Chen Rushi greeted her. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Chen.¡± Gu Ci nodded politely. Lu Zhiyuan was positioned at the very end. His red sports car adorned with a colorful phoenix stood out prominently. The two racers from Dynasty, Lu Zhiyuan, and Max, occupied the fourth place. Gu Ci¡¯s heart raced in her chest. She drank water frequently to quell her nerves. Chen Rushi handed her a glass of fruit juice. ¡°Have some cherry juice. Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Gu Ci maintained a calm and composed expression. Ji Yan glanced at her and remarked, ¡°The world champion, Lu Zhiyuan, is positioned at the end. He¡¯s going to give it his all in this ranking competition if he¡¯s aiming for first place.¡± ¡°As long as he wants it, he can achieve it,¡± Gu Ci responded casually. Lu Zhiyuan had always desired strength and strived to be the best in the world since he was young. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, care for a wager?¡± Ji Rong smiled, revealing faint dimples. Dressed in white clothes and trousers, he appeared harmless and amiable when he smiled. Gu Ci didn¡¯t respond and Chen Rushi asked candidly, ¡°Does Miss Gu Ci like Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°You guys are quite nosy,¡± Zhou Jinjin interjected. ¡°Let¡¯s watch the race quietly. It¡¯s about to start..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Be Strong in Life, Lu Zhiyuan Chapter 57: Be Strong in Life, Lu Zhiyuan Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation At ten o¡¯clock, the race began, and as the race track warmed up, the atmosphere became lively. The audience in the seats also joined in the excitement, with Zhou Jinjin screaming and shouting Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name. Ji Ran poured a glass of wine and rubbed his ears. ¡°You¡¯ll probably do better if I give you a loudspeaker.¡± ¡°None of your business!¡± Zhou Jinjin snapped back viciously. She paid no attention to anyone, not even the handsome guys. She jumped and screamed, her voice drowning out everything else. The VIP seats were filled with wealthy women and hardcore fans, and amidst the chaos, someone shouted even louder than Zhou Jinjin while a group of girls screamed like crazy. Lu Zhiyuan maneuvered through the curves on the straight track but found himself stuck in the middle. Driver 22 quickly finished the first 15 minutes and eliminated six drivers, leaving Lu Zhiyuan in eleventh place. The timer was reset to zero after a five-minute break. The 16 cars lined up in order and took to the track again. The drivers resumed their chase, intensifying the competition for the top five positions. Lu Zhiyuan remained trapped in the middle, with Zhou Jinjin¡¯s voice now hoarse from constantly shouting his name. ¡°Go, overtake! Don¡¯t be scared, catch up! Oh, damn it, number 14 just overtook us. Isn¡¯t that a foul? Referee, are you blind? Ahhhh, this idiot keeps blocking my husband from overtaking! Fuck¡­¡± Ji Xiong was sipping his wine when Zhou Jinjin¡¯s words startled him, causing him to spit out the red wine and stare in disbelief. Who did you just say husband? Chen Rushi also seemed surprised. Zhou Jinjin had referred to Lu Zhiyuan as her ¡°hubby¡±? Although both Lu Zhiyuan and Zhou Jinjin were Chinese, they had grown up in Europe and the United States, away from the local culture. ¡°Damn it, Cici, look! That idiot is blocking my husband again. I¡¯m so angry. Who is this fucking idiot? Ferrari, huh¡­ Fl killer, no wonder. Lu Zhiyuan, you have to teach him a lesson!¡± The second stage of 15 minutes quickly came to an end, eliminating another 6 participants and leaving only 10 remaining. The third stage followed a 20-minute competition that would determine the starting order for the main race. Everyone had to fight for their position. Both No. 14 and Max made it to the third round. Lu Zhiyuan clutched his lower abdomen, feeling the pain intensify. He hadn¡¯t exerted much strength in the first half of the match, but his wound had reopened, causing him considerable discomfort. The qualifying match was now over, and the main race would take place the following day. Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the VIP stands. Gu Ci sat among the spectators, her gaze fixed on him. Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath. The crew was busy changing tires and inspecting the car. During the break, fans enthusiastically shouted the names of their favorite drivers, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s name resounded the loudest. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan isn¡¯t in good condition,¡± Chen Rushi calmly stated, sipping his red wine. ¡°I don¡¯t think he can secure first place in the qualifying competition.¡± Zhou Jinjin and Gu Ci looked at each other simultaneously. Zhou Jinjin placed her hands on her hips. ¡°The third section hasn¡¯t even been completed yet. How can you be sure he won¡¯t get first place? The reason he ran slower today was because of the impact from the car accident. He¡¯s injured and conserving his strength!¡± Chen Rushi hadn¡¯t expected to be challenged by the young girl and regarded her with a gentle gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Ji Chi applauded her and gave her a thumbs-up. Gu Ci remained silent, but her eyes remained fixed on Lu Zhiyuan. She recalled his words. He had said, ¡°Gu Ci, I will win.¡± The third stage began. Lu Zhiyuan prepared himself for the race. This time, his starting position was particularly unfavorable as he was stuck in the middle. As they sprinted, all the drivers followed a fixed track. The Ferrari driver was ahead of Lu Zhiyuan, deliberately blocking his position. ¡°Is this idiot doing it on purpose? Is he?¡± Zhou Jinjin fumed. ¡°Referee, are you blind?¡± When Lu Zhiyuan attempted to overtake the car, it didn¡¯t give way. Fortunately, with his experience, he managed to stabilize himself at the corner. Any other driver would have veered off the track. In the tenth minute, Lu Zhiyuan found the perfect moment to overtake from the outer circle. It was one of the most challenging overtakes, but with his exceptional skills and mental fortitude, he pushed the Ferrari driver off the track. The driver attempted to retaliate, but Lu Zhiyuan accelerated, avoiding the collision. The Ferrari driver careened off the track, crashing into the guardrail. The medical team quickly attended to him. ¡°Beautiful!¡± Zhou Jinjin leaped up and shouted. The stands erupted with cheers and shouts. This overtaking maneuver was truly remarkable, eliciting a wave of excitement. After overtaking the car, Lu Zhiyuan secured third place, closely trailing the second-place driver. The Ferrari driver remained in the lead, with both drivers working together to impede Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s progress. Max held the fourth position, responsible for blocking the driver behind Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci felt a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. It was her first time witnessing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s qualifying race. In the past, when she was with Zhou Jinjin, she had never truly observed him. In her previous life, she had also dabbled in racing and knew how dangerous Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s maneuver had been. If the angle of the curve had been slightly different, he could have flipped over. A daring competitor! Zhou Jinjin proudly remarked, ¡°As expected of you. Keep going!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to secure first place. The main race is tomorrow,¡± Gu Ci said, her nerves tingling, yet she remained rational. The Third Master was in the race car, and he was more level-headed than her, knowing how to make strategic choices. The qualifying match was merely for determining the starting order, and third place was already advantageous. It was wise to conserve his energy. Chen Rushi twirled his thumb ring, a slight smile playing on his lips. ¡°He has surpassed my expectations every step of the way. I believe he can achieve first place.¡± As they conversed, Lu Zhiyuan executed a brilliant inside overtake, securing the second position. There were still three minutes remaining until the end of the race. Lu Zhiyuan continued to accelerate, utilizing his exceptional skills. Gu Ci stood up, finding it hard to believe what she was witnessing. Had he gone mad? She gripped the railing, listening to the deafening cheers. There was only one thought in her mind¡ªwas he in pain? He was injured, and the track was incredibly intense. Racing at full speed would undoubtedly worsen his injuries. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s voice had turned hoarse from constant shouting. She was the most fervent fan, wishing she could amplify her cheers with a loudspeaker. Chen Rushi, on the other hand, sipped his red wine, but his gaze was fixed on Gu Ci. The fire burning on the racetrack clashed with Gu Ci¡¯s cold, snow-like demeanor. She stood out, fragile and abrupt amidst the fervor. Chen Rushi licked his lips. Suddenly, he felt an unfamiliar impulse. What if her gaze were directed at him? This thought ignited an unexpected desire within him. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, don¡¯t accelerate any further,¡± Gu Ci muttered to herself. The atmosphere on the field reached its peak. The cheers of the fans, the excited shouts from the televised broadcast, and the fierce battle between Lu Zhiyuan and the Ferrari driver for first place captivated everyone¡¯s attention. Lu Zhiyuan exerted his utmost effort to catch up. The finish line drew near, with just one minute remaining. Just when the Ferrari fans believed victory was within their grasp and that Lu Zhiyuan, injured, would not risk overtaking, he surpassed the Ferrari driver by half a car¡¯s length in the last ten seconds. With his exceptional skills and determination, he crossed the finish line.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: It’s Too Hard for Him to Eat Chapter 58: It¡¯s Too Hard for Him to Eat Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°AAAAAAAAAH Lu Zhiyuan, you arc the king!¡± Zhou Jinjin screamed ecstatically. ¡°You¡¯re the king! The championship is ours! It will always be ours!¡± ¡°Cici, he won!¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t surprise Ji Chi. Chen Rushi remained composed, but Gu Ci felt a pang in her heart as if she had been injected with a shot of adrenaline. ¡°I told you he would definitely win.¡± With his own efforts, he had warmed up two private rooms that were initially filled with a cold ambience. The applause from the audience was all for Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci watched as he stepped out of the car, removed his helmet, and gently wiped the sweat off his hair. Every move he made was magnified in Gu Ci¡¯s eyes. He greeted the audience with his usual expression while Zhou Jinjin busied herself taking photos. She had brought a camera and was looking for the best angle to capture the moments. Max had secured seventh place, which was not bad. Ji Chi half-smiled and said, ¡°Just two days ago, he was seriously injured in a car accident and had over 20 stitches. Why did he push himself so hard in the qualifying race? People who don¡¯t know any better might think his girlfriend is in the stands.¡± Gu Ci glanced at Ji Chi, who was calmly sipping his drink. ¡°Young people are always impulsive.¡± The Dynasty team advanced to the main race. Lu Zhiyuan cast a glance at the VIP stands. Gu Ci felt as if his gaze was on her, but it could also be an illusion. Lu Zhiyuan followed the medical team backstage. ¡°Jinjin, go back to the hotel first.¡± Gu Ci quickly left. Chen Rushi looked at her retreating figure and swirled the red wine in his glass, wearing a cold smile. Lu Zhiyuan had suffered serious injuries and still competed fiercely in the qualifying race for the championship. It had already become a trending topic, creating a huge buzz. After stepping off the track, he went straight to the hospital. Many people were concerned about how he would perform in the race, but more people admired his unwavering determination and sportsmanship. After an hour of high-intensity racing, even a healthy driver would feel utterly exhausted, let alone Lu Zhiyuan, whose physical condition was compromised. Gu Ci took Li Jiang¡¯s car to the hospital. When he removed his training clothes, she noticed the gauze stained red with blood. He had lost a significant amount of blood, and his face looked extremely pale. He needed a blood transfusion and additional stitches. ¡°Third Young Master, the medical team advises you to withdraw from tomorrow¡¯s competition,¡± the doctor said. The second injury was even more severe. Gu Ci stood at the door and overheard the doctor¡¯s words. Li Jiang spoke in a low voice, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, please persuade Third Master.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t persuade him!¡± Gu Ci replied calmly. If it were Lu Zhiyuan, there might be some hope. Gu Ci stood by the window, silently peeling an apple. Lu Zhiyuan lay half-reclined, his expression neutral, and said, ¡°Go back to the hotel.¡± ¡°I want to wait until Lu Zhiyuan wakes up.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°You rest, and I¡¯ll occupy myself. We won¡¯t disturb each other.¡± Gu Ci meticulously peeled all ten apples that were brought by the motorcade to visit the patient. She peeled them slowly and gracefully. Lu Zhiyuan glanced at her, then at the ten peeled apples, but said nothing. Li Jiang brought a nutritious meal, and Gu Ci went to wash her hands in the bathroom. Li Jiang was taken aback. ¡°Why did Miss Gu Ci peel all the apples?¡± Third Master only ate apples. A few had already oxidized because she had peeled them too early. Lu Zhiyuan looked at him coldly. Li Jiang didn¡¯t dare to say anything else and placed the nutritious meal in front of him. Lu Zhiyuan was receiving an IV drip with one hand while Li Jiang unpacked the meal. ¡°Third Master, I¡¯ll go get a few more apples.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Li Jiang hesitated. Did he really not want an apple after every meal? But he didn¡¯t dare to question Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s words and quietly left the ward. Gu Ci read the news on her phone while Lu Zhiyuan ate silently. Occasionally, he glanced at the large apples in front of him, unsure of how to eat them, his appetite affected. Gu Ci removed all the apples he wanted to eat, deliberately placing them in front of him. She scrolled through her phone for a while. The news was filled with praises for Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s sportsmanship. This wave of support and the increase in fans. Gu Ci looked up and caught Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze moving away from the apple. Gu Ci took an apple and took a bite. She continued reading the news as she ate the apple. Ten minutes later, Lu Zhiyuan lost his appetite, and Gu Ci had eaten three apples. She smiled and asked Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Would you like to have one?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, his eyes cold. Gu Ci tossed all the apples into the trash can in front of him. Gu Ci wiped her hands and continued scrolling through her phone. The atmosphere in the room became tense and stifling. ¡°Li Jiang!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice lacked any emotion. When Li Jiang entered, he barely touched the nutritious meal. Upon seeing the large apple in the trash can, Li Jiang¡¯s eyes widened. He suspected that Miss Gu Ci had done it intentionally, but he had no evidence. He was the only one who knew Third Master¡¯s food preferences, but he kept his mouth shut and never revealed it. Third Young Master despised apples the most. Li Jiang collected the uneaten meal and left the ward. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan were the only ones left in the room. One pretended to sleep while lying down, and the other read the news on her phone. The sound of their breathing was the only noise, intertwining with each other. ¡°Gu Ci, if you want to see him, come back at dawn.¡± Lu Zhiyuan interlocked his fingers over his stomach. He couldn¡¯t ignore her presence. ¡°I¡¯m not used to sharing a room with others.¡± They silently stared at each other. A tinge of pain flickered in Gu Ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°Then get up and drive me away.¡± ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t test my limits.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s unhappiness was evident, and his tone grew heavier. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Gu Ci clenched her teeth and gazed deeply into his cold eyes. They faced each other in silence. ¡°Fine!¡± Gu Ci stood up. ¡°As you wish!¡± When Li Jiang saw Gu Ci leave, his expression turned desolate. In his heart, he thought, Third Young Master, every debt has its debtor. This has nothing to do with me. If you really can¡¯t bear it, slap yourself. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going back. Get me a separate ward. Don¡¯t inform him.¡± Li Jiang found himself in a difficult position. ¡°Alright.¡± Gu Ci stayed in the neighboring ward. She wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. Leaning against the window, she gazed at the dark night. Gu Ziyu called her through a video call. Gu Ci answered, ¡°You¡¯re awake, baby.¡± Gu Ziyu rubbed his eyes. ¡°I just woke up. Is Mom in the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes, Dad¡¯s wound reopened.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about him. He¡¯s strong and tough, always showing off his skills. He won¡¯t die.¡± The little one¡¯s voice sounded peculiar. He heated up some milk and toasted himself. ¡°Mommy, are you coming back with the motorcade?¡± ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Jinjin wants to go to Europe. I¡¯ll go with her.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Gu Ziyu took a bite of his toast. Gu Ci glanced playfully at Third Master¡¯s expression and smiled. ¡°Baby, are you mad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad.¡± Gu Ziyu picked up an apple and started eating it. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but think that Gu Ziyu was truly like Third Master. No wonder Li Jiang was so respectful towards him. ¡°Are the apples tasty?¡± ¡°Delicious!¡± ¡°Children need a balanced diet. Try eating more oranges and strawberries.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like those..¡± Gu Ziyu said, ¡°Mom, why do you look so sad?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Third Master and Gu Ci Chapter 59: Third Master and Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Are you feeling sad?¡± Gu Ci touched her face, almost numb from the emotional rollercoaster she had been through. At times, she felt like she was in heaven, while at others, she felt like she was in hell. Lu Zhiyuan had given her the experience of soaring in flying cars through the clouds. ¡°Yes, you look very sad,¡± Gu Ziyu responded after a moment of thought. To imitate emotions, he had observed thousands of sad faces and remembered every expression of sadness. ¡°Mommy is just tired.¡± Gu Ziyu shook his head. ¡°Did Daddy scold you?¡± Gu Ci was speechless. Gu Ziyu clenched his fists. ¡°Mom, wait ten years. When I grow up, I¡¯ll help you beat him up.¡± Gu Ci burst out laughing. ¡°Ziyu, Daddy didn¡¯t scold me. Daddy¡¯s wound opened up. There¡¯s still a competition tomorrow, so Mommy is very worried.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Gu Ziyu suddenly understood. ¡°Alright, Mom. I¡¯ll go for training then. Come home early.¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy loves you.¡± ¡°I love Mommy too!¡± Gu Ci gazed at the night sky and couldn¡¯t help but frown when she thought of Lu Zhiyuan. If he knew that his son resembled Third Master so much, he would undoubtedly be depressed. The next day, at dawn, Gu Ci went to find Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan was engrossed in his phone. ¡°This idiot, I really want to¡­¡± Gu Ci, why are you here so early?¡± He fumbled with his phone, dropping it to the ground in his haste. Gu Ci picked it up and discovered that Lu Zhiyuan had been searching for news about his achieving first place. Seeing that he had indeed won first place, he had even started cursing? ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy you placed first?¡± ¡°Happy, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Lu Zhiyuan clenched his teeth. ¡°Go, call the doctor!¡± ¡°Yes, Third Young Master!¡± Gu Ci pulled a chair over and sat beside him, observing his gloomy expression. The competition was scheduled for four o¡¯clock that day, and he had to be at the venue by two in the afternoon. Lu Zhiyuan checked his wound with an unfriendly expression. The patient¡¯s visitor sent another fruit basket filled with apples. Lu Zhiyuan raised his voice and said, ¡°Someone entered through the door. Take this fruit basket away. I don¡¯t want to see a single apple!¡± The bodyguard rushed in and took the fruit basket away. Gu Ci watched his furious actions after waking up, suppressing her laughter. The doctor hurriedly entered the room. After examining the wound, he once again advised Lu Zhiyuan to give up on the race. ¡°Third Master, in the qualifying competition, our medical team advises you to conserve your strength. Just aim for sixth place. If you exhaust yourself to achieve first place, although you¡¯ll have the advantage of starting the race, your injuries will worsen. It won¡¯t be beneficial for today¡¯s race.¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense, and seal it!¡± Lu Zhiyuan declared firmly. ¡°I must go on stage!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was irritated. He had already told Third Master that fifth place was sufficient. There was no need to strive for first place. The main competition was the points competition, and the qualifying round wasn¡¯t as crucial. ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯ve already had four injections during the A City competition. Having another injection within such a short period will have a greater impact on your body.¡± ¡°After the Lavis competition, I¡¯ll take a good rest.¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the doctor, his gaze resolute and unwavering. ¡°Proceed with the injection!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was annoyed. He wanted to discuss the plan first, but the doctors looked at each other and left the room. He couldn¡¯t decide who he was angrier with. Casually, Gu Ci remarked, ¡°I was taking care of you last night!¡± In his rage, Lu Zhiyuan suddenly raised his head and stared at Gu Ci. For a moment, his anger subsided, and his usually playful peach blossom eyes were filled with panic. ¡°What did you say?¡± Gu Ci smiled like the warm winter sun. ¡°After yesterday¡¯s match, you were hospitalized. I¡¯ve been by your side the entire time. You should have realized your injury last night, but you only got angry this morning. Your reaction time is a little slow.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was speechless. His hands trembled slightly as he pulled up the blanket, avoiding Gu Ci¡¯s gaze. His breathing quickened when Gu Ci approached him, and he suddenly covered his head. ¡°My head hurts. I can¡¯t remember what happened last night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. You¡¯re injured and have a bad temper. You didn¡¯t want to see me either,¡± Gu Ci replied casually. ¡°Fuck!¡± Lu Zhiyuan muttered under his breath. Then, he raised his head and smiled, revealing a trace of tenderness. ¡°I was out of my mind. You¡¯re not angry, are you?¡± ¡°I was so angry that I couldn¡¯t sleep all night,¡± Gu Ci said lightly, pointing to the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°See these?¡± Lu Zhiyuan felt extremely awkward. He had made a mistake as Third Master and now had to apologize. It was truly frustrating. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face stiffened, but she held back her laughter. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said after contemplating for a moment. ¡°Next time I scold you, punch me in the face if you¡¯re angry. The harder, the better.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. Lu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly. ¡°What if you retaliate?¡± ¡°I dare him to!¡± Lu Zhiyuan blurted out. Their eyes met, and both were momentarily stunned. Lu Zhiyuan quickly grinned mischievously. ¡°I won¡¯t fight back when you hit me. I won¡¯t scold you in return. I promise.¡± Li Jiang, who stood by the door, wiped his brow, relieved. ¡°Third Young Master, please don¡¯t trick Miss Gu Ci. I beg you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember what you said,¡± Gu Ci said as she handed him the milk that Li Jiang had warmed up. Lu Zhiyuan held the milk in his hands but remained silent. In his heart, he thought that Li Jiang really didn¡¯t want to work anymore. He had allowed Gu Ci to get close to Third Master. Gu Ci felt her heart ache for him. Besides, he needed to prepare for the race at two in the afternoon. Fl racers had to be fully focused and couldn¡¯t afford any distractions. It was too dangerous. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I like you just the way you are now.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he felt overjoyed. Gu Ci continued, ¡°In my eyes, you have a sharp tongue but a gentle heart. You have a bad temper, yet you love to smile. You¡¯ve always been the brightest star in my eyes.¡± He gazed at the cold yet gentle girl in front of him, and his heart swelled with intense emotion. Who could resist such a sincere and tender confession? She was the treasure he had protected since childhood. ¡°Then keep looking at me,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, his emotions surging and seeking an outlet. But he restrained them within his heart. ¡°Don¡¯t look at anyone else.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci leaned in and kissed him. She embraced his neck with both hands and playfully rubbed her nose against his. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, can you promise me one thing?¡± ¡°Tell me!¡± Lu Zhiyuan brushed his lips against hers, leaving them moist from their kisses. She was so adorable. If she asked for his life at that moment, he would gladly give it to her. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you become the world champion or not. I just want you to be safe,¡± Gu Ci gently caressed his cheek. ¡°If anything happens to you¡­¡± I won¡¯t be able to live alone! Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Zhiyuan fiercely kissed her lips, almost biting them. After a long while, he regained his composure. ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci hadn¡¯t slept all night, and Lu Zhiyuan had a meeting with the racing team. She decided to return to the hotel first and attend the competition in the afternoon. As she left the hospital, she noticed a car parked by the roadside. Chen Rushi smiled at her. ¡°Miss Gu, what a coincidence. Arc you going back to the hotel? Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just walk,¡± Gu Ci replied, pondering for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. It¡¯s just a kilometer away,¡± Chen Rushi insisted. Seeing Ji Chi in the car as well, Gu Ci contemplated for a moment before finally getting in.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: I’ve Taken Your Woman Chapter 60: I¡¯ve Taken Your Woman Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Chen Rushi walked towards the hotel together. He was gentle and courteous. ¡°Did you spend the whole night at the hospital? You look tired.¡± Gu Ci reclined in her seat. ¡°Why did you come to the hospital?¡± ¡°Give me some anti-inflammatory medicine,¡± Chen Rushi said honestly. Gu Ci nodded but didn¡¯t say anything. The hotel was right in front of her, and for some reason, her eyelids grew heavy. Gu Ci leaned back in her seat and fell asleep. The car passed by the hotel without stopping. Ji Chi spoke up, ¡°Master Chen, please think twice.¡± Chen Ru smiled, twirling his thumb ring. ¡°I have considered your suggestion. If you like her, then fight for her. Why are you worried?¡± Ji Chi smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been getting to know Miss Gu Ci lately. She is composed and intelligent, so¡­ it¡¯s a pity.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Chen Ru looked at Gu Ci¡¯s fair profile. ¡°I¡¯m just inviting Miss Gu Ci to dinner.¡± Ji Chi shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business anyway.¡± Ji Chi closed his eyes. In an instant, he wanted to do so many things, but he couldn¡¯t do anything. He could inform Third Master or Young Master, but he couldn¡¯t take any action. Who was this round testing? He had to make the best judgment and choice in a short period of time. Gu Ci¡¯s life was of utmost importance. What should he do? If Third Master found out that Miss Gu Ci was missing, would he be able to focus on the competition in the afternoon? If he was distracted and something happened, Third Master¡¯s identity would likely be exposed. Chen Rushi only suspected Third Master¡¯s identity but hadn¡¯t confirmed it. Third Master had also arranged for a stand-in to handle important matters. No matter how much Chen Rushi could predict the future, he wouldn¡¯t be 100% certain. If anything happened to Third Master during the competition and his stand-in was exposed, his identity would also be revealed. When Gu Ci woke up, she found herself in a European-style villa. Her sharp gaze pierced through the window screen, fixing on the floor. Gu Ci felt a dizziness overcome her. She sat up, her eyes slightly cold. Her phone had run out of battery. She looked out the window. It was a nearby villa area, sparsely populated, with a vast expanse of lawn stretching as far as the eye could see. Gu Ci glanced at the European-style wall clock. It was already 2:30 in the afternoon. Lu Zhiyuan should be preparing for the competition. Gu Ci descended the stairs. Chen Rushi sat in the hall, watching the race broadcast on television. On the screen, the racers were familiarizing themselves with the track and going through their pre-match preparations. Commentators were discussing each racer¡¯s characteristics. Lu Zhiyuan was still the favorite to win the championship. ¡°Cici, you¡¯re awake. You can watch the race now.¡± ¡°I want to go to the venue,¡± Gu Ci stood by the sofa, looking calmly at Chen Rushi. ¡°I still want to treat you to dinner, Cici.¡± ¡°After the race, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner, Mr. Chen.¡± Chen Rushi smiled at her. Though he sat down, he exuded an air of dominance. Gu Ci understood. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you trying to keep me under house arrest here?¡± ¡°After dinner, I¡¯ll personally escort you back to the hotel.¡± Gu Ci felt displeased and anxious. She hoped that Lu Zhiyuan wasn¡¯t aware of her disappearance. ¡°I need to make a phone call.¡± Chen Ru continued smiling. ¡°Rest well, Little Ci.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± ¡°Do you know the law of the jungle?¡± ¡°Survival of the fittest.¡± Chen Rushi chuckled and said, ¡°Yes, survival of the fittest. The whole world follows the law of the jungle. Competition is a life-and-death struggle.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°You don¡¯t know Lu Zhiyuan at all. He¡¯s so focused on racing. What kind of hatred or grudge do you have that you want to kill him?¡± ¡°You grew up with Lu Zhiyuan. You know him best,¡± Chen Ru smiled and asked. ¡°If you go missing, do you think he¡¯ll give up the race?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t!¡± Gu Ci said softly. ¡°Racing is his life.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see!¡± Chen Ru said, being honest. Gu Ci grew furious and walked out of the villa. Just as she reached the door, two bodyguards blocked her path. Gu Ci glanced at the guns bolstered at their waists and turned to face Chen Rushi. ¡°Chen Rushi, did you approach me because of Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°Yes and no!¡± Chen Rushi waved his hand, and the bodyguards stepped aside. Chen Rushi stood before her with a smile, his movements elegant, like a knight confessing his love in ancient times. ¡°I must admit, I¡¯m somewhat moved by you, Little Cici. You¡¯re the most captivating girl I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°You like me?¡± Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°You could say that!¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°Chen Rushi, have you never been in a real relationship?¡± ¡°I can learn from you.¡± The corners of Gu Ci¡¯s lips curled up, and her phoenix-like eyes were deep. ¡°If keeping me under house arrest is your way of showing your love, then I don¡¯t want it. I don¡¯t need your confirmation to know that I¡¯m captivating. You put on a gentle and courteous facade, but it can¡¯t hide your cold and cruel nature. You¡¯re truly pitiful. No one around you genuinely loves you.¡± Chen Rushi suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Ci¡¯s chin. His grip was so strong that it felt like he wanted to crush her bones. A dark light flickered in his eyes. ¡°Cici, there¡¯s no benefit in angering me!¡± Gu Ci met his gaze head-on. Chen Rushi then smiled and released his grip, pretending to be apologetic. ¡°Cici, did it hurt? I¡¯m sorry. I lost control for a moment. Be good and suffer less.¡± He was like a twisted lover, seemingly gentle but sending chills down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Pervert!¡± Gu Ci turned around and went upstairs. It felt as if she were being stared at by a venomous snake. Chen Rushi smiled as he watched her leave. He sniffed his hands, intoxicated by the lingering scent of Gu Ci¡¯s skin. Gu Ci closed the door behind her. There were two cameras in the corridor. Calmly, she searched the room for cameras, but she couldn¡¯t find any. She listened carefully but heard nothing. Chen Rushi viewed her as a stubborn and ignorant eighteen-year-old girl, so he wouldn¡¯t be too cautious. Gu Ci stood by the window and looked downstairs. Security guards were patrolling the area. Time ticked away. Gu Ci stood by the window, silently memorizing the guards¡¯ changing routine. It was almost four o¡¯clock. Gu Ci descended the stairs. Chen Rushi was still watching the race. Lu Zhiyuan appeared on the screen, already preparing to race. Gu Ci could only pray that Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t know she was missing. Indeed, Lu Zhiyuan was unaware of Gu Ci¡¯s disappearance. He glanced at the VIP stands out of habit, searching for Zhou Jinjin. Zhou Jinjin was anxiously looking for Gu Ci. In the afternoon, she assumed Gu Ci was with Lu Zhiyuan and didn¡¯t pay much attention. But when she couldn¡¯t reach Gu Ci on the phone, she came to the venue. Chen Rushi and Ji Chi were absent from the stands, and so was Gu Ci. Zhou Jinjin grew more anxious. Lu Zhiyuan was about to compete, and as a dedicated fan, she knew he had to stay focused and not be distracted. She went in search of Lu Zhiyuan. On the track, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s team was inspecting the car. The Ferrari driver approached him to shake hands. As they crossed paths, the driver spoke in a low and deep voice, ¡°Someone told me to tell you that he took your woman away.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Jiang hurried over and whispered into Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s ear. When the driver was about to leave, Lu Zhiyuan grabbed his racing suit, hostility burning in his eyes.. ¡°Who took her?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Third Master’s Gentleness Chapter 61: Third Master¡¯s Gentleness Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Take a guess,¡± the driver provoked him, but Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t utter a word. He removed his helmet and walked away. The driver couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Is a woman more important to him than his race? He actually gave up the game!¡± Li Jiang hurriedly followed him. ¡°Third Young Master, the match is about to begin.¡± Lu Zhiyuan turned his head and gazed at his beloved race track, his face dark as water. ¡°How long has she been missing?¡± Li Jiang gritted his teeth. ¡°Zhou Jinjin said he hasn¡¯t been able to contact Miss Gu Ci.¡± ¡°Go and check the surveillance cameras at the hospital entrance,¡± Lu Zhiyuan decisively ordered. A match lasted for two hours, and he couldn¡¯t afford to gamble. In a foreign country, every second delayed meant Gu Ci¡¯s life was in danger. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Li Jiang sent someone to inspect the surveillance cameras. ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯ve already missed one game this year. If you miss this one too, you won¡¯t be able to win the world championship.¡± ¡°The championship may be gone, but I can reclaim it!¡± Lu Zhiyuan gazed longingly at the track once more and reaffirmed his decision. Gu Ci was the one thing he couldn¡¯t afford to lose. The commentator was perplexed; he had no idea what had transpired. Five minutes later, the Dynasty team announced that driver Lu Zhiyuan had withdrawn from the race due to an injury, forfeiting all the points for the Grand Prize and effectively eliminating his chances of winning this year¡¯s world championship. In front of the TV, Gu Ci gritted her teeth. The camera captured the way Lu Zhiyuan looked back at the track. She saw longing, reluctance, and love in his eyes. Gu Ci¡¯s eyes reddened, and her heart ached. His gaze shattered her. ¡°Cici, Lu Zhiyuan gave up the competition for you. It seems you don¡¯t know him well enough.¡± Gu Ci concealed her heartbreak. She stared at Chen Rushi and spoke each word with determination. ¡°Chen Rushi, I will never forgive you!¡± Chen Rushi felt a strange pang, but he smiled. ¡°Then remember me.¡± Without Lu Zhiyuan in the race, Gu Ci lost interest as well. She turned and headed upstairs. Ji Chi entered the room. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan is checking the hospital¡¯s surveillance cameras. Sooner or later, he will find out about you.¡± ¡°What do I have to fear?¡± Chen Rushi remained calm and composed. ¡°If he¡¯s not the Third Master, what can he do to me?¡± ¡°Do you really believe he isn¡¯t?¡± Ji Ran, hands in his pockets, adopted a relaxed posture. ¡°Young and impulsive, driven by love, quick to anger, and willing to abandon his goals for a woman,¡± Chen Rushi crossed his arms. ¡°That¡¯s not the Third Master¡¯s style.¡± Ji Chii thought to himself that the Third Master of the Black Eagle and the Third Master of the world champion were like ice and fire; their styles naturally differed. ¡°What about Miss Gu Ci?¡± Ji Chi pointed upstairs. ¡°Prepare a sumptuous dinner to welcome the world champion,¡± Chen Rushi¡¯s eyes gleamed with arrogance and gentleness. ¡°What can Lu Zhiyuan dare to do to me?¡± Night fell, and the sky filled with stars. Gu Ci watched as the security guards rotated their shifts frequently. She seized the right moment to push open the door. Just as she was about to jump down, she spotted a row of bright headlights in the distance. Three minutes later, five sports cars were neatly parked in front of the villa. Lu Zhiyuan emerged from one of them, donning a long black trench coat. His silent and cold gaze locked with Gu Ci¡¯s on the second floor. Gu Ci felt a mix of emotions. Lu Zhiyuan beckoned with his finger, and Gu Ci smiled faintly. The stars in the sky seemed to descend into her eyes. As she turned to go downstairs, she heard footsteps outside the door. Chen Rushi¡¯s bodyguards entered. She hastily pushed open the window and jumped from the second floor. Lu Zhiyuan was taken aback, fearing she might fall. He was about to teleport to catch her, but Gu Ci had already landed. Unfortunately, she landed on a small stone, spraining her right foot. Chen Rushi swiftly approached her and held her in his arms. Ji Chi emerged from the door as well. ¡°Third Young Master Lu, what are you doing?¡± Chen Rushi inquired, wearing a gentle smile. ¡°Gu Ci, come here!¡± Lu Zhiyuan unbuttoned his cufflinks and nonchalantly rolled up his sleeves, exposing his exquisite wrists. Gu Ci wanted to go to his side but felt a sharp pain in her ankle. Chen Rushi grasped her wrist. Lu Zhiyuan advanced slowly. ¡°Did he bully you?¡± ¡°No!¡± Chen Rushi interjected, ¡°I have affection for Cici and invited her over for a romantic dinner. Why would I bully her? Third Young Master Lu has misunderstood. It¡¯s dinnertime. Third Young Master, would you like to join us?¡± Lu Zhiyuan approached Chen Rushi. Unfazed, Chen Rushi was confident that Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t dare to harm him. There was a hint of provocation in his eyes. Suddenly, Lu Zhiyuan threw a punch at Chen Rushi. The bodyguards behind him promptly drew their guns, aiming the black barrels at Lu Zhiyuan. Likewise, Li Jiang and his security team also brandished their firearms. The tension was palpable. Chen Rushi turned his head and touched the corner of his lips, detecting a trace of blood. He flexed the muscles on his cheeks, a flicker of hostility crossing his eyes. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, how dare you strike me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan removed the white cloth from his chest and casually wiped his hands as if he had touched something filthy. His demeanor was casual and cold. ¡°I struck you. What are you going to do about it?¡± Chen Rushi¡¯s gaze grew heavy. The bodyguards behind him were armed and aimed at Lu Zhiyuan. At his command, bullets could pierce through Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s head. Ji Chi chuckled. ¡°Master Chen, Third Master, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± Chen Rushi suppressed the anger within him and raised his hand. His security guards bolstered their guns, as did Li Jiang and his team. ¡°He gave up the world championship for Cici,¡± Chen Rushi applauded. ¡°The Third Young Master is truly infatuated.¡± Lu Zhiyuan leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°Stay away from her. This is my final warning.¡± With that said, he bent down, lifted Gu Ci horizontally, and effortlessly carried her to the car. Gu Ci looked at him in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were profound and bottomless. He placed her inside the car and departed with an air of pride. Li Jiang and the security guards also boarded the car and left together. Chen Rushi¡¯s face turned as dark as ink as he punched the pillar. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I won¡¯t forget this!¡± Ji Chi spoke softly, ¡°Master Chen, Third Master called to discuss the project in C Nation with you.¡± Chen Rushi turned around and entered the villa, suppressing his anger in an instant. In the car, Lu Zhiyuan drove in silence. Gu Ci apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Zhiyuan kept his gaze fixed ahead and replied casually, ¡°I¡¯m the one who caused you trouble. You don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± No matter how vigilant Gu Ci was, she couldn¡¯t evade Chen Rushi. Lu Zhiyuan spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t bother you for long.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent. The car stopped in front of a restaurant. Gu Ci questioned, ¡°Why have you brought me to a restaurant?¡± ¡°To eat!¡± Only then did Gu Ci realize her long-lasting hunger. She hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk anything all day and was so famished that she had nearly forgotten. The aroma of food rekindled her empty stomach. Li Jiang, accompanied by the security guards, stood guard on both sides. Their presence caused more than half of the customers to leave the restaurant. The experienced boss knew better than to protest. Li Jiang went to place the food order. Lu Zhiyuan half-squatted in front of her as if proposing. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Your right leg,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, looking up. The moonlight gleamed in his eyes, giving an illusion of tenderness. He possessed a pair of captivating eyes.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Living Beauty Chapter 62: Living Beauty Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci extended her right leg, her ankle dislocated and swollen. Each step she took was excruciating. Lu Zhiyuan reached for her ankle, but Gu Ci knew he had a fear of germs and instinctively recoiled. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice carried a hint of seriousness. Gu Ci froze in place, her ankle turning even redder within his grasp. He examined her ankle for a moment and, without a word, gently twisted it. Gu Ci let out a cry, ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan stood up and spoke calmly, ¡°Stand up and try.¡± Gu Ci rose to her feet and tested her ankle. The pain had miraculously subsided. ¡°You know how to perform bone surgery?¡± ¡°I know a little.¡± Li Jiang approached, disinfecting the cutlery with swift and precise movements. Gu Ci inquired, ¡°You didn¡¯t participate in the competition today. Does that mean you won¡¯t win the championship this year?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Ask him.¡± With that single sentence, the atmosphere plunged into icy silence. Gu Ci didn¡¯t press further. After Li Jiang served the food, he positioned himself two meters away. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan ate in silence, their postures upright and their expressions aloof. They resembled ancient antiques, refraining from conversation while eating or sleeping. Li Jiang couldn¡¯t tell if they felt awkward or not. In any case, he found the situation rather uncomfortable. Miss Gu Ci wasn¡¯t known for being talkative, but Third Young Master could coax her or even argue with her. If it were Third Master¡­ They were like two living mutes! Li Jiang glanced up at the sky, admiring the moon. After the meal, Li Jiang brought a plate of fruits. Gu Ci instinctively pushed the apple toward Lu Zhiyuan and opted for oranges and cherries instead. Lu Zhiyuan paused and looked at Gu Ci. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lu Zhiyuan responded, ¡°Nothing.¡± Gu Ci fell silent once more. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s demeanor felt distant. She wasn¡¯t adept at engaging in conversation. Lu Zhiyuan noticed that she had finished eating. He wiped his hands and spoke casually, ¡°Gu Ci, after tonight, I hope we can maintain a certain distance. It¡¯s best if we don¡¯t meet again.¡± ¡°Why did you save me?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°If I had left him alone, he would have caused trouble,¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone conveyed a mix of happiness and anger. ¡°This trouble was also brought upon you, so naturally, I have to deal with it.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. No one could discern whether she felt sad or happy. Lu Zhiyuan continued, ¡°He will disappear one day, and I won¡¯t fall in love with you. Let¡¯s minimize the loss.¡± ¡°To you, love is just a business transaction?¡± Gu Ci looked at him mockingly. ¡°If there¡¯s a gain, you invest. If there¡¯s no gain, you cut your losses?¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s impossible, yet you persist?¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t utter another word to him until Lu Zhiyuan brought her back to the hotel. Gu Ci stood before him like a fully bloomed rose, exuding passion and fervor. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan isn¡¯t a business transaction to me,¡± Gu Ci met Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze, emphasizing each word. ¡°One day, when you¡¯re touched, you¡¯ll naturally understand.¡± ¡°That day will never come.¡± Gu Ci concealed her sadness. ¡°Who knows?¡± Having confirmed her safety, Zhou Jinjin let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Babe, I¡¯m so relieved that you¡¯re okay. You scared me to death. Where did you go? Why couldn¡¯t I reach you on your phone?¡± ¡°The battery died.¡± ¡°Foreign countries are trash. There are no outlets on the streets,¡± Zhou Jinjin complained. ¡°Are you okay? Have you had dinner?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry,¡± Gu Ci reassured him. Zhou Jinjin hugged her tightly, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Suddenly, she grew excited. ¡°Cici, I think Lu Zhiyuan must be interested in you. You don¡¯t have to pursue him anymore. He even gave up the competition for you. Have you seen his interview? He once said he would die on the field. Nothing in the world could tear him away from it.¡± But Gu Ci did. Gu Ci glanced at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s social media account. It was flooded with unfriendly comments. Lu Zhiyuan was the world¡¯s most valuable racer, and a single race could generate immense fortunes. Many fans had flown to Lavis just to support him, which made them naturally defensive. He also had many mindless fans. If he won, he would be a god; if he lost, he was be a dog. ¡°If Lu Zhiyuan saw these comments, he would be heartbroken,¡± Zhou Jinjin remarked. ¡°The Dynasty¡¯s official Weibo account is in chaos.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t care.¡± Indeed, Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t care. When the sun rose, and he regained consciousness, he immediately went in search of Gu Ci. Gu Ci woke up as soon as the doorbell rang. Zhou Jinjin rolled over and continued sleeping. As Gu Ci opened the door, Lu Zhiyuan enveloped her in a tight embrace. Gu Ci was nestled gently against his chest, her nose brushing against him. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anxious heart gradually settled. Gu Ci looked up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s so early.¡± Her typically cold voice held traces of drowsiness, almost sounding coquettish. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart softened. He leaned down, intending to kiss her, but Gu Ci covered his mouth. Lu Zhiyuan playfully licked her palm, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. It felt both seductive and suggestive. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan!¡± Gu Ci scowled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡± ¡°Then wait for me.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Zhiyuan patiently waited for five minutes. Gu Ci brushed her teeth, washed her face, applied a layer of cream, changed her clothes, and joined Lu Zhiyuan. She moved with remarkable efficiency. Although they had been in Lavis for a while, this was the first time they had the opportunity to have breakfast together. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s recognizable face attracted attention, so the hotel had arranged a private room. Gu Ci had a healthy appetite and filled three to four plates with her preferred dishes. Lu Zhiyuan, being an athlete, had an even more impressive appetite. The two of them consumed a breakfast sufficient for five or six people. ¡°In the remaining races, both of us will be champions. Is there still hope for the championship?¡± Lu Zhiyuan had calculated the points. ¡°It depends on Tessie from Ferrari. If he can secure a top-two position, he can surpass me. But our team¡¯s points should secure us the championship.¡± The team championship held greater significance than the individual championship. ¡°I wish him third place every time!¡± In her heart, Gu Ci secretly hoped that Lu Zhiyuan would win the championship. ¡°I prefer to have control in my own hands!¡± Lu Zhiyuan wasn¡¯t one to wait for fate to decide. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let it be. The championship is mine. I won¡¯t let it slip away.¡± Gu Ci admired his confidence and radiance. Lu Zhiyuan tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°Did Chen Rushi bully you?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°He just wanted you to give up on this race.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned icy. Gu Ci teased, ¡°Maybe he bought the outer circle and bet on you to lose!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s attracting all these bees and butterflies!¡± Lu Zhiyuan locked eyes with her. ¡°I should slash your face and see who dares to approach you.¡± Gu Ci set her chopsticks down. The morning light reflected in her eyes, bringing her face to life.. ¡°Are you willing to?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Lu Zhiyuan Teases Gu Ci Chapter 63: Lu Zhiyuan Teases Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he bit into a piece of lemon, feeling a sour sensation in his heart. ¡°You know how to seduce people. Who taught you that?¡± he asked. Gu Ci¡¯s eyes slowly blossomed with a smile as she stretched out her leg and playfully pointed at his calf with the tip of her foot. Her mesmerizing smile made one¡¯s head spin. ¡°Guess,¡± she replied. ¡°It¡¯s you, Lu Zhiyuan.¡± He held her ankle and effortlessly removed her shoes with one hand. He pulled her foot and pressed it against his upper abdomen, exuding a devilish charm that surpassed Gu Ci¡¯s. ¡°You stepped on it,¡± he teased. Gu Ci didn¡¯t expect him to be so wild. She was afraid of hurting his wound, so she was about to retract her foot. However, before she could do so, Lu Zhiyuan exerted force and pulled her down, causing her soles to almost scald. Just then, the waiter entered with the yogurt that Gu Ci had ordered. Her face turned crimson, burning with embarrassment. She subconsciously wanted to dodge, but Lu Zhiyuan firmly held her ankle and gently hooked his finger around it. His peach blossom eyes were filled with a dark desire, and his voice turned slightly hoarse. ¡°See what happens if you move.¡± ¡°You¡­ acting like a hooligan,¡± Gu Ci anxiously and embarrassedly exclaimed. As the waiter served the yogurt, she began cleaning up the cutlery, her long legs discreetly hidden under the tablecloth, lightly stepping on Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan held her ankle and taught her how to move. Gu Ci froze, her toes curling up, almost knocking over the cups and plates. Witnessing this, the waiter hurriedly apologized, further adding to Gu Ci¡¯s flushed face. The waitress couldn¡¯t help but think that this couple was unexpectedly serious. She didn¡¯t anticipate Lu Zhiyuan to be attracted to such a serious girl. Little did she know that the seemingly composed man and woman could be so uninhibited. As soon as the waiter left, Gu Ci opened her mouth, about to express her frustration. However, Lu Zhiyuan swiftly pulled her over, making her sit on his lap. He pressed her down and kissed her while Gu Ci lightly hit his chest, her strength no match for him. Satisfied with the kiss, he couldn¡¯t suppress the desire burning within him. Lu Zhiyuan hooked Gu Ci¡¯s chin. ¡°To please a man, a man has to teach the woman,¡± he said seductively. Gu Ci flirtatiously slapped his face, and Lu Zhiyuan caught her hand, kissing it with possessive ardor evident in his amorous eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t look at others!¡± Lu Zhiyuan declared proudly. ¡°No one can compare to me!¡± After breakfast, Gu Ci, who had few desires, felt like a wolf or a tiger. She felt so embarrassed that she didn¡¯t want to remember the second half of it. Following Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s competition, he rarely had spare time. After breakfast, he took Gu Ci out to play. He brought Gu Ci for a helicopter ride. Lu Zhiyuan possessed a helicopter license. Concerned for his safety, Li Jiang advised him against risking his life by flying the helicopter. During Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s preparation time, Li Jiang turned to Gu Ci and said, ¡°Miss Gu, the Third Young Master likes to show off his skills in front of you. It¡¯s the kind of behavior males exhibit when courting in spring. He can¡¯t control himself. Don¡¯t follow him. He¡¯s been flying helicopters three times since he obtained his license. It¡¯s very dangerous.¡± ¡°I trust him,¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Li Jiang broke out in a cold sweat. If something happened to him, something would happen to me too! Gu Ci¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°He¡¯ll be careful when I¡¯m by his side.¡± As Gu Ci expected, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s helicopter ride was smooth. They didn¡¯t fly too high, and he avoided flying over the city. After taking Gu Ci to a scenic area, he flew along the coastline for fun. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid when I¡¯m with you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled tenderly, his eyes filled with gentleness. The surge of emotions in his heart was passionate, and he wished to fly to the ends of the earth with Gu Ci. The two of them played until nightfall at the hotel. Zhou Jinjin was well aware of what was happening. She had spent the entire day alone in the casino, losing a hundred dollars and even hooking up with a handsome young man. They even had a romantic dinner. Zhou Jinjin, who had hoped to meet the king of the sea, discovered that her newfound companion was only seventeen years old, instantly ruining the mood. When Gu Ci heard this, she laughed so hard that she leaned back. ¡°Is he handsome?¡± ¡°A seventeen-year-old Italian boy. Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s handsome?¡± ¡°In Italy, he¡¯s sixteen.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡± Zhou Jinjin had no energy left to complain. The team would be in Lasvi for three days, and there were some business matters to discuss. Zhou Jinjin grew tired of staying in one place for too long. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s competition is over. Let¡¯s go on a trip to Northern Europe before returning.¡± Gu Ci considered it. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Lu Zhiyuan.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want Lu Zhiyuan on my best friend¡¯s trip.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Upon hearing that Gu Ci planned to go to Northern Europe, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned sour, displaying his extreme unhappiness. After concluding his business in Lavis, he had a few exhibition matches in M Nation. However, due to his injury, Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t participate in the exhibition matches. He returned to the country earlier, hoping to accompany Gu Ci back. Though unhappy, Gu Ci didn¡¯t stop them. She asked Li Jiang to assign a guard to her, so she and Zhou Jinjin could freely enjoy themselves. The guard, named Yang Zhou, was a taciturn young man. He remained almost invisible, making it impossible for others to sense his presence. However, he was dedicated to protecting Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin. In City A, at the Auction House, Gu Chuyun, Qiao Yamei, and Chen Ying attended an auction. Despite her recent tarnished image, Gu Chuyun had no shortage of money. Lu Man doted on her and even gave her tens of millions as pocket money. She indulged in buying things to alleviate her depressed mood. ¡°Chu Yun, this emerald necklace is stunning,¡± Qiao Yamei remarked, admiring an emerald pendant the size of a pigeon¡¯s egg adorned with hundreds of pearls. It was extravagant, beautiful, and highly collectible. It happened to be the grand finale item of the auction. Gu Chuyun had a liking for precious gemstones. ¡°I must have it,¡± she determined. Qiao Yamei said, ¡°If you want it, who would dare to snatch it from you!¡± The necklace was known as the Eye of Jupiter and was put up for auction by a collector. The bidding started at 100 million yuan and gradually climbed to 150 million. Gu Chuyun raised her paddle. ¡°160 million.¡± ¡°180 million,¡± a socialite called out. ¡°200 million!¡± The bidding war continued, quickly reaching 300 million yuan. Gu Chuyun despised those who didn¡¯t know their limits. When the socialite bid 300 million yuan and that was her limit. Gu Chuyun was delighted. She had never lost when it came to wealth. Chen Ying commented, ¡°No one else is bidding, so it¡¯s definitely yours.¡± ¡°350 million!¡± a deep male voice added an extra 50 million. Gu Chuyun was rendered speechless. She didn¡¯t expect Jiang Junlin to bid such a high price at the auction. Chen Ying said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s your brother, after all.¡± As the owner of a bank, he was certainly not short of funds. Gu Chuyun respectfully stated, ¡°He¡¯s definitely getting the jade necklace for Grandma. I¡¯ll coax Grandma into giving it to me.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you quick-witted?¡± Qiao Yamei remarked, jokingly. ¡°I wish I had such a handsome and wealthy brother too.¡± After the auction ended, Gu Chuyun had initially intended to look for Jiang Junlin. However, after Jiang Junlin paid for the necklace, he disappeared without showing any intention of meeting Gu Chuyun. ¡°Hasn¡¯t there been any movement from the Jiang family regarding Gu Ci? It¡¯s been so many days,¡± Chen Ying inquired. ¡°Of course not. Grandma only recognizes me as her granddaughter,¡± Gu Chuyun boasted, feeling smug. ¡°She won¡¯t acknowledge Gu Ci.¡± ¡°I saw Zhou Jinjin¡¯s Moments. She and Gu Ci are having a great time in Northern Europe. I wonder if she has enough money to splurge on luxury goods.¡± The three of them laughed heartily, freely making fun of Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Lu Zhiyuan’s Gift Chapter 64: Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s Gift Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation A week later, following the persistent urging of Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu, Gu Ci and Zhou Jinjin finally boarded the plane back to China. Zhou Jinjin still had a strong desire to visit many places and play for at least another ten days. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu are so clingy to you. They can be really overbearing,¡± Zhou Jinjin expressed his frustration. ¡°Originally, Gu Ziyu was supposed to video call you for ten minutes, but after Lu Zhiyuan video-called for an hour, he started doing the same. Are they competing to see who can have a longer video call? It¡¯s just too much.¡± There were so many things to complain about that Zhou Jinjin didn¡¯t know where to start. ¡°Men and their obsession with winning and losing, even when they are in the United States,¡± Zhou Jinjin commented. Gu Ziyu¡¯s personality was a genuine reflection of his father¡¯s, as he always liked to compare himself with Lu Zhiyuan. Every day, he would repeat in Gu Ci¡¯s ear, ¡°Mom, when I grow up, I will be more handsome than Dad.¡± Before boarding the plane, Gu Ci received some news that made her extremely unhappy. Lu Shijie had been released. He had spent more than 20 days in the detention center and had now come out unscathed. ¡°Lu Shijie is such a despicable person. How could he be released? Can¡¯t he be convicted?¡± Zhou Jinjin didn¡¯t have a favorable impression of Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. Lu Ze was a wise man, so how could he have children like these two? Gu Ci was unsure of what went wrong. ¡°Maybe¡­ the chain of evidence was incomplete,¡± she speculated. It was the only reason she could think of. They slept on the plane and woke up at City As international airport, where Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu came to pick them up. Having not seen Gu Ci for over ten days, Gu Ziyu missed her dearly. He rushed over like a cannonball and hugged her waist. ¡°Sister, did you miss me?¡± ¡°I missed you to death!¡± Gu Ci cupped his face and kissed him on both cheeks. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Ziyu nodded firmly. Then, he obediently took Gu Ci¡¯s three large suitcases and pushed the cart for her. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as he watched. ¡°I also want to have such a devoted younger brother.¡± Gu Ci was left speechless. She really couldn¡¯t have one! ¡°Little Milk Bun, you haven¡¯t been so attentive to your girlfriend since you grew up, have you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan had his hands in his pockets, exuding calmness, confidence, and unrestraint. Gu Ziyu smiled and replied, ¡°I treat my sister like my girlfriend.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t woo me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan had 108 thoughts about abandoning Gu Ziyu. ¡°Why can¡¯t I woo you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled seductively, his eyes exceptionally alluring. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Gu Ci knew what he was about to say the moment she heard his words. She glared at him, and the flirtatious look in her eyes made his heart itch. ¡°What secrets are you hiding from me?¡± Gu Ziyu looked at Gu Ci innocently, acting coquettishly. ¡°Is there anything I can¡¯t know?¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°Baby¡­¡± ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t interfere when adults are talking,¡± Lu Zhiyuan interjected, grabbing the suitcase that Gu Ziyu was pushing and striding forward. Gu Ziyu became furious. The two of them even started competing childishly over pushing the suitcase. With his long legs and arms, Lu Zhiyuan outpaced Gu Ziyu. Zhou Jinjin felt numb. ¡°Did anyone see me pushing three suitcases?¡± Gu Ci chuckled. Gu Ziyu reluctantly ran back and helped Zhou Jinjin push one suitcase. He didn¡¯t forget to complain to Gu Ci, ¡°He¡¯s so annoying.¡± It was one thing for them to vie for attention, but they even fought over taking care of their mother! The more Gu Ci looked at Gu Ziyu, the more adorable he appeared. She ruffled his hair and pacified his little temper. Upon their return to the Global Center, Lu Zhiyuan stored his luggage in the cloakroom, Gu Ziyu went to cook, and Gu Ci began unpacking the boxes and displaying the trophies. She had bought six limited-edition bags and filled a box with her favorite clothes. She also purchased a pair of Bluetooth earphones and sneakers for Gu Ziyu. Lu Zhiyuan lounged lazily nearby. ¡°What about my gift?¡± ¡°I forgot.¡± ¡°You heartless little one.¡± Gu Ci chuckled and handed him a sapphire blue velvet box. ¡°This is for you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He stood up straight and proudly accepted the box. Inside was a unisex necklace¡ªa pure silver chain with a black gold wolf head pendant. It exuded flamboyance, luxury, dominance, and personality. She knew it would suit Lu Zhiyuan at first sight. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Men wear necklaces, women talk,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, trying on the necklace in front of a full-length mirror. The joy on his face was evident. ¡°Then give it back to me. I¡¯ll see Ziyu off,¡± Gu Ci reached out to snatch it back, but Lu Zhiyuan sidestepped, avoiding her. With one arm around her waist, their figures in the mirror appeared inseparable. ¡°Who said I¡¯m seeing someone off?¡± Lu Zhiyuan pinched her waist. Gu Ci¡¯s whole body went numb, and she almost fell into his arms. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Help me put it on.¡± Given his height, he had to squat down. Gu Ci helped him put on the necklace. As she looked into the mirror, the black and gold necklace truly complemented Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s flamboyant and dominant personality. ¡°You¡¯re a wolf,¡± she remarked. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He embraced Gu Ci and pressed her against the full-length mirror, kissing her passionately. Just then, Gu Ziyu¡¯s voice could be heard, along with the sound of his footsteps. Gu Ci pushed Lu Zhiyuan away, half-squatting on the ground to tidy up her suitcase. Her face and neck were flushed red. ¡°Sister, we can eat now,¡± Gu Ziyu called out cheerfully, yet he couldn¡¯t help but notice the strange atmosphere between his parents. ¡°Little one, you came at the wrong time.¡± Gu Ziyu stared blankly at the relaxed and unrestrained Lu Zhiyuan. He felt as if his peach blossom eyes were burning red, brimming with seductive love. Gu Ziyu asked innocently, ¡°Brother, are you running a fever?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Your face is really red,¡± Gu Ziyu remarked. Lu Zhiyuan coughed, and Gu Ziyu continued, ¡°Your ears and neck are also red. Are you sure you¡¯re not running a fever?¡± Lu Zhiyuan walked over and picked up Gu Ziyu. ¡°Little one, you talk too much.¡± Gu Ziyu was left speechless. Gu Ci patted her face and let out a sigh of relief. She secretly glanced at the French window. The young girl in the mirror had flushed cheeks, bright red lips, and lustful eyes. It would be too embarrassing if Gu Ziyu saw her like this. Lu Zhiyuan helped Gu Ziyu bring out the dishes. Before picking up Gu Ci, he had already prepared the ingredients. The table was adorned with roast duck, cheesy grilled potatoes, stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts, braised pork ribs, stir-fried lily with celery, and pork rib and winter melon soup. It was a grand feast. When Gu Ci joined them, her face was still red, but she didn¡¯t show any signs of awkwardness. Gu Ziyu scooped some soup for her, and Gu Ci asked, ¡°Baby, how¡¯s your training with Chen Fei?¡± She looked at Ziyu, who had lost weight and had a sharper chin.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Kinship Chapter 65: Kinship Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°I can run two thousand meters now,¡± Gu Ziyu replied, straightforward and easy to understand. He had made significant progress from running 200 meters to running 2,000 meters. ¡°Gu Ci, he¡¯s still so young. Why does he have to train for six hours a day?¡± Lu Zhiyuan questioned. ¡°Other children his age would play games with cats and dogs. It¡¯s not his thing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to fit in,¡± Gu Ziyu responded, cool and confident. ¡°Don¡¯t you have school? Can you manage your homework?¡± Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but retort. After Gu Ziyu served a roasted duck leg to Gu Ci, he smiled at Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Brother, I start school in September.¡± ¡°Finally, school has begun. Which primary school are you attending?¡± ¡°University A, the national defense information and computer engineering PhD program, and management studies.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was left speechless. His mocking smile froze on his face. No wonder he felt that the little one¡¯s smile had a mocking tone. He turned to Gu Ci and asked, ¡°Is he boasting?¡± Gu Ci had always stayed out of the battles between father and son. ¡°I have a double degree. He¡¯s not lying or boasting.¡± Gu Ziyu jabbed at Lu Zhiyuan again. ¡°My education level is higher than yours!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was speechless. After lunch, Gu Ci felt mentally and physically exhausted. Lu Zhiyuan wanted to change his dressing, and Li Jiang promptly brought the necessary medicine. Lu Zhiyuan had been resting and recovering, and the stitches on his wound hadn¡¯t been removed yet, so he still needed medication. His recovery was going well. After lunch, Gu Ziyu was called away by Chen Fei for training. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Little Milk Bun¡¯s coach is a retired soldier, right? His posture is so upright, clearly indicating a military background.¡± Gu Ci responded, ¡°I¡¯m working on it.¡± Lu Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. When she explained further, Gu Ci clarified, ¡°Gu Ziyu is a genius. I entrusted him to the country.¡± ¡°A six-year-old prodigy¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°He¡¯s an exceptional child.¡± Gu Ci vaguely remarked, ¡°Ziyu¡­ he¡¯s not six.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°His mental age is not six.¡± In her previous life, Gu Ziyu had never mentioned his age before he transmigrated, nor did she ask if he had died. Gu Ci changed Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s bandage and applied the medication. Although Lu Zhiyuan was recovering from his injuries, he maintained his figure through careful diet control. However, Gu Ci noticed that he didn¡¯t seem to be in good spirits. After lunch, she chatted with him for a while before he fell asleep on the sofa. She went to find Li Jiang. ¡°Has he not been sleeping well lately?¡± Li Jiang was in a difficult position. He sighed and replied, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Master has been experiencing insomnia and is unable to sleep well. In the past, Third Young Master would sleep until noon. Otherwise, he would be very tired during training. Since you moved in, you played the violin every night. Third Master slept well while listening to your violin, so Third Young Master was in high spirits every day. During this period, when you were away, Third Master couldn¡¯t sleep well, resulting in Third Young Master feeling drowsy during the day.¡± Gu Ci recalled that in her previous life, Lu Zhiyuan enjoyed listening to her play the violin. It had become a habit to play the violin before bed. So it turned out that it helped him sleep. He had never mentioned it before. ¡°Third Master really enjoys hearing you play the violin,¡± Li Jiang remarked. Gu Ci mocked, ¡°Was it an expression of enjoyment or disgust?¡± Li Jiang was speechless and smiled. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Young Master¡¯s emotions are easier to understand than Third Master¡¯s. However, Third Master¡¯s preferences have always been quite fixed.¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t believe that Third Master had any preferences. Lu Zhiyuan slept until the afternoon. Gu Ci wasn¡¯t in the room, so he asked Li Jiang, who responded, ¡°President Jiang is here to see Miss Gu Ci. They are having afternoon tea downstairs.¡± ¡°Why is he here?¡± Lu Zhiyuan instinctively felt a sense of displeasure. With Gu Ziyu by Gu Ci¡¯s side, occupying half of her attention, now there was Jiang Junlin. He touched the wolf head necklace and his eyes revealed stubbornness and displeasure. He didn¡¯t like anyone or anything to occupy Gu Ci¡¯s thoughts. It was best if Gu Ci only looked at him. Her heart should belong to him alone. Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci were enjoying their afternoon tea. Gu Ci had bought Jiang Junlin a gift, a pair of Bluetooth earphones. A smile flickered in Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thank you, little sister.¡± ¡°This is a gift from your brother,¡± Jiang Junlin handed her a red velvet box. Gu Ci opened it and saw a collectible imperial green grandmother necklace inside. It was the Eye of Jupiter. A ring of diamonds surrounded it, so extravagant that it couldn¡¯t be worn on a daily basis. ¡°Thank you, big brother,¡± Gu Ci accepted it graciously. Jiang Junlin was delighted. ¡°How was your trip to Lavis?¡± ¡°It was great. I treated it as a graduation trip,¡± Gu Ci sipped her tea. ¡°Brother, why did you come to see me?¡± ¡°Have you chosen your major?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll decide tomorrow. I haven¡¯t thought about it yet.¡± Jiang Junlin said, ¡°You¡¯ll be starting school in September. I¡¯ll take you to see a few real estate projects near the campus in a few days. There are some residential areas with excellent facilities, just five minutes away from the school. Which one do you like? I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Gu Ci politely declined, ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t need a house. I¡¯ll stay at Worldwide.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit far from the school.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll drive.¡± Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t insist. After they finished their tea, he shared the reason why he had come to see Gu Ci. ¡°Grandma raised Gu Chuyun for 18 years and loved her dearly. She¡¯s getting older and a bit muddled in her thinking. I¡¯ve scolded her, so don¡¯t take it to heart. I hope we can have a meal together. My parents and grandfather all want to meet you.¡± Gu Ci pondered for a moment. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make an appointment before school starts, okay?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Jiang Junlin chuckled, then took out two cards and handed them to Gu Ci. ¡°This is my supplementary card, and this is your stock bonus card. Take both. If you want to buy anything, use my supplementary card.¡± Gu Ci already had Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s black card. While her brother had good intentions, she felt more at ease using Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s card. ¡°Brother, save your supplementary card for your future sister-in-law. I have enough to spend..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Failed to Sow Discord Chapter 66: Failed to Sow Discord Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You should take the bonus card,¡± Gu Ci considered and accepted the bank card. ¡°Okay, thank you, Brother.¡± ¡°Are you getting used to living at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s place?¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°Brother, are you worried that Lu Zhiyuan might mistreat me?¡± ¡°Would he mistreat you?¡± ¡°No, he wouldn¡¯t!¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that Lu Zhiyuan dislikes you the most.¡± ¡°Brother, don¡¯t pay attention to rumors. I don¡¯t believe them,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Are you two in a relationship?¡± Jiang Junlin got straight to the point. Gu Ci smiled. ¡°I¡¯m still catching up.¡± Jiang Junlin squinted his eyes. ¡°Are you pursuing him?¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a bit difficult to win over.¡± This aspect was a blind spot for Jiang Junlin. He didn¡¯t want to teach his sister to pursue a man. He was as strict as the dean. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t win him over. You¡¯re still young.¡± ¡°Brother, sister, what a coincidence to bump into you here.¡± Gu Chuyun arrived uninvited and changed the way she addressed Gu Ci. ¡°Grandma wants me to come home for dinner tonight. Brother, I¡¯ll ride with you in your car.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s expression darkened. He glanced at Gu Ci and felt a slight pang in his heart. He looked at Gu Chuyun coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve already said it before, the Jiang family doesn¡¯t welcome you.¡± Gu Chuyun felt wronged. ¡°Grandma keeps urging me to come home for dinner.¡± She deliberately showed off in front of Gu Ci, letting her know that the old lady would never accept Gu Ci and would always love her, even if she wasn¡¯t Jiang Mingyue¡¯s daughter. ¡°Brother, what did you give sister?¡± She opened the velvet box and saw the Eye of Jupiter. Her expression changed. Jealousy and hatred gnawed at her heart, and her face turned gloomy. Jiang Junlin had only given her gifts when they were young. Since he entered high school, he had become increasingly distant from her. He rarely even spoke to her, let alone gave her gifts. But now, he was giving such an expensive gift to Gu Ci, someone he had never even met. She had set her eyes on that necklace and was determined to have it. And now, it belonged to Gu Ci. Gu Chuyun¡¯s heart filled with resentment and anger. Her good hand was injured because of Gu Ci. The Jiang family¡¯s shares and even Lu Zhiyuan, whom she liked, all favored Gu Ci. ¡°How rude!¡± Jiang Junlin reprimanded her mercilessly. He took the necklace and closed the box. ¡°Who allowed you to touch Cici¡¯s belongings?¡± Gu Chuyun looked at Jiang Junlin, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Brother, why are you suddenly so cold to me? You used to dote on me. Is it because of Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Jiang Junlin slammed his cup on the table. ¡°Gu Chuyun, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± Gu Chuyun wiped away her tears, feeling wronged. ¡°Hualan Bank is about to collaborate with the Gu Financial Group. That¡¯s why you¡¯re being nice to Gu Ci and purposefully ignoring me, isn¡¯t it? If it were me living at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s place, would you still be so cold to me?¡± Jiang Junlin was furious. He had dealt with people in the business world and had been involved in countless behind-the-scenes schemes. But he had never encountered such a clumsy and direct attempt to sow discord. Gu Ci chuckled and sipped her fruit juice. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Gu Chuyun felt her smile was dripping with sarcasm. Gu Ci replied, ¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯s your brother. Don¡¯t overestimate yourself. Even if he approached me because of Lu Zhiyuan, I¡¯m the one benefiting, not you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Cici, please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve seen her sow discord and play the victim since we were young,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°I¡¯ve been unlucky enough to be her sister. In those eighteen long years, I¡¯ve been hurt by her countless times, so I¡¯ve become immune to it.¡± She spoke calmly, as if she were narrating someone else¡¯s story, but Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart ached. Gu Chuyun gritted her teeth. This trick had always worked against Gu Ci. But this time, she wouldn¡¯t fall for it. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t you care?¡± ¡°That was in my previous life,¡± Gu Ci hinted. The biggest knot in her heart was that the people she cared about the most all liked Gu Chuyun and didn¡¯t like her. She was in the same class as Yang Sihang and Gu Chuyun in middle school. Everyone liked Yang Sihang. He excelled in academics, was good-looking, and talented in sports. He was the prince charming of all the girls who had just entered adolescence. There was a period when Yang Sihang was particularly close to her and always sought her out. Gu Ci was very grateful to Yang Sihang during that time of isolation. They often went for milk tea after school and did homework together. Yang Sihang often said that he shouldn¡¯t be calculative with Gu Chuyun and should just live his own life. He brought a lot of happiness and comfort to Gu Ci during that time. But one day, she discovered a love letter that Yang Sihang had written to Gu Chuyun. It turned out that Yang Sihang had approached her because of Gu Chuyun. From that moment on, she realized that everything she cared about, whether it was friends, family, or even toys, would become Gu Chuyun¡¯s. Gu Chuyun even tried to bring Zhou Jinjin into their scheme to isolate her. As Gu Ci grew up, everything she cared about, except Zhou Jinjin, became Gu Chuyun¡¯s. That was her nightmare in her previous life. Jiang Junlin had lost his patience. ¡°Gu Chuyun, Cici is my only sister. Please leave and don¡¯t disturb our reunion.¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes turned red, but Jiang Junlin remained indifferent. After she left, Jiang Junlin said, ¡°If we had been more careful back then, this tragedy wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the past,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore.¡± ¡°Cici, Grandma is stubborn. She doesn¡¯t want to accept that her beloved granddaughter, whom she has doted on for more than ten years, is actually the daughter of her enemy. She¡¯s deeply immersed in self-reproach and refuses to face reality. Give her some time.¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t be deceived anymore. But when she thought of Jiang Junlin, who was in a wheelchair in her previous life and had lost everything, her heart softened. ¡°Okay, Brother, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± After Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci went their separate ways, Lu Zhiyuan encountered them downstairs. Lu Zhiyuan leaned against Jiang Junlin¡¯s car, stretching his legs. ¡°President Jiang, you missed out on eighteen years of family. If you missed it, then let it be. Why force it? Your grandmother still cherishes Gu Chuyun like a treasure. Why are you looking for Gu Ci?¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s expression turned cold. He looked at Lu Zhiyuan and felt a hint of disdain. There was something dark and¡­ calm about him. During the Lu family¡¯s banquet, a socialite had fallen from the third floor after an argument and died instantly. Her brains and blood stained the ground red. Everyone was in a state of shock, some angry, some sad, some calling for help. But Lu Zhiyuan stood under the red, unaffected by it all. He had no connection to the incident. He was indifferent to the loss of a life. The cold night enveloped him as the phoenix flower fell onto his shoulder, pinched between his fingers. He uttered just one sentence, ¡°The phoenix flower, dyed red with blood, seems even more beautiful..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Don’t Spread Rumors, Don’t Believe in Chapter 67: Don¡¯t Spread Rumors, Don¡¯t Believe in Rumors Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation At that moment, Jiang Junlin felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that Lu Zhiyuan, the Third Young Master of the Lu family, was far from ordinary. In the following years, Lu Zhiyuan achieved great success and won the world championship. He was adored by his fans and always wore a cheerful smile, but the image Jiang Junlin had of him under the phoenix tree years ago couldn¡¯t be washed away. Late at night, Gu Ci stood on the balcony of the Global Center, playing the violin. Her music was soothing and beautiful. She played for three hours until Li Jiang sent her a text message. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Master is asleep.¡± Gu Ci put down the violin and rubbed her sore wrist. It was late at night, a time for relaxation. She opened the application form for University A and selected clinical medicine from the options of clinical medicine and music departments. She loved music and found solace in playing the violin. However, the two most important people to her, Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu, both needed doctors. When Zhou Jinjin found out that she had chosen clinical medicine for an eight-year program, he was shocked. ¡°You¡­ Are you crazy? The clinical studies at University A are notoriously difficult.¡± ¡°I want to become a good doctor.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I know that your dream was to save lives and heal the wounded? You could have studied economics, finance, or even music. It would have been easier than medicine.¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s heart ached. ¡°You¡¯ve chosen human anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, preventive immunity, internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and even Chinese medicine. It¡¯s daunting.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Are you still going for finance?¡± Zhou Jinjin nodded. ¡°I wanted you to choose finance. We could major in different fields but still share the same room.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be living on campus. Ziyu is also pursuing his PhD.¡± ¡°Ziyu is studying for a PhD?¡± Zhou Jinjin exclaimed. ¡°Are you kidding me? Is he a genius? Even a genius can¡¯t pursue a PhD at the age of six.¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to pursue a PhD.¡± The reality of this dream shocked Zhou Jinjin. ¡°Damn, I dare not call a six-year-old kid a primary school student anymore. If I¡¯m not careful, he might surpass me. He¡¯s studying for a PhD at six, and I entered university at eighteen. Am I just another statistic?¡± ¡°University A is the best university in the country. If you think you¡¯re just a statistic, what about the rest?¡± ¡°Gu Ziyu is too exceptional!¡± When Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu heard that Gu Ci had chosen clinical medicine during lunch, both father and son were equally dumbfounded. They exclaimed in unison, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t being a doctor a good profession?¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the benefit? It¡¯s difficult, exhausting, and you have to study for eight years. You¡¯ll become dull from all the studying.¡± ¡°Sister, change your major. Being a doctor is too tough.¡± Father and son were united in their opposition. ¡°The acceptance letter will arrive in a few days.¡± Gu Ci brushed off their concerns. ¡°In the future, I can be your personal doctor.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not sick!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu exclaimed in unison once again. Gu Ci shrugged. ¡°You can avoid many things in life, but you can¡¯t avoid hospitals.¡± Lu Zhiyuan probed, ¡°Then what specialization are you planning to choose after graduation? Internal Medicine, Surgery, or¡­ Psychiatry?¡± Gu Ci already had a decision in mind, but she smiled and replied, ¡°No rush to decide on a specialty. After studying for a few years, I¡¯ll see where my interests lie.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned inscrutable, causing Gu Ci¡¯s heart to skip a beat. ¡°When we were young, we used to play house. You would be the racer, and I would be the doctor. We were both pursuing our dreams.¡± Therefore, Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t need to feel pressured or burdened. ¡°Do you truly enjoy it?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. ¡°You clearly love music.¡± ¡°People¡¯s preferences can change. I love music, and I love medicine,¡± Gu Ci was a stubborn person. Once she set her mind on something, it was difficult to sway her. ¡°When the schedule allows, and if there¡¯s no conflict, I¡¯ll choose to double major in music.¡± A few days later, Gu Ci received the admission letter from University A¡¯s medical school. She also purchased books on clinical medicine and began self-studying. She continued to play the violin for a few hours at night, ensuring that Third Master could sleep soundly. After Zhou Jinjin received his notice, the Zhou family organized a graduation banquet, and Zhou Jinjin went back to attend. Gu Wenliang¡¯s two daughters were also admitted to University A, so it was a joyous occasion for the family. Gu Ci, as the top scorer in the college entrance examination, brought them great pride. However, Gu Ci ignored her father at the banquet and did not return to the Gu family. Gu Wenliang called her several times, but Gu Ci found it annoying and blocked his number. Jiang Junlin also hosted a banquet to celebrate Gu Ci¡¯s admission to University A and officially announce her identity, letting everyone know that he had her back. During the banquet, the socialites and influential figures in the industry were discussing Gu Ci. ¡°Look at Old Madam Jiang¡¯s expression. Even at such a joyous occasion, she can¡¯t seem to smile. It¡¯s clear that she doesn¡¯t like Gu Ci at all.¡± ¡°Are the rumors true? Is Gu Ci as arrogant as they say?¡± ¡°Mom, we¡¯re not in the same class, and we don¡¯t interact with each other.¡± ¡°Oh my, she¡¯s fierce in group fights.¡± ¡°Her temper¡­ not the best.¡± A socialite in a long green dress chimed in, ¡°We were classmates for three years in junior high. I¡¯ve never seen her smile. Apart from Zhou Jinjin, she doesn¡¯t pay attention to anyone else.¡± ¡°Fierce in group fights and solitary¡­¡± A wealthy lady sighed. ¡°Jiang Mingyue was elegant and noble. I guess she didn¡¯t pass any of it on to her daughter. No wonder the old lady doesn¡¯t like her.¡± When Gu Ci walked out with Jiang Junlin, holding his arm, she stunned everyone. She wore a white cheongsam with red embroidered roses from Dragon Phoenix. Pearl earrings adorned her ears, and her hair was elegantly tied up, revealing her slender and graceful swan-like neck. She exuded an aura of nobility and beauty akin to a frosted rose. ¡°Is this the little troublemaker you were talking about?¡± ¡°I should have believed that rumors shouldn¡¯t be spread. The ancients were right.¡± ¡°Women shouldn¡¯t be too beautiful. It¡¯s clear that they won¡¯t stay at home.¡± The noblewoman shook her head. ¡°A gentle girl like Gu Chuyun is more likable.¡± Those who were familiar with Hualan Bank and the close relatives of the Jiang family approached Gu Ci to greet her. Jiang Junlin introduced them one by one as if escorting her, and Gu Ci remembered each of their names. Her words weren¡¯t sweet, and her demeanor was cold. It was evident that she wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. Nevertheless, her relatives found it acceptable. After all, they had witnessed Jiang Junlin growing up. Everyone said that they indeed resembled siblings. No matter what the aristocratic families said behind her back, they greeted her with smiles and praised her. Great-Grandfather Jiang¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. As he saw his granddaughter standing tall and slender, he sighed inwardly. Grandmother Jiang¡¯s attitude had softened under the influence of her husband, son, and grandson, but she still remembered Gu Ci¡¯s disrespectful behavior towards her during her time at the Zhou family. The old master advised her, ¡°Lu Man mistreated her, so it¡¯s understandable that she holds a grudge against Chu Yun. As an elder, you can¡¯t harbor resentment towards a junior.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a junior, yet she argues with her elders. She has no manners.¡± Great-Grandfather Fang chuckled. ¡°Just like Junlin.¡± The old lady choked up, unable to speak. Other than losing her daughter at a young age, her life had been smooth sailing. Her husband loved her, and her son was filial. Almost everyone pampered and indulged her. However, he had given her a grandson who had been cold and serious since a young age. She wasn¡¯t afraid of her husband, nor was she afraid of his son. The only person she feared was her grandson.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: You Want to Break Off the Marriage? Chapter 68: You Want to Break Off the Marriage? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The banquet was in full swing. Gu Wenliang and Lu Man arrived with Gu Chuyun and Gu Yaozu. Xu Tingting, Lu Shijie, and Lu Shixiu were also in attendance. The guests wore different expressions, anticipating a good show. Lu Shijie looked at Gu Ci with a sinister gaze, determined to make her pay for the humiliation he suffered in the detention center. ¡°Granny¡­¡± Gu Chuyun acted coqucttishly toward the old lady. Initially, the old lady was happy to see her, but when she noticed Lu Man, her joy turned into anger. ¡°What right do you have to come here?¡± The old lady had no desire to see Lu Man at all. ¡°Leave!¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes turned red. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t you¡­ like Chuyun anymore?¡± Gu Ci watched coldly, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her gaze was like a thorn piercing into the old lady¡¯s heart. For the first time, the old lady ignored Gu Chuyun¡¯s tears. Jiang Minghua approached, his voice cold but resolute. ¡°The Jiang family doesn¡¯t welcome you. Please leave.¡± ¡°Brother, I made a mistake in a moment of obsession, but I never mistreated Gu Ci and raised her well. Look at her now, slim and elegant, and the top scorer in the college entrance examination. I have not treated her poorly,¡± Lu Man shamelessly boasted. ¡°The kindness of raising her is as heavy as a mountain. After all, I am her adoptive mother.¡± Lin Chunli couldn¡¯t stand Lu Man at all. ¡°If you didn¡¯t switch the children, the Jiang family would naturally treat Cici as their own. Why would you have to raise her?¡± Lin Chunli had a difficult pregnancy and had long desired a daughter. When Jiang Mingyuc gave birth to a daughter, she was overjoyed. However, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to like Gu Chuyun¡¯s temperament and character. ¡°Regardless, the Gu family is her home. I am her father. That¡¯s an unchangeable fact,¡± Gu Wenliang said. ¡°The kindness of raising you is greater than the heavens. Gu Ci, you have the Jiang family and wealth. Are you going to disown your father?¡± Jiang Minghua was infuriated by his shamelessness. He remembered how Gu Wenliang wasn¡¯t like this when he pursued Jiang Mingyuc years ago. How did he become so shameless over the years? Gu Ci curled her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t want to. But if you want to sever ties, I won¡¯t object.¡± Everyone was speechless. Gu Wenliang was stunned. He had come to sever ties with Gu Ci and continue their father-daughter relationship. This turn of events didn¡¯t work in his favor. Gu Chuyun sincerely pleaded, ¡°Sister, it was my mother who did something wrong. I have let you down too. We sincerely beg for your forgiveness. After all, we¡¯re family. We share the same blood.¡± ¡°You are not my family,¡± Gu Ci declared resolutely. ¡°Never.¡± Jiang Minghua was shocked by Gu Ci¡¯s determination. How much resentment must she hold to publicly say such words to her own family? It pained him even more. ¡°Chase them away!¡± Old Master Jiang grew impatient. Gu Wenliang was furious. ¡°Gu Ci, what do you mean? Do you really want to sever ties with me? You¡¯re just the granddaughter of the Jiang family. Do you think they will support you? If they truly supported you, why did Lu Man switch you and Chuyun in the first place? Without the Gu family, you are nothing. Ask the ladies here, who would want a daughter-in-law like you? You won¡¯t have a place in your husband¡¯s family!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°I choose my own people. No one can choose me.¡± Her words were delivered with dominance and courage. The ladies present looked down on her earlier, but now their expressions changed. They urged their sons to add Gu Ci on WeChat. The Jiang family¡¯s cousin and the largest shareholder of Hualan Bank had completely different identities and influence. This was why Gu Chuyun could maintain her position as the top socialite for so many years. Gu Chuyun was consumed by jealousy, driving her to the brink of madness. This should have been hers. This large share of Hualan Bank should have belonged to her. Gu Wenliang¡¯s face turned pale and then red. He was utterly humiliated. Jiang Junlin spoke up. ¡°President Gu, every year, I transfer my aunt¡¯s dividends to her daughter. Gu Chuyun has received dividends for eighteen years. Everyone present is a witness. After deducting Gu Ci¡¯s expenses over the years, please return the remaining funds to Gu Ci. Otherwise, I¡¯ll see you in court at Hualan Bank!¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s face turned pale, and her legs trembled. She had spent lavishly, not caring about money. She dared to bid hundreds of millions at auctions because she relied on the annual dividends from Hualan Bank. She had been spending this money recklessly. If she had to return the entire sum, wouldn¡¯t it drive her to ruin? ¡°Granny¡­¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°You have to stand up for me.¡± Under Gu Ci¡¯s gaze, even the old Madam Jiang fell silent. Gu Ci¡¯s gaze was clear. If you protect Gu Chuyun, I will never acknowledge you as a person from my past. ¡°Alright, since you want to return everything to Gu Ci, what about the marriage contract? Shall I give her that too?¡± Gu Chuyun smiled maliciously through her tears. ¡°The engagement between the eldest daughter of the Gu family and the eldest son of the Lu family was arranged from a young age. I returned everything to my sister, so this marriage agreement naturally belongs to her.¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s gaze turned sinister. ¡°Yes, my fiancee.¡± Jiang Junlin was furious. ¡°Dream on!¡± Lu Shijie stepped forward, staring at Gu Ci. ¡°This is an engagement arranged by the elders of both families. You can¡¯t break it.¡± The upper-class society of A City placed great importance on family status and commitments. Indeed, the Gu family and the Lu family had an arranged marriage agreement. Gu Ci spoke up. ¡°This isn¡¯t the feudal era. I didn¡¯t agree to the marriage arrangement.¡± ¡°So, you want to break off the engagement?¡± Lu Shijie¡¯s gaze grew even more sinister. ¡°The cooperation between Lu Corporation and Hualan Bank will be nullified.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s expression remained stoic. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Xu Tingting chuckled and intervened. ¡°CEO Jiang, don¡¯t be angry. He cares too much about Gu Ci and speaks without restraint. The Lu Corporation and Hualan Bank have a close cooperation and have signed a ten-year partnership plan. It¡¯s also a great story for the two families to strengthen their ties..¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Framed Chapter 69: Framed Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci chuckled, catching Xu Tingting¡¯s attention. Xu Tingting still didn¡¯t like Gu Ci very much. She believed that after they got married, she would find a way to deal with Gu Ci. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Xu Tingting asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of son you have?¡± Gu Ci looked at Lu Shijie mockingly. ¡°You¡¯re a respectable woman who has killed someone. I have no intention of getting married, nor do I have any interest in marriage. Are you using the Lu Corporation to threaten me? Let me ask you, can an illegitimate son of Young Master Lu represent the Lu Corporation? Or are you just relying on his reputation?¡± ¡°You!¡± Xu Tingting sneered. ¡°You do have a way with words.¡± Gu Chuyun chimed in, ¡°Sister, this engagement was arranged a long time ago. Breaking off the engagement would be dishonorable.¡± ¡°Until you repay what you owe me, you have no right to speak in front of me,¡± Gu Ci responded indifferently, dismissing her. ¡°Jiang Junlin, is this the attitude of your Jiang family?¡± Lu Shijie said. ¡°I hold the final say in the Lu family now. If you reject this marriage, don¡¯t regret it!¡± ¡°Leave!¡± Jiang Junlin ordered. ¡°I won¡¯t see you out.¡± Lu Shijie huffed and left. Panic spread among the guests at the banquet. Was the Lu Corporation and Hualan Bank entering a war? Jiang Minghua apologized to the guests and continued the banquet. Gu Ci, feeling tired in her high heels, went to the balcony with Jiang Junlin to rest. ¡°Brother, does Hualan Bank have extensive cooperation with the Lu Corporation?¡± ¡°Last year, we signed a ten-year cooperation plan. Hualan Bank will lend 50 billion yuan to the Lu Corporation for ten years. Both parties have pledged their shares,¡± Jiang Junlin explained truthfully. ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because you¡¯re part of the Jiang family. But I want to learn from my father¡¯s mistakes.¡± Gu Ci was confused. Jiang Junlin continued, ¡°Grandfather, grandmother, and father all adored Aunt like a precious gem. She was sheltered from the world and had a fiery temper. She was deceived by Gu Wenliang¡¯s sweet words when she was young. After realizing his betrayal, she would rather die than live in shame. This is an example of how not to raise a daughter. You must be capable of handling things and taking control of your own life. Don¡¯t be swayed by Lu Shijie¡¯s empty promises.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but worry for her future daughter. This was a grave matter. ¡°Brother, I won¡¯t be deceived by him.¡± ¡°I know that you were deceived by Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Jiang Junlin said. Gu Ci was speechless. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Junlin spoke frankly, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to interfere with your relationships. I just want to remind you that Lu Zhiyuan is very dangerous. He might have some issues with his mental state and isn¡¯t a suitable candidate to entrust your life to. You can date him, but if you¡¯re not compatible, you can break up. You should carefully consider marriage.¡± Gu Ci smiled, unable to refute his words. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m studying clinical medicine. I¡¯ll be his doctor.¡± ¡°Are you studying medicine for him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Junlin furrowed his brows, even more displeased with Lu Zhiyuan. What had Lu Zhiyuan done to make Gu Ci put in so much effort to study medicine for him? How much faith and love was this? ¡°You¡¯re tired from standing. Go change your shoes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The banquet eventually came to an end. The Jiang family bid farewell to the guests. Gu Ci went to the lounge to change her shoes. She was accustomed to wearing casual shoes and running shoes and didn¡¯t enjoy high heels. As she reached the lounge door, she saw Gu Chuyun rushing out in a panic and accidentally colliding with Gu Ci. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s hands trembled as she hurriedly ran downstairs. Gu Ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly entered the lounge. There, she found Old Madam Jiang lying unconscious on the ground. Her medication had rolled to the side of the chair. ¡°Granny¡­¡± Gu Ci took off her high heels and squatted down, calmly checking her grandmother¡¯s heart rate, pulse, and eyes. She crossed her hands over her chest and began performing CPR. Meanwhile, Gu Chuyun rushed downstairs in a state of panic, exclaiming, ¡°Grandpa, uncle, it¡¯s bad. Gu Ci made Grandma faint in anger¡­¡± Jiang Junlin was shocked and quickly rushed upstairs. When he and Jiang Minghua arrived, Gu Ci was administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and providing emergency treatment. Jiang Junlin immediately called for an ambulance. Seeing this scene, the old master¡¯s vision blurred, and he nearly lost his balance. Gu Chuyun smiled smugly. The old lady¡¯s health was already fragile. If she passed away before reaching the hospital, Gu Ci would be deemed the sinner of the Jiang family. The Jiang family didn¡¯t harbor any fondness for Gu Ci and would despise her even more. At the hospital, Gu Ci leaned against the wall, feeling exhausted. Lin Chunli¡¯s eyes were red. Some relatives accused Gu Ci of causing the old lady¡¯s fainting and subsequent hospitalization. Gu Ci calmly stated, ¡°When I arrived upstairs, she was already unconscious on the floor. I immediately began emergency treatment. This is the truth. Whether you believe Gu Chuyun or not is up to you.¡± Jiang Junlin spoke with a serious tone, ¡°Grandma¡¯s surgery is still ongoing. You all can go home for now. I will inform you of any updates.¡± The relatives left, leaving only the old master, Jiang Minghua, his wife, and Jiang Junlin. The old master said, ¡°Cici, we believe in you.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. Gu Chuyun¡¯s scheme was truly powerful. If the old lady were to pass away, there would be no evidence. It would become a matter between Gu Ci and the Jiang family¡ªa lifetime of estrangement. ¡°Cici, Grandma¡¯s surgery will take a long time, and you¡¯re exhausted tonight. Do you want to go back and rest?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. ¡°Grandfather is right. We all believe in you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the results.¡± Time passed, and at three o¡¯clock in the morning, the lights in the operating theater finally turned off. The doctor came out and shook his head gently. ¡°The situation is very grave. We have temporarily stabilized her condition, but the family should prepare for the worst. The elderly often have underlying health issues and complications. She may only have a couple of days left.¡± A somber atmosphere enveloped the Jiang family. The old lady was transferred to the ICU, and Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. Taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°Brother, send me Grandma¡¯s detailed medical history related to her heart condition. I¡¯m going home for now.¡± ¡°Alright, you must be tired. Get some rest.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Ci made her way out. Lin Chunli was worried. ¡°If anything happens to Mom, there may be a rift between Cici and the family.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched people to search for the best cardiologist,¡± Jiang Junlin assured her. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we haven¡¯t been able to reach Dr. North. If he were willing to perform the operation on Grandma, it would have a higher chance of success.¡± ¡°Keep searching. Regardless of the cost, we must find her.¡± At the hospital entrance, Gu Ci hailed a taxi. She closed her eyes and said, ¡°To the rural prison.¡± ¡°At three in the morning, you¡¯re heading to a rural prison. Are you crazy?¡± Gu Ci showed the driver her WeChat payment code. ¡°Is 300 yuan enough?¡± ¡°You should have mentioned it earlier. Let¡¯s go!¡± The driver thought to himself that his passenger must be desperate to earn a living in the middle of the night. He was quite talkative. ¡°Young lady, why are you going to the rural prison so late at night? It¡¯s in the middle of nowhere, and the prisoners there are all felons.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. She had received Jiang Junlin¡¯s detailed medical history regarding his heart condition, and she read every word carefully. ¡°Young lady, you¡¯re quite brave, but you also have a fiery temper.¡± ¡°Driver, please be quiet.¡± Gu Ci massaged her temples. Seeing her in a bad mood, the driver closed his mouth, thinking to himself that she had the same aura as a woman who had just been released from a rural prison.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70:1 Will Be the Chief Surgeon Chapter 70:1 Will Be the Chief Surgeon Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The rural prison in A City was known for housing felons sentenced to death. In Gu Ci¡¯s previous life, she had received a five-year sentence for attempted murder and had been incarcerated in this very prison. Returning to this familiar place, her eyes held a sense of desolation. She scanned the QR code and paid the fee to the driver. ¡°Wait for me for half an hour, 1 still need to go back to the city.¡± The driver remained silent. Gu Ci continued, rTll give you five hundred yuan.¡± ¡°How long will I need to wait?1¡® Gu Ci registered her name at the prison entrance. Without an appointment, she had already called Chen Liangdong on the way, asking him to arrange everything. The prison guard was puzzled. ¡°This person has been imprisoned for over a year. You¡¯re the only visitor.1¡¯ ¡°No,¡± Gu Ci replied after registering. ¡°Tell her that Little Cherry is here to see her.¡± Gu Ci waited outside the window for fifteen minutes until a female prisoner was brought in and seated across from her. Her hair was simply tied up, and her red lips still held a touch of charm. ¡°Oh, such a young and tender girl. How do you know about Little Cherry?¡± ¡°Not only do I know about Little Cherry, but I also know that you¡¯re the renowned cardiology expert, Dr. North.¡± Dr. North¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Gu Ci continued, ¡°Two years ago, the seventeen-year-old Little Cherry went missing on her way to school. The police later found a part of Little Cherry¡¯s skeleton and apprehended the murderer, who had raped and killed her. He was imprisoned here and sentenced to sixteen years. You were devastated and sought justice for Little Cherry.¡± ¡°No one knows that Little Cherry is my daughter. How did you find out?¡± Dr. North questioned sternly. ¡°Dr. North, you went missing when you were three years old and lived in the Liyun Welfare Institute. Later, you were adopted by Zhang Yang and his wife. When they had their own daughter at eight years old, their attention shifted entirely to the newborn. They sent you back to the orphanage. At twelve, you were sponsored by Chen Geng and continued your education until you graduated from medical school. Chen Geng suffered from congenital heart disease, and you dedicated your efforts to treating him. After successfully curing him, your reputation soared. However, Chen Geng controlled you, exploiting you for financial gain¡­¡± ¡°Enough, who are you? Why do you know so much about my life?¡± North eyed her warily. ¡°No one knows these details after Chen Geng¡¯s death. Who are you? Do you know Chen Rushi?¡± ¡°Help me save someone, and Irll tell you where Little Cherry is,¡± Gu Ci calmly stated. ¡°What did you say?¡± North became excited. ¡°The murderer never revealed the location of Little Cherry¡¯s remains. From beginning to end, you only possessed a fragment of her skeleton.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°Is that so? Even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t leave this place.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my concern. My grandmother has only two days left to live. I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to consider.¡± Gu Ci glanced at her watch. ¡°The timer starts now. I won¡¯t answer any more of your questions.¡± Dr. North looked at her silently, his hands trembling. ¡°If you deceive me, I won¡¯t let you off as long as I¡¯m alive!¡± ¡°Very well!¡± ¡°1 promise!¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°Just wait and sec.¡¯1 She left the rural prison, hailed a taxi, and headed back to the Global Center. Chen Liangdong was already waiting for her. Gu Ci provided him with a detailed account, omitting any mention of Dr. North¡¯s personal life. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll handle it for you!¡± Chen Liangdong took charge of the matter. It was already past five in the morning. As dawn approached, Gu Ci stood with Chen Liangdong on the runway downstairs. Chen Liangdong asked, ¡°Dr. North is a world-renowned authority in cardiology. Why is there no commotion despite her being locked up in prison?¡± ¡°North is her alias. Back then, Chen Geng exploited her for financial gain. She took the blame upon herself and was sent to the rural prison,¡± Gu Ci softly explained. ¡°She sought vengeance for her daughter.¡± Dr. North had changed her name multiple times, never revealing her true identity. ¡°She¡¯s also a pitiful person. Is her daughter really alive?¡± ¡°She¡¯s alive!¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s nineteen now and was admitted to University A s Department of National Defense this year. After her accident, she underwent a period of recovery. By the time she woke up, the murderer was already apprehended. Little Cherry wished for his death, so she changed her name and severed all connections. She didn¡¯t know her biological mother had taken revenge by going to prison. Dr. North never wanted her daughter to find out either.¡± Gu Ci had concealed the information that Little Cherry herself had severed her own finger as a symbolic death certificate for the murderer. Even though she desired his demise, Gu Ci had kept this information hidden. ¡°How do you know all of this?¡± Chen Liangdong asked, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was filled with both love and curiosity. ¡°Dr. North and 1.,. are old acquaintances!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s tone was indifferent. She subconsciously rubbed her right hand as if it ached. Her hand had been crippled by Dr. North, who had taught Gu Ci everything she knew and had even guided her in holding a scalpel before personally crippling Gu Ci¡¯s right hand. ¡°This is an act of injustice. It involves not only Dr. North but also Little Cherry and the murderer¡­¡± Chen Liangdong spoke passionately. ¡°Gu Ci, now that I know, I won¡¯t sit idly by.¡± ¡°Then send someone to thoroughly investigate the matter, including the murder involving Dr. North and the financial crimes. Those arc all committed by others and have nothing to do with her,¡± Gu Ci mockingly laughed. ¡°All her life, she has saved people. The only crime she committed was crippling her disciple¡¯s hand.¡± However, this crime had yet to occur. Her phone rang, and it was Jiang Junlin calling. ¡°Cici, Grandma¡¯s condition is critical. Hurry to the hospital.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s body stiffened. After ending the call, she turned to Chen Liangdong. ¡°How quickly can Dr.. North reach the hospital?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Genius Doctor Gu Ci Chapter 71: Genius Doctor Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci clenched her teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed Grandma¡¯s medical history. There¡¯s a 50% chance of success, but I don¡¯t have the qualifications to be a doctor¡­¡± ¡°Cici, if this surgery fails, you won¡¯t be able to practice medicine for the rest of your life,¡± Jiang Junlin shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t take such a risk. The success rate for this operation is less than 10%.¡± ¡°Brother, let me try!¡± Gu Ci looked at him with unwavering determination. ¡°Dr. North will arrive at the hospital in two hours.¡± Jiang Junlin observed her. Although he had only known Gu Ci for a short while, he understood her character well enough. She wouldn¡¯t make such a bold claim without reason. ¡°Alright, I trust you.¡± When the doctors heard this decision, they were taken aback. Jiang Junlin sought out the director and signed a consent form. In the end, Gu Ci became the chief surgeon for the operation. Dr. Zhang, the attending physician for the old lady, led his own team to assist Gu Ci. Before entering the operating room, Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Cici, no matter the outcome, you¡¯ve already given it your all.¡± The doors to the surgery room closed. The hospital director and Jiang Minghua, who were acquainted, exchanged worried glances. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a medical license, and she¡¯s only eighteen years old. How can she dare to be the chief surgeon for this operation? The failure rate is 100%. Our hospital team has been discussing the old lady¡¯s condition for three years, and we still haven¡¯t found a solution with a success rate exceeding 30%.¡± The entire Jiang family was filled with anxiety. Great-Grandfather Jiang shed silent tears. The hospital director exclaimed, ¡°A professional cardiologist studies for eight years. How many years must one spend as an assistant before stepping into the operating room? She¡¯s only eighteen¡­¡± ¡°Director, we¡¯ve reached a dead end,¡± Jiang Junlin spoke softly. ¡°Rules are static, but people are dynamic. I can¡¯t stand by and watch Grandma die. The entire surgery will be recorded, and everything will be clear when we review the footage.¡± The old lady was given general anesthesia, a ureter was inserted, intubation was performed, and venous access was established. Gu Ci took a deep breath, her composure evident. The doctors and nurses were especially tense, despite their personal thoughts. They could only follow the orders of the chief surgeon. ¡°Doctor Gu, there¡¯s a slight tremor in your hands,¡± Doctor Zhang reminded her. ¡°Prepare for debridement,¡± Gu Ci remained calm, extending her hand. ¡°Scalpel.¡± Once the heart was stabilized, Gu Ci took another deep breath and initiated the surgery. Her commands were clear and concise. ¡°After incision.¡± ¡°Suction pump.¡± ¡°Vessel forceps.¡± With normal hemodynamics reported by the doctor, Gu Ci cut the main artery and administered a cardiac arrest solution. The heart ceased beating. Cardiac surgery was an intricate procedure with no room for error at each step. After the heart stopped, the surgery commenced. Gu Ci began by repairing the left heart valve. The nurse wiped the sweat from her brow. Doctor Zhang and Doctor Li initially believed Gu Ci was acting impulsively, but they were surprised by her meticulous, precise, and calm approach. She appeared to be an experienced cardiac surgeon. At just eighteen years old and in her first year of medical school, how was this possible? ¡°Wait a minute¡­ Doctor Gu, what are you doing?¡± Doctor Li nervously inquired. ¡°This is a heart valve replacement surgery.¡± Gu Ci remained composed. ¡°After I opened her heart, I reevaluated and modified the surgical plan. Heart valve replacements can result in eventual side effects. I want to repair her heart instead.¡± Considering the patient¡¯s age, a heart transplant and blood transfusion would also pose significant risks. Repairing the original heart seemed like the best option. ¡°Doctor Gu!¡± ¡°I am the chief surgeon,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice remained steady as she extended her hand. ¡°Use V5 sutures for the drainage tube.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Outside the operating room, Jiang Junlin, Jiang Minghua, and the rest of the family anxiously awaited the outcome. The old man¡¯s blood pressure continued to rise, and his vision began to darken. Two police officers arrived with Dr. North. The director had assumed Gu Ci was boasting, but now he saw that she had indeed found Dr. North. Dr. North asked, ¡°Where is the patient?¡± ¡°In the surgery room.¡± Dr. North furrowed her brows. She disinfected herself, donned a sterile gown, and entered the operating room. When she saw Gu Ci, she was taken aback. What was this young girl doing? Acting as the chief surgeon? Doctor Zhang had encountered Dr. North once before and regarded her as his idol. He was instantly thrilled that they had managed to hold on until her arrival. With Dr. North¡¯s participation, the success rate of the surgery would undoubtedly increase. If they succeeded, it would become a legendary feat. Gu Ci and Dr. North calmly locked eyes. After reviewing the data, Dr. North stated, ¡°Continue, girl. I¡¯ll assist you.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Amidst the astonishment of the medical team, Gu Ci calmly commanded, ¡°Retractor, open it slightly more.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Gu Ci proceeded confidently to the next step. Dr. North occasionally offered guidance, acting as a mentor to Gu Ci. She was surprised to discover that the girl¡¯s technique closely resembled her own. Even their suturing techniques were remarkably similar. ¡°Keep your hand steady. Avoid the atrioventricular junction,¡± Dr. North reminded. ¡°Understood.¡± The atrioventricular junction was crucial, akin to defusing a bomb. It had to be carefully avoided. ¡°Little girl, who was your teacher?¡± Dr. North suddenly inquired. Gu Ci continued suturing without pausing. ¡°I was fortunate to have seen your surgical footage, Master.¡± Dr. North found it hard to believe that one could step into the operating room solely by watching surgical videos. Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu rushed to the hospital. Gu Ci had been absent the entire night, and her phone¡¯s location indicated she was at the hospital. Concerned, Gu Ziyu asked Lu Zhiyuan to accompany him. When Lu Zhiyuan learned that Gu Ci was acting as the chief surgeon for a heart surgery, he blurted out, ¡°Is she out of her mind?¡± Gu Ziyu was stunned. Why hadn¡¯t he known that his mother was skilled in wielding a scalpel? He recalled the time she stitched up a large cut on his body. Her technique was remarkably precise. He had always believed her long confinement in prison had forced her to keep this secret from him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned all night and has been at the hospital for hours. I couldn¡¯t reach her on her phone, so I was worried that something had happened.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart weighed heavily, and he didn¡¯t press for further details. The group anxiously awaited news outside the operating room. The surgery lasted six hours, with three instances of blood reversal, urinary bleeding, and kidney failure. Fortunately, with the collaboration of Dr. North and Gu Ci, they successfully completed the procedure. As the surgical lights dimmed, Doctor Zhang and Doctor Li emerged from the operating room. They appeared dazed, unable to fathom that such a complex and precise surgery had been carried out by an eightecn-year-old girl. ¡°How did it go?¡± Jiang Minghua inquired. ¡°It was a success!¡± Doctor Zhang announced. ¡°The valve replacement was effectively repaired. The old lady¡¯s original heart has been restored.¡± Jiang Junlin supported the old master, and both of them were overjoyed, particularly Jiang Junlin. ¡°She¡¯s truly a genius!¡± Doctor Li muttered to herself. ¡°She changed the plan at the last minute, and it seemed impossible to complete. Yet she did it.¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ziyu felt an inexplicable sense of pride.. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Father and Son Spat Each Other Chapter 72: Father and Son Spat Each Other Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After the surgery, complications arose due to the old lady¡¯s numerous underlying diseases. Dr. North assisted in stabilizing her condition, drawing upon the experience accumulated by seasoned surgeons. Gu Ci, on the other hand, found herself flustered and inexperienced when confronted with complications. Given a few more years, she could become a surgeon as authoritative as Dr. North. The hospital director had been skeptical about the surgery¡¯s success but was taken aback by the outcome. Dr. North and Gu Ci walked out of the operating room together. The old lady was transferred to the ICU for observation. Dr. North furrowed her brow. ¡°Little girl, you could have been the chief surgeon yourself. Why did you seek my assistance?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice was cold and calm. ¡°Because¡­ this was my first surgery.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Doctor Zhang and Doctor Li exclaimed. Dr. North, too, found it hard to believe. Gu Ci stated calmly, ¡°Whether you believe me or not is up to you.¡± She had spent five years under Dr. North¡¯s tutelage in the hospital. The countryside prison had been chaotic and lacked supervision. Four of them shared a cell, one of whom had a heart condition. Dr. North had been treating that patient, and Gu Ci, being intelligent since a young age, quickly grasped the techniques. Dr. North took her in as a disciple. In the following two years, there was a shortage of doctors in the prison, and knowing that Dr. North and Gu Ci possessed these skills, they would be called upon for treatment. Even the prison warden had a heart condition, and Dr. North served as his attending physician. The warden even prepared an operating theater for Dr. North. Gu Ci had been Dr. North¡¯s assistant until Dr. North crippled her right hand. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your promise,¡± Dr. North had said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gu Ci assured her. Gu Ci removed her clothing, disinfected herself, and washed her hands. She added, ¡°Your case will be reopened very soon. If you want to see Little Cherry, you¡¯d better cooperate. Little Cherry has applied to the National Defense Department. If you have a criminal record, it will ruin her future.¡± Dr. North froze, and Gu Ci took out her phone to transfer Little Cherry¡¯s information to her. Dr. North was in tears. ¡°You didn¡¯t lie to me?¡± ¡°I never lie.¡± Dr. North held Cherry¡¯s photo in her hands, suppressing her emotions. ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re an excellent surgeon. Who is your master?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you before!¡± North examined Gu Ci¡¯s beautiful face. If she had encountered such an arrogant and temperamental girl, she would surely remember. Gu Ci smiled. ¡°That¡¯s not important, Dr. North. You should think about how to tell Little Cherry that you¡¯re her biological mother.¡± After the surgery, Gu Ci felt exhausted and hungry. The hospital director, Doctor Zhang, and Doctor Li¡¯s attitudes toward her had drastically changed, but Gu Ci was not swayed by her newfound reputation. The hospital director wanted to treat Gu Ci to a meal for further discussion, but Lu Zhiyuan intervened. ¡°She has been the chief surgeon for hours and is already exhausted. She needs rest.¡± The dean appeared embarrassed and didn¡¯t dare to challenge Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci said, ¡°Brother, Grandma¡¯s condition is stable. I¡¯ll head home first. If anything comes up, you can inform me.¡± ¡°Alright, get some good rest.¡± Great-grandfather¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Cici, thank you. You saved Grandma¡¯s life.¡± Gu Ci smiled and left the hospital with Gu Ziyu and Lu Zhiyuan. Several hours of intense surgery had drained Gu Ci physically and mentally, but she remained elated. Her first surgery had been a success, and the significance of this achievement was profound to her. However, despite her excitement, fatigue took over, and Gu Ci fell into a deep sleep. Lu Zhiyuan carried her upstairs, and Gu Ziyu ensured not to disturb her. Lu Zhiyuan sat by her bedside, contemplating. He was perplexed. Having known Gu Ci since childhood, even if they had their falling-outs, they were still childhood sweethearts. How could Gu Ci be the chief surgeon for a heart surgery? He had just consulted with several renowned cardiologists at the Central Hospital, and they were at a loss. ¡°Are you Gu Ci?¡± He brushed Gu Ci¡¯s hair aside and gazed at her sleeping face, feeling confused for the first time. ¡°Are you Gu Ci?¡± When Gu Ci woke up, it was already eleven in the morning. Gu Ziyu heard the commotion and knew his mother was awake. He fetched the dishes from the kitchen, keeping them warm. ¡°Mom, eat first.¡± Gu Ci stretched and hugged her son, giving him a kiss. ¡°You¡¯re such an obedient baby.¡± Gu Ziyu smiled and joined Gu Ci for the meal. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could wield a scalpel.¡± ¡°I learned from Dr. North in prison and served as her assistant for two years. After my hand was crippled, I never mentioned it again,¡± Gu Ci explained casually. ¡°Dr. North¡­¡± Gu Ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Chen Rushi¡¯s stepmother?¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°After Chen Geng¡¯s death, wasn¡¯t she killed by Chen Rushi?¡± ¡°In prison.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s gaze shifted. Whenever he reminisced, his heart ached knowing that his mother had spent five years in prison. He had assumed she kept it a secret due to her long illness. ¡°Daddy seems suspicious of you,¡± Gu Ziyu remarked, sipping his soup. ¡°Your skills are incredible. I don¡¯t know how to cover for you.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. As Gu Ziyu saw Gu Ci finish her soup, he served her rice and other dishes. ¡°Mom, did you pursue medicine because you remembered it from your previous life?¡± ¡°No!¡± Gu Ci looked at Ziyu with a complex expression. She smiled lightly and replied, ¡°I studied medicine because I wanted to be able to protect you and the baby when Lu Zhiyuan and I needed to.¡± She didn¡¯t want to witness their downfall while feeling helpless. After dinner, Gu Ci retreated to her room to play the violin, as had become her routine. Gu Ziyu remained in the study, checking on Black Hawk. That powerful hacker operated under the code name Black Hawk. During this period, there had been no news from Black Hawk. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Gu Ziyu tried to enter the Black Hawk Group and probe around, but there was no intervention from Black Hawk. Was he dead? Gu Ziyu narrowed his eyes. He contacted Black Hawk and typed a message. ¡°Are you still alive? Where did you die? I can collect your corpse.¡± He opened a bottle of coke and listened to Gu Ci¡¯s violin playing. A sense of satisfaction filled him. Gu Ci played the violin for an hour, but there was still no response from the other side. ¡°Good riddance!¡± Disappointed, Gu Ziyu logged off. There was no sense of accomplishment at all. No wonder he hadn¡¯t encountered Black Hawk in his previous life¡ªhe had died young. Gu Ziyu woke up from a nap and found a reply on his large screen. Black Eagle: ¡°Still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.¡± Gu Ziyu was left speechless. There was another message from Black Eagle. ¡°Gu Ziyu, are you interested in joining the Black Eagle Group?¡± Gu Ziyu thought to himself, ¡°Black Eagle and I are irreconcilable enemies. Just you wait!¡± Black Hawk: ¡°A defeated opponent, you¡¯re not worth fearing.¡± Gu Ziyu, who had always been driven by competition, retorted, ¡°You¡¯re as good as dead.¡± No one dared to call him a loser to his face. Black Hawk: ¡°Anytime..¡± Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Do You Have a Girlfriend? Chapter 73: Do You Have a Girlfriend? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ziyu was so infuriated that he devoured two more buns for breakfast. Then, he went to train with Chen Fei in a fit of anger. Gu Ci didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. After breakfast, she stayed at home and read a thick pharmacology book. When Lu Zhiyuan came downstairs, Gu Ci was engrossed in a dense medical book, making extensive notes. Lu Zhiyuan sat by the bay window, silently observing her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to train?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Are you Gu Ci?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked with a serious tone. Gu Ci raised her head and looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s really me.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve obtained the medical records of that surgery. If you were able to perform it, then you¡¯re not Gu Ci.¡± She put down her pen and closed the tablet. Gently, she asked, ¡°If I¡¯m not Gu Ci, then who am I?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice grew more hostile, his eyes filled with anger. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t reveal the truth, nor could she explain how she could perform surgery. ¡°If you¡¯re not Gu Ci and you¡¯ve taken over her body, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± he threatened, his presence exuding a domineering and malicious aura. He placed his hands firmly on the desk, confronting her. An intense atmosphere filled the study room. Gu Ci was moved by the anger in his eyes. Before she could explain, Lu Zhiyuan stormed off, leaving her behind with a glimpse of his furious back. Gu Ci sighed and slumped in her chair. She shouldn¡¯t have performed that surgery and revealed herself. She was too young, only eighteen years old, and it was difficult for others to trust her. She called Jiang Junlin and asked him to inform the hospital director that the surgery had been performed by Dr. North. She couldn¡¯t expose herself, and the matter had to be kept confidential. Jiang Junlin had already discussed this with the hospital director. The surgery video would be attributed to Dr. North, and Gu Ci¡¯s involvement would be concealed to protect her. Without a medical license and being so young, if this information were to be exposed, her career as a doctor would be over. Even if the surgery was successful, the director understood the gravity of the situation. Besides the people in the operating theater, this matter had to remain a secret. The old lady regained consciousness on the third day after the surgery and was recovering well. Gu Chuyun turned pale when she learned that the operation had been successful. Apart from going out for afternoon tea with Zhou Jinjin, Gu Ci spent her time at home reading medical books. Occasionally, she would go to the stands to watch Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s training. On that day, as she watched Lu Zhiyuan compete from the stands, Gu Ci received a substantial sum of money¡ªfive billion yuan. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow in surprise. The sender was Gu Chuyun. Jiang Junlin happened to come and find her, sitting next to her in the stands. ¡°Take this money. You deserve it,¡± Jiang Junlin sneered. ¡°I gave her an ultimatum today. If she doesn¡¯t pay up, she¡¯ll receive a court summons.¡± Gu Ci smiled. ¡°Brother, if you need money, I can provide it anytime.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Junlin hesitated. ¡°Grandma wants to sec you.¡± Gu Ci lazily leaned back, stretching her legs to bask in the sun. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until her body fully recovers. I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital and cause unnecessary trouble.¡± Jiang Junlin understood her reasoning. The doctors regarded her as a genius and wanted to engage with her. Gu Ci found it bothersome. She was always independent. ¡°That day, Grandma¡¯s condition worsened because she was angered by Gu Chuyun. Gu Chuyun even abandoned her at her time of need. Luckily, Grandma dotes on her so much.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Her condition is already beyond hope.¡± Gu Ci asked curiously, ¡°Brother, why have you never liked her?¡± ¡°Her intentions are sinister,¡± Jiang Junlin replied. ¡°One should do things the right way, to sit properly, to stand properly¡ªhonesty and transparency.¡± Gu Ci rubbed the space between her eyebrows. She thought of Ji Xiong, who was malicious and scheming, but adhered to a righteous and principled approach. ¡°What are you smiling at?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. Gu Ci touched the corner of her lips. ¡°Am I smiling?¡± ¡°You¡¯re laughing.¡± ¡°Just¡­thinking of something amusing.¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°Brother, do you have a girlfriend?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Jiang Junlin was silent for three seconds. ¡°Why would I have a boyfriend?¡± Gu Ci was speechless. The conversation abruptly ended. Gu Ci didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Gu Ci recalled something and asked Jiang Junlin, ¡°Brother, have you found out who was behind your accident?¡± Jiang Junlin stretched his legs and leaned back lazily, much like Gu Ci. ¡°After I took over Hualan Bank, it grew rapidly. Naturally, it ruffled many feathers. It¡¯s not surprising that I have enemies. I¡¯ve investigated the matter, but it¡¯s complicated, and I don¡¯t have any leads.¡± Lu Zhiyuan finished his training and walked over. Jiang Junlin noticed Gu Ci¡¯s serious expression and said softly, ¡°It¡¯s inevitable to make enemies in business. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Gu Ci nodded. When Lu Zhiyuan approached, Jiang Junlin frowned. ¡°What¡¯s his attitude?¡± ¡°We¡­ We had an argument.¡± Gu Ci stood up. ¡°Brother, you can go back now.¡± Jiang Junlin watched Gu Ci¡¯s departing figure with a serious expression. He wanted to ask her why she could perform surgery and where her confidence came from, but he hesitated. There were too many mysteries surrounding her. Despite her youthful appearance and occasional emotional outbursts, she possessed an unusual level of maturity and composure. She didn¡¯t quite resemble an eighteen-year-old girl except in her appearance. In the locker room, Lu Zhiyuan removed his helmet and loosened his training suit¡¯s collar. He wiped the sweat from his face with a towel. Gu Ci leaned against the door, gazing at him. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, do you plan to ignore me forever?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, his expression cold and distant. After wiping off his sweat, he headed to the bathroom. Li Jiang approached from afar. When he saw Gu Ci, he quickly turned and avoided her. Lu Zhiyuan took a quick shower and emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. His damp hair cascaded down his chest, and each movement showcased his perfectly sculpted, powerful physique. His upper body was strong and lean, his muscles well-defined. Broad shoulders tapered into a slim waist, even more slender than a woman¡¯s. Sunlight filtered through, casting a golden glow on his body. He put on his T-shirt and tossed the towel aside. Gu Ci blushed and averted her gaze. She silently chanted a mind-clearing mantra, her mouth feeling dry. Her body seemed to yearn for and remember this figure. Lu Zhiyuan walked past her, looking straight ahead. Gu Ci grabbed his wrist. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan¡­¡± ¡°Let go!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold and low. Gu Ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively released her grip. A hint of panic flickered in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t determine if he was Third Master or Lu Zhiyuan. The two were becoming indistinguishable. Lu Zhiyuan strode away, leaving Gu Ci unable to persist. It was too pitiful and heartbreaking. All she could do was watch him vanish from her sight. In a gloomy mood, Gu Ci decided to use the Gu Corporation as an example. She took the five billion yuan that Jiang Junlin had given her and shorted the Gu Corporation¡¯s stocks. In a single day, she had squandered one billion yuan. With the fake money and fabricated news, the collaboration between the Gu Corporation and Hualan Bank fell apart. The Gu Corporation, already facing financial difficulties, plunged even deeper into crisis. Gu Wcnliang struggled to stabilize investors, but now, with the short-selling, the situation grew even worse.. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Gu Ci Was Playing Miserable Chapter 74: Gu Ci Was Playing Miserable Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The following day, she spent another two billion yuan. The Gu Corporation¡¯s shares plummeted, and investors began to sell them off. Gu Wcnliang was forced to buy back a large amount of shares, only for Gu Ci to sell them again, earning a significant sum of money and depicting the Gu Corporation¡¯s cash flow. Within just one week, the Gu Corporation¡¯s assets, originally worth 50 billion yuan, had shrunk by 80%. Gu Wenliang was in a state of distress, and Lu Man was infuriated. ¡°It must be Hualan Bank seeking revenge. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t even consider what Gu Ci would gain from bankrupting the Gu Corporation.¡± Gu Chuyun sat in the living room, wearing a sinister expression. Her hatred burned intensely. ¡°It must be Gu Ci who instigated all of this. This brat is so ungrateful.¡± The Gu Corporation was also a major player in the business world, and harmony was key to making money. If it weren¡¯t for Gu Ci, Hualan Bank wouldn¡¯t have made such a significant move. Gu Ci had blocked Gu Yaozu¡¯s number, and he had been unable to reach her for a long time. Not only him, but Gu Chuyun, Gu Wenliang, and Lu Man had all been blocked by Gu Ci. Gu Wenliang vented his anger on Lu Man. ¡°This is all your fault. Your shortsightedness is to blame. Why did you switch the children back then?¡± Lu Man was rendered speechless. Who could have predicted that Jiang Mingyue¡¯s temper was so volatile that she would die on the spot? She had shot herself in the foot. ¡°If you had switched your child and treated Gu Ci fairly, things wouldn¡¯t have escalated to this point.¡± Lu Man was furious. ¡°I don¡¯t favor Gu Ci or treat her poorly. But do you dote on her? Now it¡¯s all my fault?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t favored Gu Ci, she wouldn¡¯t have become so rebellious and stubborn. Why would I criticize and neglect her?¡± ¡°Stop arguing. When are we going to take action?¡± Gu Chuyun couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. ¡°The stock price has plummeted, but as long as the company¡¯s operations remain stable, it¡¯ll be fine. Dad, why are you panicking? It¡¯s not like Hualan Bank is the only source of funding.¡± ¡°This brat, is she really going to bankrupt us?¡± Lu Man said. ¡°Chu Yun, the old lady¡¯s surgery was successful. Go and beg her. She has always doted on you the most.¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. The old lady¡¯s demise was her utmost priority. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that the surgery would be successful. She was deeply frustrated that the old lady had been saved. ¡°She won¡¯t see me anymore.¡± She had completely ruined the Jiang family¡¯s plan. In fact, it was only a matter of time. Even if everyone sided with her, as long as Jiang Junlin sided with Gu Ci, they would ultimately stand with Jiang Junlin. If Jiang Junlin had died in Haicheng that day¡­ the outcome would be different. ¡°What should we do?¡± Lu Man was anxious. ¡°Are we really going to go bankrupt?¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes brimmed with malice. No, she was the chosen one. She had been the luckiest since childhood. She wouldn¡¯t lose to Gu Ci. She would find a way to turn the tables! At the Global Center, after Gu Zicheng and Chen Fei finished training, Gu Ci planned to visit the hospital to see the old lady. However, as soon as she stepped outside, she was stopped by Gu Wenliang and Gu Yaozu. ¡°Gu Ci, stay right there. Daddy wants to have a talk with you!¡± Gu Yaozu had always been arrogant when facing her. Gu Ci stared coldly at them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± Gu Wcnliang reprimanded her lightly. ¡°The Gu family is in such a mess, yet you don¡¯t care. You¡¯re truly ungrateful. Lu Man made a mistake, but we have also raised you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in hearing the same old story.¡± Gu Ci wanted to leave coldly, but Gu Yaozu blocked her. ¡°Gu Ci, I¡¯m your brother, and he¡¯s your father. No matter what, we¡¯re family. You can¡¯t abandon us in this situation!¡± Gu Ci tried to break free from Gu Yaozu¡¯s grasp, but when she saw Lu Zhiyuan descending the stairs for training and looking over, she suppressed the urge to hit Gu Yaozu. ¡°Recently, the capital has been short-selling Gu Group¡¯s stocks. It must be Hualan Bank behind it. Are you the one instigating it? Tell Jiang Junlin to stop short-selling Gu Group¡¯s stocks. I promise that I won¡¯t mistreat you.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. Gu Yaozu had a terrible temper and couldn¡¯t bear seeing her with such a cold expression. He roared fiercely, ¡°Did you hear that?!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t Hualan Bank that short-sold the Gu Corporation!¡± Gu Ci watched as Lu Zhiyuan rushed over. She smiled. ¡°It was me!¡± Gu Wenliang and Gu Yaozu were both furious and shocked. Gu Ci sneered, ¡°I want the Gu Corporation to go bankrupt. I want you all to live on the streets, beaten like rats.¡± Gu Yaozu, who had a terrible temper, couldn¡¯t tolerate being provoked. He threw a punch at Gu Ci. Gu Ci didn¡¯t dodge or evade; she took the blow and staggered back a few steps. She quickly regained her footing. But when Lu Zhiyuan rushed over, Gu Ci intentionally fell to the ground. Angry, Gu Yaozu approached and kicked her in the abdomen. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. Just as Gu Yaozu was about to punch and kick Gu Ci, Lu Zhiyuan grabbed his wrist and sent him flying with a kick to the chest, throwing him five meters away. Gu Ci lay on the ground, curled up in pain. Gu Yaozu let out a scream. The world champion athlete had dealt a mighty kick that broke his ribs. Unable to get up, Gu Yaozu writhed on the ground, wailing before losing consciousness. Lu Zhiyuan picked up the pale-faced Gu Ci and looked down at her. His entire body was tense, and anger burned in his eyes. Gu Ci weakly lay in his arms, her pitiful and aggrieved voice escaping her lips. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, it hurts¡­¡± Her teary eyes sought refuge in his arms, desperately seeking his protection like a little girl wronged and looking for comfort. Every pore on her body was filled with attachment. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Her tears fell onto his arms as if they would scorch his chest and penetrate his heart. This act of vulnerability and pleading hit Lu Zhiyuan, who was overwhelmed with protectiveness. ¡°I want Gu Yaozu¡¯s life!¡± He carried Gu Ci inside and called for the medical team. The doctor rushed over to examine her. Gu Yaozu¡¯s punch had been forceful. Gu Ci felt dizzy and nauseous. The doctor said, ¡°Third Young Master, we need to send him to the hospital for a check-up.¡± Lu Zhiyuan silently carried her and placed her in the car. On the way to the hospital, he had already contacted the doctor and provided a brief overview of Gu Ci¡¯s condition. Gu Ci lay weakly in the back seat, her stomach churning. Oh no! She had resorted to self-harm as a ploy. She had avoided vital organs, but she had suffered a concussion. Gu Yaozu¡¯s boxing experience and powerful punch had taken a toll. Gu Ci made a rough self-diagnosis of her injuries. She vomited again in the car. Lu Zhiyuan was consumed with worry. Upon reaching the hospital, Gu Ci was rushed in for examination. She looked up at Lu Zhiyuan, tears still brimming in her eyes. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, don¡¯t leave me.¡± Gu Ci had never acted clingy or pitiful, much less cried. Lu Zhiyuan gazed at his beloved little girl, tears in her eyes, seeking solace and reassurance. He would even agree to pluck the stars from the sky or ask for the moon, let alone accompany her for a check-up.. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Ziyu Cried From Anger Chapter 75: Ziyu Cried From Anger Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci had suffered a moderate concussion, and there were blood clots in her brain. She was prescribed medication to improve blood circulation and dissolve the blood clots. Her headache symptoms had subsided, but she still felt nauseous. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Will there be any long-term effects on her brain?¡± ¡°She needs to be hospitalized for observation.¡± The doctor remained cautious. After undergoing a series of examinations and completing the hospitalization procedures, Gu Ci lay in bed. The dizziness had lessened slightly. Lu Zhiyuan was about to leave when Gu Ci grabbed his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± She couldn¡¯t endure being beaten for no reason. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart softened as he looked into her eyes. He sat beside her and held her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s eyes turned red. She had never sounded so aggrieved and coquettish before. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s resolve wavered as he asked, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± ¡°My stomach hurts. I need you to rub it.¡± Lu Zhiyuan placed his hand on her lower abdomen, where a large bruise was forming. He gently massaged the area. The softness and delicacy of her abdomen beneath his palm unsettled him. However, Gu Ci found comfort in his touch. His hand was warm. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I want a hug.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s drowsy voice pleaded. She reached out her hand, her instincts guiding her to act coquettishly. Lu Zhiyuan had never seen Gu Ci like this before. His heart softened as he saw her delicate and gentle side, reminiscent of the little girl he used to hold. He climbed onto the bed and embraced her in his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you. Be good.¡± He gently comforted her, and Gu Ci slowly drifted off to sleep. By chance, when he woke up, it was the moment Third Master was awakening and preparing to leave the bed. Gu Ci, still in a daze, playfully hooked her fingers onto his hand and even purposely scratched his palm. Her voice sounded sweet. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice turned cold and low. ¡°Proud and pitiful, it won¡¯t work on me.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s body stiffened, and her toes curled up awkwardly. Instinctively, she let go. Lu Zhiyuan tidied his clothes and gazed down at her with a deep and enigmatic gaze. ¡°Is it worth it?¡± He saw through her at a glance. ¡°I¡¯m willing to endure it.¡± Gu Ci lay buried in the white sheets, her face as pale as the bed. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze became obscure. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Ci said, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m literally hungry.¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°I want to eat wontons.¡± Lu Zhiyuan flicked his sleeves and left. Gu Ci didn¡¯t know if it was due to her injury, but she felt a slight soreness. She took a deep breath and picked up an orange to eat. Then, she called Gu Ziyu. She didn¡¯t want Ziyu to worry, so she made up an excuse. Seeing that she was at the hospital, Gu Ziyu assumed she was visiting the old lady and didn¡¯t think too much of it. Just as she was about to ask Zhou Jinjin to prepare a bowl of wontons, Lu Zhiyuan returned with a takeaway box containing hot wontons and buns. Gu Ci was stunned. It had only been five minutes. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t have even made it out of the hospital in that time. Lu Zhiyuan placed the wontons down and left without a word. Gu Ci reached out to touch them. They had just been taken out of the pot and were steaming hot. ¡°I want to eat fresh French steak. Can he bring that too?¡± Gu Ci muttered to herself. She forced herself to ignore Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s cold demeanor. After eating the wontons, her stomach felt better, but she still felt a little dizzy. Gu Ci suspected that the blood in her brain hadn¡¯t completely dissipated. If her injury turned out to be self-inflicted, she would be the biggest fool in the world. When Lu Zhiyuan left the hospital, Li Jiang was waiting for him. Gu Wenliang happened to come out of the hospital as well. Gu Yaozu had undergone surgery for three broken ribs. When he saw Lu Zhiyuan, he flew into a rage. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, wait for the court summons. I will definitely sue you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan coldly regarded him. He took out a check and filled in the amount. As a responsible person, he would clean up the mess when Third Young Master caused trouble. ¡°For his medical expenses.¡± Gu Wenliang¡¯s eyes turned red as he tore up the check ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, are you mocking me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan glared at him coldly, then got into the car and closed the window, shutting out Gu Wenliang¡¯s curses. Li Jiang drove away and reported on Gu Yaozu¡¯s condition. Li Jiang said, ¡°Third Master, you shouldn¡¯t blame Third Young Master. Who knew Gu Yaozu would be so good-looking but so useless? His bones are so brittle.¡± After a moment of silence, Li Jiang asked, ¡°Third Master, is Miss Gu Ci okay?¡± ¡°Stay quiet.¡± Li Jiang replied, ¡°Yes, understood!¡± He could subtly sense that Third Master¡¯s emotions were a bit off, but Third Master was enduring and restraining himself. Even if he revealed a hint of emotion, it was difficult for outsiders to notice. Li Jiang¡¯s head throbbed with pain, and he didn¡¯t dare utter another word. When Lu Zhiyuan returned to the Global Center, Chen Fei had just finished training with Gu Ziyu. Gu Ziyu greeted him. Lu Zhiyuan nodded, and Li Jiang broke out in a cold sweat. Third Master, say something. Little Master is sensitive and astute. Is it really okay for you to say nothing? In the elevator, the three adults and one child remained silent. Chen Fei and Li Jiang got off the elevator first, both heaving sighs of relief. In the elevator, only Gu Ziyu and Lu Zhiyuan were left. In the mirror, the two of them had nearly identical expressions and auras. Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Why are you ignoring me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan responded casually, ¡°Why should I bother with you?¡± Gu Ziyu gritted his teeth. ¡°If you have the ability, don¡¯t eat the breakfast I prepared.¡± As the kid exited the elevator, he didn¡¯t even look back. Though young, he exuded a cool demeanor. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s peach blossom eyes remained calm. When Gu Ziyu arrived home, he soaked himself in the bathtub, stretching his body. He then complained to Gu Ci, ¡°Dad didn¡¯t say a word to me in the elevator. He really hates me and doesn¡¯t like me at all.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. How could she explain to Gu Ziyu that Lu Zhiyuan¡­ Perhaps he would remain indifferent even if both mother and son died in front of him. Gu Ziyu woke up early. His mother wasn¡¯t at home, and he wasn¡¯t a delicate boy. He had some milk and bread. As for Lu Zhiyuan, Gu Ziyu thought coldly, who cares about him. When he went downstairs, he encountered Lu Zhiyuan once again in the elevator. Gu Ziyu put on a haughty and cold expression. Lu Zhiyuan ruffled his messy hair. ¡°Little one, you won¡¯t grow tall if you sleep late and wake up early. Be careful else you¡¯d be short.¡± Gu Ziyu swatted his hand away and placed his hands on his hips. ¡°When have I ever ignored you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan suddenly realized how cute the boy looked when he was angry. He pinched his cheek. ¡°You sticking to Gu Ci all the time is really annoying.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You¡¯re the annoying one!¡± ¡°We were born to be enemies and to hate each other.¡± Gu Ziyu fell silent. He took a deep breath and smiled sinisterly. ¡°The world works in mysterious ways, Brother.¡± Aside from Gu Ci, Lu Zhiyuan enjoyed teasing Gu Ziyu the most. He found it entertaining to see the little one get angry. ¡°Little one, when Gu Ci and I have a child in the future, she won¡¯t dote on you anymore.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes instantly reddened as he fiercely glared at him. These words pierced Gu Ziyu¡¯s heart like a knife. The elevator doors opened, and Gu Ziyu angrily pushed Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°I hate you!¡± He ran out of the elevator, wiping away his tears as he went. Chen Fei chased after him.. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Demon and Angel Chapter 76: Demon and Angel Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan was shocked. He was so angry that he cried? The little one was usually like a wolf cub, fierce and ruthless, so how could he not handle teasing? Gu Ziyu wiped his tears expressionlessly. His face was red, but there was no sadness in his eyes. Chen Fei was confused. ¡°Baby, don¡¯t cry.¡± Gu Ziyu vigorously wiped away his tears. ¡°Annoying. Why won¡¯t it stop?¡± Chen Fei was speechless. ¡°If you weren¡¯t sad, it would stop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad. I¡¯m not sad.¡± Chen Fei was straightforward. ¡°Then why are you crying?¡± Gu Ziyu pointed to his eyes. ¡°Ask them. They¡¯re crying on their own. What does it have to do with me?¡± Chen Fei was confused.¡±?¡± After Li Jiang followed Lu Zhiyuan out of the elevator, he couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not Gu Ci¡¯s son. It¡¯s none of my business if he reacts so strongly,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said playfully. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel a sense of accomplishment when you make him cry?¡± Li Jiang thought to himself, ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯re truly peculiar!¡± After Gu Ci woke up from her nap, she felt much better, and the dizziness had subsided. She got up to stretch her muscles and bones, lifting her hospital gown to inspect her lower abdomen. There was a large patch of purple bruise that still caused pain when she touched it. Jiang Junlin knocked on the door and entered. He frowned and appeared extremely displeased. Gu Ci was surprised. ¡°Brother, how did you find out?¡± Jiang Junlin approached her swiftly. The corner of Gu Ci¡¯s mouth was split, and her face was bruised. She looked utterly pitiful. Jiang Junlin¡¯s anger was contained. ¡°Gu Yaozu deserves to die!¡± ¡°He¡¯s more injured than I am,¡± Gu Ci remarked. Jiang Junlin inquired about her condition, and Gu Ci told him the truth. He looked at Gu Ci calmly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dodge when Gu Yaozu hit you?¡± He had witnessed Gu Ci¡¯s formidable skills when they were in Haicheng. Gu Ci knew she couldn¡¯t hide it from him, so she had no choice but to tell him the truth. ¡°I had a small conflict with Lu Zhiyuan. I wanted to feign innocence so he wouldn¡¯t pursue the matter. Who would have thought I would go too far?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Before Jiang Junlin could finish speaking, the door to the ward was forcefully pushed open. Lu Zhiyuan stood at the entrance with a dark expression, glaring at Gu Ci. Gu Ci¡¯s whole body stiffened. One thought echoed in her mind. ¡°I¡¯m finished!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was so angry that he laughed. ¡°Gu Ci, you¡­ Very good!¡± He turned and left, tossing the breakfast he had lined up early in the morning into the nearby trash can. Gu Ci chased after him for a few steps, but her headache flared up again. Jiang Junlin hurriedly helped her lie back down. ¡°Cici, what¡¯s wrong¡­¡± Gu Ci endured the wave of dizziness. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She picked up her phone and dialed Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s number, but he hung up. When she called him a third time, Lu Zhiyuan blocked her. Gu Ci was shocked. In her previous life, even after she was released from prison, they quarreled constantly before they got married. She had provoked him multiple times, but Lu Zhiyuan never blocked her. He was truly angry. The kind of anger that was difficult to soothe. Gu Ci¡¯s plan to hurt herself had utterly failed. She had been punched and kicked, further fueling Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger. Gu Ci was at a loss. ¡°I¡¯m so unlucky.¡± Jiang Junlin was both furious and distressed. ¡°Look at your state. Why did you resort to self-inflicted harm with such a honey trap? Why did you have to hurt yourself?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s expression turned a bit complicated. To Lu Zhiyuan, the self-inflicted pain ploy was a hundred times more effective than a honey trap. He had a strong willpower and a resilient heart. As long as he didn¡¯t want to be swayed, he would remain calm. The self-inflicted pain tactic had been tried and tested. ¡°Brother, please stop scolding me. I¡¯m truly unlucky.¡± The doctor came by to examine her. The blood clot in her brain had dissipated, and there were no major issues. She would need to stay in the hospital for one more day for observation before being discharged. After Jiang Junlin left, Gu Ci called Li Jiang. ¡°Where is your Third Young Master?¡± Li Jiang responded, ¡°Third Young Master is racing like a madman. Miss Gu Ci, you¡¯re truly one of a kind. Only you can make him this angry.¡± Gu Ci wondered if that was a compliment. ¡°He¡¯s in a fit of anger. Racing laps can be very dangerous.¡± ¡°Miss Gu Ci, I can¡¯t persuade him. You should try to talk to him yourself.¡± Gu Ci helplessly hung up the phone. She sent Lu Zhiyuan a message on WeChat, only to receive a reminder that she wasn¡¯t his friend and would need to add him first. Gu Ci¡¯s headache worsened. ¡°So childish!¡± If he was angry, then let it be. Why did he block her? In the afternoon, Jiang Junlin, Jiang Minghua, and Lin Chunli came to visit her. The elder master was with the old lady. They were old and concerned that knowing about Gu Ci¡¯s injury would dampen their mood, so Jiang Junlin chose not to inform them. Lin Chunli was afraid that Gu Ci would have no one to care for her, so she took the initiative to stay and look after her. Gu Ci politely declined, seeing that Lin Chunli was uncomfortable. Lu Man and Gu Chuyun came to see Gu Ci, but they were stopped by Jiang Junlin. She didn¡¯t know what Jiang Junlin said to them, but Lu Man and Gu Chuyun never bothered her again. Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t hide the fact that he hadn¡¯t been home for two nights. He gently applied medicine for Gu Ci. ¡°Mom, does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt. It¡¯s just a minor injury.¡± Gu Ci reassured Little Yu. ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡± Gu Ziyu smiled innocently and cutely, easing Gu Ci¡¯s worries. As soon as Gu Ziyu stepped out of the ward, his expression darkened. He asked Chen Fei, who had followed him, ¡°I want you to break Gu Yaozu¡¯s ribs!¡± ¡°Ziyu, you can¡¯t.¡± Chen Fei responded, ¡°He made a mistake, and there are laws to punish him.¡± Gu Ziyu raised his head and smiled sweetly. ¡°Brother, I was just joking.¡± Chen Fei was left speechless. When Gu Ziyu returned to the Global Center, he yawned. ¡°I¡¯m not in a good mood. I¡¯ll take a break from training today. I want to rest.¡± Chen Fei had no objections. After Gu Ziyu went upstairs, he called Ji Meng. His voice turned cold and indifferent. ¡°Have you arrived in A City?¡± ¡°Baby, I just landed at the airport.¡± ¡°Come pick me up. Something has happened.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes gleamed with a chilling coldness. Ji Meng wore a white shirt, pants, and black-and-white casual shoes. His harmless and captivating face made him resemble a university student. Standing in front of the car, he captured 100% attention. Gu Ziyu descended the stairs with his tablet. This was the first time Ji Meng had seen Gu Ziyu in person. He looked even younger in real life than in the videos. This aura¡­ Ji Meng thought to himself, he¡¯s so much like Third Master. ¡°Hey, baby¡­¡± Gu Ziyu also smiled sweetly. He was even more harmless than Ji Meng. ¡°Hello, brother. I¡¯m Gu Ziyu. Nice to meet you¡­ You¡¯re younger than I thought.¡± In his previous life, when Gu Ziyu first met Ji Meng, Ji Meng was already thirty years old. Now, Ji Meng was only twenty-one, wearing a clean white shirt and possessing clear eyes. He seemed so young that Gu Ziyu himself felt a sense of unfamiliarity. ¡°You know how to smile? Then you¡¯re unlike Third Master.¡± Gu Ziyu sweetly smiled once again, melting Ji Meng¡¯s heart. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Just a small favor.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Ji Meng said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing big brother can¡¯t do.¡± Gu Ziyu looked at him sincerely. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Ji Meng was touched by his cuteness once again and felt that Ziyu was a lovable little sweetheart. At eleven o¡¯clock at night, Gu Ziyu brought him to the hospital. They arrived at Gu Yaozu¡¯s ward and hacked into the surveillance camera at the door. Ji Meng asked, ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not important.¡± Gu Ziyu turned around and smiled. ¡°He will soon be a corpse..¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: A Child Encountering a Sick Person Chapter 77: A Child Encountering a Sick Person Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ji Meng fell silent for a moment, his expression subtly changing. ¡°Baby, I was wrong. I should have trusted my first impression.¡± What peerless sweetheart? He was a little devil. He reminded Gu Ziyu, ¡°Wear gloves when you¡¯re about to kill someone. Baby, don¡¯t leave any fingerprints.¡± Gu Ziyu slowly put on his white gloves. Gu Yaozu was lying on the bed with a breathing tube. Gu Ziyu approached and removed the tube. Gu Yaozu was still in a dazed state. Gu Ziyu instructed, ¡°Take him down.¡± Ji Meng effortlessly flipped Gu Yaozu onto the ground with one hand. Gu Yaozu screamed and wailed, ¡°Gu Ziyu, what are you doing? Doctor, nurse, someone, cough cough cough¡­¡± Gu Ziyu knelt beside him, placing his index finger on his lips. ¡°Shh, be quiet.¡± Gu Yaozu was terrified, looking at the child before him with horror in the dim light. ¡°What do you want? Do you know who I am?¡± In the next moment, Gu Ziyu¡¯s elbow struck his chest. Gu Yaozu¡¯s recently healed broken ribs were broken once again. Ji Meng winced at the sound. Gu Yaozu screamed, ¡°Ahhh¡­ Gu Ziyu, I won¡¯t let you off. I won¡¯t let you off¡­¡± Gu Ziyu slowly drew out a dagger and pressed it against his neck with a cold expression. He tilted his head and smiled sweetly, appearing as polite as a little prince. ¡°Be quiet.¡± The cold blade pressed against his neck, causing Gu Yaozu to tremble violently as he endured the pain. Gu Ziyu remained gentle like an angel. Gu Ziyu¡¯s elbow struck his chest once more. Gu Yaozu was in so much pain that he broke out in a cold sweat. He writhed on the ground but didn¡¯t dare make a sound. Gu Ziyu¡¯s dagger remained pressed against his neck. Ji Meng was speechless. How twisted! He was mistaken. While his aura resembled Third Master¡¯s, his methods were completely different. If Third Master wanted to deal with someone, he would simply take their life. He didn¡¯t know how to torture people. Who taught this little demon? Insane and sick. Gu Yaozu¡¯s breathing became rapid. Observing this, Ji Meng assisted him with the breathing tube. When his breathing improved, he let go. ¡°I was wrong. Spare me, spare me¡­¡± Gu Yaozu crawled forward pitifully. ¡°Someone, help, help¡­¡± Gu Ziyu let out a faint sigh. He seemed conflicted, even regretful. There was a cruel glint in his eyes. He stepped on Gu Yaozu¡¯s head, pressing him firmly against the cold ground. Gu Yaozu couldn¡¯t utter a single word. Gu Ziyu spoke, ¡°I like obedient people.¡± ¡°Spare me¡­ I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Ji Meng chuckled and said, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t actually kill him.¡± ¡°I can end your life at any moment.¡± The cold dagger gently tapped Gu Yaozu¡¯s cheek. Gu Ziyu stated, ¡°Gu Yaozu, do you understand?¡± Gu Yaozu nodded frantically. Gu Ziyu was very satisfied and released him. Rubbing his wrist, he asked politely, ¡°Gu Yaozu, why did your ribs break again?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Gu Yaozu¡¯s teeth chattered. He had never encountered such a terrifying child before. The ground beneath him was wet from his own urine. Ji Meng took a step back, feeling disgusted. ¡°I fell by myself. I was truly careless.¡± Gu Ziyu squatted down and gazed gently at him with his smiling peach blossom eyes. ¡°Be more careful when getting out of bed. If you fall again, you might lose your life.¡± Gu Yaozu cowered in fear. He never imagined that he would feel such fear from a child. ¡°You¡¯re insane¡­¡± Gu Ziyu was a little deranged. He was too frightening. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Gu Ziyu chuckled, put away the dagger, and coldly left the ward. Ji Meng followed him outside. Gu Ziyu restored the surveillance camera in the corridor. Doctors and nurses rushed to Gu Yaozu¡¯s ward, alarmed by the commotion. Gu Ziyu smiled politely at the doctor. From his appearance, it was impossible to imagine the crazed and sickening scene that had unfolded in his ward. ¡°Baby, you scared me,¡± Ji Meng said. Gu Ziyu glanced at him. ¡°Then you really can¡¯t handle a scare.¡± Ji Meng laughed. ¡°Brother is easily frightened.¡± Gu Ziyu stood at the hospital entrance. When he saw Chen Liangdong¡¯s car, he calmly said, ¡°You can go back first. I still have something to do.¡± ¡°Are you discarding the food? Don¡¯t you care about it?¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Gu Ziyu replied. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner.¡± ¡°Alright, don¡¯t break your promise.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Gu Ziyu reverted to his peerless sweetheart appearance. ¡°Goodbye, brother.¡± Ji Meng had goosebumps all over his body. He had seen Gu Ziyu¡¯s true self, so he wouldn¡¯t be deceived again. Ji Meng drove away, and Gu Ziyu approached Chen Liangdong. Chen Liangdong had just finished work and was dressed casually. He invited Gu Ziyu to have supper together. The two of them went to a roadside stall to eat skewers. Gu Ziyu was a bit of a clean freak. During this period, he had been training with Chen Fei, occasionally rolling in the mud, which had slightly diminished his obsession with cleanliness. ¡°Is it delicious?¡± Chen Liangdong chuckled and said, ¡°This is the best barbecue stall near the Provincial Department of State Security. It has been open for more than ten years, and their grilled beef tongue is the most authentic.¡± Gu Ziyu had a small appetite and ate five or six pieces of charcoal-grilled beef tongue. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Chen Liangdong sipped his beer. ¡°Start what?¡± ¡°Being reasonable,¡± Gu Ziyu declared, putting on a serious expression. ¡°I¡¯ll admit my mistake first. Chen Fei refused to break Gu Yaozu¡¯s ribs, so I took matters into my own hands. I was wrong. I¡¯ll reflect on myself. You can proceed now.¡± Chen Liangdong was speechless. Gu Ziyu felt that he had an unlucky day. He was angered by Lu Zhiyuan in the morning, irritated by Chen Fei¡¯s honesty during training in the afternoon, and even got involved in teaching someone a lesson. After a day of swimming against the current, he had become numb. ¡°You also know that hurting others is wrong?¡± Chen Liangdong couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Then why do we still need to do it?¡± ¡°Whoever bullies my sister¡­ Brother, I want their life!¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t hide his hostility. Chen Liangdong pondered for a moment and asked Gu Ziyu with a smile, ¡°Is Gu Ci more important to you than anything else?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Ziyu replied. ¡°In my heart, she¡¯s more important than anything else.¡± Chen Liangdong continued smiling and asked, ¡°Ziyu, if one day you obtain a state secret and revealing it would set the country¡¯s technology back by 50 years, but on the other hand, it would save Gu Ci¡¯s life, what would you choose?¡± Chen Fei was frightened by the question. For Gu Ziyu, it was a life-or-death dilemma. Choosing Gu Ci was a matter of the heart, but it would mean giving up on his aspirations as a national security soldier. Sacrificing Gu Ci would be pandering to Chen Liangdong and living a lie. ¡°Why should I choose?¡± Gu Ziyu replied confidently and arrogantly. ¡°I can protect both.¡± Chen Liangdong wagged his finger. ¡°In life, there are ups and downs. Ziyu, it¡¯s rare to have both sides in this world.¡± Gu Ziyu fell silent. Chen Liangdong poured him a cup of milk and spoke affectionately, ¡°The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility, and the greater the losses. Unless you¡¯re someone who transcends the worldly matters, disregarding morals and laws. But¡­ We¡¯re not in a hurry. We have a lifetime to discuss this slowly.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to scold me?¡± Gu Ziyu asked.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: A Tragic Counterattack by a Beauty Chapter 78: A Tragic Counterattack by a Beauty Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You¡¯ve admitted your mistake sincerely, so I won¡¯t scold you anymore,¡± Chen Liangdong replied. ¡°But you still need to be punished. Little Yu, you and I are bound together. If you make a mistake, I¡¯ll take the blame.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Gu Ziyu frowned. ¡°I made the mistake. I don¡¯t need you to take the blame.¡± Chen Liangdong smiled and shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way. You¡¯re the little pride of our country. How can I punish you? So, you¡¯ll only punish me.¡± Gu Ziyu clenched his small fists and glared at Chen Liangdong. Chen Liangdong took a bite of roast beef. ¡°It¡¯s settled then.¡± ¡°If Chen Fei doesn¡¯t say anything, you don¡¯t say anything, and I don¡¯t say anything, no one will know!¡± Chen Liangdong shook his head and pointed at the sky. ¡°No, only the heavens know. Little brat, the heavens are watching us. We have to be magnanimous and act as gentlemen. If we¡¯re wrong, we¡¯ll admit our mistakes, okay?¡± ¡°What punishment will you receive?¡± ¡°Punishment!¡± Chen Liangdong chuckled. ¡°This is the first punishment I¡¯ve ever received. I hope it will make us more cautious in our words and actions. After three punishments, I¡¯ll retire from this military uniform.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s expression slightly changed, and he tightly clenched his little fists. Chen Liangdong snapped his fingers. ¡°Boss, give me another serving of beef tongue. My kid loves it.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± the boss replied. Chen Liangdong looked at the gloomy Gu Ziyu and lovingly coaxed him. ¡°You¡¯re so adorable at such a young age. Why are you wearing such a long face? You should smile more.¡± Gu Ziyu was speechless. At the Global Center, Ji Meng handed the video to Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan watched Gu Ziyu¡¯s actions and words in the hospital from beginning to end, and he was surprised. ¡°Gu Ziyu?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, Third Master,¡± Ji Meng said. ¡°This child¡­ Antisocial personality?¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell silent. Ji Meng smiled. ¡°I quite like it.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s cold gaze swept over, and Ji Yao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just joking, Third Master. Don¡¯t take it so seriously.¡± Lu Zhiyuan turned off the video and tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°This child is extremely intelligent and ruthless. He harbors a deep hostility towards the Blackhawk Group. Keep an eye on him¡­ He¡¯ll bring endless trouble in the future.¡± Ji Meng was surprised. Did Third Master really want to get rid of him? ¡°When humans are young, it is indeed the best time to clip their wings,¡± Ji Meng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Young Master and Miss Gu Ci have a deep relationship. If something happens to him, Miss Gu Ci will be devastated.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Ji Meng¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Third Master.¡± ¡°You talk too much.¡± Ji Meng maintained a polite smile that wasn¡¯t awkward. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t dwell on Gu Ziyu¡¯s matter. ¡°Since you¡¯re in City A, gradually take over the Asian department. I want you to replace the Asian department president within two years.¡± ¡°One year is enough,¡± Ji Meng replied confidently. Gu Ci¡¯s follow-up examination showed that she was in good health. After the doctor approved her discharge, Zhou Jinjin helped her pack her things. The bruise on Gu Ci¡¯s chin had not completely faded, but the colors had lightened, and it wasn¡¯t very noticeable anymore. After completing the discharge procedures, Gu Ci went to visit the old lady. Unfortunately, the old lady was still asleep. The surgery had been successful, but she needed rest afterward. Gu Ci didn¡¯t wait for her to wake up and returned to the Global Center. Zhou Jinjin finally sensed that something was amiss. ¡°Did you have another argument with Lu Zhiyuan?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Ci replied. Zhou Jinjin slapped his forehead. ¡°You two really can¡¯t get along. You¡¯ve been enemies since you were young. What¡¯s the reason this time?¡± Gu Ci was speechless about the matter. ¡°I can¡¯t coax him this time,¡± she said. It was extremely difficult to appease Lu Zhiyuan when he was angry. ¡°You¡¯re too kind when you¡¯re in love. Lu Shixiu cheated on me,¡± Zhou Jinjin mockingly said. ¡°This idiot has been trying to contact me recently.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m famous.¡± Zhou Jinjin had started a beauty blogger account in her second year of high school, and she even guaranteed to release a magazine every week during her third year of high school. The traffic on her platform had always been high, making her quite popular. After the college entrance exam results were released, she posted her scores and quickly gained even more popularity. The traffic on her account soared. Recently, she had endorsed a domestic brand, and the sales exceeded 100 million yuan in just half a month. She earned 4 million yuan from it. Zhou Jinjin scoffed, ¡°Everyone calls him the Second Young Master of the Lu family, but he¡¯s only good at putting on a facade. When we were dating, I was the one who paid for the l,ooo-yuan-per-person restaurant bill. He had no shares, no assets. He only relied on his mother¡¯s monthly allowance, which was about 500,000 yuan. Who is Qiao Yamei? She¡¯s fair, rich, and beautiful. She spends money like water. I saw her WeChat Moments posts, showing off her bags and jewelry. Lu Shixiu¡¯s pocket money isn¡¯t enough for her to spend. She can¡¯t go back to her old ways.¡± ¡°What a scumbag,¡± Gu Ci pursed her lips and reminded Zhou Jinjin, ¡°Transfer the money to me. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t received the 4 million yuan yet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be soft-hearted and let a scumbag take advantage of you.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid? Why would I let him deceive me?¡± Zhou Jinjin snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to earn money. When I¡¯m forty, I¡¯ll find myself a twenty-year-old hunk.¡± ¡°Ambitious!¡± Gu Ci gave him an expressionless thumbs up. ¡°Remember to transfer the money. I checked the earnings from the last investment. You already have 1.2 million yuan in my account.¡± ¡°Damn, Cici, you¡¯re amazing,¡± Zhou Jinjin¡¯s eyes sparkled with stars, but he quickly turned serious. ¡°I want to use this money to start a business. My account has been receiving a lot of traffic recently. I need to recruit people, select products, do quality control, handle data, and manage public relations. The Global Center also has an empty office building. Can I rent it?¡± Gu Ci wanted to take Zhou Jinjin to find Li Jiang. After Li Jiang confirmed Zhou Jinjin¡¯s needs, he provided her with three office spaces to choose from. Each space was around 500 square meters and had two bedrooms that could be used for both commercial and residential purposes. The rent was also discounted by 20%. Zhou Jinjin calculated the costs and happily signed a two-year contract. ¡°I have a cash flow problem,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°No problem.¡± Zhou Jinjin knew that starting a business could be challenging, so she didn¡¯t hesitate to accept Gu Ci¡¯s offer. With sufficient funds, this position would be more flexible, and the costs wouldn¡¯t be too high. In the future, when she became more established, Gu Ci planned to create her own beauty brand. There was already a prototype, and it was slowly being perfected. Coincidentally, Zhou Jinjin received a call from Zhou Li¡¯s manager while discussing the venue with Li Jiang. He wanted to discuss Zhou Li¡¯s live broadcast with her. Since Gu Ci and Zhou Li were quite familiar with each other, Zhou Jinjin invited Gu Ci to join the discussion. Zhou Li and his manager, Brother Qiang, came to Worldwide, and the group discussed business. Zhou Li was the first celebrity to be invited to Zhou Jinjin¡¯s live broadcast. He agreed to it mainly because of Gu Ci. On Zhou Jinjin¡¯s social media platform, she often posted photos of her and Gu Ci together. From junior high to the college entrance exams, Zhou Jinjin had a fiery temper and didn¡¯t hide the fact that they were bullied and isolated in school. Their story of being beautiful sisters who entered A University together resonated with many people. Brother Qiang and Zhou Jinjin discussed the details of the live broadcast room, the requirements, and the working hours. Gu Ci and Zhou Li sat on the side, sipping tea. Zhou Li spoke up, ¡°Last time, we agreed to collaborate on a music project. What does Cici think about it?¡± ¡°I can write a song for you,¡± Gu Ci replied. She didn¡¯t want to waste her musical talents. ¡°If you have any inspiration or a specific style in mind, I can work with you to create something..¡± Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Third Master, Let Me Off the Blacklist Chapter 79: Third Master, Let Me Off the Blacklist Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Li was an original composer, but he had been venturing into more mainstream music arrangements due to the limited market. If he could find someone to collaborate with on composing, it would be more efficient. He had listened to all of Gu Ci¡¯s original music and liked it very much. ¡°Can we arrange music together?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve applied for medical school, and my studies will be very demanding. I can only collaborate with you in my spare time. You¡¯re a top student, and your schedule is packed.¡± Gu Ci was clear and organized. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan: you make the request, I compose the song, and after you listen to it, you give feedback, and we make any necessary modifications. This model is more suitable for us. We can arrange a time to discuss it together. What do you think?¡± Zhou Li took a sip of his tea, pondered for a moment, and then smiled. ¡°Alright, what do you think about the song split?¡± ¡°How about 28% for me and 72% for you?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The two of them, being straightforward individuals, quickly reached an agreement. After discussing the work in the live broadcast room, Zhou Li mentioned inviting a business partner for dinner. However, he didn¡¯t expect to be recognized by fans. Moreover, they were at the Gloabel Center, and many fans flocked to the afternoon tea restaurant there. Zhou Li panicked, and Gu Ci grabbed his hand, pulling him along as they ran. The fans chased after them relentlessly, taking photos and causing quite a commotion. In the end, Gu Ci managed to lead Zhou Li into a private elevator, leaving the fans behind. It was regrettable, but they had to let it go. ¡°Your fans are really passionate,¡± Gu Ci said, panting a little. As she caught her breath, her mask slipped off, revealing the bruise on her chin. Zhou Li noticed it immediately. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Gu Ci lightly touched the bruise. ¡°Got into a fight.¡± Zhou Li was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect the seemingly cold and unapproachable Gu Ci to have a fiery temper. No wonder she always wore a mask. ¡°A fight¡­ Did you win?¡± Gu Ci was taken aback. ¡°His injuries were more serious than mine.¡± ¡°Good for us then.¡± An awkward silence hung between them, but soon they couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. The distance between them seemed to have diminished. Little did they know that the elevator doors would open at that moment. Lu Zhiyuan and Li Jiang stood outside the elevator, just about to enter it, when the doors opened, revealing Gu Ci and Zhou Li, who were smiling at each other. Gu Ci was speechless. Li Jiang¡¯s scalp tingled, and Lu Zhiyuan entered the elevator with an icy expression, filling the confined space with a cold atmosphere. Zhou Li suddenly felt the pressure of a male defending his territory. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t say a word, but his presence exuded a powerful aura. Gu Ci maintained her calm composure, but inside, she couldn¡¯t help but complain. She and Gu Ziyu must have gone against the flow of the universe to encounter Lu Zhiyuan in this private elevator. This was Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s personal elevator. Summoning her courage, Gu Ci pressed the button for the second underground floor to send Zhou Li to the parking lot. Inside the cramped elevator, it felt like they were in the Asura Arena. Li Jiang paid no mind to the situation and instead focused on studying an advertisement posted in the elevator as if he were appreciating a flower. He even memorized the phone number on the ad. ¡°Cici, sorry for the trouble today,¡± Zhou Li said, unable to bear the heavy and awkward atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal next time. What kind of cuisine do you like?¡± ¡°Anything you choose,¡± Gu Ci replied, her thoughts in disarray. She stole a glance at Lu Zhiyuan from the corner of her eye. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained calm as water, but his eyes were frosty. ¡°What cuisine do you like?¡± ¡°Cantonese cuisine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Zhou Li smiled. ¡°I know a fantastic Cantonese restaurant. Let¡¯s go there in a couple of days.¡± Li Jiang¡¯s lips twitched, and his breathing grew lighter. Gu Ci felt as though she was treading on thin ice. Thankfully, the elevator finally arrived at the designated floor. Gu Ci stepped out without looking back. She didn¡¯t need to turn around to know how terrifying Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze was. After seeing Zhou Li off to his car, Gu Ci purposefully waited for three minutes. Lu Zhiyuan had already gone upstairs. Gu Ci let out a sigh of relief. However, as she made her way upstairs, she was greeted with Zhou Jinjin¡¯s name trending on the search results. Her name and Zhou Li¡¯s were trending together. To make matters worse, the trending topic revolved around their alleged romantic relationship. Videos of Gu Ci dragging Zhou Li by the wrist and running together had been shared everywhere, impossible to hide. Gu Ci felt a headache coming on. What kind of fate was she entangled with? Zhou Li clarified that it was a coincidence that they were discussing live broadcast business with Zhou Jinjin. He had left to avoid being exposed by his fans. However, confusion still lingered. Zhou Jinjin was a genius when it came to public relations. After discussing it with Gu Ci, she ended the live broadcast early. For her first live broadcast, she had invited both Zhou Li and Gu Ci as guests, which helped settle the commotion. While the situation eventually calmed down, someone was furious. Gu Ci attempted to call Lu Zhiyuan. She was still blocked. As the lights came on, Gu Ci went upstairs to look for Lu Zhiyuan. Third Master was busy with official matters, and Li Jiang was preparing dinner for him. Gu Ci offered, ¡°Let me do it.¡± ¡°Miss Gu Ci, you don¡¯t know Third Master¡¯s preferences. Let me handle it.¡± ¡°Trust me, I know better than you.¡± Gu Ci glanced at the vegetable salad and apples that Li Jiang had prepared, setting them aside. She opened the fridge and started preparing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s dinner from scratch. Li Jiang went to the study. ¡°Third Master, Miss Gu Ci is preparing your dinner. Shall I leave?¡± Lu Zhiyuan paused momentarily while reading a report, remaining silent. After three seconds, he let out a soft sigh and didn¡¯t say anything more. Li Jiang tactfully left the top floor. Gu Ci defrosted the prawns, cooked the rice, made a serving of braised pork with taro, stir-fried some vegetables for Lu Zhiyuan, and poured a glass of apple juice. Once the food was ready, Lu Zhiyuan appeared as if on cue, and the living room filled with the aroma of the dishes. Lu Zhiyuan examined the spread and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Gu Ci said, pushing the apple juice toward him. Lu Zhiyuan took a sip. It was the perfect temperature. The rice was fragrant, and the aroma of the braised pork filled the air. It had been a while since he had eaten a proper meal. Li Jiang always made him a vegetable salad. Lu Zhiyuan enjoyed his meal, and Gu Ci sat across from him, quietly eating her cherries. After finishing his bowl of rice, Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Third Master, remove me from the blacklist.¡± Lu Zhiyuan placed his bowl down, momentarily taken aback. Gu Ci swiftly snatched the bowl away from him. Lu Zhiyuan was stunned. Gu Ci then scooped another bowl of rice for him. ¡°Is the food to your liking?¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, continuing to eat. Gu Ci smiled softly as she watched him. ¡°You must be tired of eating salad every day.¡± Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t say anything and continued eating. Gu Ci looked at him, her smile faint. ¡°You can¡¯t be an ascetic monk, can you? You obviously enjoy meat, yet you eat vegetables every day without a word. Are you a saint or a god?¡± Lu Zhiyuan put down his bowl. The prawns and braised pork had been devoured. After wiping his mouth with a wet towel, he asked, ¡°How do you know what I like?¡± ¡°You told me yourself.¡± ¡°I know everything about what happened between you and him, but I¡¯ve never shared it with you.¡± A faint smile tugged at Gu Ci¡¯s lips. ¡°If he didn¡¯t tell me, how would I know?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes grew darker. Gu Ci smiled, trying to appease him. ¡°Remove me from the blacklist.¡± ¡°He will block you too.¡± ¡°If he blocks you, you can unblock him.¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied calmly, ¡°You can solve your own problems..¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Son and Dog Chapter 80: Son and Dog Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci felt a twinge of annoyance, but she couldn¡¯t do much about it. Lu Zhiyuan got up and started to leave, but Gu Ci stopped him. Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his eyebrows, and the two of them silently locked eyes. They stood a meter apart in a long corridor, illuminated by the light overhead like a full moon. There was a long silence. Gu Ci took out her phone. There were five watches displayed on the screen. She asked Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Which one do you dislike the most?¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at the five watches Gu Ci had chosen and pointed to a Star Moon watch. Then, he strode away, ignoring Gu Ci. She had achieved her goal and headed downstairs to the mall. She entered a store called X and purchased the Star Moon watch. It was inspired by the racing numbers of the Mille Miglia race car. The sapphire blue crystal watch had a translucent black PVP limited-edition engraving on the bottom cover. Equipped with a speed measuring device, the watch had a black and red minute scale, which was the iconic color of the race. If Lu Zhiyuan hated it, it must be something he actually liked. It was also related to racing. It was a limited edition and quite expensive, causing Gu Ci¡¯s heart to ache a little. ¡°It takes a lot of money to please a man.¡± Next, she went to the neighboring store and bought a sports watch for Gu Ziyu. It cost only 500 yuan. Gu Ci sighed, ¡°Our son is still so easy to please.¡± The following morning, Gu Ci attempted to call Lu Zhiyuan, but she was still blocked. Without having breakfast, she went upstairs to meet him. Lu Zhiyuan was dressed in sportswear as he headed out and encountered Gu Ci. The two of them faced each other silently across the long corridor. Gu Ci smiled and presented him with the watch. ¡°This is for you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t accept it,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied indifferently. He walked past her, intending to go for training. Gu Ci blocked his path. He tried going left, but she blocked him. He went right, but she blocked him again. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Move!¡± ¡°I was wrong,¡± Gu Ci pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lu Zhiyuan. Please don¡¯t ignore me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Where did you go wrong?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let myself get beaten on purpose. I shouldn¡¯t have lied to you,¡± Gu Ci raised two fingers. ¡°I swear.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked down at her, his expression unchanged. Gu Ci opened the watch. ¡°I bought this watch specifically because it¡¯s the one you like. It¡¯s a limited edition.¡± ¡°I hate this watch the most.¡± Gu Ci was taken aback. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Didn¡¯t what Third Master hate the most correspond to what she liked the most? Lu Zhiyuan brushed past her and left. Gu Ci was at a loss. She knew very well what Lu Zhiyuan would like in five years. She knew both Third Master and Lu Zhiyuan. But that was the Lu Zhiyuan of five years later. A person in their twenties had different preferences compared to someone in their mid-twenties. Third Master and Lu Zhiyuan had opposite tastes, so she could only ask Third Master what he hated the most. Stepping on a landmine was impossible! She asked Li Jiang, ¡°Why does he hate this watch? Why did he lie to me?¡± ¡°Third Young Master doesn¡¯t like this brand because of its design. He isn¡¯t fond of watches inspired by racing cars,¡± Li Jiang hesitated. ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Young Master is very passionate about collecting watches. He has a diverse range of interests. Are you really¡­ you really stepped on a landmine there.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. After Li Jiang left, Gu Ci was furious. So, this was the brand that Third Master liked? She had been suppressing her anger the entire day. Gu Ziyu noticed and knew that she had a day off from training. Chen Fei was also on leave, so Gu Ziyu was staying at home and studying. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been deceived,¡± Gu Ci said, puzzled. ¡°Why did he lie to me?¡± ¡°Who deceived you? I¡¯ll avenge you!¡± ¡°Your dad.¡± ¡°Then I can¡¯t help you.¡± Gu Ziyu fumed. ¡°I¡¯m too young and not strong enough.¡± Gu Ci looked at Gu Ziyu, who resembled a mini version of Third Master. Her heart ached even more. However, Gu Ziyu cherished the rare moments he spent with his mother. ¡°Mom, I have the day off today. Since you¡¯re also free, let¡¯s go out and have fun.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Gu Ci hugged her son. ¡°I¡¯ve been neglecting you lately.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve been busy with training and didn¡¯t have time to accompany you.¡± Mother and son set out once again in matching outfits. Gu Ci took Gu Ziyu to drink Coke and eat hamburgers. They went to an arcade to play shooting games and dance. In the afternoon, they went shopping together. While shopping in the afternoon, Gu Ziyu received an invitation from Chen Liangdong to visit his house. Gu Ci took Gu Ziyu to the mall to buy some nutritional supplements and fruits before heading to Chen Liangdong¡¯s place in the evening. Chen Liangdong lived in a military compound. His small villa had guards stationed at the entrance, and there was a spacious courtyard filled with vegetables¡ªloofah, bitter gourd, cucumbers, and various other vegetables, as well as flowers. When Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu arrived, Chen Liangdong was peeling vegetables. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. It¡¯s loofah harvest season. Today, I¡¯ll show you something special.¡± ¡°Uncle Chen, let me help you,¡± Gu Ci offered. ¡°You¡¯re a guest. How can you do the work? You and Ziyu can sit wherever you like.¡± Chen Liangdong rarely had a day off, so cooking had become one of his hobbies. Gu Ci looked around the first floor, noticing that it was filled with books and sandalwood furniture. The decor had an antique feel, but there was no trace of a female presence. The photo wall displayed pictures of Chen Liangdong and his comrades. Chen Liangdong had a Border Collie named Chuyi, who was full of energy. He was friendly and not afraid of strangers, surrounding Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci. ¡°Chuyi is very well-behaved, don¡¯t worry,¡± Chen Liangdong reassured them. Gu Ziyu rubbed the Border Collie¡¯s head. Gu Ci asked softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t he married?¡± ¡°Getting old, still single,¡± Gu Ziyu remarked astutely. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone likes him.¡± ¡°Brat, I can hear you.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. Though embarrassed, Gu Ci was also curious. The director of the National Security Bureau, a dignified figure with white hair, was elegant and gentle. How could he not have found a wife? Unless all the women in the country were blind. Chuyi caused a commotion, and Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu took turns walking him around the courtyard. Just like an ordinary mother, Gu Ci captured a video of Gu Ziyu sneaking around with the dog. She also took a photo and posted it on her WeChat Moments. Mother and son, together with the dog. Zhou Jinjin liked the post and left a comment with a question mark. Despite being busy, Jiang Junlin gave her a thumbs up. Zhou Jinjin teased her about raising Gu Ziyu as her own son. Lately, she had been joking about Gu Ziyu being her son, so no one suspected anything. Gu Ci changed her Moments background to a photo of Gu Ziyu. For dinner, Chen Liangdong prepared pork ribs, corn and winter melon soup, steamed loofah with garlic, scrambled eggs with bitter gourd, steamed crab, braised beef brisket with tomatoes, cold cucumber and fungus, and cold beef. It was a sumptuous feast, and all the vegetables were grown in his own garden. The dishes looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful. They were all home-cooked meals, and the flavors were well-balanced. Gu Ci remarked, ¡°You¡¯re really good at cooking.¡± ¡°I worked in the kitchen when I was young.¡± Gu Ziyu happily enjoyed a large crab and asked, ¡°Is the chef making a comeback?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate chefs. These logistics units are the backbone of any organization. If you understand the supplies of each unit and the work of the chefs, you¡¯ll be amazed,¡± Chen Liangdong replied. Gu Ci smiled and engaged him in conversation about various trivial matters. Chen Liangdong was knowledgeable and talented. He could hold discussions on the four arts and had a wealth of life experience. His way of speaking and acting was like a gentle spring breeze, making him approachable. It was a delightful meal. Gu Ziyu even had two large bowls of rice.. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Gu Ziyu’s Provocation Chapter 81: Gu Ziyu¡¯s Provocation Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°If you like to eat, come over more often. When school starts, you won¡¯t have many opportunities.¡± Chen Liangdong gave Gu Ziyu another big crab. Gu Ci could tell that he really liked Ziyu. ¡°Uncle Chen, how¡¯s Dr. North¡¯s matter going?¡± After the meal, the three of them moved to the courtyard to watch the stars and drink tea. Chen Liangdong was also good at brewing tea. He invited Gu Ci and Ziyu to taste his treasured Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao. Chen Liangdong poured a cup of tea and pushed it to Gu Ci. ¡°I didn¡¯t care about this. I approved the report that was sent the day before yesterday. There¡¯s no problem. It¡¯ll be out in a few days.¡± Chen Liangdong said, ¡°This is easy. Have some tea.¡± Gu Ci knew nothing about tasting tea. She only smelled the fragrance of tea. Chen Liangdong said, ¡°This little girl is amazing.¡± Gu Ziyu tsked. ¡°You¡¯re really thirsty for talent. You won¡¯t let anyone off.¡± ¡°Nothing of that nature happened. I didn¡¯t recruit her. The baby is the only talent I recruited.¡± Chen Liangdong emphasized the fact that he was the only one. Gu Ziyu drank his tea awkwardly and ignored him. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Chen Liangdong only knew that Little Cherry had concealed her identity and changed her name. If he knew that Little Cherry had deliberately cut off her finger as a death certificate to kill the murderer, he would probably not let things end so easily. ¡°What about the murderer?¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°He did bully a minor. Although he didn¡¯t die, we can¡¯t let him go, right?¡± ¡°Change the sentence to five years.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s heart was set. The fate of Doctor North and Little Cherry would also be different from her previous life. That was good. Chen Liangdong brewed a second pot of tea. ¡°Are you very close to Dr. North?¡± ¡°No!¡± Gu Ci moved her wrists. She was too traumatized. When she mentioned Dr. North, her wrists hurt. ¡°I was lucky enough to watch her surgery video.¡± Gu Ziyu held the tea and drank it. He felt that it was tasteless and picked up a piece of sugar. Chen Liangdong said, ¡°It¡¯s a waste of God¡¯s gift.¡± Gu Ziyu added another piece of sugar and looked at him provocatively. Gu Ci was speechless. Chen Liangdong was really good to Gu Ziyu. ¡°I¡¯ll make you a black tea bag next time.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t be coming.¡± Chen Liangdong smiled and said, ¡°School will start in half a month. In two days, I¡¯ll bring you to meet the PhD supervisor of University A. Both professors are very famous in their fields.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Gu Ziyu pursed his lips. ¡°Can I not socialize?¡± ¡°No!¡± Chen Liangdong smiled and said, ¡°Our country is a society of human relationships. Not only do we have to socialize, but we also have to make every word we say feel like a spring breeze. Whoever you interact with, you have to make the other party feel that you are a true friend.¡± Gu Ci sipped her tea to hide her smile. This was really difficult for the reclusive Gu Ziyu. Gu Ziyu puffed up his cheeks and looked more and more like a milk bun. He drank the Da Hong Pao in one gulp. ¡°The fox insisted on wearing rabbit skin. I¡¯m really on a pirate ship.¡± Chen Liangdong laughed loudly. ¡°In addition to the three courses and training, I also hope that you have some basic knowledge of zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, horse riding, archery, antiques, drama, culture, and language.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s face had already darkened. Chen Liangdong said, ¡°The language requirement isn¡¯t high. English, German, Russian, French, Japanese, and Korean. You just need to be proficient in these six subjects.¡± ¡°Other than these six¡­¡± Gu Ziyu endured it. ¡°Forget about the language. I¡¯ll accept it. It¡¯s fine to learn two more subjects. Why should I learn drama, culture, horse riding, archery, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting?¡± He was proficient in twelve languages and computers. He knew nothing about the extra-cursory knowledge that Chen Liangdong mentioned. He had to learn it all from scratch, and he still had to learn music, drama, and culture? ¡°Knowledge is always useful.¡± Chen Liangdong said, ¡°It can save your life at a critical moment.¡± Gu Ci gasped in amazement. ¡°Ziyu, you¡¯ll really be a master of all trades.¡± ¡°If it was a feudal society, would you be grooming a crown prince?¡± Gu Ziyu blurted out. Chen Liangdong¡¯s expression was a little subtle. Gu Ci was speechless. The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds, and the dog let out a cry. Gu Ci asked Chen Liangdong, ¡°Where did you buy this Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao? It tastes good. Can I buy a few catties?¡± ¡°This is the Da Hong Pao of the mother tree of Mount Wuyi. The annual production is only two catties.¡± Chen Liangdong answered naturally and said, ¡°It¡¯s a gift from someone else. You can¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you half a catty later.¡± ¡°Two grams will do.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s too expensive. I don¡¯t deserve it.¡± The two of them smoothly and naturally changed the topic. Gu Ziyu instantly understood what it meant to have a refreshing conversation. Oh¡­ Just this? He could learn it too! After Chen Liangdong and Gu Ziyu decided on the date to meet the professor together, the mother and son got up and said goodbye. Chen Liangdong took a loofah, bitter gourd, lettuce, cabbage, and a big watermelon from the vegetable field to bring back for them. Gu Ci was a little embarrassed to eat and take. Gu Ziyu acted coquettishly as soon as he got into the car. ¡°Mom, I want to be illiterate.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°In the future, you¡¯ll be dealing with people all over the world. It¡¯s good to learn more.¡± She paused. ¡°You could steamroll your dad. He¡¯s not as learned as you.¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s motivation was instantly boosted. When the two of them went back, Li Jiang sent Lu Zhiyuan back to the parking lot. The four of them met each other, but Lu Zhiyuan ignored them and walked forward. His back was silent and cold. Li Jiang saw Gu Ziyu¡¯s fierce gaze and broke out in cold sweat. He hurriedly chased after him. Gu Ci¡¯s heart stifled slightly. Gu Ziyu was carrying a big round watermelon while she was carrying vegetables. Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Mom, you and Dad still haven¡¯t reconciled after your quarrel?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How pretentious. He still needs you to coax him when you¡¯re quarreling.¡± Gu Ziyu concluded, ¡°How petty.¡± Gu Ci brought Gu Ziyu upstairs and gave half of the vegetables to Zhou Jinjin. Coincidentally, Zhou Jinjin and Chen Fei were arguing because Zhou Jinjin was livestreaming at home and had disturbed Chen Fei. Other than being Gu Ziyu¡¯s coach, Chen Fei was still in graduate school. He had been writing his thesis recently and needed a quiet environment. Zhou Jinjin¡¯s live broadcast was usually from four to nine. Chen Fei had been knocking on the door since seven o¡¯clock. After four visits, the two of them started arguing. Chen Fei was simple and honest, but he couldn¡¯t argue with Zhou Jinjin. He was so angry that his face turned red. Gu Ci acted as the peacemaker and gave each of them a bag of vegetables. Chen Fei was so angry that he closed the door. Zhou Jinjin complained, ¡°In order to match his schedule, I changed the livestream from 7 to 11 pm to 9 pm from 4 to 9 pm. I ate a few bites of bread for dinner so that I wouldn¡¯t wake him up. He had just knocked on the door and said that he had to sleep at seven o¡¯clock. Seven o¡¯clock¡­ What? Is he an antique? Even my 90-year-old grandfather doesn¡¯t sleep at 7 am. He¡¯s a soldier who sleeps at 7 am. Isn¡¯t he looking for trouble?¡± Gu Ziyu said, ¡°This is easy to resolve. I¡¯ll get Li Jiang to put up a soundproof board for you..¡± Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Third Brother and Gu Ci Chapter 82: Third Brother and Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°This isn¡¯t about the soundproof wall. I think he¡¯s deliberately looking for trouble,¡± Zhou Jinjin and Chen Fei were on the same pole. ¡°I¡¯m not putting it up. I¡¯m going to annoy the fuck out of him.¡± After Gu Ci put the dishes away, she said, ¡°If you quarrel with him, it will affect the live broadcast. You¡¯ll lose money and affect your mood. The gains will not make up for the losses.¡± Zhou Jinjin agreed with Gu Ziyu¡¯s proposal. Once the soundproof wall was installed, Gu Ci, Zhou Li, and Zhou Jinjin would be broadcasting live. Zhou Jinjin was lively, had a sweet mouth, and spoke with knowledge. Zhou Li was also interviewing Ghost¡¯s Worry, so he was quite stuck-up. Gu Ci¡­ They were purely there to make the scene awkward. The fans in the live broadcast room laughed to death. Two funny boys and a stoic king. ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t talk. Just sit there and don¡¯t move. The camera just needs to shoot.¡± Zhou Jinjin had also noticed that Gu Ci was the model, and she was the one who would put on Gu Ci¡¯s makeup. She was a beauty blogger who sold skincare products and makeup products in the live broadcast room. She was very good at it. Only then did the audience know that Gu Ci was on the live broadcast without makeup. ¡°You¡¯re so good-looking and willful.¡± ¡°Is this bare-faced face real? I thought she had makeup on.¡± ¡°The top of the entertainment industry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to scam me in the entertainment industry. She¡¯s the top scorer of the college entrance examination and a medical student.¡± Gu Ci chose clinical medicine when the audience asked her what her major was during the live broadcast. She replied. Everyone thought that she chose music and used Hualan¡¯s popularity to enter the entertainment industry to make money. Who knew that she chose clinical medicine and was definitely attracting fans. Zhou Jinjin helped Gu Ci put on makeup while Zhou Li explained the products and kept praising Gu Ci¡¯s good looks. Zhou Li¡¯s fans started to cheer and chase after her. A lot of people were watching Gu Ci and Zhou Li couple. After putting on makeup and letting her hair down, she looked even more beautiful. Zhou Jinjin put on a Hong Kong style makeup for her, which was luxurious and beautiful. Every product that had been used on Gu Ci¡¯s face disappeared in an instant. Zhou Jinjin chuckled and said, ¡°Everyone, you have to be calm when it comes to buying products. You can¡¯t become Gu Ci just because you bought it.¡± The bullet screen was filled with heart-wrenching emojis. The live broadcast started at four o¡¯clock. Lu Zhiyuan was training and saw Li Jiang watching the live broadcast. He dried his hair and asked Li Jiang, ¡°What are you watching?¡± ¡°This is Miss Gu Ci¡¯s first live broadcast. It¡¯s so funny.¡± Lu Zhiyuan snatched his phone away and happened to see Zhou Jinjin putting makeup on Gu Ci. The scene was beautiful and moving. Zhou Li praised Gu Ci for being good-looking, and a lot of fans were scrolling through Zhou Li and Gu Ci. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes darkened. He hung up his phone. ¡°Li Jiang, run ten laps on the track.¡± Li Jiang, who was in trouble, was stunned. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too free!¡± Li Jiang was speechless. ¡°You can¡¯t vent your anger on me when you¡¯re jealous.¡± Li Jiang thought but could only grit his teeth and run under Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze that resembled Third Master. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face was dark as he changed into a set of training clothes and began to do indoor stretch training. In the cloakroom, Lu Zhiyuan changed his clothes, took his phone, and clicked into the live broadcast room. The fans were all checking if Gu Ci had a boyfriend. Gu Ci said, ¡°I¡¯m single.¡± ¡°Zhou Li, did you hear that? You¡¯re single. You can pursue her.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes darkened. He turned off his phone. He was single and could pursue her. His expression was uncertain. He only felt annoyed. She was so attractive. He really wanted to lock her at home and not let anyone see her! He found Gu Ci on the blacklist. After looking at it for a moment, he threw the phone back into the cabinet. Zhou Jinjin, Zhou Li, and Gu Ci¡¯s live broadcast was very successful. This time, they promoted six brands. The items were not cheap, and the prices were also rising. They sold 6.2 billion in one night and were about to become an A-list beauty blogger, attracting countless fans. ¡°I¡¯m rich, my treasure.¡± Zhou Jinjin looked at the backstage data and grinned from ear to ear. She had signed the contract for a share. Although it was just one, it couldn¡¯t be helped that the amount was huge. Zhou Jinjin could also feel the huge potential in this market. Gu Ci reminded her, ¡°Remember to pay taxes.¡± Zhou Jinjin was speechless. After this live broadcast, Gu Ci had nothing to do. Other than reading books, she would occasionally go to Lu Zhiyuan. However, Lu Zhiyuan ignored her and started a one-sided cold war. After Gu Ci failed in giving him the watch, she gave him all kinds of little things he liked and even made him nutritious meals. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t remove her from the blacklist. ¡°It¡¯s so hard to coax him.¡± Gu Ci had a headache. Gu Ci searched on her phone. What should she do when her boyfriend got angry? On social networks, there were a bunch of ways to coax a boyfriend. Gifts, gifts, stepping on thunder, a trick to hurt oneself, playing too much, playing too much, acting coquettish? What was acting coquettishly? She couldn¡¯t! Gu Ci clicked on a video. The girl was wearing a spaghetti strap dress, heavy makeup, and bunny ears. She was acting coquettishly at her boyfriend. Gu Ci got goosebumps when she heard that. ¡°What coquettishness? Isn¡¯t this soft and erotic?¡± Gu Ci watched a few more similar videos. ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡± In the afternoon, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s training came to an end. When he returned to the Global Center, he saw Gu Ci standing at the door waiting for him. Gu Ci was wearing a nude spaghetti strap dress and a pair of crystal high heels. Her hair was tied into a bun, and she had exquisite and gorgeous makeup on. She also wore earrings that fell above her collarbone. She looked pure and lustful. Lu Zhiyuan had just finished his training and was covered in sweat. It was the time when his hormones were at their peak. Gu Ci stood in the sun and looked extremely seductive. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s throat was dry, and his throat was rolling. When he walked closer to Gu Ci, he could smell the perfume she had specially put on. It was the cold fragrance of cedar roses. ¡°Third Brother, can you forgive me?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s voice was soft, delicate, and gentle. Her eyes were moving, mesmerizing. Lu Zhiyuan was speechless. This was how Gu Ci addressed him before she was eight years old. When she was young, she was his little tail and always followed behind him. ¡°Third Brother, play the violin with me.¡± ¡°Third Brother, buy me ice cream.¡± ¡°Third Brother, help me carry my schoolbag.¡± ¡°Third Brother, you can only like me, not Gu Chuyun.¡± After that, he could no longer hear the name he used when he was a child. Back when he was a child, he still missed the tone Gu Ci used when she called him Third Brother. At that time, he and Gu Ci had not fallen out yet, and she was attached to him like an older brother. Lu Zhiyuan smashed his helmet and took big steps forward to grab her neck and pull her into his arms. He pressed her against his chest and listened to his violent heartbeat as he kissed her lips. Gu Ci narrowed her eyes. A thought flashed through her mind as she watched his passionate kiss. Surfing the internet had indeed benefited her a lot. The honey trap was always successful. He hugged her and pressed her against the car. Gu Ci¡¯s soft body leaned back as he kissed her fiercely. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s breath was hot, and so was his palm. His palm was pressed against the back of her waist as if it was burning. ¡°Say it again.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was hoarse. He pressed the tip of his nose against her and pecked her, wanting more. Gu Ci tiptoed and blew into his ear. ¡°Third Brother, please forgive Cici.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s entire body went numb. He hugged her tightly and held her in his arms. Who taught her to be such a seductive vixen? Gu Ci raised her head and touched the wolf head necklace on his chest. Under his burning gaze, she kissed the wolf head.. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: First Date Chapter 83: First Date Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s breathing grew heavy; this scene was incredibly stimulating for him. Gu Ci felt a strong sense of proximity between them. ¡°Who taught you that?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°I was just teasing you. I¡¯m self-taught,¡± Gu Ci¡¯s sweet words flowed effortlessly. ¡°I miss you. I can¡¯t sleep or rest properly. It¡¯s very painful¡­¡± ¡°That sounds familiar.¡± Lu Zhiyuan pinched her waist. Gu Ci smiled and dodged, playfully allowing him to pinch her. Gu Ci became furious. She glared at him and struggled in his arms. Lu Zhiyuan tried to control himself. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Gu Ci noticed that he was burning hot, causing her face to flush. ¡°Did you copy romantic lines from the internet to deceive me?¡± Gu Ci was left speechless. Lu Zhiyuan lowered his head and bit her shoulder. Gu Ci hit him. ¡°That¡¯s very uncomfortable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you realize it¡¯s uncomfortable.¡± Lu Zhiyuan hugged her tightly and took a deep breath. He bit her shoulder, leaving a mark. Despite his anger, he had good self-control. After calming down, he warned, ¡°If you dare to play games again, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t dare to do it again.¡± Gu Ci obediently promised not to provoke him. ¡°Do you truly miss me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lu Zhiyuan mocked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you and Zhou Li thrilled to escape and livestream? Your fans have taken over the internet. You¡¯re the nation¡¯s sweetheart, hehe.¡± Gu Ci sincerely replied, ¡°Third Brother, you¡¯re every girl¡¯s dream. You¡¯re the nation¡¯s first love.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. When Lu Zhiyuan played on the field, he had the charm of a first love. At night, he portrayed the male lead in the horror story ¡°Don¡¯t Talk to Strangers.¡± Lu Zhiyuan felt better after being comforted. The anger and jealousy that had consumed him for the past few days were largely pacified by Gu Ci¡¯s sweet words. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Are you done with your training today?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Shall we go watch a movie?¡± The last time they watched a movie, Lu Zhiyuan had always felt that Gu Ziyu was a third wheel. Since Gu Ci invited him, there was no reason for him to decline. He looked Gu Ci up and down and said with a serious face, ¡°Change your clothes.¡± ¡°Is there something wrong with my outfit?¡± Gu Ci chose the sexiest dress from her wardrobe. Lu Zhiyuan leaned closer with a wicked smile. ¡°Only I am allowed to see you in that.¡± He would want to gouge out the eyes of anyone who dared to look twice. Lu Zhiyuan went upstairs to take a shower. Seriously, this was his first date with Gu Ci. He dressed in a designer outfit¡ªa low-cut black silk shirt with a silver wolf head hidden beneath his chest, giving him a slightly wild look. He wore black casual pants, tucking his shirt into his waist, and paired it with black and white casual shoes. His legs were incredibly attractive. Lu Zhiyuan combed his hair in front of the mirror, sprayed perfume, and put on his watch. Li Jiang couldn¡¯t help but think even a peacock¡¯s courtship isn¡¯t as ostentatious as yours, Third Young Master. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan had a telepathic connection. They both wore white shirts tucked into black trousers and matching casual shoes. They could pass for a poster couple no matter where they stood. Both of them wore masks in the cinema. Gu Ci took the initiative to hold Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s hand, intertwining their fingers like any other couple. She had booked tickets for the 3 o¡¯clock show, and they arrived ten minutes early. Gu Ci took Lu Zhiyuan to buy boba tea. ¡°I¡¯ll have a strawberry milkshake. What about you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t bother choosing; it was too sweet for his taste. He glanced at the other couples, each with their own cup of milk tea, and selected the most expensive one. In Third Young Master Lu¡¯s opinion, among competing products, the expensive one must be better than the cheap one. After getting their boba teas, Gu Ci took a photo and sent it to Gu Ziyu. She wasn¡¯t one to flaunt her love, and neither was Lu Zhiyuan. On their first date, both of them felt inexplicably shy. Perhaps it was because Gu Ci¡¯s height, dress, and demeanor were too eye-catching. Lu Zhiyuan was used to being in the limelight, but Gu Ci wasn¡¯t. She had developed the habit of hiding in the crowd during her time in prison, not accustomed to being in the spotlight. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Zhiyuan sensed her unease. Gu Ci didn¡¯t expect him to perceive her subtle emotions. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be recognized.¡± ¡°So what if they recognize me?¡± ¡°The adoration of those billions of girls will be shattered. Your fans might go after you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t rely on my fans to make money.¡± Lu Zhiyuan felt proud and defiant. ¡°I¡¯m a world champion. I don¡¯t need fans.¡± Gu Ci had booked a couple¡¯s lounge, which was spacious, secluded, and offered privacy. As they settled into their seats, the movie hadn¡¯t started yet. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Do you like the boba tea?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good.¡± Lu Zhiyuan found it distasteful and didn¡¯t drink it. Gu Ci turned her head, following his straw, and took a sip. ¡°It¡¯s very sweet.¡± Her hair brushed against Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face, making his heart flutter. Lu Zhiyuan exclaimed, ¡°Gu Ci¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Gu Ci raised her head and was kissed by him. Gu Ci¡¯s heart trembled, and she responded with a gentle kiss. Lu Zhiyuan licked his lips. ¡°That¡¯s quite sweet.¡± Gu Ci blushed. Lu Zhiyuan seemed to savor the moment. ¡°Let me try yours.¡± She handed him her boba tea, and Lu Zhiyuan purposely followed the lipstick mark as he took a sip. He spoke with a double entendre, ¡°This one is quite sweet too.¡± Gu Ci held her boba tea and took a sip. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very sweet.¡± The movie they watched was a romantic one. At the beginning, Lu Zhiyuan had the intention to mock it. The male and female leads met, and the female lead fell from a tree, accidentally colliding with the male lead. They ended up hugging each other, rolling on the grass, and kissing. Lu Zhiyuan was left speechless. Forced sweetness, like artificial candy being shoved into his mouth. As the plot progressed, the main characters misinterpreted each other, reconciled, and repeated the same cycle. Lu Zhiyuan silently cursed the producers. Besides the visually appealing scenes, there was nothing of value. He felt drowsy. Gu Ci observed as he reclined in his chair and fell asleep, unable to contain her laughter. This was too rushed. She should have chosen an action movie instead. As expected, he would doze off during a romance film. He knew he couldn¡¯t watch a romance movie, yet he insisted on it. In the second half of the movie, the male lead got into a car accident while chasing the female lead. The surround sound startled Lu Zhiyuan awake, and he found himself witnessing a car crash scene. ¡°Such bad luck!¡± Lu Zhiyuan remarked. Gu Ci suppressed her laughter. She hooked her pinky finger with his and scratched his palm. A sound was heard from the neighboring seats. Lu Zhiyuan caught a glimpse of a couple kissing in the dark cinema. Their sounds were quite obvious, and he could even hear the girl¡¯s giggles. Lu Zhiyuan turned to Gu Ci and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t they get a room?¡± The ambiguous sounds from the adjacent seats abruptly ceased. Gu Ci was left speechless. She facepalmed and thought to herself, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, if I watch a movie with you for a third time, I¡¯m a dumbass.¡± The guy next to them whispered, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? This is a couple¡¯s lounge. If you have the guts, you can kiss your partner too.¡± Lu Zhiyuan, brimming with youthful energy at the age of 20, was ready to retort. He replied mockingly, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for your hotel room. Can you shut up now, little brother?¡± Gu Ci held his hand and intertwined their fingers. She spoke softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± ¡°He insulted me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was filled with arrogance. ¡°Who else dares to insult me besides you?¡± ¡°Go back to sleep..¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Relationship Exposed Chapter 84: Relationship Exposed Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan became alert and held Gu Ci¡¯s hand. ¡°Gu Ci, I¡¯m being mocked.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Gu Ci responded calmly. Lu Zhiyuan pulled Gu Ci closer and kissed her, making a sound even louder than the couple next door. Gu Ci¡¯s lips and tongue felt numb. ¡°I have to prove that I¡¯m capable.¡± Gu Ci was left speechless. Your competitive spirit is really strong. ¡°Lunatic!¡± the guy next to them couldn¡¯t help but curse. Gu Ci and the girl exchanged harsh words. Finally, the movie ended, and the guy next to them left angrily with his girlfriend. Lu Zhiyuan seemed triumphant. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but think of Third Master¡¯s lifeless expression. It felt strange to see these two contrasting sides of him¡ªthe mature and composed older brother versus the arrogant and childish younger brother. Lu Zhiyuan glanced at his watch. ¡°I have to go home.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s grab dinner first,¡± Gu Ci teased. Lu Zhiyuan firmly refused. ¡°No!¡± Had he lost his mind? She had wanted Third Master to have a date with Gu Ci, but it ended up being ruined. However, things didn¡¯t go as they hoped. When Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci left the theater, they were surrounded by fans. Two fans recognized him and excitedly asked for autographs and photos. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient!¡± Lu Zhiyuan coldly rejected them, eager to leave. ¡°Is she your girlfriend? Who is she?¡± one fan, a young girl, aggressively questioned Gu Ci as if she had caught them in a compromising situation. ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan retorted, pulling Gu Ci away. The girl rushed forward, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re actually in a relationship, even wearing matching outfits. How can you face us fans? Who seduced you? You should focus on racing. Falling in love will ruin your future. You must have seduced him, you vixen.¡± Another female fan joined in, sobbing sadly. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, you¡¯re really this kind of person. You¡¯re willing to ruin your future for love. You¡­ You¡¯ve let down all your fans who love you. I hereby declare that I¡¯m no longer a fan, and I don¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Their emotions were intense, causing a commotion. People around them took out their phones and started recording. Lu Zhiyuan took off his hat and shielded Gu Ci¡¯s face. He sneered, ¡°Who cares about you?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve liked you for five years!¡± they shouted frantically. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, you didn¡¯t win the championship this month because you¡¯re in love. You¡¯ve sacrificed your future for a woman.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s body tensed up. He shielded Gu Ci¡¯s face and led her out of the mall. He wasn¡¯t a popular idol; he was an athlete who pursued first place on the track with his own abilities. He didn¡¯t owe his fans any explanations about his love life. But the fan¡¯s words struck a nerve with Lu Zhiyuan. He didn¡¯t win the championship because of Gu Ci. However, he never regretted it. How could a championship compare to Gu Ci? But the fan¡¯s words had morally blackmailed Gu Ci and hurt her deeply. The parking lot was dimly lit. Lu Zhiyuan gently caressed her fair face. ¡°Don¡¯t take her words to heart. I don¡¯t need that championship trophy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right. It¡¯s because of me.¡± Gu Ci sounded regretful. ¡°Gu Ci, ignore what others say. Just look at me and trust me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan reassured her. ¡°As long as it¡¯s you, I¡¯d trade all the championships for it.¡± Gu Ci was moved and flustered. She covered his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t say such things.¡± In his previous life, a prophecy came true. He had truly given up on racing and traded all the championships for her. Lu Zhiyuan kissed the palm of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let that crazy person¡¯s words affect you.¡± Gu Ci smiled. ¡°Why would I care about what she said? I was just teasing you.¡± ¡°Gu Ci!¡± Lu Zhiyuan was both angry and amused. Gu Ci tiptoed and brushed her lips against his. Lu Zhiyuan responded warmly. For the first time, Lu Zhiyuan ignored the time on his watch. At that moment, when they kissed, it was six o¡¯clock in the evening. Gu Ci felt Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s grip on her waist tightens, to the point of pain. While they were still entangled, Lu Zhiyuan pushed her away and took a step back. The headlights of an approaching car illuminated the area, acting as a natural barrier between them. Gu Ci raised her hand to shield her eyes from the light. Once the car passed, she looked at the silent Lu Zhiyuan. His lips were still moist, but his eyes had changed. They had the same face and the same outfit. Day and night¡­ It was as if they were two different people. ¡°Third Master?¡± Gu Ci called out to him, but Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, looking at her intently. Under his gaze, Gu Ci felt a coldness seep into her veins. Lu Zhiyuan turned around and disappeared from her sight. Gu Ci stared at the empty space, stunned. ¡°Is he so angry that he doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡± Gu Ci drove back to the Global Sports Center. Li Jiang was waiting for her downstairs. He handed Gu Ci a sapphire blue velvet box. Gu Ci asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a watch!¡± Li Jiang replied. ¡°It¡¯s a gift from Third Master.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s body tensed up. She instantly understood Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s message. They had agreed to switch at six o¡¯clock. He hoped she would remember the time and avoid making any more mistakes. It wasn¡¯t just a gift; it was a warning. ¡°Please thank Third Master for me,¡± Gu Ci said. Li Jiang smiled warmly. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Miss Gu Ci didn¡¯t seem happy at all. This was the first time Third Master had given a gift to someone. When Gu Ci returned home, Gu Ziyu looked at her with a faint smile. ¡°Mom, you didn¡¯t take me along on your date.¡± ¡°Darling, who brings their child on a date with their partner?¡± ¡°I know. You guys are truly in love, and I¡¯m an accident.¡± Gu Ci pinched his cheek, and Gu Ziyu ran to the study to work. Chen Liangdong was really making him work like child labor. Gu Ziyu worked at the National Security Bureau from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Zhou Jinjin called, ¡°Cici, you¡¯re being scolded and you¡¯re trending.¡± Gu Ci was trending because she had been scolded. The video of her and Lu Zhiyuan meeting fans at the movie theater had been leaked and spread on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s fan page. At first, the female fans speculated about who the person was. Lu Zhiyuan immediately covered Gu Ci¡¯s face, but they still found out it was her. Subsequently, someone posted a photo of Gu Ci attending a race in Lavis, as well as a photo of her arguing with Lu Zhiyuan on the street. The post went viral. People claimed that Lu Zhiyuan had lost the championship in Lavis because he was distracted by his argument with Gu Ci. They criticized Gu Ci for knowing about Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s race but still choosing to argue with him, calling her arrogant and unruly. Even well-known socialites like Chen Ying and Qiao Yamei joined in, saying that Gu Ci had always been arrogant and unreasonable since she was young. Gu Ci faced heavy criticism in the trending discussions.. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Single, Not in Love Chapter 85: Single, Not in Love Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Go to hell, Gu Ci. Of all people to date, you chose to date Lu Zhiyuan!¡± ¡°Gu Ci, I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations. You really broke his defense. He might not be able to win this year¡¯s championship.¡± ¡°Gu Ci: Are you in a relationship? The kind that quarreled with you the day before your race, the kind that wanted you dead!¡± ¡°I had a good impression of her, but it¡¯s all gone. Stay away from Gu Ci. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be unlucky.¡± Gu Ci looked at the vicious curses with a calm expression, but her fingers could not help but tighten their grip on her phone. Zhou Jinjin was filled with indignation. This group of poisonous people was really terrifying. Was the keyboard warrior not legally responsible? When will the account name system be implemented? Let¡¯s see if this group of idiots still dare! Her alternate account had already fought hundreds of rounds with the poison fans. Moreover, her main account had also said that Gu Ci was accompanying her to watch the competition. Many of her fans were Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s fans, so she was told not to take sides. ¡°Cici, don¡¯t be sad. Don¡¯t care about what they say.¡± Gu Ci previewed the comments. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Whatever they say won¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°Unless Lu Zhiyuan continues to win the championship. As soon as he makes a mistake, his fans will pester you.¡± Zhou Jinjin said, ¡°Whose eyes are so sharp? You¡¯re clearly covered up, yet you can still recognize you.¡± No matter who was in a relationship with Lu Zhiyuan, they would be stained with blood and be attacked. Gu Ci was already mentally prepared. In her previous life, she had been in prison for a few years and suffered a lot. Lu Zhiyuan was worried that public opinion would hurt her, so he directly retired and even canceled his account. He lived in seclusion and did not want to cause any harm to her. It was too late to remove the trending searches. Li Jiang and Jiang Junlin were both retreating, but they couldn¡¯t stop the fans from going crazy. Lu Zhiyuan had as many female fans as male fans. All the people in the country who were fans of racing were his fans. This kind of traffic was too terrifying. Dynasty¡¯s official Weibo account was flooded again. Gu Ci¡¯s entry trended until midnight before it slowly sank. None of the parties involved responded. Gu Ci played the violin on the balcony for two hours. Jiang Junlin minimized the heat of this matter. ¡°Cici, don¡¯t go out too much these few days.¡± ¡°I know, brother.¡± Gu Ci knew her limits. ¡°I was just reading.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t Lu Zhiyuan say anything?¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°Brother, if there¡¯s no response, the popularity of this matter will drop. No matter how he replies, it¡¯s all wrong. We¡¯re not in a relationship. If he admits it, the fans will mock me. If he says that he¡¯s in a relationship and protects me, I¡¯ll also be attacked by the masses. It was the same left and right, so there was no need to respond.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not in a relationship, why are you holding hands?¡± Jiang Junlin saw the video clearly and clasped his fingers together, why was he still denying it? Gu Ci looked at her watch with a subtle expression. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t ask further, afraid that he would hurt Gu Ci. He hung up after giving a few instructions. He instructed the special assistant, ¡°Lower Gu Ci¡¯s trending searches to the last.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Jiang Junlin thought about it, but he still felt that it was not safe enough. ¡°Go to the entertainment reporters and buy some information. If there¡¯s any big news recently, expose it all.¡± The special assistant thought to himself, Director Jiang, this move is too mean. You¡¯re really a crazy demon who dotes on his sister. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The next morning, the topic of whether or not Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan were in a relationship died down. There was no concrete evidence or explanation, so the popularity had already dropped. Three big news broke out in the entertainment industry. The movie queen Guan Chuyuc was secretly married and had a child. She was still trying to create the image of a single lady. A certain popular young actor had a relationship with his fans and was in a mess. Many girlfriends came out to hammer him. Another actor who had been hyped up by the entertainment industry was fined 1.6 billion yuan for tax evasion. He rushed to the hot search, and the entire Internet was watching. Among these three fans, the Best Actor and the Best Actress had been a couple before, but they had broken up. The fans were all fans of the same family. The massacre in the square was called a bloody storm. The fans of the popular fans were also emo, stepping back on their fans and so on. It was very lively. ¡°Cici, you¡¯re lucky. They saved your life.¡± The entire internet was enjoying itself. Even Zhou Jinjin was enjoying himself. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t say anything, and Gu Ci didn¡¯t do anything. Their popularity went down. Gu Ci smiled. Ziyu didn¡¯t know about this. He was busy with training, work, writing his thesis, and reading the project report given to him by the PhD supervisor. He was so busy that he couldn¡¯t split himself up. Last night, the technical team of the United Nations caught a spy. He worked until late at night and slept until ten o¡¯clock. Gu Ci¡¯s popularity had already disappeared. He was surfing Social networks and didn¡¯t like to read gossip. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t have time to come down and eat with Gu Ci these few days. There were two racing events in Haicheng, so he took the motorcade to Haicheng and wasn¡¯t home for a few days. Gu Ci collected herself and studied. School was about to start, and she had already taught herself half of the first-year courses. After Lu Zhiyuan landed in Haicheng, he sent her a message. Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Who said that he wouldn¡¯t miss every game?¡± Gu Ci replied, ¡°You¡¯re at the center of the storm. I¡¯m going to watch your competition?¡± Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Why not?¡± Gu Ci, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll buy the plane tickets. Wait for me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Forget it. The event is only for two days. Don¡¯t run around. Remember to watch the live broadcast.¡± Gu Ci smiled. She would definitely watch the live broadcast. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s race in Haicheng was very successful. The atmosphere was very lively. The Dynasty team was still the most eye-catching existence. Several racers performed very well. Lu Zhiyuan asked Gu Ci the moment the competition ended, ¡°Did you watch the live broadcast?¡± ¡°I saw it. You¡¯re especially handsome today.¡± Gu Ci had already learned how to say sweet nothings, and the effect was pretty good. Lu Zhiyuan enjoyed it. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m reading a medical book.¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°And playing the violin when I get tired.¡± Lu Zhiyuan wanted to install a surveillance camera in Gu Ci¡¯s room so that he could see what she was doing twenty-four hours a day, but he only dared to think about it. She wasn¡¯t good at small talk, but she could easily start a conversation with Lu Zhiyuan. She could talk about Gu Ziyu sleeping in, what he had for lunch, what interesting things he had, and so on. She could talk about trivial things for a long time. Lu Zhiyuan would reply to everything else except for when it came to Gu Ziyu. He just wasn¡¯t interested in him. He was very busy, so he hung up the phone after chatting for a while. Gu Ci continued to study. In the evening, an interview pushed Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci to the hot search again. After the race ended, there was a banquet that night. Lu Zhiyuan also attended. It was originally a private banquet, but the reporters somehow snuck in and danced in front of Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°You got into an accident in Lavis because you were distracted by Gu Ci¡¯s argument. Is the rumor true?¡± ¡°Your fans are all concerned if you¡¯re dating Gu Ci.¡± Li Jiang observed Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression and knew that Lu Zhiyuan was annoyed by the reporters. He hurriedly went to stop him, but who knew that this reporter would be so bold? ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, silence means consent. You and Gu Ci are in a relationship!¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked coldly at the arrogant reporter. His voice was as cold as ice. ¡°I¡¯m single. I¡¯m not in a relationship.¡± After so many days, this was the first time he had directly responded to the scandal between him and Gu Ci. In an instant, Gu Ci was pushed into the limelight again. His fans mocked Gu Ci, saying that Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t like her and that she had been clinging to him. They scolded her even more harshly than the rumors about their relationship.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Are You Scamming Me In The Hospital?_i Chapter 86: Are You Scamming Me In The Hospital?_i Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci ignored the rumors and gossip, casually mocking and not responding. She turned a blind eye to the group of beautiful and wealthy friends in Gu Chuyun¡¯s circle, with all their implications. Third Master was indeed Third Mastedr, always keeping his distance from her. The next morning, Grandma recovered well after the surgery and could get out of bed. Gu Ci bought a bouquet of flowers to visit her. Jiang Junlin and Grandpa were at the hospital. Grandma was touched when she saw Gu Ci. She had been wanting to see Gu Ci for a while, but Gu Ci didn¡¯t come to visit her, and she was afraid that Gu Ci held a grudge against her. Gu Ci remained calm, placing the flowers and fruits down, and asked a few routine questions. Grandma felt guilty and couldn¡¯t bring herself to apologize when she saw Gu Ci¡¯s cold attitude. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Cici, Grandma felt her heart rate was a bit fast this morning. Can you check on her?¡± ¡°Pass me the report.¡± Grandma felt a little guilty because she was actually recovering well. Jiang Junlin handed her the report. Gu Ci carefully examined it and confirmed that the medication prescribed by Dr. Zhang and Dr. Li was fine. Gu Ci said, ¡°There are no issues with the post-operative recovery. If you feel chest tightness or a fast heart rate, it might be due to lying down for too long. You can go downstairs to the hospital and relax.¡± ¡°I was planning to take Grandma for a walk too. Let¡¯s go together,¡± Jiang Junlin said. ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t refuse. The two siblings pushed Grandma downstairs to bask in the sun. Grandpa, who was looking after Grandma, was tired and taking a nap in the neighboring bed. There were many people sunbathing in the courtyard. Gu Ci accompanied Grandma, and the old lady couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you busy lately?¡± ¡°Yes, quite busy,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°School is about to start, and there are many preparations to be done.¡± ¡°Let your brother help you,¡± Grandma suggested. She felt guilty for her previous bad attitude towards Gu Ci and regretted her actions. She also saved her despite their past grievances. ¡°Being a doctor is a good profession, saving lives and helping the sick.¡± Gu Ci nodded, feeling at a loss for words. Jiang Junlin asked, ¡°When can Grandma be discharged from the hospital?¡± ¡°She will stay in the hospital for another week for observation. If there are no complications and she feels fine, she can continue her recovery at home. She shouldn¡¯t be exposed to emotional stress or exert herself,¡± Gu Ci said calmly. ¡°When Grandma is discharged, let¡¯s have a reunion dinner at home,¡± Jiang Junlin suggested. Gu Ci hesitated, and Jiang Junlin nudged Grandma¡¯s shoulder. Grandma said, ¡°What do you like to eat? I¡¯ll ask Aunt Gui to prepare. Your mother loved fish.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like fish,¡± Gu Ci replied. Jiang Junlin and Grandpa were both speeechless. In fact, Gu Ci used to love eating fish when she was younger. Later, Gu Chuyun also developed a taste for fish. Gu Wenliang said that Jiang Mingyue loved eating fish and had to have it with every meal. It seemed to be genetic. Whenever there was a fish on the table, the tenderest part of the belly was definitely for Gu Chuyun. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t compete with her, as she used to fight with Gu Chuyun for it when she was younger. She was scolded by Lu Man and criticized by Gu Wenliang for being aggressive. Over time, she developed a strong dislike for fish. It had become a habit. ¡°What do you like to eat then?¡± Grandma asked gently. Seeing their cautiousness, Gu Ci softly said, ¡°Beef.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Grandma happily said. ¡°Aunt Gui makes delicious beef.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s phone rang, and he glanced at it. ¡°Cici, you push Grandma, I¡¯ll take the call.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gu Ci pushed Grandma for a walk by the artificial lake. Patients who could walk freely liked to come to the artificial lake for a stroll. An elderly man asked, ¡°Is this your granddaughter? She¡¯s really beautiful.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my granddaughter,¡± Grandma proudly said. ¡°She just got into A University this year, the top scorer in the college entrance examination, studying medicine.¡± ¡°Impressive, impressive.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a talented doctor, saving lives,¡± the elderly man praised. A group of patients looked at Gu Ci with kind eyes. Gu Ci felt both amused and exasperated. She politely nodded and greeted them while pushing Grandma to continue walking. Grandma asked suddenly, ¡°Cici, are you still angry with Grandma?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°When your brother is not around, you don¡¯t want to talk to Grandma.¡± ¡°We are still not familiar with each other, and I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°I¡¯m not good with words, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll say something wrong and make you angry.¡± ¡°Grandma won¡¯t get angry,¡± Grandma felt overwhelmingly guilty. ¡°It¡¯s Grandma¡¯s fault for what happened to you and your mother.¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± Grandma¡¯s heart felt a pang of sadness, and her eyes turned red. Gu Ci whispered, ¡°You just had surgery, so avoid extreme joy or sorrow. If it affects your health, Grandpa, Uncle, and Brother will worry.¡± Grandma wiped her tears. ¡°In the future, come home often for meals, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°You and your mother¡­ are really alike,¡± Grandma couldn¡¯t help but feel sad again. ¡°When I first saw you that night, I dreamed of Mingyue. Back then¡­ I strongly opposed her marrying Gu Wenliang.¡± She strongly opposed Jiang Mingyue marrying Gu Wenliang. She had chosen a son-in-law and always hoped for a match of social status. Gu Wenliang wasn¡¯t her ideal choice, and she was afraid her daughter would be unhappy. Gu Ci didn¡¯t know what to say. Gu Wenliang was her father in her eyes, even though he was irresponsible and hadn¡¯t fulfilled his duties. It wasn¡¯t appropriate to pour fuel on the fire when Grandma was already sad so as not to agitate her emotions. Two girls who came to visit secretly took photos in the shadows. ¡°Is that Gu Ci?¡± ¡°No doubt, it¡¯s her.¡± The girls angrily took out oranges and threw them at Gu Ci¡¯s head. One of the oranges hit Gu Ci. They shouted, ¡°Shameless! You seduced Lu Zhiyuan and caused him to have an accident during the competition.¡± Gu Ci narrowed her eyes, looking displeased at them. ¡°Devoting yourself to Lu Zhiyuan, does he even recognize you? He clarified with his own words that he¡¯s not dating anyone.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve Lu Zhiyuan at all. Stay away from him in the future!¡± As they spoke, another orange was thrown. Gu Ci turned her head and caught the orange, remaining silent. Then, she suddenly raised her hand and threw the orange back, hitting the girl¡¯s knee. She screamed in pain and fell to the ground, unable to stand up for a while. ¡°Ah, I broke my bone! I broke my bone! Gu Ci, you¡¯ve gone too far. You¡¯re done for. I¡¯ll sue you!¡± She cried out in pain, lying down and clutching her leg. ¡°Help, my friend broke her bone! Help¡­¡± The other girl shouted. Grandma was shocked. ¡°Cici, what¡¯s going on?¡± Doctors and nurses quickly came over. The girl cried and said, ¡°Gu Ci hit me and broke my bone.¡± Grandma panicked, and Gu Ci said, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Jiang Junlin also returned, furrowing his brows. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a fan of Lu Zhiyuan.¡± Jiang Junlin saw the oranges on the ground and understood what had happened. His face turned grim, and he asked, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, even if she has a fracture. We can afford the compensation.¡± A faint smile appeared on Gu Ci¡¯s lips. Doctors and nurses examined the girl¡¯s injury. The doctor said, ¡°Stop screaming. Your bones are fine, not even a fracture. It¡¯s just a bruise.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in too much pain to stand up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± The doctor firmly rejected her claim.. ¡°A bone fracture from an orange hitting you? Are you trying to scam the hospital?¡± Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Lu Zhiyuan Suspects Gu Ci Chapter 87: Lu Zhiyuan Suspects Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Nurses helped the little girl stand steady. She took a few steps, feeling a slight pain in her knee, but she could still walk without any abnormality. However, just a moment ago, she was clearly in too much pain to stand up. The doctor said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong. Where is the bone fracture?¡± ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± The girl was embarrassed and humiliated, pointed at and whispered about by the people around her. She turned around and ran away, her companion immediately chasing after her. After the doctor and nurses left, Grandma asked Gu Ci, ¡°Did it hurt when the orange hit your head?¡± Gu Ci had experienced a concussion before, and Jiang Junlin was also concerned. ¡°Let¡¯s take an X-ray. If anything happens, I¡¯ll make her bankrupt.¡± Rubbing her forehead, Gu Ci smiled lightly and said, ¡°An orange hitting the forehead doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± But when she hit the girl¡¯s knee with the orange, it might not be the case. Gu Ci was not one to be taken advantage of. From childhood to adulthood, she was willing to sacrifice herself, even if it meant losing more than she gained. When Gu Ci left the hospital, there was a group of girls waiting at the entrance, but she avoided them. They were all fans of Lu Zhiyuan, and upon hearing that she was at the hospital, they came to confront her. Gu Ci asked the hospital director and left through a special passage. Zhou Jinjin was itching with anger. ¡°Cici, Gu Chuyun instigated them to come to the hospital and confront you. She pretended to be an insider, saying that you¡¯ve been pestering Lu Zhiyuan and distracting him from training. She even posted several pictures of you entering and leaving the Global Center, spreading rumors that you live together. Don¡¯t go to the square, the things she said were really offensive. It was Gu Chuyun using her alternate account, it¡¯s so hilarious. I¡¯ve seen her use that account two years ago.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Fanatic fans are the easiest to incite, and Gu Chuyun is still not tired of playing this trick. Lately, she had been thinking about how to appease Lu Zhiyuan and give the Gu family some breathing room. But now Gu Chuyun thought Gu Ci had gone soft. Gu Ci would rather go bankrupt herself than let the Gu family off the hook! Gu Group had just secured a loan, but now it was being targeted by capital. Within three days, the Gu Group faced a financial crisis. It was being targeted by international headhunters, and multiple teams resigned, creating chaos within the company. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°This is unusual. Who is helping me?¡± Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Hualan Bank is an investment bank. They can¡¯t casually target a listed company. Otherwise, it would ruin their integrity, making it difficult for them to establish themselves in the financial world in the future.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t care who was helping her behind the scenes. The Gu Group couldn¡¯t withstand the onslaught of massive capital. They had to go through bankruptcy and restructuring. Gu Wenliang aged ten years overnight. The kingdom he built with Jiang Mingyue was instantly destroyed. Gu Chuyun went to Grandma in tears, begging for her help, hoping Grandma would lend a hand. But when Grandma saw her, she said, ¡°Chuyun, I¡¯ve loved you for eighteen years, a whole eighteen years. Even though I found out you¡¯re not Mingyue¡¯s daughter, I never mistreated you. But when you didn¡¯t lift a finger to help when you saw my life was in danger. What gives you the right to beg me now?¡± ¡°Grandma, I was wrong. I made a mistake. Please save the Gu family. The Jiang family and the Gu family, as well as the Lu family, all have family ties. If the Gu family falls, the Lu family won¡¯t fare well either.¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s face was covered in tears. Grandma disappointingly looked at her. ¡°Apples don¡¯t fall far from the tree. The saying holds true. Even if my eighteen years of efforts go to waste, our relationship as grandmother and granddaughter has come to an end. I don¡¯t want to see you anymore.¡± This was also to account in front of Gu Ci. Gu Chuyun wiped away her tears, staring at Gu Ci with hatred. ¡°Gu Ci, all of this is your doing. You intentionally targeted the Gu Group. You are also a member of the Gu family. How could you be so ruthless? If the Gu Group goes bankrupt, the eighteen years your parents raised you would be in vain. You¡¯ve betrayed their upbringing.¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun, when you instigated Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s fans to come to the hospital and confront me, did you ever think that the Gu Group would go bankrupt?¡± Gu Ci looked at her coldly. She approached Gu Chuyun and whispered, ¡°I only wanted to teach the Gu Group a lesson. It¡¯s you¡­who wanted the Gu Group to go bankrupt. You brought this upon yourself.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you go!¡± Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes were filled with intense hatred. ¡°I will make you pay!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± Gu Ci replied calmly. Jiang Junlin frowned and looked at Gu Chuyun¡¯s back, saying calmly, ¡°She is ruthless and cunning. Be cautious of her in the future.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Gu Ci had always been on guard against Gu Chuyun. Without Lu Shijie overseeing the Lu family, and with the nullification of the alliance between him and Gu Chuyun, there was no one to support Gu Chuyun. What else could she do to cause trouble? Gu Group¡¯s properties worth billions were auctioned off. Gu Wenliang and Lu Man¡¯s assets were frozen and put up for auction. Gu Yaozu and Gu Chuyun were still okay. Gu Chuyun, being cunning from a young age, bought six properties with her newfound wealth. Some of them were luxurious mansions. She also had a trust fund overseas. The bankruptcy of the Gu Group didn¡¯t affect her personal assets. Selling these properties would only make a small dent in the Gu Group¡¯s hole. Gu Chuyun didn¡¯t want to sell them. With her trust fund and properties, she could still live a worry-free life. But Gu Chuyun, who had grown up in luxury, always spent money extravagantly. How could she be satisfied? She wanted to reclaim her glory and make Gu Ci experience unbearable pain. After leaving the Jiang family, Gu Chuyun was determined. A car stopped next to her, and Lu Shijie was sitting in the car, calmly asking, ¡°Gu Chuyun, want a ride?¡± A greedy and malicious look flashed in Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes. She smiled sweetly, ¡°Sure.¡± At the Global Center, Lu Zhiyuan finished his training and was discussing with the technical team on how to improve speed when Li Jiang approached him. ¡°Third Young Master, I brought Miss Gu Ci¡¯s report.¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised his hand to interrupt him, then took Li Jiang aside and asked in a low voice, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± ¡°During Gu Ci¡¯s three years of high school, she only had one friend, Zhou Jinjin. Her life was highly regular, and her high school studies were extremely demanding. Gu Ci missed school a total of sixteen times in three years, all due to illness, and most of them were when she took leave after getting injured in fights with Gu Chuyun¡¯s cronies. The hospital has records of it. Aside from that, she would go to the game center, go camping, and go cycling with Zhou Jinjin on weekends. After the college entrance examination, she stayed at home and didn¡¯t go out. She definitely didn¡¯t have the time to study medicine. I copied Gu Ci¡¯s surgical technique and consulted a cardiovascular surgeon. The way Gu Ci performed the surgery was remarkably similar to Dr. North. After the thoracotomy, she re-diagnosed and changed the surgical plan, successfully treating Grandma. This kind of difficult surgery can only be done by Dr. North and a few authoritative doctors with extensive clinical experience. He doesn¡¯t believe that an eighteen-year-old girl could perform such a surgery.¡± Li Jiang¡¯s face also turned serious. The more he investigated, the more suspicious he became. ¡°Gu Ci didn¡¯t have the time to study medicine during her three years of high school. Even if she were an extraordinary genius, she couldn¡¯t have managed her heavy high school coursework while studying cardiac surgery.¡± Li Jiang had found clear evidence of Gu Ci¡¯s whereabouts during her three years of high school, and the more Lu Zhiyuan looked at it, the darker his expression became. Gu Ci was Gu Ci, but she also wasn¡¯t Gu Ci. Although he had reconciled with Gu Ci, he didn¡¯t ask her about studying medicine again. If Gu Ci didn¡¯t want to talk about it, he couldn¡¯t force it out. He had to investigate.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Very Innocent Chapter 88: Very Innocent Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Third Young Master¡­ Has Miss Gu Ci been possessed by someone?¡± Li Jiang scratched his head. ¡°I also think she has undergone a drastic change in personality. You see, she used to be completely controlled by Gu Chuyun, always competing with her for everything and caring a lot about Gu Wenliang and Lu Man¡¯s opinions. But now, she doesn¡¯t care about any of them.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows. Scientific laws don¡¯t lie. If Gu Ci could proficiently grasp a field of surgery, then she couldn¡¯t be Gu Ci. But if she¡¯s not Gu Ci, then who is she? ¡°Third Young Master, how does Miss Gu Ci understand capital operation when she shorted Gu Group this time? She operates with great skill, which is beyond the level of a high school graduate.¡± ¡°Who else knows about your investigation?¡± ¡°Jiang Junlin is also investigating,¡± Li Jiang said. He had purposely kept it discreet, but Jiang Junlin probably found out about it. ¡°He should know that you¡¯re investigating Miss Gu Ci.¡± This matter was too fantastical, and everyone suspected each other. ¡°Li Jiang, is she Gu Ci?¡± Li Jiang pondered in his mind, Third Young Master, you¡¯re Miss Gu Ci¡¯s lapdog, and even you¡¯re not sure, how would I know? ¡°Third Young Master, if she¡¯s not Miss Gu Ci, then who is she?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned grave. She knew his habits, had their memories. If she wasn¡¯t Gu Ci, then who was she? Li Jiang tentatively suggested, ¡°How about¡­ asking Third Master?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°My matters have nothing to do with him.¡± Li Jiang kept quiet, not daring to say anything further. Lu Zhiyuan silently looked up at the building, a storm brewing in his eyes. Gu Ci, what have you been hiding? Sensing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s low spirits, Gu Ci knew that he usually took a short nap in the afternoon to recharge. With Gu Ziyu not around recently, Lu Zhiyuan liked to come down and find her in her bedroom to sleep. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t chase him away. But today, he hadn¡¯t slept all this time, staring at her as if trying to see through her. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Gu Group has gone bankrupt. Are you sad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about them anymore, why should I be sad?¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°You shorted their stock, and your technique was skillful. How do you know how to do it?¡± ¡°I learned from the environment, and I consulted my brother.¡± Gu Ci calmly read her book without raising her head. ¡°I have a bit of talent in this area.¡± ¡°You seem to have quite a bit of talent. You can perform surgeries and dominate the financial market.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with a half-smile, leaning against the desk. ¡°What other surprises do you have in store for me?¡± Gu Ci remained silent, lifting her head to look at Lu Zhiyuan. So, this matter hadn¡¯t been put to rest. Gu Ci touched her ear, about to say something, but Lu Zhiyuan grabbed her wrist. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the watch on her wrist. ¡°Where did this watch come from?¡± Gu Ci blinked. ¡°You gave it to me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s gaze narrowed slowly. With his recent training, he hadn¡¯t noticed that she had an extra watch on her wrist. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did you forget?¡± Lu Zhiyuan angrily tore off the watch. ¡°I picked the wrong one.¡± He turned and left, and Gu Ci didn¡¯t mind. Did the watch have any special meaning? Gu Ci¡¯s thoughts were a bit jumbled. Dealing with two people indeed took a toll on her mind, and she felt tired. Ten minutes later, Lu Zhiyuan came downstairs with a new watch. It had a black strap, a white dial, and a diamond embedded in it, exuding a subtle luxury. Without any expression, he put it on Gu Ci¡¯s wrist. ¡°Two watches, do they have any meaning?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°No!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°That one was too ordinary, not worthy of you.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t know what to say. This incident interrupted Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s probing. His expression had been unpleasant all along. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t focus on her reading either, and there was a subtle sense of suspicion and testing between them. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I¡¯m starting school.¡± ¡°I know.¡± It was the beginning of autumn, the start of the new school year. Gu Ci made a mark on her human anatomy textbook. ¡°Why do you always treat me so inconsistently?¡± Lu Zhiyuan froze, looking at her intently. ¡°Then what about you? Why do you have so many secrets?¡± ¡°I see¡­ You¡¯ve been holding a grudge all along.¡± Gu Ci looked at him, a mist covering her dark eyes. ¡°Am I¡­ not like Gu Ci?¡± Lu Zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re like her, and yet not.¡± ¡°Then which version of Gu Ci do you like?¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell into silence, his tone low and hoarse. ¡°The Gu Ci who grew up with me.¡± Gu Ci felt a pang in her heart, her eyes welling up with tears. Although she had anticipated it, it still made her sad. So, what he had liked all along was her past self, not the person in front of him. ¡°But I like the Lu Zhiyuan in front of me.¡± Gu Ci smiled through her teary eyes. ¡°I really like him, really, really like him.¡± After that day of mutual probing, Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t meet again. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t even come downstairs for breakfast. Gu Ci occasionally sent him text messages, and he responded promptly. Before the start of the school year, Gu Ci went to the Jiang family for dinner, a true reunion meal. She brought Gu Ziyu along as well. With Gu Ziyu on the household registration, they were listed in the same family register. Gu Ziyu played the role of a cute and lovely little prince, performing flawlessly, entertaining the table, and bringing joy to the hearts of everyone present, including Jiang Junlin. The elders gave them gifts, really liking the adorable little Ziyu. Gu Ci felt both heartache and happiness. In this lifetime, she had a family, and Ziyu had a family too. Knowing that Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci would be starting their doctoral program together, Ziyu¡¯s treatment in the Jiang family had drastically improved. Even Jiang Junlin found it surprising, considering that the Jiang family was full of academic high-achievers. Both the old master and the old madam met at A University. Their children and grandchildren were all alumni of A University, a true scholarly family. A family banquet brought them closer, and the Jiang family members got along unexpectedly well. ¡°Junlin, why don¡¯t you buy a house near A University? It would be convenient for Ziyu and Cici to study,¡± Jiang Minghua brought up the topic of buying a house. Gu Ci understood their intentions. The rumors of her and Lu Zhiyuan had spread widely, and the Jiang family was no exception. Lu Zhiyuan denied their relationship in public, and the Jiang family naturally had their opinions about him, but they couldn¡¯t be outspoken. Living at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s house, in the eyes of others, they were cohabitating, which tarnished Gu Ci¡¯s reputation. Gu Ci said, ¡°Uncle, I really like Lu Zhiyuan, and I¡¯m pursuing him. It¡¯s easier to be close when you¡¯re nearby. He¡¯s denying our relationship in public, and he hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. I haven¡¯t caught up to him yet.¡± Gu Ziyu pouted with displeasure and bit into an apple. ¡°True love, huh?¡± Gu Ci could tell that Gu Ziyu was unhappy, so she reached out and ruffled his hair, comforting him. The expressions of the Jiang family members varied, as they hadn¡¯t expected Gu Ci to be so straightforward. ¡°Are you able to woo him?¡± Grandfather felt sorry for her. ¡°Is he so difficult to pursue?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite difficult.¡± Gu Ci openly spoke about her secret crush. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m trying my best.¡± ¡°There¡¯ still no need to live together,¡± Jiang Minghua said. ¡°We don¡¯t live together.¡± Gu Ci knew her boundaries. ¡°Ziyu and I live in an apartment downstairs in his building.¡± Gu Ziyu raised his hand at the opportune moment. ¡°Brother and sister never meet each other at night, they¡¯re completely innocent.¡± Everyone was rendered speechless.. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: University A’s Campus Belle, Gu Ci Chapter 89: University A¡¯s Campus Belle, Gu Ci Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Little Boy Yu is more straightforward than Gu Ci. Grandma said, ¡°If Cici likes it, let her be.¡± ¡°Liu Ze¡¯s three sons, Liu Shijie is sinister, Liu Shixiu is a fool, Lu Zhiyuan¡­¡± Jiang Minghua said lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t know about his character. Junlin, what do you think?¡± Jiang Junlin calmly sipped his tea, ¡°I know very little, so I won¡¯t comment.¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°I have a sense of measure, don¡¯t worry.¡± When the mother and son returned to the Global Sports Center, they encountered Lu Zhiyuan and Li Jiang heading out. Lu Zhiyuan was still dressed in a black windbreaker, exuding an air of nobility and dominance with every move. When Lu Zhiyuan saw them, he paused for a moment and glanced at Li Jiang. Li Jiang came over and said, ¡°Miss Gu Ci, Third Master is going on a business trip and will be away for seven days.¡± ¡°I know.¡± After Lu Zhiyuan and Li Jiang left, Gu Ci watched their figures and wondered why they were leaving in such a hurry. Something must have happened. Gu Ziyu puffed up his cheeks and asked, ¡°Did he lose his voice? Why did he ask Li Jiang to tell you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to the details,¡± Gu Ci chuckled and left with Gu Ziyu. Lu Zhiyuan had cautioned them not to tell anyone about his split personality, and Gu Ci had no intention of telling Gu Ziyu either. She hoped that in Gu Ziyu¡¯s heart, his father would be a healthy person. Three days after Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s business trip, A University began its new semester. Gu Ci, Gu Ziyu, and Zhou Jinjin went together for registration. Half of the students in the Medical School came to catch a glimpse of Gu Ci, making her instantly the belle of A University. A set of high-definition photos taken on campus quickly went viral, and Gu Ci was hailed as the campus beauty. The male students in the Medical School were all stirred up, except for a few nerds. Everyone wanted to court her and win her favor. In addition to Gu Ci¡¯s popularity at A University, Gu Ziyu, the six-year-old double Ph.D. holder, who was also pursuing a Bachelor¡¯s degree in Management, attracted a lot of attention as well. The online forums erupted once again, with comments from A University¡¯s academic elites, both freshmen and senior students, stating that they had never seen anything like it before. This batch of primary school students was too extraordinary. Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu were siblings! The two became the brightest sights at A University during the new semester, attracting the highest level of discussion. Gu Chuyun was a celebrity violinist with a large fan base, and although the Gu family had gone bankrupt, her presence still commanded attention. On the day of registration, reporters followed her, but she was quickly overshadowed by Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci. Her presence barely made a ripple. News about Gu Ziyu also spread throughout the campus, but there was no buzz on social media. Unlike previous years, A University had military training after the start of the semester. Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t need to participate in military training since he was already attending regular classes when the undergraduate students were undergoing training. Gu Ci was at the school, and he planned to stay in the dormitory for a few days. Gu Ci¡¯s dormitory had four roommates, all from A City. Gu Ci¡¯s bed was by the window, with her name affixed to it. When she arrived, she found a long-haired girl tearing off her name tag, intending to switch beds. Being caught by Gu Ci, the girl didn¡¯t show any guilt. ¡°Let¡¯s switch beds.¡± Gu Ci had no intention of getting entangled in this matter with her. She had no objections and laid out the bedding she brought, neatly organizing her belongings. After finishing, she went out to find Gu Ziyu. ¡°Gu Ci is so arrogant, she doesn¡¯t even acknowledge people.¡± ¡°What status does she have? Why would she pay attention to us commoners?¡± said Zhang Ping with a strange tone. When they arrived at Gu Ziyu¡¯s dormitory had four rooms, one living room, and two bathrooms. There was a communal kitchen, and the environment was excellent. Because of Gu Ziyu¡¯s popularity as the ¡°baby¡± in the dormitory, his bed had already been prepared by the doctoral brothers. They even bought various snacks for him. One of them had a clear motive and asked, ¡°Baby, does your sister have a boyfriend?¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s face turned dark, and he examined the doctoral brother with a dignified and cold demeanor. ¡°When I grow up, I will have a sister-brother relationship with my sister. Give up already.¡± The doctoral brothers didn¡¯t know how to respond. Despite his arrogant attitude, the three prospective doctors didn¡¯t argue with him. His cuteness made him endearing. When Gu Ci arrived, Gu Ziyu was holding an ice cream stick, enjoying his power over others. Gu Ci greeted each of them one by one. ¡°I¡¯ll have to rely on all of you to take care of him in the future.¡± Several male students were enchanted by her smile, wishing to swear to raise Gu Ziyu as their own son. Gu Ci took Gu Ziyu to tour the campus. Zhou Jinjin also finished packing and came to find them. Gu Ziyu held a map, and there was a separate teaching building and laboratory for the Medical School. The Finance School and Computer Science had many courses in the same building, not far away. Within the university, there were six cafeterias and a western restaurant, as well as desserts. The environment was beautiful, and the atmosphere for studying was very strong. Wherever Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu went, they became a focal point, capturing the attention of everyone on campus. Gu Ci sent several photos taken on campus to Lu Zhiyuan but received no response. ¡°You¡¯re so shallow. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve encountered another scumbag.¡± ¡°My eyes are wide open.¡± ¡°You only dated Liu Shixiu because you found him good-looking,¡± Gu Ci mercilessly exposed her, ¡°If you only look at appearances, you¡¯ll definitely attract scum.¡± ¡°You¡¯re also obsessed with looks.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± Gu Ci retorted, ¡°If I were obsessed with looks, I would have fallen for Liu Zhiyuan a long time ago. There¡¯s no need to waste ten years.¡± ¡°You make a valid point, I can¡¯t argue with that,¡± Zhou Jinjin asked, ¡°So, did your feelings develop over time?¡± The three of them chatted and laughed as they strolled around the campus, getting familiar with the locations of classrooms, cafeterias, and the library. Gu Ci was the most efficient, with the lab building and classrooms being nearby, right next to the cafeteria. Gu Ci sent a few pictures of the campus to Liu Zhiyuan, but received no response. The next day was the military training. Gu Ci woke up early, as she was disciplined by nature. When it was time to gather, the three girls in the dormitory were slow to get ready. As Gu Ci changed clothes and left the room, they only started to get up. True to form, they were late when it was time to line up. The instructor was strict, and after being late, the whole group had to run for half an hour. The female students complained about the strenuous exercise and received a lesson. Gu Ci rarely engaged in conversations with others, but on the training ground, she was the most eye-catching figure. Wherever she went, people secretly took pictures of her. On the fifth day of military training, Gu Ci noticed that her dormitory mate, Liu Yu, had suffered from heatstroke. She suddenly collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Everyone was startled, and no one dared to help her. Gu Ci quickly rushed over and held her, laying her flat on the ground. Liu Yu continued to vomit from her stomach, so Gu Ci made her roll onto her side to prevent the vomit from blocking her airway. Upon seeing this, Zhang Ping frowned and said, ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t touch her recklessly. What if something happens? Can you take responsibility?¡± Gu Ci paid no attention and unbuttoned the top button of Liu Yu¡¯s military uniform, relieving her rapid breathing. A crowd gathered around, all concerned about Liu Yu. Gu Ci stepped forward and blocked them, saying, ¡°She needs fresh air. Please give her some space!¡± The instructor dispersed the crowd as the condition of a person having an epileptic seizure was too distressed to be suitable for onlookers. After providing first aid, the doctor arrived quickly, and they had someone take Liu Yu to the medical room. The doctor praised Gu Ci, ¡°As expected from the Medical School, your first aid was prompt and accurate..¡± Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Third Master Pushed Gu Ci into the Water Chapter 90: Third Master Pushed Gu Ci into the Water Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Everyone was new there, and only a few of them had first aid knowledge. Gu Ci had once again attracted attention among the newcomers, apart from her beauty. Zhang Ping sneered, ¡°Always seeking attention, it¡¯s really annoying.¡± Another roommate, He Miaomiao, who got along well with Liu Yu, disagreed. ¡°Treating illnesses and saving lives is not about seeking attention. We are all newcomers, and she knows first aid while we know nothing. It should be us who feel ashamed, shouldn¡¯t it?¡± Zhang Ping fumed, ¡°Don¡¯t you all think she¡¯s arrogant and rude? Has she ever bothered to talk to you in the dormitory for a week?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just cold by nature, and she doesn¡¯t need to please us. Why should she bother with us?¡± Zhang Ping angrily said, ¡°You all are just fickle-minded. After all, she¡¯s the little princess of Hualan Bank. You just want to curry favor with her.¡± He Miaomiao couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk to her. After Gu Ci saved someone, she changed the impression of being cold as snow. Liu Yu looked so ugly during her illness, with dirty vomit, but Gu Ci didn¡¯t mind at all. Many people thought she was cold on the outside but warm-hearted on the inside. Zhou Jinjin heard the rumors and chuckled, ¡°Cici looks cold on the outside, but her heart is even colder.¡± There were very few people whom Gu Ci cared about. She didn¡¯t like making friends, found it hard to trust others, and won¡¯t easily give her true feelings to anyone without spending at least five years together, giving their all. ¡°Except for Gu Ziyu, it¡¯s been over ten years,¡± she said. After the incident with Yang Sihang, Gu Ci became even more reluctant to open up to strangers. Zhou Jinjin wasn¡¯t worried at all that Gu Ci would make new friends and forget about her. She would definitely be the closest friend in Gu Ci¡¯s life. After Liu Yu recovered from her illness, she was exempted from military training. Epilepsy is aggravated by fatigue and excessive stress, but Liu Yu hadn¡¯t had a seizure in three to four years and was almost cured. Having a seizure in front of everyone exposed her embarrassing side, and she remained silent and low-spirited for several days. However, she didn¡¯t forget to thank Gu Ci and even bought her some fruits. Gu Ci said, ¡°Epilepsy can be cured, don¡¯t lose hope.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had this illness recurring for twelve years, can it really be cured?¡± ¡°It can!¡± For some reason, Liu Yu always felt that Gu Ci¡¯s words carried power and brought comfort. Even when she heard others discussing her illness, she felt slightly better. Gu Ci used to be a loner at school, and it was hard for Zhou Jinjin, who was in a different department and class, to spend time with her. After Gu Ci saved Liu Yu, Liu Yu became attached to her and brought along He Miaomiao. The three of them often had meals together. Liu Yu would drink milk tea and never forgot to bring a cup for Gu Ci. Zhang Ping felt isolated by them and was very unhappy. She had a few minor tantrums in the dormitory, but Gu Ci couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with her. After military training, she focused on studying. She sent a message to Lu Zhiyuan, but he was on a business trip and hadn¡¯t returned for more than seven days. On the weekend, there was a joint event between the Medical School and the Music School. He Miaomiao and Liu Yu signed up for it and brought Gu Ci along. Gu Ci had no interest in the event and stayed in the dormitory reading. It was only when she felt hungry that she went to the cafeteria and ordered a bowl of wonton soup. Many other departments participated in the event, and they invited Zhou Li to perform. The joint event was lively, and Liu Yu sent a video to Gu Ci. The host was Gu Chuyun. Gu Ci didn¡¯t watch the video and, after finishing the wonton soup, strolled around the campus. It had been a while since she had seen Lu Zhiyuan. Where did he go on his business trip? Could there be any danger? Gu Ci stood in front of the artificial lake and closed her eyes. She said, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan.¡± The wind blew through her hair, creating ripples on the artificial lake. Gu Ci opened her eyes, but there was no sign of Lu Zhiyuan. She pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°Liar.¡± She looked up at the moon, resembling a sickle, and thought of the sickle on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s coat. Gu Ci¡¯s heart pounded, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I want to see you.¡± A dark figure swept across the lake¡¯s surface, and a gentle breeze brushed through the treetops. Lu Zhiyuan silently appeared behind her. Gu Ci turned around and saw him. Moonlight reflected on the lake¡¯s surface, creating a tranquil and silent atmosphere. Her black eyes gradually lit up, resembling moonlight in the depths of her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been on a business trip for ten days.¡± ¡°Gu Ci, unless it¡¯s an emergency, don¡¯t call for me,¡± his tone remained as cold as ever. Gu Ci poured out her heart, ¡°I miss you, and that¡¯s an emergency to me.¡± Unfathomable inkiness filled Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes as he silently looked at her. Gu Ci approached him, looked up, and said, ¡°You heard me. I said I miss you.¡± ¡°The person you¡¯re meeting is not the person you think,¡± he replied. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Gu Ci tilted her head, her gaze slightly deranged. ¡°Just having this face is enough.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s fingers trembled, and he took a step back. ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± ¡°What line?¡± Gu Ci laughed lightly. ¡°The person I like is the person in front of me. What¡¯s crossing the line about that? Or¡­ you can give his body back to him.¡± A frosty glimmer appeared in Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Delusions.¡± Gu Ci placed her index finger on her lips. ¡°Shh, don¡¯t speak. I just want to relieve this lovesickness. I don¡¯t want to hear your heart-piercing words.¡± From the direction of the gymnasium came screams. The young students were cheering and enjoying their youth. Greedily gazing at Lu Zhiyuan, Gu Ci¡¯s expression seemed a bit insane. ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow. ¡°No!¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± Lu Zhiyuan stepped forward, and he caught a whiff of alcohol. Sure enough, after Gu Ci finished her wonton soup, she had drunk two 100ml bottles of Jiang Xiaobai. As the aftereffects of the liquor kicked in, she felt a bit dizzy. The madness that she had suppressed deep inside her started to surface. When she was sober, she could keep it under control, but when she was drunk, it became difficult. ¡°How much did you drink?¡± Gu Ci looked at him with a profound gaze and suddenly reached out, embracing his neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t drink. I just miss you.¡± Lu Zhiyuan pried her hand away but couldn¡¯t completely let go. ¡°You¡¯re drunk, let go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not drunk!¡± Gu Ci leaned against him and acted spoiled. Her eyes were completely red now, completely intoxicated. With a cold glint, she took out a dagger and pressed it against her fair cheek. ¡°If I make a cut, will you start liking me?¡± Lu Zhiyuan grabbed her wrist, and the sharp dagger left a small dot of blood on her cheek. ¡°Stop being crazy.¡± ¡°I am crazy,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°I¡¯ve been crazy for many years, but unfortunately, you don¡¯t know. If you were dead, and you knew that I had gone crazy, you would definitely be heartbroken¡­ But it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t know.¡± The veins on Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s hand bulged as he held onto her wrist. Gu Ci, with tears in her eyes, asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you love me anymore? Is it because of my face? If I make a scar, would you like the scarred Gu Ci? I can do it¡­¡± With force, she made a cut, and Lu Zhiyuan grabbed her hand, knocking the dagger away. Suddenly, he pressed her head down and submerged her in the artificial lake. Gu Ci struggled and flailed, creating splashes of water and ripples on the lake¡¯s surface. Her breathing gradually weakened. Lu Zhiyuan pulled her out of the water, and Gu Ci sat on the ground in a disheveled state, looking up at him. Lu Zhiyuan asked from a superior position, ¡°Are you sober now?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face was as pale as paper, her hair soaked, and her clothes wet. She couldn¡¯t tell if her eyes were filled with tears or water. She stared at Lu Zhiyuan, struggling to stand up.. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Seduction Chapter 91: Seduction Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Drunk and pushed into the artificial lake, Gu Ci smiled and said, ¡°You were too harsh, Third Master.¡± ¡°Are you awake?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s calm tone contained a hint of gritted teeth. Gu Ci wiped her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my tolerance for alcohol is poor. If 1 said anything strange or did anything strange, please forgive me, Third Master. Don¡¯t hold it against me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan stared at her face, and Gu Ci¡¯s vision darkened. She fell softly to the ground. Lu Zhiyuan reached out and supported her waist as Gu Ci leaned against his chest, losing consciousness. Silence enveloped them. Lu Zhiyuan looked down at her, and a strand of her long hair stuck to her cheek. He wanted to brush it away but restrained himself. Gu Ci¡¯s phone kept ringing; it was Zhou Li calling. Lu Zhiyuan declined the call, turned off the phone, and carried Gu Ci in his arms. With the moon behind him, a lingering shadow trailed. Global Center, 78th floor. When Gu Ci woke up, she was at Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s place. She had a splitting headache. She shouldn¡¯t have drunk two bottles of Jiang Xiaobai. Her memories were fragmented. She clung to Lu Zhiyuan, asking him why he didn¡¯t love her anymore, if it was because of her appearance. Gu Ci could suppress her madness when she was sober, but when she was drunk, she couldn¡¯t control her inner craziness and obsession. ¡°So disheveled¡­¡± Gu Ci seemed to see her crazed self from a previous life, the one who went mad for Lu Zhiyuan. But Lu Zhiyuan pushed her into the artificial lake. ¡°You were ruthless enough.¡± There was no trace of compassion. She got up, her bare feet stepping on the floor. She went to find Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan was in the living room, using a tablet to handle some documents. He was dressed in a white sweater, contrasting the dark aura around him. He heard footsteps and saw Gu Ci walking out barefoot. Walking on the cashmere carpet made her delicate feet look even whiter. ¡°Don¡¯t let this happen again.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s warning was light but carried a strong deterrent force. Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°But 1 can¡¯t control myself.¡± He turned his head, looking at her dangerously. ¡°Gu Ci, don¡¯t test my limits.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t test, how will I know where the limits are?¡± Gu Ci had no fear. When she was drunk, she was a lovesick madwoman, plagued by obsessions. But when she was sober, she showed no signs of weakness. Lu Zhiyuan closed the tablet and stood up. ¡°Let me ask on his behalf, who are you exactly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Gu Ci.¡± Gu Ci spread her hands. ¡°Absolutely genuine.¡± ¡°The 18-year-old Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t hold a scalpel or play with capital skillfully.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her pale face. ¡°You¡¯re not Gu Ci.¡± ¡°Exchange your secret for mine, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Gu Ci hooked her finger onto his shirt. ¡°Who are you? Why can you teleport? Are you human or a ghost?¡± Her posture was somewhat yandere-like. Lu Zhiyuan let go of her hand. ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°Likewise!¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°I have no comment either.¡± ¡°You should leave.¡± Lu Zhiyuan issued an eviction order after a moment of silence. Gu Ci looked into his eyes. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, one day, you will fall in love with me.¡± ¡°Delusional!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see!¡± Gu Ci, leaving behind a declaration of war, turned and left. Li Jiang stood outside the door, keeping quiet and observing. Gu Ci asked, ¡°When did you come back?¡± ¡°Just now.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t say anything else and went downstairs. The young servant had already fallen asleep. She took a shower and curled up in the bed. She felt cold, both in her body and in her heart. Although she had issued the challenge, her heart was uncertain. San Ye rejected her from a distance, and she needed to get drunk to muster the courage to stand in front of him and say that she liked him. Clearly, they were the same person! Gu Ci firmly believed that they were the same person! In the middle of the night, Gu Ci developed a high fever. She woke up and took two fever-reducing pills, but they didn¡¯t help. The fever wouldn¡¯t go down. It must have been because she got chilled after Lu Zhiyuan pushed her into the water while she was drunk. Gu Ziyu went to work at the Ministry of State Security on weekends and wasn¡¯t at home. Gu Ci felt groggy and hungry, so she sent a text message to Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan came down within three minutes. Gu Ci lay on the bed, weak like a wisp of air. It had been a long time since Lu Zhiyuan had seen her since she confessed her feelings that day. He gently placed his hand on her forehead. ¡°How did you get this fever?¡± ¡°Someone pushed me into the water like a jerk, and 1 caught a chill,¡± Gu Ci said weakly, leaning affectionately against his palm. ¡°Who was it?¡± Lu Zhiyuan thought to himself. He would kill him! Gu Ci smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t want to go to the hospital at all. Her eyes were burning red. Lu Zhiyuan called the team doctor, and Gu Ci watched his back as he walked away. She smiled and sat up. Lu Zhiyuan hung up the phone and approached her, his brow furrowed. Gu Ci looked pitiful as she said, ¡°I thought¡­ you didn¡¯t want to see me again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you because you did something wrong?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s tone was somewhat sinister, as if testing her or being nonchalant. Gu Ci¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She looked fragile. Third Master seemed indifferent to her. Was he distancing himself from her too? Because she was no longer the childhood Gu Ci he knew. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with a smile that was both genuine and fake. His eyes looked beautiful when he smiled, full of emotion and charm. But to Gu Ci, they were like a gentle knife. ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me.¡± Gu Ci counted the days. ¡°Fourteen days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled. ¡°Training, business trips, meetings.¡± ¡°I sent you messages, but you didn¡¯t reply.¡± Gu Ci coughed, becoming more fragile. ¡°And¡­ you used to reply instantly.¡± Lu Zhiyuan fell silent. Gu Ci kept coughing persistently, her face turning red. Lu Zhiyuan turned around and awkwardly patted her back. There was a layer of sweat on Gu Ci¡¯s forehead. Lu Zhiyuan went into the bathroom, soaked a towel in hot water, wrung it out, and wiped the sweat off Gu Ci¡¯s forehead. ¡°Lie down and rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Lu Zhiyuan had Li Jiang bring breakfast. Since Gu Ci was sick, Li Jiang asked her what she wanted to eat, but she couldn¡¯t decide. Li Jiang brought over a dozen types of breakfast and placed them in front of Gu Ci. Dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, pan-fried buns, fried dough sticks with soy milk, preserved egg and lean meat congee, seafood congee, noodles, toasted bread, and more¡­ Gu Ci looked at the array of breakfast options in silence. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Seafood congee.¡± Lu Zhiyuan brought the seafood congee and placed it in front of her. Gu Ci drank it slowly. ¡°In idol dramas, when the female lead gets sick, the male lead would stay by her side and make congee for her.¡± ¡°Are we acting in an idol drama?¡± Lu Zhiyuan lazily smiled. ¡°Should 1 make a pot of congee and take you to the emergency room?¡± Gu Ci remained silent. Once again, it was the familiar, sharp-tongued Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci finished the congee and lay down to rest. But she kept her eyes open, gazing at Lu Zhiyuan with an affectionate and greedy look. Lu Zhiyuan covered her eyes with one hand, his tone harsh. ¡°Go to sleep!¡± Her eyelashes trembled gently in his palm, scratching at his heart. ¡°If I fall asleep, will you leave again?¡± Gu Ci asked. The warmth of her breath blew onto his wrist, scalding his skin and igniting the blood in his veins. ¡°If you don¡¯t fall asleep, i will leave..¡± Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: The Encounter of a Crazy Man Chapter 92: The Encounter of a Crazy Man Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He covered her eyes, but he couldn¡¯t conceal his softness. He couldn¡¯t resist Gu Ci¡¯s gaze, so affectionate and greedy, as if he were the only color in the world for her. No one can resist the focused gaze of their beloved. Gu Ci fell asleep, and Lu Zhiyuan released his hand. Gently, he brushed the hair from her cheek. After Gu Ci confessed her feelings, he had been avoiding her. ¡°Gu Ci¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s voice was deep and gentle. ¡°I know you are Gu Ci.¡± But we can¡¯t be together! There was always a line between them that he dared not cross. That day, when Gu Ci confessed, in that moment, he wanted to cross that line. ¡°I can achieve anything for you, even sacrifice everything for you, but I can¡¯t cross that line.¡± Gu Ci woke up from a deep sleep, her high fever still not subsiding. Dr. Li from the medical team came up, gave her a fever-reducing injection, and started an IV. Gu Ci¡¯s temperature was still at 39¡ãC. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned displeased. ¡°Who caused you to fall ill?¡± Gu Ci looked at him with a faint gaze. Lu Zhiyuan squinted his eyes. ¡°He pushed you into the water and caused you to have a high fever. Are you protecting him?¡± She lowered her head, unwilling to speak. A fiery anger burned within Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci hooked her finger around his. ¡°I will seek revenge for you.¡± She sat up in a hurry and started coughing. Lu Zhiyuan hurriedly held her down. ¡°Lie down and don¡¯t move.¡± She weakly lay back down. With a high fever, she had no appetite. Her taste buds changed, and everything she ate tasted bad. Gu Ci didn¡¯t force herself and slept through the morning. In the afternoon, she felt much better and couldn¡¯t sleep. Gu Ci said, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I want to hear you play the violin.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Lu Zhiyuan took Gu Ci¡¯s violin and sat in front of her. After a brief thought, he played a classical violin piece with a Western theatrical flavor, incorporating classical rhythms. It was different from the melody of the Butterfly Lovers, more solemn and majestic, lacking the sorrow and desolation. It was more like a stirring battle hymn. Gu Ci tightly held onto the bedsheet, looking at Lu Zhiyuan in disbelief. This was the song that Lu Zhiyuan used to play frequently in their past life. Every time he played it, it was at night. It was Third Master! She curled her lips, her speculation proving to be correct. They were not some sort of split personality. Otherwise, Third Master wouldn¡¯t be able to replace Lu Zhiyuan in racing, and Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t know Third Master¡¯s songs. They were the same person! But why? They didn¡¯t seem like performing personalities. She searched through all the psychiatric disorders but couldn¡¯t find an accurate term. Could it be that he had a unique mental illness in the world? As one piece of music finished, Gu Ci came back to her senses and applauded sincerely. She knew how high Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s skill level was since she played the violin herself. It was at a world-class level. But Lu Zhiyuan was always focused on racing. He raced all day long, so he couldn¡¯t possibly have time to practice the violin. ¡°I¡¯ve practiced for more than ten years, but I¡¯m still not as good as you.¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s called talent.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was confident and proud, exuding a dazzling light. ¡°What else do you want to hear? You¡¯re allowed to make requests.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t hold back and requested several songs. Lu Zhiyuan also collected himself and played for her. Despite being sick, Gu Ci¡¯s spirit was high. Liu Yu and He Miaomiao both cared about her illness, and Gu Ci gave them a simple reply, assuring them that she was fine. When Gu Ziyu returned home, he heard the sound of music. Upon entering, he saw Gu Ci lying on the bed and became anxious. ¡°Mom, how did you get sick?¡± Gu Ziyu ran over and placed his hand on her forehead. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re burning up.¡± Gu Ci remained silent. The music abruptly stopped, and Lu Zhiyuan hesitated, squinting his eyes. ¡°Mom?¡± Gu Ziyu stiffly turned his head and saw Lu Zhiyuan, his face unusually filled with the confusion and helplessness of a child. Why was Dad here? He thought Mom was listening to music. Gu Ci struggled to explain, ¡°I¡­ intended to raise Ziyu as my son.¡± Gu Ziyu nodded earnestly, his tender face displaying sincerity without deception. Lu Zhiyuan smiled. He put down the violin and walked over, looking down at Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu. Little Ziyu instinctively leaned against Gu Ci. ¡°Gu Ziyu, you do bear some resemblance to Gu Ci¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan carefully examined Gu Ziyu¡¯s face for the first time. Apart from the strikingly similar peach blossom eyes, the overall features and mouth were particularly reminiscent of Gu Ci. Gu Ci had a smiling mouth, with round and plump lips, and Gu Ziyu had the same. ¡°We have a connection.¡± Gu Ci felt at a loss for words. She couldn¡¯t continue to make up excuses. She tactically coughed, causing pain in her lungs. Lu Zhiyuan noticed and hurriedly poured her a glass of water. Gu Ziyu comfortingly patted her back. ¡°Sis, are you okay?¡± Gu Ci shook her head, took the glass of water from Lu Zhiyuan, and drank. She felt much better. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Little Milk Bun, you call her Mom. What will you call me?¡± Gu Ziyu tentatively called out, ¡°Dad?¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s expression froze. The atmosphere became delicate. Lu Zhiyuan was unexpectedly softened. He looked at Gu Ziyu, who was becoming more and more like his and Gu Ci¡¯s son if they were ten years older. Gu Ci sensed his deep contemplation, and her face gradually became serious. She felt extremely nervous. Gu Ziyu also showed some unusual tension as he held Gu Ci¡¯s hand. ¡°My son, you will definitely be well-behaved, adorable, and sensible.¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°So let¡¯s still consider you as my little brother.¡± Gu Ziyu took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°Am I not well-behaved, adorable, or sensible?¡± Gu Ci let out a sigh of relief. It was good that Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t suspect anything, or else she wouldn¡¯t know how to explain. ¡°Tea is just tea.¡± ¡°With a genius son like me, you¡¯ll be fortunate!¡± Gu Ziyu looked up, extremely arrogant. ¡°You should be grateful and know your place.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was led astray by Gu Ziyu¡¯s words. ¡°Then I¡¯ll definitely live many fewer years.¡± As those words came out, Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu stared at him abruptly. Lu Zhiyuan had accurately stepped on Gu Ziyu¡¯s landmine. Gu Ziyu¡¯s expression turned dark, no longer able to pretend to be cute and lovable. He became gloomy, like a little devil. ¡°What do you mean? Am 1 going to kill you?¡± Gu Ci hugged Gu Ziyu, trying to comfort him. ¡°Ziyu, what did you have for lunch?¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t answer Gu Ci. He looked directly at Lu Zhiyuan, his tone not at all like that of a six-year-old child. ¡°I¡¯m asking you, Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Lu Zhiyuan squinted his eyes. He couldn¡¯t understand Gu Ci¡¯s nervousness or the madness he saw in Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes. It was just a joke, so why did Gu Ziyu react this way? Gu Ci rubbed Gu Ziyu¡¯s back, unable to hold back her concern for him. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, please go upstairs first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare leave!¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s eyes turned slightly red. ¡°Explain clearly. What do you mean? Am 1 going to kill you?¡± ¡°Little Milk Bun, it was just a joke. Why are you reacting like this?¡± Lu Zhiyuan felt a strange and difficult-to-conceal emotion. He even felt a pang of heartache from seeing Gu Ziyu¡¯s expression. It was the first time he had seen such a vivid expression from Gu Ziyu. ¡°Am I going to kill you?¡± Gu Ziyu sounded a bit crazy, with curses from their past life filling his mind.. ¡°Is that true?¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Mother Will Always Love Her Son chapter 93: mother will always love her son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°gu ziyu!¡± gu ci shouted sternly, holding his face in her hands. ¡°who am i?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes were red, but there were no tears. his emotions were in turmoil, and he seemed frantic. gu ci held him in her arms, signaling to lu zhiyuan with her eyes. lu zhiyuan was utterly confused, not knowing what was happening, but he could sense that something was wrong with gu ziyu. gu ci¡¯s eyes urged him repeatedly, and lu zhiyuan could only leave, feeling a growing sense of astonishment. so it turned out that the little crazy one had insisted on pretending to be a sweet and adorable child all these days. but why did he go mad because of one sentence? he was living perfectly fine. gu ci cupped gu ziyu¡¯s face, tears welling up in her eyes. lu zhiyuan had died, lu ze had died, and even she had died. how much had gu ziyu heard? were those words of him being the family¡¯s jinx, causing harm to everyone? when she was still alive, gu chuyun kept whispering in gu ziyu¡¯s ear, ¡°you killed your father, that¡¯s why your mother went mad. you¡¯re the jinx of the family. if it wasn¡¯t for gu ci carrying you, 1 hadn¡¯t planned to kill lu zhiyuan.¡± those words were like a curse, repeated again and again in gu ziyu¡¯s ears, in his dreams, as if it were a curse. ¡°ziyu, mom and dad are still alive,¡± gu ci kissed gu ziyu¡¯s eyes. ¡°close your eyes and hug mom. mom will protect you, no one will hurt you anymore.¡± gu ziyu closed his eyes, his face pale. ¡°it¡¯s because i¡¯m stubborn. i killed him and caused mom¡¯s death. it¡¯s all my fault. it would¡¯ve been better if i didn¡¯t exist.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife, but she futilely covered his ears. ¡°ziyu, you¡¯re mom and dad¡¯s precious treasure, not a jinx. no matter how many times, mom won¡¯t regret giving birth to you.¡± ¡°you don¡¯t love me.¡± gu ziyu stubbornly bit his own finger, drawing blood. ¡°you only love dad.¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart ached, tears streaming down her face. ¡°mom loves ziyu too. give mom a chance, cough, cough¡­¡± gu ci was already unwell, and the emotional turmoil caused her to cough incessantly. gu ziyu listened to the coughing fits coming from her as if he had returned to their past lives, the days when they relied on and tormented each other. expressionless, he took off his shirt, revealing the scars on his back. ¡°mom, hit me. hit me, and you won¡¯t feel uncomfortable anymore.¡± gu ci covered her head, feeling the pain, unable to breathe properly. the psychological suffocation made it hard for her to catch her breath, her face turning pale. gu ziyu¡¯s finger was still bleeding, and gu ci desperately tried to regulate her breathing. after a while, she managed to regain her breath, pulled the blanket over gu ziyu, and he looked at her blankly. ¡°mom, aren¡¯t you going to hit me?¡± gu ci wiped away her tears, calmly retrieved a tube of sedative from the drawer, and injected it into gu ziyu¡¯s skin. gu ziyu slowly closed his eyes. in her drawer, she always kept some because she frequently had nightmares and needed the medication. it had become a dependency. holding the drowsy gu ziyu, he continued muttering, ¡°i didn¡¯t kill him, i didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°be a good boy, ziyu, just sleep.¡± gu ziyu fell asleep in her arms, and gu ci dressed him, soothing him gently, hoping he would sleep peacefully. but her hopes were in vain; gu ziyu started having nightmares, and he didn¡¯t know what he was dreaming about. ¡°mom, it hurts¡­ don¡¯t hit ziyu, mom¡­ it hurts.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart was pierced with countless wounds, so she could only hold him silently. ¡°ziyu, it doesn¡¯t hurt. be good, mom is holding you, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°it hurts¡­ mom¡­ mom, where are you going? don¡¯t leave ziyu behind, mom¡­ why don¡¯t you want me?¡± ¡°mom¡­ don¡¯t leave ziyu behind. come and hit ziyu.¡± ¡°mom¡­¡± ¡°mom¡­¡± gu ci¡¯s tears fell onto gu ziyu¡¯s face, and she desperately wiped them away, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed. gu ziyu had cried out in pain before, but now he became numb. he took off his clothes, knelt in front of her, and no matter how much he was hurting, he never cried out in pain. in his nightmare, gu ziyu slowly fell back asleep. gu ci regained her composure and took out the medical kit. she disinfected his fingers and put a band-aid on them. gu ci called the counselor to ask for a leave of absence, pretending to be ill and providing a hospital certificate. gu ziyu slept until late at night before waking up. his emotions had calmed down a lot, but he still appeared somewhat gloomy. he obediently said, ¡°mom, i¡¯m sorry for scaring you.¡± ¡°darling, are you hungry?¡± gu ziyu nodded, and his stomach rumbled in agreement. gu ci still felt a bit dazed. her emotions had been tumultuous in the afternoon, and her high fever hadn¡¯t subsided. li jiang ordered some takeout, and gu ci struggled to get up and heat it up. gu ziyu helped her lie down, and he went to heat up the food. the mother and son silently had their meal, with gu ziyu not saying a word. gu ci picked out his favorite dishes for him, and he didn¡¯t refuse. it was the most silent meal that gu ci and gu ziyu had since their rebirth. after the meal, gu ziyu asked gu ci, ¡°did i scare dad?¡± ¡°he has a big heart, you couldn¡¯t scare him,¡± gu ci reassured gu ziyu. ¡°ziyu, there¡¯s one thing you need to know. mom loves you. you can confirm it again and again, as many times as you need.¡± gu ziyu looked at her, his eyes shining. gu ci said, ¡°no matter how many times we start over, mom would always choose to give birth to ziyu. it was mom¡¯s first love, but also the first time she lost someone she deeply loved. unable to bear the blow, she fell apart and it¡¯s all mom¡¯s fault, unrelated to ziyu. dad died to protect us, it was his choice, and it has nothing to do with ziyu. he protected you because he loved you. mom was also a first-time mother and didn¡¯t do well. she hurt ziyu, but can you give mom another chance?¡± under the moonlight, the girl¡¯s eyes were pure and affectionate. gu ziyu nodded, ¡°okay!¡± gu ci chuckled and ruffled his hair. ¡°after you came back to mom, did mom do well?¡± gu ziyu nodded, ¡°yes!¡± gu ci asked again, ¡°are you happy?¡± gu ziyu nodded again, ¡°yes.¡± gu ci said, ¡°we have an unfinished bond as mother and son, so heaven gave us a chance to start over. mom is still learning how to be a better mom to ziyu, and ziyu is very happy. let go of what happened in the past life, when you feel troubled in your heart, talk to mom about it. don¡¯t keep it all to yourself, okay?¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu obediently agreed, the moonlight reflecting on his face. ¡°do you really love ziyu?¡± ¡°of course!¡± gu ci smiled. ¡°you can confirm it with me throughout your life, again and again.¡± ¡°then between dad and me, who do you love more?¡± gu ziyu asked a bit stubbornly. gu ci contemplated for a while, and she told gu ziyu, ¡°dad and i share a love between a man and a woman, and you and i have a mother-son bond. i can¡¯t lose dad, and i can¡¯t lose you. loving you and protecting you is mom¡¯s instinct. in the previous life, mom hurt you because¡­ only by continuously hurting you, only when mom went mad, could your life be saved. after dad died, gu chuyun wanted to torment me, and she could only target you. by complying with her wishes, 1 could protect you..¡± Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Playing Coy chapter 94: playing coy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the more she suffered, the happier gu chuyun became. gu ziyu was the tool gu chuyun used to torment her. only when she went crazy and suffered would the tool have value, and he could stay alive. gu ci felt a little dizzy. gu ziyu helped her lie down, and gu ci knew deep down that opening up and having a deep conversation might not untangle gu ziyu¡¯s knots. but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. she had a lifetime to spend with ziyu again. gu ziyu didn¡¯t say anything. he silently embraced her, saying, ¡°mom, 1 will control myself.¡± ¡°your father¡¯s death has nothing to do with you. you are not the jinx,¡± gu ci said, ¡°you never were.¡± gu ziyu nodded gently in her embrace. gu ci was weak both physically and mentally due to her illness. after gu ziyu took care of her and she took her medication, he returned to his room. it was because of a sentence from lu zhiyuan that he went crazy. it was his own lack of self-control, and he had to control himself. his mother was right. the past is already gone. would his father doubt him? he remembered lu zhiyuan¡¯s words, ¡°my son must be well-behaved, cute, and sensible.¡± gu ziyu looked at himself in the mirror, smiling crookedly with a hint of innocence in his gloominess. he kept practicing his smile, a brilliant smile, laughter, and a cute and lovable expression. he repeated these exercises in front of the mirror. dad, 1 will be very well-behaved, cute, and sensible. if someone saw gu ziyu in this moment, they would surely find it creepy. the next day, chen fei took gu ziyu to attend classes at a university. gu ci took a day off and lazily lay in bed. her high fever had subsided and turned into a low-grade fever. she had a severe fever at night and broke into a sweat. in the morning, she washed her hair, changed into clean clothes, and felt a little better. when lu zhiyuan came down, gu ziyu had already left. gu ci had a slight fever, but she felt more comfortable now. she cooked noodles and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°do you want to eat?¡± lu zhiyuan seemed like he hadn¡¯t slept well all night and looked somewhat listless. leaning lazily against the wall, gu ci served him a bowl of noodles. ¡°where is gu ziyu?¡± ¡°he¡¯s gone to school,¡± gu ci answered cautiously. lu zhiyuan drank his milk and looked at gu ci¡¯s evasive eyes. he didn¡¯t know how to speak for a moment. gu ci asked, ¡°what do you think of ziyu?¡± ¡°he doesn¡¯t seem like a child,¡± lu zhiyuan carefully chose his words and looked at gu ci with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°he¡¯s more like a wild little wolf that hasn¡¯t been tamed.¡± gu ci¡¯s face darkened. ¡°ziyu¡­ is not a wild wolf.¡± ¡°you really protect your calf, don¡¯t you? are you treating him as your own son?¡± lu zhiyuan stated the facts. ¡°he¡¯s a little lunatic, and it¡¯s dangerous for you to be around him.¡± ¡°ziyu will never harm me,¡± gu ci said, looking at lu zhiyuan. ¡°do you dislike him that much?¡± lu zhiyuan fell silent. did he really dislike gu ziyu? he and gu ziyu were always bickering with each other. but when gu ziyu questioned him like a madman, lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart ached deeply. ¡°lu zhiyuan, ziyu¡¯s father died before he was born. when his father died, his mother went crazy. when ziyu was six years old, his mother committed suicide, leaving him all alone. since birth, people have pointed at him and called him the jinx. his enemies kept whispering in his ear, saying that he is the jinx who killed his father, killed his grandfather, and finally killed his mother. during those years when his mother went crazy, ziyu was covered in bruises. his chest, back, knees, and thighs were full of scars from the abuse inflicted by his biological mother.¡± gu ci calmly recounted the story. ¡°the fact that he can stand before me now, healthy and safe. i am¡­ grateful.¡± gu ci felt both heartache and pity. ¡°lu zhiyuan, ziyu is only six years old. he is just ill. we are the closest people to him. if we give up on him, who else can heal him?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. gu ci was telling a story in which gu ziyu was a tragedy. it touched him slightly, but he was still puzzled. he asked gu ci, ¡°why do my words hit a nerve with him? i¡¯m not his father.¡± gu ci remained silent for a moment and then smiled. ¡°he¡¯s just very sensitive.¡± this reason seemed shaky, but it was also reasonable. lu zhiyuan finally stopped speaking, and gu ci was worried about gu ziyu. feeling uncomfortable due to her low fever, she closed her eyes and rested. when she woke up, it was already afternoon. gu ziyu had returned. he only had one major class in the afternoon, so he came back to the dormitory after three o¡¯clock. gu ci¡¯s low fever had finally subsided, and gu ziyu squeezed a glass of juice for her. then lu zhiyuan arrived. while he was training, he couldn¡¯t help but worry that there was no one taking care of gu ci while she was ill. gu ziyu had gone crazy the previous day, but when he saw lu zhiyuan, he didn¡¯t show any awkwardness. he just smiled sweetly and obediently. ¡°brother, do you want some juice?¡± he had made cherry juice, and lu zhiyuan looked at his cute face and smiled as well. ¡°sure.¡± gu ziyu poured a glass for him and asked, ¡°is the workload heavy in the doctoral program?¡± ¡°it¡¯s manageable,¡± gu ziyu replied. he could handle two doctoral courses. he was already familiar with some of the content, so he could skip those classes. the workload wasn¡¯t too heavy for him. his situation was special, and his advisor tailored his education to his abilities. he could skip the basic courses. as lu zhiyuan looked into his eyes with a probing gaze, gu ziyu ignored it. meanwhile, gu ci had bought three pots of roses and placed them on the balcony. gu ziyu went to water them. he wore a loose sports shirt that revealed a fair portion of his back covered in scars. lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows, but just as he was about to take a closer look, gu ziyu stood up. ¡°i¡¯ve recovered from my fever, and ziyu has returned home. you can go back to training,¡± gu ci said. in september, lu zhiyuan would be participating in another competition, this time in country r. gu ci might not be able to go there, and it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to take a leave specifically to watch the competition overseas. gu ziyu asked, ¡°brother, shall we have dinner together?¡± ¡°what time do you have dinner?¡± gu ziyu was about to speak, but gu ci said, ¡°dinner will be served at five.¡± ¡°okay, i¡¯ll come up!¡± after lu zhiyuan left, gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°mom, we usually have dinner at seven.¡± gu ci chuckled lightly and said, ¡°mom didn¡¯t eat much for lunch and is starving, so let¡¯s have an early dinner.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci hugged the perplexed gu ziyu. having dinner at seven was a tradition of the third master, and lu zhiyuan would never agree to it. gu ziyu clicked his tongue. ¡°this is the first time dad will have dinner with us.¡± ¡°yes,¡± gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°the first time!¡± ¡°i will change dad¡¯s impression of me!¡± he would be cute and try his best, be a little kitchen genius, and erase the image of a little demon in dad¡¯s mind. gu ziyu placed an order and bought a lot of ingredients. he asked gu ci, ¡°what does dad like to eat?¡± gu ci said, ¡°high-protein food, fish, and some vegetables and coarse grains.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu hummed as he filled the fridge with a large quantity of groceries. starting at four o¡¯clock, he began preparing dinner. gu ci accompanied him, but gu ziyu didn¡¯t allow it. ¡°mom, you¡¯re sick. rest more. i can handle it alone.¡± lu zhiyuan finished his training at half past four, took a shower, changed into casual clothes, and when he went downstairs, he saw gu ziyu busy in the kitchen by himself while gu ci was watching dramas on the windowsill. ¡°are you abusing child labor?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°he¡¯s so young, and you¡¯re making him cook alone?¡± ¡°brother, i can do it,¡± gu ziyu¡¯s tone turned cute. ¡°i¡¯m really good at cooking.¡± lu zhiyuan thought to himself, you¡¯re also very good at playing coy.. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Control Yourself chapter 95: control yourself translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°then it¡¯s my lucky day.¡± lu zhiyuan sat next to gu ci as she watched an american tv series, a daily story of a group of doctors. the script was well-written, and the surgical scenes were not boring. ¡°are you going back to school for military training tomorrow?¡± gu ci shook her head and smiled. ¡°i took leave and skipped the military training.¡± ¡°is that even allowed?¡± gu ci sipped her juice and chuckled. ¡°i was the top scorer in the college entrance examination, so i have privileges.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, finding her adorable. he pinched her cheek, but gu ci swatted his hand away. iler fingertips seemed to retain the fragrance of her skin, and lu zhiyuan sniffed, ¡°gu ci, what did you put on your face? it smells so good.¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t put anything on.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe you!¡± lu zhiyuan leaned closer, his nose touching her cheek, and he smelled a sweet and warm scent. gu ci blushed, and they embraced each other on the windowsill. gu ci pushed him away and adjusted her clothes. ¡°show some restraint.¡± lu zhiyuan laughed lightly, mindful of gu ziyu¡¯s presence, and didn¡¯t get too carried away. the setting sun cast its warm glow on the balcony. gu ziyu turned to see his parents whispering to each other, both wearing smiles, radiating sweetness. a faint smile appeared in his eyes. everything was peaceful and beautiful! gu ziyu cooked home-cooked dishes¡ªthree meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, a cold appetizer, and a pot of tomato soup. there was a variety of dishes, but the portions were small. lu zhiyuan was amazed. ¡°does gu ci mistreat you? you¡¯re so skilled at cooking.¡± gu ziyu smiled, noticing that lu zhiyuan had a knack for hitting the nail on the head. ¡°brother, taste the dishes.¡± the tomato soup was thick and delicious, and lu zhiyuan also enjoyed the cold tossed bamboo shoots, which had a refreshing texture. the addition of carrot shreds made it even sweeter. the beef was tender and perfectly stewed, the rich tomato sauce mixing with the aroma of the beef in his mouth, arousing his appetite. lu zhiyuan sincerely said, ¡°did you attend cooking classes?¡± gu ziyu shyly smiled, obedient and cute. ¡°i learned from tutorials. i¡¯m glad you like it, brother.¡± ¡°you¡¯re acting a bit¡­ ingratiating today.¡± gu ziyu took a deep breath, maintaining his composure. ¡°because i like you, brother, i want to please you, of course.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe you!¡± gu ziyu looked at him sincerely, and lu zhiyuan fell silent. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t argue with him anymore, knowing that if he said a few more words, ziyu¡¯s image would be compromised. lu zhiyuan had a big appetite and quickly finished all the dishes. gu ziyu was satisfied. after dinner, gu ziyu wanted to further develop his relationship with lu zhiyuan, but li jiang hurriedly arrived with an unpleasant expression. ¡°third young master, something has happened.¡± lu zhiyuan frowned, got up, and wiped his hands. ¡°i have something to attend to. i¡¯ll leave first.¡± it was almost six o¡¯clock. gu ziyu felt a little regretful, and gu ci¡¯s phone rang. jiang minghua called her. ¡°cici, something¡¯s happened to your brother.¡± when gu ci and gu ziyu arrived at the hospital, jiang junlin hadn¡¯t come out of the operating room yet. the old lady had just undergone surgery, and jiang minghua didn¡¯t tell them about it. he handled it alone. ¡°uncle, what happened?¡± ¡°junlin went to the western suburbs this afternoon for a project discussion, but he was ambushed on the way. it was an international mercenary with brutal methods. two members of the security team were killed. we¡¯ve already reported it to the police.¡± jiang minghua looked anxious and fearful. ¡°it¡¯s the second time. who wants junlin dead?¡± gu ziyu leaned against the wall, pursing his lips in silence. gu ci comforted jiang minghua. ¡°uncle, don¡¯t panic. let¡¯s wait for brother¡¯s surgery first.¡± jiang junlin had been targeted for assassination multiple times, which was highly unusual. gu ci looked towards the operating room. in her previous life, she missed five years of information while in prison. she knew nothing about what happened to jiang junlin during those five years. all she knew was that her brother had undergone a significant change in his personality after she was released from prison. the once proud and talented man had become self-destructive and decadent. jiang junlin had been shot in the chest. the surgery lasted until early morning, and he narrowly escaped death. however, the situation was still grim. gu ci felt restless and powerless. jiang minghua was comforted by her and went back to rest. gu ci asked gu ziyu, ¡°do you remember anything about uncle¡¯s past five years? anything significant?¡± ¡°six assassination attempts.¡± gu ziyu pursed his lips. ¡°uncle never mentioned that period of his life. i¡­ don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°in business, harmony leads to prosperity. he¡¯s the president of hualan bank, everyone tries to please him, so why would someone want to kill him and dare to use firearms within the country?¡± ¡°mom, i will find out.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of murderous intent. in this lifetime, he had a family to protect, and he would protect all of his family members. he didn¡¯t want anything to happen to jiang junlin, and he didn¡¯t want gu ci to worry. at the lu family mansion, lu zeyi slapped lu shijie hard across the face, causing him to fall to the ground. still unsatisfied, he kicked him. ¡°beast! who taught you that? if you can¡¯t compete in business, you resort to hiring killers. you have the audacity!¡± lu zhiyuan sat quietly in his chair, observing his breath, his heart, and drinking tea. li jiang stood behind him, not daring to utter a word. lu shijie covered his face, appearing even more sinister. ¡°i¡¯m a beast? dad, isn¡¯t this what you condoned? i drove without a license, and you condoned it. i bullied men and women, and you condoned it. jiang junlin obstructed me everywhere, so why can¡¯t 1 eliminate him? anyone who blocks my path can be kicked aside. this is what you taught me, dad.¡± lu ze clutched his heart, his blood pressure rising. raising his hand, he delivered another slap. ¡°you¡¯re utterly reckless. in business, harmony leads to prosperity. if you¡¯re not as capable, you should admit defeat.¡± ¡°why should 1 admit defeat?¡± lu shijie sat on the ground, his palms spread wide, showing no fear. ¡°just because of the grudge between me and gu ci, jiang junlin hindered my financing. if it was only hualan bank refusing to grant the loan, it would have been fine. but he went further, publicly declaring that anyone who invested in my project would be at odds with hualan bank. he was the one who tore up the contract. hualan bank and the lu family signed a ten-year cooperation plan. he killed a thousand enemies and harmed himself by eight hundred. he¡¯s heartless, so don¡¯t blame me for being unscrupulous.¡± lu ze¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°if anything happens to jiang junlin, you¡¯re finished!¡± the jiang family wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily. ¡°dad, i¡¯m your only son who can inherit the family business. if i¡¯m ruined, who will carry on the glory of the lu family? relying on him?¡± lu shijie pointed to lu zhiyuan, who was calmly sipping his tea. ¡°he¡¯s only interested in car racing. he¡¯ll ruin the century-old foundation of the lu family. that¡¯s why you¡¯ve indulged me. no matter if i commit murder or arson, you¡¯ve got my back because you need me.¡± as he spoke, he laughed, appearing insane. lu zhiyuan drank his tea, his voice cold. ¡°you¡¯re incapable. can you afford to hire an international assassination team? who is pulling the strings behind you?¡± this time, the assassination on jiang junlin was carried out by a top-notch international mercenary team, demanding a high price and rarely failed. if jiang junlin could survive, he would consider himself lucky. ¡°why should i tell you?¡± lu shijie retorted without fear. lu zhiyuan put down his teacup, palms open. li jiang placed a pistol in his hand. lu zhiyuan loaded it, then suddenly shot lu shijie in the leg, clean and swift. lu shijie screamed in agony. ¡°all¡­. lu zhiyuan, i¡¯ll kill you!¡± Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: What a Hard Life chapter 96: what a hard life translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he covered his wound, blood dripping. lu ze was also startled, dumbfounded. ¡°lu zhiyuan, how¡­ how do you have a gun?¡± a silenced pistol, silent and deadly. lu zhiyuan pointed his gun at lu shijie, as if asking him what he wanted to eat tonight, cold but calm. ¡°can you tell me now?¡± lu shijie looked up, filled with hatred as he looked at lu zhiyuan. but when he met lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze, he shivered. gu ci had been waiting at the hospital for jiang junlin to wake up. gu ziyu had gone home earlier as he had classes the next day. in the late night, there was a commotion in the hospital corridor, and another person with a gunshot wound was admitted. gu ci recognized him as the butler of the lu family¡¯s mansion. her eyebrows furrowed, but she didn¡¯t call lu zhiyuan. instead, she asked li jiang. ¡°li jiang, who from the lu family has been admitted to the hospital?¡± ¡°the young master.¡± ¡°oh, then it¡¯s fine.¡± gu ci hung up the phone. she didn¡¯t care at all about lu shijie¡¯s life or death. the next day, jiang junlin woke up. the surgery was successful, and his high fever had subsided during the night. the bullet had veered slightly, but it was brought to the hospital in time, and his strong physique allowed him to withstand it. doctor zhang said, ¡°if he had arrived five minutes later, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to save him.¡± gu ci carefully watched the video sent by gu ziyu during the night. it was a video he had painstakingly retrieved. the attempts on jiang junlin¡¯s life started with his car being ambushed. his security team fought desperately to get him out, but jiang junlin was still shot and fell to the ground. three assassins emerged from the shadows, intending to deliver the final blow to jiang junlin. a roaring red sports car arrived, and the sound of gunfire followed closely behind. at the critical moment, the red car¡¯s body blocked the bullets aimed at jiang junlin. the person who saved him was ji chi. in the midst of the pitch-black darkness, the white-clad youth appeared wicked and dangerous. he seemed harmless to humans and animals, but when faced with gods or killers, his clothes were stained with blood. he was like a martial arts prodigy from a movie, decisive and bloodthirsty. the three top assassins failed to kill ji chi and were heavily injured. finally, as if receiving some order, they retreated in an orderly manner. ji chi picked up jiang junlin and put him in the car, then drove him to the hospital. at the entrance of the hospital, after ji chi placed jiang junlin on a stretcher, he sat in the car and waited for a moment. it seemed he received a phone call, and he drove away. ¡°it¡¯s ji chi again!¡± after the first assassination attempt, ji chi informed gu ziyu, and at that time, ji chi was still in country m, staying by chen rushi¡¯s side and finding ways to infiltrate the black hawk organization. this time, when jiang junlin¡¯s life was hanging by a thread, it was ji chi who saved him. ¡°how coincidental!¡± gu ci narrowed her eyes as she looked at the information about the assassins in the file. they were all top-notch assassins and ji chi was able to hold his ground against three of them. but why did he happen to appear at the scene of his brother¡¯s assassination? ji chi¡¯s way of doing things was cruel and ruthless, and he was even more cunning. gu ziyu had said that ji chi was like a fox, and out of ten things he said, nine of them couldn¡¯t be trusted. yet this person, who could betray you and stab you in the back at any moment, obediently followed gu ziyu¡¯s words. ji chi had predicted twice in advance that jiang junlin would be targeted for assassination and was able to save him both times. gu ci narrowed her eyes. it was not a common occurrence, and these coincidences made her suspicious. late at night, at the global center. ji chi leaned against the sports car, wearing white long pants and holding a cigarette between his fingers. he had a lazy posture, and the light from the streetlamp fell on him, making him appear dim and mysterious. gu ziyu walked over. he went straight to the point, ¡°why did you appear at the scene of jiang junlin¡¯s assassination?¡± ¡°baby, do you believe in coincidences?¡± gu ziyu had no expression on his face. ¡°do i look that easily fooled?¡± ji chi blew out a smoke ring, his tongue against his teeth, smiling with seven parts sophistication and three parts enchantment. ¡°how is he? is he dead?¡± ¡°the surgery was successful.¡± ji chi tilted his head, seemingly regretful but also ecstatic. ¡°he¡¯s really lucky.¡± gu ziyu squinted his eyes. ¡°did you send someone to kill my uncle?¡± ¡°baby, i have no grudges or conflicts with him. why would i want his life?¡± ji chi smirked. gu ziyu clenched his fist tightly, looking coldly at him, his gaze reminiscent of third master¡¯s, making ji chi feel a sense of familiarity, but he was also reckless. gu ziyu said, ¡°i don¡¯t believe in coincidences. the first time i was targeted for assassination, you informed me. the second time, you appeared at the scene. give me a reasonable explanation.¡± ¡°there is no explanation.¡± ji chi shrugged, giving up on himself. ¡°it¡¯s fate. it¡¯s just that coincidental.¡± gu ziyu fell silent. ji chi chuckled and asked, ¡°if i wanted to kill him, why would i save him?¡± ¡°reasonable argument!¡± gu ziyu said coldly, ¡°however, a high-level hunter always appears in the form of prey and will seek revenge when given a chance.¡± ji chi threw away the smoke ring and crushed it under his foot. his hands were in his pockets, and his youthful spirit grew even stronger. ¡°baby, suspicion breeds paranoia. when you are so calculating, you won¡¯t grow much.¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t know how to respond. he had been dealing with ji chi for more than ten years, but he was familiar with the ji chi of ten years later, the ji chi who had become ten years younger. he wasn¡¯t like the ji chi of ten years later, decisive and capable of taking charge. he seemed more like a young boy protected by someone, carefree and reckless. ji chi took a step forward and rubbed his head. gu ziyu got angry. ¡°don¡¯t touch my head.¡± only mom could touch it. the more he didn¡¯t allow it, the more itched ji chi¡¯s hands, and he rubbed it again. ¡°so what if 1 touch it?¡± ¡°ji chi!¡± gu ziyu looked at him angrily. ¡°you¡¯re being presumptuous!¡± ji chi chuckled, and gu ziyu closed his eyes, restraining his anger. don¡¯t get angry. ji chi wasn¡¯t afraid of him at all. gu ziyu narrowed his eyes dangerously, but in his previous life, when ji chi first saw him, he obediently followed him and never talked back. ¡°baby, you¡¯re small in stature but full of momentum. i¡¯m a bit scared.¡± ji chi smiled, his dimples faintly visible, very pleasing to the eye. he had the kind of face that could captivate both young and old. ¡°ji chi, it really wasn¡¯t you?¡± ji chi bent down, after meeting gu ziyu¡¯s gaze, he said, ¡°baby, adults¡¯ matters have adult ways of handling them. don¡¯t meddle in the affairs of adults. your uncle¡¯s life¡­¡± ¡°is mine!¡± he paused and reached out to pinch gu ziyu¡¯s face, then smiled, revealing two small dimples. ¡°but 1 don¡¯t plan to take it!¡± the next day, jiang junlin regained consciousness. after the doctor examined him, he advised him to rest well. the surgery was successful, and there were no complications. gu ci looked at his surgery report and test results. it seemed there wouldn¡¯t be any aftereffects. congee was prepared and sent to his home. jiang junlin had no appetite and his wound was hurting badly. gu ci didn¡¯t ask much. after he woke up, he told gu ci not to inform anyone in the family and went back to sleep. jiang minghua came to the hospital to relieve gu ci. she nodded and said, ¡°i¡¯ll come back in the evening.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve hired a nurse, and there¡¯s also security. rest well at home.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not at ease!¡± gu ci said lightly, ¡°don¡¯t leave the ward. when the doctors do their rounds, make sure to check thoroughly.¡± ¡°okay!¡± jiang minghua also had lingering fear, but he was also touched. gu ci appeared cold, but he didn¡¯t expect her to care so much about jiang junlin. comparing her to gu chuyun, jiang minghua smiled lightly. blood relations were truly mysterious.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Basic Bitch Upgraded chapter 97: basic bitch upgraded translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu chuyun heard the news of lu shijie¡¯s injury and also came to the hospital. she was extremely worried and took sick leave from military training to come to the hospital. xu tingting and lu shixiu were also there. xu tingting¡¯s eyes were red from crying, while lu shijie lay on the bed after surgery, feeling restless. he cursed and cursed, and in front of xu tingting, he threw a vase, narrowly missing her. lu shixiu was displeased. ¡°big brother, mom is worried about you. she can¡¯t sleep at night. can¡¯t you control your temper?¡± ¡°i will definitely seek revenge for this!¡± lu shijie gritted his teeth. ¡°lu zhiyuan, i will never let him go.¡± ¡°that¡¯s enough!¡± xu tingting wiped away her tears. ¡°you got shot, isn¡¯t that a lesson enough? i¡¯ve told you before you need to endure to be patient. don¡¯t confront lu zhiyuan. why don¡¯t you listen? why do you have to provoke him in such a rash manner?¡± ¡°endure, endure. how long should 1 endure? you can endure your whole life, but has my father married you? he pointed at my spine and cursed me as a bastard, using extremely harsh words. what good is endurance?¡± disappointed, xu tingting looked at him. ¡°i didn¡¯t marry your father, but you still entered the lu family business and gained power. what¡¯s the difference? if it weren¡¯t for your impulsive actions, sending people to kill jiang junlin, you wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. it¡¯s fine if you usually go after young girls who have no money or power, but today you provoked jiang junlin. have you gone mad? who instigated you behind the scenes?¡± gu chuyun stood at the door, hearing xu tingting¡¯s words, and took a step back. lu shijie had a volatile temper and was difficult to control. in front of him, she appeared to be pitiful and dependent, relying on him. but as soon as the wind blew the wrong way, lu shijie couldn¡¯t handle it. a few nights ago, lu shijie encountered jiang junlin at a business banquet and was provoked by his cold words. since then, he had been drinking and acting crazy. gu chuyun played the role of a comforting flower, constantly supporting him. ¡°shijie, don¡¯t be angry. jiang junlin is just the president of hualan bank. you are the young master of the lu family¡¯s business empire. lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t care about the lu family¡¯s business. sooner or later, it will be yours. jiang junlin underestimates you and treats you with disrespect. it¡¯s his short-sightedness. one day, you will seek revenge.¡± after hearing gu chuyun¡¯s words, lu shijie felt somewhat relieved. gu chuyun poured him another glass of wine. ¡°gu ci is now a major shareholder of hualan bank. she¡¯s rebellious and has rejected you all because jiang junlin supports her behind the scenes. without jiang junlin, hualan bank might collapse. how can gu ci resist you then? with her shares and the entire hualan bank, you might be able to control everything.¡± ¡°it¡¯s all because of jiang junlin!¡± lu shijie¡¯s eyes turned red with hatred. ¡°that day at the banquet, if it weren¡¯t for jiang junlin meddling and supporting gu ci, the gu family wouldn¡¯t care about her. what confidence does gu ci have to reject me? if it weren¡¯t for jiang junlin¡­¡± lu shijie¡¯s tone was malicious, and gu chuyun pretended to be alarmed, pouring him more wine. ¡°shijie, don¡¯t act recklessly. jiang junlin is, after all, the president of hualan bank. you can¡¯t easily mess with him!¡± ¡°in this world, there¡¯s no one 1 can¡¯t deal with!¡± ¡°don¡¯t act recklessly!¡± gu chuyun panicked. ¡°what if something happens to him? 1 don¡¯t want anything to happen to you. i just want you to be safe.¡± the more lu shijie looked at gu chuyun, the more he felt close to her. he lifted her chin. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i won¡¯t act recklessly.¡± gu chuyun felt relieved and coaxed him softly. as the memories ended, gu chuyun leaned against the wall, her gaze cold. ¡°worthless!¡± failing to assassinate jiang junlin and getting shot instead, would lu ze strip him of his power? gu chuyun had instigated behind the scenes, but she didn¡¯t have any blood on her hands. lu shijie was ambitious and competitive. although she appeared to advise him, she was actually adding fuel to the fire. lu shijie might not even suspect her, but if he lost his power, she would have to rethink her strategy. if she wanted to deal with gu ci, she needed a backer! in the hospital room, xu tingting and lu shijie were still arguing. gu chuyun felt bored. ¡°i overestimated lu shijie.¡± exhausted, xu tingting came out and saw gu chuyun, frowning. ¡°what are you doing here?¡± ¡°i heard that the young master is hospitalized and wanted to come and see him.¡± gu chuyun put on a fragile demeanor. ¡°auntie, don¡¯t be angry. he¡¯s probably in pain from the wound, so his temper is a bit irritable.¡± xu tingting looked at her deeply. ¡°you¡¯ve been getting close to shijie recently?¡± ¡°school started recently, and i¡¯ve been in military training.¡± xu tingting nodded. ¡°gu chuyun, your engagement with shijie is canceled. you have no relationship with him anymore. don¡¯t seek trouble for yourself. the gu family is bankrupt, and you have no means to hold onto him. 1 won¡¯t agree to it.¡± ¡°auntie, i haven¡¯t!¡± gu chuyun raised her hand. ¡°don¡¯t misunderstand. even if my son is an illegitimate child, he¡¯s still the young master of the lu family. you are not worthy of him. please give up.¡± hiding her hatred, gu chuyun didn¡¯t care about xu tingting¡¯s disdain. ¡°auntie, you misunderstood.¡± while they were talking, they ran into gu ci, who was about to leave the hospital. ¡°gu ci, what are you doing here?¡± gu chuyun pretended not to know about jiang junlin. gu ci replied calmly, ¡°i came to get medicine for grandma.¡± ¡°miss gu is really considerate. you just got recognized in the family, yet you¡¯re so diligent,¡± xu tingting mocked. the thought of her son getting shot because of jiang junlin made her have a bad impression of gu ci. ¡°i heard that lu shijie is hospitalized.¡± gu ci smirked. ¡°your eyes are swollen from crying. it must have been a serious injury. take good care of your son. if you walk by the river often, your shoes will get wet.¡± ¡°you¡­ don¡¯t take pleasure in my misfortune. this is not over.¡± xu tingting spoke fiercely. ¡°i will settle accounts with lu zhiyuan!¡± gu chuyun pondered silently. what does this have to do with lu zhiyuan? but xu tingting had already left with lu shixiu, leaving gu chuyun alone. gu chuyun¡¯s mind was spinning. lu shijie¡¯s future was uncertain. he was a useless person, and she couldn¡¯t offend gu ci any further. otherwise, she would have no place to stand. she had to plan carefully, seize the opportunity, and endure. gu chuyun said, ¡°brother, you¡¯ve been in the hospital for so many days, and she hasn¡¯t visited you once. are you really planning to sever ties with us? gu ci, no matter how much you hate me, we have already learned our lesson and gone bankrupt. blood ties can never be severed. we will always be sisters.¡± ¡°rare to see you showing weakness,¡± gu ci looked at the slightly haggard gu chuyun. ¡°acting the damsel in distress only to take advantage of your savior. haven¡¯t you used this tactic enough?¡± gu chuyun smiled bitterly. ¡°after the gu family went bankrupt, 1 experienced the warmth and coldness of human relationships. i also realized how naive 1 used to be and how big of a mistake 1 made. gu ci, 1 knew about my identity since 1 was four years old. my mother always whispered in my ear, asking me to replace you and gain the love of the jiang family, to get both families¡¯ wealth. 1 know that everything i have is illegitimate. that¡¯s why i was afraid. 1 deliberately targeted you, thinking that if i didn¡¯t have you, everything would be mine. 1 disturbed your sleep. 1 was blinded by wealth and power, which led to our relationship becoming so hostile. if 1 had gotten along well with you since childhood and persuaded my mother to treat us equally, our family wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. sister, 1 was really wrong.. please forgive me!¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Black Hawk and Ziyu chapter 98: black hawk and ziyu translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she spoke with sincerity and deep emotions, but she couldn¡¯t move gu ci. if it were in the previous life, if gu ci hadn¡¯t been manipulated by gu chuyun and ended up in prison, if she hadn¡¯t been disfigured or lost her hands, and if she hadn¡¯t experienced life and death separations, perhaps she would have been moved. gu ci looked coldly at her speech and said, ¡°i¡¯m very tired, don¡¯t waste our time.¡± gu chuyun changed her strategy, and she changed hers too. she wasn¡¯t as strong-willed. in this troubled season, she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to settle scores with gu chuyun. ¡°sister, where are you going? let me accompany you!¡± gu chuyun smiled softly. ¡°no need!¡± gu ci left. gu chuyun watched her cold and proud figure, the smile in her eyes fading away. now, she had no power or influence. if she wanted to deal with gu ci, she could only wait for the right opportunity, but she would definitely wait for it. when gu ci returned downstairs, she ran into lu zhiyuan. he was deliberately waiting for her and looked at the tiredness in her brows. he only wished that third master had given lu shijie another shot. ¡°you took care of jiang junlin at the hospital?¡± ¡°how did you know?¡± gu ci was puzzled. ¡°the news was sealed.¡± ¡°lu shijie went to the hospital.¡± lu zhiyuan said casually, ¡°i did it.¡± ¡°no wonder. i ran into xu tingting at the hospital, and she said she wanted to settle the score with you.¡± ¡°i¡¯m waiting for her!¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°you¡¯ve never been interested in lu shijie¡¯s affairs.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone was unfriendly. ¡°lu shijie and jiang junlin have had some disagreements in their recent cooperation. lu shijie tried to have jiang junlin assassinated.¡± gu ci narrowed her eyes, her killing intent rising. ¡°it was lu shijie?¡± ¡°he found a group of people, but they didn¡¯t have time to act.¡± li jiang had told him everything about that night, and lu zhiyuan said, ¡°jiang junlin was ambushed by a group of international assassins. lu shijie doesn¡¯t have the ability to gather such people. i had li jiang investigate along the lead he provided, but the people he found were third-rate killers, not the ones who tried to assassinate jiang junlin.¡± ¡°who was it?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°i didn¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°there are two groups of people targeting my brother.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart was in suspense. ¡°he was lucky to survive the ordeal. so why did you hurt lu shijie?¡± ¡°¡­i have no memory,¡± lu zhiyuan said, relying only on li jiang¡¯s account. ¡°i didn¡¯t want to waste my time with him.¡± implying that under threat, coercion, and intimidation, lu shijie revealed the truth. ¡°your complexion is bad. go upstairs and rest.¡± without further ado, lu zhiyuan held her hand and led her upstairs. they encountered a medical team doctor on the way, and gu ci wanted to break free, but lu zhiyuan tightened his grip. ¡°what are you hiding?¡± gu ci looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile. ¡°you¡¯re single, not in a relationship. i can¡¯t tarnish your reputation.¡± lu zhiyuan leaned closer to her, his smile somewhat wicked. ¡°single, not in a relationship, but we can still hold hands.¡± ¡°scoundrel!¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly. after the two entered the elevator, he suddenly said, ¡°gu ci, it wasn¡¯t me who said that.¡± gu ci lowered her head and remained silent. lu zhiyuan said softly, ¡°i was drunk that day, speaking insincerely. it doesn¡¯t count.¡± not clarifying, not admitting¡ªit was his final stand. he couldn¡¯t deny the relationship and bring all the troubles upon gu ci. after third master denied it that day, gu ci suffered attacks from his fans. lu zhiyuan wanted to protect her but was afraid of causing her more trouble. the two returned upstairs. gu ziyu had gone to class and wasn¡¯t at home. gu ci changed her clothes, while lu zhiyuan studied the tea leaves, smelling its fragrance but not brewing any. ¡°when did you develop a habit of drinking tea?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°this tea is quite precious.¡± lu ze also had a canister of this tea, and he knew how precious it was. ¡°someone gave it to me. it¡¯s da hong pao from wuyi mountain, made from rare mother trees with extremely limited annual production. i¡¯m saving it.¡± gu ci smiled lightly. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°you can drink it without worry. there¡¯s plenty more.¡± lu ze loved tea and would bring her some stolen from the old man at home. after gu ci sat down, lu zhiyuan handed her the information li jiang had investigated. ¡°li jiang said the people who ambushed jiang junlin are very powerful and have deep backgrounds. they hesitated after one failed attempt, fearing they might act again. in the coming days, you should visit the hospital less.¡± ¡°my grandma just had surgery, and she shouldn¡¯t be emotionally agitated. only my uncle knows about my brother¡¯s injury. at night, there are only nurses and security guards. i¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°what can you do by staying up at night? what if there are real assassins? how will you escape?¡± ¡°why should i run?¡± gu ci saw lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darken slightly, knowing he was getting angry. she softened her tone. ¡°fine, fine, fine, i¡¯ll listen to you. i won¡¯t go.¡± after six o¡¯clock, you won¡¯t care about me anymore. ¡°don¡¯t pretend to agree while planning otherwise,¡± lu zhiyuan squinted his eyes. ¡°you should go train. 1 haven¡¯t slept all night, and i¡¯m tired. i want to rest.¡± seeing how genuinely tired she was, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t disturb her further. after he left, gu ci read through all the information and sent a copy to gu ziyu. she would still need to go to the hospital at night, so she quickly caught up on sleep. when she woke up, gu ziyu had returned home and was in the study, rapidly searching through information on the computer. hearing some movement, he paused for a moment. ¡°mom, please heat up the food.¡± ¡°okay, you continue!¡± gu ci had a simple meal and entered the study. gu ziyu was angrily confronting black hawk. gu ziyu: why did you intercept my messages? black hawk: you were investigating black hawk, so naturally, 1 intercepted. gu ziyu: who is the one in power at black hawk? black hawk: me! gu ziyu: the person in power at black hawk, who manages countless affairs and is a money-making machine, is constantly monitoring my every move. i don¡¯t believe it! black hawk: suit yourself! gu ziyu: there was an assassination attempt on my uncle. there are very few places where i can¡¯t find information, and black hawk is at the top of the list. if 1 find out you¡¯re involved, you¡¯re done for! black hawk: first find out who i am before making threats! gu ziyu was furious. he clashed with his father and now with his archenemy! ¡°gu ziyu, have some milk.¡± gu ci brought over a glass of milk. ¡°i need to go to the hospital. did you ask ji chi about it?¡± gu ziyu ended the call and held the milk. ¡°ji chi said it has nothing to do with him.¡± ¡°do you believe him?¡± gu ziyu contemplated, recalling what ji chi did to jiang junlin in the previous life, and shook his head. ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°do you have any evidence?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. ¡°none!¡± he drank the milk, feeling a bit restless. gu ci said, ¡°since that¡¯s the case, continue investigating. as long as brother is alive, there will always be people coming to ambush him.¡± ¡°mom, be careful at the hospital.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci went to the hospital. jiang junlin was in better spirits. jiang minghua went back to rest, but he had assigned several guards to protect jiang junlin. the incident was reported to the police, and there were officers guarding the ward. it was impregnable. jiang junlin had slept for a day and was feeling better. ¡°cici, there¡¯s no need for you to come and watch at night.¡± ¡°i have nothing to do.¡± ¡°then go to school.¡± ¡°guarding you is better than military training. how¡¯s your wound healing?¡± gu ci changed the topic and checked his injury. the assailant was quite ruthless, a single move fatal. fortunately, he had narrowly avoided it. gu ci sat down and peeled an apple, casually asking, ¡°brother, do you know who saved you?¡± Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Sick Gu Ci chapter 99: sick gu ci translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°who?¡± gu ci looked up and looked at him, ¡°ji chi.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s eyes were as black as ink, without any fluctuations. he lowered his gaze slightly, ¡°black hawk vice president, how coincidental¡­¡± gu ci took out her phone, opened the screen, and showed it to jiang junlin, ¡°his appearance was very timely. the car shielded you from the bullets and brought you to the hospital, but¡­¡± gu ci paused, ¡°let me calculate the time from the incident location to the hospital. it only takes ten minutes, but he drove for fifteen minutes. in the meantime¡­ were you conscious?¡± jiang junlin watched the video, repeatedly playing the scene where ji chi fought off three attackers, remaining silent. ¡°brother?¡± jiang junlin snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze moved away from the video as if he just heard gu ci¡¯s words, ¡°no, after 1 got shot, 1 lost consciousness. it was probably peak traffic.¡± gu ci checked the traffic conditions, and there was no congestion. she even added an extra two minutes for traffic, but ji chi was delayed for five minutes on the way. gu ci sliced an apple and placed it in front of jiang junlin. ¡°when you were attacked in haicheng, ji chi also informed me,¡± gu ci said casually, ¡°this is the second time he has appeared at the scene where you were assassinated. it¡¯s too coincidental.¡± jiang junlin handed the phone back to gu ci and calmly ate the apple, ¡°indeed, quite coincidental.¡± gu ci looked at his calm expression, noticing that she didn¡¯t remove the apple core when slicing it, and jiang junlin ate the cores without realizing it. gu ci had a hunch. her brother was hiding something from her. he knew ji chi, and there was a grudge between them. jiang junlin didn¡¯t tell the truth, and gu ci didn¡¯t delve deeper. everyone has their secrets. ¡°brother, you¡¯ve been ambushed time and again. this is unusual. can¡¯t you think of anyone you might have offended?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°has this matter alerted the police?¡± gu ci nodded and wiped her hands, throwing the wet wipes in the trash can. ¡°uncle reported it to the police as soon as he learned about your situation. the plainclothes officers outside are there to protect you.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll investigate it myself once i¡¯ve recovered.¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°cici, you don¡¯t need to worry about this.¡± ¡°i can ignore it,¡± gu ci said, ¡°but what will you tell the police?¡± ¡°i know what to say.¡± with the conversation reaching this point, gu ci knew that jiang junlin had made up his mind. she changed the subject and said casually, ¡°liu shijie was also involved in this. unfortunately, the people he sent didn¡¯t make it to the scene. they were scared away.¡± ¡°liu shijie?¡± jiang junlin sneered, ¡°has he gone crazy?¡± ¡°liu shijie is a typical villain, vicious and selfish. he has been nurtured by lu ze¡¯s influence. since his engagement banquet with gu chuyun, he has faced setbacks one after another. now he¡¯s like a mad dog, biting anyone he sees.¡± gu ci thought of liu shijie, who used to be influential in her previous life. ¡°brother, villains are hard to guard against.¡± ¡°the recent discord between hualan bank and the lu corporation may have something to do with it. but lu shijie¡¯s targeting me is because 1 have become your support, and he covets you, right?¡± gu ci nodded. jiang junlin¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°he needs to take a good look at himself in the mirror. this grudge is irreparable.¡± gu ci felt warm in her heart. it was great to have her brother protecting her. ¡°brother, he¡¯s also in the hospital. he lost a leg and needs to rest for three months.¡± gu ci paused, seemingly boasting, ¡°lu zhiyuan did it.¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t know what to say. jiang junlin¡¯s thoughts were complicated. gu ci was subtle, but the siblings shared an inexplicable smile. after jiang junlin fell into a deep sleep, gu ci left the ward. there were two plainclothes officers outside jiang junlin¡¯s door, as well as jiang junlin¡¯s security team. ¡°no one is allowed in. i¡¯ll leave for a while.¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ci left and looked at the surveillance cameras in the corridor. tonight, there was a major accident on melan road. doctors and nurses were concentrated in the emergency room, leaving only two doctors and four nurses in the ward area. it was unusually quiet. gu ci entered lu shijie¡¯s hospital room. lu shijie was in a deep sleep with a gunshot wound on his thigh that had been stitched up. gu ci picked up a surgical knife, its cold light glimmering, reflecting a smiling gaze. the surgical knife pressed against his leg, cold and painful. lu shijie woke up and saw gu ci, startled, ¡°gu ci, what are you doing?¡± ¡°hush!¡± gu ci put her index finger to her lips, ¡°don¡¯t speak.¡± lu shijie looked at the surgical knife in her hand in fear as it slid down his thigh along the suture of his wound. he urgently pressed the call button, and gu ci swiftly threw a small surgical knife, aiming it at his hand. liu shijie was forced to retract his hand. the surgical knife was stuck in the wall. in the dim night, gu ci¡¯s eyes carried a hint of amusement, like a poppy blooming in the darkness. ¡°lu shijie, i heard you hired a hitman to kill my brother?¡± ¡°gu ci, what are you planning to do!¡± ¡°lu shijie, why can¡¯t you learn your lesson?¡± gu ci licked her lips, resembling a bloodthirsty wolf. she raised the knife and stabbed it into his wound. lu shijie screamed in agony, ¡°ah¡­¡± blood splattered on gu ci¡¯s face. she raised her eyes, smiling sweetly and innocently, ¡°ah¡­ how noisy.¡± lu shijie clenched his lips tightly, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. gu ci said, ¡°when you killed the cat that lu zhiyuan raised, didn¡¯t you say the same thing? it was noisy, right?¡± it annoyed you, so you killed it. you killed lu zhiyuan when you killed his beloved cat. she held the surgical knife firmly and twisted it, piercing deeper into lu shijie¡¯s flesh and bone. lu shijie writhed in pain, and his vision darkened as he fainted. gu ci tsked, ¡°useless trash that bullies the weak.¡± twenty minutes later, lu shijie was injected with a drug by gu ci and forced to wake up. the pain in his wound intensified, and his head throbbed. gu ci had removed his bandage and undone the stitches. she reached for a nearby medical tray. she took the needle and thread, and liu shijie stared wide-eyed, ¡°what are you going to do?¡± ¡°sewing you up.¡± gu ci smiled wickedly. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯m good at this.¡± the more she said so, the more frightened lu shijie became. ¡°madwoman, madwoman¡­ i¡¯ll call the police. i¡¯ll call the police¡­¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°we¡¯ll both end up in the same place. i¡¯m just causing wilful bodily harm to someone, i¡¯ll receive a fine at most. you, on the other hand, attempted murder. i don¡¯t think it¡¯ll just be a fine.¡± lu shijie froze, hesitating to make the call. gu ci intentionally used a larger needle, piercing his skin without anesthesia. lu shijie screamed in pain once again. ¡°ah¡­¡± ¡°don¡¯t make a fuss!¡± gu ci shouted sternly. lu shijie looked at her fearfully, doubting for the first time if he had provoked the wrong person. gu ci seemed crazier than him. another needle pierced his skin, and lu shijie endured it. ¡°gu ci, i won¡¯t dare anymore. give me anesthesia, please. from now on, we won¡¯t cross paths.¡± gu ci ignored him, slowly sewing him up. this pain was worse and more despairing than a knife slashing through lu shijie¡¯s body. he endured nearly thirty minutes of stitching. ¡°it¡¯s too late.¡± gu ci wiped her hands with alcohol, smiling as she looked at lu shijie. ¡°three strikes, lu shijie. if you provoke me again, i¡¯ll take your life and¡­¡± her blade grazed across his chest. ¡°1¡¯11 cut you into pieces and feed you to the dogs. 1 guarantee that no one will find a single strand of your hair..¡± Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: A Little Tactic chapter 100: a little tactic translator: henyee translations editor: henyee translations li qingwu did not agree at all. although he also felt that qingzhi was very capable, he found it unbelievable that the entire chu family listened to her. ¡°third brother-in-law, you¡¯re the head of the family. everyone should listen to you.¡± chu rong paused for a moment and said, ¡°i¡¯ll keep that in mind, but since things have come to this, there¡¯s no other way. please help me.¡± li qingwu thought to himself, how can i help? the money is with cao zhilan. even if i want to lend you money, i can¡¯t. he said vaguely, ¡°let me think.¡± although he did not have much hope, chu rong was still very disappointed. zheng guixiang walked into the kitchen and pulled li qingyu, who was cutting vegetables, to the side. ¡°qingyu, 1 want to discuss something with you.¡± li qingyu smiled. ¡°mother, if you have something to say, just say it.¡± zheng guixiang said expectantly, ¡°now that your family is doing well but your two brothers are still poor, you have to help.¡± li qingyu said, ¡°mother, i¡¯ve already helped as much as i can.¡± ¡°how is that enough?¡± zheng guixiang glanced at granny chu, who was cooking, and said softly, ¡°qingyu, give your brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece a higher salary. also, let your brother and sister-in-law be in charge. what do you think?¡± li qingyu felt uncomfortable. ¡°mother, 1 don¡¯t have the final say in this family. besides, our family still owes others 50 taels of silver. they¡¯re coming tomorrow to collect the debts. i¡¯ve been worried about this.¡± zheng guixiang could not help but raise her voice. ¡°what? you owe people 50 taels of silver?¡± it was already very good for a farmer to earn five taels of silver a year. in other words, 50 taels of silver would take ten years. it was not something ordinary farmers could afford. li qingyu said helplessly, ¡°we borrowed money to start the business, but half a month has passed and we haven¡¯t earned any money. mother, do you have any money? lend us some and we¡¯ll return it to you when we earn money.¡± she thought to herself, mother, don¡¯t blame me. 1 have a family 1 want to protect too. i can¡¯t let my family be taken advantage of. when zheng guixiang heard this, she felt uncomfortable. ¡°seeing that you¡¯ve hired so many people, i thought that you had made a lot of money. i didn¡¯t expect that not only are you carrying a huge debt, but your business is also not profitable.¡± li qingyu said sadly, ¡°mother, how can doing business be so easy? if it¡¯s easy, won¡¯t everyone become rich?¡± zheng guixiang patted li qingyu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°alright, you can continue cutting the vegetables. i won¡¯t disturb you. i¡¯m going out.¡± she wanted to use the money in her hands to support her sons. in addition, if she lent her money, she might not be able to get a penny back. it was better not to take this risk. li qingyu looked at zheng guixiang with disappointment in her eyes. in the shed, a few young women sitting beside fan limei chatted as they worked. ¡°sister qingyu came to borrow money from me yesterday.¡± ¡°me too. did you lend her money?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯re from the same village. how can 1 refuse her? besides, we¡¯re working for her.¡¯ ¡°i lent her money too. i hope it can help sister qingyu get through this.¡± the more fan limei listened, the more she felt that something was wrong. she went up and asked, ¡°is the sister qingyu you¡¯re talking about li qingyu?¡± one of the women said, ¡°yes, what¡¯s wrong?¡± fan limei¡¯s heart skipped a beat. she asked uneasily, ¡°she really borrowed money from you.¡± the woman nodded and said, ¡°that¡¯s right. her family borrowed 50 taels of silver to do business. now that they can¡¯t pay it back, they naturally have to borrow it from someone. don¡¯t you know?¡± fan limei shook her head. ¡°i don¡¯t know. i¡¯ve never heard her mention it.¡± ¡°the debt collector will come tomorrow.¡± the woman turned her head to fan limei and said, ¡°you¡¯re relatives. you have to at least lend her ten taels of silver, right?¡± fan limei felt as if she had been struck by lightning. she thought that the chu family was their hope, but now all the hope was dashed. ¡°are you sure the debt collector is coming tomorrow?¡± the woman said, ¡°yes, that¡¯s what sister qingyu said.¡± fan limei couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. she quickly went outside to ask cao zhilan about the situation, but cao zhilan said the same thing. the two of them went to look for zheng guixiang, only to hear the same thing. hence, the two of them firmly believed it. in the corner, cao zhilan said resolutely, ¡°mother, sister-in-law, i don¡¯t have the money to lend her. if you have, you can lend her as much as you want.¡± fan limei said, ¡°if we don¡¯t lend her the money, we definitely won¡¯t be able to stay.¡± cao zhilan¡¯s tone was not good. ¡°so be it. they can¡¯t pay their debts. this place will become someone else¡¯s sooner or later.¡± in the beginning, fan limei was especially jealous of li qingyu¡¯s good life. however, now that li qingyu had a huge debt on her, she was not jealous at all. instead, she pitied her. ¡°so be it. let¡¯s go say goodbye to them, okay?¡± zheng guixiang didn¡¯t want to lend money either. ¡°alright, go and tell qingyu that we¡¯re leaving.¡± fan limei and cao zhilan nodded. ¡°got it, mother.¡± the three of them first went to their husband and children to explain the situation. finally, they went to look for li qingyu and chu rong. the two of them were surprised to hear that the li family was leaving. they didn¡¯t expect such a simple test to scare them off. fan limei said in a self-righteous manner, ¡°qingyu, chu rong, we can¡¯t help you with your family¡¯s matters. sorry for disturbing you for two days.¡± li qingyu felt a little sad. it turned out that her family only wanted to share her wealth but not her difficulties. ¡°father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, when are you leaving? i¡¯ll send you off.¡± fan limei looked at the setting sun and said, ¡°we¡¯ve already packed our things. we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± li qingyu¡¯s expression was a little ugly. ¡°i¡¯ll send you off.¡± the li family went to take their things. li qingyu walked behind to send them off. the other chu family members also came out to see them off. li hanhai thought that he could enjoy a good life for a few days, but he did not expect that the chu family actually wanted to borrow money from them. hence, he was frustrated and left the fastest. not long after the li family left, chu qingzhi returned. chu eighth led fu bao out to eat grass. when chu eighth saw chu qingzhi, she immediately told her that the li family had left. the corners of chu qingzhi¡¯s lips curled up. not bad. with a small tactic, she made the li family scurry away on their own. she glanced at chu eighth and asked, ¡°did you apply the medicine on that injured horse?¡± chu eighth said in high spirits, ¡°yes, 1 applied twice. the horse is already much better.¡± chu qingzhi praised, ¡°good girl.¡± chu qingzhi went home, took the hoe, and walked towards the wasteland. crackle crackle¡ª the sound of hammering, sawing, and knocking on bricks continuously sounded from the wasteland. a few days later, the groundwork of the house had been built and bricklaying had already begun.. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: When Are You Getting Married? chapter 101: when are you getting married? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he really went back in a short time. why? he was a heretic that did not belong in this world. would he eventually leave? he thought fiercely that he didn¡¯t want to leave. in this world, there was a mom, a dad, and an uncle. they were all healthy and safe. if he had never tasted the sweetness this life could offer, it would be fine. he could live a life of despair and numbness like in the previous life. but he has received warmth, hope, and happiness. ¡°i won¡¯t allow anyone to take it away!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice was low. due to gu ziyu¡¯s sudden fainting, gu ci protected him as if he were her own eyes. gu ziyu also noticed the uneasiness in gu ci¡¯s heart and diverted her attention. ¡°mom, let¡¯s go to uncle¡¯s house for dinner!¡± ¡°alright, do you miss the braised pork made by great-grandma?¡± gu ci nodded. gu ziyu nodded, and she informed uncle¡¯s wife, lin chunli, and took gu ziyu to the jiang family for dinner. jiang junlin knew they were coming and cancelled his dinner appointments, leaving work on time. gu ci often brought gu ziyu to the jiang family for dinner. the old lady¡¯s health had recovered quite well, and gu ziyu was the only younger generation, so he was very favored. gu ci didn¡¯t want them to worry, so she didn¡¯t mention gu ziyu¡¯s fainting incident. jiang junlin and gu ci privately discussed matters while gu ziyu happily entertained the two elderly people and his uncle and aunt. jiang minghua said, ¡°what were you two talking about on the balcony? you¡¯re not very sociable.¡± jiang junlin and gu ci had no choice but to return to the living room. the old master said, ¡°junlin, don¡¯t you think ziyu is cute?¡± ¡°cute!¡± jiang junlin, wearing a filter, loved what his sister loved, naturally. besides, gu ziyu was indeed likable. who wouldn¡¯t like a talented and knowledgeable child with a smiling face? ¡°you should get married after you graduate and have a son. he¡¯ll be almost the same age as ziyu.¡± jiang junlin and gu ci were rendered speechless. gu ziyu never expected it to turn into a matchmaking scene. he took the apple handed to him by his aunt and happily started eating, satisfied with watching the drama unfold. ¡°grandpa, i¡¯m not in a hurry,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°you¡¯re already twenty-eight, almost thirty, and you¡¯re not in a hurry?¡± grandpa urged for marriage, as was usual. ¡°twenty-seven!¡± jiang junlin pointed out the mistake with great rigor. ¡°i haven¡¯t had my birthday yet.¡± jiang minghua joined in, also part of the matchmaking family. ¡°you¡¯re twenty-seven now. in the past nine months, rounding up, you¡¯re twenty-eight. when 1 was twenty-eight, you were already three.¡± jiang junlin remained composed, drinking his tea without saying a word. the old lady asked, ¡°cici, do you have any suitable classmates or friends to introduce to your brother?¡± lin chunyan intervened, ¡°aren¡¯t they too young? cici¡¯s friends and classmates are almost the same age as her.¡± ¡°yes, it¡¯s too young for a match with junlin,¡± lin chunli added. jiang junlin could only gape at them. now that jiang minghua had become familiar with gu ci, his true nature was exposed. he had a somewhat impatient temperament. ¡°even if you start dating someone immediately, it takes about six months to fall in love and another six months to prepare for the wedding. if you get married right away and have a baby, the fastest you¡¯ll have one is when you¡¯re thirty. it¡¯s not too young. consider choosing a girl from a prestigious family. if you don¡¯t like it, our family doesn¡¯t care about matching status. you can find anyone you like, and we won¡¯t object.¡± jiang junlin smelled the fragrance of tea, gently stirring the tea leaves, and asked calmly, ¡°just finding someone i like is enough?¡± ¡°yes!¡± jiang minghua said, ¡°finding someone you like is enough. as the distinguished president of hualan bank, you¡¯re twenty-eight and still single. the media even wrote that you have a rare illness. haven¡¯t you seen it?¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know what to think. gu ziyu choked on his apple, and lin chunli said, ¡°what are you saying in front of a child?¡± ¡°the child is still young and doesn¡¯t understand,¡± gu ci explained. gu ziyu, along with the old lady¡¯s gesture, drank the water she handed to him. he thought to himself, sorry, i understand. ¡°what if the person i like is a boyfriend?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s statement was shocking. jiang junlin raised an eyebrow, and the whole family fell silent, looking at gu ziyu in astonishment. gu ziyu casually continued eating his apple as if nothing had happened. ¡°grandpa, grandma, in our doctoral class, there is a couple of guys who are dating.¡± everyone gaped at him. the old master was furious. ¡°this goes against traditions and norms.¡± jiang minghua and lin chunli both looked at jiang junlin, their expressions changing drastically. after so many years, their son had always been virtuous and upright. could it be true that his preferences were unconventional? ¡°junlin, 1 raised you to be an outstanding individual. even in the entertainment industry, you are a pinnacle of appearance, knowledge, family background, and charm. for so many years, you haven¡¯t shown any interest in others. could it be that you truly¡­¡± lin chunli clutched her heart, giving a look of fainting. ¡°mom, stop acting.¡± jiang junlin had a headache facing the pressure from his elders. ¡°1 just¡­ have high standards.¡± ¡°really?¡± jiang junlin nodded with composure. ¡°yes!¡± ¡°then let us help you find someone suitable.¡± the old lady said, ¡°i have a granddaughter of an old friend. she is a pianist who just returned from studying abroad. she is also suitable in age for junlin. shall we meet another day?¡± jiang junlin put down his teacup. ¡°i¡¯m busy with work.¡± ¡°no matter how busy you are, you still have to eat. it¡¯s settled then. i¡¯ll arrange a meeting with my old friend, and you young people can meet. we¡¯re not asking you to fall in love, just make friends.¡± the old lady eagerly arranged the marriage, which is why jiang minghua got married right after graduation. gu ziyu finished eating an apple and the melon, feeling a bit gleeful. ¡°uncle, take me on the blind date too. 1 want to see.¡± ¡°uncle?¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°you call gu ci ¡®sister,¡¯ and me ¡®uncle¡¯?¡± am i that old? ¡°yes, ziyu, did you get the generations wrong?¡± the old master said. gu ziyu smiled sweetly. ¡°brother, big brother junlin.¡± gu ci covered her eyes, feeling helpless but enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of this family. gu ziyu and gu ci stayed at the jiang family¡¯s house that night. lin chunli took care of everything, and both gu ziyu and gu ci felt comfortable staying there. gu ziyu hadn¡¯t slept with his mom for many years and missed it dearly. he took a selfie with gu ci and sent it to lu zhiyuan. gu ziyu: brother, tonight i¡¯m sleeping with sister. gu ci looked at his actions and smiled. ¡°why do you like to provoke him?¡± ¡°he provoked me first.¡± gu ziyu lay in bed, snuggling up to gu ci. ¡°mom, why hasn¡¯t dad replied to me?¡± ¡°he has a competition tomorrow. he¡¯s busy,¡± gu ci lightly laughed. how could third master care about gu ziyu¡¯s provocation? ¡°ziyu, is there anything else bothering you?¡± ¡°mom, i¡¯m fine. i¡¯m just tired. 1¡¯11 go to sleep early and make sure not to worry you.¡± ¡°okay, then sleep without waiting for your dad¡¯s message.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu was obedient. he lay beside gu ci, his eyes sparkling. following the example of a child, he acted spoiled. ¡°mom, it¡¯s been a long time since we slept together.¡± gu ci hugged him. ¡°baby, you¡¯ve grown up.¡± she kissed gu ziyu and coaxed him, ¡°go to sleep..¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Gu Ci, I Like You chapter 102: gu ci, i like you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the next day at noon, lu zhiyuan had a competition, and gu ci turned on the tv to watch the live broadcast. jiang minghua also enjoyed watching car races, while others were not very interested but accompanied gu ci. the race track was bustling with people, and zhou jinjin also sent a live video from the scene. before the race, lu zhiyuan was interviewed, and the reporter asked, ¡°ferrari team has a very close cooperation strategy in the main race. 1 wonder if the dynasty team has any countermeasures?¡± ¡°any strategy is insignificant in the face of strength,¡± lu zhiyuan arrogantly and confidently replied, ¡°the champion will definitely be our dynasty team.¡± the reporter chuckled, ¡°hahaha, mr. lu is very confident.¡± the reporter almost couldn¡¯t keep up with the conversation. lin chunli couldn¡¯t understand car racing and asked, ¡°wouldn¡¯t it be embarrassing if he doesn¡¯t win the championship?¡± jiang junlin sipped his tea, spending the weekend with his family watching the race, occasionally replying to emails, and handling simple tasks. jiang minghua said, ¡°that¡¯s the magic of it. he has always been able to win the championship.¡± always so confident, never being proven wrong. jiang junlin casually said, ¡°arrogance.¡± gu ci agreed with this evaluation, deeply feeling the same. she couldn¡¯t refute it. lu zhiyuan was both arrogant and proud. before lu zhiyuan went on the track, he sent her a text message asking her to watch the race attentively. gu ci replied with a selfie and added emoticons, ¡°i¡¯ll be watching you closely.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t reply. jiang junlin looked down at gu ci. she was texting lu zhiyuan, and her lips involuntarily curved up, revealing a touch of tenderness. gu ci had a striking appearance and a somewhat cold temperament, which had a slightly aggressive beauty. every bit of tenderness she showed seemed to be related to lu zhiyuan. the race began, and there was almost no suspense. lu zhiyuan took first place in the qualifying race, and his teammate took fifth place, a decent position. they had been cooperating well all along. the onlookers thought the race was too dangerous during overtaking. even the old couple became very nervous. but when they managed to overtake, it was truly exhilarating. in the ferrari team¡¯s attempts to collide with lu zhiyuan, he managed to avoid them all. first place, without any suspense. the two ferrari drivers took second and third place. lu zhiyuan¡¯s teammate finished sixth, narrowing the gap in the team¡¯s annual points. lu zhiyuan took off his helmet and blew a kiss to the audience. the stands were boiling with excitement. at that moment, he was the lengend in everyone¡¯s hearts. lin chunli said, ¡°no wonder cici likes him. he is quite charming.¡± gu ziyu wanted to compare, ¡°aunt, i¡¯m charming too!¡± ¡°yes, our ziyu is the most charming!¡± zhou jinjin also sent a text message, excitedly sharing the news of lu zhiyuan¡¯s championship. gu ci congratulated lu zhiyuan, but he had just finished the race and had a lot to deal with, so she didn¡¯t disturb him. after the race, lu zhiyuan gained fans from the jiang family, apart from jiang junlin. grandma asked gu ci, ¡°you haven¡¯t successfully pursued him?¡± gu ci smiled lightly, ¡°grandma, not yet.¡± jiang junlin remained silent. gu ci received a phone call and went outside to answer it. grandma said, ¡°what is his meaning of this? how about¡­ we talk to lu ze and fix the engagement if cici likes him? ¡± ¡°that¡¯s a good idea. once the engagement is fixed, it¡¯s settled.¡± gu ziyu was speechless. jiang junlin shifted his gaze away from the phone, ¡°cici is still young. there¡¯s no hurry to set an engagement. it¡¯s not surprising that a young girl likes lu zhiyuan out of infatuation. after a few years, the novelty will wear off. we don¡¯t need to restrict her with an engagement. let her follow her heart. if they really want to get married in the future, it should be based on mutual love and compatibility, not just because of an engagement.¡± ¡°you don¡¯t like him?¡± jiang minghua sensitively noticed jiang juniin¡¯s tone. jiang junlin said, ¡°it¡¯s not that.¡± gu ziyu lit a silent candle for his father. gu ci returned after answering the call, ¡°ziyu, you have dinner here. 1 need to go out for something. i won¡¯t be back for dinner.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci met zhou li in the recording studio to record a new song. gu ci composed the music and arranged it herself. the new song was called ¡°breaking through the wind¡± and was a traditional-style song. zhou li¡¯s voice was most suitable for singing love songs, but he also had a great feeling when singing majestic songs. gu ci¡¯s voice was mesmerizing, and her presence in the music industry was waning. but hearing her heavenly voice was a delightful experience. zhou li¡¯s team captured some behind-the-scenes footage, which they promoted that very day. gu ci¡¯s popularity had recently skyrocketed. she was the top scorer in the college entrance examination, a medical student, the princess of hua lan, and the rumored girlfriend of lu zhiyuan. she held various titles that made people envy her. the behind-the-scenes footage was praised by zhou li¡¯s fans, although there were also some people who mocked gu ci, mostly lu zhiyuan¡¯s enthusiastic fans. the publicity effect was quite good. after finishing work, zhou li invited gu ci to have dinner. gu ci didn¡¯t refuse. zhou li was someone who truly enjoyed life. he took gu ci to a restaurant in the mountains, a farmhouse he often visited. the seasonal bamboo shoots, loquat fruit, and mountain grapes were all especially delicious. zhou li had informed the owner a week in advance, so everything was prepared. gu ci ate to her heart¡¯s content. zhou li asked the owner to pack some mountain grapes and wild kiwis for her to take home. ¡°this meal will make me gain three kilograms.¡± gu ci ate until she was full. the two of them had been talking about music the whole time and were very compatible. ¡°you¡¯re so thin, you should eat more.¡± after dinner, the two of them took a walk in the mountains to aid digestion. the sky was filled with stars, which was rare to see in the city. it was very romantic. since gu ci¡¯s rebirth, she had experienced so many things, and it was rare for her to relax like this. ¡°it¡¯s so beautiful.¡± gu ci smiled, her eyes curved. she thought about bringing lu zhiyuan here to stargaze next time. this thought saddened her. third master would not watch the stars with her. zhou li looked at her fair profile and felt his heart beating faster. gu ci possessed the aesthetic qualities that he admired. from the moment he saw her on the variety show, zhou li liked her very much. later, when they talked about music, she played the violin while he sang. they had a great understanding, which further nurtured zhou li¡¯s greed. zhou li nervously asked, ¡°cici, are you¡­ in a relationship with lu zhiyuan?¡± gu ci chuckled and shook her head, ¡°no.¡± ¡°then are you single?¡± gu ci nodded, pondering in her heart. single, with a six-year-old son and a husband who refuses to date her. it was truly a tragic situation. ¡°then¡­ can i pursue you?¡± zhou li confessed for the first time, his hands sweating nervously, resembling an infatuated young boy. gu ci couldn¡¯t believe it. she was extremely clueless when it came to love between men and women. in her previous life, before her disfigurement, she was beautiful but gloomy. she always wore a solemn expression and had a personality that people didn¡¯t like. compared to her, there was the brilliant gu chuyun, who boys preferred. after her disfigurement, she became even more insecure and sensitive, making her even less likable. after her release from prison in her previous life, lu zhiyuan proposed to her, and she agreed after being desolate. she and lu zhiyuan gradually developed feelings after marriage. therefore, she was unfamiliar with pursuits and romance. she didn¡¯t even realize that zhou li liked her. ¡°you like me?¡± gu ci was at a loss. ¡°why?¡± ¡°you play the violin well, and you¡¯re beautiful¡­¡± zhou li smiled shyly, a hint of bashfulness on his face. ¡°this is the first time i¡¯ve felt this way. i¡­ i want to be brave and take that plunge..¡± Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Did You Miss Me? chapter 103: did you miss me? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he saw gu ci was silent and said eagerly, ¡°although i¡¯m an idol, 1 have real skills too. no messy scandals, i work diligently, pay taxes honestly, and have no involvement with fans. although i¡¯m not perfect, my thoughts and morals are definitely above passing grade¡­ 1 also look decent and have a healthy body. would you consider dating me?¡± he added, ¡°i can pursue you as well.¡± the gentle moonlight always softens people¡¯s hearts. the confession of a young man, reckless yet sincere, moved gu ci somewhat. it had nothing to do with love, but she was surprised to discover that there really were boys who genuinely wanted to date her. ¡°i like lu zhiyuan,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice softened, ¡°although the rumors are fake, my pursuit of him is genuine. i don¡¯t want to deceive you.¡± the light in zhou li¡¯s eyes dimmed inch by inch, feeling uncomfortable. ¡°is this a rejection?¡± he asked. gu ci pursed her lips, ¡°i¡¯m sorry.¡± zhou li looked at the starry sky and the gentle moonlight and asked with lingering hope, ¡°do i still have a chance?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci¡¯s determination was resolute. ¡°in this lifetime, i¡¯m determined to be with lu zhiyuan.¡± he heard the sound of his own heart breaking. ¡°but what if he doesn¡¯t like you?¡± gu ci thought for a moment and stubbornly said, ¡°then he can forget about liking anyone else!¡± ¡°but what if he falls for someone else?¡± zhou li asked with sadness, ¡°will you give up then?¡± gu ci closed her eyes. ¡°if he falls for someone else, i¡¯ll kill him and then join him in the grave.¡± zhou li was speechless. a gust of wind blew through the mountains, sending a chill down zhou li¡¯s spine. ¡°you¡­ you¡¯re joking, right?¡± gu ci smiled enchantingly, ¡°of course, i¡¯m just joking.¡± zhou li breathed a sigh of relief, but as he looked at gu ci¡¯s slightly stubborn gaze, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was capable of doing such a thing. zhou li quickly shook his head. it was impossible. gu ci was beautiful and kind-hearted. how could she do something like that? zhou li gave up completely, feeling a bit sad. he hung his head, dejected like a cat that had lost a fight. ¡°i fell in love for the first time, and it ended like this.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know how to console him, so she remained silent. zhou li thought to himself that gu ci was still young, and when you¡¯re young, you always feel like your love will last forever. but what if¡­ she changes her mind? he rarely liked someone and didn¡¯t want to give up. but he also didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for gu ci. ¡°i hope¡­ that you¡¯ll get what you want,¡± zhou li, the gentle little puppy, said. he liked gu ci so much that he hoped she could be happy and find love, even if it wasn¡¯t with him! gu ci softened for a rare moment. ¡°zhou li, thank you. you¡¯re¡­ the first person to say you like me.¡± ¡°it¡¯s my honor,¡± zhou li maintained his composure, even though he felt heartbroken and regretful. he reached out his hand. ¡°well still be friends, right?¡± ¡°of course!¡± gu ci lightly touched his palm. ¡°we¡¯re friends!¡± they smiled at each other, and zhou li secretly thought that until he met someone who moved him more, he would continue to like gu ci and stay by her side. and if one day she didn¡¯t like lu zhiyuan anymore, he would confess again. in the campus, gu ci ran into gu chuyun again. the courses in the medical school and the music school didn¡¯t overlap, but the two buildings were close together, so gu ci had seen her a few times when attending large classes. gu chuyun dressed very simply, wearing a light blue floral dress and white shoes, clean and neat. she tied her hair high in a ponytail, looking like a typical college girl. she had a good reputation and greeted gu ci with a smile when she saw her, inviting her to have lunch together, but gu ci declined. ¡°brother has been discharged from the hospital. mom and dad want to have a reunion dinner together. ci, why don¡¯t you come home too? let¡¯s have a reunion dinner,¡± gu chuyun asked gently. gu ci replied indifferently, ¡°the four of you should have a reunion.¡± ¡°you¡¯re also a member of the gu family.¡± ¡°save it,¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and went to have lunch with gu ziyu instead. sometimes, liu yu and he miaomiao joined them too. everyone doted on gu ziyu. after lunch, gu ci went to the library. she was already familiar with the subjects in her first semester, especially the introductory psychology course. in the afternoon sun, she sat there, warm and beautiful, attracting the attention of both male and female students who frequently snapped pictures of her secretly. every time she came to the library, someone would ask for her wechat. gu ci rarely added strangers on wechat, and she had declined all requests in the past. after being bothered too much, she closed the friend request feature and didn¡¯t allow anyone to add her. the campus belle was known for being unapproachable. gu ci was reading when the library suddenly became noisy. students crowded near the windows, looking downstairs, and they were extremely excited, many of them taking photos with their phones. finding it annoying, gu ci put on her headphones and continued reading, unaffected by the excited screams of her classmates. after a while, the commotion in the library grew even louder, and gu ci sensed someone staring at her. ¡°gu ci!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice echoed in the library. gu ci looked over in surprise. between him and her, there were rows of desks and sunlight. lu zhiyuan lazily leaned against the bookshelf, wearing a black t-shirt, jeans, and a wolf pendant hanging at his chest, exuding a carefree and unrestrained aura. he had carefully styled his hair and resembled a senior heartthrob in the university campus. the students were watching, excited, but no one dared to ask for his autograph. ¡°turn a deaf ear to outside matters,¡± lu zhiyuan said playfully, throwing a seductive glance at her, his mischievous and sexy aura apparent in his enchanting peach blossom eyes. a smile spread across gu ci¡¯s face, her heart pounding like a deer. she took off her headphones, heard the gasps and screams of her classmates, and packed up her books to leave. ¡°why did you come here?¡± ¡°missed me?¡± lu zhiyuan bent down, so close that their faces were just inches apart, his smile reflecting in her captivating peach blossom eyes. gu ci blushed and turned to see her classmates taking pictures. she pulled lu zhiyuan away, and he took her books casually, asking, ¡°you¡¯re already studying psychology in your freshman year?¡± ¡°clinical medicine has professional courses starting in the freshman year,¡± gu ci sensitively noticed the attention and gossip of her classmates. she held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand and left the library. the forums exploded. shocking news: gu ci and lu zhiyuan are dating! there were a bunch of secretly taken photos in the library, capturing their good looks from perfect angles. lu zhiyuan¡¯s smile was affectionate and indulgent, forming a beautiful picture with gu ci¡¯s icy demeanor. ¡°i bet my money on it. they¡¯re definitely dating.¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan looks so handsome. after he graduated, he never came back to a university. i¡¯m jealous of the students in the library.¡± ¡°i¡¯m squealing like a groundhog. my idol!¡± ¡°the campus belle is just as aloof in front of the male god. i¡¯m satisfied.¡± ¡°medical school bulletin: gu ci still has a class in the afternoon. they definitely didn¡¯t leave campus. the students who witnessed it took photos.¡± ¡°the campus belle has a boyfriend now. my heart is broken. classmates, do i still have a chance?¡± ¡°upstairs, look at yourself in the mirror, then find a picture of lu zhiyuan and a pile of championship titles. ask yourself, do 1 still have a chance?¡± gu ci still had a class in the afternoon, but she walked around campus with lu zhiyuan, attracting ioo% attention from onlookers. lu zhiyuan held her books, walking casually, completely unconcerned about the people around them. ¡°why did you come to the school?¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Third Young Master Accompany You to Class chapter 104: third young master accompany you to class translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan smiled and said, ¡°just got off the plane and had a whim to visit my alma mater.¡± ¡°how coincidental, we ended up at the library.¡± gu ci nudged him with her elbow. ¡°when you were studying at a university, did you know where the library was?¡± ¡°i had plenty of training and less class time, but i spent quite a bit of time in the library, cramming for exams and writing papers at the last minute.¡± he playfully tapped her nose. ¡°junior, you underestimate me.¡± ¡°alright, senior, you¡¯re impressive.¡± her calling him senior sounded gentle, like a small hook that caught lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. ¡°junior, would you like to go on a date with me?¡± his smile was enchanting. gu ci poured cold water on his enthusiasm. ¡°senior, 1 have another class.¡± ¡°skip class.¡± gu ci hesitated. this person was toxic. he encouraged her to skip class right after returning. gu ci shook her head. ¡°i¡¯m a good student, i don¡¯t skip class.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°who skipped class and got into fights in high school?¡± ¡°i¡¯ve changed my ways and become a new person, senior.¡± gu ci took lu zhiyuan to buy two cups of milk tea. as they passed by an artificial lake, she paused for a moment and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°does this place look familiar to you?¡± ¡°not really.¡± lu zhiyuan was most familiar with the library and the track field at a university, as well as the cafeteria. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci remembered the last time they were here when he almost drowned her. she smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. the two of them sat on a bench by the artificial lake, basking in the sun while students frequently took secret photos. gu ci noticed that lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t mind, so she didn¡¯t say much either. ¡°did you miss me?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her with a smile, the sunlight shining in his eyes, making his smile even more pronounced. gu ci chuckled. ¡°as a medical student, i have too much homework and no time to miss you.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled and remained silent, casually flipping through gu ci¡¯s psychology textbook. several female classmates who were taking photos plucked up the courage and approached lu zhiyuan, holding hands. blushing, one of them asked, ¡°lu zhiyuan, we are all your fans. can we take a signed photo with you?¡± one of the girls was zhang ping from her dormitory. gu ci casually flipped through her notes. lu zhiyuan was about to refuse when zhang ping said, ¡°i¡¯m roommates with gu ci.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at gu ci and said, ¡°sure.¡± gu ci looked at zhang ping with a smile. zhang ping blushed but gathered the courage to hand a pen to lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan was generous and signed for each of them. ¡°thank you, you¡¯re so kind.¡± zhang ping¡¯s voice was sweet. ¡°can we take a photo together? we have been watching your competitions for many years and really like you.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t like taking photos with fans. ¡°1 don¡¯t like taking photos, don¡¯t you know that given you¡¯re my fan?¡± zhang ping blushed even more and became nervous and embarrassed. gu ci closed her book, and the disappointed girls left, with zhang ping giving gu ci a resentful look before leaving with her classmates. ¡°gu ci is so annoying. even though we¡¯re roommates, she didn¡¯t help us.¡± zhang ping complained angrily. ¡°if she had said a word, lu zhiyuan would definitely have taken a photo with us.¡± one of the girls who got a signature frowned. ¡°i¡¯m satisfied with getting the signature. he doesn¡¯t like taking photos with fans. why should gu ci help us?¡± ¡°i was trying to get some benefits for you. why are you being so sarcastic?¡± ¡°who¡¯s being sarcastic? lu zhiyuan signed for us because of gu ci, and we¡¯re very content with that.¡± after they left, lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°you don¡¯t get along with your roommate?¡± ¡°not very well.¡± gu ci smiled. ¡°are you being ostracised again?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°you were ostracised in elementary school, middle school, and high school. are you being ostracised in university too?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°your roommate glared at you before leaving.¡± ¡°let her be.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t care about others¡¯ opinions. she glanced at her watch, and lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°why do you keep looking at your watch?¡± ¡°i have class, senior.¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and looked at her teasingly. the second class in the afternoon at the medical school was systemic anatomy, a lecture-based class rather than a lab. the classroom was filled with students, and many of them turned their heads to look at the back row. gu ci sat in the corner of the last row, and lu zhiyuan sat by the window. outside the classroom was a basketball court where students were playing basketball. there was lively discussion in the classroom. the girls in the front row were doing their makeup using mirrors, occasionally glancing at lu zhiyuan¡¯s reflection. ¡°do you want to play basketball?¡± gu ci sincerely suggested. ¡°third young master will accompany you to class, and you still complain?¡± gu ci laughed, ¡°you¡¯re distracting the girls¡¯ hearts.¡± ¡°what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± lu zhiyuan flipped through her textbook. he had figured it out. gu ci didn¡¯t have a good reputation in their class, and not many people greeted her. gu ci wanted to persuade him again, but the bell rang, and the professor entered the classroom. the professor was an elderly professor who looked surprised when he saw the crowded classroom. ¡°so many people in our lecture? is it full today?¡± the multimedia classroom could accommodate many students, and the systemic anatomy class had just over a hundred students. today, there were nearly 150 people in the classroom. the professor asked cheerfully, ¡°are you all here to audit the class? do you love systemic anatomy that much?¡± a male classmate laughed, ¡°professor, they are here to see the celebrity.¡± laughter filled the classroom, and the humorous professor said, ¡°where¡¯s the celebrity? raise your hand.¡± the students all turned their heads to look at lu zhiyuan, and the professor also looked over. ¡°it¡¯s lu zhiyuan.¡± ¡°hello, professor li.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled mischievously, pretending to be a well-behaved senior. ¡°are you accompanying your girlfriend to class?¡± gu ci lowered her head, flipped through her book, and remained indifferent to the teasing from her classmates. he miaomiao and liu yu also joined in the gossip. they had originally wanted to sit with gu ci but were hesitant when they saw lu zhiyuan. the classmates laughed, ¡°wow¡­¡± ¡°professor li, you are really gossipy.¡± lu zhiyuan rested his chin on his hand. ¡°just treat me as an auditor.¡± professor li¡¯s lecture was lively and interesting, but lu zhiyuan, an outsider, found it increasingly boring and ended up sleeping openly, leaning against the windowsill. sunlight fell on his face, perfect and flawless. gu ci, in class, was distracted for the first time and failed to answer when the professor called on her. professor li said, ¡°beauty is mesmerizing, even a top student can¡¯t escape it. it¡¯s good to have a boyfriend accompany you to class, but don¡¯t bring him next time.¡± the classmates burst into laughter, and gu ci felt a rare sense of embarrassment. lu zhiyuan, who was pretending to sleep, also laughed, clearly aware of her predicament. gu ci sat down and kicked him, and lu zhiyuan laughed even more, becoming more unrestrained. ¡°stop laughing.¡± lu zhiyuan opened one eye, deliberately teasing her. ¡°junior, you¡¯re so domineering.¡± gu ci ignored him and focused on her own thoughts. however, she was secretly happy. even if she made a fool of herself, it was a kind of compensation for her regrets in the previous life. they were like a couple in love on campus, going to the library together, going to the cafeteria together. he accompanied her to class, even though it wasn¡¯t his major, he listened drowsily and lazily slept. after class, many classmates gathered around, wanting autographs. lu zhiyuan casually signed more than ten of them. ¡°our gu ci is introverted and speaks little. please take care of her and let her know if there are any activities..¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105:I Want Gu Ziyu to Do a Paternity Test chapter 105:i want gu ziyu to do a paternity test translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he miaomiao and liu yu also got autographs. when lu zhiyuan knew that they had a good relationship with gu ci, he generously took a photo with them. zhang ping saw this scene and became so angry that her eyes turned red. the female classmates were originally not familiar with gu ci, and gu ci didn¡¯t like to interact with people either. the classmates in the medical school were basically study enthusiasts, both male and female, buried in their books. most of them had been studying for eight years continuously for their bachelor¡¯s and doctoral degrees. they all lived in the same dormitory and had limited interaction, so they weren¡¯t very familiar. lu zhiyuan¡¯s presence in class today helped bring gu ci closer to her classmates. he miaomiao and liu yu warmly invited lu zhiyuan to have dinner, but he declined, saying, ¡°we have to pick up my little brother and go home together.¡± gu ziyu finished his afternoon classes and had just finished class. he wasn¡¯t in the same building, but gu ci had already sent him a text message to wait for him to go home together. gu ziyu was standing by the roadside with a huge backpack and holding six books. it was obvious that the backpack was filled to the brim. a crowd gathered around them on the roadside. ¡°younger brother, stop studying so hard. give your older brothers and sisters a break.¡± it was one thing for a genius to be several years younger than them, but he was even more diligent than them. gu ziyu saw lu zhiyuan and gu ci coming from afar, and he thought he must have been mistaken. he blinked hard to confirm that it was indeed gu ci and lu zhiyuan, and his eyes lit up. it was the first time his parents picked him up together after school. lu zhiyuan took gu ziyu¡¯s backpack and shook it. ¡°did you put gold in your backpack? it¡¯s really heavy.¡± gu ci took his books from him, and gu ziyu instantly felt relieved. he looked up, his smile radiant, and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°brother, when did you come back?¡± ¡°just now.¡± gu ziyu boasted, ¡°on the day of your competition, both my sister and i watched it. you looked so cool.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ziyu, who was overacting, and casually ruffled his hair. since gu ziyu¡¯s previous frenzy, his lovely and sweet image had become more stable, although he went a bit overboard sometimes. ¡°when you¡¯re a bit older, i¡¯ll teach you.¡± ¡°okay, 1 really like that.¡± gu ci thought to herself, baby, you¡¯re not even blinking when you lie. you don¡¯t really like racing at all. this scene was particularly abrupt yet harmonious on the campus. lu zhiyuan drove them home together. it was still early, so gu ci said, ¡°let¡¯s go to the supermarket.¡± after parking the car downstairs, the three of them went to the underground supermarket on the first floor of the supermarket on the first floor at the global sports center. it was an imported supermarket where almost everything was air-shipped. the meat, vegetables, and fruits were all fresh but expensive. gu ziyu chose fruits and only picked apples. he was quite picky and wanted to eat big, red, and good-looking ones. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°do you like apples?¡± ¡°i only eat apples for fruits.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips curled up, reminded of third master¡¯s preference. ¡°what¡¯s so good about apples? oranges, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, they¡¯re all delicious.¡± ¡°1 don¡¯t like them!¡± gu ziyu picked a few large apples that he liked and also picked cherries. ¡°my mom likes cherries. what do you like, big brother?¡± ¡°i eat everything except apples.¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t reply. he took a deep breath and held back. he couldn¡¯t let his image collapse! he felt like his dad was specifically targeting him. it must be intentional to annoy him. gu ci heard the conversation between father and son and couldn¡¯t help but be amused. ¡°ziyu, he really eats everything except apples.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu half-believed, and he picked oranges and blueberries for him. why did he hate apples so much? dad really dislikes apples. the three of them went shopping in the supermarket, exploring their preferences. the more lu zhiyuan saw gu ziyu¡¯s food preferences, the more annoyed he felt. it was exactly the same as third master! a carnivore, loved eating apples, had a strong taste preference, didn¡¯t like carbohydrates. if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he and third master shared the same body and had an incompatible relationship since childhood, he would have suspected that gu ziyu and third master had some undisclosed secret relationship. wait a minute¡­ those eyes! the more lu zhiyuan looked, the more suspicious he became. gu ziyu¡¯s eyes really resembled his own. it was rare for a boy to have peach blossom eyes, and lu zhiyuan thought to himself, could it be¡­ third master has a secret love child? damn! then that would be his too! no, it was unlikely. he and third master were only twenty years old. they couldn¡¯t have given birth to gu ziyu. who said so? in ancient times, men could father children at the age of eleven. he didn¡¯t know what had happened during the night. what if he really went into heat at the age of twelve or thirteen and had a secret love child? gu ziyu nudged gu ci and gestured for her to look at lu zhiyuan. the mother and son looked at lu zhiyuan as his expression changed several times. they exchanged glances, and gu ziyu spread his hands, clueless. lu zhiyuan imagined a horror plot and asked gu ziyu, ¡°who is your dad?¡± gu ziyu thought, it¡¯s you, lu zhiyuan. he carefully chose his words, ¡°he died before i was born.¡± ¡°if you weren¡¯t born, then how do you know?¡± ¡°my family told me,¡± gu ziyu replied with a subtle expression. ¡°have you seen his picture?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu paused. ¡°he looks a lot like you.¡± lu zhiyuan and gu ci were both rendered speechless. regardless, lu zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. it was indeed his child. no wonder little bundle¡¯s eyes resembled his. gu ziyu asked, ¡°brother, what are you thinking about?¡± ¡°you¡¯re really cute,¡± lu zhiyuan said insincerely, and gu ziyu followed along, ¡°really?¡± ¡°really!¡± the three of them left the supermarket with full hands. gu ci bought a lot of beef, chicken, fruits, green vegetables, fresh milk, and more. lu zhiyuan left while being cautious. after they went upstairs, he immediately looked for li jiang. ¡°li jiang, you started following me when you were thirteen, right?¡± ¡°yes, third young master!¡± li jiang trembled, on high alert. the third young master was up to something again. ¡°you¡¯ve been with third master all night too, right?¡± ¡°yes, third young master!¡± li jiang blinked. ¡°third young master, is there something you want me to tell third master?¡± ¡°when he was thirteen or fourteen¡­ did he do anything inappropriate for children?¡± li jiang was confused. ¡°third young master, could you be more direct? i¡¯m not very smart.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°i suspect gu ziyu is third master¡¯s child. did he have any women? could it be that he took my virginity that i¡¯ve preserved for so long?¡± li jiang was shocked and confused. what?! ¡°impossible!¡± li jiang raised his hand. ¡°third master never had any romantic relationships, neither with women nor with men. it¡¯s more believable that little young master is your child.¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes, dangerously looking at li jiang. li jiang quickly backed down. ¡°third young master, 1 was just joking. 1 swear third master has been pure and faithful, with no desire for worldly affairs.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, and li jiang continued, ¡°miss gu ci is so beautiful, but third master never had any worldly desires. how could he be interested in other women?¡± ¡°why wouldn¡¯t he be interested in my cici?¡± li jiang fell silent for three seconds. ¡°third young master, didn¡¯t you warn third master to stay away from miss gu ci?¡± lu zhiyuan was silent. gu ziyu being like third master made him feel complicated. ¡°li jiang, go find gu ziyu¡¯s hair and do a paternity test with me.¡± ¡°third young master, is that really necessary?¡± Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Father and Son Confrontation chapter 106: father and son confrontation translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li jiang felt that third young master was really suspicious. how can you suspect young master when he¡¯s so young? ¡°this is absolutely impossible. if you have always been virtuous, third young master would never have a son.¡± lu zhiyuan crossed his legs and also felt a bit sensitive, ¡°am 1 being too sensitive?¡± li jiang nodded, ¡°third young master, just ease your mind. young master is definitely not your son!¡± ¡°he can¡¯t just appear out of thin air,¡± lu zhiyuan squinted his eyes, ¡°you¡¯ve been investigating for months, and there¡¯s no news at all?¡± ¡°third master really couldn¡¯t find anything. you can ask miss gu ci. maybe she can give you some answers, and then i can report back to you.¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t ask for more. if he didn¡¯t handle this matter well, third master would keep investigating. ¡°why does he want to investigate gu ziyu?¡± ¡°young master is a genius hacker. he almost made a loophole in the black hawk group¡¯s network system. third master took care of it, but he found him suspicious. however, he couldn¡¯t find anything. young master challenged third master and vowed to take down the black hawk group. he must have some grudge against them.¡± li jiang revealed the truth. lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he smiled strangely, ¡°that¡¯s interesting. gu ziyu wants to take them down?¡± li jiang looked at lu zhiyuan¡¯s gloating expression and reminded him, ¡°third young master, your fortune is tied to third master.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t care. he was happy to cause trouble for third master. ¡°i kinda like gu ziyu.¡± li jiang was speechless. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face stiffened, and he squinted his eyes, ¡°wait, could he be a illegitimate child of lu ze?¡± what?! downstairs, gu ziyu felt a chill down his spine. he told gu ci, ¡°mom, dad has been staring at me ever since we left the supermarket.¡± ¡°are you being too sensitive?¡± gu ci didn¡¯t pay attention to it. ¡°it¡¯s true!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°he¡¯s been watching me with his eyes. what if he asks li jiang to get my hair or blood for a paternity test?¡± gu ci laughed, ¡°baby, your dad isn¡¯t that sensitive or bored. relax.¡± ¡°my intuition tells me he definitely suspects that i¡¯m his son.¡± gu ci touched gu ziyu¡¯s face, ¡°you¡¯re only fourteen years younger than him. at most, he suspects that you¡¯re lu ze¡¯s illegitimate child.¡± lu zhiyuan actually called lu ze. lu ze rarely received his call and was in a good mood, ¡°why suddenly concerned about your dad?¡± ¡°did you give birth to a little brother for me?¡± lu zhiyuan got straight to the point. lu ze¡¯s face darkened. he knew there was no good reason for his son to call him, ¡°zhiyuan, focus on your own business and don¡¯t go crazy.¡± ¡°dad, i¡¯m serious.¡± lu zhiyuan clicked his tongue, ¡°about seven or eight years ago, who were the women around you? give me a list, 1¡¯11 check.¡± ¡°i had a vasectomy ten years ago.¡± lu ze gritted his teeth, ¡°you rebellious child!¡± lu ze angrily hung up the phone, leaving lu zhiyuan puzzled. he asked li jiang, ¡°he had a vasectomy ten years ago?¡± ¡°yes, third young master!¡± ¡°then why didn¡¯t you stop me from calling?¡± li jiang pursed his lips, thinking that he wanted to see you get scolded. could he say that honestly? li jiang looked honest, ¡°i just remembered. that year, you had a big fight with lu shijie, and it got pretty intense. you said the chairman managed reproduction but not education. even if you had a child, it would be a disaster. the chairman, for some reason, went and had a vasectomy.¡± ¡°no wonder he kept having women around him. he acted like a playboy but didn¡¯t give me any little brothers in these ten years.¡± lu zhiyuan also suspected lu shijie and lu shixiu. after thinking about it, he said, ¡°forget it, it¡¯s not like 1 look down on them, but they couldn¡¯t have a son as good-looking as gu ziyu.¡± li jiang didn¡¯t know what to say. please, time, go faster. third master is about to take over. for the first time, 1 feel like third master is easier to serve than third young master! in the blink of an eye, it was the weekend. gu ziyu wanted to go on a trip, and gu ci, looking at her son¡¯s eager eyes, couldn¡¯t resist. even if there was a pile of homework, she agreed without hesitation. she asked gu ziyu, ¡°should we invite lu zhiyuan?¡± gu ziyu frowned in disgust. he didn¡¯t want his father to disturb their mother-son trip. gu ci casually said, ¡°dad has his private plane, so we don¡¯t have to squeeze into a small cabin with other people.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu agreed arrogantly. ¡°just because of the plane.¡± ¡°yes, just because of the plane.¡± gu ci invited lu zhiyuan to join them on the trip, and lu zhiyuan gladly agreed. after the september competition, he wouldn¡¯t have another major tournament until december, so it was the perfect time for rest and relaxation. lu zhiyuan wanted to go to hai cheng, and coincidentally, gu ziyu also had the same destination in mind. gu ci planned the itinerary, and the three of them, as a family, boarded the plane to hai cheng. lu zhiyuan brought li jiang and two bodyguards with him. after classes on friday, the mother and son went straight to the airport. with their luggage packed, lu zhiyuan also planned the timing. they were supposed to board the plane before 6 p.m., and once on board, he would sleep. when third master got off the plane, he and gu ci would be in separate rooms, and his identity wouldn¡¯t be revealed. however, plans don¡¯t always go as expected. there was an accident in one of gu ziyu¡¯s experiments in his doctoral program. the lab exploded, causing gu ziyu to suffer some minor injuries. gu ci took him to the school clinic for first aid and medication. by the time they reached the airport, it was already 6:30 p.m. when li jiang received them at the airport, he had a subtle smile on his face. ¡°miss gu ci, did you do it on purpose?¡± gu ci lifted gu ziyu¡¯s arm, revealing a scar caused by shattered glass. ¡°on purpose?¡± li jiang bowed at a ninety-degree angle. ¡°1 have a big mouth. i¡¯m sorry.¡± they all boarded the plane together. lu zhiyuan¡¯s private plane was larger than a regular passenger plane. it had suites, a small bar, and even a screening room. gu ziyu was familiar with this plane. in his previous life, he inherited lu zhiyuan¡¯s wealth, including this plane, and he often traveled in it. ¡°where is your master?¡± ¡°in the study, handling business,¡± li jiang said. after settling gu ci and gu ziyu, the plane took off. once it was stable, gu ci unbuckled her seatbelt, took gu ziyu¡¯s hand, and went to the bar to get some juice. passing by the study, gu ziyu¡¯s conscience kicked in, and he knocked on the door, asking lu zhiyuan, ¡°brother, would you like some juice?¡± lu zhiyuan looked up, gazing at gu ziyu. his usually smiling eyes were deep and tranquil, like an unfathomable sea. after their eyes met in a void, lu zhiyuan said, ¡°bring me a glass of apple juice.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu remained calm on the surface but was suspicious in his heart. he asked gu ci, ¡°mom, pour a glass of juice. i¡¯ll take it to my brother.¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ci was busy mixing drinks. she planned to make a cocktail for herself. after pouring a glass of apple juice for gu ziyu, she also poured one for third master. gu ziyu carried the juice to the study. lu zhiyuan placed the information about the imperial dynasty motorcade on the computer, covering up the files related to the black hawk group.. gu ziyu placed the juice on his desk, and as lu zhiyuan reached for the glass to drink, gu ziyu pressed his hand on the table and lowered his voice, ¡°brother, do you have a split personality?¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Do I Look Like Gu Ziyu? chapter 107: do i look like gu ziyu? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°why do you ask?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. after months of interaction with gu ziyu, he knew that gu ziyu was different from ordinary children. he was excessively intelligent, and lu zhiyuan never treated gu ziyu as a child. ¡°your daytime and nighttime selves are different.¡± gu ziyu looked at lu zhiyuan, who was casually drinking juice. ¡°during the day, you¡¯re like an eighteen-year-old youth, full of spirit and fearlessness. but now, you¡¯re like a thirty-year-old man in power.¡± gu ziyu smiled, and a touch of fearlessness appeared in his eyes, resembling his father. ¡°brother, human emotions aren¡¯t that simple. take me, for example. i want to play the role of a child, and i play it convincingly. but in the end, it¡¯s just a role, not the real me. didn¡¯t you see through it at first glance?¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly and drank half a glass of juice. he looked at the apple juice in gu ziyu¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°is apple juice tasty?¡± ¡°it¡¯s tasty,¡± gu ziyu answered cautiously, sensing a certain danger and feeling that the man in front of him was equally powerful and dangerous. ¡°your preferences are just like mine,¡± lu zhiyuan gazed deeply at him. ¡°does having a dual personality matter? everyone wears masks in life. we adults all have secrets.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care if you have a dual personality,¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°but someone does care. does my sister know?¡± ¡°gu ziyu, you¡¯ve crossed the line,¡± lu zhiyuan raised his head and also saw gu ci standing at the doorway, smiling as she looked at them. ¡°zi yu, what were you talking about with your brother?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s expression instantly changed. he went from being a serious little boy to a bright and innocent little milk bun. ¡°sister, we were discussing which brand of apple juice tastes better.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know whether to believe him or not. instinctively, he wanted to protect his mother and didn¡¯t want her to know the cruel truth. gu ziyu held the apple juice, left the study, and closed the door. gu ci sensitively noticed his emotions and rubbed his head. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ziyu looked up at gu ci, recalling the several encounters with lu zhiyuan at night. he completely ignored his mother, and his other persona didn¡¯t like his mother. ¡°mom, don¡¯t like dad anymore,¡± gu ziyu said, afraid of her getting hurt. ¡°when i grow up, i¡¯ll find a better man for you. our doctoral program has handsome, mature, and highly intelligent guys.¡± he was afraid, and fear began to take hold. if mom knew that dad had another persona and didn¡¯t actually like her, she would be heartbroken and depressed. what if she wanted to die? he didn¡¯t want his mother to be hurt. he wouldn¡¯t forgive anyone who hurt his mother, including dad! gu ci squatted down, touching gu ziyu¡¯s face. ¡°baby, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°dad is too mean. i don¡¯t like it,¡± gu ziyu said. gu ci chuckled lightly. ¡°when did you ever like him?¡± gu ziyu gaped. he was afraid gu ci would become suspicious, so he didn¡¯t dwell on the matter. gu ci had a pile of homework to do and was busy writing it on the plane. gu ziyu pulled li jiang to the side and calmly asked, ¡°li jiang, does he have a dual personality?¡± li jiang didn¡¯t know how to answer. cold sweat trickled down his back, and he blurted out, ¡°impossible, that¡¯s not a thing.¡± gu ziyu leaned back in the chair, resembling a decadent young master, a little yandere, but his movements were gentle. ¡°think carefully before you answer, li jiang.¡± li jiang¡¯s back shivered. ¡°young master, calm down. we¡¯re in the sky. do we really need to go down together?¡± ¡°what are you talking about?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s smile held a hint of sinister charm. ¡°i¡¯m still a baby. how could a baby engage in such things like violence?¡± li jiang thought to himself, young master, the look in your eyes when you want to kill someone is undeniable. take a look in the mirror. gu ziyu was very angry. li jiang had been by his side for many years in the previous life and never mentioned that lu zhiyuan had a dual personality. why? was it because he hadn¡¯t seen dad, so he thought it wasn¡¯t important? ¡°gu ziyu, come in!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice came from the study. to save li jiang, gu ziyu sarcastically looked at him, ¡°you¡¯re truly loyal.¡± gu ziyu entered the study and closed the door. li jiang stood smartly by the door, guarding it. ¡°as you suspected, i have a dual personality,¡± lu zhiyuan said calmly, clasping his hands in front of his waist and looking at him. ¡°now that you know, what are you going to do about it?¡± gu ziyu smiled sweetly and tenderly. ¡°brother, how did you know that our eating habits are similar?¡± ¡°i have daytime memories,¡± lu zhiyuan said casually. ¡°you¡¯re a very intelligent child. at the age of six, you possess the intelligence and speech of an adult. since you¡¯re close to gu ci, you should advise her not to worry about me.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s smile was like a mask. ¡°my sister is beautiful and grew up with you as childhood friends. it¡¯s your honor that she likes you. you should know your place a bit more.¡± ¡°your confidence is just as arrogant as hers.¡± lu zhiyuan mocked. ¡°i¡¯ve said enough. little milk bun, think it over carefully.¡± ¡°how can there be memories if it¡¯s a dual personality?¡± gu ziyu chuckled softly. ¡°brother, i¡¯m a seasoned mental patient. i have the right to speak, and what you have isn¡¯t a dual personality.¡± gu ziyu was born with a mental disorder and had been ill for a long time. ji chi tried to save him, and he tried to save himself. after gu ci¡¯s death, he became disillusioned and lost any attachment to the world, becoming more and more sinister. ji chi had taken him to see numerous psychologists, all trying to analyze what illness he had. ¡°it¡¯s not important.¡± lu zhiyuan had no intention of discussing mental illness with him. ¡°i am the real lu zhiyuan. the one you all love¡­ is an illusion. don¡¯t get trapped deeper and deeper. eventually, you¡¯ll lose it.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s smile gradually faded away, replaced by a gloominess that pervaded his eyes. gu ziyu said, ¡°i don¡¯t care if you have a dual personality or any other illness, or¡­ if you¡¯re a normal person. but if you hurt my sister, i won¡¯t let you off.¡± he walked to the door before pausing as if he remembered something and turned back with a smile. the malice filled his peach blossom eyes, resembling his own. ¡°brother, don¡¯t you think¡­ we¡¯re quite similar?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him. this attitude was both provocation and a declaration of war! after gu ziyu left, lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened slightly. li jiang entered and took away his cup. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°li jiang, do gu ziyu and i look alike?¡± ¡°no!¡± li jiang felt that gu ziyu resembled gu ci in appearance. ¡°but your temperaments are really similar.¡± ¡°leave!¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t figure out the third master¡¯s thoughts. to be honest, it was easy to understand the third young master. black was black, white was white. he scolded when he was angry and laughed when he was happy. his thoughts were easy to grasp. but the same couldn¡¯t be said for the third master; he hid his emotions and thoughts too deeply. gu ci was unaware of the conflicts between father and son as she focused on her homework. she was engrossed in her work, and there was a medical paper that needed to be translated and recorded. gu ziyu saw her busyness and said, ¡°mom, i can do your homework for you.¡± ¡°all¡­¡± gu ci¡¯s emotions were quite complex. she thought of parents on the internet who called emergency services over helping their children with homework, or threatened to jump off buildings. she truly felt fortunate.. Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: A Warm Family of Three (1) chapter 108: a warm family of three (1) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation son doing homework for the mom. she wondered if there was any dignity left in that. ¡°okay, baby, translate this article for me.¡± what was dignity? it didn¡¯t matter! after the plane arrived in haicheng, the hotel had already been booked. li jiang reserved two presidential suites. lu zhiyuan had one room to himself, while gu ci and gu ziyu shared another room. gu ci and gu ziyu both discovered lu zhiyuan¡¯s dual personality, so he wasn¡¯t so cautious. the group of them took a car to the hotel. lu zhiyuan had been dealing with black hawk group¡¯s work and sat in the back seat silently. gu ziyu was afraid that gu ci would discover the truth and was very worried. he held onto gu ci and talked about the article he had just translated, pretending not to understand a few professional terms and leaving them to discuss on the way so as not to let her notice lu zhiyuan¡¯s state. the most awkward person was li jiang, who was driving. li jiang noticed one thing. as long as he remained calm and not embarrassed, it was always someone else who felt embarrassed. gu ci also didn¡¯t want gu ziyu to discover lu zhiyuan¡¯s condition, so she intentionally engaged him in conversation. the three of them unintentionally had an unspoken agreement to ignore each other throughout the trip. when gu ziyu returned to the suite, gu ci had already taken a bath and gone to sleep. he pretended to turn off the lights and sleep, but in the middle of the night, he got up and checked the medical history of the lu family. ¡°could my illness be genetic?¡± however, after searching for a long time, he found that there was no history of mental illness in lu ze¡¯s three generations, and they were all healthy. lu zhiyuan¡¯s mother also had no family history of hereditary diseases. ¡°did he have a genetic mutation and pass it on to me?¡± gu ziyu sneered and gave up. whether it was hereditary or not, without lu zhiyuan, she wouldn¡¯t exist. although her parents had given her some negatives, they had also given her some positives. gu ziyu took a deep breath and smiled, ¡°stay calm.¡± he thought for a moment and checked lu zhiyuan¡¯s medical records. then he discovered something strange. apart from lu zhiyuan¡¯s competitions and known accidents, there were no medical records of him in the hospital database. ¡°he has never been sick from childhood to adulthood?¡± gu ziyu quickly searched with his fingers. ¡°1 don¡¯t believe it!¡± the strange thing was that after searching for two hours, he couldn¡¯t find any medical records. there were only vaccination records before the age of three. he suspected that someone had deleted the data, but he couldn¡¯t find any traces of deletion. if he couldn¡¯t find any traces of deletion¡­ gu ziyu pondered, ¡°did my father have an innate talent and never got sick from childhood to adulthood?¡± the next day, he asked gu ci, ¡°mom, has anyone never been sick since birth?¡± ¡°the probability is very low.¡± gu ci, being a doctor, spoke objectively, ¡°when a person is born, their immune system gradually develops. they may not have serious illnesses, but they will inevitably have minor ailments.¡± ¡°you grew up with dad since childhood. did he ever get sick?¡± ¡°no, he didn¡¯t!¡± gu ci thought for a moment and shook her head. ¡°your father has always been strong and healthy from a young age. he has a good immune system and belongs to a low-probability group.¡± gu ci suspected that lu zhiyuan was not human after all, considering that humans couldn¡¯t teleport. lu zhiyuan came over to join them for breakfast, and gu ziyu, knowing that he had regained his memories, cleverly hid his suspicions and didn¡¯t delve deeper. however, lu zhiyuan still sensitively sensed gu ziyu¡¯s gaze. ¡°what are you looking at, little milk bun?¡± ¡°big brother, you¡¯re so handsome.¡± gu ziyu blinked, praising cutely, ¡°you¡¯re the most handsome big brother i¡¯ve ever seen.¡± lu zhiyuan calmly drank his milk and ate his salad, saying, ¡°empty flattery. god only knows if it¡¯s sinister or deceitful.¡± ¡°people should communicate sincerely with each other.¡± gu ziyu smiled subtly, ¡°1 appreciate your beauty.¡± gu ci gaped at them. ¡°you¡¯re two handsome guys, stop messing around. enjoy the two days of the trip, okay?¡± lu zhiyuan spread his hands and looked sincerely at gu ci. ¡°if both ziyu and 1 fall into the water, whom would you save?¡± ¡°what are you thinking, lu zhiyuan!¡± gu ci blurted out, ¡°of course, 1 would save gu ziyu.¡± lu zhiyuan felt a blow to his heart. gu ziyu smiled, showing his white teeth, and narrowed his eyes. he added, ¡°big brother if you fall into the water, i¡¯ll throw you a swimming ring.¡± after having breakfast together as a family, they went diving by the seaside. li jiang had arranged the itinerary. lu zhiyuan had a diving qualification, and gu ci had a fear of deep water, so she waited for him and gu ziyu on the deck. lu zhiyuan took gu ziyu into the water to play. li jiang was worried about accidents, so he also arranged for a diving instructor. while they were playing in the water, gu ci sunbathed on the deck, drinking wine and eating cake, showcasing the typical elegant and noble demeanor of an upper-class lady, and posted the pictures on her social media. the jiang family members all clicked the ¡°like¡± button. lin chunli: wow, cici is so beautiful. jiang minghua: wow, cici is so beautiful. the old mr. and mrs. jiang from the jiang family also clicked the ¡°like¡± button. they weren¡¯t used to typing on social media, so the old lady sent a voice message to gu ci. gu ci replied to each of them. jiang junlin was the most practical; he sent her a bunch of travel tips and recommendations for haicheng¡¯s cuisine. the jiang family knew that gu wenliang and lu man often took gu chuyun and gu yaozu on trips, but they never took gu ci with them. she was always left alone at home. li jiang said, ¡°miss gu ci, would you like to try shallow diving? we have a diving instructor with us, so it¡¯s very safe.¡± ¡°no need.¡± ¡°i¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get bored.¡± gu ci chuckled. she wasn¡¯t bored at all. lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu were within her reach, and she felt happy and secure even if she imprisoned herself in her own world. this kind of emotion couldn¡¯t be felt by others. zhou jinjin sent a string of jealous emojis and then sent a video message, ¡°cici, cici, is haicheng fun? you¡¯re sunbathing, why are you dressed so formally? you should wear a bikini.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°1 didn¡¯t bring one. what are you filming?¡± ¡°i got a small beauty advertisement. several brands have approached me recently to shoot ads. they have great taste.¡± zhou jinjin, who was focused on making money, was extremely happy. ¡°let me tell you some gossip. this advertisement was originally meant for gu chuyun, but since the gu family went bankrupt, the investors replaced her. back then, whenever gu chuyun liked something, she would snatch it away. we couldn¡¯t do anything to her except beat her up. now, we can snatch her resources. it feels great. i purposely chose two advertisements that kicked gu chuyun out.¡± ¡°well done!¡± gu ci praised. after a pause, she added, ¡°gu chuyun is extremely petty. be careful she doesn¡¯t seek revenge on you.¡± ¡°what can she do to me? without the title of gu family¡¯s little princess and hualan bank, who would buy her innocent act? even the image of a princess in distress doesn¡¯t work anymore.¡± zhou jinjin gloated. ¡°after gu yaozu was discharged from the hospital, he rested for a few days and went to a bar, where he got into a fight with someone over a woman. he accidentally injured the other person, who demanded compensation of five hundred thousand yuan. lu man even sold a small property with limited ownership. gu chuyun is overwhelmed with her own troubles. she doesn¡¯t have time to bicker with me. if she wants to start a fight, i¡¯m ready anytime.¡± gu ci¡¯s smile turned cold. gu yaozu had a hot temper, spoiled since childhood, and had caused trouble continuously in his previous life. with gu chuyun and lu shijie taking care of him, he was able to handle the aftermath. but now that he had lost his support, his downfall was just a matter of time. seeing gu ci¡¯s silence, zhou jinjin said, ¡°oh my god, cici, you don¡¯t feel sorry for them, do you?¡± Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: A Warm Family of Three (2) chapter 109: a warm family of three (2) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci snapped back to reality and shook her head, saying, ¡°their situation has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°speaking of which, gu chuyun has been acting strange lately.¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong with her?¡± ¡°i heard from the socialites¡¯ circle that her close girlfriends have distanced themselves from her. she wasn¡¯t invited to the recent social events, but she went anyway. she was mocked and ridiculed. they poured drinks on her, and she drank them all. they even deliberately pushed her into the pool. if it were a year ago, she would have exploded, but she endured it all. she climbed out of the pool, still smiling and apologizing, saying she accidentally fell in.¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°gu chuyun tends to get carried away when things are going well for her, but she can also endure hardships. she¡¯ll find an opportunity to make a comeback.¡± ¡°what can she do to make a comeback? gu group has gone bankrupt and is heavily in debt,¡± zhou jinjin said. ¡°her brother is a useless person. tsk, unless she has a script for rebirth, she¡¯s just holding a lousy hand.¡± gu ci remained silent. ¡°i¡¯m going to shoot an advertisement now. baby, have fun. wear something revealing on the beach. how else will you seduce my husband?¡± after hanging up the phone, lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu emerged from underwater. gu ziyu was especially happy, waving his arms and legs. ¡°mom, the underwater scenery is beautiful, with lots of coral and pretty fish.¡± gu ci took a towel and dried his hair while lu zhiyuan sensitively heard gu ziyu call her ¡°mom¡± and turned to look at them. it was a scene of motherly love and filial piety. li jiang also heard it. mom? why did the young master call her mom? in this diving area, seeing coral was quite rare. the photos were beautiful, with two divers protecting him. gu ziyu chased after a group of fish, creating a beautiful image. lu zhiyuan exuded a sense of strength as he stretched his body underwater, following gu ziyu calmly and unhurriedly. they took many pictures together. lu zhiyuan stood on the deck, shirtless, revealing his strong and well-proportioned upper body. he wore shorts on the lower half, and under the bright sunlight, his youthful body appeared fit and sexy. gu ci¡¯s attention was originally focused on gu ziyu, but she was attracted by the sight of lu zhiyuan without his shirt. it was a body she had been close to many times before, and each time it made her feel dry-mouthed. ¡°mom, isn¡¯t that the cola for me to drink?¡± gu ziyu looked at gu ci in confusion. gu ci, who was infatuatedly staring at lu zhiyuan on the deck, drank the beverage in her hand intended for him. gu ci¡¯s face instantly turned red. she was unconsciously relieving her dry mouth and tongue by indulging in her desires. it was too embarrassing. she pretended to be calm. ¡°i¡¯m was thirsty. why don¡¯t you get another bottle?¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu opened another bottle of drink and looked at lu zhiyuan, then at gu ci, suddenly realizing the situation. he looked very helpless, and gu ci was even more embarrassed under her son¡¯s gaze. li jiang held back his laughter. he was a mature captain of the guard and would not speak unless necessary. watching the scene unfold was entertaining enough. miss gu ci couldn¡¯t resist the allure of third young master¡¯s charm. lu zhiyuan casually wiped his body and walked towards gu ci, like a hormone-dispensing machine in motion, relying on his good looks to be aggressive, and oblivious to it. gu ci blushed and said, ¡°put on your clothes.¡± ¡°you¡¯re blushing!¡± lu zhiyuan smirked. if it weren¡¯t for gu ziyu being present, he would definitely tease gu ci. with gu ziyu around, it affected his behavior, and he didn¡¯t want to do anything inappropriate in front of the little milk bun. gu ziyu sneered, ¡°brother, you¡¯re showing off.¡± ¡°not every male can be like a peacock.¡± lu zhiyuan knew he was handsome and had a good physique. he took the t-shirt handed to him by li jiang. ¡°gu ci wouldn¡¯t blush if it were you who took your clothes off.¡± gu ci grabbed an orange and threw it at him. ¡°shut up!¡± lu zhiyuan laughed as he caught the orange, peeled it open, and leisurely ate it. the whole family basked in the sun, played in the sea, and had lunch on the boat. the chef¡¯s cooking skills were good, and they had fresh seafood. while the chef was cooking, gu ziyu wanted to go fishing but didn¡¯t know how. lu zhiyuan taught gu ziyu how to fish. gu ziyu caught a large yellowtail fish, estimated to weigh about four to five kilograms. li jiang couldn¡¯t help but cheer sincerely, ¡°well done, my young master.¡± yellowtail fish had been overfished, so the chances of eating wild yellowtail were extremely low. lu zhiyuan was also surprised. the last time his nutritionist brought two three-kilogram yellowtail fish for the athletes. each one cost nearly six thousand. li jiang weighed the large yellowtail fish, which weighed five and a half kilograms. he exclaimed, ¡°this fish if sold to fishmongers at the port, would start at least at thirty thousand.¡± gu ci also came over and looked at the large yellowtail fish gu ziyu caught. it had excellent quality. gu ci said, ¡°wild yellowtail fish are almost endangered. a five-kilogram yellowtail fish must have lived for at least nine years.¡± no wonder the price of yellowtail fish was exorbitant. earlier this year, a fisherman went out to sea and caught a four-kilogram yellowtail fish, which sold for fifty thousand. the government had already banned fishing for yellowtail fish, but with huge profits, many fishermen continued to go out to sea for fishing. ¡°big sister, let¡¯s release it.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s desire for food was not strong, and he could sense gu ci¡¯s intention from her words. if she was suggesting to release it, it meant it was a rare fish species. in front of gu ci, he always showed his well-behaved and gentle side. ¡°steamed yellowtail fish is especially tender,¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°a rare delicacy on the dining table.¡± ¡°the fish caught by our baby ziyu, let ziyu decide.¡± gu ci ruffled his hair. ¡°i want to release it.¡± after feeding a bit of bait to the fish, gu ziyu released the large yellowtail fish. ¡°what a pity, wild yellowtail fish is so delicious,¡± li jiang said with a pained expression. the probability of catching one was even smaller than stepping on a diamond. it was obvious that the little milk bun was a fishing expert. in no time, he caught a cod. gu ci applauded. ¡°baby, you¡¯re so talented. the fish all love you, biting your bait desperately.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci¡¯s joyful expression, then looked at his empty fishing basket and fell into contemplation. why were they fishing together, but gu ziyu caught yellowtail fish and cod while he caught nothing? ¡°exaggeration!¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°that¡¯s a typical case of the student surpassing the master.¡± lu zhiyuan felt that gu ziyu was playing dumb and being cunning. ¡°little milk bun, do you know how to fish in the open seas?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. in his previous life, going out to sea always involved bloodshed. there was no mood for fishing, and no elders taught him. it was his first time fishing with his father. ¡°first time fishing.¡± ¡°you seem quite skilled.¡± gu ziyu blinked innocently. ¡°i¡¯m smart and quick to learn. brother taught me well. i¡¯m giving this fish as a gift to my brother.¡± lu zhiyuan turned to gu ci and asked, ¡°is he mocking me?¡± gu ci¡¯s expression was subtle. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t be too sensitive. ziyu is very pure.¡± lu zhiyuan sputtered. the filter is so thick; this little milk bun is clearly both mischievous and cunning. five minutes later, he caught another cod. ¡°it¡¯s really strange..¡± Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Third Master and Ziyu chapter 110: third master and ziyu translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t really believe in superstitions. but even when the chef brought gu ziyu¡¯s codfish to the table, he still hadn¡¯t caught a single fish. li jiang couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°third young master, it¡¯s quite strange. just give up!¡± ¡°stop struggling.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe it¡¯s your first time fishing.¡± third young master, who was narcissistic, insisted. li jiang also helped his master save face, ¡°i heard that people who play mahjong for the first time have particularly good luck and always win money. maybe it¡¯s the same principle.¡± ¡°brother, i really am fishing for the first time. 1 only followed ji chi before and watched him fish,¡± gu ziyu liked to compare himself with lu zhiyuan, feeling superior and proud. li jiang squinted his eyes. young master had followed ji chi to fish? lu zhiyuan was surprised, ¡°ji chi hasn¡¯t returned to the country for over ten years. when did you go fishing with him?¡± gu ziyu calmly thought about how to find a reason that would be reasonable and logical. ji chi left city a when he was ten and never came back. gu ci came to his rescue, ¡°it¡¯s time for lunch. we have cod fish that ziyu caught.¡± ¡°wow, i¡¯m starving!¡± gu ziyu rubbed his stomach and ran towards gu ci, hugging her waist. ¡°mom, 1 said something wrong.¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay!¡± gu ci heard it and deliberately helped him defuse the situation. gu ziyu secretly thought that he must be more careful so as not to arouse his father¡¯s suspicion. wait¡­ he turned his head and looked at lu zhiyuan. was his dad on familiar terms with ji chi? with this glance, he also caught li jiang¡¯s probing and puzzled gaze. gu ziyu felt a momentary panic, feeling like he had overlooked something, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. the chef served the cod fish, prepared steamed and sweet and sour. gu ziyu particularly liked the sweet and sour one, but lu zhiyuan avoided it. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t pay too much attention to ji chi¡¯s little episode, and gu ziyu wanted to test him, but seeing that lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t care, his doubts gradually faded. maybe he was overthinking it! in the afternoon, gu ci habitually took a nap, while lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu were full of energy. lu zhiyuan took gu ziyu to play parasailing and jet skiing on the sea. they had a day of fun, and gu ziyu felt incredibly happy. gu ci also noticed something. when gu ziyu was with lu zhiyuan, he became like an ordinary six-year-old child, looking at his father affectionately as his reliance and safe haven. a young son and an adult father. no matter how arrogant he was on the surface and unwilling to admit it, his actions showed that he longed for paternal love and enjoyed being with lu zhiyuan. so, besides eating together, gu ci didn¡¯t join in their fun. she stayed on the side, taking videos and photos, capturing every smile and frown. ¡°ziyu looks so happy when he smiles!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart melted. she was used to seeing gu ziyu¡¯s desolate expression, but seeing him so radiant and happy in the sunlight made her heartache and soften. ¡°baby, things will get better.¡± the sky darkened in haicheng at seven o¡¯clock, and after six o¡¯clock, lu zhiyuan pretended not to understand his indifference, and gu ziyu didn¡¯t want to spoil the atmosphere. he wanted to suggest going back to sleep to prevent mom from discovering dad¡¯s secret. coincidentally, there was a beach party in haicheng tonight, right by the seaside. gu ci was tempted and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, let¡¯s go to the beach party together, what do you think?¡± gu ziyu felt a bit nervous, afraid that he would say something that would hurt mom¡¯s feelings, so he watched lu zhiyuan cautiously. lu zhiyuan looked down at the little milk bun and then at gu ci¡¯s eager eyes. ¡°okay!¡± his response was concise, but gu ci was delighted. afraid that gu ziyu would be squeezed away in the crowd, she held his hand all the way. gu ziyu thought for a moment and held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand as well. lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand stiffened, but when he looked down, he saw gu ziyu¡¯s bright smiling face. ¡°brother¡­¡± in his heart, there was a strange sense of closeness and a sense of destiny. in the fierce battles online, why did he always feel so soft-hearted when he saw this little milk bun? he didn¡¯t really like beach parties. on both sides of the road, there were crowds of people cheering. they went with the flow, and there was a rock band performing on stage. the atmosphere was lively, and almost all the participants were young men and women. beer, music, and hot dancing created a lively scene. lu zhiyuan was a global racing champion, and that face was the epitome of beauty in the hearts of countless women. in the crowd, he couldn¡¯t hide, and naturally, it caused a stir. li jiang followed closely, shielding him from the enthusiastic fans. although the fans couldn¡¯t take photos or get autographs with him, they secretly took pictures of him, and they naturally captured him with gu ci and gu ziyu. ¡°the looks of these three are incredible.¡± ¡°the little kid is so cute, with an adorable smile. if lu zhiyuan and gu ci have a child, they will probably look like this.¡± ¡°they really look like a family of three!¡± the entire beach was filled with lively music and dancing. gu ci and gu ziyu swayed along with the music. the night sky, the beach, the music, and the beer created an atmosphere that invigorated everyone. lu zhiyuan felt out of place in the lively atmosphere. gu ci couldn¡¯t resist her urge and performed on stage, playing the drums. she could keep up with the rhythm of the band, and the atmosphere reached its peak. everyone enjoyed it together. gu ziyu applauded until his palms turned red, dancing along with the music and sweating profusely. he saw lu zhiyuan standing there like a wooden statue and asked, ¡°how can you not be moved by such a beautiful sister and such energetic music? you¡¯re as cold as ice. are you an old man?¡± the music was so loud that gu ziyu almost shouted. lu zhiyuan lowered his gaze and looked at him. ¡°your excitement and enjoyment are just a facade, just like me, gu ziyu.¡± gu ziyu smiled brightly and sweetly, ¡°1 can pretend to be a normal person. can you?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t really a smile. ¡°guess.¡± gu ziyu was annoyed. gu ziyu harbored an indescribable hostility towards lu zhiyuan. he silently thought that fathers could be quite annoying sometimes. compared to him, the father, who took him diving and taught him how to fish, seemed much cuter. on stage, gu ci went crazy playing the drums. music had the power to move people¡¯s hearts, the softest part of them. in a previous life, lu zhiyuan had also brought her to haicheng and played beach music with her. she wore a mask and held hands with him, walking in the moonlight, hidden among the crowd. the music healed her insecurities, fears, and nightmares. that year, there was a girl who confessed her feelings on stage to the one she liked. gu ci watched the girl¡¯s bright smile and flawless face with longing, her hand touching her mask while sinking into her own insecurities. ¡°she¡¯s really brave!¡± tears welled up in gu ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°i will never have that kind of courage in my lifetime.¡± she didn¡¯t dare to expose this dignified appearance to the crowd. lu zhiyuan held her hand and whispered, ¡°there will be a day, gu ci. believe me.¡± his gaze was firm and powerful, inexplicably comforting her fears and sorrows. tears fell from gu ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°time can¡¯t turn back, and that day will never come again.¡± but fate had mercy, and time really turned back.. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: A Announcement to the World, I Like You chapter 111: a announcement to the world, i like you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°lu zhiyuan, i like you!¡± gu ci took the microphone, her smile dazzling, her voice echoing like a proclamation that spread to every corner of the beach. in the distance, the waves rolled gently, as if responding. she forgot all her worries, forgot about lu zhiyuan¡¯s dual personality. she only remembered the regret of her past life when lu zhiyuan never said he liked her. but what about her? even until lu zhiyuan¡¯s death, she never said ¡°i like you¡± once. she looked at lu zhiyuan, tears in her eyes, a mix of happiness and joy. it turns out that confessing boldly to someone is such a blissful thing. after lu zhiyuan¡¯s death, gu ci regretted it countless times. why was she always trapped in self-doubt and pain, unable to muster the courage to say ¡°1 like you¡±? in this lifetime, she finally achieved her wish without any regrets. ¡°gu ci likes lu zhiyuan!¡± this declaration of love, though delayed by many years, finally reached lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart through the passage of time. ¡°wow¡­¡± thunderous applause erupted on the beach. the crowd cheered and clapped, and the music exploded. the joy of men and women in love is indeed the most beautiful thing in the world. in this moment, even the music gave courage to gu ci. lu zhiyuan held gu ziyu¡¯s hand tightly, his eyes dark and deep. gu ci¡¯s voice, accompanied by the music, exploded in his ears, and it was like a firework exploding. their gazes intertwined in the air, entangled. gu ci had tears in her eyes, but she laughed freely. lu zhiyuan¡¯s breathing became heavy, his chest heaving. only the veins on the back of his hand revealed his emotions. ¡°brother, you¡¯re hurting me.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice brought lu zhiyuan back to reality. he let go of his hand, his fair hand red and swollen from his grip. li jiang was now a standard bystander, his mouth wide open in astonishment as if he could fit a duck egg in it. miss gu ci shattered his preconceptions. she was so courageous. this was third master, not third young master, what was she thinking? who can resist the confession of a beautiful girl, so sincere and joyful? she likes you, the whole world knows. bold and fearless. gu ci jumped off the stage and walked towards lu zhiyuan, hugging him. ¡°i¡¯m not¡­ him.¡± his voice was obscure, and his emotions were hard to understand. he didn¡¯t dare to reach out and hug her. the music shook, and they toasted with wine. the sky was full of stars and moon, witnessed by thousands. lu zhiyuan put his hands on her shoulders, wanting to push her away, but he heard gu ci say, ¡°i like you, whether it¡¯s day or night.¡± a grand and passionate confession instantly made it to the top of the trending topics. there were dozens of hot search keywords, all related to gu ci and lu zhiyuan. gu ci¡¯s phone was filled with messages. zhou jinjin sent a bunch of voice messages, but gu ci didn¡¯t bother listening. she already knew what zhou jinjin would say. in the jiang family group chat, grandma jiang posted a video she got from somewhere. it was gu ci¡¯s confession, clearly captured. jiang junlin responded with a smiling emoticon, gu ci pretended to be dead, and gu ziyu followed suit with a smiling emoticon. grandpa and grandma jiang were very concerned about one thing: did you get him? gu ci: still working on it. lin chunli: is third young master that hard to pursue? with such a confession, even auntie is moved. is he really so cold-hearted? jiang junlin: smiling.jpg grandma jiang: cici, your strategy for pursuing someone is wrong. being so enthusiastic and taking the initiative, boys won¡¯t appreciate it. a girl should be reserved. jiang minghua: he¡¯s so hard to pursue. he¡¯s not moved even after you confessed to the whole world. forget him and find someone else who is more obedient. grandpa jiang: yeah. jiang junlin: exactly. gu ziyu: agreed!! lin chunli sent a bunch of strategies for girls pursuing guys: cici, learn from this, see which tricks you haven¡¯t tried. lin chunli was kicked out of the group chat by jiang minghua. gu ci: uncle, aren¡¯t you afraid of kneeling and washing clothes? the next second, auntie was pulled back into the chat. jiang minghua: my hand slipped. lin chunli: slap.jpg. on the internet, the heat exploded. jiang junlin tried to suppress it, but gave up and let it go. the rumors of gu ci and lu zhiyuan¡¯s relationship had already spread. the dynasty team never denied it, and lu zhiyuan only said he hadn¡¯t been in a relationship. but then he went to the seaside city with gu ci, and they were even seen holding a child¡¯s hand. ¡°gu ci is really brave. with ten thousand people at the beach, she confessed publicly. she dares to love and hate a true woman.¡± ¡°even though lu zhiyuan denies being in a relationship, how can she still dare to confess? it must be media pressure, she¡¯s so scheming.¡± ¡°no relationship, but traveling together in the seaside city, holding hands. a candid shot of them holding hands, what does that mean? is lu zhiyuan being shameless?¡± ¡°hahaha, the male god has girls from around the world admiring him. is he afraid of admitting a relationship because of the backlash? he¡¯s really toxic. if you¡¯re in a relationship, just admit it openly. why make the girl confess to the whole world? what a jerk.¡± ¡°ugh, shut up. lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t rely on fans to make a living. who cares if he¡¯s in a relationship or not?¡± ¡°hahaha, you braindead fans care. you keep calling him ¡®husband¡¯ every day. look at yourself in the mirror and then compare yourself to gu ci. looks, education, family background, what can you compare?¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, i like you too! lin zhao has liked lu zhiyuan for ten thousand years!!!¡± the comments section had a variety of opinions. gu ci glanced briefly, not caring about the negative comments or the positive ones. many braindead fans sent her hate messages accusing her of pressuring lu zhiyuan with public opinion, calling her a scheming woman. but there were also people who sent private messages praising her bravery, and gu ci didn¡¯t pay attention to those either. after hanging at the top of the trending topics for nearly an hour, the top comment was a photo of them holding gu ziyu¡¯s hand. comment: am i the only one who thinks this looks like a family of three? the comments below were also interesting. ¡°if lu zhiyuan were seven or eight years older, i would believe it.¡± ¡°did you two lie about your ages? is this your baby?¡± ¡°to be honest, if gu ci marries lu zhiyuan, this is what their son will look like.¡± ¡°the little prince is so cute and clever-looking.¡± gu ci¡¯s confession caused her fans to increase by 500,000 overnight, comparable to an internet celebrity. this incident brought her a lot of attention and popularity, even surpassing that of a-list celebrities. even her mentor sent her a thumbs-up emoticon. in the neighboring suite. lu zhiyuan sat on the balcony, looking at the distant lights, a glass of red wine by his side. li jiang scratched his head and rubbed his chin, feeling like a hedgehog. the hype was so high. how was he going to handle the public relations? relations.¡¯ third master, can you give us a clear statement? no one expected that miss gu ci, who had always been cool, emotionally reserved, and seldom smiled, would publicly declare her love for lu zhiyuan in front of the whole world. confession was delightful, but public relations turned into a minefield. what should they do? lu zhiyuan sat like a sculpture for two hours, silent and motionless since he returned. li jiang was also troubled. ¡°third master, about¡­public relations? what should we say? give us a clear statement, the pr department is anxious and waiting online..¡± Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Lu Zhiyuan Is Jealous chapter 112: lu zhiyuan is jealous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation everyone is urging him, but what can he do? lu zhiyuan¡¯s personal mobile number has only been added by a few people. even the doctors and nutritionists in the team only added li jiang. anything that needs to be conveyed goes through li jiang. it¡¯s nearly impossible to contact him directly for work matters. ¡°no need,¡± lu zhiyuan calmly said, ¡°it¡¯s too late.¡± li jiang was confused. ¡°what does ¡°it¡¯s too late¡± mean? third master, if you and third young master could reconcile, you speak ten sentences a day, and third young master speaks a hundred sentences a day. it would average out to fifty sentences each. can you please clarify a bit? it¡¯s not too late for public relations, although it would be sensational. if you want to handle public relations, there are still ways to do it. shouldn¡¯t you clarify or deny it?¡± ¡°fine!¡± li jiang could only grumble in his heart, not daring to say it to lu zhiyuan¡¯s face. lu zhiyuan got up and left the suite, with li jiang following closely behind. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°you don¡¯t need to follow.¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang scratched his head. third master has such high combat power he won¡¯t encounter any danger. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t sleep either, while gu ci slept the best. after drinking a glass of wine, she fell asleep carefree. gu ziyu tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, so he got up and went swimming. in his previous life, when he couldn¡¯t sleep, he would go swimming. of course, he was lazy and didn¡¯t like to move around, so swimming meant floating around in a pool for a few hours. but after exercising in this life, his physical fitness improved, and he could swim for forty minutes. when he arrived at the swimming pool, he found that there was already someone swimming. their posture was graceful, with a perfect figure, and the splashes of water were beautiful. gu ziyu changed his clothes and put on swimming trunks, tied a swimming ring around his waist, and splashed around in the pool. abandoning himself to despair, he floundered in place. at midnight, a large and a small figure were in the swimming pool. gu ziyu was aimlessly splashing around with the swimming ring, thinking about how his dad didn¡¯t show any reaction after his mom confessed to him. would his mom be sad? suddenly, the person swimming freestyle next to him splashed water on his face. ¡°damn it!¡± gu ziyu cursed. the swimming pool was so big. why did they have to swim so close to him? he turned around and realized that he had floundered from the far right of the pool to the middle, blocking someone¡¯s way. gu ziyu touched his nose and moved to the side again, each standing on their own side, ignoring the other. when the person surfaced and took off their goggles, gu ziyu realized it was lu zhiyuan. ¡°brother?¡± gu ziyu sneered. ¡°you¡¯re in a good mood, swimming in the middle of the night. i can¡¯t believe the swimming category in the olympics didn¡¯t include you in the lineup.¡± ¡°same to you!¡± lu zhiyuan leaned against the pool, adjusting his breathing. gu ziyu was encased in a rainbow-colored swimming ring, which lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but find interesting. ¡°quite unique.¡± gu ziyu looked down at the rainbow ring and felt mocked. ¡°this is called childlike innocence. you¡¯re old, so you naturally wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°hmm.¡± ¡°hmph!¡± gu ziyu felt annoyed. he should have chosen a black swimming ring. but he was more like a child and liked bright colors, so he naturally chose the rainbow ring. gu ziyu, still wearing the ring, splashed over and questioned him aggressively. ¡°sister confessed to you, and you didn¡¯t respond or reject her. that¡¯s so despicable.¡± ¡°it¡¯s an adult matter, don¡¯t meddle in it as a child.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not a child!¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes to rest, lifted his eyelids to glance at him, and found gu ziyu, with his fair and tender skin, encased in the rainbow ring, looking pouty and cute. ¡°hmm.¡± ¡°i¡¯m eighteen years old,¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°but 1 look younger.¡± ¡°a benjamin button situation?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu said arrogantly, ¡°you can think of it that way.¡± lu zhiyuan, for some reason, found himself amused by him. he raised his lips slightly. ¡°children should go to bed early. staying up late won¡¯t make you grow taller.¡± gu ziyu felt annoyed. lu zhiyuan had said the same thing several times. no matter which dad it was, their reason for urging him to sleep early was always that staying up late wouldn¡¯t make him grow taller, as if he would only reach a height of 1.6 meters when he grew up. ¡°when i grow up, i¡¯ll be 1.9 meters tall!¡± gu ziyu said, placing his hands on his hips. ¡°taller than you!¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°i¡¯m 1.93 meters.¡± gu ziyu gaped. damn it! he lost! he was too hasty. he should have said 1.91 meters. gu ziyu said coldly, ¡°i suspect you¡¯re lying to me!¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes again. gu ziyu swam to his side and spoke harshly, ¡°do you like my sister?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t answer, so gu ziyu poked his chest. ¡°i¡¯m asking you!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t like her!¡± lu zhiyuan opened his eyes, looking closely at gu ziyu. he couldn¡¯t help but notice that the child¡¯s eyes were similar to his own. gu ziyu was angry, and his eyes sparkled. ¡°you¡¯re blind!¡± gu ziyu secretly thought. he wanted to find a new dad. he didn¡¯t want this dad anymore. lu zhiyuan reached out and pushed gu ziyu away slightly. ¡°gu ziyu, what does it feel like to be angry?¡± gu ziyu was stunned, frozen in the water. lu zhiyuan smiled lightly and asked, ¡°are you genuinely angry, or are you just pretending to be angry? do you truly love gu ci, or are you just acting like a child who loves gu ci?¡± ¡°i love her, of course,¡± gu ziyu said firmly. no one cared more about his mom than him. lu zhiyuan said softly, ¡°when you love someone, there¡¯s no need to constantly talk about it. it can lead to misunderstandings. you¡¯re only reminding yourself.¡± gu ziyu felt a chill all over his body, and his animosity grew deeper. he didn¡¯t like his dad at night. he had a pair of eyes that could see through people¡¯s hearts, able to see the most vulnerable parts of a person¡¯s heart. ¡°if you don¡¯t like my sister, why did you become so unsettled after her confession? why did you come swimming at night to exhaust yourself?¡± gu ziyu wasn¡¯t a pushover either. ¡°what are you afraid of?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze remained calm. ¡°you don¡¯t need to test me.¡± he stood up, grabbed a towel to dry himself, put on a bathrobe, and turned to say, ¡°it¡¯s cold at night. don¡¯t stay in the water for too long. go back and sleep early.¡± with that, lu zhiyuan left with big strides, leaving gu ziyu alone, floating on the water¡¯s surface, watching his figure, his gaze obscure. the next day, the plans for the group were also arranged. they took gu ziyu to the wildlife park. gu ziyu could clearly distinguish lu zhiyuan¡¯s different personalities. the fear and animosity from last night had completely disappeared, and his smile remained bright and sweet. after breakfast, the three of them went to the wildlife park. on the way, they were photographed again, and passersby whispered to each other, seemingly excited and discussing something. lu zhiyuan was confused. he was wearing a mask, and gu ci wasn¡¯t a celebrity. did they recognize him? it wasn¡¯t until they finished touring the wildlife park that lu zhiyuan received a call from lu ze. lu ze¡¯s tone was serious and heartfelt, ¡°son, congratulations! your long-cherished wish has come true. you have a girlfriend now. let¡¯s have a meal together another day. dad really likes gu ci too.¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°did you eat some dishes and get drunk, spouting nonsense?¡± ¡°why be shy? gu ci¡¯s confession last night was so sensational, the whole world knows about it,¡± lu ze¡¯s tone lightened with a laugh. ¡°my son¡¯s choice of girlfriend is truly commendable.¡± lu zhiyuan had a bad feeling and hung up the phone. he checked social media and saw the video of gu ci¡¯s confession on stage. he didn¡¯t have the habit of scrolling through his socials, but the moment he opened it, he saw the clips of gu ci¡¯s confession. it was even trending. lu zhiyuan, i like you! gu ci likes lu zhiyuan! Chapter 113 - Chapter 113:I Like the Man In Front of Me chapter 113:i like the man in front of me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation two hot search topics, both hanging there, and you can easily find videos on either one. the color drained from lu zhiyuan¡¯s face instantly, and a storm brewed in his eyes, with jealousy and anger burning like a fire, ready to consume him completely. the person gu ci confessed to wasn¡¯t him! the happiness and deep affection in her eyes were not directed at him! lu zhiyuan exploded in an instant! li jiang once said that third young master had two extremes in his temper. when racing, he was extremely calm and patient. any slight mistake could lead to a car crash and death. he had to maintain a high level of concentration and patience. therefore, in daily life, he was prone to being explosive, laughing, or exploding based on his mood. ¡°what¡¯s going on? why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze seemed as if it could kill li jiang. li jiang cried and complained, feeling wronged. ¡°third young master, i wanted to talk to you, but when you saw me hesitating this morning, you said not to tell you bad news, as it would affect your mood. how could 1 dare to do it?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°why am i paying you?¡± li jiang felt helpless. he was being blamed again. third young master, you should be directing all this anger at miss gu ci. gu ziyu had a tendency to sweat easily and was a neat freak. gu ci brought wet wipes and a spare short-sleeved shirt. haicheng¡¯s sun was scorching, especially today, with high temperatures. after visiting the zoo, gu ci helped gu ziyu take off his shirt, wiped off the sweat, and put on a new one for him. gu ziyu blushed and glanced at lu zhiyuan, who was not far away, throwing a tantrum. he said, ¡°mom, dad is angry with li jiang!¡± gu ci had noticed it a long time ago and had guessed the reason. she smiled gently and asked, ¡°is it better now after drinking some water?¡± gu ziyu nodded, and gu ci folded his clothes and put them in his little backpack. ¡°do you want to change your shorts?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and took gu ziyu¡¯s hand, walking over. lu zhiyuan also restrained his temper, and gu ci asked knowingly, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°it¡¯s work-related matters that i didn¡¯t handle well.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone suppressed his anger as he looked at gu ci. she, on the other hand, smiled softly, but lu zhiyuan felt suffocated, unable to express himself. frustrated! and aggrieved! why!!! he never got gu ci to declare her love for him with such enthusiasm to the whole world! ¡°li jiang, take ziyu to play.¡± next to the wildlife park was a forest park with a ferris wheel. gu ziyu wanted to ride it, so li jiang took him there. gu ci smiled and reached out to hold lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand, interlocking their fingers. ¡°do you want to eat ice cream?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan said stubbornly. gu ci pulled him to a nearby stall and bought two matcha ice creams. she handed one to lu zhiyuan and said, ¡°when you were little, whenever you got angry, 1 would treat you to a matcha ice cream. it¡¯s been over ten years, and it¡¯s wonderful.¡± lu zhiyuan held back his breath and refused to look at her. gu ci took a bite of the ice cream. ¡°don¡¯t you want it?¡± just as she was about to eat both, lu zhiyuan snatched one away. the two of them sat side by side in front of the ferris wheel in the forest park, eating ice cream. gu ci suddenly said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, i really like you.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart was filled with mixed emotions. ¡°1 don¡¯t like it when you keep saying you like me. from now on, you can¡¯t say it without my permission.¡± gu ci gaped. ¡°fine, then 1 won¡¯t say it anymore!¡± lu zhiyuan blurted out, ¡°you can say it now.¡± ¡°i like lu zhiyuan!¡± lu zhiyuan still felt frustrated in his heart. why did third master get her confession to the whole world? why? the more he thought about it, the more unhappy he became. he couldn¡¯t even be happy about gu ci¡¯s confession to him. ¡°shall we go on the ferris wheel?¡± ¡°that¡¯s childish!¡± ¡°i want to go!¡± gu ci had just finished the matcha ice cream. ¡°will you accompany me?¡± the ferris wheel slowly ascended, reaching its highest point and pausing slightly. gu ci blinked and shouted loudly, ¡°lu zhiyuan, i like you!¡± the entire ferris wheel and the park could hear gu ci¡¯s voice. lu zhiyuan was stunned, looking at her intently with a mix of joy and pain in his eyes. gu ci smiled and asked, ¡°lu zhiyuan, i¡¯m sorry. i said ¡®i like you¡¯ without your permission again.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart was filled with a sour ache. he felt both satisfied and sad. the two of them silently looked into each other¡¯s eyes on the ferris wheel. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°¡­which one of us do you like?¡± gu ci was momentarily surprised, deceit and lies seemed absurd and meaningless at this moment. she said, ¡°i like both.¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes, fear and sadness filled him as he asked, ¡°you¡­ know, don¡¯t you?¡± when the ferris wheel stopped at the peak and started rotating again, like the gears of fate, rolling forward uncontrollably, gu ci held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°i will always like you, the man in front of me.¡± lu zhiyuan thought to himself, what does she mean? does she know or not? but in the end, he didn¡¯t have the courage to delve further. when they got off, someone secretly took photos of lu zhiyuan and gu ci holding hands tightly. they even deliberately removed their masks, allowing the onlookers to freely capture the moment. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry as she asked, ¡°are you feeling better now?¡± ¡°hmph!¡± he snorted coldly and remained silent. gu ci understood lu zhiyuan¡¯s moodiness, but in her eyes, third master and lu zhiyuan were definitely not dual personalities. dual personalities were independent, with different memories and personas. but they weren¡¯t! lu zhiyuan was just ill. she knew nothing about his illness, but in her previous life, she hadn¡¯t realized that they had dual personalities. it was always lu zhiyuan she knew and fell in love with, whether it was at night or during the day. third master said that the person she liked was an illusory bubble, destined to vanish one day. he didn¡¯t like her, and she had fought with him and refused to acknowledge her true feelings. but the memories of the previous life kept replaying in her mind, and no matter how angry she was, she couldn¡¯t deny one thing: she had never regarded them as two separate individuals. otherwise, when third master repeatedly claimed not to like her, she wouldn¡¯t have been so saddened. but now she had to consider one thing: third master and lu zhiyuan refused to acknowledge each other. they repelled each other. how should she handle this relationship? clearly, it was the relationship between two people, so why did she feel like it was a story of three? and what exactly was his teleportation ability? was it related to his illness? ¡°lu zhiyuan, if someone can teleport, being in the forest park one second and in a hotel the next, what do you think is going on?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°watching too many movies,¡± lu zhiyuan mocked mercilessly. ¡°when you have nothing to do, you can talk to plants and flowers. but if one day, plants and flowers start talking to you, remember to see a doctor.¡± gu ci was speechless. indeed, he knew nothing about third master. when the family of three returned to city a, it was already io p.m. lu zhiyuan had been handling business affairs for the black hawk group on the plane, and after landing, someone came to pick him up. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t go home with them. two bulletproof cars followed him as he left the airport. a guard drove gu ci and gu ziyu back home.. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Pure chapter 114: pure-hearted young man translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu had doubts in his heart. his father was a race car driver, so why were all his security vehicles bulletproof cars? to confirm his speculation, when they returned to the global sports center underground parking lot and after the bodyguards helped them unload their luggage, gu ziyu asked them to go ahead and waited for them to leave. then he took a glance at lu zhiyuan¡¯s private garage. there were over 200 parking spaces, with more than 100 sports cars and over 20 off-road bulletproof vehicles. gu ci asked, ¡°baby, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°mom, dad is a race car driver, so why does his security team have only bulletproof cars?¡± gu ziyu squinted his eyes. ¡°the old man is of such high rank that he deserves bulletproof cars, while the state security agency, ranked below him, has ordinary security vehicles.¡± gu ci had doubts for a long time, but out of trust in lu zhiyuan, she didn¡¯t investigate further. lu zhiyuan¡¯s global center was managed by managers, and he didn¡¯t bother with the official affairs of the dynasty racing team. he focused on training and racing and didn¡¯t have much time. but third master had always been handling official matters. could it be that he trained and raced during the day and handled the global center¡¯s affairs at night? ¡°it must be because he¡¯s too rich!¡± gu ci said. ¡°it¡¯s the standard for a ceo to have bulletproof security cars. what if someone takes a risk and tries to kidnap him?¡± gu ziyu was still puzzled. gu ci pondered for a moment and said, ¡°baby, you¡¯ve been quite concerned about your dad¡¯s affairs lately.¡± ¡°after all, he¡¯s my dad, and there¡¯s no time to change him.¡± gu ziyu smiled. ¡°i have to care a little bit, right?¡± ¡°you make sense, and mom doesn¡¯t plan on finding you a new dad.¡± mother and son laughed and went upstairs. zhou jinjin¡¯s live broadcast had ended, and she had already ordered ten catties of crayfish. ¡°cici, bring ziyu down to have a late-night snack together.¡± in city a, at a clubhouse. ji chi and lu zhiyuan reported on their recent work, which had yielded significant results. in just one week, ji chi had established a stable position in the black hawk¡¯s asian division and reached three collaborations with hualan bank. black hawk group and hualan bank had never been on good terms. the animosity had a long history. ten years ago, when jiang junlin was still studying, he was kidnapped while traveling in country m, and the kidnappers demanded one billion dollars from hualan bank. jiang junlin fought against the kidnappers and managed to escape from their hideout in a foreign country. however, the kidnappers double-crossed him and the black hawk group, causing a falling out over the distribution of the spoils. seventeen-year-old jiang junlin was framed by the black hawk group and narrowly escaped death, leaving behind a grudge. several years later, when jiang junlin took charge of hualan bank, he cut off all cooperation with black hawk group. as a result, black hawk group faced difficulties in financing in city a, and three successive ceos were rejected at the doors of hualan bank. ¡°how did you convince jiang junlin?¡± lu zhiyuan flipped through the report casually and asked. ji chi propped his legs up, held a cigar in his mouth, but didn¡¯t light it. he smiled in a captivating manner, ¡°women and bribery.¡± li jiang frowned. if jiang junlin could be swayed by beauty and bribery, why did the previous three ceos all fail? each one of them had used their charm, li jiang remembered one time when a group of beauties surrounded jiang junlin at dinner, but he remained unmoved. the asian president snapped his fingers, ¡°this batch is of the wrong gender, replace them!¡± a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old handsome young men filed in, but they also returned empty-handed, didn¡¯t they? lu zhiyuan glanced at ji chi, who still had an enchanting smile. he decided not to ask further. the process was unimportant; he cared about the results. ¡°the goal by the end of the year is to regain control over the asian financial market and the gold market controlled by the triad.¡± ¡°yes!¡± ji chi smelled the cigar, exuding confidence and sharpness. ¡°rest assured, third master.¡± ji chi shared another piece of news with lu zhiyuan. ¡°chen rushi has been looking for doctor north recently. the disappeared doctor north has appeared in city a, and chen rushi might come for a visit.¡± ¡°why is he looking for doctor north?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°doctor north raised him, and she was devoted to chen geng. she learned about cardiovascular surgery for chen geng and cured his heart disease. they had a deep affection for each other. after chen geng¡¯s surgery, his health had been good, and he wanted to hold a wedding with doctor north. however, doctor north didn¡¯t show up at the wedding. chen geng suffered a heart attack during the ceremony, and the doctor discovered chronic toxins in his heart that shouldn¡¯t have been there, which took his life. after that, doctor north disappeared from country m. if chen rushi wants to find doctor north, it¡¯s probably to avenge his father¡¯s death.¡± li jiang remembered some gossip, ¡°third master, 1 heard that doctor north had a daughter with chen geng. the daughter inherited chen geng¡¯s congenital heart disease and was smothered to death by doctor north.¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow, ¡°wow, how frightening. is it true?¡± ¡°it¡¯s true!¡± li jiang was adept at collecting gossip. ¡°a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs. she¡¯s a ruthless person too.¡± ¡°every member of the chen family is ruthless.¡± listening to their gossip, lu zhiyuan pondered and said, ¡°chen rushi should have looked for doctor north a few years ago. why is he suddenly looking for her now? she disappeared for several years, and chen rushi didn¡¯t make any moves.¡± ji chi joked, ¡°hatred can come suddenly. perhaps chen rushi had a moment of clarity during his father¡¯s memorial and realized that he hadn¡¯t avenged her father¡¯s death yet.¡± lu zhiyuan thought about it. li jiang, ¡°that actually makes sense, fitting your twisted way of thinking.¡± ¡°little li jiang, stop teasing. i¡¯m a pure and innocent young man.¡± ¡°what little li jiang? i¡¯m older than you!¡± ji chi¡¯s gaze subtly shifted to a certain place, and he said firmly, ¡°1 don¡¯t believe it!¡± li jiang blushed, ¡°you¡­ you¡­ ridiculous!¡± ¡°third master, do all your body guards embarrass so easily?¡± ¡°it¡¯s you with thick skin!¡± li jiang turned away, ignoring him. ji chi couldn¡¯t contain his amusement. lu zhiyuan closed the report and didn¡¯t mind their banter. ¡°we¡¯ve just reestablished our relationship with hualan bank; we need to maintain it.¡± ji chi licked his cigar and had a somewhat mischievous expression. ¡°that¡¯s a given!¡± lu zhiyuan warned him, ¡°ji chi, this is the domestic market, not country m. be cautious in your actions and don¡¯t go overboard.¡± ji chi looked at lu zhiyuan earnestly. ¡°third master, i¡¯m a law-abiding citizen. 1 smile when discussing cooperation, earn money legally, and pay taxes. i¡¯m a pure and law-abiding citizen.¡± li jiang laughed mockingly, ¡°who doesn¡¯t know about your virtues?¡± ¡°oh!¡± ji chi propped up his legs. ¡°tell me about it.¡± li jiang was about to retort when lu zhiyuan glanced at him, causing him to close his mouth. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°alright, let me know if there¡¯s any news about chen rushi.¡± ji chi nodded. ¡°should i continue maintaining contact with the young master?¡± ¡°if he contacts you, you should keep in touch.¡± ¡°understood.¡± ji chi¡¯s mind was as clear as a mirror. ¡°if third master wants the young master to join black hawk, i¡¯ll make sure to brainwash him constantly. he¡¯s currently focused on helping me rise to the top. i¡¯ll tell him that if he doesn¡¯t get rid of you, 1 won¡¯t be able to ascend.¡± li jiang was speechless. damn, you have some audacity! surprisingly, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t get angry. there was a faint smile at the corners of his lips. ¡°you can give it a try. it would be interesting to see if you can rise to the top.. Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Gu Ziyu is About to Fall chapter 115: gu ziyu is about to fall translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi covered his heart and said, ¡°third master, how would 1 dare to rebel? don¡¯t scare me, i¡¯m very timid.¡± li jiang was about to vomit. he didn¡¯t know why third master valued ji chi so much. he was flashy and enchanting, with ruthless methods and a disregard for rules. this¡­ was definitely an antisocial personality. speaking of gu ziyu, li jiang remembered something. ¡°ji chi, have you taken young master sea fishing?¡± ¡°fishing?¡± ji chi frowned. ¡°i haven¡¯t even touched that thing.¡± lu zhiyuan and li jiang were speechless. the two of them looked at him together. ji chi asked cautiously, ¡°did i say something wrong? why would i know how to fish?¡± ¡°you don¡¯t know how to fish?¡± li jiang blurted out. ji chi smiled in a charming and enchanting manner. ¡°i¡¯ve been struggling to survive since i was young. even though i earned some money later on, i was always worried about getting shot while walking on the street. how could i have the mood to go fishing?¡± lu zhiyuan and li jiang¡¯s expressions were both subtle. ji chi said seriously, ¡°of course, if third master thinks i can do it, i can learn within a day.¡± back then, when lu zhiyuan asked ji chi if he could drive, ji chi, who had never touched a motorcycle before, said he could. the next day, he rode a motorcycle to meet lu zhiyuan. later, they found out that he had learned it in a day and almost broke his bones. ¡°gu ziyu said he saw you fishing,¡± lu zhiyuan calmly asked, ¡°who is lying?¡± ji chi was surprised, and his expression showed rare seriousness. ¡°the young master and i just met recently. he didn¡¯t even treat me to a meal. he took me to a roadside stall, and i paid for it.¡± li jiang kept silent. ¡°the young master is so arrogant and particular, would he eat at a roadside stall?¡± lu zhiyuan pondered, although gu ziyu was playing a cute and adorable child, he never lied in front of gu ci. what was going on? li jiang said, ¡°i¡¯m confused too.¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly, ¡°alright, let¡¯s stop here. don¡¯t try to test gu ziyu either. he¡¯s very smart and suspicious. just take it that he was joking.¡± gu ci came back after a comfortable bath and read the surgery report written by dr. north. for the last surgery she performed, dr. north¡¯s name was listed, and she had already written the surgery report herself. her case was going to be retried, and the situation would improve. every step of the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical details matched perfectly. if it weren¡¯t for her personal experience, everyone would think it was dr. north who performed the surgery. only she had such ability. ¡°that¡¯s it!¡± gu ci whispered. she and dr. north had reached the end of their karma as master and disciple. they were both reborn, so it was time to move on. but deep down, she still felt some reluctance. gu ci had never received maternal love since she was a child. she had a solitary and sensitive personality. in prison, she was bullied by people arranged by gu chuyun. she was like a little rabbit thrown into a wolf¡¯s den, almost torn apart. it was dr. north who protected her and taught her medicine and surgery. the prison was located in a remote area and was rampant with corruption. it was filled with serious and death row criminals, almost becoming an autonomous region. the warden was the most powerful person there. the warden had a good relationship with dr. north, and after enduring a period of bullying, gu ci¡¯s situation improved when she started learning in the operating room under dr. north¡¯s guidance. besides teaching her medicine, dr. north also provided her with a lot of warmth emotionally. she learned a lot from dr. north, and the term ¡°master¡± was a genuine expression of her feelings. she respected dr. north like a mother. later, even though her right hand was disabled, and she felt heartbroken and desperate, she never sought revenge. otherwise, with her vengeful personality, how could she endure it? when she heard that dr. north died in prison, she even cried bitterly. the pain of having her tendons severed was unforgettable, but so was dr. north to her, both a friend and a mother. it was difficult for her to let go, and her wrist would ache whenever she thought of dr. north. in this life, her case was retried, and she knew little cherry was alive. she wouldn¡¯t die in prison, and she would soon be reunited with little cherry. they would both have a better future. so let¡¯s each be well! the events of the previous life had passed with the wind, and she needed to learn to be open-minded and forget these injuries. after a pleasant weekend, it was back to busy university life. after the incident where she and lu zhiyuan toured haicheng and caused a sensation, the attention on them was too high. when they returned to school, all eyes were on them. gu ci¡¯s popularity had plummeted, almost reaching freezing point. lu zhiyuan was so popular that the incident of him losing the championship due to dating gu ci was almost taken as fact if not clarified or denied. naturally, lu zhiyuan¡¯s fans wouldn¡¯t like gu ci, even the fans who were academic achievers. fortunately, although the academic achiever fans didn¡¯t like gu ci, they didn¡¯t have any ill intentions toward her. they simply disliked her as their idol¡¯s girlfriend. they would keep their distance from gu ci in the same classroom, sit far away from her in the library, and avoid her in the cafeteria. for the not-so-social gu ci, this was actually a blessing. she didn¡¯t need friends! zhou jinjin almost laughed herself to death. ¡°why don¡¯t you join a club? there¡¯s a debating club, traditional chinese painting club, chess club, and even a basketball club. do you want to join one? i¡¯ve joined a rock band club.¡± gu ci refused, not wanting to join any club. ¡°why join a club?¡± she asked. ¡°to make friends,¡± zhou jinjin said. although gu ci and zhou jinjin grew up together and were accustomed to reading people¡¯s moods, their personalities were completely different. gu ci was reclusive and didn¡¯t like to interact with people, while zhou jinjin longed to be accepted by friends and hoped to make a bunch of them. they were ostracised and grew up together, but zhou jinjin had a much better circle of friends. she was clear-minded and had her own judgment criteria when it came to making friends. ¡°this is a university, the highest institution in the country. your classmates are likely to be elites from various fields. this is your natural circle. we are social animals, and having more friends means more paths. although lu zhiyuan¡¯s fans don¡¯t like you, there are so many students in the school, and not all of them are lu zhiyuan¡¯s fans. we need to establish our own resources and circles. after graduation, this will be our network.¡± zhou jinjin said with a light smile, ¡°this kind of network is beyond the reach of ordinary people. why do we need to seek it elsewhere? of course, you don¡¯t need to go out of your way to make friends. just maintain good relationships. this is the kind of network that many people dream of.¡± gu ci agreed with zhou jinjin¡¯s words. it made sense. but she had too many things to worry about. ¡°jinjin, i have friends!¡± gu ci said with a soft smile. ¡°close friends, two or three are enough. i don¡¯t need too many.¡± ¡°you saying that makes me feel warm.¡± zhou jinjin said, ¡°to be friends with you, i have to take the initiative. it¡¯s like that saying, ¡®it takes two hands to clap.¡¯¡± that¡¯s gu ci for you. she wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to establish any connections or make friends.. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Gu Ci’s Turmoil chapter 116: gu ci¡¯s turmoil translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation however, despite that, there were quite a few people surrounding gu ci. most of them were male students, and there was a group of top students from the medical school. they wanted to be in the same group as gu ci for experiments, aiming for the highest scores with the least effort. they also wanted to be in the same group as gu ci for theory classes because she was well-prepared and had detailed study materials. gu ci was always the most sought-after target in study groups. every day, someone would compete to buy her breakfast and fresh milk. the top students in the medical school didn¡¯t care much about public opinion. their goal was to excel academically. so, gu ci¡¯s university life was very peaceful. he miaomiao and liu yu invited her to join clubs, but she refused. gu ci would have lunch with them, then return to the dormitory to rest. zhang ping still didn¡¯t like her and would speak with a sarcastic tone, but gu ci didn¡¯t mind. these four people in the medical school were all top students. liu yu and he miaomiao quickly got boyfriends. liu yu¡¯s boyfriend was from the school of finance, and they apparently met during a joint activity. the boyfriend had been buying her breakfast for half a month, accompanied her to class and study sessions when they had no classes, and even got her hot water from the canteen every night. he was considerate and caring, and they soon started a romantic relationship. he miaomiao¡¯s boyfriend was a classmate. when they had anatomy class together, he miaomiao would scream in fear, but her boyfriend helped her get used to it. they were said to often meet in the anatomy laboratory. they were a couple of top students. after those two started dating, they immediately invited their roommates to have a meal together. their relationship with zhang ping was average, not bad, but not close either. zhang ping agreed to the gathering, and gu ci went along with the flow since they were dormmates. the six of them went out to have hot pot. he miaomiao¡¯s boyfriend was called zhang feng, and liu yu¡¯s boyfriend was fan hui. gu ci had met them both. zhang feng had the typical appearance of a top student, with naturally curly hair and black-framed glasses. he was slim and tall. fan hui was not very tall but had a likable appearance. he was an interesting person. zhang ping had a bad temper, but during the banquet, she kept smiling, and the atmosphere was pleasant and cheerful. ¡°cici, are you dating lu zhiyuan?¡± he miaomiao asked gossipingly after the meal. the boys were also curious and obviously fans of lu zhiyuan. they belonged to the category of not liking gu ci and were afraid that her relationship with lu zhiyuan would affect his competitions. after being repeatedly told off by his girlfriend, lu zhiyuan restrained himself. when he miaomiao asked, both boys stared at gu ci intently, unable to hide their feelings. zhang ping lost her smile, and gu ci said, ¡°we¡¯re getting to know each other.¡± ¡°you traveled to haicheng together, went out to sea, rode the ferris wheel, and even spent the night. but you didn¡¯t start dating?¡± zhang feng adjusted his glasses. ¡°this guy¡­ is a bit unreliable.¡± gu ci remained silent. fan hui chuckled, ¡°it¡¯s better not to date than to date without a future!¡± he miaomiao and liu yu turned to look at gu ci, while zhang ping, with an air of nobility, said, ¡°break up quickly!¡± fan hui was pinched by his girlfriend, and he cried out in pain, ¡°i said the wrong thing, i said the wrong thing. dating lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t have a future.¡± gu ci laughed but didn¡¯t respond to the topic. luckily, they didn¡¯t delve deeper into it. relationships during university were usually pure, and their relationship seemed to be going well. he miaomiao said, ¡°our cardiovascular surgery department is adding an elective course, did you know?¡± ¡°i heard. the school sent a notification today,¡± liu yu said. ¡°the professor¡¯s name is qin yunsang, it sounds nice. she¡¯s a female professor, but i couldn¡¯t find any information about her despite searching.¡± ¡°did you guys enroll?¡± zhang ping shook her head and said, ¡°there¡¯s an open class tomorrow. they said if we attend the open class, we can decide afterward. i¡¯m planning to specialize in pediatrics, so i¡¯m not really interested in cardiovascular surgery.¡± he miaomiao lamented, ¡°my schedule is already packed, i don¡¯t want to take another elective course.¡± zhang feng said, ¡°if the course is interesting, you can consider it.¡± liu yu asked gu ci, ¡°what about you, cici?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to enroll either.¡± gu ci¡¯s schedule was already quite full. she still wanted to audit the courses attended by gu ziyu occasionally and attend the professional courses on psychological therapy in the third year. she didn¡¯t have much time. ¡°hey, don¡¯t worry for now. it¡¯s after the national day holiday,¡± liu yu said. gu ci didn¡¯t expect that the next day¡¯s open class for cardiovascular surgery would be taught by dr. north, and qin yunsang was her chinese name? dr. north wasn¡¯t surnamed li? dr. north looked well-maintained and appeared to be in her early thirties, with fair skin and fiery red lips. she had a mature and intellectual beauty that amazed the students as soon as she entered the classroom. she made a name for herself very early on but didn¡¯t practice in a hospital. yet, she was in charge of many high-profile cases and was a role model that inspired many in the university. in the multimedia classroom, initially, only one-third of the students were present, but gradually it became full. gu ci calmly took notes. the class was witty, humorous, and very lively. the surgical cases were explained in a simple and understandable manner. he miaomiao asked, ¡°cici, why are you constantly rubbing your wrist? does it hurt?¡± gu ci smiled gently, ¡°it¡¯s nothing. i¡¯m used to it.¡± after the one-and-a-half-hour open class, dr. north asked gu ci to stay behind. ¡°let¡¯s have a drink tonight.¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ci replied calmly. gu ci and dr. north went to a cafe near the global center and ordered iced americanos. dr. north¡¯s case was reopened and reinvestigated, and was released from prison with her charges cleared. ¡°i¡¯m using coffee instead of wine to celebrate your release from prison,¡± gu ci raised her cup to toast. dr. north clinked her cup and replied, ¡°i was released from prison last week. i took care of some paperwork and found a place to live. it took me some time, and i originally wanted to meet you earlier.¡± ¡°do you have something you want to discuss with me?¡± gu ci asked cautiously. dr. north smiled and said, ¡°i won¡¯t ask you why you knew about little cherry¡¯s situation, why you knew about me being in prison and all those secrets. it doesn¡¯t matter to me. i have been appointed as a visiting professor at university a. gu ci, i want to take you as my student. i don¡¯t know if you¡¯re willing or not.¡± being accepted as a student by the famous dr. nors was a dream come true for many. in her previous life, gu ci was also dr. north¡¯s only disciple. gu ci rubbed her wrist and asked, ¡°why?¡± ¡°because you have great talent,¡± dr. north said. ¡°with all that i have learned, i hope to help you achieve your goals and make you successful. this is my way of showing gratitude.¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°dr. north, 1 came to you in prison because i needed your help to save my grandmother. you don¡¯t need to repay me. black is black, and white is white. you were innocent, and it was only reasonable for you to be released from prison. there¡¯s no need for you to repay me.¡± dr. north raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips. ¡°how do you know that i¡¯m truly innocent?¡± gu ci remained silent. she calmly sipped her coffee and said, ¡°gu ci, why are you so cautious around me? have 1 ever harmed you?¡± ¡°i¡¯m naturally cautious, and i don¡¯t like unexpected favors. if dr. north wants to take on an apprentice, the students in the medical school would all sign up willingly to be your disciples..¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Is Gu Ziyu Your Son chapter 117: is gu ziyu your son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation dr. north pursed his lips and smiled. ¡°okay, i won¡¯t insist. we will often run into each other on campus in the future. 1 have already sent you an invitation, and it will remain valid until 1 take on another disciple.¡± ¡°thank you,¡± gu ci expressed her gratitude. ¡°it¡¯s me who¡¯s n to appreciating this offer.¡± ¡°it¡¯s not your fault,¡± dr. north shook her head. ¡°it¡¯s my loss for not recognizing your talent.¡± several cars parked outside the cafe caught gu ci¡¯s attention. from the floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see clearly that they were bulletproof cars. dr. north turned her neck and commented, ¡°you¡¯re well-informed.¡± ¡°are those your enemies coming for you?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°they are indeed enemies!¡± dr. north smiled. ¡°but they are also unfilial children.¡± outside the window, chen rushi got out of one of the cars, his imposing figure accentuated by the grey coat he wore. bodyguards surrounded him, maintaining a high level of alertness. ji chi followed closely behind chen rushi. the commotion attracted onlookers. however, chen rushi seemed unfazed. he entered the cafe with ji chi, politely greeting dr. north. ¡°dr. north, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°chen rushi, long time no see.¡± dr. north remained unmoved. chen rushi looked at gu ci and asked, ¡°do you know dr. north?¡± ¡°we¡¯re acquainted,¡± gu ci looked at him and replied, ¡°mr. chen, what brings you here with such an imposing posse?¡± she still harbored some resentment towards him for the kidnapping incident. ¡°just catching up,¡± chen rushi sat down while ji chi went to order coffee. he looked at dr. north and said, ¡°after all, dr. north and i have known each other for a long time.¡± ¡°chen rushi, 1 heard that you¡¯ve been searching for a cardiac specialist to cure your heart condition,¡± she chuckled softly. ¡°how the tables have turned. after your father¡¯s death, you did everything to eliminate me. who would have thought that one day you would come to me for help?¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. chen rushi had a heart condition? chen rushi remained composed. ¡°life is unpredictable. i was hasty back then. if i had known, i should have treated you well from the start. is it too late now that i¡¯ve realized it?¡± only a true boss could maintain composure even in such an awkward situation. ¡°it¡¯s too late,¡± dr. north said calmly. ¡°i¡¯m not someone who serves in a hospital. 1 only save those i want to save. chen rushi, you should reunite with your father on the road to the netherworld.¡± ji chi returned with a cup of coffee and placed it in front of chen rushi. he picked it up, savored the aroma, and spoke softly, ¡°then 1 will come to find you, a family reunion on the road to the netherworld.¡± ¡°pah!¡± dr. north sneered. ¡°who says you and your father are family?¡± chen rushi looked at her and smiled. ¡°dr. north, what about my sister?¡± ¡°she¡¯s dead!¡± dr. north replied indifferently. ¡°should 1 have let chen geng¡¯s illegitimate child continue his bloodline? 1 strangled her as soon as she was born.¡± gu ci involuntarily listened to a piece of juicy gossip. little cherry was chen rushi¡¯s sister? ¡°as a doctor, 1 believe you wouldn¡¯t harm your own child,¡± chen rushi drank his coffee leisurely and threatened calmly, ¡°if i find her, will you save me?¡± ¡°go ahead and search,¡± dr. north sneered. ¡°you and your father are of the same ilk, always resorting to threats and enticements. chen geng had a heart condition, which he passed on to you. your child was born with a heart condition as well. why should 1 keep her alive in this world?¡± once someone has a weak spot, they become vulnerable. now gu ci understood why dr. north gave little cherry away without ever acknowledging her as her daughter. but little cherry didn¡¯t have a heart condition. ¡°how did you come to know dr. north?¡± chen rushi asked gu ci. ¡°my grandma underwent surgery performed by her. she is our family¡¯s benefactor,¡± gu ci calmly explained. ¡°i study clinical medicine, and she is my teacher.¡± ¡°i see!¡± chen rushi chuckled. ¡°i¡¯m not one to insist. dr. north, i will make you willingly perform this surgery.¡± he stood up and left, with ji chi following him. dr. north let out a sigh of relief, leaning back in her chair. beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead. she hadn¡¯t appeared nonchalant. ¡°gu ci, what should we do? you know my secret.¡± ¡°i will keep your secret,¡± gu ci assured her. ¡°only dead people can keep secrets.¡± ¡°you can¡¯t touch me.¡± gu ci was fearless, and the two faced each other. dr. north¡¯s gaze revealed a hint of amusement. ¡°gu ci, be my student.¡± dr. north extended an olive branch. ¡°i will pass on all my knowledge to you!¡± even in the next life, they couldn¡¯t escape the fate of teacher and disciple? ¡°i don¡¯t want to!¡± gu ci refused. september flew by in the busyness of academics and soon the national day holiday arrived. gu ziyu¡¯s priority was his studies, which were much more demanding than gu ci¡¯s. he enthusiastically selected a few destinations for an international trip during the holiday. however, when it came time for approval, chen liangdong vetoed the idea. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t travel abroad freely. gu ziyu was puzzled. chen liangdong chuckled. ¡°didn¡¯t you read the terms of your contract when you signed it?¡± he had indeed read it but forgotten. gu ci could travel abroad at will, but it was inconvenient for gu ziyu. getting approval would be difficult, and having a record would be troublesome. ¡°can¡¯t you be more lenient? he hasn¡¯t officially started working yet.¡± ¡°he has already been exposed to classified information,¡± chen liangdong remained firm. he looked at her with tender eyes but was hard to sway. his boundaries were clearly defined. ¡°ziyu, if you want to go, 1 can accompany you.¡± ¡°there¡¯s no need!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s heart felt empty. ¡°1 suddenly don¡¯t feel like going anymore.¡± gu ziyu thought, if going abroad is not an option, then a domestic trip will do. her father also had time off, and they could travel as a family of three. gu ziyu fell in love with the idea of a family trip. lu zhiyuan wanted to take them to xinjiang, where there were fewer people, vast landscapes, and beautiful scenery, especially during autumn. on the first day of the national day holiday, at 4 a.m., gu ziyu was awakened by zhiyuan and taken away. there was an unexpected incident involving national security that required gu ziyu¡¯s assistance. when lu zhiyuan heard that gu ziyu wouldn¡¯t be going, he found the idea of a vacation with just the two of them appealing. but gu ci was concerned about gu ziyu¡¯s safety, and she couldn¡¯t enjoy the trip anymore. lu zhiyuan was unhappy. ¡°what do you mean? is gu ziyu more important to you than me?¡± ¡°gu ziyu is still young, and i can¡¯t help but worry about leaving him alone at home,¡± gu ci explained. ¡°you¡¯ve seen the scars on his body. don¡¯t you feel concerned?¡± ¡°why aren¡¯t you at ease? he can cook, he¡¯s eloquent, and he can shop online. if worst comes to worst, we can leave him at jiang junlin¡¯s house. why are you so fixated on him? besides, during this great holiday, where would he even go?¡± lu zhiyuan was curious about gu ziyu¡¯s sudden disappearance. it was part of the confidentiality agreement, so gu ci couldn¡¯t say anything and could only offer him a smile. ¡°there are too many people during the national day holiday, and it¡¯s not enjoyable to travel,¡± gu ci came up with the excuse of being a lazy homebody. lu zhiyuan mocked, ¡°gu ziyu wanted to travel abroad, and you were making travel plans for him. but now he doesn¡¯t want to travel abroad, and you were suggesting xinjiang. weren¡¯t you saying that just a week ago?¡± he held back his words for a moment, then continued with his mockery, ¡°gu ziyu is your son, and you spoil him so much.¡± gu ci remained silent. ¡°you accidentally revealed the truth, how should i respond to you?¡± gu ci was quite adept at dealing with lu zhiyuan¡¯s anger. she hugged him softly and coquettishly said, ¡°don¡¯t be angry. gu ziyu is still young, so i indulge him.. you¡¯ve seen the scars on his body, don¡¯t you feel sorry for him?¡± Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Father and Son chapter 118: father and son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan blushed, and unwilling to waste his vacation, he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and kissed gu ci. the two of them fell onto the sofa, passionately entwined. lu zhiyuan pressed her down and kissed her deeply, lifting gu ci¡¯s t-shirt, revealing her delicate waist. he pressed against her, breathing heavily, the kisses becoming more intense. his muscles were restless, as if on fire, and their skin touched as if they wanted to merge together, intimately intertwined. in a hoarse voice, he pressed his nose against her and said, ¡°choose between me and gu ziyu!¡± gu ci remained silent. she shook her head gently, not choosing. a mischievous glint flashed in lu zhiyuan¡¯s peach blossom eyes, and suddenly he lowered his head, kissing her neck. gu ci couldn¡¯t resist tilting her head back, exposing her vulnerable neck. lu zhiyuan bit down on her collarbone, causing pain and tingling. gu ci¡¯s waist softened, and she collapsed on the sofa, her rapid breath mingling with his. gu ci was both embarrassed and annoyed. ¡°lu zhiyuan!¡± her collarbone bore his bite mark, and lu zhiyuan laughed as he licked the mark, seductive and sexy. with one hand, he rubbed her slender waist. ¡°is gu ziyu more important, or am i? can he do this?¡± his voice was like a bite in her ear. gu ci¡¯s mind exploded. she lightly slapped his face. ¡°what nonsense are you talking about? he¡¯s just a child.¡± ¡°aren¡¯t you in a sibling relationship?¡± he even curled her toes with his strength. gu ci blushed and felt annoyed, evading him as he leaned in for a kiss. the two of them entangled on the sofa. and they indulged in this intimacy for the entire morning. lu zhiyuan felt completely satisfied¡­ it seemed pretty good! staying indoors was not bad either! gu ci changed into a new outfit and was so angry that she didn¡¯t want to talk to him. however, lu zhiyuan dragged her out for a drive. october was the perfect season for a drive in city a. many famous attractions were crowded during the national day holiday, but the suburbs were less crowded. lu zhiyuan took gu ci to the suburbs for a drive. he had planned it well¡ªeating at a farmhouse restaurant in the suburbs, going for a drive in the afternoon, and returning home before six o¡¯clock. but his plan was interrupted by a phone call from lu ze. ¡°it¡¯s the holidays and you¡¯re not coming home? are you rebelling?¡± lu ze asked. ¡°it¡¯s the holidays, why don¡¯t you go on a trip? why stay at home?¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but mock. ¡°oh, i forgot, your dear son is in the hospital, so you don¡¯t have the mood to travel.¡± lu ze was infuriated and hung up the phone. gu ci, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°since there¡¯s nothing else to do, let¡¯s go back and have dinner with uncle lu.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not going!¡± ¡°i haven¡¯t seen him in a long time.¡± gu ci smiled lightly. ¡°let¡¯s just say 1 want to see him.¡± ¡°are both lu ze and gu ziyu against me?¡± was it so difficult for him to have some alone time with gu ci? gu ci cried and laughed, ¡°it¡¯s a long national day holiday.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s sharp tongue was a bit excessive, but he was really obedient to gu ci. he reluctantly returned to lu¡¯s house with her. he didn¡¯t even greet anybody. the butler was happy to see him, and lu ze was completely forgotten. lu ze smiled and greeted gu ci as if she were his own daughter. gu ci had come from the suburbs and bought some fresh agricultural products and fruits. lu ze marveled at the fact that gu ci, who was said to be unsociable and ignorant of social norms, was actually thoughtful. they arrived early, before sunset. lu ze couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the past. ¡°cici always followed zhiyuan and called him ¡®third brother,¡¯ inseparable from each other. after so many years, uncle is happy to see you together again.¡± lu zhiyuan drank his tea, which tasted similar to the tea at gu ci¡¯s home, accompanied by western pastries from the kitchen, which he enjoyed very much. ¡°uncle looks radiant and seems to be getting younger.¡± ¡°how can you praise with your eyes wide open? he has more wrinkles around his eyes and more white hair.¡± ¡°you brat!¡± lu ze threw a book at him. ¡°are you looking for a fight?¡± lu zhiyuan caught the book without minding. lu ze was almost sixty years old, and perhaps due to his exertions, he had more gray hair than his peers. gu ci saw that he was still in good spirits and thought about how lu ze had a stroke in his previous life. gu ci said, ¡°uncle gets a regular check-up every year, so his health must be well-maintained.¡± ¡°his two good-for-nothing sons keep causing trouble for him. it¡¯s a miracle he¡¯s in good health.¡± ¡°how can you say that? wasn¡¯t it you who injured lu shijie¡¯s legs?¡± ¡°he deserved it.¡± father and son bantered, but gu ci didn¡¯t participate. he got up and habitually wanted to hit lu zhiyuan, but he felt dizzy and stumbled a little. gu ci hurriedly went to support him. ¡°lu zhiyuan!¡± seeing the situation, lu zhiyuan also reached out to help him sit down. ¡°old man, are you okay?¡± the butler happened to bring some fruit. ¡°the master hasn¡¯t been feeling well lately, always feeling sleepy and prone to headaches and dizziness.¡± ¡°did he go to the hospital for a check-up?¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow, sounding concerned but also harsh. ¡°i just had a physical examination, everything is normal.¡± lu ze rubbed his forehead. ¡°you¡¯ve scolded me a few times, and miraculously i¡¯ve gotten better.¡± ¡°why did you even go to the doctor, then?¡± gu ci furrowed her brow. ¡°go get a glass of water for uncle.¡± the two exchanged a glance, and lu zhiyuan went to fetch a glass of water. lu ze drank it, and he gradually recovered, waving his hand. ¡°old people need to accept their age. if the body can¡¯t keep up, so be it.¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°uncle, you should rest more and take walks in the courtyard when you have free time. exercise and stay healthy.¡± ¡°it¡¯s only cici who cares. unlike this brat who always comes to annoy me.¡± gu ci also knew that lu ze had something to say to lu zhiyuan, so she deliberately made herself scarce and went to the garden to enjoy the scenery. the phoenix tree in lu¡¯s courtyard was over a hundred years old, with lush branches and leaves. when it bloomed, it was a beautiful sight in the courtyard. now that the flowers had withered, the branches and leaves were still verdant, presenting a beautiful scene. the butler poured some cold tea, added hot tea, and brought it to the garden. gu ci thanked him and enjoyed the tea while admiring the view. after six o¡¯clock, third master took over. lu ze and lu zhiyuan chatted as usual, and this meal made lu ze the happiest. after dinner, lu zhiyuan went upstairs to take care of some matters, and gu ci accompanied lu ze for a walk in the garden. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°uncle, do you know that lu zhiyuan has a dual personality?¡± ¡°he told you?¡± gu ci understood in her heart. ¡°yes.¡± lu ze¡¯s face became solemn. this was also the reason why he nurtured lu shijie. he loved lu zhiyuan, but he also knew that lu zhiyuan was special and not interested in the lu corporation. he could only groom a successor. he consulted experts, who said that people with dissociative identity disorder wouldn¡¯t live long if left untreated. before lu zhiyuan reached adulthood, he couldn¡¯t interfere with his son¡¯s decisions, and even after reaching adulthood, it would be difficult. ¡°this matter must be kept secret and not leaked to the outside world.¡± lu ze was deeply worried. ¡°if possible¡­ cici, try to persuade him to seek treatment. you¡¯re the only one who can convince him.¡± gu ci thought to herself, ¡°lu zhiyuan was so stubborn, he would definitely refuse. the third uncle so repulsed him, and if he received treatment and became what the third uncle said, that would be the real lu zhiyuan. how could lu zhiyuan be willing?¡± ¡°when did this start?¡± Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Unconscious chapter 119: unconscious translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu ze stood with his hands behind his back under the phoenix tree. ¡°i noticed something when he was three years old. the situation was unstable all along until he turned eight when it split into two. i took him to see a doctor once, but he resisted fiercely, so we dropped the matter. i¡¯m afraid of this matter being exposed and him being attacked. it has always been kept secret and completely hidden.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s condition appeared earlier than gu ci had anticipated. no wonder she had always felt that lu zhiyuan was unpredictable and capricious since her childhood. it turned out he had a dual personality. ¡°cici, don¡¯t despise him,¡± lu ze spoke with a compassionate fatherly heart. ¡°if he does anything to harm you, remember that he¡¯s a patient. don¡¯t lower yourself to his level.¡± ¡°uncle, i won¡¯t,¡± gu ci promised solemnly. ¡°no matter how he changes, 1 will stay by his side.¡± lu ze felt touched in his heart. she was truly as considerate as a daughter. late at night, after bidding farewell to lu ze, lu zhiyuan, and gu ci got in the car. gu ci noticed a small bag on the seat containing four cans of high-quality tea. ¡°he stole them from the teahouse,¡± lu zhiyuan spoke indifferently, but gu ci couldn¡¯t help but feel that he emphasized the word ¡°stole¡±! gu ci remained silent. lu zhiyuan, you are indeed something! she couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of contempt in her tone. however, gu ci intentionally held the tea cans in her hands and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan is amazing. he brings me everything i like right before my eyes.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent. gu ci returned to the global sports center, and gu ziyu called her. he wouldn¡¯t be coming home tonight and might stay outside for a few nights. he couldn¡¯t disclose the details, but gu ci understood. ¡°then be careful and take care of yourself.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu hung up determinedly as if he had taken the time to call her in the midst of his busyness. the night was particularly restless. gu ci woke up startled, thunder roared outside the window, and torrential rain poured down. unable to sleep, gu ci made tea and read a book while drinking it. in the early morning, she received terrible news. lu ze had suddenly fallen seriously ill last night. he had been in the hospital for resuscitation all night but remained unconscious. he had been transferred to the intensive care unit with only a glimmer of hope left. gu ci hurriedly went to the hospital. xu tingting, lu shijie, lu shixiu, and lu zhiyuan were all in the hospital. dr. lin, who was lu ze¡¯s attending physician and also the hospital¡¯s dean, was an old friend of lu ze¡¯s. gu ci held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand as he leaned against the wall, looking tired from a sleepless night. gu ci embraced him and spoke gently, ¡°third brother, don¡¯t be sad. uncle lu will be fine.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s body trembled slightly as he hugged her, burying his head on her shoulder, seemingly searching for support. he was exhausted and sorrowful. ¡°gu ci, 1 don¡¯t want him to die.¡± gu ci felt heartache for lu zhiyuan but calmly thought about her previous life. lu ze had always been in good health until the stroke. there were no serious illnesses before. why did his life suddenly become critical? last night, she could sense lu ze¡¯s concern and favoritism towards lu zhiyuan as they strolled under the phoenix tree. ¡°what illness is it?¡± ¡°sudden myocardial infarction!¡± lu zhiyuan said hoarsely. ¡°the butler heard noises during the night and performed first aid. otherwise¡­¡± lu ze was lucky. he collapsed from a sudden heart attack, but his life was saved in time. however, the situation was not optimistic. lu ze had underlying conditions. he had indulged in socializing when he was young, never parted with cigarettes and alcohol, and had poor lung imaging with minor pneumonia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a benign tumor in his stomach. these were common underlying diseases in older people. his heart, on the other hand, had always been healthy. gu ci saw the medical report, and the laboratory results indicated that increased blood viscosity had triggered the heart attack. his medical examination report from earlier this year had just come out half a month ago, and it already showed increased blood viscosity. this could be considered suboptimal health, which was common in young people, let alone the elderly. lu ze himself had not paid much attention to it. lu zhiyuan¡¯s feelings towards lu ze were incredibly complex. lu ze¡¯s relationship with lin zhi had been tumultuous, starting from their marriage to having a child and then divorcing, making it a well-known scandal. before lin zhi¡¯s death, lu zhiyuan and lu ze had a relatively harmonious relationship, not exactly a loving father and filial son but still relatively harmonious. however, after lin zhi¡¯s death, the hidden conflicts between father and son erupted. their father-son relationship had reached a freezing point. lu zhiyuan blamed lu ze for lin zhi¡¯s death. if it weren¡¯t for lu ze¡¯s strong-armed approach, lin zhi would have had a different life and wouldn¡¯t have died prematurely. lu ze also acknowledged his own wrongdoing and had always been overly indulgent toward lu zhiyuan. no matter how rebellious and disrespectful lu zhiyuan was, in lu ze¡¯s eyes, he was still his most favored son. despite the extent of their conflicts, lu zhiyuan had never thought that one day lu ze would suddenly fall ill and pass away. ¡°uncle lu will be fine,¡± gu ci kissed his hair. ¡°i will stay with you and be by your side.¡± lu zhiyuan hugged her waist and nodded gently, showing a rare hint of vulnerability. dr. lin called xu tingting, lu shijie, lu shixiu, and lu zhiyuan to the conference room and also distributed the medical reports. gu ci sat beside lu zhiyuan, looking at lu ze¡¯s report. ¡°third young master, be prepared for the worst,¡± dr. lin sighed. ¡°although we saved him, he is unconscious due to a massive heart attack that caused myocardial necrosis. despite being saved, the situation is not optimistic.¡± lu shijie and lu shixiu were filled with grief. lu shijie said, ¡°dr. lin, you must save my father.¡± xu tingting had tears streaming down her face and spoke through choked sobs, ¡°yes, you must save him. find the best cardiologist, and do everything you can to save him. he had a regular lifestyle and no problems in his medical check-ups. how could he suddenly have a heart attack?¡± dr. lin said, ¡°sudden heart attacks are not only prevalent in the elderly but also in young people nowadays. the causes are complex. our hospital will do everything possible to treat him.¡± gu ci closed the medical report and asked dr. lin, ¡°dr. lin, can 1 have a copy of uncle lu¡¯s medical reports from the past few years?¡± ¡°no problem!¡± after the last surgery, the dean knew about gu ci¡¯s abilities and readily agreed. xu tingting furrowed her brows and said, ¡°it¡¯s not like you¡¯d understand the reports. what¡¯s the point of looking at them?¡± ¡°what does it have to do with you?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was low and displeased. xu tingting felt ashamed and was pulled back by lu shijie. ¡°mom, stop arguing. dad¡¯s health is the priority!¡± dr. lin understood the complexity of the lu family¡¯s relationships. lu shijie was still in the process of recovering from his injuries and should not stay for long. xu tingting and lu shixiu took him back to rest. gu ci obtained the medical reports from lu ze¡¯s examinations over the past three years. ¡°uncle lu¡¯s medical examination last year was normal. his blood viscosity deviation was not high, and the stomach tumor was well-controlled and hadn¡¯t grown. his blood pressure and pneumonia were also well-controlled. all the values in this year¡¯s medical examination are abnormal. did he have a check-up last month?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°yes!¡± dr. lin had personally performed lu ze¡¯s medical examination. ¡°he mentioned during the examination that he had been feeling excessively sleepy and fatigued recently. i advised him to rest more and not overexert himself, but he insisted on working. he¡¯s been taking care of the entire lu corporation.¡± from the medical reports, it was clear that lu ze had common diseases prevalent among the elderly. the general advice from doctors was to rest more and avoid excessive labor. ¡°do you want me to take a closer look at his condition?¡± lu zhiyuan asked.. Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Money Runs Deep chapter 120: money runs deep translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci was taken aback and chuckled, ¡°everyone has their own expertise, and this is not my strong suit.¡± she always felt that the previous surgery was a stroke of luck. to deal with the complex causes of the disease, she needed to find a more authoritative doctor. director lin said, ¡°dr. gu, do you know dr. north? perhaps she might have a solution.¡± gu ci nodded, ¡°i¡¯ll ask!¡± her own emotional entanglements were not as important as lu ze¡¯s illness. unfortunately, when gu ci went to find dr. north, she was out of town. nonetheless, she was willing to give it a try. dr. north added a condition, ¡°gu ci, in what capacity are you seeking my help? as my student or my apprentice?¡± gu ci hadn¡¯t expected things to come full circle. she and dr. north were still teacher and disciple. ¡°save him, master!¡± dr. north was delighted to have such a perceptive and understanding young girl as her disciple. ¡°when a disciple makes a request, the master will naturally do everything in their power!¡± gu ci quickly booked the nearest flight back. however, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to delay and arranged for a private plane to pick her up. racing against time, gu ci sent dr. north all of lu ze¡¯s medical reports from the past three years. waiting was the most tormenting part. somehow, news of lu ze¡¯s critical condition leaked out and made it to the media. despite li jiang¡¯s efforts to suppress it, the shareholders of the lu corporation knew about it. fortunately, it was during the national day holiday period, so the stock price wouldn¡¯t fluctuate. many shareholders called to inquire, and the calls were initially directed to lu shijie since lu zhiyuan rarely dealt with the affairs of the lu corporation. lu shijie felt helpless. he truthfully explained that his father¡¯s condition was not optimistic but expressed great confidence, ¡°as long as i¡¯m here, the lu corporation will not encounter any crises. believe in me, uncles and uncles!¡± ¡°you have always worked in the lu corporation, so we naturally trust you!¡± while lu shijie was comforting the shareholders, they gathered at the hospital under the pretext of visiting lu ze, but their true concern was the operation of the lu corporation. after the shareholders left, xu tingting said, ¡°shijie, this is your best opportunity. your father is unconscious, and it¡¯s your chance to shine. lu zhiyuan is not interested in the lu corporation. as long as you seize the opportunity, this vast family business will be yours!¡± ¡°i understand.¡± lu shijie also sensitively realized that this was his biggest opportunity. he even thought maliciously if lu ze¡­ didn¡¯t wake up, that would be even better. he was more suitable than lu zhiyuan to be at the helm of the lu corporation. dr. north arrived at the hospital as soon as she got off the plane. together with director lin, they conducted a joint consultation. lu ze showed no signs of improvement. dr. north conducted a detailed examination and spent the whole day doing so. when she saw the report, she furrowed her brow. gu ci worriedly asked, ¡°master, how is uncle lu?¡± dr. north pondered and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°the underlying disease your father has will have an unknown impact on the surgery. i only have a 50% chance of success. are you willing to take the risk?¡± dr. north was a miraculous doctor. apart from chen geng, she held an unbeaten record in clinical surgery. if she only had a 50% chance, that meant that the surgery was very risky. ¡°what if we don¡¯t proceed with the surgery?¡± dr. north replied calmly, ¡°he will live for another month.¡± director lin had already informed them to prepare for the worst outcome, so lu zhiyuan had a clear understanding. he didn¡¯t hesitate much and said, ¡°go ahead with the surgery.¡± before lu ze was taken into the operating room, lu zhiyuan put on sterile clothing and went to see him. looking at his pale face lying on the hospital bed, on the verge of life and death, lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood was complicated. ¡°dad, gu ci found dr. north to perform the surgery for you. she only has a 50% chance of success.¡± lu zhiyuan held his hand for the first time since he was eight years old. ¡°you have to pull through. i believe that a person can overcome fate. if you wake up, 1 will forgive you. can you hear me?¡± in the past, his father was like a towering mountain. he looked up to him and admired him, hoping to surpass that mountain. he blamed lu ze for many years, and without realizing it, lu ze¡¯s temples had turned white, and his life was in danger. he didn¡¯t want lu ze to leave with regrets. lu ze was wheeled into the operating room, and dr. north only said to lu zhiyuan, ¡°i will do my best.¡± ¡°i understand. thank you, doctor.¡± xu tingting and lu shijie learned about the surgery relatively late, and the three of them hurriedly arrived. xu tingting¡¯s face looked extremely ugly. ¡°lu zhiyuan, your father is about to undergo surgery. why didn¡¯t you inform us? his health is so poor, and it¡¯s not the best time for surgery. do you want him to die on the operating table?¡± li jiang stopped her and said sternly, ¡°miss xu, be mindful of your words!¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, stop the surgery immediately, can¡¯t you hear us? we don¡¯t agree!¡± xu tingting anxiously looked at the door of the operating room, wanting to go and stop it, but was stopped by the people li jiang brought with him. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned cold, resembling the third master. he couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste his breath on them. ¡°what are you telling him for, miss xu?¡± gu ci said indifferently, ¡°can you sign the surgery consent form?¡± xu tingting¡¯s face turned pale. gu ci¡¯s words hit a sore spot. no matter how she flaunted herself to the outside world and how others flattered her, she was always xu tingting, not mrs. lu. the only one who could sign the surgery consent form for lu ze was lu zhiyuan. lu shijie couldn¡¯t bear to see his mother being wronged. ¡°who knows what he¡¯s up to? lu zhiyuan, you have always been at odds with dad. dr. lin said that it¡¯s not suitable for dad to undergo surgery, so you want him to die on the operating table, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°li jiang!¡± lu zhiyuan shouted. li jiang waved his hand and said calmly, ¡°either leave or be quiet!¡± lu shijie was filled with anger and wanted to say something, but xu tingting stopped him. even lu shixiu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°dad is still in the operating room. stop arguing, let¡¯s wait for the results.¡± xu tingting and lu shijie fell silent. the surgery took a long time, and it was evening when the third young master came. he was still waiting outside the operating room. gu ci said, ¡°the surgery will take a while longer. i¡¯ll go buy something for you to eat. what would you like?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head, ¡°i¡¯m not hungry.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t insist and bought a can of coffee to keep him awake. xu tingting and her son also had no appetite. waiting outside the operating room was the most anxious time. lu zhiyuan held his phone and dealt with some matters. gu ci clearly felt that lu zhiyuan was different from the third master. lu zhiyuan was deeply concerned and anxious about lu ze¡¯s condition. there was sadness in his heart. the third young master¡­ was indifferent. she had a strange feeling that lu zhiyuan and the third master were like two sides of a coin. one person was warm, enthusiastic, and freely expressed his emotions. the other was cold, unable to perceive the world, and emotionless. lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart was like a garden blooming with colorful flowers, while after the third master passed by, all the flowers withered and everything faded away. she tried to hold his hand, and lu zhiyuan looked at her with a calm gaze. gu ci said, ¡°don¡¯t worry, uncle lu will be fine.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not worried.¡± lu zhiyuan spoke the truth, and his heart remained unaffected.. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Gu Ci Found Poison chapter 121: gu ci found poison translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation life is full of ups and downs, that is the most ordinary thing. birth, aging, illness, and death are part of human nature. the surgery continued until 10 p.m. dr. north was covered in sweat and looked tired. xu tingting anxiously approached her and asked, ¡°how is the surgery¡­ was it successful?¡± ¡°i did my best!¡± dr. north said faintly, looking at lu zhiyuan. xu tingting¡¯s pupils contracted, and she sat down on the bench. lu shijie supported her, his eyes turning red. lu shixiu burst into tears. dr. north said, ¡°his underlying condition was too severe. there was bleeding during the surgery, although it was stopped. the situation is not optimistic. there is a possibility of¡­ brain death.¡± everyone¡¯s hearts sank. brain death was equivalent to announcing the person¡¯s death. xu tingting burst into tears. the doctors were accustomed to life and death separations and had seen it all. lu zhiyuan, on the other hand, seemed indifferent. xu tingting wiped her tears and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, you insisted on the surgery. are you satisfied now? your father is brain dead and will never wake up again. you¡¯ve got what you wanted.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her coldly. xu tingting was intimidated by his gaze and dared not speak further. dr. north said, ¡°no one can guarantee that the surgery will be successful. before i started the surgery, dr. lin issued a critical illness notice to lu ze and informed the family. it could be as short as ten days or as long as a month before preparations for the aftermath can be made.¡± lu ze was pushed back to the icu. with the surgery over, the dust settled. xu tingting fainted in the hospital, and there was another flurry of activity. dr. north took off the surgical gown and was sanitizing and washing her hands. gu ci stood behind her and said softly, ¡°thank you, master.¡± ¡°you¡¯re welcome.¡± dr. north blinked mischievously. ¡°1 should be wholehearted in serving my disciple. but¡­ little girl, what do you want to do?¡± gu ci smiled without answering, ¡°master, you must be tired. let me take you home.¡± ¡°alright, i won¡¯t stand on ceremony then.¡± lu zhiyuan stayed at the hospital as he still had matters to attend to. after bidding farewell to him, gu ci accompanied dr. north home. dr. north had bought a flat near a university, which was only a five-minute walk away, very convenient. the car stopped downstairs in the residential area. dr. north said, ¡°lu ze¡¯s surgery was very successful. 1 have already handed him over to director lin. we will start dialysis in three days, and he should recover within half a month. why did you deceive them?¡± ¡°i just feel¡­ that things aren¡¯t that simple.¡± gu ci was always cautious in her actions. ¡°uncle lu¡¯s health deteriorated too quickly. my intuition tells me that there¡¯s something fishy going on.¡± dr. north shook her head. ¡°you¡¯re overthinking it. i¡¯ve reviewed lu ze¡¯s medical reports, and there¡¯s nothing unusual.¡± ¡°data can be deceiving.¡± ¡°no, little girl, your intuition can deceive you because humans are subjective beings and tend to view others with biased eyes. data doesn¡¯t lie.¡± dr. north said, ¡°life, aging, illness, and death are natural laws. sudden heart attacks often have no apparent cause. 1 had a heart attack myself when 1 was in prison, despite being in good health.¡± ¡°let me sort out my thoughts.¡± gu ci pondered. ¡°perhaps i¡¯m overthinking it.¡± dr. north chuckled lightly and changed the subject. ¡°little girl, will you still be my disciple without regret?¡± ¡°master!¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°i will honor my promises once i make them. that¡¯s how i am.¡± ¡°good, i like people who are true to their word.¡± when gu ci returned to universal corporation, she looked tired. after taking a shower, it was already 2 a.m. third master didn¡¯t care about lu ze¡¯s condition, and gu ci didn¡¯t tell him either. before entering the operating room, gu ci had already told dr. north that if the surgery was successful, they would announce brain death afterward. ¡°was i really overthinking it?¡± gu ci brewed a cup of tea to freshen up and sat on the balcony, looking at the deep night, lost in thought. was her rebirth and ziyu¡¯s time travel like the flapping of a butterfly¡¯s wings, gently changing the gears of fate? their destinies had changed, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s destiny had changed too. had lu ze also changed? was it too hasty to deduce that his sudden heart attack was deliberate based solely on his previous good health? gu ci doubted it. after drinking the tea, however, she felt drowsy despite her mind being active. she couldn¡¯t resist the fatigue and fell into a deep sleep. she slept until noon and still felt tired. while brushing her teeth, gu ci suddenly remembered what the butler had said lu ze had been feeling unwell lately, drowsy. gu ci was a night owl and often stayed up late. being young, she had a lot of energy. when she was fully focused on something, she had strong willpower and never succumbed to fatigue. that tea¡­ after finishing her morning routine, gu ci checked the tea leaves she had brought back from lu¡¯s house. she emptied several cans of tea, which lu ze often drank. due to the limited production, the tea leaves had been opened before. there were three cans of tea, and all of them had some powdery substance that didn¡¯t look like tea dregs. narrowing her eyes, gu ci sent a message to dr. north. gu ci went to the university. a university provided laboratories and classrooms for students during the break, supported by money from the school to discourage students from traveling. ¡°master, i have several cans of tea suspected to be tampered with. i examined the powder and found some pollen. can you help me?¡± gu ci handed her analysis data to dr. north. dr. north took the data and made a comparison. suddenly, she frowned. ¡°brew the tea.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci brewed the tea, and after dr. north examined the powder, she also tested the tea itself. ¡°it¡¯s a kind of ornamental flower from the nordic highlands. due to the climate, it only grows in the nordic highlands. it¡¯s rare in quantity and not suitable for consumption. it combines with the amino acids in black tea to form a chronic poison. in small amounts, it causes symptoms like drowsiness and night sweats, which are usually not noticeable by ordinary people. however, long-term use can poison the cardiovascular system, leading to excessively thick blood and abnormal kidney function.¡± dr. north raised an eyebrow. ¡°little girl, you¡¯re very vigilant. this toxin is usually unnoticed by ordinary people, even in small doses, especially when mixed with black tea. the fragrance of black tea can mask the scent of the flower. how did you notice it?¡± ¡°i smelled it.¡± gu ci felt a heavy weight in her heart. ¡°how long does it take for this poison to be fatal?¡± ¡°half a year. if taken continuously for a year, even gods and immortals can¡¯t save you.¡± dr. north asked, ¡°if there is an underlying condition, it can easily trigger the symptoms, so it wouldn¡¯t take a year for the illness to manifest, and it would go unnoticed.¡± ¡°no wonder!¡± gu ci thought of lu ze¡¯s healthy body and the abnormal stroke in her previous life. li jiang said the hospital couldn¡¯t find anything wrong after conducting tests. could it be that he had been taking the poison for a long time? ¡°your sense of smell is very keen.¡± dr. north disposed of the powder. ¡°this flower has extremely low production and is non-toxic. over ten years ago, during my travels around the world, i passed by a village in the nordic highlands and found that the people there had short lifespans and died from various diseases. the local hospital couldn¡¯t find any clues. after i accompanied a medical team to visit the village, i discovered that the villagers often dried and brewed the flowers. initially, the medical team ruled out the flowers as the cause. later, it was a coincidence. 1 liked milk tea, so 1 brewed black tea, milk, and the flowers together. after drinking it for a month, 1 noticed something was wrong with my body. when i examined the ingredients of the milk tea, i discovered the problem. because the flower is unique to that region, it was recorded in the local medical manual and publicized..¡± Chapter 122 - Chapter 122:1 Don’t Have a Father Anymore chapter 122:1 don¡¯t have a father anymore translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci didn¡¯t expect that dr. north and this poison had a connection. dr. north was a clever person. ¡°i used this poison on chen geng. he drank it for a month, but that old man values his life and became suspicious. otherwise, he would have died many years earlier.¡± gu ci remained silent. master, 1 don¡¯t really want to hear about your great achievements. ¡°apologies for that.¡± dr. north glanced at her own hand with a playful look. ¡°who says that all medical practitioners must have a compassionate heart? killing and saving lives are just a thought away.¡± ¡°if someone takes the poison for a period of time, is stopping the medication enough?¡± dr. north pondered for a moment. ¡°if taken a few times, it should be fine. but if it lasts for more than a month, it would be best to undergo blood dialysis.¡± ¡°these are uncle lu¡¯s tea leaves. he drinks tea every day.¡± all four cans of tea leaves were contaminated with pollen. dr. north looked surprised and thoughtful. ¡°no wonder, the cause couldn¡¯t be identified.¡± she paused for a moment, chuckled lightly, and said, ¡°little girl, you are truly perceptive.¡± ¡°master, you flatter me.¡± as the two of them left the laboratory, they encountered chen rushi. he stood alone outside the laboratory, tall and handsome. ¡°cici, what a coincidence to meet again.¡± ¡°urgh!¡± gu ci walked past him with a book in her arms, without turning back. the conflict between them had started in lavis, and she had no desire to interact with chen rushi. she looked toward dr. north and said, ¡°dr. north, it seems you have quite an affection for gu ci.¡± ¡°she is my student,¡± dr. north replied in a flat tone. ¡°you came to a university to teach, and i haven¡¯t seen you getting too close to anyone except gu ci. you privately made appointments with her and even conducted experiments together during the holidays in the laboratory. i suspect¡­ is she your daughter?¡± her age also matches. dr. north laughed heartily and carefree. ¡°do you think chen geng is worthy of such an excellent daughter? don¡¯t you know how rotten the chen family¡¯s genes are? isn¡¯t it clear in your mind?¡± she¡¯d also insulted chen rushi in the same sentence. chen rushi¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°my patience has its limits.¡± dr. north showed no fear. ¡°1 have nothing to lose, no attachments. whether 1 save you or not depends entirely on my mood, chen rushi. you have been pampered since childhood, never understanding the meaning of humility. when seeking help, one must have the attitude of seeking help. learn that first, and then come find me.¡± chen rushi felt unhappy after being ignored several times. dr. north took a few steps but turned back. ¡°chen rushi, gu ci brought me several cans of tea today for testing. it¡¯s a coincidence that they turned out to contain powder from the changming flower mixed with the black tea. apart from me, you are the only one who knows about the changming flower and how it can harm people when mixed with tea. your heart disease is your own retribution.¡± chen rushi¡¯s face turned extremely ugly, but dr. north had already walked away. lu zhiyuan had been in the tea room since he woke up. he wasn¡¯t someone who enjoyed drinking tea, yet there was a separate tea room in his house. the fragrance of tea lingered, and lu zhiyuan had been elegantly brewing tea, filtering it, and savoring the aroma. gu ci leaned against the door, watching him, feeling a slight ache in her heart. perhaps he was missing lu ze! lu zhiyuan smiled lightly and asked, ¡°would you like some tea?¡± gu ci sat in front of him, smelling the black tea. it didn¡¯t have that faint floral fragrance. she took a sip, put down the teacup, and noticed that lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t fond of tea. it was third master who loved drinking tea, so lu zhiyuan¡¯s tea brewing skills were lacking. this tea was bitter and astringent, quite difficult to drink. lu zhiyuan also took a sip, frowned, and put down the teacup. ¡°it¡¯s really hard to drink.¡± gu ci took the tea utensils used for brewing and made another cup for him. it was the same tea, but the brewing method was different, resulting in a completely different taste. lu zhiyuan fell silent. ¡°li jiang said you haven¡¯t left the house all day.¡± ¡°i feel suffocated.¡± lu zhiyuan leaned back on the soft cushion and stretched his legs. ¡°the year my mother died, i hated him so much. if 1 had been of age, i would have severed ties with him. the car accident was an accident, but i blamed him for it, which was unfair. however, if he hadn¡¯t forcibly taken over and seized control, my mother wouldn¡¯t have died tragically. my father felt guilty and indulged in my every request. relying on his favoritism, 1 became reckless. when 1 finally grew up, left the lu family, and no longer relied on the lu corporation, 1 felt a sense of relief. i thought¡­ 1 would resent him for the rest of my life, but now that he¡¯s really gone, 1 feel restless. gu ci, i haven¡¯t forgiven him yet. how could he die?¡± lu zhiyuan suppressed his emotions that had been building up all day and released them in front of gu ci. he covered his eyes and his voice was hoarse. ¡°i haven¡¯t forgiven him yet. how could he die?¡± gu ci moved closer and hugged him, feeling a pang of pain in her heart. she regretted not informing him in advance. would he strangle her when she told lu zhiyuan the truth later? ¡°gu ci, i no longer have a father.¡± gu ci had no blood ties to him and didn¡¯t know how to comfort him. ¡°1 still have a father, but in my heart, he¡¯s already dead.¡± lu zhiyuan leaned against her, unable to break free from the emotions of losing his parent. gu ci coughed a few times. ¡°third brother, there¡¯s something 1 want to tell you, but please don¡¯t get angry when you hear it.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were slightly red, but he had already pulled himself out of the sadness. ¡°tell me first!¡± ¡°just promise me that you won¡¯t get angry!¡± gu ci felt a bit guilty. lu zhiyuan remained expressionless. ¡°every time you call me third brother, it¡¯s because you¡¯ve done something wrong.¡± gu ci remained silent. she took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and faced lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes that seemed to say, ¡°speak up, i¡¯m already angry.¡± ¡°uncle lu isn¡¯t brain dead. before he entered the operating room, i had a suspicion in my mind, but i had no evidence. so, 1 asked master to lie. his operation was very successful.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her calmly, and gu ci felt guilty, putting on a submissive appearance. ¡°i¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°why did you deceive me?¡± ¡°before uncle lu went into the operating room, 1 only had suspicions but no evidence. that¡¯s why 1 asked master to lie. later, when we examined the tea leaves, we found toxins, confirming my suspicions.¡± gu ci explained softly, ¡°xu tingting is cunning, and 1 was afraid she would see through our plan, so i didn¡¯t tell you.¡± lu zhiyuan was overwhelmed with various emotions. even third master believed that lu ze was dead, indicating how deeply gu ci had concealed the truth. was he angry? no, he felt relieved that the old man had a successful surgery and was still alive. ¡°you don¡¯t trust me!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°are you afraid i¡¯ll reveal the secret?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. lu zhiyuan had a strong desire to win and despised it when others underestimated him. gu ci had once wondered why he had such a strong desire to win. but after knowing about third master¡¯s existence, she understood. he had been competing with third master throughout his life, two souls sharing one body. they coexisted and fought, vying for control over the body. third master was a dominant presence. lu zhiyuan was also a world champion. in their respective fields, they had reached the pinnacle. he had been constantly striving, proving himself to be the true soul of this body. ¡°third brother, you care about uncle lu, but you refuse to admit it. i was afraid that if you found out he had been poisoned and went to confront xu tingting and her son, it would tip them off.¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°i was wrong, and i shouldn¡¯t have kept it from you. it won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°give me the report!¡± Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Forged Will chapter 123: forged will translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci handed the report to him. lu zhiyuan looked at the report brought by gu ci, his voice deep and filled with hidden anger. ¡°are you sure?¡± ¡°i wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this.¡± ¡°good, very good!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s anger subsided, but then he remembered something. ¡°you¡¯ve had the tea, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°the toxin in this powder is mild, my body can metabolize it.¡± gu ci was still young, and his metabolism was faster than lu ze¡¯s. he had only drunk it a few times, at most experiencing some drowsiness as a side effect. lu zhiyuan felt slightly relieved. ¡°it¡¯s quite a spectacle. i really want to see what they¡¯re up to!¡± the news of lu ze¡¯s failed surgery and brain death spread quickly. the hospital had sealed the information, which was supposed to be highly confidential, but somehow it had leaked out. with lu zhiyuan¡¯s tacit approval, the news of lu ze¡¯s death made it to the trending searches. the lu corporation was in chaos without a leader. the senior executives were shaken, and at this moment, they all hoped for someone to come forward and take charge of the situation. after the national day holiday, the stock price of the lu corporation plummeted, evaporating billions of dollars in market value for several consecutive days. on this weekend, lawyer yang summoned xu tingting, lu shijie¡¯s three sons, and lu zhiyuan to the law firm to read lu ze¡¯s will. ¡°are you interested in watching the show?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. gu ci winked mischievously. ¡°i can¡¯t refuse your generous offer. i¡¯ll gladly comply.¡± ¡°watching the show comes with a venue fee.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll owe you then.¡± gu ci pouted. ¡°you¡¯re so calculative, third brother.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled and took gu ci to the law firm. xu tingting, lu shijie, and lu shixiu were already there. lu shijie had just been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and although he still walked unsteadily, he was much better. lawyer yang was the legal advisor for the lu corporation and also lu ze¡¯s personal lawyer. they had been working together for many years and had a great understanding. he was nearly fifty years old, gentle and refined, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and had a polite demeanor. ¡°all the young masters and ms. xu are here, so i will begin reading the will. this is the wall that mr. lu ze secretly signed a month ago. if anything happened to him, it w¡¯as to be read in the presence of the heirs. i have confirmed with the hospital that mr. lu ze is brain dead and this will have taken effect. 1 would like to know if the heirs have any objections,¡± lawyer yang said. xu tingting was nervous and shook her head, and lu zhiyuan had no objections either. lawyer yang nodded and took out the will, making three copies and handing them to lu zhiyuan, lu shijie, and lu shixiu. lawyer yang said, ¡°the ancestral properties of the lu family, as well as six villas, are left to the third young master. two companies related to downstream products of racing cars are also left to the third young master. mr. lu ze¡¯s shares wall be inherited by the eldest young master, and the core management rights wall also be handed over to the eldest young master. the second young master will have shares in two technology companies, and ms. xu, in addition to several properties, cars, and jewelry, wall also serve as the chairman of the lu corporation¡¯s fund. these are the contents of mr. lu ze¡¯s will.¡± lu shijie w¡¯as overjoyed and couldn¡¯t believe it. he trembled with excitement. ¡°father still trusts me. he still believes in me.¡± ¡°you have been managing the company for many years, so of course, your father trusts you,¡± xu tingting said with great satisfaction. she w¡¯as the manager of the lu family¡¯s fund and held real powder, which was still in lu ze¡¯s hands. ¡°lawyer yang, when w¡¯as this wall signed?¡± lu zhiyuan asked casually. ¡°besides you and my father, who else w¡¯as present?¡± lawyer yang pushed his glasses. ¡°only mr. lu ze and i were present. it w¡¯as signed last month. he had a premonition about his health and privately asked me to draw up the wall. later, he mentioned that he wanted to make some modifications to the will, but he didn¡¯t have time to draft the clauses. unfortunately, mr. lu ze had an accident before he could make any changes. it¡¯s a great pity, third young master.¡± the signature w¡¯as indeed lu ze¡¯s signature, and the seal was also lu ze¡¯s seal. it couldn¡¯t be faked. lu shijie said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, you have always looked down on the lu corporation and mentioned it in front of our father many times. you won¡¯t inherit the lu family. father has given you the ancestral properties, properties, and two companies just as you wished.¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°compared to the property and shares of the lu family, this is a drop in the bucket. uncle lu favors third brother so much, everyone knows that. i don¡¯t believe he would sign such a wall.¡± xu tingting¡¯s face changed slightly. ¡°gu ci, are you questioning the authenticity of the will? this is a family meeting of the lu family, and you have no right to attend. please leave!¡± ¡°when did it become your turn to meddle in the affairs of the lu family?¡± lu zhiyuan said. lawyer yang said sternly, ¡°third young master, i have served mr. lu ze for over a decade, and my law¡¯ firm has handled many legal matters for the lu corporation. i vouch for the authenticity of the wall based on my reputation.¡± ¡°my father is lying on the hospital bed, declared brain dead, and suddenly a wall is produced. i don¡¯t believe it.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at lawyer yang. ¡°lawyers are cautious in their w¡¯ork. was there a video recording of the wall being signed?¡± ¡°yes!¡± lawyer yang took out his phone and showed lu zhiyuan, lu shijie, and lu shixiu a video of the signing of the will. in the video, only lawyer yang and lu ze w¡¯ere present. lawyer yang asked, ¡°mr. lu, the will takes effect immediately after it is signed. have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°it wall have a result sooner or later, and it wall prevent them from fighting among themselves.¡± lu ze signed the will, and lawyer yang kept the will safe. lu ze told him not to tell anyone about it and that he would announce it to everyone at a family meeting. ¡°lu zhiyuan, what are you questioning? it w¡¯as signed by father,¡± xu tingting said. lu zhiyuan closed the video, his face filled with mockery. ¡°lawyer yang, why wasn¡¯t the content of the wall recorded?¡± ¡°third young master, you¡¯re¡­ making things difficult for me!¡± ¡°i have also made a wall,¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°my father is the designated heir, but the beneficiary of my wall is not him. my legal counsel advised me to record the entire content of the will to prevent any changes. it is the most crucial evidence in a court of law. i am the rightful heir to lu ze¡¯s property, so if he intended to make this will, why wasn¡¯t the content recorded? is it because lawyer yang, with his outstanding abilities, forgot to remind him, or did he tamper with the contents of the wall?¡± ¡°you¡¯re defaming me!¡± lawyer yang frowned, his face displeased, and he tightly gripped the pen in his hand. ¡°i won¡¯t accept baseless accusations unless you can provide evidence!¡± ¡°your will isn¡¯t any solid evidence either,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face grew cold. ¡°can third young master produce another will from mr. lu ze?¡± lawyer yang¡¯s tone grew firm. ¡°you may refuse to inherit the lu corporation, but i¡¯ve heard mr. lu ze mention it more than once. this wall was signed quite reasonably. he was nurturing the eldest young master because he wanted to hand over the lu family to him.¡± ¡°i can do without such things!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were deep and cold. ¡°but that doesn¡¯t mean you can snatch them aw¡¯ay!¡± xu tingting said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, everyone knows about your relationship with your father. he has been grooming shijie as the successor for several years. even if you¡¯re dissatisfied, you can¡¯t question his decision.¡± lu shixiu, as a beneficiary, remained silent on the side. ¡°then let¡¯s go to court!¡± gu ci said calmly. ¡°since you can¡¯t provide a video recording of the will¡¯s content and third brother questions the authenticity of the will, let¡¯s present our case in court and let the law¡¯ decide..¡± Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: As Fate Would Have It chapter 124: as fate would have it translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°miss gu ci, are you accusing me of forging this will?¡± lawyer yang said angrily. gu ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°true gold fears no fire, lawyer yang. we believe in you, and i believe that the law will believe in you too.¡± xu tingting panicked. with the benefits in hand, how could she be willing to give them up? ¡°lu zhiyuan, your father¡¯s body is barely cold, and you¡¯re already questioning his will, eager to go to court with your brothers. how do you think outsiders will see it? the lu family¡¯s fortune is the result of his lifetime of hard work. do you want to destroy it?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to waste time on idle talk. he said calmly, ¡°wait for the subpoena. i don¡¯t recognize this will.¡± he stood up, tall and imposing, exuding pressure. ¡°although the law stipulates that illegitimate children and legitimate children have inheritance rights, 1 truly don¡¯t believe that anyone would dare challenge thousands of years of chinese social ethics and morals in court. if illegitimate children and hidden mistresses dare to seize the family fortune, and if the judge dares to rule in their favor, then let¡¯s give it a try!¡± they would be nailed to the pillar of shame and be scorned for their entire lives! after lu zhiyuan and gu ci left, lawyer yang and xu tingting wore unpleasant expressions. lu shijie said, ¡°what does he mean? if it comes to a lawsuit, can we win? can the will and the video be considered solid evidence?¡± lawyer yang was confident. ¡°don¡¯t worry, lu zhiyuan and lu ze have a bad relationship, it¡¯s well-known. he doesn¡¯t get involved in the affairs of the group. even if we go to court, i¡¯ll try to ensure that lu ze¡¯s shares and assets are evenly divided. the combined assets of you and lu shixiu are more than three shao¡¯s.¡± ¡°it¡¯s not enough!¡± lu shijie gritted his teeth. ¡°the wall is set in stone. why doesn¡¯t he recognize it? i don¡¯t want to give him a single share of the lu family¡¯s shares. what else can we do?¡± lawyer yang thought for a moment. ¡°lu ze is brain-dead and has been declared medically dead. so, convene a board meeting. as long as you can get all the directors to vote, elect a new chairman, and you¡¯ll win.¡± xu tingting¡¯s face lit up when she heard that. ¡°let¡¯s do that. lu zhiyuan never takes care of the lu family¡¯s affairs. he knows nothing about the company¡¯s internal matters. he¡¯s just a race car driver. he¡¯s already a loser!¡± lu shijie nodded. ¡°i¡¯ll take care of it right away!¡± lu zhiyuan and gu ci returned to the global center. on the way, lu zhiyuan drove in silence. gu ci asked, ¡°did you anticipate this?¡± ¡°i had a hunch!¡± lu zhiyuan blinked, his smile elusive and captivating. ¡°seize the opportunity while you¡¯re sick, take your life, bring out the will again, and take over the family fortune. how many times has this plot been played out in tv dramas?¡± gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°aren¡¯t you angry?¡± ¡°i am angry!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s smile faded. ¡°i don¡¯t care about inheriting the lu family¡¯s fortune. if lu shijie had a decent character, it wouldn¡¯t matter to me. but seeing how he coveted you first and then harmed you, i won¡¯t give him a chance. that¡¯s not all. to fight over the property, they even schemed against my father, who was not a responsible husband. i won¡¯t show them any mercy. regardless of who did it, 1 will hold them responsible, and once 1 inherit, i¡¯ll use up all the family fortune for charity. 1 won¡¯t give them a penny, even if i scatter it in the sea!¡± gu ci said softly, ¡°uncle lu will be fine. master will save him.¡± ¡°good!¡± after hearing the contents of the will, gu ziyu couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°as long as there is land, there will be greed. they really dare to forge a will. in the previous life, grandfather left all the properties to father for inheritance, leaving them only a few houses and some cash.¡± ¡°the human heart is always greedy,¡± gu ci pondered. ¡°but what i¡¯m concerned about is something else. master said this pollen is very rare. how could xu tingting and her three children have obtained it? they don¡¯t seem like people knowledgeable about medicine. if they are pawns, then who is the chess player?¡± ¡°chen rushi?¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow sharply. ¡°dr. north knows, he must know too. he supports lu shijie behind the scenes and wants grandfather¡¯s life.¡± ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t you find it strange?¡± gu ci felt like something was missing. ¡°why does chen rushi support lu shijie? they don¡¯t seem to be on the same side. why would they want to take over the lu family¡¯s fortune?¡± gu ziyu was puzzled and couldn¡¯t understand either. ¡°chen rushi is from the chen family in country m. he holds a high position and has accumulated more wealth than the lu family¡¯s fortune. it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± in her previous life, gu ci spent five years in prison, and lu zhiyuan was in a coma for five years. they both missed out on the information of those five years. after she was released from prison, chen rushi was already dead. her, lu zhiyuan, zi yu, and the jiang family¡­ all their destinies had been changed. lu shijie and gu chu yun were also showing signs of decline. why did chen rushi suddenly appear? coincidentally, as she thought of chen rushi, he invited her to dinner. gu ci was always bold and observant. ¡°alright!¡± they arranged to meet at the chinese restaurant in the global center. the terrace of the chinese restaurant offered a view of the river and the moon, creating a pleasant environment. the food was also well-prepared, with delightful flavors and aromas. chen rushi came alone as if turning up for a date with gu ci. he appeared refined and elegant, with a charming demeanor. sitting together, they made an attractive pair. ¡°cici, last time at lavis, i was presumptuous. please don¡¯t hold it against me. i¡¯ll punish myself with three cups. consider it an apology.¡± he was also straightforward and poured himself three glasses of white wine. gu ci smiled and watched him drink without stopping him. chen rushi liked gu ci¡¯s smile. she had beautiful eyes, like the mist of early spring, cold yet hazy. when she smiled, it was like a blossoming spring flower. ¡°exquisite!¡± he exclaimed, murmuring to himself, ¡°if cici were to use her beauty, all the men in the world would grovel at her feet, hoping for her mercy.¡± ¡°they¡¯re not worthy!¡± gu ci said indifferently, her voice calm. apart from lu zhiyuan, no one was worthy of her beauty. ¡°did you come to see me because you desire my beauty? is this meeting intentional?¡± chen rushi asked, ¡°what if it is?¡± ¡°in that case¡­¡± gu ci carefully chose her words, ¡°you¡¯re not a puppet master.¡± and she wasn¡¯t a fool. chen rushi burst into laughter and asked gu ci, ¡°there are some things i hope you can clarify. when dr. north was in prison, you went to see her. shortly after that, national security took over dr. north¡¯s case and released her. did you already know her?¡± ¡°my grandmother was seriously ill and needed a doctor. i watched dr. north¡¯s surgical videos.¡± ¡°and how did you know she was in the suburban prison?¡± chen rushi¡¯s eyes carried an oppressive force, but he spoke with a gentle smile, as if he was conducting a gentle trial. ¡°in prison, she used a different name and didn¡¯t reveal her identity as dr. north. how did you know?¡± ¡°i was mischievous in high school and often skipped class. one time, near the courthouse, 1 happened to see her being escorted out. since i was young, i aspired to become a doctor who saves lives. 1 immersed myself in various medical forums and watched dr. north¡¯s videos, so 1 was curious why she was sentenced, and since the news wasn¡¯t reported, i secretly checked the case files to find out the whole story.¡± ¡°how coincidental.¡± ¡°destiny works in mysterious ways.¡± gu ci sipped her juice. this was the story she and dr. north had agreed upon during their deposition.. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Who Is Whose Prey chapter 125: who is whose prey translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°why don¡¯t you report it?¡± gu ci smiled disdainfully, her eyes filled with mockery and teasing. ¡°mr. chen, do i look like a concerned citizen to you?¡± chen remained silent. not only did she not look like a concerned citizen, but her approach to matters was also indifferent and self-centered. why would she bother herself with a criminal case that had nothing to do with her? ¡°this argument of yours is really impressive. it has no obvious loopholes and leaves no trace.¡± ¡°facts always fit together seamlessly.¡± in their confrontation, whether it was suspicion or belief, neither would be explicitly stated. chen raised his glass again, and gu ci clinked her glass with his juice. chen said, ¡°cici, stay away from her. it will bring you misfortune.¡± ¡°it¡¯s too late!¡± gu ci drank her juice, smiling. ¡°i have already accepted her as my master. one day as a master, a lifetime as a mother.¡± chen¡¯s smile froze on his face. he had investigated the relationship between gu ci and doctor north, but he hadn¡¯t discovered this connection. ¡°she really dares¡­¡± chen suppressed his hidden anger. gu ci seemed to be filled with emotion. ¡°i don¡¯t know why doctor nrth took a liking to me, pursued me, and begged me to be her apprentice. i initially refused her, but when uncle lu fell ill this time, only she could perform the surgery. i begged her. when you ask someone for help, you need to adopt a humble attitude. i agreed to be her apprentice, and she saved uncle lu¡¯s life.¡± chen held the wine glass tightly, his face filled with solemnity. doctor north was only nine years older than chen. when she came to chen geng¡¯s side, chen had just been born. she practically raised him with her own hands. if it weren¡¯t for chen geng, doctor north and chen would have had a very close brother-sister relationship. chen knew north, and north knew chen as well. ¡°she took you as her apprentice just to use you as a scapegoat. cici, don¡¯t trust her!¡± chen rushi warned with a serious tone. ¡°she will kill you!¡± gu ci looked fragile and pained. ¡°why? why would she treat me like this? she¡­ she¡­ i thought she genuinely appreciated my talent. i don¡¯t believe it. you¡¯re lying to me.¡± ¡°time reveals true intentions.¡± gu ci felt sorrowful and desolate. the dinner ended, but she couldn¡¯t recover from the blow. after chen rushi left, gu ci¡¯s sadness vanished without a trace, and she calmly returned upstairs. gu ziyu asked, ¡°mom, what did he say?¡± ¡°he¡¯s trying to sow discord. what a pity.¡± gu ci sat playfully by the windowsill, elegantly preparing tea. ¡°my master took me as an apprentice to shield little cherry. i understand it better than anyone else.¡± gu ziyu narrowed his eyes, feeling displeased. his mother was the proudest princess. who dared to use her as a pawn? chen rushi and north, did they want to die? gu ci joked, ¡°baby ziyu, who¡¯s the hunter, and who¡¯s the gun? it¡¯s not always so clear!¡± the best hunters often appear in the form of prey. ji chi waited for chen rushi. after getting in the car together, they left the global building. chen rushi closed his eyes to rest, twirling his finger on the ring, lost in thought. ji chi asked, ¡°master chen, any progress?¡± ¡°cici is clever. her words are half true and half false. her personal background is clean, except for not having a good relationship with zhou jinjin. she probably doesn¡¯t know about my sister¡¯s whereabouts.¡± chen rushi pondered, ¡°north is using her as a scapegoat, and she seems to have calculated it well. i might relent, and her audacity is growing.¡± ji chi teased, ¡°well, she holds your life in her hands.¡± ¡°there are plenty of authoritative cardiologists out there. i don¡¯t necessarily need her!¡± chen rushi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°he who toasts and does not drink forfeits the next glass. kidnap her!¡± ¡°master chen, think twice.¡± ji chi calmly reminded her, ¡°if she survived under your father¡¯s hand, do you think she fears your methods? unless you truly intend to take her life.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve always hated being coerced.¡± chen rushi¡¯s tone turned cold. ¡°i like gu ci. she dares to target gu ci.¡± ji chi turned the steering wheel. ¡°if you can¡¯t find a more suitable doctor, don¡¯t strain your relationship with her too much. if you really need her to perform the surgery, it will be awkward. your father is a warning.¡± everyone believed that chen geng¡¯s heart surgery was successful, a medical miracle. they cheered and celebrated, and chen geng felt healthy and believed he would live a long life. that¡¯s why he acted recklessly. but he suffered for years, tortured by illness, until he passed away. ¡°so, should i do nothing?¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°lu ze is dead, which is good news. lu shijie is convening a board meeting to elect a new chairman. lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t have much chance.¡± chen rushi sneered, ¡°lu shijie, that useless fool. it would be best if he had some use.¡± the upper echelons of the lu corporation were in turmoil and caught in a will controversy. after lu ze¡¯s will was exposed, it caused a media explosion. audiences loved watching palace intrigue dramas, especially real-life battles of the elite families. the lu corporation¡¯s board meeting was scheduled for monday. lu shijie limped around to visit the shareholders, hoping to gain their support. on the other hand, lu zhiyuan participated in a racing competition held in city a over the weekend. it was an entertainment race, and all four drivers from the dynasty team participated. the event was lively, and lu zhiyuan won the championship as usual. he also hosted a grand entertainment racing event that thrilled the city¡¯s audience. ¡°third young master doesn¡¯t care about the lu corporation. at such a critical time, he went racing. since there was no race, i participated in the entertainment race. wake up! you are a scion of a prominent family, the main force in the fight for family assets. can¡¯t you have some competitive spirit?¡± ¡°speaking honestly, if lu zhiyuan is so competitive, why did he lie down this time and go racing? did he give up the competition?¡± ¡°he couldn¡¯t win. lu ze is dead, and the will has been revealed. he¡¯s dissatisfied, but what can he do?¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan¡¯s global center is also profitable. it¡¯s the most profitable racing team globally and part of the sports industry. he probably doesn¡¯t care about the lu corporation.¡± ¡°oh, the sour grapes have started to show themselves. no matter how profitable the global center is, how can it be compared to the lu corporation? it¡¯s a rising industry. are you kidding me?¡± ¡°in the succession, they look at who has the strongest ability and pass the position to them. apart from playing cars, the global champion doesn¡¯t know anything else. if i were lu ze, i wouldn¡¯t entrust the family business to him.¡± despite the chaotic discussions online, lu zhiyuan remained focused. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t understand. what kind of trick was this? gu ci secretly wondered if third master had a plan. it seemed like third master was in charge of this mess, so third young master could play have fun? she had a feeling that when there was a mess or a difficult situation, third master was in charge, and third young master was responsible for eating, drinking, and having fun. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t go to the shareholders; the shareholders came to him. some uncles and relatives who had good relationships with lu ze came over and asked for lu zhiyuan¡¯s thoughts. lu zhiyuan went straight to the point, ¡°i don¡¯t recognize the will. i will face lu shijie in court. if lu shijie wants to convene a shareholders¡¯ meeting, let it be. i am also a lu family shareholder, and i will attend.¡± lu ze¡¯s favoritism was blatantly obvious. he held 43% of the shares, while lu zhiyuan had 8% of the lu group¡¯s shares. lu shijie and lu shixiu didn¡¯t have any shares at all.. lu zhiyuan mocked, ¡°does lu shijie have the qualification to attend the shareholders¡¯ meeting? is he even a shareholder?¡± Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Broken chapter 126: broken-hearted brother translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°he has a will!¡± the director said with a sigh. ¡°third young master, this is not a personal dispute. the interests of the group are the most important. the recent turmoil has caused many projects to halt, resulting in heavy losses for the group, and we have suffered greatly as well.¡± ¡°so what?¡± lu zhiyuan shrugged arrogantly. ¡°i have money, i can afford the losses!¡± his wolf head necklace was displayed proudly on his chest, exuding dominance, just like himself. several shareholders were furious. ¡°third young master, you don¡¯t understand business. if you are entrusted with such a large company like lu corporation, how can you guarantee its operations?¡± ¡°hire a manager!¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°i have a candidate in mind, no need to worry.¡± ¡°third young master, if you continue like this, no one will be able to bear the consequences. we can¡¯t afford any more losses.¡± ¡°third young master, the eldest young master has been working in the group for a long time and has outstanding abilities. it was your father¡¯s wish for him to take over the lu family¡¯s business empire. why don¡¯t you have a frank discussion with the eldest young master? after all, you are brothers. there¡¯s no need to bring this to court.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s brows furrowed with a touch of frost, emanating an oppressive aura when angered. the faces of the directors turned embarrassed, and they felt a hint of fear. they couldn¡¯t understand why they were afraid of lu zhiyuan. he was just a race car driver! ¡°i understand,¡± lu zhiyuan nodded knowingly. ¡°all of you uncles and my father worked together for many years, and the relationship was good, right? if the relationship is really good, you should know what my father¡¯s intentions were. if you truly believe that there¡¯s nothing wrong with the will, then you wouldn¡¯t need to act as mediators. in the end, you¡¯re afraid of your own interests being affected. what does relationship matter? it¡¯s not worth mentioning. my wallet has shrunk, and that¡¯s the top priority.¡± several people were mocked by lu zhiyuan, their faces turning red and white. they were all big shots in the investment industry and had seen a lot. they would give some face to anyone they met. it was the first time they encountered such an arrogant lu zhiyuan. he spoke candidly. on the other hand, lu shijie was courteous and respectful to them. lu zhiyuan scanned them with his eyes. ¡°i will fight this lawsuit to the end. since all of you uncles are afraid of losing money, you can transfer your shares to me at double the price. i will acquire them.¡± he sipped his tea with an arrogant and domineering attitude, as if he was an extravagant fool, exuding an air of superiority. the shareholders were so angered that their hearts were about to give out. lu corporation was a rare high-quality company. in the ups and downs of the stock market for decades, it had experienced several stock market crashes, but it always withstood the pressure and continuously increased its value. no one was willing to give up their chips. ¡°third young master, besides racing, what else do you know? do you understand how to run a company? do you know about the company¡¯s personnel structure? can you negotiate business deals with such an attitude? can you succeed in business?¡± they were also getting angry and displeased. ¡°your elder brother has been managing the company for many years. he understands lu corporation better and knows how to run it.¡± lu zhiyuan felt insulted, and his desire to win or lose surged. ¡°get lost!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s temper flared up. he wasn¡¯t as patient as third master. ¡°i have made up my mind about this lawsuit, and no one can persuade me otherwise.¡± ¡°third young master, don¡¯t regret it!¡± the shareholders made harsh remarks and left angrily. gu ci, who had been watching the whole scene, felt a bit sorry for these uncles and relatives. ¡°businessmen pursue profit, it¡¯s human nature.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. ¡°lu corporation has never lacked investments. every time my father had good news, he would share it with his brothers. gradually, they accumulated a good hand. over the years, they made a lot of money, but they forgot about any gratitude toward the old man. they even called me a fool. why should i give them face?¡± li jiang secretly thought, third young master, you really don¡¯t know anything except racing. gu ci tried to comfort him. ¡°do you have any plans?¡± ¡°the court proceedings are slow, what does it have to do with me?¡± lu zhiyuan shrugged. ¡°i¡¯ll wait for the court summons and the trial.¡± gu ci reminded him, ¡°the temporary shareholders¡¯ meeting is the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°i have a plan in mind, don¡¯t worry.¡± seeing his determined appearance, gu ci looked at li jiang. li jiang smiled discreetly and said, ¡°miss gu ci, third young master will handle it.¡± gu ci understood immediately. that look in li jiang¡¯s eyes, like needles piercing lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart, was both sour and dangerous. ¡°gu ci, do you also think i¡¯m a fool?¡± ¡°world champion, the one and only, the strongest on the surface. who would dare say you¡¯re a fool?¡± gu ci spoke sincerely, offering flattery. ¡°i won¡¯t allow you to belittle yourself like that!¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. for a moment, he couldn¡¯t tell if gu ci was being sincere or sarcastic. gu ziyu was sitting beside them, doing his homework and smiling. ¡°it¡¯s my birthday next month, i¡¯ll be seven years old, and i have two doctorate degrees.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. he felt like the little brat was mocking him. gu ci originally wanted to talk to third master, but third master had been in a strange mood lately and hadn¡¯t seen her. gu ci played her trump card and made his favorite braised pork. after eating the braised pork, she received a comment that there was too much sugar. li jiang had a bitter face. ¡°miss gu ci, i¡¯m just a messenger. don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± gu ci had consulted with doctor north. lu ze¡¯s condition was unstable, and he couldn¡¯t wake up on monday. gu ci was afraid that lu zhiyuan would suffer at the shareholders¡¯ meeting, so she found jiang junlin. seeing him for the first time, she was startled. well-dressed, dignified, and handsome, jiang junlin had lost weight and looked a bit haggard. gu ci was shocked. ¡°brother, 1 haven¡¯t seen you in just a week, and you¡­ do you have cancer?¡± why did he look so haggard? suddenly so thin! jiang junlin looked at her silently. ¡°you¡¯re really a good sister.¡± gu ci pursed her lips, pretending to be obedient. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i was wrong.¡± jiang junlin rubbed his forehead. ¡°i went on a business trip to africa, didn¡¯t sleep well¡­ didn¡¯t eat well.¡± ¡°oh, 1 understand!¡± gu ci knew what was going on. not eating well was the key. jiang junlin was a picky eater. he could list two sheets of things he didn¡¯t eat. going on a trip to xinjiang could make him lose ten kilograms. he didn¡¯t eat lamb or pork, he only ate boiled chicken, and beef cooked too roughly was also off-limits. he didn¡¯t touch raw seafood, and even cooked food had to be prepared in a specific way. he avoided most vegetables except leafy greens. he didn¡¯t eat soy products, only specific brands of dairy products, no noodles, and he had never had buns, pan-fried dumplings, or jiaozi. before the age of ten, lin chunli was so worried about his pickiness that she almost lost all her hair. she used various means of coercion and enticement, and under pressure, jiang junlin could still compromise. but when he entered junior high school, he became even more picky. therefore, it wasn¡¯t easy to arrange a meal with president jiang of hualan bank. his assistants couldn¡¯t handle it, and each assistant couldn¡¯t stay long. they would forget about president jiang¡¯s pickiness and step on a landmine and get fired. going to africa, of course, it wouldn¡¯t be easy. today, she had made an appointment at one of the restaurants jiang junlin frequented. ¡°brother, as a doctor, i¡¯m really curious.¡± gu ci asked a soul-searching question.. ¡°are you really not malnourished?¡± Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Ji Chi and Junlin chapter 127: ji chi and junlin translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin smiled and said, ¡°i have a nutritionist.¡± ¡°sorry to disturb you.¡± gu ci secretly thought ordinary people like us wouldn¡¯t have a dedicated nutritionist. ¡°are you here to talk about the shareholders¡¯ meeting of the lu corporation on monday?¡± gu ci nodded, ¡°does hualan also have shares?¡± ¡°three percent of the shares,¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°this small amount of stocks is not worth mentioning. the issue of the will is unclear, so lu ze¡¯s stock rights are invalidated. the remaining 57% of the shares will depend on the choice of the shareholders. as far as i know, lu zhiyuan has offended all the major shareholders, and no one supports him.¡± gu ci smiled lightly, ¡°yes.¡± ¡°great!¡± jiang junlin smiled, ¡°let¡¯s just give up the power.¡± gu ci defended lu zhiyuan, ¡°brother, lu zhiyuan has always had an easy life since he was young. he doesn¡¯t care about people¡¯s opinions, let alone seek help. he likes to do things according to his own will.¡± in the previous life, the prideful lu zhiyuan had learned to seek help and to step back, all for her. he only wanted to live peacefully with her in their own little world. he was no longer independent and willful. he had a vulnerable side and felt coerced. there was no longer any light in his eyes. she had never seen the confident and radiant lu zhiyuan on the racetrack. that¡¯s why gu ci cherished the youthful spirit of lu zhiyuan. she only wished for him to have a lifetime of glory, always at the peak. jiang junlin thought to himself, ¡°my sister is really love-struck.¡± there¡¯s no hope! ¡°why are all the women in our family so infatuated?¡± gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°because the women in our family have a good older brother.¡± jiang junlin felt comfortable hearing that. who wouldn¡¯t want to be praised by their obedient little sister? ¡°let¡¯s play it by ear on monday,¡± jiang junlin said calmly, ¡°i don¡¯t like him, but i¡¯m still a good older brother.¡± the waiter brought the food, and gu ci ordered dishes that jiang junlin could eat. seeing his tired appearance, she added two more dishes. jiang junlin enjoyed the delicious stewed beef brisket with autumn bamboo shoots and the soup in the pot. gu ci said, ¡°brother, eat more. if uncle and aunt see you like this, they will think you¡¯ve had a breakup.¡± jiang junlin remained silent. while they were dining, they suddenly saw ji chi leading a group of people out of the private room. they were all executives of the black hawk group, financial elites dressed in suits, with upright postures and an average height of over 180 cm, resembling a male model team. ji chi walked in the center, wearing a black suit with a slender waist and long legs. he was whispering something to his assistant, appearing calm and composed among the group of financial elites. gu ci asked jiang junlin, ¡°brother, does the black hawk group choose employees based on looks?¡± jiang junlin glanced at them and lowered his head to eat, ¡°i¡¯ve heard some rumors.¡± ¡°excellent!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh. it started as a sarcastic comment, but it turned out to be true. when ji chi saw jiang junlin sitting near the window, he raised an eyebrow and walked over to them with confident steps. ¡°mr. jiang, what a coincidence!¡± ji chi smiled like a social butterfly. ¡°can 1 join you?¡± ji chi unbuttoned his suit jacket, sat down gracefully, and gu ci secretly wondered if he really needed to ask. jiang junlin lifted his head, took a napkin, wiped the corner of his mouth, and looked at him indifferently. ¡°it¡¯s not convenient, mr. ji.¡± ji chi snapped his fingers, ignoring jiang junlin¡¯s refusal, and called the waiter, ¡°bring another set of utensils.¡± ¡°okay, please wait.¡± ¡°it¡¯s been a week, mr. jiang, and you seem lovesick,¡± ji chi leaned on his chin, smiling charmingly. the small dimple on his cheek added charm to his already handsome face. ¡°who is the unlucky girl from which family?¡± ¡°you¡¯ve seen her!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was indifferent. ¡°and you even ruined my blind date. thanks to you, i met miss xu late.¡± gu ci choked. she had a mouthful of melon, and her ears perked up. her brother¡¯s gossip was truly something rare and valuable. after all, it was so hard to come by. ¡°a pianist, huh¡­¡± ji chi casually crossed his legs and elongated his tone, his smile containing a touch of mischief. ¡°mr. jiang, are you serious?¡± jiang junlin smiled, ¡°why don¡¯t you make a guess?¡± ¡°i can¡¯t guess mr. jiang¡¯s thoughts,¡± ji chi played with his cup, suddenly leaned forward, and his smile carried a hint of coercion. ¡°why don¡¯t you just tell me, mr. jiang?¡± jiang junlin said indifferently, ¡°superficial conversations are not appropriate.¡± ¡°i understand superficial conversations,¡± ji chi blinked, his charming smile revealing a hint of playfulness. ¡°it means that mr. jiang and i haven¡¯t had deep enough communication. that¡¯s my fault.¡± gu ci finally understood the saying that everyone often said, ¡°men who are not bad are not loved by women.¡± she saw a young man in ji chi, someone in his early twenties. he had that carefree and playful demeanor, naturally possessing a face that could captivate hearts, truly overflowing with charm. the waiter brought the utensils and quickly left. jiang junlin gave the order to ask ji chi to leave. ¡°mr. ji, this is a private gathering with my sister.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve had a few encounters with miss gu ci, and i¡¯m quite familiar with young master lu as well,¡± ji chi smiled and asked gu ci, ¡°miss gu ci, do you not welcome me?¡± gu ci was momentarily hesitant. she hadn¡¯t answered yet when jiang junlin¡¯s expression changed. ¡°how do you know my sister?¡± ji chi casually served himself soup, then pickily separated the beef brisket and put it on a plate. ¡°miss gu ci went to watch lu zhiyuan¡¯s race at lavis. 1 was there, and chen rush! kidnapped her. or you could say i tipped her off. oh, if we count it that way, mr. jiang owes me another favor.¡± jiang junlin looked at gu ci. ¡°you were kidnapped by chen rushi?¡± gu ci put down her soup spoon and calmly explained, ¡°brother, it wasn¡¯t really a kidnapping. it was a misunderstanding, and i wasn¡¯t hurt. it wasn¡¯t a big deal, so i never brought it up. i¡¯ve met ji chi a few times at lavis.¡± ji chi drank two mouthfuls of soup, elegantly wiped the corner of his lips, and looked at jiang junlin with a smug expression. ¡°mr. jiang, you still owe me a favor that hasn¡¯t been repaid. now there¡¯s an additional one.¡± jiang junlin fell silent. ji chi drawled, ¡°indeed, i¡¯m the debt owner. you won¡¯t even treat me to a meal.¡± gu ci was speechless. jiang junlin snapped his fingers and called the waiter, ordering several dishes. ¡°mr. ji, feel free to eat. i¡¯ll cover the expenses for you while you¡¯re here.¡± ji chi blinked with a seemingly smiling expression. ¡°for a lifetime?¡± ¡°up to you!¡± ¡°then i¡¯m taking a big advantage!¡± ji chi elegantly picked up a piece of beef. ¡°finding such a long-term meal ticket in mr. jiang.¡± jiang junlin calmly said, ¡°it¡¯s only fair.¡± gu ci quietly ate her meal, becoming an invisible person. she shouldn¡¯t have appeared at the table. ji chi, being familiar and self-assured, took charge as the host and enjoyed his meal. jiang junlin lost his appetite and even felt a slight stomachache. ji chi picked and ate the beef cubes that jiang junlin loved so much, finishing them off. jiang junlin asked, ¡°you didn¡¯t eat enough when you came out of the private room?¡± ¡°i¡¯m young, so i have a big appetite,¡± ji chi joked. ¡°it¡¯s the age of being as fierce as a wolf and a tiger.¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°i¡¯m getting old, so 1 can¡¯t relate.¡± gu ci remained silent.. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: You Can’t Bear To chapter 128: you can¡¯t bear to translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi had eaten and drunk his fill. he said, ¡°our black hawk group is determined to acquire the lu corporation. so, jiang junlin, are you taking a sick leave on monday for the board meeting, or are you going against me?¡± jiang junlin frowned slightly, surprised. ¡°black hawk wants to swallow the lu corporation?¡± ji chi shrugged. ¡°why not?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°why?¡± ji chi took a sip of tea. ¡°as the leading enterprise, with a sound structure and excellent assets, it¡¯s all justified.¡± ¡°chen rushi has big ambitions,¡± jiang junlin sneered. ¡°black hawk is supporting lu shijie behind the scenes. how many shares of the lu family have you acquired?¡± ¡°that¡¯s a trade secret,¡± ji chi said with a smile. ¡°if you want to know, i¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to pay a price.¡± this sentence seemed to hit a nerve with jiang junlin. his face turned extremely unpleasant. ji chi seized the opportunity, stood up, buttoned his well-tailored suit, exuding both elegance and charisma. ¡°jiang junlin, you need to learn your lesson,¡± he said. with a triumphant air, he left, and even his departing figure looked spirited. jiang junlin¡¯s face darkened, and gu ci asked nervously, ¡°brother, what is the grudge between you and ji chi?¡± ¡°is it considered a grudge if 1 accidentally killed his loved one?¡± jiang junlin replied. gu ci fell silent. no wonder ji chi had tortured her brother so much in the previous life. they had such a deep-seated hatred. gu ci asked anxiously, ¡°brother, are you joking?¡± ¡°cici, the enmity between him and me is complicated. don¡¯t worry about it,¡± jiang junlin said, tilting his head back and drinking a glass of wine. ¡°1 owe him a life.¡± ¡°brother¡­ you were targeted for assassination twice. was it his revenge?¡± jiang junlin shook his head. ¡°no, it wasn¡¯t him.¡± ¡°then who was it?¡± jiang junlin looked at gu ci with a tense gaze. ¡°are you afraid of ji chi?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°no, i¡¯m not afraid of him.¡± what gu ci was afraid of was that ji chi and her brother would face the same deadly fate as in their previous life. her brother was an extraordinary talent and couldn¡¯t afford another tragedy, being imprisoned and tormented to death by ji chi. despite ji chi¡¯s fear of gu ziyu, he stubbornly pursued this matter without compromise. regardless of whether it was an order, a threat, or even his life being at stake, ji chi never relented. was it vengeance for his deceased wife? ¡°as for grudges, let them be grudges. nobody should interfere in my affairs with him!¡± jiang junlin declared. at the global center, gu ci shared the gossip about jiang junlin and ji chi with gu ziyu. gu ziyu blurted out, ¡°that¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°what¡¯s impossible?¡± ¡°ji chi couldn¡¯t possibly have a loved one!¡± gu ziyu frowned. ¡°he has antisocial personality disorder and doesn¡¯t understand love.¡± gu ziyu whispered, ¡°he only wants to destroy the world, not love it. he won¡¯t fall in love with anyone. it¡¯s just nonsense to talk about a loved one.¡± ¡°my brother sounds very sure,¡± gu ci said, still unsure since she wasn¡¯t close to ji chi in their previous life. ¡°he doesn¡¯t seem to be lying.¡± ¡°then ji chi must be lying.¡± while the mother and son discussed this, gu ci saw a headline that caught her attention. renowned pianist xu youli encountered an accident during a performance, falling off the stage and being rushed to the hospital. the performance was interrupted. gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. she asked lin chunli, ¡°aunt, what¡¯s the name of the woman my brother went on a blind date with?¡± ¡°xu youli. we were watching her performance today, but we didn¡¯t expect an accident to happen. she¡¯s in the hospital now. it¡¯s terrifying. the organizers said it was a deliberate accident, and they are investigating.¡± gu ci and gu ziyu exchanged glances. gu ziyu said, ¡°it¡¯s ji chi¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°this is getting out of hand.¡± gu ci worried about jiang junlin and tried calling him but couldn¡¯t reach him. lin chunli said that jiang junlin hadn¡¯t been at the hospital and left after hearing the news. on the top floor of the black hawk group. jiang junlin landed a punch on ji chi¡¯s cheek. ji chi didn¡¯t dodge and took the hit, with bruised lips and blood oozing out. jiang junlin grabbed his collar and said, ¡°ji chi, how dare you!¡± in the darkness of the night, ji chi shed his glamorous facade. some people looked beautiful from afar but were nothing but a skeleton up close. ¡°jiang junlin, in this world, there¡¯s nothing i dare not do,¡± ji chi replied. the two were close, yet so far apart. jiang junlin seethed with anger and struck again, but ji chi caught his fist with his palm. hatred welled up in the corners of ji chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°i¡¯ve said it before, you need to learn your lesson!¡± as ji chi spoke, he twisted jiang junlin¡¯s wrist, and they began fighting on the rooftop like two ferocious beasts, each refusing to yield an inch. it didn¡¯t take long before they both showed signs of injuries. the guards looked at each other, observing with impassive expressions, adopting an attitude of not interfering unless they killed each other. ji chi¡¯s guards couldn¡¯t help but wonder how jiang junlin, a busy ceo, could fight ji chi on equal footing. it was a rare sight. clearly, jiang junlin had received specialized training. ji chi landed a punch on jiang junlin¡¯s abdomen, making him stagger back and lean against the rooftop. when ji chi approached, jiang junlin wiped the blood from his lips and kicked him fiercely, sending him flying. ji chi got up in a fit of rage, pressed jiang junlin against the rooftop, with half of his body hanging over the edge. the guards moved closer, remaining vigilant. ¡°if you have the guts, throw me down. i¡¯ll return this life to you!¡± jiang junlin taunted. ¡°and you think i won¡¯t?¡± ji chi retorted. a metallic taste filled jiang junlin¡¯s mouth as his blood surged. he spat out blood from the side of his mouth, then smiled, with starlight shining in his eyes, and said, each word deliberate, ¡°no, you can¡¯t bear to.¡± ji chi¡¯s expression changed as stormy emotions flickered in his eyes. he grabbed jiang junlin¡¯s collar and pushed him back into the center of the rooftop. jiang junlin burst into hearty laughter and spat out more blood. i haven¡¯t had my wings broken yet, haven¡¯t lost everything. how can you bear to take my life? ji chi wasn¡¯t faring well either, his face also showing signs of injury. exhausted, jiang junlin threw himself onto the rooftop, supporting himself with his hands. ¡°ji chi, kill me if you dare.¡± ji chi leaned down from above, blocking the moonlight, and his thin, elongated shadow enveloped jiang junlin as they entangled on the ground. ¡°jiang junlin, you¡¯re right. we haven¡¯t had enough fun yet. 1 can¡¯t bear to let it end.¡± his eyes filled with malicious intent. ¡°if you don¡¯t die by my hand, after you pass away, i¡¯ll reunite your whole family.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s smile froze for a moment. he swept his foot, catching ji chi off guard. ji chi was knocked down to the ground. jiang junlin swiftly got up, sat on his abdomen, and unleashed a flurry of punches, striking ji chi mercilessly. caught off guard, ji chi raised his arm to block, but he was still struck and began spitting blood. jiang junlin held down ji chi¡¯s hands and stared at his handsome face with fury. ¡°our grudges have nothing to do with others, ji chi. don¡¯t involve innocent people.¡± ¡°hahaha¡­¡± ji chi laughed maniacally, blood staining his teeth. ¡°1 like collective punishment!¡± jiang junlin swung his fist, his eyes crimson, facing ji chi¡¯s provocative smile, but he never landed the punch. ji chi suddenly moved his waist. ¡°jiang junlin, your attitude is making me excited.¡± ¡°you scoundrel!¡± jiang junlin got up and left, evading like a snake. ji chi sat up, stretched his legs, and laughed recklessly and wickedly.. ¡°is today the first day you¡¯ve realized i¡¯m a scoundrel, junlin, my brother?¡± Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Shareholder’s Meeting chapter 129: shareholder¡¯s meeting translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin¡¯s gaze shifted as he bid farewell, ¡°don¡¯t call me that!¡± ji chi wiped away the blood from the corner of his lips and looked at him like that, ¡°regretting it now?¡± jiang junlin did regret it. he shouldn¡¯t have involved innocent people. he looked at ji chi coldly and said, ¡°miss xu and i are innocent. we won¡¯t meet again in the future. stop pursuing this.¡± ¡°come on, we¡¯ve just met, how can we never see each other again?¡± ji chi smiled playfully. ¡°then wouldn¡¯t i be a scoundrel who breaks up relationships?¡± jiang junlin remained silent and turned away. his guards followed him as they left. once he was gone, ji chi¡¯s smiling eyes turned completely cold, but he also felt a sense of satisfaction. one of the guards said, ¡°master, third master has arrived.¡± ji chi frowned. why did third master come to the headquarters of the black hawk group? lu zhiyuan was waiting for ji chi in his apartment. without bringing li jiang, ji chi couldn¡¯t figure out how he managed to break through all the barriers and enter his apartment without anyone noticing. ¡°third master¡­¡± lu zhiyuan gave him a once-over. ¡°well don¡¯t you look exquisite?¡± ji chi looked at lu zhiyuan, his lips slightly swollen and bloodstained. it was quite a unique sight. he smiled and licked the blood from his lips. ¡°forgive my appearance, third master.¡± ¡°how did things go as 1 instructed?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°third master, rest assured, everything is ready,¡± ji chi smiled wickedly. ¡°jiang junlin regrets his actions. he won¡¯t dare to oppose me again. however, third master, by controlling lu shijie and obtaining the lu corporation, it¡¯s equivalent to giving it to chen rushi. for third master¡­ it may not be good news. have you communicated with him?¡± ¡°no need to worry about him!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°just follow the plan!¡± ¡°yes!¡± ji chi thought to himself, third master, you¡¯re involved too. since you don¡¯t care, i care even less. on monday, the lu corporation held a board meeting. due to the death of chairman lu ze, a new chairman was to be elected. all shareholders were present, and lu zhiyuan appeared in the meeting room with li jiang, occupying the chairman¡¯s seat. there were more than twenty major shareholders of the lu corporation present. the lu corporation had always had control over the shareholders. apart from lu ze¡¯s concentrated holdings, whether it was the foundation or investment companies, the control was within 10%. jiang junlin and ji chi both attended the shareholders¡¯ meeting. they had just fought, and their faces showed the aftermath. they intuitively wore lifelike human skin masks to cover their wounds, otherwise, it would become the biggest gossip at the shareholders¡¯ meeting. ji chi wore a burgundy suit that fit him perfectly, attracting a lot of attention in the crowd. ¡°jiang junlin, it¡¯s not a good habit to ignore my words.¡± jiang junlin ignored him, coldly passing by him and sitting in his designated seat. unfortunately, ji chi¡¯s seat was right next to him, and chen rushi arrived slightly late. as soon as he entered, lu shijie went up to greet him, showing extra flattery. several major shareholders of the lu corporation also stood up to greet him, being attentive and considerate. lu zhiyuan coldly stared with his eyes, remaining silent, while chen rushi behaved in a gentle and moderate manner, bringing a warm breeze wherever he went. the one who held power in the black hawk group, third master, was like a dragon, rarely seen but mysterious. the one everyone knew better was his second-in-command, chen rushi. he was the head of the chen family and took over all external affairs for the black hawk group. everyone in the financial circle knew chen rushi, but they didn¡¯t know about the third master. lu zhiyuan chuckled, ¡°this is the shareholders¡¯ meeting of the lu corporation, but if you didn¡¯t know, you would think it¡¯s the shareholders¡¯ meeting of the black hawk group. it seems mr. chen is the one everyone favors. it¡¯s just a matter of time before the lu corporation falls into the control of the black hawk group.¡± the lu family shareholders felt embarrassed. in the business world, it was necessary to use pleasant words and put on a show. they also knew in their hearts that chen rushi was manipulating lu shijie behind the scenes due to the circumstances. for their own interests, they would say flattering words, but no one would expose this thin layer of deception like lu zhiyuan. after all, he was the third master of the lu corporation, the only legitimate heir. the shareholders felt embarrassed but didn¡¯t dare to say anything. chen rushi smiled and said, ¡°young master lu must be joking. i am just a small shareholder of the lu corporation, participating is the main thing. we, the black hawk group, don¡¯t interfere in the internal affairs of the group.¡± ¡°now that everyone is here, let¡¯s begin!¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. lawyer yang stood up and read lu ze¡¯s will. ¡°the young master does not recognize this will, as it is subject to legal procedures. therefore, mr. lu ze¡¯s 43% share is considered to have abstained. the remaining shareholders will elect the new chairman of the lu corporation. the one with the largest shareholding will win. young master lu, third master, any objections?¡± ¡°i have no objections!¡± lu shijie said firmly, confident of his victory. he stood up and said, ¡°dear shareholders, i am lu ze¡¯s eldest son. after graduating, i worked in the grassroots of the lu corporation for three years. after being promoted to the general manager of a subsidiary company for a year, i joined the group and have been involved in the management and operations of the group. my achievements are well-known. today, my father unfortunately passed away, and 1 feel deeply saddened. before his death, my father left a will, appointing me as the successor of the lu corporation. 1 am the rightful heir and have the ability to manage the company, ensuring the interests of all shareholders.¡± the shareholders nodded in approval and were satisfied. lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips curled up as he took out a report. ¡°what projects have you accomplished during your time at the grassroots level of the lu corporation? 1 have investigated your records, and the two projects you were in charge of both ended in failure. during your tenure at the subsidiary company, although the company¡¯s profits increased by 30% in one year, it decreased by 40% compared to the previous year. when you were transferred back to the headquarters, it was my father who worked day and night, while you only executed his commands. 1 doubt your ability to be the chairman. the lu corporation should be entrusted to a suitable manager, and the most suitable one will have a chance!¡± the shareholders were in an uproar! lu shijie was also anxious. the shareholders who were leaning towards him were now hesitant. lu zhiyuan¡¯s move was brilliant. everyone thought that if he became the chairman, he would manage the company, but they questioned lu zhiyuan¡¯s managerial abilities. however, if he wanted to select a manager, then everyone had a chance. ¡°i have no interest in managing the company.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled. ¡°but in just five years, the global sports center has become one of the few international sports companies, creating numerous sports superstars and generating a net income of 5 billion us dollars annually. so, if the lu corporation is handed over to me, why would it go bankrupt?¡± chen rushi chuckled and said, ¡°young master lu, if 1 remember correctly, the global sports center was supported by the funds of the lu corporation. it wasn¡¯t built from scratch by you. it is a subsidiary of the lu corporation, developed with the backing of the lu corporation.¡± ¡°so what?¡± lu zhiyuan shrugged, displaying dominance and confidence. ¡°my father treated all his sons equally. he provided startup capital to lu shijie as well, but he was incapable and squandered the initial funds.¡± lu shijie was furious. ¡°you¡¯re talking nonsense! this is slander, lu zhiyuan. you¡¯re not convinced by father¡¯s will and spouting nonsense..¡± Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Rich and Willful chapter 130: rich and willful translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin tapped the table with his fingers. ¡°the chairman of the lu corporation should be chosen based on both ability and character. lu shijie imprisoned a young girl and caused harm to human lives. he has poor moral character. hualan bank does not support his election as chairman.¡± ji chi smiled, tilted his head back, took a sip of water, revealing a fragile yet alluring adam¡¯s apple. lu shijie became furious. ¡°shareholders, jiang junlin¡¯s sister, gu ci, and lu zhiyuan are dating. his vote is biased, and his words cannot be trusted.¡± ¡°whose vote is unbiased when it comes to interests? isn¡¯t that bias in itself?¡± jiang junlin and lu shijie were of the same age, belonging to a group of wealthy second-generation individuals. they had established their own networks and helped each other, but jiang junlin had always looked down on lu shijie. jiang junlin said, ¡°today is about electing the chairman, not engaging in empty talk. may 1 ask if you have any shares in the lu corporation?¡± lu shijie froze. he only had some scattered stocks as a small shareholder. he held the title of shareholder, but he didn¡¯t have much real power. jiang junlin mocked, ¡°if you¡¯re not a shareholder, why are you here in the meeting room, boasting?¡± everyone fell silent. it was an extremely sharp question. the shareholders remained silent. xu tingting, dignified and smiling, said, ¡°mr. jiang, my son is lu ze¡¯s eldest son and has the right of inheritance. due to legal disputes over the will, his voting rights are nullified, but his inheritance rights still remain.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°then let¡¯s vote. i also want to see who would choose lu shijie, a criminal outside the law.¡± the words ¡°criminal outside the law¡± stunned everyone. lu shijie¡¯s deeds were not a secret. although they were suppressed and even recorded in the detention center, the shareholders who initially intended to vote for lu shijie were also hesitant. they were caught in a dilemma. if they chose lu shijie, they would offend lu zhiyuan. what good would come from lu zhiyuan¡¯s rise to power and subsequent settlement? ji chi smiled lightly and said, ¡°black hawk is an ethical company that pays taxes legally. the boss is also kind-hearted and beautiful. however, he doesn¡¯t dare to be a criminal outside the law. since there are legal disputes and stains on master lu¡¯s will, black hawk will not choose lu shijie.¡± lu shijie was shocked and dumbfounded. he nervously looked at chen rushi and said, ¡°mr. chen, you¡­ you can¡¯t break your promise. i am lu ze¡¯s heir.¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t help but look at ji chi, a thought flashed through his mind, and he froze for a moment, looking at him incredulously. black hawk¡­ had such great ambition? chen rushi regretfully said, ¡°sorry, eldest young master lu, i¡¯m sorry.¡± xu tingting was furious. although she glared at chen rushi, she didn¡¯t dare to explode in anger. ji chi stood up, opened his computer, and projected it onto the screen. ¡°among the shareholders of the lu corporation, there are six fund companies that collectively hold 12% of the shares. these six fund companies are all controlled by black hawk group. with the 12% controlling stake, black hawk hopes to gain the support of all shareholders. our black hawk group will definitely bring generous returns to all shareholders.¡± lu zhiyuan stared at ji chi, narrowing his eyes dangerously. the third master didn¡¯t say that! ji chi smiled and looked at lu zhiyuan, his eyes filled with laughter. third young master, third master has deceived you. don¡¯t look for the wrong person when you settle the accounts. lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze grew dark. he didn¡¯t expect that if third master succeeded in directly controlling the lu corporation through black hawk, he would lose in this shareholders¡¯ meeting. in a flash, lu zhiyuan had many thoughts. directly controlling the lu corporation through black hawk was the best choice. he would still retain control, and no matter how much third master and he opposed each other, they would present a united front to the outside world. but when he left home this morning, he confidently promised gu ci and gu ziyu that he would return victorious. if he lost, wouldn¡¯t he be inferior to third master in gu ci¡¯s heart? jiang junlin sneered, ¡°black hawk has such great ambition. are they planning to control the lu corporation next?¡± ji chi chuckled, ¡°mr. jiang, don¡¯t be too sensitive. this is just a normal business cooperation for mutual benefit.¡± ¡°i choose lu zhiyuan!¡± jiang junlin said calmly. ¡°if lu zhiyuan becomes the chairman, hualan bank will support lu family¡¯s loans and provide smooth sailing.¡± everyone fell silent. lu zhiyuan remained speechless. this guy, he¡¯s rich and willful. even lu zhiyuan was surprised. did jiang junlin have such a good impression of him? he was supporting him so blatantly without considering principles. he thought jiang junlin didn¡¯t like him. ji chi, with one hand resting on the conference table, had long and evenly proportioned fingers, clearly defined joints. it was a pair of beautiful and powerful hands. he leaned forward, towering over lu zhiyuan while lowering his voice, ¡°do you insist on opposing me?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s eyes held a smile. ¡°mr. ji, this is just a normal business cooperation for mutual benefit.¡± the two of them, standing and sitting, created a tense atmosphere as if they could start fighting at any moment. chen rushi¡¯s soft laughter broke the tension in the meeting room. ¡°hualan bank supports third master, making it a total of 10%. our black hawk group has 12%. it depends on how the shareholders choose.¡± lawyer yang was also nervous. as the secretary of the president¡¯s office, he had distributed tablets to everyone except lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin. all the known six fund companies could vote anonymously. the shareholders looked at each other, and chen rushi said, ¡°third master¡¯s global center has indeed developed well. however, there is a barrier between different industries. our black hawk group is the world¡¯s largest investment company, with massive funds. the banks, fund companies, and investment companies we control are also vast, with an independent financial system. i believe we all agree on this point.¡± in other words, black hawk was not lacking in money, had enormous funds, and in this world, those with money were the masters! lu zhiyuan slowly said, ¡°there is an old saying in china: ¡®people of different tribes have different hearts.¡¯ black hawk is an m country company that has assimilated and integrated countless financial assets. you have worked with my father for many years. if you really can¡¯t bear to sacrifice your hard work, i have nothing more to say.¡± chen rushi lightly smiled. ¡°third master, in the business world, we only talk about interests, not emotions.¡± ¡°your ancestors went abroad early and forgot your roots.¡± lu zhiyuan retorted in an imposing manner. ¡°we chinese are a society built on personal connections.¡± jiang junlin and ji chi both held their tongues. third master, you change your tune quite fast. i heard that you don¡¯t talk about personal connections when confronting shareholders. the shareholders whispered among themselves, and no one urged them. lu shijie still held on to his fantasy and campaigned for black hawk. ¡°let¡¯s all choose black hawk. they have strong capital and are our most powerful support.¡± jiang junlin mocked, ¡°ignoring the lessons of the past.¡± lu zhiyuan delivered the final blow. ¡°those words are completely wrong. he has never paid tribute to his ancestors, and my ancestors don¡¯t recognize him.¡± lu shijie¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. chen rushi chuckled softly as he watched the voting. he didn¡¯t expect it to be so close. the votes had reached 25%. some shareholders who had fallen out with lu zhiyuan were still determined to choose lu shijie. however, if they didn¡¯t choose lu shijie, it meant they didn¡¯t want black hawk to interfere with the lu corporation. the voting became intense. lu zhiyuan had 26%, black hawk group had 27%, and there was only one shareholder left who hadn¡¯t made a choice. this one vote would determine the new chairman of the lu corporation.. Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Counterattack chapter 131: counterattack translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen rushi chuckled lightly, cast his vote, and said, ¡°personally, 1 also hold a 2% stake in black hawk group. third young master, you¡¯ve lost.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. although he knew that black hawk¡¯s controlling stake might not be a bad thing and that third young master would handle it well, he had only deceived chen rushi. still, he felt unsatisfied deep down. a cold voice came from outside, saying, ¡°perhaps not!¡± gu ci pushed lu ze, who was sitting in a wheelchair, into the conference room. he looked sickly and exhausted, but his eyes were shining brightly. ¡°i¡¯m not dead yet, and it¡¯s not your turn to choose the chairman of the lu corporation!¡± everyone in the conference room was shocked, including lu zhiyuan. ¡°father!¡± he stood up and walked towards lu ze. ¡°you¡¯re awake?¡± gu ci smiled gently and asked, ¡°did we come too late?¡± ¡°coming early is not as good as coming at the right time!¡± lu shijie turned pale with fear, and lawyer yang dropped his documents to the ground, closing his eyes in despair. chen rushi and ji chi exchanged a glance and realized that they had failed. jiang junlin was in a great mood, blowing on his hot tea. ¡°president ji, this is fate.¡± ji chi propped his chin up and shrugged his shoulders, flashing a sly smile. he lowered his voice and said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter. whoever wins, it¡¯s the same to me.¡± lu ze coughed, and gu ci gave him a pill. lu ze¡¯s cough gradually subsided, and gu ci pushed him forward. lu shijie dared not look into his eyes. lu ze said, ¡°adjourn the meeting!¡± with lu ze awake, the shareholder meeting lost its meaning. chen rushi looked at gu ci and realized that if lu ze could wake up, he must not have suffered brain death. from beginning to end, it was all a scam. lu ze hadn¡¯t experienced brain death, and the hospital had hidden the news. ¡°cici, you¡¯re amazing. you have my admiration.¡± gu ci met his gaze and calmly said, ¡°i¡¯m protecting the most important person to me.¡± chen rushi hadn¡¯t expected to be manipulated by both lu zhiyuan and gu ci. no wonder lu zhiyuan was so confident and unafraid of offending the major shareholders. so, it turned out that his trump card was still alive! it was a real pity that he almost took over the lu corporation. chen rushi could afford to lose. he stood up and said gently, ¡°chairman lu, you¡¯ve just recovered from a serious illness. you should rest more. i wish you good health and a long life.¡± lu zhiyuan and gu ci looked at him together, their gazes sharp. chen rushi¡¯s words were gentle and sincere, without any flaws, but they still sensed his warning and malice. lu ze had been in the business world for decades and was not someone to be trifled with. ¡°i¡¯m healthy, and living until ninety is no problem.¡± chen rushi led his people and calmly left the scene. ji chi followed him. the shareholders who had tried to challenge lu ze were left feeling ashamed, and their attempts to offer greetings were blocked by lu zhiyuan. ¡°today, the lu family needs to clean its house. we won¡¯t see you off,¡± lu ze said. xu tingting, lu shijie, and lawyer yang were taken back to lu mansion. lu shixiu had received the news early and was already waiting. he was nervous, as he hadn¡¯t participated in the shareholder meeting, but he understood that the situation for him and his mother and brother was already hopeless. as soon as lu shijie returned to the mansion, he knelt down, tears streaming down his face. ¡°father, i was wrong. 1 was blinded. please forgive me. i just wanted to obey the will and preserve the hard work of the lu family.¡± lu ze¡¯s expression was cold as he said to the butler, ¡°go and fetch my tea, brew it for all of them.¡± ¡°yes!¡± the butler brought out the tea canister, took out the tea leaves, and brewed the tea, performing the actions gracefully and beautifully. xu tingting glanced at it but quickly averted her gaze. the tea was quickly brewed, and the butler served it to the three of them. the three of them took a sip. lu ze asked, ¡°is the tea good?¡± lu shixiu was uneasy, ¡°father, this tea is rare and precious. of course, it tastes good, smooth, and fragrant.¡± ¡°alright then, there¡¯s still half a catty left. take it back with you.¡± ¡°okay, thank you, father!¡± an uneasy feeling rose in xu tingting¡¯s heart, as well as in lu shijie¡¯s. they had all drunk the tea, and when the butler poured again, xu tingting said, ¡°shijie¡¯s injury hasn¡¯t fully healed. he shouldn¡¯t drink too much tea.¡± ¡°can¡¯t you drink tea while injured?¡± lu ze smelled the tea fragrance. ¡°black tea is warming and not harmful to the body. let him drink a bit more.¡± lu shijie didn¡¯t dare to say anything and drank another cup. the butler poured again, and xu tingting¡¯s palms were slightly sweaty. the calmer lu ze was, the more anxious they became. xu tingting gave lu shijie a meaningful look, indicating that they couldn¡¯t admit anything related to the will. they could only sever their limbs to save their lives. ¡°master, i was wrong. the will was forged by me and lawyer yang. shijie and shixiu were unaware of it. i was confused for a moment. your will was unfair, giving everything to lu zhiyuan. except for the two technology companies, my two sons have nothing. 1 couldn¡¯t accept it, so i conspired with lawyer yang to modify the will.¡± lawyer yang also begged for mercy while kneeling. ¡°chairman, i¡­i have nothing to say. it was my greed that led to a terrible mistake.¡± lu shixiu sat paralyzed in his chair, murmuring to himself, ¡°the will is fake? mother, why would you do this?¡± lu shijie was also filled with sorrow and anger. ¡°mother, why did you deceive me? i thought father really trusted me and believed in my abilities to entrust the lu corporation to me.¡± tears streamed down xu tingting¡¯s face as she tried to defend herself. both her sons looked at her with disappointment. lu zhiyuan lazily drank his tea. ¡°stop pretending and call the police.¡± ¡°no!¡± xu tingting exclaimed in shock. ¡°master, i¡¯ve been with you for decades, and i¡¯ve contributed even if i haven¡¯t achieved much. i just couldn¡¯t accept that all your sons are from you, yet you want to give everything to lu zhiyuan. shijie and shixiu are also your sons.¡± ¡°xu tingting, lu shijie, you need to understand one thing. if i¡¯m willing to give you a penny, you¡¯ll have a penny. if i¡¯m not willing to give you anything, you¡¯ll have nothing.¡± lu ze¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°how 1 distribute my wealth is my freedom. the lu corporation is the ancestral property of the lu family, not something you¡¯ve built.¡± lu shijie¡¯s eyes turned red from swelling, filled with disbelief. ¡°father, i¡¯ve always known you were biased, but i never expected you to be this biased.¡± lu shijie suppressed his pain. ¡°both shixiu and i are your sons, and legally, we have the right to inherit.¡± ¡°do you want to go against me in court?¡± lu ze put down his teacup, his voice filled with authority. lu shijie faced his gaze stubbornly, refusing to show any weakness. ¡°i am biased, so what can you do about it?¡± ¡°dad!¡± both lu shijie and lu shixiu exclaimed, unable to believe it. lu shijie said, ¡°i don¡¯t accept it!¡± lu ze slammed the teacup on the ground. ¡°you don¡¯t accept it? so, you poisoned my tea?¡± the teacup shattered on the floor, splashing tea all around. xu tingting¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°master, what are you saying? how could we poison you?¡± gu ci took out a hospital¡¯s toxicology report. ¡°this is the toxin report of the tea leaves. the dry test showed no poison, but after brewing the tea, a slight amount of toxin was detected. it¡¯s a chronic poison. the four cans of tea leaves that uncle lu had all contained an unidentified pollen..¡± Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Does She Like Third Master or Him? chapter 132: does she like third master or him? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation xu tingting and lu shijie¡¯s faces changed dramatically. lu shixiu shook his head in panic, ¡°dad, we are family. we won¡¯t harm you. there must be a mistake somewhere. gu ci, is it you intentionally framing us!¡± he thought about it and found it reasonable, ¡°you deliberately framed us to help lu zhiyuan. you have a wicked heart!¡± ¡°at this point, you still want to deny it!¡± lu ze said angrily, ¡°xu tingting, i¡¯ve treated you well. from having nothing to becoming mrs. lu today, what else are you not satisfied with? you even wanted to kill me and take the family fortune!¡± ¡°mrs. lu¡­¡± xu tingting¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, ¡°they call me mrs. lu to my face, but behind my back, they mock me. i gave birth to two sons, but i¡¯m still not recognized as mrs. lu. mrs. lu is just a joke!¡± ¡°when we were together, i told you that i wouldn¡¯t marry you and told you to not to have any expectations,¡± lu ze said coldly, ¡°if you were with me, your whole family wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food and drink. besides a marriage certificate, i have given you everything you should have. if you marry someone else, take care of household chores, and earn money, how can it be as comfortable as being with me? going shopping every day, not considering prices when spending money, no need to do laundry or cooking, going to the beauty salon every day, traveling abroad. xu tingting, you¡¯re not a princess. it¡¯s me who has turned you into one over the past few decades. if you don¡¯t appreciate it, fine, but you¡¯ve also raised a sense of entitlement. if you don¡¯t want to be with me, then leave. have i forced you?¡± xu tingting¡¯s face turned red and pale alternately. her pride was trampled upon. the facade of gentleness and virtue she had maintained in front of lu ze for decades was finally crumbling around her. ¡°yes, it was me who poisoned you, putting pollen in your tea. the children don¡¯t know,¡± xu tingting said, closing her eyes in pain. ¡°you have three sons, but in your eyes, only lu zhiyuan is your son. shijie and shixiu are just subordinates. i just wanted to secure benefits for my own sons. if you want to report me to the police, go ahead!¡± ¡°mom!¡± lu shixiu exclaimed, his face turning pale, unable to believe it was true. his mother poisoned his father! lu shijie stood by, his eyes red with agony. xu tingting wiped away her tears and looked directly at lu ze. ¡°i didn¡¯t plan to take action, but lu zhiyuan shot shijie, almost crippling his leg. you protected him, so why should i hold back?¡± ¡°you finally admit it!¡± lu ze shook his head. he couldn¡¯t say that he loved xu tingting, but after all, she had been by his side for decades, raising their two sons. it held a different meaning to him. lu ze felt both heartbroken and disappointed. lu zhiyuan said slowly, ¡°i never cared about anything related to the lu family¡¯s wealth. even if the old man handed it all to me, i wouldn¡¯t want it. it was something you could easily obtain. but you insisted on causing trouble. it¡¯s like drawing water with a bamboo basket. if you had properly taught lu shijie and lu shixiu, they wouldn¡¯t have such despicable characters. they don¡¯t need to be obedient brothers to me, even if they were just strangers. everything in the lu family belongs to you, but it¡¯s a pity. you brought this upon yourselves and can¡¯t live with it.¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, we don¡¯t want your fake act,¡± lu shijie said angrily. ¡°with such a vast fortune at stake, who wouldn¡¯t be tempted? might is right. we admit defeat.¡± he looked at lu ze, ¡°on the day lu zhiyuan was born, you held him and told me he was my little brother and i should love and take care of him. at first, i really liked my little brother. he was obedient and cute. but whenever he made a mistake or got hurt, as long as i was present, you doubted me. when he ranked poorly in exams and focused solely on racing, you boasted everywhere about his achievements. even when i got first place in school you have never praised me. you told me more than once that the future of the lu family¡¯s wealth belongs to lu zhiyuan. i am his brother, so i shouldn¡¯t compete with him. why should l! when i was working hard for the lu family, he had just graduated from primary school. why should i give everything to him? they are all your sons. why was he born to receive everything, and i am destined to be stepped on, always flatter him, and watch his mood? dad, 1 am also your son. why are you so biased!¡± ¡°i am human. why can¡¯t i be biased?¡± lu ze said incredulously, feeling righteous. ¡°he is the child born by the person i love. why can¡¯t i be biased? even ten fingers are not of equal length.¡± gu ci remained silent. she couldn¡¯t refute his reasoning. for lu shijie and lu shixiu, their father was clearly a scoundrel. ¡°this pollen, where did you get it?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°this flower is rare and not found in the country. it is non-toxic by itself. where did you get it?¡± ¡°it has nothing to do with you!¡± xu tingting replied firmly. ¡°it¡¯s my own incompetence that caused this to come to light. lu ze, after decades of marriage, if you hadn¡¯t been so biased, we wouldn¡¯t have reached this point.¡± ¡°murder deserves punishment. it¡¯s only right.¡± lu shixiu panicked and pleaded, kneeling down. ¡°dad, mom made a mistake. please don¡¯t call the police. i beg you, dad, don¡¯t be so ruthless. forgive her.¡± ¡°the both of you will resign from the lu corporation. after which, you won¡¯t have anything except a monthly allowance from the lu family foundation. i¡¯m giving everything to lu zhiyuan. as for xu tingting¡¯s attempted murder and conspiration with lawyer yang to tamper with the will. report it to the police!¡± lu ze declared. lawyer yang collapsed on the ground, realizing he had been greedy and had lost his reputation and future. xu tingting burst into tears. ¡°lu ze, you have a heart of stone!¡± ¡°i¡¯m heartless? you almost took my life. am 1 supposed to keep supporting you? am 1 a saint?¡± lu ze retorted. the turmoil over the lu family¡¯s fortune ended with lu ze¡¯s awakening and the investigation into xu tingting¡¯s poisoning. xu shijie and lu shixiu also lost their inheritance rights from the lu family and were expelled by lu ze. lu ze¡¯s illness had not yet healed, so lu zhiyuan and gu ci took care of the remaining matters and accompanied him back to the hospital. dr. north became his attending physician, and lu ze fell into a coma once he arrived at the hospital. dr. north looked at the worried lu zhiyuan and explained, ¡°i consulted your dad, and i used strong medication, which will inevitably cause some physical deterioration. don¡¯t worry; the coma is temporary. he wall be fine.¡± ¡°you¡¯re the one performing the surgery. 1 trust you!¡± lu zhiyuan replied. dr. north went to conduct a detailed examination on lu ze. in the hospital corridor, with no one around, lu zhiyuan embraced gu ci, smelling the familiar light fragrance on her body, and felt a sense of peace in his heart. ¡°it was you who asked dr. north for help?¡± gu ci held his waist tightly. ¡°i was afraid you would lose.¡± ¡°how could i lose!¡± lu zhiyuan w^as arrogant and unruly. he didn¡¯t know how to explain to gu ci. whether he won or black haw^k won, lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t possibly lose. ¡°it¡¯s because i want everything to go as you wish,¡± gu ci said gently, looking into his eyes. ¡°you don¡¯t care about the gain or loss of the lu family¡¯s fortune. racing is all that matters to you. i understand that. but you don¡¯t want uncle lu ze¡¯s efforts to be destroyed. i understand that too.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart stirred, holding her tightly. he saw in her eyes that fearless and brave determination and his heart felt both sour and sw^eet. gu ci really liked him. but who did she really like? him or third a^aster? Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Sadomasochistic Love, or Simp chapter 133: sadomasochistic love, or simp translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he is confident and calm, certain about everything in the world except for this emotion, which has become the most secret desert rose in his heart from beginning to end. she was a rose blooming in his barren desert. he was undeserving of love and affection. he was a person who could not even control his own body, so how could he possess someone¡¯s love? ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci sensed his fluctuating mood. lu zhiyuan pressed against her nose. ¡°do you really like me that much?¡± ¡°i do!¡± ¡°but why don¡¯t you ever ask if 1 like you or not?¡± gu ci smiled lightly. ¡°why should i ask?¡± ¡°why don¡¯t you ask?¡± they were like tongue twisters. gu ci¡¯s eyes were shimmering with a watery glow, like frost on late spring flowers, beautiful yet fragile. ¡°your eyes are saying, ¡®1 like gu ci, so i don¡¯t need you to tell me.¡±¡® lu zhiyuan suddenly embraced her, his voice hoarse. ¡°cici, wait for me, just a little longer¡­¡± the two of them remained in the hospital, forgetting about time. with his statement of ¡°wait for me¡± left hanging, third master took over, and gu ci, like warm fragrant jade in his arms, looked up and saw a pair of chilly eyes that froze her smile inch by inch. however, she was reluctant to leave his embrace. ¡°third master¡­¡± ¡°let go of me!¡± lu zhiyuan lowered his head and could smell the familiar fragrance lingering in his nostrils, arousing the desire in his heart. gu ci released her hand. with their hearts in sync, they took a step back, creating distance between them, like the most familiar strangers. ¡°you shouldn¡¯t have brought him to the shareholders¡¯ meeting.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°i have my own plans.¡± ¡°third master, you¡¯re being unreasonable.¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°since you refuse to see me, i have no idea about your plans. i can only fulfill lu zhiyuan¡¯s wish and help him protect the lu corporation.¡± lu zhiyuan silently stared at her, his deep peach blossom eyes devoid of any emotions, clearly full of affection. day and night portrayed two different moods. ¡°what if he and 1 have differing opinions?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. he regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth. but it was too late. ¡°i¡¯ll help him!¡± gu ci said. ¡°he cares about me wholeheartedly, loves and protects me. 1 will stand by his side in any conflicts he faces.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s dark eyes revealed no emotions as he turned and walked away. gu ci watched his retreating figure, furrowing her brows and catching up to him. she grabbed his hand, but lu zhiyuan shook her off. undeterred, gu ci reached out again and held on, refusing to let go. lu zhiyuan turned his head. ¡°gu ci, let go!¡± ¡°in my heart, you and him are the same person!¡± gu ci stared at lu zhiyuan with determination. lu zhiyuan looked back at gu ci intently. ¡°gu ci, my heart belongs to someone else, not you!¡± gu ci¡¯s mind went blank. after hearing lu zhiyuan say that his heart belonged to someone else, she felt as if she had been scalded. she let go of his hand and stared at him, stunned, as he heartlessly walked away. his heart belonged to someone else, not her! but who? gu ci walked in the cold wind, her complexion pale, like a wandering soul without a home, roaming in the world. li jiang drove past with lu zhiyuan beside him, whizzing by her side. lu zhiyuan watched her figure grow smaller and more distant in the rearview mirror. his gaze unfathomable. he decisively closed his eyes. li jiang felt uneasy. ¡°third master, miss gu ci¡­¡± ¡°be quiet!¡± li jiang listened to his cold voice and dared not speak again. ¡°heart belongs to someone else?¡± gu ci watched the familiar car gradually move away, and suddenly she smiled, both crazy and charming. ¡°third master, then you better hide it well, don¡¯t let me find out.¡± chen rushi was filled with anger and felt a slight pain in his heart. his security team bound dr. north at the hospital. dr. north looked at chen rushi¡¯s pale face with a radiant smile. ¡°rushi, it¡¯s just a business deal. if you lose, you lose. why get angry and harm your health?¡± ¡°you and gu ci ruined my plan!¡± chen rushi gritted his teeth. if it weren¡¯t for them, lu ze would not have awakened in time. chen rushi pulled out the gun from his security guard¡¯s hand and pressed it against dr. north¡¯s hand on the table. the muzzle of his gun rested on the back of her hand. ¡°you have only one choice: either be my surgeon or never be a doctor again.¡± if he pulled the trigger, dr. north would never be able to practice surgery again, reduced to a mere academic expert. surgery was her life. ji chi crossed his arms and leaned against the door, his voice filled with a smile. ¡°dr. north, a wise person knows the times. why be stubborn? your hand is more important than your life.¡± dr. north looked at chen rushi¡¯s resolute expression and compromised. ¡°i¡¯ll examine you.¡± ¡°thank you!¡± just a moment ago, he wanted to kill her, and now he was polite and courteous. dr. north frowned. this person was more difficult to deal with than her father. ji chi¡¯s phone rang, and he glanced at the incoming call. he raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°master chen, 1 have something to take care of.¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± after ji chi left, chen rushi said, ¡°as long as i¡¯m alive, you will live. if i die, you won¡¯t survive either!¡± dr. north chuckled lightly. ¡°dying together isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± ¡°no, you won¡¯t!¡± chen rushi¡¯s smile was confident. ¡°i raised you with my own hands, so 1 know you very well. you hate my father so much, why did you still engage with him instead of directly killing him? it¡¯s because you have concerns. 1 guess¡­ your sister is still alive.¡± dr. north lowered her gaze. chen rushi was smarter than she had imagined. the goal of controlling the lu corporation by black hawk failed, disrupting lu zhiyuan¡¯s plans. he originally intended for black hawk to control the lu corporation, counting it as ji chi¡¯s achievement and allowing him to establish a firm foothold in the asian division. it would also lull chen rushi, making him reveal his cards as soon as possible. with this plan¡¯s failure, lu zhiyuan and ji chi had to find another way. li jiang understood third master¡¯s distress. he could only appear in the darkness of night. if this secret was exposed, it would be a time bomb within black hawk. chen rushi was ambitious, and if he learned this secret after third master lost consciousness when he was still the third young master, the consequences would be unimaginable. although third young master was a globally renowned athlete with exceptional skills, he was not on the same level as third master. they either prospered or suffered together. therefore, third master hid in the shadows, many things inconvenient for him. his control over black hawk was originally an airdrop. the internal forces in black hawk were complex, and chen rushi had a 50% chance of seizing power. downstairs, the sound of a violin could be heard. regardless of how late it was, gu ci played the violin every night without fail. li jiang cautiously glanced at third master and lu zhiyuan closed his computer. ¡°go rest!¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang silently thought to himself. he reminded third master to rest twice, but third master remained indifferent. it seemed that miss gu ci was more effective. but as for third master and miss gu ci¡­ li jiang shook his head. it wasn¡¯t his business. third master wanted a tortured love, third young master wanted to be a lapdog. it had nothing to do with him! while listening to the familiar sound of the violin, lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t fall asleep. he thought of gu ci¡¯s stubborn gaze and rubbed his temples, sighing with helplessness.. ¡°why have you become so obstinate!¡± Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Third Master’s Fall chapter 134: third master¡¯s fall translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci played the violin all night long, while gu ziyu woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, covered in cold sweat. upon hearing the familiar sound of the violin, he felt somewhat reassured. gu ci¡¯s violin sound comforted two men, one old and one young. gu ziyu knew that he was still by his parents¡¯ side upon hearing the sound of the violin. in the previous life, after gu ci¡¯s hand was crippled, she rarely played the violin again. ¡°ziyu, are you awake?¡± the violin sound stopped, and gu ci heard some noise in ziyu¡¯s room. she knocked on the door, and gu ziyu hastily wiped away his cold sweat. ¡°mom, i¡¯m awake.¡± it was five in the morning. when gu ci entered the room, gu ziyu concealed the traces of his nightmare and deliberately yawned sleepily, ¡°mom, you woke up so early.¡± ¡°i couldn¡¯t sleep at night, so i¡¯ve been playing the violin. did i wake you up?¡± gu ziyu shook his head and hugged gu ci¡¯s waist, ¡°i love listening to mom playing the violin the most.¡± it was his most comforting music. gu ci tapped his nose and asked, ¡°do you want to go back to sleep?¡± ¡°no, i have to go to class soon.¡± gu ci nodded and waited for ziyu to freshen up. she took him to the study. ¡°baby, about your archenemy in black hawk¡­¡± gu ci heated up some milk and asked, ¡°can you repeat it for mom?¡± gu ziyu told gu ci everything about him and black hawk in detail. the milk was ready in the microwave, and gu ci brought it out and handed it to gu ziyu. the toasted bread was spread with rose jam, and gu ziyu ate it with his cheeks bulging, looking particularly adorable. ¡°his ip address always overlaps with yours?¡± ¡°yes, he¡¯s too cunning!¡± gu ci lowered her head, bit the toast, and smiled as she asked gu ziyu, ¡°baby, what do you think¡­ of your hacking skills?¡± ¡°the best in the world!¡± gu ziyu furrowed his brow, ¡°except for that archenemy, hm!¡± though he was reluctant to admit it, his archenemy had located him, and knew all the details about him, but he knew nothing about his archenemy. he was at a slight disadvantage, but gu ziyu was too arrogant to admit it. ¡°in the previous life, you didn¡¯t encounter any opponents.¡± ¡°heh¡­ probably he died young from staying up late too often.¡± gu ziyu sneered and finished the milk in one gulp. gu ci¡¯s expression became a little complicated as she fixedly looked at gu ziyu. ¡°mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ziyu found his mom¡¯s gaze somewhat frightening. ¡°did i say something wrong?¡± gu ci chuckled softly, ¡°you¡¯re right. maybe he did die young.¡± ¡°well, then let¡¯s wish him an early death again¡­¡± ¡°no need for that!¡± gu ci quickly interrupted gu ziyu¡¯s words, her expression conflicted. she rubbed her brow twice and with the fight between lu zhiyuan and their son, whom should she support? it was truly a good question! ¡°baby, if one day you and dad were to fight, whom should i support?¡± ¡°mom, is this a question to ponder over?¡± gu ziyu widened his eyes incredulously. ¡°i¡¯m your baby, so of course, you should support me. 1 knew it. you¡¯re always lying to me. in your heart, dad is always more important!¡± ¡°baby¡­¡± gu ziyu got angry, grabbed his heavy school bag, and left without looking back, acting particularly cool. gu ci was speechless. li jiang sent a guard to accompany gu ziyu to school while he took lu zhiyuan to the hospital to see lu ze. gu ci: have you arrived at the hospital? how is uncle lu¡¯s condition? lu zhiyuan: just arrived. gu ci took the elevator to the 78th floor and put her phone away. lu zhiyuan: i hate hospitals. after seeing the old man, 1¡¯11 go to school with you. gu ci went up the stairs and entered lu zhiyuan¡¯s house using the fingerprint lock. she had registered her fingerprint in lu zhiyuan¡¯s house and easily entered, knowing about his dual personality. she had never been upstairs before. both floors had the same layout. gu ci went to lu zhiyuan¡¯s bedroom first. the bedroom was in black, white, and gray, with a minimalist style. on the bedside table in the bedroom, there was a contract. gu ci flipped it open. it was a business contract for the dynasty race team. lu zhiyuan had signed it. she went through it in the bedroom but didn¡¯t find any useful information. gu ci went to the study. the study had a physical lock and a password lock. she stood in front of it, lost in thought, and then entered lu zhiyuan¡¯s usual password, 8888. failure! gu ci raised an eyebrow and tried lu zhiyuan¡¯s birthday, but it also failed. she narrowed her eyes, had a thought, and entered her own birthday, october 28th. the study door opened, and gu ci pushed it open somewhat unexpectedly. the study was very large, spanning over 100 square meters. there were eight large screens hanging on the walls, displaying complex codes. one of the screens showed a chat interface with gu ziyu. the corners of gu ci¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°indeed, it¡¯s you, third master.¡± gu ci had always been puzzled by the mysterious identity of third master. he was always busy and his identity was shrouded in mystery. when they were in haicheng for tourism, she happened to see him handling a short position contract with great skill and vast funds. at that time, she was curious about why third master could handle such a professional short position contract. she had subtly asked li jiang about the management of global center, and third master was not involved. if that was the case, what was third master¡¯s identity? gu ziyu had been murmuring in her ear all this time about his archenemy in black hawk, who had exceptional skills and thoroughly investigated him. his ip address always overlapped with his own, but in the previous life, they had never met. gu ziyu concluded that he must have died young in the previous life. gu ci always listened to it as an interesting story. her son had a stubborn and arrogant personality, refusing to admit defeat. it was a good thing for someone to dampen his spirit and let him know that there were people better than him. until third master said that she ruined his plan. his plan was to control the lu family¡¯s business empire through black hawk. whether it was third master or third young master, they were both lu ze¡¯s sons. when lu ze was in a coma, third master stayed outside the operating room. it didn¡¯t mean he cared much about lu ze, but it also didn¡¯t mean that he would hand over the lu family¡¯s business empire to someone else while lu ze¡¯s life hung in the balance. the only explanation was that black hawk group still remained under his control. chen rushi was the second-in-command of black hawk, the true owner of black hawk. he rarely showed himself and never revealed any photos. chen rushi purposefully got close to her during the lavis incident and sabotaged lu zhiyuan¡¯s competition. it was obvious that he was targeting lu zhiyuan. there was only one explanation: lu zhiyuan was the owner of black hawk. in the previous life, he died young, so they didn¡¯t meet. therefore, ji chi obeyed lu zhiyuan without reason. ji chi was originally lu zhiyuan¡¯s person. because lu zhiyuan was in a coma for five years, after chen rushi took control of black hawk, he supported lu shijie and ji chi¡¯s fight. that was why lu shijie and gu chuyun could act recklessly and become outlaws. it was all because they had black hawk backing them, a black hawk without lu zhiyuan. gu ci¡¯s mind suddenly became clear. she quietly left lu zhiyuan¡¯s house, took a deep breath, and sighed in relief. with third master in black hawk, chen rushi¡¯s plan had failed, and he wouldn¡¯t try to seize power again. lu shijie and gu chuyun wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble either. would they live peacefully and smoothly in this lifetime? how could she tell ziyu that his archenemy was his father? Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Walking Hormones, Lu Zhiyuan chapter 135: walking hormones, lu zhiyuan translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation at noon, after gu ci finished class, she looked for gu ziyu to have lunch together. gu ziyu was still angry, and zhou jinjin watched with amazement, ¡°cici, what did you do to provoke ziyu?¡± after all, gu ziyu always listened to gu ci and followed her every word. gu ziyu ate without expression, appearing emotionless. even when he wasn¡¯t performing, he had a poker face. no matter how gu ci tried to coax him, she couldn¡¯t succeed. gu ci sighed, looking up to the sky, ¡°i¡¯m really having a hard time!¡± her husband kept saying he didn¡¯t love her and that his heart belonged to someone else. her son was even throwing tantrums at her! in the afternoon, lu zhiyuan actually came to accompany her to class. his eyelids were dark and tired. gu ci¡¯s heart softened, ¡°did you not sleep well last night?¡± ¡°yeah!¡± lu zhiyuan sounded a bit hoarse. third master kept him up all night, leaving him mentally exhausted. ¡°go home and rest. you don¡¯t have to accompany me to class.¡± ¡°if i fall asleep, 1 won¡¯t be able to see you.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s awareness was becoming hazy. he lay on his side, still affectionately hooking his fingers with hers. gu ci¡¯s heart trembled. that¡¯s right, if he falls asleep, he¡¯ll wake up to third master and won¡¯t see her. gu ci intertwined her fingers with lu zhiyuan¡¯s, flipping through her book and taking notes. her heart felt both tender and sour. third master had someone else in his heart, but lu zhiyuan was focused solely on her. two consecutive classes passed, and gu ci didn¡¯t change her seat. during the break, she received a text message from gu ziyu. it was a picture taken by a classmate and posted on the school forum. while lu zhiyuan was asleep, holding her hand, she was still doing her homework. alumni: the campus belle is really in love with lu zhiyuan. she would rather take notes with one hand than let go. gu ziyu: my parents have true love, and i¡¯m expendable. 1 understand. gu ci was speechless. the obedient baby had started to become moody toward her. gu ci: you are my only baby. gu ziyu: that¡¯s not for certain. you have other babies too. gu ci: in my whole life, you are my only child. all her maternal love, she wanted to give it all to ziyu. gu ziyu was difficult to appease: ¡°this was dad¡¯s decision. mom is lying to me again.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know what to say. baby, you¡¯re really hard to please! lu zhiyuan accompanying gu ci to class had become some sort of scenery. the students from the medical school were no longer surprised and had accepted that they were dating. because of lu zhiyuan, gu ci had become an unattainable beauty in a university, someone to admire from afar, the untouchable campus belle. in the second class, there was a lab session. gu ci and a few other girls formed a group to do the experiment. lu zhiyuan found it boring and secretly left the classroom. he miaomiao teased, ¡°gu ci, lu zhiyuan is so attached to you.¡± ¡°yeah, he even holds our hand when he¡¯s asleep.¡± liu yu smirked. gu ci smiled. after the experiment, she sent a text message to lu zhiyuan, but there was no response. while carrying her books, she passed by the basketball court and found a crowd of people. boys and girls formed a wall, and a girl was shouting lu zhiyuan¡¯s name. gu ci understood what was happening and walked over. when the students saw her, they made way for her. lu zhiyuan was playing basketball with a group of students. the bright sunshine shone on him, full of youthful spirit and vitality. he was in excellent physical condition, with great jumping ability. his handsome shooting style caused the students to scream in excitement. his posture, appearance, smile, and innate charm attracted everyone¡¯s attention. gu ci¡¯s heart was pounding. men always loved eighteen-year-old girls, and women always loved eighteen-year-old boys. fresh and bright, like a beam of light, he was the only light in her dark life. her divine being! liu yu and he miaomiao pretended to hold their hearts and exclaimed at his handsomeness. their boyfriends were forgotten, and lu zhiyuan high-fived his teammates after shooting a basket. sweat dripped from his hair into his eyes. he lifted his shirt to wipe off the sweat, revealing his toned eight-pack abs and a superior v-line, which caused the female students to squeal like groundhogs. he miaomiao blushed, ¡°1¡­ i¡¯m guilty. my face is red.¡± liu yu teased, ¡°doesn¡¯t your boyfriend have abs?¡± ¡°he only has belly fat.¡± a nearby female classmate exclaimed, ¡°i¡¯m not envious of gu ci¡¯s beauty. 1 envy her good fortune. lu zhiyuan is a hormone machine on the move.¡± gu ci gaped. she watched the girls taking pictures with their phones, furrowing her brows. unfortunately, lu zhiyuan was unaware of his own allure, casually wiping off the sweat and immediately starting the second round. after an exhilarating basketball game, with sweat covering lu zhiyuan¡¯s body, he once again lifted his shirt to wipe off the sweat. the female students offered water to the team members. whether in high school or university, there was an ambiguous tradition: when the person of interest was sweating on the basketball court, one could offer them a bottle of water. lu zhiyuan wiped his sweat and saw gu ci. he waved at her, and she smiled back. lu zhiyuan went to get his jacket. a tall and delicately made-up girl, encouraged by her classmates, approached lu zhiyuan while holding a bottle of water. blushing, she handed it to him, ¡°senior lu, please have some water.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at her, keeping a distance, and politely declined, ¡°thank you, but there¡¯s no need.¡± ¡°why? you obviously didn¡¯t bring any water.¡± the girl gathered her courage once again. lu zhiyuan held his jacket and smiled as he walked toward gu ci. the path beneath his feet seemed to be paved with flowers. his appearance was as beautiful as jade, his figure as graceful as a pine tree, as he resolutely walked toward the person he loved. ¡°i have water!¡± the girl couldn¡¯t accept it, feeling indignant, but could only watch as lu zhiyuan took gu ci¡¯s thermos and drank her warm water. he winked at her, ¡°junior sister, do you think the senior is handsome when playing basketball?¡± ¡°very handsome!¡± gu ci glanced behind him, ¡°the junior sisters were smitten.¡± ¡°a strong sour smell!¡± lu zhiyuan lowered his head and smelled her hair, ¡°are you jealous?¡± before gu ci could reply, the girl approached them, ¡°lu zhiyuan, 1 really like you.¡± the onlookers whispered among themselves. the girl wasn¡¯t afraid of embarrassment, and her best friend exclaimed, ¡°good for you, my dear, go for it!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know you!¡± lu zhiyuan said plainly, maintaining his politeness. ¡°i know, to you, i¡¯m a stranger. 1 don¡¯t expect anything, i just want you to know that i really like you,¡± the girl confessed with deep affection. lu zhiyuan¡¯s smile turned slightly melancholic. standing by his side, gu ci¡¯s voice was cold but domineering, ¡°classmate, he is mine!¡± for the first time in public, she declared her sovereignty, not allowing others to pry. lu zhiyuan belonged to her alone, in mind and body! no one was allowed to covet him! she couldn¡¯t stand lu zhiyuan¡¯s constant stream of admirers, she didn¡¯t like people¡¯s lingering gazes on him, and she despised it even more when others fantasized about him. but he was a public figure, and she had to accept it. ¡°lu zhiyuan has already denied any relationship between you two.¡± the girl stubbornly said, ¡°everyone can pursue him.¡± gu ci nodded and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°is that true?¡± lu zhiyuan smiled softly, taking her book and saying resolutely, ¡°in this world, only gu ci can pursue me.¡± regardless of how enchanting or captivating others were, he only wanted gu ci! even though he knew he wasn¡¯t worthy of her, his heart was set on her, his mind captivated.. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Baby Wants to Take a Family Portrait chapter 136: baby wants to take a family portrait translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when gu ziyu was waiting for his parents to pick him up, he had already seen the incident caused by lu zhiyuan playing basketball on the forum. he clicked his tongue and thought, ¡°dad¡¯s charm is really irresistible.¡± as he saw them approaching from afar, gu ziyu¡¯s dissatisfaction lessened. he didn¡¯t know what his dad was whispering to his mom, making her laugh. gu ziyu thought to himself that his dad was indeed his mom¡¯s source of happiness. but what about the other dad who didn¡¯t like his mom? what should he do? should he change his mind? while he was lost in his thoughts, lu zhiyuan and gu ci arrived in front of him. gu ziyu was currently having a disagreement with gu ci, and he wore a cold expression, acting as if he didn¡¯t care about anything. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, ¡°are you guys fighting?¡± gu ci was at a loss for words. gu ziyu sighed and looked at lu zhiyuan as if he were a calamitous beauty causing chaos in the country. ¡°baby, are you still angry?¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t answer, maintaining a cold and aloof demeanor, behaving arrogantly as if he didn¡¯t care about anyone. lu zhiyuan and gu ci exchanged glances, with gu ci smiling politely but feeling embarrassed. ¡°what did you do to upset him?¡± gu ci asked lu zhiyuan, at a loss for words, because our son is ignoring me due to his competition with you for attention. lu zhiyuan¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and he asked gu ziyu, ¡°how did she upset you?¡± gu ziyu wore a cold expression and responded with a stern tone, ¡°don¡¯t bother me.¡± ¡°don¡¯t shift the blame, little milk bun.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but cry and smile at the same time. seeing this, lu zhiyuan gave up and asked gu ci, ¡°how do you want to celebrate your birthday next week?¡± gu ziyu snorted, feeling particularly ignored. gu ci smiled awkwardly and politely, ¡°it¡¯s also ziyu¡¯s birthday on the 28th.¡± ¡°what?¡± lu zhiyuan turned his head. ¡°you were born on october 28th?¡± ¡°hmph!¡± gu ziyu snorted again. he and gu ci were born on the same day, a beautiful coincidence. both mother and son were scorpios, clear about their likes and dislikes, seeking revenge for the slightest grievance. gu ziyu¡¯s id card also indicated his birthday as 1028. lu zhiyuan was quite surprised. this child indeed had some connection with gu ci. ¡°we are both scorpios!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ziyu, who was sulking. ¡°you are the brightest light between me and gu ci.¡± gu ci felt a pang of anxiety. oops, she stepped on a landmine again. gu ziyu sneered, ¡°it¡¯s all because my dad couldn¡¯t control himself and had to have me. it¡¯s his own fault. i shouldn¡¯t exist.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. so was gu ci. ¡°that statement is a bit ambiguous. besides, i¡¯m not your dad,¡± lu zhiyuan asked gu ci, ¡°is this considered an indiscriminate attack?¡± gu ci rubbed her forehead and smiled, asking, ¡°baby, how do you want to celebrate your birthday?¡± ¡°the light bulb doesn¡¯t deserve to celebrate a birthday. i¡¯m not worthy,¡± gu ziyu said expressionlessly as he looked out the window, clearly angry. ¡°i¡¯m an unwanted cabbage, unloved by my father and mother.¡± lu zhiyuan lowered his voice and asked gu ci, ¡°little milk bun has a point, doesn¡¯t he?¡± gu ci maintained an awkward smile. ¡°it¡¯s hereditary, no, it¡¯s because of the red thread of fate. if you¡¯re a scoundrel then so am i.¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ¡°how am i a scoundrel?¡± ¡°you say you don¡¯t like sister, yet you accompany her to class, attract attention, and want to have a private world with her. that¡¯s quite the dick move, brother.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t argue back. the argument made sense! ¡°gu ci, what do you want for your birthday?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want anything!¡± her wish had already been fulfilled. her husband and son were by her side, and they were a happy family. ¡°the blessings and luck from the divine beings are limited. if you become too greedy, the basket will be empty.¡± ¡°do you believe in divine beings?¡± gu ci looked at him with a gentle gaze. ¡°do you?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t!¡± lu zhiyuan replied firmly. ¡°i am my own divine being.¡± gu ci felt both sad and relieved. at twenty years old, lu zhiyuan was confident and knew how to get what he wanted. except for having a third person within him, his life went smoothly. he had never suffered, never believed in gods or buddhas. only those who had fallen into the abyss would kneel and beg for a shred of mercy from the divine beings. ¡°i believe!¡± with just a glance from gu ci, gu ziyu knew what she was thinking. they relied on each other for survival, having experienced the hardships and despair that would forever be etched in their memories and pains. gu ziyu held gu ci¡¯s hand, and despite his young age, he eagerly wanted to grow up to be a reliable man, silently giving warmth and strength to gu ci. ¡°baby, not angry anymore?¡± gu ci smiled and asked. gu ziyu snorted but didn¡¯t let go of her hand. gu ci asked, ¡°baby, what do you want for your birthday?¡± ¡°it¡¯s my first time celebrating my birthday.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes were misty, confused, and uneasy. ¡°what should i ask for?¡± gu ci felt a great pain in her heart. since ziyu was born, her condition had not been good, and she was always in a daze. naturally, she wouldn¡¯t arrange a birthday celebration. mother and son were imprisoned in their own little world, with life and death controlled by gu chuyun. how could they provoke gu chuyun¡¯s wrath? after all, gu chuyun shared the same birthday as them as well. li jiang sympathized with them and secretly cooked a bowl of noodles for them every year as their birthday meal. ziyu had never even received a happy birthday wish. during those years, there was no happiness to be found. ¡°you can ask for anything you want!¡± gu ci hid her teary eyes. gu ziyu pursed his lips and glanced at lu zhiyuan. ¡°i¡­ want to take a family photo with all of you.¡± ¡°okay.¡± gu ci softened even more. ¡°let¡¯s take a family¡­ a group photo together.¡± both mother and son stared at lu zhiyuan with expectant eyes. lu zhiyuan smiled as he drove the car. ¡°little milk bun, say something nice, and i¡¯ll agree.¡± ¡°dad!¡± lu zhiyuan sputtered. ¡°is that considered something nice?¡± gu ziyu said arrogantly, ¡°having me as your son is your blessing. that¡¯s the nicest thing.¡± lu zhiyuan had witnessed his previous breakdown and tolerated his arrogance. since seeing ziyu¡¯s scars all over his chest and back while changing into a swimsuit in haicheng, lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of empathy. those scars were the result of long-term abuse. he had never mentioned it, fearing it would hurt the child¡¯s self-esteem, but it left an impact on him. when adults faced setbacks, they may become depressed and degenerate. it was understandable that a child who had been abused from a young age would be a little bit crazy, especially since this little milk bun was undoubtedly a little masochist. although he acted crazy and had said multiple times that he disliked lu zhiyuan, there were always fruits he liked on the dining table and dishes he enjoyed. gu ci had mentioned that gu ziyu was in charge of the household¡¯s shopping. autumn days were short, and the sun set at five o¡¯clock. the rose flowers on the balcony bloomed beautifully, filling the house with fragrance. gu ci had recently planted several pots of magnolia flowers, which added a touch of charm. gu ci picked a few roses and put them in a deep green vase. the combination of pink and green was incredibly pleasing to the eye. ¡°lu zhiyuan, take this vase of roses up to the bedroom. it will help you sleep better at night.¡± the vine-like roses had a delicate fragrance that greatly assisted in sleep.. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Little Gu Ci and Little Third Master chapter 137: little gu ci and little third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan¡¯s face slightly changed. he became sensitive and suspicious again. does gu ci know whether it was third master or him who came to her at night? if she knows, who does she care about, him or third master? filled with fear and doubt born out of love, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder who gu ci really liked. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°i¡¯m thinking about what gift to give you,¡± lu zhiyuan smirked. ¡°cici, you lack nothing. why not let me be your gift?¡± gu ci¡¯s ears turned red, and her neck flushed slightly. she had turned eighteen, so it wasn¡¯t impossible. lu zhiyuan was originally teasing her, but as he stared at her blushing ears, a knot formed in his throat. their eyes met, and sparks flew between them. lu zhiyuan imagined what gu ci might be imagining. he quickly got up and said, ¡°i¡­ i¡¯ll go upstairs first.¡± ¡°third brother, the rose flowers.¡± lu zhiyuan turned back, picked up the vase, and avoided gu ci¡¯s scorching gaze. he left in embarrassment. gu ci glanced at the date. it was the 28th, a saturday. she needed to plan how to celebrate her birthday properly. at least, she wanted to give gu ziyu a perfect experience. the phone rang and showed an unfamiliar number. gu ci answered the call while looking at video clips of others celebrating their children¡¯s birthdays. ¡°hello¡­¡± ¡°cici, it¡¯s dad,¡± gu wenliang said. ¡°next saturday is yours and chuyun¡¯s birthday. come back and have a reunion dinner together. if you don¡¯t want to eat at home, we can go out.¡± gu ci¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°dad, it has been eighteen years. you have only celebrated chuyun¡¯s birthday. you don¡¯t have to bother for me this year.¡± without waiting for gu wenliang¡¯s response, she hung up the phone and blocked the number. is she feeling sad? her heart had long been deeply wounded, so how could she feel sad? as she said, she had a father, but he had died in her heart. she and chuyun shared the same birthday. from childhood to adulthood, gu wenliang and lu man were only busy celebrating chuyun¡¯s birthday. they would throw grand birthday banquets, prepare princess dresses, cakes, and birthday gifts for chuyun. what she received were just gifts that guests gave to chuyun, unwanted presents. neither she nor ziyu had birthday blessings. from childhood to adulthood, only lu zhiyuan would celebrate her birthday. the first time he celebrated her birthday alone was when she turned five. lu zhiyuan came to the gu family with lu ze to attend the birthday banquet. the banquet was lively, and chuyun was dressed like a little princess, surrounded by guests playing games with lu zhiyuan. no one remembered that it was also the second missus gu ci¡¯s birthday that day. gu ci sat on the rooftop, reading a horror comic book. she had nothing to do with the liveliness and joy inside. at the age of five, gu ci didn¡¯t understand why her parents favored chuyun. she always felt that even her own mother didn¡¯t love her. in order to wear pretty clothes on her birthday, she argued with lu man and ended up being beaten by her. her hand was cut by glass, but lu man didn¡¯t care at all. little gu ci¡¯s heart was deeply hurt, and she hid alone on the rooftop, reading horror comic books. as she read, tears rolled down her cheeks. little gu ci felt like the little girl who was eaten in the horror stories, no one cared for her or paid attention to her. ¡°what did i do wrong?¡± she didn¡¯t understand why her parents and older brother didn¡¯t like her. when lu zhiyuan sat beside her, gu ci was startled and almost fell off the rooftop. lu zhiyuan held her waist and pulled her back. that day, the stars filled the sky, and the moonlight was gentle. the young lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes seemed to contain a vast starry sea. ¡°third brother, i feel so sad,¡± little gu ci pointed to her eyes. ¡°they keep shedding tears.¡± ¡°why are you sad?¡± lu zhiyuan wiped away her tears. ¡°they only remember chuyun¡¯s birthday, not mine,¡± little gu ci felt wronged. ¡°third brother remembers.¡± little gu ci glared at him fiercely. ¡°you¡¯re lying. you only give gifts to chuyun.¡± young lu zhiyuan took out a small square box. ¡°i¡¯ve only bought gifts for citi.¡± it was a gift from lu ze, not related to him. ¡°is it my gift?¡± little gu ci cried tears of joy. young lu zhiyuan nodded, and little gu ci opened the box. it was a beautiful diamond hairpin. little girls liked shiny things, and chuyun had many beautiful diamond hairpins. lu man had never bought her one. three days ago, when she was writing in her diary, she secretly wrote a wish, hoping to receive a beautiful hairpin on her birthday. ¡°do you like it?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°i love it!¡± gu ci was overjoyed. ¡°this is my birthday wish. how did third brother know?¡± ¡°third brother and cici have a deep connection.¡± lu zhiyuan took the hairpin and put it on her. ¡°are you still sad?¡± ¡°i¡¯m not sad anymore.¡± at the age of five, gu ci was easy to please. young lu zhiyuan sat on the rooftop, accompanying her as they looked at the stars and read horror comic books together. little gu ci asked, ¡°third brother, why aren¡¯t you smiling?¡± ¡°what?¡± lu zhiyuan was taken aback. then he slowly smiled. ¡°1 really like seeing third brother smile. you are the most handsome brother in the world,¡± little gu ci looked at him innocently. ¡°when you¡¯re by cici¡¯s side, aren¡¯t you happy? why don¡¯t you smile?¡± young lu zhiyuan hesitated for a moment before a smile appeared on his face. ¡°i like it when third brother smiles. you¡¯re the best brother in the whole world,¡± little gu ci said with a smile. young lu zhiyuan touched her soft hair. ¡°cici is so well-behaved.¡± the memories were gentle and beautiful, and gu ci couldn¡¯t bear to let go. on that day, the person who accompanied her must have been little third master. before she turned ten, she got along very well with lu zhiyuan. she truly believed that lu zhiyuan was the best brother in the world. during the day at school, when she was bullied, lu zhiyuan would come to her rescue and fight for her. if he won, he would take her to buy ice cream to celebrate. his classmates teased him for having a young wife. at night, lu zhiyuan would also accompany her while she played the violin. they kept it a secret from lu man and chuyun, and he even hired a teacher for her. one day when she was bullied by chuyun, she went to him in the middle of the night. lu zhiyuan took her to collect bird eggs. that time, she fell from a tree, and lu zhiyuan caught her. that year, she was too young to understand. now, as she recalled, she realized that the ten-year-old lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t possibly have had such great strength to catch her when she fell from the tree. whether it was little third master or little third young master, they were the people who loved her the most before she turned ten. little third young master would play and cause mischief with her, while little third master always accompanied her. when she misbehaved, he would laugh and guide her to not harbor resentment and to live happily every day. why did they have a falling out? gu ci racked her brain but couldn¡¯t remember why she and lu zhiyuan fell apart. she only remembered that when she was ten, they went to a hot spring hotel together. the memory of that night was a bit hazy. she had a high fever, and since then, lu zhiyuan¡¯s attitude toward her changed drastically. he was no longer the doting third brother. the warmth and joy she experienced in her youth were shattered that year. gu ci¡¯s personality gradually became sharp, extreme, and covered in thorns. especially when she saw or heard that chuyun liked lu zhiyuan, and there was a marriage arrangement between the lu and gu families, her anger and grievances reached their peak. she wrote a letter to end her friendship with lu zhiyuan.. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: A Silent Confession chapter 138: a silent confession translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci recalled the past and couldn¡¯t help but smile. when she was ten years old, she was really naive. suddenly, she wanted to ask lu zhiyuan what she had done that year at the hot spring hotel to annoy him and why he stopped caring for her. did he still keep the letter of breaking off the relationship? he cherished the small gifts she gave him, so the letter of breaking off the relationship must still be with him. after turning ten, she never celebrated her birthday again. however, every year, she would receive a gift, not valuable, but small accessories or dolls that teenage girls liked. in her previous life, she only knew that the stranger was lu zhiyuan after marrying him. but lu zhiyuan had indeed given her gifts. every year on her birthday, she would receive two gifts from lu zhiyuan. although he didn¡¯t celebrate her birthday with her anymore, his gifts were never late. as he said, in his whole life, he only bought gifts for her. ¡°third master, what are you thinking?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t figure him out, feeling uneasy. upstairs. li jiang couldn¡¯t breathe easily, sweat dripping from his forehead. lu zhiyuan was watching the surveillance footage of gu ci coming upstairs today. there were hidden cameras in every corner of the room. on the top floor, besides lu zhiyuan, there was only li jiang. after gu ci and gu ziyu came to live here, gu ci had come upstairs twice. they had an understanding that they wouldn¡¯t come upstairs at night. li jiang routinely checked the footage every day, and when he saw gu ci entering the study, he broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°third master¡­¡± li jiang suddenly kneeled down. ¡°please punish me, third master.¡± he had been careless! lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci, went to the bedroom, searched for something, and then went to the study. there wasn¡¯t much in his bedroom, but the study was an important place and had another security door, so he wasn¡¯t worried that gu ci and gu ziyu would accidentally come in. but he didn¡¯t expect gu ci to guess the password. 1028, her birthday. ¡°get lost!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold, li jiang was astonished. after such a big oversight, the third master dismissed it lightly. when did he become so forgiving? ¡°yes!¡± li jiang escaped with his life, feeling as if he had been given a second chance. the third master¡¯s anger was overwhelming when he first saw the footage. lu zhiyuan understood that clever as gu ci was, she must have guessed his identity. he picked up his phone, wanting to call gu ci, but hesitated and ultimately put it down. he looked at the chat interface with gu ziyu, the first time he took the initiative to contact gu ziyu. black hawk: are you there? gu ziyu: rare guest, why do you always appear out of nowhere, always at night? do you have homework to do during the day like me? black hawk: it¡¯s been many years since graduation. gu ziyu: should i call you uncle or grandpa? lu zhiyuan could tell from their conversation that gu ci hadn¡¯t told gu ziyu, why? black hawk: call me dad. gu ziyu: my dad is lu zhiyuan, are you? lu zhiyuan¡¯s fingers paused on the keyboard. black hawk: what if i am? gu ziyu: i will kneel and call you dad, kowtow to you, and serve you tea, okay? lu zhiyuan leaned back, looking thoughtfully at the chat history. gu ziyu¡­ this child shared the same birthday as gu ci, no wonder they were so close. whose child was hel? why couldn¡¯t he find a trace despite searching for so long? gu ci knew that gu ziyu was in contact with him, why didn¡¯t she inform gu ziyu of his identity? downstairs, gu ci heated up some milk and brought it to gu ziyu. she happened to see gu ziyu chatting with lu zhiyuan on the screen, which was large enough for her to see clearly. after glancing at the recorded conversation, gu ci¡¯s heart felt complicated. ¡°baby, don¡¯t be too conceited. you¡¯ll end up embarrassing yourself.¡± she didn¡¯t know how to tell gu ziyu. once she did, she would have to reveal everything about lu zhiyuan and the third master. could gu ziyu accept it? the third master knew gu ziyu¡¯s identity, and gu ziyu wouldn¡¯t be in danger. now that gu ziyu was still young, he couldn¡¯t pose a threat to the third master¡¯s life. was it important to reveal this matter? perhaps it would be good for gu ziyu to have contact with the third master and develop a relationship. ¡°mom?¡± ¡°drink your milk. have you finished your homework?¡± ¡°i¡¯m done.¡± gu ziyu pouted while drinking the milk. since there was no more message from black hawk, gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°mom, this archenemy must have been mute in their past life.¡± after drinking the milk, gu ziyu rinsed his mouth, climbed onto the bed, and gu ci sat beside him, covering him with a blanket. ¡°ziyu¡­¡± gu ci jokingly asked, ¡°did you make any friends at school?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face turned into a pout. ¡°they treat me like a little brother.¡± chen liangdong also frequently asked him if he had made any friends. gu ziyu felt frustrated because he didn¡¯t like making friends, and even if he did, they treated him like a little brother. how could he make friends like that? ¡°you get along quite well with¡­ black hawk,¡± gu ci probed, ¡°you could try to be friends.¡± ¡°mom, that¡¯s my archenemy,¡± gu ziyu said decisively, with a hint of resistance. ¡°an enemy!¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°i won¡¯t be friends with my enemies.¡± gu ziyu said coldly, ¡°someday, we will face each other as enemies.¡± gu ci¡¯s mood became complicated. ¡°your dad and i fought against each other since we were young, and we thought we would keep fighting for the rest of our lives. but unexpectedly, we got married, had you¡­ it¡¯s quite miraculous.¡± gu ziyu blinked his eyes. ¡°mom?¡± ¡°you must be tired, go to sleep early.¡± gu ci also had concerns. after the birthday was over, she would find a suitable time to tell gu ziyu. now that gu ziyu was on the right track, although he joined the national security agency, he was still young and couldn¡¯t do much. let her baby have a good birthday first! after a busy week of classes, the weekend arrived. gu wenliang and gu chuyun both tried calling gu ci, asking her to come home for her birthday, but she refused. gu ci had planned a day¡¯s itinerary, and gu ziyu was full of anticipation. he didn¡¯t even do his homework and went to bed early to rest and prepare. after gu ziyu fell asleep, gu ci went up to the rooftop. lu zhiyuan was on the rooftop, standing with his hands behind his back, looking up at the stars. the starlight tonight was beautiful, like a galaxy spanning the night sky. gu ci thought to herself that the heavens were creating a beautiful setting, and tomorrow would definitely be a sunny day. ¡°why are you here, third master?¡± ¡°admiring the moon.¡± ¡°you¡¯re in a good mood, third master.¡± gu ci looked at the starry sky. ¡°1 couldn¡¯t sleep, so 1 came up for some fresh air. 1 didn¡¯t expect the starlight to be so beautiful.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, and gu ci walked up behind him. ¡°third master, look at me.¡± he turned around and saw gu ci. she was wearing a pure white dress and a beautiful vintage diamond hairpin, clipped to her ear. the moonlight softened her coldness. standing under the starlight, she looked like a blooming orchid. lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze flickered, unclear. ¡°what is it?¡± ¡°this is the hairpin you gave me when you were young,¡± gu ci said. ¡°it was the first birthday gift i received from you, and i¡¯ve kept it all this time.¡± ¡°he gave it to you,¡± lu zhiyuan looked away, turning to look at the night sky.. Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: His Birthday Present chapter 139: his birthday present translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci walked up to him, and they looked at the moon together. she spoke with a double entendre, ¡°isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, his eyes as dark as the night. a gentle breeze blew, and the starry sky filled the night. gu ci¡¯s dress fluttered in the evening breeze, and the moonlight softened their figures as they leaned against each other. ¡°third master, it¡¯s my birthday tomorrow, did you know?¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°you have lu zhiyuan¡¯s memories, how could you not know?¡± gu ci said softly, ¡°we plan to take gu ziyu for a photo shoot tomorrow, don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care.¡± listening to his indifferent tone, gu ci fell silent for a moment. ¡°my birthday is the same day as gu chuyun¡¯s. since 1 was little, they only celebrated gu chuyun¡¯s birthday. i have never received a ¡®happy birthday¡¯ from them, not even a gift unless it¡¯s something gu chuyun doesn¡¯t want. but there¡¯s always a stranger who sends me a gift every year. i wonder what i¡¯ll receive this year.¡± lu zhiyuan continued to gaze at the moon, seemingly unaffected. gu ci asked, ¡°third master, what will i receive?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± gu ci looked up, her smile full of anticipation. ¡°i¡¯m so looking forward to what he will give me.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, and gu ci curiously asked, ¡°third master, what gift did lu zhiyuan buy?¡± ¡°a bracelet!¡± he answered without hesitation. gu ci, who expected him to remain silent, was slightly surprised and found it somewhat amusing. she looked at the watch on her wrist and asked, ¡°so should i wear the watch he gave me or the bracelet?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t say anything, and gu ci asked, ¡°third master, aren¡¯t you going to give me a gift?¡± ¡°why should i give you a gift?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯re not lovers, not even friends. there¡¯s no need for you to give me a gift. i¡¯m just being greedy,¡± gu ci said with a faint tone. the two of them stood on the rooftop like that, admiring the moon and the starlight. at midnight, it was gu ci¡¯s birthday. suddenly, a splendid firework display lit up in the distance. after the fireworks burst, the sky resembled a phoenix flying by, shining brightly with red hues. ¡°it¡¯s so beautiful,¡± gu ci said softly. ¡°it looks like the phoenix tree of the lu family.¡± the two of them silently watched the fireworks as they gradually faded away. the five-minute fireworks display was like a spectacle of a flourishing era, illuminating the night sky and her world. accompanying someone is the most sincere confession and also his only expression. tonight, there was a fireworks show in the amusement park, visible from the rooftop. after the fireworks extravaganza, lu zhiyuan stood with gu ci for a while, then silently left without any gifts or a simple ¡°happy birthday.¡± it seemed like he had come up just to admire the moon and stars. early the next day, when gu ziyu woke up, there were six beautifully wrapped gifts in his room. it felt like santa claus had secretly sneaked in to surprise him. gu ziyu happily unwrapped the gifts, and each one was exquisitely packaged. shoes, a mug with his own image, bluetooth earphones, a bunch of keychains with photos of gu ci and lu zhiyuan, a basketball, and a creative bedside lamp. they were all small gifts that a six-year-old boy would receive. with rosy cheeks, gu ziyu was especially happy. he liked every single gift, except for the basketball. a few days ago, gu ci had suggested playing basketball together, and she actually bought a basketball, complete with the signature of a popular basketball star. ¡°the basketball was given by dad!¡± gu ci leaned against the doorway. ¡°the signature is authentic, and the basketball star happened to be visiting city a.¡± even though gu ziyu didn¡¯t actively follow basketball stars, he knew how popular this particular superstar was. getting his genuine autograph was extremely difficult. no matter how clever a child is, they still have a desire for strength. gu ziyu instantly liked the basketball. ¡°mama, i love the gifts!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes sparkled. the things gu ci usually bought for him or the special gifts she gave him on his birthday were different. ¡°as long as my baby likes them!¡± ¡°i also have something to give mom!¡± gu ziyu had prepared early, holding a large box and coming over. gu ci eagerly opened it, revealing 24 custom-made lipsticks made by gu ziyu himself. he proudly said, ¡°mom, 1 made them all by myself.¡± ¡°wow¡­¡± gu ci was surprised. the lipstick shades were exceptionally comprehensive, and the tubes were custom-made. the black and gold casing had rose patterns, making it very eye-catching. gu ci took out a tube of bean paste-colored lipstick, which was moisturizing, evenly pigmented, and had a faint floral scent. ¡°baby, how did you make lipstick?¡± ¡°it¡¯s just a mixture of some things, very simple.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice couldn¡¯t conceal his pride. ¡°i added a little essence extracted from roses, isn¡¯t it fragrant?¡± ¡°super fragrant.¡± gu ci was amazed. ¡°it¡¯s a hit among internet celebrities.¡± the benefits of having a top student son! with his hands on his hips, gu ziyu smiled triumphantly. as long as his mom liked it, he had started preparing early, researching several formulas and making two lipsticks, choosing the most satisfying ones. when lu zhiyuan came down, gu ci was trying on the lipsticks. she tried every shade since gu ziyu¡¯s lipsticks covered a wide range of colors, including the shade she wanted. even the ¡°death barbie pink¡± color looked particularly good without any plastic feel. ¡°why did you buy so many lipsticks?¡± ¡°i made them!¡± gu ziyu couldn¡¯t wait to take credit. ¡°i made them myself.¡± lu zhiyuan leaned in to smell and caught a whiff of a floral scent. gu ci was in a youthful and vibrant age, and her complexion was already good, even without lipstick. most of the lipsticks at home were sent by the brand to zhou jinjin, but she gave them to gu ci. ¡°you¡¯re really amazing.¡± lu zhiyuan felt a pang of jealousy as gu ziyu emphasized that he made them himself. as expected, gu ziyu started comparing, ¡°what did you give sister?¡± lu zhiyuan took out his gift, a woven bracelet with a silver pendant featuring a cartoon version of himself. he turned his own peripherals into a bracelet and gave it to gu ci. ¡°wow¡­¡± gu ci had seen his peripherals before, and this design was very cute and widely known. zhou jinjin had a pillow with his peripherals featuring this cartoon. she didn¡¯t expect him to turn it into a bracelet. lu zhiyuan showed off his wrist. he was also wearing a woven bracelet with a pendant featuring gu ci¡¯s cartoon version. the two intertwined ropes and the colors clearly made it a couple¡¯s style. ¡°it looks great!¡± gu ci, who had been spoiled, didn¡¯t expect a couple¡¯s bracelet. lu zhiyuan put it on her wrist. gu ziyu asked, ¡°why don¡¯t i have one?¡± ¡°we¡¯re wearing couple¡¯s bracelets. why would you need one?¡± ¡°but you¡¯re not a couple!¡± gu ziyu had a valid argument. ¡°are you?¡± lu zhiyuan and gu ci didn¡¯t know how to reply. gu ci felt a slight awkwardness in her heart. baby, you¡¯re unconsciously helping out. ¡°i gave you a basketball. go exercise every day, and don¡¯t stay indoors.¡± gu ziyu secretly thought, ¡°dad is changing the topic. hmph!¡± the three of them had breakfast together and took gu ziyu to the park for a photoshoot. gu ci had arranged a photographer, but instead of going to a studio, they went to a park for the shoot. they played around while the photographer captured candid shots, and li jiang accompanied them with his close protection team. the photographer trembled as it was his first time witnessing a client who brought bodyguards to a photo shoot.. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Ziyu Kidnapped chapter 140: ziyu kidnapped translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li jiang even came over to check how the photos turned out, making the photographer nervous. captain li jiang, the head of the security team, was a tough guy with a strong and sturdy physique. he looked like he could handle himself in a fight. when the photographer came to check for the third time, he asked li jiang, ¡°should we take photos of your bodyguard team?¡± ¡°we don¡¯t need to be in the photos,¡± li jiang replied coldly. ¡°just make them look good.¡± the photographer thought to himself that except for lu zhiyuan, gu ci, and gu ziyu were uncomfortable in front of the camera and were even a bit camera-shy. however, everyone had good looks and a strong presence. every shot of them turned out perfect. they took a lot of photos, especially family portraits of the three of them. there were also many photos of gu ci and lu zhiyuan together, as well as individual shots of each person. after gu ziyu got his wish, he was very satisfied, and his smiles toward lu zhiyuan became more genuine. apart from the photo shoot, gu ci also recorded a vcr. when gu ziyu went to record his solo vcr, lu zhiyuan jokingly complained, ¡°let li jiang take him back after we have lunch.¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°why?¡± ¡°it¡¯s your birthday. why should 1 spend the whole day with him?¡± lu zhiyuan wanted to have a date with gu ci. ¡°we haven¡¯t had any time alone.¡± looking at his expression, gu ci¡¯s heart softened. she understood lu zhiyuan¡¯s thoughts, but it was ziyu¡¯s birthday, and she wanted him to be happy. if she sent him back, ziyu would definitely be unhappy. what should she do? ¡°you¡¯re hesitating?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow near her nose and spoke in a jealous tone. ¡°is this little brat more important to you than me?¡± gu ci fell silent for a moment. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t believe it and raised an eyebrow. ¡°gu ci, think carefully before you answer!¡± gu ci was a master at staying composed. ¡°you are important, you are the most important.¡± ¡°send him away!¡± gu ci was conflicted. if she disrupted ziyu¡¯s perfect birthday, he would be very angry. she racked her brain, trying to find a perfect solution. but lu zhiyuan grabbed her by the neck and pulled her towards him, kissing her lips. if ziyu wasn¡¯t present, he would have done this a long time ago. ¡°cici, let¡¯s go on a date without ziyu, okay?¡± he was always domineering, even though he had always doted on her and treated her well. rarely did he use a spoiled tone. gu ci¡¯s heart softened, but she remembered ziyu¡¯s gaze and stuck to her principles. lu zhiyuan kissed her again, turning on his full charm, looking at her with passionate eyes. ¡°you crossed the line using your charm!¡± lu zhiyuan lightly laughed, his eyes captivating. ¡°shall we go on a date?¡± suddenly, a hurried voice interrupted them. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned angry as he looked at li jiang. it had better be something important. li jiang was startled. ¡°third young master, miss gu ci, young master is missing!¡± gu ci¡¯s face turned pale, and she stood up abruptly. ¡°what do you mean, missing?¡± ¡°he and the photographer were recording by the water, but suddenly he couldn¡¯t find him. i¡¯ve already sent people to check the park¡¯s surveillance footage.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression became serious. ¡°did they go somewhere else to shoot?¡± they called the photography team, but the photographer didn¡¯t answer. gu ci called gu ziyu¡¯s phone, but it was busy. li jiang went to track gu ziyu¡¯s location, and a group of people went to check the surveillance footage. gu ci¡¯s eyelids twitched. she asked the people from the photography team, ¡°where did you find the photographer?¡± the owner of the travel photography studio panicked and said, ¡°our studio¡¯s photographer fell ill suddenly this morning and asked for leave. the two of them were supposed to shoot outdoor wedding photos, so 1 found another photographer in the photography group. after seeing his works, 1 felt his style and temperament matched your requirements, and the price was reasonable, so 1 chose him.¡± gu ci¡¯s face darkened, and she gritted her teeth. ¡°why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that you found the photographer this morning?¡± ¡°i¡­ i¡­ it was just a small matter. did 1 need to mention it?¡± the owner was terrified by gu ci¡¯s cold and stern manner. she looked truly terrifying when angry. lu zhiyuan made a quick decision. ¡°did you get the surveillance footage?¡± ¡°yes, third young master. they just left through the northwest gate. young master ziyu was being carried and seemed unconscious. the last three digits of the license plate are a836,¡± reported the security personnel in the monitoring room. gu ci ran towards the northwest gate, with lu zhiyuan following closely behind. li jiang also hurriedly led his men. the owner of the studio was in a panic and asked the assistant beside her, ¡°did we cause trouble?¡± the assistant was also shocked and nodded. the park was very large, and by the time they reached the northwest gate, three minutes had already passed. lu zhiyuan called the technical team at global and provided them with the license plate number and ziyu¡¯s phone number for tracking. gu ci opened the car door and was about to get in when lu zhiyuan held her waist and carried her to the passenger seat. ¡°i¡¯ll go!¡± after he got in the car, he turned on the devices and navigation. li jiang followed closely behind in his car and informed lu zhiyuan of the location of the license plate. ziyu¡¯s phone¡¯s location was together with the license plate, about five kilometers ahead of them. gu ci continuously tried calling gu ziyu¡¯s phone, but it was always busy. lu zhiyuan remained calm and composed. he held her hand and said, ¡°pay attention to your phone messages.¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart was pounding. ziyu¡­ please, don¡¯t let anything happen to you. she stared ahead, full of regret and anxiety. she shouldn¡¯t have let gu ziyu out of her sight. how could she let him leave her line of sight? during this time, life had been peaceful and happy, and she had forgotten about the potential dangers. lu zhiyuan saw through gu ci¡¯s fear. he knew her too well. she was usually a cold-blooded person, but why did she develop such deep feelings for gu ziyu after just a few months of being together? ¡°why are we still five kilometers away, lu zhiyuan? drive faster.¡± in the bustling city streets, they had to obey traffic rules, so they couldn¡¯t drive fast. ¡°gu ci, stay calm!¡± lu zhiyuan held her hand tightly. gu ci¡¯s hand was ice-cold. ¡°stay calm in the face of adversity. the bigger the problem, the more composed we should be. don¡¯t let fear defeat you.¡± gu ci took a deep breath to ease her nervousness. her phone vibrated, and she received a message from an unknown number. ¡°if you bring anyone, 1¡¯11 kill gu ziyu!¡± ¡°who is it?¡± ¡°the kidnapper!¡± gu ci looked at the address in the message. ¡°he wants me to go alone to jiangwan park road.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at the navigation map that li jiang sent. gu ziyu was just four kilometers ahead of them, while jiangwan park road was in the opposite direction. lu zhiyuan put on his earphones and told li jiang, ¡°li jiang, you and your team continue tracking ziyu¡¯s location. gu ci and i will go to jiangwan park road. keep the communication lines open with the technical team.¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang responded in a deep voice. ¡°be careful, third young master.¡± li jiang continued forward while lu zhiyuan made a sharp turn and headed towards jiangwan park road. gu ci said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, he wants me to go alone.¡± ¡°i won¡¯t let you go alone into danger.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze was steady. ¡°unless i¡¯m dead.¡± gu ci was shocked and shouted, ¡°don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± neither you nor ziyu will die! Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Lu Zhiyuan, Save Me chapter 141: lu zhiyuan, save me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation five minutes later, an unfamiliar number sent another text message containing a new address. lu zhiyuan altered his route accordingly. simultaneously, li jiang continued to track gu ziyu¡¯s whereabouts, finding himself four kilometers away from gu ziyu¡¯s location. the unfamiliar text message resembled a game of hide-and-seek. lu zhiyuan and gu ci navigated the city¡¯s streets for three hours until their car ran out of gas. subsequently, lu zhiyuan located a gas station. unease settled in gu ci¡¯s heart. what was she thinking? why had she allowed lu zhiyuan to take a detour within the city? abruptly, she inquired of lu zhiyuan, ¡°i¡¯m thirsty. what would you like to drink?¡± ¡°you choose.¡± exiting the vehicle, gu ci headed to the convenience store situated at the gas station. just as she approached the store¡¯s entrance, her phone received an unfamiliar text message. ¡°adjacent to you is a blue car with a license plate ending in 614. enter the vehicle!¡± glancing back at lu zhiyuan, who was still refueling the car, gu ci clenched her teeth and hastened toward the awaiting blue car. upon entering, lu zhiyuan, surprised, exited the car and pursued her. ¡°gu ci, come back!¡± having barely seated herself within the car, a captivating fragrance enveloped gu ci. she only managed to catch sight of a pair of sinister eyes before losing consciousness. when gu ci regained awareness, the sun had already set. illumination emanated from the lights, lending a modicum of reassurance. third master was awake! bound to a stool, gu ci found herself within an abandoned building. gazing out the window, she beheld her dimly lit surroundings, her vision blurred. discomfort and a burning sensation coursed through her body. calling out gu ziyu¡¯s name, she hesitated before adding, ¡°lu shijie, reveal yourself!¡± moments before fainting, she had glimpsed lu shijie. emerging from the shadows with a limp, lu shijie advanced, flanked by four bodyguards. one of them clutched gu ziyu, who collapsed to the ground, unconscious. ¡°did you ever anticipate such a day would come?¡± lu shijie¡¯s laughter bordered on madness. armed with a dagger, he drew closer to gu ziyu. gu ci¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°stop!¡± lu shijie offered a peculiar smile. ¡°how does it feel to be a mere pawn?¡± ¡°lu shijie, he¡¯s but a child. the grudges between adults are of no concern to him. do not lay a finger on him!¡± despite her piercing voice, she was powerless to halt lu shijie. he thrust the dagger into gu ziyu¡¯s abdomen, prompting a rush of blood to stain the floor. unconscious though he was, gu ziyu seemed to respond to the pain, twitching and curling up, an image of pitiable misery. ¡°ziyu!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart felt as if it had been pierced by a knife. her eyes welled with bloodshot intensity, observing the crimson stream flowing from ziyu¡¯s wound. lu shijie refrained from removing the dagger, instead rising to his feet and wiping his hands. ¡°gu ci, i¡¯ve heard that you cherished him deeply. how does it feel to witness his demise before you?¡± ¡°lu shijie, 1 will end you!¡± gu ci struggled, causing the chair to topple to the ground as she did so. ¡°you should have met your doom long ago!¡± enraged, lu shijie lunged forward, seizing gu ci¡¯s throat with a surfeit of murderous intent. ¡°if i¡¯m destined for hell, 1¡¯11 drag all of you down with me. you¡¯re the one who ruined the lu corporation¡¯s board of directors. if 1 can¡¯t survive, neither will any of you!¡± anger glinted in gu ci¡¯s eyes as she stared back at him. under lu shijie¡¯s grip, her complexion grew pallid, her breath stifled. the pain she endured was agonizing, near suffocating. lu shijie¡¯s expression twisted malevolently. ¡°i can¡¯t touch lu zhiyuan. li jiang guards him around the clock. you, however, i can kill. you¡¯re the one he cares for. i want him to lose his love forever, to endure lifelong suffering!¡± despite her pallor, gu ci¡¯s resolve remained unyielding. the notion of torturing her seemed to cross shijie¡¯s mind. as he released his grip slightly, gu ci seized the opportunity to resist. pushing against him, she jolted him away. undeterred, lu shijie sneered. ¡°what can you do in your dying moments?¡± met with gu ci¡¯s defiant glare, he struck her forcefully, causing her to topple with the chair. unconcerned about the potential harm to her own body, she remained resolute. the chair shattered upon impact, wooden fragments lacerating her arms. gu ci¡¯s hands were now free. lu shijie hadn¡¯t anticipated her determination. he bellowed, ¡°seize her!¡± observing this, the four bodyguards surged forward to restrain gu ci. swiftly, she untied the bonds around her feet, brandishing a chair fragment before hurling it at the oncoming guards. unimpressed by her actions, the bodyguards¡¯ strength and confidence remained. in the midst of the turmoil, gu ziyu¡¯s pained eyes fluttered open. with a quiet voice, he murmured, ¡°mom¡­¡± grimacing as he held his abdomen, his hand came away bloodied. he pondered, his thoughts serene: was he about to die? what awaited him beyond death? would he return to his former life? the thought of leaving his mother behind weighed heavily. ¡°end her!¡± lu shijie¡¯s roar reverberated, an order for her execution. as gu ci grappled with the four bodyguards, one was sent crashing into a wall by her swift kick. rising, he fixed her with a steely gaze. ¡°brothers, do not underestimate her. this woman has undergone training.¡± wiping blood from his lip, he signaled his comrades. the four converged, forming a formidable front against gu ci. lu shijie sat upon the floor, his back to gu ziyu. his eyes gleamed with madness. ¡°kill her! kill her¡­¡± gu ziyu inhaled deeply, extracting the dagger with an impassive expression. the blade was tinged red with blood. rising, he clutched the weapon and advanced silently behind lu shijie. his countenance resembled that of a deranged demon, akin to a vengeful spirit. ¡°end gu ci. she deserves it. end her. lu zhiyuan, 1 yearn for you to suffer eternally¡­¡± his voice trailed off as gu ziyu¡¯s dagger plunged into lu shijie¡¯s side. lu shijie¡¯s eyes widened, disbelief etched on his features. he lowered his gaze to his side, then turned his head to find gu ziyu¡¯s visage drenched in blood, his innocent eyes harboring an intensity of purpose. ¡°you¡­¡± clutching his abdomen, gu ziyu¡¯s smile bore a strange twist. ¡°scum, i shall be the one to deliver your end this time.¡± before lu shijie collapsed, he kicked gu ziyu away. with a loss of blood that impaired his stability, gu ziyu crumpled to the ground. ¡°ziyu¡­¡± gu ci hastened to his side, assisting him to his feet. lu shijie, clutching his wound, bore a maniacal expression. ¡°kill them!¡± pale-faced and weakened from blood loss, gu ziyu uttered quietly, ¡°mom, i can bear no more. do not fret over me¡­¡± gu ci recognized the futility of engaging in a confrontation with the bodyguards. gu ziyu¡¯s weakened state, coupled with his significant blood loss and impending shock, heightened the urgency of the situation. while she possessed the capability to defeat them, it would consume valuable time¡ªtime that was critical for ziyu¡¯s well-being. without hesitation, she gathered gu ziyu in her arms, holding him horizontally, and dashed away. the four bodyguards pursued them relentlessly. ¡°you can run but you can¡¯t hide. i shall track your path.¡± their pursuit resembled that of cats after mice. little did they anticipate gu ci¡¯s audacious maneuver. she propelled herself and gu ziyu off the edge of the unfinished building. the structure, still under construction, stood tall with over ten floors. in the face of the plummet, gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°mom!¡± in that dire moment, he was willing to sacrifice himself, but he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his mother sharing the same fate. the wind howled in his ears as the sensation of weightlessness washed over him during the freefall. eyes clenched shut, gu ci uttered a silent plea, ¡°lu zhiyuan, save us!¡± in the next instant, a swift streak pierced the night, embracing both gu ci and ziyu as they descended. they touched down gradually, concealed from view as they landed on the ground. the pursuing bodyguards, stationed on the side of the building, could no longer locate them. ¡°is that woman out of her mind? leaping from a building with her child?¡± ¡°jumping to their deaths!¡± in the enveloping darkness, where visibility was nil, lu shijie reveled. ¡°even if i meet my end, i¡¯ll drag you all down with me.. this is my victory!¡± Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Direct Family Members Cannot Have Blood Transfusion (1) chapter 142: direct family members cannot have blood transfusion (1) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu stared in astonishment at lu zhiyuan, who appeared in mid-air. he blinked his eyes and for a moment couldn¡¯t discern whether it was his excessive blood loss causing hallucinations or if it was truly happening. in the modern society, could my father fly? would you believe it? well, gu ziyu definitely didn¡¯t believe it! ¡°dad, you scared me,¡± gu ziyu calmly uttered these words and then completely lost consciousness. lu zhiyuan arrived a bit faster than li jiang. as he landed with gu ci, li jiang and his team also arrived. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face was as solemn as water as he instructed li jiang, ¡°control the situation, don¡¯t let lu shijie die.¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang led his team upstairs. whether it was lu shijie or the bodyguards, none could escape. ¡°lu zhiyuan, take ziyu to the hospital first, the nearest one!¡± the nearest hospital was four kilometers away from the unfinished building. with ziyu in her arms, gu ci got into the car. lu zhiyuan drove toward the hospital while gu ci futilely tried to cover ziyu¡¯s wound. warm blood kept oozing out from the wound. ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t scare me!¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t scare mom.¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows and looked at gu ci. all he saw were her tears falling drop by drop onto ziyu¡¯s face. the three of them quickly arrived at the hospital. ziyu had lost too much blood, leading to shock. lu zhiyuan rushed into the emergency room holding him. gu ci shouted, ¡°doctor, doctor¡­ he needs a blood transfusion. ziyu has ab blood type, we urgently need blood.¡± ¡°ab type, right? do we have ab blood in the blood bank?¡± the doctor asked. although ziyu¡¯s blood type wasn¡¯t the rarest blood type, ab blood was still less common than abo types. the blood bank at the small hospital was in dire need. lu zhiyuan rolled up his sleeves. ¡°draw mine, i¡¯m ab blood type!¡± ¡°you can¡¯t donate!¡± gu ci blurted out. lu zhiyuan looked at the anxious gu ci. her lips were trembling slightly. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°he needs a blood transfusion.¡± ziyu was in shock, the doctors were working to save him, and blood transfusion was crucial. the doctor was also in a hurry. ¡°you¡¯re ab blood type, right? and you¡¯re not a direct relative, right? then come and donate.¡± he assessed the ages of ziyu and lu zhiyuan. they didn¡¯t seem like direct relatives but more like brothers. gu ci stopped lu zhiyuan. ¡°he can¡¯t donate blood.¡± the doctor said firmly, ¡°apart from direct relatives with the same blood type, why can¡¯t he donate? i¡¯m a doctor, trust me.¡± gu ci tightly held onto lu zhiyuan¡¯s arm and looked at ziyu in shock. she clenched her teeth in pain. blood transfusion from a direct relative would lead to transfusion-related graft-versus-host disease, the incidence wasn¡¯t high, but the mortality rate was almost 100%. is she willing to take a gamble? ¡°gu ci?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone was calm. gu ci¡¯s mind was in turmoil, and coincidentally, a nurse hurriedly came with two bags of blood. gu ci heaved a sigh of relief. lu zhiyuan grasped her wrist with a force that almost hurt her, his gaze deep like the sea. ¡°gu ci, who is gu ziyu?¡± in his voice, there was a kind of disbelief he couldn¡¯t even believe himself. gu ci sat wearily on a chair, her eyes red. ¡°you have peach blossom eyes, and he also has peach blossom eyes. you¡¯re a computer genius, and he¡¯s also a computer genius. you¡¯re exceptionally intelligent, and he¡¯s exceptionally intelligent. so¡­ who is he?¡± lu zhiyuan suddenly turned his head, looking towards the emergency room. the typically calm gaze caused a tumultuous wave. he suddenly remembered the unconscious words gu ziyu had said before he fainted. ¡°dad, you scared me!¡± he also recalled what he had said online. ¡°my dad is lu zhiyuan, who are you?¡± he always referred to gu ci as mom. gu ci, who was usually reserved and slow to warm up, had braved danger for gu ziyu, unafraid of death. gu ziyu¡¯s identity¡­ the answer was almost there, but why? in the small hospital in the suburbs, they managed to stop the bleeding, and after the blood transfusion, gu ziyu¡¯s condition stabilized slightly. a medical helicopter arrived and quickly transported him back to the city. the blood transfusion was timely, and gu ziyu¡¯s aorta wasn¡¯t harmed; he had only sustained damage to his liver. after a few hours of surgery, he was out of danger after the sutures were done. chen liangdong and chen fei arrived in a hurry. chen liangdong was barely containing his anger. this elder who always seemed gentle had rushed to the hospital as soon as the meeting was interrupted. lu zhiyuan looked at chen liangdong without changing his expression, squinting his eyes slightly. even li jiang didn¡¯t understand why this esteemed figure had been alarmed. he told chen liangdong the entire situation straightforwardly. ¡°how is ziyu?¡± chen liangdong asked the doctor. ¡°fortunately, he didn¡¯t harm the aorta. there¡¯s damage to his liver, but we¡¯ve cleaned and stopped the bleeding. we need to observe his condition and let him recover properly.¡± the doctor informed truthfully. ¡°children have good recovery abilities, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± chen liangdong was relieved. this matter wouldn¡¯t be let off lightly. when he first heard the news, he was terrified. ziyu was so young. he genuinely liked the child and had treated him as his own to nurture. gu ci had been sitting on a bench all this time. she asked chen liangdong, ¡°can lu shijie be sentenced to fifteen years?¡± this was a suggestion. it had to be a sentence of over fifteen years. ¡°a child so young, he¡¯s truly heartless and crazy.¡± chen liangdong¡¯s usual benevolent manner changed drastically. ¡°1 won¡¯t let him off!¡± lu shijie had narrowly escaped death, engaged in kidnapping, attempted murder. it was enough for him to serve ten years in prison. no matter how much chen lishi tried to cover things up, he couldn¡¯t save lu shijie. ¡°he¡¯s eligible for the death penalty!¡± chen liangdong said calmly. ziyu had a special status, a junior warrior of the national security agency. kidnapping him and attempting to kill him warranted the death penalty. gu ci¡¯s gaze turned cold, as frost in late autumn. ¡°life imprisonment, wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± a person like him, dying too quickly, wouldn¡¯t be giving him too much of a break. gu ci had some minor cuts and bruises, but they weren¡¯t serious. wood splinters embedded in her skin were easily removed, leaving her comfortable. she only had a large bruise, which could be treated with some medicinal ointment later. lu zhiyuan watched in silence as gu ci washed her hands, her lonely figure a stark contrast. he glanced at the blood in his palm, then took a cotton swab and rolled the blood from his palm, lightly dragging his finger across a sharp instrument, allowing the fresh blood to fall onto another cotton swab. he called li jiang over. ¡°go do a paternity test.¡± li jiang looked horrified at the cotton swab, then at lu zhiyuan¡¯s bleeding finger. ¡°third young master?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned slightly cold, and li jiang felt a chill down his spine. ¡°yes!¡± he dared not protest further, taking the cotton swab to the doctor for a paternity test. this was a paternity test between the third young master and the young master, it couldn¡¯t be possible! he remembered how the third young master had once joked and asked him to take a paternity test. but he had fervently denied it! there was no way the young master could be the third young master¡¯s son! why would the third young master want to do a test? could it be that the third young master really had a child when he was around thirteen or fourteen? li jiang was flabbergasted. ¡°oh my god, third young master must be going crazy!¡± gu ci leaned against the wall in silence, utterly exhausted. lu zhiyuan stared at her intently, and gu ci opened her eyes, looking at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°third young master, surprised?¡± lu zhiyuan was more fearful than surprised, a mix of emotions. he gazed fixedly at gu ci and shook his head gently. ¡°it¡¯s impossible, how could¡­¡± gu ci approached him, reaching out to embrace him, burying her head against his chest. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t leave me alone anymore..¡± Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Gu Ziyu Is Your Son chapter 143: gu ziyu is your son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li jiang¡¯s scalp tingled as he looked at the appraisal report in lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand. the moment he received the report, he couldn¡¯t resist his curiosity and took a quick glance. due to anonymity, only the results were displayed. confirmation of parent-child relationship! lu zhiyuan gazed at the thin sheet of paper, almost making out nothing due to his shock. li jiang held his breath, looking down at his toes. this was definitely a shocking piece of gossip. no wonder, when he first saw the young master, he reflexively obeyed him. it wasn¡¯t him being obsequious; it was because he was genuinely the young master. third young master, your youth is gone. not only gone, but he also had a son. what about miss gu ci? wouldn¡¯t third young master be driven to madness? oh, they couldn¡¯t confront him directly or kill him, but he could only destroy himself! the imminent arena of unknowns sent shivers down li jiang¡¯s spine. after a long silence, lu zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°destroy it!¡± he handed the appraisal report to li jiang, saying, ¡°keep this matter to yourself.¡± ¡°yes! third master, there¡¯s no need to command me, and i dare not speak either. third young master¡­ can 1 say something?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him with deep eyes. a chill ran down li jiang¡¯s spine. ¡°yes, i understand.¡± it was past four in the morning. lu zhiyuan headed to the hospital room. gu ci stood by gu ziyu¡¯s side, holding the little cold hand. gu ziyu lay on the hospital bed, looking very obedient. his son! in the hospital room, only a bedside lamp was on, casting dim light. when lu zhiyuan stood beside gu ci, shadows almost shrouded the mother and son, blocking the moonlight from outside the window. ¡°your personalities are exactly the same, even your preferences.¡± gu ci chuckled lightly. ¡°lu zhiyuan must be feeling suffocated, why should he resemble you?¡± she could already imagine lu zhiyuan¡¯s explosive expression. ¡°why?¡± gu ci kissed her child¡¯s hand. ¡°it¡¯s like a beautiful dream. one day, he descended from the heavens and came to my side. 1 don¡¯t know why, it¡¯s a gift from above.¡± lu zhiyuan never believed in a higher power. this situation was strange. the answer was almost obvious. gu ci was reborn, and gu ziyu traversed worlds. she retained memories from a past life. ¡°he shouldn¡¯t have appeared!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold. gu ci looked up at him, dangerously narrowing her eyes. ¡°what did you say?¡± he knew she misunderstood him, but he had no intention of explaining. gu ci asked coolly, ¡°third master, do you not feel any familiarity or warmth when you look at ziyu?¡± ¡°no!¡± he firmly denied it, cutting off all her thoughts, even denying ziyu¡¯s identity. ¡°he is his son!¡± in fact, the first time he saw gu ziyu, he felt a strong sense of familiarity. seeing the scars on his body by the pool, he even found it curious why he had so many wounds. he rarely felt curious about others. once he felt curious, it meant he wanted to understand. gu ci laughed at his indifferent attitude. ¡°that¡¯s why i knew you were black hawk but kept it from ziyu.¡± because he wouldn¡¯t acknowledge ziyu! ziyu was a determined and stubborn child. if he knew, he would be devastated. ¡°third master, if you don¡¯t love him, stay away from him. don¡¯t let him know.¡± lu zhiyuan wanted to ask gu ci about her past life, but she refused to communicate with him. he didn¡¯t recognize ziyu, hurting gu ci in the process. lu zhiyuan looked at her stubborn figure and closed his eyes in despair. he turned around, leaving this suffocating world behind. gu ci followed him out, calling out in the hospital corridor. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t turn back. behind him, gu ci asked, ¡°third master, no matter what happens, you won¡¯t acknowledge ziyu, right?¡± the anticipated answer didn¡¯t come. gu ci only saw his determined figure growing distant. gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. after all these years of madness, what had it all been for? in her reborn life, she wanted reunification, but her lover had severed their affection and refused to continue their connection. when ziyu woke up, the anesthesia had worn off, and the wound was a bit painful. gu ci felt heartache but couldn¡¯t take his place. ziyu gazed at gu ci, his eyes turning slightly red. ¡°baby, what¡¯s wrong? is the wound hurting?¡± ziyu shook his head. in fact, every time gu ci called him ¡°baby,¡± he felt happy. the truth was, he had long passed the age when he could be called that. ¡°1 thought¡­ 1 would never see mom again. i thought i had gone back.¡± a pang of fear struck gu ci. gone back? when did ziyu go back? ¡°ziyu, you won¡¯t go anywhere. you¡¯ll be by mom¡¯s side for your whole life.¡± she couldn¡¯t bear to let ziyu go back to a world without her or lu zhiyuan. ¡°okay, ziyu won¡¯t go anywhere. i only want to be by mom¡¯s side.¡± his love and attachment to gu ci were much deeper than that of an ordinary son. with a touch of obsession, besides being intertwined in life and death, there was also regaining what had been lost. someone who had experienced love was like clutching a life-saving piece of driftwood. they would rather die than let go. ¡°did he die?¡± gu ci knew who he was asking about. she wasn¡¯t clear about lu shijie¡¯s situation. the wound ziyu had inflicted was quite deep. before she could answer, chen liangdong arrived, accompanied by two police officers who were there to take statements. ¡°baby, you¡¯ve suffered.¡± chen liangdong patted ziyu¡¯s head. gu ci adjusted the hospital bed to make him sit up against the pillow. chen liangdong was from the national security bureau, specially tasked with investigating the case of gu ziyu¡¯s kidnapping. he had carefully examined everything from their exit and the photographs to the video of gu ziyu¡¯s abduction. gu ci was the first to give a statement, including her decision to leave lu zhiyuan and search for gu ziyu alone in the abandoned building. she recounted everything. they were supposed to give statements separately, but for some reason, chen liangdong had them do it together in the same hospital room. gu ci truthfully described how gu ziyu had stabbed lu shijie, using vague terms to describe the situation. when it was ziyu¡¯s turn to give his statement, it was simple. ¡°when 1 woke up, the dagger was stuck in my waist. my sister and a few bodyguards were fighting. lu shijie was next to me, trying to hurt my sister. worried, 1 pulled out the dagger and stabbed him in the waist.¡± the dagger was covered in his blood and fingerprints. he couldn¡¯t deny it. lu shijie¡¯s fate was unknown. when he woke up, he would probably insist that ziyu had stabbed him. it was better to be honest about it. ¡°then how did you manage to escape?¡± the investigator asked. ¡°lu shijie¡¯s bodyguards said you jumped off the building while holding gu ziyu?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ci said. ¡°at that time, ziyu had already lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding. i didn¡¯t want to confront them, so i jumped off with ziyu. lu zhiyuan and the bodyguards caught us below.¡± when the investigators entered, li jiang had already smoothed things over. he had coordinated with gu ci earlier. the investigator said, ¡°according to our measurements, the abandoned building is on the eighth floor. you jumped off while holding the child and were caught by someone intact?¡± gu ci nodded sincerely. ¡°yes, lu zhiyuan has incredible strength.¡± the investigators were left speechless. miss gu, the strength needed for that catch is inhuman.. Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Lu Zhiyuan Is Jealous chapter 144: lu zhiyuan is jealous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci¡¯s firm and confident demeanor, along with the consistent stance from both lu zhiyuan and the bodyguard team, seemed quite outlandish. however, the investigator couldn¡¯t explain why gu ci held the unscathed reasoning for jumping off the building while holding gu ziyu. chen liangdong said, ¡°let¡¯s not confuse priorities here. they are the victims, not the perpetrators. what you should investigate is lu shijie¡¯s abduction of gu ziyu and the attempted murder.¡± ¡°yes, director!¡± the investigator left after completing the record. chen liangdong said, ¡°ziyu, take good care of yourself. this matter will be explained to you.¡± ¡°is he dead?¡± ¡°alive,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°we¡¯ve saved a life. the evidence is solid. lu shijie will face multiple charges, and we¡¯ll sentence him according to the law.¡± gu ci initially wanted lu shijie to suffer while alive. judging by chen liangdong¡¯s attitude, it was likely he would face the death penalty. exiting this life sooner might not be a bad thing. it was a pity, though. he couldn¡¯t gradually torment him. chen liangdong felt sorry for the innocent suffering of gu ziyu. adult conflicts had nothing to do with children. lu shijie not dying was also a good thing. chen didn¡¯t want ziyu burdened with taking a life. ¡°his wretched life isn¡¯t worth you carrying.¡± no matter how precocious gu ziyu was or how solitary and indifferent he seemed, in chen liangdong¡¯s eyes, he was a six-year-old child. carrying the weight of a life was always a burden. chen liangdong was constantly busy and couldn¡¯t stay at the hospital for long. after he left, gu ziyu said, ¡°mom, you should go back home and get some sleep. your eyes are bloodshot.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t want to go home to sleep. she decided to rest in the adjacent ward instead. originally, li jiang was going to bring a nutritious meal, but upon hearing the news, the jiang family mobilized. by noon, they were all gathered in the hospital room. gu ci was sound asleep, unaware. jiang junlin closed the door tightly to avoid disturbing her. upon seeing ziyu¡¯s wound, lin chunli and the old lady felt both distressed and angry. the old lady couldn¡¯t help but curse lu shijie for lacking any sense of decency. ¡°he should be locked up for twenty years.¡± ¡°even twenty years would be too lenient for him,¡± the old master added angrily. as they grew older, they felt even more empathetic toward the younger generation. hearing from the doctor that the liver was injured only made matters worse. gu ziyu responded to others¡¯ kindness with compliance. he ate whatever was given to him and reassured them that he didn¡¯t feel any pain at all, which further endeared him to the elders. a child who had been stabbed still consoled them. gu ziyu had truly grown accustomed to pain. aside from the discomfort upon waking up, he gradually got used to it. ¡°is cici hurt?¡± jiang junlin asked. gu ziyu replied, ¡°just a slight abrasion on the arm.¡± upon hearing that it was nothing serious, jiang junlin felt relieved. he turned to look out the window, lost in thought. he had never paid much attention to lu shijie, considering him nothing more than a failure. it never crossed his mind that he was a rabid dog, trying to drag someone down with him in his dying moments. chen rushi treated him as a discarded pawn. lu shijie had run out of options and was acting recklessly. instead of seeking a mutual end with lu zhiyuan, he had gone after gu ci and ziyu. jiang junlin sneered; he truly knew how to court death! the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear. jiang junlin mused to himself, ¡°he won¡¯t have the chance to see this blue sky again.¡± gu ci woke up in the afternoon, belatedly realizing that lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t come to the hospital. she furrowed her brows and asked li jiang, ¡°where¡¯s third young master from your family?¡± ¡°he¡¯s out racing.¡± li jiang had a splitting headache, not sure why. third young master had been racing all day today, ignoring the fact that he had injured gu ziyu and gu ci. he had warned lu shijie about it, but it seemed like he didn¡¯t care. given third young master¡¯s concern for miss gu ci, this was definitely abnormal. gu ci also had an uneasy feeling. with jiang minghua and lin chunli taking care of ziyu in the hospital, and seeing that his condition had stabilized, gu ci decided to find lu zhiyuan. as ziyu watched her retreating figure, he couldn¡¯t help but think of last night¡¯s leap. mom said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, save me.¡± the next second, dad arrived. mom had known dad¡¯s secret for a long time. why didn¡¯t she tell him? upon returning to the global sports center, gu ci found lu zhiyuan still racing. he had a habit: when he was in a bad mood, he liked to race. when his emotions were turbulent, he liked to race as well. li jiang said, ¡°miss gu ci, he¡¯s been racing for five hours straight.¡± he had been racing since he woke up! ¡°i know.¡± even though the instructors had told him to stop, he didn¡¯t. it wasn¡¯t formal training; the instructors were quite helpless. gu ci stood by the track¡¯s edge, and lu zhiyuan noticed her. the racing car roared past, as if he hadn¡¯t seen her. gu ci waved at him, and he roared past her again. without hesitation, she stood in the middle of the track. lu zhiyuan saw her from a distance and hit the brakes. his speed was too high, and sudden braking could have hurt her. with intense concentration, he had been racing. he was drenched in sweat when he took off his helmet; his hair was almost soaked. lu zhiyuan remained in the car, watching as gu ci slowly approached. a drop of sweat from his hair fell into his eyes, the slightly salty sweat causing his eyes to redden slightly. lu zhiyuan got out of the car, walked forward angrily, and just as gu ci grabbed his wrist, he pulled it away. ¡°all¡­¡± gu ci was pushed away and fell onto the track. lu zhiyuan was taken aback and hurried to help. the palm of gu ci¡¯s hand was red from the friction against the track. she looked at lu zhiyuan with a sense of injustice, ¡°are you¡­ violent?¡± seeing that she was okay, he started to walk away with a cold expression. however, gu ci grabbed his wrist, ¡°why are you angry?¡± he averted his gaze, not looking at her, his body tense and rigid. ¡°third brother¡­¡± ¡°you knew about my split personality, didn¡¯t you?¡± lu zhiyuan stared at her with a pained look, ¡°i¡¯ve kept this secret for over a decade. when did you find out?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart sank, ¡°i¡­¡± ¡°i hate lies the most!¡± lu zhiyuan suppressed his anger, ¡°gu ci, don¡¯t lie to me, i¡¯m begging you.¡± ¡°while we were at the lavis racing event, i confirmed it.¡± gu ci no longer tried to deceive him or avoid the truth. ¡°so, the person you like is him!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her intensely, ¡°every time something happens, he appears in your world like a heroic figure. naturally, you¡¯d like him. in haicheng, you knew it was him, not me. you declared to the whole world that you like him, gu ci. in your eyes, am i a fool or a substitute?¡± ¡°third brother¡­¡± ¡°don¡¯t call me that!¡± lu zhiyuan roared, once again pushing her away. he stood up and looked down at her from a higher position. gu ci saw the redness in his eyes, and it tore at her heart. lu zhiyuan arrogantly said, ¡°i, lu zhiyuan, am not a pathetic substitute. i will never be anyone¡¯s substitute!¡± he turned around and left in big strides. the autumn wind blew onto gu ci¡¯s face, freezing cold. she could only watch as lu zhiyuan resolutely walked away. gritting her teeth, gu ci stood up, chased after him, and blocked his way. ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you a substitute?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination, ¡°you¡¯re so proud, a true elite. who would treat you as a substitute? 1¡­ in my heart, you both are one person.¡± ¡°one person!¡± lu zhiyuan burst into laughter. ¡°gu ci, how could he and i be the same person? we are two souls in one body. either he dies or i perish¡ªit¡¯s fated for us to kill each other. if only one of us can survive, whom would you choose to die?¡± gu ci was speechless.. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Mom and Dad Divorce, Who Are You Going With? chapter 145: mom and dad divorce, who are you going with? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he¡¯s extreme, angry, and confrontational. gu ci¡¯s silence, to him, seems more like a choice. lu zhiyuan clenched his teeth and said, ¡°gu ci, you want to pick me to die, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°then you¡¯ll pick him?¡± gu ci¡¯s voice turned cold, and her teeth were chattering from the chill. why did she have to make this choice? lu zhiyuan had died in front of her once already. gu ci looked at him with sorrow, ¡°lu zhiyuan, listen to me¡­¡± ¡°that¡¯s enough!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart turned to ashes. ¡°in your eyes, i¡¯m just a substitute. the one you love is him, not me!¡± gu ci watched his retreating figure, feeling an ache in her heart. he must be so miserable. but how could she explain? she couldn¡¯t make this situation clear. li jiang witnessed their dispute and felt uncomfortable himself. he couldn¡¯t help but defend gu ci, ¡°third young master, it¡¯s a bit unfair to say that about miss gu ci. miss gu ci never takes the initiative to approach third master. their meetings are rare.¡± ¡°shut up!¡± lu zhiyuan was furious. ¡°if you¡¯re so keen on following his words, don¡¯t follow me anymore!¡± li jiang didn¡¯t know what to say. he was getting the brunt of lu zhiyuan¡¯s anger! third young master, i¡¯m just an innocent fish in the pond, suffering undeserved calamity. exhausted, gu ci returned home. lu zhiyuan was furious and resolute. how could she console him this time? gu ci also felt a sense of anxiety. she was certain that they were the same person. but what if she was wrong? did she really have to choose between the two? gu ci suppressed that thought. some thoughts were better left unexplored. the phone rang¡ªit was the delivery guy. ¡°miss gu, right? you didn¡¯t answer the phone yesterday. there¡¯s a package for you. please sign for it.¡± gu ci went downstairs to sign for the package. it was a small box wrapped in exquisite paper. she could sense that it was a birthday gift. she placed the gift on the shelf without opening it. substitute! lu zhiyuan, who would dare treat you as a substitute? you¡¯ve always been the moonlight in someone else¡¯s heart. she spent the night sleepless, utterly drained. finally, she fell into a heavy slumber. after confirming that gu ci was sound asleep, lu zhiyuan went to the hospital. gu ziyu was getting an infusion in the afternoon and had fallen asleep early. he was a light sleeper, so as soon as lu zhiyuan arrived, gu ziyu woke up. ¡°big brother?¡± gu ziyu rubbed his eyes, unaware of the blood transfusion, and asked in confusion, ¡°why are you here?¡± lu zhiyuan sat silently on a chair, staring at his young and innocent face. this was a face that combined the strengths of both him and gu ci. as he grew older, this face would inevitably bring disaster to the country and the people. if he were twenty-eight this year, he would surely have suspected gu ziyu¡¯s identity long ago. ¡°does it hurt?¡± lu zhiyuan asked about his wound. gu ziyu shook his head. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°if you¡¯re not tired, let¡¯s talk.¡± gu ziyu cautiously nodded. after all, he had previously believed that the nighttime father was a more calm and mysterious man. now that he knew this person had superpowers, he was a bit cautious. lu zhiyuan adjusted his son¡¯s bed to make him more comfortable. ¡°do you remember anything from before you lost consciousness?¡± gu ziyu thought of shaking his head and pretending to have amnesia. he was quite good at acting, but this move didn¡¯t work on third young master, and it certainly wouldn¡¯t work on third master. so, he nodded, ¡°i remember.¡± ¡°this matter must be kept a secret.¡± ¡°i won¡¯t do anything to harm you.¡± gu ziyu frowned, displeased. ¡°you don¡¯t need to warn me.¡± ¡°i know!¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t expect to have a six-year-old son. regardless of whether gu ziyu liked him or disliked him, he wouldn¡¯t do anything to harm him. lu zhiyuan explained with unusual difficulty, ¡°this is a reminder, not a warning.¡± ¡°sister knew early on that you had a split personality¡­¡± gu ziyu thought for a moment. ¡°you¡¯re not human. what exactly are you?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. in his son¡¯s eyes, he had become a ¡°thing¡±? ¡°you¡¯ve mentioned that your father passed away prematurely,¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°how did he die?¡± ¡°car accident!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t quite understand but answered honestly. lu zhiyuan remembered that day when he had taken gu ci for a joyride, the look of fear turning into despair in her eyes. even in the car, when her emotions escalated and she kissed him, he could feel gu ci losing control of her emotions. so, he had died in a car accident. a global racing champion, dying in a car accident¡ªhow ironic. no wonder she always reminded him to drive slower. gu ci could race, but she never drove fast. taking a deep breath, lu zhiyuan dispelled the heaviness in his heart. ¡°and your mother?¡± ¡°she¡¯s also dead!¡± gu ziyu maintained a consistent story. lu zhiyuan¡¯s hands, which had been resting on his knees, suddenly clenched. he asked calmly, albeit coldly, ¡°how did she die?¡± ¡°she committed suicide.¡± the air in the hospital room grew heavy, chilling to the bone. gu ziyu sensed the abnormal atmosphere. ¡°you seem indifferent to everything, so why are you so interested in my parents?¡± gu ziyu asked. lu zhiyuan stood up abruptly. ¡°rest, i¡¯m leaving!¡± watching his departing figure, gu ziyu¡¯s young mind was left with a big question mark. before you go, could you please adjust the bed? how am i supposed to sleep like this? gu ziyu took a deep breath. don¡¯t get upset, don¡¯t get upset! blood-related! gu ziyu spent a week recovering, with gu ci attending classes during the day and coming to be with him at night. he hadn¡¯t seen lu zhiyuan again. their paths hardly crossed. they practically lived in the hospital. lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t come to visit gu ziyu, but li jiang had visited once, saying that lu zhiyuan was on a business trip. li jiang brought a basket of fruit. li jiang was particularly fawning towards gu ziyu, showing concern and care. he was truly acting like a young master. gu ziyu was perplexed. ¡°mom, don¡¯t you think li jiang¡¯s behavior is a bit strange?¡± ¡°he knows who you are.¡± ¡°how does he know?¡± gu ziyu was surprised. gu ci recounted the blood transfusion incident. ¡°you were seriously injured a few days ago, so i didn¡¯t mention it, to keep you focused.¡± gu ziyu looked down silently. he suddenly understood why lu zhiyuan had come to ask about his parents¡¯ deaths. ¡°mom, one night, my father came and asked me how my parents died.¡± a moment of unease struck gu ci. ¡°what did you say?¡± ¡°i told him that my father died young and in a car accident, and my mother committed suicide.¡± gu ziyu and gu ci exchanged a glance. lu zhiyuan had introduced a time delay, asking for the outcome of the story and how it happened. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°mom, what should we do?¡± gu ci was also frustrated. no one was giving her any attention, and the situation was difficult to manage. ¡°well¡­¡± gu ziyu hesitated, ¡°do both of my dads know?¡± ¡°just one of them!¡± ¡°i understand!¡± the mother and son shared an unspoken understanding. many things were communicated through a shared intuition, and they no longer felt the need to ask. gu ziyu had a vague sense that his parents were having arguments, quite serious ones, but he was smart enough not to inquire. when it came to matters of the heart, he had no place to interfere. ¡°mom, i don¡¯t want to celebrate my birthday anymore,¡± gu ziyu said with a melancholic expression. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°i got stabbed on my birthday,¡± gu ziyu said with a worried tone. ¡°i might not be suited for celebrating birthdays.¡± gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°baby, if you¡¯re not celebrating, then mom won¡¯t celebrate either?¡± it suddenly dawned on gu ziyu¡ªgu ci and him shared the same birthday. ¡°i can choose not to celebrate, but mom can¡¯t..¡± Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: This Is My Boyfriend chapter 146: this is my boyfriend translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°every year on my birthday, i remember the time 1 was stabbed, and mom doesn¡¯t want to celebrate anymore.¡± ¡°mom, i want to celebrate again.¡± gu ziyu held her, feeling the pain his mother had endured. he had been stabbed, but it didn¡¯t hurt much. he was more concerned about the shaken gu ci. ¡°next year, my dear, i¡¯ll design a wonderful birthday for you to overwrite those unlucky memories.¡± ¡°okay.¡± gu ci playfully tapped his nose. ¡°i¡¯m looking forward to ziyu¡¯s surprise.¡± lu shijie was taken into custody, from his arrest to the trial and the death sentence, everything happened swiftly and secretly. jiang junlin anonymously provided all of lu shijie¡¯s criminal records to the court. they¡¯d originally expected a severe sentence, but lu shijie was directly sentenced to death. this matter was quite thought-provoking. kidnapping and attempted murder weren¡¯t typically punishable by death. jiang junlin followed the thread and discovered gu ziyu¡¯s secret identity. he looked at the investigation report his subordinates handed him. ¡°master, gu ziyu joined the national security agency and was secretly trained by chen liangdong.¡± the subordinate¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°he was the one who intercepted us during the national day period.¡± jiang junlin narrowed his eyes. in the investigation report, there were photos taken when gu ziyu¡¯s file was opened, and chen liangdong had specially tailored a little military uniform for him. chen liangdong¡¯s personal training indicated that gu ziyu was a talent equivalent to a national treasure and wouldn¡¯t be released to the public. ¡°so, it was ziyu who we were clashing with during this period.¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°this just got interesting.¡± xu tingting desperately wanted to see gu ci and gu ziyu, urging them to withdraw the lawsuit. she couldn¡¯t find them and even went to plead with lu ze. lu ze didn¡¯t expect lu shijie to reveal the whole story. the severity of the sentencing caught him off guard. even lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t intervene. lu ze had a keen sense of smell for trouble; he knew that things were more complex than they appeared. he wasn¡¯t a heartless father; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have continuously cleaned up lu shijie¡¯s messes. but this situation was beyond his control. a close judge friend of his said that the involvement of national security was reasonable in this case, and the fact that it didn¡¯t implicate the family was fortunate. ¡°this ungrateful child!¡± lu ze wiped away a tear. ¡°what on earth did he do!¡± he wanted to intervene, but he was warned. when he saw lu shijie in prison, he cried and begged for his life. it wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling for lu ze. no matter how much of a scoundrel lu shijie was, he was still his own son. but how could he save him? ¡°if i had known back then, why did it have to come to this!¡± lu ze¡¯s tears fell. ¡°shijie, it¡¯s dad¡¯s fault. i didn¡¯t raise you well and let you go astray, sinking deeper and deeper.¡± when lu shijie first made a mistake, he shouldn¡¯t have covered it up. lu zhiyuan¡¯s scolding was accurate: he cared for but didn¡¯t discipline his children. as a committed bachelor, he shouldn¡¯t have fathered a child out of wedlock. when xu tingting got pregnant, he shouldn¡¯t have yielded to his momentary weakness. and once the child was born, he shouldn¡¯t have neglected his responsibilities. lu ze regretted deeply, but it was irreparable. ¡°dad, i¡¯m your own son. are you just going to watch me die?¡± ¡°you dared to kidnap a child, attempted murder¡ªwhat else wouldn¡¯t you dare to do? i warned you a long time ago, don¡¯t break the law, but you ignored it.¡± lu ze had been sick recently, exhausted mentally and physically. ¡°in your next life, be a better person.¡± though he wished he could use his connections, he didn¡¯t want his son to die. even if he got a sentence of twenty years or life, at least he would still be alive. lu shixiu went through zhou jinjin to find gu ci. zhou jinjin ignored him. she hadn¡¯t told gu ci about this matter. ziyu had been stabbed, and gu ci was hurt as well. lu shijie was a scumbag through and through. he deserved it! ¡°jinjin, i¡¯m begging you. let gu ci and gu ziyu withdraw the lawsuit. we¡¯ll make big brother leave the country. he won¡¯t harm gu ci again. we promise he¡¯s learned his lesson.¡± lu shixiu blocked zhou jinjin at the entrance of the global sports center, his expression desperate. during the trial, both xu tingting and lu shixiu were present. family members were there too. lu shijie screamed for xu tingting to save him and went to beg lu ze and lu zhiyuan for help. he didn¡¯t want to die. even at the brink of death, he was terrified. zhou jinjin was being pestered, and she wasn¡¯t pleased. honestly, lu shixiu was different from lu shijie. he was soft-hearted, indecisive, lacking the courage to stand up for justice. he wasn¡¯t a backstabber or schemer, just an ordinary person who sought benefit and avoided harm. so, he chose qiao yamei and abandoned zhou jinjin. ¡°your brother broke the law. are you blind to the legal proceedings? the case has already been judged. what¡¯s the use of looking for gu ci and ziyu? he almost killed ziyu. why should ziyu forgive him?¡± ¡°he¡¯s my older brother. can i just watch him die?¡± lu shixiu was perplexed. he didn¡¯t understand why his life had suddenly turned into a mess. everything had been going well. his elder brother was the ceo of the lu corporation, and his mother was being praised at high society events. despite not being particularly accomplished, he led a carefree life. why had his sheltered life crumbled overnight? why was his pillar of support dying? ¡°i¡¯m powerless to help!¡± zhou jinjin didn¡¯t consider herself a saintly woman. she laughed off past hurts and even wished her ex well. her ex was like a blacklist entry, forever banned from appearing before her. the worse he fared, the better. ¡°i heard you broke up with qiao yamei?¡± zhou jinjin said with a smirk. ¡°congratulations on your breakup.¡± he had abandoned her for qiao yamei, but when he fell from grace, qiao yamei also kicked him aside. what goes around comes around. ¡°jinjin, are you jealous?¡± lu shixiu had a handsome appearance and had been admired since childhood, so he was confident. he was also zhou jinjin¡¯s first love. ¡°do you still love me? are you willing to help me?¡± he urgently held onto zhou jinjin¡¯s arm. ¡°if you¡¯re willing to help me, i¡¯m willing to go back to the past with you.¡± ¡°let go of me!¡± zhou jinjin laughed in exasperation. ¡°lu shixiu, are you kidding me?¡± lu shixiu was strong, and zhou jinjin couldn¡¯t break free. then a figure dashed over, pulled lu shixiu away, and stood in front of zhou jinjin. chen fei frowned. ¡°what are you doing?¡± chen fei looked serious and was a special forces soldier. lu shixiu almost lost his balance and stumbled. ¡°this is between my girlfriend and me. don¡¯t meddle.¡± ¡°girlfriend?¡± chen fei turned to look at zhou jinjin. ¡°he¡­ your boyfriend?¡± zhou jinjin smiled. ¡°ex-boyfriend!¡± chen fei said matter-of-factly, ¡°oh, since you¡¯ve broken up, you should show some grace and not bother her.¡± ¡°zhou jinjin, who is he?¡± lu shixiu asked dazedly. after dating qiao yamei, he had gradually realized zhou jinjin¡¯s virtues. qiao yamei was willful and extravagant, spending recklessly, frequenting bars, and indulging in a party lifestyle. recently, lu shixiu had been thinking more and more about zhou jinjin¡¯s virtues. he had wanted to get back together with her for a while now. in his heart, he was zhou jinjin¡¯s first love. he must be the man she couldn¡¯t forget. he couldn¡¯t accept that zhou jinjin had found a boyfriend so quickly. zhou jinjin knew him too well. she smiled and hooked her arm around chen fei¡¯s. ¡°this is my boyfriend, a true and stalwart soldier. lu shixiu, don¡¯t bother us. my boyfriend is quite capable in a fight..¡± Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: I’m Here to Visit chapter 147: i¡¯m here to visit translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen fei was caught off guard; he had initially wanted to break free from zhou jinjin. unexpectedly, she glared at him and fiercely twisted his waist. zhou jinjin watched the injured expression in lu shixiu¡¯s eyes with immense satisfaction. after their breakup, finding a man better than you and flaunting it in front of you, what a delightful script for her. she truly enjoyed it. lu shixiu walked away in a daze, while chen fei pushed zhou jinjin away and kept a distance of three meters. ¡°why did you lie again?¡± he asked. ¡°a harmless little lie, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± zhou jinjin shrugged her shoulders. she had taken to teasing men and was enjoying it. ¡°soldier brother, you can¡¯t be taking it seriously, can you?¡± chen fei straightforwardly shook his head. ¡°no!¡± zhou jinjin playfully ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°you, with that wooden expression, how could you possibly have a beautiful girlfriend like me?¡± zhou jinjin turned and arrogantly walked away in her high heels. chen fei touched his ear. ¡°oh!¡± gu ci found the incident of lu shixiu looking for jinjin quite amusing and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. with the death of lu shijie, the momentum of xu tingting and lu shixiu had waned, and there was nothing to fear. during gu ziyu¡¯s hospitalization, lin chunli and the elderly lady took turns preparing various dishes for him, taking care of him meticulously. as lin chunli had family matters to attend to, the couple went to her family home. jiang junlin was reluctant to have his grandparents frequently visit the hospital, so after briefing them on things, he brought a thermos with him to the hospital. gu ci was busy with classes and wasn¡¯t at the hospital. an arranged security team, organized by li jiang, was keeping an eye on him. gu ziyu was half-lying on the hospital bed, working on assignments. yes, even during his hospital stay, he continued attending online classes. his older brothers sent him video recordings of the lectures, and he spent his spare time studying, doing assignments, and reading research reports. the persona of the ¡°king of exams¡± remained unshaken. ¡°ziyu, will you recover well while you¡¯re here?¡± jiang junlin brought out a bowl of fish soup and offered it to him. the fish soup was thick and white, exuding a delightful aroma that made gu ziyu¡¯s mouth water. ¡°i¡¯ll be getting the stitches removed soon, and lying around is boring. this fish soup smells amazing.¡± gu ziyu licked his lips. ¡°i love the fish soup that grandma tai makes the most.¡± jiang junlin arched an eyebrow. gu ziyu often used a mix of terms to address him ¨C sometimes grandma tai, sometimes just grandma, mostly brother, and occasionally he¡¯d slip and call him uncle. gu ci explained that the child was too young and had grown up abroad, so he found it hard to differentiate between the terms. gu ziyu enjoyed the fish soup and responded, ¡°it¡¯s delicious!¡± he remembered jiang junlin¡¯s picky eating habits. ¡°if you don¡¯t drink fish soup, you¡¯re missing out on a great treat.¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°how do you know i don¡¯t drink fish soup?¡± ¡°sister said you¡¯re a picky eater and complained about it.¡± gu ziyu grinned. jiang junlin¡¯s fussiness went beyond simple pickiness; his eating habits bordered on eccentricity, and gu ziyu had never seen anyone so particular about food. ¡°cici¡¯s schedule is quite full these days. grandma said that once your stitches are removed, you should come stay at our house. they want to take care of you.¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ziyu had no objections. ¡°then i¡¯m in for a treat.¡± jiang junlin calmly peeled an apple. ¡°baby, with all these courses you¡¯re taking, can you handle it? national defense communication and engineering, computer engineering ¨C both are doctoral programs, and even one of them is quite demanding.¡± especially national defense communication and engineering. university a only admitted 150 students in their undergraduate program every year, the top 150 students from across the country. the doctoral program had only about twenty students in total. it was the first time jiang junlin had inquired about his studies, and gu ziyu didn¡¯t think too much of it. ¡°it¡¯s not too difficult. i studied management for my undergrad.¡± jiang junlin continued, ¡°how did you end up choosing a doctoral program? are you interested in pursuing a career in national defense?¡± gu ziyu hadn¡¯t intended to study this subject; it was chen liangdong¡¯s choice. originally, he wanted to study finance ¨C making money was his primary goal. sacrificing and dedicating himself to the country was not his mindset yet. however, he had been influenced by chen liangdong¡¯s passionate commitment to national security during this time, which resonated with something within him. parents who lead by example are the best teachers. ¡°mhm!¡± gu ziyu nodded firmly. after finishing the fish soup, jiang junlin placed the meal in front of him. ¡°that¡¯s great, ziyu has ambitious goals.¡± gu ziyu was a sensitive child. he noticed a slight change in jiang junlin¡¯s interest in his studies. why did his uncle suddenly become interested in his academic pursuits? he was studying so many subjects, yet jiang junlin specifically asked about national defense information engineering. ¡°brother, what did you major in during college?¡± ¡°economics and finance,¡± jiang junlin wiped his hands with a wet tissue. ¡°there are family interests in mining, so 1 had to go for the finance direction.¡± gu ziyu found his humor amusing and decided not to overthink it. it wasn¡¯t a good habit, he reminded himself. he should learn to trust his family wholeheartedly and avoid being suspicious. this was something he had been learning all along. he was someone whom even gu ci didn¡¯t fully believe in ¨C he only believed in himself. but when gu ci jumped off the eighth floor, holding him without any hesitation, he was deeply moved. if it weren¡¯t for his complete trust in lu zhiyuan, gu ci wouldn¡¯t have held onto him and jumped. trusting someone was difficult, but he needed to learn. he didn¡¯t want to be an island like he was in his past life, shutting everyone out. jiang junlin looked at gu ziyu thoughtfully and was about to inquire further when he caught a whiff of rose fragrance. he looked up and saw ji chi holding a large bunch of red roses at the door of the hospital room, looking incredibly elegant and beautiful. ¡°president jiang, what a coincidence to meet again.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s expression turned slightly cold. ¡°why are you here?¡± ¡°i¡¯m here to visit the patient.¡± ji chi entered, placing the roses to the side. he looked at gu ziyu with a warm smile. ¡°baby, why have you gained weight while recovering?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s expression remained neutral. ¡°are you here to visit or to annoy me?¡± ji chi chuckled and ruffled his hair. gu ziyu was used to his hands-on behavior, and he was too numb to protest further. jiang junlin observed their familiar interaction, finding it rather peculiar. ziyu was a sworn enemy of black hawk in national security, yet he had a close relationship with ji chi? ¡°ziyu, do you know him?¡± gu ziyu made up a story, ¡°he¡¯s my designer.¡± ji chi¡¯s gaze shamelessly roamed over jiang junlin¡¯s body, bold and fervent, like a hand caressing every inch of his body. ¡°president jiang, i can also be your exclusive designer, tailoring clothes for you.¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t mince words and exposed ji chi¡¯s identity. ¡°he¡¯s the vice president of black hawk¡¯s asian division, chen rushi¡¯s right-hand man. lu shijie was a dog raised by chen rushi, and now that this dog is useless, it¡¯s trying to save itself by kidnapping you.¡± gu ziyu wanted to put on a shocked expression, but when he looked up, he saw jiang junlin¡¯s icy gaze. ¡°ah¡­¡± ¡°it seems our baby knows everything,¡± jiang junlin looked at him with a seemingly smiling yet stern expression. ¡°i might have been overly cautious.¡± ji chi smiled playfully, ¡°president jiang, you¡¯re so fierce. you might scare our baby.¡± ¡°he¡¯s a member of my jiang family; he has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°that¡¯s not necessarily true. he¡¯s also our little young master here.¡± ji chi thought to himself, judging by lu zhiyuan¡¯s way of doing things, he would probably become their little young master sooner or later.. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148:I Want to Be a Good Good Person chapter 148:i want to be a good good person translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin narrowed his eyes in a precarious situation, what does it mean? chen rushi to cici, is his thieving heart still alive? ji chi settled into a chair, took an orange from the basket, and meticulously peeled it. jiang junlin watched his handsome and even fingers. ¡°lu shijie has been sentenced to death. why hasn¡¯t your master intervened? even when dealing with a dog, one should consider its owner. chen rushi is in city a, so why did he endure it?¡± ji chi broke off a piece of orange to eat. ¡°there are plenty of obedient dogs. a rabid dog is just that. if it bites back, it might get rabies. if it dies, no one cares.¡± ¡°chen rushi has always been methodical in his actions. even if he were to choose a dog to command, it shouldn¡¯t have been lu shijie. they¡¯re not of the same ilk.¡± jiang junlin had some understanding of chen rushi¡¯s reputation. he looked down on lu shijie¡¯s despicable methods. gu ziyu was also curious, nibbling on a rib while looking at ji chi. ji chi chuckled lightly. ¡°a man¡¯s heart is like a needle in the sea. who knows?¡± he took another bite of the orange. ¡°however, this time lu shijie went crazy and kidnapped the baby. it wasn¡¯t his plan. he likes miss gu ci and was still thinking about how to pursue her. he wouldn¡¯t do something like this.¡± ¡°he doesn¡¯t have much time left, but he¡¯s quite a dreamer.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s smile had a slight chill to it. what kind of men were attracted to his sister, and what sort of men did she attract? ¡°dreams don¡¯t cost anything. what if they come true?¡± ji chi looked at jiang junlin with a playful glint in his eyes. ¡°1 have dreams too. would chairman jiang be interested in hearing about them?¡± ¡°not interested.¡± ¡°that¡¯s a shame!¡± ji chi smiled, forming delicate dimples. ¡°you¡¯ve been eyeing my orange. do you want to eat it? i¡¯ll share half with you.¡± ¡°he doesn¡¯t eat oranges.¡± gu ziyu understood jiang junlin¡¯s eating habits quite well. jiang junlin turned his gaze away slightly embarrassed. ji chi¡¯s expression became subtle. he looked at jiang junlin with a half-smile, seemingly amused. ¡°so, chairman jiang doesn¡¯t like oranges?¡± gu ziyu raised his head from the rib, observed the situation, and sensibly realized that he had misspoken. ji chi held a piece of orange between his lips, a seductive and teasing gesture. ¡°oranges are so sweet. why doesn¡¯t chairman jiang like them?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s patience reached its limit. he stood up and left in a huff. ji chi watched his reddened ears with an even more pronounced smile, then turned to see gu ziyu¡¯s disapproving gaze. ji chi felt a slight sense of satisfaction. gu ziyu¡¯s attitude spoke volumes. logically speaking, given jiang junlin¡¯s close relationship with gu ci, gu ziyu should have been closer to jiang junlin. however, ji chi felt that gu ziyu was more amiable and familiar with him. it was clear they hadn¡¯t met many times. ¡°why do you keep provoking him?¡± ¡°he won¡¯t eat this or that. it¡¯s all habits.¡± ji chi clicked his tongue. ¡°a few days ago, he ate three oranges.¡± ¡°impossible!¡± oranges were clearly on the uncle¡¯s blacklist. ji chi had a mischievous look in his eyes, as if he thought of something. that was their little secret, and ji chi had no intention of sharing it with anyone. he smirked and asked, ¡°is the wound still hurting?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. ¡°it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. when did chen rushi leave?¡± ¡°he probably won¡¯t leave in the short term.¡± talking about serious matters, ji chi said, ¡°his heart condition fluctuates. he hopes dr. north will perform surgery on him, but dr. north refuses. they¡¯re still negotiating terms. i think dr. north is determined and won¡¯t treat him. he¡¯s consulted several expert teams, and only half of them guarantee success. he¡¯s not confident.¡± last life, chen rushi died on the operating table. gu ziyu also recalled it. when he infiltrated black hawk, chen rushi was already dead. he was essentially a cannon fodder-like existence, so gu ziyu didn¡¯t pay much attention to him. ¡°does dr. north have any weaknesses?¡± ¡°you hit the nail on the head. dr. north had a daughter when she was young, about nineteen now. it¡¯s said that she inherited chen geng¡¯s heart disease and dr. north let her die at birth. chen rushi has always felt that dr. north is heartless. she¡¯s been in city a for these years, so he suspects that dr. north brought her daughter to city a. there¡¯s no evidence yet.¡± ji chi wasn¡¯t interested in the chen family¡¯s trivial matters, and he wasn¡¯t here to investigate that. ¡°the people investigating the leads are idiots, focusing on the people around dr. north. if it were me, i¡¯d investigate why dr. north suddenly went to prison. that¡¯s the crucial lead.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. he wasn¡¯t aware of this matter, but his mother knew it best. ¡°maybe he¡¯s really dead.¡± ¡°besides chen rushi, no one else cares,¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°baby, lu shijie¡­ forget it. let¡¯s move on from this matter. you were needlessly implicated.¡± gu ziyu thought to himself that it wasn¡¯t exactly a baseless implication. his mother and he almost died, and it was indeed a great blow to his father. ¡°but when you joined national security, why didn¡¯t you tell me, baby?¡± ji chi lazily leaned back, looking at gu ziyu intently. the atmosphere suddenly became quiet and solemn. gu ziyu calmly put down his chopsticks, took a wet tissue to wipe his mouth, and said, ¡°this matter is a bit tricky. when brother jun was being chased, 1 used the domestic tracking system, and they noticed it. they later came knocking on my door. my sister thought being a civil servant was a good idea and supported me entering the system.¡± this wasn¡¯t exactly a lie! ji chi chuckled lightly. ¡°chen liangdong personally groomed you. you¡¯re not an ordinary civil servant. you¡¯re a national treasure-level talent. baby, are you planning to dedicate your life to the country or become a double-agent?¡± gu ziyu gaped. this question was incredibly straightforward. ¡°i want to be a good good person,¡± gu ziyu quoted a famous line from a movie or tv show. ji chi was speechless. gu ziyu and ji chi¡¯s gazes met, a mixture of sincerity, feigned innocence, and testing. ji chi asked, ¡°so, what about our agreement?¡± ¡°it counts!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°you want to seize power, and 1¡¯11 help you.¡± ¡°and then?¡± ji chi asked, ¡°will black hawk be at your disposal?¡± ¡°are you willing?¡± ¡°of course not!¡± his master was third master. ji chi said, ¡°black hawk group is a financial organization that operates legally and pays taxes honestly.¡± ¡°hah!¡± gu ziyu knew exactly what black hawk did when he controlled it in his previous life. ji chi saw through the sarcasm in gu ziyu¡¯s words, and his lips curled up. ¡°baby, what grudge do you hold against black hawk? what¡¯s the story?¡± ¡°does avenging my father¡¯s death count?¡± ji chi fell silent for a moment, then nodded. ¡°that¡¯s quite serious.¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°if that¡¯s the case, then i¡¯ll help you seize power and rise. we both win, and i¡¯ll find a way to achieve a win-win solution.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll be waiting to see that.¡± ji chi pinched his face before leaving. ¡°big brother, take care and rest well.¡± gu ziyu rubbed his temple. the sentencing for lu shijie was too severe, far beyond a typical kidnapping case. attempted murder would undoubtedly attract attention from all sides. everyone was smart, and it was expected that they would uncover his information. ¡°ji chi, 1 want to become a child that gu ci can be proud of,¡± gu ziyu shared his heartfelt thoughts before ji chi left. ¡°1 also want to show the old man that he didn¡¯t misjudge me..¡± Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: CEO Jiang, Have Some Elegance chapter 149: ceo jiang, have some elegance translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi encountered jiang junlin outside the hospital. the hospital was bustling with people, and the exit was slow-moving. as he was leaving, jiang junlin was queuing up in his car to exit the hospital. ji chi recognized his car. jiang junlin was a privileged young man nurtured by a scholarly family. for five generations, his ancestors were all literary scholars. from the patriarch and matriarch to him, they were all top students from prestigious institutions across the country. this upbringing imbued him with an air of refinement and restraint. his approach was much more low-key compared to the flamboyant and domineering second-generation rich in city a. he drove an inconspicuous black bulletproof off-road vehicle, the only flashy element being his license plate. as ji chi was about to leave while waiting for his ride, he lightly tapped on the car window. jiang junlin rolled down the window and looked at him. ¡°what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°mr. jiang, mind giving me a lift?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes curved mischievously. ¡°you didn¡¯t drive?¡± ¡°i took a taxi.¡± ji chi winked. jiang junlin took a deep breath, resisted the urge to say something, and passed by ji chi¡¯s sports car when leaving the hospital. among the sea of black and white cars in the underground parking lot, ji chi¡¯s bright orange sports car stood out conspicuously. as the car in front moved slowly, jiang junlin rolled up the window. ji chi smiled and walked around, effortlessly opened the car door, and jiang junlin hadn¡¯t locked it. he sat in the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt. inside jiang junlin¡¯s car, there was a scent of sandalwood. ji chi leaned back and jiang junlin asked, ¡°how do you know ziyu?¡± ¡°i¡¯m good with words, a master of lies,¡± ji chi shrugged and whistled. ¡°do you believe that?¡± jiang junlin took out his phone, scanned a qr code, made a payment, and left the hospital. ¡°ziyu joined national security, stop plotting against him.¡± ji chi remained silent, looking out the window at the passing scenery. if not for lu shijie¡¯s death sentence, he wouldn¡¯t have thought about investigating this matter yet. mainly because the domestic environment was rigid, no one would have expected chen liangdong to nurture gu ziyu. it was against the rules and the system. ji chi had been quite shocked when he received the information. ¡°it¡¯s quite unexpected,¡± ji chi said. ¡°from the moment he appeared, i was surprised. one day, while sunbathing at sea, 1 received a call from gu ziyu. he recognized me and wanted to help me rise in position. if he weren¡¯t gu ci¡¯s child, he¡¯d be a corpse by now.¡± he had reported this to lu zhiyuan right away. once lu zhiyuan took over the matter, ji chi didn¡¯t inquire further. ¡°does he have a grudge with black hawk?¡± jiang junlin asked. ji chi nodded, the tone suggesting there was indeed a grudge, a grudge that wouldn¡¯t end until one of them was dead. jiang junlin pondered for a moment. ji chi smiled, ¡°did mr. jiang invite me into the car just to ask about gu ziyu?¡± ¡°why else?¡± ji chi grinned mischievously, ¡°i thought you wanted some oranges.¡± jiang junlin pressed the accelerator, stopping the car on the overpass. he said coldly, ¡°get out!¡± ji chi hadn¡¯t expected him to lack manners like this. he spread his hands, ¡°are you sure?¡± this was an overpass; parking wasn¡¯t allowed. he abruptly stopped, and cars behind him started honking. ji chi smiled somewhat cryptically, ¡°the bridge is under surveillance, and mr. jiang¡¯s license plate is so conspicuous. if tonight¡¯s news broadcast features this video clip, it won¡¯t be good for anyone to see.¡± cars were piling up in a queue behind them. jiang junlin, not wanting to cause a traffic jam, had no choice but to drive forward. ji chi propped up his chin and chuckled. jiang junlin knew ji chi had been observing him all along. in the small car, all that could be heard was ji chi¡¯s captivating laughter, like a hook, tugging at someone¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°hua lan bank¡¯s president jiang junlin kicks black hawk¡¯s vice president off the car on an overpass. care to guess how much market value hualan bank and black hawk will lose?¡± jiang junlin remained silent. ji chi said, ¡°mr. jiang, a bit of grace wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± ji chi was someone who couldn¡¯t stay idle. he fiddled with his car¡¯s music, looking at jiang junlin¡¯s playlist. he had been listening to ancient-style songs lately, and two of them were collaborations between gu ci and zhou li. ¡°your taste in music seems to have changed quite a bit.¡± jiang junlin said lightly, ¡°year after year, change is inevitable.¡± ji chi nodded, then deleted jiang junlin¡¯s playlist. ¡°1 don¡¯t like it.¡± jiang junlin watched as ji chi downloaded a bunch of heavy metal rock music, his movements smooth and fluid. he didn¡¯t say anything. ji chi remarked, ¡°mr. jiang, as you grow older, you need some stimulating music.¡± after fiddling with his car¡¯s music, ji chi opened the compartment, seemingly looking for something new. jiang junlin was a clean person; there weren¡¯t many miscellaneous items in the car. ji chi appeared disappointed, flipping through a magazine in the compartment. it turned out to be a financial magazine, which he found uninteresting. ¡°uninteresting.¡± ¡°ji chi, you are lu zhiyuan¡¯s exclusive designer.¡± ji chi closed the magazine and put it back into the compartment in front of the passenger seat. he smiled and said, ¡°his battle attire, all designed by me, including the phoenix pattern on the racing car. does mr. jiang want to hire me as a designer?¡± his gaze once again boldly swept over him, as if shrouded in mist, thin and cold, yet teasing. ¡°mr. jiang¡¯s great physique is a feast for my eyes, free of charge.¡± jiang junlin was direct, ¡°you¡¯ve been expending too much energy on cici and ziyu for no apparent reason. it makes me wonder what the relationship between lu zhiyuan and you really is!¡± ji chi shrugged, ¡°designer and his troublesome wealthy client.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve looked into dragon phoenix tower¡¯s information.¡± jiang junlin stopped the car slowly at a red light. he braked gently and spoke, ¡°lu zhiyuan is dragon phoenix tower¡¯s sole distinguished client. your design style is famous even overseas; you¡¯ve held exhibitions and earned the favor of european royalty. countless princesses and queens who requested custom gowns from you were uninterested, but you¡¯re interested in lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°third young master is beautiful,¡± ji chi¡¯s tone dragged out with a hint of allure. ¡°1 like beautiful people. would mr. jiang be jealous?¡± jiang junlin sneered, ¡°the threshold for international luxury brands is extremely high. only princes and aristocrats, international superstars, can get custom gowns. lu zhiyuan is a world champion; you custom-design battle attire for him, yet it¡¯s not even publicized. unless someone thoroughly investigates, no one would know. that¡¯s quite intriguing. now, you¡¯re inexplicably getting close to gu ziyu and treating cici respectfully. you¡¯re not the type to warm up to someone at first sight. it¡¯s natural for me to be suspicious.¡± the light turned green, and jiang junlin moved forward again. ji chi¡¯s smile grew more pronounced. ¡°third young master looks like my short-lived lover. would mr. jiang believe that reason?¡± those words hit jiang junlin like a punch to his gut. he suddenly turned the steering wheel and stopped at the roadside, then unlocked the car, saying, ¡°get out!¡± the atmosphere between the two was like a looming storm, ready to shatter everything in its path. ji chi sneered coldly, unfastened his seatbelt crisply, got out of the car, and slammed the door shut.. Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Brother’s Suspicion chapter 150: brother¡¯s suspicion translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci absentmindedly attended her classes, searching for news about lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan led the imperial dynasty team to a closed-door training session in haicheng, preparing for the december competition. during the closed training, media visits and visits from family and friends were declined. since their argument that day, gu ci hadn¡¯t seen lu zhiyuan. since li jiang was in haicheng, lu zhiyuan must be there as well. gu ci was consumed by longing, desiring to employ her old tactics to see him once more, but her inner pride hindered her. ¡°recently, you seem quite preoccupied during class. is something on your mind?¡± after class, liu yu whispered, ¡°could it be lovesickness? lu zhiyuan went to haicheng for closed training.¡± gu ci chuckled softly, ¡°indeed, it¡¯s lovesickness.¡± he miaomiao and liu yu both smiled suggestively. he miaomiao said, ¡°campus romance is nice; you get to see each other every day.¡± after the main lecture, they all went together to dr. north¡¯s class. gu ci hadn¡¯t expected to see chen rushi in the classroom. her heart skipped a beat. why was he here at the school? chen rushi smiled warmly, ¡°cici, can i sit next to you?¡± gu ci furrowed her brows, held her book, and walked to the front row, closest to dr. north. chen rushi¡¯s request was declined, his gaze slightly chilly. with liu yu on one side and he miaomiao on the other, they sat beside her. he miaomiao turned to look at chen rushi seated at the end. ¡°who¡¯s he?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± gu ci¡¯s tone turned cold, and they didn¡¯t ask further. when dr. north entered the room, she glanced around, saw chen rushi, but didn¡¯t say anything. she lectured with a serene air, her class was engaging and comprehensible. she was attractive, had a good temperament, and her students loved listening, making her quite popular. gu ci was highly focused. little cherry was a student of defense information, untouched by dr. north. chen rushi¡¯s presence at the school might just be a coincidence; she shouldn¡¯t read too much into it. dr. north¡¯s expression remained calm, but her heart raced. chen rushi¡¯s appearance on campus weighed heavily on her, especially since her daughter was also at the school. and there was that one time when her daughter attended her class as an observer. this invisible pressure frightened dr. north, yet she managed to finish the lecture composedly. as the classmates gradually left, only gu ci, dr. north, and chen rushi remained. ¡°chen rushi, what are you trying to do?¡± dr. north frowned, ¡°this is a university campus; you should have some discretion.¡± ¡°are you nervous?¡± chen rushi asked with a light laugh. dr. north took a deep breath, unwilling to let him catch any hint. ¡°what exactly do you want to do?¡± ¡°if you won¡¯t operate on me, then i¡¯ll come to the school every day, attend your classes. i haven¡¯t been on campus for years; 1 quite miss it.¡± chen rushi¡¯s attitude was gentle. gu ci felt that his obsession ran deep, ¡°chen rushi, as long as you step onto the operating table, there¡¯s a risk. even a master can¡¯t guarantee a 100% success rate for a surgery. the human body is incredibly complex, and the heart¡¯s structure is even more delicate. no one can foresee unforeseen events during surgery. if you cling to the belief that a master can definitely save you, what if she can¡¯t? would she be buried with you?¡± chen rushi¡¯s thought process was indeed like this: if she couldn¡¯t save him, it would be intentional. after all, dr. north had a reputation of being unbeatable. ¡°he doesn¡¯t understand,¡± dr. north mocked, ¡°in his eyes, if i can¡¯t save him, it¡¯s intentional.¡± ¡°you killed my father, wasn¡¯t that intentional?¡± gu ci asked. dr. north was honest, ¡°that was indeed intentional.¡± gu ci fell silent. this conversation ended without much harmony. chen rushi¡¯s appearance had caused significant psychological pressure on dr. north. she became even more cautious, always on edge. this mental pressure was immense. due to the incident involving lu shijie, gu ci didn¡¯t have a pleasant expression when it came to chen rushi. after dr. north left, chen rushi wanted to invite gu ci to have a meal together, but gu ci declined. ¡°i still have to go to the hospital,¡± she said indifferently while looking at chen rushi. ¡°coercion and temptation will never win people¡¯s hearts.¡± a few days later, gu ziyu¡¯s stitches were ready to be removed. gu ci accompanied him for the removal and then brought him to the jiang family¡¯s residence. the elderly couple, mr. and mrs. jiang, were retired and dedicated themselves to caring for the children. gu ci felt reassured. after dinner, jiang junlin and gu ci took a stroll in the garden. jiang junlin asked, ¡°during the time when ziyu was injured, i didn¡¯t see lu zhiyuan. did you two have a falling out?¡± ¡°he¡¯s in closed training,¡± gu ci came up with a reason. ¡°he¡¯s the ceo of the global sports center; training is just his excuse,¡± jiang junlin found this reason unconvincing, especially considering his recent doubts about the relationship between ji chi and lu zhiyuan. gu ci sensitively noticed her brother¡¯s probing about lu zhiyuan. ¡°brother, do you have something to ask?¡± jiang junlin knew that in gu ci¡¯s heart, lu zhiyuan was like a bright moonlight. despite the hierarchy of relationships, clearly he was her older brother, while lu zhiyuan was an outsider, he could sense that gu ci felt closer to lu zhiyuan than to anyone else. he asked directly, but gu ci might not answer. ¡°ji chi and ziyu have grown quite close. i know ziyu joined the ministry of state security, and ji chi must know too,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°ji chi is associated with the black hawk group, and in a few years, he¡¯ll surely have a significant role there. why is he getting close to ziyu? with so many influential people globally, why did he become lu zhiyuan¡¯s exclusive designer?¡± because lu zhiyuan is his master! ¡°brother, when ji chi started his business, lu zhiyuan invested in him. the condition was that ji chi would design racing suits for him. he likes ji chi¡¯s design style,¡± gu ci explained. ¡°before he met lu zhiyuan, he lived a precarious life, facing danger every day. given his circumstances, he¡¯s very grateful to lu zhiyuan.¡± jiang junlin smiled faintly and shook his head. ¡°in the story of the farmer and the snake, ji chi would be the snake. how could he repay kindness?¡± gu ci remained silent. ¡°brother, why do you feel anxious about their relationship?¡± gu ci asked. jiang junlin was taken aback. was he anxious? gu ci also sensed her brother¡¯s emotions. it turned out he was anxious, and he himself wasn¡¯t aware of it. gu ci continued, ¡°brother, could it be that the cooperation between hualan bank and black hawk might change due to ji chi and lu zhiyuan¡¯s relationship? or perhaps, could your past conflicts with ji chi change because of his relationship with lu zhiyuan? if none of these are the case, why do you want to probe into the truth behind this matter? whether ji chi is a snake that will bite his master or a snake repaying kindness, it¡¯s all about him and lu zhiyuan. it has nothing to do with you.¡± jiang junlin stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky. ¡°i hope it¡¯s just my imagination.¡± gu ci felt remorseful too. the fact that lu zhiyuan was the master of black hawk, she hadn¡¯t even told ziyu, let alone anyone else. if she were to tell jiang junlin the truth, she¡¯d have to reveal lu zhiyuan¡¯s dual identity. apart from her and ziyu, she didn¡¯t want anyone else to know about lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity. ¡°brother, i¡¯m sorry. it¡¯s not that i don¡¯t trust you. it¡¯s just that i¡¯ve sensed that the fewer people who know about this, the better it is for lu zhiyuan. he¡¯s the master of black hawk, and i haven¡¯t even told ziyu.¡± lu zhiyuan being the global racing champion was public knowledge, but no one could fathom that he was the mastermind behind black hawk, involved in complex global affairs.. Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Humble Love chapter 151: humble love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi¡¯s seemingly groundless contact with lu zhiyuan would naturally raise suspicions. he is nominally lu zhiyuan¡¯s exclusive designer, but in reality, he serves as a very effective shield. gu ziyu had just recovered from a serious illness and was still weak. he climbed into bed early. ¡°mom, are you going back home?¡± in his heart, global was his true home. gu ci nodded. ¡°mom is busy with classes and won¡¯t stay here. they will take care of you. mom will come over every day to have dinner with you.¡± ¡°dad hasn¡¯t come back yet?¡± seeing gu ci¡¯s sad expression, gu ziyu felt a pang of sympathy. he didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. gu ziyu¡¯s understanding of relationships was still blank; he hadn¡¯t grasped the complexities of romantic entanglements. after putting ziyu to sleep, gu ci bid farewell to the jiang family and returned to the the global sports center. she looked at the messages on her phone that seemed to have vanished into thin air, her heart heavy. he had been angry for half a month¡ªhad his anger subsided? gu ci thought for a moment, then bought a plane ticket for friday night to fly to haicheng. zhou jinjin and several classmates were going camping and had invited gu ci. she declined and instead boarded the plane to haicheng, landing there at eleven in the evening. by the time she reached the hotel, it was already early morning. after a good night¡¯s sleep, when the sky was beginning to brighten, gu ci called lu zhiyuan, but there was no answer. after hanging up, she dialed li jiang¡¯s number. li jiang picked up. ¡°miss gu ci, is there something you need?¡± ¡°where is your training location?¡± ¡°third young master is currently training in haicheng and hasn¡¯t returned home yet.¡± ¡°i¡¯m in haicheng.¡± li jiang paused. he wished he could slap himself. he looked cautiously at lu zhiyuan, who was on speakerphone. lu zhiyuan heard everything clearly, but his expression remained unchanged. gu ci asked, ¡°where is the training location?¡± li jiang forced a smile. ¡°miss gu ci, do you need something from third young master?¡± gu ci said expressionlessly, ¡°tell your third young master that i¡¯m pregnant!¡± *pfft!!* lu zhiyuan was having breakfast and sprayed his milk everywhere. the phone screen was almost ruined. gu ci heard the commotion clearly and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°should we keep the child? we should at least ask the child¡¯s father.¡± lu zhiyuan hung up the phone abruptly. li jiang looked at lu zhiyuan¡¯s furious expression and nearly lost his balance, almost falling to his knees. ¡°third young master, i swear this is slander, absolute slander. third master cannot possibly have any relations with miss gu ci¡­¡± a teacup shattered in the living room. the phrase ¡°go to bed¡± was dancing on li jiang¡¯s lips but never made it out. ¡°do you follow him around lu zhiyuan raged. veins stood out on his forehead. ¡°how do you know what they did at night?¡± lu zhiyuan hated that he didn¡¯t have third master¡¯s memories! these days, he had been miserable. he was in haicheng for training, young and full of energy, enduring intensified exercises, expending his surplus strength every day. he feared he might act impulsively and do something irreparable. gu ci loved third master, a fact that drove him crazy! years of unrequited love had become a joke. they both had the same face, so why did gu ci love third master and not him? this irrational thought gnawed at his heart like a snake bite. jealousy transformed him, and he couldn¡¯t control his malicious thoughts. he wanted to kill third master. this body could only have one owner! ¡°third young master, do you want to meet miss gu ci?¡± ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan was afraid he might lose control and do something terrifying. he started rewing the car engine aggressively. the weather in haicheng is changeable. in the afternoon, a dark cloud brought gloomy rain. the drizzling autumn rain accompanied by cold wind chilled people to the bone. outdoor car racing had to be replaced with indoor training. lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood matched the weather¡¯s gloominess. li jiang rushed over, his face anxious. ¡°third young master, miss gu ci is waiting for you. 1 tried to persuade her, but she won¡¯t leave!¡± ¡°who told her?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned, sweat dripping into his eyes. he seemed like a dormant beast, brimming with aggression. ¡°third young master, miss gu ci came on her own.¡± li jiang lamented, ¡°our training base is public information.¡± ¡°let her do as she pleases!¡± li jiang wanted to persuade further, but lu zhiyuan glared at him, causing li jiang to step aside. lu zhiyuan was doing pull-ups, his core muscles incredibly strong. sweat dripped from his hair down to his neck, soaking his t-shirt. after half an hour of pull-ups, he moved on to weight training, lifting iron, releasing his energy limitlessly. li jiang felt exhausted just watching, but lu zhiyuan seemed unfazed. li jiang glanced at the increasingly dense drizzle outside, his cold sweat dripping down. two hours later. ¡°did she leave?¡± lu zhiyuan asked coldly. ¡°third young master, miss gu ci stood in the rain for three hours.¡± waited an hour for you and then endured your two-hour training. this fine rain is chilling; her bones might be frostbitten. lu zhiyuan was taken aback. ¡°why didn¡¯t you say that earlier?¡± ¡°i¡­ i¡­ i did say it!¡± a gust of wind blew by, and li jiang saw lu zhiyuan running outside. he slapped his forehead. oh right, he had said miss gu ci was waiting, but he hadn¡¯t mentioned she was waiting in the rain. he had been careless. not thorough enough! haicheng¡¯s autumn was truly cold and dreary. gu ci stood in the rain, feeling the cold wind penetrating her bones. she had a slight tendency for self-infliction. she could have stood under the eaves, but she chose to remain in the rain. she recalled the rainy night from her previous life when she had promised to marry lu zhiyuan. in truth, she had never understood why lu zhiyuan wanted to marry her. even after marriage, while she could sense his affection, she never dared to confirm it. therefore, lu zhiyuan never said he liked her or loved her, and she never dared to express her feelings. ultimately, she didn¡¯t believe that lu zhiyuan could actually like her. to like someone like her, broken and plain. gu ci grew up with both parents, yet she felt like an orphan. her father wasn¡¯t affectionate, her mother wasn¡¯t loving. she tried desperately to please everyone, only to be rejected by all. no one loved her. to like her? she didn¡¯t dare to think about it! Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Where? chapter 152: where? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in order to gain her parents¡¯ attention, gu ci had a slight tendency for self-infliction since childhood. she would hurt herself, hoping her parents would come to care for her. but they never did. later on, her self-infliction turned into fights with her sister, gu chuyun. every time she fought with gu chuyun, it would at least capture the attention of her stepmother, lu man, and her stepfather, gu wenliang. it made them realize that there was another daughter at home besides gu chuyun. from childhood to adulthood, gu ci never learned how to love herself. so when lu zhiyuan proposed, she thought of it as giving up on herself. ¡°whatever, he can have me. i¡¯m already like a walking corpse.¡± if he wanted her, he could take her. afterward, whenever she angered lu zhiyuan, she would habitually resort to self-infliction. in her consciousness, the ¡°suffering strategy¡± was more effective than the ¡°beauty strategy.¡± if she used the ¡°beauty strategy,¡± lu zhiyuan might not be affected, but the ¡°suffering strategy¡± always worked. she had a slight tendency for self-infliction, and when lu zhiyuan approached, she would raise the white flag. when lu zhiyuan ran toward her, gu ci¡¯s eyes lit up. amidst the misty rain, his silhouette appeared vague, yet she recognized him in an instant. the cold wind that numbed her bones gained sensation. her pale world suddenly had color. ¡°lu zhiyuan¡­¡± raindrops wet his hair and shoulders. lu zhiyuan pulled her along, talcing her under the eaves to shield her from the continuous autumn rain. he looked at her, angry and frustrated, in her disheveled state. ¡°you¡­¡± his anger rendered him speechless, leaving only a pair of furious eyes locked on her. this had been the case since childhood! she never knew how to cherish herself. whenever she wanted to catch someone¡¯s attention, she would inflict injuries upon herself first. yet she never understood that people who didn¡¯t care for her wouldn¡¯t mind, even if she shed blood and tears. last time, gu yaozu¡¯s beating gave her a concussion. today, standing in the rain, she caught lu zhiyuan¡¯s attention. his heart ached from her provocations, as if he had a heart condition. ¡°have you calmed down?¡± gu ci innocently asked, her eyes also misty like the rain, deeply piercing his heart. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t ignore me.¡± lu zhiyuan pulled her back to their suite at the training base, turned on the heater, and filled the bathtub with warm water. he looked at gu ci coldly. ¡°go take a hot bath.¡± gu ci stood still. water droplets fell from her clothes onto the floor, pooling into a dark patch at her feet. lu zhiyuan swept her into his arms horizontally and placed her in the bathtub. the warm water enveloped her limbs, and steam clouded her vision. unable to bear her gaze, lu zhiyuan stood up to leave, but gu ci grabbed his wrist. her long hair spread over the water, her clothes clinging to her delicate body. her eyes were moist, and she looked at him without speaking. gu ci knew precisely how to manipulate lu zhiyuan. he gave in, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, but he refused to look at her. when lu zhiyuan snapped back to reality, gu ci¡¯s top was already torn by him, revealing her round and fair shoulder, bearing the bite mark he had left. lu zhiyuan¡¯s breathing grew heavy. he leaned against her shoulder, grinding his teeth against the bite mark as if he wanted to brand her with his own mark. lu zhiyuan suddenly stiffened. the water, already cool, seemed to scorch his eyes. he raised his head to gaze into gu ci¡¯s eyes, seeing a strong desire deep within. young as they were, they couldn¡¯t control their physical temptations. ¡°what are you saying?¡± ¡°i like you, and i¡¯m yours.¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes held only him. ¡°do whatever you want with me, just as you wish.¡± this was an overt suggestion. she only fell short of undressing in front of him. however, this half-revealed, half-concealed appearance was even more tantalizing. lu zhiyuan suddenly lowered his head and bit her shoulder. lu zhiyuan roughly grabbed a bathrobe, wrapped her in it, and placed her in bed, covering her legs with the duvet, exposing only gu ci¡¯s face. he stood up and went to the kitchen to make ginger water. he spoke in a rough voice, ¡°drink this!¡± gu ci held the steaming ginger water and drank it in one go. the warmth traveled from her throat to her heart. she placed the cup down and quietly looked at him, obediently complying. lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°once the rain stops, you can leave!¡± ¡°i won¡¯t leave!¡± gu ci had finally seen him after so long. how could she leave? she knew that if she left, she would be walking into a dead end. ¡°didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re pregnant?¡± lu zhiyuan stared at her face. ¡°how many months? where are you planning to give birth? what hospital? what name? do you want a boy or a girl?¡± gu ci hesitated, her ears reddening. ¡°can i get pregnant now?¡± lu zhiyuan stared at her incredulously. gu ci whispered, ¡°there¡¯s still time.¡± ¡°guci!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s fury subsided, replaced by a cold calmness. he didn¡¯t really believe she was pregnant. his anger wasn¡¯t related to her being pregnant; it was a kind of painful longing he couldn¡¯t attain. it¡¯s the despair of being unable to control one¡¯s own body! through the covers, gu ci hugged him, her hands resting on his shoulders, her voice softer than her body. ¡°third brother, i had a nightmare. i dreamt¡­ i was lying in a pool of blood, a knife stuck in my chest. would you kill me?¡± lu zhiyuan stiffened all over, roughly pushing her away. gu ci fell onto the soft blanket. lu zhiyuan strode out of the room. once he left, the look of weakness and grievance vanished from gu ci¡¯s face, replaced by an air of calmness. she glanced at her watch. it was already five-thirty. third master was about to go online. li jiang brought her a set of clean clothes and hot takeout, leaving them at the door without entering. gu ci changed into the clothes but had little appetite. she asked li jiang, ¡°where¡¯s third master?¡± ¡°he¡¯s in an important meeting,¡± li jiang said. ¡°he¡¯ll come to see you later.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci reluctantly believed li jiang. she opened the window; they were on the third floor, not too high or too low. the courtyard was beautifully landscaped, and after the rain, there was a refreshing scent in the air. gu ci tilted her head, gazing at the night. if lu zhiyuan were to stay away from her like this, what should she do? Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Let’s Be Good Alone chapter 153: let¡¯s be good alone translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when lu zhiyuan arrived, he glanced at the takeout on the table. gu ci remained motionless. she sat by the window, listening to a violin rendition of a calming tune. upon seeing him, gu ci turned off the music. ¡°let¡¯s go home!¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°forgetting us is like reliving a lifetime, don¡¯t walk down the old path again.¡± ¡°is it your intention or his?¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter!¡± lu zhiyuan replied. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you¡¯re not curious at all about why there¡¯s a ziyu?¡± lu zhiyuan gazed calmly at her, ¡°i don¡¯t care about what the future holds. 1 only care about the present. you and i are strangers, and you and him have also reached a break.¡± gu ci seemed like an empty puppet, the pain making it hard to breathe. everything she had struggled so hard to uphold seemed like a joke. suddenly, she burst into laughter, her eyes slightly red. ¡°third master, don¡¯t regret it!¡± lu zhiyuan saw the sadness in gu ci¡¯s eyes, and he also caught a glimpse of the fleeting madness. clenching his fists, he said, ¡°gu ci, forgive yourself. a forcibly twisted melon is not sweet.¡± she walked up to him, looking into his eyes. ¡°lu zhiyuan, did you ever like me?¡± lu zhiyuan averted his gaze, but gu ci grabbed his wrist. she was stubborn, almost frantic. ¡°look into my eyes and tell me!¡± ¡°never!¡± lu zhiyuan said in a hoarse voice, looking down at her as gu ci wished. gu ci let go of his hand and took a step back. since she was young, she valued her self-esteem more than life itself. in two lifetimes, she had only lowered her head for lu zhiyuan. the two fell silent, moonlight after the rain stretched between them like a shallow ditch. ¡°gu ci, goodnight!¡± lu zhiyuan said. he turned and left the room. gu ci watched his departing figure, a storm gathering in her eyes. is a twisted melon truly not sweet? if you don¡¯t take a bite after twisting it, how would you know if it¡¯s sweet or not! gu ci couldn¡¯t sleep. like the third master, she suffered from insomnia, though milder. when she had something on her mind, nightmares came easily. the dreams were all about heartbreak from her past life. those memories tormented her body and soul at night. after her rebirth, her thoughts were all about reuniting her family. she changed her own fate and changed lu zhiyuan¡¯s fate too. even landlord¡¯s second young master had died, and gu chuyun posed no more threat. she had thought everything would fall into place, even if lu zhiyuan had two souls within him. she stubbornly treated him as a single person, in her eyes, he was clearly just one person. she obstinately wanted things to be as she wished. never did she expect that lu zhiyuan would reject her, wanting no connection with her, even when he knew that ziyu was his son. the family reunion she had desired shattered. all her beliefs were shattered by lu zhiyuan. early the next day, gu ci stopped lu zhiyuan on his way to training. in the morning light, lu zhiyuan wore a black sportswear set. youthful and energetic, bathed in the morning glow, he embodied the best appearance of a young man. gu ci imprinted this scene in her mind. lu zhiyuan had always been her light, yet she was merely a speck of dust, leaving no trace as the wind blew past. ¡°lu zhiyuan, last night 1 met with the third master,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°he said forcibly twisted melons are not sweet. he never liked me, and he doesn¡¯t want any connection with me.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression was a mix of anger and restraint. gu ci asked, ¡°and you?¡± ¡°what?¡± gu ci chuckled softly, ¡°do you also hope that 1 stay away from you and become strangers again?¡± lu zhiyuan felt anxious and irritated. why was he left to deal with the aftermath of what the third master had done? gu ci looked tired, unable to hide the dark circles under her eyes. the third master¡¯s words must have hurt her deeply. if it didn¡¯t hurt, why would she look so worn out? the person she liked was indeed the third master, not him. ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s jealousy drove him almost to madness. ¡°gu ci, let¡¯s each find our own peace!¡± ¡°fine!¡± gu ci said with reddened eyes. ¡°as you wish!¡± after returning to city a, gu ci took ziyu to look at houses. ziyu had recovered well after the stitches were removed. as long as he didn¡¯t engage in vigorous activities, he was fine. she had her eye on three communities, all near university a. it was a five-minute walk to school from each of them. however, the school district houses were too small. ziyu wanted a spacious study room, and she wanted a laboratory for herself as well. among the villa areas, there were no properties listed for sale. after looking for a while, gu ci didn¡¯t find any suitable houses. ziyu watched gu ci, who was deeply engrossed in house hunting, and he felt quite anxious. when jiang junlin learned that she was looking for a house, he took her to see the only villa community near the school, blue field villas. gu ci said, ¡°i asked the agent, there are no properties listed here.¡± ¡°good properties don¡¯t need to be listed,¡± jiang junlin took her and ziyu to see a villa. it was situated by an artificial lake, with a floor area of 500 square meters. it was a two-story small western-style building with a garden of 200 square meters. going out from the villa¡¯s side gate, it took an eight-minute walk to reach the school. not too far, not too close, just the right distance. the house had a modern design with warm tones. it was newly decorated and had never been lived in. jiang junlin said, ¡°1 have a client who¡¯s going abroad. the property is vacant, and i thought since you and ziyu will be studying at university a for a few years, 1 bought this house from him. the house is mortgaged with our bank, but the paperwork isn¡¯t done yet. if you like it, we can transfer the ownership directly to you.¡± gu ci quite liked this small villa. the warm color scheme and the decoration style suited her taste. ¡°does ziyu like it?¡± ¡°as long as big sister likes it.¡± gu ci nodded. ¡°alright, let¡¯s move then!¡± ziyu and jiang junlin were both taken aback. jiang junlin was surprised. he had thought gu ci was looking for a house near the school for occasional use. he hadn¡¯t expected her to move out of global. ¡°did you break up?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°we never dated, so we can¡¯t break up.¡± although gu ci and jiang junlin hadn¡¯t spent much time together, he was adept at reading people. gu ci was a bit stubborn. once she made up her mind, she wouldn¡¯t turn back until she hit a wall. a heart that was truly hurt like that was hard to heal. jiang junlin went to make the arrangements, and gu ci asked ziyu, ¡°if i divorce your father, who do you choose?¡± ¡°mom!¡± ziyu firmly chose gu ci, though he felt anxious inside. he often felt that his father was too domineering, always trying to compete for the top spot in gu ci¡¯s heart. but if mom¡¯s heart was truly hurt and she didn¡¯t want to be with dad anymore, ziyu felt really uneasy. he wanted to be the number one in mom¡¯s heart, but that didn¡¯t mean his parents had to divorce. gu ci touched ziyu¡¯s face with a somewhat sad expression. ¡°ziyu, mom wants to give you a complete family, but mom can¡¯t do it anymore. mom is too hurt.¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay!¡± ziyu hugged her waist and patted her gently. ¡°ziyu is the pillar of mom¡¯s world. as long as ziyu is here, mom will have a home.¡± gu ci was someone who took action. she purchased the house in full, and the transfer could be done at any time. the paperwork was completed in just a day. gu ci found a moving company, and with the help of a dozen people, they moved out within two hours. in the same amount of time, their new home was also well arranged.. Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Lovelorn chapter 154: lovelorn translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when li jiang received the news, gu ci and ziyu had already moved to their new home. li jiang¡¯s scalp tingled, and he hurriedly reported to lu zhiyuan. upon hearing this, lu zhiyuan fell into a long silence. ¡°let it be.¡± li jiang felt like crying without tears. third master, with miss gu ci gone, no one can cure your insomnia. as gu ziyu looked at the study in their new home, arranged exactly the same as their previous one, he felt restless. what was dad up to? why did mom want to move? the calmer gu ci¡¯s expression, the less gu ziyu dared to ask. the previous apartment was spacious, but this was a villa with a wide second floor. gu ci had her own walk-in closet, and gu ziyu¡¯s study was also 100 square meters, quite spacious. the first floor had guest rooms and maid¡¯s quarters. the basement had two levels with high ceilings. gu ci turned the basement¡¯s guest reception area into her own study and laboratory. the garden was even larger, featuring a private swimming pool. the neighborhood also had a hot spring pool. gu ci placed an order, buying rose and rose seedlings, decorating her small garden. she cleared another plot of land to grow vegetables. with gu ziyu still recovering from his injuries, he continued to stay at the jiang residence. so, for the time being, gu ci lived alone in their new house. she hadn¡¯t found a suitable live-in maid yet, so she let ziyu return to the jiang residence temporarily. the jiang family had heard that gu ci suddenly moved out of the previous apartment. they had an inkling that things weren¡¯t well between her and lu zhiyuan. the elderly members of the jiang family felt heartache, but they didn¡¯t dare to ask. gu ci and jiang junlin were so alike that they both hesitated to ask her directly. they would ask gu ziyu in a roundabout way. at the jiang residence, gu ziyu presented himself as an affable person, which made people like him. ¡°cici is so pretty, but she never managed to catch lu zhiyuan. could he be interested in someone else?¡± jiang junlin asked indirectly. gu ziyu thought, he dares! if dad betrays mom i¡¯ll make him regret it! ¡°is she upset?¡± jiang junlin inquired. gu ziyu thought about gu ci¡¯s calm demeanor and shook his head. ¡°she seems pretty calm.¡± it was the calm before the storm. mom couldn¡¯t be indifferent, and she couldn¡¯t just cut ties with dad like that. gu ziyu remembered gu ci¡¯s craziness in her past life. maybe mom wanted to turn the basement into a prison and lock up dad. hmm, quite a dramatic thought. but saying it out loud might damage mom¡¯s reputation. better not! ¡°junlin, why don¡¯t you ask her? she must be feeling down these days. it might be better if she comes to stay at our place for a while. being around people could lift her spirits. otherwise, she might feel too isolated,¡± jiang minghua suggested while looking at his son, who was constantly glued to his phone. irritated, he added, ¡°are you in love or something? you¡¯re always glued to your phone.¡± jiang junlin pressed a button, and the screen went dark. he calmly said, ¡°you¡¯re making a big deal out of this. cici might not be as heartbroken as you think. she probably wants some alone time. we should avoid bothering her, and she¡¯ll be fine after a while.¡± ¡°how can we let her be alone when she¡¯s going through a breakup?¡± the elderly patriarch sighed. ¡°what if she can¡¯t handle it?¡± gu ziyu pondered in secret. as long as dad¡¯s alive, mom won¡¯t do anything drastic. after her classes, gu ci would tend to her small garden. she bought blue jacaranda, climbing roses, and rose seedlings. she also planted a cherry tree, bitter gourd, watermelon, pumpkin, lettuce, and scallions, among other things. on one side, there were flowers, and on the other side, vegetables. she was having a great time tending to them. some of the flowers and plants had medicinal uses, and she also planted mosquito-repelling herbs. gu ci hired someone to manage the swimming pool and garden. with specialists looking after them, she didn¡¯t need to worry. wiping sweat from her brow, she admired her handiwork. when the growing season arrived, her garden and vegetable patch would look splendid. with a large plot of land, she planned to cultivate more areas for planting. ¡°cici, did you move?¡± chen rushi¡¯s voice came from beyond the fence. gu ci looked up and saw chen rushi walking his border collie. she was surprised to see her there, and chen rushi seemed equally surprised. in her heart, gu ci thought, what bad luck! ¡°what a coincidence! you live in this community too?¡± chen rushi smiled lightly, holding back his enthusiastic border collie. ¡°yes, i just moved here. 1 don¡¯t like living in apartments, but who knew we would end up in the same neighborhood?¡± they had moved here around the same time. pointing at the small villa in front of gu ci, chen rushi said, ¡°that¡¯s my house.¡± there were more than twenty villas in this area, similar in layout and design. the place was quite spacious, resembling a small park. considering its proximity to the country¡¯s top-ranked university, the land was valuable, and villas were rarely put up for sale. only people like jiang junlin and chen rushi could easily buy property here. gu ci lowered her head and watered her vegetable garden, declining conversation. chen rushi asked with a smile, ¡°you were living at lu zhiyuan¡¯s place, enjoying a comfortable life. why did you move out?¡± ¡°i felt like a guest. it just wasn¡¯t comfortable.¡± in the evening sun, gu ci¡¯s face was flushed from her labor, resembling a ripe peach. chen rushi¡¯s throat seemed to tighten slightly, and she looked at gu ci with a smile that was not quite a smile. this girl in front of him, from her appearance to her temperament, matched his aesthetic preferences perfectly. ¡°mr. chen, is there something you need?¡± ¡°cici, about the incident with lavis, 1 was impulsive. i apologize to you.¡± when chen rushi had kidnapped her, he hadn¡¯t intended to harm her. he had thought that even if the girl got angry, she could be appeased with some jewelry or precious metals. chen rushi had witnessed how chen geng would woo and deceive young girls. these naive and innocent girls were easily fooled. gu ci wiped off the sweat and took a sip of water. ¡°chen rushi, i don¡¯t know you well, and the best way for you to apologize is to disappear from my sight.¡± chen rushi chuckled lightly. ¡°back then, cici, you promised that 1 could pursue you.¡± ¡°your business shouldn¡¯t bother me.¡± gu ci frowned. ¡°chen rushi, you¡¯ve probably pursued many women before¡ªthose bold ones who wanted to attach themselves to you, those who pestered you persistently. how did you handle those women who were clingy and desperate for your attention?¡± chen rushi¡¯s expression changed slightly. gu ci¡¯s words were sharp and merciless, tearing apart the facade of warmth he had carefully crafted. ¡°i¡¯ll take a guess. if you have a bit of compassion, you¡¯ll advise them not to harbor unrealistic hopes and that your interest is just physical. if you get tired of them and they still don¡¯t get the hint, you either send someone to warn them or deal with them directly. in any case, they won¡¯t cross your path again.¡± gu ci stared at him coldly. ¡°you¡¯ve been pestering me, thinking i¡¯m just a naive girl with no power or influence. you¡¯re like a hunter, treating me as prey, toying with me in your spare time. you say you like me with your mouth, but your attitude is disdainful. if 1 were on equal footing with you and could get rid of you, chen rushi, would you still dare to show up at my doorstep with your dog?¡± chen rushi¡¯s face was as cold as the autumn wind. ¡°cici, you¡¯re venting your anger on me. i¡¯m a sincere pursuer. just because you¡¯re feeling aggrieved from lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t mean you can take it out on me.¡± ¡°is it venting, or is it the truth? you know better than anyone.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore. she entered the house and closed the door. the security system in her home was personally designed by gu ziyu. while it wasn¡¯t fully perfected, it was already functional. zhou li¡¯s confession would have made gu ci feel tender and kind, but chen rushi¡¯s interest only caused her discomfort and antipathy. she didn¡¯t deny that she had a biased perspective.. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Dad, Let’s Meet chapter 155: dad, let¡¯s meet translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen rushi has always had a purpose in approaching her. he has even kidnapped her before. he supported lu shijie in seizing the lu family¡¯s business empire. after the failure, lu shijie almost killed gu ziyu. from any perspective, it¡¯s hard for gu ci to feel any fondness for chen rushi. the night was deep and dark. after taking a shower, gu ci changed into a sterile gown and went to the basement to conduct dissection experiments on frogs and small mice. her progress was faster than her peers. dr. north also provided private lessons, and gu ci had been practicing her dissection skills. the doorbell rang, and gu ci glanced at the visible tv screen. it was ji chi. she removed her gloves and took off the sterile gown, then came out to meet ji chi. he was holding a small gift box. ¡°miss gu ci, this is a housewarming gift from mr. chen.¡± ¡°take it back!¡± gu ci¡¯s expression turned slightly cold. ¡°1 don¡¯t want anything from him.¡± ji chi said, ¡°i¡¯ve checked it. it¡¯s a set of bone china cups, very clean. if you don¡¯t accept it, he will persistently send you gifts, and the things he sends in the future might not be clean.¡± gu ci asked with sincerity, ¡°what if 1 throw this set of things at his doorstep?¡± ji chi chuckled, revealing a delicate dimple. ¡°the person who threw away his gift in the past out of arrogance ended up having their family visit their graves every year. if miss gu ci wants to throw it, you can. if he gets angry, at most, the identity of third master will be exposed.¡± his words were straightforward, yet not entirely direct. they were neither blunt nor vague. it was a cunning angle, and gu ci took a deep breath, feeling as if someone had touched a sensitive spot. ¡°you are truly loyal to lu zhiyuan,¡± gu ci lightly mocked, but she couldn¡¯t be angry at ji chi. if it weren¡¯t for ji chi¡¯s protection in her past life, ziyu would have had a more difficult time. ¡°a life debt deserves to be repaid with a gushing spring.¡± ji chi said half seriously, half playfully. ¡°miss gu ci, will you accept this gift?¡± before gu ci could answer, a car slowly approached. ji chi saw the familiar license plate and raised an eyebrow. jiang junlin had come to deliver hairy crabs and some seafood to gu ci, but he didn¡¯t expect to see ji chi at gu ci¡¯s doorstep, holding a gift box. the gentle light illuminated the handsome young man in white clothes and black pants, making him stand out. when he stood beside gu ci, they looked like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven, combining both beauty and talent. ¡°ji chi, what are you doing?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s anger was barely concealed. ¡°i¡¯m giving a gift!¡± there was a hint of playfulness in ji chi¡¯s icy gaze as he smiled. ¡°i¡¯m here to congratulate cici on her housewarming.¡± gu ci almost sputtered. you called me miss gu ci from the moment we met, why did you change your address all of a sudden? jiang junlin walked over with big strides, his expression stern. ¡°if there¡¯s anything cici needs, i¡¯ll naturally buy it. take your things back.¡± gu ci thought that if ji chi really took the gift back, chen rushi¡¯s stubbornness would likely lead to him sending it again. the next gift might not be clean, so she accepted it. ¡°i happen to need a bone china set.¡± jiang junlin bit his tongue. the three of them formed a triangle, and jiang junlin looked calmly at gu ci and then at ji chi. the atmosphere grew quite delicate. ¡°brother, this was sent by chen rushi.¡± ji chi asked with a half-smile, ¡°did president jiang think it was from me?¡± ¡°since the gift has arrived, there¡¯s no need to linger.¡± jiang junlin issued a dismissal, and ji chi leaned in, getting closer to him. ¡°president jiang, would you like to grab a late-night snack together?¡± ¡°i¡¯m busy!¡± ¡°that¡¯s a pity.¡± ji chi said leisurely, ¡°i have some business to discuss with president jiang.¡± ji chi left with a light laugh, and jiang junlin watched his retreating figure, lost in thought. ¡°why did chen rushi send the gift through him?¡± ¡°1 scolded chen rushi this afternoon.¡± ji chi said he had checked, and gu ci placed the gift box on the shelf. ¡°brother, why did you come?¡± jiang junlin took a box of hairy crabs from the trunk, along with a box of seafood and another box of fruits, including cherries, kiwi fruits, and blueberries, among others. ¡°today, a business partner sent me some hairy crabs and fruits to my home. i have a dinner event tonight, so i thought i¡¯d bring these along on my way,¡± he explained. he helped gu ci carry the items into her home. ¡°i can¡¯t possibly eat this much alone.¡± ¡°take your time,¡± jiang junlin looked around. gu ci lived alone here, which made the place a bit cold. she valued her personal space and wouldn¡¯t agree to live at the jiang family¡¯s place. ¡°since chen rushi is around, i¡¯m concerned. i¡¯ll have a security team come over tomorrow.¡± ¡°brother, it¡¯s not necessary!¡± gu ci said. ¡°he won¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°that¡¯s true!¡± jiang junlin smirked. ¡°his heart condition is hard to treat. i doubt he¡¯ll live much longer.¡± gu ci stayed silent. is the matter of chen rushi¡¯s heart condition already widely known? ¡°the matter of chen rushi¡¯s heart condition is highly confidential. he¡¯s been keeping it under wraps to prevent leaks. how did brother know?¡± gu ci was curious, was it something ji chi mentioned? jiang junlin pulled out a wet wipe and cleaned his hands. ¡°i¡¯ve heard about it. keep your distance from him as much as possible. if you need security, let me know.¡± ¡°alright!¡± jiang junlin had another dinner event and didn¡¯t stay at gu ci¡¯s home for long. lu zhiyuan returned to city a late at night. the top floor of the global sports center was quiet, without a sound. it became even quieter after li jiang went downstairs. he stood on the balcony, looking at the night. in the past, he used to hear the sound of gu ci playing the violin during the night. lu zhiyuan went downstairs, turned on the lights, and found that gu ci was methodical. after moving, she had cleaned everything thoroughly. anything that didn¡¯t belong to her remained untouched. after moving, this floor was cleaned as if no one had ever lived here. it was cold and desolate. even the flowers on the balcony were gone. gu ci had left swiftly. it had been seven days since she moved out, and they hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word, nor had they made a phone call. she shuttled between school and home, while he trained and worked. his footsteps almost entirely avoided a university. the probability of them meeting by chance was nearly zero. perhaps, after her move, they would never see each other again. lu zhiyuan turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. he was accustomed to darkness and solitude. his phone rang. it was a call from gu ziyu. ¡°dad, let¡¯s meet.¡± ¡°where are you?¡± lu zhiyuan arrived at the agreed-upon location, a barbecue stall near university a. when he got there, gu ziyu had already ordered a heap of beef and lamb skewers. he had also opened a bottle of cola and was eating with great satisfaction. the elegantly groomed young man and the lively barbecue stall seemed out of place together, but they somehow fused in an odd harmony. lu zhiyuan sat opposite him, watching him eat heartily. ¡°grandma serves fish soup and bone broth every day. my mouth has gone bland.¡± gu ziyu was enjoying his barbecue and cola, looking as happy as a deity. ¡°how¡¯s your wound?¡± ¡°it¡¯s healed!¡± gu ziyu asked, ¡°dad, are you eating?¡± lu zhiyuan looked down on the environment of the barbecue stall and didn¡¯t start eating. he waited for gu ziyu to finish eating, then said, ¡°i¡¯ve moved to the blue field villa with mom. i¡¯ll continue attending classes next week.¡± ¡°having a biological son at twenty, why aren¡¯t you surprised by the unexpected turn of events?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°is it because you don¡¯t want it, or because you¡¯ve seen it all and nothing surprises you?¡± ¡°why did you approach me? what do you want to say?¡± lu zhiyuan asked.. Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: A True Father and a Filial Son chapter 156: a true father and a filial son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after having his fill, gu ziyu looked at lu zhiyuan and said, ¡°dad, whether you love me or not, whether you want me or not, i don¡¯t care. after all, you died before 1 was even born. to be precise, i hate you.¡± lu zhiyuan listened quietly. ¡°it¡¯s because of your rotten love affairs that mom and i are living in hell, being trampled upon.¡± gu ziyu smiled, feeling a slight pang in his heart. he took a deep breath and refrained from mentioning the events of the past life. ¡°but mom is different. she loves you so much, and 1 won¡¯t allow anyone to hurt her, even if it¡¯s you.¡± lu zhiyuan opened a bottle of cold cola. he was an athlete and rarely drank carbonated beverages, but the cold liquid brought a refreshing chill as it flowed down his throat. ¡°gu ziyu, are you doing well here?¡± ¡°very well!¡± gu ziyu replied. ¡°it¡¯s like paradise.¡± ¡°that¡¯s good then!¡± lu zhiyuan said cryptically. ¡°don¡¯t dwell on the past, and don¡¯t worry about the future. treasure the present.¡± gu ziyu understood. ¡°so, you won¡¯t continue your relationship with mom, and you¡¯re leaving us?¡± ¡°i never truly had a relationship to continue, so how can i leave?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cool and controlled. ¡°you and she both want a family, something i can¡¯t provide.¡± ¡°mom would be heartbroken. you don¡¯t care, do you?¡± lu zhiyuan fell silent, an answer in itself. gu ziyu felt a stab in his heart, genuinely surprised to find that he could feel pain ¨C not acting, but real, tangible pain. ¡°you don¡¯t love us. can you give us the lu zhiyuan who loves us?¡± gu ziyu asked ruthlessly. ¡°we want him.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°gu ziyu, you¡¯re going to be disappointed. 1 am the master of this body, and the person you want doesn¡¯t exist.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes reddened slightly. ¡°if that¡¯s the case, why did you marry mom in the first place? why did you have me? i¡¯d rather never be born than bring mom suffering.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know either!¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes. ¡°some things, i can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± gu ziyu narrowed his eyes. lu zhiyuan snapped back, his tone subdued. ¡°nothing, ziyu. if you don¡¯t want her to get hurt anymore, advise her to give up on me, to stay away from me.¡± gu ziyu laughed. ¡°so, if mom looks for someone else, that¡¯s okay?¡± lu zhiyuan gripped the cola bottle, slightly distorting its shape, then released it. he nodded. ¡°yes.¡± gu ziyu chuckled again. ¡°i understand. i¡¯ll find a better match for mom. anyway, you don¡¯t care whether we have a son or not, and i don¡¯t care about having a different dad!¡± with that, gu ziyu left in a huff. lu zhiyuan watched the child¡¯s small figure, his expression calm. he got up and walked in the opposite direction. the owner hurriedly chased after him. ¡°wait, you haven¡¯t paid yet.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled, paid via qr code, and left. when gu ziyu returned to the blue field villa, gu ci was in the basement conducting experiments. while lu zhiyuan¡¯s way to unwind was racing, gu ziyu¡¯s was causing mischief online. in less than half an hour, he broke through black hawk¡¯s firewall and paralyzed their internal network. as he continued his attack, black hawk¡¯s counterattack ensued. they quickly repaired their security systems, leaving gu ziyu with no choice but to give up. black hawk: why¡¯s nezha causing havoc? gu ziyu: so you know about nezha causing havoc. turns out we¡¯re all descendants of the huaxia, so why pretend to be foreigners? black hawk: i¡¯ve never claimed to be a foreigner. gu ziyu: i¡¯m in a bad mood and want to blow up the internet. black hawk: why are you feeling down? gu ziyu: my dad died! lu zhiyuan fell silent for a few seconds. black hawk: my condolences. gu ziyu: you don¡¯t understand how i feel. it¡¯s like a dream you¡¯ve had since childhood ¨C happiness, joy ¨C and one day it finally comes true, only to suddenly wake up from it. destined to lose. why give me hope? what right does he have not to want me and mom? lu zhiyuan read gu ziyu¡¯s words. he could imagine the irritated expression on the boy¡¯s face. this child was becoming more vibrant, far from the masked smile he wore when they first met. now he could laugh, get angry, and vent his feelings. gu ziyu also longed for a family. from his words, lu zhiyuan could sense his sadness. gu ziyu: 1¡¯11 find someone, break his legs, imprison him. what do you think? black hawk: truly filial. gu ziyu: break his legs, put him in a wheelchair. he can¡¯t run or jump anymore. he¡¯ll need assistance to eat and use the bathroom. besides being by mom¡¯s side, he won¡¯t go anywhere else. i¡¯ll take good care of him, be dutiful. he¡¯ll have all his needs met. isn¡¯t that beautiful? lu zhiyuan pondered in secret, wondering what experiences this child had gone through from a young age to have such twisted thoughts. gu ziyu: 1 have a friend who did exactly that. black hawk: core socialist values ¨C filial piety, fatherly love and son¡¯s obedience. gu ziyu looked at the three book links and frowned. gu ziyu: we¡¯re similar in some ways. i thought you would understand me. black hawk: i can¡¯t understand that. after all, the person you want to break the legs of is me! gu ziyu: heh, if you had someone you loved but couldn¡¯t have, wouldn¡¯t you wish to tie them up, keep them at home forever? black hawk: 1 wouldn¡¯t! gu ziyu clicked his tongue. what do you mean you wouldn¡¯t? even though he and black hawk were archenemies, they were definitely similar. black hawk: for the one i love, i hope she stays far from me, safe and sound year after year, free from disasters and difficulties. gu ziyu furrowed his brows, about to reply, when the other party disconnected the line, leaving a message that they had to go. after talking to black hawk, gu ziyu¡¯s mood improved slightly, but he still felt a sense of unease. he walked out of the study and stood by the railing, able to see gu ci on the lower level working on her paper. gu ci looked up at him and smiled. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°mom, would you like some fruit juice?¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ziyu went downstairs, squeezed some juice, and brought it to gu ci. her desk was covered in literature and research materials, and the bookshelf behind her was filled with medical-related books. gu ci sipped cherry juice and looked at gu ziyu¡¯s hesitating eyes. ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°mom, don¡¯t you love dad anymore?¡± he didn¡¯t fully understand romantic love between men and women, nor did he have a crush on anyone. to gu ziyu, treating a stranger as someone special was something he would never do. gu ci knew he was a mature child and also longed for a reunited family. ¡°i do love him. that¡¯s something that won¡¯t change in this lifetime.¡± gu ci had a heart-to-heart talk with gu ziyu. ¡°but mom has thought about a time when he wasn¡¯t there.¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci ruffled his hair. ¡°do you know why you¡¯re named ziyu?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. gu ci explained, ¡°when we were kids, lu zhiyuan and 1 liked to role-play. i¡¯d be the bride, and he¡¯d be the groom. during those times, we discussed what we¡¯d name our children. he said if it¡¯s a boy, it should be lu ziyu, and if it¡¯s a girl, it should be lu zihua. so, when i had you, i named you ziyu. we were only four years old at the time. he was a part of my life from childhood. even though we had a falling out later on, he still left a significant mark. except for those five years he spent in prison, he was never absent from my life. and even after his death, i sometimes imagined starting anew ¨C making sure to cherish him properly. it became an obsession, my inner demon. i never envisaged a life without him..¡± Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Entanglement of Love and Hate chapter 157: entanglement of love and hate translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu gazed quietly at her, gu ci took another sip of cherry juice, her eyes slightly dimmed.111 regarded him as the most important person in this lifetime. i never thought he would reject me. in my heart, he¡¯s a ray of light in my life, while i¡¯m just a speck of dust, barely noticeable when the wind blows. i don¡¯t want this emotion to become cheap. chen rushi pursued me relentlessly, and i felt disgust and irritation. 1 don¡¯t want a day to come when i become like chen rushi in lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart.¡± third young master doesn¡¯t believe she loves him, firmly convinced that she¡¯s fond of third master. third master wants no involvement with her. this is a confusing situation. after gu ci¡¯s rebirth, her attachment is deep, and she¡¯s stuck in a passive role. so, she needs a period of calm to seriously consider her relationship with lu zhiyuan. gu ziyu understood. he whispered, ¡°mom, no matter what decision you make, ziyu will be by your side, always your support.¡± ¡°okay, mom will forever have baby as her support.¡± after gu ziyu went upstairs, gu ci lightly tapped on the table. letting go of lu zhiyuan? gu ci sneered. how could that be possible! she would never let him off in her lifetime. even if it¡¯s painful, she¡¯ll drag him down with her. compared to the pain, she can¡¯t bear lu zhiyuan not loving her. what gu ci can¡¯t accept even more is lu zhiyuan leaving her. after the mother and son moved to the blue field villa, life became regular. they went to school together, returned together, and their world was confined to school and home. when zhou jinjin learned of gu ci¡¯s move, she stayed with her for a few days at the villa. worried that gu ci might be sad, but she was stable emotionally, living a disciplined life. so, zhou j in jin left, purchasing an apartment near the school. the apartment was 150 square meters, a duplex, it was more than enough for one person. gu ci and zhou jinjin were best friends. zhou jinjin initially wanted to move in with her, but considering lu zhiyuan¡¯s relationship with gu ci, it wouldn¡¯t be convenient. gu ci is very particular about boundaries, and she¡¯s financially capable. she¡¯s now a major internet celebrity, doing live broadcasts for products, and has achieved great success. she bought a house, decorated it herself, living independently, which is quite good. adults, everyone wants their independent space. after zhou jin jin bought the apartment, she invited classmates to warm the place up. gu ci also went. she didn¡¯t like such a lively atmosphere and didn¡¯t want outsiders invading her private space. ¡°chen rushi lives in the same community as you?¡±¡® dr. north asked in slight surprise upon hearing this. ¡°was it intentional?¡± ¡°it¡¯s a coincidence,¡± gu ci had ziyu check, and it was indeed coincidental. both moved at different times. if it was intentional, chen rushi would have had quite the influence. ¡°is he still trying to contact you?¡± ¡°he¡¯s changed his strategy.1¡® dr. north smirked. ¡°he realized that threats and temptations weren¡¯t working. he¡¯s playing the emotional card now. his illness can¡¯t be ignored either. in the m country¡¯s chen family, he¡¯s the only direct descendant of his generation. although there are many relatives in the extended family, they emphasize royal heritage, and those from the extended family are well-trained, capable, and ambitious. if chen rushi¡¯s health is good, they won¡¯t dare do anything. but if he falls, internal conflicts in the chen family will intensify. so, chen rushi can¡¯t afford any accidents.¡± gu ziyu had evening classes. gu ci left school earlier and walked out with dr. north. she invited him for dinner at home. gu ci asked, ¡°master, what¡¯s the success rate of his surgery?¡¯1 ¡°eighty percent. he¡¯s young, the condition was caught early, and he doesn¡¯t have any underlying illnesses. the chances of recovery are quite high.¡± gu ci understood that, for dr. north, chen rushi¡¯s illness wasn¡¯t difficult to treat. ¡°because of chen geng, you don¡¯t want to save him?¡± gu ci curiously asked, never having delved into this part of her past. ¡°when chen rushi was born, 1 held him. i was twelve that year, just arrived at the chen family, full of hope, considering chen geng my benefactor and chen rushi like a little brother. medical school was demanding, yeti would take chen rushi out to play every week. we had a great brother-sister relationship.¡± dr. north chuckled, ¡°he was like a little brother i raised. later, when i pursued my ph d. and he started elementary school, our bond remained strong. 1 even secretly told him about my first crush. it lasted until i discovered chen geng¡¯s secret. he¡¯s truly twisted, liking teenage girls because they make him feel youthful, energetic. it¡¯s as if sleeping with them would grant him eternal life. it¡¯s utter nonsense, but he did it nonetheless. those teenage girls died in his hands, one after another. after 1 uncovered his secret, 1 also became one of those girls. once¡­ chen rushi caught us, he¡¯s truly chen geng¡¯s son, inheriting his coldness, ruthlessness. when 1 cried for help, he shut the door. i begged him to let me escape secretly. once, he softened and helped me escape when chen geng wasn¡¯t home. 1 fled with a group of girls into the forest. if we crossed it, we could reach the police station and report. but the forest turned into a hunting ground. chen geng and chen rushi hunted us down in the forest, heartlessly killing us as we desperately ran. they laughed while shooting arrows. it turned out to be a game between father and son. i¡¯ll never forget the smile on chen rushi¡¯s face, he was only eleven that year.¡± she had always considered him her dearest little brother, but who would have thought that the brother she raised would let her go, just to participate in a hunting game. she looked at those girls, each falling to the ground, staining the forest red. ¡°this is karma, cici!¡± dr. north laughed lightly, carrying an air of elegance and a relaxed demeanor. there was no trace of the darkest years in her past. ¡°i understand,¡± gu ci thought to herself. if it were her, she wouldn¡¯t save him either. just like if lu shijie had a heart condition, and she was the only one who could save him, she wouldn¡¯t. rescuing a venomous snake might backfire, right? ¡°he¡¯s rather pitiable too,¡± dr. north said, ¡°chen geng isn¡¯t a kind father. he tormented others, including his own son. but no matter what, this branch of the chen family¡­ should end, shouldn¡¯t it? stop causing harm to others.¡± the two entered the blue field villa and coincidentally encountered chen rushi walking his border collie. the dog seemed quite intelligent as if it knew its owner liked gu ci, always strolling around near her house. ¡°miss north, it seems he really likes cici.¡± chen rushi, in front of dr. north, had been acting somewhat subservient recently, with a beaming smile. it was unclear if gu ci¡¯s words had prompted this change, but his attitude was much better. dr. north chuckled, ¡°she¡¯s my student, so of course we have a good relationship!¡± gu ci and he exchanged nods, a kind of acknowledgment. as they reached the doorstep, they noticed another gift placed there. gu ci furrowed her brows, leaving the items chen rushi had given her on the shelf outside the door, not bringing them inside. ¡°is this from chen rushi?¡± Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: The Doctor’s Injured Hands chapter 158: the doctor¡¯s injured hands translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci nodded. apart from the porcelain that ji chi talked about, she didn¡¯t take anything else into the house. she would return the rest untouched, and chen rushi would patiently send another batch over. dr. north¡¯ cooking skills were quite impressive. she cooked herself and, after ziyu¡¯s evening class, he was picked up by chen liangdong. dr. north noticed that gu ci was massaging her wrist again and asked her, ¡°do you have nerve pain in your wrist?¡± gu ci was taken aback, smiled, and said, ¡°yes, it¡¯s an old problem.¡± ¡°have you had any x-rays done?¡± ¡°yes, i have, and everything is normal,¡± gu ci replied. ¡°it¡¯s just some conditioned reflex hidden pain, nothing serious.¡± ¡°cici, you¡¯ll be using surgical instruments with those hands. if you have nerve-related trembling, you must treat it,¡± dr. north said sternly. ¡°a surgeon¡¯s hands cannot have any issues.¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ci understood very well. in fact, her hand pain had been quite minor recently, almost unnoticeable. she was close to overcoming the psychological barrier. iler hands had no physical injury; there was just some psychological hindrance. after the meal, dr. north and gu ci discussed several recent international medical cases. they watched videos, analyzed surgical plans, and there was one failed case. dr. north taught on the spot, and when ziyu returned, he didn¡¯t disturb them downstairs. gu ci focused on her surgery, often neglecting sleep and food. when she finally snapped out of it, it was already early morning. ziyu had fallen asleep, and after tidying up, gu ci went to sleep as well. early the next morning, she woke up at six and went out for a run. this had become her habit since she came to the blue field villa¡ªmorning runs to keep her body in shape. she plugged in her earphones and listened to the news. unfortunately, she stumbled upon news about fl racing, and the name lu zhiyuan was an indelible part of racing history. these three syllables were like an allergen for gu ci. currently, she was undergoing desensitization therapy, but this allergen was poking at her nerves, causing her pain and discomfort. gu ci switched to music, no longer listening to the news. during her run, she ran into chen rushi walking his border collie. the border collie was particularly energetic and needed walks both in the morning and evening. chen rushi had quite the patience for the dog, walking it personally every day. gu ci greeted him and continued running. the autumn mist was thin, slightly cool. a young man wearing a cap ran past gu ci, his hands in his pockets, his face unclear. there were quite a few people running at this time of the morning. when gu ci circled back for another lap, she saw the man again. he was approaching chen rushi. the man lifted his head, revealing a pair of chilling eyes. just as she found it strange, the man suddenly drew a knife and lunged at chen rushi, who was walking his dog. ¡°watch out!¡± gu ci instinctively shouted. chen rushi agilely dodged the blade. the attacker¡¯s attempt was exposed, and the knife wildly stabbed toward chen rushi. gu ci kicked it out of his hand. the man picked up the weapon and fled the compound. chen rushi was still in shock. he grabbed his phone, alerted security to intercept the man, and suddenly clutched his chest. he bent over in pain. gu ci frowned, ¡°chen rushi, are you alright?¡± chen rushi collapsed to the ground, his face turning purple. he was having a heart attack. gu ci quickly crouched down, interlocking her hands on his chest, and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him. a security team member rushed over and urgently dialed emergency services. seeing his excessively pale face, gu ci realized he was in critical condition. she grabbed his hand, asked for a knife from the security personnel, and pressed several acupoints on his arm. then, she used the knife to pierce those acupoints, allowing dark-red blood to flow out. chen rushi¡¯s complexion improved slightly, and he regained a bit of clarity, coming back from unconsciousness. ¡°thank you, cici!¡± chen rushi rasped. he was exhausted, still feeling chest pain. gu ci said calmly, ¡°it¡¯s nothing, just a small effort.¡± saving lives was instinctive for her, a natural response as a medical practitioner. having narrowly escaped death, though he still felt pressure and intense pain in his heart, the punctured acupoints on his arm made him feel remarkably better. blood stained his arm from the punctures, but he felt like he could breathe easier. chen rushi felt deep gratitude toward gu ci for saving his life in such a critical moment. after the ambulance arrived, security personnel helped chen rushi into the ambulance, and gu ci returned home. upon arriving at the school, gu ci talked to dr. north about the incident with a hint of regret, ¡°1 shouldn¡¯t have saved him.¡± dr. north chuckled, ¡°1 have quite a complicated history with chen rushi. you don¡¯t have deep conflicts with him, and he¡¯s been pursuing you. saving him is just your instinctive reaction. we study medicine to save lives, there¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡± ¡°but if he dies, you won¡¯t have any lingering worries.¡± dr. north said, ¡°life is unpredictable. who¡¯s to say his condition will lead to death? cici, no matter what, it¡¯s not wrong to save a life. don¡¯t dwell on it.¡± dr. north had morning classes and was walking to the classroom with gu ci. suddenly, a security vehicle rushed onto the campus, quickly putting dr. north into the car. gu ci recognized it as chen rushi¡¯s security vehicle. ¡°master!¡± dr. north said, ¡°it¡¯s okay, cici, go to your class!¡± she only managed to say this much before the car door closed. ¡°chen rushi is really out of control!¡± gu ci felt uneasy. the situation between chen rushi and dr. north had been complicated for some time. both of their patience seemed to be running thin. she hoped nothing bad would happen. gu ci checked the ambulance¡ªit was from the central hospital. she called the hospital director and asked him to keep an eye on chen rushi and dr. north, notifying her immediately if anything happened. during her class, gu ci¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t focused. dr. north¡¯s assistant had taken a leave for her, and while the assistant was teaching, gu ci¡¯s notes were a mess. she was waiting for news from the hospital director. after a major class ended, there was still no news from the hospital. gu ci finally felt a bit relieved. there shouldn¡¯t be anything serious. but her eyelid kept twitching. gu ci had a keen sensitivity to these kinds of feelings. before her next class, she received a call from the hospital director. ¡°doctor gu, there¡¯s been an incident.¡± when gu ci arrived at the hospital, to her surprise, she saw lu zhiyuan. in the morning light, he was wearing a black tracksuit, and on his wrist was the same couple bracelet that she had. it contrasted against his fair wrist, exuding a seductive aura. the wolf head necklace was hidden beneath his tracksuit, out of sight. it had been nearly half a month since they parted ways in haicheng, and gu ci hadn¡¯t seen lu zhiyuan during that time. he had lost some weight, making his features even more prominent. the lines of an athlete¡¯s body were still beautifully and alluringly defined. seeing him, gu ci still felt her heart race, a mix of emotions flooding in. she missed lu zhiyuan so much that it was driving her mad, yet she also feared meeting him, afraid of hearing his heartless words. lu zhiyuan noticed gu ci. his gaze deepened slightly as he caught sight of the bracelet on her wrist. he discreetly pulled down his sleeve to cover the bracelet. ¡°director, what happened?¡± the hospital director explained, ¡°chen rushi injured dr. north¡¯s hand.¡± gu ci was shocked. she wondered what kind of injury it was, considering dr. north¡¯s warning to her about the preciousness of a surgeon¡¯s hands. lu zhiyuan had also come to the hospital due to this incident. the central hospital was under the umbrella of the lu family¡¯s conglomerate. since lu ze was still recuperating, these matters were entrusted to lu zhiyuan. originally, he didn¡¯t want to be involved, but since dr. north was gu ci¡¯s mentor, he decided to personally make the trip.. Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Karma Cycle chapter 159: karma cycle translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after dr. north had finished the examination for chen rushi, the two of them had a conversation whose details remained unknown. all that was heard was a scream from dr. north. when the medical staff entered the room, they discovered a surgical knife embedded in the back of dr. north¡¯s right hand, piercing straight through her palm. the surgical knife had directly penetrated through her palm, leaving her white coat dotted with blood, resembling a crime scene. this incident sent shockwaves through the entire department. dr. north¡¯s hands were the most precious asset in the field of cardiac surgery. now, a surgical knife was pinned to the table through her hand. despite the cold sweat on her face, she looked at chen rushi with a warm smile. ¡°chen rushi, accept your fate!¡± dr. north said, ¡°ever since chen geng, i¡¯ve detested being manipulated by others the most.¡± unable to hold a surgical knife, she would be useless to him. by killing her, little cherry would be safe. dr. north had ultimately broken this stalemate. as long as chen rushi needed her for surgery, she wouldn¡¯t let her go. if one day they traced it back to little cherry, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose. chen rushi erupted in anger, ¡°you¡­¡± luckily, they were in the hospital, so chen rushi contained his temper. he had suffered a heart attack earlier in the morning, which had triggered his underlying sadistic tendencies and left him feeling anxious. the sensation of narrowly escaping death wasn¡¯t pleasant. eventually, he ran out of patience to contend with dr. north and reached a point of desperation. gu ci¡¯s eyes swam when she saw the surgical knife piercing through dr. north¡¯s hand. dr. north¡¯s face turned pale, beads of cold sweat forming. she also noticed the shock and pain in gu ci¡¯s eyes, prompting her to smile, ¡°with the dust settling, 1 can finally breathe.¡± after her hand had healed, she wouldn¡¯t be able to lift heavy objects anymore, and she would never hold a surgical knife again. ¡°master¡­¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes reddened slightly. this scene was too reminiscent of the day her right hand had been crippled years ago. she could feel the pain of a surgeon losing the use of their hand more acutely than anyone else. ¡°it¡¯s alright,¡± dr. north lightly chuckled. ¡°without the ability to use a surgical knife, i can contribute through academia and teaching, which is also fulfilling.¡± the hospital arranged a surgery room for dr. north. lu zhiyuan looked at the redness in gu ci¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°let¡¯s call the police!¡± since this incident happened in the hospital, it could be considered an accident. dr. north raised her hand, ¡°third young master, this is a private feud. i won¡¯t pursue it, no need to involve the police.¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows. dr. north¡¯s hand had been crippled by chen rushi, and she was letting it go so easily? dr. north said, ¡°it¡¯s settled!¡± dr. north was taken to the operating room. gu ci seethed with anger, wanting to confront chen rushi and settle the score. she wanted to kill him. lu zhiyuan grabbed her wrist, saying, ¡°stay calm!¡± ¡°master, she won¡¯t be able to wield a surgical knife again.¡± gu ci felt both heartache and regret. this was a huge loss for the field of cardiac surgery. ¡°we¡¯ll do our best to treat her.¡± lu zhiyuan wanted to wipe her tears, but his hand hesitated and retreated. why was gu ci so upset? she was crying for the loss of her hand, a loss she had suffered in a past life. though tit for tat, gu ci couldn¡¯t find any joy in this situation. an incident of this magnitude within the hospital required careful handling. lu zhiyuan took the hospital director to the conference room to discuss how to resolve this matter. outside the operating room, gu ci waited for dr. north. unexpectedly, she was brought before chen rushi by chen rushi¡¯s security team. his white shirt was speckled with blood, a hint of redness in his eyes. he looked deranged and cruel as he stared at a video. when he saw gu ci, he actually smiled. ¡°cici, so you¡¯ve truly inherited north¡¯s legacy.¡± glancing at the video in his hand, gu ci¡¯s spine tingled. it was a recording of her performing surgery on her grandmother. how had chen rushi gotten hold of it? ¡°it¡¯s quite surprising,¡± chen rushi remarked. he hadn¡¯t expected to come to the hospital and gain something. after crippling dr. north¡¯s hand, he had overheard the doctors¡¯ conversation and learned that the groundbreaking surgery that had shaken the world was performed by gu ci. because she didn¡¯t have a medical license, it had been credited to dr. north instead. ¡°cici, can you perform my surgery?¡± chen rushi gazed at her gently, a smile failing to hide the madness and cruelty lurking in his eyes. he had reached his breaking point. ¡°the person who could perform surgery for you had their hands crippled by you!¡± gu ci looked at him with a cold smile. ¡°chen rushi, when you had your attack, i should have let you die in the morning light.¡± chen rushi tilted his head. ¡°what should we do then? i¡¯m alive, and it¡¯s too late for you to regret.¡± ¡°are you seeking desperate solutions? chen rushi, just because of a successful surgery, you want me to take a risk? you lie on the operating table, and i¡¯m supposed to dissect you. are you sure?¡± gu ci chuckled lightly. ¡°if you¡¯re not afraid, i don¡¯t mind.¡± chen rushi chuckled softly, licking his teeth. ¡°cici, your vulnerabilities are easier to find than north sister¡¯s. if 1 die on the operating table, you¡¯ll bury both gu ziyu, who you care for, and lu zhiyuan, whom you secretly adore, with me.¡± ¡°you!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. the m country¡¯s chen family indeed posed such a threat to her. even though lu zhiyuan was the leader of black hawk, he was still lu zhiyuan, and chen rushi¡¯s attack on him would be all too easy. gu ci was caught between a rock and a hard place! ¡°chen rushi, you¡¯ve never learned how to treat others sincerely in your entire life. all you know is intimidation and manipulation.¡± gu ci¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°has anyone ever loved you? in your entire life, have you ever received genuine affection from anyone?¡± chen rushi¡¯s expression slightly changed. gu ci¡¯s words struck a nerve. in life, everyone has someone who loves them, even if it¡¯s a remorseless killer. parents, for example, still care for their children. despite his high position and power, he had never truly been loved by anyone. ¡°this surgery must succeed.¡± chen rushi¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°as long as i¡¯m alive, everyone lives. if i die, someone accompanies me. it¡¯s a win-win situation for me.¡± gu ci trembled with anger. chen rushi looked at the video. ¡°the operation on madam jiang was even more challenging than mine. i believe cici can succeed. besides, even though north can¡¯t hold a surgical knife, she can assist you.¡± ¡°you¡¯re truly insane!¡± gu ci frowned. ¡°you¡¯re a born gambler!¡± he had staked his life on this! chen rushi was indeed a gambler. the sudden heart attack had turned him into one. he was gambling on gu ci, on gu ziyu¡¯s life, and on lu zhiyuan¡¯s life. lu zhiyuan violently pushed open the door to the department, striding over to grab gu ci, his gaze warily fixed on chen rushi. ¡°what do you want?¡± he had overheard in the conference room that gu ci had been taken away by chen rushi. it sent shivers down his spine. chen rushi didn¡¯t like lu zhiyuan. he had suspected that lu zhiyuan was third master, but later confirmed that lu zhiyuan was just a race car driver. however, he still didn¡¯t like him. on instinct, he knew that lu zhiyuan was an enemy. a romantic rival! ¡°third young master, cici agreed to perform surgery for me. that¡¯s good news.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze turned cold. he lowered his head to ask gu ci, ¡°did he threaten you?¡± gu ci remained silent. lu zhiyuan¡¯s hidden anger surfaced. ¡°she won¡¯t perform this surgery. if you¡¯ve injured dr. north¡¯s hand, i¡¯ll report you to the police. chen rushi, this is a city, not a place where you can run wild!¡± chen rushi picked up a tablet and showed the video to lu zhiyuan. ¡°if cici doesn¡¯t perform this surgery, 1 guarantee i¡¯ll wake up. if this surgery video gets leaked, she¡¯ll never become a doctor in her lifetime.. third young master, are you sure?¡± Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: He Finally Compromised chapter 160: he finally compromised translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan¡¯s whole body tensed. if the recording were to be leaked, both gu ci and doctor north, with their disguises, would fall into disgrace. even the hospital¡¯s reputation would be tarnished, leading to a thorough investigation that could unravel everything. gu ci spoke in a deep voice, ¡°alright, i¡¯ll perform this surgery for you. if you¡¯re not afraid of death, why should 1 be!¡± ¡°absolutely!¡± chen rushi¡¯s face displayed a trace of weary determination. ¡°whether it¡¯s life or death, i want this ordeal to end. i¡¯m tired of being consumed by illness.¡± ¡°are you out of your mind?¡± in the hospital corridor, lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°conspiring with a tiger for its skin, what good can come of it? did he threaten you with gu ziyu?¡± gu ci looked at him calmly, observing the visible panic and concern in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°i¡¯ll protect gu ziyu. you don¡¯t need to be threatened by him.¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, gu ziyu was kidnapped right under our noses,¡± gu ci looked at him calmly. ¡°it¡¯s hard to guard against villains.¡± if the surgery were to fail, a group of people might end up accompanying chen rushi to his grave. even if third master was powerful, could he find all the people chen rushi had planted as ambushes? could he save everyone in time? she wasn¡¯t chen rushi, alone and without attachments. she had gu ziyu and the jiang family. family was her eternal weakness. ¡°lu zhiyuan, during your competition in lavis, he effortlessly made you give up the match, have you forgotten?¡± ¡°that¡¯s because¡­¡± you were caught; you were more important than the competition. lu zhiyuan hesitated, and gu ci¡¯s implied meaning was clear. you are more important than chen rushi. and if chen rushi threatened her, then he must have threatened her with lu zhiyuan. gu ci said with self-mockery, ¡°if third young master wants to live his own life without interference, to never see me again, then he doesn¡¯t need to worry or be busy about whom i¡¯m concerned for.¡± lu zhiyuan was silenced by her words, unable to express himself. in the dimly lit corridor, the two of them gazed at each other in silence. eventually, lu zhiyuan capitulated. he had to compromise. he couldn¡¯t let chen rushi release the surgical footage and ruin gu ci¡¯s reputation. after doctor north finished the surgery, upon hearing that gu ci intended to operate on chen rushi, he was taken aback. this development was unexpected. ¡°how did he know?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know why the recording ended up in his hands,¡± gu ci sighed in frustration. ¡°once chen rushi knows, he won¡¯t spare me.¡± ¡°i should have known better than to get entangled with him,¡± doctor north lamented. ¡°life is full of unexpected twists.¡± ¡°master, it¡¯s come to this point; it¡¯s hard to turn back now. focus on your recovery,¡± gu ci looked at her injured hand with concern. ¡°heal your hand. if you can¡¯t hold a scalpel again, it will be a loss for the medical field.¡± gu ci was a person who sought revenge for the slightest grievance. those who had hurt her were hard for her to forgive. lu zhiyuan had guided her, tried to make her more carefree and open-minded. the damage was already done; she could only endure the pain. but gu ci had never received love from her elders. doctor north was a very special person to her, a mentor she revered and cared for like a mother. she couldn¡¯t easily let go of the pain she felt. from childhood to adulthood, besides lu zhiyuan, no one had loved her. she was radical and reclusive. regardless of lu zhiyuan¡¯s attempts to guide her, she couldn¡¯t become carefree or open-minded. lu zhiyuan wished for her to forget this pain and be happy every day. after becoming pregnant, gu ci¡¯s situation improved. she no longer held onto the pain of past injuries. the arrival of new life made her feel fresh and happy every day. she began to anticipate the future and developed an attachment to the world. gu ci and lu zhiyuan married out of necessity, but love came later. due to her unattractive appearance and difficult personality, gu ci had always felt inferior. she couldn¡¯t understand why lu zhiyuan loved her, why he married her. she always thought that lu zhiyuan pitied her and might leave her at any moment. her feelings for lu zhiyuan were stubborn, and she refused to voice them. it wasn¡¯t until she became pregnant and had gu ziyu that she finally found a substantial sense of belonging for her future and her family. during that time, the nightmares became less frequent. one day, a prison guard called her and said that doctor north wanted to see her. when gu ci heard her name, her hand suddenly throbbed with pain, and she couldn¡¯t even hold utensils. she refused to go see her. she resented doctor north. it wasn¡¯t until she learned of doctor north¡¯s death that she felt a deep pain in her heart. she recalled the five years she had relied on doctor north, the woman who had hurt her but had also sheltered her under her wings in prison, teaching her how to survive. they had never seen each other before death, leaving gu ci with regrets. this became a knot in her heart. while sorting through doctor north¡¯s belongings, gu ci found a letter left for her. the letter didn¡¯t apologize for disabling her hand; it only offered blessings and the hope that she would forget all her suffering and live a good life. at that moment, she no longer resented doctor north. she was the only elder who had shown her love. in this lifetime, with ziyu and lu zhiyuan by her side, she hadn¡¯t suffered humiliation. everyone in the jiang family loved her. gu ci was less extreme than in her previous life, a bit more serene. she didn¡¯t want doctor north to experience the suffering she had endured. ¡°cici, why do you look so sad?¡± doctor north moved her wrist. ¡°it¡¯s okay. if i can¡¯t perform surgery, it¡¯s fine. i have an heir now, after all.¡± gu ci smiled, ¡°master, rest well. 1¡¯11 head back.¡± ¡°alright!¡± doctor north accepted reality. ¡°study chen rushi¡¯s case thoroughly. since we can¡¯t avoid it, treat it as real combat.¡± ¡°i understand!¡± when gu ci left the hospital, lu zhiyuan was waiting for her. he was as usual, leaning against a black and red sports car, wearing sunglasses, drawing attention from onlookers, but he didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°i¡¯ll drive you back!¡± his tone didn¡¯t allow for refusal. after a moment¡¯s thought, gu ci didn¡¯t decline. a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. he finally decided to speak with her. autumn had set in on the city of a, bringing a chill to the air. the ginkgo trees on the roadside turned yellow, shedding leaves in abundance. the streets held the essence of autumn. gu ci gazed at the ginkgo trees and casually took out her phone, snapping a photo. lu zhiyuan looked at the delicate bracelet on her fair wrist, his heart stirred. the watch and bracelet were both on the same hand, delicate and unique, accentuating her snowy-white skin. both he and she wore matching couple bracelets, yet their hearts remained distant. ¡°just stop at the entrance of the residential area!¡± lu zhiyuan frowned but didn¡¯t respond. passing the security booth where the guards recognized gu ci, entering the blue field villa was smooth. this was an established villa area in a city, adjacent to the top university. every inch of land here was precious. without a family background, it was challenging to purchase a villa. the atmosphere was scholarly, and the environment peaceful. gu ci had never mentioned which building she lived in, and lu zhiyuan silently stopped at her house. within the white fence, the climbing roses were in bloom, adding a touch of tenderness to the villa. they rode in silence. when gu ci got out of the car and was about to bid farewell, lu zhiyuan calmly asked, ¡°won¡¯t you invite me in for a glass of water?¡± gu ci lightly chuckled, ¡°come in then!¡± Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Imagining a Sad Love Scene chapter 161: imagining a sad love scene translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan parked the car and followed her into the house. the courtyard wasn¡¯t well-tended yet burst with vibrant colors. once inside, lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze swept over every inch of space. two floors above ground and two below, with high ceilings, the layout was clear at a glance. the decoration was modern in style, and gu ci had replaced the furnishings, infusing them with her preferences and style. a minimalist aesthetic! she also favored black, white, and gray. gu ci brought a glass of lukewarm water to the table and asked, ¡°would you like some fruit?¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ci washed cherries and strawberries, cut a kiwi, and brought them over. she looked at the composed lu zhiyuan and couldn¡¯t help but think of third master. when he had a cold expression, his demeanor almost overlapped with third master¡¯s. even the once smiling features now carried a layer of ice. lu zhiyuan looked at her with a cold smirk, ¡°gu ci, who are you looking at?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she averted her gaze. he misunderstood again. she thought of third master, but she had never intentionally sought out his resemblance in him. ¡°after moving, i haven¡¯t seen any of you,¡± gu ci said lightly, ¡°third master said he didn¡¯t want to see me, and you both wanted us to find our own peace, and i¡¯ve done as you wished, third brother.¡± a chill ran through lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. third master didn¡¯t want to see her either? separated by a dining table, lu zhiyuan recalled how back at global, they could embrace and kiss anytime. they were like a couple deeply in love. now, they seemed like a couple discussing divorce. ¡°third brother, how have you been recently?¡± gu ci asked. an athlete¡¯s life was highly regimented and simple. aside from intense training, he mostly thought of her. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t control his yearning or jealousy. his self-esteem and pride wouldn¡¯t allow even a hint of affection to show in front of gu ci. ¡°extremely well.¡± gu ci smiled, ¡°that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°do you have confidence in chen rushi¡¯s surgery?¡± gu ci had reviewed chen rushi¡¯s information, but hadn¡¯t simulated a surgical case. she couldn¡¯t be sure, ¡°i don¡¯t know yet, i haven¡¯t studied it in detail.¡± ¡°how did he threaten you?¡± lu zhiyuan needed to prepare for the worst, ¡°if the surgery fails, what will he do?¡± ¡°the people i care about won¡¯t be spared,¡± gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan, ¡°including you!¡± ¡°madman!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone turned icy, he had no respect for chen rushi¡¯s behavior. ¡°who could argue? he¡¯s truly the most uncooperative patient.¡± which patient threatened a doctor before entering the operating room, saying, ¡°if you can¡¯t cure me, i¡¯ll take your life¡±? a doctor would be distracted by such thoughts, and even a slight mistake could cost the patient¡¯s life. gu ci knew that chen rushi¡¯s words were backed by action. no matter how meticulously she and lu zhiyuan planned, there would always be a weak point. who knew to what extent chen rushi¡¯s madness could reach. ¡°i will protect gu ziyu, don¡¯t worry!¡± lu zhiyuan wanted to say that there was no need to concern herself with chen rushi; he would protect them, whether it was gu ziyu or her. no matter how much he hated, envied, or felt sad, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to harm gu ci. he couldn¡¯t stand seeing gu ci being bullied. gu ci¡¯s heart felt a tinge of sourness and was moved by his words. but before she could speak, lu zhiyuan chuckled inexplicably, ¡°in fact, you don¡¯t need me at all. third master is your guardian angel. every time you¡¯re in trouble, he¡¯s there to protect you. why would you need me?¡± his words carried an inexplicable sense of bitterness, along with a trace of grievance and desolation. before gu ci could explain, he stood up and left. he even bumped into gu ziyu, who was returning home. gu ziyu had a heavy schoolbag on his back and a popsicle in his mouth, staring at lu zhiyuan¡¯s slightly red eyes in surprise. ¡°daddy?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t catch what he called out, put on his sunglasses, avoided his surprised gaze, and left in a hurry. ¡°mom, have you and dad made up?¡± ¡°look at his expression, does it seem like we¡¯ve made up?¡± gu ci sat down helplessly, ¡°he¡¯s even angrier.¡± recalling lu zhiyuan¡¯s slightly red eyes, gu ziyu¡¯s mouth gaped open. he didn¡¯t think much of it at the moment, assuming that dad was moved by mom¡¯s heartfelt confession, causing his eyes to turn red. ¡°dad seems really sad. mom, what did you say to him?¡± with his parents divorced, he stayed with mom, but he still cared about dad from time to time. ¡°he imagined a scene of abusive love, and i couldn¡¯t deny it.¡± gu ci sighed, suspecting that lu zhiyuan had self-inflicted a drama of tormented romance. she glanced at ziyu, surprised, ¡°no classes this afternoon?¡± ¡°our supervisor had something to do, so he rescheduled the afternoon class. i didn¡¯t want to stay in the library, so i came back.¡± gu ziyu dropped his school bag, yawned, rubbed his stomach, and asked, ¡°i¡¯m so hungry, mom, i want to eat crayfish.¡± ¡°let me check your wound!¡± gu ziyu approached, took off his coat, and lifted his sweater. gu ci looked at his wound and poked it, asking, ¡°does it hurt?¡± ¡°not at all!¡± gu ziyu feigned not minding the slight pain, covering up for the sake of a mouthful of food. ¡°it¡¯s been fine for a while.¡± he had another wound on his abdomen, and gu ci softened at the sight. ¡°okay, i¡¯ll get you some.¡± after ordering the crayfish, gu ci went to her study, reviewing chen rushi¡¯s case files and formulating a surgical plan. chen rushi¡¯s illness was rare, with very few cases available for reference. gu ci repeatedly watched the video of dr. north performing surgery on chen geng years ago. after watching it several times, she still couldn¡¯t figure out how dr. north had operated on chen geng. gu ci thought, what if she secretly altered chen rushi¡¯s surgery? once he recovered, he could slowly succumb to another illness. the thought arose but was quickly suppressed. she disliked chen rushi, but she didn¡¯t have a deep-seated grudge against him. dr. north and chen geng had a deep hatred, but she didn¡¯t want to leave a stain on her professional career. before the crayfish arrived, gu ziyu had also heard about gu ci planning to perform surgery on chen rushi. the astute ziyu had also deduced that chen rushi had threatened gu ci. ¡°he¡¯s so annoying. even in his previous life, he died of heart disease. mom, why not follow dr. north¡¯s example and secretly change the surgery plan? don¡¯t let him off so easily.¡± ¡°mom doesn¡¯t want to do that.¡± gu ci touched gu ziyu¡¯s little face. her precious ziyu had a mischievous nature. she had never lectured him with lofty principles and didn¡¯t plan to. such a clever child, what wouldn¡¯t he understand? ¡°why not?¡± ¡°mom is a doctor, meant to heal and save lives. i don¡¯t have any deep hatred with him.¡± gu ci had aspirations, ¡°most importantly, chen rushi¡¯s heart condition is rare, with a low success rate in treatment. if the surgery succeeds, it will benefit all similar patients. all the difficult cases are challenges for us doctors. a successful surgery is more important than chen rushi¡¯s life.¡± ¡°but what if there¡¯s hatred?¡± gu ziyu blinked playfully. gu ci chuckled, ¡°that depends on the depth of the grudge. i¡¯m not a saint either, i have my own emotions. if it were lu shijie or gu chuyun, things might have turned out differently.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes were filled with amusement. ¡°then, after curing him, what if he turns hostile and seeks revenge?¡± ¡°judges make decisions based on known events. you can¡¯t assume someone will commit murder and arson just because you want to sentence them to death.¡± gu ci said, ¡°we don¡¯t know what the future holds..¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: You’re Hard to Serve chapter 162: you¡¯re hard to serve translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°alright!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°i hope he¡¯ll be sensible, recognize the kindness of saving his life, and feel obligated.¡± ¡°it¡¯s not necessary!¡± gu ci smiled and said, ¡°meeting as strangers is the best way to repay a favor.¡± after studying the materials carefully, gu ci formulated three surgical plans and went to the hospital to find dr. north. each of the three plans had its strengths and weaknesses. gu ci wanted chen rushi to undergo another examination to confirm his physical condition. chen rushi¡¯s medical team also accompanied him to the hospital. the team included three authorities in cardiology. they all reviewed the surgical plans made by gu ci and dr. north. they would also be present during the surgery to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. gu ci ridiculed chen rushi, ¡°don¡¯t doubt people, and don¡¯t use them.¡± chen rushi graciously accepted her mockery and replied politely, ¡°cici, i have no choice. after all, i¡¯m going to be operated on by you. it¡¯s only sensible to have a backup plan. please understand.¡± ¡°if you hadn¡¯t damaged your master¡¯s hands, this matter would be much simpler.¡± chen rushi shook his head, ¡°if you and sister north could both perform surgery, i¡¯d prefer you. i know you won¡¯t take my life, but she might.¡± ¡°karma. if you hadn¡¯t hurt her first, with the bond formed since childhood, how could she stand by without saving you? reflect on yourself too.¡± chen rushi fell silent. at night, jiang junlin came to the blue field villa. gu ci had considered hiring a live-in housekeeper and a chef, but given that gu ziyu¡¯s study was off-limits, she abandoned the idea. with a gardener busy, she arranged for a part-time housekeeper to come clean once a week. outsiders wouldn¡¯t need to stay at her house for long. gu ziyu¡¯s study had a special electronic door with a password, and gu ci didn¡¯t feel comfortable having outsiders stay there. jiang junlin brought a box of fruits, all fresh produce flown in by air. there were a few types of fruits gu ci had never seen before. while gu ziyu was preparing dinner, gu ci invited jiang junlin to stay and have dinner together. jiang junlin asked, ¡°are you going to perform surgery on chen rushi?¡± ¡°ji chi and his brother can talk about anything,¡± gu ci lightly laughed, ¡°this matter is very private. by spreading it like this, isn¡¯t he worried about leaks?¡± it wasn¡¯t ji chi who told him about this. jiang junlin asked, ¡°why?¡± gu ci explained the situation, and after pondering for a moment, jiang junlin couldn¡¯t come up with a better solution. he didn¡¯t try to persuade gu ci further; he would support her decision. ¡°on the day of the surgery, i¡¯ll bring ziyu with me and wait until it¡¯s over.¡± he would also ensure the safety of his family, so gu ci wouldn¡¯t have any worries. ¡°thank you, big brother,¡± gu ci expressed gratitude. she only had a sixty percent certainty about the surgery, which was lower than dr. north¡¯s confidence level. ¡°if you hadn¡¯t come to me, i would have told you myself. i¡¯m sorry for causing you worry.¡± ¡°after his heart condition is cured, will he be just like an ordinary person?¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°will there be rejection reactions or¡­ complications?¡± sensing the implication behind jiang junlin¡¯s words, gu ci responded cleverly. ¡°after he¡¯s cured, he shouldn¡¯t engage in strenuous exercise for several years. with three to five years of recuperation, he should be no different from an ordinary person.¡± jiang junlin fell silent for a while after hearing this. ¡°alright, 1 understand.¡± ¡°do you dislike chen rushi?¡± gu ci inquired. ¡°i don¡¯t need a reason to dislike him.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°there are indeed some compelling reasons for him to die, but¡­ it¡¯s not urgent.¡± he already had a plan in mind. he wanted chen rushi gone, but if something happened to him within the next few years, it would be attributed to his heart condition. that wouldn¡¯t be good for both gu ci and gu ziyu. a faint hint of killing intent flashed through jiang junlin¡¯s eyes. chen rushi unwittingly added another layer of insurance for him. because of jiang junlin¡¯s presence, gu ziyu prepared three additional dishes. jiang junlin didn¡¯t particularly like these three dishes, but being the ceo of hualan bank, he had good emotional intelligence. he didn¡¯t directly express his displeasure. he only took a bite of each of the three dishes he disliked and quietly drank plain congee. gu ziyu felt his culinary skills were criticized, which made him somewhat resentful. he said, ¡°next time you come for dinner, can you bring your own food?¡± jiang junlin remained speechless. gu ci could hardly contain her amusement. her son and her brother had provided her with the best source of laughter in recent days. jiang junlin reluctantly put down his chopsticks, no longer pretending. ¡°it¡¯s not very tasty.¡± gu ziyu wasn¡¯t pleased. ¡°you¡¯re just difficult to please. you don¡¯t add scallions, ginger, or garlic to your stir-fry, even a dog wouldn¡¯t eat it.¡± jiang junlin remained silent. gu ci was almost bursting with joy. both her son and her brother had contributed to her lighthearted mood lately. jiang junlin put down his chopsticks with a helpless expression, not pretending anymore. ¡°it¡¯s because you¡¯re too difficult to please.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter, biting her chopsticks and playfully looking at jiang junlin. ¡°big brother, with all these peculiarities in your eating habits, how can you date? if you two go out for dinner, where will you eat?¡± gu ziyu perked up as well, waiting for jiang junlin¡¯s answer. ¡°when i start dating, i¡¯ll let you know.¡± gu ziyu remembered ji chi¡¯s cooking skills and blurted out, ¡°ji chi¡¯s cooking is pretty delicious. he can cook all kinds of cuisines, even buddha jumps over the wall.¡± that was jiang junlin¡¯s favorite dish. jiang junlin looked puzzled, ¡°ji chi¡¯s cooking¡­ is good?¡± ¡°yeah!¡± gu ziyu recalled ji chi¡¯s culinary skills. he missed those days. ¡°he¡¯s really good at chinese cuisine. he seems to avoid using scallions, ginger, or garlic, but the flavors are great.¡± jiang junlin leaned back, propping his chin up with his hand, and looked at gu ziyu thoughtfully. gu ziyu blinked at jiang junlin, looking at him and then at gu ci. what did he say wrong? ji chi had said he had been skilled at cooking since he was young. ¡°no wonder!¡± jiang junlin glanced at the table full of dishes and reached a conclusion. ¡°your taste buds must be off.¡± gu ziyu took a bite of the slightly overcooked steak and commented, ¡°in the future, if you come over, please avoid lunch and dinner times. we won¡¯t leave any food. thank you.¡± after jiang junlin left the blue field villa, he drove leisurely, accompanied by two security vehicles following behind. he seemed lost in thought as he tapped the steering wheel, contemplating whether he should change direction. eventually, he turned toward the jiangbei financial district and entered the black hawk tower. in the parking lot, his security team exchanged puzzled glances. why had the master come to black hawk tower? was he here to make a delivery? jiang junlin got out of the car. his security team leader quickly caught up. ¡°master?¡± ¡°you guys wait downstairs. i¡¯ll go up alone.¡± the security team leader hesitated for a moment but finally said, ¡°master, why do you have a black hawk access card?¡± the rest of the security team was equally perplexed. the last time they had been in a brawl here, it had been quite a battle. while they weren¡¯t with the master 24/7, what had happened that they weren¡¯t aware of? after exiting the car, jiang junlin opened the trunk and picked up a box of qilin fruit. he walked towards the access gate but then furrowed his brows and seemed to change his mind. just as he was about to turn around, the monitor for the access gate¡¯s security system lit up, showing ji chi¡¯s exquisite face. ¡°mr. jiang, everyone is here. don¡¯t leave.¡± jiang junlin glanced at the monitor, took out a card, and swiped it. expressionless, he entered the gate. his security team leader questioned, ¡°why does the master have access to black hawk tower?¡± his question was met with shared bewilderment. the last time they even had a fight, it was a fight to the death.. though they weren¡¯t with the master 24/7, could something have happened that they were unaware of? Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Little Wolf Cub and Big Bad Wolf (1) chapter 163: little wolf cub and big bad wolf (1) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation upstairs, ji chi, who was conducting an online meeting, said, ¡°i have some sudden matters to attend to. we¡¯ll continue tomorrow.11 on the screen, a man said, ¡°president ji, it was quite a challenge to gather all seven regions. please don¡¯t reschedule. it¡¯s just two hours, quite fast.11 ji chi spoke sternly, ¡°there¡¯s a deal more important than listening to your reports. it¡¯s urgent.¡± as the screen dimmed, ji chi walked out. he stood at rhe doorway, leaning against the entrance, stretching his legs. his smile beneath the light was both enchanting and sinister, arms crossed as if waiting for something, yet he didn¡¯t open the door. he raised his hand, glanced at his watch, his smile growing broader. jiang junlin took the elevator; it wouldn¡¯t take him long. ji chi lazily tapped his watch with his finger. though he was impatient, he, too, was waiting for jiang junlin to take the initiative and open the door. just as the door lightly creaked, ji chi went through the motions of opening it after jiang junlin had already pushed it open. ¡°chairman jiang, my apologies, the meeting is keeping me occupied.¡± jiang junlin tossed a box of ¡°qilin¡± fruit to him, expressionless. he changed his shoes and walked inside. ji chi put down the fruit and handed him a bottle of soda. taking his phone, ji chi said, ¡°perfect timing. i¡¯m hungry too. let¡¯s order takeout. given your appetite¡­ how about seafood congee?¡± ¡°i¡¯m hungry! ¡± jiang junlin said expressionlessly. he had eaten half a bowl of plain congee at gu ci¡¯s place and was actually hungry. ji chi set down the fruit and opened a bottle of soda water for him. taking his phone, ji chi suggested, ¡°perfect timing, i¡¯m hungry too. let s order takeout. given your appetite¡­ how about seafood congee?¡± jiang junlin twirled the soda water with his finger, looking at ji chi. ¡°you do it.¡± setting down his phone, ji chi stood across from jiang junlin. leaning forward on his hands placed on the table, he smiled dangerously. his tone was harsh, ¡°in the middle of the night, you¡¯re picking a fight?¡± ¡°if you don¡¯t cook, i¡¯m leaving!¡± jiang junlin stood up and headed for the door. ¡°i want buddha jumps over the wall!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s cold voice interrupted ji chi¡¯s contemplation. despite his sensual and ostentatious demeanor, his tone was icy. ¡°what is buddha jumps over the wall?¡± ji chi asked, puzzled. jiang junlin blinked, squinting at him. he couldn¡¯t tell if ji chi was genuinely confused or pretending. seeing jiang junlin¡¯s silence, ji chi, accustomed to the man¡¯s temper, didn¡¯t expect a response. he grabbed his phone, searched for it, and then scowled, ¡°i¡¯m convinced you¡¯re just trying to provoke me.¡± who would even cook this? it¡¯s complicated and takes hours. ¡°i¡¯ll make steak for you. eat it if you want!¡± jiang junlin sat leisurely. ji chi¡¯s apartment was beautiful with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, providing a stunning view of the night. their recent relationship had eased due to some special circumstances, but tension still lingered. jiang junlin sat by the window, drinking soda water, though his mood wasn¡¯t as wonderful as the scene. ¡°do you know how to cook chinese cuisine?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°i don¡¯t!¡± ji chi had struggled to survive alone abroad, managing to cook simple meals. until he turned sixteen, having a hot meal was a luxury. coffee, milk, and bread were the norm. later, he learned some basic cooking, simple frying and grilling, the quicker, the better. but with the intricacies of chinese cuisine, he never attempted it. after returning to china, he ate more chinese food, but overseas, he leaned towards western cuisine. ji chi s culinary requirements were simple- just fill his stomach; taste didn¡¯t matter. spending even a minute cooking every day made him feel like a fool. jiang junlin finished his soda water, irritation in his eyes. he had cooked for gu ziyu, why not for him? he tugged at his collar, unbuttoning the top three buttons of his shirt. the usually stern man took on a hint of allure in the night, a touch of charm. ji chi¡¯s gaze landed on him briefly, the image burning into his mind. ¡°ah!¡± jiang junlin glanced over as ji chi turned around. his smile grew even more charming, his dimple deceiving. his soft, beguiling smile contradicted his identity as a cunning little wolf. the scent of butter wafted through the room. ji chi, dressed in black and white loungewear, possessed a handsome back. jiang junlin picked up his phone and inadvertently shook it while snapping a picture of ji chi cooking, causing the image to blur. wanting to take another shot, ji chi turned around and asked, ¡°vegetable soup?¡± jiang junlin pinched his phone, nodding. ji chi added vegetables to the high broth and began simmering the soup. he grabbed his phone and searched for how to make broth. he discovered he had the ingredients to make ham and duck soup at home. he watched a video on it and felt he had learned how to do it. he chopped up the ham and duck legs, simmering them to create the broth. after extracting the broth, he took out the ham and duck legs. besides adding salt, he left out everything else. he set them aside and used blotting paper to absorb the oil, malting the broth appear clear. he took a sniff and found it quite fragrant. he felt that he had learned from the video with just one watch; he had a knack for this. he added the vegetables to the broth to simmer. ji chi said, ¡°chairman jiang, can you cook?¡± ¡°i can¡¯t!¡± ji chi nodded, ¡°if you can¡¯t cook, then you just torture people. impressive!¡± ¡°you don¡¯t have to cook.¡± ji chi chuckled, ¡°i love cooking the most.¡± ji chi was truly enjoying this moment. his serene home suddenly gained a lively atmosphere. jiang junlin sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, occasionally engaging in conversation. these days were much more pleasant than their previous confrontations. the living room was too quiet. while ji chi was simmering the soup, he turned on the tv. neither of them had any interest in what was on, and ji chi¡¯s luck was unfortunate -there was a performance by pianist xu youli on the news. xu youli was beautiful and had an elegant demeanor, radiating like a dazzling fairy on stage, even more eye-catching than many top celebrities. jiang junlin seemed entranced by the piano melody. he rested his hand casually on his knee, watching the tv intently. a wicked idea surged within ji chi as he changed the channel to a financial news program, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°my apologies for disturbing chairman jiang¡¯s sophisticated taste.¡¯1 jiang junlin sneered, ¡°you caused someone to break their leg. have you apologized?¡± ¡°i sent a floral arrangement.¡± jiang junlin frowned, ¡°floral arrangements are for rhe deceased..¡± Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Little Wolf Cub and Big Bad Wolf (2) chapter 164: little wolf cub and big bad wolf (2) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi wasn¡¯t afraid of facing challenges head-on, even if it meant preparing a sizzling beef steak with the audacity of cooking a pig over boiling water. he had no intention of letting jiang junlin in on his secret; after all, he had already sent a basket of sword orchids to the grave, flowers designated solely for such solemn occasions. in jiang junlin¡¯s heart, ji chi was best left as a lifeless entity, a pianist¡¯s most sincere blessing. ¡°truly apologetic, i have no parents or relatives to offer sacrifices,¡± ji chi replied candidly. jiang junlin stared at his retreating figure and let out a cold chuckle. ¡°didn¡¯t bai yueguang die? didn¡¯t she go to sweep the grave?¡± ji chi turned back around, addressing jiang junlin, ¡°chairman jiang, are you still having a meal? or perhaps you¡¯d prefer to settle things through a brawl?¡± jiang junlin changed the channel, disinterested in the financial news, opting for a movie channel instead. ji chi ceased speaking as well. after a while, the meal was ready. ji chi had prepared two portions of steak, a half-cooked egg, sauteed mushrooms, asparagus blanched in high-quality broth, and a plate of lettuce. jiang junlin cast a glance at the poorly-presented steak, immediately knowing that its texture might not be up to par. however, ji chi enjoyed his meal heartily. ¡°weren¡¯t you hungry?¡± jiang junlin sliced into the steak, and after a prolonged effort, it was evident that he had overcooked it ¨C the steak was tough. jiang junlin had no choice but to focus on the soup instead, a soup made with old duck and ham, a combination that usually couldn¡¯t go wrong. but to his surprise, the soup was overly salty. jiang junlin put down his spoon with an impassive expression. he then glanced at the mushrooms, took a deep breath, and took another bite. he realized that the sauteed mushrooms lacked seasoning. with the soup being too salty, it was only logical to assume that the blanched vegetables were similarly over-seasoned. jiang junlin maintained his stoic demeanor, pondering how ji chi¡¯s taste buds must have been compromised. even an amateur couldn¡¯t possibly cook this poorly. ji chi wasn¡¯t a fan of the soup, so he concentrated on the steak. he combined the mushrooms and lettuce while eating and found nothing wrong. but seeing jiang junlin hesitating with each bite, not touching the lettuce or asparagus, ji chi¡¯s frustration grew. after all the effort he put into making the meal, jiang junlin wasn¡¯t appreciating it? ¡°jiang junlin, you¡¯re going too far,¡± ji chi grumbled. ¡°you wanted a meal, 1 made it, and now you¡¯re not eating. are you just toying with me?¡± jiang junlin placed the soup in front of ji chi. ¡°drink.¡± ji chi took the bowl, lifted it as if it were a glass of wine, and downed it in one go. he swallowed hard, then swiftly washed away the salty taste by gulping down a glass of water. ¡°i diluted the soup a bit with water. will you still drink it?¡± ji chi was flexible, sporting a delicate smile. jiang junlin frowned. ¡°can¡¯t you cook?¡± ¡°i can manage some simple dishes. this high-quality broth was my first attempt, learned from a video on the spot. don¡¯t expect too much,¡± ji chi said, sniffing the broth. ¡°it does smell good, just a bit too salty.¡± he felt no guilt whatsoever. the lettuce was salty, the mushrooms were bland, but together they balanced out. come on, he thought, stop being so finicky! however, when he looked at jiang junlin¡¯s expression, ji chi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. he pointed at the fried egg. ¡°try the fried egg, it¡¯s slightly runny. i only added three drops of soy sauce. how could that go wrong?¡± jiang junlin thought a simple fried egg would be edible, but to his surprise, he discovered eggshell in his bite. jiang junlin¡¯s expression remained devoid of emotion, his patience wearing thin. ¡°order seafood congee!¡± ji chi, also fed up with the situation, promptly picked up his phone and ordered seafood congee. in truth, he hadn¡¯t even eaten his fill with just the steak. ¡°you should have suggested seafood congee earlier instead of making me cook.¡± ¡°ziyu said you can cook, and that you can even make buddha jumps over the wall. are you deliberately doing this?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice carried his usual coldness. ji chi responded with a puzzled expression. after ordering the seafood congee, ji chi put down his phone. ¡°the baby has been tinkering with my image. in his eyes, 1 have to be perfect. he once spread rumors that we went fishing together, and now he¡¯s spreading rumors that i can cook. with such a flashy image, do you think that¡¯s me? will the next rumor be that i can give birth?¡± ¡°reflect on yourself. if he said you can, why can¡¯t you?¡± ji chi hesitated for a moment. ¡°true, why did he say that out of the blue?¡± the two of them exchanged glances. how could jiang junlin know why ziyu would say he could cook? besides, ziyu¡¯s tone whenever he mentioned ji chi was quite familiar. yet ji chi had only met him a few times. ji chi smiled and said, ¡°the baby and 1 hit it off instantly, like kindred spirits.¡± ¡°hmph!¡± jiang junlin snorted. ji chi¡¯s straightforward and unyielding nature made it hard to believe he would hit it off with anyone so easily. however, ji chi was concerned about something else. ¡°did you come here because ziyu said 1 can cook?¡± if he had known that ji chi couldn¡¯t cook, he probably wouldn¡¯t have come. but jiang junlin had eaten ji chi¡¯s noodles before, so he should know that ji chi¡¯s culinary skills were average at best. ¡°i suddenly felt like having buddha jumps over the wall.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone remained consistently detached. ¡°i fell for it!¡± on his face, jiang junlin wore a look that clearly said, ¡°you¡¯re just making things up. look at how i don¡¯t believe you.¡± ji chi snapped his fingers. ¡°no wonder there¡¯s a rumor in city a that it¡¯s hard to get a dinner reservation with chairman jiang. don¡¯t worry, for your sake, i¡¯ll make sure to learn how to cook authentic buddha jumps over the wall.¡± ¡°no need!¡± jiang junlin glanced at the poorly-cooked steak. ¡°you can¡¯t even get a steak right, so don¡¯t trouble yourself further.¡± ¡°is this a challenge from you?¡± jiang junlin stared at him. ¡°just being honest.¡± ¡°true, 1 can make millions in a minute. am i crazy to waste my time cooking?¡± ji chi muttered. they moved from the dining room to the living room. ji chi brewed tea while waiting for the seafood congee. jiang junlin took the chance to criticize ziyu¡¯s cooking skills, which were on par with ji chi¡¯s ¨C both equally subpar. ji chi thought to himself, it¡¯s because you¡¯re so hard to please! as they waited for the seafood congee, ji chi glanced at some oranges and smirked as he started peeling one. he asked jiang junlin, ¡°chairman jiang, care for an orange?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s ears turned red. he glared at ji chi with an expression that suggested he was merely trying to test jiang junlin¡¯s reaction. ji chi casually peeled the orange, piece by piece, eating it while casting a mischievous glance at jiang junlin. jiang junlin¡¯s face grew darker. jiang junlin forcefully shifted the topic to business. ¡°how is chen rushi¡¯s situation being handled?¡± ji chi was informed about this matter as well. ¡°to be honest, i think chen rushi has gone mad. even if miss gu has successfully performed surgery on your grandmother, circumstances change, and surgeries aren¡¯t all the same, with varying degrees of difficulty. how could he be so certain that miss gu could save him? he¡¯s gambling with his life.¡± ¡°black hawk group, from its core to the chen family, is caught up in internal struggles. chen rushi¡¯s condition can¡¯t stay hidden for long, and he wants to resolve it as soon as possible. otherwise, he¡¯ll be replaced by the chen family sooner or later.¡± ¡°what¡¯s strange is that very few people know about chen rushi¡¯s condition. dr. north has been avoiding any association with the chen family for a while, so it¡¯s unlikely she leaked the information. who could have leaked it to the chen family? within black hawk, we don¡¯t want internal strife, so it¡¯s unlikely to be our doing.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t know who leaked the information to the chen family. if chaos erupted in the chen family, black hawk would naturally fall into disarray. third brother was a newcomer to black hawk, having joined recently, and while he managed to control the lower ranks of black hawk, his mysterious identity led to suspicion. ji chi looked at jiang junlin, ¡°was it you?¡± jiang junlin sipped his tea and said nonchalantly, ¡°you never informed me about chen rushi¡¯s condition, and gu ci doesn¡¯t talk about these matters.. how could i know? besides, even if huanlan and black hawk do business, how would black hawk¡¯s turmoil benefit me?¡± Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Let’s Talk About a Business Deal chapter 165: let¡¯s talk about a business deal translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi chuckled lightly and sipped his tea, quietly watching him. jiang junlin was the most suited person he had ever seen for wearing a suit. the well-tailored suit hugged a sexy physique that was pleasing to the eye. this blend of sensuality and elegance, different from the typical youthful figure, was a body that any man would envy. ¡°what are you looking at?¡± jiang junlin frowned. ¡°chairman jiang, this outfit of yours is truly sexy!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°ji chi, i¡¯m here to discuss important matters with you.¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously as he licked his lips, ¡°discussing business and appreciating beauty aren¡¯t mutually exclusive.¡± ¡°you¡¯re almost drooling.¡± ji chi remained silent. after a moment of quiet atmosphere, ji chi, unusually not angry, even smiled. jiang junlin frowned, clutching his abdomen. ji chi suppressed his smile, rummaged through a medicine box, and poured a cup of warm water. ¡°this is the price you pay for being a picky eater.¡± jiang junlin had a mild stomach issue. when he was hungry, he experienced some discomfort. ji chi made a call to urge the seafood congee restaurant owner, ¡°is your seafood congee delivered by air? it¡¯s been half an hour and it¡¯s not here yet. ii the owner, who had seen grand occasions before, replied, ¡°sir, let me check and get it delivered to you right away.¡± ¡°hurry up.¡± ji chi frowned. seeing that jiang junlin wasn¡¯t taking his medicine, ji chi went to the kitchen and glanced at the pot of soup. ¡°such a hassle!¡± he heated a cup of milk and handed it to jiang junlin. ¡°drink this.¡± jiang junlin only drank milk from a specific brand, his eyes filled with disdain. ji chi said, ¡°if i were your father, with this picky eating habit of yours, i would have broken your leg long ago.¡± jiang junlin lifted the milk, silently drinking it, his expression subtly complicated. he had some peculiar eating preferences, and he knew he wasn¡¯t easy to cater to. ji chi complained every time, his tone harsh, and he criticized everything, yet every time he still indulged him. ¡°which brand of milk do you drink?¡± jiang junlin remained silent. he mentioned two brands of milk, both of which ji chi had tried. furrowing his brows, ji chi said, ¡°they¡¯re both fresh milk. what¡¯s the real difference? aren¡¯t the tastes the same?¡± ¡°the processing methods are different.¡± ji chi was speechless, ¡°your excuses for being picky are truly one-of-a-kind.¡± after drinking the warm milk, the pain eased. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t seen this brand of stomach medicine before, so he didn¡¯t take it without caution. ji chi said, ¡°carry some stomach medicine with you.¡± the head of the security team has some; they are downstairs. jiang junlin suddenly had a stomach ailment, interrupting their conversation. ji chi poured out the tea, and jiang junlin leaned back on the couch. ji chi glanced at the room temperature, set it one degree higher, and maintained the flow. jiang junlin looked at him rummaging through the medicine box, his brow slightly furrowed. ¡°do you have a stomach issue?¡± ¡°i¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°why do you keep so many medicines at home?¡± ji chi looked up from the medicine box. ¡°in china, there are a lot of social gatherings where i end up drinking a lot of alcohol. so, i keep some gastrointestinal medicine handy.¡± he grew up abroad, and though his meals weren¡¯t on a regular schedule, he didn¡¯t have any stomach problems. even after joining black hawk, he continued handling business abroad, where he was busy but had assistants and security personnel reminding him to eat on time. he once worked non-stop for three days without sleep, and his body held up. if he got hungry, meals were prepared for him. however, after returning to china, he had a whole new experience. ¡°i made a commitment. within a year, i¡¯ll secure the position of the black hawk asia division¡¯s president. during this time, i¡¯ve been working on projects and traveling a lot, attending many social drinking events in china.¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t find medicine that jiang junlin could take and gave up. he continued, ¡°1 really don¡¯t understand why the depth of relationships is tied to alcohol. if i don¡¯t drink, i¡¯m disrespecting others, and cooperation becomes impossible.¡± ji chi drank a lot of red wine, and now it¡¯s mixed with white wine. for a period, his stomach couldn¡¯t handle it. jiang junlin looked at ji chi¡¯s profile. when ji chi was this age, he was still pursuing his ph.d., while jiang junlin had already carved out a place in the turbulent world of black hawk. black hawk had nine regional presidents; the vice president position wasn¡¯t valuable. while ji chi had secured a position, if he wanted to firmly take the seat of the president, he had to eliminate one of them. these people had been managing for years, intricately connected. if he wanted to rise, he had to pay the price. ¡°has chairman jiang ever been tricked into drinking?¡± ji chi brought a cup of warm water over and placed it in front of him. jiang junlin recalled some unpleasant memories, his thoughts drifting away. ¡°why don¡¯t you guess?¡± ¡°hualan bank is a leading financial institution in china. you were born with a silver spoon, living in the clouds, not needing to descend.¡± ji chi remembered the evaluations of jiang junlin in the financial world during this time. decisive methods, calm and composed, added a word: arrogant. when jiang junlin initially took over hualan bank, he was difficult to get an appointment with. he disregarded the relationships of the older generation and recognized only strength, not sentiment. his style was worlds apart from the modest and gentle jiang minghua. yet, it had propelled hualan bank to greater heights, firmly establishing its position as the premier investment bank in china. jiang junlin¡¯s facial expression didn¡¯t reveal any emotions. some emotions were suppressed in his eyes. ¡°do you want to switch?¡± ¡°what?¡± ¡®til live your life, and you¡¯ll live mine.¡± ji chi burst into laughter. ¡°no need for that. chairman jiang, you even insist on drinking a specific brand of milk. you should stay in the clouds and not descend.¡± jiang junlin smiled faintly. ji chi stared at him, supporting his chin, revealing a section of his fair wrist. his gaze was like a hook, as if trying to hook someone¡¯s heart. jiang junlin had an aristocratic face that rarely showed a smile. he spoke in a double entendre, ¡°what a waste.¡± this handsome appearance, a single smile could easily captivate numerous hearts. jiang junlin¡¯s stomach discomfort eased, and he redirected the conversation. ¡°chen rushi¡¯s surgery was performed by cici. who will he assign to monitor ziyu and my family?¡± ji chi leaned back a bit, looking at jiang junlin with a half-smile that seemed like a smile. ¡°chairman jiang, when it comes to intelligence, do you think you might need to pay a little price?¡± he licked his lips. ¡°my intelligence doesn¡¯t come for free.¡± jiang junlin narrowed his eyes dangerously, using the situation to his advantage. he let out a cold chuckle. ¡°speak!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes lit up, playfully asking, ¡°are you sure?¡± the two of them stared at each other across the couch. jiang junlin remained silent, and ji chi¡¯s mood improved. ¡°postponing the meeting and discussing a big deal with you, chairman jiang, was truly worth it.¡± downstairs, jiang junlin¡¯s security team sat in their cars, waiting monotonously. the head of the security team was named zhang qiang. he checked his watch several times. it was already 1 am. one of the bodyguards reminded him, ¡°boss, should we call the master?¡± jiang junlin had entered at 9 pm, and now it was already 1 am. was he planning to stay overnight? though zhang qiang was anxious, he remained composed. ¡°don¡¯t concern yourself with the master¡¯s matters.¡± ¡°we¡¯re worried.¡± zhang qiang glanced at his watch. if jiang junlin didn¡¯t come out by 2 am, he would call and check on him. after another hour of waiting, it was already 2 am. zhang qiang, under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, called jiang junlin¡¯s phone. however, there was no answer. everyone exchanged uncertain glances, tense all over. ¡°the master must be in trouble!¡± zhang qiang frowned. he called again, and this time, jiang junlin picked up. his voice sounded slightly hoarse. ¡°what is it?¡± zhang qiang sensed jiang junlin¡¯s annoyance and hastily said, ¡°boss, it¡¯s already 2 am. you should go back home.¡± on the other end of the phone, came a muffled sound. zhang qiang¡¯s heart raced, and he asked anxiously, ¡°boss, what happened to you?¡± a sound like something heavy falling reached their ears, along with a mocking laugh. jiang junlin¡¯s slightly tired voice came through his hoarseness. ¡°i¡¯m fine, just some stomach pain.¡± ¡°1¡¯11 get you the medicine right away.¡± ¡°no need!¡± jiang junlin cut through the confusion. ¡°i¡¯m leaving right now.¡± ¡°understood!¡± when jiang junlin said ¡°right now,¡± it took another forty minutes before zhang qiang finally saw him. jiang junlin got into the car with his usual expression, calmly saying, ¡°let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°understood!¡± hualan bank and black hawk had cooperated before. their two bosses frequently met; this wasn¡¯t a secret. however, to discuss business until 3 am was somewhat exaggerated. the boss really was a workaholic. as the car passed a speed bump, the road was quiet at night. zhang qiang was driving a bit faster than usual, causing a slight bump. jiang junlin frowned. ¡°drive steadily.¡± ¡°understood!¡± zhang qiang glanced at jiang junlin through the rearview mirror. he was resting his eyes, his shirt buttoned all the way up, maintaining his usual restrained and aloof appearance. there seemed to be no difference. but zhang qiang couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of something being off, though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. as they drove halfway, zhang qiang¡¯s phone vibrated. one of the bodyguards sent him a text. boss, did the master change his clothes? zhang qiang finally realized what was wrong. jiang junlin had come out wearing a different outfit. his shirt had been white, but now he was wearing a black one. while jiang junlin was resting his eyes, zhang qiang replied with a text. don¡¯t concern yourself with what you shouldn¡¯t be concerned with! jiang junlin¡¯s phone rang, and he glanced at the caller id before answering with a cold tone tinged with impatience. ¡°ji chi, didn¡¯t you have enough? what now?¡± ji chi¡¯s light laughter echoed, ¡°chairman jiang, don¡¯t be so easily provoked. i¡¯m just kindly reminding you. we have a meeting at 8 am. how about announcing the project we just discussed in the morning meeting? after all, the night is long, and we tend to dream.¡± jiang junlin fell silent. ¡°understood.¡± ji chi sighed. ¡°in five hours, we¡¯ll have the early meeting. why bother going home again? i¡­¡± he hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when jiang junlin hung up the phone.. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: This Is My Woman! chapter 166: this is my woman! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation on the day of the surgery, ji chi said he would be responsible for keeping an eye on gu ziyu. this was the task assigned to him by chen rushi. if chen rushi was really dead, he would kill gu ziyu. chen rushi regarded ji chi as a confidant, entrusting him with such an important task. jiang junlin¡¯s face was cold. he didn¡¯t trust ji chi. when the day of chen rushi¡¯s surgery arrived, he was determined to personally watch over ziyu. however, the reality infuriated jiang junlin. ji chi betrayed them at the last moment and took gu ziyu away, even before the surgery. gu ci had prepared the surgical plan and had held several meetings with the medical team arranged by chen rushi. the surgical plan had been confirmed, and dr. north and the medical team would assist her. this was her second surgery, and gu ci was very nervous. as the surgery approached, both lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin sent people to protect ziyu. who could have imagined that ji chi would take gu ziyu away right under their noses. on the jiang family¡¯s side, there were also people from jiang junlin guarding. gu ci wasn¡¯t worried about gu ziyu. jiang junlin didn¡¯t know the situation, so he would be more concerned. she couldn¡¯t explain the truth to him. lu zhiyuan came to find gu ci, wanting to tell her not to worry, that ji chi took ziyu away and ziyu would be fine. expecting gu ci to be anxious, he was surprised to see her planting flowers in the garden. planting flowers was her way of relieving stress. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°ziyu is missing.¡± ¡°ziyu was taken by ji chi,¡± gu ci said, picking a few roses and placing them in a vase. lu zhiyuan sneered, unable to contain his emotions. ¡°indeed, you know all his secrets.¡± it was him who had misconstrued things. he turned and left. gu ci felt sorry for lu zhiyuan¡¯s self-inflicted suffering. ¡°i guessed it on my own, he didn¡¯t tell me.¡± he paused, turning to look at gu ci. gu ci said, ¡°third brother, can you hug me?¡± sunlight brushed over the flowers in the courtyard. she stood amidst the colorful blooms, more delicate than the flowers themselves, her gaze gentle. in that moment, lu zhiyuan had an illusion that her eyes were fixed on him, as he wished, never glancing at others. listening to his inner voice, he embraced gu ci. amidst the fragrant flowers, lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°gu ci, if 1 killed him, would you hate me?¡± gu ci stiffened, her physical response giving lu zhiyuan the most genuine answer. his embrace imprisoned her, causing her pain. lu zhiyuan¡¯s demeanor grew shadowy. ¡°if not love, then hate me.¡± ¡°what are you planning?¡± gu ci¡¯s voice trembled. lately, she had been worried about chen rushi¡¯s surgery and had been trying to quit a certain addiction called lu zhiyuan. if he killed the third master, wouldn¡¯t that mean killing herself? was she about to lose him again? struggling in his embrace, gu ci asked, ¡°if he dies, can you live?¡± ¡°our personalities are as different as night and day. how can you deceive yourself? are we the same person?¡± lu zhiyuan smirked devilishly. ¡°i am me, gu ci. look closely. before you is lu zhiyuan, not the third master.¡± ¡°then tell me, what¡¯s really going on between you two?¡± gu ci blurted out. ¡°you¡¯re not dealing with some split personality. he knows all your memories. how can that be a split personality?¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°he knows everything about me?¡± gu ci panicked, ¡°you¡­ don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°how would i know?¡± lu zhiyuan flared up. his interactions with the third master were all conveyed through li jiang. how would he know that the third master possessed all his memories? ¡°so, whatever 1 do, he knows?¡± gu ci nodded. a surge of anger rose in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. swiftly, he embraced gu ci, lowered his head, and kissed her. his kiss was fierce and ruthless. gu ci¡¯s scalp tingled, and she could hardly breathe. lu zhiyuan bit her tongue playfully and said with ferocity, ¡°third master, look closely. this is my woman. listen carefully, too. i will find a way to make you disappear forever!¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brow, unable to contain his anger. ¡°ji chi, you¡¯re lying to me again!¡± he had long cultivated an inscrutable demeanor, but he had shown anger several times due to ji chi¡¯s deceptions. ji chi chuckled lightly, ¡°the tasks assigned by chen rushi are difficult to accomplish and explain. 1 can only apologize to chairman jiang.¡± ¡°in that case, don¡¯t promise me.¡± ji chi¡¯s voice carried a playful tone. ¡°blame it on the price chairman jiang is paying. i was genuinely tempted. i¡¯m not a gentleman, so i can only enjoy¡­¡± jiang junlin interrupted him, ¡°if anything happens to ziyu, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite!¡± a hint of darkness flickered in ji chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°how impolite does chairman jiang want me to be?¡± he made a tsk sound, a careless tone tinged with provocation. ¡°you care so much about gu ziyu? i really want to try ¨C if i so much as move his finger, how would you treat me?¡± ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t go crazy!¡± ji chi said, ¡°i¡¯m itching to do something, and you caring so much about gu ziyu doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡± he hung up the phone coldly, turned to look at gu ziyu who was nibbling on an ice cream. the kid was enjoying his ice cream without a care, despite the cool autumn weather. with his wound still healing, gu ci didn¡¯t allow him to have too much. yet at ji chi¡¯s house, he acted without any restraint. ¡°i want more!¡± gu ziyu asked, ¡°do you have more?¡± ji chi chuckled and handed him another. ¡°don¡¯t indulge in the cold. if you catch a cold, blame it on jiang junlin.¡± gu ziyu tore open the packaging with contentment and wiggled his fingers. ¡°are you going to move my finger?¡± ¡°darling, big brother is just joking.¡± he came over and gu ziyu asked curiously, ¡°you and my uncle¡­ brother junlin, what¡¯s the grudge between you two?¡± ¡°adult matters, don¡¯t concern yourself with them.¡± licking his ice cream, gu ziyu mocked, ¡°he said he killed your beloved, but where did you even get a beloved?¡± ¡°we¡¯ve never met, and my beloved died many years ago. you wouldn¡¯t know.¡± gu ziyu noticed ji chi¡¯s casual attitude, speaking coldly, ¡°who brought up the beloved topic? that¡¯s the expression you¡¯re wearing.¡± ji chi¡¯s smile was wicked. ¡°i¡¯ve always been carefree.¡± he didn¡¯t know why, but he was more relaxed and able to reveal his true self in front of gu ziyu than he was in front of the third master. ¡°darling, there¡¯s something i¡¯m quite curious about. how are you so sure that i won¡¯t harm you?¡± coming to his house, gu ziyu was even more laid-back than he was. ¡°you¡¯re not chen rushi¡¯s person, so why would you harm me?¡± gu ziyu said matter-of-factly. ¡°for you, it¡¯s more useful if i¡¯m alive than dead.¡± ¡°well reasoned!¡± ji chi stroked his chin. ¡°what if i were a double agent?¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°what¡¯s that got to do with me? oh, by the way, your black hawk organization has a skilled hacker. do you know him?¡± ji chi had already guessed who he was talking about. ¡°the people in the security department don¡¯t fall under my jurisdiction. the various departments of black hawk operate independently and don¡¯t interfere with each other. i¡¯m just an assistant director of the asian division, and my authority isn¡¯t enough.¡± ¡°strive to climb higher. 1 want to know who he is.¡± ji chi leaned back, propping his legs up. ¡°do you dislike him?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t like being threatened by anyone,¡± gu ziyu said expressionlessly. ¡°he hit all my sensitive spots with precision..¡± Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Is She A Scumbag? chapter 167: is she a scumbag? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu lowered his head and sent a message to jiang junlin to let him know he was safe. without even looking up, he said, ¡°chen rushi really believes in you. such an important matter, and she unquestionably trusts you?¡± ji chi unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a scar from a gunshot wound on his lean and youthful body. ¡°this trust was earned with my life. once, he was attacked, and i saved him.¡± gu ziyu ruthlessly exposed him, ¡°tell me, did you send the assassin?¡± ji chi burst into laughter. ¡°darling, you¡¯re quite clever.¡± gu ziyu sincerely admired ji chi. he truly was adaptable. he could act like a carefree grandson in front of you and be ready to take your life with a flick of his wrist. having saved his life once, ji chi was bound to not touch chen rushi¡¯s heart. to gain chen rushi¡¯s trust, ji chi had to withstand countless dangers before chen rushi. ¡°if his surgery fails, that¡¯d be great,¡± gu ziyu said contentedly after finishing his ice cream. ¡°he can¡¯t die yet!¡± ji chi said, ¡°if he dies, the chen family will fall into chaos. black hawk has faced numerous issues in recent years, and the criminal underworld is also watching closely. it can¡¯t withstand internal turmoil.¡± gu ziyu smiled and asked, ¡°is the leader of the underworld pei qiuying?¡± ¡°darling, you¡¯re well-informed.¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow, glancing at his phone. ¡°the news was just announced ten minutes ago. are you a prophet?¡± gu ziyu gave a subtle smile, enigmatic. ¡°i might have a touch of prophecy.¡± ji chi stayed silent. chen rushi messaged, and ji chi recorded a video of gu ziyu in his apartment, sending it to chen rushi. ¡°rest assured. everything is under control.¡± ¡°you handle things well, and i¡¯m at ease.¡± chen rushi also saw the footage of ji chi bringing gu ziyu home. ¡°be polite to him.¡± after all, it was someone gu ci cared about. ¡°understood!¡± ji chi hung up the phone with a sly smile, and gu ziyu gave him a thumbs-up. gu ci was restless, focusing on the surgical treatment, setting aside any stray thoughts about lu zhiyuan. this new matter had arisen just as the previous one seemed to settle. ¡°what¡¯s wrong? anxious?¡± dr. north asked, ¡°or nervous?¡± ¡°both anxious and nervous,¡± gu ci replied. the matters causing her annoyance were unrelated to the surgery. dr. north said, ¡°your mind must be calm. once you¡¯re in the operating room, you can only think about the patient. he has no name and no connection to you. the slightest distraction could lead to serious consequences.¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t confide in anyone about lu zhiyuan¡¯s matter. no matter how much she trusted someone, she couldn¡¯t reveal his privacy. lu zhiyuan had always concealed his identity from her, which was the reason. she wanted to see the third master. perhaps it was because of some inexplicable connection between them. lu zhiyuan had really come to the blue fields villa, standing in her garden and looking at the autumn scenery. the autumn flowers were in full bloom, and the moonlight was beautiful. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but think of the scene where lu zhiyuan had kissed her in the garden, challenging the third master. now that he stood in the garden, he would surely recall that moment too. gu ci felt somewhat uneasy. ¡°third master¡­¡± gu ci called out to him. she noticed that he wasn¡¯t wearing the couple¡¯s bracelet on his wrist. the autumn night was chilly, and gu ci was wrapped in a coat, only revealing her fair face. standing on the porch, bathed in the lamplight, he looked at her garden. seeing a beauty under the lamplight was like applying a filter, making her even more breathtaking. gu ci¡¯s long, slightly curled chestnut hair draped around her, complementing her fair skin and delicate features. lu zhiyuan did recall the scene of their passionate kiss that afternoon. he averted his gaze. ¡°tomorrow is chen rushi¡¯s surgery. do your best. if it fails, it¡¯s alright.¡± gu ci understood his unspoken words. chen rushi couldn¡¯t die yet, but no doctor could guarantee a hundred percent success. so, if it failed, it wouldn¡¯t matter. he would protect everyone¡¯s well-being. his assurance eased gu ci¡¯s mind. ¡°i trust you.¡± lu zhiyuan nodded and turned to leave. he had come here solely to discuss this matter, so she wouldn¡¯t lose sleep over it. however, gu ci stopped him. ¡°third master, can you tell me who you really are? and why can you teleport?¡± at the very least, she wanted to know what lu zhiyuan truly was. ¡°you¡¯re concerned about my superpower, worried that he might disappear?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her with a penetrating gaze, as if trying to read her thoughts. he had seen through her thoughts, but she didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°gu ci, you¡¯re truly biased!¡± his tone gave away no emotions, but gu ci sensed his displeasure. gu ci felt uneasy. ¡°third master, you and lu zhiyuan¡­¡± ¡°our matters, you need not be concerned about.¡± lu zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back. ¡°survival of the fittest, like the law of the jungle.¡± he departed with a cold demeanor, leaving gu ci with a chilling feeling. survival of the fittest, like the law of the jungle. they were destined to be rivals, only one would remain. if only one could survive, who would she hope it to be? gu ci dismissed the thought from her mind. dr. north was still awake. unable to resist, gu ci asked her, ¡°master, i have a friend. she likes someone, but that person has a split personality disorder. she likes both sides of him. is that considered wrong?¡± dr. north didn¡¯t reply. this was a tricky question. their relationship had spawned a third party, which was interesting in itself. gu ci knew that it wasn¡¯t a split personality, but she couldn¡¯t explain that. anyway, they perceived it as a split personality and refused to acknowledge each other. ¡°every finger has different lengths. it depends on which one she prefers.¡± dr. north¡¯s response was quite rational. gu ci shook her head. ¡°from beginning to end, she treats them as one person.¡± ¡°split personality isn¡¯t one person,¡± dr. north offered another perspective. ¡°if there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯s best to seek treatment without delay.¡± ¡°but his other personality has all the memories.¡± ¡°then that¡¯s not a split personality.¡± dr. north became intrigued. ¡°this is the first case like this i¡¯ve encountered. can 1 study it in detail? is it lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°no.¡± gu ci calmly replied. ¡°it¡¯s my best friend zhou jinjin. she¡¯s dealing with relationship issues.¡± dr. north stroked her chin and smiled. ¡°what about life skills and job skills?¡± ¡°divergent tastes, but they¡¯re fundamentally compatible.¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°it¡¯s another person, possessing both sets of skills.¡± ¡°this is the first time i¡¯ve encountered such a case.¡± dr. north said. ¡°i¡¯ll look into it for you.¡± ¡°no need.¡± gu ci said, ¡°she doesn¡¯t want others to know about these matters. she¡¯s just feeling overwhelmed. please keep this confidential, master.¡± dr. north looked deeply at her and smiled. ¡°alright!¡± the next morning, gu ci and dr. north went to the hospital together to prepare for the surgery. chen rushi was in good physical and mental condition. after gu ci finished her final checkup, the nurses wheeled him into the operating room. lu zhiyuan was also at the hospital. before gu ci entered the operating room, lu zhiyuan seemed to have regained his usual charm. he had recovered from last night¡¯s madness and appeared as the flamboyant third young master once again. ¡°just do your best,¡± he sneered. ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter if he dies.¡± this sentiment echoed the third master¡¯s.. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Whoever Watches Will Die! chapter 168: whoever watches will die! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°good!¡± gu ci smiled and said, ¡°i believe you.¡± dr. north glanced at lu zhiyuan and followed gu ci into the operating room. after experiencing grandma¡¯s surgery once, gu ci had become familiar with the process. she was skilled and adept after the first and second times. the fear only lay in the outcome of the surgery. this surgery was significant to everyone involved ¨C ji chi, jiang junlin, and lu zhiyuan were all waiting for news. gu ziyu was the most relaxed one. he was at ji chi¡¯s place, working on his paper and eating junk food as if he were making up for all the junk food he hadn¡¯t eaten in his previous life. then, he was surprised to find ji chi watching cooking videos. ¡°ji chi, let¡¯s have buddha jumps over the wall for lunch. i haven¡¯t had it in a while.¡± ji chi lifted his head from the video and finally remembered the persona that gu ziyu had assigned to him. ¡°baby, you¡¯ve misunderstood something. do you think 1 can cook buddha jumps over the wall?¡± ¡°you can¡¯t?¡± gu ziyu asked in surprise. ¡°washing hands and making soup, does this kind of persona suit me?¡± ji chi shrugged. ¡°not really,¡± gu ziyu murmured to himself. ¡°so, you can¡¯t cook?¡± ¡°i can only make some simple dishes,¡± ji chi said. ¡°in your eyes, am i a jack of all trades?¡± gu ziyu thought to himself, being a jack of all trades was pretty much the same as being perfect ¨C truly capable of everything except having a bit of a mischievous nature and a somewhat ruthless personality, especially towards jiang junlin. in gu ziyu¡¯s eyes, he was perfect. if he had a different personality, he would be flawless. gu ziyu said, ¡°i had a dream. 1 dreamt that you made buddha jumps over the wall for me.¡± he looked at ji chi with an innocent expression. ji chi had a deceptive appearance, and gu ziyu also had a quite deceiving face. ji chi couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. ¡°buddha jumps over the wall takes five to six hours to make. let¡¯s order takeout.¡± ¡°junlin brother loves buddha jumps over the wall the most.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t know how to reply. indeed, people were delicate, and the things they ate were also delicate. jiang junlin was restless. he messaged gu ziyu, who replied. gu ziyu recalled the slip of the tongue he had made and tried to cover it up, ¡°junlin brother, ji chi is useless. he can¡¯t even cook. i dreamt about him making a grand feast for me, but it was my misunderstanding.¡± jiang junlin stared. baby, if you don¡¯t explain, this will blow over. the more you explain, the more suspicious it becomes. gu ziyu shifted his blame to ji chi. ¡°don¡¯t lie to people in the future.¡± it was all ji chi¡¯s fault. if he hadn¡¯t lied, how could there have been a misunderstanding? ji chi looked innocent, recalling that he had just lied to jiang junlin and gained an advantage. he felt a rare sense of guilt and even a bit of nostalgia ¨C savoring the taste of deceit. he wanted to lie again! jiang junlin was so difficult to deal with. to lie again, what excuse could he use? he glanced at the time and chuckled, saying, ¡°baby, you stay at home and play. big brother is going to take care of some minor matters.¡± jiang junlin waited at home for news from the hospital. today, no one from the jiang family went out. captain zhang qiang of the security team searched near the jiang residence and found no suspicious individuals. ¡°don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± ¡°yes, master.¡± jiang junlin raised his hand and checked the time. the surgery was at ten o¡¯clock, and it was already one o¡¯clock. three hours had passed, but there was still no news from the hospital. this could be considered good news. in the hospital, the surgery led by gu ci encountered a massive problem. people from the chen family¡¯s collateral line somehow got wind of chen rushi¡¯s surgery and came to the hospital, causing a commotion. the chen family held significant influence in the local chinese community in country m. they were a local powerhouse and had been successful in the financial sector. originally, they had risen to power through the underworld, and they still had a bit of banditry in them. a group of them caused a scene at the hospital, insisting on questioning the lead surgeon. they wanted to know who had signed the surgery consent form for chen rushi. since there was no family member¡¯s signature, why was the surgery performed on chen rushi? lu zhiyuan could tell that there was trouble brewing. he instructed li jiang to remove the troublemakers. he had already anticipated this move and had li jiang bring several dozen people to the hospital. the chen family¡¯s interference was quickly suppressed by li jiang¡¯s team, preventing any major disturbances at the hospital. chen jing began to make a scene, threatening to sue the hospital for performing surgery without a family member¡¯s consent. the commotion drew a crowd outside the hospital, where lu zhiyuan¡¯s security team and the chen family¡¯s members faced off, causing concern among many patients and their families. this situation couldn¡¯t escalate. gu ci was the lead surgeon, and any investigation could potentially lead to complications. lu zhiyuan lowered his voice and ordered li jiang, ¡°bind them all up and take them to the harbor. when chen rushi wakes up, let him handle it himself.¡± before li jiang could carry out the order, ji chi arrived. he took over the situation, soothing the chen family members with gentle words. he escorted them away to prevent any further disturbances at the hospital. once they were away from the hospital, in a secluded area, ji chi changed his demeanor. a dozen or so guards appeared, and they swiftly tied up the chen family members. ¡°ji chi, you little brat, what do you think you¡¯re doing? i¡¯m the second young master of the chen family. if you dare to tie me up, you better think twice about your own weight!¡± chen jing struggled against his restraints, infuriated and embarrassed. ji chi chuckled, patting his face. ¡°you caused a scene at the hospital and almost disrupted mr. chen¡¯s surgery. if there¡¯s even the slightest mishap, you, as a beneficiary, won¡¯t escape blame. even if i were to kill you, when mr. chen wakes up, he wouldn¡¯t hold me accountable.¡± chen jing¡¯s expression turned sinister. ¡°what if he dies? the chen family is under my control. ji chi, you¡¯d better not offend me.¡± ji chi burst into laughter. he was young, and his laughter was hearty and harmless. just as chen jing thought ji chi wouldn¡¯t take action, ji chi suddenly struck with a punch, knocking out one of chen jing¡¯s teeth. chen jing let out a pained scream. when ji chi first joined chen rushi, no one in the chen family had looked up to him. he had a compelling appearance and was young and clean-cut. many of the male and female members of the chen family had their eyes on him. chen jing had bullied ji chi and even used physical force against him. ji chi had always remembered this grudge. ¡°you dare to hit me? you little brat, you¡¯re dead!¡± chen jing was furious. ji chi¡¯s laughter formed two small dimples on his cheeks. ¡°i¡¯m betting that mr. chen won¡¯t die. it¡¯s you who will die.¡± chen jing was shocked. ¡°you¡­ could it be that chen rushi¡¯s condition isn¡¯t that serious?¡± ji chi pulled out a wet tissue and wiped his hand as if he had dirtied it while punching chen jing. ji chi¡¯s eyes and brows wavered slightly, his appearance alluring and somewhat enchanting. ¡°if i didn¡¯t exaggerate, why would you dare to bring people to the hospital?¡± chen jing broke out in a cold sweat and widened his eyes. ¡°it¡¯s you¡­ you deliberately informed me. why did you do this? i understand now. you¡¯re seeking revenge. ji chi, you¡­ you¡¯re so cunning!¡± chen rushi was the type to seek vengeance for the smallest grievances, even from collateral relatives. if a collateral relative knew that he was lying on the operating table, helpless like a fish on a cutting board and that people were causing a scene at the hospital, intentionally obstructing his surgery¡­ when he woke up, he would undoubtedly settle accounts. chen jing wouldn¡¯t end up well. ji chi lifted his hand and placed it in the sunlight, blowing on it lazily and with a carefree attitude. he then continued, ¡°back then, you wanted to have your way with me, drugged me, took advantage of my youth. did you think i didn¡¯t understand what that drug was?¡± he lowered his hand and approached chen jing. ¡°i knew it was a scheme, but i still drank it. yet, i¡¯ve always remembered this grudge.¡± ¡°you little scoundrel, i didn¡¯t even lay a finger on you. who benefited from that incident? why do you hold a grudge?¡± chen jing erupted in rage, wanting nothing more than to harm ji chi. ji chi burst into laughter, patting his face with an easygoing and even pleasant tone. ¡°you¡¯re right, 1 have to thank you. otherwise, i wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to meet him.¡± he changed his demeanor once again, narrowing his attractive eyes and letting his smile fade. an icy, chilling aura emanated from him. ¡°i detest it when people look at me with that kind of gaze. whoever looks at me like that, dies!¡± with a wave of his hand, he commanded, ¡°take them away!¡± ¡°yes!¡± the guards moved swiftly, and they bound all eight members of the chen family and took them away.. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Are You Looking At Me Or Third Master (1) chapter 169: are you looking at me or third master (1) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the chen family caused a disturbance without alerting the operating room. lu zhiyuan stepped in to stop him. the hospital director approached lu zhiyuan and said, ¡°third young master, miss gu ci performed unauthorized surgery again. despite it being for saving a life, it¡¯s still inappropriate. if this gets exposed in the future, both she and the hospital will be affected. you should handle the public relations aspect in advance.¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± lu zhiyuan said casually. ¡°she¡¯s treating and saving people, not committing some unforgivable crime. besides, the hospital is busier than a supermarket during the new year¡¯s holiday every day. we¡¯re not short of patients.¡± the hospital director gaped. the hospital director was worried sick, only to find out that the young master wasn¡¯t concerned. ¡°what kind of stupid surgery is this? it¡¯s been five hours and it¡¯s still not over.¡± lu zhiyuan was growing impatient. he was worried about accidents. if chen rushi hadn¡¯t been audacious enough to touch gu ci, he wouldn¡¯t have stood guard outside the operating room. the hospital director said, ¡°cardiac surgery is delicate, third young master, please be patient.¡± lu zhiyuan impatiently stared at the operating room. finally, at four in the afternoon, the surgery was completed. chen rushi had narrowly pulled through. he had managed to make it, and the surgery was a complete success. this surgery was more precise than the one on the elderly lady, and it lacked the dangers the elderly lady¡¯s surgery had. the elderly lady had multiple underlying health conditions, making her prone to complications. chen rushi, on the other hand, was healthy aside from the complexity of the surgery itself, so the risks weren¡¯t significant. after gu ci finished suturing, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. she had just completed the second surgery of her life. when gu ci emerged from the operating room, the first person she saw was lu zhiyuan. he didn¡¯t care about chen rushi being wheeled off to the ward; his gaze was fixed on gu ci. amidst a group of doctors wearing masks and white coats, he immediately recognized her. his gaze burned onto her, as intense as ever. they exchanged greetings, but his eyes always carried the message, ¡°this woman is mine!¡± gu ci changed her clothes, removed her mask and cap. her hair was drenched. when she came out, lu zhiyuan was still waiting for her. she gave him a soft smile. approaching him, she naturally embraced him. lu zhiyuan was taken aback but didn¡¯t push her away. he realized that even third master could see this. a secretive thrill coursed through him. third master, did you see? cici hugged me willingly! ¡°i¡¯m so hungry¡­¡± gu ci held onto his waist. she hadn¡¯t eaten much for breakfast, and after more than six hours of surgery, her stomach was empty. ¡°let¡¯s go, third brother will treat you to a meal!¡± his voice was brimming with delight. gu ci looked at him in surprise. lu zhiyuan had been in a bad mood for a while, with no smiles on his face and an ominous aura in his gaze. he was becoming more and more like third master, and even li jiang didn¡¯t dare to provoke him. but overnight, it was as if he had reached a breaking point, and then the clouds had lifted. he was back to his casual and cheerful self. ¡°why are you looking at me like that?¡± lu zhiyuan sarcastically remarked, ¡°don¡¯t i resemble third master?¡± gu ci shook her head, avoiding any landmines, ¡°1 like seeing third brother¡¯s smile.¡± that smile was the most soothing remedy for gu ci¡¯s heart. joy began to radiate in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. leaning down, he lowered his head, his nose brushing against hers. their breaths intertwined. ¡°really?¡± gu ci tilted her head slightly, then pecked his lips. it was about to become a passionate kiss, but she mischievously asked, ¡°third brother, 1 kissed you without your permission. are you not angry?¡± lu zhiyuan was dumbfounded. the one who was supposed to provoke was now being provoked. lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood turned complex. after chen rushi¡¯s postoperative care meeting, which gu ci couldn¡¯t attend due to the distance, lu zhiyuan took her to the hospital cafeteria for a meal. the private hospital¡¯s cafeteria had a wide variety of food, and lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t picky. he grabbed a tray and selected dishes alongside gu ci. it was an entirely new experience for her, and lu zhiyuan might be selective, but he wasn¡¯t fussy. unlike jiang junlin, who wouldn¡¯t eat anything that didn¡¯t suit his palate, lu zhiyuan was more flexible. ¡°the hospital director asked if you¡¯d like to do an internship here during the winter and summer breaks. they¡¯re considering having you work at the hospital after you graduate,¡± lu zhiyuan said. this was the lu family¡¯s hospital, and the director wanted to recruit talent through him. gu ci wanted to work in a clinical setting, and the hospital was the ideal choice. ¡°do you want me to come?¡± lu zhiyuan replied casually, ¡°that¡¯s up to you, it¡¯s your decision.¡± gu ci smiled softly, and perhaps even lu zhiyuan himself didn¡¯t realize that when he didn¡¯t oppose something, he generally agreed. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°why are you smiling?¡± ¡°are you regretting saying you want us to go on our separate ways?¡± gu ci leisurely ate her spare ribs and asked. lu zhiyuan, who was being caught off guard, also laughed. ¡°can¡¯t i?¡± ¡°i dare not!¡± gu ci lowered her gaze, thinking to herself that once a decision was made, she wouldn¡¯t back down. she looked at him, ¡°however you want things to be, that¡¯s how they¡¯ll be.¡± despite her words, because of his response, her ears turned red. with her understanding of lu zhiyuan, he wouldn¡¯t lift a finger against her until the matter between him and third master had been resolved. after the meal, gu ci held a postoperative recovery meeting with the hospital staff. dr. north returned to his ward to recuperate. gu ci provided some suggestions, which were then passed on to chen rushi¡¯s medical team. finally, the chapter on this surgery came to an end. after the meeting, lu zhiyuan escorted gu ci home. ¡°third brother, i want to buy a cup of milk tea.¡± ¡°why suddenly in the mood for milk tea?¡± ¡°i¡¯m in a good mood!¡± gu ci raised her hand, and sunlight streamed through her fingers, falling onto her eyes. ¡°one successful surgery, and i¡¯m happy.¡± he was willing to indulge her, no longer saying the phrase ¡°each to their own,¡± but even happier. lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t interested in milk tea, but gu ci had a particular shop in mind. he drove her there. the small shop was only five kilometers from the blue fields villa, located on art street. ginkgo trees lined both sides of the street, their leaves a golden hue. a red sports car drove through this golden scenery, creating a stunning contrast of colors. several customers were waiting at the milk tea shop. gu ci got out of the car, placed her order, and stood in line. a gust of autumn wind swept by, and gu ci turned to look at lu zhiyuan. he was dressed in a black t-shirt, black jeans, black and white high-top sneakers, a silver sweater chain hanging around his neck, and a black leather jacket. he was leaning lazily against the fiery red sports car, idly playing with his phone. in the background, the ginkgo trees formed a canopy of gold, creating a magnificent backdrop. lu zhiyuan stood out, his youthful handsomeness contrasting with the surroundings. gu ci couldn¡¯t resist and took another photo, setting it as her lock screen. she couldn¡¯t help but think of third master. he would never dress like this. he lacked lu zhiyuan¡¯s audaciousness. lu zhiyuan was like a newly unsheathed sword, sharp and eye-catching. third master, on the other hand, was an ancient sword with hidden brilliance. a substitute? gu ci chuckled softly. lu zhiyuan, look in the mirror. who in this world could be so blind as to mistake you for a substitute? ¡°two cups of taro milk tea, one without sugar with coconut, and one with half sugar and pearls, thank you.¡± the girls in front who ordered the milk tea turned around to see lu zhiyuan and excitedly snapped photos of him with their phones.. Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Third Young Master Teaches You About Love chapter 170: third young master teaches you about love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan seemed to sense something, raising his head to look at them. they blushed and hid again. they wanted to take a group photo but hesitated. when lu zhiyuan encountered fans, it was nothing special. after all, girls ultimately thought he didn¡¯t like to be disturbed, so they didn¡¯t ask for autographs or photos together. gu ci held two cups of milk tea, passing one to lu zhiyuan. he looked at the milk tea but didn¡¯t take it. gu ci said, ¡°no sugar.¡± lu zhiyuan remembered gu ci¡¯s empty friend circle ¨C besides a post about gu ziyu meeting while walking a dog, there was only a nine-grid photo from their trip to haicheng. there were no traces of him, nor of third master. he thought of his cousin from the branch of the lu family. she had been in a recent relationship, displaying affection every day ¨C eating noodles, taking a photo; drinking tea, taking a photo; even when strolling while in love, they took a photo. lu zhiyuan had blocked her posts. accepting the milk tea, he asked gu ci, ¡°want to take a photo?¡± gu ci blinked, then nodded obediently, ¡°sure.¡± the two cups of milk tea were placed together. as lu zhiyuan was about to take a photo, he noticed the bracelet on gu ci¡¯s wrist. he intentionally switched his hand to hold the cup, as he was also wearing a bracelet ¨C clearly a couple¡¯s accessory. coincidentally, as he framed the shot, a ginkgo leaf fell into the frame, creating a beautifully composed image. lu zhiyuan was often in front of the lens, possessing a good sense for composition in photographs. after taking the photo, he sent it to gu ci. lijiang, with a car full of security guards, watched from behind. everyone was amazed ¨C third young master, you¡¯re really toying with emotions here. gu ci remained puzzled, wondering what was going on. looking at her, lu zhiyuan scoffed, ¡°how dense!¡± gu ci wondered if it was because she didn¡¯t praise him? gu ci said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, the photo you took is really nice.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. he took a sip of the milk tea without expression, got into the car, and felt an urge to leave her on the street. gu ci boarded the car with a bewildered expression, quietly sipping her milk tea. once she took a sip, lu zhiyuan placed his milk tea inside the car. gu ci stole a glance at his profile. is he angry? why? ¡°third brother, don¡¯t you like the milk tea?¡± gu ci tentatively asked. ¡°it¡¯s good.¡± holding her milk tea, gu ci took out her phone, opened a chat with zhou jinjin, and sent a message. gu ci: i went out with lu zhiyuan to buy milk tea. i got two cups, and he suddenly asked if i wanted to take a photo. he took a picture and sent it to me, then he got angry. why did he take a photo and send it to me, and why is he angry again? zhou jinjin was speechless. zhou jinjin burst into laughter while holding her phone. seeing gu ci¡¯s serious expression was even more amusing. seeing the photo gu ci sent, the composition was truly beautiful, a classic example of a couple indulging in affection. zhou jinjin: he probably wanted to show off on his social media, such an obvious hint. do you even know how to be in a relationship? hahaha, cici, you¡¯re finally telling me about your romantic affair. it¡¯s quite rare. just post on your social media, show your affection; don¡¯t say anything, just post a heart emoji. gu ci was half doubtful, half believing. she opened her social media and glanced at lu zhiyuan. she posted a heart emoji and added a line praising lu zhiyuan¡¯s photography skills. zhou jinjin promptly liked the post and left a row of ¡°hahaha.¡± at a traffic light, gu ci sipped her milk tea and said, ¡°third brother, i posted something on my social media. you won¡¯t be angry, right?¡± lu zhiyuan took her phone, glanced at her post, raised an eyebrow slightly. he had misunderstood gu ci ¨C she had become perceptive. gu ci looked at his profile. ¡°if you¡¯re upset, i¡¯ll delete it.¡± lu zhiyuan pressed the like button. gu ci understood instantly ¨C he actually hinted that she should post on her social media. in reality, gu ci didn¡¯t know how to be in a relationship. the connection between her and lu zhiyuan had always been initiated by him. in her past life, she was full of inferiority and retreated in fear. she couldn¡¯t fathom lu zhiyuan¡¯s feelings, and the best years of her youth were wasted in confinement, causing her to lose her girlish heart. so, this is what being in love feels like! gu ci nodded, learning something new. lu zhiyuan dropped gu ci off at the entrance of blue fields villa. he didn¡¯t say much and just left. gu ci couldn¡¯t quite grasp lu zhiyuan¡¯s intentions. were they back to being as good as before? it didn¡¯t seem that way. ¡°take care,¡± maybe? but that didn¡¯t seem quite right either. what was he really thinking? gu ci couldn¡¯t figure it out. as ji chi returned gu ziyu, they passed by that street. they had seen lu zhiyuan and gu ci long before. lu zhiyuan¡¯s sports car was parked by the roadside, quite eye-catching. gu ziyu wanted to go over to them, but ji chi said, ¡°baby, be a bit more tactful, don¡¯t be a third wheel.¡± gu ziyu pouted. he realized that gu ci and lu zhiyuan had been having issues lately, not meeting for a long time, so it indeed wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. ji chi laughed and said, ¡°do you want some milk tea? i¡¯ll get you one.¡± ¡°yes!¡± ji chi smiled and took him to the nearby street, getting a milk tea for gu ziyu as well. when gu ziyu scrolled through gu ci¡¯s social media, he posted a photo as well. gu ziyu: i¡¯m an accidental bystander. the photo was just an empty milk tea cup. the two social media posts put together were quite amusing. gu ci even liked his post. both of them arrived home ¨C lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu didn¡¯t cross paths. gu ci chuckled and asked, ¡°did you see us on the road? why didn¡¯t you come and say hi?¡± that picture was probably deliberate. gu ziyu smiled, half-squinting. ¡°being a third wheel is annoying. i get it.¡± gu ci gaped. both husband and son were difficult to deal with. fortunately, while gu ziyu might tease him, he wouldn¡¯t genuinely be angry. gu ci found it incredibly amusing. chen rushi¡¯s surgery had been a success, which relieved her. dr. north was no longer a problem, and chen rush! wasn¡¯t going to pursue the issue of little cherry ¨C it was perfect! ¡°mom, have you made up with dad?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°not really.¡± ¡°then what does your social media post mean?¡± gu ziyu was confused. ¡°i thought you two had made up.¡± ¡°trying to please him,¡± gu ci admitted without reservation. ¡°why would posting something on social media make him happy?¡± ¡°to be honest, i don¡¯t know either.¡± gu ci shrugged. ¡°i just learned about it.¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t know what to say. when lu zhiyuan returned to global in a good mood, lu ze was waiting for him. regarding the hospital incident, the hospital president didn¡¯t keep it from lu ze, who had been waiting for lu zhiyuan for a while. ¡°how¡¯s your health?¡± after lu ze was poisoned, despite removing the toxins, his body suffered considerable damage. he felt older than before he got poisoned as if his body had aged ten years. lu zhiyuan poured him some tea. lu ze said, ¡°my immunity is low. i¡¯ve been feeling cold lately.¡± ¡°then let someone else handle the affairs of the lu corporation. go to haicheng to recover ¨C the climate there is good for recuperation.¡± ¡°hand over my life¡¯s work to someone else to manage? i can¡¯t trust that.¡± lu ze said, ¡°the matter with gu ci having two surgeries at the hospital must be handled properly. don¡¯t let anything go wrong.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll take care of it!¡± he¡¯d entrust this matter to li jiang. he needed to find out who leaked the information this time, even if it was unintentional. he had to resolve it.. Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Lu Zhiyuan’s Grievance chapter 171: lu zhiyuan¡¯s grievance translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu ze nodded, watching his son lounging with his legs crossed, playing on his phone. he didn¡¯t know what his son was smiling at on his phone, with a look of being immersed in a passionate romance. lu ze shook his head and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, do you want to race cars for your whole life?¡± lu zhiyuan looked up at lu ze, set his phone down, and lu ze continued, ¡°you¡¯re already twenty years old. after the new year, you¡¯ll be twenty-one. while the lifespan of a race car driver is long, there¡¯s still a peak age. you can¡¯t always stand at the pinnacle on the racetrack. have you considered retiring?¡± ¡°dad, i¡¯m only twenty. how can 1 retire before reaching my peak? at twenty, i¡¯m still in my rising period, not at my peak yet.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not telling you to retire this year. there should be a time, maybe at twenty-five? thirty? you have a family business to inherit. can you keep risking your life on the racetrack forever?¡± ¡°no one has died in fl for ten years. it¡¯s quite safe,¡± lu zhiyuan reclined lazily, ¡°i love racing.¡± this topic always led to arguments. lu ze suppressed his anger and tried a different approach, ¡°you still don¡¯t want to manage the lu corporation?¡± ¡°global group is handled by professional managers, and it¡¯s running well.¡± ¡°nonsense!¡± lu ze exclaimed, ¡°it¡¯s clearly you who¡¯s managing it. it¡¯s you who doesn¡¯t like racing!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression grew serious. among the first to know about his split personality was lu ze. lu ze knew everything about him, even more than others did. but lu zhiyuan disliked it when others mentioned ¡®third master¡¯. even li jiang, who usually spoke freely about everything, hardly mentioned third master unless it was absolutely necessary. lu ze knew this sensitive area and never dared to bring it up. lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°in your eyes, my racing is neglecting my responsibilities. i¡¯m now a world champion, bringing honor to the country. in your eyes, it¡¯s still not fulfilling my duty. in your eyes, only a son who inherits the family business is a good son, right?¡± every time gu ci was in danger, it was third master who stepped in and saved her from peril. in his father¡¯s eyes, the ideal son was also third master. he was merely a racing driver who neglected his responsibilities. they both thought third master was more important! ¡°it¡¯s fine if 1 disappear, right? you only need one son, right?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment. ¡°you wish i would vanish, so your favored son can inherit the family business, right?¡± ¡°don¡¯t misinterpret my words!¡± lu ze was also furious, the situation had escalated, ¡°you are the same person. if you like racing, then race. it doesn¡¯t conflict with inheriting the family business. since you¡¯re not handling it anyway, let him manage it.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened completely, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. his father didn¡¯t need a racing driver son. he wanted a son who understood finance, management, and could handle a multinational corporation. he didn¡¯t want a son who only understood racing. gu ci also needed third master. what could he do for gu ci? accompany her to watch movies, wait in line for milk tea, play the violin for her ¨C all things third master could do. what use was he? no one needed him! he covered his head in agony, feeling like his brain was about to explode. ¡°zhiyuan, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± lu ze just touched his shoulder when lu zhiyuan brushed his hand away and said sharply, ¡°don¡¯t touch me!¡± his head was splitting with pain, and the surging anger was overwhelming his mind. lu zhiyuan loathed the other soul within his body. why did he have to share his body with someone else? ¡°let¡¯s not talk about this anymore, okay? don¡¯t be angry,¡± lu ze hurriedly tried to soothe him. ¡°zhiyuan, calm down. let¡¯s pretend 1 never brought this up, alright?¡± with red eyes, he asked lu ze, ¡°you only think about having him inherit the family business because he¡¯s the son you desire ¨C perfect in everyway. and what about me? i¡¯m just a rebellious, surplus existence. if you don¡¯t mention it, should 1 pretend this never happened? you¡¯ve never considered my wish to recover, and you¡¯ve never cared. after 1 turned eight, i¡¯ve hardly seen the moon and stars. i¡¯m a complete person, yet 1 only have half the time others have. why? why should i live for your family business? why should 1 let him live?¡± ¡°zhiyuan¡­¡± lu ze looked at his distraught son with heartache. lu zhiyuan pointed at his head and said, ¡°he knows everything. he even knows how to race. he must be watching me like a joke. you all wish 1 would disappear, leaving only him to live. you¡¯re all the same, all the same! you won¡¯t get your way!¡± he stormed out angrily but stopped midway. third master regained consciousness from a dizzy spell. his steps faltered, and he leaned against the wall. a strange pain surged through his nerves ¨C a sensation he had never experienced before. lu zhiyuan¡¯s emotions and perceptions extended to his waking moments, something he encountered for the first time. seeing the time, lu ze rushed over and helped him sit down. ¡°zhiyuan, are you alright?¡± third master waved his hand and took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions. lu ze poured him a glass of water. lu zhiyuan looked at lu ze with great displeasure. ¡°you knew he doesn¡¯t like me, so why bring it up?¡± ¡°my health is deteriorating, and i need rest. i wasn¡¯t thinking of finding someone to manage the lu corporation,¡± lu ze hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction from lu zhiyuan. lu ze and lu zhiyuan had a friendly father-son relationship, they would tease each other and even get physical, but lu ze felt a bit apprehensive about third master. this son of his, he was a bit afraid of him. ¡°i understand.¡± third master said calmly, ¡°you can go back. i¡¯ll take a look at the corporation¡¯s documents.¡± ¡°are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°i¡¯m fine!¡± lu ze left with deep concern. he also regretted bringing up third master. lu zhiyuan was genuinely misunderstood. honestly, a son who was flamboyant and a world champion, bringing honor to the country was a matter of pride. while lu ze claimed he wasn¡¯t focused on his son¡¯s racing, he didn¡¯t hesitate to boast about how impressive his son was. one was lively, and the other, barely speaking a few words a day. people had their preferences. lu ze preferred his vivacious son, but bringing up third master set lu zhiyuan off. ¡°i¡¯m truly misunderstood!¡± li jiang looked at the defeated chairman and thought to himself. this was misdirected anger. third young master had been through some stress recently due to miss gu ci. just as things seemed to be improving a bit, lu ze had triggered him again. it¡¯s so unfortunate! after calming his emotions, lu zhiyuan called li jiang in. ¡°why did people from the chen family come over? what does ji chi want?¡± ¡°personal grudges,¡± li jiang wasn¡¯t entirely sure, ¡°he¡¯s got someone locked up on a ship in international waters.¡± ¡°tell him not to go too far. wait for chen rushi to handle it.¡± ¡°understood!¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his forehead. it had been a series of troubles lately, one wave after another. he only had time at night, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit frustrated. ¡°prepare the documents for the lu corporation for me.¡± ¡°understood!¡± li jiang left to delegate the work. holding his phone, lu zhiyuan initially intended to contact ji chi, but he inadvertently saw gu ci¡¯s and gu ziyu¡¯s posts in his private feed. with one behind the other, his emotions from when they took a photo together resurfaced, so he averted his gaze.. Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Do You Want to Try It? chapter 172: do you want to try it? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation on the campus of university a, bathed in the bright sunlight, gu ci sat by the window, attending the class. the political lecture was quite dull, and she found herself struggling to stay awake. she sent a few text messages to lu zhiyuan, but they seemed to disappear into thin air, receiving no response. gu ci¡¯s morning classes were full, while the afternoon was free. ziyu had classes throughout the day. gu ci headed home first and decided to call lu zhiyuan. after three rings, he picked up. ¡°what¡¯s up?¡± he asked. ¡°i have no classes this afternoon, how about a date?¡± gu ci inquired. there was a long silence on lu zhiyuan¡¯s end, a silence that made gu ci think he might decline. ¡°sure, i¡¯ll come pick you up,¡± he finally said. ¡°great!¡± gu ci was a diligent student, uninterested in romance; her focus was on her studies. after a conversation with zhou jinjin last night, she had even read an e-book on how to date. between her and lu zhiyuan, it was him who took the initiative. when she first started anew, she had vowed to pursue lu zhiyuan, but what had she actually done? gu ci racked her brain, but couldn¡¯t recall anything significant she had done to pursue him. publicly confess her feelings? that would merely be a way to make up for regrets from her past life. after taking a shower, gu ci dried her hair. she had naturally curly, chestnut-colored hair that she had styled nicely. she tied a blue-green ribbon onto her braided hair, giving her a fresh and gentle appearance that balanced out her cool demeanor. she chose a floral skirt, white sneakers, and draped herself in a beige windbreaker, looking both beautiful and elegant. when lu zhiyuan arrived at the blue fields villa, he saw gu ci, a stunning beauty, waiting at the door. she was naturally gorgeous, now in her blooming youth, and she had put on delicate makeup. standing in the autumn breeze with her scarf fluttering, she looked like a painting. with a smile, she outshone a thousand landscapes in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. in his eyes, there was a glint of amusement, and the previous day¡¯s madness and anger were completely absent in her presence. ¡°do 1 look good?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°very good,¡± lu zhiyuan generously praised her. among all the girls he had seen, gu ci was the most beautiful, growing from childhood into her present beauty. ¡°where would you like to go?¡± ¡°i want to go hiking.¡± this idea coincided with lu zhiyuan¡¯s thoughts. as a globally renowned racing driver, he attracted attention easily, and their previous movie date had been a lesson. autumn was the perfect time for viewing ginkgo trees; hiking, enjoying flowers, and taking in the scenery suited his taste. the two headed to the bodhi mountain, just a fifty-minute drive away. ¡°i sent me more than a dozen messages on wechat today, and you didn¡¯t reply,¡± gu ci remarked. ¡°i was just about to reply when you called,¡± lu zhiyuan lied. after his argument with lu ze yesterday, he had woken up with lingering anger. a rigorous three-hour training session left him with no time to check his phone. seeing gu ci¡¯s messages later had helped soothe his irritation, as they were just routine pictures and updates¡ªgu ziyu making breakfast, shots of the courtyard flowers, complaints about boring political classes. lu zhiyuan also noticed a pattern: gu ci only messaged him during the day, never at night. these daily exchanges helped ease the resentment and jealousy in lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. ¡°why did you suddenly think of going on a date?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, his smile holding a hint of playfulness. ¡°i missed you,¡± gu ci said. lu zhiyuan licked his lips, a smile reflecting in his eyes. ¡°gu ci, did you smear honey on your lips? so sweet.¡± ¡°do you want a taste?¡± gu ci replied. lu zhiyuan was speechless. looking at his speechless expression, gu ci realized that she had been influenced by the cheesy romance tips and phrases she had read the previous night. such words indeed sounded cringeworthy when spoken aloud. ¡°what kind of fancy book did you read?¡± lu zhiyuan teased. her attempt to flirt failed, leaving her a bit frustrated. gu ci felt a bit sulky and responded, ¡°read fewer of those fancy books. they don¡¯t suit you; they lower your iq.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ci¡¯s enthusiasm for learning how to date seemed to have been dampened by lu zhiyuan¡¯s remark. looking at her gloomy expression, lu zhiyuan sensed her effort. despite being deliberate, her efforts were touching in their unfamiliarity. she was trying hard to please him. since her birthday, lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t had a single day of ease. the matter between her and third master gnawed at him, making him angry, jealous, and defeated. his proud nature couldn¡¯t accept anyone treating him as a replacement for third master. jealousy tormented him day by day. he wanted a commitment from gu ci, a declaration that she didn¡¯t like third master and only liked him, but he had failed. jealousy tormented him day by day. he longed for a promise from gu ci, hoping she would utter the words that she didn¡¯t like third master, only him. but he had failed. gu ci had said they were the same person! lu zhiyuan found this laughable, not understanding why gu ci saw them as a single entity. his pride prevented him from accepting the reality that she loved both of them. he couldn¡¯t bear losing to third master either. until he came to a realization! since he couldn¡¯t let go, he would fight, snatch, and erase the memories of third master from her heart. he would never accept gu ci¡¯s love for both of them. however, he would make gu ci understand that he and third master were not the same person and make her choose. the two arrived at bodhi mountain and parked the car. lu zhiyuan pulled her close, kissing her lips. he had been wanting to do this since they were at the blue fields villa. gu ci responded to his kiss with tenderness. in the confined space, the only sound was that of their deepening kiss. gu ci gripped his collar, and he guided her emotions. ¡°did your book teach you how to kiss?¡± he asked in a husky voice. blushing, gu ci shook her head. lu zhiyuan smirked mischievously. ¡°let me teach you.¡± ¡°i want to be in a relationship with you. will you teach me?¡± gu ci inquired. lu zhiyuan¡¯s smile turned bewitching. ¡°i¡¯d be delighted.¡± gu ci¡¯s mood instantly lifted. they held hands and climbed the mountain together. she wisely refrained from mentioning third master; if she did, he would undoubtedly explode. for now, gu ci set aside her worries and enjoyed the beauty of autumn. bodhi mountain was covered in ginkgo trees, a popular spot for photography. the large expanse of golden leaves turned the mountain into an autumn wonder. it wasn¡¯t a major tourist attraction, mostly visited by locals wanting to capture the scenery, so the crowd wasn¡¯t overwhelming. ¡°consider this as making up for your birthday,¡± lu zhiyuan said while leading her up the mountain. ¡°if lu shijie hadn¡¯t caused trouble, your birthday wouldn¡¯t have been such a mess.¡± ¡°making up for my birthday? does that mean no gift?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan lifted her hand and shook the bracelet he was wearing. ¡°this doesn¡¯t count?¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t!¡± lu zhiyuan turned his head and planted a kiss on her lips. ¡°this young master¡¯s kiss is a gift that countless women dream of. i¡¯m being generous.¡± gu ci was speechless. the confident, proud, and self-absorbed lu zhiyuan was back. the two spent their date on bodhi mountain, not avoiding the crowd. on weekdays, the mountain was mostly frequented by middle-aged and elderly people, so their presence didn¡¯t cause much of a stir. gu ci stood amidst the fallen leaves while lu zhiyuan took photos. he had great photography skills, and each shot looked like a poster. gu ci¡¯s gentle appearance blended perfectly with the ginkgo trees; she was more beautiful than the scenery. lu zhiyuan felt a flutter in his heart. ¡°let¡¯s take a photo together!¡± gu ci pulled him in and asked a tourist to take their picture. the visitors coming for the scenery were all good at photography, and both gu ci and lu zhiyuan were satisfied with the result.. Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Sweet and Sour Love chapter 173: sweet and sour love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation on the bodhi mountain stands a temple, flourishing with incense, attracting countless couples. in front of the temple, there¡¯s a centuries-old bodhi tree adorned with many plaques of love bonds, also known as the bodhi tree. gu ci stands beneath the ancient tree, gazing at each plaque, most of them seeking a lifetime of togetherness. ¡°do you believe?¡± gu ci asks. lu zhiyuan shakes his head, ¡°i don¡¯t.¡± he only believes in himself. if he wanted gu ci, he¡¯d strive for her. seeking gods and buddhas was laughable; how could divine beings understand the thoughts and troubles of mortals? gu ci had also figured it out. there was a strong sense of ¡®my fate is in my own hands¡¯ about lu zhiyuan. he didn¡¯t believe in gods or buddhas, let alone fate. lu zhiyuan looked down at gu ci, ¡°do you believe?¡± ¡°sincere hearts yield results!¡± gu ci chuckles lightly, ¡°i want to make a request.¡± lu zhiyuan is displeased, not wanting her to make a request. growing old together with gu ci, but who was lu zhiyuan? he was him, but also the third master. hanging under this bodhi tree, he was averse to the idea. ¡°a protective charm!¡± gu ci smiles, ¡°i want to request a protective charm for ziyu.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled, ¡°asking for a protective charm under the bodhi tree, you are quite unique.¡± gu ci smiled gently, donated some money for incense, and bought a plaque of love. she wrote a few lines, hoping for ziyu to have a smooth life, free from illness and calamity. she devoutly hung it on the bodhi tree, beseeching the heavens to hear her prayer. ¡°you truly love ziyu deeply,¡± lu zhiyuan commented with a hint of discomfort. why does that little boy get gu ci¡¯s love? gu ci chuckled but didn¡¯t answer. inside the temple, there was a place that served vegetarian meals. it was rumored that after obtaining a plaque of love, one should partake in a vegetarian meal within the temple premises to enhance the efficacy. while waiting for the meal, lu zhiyuan went to the restroom. gu ci waited for a while, not seeing him come out. with a slight raise of her brows, she quietly walked to a corner and looked at the bodhi tree. as expected, she saw lu zhiyuan holding a wooden plaque, writing something, and tiptoeing to hang it on the tree. he even clasped his hands together, murmuring words, lost in thought. a gust of autumn wind passes, causing the wooden plaques on the bodhi tree to sway gently, like an ancient and devout hymn, responding to the wishes of the fervent lovers beneath it. gu ci gazed at his side profile, her heart pounding like a deer. in this moment, she was not influenced by memories of their past lives. in her eyes and heart, there was only lu zhiyuan, the contradictory but devoted lu zhiyuan. what about not believing in gods and buddhas? when lu zhiyuan returned to his seat, gu ci had prepared tea, and the vegetarian meal had arrived. it consists of tofu, greens, and mushrooms simple in flavor yet not unpleasant. while they dined, lu zhiyuan posted a social media update, geotagged on bodhi mountain. the photo captured gu ci¡¯s silhouette among the ginkgo trees, and he captioned it with just an image, no words. after the meal, passing by the bodhi tree, she suddenly took lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand, ¡°lu zhiyuan, i really like you.¡± the bodhi tree had stood for hundreds of years, lush with leaves, adorned with love plaques and protective charms. sunlight filtered through the branches, casting mottled shadows in her eyes. lu zhiyuan lowered his head and kissed her. gu ci, do you know? i really like you too! the wooden plaques in the bodhi tree swayed gently as if it heard the innermost voices of lovers. descending the mountain, gu ci grew tired. playfully, she asked lu zhiyuan to carry her on his back. he didn¡¯t refuse; his physical strength allowed him to effortlessly carry her without panting. ¡°where is the final race in december held?¡± ¡°in country f.¡± the race location was determined long ago. their team, imperial racing, was in tight competition with ferrari racing for the championship. due to lu zhiyuan¡¯s decision to skip one race, he was two points behind ferrari¡¯s top driver in individual rankings, securing the second spot. to win the overall championship for the year, he must secure first place in the upcoming race. ¡°i¡¯ll take ziyu to cheer you on!¡± lu zhiyuan considered the race¡¯s timing; it was during the day. last time, gu ci watched third master race in lavis. the thought makes him feel somewhat uneasy. that should have been her first race watching him. ¡°i¡¯ll definitely win the championship!¡± lu zhiyuan declared. gu ci wanted to say that the championship wasn¡¯t crucial; safety was. but thinking of lu zhiyuan¡¯s competitiveness, she smiled and said, ¡°sure, i¡¯ll be waiting to see you lift the trophy.¡± remembering last night¡¯s unhappiness, lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°do you want me to retire?¡± with her on his back, descending the steps as the sun sets and casts their intertwined shadows, she asked, puzzled, ¡°why would you retire? you love racing so much. until you reach the pinnacle, why retire?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips curled up. gu ci¡¯s words were like a divine needle that removed the melancholy from his heart. ¡°do you have an injury or something?¡± gu ci asked nervously. ¡°i¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ci mused to herself. why would he consider retiring when he¡¯s perfectly fine? ¡°racing is the most important thing in your life. don¡¯t give up easily.¡± her warm breath was right by his ear. lu zhiyuan stopped in his tracks, furrowing his brows slightly. ¡°gu ci¡­¡± ¡°yeah?¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath and grumbled, ¡°how stubborn!¡± gu ci was speechless. lu zhiyuan was frustrated that she was being stubborn. racing was an important part of his life, but back in lavis, he gave it up for her. nothing was more important than her. in her mind, did only third master have the courage to charge forward for her? before 6 o¡¯clock, lu zhiyuan dropped gu ci off at the blue fields villa, seemingly controlling the timing so she wouldn¡¯t have dinner alone with third master. gu ci understood his intentions and didn¡¯t say anything. she could empathize; if someone were interested in lu zhiyuan, she¡¯d think she¡¯d lost her mind to give them an opportunity for a private dinner. on his way back to the global sporting center, lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°third master, she¡¯s my woman. you better be smart and not go see her.¡± he knew third master could hear him. at a traffic light, precisely at 6 o¡¯clock, a seamless switch occurs between third master and lu zhiyuan. third master sneers coldly, ¡°childish!¡± if he really wanted to invite gu ci out or do anything, what could lu zhiyuan do? during gu ci¡¯s date with lu zhiyuan today, third master had been watching the whole time. his sensory connection with lu zhiyuan meant they shared emotions, joys, sorrows, and more. this unfamiliar experience was the first of its kind and caught third master off guard. before, no matter what lu zhiyuan did, third master observed like a detached bystander. although their memories were shared, their senses weren¡¯t. today, something seemed off. his mind was like a precise, unfeeling machine that systematically handled everything. but this unexpected event of shared emotions was like a malfunctioning processor that refused to function. he didn¡¯t want to know lu zhiyuan¡¯s emotions or feelings, and this irritated third master greatly. for over a decade, they coexisted without issues. what went wrong? gu ci was in a good mood. ziyu had prepared dinner and was now looking at her with a beaming smile. ¡°mom, you didn¡¯t wait for me to finish school. it turns out you went on a date with dad..¡± Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: The Official Announcement of Love chapter 174: the official announcement of love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°how did you know?¡± gu ci asked in surprise. she was worried that ziyu might feel uncomfortable, so she deliberately didn¡¯t tell him. ziyu snorted strangely, saying, ¡°the whole world knows.¡± gu ci took the phone. apart from posting songs, she wasn¡¯t fond of social platforms. the first trending topic was about lu zhiyuan and gu ci. lu zhiyuan posted her side profile. although there were no words, the picture and location explained everything. bodhi mountain, besides the middle-aged and elderly sightseeing groups, was where couples went to display affection. lu zhiyuan, for the first time in his personal updates, revealed his location¡ªbodhi mountain. his intentions were clear. this was their official announcement! in lu zhiyuan¡¯s super topic, there were candid photos taken by fans. lu zhiyuan was taking pictures of gu ci. they were having a vegetarian meal together, and there was a picture of him carrying gu ci down the mountain. this several-month-long dating rumor was solidified in lu zhiyuan¡¯s update. ¡°seriously, in terms of looks, they are absolutely a perfect match.¡± ¡°next month is the last competition of the year. why announce this now? what is lu zhiyuan thinking? did he voluntarily give up the championship?¡± ¡°the paradise for those who appreciate looks. gu ci¡¯s outfit is so beautiful. is there a link? sisters, can someone share the same outfit?¡± ¡°i knew they were in a relationship. lu zhiyuan, if you don¡¯t win the championship this year, get ready for the fans¡¯ backlash!¡± ¡°is gu ci crazy? she knows lu zhiyuan has a competition, yet she takes him on a date? he still needs to train.¡± ¡°vanity. are medical students so free? skipping class to go on a date. if lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t get the championship. 1¡¯11 hate gu ci forever!¡± ¡°so annoying. if you¡¯re in a relationship, be in a relationship. lu zhiyuan, you better hold onto the global championship title!¡± ¡°female fans are really making me laugh. with gu ci looking like this, not to mention lu zhiyuan, 1 also want to date her.¡± online comments covered everything, but overall, it was much better than the first time they had a dating rumor. gu ci received private messages from lu zhiyuan¡¯s rational fans, wishing her to urge lu zhiyuan to train and not to delay next month¡¯s competition. during their first dating rumor, lu zhiyuan¡¯s fans were strongly opposed due to his withdrawal from a competition. gu ci received a lot of abusive messages in her private messages. later on, as more people gradually captured photos of her and lu zhiyuan together, the fans accepted the reality. most importantly, she was outstanding. with a prominent family background and being a top student at the best university. the best form of love isn¡¯t cinderella and the prince. it¡¯s when you¡¯re great, and i¡¯m not lacking. she had enough capital to stand by lu zhiyuan¡¯s side. gu ci retweeted the post. gu ci: the photographer is really amazing! gu ziyu shook his head, feeling quite regretful. his dad had regained the top position in his mom¡¯s heart through charm and cunning. mom really loved him the most. ¡°baby, feeling unhappy?¡± ¡°just¡­ it¡¯s fine!¡± gu ziyu brushed it off lightly, his expression showing that he had seen through the world¡¯s warmth and coldness. ¡°baby has already accepted the fact that he¡¯s an unexpected existence. so, it¡¯s okay.¡± with an extreme twist in tone, gu ci found it both amusing and frustrating. gu ziyu¡¯s unhappiness lasted for a while before he was called to the study by chen liangdong to work. gu ci picked a bunch of flowers from the yard and went to the hospital to visit dr. north. dr. north had no family, had never recognized her daughter, and was quite solitary in the hospital. except for gu ci, no one visited her. when gu ci arrived, dr. north had just finished dinner. the hospital food was quite bland. apart from bringing flowers from her garden, gu ci also bought a bowl of sour noodles on the way. dr. north loved noodles. ¡°i¡¯m actually hungry. the hospital¡¯s nutritional meals are too bland,¡± dr. north remarked. this was quite similar to ziyu; he also disliked bland food. he had eaten barbecue a few times while working overtime at the mss. his taste had grown heavier. ¡°master, if you don¡¯t want to stay in the hospital, you can come stay at my place. i¡¯m quite good at cooking.¡± ¡°no need to trouble yourself. this injury needs to be taken care of. chen rushi hasn¡¯t woken up yet, and his people won¡¯t let me leave the hospital.¡± gu ci said, ¡°he should wake up tomorrow.¡± barring any unexpected circumstances, after waking up, it would be time for recuperation. dr. north knew the process as he was in the hospital, and chen rushi was calling the shots, so it was convenient for him. ¡°how¡¯s your hand?¡± dr. north¡¯s expression dimmed. ¡°full recovery is unlikely.¡± it hurt gu ci¡¯s heart a little. even just looking at the injury, she knew that a full recovery was unlikely. the nerves were severed. ¡°you know many doctors. are there no specialists in this field?¡± ¡°medical knowledge is interconnected,¡± dr. north said. ¡°cici, i have no regrets now. just focus on your academic pursuits. whether i can wield a scalpel or not is no longer crucial.¡± gu ci said lightly, ¡°i regret saving chen rushi because of your injury.¡± dr. north chuckled lightly. she was touched by gu ci¡¯s concern. she initially noticed gu ci mainly because of her talent, and more importantly, she thought she could divert chen rushi¡¯s attention and shield little cherry from harm. however, she hadn¡¯t expected gu ci¡¯s genuine kindness and sincerity. people¡¯s hearts were soft, and dr. north was genuinely nurturing her now. ¡°chen rushi, just like chen geng, always tries to take advantage. cici, you¡¯ve compromised once. if he tries to take advantage again, don¡¯t give him another chance. people like him have insatiable ambitions.¡± ¡°i understand.¡± chen rushi was a cannon fodder in his previous life, dying too early. this life¡¯s fate was different. gu ci understood that she wouldn¡¯t give chen rushi another chance¡ªcoercion or temptation, this was her only concession. ¡°it¡¯s better for him to be sensible.¡± gu ci¡¯s gaze turned slightly cold. she didn¡¯t want to be bothered by him again. ¡°do you want to have the same level of power as him?¡± dr. north¡¯ single question was like a thunderclap in the clear sky. gu ci looked at her in shock. ¡°master?¡± ¡°i was in hiding in prison for the sake of little cherry and for another reason.¡± dr. north asked, ¡°cici, 1 ask you, do you want the same level of power as chen rushi? or do you just want to be a doctor and save lives?¡± the temptation of power is something no one can resist, and gu ci was no exception, especially given her unique situation. while lu zhiyuan wanted to find his own peace, and the third master didn¡¯t want to see her, gu ci had thought that if she had the same power as the third master, she could imprison him, clip his wings, and make him rely on her for life. after all, she couldn¡¯t accept him leaving. he was determined to sever ties with her. she no longer cared about the outcome. this thought had taken root deep in her heart, like madness. at the craziest moment, if soul swapping were possible, she would willingly trade places. ¡°master, for now¡­ 1 want to be a doctor who saves lives.¡± dr. north looked deeply into her eyes. she could see the ambition hidden within gu ci, but there was a force that was suppressing both her madness and her ambition. ¡°very well!¡± dr. north chuckled. ¡°then let¡¯s both pray that chen rushi can be sensible.¡± on the open sea cruise ship. ji chi leaned against the deck, smoking a cigar. his posture was lazy and leisurely. the moon on the sea cast a gentle light on him, unable to hide his wicked nature despite the gentleness. his bodyguard nick came out. ¡°master, the person is half dead..¡± Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Brother Checking chapter 175: brother checking translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi puffed on his cigar and casually remarked, ¡°send someone to deal with it, but make sure they don¡¯t actually die.¡± nick lowered his head and replied, ¡°got it!¡± the phone rang, and ji chi glanced at his expressionless face, then smiled, ¡°chairman jiang, why are you contacting me so late?¡± ¡°where are you?¡± came jiang junlin¡¯s chilly voice. ¡°just making my rounds,¡± ji chi chuckled. jiang junlin¡¯s tone remained cold, ¡°it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still out on the open sea.¡± ¡°and if i am?¡± ¡°there¡¯s a significant incident on the open sea tonight. to avoid trouble, it¡¯s best to leave early.¡± ji chi fell silent for a moment and then said, ¡°understood.¡± jiang junlin hung up the phone cleanly. ji chi tossed his cigar into the sea and called for nick, ¡°inform the captain, let¡¯s head back.¡± ¡°will do!¡± as ji chi entered within the coastline, he noticed several coast guard vessels heading out to the open sea. they were approaching directly. ji chi raised a pair of binoculars, catching sight of gu ziyu on the deck. he arched an eyebrow slightly. mss¡¯s people? what were they doing out at sea? the two vessels passed each other, and gu ziyu also saw ji chi. he froze for a moment, then averted his gaze. ji chi leaned against the railing, deep in thought. mss had been unusually active lately, solving several major economic cases. ever since they established a dedicated department for investigating economic crimes six months ago, their effectiveness had been remarkable. with gu ziyu on their side, they were even more formidable. internet economic crimes always left traces, and as long as there were traces, gu ziyu could track them down. amid the whistling wind, the rate of online criminal activity had drastically decreased this quarter. once ashore, jiang junlin¡¯s car was waiting by the coastline. ji chi¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. he gave a few instructions to his bodyguards and then got into the car. only jiang junlin was inside, while his security team stayed three meters away from him in another car. there was a faint scent of mint in the car, the fragrance that emanated from jiang junlin. ji chi took a deep breath and lightly chuckled, ¡°1 saw ziyu.¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°the yakuza and chen rushi have a deal involving a high-level economic crime case in city a. when chen rushi was unconscious, they got into trouble by double-crossing each other. they¡¯re conducting a transaction on the open sea tonight. you¡¯re chen rushi¡¯s capable right-hand man. weren¡¯t you aware of this news?¡± ji chi really didn¡¯t know. he furrowed his brows and found this matter intriguing. the yakuza and black hawk were archenemies. in the battle for dominance in the asian market, the yakuza held the upper hand. both of their financial companies were eager to take down the other. chen rushi wouldn¡¯t engage with the yakuza in any business without third master¡¯s consent. ¡°chairman jiang, you¡¯re incredibly well-informed,¡± ji chi said with a half-smile, half-smirk. ¡°is this an attempt to sow discord?¡± jiang junlin replied calmly, ¡°hualan bank is a major player in the domestic finance industry. we have well-informed sources. you¡¯re doing business abroad, not understanding the domestic situation. we rely on connections and relationships to thrive. without staying informed, how could you possibly know? if you don¡¯t believe me, you can head back to the open sea, and you¡¯ll see whether chen liangdong invites you for tea.¡± ¡°no need for that!¡± ji chi chuckled softly, reclining lazily. his mind, however, was racing. chen rushi wanted to seize power and eliminate third master. that was a given. but internal strife within black hawk, while it was their internal matter, once they joined hands with outsiders against black hawk, that crossed a line. third master wanted to completely devour the chen family, but he also feared damaging black hawk¡¯s strength. he hadn¡¯t tampered with the surgery to kill chen rushi. jiang junlin noticed ji chi lost in thought as he drove away from the harbor, heading towards the city. ji chi propped his chin up and flashed two dimples as he asked, ¡°chairman jiang, did you come to pick me up specially?¡± jiang junlin continued to drive without glancing at him, but he also smiled, ¡°guess.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t respond to his question and instead looked him over, ¡°i¡¯ve learned a new dish. would chairman jiang like to try it?¡± jiang junlin slammed the brakes, stopping at a fork in the road. ¡°chairman ji, i still have some business to discuss. it¡¯s not on the way.¡± ¡°well, that¡¯s a shame,¡± ji chi chuckled softly. suddenly, he grabbed jiang junlin¡¯s lapel and pulled it towards him, whispering, ¡°chairman jiang, your tie today looks exceptionally sexy.¡± he said this and then got out of the car. jiang junlin let out a light laugh. his bodyguards approached, and the two switched positions. jiang junlin sat in the back seat, and as the car pulled away, he let out a long breath. he tugged at his tie, then casually undid it and tossed it aside. with two shirt buttons undone, jiang junlin appeared even more languid than usual. ¡°master?¡± one of his bodyguards inquired. jiang junlin glanced at the tie ji chi had given him. ¡°it¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°understood!¡± ji chi was indeed not chen rushi¡¯s man. he had no knowledge of such important information and had almost fallen into a trap. it seemed that ji chi had been following chen rushi, and he must have had ulterior motives. the elusive third master of black hawk was ji chi¡¯s true master! ¡°little wolf cub¡­¡± jiang junlin scoffed coldly. he was genuinely curious now. what ability did this third master possess that made ji chi willingly serve him? the phone rang, and jiang junlin glanced at it before answering. ¡°master, they¡¯re all apprehended.¡± in the phone call, apart from the man¡¯s voice, the sound of waves could be heard. jiang junlin¡¯s voice remained cool, ¡°understood. they can take the people, but the goods must be left behind.¡± ¡°got it!¡± after returning to the blue fields villa from the hospital, gu ci saw jiang junlin¡¯s car. after parking her car, she walked over, asking, ¡°big brother, why are you here?¡± jiang junlin opened the trunk and had brought a box of large hairy crabs and a box of rare fruits. he said, ¡°grandmother misses you and ziyu. 1 thought i¡¯d bring you some things.¡± gu ci had been busy with lu zhi yuan and chen rushi¡¯s matters and hadn¡¯t gone to the jiang¡¯s house for a meal in a while. she and jiang junlin entered the house. jiang junlin placed the items down and casually asked, ¡°where¡¯s ziyu?¡± ¡°he¡¯s in the study, i think!¡± gu ci went upstairs, not seeing gu ziyu. ¡°where did baby go?¡± gu ci came back downstairs. ¡°ziyu might have gone out for something.¡± jiang junlin glanced at his watch. it was 11 o¡¯clock; it should be ending soon. ¡°he¡¯s still a child, burdened with coursework. why would he go out so late?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s profession was a secret, and gu ci didn¡¯t reveal it. ¡°he might have gone to meet a friend.¡± she poured a glass of water for jiang junlin. after a trip to the hospital, she was hungry. gu ci washed the fruits and sliced them, noticing jiang junlin didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry to leave. so, she prepared a few extra slices. ¡°big brother, i¡¯ll bring ziyu home for dinner this weekend.¡± ¡°sure, i¡¯ll let grandma know. we¡¯ll prepare dishes that both you and ziyu enjoy.¡± ¡°ziyu isn¡¯t picky. he just loves meat,¡± gu ci said helplessly. ziyu, the little carnivore, didn¡¯t like vegetables. jiang junlin asked, ¡°have you visited chen rushi at the hospital? how is he?¡± ¡°he should wake up tomorrow.¡± a faint smile crept onto jiang junlin¡¯s lips. ¡°that¡¯s good!¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow, curious about his meaning. jiang junlin didn¡¯t elaborate further. until chen rushi woke up, there was still uncertainty. it was just that when he did wake up, jiang junlin had a significant gift to give him. jiang junlin leaned back lazily under the lamplight. now that gu ci observed, she noticed her typically restrained and austere older brother. his tie was off, and the buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his slender and handsome neck. for a moment, gu ci was struck by his charm. even though she regarded lu zhiyuan as the most handsome man in the world and truly believed it, there was no denying that the twenty-year-old lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t exude the same kind of red-faced, weak-legged sexual tension that jiang junlin radiated. even a biological sister could be swayed by such allure! Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: True Love Kills chapter 176: true love kills translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci touched her earlobe, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°brother, did you come to find me because there¡¯s something?¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t beat around the bush, implying, ¡°ziyu is still young, let him go on fewer field assignments.¡± gu ci hesitated, ¡°how did you know?¡± jiang junlin said calmly, ¡°recently, someone at a dinner mentioned a conflict with chen liangdong. he made an exception to recruit a child, so i paid attention. add to that, lu shijie was sentenced to death. he deserved it, but his crime didn¡¯t warrant death. this matter isn¡¯t hard to investigate. if the child isn¡¯t at home this late at night, besides a field assignment, what else could it be?¡± a jolt of apprehension surged through gu ci. if ziyu wasn¡¯t home at night, they always said he was at the ministry of state security. she believed ziyu and never doubted it. but if he was really going on field assignments, she wasn¡¯t happy. he was too young, powerless, and no matter how clever he was, he couldn¡¯t withstand a bullet ¨C the force of an adult¡¯s fist. ¡°i understand!¡± restless, gu ci wanted to call ziyu, yet feared disturbing him. jiang junlin had already laid it out. coincidentally, when gu ci saw jiang junlin off, she encountered ziyu returning. chen fei had brought ziyu back, close to midnight. ziyu hadn¡¯t expected jiang junlin to be at home. ¡°brother¡­¡± seeing ziyu safe, jiang junlin breathed a sigh of relief, ruffled his hair, and said, ¡°kid, go to sleep earlier. you won¡¯t grow tall if you don¡¯t.¡± ziyu didn¡¯t reply. are all adults like this? lu zhiyuan, gu ci, ji chi ¨C they¡¯ve all said the same. even uncle says this too. do i really look like a short winter melon? ziyu asked chen fei with confusion, ¡°am i taller than people my age?¡± chen fei straightforwardly affirmed, ¡°yes!¡± jiang junlin left with a smile. gu ci politely bid farewell to chen fei, then took ziyu inside. ¡°ziyu, did you go on a field assignment? why are you back so late?¡± ziyu had intended to come up with an excuse, but his shoes were muddy. just returning from a thrilling naval battle, he didn¡¯t hide it from gu ci. ¡°i¡¯ve been with the old man all along, and chen fei was protecting me. it was safe.¡± gu ci said, ¡°you work with information. there shouldn¡¯t be a reason for field assignments, right?¡± ¡°the old man hopes 1 gain more experience, see the world.¡± gu ci was speechless. he couldn¡¯t divulge the specifics to gu ci. even if ziyu wanted to tell her every detail, he still remembered the confidentiality agreement of the mss. ¡°mom, don¡¯t be mad. this won¡¯t become a habit!¡± ziyu tugged at gu ci¡¯s sleeve, acting spoiled. gu ci shook her head. ¡°i¡¯m proud of ziyu, not mad. i¡¯m worried about your safety.¡± ¡°i understand!¡± ziyu held gu ci¡¯s waist, sensitively thinking that his mom had always believed in him. she never doubted his field assignments. what did uncle say? or maybe uncle found out something? ¡°mom, did uncle say something?¡± ziyu had learned to be honest with gu ci. when he was confused, he asked. mom would never hurt him. he had to remember this. ¡°uncle said you¡¯re young, so you should go on fewer field assignments.¡± gu ci said, ¡°he knows about your identity and is concerned.¡± ziyu nodded. ¡°but he knows my identity. how come it¡¯s so coincidental? our information is kept absolutely secret. we only receive the mission code on the way. 1 only learned about the field assignment on the way.¡± gu ci was taken aback. ¡°maybe uncle has better sources of information.¡± just as jiang junlin arrived home, his phone rang. ¡°master, the goods are secured, no casualties.¡± ¡°and the mss?¡± ¡°no casualties there either.¡± jiang junlin nodded, greeted the old lady upstairs, and waved to his grandmother with a smile. his voice remained unchanged, ¡°everyone stay silent and wait for my message.¡± ¡°yes!¡± at the black hawk headquarters, ji chi and lu zhiyuan were reporting the news from the high seas. ¡°all three boxes of gold are missing?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, equally surprised. ji chi said, ¡°three hundred kilograms of gold, lost at sea. they say it was pirates in international waters, but there can¡¯t be pirates in that area of the high seas.¡± ¡°if three hundred kilograms of gold went missing right under mss¡¯ nose, chen liangdong won¡¯t escape blame,¡± lu zhiyuan mused as he sipped his strong tea. ¡°with so many personnel implicated, he¡¯s offended too many people.¡± the upper echelons of power in the country were tangled and complex, and naturally, some were protecting chen liangdong. it wasn¡¯t possible for him to act alone. with such a massive case, city a was in for a major shakeup. ¡°we must find out the whereabouts of this batch of gold,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°this is m country bank¡¯s gold reserve. they lost a total of five tons of gold reserve. we can only trace the entire gold reserve if we find this batch.¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t fathom how, right under their noses, mss could lose this gold. they had sent out a large group of people, so who had such extraordinary powers to intercept the shipment? ¡°we don¡¯t even know who took it. it¡¯s like finding a needle in a haystack,¡± ji chi said. ¡°this batch of gold has distinct markings. it can¡¯t be circulated. chen liangdong will dig it out even if he has to turn the earth upside down. have your people tail him,¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°what¡¯s the situation with the triads?¡± ¡°pei qiuying sent a message. they¡¯re not involved. three senior executives of the triads were apprehended. she¡¯s quite stressed,¡± ji chi replied. lu zhiyuan nodded. ¡°when chen rushi wakes up, lay the blame on him and let him handle it. everyone should be removed from the equation. since he was doing business with the triads, he will have left a backdoor. don¡¯t let mss focus on black hawk again. with ziyu there¡­ black hawk has always been a thorn in mss¡¯ side.¡± ¡°understood!¡± ji chi said, ¡°such large gold bars can¡¯t just vanish into thin air. they must still be in city a. they have special markings, so they can¡¯t be distributed. they¡¯re either hidden or melted down again.¡± ¡°if they¡¯re in a hurry to dispose of them, they¡¯ll be melted down again,¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. ji chi exchanged a glance with lu zhiyuan. ¡°i¡¯ve already dispatched people to monitor all the gold processing factories in city a. if there¡¯s any movement, we¡¯ll receive information.¡± ¡°i think there¡¯s a more suspicious place,¡± lu zhiyuan pondered. ji chi¡¯s intuition caught on, ¡°the bank!¡± ¡°exactly, with this much gold, only a bank could surreptitiously transport and store it,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ji chi¡¯s jaw tensed slightly, his heart rate quickened, and he inexplicably thought of the scene where jiang junlin was waiting for him by the shore. he was dressed in ji chi¡¯s favorite suit, wearing the tie ji chi had given him. ji chi poured a glass of wine and downed it. the spicy liquid slid down his throat. he suddenly smiled. ¡°why are you laughing?¡± ¡°just thinking¡­ of something amusing,¡± ji chi shook his head, ¡°it¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°do you suspect someone?¡± lu zhiyuan asked coldly. ji chi was resolute, ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan said, ¡°i¡¯ll find a way to get the banking association to re-register the bank¡¯s gold reserves. we¡¯ll act from both ends. this gold is related to black hawk¡¯s reputation. we need to return it to mss intact.¡± ¡°understood!¡± after lu zhiyuan left, ji chi sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, downed the remaining wine in his glass, and a shadow of cunning flickered in his beautiful eyes. tonight, why did he go to the high seas? it began with jiang junlin suddenly asking about chen jing, igniting a sinister fire in him. so, he went to torment chen jing. chen jing was someone he and jiang junlin knew from before. if jiang junlin hadn¡¯t mentioned him, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered that chen jing was locked up on a cruise ship. was it unintentional or deliberate? if it was a deliberate trap, he should¡¯ve waited for mss¡¯ people to arrive and capture everyone in one fell swoop. why did jiang junlin remind him at the last moment, making sure he retreated to a safe area? it couldn¡¯t be that jiang junlin suddenly softened toward him and found him a suitable bed companion, right? ji chi crooked his finger, summoning nick over. ji chi said indifferently, ¡°i want all the information on jiang junlin from childhood until now. focus on¡­¡± ji chi paused, ¡°focus on his time studying abroad and these recent assassination attempts.¡± ¡°yes!¡± nick took a few steps, then ji chi stopped him, ¡°you know about this, i know about it. understand?¡± ¡°understood!¡± ji chi leaned back, taking another drink. back when chen jing drugged him, why did he coincidentally encounter jiang junlin? his head had been clouded by the rush of a reunion after a long separation, and he had never suspected anything. in retrospect, every detail seemed peculiar. the best hunters often appear in the guise of prey. ji chi burst into laughter. ¡°did i really read him wrong, big brother?¡± oh, how adaptable he was.. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Playing truant and meeting the baby chapter 177: playing truant and meeting the baby translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu had not slept all night. this mission was about completely wiping out the criminal organization and chen rushi¡¯s gang. the goal was their traded gold reserve. this batch of gold had been stolen from a bank in country m without anyone noticing, secretly transported. only by tracing this part of the gold could they trace all of it. national security was responsible for recovering this batch of gold and returning it to the bank in country m, thus exchanging trade leverage. the people were captured, but the gold was nowhere to be found. chen liangdong was mainly responsible and would definitely be held accountable. gu ziyu had been waiting for news, wondering if the old man would face disciplinary action. but this couldn¡¯t entirely be blamed on them; who could have anticipated an unexpected obstacle. on gu ziyu¡¯s computer screen, there was a message from black hawk. black hawk: find a way. in five days, send someone to investigate the gold reserves of all the banks. gu ziyu: wasn¡¯t this batch of gold taken by black hawk? black hawk: no. gu ziyu: why should i believe you? black hawk: gold reserves are strategic resources. what use do we have for them? think about it carefully. who has national security recently obstructed, and who wants chen liangdong out of the picture? the consequences of losing this batch of gold are the real target. whoever could steal 300 kilograms of gold wouldn¡¯t be lacking this money. in an instant, gu ziyu was enlightened. recently, national security had been intercepting the financial battles between black hawk and the underworld. had they offended them? black hawk was uninvolved, but was the underworld? but the underworld had also seen some executives arrested, unrelated to them. gu ziyu didn¡¯t have time to ponder. this matter was too complex. he had to trace the whereabouts of this batch of gold to clear chen liangdong of blame. as gu ziyu had expected, chen liangdong made a pledge. he must recover the gold within a month; if not, he would be transferred at the same level, which was essentially a hidden demotion. the next morning, chen rushi woke up early. gu ci was in class. she received a message from the dean but wasn¡¯t particularly moved. it was within her expectations. at noon, she had lunch with gu ziyu and zhou jinjin. zhou jinjin was getting increasingly fiery, her enthusiasm was infectious. she seemed to be glowing, and even gu ziyu thought zhou jinjin looked more attractive. confidence could enhance a person¡¯s charm and beauty. in contrast, the sleep-deprived ziyu was sluggish, even nodding off while eating. zhou jinjin looked at ziyu¡¯s drooping eyelids. ¡°baby, is your academic workload too heavy?¡± gu ziyu, biting into a duck leg, nodded sleepily, ¡°mhm.¡± ¡°poor thing!¡± zhou jinjin said, ¡°don¡¯t overexert yourself. just lie down. anyway, relying on your parents is fine; you¡¯ll live a comfortable life for generations.¡± gu ci remarked, ¡°don¡¯t corrupt the children.¡± zhou jinjin chuckled, ¡°if 1 had five billion in the bank, why would i still work hard? i¡¯d become a lazy couch potato.¡± gu ziyu had chosen this profession with no intention of adding bricks to gu ci¡¯s bank account. he sighed sadly, ¡°just not being in the red is good enough.¡± if he couldn¡¯t find this batch of gold, he would end up in debt. for the task of contributing to his mom¡¯s savings, he would leave it to his dad. gu ci¡¯s phone rang; chen rushi wanted to see her. she had a full schedule in the afternoon and couldn¡¯t go immediately. she would go after classes. after hanging up, she heard zhou jinjin exclaim, ¡°wow¡­ something big¡¯s happened. cici, check the social media. our city is undergoing a major leadership change.¡± gu ci also took a look. the news briefly stated that due to personnel adjustments, the top leadership of the city was being replaced. the shorter the news, the bigger the issue. while it seemed unusual, it didn¡¯t have much impact on them as ordinary citizens. gu ci glanced at gu ziyu; he was holding a duck leg, eyes closed, almost asleep. the scene was quite comical. even when he¡¯s asleep, he won¡¯t let go of his duck leg. gu ci sighed inwardly. her precious son was seriously sleep-deprived. concerned about the news because of a distant relative in the mix, zhou jinjin said, ¡°cici, ziyu, you go ahead and eat. i¡¯m going home.¡± gu ci nodded. after she left, she brought a cup of coffee for gu ziyu. he had only finished half a duck leg, which had gone cold. gu ci set it aside and brought him another piece of meat. ¡°wake up a bit. what time is your afternoon class?¡± ¡°two o¡¯clock!¡± gu ziyu yawned and drank the coffee, his gaze fixed on the half-eaten duck leg. he had even dreamt of eating duck legs during his brief three-minute nap. ¡°after eating, go back to your dorm and take a nap. otherwise, you¡¯ll be sleepy during the afternoon class.¡± ¡°i want to skip class!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s drowsy peach blossom eyes were misty. ¡°then skip class and go home to sleep.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°really?¡± ¡°with your current state, attending class would be like sleeping.¡± gu ci asked, ¡°did you stay up late last night?¡± ¡°insomnia!¡± ¡°young minds can get troubled easily. no wonder you can¡¯t sleep.¡± gu ci was genuinely concerned about his health. but considering that ziyu rarely stayed up all night, there must be something significant going on. the major leadership change that was trending today didn¡¯t surprise gu ci at all. after gu ci¡¯s classes and after gu ziyu had lunch and informed his advisor, he headed home to sleep. once gu ci¡¯s classes were over, she sneaked into a noodle shop, bought some pickled noodles, sour noodles, a few pieces of cantonese dim sum, and a cup of milk tea. she packed everything and went to the hospital, starting with a visit to dr. north. dr. north smiled as she looked at gu ci. even raising a daughter wouldn¡¯t be as considerate as this, bringing delicious food every day to visit her. she wasn¡¯t well-acquainted in a city, so this really touched her. ¡°i¡¯m going to see chen rushi. you have dinner first, and later 1¡¯11 take you for a walk.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci went to chen rushi¡¯s hospital room. his professional team was all there. initially, they had biases and doubts about the young gu ci, but now they were all in awe. it¡¯s a world that admires strength. an eighteen-year-old girl who could independently complete a surgery they couldn¡¯t even handle themselves was limitless in her potential. she might become a figure atop the medical pyramid. chen rushi¡¯s surgical incision was hurting. he had taken painkillers, but his complexion remained haggard. ¡°cici, thank you. i owe you my life.¡± gu ci looked at his examination report without lifting her head, carrying the air of an experienced surgeon. ¡°that¡¯s unnecessary. focus on your postoperative recovery. your specialized medical team is in charge, i have nothing to do with it. 1 hope you¡¯ll be discharged soon.¡± ¡°cici, for the past¡­ all my impoliteness and rudeness, i apologize!¡± chen rushi had thick skin, able to adapt and adjust. this wasn¡¯t the first time he had apologized to gu ci. ¡°i accept,¡± gu ci smiled at him. ¡°chen rushi, if you truly feel grateful, 1 hope you won¡¯t disturb my life.¡± this was the sole reason she came to see chen rushi. chen rushi lightly chuckled but didn¡¯t respond. right at that moment, chen liangdong arrived with a few subordinates. he knocked on the hospital room door, and gu ci turned to look at him, a hint of surprise in her expression. chen liangdong was also taken aback. gu ci set aside chen rushi¡¯s report. ¡°director chen, it¡¯s been a while.¡± chen rushi asked politely, ¡°is there something you need?¡± chen liangdong replied calmly, ¡°there¡¯s a case that requires your cooperation for investigation..¡± Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Love Rival chapter 178: love rival translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen rushi narrowed his eyes. cases involving national security were always extraordinary. having just woken up from surgery, he was kept in the dark and didn¡¯t know which business deal had gone wrong. ¡°who is your attending physician?¡± chen liangdong asked officially. ¡°for special clearance, we need you to come with us.¡± gu ci had no intention of getting involved in the case. she bid farewell politely, and chen liangdong didn¡¯t stop her either. when she returned to dr. north¡¯s hospital room, she had already had dinner. gu ci accompanied her for a walk and casually mentioned that chen rushi had caught the attention of national security. she didn¡¯t care about chen rushi, but if black hawk was in trouble, would it implicate lu zhiyuan? dr. north said, ¡°a batch of gold was stolen from the m country bank, distributed and scattered all over. some of it fell into the hands of the underworld and was transported to city a. chen rushi wants to use this gold to open the doors to m country¡¯s financial elite. he reached a secret agreement with the underworld, and they quickly agreed. however, this gold-related case is incredibly complex. during chen rushi¡¯s surgery, someone leaked his information, claiming he had an incurable heart disease and was bound to die. someone on this thread double-crossed in the high seas trade and drew the attention of national security. as it turned out, while the people were all caught, the gold vanished midway, stolen by someone.¡± gu ci listened quietly, waves of astonishment and shock surging within her. why did master know so much about this? dr. north continued, ¡°black hawk and the underworld have clashed across the financial realm multiple times. in july this year, they engaged in a battle of longs and shorts. black hawk suffered a huge loss, 20 billion dollars. chen rushi¡¯s collaboration with the underworld at such a critical juncture is simply courting death. he might cooperate, but he¡¯ll definitely keep an ace up his sleeve. most likely, he¡¯s just peeling the outer layers, not harming the foundation.¡± curiously, gu ci asked, ¡°how much is the gold worth?¡± ¡°three hundred kilograms of gold, not worth much,¡± dr. north replied casually. ¡°neither side is short on money, but the value of the gold isn¡¯t measured in currency. it¡¯s a game.¡± ¡°does master know who took the gold?¡± dr. north shook her head. ¡°this operation was highly confidential, not a trace of information leaked. however, the investigation is intense. if someone wants to hide three hundred kilograms of gold, it won¡¯t be easy. clues will eventually surface.¡± ¡°why does master know so much about this?¡± gu ci asked in curiosity. dr. north fell silent for a while before whispering, ¡°the same batch of gold was lost by the bank over a decade ago. it happened to fall into chen geng¡¯s hands. later, through a series of coincidences, 1 managed to hide that gold. last night, when things unfolded, the unde world¡¯s pei qiuying begged me to hand over the gold to help them out. they¡¯re willing to pay double the price.¡± ¡°why has the m country bank lost its gold reserves repeatedly?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± dr. north strolled idly, her posture relaxed, like a recluse from the world outside. ¡°i¡¯ve been manipulated by chen geng for nearly twenty years. having turned the tide, 1 no longer want to get involved in their affairs. i just want to focus on teaching for the rest of my life.¡± while gu ci had come to listen to a case, she couldn¡¯t help but feel apprehensive. this matter was related to lu zhiyuan and also to gu ziyu. father and son were cleverly positioned on opposing sides. in the past life, if lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t died, ziyu would have been black hawk¡¯s successor. now, ziyu had become the destroyer of black hawk. in this father-son confrontation, who would emerge victorious? after walking for over half an hour, gu ci accompanied dr. north back to the hospital room. along the way, they ran into chen liangdong and several subordinates. chen rushi had just undergone surgery and couldn¡¯t leave. they had to interrogate him in the hospital and assign people to watch over him. seeing gu ci, chen liangdong walked over and chuckled, ¡°the weekend is coming. bring ziyu home for dinner. the pumpkins in the yard are ripe, and ziyu has been wanting to have pumpkin congee.¡± ¡°sure!¡± chen liangdong looked at dr. north who stood nearby, noticing a hint of avoidance in his eyes. he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, and after instructing his men, he left. dr. north watched chen liangdong depart with a puzzled expression on his face. in a hoarse voice, she asked gu ci, ¡°what¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°chen liangdong,¡± gu ci replied. ¡°the second-in-command of the ministry of state security.¡± in just two more years, he would become the head. dr. north¡¯s legs went weak. leaning against the wall, her back pressed tightly to it, her face turned pale. gu ci felt puzzled, ¡°master, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°just a bit of a headache,¡± dr. north rubbed his brow. ¡°cici, you should go back. i¡¯m a bit tired. i¡¯ll rest in the hospital room.¡± ¡°alright, please rest well, master.¡± as gu ci exited the hospital, a car was parked by the entrance, blocking the path. she was about to go around it when the car door opened, and an armed black-clad bodyguard stepped out, ¡°miss gu, our master requests your presence.¡± ¡°and who is your master?¡± gu ci narrowed her eyes, looking at him warily. ¡°you¡¯ll find out once you come!¡± ¡°what if i don¡¯t?¡± gu ci took a step back. this was a busy hospital entrance; they were being quite audacious. her heart sank, realizing the danger. ¡°miss gu, please!¡± the bodyguard was assertive. gu ci noticed the gun at his waist and her heart sank further. she took a deep breath, got into the car, the door closed, and they left the hospital. the car arrived at the harbor where a cruise ship was anchored at sea. gu ci followed the black-clad bodyguard onto the cruise ship. on the deck, a woman sat there drinking. the autumn wind rustled, and she wore a black dress that revealed her fair and slender arms. her long black curly hair cascaded down her shoulders, a blend of allure and elegance, exuding a harbor-style charm. unfazed by the cold, the woman¡¯s bright eyes held a hint of seduction, captivating yet dignified. holding a glass of red wine, she admired the view. gu ci looked at her in silence. the bodyguard said, ¡°master, she¡¯s here.¡± ¡°step back!¡± her voice was melodious. she smiled at gu ci, placed the red wine down, and walked over slowly. the cruise ship also departed from the shore. the woman was quite tall, wearing high heels, which made her appear even more statuesque. ¡°indeed, your beauty is outstanding. you¡¯re even more beautiful in person than in photos.¡± on the cruise ship, there were at least twelve bodyguards. observing closely, gu ci decided to play along since she was already here. ¡°i don¡¯t know you,¡± gu ci said indifferently. a stranger, she had never seen her in her previous life. ¡°nice to meet you. my name is pei, pei qiuying,¡± pei qiuying¡¯s voice was alluring, exuding the charm of a mature woman. every move and gesture displayed innate elegance. gu ci understood. she was pei qiuying, the current head of the underworld, twenty-seven years old this year. ¡°do you have something to discuss?¡± gu ci asked succinctly. pei qiuying looked at the young girl before her with amusement. t-shirt, jeans, long coat, hair tied in a high ponytail, she appeared like a student. her natural beauty was hard to hide even without makeup. unperturbed, calm, and collected, if she weren¡¯t gu ci, pei qiuying would want to be friends with her. beauty, intelligence, and courage, she was admirable. her gaze fell on gu ci¡¯s wrist, and pei qiuying said, ¡°i¡¯ve taken the liberty to bring you here because there¡¯s something i want to tell you. cherish your life and stay away from lu zhiyuan..¡± Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Third Master Likes Me chapter 179: third master likes me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci¡¯s first smile appeared after she boarded the ship, ¡°in what capacity do you approach me?¡± ¡°you¡¯re quite audacious, coming on board alone and daring to challenge me,¡± pei qiuying mused. ¡°we¡¯ll be in international waters in an hour. will you return alive, or will it be at my discretion?¡± there was no trace of the demeanor of a mafia heiress about pei qiuying; she seemed more like a refined lady from a noble family. ¡°i wager that you won¡¯t touch me,¡± gu ci stated coldly, standing in the wind. ¡°because you¡¯re jiang junlin¡¯s sister?¡± pei qiuying asked with a light laugh. ¡°hualan bank is unparalleled domestically, giving you confidence?¡± ¡°i dislike meaningless conversations!¡± gu ci responded indifferently. ¡°get to the point. why did you make me leave lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°he¡¯s mine!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s eyes also held a determined look. ¡°i won¡¯t accept him belonging to someone else, even if it¡¯s only part-time.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat; pei qiuying knew about lu zhiyuan¡¯s dual identity. ¡°why are you interested in third master?¡± pei qiuying was surprised and asked sharply, ¡°you even know about third master? did he tell you?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ci said, ¡°one person, two souls. he¡¯s the leader of black hawk.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s emotions flickered. ¡°since you know, it¡¯s simple. he has dual personality. he¡¯s a racer during the day and third master at night. we share a deep bond and have made a vow to grow old together. i¡¯ve known about your relationship with lu zhiyuan for a long time. you grew up together, yet you never knew third master¡¯s true identity. so you fell in love with lu zhiyuan, but he distanced himself from you. it¡¯s because i don¡¯t allow it. third master also told lu zhiyuan that he can¡¯t be with anyone. he¡¯s kept you at arm¡¯s length all this time because he doesn¡¯t want to hurt me. even though they¡¯re different people, if he cares for you and is with you, it would hurt me deeply.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart ached, a mix of pain and bitterness. she remembered third master¡¯s words: he had a special someone, and it wasn¡¯t her. was it pei qiuying, then? did he love pei qiuying? was that why he was distant from lu zhiyuan? ¡°i want his body and mind, completely, for myself,¡± pei qiuying declared dominantly. ¡°even with dual personalities, he can¡¯t have a wandering heart.¡± gu ci nodded in agreement. ¡°i feel the same!¡± coincidentally, she thought the same way. third master might not love her, but he absolutely couldn¡¯t love someone else! ¡°you¡¯re an insightful person!¡± pei qiuying appreciated gu ci¡¯s discretion. she had established her authority from the beginning by sending bodyguards to fetch her and bringing her to the cruise ship. a young woman in her prime, a college student, gu ci wasn¡¯t worth much of pei qiuying¡¯s attention. in her estimation, a single conversation would be enough to deter gu ci. ¡°you¡¯ve never cared about lu zhiyuan and me before, so why come looking for me now?¡± gu ci asked. pei qiuying sipped her red wine and then set it down. ¡°i¡¯ve been following his every race. honestly, his temperament is completely different from third master¡¯s. third master is the night, while he¡¯s the sun¡ªbright and vibrant. watching for so long, i sometimes get this illusion that there¡¯s no one with two souls, only him. during the lavis race, he gave up the championship for you, which annoyed me. fortunately, third master explained, so i didn¡¯t dwell on it. but this time, he actually made a public announcement on social media, stating that whether it¡¯s third master or him, there¡¯s only you in his eyes. you were just a bit lucky, growing up with him as childhood friends. if third master loves me, the other version of him will eventually fall for me.¡± gu ci laughed again. ¡°i feel the same!¡± once again, she shared the same thoughts with pei qiuying. her thoughts aligned perfectly with pei qiuying¡¯s. ¡°gu ci, as you can see, i am the leader of the underworld, and we¡¯re a perfect match. as for you¡­ you¡¯re not worth mentioning. you possess talent and beauty, with a bright future ahead, but we exist in different worlds. he will never choose you between us,¡± pei qiuying asserted from her position of superiority. ¡°i hope you¡¯ll understand the situation and not bring shame upon yourself.¡± in the last sentence, a black-mafia heiress aura finally emanated from pei qiuying. ¡°you say third master loves you?¡± ¡°we love each other, as sworn under the mountain and by the sea.¡± from gu ci¡¯s face, there was no hint of guilt. she spoke these words with confidence. at the very least, third master and her must share an intimate connection. gu ci¡¯s heart clenched with a suffocating pain. third master¡¯s words about having a special someone echoed repeatedly in her ears. gu ci felt utterly despondent. her deeply hidden inferiority complex resurfaced. whether it was lu zhiyuan or third master, neither of them had ever said they liked her. yet, another woman was able to confidently declare mutual love and commitment. pei qiuying observed the pain in gu ci¡¯s eyes with satisfaction. she felt triumphant and boasted, ¡°people should be sensible. don¡¯t reach for what isn¡¯t yours.¡± gu ci¡¯s smile was thin, like a flower in early spring covered in a layer of ice cold and fragile. it seemed like a touch would shatter it. ¡°i¡¯ll offer you the same advice!¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± pei qiuying squinted, her voice carrying a harsh edge. gu ci enunciated each word deliberately, ¡°lu zhiyuan is mine. you should be sensible too ¨C don¡¯t reach for what isn¡¯t yours.¡± ¡°you!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s anger flared, but she cautioned herself not to get entangled with gu ci. she was just a sheltered heiress who hadn¡¯t seen much of the world and didn¡¯t know her place. ¡°you¡¯re confident enough to challenge me?¡± pei qiuying sneered. ¡°if they were two separate individuals, i might consider it, but since he has a dual personality, 1 can¡¯t accept lu zhiyuan being with you.¡± gu ci stared at pei qiuying, her voice calm but dominant, ¡°listen carefully. lu zhiyuan is mine, and so is third master!¡± pei qiuying looked at her in shock and laughed in disbelief. ¡°you really shed no tears until you see the coffin. guards!¡± without warning, gu ci lunged forward, getting close to pei qiuying. she gripped pei qiuying¡¯s throat with one hand and pulled out a dagger from her waist, holding it against pei qiuying¡¯s neck. ¡°don¡¯t move!¡± pei qiuying remained speechless. in the blink of an eye, gu ci had turned the tables, taking control of the situation. the dagger pierced slightly into pei qiuying¡¯s neck, drawing a small drop of blood. her bodyguards quickly surrounded gu ci, their dark muzzles pointed at her. the head of the security team trembled with fear. ¡°release our mistress!¡± ¡°you can try to see if your guns are faster or if my knife is!¡± gu ci¡¯s dagger advanced a bit more. pei qiuying, though annoyed, raised her hand. ¡°lower your weapons!¡± the security team hesitated, then lowered their guns and stepped back. following a signal from pei qiuying, the cruise ship came to a halt. she said calmly, ¡°gu ci, we¡¯re at sea. if you injure me, you won¡¯t escape.¡± inside, she was slightly displeased. she had underestimated the situation. ¡°set sail!¡± gu ci, however, wasn¡¯t intimidated. ¡°i¡¯ve just taken over the underworld.. you don¡¯t want to die at sea, do you?¡± Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Does It Hurt, Lu Zhiyuan chapter 180: does it hurt, lu zhiyuan translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci carried an air of resolute determination, catching pei qiuying¡¯s sidelong glance, which revealed an even closer view of her cold and unfeeling eyes. her heart skipped a beat. this person, who appeared to be nothing more than a beautiful and highly intelligent college student, gave her a slight sense of crisis. ¡°turn the ship around!¡± the cruise liner glided on the surface of the sea once again, and with a calm demeanor, gu ci said, ¡°tell your people to return to the cabin.¡± following pei qiuying¡¯s instructions, the bodyguards retreated to the cabin. pei qiuying spoke, ¡°gu ci, you¡¯re a smart person. don¡¯t do anything foolish. unless you¡¯re capable of killing everyone to silence them, you won¡¯t dare touch me.¡± ¡°pei qiuying, i have no interest in your affairs with the third master, but let me tell you, in my eyes, they are the same person,¡± gu ci said, ¡°i won¡¯t allow him to fall in love with someone else.¡± ¡°don¡¯t overestimate yourself!¡± pei qiuying sneered. in a sudden move, she kicked backward. startled, gu ci was already prepared. when the kick came, she caught pei qiuying without hesitation, and they both fell into the sea together! when gu ci woke up, her head throbbed painfully. she was in the global center, in lu zhiyuan¡¯s bedroom. she had been here once before, and the dim lighting of the room left a deep impression. in the moment when she pulled pei qiuying down into the sea, she hadn¡¯t called out to lu zhiyuan. she wasn¡¯t sure if pei qiuying knew about his superpowers, and she couldn¡¯t take the risk. it was truly pitiful that even in her deepest despair, she still wanted to protect him. later, the seawater continued to compress the air, suffocating and uncomfortable. then, she lost consciousness. even if they were sinking together, she was determined to keep a lifeline for pei qiuying. afterward, she lost consciousness. gu ci was wearing a white dress, and she still felt the sensation of suffocation from being in the water. she heard lu zhiyuan¡¯s cold voice, ¡°as long as she¡¯s okay.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. it must be pei qiuying. she was still alive. she stepped out of the bedroom, and lu zhiyuan was in the living room, his white sweater making him seem less cold. he had just hung up the phone. gu ci asked coldly, ¡°when 1 was in trouble in the sea, 1 didn¡¯t call for you. how did you know something happened to me?¡± did pei qiuying call him? gu ci sadly realized that this unique call for help was not unique after all. it belonged to another woman as well. she had narrowly escaped death, her face pale. lu zhiyuan averted his gaze. ¡°when you¡¯re in danger, there¡¯s no need to call for help. 1 can sense it too.¡± gu ci stood still, staring at him in a daze. ¡°come here, drink this!¡± gu ci approached, took the ginger soup from the table, and drank it in one gulp. the spiciness was accompanied by a hint of sweetness. it warmed her from her throat to her stomach. she put down the bowl. ¡°you once said you had someone you cared for. was it pei qiuying?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll have li jiang take you back!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone grew distant. he stood up, but gu ci pressed him onto the sofa. she sat on his lap, her hands firmly on his shoulders. warm and fragrant, so close. his breath carried her scent, and her body was intimately pressed against his, like an unspoken temptation. ¡°enough!¡± lu zhiyuan frowned, looking at her stubborn expression. his tone softened slightly, ¡°get off.¡± ¡°is it true?¡± there was a slight redness in gu ci¡¯s eyes. lu zhiyuan coldly laughed, ¡°in your heart and eyes, there¡¯s only lu zhiyuan. whom i like is none of your concern.¡± she held lu zhiyuan¡¯s face and kissed him passionately. in the heated kiss was a sense of despair. however, lu zhiyuan remained unmoved. gu ci bit his lip, causing him pain. as she slipped her tongue into his mouth, the pool of desire was stirred. li jiang had initially wanted to report something, but seeing the situation, he silently retreated, speechless as he gazed at the sky. miss gu ci, the third young master¡¯s memory is truly a battleground. lu zhiyuan held onto gu ci¡¯s shoulders, pushed her away, and a bite mark remained on his lip. ¡°gu ci, i¡¯m not him. get it straight.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care!¡± gu ci persisted, her voice obstinate. ¡°you are the same person.¡± ¡°whether a different soul resides in this body, you don¡¯t care,¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°do you love this body or its owner?¡± a cold splash hit her, and gu ci looked at him sadly. ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you mocking me?¡± ¡°get off!¡± lu zhiyuan coldly refused her. gu ci burst into laughter, her smile tearful. ¡°what are you afraid of? if you don¡¯t like me, what¡¯s this?¡± gu ci looked down. sitting on lu zhiyuan, she noticed the changes in him. she knew them well. even a kiss could trigger his physical response. lu zhiyuan¡¯s ears turned slightly red. now, their senses were intertwined, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s reactions would be plainly evident in his body. he couldn¡¯t resist it. the third master took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and whispered in her ear, ¡°gu ci, 1¡¯11 tell you a secret. since last week, whatever 1 do, he knows too.¡± gu ci looked at him, puzzled. the third master actually chuckled, and for some reason, gu ci detected a hint of malice. ¡°you were sitting on me, kissing me, and he saw it all. tell me, when morning comes, how do you plan to explain it to him?¡± gu ci remained speechless. the third master coldly asked lu zhiyuan in his body, ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you enjoying this?¡± since they discovered their sudden sensory connection, lu zhiyuan would deliberately kiss and embrace gu ci, letting him see and feel his desires. now, he was enacting the same behavior, which was paying off on lu zhiyuan himself. it also made lu zhiyuan witness him kissing and embracing gu ci. gu ci¡¯s scalp tingled. truly, they had turned a two-person scenario into a three-person battleground. just the thought of it made her feel like she was in a battleground. ¡°what¡¯s the relationship between you and pei qiuying?¡± gu ci still sought an answer. the third master conceded, asking gu ci, ¡°what if she and 1 are lovers?¡± gu ci felt her mind go blank, and a throbbing pain began. she suddenly burst into laughter, hugging lu zhiyuan¡¯s neck, as delicate as a morning glory. ¡°lu zhiyuan, i¡¯ve set up a laboratory in my new home. i bought a pair of handcuffs and a lock.¡± lu zhiyuan widened his eyes. it was truly an unexpected sight! gu ci gave a mysterious smile, pointing to her head. ¡°i¡¯m not quite normal up here. don¡¯t give me the chance.¡± 1¡¯11 keep you locked up, imprison you! lu zhiyuan laughed in exasperation. ¡°you¡¯re quite crazy!¡± with a slightly reddened gaze, she truly felt deeply hurt. lu zhiyuan averted his eyes, unable to look into her eyes. gu ci held him and suddenly bit down on his neck hard! ¡°gu ci!¡± lu zhiyuan lowered his voice, but he didn¡¯t push her away. gu ci bit until blood appeared, then she gave a cryptic smile, looking at the bloodstain on his neck. she lightly licked away the blood, her warm tongue touching his skin. lu zhiyuan lifted his head and used a slight force with the hand around her waist, pulling her close to him. ¡°does it hurt, lu zhiyuan?¡± gu ci caressed his wound. ¡°if i¡¯m in pain, and you won¡¯t have it easy either!¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless.. Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Don’t Leave Me chapter 181: don¡¯t leave me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci has always been a bit of a tsundere. this trait showed from a young age, as she always had a sour expression. she can be fierce enough to go down with you when she¡¯s really angry. just by observing her fierce fighting with gu chuyun, you can see that. as she grew older, she hid it well, because there were few people in this world that she cared about. after her eighteenth birthday, gu ziyu came into her life. her background was exposed, and with the jiang family¡¯s protection, she buried her tsundere tendencies even deeper. tonight, after a provocation, it was completely revealed in front of lu zhiyuan. gu ci stood up, took a step back, and turned around to leave. however, she suddenly felt dizzy, and the world seemed to spin. in the moment she was about to fall, lu zhiyuan reached out and caught her, holding her in his arms. he looked at the unconscious gu ci, his eyebrows furrowed. under the light, her face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. her thick eyelashes were like small fans, resting on her face. fragile and pitiful, there was no trace of the madness she had just shown when biting him. he carried gu ci horizontally, walking outside. seeing this, li jiang also followed them. lu zhiyuan calmly said, ¡°you don¡¯t need to follow.¡± lu zhiyuan placed gu ci in the passenger seat, just as his phone rang. it was gu ziyu calling, ¡°i can¡¯t find mom. she¡­¡± ¡°i¡¯m bringing her back.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu frowned. he had been busy tonight, in a meeting with chen liangdong. by the time he realized gu ci wasn¡¯t at home, it was already one in the morning. the cell signal was gone. he immediately called lu zhiyuan. so, she had gone to look for dad. but why was her phone off? seeing lu zhiyuan¡¯s car parked at the door, gu ziyu opened the door and saw him holding gu ci. his expression changed slightly, ¡°what happened to mom?¡± ¡°she¡¯s asleep,¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly. he carried gu ci into the house. as he went upstairs, he laid her on the bed. gu ziyu¡¯s expression was blank. it was clear that she had lost consciousness; she wasn¡¯t just sleeping. lu zhiyuan pulled the blanket over her and glanced at gu ziyu, ¡°when she wakes up, ask her.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t ask further. when lu zhiyuan stood on the second floor, he saw the laboratory on the basement level. his brow twitched. he descended to the basement, and gu ziyu asked, ¡°what are you doing?¡± the basement was quite spacious, covering an area of three hundred square meters. aside from the study and laboratory, there was indeed a dimly lit room. on the wall, lu zhiyuan saw handcuffs and chains. gu ci wasn¡¯t joking; she was serious! gu ziyu followed him and naturally saw the handcuffs and chains as well. after a moment of thought, he said, ¡°mom conducts experiments that require living subjects. this is the¡­ area for those subjects.¡± these living subjects were quite intelligent. lu zhiyuan looked at gu ziyu. with his peach blossom eyes so similar to his, he looked innocently naive. ¡°get some rest, don¡¯t stay up too late,¡± lu zhiyuan said, then left blue fields villa. at the hospital, pei qiuying wore a hospital gown and stared at her phone with a gloomy expression. it was an email. her gaze moved away from the screen, and she recalled the scene on the cruise ship. lu zhiyuan had dived into the sea, saving both her and gu ci. pei qiuying had accidentally discovered lu zhiyuan¡¯s superpower a few years ago, which had surprised her greatly. she was delighted that lu zhiyuan had come to her side when she was in danger. ¡°third master¡­¡± her damp long hair hung down, and her wet dress clung to her body, exuding both sexiness and maturity. having survived a disaster, she wanted a hug. but just as her fingertips touched lu zhiyuan, he grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up. with a grip on her neck, pei qiuying¡¯s legs dangled, and her face turned red from lack of air. ¡°third¡­ third master¡­¡± he walked to the side of the ship, holding her over the water. when pei qiuying lowered her head, all she could see was the unfathomable depths of the sea. panicking, she said, ¡°third master, it¡¯s me, qiuying.¡± lu zhiyuan coldly stared at her. the bright moon in the night sky reflected in his eyes, imbuing them with a chilling coldness. ¡°pei qiuying, who gave you the right to touch her?¡± ¡°third master¡­¡± pei qiuying¡¯s neck throbbed painfully. she clutched lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand, hoping he would let go, but she couldn¡¯t budge him. with a light chuckle, lu zhiyuan¡¯s laughter was unfamiliar to pei qiuying. how should one describe that smile? it didn¡¯t seem like the third master at all. it was unrestrained, enchanting, and ostentatious, more like lu zhiyuan. ¡°do you enjoy threatening people so much?¡± pei qiuying felt the aura of killing intent emanating from third master, ¡°you¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re not third master, you¡¯re lu zhiyuan!¡± third master wouldn¡¯t treat her like this, nor would he smile like that! ¡°if there¡¯s a next time, i¡¯ll take your life!¡± third master said coldly, letting go of her. pei qiuying screamed and fell into the sea. her bodyguards heard the commotion and rushed over. third master had already carried gu ci and left the cruise ship. pei qiuying soaked in the cold seawater, shivering like a fallen leaf when she was rescued. now, waking up from her recollections, she still shivered, her heart still pounding. in that moment, lu zhiyuan had truly wanted to kill her. that wasn¡¯t third master; it was lu zhiyuan. third master wouldn¡¯t be so cruel to her. ¡°third master, it¡¯s not you!¡± pei qiuying thought fiercely, ¡°it must not be you!¡± when gu ci woke up, her head was pounding, feeling cold and also catching a cold. gu ziyu helped her measure her temperature, which was thirty-nine degrees, a high fever. there were fever-reducing medications and injections at home. gu ci gave herself an injection expressionlessly. gu ziyu ordered some preserved egg and lean meat congee for her. she didn¡¯t have classes in the morning, so she could rest at home. ¡°ziyu, go to class.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve taken a leave to take care of mom,¡± gu ziyu hoped to accompany her while she was sick. gu ci shook her head gently, ¡°i¡¯ve received a fever-reducing injection. i want to sleep for a while. don¡¯t worry, 1 can take care of myself.¡± ¡°mom¡­¡± ¡°be good!¡± gu ziyu placed another phone on the bedside table, ¡°alright, if there¡¯s anything, remember to call me.¡± ¡°okay!¡± with a full schedule of classes every day and heavy academic load, gu ziyu, his mind not entirely on his studies, relaxed when he saw lu zhiyuan approaching through the surveillance. the autumn nights were cool, and the sea water was icy. gu ci had caught a chill after falling into the water. coupled with the shock she had experienced, her emotions had been tumultuous. stricken with a high fever, she had nightmares, reliving memories from a past life that tormented her physically and mentally. she cried, shouted, and desperately longed for lu zhiyuan in her fever-induced dreams, but no one responded. in the nightmares, there was a cage imprisoning her. someone was calling her name, a voice she recognized that shattered her heart. in the dark cage, she heard a familiar and missed voice. the person she loved had returned. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t leave me¡­ lu zhiyuan¡­¡± she woke up with tears streaming down her face. lu zhiyuan sat by her bedside, wiping her tears away, his eyes full of tenderness. gu ci suddenly sat up and hugged him tightly. she clung to him like a drowning person grasping onto the last piece of driftwood. ¡°did you have a nightmare?¡± gu ci shook her head. it wasn¡¯t a nightmare; it was something that had happened before. she didn¡¯t dare to dwell on it. weakly, she leaned against his shoulder. lu zhiyuan touched her neck, feeling a thin layer of sweat and a burning temperature. she was in so much discomfort. in her nightmares, she had been calling his name repeatedly.. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: No One Chose Him chapter 182: no one chose him translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he pulled the blanket over her, as the weather was gradually getting colder. despite the chill, they hadn¡¯t turned on the air conditioning indoors. the fluctuation between cold and hot was making her even more uncomfortable. in just a few months, it was her second time running a fever. gu ci lay on his shoulder and fell asleep again. when she woke up once more, it was already ten o¡¯clock. lu zhiyuan sat on the windowsill, wrapped in a light gray scarf. he stretched out his legs and was engrossed in a book. the sunlight cast upon him, making him incredibly handsome. ¡°lu zhiyuan, when did you arrive?¡± lu zhiyuan closed the book. gu ci had propped herself up; her high fever had subsided. aside from feeling a bit weak, she was fine. lu zhiyuan walked over, looking down at her from a higher vantage point. maybe due to backlighting, his expression appeared rather gloomy and calm. gu ci¡¯s scalp tingled as she remembered the third master¡¯s words. lu zhiyuan now possessed the third master¡¯s memories. when she embraced and kissed the third master, he saw it all clearly. ¡°are you hungry?¡± gu ci wasn¡¯t hungry, but she nodded. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°let¡¯s go out to eat.¡± after freshening up and organizing her textbooks for the afternoon classes, she left with lu zhiyuan. before leaving, lu zhiyuan specifically glanced at the laboratory downstairs and the adjacent door. gu ci clenched her fists tightly, feeling nervous. she was afraid lu zhiyuan might ask if she was planning to keep her confined like a prisoner. after recovering from last night¡¯s excitement, she realized how unforgivable her actions were. she had actually revealed to lu zhiyuan her twisted and mad tendencies in advance. what if he gets scared? fortunately, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t say anything. they left together. gu ci had classes in the afternoon. after leaving the villa, they headed toward a street in the university town, right next to university town street. gu ci lagged behind lu zhiyuan by two steps, behaving like a well-behaved little girl following her older brother. there was no trace of last night¡¯s sickness or dominance. lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze brushed past her. incredibly obedient and quiet. ¡°do you want to buy a phone?¡± her phone had fallen into the sea along with her, so gu ci nodded. lu zhiyuan accompanied her to a specialty store and bought a new phone. he also arranged for a new sim card, and the number remained the same. both of them wore masks, but their stunning looks couldn¡¯t be concealed. they attracted attention from passersby. after setting up the phone, gu ci connected to the internet and downloaded essential apps. lu zhiyuan took her to a small restaurant to eat. gu ci sat there with a very well-behaved posture. every time lu zhiyuan looked at her, she would flash a gentle smile like a little white rabbit, attempting to erase the image from last night. as he dined, he remained very quiet, without a smile. gu ci had a strange feeling. it was as if the one sitting beside her was the third master, not lu zhiyuan. she was puzzled. was it really the third master? she didn¡¯t dare to ask but also knew it wasn¡¯t! yet, there was a hint of the third master¡¯s presence. after the meal, they walked along university town street. gu ziyu called, ¡°mom, has your fever gone down?¡± ¡°yes, it has. you can have your meal in the cafeteria. i¡¯ve already eaten.¡± ¡°okay, i¡¯ll wait for you to come home this afternoon.¡± ¡°sounds good!¡± gu ziyu hung up the phone. gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan cautiously, her palms sweaty from nervousness. lu zhiyuan looked at the nearby bubble tea shop and asked her, ¡°want some bubble tea?¡± gu ci nodded, and lu zhiyuan bought her a cup of bubble tea, handing it to her. gu ci thought about their previous date when they also had bubble tea. she held the cup of bubble tea, following him obediently. beneath a ginkgo tree, lu zhiyuan stopped. gu ci also halted, looking at him anxiously. ¡°gu ci, look at me,¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°can you distinguish who stands before you?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. this question was like a trap. she nodded, saying, ¡°it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°is that so?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face was expressionless, his gaze cold. ¡°i am the third master.¡± gu ci gazed up at him, the dappled sunlight falling on her face. she shook her head. ¡°you are lu zhiyuan.¡± ¡°third master, also known as lu zhiyuan.¡± gu ci stubbornly said, ¡°you are lu zhiyuan!¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, a mix of mockery and curiosity. ¡°which version of lu zhiyuan?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t escape. she had to admit, ¡°the lu zhiyuan during the day.¡± ¡°how do you distinguish between us?¡± gu ci felt this topic was dangerous, but she couldn¡¯t evade it. clutching her book, she nervously explained, ¡°you have a stern expression and an aura that¡¯s different from the third master. even when the third master imitates your smile, it lacks your charm.¡± lu zhiyuan unwrapped his scarf, tilting his head to reveal the bite mark on his neck. he asked gu ci, ¡°when you bit me, were you fully aware it was the third master?¡± gu ci looked at the mark she had left and felt a hidden sense of satisfaction. she had left her mark on lu zhiyuan, and her blood was racing with excitement. she wanted to take another bite. unconsciously, she licked her lips and nodded. ¡°you can distinguish between us with just one glance, yet you still delude yourself. we are one person, gu ci. if there¡¯s still a trace of a soul within this body, do you love him too?¡± the color drained from gu ci¡¯s face. this question was eerily similar to what the third master had asked. do you love this body or its owner? anxiously, she reached for lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand. ¡°third brother, listen to me, i¡­ i¡­¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t articulate her feelings. her experiences from her previous life were lodged in her throat, unutterable. her forehead was drenched with sweat, but lu zhiyuan¡¯s face remained profoundly calm. ¡°speak, i¡¯m listening.¡± the last time he found out that she also loved the third master, he was furious and gave her the cold shoulder. he wished they could both perish together, but now he had a calm expression on his face, and gu ci grew anxious. ¡°third brother, please don¡¯t be like this.¡± gu ci felt wronged and sad. ¡°i will be scared.¡± ¡°what are you afraid of?¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. ¡°when you fell into the sea and were about to drown, do you know how terrified i was? do you know how powerless i felt?¡± during this past week, he had seen things from the third master¡¯s perspective and learned many things. gu ci had indeed not lied to him. apart from one phone call during the night, she had never appeared before the third master. he was happy, content. gu ci hadn¡¯t lied to him. but the truth was that it was the third master who distanced himself from gu ci. if he hadn¡¯t avoided her, if he hadn¡¯t disappeared from her sight, her feelings for the third master would have been the same as her feelings for him. lu zhiyuan believed that gu ci loved him. but gu ci also loved the third master! in the third master¡¯s arms, gu ci had spoken of keeping him locked up. lu zhiyuan had heard it all clearly. she was truly consumed by madness, and this intense emotion was something the third master had given her. ¡°he manages the lu corporation, the global center, and even deals with black hawk¡¯s internal affairs with precision. if there¡¯s a time zone difference during a race, he can even substitute for me in racing. if he¡¯s willing, he can accompany you in crying, in laughing, in going on dates, in traveling to the ends of the earth. what should i do then?¡± as lu zhiyuan spoke these words, his heart felt desolate. ¡°lu ze wants a son to inherit the family business. he hopes that his son can handle the affairs of the lu corporation. in his eyes, i¡¯m a talentless race car driver. even if i¡¯ve won numerous championships for the country, the third master is the son he desires the most and is most proud of. he doesn¡¯t need me, and neither do you. when you were sinking into the sea, you were thinking of the third master, not me. he can do everything i can do, so what should i do? gu ci, maybe my disappearance is the best choice..¡± Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Who Do You Choose? chapter 183: who do you choose? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no!¡± gu ci shook her head decisively, ¡°i¡¯ve never thought that way.¡± ¡°he doesn¡¯t like you, so you seek comfort in me? pretending that we are the same person, you have his protection and my companionship and affection. gu ci, you¡¯re quite greedy.¡± gu ci felt heartache and confusion. they shared memories with each other. they were clearly one person, so why deny themselves and make her deny it too? ¡°it¡¯s ridiculous, i¡¯m already emotionally dead inside, yet i still worry about your mental instability and inability to handle stress. i don¡¯t want to pressure you into making a choice.¡± lu zhiyuan knew that he had lost, that third master could do everything that he could, everything he was capable of, but he couldn¡¯t do what third master could. he truly had no reason to exist. his pride also didn¡¯t allow gu ci to love him and love third master too. ¡°i like you, have liked you for many years.¡± lu zhiyuan confessed in the autumn breeze, his voice carrying a hint of sadness. gu ci was caught off guard by this confession, and tears welled up in her eyes. after lifetimes, she finally heard the words ¡°i like you,¡± but it felt like a farewell. he wanted to let her go because she had made him despair and suffer. ¡°i was three when 1 developed split personalities. i shared my body with third master. when he first appeared, i resisted him strongly, so he could only manifest briefly and not during the night. this continued until i turned eight. it finally solidified that i¡¯m lu zhiyuan during the day and he¡¯s lu zhiyuan at night. i suffered, resisted, but had no choice but to accept fate¡¯s arrangement. my father thought i was ill and arranged numerous psychologists to torment me. one day, i don¡¯t know what third master said, but the doctors vanished suddenly. we lived in peace after that, until i realized i had feelings for you. but 1 can¡¯t even control my own body. how can i have the right to like someone? if i¡¯m with you and you find out, i¡¯d be considered mentally ill. what should i do then? i don¡¯t want to see pity in your eyes. so, i distanced myself from you, avoided you, and just wanted to silently protect you from afar.¡± ¡°it just so happened that you disliked me too, and we coexisted peacefully. yet, you brought gu ziyu into my life, forcefully entering my world. i felt happy but anxious. i feared you discovering my secret, yet paradoxically, i wanted you to know and still choose me.¡± there was pain in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°lu ze chose him, i thought at least¡­ someone would choose me. i didn¡¯t expect both of you to choose him. i¡¯ve humiliated myself. turns out, i¡¯m the expendable one. when i learned that you liked third master, i felt anger, jealousy, and hatred. among billions of people in the world, why did it have to be me? with this condition, i can¡¯t escape it or change it. i wanted third master dead, but aside from death, i couldn¡¯t think of any solution. he¡¯s like my shadow, trailing me for a lifetime. i thought you couldn¡¯t distinguish between me and third master, that¡¯s why you fell for two people. but now 1 see, you can tell us apart.¡± lu zhiyuan, proud and strong, had only wavered in his feelings for gu ci. ¡°i¡¯m tired of this three-way entanglement. i don¡¯t even want to know if third master truly likes you or dislikes you. gu ci, i only want one answer from you. who will you choose?¡± a fallen leaf landed on lu zhiyuan¡¯s shoulder and then lifted with the wind before settling on the ground. ¡°if you choose me, don¡¯t see third master anymore. accept only half of me. if you choose third master, please¡­ stay away from my sight.¡± gu ci looked at him with aching heart. the moment of decision had arrived. ever since lu zhiyuan had taken her to bodhi mountain, she had a premonition that he had a decision deep within him. he just wanted her to gradually make that decision. when pei qiuying took her away and third master reappeared, witnessing her madness, he finally crossed his limit. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°i will never accept being a second choice. loving two people, no matter how stubbornly you insist we¡¯re the same, i won¡¯t accept it. i am who i am, lu zhiyuan, not third master!¡± as gu ci watched his retreating figure, tears streamed down her face. this love triangle had finally shattered their calm. a choice had to be made. she recalled that day in the garden when lu zhiyuan had fiercely declared war against third master, asking him to stay away from her. he had always suppressed his emotions, jealousy, and madness, trying his best to appear calm and composed in front of her. he feared that she might be triggered, even though his heart was torn apart, he still left her with the last traces of tenderness. holding a cup of milk tea, gu ci squatted under the ginkgo tree, burying her head. tears wet her knees. she felt heartache for the vulnerable side of lu zhiyuan she had peeled away, and suffered from the entangled and unresolved emotions. after being reborn, this was the first time she had felt hopeless. passersby walked by, often looking back. the girl under the ginkgo tree shifted her shoulders slightly, stubbornly not wanting others to see her sadness. people only thought she was a girl nursing a broken heart, licking her wounds. her phone vibrated, and lu zhiyuan sent a short message. lu zhiyuan: i¡¯m going to f country tomorrow for pre-competition training. i hope after this match, you can give me an answer. gu ci: okay. in the afternoon, gu ci skipped class and came to the hospital in a daze. dr. north was taken aback when she saw her expression. she helped her sit down and asked, ¡°cici, what¡¯s wrong? did someone bully you?¡± there were tears on her eyelashes, like delicate ice flowers that would shatter at the slightest touch. dr. north gently wiped away her tears. gu ci was the most gifted girl she had seen in terms of medicine. she was quick to understand, with a resolute and strong personality. although she was a girl, her eyes held stories, a pair of eyes that had endured countless hardships yet still sought survival. strong, yet fragile; contradictory, yet harmonious. who made her so heartbreakingly desolate? ¡°master, i feel so sad¡­¡± gu ci kept replaying lu zhiyuan¡¯s words in her mind. she felt for lu zhiyuan¡¯s pain and the shattered family from her previous life. after her rebirth, she had dealt with lu shijie and gu chuyun so they were no longer a threat. she had changed her fate. yet at this moment, she realized that fate had never changed. she hadn¡¯t escaped the nightmares of her past life. she had drawn lines on the ground, imprisoning herself within, unable to break free. dr. north gently held her in her arms, patting her shoulder, thinking of the love story gu ci had mentioned. she sighed but didn¡¯t say anything, offering only gentle solace. she wasn¡¯t gu ci; she couldn¡¯t truly understand. from the girl¡¯s eyes, she could see the pain. ¡°it will pass, cici!¡± dr. north said, ¡°all suffering will eventually pass.¡± gu ci shook her head in agony. unless she lost her memory, her suffering would never fade. she felt like a shattered person, her body moving forward while her soul remained stuck in place. ¡°do you want to talk to your master about it?¡± gu ci had many things on her mind, all bottled up inside.. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: She’s Afraid of Losing Lu Zhiyuan chapter 184: she¡¯s afraid of losing lu zhiyuan translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she was someone who lacked the desire to share. this experience and emotion, she couldn¡¯t express them either. she didn¡¯t simply fall in love with the dual personality of lu zhiyuan. she also carried over from her past life the unhealed heartache and obsession. gu ci concealed the abilities of third master and ziyu, treating her own life as a story to tell. this storytelling went on for two hours intermittently, and dr. north didn¡¯t interrupt her. dr. north was taken aback internally. so, cici had lived multiple lives. no wonder she had exceptional clinical skills and a constant hint of sorrow in her eyes. no wonder cici knew she had been in prison. no wonder cici¡¯s movements were somewhat reminiscent of someone who had been incarcerated. that was indeed the case, a subconscious reaction. she had even wondered why cici acted that way. now, everything made sense. cici had truly been cici¡¯s master in a previous life. dr. north understood this deep down but didn¡¯t reveal it. gu ci only talked about her part in the story with lu zhiyuan, yet it was enough to make dr. north feel for her. whenever she saw her, cici would rub her wrist. so, were cici¡¯s hands ruined because of her? ¡°master, what should i do?¡± dr. north was an atheist, not believing in karma, reincarnation, or any sort of rebirth. yet, gu ci¡¯s emotions led her to believe that this was a real story, not a dream of gu ci¡¯s. ¡°cici, 1 won¡¯t tell you how to choose. you must listen to your own heart. no one knows your choices but you,¡± dr. north said. ¡°but, cici, you need to learn to love yourself before you can love others.¡± gu ci looked at dr. north in bewilderment. only that kind of gaze made dr. north feel that she was an eighteen-year-old girl. dr. north held gu ci in her arms with a heart full of tenderness. she had never thought that gu ci had suffered so much. ¡°those terrible memories have robbed you of the ability to love yourself. your body has experienced multiple lives, yet your heart is still trapped in the sorrows of the previous one,¡± dr. north said. ¡°let me ask you, if they all don¡¯t love you, what would you do?¡± a glint of determination flashed in gu ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°lock them up! make sure they can never leave me for their entire lives.¡± dr. north touched her cheek gently. ¡°that¡¯s harm, not love, cici. this isn¡¯t how you show love for someone.¡± ¡°i know i¡¯m sick,¡± gu ci said, watching herself sink into madness with clarity. ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± dr. north chuckled softly. ¡°in the course of this long life, who hasn¡¯t gone a little crazy once or twice? don¡¯t blame yourself, and don¡¯t belittle or torture yourself. those past hardships knocked you down. it¡¯s not your fault. we shouldn¡¯t carry other people¡¯s sins in our hearts. cici, leave your past self in the past. don¡¯t let her remain in the abyss, okay?¡± tears streamed down gu ci¡¯s face, as if all the tears suppressed from the previous life were flowing out at once. ¡°master, i can¡¯t bring her back!¡± gu ci cried uncontrollably. ¡°what should i do? i can¡¯t bring her back.¡± ¡°sweetie, don¡¯t cry. your tears are breaking my heart.¡± dr. north tenderly stroked her long hair. when she remembered that she had once hurt gu ci¡¯s hand, dr. north¡¯s eyes welled up too. she was certain¡ªshe liked gu ci. it couldn¡¯t be for no reason that she had crippled her hand. ¡°i will help you. i¡¯ll help you.¡± after a cathartic bout of crying, gu ci fell asleep beside dr. north. dr. north looked at her sleeping face, tear stains still glistening on her eyelashes. physicians can¡¯t heal themselves, as it has been since ancient times. cici needed a psychologist; her obsession was too deep, and it was a sickness. the medicine for a troubled heart is a healed heart. her best remedy, too, was lu zhiyuan. dr. north frowned, pulling up gu ci¡¯s sleeve. there were no scars on her arm. after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she lifted gu ci¡¯s shirt, confirming the presence of bruises and burns on her abdomen, mostly new injuries. there were similar marks on her thighs. when gu ci woke up, it was deep into the night. ¡°master, i lost control.¡± she had cried herself to exhaustion and fallen asleep. ¡°are you feeling a bit better emotionally?¡± gu ci nodded. it was strange¡ªthings were still a mess, with no solution in sight, yet her heart did feel somewhat lighter. ¡°how long have you been having nightmares?¡± ¡°for¡­ a few months.¡± she dared not sleep deeply at night. whenever she did, nightmares would strike. it was somewhat better when she was at global, knowing that lu zhiyuan was upstairs. but after moving to blue fields villa, she had nightmares almost every night. ¡°self-harm?¡± gu ci was taken aback, pulling the blanket over her legs as she suddenly felt a chill. she knew she couldn¡¯t hide it from dr. north. ¡°it¡¯s been happening¡­ i can¡¯t control myself.¡± dr. north looked at her, full of distress. ¡°cici, are there still people and things you hold onto in this world?¡± gu ci nodded, her eyes urgent. ¡°i can¡¯t bear it, so that¡¯s why i self-harm. i¡¯m afraid i¡¯ll get worse and worse. pain can keep me awake.¡± ¡°you need to see a psychologist,¡± dr. north said. ¡°i have some expertise in this area. coming to me for help is also a way of self-rescue, isn¡¯t it?¡± gu ci nodded, not denying it. otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have spoken up. ¡°you¡¯ve walked into a dead end, cici,¡± dr. north said. ¡°what you need to do is heal yourself and heal him. his situation is definitely not dual personalities. once dual personalities emerge, there will be a struggle for control over the body, memories, and life skills. there¡¯s no possibility of peaceful coexistence for over a decade. if i¡¯m not mistaken, they must be the same person, just¡­ 1 haven¡¯t figured out why this situation arose.¡± ¡°third brother insists that 1 make a choice. what should 1 do?¡± ¡°then you choose. what are you afraid of!¡± dr. north chuckled. ¡°choose the one you want, then work on healing him. don¡¯t trap yourself in memories, always feeling that by choosing someone, you¡¯re losing someone. you won¡¯t lose anyone. don¡¯t be afraid to make choices. even if you make the wrong ones, it¡¯s okay. our lives are a continuous series of choices. no one always gets it right.¡± gu ci felt a sudden sense of clarity, as if the door that had been confining her had cracked open slightly, allowing in a glimmer of light. she saw hope. ¡°you¡¯re too afraid of losing lu zhiyuan,¡± dr. north pinpointed the crux of the matter. ¡°leaving global was a form of self-rescue. you¡¯re trying to live a life without lu zhiyuan. in reality, losing someone isn¡¯t as terrifying as you think. you¡¯ve lost him before, gone mad over it, because he was the only pillar in your heart. without him, your world crumbled. but observing your actions this lifetime, aside from him, you have other attachments, don¡¯t you?¡± gu ci nodded. dr. north looked at her. ¡°let me share a story with you, too. perhaps you¡¯ve heard it before. i once loved someone deeply, to the point of being willing to do anything for him. i was even willing to rebel against chen geng. before falling in love with him, i had never even thought of resisting chen geng. loving someone truly gives you conviction and strength. but 1 failed. i found that aside from death, 1 couldn¡¯t escape chen geng. i didn¡¯t end up with the person i loved. he had a bright future, what about me? 1 would only bring him misfortune, so i left without a word, cutting off all contact. i kept that love hidden in my heart, as a belief. later, i broke free from chen geng¡¯s grasp, and i went to find him. but he was gone, a false name, an empty house. i was also desperate. i had even thought, if i ever saw him again, i¡¯d lock him up, demand why he deceived me, why everything was a lie. one day, i secretly went to see little cherry. she was eight years old by then, so beautiful. she lived carefree under the sun. all my resentment disappeared in that moment. i thought, if one day little cherry knew that i was her mother, i hoped she would be proud of her mother, not see me as someone filled with hatred, someone unrecognizable.¡± gu ci had never heard this story before. dr. north rarely spoke of her past. ¡°so, cici, treat past hardships as a destined trial. you¡¯ve overcome it. don¡¯t hold onto resentment,¡± dr. north¡¯s voice carried strength. ¡°lu zhiyuan will love you, and your wish will come true. a bright future awaits.¡± gu ci hugged dr. north. ¡°okay, i¡¯ll try my best.¡± if she didn¡¯t love herself, how could she learn to love others! Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Hot Springs chapter 185: hot springs translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin emerged from the brightly lit hualan bank and immediately spotted ji chi waiting by the roadside. ji chi was sitting in a sports car, his posture lazy yet captivating everyone¡¯s gaze. in recent months, ji chi had made a prominent mark in the financial circles of city a. young, handsome, and exceptionally capable, he was parachuted into the asian division of black hawk, a move that was widely discussed in the financial world. due to the frequent collaborations between hualan and black hawk recently, with much back and forth, almost all the top executives were familiar with him. ¡°mr. jiang, you¡¯ve worked late again. it¡¯s already 9:30,¡± zhang qiang, leading the security team behind him, said. jiang junlin stepped aside and said, ¡°you all can head home first, don¡¯t follow me.¡± ¡°understood!¡± jiang junlin was still dressed in the attire of an urban elite, while ji chi appeared more casual. with a v-neck short t-shirt, a leather jacket, and jeans, he looked like a college student. jiang junlin found this style of ji chi strangely familiar and couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances. ¡°do 1 look good in this outfit?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°do you find it familiar?¡± it did seem somewhat familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen it before. after returning to the country, ji chi had adapted to local customs, wearing three-piece suits and working on the financial street. with a youthful and tender face, he had to pay extra attention to his clothing to match his position. ¡°not working today?¡± jiang junlin inquired. ¡°i am working!¡± ji chi drove leisurely, as the rush hour had passed. the traffic in city a was still concerning, especially on the elevated bridges, causing heavy congestion. ji chi said, ¡°since coming back to the country, i¡¯ve been wearing suits all the time. it¡¯s gotten a bit tiresome. i¡¯m trying a different style.¡± this style wouldn¡¯t really fit in the financial district, jiang junlin thought. he also remembered that ji chi rarely wore suits when he was abroad. a sudden realization struck him, and he remembered where he had seen this outfit before. it was the night when he and ji chi had reunited¡­ jiang junlin¡¯s throat tightened, and he stole another glance at ji chi. ji chi¡¯s lips curved into a half-smile, and in the confined space of the car, an ambiguous yet dangerous atmosphere lingered. interrupting his memories, jiang junlin shifted the topic. ¡°why did you want to meet me?¡± ji chi chuckled and said, ¡°work¡¯s over, wanted to treat mr. jiang to a late-night snack as a thank you for saving me.¡± ¡°where did the idea of saving come from?¡± ¡°that day, you tipped me off to avoid national security and even came to pick me up personally. isn¡¯t that considered saving me?¡± ji chi¡¯s slight dimple appeared, and though jiang junlin could see a faint mist in his eyes, he maintained his smile. ji chi always had a friendly demeanor, greeting everyone with a smile. he smiled when angry, smiled when happy. he could play the role of both grandson and father, bending and stretching as needed. with exceptional intelligence, dealing with him required full attention. ¡°just a small favor,¡± jiang junlin replied indifferently, looking out of the window. for the first time, he found the congestion on the elevated bridge annoying. ji chi¡¯s outfit seemed to remind him of something unpleasant, something he didn¡¯t want to remember. the car arrived at a hot spring hotel, where the late-night snacks were ready. the restaurant staff were familiar with jiang junlin¡¯s preferences. however, ji chi didn¡¯t indulge him; he insisted on ordering the same dishes. two separate sets of late-night snacks were ordered. the indoor air was warm, dispelling the autumn chill. ji chi took off his coat and hung it casually on a rack. the wide v-neck of his tight-fitting t-shirt revealed his slim figure. he appeared thin, not particularly sturdy, yet exuded a strong aura. ¡°mr. jiang has been working late a lot recently. does hualan bank have a lot of projects? if i recall correctly, the busiest projects should be wrapping up,¡± ji chi inquired. ¡°there¡¯s a lot to do by the end of the year,¡± jiang junlin responded nonchalantly. ¡°understood, favors go both ways,¡± ji chi sipped his drink. ¡°since you¡¯re so well-informed, mr. jiang, could you share some information about the missing gold from national security with me? maybe sell me a clue?¡± the indoor temperature was slightly warm. jiang junlin unbuttoned his cuffs, rolled up his sleeves, revealing an attractive wrist. ¡°national security information is highly classified. what information could i possibly have to sell you? chen liangdong himself is investigating. if you want to know, ask ziyu.¡± ¡°ziyu¡¯s lips are sealed tight. can¡¯t get much out of him,¡± ji chi chuckled. ¡°i thought maybe your information network might have some leads. after all, several hundred kilograms of gold mysteriously vanished at sea. there must be some trace left behind.¡± jiang junlin picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks, tasted it, and found it a bit tough. he put it back on the plate with a hint of distaste. he said, ¡°this batch of gold has serial numbers. to circulate it, you¡¯d need to reprocess it, distribute it¡ªquite a hassle. you should keep an eye on the gold black market and processing plants. clues will surface eventually.¡± ¡°the black market and processing plants have been under surveillance for a while,¡± ji chi said, frustrated. ¡°chen rushi has scolded me three times already. it¡¯s truly unfair.¡± ¡°he¡¯s doing business with the underworld and embezzled the gold. why is he blaming you?¡± ¡°higher-ups can crush you even if they¡¯re just one level above.¡± ji chi¡¯s tone was half-serious, half-playful. ¡°it¡¯s not easy to make a living under his thumb.¡± jiang junlin poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip. the plum wine of deep autumn had an excellent flavor. ji chi¡¯s gaze hadn¡¯t left jiang junlin¡¯s face throughout the conversation. ¡°brother, have mercy on me,¡± ji chi¡¯s voice became soft, dripping with a subtle charm. truly flexible and adaptable! jiang junlin was amused by his words. ji chi¡¯s fleeting smile made his ears redden. jiang junlin quite enjoyed seeing that smile. he wanted to use a printer to capture jiang junlin¡¯s smile and hang it by his bedside. ¡°you won¡¯t be the one to take the blame for this matter,¡± jiang junlin said calmly. ¡°pei qiuying has arrived in city a. she¡¯s more anxious than you are.¡± ¡°those who were captured were all pei qiuying¡¯s people. she¡¯s new in her position and her subordinates have already made a fatal mistake, damaging her reputation. if i were her, i would use this batch of gold to make amends with the m bank.¡± ji chi asked playfully, ¡°does mr. jiang know pei qiuying?¡± ¡°hualan and the underworld have been cooperating for decades. we¡¯re familiar,¡± jiang junlin said, throwing a bombshell. ¡°there was even a betrothal.¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± ji chi coldly smiled, his tone turning icy. ¡°ten years ago, my father and the pei family arranged a betrothal. it was just a verbal agreement, and we hadn¡¯t exchanged tokens. but then pei¡¯s uncle got into trouble, and the betrothal was called off.¡± ji chi¡¯s breathing seemed to tighten and then relax. ¡°ten years ago¡­ you were almost of age, and your family arranged a betrothal. you didn¡¯t object?¡± ¡°matters of marriage, i don¡¯t mind,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was so indifferent it sounded ruthless. he added with meaning, ¡°it¡¯s all the same, whoever i marry.¡± ¡°what an ¡®it¡¯s all the same¡¯ attitude!¡± ji chi laughed. ¡°give it a try.¡± jiang junlin lowered his head, concealing the smile at the corner of his lips. it was as if he hadn¡¯t noticed ji chi¡¯s darkened expression. ji chi was momentarily diverted by jiang junlin¡¯s mention of his past engagement with pei qiuying. he didn¡¯t continue probing about the gold, and their conversation dipped to a chilly level. jiang junlin loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button with one hand. with a smile, he asked ji chi, a man who had been notably restrained, had an inexplicable allure emerged? ¡°ji chi, now that you¡¯re here, would you like to go to the hot springs?¡± ji chi gazed at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t entirely a smile. ¡°is mr. jiang inviting me?¡± jiang junlin finished his plum wine in one gulp. there was a hint of desire behind his gold-rimmed glasses. it was alluring. ¡°consider it a stress-reliever.¡± ji chi was speechless.. Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Half Sisters chapter 186: half sisters translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation hospital. gu ci visited the hospital every day to see dr. north. lu zhiyuan had gone abroad for training in preparation for a competition scheduled for the weekend. gu ci and gu ziyu had already purchased tickets to watch the match. gu ci hoped to get herself into a good state before lu zhiyuan¡¯s competition. despite her ongoing nightmares, there hadn¡¯t been any improvement. she managed to restrain her self-destructive impulses. these past few days, she hadn¡¯t contacted either lu zhiyuan or third master. it seemed like they had an unspoken understanding, as neither of them had uttered a word to her. she missed lu zhiyuan a lot. she often remembered the scene of lu zhiyuan seeking a destined relationship under the bodhi tree. that moment stirred her heart and also made her feel sad. when she couldn¡¯t sleep, she would flip through photo albums to find his pictures. a sight that evokes thoughts of a person! ¡°it¡¯s getting late. let¡¯s call it a day for today,¡± said dr. north, ¡°we shouldn¡¯t rush the treatment.¡± gu ci nodded, glancing at the time ¨C it was already ten o¡¯clock at night. ¡°master, are you hungry? i¡¯ll accompany you to have some sour rice noodles. the ones at the entrance are quite delicious.¡± ¡°sure!¡± dr. north¡¯s mouth watered a bit. just as they were about to leave, an unexpected guest arrived ¨C pei qiuying. gu ci hadn¡¯t expected to see pei qiuying here, and pei qiuying hadn¡¯t expected to encounter gu ci in dr. north¡¯s room. ¡°sister¡­¡± pei qiuying lowered her head and addressed gu ci, her voice affectionate. gu ci¡¯s pupils contracted as she looked at pei qiuying in shock, then at dr. north. indeed, there was a certain resemblance between dr. north and pei qiuying. ¡°what do you want with me?¡± dr. north¡¯s tone was cold. pei qiuying glanced at gu ci, hoping she would take the hint and leave, but gu ci seemed oblivious. dr. north said, ¡°cici is my direct disciple. if you have something to say, just say it.¡± pei qiuying suppressed her emotions and nodded, ¡°sister, give me that batch of gold from chen geng.¡± ¡°i made myself clear back then,¡± dr. north sipped water, completely composed. ¡°jidao is in trouble. i need that gold to save him. the gold would be useless to you, so why not sell it to me? i¡¯ll pay triple the price,¡± pei qiuying pleaded earnestly. that batch of gold again, gu ci mused. it seems my master is well-connected. it turns out she¡¯s pei qiuying¡¯s sister. their relationship as sisters seemed quite distant. ¡°when i was tormented by chen geng back then, i begged you both for help. the pei family was flourishing, yet you were unwilling to offend chen geng, treating me as a mere pawn. the past animosity is behind us. let bygones be bygones. i have no connection with jidao anymore.¡± dr. north chuckled lightly. ¡°cici, isn¡¯t the world interesting? how fortunes change.¡± gu ci also chuckled. with just a few words, she had grasped the full story. pei qiuying didn¡¯t mind dr. north¡¯s mockery. ¡°sister, when i was young, i saw you from a distance and even gave you a precious pearl as a token of my feelings. my father¡¯s decision was beyond my control. i risked my life to send you away after my niece was born. she¡¯s safe and sound to this day. i never mentioned a word of this to my father and helped her escape chen geng¡¯s pursuit. i harbor no ill intentions toward you, my sister. if not for being pushed to a corner, i wouldn¡¯t dare to disturb you.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s words carried both admiration for her sister and a reminder of their past kindness. she distinguished between the grace they owed and the emotions they held. gu ci was deeply impressed. ¡°qiuying, are you¡­¡± dr. north showed a hint of difficulty, ¡°are you using little cherry to threaten me?¡± ¡°absolutely not!¡± tears welled up in pei qiuying¡¯s eyes. she already had a pitiable appearance, ¡°the pei family is left with only us sisters and little cherry. we share the same blood. 1 protect her and would never harm her. i¡¯m just out of options, hoping my sister can save my life. i¡¯ve just taken over jidao. such a big incident has occurred. if it¡¯s not resolved, my future will be fraught with difficulties. please, have pity on your younger sister.¡± if it weren¡¯t for their encounter on the cruise, where they clashed once, gu ci might have been moved by her words. they were sincere, and she didn¡¯t mind lowering her stance in front of her romantic rival. dr. north¡¯s heart softened. seeing this, pei qiuying moved closer and hugged dr. north. ¡°after all these years, i¡¯ve been thinking about my sister. i hope that one day, we can reunite as sisters.¡± ¡°enough!¡± dr. north closed her eyes, ¡°take the gold. it¡¯s yours.¡± pei qiuying was overjoyed. ¡°thank you, sister!¡± dr. north said calmly, ¡°when i arrived in city a all those years ago, i had the gold transported here. if you¡¯re in dire need, take it.¡± tears of gratitude streamed down pei qiuying¡¯s face. ¡°i knew my sister would consider her sisterly feelings and wouldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to my plight.¡± ¡°wait a moment. take the gold, but pay me the money.¡± ¡°of course!¡± pei qiuying readily agreed, ¡°you¡¯ll forever be my sister.¡± pei qiuying glanced at gu ci, then left the hospital room. she hadn¡¯t expected gu ci to be dr. north¡¯s direct disciple. this complicated matters. ¡°master, are you and pei qiuying real sisters?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°we share the same father but have different mothers,¡± dr. north replied. ¡°i took my mother¡¯s surname. i¡¯m an illegitimate child. pei qiuying seemed to look at you with some hostility. what¡¯s going on? do you have some history?¡± ¡°did you see the marks on her neck?¡± ¡°i saw them!¡± ¡°i caused them,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was icy. dr. north paused. gu ci briefly recounted the situation between her and pei qiuying. dr. north raised an eyebrow, ¡°i remember she was engaged to jiang junlin.¡± ¡°who?¡± gu ci frowned, ¡°my brother?¡± dr. north nodded, ¡°1 vaguely heard about it, but i don¡¯t know if it still holds.¡± ¡°she¡¯s dreaming!¡± there¡¯s no way her brother or lu zhiyuan would have anything to do with pei qiuying. if her brother really liked her, gu ci would play the role of a malicious stepsister from a tv drama! ¡°master, how can you and pei qiuying be sisters?¡± ¡°it¡¯s a long story,¡± dr. north said. ¡°my mother was father¡¯s first love. later, he betrayed her and married pei qiuying¡¯s mother. my mother left town while carrying me. in fact, my mother was a pawn planted by the black hawk organization to be near him. she fell in love with him and betrayed the black hawk. after giving birth to me, fearing i¡¯d suffer with her, she left me at an orphanage. she then worked at the orphanage and secretly looked after me. later, father misunderstood her and even caused her death. he held a grudge against me too, and once he learned of my identity, he saw me as a disgrace. i have no real emotional connection with the pei family. after little cherry was born, pei qiuying indeed helped. i remember this favor.¡± gu ci felt that something was odd. dr. north was gentle and wise, but also fiercely vengeful. she would sacrifice her own happiness to get justice for little cherry. her mother was killed by the pei family. would she just stand by? as if she could read gu ci¡¯s doubts, dr. north said, ¡°what father did has nothing to do with pei qiuying. returning these gold bars to her can be considered repaying a favor. we won¡¯t owe each other anything. i also don¡¯t like being indebted to anyone..¡± Chapter 187 - Chapter 187:I Love You, So I Want to Kill You chapter 187:i love you, so i want to kill you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci pondered for a moment, ¡°master, pei qiuying and i¡­ might have a fierce battle ahead.¡± dr. north blinked, ¡°blood ties without emotions, in my eyes, she¡¯s nothing more than a familiar stranger. i stand with you.¡± gu ci said, ¡°master, just watch from the sidelines.¡± when ji chi returned to the black hawk headquarters, it was almost dawn. there was a faint sense of satisfaction in his eyes. this matter indeed relieved his stress. he didn¡¯t mind being used as a tool by jiang junlin after all¡­ satisfaction was what he felt. but upon returning to the black hawk and seeing jiang junlin¡¯s investigation materials on the table, ji chi snapped back to reality. ¡°i¡¯m so shallow, i¡¯ve fallen for the beauty¡¯s trap again.¡± this information from jiang junlin could be described as perfect, like an impeccable dossier. the matter he was investigating had been several years ago, and there was hardly anything suspicious left. ji chi always felt that something was amiss, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. he had intended to probe jiang junlin about the matter tonight, but he didn¡¯t get any results. yet, his suspicions toward jiang junlin were growing deeper. after so many years, this was the first time jiang junlin was taking the initiative in this matter. ji chi tore up the documents and fed them into the shredder. ¡°engagement?¡± he sneered. pei qiuying and jiang junlin did seem like a perfect match. the phone rang. one of ji chi¡¯s insiders at hualan bank said, ¡°mr. ji, highly confidential information: hualan bank will receive a shipment of gold reserves tomorrow, precisely 300 kilograms.¡± ji chi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°i understand.¡± after hanging up the phone, he squinted his eyes. after pacing inside the room for ten minutes, ji chi made another call. ¡°hello, it¡¯s me. hualan bank will receive a shipment of gold reserves tomorrow, exactly 300 kilograms.¡± ¡°is the information accurate?¡± ¡°absolutely!¡± ¡°got it!¡± ji chi hung up the phone and chuckled coldly. ¡°brother, whether you¡¯re a man or the devil, it will be revealed in the end.¡± once pei qiuying obtained the gold, she transferred the money to dr. north¡¯s account. handling large deposits had become quite complicated in every bank now; they scrutinized the source. early in the morning, gu ci arrived at hualan bank, representing dr. north to handle the transaction. she deposited this substantial amount, and pei qiuying was generous, giving five billion yuan, several times the value of the gold. as the money flowed through her account and then to dr. north¡¯s account, it was spotless. as a major shareholder of hualan bank, gu ci had jiang junlin¡¯s assurance, so the bank clerks didn¡¯t dare to inquire too much. by the time the transaction was over, it was already 11 o¡¯clock. gu ci called jiang junlin, ¡°brother, let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± ¡°sure, 1 have some paperwork to handle for a gold shipment. once it¡¯s done, we¡¯ll have lunch together.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s project meeting with black hawk had concluded, and he was in the break room. he was playing with a jet-black pen, gazing through the venetian blinds at ji chi in the conference room. ji chi and several executives were discussing project progress. he had a smiling face, an elegant demeanor. all the sharpness and pathology were hidden beneath a harmless facade. jiang junlin rubbed his lower back. when the little wolf cub pinned him down in the hot spring and asked if he was feeling good, he didn¡¯t have this composed demeanor. his secretary noticed him fidgeting in his chair, shifting positions a few times. ¡°mr. jiang, are you feeling unwell?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°tweaked my back.¡± ¡°ah¡­¡± the secretary secretly thought, mr. jiang exercises regularly, has a great physique, and he¡¯s still getting a back strain? she hurriedly asked, ¡°should 1 go buy some medicated plasters?¡± jiang junlin was feeling discomfort in an awkward spot. his lower back was also quite sore. the little wolf cub had boundless energy and always managed to keep him busy throughout the night. the secretary noticed his silence and felt uneasy. today, not only was the boss dressed in a suit but he was also wearing a scarf indoors, as if he were preparing for winter. even though it was winter in city a, the indoor temperature was regulated. being fully bundled up like this was quite unusual. he had also noticed jiang junlin touching his neck a few times, as if it were injured. zhang qiang rushed in, looking flustered. ¡°master, the people¡¯s bank of china and state security are here to inspect the gold reserves.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s gaze darkened as he gripped the pen in his hand. ¡°where is the transport vehicle?¡± ¡°just entered the underground garage.¡± jiang junlin squinted his eyes and asked his secretary, ¡°did the bank receive any emails from the people¡¯s bank of china about inspecting the gold?¡± ¡°no!¡± the secretary checked all her communications and emails. this wasn¡¯t standard procedure. if they were inspecting the gold storage, the bank would have been informed several days in advance to prepare. the entire process of back and forth would take four or five days. it was impossible for a random inspection, especially considering the person had already arrived at the bank. hualan bank, being the top investment bank in the country, had an extensive intelligence network within the financial industry. they would have received the news immediately. jiang junlin contemplated this. with one hand, he spun the pen. ji chi leaned against the doorway and knocked on it. ¡°mr. jiang, the inspection of the gold reserves is happening downstairs. would you mind coming along?¡± he looked at ji chi¡¯s handsome face, devoid of any trace of a smile. ¡°sure.¡± after gu ci finished her transaction, she unexpectedly saw gu ziyu and chen fei. they were accompanied by a total of six people, and gu ziyu stood out among the suited elites. ¡°why did you come to the bank?¡± gu ci was curious. was it related to state security? gu ziyu¡¯s face looked extremely grave. he whispered, ¡°there¡¯s been a leak. they know the lost batch of gold is going to be deposited in hualan bank¡¯s vault today. the people¡¯s bank of china and state security are collaborating on this inspection. hualan bank is receiving exactly 300 kilograms of gold today, and 1 learned about this on my way here. i didn¡¯t have time to inform uncle.¡± gu ci was taken aback. on the day gu ziyu went out on a mission, his brother had specially come to tell her to advise him against frequent missions. he had waited at the blue fields villa until gu ziyu returned safely before leaving. although jiang junlin had a reasonable explanation, there was still confusion in gu ci¡¯s heart. but he was her brother, so she didn¡¯t dwell on it. if this batch of gold was indeed taken by her brother and the evidence was found on him, hualan bank would be in serious trouble. the entire financial industry would be reshuffled. ¡°where is the transport vehicle?¡± gu ci asked anxiously. gu ziyu frowned. ¡°it¡¯s in the underground garage. it¡¯s being monitored.¡± when he received the news on his way, he knew there was no solution. this was a dead end. the gold had been under state security surveillance from the moment it entered the public roads. unless it vanished into thin air, it was bound to be found on him. during their conversation, both jiang junlin and ji chi arrived. jiang junlin, wearing glasses, stood out among the crowd, tall and handsome. by his side, ji chi attracted everyone¡¯s attention. seeing gu ziyu, jiang junlin was also surprised. he didn¡¯t say much, just checked their identification and then led them to the warehouse to count the gold. gu ci¡¯s brows furrowed. in front of all these people, how could her brother escape this predicament? ¡°brother, 1 want to accompany you!¡± jiang junlin sensed gu ci¡¯s worry. ¡°come along.¡± as a shareholder of hualan bank, her presence was compliant with regulations. jiang junlin handled everything methodically: iris scan, fingerprint, opening the insurance lock, and the people¡¯s bank of china personnel began counting the gold. there was no doubt about the gold inside the warehouse. however, the inspectors were still slowly conducting spot checks, each taking over an hour. ji chi leaned nearby, watching jiang junlin.. Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: One Foot Higher chapter 188: one foot higher translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin remained truly composed. he wasn¡¯t one to display his emotions openly. the ever-changing tides of the business world had dulled his edge, but he remained unshaken. he was prepared for any outcome. in a flash of inspiration, gu ci contemplated numerous methods of escape. could she start a fire? she envisioned the scene of a fire in her mind¡ªeveryone leaving the bank, the transport vehicles in the underground garage, all monitored. how could they replace hundreds of kilograms of gold without a trace? this predicament was all aimed at her brother. the objective was clear; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be conducting a surprise inspection. after the vault inspection, the inspector said, ¡°mr. jiang, the gold reserve is accurate, no issues. there¡¯s another batch of gold coming in today. could you show us?¡± ¡°of course.¡± gu ci thought intently. could third master teleport here and hide the gold? but it wasn¡¯t third master, it was lu zhiyuan. he couldn¡¯t teleport. how could they break free from this deadlock? jiang junlin led the team to the transport vehicle. several special forces personnel under chen fei had been guarding it, along with hualan security, armed and ready. even gu ziyu seemed unusually tense. how could uncle escape this crisis? the car doors opened, and boxes filled with gold were carried out. they opened one by one¡ªgold bars filled all six boxes. ji chi¡¯s eyes narrowed; he hadn¡¯t expected the gold to be in jiang junlin¡¯s possession! playing a dangerous game, openly seizing gold at sea; jiang junlin, the embodiment of integrity and a gentleman according to others, had shown his true colors. in the minds of gu ci and gu ziyu, they were already thinking about how to handle the aftermath of jiang junlin¡¯s detainment, minimizing the losses. it was an inescapable predicament. an inspector picked up a gold bar, flipped it over¡ªmuch to everyone¡¯s surprise, the gold bars had no marks or signs of damage. it was well-known that the stolen gold had markings. the inspectors exchanged glances, one of them looking at jiang junlin. gu ci let out a sigh of relief. she couldn¡¯t help but glance at jiang junlin. had she been overly suspicious? jiang junlin smiled and calmly explained, ¡°this batch of gold was transported from the hualan bank mine. it happens to be three hundred kilograms.¡± ji chi frowned. what had gone wrong? how had he managed to deceive everyone, whitewash this batch of gold? the inspectors were also surprised, checking each gold bar, finding no issues. the quantity was three hundred kilograms, no markings, proper documentation, a clean source. ¡°thank you for the surprise inspection today. mr. jiang, could you take us to the central bank now?¡± the inspector received a message through his earpiece. the entire process had been under surveillance, leaving no room for sleight of hand. they could only withdraw for now. ¡°goodbye, no need for further farewells.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone was cool. they were official personnel, but the unannounced inspection was a breach of etiquette. the inspectors didn¡¯t blame jiang junlin¡¯s cold attitude. leading the group, they left in an orderly fashion. gu ziyu waved, taking chen fei and his team with him. after getting into the car, gu ziyu called chen liangdong. ¡°the gold is fine.¡± ¡°i know,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°ten minutes ago, jidao returned three hundred kilograms of gold to the m bank. that¡¯s the latest intel.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s annoyance was palpable. ¡°they¡¯re playing games, trying to catch us off guard?¡± chen liangdong took a deep breath. ¡°it¡¯s not that simple. just come back.¡± ¡°alright.¡± gu ziyu was frustrated. as a minor, he shouldn¡¯t have been tasked with this sudden inspection. it wasn¡¯t a directive from chen liangdong. if he had slipped even a few words to jiang junlin, it wouldn¡¯t have ended well for him. gu ziyu felt the tension of the three-way game between black hawk, jidao, and state security. a silent war, resolving discreetly. with jiang junlin handling the aftermath, gu ci checked the time¡ªalready 2 o¡¯clock. although hualan had managed to defuse the situation, jiang junlin undoubtedly had a lot on his plate. ¡°brother, i¡¯ll head back.¡± ¡°go ahead.¡± jiang junlin touched her hair. he and third master exuded a reassuring aura, as if they could handle any crisis with ease. gu ci nodded. just like third master, jiang junlin possessed a reassuring presence that seemed to convey that no matter what challenges arose, they could handle them with calm and confidence. after gu ci left, ji chi, who had been silent, chuckled. ¡°mr. jiang, how did you manage to launder this batch of gold in just five days?¡± ¡°ji chi, what are you saying?¡± jiang junlin remained composed. ¡°this is gold from the mine, fully documented. it just so happens to match the amount of missing gold.¡± ji chi suddenly pinched jiang junlin¡¯s waist, pushing him back against the wall. he closed in, almost pressing against him, their breaths mingling. ¡°yesterday, i obtained all of hualan bank¡¯s mine records. there hasn¡¯t been any gold production in the past three months. mr. jiang, you¡¯re lying without batting an eye.¡± jiang junlin chuckled. ¡°why didn¡¯t you expose my lie earlier?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes also held a playful glint. ¡°so, as a way to repay me, how about mr. jiang tell me where that batch of gold went? i need to report as well, right? this situation has put black hawk in a difficult spot too.¡± jiang junlin tapped his phone lightly. ¡°check your phone.¡± ¡°what?¡± ¡°just take a look!¡± ji chi frowned, unlocked his phone, and read a message sent by black hawk headquarters. jidao¡¯s pei qiuying had returned the gold to the m bank. the message was sent ten minutes ago. ji chi went silent, having been attentively monitoring the situation¡¯s development, he hadn¡¯t seen the message in time. ¡°ji chi, do you understand now? this was jidao¡¯s game all along. they had control over the gold from start to finish.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s words carried a deeper meaning. ¡°you suspected the wrong person.¡± ¡°how is that possible?¡± ji chi was momentarily perplexed. black flawk had insiders within jidao as well. pei qiuying had been stressed about this matter. it couldn¡¯t have been in jidao¡¯s hands. ¡°why would 1 take the gold and involve pei qiuying? it would be unnecessary. the cooperation between jidao and hualan was already close. selling it to you wouldn¡¯t have earned me any favors.¡± jiang junlin calmly inquired, ¡°besides, if i had taken it, why would 1 then return it to the m bank? if it were me, and ziyu is with state security, i would have given it to him to make a name for himself.¡± ji chi and lu zhiyuan had also discussed the gold¡¯s whereabouts. it was true that jiang junlin had no reason to steal the gold. it would have been superfluous, leaving himself exposed. the matter seemed to have come to a close, but doubts lingered in ji chi¡¯s mind. jiang junlin pointed his finger at ji chi¡¯s waist. ¡°give me some space!¡± ji chi squinted his eyes, observing jiang junlin¡¯s long fingers. ¡°i¡¯m not feeling well!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s expression grew serious, his face slightly flushed. ji chi furrowed his brows and placed his hand on jiang junlin¡¯s forehead. jiang junlin had a fever. ji chi was surprised. ¡°you have a fever?¡± jiang junlin pushed him away with a kick. ¡°you have the nerve to bring that up? 1 told you to use rubber and you ignored it.. whose responsibility is that?¡± Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Tsundere Third Young Master chapter 189: tsundere third young master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi recalled the time they soaked in the hot spring together last night. it was a bit awkward, and he took the blame for it. he quickly put on a different expression and acted innocent, saying, ¡°brother, don¡¯t be angry. let¡¯s not make it a precedent.¡± jiang junlin chuckled, knowing this was just a way to deceive him. ¡°don¡¯t worry about it. i have some quirks that you might not understand.¡± ¡°it¡¯s all because you¡¯re so charming, and i¡¯m young and impulsive, unable to resist.¡± ji chi said, his face not showing any embarrassment, his heart not racing. ¡°are you¡­ feeling uncomfortable?¡± jiang junlin looked at him in silence, but his gaze was seductive. despite being a restrained man, whenever ji chi felt the weight of jiang junlin¡¯s eyes on him, it was as if they were saying, ¡°come, ji chi, take me.¡± ji chi chuckled lightly, then suddenly lowered his gaze, appearing somewhat obedient yet also a bit melancholic. ¡°brother, you always use these tricks to deceive me. isn¡¯t it inappropriate?¡± jiang junlin looked at his enigmatic smile, knowing that this little wolf cub understood everything. he smiled too, patting ji chi¡¯s face. ¡°did i manage to deceive you? we were intimate in the hot spring, and then you went to report that i was hoarding gold. caught me off guard, ji chi. are you just waiting for me to fall and be at your mercy?¡± ¡°why not?¡± ji chi¡¯s excited and eager eyes were fixed on him. jiang junlin expressionlessly pointed to the door. ¡°get lost!¡± on her way home, gu ci couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the batch of gold pei qiuying took from master¡¯s hands and gave to the m country bank. it was gold from over a decade ago. where did the lost gold go? was the batch of gold from her brother really legitimate? black hawk, jidao, state security¡­ a three-way struggle where pei qiuying ultimately emerged victorious. someone must have lied and manipulated everyone. gu ci closed her eyes and replayed every detail of the day jiang junlin came to their house. with her excellent memory, she didn¡¯t miss a single detail. ¡°gold, it must have been my brother who took it. but what does he plan to do with it?¡± he had probably foreseen that someone would report him, so he temporarily replaced the gold, right? if he didn¡¯t replace it, hualan bank would face great troubles. at a glance, everything seemed calm, but upon closer inspection, it was all traps and dangers. one wrong move, and there would be no turning back. when gu ci returned home, ziyu still hadn¡¯t returned. feeling agitated, she went to the garden and tended to her flowers. the vine roses had grown beautifully, and they would surely blossom magnificently in due time. winter had come, and the weather was chilly. sitting in the garden, she let her thoughts wander. whenever her mind wandered, lu zhiyuan silently occupied all her senses and memories. gu ci chuckled at herself; she was hopelessly infatuated with lu zhiyuan. how could she ever break free from this? gu ci messaged li jiang. gu ci: li jiang, how is lu zhiyuan¡¯s training going? three minutes later, li jiang replied with three videos of lu zhiyuan training, including one where he raced with a driver. in the videos, lu zhiyuan was still sharp and confident. she missed lu zhiyuan! li jiang also sent a few photos taken by global¡¯s photographer. they were almost like professional portraits, comparable to those of male celebrities. gu ci¡¯s heart raced as she looked at the portraits. in another week, she would be able to watch lu zhiyuan¡¯s race. gu ci: li jiang, are pei qiuying and third master in a romantic relationship? li jiang: impossible! miss gu ci, please don¡¯t believe rumors. it¡¯s absolutely not possible. third master¡­ has no interest in love, he¡¯s solely focused on his career. gu ci: oh¡­ li jiang: it¡¯s true! gu ci: what about third young master? li jiang: third young master¡­ isn¡¯t it widely known? he likes you, you know. gu ci: no one has pursued him? he¡¯s so popular worldwide among girls. besides racing, no rumors about his relationships? li jiang: third young master has it tough. he wakes up every day to training. during training camp, he¡¯s training all day long. when the race schedule isn¡¯t so dense, he might go on vacation, but even then, he¡¯ll be racing with others. and when he wants to relax at night¡­ that¡¯s when third master goes online. he doesn¡¯t like interacting with people, and he has secret admirers too. he would notice them, so it¡¯s hard for others to get close to him. therefore, he really doesn¡¯t have any love news. some of the rumors are definitely fabricated. gu ci looked at this paragraph and thought about lu zhiyuan¡¯s daily life. it seemed quite monotonous, just like the life of third master during the night. each of them only had half their time to deal with the most important things in their lives. gu ci: is he¡­ happy lately? li jiang: miss gu ci, are you asking about third young master or third master? gu ci: third young master. li jiang: it¡¯s the usual training routine, nothing out of the ordinary. gu ci also felt relieved. no matter what, she would wait for him to finish this race safely. as li jiang was busy typing a message to gu ci, lu zhiyuan finished his training session. he took off his helmet and walked over. an assistant took his helmet and handed him a towel. lu zhiyuan wiped his sweat off quickly. ¡°who are you messaging?¡± he asked, taking a deep breath and drinking a bottle of water. li jiang didn¡¯t dare to hide anything. ¡°miss gu ci contacted me.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. he threw the empty bottle into the trash bin and extended his hand. ¡°give me the phone.¡± li jiang was troubled. ¡°third young master, this is my privacy.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze darkened, and li jiang immediately relented, handing over his phone. lu zhiyuan glanced through the chat history. gu ci would ask li jiang about lu zhiyuan¡¯s recent situation every day, requesting photos and videos. it explained why li jiang was always on the sidelines recording videos with his phone. a faint smile curved lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips as he handed the phone back to li jiang. lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone was gruff. ¡°why are you so foolish? can¡¯t you ask her how she¡¯s doing? can¡¯t you have a normal conversation?¡± li jiang blurted out, ¡°i know how miss gu ci is doing! it¡¯s not like i have¡­ feelings for¡­¡± a fierce glare from lu zhiyuan silenced li jiang. with a smile, li jiang added, ¡°i suddenly got interested again.¡± he was really quite the character, being stuck in the midst of this chaotic trio, acting as a messenger, and having to witness their romantic exchanges. the world¡¯s most sleep-deprived and miserable chief bodyguard was none other than him. he patted his still-thick head of hair. ¡°third young master, one day, i¡¯ll be bald and drop dead from exhaustion.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. when jiang junlin arrived, gu ziyu hadn¡¯t returned home yet. gu ci was picking vegetables from the garden, planning to make a vegetable soup. jiang junlin appeared, still dressed as he was at the bank, with a light gray scarf around his neck. gu ci thought to herself, oh no! she was planning to cook two dishes, but now her brother was here, and he might not be pleased with whatever she made. ¡°brother, would you like dinner?¡± she asked. jiang junlin was subtly silent for a moment, thinking about gu ci and gu ziyu¡¯s cooking skills. ¡°i¡¯ve already eaten.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci decided not to make the vegetable soup anymore. she took out some bread and milk. even if it wasn¡¯t much, that would be her dinner. jiang junlin watched her eating the bread and drinking milk. ¡°you should hire a housekeeper to cook.¡± gu ci thought to herself, brother, if you hadn¡¯t come, i was planning to cook. ¡°ziyu doesn¡¯t like it.¡± she didn¡¯t plan to beat around the bush with jiang junlin. although it was cold outside, indoors felt warm like spring. gu ci brewed some tea and invited jiang junlin to join her for a cup.. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Death and Embarrassment chapter 190: death and embarrassment translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°pei qiuying came to find dr. north, wanting to claim a batch of gold from her. the gold she handed over was from over a decade ago. brother, is this the gold you stole?¡± ¡°in this matter, i hope cici will keep it confidential, not to tell anyone, including ziyu,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°cici is too clever; 1 know i can¡¯t hide it from you. that night when she showed concern, and i came to inquire about ziyu¡¯s situation, i exposed my identity. you know the origin of pei qiuying¡¯s gold, and it¡¯s not hard to guess that 1 was behind the scenes.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t consider telling gu ziyu and lu zhiyuan about this. this is an eternal dilemma. her husband, son, and brother¡ªthree of them are mortal enemies. whom should she help? ¡°brother, what do you want to do with this batch of gold?¡± gu ci asked astutely. ¡°if state security loses this gold, they¡¯ll take full responsibility. are you hoping for chen liangdong¡¯s transfer, as he¡¯s in your way?¡± what did hualan bank do that caught chen liangdong¡¯s attention? the room was too hot. jiang junlin tugged at his scarf and casually sipped his tea. ¡°three years ago, hualan bank and m bank signed several contracts. at that time, the deputy director was manipulated, fell into a trap, and m bank found loopholes. these contracts caused hualan bank substantial losses. so, i intend to use this gold to exchange with them. it¡¯s a risky move.¡± gu ci mentally reviewed jiang junlin¡¯s words and realized he was fabricating a story to deceive her. this might be the reason, and the contracts must have issues. but hualan is an investment bank; profits and losses go hand in hand. even if these contracts resulted in losses, they could easily make up for them elsewhere. jiang junlin¡¯s explanation couldn¡¯t deceive gu ci, who was well-versed in financial transactions and rules. ¡°the mss is keeping a close eye. if i¡¯m not mistaken, that gold was indeed supposed to enter hualan bank¡¯s vault today. why was there a last-minute change?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. he leaned to pour tea, and his scarf slipped down from around his neck. he held the tea, took a sniff, and concealed the coldness in his eyes. ¡°indeed, this gold was meant to enter hualan¡¯s vault. but last night, ji chi tipped off state security. i had to make a last-minute change.¡± gu ci asked incredulously, ¡°ji chi tipped them off?¡± is he crazy? jiang junlin lightly set down the teacup with a smile. ¡°hualan and black hawk¡¯s meeting is scheduled for two o¡¯clock this afternoon. he changed the time in the middle of the night, which raised my suspicions. 1 hadn¡¯t received any messages at the time, so 1 instructed someone to switch out the gold, just in case. when i received a tip-off this morning, 1 knew that ji chi had set a trap waiting for me.¡± the young wolf cub should enjoy what he deserves¡ªenjoyment. he got out of bed. when it¡¯s time to wield the knife, there¡¯s no hesitation! ¡°why?¡± gu ci¡¯s gaze moved away from jiang junlin¡¯s neck. jiang junlin spoke lightly, but gu ci sensed the danger beneath his words. as long as one link goes wrong and this batch of gold is delivered to hualan bank, jiang junlin would face imprisonment. jiang junlin explained, ¡°black hawk and jidao are the two largest global financial organizations, long-standing rivals. they engage in a constant battle between long and short positions, both equally powerful. their networks are intricate and complex, involving not only financial transactions but also various gray and black market activities. black hawk¡¯s main focus is on the m country and europe; they don¡¯t pay much attention to the asian market. however, they frequently seize wealth from the asian market. the asian market was stolen away by jidao. over the past five years, the asian financial market has grown rapidly, and its significance in the global market has continuously increased. black hawk¡¯s focus has shifted to the asian market, but breaking through hasn¡¯t been easy for jidao, who have been operating for years. jidao has a close relationship with hualan bank, mutually supporting each other. i¡¯ve had conflicts with black hawk, and all the previous asia presidents of black hawk were denied communication with hualan bank until ji chi appeared. ji chi wants to secure black hawk¡¯s asian division within a year. to do that, he must take market share from jidao.¡± jiang junlin paused in his tone. ¡°i have special reasons for not wanting to witness this scene. ji chi wants to take a shortcut, but he¡¯ll have to step over my dead body to climb up.¡± ¡°after ji chi came to city a, hualan and black hawk have had very close cooperation.¡± jiang junlin licked his lips, the fever making them dry. he chuckled, ¡°fishing requires bait, after all.¡± gu ci was speechless. this scene made gu ci feel that jiang junlin was both unfamiliar and deviously cunning. in her mind, her brother had always been straightforward and upright. ¡°brother, are you not feeling well?¡± ¡°a little fever.¡± gu ci got up, took the temperature gun, and measured. thirty-nine degrees. she frowned slightly, fetched the medicine box, and retrieved a fever-reducing injection. jiang junlin said, ¡°it¡¯s not necessary¡­¡± ¡°listen to the doctor!¡± without further discussion, gu ci pulled his arm, ¡°take off your clothes.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s face showed reluctance, but seeing gu ci¡¯s stern and cold expression, he had no choice but to comply. he removed his scarf and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his arms. underneath his dress shirt, he wore an undershirt that couldn¡¯t conceal the cluster of bite marks from his neck to his collarbone and even on his arms. as the scarf fell, gu ci saw the bite marks on his neck and finally understood why her brother always wore a scarf indoors despite the temperature control. if his subordinates saw this scene in the bank, it would certainly damage her brother¡¯s dignity. unexpectedly, without his shirt, things got even more interesting. the bite marks were densely spread across his neck and collarbone. and yet, he maintained a serious expression, even wearing glasses that made him look quite restrained. the contrast was striking. the room was quiet, not a sound to be heard. gu ci regretted making jiang junlin take off his clothes. if she had known, she would have asked him to take off his pants too. that might have alleviated the awkwardness. ji chi was truly wild and fierce. is he a dog in the chinese zodiac? these marks wouldn¡¯t fade for a week. jiang junlin glanced down, his expression unchanged, except for his ears turning red as if to betray his embarrassment. gu ci saw the bite marks on his arm and couldn¡¯t help it anymore, ¡°why even on your arms?¡± jiang junlin smiled faintly, ¡°little sister, we can skip this topic.¡± gu ci wiped him with alcohol, gave him the injection, and as the needle went in, she just had to say, ¡°sister-in-law is quite wild.¡± jiang junlin kept his eyes on his nose, and his nose on his heart. he nodded, ¡°don¡¯t learn from her.¡± gu ci almost sputtered. brother, even if you¡¯re not embarrassed, others will be, right? wait a moment, brother, why didn¡¯t you deny the title of ¡®sister-in-law¡¯? coincidentally, at this moment, gu ziyu returned. gu ziyu was tired today. he went out for a run and then came back to endless work, entering with a very dispirited expression. both gu ci and jiang junlin looked at him, and gu ziyu couldn¡¯t see the embarrassment on jiang junlin¡¯s face behind the glasses. he blinked and blurted out, ¡°is big brother getting a rabies shot?¡± gu ci choked back a laugh. gu ziyu didn¡¯t notice jiang junlin¡¯s internal death. pointing at his neck, he continued, ¡°did you get bitten by a dog?¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t know what to say. gu ci suppressed her laughter. well, she couldn¡¯t be the only one feeling awkward. jiang junlin¡¯s ears were almost dripping blood. after gu ci withdrew the needle, he quickly put on his clothes and maintained a neutral expression, ¡°it¡¯s insect bites..¡± Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Love Is Love, Desire Is Desire chapter 191: love is love, desire is desire translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu looked puzzled, ¡°then that must have been a pretty big insect.¡± gu ci bet that this was definitely the most embarrassing scene her brother had experienced this year. gu ziyu really didn¡¯t understand. he was 18 years old in his previous life, but he was a reclusive, introverted teenager who had no grasp of romance and didn¡¯t interact with people. matters of love were foreign to him. he threw himself onto the couch, looking completely drained, ¡°i¡¯m so tired.¡± with gu ziyu back, gu ci refrained from pressing further about the gold matter. that issue was settled, and pei qiuying managed to pass through with dr. north¡¯s gold. one person affected by this was chen liangdong. ¡°ziyu, was chen liangdong punished?¡± jiang junlin asked. gu ziyu lifted an eyelid, ¡°big brother, do you want him to be demoted or promoted?¡± jiang junlin meticulously fastened the top button of his coat, concealing his desires. ¡°i haven¡¯t had any interactions with him. whether he¡¯s demoted or promoted doesn¡¯t affect me.¡± gu ziyu took the apple juice that gu ci handed him and took a sip. ¡°this situation is quite troublesome. if the whereabouts of the gold remain unknown, it will indeed be complicated. he¡¯s bound to be transferred. but since the gold has appeared, it¡¯s the work of jidao¡¯s people trying to trick us. this situation can be resolved. if we catch jidao¡¯s people, it will also implicate a significant number of key figures. it balances out the merits and demerits.¡± jiang junlin wrapped a scarf around his neck, a slight curve forming at the corner of his lips. gu ziyu suddenly said, ¡°there¡¯s a problem with pei qiuying¡¯s batch of gold.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s smile faded, and he raised his head. ¡°what kind of problem?¡± gu ziyu appeared enigmatic. ¡°it¡¯s a state secret, and i can¡¯t disclose it.¡± gu ci remained silent. jiang junlin nodded nonchalantly, ¡°understood.¡± gu ziyu held the juice in his hands and reclined on the couch. ¡°if uncle tells me where the stolen gold is, i¡¯ll exchange it for intelligence with you.¡± ¡°trade secrets cannot be disclosed.¡± gu ziyu was briefly choked, but he imitated his brother¡¯s tone with a touch of ambiguity, ¡°understood.¡± ¡°that¡¯s settled!¡± gu ci was still silent. for the nth time, she wondered, between her husband, son, and brother, who should she be helping? ¡°sweetie, are you hungry?¡± gu ci asked. gu ziyu patted his empty stomach, ¡°i am.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll order takeout.¡± gu ci asked jiang junlin, ¡°do you want to join us, big brother?¡± gu ziyu secretly thought, mom, do you really need to ask that? is there any takeout that uncle can eat? ¡°no, thank you.¡± jiang junlin got up, picked up his coat, and headed to the door. ¡°i¡¯m heading home. you two enjoy your meal.¡± gu ci walked jiang junlin to the door, feeling uneasy. ¡°big brother, what¡¯s the issue between you and black hawk?¡± ¡°there are some matters that i can¡¯t tell you.¡± jiang junlin stood under the moonlight, gently stroking her hair, his voice full of affection. ¡°just remember that i won¡¯t harm you or ziyu.¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ci had always believed in him. ¡°big brother, if your fever doesn¡¯t go down tomorrow, you should visit the hospital.¡± ¡°understood.¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t utter the true reason for his fever, but he secretly thought that the next time ji chi dared to act recklessly and not wear a condom, he would directly deal with him to spare himself the headache. gu ziyu put down the juice, rubbed his eyes, and asked gu ci, ¡°is the gold in uncle¡¯s possession?¡± ¡°sweetie, mom wants to talk to you about something.¡± gu ci sat in front of him. ¡°the matters between you men, you can resolve them yourselves, okay?¡± gu ziyu widened his eyes, ¡°mom, 1 am your biological son, right?¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know what to say. gu ziyu snapped his fingers, ¡°but you¡¯re assuming that. even if the gold isn¡¯t in uncle¡¯s hands, he must still know the truth.¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong with pei qiuying¡¯s batch of gold?¡± gu ziyu put on an air of elegance and aloofness, ¡°matters between men are not convenient to share with women.¡± gu ci was thrown. ji chi and lu zhiyuan were in a video call. in the video, lu zhiyuan was engrossed in reading the investigation report about the gold. he had entrusted this matter entirely to ji chi to handle. while the outcome wasn¡¯t what lu zhiyuan had hoped for, he understood that it wasn¡¯t entirely ji chi¡¯s fault. ¡°so, you suspect jiang junlin?¡± lu zhiyuan raised his head. ji chi tapped his fingers on the table and nodded. ¡°what¡¯s the reason?¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t put it into words; it was more of an intuition. he had focused his gaze on one person for a long time, and none of jiang junlin¡¯s micro-expressions had escaped his eyes. jiang junlin was an introverted, composed man; it was difficult for others to discern his emotions. however, ji chi could always sense his emotional fluctuations from his controlled and expressionless face. intuition, however, couldn¡¯t be taken as evidence. ¡°recently, hualan gave me a few projects. while it seems like it¡¯s due to me that the tense relationship between black hawk and hualan has eased, these projects don¡¯t significantly affect black hawk¡¯s market share in asia. all the important projects are under jiang junlin¡¯s control. this creates a false impression in the financial sector that we can actually take a piece of the pie from jidao.¡± ji chi¡¯s face turned cold as he spoke, ¡°he¡¯s pretending to cooperate with me to find out about third master¡¯s identity.¡± lu zhiyuan closed the documents. ¡°that¡¯s strange. the feud between hualan and black hawk started because of jidao, and there was no personal vendetta. why would jiang junlin want to know my identity?¡± ¡°it¡¯s my intuition,¡± ji chi said. ¡°third master, my intuition has saved me countless times. i believe in it.¡± lu zhiyuan had never doubted ji chi¡¯s trustworthiness and abilities. ¡°so, that means jiang junlin already knows that you¡¯re not chen rushi, but my man?¡± ji chi nodded, ¡°yes.¡± ¡°pei qiuying has handed over the gold to the m country bank, concluding this matter. for now, don¡¯t keep holding onto it. if jiang junlin indeed suspects that you¡¯re my man, you shouldn¡¯t deny it.¡± lu zhiyuan had spent several years in black hawk, his focus primarily on the north american market. his understanding of jiang junlin was limited to the fact that he was the president of hualan bank. ¡°i also want to know what else jiang junlin is hiding behind his identity as the president of hualan bank.¡± ¡°understood!¡± ji chi said, ¡°do we need to continue investigating that batch of gold? since pei qiuying has submitted the gold, and it¡¯s a different batch from the missing one, the lost gold is still in city a.¡± ¡°no need.¡± lu zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°set up a seamless trap. jiang junlin managed to escape it once. if he did manage to steal the gold, you won¡¯t find any trace. i¡¯ll handle the follow-up of this matter. if you want to take the asian market away from jidao, you can¡¯t avoid jiang junlin. as long as he stands in jidao¡¯s way, you¡¯ll be powerless.¡± ¡°i understand what to do.¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes glinted with a hint of ruthlessness. after the incident with the gold, the fig leaf that covered the relationship between him and jiang junlin had been stripped away. love was love, desire was desire. no matter how intimate and romantic a couple might be, when it came to killing, it was a matter of life and death. after discussing black hawk¡¯s matters with lu zhiyuan, he entrusted ji chi with another task, ¡°the lu corporation¡¯s asset structure is sound, and profits are steadily growing. help me find a professional manager.¡± ¡°third master, are you stepping back from managing it?¡± ¡°i¡¯m stretched too thin.¡± lu zhiyuan pinched the bridge of his nose. after the memory exchange with third young master, things had become more complicated. managing black hawk¡¯s affairs alone was already intricate, and then there was the matter of the global center. every day, he woke up to a pile of official business, and he had to fight with third young master for control, preventing him from taking over when he was weak. yet, he never considered fully seizing control, leaving third young master unconscious. he had always maintained a delicate balance.. Chapter 192 - Chapter 192:I Didn’t Serve Chairman Jiang Well chapter 192:i didn¡¯t serve chairman jiang well translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation under the direction of lu zhiyuan, ji chi suspended several projects in collaboration with hualan bank. during this period, hualan bank and black hawk were in a honeymoon phase. led by ji chi, they held meetings at hualan bank every few days, and the projects progressed smoothly. after discontinuing cooperation, ji chi turned to the lu corporation for support. black hawk has always had the backing of the lu corporation within the country. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want black hawk to become entangled with the lu corporation. it wasn¡¯t because he feared his own identity being exposed; it was a matter of boundaries. the two identities had distinct realms, and he didn¡¯t want to overstep. now, with the confusion of third master¡¯s and lu zhiyuan¡¯s identities, and their memories and senses intertwined, third master no longer had so many inhibitions. gu ci and lu zhiyuan had a certain understanding between them, even though they hadn¡¯t communicated directly. gu ci still delayed chen rushi¡¯s illness, which led to chen rushi losing the initiative in the gold theft incident, causing significant losses for pei qiuying¡¯s group. lu zhiyuan also stepped forward to shield chen rushi, but by the time chen rushi recovered, it was too late to handle the situation. black hawk¡¯s asian division, which had been controlled by chen rushi, was betrayed by him. chen jing was imprisoned by ji chi, fulfilling chen rushi¡¯s desire. the chen family used chen jing as a scapegoat, settling the score for his attempted power grab. the internal turmoil of the chen family was left for chen rushi to handle. in this executive reshuffle, ji chi successfully ousted two vice presidents and gained control over several key projects. after the termination of cooperation between black hawk and hualan bank, they stood in opposition to hualan bank. for four consecutive days, the short-selling team from black hawk caused massive losses to hualan bank. during the meeting, jiang junlin remained unfazed. ¡°chairman jiang, ji chi lacks integrity. he cut off cooperation without warning, and all the capital we invested in the early stages has gone to waste. this matter isn¡¯t over,¡± a vice president burst out angrily, feeling highly irritated and anxious about the financial battle that had been raging for the past few days. ¡°since the lu corporation and black hawk have formed an alliance and severed ties completely, it¡¯s straightforward. remove the lu corporation from hualan bank¡¯s list of collaborators and announce it publicly,¡± jiang junlin said casually. ¡°i¡¯d like to see which bank would dare to provide them with funds without my approval.¡± cash flow in businesses was always insufficient, especially considering the lu corporation¡¯s core focus on real estate over the past five years. they had limited funds on their books, and once the supply chain was cut off, if a financial crisis occurred, their assets would shrink significantly. banks generally held the upper hand in business collaborations. ever since jiang junlin took over hualan bank, any company that had conflicts with the bank had already disappeared into the currents of time. ¡°understood.¡± jiang junlin spoke calmly, ¡°the domestic financial system operates as a coherent entity, with funds forming alliances. if black hawk wants a piece of the pie, they can¡¯t bypass hualan. 1 don¡¯t like empty threats. since black hawk wants a battle, i¡¯ll grant their wish. i want to see how much money ji chi has and if he dares to engage me in a financial battle.¡± the audience shivered inwardly, sensing that their usually stable and composed boss had gained an extraordinary level of dominance and a willingness to take high risks. several bold venture capitalists were itching to engage black hawk in a financial battle. half an hour after jiang junlin¡¯s meeting, the futures market saw an 80% surge in london nickel prices, creating the biggest short squeeze in the futures market in three years. in the evening, when the futures market opened, london nickel prices skyrocketed by 60%, briefly surpassing 110%. the world was shocked, and the exchange had to temporarily halt trading in london nickel. black hawk¡¯s subsidiary, jin yun company, suffered heavy losses and faced a direct liquidation. after the unexpected surge in london nickel prices during the afternoon, gu ci placed an order and had gu ziyu investigate who was going long on london nickel. it didn¡¯t take long to discover that it was hualan bank. ¡°wow¡­ uncle¡¯s got deep pockets. black hawk is bleeding money.¡± gu ziyu bizarrely found pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune. he found that the large nickel companies controlled by black hawk had heavily concentrated short positions. this was a normal operation, meant to counteract fluctuations in spot prices. no one could have predicted this surge, and its speed was staggering. gu ci immediately called ji chi, ¡°ji chi, close all the short positions. don¡¯t add to them.¡± this was the downside of having dual identities. when hualan bank was shorting the market, lu zhiyuan was still in training and not in his third master persona. ji chi saw the intraday surge and knew that jiang junlin had taken action. ji chi had been thinking about adding to his positions. since spot prices hadn¡¯t changed and futures prices couldn¡¯t keep rising indefinitely, he intended to keep adding to his positions to drive up the prices. then, when the prices came down, he could offset the losses. ¡°if third master were awake, he would have instructed you to close the positions immediately. my brother is determined to short the market. the massive domestic funds combined with the underworld¡¯s support account for a third of global cash. you don¡¯t have enough money to cover the gaps. the more you cover, the more you¡¯ll lose. you can only cut your losses to survive.¡± ji chi made a swift decision and closed the short positions. he couldn¡¯t close half of them in time, and when the market opened in the evening, he had to liquidate them immediately, resulting in a loss of nearly 50 billion. losing in the futures market could lead to ruin. ¡°mr. ji, it¡¯s hualan bank that¡¯s shorting london nickel.¡± ¡°i know!¡± ji chi took a deep breath, having anticipated this outcome. once nick left, a video conference call from lu zhiyuan followed suit. ¡°did you close the positions?¡± ¡°i closed them!¡± ji chi replied. ¡°how much did you lose?¡± ¡°almost 60 billion!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze slightly darkened. jiang junlin¡¯s move was truly ruthless. black hawk had been forced to cover its positions twice now, incurring heavy losses. ji chi¡¯s decision to suspend cooperation with hualan bank would undoubtedly trigger hualan¡¯s countermove. the financial market encompassed various instruments, and he had no idea which approach jiang junlin would take for revenge. he didn¡¯t expect it to be the highest-value option ¨C london nickel. ¡°it¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t add to your positions; otherwise, the losses would have been more than 60 billion.¡± if it were him and the increase exceeded 20%, he would have investigated thoroughly and closed the positions immediately. ji chi explained, ¡°miss gu ci called me right away and advised me to close the positions instead of adding more.¡± lu zhiyuan paused for a moment, then spoke softly, ¡°well done.¡± ji chi¡¯s handling of the futures market showed his lack of experience, but he wasn¡¯t arrogant. he managed the situation quite well. ¡°a night of intimacy brings a hundred nights of gratitude.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°did you think your move was a bit harsh?¡± ji chi¡¯s usually smiling face stiffened for a moment, ¡°it seems 1 haven¡¯t treated chairman jiang well enough.¡± after a peculiar silence. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°due to a decision-making error, i¡¯ll have to demote you.¡± this was the outcome that both lu zhiyuan and ji chi had already anticipated. however, the losses exceeded their predictions. jiang junlin¡¯s move was more severe than they had imagined. jiang junlin had tried every means to prevent ji chi from taking a higher position. this was in line with jiang junlin¡¯s wish ¨C to push ji chi off the stage. ¡°alright, i understand.¡± after the meeting ended, ji chi sat in his study, staring at a lighter with a somber expression. his security team leader, nick, stood by the door, watching ji chi anxiously. he had followed ji chi for four years but had rarely seen ji chi in this state. with the lighter in his hand, flickering on and off, ji chi seemed to be making a momentous decision. ¡°brother, i¡¯ll reciprocate your ruthlessness. since you¡¯re heartless, don¡¯t blame me for lacking loyalty.¡± the probing and entanglement had come to an end. fortunes and lives were things earned through ruthless struggle.. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: No Matter How Good He Is, He’s Someone’s Husband (1) chapter 193: no matter how good he is, he¡¯s someone¡¯s husband (1) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation dr. north¡¯s hand had almost healed completely. after finishing her classes, gu ci would come to the hospital to seek treatment for her emotional wounds. regardless of the weather, central hospital was the best hospital in city a. chen rushi, dr. north, and pei qiuying were all hospitalized there. pei qiuying had been injured in the neck by gu ci and had also stayed at central hospital for a few days. after the matter with the gold had been resolved, pei qiuying started coming to see dr. north every day. dr. north was distant towards her. she stood on the fourth-floor ward, looking down at the garden below. gu ci was walking with dr. north, chatting and laughing gently. pei qiuying¡¯s eyes turned icy as she watched. gu ci¡­ it was always gu ci. her man, gu ci wanted to take him. her sister, gu ci wanted to take her too. truly her lifelong rival! pei qiuying let out a slow breath, suppressing the jealousy deep within her. before coming to city a, she hadn¡¯t considered gu ci significant. even though gu ci had a strong background and was outstanding and brilliant, a genius girl, pei qiuying hadn¡¯t paid her much attention. she wanted to crush gu ci, just like crushing an ant. would anyone care about the life of an ant? but this trip to city a had stirred a crisis within her. the seemingly ordinary college girl was now a threat to her existence. this girl¡­ was truly bothersome. she touched the healing scar on her neck. the gaze that could kill gu ci was unstoppable. gu ci was about to go abroad to watch lu zhiyuan¡¯s competition. for some reason, she felt a bit nervous. dr. north smiled and asked, ¡°why are you nervous?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know!¡± gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°it¡¯s like¡­ a first date.¡± she recalled the previous life¡¯s date with lu zhiyuan. it was a sunny afternoon. she had been nervous, happy, and insecure, wearing three layers of masks because her face had been disfigured. in prison, she had been wary of gu chuyun sending someone to assassinate her. gu ci didn¡¯t like physical contact with people; anyone who touched her would trigger her reflex to fight back. but with lu zhiyuan by her side, she walked in his shadow, feeling incredibly safe and joyful. it was a kind of happiness she hadn¡¯t experienced in many years. ¡°your recent state has been quite good,¡± dr. north said. ¡°believe in yourself.¡± gu ci was naturally resilient. she only reacted overly when lu zhiyuan left her, which caused her to struggle with inner demons. but apart from that, she could face any challenge with calm composure. ¡°i didn¡¯t have nightmares last night,¡± gu ci happily shared her state with dr. north. ¡°master, does that mean i¡¯m getting better?¡± ¡°cici, as long as you cooperate, you will get better.¡± gu ci nodded. she was at her most well-behaved and obedient when in front of dr. north. ¡°master, is there really no problem with the batch of gold you gave to pei qiuying?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°the gold reserves in the bank are organized into batches, and this batch of gold only has markings, not serial numbers. coincidentally¡­¡± dr. north blinked, ¡°when 1 received every gold bar back then, i inspected them. there are three gold bars with hidden markings.¡± gu ci was curious. ¡°you didn¡¯t tell pei qiuying?¡± ¡°why should 1 tell her?¡± dr. north said casually. ¡°she wants it, 1 give it. gold isn¡¯t something i produced. if she doesn¡¯t check, it¡¯s not my responsibility.¡± gu ci felt an inexplicable sense of joy. dr. north suddenly said, ¡°cici, pei qiuying is meticulous and grew up in the underworld. she¡¯s different from gu chuyun, the girls who badmouthed you behind your back in school, or the others. despite her charming appearance, her hands are stained with blood. don¡¯t provoke her.¡± ¡°it¡¯s not that i want to provoke her,¡± gu ci looked ahead. ¡°lu zhiyuan is my territory, and i will fight for every inch!¡± dr. north followed her gaze and saw pei qiuying approaching slowly. she was no longer in patient attire, indicating that she was about to be discharged from the hospital. she came over with a gentle smile, ¡°sister, is your hand better?¡± ¡°it¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°if sister is unhappy, i can help you vent your anger,¡± pei qiuying casually offered, ¡°chen rushi will pay the price for this.¡± ¡°no need, 1¡¯11 handle my own affairs,¡± dr. north looked at her. ¡°since the matter with the gold has been resolved, shouldn¡¯t you be leaving?¡± ¡°sisters who haven¡¯t seen each other for years, why is sister in such a hurry to chase me away?¡± pei qiuying looked at gu ci to the side. ¡°is it because of her?¡± ¡°i remember that the pei family and the jiang family are old friends. you also have an engagement with jiang junlin, right?¡± dr. north raised an eyebrow, jokingly. ¡°so, you¡¯re cici¡¯s future sister-in-law.¡± gu ci was speechless. suddenly, she felt that ji chi was flawless. ¡°that was just a joke from father and jiang minghua. it¡¯s not serious. 1 have someone in my heart. sister, after you recover, i¡¯ll bring him to see you.¡± gu ci¡¯s expression changed. when pei qiuying mentioned third master, her tone was familiar and confident. she wouldn¡¯t dare to say she could bring third master to meet anyone. why would he agree to meet pei qiuying? this display of authority and sovereignty was cleverly executed and subtle. gu ci lowered her head and smiled sweetly, ¡°pei qiuying, the day we fell into the sea, you woke up in the hospital, while 1 woke up in lu zhiyuan¡¯s bed!¡± dr. north stayed silent. pei qiuying¡¯s gaze darkened. the smile in her eyes was gone, replaced by a heavy cloud. ¡°is that so?¡± ¡°do you know what he likes to eat? do you know his favorite color? you think third master and third young master are competing for control of the body, and you¡¯re so eager to help him. but do you know? he cares about and cherishes lu zhiyuan. he¡¯s been protecting him all along.¡± gu ci stared at pei qiuying with a cold smile. ¡°if you¡¯re ignorant of his preferences, his habits, his feelings, what right do you have to pretend in front of me that you¡¯re his lover?¡± dr. north, wanting to advise gu ci not to provoke pei qiuying, remained silent. but gu ci, when it came to lu zhiyuan, was truly unyielding. she wouldn¡¯t relent, ¡°we¡¯re all adults. let¡¯s act with dignity. no matter how good he is, he¡¯s someone else¡¯s husband!¡± pei qiuying said, ¡°you truly have admirable courage.¡± in just a few words, a murderous intent was revealed. yet, gu ci wasn¡¯t intimidated at all. she had already revealed her trump card in front of pei qiuying. during the cruise, pei qiuying should have known her stance. if gu ci took a step back, pei qiuying would take two steps forward. ¡°miss gu, let¡¯s wait and see who he chooses to spend his life with,¡± pei qiuying said with a light laugh, bidding farewell to dr. north. ¡°sister, let¡¯s keep in touch.¡± dr. north nodded. after pei qiuying glanced at gu ci and left with composure. dr. north asked, ¡°why did you provoke her?¡± ¡°1 dislike it when she mentions lu zhiyuan, acting like she¡¯s entitled to him,¡± gu ci said coldly. ¡°she¡¯s not deserving!¡± ¡°cici, besides lu zhiyuan¡¯s love, what do you have as leverage to compete with her?¡± dr. north cryptically remarked, ¡°love is a fleeting thing. today it¡¯s here, tomorrow it might be gone..¡± Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Jiang Junlin chapter 194: jiang junlin translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci thought about what third master said. he made it clear that he didn¡¯t like her, speaking with firm conviction. she chuckled and replied, ¡°master, in this lifetime, 1 have only one weakness, and i accept it.¡± doctor north had the intention to advise, but he also knew that there was a stubbornness within gu ci. as long as lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t let her down, she wouldn¡¯t change her mind. gu ci¡¯s gaze was resolute. ¡°when i love someone, it¡¯s for a lifetime. whether it¡¯s through mountains of knives and seas of flames, or the depths of hell, i¡¯m willing to bet and accept defeat.¡± however, gu ci wasn¡¯t one to passively endure. after returning to the blue fields villa, gu ziyu had also returned home. ¡°mom, pei qiuying¡¯s flight back to country m was an hour ago.¡± ¡°how did your research go?¡± after the ocean incident, upon returning to the blue fields villa, gu ci¡¯s first task was to have gu ziyu investigate pei qiuying. gu ziyu handed over all the information to gu ci. ¡°mom, i looked into pei qiuying and found something interesting. she almost got engaged to our uncle, ji chi. he won¡¯t let her off easily.¡± without lifting her head, gu ci responded, ¡°hmm, she almost became your stepmother, and now she still wants to be your stepmother.¡± gu ziyu was puzzled. the incident of her falling into the sea wasn¡¯t something gu ci had told gu ziyu. gu ci was accustomed to hiding her pain deep within her heart. ¡°she likes lu zhiyuan.¡± ¡°heh.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°those who like my dad are as numerous as the circles around the earth. what¡¯s the difference, one more or one less?¡± a global champion like lu zhiyuan had countless devoted fans going crazy for him. gu ci chuckled lightly and said, ¡°she confidently stated that the other personality of your dad likes her, and she told me not to be a third wheel.¡± ¡°she¡¯s doomed!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes turned dark in an instant. ¡°she has offended both me and ji chi.¡± gu ci smiled wryly. still looking at the information, pei qiuying was a princess of the underworld, exceptionally outstanding. at twenty-seven, she held two ph.d. degrees from mit. pei zhihang was the former leader of the underworld. when he was assassinated, pei qiuying was only fifteen, young and inexperienced, yet isolated and helpless. the underworld was inherited by the rong family. after inheriting the underworld, the rong family exiled pei qiuying. during those years, her survival was a question, and she faced the rong family¡¯s threats from both open and hidden sources. she pretended to be insane, acted weak, distanced herself from the core of the underworld. after graduating from university at 21, in just six years, she wiped out the rong family and reclaimed her own glory. one¡¯s character and temperament could be seen through their experiences and history. ¡°in the previous life, did ji chi bring down the underworld and kill pei qiuying because¡­ of jealousy?¡± gu ziyu murmured to himself, ¡°the case is solved, that¡¯s how it was.¡± ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± gu ci knew very little about the underworld. gu ziyu explained, ¡°after 1 helped ji chi rise to power, the first thing he did was to bring down the underworld and kill pei qiuying. at that time, black hawk was in ruins, and it was chaotic internally. many forces were watching us. to ensure security at home, you need stability within, isn¡¯t that basic policy? but he went against it. i was furious at the time and wanted to get rid of him. i still don¡¯t understand why he went mad. now 1 have some understanding.¡± ¡°but pei qiuying likes lu zhiyuan. what¡¯s there for him to be jealous of?¡± gu ziyu shrugged. ¡°don¡¯t ask me, i don¡¯t really understand you guys.¡± love and emotions, are they really that important? each one seems to carry more weight than life itself. isn¡¯t building a career more appealing? gu ci was silent in thoughts. however, she wondered if pei qiuying¡¯s close cooperation with her brother would make her uncle help her in a battle against pei qiuying. ¡°mom, have you ever felt that uncle is quite cunning?¡± gu ziyu rubbed his nose. ¡°in the previous life, after his leg was broken, he was down and out. he was imprisoned by ji chi, and the times we could see him were few and far between. 1 somehow mixed up the uncle who was in a slump in the previous life with the uncle of this life, and i felt especially sorry for him. but why do i feel like¡­ uncle is manipulating me?¡± ¡°what happened?¡± gu ziyu cleared his throat and imitated jiang junlin¡¯s tone, ¡°today at the state security meeting, they brought up the issue with hualan bank. our department, from the seniors to the juniors, was all scolded for our improper procedures and told to investigate hualan bank. it¡¯s said that uncle attended a financial conference organized by the government, and he deliberately brought up this matter, putting pressure on all financial institutions.¡± he cleared his throat again, mimicking jiang junlin¡¯s tone, ¡°we all pay taxes according to the law and operate legally as financial institutions. for a spot check, there must be a reason. i can¡¯t just suspect that your gold reserves are problematic and come to inspect without evidence. even hualan bank has to go through this. what about other financial institutions? our assets are in the country, and i feel very unsafe.¡± gu ci sighed, ¡°and then?¡± ¡°we were scolded, issued an apology statement, and the china banking and insurance regulatory commission has formal documentation to regulate events like this. it won¡¯t be so easy to investigate hualan bank in the future.¡± ¡°well, you didn¡¯t really have concrete evidence.¡± gu ci remained neutral about the situation. gu ziyu continued, ¡°the matter is settled now. we apologized privately too, and the vice president accepted it. but uncle brought it up again in a public setting, which damages our credibility.¡± after all, in the eyes of the public, state security dealt with the highest level of secrets and wasn¡¯t supposed to make mistakes. one mistake and their credibility would be compromised. when jiang junlin brought it up, chen liangdong knew that there would be a storm. gu ziyu lazily lounged on the couch. ¡°the most suspicious part of this whole thing is that the bank is following the national policy, but why is uncle so dominant?¡± gu ci had completely changed her view of jiang junlin. steady and composed, the ceo of hualan bank wouldn¡¯t intercept state security¡¯s gold. even more so, he wouldn¡¯t go against the policies and force black hawk into a corner. though black hawk was under jinyun group¡¯s control, it was actually a state-owned asset of country m. if jiang junlin forced it into a corner, truly causing it to collapse, it would become a financial matter that would escalate to the level of the state council. diplomatic means would have to be employed, and it would be a major hassle. gu ziyu said, ¡°during the nickel squeeze event, black hawk suffered heavy losses, and ji chi was demoted. when he first came to city a, he was very high-profile and offended many people. now that he¡¯s fallen on hard times, everyone is giving him a hard time. last night at the financial round table, he was also challenged by someone, and he ended up drinking three bottles of white wine and was sent directly to the hospital.¡± ¡°what about your brother?¡± gu ci inquired. ¡°oh, about my brother¡­¡± gu ziyu¡¯s words were enigmatic. ¡°his heart is like iron. he didn¡¯t even spare a glance and just left.¡± gu ci sighed. gu ziyu¡¯s clever mind suddenly had a thought. ¡°i think ji chi is trying to garner sympathy, but who knew he¡¯d be throwing longing glances at a blind man? uncle doesn¡¯t even respond to his tactics.¡± gu ci affectionately ruffled his hair. ¡°let them handle their own affairs. have you taken your leave?¡± ¡°i have!¡± gu ziyu grinned. his trip abroad wasn¡¯t an easy feat. he had recently achieved merit, and his academic load was heavy. with christmas approaching, chen liangdong finally relented and allowed him to go abroad. the condition was that chen liangdong wanted chen fei to accompany him. gu ci had bought a plane ticket for chen fei and sent him the ticket number. it was a last-minute purchase, so they couldn¡¯t get a first-class ticket, only an economy class ticket. but chen fei didn¡¯t mind at all. zhou jinjin had a photo shoot to attend, so she would leave for the trip one day after gu ci and the others.. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Why Do You Need Someone to Accompany You When Drinking chapter 195: why do you need someone to accompany you when drinking translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci and gu ziyu have both taken leave. gu ci took a week off. her progress in the courses is very rapid, and she¡¯s able to work on projects with her advisor. so, her advisor turns a blind eye to it, as long as she doesn¡¯t fall behind in her studies, and gives her a bit of freedom. gu ci and ziyu never expected that after passing through customs, they would meet ji chi and jiang junlin in the first-class lounge while having a buffet. the two entered one after the other. both of them don¡¯t look too good. jiang junlin has a cold expression, while ji chi has a pale face, looking somewhat pitiable and evoking sympathy. ¡°are you¡­ on a business trip?¡± jiang junlin has a project to negotiate in country f, a last-minute decision. ji chi had a planned trip, and coincidentally, they were on the same flight. jiang junlin naturally ended up sitting next to them and eating together. ji chi was sitting alone in the neighboring seat. gu ziyu said, ¡°ji chi, come sit with us.¡± jiang junlin drank soda water with a faint expression, and ji chi smiled, walking over. with a four-person table, he ended up sitting next to jiang junlin. gu ziyu is close to ji chi, especially since they¡¯ve relied on each other for over a decade since gu ci¡¯s passing. ¡°your complexion doesn¡¯t look good. is something bothering you?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°i had a stomach perforation a few days ago from drinking,¡± ji chi said casually. gu ci frowned, ¡°then you should have surgery scheduled soon.¡± ¡°the surgery is after the new year. there¡¯s time,¡± ji chi waved his hand, with a face that was both gentle and strong, ¡°i¡¯m fine, i¡¯m used to it.¡± jiang junlin sneered, ¡°with a strong physique, a stomach perforation won¡¯t take your life. spare us the act.¡± gu ci stayed silent. gu ziyu happily drank his beverage, his eyes shining as he observed them. ji chi gave him a soft smile, very obedient, ¡°brother, i¡¯m really in pain.¡± jiang junlin remained unmoved, while gu ziyu went to the side and got him a bowl of pumpkin porridge. gu ci looked at her precious son in shock. ziyu really does like ji chi. ¡°you shouldn¡¯t drink alcohol. why did you drink so much that you got a stomach perforation?¡± ¡°1 had no choice!¡± ji chi elongated his tone and sipped pumpkin porridge, saying, ¡°after the tiger falls dogs can bully it. after 1 got demoted, anyone could step on me.¡± both gu ziyu and gu ci looked at jiang junlin. it was because of jiang junlin that ji chi got demoted. jiang junlin remained silent. ji chi sighed, ¡°i even had to accompany people for drinks.¡± ¡°what¡¯s ¡®accompanying for drinks¡¯?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes, as dark as grapes, curiously looked at him, ¡°do you need someone to drink with? can¡¯t you drink on your own?¡± ¡°yeah, they want someone as beautiful as me to accompany them!¡± gu ci and jiang junlin were both speechless. jiang junlin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and placed his soda water on the table, ¡°don¡¯t talk nonsense in front of the kid.¡± ¡°why can¡¯t 1 talk about accompanying for drinks?¡± when three minds combine, they have the capacity of 180 adults, and when joined by a clever and innocent child about certain matters, they all fell into contemplation. ¡°brother, the flight is eleven hours. since you don¡¯t eat airplane food, do you want something? i can get it for you,¡± gu ci smoothly changed the topic. jiang junlin nodded, ¡°sure!¡± gu ci went to get some food for jiang junlin. ji chi propped his head up, looking at jiang junlin with a smile in his eyes, a cold expression, yet also saying, ¡°mr. jiang, your self-control is truly admirable.¡± the atmosphere between the two was tense, a subtle ambiguity lingering. jiang junlin averted his gaze and got up to fetch some drinks. ji chi¡¯s gaze remained fixed on his back. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°quit pretending. your eyes give you away.¡± stomach perforation was true, surgery appointment was true, and the bad complexion was true, but only his eyes betrayed no hint of weakness like a hungry wolf. ¡°in a financial battle, 1 lost nearly sixty billion,¡± ji chi said. ¡°with less financial power, there¡¯s nothing much to say,¡± gu ziyu was ruthless. both sides were international financial giants, with similar talents and strengths. jidao had triumphed over black hawk in july, flush with funds. due to internal conflicts between third master and chen rushi, black hawk couldn¡¯t fight back as expected. ¡°furthermore, it was you who interrupted the cooperation first. the one who flirts first is cheap, got it? stand at attention and take the hit. losing some money isn¡¯t a big deal. after all, black hawk will have the last laugh.¡± ¡°how do you know?¡± ji chi was quite intrigued. he and lu zhiyuan weren¡¯t entirely certain. amid the serious internal conflicts in black hawk, with crises looming and being blocked by both jidao and hualan, could they win with certainty? gu ziyu sipped his drink through a straw, enigmatic and profound, ¡°i have a touch of foresight in me.¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. gu ziyu said, ¡°so, in matters of gain and loss, don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡± ¡°losing some money doesn¡¯t bother me,¡± ji chi watched jiang junlin return with a bottle of soda water. he licked his teeth, his tone fierce, ¡°what bothers me is¡­ he lied to me from the beginning.¡± there was a full sense of resentment in ji chi¡¯s eyes. gu ziyu cleared his throat, ¡°he¡¯s my uncle, don¡¯t go overboard!¡± last life, gu ziyu wouldn¡¯t allow the imprisonment of jiang junlin to happen again. ¡°he¡¯s not old enough to be your uncle, is he?¡± ji chi frowned, ¡°he hasn¡¯t reached his twenty-eighth birthday.¡± jiang junlin was born on christmas, a very memorable birthday. gu ziyu stayed silent. before he could say anything, jiang junlin had already sat down. gu ci also returned with a plate of food. it was all food that jiang junlin could eat, but unfortunately, they had underestimated jiang junlin¡¯s appetite. while it was food he could eat, the cooking skills of the buffet chefs were only average, so jiang junlin only had a few bites. ji chi taunted, ¡°you¡¯re not hungry enough. if you were dumped in africa with no money, i bet you¡¯d be willing to eat rat meat after a month.¡± both gu ci and gu ziyu could relate. it was clear that everyone found jiang junlin¡¯s pickiness when it came to food a bit excessive. ¡°how do you know i haven¡¯t eaten rat meat before?¡± ji chi was stunned. gu ziyu blurted out, ¡°is it tasty?¡± an eerie silence fell over the topic. gu ci smiled, ¡°brother is just joking.¡± the well-cared-for young master of the jiang family, who had been picky about his food since childhood, how could he possibly eat rat meat? ¡°gu ziyu, you¡¯ve had two cans of cola. don¡¯t drink more,¡± jiang junlin frowned. ziyu loved drinking cola, and the refrigerator at home was never without it. he could finish three bottles in a day. gu ci hadn¡¯t been strict with him about his diet since she wasn¡¯t used to raising a child from a young age and felt sorry for ziyu. after a few warnings, he had turned a deaf ear, and she had indulged him. gu ziyu moved the cola aside silently, his lips pursed in grievance. jiang junlin said, ¡°you¡¯re still young and growing. you started losing baby teeth at six or seven years old. drinking so much cola every day with its high sugar content can easily lead to obesity and disrupt your tooth replacement process. you¡¯ll suffer from cavities when you¡¯re older, and then you¡¯ll know how painful it is.¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t respond. hearing this, gu ci also joined in, ¡°baby, from now on, have only one can of cola a month..¡± Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: I’m Sick, Do You Have Medicine chapter 196: i¡¯m sick, do you have medicine translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu felt as if lightning had struck from the sky when he looked at jiang junlin with resentment. with just one sentence from his uncle, his happiness flew away. ¡°baby, are your front teeth going to fall out soon? you mentioned a toothache yesterday,¡± ji chi also inquired. ¡°ziyu, your teeth hurt?¡± gu ci felt a tinge of jealousy. why did you tell ji chi about it and not me? under the gaze of three adults, gu ziyu frowned and remained silent. his two front teeth had been loose lately. just like in his past life, around this time, he was losing his baby teeth. now both of his front teeth had fallen out, causing him to speak with a lisp, resulting in months of silence, like a mute. gu ci wiped her hands with a wet tissue, touched his front teeth, and found they were quite loose. ¡°1¡¯11 help you pull them out later.¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci was quite stubborn in this matter. ¡°better to pull them out sooner, so they can grow back sooner.¡± ji chi imagined the scene, and his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. gu ziyu glared at him, and ji chi continued to smile unreservedly. ¡°baby, don¡¯t be shy. it¡¯s something that¡¯ll happen sooner or later. big brother won¡¯t laugh at you.¡± you¡¯re already laughing! gu ziyu was infuriated. he kicked ji chi under the table without hesitation. ji chi tilted his head and continued to chuckle. with gu ziyu around, the tension between ji chi and jiang junlin eased. gu ci and jiang junlin exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit displeased. was ji chi too close to gu ziyu? gu ci¡¯s feelings were complicated. their son had a toothache, yet he didn¡¯t tell her, only ji chi. the siblings both found ji chi slightly irksome! chen fei went to the customs for some business, planning to come back closer to boarding. jiang junlin and ji chi hadn¡¯t expected that ziyu would have a military officer assigned to protect him for his trip abroad, and the officer had quite a high rank. after boarding, they were on an international flight to country f in the first-class cabin. it was incredibly luxurious and private. each space had its own suite. gu ci and ziyu¡¯s spaces were connected, and the two beds could be combined into a double bed. unfortunately, jiang junlin and ji chi¡¯s tickets were also connected, and their single beds could be turned into a double bed just like gu ziyu and gu ci¡¯s. jiang junlin asked gu ziyu, ¡°can we switch?¡± gu ziyu shook his head in retaliation. ¡°i want to be with mom.¡± ji chi smirked. baby, you¡¯re really something! once seated, gu ci continued to pay attention to ziyu¡¯s loose front teeth. since his baby teeth were loose and he was about to lose them, gu ci estimated they would fall out in a week or two. she also wanted to take him to see a dentist. ¡°try to avoid eating sugary foods lately.¡± while browsing the menu, ziyu¡¯s gaze reluctantly left the dessert options. ¡°oh, alright.¡± once the plane was stable, gu ziyu unbuckled his seatbelt and went to the neighboring seats to see what ji chi and jiang junlin were doing. he returned after just two minutes. gu ci was watching a recording of lu zhiyuan¡¯s match and asked with a smile, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°they¡¯re giving each other the cold shoulder, not talking to each other.¡± gu ci chuckled softly, understanding the situation. black hawk and hualan had been engaged in a financial battle recently, shocking the world. ji chi lost the financial battle, got demoted, and became the target of ridicule. once so prestigious, now he was feeling quite stifled. anyone could come and kick him while he was down. in the adjacent private space, since boarding, the two hadn¡¯t spoken much to each other. there was zero communication. after jiang junlin ordered soda water, he was completely engrossed in his work. even though ji chi¡¯s gaze was fixed on him, he remained unaffected. this airline provided internet access, which didn¡¯t hinder jiang junlin¡¯s work at all. he even conducted a video conference midway. ji chi seemed to have more leisure time, handling a few documents and reading financial reports. ¡°mr. jiang, my stomach hurts. do you have any medicine?¡± ji chi clutched his stomach, his face turning pale from the pain. jiang junlin glanced at him. ¡°if you have a stomach perforation, you should be in a hospital. didn¡¯t you bring any medicine on this business trip?¡± ¡°i was in a rush and forgot.¡± jiang junlin fell silent for a moment, then opened his carry-on backpack and handed him some medicine. ji chi looked at the label and purpose of the stomach medicine, took it with warm water, and behaved well. he didn¡¯t misbehave apart from asking jiang junlin for medicine. ¡°mr. jiang, i¡¯ve been having a really tough time lately.¡± ji chi leaned against the single bed, his eyes seemingly indifferent, yet with a hint of pity. ¡°in the financial world, only the fittest survive.¡± jiang junlin looked up from his busy work, ¡°if you can¡¯t adapt to the pace of our domestic market, it might be better for you to return to country m sooner. that¡¯s where you can truly shine.¡± wall street is ji chi¡¯s domain. the financial markets in country m and the domestic market are two different systems. jiang junlin said, ¡°two years ago, i heard about your legendary story on wall street. you commanded there, won numerous battles. but you don¡¯t seem to understand the domestic financial market. we¡¯re subject to policy controls, and only in our own financial system can we truly understand the game.¡± ¡°mr. jiang, do you really want me to go back to country m?¡± ji chi asked, his eyes carrying a hint of tenderness. half sincere, half teasing, he said, ¡°how much time did it take me to come to city a? are you so eager to send me away while i¡¯m by your side?¡± jiang junlin was taken aback by the fiery look in ji chi¡¯s eyes. his ears reddened, and he averted his gaze. ¡°people thrive where they¡¯re most suited. it¡¯s a matter of suitability.¡± ¡°why do you insist on me leaving?¡± ji chi asked persistently, ¡°am 1 just an enemy from black hawk to you?¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°for black hawk¡¯s asia division to establish a solid footing, it has to surpass me. that¡¯s my duty as the president of hualan bank, to safeguard the domestic financial market. do you understand?¡± ¡°hualan bank is an investment bank, not a state-owned one!¡± ji chi furrowed his brows, ¡°how did this become your responsibility?¡± ¡°protecting our country¡¯s financial market order from the intrusion of international capital is the responsibility of every citizen. though hualan bank isn¡¯t state-owned, it firmly holds the leading position in the domestic financial sector. can¡¯t you see that?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was cold but resolute, ¡°how many times do i need to say it for you to understand? our domestic financial system is under policy control.¡± ¡°you¡¯re portraying yourself as so righteous, yet you¡¯re openly seizing the gold needed by national security.¡± ji chi burst into laughter, ¡°i don¡¯t believe you¡¯re truly a guardian of financial order.¡± ¡°the gold wasn¡¯t seized by me.¡± jiang junlin vehemently denied it. after all, no one had any evidence. why would he admit it? ¡°i will find evidence.¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± jiang junlin said nonchalantly, confidently, looking at ji chi, ¡°ji chi, ever since you came to city a and became the deputy head of black hawk¡¯s asia division, i¡¯ve eased the relationship between black hawk and hualan. i¡¯ve even facilitated some of your projects, but i¡¯ve always obstructed the ones you really want to undertake. it¡¯s because i want you to give up. if we continue in this stalemate, either you will fall or i will.¡± he gazed directly at ji chi. ¡°do you really want to step on my body to reach the position of black hawk¡¯s president?¡± ¡°must it be this way?¡± ji chi asked. jiang junlin nodded. there was no hint of compromise in his eyes. ¡°unless 1 die, or unless i¡¯m incapacitated, you won¡¯t achieve your goal.¡± he averted his gaze, took a sip of soda water, and looked out the window. the night had fallen, and outside the window was pitch-black. a deep darkness gathered in jiang junlin¡¯s eyes as well.. ji chi, must we end up in a confrontation? Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: I’m Picky About Food and People chapter 197: i¡¯m picky about food and people translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi¡¯s stomachache was genuine, dulling his ability to think. leaning back in his chair, his temples throbbed with pain. jiang junlin unknowingly struck a chord with a hidden nerve within him. ¡°why?¡± ji chi¡¯s vulnerability showed, ¡°if that¡¯s the case, 1 should have been open from the start, and 1 wouldn¡¯t have any illusions.¡± ¡°between you and me, there¡¯s always a difference,¡± jiang junlin softly uttered. he took off his glasses, rubbed his forehead, appearing troubled. approaching, he gently massaged ji chi¡¯s painful stomach, then sat on the single bed, leaning over to look at him. ¡°ji chi, you¡¯re different from others.¡± a smile played at the corners of ji chi¡¯s lips, coated with a layer of watery light, making it hard to discern. ¡°because 1 can serve president jiang so well, am 1 different from others?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s hand hesitated for a moment, then clenched into a fist against ji chi¡¯s abdomen. he pressed down firmly, intensifying ji chi¡¯s stomachache to the point of almost spasming. ji chi felt a peculiar pleasure tingling through his scalp. he looked up at jiang junlin. besides the bed, he rarely saw jiang junlin without his glasses. those eyes were too oppressive¡ªcold, deep, and black, like a pool of deep autumn water. in certain moments, ji chi¡¯s most intense pleasure was ignited. yet, brushing aside this perplexing layer of desire, he recognized them as eyes that needed glasses to conceal their sharpness. ¡°if that¡¯s how you see it, then you¡¯re undervaluing yourself.¡± jiang junlin stood up, but ji chi grabbed his wrist. ji chi looked at jiang junlin with a faint emotional trace in his eyes and blurted out, ¡°jiang junlin, do you like me?¡± ¡°i¡¯m selective in my tastes, both in food and in people,¡± jiang junlin replied calmly. the flight was slow, monotonous, especially for them, burdened with their own thoughts. jiang junlin felt no hint of sleepiness. ji chi lay on the bed, breathing evenly, seemingly asleep. from the side view, ji chi¡¯s waist-to-hip ratio was truly remarkable. jiang junlin let out a sigh and drank a bit of soda water. the little wolf pup played his role of sadness so convincingly that jiang junlin nearly fell for it. he had a belated sense of regret. that night, he shouldn¡¯t have appeared at the cruise terminal. he shouldn¡¯t have deliberately provoked ji chi to handle chen jing. if he hadn¡¯t tested ji chi, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to the cruise, and the matter of the gold wouldn¡¯t have raised ji chi¡¯s suspicion. even if he calculated for ji chi to go to the cruise, he shouldn¡¯t have gone to pick him up. ji chi might have been taken away by chen liangdong, and at most, he would¡¯ve been held for a few days. if not for that, ji chi wouldn¡¯t have doubted his motives, let alone his emotions. they could have continued in this ridiculous manner for at least another six months. by then, when ji chi realized that his projects at hualan bank were only profitable, not powerful, he would¡¯ve sensed something amiss. his appearance on the cruise shattered all pretense. ji chi¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a long time. he knew jiang junlin too well, which led to suspicion. ji chi was both suspicious and intelligent, and once doubt took root, certain things couldn¡¯t be done. the financial battle exposed their vulnerabilities, ending the pretense. jiang junlin opened his eyes. regrets were pointless at this stage. he had to think about how to break the deadlock. he and ji chi couldn¡¯t keep fighting like this. for whatever reason, jiang junlin didn¡¯t want to end up in a confrontational, life-and-death situation with ji chi. but ji chi¡­ he was probably contemplating how to take him down. killing him wasn¡¯t an option for ji chi; it would only render him¡­ powerless. i only submit to him. gu ziyu quietly appeared at the door. ¡°brother, can i have some dessert?¡± ¡°no!¡± jiang junlin mercilessly refused. gu ziyu scratched the cabin door. ¡°my baby teeth are loose. isn¡¯t it better to eat more and make them fall out sooner?¡± ji chi stifled a laugh and stood up. ¡°come, 1¡¯11 give you a piece, big brother.¡± gu ziyu happily went over, but jiang junlin frowned. ¡°gu ziyu!¡± ¡°i¡¯ll just take a small bite!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s ¡°small bite¡± equated to eating half of the dessert. his arrival eased the silence between jiang junlin and ji chi. jiang junlin said, ¡°gu ci is a doctor. even she doesn¡¯t allow you to eat much. eat a little less.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll behave after 1 finish eating.¡± this statement had a similar effect to ¡°how can 1 lose weight if i don¡¯t eat enough?¡± after finishing the dessert, gu ziyu felt like having some juice. jiang junlin said, ¡°1¡¯11 ring for the flight attendant to hurry you up!¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu complied. ji chi lightly chuckled. ¡°why are you so addicted to sweets?¡± gu ziyu said with a hint of sadness, ¡°i didn¡¯t eat enough in my past life.¡± jiang junlin and ji chi stared. ¡°ji chi, is your stomach still hurting?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°not anymore,¡± ji chi deliberately replied. ¡°chairman jiang¡¯s medicine is effective. it relieves the pain.¡± jiang junlin looked at them conversing with smiles and suddenly realized something. the change in the young guy ziyu was indeed significant. when he first saw him at the police station, gu ziyu was solitary and dark, even though he looked innocent and intentionally put on a likable expression, it couldn¡¯t hide the aggressiveness in him. as if he grew up in a prominent underworld family, accustomed to life and death. paranoid, dark, and gloomy. he didn¡¯t have a trace of a six-year-old¡¯s appearance. nearly half a year had passed. gu ziyu transformed as if he shed his old skin. while he still had a touch of melancholy, he had lost that aggressive edge, and his smiles carried warmth. the bit of melancholy, against his overly exquisite features, made him resemble a melancholic little prince. compared to their first encounter, he seemed gentler and more cheerful. environment and love truly can change a person! Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Don’t Play With Fire chapter 198: don¡¯t play with fire translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation these days, the young lad was surrounded by people who loved him, especially his parents at home. they¡¯d almost become overly indulgent, asking him every day in the group chat how he was doing, what he had for lunch, whether it was good, and if he was tired from classes. jiang junlin observed the changes in gu ziyu with joy and a sense of satisfaction. ¡°where¡¯s your sister?¡± jiang junlin asked. gu ziyu replied with annoyance, ¡°she¡¯s watching videos of lu zhiyuan and is completely absorbed in it, ignoring me.¡± ji chi chuckled, patting his head, and jiang junlin also smiled. the whole family knew about gu ci¡¯s fascination with lu zhiyuan. ¡°you¡¯re quite unlucky. it¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock; it¡¯s time to sleep.¡± gu ziyu looked at the twin beds pushed together. ¡°are you both going to sleep too?¡± jiang junlin and ji chi fell into an oddly quiet pause. after a moment, ji chi said, ¡°yes, we¡¯re going to sleep too.¡± gu ziyu could only return to his own bunk, climb into bed. gu ci was truly engrossed in watching videos, something gu ziyu didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°mom, you¡¯re really over the top. you¡¯ve watched these videos countless times.¡± ¡°they¡¯re so enjoyable,¡± gu ci said. ¡°do you want to watch together?¡± ¡°i¡¯m not that interested,¡± gu ziyu continued to feel envious of lu zhiyuan, ¡°mom, you¡¯re acting so much like someone in love.¡± gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°then don¡¯t learn from me. be a charming young man, and wait for others to act all lovestruck over you.¡± ¡°not interested!¡± gu ziyu grumbled from under the covers. ¡°you all have become negative examples for me. i¡¯ll extinguish emotions, reject love, and focus on staying safe. besides, who could even match up to me? hmph!¡± gu ci remained silent. indeed, he was lu zhiyuan¡¯s child¡ªhis arrogance was just as unmistakable. ¡°mom, i was just outside the cabin, eavesdropping on uncle and ji chi¡¯s conversation,¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes gleamed with gossip, mixed with confusion. ¡°i¡¯ve always thought ji chi was suspicious. he actually orchestrated a confinement. what kind of grudge is this? could it be that ji chi couldn¡¯t attain something and turned mentally twisted, taking a crooked path? i overheard a bit just now, and let me tell you, it seems¡­ uncle isn¡¯t any better.¡± gu ci¡¯s expression shifted. she stayed silent for a moment. ¡°sweetie, we need to be open-minded. you can¡¯t keep spreading rumors so you can drink too much cock a day!¡± gu ziyu was infuriated. ¡°i¡¯m not that kind of person!¡± gu ci sighed. ¡°alright then.¡± gu ziyu coldly snorted. ¡°1 have reasonable doubts that uncle is manipulating emotions. who knows, in a previous life, maybe it was a mutual agreement between them.¡± gu ci¡¯s attention shifted away from the video. ¡°no¡­ that can¡¯t be possible!¡± ¡°wait and see,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°he better not play with fire. if ji chi pulls off another confinement, 1 won¡¯t be able to hold back.¡± gu ci silently thought, sweetie, don¡¯t worry. your father is still alive; he¡¯ll be able to stop it. in the previous life, all the tragedies began after lu zhiyuan¡¯s death. it was like the butterfly effect. when lu zhiyuan was alive, they were actually living quite well. despite jiang junlin losing his leg and spiraling into self-destruction, ji chi took good care of him. lu shijie was wary of ji chi and didn¡¯t dare to go too far. all the tragedies started with lu zhiyuan¡¯s death. gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan in the video. so, he can¡¯t die! he was everyone¡¯s support, holding the fate of everyone. gu ci frowned. however, this time, she wouldn¡¯t place all of their destinies solely on lu zhiyuan¡¯s shoulders. she wanted to become strong, even if she lost lu zhiyuan, she could still withstand any storms that came her way. fate is a mysterious thing. no one knows if, after all the twists and turns, the wheels of history will change. when the plane arrived in the central city of country f, it was already eleven o¡¯clock at night. gu ci and ziyu had booked a hotel, and li jiang¡¯s people came to pick them up. the mother and son stayed in a hotel not far from the arena. jiang junlin owned property in country f, so he didn¡¯t book a hotel. he knew they were here to watch the match and didn¡¯t insist on staying together. after getting off the plane, they went their separate ways, and a helicopter came to pickup ji chi. gu ci and ziyu had a good sleep on the plane and weren¡¯t tired. the hotel was in a high-rise building with a great view of the night scenery, the entire city¡¯s lights glittering below them. there was a beautiful lake nearby, next to a famous tower, which pleased gu ci immensely. li jiang had booked two suites¡ªone for her and ziyu, and another for chen fei. ¡°miss gu ci, will you be going to the venue for the practice match tomorrow?¡± ¡°we won¡¯t go to the practice match,¡± gu ci replied. she wanted to watch the qualifying and main matches. the practice match would surely be no problem for lu zhiyuan. ¡°alright, 1¡¯11 send you the schedule. let me know when you¡¯re at the venue, and i¡¯ll come pick you up.¡± ¡°great!¡± after li jiang explained everything, he asked gu ci, ¡°do you need security?¡± ¡°no need, chen fei is here.¡± li jiang said, ¡°okay then, we¡¯ll see you on christmas.¡± chen fei explored the presidential suite, taking a few photos of the scenery and sending them to the national security task group. the group included chen liangdong, gu ziyu, and three other staff members. ¡°it¡¯s so beautiful!¡± the other staff members expressed admiration and envy with their emojis. ¡°next time, when it¡¯s a protection mission for ziyu, let me handle it. no one else should jump in!¡± ¡°don¡¯t steal business! ziyu is mine. protection tasks should rotate. don¡¯t always assign them to chen fei. chen fei is also working hard.¡± ¡°not hard, not hard,¡± chen fei said. ¡°director, can we have accommodations like this for our overseas missions?¡± chen liangdong replied, ¡°dream on.¡± even for his overseas stays, he didn¡¯t get accommodations of this standard reimbursed. ziyu chimed in, ¡°i¡¯ll cover the expenses!¡± a line of emojis representing bosses¡¯ approval popped up. chen liangdong sighed, ¡°some people shouldn¡¯t encourage crooked behavior!¡± gu ziyu burst into laughter. the group exchanged playful banter, and chen liangdong instructed chen fei not to let gu ziyu out of his sight. chen fei wanted to stay by gu ziyu¡¯s side to ensure his safety, but with gu ci around, he didn¡¯t think it was necessary. miss gu ci¡­ seems quite formidable! he had seen gu ci practicing boxing and training back in the global center. although she wasn¡¯t a special forces soldier, her combat skills were definitely better than that of an ordinary person. after a nap, gu ci woke up early, feeling refreshed. she had a good night¡¯s sleep without any nightmares. her complexion looked great. zhou jinjin arrived in paris after they woke up, heading to their hotel to meet up with them. they didn¡¯t plan to watch the practice match; tomorrow was the qualifying match, and the main match would be on christmas. ¡°let¡¯s go shopping. it¡¯s a waste not to shop while we¡¯re here,¡± zhou jinjin was full of energy. she dropped off her luggage, took a shower, changed her clothes, and put on makeup, ready to step out looking beautiful. ¡°aren¡¯t you going to catch up on sleep?¡± ¡°we¡¯re in paris! who cares about sleep?¡± with their ongoing security tasks, neither chen fei nor ziyu could easily chat with gu ci. ziyu said, ¡°i don¡¯t want to go shopping. i¡¯ll go for a stroll with chen fei.¡± gu ci gave them a meaningful look. ¡°alright, go ahead. chen fei, take good care of ziyu.¡± ¡°miss gu ci, rest assured. with me here, ziyu is safe.¡± chen fei was a trustworthy big brother figure that everyone felt at ease with. zhou jinjin glanced at him, puzzled about how chen fei could leave the country. she had heard that the process of obtaining approvals for their unit¡¯s overseas missions was quite complicated.. besides, could active-duty military personnel freely travel abroad? Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Rich Woman and Her Little Wife chapter 199: rich woman and her little wife translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci said, ¡°go ahead!¡± chen fei and gu ziyu left, and a car came to pick them up. zhou jinjin said, ¡°why did he follow them abroad?¡± ¡°classified matters, we don¡¯t need to worry,¡± gu ci said with a light smile. ¡°come on, let¡¯s go shopping. what christmas gift do you want?¡± ¡°how about buying me an apartment in paris, rich lady?¡± ¡°sure!¡± zhou jinjin gaped. rich lady, luckily you only have me as a friend. buying an apartment was obviously a joke. the two of them held hands and went shopping. they attracted a lot of attention, after all, two beautiful same-sex people holding hands, even fingers intertwined, could be misconstrued. most people would think they were a couple. in the previous life, there was social fear, and although things were a bit better in this life, gu ci, who preferred quietness, glanced at the bustling crowd at galeries lafayette and decided to back out. zhou jinjin said, ¡°then let¡¯s go to champs-elysees.¡± champs-elysees, besides shopping, also offered scenic views and great food. zhou jinjin was much more familiar with paris than gu ci. gu ci came here to watch a competition, not for shopping, so she didn¡¯t bother researching. wherever zhou jinjin took her, she went. whatever zhou jinjin bought, she paid for it. plus, walking hand in hand, they appeared to be a reserved wealthy lady and her delicate young wife in the eyes of others. zhou jinjin shopped and posted on social media, and gu ci noticed her numerous messages but didn¡¯t reply. unable to resist, she asked, ¡°why aren¡¯t you replying to them?¡± ¡°they asked me to buy things for them,¡± zhou jinjin said. ¡°i don¡¯t even have enough time for my own shopping, how could i spare time to deal with them?¡± gu ci also posted on her social media, and her classmates who had added her liked her posts. she shared some classmates with zhou jinjin from school, and gu ci also knew some of the classmates who asked zhou jinjin to buy things for them. ¡°why didn¡¯t they ask me?¡± ¡°haha¡­¡± zhou jinjin laughed, ¡°you have a misunderstanding about your image. who would ask you to buy things for them? just looking at you, they wouldn¡¯t think you¡¯d bother with them.¡± ¡°that¡¯s true,¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°but when you were shopping just now and 1 was free, i could¡¯ve helped them ask around. if it¡¯s not too much trouble, 1 could¡¯ve made the purchases.¡± if she handled it, zhou jinjin, who struggled with decision-making, might still be contemplating. zhou jinjin didn¡¯t respond. the aloof girl gu ci might appear as though she did not want to be disturbed, but in reality, a little nudge and she might be willing to help. the socially enthusiastic zhou jinjin was lively and friendly with everyone, like a true friend, but if you really asked her for help, she¡¯d politely decline since she¡¯s quite busy. this little episode didn¡¯t affect their enjoyable shopping experience. gu ci had modest material desires. she offered suggestions, carried bags, paid, and played the role of an almost-boyfriend. ¡°aren¡¯t you buying any bags?¡± zhou jinjin remembered that most of gu ci¡¯s bags were gifts from her. now that gu ci had a significant amount of money, she wasn¡¯t buying bags or clothes. ¡°if you¡¯re not spending, why earn money?¡± ¡°1 like watching the numbers in my bank account increase,¡± gu ci paused. ¡°day by day.¡± zhou jinjin, ¡°wow¡­ my apologies. 1 have a dollar, and i¡¯m going to spend it right away. enjoy the moment. this white one suits you well. how about trying on this dress too?¡± ¡°don¡¯t!¡± ¡°come on!¡± even the salesperson could tell that the reserved and elegant demeanor of the wealthy lady was remarkable. anything she wore looked good on her. high-end store salespeople enjoyed having exceptionally attractive girls wear their products ¨C it was free advertising. under zhou jinjin¡¯s and the saleswoman¡¯s persuasion, gu ci ended up buying a bunch of flashy dresses, shoes, and bags. in one store alone, they spent well over a million, and the saleswoman hung around just to serve them. they brought out some rare leather and heirloom-quality jewelry. gu ci, slightly overwhelmed, didn¡¯t bat an eye as she swiped her card. the service was excellent too; they had everything delivered to the hotel, and the saleswoman even gave a deep bow, seeing them off like a god of wealth. the money spent was a drop in the bucket. while she had modest desires for herself, she was generous when it came to spending on gu ziyu, lu zhiyuan, zhou jinjin, jiang junlin, and others. she felt content with that and even planned to share the expenses with her aunt and grandmother when she returned home. in this shopping spree, gu ci instinctively navigated through the social nuances she hadn¡¯t encountered in the past eighteen years. suddenly, the world of social interactions emerged. she finally had material desires, and she bought a pile of gifts for everyone in the jiang family. watching her shop, zhou jinjin fell into contemplation. could this seemingly distant girl be influenced by close associations? they had spent a good part of the day at champs-elysees. gu ci asked, ¡°shall we go to an auction?¡± ¡°sure, 1 haven¡¯t been to one yet,¡± zhou jinjin scratched her head. ¡°i¡¯ll find a mediator.¡± zhou jinjin found a mediator to go to the auction house. the mediator was of chinese descent. ¡°no problem, they¡¯ll verify your assets. do you have stocks or deposit assets?¡± ¡°oh, assets need to be verified?¡± zhou jinjin asked. ¡°some smaller auction houses don¡¯t require it, but it¡¯s rare to get good items there,¡± the mediator explained. ¡°how much assets are required?¡± gu ci asked expressionlessly. ¡°is 8 billion in stocks enough?¡± the mediator paused for a moment, then said, ¡°¡­that¡¯s enough.¡± with that much money, they¡¯d be welcome at any auction house in paris. since the ¡°rich lady¡± had so much money, the mediator was accommodating. after all, if the referral went through, he would benefit as well. he recommended the most high-end auction event to gu ci and the zhou family. originally, formal attire was required, but seeing that gu ci looked a bit unwilling, the mediator tactfully omitted that requirement. thus, the reserved wealthy lady gu ci and her delicate young wife zhou jinjin stood out among the extravagantly dressed ladies, like¡­ college students, at a top-tier auction. zhou jinjin scratched her head, looked at her own down jacket and boots, then at the elegant ladies in low-cut gowns and fur coats. they all looked graceful and luxurious. others¡¯ gazes at them were like they were wondering why a server had wandered into the wrong event. zhou jinjin blushed slightly and said, ¡°we seem like country bumpkins who¡¯ve stumbled into a grand garden, like grandma liu entering the grand view garden.¡± ¡°then take off your down jacket.¡± ¡°hold my down jacket? that¡¯ll make us look even more unsophisticated!¡± ¡°ladies, 1 can hold your down jackets for you,¡± the mediator bowed and smiled. gu ci and zhou jinjin exchanged a glance, then both removed their down jackets. but as the down jackets came off, a blast of cold air made gu ci shiver. ¡°no need, i¡¯ll keep wearing it.¡± the mediator was speechless. he could see that this wealthy lady was truly naive and innocent, the same wherever she went. she was polite to the clothes before the person. besides, there was heating here, so the mediator chose not to mention it. with their substantial assets, they were seated prominently. as soon as they entered, they felt disdain from others, though the noble ladies didn¡¯t say anything disrespectful. still, their looks conveyed a certain contempt, as if they were wondering why people of their supposed class were appearing in a setting like this. zhou jinjin accidentally brushed against the hem of a noblewoman¡¯s gown. the noblewoman, decked in pearls and jewels, waved the hem disdainfully and said in english with a cold tone, ¡°anyone can attend a sotheby¡¯s auction these days, no qualification checks. it¡¯s becoming less exclusive..¡± Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Annoying, She’s a Professional chapter 200: annoying, she¡¯s a professional translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she turned to the wealthy young lady next to her and said, ¡°those who are probably here to broaden their horizons, dressed like this, i wouldn¡¯t show up if i were them.¡± ¡°truly¡­ so tasteless.¡± ¡°these nouveau riche from china, they don¡¯t understand art appreciation, they¡¯re vulgar and lack discernment. being with them only lowers my own taste.¡± ¡°can you believe it? they don¡¯t even have money in their pockets. they can¡¯t even afford the lowest-priced artwork.¡± petty attitudes know no nationality; mean-spirited people can be found everywhere. gu ci and zhou jinjin were surrounded by a group of people, pointing fingers and making fun of them in a foreign land, isolated and defenseless, being mocked without restraint. zhou jinjin, young and smooth-tongued, was an eighteen-year-old girl. after being subjected to such comments, she felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, wanting to retort but was held back by gu ci. zhou jinjin¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°don¡¯t hold me back; 1¡¯11 definitely give them a piece of my mind.¡± gu ci remained composed and calm. ¡°jinjin, don¡¯t be hasty. if there¡¯s a grudge, we¡¯ll settle it on the spot.¡± the venue was warm, there was no need for down jackets. both of them took them off and casually put them aside. they arrived early, looking at the auction items¡ª all exquisite pieces, but quite expensive. several aristocrats chatted animatedly next to them, surrounding a noblewoman and showering her with compliments. zhou jinjin glanced over and saw the provocative look in the noblewoman¡¯s eyes, along with the mockery. zhou jinjin was infuriated. in this unfamiliar environment, she didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, but she truly felt like striking back. gu ci lowered her head, flipping through the introduction to the items. gu ci¡¯s gaze fell on an oil painting, a masterpiece from the middle ages. grandfather jiang had a deep fondness for paintings. the items distracted zhou jinjin¡¯s attention, and she excitedly grabbed gu ci¡¯s arm. ¡°cici, look, a famous violin, the stradivarius violin by sukru, damn!¡± a masterpiece crafted in 1816 by the italian master sukru, it had been purchased by a famous orchestra and played in countless classic pieces. its front panel was made of high-altitude spruce, and its back was crafted from maple. the wood grain was exquisite, and the dynamics were captivating. a famed violin, it was the dream instrument for every violinist. a determined gleam appeared in gu ci¡¯s eyes. ¡°i want it!¡± when pei qiuying appeared at the auction house, seated in the front row of vip seats, gu ci knew that acquiring this violin might cost her everything. but she truly loved it¡ªthis violin was the gift that lu zhiyuan had given her in her past life. so, it was auctioned in this year? but at that time, wasn¡¯t he still in a coma? how did he manage to acquire the violin and gift it to her later? pei qiuying sat in the vip seats on the second floor. when gu ci¡¯s gaze turned her way, she raised a glass of champagne, nodded in greeting, and appeared calm and gentle. there seemed to be no ill intentions, as if their fierce confrontation on the cruise ship was merely a farce. ¡°cici, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± gu ci shook her head lightly. ¡°it¡¯s nothing.¡± leaning in towards zhou jinjin, she said a few words. zhou jinjin looked surprised. ¡°alright.¡± zhou jinjin got up and asked a waiter about the location of the restroom, then followed the waiter to the restroom. gu ci leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes calmly to rest. pei qiuying chuckled lightly while watching the young girl downstairs. she truly had no idea of the world¡¯s complexity. tonight, pei qiuying intended to show gu ci just how naive she was. inside the auction hall, li jiang hurriedly approached lu zhiyuan. ¡°third master, pei qiuying and miss gu ci met at the auction,¡± li jiang furrowed his brows. ¡°miss gu ci spent the whole day shopping with zhou jinjin and decided to come to the auction at the last minute. pei qiuying¡¯s people followed her all day, deliberately.¡± lu zhiyuan took a towel and wiped his sweat, his gaze slightly darkening. ¡°tell rong li that i don¡¯t want that violin anymore.¡± li jiang hesitated. ¡°understood!¡± after a moment of silence, li jiang wanted to say more but held back. lu zhiyuan glanced at him. ¡°have someone keep an eye on gu ci.¡± ¡°understood!¡± inside the auction hall, the atmosphere was bustling. zhou jinjin returned from the restroom, sipped champagne, and shared a comment on it with gu ci. a silent understanding passed between them. the auction began. this was an art auction featuring exquisite treasures. the first item was a diamond. the wealthy lady next to them raised her paddle and engaged in a bidding war with others. the price soared to 8 million euros. she had significant financial resources. the auctioneer called out the price again, ¡°8 million for the second time. is there another bid?¡± the wealthy lady displayed her delight. gu ci said, ¡°jinjin, raise your paddle.¡± ¡°do you want it?¡± gu ci smiled but remained silent. zhou jinjin raised her paddle, and the auctioneer gestured in her direction. ¡°9 million!¡± the wealthy lady looked at them, displeased and disdainful. she raised her paddle again. zhou jinjin glanced at gu ci, who said, ¡°secure it, regardless of the cost.¡± ¡°alright!¡± excited, zhou jinjin raised her paddle. the wealthy lady raised hers too. zhou jinjin even gave her a challenging look. the bidding escalated to 15 million. the wealthy lady¡¯s face turned extremely sour! the auctioneer announced, ¡°15 million once, 15 million twice¡­¡± the wealthy lady seemed to want to raise her paddle but hesitated throughout. she lost to zhou jinjin. angrily, she looked at zhou jinjin, who responded with an innocent smile. it was infuriating; she was a professional! didn¡¯t they look down on people from china? didn¡¯t they say we can¡¯t even afford the cheapest artwork here? let¡¯s show them that we can afford what they desire. do they feel frustrated now that what they wanted has fallen into our hands? after turning away, zhou jinjin quipped to gu ci, ¡°it¡¯s so expensive. if you don¡¯t like diamonds, why buy them?¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°do you like them?¡± ¡°of course, who doesn¡¯t like diamonds?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll have someone make a crown out of them. when you get married, you can wear it as your wedding gift.¡± zhou jinjin widened her eyes, gripping gu ci¡¯s hand. ¡°cici, i¡¯m part of the firm ¡®no marriage, no child¡¯ crew, but tonight, you¡¯ve changed my beliefs. i¡¯ll get married for your yellow diamond.¡± gu ci was speechless. in the subsequent auction items, gu ci wasn¡¯t interested. however, whenever the others raised their paddles, she had zhou jinjin do the same, leaving the wealthy lady and her group of people fuming. as gu ci said, when there¡¯s a grudge, settle it on the spot. they had been arrogant just a while ago, but now they were infuriated. gu ci used her financial prowess to thoroughly humiliate them. pei qiuying observed from upstairs, finding it interesting. ¡°competitive and ambitious, this temperament¡­¡± there was a hint of condescension in her tone, but gu ci didn¡¯t mind at all. she did things according to her own desires and enjoyed herself. gu ci wasn¡¯t an art enthusiast, but the jiang family had an almost fanatical obsession with art. antique paintings, collectibles¡ªthese were their passions! finally, the turn came for an oil painting. it was a masterpiece by a renowned italian artist from the middle ages. this artist had six pieces in museums around the world. only this one was available in the market. in today¡¯s auction, several museum directors participated through phone bidding, and the competition was fierce. zhou jinjin didn¡¯t quite understand art; she felt the painting looked old and couldn¡¯t appreciate its beauty. ¡°i paint better than him,¡± zhou jinjin said confidently.. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Spending Money to Fight for Love chapter 201: spending money to fight for love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci chuckled and patted her head. zhou jinjin made an offer, and gu ci was determined to win. in the end, the price settled at 20 million euros, leaving the aristocrats who had underestimated them in shock. these two seemed like they had wandered into the auction, dressed simply. apart from that watch, gu ci¡¯s entire attire was worth no more than 500 euros. yet, they were now splurging at the auction, spending a total of 50 million euros. 50 million euros their deep pockets were undeniable. ¡°who are they, really?¡± the aristocratic lady was both annoyed and puzzled. ¡°which wealthy family in china do they belong to?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know, never seen them before.¡± ¡°we attend all the major auctions in france, but they are new.¡± ¡°so young and extravagant; they must be the daughters of some tycoon.¡± ¡°they are truly audacious!¡± zhou jinjin was genuinely enjoying herself, especially when she noticed the aristocrats at the neighboring table trying to maintain their composure despite their obvious anger. it made her even more pleased. pei qiuying sipped her champagne, smiled, but remained silent. when gu ci raised her paddle to bid on an antique, pei qiuying competed with her. the two of them engaged in a bidding war that went all the way up to 40 million euros, far exceeding the actual value of the antique. gu ci gracefully conceded defeat. pei qiuying raised her glass, offering a distant toast, displaying both gentleness and grandeur, causing gu ci to avert her gaze. zhou jinjin asked, ¡°do you like this antique?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t.¡± ¡°why did you bid for it then?¡± ¡°it¡¯s fun,¡± gu ci chuckled lightly, calmly awaiting the auction of sukru¡¯s famous violin. the auction was intense, with fierce competition. the ladies at the aristocratic table also sensed the tension but gleefully watched the drama unfold. ¡°she actually bid against pei qiuying. does she even know who pei qiuying is?¡± the lady shook her head in disbelief. ¡°she¡¯s really asking for trouble.¡± ¡°she must have offended pei qiuying. we should get the popcorn ready first.¡± ¡°if she offends pei qiuying, can she walk out of this door alive?¡± ¡°they really have no idea of their place, daring to provoke anyone and everyone. provoking us is one thing, but provoking pei qiuying? that¡¯s courting disaster.¡± ¡°at an auction, who dares to offend pei qiuying? she truly doesn¡¯t value her life.¡± gu ci listened to their taunts and insults but remained silent. she was interested in a few items but not overly attached to them. she continued to bid. however, everything she bid on ended up in pei qiuying¡¯s possession, with each item surpassing its actual value when pei qiuying secured it. the group of aristocrats believed that gu ci was digging her own grave by offending pei qiuying. it seemed like she was deliberately driving up the prices for pei qiuying. pei qiuying had already spent 200 million euros at the auction. zhou jinjin sensitively noticed that gu ci was being targeted. ¡°is this woman crazy? she¡¯s intentionally opposing you, bidding on everything you bid on. does she have money to burn? does she know you?¡± ¡°she¡¯s a love rival¡± gu ci replied succinctly. zhou jinjin turned to look at pei qiuying. ¡°how old is she?¡± ¡°27.¡± zhou jinjin showed a hint of disdain. ¡°i don¡¯t mind age differences, and i won¡¯t deny that she¡¯s quite beautiful. but if she has her eyes on our husband, i¡¯ll have an issue. if i were lu zhiyuan, i¡¯d definitely choose you; you¡¯re more beautiful than her.¡± she glanced at gu ci¡¯s chest, then at pei qiuying and concluded, ¡°we¡¯re still young; our figures can still improve. don¡¯t worry.¡± gu ci sighed inwardly, thinking, ¡°jinjin, you¡¯re quite shallow!¡± perhaps it was the directness of gu ci¡¯s gaze that prompted zhou jinjin to say, ¡°even us girls love looking at beautiful women. men are even more shallow; who cares about your inner beauty?¡± as they chatted, another item came up for auction. it was sukru¡¯s famous violin. gu ci¡¯s heart raced. zhou jinjin said, ¡°don¡¯t worry; i¡¯ll help you bid!¡± ¡°no, i¡¯ll do it myself!¡± for sukru¡¯s famous violin, over 20 people were bidding. when it reached 20 million, gu ci placed a bid. pei qiuying had already bid, and she hadn¡¯t moved since. pei qiuying was a regular at auctions, known to many aristocrats, and recognized as a powerful figure. she had substantial wealth. she and gu ci had been competing for items throughout the evening, and gu ci had been thoroughly defeated, failing to acquire a single item from her. even the most obtuse individuals could sense the tension, especially those who were experienced in auctions. when gu ci and pei qiuying placed their bids, there were hardly any others willing to join in. no one wanted to compete with pei qiuying for what she desired. the aristocratic ladies couldn¡¯t believe that gu ci dared to raise the bid against pei qiuying. the way they looked at her, it was as if they considered her a dead person. ¡°it¡¯s been three years since 1 last saw someone daring to raise the bid against pei qiuying.¡± ¡°the last time was that young lady from the rong family who intentionally raised the bid against pei qiuying. she¡¯s long gone now.¡± ¡°she¡¯s asking for trouble!¡± gu ci raised her paddle. ¡°22 million,¡± the auctioneer announced, and pei qiuying raised her paddle again. the auctioneer continued, ¡°23 million!¡± gu ci kept raising her paddle, and pei qiuying smiled, engaging in a bidding war with her. zhou jinjin checked the price of sukru¡¯s famous violin and saw that it had already exceeded its value. the two of them continued to bid until it reached 30 million. one of pei qiuying¡¯s guards said, ¡°miss, it¡¯s beyond its value.¡± ¡°what does it matter? money can¡¯t buy my happiness.¡± pei qiuying raised her paddle once again. when it reached 35 million, gu ci no longer raised her paddle. pei qiuying smiled and raised her glass to gu ci. each time she took an item away from gu ci, she would raise her glass as a seemingly polite gesture, but it carried an underlying provocation. this time, however, it was different. just as the auctioneer was about to hammer down the sale¡­ ¡°36 million!¡± a man raised his paddle. the auctioneer shouted, ¡°36 million once, anyone else?¡± pei qiuying looked displeased as she glanced at the man wearing sunglasses and a tailored suit sitting in the middle of the lower floor, not in a prominent position. who was this impudent person! pei qiuying raised her paddle again, and the man continued to bid, taking it all the way up to 40 million euros. her guard reminded her, ¡°miss, that¡¯s enough. you¡¯ve already spent 200 million euros.¡± pei qiuying disliked violins, even loathed them, but she just couldn¡¯t stand the thought of gu ci getting her hands on it. she snorted, ¡°fine, let that sucker have it!¡± buying a violin for 40 million euros was far beyond its actual value. in a normal auction, it would probably sell for around 25 million euros. sukru¡¯s famous violin finally sold for 40 million euros, breaking the record for the highest price ever paid for a musical instrument in an auction. it was likely to remain unbeaten for decades. after the auction, pei qiuying walked over, attracting the attention of the aristocratic ladies who were eagerly watching. ¡°these two newcomers are showing off with their money. let¡¯s see how pei qiuying teaches them a lesson.¡± ¡°yes, they need to learn that paris is not a place for them to be arrogant.¡± gu ci watched as pei qiuying approached, remaining composed. zhou jinjin, however, didn¡¯t share the same composure, thinking of gu ci as pei qiuying¡¯s rival and displaying a united front against her. ¡°miss gu, what a coincidence to meet you at sotheby¡¯s. you had quite a successful day,¡± pei qiuying greeted gu ci warmly. however, all the items auctioned had ended up with zhou jinjin, not gu ci.. Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: The Group Favors Gu Ci chapter 202: the group favors gu ci translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation pei qiuying had already investigated them thoroughly and knew about zhou jinjin¡¯s financial strength. the items she bid on were mostly what gu ci desired. gu ci chuckled, ¡°thank you, miss pei, for not competing with jinjin.¡± ¡°i know what jinjin bid on, and 1 know it was you who wanted them,¡± pei qiuying chuckled lightly, walking closer with a calm demeanor. ¡°1 did it on purpose.¡± zhou jinjin¡¯s face turned red. this woman was going too far. such blatant provocation! she was about to get angry but was restrained by gu ci. jinjin didn¡¯t understand. my dear, why are you getting angry? a year ago, gu ci would have thrown a punch at such words. ¡°you enjoy the winner¡¯s stance, don¡¯t you?¡± gu ci asked nonchalantly, ¡°but, pei qiuying, you¡¯re not the center of the world, and the earth doesn¡¯t revolve around you. you must have lost quite a bit of money on the art pieces auctioned tonight.¡± ¡°i¡¯m wealthy, little money like this doesn¡¯t matter,¡± pei qiuying scoffed. ¡°among everything auctioned tonight, the item you wanted the most must be the sukru famous violin.¡± this was the truth, and gu ci didn¡¯t deny it. pei qiuying traced her diamond-studded nails, her eyes full of mockery and pity. ¡°tonight is a lesson for you. you can only touch what i don¡¯t want. what i desire¡­ you won¡¯t take a single piece.¡± she said it with certainty and dominance, but gu ci just smiled and asked her, ¡°since you saw through that 1 wanted the sukru famous violin, why didn¡¯t you get it yourself?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care who gets the sukru famous violin, as long as it¡¯s not you,¡± pei qiuying maliciously replied. she knew that openly challenging gu ci was beneath her status, but she couldn¡¯t control the jealousy in her heart. ¡°is that so?¡± gu ci innocently smiled. pei qiuying had a foreboding feeling. why was she so confident while smiling? the intermediary approached, wiping off some sweat. he had removed his sunglasses and was the man who won the sukru famous violin. ¡°miss gu ci, it¡¯s time to make the payment. don¡¯t change your mind, or i¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, 1 won¡¯t change my mind. it¡¯s my treasure!¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was clear and composed. when the intermediary approached, he spoke to gu ci in english, as zhou jinjin had instructed. gu ci replied in english, and the group of affluent ladies around them understood. the onlookers were left stunned and extremely shocked! ¡°how could this country bumpkin dare to do this? she actually outplayed pei qiuying.¡± ¡°she¡¯s courting death, toying with pei qiuying like this. she¡¯s incredibly audacious.¡± ¡°pei qiuying looked outraged. to think she lost to a country bumpkin.¡± ¡°poor pei qiuying, she got played by someone.¡± ¡°chinese people, as cunning and sly as ever.¡± pei qiuying listened to the hushed whispers of the people around her, seething with anger and visible hostility. her bodyguard reminded her that this was the high-profile sotheby¡¯s auction, saying, ¡°miss, you don¡¯t need to waste your time with her. if you don¡¯t like it, i can take care of her.¡± ¡°no!¡± pei qiuying sneered, ¡°the show hasn¡¯t even started yet. killing her would be too easy.¡± gu ci stood before pei qiuying, composed and dominant, saying, ¡°pei qiuying, let me make this clear to you. you can¡¯t take away my treasure, and you can¡¯t touch my man either.¡± zhou jinjin almost burst into applause, feeling ecstatic and exhilarated as she watched pei qiuying¡¯s furious reaction. she felt like going outside and setting off fireworks. ¡°very well!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s eyes turned menacing, and she swept her sleeve and left. meanwhile, gu ci, accompanied by zhou jinjin and the intermediary, proceeded to make the payment and complete the registration. she had gained a considerable harvest, and as a precaution, she called li jiang to send someone to escort her newly acquired art pieces. pei qiuying had become unhinged, and nobody knew what she might do. art was priceless, and it couldn¡¯t be destroyed. li jiang had already sent a team to keep an eye on gu ci at the auction. upon receiving the call, he personally arrived. when pei qiuying saw li jiang and his team, her expression was unprecedentedly grim. the bodyguard suggested, ¡°miss, there¡¯s no need to waste time on her. if you don¡¯t like her, 1 can eliminate her.¡± ¡°no!¡± pei qiuying coldly laughed, ¡°the good part hasn¡¯t even started yet. killing her would be too easy.¡± gu ci lovingly caressed the sukru famous violin, once again becoming its owner. in her previous life, her hands were injured, making it unlikely for her to become a professional violinist. she also couldn¡¯t lift heavy objects. however, playing short segments occasionally posed no problem. she was initially reserved and reclusive, unwilling to touch musical instruments, almost insulated from the violin. it wasn¡¯t until her birthday that lu zhiyuan gifted her this famous violin. a violinist couldn¡¯t resist such a prestigious instrument. this instrument was the dream for all violinists. with this violin, she could immerse herself in hr own world when she played it, pretending that all the hardships had never happened. when she saw this violin, gu ci was determined to obtain it. ¡°miss gu ci, you¡¯re really clever to snatch this violin from pei qiuying,¡± li jiang praised with a rainbow fart. originally, li jiang thought gu ci was destined to lose. her secret guards had been almost live-streaming their bidding war. gu ci hadn¡¯t taken a single item from pei qiuying¡¯s hands. gu ci replied, ¡°she¡¯s quite conceited. if 1 had focused only on the sukru famous violin tonight, she wouldn¡¯t have let it go. but if i had kept bidding against her from the beginning and kept losing, she would have developed a sense of superiority and pride. when someone becomes arrogant, they make poor judgments. moreover, all the items she bid on tonight exceeded their value, and she doesn¡¯t even like the violin. she didn¡¯t have to own it. by the time a stranger started bidding, she wouldn¡¯t compete anymore.¡± ¡°honey, you¡¯re truly brilliant. this woman is simply insane,¡± zhou jinjin mocked. ¡°splurging just to compete with you and getting jealous. she¡¯s gone mad!¡± li jiang, however, thought differently. the ¡°splurging¡± in zhou jinjin¡¯s eyes might just be pocket change for pei qiuying. li jiang added, ¡°third young master originally arranged for someone to bid on this violin too.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°he wanted to bid on it?¡± li jiang realized he had slipped up and hurriedly said, ¡°yes, initially, someone was keeping an eye on this violin. but when you and pei qiuying started bidding, he gave up.¡± gu ci¡¯s expression subtly changed, and li jiang mentally replayed his words, instantly breaking into a cold sweat. he wished he could slap herself hard for being so talkative. if pei qiuying wanted to compete with gu ci, it must mean that pei qiuying had considerable financial strength. gu ci, being a young lady, would surely lose in a bidding war. so, if the third young master had given up, didn¡¯t that indicate he was siding with pei qiuying? li jiang hastily said, ¡°miss gu ci, please don¡¯t misunderstand¡­ the third young master truly doesn¡¯t love pei qiuying. he did it to protect you.¡± gu ci¡¯s smile was faint, her tone indifferent. ¡°please arrange for the safe delivery of these art pieces.¡± ¡°rest assured, i will ensure their safe return to the country.¡± li jiang felt a chill down her spine from gu ci¡¯s cold gaze. she resolved never to speak out of turn about the third young master again. after returning to the hotel, gu ci took a comfortable shower and posted the items she had acquired at the auction in her group chat. the jiang family¡¯s elderly couple was delighted, showering her with praise and encouraging her to acquire more art pieces. the elderly patriarch even sent her some money.. Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Father and Son Don’t Know Each Other chapter 203: father and son don¡¯t know each other translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci: grandma, 1 have money. grandma: i¡¯m going to give you pocket money. christmas is coming; buy something you like. gu ci: thank you, grandma! following grandpa¡¯s lead, mr. and mrs. jiang minghua, along with the elderly lady, also gave some money to gu ci. gu ci was both moved and puzzled. after dealing with these matters, gu ziyu returned. ziyu had a cold expression, clearly in a bad mood. gu ci asked, ¡°are you hungry?¡± ziyu remained silent. gu ci was confused. was the mission not going well? she couldn¡¯t ask too much. when ziyu came out after taking a shower, he still hadn¡¯t spoken a word, leaving gu ci even more puzzled. ziyu was not someone who brought work emotions home. ¡°ziyu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci asked. ziyu pursed his lips, suddenly revealing a gap where two of his front teeth used to be. ¡°my teeth are gone¡­¡± his speech was now muffled and almost unintelligible. gu ci choked back a snort of laughter. ¡°don¡¯t laugh, mom.¡± gu ziyu hid in his blanket. ¡°i¡¯m going to get mad!¡± gu ci chuckled. with such a long sentence, the muffled speech became even more pronounced. gu ci rarely saw ziyu in such an awkward state and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. losing one front tooth could make speech slightly unclear, but losing two was truly challenging. gu ci burst into laughter and pulled him out from under the blanket. ¡°come on, let mommy see.¡± ziyu¡¯s ears turned red, and he was very shy. he was a bit vain and didn¡¯t want to open his mouth. gu ci said, ¡°be good, let mommy take a look. if they fall out improperly, the new teeth won¡¯t grow well.¡± reluctantly, ziyu opened his mouth, and gu ci examined his teeth. ¡°1 think it will be another week before they naturally fall out. how did they suddenly come out?¡± ¡°i ate an apple, took a bite, and they fell out,¡± ziyu grumbled. ¡°french apples are too hard!¡± gu ci thought to herself, with your front teeth so loose, why would you bite into an apple? how could they not fall out? ¡°does it hurt?¡± ¡°no, just a little bleeding.¡± ¡°what about your teeth?¡± ziyu said, ¡°chen fei said that when he was a child and lost his baby teeth, his grandmother told him to throw the fallen teeth onto a high roof. that way, the new teeth would grow big and white. so, i threw mine onto the roof of the museum.¡± gu ci was speechless. gu ci thought, ¡°wow! you threw your two rotten teeth onto the roof of the paris museum!¡± ¡°alright, alright, don¡¯t be upset. it¡¯s common for kids to lose their teeth. we¡¯ve all been through it. your dad lost two front teeth at the time, and 1 did too. they¡¯ll grow back in about six months.¡± ziyu remained silent. ¡°have you eaten anything since you lost your teeth?¡± ziyu wasn¡¯t in the mood and hadn¡¯t eaten anything. gu ci said, ¡°change your clothes. mommy will take you out for a late-night snack. babies need to eat well to grow.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu changed into clean clothes and, after informing chen fei, gu ci took him out for a late-night snack. chen fei discreetly stayed about ten meters behind them, not wanting to disturb the mother and son. ¡°next door is the racetrack. do you want¡­ to have a late-night meal with dad?¡± gu ziyu asked. it had been a long time since he had seen lu zhiyuan, and he felt a bit awkwardly nostalgic. the hotel was only two streets away from the racetrack; it wasn¡¯t far at all. gu ci also hadn¡¯t seen lu zhiyuan for a while and missed him terribly. third master and third young master shared their memories. if ziyu called him ¡°dad,¡± lu zhiyuan would definitely inquire about it. with the race approaching, it was best not to be distracted. it was the final race of the fl formula one championship. gu ci said, ¡°baby, let¡¯s wait until after the race.¡± ¡°okay!¡± the hotel offered late-night snacks, but gu ziyu wasn¡¯t fond of them. he didn¡¯t like western food, so gu ci checked the reviews and found a chinese restaurant nearby that was still open. it was a popular place on the food street, with a decent crowd. in a foreign land, neither gu ci nor gu ziyu wore masks. they sat casually in the outdoor seating area and ordered some late-night snacks. gu ci ordered a plate of fried noodles, seafood congee, a few skewers of grilled meat, and some side dishes. gu ziyu pitifully asked, ¡°mommy, since my teeth are gone, can i have soda?¡± gu ci hesitated for a moment. she couldn¡¯t allow him to have soda with his new teeth growing in. gu ziyu sighed, ¡°ah, even seafood congee doesn¡¯t taste good anymore.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile as she accompanied gu ziyu for their late-night meal. she glanced at a table behind them and furrowed her brows. she sent a text message to chen fei. gu ziyu asked, ¡°mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°someone has been following mommy all day,¡± gu ci said with a light laugh. ¡°it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°who¡¯s following you?¡± gu ziyu frowned. ¡°did dad send someone to protect you?¡± ¡°perhaps,¡± gu ci replied. it was indeed someone from li jiang¡¯s side, but not this particular group. most likely, it was pei qiuying¡¯s people. pei qiuying was quite patient, and gu ci wasn¡¯t sure what she was planning. ¡°mommy¡­¡± gu ziyu blinked, feeling a bit embarrassed. in all his years as a big shot, he had never felt this awkward. ¡°i¡¯m a bit short on cash.¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°how much do you need?¡± biting into a shrimp, gu ziyu raised his chubby little hand and jokingly said, ¡°fifty million?¡± ¡°that¡¯s nothing, how about adding a zero?¡± gu ziyu cleverly and mischievously added, ¡°you¡¯re not spending money anyway, so why not spend it on me?¡± his mother had a huge fortune, but she wasn¡¯t materialistic, and he was indeed a bit short on cash. ¡°what do you need so much money for?¡± ¡°there¡¯s some equipment funding that they just won¡¯t approve. the old man goes to beg for it every day, and he¡¯s losing his temper. we might as well handle it ourselves and not rely on others.¡± gu ziyu grumbled, ¡°let¡¯s just get it done.¡± biting into a skewer of beef, gu ci lightly smiled and said, ¡°how about you talk to uncle chen about this?¡± ¡°you agree?¡± ¡°if he¡¯s okay with it, then i¡¯m okay with it.¡± ¡°great!¡± gu ci watched her son¡¯s smile and felt content and proud. her precious son had transformed since he first arrived, now knowing when ji chi had a stomachache and making pumpkin porridge for him. he also noticed chen liangdong¡¯s financial worries and was willing to raise money for him. it was wonderful! ¡°mom, dad¡­¡± gu ziyu¡¯s sharp eyes spotted li jiang, and when he looked further back, he saw lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan seemed to be heading somewhere. before getting into the car, he noticed gu ci and gu ziyu. without glancing their way, he got into the car. li jiang waved to them before joining him, and they both drove away together. ¡°mom, did he just ignore us?¡± gu ziyu frowned unhappily. gu ci chuckled lightly, ¡°maybe he didn¡¯t see us.¡± ¡°he saw us. li jiang waved to us,¡± gu ziyu was displeased. li jiang had seen them, so why didn¡¯t lu zhiyuan acknowledge them? gu ci said, ¡°let¡¯s focus on our meal and not worry about it.¡± ¡°mom, that¡¯s how men are. they climb the ladder of success and forget about their wives and children. i¡¯m the perfect example of a cute little boy who is more loyal to you,¡± gu ziyu said, constantly teasing lu zhiyuan. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°yes, mommy likes ziyu the most.¡± gu ziyu felt comforted by the praise. he glanced in the direction lu zhiyuan had gone, furrowing his brow slightly.. a night outing by his dad with such high-level security, even overseas, for a racing driver, did he really need such a tight security team? Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: A Sudden Attack chapter 204: a sudden attack translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation there was a game the day after tomorrow, but he wasn¡¯t practicing. why was he dressed in a suit and leather shoes so late at night? gu ci¡¯s phone vibrated, and zhou jinjin sent her a text message, wanting to join for a late-night snack. gu ci replied that she was having supper. zhou jinjin: you went out for supper without inviting me? don¡¯t you love me anymore! after sending her location, gu ci let her come over. it was only a ten-minute walk. she ordered seafood congee and fried noodles. when zhou jinjin arrived, the food was ready for her. ¡°you guys left me out and went for supper without me!¡± ¡°after 8 p.m., you don¡¯t eat, remember?¡± gu ci pushed the seafood congee towards her. ¡°it depends on who i¡¯m eating with,¡± zhou jinjin happily enjoyed her late-night snack. ¡°hey, ziyu, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± gu ziyu pouted, continuing to sip his congee. zhou jinjin noticed, ¡°did you lose a tooth?¡± taking the bait, gu ci couldn¡¯t contain her laughter. ¡°yes, he¡¯s losing baby teeth, and it affects his speech.¡± zhou jinjin laughed, ¡°ziyu, you have an image to uphold, huh?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu replied in a solemn tone. as they were enjoying their late-night meal, a blue car suddenly sped towards them, seemingly out of control, and crashed into the chinese restaurant. this restaurant had the best business on the entire food street. ¡°ziyu, stop eating,¡± gu ci pulled gu ziyu up. ¡°jinjin, get up, run!¡± the car was speeding dangerously towards them, but gu ci had already pulled gu ziyu towards a nearby building. chen fei also rushed over, immediately protecting gu ziyu. gu ci instructed, ¡°you protect jinjin.¡± she pulled gu ziyu and ran forward desperately while chen fei held onto zhou jinjin¡¯s wrist, finding shelter in a nearby building. the car crashed into the restaurant¡¯s glass window, shattering it. customers inside panicked, scrambling to escape. some shards of glass even flew to gu ci¡¯s feet. the crowd screamed and scattered, and the car emitted smoke. several customers were injured and lay on the ground, and people thought it was a case of a runaway or drunk driver causing the accident. zhou jinjin, still shaken, said, ¡°wow, that¡¯s terrifying. was it a drunk driver? so many people got hurt.¡± chen fei was a special forces soldier with a strong sense of justice. ¡°i¡¯ll go help!¡± ¡°stop!¡± gu ci frowned. ¡°it¡¯s a car out of control, crashing into a crowded restaurant. this looks like a terrorist attack.¡± as she finished her sentence, a sudden and intense explosion occurred in front of them. both gu ci and chen fei reacted swiftly. gu ci held gu ziyu tightly, rolling to the side to shield him. chen fei also pressed zhou jinjin to the ground. the explosion sent flames soaring into the sky, and the people who had been helping near the car were all blown away. an arm landed right in front of zhou jinjin, splattering her with blood. she had never witnessed such a gruesome scene and screamed in terror, ¡°ahhhh¡­¡± chen fei covered her eyes with his large, reassuring hand. ¡°don¡¯t be afraid!¡± zhou jinjin trembled all over. gu ci looked back at the horrifying aftermath of the explosion, shocked and stunned. then, she heard gunshots, and so did chen fei. ¡°scatter! don¡¯t stand around! find a place to hide!¡± chen fei shouted loudly in english. gu ci pulled gu ziyu and ran ahead. initially, there were sporadic gunshots, followed by a barrage of rapid gunfire. bullets flew indiscriminately. ¡°run!¡± gu ci yelled, ¡°chen fei, protect jinjin, find a hiding spot quickly!¡± a group of masked men, tall and imposing, got out of a van and started shooting indiscriminately. they treated human lives as if they were insignificant. it was the busiest time at the night market, and many people had come out for late-night snacks. the streets were crowded, and within moments, over a dozen people were shot and fell to the ground, turning the street into a river of blood. screams and gunfire mingled together, creating a terrifying atmosphere. people who had been shot were lying on the ground, crying out in pain. they crawled on the ground, desperately seeking shelter. eight men, shooting as they walked, fired indiscriminately. everyone was scrambling to find a place to hide. gu ci held gu ziyu behind a pillar. in the chaos, chen fei and zhou jinjin took cover under a flowerbed. they were practically lying on the ground, and bullets struck the other side of the flowerbed, causing stones to fly, so chen fei covered zhou jinjin¡¯s mouth. gu ci shielded gu ziyu, embracing him tightly. bullets hit the pillar, and a piece of shrapnel flew past gu ci¡¯s arm, tearing her jacket down. she covered gu ziyu¡¯s ears. in her line of sight, she saw a man and a woman running on the street. the woman was shot and fell to the ground, but the man continued running, leaving a trail of blood behind, turning the place into a hellish scene. zhou jinjin was trembling all over and held onto chen fei. the men with masks started shooting in their direction. when one of them aimed his dark gun barrel at zhou jinjin, her face turned pale, and she screamed, ¡°ahhhh!¡± the masked man was about to shoot when chen fei grabbed the gun barrel, causing it to veer off course, and a shot went wide. chen fei¡¯s pistol was now pointed at the man¡¯s head, and he pulled the trigger, ending the threat with a headshot. this scene unfolded right in front of zhou jinjin, blood splattering on her face. she nearly fainted as the masked man fell to the ground, revealing the positions of zhou jinjin and chen fei. seven or eight men converged on zhou jinjin and chen fei, seeking revenge for their fallen comrades. gu ci took a deep breath, hiding gu ziyu. ¡°no matter what happens, don¡¯t come out!¡± ¡°mom¡­ don¡¯t go!¡± gu ziyu pleaded. gu ci glanced at him. if she didn¡¯t act, neither zhou jinjin nor chen fei would survive. ¡°don¡¯t be afraid, mom loves you, and i won¡¯t leave you.¡± gu ci rolled to the side and quickly grabbed the long rifle of the fallen man. she knelt down, raised the rifle, aimed, and fired at the men closing in. one of them was hit in the thigh, and gu ci continued firing, forcing them to seek cover. staring in astonishment, chen fei exclaimed, ¡°holy fuck!¡± zhou jinjin echoed, ¡°holy fuck!¡± damn! she looked good doing that! after the initial shock, chen fei quickly poked his head out, demonstrating the agility and skill of a special forces soldier. with gu ci providing covering fire, he managed to hit three of the attackers. gu ci held the rifle and moved to another flowerbed, which happened to be within gu ziyu¡¯s line of sight. the attackers were now taking cover and firing in their direction. the intense gunfire nearly penetrated the flowerbed, making it impossible for gu ci to lift her head. she covered her head, hiding under the flowerbed, yet she showed no fear. chen fei cautiously exposed himself, firing several more shots. the masked men grew furious and seemed to be discussing something. sirens and ambulance sounds grew louder. they dragged their injured comrades and quickly got into a van, leaving behind a gruesome scene with blood flowing like a river. gu ci sighed in relief, dropped the rifle, and saw that gu ziyu was safe. she hurried over to the woman who had been shot closest to them. the woman had been shot in the abdomen, and gu ci glanced at the wound, realizing it likely wasn¡¯t fatal. she took the woman¡¯s scarf and pressed it against her wound. ¡°keep pressure on the wound, don¡¯t panic, take deep breaths, an ambulance will be here soon.¡± the woman, her face pale, asked, ¡°am i going to die?¡± Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: It’s None of Your Business Who I Like chapter 205: it¡¯s none of your business who i like translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°you won¡¯t!¡± gu ci held her hand, pressing it against a scarf, and went to examine another injured person lying there, already dead on the spot. many men and women with professional first aid skills like her automatically joined the rescue team. chen fei took zhou jinjin to gu ziyu¡¯s side. he had first-aid skills, but he couldn¡¯t leave gu ziyu. gu ziyu glanced at the scene of devastation on the street after the terrorist attack. the casualties were everywhere, and blood flowed like a river. ¡°chen fei, go and help with the rescue. i can take care of myself.¡± chen fei glanced at him and said, ¡°alright!¡± he quickly ran to join the rescue efforts while gu ci moved among the injured. for those she could save, she desperately provided first aid. for those beyond help, she helped them make a final phone call to their families, offering them comfort in their final moments. but there were too many casualties, and in the darkness of night, a shadow fell over gu ci¡¯s face. it was too cruel! zhou jinjin, still in shock, held gu ziyu¡¯s hand and looked at chen fei and gu ci amidst the smoke. suddenly, she felt like they emitted a kind of light, powerful and safe. gu ci was covered in sweat, her hands and clothes stained with blood, but she continued to save everyone she could, regardless of nationality or skin color; every life mattered to her. it wasn¡¯t until ambulances and police cars arrived to take over the scene that gu ci saw the bloodstains, debris, and wreckage on the ground. her gaze was dark and pained, and the injured were in agony. they had survived the ordeal, but they had also lost their comrades. similar events had occurred frequently in europe, but in the news, the number of injured and dead was just a cold set of statistics, lacking the direct impact of what they had just experienced. ¡°chen fei, are you injured?¡± zhou jinjin pointed to the blood on chen fei¡¯s arm, anxious to check. chen fei had a minor scratch from shrapnel, but he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. ¡°i¡¯m fine.¡± he spoke with a heavy tone, not knowing what to say to mourn this scene. fortunately, they reacted quickly and left early. at the moment of the explosion, they all lay flat on the ground. apart from minor scrapes and bruises, they were all okay. ¡°let¡¯s leave this place first!¡± someone had taken charge of the scene, and gu ci led them away, back to the hotel. the hotel was very close to the scene of the incident, and there were a bunch of people taking refuge in the hotel. when they returned, the hotel staff inquired about their injuries and offered to contact a hospital, but both gu ci and chen fei declined, only wanting to go upstairs and rest. gu ci, covered in bloodstains and the smell of smoke, followed chen fei. ¡°i¡¯ll help him with his injuries.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci washed her hands, changed into clean clothes, and discarded her bloodied clothing in the trash. she took a quick hot shower to wash away the dust and bloodstains. this was a major incident, and it couldn¡¯t be ignored. it happened at a chinese restaurant near the racetrack, where people from all over the world had gathered to watch the racing event. this time, half of the casualties were chinese, and it quickly became a hot topic in china. the next few days were filled with races, and the terrorist attack had cast a heavy shadow over everyone¡¯s mood. outside, li jiang called to inquire about gu ziyu¡¯s condition. ¡°young master, thank goodness you weren¡¯t at the scene. miss gu ci is back at the hotel, right?¡± ¡°we were at the scene!¡± ¡°what?¡± li jiang was shocked. he was about to ask more questions when gu ziyu said, ¡°both my mom and i are fine. we¡¯re back at the hotel. i¡¯ll hang up.¡± gu ci came out, drying her hair. her mood had calmed down. ¡°whose call was that?¡± ¡°it was li jiang,¡± gu ziyu said, putting down his phone. ¡°can you help me with the first aid? it¡¯s just a minor scratch!¡± gu ci smiled gently, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a small abrasion on her arm. it had already stopped bleeding, but gu ziyu meticulously disinfected and bandaged it. gu ci affectionately touched her son¡¯s head. ¡°my dear, you¡¯re so well-behaved!¡± ¡°mom, were they targeting us?¡± gu ziyu suddenly asked. gu ci was taken aback and replied softly, ¡°ziyu, this was an unexpected event. no one could have predicted it.¡± gu ci recalled the scene in the midst of the smoke and gunfire. she seemed to have caught a glimpse of lu zhiyuan, obscured by a thin mist. before she could get a clear view, he disappeared again. in a private villa, lu zhiyuan and pei qiuying were discussing cooperation. pei qiuying¡¯s face was extremely pale tonight, but she dared not show any emotions in front of lu zhiyuan. pei qiuying poured him a glass of wine. ¡°third master, let¡¯s drink and talk.¡± lu zhiyuan had no interest in drinking, and he didn¡¯t touch the wine glass. suddenly, his heart tightened. he got up and left for the bathroom, closing the door behind him. pei qiuying didn¡¯t mind. pei qiuying sipped her wine, gently swirling the glass, savoring the aroma of the alcohol. ¡°third master, if gu ci were to die, would you be sad?¡± in the quiet living room, there was no response. after finishing her glass of wine and still not seeing lu zhiyuan return, pei qiuying glanced at the time. he had been gone for ten minutes. just as she was about to send someone to look for him, her phone rang. she answered the call, her expression slightly darkening. ¡°i understand.¡± as soon as she hung up the phone, lu zhiyuan returned, his face so dark it could almost drip water. pei qiuying greeted him with a smile. ¡°i¡¯ve instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite¡­¡± lu zhiyuan grabbed her throat, and with just a little force, he could have snapped her neck. ¡°pei qiuying, do you really think i wouldn¡¯t dare to kill you?¡± though pei qiuying was being choked, her life was in his hands. she chuckled and said, ¡°third master, i¡­ what have i done wrong? even if i die, 1 want to die understanding.¡± ¡°tonight¡¯s terrorist attack, every life lost is blood on your hands!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was icy, and his gaze was terrifyingly cold. ¡°because of your jealousy, your complete disregard for human life, countless people have died because of you. you are truly heartless!¡± ¡°third master, there must be some misunderstanding. i¡¯ve been discussing business with you all along.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. in the eyes of outsiders, she was a powerful and arrogant mafia boss, but in front of lu zhiyuan, she was like a helpless and pitiful woman. ¡°you don¡¯t need to take action.¡± lu zhiyuan pushed her away, and pei qiuying fell to the ground, hitting her head on the table and causing it to bleed. she touched her forehead and felt the blood. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°you¡¯ve raised a bunch of lawless thugs.¡± lu zhiyuan turned and walked away, and pei qiuying crawled over, clinging to his leg. ¡°third master, do you no longer want me for the sake of gu ci? i¡¯ve always been obedient. please don¡¯t leave me.¡± he lowered his head and looked at pei qiuying. she had always looked up to him with admiration, but there was a thin layer of frost in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes as he gazed down at her. ¡°gu ci and 1 grew up together, and she¡¯s the love of my life. i¡¯ve warned you before not to touch her. did you take my warning lightly?¡± pei qiuying, with tear-filled eyes, smiled and asked him, ¡°lu zhiyuan loves her dearly, but what about you, third master? do you like her?¡± ¡°who 1 like is none of your concern!¡± lu zhiyuan stated firmly. ¡°and it will never be you!¡± ¡°that¡¯s impossible!¡± Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Third Young Master and Third Master chapter 206: third young master and third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat tran slation pei qiuying shouted wildly, her long hair flowing like seaweed over her rounded shoulders. ¡°it was you who saved me when rhe rong family tried to kill me. you taught me strategyr provided me with an education. for all these years, you¡¯ve been by my side, helping me overcome obstacles. 1 want power, and you¡¯ve helped me eliminate barriers. what other reason could there be if not that you like me?¡± ¡°calm down, pei qiuying,¡± lu zhiyuan bent down, coldly gripping her chin. ¡°you are a dog 1 raised within the triad, and 1 point, you bite. a master cherishes a loyal and obedient dog. if you persist in your delusions, 1 won¡¯t hesitate to replace you! 1 can lift you up, but i can also bring you down!¡± pei qiuying felt as if lightning had struck her. she watched helplessly as lu zhiyuan walked away. her bodyguards rushed to her side. ¡°miss¡­¡± pei qiuying angrily pushed them away. she stood up, her gaze filled with malice as she watched lu zhiyuan walking away. ¡°a dog¡­ so, it was all my imagination.¡± ¡°hahaha¡­¡± pei qiuying laughed maniacally, tears streaming down her face. ¡°in a few years, when i live a life worse than pigs and dogs, no one will trample on me. whatever i want, i will get! if i can¡¯t get it, i¡¯ll destroy him! third master, you treat me like a dog. hahaha, do you know? even a dog will bite its owner when forced into a corner!¡± li jiang noticed the blood on lu zhiyuan s clothes and wondered silently. third master went to talk with pei qiuying, but why is he covered in so much blood? li jiang spoke softly, ¡°third master, i¡¯ve already called young master and miss gu ci. they were at the scene, but they¡¯ve safely returned to the hotel.¡± ¡°i know!¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes to rest. third young master lingered in his mind like a bitter melon. ¡°third master , you¡¯ve been nurturing pei qiuying all this time. she sees you as her savior, her white knight. yet, you treat her like a dog. you saved her from the rong family, then turned around and wiped out the rong family, making rong li loyal to you. you¡¯ve used this strategy for years, hasn¡¯t it backfired now? pei qiuying has rebelled against you. you can¡¯t lull her, but you can¡¯t let her go either. you¡¯re in quite a predicament, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°be quiet! ¡± it had been giving him a headache every day. he shouldn¡¯t have been so angry. as long as he drew a clear line with gu ci, pei qiuying would surely rein herself in. however, he didn¡¯t expect her to keep testing his limits. third master remained silent, saying nothing. third young master thought for a moment. ¡°she truly loves you. why don¡¯t you indulge her? then you can leave my gu ci alone.¡± ¡°your gu ci?¡± third master sneered. ¡°you¡¯re so confident she ll choose you?¡± third young master chuckled. ¡°remember, we made a bet. if she chooses you, i won¡¯t see her again, and you must love her well. but if she chooses me, i hope you can do the same!¡± third master coldly hmphed, saying nothing. in his current state of consciousness, third young master was clear about one thing: third master didn¡¯t love pei qiuying. and when it came to gu ci, third young master couldn¡¯t help but feel like it was a mission, constantly reminding himself that he loved her. third master didn¡¯t have the same intense emotions for gu ci. ¡°you¡¯ve lived for so many years; aren¡¯t you bored?¡± third young master assumed a tone of heart-to-heart conversation. ¡°what are you really? are you perhaps my reincarnation from a past life? i¡¯m half of your soul, so you¡¯re imitating me? you love gu ci but can¡¯t have her, so you keep your distance to avoid her misfortune?¡± tv dramas often go like this. third master remained silent, signaling his reluctance to engage. ¡°third master, say something. why do you give gu ci birthday presents every year? you even seem to compere with me intentionally. are you trying to mimic me? are you in love with gu ci from your past life, and that¡¯s why you secretly love her now? cat got your tongue? why can you teleport, and i can¡¯t? can you teach me, please? it s pretty cool.¡± third master rubbed his temples, clearly vexed. seeing this, li jiang reduced his breathing and asked, ¡°third master, are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°shut up!¡± third master replied ambiguously, and li jiang fell silent, even turning off the in-car music. third young master couldn¡¯t help but revel in this. ¡°poor li jiang, always arguing with me. but in front of you, he¡¯s so obedient. looks like i¡¯m too kind.¡± third master retorted, ¡°can you be quiet for a while?¡± third young master teased, ¡°i can¡¯t, unless¡­ you teach me teleportation too.¡± taking a deep breath, third master chose the path of silence. no matter how much third young master babbled, he pretended not to hear. meanwhile, lu zhiyuan returned to the event center, and the news reports were released. 58 dead, 307 injured in the terrorist attack, with the final count still pending. in the city center, the police found the attackers shot dead under a highway bridge. their appearances and vehicle details matched the surveillance footage. it was one of the fastest cases to be solved. all attackers had died; none survived. when pei qiuying received this news, she was shocked. ¡°all of them are dead?¡± ¡°yes, all of them!¡± ¡°how is that possible?¡± pei qiuying spoke sternly, ¡°they were well-trained, executed an orderly retreat, and had someone covering them. how could they all die in such a desolate place?¡± ¡°we don¡¯t know yet; it¡¯s under investigation. miss, do you think someone is trying to send us a message?¡± pei qiuying instantly thought of lu zhiyuan. did he go to such lengths to eliminate them for the sake of gu ci? ¡°miss, please don¡¯t oppose third master anymore,¡± her bodyguard said earnestly. ¡°you¡¯ve known about gu ci for a long time, and you¡¯ve lived peacefully alongside her. third master indulged you and helped you rise within the triad. but ever since you started causing trouble with gu ci, third master hasn¡¯t been as lenient as before. there¡¯s no benefit in opposing him.¡± pei qiuying slapped her bodyguard¡¯s face. ¡°so, you think i¡¯m just his dog and shouldn¡¯t harbor any delusions?¡± the bodyguard knelt on the ground. ¡°i didn¡¯t mean that.¡± pei qiuying smashed a glass, her voice icy. ¡°¡®i will make sure third master knows that i¡¯m the most suitable woman for him. as for gu ci¡­ enjoy your triumph for a couple more days.¡± her intention had only been to assert her dominance over gu ci. she didn¡¯t necessarily want to harm her. but tonight, at the auction, she had been insulted by lu zhiyuan, who called her a dog. pei qiuying laughed maniacally, tears streaming down her face. jiang junlin was also aware of the terrorist attack. he came to rhe hotel to see gu ci and ziyu. ziyu was on the phone with chen liangdong in their room. jiang junlin¡¯s expression was somewhat hostile. ¡°you should stay at my place. if you want to watch the competition, i¡¯ll arrange transportation for you and ziyu..¡± Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Suspicious Ghost chapter 207: suspicious ghost translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci stayed in a hotel to be closer to the competition and also to meet with lu zhiyuan, jiang junlin¡¯s residence, which was a forty-minute drive from the competition venue. ¡°brother, all the rooms are booked, so no need to run around. i¡¯m fine, and chen fei is here,¡± said gu ci softly. ¡°we¡¯re a bit unlucky to encounter a terrorist attack.¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brows, and gu ci knew what was going on. this wasn¡¯t an ordinary attack, as her brother¡¯s expression indicated. gu ci asked, ¡°i saw in the news that the attackers are all dead?¡± jiang junlin nodded. ¡°yes, the case has been solved. it¡¯s quite unusual.¡± at least he knew who was behind it, but he didn¡¯t know who had killed them. the method was clean and left no traces. pei qiuying had suffered a major setback. ¡°brother, you¡¯re here on a business trip, you must be busy. don¡¯t worry about them,¡± gu ci said, taking out a gift box. ¡°brother, since we might not be able to celebrate your birthday on christmas day, 1 wanted to give you a gift in advance.¡± ¡°what is it?¡± jiang junlin asked with a light smile as he accepted the gift. ¡°open it and see!¡± jiang junlin opened it to find a men¡¯s brooch with a soaring eagle design adorned with gemstones. the chain was fixed with a diamond, suitable for wearing on a suit at evening events. jiang junlin was a stickler for details, and he liked to accessorize his suits with small embellishments. he clearly liked it. ¡°this is a really thoughtful gift,¡± he said with a light laugh, accepting the gift and trying it on. it fit perfectly and was eye-catching without being too flashy. gu ci felt relieved to see that he liked it. whatever she gave to lu zhiyuan, he would appreciate, but her brother was more discerning in all aspects. ¡°brother, how are you going to celebrate your birthday?¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t pay much attention to his birthday. if he was at home, it would be a simple family dinner, and his business partners knew about his birthday and would send gifts. he didn¡¯t like hosting birthday parties; he found them bothersome. the most extravagant celebration he had was his 18th birthday. ¡°you two enjoy the competition. don¡¯t worry about my birthday.¡± ¡°well, after i finish watching the competition, if i have some free time, ziyu and i will come to find you.¡± ¡°good!¡± jiang junlin pondered for a moment. ¡°by the way, i heard you had a dispute with pei qiuying at the auction?¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°how did that news reach your ears?¡± ¡°pei qiuying wields a lot of influence in europe and america and has a passion for collecting art. she¡¯s a regular at auctions. the fact that someone challenged her bidding for a whole night spread throughout the circle.¡± ¡°did i cause trouble for you, brother?¡± gu ci asked. the yakuza and hualan bank had cooperated, and jiang junlin and pei qiuying were old acquaintances. ¡°not at all!¡± jiang junlin whispered, ¡°if there¡¯s something you want, go ahead and bid for it. don¡¯t be afraid of her. but¡­since you¡¯re unfamiliar with her, don¡¯t get into a rivalry with her on impulse. she¡¯s a ruthless mafia heiress, looks friendly but can be cruel. next time you want something, tell me, and i¡¯ll bid for you.¡± ¡°okay!¡± jiang junlin spent some time with them, then left with his bodyguards. as soon as he got in the car, zhang qiang handed him a tablet. ¡°master, this is the surveillance footage from the attack scene. 1 think you should take a look.¡± he took the tablet and calmly said, ¡°arrange a meeting with pei qiuying, at my place.¡± ¡°understood!¡± jiang junlin lowered his head and glanced at the tablet. his eyes narrowed suddenly, and he slowed down the playback speed. the camera was positioned just behind gu ci, capturing everything clearly. gu ci rolled to the side of the corpse, picked up a long gun, loaded it, aimed, and fired in one fluid motion. her marksmanship was incredibly precise, especially during suppressive fire. she remained calm and steady. ¡°is this the upgraded ak47 from this year?¡± ¡°yes,¡± zhang qiang replied. ¡°it¡¯s the upgraded version for this year, not widely circulated yet. these attackers all had one. while the upgraded version improves accuracy, it hasn¡¯t addressed its fatal flaw ¨C it tends to drift during continuous fire. miss gu ci handled it like she¡¯s done it a thousand times, even though it doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s ever encountered one. some of them made their way into the black market in august, and some individuals had channels to acquire them, but there¡¯s absolutely no record of them being in the country, let alone being used. miss gu ci¡­¡± zhang qiang hesitated, and jiang junlin understood his meaning. gu ci didn¡¯t have access to the latest version of the ak47. why did it look like she had practiced with it extensively? jiang junlin also thought about gu ci¡¯s surgical skills. ¡°is the surveillance footage taken care of?¡± ¡°it¡¯s been taken care of,¡± zhang qiang said. ¡°after the incident, 1 went to check the surveillance. this segment was quite peculiar, so i downloaded it. shortly after 1 downloaded it, someone erased nearby surveillance footage.¡± jiang junlin nodded and focused on the video. gu ci¡¯s shooting habits were exceptionally standard. jiang junlin remained silent for a while. ¡°zhang qiang, do you believe in¡­reincarnation?¡± ¡°master, that¡¯s not likely, is it?¡± ¡°indeed,¡± jiang junlin chuckled, then deleted the video. ¡°quite interesting.¡± zhang qiang¡¯s phone rang, and he answered it. after a brief conversation, he hung up and said, ¡°master, pei qiuying has arrived.¡± ¡°understood.¡± in the hotel room, gu ziyu was in a video conference with chen liangdong and chen fei. after chen fei reported on today¡¯s events, he logged off. gu ziyu discussed the mission with chen liangdong, and their progress was satisfactory. chen liangdong was concerned and wanted him to return earlier, but gu ziyu wanted to watch the competition with gu ci and return after christmas. chen liangdong had also taken leave, but after the terrorist attack, he couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. ¡°the situation overseas is turbulent, but from what i¡¯ve seen on the racing league¡¯s news, the track wasn¡¯t damaged, and the race is still scheduled to go on. they probably won¡¯t cancel it.¡± in the context of the current situation, if it were in china, it would undoubtedly be canceled, with moments of silence and flags lowered to half-mast. gu ziyu remarked, ¡°there¡¯s no official announcement yet. according to the racing league¡¯s updates, the track hasn¡¯t been damaged, and the race is still scheduled to take place. it¡¯s unlikely to be canceled.¡± ¡°it¡¯s so heartless!¡± on one side, there were casualties, and on the other, there was celebration. gu ziyu refrained from commenting on the matter. he then mentioned another issue, ¡°by the way, i¡¯ve arranged some funds for us. we were short on equipment funds, right? sister has given us five billion, so we can use it without having to rely on others.¡± chen liangdong couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°having money is really nice.¡± ¡°then it¡¯s settled?¡± ¡°i disagree!¡± ¡°why?¡± chen liangdong spoke with great seriousness, ¡°we need funding for equipment upgrades, and it must come from an official allocation. even if they delay it, i¡¯ll find a way to secure it. there¡¯s no way we can accept personal donations. if gu ci donates this time, people will wonder if we¡¯ve given her something in return. they¡¯ll speculate if there¡¯s some hidden transaction. who would believe that someone would donate five billion for no apparent reason? if this matter is exposed by someone with ill intentions, any achievements gu ci makes in the future will be tainted. if she ever crosses a line, it will also invite criticism. moreover, accepting a donation sets a precedent. in the future, if we need money for various purposes, people will say, ¡®you have a benefactor who donated billions, why do you need more?¡¯ gu ci can¡¯t donate multiple times. rumors and gossip can ruin a person..¡± Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Ruthless Jiang Junlin chapter 208: ruthless jiang junlin translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu had simple intentions to solve the pressing issue at hand, but little did he know that it would lead to so many complications. he wasn¡¯t someone who had grown up in a communal environment, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t anticipate all these intricacies. ¡°how is it so complicated?¡± ¡°baby, you¡¯re still young, and you haven¡¯t had much exposure to people. you¡¯ll understand in time,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°by the way, did gu ci agree to lend it?¡± ¡°my sister said if you agree, she¡¯ll lend it.¡± chen liangdong nodded. ¡°she¡¯s quite clever, knowing 1 would refuse and sending me to teach you.¡± gu ziyu was puzzled. ¡°why didn¡¯t she just say it directly?¡± chen liangdong chuckled. ¡°if i say it, you¡¯ll remember it better. after all, we¡¯re in the same system.¡± ¡°i see!¡± gu ziyu shrugged. ¡°well, there¡¯s no way around it then.¡± chen liangdong added, ¡°by the way, chen fei said gu ci¡¯s marksmanship is quite accurate?¡± gu ziyu told a white lie with sincerity, ¡°she enjoys shooting.¡± ¡°i see. that¡¯s good. she saved chen fei and many others.¡± what chen liangdong admired most was that after the attack, gu ci stayed at the scene to provide rescue efforts, saving many lives with her professional knowledge. gu ziyu felt proud. ¡°my sister is amazing.¡± in jiang junlin¡¯s villa, pei qiuying had been waiting. the butler had prepared tea and was serving pei qiuying. she had changed into a different outfit, radiating charm. there was no trace of her disheveled appearance in front of lu zhiyuan. jiang junlin entered the room, the warmth enveloping him, dispelling the chill from outside. he took off his coat and scarf, handing them to the butler before proceeding inside. pei qiuying frowned and said, ¡°junlin, you made me wait for nearly half an hour.¡± jiang junlin looked at her indifferently, a hint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°did you suffer some injustice and come here to vent your frustrations?¡± pei qiuying sneered, ¡°your dear sister had fought with me at the auction all night. junlin, you need to discipline her properly. otherwise, if 1 happen to harm a single hair on her head when 1 take action, 1 won¡¯t be able to explain it to you.¡± the butler brought tea over at the perfect temperature and placed it in front of jiang junlin. he took a sip, savoring the aroma. ¡°she¡¯s my sister, i¡¯ll handle her. at the auction, whoever has the money has the say. you deliberately raised the prices to provoke her. don¡¯t blame her for losing face.¡± ¡°junlin, don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re partners. hualan bank needs to expand into foreign markets, and we need the help of underworld connections. otherwise, you¡¯ll never be able to penetrate the european and american markets.¡± jiang junlin leaned back, unbuttoning two buttons on his shirt. in the dim light of the night, he exuded a lazy charm. he asked coldly, ¡°pei qiuying, don¡¯t forget who made you the head of the underworld so quickly. you were so pleased with yourself as soon as you took office. are you sure¡­ you dare to offend me?¡± pei qiuying didn¡¯t care about jiang junlin¡¯s indifference. after her family was wiped out, she went through a difficult period. jiang junlin had saved her life several times and protected her from the persecution of the rong family. however, jiang junlin had arrived a step too late, and pei qiuying had fallen head over heels for lu zhiyuan. she was willing to be lu zhiyuan¡¯s loyal follower. in this matter, she had kept it a secret from jiang junlin and also from lu zhiyuan. she was very clever in leveraging both sides to quickly take control of the underworld. in this process, while lu zhiyuan was undoubtedly shrewd, jiang junlin played an indispensable role as well. now, she had firmly secured her position as the leader of the underworld. the crafty rabbit dies, and the hounds are cooked; enemies are annihilated, and plotters are forgotten. those who achieve great deeds often go unrewarded; this was the art of rulership, a constant throughout history. pei qiuying was no longer afraid of jiang junlin! ¡°junlin, our two families have a long-standing relationship, and we were almost engaged. i have always respected you. once, i was a homeless orphan, and you were the proud one at the top. but don¡¯t forget, now 1 am the leader of the underworld.¡± jiang junlin smirked, a cold aura surrounding him. there was an indescribable depth in his gaze. ¡°so, you sent someone to stage a fake terrorist attack, trying to take my sister¡¯s life amidst the chaos?¡± pei qiuying panicked, ¡°how¡­ how did you know?¡± jiang junlin placed the teacup lid back on, the crisp sound of porcelain meeting porcelain filling the air. zhang qiang and a group of guards swiftly aimed their guns at pei qiuying¡¯s guards. she had brought four people with her to see jiang junlin and all of them were now under zhang qiang¡¯s control. the sole guard by the door was being held at gunpoint by zhang qiang and was politely escorted out. pei qiuying found herself isolated and in a tense standoff. ¡°jiang junlin, you dare!¡± she exclaimed in anger. ¡°i am the leader of the underworld!¡± jiang junlin sat comfortably on the sofa, wearing glasses and exuding an air of laziness. he held a cup of red tea, elegantly sipping it. he seemed to ignore pei qiuying¡¯s frustration, and this disregard only intensified his imposing presence. ¡°junlin, before coming to your house, everyone knew i¡¯m coming.¡± ¡°so what?¡± jiang junlin sneered, taking another sip of the red tea. ¡°killing you would be no different from killing a chicken.¡± pei qiuying insisted, ¡°i bet you won¡¯t!¡± jiang junlin put down the teacup, propped up his legs, appearing even more lazy and domineering. pei qiuying felt like she was meeting him for the first time. jiang junlin pushed up his glasses with two fingers. ¡°in this world, there¡¯s nothing 1 won¡¯t do, pei qiuying. i helped you rise to power because 1 needed a puppet. if the puppet misbehaves, it will be eliminated. i won¡¯t allow you to bite back.¡± ¡°are you¡­ are you insane?¡± pei qiuying exclaimed. ¡°hush.¡± jiang junlin placed his index finger against his lips. the lenses of his glasses glinted with a chilly light. ¡°don¡¯t make a fuss. dead people should stay quiet.¡± pei qiuying hadn¡¯t expected that jiang junlin, with whom she had close dealings, would dare to corner her like this. third master had warned her: jiang junlin would also want her dead for the sake of gu ci! pei qiuying burst into laughter. ¡°hahaha, jiang junlin, if i die, your whole family will accompany me to the grave.¡± ¡°trying to scare me?¡± jiang junlin lightly laughed. he extended his hand, and one of the guards handed him a tablet. jiang junlin opened a video and placed it in front of pei qiuying. ¡°watch it yourself!¡± pei qiuying clicked on the video and saw the assassins she had sent to jiang¡¯s house. ¡°you shouldn¡¯t have done this, threatening my family,¡± jiang junlin said coldly. ¡°i am not han xin, and you are not liu bang.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s heart trembled. she finally realized that jiang junlin was serious; he really would kill her. she regretted being too hasty in securing her position as the leader of the underworld. moreover, she shouldn¡¯t have come to jiang junlin¡¯s house with only four guards. jiang junlin casually said, ¡°zhang qiang, take them outside. don¡¯t dirty my carpet.¡± ¡°yes.¡± ¡°jiang junlin, you dare!¡± pei qiuying shouted in a stern voice. from upstairs, a familiar voice could be heard, ¡°mr. jiang, no matter how angry you are, you should still cherish the beautiful lady. why shout and fight? it might scare the beauty away.¡± jiang junlin raised his head, squinting his eyes at ji chi on the second floor.. his voice was indifferent, ¡°uncle guang, how did he get here?¡± Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chairman Jiang Is Jealous chapter 209: chairman jiang is jealous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation uncle guang broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly said, ¡°young master, young master ji chi is looking for you. he¡¯s been waiting for you in your bedroom. i thought he had informed you.¡± ¡°ji chi, save me!¡± pei qiuying shouted as ji chi leisurely descended the stairs. pei qiuying ran to him and tightly grasped ji chi¡¯s sleeve, like a touch-me-not seeking protection. the room had the heating on, and ji chi was dressed lightly for sleep, with three buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his chest. it made him look lazy yet sensual. jiang junlin glanced at pei qiuying holding onto ji chi¡¯s hand and coldly said, ¡°so, you two know each other.¡± ji chi turned to glance at pei qiuying and said lightly, ¡°let go. don¡¯t hold on like that; mr. jiang is jealous.¡± pei qiuying hesitated for a moment, then released her grip, seemingly not understanding ji chi¡¯s meaning. ji chi flicked away nonexistent dust from his sleeve and said casually, ¡°mr. jiang, i want to take this person with me. you can¡¯t kill her.¡± ¡°what if i insist on killing her?¡± jiang junlin asked. ji chi sighed, ¡°then there¡¯s nothing i can do. you¡¯ll have to step over my corpse.¡± jiang junlin looked at him coldly, ¡°zhang qiang, kill them all.¡± no one expected jiang junlin to be so ruthless. desire was desire, and he showed no mercy. zhang qiang was also taken aback and didn¡¯t know what to do for a moment. ji chi placed his hand on jiang junlin¡¯s side and leaned in, ¡°mr. jiang, i¡¯m just following orders. don¡¯t make it difficult for me.¡± jiang junlin looked at his alluring face with indifference, and in front of everyone, ji chi planted a kiss on jiang junlin¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°next time, 1¡¯11 serve mr. jiang better.¡± ¡°get lost!¡± jiang junlin lowered his voice. ji chi straightened up and looked at pei qiuying, saying lightly, ¡°go!¡± pei qiuying cautiously glanced at jiang junlin. he didn¡¯t look away, his hands crossed in front of him, his face stern and displeased. pei qiuying followed ji chi as they left. once they were gone, jiang junlin¡¯s tense emotions relaxed. ¡°uncle guang, when did he arrive?¡± ¡°he came in the evening,¡± uncle guang said, ¡°young master, i¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my negligence.¡± ¡°it¡¯s a minor matter, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± jiang junlin said calmly. outside, the sound of a car could be heard as ji chi and pei qiuying left. jiang junlin stood by the window on the second floor, a video call coming through with dr. north. dr. north¡¯s face appeared on the wall. ¡°jidao needs to change personnel,¡± jiang junlin said concisely. dr. north said, ¡°you¡¯ve always been the one making decisions in this matter.¡± jiang junlin leaned back in his chair and removed his glasses, revealing a pair of eyes that contained a smile but couldn¡¯t hide their sharpness. ¡°who do you suggest?¡± ¡°what do you think of gu ci?¡± dr. north asked. jiang junlin¡¯s eyes lost their smile. ¡°why, are you also trying to balance power with me, like pei qiuying?¡± ¡°i wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± dr. north replied with a hint of fear. after taking a deep breath, she continued, ¡°gu ci is my direct disciple, i won¡¯t harm her. besides, other than gu ci, who else can you trust?¡± ¡°do you know what i suspect?¡± ¡°i do,¡± dr. north said. ¡°you suspect the third master of black hawk, lu zhiyuan, and by placing gu ci in the jidao, you not only gain trust but also exert pressure on black hawk. add to that, ziyu is in the mss, and there¡¯s no better candidate than her.¡± ¡°qin yunsang!¡± jiang junlin coldly called out her name. ¡°i think qin wan is a better choice. she¡¯s also from your pei family. she¡¯s better than gu ci. what do you think?¡± dr. north turned pale, fear filled her eyes. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i spoke out of turn.¡± in the late hours at the villa, there was a profound silence, only broken by the sound of footsteps. the cold wind outside the window continued to blow. after a moment of silence, dr. north raised her head and said, ¡°master, what if gu ci is willing?¡± ¡°i allow you to get close to gu ci because gu ci needs you,¡± jiang junlin replied coldly and heartlessly. ¡°you¡¯ve been hiding from me in prison for several years. you don¡¯t naively think that everything can be forgiven, do you?¡± dr. north couldn¡¯t have imagined that the person she was trying to save was jiang junlin¡¯s grandmother. when she saw jiang junlin outside the operating room in the hospital, she knew that her life was near its end. so, she held onto gu ci as her lifeline. if jiang junlin loved gu ci just a little less, she would have been dead long ago. she had betrayed jiang junlin in the past, and he had survived. she knew her days were numbered. after many twists and turns, she had returned to serve under jiang junlin. ¡°master, i won¡¯t betray you again!¡± dr. north said. jiang junlin sneered, ¡°is that so?¡± ¡°you¡¯ve known for a long time that qin wan is my daughter, yet you¡¯ve never held a grudge against her. back then, it was my twisted thinking that led me astray. 1 escaped from a cage, and i don¡¯t want to be bound again,¡± dr. north said softly. ¡°you and chen geng are different. it was my misunderstanding.¡± ¡°qin yunsang, heal gu ci. let¡¯s forget the past,¡± jiang junlin stated. dr. north had been anxious for months, but finally, she felt relief. from the moment she left prison to today, she had finally heard a promise from jiang junlin. ¡°yes, i understand.¡± after a few seconds of silence, she persisted, ¡°i really think gu ci is the right choice. you should consider it again.¡± jiang junlin hung up the video call, and dr. north had broken into a cold sweat. fortunately, jiang junlin doted on gu ci, which was her saving grace. jiang junlin was a ruthless man, but he had one fatal weakness: he was fiercely protective of his family. however, if pei qiuying was truly colluding with black hawk, replacing her wouldn¡¯t be easy. the third master of black hawk was not one to be trifled with, and there would be a life-and-death struggle between them. after ending the call, jiang junlin asked zhang qiang for lu zhiyuan¡¯s schedule and the profiles of all the racers. zhang qiang didn¡¯t know why, but he suddenly became interested in racing. zhang qiang asked, ¡°master, do you want to watch the race?¡± ¡°forget it,¡± jiang junlin reconsidered. ¡°i¡¯ll ask gu ci later.¡± ¡°understood!¡± jiang junlin flipped through the racers¡¯ profiles, his gaze fixed on lu zhiyuan. he looked at zhang qiang and asked, ¡°zhang qiang, if i want lu zhiyuan to quietly die during the race without arousing gu ci¡¯s suspicion¡­¡± jiang junlin pointed to the profiles. ¡°among these racers, who can serve me?¡± zhang qiang hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head under jiang junlin¡¯s cold gaze. ¡°i¡¯ll take care of it immediately.¡± ¡°go!¡± early the next morning, the precise list of targets was ready. sixteen more names were added to the list of casualties. due to inadequate medical care, several critically injured patients had passed away. after this horrific attack, the fl annual race surprisingly wasn¡¯t postponed and proceeded as scheduled. the qualifiers and the main race were completed within a single day. after an all-night meeting, the racing organization decided to continue the race as planned. gu ci was quite surprised when she saw the news. with so many deaths, wouldn¡¯t they face backlash? indeed, the non-racing enthusiasts flooded the official website with criticism. the attack had occurred right next to the venue. first, the track hadn¡¯t been affected, second, postponing it would increase financial burdens, and many racing fans had come from all over the world to watch the race. third, the attackers were all dead.. Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Lu Zhiyuan, I Want to Take You Home chapter 210: lu zhiyuan, i want to take you home translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°it¡¯s really not canceled,¡± zhou jinjin said with mixed emotions. ¡°i¡¯m both happy and sad.¡± gu ci felt a heaviness in her heart, but her eyelid kept twitching. she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. with such a major incident happening before the race, how could it not be canceled? ¡°at a time like this, the race is indeed ill-timed,¡± gu ci whispered, but it was the racing league¡¯s decision, and ordinary people couldn¡¯t intervene. after the race went ahead as scheduled, there was a lot of criticism, making it the least anticipated race. as a result, many spectators protested and demanded refunds, but the racing league remained defiant and continued with the race. when jiang junlin called gu ci and wanted a ticket, gu ci asked li jiang. li jiang gave her several tickets. such events should have been hard to get into, but due to various factors, many people returned their tickets. gu ziyu said, ¡°since when did he become interested in racing?¡± gu ci shrugged. ¡°he¡¯s coming with us.¡± the qualifying race was scheduled for 1:00 pm, following the third practice session that ended at 11:00 am. gu ci, zhou jinjin, gu ziyu, and chen fei had gone to watch the practice session early in the morning. there were fewer spectators than usual, and the recent attack had cast a shadow of death over the event. gu ci glanced at the weather. although it was very cold, visibility was still good. the practice session didn¡¯t count for points; it was just a training race. lu zhiyuan was ranked fifth and didn¡¯t push too hard because there was an issue with the front wing. he intentionally slowed down. the car entered the pit for inspection, and lu zhiyuan stayed with the team to discuss changes. gu ci watched, her eyelid twitching. zhou jinjin said, ¡°relax, nothing will happen.¡± gu ziyu looked at the weather and suggested, ¡°let¡¯s finish this early and go home.¡± after the practice session, the qualifying race began at 1:00 pm, determining the starting order. after having lunch, jiang junlin came over to join them. they all gathered in the stands, waiting for the race. while the number of spectators was slightly lower, it didn¡¯t affect the atmosphere at the venue. everyone was highly focused on this top-level event. gu ci discreetly sent a text message to lu zhiyuan. gu ci: third brother, can i see you before the race? lu zhiyuan: why? gu ci: i just want to see you. lu zhiyuan: you¡¯ve seen me on the stands, haven¡¯t you? gu ci: it doesn¡¯t count! lu zhiyuan: li jiang will pick you up. come alone! gu ci: alright! using the excuse of going to the restroom, gu ci left. gu ziyu muttered, ¡°she¡¯ll probably take half an hour.¡± jiang junlin rubbed gu ziyu¡¯s head, seeing through his intentions but not exposing them. then he frowned and asked gu ziyu, ¡°why are you leaking air when you talk? did you lose a front tooth?¡± gu ziyu blushed and closed his mouth, refusing to speak any further. chen fei stifled a laugh, not daring to tease him. when gu ci saw lu zhiyuan, he was in the backstage lounge. there was still an hour until the race. he was wearing a black and red racing suit that was striking and eye-catching. among all the racers, his design stood out the most. gu ci had immediately recognized him in the crowd even though he was wearing a helmet, and she felt he was the most dazzling figure among them all. ¡°this racing suit is so beautiful; i¡¯ve never seen one like it,¡± gu ci praised. ¡°so, after not seeing each other for so long, the first thing you compliment is my clothes?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips curled up. blushing, gu ci said, ¡°i was afraid you¡¯d ignore me, complimenting your clothes seemed natural and not awkward.¡± after he went abroad, they hadn¡¯t met in person, and gu ci occasionally sent him some updates about her life. he was busy with training, and he deliberately kept his distance to avoid influencing her choices, so he rarely replied to her. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but smile at her sincerity. with clear eyes, gu ci looked at him and said, ¡°third brother, i want to hug you.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± lu zhiyuan hesitated, unsure of gu ci¡¯s intentions. but gu ci couldn¡¯t wait and hugged him tightly. his scent, his embrace, everything about him was what she had longed for. gu ci remembered the last time she was released from prison in her previous life. the sunlight was perfect, and when she walked out of the gate, the blazing sun fell into her eyes, giving her a feeling of being in a different world. she had spent five years in prison, cut off from the world. she had been abandoned by everyone, forgotten in some corner. no one would remember her, and no one would miss her. however, lu zhiyuan¡¯s car was parked by the roadside, cigarette butts scattered around. it was unclear how long he had been waiting there, but a layer of gloom surrounded him, and when he saw her, he was briefly taken aback. for some inexplicable reason, his gaze stung gu ci. she quickly turned around, covering her face, pretending not to recognize him, and hurried away. but lu zhiyuan called out to her from behind. ¡°gu ci, where are you going?¡± gu ci paused, never expecting that even in her current unattractive state, lu zhiyuan would still recognize her. ¡°you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else,¡± gu ci said, unable to hail a taxi, and briskly walked away. lu zhiyuan followed her slowly in his car. she attempted to flag down a taxi, and lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°do you have money for a taxi?¡± gu ci felt embarrassed and awkward. lu zhiyuan softened his tone, ¡°come on, i¡¯ll take you home.¡± many years had passed, but gu ci never forgot this scene and those words. gu ci raised her head, looking at lu zhiyuan, who was close at hand. his face looked younger than when she first saw him after being released from prison in her previous life, and his gaze was more confident, devoid of any gloom. ¡°lu zhiyuan, i love you,¡± gu ci hugged his waist and whispered in his embrace. ¡°have a great race, i¡¯ll be waiting for you to come home together.¡± touched, lu zhiyuan held her tightly and said hoarsely, ¡°okay!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t keep lu zhiyuan too long, so she stayed in the lounge for ten minutes before leaving. when gu ziyu saw her return, he was quite surprised. ¡°so fast?¡± the audience for the qualifying race was twice as large as for the practice session, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively. due to the attack affecting both the qualifying and main races, they were scheduled on the same day. many eager spectators who didn¡¯t want to miss out still flocked to the venue. after the qualifying race, there was a two-hour break, and the main race started at four o¡¯clock and lasted until six! in the spectator stands, gu ci spotted pei qiuying and her bodyguards. she wore a purple coat and sunglasses, treating the race like a fashion show. as expected, jiang junlin noticed ji chi, who was sitting in another stand. they didn¡¯t watch the race together. when ji chi saw jiang junlin looking over, he waved, but jiang junlin averted his gaze, ignoring him. zhou jinjin was extremely excited. being in the race venue made it easy to forget about unhappy things. it was as if the attack had never happened, and the emotions of all the spectators were infectious. it was a carnival. jiang junlin¡¯s bodyguard, zhang qiang, frowned as he watched this scene. it was truly an excellent assassination venue. if someone were to hide in the crowd and open fire, who could stop them? the environment was too noisy. zhang qiang instructed his bodyguard team to stay vigilant. with pei qiuying present, who knew if she might do something unpredictable.. Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: His Whole Body Was Soft chapter 211: his whole body was soft translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°the competition is about to begin, and i¡¯m feeling so nervous,¡± zhou jinjin said, her palms sweaty. ¡°whether he can defend the championship depends on this race.¡± lu zhiyuan knew he had to win, or hope for a mistake from the ferrari driver. the initiative was in his hands, which was much better than relying on others. as the race began, the introduction of the drivers made it clear that lu zhiyuan and the ferrari driver were the most popular in the entire field. the cheers of their fans echoed throughout the venue. gu ci¡¯s eyelids had been twitching. there¡¯s an old saying that a twitching left eyelid brings good fortune, and a twitching right eyelid brings disaster. but what does it mean when both eyes twitch constantly? ¡°lu zhiyuan, come on! lu zhiyuan, come on¡­¡± the entire stadium was chanting lu zhiyuan¡¯s name, and zhou jinjin was no exception. she was so excited that she wished she could be on the track herself to support lu zhiyuan. chen fei glanced at her and felt like he didn¡¯t quite recognize her. this was just too crazy! the qualifying race began, divided into three segments. lu zhiyuan started smoothly and secured a good position in the top five. gu ci was on edge, with zhou jinjin¡¯s shouts in her ears. her gaze was fixed on lu zhiyuan¡¯s car; his car was easy to spot with the phoenix pattern designed by ji chi, the most eye-catching color on the track. jiang junlin listened to the frenzied cheers of the audience and couldn¡¯t quite grasp what was so thrilling about this sport. when gu ci moved into third place by overtaking another car, she clenched her fist and exclaimed, ¡°yes!¡± jiang junlin was speechless. even his calm and composed sister was excited, although not as openly as zhou jinjin. jiang junlin asked zhang qiang, ¡°is this so entertaining?¡± aren¡¯t they just a bunch of cars racing together? zhang qiang actually enjoyed watching car races but didn¡¯t want to show it in front of jiang junlin. ¡°it¡¯s okay, i guess.¡± gu ziyu yawned and lazily blew a beautifully round bubble. in the vip box, some were wildly enthusiastic, some were drowsy, the security team was on high alert, and some were internally excited, while others were utterly confused. it was quite a spectacle! after q2, lu zhiyuan was in third place. next was q3, the final stage of the race. lu zhiyuan¡¯s goal was to secure either first or second place in the main race. in the main race, starting in the first or second position on the grid was the best. the ferrari driver had consistently been in first place, in excellent form, and had received a lot of attention online. this time, he was a top contender for the championship. there were even jokes about lu zhiyuan¡¯s love life affecting his stamina and skill. both top contenders were in excellent form, and in the final ten minutes of q3, lu zhiyuan grabbed the first position and maintained his lead, securing the champion¡¯s position for the main race. ¡°i knew it!¡± zhou jinjin exclaimed, gripping gu ci¡¯s hand. ¡°i knew it! he would definitely take first place. he¡¯s the absolute champion!¡± gu ci was also excited but not as overt as zhou jinjin. after lu zhiyuan secured the first position in qualifying without any mishaps, her previously anxious heart finally calmed down. the entire arena erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers, and the atmosphere became even more heated. after taking off his helmet, lu zhiyuan knew where gu ci was sitting in the stands. he waved in her direction, and gu ci responded with an excited wave of her own. on the other side, pei qiuying¡¯s gaze turned cold, and a sly smile curled on her lips. childhood friends, innocent and carefree¡­ what an enviable and jealousy-inducing relationship! ¡°lu zhiyuan!¡± gu ci, swept up in the excitement, joined zhou jinjin in shouting his name, her voice even more fervent than zhou jinjin¡¯s, almost screaming herself hoarse. jiang junlin watched in incredulity. even his usually composed sister had gone crazy! she seemed different from the usual gu ci. this version of gu ci was more like an eighteen-year-old girl, full of youthful exuberance and enthusiasm. jiang junlin watched the race with a thoughtful expression. maybe it wasn¡¯t so bad being alive after all. gu ziyu, chewing on his gum, suddenly found blowing bubbles less appealing. zhou jinjin pulled gu ziyu, ¡°ziyu, why don¡¯t you join in and shout? it¡¯s so exhilarating.¡± gu ziyu held back, worried that if a photographer caught him in the act, the whole world would see his missing front tooth. he wanted to avoid such embarrassment at all costs. the main race was scheduled for four in the afternoon, and the drivers had all gone to rest. the spectators waited eagerly for the race, with hardly anyone leaving the venue. more and more people were arriving. ji chi came to their viewing box, bringing some snacks. zhou jinjin had been shouting for nearly an hour and was running out of energy, so she devoured half of the snacks. ji chi sat next to jiang junlin and offered him a kiwi fruit. ¡°mr. jiang, want some?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want any.¡± zhou jinjin raised an eyebrow. ¡°ji chi, why did you bring just one kiwi fruit for us and oranges for everyone else?¡± ji chi looked at him. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t open his mouth as if it were glued shut. he reluctantly said, ¡°i want to eat kiwi fruit too.¡± ji chi handed the fruit to gu ziyu. ¡°you can share. mr. jiang doesn¡¯t want any.¡± jiang junlin wanted to close his eyes and rest. the live event was too noisy, and he considered leaving, but the crowd outside was massive. he regretted coming to the race. ¡°go back to your own viewing box.¡± ¡°i¡¯m the only one in my viewing box, it¡¯s quite boring. how about we watch it together? it¡¯s livelier with more people.¡± gu ziyu held back his laughter. ¡°go back!¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°go back!¡± both he and gu ziyu told him to leave at the same time. gu ziyu bit into the fruit and blinked, glancing at them curiously. ¡°another argument?¡± ji chi nonchalantly said, ¡°mr. jiang and i¡­ disagree on certain matters.¡± ¡°tell me more?¡± gu ziyu was very interested in ji chi. ¡°i can help you.¡± jiang junlin asked gu ziyu, ¡°your tooth fell out, and you didn¡¯t say a word all day. why are you suddenly so talkative now?¡± gu ziyu received a scolding and silently ate his fruit, giving ji chi a helpless look. with his front tooth missing, he looked like a little hamster nibbling on fruit. ji chi said, ¡°mr. jiang must be cursing you in his heart for being two-faced.¡± gu ziyu pondered silently. he didn¡¯t consider himself two-faced; ji chi was his person, and he had to protect his own. ¡°lu zhiyuan is definitely going to win; his form is impeccable,¡± zhou jinjin said excitedly. ¡°with such a great pole position, it¡¯s an absolute win.¡± ¡°you have more confidence in him than he does,¡± ji chi remarked. zhou jinjin explained with an air of nobility, ¡°let me enlighten you with some trivia. after lu zhiyuan secures the first position in qualifying, he has never missed the championship podium in the main race.¡± jiang junlin massaged his temples, ji chi peeled an orange and casually asked jiang junlin, ¡°mr. jiang, why the sudden interest in watching the race? you usually read financial reports and watch basketball; you rarely watch car races. it¡¯s intriguing that you came to the live event.¡± ¡°i can¡¯t watch a race?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°besides your head, mr. jiang, you¡¯re pretty soft all over,¡± ji chi replied with a hint of charm, licking the orange slice sensually. ¡°you think you know me that well?¡± jiang junlin asked. ji chi smiled seductively, holding a piece of orange and licking it sensually. ¡°in certain aspects, i know you quite well. mr. jiang, except for your head, you¡¯re pretty soft all over. you¡¯re just really hard-headed.¡± everyone sputtered. zhou jinjin nudged gu ci and said, ¡°isn¡¯t that comment a bit suggestive?¡± Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: He Wants to Bring Back the Trophy for Gu Ci chapter 212: he wants to bring back the trophy for gu ci translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci maintained a subtle yet not awkward smile. guj ziyu playfully poked jiang junlin¡¯s chest and abs, drawing a conclusion, ¡°i¡¯m a ph.d. and have done lots of reading, so don¡¯t try to deceive me; you¡¯re quite firm.¡± uncle¡¯s physique was the epitome of a man¡¯s body, and who wouldn¡¯t want a body like that when they grew up? gu ziyu gazed at ji chi¡¯s slender waist and remarked, ¡°you seem quite soft.¡± jiang junlin and ji chi were both dumbfounded. despite their contrasting sizes and different wavelengths, they conversed cheerfully, and no one felt uncomfortable. jiang junlin was genuinely impressed! zhou jinjin felt like she had understood everything and was curling her toes in embarrassment. at the door, zhang qiang maintained an awkward yet polite smile, observing chen fei. chen fei hadn¡¯t understood a word of their conversation, standing tall and stoic like a gatekeeper. as the main event drew closer, the sports arena grew livelier. a large number of fans gathered, and waves of excitement dispelled the winter chill. in the sky, fine snowflakes began to fall. ¡°first snow¡­¡± gu ziyu looked at the gently falling snow and felt concerned about the race track¡¯s conditions. the weather had been perfect for training and racing in the past few days. despite being winter, the sun had been shining brightly, and the wind was gentle, with minimal impact on the race cars. no one had expected the first snowfall, coupled with a gradual increase in wind speed. ¡°why is it snowing? the weather forecast said it would snow after christmas,¡± gu ziyu commented. ¡°racing is highly dependent on the environment.¡± gu ziyu continued, ¡°ferrari¡¯s drivers are highly adaptable, excelling in various environments, including snow and deserts. i¡¯m not sure how stable lu zhiyuan will be in these conditions. i¡¯ve researched the profiles of the most competitive drivers in this race, and ferrari¡¯s team has a better track record in extreme weather conditions compared to the dynasty team.¡± gu ci had thoroughly researched the profiles of the most competitive drivers in this particular race. she found that the entire ferrari team tended to perform better than the dynasty team in extreme weather conditions. historical data supported this claim. jiang junlin watched gu ziyu, who appeared concerned, and lowered his gaze. ¡°let¡¯s hope the snowfall slows down a bit!¡± perhaps hearing the collective prayers, the snowfall remained light and quickly melted on the ground. the racetrack was only slightly damp, with minimal impact, but the wind continued to strengthen. separated by the thin veil of snow, pei qiuying¡¯s gaze landed on their viewing stand, and a cold smile curled her lips. as time ticked away, the main race began. with two dynasty drivers and one ferrari driver competing for points, gu ziyu was nervously sweating in her palms. she had never felt this anxious, not even during her first surgery. ¡°please, let lu zhiyuan win the championship. if he wins, i¡¯ll be a vegetarian for a week,¡± zhou jinjin folded her hands in prayer. everyone was stunned. lu zhiyuan, starting from pl, and the ferrari driver taixi starting from p2, were both top contenders for the championship. with closely contested points on the leaderboard, a significant race like this required strategic teamwork. lu zhiyuan and taixi were experienced drivers who knew how to cooperate with their teammates. inside the car, lu zhiyuan knew where gu ci was in the vip stands. even though he couldn¡¯t see her from inside the car, he gave her a thumbs-up. for him, this was his battlefield, and he aimed to bring back the championship trophy for gu ci, making up for the regret he had in lavis. this touching moment was captured by the camera. gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, go for it! you can do it!¡± in the first lap, lu zhiyuan took the lead right from the start, with taixi closely trailing behind. this grand prix consisted of a total of 69 laps, and the initial laps were relatively easy, often referred to as ¡°safe gambling¡± since the drivers used this time to establish their positions. lu zhiyuan¡¯s goal was to maintain his first-place position. ¡°go, go, go¡­¡± ¡°are they playing it like this?¡± gu ci stood up as the dynasty team drivers, in coordination with lu zhiyuan, intentionally bumped the ferrari team drivers out of the racetrack, all without breaking any rules. they had mastered the rulebook. zhou jinjin was furious. ¡°they¡¯ve gone too far! that collision was intense. i hope everyone¡¯s okay.¡± accidents could happen in racing, and the thrill and risk of high-speed racing coexisted. those drivers who lagged behind often aimed to secure their positions and finish the race safely, even if winning the championship was out of reach. lu zhiyuan and taixi maintained a slight one-second advantage in the initial laps. by the twelfth lap, lu zhiyuan had extended his lead to two seconds thanks to his exceptional driving skills. the commentators remarked, ¡°lu zhiyuan is remarkably steady today.¡± ¡°his racing style doesn¡¯t have the aggressiveness you¡¯d expect from a twenty-year-old racer. he¡¯s composed and calm. however, if he remains this steady, there might be some risks today.¡± ¡°the dynasty team has excellent stability as well.¡± ¡°ferrari has three drivers, while lu zhiyuan is the sole representative for the dynasty team. facing a 1-011-3 situation, how will he manage? the overall championship is within reach.¡± in the stands, gu ci was on edge as the dynasty team¡¯s tactical cooperation failed, leaving lu zhiyuan to fend for himself in a 1-011-3 situation. the difficulty level was daunting, and she watched the racing cars maneuvering through the falling snow. ¡°you can do it.¡± zhou jinjin¡¯s focus shifted to the ferrari team¡¯s coordination. ¡°they are ruthless. it looks like lu zhiyuan is facing a 1-011-3 situation.¡± three ferrari drivers had entered the top ten positions. in the twenty-first lap, on a 2km straight track, one of the ferrari drivers overtook into third place. while lu zhiyuan continued leading, the two ferrari drivers closely followed him. in a corner, taixi and the third-place driver switched positions, with taixi moving to third while the other driver took second. ¡°they are really pushing it!¡± zhou jinjin fumed. ¡°they¡¯re willing to sacrifice a driver to bump lu zhiyuan.¡± having watched so many races, zhou jinjin had a knack for anticipating the action. in the twenty-eighth lap, a driver pulled a drift maneuver, causing lu zhiyuan to make a mistake in the corner and run off the track. it wasn¡¯t a rule violation, but it disrupted lu zhiyuan¡¯s rhythm without hindering him from continuing the race. the audience erupted with passionate cheers, shouts, and excitement, nearly overturning the open-air venue. gu ci exclaimed, ¡°oh my god!¡± after re-entering the track, lu zhiyuan, with his remarkable stability and extraordinary composure, managed to regain control of his car and return to the race. however, he had fallen behind and was now in fifth place. ¡°lu zhiyuan, lu zhiyuan¡­¡± the audience cheered, offering their encouragement. the commentators also couldn¡¯t hide their anxiety. with lu zhiyuan in fifth place and the three cars ahead all belonging to ferrari, the race had reached its 30th lap. trying to overtake and take on three drivers was nearly impossible, and the hopes of the domestic audience were dwindling. this was the charm of racing; no one could maintain the lead indefinitely. unpredictable events and thrilling moments made it an exhilarating sport. everyone on the track was an exceptional driver. lu zhiyuan was frustrated by the tactics of the ferrari drivers but quickly regained his composure. he prepared to make a comeback but realized that his drs had malfunctioned. without drs, he couldn¡¯t activate the overtaking assist, making it difficult to pass or defend against other drivers, and it even hindered his speed to some extent.. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: If I Don’t Wake Up, Don’t Hurt Her chapter 213: if i don¡¯t wake up, don¡¯t hurt her translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°he¡¯s in trouble? why isn¡¯t he overtaking? there was such a good opportunity just now,¡± zhang qiang asked. gu ci frowned, ¡°the drs isn¡¯t working.¡± zhou jinjin loved watching racing but didn¡¯t understand the technical details. gu ci explained, and zhou jinjin became irritable, ¡°it must be because ferrari just crashed it.¡± ¡°they¡¯re heading into the pit,¡± several drivers entered the pit, gradually changing to soft tires, maybe adjusting the drs as well. lu zhiyuan quickly moved up to fourth place. however, after three laps, his drs malfunctioned again, and he was sandwiched by three other drivers, making it impossible to overtake. he had to wait for the right moment. on camera, he muttered a curse, but his movements remained steady and calm. the battle for the fourth position was intense, but what hurt more was that the leader, taixi, was pulling ahead of the second-place driver by five seconds. the second and third-place drivers were responsible for blocking lu zhiyuan. ¡°this is unbelievable!¡± ¡°ferrari is willing to sacrifice anything for the championship!¡± ¡°after all, this is their most hopeful year for the championship, those guys!¡± zhou jinjin was cursing, and chen fei was in shock. although zhou jinjin had a bad temper, this was the first time she had used such strong language. she wanted to run over and punch those drivers. on lap 53, at a bend, the drs system, which had been malfunctioning like a masterstroke, suddenly started working again. lu zhiyuan, relying on his outstanding skills, broke free from the two drivers surrounding him and moved up to second place. ¡°wow¡­¡± ¡°it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s lu zhiyuan!¡± the cheers filled the arena, thrilling and thrilling. gu ci shouted with excitement, clapping along with zhou jinjin. this was the charm of racing, speed, and passion, always surging. on lap 60, when they exited the pit, lu zhiyuan was only three seconds behind taixi. the two were in a tight battle, and no one else could compete for the championship. the atmosphere was scorching, and in the cold of the first snow, the passionate voices of the spectators resonated in the sky. on lap 67, with only two laps left, the race was about to end. everyone¡¯s heartbeats were hanging by a thread. ¡°lu zhiyuan, go for it!¡± gu ci also shouted excitedly along with zhou jinjin. the contrast between their excitement and jiang junlin¡¯s indifference was stark. excitement, thrills, she felt a continuous surge of adrenaline. she watched from the stands as her beloved won the global championship. gu ci watched him, the race, and she had said it: after the race, she would go home with him. she had chosen him, and he was determined to dedicate the championship trophy to gu ci. he wanted to propose in front of the entire world audience! he had to win! with unwavering determination in his heart, it was as if he had superpowers. a strong gust of wind blew, and snowflakes fluttered down. taixi looked at the side of his car, clenched his teeth, and tried to slightly nudge lu zhiyuan¡¯s tires. however, lu zhiyuan left him in the dust, surpassing him. in the high-speed chase, taixi¡¯s car, already quite fragile, couldn¡¯t handle the maneuver. it drifted out of the track, crashed into the guardrail, and flipped over. ¡°wow¡­ this doesn¡¯t look like a violation by lu zhiyuan.¡± ¡°he bumped into him,¡± gu ci chuckled. lu zhiyuan pulled ahead, crossing the finish line, once again confirming his status as the reigning fl world champion for the fourth consecutive year. ¡°wow, lu zhiyuan, amazing!¡± ¡°incredible!¡± gu ci and zhou jinjin jumped up excitedly and cheered. their excitement, thrill, and jiang junlin¡¯s indifference formed a stark contrast! excitement, adrenaline pumping, all she could feel was the rush. she was in the stands, watching her beloved win the global championship. however, gu ci quickly noticed something was amiss. after crossing the finish line, lu zhiyuan¡¯s car didn¡¯t stop; it went out of control and headed straight for the spectators¡¯ stands. the stands erupted in screams as people scrambled to get out of the way. third master¡¯s voice echoed in lu zhiyuan¡¯s mind, ¡°don¡¯t turn the steering wheel; you still have a chance!¡± lu zhiyuan stared ahead at the fleeing spectators. how many lives would he need to trade for this chance? lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes turned slightly red as he glanced in gu ci¡¯s direction. the entire process was very short, lasting only three seconds, but within those three seconds, lu zhiyuan made a decision. he violently turned the steering wheel to avoid hitting the crowd. ¡°lu zhiyuan, if you lose consciousness, you may never wake up again, and you may never see her again,¡± third master¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. in a hoarse voice, lu zhiyuan said, ¡°if 1 don¡¯t wake up, don¡¯t hurt her.¡± the fl car was extremely light, and with a wide swing, it lifted off the ground, tumbling continuously on the track. two tires and the rear wing were almost completely shattered, scattered across the track. the racing car seemed to disintegrate, falling apart in pieces, and lu zhiyuan was thrown out of the car. the entire audience fell into a stunned silence for three seconds before erupting into horrified screams. lu zhiyuan lay on the icy track, his vision blurred, and wet blood dripped into his eyes. his consciousness grew heavy, and it was a great pity. he wouldn¡¯t be able to go home with cici. he lovingly touched the track beneath him but couldn¡¯t accept it. he fell unconsciousness. if¡­ he could just see gu ci one more time! ji chi had initially been lounging lazily, sitting casually and playfully holding jiang junlin¡¯s finger, teasing the young master jiang. however, the moment lu zhiyuan had his racing accident, he quickly got up and left the stands. gu ci felt her blood run cold, her world spinning, a sense of impending despair washing over her. she stared in shock as the medical team rushed towards lu zhiyuan. jiang junlin watched his hurried departure with an icy demeanor, almost confirming his suspicion ¨C lu zhiyuan was indeed the third master of black hawk, the third young master. he hid it really well! a cold, grim smile played at the corner of his lips. however, he noticed gu ci kneeling on one knee in the stands, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of blood, staining the signboard in front of her. jiang junlin¡¯s expression changed. ¡°cici!¡± ¡°mom!¡± gu ziyu cried out in terrified high-pitched tones. the mother and son quickly reached gu ci. jiang junlin supported gu ci¡¯s waist with one hand and held her close to his chest. she was drenched in cold sweat, weak, and trembling, but she had not lost consciousness. ¡°cici!¡± zhou jinjin was also taken aback. gu ci¡¯s vision blurred, and the scene of her last life¡¯s car accident overlapped with the one before her now. the shattered images, crashing into her weakened nerves, caused her emotions to fluctuate wildly. once again, blood surged, and fresh blood oozed from her mouth. ¡°i¡¯m fine¡­¡± gu ci propped herself up with one hand on the ground while jiang junlin supported her with the other. she swallowed the blood that had spilled from her lips. ¡°cici, don¡¯t get too upset.¡± jiang junlin pressed on her back, his voice deep. ¡°i¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± ¡°no, i want to go see him!¡± gu ci struggled to get up. she had been knocked down by tragedy once before, and she looked down at the young and tender face of gu ziyu. she wiped away the blood from the corner of her lips. ¡°i absolutely won¡¯t fall into despair again!¡± this was the most serious accident in lu zhiyuan¡¯s sporting career. even his helmet had been shattered, and he had a gaping wound on his forehead, blood flowing profusely. when the medical team assessed his injuries, he had already lost consciousness. his right hand was broken, and he had briefly stopped breathing. the medical team administered emergency treatment, and the ambulance was already on the scene, arriving exceptionally quickly to rush him to the hospital.. Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: He Is Black Hawk’s Third Master chapter 214: he is black hawk¡¯s third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci¡¯s emotions were tumultuous, her face pale as she leaned against the door of the operating room. li jiang still had lu zhiyuan¡¯s blood on his hands, yet he remained composed, handling things methodically. the security team cleared this floor entirely and stationed urgently. gu ci stared at the operating room¡¯s lights, her eyes red. lu zhiyuan, please don¡¯t die! please, don¡¯t die at any cost! it was a burden she couldn¡¯t bear. she had experienced it once, and it was etched into her soul. she prayed humbly to the heavens, begging for no harm to come. as long as lu zhiyuan stayed alive, she was willing to pay any price, even if it meant trading one life for another. jiang junlin and gu ziyu were both there with her. gu ziyu held her hand and said, ¡°mom¡­¡± jiang junlin had heard gu ziyu call gu ci ¡°mom¡± more than once. this child always mixed up his titles, often calling her ¡°mom¡± or ¡°sister¡± back when they were in china. he called jiang junlin ¡°uncle¡± and ¡°brother.¡± ¡°mom¡± and ¡°sister,¡± ¡°uncle¡± and ¡°brother¡±¡­ jiang junlin found the incident with lu zhiyuan more memorable than gu ziyu did. in moments of crisis, subconscious words were the most genuine. ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t be afraid. i¡¯m fine.¡± gu ci suppressed her heartache and held ziyu¡¯s hand. ¡°we¡¯re all together as a family.¡± ziyu nodded; he was also frightened by the accident involving lu zhiyuan. it was indeed a rare accident. ¡°li jiang, what happened? was there a problem with the brakes?¡± ziyu asked. ¡°during the race today, drs was malfunctioning on and off. did you not replace the rear wing and parts before the race? why was the stability so poor?¡± ¡°young master!¡± li jiang¡¯s face was grave. ¡°there was a bullet hole in the rear wing. this is not an ordinary accident. someone was hiding in the audience and fired two shots, causing the car to malfunction.¡± as lu zhiyuan crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted in cheers, drowning out the faint sound of the silenced pistol. jiang junlin suddenly looked up, squinting his eyes. ¡°are you sure?¡± ziyu asked. ¡°absolutely sure!¡± li jiang had rushed lu zhiyuan to the hospital immediately. ji chi remained at the scene and sent people to collect all the wreckage, which was now being used for ballistics simulations. the black hawk¡¯s surveillance system had been activated immediately, capturing videos and photos, identifying and profiling every audience member, and investigating suspicious individuals. after the ballistic simulation, they could narrow down the search area and reduce their workload. jiang junlin walked away from gu ci and ziyu, avoiding their gaze, and called zhang qiang. ¡°i told you to cancel the operation to assassinate lu zhiyuan. who disobeyed my orders?¡± ¡°master, none of our people entered the venue after you canceled the operation.¡± ¡°it wasn¡¯t us?¡± jiang junlin sighed in relief, then looked at gu ci and ziyu. when he saw gu ci on the stand, looking expectant with a smile in her eyes, he changed his mind. lu zhiyuan was the third young master, and harming him in any way would do more harm than good. jiang junlin didn¡¯t want gu ci and lu zhiyuan to be even remotely connected. but for gu ci¡¯s smile, he was willing to compromise. he felt deeply frustrated by the hardships gu ci had endured during her upbringing. if she wanted a man, he would make sure the man was clean, tie him up with a bow, and present him as a gift. except for lu zhiyuan! but if lu zhiyuan were to die, gu ci¡¯s happiness would be shattered. seeing lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident, gu ci had experienced extreme emotions and even coughed up blood. jiang junlin was relieved he had canceled the operation; otherwise, he would have felt guilty towards gu ci. ¡°the black hawk will investigate. since it wasn¡¯t us, let it go,¡± jiang junlin said, frowning. ¡°wait, privately investigate pei qiuying.¡± ¡°yes, master!¡± in paris, the winter days lost sunlight by five o¡¯clock, and it was completely dark by six. gu ci¡¯s mood was like an endless night, heavy and dark. jiang junlin said, ¡°you¡¯re in the hospital; go get a check-up.¡± ¡°brother, i¡¯m really fine,¡± gu ci said. ¡°the instability of my blood and energy after the sudden emotional highs and lows has already passed.¡± ji chi saw the surveillance report. black hawk was highly efficient; they had invested in a technology company five years ago that had made significant progress in surveillance technology. ji chi identified six suspicious individuals. ¡°monitor all of them.¡± ¡°understood!¡± under his command, chen rushi¡¯s people went to work. in city a, chen rush! looked at the information brought by his subordinates, coldly curling his lips. it was indeed lu zhiyuan, and his initial suspicion had been correct; lu zhiyuan was the third young master. this identity had been kept remarkably secret. what surprised chen rush! even more was that ji chi was also affiliated with the third young master. he had feigned allegiance, but after this car accident, lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity could no longer be concealed. chen rush! said, ¡°pei qiuying, you have truly impressed me.¡± in the hospital, gu ci stood numb, feeling nothing. tonight was christmas eve! whether it was the attack or lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident, it didn¡¯t affect the festive atmosphere of paris on christmas eve. it was a grand holiday for them, with lively celebrations all around the streets. outside the window, the snowfall intensified. gu ci felt cold; the cold wind blew through the window and chilled her to the bone. jiang junlin took off his coat, wrapped it around her, and held gu ci in his arms, gently patting her shoulder. ¡°don¡¯t be afraid; he¡¯ll be fine.¡± gu ci hugged jiang junlin and nodded. gu ziyu felt a bit jealous; it was all because he was such a little guy that he couldn¡¯t hug his mom. outside the hospital, christmas fireworks lit up the sky, accompanied by music, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. the hospital seemed even paler and colder. ji chi had arrived in the early morning, bringing some food for gu ci, jiang junlin, and gu ziyu. he also brought a replacement team of twenty people, giving the others a chance to rest. li jiang also had some free time to tidy up in the restroom. jiang junlin patted gu ci. ¡°i¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± ¡°alright!¡± after li jiang finished tidying up, he left the restroom, and jiang junlin, at the sink, washed his hands leisurely. he waited until he heard footsteps fading in the distance, then glanced at the trash can. he was about to reach for something, but then he recoiled, disgust evident on his face. he grabbed two stacks of tissue paper, wrapped them around his hand, and reluctantly picked up the paper li jiang had just discarded. the paper was covered in blood. jiang junlin rolled it up with a layer of clean tissue paper and stuffed it into his coat pocket. when jiang junlin returned, gu ziyu¡¯s eyes widened, his expression as if struck by lightning. he pointed at the operating room. ¡°he¡­he¡­he is black hawk¡¯s third young master?¡± due to the drafty soundproofing, his stammering and frustration diluted the grim atmosphere outside the operating room. ji chi was taken aback. ¡°you didn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°why would i know?¡± gu ziyu was angry. ¡°you guys are really something!¡± he had been calling him ¡°dad,¡± and he hadn¡¯t even told him. he was very angry! ¡°so, black hawk is also his?¡± gu ziyu asked angrily. ¡°the one i¡¯ve been clashing with online, it¡¯s him, right?¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu was so furious he almost flew into the sky. he kicked ji chi, but his strength was so feeble that it didn¡¯t even hurt.. ¡°why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Peace All Year Long, Chairman Jiang chapter 215: peace all year long, chairman jiang translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°he asked about ji chi!¡± jiang junlin leaned to the side, watching them break up with a smirk on his face, in a very good mood! ji chi decided to shift the blame, ¡°miss gu also knows.¡± gu ziyu turned to look at gu ci, but gu ci seemed completely indifferent to all of this, as if she had no reaction at all. gu ziyu took a deep breath. he couldn¡¯t scold his mother, so he could only scold ji chi, ¡°you¡¯re done, you¡¯ve offended me.¡± ji chi laughed, ¡°baby, don¡¯t be angry. you know everything now, and 1 was the one who told you, wasn¡¯t i?¡± gu ziyu glanced at his phone, furious. ¡°you told me because you couldn¡¯t keep it a secret. the whole world knows!¡± chen liangdong also sent a message informing him of this matter. gu ziyu was livid. ¡°the old man probably thinks i¡¯m a spy for lu zhiyuan, lurking by his side.¡± he was even more wronged than dou e! as gu ziyu¡¯s words fell, his phone rang. it was chen liangdong calling. gu ziyu was at a loss for words. my mortal enemy is my father, my own flesh and blood. damn it! i¡¯m cutting ties! now, there¡¯s a whole mess waiting for him to deal with. every time gu ziyu thought about the harsh words he had once said to black hawk, he felt a pang of regret. pointing at ji chi, he said, ¡°you just wait!¡± he walked to the side to answer the phone. ¡°mr. jiang, ziyu is really unreasonably angry!¡± jiang junlin said indifferently, ¡°you two have always been so affectionate, what¡¯s it got to do with us?¡± ji chi was speechless. this was really something that couldn¡¯t be kept a secret. the whole world knew about it, and even jiang junlin knew. ji chi wasn¡¯t the least bit guilty. jiang junlin looked at gu ci and realized that his little sister had known all along. but she hadn¡¯t told him! she really loved lu zhiyuan. in the distance, the church bells rang, and it was early morning. for them, christmas eve was a black christmas eve. as the early morning passed, christmas arrived. ji chi said, ¡°jiang junlin, happy birthday.¡± jiang junlin was taken aback. the light outside the operating room was dim, casting a shadow over his eyes. his hands were in his pockets as he quietly looked at ji chi. this year¡¯s birthday was very special, bloody and dangerous. ji chi whispered, ¡°may you be safe year after year.¡± this was ji chi¡¯s blessing every year, no matter where he was, christmas always found its way to him, and he would say, ¡°happy birthday, year after year, may you be safe.¡± but what about ji chi? he had never celebrated a single birthday in his life. he was an abandoned child, adopted by a drunkard, then ran away and grew up on the streets, stealing food alongside stray dogs. he didn¡¯t know where he came from, where he was going, or who his parents were. he had no concept of family and no concept of holidays. every day of his past was a hell for ji chi. year after year, may you be safe, was his greatest wish when he was young, and he gave it to jiang junlin every year. ¡°merry christmas, and may you be safe year after year.¡± ji chi was slightly stunned, the light in the corridor shining in his eyes. ji chi smiled. it was the first time jiang junlin had responded to his blessing. the two of them didn¡¯t say anything more. ji chi stepped back to the black hawk security team and looked at the operating room. third brother, it¡¯s christmas. may you be safe too! gu ci watched the operating room with a numb expression, as if she couldn¡¯t hear any sound. after gu ziyu and chen liangdong ended their phone call, the lights in the operating room went out. the doctor came out, and gu ci approached, asking the doctor in french, ¡°how is he?¡± ¡°the surgery was successful!¡± with her heart in her throat, gu ci finally relaxed and fell into jiang junlin¡¯s arms, losing consciousness again. she had been holding on so tightly. hearing that lu zhiyuan was okay, she finally let go and sank into darkness. after the accident, zhou jinjin wanted to accompany gu ci to the hospital, but she was sent back to the hotel by chen fei. chen fei had been protecting zhou jinjin under the guise of being ziyu¡¯s bodyguard all along. zhou jinjin was alone in the hotel and feeling a bit scared. she sent a text message to chen fei. zhou jinjin: chen fei, can you come up and keep me company? after sending the message, zhou jinjin felt like she might be implying something and quickly retracted it. she sat by the window, feeling bored, wanting to call and comfort gu ci but thinking that gu ci probably didn¡¯t want to be disturbed. she was anxious but couldn¡¯t do anything about it. lucidly, she opened a bottle of wine and had a glass of red wine. first, there was the attack, blood everywhere. it was the first time in her life she had a black gun pointed at her, and she almost lost her life. she had nightmares because of it. and today, lu zhiyuan had another accident. some nationalist internet users in china were even cursing lu zhiyuan, saying that after such a big attack, the dynasty racing team didn¡¯t withdraw from the race but continued to compete. this was retribution, and winning the championship angered the heavens and brought disaster upon them. the fans and the nationalists fought fiercely online. the race cars were completely wrecked, and people were thrown off the track. to them, this terrible accident was seen as retribution. zhou jinjin was furious and rolled up her sleeves, joining the battle against the nationalists for hundreds of rounds. the doorbell rang, and zhou jinjin was busy arguing and didn¡¯t have time to answer. but the doorbell was persistent and kept ringing. zhou jinjin put down her phone and opened the door in an irritated tone, ¡°who is it, making such a¡­¡± chen fei stood outside the door, holding a bright red apple. he heard zhou jinjin¡¯s curses and hesitated. he hid the apple behind him and said awkwardly, ¡°i¡­ i thought you might be scared, so i came up to check on you.¡± zhou jinjin gave him a stern look, ¡°why are you here?¡± chen fei scratched his head in embarrassment, ¡°i¡­ i thought you might be scared, so 1 came up to check on you.¡± after some hesitation, zhou jinjin said, ¡°come in then.¡± chen fei entered the room, and zhou jinjin had booked a room with a view. the room was spacious, and chen fei noticed some of zhou jinjin¡¯s personal items scattered around, including her clothes. his face turned even redder than the apple he was holding. zhou jinjin also noticed it and awkwardly pulled the blanket to cover the items on the bed. she lived alone and had bought a lot of things, so the room was messy. there were various handbags and boxes strewn around, and chen fei, sitting there with nothing to do, silently helped her tidy up. zhou jinjin said, ¡°you¡¯re not my assistant, why are you cleaning up? just sit down!¡± ¡°okay!¡± chen fei sat down obediently. he sat up straight like a sentry. zhou jinjin was at a loss for words, ¡°why did you bring an apple up here?¡± ¡°it¡¯s christmas, and isn¡¯t it a tradition to eat apples?¡± zhou jinjin thought it was quite ordinary; who specifically ate apples on christmas? but looking at chen fei¡¯s serious expression, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°do soldiers like you also celebrate christmas?¡± chen fei shook his head, ¡°not really.¡± ¡°then how do you know that you¡¯re supposed to eat apples on christmas eve?¡± ¡°i saw it on social media.¡± zhou jinjin thought to herself that he even checked social media. chen fei had seen zhou jinjin¡¯s text message and guessed that she might be scared, so he came to check on her. it was the first time he was alone in a closed space with a woman, and he was very nervous and awkward, even though they had argued and nearly fought before. the hotel room was warm, and zhou jinjin was wearing a knee-length dress that showed off her figure when she moved. chen fei didn¡¯t know where to look, and his ears and neck turned red. luckily, his dark skin hid the redness well.. Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Lu Zhiyuan, You’re a Sleeping Beauty chapter 216: lu zhiyuan, you¡¯re a sleeping beauty translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°will lu zhiyuan die?¡± zhou jinjin asked. the car had disintegrated like that, and even though chen fei couldn¡¯t be sure. before he could answer, zhou jinjin started crying, ¡°if he dies, i¡¯ll be heartbroken!¡± ¡°do you like lu zhiyuan?¡± zhou jinjin wiped her tears angrily, ¡°why else would i watch every race?¡± chen fei blurted out, ¡°but you¡¯re best friends with gu ci, and you like her man¡­ it¡¯s not ethical.¡± zhou jinjin¡¯s crying abruptly stopped. a tear still hung on her eyelashes as she looked at chen fei in astonishment, teeth clenched. ¡°are you an idiot?¡± chen fei was dumbfounded. what had he said wrong? lu zhiyuan had multiple fractures in both hands, as well as fractures in his sternum and ribs. broken bones had punctured his lung, causing a lung infection. he had severe intracranial bleeding, went into shock, and lost vital signs. fortunately, with the concerted efforts of the doctors, they managed to save him. on christmas eve, lu zhiyuan remained in a coma. gu ci had slept all day, waking up in the evening. lu zhiyuan still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness, but his vital signs were stable. gu ci, aware of her own impending flight back home, extended her leave due to lu zhiyuan¡¯s condition. she let her son, ziyu, and chen fei return to china first. ziyu shook his head, saying, ¡°mom, i don¡¯t want to go. i want to stay with you.¡± ¡°your schedule is more demanding than mine, and you have work to attend to. plus, with dad¡¯s identity exposed, you need to avoid suspicion. go back home early. chen liangdong is waiting for you,¡± gu ci said. ¡°once we¡¯re sure dad is okay, mom can return home. we¡¯ll have time to celebrate new year¡¯s together.¡± gu ziyu pursed his lips, somewhat reluctant. but gu ci¡¯s words made sense. he was genuinely concerned about gu ci and didn¡¯t want his mom to face any more stress. since lu zhiyuan¡¯s vital signs were stable, he should wake up. ¡°alright, then let¡¯s go.¡± zhou jinjin, chen fei, and gu ziyu had originally planned to return to china on the christmas eve night flight. zhou jinjin had come to the hospital specifically to see gu ci before they left. ¡°we¡¯ll be waiting for you at home. don¡¯t be too sad.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll be fine.¡± after seeing off gu ziyu and zhou jinjin, chen fei and gu ci settled in the hospital to be with lu zhiyuan. lu ze had purchased a plane ticket, intending to fly over, but gu ci stopped him. she reassured lu ze and informed him that lu zhiyuan¡¯s surgery had been successful. in a while, they would return home. if lu zhiyuan woke up without any major issues, they would send him on a flight back to china for further treatment. after lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity became public, jiang junlin was in europe dealing with various unexpected matters. initially, he and ziyu and gu ci were on the same flight, but he had changed his plans. this birthday was celebrated in a rather rushed manner, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t mind. he had originally planned to have dinner with ji chi, but after lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident, ji chi was overwhelmed with work. apart from a brief exchange on the day of the surgery ¨C a brief ¡°happy birthday¡± and ¡°may you have peace every year¡± ¨C ji chi was nowhere to be seen. if lu zhiyuan were to pass away, black hawk might splinter. jiang junlin was more than willing to support this outcome, and for various reasons, ji chi became even busier. he couldn¡¯t even find the time to celebrate christmas with jiang junlin. during the night, pei qiuying came to the hospital with a few people but was stopped by li jiang. pei qiuying¡¯s tone expressed her displeasure. ¡°li jiang, 1 want to see third master.¡± ¡°i¡¯m sorry, third master hasn¡¯t woken up from surgery. no one can see him,¡± li jiang replied. pointing toward gu ci, who was standing at the ward¡¯s entrance, pei qiuying questioned, ¡°then why is she here?¡± li jiang smiled faintly. ¡°miss pei, everyone around third master respects miss gu ci, and it¡¯s not only because she is third young master¡¯s childhood sweetheart. you really don¡¯t hold a candle to her.¡± ¡°you!¡± pei qiuying, not only was she denied access, but she was also humiliated by li jiang. her face changed dramatically. she had never liked li jiang or anyone around third master. li jiang, ji chi, rong li ¨C none of them were to her liking. rong li was still a remnant of the rong family, but for the sake of third master, she had endured it all. she hadn¡¯t expected li jiang to dare to belittle her like this. pei qiuying said coldly, ¡°don¡¯t forget, he still needs the yakuza.¡± li jiang stood his ground. ¡°between the yakuza and miss gu ci, he will choose miss gu ci. besides, the yakuza wants a new master. it¡¯s straightforward. please leave.¡± his words were quite impolite, and pei qiuying hadn¡¯t faced such indignation since taking on the role of the yakuza leader. ¡°gu ci, i have access to better medical resources. 1 can help him recover faster,¡± pei qiuying said in a soft voice. ¡°we all love him, and we won¡¯t harm him.¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°love and harm are just a thought away. as long as i¡¯m in the hospital, you won¡¯t come near him.¡± pei qiuying sneered, ¡°if he¡¯s awake and willing to see me, i can help him with anything, even control the yakuza for him. what can you do? 1 have better medical resources that can cure him, but for your selfish desires, you don¡¯t want me to see him.¡± ¡°i am the best medical resource!¡± gu ci asserted firmly. ¡°he doesn¡¯t need you. when lu zhiyuan is unconscious, apart from me, no one can touch him.¡± the hospital¡¯s doctors were all under the command of ji chi and li jiang, making it difficult for anyone to interfere. gu ci personally cared for lu zhiyuan, not allowing anyone to touch a single hair on his head. ¡°you¡¯re truly selfish, very much so. then let¡¯s wait for third master to wake up and see who he chooses!¡± pei qiuying turned and left. however, her face, as she turned away, held a faint smile, showing no signs of frustration. gu ci said, ¡°lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident is related to her.¡± li jiang forced a smile and said, ¡°miss gu ci, i know you don¡¯t like pei qiuying, and neither do i. but this matter probably wasn¡¯t her doing. she¡¯s not secure in her position in the yakuza yet and still needs third master¡¯s help. killing third master wouldn¡¯t benefit her in any way. moreover, she¡¯s infatuated with third master and wouldn¡¯t harm him.¡± gu ci tilted her head, her face pale in the lamplight. ¡°li jiang, you underestimate a woman¡¯s jealousy.¡± li jiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. gu ci continued, ¡°if she can¡¯t have him, she¡¯ll destroy him.¡± li jiang changed the subject. ¡°miss gu, third young master should wake up tomorrow. you should get some rest.¡± ¡°i want to wait for him.¡± she wanted to be the first person lu zhiyuan saw when he woke up. li jiang couldn¡¯t persuade gu ci. he realized that miss gu ci was truly stubborn. besides third young master, no one could sway her. ¡°anyone who comes to see lu zhiyuan will be turned away.¡± ¡°understood!¡± gu ci sat by lu zhiyuan¡¯s bedside. she couldn¡¯t sleep and dared not sleep, for if she did, nightmares would surely find her. lu zhiyuan¡¯s breathing was steady. his right hand was in a cast, and there was gauze on his forehead. his complexion was pale, and the indoor heating was too strong, causing him to be a bit dehydrated. his lips were dry, so gu ci took a glass of water, dipped a cotton swab in it, and gently moistened his lips. his lips were very attractive and kissable. gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°lu zhiyuan, right now, you look like a sleeping beauty..¡± Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Lu Zhiyuan Awakens chapter 217: lu zhiyuan awakens translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat tran elation after moistening his lips a little, gu ci lay beside him, counting his eyelashes. lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyelashes were long and thick, and gu ci counted them several times, making mistakes each time, so she had to start over. she continued to play with his eyelashes, occasionally lifting his eyelids to see his eyeballs as if by doing so, lu zhiyuan would wake up. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you are the world champion, you¡¯ve achieved your dream,¡± gu ci whispered. ¡°before the race, i told you that after your race, we would go home together. i won¡¯t break my promise, and you didn¡¯t either. although it was risky, you survived, and that¡¯s what matters.¡± ¡°you broke your bones, do you know? it was almost a compound fracture. you won¡¯t be able to touch racing again for a year. actually¡­ 1 don¡¯t like racing,¡± gu ci kissed his left hand. ¡°1 don¡¯t like it at all; it¡¯s too dangerous. although the accident rate in racing has decreased in recent years, the death rate is still high. i¡¯m very scared, but i won¡¯t stop you. you love it, and you can race on the track. but after you wake up, you¡¯ll have to spend a year rehabilitating your hand, a hundred days of bone and tendon injuries. you were seriously injured. i¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be very angry when you wake up.¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, you can¡¯t die!¡± gu ci¡¯s tears fell on the back of his hand. ¡°if you die, i won¡¯t be able to go on. i won¡¯t seek death, but i¡¯ll live like a walking corpse for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, both ziyu and i are waiting for you, waiting for you to wake up so 1 can tell you a secret.¡± gu ci kissed his hand and pressed her face against it. ¡°lu zhiyuan, in that moment when you crashed, did you think about dying? did you experience the feeling of impending death? were you scared? you have a big heart, you laugh, you get angry, you have a temper, you have abilities, and you have self-control. you seem to be afraid of nothing, so how could you be afraid of death? once, before i died, i wasn¡¯t afraid of death either because i was so happy. dying meant 1 could see you. everyone says that when a person dies, it s like a light going out, that there¡¯s nothing after death. but who has ever experienced it? everyone says that, but it¡¯s something living people say. how can living people know where the dead go and what they do? before 1 died, 1 wanted to see you, and i firmly believed i would see you. lu zhiyuan, out of fear for me, fear death. i¡¯ve thought about dying before, bur as soon as i thought about you still being alive, 1 felt that life was still worth living. but without you, i really don¡¯t want to live.¡± gu ci rambled on and on, talking a lot, her heart hurting badly, but she didn¡¯t care. the next morning, after a light snowfall, the sunshine was beautiful. the winter sun shone through the window onto the hospital bed, and lu zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes. t he bright sunlight made him uncomfortable for a moment. he instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes but found that he couldn¡¯t move his hand. after the anesthesia wore off, the pain from the surgery and fractures stimulated his nerves. lu zhiyuan closed his eyes and opened them again, still greeted by the bright light. he blinked and saw gu ci sleeping with her face against his hand. she seemed to be having a nightmare, crying and sobbing in her sleep. his hand was wet with her tears. gu ci cried our his name, and lu zhiyuan watched for a moment, then closed his eyes again. when he opened his eyes again, there was a trace of heartache in his eyes. he called out softly, ¡°cici¡­ wake up.¡± his lungs had undergone surgery, and the pain was excruciating. his throat was hoarse, and speaking was particularly difficult, his voice seemed to be trapped in his throat, pulling at his chest and lungs, causing intense pain. ¡°cici¡­¡± gu ci heard his hoarse voice and raised her head, still teary-eyed from her dream. she saw that he had awakened, and gu ci was overjoyed. she got up and threw herself into his arms. she was still rational, careful not to press on lu zhiyuan¡¯s wound, just hugging his neck, sobbing. lu zhiyuan¡¯s body was so stiff from the intense pain. after enduring the severe pain for a moment, he hesitated for a moment, then gently reached out and stroked her back. ¡°don¡¯t cry¡­ it hurts.¡± his voice was hoarse, broken, and unpleasant, but to gu ci¡¯s ears, it sounded like a divine melody. gu ci wiped away her tears and looked up at him, unable to help but complain, ¡°you scared me so much.¡± ¡°it¡¯s alright,¡± lu zhiyuan spoke with great effort and pain. he smiled at her, and gu ci, looking at his smile, gently touched his face. ¡°is it very painful?¡± he nodded slightly, and gu ci knew that he had undergone major surgery on his lungs. he tried to speak as little as possible. gu ci kissed his lips lightly and stopped. ¡®til go call the doctor.¡± gu ci turned to find the doctor, and lu zhiyuan raised his hand, touched his lips, and closed his eyes again. the doctors came in one after another to examine him and check his postoperative condition. gu ci leaned against the wall, tired, and closed her eyes. she had finally woken up, and after a quick check of his vital signs, she was relieved. lu zhiyuan was about to be taken for a detailed examination, which would likely take two hours. li jiang said, ¡°miss gu ci, you haven¡¯t had any food or water since yesterday, and you didn¡¯t sleep all night. go rest for a bit. third young master just woke up and is not in great shape. rest well, and then come back to see him.¡± gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan, and he said, ¡°come here! ¡± gu ci walked over, and lu zhiyuan hugged her with one hand, kissing her ear. the moist kiss sent a surge of electricity through her, giving her goosebumps. gu ci¡¯s heart raced. lu zhiyuan whispered, ¡°be good, go back and get some sleep.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci was indeed exhausted. ¡°i¡¯ll come to see you in the afternoon. lu zhiyuan, it¡¯s so good to see you awake.¡± lu zhiyuan continued to smile. gu ci couldn¡¯t resist and leaned in to kiss him again, even licking his lips slightly. lu zhiyuan, perhaps due to his post-injury condition, responded a bit slowly but eventually kissed her back. gu ci seemed like an affectionate kisser, and after letting go of lu zhiyuan, she couldn¡¯t resist kissing him again. li jiang thought to himself, ¡°ah, young couples in love, playing the ¡®dog abuse¡¯ game. third master has it worse than anyone else. but thinking about it, it seems to balance things out.¡± the hospital was not far from the hotel. li jiang arranged for someone to take her back to the hotel. it took only fifteen minutes to reach the hotel. gu ci ordered a meal, took a comfortable bath, and, after the steak was delivered, she finished it in three or four bites. after eating, she still felt empty inside and wanted something hot to eat. gu ci opened a pack of instant noodles, cooked them, and devoured them. finally, her stomach was satisfied. gu ziyu was still on the plane, so gu ci left a message for him and called lu ze to report that everything was fine. then she finally fell into a deep sleep. lu zhiyuan had awakened, and she needed a good rest. in the hospital, doctors conducted a detailed examination of lu zhiyuan. he tried not to speak if he could avoid it because it was too difficult to talk after the severe lung injury. the doctors also warned him to avoid speaking too much, as he had developed a mild case of pneumonia, and further aggravating his condition was not advisable. after the examination, lu zhiyuan fell back asleep. li jiang didn¡¯t even have a chance to talk to him. he couldn¡¯t eat anything and had to receive intravenous fluids. when ji chi came to the hospital, li jiang briefed him on the situation.. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Love and Hate chapter 218: love and hate translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°the situation is a bit tricky. chen rushi is here, arriving on the midnight flight, and bronn is here too. all five black hawk executives are here. they¡¯re definitely going to confront the third master.¡± ¡°speaking is difficult for the third master now,¡± li jiang, although he anticipated a challenging situation, didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so quickly. the black hawk has three major factions: the third master, chen rushi, and bronn, along with nine other executives. they make up the leadership of the black hawk, deeply rooted and each with their own power base. this is why it has been impossible for lu zhiyuan to completely suppress the black hawk for three years. the web of hidden influences behind them is more intricate than the underworld. this is a historical legacy of the black hawk¡¯s power structure. ¡°that¡¯s not the most important part!¡± ji chi looked worried. ¡°the crucial thing is that they know the third master has a dual personality. they won¡¯t choose the night; they¡¯ll definitely come during the day to challenge him.¡± ¡°how did they find out?¡± li jiang was baffled. this is truly a difficult situation. ¡°pei qiuying told them.¡± ¡°she¡¯s gone mad!¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°the third master supported her from nothing, and now that he¡¯s in trouble, what benefit does she get from this? is she in league with chen rushi?¡± ji chi nodded heavily. ¡°pei qiuying is consumed by love and hate. if i¡¯m not mistaken, she wants to break free from the third master¡¯s control and take complete control of the underworld, free from his influence.¡± li jiang anxiously looked at the hospital room. lu zhiyuan was still lying there, pale as ever. if they come during the day, how would the third master handle it? it¡¯s a situation the third master can¡¯t handle. ¡°what should we do?¡± li jiang broke into a cold sweat. ¡°should we transfer him to another hospital?¡± ¡°can he even move?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°it¡¯s very difficult!¡± li jiang was frustrated. ¡°pei qiuying is truly ungrateful. the third master saved her life, and now she¡¯s deluded herself and blames the third master for not loving her. truly, small-mindedness and women are hard to deal with.¡± human hearts are unpredictable, and ji chi had no desire to delve into pei qiuying¡¯s motives for turning against the third master. the situation had already unfolded, and they needed to find a solution. complaining wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°if the third master wakes up, notify me immediately,¡± ji chi had other matters to attend to. ¡°he must wake up at least once tonight. if he doesn¡¯t, wake him forcibly. we need to discuss a strategy.¡± ¡°understood.¡± in jiang junlin¡¯s villa, he sipped tea and smiled at ji chi. a real fire burned in the fireplace, keeping the room warm and cozy. jiang junlin wore only a thin gray sweater on his upper body, appearing casual and relaxed. roasting by the fire, sipping tea, he exuded an air of leisure. ¡°why should i help you?¡± he asked ji chi. ji chi looked at the hot tea in front of him. christmas had come and gone, and the bright sunlight had given way to paris¡¯s snowy days. the snow would last for several days, leaving a thin layer on the ground. ¡°pei qiuying, chen rushi, and bronn are teaming up. if the third master gets into trouble, black hawk will lose control. chen rushi may have the ability to take charge, but bronn isn¡¯t his match. if black hawk joins forces with the underworld, they¡¯ll dominate the entire asian market. mr. jiang, as the guardian of the financial market, this isn¡¯t a scene you¡¯d want to see. unless you¡¯re deceiving me,¡± ji chi glanced at the sparks rising in the fireplace, ¡°if you want me to leave the asian market, i can do that. after we get through this crisis, i¡¯ll stay out of city a as you wish.¡± jiang junlin played with his tea cup, the tea inside steaming and fragrant, brewed from mountain spring water. he took a sip, his words enigmatic. ¡°you are loyal to lu zhiyuan.¡± ¡°i am the dog lu zhiyuan raised, loyal to my master. it¡¯s inevitable,¡± ji chi smiled too. jiang junlin¡¯s smile was faintly cold. he put down the tea cup. loyalty, or perhaps treachery? it wasn¡¯t easy to tell. ¡°since you want my help, be more straightforward. why is pei qiuying cooperating with lu zhiyuan? the underworld business, for the past six months, a third of the resources have been diverted to black hawk without anyone noticing. if i hadn¡¯t grown suspicious, in another year, the underworld would have become a subsidiary of black hawk. black hawk would have ruled the asian market unopposed.¡± ji chi spoke, ¡°after the pei family incident, the third master wasn¡¯t yet in control of the black hawk. he was chosen as the successor by the previous owner. he secretly divided the underworld and saw potential in pei qiuying¡¯s abilities. he nurtured her in secret. from beginning to end, pei qiuying was loyal to the third master. however, no one could have predicted that she would fall deeply in love with him, leading to her betrayal.¡± ¡°that¡¯s quite a story!¡± jiang junlin nearly crushed his teacup. all the pieces of the puzzle had finally come together, and he now knew who was behind the scenes when he was betrayed by nox, nearly leading to his demise during the underworld¡¯s split. ji chi felt jiang junlin¡¯s anger almost instantly and realized he had said something wrong. but he didn¡¯t know what it was. ji chi replied, ¡°mr. jiang, haven¡¯t i been straightforward enough?¡± ¡°did pei qiuying never tell you that she was able to take over the underworld because of me? i¡¯ve been helping her set things up since she was exiled to m country for her studies.¡± ji chi was taken aback. he narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°why?¡± ¡°since we¡¯re being open, there¡¯s no harm in telling you,¡± jiang junlin said casually. ¡°1 needed a pawn to challenge black hawk. pei qiuying was the best choice. but i never expected¡­ that she would fall in love with lu zhiyuan.¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°but your pawn has gone out of control.¡± jiang junlin burst into laughter, a rare hint of ambition in his eyes. ¡°ji chi, you sought help from the wrong person. even if lu zhiyuan lost half his life, he would still have a way out. him, pei qiuying, and chen rushi¡­ none of them are easy opponents. 1 prefer to see chen rushi as a worthy adversary.¡± ¡°what do you want?¡± ji chi took a deep breath. ¡°as long as i can do it!¡± jiang junlin remained unmoved. it was simply a matter of insufficient chips. ji chi knew jiang junlin had a heart of stone and wouldn¡¯t easily lend a hand. if he wanted jiang junlin¡¯s assistance, he would have to make significant concessions. ¡°no matter how many chips you have, 1 won¡¯t help you,¡± jiang junlin made his stance clear. ¡°when did you start following lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°after you left me in that forsaken place, the third master brought me out and gave me two choices: freedom or serving him.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly turned to look out of the window. snowflakes fell into his eyes. ¡°is that why you¡¯ve hated me all these years? you think i left you there?¡± ¡°isn¡¯t that true?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes turned slightly red as he recalled the past, feeling vulnerable and embarrassed. ¡°jiang junlin, 1 waited for you there for seven days. but where did you go?¡± ¡°this is absurd!¡± jiang junlin took a deep breath but couldn¡¯t contain his anger. he threw the teacup to the ground, shattering it into pieces. his voice turned icy, ¡°ji chi, get out!!¡± ji chi stood up, picked up his coat, and draped it over his slender frame. his young body seemed unable to bear the weight of the heavy coat.. ¡°so, you won¡¯t help me?¡± Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: He Likes Kissing Her Ear chapter 219: he likes kissing her ear translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin looked at him coldly, silence was his response. ji chi sneered, ¡°jiang junlin, in the seven days i waited for you, it was the darkest seven days of my life. you will never know what i¡¯ve been through!¡± his eyes were slightly red, and he walked away in big strides. thick layers of snow had accumulated outside, making this ancient city especially beautiful on snowy days, with a unique and ethereal quality. there was a dense pain in ji chi¡¯s heart. he couldn¡¯t let go of a certain memory and the accompanying suffering, buried deep inside him like an old scar. after their reunion, he and jiang junlin had an unspoken understanding and never brought it up. but the old wounds, accumulated over the years, always throbbed in secret. ji chi laughed. no matter how deep the cracks, he had become accustomed to smiling past them. no one could see the scars of the past on him anymore. nearby, wei niki looked at his smiling face and said, ¡°master, are you playing the pitiful card again? mr. jiang won¡¯t fall for it. the beauty trap works much better than playing pitiful.¡± ¡°mr. jiang is indeed hard to figure out,¡± ji chi crossed his legs and half-jokingly said, ¡°it¡¯s always the beauty trap, and i¡¯m the one who falls for it first.¡± ¡°that¡¯s for sure!¡± niki blurted out. ji chi chuckled and said, ¡°after all, i¡¯m young and full of vitality. can you blame me?¡± niki thought to himself, you can say that with a straight face, but it doesn¡¯t hide your lust for mr. jiang. ¡°master, in that case, why don¡¯t you mention miss gu ci? she¡¯s a rival to pei qiuying, and if pei qiuying gains the upper hand, mr. jiang might waver.¡± ji chi shook his head lightly, ¡°mr. jiang is very protective of his family. when negotiating or collaborating with him, it¡¯s best not to mention his family. it might make him suspicious and breed mistrust. as for the matter between pei qiuying and miss gu ci, he¡¯s well aware of it, and i don¡¯t need to bring it up.¡± gu ci had slept for a while and woke up at nine o¡¯clock at night. she had overslept and quickly had a light meal before heading to the hospital. gu ziyu had called her once, and his plane had landed. after a brief phone call with gu ziyu, gu ci arrived at the hospital. after completing the examination, lu zhiyuan had been sleeping soundly, showing no signs of waking up. li jiang wanted to forcibly wake him up but was stopped by the other doctors. lu zhiyuan needed sufficient rest, and li jiang understood the consequences if they didn¡¯t follow the protocol, so he reluctantly gave up. gu ci had slept all day and was in good spirits. she carefully examined lu zhiyuan¡¯s medical report and estimated that he would be able to fly back to the country in about a week. it seemed that they might not be able to spend new year¡¯s day together. ¡°miss gu ci, the doctor advised against waking third master up forcibly,¡± li jiang said. ¡°but 1 have an urgent matter to discuss with him. can he be awakened for an hour?¡± gu ci looked at the data and shook her head. ¡°let him sleep. what¡¯s the matter? can¡¯t ji chi handle it?¡± ¡°besides third master, no one else can handle this matter,¡± li jiang said. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci asked. after careful consideration, li jiang explained the situation to gu ci. ¡°black hawk has developed for many years, and its power structure is complex. each successor has been selected from a few major families, creating a delicate balance. however, this development model has its drawbacks. the power of the major families has become increasingly dominant, while the ruling figures have been marginalized. chen rush! and broun, for example, represent their respective families. third master has been working to divide and weaken them, causing internal strife. if pei qiuying exposes third master¡¯s dual personality, and chen rushi and bronn join forces, third master will be in a difficult position.¡± ¡°i understand,¡± gu ci had always known that black hawk¡¯s internal power structure was complex. in their previous lives, ji chi and ziyu had spent twelve years dismantling black hawk. ¡°if 1 were pei qiuying, i would have them harassed during the day, right?¡± ¡°exactly!¡± ¡°let lu zhiyuan impersonate third master,¡± gu ci suggested casually. li jiang was stunned. ¡°miss gu ci, black hawk has encountered several emergencies before, and we¡¯ve asked third young master to stand in for third master, but he has never agreed.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll convince him,¡± gu ci said calmly. ¡°miss gu ci, if you try to persuade him, it might make things worse,¡± li jiang warned. gu ci asked calmly, ¡°since they are coming during the day, it¡¯s definitely going to be third young master. even if you have a strategy in place, you¡¯ll need him to execute it. rest assured, i can persuade him.¡± li jiang could only reluctantly go along with her suggestion. the next day, when lu zhiyuan woke up, gu ci was also awake. she had slept on the small bed through the night and was in high spirits. when he saw her, he smiled, and she returned the smile. she leaned over his bed and asked, ¡°did you sleep well?¡± he struggled to speak but nodded. gu ci handed him a warm towel and helped him wipe his face and hands. she adjusted the bed¡¯s height for him to rinse his mouth. the sunlight was too bright, and he seemed uncomfortable. gu ci noticed and pulled the curtains slightly. ¡°is that better?¡± lu zhiyuan smiled and nodded. unable to resist her feelings, gu ci kissed him again. lu zhiyuan¡¯s ears turned almost as red as blood, which amused gu ci greatly. ¡°you have such thick skin, yet you blush when we kiss?¡± lu zhiyuan kept silent. seemingly glaring at her, he lowered his head and avoided looking into her eyes. gu ci, feeling sorry for him, embraced his neck and coaxed, ¡°alright, i won¡¯t tease you anymore. you¡¯re like a pure-hearted young boy.¡± lu zhiyuan turned his head and kissed her ear. gu ci noticed something¡ªafter waking up, lu zhiyuan liked kissing her ear, a habit that was quite similar to third young master. she always held him while he couldn¡¯t move, so he could only kiss her ear. ¡°are you hungry?¡± lu zhiyuan nodded. if he could avoid speaking, he did, and gu ci understood. she brought over a bowl of warm liquid food and fed him spoon by spoon. lu zhiyuan found it somewhat difficult to swallow and furrowed his brow. ¡°is it hurting a lot?¡± he nodded, and gu ci felt sorry for him. she suggested, ¡°how about continuing the iv?¡± lu zhiyuan reached out, grabbed her hand, and shook his head. he seemed reluctant to have an iv. gu ci looked at the bowl of liquid food and then at lu zhiyuan. she had no choice but to continue feeding him. a bowl of liquid food took half an hour to finish. she was patient, and every time their eyes met, lu zhiyuan would smile. gu ci didn¡¯t know what he found so amusing, but she couldn¡¯t help but laugh along with him. it was a bit silly, but it made them both very happy. ¡°are you in a good mood?¡± gu ci asked. even in such pain, he managed to smile. ¡°1 thought you would be very angry when you woke up.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her in confusion as if asking why he should be angry. gu ci nodded at his injured left hand. ¡°three fractures. after it heals, you¡¯ll have to undergo rehabilitation. you won¡¯t be able to compete for a year, and your hope for a fifth consecutive championship is gone. aren¡¯t you angry?¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at his left hand, and it seemed like the realization of not being able to compete for a year had just dawned on him.. he asked incredulously, ¡°a year?¡± Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Third Young Master Pretending to Be Third Master chapter 220: third young master pretending to be third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°indeed, what did you think?¡± ¡°three months?¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°your fracture isn¡¯t ordinary. it¡¯s not so easy to recover. have you not consulted a doctor?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head, and gu ci said, ¡°it¡¯ll take a year to heal properly, and you can¡¯t touch the race car.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s face darkened, clearly very unhappy. as gu ci had expected, he was quite angry. winning the championship for the second time was supposed to be a joyful and glorious occasion, but he had a car accident, lay in the hospital, and received the terrible news that he couldn¡¯t race for a year. lu zhiyuan was gloomy. gu ci set down the bowl, held his face, and kissed him. she seemed like a flirt, taking advantage of his immobility. lu zhiyuan, on the other hand, felt oddly shy, blushing every time she kissed him. gu ci found it amusing and deliberately teased him. when lu zhiyuan tried to turn away when she leaned in for another kiss, she didn¡¯t let him and playfully continued. eventually, lu zhiyuan yielded, blushing each time she kissed him. gu ci washed some grapes, peeled them one by one, and removed all the seeds before feeding them to him. lu zhiyuan looked at the segmented grape flesh with disdain. he couldn¡¯t eat it! gu ci said, ¡°you have difficulty swallowing; both the skin and seeds need to be removed.¡± ¡°i can¡­ not eat,¡± lu zhiyuan said with difficulty. ¡°eating some fruit is good for you. don¡¯t be so picky; the texture is still okay,¡± gu ci fed it to his mouth, and reluctantly, lu zhiyuan had to eat it. gu ci fed him five grapes, but lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t eat anymore. seeing his disgusted expression, gu ci also felt helpless. peeling the grapes and removing the seeds was quite a task, and she didn¡¯t appreciate his attitude. ¡°alright, let¡¯s stop then.¡± lu zhiyuan visibly breathed a sigh of relief. when he noticed gu ci looking at him, he became nervous again and forced a smile. gu ci glanced at the basket of fruits and asked, ¡°how about eating a pear?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head, his refusal very resolute. gu ci washed her hands and then took out her phone. ¡°uncle lu is very worried. should we video call him?¡± lu zhiyuan raised his hand and pointed at his inflamed throat. gu ci said, ¡°just stay silent, let uncle lu have a look.¡± he nodded, and gu ci started the video call. it was late in china, but uncle lu, worried about lu zhiyuan, hadn¡¯t gone to sleep. gu ci had informed him in advance, and when the video connected, he picked up immediately. seeing lu zhiyuan wrapped in bandages and plaster, his heart ached, and tears welled up in his eyes. he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°i told you not to race, not to race! you said racing was safe. look at what you¡¯ve become. you¡¯re lucky you¡¯re not dead. are you in pain? when can you recover? when can you come back to china? you¡¯re in a foreign country, you should come back soon for treatment. i¡¯ll arrange for a medical plane to pick you up.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent. uncle lu suddenly felt that his son seemed distant. the video was sunny, so it couldn¡¯t be nighttime for his son, could it? gu ci explained, ¡°uncle lu, his lungs were operated on, and he has an inflammation. he should speak as little as possible.¡± uncle lu felt relieved upon hearing this and continued scolding. if it were the third master, he wouldn¡¯t dare scold him like this. lu zhiyuan listened with a wooden expression. when gu ci looked at him, he smiled, but when she turned to speak to uncle lu, he reverted to his stoic expression. uncle lu scolded him for about ten minutes, and with urging looks from lu zhiyuan, they finally ended the video call. ¡°would uncle lu scold the third master like this?¡± ¡°he¡­ wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but pat his head. ¡°you¡¯re so pitiful.¡± lu zhiyuan stared at her. at the door, li jiang was in a hurry. chen rush! and bronn, along with a group of people, were on their way to the hospital. miss gu ci, you need to persuade the third young master quickly. the third young master has to play the role of the third master, and we still need to go over the lines and explain things. besides, the third young master is so stubborn; it will take a long time to convince him. hearing li jiang¡¯s cough, gu ci also knew that he was about to lose patience. she held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°do you remember what 1 told you before the race?¡± lu zhiyuan nodded. gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°now, there¡¯s a tricky situation. after your accident, they can¡¯t hide your identity as the third master anymore. pei qiuying told chen rushi about your dual identity, and he and bronn are coming with a group of people. they might make things difficult for you. we need you to play the role of the third master and get through this crisis. otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to go home.¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. even though he was injured and had bandages all over him, he still resembled the third master when he had a cold expression. gu ci was momentarily confused. however, his illness diluted his coldness. ¡°lu zhiyuan¡­¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci and li jiang were both taken aback. both gu ci and li jiang found it unexpected. they thought it would be a major undertaking, but lu zhiyuan agreed immediately, leaving them surprised. li jiang quickly sent a message to ji chi, who was waiting at the hospital entrance. li jiang felt like he had won the lottery, fearing that lu zhiyuan might change his mind. he hurriedly entered and said, ¡°third young master, this is great news. since you¡¯re going to play the role of the third master, there are a few things 1 need to tell you. you must maintain a strong presence. both ji chi and i are here. they will only be verifying your identity and may attempt to provoke you with the dual personality angle. here¡¯s all the information from black hawk; please quickly go through it. this includes who your people are, some secret channels, and passwords. most importantly, do not lose your temper. the third master doesn¡¯t show emotions, and you cannot give chen rushi any ammunition.¡± lu zhiyuan silently stared at the thick stack of documents that li jiang had placed in front of him. gu ci also felt that it was too much for lu zhiyuan. how could he digest all this complex information in such a short time? ¡°no, need,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°take it away!¡± ¡°third young master, you should at least take a look; it¡¯s crucial!¡± lu zhiyuan pointed to his head, ¡°he¡¯s here!¡± gu ci and li jiang were dumbfounded. li jiang knew about the connection between the third young master and the third master, but he didn¡¯t know that they could communicate within their consciousness. gu ci also learned this for the first time. it was surprising that the third young master and the third master could have conversations in their minds. both of them were stunned, and li jiang muttered to himself, ¡°incredible!¡± gu ci was curious for a moment. when the third master was in lu zhiyuan¡¯s mind and saw her and lu zhiyuan being affectionate all the time, what would he say? would it be awkward? did he¡­ have feelings too? li jiang quickly collected the documents and handed them to a bodyguard at the door. since the third master was in the third young master¡¯s mind, things became much simpler. ji chi and his team had been stalling downstairs, but they couldn¡¯t delay chen rushi and bronn¡¯s arrival. they had come in the morning, so no matter how much they stalled, it wouldn¡¯t be nighttime. after receiving li jiang¡¯s message, ji chi put away his phone and greeted them with a smile. when chen rushi saw ji chi, he frowned. he couldn¡¯t believe that he had been one of the third master¡¯s people all along. if it weren¡¯t for the incident in paris involving the third master, this would still be a secret. ¡°ji chi, you seem to be doing well,¡± chen rushi said, ¡°a servant of the third family, eating the food they feed you, and being their lapdog..¡± Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Black Hawk CEO’s Gathering chapter 221: black hawk ceo¡¯s gathering translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi smiled, revealing two small dimples. even when insulted, he showed no signs of anger. ¡°mr. chen, i¡¯ve always been with black hawk. 1 move where they need me. you¡¯re taking this too seriously.¡± ¡°i¡¯d like to see how long lu zhiyuan can protect you!¡± chen rushi retorted. bronn was a fair-haired, blue-eyed young man, thirty-three years old, with significant influence and a mysterious presence within black hawk. as he adjusted his collar, he observed how calmly and confidently ji chi carried himself. he was deeply impressed. in his early twenties, he was subjected to insults and compromised his pride, yet he showed no signs of anger. such temperament undoubtedly came from his mentor, third master. ji chi greeted him politely, ¡°mr. bronn, please.¡± bronn nodded and said, ¡°ji chi, you¡¯re impressive. to deceive chen rushi like that, you¡¯re quite the character. you¡¯re welcome to visit the bronn residence anytime.¡± chen rushi¡¯s face soured from the taunts. behind them, a group of black hawk executives followed. some had dealt with ji chi for years, while others had never met him. no one expected ji chi, who held such a prominent position in the organization, to be so handsome and youthful. ¡°mr. rong, with such outstanding talent by third master¡¯s side, you better watch out, or one day your position won¡¯t be secure,¡± a bald man with well-defined muscles provoked, wearing a suit that surprisingly suited him. rong lij had arched eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, tall and sturdy. he was the most steadfast supporter of lu zhiyuan¡¯s faction, known for his explosive temper. he puffed on a cigar, his irritation evident. ¡°if someone¡¯s capable, they can take my place. you included!¡± ¡°i wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°then shut up!¡± rong lij shook off the snow on his coat. ¡°we¡¯re freezing our butts off at the hospital entrance, and you¡¯re still blabbering.¡± the meeting began with a strong whiff of gunpowder. ji chi smiled and ushered everyone upstairs. ¡°ji chi, is third master really schizophrenic?¡± the bald man asked in the elevator. ¡°no wonder he¡¯s elusive. turns out he¡¯s a nutcase!¡± ¡°be careful with your words,¡± ji chi chuckled. ¡°1 don¡¯t know where you heard such rumors. third master is perfectly fine. he just enjoys racing and prefers not to draw attention.¡± ¡°well, that sounds better than it¡¯s sung!¡± someone grumbled. ¡°we¡¯ve been under the rule of a lunatic in black hawk for years. no wonder we¡¯ve been pressed by the triads and in a sorry state.¡± rong lij tapped his cigar, speaking bluntly, ¡°when you meet third master later, say those words again, and you¡¯ll either be alive or not.¡± ji chi smiled but remained silent. after the elevator ride, they approached lu zhiyuan¡¯s hospital room. two bodyguards accompanied gu ci to buy porridge for lu zhiyuan. gu ci understood that lu zhiyuan intentionally separated her from this group. while she worried, she didn¡¯t refuse his arrangement. she took another elevator down. as chen rushi and ji chi greeted each other at the door, gu ci couldn¡¯t help but ponder. if only she had the same power and status as pei qiuying, she wouldn¡¯t be in this passive position, always pushed aside by lu zhiyuan. she knew lu zhiyuan did it to protect her, not wanting her to confront this group of people directly, which offered her no benefits. gu ci understood this, but it still left a bitter taste in her heart. involuntarily, she recalled dr. north¡¯s words. ¡°gu ci, do you want power?¡± at this moment, gu ci¡¯s desire for power surged intensely. ¡°miss gu ci¡­¡± two bodyguards reminded her, and gu ci replied calmly, ¡°let¡¯s go-¡± inside the hospital room, lu zhiyuan was already seated in a wheelchair. getting up was a challenge for him, so he preferred the wheelchair to lying in bed. his first meeting with the nine black hawk executives, without a disguise, was a significant event. he had removed the bandage from his forehead and combed his hair forward to cover the wound. it didn¡¯t seem to affect him much for the time being. watching his series of actions, li jiang couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. third young master cared a lot about his image. ¡°li jiang, go welcome our guests at the door,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was thin and cold, like the snow outside the window. ¡°yes,¡± li jiang replied, but he found it peculiar. he glanced back at lu zhiyuan, who sat in the wheelchair by the window. half of the curtain was drawn, creating a half-lit, half-dark atmosphere. his gaze was inscrutable, and li jiang couldn¡¯t shake the strange feeling that this was third master, not third young master. impossible! on such a sunny day, third young master was so talented that he could act just like third master. no wonder third master liked him so much. li jiang led the people and checked them for firearms and weapons at the entrance, but everyone followed the rules. they hadn¡¯t brought any firearms or weapons, and each one was clean. li jiang let them in. a group of people entered the room, which had been relatively spacious but now felt crowded. the nine black hawk executives consisted of chen rushi, who had chinese heritage, and rong li, who was of mixed blood. the rest were all europeans and americans, tall and robust, each of them looking like a gangster in a suit. they seemed out of place in the hospital room. in terms of looks alone, lu zhiyuan appeared to be nothing more than a weak chicken in their eyes. the bald man couldn¡¯t help but think, is this it? this is the third master who¡¯s been giving orders to black hawk for over three years? the boss? he looked like chicken shit. in the eerie silence, rong li lowered his head and called out, ¡°third master, are you alright?¡± ¡°very well,¡± lu zhiyuan replied, suppressing his inflammation, his voice cold and distant as he swept his gaze over chen rushi and the others, several of whom had obvious expressions of disdain. but as lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze passed over them one by one, everyone lowered their heads and greeted him politely, including chen rushi. li jiang brought in some chairs. ¡°this is a hospital, and 1 apologize for the inconvenience,¡± li jiang said with a smile, standing in the corner. ji chi walked over to lu zhiyuan¡¯s side and pushed the wheelchair. the atmosphere in the hospital room suddenly became subtle. ¡°it¡¯s rare that you¡¯ve all gathered here. is it to challenge my position, or is it a visit?¡± lu zhiyuan wasted no time, his gaze icy as he scanned over them, landing on chen rushi and bronn. chen rushi spoke, ¡°third master, ever since you took over black hawk, you¡¯ve never revealed your true identity. this recent car accident disrupted the black hawk¡¯s surveillance system, and all of us are concerned about your health. we¡¯re also curious, who are you? are you truly a member of black hawk?¡± the bald man, still sitting casually, added, ¡°you¡¯re rarely seen in person, always wearing a mask during meetings. how am i supposed to know if you¡¯re really the third master? how can you prove it?¡± ji chi chimed in, ¡°the third master has had a lifelong passion for racing and even won the global fl championship. he avoids drawing attention, which is why he¡¯s been wearing a mask in recent years to avoid causing a commotion. since you all doubt the third master¡¯s identity, mr. chen has brought the authentication box. let¡¯s test it right here!¡± at chen rushi¡¯s feet, there was a silver-gray suitcase, the verification of the black hawk¡¯s leader. each person had a password to access the ledger inside. ¡°this was our intention,¡± chen rushi said. ¡°what do you think, third master?¡± lu zhiyuan replied calmly, ¡°1 have one question. you¡¯ve all gathered here to question my identity. if it turns out that i¡¯ve been impersonating the third master, i¡¯ll face the consequences with black hawk.. but if it¡¯s proven that i am the third master, what about all of you?¡± Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: So It’s Always Been the Third Master chapter 222: so it¡¯s always been the third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation rong li casually said, ¡°monastery of discipline, fifty lashes per person, i¡¯ll personally administer them!¡± bronn chuckled lightly, ¡°third master, that¡¯s quite serious. you¡¯ve never shown yourself before, so it¡¯s reasonable for us to question your identity.¡± ¡°everything has its price,¡± lu zhiyuan, despite his ailing appearance, spoke with authority, ¡°what rong li said is black hawk¡¯s rule!¡± the bald man added, ¡°chen rushi orchestrated this. we were sent to perform the password verification; it¡¯s not my concern.¡± several other executives also distanced themselves from the situation. rong li whistled and asked chen rushi, ¡°master chen, what do you say?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll bear all the consequences!¡± chen rushi firmly stated. he had seen lu zhiyuan at the racetrack, and he was nothing like the third master. although they were the same person, they exuded entirely different auras and qualities. it was a dual personality, conflicting and devouring each other. this was lu zhiyuan, not the third master. while lu zhiyuan was weak, if they didn¡¯t take advantage of his illness to exact vengeance, they would be the ones at a disadvantage. even if something happened midway, lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t dare to touch him. ¡°let¡¯s begin!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s lips curled with a hint of coldness. chen rushi opened the box, entered the password, and each black hawk executive input their own password. this password box was exceptionally unique. only when all nine executives¡¯ passwords were correctly entered could the final password be revealed. the final password was known only to the third master and couldn¡¯t be disclosed! rong li, the last one, entered his password. the silver-gray box opened in front of lu zhiyuan. li jiang was very nervous; he didn¡¯t know this password, only the third master did. lu zhiyuan coldly entered the password, and after iris, fingerprint, and facial biometric verification, a cold female voice spoke, ¡°lu zhiyuan, welcome.¡± the voice was consistent, and it would only sound with the correct password. after confirming lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity, the password book was taken out. it contained a core storage of the black hawk eye system, and it displayed a vr video. it was a video from when lu zhiyuan succeeded black hawk, stored in the eye system. only lu zhiyuan could open it. this video couldn¡¯t be faked, and it confirmed lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity. chen rushi¡¯s face slightly changed, and pei qiuying swore. moreover, she had interacted with lu zhiyuan, so chen rushi believed in her judgment. lu zhiyuan must be a dual personality. ¡°it really is you!¡± the bald man couldn¡¯t believe it. this seemingly ordinary person turned out to be the third master. the others exchanged glances. ¡°a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding,¡± bronn said, ¡°third master, you have to take some blame for this. if you had been open about your identity from the beginning, we wouldn¡¯t have had so many misunderstandings.¡± a seemingly casual misunderstanding, but it couldn¡¯t be brushed aside. furthermore, lu zhiyuan asked chen rushi, ¡°chen rushi, remember to go to the monastery of discipline for fifty lashes!¡± ¡°yes, third master is lu zhiyuan, and lu zhiyuan is the third master, as acknowledged by black hawk¡¯s eye system,¡± chen rushi said with a faint smile, ¡°i accept that. however¡­ lu zhiyuan has a dual personality. the third master is the third master, and lu zhiyuan is lu zhiyuan. they share the same body but are not the same person. the owner of black hawk cannot be someone with a dual personality disorder!¡± chen rushi pointed to li jiang in the corner, ¡°he has been following you day and night, wanting to know the truth. take him for a lie detector test, and the truth will come out quickly.¡± li jiang was nervous, his back covered in sweat. as lu zhiyuan¡¯s close guard, he knew all of lu zhiyuan¡¯s secrets. if he were to undergo a lie detector test, he couldn¡¯t hide his thoughts, as the machine would detect all lies. ¡°chen rushi¡­¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze remained calm, ¡°you¡¯ve repeatedly provoked me. are you trying to take my place? if you want a lie detector test, i¡¯ll grant your wish. but if li jiang passes the test, you¡¯ll be cut off from black hawk, and the chen family will go independent, breaking away from black hawk. are you willing to gamble?¡± everyone fell silent. chen rushi¡¯s face darkened as he looked at lu zhiyuan. he showed no signs of backing down, his gaze was icy, and there was no trace of the third young master in him. sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a patient¡¯s gown, he was a dark king from the depths of hell. one¡¯s demeanor couldn¡¯t be disguised. li jiang also realized it. this wasn¡¯t the third young master; it was the third master! he was puzzled. what was going on? did he wake up, and all the affectionate moments with aaiss gu were just an act? if miss gu found out, she would surely go crazy. chen rushi was overwhelmed by lu zhiyuan¡¯s aura. in this high-stakes gamble, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose. if lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t have dual personality, and he lost, he would be wagering the chen family¡¯s legacy for three generations. he couldn¡¯t afford to do that! rong li, enjoying the spectacle, sat near the window with a relaxed posture, as if he were a bandit. ¡°master chen, don¡¯t chicken out now. you have the guts to question the third master¡¯s identity, but do you have the courage to bet your fortune?¡± he was stirring the pot and he was a master at it! ¡°rong li, you shut up!¡± chen rushi¡¯s palms were sweaty. every step in life was a choice. choose right, and you could ascend to heaven; choose wrong, and you¡¯d descend into hell. lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°if you lack the courage even for this, how can you dare to incite them and use people as pawns?¡± his dominant presence and cutting off any retreat forced chen rushi to have only one path to choose from. outdoors, the wind and snow raged, but chen rushi¡¯s forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. he couldn¡¯t let lu zhiyuan lead him by the nose! chen rushi said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, black hawk has never had a situation where the leader¡¯s identity was uncertain, nor has it ever had a leader with a dual personality disorder. if you have a mental illness, you have no right to manage black hawk. don¡¯t blur your focus!¡± ¡°i am the rightful successor to black hawk, no doubt about it,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze was deep and cold, ¡°if 1 were a dual personality, who was present in all those meetings with you? li jiang, ji chi, and rong li have been with me for years. if i had a mental illness, how could they trust me? you claim that i have a dual personality, then i ask you, how will you prove it? just by subjecting li jiang to a lie detector test?¡± the bald man, who had initially been skeptical of lu zhiyuan, changed his perspective within ten minutes. they were older than lu zhiyuan and had been with black hawk for many years, each of them a talented individual, capable and discerning. chen rushi had wanted to succeed black hawk, and before lu zhiyuan¡¯s arrival, he was the top candidate. however, after lu zhiyuan took over, he had never accepted it. it was rare for him to find a way to implicate lu zhiyuan, and his intention to drag lu zhiyuan down was clear to everyone. the question was, whose side would they take? rong li was an open supporter of the third master, someone he had helped rise to power. ji chi was also on his side.. among this group, aside from ji chi and rong li, who else belonged to the third master? Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Dragon Boat Festival chapter 223: dragon boat festival translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation dragon boat festival. ji chi had no concept of the dragon boat festival. he was an orphan, and all the holidays from childhood to adulthood were irrelevant to him. he had grown up in a foreign country, and the dragon boat festival was already a distant memory in his mind. jiang junlin also didn¡¯t like to celebrate the dragon boat festival because he didn¡¯t eat rice dumplings. gu ziyu, on the other hand, was enthusiastic about celebrating various festivals. if it weren¡¯t for qingming festival being for the deceased, he would probably want to celebrate that too. on this day of the dragon boat festival, ji chi was invited to jiang junlin¡¯s house to celebrate. ji chi rarely had time off and wanted to invite general jiang for a fishing trip. ¡°i have something to discuss.¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°uncle is coming to celebrate!¡± ¡°then count me in!¡± ji chi said. ¡°it¡¯s not something very important.¡± ¡°then come early!¡± gu ziyu was nine years old this year, with a youthful voice, but he was quite tall, taller than most kids his age, already showing the prototype of a young man. he had also graduated with a ph.d. and officially joined the national security agency, becoming a promising young man under chen liangdong¡¯s guidance. this wasn¡¯t ji chi¡¯s first visit to gu ziyu¡¯s home. since lu zhiyuan moved to the blue fields villa this year, ji chi had been coming over frequently and was quite familiar with the place. he brought two bottles of red wine with him. as soon as he parked the car, he saw lu zhiyuan in the courtyard¡­ cutting pork belly. ji chi didn¡¯t know what to think. ¡°you¡¯re here just in time. come over and help cut the meat!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the oil on his hands with disdain. he really disliked doing household chores, but gu ci and gu ziyu enjoyed the atmosphere. ¡°third master, is it appropriate?¡± ji chi, who was used to calling him third master, asked. is it inappropriate for you or for me?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, smiling, but there was a domineering air about him as the superior. ¡°then i¡¯ll have jiang junlin do it later.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe you can boss him around.¡± lu zhiyuan said with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°as long as cici can boss him around.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe it! lu zhiyuan lightly chuckled and said, ¡°ji chi, you behave yourself. cici can boast about your virtuous and gentle qualities at jiang¡¯s house later. don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re still being kept out by the jiang family.¡± ji chi replied, ¡°the pork belly is here; i¡¯ll do it! he washed his hands, put on gloves, and came over to cut the meat. gu ci took out the washed bamboo leaves for the rice dumplings, and lu zhiyuan went to pick up the bamboo leaves and sun-dry them together. the two of them even shared a sweet kiss. gu ci said, ¡°why hasn¡¯t big brother arrived yet?¡± ¡°what can he do when he comes? he doesn¡¯t even eat!¡± lu zhiyuan said. gu ci said, ¡°1 specially prepared honey jujube rice dumplings for him.¡± ¡°why don¡¯t 1 have the meat and salted egg yolk dumplings that i like?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°ziyu doesn¡¯t like salted egg yolk!¡± gu ci replied. ¡°ziyu also doesn¡¯t like honey jujube rice dumplings, so why are there honey jujube rice dumplings?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°why does jiang junlin have the privilege to eat honey jujube rice dumplings that ziyu doesn¡¯t like?¡± gu ci looked up at the sky in silence and thought for three seconds before saying, ¡°a husband can be replaced, but big brother can¡¯t. understand?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her. it seemed that the days of ¡°lock me up, break my legs, and don¡¯t want to change my husband¡± were long gone. ¡°third master, your status in this family is getting lower and lower!¡± ji chi added from the side. ¡°better than you, who still can¡¯t get inside the door.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t respond. ouch, that hit close to home! lu zhiyuan disliked jiang junlin, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t necessarily like him either. however, on special occasions like holidays, the older brother and brother-in-law had to meet at the same dining table. the older brother¡¯s lover also happened to be his right-hand man. it was quite a predicament! just as they were discussing, jiang junlin¡¯s car parked next to ji chi. he was carrying a box of crabs and a box of seasonal cherries. ji chi smiled when he saw him, ¡°big brother, 1 cut the pork belly for today¡¯s rice dumplings. will you do me the honor of having one?¡± ¡°thanks for the invitation, but no,¡± jiang junlin coldly declined. ji chi looked disappointed, like a little puppy that had been rejected, but jiang junlin was as unyielding as ever. fruits were acceptable, but he would absolutely not touch a single bite of the rice dumplings, no matter how they were offered. lu zhiyuan nodded coldly in acknowledgment, and that was it. their way of interacting had always been distant, as if they were strangers. saying one more word would mean they lost. ¡°uncle, uncle¡­¡± gu ziyu waved from upstairs and then ran downstairs. ¡°let¡¯s make rice dumplings together, and i¡¯ve got honey jujube ones that you like.¡± ¡°sure, you take the crabs and steam them,¡± jiang junlin rubbed his head affectionately. gu ziyu eagerly took the crabs and cherries inside and volunteered to steam the crabs. after draining the rice dumpling leaves, gu ci and lu zhiyuan started to make rice dumplings with great enthusiasm, all while wearing disposable gloves. jiang junlin said, ¡°i¡¯ll do it! he didn¡¯t mind the fatty pork at all. rolling up his sleeves, he took the stick that gu ci had been using to stir the fatty pork evenly. jiang junlin looked at at least twenty catties of fatty pork and asked gu ci, ¡°how many rice dumplings do you want to make?¡± ¡°two hundred to three hundred, i guess.¡± lu zhiyuan blurted out, ¡°why are you making so many rice dumplings?¡± ¡°for the dragon boat festival, to give to people,¡± gu ci said. ¡°i¡¯ve already talked to my maternal grandfather, uncle, uncle chen, master, and dad. we¡¯ll send them after we finish making the rice dumplings!¡± lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin agreed on something for the first time. ¡°no need.¡± ¡°why?¡± ji chi chuckled, and when jiang junlin looked over, he couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter. he leaned against jiang junlin¡¯s shoulder, soft and boneless, wrapping his waist around him. jiang junlin nudged his elbow backward, but ji chi didn¡¯t let go. he insisted on sticking to him and took the opportunity to pat his waist. lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin exchanged a glance. honestly, this year was their first attempt at making rice dumplings themselves, all because gu ziyu had a sudden idea to create a dragon boat festival atmosphere. none of them had ever made rice dumplings before. jiang junlin and lu zhiyuan both knew their limits and didn¡¯t think they could make any good rice dumplings. eating them themselves was one thing, but giving them to others was unnecessary. gu ci also understood the hidden meaning behind her husband and brother-in-law¡¯s words. ¡°1 think¡­ it will definitely be successful!¡± she paused and added, ¡°i believe in you!¡± ¡°no need!¡± lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin said in unison. ji chi couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into laughter while hugging jiang junlin. the glutinous rice had been soaked for a long time, and the golden silk jujubes were washed. after marinating the fatty pork, they all enthusiastically started making rice dumplings, each wearing disposable gloves. two hours later¡­ gu ziyu looked at the misshapen and messy rice dumplings, his face expressionless. he concluded, ¡°you guys have let me down!¡± the rice dumplings either leaked rice or looked exceptionally ugly, as they were supposed to be wrapped with two leaves, but they just kept leaking. eventually, they bundled up a mess. the rice dumplings made by lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin even turned out round! ji chi, who had a talent for cooking he acquired specifically for jiang junlin, contributed several dozen rice dumplings with the best appearance. half of them had jujubes in them, and he marked the ones with bigger jujubes, specifically for jiang junlin. gu ziyu, holding the rice dumplings ji chi made, said with disdain, ¡°dad, yours don¡¯t look as good as mine.¡± lu zhiyuan said expressionlessly, ¡°after peeling, they all have glutinous rice and meat. what¡¯s the difference?¡± gu ziyu stared at him indignantly. for the sake of the rice dumplings, gu ci had specially built a stove in the yard and bought a large pot that could cook several hundred rice dumplings at once. the ones to be eaten in the afternoon were placed in a pressure cooker for faster cooking. ji chi said, ¡°i heard that things cooked in clay pots taste better than in pressure cookers?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°what¡¯s the principle behind that?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know, everyone says so!¡± ¡°be smarter in life, don¡¯t just follow the crowd!¡± jiang junlin said calmly, ¡°we should leave room for doubt. let¡¯s all taste it first.¡± ji chi suppressed his laughter and remained silent. whether they teased each other as a husband or a boss, it didn¡¯t concern him. gu ziyu, on the other hand, paid no attention to these matters and focused on preparing a lavish dragon boat festival feast. jiang junlin, ji chi, and lu zhiyuan gathered around the large pot in the courtyard and soon noticed a problem. ji chi said, ¡°uh-oh, we have a leak. whose rice dumplings were these? they weren¡¯t tied tightly.¡± ¡°this one¡¯s also leaking.¡± ¡°let¡¯s pick them out first!¡± jiang junlin, lu zhiyuan, and ji chi picked out the leaking and ruined rice dumplings. they retrieved about fifty or sixty of them. ji chi commented, ¡°it must be the two of you who packed these. ziyu, cici, and i didn¡¯t make such basic mistakes.¡± lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin exchanged a glance and looked towards gu ci, who was busy in the kitchen with gu ziyu, experimenting with dishes. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°what should we do? cici is so excited about giving away the rice dumplings; we can¡¯t let her down.¡± jiang junlin pondered for a moment and said, ¡°to be honest, to avoid a complete disaster, 1 have a whole box of ready-made rice dumplings in my car.¡± he had originally prepared them just in case none of their homemade ones turned out well. lu zhiyuan, impressed, gave a thumbs-up. ¡°you¡¯re a lifesaver. we can throw that box in and cook it together. we can pretend we made them ourselves. after all, you can¡¯t really mess up cooking rice dumplings¡­¡± he looked uncertainly at ji chi and asked, ¡°right?¡± ji chi, also puzzled, looked at jiang junlin. ¡°1 don¡¯t know, can we?¡± ¡°how would 1 know?¡± ¡°should we throw them in?¡± lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin agreed, ¡°why not!¡± Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Those Who Follow Me Will Prosper, Those Who Defy Me Will Die chapter 224: those who follow me will prosper, those who defy me will die translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen rushi fell silent when questioned. he knew that lu zhiyuan had a dual personality, but he couldn¡¯t find any evidence, and he didn¡¯t dare to gamble his fortune against lu zhiyuan¡¯s words. ¡°do you have an authoritative psychiatric report?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°if 1 indeed have a dual personality, where are the medical records? where is the diagnosis report? chen rushi, do you think¡­ i would allow you to walk out of this door?¡± bronn stepped in to mediate, ¡°third master is still recovering from a serious injury and shouldn¡¯t get agitated. this is a misunderstanding, and mr. chen acted in the best interests of the black hawk.¡± ¡°third master, you insist that you don¡¯t have a dual personality, and 1 indeed couldn¡¯t produce an assessment report. but you¡¯ve been in collusion with pei qiuying for nearly six years. you helped her rise to power within the black hawk, and the internal resources of the black hawk were mobilized along with pei qiuying. how do you explain that?¡± chen rushi presented an investigative report and tossed it onto lu zhiyuan¡¯s hospital bed. the black hawk and jidao were arch-enemies, and their conflict had escalated over time. colluding with each other was a grave offense. when the pei family lost their power, pei qiuying was still young and suffered for years in a foreign country. she encountered lu zhiyuan, whom she knew from her youth, and was protected by him. together, they regained control of jidao. the records of their clandestine dealings were crystal clear, and it was evident that pei qiuying had provided this information. as the report circulated and reached rong li¡¯s hands, he glanced at it briefly and then put it down. there wasn¡¯t much to see; most of it was under his purview. it was a genuine investigative report. women could be ruthless when driven by love. ¡°third master, it¡¯s shocking how many people you¡¯ve sacrificed and how much wealth you¡¯ve spent to help pei qiuying rise to power. the black hawk has never cooperated with jidao; that¡¯s our rule!¡± ¡°yes, the successor. anyone who breaks this rule must step down!¡± ¡°third master, you¡¯ve committed a grave offense!¡± ¡°the last time the country m bank lost that gold, it ultimately ended up in pei qiuying¡¯s hands. she¡¯s in charge of delivering it to the country m bank, and all the benefits go to jidao. in our financial battle, the black hawk suffered losses of over sixty billion. ji chi, wasn¡¯t it you and jiang junlin who fought that financial battle?¡± lu zhiyuan said coldly, ¡°li jiang, bring me all the transaction records between me and pei qiuying!¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang had a copy of the transaction records on his computer. chen rushi and the others carefully reviewed the records. this data was even more authentic, and since they were insiders of the black hawk, they could verify it easily. rong li added, ¡°third master¡¯s cooperation with pei qiuying included initial investments in resources and finances to help her seize power. however, since pei qiuying took office, these three financial transactions have been long-term contracts spanning ten years. we not only recouped our initial investments, but over the course of a decade, we¡¯ve made substantial profits. there¡¯s nothing to criticize.¡± ¡°the issue is that he collaborated with pei qiuying, who is associated with jidao!¡± chen rushi said firmly. the bald man and several ceos huddled together to examine the report. they understood strategic reports like this one very well. they nodded in satisfaction. in the world of business, profit was the only thing that mattered, even if it meant ignoring old grudges and rules. only a constant stream of profit could keep an organization alive! refusing to abandon old grudges and rules because the profits aren¡¯t large enough! the bald man said, ¡°third master¡¯s investments in recent years haven¡¯t been in vain. even if he breaks ties with pei qiuying now, he¡¯s still made a profit!¡± ¡°bruce!¡± chen rushi asked sharply, ¡°have you forgotten the black hawk¡¯s rules?¡± ¡°third master isn¡¯t betraying the black hawk and becoming a stepping stone for jidao. what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± rong li whistled and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°bruce, you¡¯ve got vision!¡± ¡°don¡¯t say it like that. the black hawk has its rules since it has thrived for so many years. as successors, we should abide by those rules. interests can be sacrificed, but rules shouldn¡¯t be forgotten,¡± a senior man said sternly. ¡°mr. chen is right; you¡¯ve indeed broken the rules.¡± another man added, ¡°as the one in charge of the black hawk, you¡¯ve been indulging in the racing scene for years, hiding it and not reporting it. you¡¯re worth a fortune but you¡¯re not acting responsibly. your reckless behavior isn¡¯t enough to manage the black hawk.¡± lu zhiyuan calmly asked, ¡°so, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°according to the tradition of the black hawk, if a leader dies unexpectedly or makes a serious mistake, the nine ceos can choose a new successor. i nominate mr. chen,¡± the man said casually. ¡°if it weren¡¯t for third master¡¯s sudden arrival back then, mr. chen should have been the leader.¡± of the nine people, three supported choosing chen rushi, including chen rushi himself. chen rushi said, ¡°third master can¡¯t prove his dual personality. although we believe in ¡®innocent until proven guilty,¡¯ we must be cautious in every step we take to reach where we are today. if there¡¯s doubt, he shouldn¡¯t continue to lead. the chen family has served the black hawk diligently for three generations, and 1 have the capability to take over.¡± bronn and bruce exchanged glances but remained silent. the remaining six people, including li jiang, were likely aligned with third master. third master had three votes, and the key was bronn and bruce. rong li¡¯s phone buzzed, and he glanced at it, chuckling, ¡°mr. chen, if you want to succeed, do it openly and honestly. accusing third master of having a dual personality is a bit childish. you¡¯re an adult; don¡¯t do such immature things.¡± ¡°this is a fact!¡± chen rushi retorted. lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°you want to challenge me? chen rushi, you¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡± the tension in the room was palpable, and outside, lu zhiyuan¡¯s security team stood in opposition to chen rushi¡¯s. chen rushi said, ¡°if i don¡¯t walk out of this hospital today, the chen family and you will be in a never-ending feud.¡± ¡°you¡¯re just a member of the chen family, i don¡¯t care about you!¡± lu zhiyuan said with simmering anger. ¡°in the black hawk, those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish. if you don¡¯t submit, there¡¯s no need for you to stay!¡± the people in the room felt their hearts pound. finally, third master had revealed his true intentions. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you!¡± chen rushi was furious and stood up, looking at lu zhiyuan. ¡°let¡¯s see who dares!¡± ji chi swiftly drew a gun, aimed at chen rushi¡¯s knee, and fired a shot with remarkable precision. the silenced pistol made only a faint sound. chen rushi let out a painful cry, falling to one knee, submitting in front of everyone. ji chi, with an arrogant and cold expression, tilted his head and innocently blew away the smoke from the gun¡¯s muzzle. ¡°i dared!¡± except for rong li, everyone was taken aback. no one had expected ji chi, who had remained silent, to suddenly fire a shot. moreover, lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t said a word; he simply gave the order to shoot. ¡°ji chi, you!¡± everyone stood up, their eyes filled with anger. outside, the security teams of both chen rushi and lu zhiyuan were on the verge of a standoff. ¡°mr. chen, don¡¯t glare at me. you asked for it, so don¡¯t blame anyone else,¡± ji chi¡¯s elegant face had a touch of awkwardness. ¡°i even dare to fire another shot. do you want to try?¡± bruce and bronn were stiff with shock. their wariness of lu zhiyuan had deepened. ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you determined to sever ties with my chen family?¡± chen rushi asked angrily. he dared to bring people to the hospital because he was certain that lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t harm the chen family. ¡°what if i am?¡± ¡°are you insane?¡± chen rushi¡¯s voice quivered with pain.. Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Are You Third Young Master or Third Master? chapter 225: are you third young master or third master? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan was extremely indifferent. ji chi pushed him to chen rushi¡¯s presence. lu zhiyuan looked down at chen rush! and said, ¡°have you forgotten? i am insane, a complete lunatic.¡± a wave of fear surged from the bottom of chen rushi¡¯s heart. he regretted his carelessness and his blind trust in pei qiuying¡¯s words. he believed that lu zhiyuan, even if he could open the box and know the password, was not like third master. he wouldn¡¯t have third master¡¯s decisiveness and ruthlessness. as long as he seized power before third master woke up, it would be too late for third master to do anything in the evening. but the person in front of him, with no trace of youthfulness, was a person with blood on his hands, a powerful figure in a high position. he was third master, not third young master. regardless of the dual personality, whether it was true or false, the person in front of him was definitely not the race car driver lu zhiyuan! rong li sneered and said, ¡°it¡¯s better for everyone to make money harmoniously. what¡¯s the fun in power struggles, mr. chen? if you don¡¯t treat your leg, it will be truly useless.¡± ji chi¡¯s attack on his knee was ruthless, and it hurt like a dagger piercing his bones. it was really painful, but chen rushi couldn¡¯t swallow this humiliation. but when you¡¯re under someone else¡¯s roof, you really have to bow your head. as long as the mountains are preserved, firewood will not be scarce. people die like a lamp going out, and if he dies, there will be no chance to make a comeback. ¡°third master, i was wrong!¡± chen rushi endured the intense pain. ¡°please forgive me!¡± lu zhiyuan ignored him, looked at bronn and the others one by one, and said, ¡°in the world of the black hawk, power is held by the capable. whoever wants it, let them come and take it. let me make it clear, life and death are predestined, and wealth and rank are in the hands of fate. if you can survive, you can take my place!¡± bronn and bruce and the others were pounding in their hearts. lu zhiyuan clearly sat in a wheelchair with a sickly appearance, but they felt like a knife was hanging over their necks. this time, when chen rushi dared to challenge him as he had said, they had underestimated third master. pei qiuying said that third master¡¯s dual personality was very special, one person for half the time. third master only appeared at night, while during the day, he was a pampered and unrestrained star race car driver. but the person in front of them had no resemblance to a star race car driver; he was clearly the king of hell! bruce and bronn exchanged glances. such a ruthless and unscrupulous person with no weaknesses was difficult for them to control, much less than chen rushi. the phone rang suddenly, and li jiang saw the caller and answered it with a jump in his heart. ¡°what? alright, i understand.¡± ¡°third master, miss gu ci¡­ has been kidnapped!¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze ice-cold. ¡°chen rushi, you are truly audacious!¡± it was a perfect plan. he had brought people to pressure lu zhiyuan in the hospital and made preparations to kidnap gu ci to blackmail lu zhiyuan. chen rushi was sweating coldly. ¡°third master, miss gu ci saved my life. 1 won¡¯t repay kindness with enmity. don¡¯t blame me for what pei qiuying did.¡± ¡°take him away!¡± lu zhiyuan said in a deep voice. ¡°yes!¡± li jiang hurriedly took chen rushi away and handed him over to his guards. inside the hospital room, the atmosphere was tense. bronn raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°who is gu ci?¡± lu zhiyuan looked over, and bronn put on a pleasing smile. ¡°she¡¯s third master¡¯s beloved. i¡¯m in paris, my territory. i¡¯ll find her for you, guaranteed.¡± ¡°no need to trouble yourself,¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°you still chose chen rushi?¡± bronn replied, ¡°third master, you must be joking. we¡¯ve always chosen you. mr. chen and 1 are not on the same side.¡± ¡°third master, i also choose you. it¡¯s a misunderstanding,¡± bruce quickly changed his stance. ¡°once you¡¯ve recovered, we¡¯ll host a grand banquet for you.¡± ¡°do you have any other business?¡± bruce smiled, ¡°third master, you focus on your recovery. we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± the group filed out, leaving only rong li and ji chi. li jiang, puzzled, asked, ¡°why did they change their stance so quickly? bruce and bronn seemed like they wanted to choose chen rushi.¡± ji chi and rong li exchanged a glance, and ji chi said, ¡°third master, i¡¯ll go find miss gu ci.¡± ¡°no need!¡± lu zhiyuan, clutching his chest, said softly, ¡°she¡¯s fine.¡± li jiang was baffled. the person who was supposed to be protecting gu ci had just reported that she had been kidnapped. lu zhiyuan continued, ¡°rong li, have someone keep an eye on bruce and bronn. after today¡¯s incident, chen rushi will eventually break ties with us. he and pei qiuying will join forces and try to divide bruce and bronn. don¡¯t let the three of them unite.¡± ¡°understood!¡± rong li nodded. ¡°is ji chi returning to the asian division? after today¡¯s incident, his situation there will be more difficult.¡± ji chi said, ¡°don¡¯t worry, i can handle it.¡± ¡°alright, i¡¯ll go then!¡± rong li checked his phone. ¡°bronn has arranged a dinner meeting.¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± rong li left in a hurry, then turned back and asked, ¡°third master¡­ on this clear and sunny day, i just want to ask one thing. are you third master or third young master?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him coldly. ¡°what do you think?¡± rong li understood. this was third master. ¡°well, that¡¯s great news!¡± he waved his hand and said, ¡°i¡¯m off!¡± ji chi had long suspected that lu zhiyuan was third master but hadn¡¯t revealed it. rong li could differentiate between third master and third young master, but ji chi had never made that distinction; to him, it was still lu zhiyuan. li jiang was sweating but didn¡¯t dare to ask a question. if he¡¯s third master, what about third young master? if he¡¯s third master, does that mean third young master is no more? li jiang felt strangely sad at the thought and couldn¡¯t help but think of gu ci. in front of miss gu ci, third master had always acted as third young master. damn, he actually ate a few grapes fed by miss gu ci, even hugged and kissed her willingly. what a sacrifice! playing the role so convincingly, he hadn¡¯t even realized the distinction between day and night. li jiang¡¯s heart raced. could it be that third master, unable to endure the repeated threats to his life, had finally taken control of the body? ¡°li jiang, keep your mouth shut.¡± ¡°understood!¡± in the heart of paris, gu ci had indeed been abducted. she was taken by two bodyguards in plain sight, pushed into a van, and four masked strong men kidnapped her right on the street. the bodyguards immediately reported to li jiang. however, when they pursued for two blocks, they found the van overturned. the four men were sprawled on the ground, and gu ci stood there, her expression cold. there was only a bit of blood on her coat. she had escaped and defeated all four men. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± gu ci said. the food she had bought for lu zhiyuan was scattered on the ground, and couldn¡¯t be consumed anymore. she needed to buy a new one. ¡°what about them?¡± the bodyguards asked, looking at the men on the ground. ¡°the police will handle it!¡± the two of them followed gu ci as she walked away. as she left, the men who had been knocked down on the ground slowly got up, and boarded a car like they¡¯d been trained to do that all their lives.. Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: They Are Father and Son chapter 226: they are father and son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin sat in the car, closing his eyes to rest. ¡°go collect an additional allowance and then enjoy a three-day vacation.¡± ¡°master, next time we have such a task, we won¡¯t refuse,¡± one of the guards joked, touching the corner of his lips. ¡°miss gu ci, you don¡¯t hold back.¡± jiang junlin chuckled. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± as soon as gu ci left the hospital, she sent a text message to jiang junlin, asking him to cooperate in staging a play. she was worried that lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t handle the internal chaos well, so she wanted to provide them with an opportunity. the third master, who had nothing to desire and was indomitable, was definitely not the ideal ruler in their eyes. lu zhiyuan, with fatal weaknesses and concerns, was the one they preferred as their ruler. black hawk had always favored puppet rulers; that was their tradition. zhang qiang asked, ¡°master, why are you willing to cooperate with miss gu ci? the nine ceos of black hawk are not easy to deal with. miss gu ci is putting herself in danger, which will lead to future troubles.¡± ¡°zhang qiang, miss ci wants to pretend to be kidnapped. all we need to do is inform li jiang, our bodyguard. why the need for my cooperation?¡± jiang junlin asked. zhang qiang shook his head. ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°cici has already sensed the enmity between me and lu zhiyuan. one is a lover, and the other is a brother. people¡¯s hearts tend to be biased. my sister has fallen into lu zhiyuan¡¯s hands,¡± jiang junlin said with a displeased tone. ¡°today, she told me that if lu zhiyuan lives, she lives; if he dies, she dies. to deal with lu zhiyuan, i must be cautious. ji chi came to find me, and i refused, but i couldn¡¯t refuse her. she¡¯s so clever, she doesn¡¯t need to turn against her brother, nor does she need to desperately express her intentions. this is blackmail.¡± ¡°miss gu ci¡¯s temperament¡­ is quite similar to yours!¡± zhang qiang sincerely admired her. she handled everything with ease. when dealing with clever people, words were unnecessary; you just had to watch what they did. ¡°bloodlines are mysterious,¡± jiang junlin smiled. ¡°that¡¯s why i never liked gu chuyun. she was too foolish.¡± but he was also too busy, holding multiple positions, and had no time to spare. he hadn¡¯t even met gu ci; otherwise, her background wouldn¡¯t have been exposed so late. jiang junlin paused. ¡°have you received the paternity test report i asked you to do?¡± ¡°it¡¯s out, and it confirms a biological relationship!¡± jiang junlin was rarely shocked. ¡°send it to me!¡± ¡°yes!¡± zhang qiang sent the paternity test report, which had been issued an hour ago, to jiang junlin. ¡°master, miss gu ci shouldn¡¯t be blackmailing you. you¡¯re her brother, and lu zhiyuan¡­ no matter how much he likes her, he¡¯s still an outsider. men can be replaced, but brothers can¡¯t.¡± jiang junlin looked at the paternity test report, thinking of gu ziyu¡¯s eyes, so similar to lu zhiyuan¡¯s. jiang junlin¡¯s throat moved slightly. ¡°perhaps, they were always a family.¡± ¡°master, whose paternity test report is this?¡± ¡°mind your own business!¡± zhang qiang didn¡¯t dare to speak further. jiang junlin gazed at the snow, his face serious. all the puzzling questions now had a vague answer. on the day lu zhiyuan had an accident, li jiang had stayed until midnight, and when he went to the bathroom to clean up, he casually wiped away the bloodstains on his body. the bloodstains were all from lu zhiyuan. it was the paternity test report for gu ziyu and lu zhiyuan. jiang junlin had been concerned about it because he couldn¡¯t find any information about gu ziyu¡¯s background and origins. later, when gu ziyu became a favorite in the jiang family and became very close to gu ci, he had put the matter aside. until this racing incident! gu ci¡¯s surgical skills, marksmanship, and mental trauma were not characteristic of an eighteen-year-old girl. the mystery surrounding gu ziyu¡¯s background and why gu ci was so fixated on lu zhiyuan now had answers. they were all related! lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t have had such an adult son at the age of twenty, and gu ziyu, although barely acquainted with ji chi, seemed very familiar with him. what should have been a serious matter, jiang junlin¡¯s thoughts veered off for a moment. when did ji chi learn to make buddha jumps over the wall? what was their outcome in the previous life? many things had traces that were too bizarre. he had never thought that now everything made sense. would ji chi hate him? maybe it was lu zhiyuan¡¯s interference. for the sake of his sister and nephew, was he forced to reconcile with lu zhiyuan? jiang junlin sneered, ¡°he¡¯s dreaming!¡± in the hospital. gu ci carried congee and fruits with her. when she returned to the hospital, the bloodstains in the ward had already been cleaned. li jiang had opened the window for some fresh air, dispersing the smell of blood in the room. li jiang glanced at gu ci and couldn¡¯t help but wonder: if miss gu ci found out that the third young master was gone, would she go crazy? the third young master was seriously injured, and it might take some time for him to recover. but now, the third master held the reins. would he give them back to the third young master? carrying the congee, snacks, and fruits, gu ci returned to the room. lu zhiyuan was lying on the bed, resting. when he saw her come in, he smiled faintly. his smile was like the winter sun, and gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile in response. ¡°is everything settled?¡± gu ci put down the items and sat down. ¡°you¡­ aren¡¯t angry, are you?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head, just staring at her. when gu ci looked at him, she smiled again. li jiang had goosebumps all over his body; it was really a difficult situation for the third master. ¡°what did you buy?¡± he didn¡¯t want her to dwell on the topic of black hawk, and gu ci complied. she had bought beef congee, thick and fragrant. the third master loved meat, but he had been on intravenous fluids and a liquid diet since waking up. he was a bit hungry, and when gu ci asked if he was hungry, lu zhiyuan nodded. gu ci picked out pieces of beef from the congee and ate them before feeding lu zhiyuan the congee. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, puzzled. li jiang suppressed his laughter; he was laughing inside. gu ci explained, ¡°you can¡¯t eat meat yet, so have some congee first.¡± after blowing on a spoonful to cool it down, she fed it to him. lu zhiyuan smelled the fragrance and, despite the lack of meat, he satisfied his craving by eating about half a bowl. gu ci seemed uninterested in black hawk¡¯s affairs, and lu zhiyuan maintained the persona of the third young master, avoiding any mention of the third master¡¯s situation. they coexisted peacefully. it was the first time he had been cared for so attentively. when he was thirsty, someone fed him water; when he was hungry, someone fed him congee. she even tested the temperature multiple times to avoid burning him. at noon, the sunlight was just right. snow was falling outside, but the room was warm. gu ci had slightly lowered eyes, a bright smile, and a fair complexion that was whiter than snow. her eyes sparkled with tenderness. after lu zhiyuan had eaten half a bowl of beef congee, gu ci washed some fruits and fed them to him. li jiang watched in amazement as the third young master ate fruits he had never touched before, one bite at a time. miss gu ci couldn¡¯t handle mr. jiang¡¯s picky eating, but she was quite skilled with the third young master. would he dare not eat? would he dare not even look at the apples in the basket? ¡°in a few more days, when you can move, we¡¯ll go back to china to recuperate, alright?¡± ¡°alright!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s injuries would take some time to heal, and gu ci had fallen behind in her studies. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°your studies are important. you can go back to china first, and li jiang will take good care of me.¡± if she left, he wouldn¡¯t have to pretend to be the third young master anymore! Chapter 227 - Chapter 227:I Like You chapter 227:i like you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no!¡± gu ci¡¯s tone remained calm. ¡°1 want to go with you!¡± she looked into his eyes, serene yet determined. ¡°we agreed to go home together. it won¡¯t work if one of us is missing, and it won¡¯t work if we¡¯re not together.¡± lu zhiyuan reached out and caressed her face, the calluses in his palm gently touching her skin. ¡°that day when i had the car accident, li jiang said you were coughing up blood. did you get checked?¡± gu ci held his wrist with both hands, her cheek pressed against his palm, gazing at him with devotion. ¡°as long as you¡¯re okay, i¡¯m fine.¡± li jiang lowered his head. when lu zhiyuan woke up, he was too weak, and in his mind, he kept hearing the words third young master said before passing out: don¡¯t hurt her. he also saw gu ci¡¯s fear and sadness. subconsciously, he pretended to be third young master. gu ci clung to him like a drowning person, holding onto him tightly, wanting to pull him down with her. he knew this was not a long-term solution. today, black hawk¡¯s people gathered together to help him. she willingly put herself in front of everyone for his sake. in reality, he didn¡¯t need gu ci to make such a sacrifice. even if his life hung by a thread, he had ways to deal with chen rushi and pei qiuying¡¯s harassment. he decided to wait until gu ci returned to clear things up. li jiang mentioned that when the accident happened that day, gu ci coughed up blood. if something had happened to him, gu ci might not have survived either. this thought dispelled his previous intentions. if he had told her from the beginning that he was the third master, not the third young master, perhaps gu ci could have accepted it more calmly. at least she would know he was alive, and who knows when they would meet again. to regain and then lose again would be a double blow to gu ci, one she couldn¡¯t bear. lu zhiyuan thought to himself, let¡¯s wait a little longer! wait a few more days, find the right time, and he would come clean with gu ci. in the short term, he couldn¡¯t let her suffer two blows. ¡°lu zhiyuan, when did you start liking me?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°for a long time, a very long time ago.¡± ¡°when was that?¡± gu ci held his hand, playing with it in her palm, curiously asking him. lu zhiyuan thought for a moment. ¡°i¡¯ve liked you since 1 was a child. among a group of little girls, i liked playing with you the most.¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci asked in puzzlement. ¡°i was particularly annoying when i was little, and i liked to fight. i was always dirty, while gu chuyun had a good temperament, like a little princess, and she loved being with you. why did you like me, not her?¡± ¡°she¡¯s not as pretty as you!¡± gu ci and li jiang were both dumbfounded. is third young master really this shallow? third master, don¡¯t spread rumors when he¡¯s not around. 1 suspect you¡¯re competing for favor without evidence. gu ci smiled, hugged his neck, and kissed his lips lightly. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you have good taste. even though i had a bad temper when i was little, i must have been the prettiest among the little girls.¡± lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t expected her to take it seriously, but in reality, he had met her first. when he first saw gu ci, he was five years old, and she was three, looking incredibly cute with a strong-willed personality. at that time, gu ci and gu chuyun were still inseparable, two little sisters. little girls didn¡¯t know how cruel the world could be. due to their parents¡¯ guidance and favoritism, gu chuyun had developed a habit of bullying gu ci, taking her things. the little girls had no malice, and when gu ci was three, she was a bit of a crybaby. that day at the lu family, lu ze gave a pair of jade pendants to gu ci and gu chuyun, one for each. gu chuyun insisted on having both and snatched gu ci¡¯s. this led to a fight between gu ci and her, and gu yaozu came over and pushed gu ci down. three-year-old little gu ci cried loudly, but lu man and gu wenliang turned a blind eye. she ran to cry under the phoenix tree in sadness and was then attracted by a bird¡¯s nest on the tree. little gu ci climbed up the phoenix tree to reach the bird¡¯s nest but ended up breaking a branch and hanging from the tree. that evening, he was on the balcony reading a book and saw little gu ci hanging from the tree, struggling and falling. so he rushed over and caught her. at that time, he was still weak, and the two of them tumbled on the lawn together, and little gu ci injured his hand. little gu ci also knew she had caused trouble and cried loudly, but lu zhiyuan was afraid of disturbing others, so he took her upstairs and gave her his favorite racing car model. later, third young master went to ask for the model, but he fell in love with this beautiful little girl at first sight. his fondness turned into blatant favoritism. he didn¡¯t even want his most beloved racing car model anymore and bought her a lot of cotton candy to eat. little gu ci liked sticking to him, and little girls could see clearly who liked them the most. whenever there was movement in the bird¡¯s nest on the phoenix tree at the lu family, he and third young master would take gu ci to climb the tree and collect bird eggs. lu man and gu wenliang didn¡¯t take gu ci out with them, so lu zhiyuan would sneak into the gu family and take her out to play. and then, this feeling changed in nature. from liking, it turned into love! ¡°so, why didn¡¯t you tell me you liked me? was it because you were afraid i¡¯d find out about the existence of third master and reject you?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan kissed her ear and nodded. ¡°there were many things 1 was afraid of. 1 was afraid that one day i¡¯d lose control and scare you. i was afraid your liking would turn into something else. a person with a dual personality doesn¡¯t live long. 1 was afraid i¡¯d leave you all alone in this world one day, and i didn¡¯t want that. so, from the moment i sensed this feeling, i started distancing myself from you. who knew that deep down, you were stubborn and had been sulking with me for so many years. in fact, i¡¯ve always been protecting you. 1 knew you weren¡¯t living well in the gu family, but i was underage, and your parents were intact. 1 couldn¡¯t do anything. let me tell you a secret.¡± he cleared his throat and chuckled. ¡°when i was ten years old, 1 had lu ze sneak you out, and 1 shamelessly told him that i wanted to take care of you.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile. she was touched by what he had done. ¡°really?¡± ¡°really!¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°then lu ze chased us with a baseball bat.¡± ¡°did you get hit?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan nodded. ¡°i had two bruises on my leg.¡± gu ci was amused and felt her heart soften. she was moved by what he had done, something like what lu zhiyuan would do. ¡°did you know how to take care of me back then?¡± ¡°i had no idea!¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°but i knew that we had plenty of money at home, so taking care of you wasn¡¯t a problem. if the gu family didn¡¯t want to, 1 could take care of you.¡± gu ci held his hand and kissed it near her lips. ¡°it wouldn¡¯t have been bad to be raised by you from a young age. i could have been your foster daughter in the lu family.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. as gu ci continued speaking, she embraced his neck and kissed him again. lu zhiyuan held her waist with one hand, responding to her kiss tenderly. the sound of their kissing in the hospital room was enough to make one blush. li jiang watched, his eyelids jumping, and he quickly lowered his head. ¡°damn! three master is playing the role of third young master even more gently than the real third young master!¡± should he remind three master that third young master really isn¡¯t this gentle? perhaps he got the character mixed up. gu ci received a passionate and tender kiss from him, and her eyes shimmered with affection. ¡°so why did you stop paying attention to me afterward?¡± ¡°i got too busy!¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°to become an outstanding race car driver, you have to put in many times more effort than the average person. it takes time and energy. i already had half the time of others, so i cherished every minute and every second.¡± ¡°so, racing was more important to you!¡± gu ci commented. lu zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°you are more important than racing, gu ci. you will always be more important than racing..¡± Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Third Master Acting as Third Young Master chapter 228: third master acting as third young master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°third young master¡¯s awkward and unspoken words were spoken by third master without any burden and with sincerity. ¡°i can do without the championship, but i can¡¯t lose you.¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red as she hugged him, feeling a soft and bittersweet emotion in her heart. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t forget what you said.¡± ¡°okay!¡± lu zhiyuan was mentally exhausted and fell asleep in the afternoon. gu ci didn¡¯t return to the hotel. after lu zhiyuan fell asleep, gu ci asked li jiang, ¡°did chen rushi and his people cause any trouble?¡± ¡°third young master handled it all,¡± li jiang said. ¡°when third master succeeded black hawk, he left a video clip. each successor has a video for verification, and third master and third young master share the same identity, fingerprints, and iris. password verification. third young master also knows about this, and they share memories. except for me and you, ji chi, no one knows. pei qiuying believed in dual personalities, but there was no shared memory, so she instigated chen rushi to seize power. when the dust settles, third master wakes up and has no way to deal with it, but she miscalculated. ji chi shot chen rushi, and although he pretended to be wrong, chen rushi will definitely leave black hawk.¡± ¡°what about the others?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°black hawk¡¯s successors have always been chosen from the major families, used to having someone as a figurehead, while the real power remains with the families. after chen rushi leaves, will bronn and the others also leave?¡± li jiang said, ¡°people come together for mutual benefit, as it has been since ancient times. the yakuza can provide enough profit, and they may be willing to leave, but their strength is deeply rooted in black hawk, so they may not be willing.¡± gu ci pondered, ¡°with his identity exposed, can he still race in the future?¡± ¡°it¡¯s very difficult!¡± li jiang looked serious. ¡°miss gu ci, something happened; someone fired a shot. there are two bullet holes on the rear wing, and the race track was chaotic. we can¡¯t identify every spectator. this may be third young master¡¯s last race.¡± gu ci felt heartbroken for lu zhiyuan. if he knew he couldn¡¯t race anymore, he would be very disappointed. li jiang said, ¡°this is inevitable, for his safety.¡± ¡°i understand,¡± gu ci said. ¡°he still has a year to recover, no need to rush. dynasty racing also needs to cultivate new drivers to protect this honor.¡± ¡°we¡¯ve always been cultivating, but¡­ it¡¯s very difficult to cultivate a race car driver domestically.¡± ¡°i know.¡± gu ci also understood that cultivating a race car driver was not easy. besides talent, it also required a large amount of money, an sport that poor people couldn¡¯t participate in. it¡¯s also the most expensive sport in the world! gu ci sat on the edge of the bed, looking at lu zhiyuan. at night, lu zhiyuan was in deep sleep, not waking up. he always slept until it was dark. gu ci played with the necklace on his chest and found a trace of blood on the wolf¡¯s head. gu ci dipped a cotton swab in water and gently wiped it clean, inevitably thinking of the scene of his car accident. li jiang knocked gently on the door. ¡°miss gu ci, why don¡¯t you sleep next door?¡± ¡°no need, i¡¯m not tired.¡± li jiang glanced at the clock. it was already two in the morning. has third master been sleeping like this all night? ¡°miss gu ci, he can¡¯t wake up at night, is he okay?¡± ¡°he¡¯s deficient in vital energy and blood. nighttime is a good time for him to rest. go to sleep,¡± gu ci said. ¡°i¡¯ll stay with him. you go rest, and if there¡¯s anything, i¡¯ll call you.¡± li jiang was one of third master¡¯s close guards and had to stay by his side as per the rules. he and two other guards took shifts, sleeping for three hours and then changing shifts. but no matter when he changed his shift, gu ci was always in the hospital room, watching over third master. li jiang couldn¡¯t help but find it somewhat eerie. in the middle of the night, with gu ci silently watching over third master, it reminded him of scenes from horror movies where deranged women stared at their victims. if third master needed a ventilator, he felt that gu ci might want to remove the tube. lu zhiyuan, on the other hand, slept until dawn again. in fact, he had awakened once during the night and saw gu ci looking at the snow outside the window. it was close to new year¡¯s day, and snowflakes were drifting down. paris¡¯s nighttime view was beautiful. however, gu ci¡¯s face showed no enjoyment of the scenery, or perhaps it was the darkness of the night, but lu zhiyuan saw a heavy sense of lifelessness in her. she looked at the snow outside the window, and he looked at her, observing her for two hours. the next morning, when lu zhiyuan woke up and saw gu ci again, she was smiling and gentle as always. she kissed his lips and asked, ¡°did you sleep well?¡± ¡°very well!¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°how about you?¡± ¡°also very well!¡± gu ci lied. she hadn¡¯t slept all night, but lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t expose her. however, there was a heavy and unfamiliar emotion in her heart, like something gently pinching his heart. it wasn¡¯t painful, but it couldn¡¯t be ignored. in the previous life, he had died in a car accident. how long would it take for gu ci to shake off that shadow? as soon as li jiang arrived, he saw the two of them gazing affectionately at each other, giving him goosebumps. he couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°third young master, third master, please don¡¯t explode when you wake up.¡± on the day of lu zhiyuan¡¯s race, he had sweated profusely, followed by surgery, and hadn¡¯t been cleaned up in recent days. he felt uncomfortable with the accumulated sweat. he subtly expressed his desire for a bath, and gu ci, following her intuition, went to fetch some water. ¡°cici, let li jiang do it!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s ears turned red. ¡°why?¡± gu ci frowned. ¡°i can do it.¡± lu zhiyuan thought about the fact that they had been married in their previous life and even had a child. they should be familiar with each other¡¯s bodies by now. but¡­ he had no memories of that. what if it were third young master? how should he put it? third master racked his brain and finally came up with an excuse. ¡°1 don¡¯t want you to see the injuries on my body. i want you to always see me as perfect, even in your eyes, even my body.¡± gu ci and li jiang were both dumbfounded. li jiang was also caught in an awkward situation. third master, third young master wouldn¡¯t say something like this. they might even hope that miss gu ci would help them carefully clean their bodies or even flirt with her. your hands can¡¯t move, but hers can! the way lu zhiyuan phrased it was clearly not very practiced, and after saying it, he also felt a bit embarrassed and awkward. there was a strange and silent atmosphere in the hospital room for a few seconds. gu ci didn¡¯t know what to say in response, so she compromised. ¡°li jiang, you can do it. i¡¯ll make bird¡¯s nest soup for you.¡± she went to the next room to prepare the bird¡¯s nest soup, while li jiang carefully helped lu zhiyuan clean up. in a hushed voice, he said, ¡°third master, i think¡­ you¡¯ve got the wrong persona.¡± ¡°what?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°third young master, when he¡¯s in front of miss gu ci, he¡¯s¡­ very¡­¡± li jiang struggled to find the right word, ¡°charming. you should be a bit more open.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°the temperaments and styles of third master and third young master are like that of brothers, but when it comes to matters of love, you, third master, are like a wooden man experiencing his first romance, while third young master is a playboy who has never been tied down.¡± ¡°he hasn¡¯t been in a relationship either!¡± lu zhiyuan replied with a poker face. ¡°but he¡¯s better at¡­ flirting,¡± li jiang commented. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned cold, and he stopped speaking.. Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Isn’t It Because Third Young Master Likes to Smile? chapter 229: isn¡¯t it because third young master likes to smile? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation li jiang gathered his courage, ¡°third young master has an outgoing personality, gets jealous in front of miss gu ci, is possessive, and quite domineering. he enjoys teasing miss gu ci, and when they are in love, onlookers see them as a sweet and affectionate couple. third master, are you in love¡­? no one in love smiles foolishly every day. you should be more natural, more intimate.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. he also spoke sweet words; those were all third young master¡¯s heartfelt thoughts. he let gu ci hug and kiss him, and he responded to her. wasn¡¯t that intimate enough? why is there a need for more intimacy? he smiled. wasn¡¯t it because third young master loved to smile? ¡°how about¡­ i write you a script to tell you how third young master would act?¡± li jiang earnestly suggested. ¡°li jiang!¡± lu zhiyuan called his name lightly. ¡°shut up!¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang didn¡¯t dare to be impudent again. he quickly wiped him down and changed him into clean clothes. lu zhiyuan always felt fresher after that. li jiang seemed like he wanted to say something but hesitated, ultimately not daring to babble any further. third master, 1 hope my words can help you open up third young master¡¯s character correctly, be bolder, don¡¯t be so innocent!! third young master and miss gu ci were obviously adults in love. third master and miss gu ci were like high school students in love. as a guard, li jiang was troubled! gu ci bought a health pot to cook porridge for lu zhiyuan. she also bought some bird¡¯s nest and sea cucumber to nourish his blood and qi. when she returned with the bird¡¯s nest, lu zhiyuan was leaning on the bed, lost in thought, as if contemplating some major life event. ¡°what are you thinking?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan snapped out of it, looking at gu ci. li jiang said he was playing the role of third young master, but did gu ci doubt it? however, gu ci¡¯s eyes were tender, as if cradling a precious treasure, too heavy to risk dropping, yet too light to hold securely. he couldn¡¯t discern gu ci¡¯s emotions; she always kept them hidden, a kind of inherent restraint. the bird¡¯s nest was still piping hot. gu ci placed it on the sideboard to cool a bit. she teasingly asked, ¡°are you saying that you got injured, and li jiang took such meticulous care of you?¡± ¡°1¡­ have never been this seriously injured before.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled slightly, perhaps influenced by li jiang¡¯s words, he appeared more languid, with his disheveled hair partially covering his eyes. ¡°this is the first time!¡± he took gu ci¡¯s hand and placed it in his palm. gu ci asked, ¡°were you scared during the car accident?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head. he wasn¡¯t scared, and neither was third young master. ¡°you¡¯d better be scared!¡± gu ci¡¯s tone carried a hint of fierceness. lu zhiyuan looked at her, confused. in the blink of an eye, gu ci smiled gently again. ¡°one should fear death to stay away from it.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not afraid, just regretful!¡± lu zhiyuan recalled third young master¡¯s words. ¡°regretful that i couldn¡¯t keep my promise to take you home.¡± gu ci held him, and lu zhiyuan gently stroked her back, gradually getting into the role of third young master. ¡°gu ci, do you really like me?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ci nodded in his embrace. ¡°1 do!¡± ¡°who was it that once said they were so beautiful and charming that they wouldn¡¯t have trouble finding suitors, and if one couldn¡¯t catch up, they¡¯d just switch to someone else?¡± gu ci looked up at him, saying without any psychological burden, ¡°i was just bragging.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he caressed her eyes. it was love, but it was also obsession. her obsession with a person ran deep. ¡°i was never likable since 1 was a child,¡± gu ci recounted her past without any sadness. ¡°my personality wasn¡¯t likable, my speech wasn¡¯t likable. apart from you, no one liked me. when i went to college, my friends were distant, and everyone preferred gu chuyun and jinjin. they had cheerful, lively personalities and were good at socializing, very popular.¡± gu ci thought about the different treatment she and zhou jin jin received when they posted on social media. ¡°when jinjin posts something, her feed is filled with likes and comments. when 1 post something, there are very few likes. but i don¡¯t mind, as long as you like it.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s favor for her as an individual surpassed everyone else! ¡°gu ci, why do you like me?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°is it because in the previous life, we dated and got married, and i was your husband?¡± then which version of lu zhiyuan do you actually like? ¡°because you¡¯re handsome!¡± lu zhiyuan adopted third young master¡¯s arrogance, ¡°oh, what if i become disfigured? will you still like me?¡± this hit a soft spot for gu ci, and she hugged lu zhiyuan, kissing his lips gently. ¡°even if you were disfigured, i¡¯d still love you.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. gu ci looked at the couple¡¯s bracelet on the side. since he entered the hospital, he hadn¡¯t worn it; it had been placed in the cabinet, his personal item. ¡°put it on!¡± ¡°i¡¯m injured!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s left hand was in a cast, wrapped up like a mummy. he had always worn this bracelet on his left hand. gu ci said, ¡°put it on your right hand.¡± ¡°then you put it on!¡± his eyes held a trace of indulgence he might not even be aware of. gu ci took the bracelet and put it on his right hand, finally satisfied. after the bird¡¯s nest congee had cooled a bit, gu ci fed him spoonful by spoonful. after finishing it, lu zhiyuan looked at the dark circles under gu ci¡¯s eyes and softly said, ¡°cici, come up and nap with me!¡± ¡°is it okay?¡± ¡°i want to hold you while i fall sleep!¡± li jiang was speechless. third master, if it were third young master, he would say, ¡°1 want to hold you while i sleep,¡± not ¡°i want to hold you while i fall sleep¡±! a one-word difference can do more to reflect third young master¡¯s character than merely expressing a desire. li jiang was feeling quite exhausted; he wished he could compile a handbook of third young master¡¯s phrases to teach third master how to speak properly. to be honest, even though third master is playing the role of third young master, he seemed to have misunderstood something. he¡¯s really so gentle! he neither seems like third master nor entirely like third young master! gu ci nestled into his blanket, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s right hand had only a minor scrape, not too serious. gu ci lay in his embrace, cautiously extending one hand to hold his waist. for lu zhiyuan, this was indeed a¡­ hard-to-describe feeling. he couldn¡¯t refuse. whether in words, looks, or actions, gu ci exuded a profound sense of insecurity, and lu zhiyuan could only indulge her. if it were third young master, he would surely do the same, and he¡¯d be very caring. ¡°sleep, i¡¯ll be with you.¡± gu ci shook her head, sniffing at his faint minty scent like an addict. she didn¡¯t want to sleep, but she also didn¡¯t dare to sleep. lu zhiyuan touched her ear as if comforting a little kitten. ¡°do you like my ears so much?¡± gu ci asked with a smile. lu zhiyuan seemed embarrassed as if someone had discovered a little secret. he tried to pull away, but when he thought of third young master¡¯s character, he said, ¡°blushing at a touch, very cute.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know how to respond. the atmosphere became strangely silent for a moment. li jiang stood awkwardly by the door, scratching the wall. third master, you really lack insight. he desperately wanted to write a handbook of third young master¡¯s phrases to teach third master how to speak properly. ¡°well¡­ continue touching, don¡¯t stop!¡± lu zhiyuan felt his palm burning, and he strategically coughed. with no place to put his hand and an attempt to lift it blocked by gu ci, he finally managed to discreetly move it away from her ear. ¡°are you okay?¡± gu ci asked.. Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Extremely Ambiguous chapter 230: extremely ambiguous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°no problem!¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the pain caused by breathing. his bones were fractured, and with the wound from the knife, even a slight cough brought excruciating pain. gu ci helped him up and poured a bit of water for him. lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t particularly fond of soups and liquids, especially now that he couldn¡¯t move much. he was too proud to accept this intimate side of himself being exposed to others. however, gu ci always liked to feed him various soups and fruits. after taking a sip of water, gu ci lay back down but couldn¡¯t fall asleep. she played with the buttons on his pajamas. lu zhiyuan felt that acting was too exhausting; maybe he should strategically take a nap. but he couldn¡¯t fall asleep either! sleeping too much during the night left him quite energetic during the day. why was he so full of energy when he had nearly ten fractured bones in his body? he closed his eyes, pretending to sleep, trying to escape from the act. however, with his eyes closed, his senses became even more acute. he was naturally more sensitive than others. he felt gu ci¡¯s hand undoing his buttons and slipping into his pajamas, her fingers drawing circles on his lower abdomen. lu zhiyuan was speechless. as a person who couldn¡¯t take care of himself due to his injuries, even taking a deep breath caused severe chest and abdominal pain. and now, gu ci was teasing him with such desire? this situation was getting quite awkward. he pretended to be asleep, but how could he naturally wake up without any signs of acting? should he continue to play dead and let her touch him? what if gu ci¡¯s actions became too inappropriate¡­ just as he was thinking this, gu ci¡¯s hand moved downward, and lu zhiyuan began a tactical cough, his chest aching. gu ci touched him through his clothes for a moment, and when she heard him cough, she let go. ¡°you¡¯re coughing again. are you getting a cold?¡± gu ci asked with concern. ¡°with your serious injuries, your immune system isn¡¯t strong. you shouldn¡¯t catch a cold.¡± lu zhiyuan blushed, and his ears turned red. he wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of the cough or some other reason, but he turned red all over. his eyes betrayed a hint of¡­undeniable desire. even third master, who usually remained calm, had the body of a twenty-year-old full of youthful energy. lying in the same bed with a woman, especially one he loved, was a torment. what was wrong with him, inviting gu ci to take a nap together! third young master and gu ci had gone from ambiguity to love, and third master had witnessed the entire journey. he was a bit peculiar, liking to kiss gu ci, and his athlete¡¯s body couldn¡¯t withstand any intimate actions. even taking a nap, he could dream of gu ci, needing training to release his energy. the one with intense desire was third young master, not gu ci. why was she provoking him when he was half-disabled? ¡°how can 1 sleep when you¡¯re doing this?¡± his voice was a bit husky. ¡°don¡¯t you like it?¡± gu ci looked at him bewildered. ¡°1 thought you¡­ would like it since you reacted.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t know how to respond. third young master would indeed like it! moreover, he had injuries to his bones and lungs, so having a reaction was normal. how could he act this out? after a moment of silence, lu zhiyuan said firmly, ¡°cici, these things should be initiated by men. when i¡¯m fully recovered, you better not regret it!¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci didn¡¯t regret it at all; in fact, she was looking forward to it. ¡°then get better soon!¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. li jiang, in another room, scratched his head awkwardly. he didn¡¯t know what had happened, but he could imagine it from their conversation. he was assisting third master! he really felt sorry for him. speaking such embarrassing lines with a straight face! the two of them remained in this ambiguous state for hours. gu ci still couldn¡¯t fall asleep, but at least she stayed proper in his arms, talking about their childhood memories. for third master, this was too simple. because he had memories too! but she just couldn¡¯t sleep. besides the night when the surgery was successful, gu ci hadn¡¯t slept well since. ¡°cici, go to sleep!¡± ¡°i can¡¯t sleep!¡± gu ci looked at him with bloodshot eyes. ¡°1 want to sleep, but i can¡¯t.¡± ¡°why can¡¯t you sleep?¡± ¡°every time 1 close my eyes¡­¡± you die! gu ci suppressed her fear. ¡°i always imagine you getting into accidents.¡± typical signs of stress syndrome. ¡°should 1 ask a doctor to prescribe some sleeping pills for you?¡± lu zhiyuan whispered, trying to comfort her. ¡°just one pill.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°gu ci, if you keep going like this, 1¡¯11 be angry!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s tone was displeased. ¡°it¡¯s been so long since you had a good night¡¯s sleep. if you continue like this, your body won¡¯t hold up.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll take the medicine, so don¡¯t be angry!¡± she nervously grabbed his hand, looking a bit pitiful. lu zhiyuan held her and whispered in her ear, ¡°cici, it will get better. don¡¯t be afraid. everything¡­ will be as you wish.¡± ¡°really?¡± ¡°really!¡± lu zhiyuan said firmly. ¡°i swear, i will make sure everything goes as you wish.¡± gu ci choked up a bit. ¡°okay!¡± li jiang went to find a doctor who prescribed sleeping pills. gu ci, under lu zhiyuan¡¯s watchful eye, swallowed two pills obediently and lay down beside him. after taking the pills, gu ci kept looking at him, and lu zhiyuan resolutely avoided her gaze. the wounds from gu ci¡¯s past life were never healed, and she was about to experience them again. it was inevitable that she would develop some inner demons. but she couldn¡¯t remain extreme, sensitive, and so stubborn. lu zhiyuan watched her peaceful sleeping face as she nestled in his arms. it was clear that he was the one who was half-disabled, nearly dying, but gu ci seemed even worse off. his injuries were physical and would heal quickly, but her wounds were deep inside, invisible and hard to treat. he had an indescribable¡­ heartache. his hand habitually stroked her ear, as if it had become an addiction. it only took seven days to form a habit, but sometimes it took a lifetime to break one. gu ci¡¯s breathing was steady, and she finally fell asleep. li jiang knocked on the door and entered. lu zhiyuan handed him noise-canceling headphones and asked, ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡± ji chi is here.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced down at gu ci, who had just fallen asleep. two sleeping pills meant she wouldn¡¯t wake up for a while. ¡°come in!¡± ¡°oh, this is unexpected!¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow when he saw the situation. lu zhiyuan pulled up the blanket to cover gu ci¡¯s face and asked, ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°after chen rushi¡¯s surgery, as you expected, he cut off all transactions between the chen family and black hawk. he wants independence, to break free from black hawk,¡± ji chi said as he leaned against the window. ¡°rong li has managed to keep him busy for a while, and in a recent internal meeting of the bronn family, sixty percent voted to stay with black hawk, and bronn will suppress them.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°it¡¯s not easy to enter black hawk, and it¡¯s even harder to leave. if chen rushi wants to break free, he¡¯ll have to give up half of his fortune. will he be willing to do that?¡± ¡°that¡¯s why i¡¯m here. chen rushi wants to take away all of the chen family¡¯s assets from black hawk,¡± ji chi said with a cold expression. ¡°1 and rong li tried to talk to him twice, but both attempts failed.¡± ¡°the chen family has been a core member of black hawk for three generations and an important family. they have enjoyed the benefits for many years. now, they want to take away all their assets? tell chen rushi he¡¯s dreaming!¡± lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t one to easily get along with. ¡°who is behind him, supporting him? pei qiuying?¡± ji chi¡¯s gaze became subtle, and lu zhiyuan instantly understood. ¡°jiang junlin?¡± Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Third Master’s Acting Skills Have Finally chapter 231: third master¡¯s acting skills have finally caught on translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan¡¯s brows were furrowed, covered with a layer of frost. ¡°hualan bank is already propping up the triad in the asian market, and it¡¯s not chaotic enough for jiang junlin and me. what deep-seated grudge does he have with me that he insists on dividing the black hawk?¡± ji chi¡¯s face slightly changed, but he remained silent, his fists clenched at his sides. ¡°third master, should i arrange a meeting between you two?¡± lu zhiyuan, weakened by his injuries, didn¡¯t want to sit at the negotiation table with anyone. his aura had diminished slightly. ¡°since jiang junlin insists on getting involved, then tell him there¡¯s no possibility of this happening. there¡¯s no need for negotiations!¡± ¡°understood!¡± ¡°is chen rushi trying to bring the chen family¡¯s assets into the triad and secure a place there?¡± ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°this is getting interesting. pei qiuying is still the leader of the triad. now that i¡¯m injured, there¡¯s chaos within the black hawk. chen rushi gains independence and joins the triad. when 1 recover from my injuries, it will be months later, and everything will have settled. pei qiuying will have gained strength with me out of the picture. with jiang junlin favoring gu ci so much, will he let pei qiuying take control unopposed, allowing the triad to expand chaotically?¡± ji chi also found this situation strange, which is why he came to see lu zhiyuan. during lu zhiyuan¡¯s period of injury, all affairs were entrusted to rong li and ji chi, a test of trust. ¡°i don¡¯t think jiang junlin will allow that!¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°you think? if you want to understand jiang junlin, don¡¯t be clouded by lust. even now, you don¡¯t know who he truly is.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t mind the scolding; he knew it was warranted. ¡°third master, calm down, and be mindful of your wound!¡± lu zhiyuan contemplated why jiang junlin was taking this step. ¡°should we let chen rushi leave?¡± ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan said firmly. ¡°if chen rushi wants to take the chen family¡¯s assets and leave, she should pay a price. you know what to do, and you don¡¯t have to consider anyone¡¯s feelings.¡± ji chi hesitated. he had come to lu zhiyuan thinking something was amiss and had considered talking to jiang junlin. since lu zhiyuan refused to negotiate, he would have to confront jiang junlin. ¡°if you can¡¯t handle it, hand it over to rong li!¡± ¡°i can handle it!¡± ji chi said. ¡°third master, rest assured. i won¡¯t be deceived by him again. i know what to do.¡± ¡°go, then!¡± ¡°understood!¡± after ji chi left, lu zhiyuan clutched his chest; the wound was still painful. jiang junlin¡­ he had almost figured out jiang junlin¡¯s identity. this move was like revealing a trump card. lu zhiyuan glanced down at gu ci, who was sleeping peacefully. outside, the wind and snow raged on. lu zhiyuan checked the calendar; tomorrow was new year¡¯s day, a day meant for reunion. li jiang suggested, ¡°third master, how about asking miss gu ci to talk to mr. jiang?¡± ¡°our affairs have nothing to do with her.¡± lu zhiyuan removed his noise-canceling earphones, waved his hand, and li jiang quietly exited. gu ci was sleeping soundly, seeking warmth even in her dreams, clinging to his waist and unwilling to let go. he lowered his head and remembered what gu ziyu had said. in her previous life, she died by suicide! he was dangerous to her. ¡°cici, sleep well,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°you¡¯ll get better. everyone has wounds they can¡¯t touch. without experiencing others¡¯ suffering, we can¡¯t advise them to be magnanimous.¡± he just hoped that the storm would end in this life and gu ci could have a peaceful existence. gu ci had another nightmare. even though she had taken two sleeping pills, she slept restlessly, waking up from a nightmare after only two hours. despite lu zhiyuan¡¯s soothing words, she was still in a state of panic, reaching out to hold him tightly, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t leave me, please!¡± ¡°don¡¯t be afraid, i¡¯m here,¡± lu zhiyuan held her with one hand and kissed her sweaty forehead in the midst of her fear. this kiss provided gu ci with a great sense of security, and she turned her head to return the kiss. lu zhiyuan thought of third young master¡¯s persona. he used one hand to steady her chin and deepened the kiss. it shifted from being gentle and intense to more assertive, carrying a hint of desire, with the usual dominance and dominance of third young master. li jiang sneakily glanced and muttered to himself, quickly hugging the wall in a corner, avoiding eye contact. third master, you¡¯ve finally caught on! this is the true persona of third young master! lu zhiyuan gently stroked her chin, then released her. his throat felt a bit dry. the calmness in his usually composed eyes was replaced with a different emotion. gu ci seemed surprised yet affectionate. she blinked and leaned in for another kiss. in the quiet hospital room, there was only the sound of their kisses ambiguous, yet chaotic. their breaths were completely intertwined, inseparable. gu ci gradually calmed down in his arms, curling up beside him, resting her head on his leg. lu zhiyuan stroked her tense shoulders and asked, ¡°cici, can we find a doctor to check on you?¡± ¡°i¡¯m not sick!¡± gu ci mumbled, clutching the blanket nervously. ¡°alright!¡± lu zhiyuan was accommodating. he continued to comfort her repeatedly. lu zhiyuan looked at the snowstorm outside the window and suddenly said, ¡°cici, it¡¯s almost new year.¡± gu ci raised her head to look outside, where everything was covered in white, and there was no sign of new year¡¯s festivity in the hospital room. ¡°yeah, it¡¯s almost new year!¡± gu ci gazed outside in a daze. lu zhiyuan lifted her chin and planted a gentle yet intense kiss on her lips. gu ci¡¯s pale lips became rosy from the kiss. lu zhiyuan rested against her forehead. ¡°what¡¯s your new year¡¯s wish?¡± ¡°i pray for your safety, lu zhiyuan.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart felt a sting as if stung by a bee. ¡°1 will grant your wish, just as you desire.¡± ¡°don¡¯t lie to me!¡± ¡°i won¡¯t!¡± he kissed her forehead and softly asked, ¡°would you like to sleep a little longer?¡± gu ci shook her head; she couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. lu zhiyuan had been recovering from his injuries for a week, and he could move around. ¡°can we go back to china on the 3rd?¡± li jiang was anxious to speak but received a warning glance from lu zhiyuan. ¡°alright!¡± lu zhiyuan agreed, ¡°li jiang, make the arrangements!¡± ¡°got it!¡± new year¡¯s day arrived, and they were in a foreign land once again. gu ci didn¡¯t want to hastily pass the time. she took two guards and went out to buy groceries for a proper meal. gu ci first went to jiang junlin¡¯s house. he was waiting for her at the door, holding an umbrella to shield her from the snow. he ushered her inside. inside the house, a fireplace burned brightly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere that felt like spring. jiang junlin poured her a cup of hot tea with milk and sugar. ¡°warm up.¡± gu ci sipped the milk tea, feeling warmth returning to her body. she smiled at jiang junlin. ¡°brother, happy new year.¡± ¡°you too, happy new year!¡± jiang junlin walked to a bookshelf and took out a deep red velvet box, handing it to gu ci. ¡°your new year¡¯s gift.¡± gu ci opened it and found a rose gold diamond bracelet inside. it resembled cartier¡¯s classic bracelet, and it had a small tiger charm hanging from it, representing her zodiac sign. she closed the box and looked at jiang junlin with a smile. ¡°thank you, brother..¡± Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Third Master’s Acting Skills Have Finally chapter 232: third master¡¯s acting skills have finally caught on (2) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°have you not been sleeping well recently? you look a bit tired and have lost some weight.¡± ¡°at the hospital, it¡¯s hard to get a good night¡¯s sleep!¡± gu ci spoke frankly, ¡°we plan to return to china on the third. will your brother be coming with us?¡± ¡°you¡¯re leaving on the third?¡± jiang junlin was somewhat surprised, paused for a moment, and then said, ¡°my brother has some business to attend to in europe, so it might be a while before he joins us.¡± ¡°i see.¡± gu ci lowered her head, sipping her milk tea in silence. jiang junlin leaned back slightly, adopting a somewhat lazy posture. ¡°cici, is there anything else you want to tell my brother?¡± gu ci looked up at him, calm and gentle, and smiled as she shook her head. ¡°i just came to wish my brother a happy new year. if he¡¯s busy, i¡¯ll wait for you at home.¡± jiang junlin escorted her to the door, helped her put on her down jacket, and placed a hat and scarf on her. ¡°it¡¯s windy and snowy outside, so take your time.¡± gu ci hugged him and said, ¡°thankyou, big brother!¡± jiang junlin smiled, patted her knit cap, and watched as she got into the car. as the car drove away in the snow, he appeared lost in thought. upon returning indoors, jiang junlin glanced at the old clock on the wall. was new year¡¯s day approaching? another year had passed! he picked up his phone, hesitated for a moment, and dialed ji chi¡¯s number. ¡°how¡¯s your buddha jumps over the wall soup coming along?¡± ji chi didn¡¯t know how to respond. after gu ci left jiang junlin¡¯s home, she went to the chinese supermarket. she carefully selected various ingredients, including a variety of fruits. she even bought a stew pot. while it was easy to make congee with the hospital¡¯s health kettle, preparing soup was a bit more complicated. the supermarket was crowded, and her two bodyguards remained vigilant, fearing any unexpected incidents. at the fruit stall, gu ci picked out some raspberries, cherries, and strawberries. she naturally reached for an apple but then, silently, put it back and chose avocados and bananas instead. the supermarket was festive for the upcoming chinese new year, but the hospital felt excessively quiet. gu ci had originally thought about buying some window decorations, but then she thought better of it. after purchasing the ingredients and returning home, it wasn¡¯t too late. in her absence, lu zhiyuan had handled some business, had a video conference with ji chi and rong li, and when she arrived at the hospital entrance, after a notification from li jiang, lu zhiyuan disconnected the video call and lay motionless on the bed. when gu ci returned, she took off her down jacket, hat, and scarf. she went over to hug him, still carrying the cold of the snowy outdoors. lu zhiyuan touched her face with his fingers, her cheeks chilled by the wind. ¡°are you cold?¡± ¡°not at all!¡± gu ci hugged him, her face against his. ¡°are you cold?¡± ¡°yes.¡± gu ci chuckled, and the two shared a tender kiss. gu ci went to wash the fruits and placed them in front of him. ¡°have some fruit first, and 1¡¯11 make some soup.¡± as gu ci began to prepare the soup in the adjacent room, she bought an old hen, planning to make a nourishing soup for lu zhiyuan. these past few days, he couldn¡¯t take care of himself, and he had been reluctant to eat, trying to minimize any inconveniences. gu ci insisted, and he resisted. since the surgery, he hadn¡¯t had a proper meal. while she was dealing with the old hen, lu zhiyuan sent a message to li jiang. lu zhiyuan: come in, but be quiet. li jiang entered immediately, treading lightly. he approached lu zhiyuan and pointed to the plate of fruits. ¡°eat!¡± li jiang was speechless. apart from apples, the third young master really didn¡¯t like any other fruits. as long as gu ci didn¡¯t feed him, whenever she wasn¡¯t around, the fruits ended up in li jiang¡¯s stomach. li jiang moved exceptionally quickly, stuffing the strawberries, cherries, and raspberries into his mouth in one go, leaving one strawberry and one cherry for the third young master to act with. he was struggling! his stomach didn¡¯t agree with the local cuisine, and after arriving in paris, he had developed some digestive sensitivity. eating too much fruit at once could lead to diarrhea. while gu ci was cooking the soup, she glanced over at him and saw lu zhiyuan biting into half of a strawberry, smiling at her. when gu ci approached, he put down the other half of the strawberry. ¡°don¡¯t want to eat anymore?¡± ¡°you ate all that fruit by yourself?¡± lu zhiyuan nodded calmly. ¡°yes.¡± ¡°was it sweet?¡± lu zhiyuan gestured with his finger, and gu ci lowered her head. he leaned in to kiss her, and gu ci tasted the strawberry juice on his lips. ¡°is it sweet?¡± ¡°sweet!¡± gu ci asked with a smile. ¡°do you like it?¡± lu zhiyuan replied firmly, ¡°1 do!¡± gu ci asked him, ¡°how do you usually spend new year¡¯s day?¡± a hint of arrogance appeared in lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyebrows as he replied, ¡°the old man likes lively gatherings. he knows he¡¯s raised a bunch of troublemakers, but he still enjoys watching his sons put on a show of brotherly love and respect in front of him. during the holidays, he¡¯ll urge us to come home and have a family meal together. it¡¯s not enjoyable at all, sitting around the same table as if we¡¯re a harmonious family. let¡¯s not mention it!¡± gu ci could guess that lu ze enjoyed tv dramas with happy reunions and reconciliations, and his real-life preferences were likely similar. fortunately, lu shijie was gone! ¡°don¡¯t mention lu shijie, it¡¯s a downer!¡± ¡°agreed, it¡¯s bad luck!¡± lu zhiyuan cursed and felt like he was becoming more and more like the third young master. gu ci brought over more fruits, eating a raspberry herself and feeding one to him. for lu zhiyuan, it was a form of torture, especially since raspberries had a tangy and sweet taste, which he disliked immensely. the third young master happened to enjoy tangy and sweet fruits, and li jiang had a keen eye. he ate up all the raspberries. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t dare to show any signs of dislike, fearing that gu ci would catch on. after eating two, he said, ¡°i can¡¯t eat anymore. let¡¯s wait for the chicken soup.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci put down the fruits. gu ci went to the adjacent room to check on the chicken soup she was simmering and prepare some side dishes. lu zhiyuan quickly spat out the fruit he had in his mouth onto a tissue and threw it into the trash can. he rinsed his mouth with the warm water to get rid of the strange taste. ¡°li jiang!¡± lu zhiyuan called, but li jiang was nowhere to be seen. instead, one of the bodyguards came in. gu ci had also come out by then. ¡°third young master, li jiang has had an upset stomach. he¡¯s been in the restroom for fifteen minutes. is there something urgent?¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. ¡°out of nowhere, he got an upset stomach?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know what caused it,¡± the bodyguard said cautiously. seeing gu ci¡¯s presence, lu zhiyuan had to change his request. ¡°it¡¯s alright, go outside for now.¡± ¡°yes!¡± after the bodyguard left, lu zhiyuan smiled at gu ci and asked, ¡°why did you call li jiang?¡± lu zhiyuan had initially wanted li jiang to organize the black hawk¡¯s records for him. but when gu ci looked over, lu zhiyuan changed his mind and created a different reason. ¡°1 wanted him to find some news related to racing.¡± gu ci handed him the tablet and let him browse social media. after lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident, the global sports center had immediately released a statement about the accident without mentioning the assassination, simply describing it as a wing malfunction. the global sports center had undoubtedly been hit hard. a global live broadcast of a serious racing accident involving lu zhiyuan, who had almost lost his life, left fans in shock. they blamed the racing team for not being cautious enough, not checking the wings before the race and other reasons. fans were anxiously awaiting updates, and after lu zhiyuan¡¯s successful surgery, the global sports center promptly released a statement confirming his safety.. Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Third Master’s Livestream Failed chapter 233: third master¡¯s livestream failed translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the racing league, all the teams posted well-wishing messages, and even ferrari¡¯s second-place winner, taixi, tried to contact li jiang to visit lu zhiyuan. li jiang rejected them all. lu zhiyuan, the ceo of global sports center, never met with anyone, let alone others. since li jiang found out that lu zhiyuan is the third master, he hasn¡¯t dared to mention it again. he didn¡¯t even let him do a live broadcast to reassure the fans. the fans were about to riot. after winning the championship, there were accidents and incidents, day after day. the brief safety announcement from global sports center did little to calm the fans. from christmas eve onwards, he disappeared from the public eye. ¡°where¡¯s my trophy?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. gu ci was taken aback, not expecting him to ask about the trophy first. ¡°the racing league postponed the celebration events. they plan to hold the award ceremony once you¡¯ve recovered.¡± lu zhiyuan remembered that third young master wanted the championship¡­ he wanted to give it to gu ci! gu ci leaned against the suite door, looking at him, and remembered something, a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°lu zhiyuan, since you¡¯re awake, why don¡¯t you do a live broadcast and chat with your fans?¡± lu zhiyuan was confused and startled. a live broadcast? him? gu ci walked over and whispered, ¡°since your accident, you¡¯ve been in hiding. they suspect global sports center of foul play. doing a live broadcast would reassure everyone that you¡¯re safe.¡± lu zhiyuan pondered. third young master had done two live broadcasts with a carefree and unpredictable style. maybe he couldn¡¯t pull that off, but what gu ci said made sense. if he, as third young master, remained out of sight for seven days after a serious injury, he owed his fans an explanation. global sports center had long wanted lu zhiyuan to do a live broadcast. they had been begging li jiang, but with him being the third master, li jiang wouldn¡¯t dare to ask him. it was obvious that the request would be refused. ¡°all right!¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath. he couldn¡¯t afford to break his image! when li jiang returned and heard that he was willing to do a live broadcast, he was overjoyed. it was as if they had won the lottery. he hurriedly reported to the management team at global sports center, and they were equally thrilled. a true superstar finally emerged after much anticipation. gu ci had him log into his account. ¡°once you start the live broadcast, i¡¯ll stay out of the camera frame. feel free to chat with them.¡± after lu zhiyuan prepared, gu ci initiated the live broadcast. lu zhiyuan was accustomed to video conferences, so he was familiar with the operation. he didn¡¯t need gu ci¡¯s guidance. she went to the next room to cook soup for him. lu zhiyuan was a global sports superstar. when he started the live broadcast, the camera nearly froze. a bunch of people entered and called him ¡°husband¡± and congratulated him on winning. the live stream froze for more than ten seconds and then crashed. perfect! lu zhiyuan thought to himself. with the stream crashing, the fans had seen his real face. maybe they wouldn¡¯t cause a commotion now. li jiang saw through his thoughts. ¡°no! this won¡¯t do!¡± it was too perfunctory! ¡°you haven¡¯t said a word. you need to chat for at least twenty minutes!¡± lu zhiyuan glanced coldly at li jiang, who quickly backtracked, raising his hand with five fingers extended. ¡°five minutes will do.¡± gu ci was still in the next room. lu zhiyuan took a deep breath, silently reminding himself: ¡°maintain your image, stay calm!¡± he started the live broadcast again. while the server had stabilized somewhat, the comments were still filled with congratulations and terms of endearment like ¡°husband.¡± it took a full three minutes before some different comments appeared. ¡°global sports center can really make things happen. they said ¡®do a live broadcast,¡¯ and he did it!¡± ¡°husband, how¡¯s your recovery going? congratulations on winning again, even though there was a little accident. you¡¯re still the best champion in our hearts.¡± ¡°i couldn¡¯t help but cry. i was at the scene, and the cars were falling apart. i thought you were done for. i promise to eat less meat from now on and pray to buddha every day to protect you!¡± ¡°husband, are you seriously injured? will you be able to race in the future?¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t race anymore. we¡¯ve won the global championship, four in a row, single champion for three years and six months. this record is unbeatable. your safety is the most important!¡± ¡°phew, phew, phew, you must stay safe, and continue to shine on the racetrack in the future!¡± ¡°husband, i love you for ten thousand years!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the comments with a blank expression. he remembered the last time third young master did a live broadcast, and it had the girls screaming. he found it troublesome. li jiang sent him a text message, asking, ¡°do you want a script?¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. ¡°why aren¡¯t you speaking, husband? did the accident affect your vocal cords?¡± ¡°oh my, did my husband become mute?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. the screen was filled with ¡°husband.¡± he found it uncomfortable, especially knowing that in his previous life, he was married to gu ci and had a child. in the eyes of others, he was indeed a legitimate husband. he said firmly, ¡°don¡¯t call me ¡®husband¡¯!¡± the barrage of comments continued to be filled with laughter. it seemed like they were on the verge of laughing to death! calling him ¡°husband¡± was a playful term. these young girls on the internet might have eighteen ¡°husbands.¡± lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t prohibited his fans from using such a nickname; they just shouldn¡¯t overdo it. ¡°hahaha, i¡¯m going to die from laughter. why do 1 feel like ¡®husband¡¯ suddenly turned into an old bureaucrat?¡± ¡°i feel the same. did he hit his head? is he feeling down?¡± ¡°hahaha, ¡®husband; 1 love this style too. i love you for ten thousand years!¡± he corrected them seriously, but the fans escalated their teasing, flirting with him. lu zhiyuan looked at li jiang, who was frantically shaking his head, with two words prominently displayed on his phone. image! don¡¯t forget, he was third young master! ¡°call me ¡®husband¡¯ again, and i¡¯ll end the broadcast!¡± lu zhiyuan grinned mischievously. ¡°don¡¯t ruin my innocence.¡± the barrage of comments erupted in more laughter, and li jiang breathed a sigh of relief. at least¡­ this smile seemed more appropriate, and the attitude of acting invincible was on point. in the next room, gu ci, who was watching the broadcast, covered her mouth and couldn¡¯t stop laughing. lu zhiyuan continued to ignore the ¡°husband¡± comments and answered questions. however, when he responded to questions, it was with the demeanor of third master, as if he were in a meeting with black hawk ceos. even with a serious illness, the atmosphere felt like a boardroom meeting. ¡°the surgery was successful. my sternum and ribs were both broken. i¡¯ll need a year to recover, and i won¡¯t be racing during that time.¡± as soon as fans heard a year without racing, they wailed, but they also expressed that his health was more important, and racing was secondary. after all, he had enough championships. ¡°why did you start the live broadcast so late? talking must be painful after lung surgery.¡± ¡°will you still race in the future? i don¡¯t know; it depends on the situation.¡± li jiang, typing frantically on his tablet, was becoming anxious. ¡°third young master, you¡¯re answering so seriously,¡± the comments continued. lu zhiyuan remained silent. ¡°lu zhiyuan, even though he¡¯s smiling, he still looks very serious today!¡± ¡°oh my, it feels like my boss called me for a meeting. sisters, who feels the same?¡± ¡°sister, you¡¯re not alone!¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, if you¡¯ve been kidnapped, blink twice!¡± lu zhiyuan saw this comment and said, ¡°who would dare to kidnap me? your imaginations are running wild.¡± li jiang, in front of the camera, pointed at the large words on his tablet, clearly exasperated. ¡°third young master, your acting is going on and off like a light switch.¡± ¡°what will you do during this year without racing?¡± lu zhiyuan grinned mischievously, picking up his persona as third young master once again. ¡°heal some wounds and maybe try some romance.¡± the entire screen exploded with excitement!!! Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Don’t Do Anything chapter 234: don¡¯t do anything translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the last official announcement was quite subtle; this was the first time lu zhiyuan had openly responded to dating rumors. his fangirls were losing it. ¡°i don¡¯t want it, husband, you belong to me alone, i won¡¯t allow you to date, you can only date me!¡± ¡°if you¡¯re sick, go to the hospital, don¡¯t shy away from treatment,¡± lu zhiyuan said arrogantly, ¡°if 1 want to date, 1 will. it¡¯s none of your business!¡± li jiang looked like he had swallowed an egg whole. holy crap!!! if you keep up with this character, 1¡¯11 go bald from frustration. this is the standard third young master character. you¡¯ve finally played it right for a moment, and li jiang gives him a thumbs up. third young master, you¡¯re quite insightful. li jiang was relieved; there was no need to write a script for the third young master¡¯s famous quotes; he could easily handle it! gu ci stifled a laugh while eating fruit and watching the livestream. the fans in the livestream chat seemed to be challenging him. they were sending gifts one after another, especially a big spender with the username ¡°lu zhiyuan is my husband,¡± who sent ten cruise ships with extravagant effects. this was lu zhiyuan¡¯s style ¨C whenever he goes live, he¡¯ll inevitably top the charts! moreover, this rich and beautiful lady actually tried to set up a date with lu zhiyuan, she even sent him a private message and inquired with his team. she wants to date lu zhiyuan; her family background was pretty good! ¡°don¡¯t send any more, if you do, my girlfriend will get jealous.¡± lu zhiyuan is my husband arrogantly shouted, ¡°if she has the guts, she can send too!¡± she arrogantly sent thirty cruise ships, and she didn¡¯t seem to be stopping. in no time, she sent one million. lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow, not liking this childish behavior. lu zhiyuan coldly sneered, ¡°cici is composed and calm, intelligent and rational. she wouldn¡¯t engage in such childish behavior.¡± suddenly, a massive id, ¡°lu zhiyuan is gu ci¡¯s,¡± casually sent a spaceship, and it kept multiplying¡­ all the way up to loo. one spaceship is worth a hundred thousand. in a minute, she had sent ten million. ¡°lu zhiyuan is gu ci¡¯s: i have the guts, keep going, don¡¯t stop!¡± a barrage!!??!?? holy crap! lu zhiyuan was speechless. gu ci had delivered a slap to their face right after what he said. li jiang was also watching the livestream, stunned. miss gu ci, you¡¯re really domineering; you¡¯re going to get criticized for this! ¡°hahaha, what a joke. my girlfriend is composed and calm, intelligent and rational, she wouldn¡¯t send money back and forth with fans. look who has to swallow his words in the next second? it¡¯s lu zhiyuan!¡± ¡°gu ci is truly awesome!¡± ¡°dear cici, in the eyes of your husband, you¡¯re composed and calm. pick up your character; don¡¯t lose it!¡± ¡°is this why i¡¯m not worthy of having a husband?¡± ¡°gu ci is amazing!¡± ¡°what¡¯s gu ci thinking? fans are just joking around, and she¡¯s declaring sovereignty. is she crazy? we¡¯ve always teased lu zhiyuan like this.¡± just now, the arrogant fans suddenly went silent, and gu ci¡¯s expression remained indifferent. lu zhiyuan rubbed his temple; he didn¡¯t expect gu ci, who usually appeared composed, to do something so childish. it was quite unexpected. but when gu ci appeared, it also attracted criticism. being the girlfriend of a major celebrity made her a target of envy. the barrage seemed to be following someone¡¯s lead, continuously criticizing gu ci. although there were some rebuttals, they were overwhelmed, and the atmosphere was tense. lu zhiyuan was not pleased. ¡°cici, come here!¡± lu zhiyuan shouted loudly; if they were going official, they might as well go all the way. the fans in the live chat were dumbfounded once again. ¡°gu ci is actually in paris, doesn¡¯t she have classes?¡± ¡°oh no, oh no, if they¡¯re going official, i can¡¯t handle this scene. sisters, i¡¯m going to leave first.¡± ¡°omg, true love! gu ci is right by his side.¡± gu ci walked over, and lu zhiyuan introduced her, saying, ¡°let me introduce my girlfriend, gu ci.¡± gu ci was taken aback, she didn¡¯t expect him to go official for real. lu zhiyuan lifted gu ci¡¯s chin and kissed her lightly. the livestream page exploded. after letting go of gu ci, lu zhiyuan said, ¡°i¡¯m safe and sound now, that¡¯s it, we¡¯re done.¡± he ended the livestream, and li jiang admired him immensely. really, he didn¡¯t need to write a script anymore. the third master in the latter part of the show was practically a copy of the original character. he didn¡¯t need to write any extra script; he could handle it very well! however, third master, the internet has a memory. how will you wrap up this show when third young master wakes up? ¡°why are you looking at me like that?¡± lu zhiyuan leaned in, kissed her, and after getting used to the third young master¡¯s character, lu zhiyuan felt like he could handle it effortlessly. ¡°why did you go official?¡± ¡°i¡¯ve already gone official a while ago,¡± lu zhiyuan touched her ear, ¡°i announced it when we got caught on our last date.¡± ¡°if you¡¯ve admitted it, don¡¯t back out!¡± ¡°pinky promise!¡± lu zhiyuan extended his pinky finger and hooked it with gu ci¡¯s. he playfully wiggled it. ¡°whoever backs out is a little dog!¡± joy began to well up in gu ci¡¯s eyes as she held him close. it felt so good! this sense of security was something gu ci really cherished. ¡°then change your id.¡± lu zhiyuan was puzzled, but gu ci took out her phone and showed him her social media account. she changed her display name to ¡°lu zhiyuan is gu ci¡¯s.¡± ¡°what do i change?¡± ¡°gu ci is lu zhiyuan¡¯s!¡± lu zhiyuan fell silent, his expression somewhat complex. this id felt a bit embarrassing, and gu ci¡¯s voice was soft and sweet, ¡°couple name.¡± with some hesitation, lu zhiyuan changed his id. with just a casual swipe, it was filled with hot searches related to him and gu ci: kisses, livestreams, criticisms of gu ci as a bitch, sovereignty declaration, and more. by changing his id, he contributed another wave of online buzz. gu ci was satisfied, continuing to simmer the soup, and lu zhiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. then he checked the time. it was six o¡¯clock! he could finally escape this ordeal and return to being himself. wonderful!!! the racing league, knowing he was safe and sound, started their live broadcasts and sent their best wishes. with his four-time champion status, he had a strong presence, and even the ferrari team sent their congratulations. for them, lu zhiyuan¡¯s one-year hiatus from racing was definitely a blessing. in the snowy night of paris, the atmosphere was particularly tranquil. the scent of chicken soup wafted from the ward, and li jiang and jin wei had set up a table inside. gu ci brought in the prepared meal. she had made chicken soup with white radish, mushrooms, taro, steamed a fish, pressure-cooked curry beef, sweet and sour spare ribs, and stir-fried some greens. it was quite a hearty spread. ¡°dinner time!¡± her cooking skills were average, nowhere near a five-star chef, but the dishes didn¡¯t taste too bad. they looked appetizing and had a good balance of flavors. gu ci had also prepared a glass of buttery milk tea. li jiang helped lu zhiyuan into a wheelchair and pushed him to the dining table. he quietly exited the room. gu ci set the tableware neatly, and when she looked at lu zhiyuan, there was a gentle smile on her face. lu zhiyuan instinctively smiled back, his eyes showing warmth. but in the next moment, he realized something. it was past six o¡¯clock; he didn¡¯t need to play a role anymore! his smile vanished instantly, and his expression changed in an instant.. Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Mom, Divorce, Leave Him chapter 235: mom, divorce, leave him translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci pulled out a chair without paying much attention, and lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh. lu zhiyuan was frustrated. recently, he had been sleeping at night and waking up to spend his first night with gu ci. he had been playing the role of third young master during the day, and it took him a moment to switch back. lu zhiyuan thought to himself, ¡°don¡¯t make any more mistakes. you¡¯re not third young master anymore!¡± with a stern face, he created a silent atmosphere and wouldn¡¯t initiate conversation. gu ci served him soup and placed it in front of him, smiling, ¡°try the taste of the soup; it should be very flavorful.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, took a sip, and gu ci asked eagerly, ¡°is it delicious?¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± he replied. gu ci smiled and offered him some meat, saying, ¡°then eat more.¡± lu zhiyuan spoke coldly, ¡°gu ci, i¡¯m not him.¡± ¡°do you want beef brisket or spare ribs?¡± gu ci seemed not to have heard and muttered to herself, ¡°the beef brisket is stewed to be very tender, and the spare ribs are also fragrant. you should like them both!¡± she served him some beef brisket and sweet and sour spare ribs. third young master liked foods with higher protein content, while third master enjoyed meat and didn¡¯t pay much attention to nutrition. gu ci sipped her avocado juice and watched him with a smile. lu zhiyuan¡¯s reflexes made him want to smile, but he held back. once you get used to acting like someone, some habits are hard to break. in recent days, the food he had eaten was all bland, and his mouth had grown accustomed to it. this new year¡¯s eve dinner was sumptuous, and lu zhiyuan really enjoyed it. although he was usually reserved about his likes, he had eaten more than half of a plate of curry beef, and gu ci could tell that he genuinely liked it. this dinner was very quiet, and lu zhiyuan no longer spoiled the mood. he enjoyed every dish, and even though the fruit juice wasn¡¯t his favorite, he didn¡¯t refuse it. over the past few days, gu ci had been feeding him various fruits, and he had gotten used to it. lu zhiyuan was still recovering from his injuries, so he ate slowly. it took him an hour to finish the meal. after dinner, li jiang and jin wei cleaned up, and gu ci pushed lu zhiyuan to the window to watch the snowfall outside. ¡°it¡¯s a bit lonely for ziyu to be alone at home, would you like to video call him?¡± gu ci suggested. ¡°up to you,¡± lu zhiyuan replied with indifference. gu ci didn¡¯t mind and initiated a video call with gu ziyu. gu ziyu was spending new year¡¯s eve at the jiangs¡¯ house and had been well taken care of, looking fair and tender. ¡°mom, happy new year!¡± gu ziyu was playing sudoku in his room, showing off his achievements. after gu ci praised him, he asked, ¡°where is uncle and the others?¡± ¡°they are preparing new year¡¯s gifts,¡± gu ziyu replied. he moved the camera, and the jiang minghua couple could be seen working on the gifts. gu ci even overheard jiang minghua say, ¡°junlin is not at home, although it¡¯s a bit regrettable, it¡¯s really nice¡­ we haven¡¯t seen his recipes all evening.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but stifle a laugh as she greeted her family members. the old lady and old master were originally playing chess, and they were also delighted to see her. the family chatted happily for half an hour, and then gu ziyu took his phone upstairs. gu ci turned the camera to lu zhiyuan. gu ziyu had a cold expression. ¡°1 don¡¯t want to talk to him!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ziyu in the video but didn¡¯t mind his attitude. with a cold face, he resembled third master when he was like this, carved from the same mold, and a bit intimidating, especially now that ziyu had lost some of his spoiled and sullen mannerisms, making him more like third master. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°fraud!¡± gu ziyu stared at him, his eyes blazing. ¡°are you trying to tease me, third master?¡± call him dad? impossible! lu zhiyuan also understood why he was angry. ¡°i told you!¡± ¡°when did you tell me?¡± gu ziyu demanded. ¡°i said it; i¡¯m your dad!¡± ¡°fuck!¡± gu ziyu was furious. ¡°it¡¯s outrageous! in that context, anyone would think you¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°i¡¯m not joking!¡± gu ziyu remarked with a sarcastic tone, ¡°through the internet, who knows if you¡¯re joking or not?¡± gu ci tried to mediate, ¡°third master, how about you apologize to him?¡± ¡°impossible!¡± gu ziyu said in a strange tone, ¡°mom, get a divorce and we can live together, without him.¡± lu zhiyuan calmly stated, ¡°we¡¯re not married yet!¡± ¡°you¡¯re just so unlikable!¡± gu ziyu sneered. ¡°i prefer the dad who just went live, hurry up and go to sleep!¡± gu ci and lu zhiyuan remained silent, creating an awkward and tense atmosphere. lu zhiyuan nervously glanced at gu ci, who seemed to be smiling and not saying much, which eased his worries. he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, was third young master really so likable? was he really so unlikable? ¡°mom, move the camera away. i don¡¯t want to see him!¡± gu ziyu was irritated. gu ci chuckled and moved the camera away. the mother and son continued their video call, with gu ziyu¡¯s tone becoming soft and gentle as he asked, ¡°mom, when are you coming back? i miss you.¡± lu zhiyuan witnessed the abrupt change in the young man¡¯s mood. ¡°mom will be back soon.¡± ¡°then i¡¯ll pick you up!¡± ¡°alright!¡± after some more casual conversation, gu ziyu reluctantly hung up. lu zhiyuan still couldn¡¯t grasp the reality that gu ziyu was his son. suddenly having a rebellious son at the age of twenty, and never having raised him for a day, made it difficult to establish any substantial connection. after ending the video call, there were some fireworks in the distance. gu ci stood by the window, watching the fireworks. lu zhiyuan had already laid down on the bed; his physical condition didn¡¯t allow him to sit for long. as he watched gu ci enjoy the fireworks, he couldn¡¯t help but think about their past life. had he and gu ci fallen in love and gotten married? if she loved him¡­ it must have been third young master she loved, and the one she married must have been third young master as well! but why hadn¡¯t gu ci realized his split personality? a person¡¯s character and intelligence didn¡¯t change with reincarnation. they had dated, gotten married, and spent their days together. gu ci was a sensitive and intelligent woman; she should have noticed something was amiss. why¡­ was she testing him again in this life? when she fell from the tall building, it was just a test of his split personality. did that mean that in their previous life, she was unaware of his existence and had always believed they were both third young master? impossible! could it be that when he acted as third young master at night, they were a couple? how could third young master be willing to do that? how could he? unless¡­ both he and third young master deeply loved her and had compromised, loving her together. that¡¯s why gu ci hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual, and that¡¯s why she was so stubborn! a sudden sharp pain pierced lu zhiyuan¡¯s mind. it was a severe pain he hadn¡¯t experienced after regaining consciousness as if something was poking at his nerves. he covered his head with one hand, lying on the soft pillow, cold sweat drenching him. gu ci sensed his change in breathing, turned to look at him, and her face paled. ¡°lu zhiyuan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she held his hand tightly, and he momentarily forgot his persona. ¡°cici, call a doctor. i have a headache!¡± after saying this, he lost consciousness. ¡°li jiang! summon a doctor!¡± gu ci shouted in a panic. in the deep night of new year¡¯s day, an unexpected crisis unfolded. gu ci, caught off guard, had secured the area like a fortress, fearing that lu zhiyuan might have been poisoned or attacked. she had personally checked every food item he consumed, all of which she had randomly purchased.. why did he suddenly have a headache and lose consciousness after recovering from his injuries? Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Do You Like the Gift? chapter 236: do you like the gift? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci sat anxiously outside the operating room, waiting for the examination report from lu zhiyuan. unlike in paris or back home, she couldn¡¯t enter the operating room here; after all, this wasn¡¯t a hospital affiliated with the lu family. meanwhile, jiang junlin¡¯s house was bustling with activity. ji chi was in the kitchen, without an apron, frantically preparing buddha jumps over the wall. to buy the ingredients for this dish, he had gone to three different chinese supermarkets. jiang junlin was lounging on the sofa not far from the fireplace, lazily reading the year-end summary report of the hualan bank. dressed in a beige sweater and casual pants, a black sapphire ring adorned his middle finger. he exuded an air of relaxation and laziness. and, might 1 add, a touch of sensuality! jiang junlin¡¯s sensuality was most pronounced when he was at his most relaxed! the bodyguards had been sent away to celebrate new year¡¯s eve in the guesthouse. half of jiang junlin¡¯s bodyguards were chinese, while the rest were either mixed-race or european, having assimilated into their surroundings long ago. he had just finished a video call with his family, almost back-to-back with gu ci. following that, he continued to peruse the year-end summary report of hualan bank. even though he was not in china, he never neglected his work. in a clay pot, dozens of ingredients were simmering. ji chi was busy using the duck carcass and old hen broth he had prepared earlier to cook the chicken soup, adding broccoli and ham to blanch in it. after blanching, he added olive oil, sauteed it a few times, and it was ready to be served. these were the two dishes he had learned. whether jiang junlin would foot the bill or not remained to be seen. the housekeeper was afraid of starving the young master, so they had also prepared several dishes from the guesthouse to be sent over. ¡°jiang junlin, do you really think of me as your chef?¡± ji chi washed his hands and walked over, kicking jiang junlin¡¯s toe. ¡°don¡¯t be ridiculous, i¡¯m busy!¡± jiang junlin was engrossed in the budget and doing calculations. ji chi looked at him with a half-smile, suppressing his displeasure. recently, jiang junlin and he had been at odds, almost coming to blows. it was as if they were on the verge of pulling guns on each other. however, every time they clashed, a phone call would come in, inviting jiang junlin to celebrate new year¡¯s eve together and discuss historical summaries. jiang junlin always seemed to take the bait. ji chi took away jiang junlin¡¯s tablet and sat on his lap, casually putting on jiang junlin¡¯s gold-rimmed glasses, which had no prescription but suited him well. he played with the black sapphire ring on jiang junlin¡¯s finger. it was the birthday gift he had given jiang junlin this year, and he had graciously put it on his right middle finger. ¡°do you like the gift?¡± jiang junlin glanced at the sapphire ring. it was elegantly simple, devoid of unnecessary embellishments, perfectly in line with jiang junlin¡¯s aesthetic. ¡°it¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°jiang junlin, you were practically at each other¡¯s throats the other day, and now you¡¯re asking me to cook?¡± he tilted his head, his eyes behind the lenses filled with a playful glint. ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid i¡¯ll poison you?¡± ¡°don¡¯t exaggerate!¡± jiang junlin coldly remarked, pressing his index finger against ji chi¡¯s approaching face. ¡°you provoked it. your bodyguards overreacted, and no one got hurt.¡± he was quick and agile, removing his glasses and tossing them onto the table. ji chi suddenly pushed his shoulder back, bringing himself down with him. a scorching breath overtook his senses, and ji chi¡¯s fingers touched jiang junlin¡¯s adam¡¯s apple, feeling the vibrant vitality and sensuality beneath his skin. when he let go, the corner of jiang junlin¡¯s lips had been bitten, as he always did. he couldn¡¯t help but leave his mark on jiang junlin every time they were together, as if it were an addiction. ¡°if i had hurt you, would you feel sorry for me?¡± ji chi¡¯s expression was somewhat possessive, and in recent days, he had been pushed to the brink by jiang junlin. he felt restless and had a burning desire, a desire to take someone¡¯s life. ¡°who could hurt you?¡± jiang junlin sneered. ¡°two days ago, when my bodyguards overreacted, it was because you sent someone to crash into my car and started a conflict with my people.¡± ¡°if i hadn¡¯t crashed into you, would you have met me?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes were dark and deep. jiang junlin furrowed his brows, speculating that in his previous life, he must have been in a car accident with irreversible damage. if it were just a few months in the hospital, gu ci wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it specially. after confirming gu ziyu¡¯s identity, jiang junlin became extremely cautious. he randomly chose vehicles for his travels, no longer sitting in the main car. on that day, the car ji chi crashed was the one he often rode. coincidentally, that day he happened to be in the bodyguard¡¯s car. ¡°ji chi¡­¡± jiang junlin leaned forward, pinching his chin. ji chi was sitting on his lap, a position that clearly placed jiang junlin below him, yet he exuded an air of dominance. ¡°did you really want to crash into me?¡± ¡°you were perfectly fine, sitting there like that,¡± ji chi lowered his head and kissed his finger. jiang junlin increased the pressure slightly when he let go. ¡°in paris, the snowy roads are slippery, prone to accidents. if you had crashed into me, and 1 had fallen in the snow, run over by a car, with both legs crippled or spine fractured, spending my life in a wheelchair, would you have found pleasure in that?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes, once filled with a mischievous glint, were momentarily startled. however, a hint of annoyance soon crossed his face. ¡°yes!¡± he laughed wickedly, his demeanor akin to a major antagonist from a comic book. ¡°in that case, jiang junlin, there¡¯s no escaping it. you¡¯ll be my prisoner for life, and 1 can¡¯t help but look forward to it!¡± ¡°in that case, you may continue!¡± jiang junlin pushed him away. ¡°one day, your wish might just come true!¡± ji chi¡¯s anger was also ignited by him. lately, black hawk and the triads had tense relations, almost completely tearing apart. jiang junlin and lu zhiyuan had nurtured pei qiuying from scratch, but now it seemed to backfire. pei qiuying had secured her position within the triads, and cleverly injured lu zhiyuan, causing a division within black hawk. in the eyes of the triad, pei qiuying was a hero who had nearly killed the leader of black hawk, something none of the previous triad leaders had been able to accomplish. at this moment, pei qiuying was at the height of her popularity, and chen rush! also intended to cooperate with her. ji chi and rong li were dealing with these matters, feeling overwhelmed. yet, jiang junlin was supporting chen rushi behind the scenes. he wanted to see jiang junlin, but he couldn¡¯t! ji chi came to jiang junlin¡¯s house but couldn¡¯t enter. he had realized that his ability to enter before was silently allowed by jiang junlin. when jiang junlin stripped him of his power, he finally understood that everything was under jiang junlin¡¯s control. if jiang junlin didn¡¯t want to see someone, no one could truly see him. ji chi¡¯s heart was filled with a kind of madness. out of anger, he had sent someone to crash into jiang junlin, but he had done his research beforehand. jiang junlin was sitting in the bodyguard¡¯s car, and he wouldn¡¯t have really hurt him. moreover, driving slowly in the snowy weather, even if the car had overturned, the person inside would be completely unharmed. in fact, it was a warning to jiang junlin. his patience had reached its limit. sure enough, a phone call came today! ¡°if not this way, how could you have seen me?¡± ji chi laughed wickedly. ¡°you always act without considering the consequences,¡± jiang junlin frowned, feeling a bit annoyed. he was good at controlling his emotions, and the few times he lost his temper were mostly because of ji chi. ji chi¡¯s madness hid behind an innocent exterior. his love and hatred were both extreme. ¡°the last time i was ambushed in city a, it was your doing. don¡¯t think 1 don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°it wasn¡¯t me!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°i¡­¡± ¡°really?¡± jiang junlin looked at him with a cold smile. that time, jiang junlin had nearly lost his life, the bullet narrowly missing him by an inch. ¡°the script was well-written. you sent someone to assassinate me, and then you appeared as a hero, swooping down like a god of war into my life.. perhaps you expected me to be touched and offer myself to you, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Stab You With A Knife And Give You A Treat chapter 237: stab you with a knife and give you a treat translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi remained silent, trembling all over, as jiang junlin had touched his most sensitive nerve. ¡°your loss of control that time was because i was considering marriage, and the jiang family lineage is at stake. my family had arranged a marriage for me, and 1 casually mentioned it at a dinner. somehow, it reached your ears, and you sent someone to warn me, staging this whole drama. unfortunately, the actors you hired went too far, and they even tried to kill me.¡± between him and ji chi, there had been more and more moments of honesty. ¡°ji chi, not every play can be controlled by you.¡± jiang junlin leaned in closer to his ear, lowering his voice, the warm breath tickling ji chi¡¯s ear and yet cutting like a knife. ¡°the last time, i almost died. haven¡¯t you learned your lesson?¡± ji chi rose in fear from his chair, taking a few steps back. he had been investigating who was controlling those assassins sent to kill jiang junlin. he had only intended to warn them, but they had turned deadly. those assassins had vanished into thin air, and even third uncle¡¯s help couldn¡¯t find a trace of them. jiang junlin lounged lazily on the sofa, appearing calm. true strategists waited and decided, unflinching like a mountain. ji chi¡¯s lips grew pale, and he asked, ¡°was it you?¡± ¡°yes,¡± jiang junlin confessed openly to ji chi. ¡°you sent assassins, and the next day, i knew.¡± jiang juniin¡¯s voice was soft yet arrogant. ¡°what¡¯s the point of playing these minor games? if you want me to take a trip to the gates of hell, i will, just as you wish.¡± ji chi was going mad. if he indulged ji chi, he¡¯d be trapped by him for life, with his wings clipped. he had two choices: either be crazier than ji chi, or else he couldn¡¯t contain him! ji chi came at him like a madman, grabbing jiang junlin¡¯s collar and delivering a punch to his face. ¡°you scoundrel, how dare you, you¡­¡± that bullet had come close, dangerously close, to ending jiang junlin¡¯s life! when he sent people to kill jiang junlin, they were never supposed to aim at vital organs, at most just warning shots. he was afraid an accidental hit might have irreversible consequences. but jiang junlin, he shot straight for the heart! in this world, no matter how skilled a marksman was, bullets could be affected by wind and air resistance, what if it had hit him, what if it had hit his head? ji chi was filled with anger, and there was no mercy in his blows. jiang junlin¡¯s face was instantly bruised, blood trickled from the corner of his lips. ji chi had struck hard, his eyes were bloodshot, and he felt extreme regret this time. jiang junlin had come close to death! back then, he had hated jiang junlin, hated him enough to want to kill him. but he only¡­ wanted to kill him, nothing more! he raised his fist for a second blow but stopped when he saw the blood on jiang junlin¡¯s lips. instead, he smashed it into the sofa nearby. it was like he was meeting jiang junlin for the first time. he was insane! but jiang junlin was even crazier! all their reunions had been planned. every move he made had been carefully calculated. truly ruthless! ji chi turned and angrily walked out. the snowstorm outside mirrored his mood. jiang junlin¡¯s cold voice followed him from behind, ¡°ji chi, once you walk out that door, it won¡¯t be so easy to come back in next time!¡± even after revealing something that could have torn them apart, jiang junlin¡¯s attitude remained as unyielding as ever. ji chi didn¡¯t hesitate and pushed the door open to leave. a gust of cold wind swept in, dispelling the warmth inside the room. jiang junlin wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb, closed his eyes wearily. he thought, he had dealt with projects worth tens of billions, even during the most chaotic times, and he had never felt this exhausted. why did he have to be entangled in this twisted fate? jiang junlin heard the sound of a car engine, and it seemed to reverberate in his heart, causing a slight tremor. he couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed. if ji chi took his time with this, he would only become more demanding. the drug¡¯s effects were too intense, and everything seemed to backfire. he couldn¡¯t seem to do anything right. but ji chi kept pushing his boundaries, dancing around in his minefield, continually testing his limits. jiang junlin needed to teach him a lesson. the more he indulged the young wolf, the greedier he became. what ji chi wanted, he couldn¡¯t afford right now. if it ended, then so be it. it was just a twisted fate, after all. jiang junlin abruptly stood up, his expression cold, and walked towards the door. just as he pushed it open, he said, ¡°zhang qiang¡­¡± he had barely called for zhang qiang when he saw ji chi leaning against the doorway, smoking a cigarette. he was dressed in a thin white shirt and wore cotton slippers without socks, standing there in the snowy weather. the house was old, and the corridor was narrow. the snowfall was heavy, covering his hair and shoulders with a thin layer of snow. he seemed unaffected by the cold, casually smoking a cigarette, exuding an air of debauchery. jiang junlin¡¯s anger was extinguished by the cold wind, and he gazed at ji chi with indifference. instead, ji chi smiled and said, ¡°mr. jiang, where are you going?¡± the earlier madness and rage had disappeared as if they were just an illusion, and ji chi was back to his charming self, a young and flirtatious man. zhang qiang heard jiang junlin¡¯s voice and hurried over from the adjacent building. he had just taken over for the night shift and had been having hot pot with his colleagues. he was surprised to see the bruise on jiang junlin¡¯s cheek but didn¡¯t dare to ask. ¡°master, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°nothing,¡± jiang junlin frowned. ¡°just go back and have your dinner.¡± ¡°okay,¡± zhang qiang was puzzled, not understanding why his master had called him out in the middle of the night. he returned to the adjacent building to finish his meal. ¡°it was just a quarrel, and i felt stuffy, can¡¯t 1 come out for a smoke, brother?¡± ji chi exhaled a smoke ring and forced jiang junlin to take a drag of secondhand smoke. the scent of tobacco mixed with the snow and reached jiang junlin¡¯s nose. he took a deep breath, like an addict, but his eyes remained cold. ¡°where¡¯s your car?¡± ¡°the snow is too heavy. 1 had nick park it in the garage.¡± jiang junlin thought ji chi had actually left upon hearing the sound of the car. ji chi looked at him with a half-smile, his eyes filled with a deep and passionate gaze. when he focused his attention on someone, he emitted an intense, affectionate feeling. jiang junlin glanced down at ji chi, standing there in slippers in the snow, his exposed toes turning red from the cold. he turned and walked back inside, saying coldly, ¡°come in and smoke.¡± ji chi chuckled, took one last drag of his cigarette, and flicked the unfinished butt into the snow, where the scattered embers were quickly extinguished by the falling snowflakes. through the french windows, ji chi looked at the tall, cold figure inside the room. he hated deeply, but he also¡­wanted jiang junlin to be forever submissive to him. yet, making jiang junlin willingly submit to someone was as difficult as plucking stars and reaching the moon. the madness of possession and the ultimate desire clashed within ji chi¡¯s heart. on one side was a knife, and on the other was sugar. ji chi suppressed the emotions surging within him and entered the room. his numbed skin began to regain sensation. ji chi looked at the stove, where buddha jumps over the wall was simmering. he walked over, stirred the ingredients, and added some seasonings and fragrant herbs. jiang junlin had already poured a cup of hot tea. ¡°come over and have some hot tea.¡± this was jiang junlin. he would stab you with a knife and then give you a treat.. Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Playing with Fire chapter 238: playing with fire translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°if it¡¯s neither here nor there, pulled to extremes, it seems like loving you, but it¡¯s heartless to the extreme. it seems heartless, but there¡¯s a hint of deep affection hidden within. it always leaves people¡­ in a state of both ice and fire. you never know what he¡¯s thinking! so, he wanted to break jiang junlin¡¯s legs and lock him in a dark room. if he can¡¯t get out, he won¡¯t cause trouble. he no longer has to worry about the conflicts between the triads and black hawk, and he doesn¡¯t have to worry about facing jiang junlin with swords again. ji chi smiled, came over, and had some hot tea. he saw through it all, but he was still unwilling. in the kitchen, the buddha jumps over the wall had been simmered to perfection, and its aroma filled the air. ¡°today is new year¡¯s day, and i invited you to meet because 1 wanted to celebrate with you,¡± jiang junlin said firmly, looking at ji chi. ¡°when we parted years ago, 1 promised to spend new year¡¯s with you, but 1 broke that promise. i was lying in bed, and when i woke up, a month had already passed. to you, it may sound like an excuse or a made-up story, but it¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°when we reunited, why didn¡¯t you explain? and why didn¡¯t you answer when 1 asked you the last time?¡± ji chi asked, his emotions calm, as if this wasn¡¯t a longstanding issue for him. ¡°there¡¯s nothing to explain,¡± jiang junlin said calmly. ¡°breaking a promise is breaking a promise, regardless of the reason. 1 had a commitment and couldn¡¯t fulfill it. it¡¯s my fault, and 1 can¡¯t erase the pain you¡¯ve endured.¡± ji chi smirked, but he didn¡¯t find any solace in his heart. between him and jiang junlin, there were too many lies and tests, and he couldn¡¯t tell what was real and what was fake anymore. ¡°in that case, why bother explaining?¡± ji chi inquired. jiang junlin rubbed his forehead, seeming tired and resigned. ¡°i don¡¯t want you to hate me.¡± ¡°too late!¡± ¡°i know!¡± ¡°you don¡¯t know anything at all!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, but he suppressed his emotions and muttered to himself, ¡°you don¡¯t know anything at all.¡± jiang junlin remained silent, his gaze deep and calm. ¡°jiang junlin, your emotions are all clearly priced. every bit of emotion you give, you expect to get an equivalent reward. our reunion was planned. i was your pawn in approaching black hawk. you never felt guilty or regretful about breaking our promise back then. you¡¯re willing to act in this passionate reunion because you want to know third master¡¯s identity, hoping to use emotions to manipulate me and split black hawk. the more resolute my stance, the more emotions you¡¯re willing to invest, just like a business deal, isn¡¯t it, jiang junlin?¡± jiang junlin smiled, a gentle but somewhat wicked smile. it was the first time ji chi had seen jiang junlin so devilish. he was clearly the same person, but it felt like he had been possessed by a demon. ¡°ji chi, some things are understood but left unsaid. that¡¯s the dignity of an adult!¡± he said with a touch of regret. ¡°since you¡¯ve figured it out, why are you still willing?¡± ji chi felt a sharp pain in his heart but laughed, ¡°yeah, how could 1 still be willing? guess!¡± jiang junlin leaned in, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement. his eyes weren¡¯t suited for smiling; when he did, there was always a chilling and eerie sense of fear. ¡°you hate me but want me, ji chi. i¡¯ve given you what you wanted. but you¡¯re greedy, so don¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°yeah¡­¡± ji chi started to laugh without apparent reason. he laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°big brother, you¡¯ve left nothing out. but have you ever thought that i knew from the beginning that you¡¯d meet me tonight?¡± jiang junlin squinted, looking at him coldly, with a strong sense of unease in his heart. ¡°since that financial battle began, i¡¯ve been going crazy, and i¡¯ve been obsessed. is it my nature, or is it what you wanted to portray?¡± ji chi¡¯s smile was like the snowstorm outside the window. ¡°on the plane, i showed weakness, i showed love, i bared my heart and soul, all hoping that you would look at me even once. do you feel proud? you always stand high above, controlling my love, hate, anger, and sorrow, as if you have them in the palm of your hand. i can¡¯t escape your cage, right? are you pleased with yourself? you see, when a person becomes proud, there are bound to be vulnerabilities¡­¡± jiang junlin took out his phone and called zhang qiang, but this time, there was no response. he took a deep breath, his pupils narrowing, a storm of anger brewing in the depths of his eyes. ¡°ji chi, 1 advise you not to play with fire.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was calm. he had been enduring black hawk all his life, but tonight, he felt like a hawk had pecked out his eye. jiang junlin felt powerless in his limbs. ji chi had just been furious but was now smoking in the corridor and hadn¡¯t left. he should have been on guard. ¡°does the buddha jumps over the wall smell good? there¡¯s a type of indian incense i placed there.¡± ji chi took a sip of black tea, walked over, and looked down at jiang junlin on the sofa. he knew he was now a trapped beast, but jiang junlin showed no signs of panic. ¡°big brother, is it satisfying to control someone¡¯s emotions, joys, sorrows, and desires? i want to give it a try too.¡± jiang junlin was speechless. ¡°in the hospital, lu zhiyuan entered the emergency room because of a headache. after two hours, no cause was found. the doctor¡¯s final conclusion was emotional ups and downs, stress, and all his physical data were good, with no signs of poisoning. gu ci breathed a sigh of relief. she looked at lu zhiyuan, who was unconscious, not understanding why he suddenly had a headache. she was eager to return to china. outside the window, the snowstorm intensified. in the late night, ji chi came to the hospital. ¡°how is third master?¡± ¡°the doctor said he¡¯s fine,¡± gu ci said. ji chi¡¯s usually smiling eyes seemed somewhat sinister, but gu ci didn¡¯t think too much of it; she thought he was worried about lu zhiyuan. ji chi was truly loyal to lu zhiyuan. ¡°that¡¯s good!¡± the church bells suddenly rang, marking the arrival of the new year in the early morning. ji chi looked at lu zhiyuan, who was barely breathing on the bed. he pulled a chair and sat down, keeping vigil with gu ci. gu ci showed no signs of sleepiness and asked ji chi, ¡°why aren¡¯t you keeping watch with your brother during new year¡¯s eve?¡± ji chi smiled and lowered his head. ¡°he hasn¡¯t wanted to see me lately.¡± gu ci had overheard a phone call between li jiang and knew that recently, due to the affairs of the triads, jiang junlin and ji chi had been at odds. lu zhiyuan was in a deep sleep, and a bedside lamp in the ward cast a dim light. ji chi¡¯s eyes appeared as dark as a void. ¡°gu ci, if third master and jiang junlin were at each other¡¯s throats, whose side would you take?¡± gu ci had asked herself this question countless times but had no answer. ¡°i¡¯m just a doctor. 1 only know how to treat illnesses and save lives. what they want, they¡¯ll have to fight for themselves.¡± ¡°you won¡¯t take a side?¡± ¡°1 can¡¯t.¡± gu ci was clear-headed. ¡°blood ties are unbreakable, and romantic feelings are hard to give up. but i believe they both know what¡¯s at stake. 1 don¡¯t think it will come to a life-and-death struggle.¡± the best outcome would be for them to avoid confrontation! ¡°what about you?¡± gu ci smiled and asked. ¡°i will never betray third master!¡± ¡°will you point a gun at my brother?¡± Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Third Master Was Touched chapter 239: third master was touched translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i won¡¯t!¡± ji chi blinked, half in jest and half serious. ¡°i just want to hold jiang junlin¡¯s heart in my hands.¡± gu ci furrowed her brows, thinking about the previous life, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. ¡°my brother has a strong sense of pride and is very proud. if you want his heart, you¡¯ll have to exchange it with your own.¡± but ji chi¡¯s love was something ordinary people couldn¡¯t endure. ji chi chuckled lightly, his voice tinged with sadness but excitement in the dark night. ¡°do you like dogs or cats?¡± the topic changed too quickly, and gu ci didn¡¯t immediately grasp it, but she answered honestly, ¡°i like cats.¡± unfortunately, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t like cats. ¡°i like dogs!¡± ji chi said. ¡°cats, you see, are delicate, aloof, and some breeds are hard to handle. they sleep by your side when they¡¯re happy, but they¡¯ll stay far away when they¡¯re not. dogs, on the other hand, are different. regardless of the breed, they are obedient and loyal. their owner means everything to them.¡± ¡°great, then let¡¯s raise dogs,¡± gu ci said. ¡°reasonable choice!¡± ji chi blinked. ¡°1 also prefer to cage them rather than letting them roam freely.¡± gu ci blurted out, ¡°then don¡¯t torment pets.¡± ji chi smiled but didn¡¯t reply. after spending an hour with gu ci, he left the hospital. gu ci held lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand but couldn¡¯t sleep. she was constantly worried about lu zhiyuan¡¯s condition, whether it would worsen, and couldn¡¯t fall asleep at all. lu zhiyuan slept until eight in the morning, slowly waking up with a splitting headache. he swallowed two pain relievers, feeling slightly better but still sweating on his forehead. gu ci was concerned about a possible concussion and any aftereffects. she insisted that he stay awake for a checkup. the doctor couldn¡¯t find any problems other than noticing significant fluctuations in the hippocampus, where his memories were stored. ¡°will it have any consequences?¡± gu ci asked. the doctor, also puzzled by this unusual case, inquired further, ¡°mr. lu, apart from the headache, do you have any other discomfort?¡± lu zhiyuan knew that concealing his condition from the doctor would be a grave mistake, but his memory gaps were quite shocking when revealed. ¡°my memory is a bit confused, but other than that, 1 feel fine.¡± the doctor found it somewhat challenging and, after a few more questions, concluded, ¡°it might be a lingering effect of the concussion. rest for the next few days, and it may improve. if the headaches persist, we¡¯ll need to monitor it further.¡± ¡°thank you, doctor.¡± gu ci led lu zhiyuan back to the ward. she helped him lie down, and he noticed her tired expression, realizing she hadn¡¯t slept all night. it was the first day of the new year, and gu ci¡¯s condition seemed to be deteriorating. ¡°why are you staring at me like that?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan recalled his character¡¯s jealousy tendencies, huffed in annoyance, turned his face away, and remained silent. gu ci cupped his face with both hands. ¡°why are you angry?¡± ¡°you¡¯re cooking for him!¡± lu zhiyuan said irritably. ¡°we agreed you chose me, so you wouldn¡¯t see him again, didn¡¯t we?¡± gu ci was surprised and amused by this unexpected turn. she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. lu zhiyuan glared at her. ¡°why are you laughing?¡± ¡°lu zhiyuan, you look so cute when you¡¯re jealous.¡± ¡°gu ci!¡± lu zhiyuan scolded, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, almost like it had pierced his sternum. gu ci hurriedly comforted him. ¡°don¡¯t get angry. you misunderstood. i¡¯m cooking for him out of consideration for you. i really don¡¯t love the third master at all. it¡¯s you 1 find the most adorable.¡± lu zhiyuan was dumbfounded. not in love with the third master at all? gu ci felt she had to clarify, and as she did, lu zhiyuan seemed to get even angrier, and li jiang was probably about to explode. third master, you should be happy. aaiss gu ci just said she doesn¡¯t love you at all. you should be thrilled! perhaps it was li jiang¡¯s expression that made lu zhiyuan laugh. he hugged her, smiling brilliantly, and leaned in to kiss gu ci. for some reason, he even bit gu ci, ¡°you¡¯re so good. don¡¯t fall for him, just keep looking at me.¡± ¡°okay, i¡¯ll keep looking at you!¡± third young master had said something similar. gu ci felt her heart soften. ¡°do you like me?¡± ¡°i do!¡± lu zhiyuan said firmly. since he had said he liked her, gu ci had to hear ¡°i like you¡± from him every day, as if it were a promise and a guarantee. he had gotten used to saying it. li jiang was finally satisfied. honestly, third master had been playing the role of third young master recently and was truly nailing it. from his tone to his temperament, he was just like third young master, and it was getting hard to tell what was real and what was an act. unable to contain her curiosity, gu ci asked him, ¡°third master mentioned that you share memories, that whatever we do, he knows, and what he and 1 do, you also know. is that true?¡± ¡°i¡¯m lying to you!¡± lu zhiyuan said expressionlessly. ¡°i don¡¯t like it when you bring up third master.¡± third master was clearly jealous, and li jiang was both happy and embarrassed for third master. third master, you better hope you never mess up, otherwise, this will be very awkward. ¡°alright, i won¡¯t bring it up, but¡­¡± gu ci pretended to be casual, ¡°last night, before he lost consciousness, he actually called me cici.¡¯ it¡¯s very strange because he has always called me ¡®gu ci,¡¯ using both my first and last names, which felt very unfamiliar.¡± lu zhiyuan stayed silent. playing a role so convincingly meant that he might forget himself as third master. some habits were hard to change, like how he consistently called her ¡°cici.¡± last night, he almost called her ¡°cici¡± several times. gu ci hugged lu zhiyuan¡¯s neck and kissed his lips. ¡°lu zhiyuan, does third master¡­ like me too?¡± ¡°no, he doesn¡¯t like you at all!¡± lu zhiyuan said firmly, keeping his character intact. he kissed gu ci passionately, his eyes filled with desire. ¡°the person who likes you the most is me!¡± gu ci felt a twinge of disappointment deep inside. lu zhiyuan knew that to play a role, he had to suppress his emotions and fully immerse himself in third young master¡¯s character. however, he felt that if he continued like this, he might crash. so, lu zhiyuan strategically acted jealous and cold. he wore a stern expression and said, ¡°since you like him so much, why didn¡¯t you choose him? why did you have to choose me? gu ci, are you just pitying me? the truth is, you¡¯ve always liked him.¡± he thought that playing a cold and distant third master was easier. he just didn¡¯t have to speak as much. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± gu ci said softly, ¡°1 love you. i chose you even before your competition.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, not saying a word, facing away from gu ci, and maintaining an expressionless demeanor. if this had been a month ago, her words would have left him unfazed. third young master, on the other hand, would have been overjoyed. but now, he couldn¡¯t quite discern whether this pent-up frustration was part of the act or real. his emotions were slowly spiraling out of control within the role he was playing, and lu zhiyuan knew something was not right. gu ci held his hand, interlocking their fingers. ¡°are you really angry?¡± she was always so accommodating to him, and the more she did, the more frustrated lu zhiyuan felt. he was well aware that gu ci¡¯s emotions were all meant for third young master, not him! life was like a play, and the play was like life! lu zhiyuan, this isn¡¯t really your life after all.. Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Dog Bite Dog chapter 240: dog bite dog translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°third brother, please don¡¯t be angry, okay? 1 promise never to mention third master again.¡± gu ci slipped under the covers, embraced him from behind, rested her head on his shoulder, and kissed his ear. it was one of third master¡¯s peculiarities, and she imitated it perfectly. with passionate kisses, she pressed her lips against his soft ears. gu ci gently nibbled, causing lu zhiyuan¡¯s ears to turn as red as if they were bleeding. gu ci teased his earlobes with her tongue. electric currents surged through lu zhiyuan¡¯s body, and the place gu ci was focusing on grew scorching hot, as all his blood rushed to a sensitive area. with his youthful vigor, he couldn¡¯t resist gu ci. by the time he regained his senses, he was kissing gu ci. he held her neck with one hand, constantly pulling her closer, demanding her sweetness. he seemed addicted, continuously plundering, domineering, and intense, losing his usual tenderness. this was reminiscent of third young master¡¯s style, but lu zhiyuan was acutely aware of his own desire. it was his! he desired gu ci! when he and third young master shared consciousness, gu ci kissed him, and he reacted. he could have excused it as third young master¡¯s body, third young master¡¯s emotions; this body responded to her. but now, how could he deceive himself! no, he couldn¡¯t like gu ci. she¡­ her heart belonged to third young master. they loved each other, and he was merely third young master¡¯s substitute. as rational as he was, his emotions were inexplicably entangled. the more rational he tried to be, the more passionate he became, like two extremes ¨C ice and fire. he was happy, yet in agony, tormented. happiness was an act, pain was real. gu ci had always been special throughout the long years. if he could restrain this attraction for over a decade, he could continue to restrain it. lu zhiyuan constantly reminded himself. it was just a play, and he had gotten into the act! once the act was over, everything would return to calm. lu zhiyuan started suffering frequent headaches. he was a person who could endure, and unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn¡¯t take painkillers. after taking painkillers, he could no longer see those chaotic memories. he wanted to know whose memories they were! if they weren¡¯t his, they were third young master¡¯s! shortly after new year¡¯s day, a shocking piece of news came from black hawk. chen rushi, with half of the family¡¯s assets, officially severed ties with black hawk. ¡°the chen family is the largest family in black hawk, with considerable influence. chen rushi, with the support of jiang junlin, originally intended to take away all the assets but ultimately failed. according to black hawk¡¯s rules, half of the assets remained with the current leader of black hawk, lu zhiyuan. when he entered the underworld, he became the second-in-command, right below pei qiuying. pei qiuying was like a tiger with wings, winning decisively in several financial battles. this caused a seismic shift and reshuffling in the global financial circle. the power struggle between the underworld and black hawk was disrupted, with the underworld rising while black hawk showed signs of decline. ¡°third master, everything went according to your expectations!¡± li jiang said. ¡°chen rushi joined the underworld, and in the recent financial battles, we deliberately lost as per your orders.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the report. ¡°tell rong li that our chess pieces in the underworld should start to take effect.¡± ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°in less than three months, i want to see the underworld¡­completely annihilated!¡± except for this unexpected car accident, everything was within lu zhiyuan¡¯s expectations. chen rushi had failed in his succession years ago due to his arrogance and reluctance to submit to third master, who was parachuted in. however, his heart condition made him hesitant. after gu ci treated his heart condition, chen rushi no longer had any reservations. leaving black hawk became inevitable, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s car accident was just the trigger. with such a personality, whether in the power struggle within black hawk or in the underworld, lu zhiyuan was equally ambitious. lu zhiyuan had carefully cultivated pei qiuying, ensuring that she was no pushover. she had the capability to rival chen rushi, and the underworld was bound to become chaotic. ¡°there¡¯s something strange.¡± ¡°what is it?¡± li jiang said, ¡°chairman jiang¡­ seems to have disappeared.¡± lu zhiyuan was taken aback and calmly said, ¡°well, that¡¯s an unexpected pleasure.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s plane was scheduled to leave paris on the third. after chen rushi joined the underworld, the first conflict arose in a meeting with pei qiuying over lu zhiyuan¡¯s departure from paris. after chen rushi¡¯s surgery, while sitting in a wheelchair, he still looked reasonably well. he said in a deep voice, ¡°lu zhiyuan is seriously injured and can¡¯t move easily. moreover, he can¡¯t get out of bed. assassinating him now is the best choice. letting a tiger return to the mountain will bring endless trouble. in our city, if you want to kill him, it¡¯s as easy as pie.¡± some of the key figures in the underworld also agreed with chen rushi¡¯s point of view. allowing lu zhiyuan to leave was seen as a recipe for disaster. ¡°i don¡¯t intend to kill him.¡± pei qiuying said leisurely. she sat at the head of the table, her long hair flowing like seaweed, making her look exceptionally beautiful and imposing. after years of biding her time and concealing her abilities, pei qiuying now controlled all the assets of the underworld. with a single command, no one dared to defy her. she was no longer under anyone¡¯s control. ¡°during lu zhiyuan¡¯s racing event, you sent someone to shoot at him, causing the accident that almost took his life. your intention was to kill him,¡± chen rushi said, puzzled. there had always been animosity between the underworld and black hawk. ¡°in the racing accident, he couldn¡¯t have died!¡± pei qiuying remained composed. ¡°there¡¯s no need to discuss this matter. lu zhiyuan cannot die. now, let¡¯s discuss how we should deal with rong li and ji chi.¡± chen rushi narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased. he was born into the chen family, and from a young age, chen geng had raised him surrounded by a group of girls. he always had a somewhat condescending view of women, thinking that besides procreation, they were like flowers that could be easily plucked. when he entered the underworld, his ambitions swelled, and he had no intention of submitting to pei qiuying. while pei qiuying had just gained control over him, she was highly respected. chen rushi had to avoid direct confrontation with her. however, when it came to lu zhiyuan, chen rushi was particularly persistent. ¡°lu zhiyuan is currently handicapped. a well-planned ambush on his way to the airport would certainly be successful. i don¡¯t understand why you insist on sparing his life,¡± chen rushi said in a deep voice. pei qiuying frowned. ¡°chen rushi, are you questioning my orders?¡± she asked calmly but with authority. chen rushi took a deep breath and noticed pei qiuying¡¯s displeasure. ¡°i just don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°you don¡¯t need to understand!¡± pei qiuying said sternly. ¡°you just need to know that 1 am the leader of the underworld. my orders are everything. you all need to execute them without needing to understand.¡± chen rushi was publicly reprimanded, and it was clear that he was not happy about it. the original members of the underworld seemed to relish the situation, while those he had brought with him were growing angry. pei qiuying also understood that she couldn¡¯t have a public falling-out with chen rushi. she said calmly, ¡°today¡¯s meeting ends here. chen rushi, please stay. 1 have something to discuss with you. the rest of you can leave.¡± the others filed out of the meeting room.. Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Brother Is Imprisoned chapter 241: brother is imprisoned translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation pei qiuying said, ¡°chen rushi, if you disagree with me, discuss it with me privately. if you publicly oppose me, don¡¯t blame me for embarrassing you and undermining your dignity.¡± ¡°why spare lu zhiyuan? this is the best opportunity to kill him, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. if we miss it, we may never get another.¡± chen rushi didn¡¯t seem to care about immediate gains or losses. ¡°the car accident wasn¡¯t meant to take his life; it was meant to kill his other persona!¡± pei qiuying said calmly. ¡°the third master¡¯s life belongs to me, and no one can take it away. if i want him alive, he must live!¡± chen rushi frowned, thinking about how pei qiuying was nurtured by lu zhiyuan, who was exceptionally talented. even as an enemy, and despite his reluctance to submit, chen rushi had to admit that lu zhiyuan was an extraordinarily talented man. whether as the third master or a racing driver, he stood at the pinnacle of their respective industries. ¡°do you actually have feelings for lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°no!¡± pei qiuying chuckled. ¡°i love the third master, chen rushi. you¡¯ve entered the underworld, and i grant you power, wealth, and the well-being of your clan. as long as you remain loyal to me, black hawk will return to your control one day. what i want is solely the third master.¡± chen rushi coldly replied, ¡°lu zhiyuan¡¯s affections lie with gu ci, not you!¡± ¡°shut up!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s anger flared, but she quickly regained her composure. ¡°lu zhiyuan may like gu ci, but the third master doesn¡¯t care for her at all.¡± chen rushi looked at her indifferently, turning his wheelchair. ¡°i understand, but, pei qiuying, let me tell you, focusing solely on your career, once you amass enough power, men will be mere playthings in your hands. if you let real emotions get involved, that¡¯s foolish.¡± guards entered and pushed him out, leaving pei qiuying with an unpleasant expression. her own guards entered and spoke in a low voice, ¡°mistress, the dark lord still hasn¡¯t responded. we can¡¯t obtain authorization without him.¡± ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± the guard shook his head. ¡°did something happen to him?¡± pei qiuying frowned. ¡°he¡¯s in control from behind the scenes, overseeing everything. how could anything happen to him? continue trying to contact him. without authorization, there¡¯s nothing i can do.¡± ¡°yes.¡± the head of the underworld, with both a public and a shadowy presence, operated with two separate management systems. the public leader managed financial affairs openly and legitimately, while the true master controlled the underworld¡¯s dark forces, including the black hawk eye system, resource allocation, and agent deployment. these three systems recognized only one master, and it wasn¡¯t pei qiuying. he was the true leader of the underworld. black hawk and the underworld had two distinct management systems. black hawk divided power among the nine major families, making it easy for the leader to be marginalized, essentially trapping themselves. the underworld operated under a centralized system. legitimate business affairs were managed by the leader, but the true master worked behind the scenes, ensuring their protection. despite several financial battles, black hawk had failed to uncover the underworld¡¯s true strengths. the ji chi family. inside a dimly lit room in ji chi¡¯s villa, when jiang junlin woke up, he found his hands bound to an iron pillar at the head of the bed, and it was securely locked. the chain was particularly long, limiting his movements to within its two-meter length. jiang junlin sneered, ¡°fuck, this is something you don¡¯t see every day!¡± laughter echoed from the darkness, and he hadn¡¯t initially noticed ji chi sitting there. ¡°brother, after all these years of knowing you, it¡¯s the first time i¡¯ve heard you curse so angrily.¡± the room was sparsely furnished, with only a bed, an inset fireplace burning brightly, providing warmth, a toilet about a meter from the bed, a sofa, and not even a bedside table. ¡°what day is it today?¡± ¡°the third,¡± ji chi replied. he was quite comfortable, lounging on the sofa and whistling. he seemed in good spirits. ¡°and, as a bonus, 1 have some bad news for you. chen rushi has taken half of chen¡¯s family¡¯s assets into the underworld and become pei qiuying¡¯s right-hand.¡± ¡°what¡¯s so bad about that? it¡¯s what i intended,¡± jiang junlin said indifferently. ¡°just losing half of the assets.¡± ji chi chuckled, ¡°you hoped that after chen rushi brought the assets into the underworld, she and pei qiuying would tear each other apart, leaving you to clean up the mess, eliminating the third master, who was placed in the underworld as a pawn. it would have been a win-win for you. but now that you¡¯re here, while pei qiuying and chen rushi fight each other, who will handle the aftermath?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying!¡± jiang junlin squinted his eyes. when he had chosen pei qiuying back then, it was because of her intelligence and usefulness. pei qiuying couldn¡¯t possibly be so foolish as to reveal the secrets of the underworld to lu zhiyuan out of love! if she were that foolish, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to navigate between him and lu zhiyuan, leveraging their strengths effectively! ji chi calmly walked over, sat on the bed, and gently ran his hand over jiang junlin¡¯s calf. it seemed like flirting, yet also like pacifying his prey. then, jiang junlin kicked him away, and ji chi didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°the third master suspected the underworld many years ago. black hawk¡¯s businesses are diverse, and finance isn¡¯t the most profitable sector for black hawk. we only needed the financial system to handle our vast funds. but the underworld is different. it¡¯s a financial company based in the country m, yet its assets are extremely vast. in several financial battles, we lost. the funds we could mobilize were much larger than the underworld¡¯s. where did the underworld get the funds to compete with us? the third master suspected that the underworld had two management systems, with the true underworld operating behind the scenes, protecting each other. in those few financial battles, the third master deliberately lost to test what cards the underworld had. the results revealed an endless pit. later on, we couldn¡¯t afford to lose anymore, considering the real money involved. so, the third master changed his strategy.¡± ¡°the first internal strife within the underworld, the third master didn¡¯t have his full wings yet. he saved rong li and also saved pei qiuying. neither of them revealed the secrets of the underworld. pei qiuying is indeed intelligent. even after becoming the leader of the underworld, she never divulged a single underworld secret. she kept an ace up her sleeve to counter the third master. it wasn¡¯t until this summer¡¯s financial battle when black hawk targeted asian financial assets, and the underworld stepped in to intercept, protecting our country¡¯s financial system from harm. the third master suspected that the underworld was a financial tool for our country. you mentioned on the plane that protecting our nation¡¯s financial assets and safeguarding the domestic financial system¡¯s secure operation is an unshirkable responsibility for us. you didn¡¯t get that wrong,¡± ji chi explained. jiang junlin looked at him with a calm expression. ¡°oh¡­¡± ji chi leaned in, their breaths mingling, a mixture of ambiguity and danger. he continued, ¡°but you didn¡¯t say it all. the underworld is also a financial tool you established in europe and america. on the surface, it appears to be a venture capital firm, but in secret, it¡¯s backed by the resources and intelligence you¡¯ve cultivated overseas in the criminal underworld. its true master must be someone who was nurtured from a young age, someone with impeccable origins..¡± Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Don’t Be soft chapter 242: don¡¯t be soft-hearted translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°this is all speculation from you and lu zhiyuan,¡± jiang junlin calmly looked at ji chi, his hand caressing the gemstone ring ji chi had given him. ¡°where¡¯s the evidence?¡± ¡°we don¡¯t have any concrete evidence, just speculation,¡± ji chi chuckled lightly. ¡°you can be ruthless toward your enemies, but surprisingly soft toward your own people. if that day¡¯s confrontation between mss and the triad had resulted in one or two deaths, maybe third master wouldn¡¯t have suspected you. but in such a large-scale naval battle, where everyone came out unscathed, it¡¯s quite puzzling. unless you two are from different factions who don¡¯t recognize each other as allies.¡± ¡°that¡¯s a nice story you¡¯ve spun!¡± jiang junlin gazed at him indifferently, a coldness in his eyes. ji chi looked at jiang junlin playfully and said, ¡°the triad¡¯s financial system has been providing cover for the intelligence organization behind them, infiltrating various local industries. to gain a foothold quickly, their methods must be unsavory. jiang junlin, if this gets exposed, it will be a major scandal.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve said it before, your story sounds good, but where¡¯s the evidence?¡± jiang junlin, even in his current predicament, displayed unwavering confidence. ¡°if what you¡¯re saying is true, we would have had contingency measures from the beginning. no one would acknowledge my identity. from start to finish, i¡¯m just jiang junlin, the ceo of hualan bank.¡± ji chi looked at jiang junlin with a cold smile. despite his righteous appearance due to his position, jiang junlin, a young man raised in luxury, had blood on his hands. the blend of good and evil was perfect in him. ji chi asked softly, ¡°brother, all these years, have you ever felt pain? regret?¡± jiang junlin looked at him in silence, continuously toying with the ring. ji chi continued, ¡°a knife unrecognized by the nation, rushing to the front lines, doing all the dirty work, the hard work. covered in blood, have you ever looked back at those sitting in the bright halls, people who never faced the wind and snow? they say, jiang junlin, you don¡¯t deserve to be one of us. we lead honorable lives, while you¡¯re just a rat in the gutter. who would acknowledge you? and when you look at those brothers who have fought alongside you, have they ever asked, who are we really? are we soldiers or thieves? whose pawns are we? will there ever be a day when we can retire? strangers all around, not accepted by society. have you ever felt pain? regret?¡± jiang junlin seemed to have been touched in the deepest part of his heart. his eyes reddened slightly, but his gaze remained calm as he looked at ji chi. ¡°my great-grandfather, before he passed away, my father asked him, ¡®grandpa, do you have any regrets?¡¯¡± as a young child, jiang junlin had heard a story from his father, jiang minghua, about his great-grandfather. jiang junlin continued, ¡°my great-grandfather said, ¡®in this life, if one¡¯s existence doesn¡¯t contribute to the world and his death doesn¡¯t reduce its goodness, that¡¯s a tragedy.¡¯ so, he chose to die for his country, even if he would be forgotten forever. my heart remains the same. i¡¯ve never regretted my choices.¡± he smiled and looked at ji chi, ¡°but, ji chi, regardless of the story you¡¯ve told, without evidence, it¡¯s just a tale.¡± ji chi leaned in closer, one hand resting beside jiang junlin. his young eyes had a hint of dark red. ¡°whether this is true or false, i have no interest. the grudge between the triad and black hawk over these years needs closure. and you¡­ can only watch as the triad crumbles.¡± ¡°are you going to keep me locked up forever?¡± jiang junlin chuckled in frustration. he was pondering how crazy ji chi had become. at most, ji chi would keep him locked up while pei qiuying and chen rushi would engage in internal strife, weakening the triad significantly. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with that!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°i¡¯ve lost patience a long time ago. i might break your legs, clip your wings, and keep you here. let¡¯s see who can rescue you. without you, 1 want to see what cards the triad has left!¡± ¡°ji chi, you¡¯ve certainly grown some backbone!¡± jiang junlin, infuriated, chuckled. he suddenly grabbed ji chi¡¯s throat and executed a perfect throat lock. ji chi was taken aback, and within moments, the chain on the ground made a crisp sound as ji chi was dragged and pinned onto the bed. ¡°how dare you actually imprison me!¡± this was a specialized move, trained through the system, a unique throat-locking technique. ¡°unlock the chain!¡± jiang junlin held ji chi¡¯s throat with one hand and his knee against ji chi¡¯s chest with the other. with a little more force, he could snap ji chi¡¯s neck, and even if ji chi managed to avoid the throat lock, he couldn¡¯t escape the threat to his chest. ji chi¡¯s collar was wide open, revealing a large expanse of tanned skin. he smiled with a delicate and charming dimple, and his eyes were exceptionally seductive due to the redness. a bit masochistic, a bit crazy. ¡°if you kill me, you¡¯ll be free.¡± ¡°brother, my life or your freedom, you can only choose one!¡± jiang junlin increased the pressure, and ji chi began to suffocate, his face turning pale. he had been suffocating for nearly ten seconds, his mind blank, with some fleeting memories flashing before his eyes as death approached. ¡°indeed, it felt like my life flashing before my eyes,¡± he thought to himself. he couldn¡¯t believe that jiang junlin would really kill him. after the prolonged suffocation, ji chi¡¯s vision turned hazy, and even in the face of death, jiang junlin had a crazed smile on his face. ¡°fuck!¡± he released ji chi, who immediately flipped over, coughing violently and greedily inhaling the air. it took him a while to recover from the brink of death, and he was drenched in cold sweat. ji chi licked his dry lips provocatively, his body relaxed beneath jiang junlin. ¡°brother, don¡¯t hesitate, go ahead.¡± jiang junlin slapped him across the face, causing ji chi¡¯s cheek to swell instantly. ¡°you bastard!¡± ji chi licked the blood that had been drawn by the slap, seemingly unfazed and not feeling any pain. ¡°don¡¯t want to kill me? then you¡¯ll be imprisoned here. the day i die, you¡¯ll be free.¡± ¡°is this your idea, or lu zhiyuan¡¯s?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°it¡¯s mine!¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow. ¡°third master isn¡¯t interested in our grudges. the process doesn¡¯t matter to him, and neither does your identity.¡± ¡°ji chi, release me, and we can still find a way to resolve this,¡± jiang junlin calmly said. ¡°this is my final warning to you. don¡¯t play with fire and burn yourself.¡± ¡°i won¡¯t release you!¡± ji chi shouted angrily, rising to his feet. ¡°you¡¯ll never leave this dark room, and i¡¯ll kill all your men. no one will find you!¡± jiang junlin removed the ring that had been on his middle finger and threw it onto ji chi. he spoke coldly, ¡°here¡¯s your stuff, now get out!¡± ji chi chuckled as he received the ring, feeling jiang junlin¡¯s body warmth on it. he placed the ring on the bedside table and then turned and left the dark room. jiang junlin watched him go, furrowing his brow and muttering curses under his breath. he took a deep breath, suppressing the panic within him. this son of a bitch really dared to imprison him.. Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Father and Son Fight chapter 243: father and son fight translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation even in chaos, the triad couldn¡¯t be shaken. he disappeared without a word, and all resources and power fell silent. it wouldn¡¯t provide any support to pei qiuying. what was lost was only money. money was the least of his concerns! he had to stay calm; it wasn¡¯t an irreversible situation yet. when did ji chi start planning his confinement? during this time, he hadn¡¯t seen any clues. his phone lay nearby, and jiang junlin picked it up. as expected, there was no signal; this place blocked all satellite signals. without a signal, the phone was just a piece of scrap metal. jiang junlin glanced at the ring, his gaze gradually calming. he had two groups of bodyguards. one led by zhang qiang was always by his side, and the other remained in the shadows, tracking his every move. ji chi couldn¡¯t keep him locked up here forever! jiang junlin closed his eyes, threw himself onto the bedding, and for once, he felt a bit despondent. ¡°this is absurd!¡± he knew ji chi had always wanted to confine him, but it had been nothing more than a passing thought, a moment of amusement. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t expected ji chi to actually take action! the snow in paris had stopped. gu ci hadn¡¯t expected that before leaving, chen rushi would come to see her. chen rushi said, ¡°cici, you must be very disappointed in me.¡± ¡°mr. chen, you¡¯re exaggerating. we have no ties, neither friends nor enemies. i can barely consider myself someone who once treated a patient. i had no expectations of you, so there¡¯s no room for disappointment.¡± gu ci looked at him calmly. chen rushi sat in a wheelchair, looking somewhat haggard. it was evident that his injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed. his bodyguards were not far away, watching gu ci vigilantly. chen rushi said, ¡°cici, leave lu zhiyuan. if you stay by his side, you¡¯ll have endless trouble.¡± ¡°chen rushi, you¡¯re crossing a line,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°our relationship is superficial, and it¡¯s inappropriate to speak so intimately.¡± ¡°i know!¡± chen rushi said self-deprecatingly. ¡°i said i liked you, and you didn¡¯t believe me. if lu zhiyuan were just a global racing champion, being with him would at most lead to fanatical attention and harassment. but he¡¯s the third master of the black hawk. during the black hawk management council that day, everyone knew that you¡¯re lu zhiyuan¡¯s weakness. pei qiuying is determined to get lu zhiyuan, and with you by his side, disaster is inevitable. pei qiuying is a madwoman. she¡¯ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. if you don¡¯t leave lu zhiyuan, you won¡¯t have a good ending.¡± ¡°leaving him won¡¯t make her relent. my feud with pei qiuying is settled. there¡¯s no point in discussing it further.¡± gu ci¡¯s tone was resolute. ¡°unless 1 die, lu zhiyuan won¡¯t be able to leave my side. pei qiuying is a madwoman¡­ hahaha¡­¡± gu ci laughed manically. ¡°who isn¡¯t a madman in this world?¡± chen rushi keenly sensed a kind of frenzied determination in gu ci that contradicted her normally calm demeanor. in his eyes, this young girl was usually aloof and composed. how could she possess such a frenzied determination? ¡°you¡¯ll regret this!¡± chen rushi said. ¡°pei qiuying and you are not of the same world.¡± ¡°i never regret my decisions,¡± gu ci said calmly. ¡°chen rushi, you¡¯ve defected from the black hawk and joined the triad. pei qiuying is your mistress now. given your personality, even submitting to lu zhiyuan would be like a bone stuck in your throat. how could you willingly obey pei qiuying? you fundamentally look down on women, considering them mere playthings for men¡¯s leisure. do you think you¡¯ll willingly obey pei qiuying?¡± ¡°i won¡¯t submit to her,¡± chen rushi had his own ambitions. ¡°if it weren¡¯t for lu zhiyuan¡¯s sudden rise back then, i would be the one in control of the black hawk. he has no foundation in the black hawk, so why should he overshadow me? i won¡¯t accept it!¡± men¡¯s desire for power, especially someone like chen rushi, born into a prominent family as a crown prince, had an even stronger desire for power. ¡°cici, lu zhiyuan won¡¯t be able to protect you. leaving him is your best choice.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t need him to protect me,¡± gu ci said casually. ¡°chen rushi, my affairs have nothing to do with you.¡± getting too personal was inappropriate. chen rushi also knew that gu ci wouldn¡¯t listen to advice. ¡°if one day you need my help, no matter where i am, i¡¯ll come to your side. i owe you a life. although our chen family may use any means necessary, we will always repay our debts.¡± ¡°using a debt to manipulate is not appropriate, but if you genuinely want to repay it, i won¡¯t refuse,¡± gu ci smiled and a hint of snow dusted her brows and eyes. ¡°then let¡¯s start a battle with pei qiuying sooner rather than later.¡± ¡°cici, are you using me as a pawn?¡± chen rushi chuckled. gu ci contemplated for a moment. ¡°chen rushi, it¡¯s not that i look down on you. in a battle between you and pei qiuying, it¡¯s uncertain who will win in the end. put away your arrogance and don¡¯t underestimate women. both lu zhiyuan and my brother have been nurturing pei qiuying for six years. even lu zhiyuan and my brother haven¡¯t seen through her yet. what makes you think you can be a hundred percent certain of victory?¡± chen rushi was momentarily stunned and then smiled. ¡°thanks for the reminder, cici. i¡¯ll be careful.¡± when gu ci returned to her hospital room, li jiang had packed everything up. they set off for the airport, and gu ci remained vigilant throughout the journey. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t move, and a single car accident could cost him his life. therefore, li jiang had to ensure nothing went wrong. pei qiuying didn¡¯t appear at all during the trip, and gu ci breathed a sigh of relief. she didn¡¯t want any complications on this journey, nor did she want any entanglement between lu zhiyuan and pei qiuying. they arrived safely back in city a. they used a special passage and didn¡¯t encounter any fans. lu zhiyuan¡¯s trip back to china had been kept extremely confidential, with no information leaked to the racing league or anyone else. in the parking lot, gu ziyu waved when he saw gu ci, rushing over and his cheeks were flushed. ¡°mom, i missed you so much!¡± gu ci also missed gu ziyu terribly. she had originally planned to spend new year¡¯s with him but had to cancel. now, seeing her son and hugging him, giving him a kiss, the mother and son were exceptionally affectionate. lu zhiyuan lay on the medical vehicle, watching gu ziyu and gu ci, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in his heart. his son¡­ his own flesh and blood! blood was thicker than water, truly a mysterious thing. he felt an inexplicable closeness when he first saw gu ziyu. gu ziyu was surprised to discover that gu ci was in a terrible state. ¡°is it because taking care of him was too exhausting? you didn¡¯t sleep well, didn¡¯t eat well, did you? you¡¯ve lost so much weight.¡± gu ci was naturally slim, but in these past ten days, she had visibly lost even more weight, as if a strong wind could blow her away. ¡°yeah, 1 didn¡¯t sleep well, didn¡¯t eat well.¡± ¡°when we get home, i¡¯ll take good care of you!¡± gu ziyu glanced inside the medical vehicle and whispered, ¡°does he¡­ know me?¡± gu ci hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. gu ziyu understood. only the third master knew; his daytime father was still unaware of his existence. ¡°big brother, are you okay?¡± gu ziyu climbed into the medical vehicle and poked at his casted hand. ¡°you look like a mummy..¡± Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Dad, You’re Really Too Scheming chapter 244: dad, you¡¯re really too scheming translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan, ¡°when did you lose your front tooth?¡± as soon as they met, they started teasing each other. gu ziyu¡¯s face darkened; he really found it annoying. why bring up that sore point! gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°let¡¯s go back first!¡± li jiang escorted lu zhiyuan to global sports center. gu ci had thought about having lu zhiyuan stay at the blue fields villa, but lu zhiyuan insisted on staying, and his bodyguards couldn¡¯t find a place to sleep. they couldn¡¯t guard him day and night without a proper place to rest. gu ziyu hadn¡¯t spoken to lu zhiyuan since he mentioned the missing tooth. he had a big temper. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but cry and laugh. she helped lu zhiyuan lie down, and li jiang and the others brought in medical equipment. gu ci wiped his sweat, and even a slight movement made lu zhiyuan break into a sweat. ¡°brother, how many bones did you break to become this weak?¡± gu ziyu, as an adult, didn¡¯t argue with the patient. seeing how miserable he looked, he leaned over the bed and looked at the pale lu zhiyuan. ¡°are you trying to gain mom¡¯s sympathy by acting like this?¡± lu zhiyuan was taken aback and looked at gu ci, who was helping him organize things. he hadn¡¯t thought that far, but his son was quite skilled at acting. he pointed the way, as he sometimes didn¡¯t know what to say to gu ci while playing third young master. ¡°you¡¯re quite cunning!¡± gu ziyu flicked lu zhiyuan¡¯s cast with his finger. ¡°you¡¯d do anything to compete for mom¡¯s attention!¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. ¡°little sweetheart, don¡¯t move, it hurts!¡± gu ci turned around just in time to see gu ziyu flicking lu zhiyuan¡¯s cast and heard lu zhiyuan cry out in pain. she came over, saying softly, ¡°ziyu, when bones are broken, they need to be immobilized. don¡¯t touch it randomly.¡± gu ziyu looked at lu zhiyuan in bewilderment. he had barely touched it; how could it hurt? but when mom saw him do it, and dad cried out in pain, he couldn¡¯t defend himself. gu ziyu placed his hands on his hips. ¡°i¡¯ll settle the score with you when you¡¯re old!¡± hmph! gu ziyu had really misunderstood lu zhiyuan. he had been moving all day today, and his whole body was aching. his hand bones were painful on their own, so he could feel the subtle pain with every little movement. gu ci sat down beside him, carefully covering him with the blanket. lu zhiyuan was getting a bit tired, but he still had to maintain his image. ¡°cici, why don¡¯t you stay at global? i want to see you every day.¡± ¡°who kicked me out in the first place?¡± ¡°i won¡¯t take the blame for that. i didn¡¯t kick you out.¡± lu zhiyuan realized too late that third young master wasn¡¯t to blame for this; he was. gu ci bent down and gently kissed his lips. ¡°do you really want to see me every day?¡± ¡°i do!¡± he couldn¡¯t distinguish between truth and falsehood anymore. he was worried that without gu ci, he would have sleepless nights filled with nightmares. but having her sleep with him at night didn¡¯t fit third young master¡¯s image. he had really trapped himself! gu ci hugged his neck. ¡°i have classes to attend. 1 have a lot of catching up to do. 1¡¯11 rearrange my schedule, and i¡¯ll free up a day every week for you, including weekends. that¡¯s three days together.¡± the two locked eyes, and in gu ci¡¯s eyes, lu zhiyuan saw a hint of affection. he was surprised and touched, and without thinking, he kissed her eyes. lu zhiyuan had peach blossom eyes, and when he focused on someone, it was deep and affectionate, always making hearts flutter. after gu ziyu stormed out of the bedroom, he asked one of the bodyguards, ¡°where¡¯s li jiang?¡± the bodyguard replied, ¡°boss¡­ oh, he was here a moment ago. where did he go?¡± gu ziyu snorted coldly, ¡°li jiang, if you don¡¯t come out within three seconds, you¡¯re in big trouble. one, two¡­¡± li jiang, appearing from the closet, greeted gu ziyu nervously, ¡°young master, i¡¯m here.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face turned cold; li jiang was like a mini version of third young master. li jiang¡¯s heart pounded; he was in for it now. young master was going to hold him accountable. he smiled obsequiously and groveled, rushing over to give gu ziyu a shoulder massage and leg rub. ¡°young master, if you have any requests, just say the word. i¡¯ll go through fire and water without blinking an eye.¡± gu ziyu kicked him, just like when he had kicked ji chi back then. ¡°you knew he was black hawk¡¯s third young master, and you didn¡¯t tell me? you¡¯ve got quite the nerve. no wonder you were asking all those questions, checking records. you were investigating me!¡± this kick aimed at li jiang was neither painful nor ticklish. li jiang said, ¡°young master, everyone has their own responsibilities. this is third young master¡¯s problem. if you want to hit someone, hit him. don¡¯t be afraid to stand up for yourself; just be reasonable!¡± ¡°what, 1 can¡¯t hit him?¡± gu ziyu said, kicking him again. ¡°i¡¯ll settle the score with him when he¡¯s old!¡± this debt was put on hold! li jiang was speechless. young master, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s afraid of standing up to him! ¡°besides this matter, is there anything else you¡¯re keeping from me?¡± gu ziyu calmly swung his legs, his expression icy. ¡°this is your chance to confess.¡± ¡°truly, nothing else!¡± ¡°is that so?¡± li jiang raised two fingers to swear, but gu ziyu slapped them down. ¡°who caused his accident?¡± ¡°pei qiuying!¡± ¡°heh, i don¡¯t know what kind of constitution he has, always attracting weirdos!¡± in his past life, it was gu chuyun, and in this life, it was pei qiuying. gu ziyu thought of gu ci and fell into a subtle silence. what kind of constitution did his father have? were there any normal peach blossoms? could this constitution be inherited by him? ¡°young master?¡± li jiang saw gu ziyu¡¯s vacant gaze and didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. he couldn¡¯t help but call out. gu ziyu snapped back to reality and looked at li jiang with a half-smile. ¡°li jiang, tell me, does he have any other rotten peach blossoms?¡± ¡°none at all!¡± ¡°who said third young master isn¡¯t interested in women and is dedicated to his career?¡± ¡°he truly isn¡¯t interested in women and is dedicated to his career. unfortunately, he has a face that attracts women. it¡¯s not third young master¡¯s fault!¡± li jiang felt unjustly treated. being handsome and charming wasn¡¯t third young master¡¯s fault! ¡°in the future, if anything happens, no matter how small, you must tell me every detail.¡± ¡°isn¡¯t that inappropriate?¡± ¡°why is it inappropriate?¡± ¡°although you¡¯re young master, you¡¯re also in the mss, and we¡¯re black hawk. we¡¯re sworn enemies.¡± gu ziyu just remembered this; his father was his mortal enemy! ¡°young master,¡± li jiang smiled obsequiously, ¡°why don¡¯t you resign from national security? being the young master of black hawk is much more prestigious than being a civil servant.¡± gu ziyu frowned. ¡°i got in based on my abilities. why should i resign?¡± li jiang grinned, ¡°well, there¡¯s the family inheritance to consider, isn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°he can have a little brother, and there¡¯s still time for that.¡± ¡°twenty years from now, brothers may turn against each other.¡± li jiang sighed, ¡°whether i stand by the boss or the second young master¡­¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t reply. gu ci and lu zhiyuan separated, their exchanges filled with affection. when they came out, they saw li jiang with gu ziyu, and it was like seeing the eunuch chief and the crown prince all over again.. Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Gu Ci Is Sick chapter 245: gu ci is sick translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°what are you talking about?¡± gu ci asked curiously. gu ziyu and li jiang both remained silent. they couldn¡¯t tell gu ci that they were considering a conflict between brothers! ¡°just casual conversation, should we stay here or go back home?¡± ¡°let¡¯s go back home!¡± gu ci said, and li jiang had already sent someone to move her luggage. as soon as gu ci returned to blue fields villa, she became very quiet. perhaps, ever since leaving the global sports center, she had been silent. there was no smile on her face, and her eyes were lifeless. ¡°mom, what¡¯s wrong? are you feeling unwell?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°mom is a bit tired.¡± ¡°then take a shower and rest, i¡¯ll help you with your things.¡± gu ziyu was obedient and sensible, and he was afraid. gu ci¡¯s gaze reminded him of the time she went crazy in her previous life. that was a buried memory deep in his heart, perhaps something he would never be able to let go of in his lifetime. he was afraid of it happening again, and seeing gu ci like this made gu ziyu feel like his whole body was in pain, a nerve-wracking pain that came from being accustomed to abuse. even though no one was hurting him, he still felt like his skin was being cut by sharp blades. after gu ci fell asleep, gu ziyu quietly opened the door. it was dim inside the room, the curtains tightly drawn, not a ray of sunlight leaking in. just past noon, the sunlight was strong, and gu ziyu walked over quietly. gu ci was deeply asleep. ¡°mom¡­ mom¡­¡± gu ci didn¡¯t react at all. gu ziyu gently opened the bedside table and took out a bottle of sleeping pills. he poured them out, one by one, and as he counted, he suddenly froze, shocked as he looked at gu ci on the bed. mom had taken five sleeping pills! gu ziyu knew that gu ci couldn¡¯t sleep well at night and relied on sleeping pills. so, he secretly counted the pills every day, calculating gu ci¡¯s dosage. she usually took two pills, occasionally three. when lu zhiyuan had just gone abroad to prepare for a competition, she had reduced her dosage. sometimes she took one pill, sometimes none, and gu ziyu had secretly celebrated. mom stopped taking the pills, and she could still sleep well. it couldn¡¯t get any better than that. she hadn¡¯t brought this bottle of sleeping pills with her when she went abroad, but she had taken five at once as soon as she returned. gu ziyu put the sleeping pills back in their place and knelt by the bed, quietly watching gu ci. mom, what¡¯s wrong with you? she already had a dependency on these pills, and taking so many at once, what if something went wrong? he didn¡¯t dare to replace them with new pills; gu ci was a doctor, and she knew more about these sleeping pills than anyone else. gu ziyu took out his phone and called ji chi. it rang three times before ji chi answered, ¡°what¡¯s wrong, baby?¡± ¡°my mom took five sleeping pills, what should i do?¡± ¡°five pills won¡¯t kill her, she¡¯ll just sleep it off, but there might be some memory loss, and it could harm her kidneys, but she won¡¯t die.¡± ji chi said, ¡°why did she swallow so many sleeping pills?¡± ¡°she hasn¡¯t been sleeping well at night, and when she¡¯s in a bad mood, she increases the dosage. she can¡¯t keep taking them like this. what should 1 do?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice remained relatively calm, but he felt a panic deep inside. he had a fear that gu ci might leave him. ¡°baby, don¡¯t worry. your mom is a doctor, she knows the limit. it¡¯s probably because she¡¯s been carrying a heavy burden on her mind and can¡¯t sleep well. first, ask li jiang about her sleep during this time, and then persuade her to see a doctor.¡± gu ziyu thought it made sense. he didn¡¯t want to panic and call a doctor. after hanging up with ji chi, he was about to call li jiang when gu ci¡¯s voice came, ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t call!¡± ¡°mom¡­¡± gu ziyu put down his phone, ran over, and held the drowsy gu ci. gu ci had just fallen asleep and was startled awake by his phone call. she hugged gu ziyu and said, ¡°mommy just can¡¯t sleep, ziyu, sleep with mommy for a while.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ziyu rolled into her arms, allowing gu ci to hold him. mother and son, their hearts connected. he could feel the pain in gu ci¡¯s heart, and gu ziyu softly said, ¡°mommy¡­ you¡­ you can hit me if you want. if you¡¯re in pain, just hit me.¡± gu ci hugged him tightly, kissing gu ziyu¡¯s forehead. ¡°mommy won¡¯t hit you, ziyu, you¡¯re a good boy. mommy is just a little tired, but mommy won¡¯t leave you again.¡± her voice became somewhat drowsy, and she gradually fell asleep again. perhaps it was because gu ziyu was in her arms, and gu ci felt somewhat reassured. those chaotic images didn¡¯t intrude into her dreams again, allowing her to sleep peacefully for the night. she slept from a little after 1:00 pm until 7:00 am the next day. gu ci didn¡¯t wake up during the night, and gu ziyu obediently slept in her embrace, being her human pillow. when gu ci woke up, she felt a bit nauseous and had a headache, the consequence of taking too many sleeping pills. but at least she had slept well. she hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep in paris, but here, in this familiar place, holding gu ziyu, she felt a bit more at ease. ¡°mommy, you¡¯re awake. did you sleep well?¡± gu ziyu had been a good human pillow all night. he had initially suffered from nightmares when he first crossed over, but gradually, those symptoms had faded away. especially after moving to blue fields villa, he had been busy with his studies and work, leaving little time for him to dwell on his past life. his nightmares had gotten better. ¡°i slept very well!¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°taking care of your dad is exhausting, and 1 haven¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep. did i scare you by taking too many sleeping pills?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s anxious heart finally settled down. his mom was aware that she had taken too many pills, so everything should be fine. ¡°mommy, please don¡¯t take such a high dosage; it¡¯s really bad for your health,¡± gu ziyu said, feeling concerned. ¡°alright, mommy will listen to you,¡± gu ci smiled. ¡°now, get up, it¡¯s time for breakfast and then off to class.¡± ¡°i¡¯m starving!¡± gu ziyu quickly got up, freshened up, and prepared breakfast. they had a simple meal of toast and milk before heading to class. gu ci had missed a week of classes and had spent the whole day either attending lectures or catching up on her coursework at the library. zhou jinjin hadn¡¯t disturbed her during this time. after class, she made a brief phone call to lu zhiyuan but didn¡¯t go to global sports center. for three consecutive days, gu ci was frantically catching up on her coursework and making progress. gu ziyu had been carefully observing her condition, and once he saw that she was back to normal, he felt relieved. dr. north had been recovering in the hospital, and after gu ci caught up with her coursework, she intended to visit the hospital. she knew she was ill and needed treatment. however, before she could go see dr. north, the doctor came to her one evening in a hurry. ¡°cici, can you contact your brother?¡± dr. north asked. ¡°my brother?¡± gu ci took out her phone. ¡°i just asked him when he¡¯s coming back, and he said he¡¯s busy for another half month.¡± dr. north took gu ci¡¯s phone and checked the call logs. over the past few days, both jiang junlin and gu ci had been in touch. ¡°have you called him or had a video call?¡± gu ci shook her head. she wasn¡¯t the type of clingy sister who needed to video call or talk on the phone. dr. north said, ¡°make a video call now.¡± ¡°master, what¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Brother Is Missing chapter 246: brother is missing translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°action!¡± dr. north¡¯s voice was somewhat serious. gu ci nodded and dialed the video call, but it didn¡¯t connect. a text message reminder came in: ¡°in a meeting, inconvenient for video.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t need dr. north to teach her. she had urgent matters to discuss via video. jiang junlin replied, ¡°what¡¯s going on? you can tell me, and i¡¯ll get back to you later.¡± gu ci squinted and drew a conclusion, ¡°he¡¯s not my brother. i have an urgent matter for a video call. a real brother, no matter how busy, would definitely call me back first.¡± ¡°he¡¯s in trouble!¡± gu ci¡¯s face changed slightly. the campus was not the place to discuss this. ¡°master, let¡¯s go home and talk on the way. do you know my brother?¡± the two left the campus and headed towards the blue fields villa. dr. north explained, ¡°six years ago, 1 was under your brother¡¯s command. 1 betrayed him in pursuit of freedom, but even now, i remain under his command.¡± she skipped over the details and briefly explained their relationship. ¡°jiang junlin is the true master of the underworld, orchestrating its operations from behind the scenes. the previous leaders of the underworld were just figureheads. but something¡¯s happened to him. his personal guards have all disappeared without a trace, and there¡¯s no news. this isn¡¯t normal. something must have happened in paris.¡± gu ci was shocked. her brother was the master of the underworld? he had been the figurehead for all those previous leaders? but the underworld¡­a mysterious force in the shadows, and her brother? it didn¡¯t make sense. her brother came from a reputable, scholarly family, refined, morally upright, and certainly not involved in criminal activities! ¡°after the gold was stolen, 1 began to suspect, but the jiang family has a long, distinguished history, deeply rooted in tradition. 1 never suspected he would be the underworld¡¯s master. 1 thought he was merely collaborating with them to combat the black hawk and prevent them from disrupting the domestic financial market.¡± the world of finance was ever-changing, a cipher for wealth and a wellspring of evil. ¡°cici, your brother has been the underworld¡¯s master for nine years and has eliminated three previous underworld leaders!¡± dr. north said calmly. the underworld changed leaders every three years, but because jiang junlin had amassed so much power, he controlled it like a one-man show. the previous underworld leaders, whom he had helped rise to power, resented being under his thumb and had turned rebellious. rebellion, once ignited, often led to death! gu ci¡¯s mind was in turmoil. this revelation shattered her preconceptions. she knew what kind of business the black hawk and the underworld were involved in, and third master was far from a saint, straddling the line between good and evil. but her brother¡­in her eyes, he was the kind of man who didn¡¯t need to wear a military uniform to exude an air of righteousness! ¡°how did you realize he was missing?¡± ¡°a day ago, i tried to contact him, but couldn¡¯t reach him. 1 attempted to reach zhang qiang as well, but 1 couldn¡¯t get through. that was very strange. even if he¡¯s busy, zhang qiang can be reached 24/7.1 tried calling, but no one answered. that¡¯s when i knew something was wrong,¡± dr. north explained. ¡°the underworld¡¯s secrets have never leaked because all the information is centralized with him. once he¡¯s in trouble, all connections and personnel will go silent. no one will contact anyone else.¡± ¡°the drawbacks are immense!¡± gu ci immediately grasped the significance. the drawbacks were indeed substantial, but they still adhered to this system, which meant there was only one possibility: the hidden secret was immense. if something happened, sacrificing jiang junlin alone could protect everyone else, and replacing him with another person would be possible. this system¡­ sounds all too familiar. ¡°when was the last time you saw him?¡± ¡°the night before new year¡¯s.¡± ¡°if he disappeared on new year¡¯s, it¡¯s been seven days!¡± nors¡¯ heart skipped a beat. she had clear grievances and knew exactly what she wanted. back when she betrayed jiang junlin, it was for her own freedom, and even though she failed, she never regretted it. after that call with jiang junlin, she had once again become his subordinate, and she had no intention of betraying him again. betray once, and you won¡¯t be trusted a hundred times. jiang junlin was willing to give her another chance, but she wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake twice. ¡°master, what do you want me to do to help you?¡± ¡°when you were in paris, did anything unusual happen?¡± gu ci recounted everything, including the incident where lu zhiyuan was manipulated into a car accident by pei qiuying. she didn¡¯t hold anything back. ¡°after he got into trouble, i¡¯ve been taking care of him in the hospital. i must admit that i neglected my brother a bit. after lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity was exposed, my brother went to support chen rushi. before 1 returned to china, i met with chen rushi, but he didn¡¯t reveal anything. lu zhiyuan was injured, and 1 left the matters of the black hawk to rong li and ji chi. chen rushi needed my brother¡¯s support to break free from the black hawk, so his opponent was ji chi.¡± ¡°ji chi is not a match for the master!¡± dr. north said. ¡°he¡¯s still too young.¡± gu ci pursed her lips, feeling an inexplicable sense of strangeness. was ji chi really that inexperienced? yes, he was only twenty-one, and in front of dr. north, he seemed like a young kid, nothing to be feared. but in her previous life, ji chi had imprisoned her brother! ¡°i¡¯ll call ji chi!¡± gu ci said and dialed ji chi¡¯s number. ji chi did answer, but his voice sounded rushed, as if he was busy. ¡°miss gu ci, please keep it short. i¡¯m quite busy.¡± ¡°i can¡¯t reach my brother!¡± gu ci got straight to the point. ¡°can you reach him?¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was filled with anxiety. ¡°i can¡¯t reach him either. i¡¯m going crazy. these past few days, i¡¯ve been looking for him. my brother must be angry with me and doesn¡¯t want to see me.¡± gu ci felt a sense of unease. ¡°when was the last time you saw your brother?¡± ¡°on new year¡¯s day, we had dinner together and stayed up late. after that, i haven¡¯t seen him,¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was anxious. ¡°it must be pei qiuying and chen rushi. i won¡¯t let them get away with this!¡± ¡°ji chi¡­¡± ¡°miss gu ci, i have to go. don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll find him!¡± ji chi was resolute and determined, leaving no room for doubt. she asked dr. north, ¡°do you suspect¡­ lu zhiyuan?¡± dr. north shook her head. ¡°he¡¯s not capable of this!¡± gu ci saw the hesitation in dr. north¡¯s eyes and felt a sinking feeling in her heart. ¡°do you suspect¡­ lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°besides him, who else could make jiang junlin go silent?¡± gu ci¡¯s face paled, and her head throbbed. could it really be lu zhiyuan? paris, ji chi¡¯s residence. after hanging up the phone, ji chi opened a hidden room and descended slowly. jiang junlin had changed into clean clothes, but his complexion wasn¡¯t great. there were bruises and bloodstains on his face from the fight with ji chi. ji chi also didn¡¯t look much better, with a swollen cheek from the slap he received. ji chi gazed at jiang junlin, who was locked up but appeared to have been violated, and licked his lips. even as a captive, jiang junlin was the most seductive captive! ¡°gu ci finally called me. she¡¯s realized you¡¯re missing!¡± jiang junlin remained silent, and ji chi slowly descended the steps. he held a tube of bruise ointment in his hand, used for treating contusions.. Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Torturing Each Other chapter 247: torturing each other translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin leaned quietly against the head of the bed, cold and aloof, pushing people away as if he were a thousand miles apart. this appearance was just like when they first met years ago. ji chi dabbed some ointment and tried to tend to his wounds, but jiang junlin avoided him. ji chi coldly snorted, grabbed his chin, and forced him to stay still while he applied the ointment. the two of them locked eyes in silence, both harboring a fierce desire to tear each other apart. ji chi, looking down on him, wore a malicious smile. ¡°big brother, with all these injuries, it excites me.¡± jiang junlin remained unresponsive. this guy is truly insane! whenever men get physical, they never know their limits. ji chi could still see the marks on his neck from earlier, which hadn¡¯t faded in days. after applying the ointment, ji chi glanced at the untouched meal on the table. the meal delivered an hour ago had already gone cold. jiang junlin, being as delicate as he was, would never touch it again. ji chi spoke up, ¡°niki!¡± his bodyguard appeared at the door of the dimly lit room. ji chi ordered, ¡°bring another meal!¡± ¡°yes!¡± after applying the ointment, ji chi placed the tube of cream on the table. ¡°are you planning to starve yourself and not say a word to me?¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at him, which further infuriated ji chi. he pinched jiang junlin¡¯s chin and turned it towards himself. ¡°jiang junlin, say something!¡± there was a hint of madness in ji chi¡¯s eyes, a faint shade of red. jiang junlin remained as cold as ice, his injuries giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance but not diminishing his charm in the slightest. ¡°you want to be mute?¡± ji chi seemed to lose his temper. ¡°fine, i¡¯ll give you a bowl of mute potion later, make you a complete mute!¡± a cold smile played at the corner of jiang junlin¡¯s lips. he lowered his gaze, but ji chi lifted his chin again. ¡°if you won¡¯t eat, i¡¯ll give you a nutrient solution. you want to die? it¡¯s not that easy. why torment yourself like this, big brother? you¡¯re the most sensible person.¡± he held jiang junlin¡¯s chin, as if he could see himself in jiang junlin¡¯s eyes, as if it could make him feel better. but in the depths of jiang junlin¡¯s eyes, there was nothing but frost. ji chi tormented him for a while and then left in a huff. niki brought in a steaming hot meal. ¡°mr. jiang, our master personally prepared all your meals. please, at least eat a little. don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± jiang junlin sat up and stared coldly at him. niki wasn¡¯t ji chi and couldn¡¯t withstand his sharp gaze. though he felt somewhat uneasy, he continued, ¡°when our master loses control, even third master can¡¯t stop him. and now, he¡¯s in a very high position. no one can restrain him. if you don¡¯t eat, he¡¯ll give you an intravenous nutrient solution. you¡¯re not truly seeking death, so why make it hard on yourself? if your stomach is damaged, you¡¯ll suffer!¡± niki spoke earnestly, but jiang junlin remained indifferent. niki had no choice but to leave. global sports center. when gu ci arrived, it was already 7 o¡¯clock, and lu zhiyuan was somewhat surprised to hear li jiang¡¯s report. why was she coming to global at night? li jiang was equally puzzled. in these past few days, lu zhiyuan had been well taken care of. lu ze practically visited him every day, wishing he would return to the old house to recuperate. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t get out of bed yet, but he could move around a bit, and the pain had subsided thanks to a new bone-healing drug at the central hospital. ¡°my brother has gone missing, and i can¡¯t find him,¡± gu ci got straight to the point and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°third master, can you help me find him?¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at li jiang. ¡°jiang junlin is missing?¡± li jiang said, ¡°1 don¡¯t know. we¡¯re not close to mr. jiang either. miss gu, perhaps mr. jiang is on a business trip abroad and has no signal. you should be able to contact him in a few days.¡± ¡°no, he and i have been texting all along. but i requested video calls and phone calls, and he refused them all. he¡¯s being controlled by someone, and his phone is in someone else¡¯s hands. he¡¯s gone missing, and even his bodyguards are out of contact,¡± gu ci said. ¡°the last time i saw him was on the night before new year¡¯s eve. since then, we¡¯ve only been in touch via text messages. third master, i¡¯m not familiar with europe. can you help me find him?¡± ¡°li jiang, go ask ji chi,¡± lu zhiyuan said in a calm tone. ¡°yes!¡± li jiang left the room. ¡°gu ci, i¡¯m not close to jiang junlin. while hualan bank and the lu corporation have business dealings, others manage it. this trip to europe is primarily for a competition. during this time, there have been issues with black hawk, and he¡¯s been opposing us at every turn. both rong li and ji chi have been handling it, and i¡¯ve given them full authority. jiang junlin has been supporting chen rushi in entering the underworld, as he¡¯s black hawk¡¯s enemy. even if rong li decides to take action, ji chi has a deep connection with him and won¡¯t harm him. maybe he¡¯s genuinely on a business trip and can¡¯t be reached momentarily,¡± lu zhiyuan almost let out a caring remark but managed to maintain a cold demeanor. ¡°you¡­ haven¡¯t really thought about killing him?¡± gu ci asked. lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained calm as water. ¡°i have. he was lucky not to die.¡± gu ci fell silent. ¡°don¡¯t look at me like that!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice turned slightly cold. ¡°he has tried to kill me too, but i was fortunate not to die.¡± she finally understood why lu zhiyuan and his brother always seemed to be at odds. li jiang returned and said, ¡°third master, miss gu, ji chi confirmed that jiang junlin is indeed missing. he¡¯s also searching for him, and he¡¯ll notify us as soon as there¡¯s any news.¡± ¡°thank you!¡± gu ci nodded and said, ¡°then i¡¯ll take my leave.¡± she hurriedly departed without lingering. lu zhiyuan watched her retreating figure with deep and calm eyes. her attitude towards him and the third young master was truly worlds apart. towards the third young master, she was affectionate, gentle, and utterly submissive, treating him delicately, as if he were the most precious porcelain, afraid of any harm coming to him. but when she came to find him and inquired about jiang junlin¡¯s whereabouts without success, she left in haste, without a word of greeting or concern about his injuries. li jiang said, ¡°third master, miss gu is really¡­¡± the words ¡°heartless¡± were about to slip out, but when li jiang caught the look in the third master¡¯s eyes, he felt a chill run down his spine and restrained himself. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°what did ji chi say?¡± li jiang replied, ¡°he truly said that jiang junlin is missing.¡± ¡°in this tiny corner of europe, apart from ji chi, who has the ability to make jiang junlin disappear without a trace?¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. ¡°he¡¯s just trying to deceive you with those words.¡± ¡°could it be¡­ ji chi killed jiang junlin?¡± li jiang gasped, ¡°then won¡¯t you and miss gu become enemies?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at li jiang with a subtle expression. ji chi was a few years younger than li jiang but already a sharp and skilled person. li jiang, on the other hand, seemed to lack insight. ¡°third master, did i say something wrong?¡± ¡°quiet!¡± li jiang closed his mouth silently. after a moment of silence, lu zhiyuan spoke softly, ¡°tell ji chi not to go too far.¡± ¡°what do you mean?¡± lu zhiyuan sounded somewhat impatient. ¡°just convey my exact words to ji chi.¡± ¡°yes,¡± li jiang thought to himself, third master seemed a bit irritable tonight. was it because miss gu doesn¡¯t care about him? well, she only cares about third young master, but then again, you¡¯re the one playing third young master, so don¡¯t be jealous.. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Older Brother Has an Apple of His Eye chapter 248: older brother has an apple of his eye translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when gu ci returned to the blue fields villa, dr. north was still there. ¡°i asked third master,¡± she said, ¡°and he knows nothing about my brother¡¯s disappearance. it might not be related to the black hawk. think about it, does my brother have any other enemies?¡± ¡°his identity is very secretive, and he wouldn¡¯t have many enemies, except for the recent conflict with the black hawk,¡± dr. north replied firmly. ¡°are you sure it¡¯s unrelated to them?¡± ¡°both uncle li and third master¡¯s reactions seemed like they were hearing about my brother¡¯s disappearance for the first time, not like they were involved,¡± gu ci affirmed. ¡°1 saw my brother on new year¡¯s eve, and ji chi also said he saw him that day. when ziyu comes back, i¡¯ll have him check the surveillance footage. master, you should rest here for now; when ziyu returns, we can get the news firsthand.¡± ¡°alright,¡± dr. north had been busy with this matter, unable to sleep well, so he decided to get some rest. gu ci, on the other hand, was still worried and cautiously inquired about the jiang family¡¯s side. jiang minghua mentioned that jiang junlin had an important project recently and would often be out of contact for ten days or even half a month at a time. the jiang family hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual. lin chunli had sent him a text, and he had replied promptly, even agreeing to buy something for her in paris. gu ci felt relieved. since they didn¡¯t know, she decided not to bring up the matter for now to avoid unnecessary worry. when gu ziyu returned, gu ci took him to the study and briefly explained the situation, omitting the fact that jiang junlin was the head of the underworld. she only mentioned that they couldn¡¯t reach him and asked gu ziyu to investigate. ¡°alright, mom, don¡¯t worry!¡± gu ziyu said, fearing that his mother would become anxious and lose sleep. he took a sip of water and checked jiang junlin¡¯s phone location, which was in northern europe, in a remote village with fluctuating signal strength. ¡°why would he go to such a remote place?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t understand and suddenly said, ¡°check zhang qiang¡¯s phone too.¡± gu ziyu nodded and checked zhang qiang¡¯s phone location, which was near jiang junlin. he asked, ¡°mom, are you sure you¡¯re not overthinking this?¡± ¡°no,¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°there¡¯s definitely something strange about this. ziyu, can you also check the surveillance near uncle¡¯s house and ji chi¡¯s house for new year¡¯s eve?¡± ¡°this will be a bit troublesome and time-consuming, at least seven hours,¡± gu ziyu pondered. ¡°please do it.¡± ¡°¡­alright.¡± gu ziyu had a lot on his plate, but he cared more about gu ci. after notifying chen liangdong, he used his privileges to access the surveillance footage of jiang junlin in paris. this took some time, and as gu ziyu checked and watched the screens, he said, ¡°mom, i¡¯m hungry.¡± he had been brought to the study as soon as he returned without even having a hot meal. gu ci was momentarily surprised and then chuckled. it seemed her son never missed an opportunity to compete with lu zhiyuan. she ordered some takeout for him. ¡°what would you like, dear? i¡¯ve made seafood porridge for your father in paris. would you like some too?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu smiled. ¡°i want the same seafood porridge you make for dad. even in paris, you make it for him. i want to have it too.¡± the identity of my brother¡­ is so mysterious. gu ci chopped up two crabs, shrimp, and scallops, along with various seafood, and threw them all into the pot to simmer together. the soup that came out of it was used to cook porridge. once it boiled, she added the seafood into it. inside the house, a pleasant aroma gradually filled the air! however, gu ci¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t focused on cooking porridge. she was watching financial battles in the world of finance on her tablet. these were classic battles, each financial battle was fought exceptionally well. this was an international venture capital company registered overseas, yet it possessed vast funds. gu ci examined jidao¡¯s financial reports and the financial data from their battles, and they didn¡¯t match up at all. with such enormous funds, jidao couldn¡¯t possibly have access to them. there must be a mysterious force behind this, and she could see it. lu zhiyuan could surely see it too. after each of jidao¡¯s financial battles, the funds were redirected back to asia. this was intriguing. three years ago, during that financial storm, only the domestic financial system remained unaffected. other countries faced economic downturns due to the financial crisis, but the domestic financial system fought a brilliant battle, resisting the financial storm. black hawk, the one trying to plunder assets from the hong kong stock market, ended up bankrupt with heavy short-term losses. ¡°third master¡­ how could he possibly lose this battle?¡± gu ci¡¯s knowledge of finance and marksmanship had been personally trained by lu zhiyuan. she could immediately spot the issues. ¡°is he doing this intentionally?¡± she rapidly reviewed several of jidao and black hawk¡¯s financial battles. aside from the one that ji chi had lost, the others had some problems. these flaws, her brother must also be able to see them! ¡°what¡¯s not right?¡± gu ci racked her brain but couldn¡¯t figure out exactly what was wrong. her brother was manipulating jidao, but for what purpose? his methods were too enigmatic. dr. north was sleeping restlessly and woke up to the scent of the porridge. gu ci had been simmering it for two hours, and the seafood porridge was rich and fragrant. she served a bowl for her brother, gu ziyu, and another for dr. north. ¡°master, my brother¡¯s management system has too many flaws; all the information is concentrated in him alone. if something were to happen to him, everyone would be left in silence. what if¡­ he dies?¡± ¡°a new master comes online, and the system is restarted!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. this was too frightening. ¡°who does my brother trust the most?¡± gu ci wondered. he must have left some backup plan; her brother was thorough and wouldn¡¯t leave himself without an escape route. ¡°he trusts no one!¡± dr. north said. ¡°i heard a gossip, quite old, so it might be somewhat distorted¡­ when the master was in his early twenties, it seems he really liked someone, but he was betrayed and nearly died. he took two bullets to the chest and was in a coma for three months. he almost didn¡¯t make it. since then, he stopped trusting people.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± gu ci was surprised. ¡°his first love?¡± dr. north replied, ¡°that¡¯s what i heard.¡± ¡°who told you?¡± ¡°a few years ago, when zhang qiang got drunk, he mentioned it accidentally.¡± ¡°my brother¡­ actually had a lost love.¡± gu ci smiled suddenly. ¡°no wonder ji chi is so crazy.¡± ¡°gossip isn¡¯t necessarily true,¡± dr. north cautioned. ¡°think about the main issue. can ziyu find any clues?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know; let¡¯s wait for news.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t estimate. ¡°master, if something happens to my brother, can¡¯t you contact anyone?¡± ¡°cici, it¡¯s like this: i betrayed the master before. my former partner died, and i had to change my name and position. it¡¯s been several years, and many people have been replaced. moreover, just before christmas, the master made his stance clear, willing to give me another chance, so 1 haven¡¯t been officially activated.¡± jiang junlin had conditions; she had to cure gu ci! ¡°i understand!¡± gu ci said. ¡°with my brother¡¯s disappearance, such a significant event, it won¡¯t be only you who¡¯s anxious to find him. others will be searching too..¡± Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Destroy It, I’m Tired chapter 249: destroy it, i¡¯m tired translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i know!¡± dr. north said, ¡°but cici, the master¡¯s power is immense. it¡¯s possible that someone wants to replace him and manipulate things from within. taking proactive action is the best choice, rather than waiting for news.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy when dr. north mentioned this. could her brother¡¯s car accident in the previous life have been orchestrated by someone within their own circle? if the forces behind him were so significant, why would he give up on himself and let ji chi imprison him? but what if he had become a pawn, and someone else had taken his place? the biggest drawback of this management system was that the person in control had to be incredibly powerful, both in character and ability. if anything went wrong or if they were sacrificed, it would be easy for someone to replace them. her brother couldn¡¯t have left things to chance. ¡°gu ci, do you still remember that batch of gold from hualan bank?¡± dr. north asked. gu ci nodded. her brother never admitted to it, but it was clear that he had stolen that batch of gold. she didn¡¯t ask too many questions, but she could guess. after her brother narrowly escaped trouble, he had a very reasonable explanation, and gu ci knew he had fabricated it. ¡°i had already laundered that batch of gold from chen fei¡¯s side long ago after 1 transported it,¡± dr. north continued. ¡°i only kept gold bars with special markings as a precaution. the rest of the gold bars were melted down and recast to erase any trace. initially, 1 planned to deal with it after my release or leave it as an asset for little cherry. the batch of gold that went to m bank was taken by jiang junlin. it was supposed to go into hualan bank¡¯s vault, but he mixed it with some of my marked gold bars and returned it to m bank, making it hard to distinguish.¡± ¡°i knew he was lying when he told that story,¡± gu ci laughed. it was a seamless tale with no discernible flaws. ¡°i still don¡¯t understand why he wanted to secure that batch of gold. if it weren¡¯t for ji chi¡¯s report, he wouldn¡¯t have handed it over to pei qiuying. this suggests there are two separate systems within the underworld, and their interests aren¡¯t aligned,¡± dr. north said. gu ci understood now, ¡°besides knowing that my brother controlled the underworld from behind the scenes, you don¡¯t know the real secrets of the underworld?¡± dr. north nodded, ¡°this must be a top-secret matter. but the master is protective and cautious; i don¡¯t believe he would be completely loyal to anyone, never leaving a backup plan for himself.¡± gu ci was getting a headache. what should she do? brother, where are you now? ¡°mom, there¡¯s news,¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice came from upstairs. gu ci and dr. north went up, and gu ziyu had found the surveillance video from the day when ji chi and his men came to jiang junlin¡¯s house on new year¡¯s day. the outdoor surveillance footage was very clear. gu ci checked the time and said, ¡°i left not long before ji chi arrived. when did he leave?¡± ¡°at three in the morning,¡± gu ziyu also pulled up the video, ¡°there seemed to be an argument midway. ji chi was smoking in the hallway, and uncle came out to find him. they made up and went back inside.¡± the video also captured ji chi leaving. ¡°did my brother see him off?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°can you find out when my brother left the house?¡± gu ziyu pulled up the video from the moment jiang junlin left with zhang qiang and the others. he checked the surveillance along the way, but that day, there was heavy snowfall in paris, and the temperature was very low. many cameras malfunctioned, and they couldn¡¯t find any trace of jiang junlin. gu ci repeatedly played the video of her brother leaving the house. it was indeed her brother. from his figure, demeanor, and face, there was no mistaking it. so, her brother disappeared on the 2nd, and this was his last recorded video. ¡°what about guangshu?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°was he at the house all the time, and couldn¡¯t you reach him?¡± ¡°we couldn¡¯t reach him. i contacted a secret agent in paris and had him investigate. just now, i received a message. it seems like the house was ransacked; it¡¯s a mess, and there¡¯s no one there.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face grew serious, realizing that jiang junlin had truly disappeared, and the cellphone signal was most likely a diversion. uncle is in trouble! ¡°this¡­ let me think for a moment,¡± gu ci pursed her lips, and gu ziyu stretched and said, ¡°i¡¯ll go to the restroom.¡± he took his phone and went to the restroom, closing the door behind him. he called ji chi, and as soon as ji chi answered, gu ziyu said, ¡°are you out of your mind? release my uncle now.¡± ¡°baby, what are you talking about? i¡¯m looking for him too.¡± ¡°don¡¯t play games with me. i know it¡¯s you!¡± gu ziyu said coldly. ¡°you fabricated the surveillance footage of number 2 leaving the villa. it was a light snow when he left, but the weather report says it was heavy snow. can you manipulate both the surveillance and the weather?¡± ji chi chuckled, no longer pretending to be anxious. ¡°baby, you¡¯re impressively sharp.¡± ¡°what are you planning?¡± gu ziyu asked, his frustration evident. ¡°is my uncle okay? you didn¡¯t¡­ break his legs, did you?¡± ¡°in your eyes, am i that heartless?¡± ¡°pretty much!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°release him quickly. don¡¯t act foolish. what good is it for you if things fall apart? don¡¯t single-handedly destroy the harmony of my family.¡± if something happened to uncle or if there were any serious consequences, dad would definitely take the blame. after all, dad had to take the blame for everything ji chi did. mom would never forgive him. gu ziyu said, ¡°ji chi, can you hear me?¡± ¡°baby, i can agree to anything else, but this one thing, i can¡¯t do.¡± ji chi¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°baby, adults will handle adult matters. children shouldn¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°hey¡­¡± gu ziyu was about to curse, but ji chi hung up, leaving gu ziyu listening to the busy signal on his phone. ¡°this is ridiculous. people aren¡¯t dogs. when you have a dog, it loves you, but not necessarily with people. have you gone crazy?¡± gu ziyu felt tired. he knew he had a bit of a yandere streak in him. in his past life, he was crazy too, even crazier than ji chi. but in this life, gu ziyu, who had received so much love, had gradually calmed down. although he couldn¡¯t let go of those dark memories and occasionally thought of them, he had less paranoia and hatred. the death of lu shijie had brought him some closure. lately, his psychological evaluations showed that he was getting healthier compared to a month ago. chen liangdong said he was improving, and he was genuinely happy about it. but as he got better, the people around him seemed to be getting crazier. ji chi was like this, and so was mom! ¡°destroy it!¡± gu ziyu sat on the toilet and contemplated life. ¡°i¡¯m tired!¡± in the study, gu ci kept watching that surveillance footage repeatedly. ¡°this surveillance isn¡¯t right. when my brother left, it was light snow, but on the 2nd, there was heavy snow and severe weather conditions. there should have been surveillance from that day that replaced the original footage.¡± ¡°if the surveillance is fake, then did he never leave? or did he leave early, and someone deleted the surveillance? can ziyu recover it?¡± Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Blood Ties are Mysterious chapter 250: blood ties are mysterious translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu emerged from the restroom and calmly stated, ¡°no need. ji chi took him away.¡± ¡°indeed, it was him!¡± gu ci breathed a sigh of relief. if ji chi had taken his brother, at least his brother wasn¡¯t in mortal danger. in his previous life, he had protected his brother, and there was no reason he couldn¡¯t do so in this life. lu zhiyuan was still alive. ¡°ji chi?¡± dr. north furrowed her brow. ¡°why did he take the master?¡± gu ci and gu ziyu exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat subtle. dr. north continued, ¡°black hawk and the jidao have been at each other¡¯s throats recently. if he took the master, his life is in danger. i have a few familiar assassins; i¡¯ll send someone to find ji chi¡¯s whereabouts in paris.¡± ¡°master, please don¡¯t worry. this¡­ ji chi taking my brother might actually be a good thing. he won¡¯t harm him.¡± ¡°black hawk and the jidao have been at each other¡¯s throats lately. if he took the master, what good could come of it?¡± dr. north reasoned. gu ci spoke softly, ¡°ji chi taking my brother might not be related to the jidao and black hawk.¡± ¡°what else could it be?¡± dr. north was baffled. gu ci and gu ziyu couldn¡¯t reveal jiang junlin and ji chi¡¯s private matters. jiang junlin had never admitted it. gu ci said, ¡°ji chi and my brother have a good relationship. he won¡¯t harm my brother.¡± ¡°but the master¡¯s personal freedom shouldn¡¯t be restricted either,¡± dr. north was quite rational. ¡°if he remains missing for an extended period, someone might take his place.¡± ¡°that¡¯s the outcome ji chi wants!¡± gu ci finally understood. ji chi was going all-in and believed that as long as someone replaced jiang junlin, jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t be the jidao¡¯s leader. he wouldn¡¯t be caught in this dilemma anymore. ¡°from new year¡¯s day until now¡­ seven days of disappearance. if there¡¯s no news soon, we¡¯ll have to assume he¡¯s dead,¡± gu ci sighed. this was a tricky situation. when ji chi went crazy, lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t control him. and now, lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t care about this matter either! as long as jiang junlin wasn¡¯t in mortal danger, he wouldn¡¯t care how long ji chi imprisoned him. what jiang junlin would lose, lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t mind. gu ci realized this clearly. if his brother was indeed hidden behind the jidao, manipulating them all along, he would know too many secrets. if someone had replaced his brother, his brother would either lose his freedom or have to make a sacrifice! dead people wouldn¡¯t reveal secrets. she couldn¡¯t just sit idly by. gu ci glanced at the time; it was almost dawn. gu ziyu was nodding off beside her, and dr. north looked deeply concerned. gu ci asked, ¡°master, does my brother want to replace pei qiuying?¡± ¡°yes, he mentioned it before christmas that he wanted to replace pei qiuying!¡± dr. north said. ¡°i figured he wanted to wait for chen rushi to bring his industry into the jidao and then engage in infighting with pei qiuying. he¡¯d clean up the mess and then dispose of pei qiuying.¡± ¡°who does he hope will replace pei qiuying?¡± ¡°i recommended you, but he didn¡¯t want you to get involved in the jidao and black hawks¡¯ vendetta. he didn¡¯t want you to risk your life. he declined my proposal.¡± gu ziyu squinted his eyes, half-dozing while keeping an ear open. ¡°why did the master recommend me?¡± ¡°the jidao can¡¯t keep changing leaders. three changes in ten years are very detrimental to the master¡¯s plans. only one person he cares about, who can be entrusted with life and death, can sit in the position of jidao leader. he can be at ease. light and shadow must support each other, rather than suspect and guard against each other,¡± dr. north explained. ¡°if you sit in that position, you won¡¯t even think about betraying your loved ones. even if you deeply love lu zhiyuan, you won¡¯t do anything to betray your family. it¡¯s a win-win situation.¡± ¡°i will convince him!¡± ¡°cici?¡± dr. north looked at her in surprise. ¡°do you want power within the jidao?¡± ¡°pei qiuying can hold power, why can¡¯t i?¡± gu ci said with a cold smile. ¡°this time, with the trouble she¡¯s caused lu zhiyuan, she can¡¯t escape responsibility. she cares deeply about the jidao, and if i can take it, i want her to lose it completely.¡± ¡°but the master is missing now,¡± dr. north reminded her. ¡°you have no authority. how can you infiltrate the jidao?¡± gu ci contemplated, ¡°do you think my brother trusts me?¡± ¡°he does!¡± dr. north said lightly. ¡°he trusts only you!¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°he and gu chuyun were siblings for over a decade, but he treated her with extraordinary indifference as if she didn¡¯t exist. why would he trust me?¡± ¡°perhaps you two are a different kind of people!¡± gu ziyu said casually. ¡°blood ties are quite mysterious, mom!¡± ¡°you¡¯re still awake?¡± ¡°i was listening to your conversation, couldn¡¯t fall asleep,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°anyway, ji chi¡­ won¡¯t harm him.¡± dr. north had been busy lately and was a bit fatigued. gu ci told her to go rest, but gu ci couldn¡¯t sleep. even though ji chi wouldn¡¯t harm her brother¡¯s life, her brother couldn¡¯t be kept at ji chi¡¯s place for too long. gu ci had slept for two hours, and it was already dawn. gu ci called jiang minghua, ¡°uncle, are you at home today? i¡¯m coming over for a meal, and i have some things to discuss with you.¡± ¡°come, come, both your uncle and grandmother really miss you!¡± gu ziyu had stayed up all night, and it was the weekend, so gu ci let him sleep in. she packed up the auction items and drove to the jiang family. jiang minghua hadn¡¯t expected her to come so early. ¡°where¡¯s ziyu?¡± ¡°he stayed up all night writing his thesis and is sleeping soundly. i¡¯ll bring him over in a few days.¡± the old lady pulled gu ci to have breakfast together. ¡°how come you lost weight after a trip? look at those dark circles. haven¡¯t you been sleeping well lately? you don¡¯t look very energetic.¡± gu ci wasn¡¯t the type to act cute, so she lightly smiled. ¡°i had trouble adjusting to the foreign environment, and after coming back, i¡¯ve been catching up on my coursework. so, i haven¡¯t been sleeping well. grandma, take a look at the gifts i brought for you. these are artworks from the auction, and these are prepared by my brother. he asked me to bring them first; he¡¯s going to be busy for a while.¡± opening gifts are always delightful, and the items gu ci brought back were all works of art. the old lady and the old man hastily finished breakfast and went to appreciate them. lin chunli was particularly pleased with the bag gu ci had chosen and went to show it off to her sisters. ¡°uncle, how about 1 accompany you for a walk?¡± ¡°sure, let¡¯s go!¡± jiang minghua could tell that gu ci had something to discuss and walked with her in the garden. in winter, there were no blooming flowers in the garden, but the layout was still elegant. gu ci asked, ¡°uncle, i won¡¯t beat around the bush. you got married early and had children early, right at the peak of your youth. why did you hand over all the power at hualan bank to my brother so quickly?¡± jiang minghua, like gu ci, was a prominent figure in the financial world and a high-achieving individual. he had indeed inherited the family business, but his early retirement and his brother¡¯s assumption of power at hualan bank were unusual. in family-owned businesses, it¡¯s relatively uncommon for those in power to relinquish control, especially at a relatively young age. some business leaders continue to be actively involved well into their seventies or eighties.. so, why did jiang minghua step aside and allow his brother to take over as the president of hualan bank when he was still relatively inexperienced in the corporate world? Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: He Will Definitely Come Home chapter 251: he will definitely come home translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°your brother was clever from a young age, and he had a strong sense of independence. he had some old connections at hualan bank that 1 couldn¡¯t handle, so i let him take care of it. also, your aunt had a miscarriage and her health hasn¡¯t been great, so i wanted to spend more time with her and decided to delegate.¡± gu ci knew this wasn¡¯t a lie, but it might not be the whole truth. ¡°uncle, my brother has gone missing.¡± ¡°what?¡± jiang minghua¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°when did this happen?¡± ¡°he went missing on new year¡¯s day and we haven¡¯t been able to find him,¡± gu ci whispered. ¡°lu zhiyuan is the third son of the black hawk group, and this is well-known in the financial world. you know about it too. after his racing accident, the underworld and the black hawk group fought fiercely. my brother was manipulating the underworld from behind the scenes, revealing his identity. but the underworld¡­ has dark forces behind it. my brother was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a noble young master from the hualan family, with a scholarly background. he could have been a respected figure in the financial world, so why would he choose such a dangerous path and put himself in harm¡¯s way? hualan bank isn¡¯t a state-owned bank, but it holds a dominant position in the domestic financial sector, invincible in the financial world, always at the forefront of information. he sacrificed his life for it. the prosperity and luxury of the jiang family are all thanks to him carrying this heavy burden. if my guess is correct, uncle¡­ you must have refused their invitation.¡± ¡°gu ci, don¡¯t speak recklessly!¡± jiang minghua said sternly. ¡°this has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°my brother¡¯s disappearance does concern me,¡± gu ci said firmly. ¡°uncle, my brother wasn¡¯t an official government employee, was he?¡± ¡°no!¡± jiang minghua denied. ¡°i just can¡¯t understand why he, a young master who had everything, would choose such a life. he had a path to wealth and success,¡± gu ci said softly. ¡°unless the underworld is a crucial national asset.¡± if jiang minghua refused, it would be jiang junlin¡¯s turn. therefore, jiang junlin, who was not yet eighteen, was suddenly sent abroad to study, and he would be away for several years. ¡°uncle, what do you want to do?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°i want to help him. after he went missing, someone might replace him, and he might be sacrificed. the secrets of the underworld only need one person to know, that¡¯s an ironclad rule,¡± gu ci said. ¡°my brother isn¡¯t the type to follow rules blindly. 1 just want a clear answer from you, uncle, so i can decide what to do. i¡¯m afraid of making a wrong decision and causing a disaster.¡± she cherished her family too much, and every decision was made with great care. jiang minghua stood with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed. gu ci didn¡¯t rush him; this was a very important decision and couldn¡¯t be hurried. but jiang minghua, hesitating like this, made gu ci say, ¡°uncle, my brother was shot and nearly died. have you forgotten? being able to escape once doesn¡¯t guarantee he can escape a second time. he has been the target of assassination all along, and who wouldn¡¯t want to harm him when he¡¯s in the banking business? responsibility and morality are important, but so is his life!¡± ¡°yes,¡± jiang minghua recalled jiang junlin¡¯s injury and near-death experience, feeling a deep sadness. now, among the younger generation, there were only jiang junlin and gu ci left, and they were similar in character. perhaps there was a glimmer of hope. ¡°the predecessor of the underworld was a european bank with a hundred years of history, always involved in speculative business. during the republic of china era, with constant wars and global economic decline, the underworld ended up in the hands of my grandfather, your great-grandfather. he joined the secret department and was tasked with developing financial warfare and information warfare under the protection of the underworld. at that time, our domestic economy was in a slump, the financial system was backward, and it was easily attacked by outsiders. foreign capital was plundering our assets without restraint. this troubled us greatly. with the underworld, we achieved financial information parity, and the situation improved. we also developed our own unique financial system. however, he refused to let his son and grandson enter the underworld. he devoted his entire life to the underworld in exchange for peace for me and my father. later, they trained someone else to take over the underworld, but human hearts and desires are boundless. the underworld¡¯s hidden power is especially strong, especially after our country¡¯s economy improved and the underworld¡¯s power became uncontrollable.¡± the previous underworld leader developed disloyalty and wanted to break free from the country. the secret department wanted to clean house, but it was very difficult. the underworld is a financial institution established in europe and america, and the power behind it is ours, but it absolutely cannot see the light of day. once exposed, it would be a major scandal. they didn¡¯t know much about the distribution of power within the underworld, and the house-cleaning operation failed. at that time, the minister came to me, hoping to use my connections and abilities to bring the underworld back. i refused. before my grandfather passed away, his admonition to me and my father was to never enter the underworld. later, junlin suddenly wanted to go abroad to study, and 1 didn¡¯t think much of it. when he graduated and entered hualan bank, he confronted me and said he had to take control of hualan bank. by then, it was already a done deal, and he had entered the underworld. 1 had no choice but to step back and let him take the lead. in recent years, i¡¯ve been praying for junlin¡¯s safety. the underworld leader cannot retire unless he dies.¡± these years, he has done well. the financial markets have gradually matured, and in several financial storms, our economy has been spared, with minimal losses. but that¡¯s the underworld. how much blood and how many obstacles need to be cleared behind the scenes to achieve this success¡­ junlin¡­ he shouldn¡¯t have chosen this path,¡± jiang minghua said with regret and sadness. ¡°he should have had a wealthy and peaceful life.¡± gu ci also understood. junlin used his own life to exchange for the peace of the jiang family. there must have been many people who desired this position, and there was also the intention of tying hualan bank to him. ¡°gu ci, this matter is top secret, and no one can talk about it. do you understand?¡± jiang minghua asked. gu ci nodded. ¡°uncle, don¡¯t worry. 1¡¯11 keep this to myself. my husband and son won¡¯t hear a word about it.¡± jiang minghua was puzzled. when did she have a husband and son? gu ci realized and clarified, ¡°if my brother is missing, who should i contact?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know either,¡± jiang minghua shook his head. ¡°the minister who approached us back then¡­ he¡¯s already dead.¡± jiang minghua had always been worried that one day jiang junlin would face a bloody end. he could never accept such an outcome, and he felt guilty that his son had taken on a responsibility that should have been his. jiang junlin had never revealed a word to the family about this matter. jiang minghua truly didn¡¯t know who to contact, but there must be someone handling this issue. gu ci furrowed her brows; it seemed that the national security bureau didn¡¯t know jiang junlin¡¯s identity. or perhaps, it was all part of a well-acted play. at least, ziyu wasn¡¯t acting; she was certain of that. unless there were two separate systems. ¡°gu ci, you must find him,¡± jiang minghua said with pain in his eyes. ¡°since he joined the underworld, i¡¯ve always mentally prepared myself for his possible mishaps, but i can never truly be prepared to accept news of his death.¡± ¡°uncle, don¡¯t worry. my brother won¡¯t die!¡± gu ci held his hand.. ¡°he will definitely come home!¡± Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Third Master Is Unhappy chapter 252: third master is unhappy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci had lunch and returned to the blue fields villa. both dr. north and gu ziyu were still not awake. she packed some food and brought it back. gu ci took out a few vases and cut some flowers in the garden, arranging them in the vases. as she arranged the flowers, she contemplated. the supreme leader of the underworld had once betrayed to prevent jiang junlin from doing the same, there must be some form of restraint. the jiang family was the best leverage, and with her brother holding a high position of power, there would be many contenders eager to replace him. a financial institution as formidable as hualan bank¡ªeveryone desired it. it was the three generations of wealth and prosperity that the jiang family¡¯s elder jiang had secured with a lifetime of loyalty. now it was jiang junlin¡¯s turn to continue this legacy, and everyone coveted it. in such a top-tier family, everyone was vying for power. the division of power was necessary for stability, a principle that had held true throughout history. someone would undoubtedly act as a check on her brother. these individuals couldn¡¯t be identified, as human hearts were inscrutable, and she couldn¡¯t afford to take risks. her brother¡¯s temperament would surely leave a contingency plan. what kind of plan would that be? since the incident involving lu zhiyuan, both the triad and black hawk were fraught with danger, with shifting loyalties. a wise man does not stand beneath a tottering wall. given his unique status, he couldn¡¯t risk being directly involved. he had to stay in paris for a reason. for ji chi? impossible. her brother wasn¡¯t the romantic type. on new year¡¯s eve, she had gone to see her brother¡­ wait, gu ci suddenly remembered that her brother had given her a gift just before new year¡¯s. a new year¡¯s gift was nothing out of the ordinary, but her brother had given her a bracelet. her brother was particular and proud, with high standards. he had once bid a sky-high price for a jade bracelet at an auction for her. that bracelet was the epitome of luxury. there was no way he would gift her another bracelet. he could have given her earrings, a necklace, or even a bracelet, any piece of jewelry, but not a rose gold bracelet. putting down the vase, gu ci went into her dressing room. she retrieved the bracelet her brother had given her and accidentally knocked over the gift she had received from third master on her birthday earlier this year. she hadn¡¯t opened it since it arrived. it spilled onto the floor, and when she opened the box, she found a cherry-shaped gemstone sculpture. gu ci raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress a light chuckle. this gift was truly imaginative¡ªknowing her love for cherries, they had given her a cherry-shaped gemstone. she put the gift back and took out the bracelet. gu ci closed the door, drew the curtains, and carefully examined the bracelet. the rose gold bracelet was about an inch wide. after undoing the clasp, she took out a screwdriver and unscrewed it. a tiny chip fell out, no larger than a fingertip and quite thin. gu ci frowned at the chip. her brother¡¯s gift of the bracelet clearly had a hidden agenda. but why? he had truly left a contingency plan, yet not a word was spoken. how could he be so certain that she would understand his intentions? ¡°brother, even though 1 love lu zhiyuan so much, do you still believe in me?¡± gu ci held the chip, feeling its weight. ¡°mom¡­¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice came from downstairs. gu ci put away the bracelet, placing the chip in her pocket. the mss didn¡¯t need him, so gu ziyu had slept in on the weekend. ¡°is this grandma¡¯s osmanthus fish?¡± gu ziyu saw the steaming hot dishes on the table and smiled. ¡°yes, grandma knew you liked it and asked me to bring it to you.¡± ¡°why didn¡¯t you call me when you went back to the jiang family, mom?¡± ¡°you were sound asleep, and mom brought back some artwork from paris, so i thought i¡¯d drop by.¡± gu ci saw that dr. north was awake as well and invited him to eat, ¡°master, come join us for a meal.¡± after dr. north finished eating, he left the blue fields villa for some business. gu ci brought gu ziyu to the study. ¡°ziyu, mom needs your help with something, but you mustn¡¯t tell anyone, okay?¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ziyu always did whatever gu ci asked. ¡°this is a bit special and related to your uncle. your identity is also special, so no matter what you see or hear, you can¡¯t tell anyone, including chen liangdong.¡± gu ziyu pondered for a minute. ¡°okay!¡± he would always protect his mother. gu ci took out the chip. ¡°this is a chip your brother gave me on new year¡¯s eve, hidden in the new year¡¯s gift he gave me. 1 need you to decrypt it and find out what¡¯s on it.¡± gu ziyu looked at the chip, contemplating for a moment. he was also in a bit of a dilemma. privately, he would always protect his mother, no matter what she asked him to do. publicly, if the contents of this chip were related to national security, should he inform chen liangdong? ¡°ziyu?¡± gu ziyu took the chip. ¡°mom, no matter what 1 see, i¡¯ll pretend i don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ziyu unlocked the chip. ¡°mom, this will take twelve hours. you should rest.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t wait in the room but had no interest in doing anything else either. she asked for the information on the projects jiang junlin had been working on in hualan over the years and the details of jiang junlin¡¯s trusted confidants from jiang minghua. global sports center. after having lunch, lu zhiyuan had been reading books all day. he was recuperating, feeling mentally drained. when he woke up, he either answered calls or read books. he didn¡¯t hold video conferences or bother with the affairs, leaving everything to ji chi and rong li. there was no need for constant reports. after having lunch, the doctor came to check on him. his recovery was going well, and he had hardly suffered. after returning to the global sports center, lu zhiyuan resumed reading, occasionally glancing at his phone. it was one o¡¯clock! today, the weather was exceptionally nice, with warm winter sunshine and a gentle breeze. it was very comfortable. ¡°today is saturday, right?¡± ¡°yes, third master, do you have something in mind?¡± li jiang asked cautiously. lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood didn¡¯t seem good today, though he maintained his usual expression. li jiang could sense his displeasure. being with the third master was like being with a tiger, and that saying was particularly apt for him. ¡°it¡¯s nothing!¡± lu zhiyuan replied coldly. li jiang finally realized his mistake. he had failed to notice that the third master was upset because miss gu ci hadn¡¯t visited him since returning to the country. she had been busy catching up on her studies, and she hadn¡¯t come to see lu zhiyuan. last night, she had come to see lu zhiyuan and had also inquired about jiang junlin¡¯s situation. today was the weekend, and she hadn¡¯t visited lu zhiyuan. this was unusual. li jiang knew that lu zhiyuan was the third master and didn¡¯t think he would be upset. after all, the third master didn¡¯t particularly like miss gu ci. but if it were the third young master, he would have been furious. ¡°third master, if you want miss gu ci to visit, you should call her!¡± ¡°who said i want her to come!¡± lu zhiyuan said coldly. ¡°if she doesn¡¯t come, i don¡¯t need to put on an act.¡± ¡°but if it were the third young master, he would have been furious and would have called miss gu ci to ask!¡± lu zhiyuan was momentarily surprised, then he felt a hint of satisfaction. finally, he had a reason to contact gu ci. however, he still asked li jiang in a cold tone, ¡°why didn¡¯t you remind me?¡± li jiang muttered to himself, ¡°how is it my fault?¡± lu zhiyuan picked up his phone and waved li jiang away. li jiang thought to himself that the third master¡¯s acting skills were inconsistent. he had nothing left to complain about and retreated to the door. lu zhiyuan dialed gu ci¡¯s number. ¡°today is saturday. what are you busy with? did you forget about a bedridden boyfriend?¡± gu ci was speechless.. Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Third Master Is Jealous chapter 253: third master is jealous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she didn¡¯t forget, but she was distracted by jiang junlin¡¯s matter. but she never expected that lu zhiyuan would call, his tone was arrogant and angry. gu ci coaxed him softly. third master was very skilled at handling third young master¡¯s temper and hung up the phone coldly. gu ci looked at her phone and muttered, ¡°this is outrageous!¡± is he addicted to acting? it would take some time for gu ziyu to decrypt the chip. gu ci told him she was coming to the global after buying a lot of art in paris and having lunch with her grandparents. ¡°third young master¡¯s in a really bad mood today!¡± ¡°what happened?¡± ¡°he¡¯s been looking at his phone all morning, wondering when you¡¯d come to see him. who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d be so forgetful and neglect him. he¡¯s quite unhappy.¡± li jiang was willing to bet that if third master didn¡¯t make this call, miss gu ci wouldn¡¯t come! gu ci was slightly stunned. he got really angry because she didn¡¯t come? lu zhiyuan leaned against the bookshelf, glanced at her coldly when she approached, and then lowered his head to read. he was as arrogant as ever. gu ci walked over with a smile, took the book from his hand, and it turned out to be a comic book, a new favorite of third young master¡¯s. ¡°third brother, are you angry?¡± gu ci hugged his neck and leaned on his chest. ¡°i bought a lot of art in paris and sent it to my grandma¡¯s house in the morning. i came to see you after having lunch with them.¡± lu zhiyuan snorted coldly but didn¡¯t say anything. gu ci kissed his lips, ¡°are you really angry?¡± he still didn¡¯t say anything, but his ears turned red quietly. gu ci kissed him again, ¡°i¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°let me go, i¡¯m a magnanimous person. i won¡¯t argue with you!¡± gu ci resisted her laughter. ¡°third brother, you¡¯re really good!¡± she glanced at the comic book next to her, ¡°the new season of this book is out. which couple do you like the most?¡± lu zhiyuan was stunned. he had just grabbed it randomly and had never really read it. when third young master read comic books, he found them completely uninteresting, so he never read them together. this was a question he couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°i like the main couple!¡± ¡°i like the supporting characters,¡± gu ci said with a smile as if she was ready to discuss the comic with him. lu zhiyuan pulled her over, covering her lips, and kissed her. gu ci was surprised. during this period, she had always been the one sticking to lu zhiyuan and actively getting closer to him. lu zhiyuan rarely took the initiative to kiss her. gu ci closed her eyes. his kiss was very gentle, like savoring a delicacy. he kissed her lips, teeth, and gently intertwined with her breath, slowly deepening, awkward and a bit green, but also passionate, making people feel his strong emotions. gu ci¡¯s heart raced, and she grabbed his collar. their breaths were intertwined, and when she closed her eyes, all her senses became exceptionally sensitive. lu zhiyuan¡¯s body became excited due to their intimacy, and his hands moved from her neck down to grasp her slender waist, gently caressing it. gu ci was stunned. did he just learn a new move? lu zhiyuan seemed to realize something and released her. he didn¡¯t dare to meet gu ci¡¯s gaze. how did he lose control again? gu ci looked at his almost blood-red ears and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, i really like you a lot.¡± he looked into her eyes, which were beautiful and pure, filled with affection and sincerity toward him. lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart softened and ached. he kissed her eyes. gu ci asked, ¡°shouldn¡¯t you say that you like me too at this moment?¡± as she wished, lu zhiyuan responded, ¡°i really like you too.¡± ¡°really?¡± ¡°really!¡± lu zhiyuan reverted to his third young master persona. ¡°gu ci, you¡¯re so annoying. don¡¯t be so clingy.¡± ¡°i¡¯m clingy?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t believe it. it was absurd. who got upset and insisted she come, and now he accused her of being clingy. ¡°then i¡¯ll leave!¡± ¡°don¡¯t!¡± gu ci tried to get up, and in his haste, he pulled on his wound, causing him pain. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned pale, and seeing this, gu ci felt sorry for him. she sat back down and said, ¡°don¡¯t move, 1 was just joking. you took it seriously!¡± lu zhiyuan glared at her, weakened by the pain. gu ci found it both amusing and exasperating. once he recovered, gu ci looked at the sunlight streaming in through the window and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°in a few days, when you¡¯re feeling better, i¡¯ll push you outside to soak up some sun.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t move, so he had to lie there. gu ci stayed with him, and she could sleep peacefully beside him. gu ci had originally planned to chat with him, but she ended up falling asleep the moment she lay down. he gazed steadily at her peaceful slumber, wondering, ¡°gu ci, do you know who 1 am? if you knew i¡¯m third master, not third young master, how would you react?¡± he cherished every second spent with her like this, just watching over gu ci. she had slept for over three hours, and when she woke up, it was past four in the afternoon. the room was warm, causing her to break into a light sweat. upon waking up, she met lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze and instinctively smiled. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you look really handsome.¡± he was the most attractive man she had ever seen. lu zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°did you sleep well?¡± ¡°yeah!¡± she sat up and hugged his waist. ¡°my big brother disappeared, and i was really worried. i didn¡¯t sleep a wink last night.¡± ¡°how did your big brother disappear?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, feigning ignorance. ¡°maybe he¡¯s on a business trip. he won¡¯t die so easily.¡± gu ci knew that ¡°won¡¯t die so easily¡± was his way of reassuring her, but with jiang junlin gone, there could be some butterfly effects, and a simple ¡°won¡¯t die¡± might not solve her problems. ¡°yeah, i¡¯ve sent people to look for him. i hope we can find him.¡± gu ci said, ¡°ziyu checked the surveillance at my brother¡¯s house, and someone tampered with it and used a fake footage.¡± lu zhiyuan was well aware that it was ji chi¡¯s doing. to be honest, he didn¡¯t want to get involved in this feud between ji chi and jiang junlin. ji chi wouldn¡¯t harm jiang junlin. their imprisonment seemed like a game, and rong li even joked about it like a game of roleplay. lu zhiyuan had no intention of meddling. besides, with jiang junlin imprisoned, black hawk had fewer troubles to deal with. ¡°calm down, jiang junlin has survived several assassination attempts, and he won¡¯t die easily, as the saying goes,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°why don¡¯t you like my brother?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°your brother doesn¡¯t like me either,¡± lu zhiyuan replied. ¡°he has a bias against me.¡± their first meeting had been far from pleasant, and it was ancient history that lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to bring up. his grievances with jiang junlin had been going on for a while. little did gu ci know that lu zhiyuan was actually her brother¡¯s enemy. ¡°what have you done to earn such a bias from my brother?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°my brother rarely cares about outsiders, and he thinks it¡¯s a waste of time to like or dislike someone he doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°if you hate someone, there must be a reason for it,¡± lu zhiyuan replied, slipping into his third young master persona and playfully lifting her chin. ¡°lying on my bed and talking about other men, what kind of behaviour is this?¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know how to reply.. Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: The Fake Show Has Really Come True chapter 254: the fake show has really come true translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation this is quite an awkward situation! she¡¯s even deducing it to a three-bedroom apartment. gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan with a subtle expression and said somewhat plaintively, ¡°that¡¯s my brother!¡± ¡°in ancient times, it was common for cousins to be engaged from a young age.¡± gu ci teased, ¡°are you jealous?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°you definitely are!¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you¡¯re so petty. you¡¯re jealous of ziyu and even jealous of my own brother.¡± lu zhiyuan got angry and ignored her. he clung to his aloof persona. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh and play along for a while. then she glanced at the time and went to prepare dinner for him. ¡°wait!¡± lu zhiyuan held her hand. ¡°these are the hands of a genius violinist. you don¡¯t need to cook for anyone. they¡¯re not worthy.¡± li jiang listened at the door and couldn¡¯t help but grumble. hypocrite! it¡¯s obvious that he found miss gu¡¯s congee too bland. third master prefers stronger flavors and doesn¡¯t like light dishes. he has to watch his diet due to his injury, so gu ci always makes him congee with little oil and salt, occasionally adding some chicken, and she¡¯s even worried about it affecting his wound. ¡°don¡¯t you like the congee i make?¡± lu zhiyuan fell into a subtle silence. gu ci can handle everyday cooking, it¡¯s not bad, but to say it¡¯s delicious, it¡¯s not that great. in the early days, when gu ci tried to please him with her cooking, he ate it because li jiang always fed him grass. but when his dietary preferences changed, and he started to want meaty dishes, his tastes became more finicky. ¡°i do like it. 1 just don¡¯t want you to tire yourself out.¡± li jiang thought to himself, men¡¯s words are deceiving, and third master is no exception! ¡°alright!¡± gu ci smiled. ¡°then i¡¯ll play the violin for you. it¡¯s a good time to test its sound.¡± the valuable violin she acquired at the auction hadn¡¯t been played properly by gu ci yet. li jiang brought it over, and gu ci instantly liked it. although she had touched it many times in her previous life, she rarely played it. she stood by the window, with the afternoon sun casting a golden glow on her. gu ci began playing ¡°liang zhu¡± on the violin, the violin version of the chinese legend of butterfly lovers. gu ci loved it, and after improvising the sheet music a bit, she loved it even more. just a few days ago, zhou li used this music as a background score. lu zhiyuan watched the girl by the window, playing the violin with a fixed gaze. her curly hair swayed gently in the breeze, the curtains danced with the wind, and the sunlight seemed to dance on her, like musical notes dancing on her. sunlight, a young girl, and a violin blended into a single scene, a sight he had never seen in his life. suddenly, a severe pain surged through lu zhiyuan¡¯s mind. this scene seemed familiar, as if there was another girl, playing ¡°liang zhu¡± with the same stradivarius violin. her figure was even more delicate than gu ci¡¯s. lu zhiyuan tried to see her clearly, but all he could remember was a horrifying scar on her face. he didn¡¯t have time to see her face. although gu ci was immersed in her violin playing, her gaze was always on him. when she saw the pain in his expression, she quickly stopped playing. ¡°lu zhiyuan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu zhiyuan had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, and he stared at gu ci¡¯s face intently. the girl¡¯s face was flawless, from childhood to adulthood, there had never been a flaw. it wasn¡¯t gu ci! how fortunate! it was not guci! but why does this girl appear in his memories, and why does it hurt so much? who is she? what has he forgotten, and why do these memories keep resurfacing in his mind lately? ¡°lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°i¡¯m fine,¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his temple. ¡°it¡¯s probably a lingering effect of the concussion. i¡¯ve been having some headaches lately.¡± ¡°go to the hospital for a recheck.¡± ¡°i already did. resting more should help.¡± gu ci helped him lie down, feeling somewhat puzzled herself. she had seen lu zhiyuan¡¯s headaches several times recently. such frequent headaches, was it because of a concussion, or did something else get injured? ¡°give me the medical report,¡± gu ci said sternly. ¡°don¡¯t avoid seeking medical attention.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed and had li jiang hand over the report. lu zhiyuan had undergone an mr1 scan, which showed some minor brain lesions. it wasn¡¯t a major issue but could indeed cause headaches and dizziness. gu ci examined the images carefully and felt somewhat relieved. lu zhiyuan felt a bit warm inside. the feeling of having someone who cared for him wholeheartedly was truly wonderful, something no one could resist, even the most stoic individuals. even though he knew her concern belonged to the third young master, not him, he still found it heartwarming. lu zhiyuan held gu ci¡¯s wrist and pulled her into his embrace. he was starting to feel a bit jealous of the third young master, jealous that he could receive miss ci¡¯s care and affection wholeheartedly, while he couldn¡¯t do anything but feel jealous. the girl in his arms belonged to the third young master! gu ci stayed with lu zhiyuan until 6 o¡¯clock. as they left the global building, they coincidentally ran into zhou li, a globally renowned composer who was staying at the international hotel across the street. zhou li had come to discuss a collaboration with lu zhiyuan. when he saw gu ci, zhou li warmly invited her to have dinner together. it had been a while since they had seen each other. gu ci didn¡¯t refuse and agreed to meet at a restaurant inside global. as li jiang went downstairs to pack lu zhiyuan¡¯s favorite meat dishes, he noticed gu ci and zhou li having a lively conversation. li jiang discreetly took a photo and showed it to lu zhiyuan when he returned upstairs. ¡°third master, i saw miss gu ci downstairs.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at the photo. zhou li and gu ci were a handsome couple, creating a great atmosphere. the photo turned out beautifully, and gu ci had a radiant smile. she and zhou li were kindred spirits. when she was relatively unknown, zhou li already appreciated her violin skills. they had mutual admiration for each other, creating a great atmosphere. lu zhiyuan looked at the photo and felt like his dinner had lost its taste. she hadn¡¯t smiled so brightly recently. ¡°are you so free?¡± lu zhiyuan asked li jiang. li jiang was puzzled. he was quite busy recently, and it was a hectic season with many tasks to handle. with third master¡¯s illness, he had to take care of a lot of things. he also answered ji chi and rong li¡¯s phone calls. ¡°since you have some free time, clean the house!¡± lu zhiyuan said. li jiang was taken aback. when did he, a chief of security, become responsible for housekeeping? but he didn¡¯t dare to protest. once the third master gave an order, he had to follow it without question. ¡°yes, sir!¡± after he left, li jiang couldn¡¯t help but slap his own palm. why did he have to be so meddlesome? it would have been better not to take a picture of miss gu ci. the third master must be jealous. li jiang thought to himself, maybe the third master has taken his role as third young master a bit too seriously? zhou li invited gu ci to participate in a variety show as his partner. the offer was quite attractive, but gu ci declined. firstly, she didn¡¯t want to expose herself to the public eye. lu zhiyuan was a global star, shining brightly enough, and there were many rumors and gossip about public figures. secondly, she was a medical student with a busy schedule, and she also had to worry about jiang junlin¡¯s affairs, so it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to make appearances. although gu ci turned down zhou li¡¯s offer, she recommended zhou jinjin, who was also talented in music. if zhou li needed a partner for the show, zhou jinjin would be a good choice. zhou jinjin had become quite popular recently, reaching top-tier internet celebrity status. following zhou li¡¯s path would save her from encountering many pitfalls.. Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Little Cherry Qin Wan chapter 255: little cherry qin wan translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°okay, i¡¯ll consider it!¡± zhou li said with a smile. he had worked with zhou jinjin before and liked her personality. however, he had never collaborated with her on music before, and he was quite selective when it came to music. it wasn¡¯t just about playing well; it had to evoke a feeling that was intangible and elusive. gu chuyun¡¯s musical talents were considered high, but zhou li didn¡¯t have a good impression of her. he didn¡¯t feel a connection. speaking of gu chuyun, zhou li couldn¡¯t resist gossiping with gu ci. she had been gaining popularity recently, starring in the music video of a famous singer and appearing in a web series. the web series had been filmed right after her high school graduation and had recently been released to great acclaim. she played the role of a kind and beautiful female lead, with a captivating appearance and an innovative plot. her co-star¡¯s looks were also exceptional. she had become famous overnight and had great future prospects. gu chuyun was a real prodigy, a music student from the country¡¯s top university. her fame as a talented student set her apart in the entertainment industry, and her marketing was very effective, making her a big star. ¡°hasn¡¯t she had some scandals in variety shows, got engaged to lu shijie, and had some controversies? did that not affect her?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°internet users have short memories. in the entertainment industry, which star doesn¡¯t have some scandals? you just need to spend money on pr. she¡¯s a high-achieving student. after the gu family¡¯s bankruptcy, she built a new image as a bankrupt heiress who turned her life around. she¡¯s no longer arrogant, she¡¯s humble and polite. people love this transformation,¡± zhou li explained. even though he didn¡¯t like gossip, he couldn¡¯t help sharing this with gu ci. ¡°even my talent agency wanted me to collaborate with her, but i turned it down.¡± when he mentioned his refusal, zhou li seemed a bit proud. gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°if it¡¯s in your favor, you should collaborate, regardless of my feelings.¡± ¡°that¡¯s not possible. if you dislike her, i won¡¯t collaborate with her. it¡¯s a matter of principle,¡± zhou li replied firmly. gu ci smiled, raised her glass for a toast, and they continued to enjoy their dinner conversation. on the way home, gu ci checked the latest news about gu chuyun. she was indeed on the rise, and it seemed she had made some influential connections. her recent success was evident from the abundance of her photos, interviews, appearances on variety shows, and event attendances. she appeared confident and elegant, and her makeup embraced a natural and refined style. gu chuyun had a great foundation: a gentle and attractive appearance, early acclaim for her violin skills, and a background as a top student at a prestigious university. after their rivalry had faded, they both found their own paths to success. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but smile as she looked at gu chuyun¡¯s photos in interviews. she was truly shining. could gu chuyun continue her successful journey? gu ci thought not! a hint of determination flashed in gu ci¡¯s eyes as she used her finger to draw an x on gu chuyun¡¯s face in one of the interview photos. ¡°gu chuyun, climb as high as you can. the higher you go, the harder you¡¯ll fall!¡± gu ci thought to herself. gu ziyu worked tirelessly, helping gu ci unlock the chip. after a brief examination, he was stunned. ¡°wow! uncle¡¯s background¡­ it¡¯s incredible!¡± ¡°mom, the information is here!¡± gu ci had been waiting in the study and rushed over when she heard the news. she was aware of her son¡¯s special status and couldn¡¯t involve him, so she left the room. ¡°mom, 1 really didn¡¯t know anything!¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°good!¡± gu ci smiled, ruffling his hair. ¡°go to sleep now. if there¡¯s anything, mom will come to you!¡± ¡°i¡¯m seriously shaken. i think i¡¯m going to have trouble sleeping,¡± gu ziyu said with a straight face as he headed to bed. ¡°i¡¯ll never trust uncle¡¯s punctuation again! not a single comma!¡± gu ci chuckled and unlocked the chip¡¯s data on the big screen. it contained information about jiang junlin¡¯s background, revealing that it wasn¡¯t jiang minghua¡¯s rejection that led to jiang junlin¡¯s selection, as was widely believed. ¡°when jiang junlin was in his first year of high school, he was chosen.¡± however, he was still quite young and needed a transitional period, a period of growth. so, jiang minghua needed to help him through these ten years. but jiang minghua refused. it was jiang junlin who actively requested to enter the underworld without the need for a transition. he studied and worked at the same time, gaining practical experience. he stood out prominently in china, so at the age of seventeen, after being admitted to university a, he studied for only three months before applying for overseas study. he spent three years abroad, then returned to china. after graduating, he simultaneously worked at a bank and pursued postgraduate and doctoral studies. from the age of eighteen, he officially entered the underworld. gu ci quickly skimmed through his resume and achievements. it seemed to be jiang junlin¡¯s work diary, recording the major events of his ten years of work. gu ci was shocked by what she read. ¡°heartless and ruthless¡­¡± it was truly chilling to see that he had eliminated three underworld leaders in ten years. there were no details, only event records, but they revealed how ruthless jiang junlin could be. gu ci frowned. no wonder in the previous life, he had his legs broken and was imprisoned by ji chi. if it weren¡¯t for being hidden away by ji chi, her brother probably wouldn¡¯t have survived. he had truly made formidable enemies! jiang junlin¡¯s personal work diary was just a small part of it. the most critical information in the chip was under the jurisdiction of the underworld¡¯s dark management. it included intelligence, technology, assassination, and financial transactions. with control over these resources, one could dominate the entire underworld. but the information she received was incomplete, only half of it, even the passwords were incomplete. to gain the necessary permissions to execute tasks in place of jiang junlin without anyone noticing, she needed the other half of the information. but where was it? gu ci searched through the chip¡¯s data. it was a massive database, and she couldn¡¯t find any clues to the missing information. her brother couldn¡¯t have provided only half the information. gu ci seemed to recall something and took out the bracelet. she remembered seeing a string of numbers when she opened the clasp. gu ci found the code on the bracelet. she decrypted the code and obtained a phone number. after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she dialed the number. late at night, at one in the morning, after three rings, someone answered. it was a gentle female voice. ¡°hello!¡± ¡°i¡¯m jiang junlin¡¯s sister, my name is gu ci. i need to talk to you.¡± ¡°location!¡± ¡°blue fields villa, number twelve.¡± ¡°ten minutes!¡± gu ci stood outside blue fields villa, waiting. she had already informed the security guard. she waited for eight minutes until she heard the roar of a motorcycle engine, which was particularly noticeable in the quiet night. the motorcycle approached from a distance and came to a stop in front of gu ci. the rider was a stylishly dressed woman wearing a helmet, black leather jacket, pants, and boots, with only her beautiful eyes visible. ¡°hello, i¡¯m gu ci!¡± ¡°i know you!¡± the woman¡¯s voice was as gentle as water, which was quite unexpected given her appearance. she removed her helmet, revealing a stunning face that needed no makeup. it was qin wan, also known as little cherry! gu ci recognized her as well. ¡°hello, i¡¯m qin wan!¡± she hung her helmet on the motorcycle¡¯s front, extending her hand. she wore black gloves. gu ci couldn¡¯t have dreamt that it would be qin wan. they shook hands, and gu ci said, ¡°1 know you too, the defense information department¡¯s beauty.. your reputation precedes you!¡± Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Destroy It, I’m Tired chapter 256: destroy it, i¡¯m tired translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°greetings are unnecessary. now, you are my master,¡± qin wan, with her picturesque features, looked nothing like dr. north or anyone from the chen family, despite the blood ties. her appearance was that of a typical innocent girl, charming and fragile, with a voice like the soft dialect of the jiangnan region. she was even more pitiable than gu chuyun. she was a sight to behold. but the things she had done in the past were more like those of a tyrant. ¡°come in!¡± gu ci welcomed her, prepared some tea, and got straight to the point. ¡°my brother has gone missing in paris. he left me a chip and a phone number. 1 need your help.¡± qin wan sipped the tea, dispelling the chill of the night. ¡°the other half of the data is with me. my master left a message: if this phone number ever rings, it means he¡¯s in trouble. i¡¯ll obey the caller.¡± she glanced at gu ci, furrowing her brows, reclining comfortably with her legs crossed. she had the appearance of an innocent girl but exuded an aura of maturity, a captivating contrast. ¡°you¡¯re third master¡¯s girlfriend. can i trust you?¡± qin wan inquired. ¡°jiang junlin is my brother,¡± gu ci said with a light laugh. ¡°husbands can change, but brothers are forever.¡± listening from upstairs, gu ziyu thought that was incredulous. qin wan was a decisive person. she produced the other half of the chip. ¡°the chip is here. you¡¯ll need several high-powered servers and a camera recognition system.¡± ¡°we have them upstairs!¡± gu ci led qin wan upstairs, surprising her with the array of professional equipment. gu ci explained, ¡°these belong to my¡­ younger brother.¡± ¡°i understand.¡± gu ziyu was a genius, well-known even at the national defense information institute. qin wan had heard of him, and they had even competed in a computer contest organized by the school last month. gu ziyu was astonishingly talented, so having these devices at home wasn¡¯t unusual. qin wan was well-versed in information analysis, not inferior to gu ziyu. after compiling information from both sides, they obtained a complete set of data, including three sets of passwords. qin wan also had jiang junlin¡¯s fingerprint. gu ci smoothly accessed the account on the dark web. ¡°until he¡¯s free, you¡¯re the master of the dark web.¡± gu ci said, puzzled. ¡°but those who know my brother won¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°in this world, very few know that jiang junlin is the master of the dark web,¡± qin wan explained. ¡°this system follows commands, not people. it¡¯s like ancient soldiers who obeyed orders, regardless of who held the command token.¡± ¡°i understand,¡± gu ci said firmly. after jiang junlin went missing, she couldn¡¯t handle the intelligence, assassinations, and resources behind the scenes. she pushed aside requests from pei qiuying. after analyzing the information with qin wan, they issued the commands one by one. there was a family matter that needed attention. gu ci had to make decisions about who to send and how to handle the information once retrieved. a machine tool needed to be shipped back to china, so gu ci had to contact both sides for a smooth handover. in these seven days, they had lost seven special agents. gu ci had to handle the aftermath and compensation. they also needed to bring the agents back to china. how to handle black hawk¡¯s provocation was another issue. they had to consider whether the intelligence department needed to cooperate with pei qiuying and how to do so. after the internal conflict between pei qiuying and chen rushi, gu ci had to control the situation and possibly remove pei qiuying. all of this required gu ci to make judgments based on the situation. jiang junlin directly controlled the three major underworld organizations in europe and america, independent but required to obey each other. gu ci also needed to analyze the information provided by the intelligence organization to determine its veracity. gu ci was overwhelmed on her own. she had just taken over, and many things were unfamiliar. she selected a few matters to make quick decisions and delegated the task of filtering intelligence to qin wan. she only needed one result. ¡°do you have any personal grievances with pei qiuying that might lead you to make decisions against jiang junlin¡¯s plans?¡± qin wan was concerned that personal emotions might cloud gu ci¡¯s judgment. ¡°no need,¡± gu ci replied confidently. ¡°i know my boundaries.¡± qin wan gave her a brief glance. she had only heard of gu ci but hadn¡¯t interacted with her closely. however, since jiang junlin trusted her, qin wan believed that gu ci must have remarkable qualities. gu ci had to deal with the backlog of work overnight to ensure the smooth operation of the dark web. gu ziyu was having trouble sleeping again. his recent insomnia had become quite frequent. should he tell chen liangdong about this? he had gradually developed a sense of responsibility towards his family and country, not as strong as gu ci¡¯s importance to him, but it made him think. if this had happened three months ago, there would have been no need for such contemplation. he had chosen gu ci without hesitation. ¡°destroy it! i¡¯m tired.¡± his parents were now on opposite sides, making it much more complicated than their divorce. global sports center. lu zhiyuan was awakened from his slumber by li jiang. ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± li jiang said, ¡°someone has taken over for jiang junlin and activated the dark web.¡± ¡°what?¡± lu zhiyuan was fully awake now. li jiang helped him sit up. rong li and ji chi had also called to report the situation. after jiang junlin went missing, pei qiuying couldn¡¯t receive instructions, and the dark web fell into chaos. facing attacks from ji chi and rong li, without the protection of the dark web, the triads had no chance against black hawk. but just an hour ago, the dark web had started running smoothly again. the intelligence department, in cooperation with pei qiuying, had cleared their embedded agents, resulting in the loss of two mercenary teams. in these seven days, they had been under tremendous pressure, constantly losing resources. the triads had gained new strength, like an endless pit, drawing funds from financial institutions controlled by the triads. ¡°isn¡¯t jiang junlin being held captive by ji chi? could it be a new master taking over?¡± lu zhiyuan pondered. ¡°let¡¯s observe the situation. 1 want to see the new direction of the dark web.¡± ¡°third master, ji chi and rong li have analyzed it. it seems like jiang junlin is still operating from behind the scenes. it doesn¡¯t look like a new direction,¡± li jiang summarized all the information that rong li and ji chi had obtained and placed it in front of lu zhiyuan. ¡°did ji chi release him?¡± li jiang shook his head. ¡°mr. jiang is still being held!¡± lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t entirely clear about how the dark web operated behind the scenes and who was in control. finding the dark web itself had taken seven or eight years. he hadn¡¯t had a chance to fully understand it yet. were the masters of the dark web all following jiang junlin¡¯s will? ¡°new leaders always bring about changes. they can¡¯t continue jiang junlin¡¯s style. what about pei qiuying and chen rushi?¡± ¡°we¡¯ve given authority to pei qiuying and chen rushi and supported their internal struggles. three banks have already extended invitations to chen rushi, each belonging to a different underworld organization.¡± li jiang was also astonished.. ¡°they are operating behind the scenes and controlling so many organizations?¡± Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Being Too Smart chapter 257: being too smart translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jidao and black hawk are engaged in a financial battle, and their cards are becoming increasingly clear. li jiang is worried about one thing: can they win if the underground dark web is operational? behind them, there is a vast amount of funds. ¡°jiang junlin¡­ you are truly remarkable!¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. after years of confrontation, this was the first time lu zhiyuan acknowledged jiang junlin¡¯s abilities. ¡°before being imprisoned, he even arranged everything.¡± ¡°third master, what should we do?¡± ¡°fight him!¡± lu zhiyuan said with a cold smile. ¡°i don¡¯t care who the new master is. 1 want to see if he has jiang junlin¡¯s courage.¡± with a new leader in place, who doesn¡¯t understand the relationships within various departments and doesn¡¯t fully grasp the operation of the dark web, he cannot be allowed time to adapt. we must catch him off guard! ¡°yes!¡± li jiang relayed the clear instructions to rong li and ji chi. lu zhiyuan looked at the night sky with cold eyes. if his calculations were correct, jiang junlin was truly a weapon nurtured by the country, guarding the financial capital in times of peace. if this blade was broken, it could be replaced with another! whether jiang junlin was alive or dead didn¡¯t matter. they could replace the blade, and it would still hang over black hawk¡¯s head unless black hawk was willing to cooperate with jidao and become subordinate to them. he couldn¡¯t allow that! now, he wanted to see how this blade compared to jiang junlin! paris, ji chi¡¯s house. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t seen ji chi for four days. his hunger strike plan had truly failed as far as ji chi was concerned. when he refused to eat, ji chi directly sedated him and started intravenous feeding. all four of his limbs were restrained, rendering him immobile, experiencing the nauseating sensation of nutrient infusions. fasting was not only ineffective but also increasingly infuriating ji chi, making him more and more insane. jiang junlin used to be able to manipulate ji chi at will, doing as he pleased without following a single path. that was useless now. if he continued with the tactic of not eating, the only person suffering would be himself. jiang junlin was a tough nut to crack! when jiang junlin was first imprisoned, he was furious, and there was no chance he would soften his attitude. now that he¡¯s had time to think, ji chi was avoiding him. jiang junlin had a unique palate, and he was picky about his food. ji chi learned to cook for him, and when he was first imprisoned, all the meals were made by ji chi. the taste was mediocre, and jiang junlin could tell it was ji chi¡¯s cooking. in the past three days, the food had been exquisite, made to his taste, so it was obvious it was no longer ji chi who was cooking. every time nick looked at him, he hesitated to speak! jiang junlin didn¡¯t like that kind of look. his guards, ji chi¡¯s guards, all knew about their little affair. jiang junlin was covered in scars now, imprisoned by ji chi in a dark room. he didn¡¯t like anyone looking at him that way! ¡°where is ji chi?¡± jiang junlin asked proactively. it had been nearly half a month since they last spoke, and his throat was a bit hoarse. nick was perceptive and brought him some water. ¡°jiang junlin, have a sip of warm water.¡± jiang junlin held the water and remained silent. nick was sweating profusely under his gaze. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t groomed himself in over ten days, and he even had a beard now. he looked particularly disheveled, like a different person. ¡°our master was shot three days ago, and the injury was severe. he just woke up today.¡± nick said, ¡°before losing consciousness, he told me not to tell you!¡± ¡°is that so?¡± jiang junlin sneered. ¡°playing the same trick again and self-harming. tell ji chi that if he mutilates that thing next time, i¡¯ll believe he¡¯s really injured.¡± nick¡¯s face turned red, and he hurriedly explained, ¡°mr. jiang, our master is really injured. when the jidao dark web was restarted, there were two men following our master. they engaged in a firefight, and our master was shot!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s heart was as hard as iron. ¡°a subject¡¯s disgrace is death. you are his bodyguard. if he¡¯s injured, why are you unharmed?¡± clearly, it was the dead of winter yet nick broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°that day, i was ordered to pursue someone, so i wasn¡¯t with him.¡± ¡°get out,¡± jiang junlin said coldly. ¡°yes!¡± nick still couldn¡¯t figure out why his master liked mr. jiang, such an icy person. he was like a super rational machine, devoid of any human emotions. when he heard ji chi was injured, his brow didn¡¯t even furrow. jiang junlin glanced at the food, his appetite suddenly awakened. for the first time since being imprisoned, he felt so relaxed. cici was truly his younger sister; he liked smart people. she found the chip and activated qin wan. at least, he had resolved part of the internal crisis. although he wasn¡¯t entirely dominant in the secret department, some people knew his identity. but as long as the dark web was running, half of his crisis would be resolved. if cici could outsmart lu zhiyuan, things would get interesting. even if she couldn¡¯t, he had left an ace in qin wan¡¯s hands, enough to buy him three months. he had enough time to deal with ji chi. his guards, ji chi¡¯s guards, couldn¡¯t all be eliminated by ji chi. if he really dared to kill zhang qiang and the others, he should be prepared for a lifelong struggle. but ji chi wouldn¡¯t do that! he hadn¡¯t done anything outrageously provocative. he hadn¡¯t angered ji chi by refusing to fall in love and get married. he hadn¡¯t rejected ji chi¡¯s advances. ji chi might go crazy, but not to such an extreme. he had this confidence, jiang junlin. after dinner, jiang junlin touched his beard. he called nick, ¡°unlock me; 1 want to take a shower.¡± nick hesitated a bit. jiang junlin taunted him, ¡°i¡¯ve been imprisoned by ji chi for so long, his people are everywhere, and there are surveillance cameras. are you afraid 1¡¯11 escape?¡± nick unlocked him. ¡°change all the bedding on the bed!¡± nick thought to himself, mr. jiang, you¡¯re a prisoner; don¡¯t be so assertive. can¡¯t you have a bit of self-awareness as a prisoner? after nick left, jiang junlin entered the bathroom, which was deliberately separated within the dark room and located just two meters away from the bed. jiang junlin took a hot shower and changed into clean clothes. when he saw his thick beard in the mirror, he furrowed his brow. there was no razor in the dark room, as ji chi wouldn¡¯t provide him with any sharp objects to prevent self-harm. throughout the entire dark room, there wasn¡¯t a single piece of glass. ji chi was indeed injured, but it wasn¡¯t a severe injury. it was a grazing wound, and the bleeding had been quite significant, but it hadn¡¯t reached the bone. after nick had explained jiang junlin¡¯s situation, ji chi smirked, ¡°brother, it seems like he¡¯s planning to change his strategy.¡± ¡°master, the situation is dire now, and it¡¯s extremely unfavorable for black hawk. don¡¯t let mr. jiang deceive you again,¡± nick, being his bodyguard, could only offer frank advice. ji chi unwrapped the bandages on his arm, which were soaked in red. he glanced at nick with a sly smile. ¡°do you think¡­ i¡¯m that foolish? to be repeatedly deceived by jiang junlin?¡± nick felt that this had nothing to do with foolishness; it was a matter of emotional imbalance between ji chi and jiang junlin. if jiang junlin were to sincerely say a sweet word, the master would be willing to die for him! ¡°don¡¯t worry; 1 have a sense of proportion,¡± ji chi said simply as he rewrapped the bandages. ¡°his change of strategy is actually to my advantage.. if 1 refuse to eat, wouldn¡¯t that be foolish?¡± Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Did We Ever Have a Relationship to Begin With? chapter 258: did we ever have a relationship to begin with? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after jiang junlin changed and settled down, he found himself surprisingly at ease. inside the dark room, there were no tools to be found. even if he wanted to harm himself, he couldn¡¯t find any means, let alone escape. ji chi had disappeared for a few days, but finally returned to the dark room where jiang junlin was confined. his treatment was quite good, and fearing he might get bored, ji chi had prepared several books. in the past few days, jiang junlin could do nothing except read. as time passed, anyone would start to go insane, but jiang junlin remained composed, showing no signs of anxiety. ¡°brother, have you come to terms with it?¡± ji chi lightly chuckled. ¡°did hearing the news of the resurgence of the dark web make you happy?¡± ¡°you intentionally had nick leak that information to me, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°haven¡¯t you been pretending to be mute all this time? giving you a bit of information from the dark web has given you hope, hasn¡¯t it?¡± this was the first time in two weeks that jiang junlin was willing to look at ji chi squarely. he complained, but his tone was like a spoiled child¡¯s. after all, he was still young, and when he looked at someone with teary eyes, it always carried a hint of tenderness and grievance, which could melt anyone¡¯s heart. but he was jiang junlin, and in his dictionary, there was no room for tenderness! ¡°you seem to be really happy?¡± ji chi¡¯s dimples appeared, somewhat hidden. ¡°since you can¡¯t oppose me and can only beg me, i¡¯m quite content.¡± jiang junlin looked at his performance with indifference. ji chi was half genuine and half pretending, not caring at all about maintaining any sense of masculinity in front of jiang junlin. ¡°brother, i¡¯m easily appeased. won¡¯t you show a little tenderness?¡± he seemed as malleable as water, while jiang junlin remained as unyielding as ice. jiang junlin raised his hand, and the chains clinked. ¡°tenderness for you? with this much free time, i¡¯d rather show tenderness to myself!¡± ji chi sighed. ¡°who made you insist on opposing me? if you had just obeyed, i would have released you, alright?¡± jiang junlin just looked at a little wolf in front of him, draped in rabbit fur, obedient and soft. he naturally had an innocent appearance. back and forth, after exchanging a few sharp words, ji chi said, ¡°brother, shall 1 shave your beard for you? it¡¯s grown quite long in these past two weeks.¡± he hadn¡¯t shaved for half a month, and jiang junlin¡¯s beard had grown pretty long. ¡°hmph!¡± jiang junlin snorted in disdain while ji chi eagerly grabbed shaving cream and a razor. ji chi was somewhat excited by this action, as it was the first time he had ever shaved jiang junlin. jiang junlin had grown accustomed to enjoying such services. with his eyes closed, he allowed ji chi to assist him. the scent of the freshly showered man had a hint of coolness, a fragrance of body wash they both used, mixing with his own scent. ji chi applied shaving foam to jiang junlin¡¯s beard and carefully began shaving. the sensation of being groomed by someone else enthralled ji chi, and his dimples never seemed to disappear. ¡°when will you release me?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°how long do you plan to keep me locked up?¡± ¡°brother, don¡¯t ruin the mood,¡± ji chi lightly shook his head. ¡°the dark web has been activated. why are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± ¡°why don¡¯t you try being locked up by me for a lifetime and see!¡± jiang junlin challenged. ¡°sure!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes gleamed with a mischievous smile. ¡°you can certainly give it a try!¡± ¡°ji chi, on the plane, 1 told you that you were different from others!¡± jiang junlin changed his strategy. if being tough didn¡¯t work, he¡¯d try being soft. ¡°what¡¯s different about me?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°i looked for you back then,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°1 never intended to leave you behind. i knew i broke my promise, and when we reunited, i didn¡¯t want you to recall any suffering. that¡¯s why i¡¯ve let you do whatever you want.¡± ¡°did you ever ask me if i¡¯d do the same for others?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice grew cold. ¡°what are you thinking? what information do you have that¡¯s worth exchanging with my dignity?¡± ¡°you¡¯re lying to me!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°i don¡¯t lie.¡± jiang junlin searched under the bed with his right leg, trying to find the razor. he managed to grab it and held it discreetly in his hand. however, just as he thought ji chi was defenseless, ji chi suddenly gripped his wrist tightly, causing the razor to fall near the pillow. jiang junlin realized he was in trouble. ji chi¡¯s eyes instantly turned crimson. ¡°you were deceiving me while thinking of how to counterattack. brother, you¡¯re a complete and utter liar.¡± his tears fell onto jiang junlin¡¯s face, and he gazed at jiang junlin with malicious intent mixed with madness. ¡°it seems that if i don¡¯t give you a lesson, you really don¡¯t know how to tell the truth!¡± jiang junlin said in a low voice, ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t go crazy!¡± ji chi immediately grabbed two pairs of handcuffs and secured jiang junlin¡¯s wrists. ¡°ji chi!¡± jiang junlin was furious. ¡°what are you planning to do?¡± ji chi laughed wickedly, a dangerous and crazy glint in his bright red eyes. he was like a deranged lover. ¡°ji¡­ ji chi¡­¡± jiang junlin, in an unusual display of panic, stammered, ¡°what are you going to do?¡± ¡°i¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!¡± ji chi¡¯s laughter was sinister, but there was a hint of gentleness in his eyes due to nervousness. jiang junlin was somewhat shaken, and his legs trembled slightly from the coldness of the blade. ¡°ji chi!¡± jiang junlin angrily scolded. ¡°you dare!¡± ji chi laughed like a maniac. ¡°if you dare to deceive me, what wouldn¡¯t 1 dare to do?¡± jiang junlin was horrified, and his spine was tingling with fear. this was absolutely beyond his expectations, and he was caught off guard. enraged, he couldn¡¯t care less about the razor against his skin and threw a punch at ji chi. ji chi was startled and feared he might actually hurt jiang junlin. the razor flew out of his hand, and ji chi took a punch, causing a mouthful of blood to spurt out. it was clear that jiang junlin possessed great strength. jiang junlin then sprang to his feet, grabbing ji chi by the collar. ¡°do you really want to die?¡± his voice was hoarse from anger, and his eyes were bloodshot. veins bulged on his temples. ji chi was shocked, seeing jiang junlin truly furious for the first time. this was what real anger looked like from jiang junlin. ji chi was burning with fury too. he hadn¡¯t expected jiang junlin to lose control to the point where he would disregard his own safety. one wrong move, and he could have been seriously injured. ¡°knowing that i¡¯m insane, why did you lie to me?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes were red. jiang junlin, in a fit of anger, spoke without thinking, ¡°why should 1 coddle you? what gives you the right? just because you locked me up in a dark room and tormented me?¡± this statement struck a sensitive nerve in ji chi. both of them dropped their facades, revealing their true selves. ¡°yes, you¡¯re noble, and i¡¯m lowly. you¡¯re a star in the sky, and i¡¯m the mud on the ground. yet, i insist on tormenting you,¡± ji chi said with a trace of blood still on his lips. he seemed torn apart, suspended in mid-air, consumed by obsession, and he gritted his teeth, ¡°in this lifetime, i, ji chi, will mutually torment you to death. this is the debt you owe me!¡± ji chi acted as if he had gone mad, shouting, ¡°nick!¡± jiang junlin had a foreboding feeling. ¡°what are you going to do?¡± dealing with ji chi for so long, jiang junlin knew how his madness could take hold. regrettably, he was a prisoner, and he couldn¡¯t resist. ji chi, in his madness, was utterly uncontrollable. he held jiang junlin down and continued to pierce his skin repeatedly, inscribing two characters. the pain of getting a tattoo is hard for ordinary people to endure, and jiang junlin¡¯s forehead was covered in a thick layer of sweat. he could bear the physical pain, but what he couldn¡¯t endure was this prolonged torment. veins bulged on jiang junlin¡¯s forehead as his emotions spiraled out of control. ji chi, this little wolf, had finally torn away his disguise, and he genuinely wanted to kill him. ¡°ji chi, you¡¯re doomed!¡± jiang junlin said coldly. ¡°our relationship is over!¡± ¡°hahaha¡­.¡± ji chi laughed through his tears, asking with bitter irony, ¡°did we ever have a relationship to begin with?¡± Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Husband and Wife, but Also Sworn Enemies chapter 259: husband and wife, but also sworn enemies translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the triads and black hawk have been in continuous conflict for a month, with victories on both sides. they play with real money in the market, but behind the scenes, it¡¯s a hail of bullets. lu zhiyuan¡¯s intention during jiang junlin¡¯s imprisonment is to take down the dark web-controlled criminal organization and intelligence network of the triads. ji chi and rong li are extremely ruthless, forcing gu ci into a difficult situation. she has just taken over the triads¡¯ dark web and is not very familiar with it. the first few missions all failed, perhaps for this reason, both lu zhiyuan and ji chi felt that the new owner of the triads was not familiar with them and was somewhat careless. when gu ci counterattacked, lu zhiyuan also suffered losses, with three intelligence bases in north america being taken down, fast, precise, and very clean. moreover, gu ci is very clever. she convened a triad conference, using pei qiuying and chen rushi¡¯s familiarity with the black hawk to turn the tables and reverse the triads¡¯ decline! qin wan helped her a lot, and many information analyses were handed over to qin wan to handle. jiang junlin trusted her, and gu ci never doubted her. she didn¡¯t suspect anyone, but her identity and dr. north were too special. gu ci was afraid that dr. north, knowing that jiang junlin had been nurturing qin wan all along, would have other ideas, so she kept them apart. she also activated dr. north and sent her to europe to handle the triad¡¯s dark web affairs. when necessary, dr. north is gu ci¡¯s spokesperson and can issue orders. there must be someone in charge in europe, or she won¡¯t feel at ease! as a result, dr. north and qin wan have not been able to meet. ¡°do you have any news from the master?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°the winter vacation is coming soon, and 1 can go abroad to look for his news.¡± gu ci said, ¡°1 can guess where he is, but it¡¯s not advisable to take action.¡± ji chi was so crazy, and he had been in conflict with her brother recently, showing no mercy at all. it was bound to aggravate ji chi, so he simply locked the person up. if ji chi were further provoked, gu ci didn¡¯t know what he would do! afterall, they¡¯d tortured each other to death in the past timeline. ¡°in terms of the people you sent, can we trust them?¡± ¡°they can be trusted!¡± gu ci said, ¡°you are a hidden chess piece cultivated by your brother. unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, it won¡¯t be activated. so when you execute orders, don¡¯t reveal your true identity.¡± ¡°understood!¡± the second triad meeting was about to begin. every month, a meeting was held, with pei qiuying and chen rush! both attending, including several leaders of the dark web. however, all the leaders of the dark web were hidden behind al, including gu ci, and their voices and appearances were processed, so others wouldn¡¯t be able to tell who she really was. the dark web personnel were all hidden behind the network, and only chen rushi and pei qiuying were sitting in the meeting room. in a meeting of eight people, six remained hidden in the shadows. chen rushi only discovered after joining the triads that the management system of the triads was so mysterious, and pei qiuying was not the ultimate authority in the triads. gu ci listened to the reports from pei qiuying and chen rushi about the triad¡¯s internal affairs. pei qiuying indeed had great skill and was very popular. having experienced both ups and downs in her life, she understood how to read people and was cautious of chen rushi. the financial power of the triads had always been firmly in her hands, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy for chen rushi to share that power. pei qiuying said, ¡°dark mistress, black hawk and the triads have been engaged in a financial and information war for over a month. it¡¯s been a drain on both sides. how about we consider peace? ultimately, we don¡¯t have deep-seated enmity with black hawk; it¡¯s all old grudges. in the business world, it¡¯s about interests, and there are no permanent enemies!¡± ¡°1 don¡¯t agree!¡± chen rushi strongly disagreed with making peace with black hawk. he had betrayed black hawk to join the triads, and if the triads made peace with black hawk, what would be the meaning of his betrayal? ¡°black hawk and the triads have been entangled for many years, all for control of the financial markets. it¡¯s a zero-sum game. if we don¡¯t advance, we retreat. when you negotiate with a tiger, you can¡¯t leave without a scratch. lu zhiyuan will seek revenge, and no matter how many people black hawk loses and how many assets are gone, he will want them back a hundredfold or a thousandfold.¡± this time, gu ci understood better than anyone else! pei qiuying said, ¡°chen rushi, i know you have old grievances with lu zhiyuan, but if we continue like this, the triads may not hold up!¡± ¡°that¡¯s not your concern!¡± gu ci¡¯s voice was emotionless through al ¡°all you need to do is strictly follow my orders. the triads and black hawk will never make peace!¡± this was a quote from jiang junlin¡¯s personal notes that gu ci remembered. in the business world, it¡¯s good to be on good terms to make money. there are no permanent enemies. but the triads¡­ are not a business matter. jiang junlin had immense power, and pei qiuying had always been afraid of the triad¡¯s dark master. she didn¡¯t know that there had been a change in leadership behind her, and she had always been cautious of the dark master she wanted to gain the power of the dark web but didn¡¯t know where to start. with people masked by al images, she couldn¡¯t tell if they were male or female and didn¡¯t dare to provoke them. jiang junlin had killed three previous triad leaders, which was not a joke. each triad leader knew that betrayal meant death, but they still held onto a glimmer of hope. ¡°yes!¡± pei qiuying lowered her head obediently. gu ci said, ¡°pei qiuying, i need you to come to city a to handle the triad¡¯s asian market. europe and america will be under chen rushi¡¯s control for now!¡± pei qiuying was shocked and uneasy. her foundation was in europe and america, not in asia. she had always been responsible for managing the asian market in cooperation with jiang junlin. she couldn¡¯t afford to lose her foundation. why was she suddenly being transferred to city a? chen rushi sitting alone in charge of the european and american markets, wouldn¡¯t that make him too powerful? was dark mistress trying to support chen rushi? ¡°don¡¯t worry, dark mistress. i will ensure black hawk doesn¡¯t get a piece of the pie from the triads in any way.¡± chen rushi lowered his head, showing his loyalty. after joining the triads, he had been trying to break free from pei qiuying¡¯s control while not offending her. now, the opportunity had come! once pei qiuying left for the asian market, he would be in complete control, and he would eventually absorb and erode pei qiuying¡¯s influence. ¡°how about it, are you unwilling?¡± gu ci asked coldly. ¡°i dare not!¡± pei qiuying replied, ¡°i¡¯ll depart the day after tomorrow!¡± ¡°very good!¡± gu ci said, ¡°the focus of the triad¡¯s development in the last five years has been on the asian market. pei qiuying, don¡¯t disappoint me!¡± ¡°yes!¡± after pei qiuying and chen rushi left, it was an internal meeting of the dark web. this meeting was much more complex. gu ci mostly listened, as she also needed to understand the structure of the dark web. in several meetings, she listened more than she spoke. intelligence fell under the information science department, and someone was in charge of it. gu ci had qin wan keep an eye on it. she needed to know everyone¡¯s movements at all times. she was also well aware of the identities of these people. during each meeting, qin wan made records on the side, helping gu ci analyze the power dynamics and checks and balances between various departments within the dark web. while jiang junlin could command all the departments, he also needed to have a thorough understanding of the entire organization. it took gu ci three days to become familiar with the functions of each department, the balance of power, and the key individuals¡¯ skills and capabilities. there was hardly any irregularity; all the personnel were handpicked by jiang junlin, and they were all exceptionally talented! Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: The Tsundere Third Master chapter 260: the tsundere third master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°why did you assign pei qiuying to come to city a?¡± qin wan didn¡¯t understand. ¡°if she stayed in europe and fought with chen rushi. it would be more advantageous for you.¡± ¡°pei qiuying coming to city a while chen rushi dominates in europe weakens her strength. it¡¯s just a matter of time. pei qiuying realizes she¡¯s been abandoned by the triad. she has no choice but to find support or surrender to me,¡± gu ci explained. ¡°bringing her to city a means i want her to die here. with chen rushi defecting from black hawk, her chances of becoming the triad¡¯s leader are slim. 1 can handle the situation.¡± qin wan nodded. ¡°i understand.¡± gu ci nodded too. it was another weekend, and she had to go to the global sports center. but she had too much on her plate. final exams required a lot of revision, and when it came to triad matters, any distraction or miscommunication could have dire consequences. so gu ci was extremely cautious. every weekend, she would go to the global sports center to be with lu zhiyuan. she wouldn¡¯t handle any matters herself, leaving everything to qin wan. if there were any urgent issues, qin wan would inform her. she had given instructions to qin wan for every weekend, the most intense time for the triad¡¯s retaliation against black hawk. lu zhiyuan had never suspected who had taken over jiang junlin¡¯s position. at the global sports center. lu zhiyuan could now move around, though vigorous activity was still off-limits. simple walking was no problem. jiang junlin had been held at ji chi¡¯s place, and two groups had attempted to rescue him, but their information had been wrong. ji chi rose to power in black hawk very quickly, and he had many enemies. with so many escape routes and secret passages in his house, it was impossible to pinpoint jiang junlin¡¯s location, except for lu zhiyuan and rong li. to avoid attracting attention, lu zhiyuan brought only one of his guards, nick, with him. it was a risky move, but he was willing to take the chance. after both rescue attempts by the two groups of guards failed, everything fell silent. ¡°interesting!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the report ji chi had sent. ¡°the new dark master of the triad is determined to save him. if they return empty-handed and give up, what does that mean? are they giving up on him?¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t make sense of this strategy. both groups of guards were highly skilled, even more so than zhang qiang¡¯s guard team. after they fell silent, there was no trace of them among the crowd. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°the triad¡­ really has a talent for producing capable individuals.¡± ¡°third master, you have a high opinion of the new master of the triad¡¯s dark web!¡± ¡°perhaps not as capable as jiang junlin,¡± lu zhiyuan put down his tablet. ¡°their methods may not be as ruthless as jiang junlin¡¯s, but they are skilled at manipulating people¡¯s hearts. their style is different, but their goal is the same.¡± ¡°third master, pei qiuying is on her way to city a today,¡± li jiang reminded him. ¡°sending her to oversee asian affairs at this time, what does the new master want to achieve?¡± ¡°that¡¯s where he differs from jiang junlin,¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly. ¡°jiang junlin wanted pei qiuying to clash with chen rushi, but he would never choose to let pei qiuying leave europe and let chen rushi grow. this new master wants to eliminate pei qiuying directly, using her as a tool to kill.¡± ¡°whose blade is she borrowing to do that?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°mine.¡± li jiang said, bewildered, ¡°but, third master¡­¡± li jiang was deeply puzzled. ¡°third master, you raised pei qiuying, even though she turned against you. the triad surely knows this. why keep pei qiuying and arrange for her to clash with chen rushi? why even send pei qiuying to city a?¡± ¡°pei qiuying¡¯s staged car accident proved her loyalty to the triad. i nearly died in that accident, and keeping a tiger by your side eventually leads to getting bitten. there¡¯s been a lot of talk within black hawk about it. pei qiuying¡¯s move has won her the hearts of many in the triad. jiang junlin has already killed three triad leaders for betrayal. but pei qiuying has demonstrated her loyalty. killing her now would harm jiang junlin¡¯s reputation, and his future decisions would be criticized. if jiang junlin hadn¡¯t been imprisoned, he might have allowed pei qiuying and chen rushi to fight it out in europe. but the new master wants¡­ me to kill pei qiuying.¡± lu zhiyuan stood by the window, looking out at the sunlight in city a. ¡°everyone knows that pei qiuying orchestrated a car accident that nearly killed me. our enmity runs deep.¡± li jiang suddenly understood. ¡°i see. if pei qiuying dies at your hands, it won¡¯t affect the dark master¡¯s authority, and it will unite the triad to fight against black hawk. this is a brilliant move!¡± but here¡¯s the question, third master, will you do as he wishes and kill pei qiuying? lu zhiyuan muttered to himself, ¡°acting like a woman¡­¡± ¡°what?¡± li jiang asked. ¡°never mind.¡± lu zhiyuan pondered silently. bringing pei qiuying to city a was a subtle and malicious move, like a palace intrigue. if it were jiang junlin or even himself, they would have dealt with pei qiuying directly in europe, without going through this elaborate scheme. it seemed like an invitation, laced with sweetness, softness, and a vicious kind of scheming. it was like a knife coated in honey, stabbing at him. this new master was hitting him hard, reminding him of his near-death at pei qiuying¡¯s hands. truly¡­ a knife wrapped in gentleness. this new master was delivering a harsh blow to his pride, reminding him of his near-death experience at pei qiuying¡¯s hands. it was like a gentle knife, cutting through his ego and making him aware of the potential pitfalls in his own plans. in recent confrontations, while black hawk had the upper hand, it wasn¡¯t enough to destroy the triad¡¯s dark web. ¡°can our insiders find information about the dark master of the triad?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. li jiang shook his head. ¡°his position is already quite high, and even jiang junlin didn¡¯t know he was the dark master of the triad. the only one who knew was the former minister, but he died in the line of duty. we don¡¯t know who¡¯s in charge after jiang junlin, and we don¡¯t know who he reports to.¡± ¡°jiang junlin disappeared, and a new master replaced him. this indicates a highly matured system. it¡¯s unlikely that one person is in charge; there should be traces that can be found. keep investigating and relay the information to national security through chen liangdong.¡± ¡°understood!¡± li jiang went out to make the call, and lu zhiyuan suddenly asked, ¡°is it saturday today?¡± ¡°yes, third master.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression shifted, and gu ci had been especially busy lately. besides coming over on weekends during the day, they mostly communicated via text messages. occasionally, they had a meal together, and she even sent him photos. he should have been happy. after all, with gu ci absent, he didn¡¯t have to play the role of the third young master. however, for some reason, he couldn¡¯t shake off his gloomy mood. he longed to see gu ci, and the desire had grown stronger after he realized his true feelings. he even found himself acting more aloof when playing the role of the third young master, and he secretly wished that the person gu ci saw would be him, not the third young master. his expression turned sour, and li jiang, who knew him well, said, ¡°third master, miss gu ci is a medical student with a packed schedule. i¡¯ve heard that medical students spend their entire finals week in the library. maybe she¡¯s just too busy lately and doesn¡¯t have time to see you.¡± so, you shouldn¡¯t be upset! ¡°third master, if you miss her, you can go see her. you can walk now,¡± li jiang suggested, his quick thinking evident. ¡°who says 1 miss her?¡± li jiang¡¯s smile froze, and the situation got a bit awkward. he scratched his head, unsure of what to say. lu zhiyuan replied icily, ¡°prepare the car!¡± ¡°go¡­ where?¡± ¡°her silence for two days. if i don¡¯t go see her, wouldn¡¯t it be like i¡¯m playing the role of the third young master?¡± ¡°it must not look like that!¡± li jiang promptly replied. ¡°third master, i¡¯ll prepare the car right away..¡± Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Third Master’s First Love chapter 261: third master¡¯s first love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°blue fields villa,¡± gu ci hadn¡¯t slept a wink all night. there had been a sudden incident in the underworld last night, with three members mysteriously disappearing. gu ci had ordered jiang junlin¡¯s close guards to track them, but there had been no word since. she spent the entire night praying, hoping that no one had died. after all, it was her command, and she had to take responsibility. unlike jiang junlin, who had a heart of stone, she was feeling a bit tired after staying up all night. ¡°work is never-ending. don¡¯t you need to review for your final exams at the medical school?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°my foundation is strong, so i don¡¯t need last-minute cramming. i should be fine, aiming for second place.¡± ¡°impressive!¡± qin wan shook her head. ¡°in our national defense information academy, finals are like a battleground. if you perform well, you can directly choose a department. otherwise, you wait for departments to pick you.¡± ¡°do you all have uniform placements upon graduation?¡± ¡°usually, for ph.d. graduates, departments compete to get them. it¡¯s their choice. for undergraduates, it¡¯s less competitive. if you don¡¯t want to be transferred, you find a job yourself,¡± qin wan explained. ¡°wherever we go from our department, we¡¯re in high demand, with annual salaries starting at a million. some people don¡¯t want to join the regular workforce and earn over ten thousand a month.¡± ¡°why did you choose national defense information, then?¡± ¡°the master chose it,¡± qin wan shrugged. ¡°i followed the transfer.¡± ¡°the master?¡± gu ci chuckled and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°do you like it?¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter!¡± qin wan said casually. ¡°in our line of work, life is short, so it doesn¡¯t matter what you choose. liking something is a luxury; i go where i¡¯m needed!¡± because of dr. north, gu ci felt close to qin wan. ¡°why do you say it¡¯s short? you¡¯re in the shadows and don¡¯t show your face.¡± qin wan covered her mouth and smiled, her fair appearance particularly charming when she did so. ¡°gu ci, the master¡¯s trusted agents don¡¯t live long. that¡¯s why he likes to choose some desperate characters.¡± coincidentally, she was a typical desperate character! ¡°why are you willing, then?¡± ¡°i have no parents, no siblings, no close friends or lovers. i have nothing tying me down. living passionately for a while is enough,¡± she blinked her eyes, lively and radiant. ¡°life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are in the heavens. there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°you haven¡¯t changed much from your previous life.¡± ¡°what?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°never mind, i¡¯m really tired after staying up all night.¡± ¡°can you sleep?¡± gu ci shook her head; she had to wait for news, so she definitely couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡°i can¡¯t sleep either. let¡¯s go play basketball together, get some exercise!¡± they were young and full of energy, so despite the fatigue of staying up all night, they were far from listless. gu ci also had the same idea; she hadn¡¯t exercised in a month. she picked up her phone and sent a text to lu zhiyuan. gu ci: third brother, i¡¯m really busy today. i have final exams to prepare for. i¡¯ll come see you tomorrow! after putting down her phone, she grabbed a basketball and went out with qin wan. this basketball had been a gift from lu zhiyuan to gu ziyu. there was a basketball court in the neighborhood, but the kids were all still sleeping, and there was no one around. gu ci and qin wan played basketball energetically. qin wan was a secret agent trained in covert operations, receiving specialized training every summer and winter vacation. despite her delicate appearance, she had the strength and agility of a true powerhouse. they both had skills, and on the basketball court, they played with great enthusiasm. a beautiful three-point shot, and gu ci whistled. qin wan gave her a thumbs-up. one person shot, the other defended, and they played back and forth, reluctant to part. sometimes they high-fived mid-jump, and other times they clapped and praised each other, becoming a delightful sight in the neighborhood. lu zhiyuan stood silently by the basketball court, watching gu ci. final exams? busy? is this what she called busy? he stood here, watching her play basketball for half an hour, her smile radiant, full of youthful vitality. she seemed calm and composed in front of him but also had a touch of a tsundere personality. he had never seen gu ci smile so brightly before, like an ordinary college student playing basketball with her best friend on a sunny morning, carefree, sunny, and radiant. li jiang stood by, keeping a close watch, not daring to say a word of nonsense. in his heart, he silently begged, ¡°miss gu ci, please look back and see that third master has been standing here for half an hour. is this what you call studying?¡± ¡°cici, third master has been standing by the basketball court, watching you for half an hour!¡± qin wan said with a smile after a beautiful three-point shot from gu ci. gu ci turned her head and saw lu zhiyuan leaning against a tree, watching her. they were at some distance, and there were people in the neighborhood watching as well. gu ci glanced over but didn¡¯t pay much attention, failing to recognize that it was lu zhiyuan. mainly because, in her memory, lu zhiyuan was still bedridden due to his injuries. how could he be up and about like this? ¡°lu zhiyuan¡­¡± gu ci was so happy that she forgot her own lie. like a cheerful bird, she ran towards lu zhiyuan and looked at him with excitement. ¡°you¡­ you can get out of bed?¡± lu zhiyuan wore a white sweater, covered by a black coat, and wrapped in a scarf. his complexion was still somewhat pale, unable to hide the signs of illness, but he stood steadily. he looked at gu ci, who was running towards him, and all the unpleasant moments disappeared. her eyes were filled with the light of winter, so bright that he seemed to be her only focus. in that moment, lu zhiyuan heard the sound of his own heart beating. he pulled gu ci towards him, pressed her against a tree trunk, and suddenly kissed her. sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on them, like a beautiful painting. in the distance, someone whistled! li jiang was dumbfounded. third master had actually kissed miss gu ci so eagerly in front of everyone? what happened to the carefully constructed image? he couldn¡¯t believe it, no matter what! third young master¡¯s image was definitely not like this. gu ci didn¡¯t expect lu zhiyuan to kiss her, but she was enjoying the long-lost intimacy. she felt his intense emotions, and his hand gently caressed her neck, carrying a strong implication. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but lean closer to him. a high school boy on a skateboard passed by not far away and whistled. li jiang coughed violently, almost like he had tuberculosis. lu zhiyuan reluctantly released gu ci, his eyes slightly red from desire. gu ci¡¯s eyes were misty, reflecting the lingering and romantic scenes of spring flowers and autumn moon. lu zhiyuan¡¯s ears were burning again, turning red enough to drip blood as he stared at gu ci¡¯s swollen lips, wanting to kiss her again. he held her hand and led her back to blue fields villa. his steps were somewhat hurried as if he had something urgent to do. gu ci asked a few times if he had eaten breakfast, but lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t respond. ¡°where¡¯s ziyu?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°he went to chen liangdong¡¯s house for the weekend.¡± lu zhiyuan nodded with a grunt and didn¡¯t say anything more. after entering blue fields villa, he slammed the door shut, leaving li jiang outside. li jiang was dumbfounded. inside the door, lu zhiyuan pressed gu ci against the entrance and kissed her again.. Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Great Explosion of Acting Skills chapter 262: great explosion of acting skills translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci was surprised but did not refuse him. in matters of love and desire, men seemed to have a natural instinct. gu ci was kissed until she went weak in the knees, her breath as sweet as orchids, intensifying lu zhiyuan¡¯s animalistic desire. for a moment, gu ci forgot that her hand was still broken and accidentally touched it, causing intense pain. this interrupted lu zhiyuan¡¯s fiery passion. gu ci slumped to the ground, and they both awkwardly leaned against each other, breathing heavily, looking disheveled. ¡°does it hurt?¡± lu zhiyuan regained his composure as both desire and pain gradually subsided. when his gaze met gu ci¡¯s eyes, a new wave of heat surged between them. in this enclosed space, with just the two of them, the potential for passion was high. ¡°it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice sounded unusually eager. he forced himself to change the subject. ¡°have you had breakfast?¡± ¡°not yet. have you?¡± ¡°no.¡± both of them fell into silence, inexplicably nervous and shy, especially gu ci, who blushed and felt flustered. she had teased lu zhiyuan before about how he couldn¡¯t control his emotions, but now, she couldn¡¯t help blushing herself. she glanced at a certain part of lu zhiyuan¡¯s body, then quickly averted her gaze and hurriedly said, ¡°i¡¯ll go make breakfast!¡± gu ci went upstairs, took a brisk shower, changed into comfortable home attire, and headed downstairs. surprisingly, lu zhiyuan had already gone to the downstairs study. gu ci suddenly remembered that her study computer contained information related to the underworld, and it startled her. when she rushed downstairs in a panic, she realized that before leaving, she had locked the computer with a password. lu zhiyuan seemed interested in the books on the bookshelf. he raised an eyebrow when he noticed gu ci¡¯s slightly anxious expression. ¡°what¡¯s wrong? is there something i¡¯m not supposed to see?¡± gu ci swiftly put on a composed smile and replied, ¡°feel free to look around. 1¡¯11 prepare breakfast!¡± lu zhiyuan came downstairs, intentionally avoiding gu ci. he felt like he was losing control and needed to calm down. however, when he looked at gu ci, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the heat rising again. so, he sought refuge in the downstairs study. seeing the hidden room where gu ci intended to confine him, lu zhiyuan slowly regained control over his overpowering desires and rationality. he was losing control, especially when it came to gu ci. but there was a problem: there was only one gu ci, and there were two personas he had to juggle ¨C himself and third young master. what should they do about this situation? if third young master never wakes up, should he continue pretending to be him for the rest of his life? no! absolutely not! whether it was pride, emotions, or rationality, none of them allowed him to do that. lu zhiyuan glanced at the hidden room, thinking about the fate of jiang junlin, who was locked up there. gu ci might not be as crazy as ji chi, so hopefully, she wouldn¡¯t subject him to the same fate. lu zhiyuan shifted his gaze to the bookshelf, which mainly consisted of medical books, some related to investments and music, and a few on travel, art, and other topics. gu ci¡¯s interests were quite diverse, and all these books had been read by the owner. there was a special corner dedicated to psychology books, each one marked with annotations. lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows slightly, and gu ci¡¯s voice came from upstairs, ¡°lu zhiyuan, have you had breakfast?¡± breakfast was simple: banana toast, a fried egg, and a cup of hot milk. as lu zhiyuan headed upstairs, he wore the persona of third young master and had a displeased expression. ¡°who was that person you played basketball with?¡± ¡°a classmate!¡± gu ci smiled. qin wan took the basketball and left when gu ci approached lu zhiyuan. she rented a place just outside the school, in the residential area opposite the blue fields villa. it was a three-minute walk to the school, even closer than gu ci¡¯s location. ¡°what kind of classmate? you have such a good relationship that you meet up to play basketball together early in the morning, and you even stood me up for it.¡± lu zhiyuan said sourly. ¡°it seems this classmate of yours is quite special and more important than me!¡± ¡°we were catching up on our studies since final exams are approaching. we stayed up all night.¡± gu ci pointed to her dark circles. ¡°see these dark circles under my eyes? i look ugly.¡± lu zhiyuan had noticed her dark circles long before. it was clear that she had pulled several all-nighters. ¡°we studied until 6 am, and we were too tired to sleep. so we decided to go out and play basketball to get some exercise and then catch up on sleep later. i¡¯ll come to see you tomorrow after a good rest.¡± gu ci¡¯s explanation was flawless, without any loopholes, making it impossible even for lu zhiyuan to find fault. lu zhiyuan snorted but kept recalling gu ci¡¯s smile in his mind. he rarely saw her so carefree and radiant. even when she was with third young master, perhaps due to the past, there was always a hint of melancholy in her eyes. but now, with people her age, she could briefly forget her pain. ¡°lu zhiyuan, do you have any news about my brother?¡± gu ci was worried that lu zhiyuan might bring up the matter of qin wan, so she changed the subject, subtly warning him or suggesting that he should release third young master before the chinese new year. lu zhiyuan replied with a blank expression, ¡°no.¡± ¡°is there any news about ji chi?¡± ¡°he¡¯s looking for him, but there¡¯s no news yet.¡± lu zhiyuan lied without batting an eye. he wasn¡¯t the one who decided to imprison jiang junlin; it was ji chi¡¯s own decision. however, the result was the same. ji chi wouldn¡¯t kill jiang junlin, and lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to get involved in their affairs, especially after learning about jiang junlin¡¯s true identity. their enmity over the years was too complicated, and lu zhiyuan had no intention of meddling in ji chi¡¯s business. ji chi¡¯s methods of tormenting jiang junlin had nothing to do with him. gu ci was filled with worry. ¡°my brother hasn¡¯t had any news for a while. i¡¯m really concerned. after the final exams, i want to go to paris.¡± lu zhiyuan was silent. ¡°if he doesn¡¯t come back for the new year, even if there¡¯s news, my grandparents and my uncle will definitely find out that something¡¯s wrong. they¡¯re getting old, and they can¡¯t handle the shock!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s brow twitched. what did gu ci mean? was she testing him, warning him, or subtly suggesting that he should release jiang junlin before the chinese new year? gu ci frowned and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°third brother, is third master¡¯s consciousness in your mind? aren¡¯t you supposed to be connected? i think if my brother is missing, third master must know the truth.¡± ¡°ever since the accident, our connection has been severed, and he¡¯s not in my mind. i don¡¯t know anything about him. don¡¯t bring him up again; it makes me angry!¡± lu zhiyuan replied with a cold expression. gu ci, with her outstanding acting skills, let tears fall from her eyes. she cried beautifully, and her tears sparkled like pearls. ¡°1 dreamt that my brother was locked in a dark room, whipped and tortured, with blood flowing everywhere. he kept pleading for help!¡± lu zhiyuan was taken aback. what kind of dream was that? they weren¡¯t twins, and they didn¡¯t have any sort of telepathic connection. how could she dream so accurately? lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t believe it, but gu ci¡¯s tears weighed heavily on his heart. was this what heartache felt like? it turned out he wasn¡¯t completely heartless. a woman¡¯s tears seemed to affect him, too.. Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Hubby, I’m So Sleepy chapter 263: hubby, i¡¯m so sleepy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°do you really like jiang junlin so much?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was cold and displeased, regardless of which persona he portrayed, he didn¡¯t like jiang junlin. there was no need to act about that. ¡°he¡¯s treated gu chuyun as a cousin since childhood and never cared about you. you¡¯ve only been siblings for a few months. is your bond really that deep?¡± ¡°blood ties are strange like that. after my brother recognized me, he moved me to blue fields villa to help me get justice. i needed money, and he gave me a substantial amount. when gu chuyun bullied me and people mocked me, he made me the largest shareholder of hualan. he¡¯s always been there for me. what about you? when i wanted to bring gu ziyu to live at your place, you refused. although you agreed to let us stay downstairs, you didn¡¯t allow me upstairs. when i pursued you, you said you didn¡¯t like me and that racing was more important. after you knew i also liked third master, you kicked me out of the global center. my brother cares for me every day, while you have been cold and distant. in every aspect, you¡¯re not as good to me as my brother.¡± lu zhiyuan, wearing the persona of third master, smirked and said, ¡°if jiang junlin is so great, why don¡¯t you marry him? forget being his sister, be his wife!¡± ¡°the law doesn¡¯t allow it!¡± gu ci explained earnestly. who wouldn¡¯t want a boyfriend or husband like her brother? ¡°within three generations of collateral relatives, marriage is prohibited.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°if the law allowed it, would you marry him?¡± ji chi wanted to harm you so badly that 1 couldn¡¯t stop it! lu zhiyuan coldly said, ¡°three years ago, jiang junlin went on a blind date with miss du. they coincidentally attended a concert together, and the next day, miss du was thrown into the river, nearly drowning. a few months ago, the pianist, jiang junlin¡¯s rumored girlfriend, had her stage tampered with, resulting in a broken leg. you should be grateful that you¡¯re my woman; otherwise¡­¡± even if she was his sister, jiang junlin put so much effort into her that she should break a leg too! ji chi didn¡¯t dare touch gu ci! it didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t want to! he only remembered that, in order to support gu ci, jiang junlin made her the largest shareholder of hualan bank. after the meeting with ji chi that night, he casually mentioned something. third master, jiang junlin is really good to miss gu ci! lu zhiyuan warned him, ¡°gu ci is off-limits.¡± ji chi, holding a cigar, looked a bit sinister under the lights. lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°did you hear me?¡± ¡°third master, don¡¯t be so sensitive. i know my boundaries.¡± when faced with jiang junlin, even principles would be broken, and he would swallow his pride. gu ci chuckled. she had been in love recently, and it was both sweet and sour. she had grown more open-minded. gu ci¡¯s little foot rubbed against lu zhiyuan¡¯s leg under the table. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you look so cute when you¡¯re jealous.¡± ¡°don¡¯t rub against me!¡± lu zhiyuan blushed and moved away. gu ci moved closer, and lu zhiyuan evaded again. finally, gu ci sat on his lap, hugged his neck, and said, ¡°brother will always be my family, but you¡­ you¡¯re the one in my heart.¡± she could keep secrets for jiang junlin and endure hardships. she could also go through thick and thin for lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan was charmed by her sweet words, and his heart became soft. leaning on him, gu ci yawned and felt drowsy. lu zhiyuan saw how tired she was and knew she had pulled an all-nighter. ¡°i¡¯ll go back first. you get some rest!¡± she grabbed onto lu zhiyuan. ¡°stay with me, i¡¯ll sleep better with you by my side!¡± lu zhiyuan hesitated when he looked at her expression but eventually nodded. ¡°alright.¡± gu ci found a loose-fitting pajama set for lu zhiyuan. ¡°how do you have pajamas in my size?¡± he asked. ¡°i¡¯ve been waiting for you. you could stay at my place overnight anytime,¡± she replied. lu zhiyuan blushed once again and went to change his clothes. gu ci¡¯s phone rang, and it was dr. north calling. ¡°cici, i¡¯ve almost pinpointed ji chi¡¯s location. do you want to rescue him?¡± gu ci arranged for two teams to go for the rescue operation. it was at ji chi¡¯s old residence, a place ji chi had used as a decoy, not where jiang junlin was actually being held. ¡°how did you suddenly get a location?¡± dr. north explained, ¡°the master has had a hidden tracker on him all along, a specially designed one. it hasn¡¯t had a signal for these past few days, but there was a brief signal just now.¡± ¡°send me the location, but don¡¯t make any moves yet. let me think about it,¡± gu ci said. ¡°alright.¡± gu ci contemplated the situation. if she ordered a rescue and pushed ji chi too hard, what would he do? ji chi¡¯s actions were unpredictable, and gu ci didn¡¯t dare to take the risk. with jiang junlin in his custody, he was cautious to keep things peaceful, and ji chi wouldn¡¯t harm his own brother at least. if a rescue wasn¡¯t an option, then she could create some trouble for ji chi, force him to leave. gu ci sent two commands on her phone, and as she exited, she saw lu zhiyuan outside the door. ¡°cici?¡± ¡°i¡¯m here!¡± gu ci put her phone away and smiled. lu zhiyuan was like a reliable anchor to gu ci. with him beside her, she felt more at ease, and she could sleep better. she dozed off immediately, completely relaxed, while lu zhiyuan, on the other hand, didn¡¯t feel a bit tired. he watched her sleeping peacefully. gu ci had already guessed that ji chi had imprisoned jiang junlin. why, during this time, hadn¡¯t she taken any action or asked him for help? as she said, she loved jiang junlin very much and would definitely come to him if she suspected jiang junlin was in ji chi¡¯s hands! but she hadn¡¯t. why? lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t fathom her thoughts. she didn¡¯t seem anxious or worried, and for the past month, she had been busy with her studies, hardly paying any attention to him. was her focus diverted elsewhere? gu ci slept soundly and instinctively sought warmth. she liked hugging his waist whenever they slept together. this was a very affectionate and dependent posture for her. lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t a man with strong protective instincts, but her habitual actions stirred up a protective urge in him. he couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene from several months ago when he had forcibly held her in the lake to sober her up. how had he managed that? lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand was originally resting on her waist, and they were embracing each other like conjoined twins. gu ci, half-awake, looked up at him and affectionately kissed his chest. ¡°hubby, stop it, i¡¯m so tired¡­¡± lu zhiyuan blushed even more, and she must have been dreaming to say such a thing.. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Young Master, Don’t Be fooled chapter 264: young master, don¡¯t be fooled translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation living together as a man and a woman in the same room, sharing the same bed, lu zhiyuan quickly realized that his self-control was not as strong as he had imagined. gu ci¡¯s words kept echoing in his ears. ¡°honey, don¡¯t do this¡­¡± did he indulge himself like this in his previous life? lu zhiyuan¡¯s body had a shameful reaction, and he took a deep breath, calming the restlessness in his heart. he lay stiffly in bed, and gu ci slept peacefully. lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci with complex emotions. he had selfish thoughts. he wanted to possess gu ci. if third young master never woke up again, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad. because of such selfishness, he felt even more miserable, knowing it was wrong. after having lunch at chen liangdong¡¯s house, gu ziyu was taken home by chen fei. unexpectedly, he saw li jiang and lu zhiyuan¡¯s security team at the door. li jiang approached him with a flattering smile, ¡°young master gu, have you grown taller recently?¡± gu ziyu looked at him with a cold expression, maintaining his cool demeanor. li jiang knew that he had lost a front tooth, didn¡¯t speak much, and didn¡¯t mind. after exchanging greetings with chen fei and li jiang, gu ziyu returned to the police station. ¡°can he get out of bed?¡± gu ziyu spoke with minimal movement of his lips, keeping his voice inside his mouth. ¡°yes, third master can get out of bed.¡± gu ziyu frowned, ¡°why is he here instead of recuperating at global?¡± li jiang cleverly stepped forward and whispered, ¡°miss gu ci hasn¡¯t visited third master at global recently. third master was a bit unhappy, so he secretly came to see her. this morning, miss gu lied to third master, saying she was tired from studying all night and needed to sleep. but third master came here and found miss gu playing basketball with her classmates. it was quite a scene, and the lie was exposed on the spot, very embarrassing.¡± gu ziyu chuckled and asked with great amusement, ¡°was he very angry?¡± ¡°somewhat excited!¡± li jiang said mysteriously. ¡°excited?¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow in confusion. li jiang remembered lu zhiyuan kissing gu ci against a tree, which seemed quite exciting, but young master gu, being the nation¡¯s little flower, probably didn¡¯t understand. so li jiang said, ¡°he was a bit angry!¡± ¡°tsk¡­¡± gu ziyu walked inside with a pleased mood. inside the room, it was quiet. gu ziyu raised an eyebrow and called out, ¡°mom?¡± no one answered, and he couldn¡¯t see anyone downstairs. he went upstairs, and gu ci¡¯s bedroom door was open. when gu ziyu approached the door, he saw lu zhiyuan holding gu ci as they slept. lu zhiyuan was also asleep. the room was silent, and the gauzy curtains floated gently, creating a warm atmosphere. gu ziyu was taken aback; he had never seen his parents lying on the same bed taking a nap together. he didn¡¯t know what touched him, but his eyes inexplicably welled up with tears. gu ziyu closed the door quietly, leaned against the wall, and rubbed his eyes. ¡°1 hate this!¡± although he said he hated it, he couldn¡¯t suppress his laughter. a harmonious family was his lifelong wish, and his parents would definitely live harmoniously from now on, without any more complications, right? oh, wait! now, mom had replaced uncle as the head of the triad, and the triad and the black hawks were mortal enemies. whether it was the triad or the black hawks, they were his enemies. gu ziyu chuckled; their whole family was suitable for a palace intrigue drama! gu ziyu whistled and walked out with an apple in his mouth. he called li jiang in to make tea. there was a tea set prepared in gu ci¡¯s garden. li jiang boiled water and made tea while gu ziyu asked, ¡°is there any news about my uncle?¡± ¡°not yet!¡± li jiang brewed the tea while keeping a composed expression. ¡°ji chi is still looking for him!¡± ¡°is that so?¡± gu ziyu took a bite of the apple. ¡°li jiang, the consequences of lying to me are severe.¡± ¡°young master, when you seek revenge, make sure it¡¯s precise, don¡¯t vent your anger on the innocent.¡± li jiang handed him a cup of hot tea. gu ziyu said, ¡°so, you do know that ji chi has imprisoned him. you all know his whereabouts but turn a blind eye. my mother needs to know about this; it¡¯s a serious matter.¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t say that,¡± li jiang said. ¡°it¡¯s a misunderstanding, young master.¡± ¡°sugar, please!¡± gu ziyu watched him make tea with a practiced ease, feeling content. ¡°adding sugar to this tea is a waste!¡± ¡°do you want it, or should i drink it?¡± ¡°how much sugar?¡± ¡°two sugar cubes, 1 guess.¡± ¡°alright!¡± li jiang brewed the black tea, added sugar, and gu ziyu enjoyed it. ¡°i heard that the new owner of the triad¡¯s dark web has come online. how do you feel about the financial battle between you and them?¡± ¡°our third master is unbeatable!¡± gu ziyu sneered, ¡°oh, truly unbeatable, my uncle killed them all!¡± ¡°young master, i have to clarify this. third master did it on purpose, trying to figure out the triad¡¯s secrets. who would have known it had such a big background? most people wouldn¡¯t dare to think about it,¡± li jiang was very confident in lu zhiyuan¡¯s abilities. ¡°so, did he figure it out?¡± ¡°young master, you¡¯re being sly. are you trying to trick me?¡± ¡°i¡¯m your young master, shouldn¡¯t you tell me everything?¡± li jiang frowned and said honestly, ¡°young master, you still have third master on top of you. you haven¡¯t inherited the family business, and third master hasn¡¯t stepped down either. you don¡¯t seem to have any plans to seize power or take over, so¡­ i can¡¯t reveal everything. otherwise, third master will kill me and feed me to the sharks in the sea.¡± ¡°is he so cruel?¡± ¡°yes, it is. i dare not even take a deep breath in front of third master. third young master is much easier to serve.¡± on this point, gu ziyu knew he wasn¡¯t lying. he had seen li jiang being extremely cautious in front of lu zhiyuan several times. ¡°young master, is there no information at all from the mss about jiang junlin?¡± li jiang asked with a sly smile. ¡°after all, black hawk is your family¡¯s business. if you have any inside information, why not share a bit?¡± ¡°none!¡± gu ziyu said coldly. recently, his indirect inquiries had raised suspicions from chen liangdong, so he decided to come clean. chen liangdong was surprised by this, and even with his connections, he couldn¡¯t find any leads. ¡°young master, why don¡¯t you want to inherit black hawk?¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t understand. many people dream of joining black hawk, and young master had every advantage to take over. gu ziyu said lightly, ¡°i was nurtured by the mss. stepping into black hawk right after that would be ungrateful, don¡¯t you think?¡± li jiang pondered silently. he didn¡¯t think it was ungrateful, but he smiled and said, ¡°if you ever get unhappy with the mss in the future, feel free to come to black hawk.¡± ¡°get lost!¡± gu ziyu thought to himself, ¡°stop jinxing it.¡± li jiang said, ¡°young master, forgive my bluntness, but your personality doesn¡¯t seem to fit well within the system.¡± ¡°then watch and see; i will become the youngest minister of mss!¡± gu ziyu snorted. li jiang suddenly realized, ¡°chen liangdong must be up to something. he deliberately nurtured you as the successor, probably because he saw through your identity and wants you to target black hawk. young master, don¡¯t be fooled.¡± ¡°you have paranoid delusions, don¡¯t you? when the old man registered me, he didn¡¯t even know about my relationship with lu zhiyuan..¡± Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: A Warm Time Between Father and Son chapter 265: a warm time between father and son translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°what were you talking about?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice came from behind. gu ziyu returned, having heard the commotion, and didn¡¯t want to disturb the peacefully sleeping gu ci. he didn¡¯t greet his son either. however, after recognizing each other, they had never really spent time together. lu zhiyuan still couldn¡¯t control the sense of closeness he felt toward his son, so he came downstairs to find gu ziyu. li jiang stood up and said jokingly, ¡°1 was trying to persuade young master to give up mss and join black hawk for his career growth, but unfortunately, young master rejected it.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled, maintaining a more relaxed persona in front of his son compared to when he was with gu ci. ¡°why did you refuse?¡± gu ziyu said expressionlessly, ¡°my dream is to defend the homeland.¡± lu zhiyuan and li jiang paused. the atmosphere became uncomfortably silent, with only the cold winter wind blowing. li jiang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°hahaha, young master, when 1 first met you, 1 thought you had an antisocial personality. 1 thought you might become a murderer and end up in prison.¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow, ¡°oh, so you have a good eye.¡± indeed, he did! li jiang had no response. ¡°is my life so long that i¡¯m not allowed to change my dreams?¡± gu ziyu provocatively asked. ¡°mss is excellent!¡± lu zhiyuan stated. gu ziyu mocked, ¡°1 knew you¡¯d think that because this way, i can compete with third master. you¡¯re quite strategic, you know.¡± lu zhiyuan had nothing to say. li jiang struggled to hold back his laughter, finding it difficult. he had heard young master complain about third master¡¯s cunning nature more than once. ¡°if my mother said you can¡¯t go racing anymore. will you be sad?¡± gu ziyu asked. he knew that third young master¡¯s greatest wish was racing. the final race, a grand farewell with a tragic yet brilliant ending. almost cost him his life, but he managed to win the global championship. a perfect ending amidst imperfection. lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression subtly changed, ¡°probably.¡± certainly, he would be devastated. even if his identity were exposed, third young master¡¯s passion for racing wouldn¡¯t waver. some people, for the sake of their love and dreams, would set everything else aside. gu ziyu questioned, ¡°what do you mean by ¡®i will be¡¯? will you or won¡¯t you be sad?¡± ¡°you don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll be sad?¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled and said, ¡°1 will be very sad!¡± ¡°you looks like you¡¯re quite happy!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t understand. li jiang pondered silently, third master would definitely be happy. after all, third young master was the most dazzling man on the racetrack, and no one could resist his charm or his firepower, not even gu ci. unable to race, third young master couldn¡¯t perform his stunts, so third master would naturally be happy! a gust of cold wind swept through, and lu zhiyuan coughed lightly twice. gu ziyu frowned and said, ¡°let¡¯s go inside; it¡¯s really cold.¡± ¡°sure!¡± lu zhiyuan was somewhat surprised; this child was awkwardly concerned about others. ¡°i don¡¯t care about you at all!¡± gu ziyu wrapped his down jacket tightly around himself. ¡°i¡¯m the one who¡¯s cold!¡± ¡°okay.¡± gu ziyu blushed and walked inside, and lu zhiyuan followed with a smile. ¡°do you know how to play chess?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°gomoku!¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent for a while, then said, ¡°shall 1 teach you how to play chess?¡± gu ziyu may be smart, but he has very few hobbies. he rarely has the leisure to indulge in interests. while other kids are learning arts, traditional chinese painting, and music from a young age, he remained detached. chen liangdong is now nurturing his interests in arts, music, horseback riding, and painting, among other things. however, he hasn¡¯t taught him chess or similar games yet. gu ziyu can only play gomoku, and lu zhiyuan isn¡¯t very keen on playing it with him. ¡°sure!¡± since there were no chess sets at home, li jiang went out and bought a new one. besides chinese chess, he also bought international chess and go. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but admire li jiang¡¯s emotional intelligence. if it were someone else, they might have just bought chinese chess. li jiang bought all the chess sets that lu zhiyuan liked. understanding the boss¡¯s desires is what makes a good subordinate. ¡°why do you know how to play chess?¡± gu ziyu asked, ¡°my mom says you only love racing and nothing else.¡± ¡°your mom misunderstands me.¡± ¡°really?¡± gu ziyu was curious, ¡°then what else do you love?¡± ¡°music, arts, and a wide range of interests.¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow in disdain, ¡°you¡¯re nothing like me! 1 feel like you¡¯re lying to me.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed. on the sidelines, li jiang couldn¡¯t contain his amusement as he quietly watched lu zhiyuan teach gu ziyu how to play chess. when gu ci woke up, it was already afternoon. she was awakened by gu ziyu¡¯s regretful exclamation. gu ziyu had made a mistake in his move, and lu zhiyuan had captured one of his cannons. in a hurry, gu ziyu quickly restored the chessboard, ¡°it doesn¡¯t count, it doesn¡¯t count, 1 made a mistake!¡± ¡°regretting a move is not gentlemanly,¡± lu zhiyuan said, ¡°once you make a move, stick with it, and don¡¯t regret it.¡± ¡°i¡¯m just a six-year-old boy, not a gentleman. it doesn¡¯t count, it doesn¡¯t count!¡± gu ziyu insisted, his tone still quite stern. lu zhiyuan chuckled. it was his first time enjoying quality time with his son, and he had many mixed feelings. he was willing to break his own rule and let gu ziyu take back his move. little did he know that gu ziyu would take back his move once and then regret it again the second time. ¡°wait¡­¡± gu ziyu picked up a chess piece and pretended to contemplate, ¡°let me think for a few minutes.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed again. playing chess with his son was certainly testing his patience! li jiang poured tea for lu zhiyuan with a hint of sugar. father and son had similar tastes. lu zhiyuan was extremely patient and didn¡¯t rush gu ziyu, letting him think. gu ziyu tried to recall the rules of chess, but he felt like he was losing no matter where he put his piece. ¡°you win!¡± gu ziyu said, frustrated, ¡°you¡¯re bullying a beginner.¡± ¡°i let you have three chances.¡± ¡°it should be at least six!¡± ¡°why don¡¯t you say ten? you¡¯d win right away!¡± ¡°i¡¯ve lost five games and won¡¯t play anymore!¡± ¡°how unambitious!¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± gu ziyu raised his voice, ¡°who¡¯s unambitious?¡± ¡°you!¡± ¡°i¡¯m not playing anymore; it¡¯s not fun!¡± gu ci leaned on the railing upstairs, smiling as she watched the father and son exchange playful banter. it was the first time she had seen them get along so harmoniously. well, it was harmonious enough! as if sensing gu ci¡¯s gaze, lu zhiyuan looked up and was surprised to see her standing by the railing. he hesitated for a moment and then smiled. ¡°mom, did i wake you up?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°no, i¡¯ve had enough sleep,¡± gu ci replied as she descended the stairs. ¡°are you guys playing chess?¡± ¡°mom, he¡¯s bullying me,¡± gu ziyu complained. ¡°i¡¯m a beginner, and he¡¯s beating me up. he even said i lack ambition. i have two doctorates, and he doesn¡¯t have any. he dares to say i lack ambition!¡± lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t expected gu ziyu to be such an adept tattletale. if it were third master, there would be no room for argument. however, with third young master¡¯s personality, it was a different story. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°you¡¯ve been weaned for many years, and you¡¯re complaining about such a small matter.¡± gu ziyu was taken aback, bristling, ¡°i¡¯ll complain as much as 1 want. you¡¯ll see!¡± lu zhiyuan leaned back and chuckled, a hint of mischief in his smile. ¡°what can i do? cici doesn¡¯t seem to mind.¡± ¡°mom!¡± ¡°alright, alright.. i¡¯ll teach you later, and you¡¯ll definitely beat him!¡± Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Love Hate chapter 266: love hate translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mmm!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s desire for victory and defeat was very strong. ¡°i will definitely study hard!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci with determination. gu ziyu¡¯s goosebumps stood up, and he quickly ran upstairs. li jiang, being more perceptive, had already left early. gu ci sat naturally beside him and leaned forward, giving him a kiss on the lips, which prompted lu zhiyuan to take the lead and deepen the kiss. ¡°you¡¯ve just recovered from a serious injury. is it okay to sit for such a long time?¡± lu zhiyuan said softly. ¡°it¡¯s a bit painful.¡± sitting for a long time was inevitably uncomfortable, so gu ci helped him to the sofa, and he leaned back. ¡°feeling better now?¡± ¡°yeah, i¡¯m fine. did you sleep well?¡± gu ci nodded. ¡°1 can¡¯t avoid staying up late recently, but it¡¯ll be better after next week. it seems like ziyu is starting to like you more.¡± ¡°he likes me?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°i haven¡¯t noticed!¡± ¡°he¡¯s patient enough to play chess with you; that already means he really likes you.¡± lu zhiyuan pondered silently. the way that little guy liked him was somewhat unique. gu ci still felt sorry for ziyu, ¡°don¡¯t bully him.¡± ¡°i¡¯m bullying him?¡± lu zhiyuan was puzzled. ¡°aren¡¯t you being too biased?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh, about to reply when the phone rang. gu ci went over to answer it, and dr. north said, ¡°cici, ji chi was attacked by a bomb. the scene is a mess, and the casualties are unclear.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart sank. she took a few steps outside, her gaze shifting, and she also saw li jiang rushing in. he whispered something to lu zhiyuan¡¯s ear, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s face changed dramatically. lu zhiyuan stood up, and gu ci said, ¡°master, wait a moment!¡± lu zhiyuan said, ¡°cici, there¡¯s an urgent matter at global center. i have to go back first.¡± ¡°alright.¡± lu zhiyuan left with li jiang in a hurry. gu ci asked, ¡°master, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°our people ambushed ji chi on the way. during the melee, he was attacked by a bomb. nick has taken him to the hospital, and now is the best time for a rescue operation. both ji chi and nick are not here.¡± ¡°take action!¡± gu ci was decisive. ¡°master, disguise yourself and follow them. i¡¯m worried about them!¡± ¡°i understand.¡± lu zhiyuan had a video call with ji chi. ¡°are you injured?¡± ji chi raised his hand, ¡°wounded by shrapnel, but it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± the bandages on his arm were mostly red, but he didn¡¯t seem to care. last time, he hadn¡¯t fully recovered from a previous injury when he got hit again. this arm had seen its fair share of adversity. lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow. ¡°why did the news say you were severely injured with casualties?¡± ¡°just a little misdirection!¡± ji chi smiled, but it was a smile with a sinister undertone, like a hungry wolf provoked and ready to exterminate its prey. ¡°i have something i want to confirm.¡± ¡°ji chi, i won¡¯t meddle in your affairs with jiang junlin but don¡¯t go too far.¡± lu zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. he had thought ji chi had been seriously injured, not that he had released a smokescreen. ji chi had lost a lot of blood, his face pale. he seemed somewhat crazy and somewhat smiling as he said, ¡°third master, the pain of wanting something but not obtaining it, you¡¯ve never experienced it, so you won¡¯t understand.¡± he ended the video call, leaving lu zhiyuan stunned. wanting something but not obtaining it? he had once believed that there was nothing he couldn¡¯t have, only things he chose to let go. gu ci belonged to third young master, so now he could somewhat understand ji chi¡¯s feelings. in paris, dr. north led a team to the location where ji chi was hiding jiang junlin. it was an old mansion built halfway up a hill. dr. north had disguised herself, wearing a wig to appear as a man. eight people stealthily entered the old mansion. dr. north made hand signals, and the elite guards quickly searched the rooms. this was a team of individuals who always protected jiang junlin from the shadows. they rarely appeared unless it was a special situation, and they were highly trained, forming a fearless squad. ¡°we¡¯ve searched everywhere, no one here!¡± one of the men said in a low voice. ¡°could the signal location be wrong?¡± ¡°no,¡± dr. north said calmly, ¡°it¡¯s absolutely correct.¡± the others understood immediately. the intelligence unit had provided the architectural plans of the old mansion. ¡°there¡¯s a hidden room here.¡± dr. north gestured, and the eight individuals split into two groups, covering each other as they moved toward the hidden room. the hidden room was located one level below the basement and was made of stone. two people guarded the entrance while dr. north led the search team. this was the secret room where jiang junlin had been held, but it was now empty, with handcuffs still attached to the bed, stained with blood. dr. north picked up the handcuffs with bloodstains. ¡°master was imprisoned here before. he was moved away.¡± ¡°boss, there¡¯s surveillance!¡± one of them said in a low voice. dr. north looked up and saw surveillance cameras blinking. dr. north had a foreboding feeling. ¡°retreat!¡± since the person had already been moved, they needed to retreat quickly to avoid being detected for too long. at the same time, in another residence on the hill, jiang junlin was bound to a chair by ji chi. it was a specially constructed iron chair, fixed to the ground, and he couldn¡¯t move. the wall-mounted surveillance showed the images of dr. north sending a rescue team. jiang junlin and ji chi seemed to have had a physical confrontation, as jiang junlin had a few new injuries. ¡°jiang junlin, your people are really audacious. haven¡¯t you ever heard of ¡®curiosity killed the cat¡¯? you shouldn¡¯t trespass on someone else¡¯s territory,¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was cold and filled with anger. his right arm was wrapped in bandages, having lost a lot of blood. his face looked unusually pale. despite his anger, he was smiling¡ªan eerie and terrifying smile! ¡°ji chi, stop it!¡± jiang junlin gritted his teeth, looking at him. ji chi held a remote control in his hand, tilting his head and smiling. ¡°beg me, big brother. say you¡¯ll be obedient.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s face turned red with anger. his eyes were bloodshot. since being transferred by ji chi, he had a premonition that something would go wrong. after tearing apart their relationship, there was no trace of the remaining warmth. ¡°beg me!¡± ji chi grabbed his hair and pulled it back, staring into his eyes. ¡°a tracking device in the ring. is this the gift you gave me? is this how you¡¯ve treated it?¡± proud and unyielding, jiang junlin lowered his head for the first time. ¡°ji chi, i¡¯m begging you, spare them!¡± ¡°hahaha¡­¡± ji chi let go of him, laughing with tears in his eyes, a mad and unrestrained laughter. ¡°you¡¯re actually begging me for them? in your heart, is anyone more important than me? they all praise ji chi for his brilliant strategies, right? 1¡¯11 let you watch them turn to ashes!¡± ji chi pressed the remote control, and the entire house exploded. ¡°stop!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s face changed dramatically, but he was too late to stop ji chi. he could only watch helplessly as the house exploded. he had no idea how many of his elite guards made it out and that made him furious, striking a nerve. jiang junlin experienced the agony of self-inflicted suffering, and the pain was beyond words.. Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: A Sacrifice for the Greater Good chapter 267: a sacrifice for the greater good translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he had crimson eyes, his chest heaving violently as he continuously adjusted his breath. then, he smiled slowly, ¡°ji chi, you¡¯d better pray that you can hold me captive for a lifetime.¡± ¡°as you wish!¡± ji chi whispered in his ear, her voice gentle. ¡°anything is possible!¡± he seemed to be relishing in jiang junlin¡¯s anger. this man had been deceiving him all along. his words were false, his emotions were false, but once the facade was torn apart, at least everything became real. he was no longer an icy robot, no longer the calm and composed jiang junlin. he too felt anger; he too experienced pain! ji chi was hurting, and yet he was exhilarated. it was both painful and enjoyable. to kill a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of his own, he didn¡¯t know how to deal with jiang junlin anymore. love was hopeless, so let it be a battle! mutual torment, why not? nick watched ji chi, exhausted, as he emerged. unable to restrain himself, he said, ¡°master, the explosion was in an empty house. it didn¡¯t really kill mr. jiang¡¯s people. why do you need to torment him like this?¡± ¡°do you think i¡¯m going crazy too?¡± ¡°i dare not say so,¡± nick said softly. ¡°i¡¯ve watched you and mr. jiang entangled in a love-hate relationship for so many years. mr. jiang is stubborn. the more you torment him, the less likely he is to yield to your wishes.¡± ji chi fell to the side. this was a remote villa on the mountaintop, truly a place of many secrets. ji chi stared at the fire in the fireplace, her eyes slightly red. ¡°stubborn¡­ am i not submissive enough?¡± wasn¡¯t he humble enough? nick wanted to say more, but ji chi snapped, ¡°get out!¡± ¡°yes!¡± nick didn¡¯t dare to utter another word and left. ji chi opened the bottle of brandy on the table and downed three times the usual amount in one go. he wasn¡¯t immune to alcohol. with three shots of brandy, his face turned red, and his eyes were tinged with the flush of alcohol. drowning one¡¯s sorrows in alcohol was a behavior he despised the most. ji chi still coldly watched as a drunkard stumbled into the river. he had no pity for those who got into trouble due to drinking. a person¡¯s mode of survival determined their behavior. when faced with unpleasant situations, getting drunk and causing trouble or getting into accidents while drunk was inherently irresponsible and the behavior of the weak. but in the end, he had become the kind of person he despised the most. outside the window, nick watched anxiously. master, you¡¯ve lost too much blood. you shouldn¡¯t be drinking. locked in a dark room, jiang junlin was no better off than ji chi. the image of the explosion kept replaying in his mind, and he was helpless. ji chi¡¯s desire to lock him up couldn¡¯t be stopped. in every residence, there was a dark room. the other day, he deliberately provoked him again with the ring. ji chi had finally brought the ring out of the dark room. jiang junlin didn¡¯t expect him to discover the secret so quickly. this tracking device was newly developed domestically. it was a bit of a coincidence that it was developed domestically; although it was domestically developed, there were still some technical collaborations, so it was completed in paris. along with the ring, he received the tracking device. the device was incredibly thin and small, making it unsuitable to be placed anywhere. jiang junlin¡¯s most commonly used accessories were watches and tie pins. tie pins had to be chosen according to the occasion and couldn¡¯t be worn every day, leaving only the watch. however, putting it in the watch was too conspicuous, and if anything happened, the watch would be discarded first. after much thought, he could only hide it in the ring. it was the perfect size, and he could remove the gemstone, hide the tracking device, and then reattach it. there were hardly any tracking devices on the market that could fit into such a small ring without arousing suspicion. jiang junlin didn¡¯t expect ji chi to be so sensitive and notice the traces of it. the design of the ring was compromised and couldn¡¯t be restored. after all these years of knowing and battling each other, he and ji chi were like kindred spirits! the one who knows you best is not your bedmate but your enemy! but he was both a bedmate and an enemy. they knew each other too well. after jiang junlin¡¯s anger subsided, he had to stay calm. it had been a month and a half already, and he had to regain his freedom within three months. cici¡­ was no match for lu zhiyuan! the dark web of the underworld should never fall into his hands. this was a national mission and a family responsibility! jiang junlin tested the hardness of the handcuffs, glanced at the surveillance camera above him, his gaze slightly cold. when gu ci received a call from dr. north, she was very surprised. ¡°no one?¡± ¡°empty house, the master should have been moved to a dark room just now,¡± dr. north said. ¡°there are ingredients for buddha jumps over the wall in the refrigerator; it must be them!¡± gu ci understood. ¡°within a five-kilometer radius, conduct a thorough search. i refuse to believe we won¡¯t find anything!¡± ¡°could it provoke ji chi?¡± dr. north worried. ¡°i¡¯m afraid we might anger him and endanger the master¡¯s life.¡± ¡°you just said the surveillance in the dark room was on?¡± ¡°yes.¡± ¡°since the surveillance is on, ji chi can see your actions clearly. if he wanted to kill you, he would have already done it. so why hasn¡¯t he?¡± dr. north said, ¡°that¡¯s also something i¡¯m puzzled about. after confirming that the place was empty, i quickly brought people out to prevent any incidents.¡± ¡°fear of being caught in the trap!¡± gu ci said. ¡°send people for a thorough search, the bigger the operation, the better.¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci sneered. ¡°ji chi left in a hurry, so he can¡¯t have gone far. he must be nearby. if we conduct a large-scale search, he will be forced to move.¡± as long as he moves, his brother will have a chance! with 24-hour surveillance and being shackled, no matter how capable you are, you can¡¯t escape. ji chi must be made to move with jiang junlin; he can¡¯t be left in one place forever! ¡°i understand!¡± at the global center, lu zhiyuan knew all about ji chi¡¯s actions. ¡°you need to move to a farther place. it¡¯s only been less than half an hour since you left. they¡¯ll come looking for you as soon as you leave.¡± ¡°understood!¡± after lu zhiyuan and ji chi finished their phone conference, li jiang said, ¡°third master, pei qiuying¡¯s plane has landed. she wants to see you!¡± ¡°arrange it!¡± ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the night sky with a cold and deep gaze. pei qiuying actually dared to come to see him on her own initiative; her courage was commendable. lu zhiyuan had li jiang fetch a wheelchair, but li jiang couldn¡¯t understand. why would the third master want to meet pei qiuying in a wheelchair? he had long since regained his mobility! although he didn¡¯t understand, he quickly prepared it. city a was lu zhiyuan¡¯s territory, so naturally, he had the final say. he used his severe injuries as an excuse and arranged to meet at the racetrack in the global center. pei qiuying¡¯s heart sank when she heard this; her bodyguards said, ¡°master, the racetrack is suitable for snipers to lay an ambush. if he wants your life, you won¡¯t be able to escape. it might be better to meet in a crowded place in the city!¡± ¡°if the third master wanted my life, he wouldn¡¯t go to such trouble!¡± pei qiuying said calmly. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°yes!¡± in the dark web, a pawn within the global center quickly transmitted the information to gu ci. gu ci sneered, and qin wan asked, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°what¡¯s your accuracy with a long-range rifle?¡± ¡°within 500 meters, every shot hits the mark!¡± ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± gu ci mischievously blinked.. ¡°i¡¯ll take you to play sniper!¡± Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Falling Flowers Have Intentions, Flowing chapter 268: falling flowers have intentions, flowing water is ruthless translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci brought qin wan to the building across from the global racetrack much faster than pei qiuying¡¯s arrival from the airport. qin wan had a new sniper rifle and had already found the best shooting position. after setting up the rifle, qin wan took out a cigarette, lit it, and leaned lazily against the window, asking, ¡°want one?¡± gu ci shook her head, her eyes fixed on the racetrack. both qin wan and gu ci were dressed in black attire, their figures quite similar. their hair was pulled back and tied behind their heads, making them look like mirror images from behind. ¡°are you a smoker?¡± gu ci asked. qin wan shook her head, ¡°1 smoke when i¡¯m on a mission. it¡¯s like offering incense or paying respects at a grave, you know? when i¡¯m on a mission and someone dies, 1 light one up to send them on their way. it¡¯s my way of showing care.¡± gu ci chuckled, unable to argue with that reasoning. li jiang pushed lu zhiyuan onto the runway in a wheelchair. qin wan extinguished her cigarette, crushed it, and put it in her pocket. she then raised the rifle and observed the surroundings. ¡°1 have a feeling¡­ third master looks like he¡¯s fishing. are we the fish he¡¯s trying to catch?¡± ¡°it does seem that way,¡± gu ci lightly laughed, her gaze fixed on lu zhiyuan. after getting used to his acting during this time, seeing the usually cold third master seemed a bit unusual. ¡°the environment seems clear!¡± qin wan said. ¡°no sign of a sniper.¡± ¡°when you shoot, be precise and don¡¯t hit him!¡± gu ci looked at qin wan and said, ¡°although he¡¯s my brother¡¯s enemy, he¡¯s also the one 1 love.¡± qin wan chuckled, ¡°gu ci, we¡¯re three hundred meters away. don¡¯t worry, the bullets won¡¯t stray unless he decides to play the hero and jump in front of them. but that¡¯s another story.¡± gu ci¡¯s expression darkened. playing the hero, taking bullets for pei qiuying! gu ci sneered. if he dared to do that, he shouldn¡¯t expect to live! ¡°you¡¯re not going to kill pei qiuying, so why are you here to snipe her?¡± qin wan asked in confusion. gu ci¡¯s orders were to shoot pei qiuying in the leg, not to kill her. ¡°i want to confirm something,¡± gu ci said with a light smile. ¡°don¡¯t worry, just follow my lead.¡± ¡°this environment is a sniper¡¯s dream. the racetrack is so spacious, and there¡¯s no cover. it¡¯s perfect for shooting!¡± qin wan casually remarked. ¡°i¡¯ll say it upfront, if third master decides to take the bullets for her, that¡¯s not on me.¡± ¡°if he gets hit, it¡¯s his own fault!¡± qin wan nodded, giving a thumbs up. ¡°with a boss like him, love and romance are just fleeting clouds in my eyes. men, if one dies, there are plenty more.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s car soon arrived at the global racetrack, and a guard accompanied her as she approached lu zhiyuan. the guard was stopped by li jiang, leaving pei qiuying alone to approach lu zhiyuan. ¡°pei qiuying is truly audacious. she orchestrated a car accident that almost took third master¡¯s life. isn¡¯t she afraid he¡¯ll kill her?¡± qin wan raised an eyebrow, and upon seeing the way pei qiuying looked at lu zhiyuan, she suddenly understood. ¡°ah, i get it now, she¡¯s your rival, isn¡¯t she, gu ci?¡± ¡°she¡¯s not worthy!¡± gu ci replied. ¡°that¡¯s true. if 1 were a man, i¡¯d choose you, you¡¯re beautiful!¡± gu ci chuckled, and her words echoed a sentiment similar to what zhou jinjin had once said. down on the racetrack, pei qiuying knelt suddenly, causing everyone to be startled. except for lu zhiyuan, pei qiuying had tears in her eyes as she said, ¡°third master, i¡¯m truly sorry. the car accident was not my intention. i¡¯m here to make amends. whether you want to kill me or spare me, it¡¯s up to you.¡± qin wan and gu ci exchanged a glance. this woman could really put on a show. qin wan commented, ¡°she¡¯s been pretending to be crazy and naive for years. her mental fortitude is impressive.¡± this also indirectly reflected something: third master was indeed a bit terrifying. at least, in managing his subordinates, he was very stable. both ji chi and rong li were willing to follow him, which required a lot of effort. ¡°repentance?¡± lu zhiyuan placed one hand on the armrest of his wheelchair, looking exceptionally leisurely. ¡°we merely want ifferent things in life. wanting to break free from my control, it¡¯s only human nature. what crime is there?¡± pei qiuying trembled all over. ¡°it was the order of the shadow master. i had no choice but to obey. in the underworld, there are two masters, one in the light and one in the shadows. the one in the light has no real power; they are merely a financial tool controlled by the shadow network. in a decade in the underworld, three masters have died. i¡¯m afraid, third master, i¡¯m afraid of becoming the fourth soul under his blade. 1 can only obey him. i¡¯ve committed a grave mistake, please forgive me. in the future, whether it¡¯s climbing mountains of knives or diving into seas of fire, i will do so without hesitation, listening only to you.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at pei qiuying with a pensive expression. she was intelligent, no doubt about that, but it was a pity that her will was not firm enough. she had easily betrayed the underworld¡¯s shadow network. lu zhiyuan coldly asked, ¡°there¡¯s another shadow network in the underworld, and 1 didn¡¯t know about it?¡± before pei qiuying came, she must have gathered some information. lu zhiyuan was already aware of the existence of the underworld¡¯s shadow network. ¡°it¡¯s always been there. no matter how many leaders the underworld changes, it¡¯s all under his control with just a word!¡± ¡°then tell me, who is the shadow master?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice was as cold as the night. ¡°i don¡¯t know!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she tried to approach him pitifully. ¡°stay away from me!¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. pei qiuying cried helplessly, ¡°third master, everything i¡¯ve said is true. i¡¯ve done something terribly wrong, and i deeply regret it. i¡¯ve liked you for many years, and 1 can¡¯t hide anything from you in this matter!¡± ¡°i have no interest in your personal feelings,¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°pei qiuying, if you want to surrender, you should show some sincerity. you don¡¯t know who the shadow master is, but you¡¯ve come to see me. i almost lost my life in that car accident. if you truly want to make amends, there¡¯s a racing car over there. don¡¯t wear any protective gear, go at 350 kilometers per hour through the bends. life and death are in fate¡¯s hands, and i¡¯ll trust you.¡± pei qiuying¡¯s face turned pale. she finally understood why lu zhiyuan had arranged to meet her on the racetrack. it all made sense now! even for ordinary people, going at 350 kilometers per hour would be dizzying, let alone navigating bends. it was something that only seasoned racing drivers could accomplish. pei qiuying kowtowed and said, ¡°third master, 1 was wrong. if i can find out who the shadow master is, i will make amends. please believe me; 1 can do it.¡± lu zhiyuan remained unmoved, wheeling his chair a bit farther away from her. ¡°pei qiuying, the underworld sent you to city a as a pawn. you¡¯re a disposable piece on the board. you know you¡¯re backed into a corner and sought my protection. why are you pretending to be a big shot? jiang junlin has been supporting and nurturing you. if you truly pledge loyalty to me, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± pei qiuying¡¯s hidden agenda was exposed, but she wasn¡¯t embarrassed. it was an open secret, and she couldn¡¯t hide it anymore. she spoke frankly, ¡°the jiang family and the pei family have been family friends for generations. he¡¯s just an elder brother from a friendly family. i didn¡¯t think it was important. the underworld is a financial system, and we have to cooperate with hualan bank. we had some business dealings. the most loyal person to me is you.. if 1 tell a single lie, may 1 be struck by lightning!¡± Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: A Lifetime Alone chapter 269: a lifetime alone translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°pei qiuying, let me reiterate, either bring something substantial to the table, or¡­ get in the car, take a spin. it¡¯s a simple choice. your loyalty is worthless. ji chi, rong li, li jiang, which one of them isn¡¯t more capable and loyal than you? without your position as the underworld master, what do you have that warrants my command? you¡¯re not even deserving!¡± pei qiuying knew he was always ruthless and spoke without mercy. her pride still stung from his words. she had no idea who the shadow master was, and lu zhiyuan had no patience to wait for her. she could only get in the car and prove herself! qin wan relayed their conversation to gu ci in detail. ¡°he¡¯s really ruthless. that racing track is challenging even for experienced drivers, and it has a 350-degree turn. isn¡¯t this putting her life on the line?¡± gu ci felt a slight sense of satisfaction in her heart. ¡°can you read lips?¡± ¡°i was mute for a few years. i learned some sign language and lip-reading,¡± qin wan replied nonchalantly. ¡°gu ci, do you think pei qiuying will do it?¡± ¡°knowing it¡¯s a dead end, she¡¯s not stupid!¡± qin wan said, ¡°the third master¡¯s attitude¡­ i can¡¯t figure it out. does he really want to kill pei qiuying?¡± ¡°a man¡¯s heart is as deep as the ocean. who knows? after all, they¡¯ve been childhood friends for over ten years.¡± qin wan sighed. ¡°third master, shadow master sent me to city a. i¡¯m just a disposable pawn. but if he wants you to kill me, will you go along with it? after competing with him for so many years, will you just do as he wishes?¡± ¡°i said, shut up!¡± lu zhiyuan scolded irritably, not wanting to hear any emotional talk. ¡°i know you have superpowers, the ability to teleport. you can ensure her safety, even during the daytime, can¡¯t you?¡± lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°who told you that?¡± pei qiuying earnestly said, ¡°who told me this doesn¡¯t matter. third young master died in a car accident, and you¡¯ve been reborn. it¡¯s a good thing. are you willing to hide in the darkness forever and never see the sunlight again? i¡¯m helping you. now that you¡¯ve regained control of your body, without third young master, you won¡¯t be controlled by anyone.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to fulfill shadow master¡¯s wish. he deliberately brought pei qiuying to him, hoping she would kill her. but pei qiuying was truly repulsive to him! ¡°pei qiuying, you really are¡­¡± her audacity and recklessness knew no bounds. she was determined to go her own way. ¡°do you know? we complement each other¡¯s existence; we don¡¯t cancel each other out. i never wanted to erase his presence. he was radiant and brilliant since childhood, always living in the sunlight, with a childhood sweetheart. what right did you have to make him disappear?¡± ¡°i¡¯m doing it for you!¡± pei qiuying said with a heavy heart. ¡°1 hope you can be healthy and lead a normal life!¡± after qin wan recounted the conversation between pei qiuying and lu zhiyuan, she asked gu ci, ¡°after the third master¡¯s accident, he¡¯s been alone. did you know that your boyfriend is no more?¡± ¡°i know,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice sounded somewhat sad. surprised, qin wan asked, ¡°then¡­ you still kiss him?¡± gu ci replied, ¡°whether it¡¯s the third master or the third young master, in my heart, they¡¯re the same person.¡± ¡°amazing! living a life with two husbands, you¡¯re the real winner of life!¡± qin wan exclaimed with envy. ¡°i want a glamorous lover and a steady and reliable husband to rely on too. hmm¡­¡± gu ci was speechless. ¡°do you miss him?¡± ¡°i do.¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, but she dared not ask. if the third master knew that she had seen through it from day one, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have continued to pretend to be the third young master. if he stopped pretending, she would find it difficult to even see him. she couldn¡¯t accept that! at least with how things were now, she could still see him. ¡°pei qiuying, you are really a cockroach. kneeling and begging someone in such a humiliating way, i could never do that!¡± qin wan whispered. gu ci could see pei qiuying¡¯s pitiful face clearly through the magnifying glass, and it was particularly touching. ¡°1 know why you brought pei qiuying to city a.¡± ¡°why?¡± ¡°as a means to an end!¡± qin wan said, ¡°pei qiuying almost succeeded in assassinating the third master. she¡¯s highly respected within the underworld, and her death would certainly disrupt the leadership of the underworld¡¯s financial system. if you kill her, you¡¯ll be at odds with it. so, you¡¯re using her as a tool to test whether the third master will actually kill her.¡± gu ci smiled but didn¡¯t respond. qin wan blinked, ¡°gu ci, are you jealous?¡± ¡°the third master doesn¡¯t like pei qiuying at all. why would 1 be jealous?¡± ¡°it¡¯s not jealousy for a particular person but for a specific period of time. the third master once pulled pei qiuying out of hell. what you¡¯re jealous of is this unique period of their lives,¡± qin wan chuckled. ¡°could it be¡­ he also pulled you out of the abyss, which is why you¡¯re jealous, and you have thoughts of killing because this unique bond isn¡¯t exclusive to you?¡± gu ci¡¯s pupils constricted. qin wan was like a blazing rose, cunning and intelligent, capable of peering into the darkest corners of gu ci¡¯s heart. ¡°so what if i am?¡± gu ci admitted her darkness and jealousy openly. qin wan¡¯s gaze remained locked on the aiming scope as she lightly chuckled, ¡°you truly adore the third master. thankfully, he likes you. if he didn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t you go mad?¡± gu ci fell into silence. she had nearly gone mad! ¡°we¡¯re beautiful, educated, and resolute. there are plenty of men out there. why hang yourself on one tree? with a wave of your hand, men would line up for you to choose. building a harem wouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°i¡¯m different. when i commit to someone, it¡¯s for a lifetime.¡± muttering to herself, qin wan remarked, ¡°in this aspect, you¡¯re nothing like the master.¡± ¡°third master, if i take the car for a spin, and fate has its way, can we let bygones be bygones?¡± pei qiuying clenched her teeth, fully aware of lu zhiyuan¡¯s unyielding nature. when it came to dealing with enemies, he always retaliated in kind. lu zhiyuan remained silent, his gaze coldly fixed on her. pei qiuying bit her lip and walked toward the race car. qin wan and gu ci exchanged a glance, and gu ci also took the magnifying glass. ¡°did she really choose the race car?¡± gu ci frowned. according to her investigation, pei qiuying didn¡¯t know how to drive a race car. if she followed lu zhiyuan¡¯s instructions, it would undoubtedly end in a disastrous crash, and pei qiuying¡¯s bodyguards were about to rush forward to stop her when li jiang kicked one of them aside. ¡°don¡¯t interfere in the masters¡¯ affairs, understand?¡± pei qiuying got into the race car, fastened her seatbelt, and didn¡¯t shed a single tear of sorrow in front of lu zhiyuan. instead, a hint of triumphant smile slowly curled up at the corner of her lips. she liked lu zhiyuan very, very much! she also followed lu zhiyuan¡¯s competitions. she knew the third master and the third young master were not the same person, but she couldn¡¯t help but pay attention to the third young master, who stood at the pinnacle of the world and was pursued by many.. who wouldn¡¯t be tempted? Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Father and Son Killing Each Other chapter 270: father and son killing each other translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci said she loved third young master and also loved third master. however, pei qiuying scoffed and firmly believed that she only liked third master. but if she didn¡¯t like third young master and didn¡¯t envy gu ci, she wouldn¡¯t think about killing gu ci. dissociative identity, one person with two souls, what did third young master¡¯s love, hate, and entanglements have to do with her? however, too much attention made her focus on third young master as well. he was a man whose attention was hard to divert once it was placed on him proud and dazzling. he was different from third master, yet equally charismatic. pei qiuying had some understanding of third master, but not enough about third young master. she had originally planned to cultivate feelings for third young master slowly after dealing with gu ci. she wanted third master, and she also wanted third young master. so, she investigated third young master¡¯s social connections and found out about his interests. for this, she even hired a coach to teach her racing. with her boldness, sharp mind, and the physical qualities of a secret agent, learning wasn¡¯t too challenging for her. when she came to find third master, she hadn¡¯t thought that he would demand her to race on the track, but she was prepared. if necessary, she would propose it herself. an eye for an eye, just as she wished! gu ci and qin wan watched pei qiuying through binoculars and naturally noticed her triumphant smile. ¡°this woman changes her demeanor so quickly. one moment she¡¯s playing the role of a submissive, and the next, she¡¯s wicked and ruthless,¡± qin wan asked with interest, ¡°guess if third master had already anticipated that she would race, and he deliberately spared her. after all, if i were him, 1 wouldn¡¯t kill pei qiuying just to fulfill the shadow master¡¯s wish.¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter whether he wanted it or not!¡± gu ci said indifferently. at the 350-meter turn, pei qiuying gained the upper hand effortlessly. in the blink of an eye, gu ci had a plan, ¡°use the muffler, and when she¡¯s on the turn, disable her!¡± just as lu zhiyuan had suffered, she wanted pei qiuying to experience the same! ¡°got it!¡± qin wan snapped her fingers. within 500 meters, qin wan didn¡¯t need to observe with her hands; she had already locked onto pei qiuying, calculating the distance and wind speed, pinpointing the bullet¡¯s trajectory. generally, sniper rifles had a particularly loud sound, and snipers wouldn¡¯t use silencers. after all, sniping relied on precision, and a silencer would add weight to the rifle, affect the bullet¡¯s speed, and reduce accuracy. but shooting at a car, that was a different matter, considering the large target! fortune favored them, even in the midst of winter, the wind was calm and the sea was still! pei qiuying accelerated as soon as she entered the track. in the first lap, she didn¡¯t reach 300 km/h, but in the second lap, she suddenly sped up, reaching a speed of 350 km/h. when she approached the bend, she veered slightly but managed to regain control forcefully. li jiang furrowed his brow, ¡°third master, she¡¯s had training!¡± though not a professional, she could handle one lap. lu zhiyuan remained silent. the shadow master of the underground had delivered her to him, hoping to use her as a pawn. he never really wanted it to go his way. usually, he dug the pit, and others jumped into it. it was unheard of for someone else to dig the pit, and he would jump in! as pei qiuying passed the last bend, a triumphant smile crossed her face. lu zhiyuan sensed something in the air¡ªa scent of gunpowder, a sharpness that only those accustomed to high-pressure situations possessed. it was a kind of sensitivity that cut through the wind and threatened lives. qin wan¡¯s bullet was aimed at pei qiuying¡¯s racing car, hitting her tire. pei qiuying was navigating the bend at the moment, making it difficult to control the car. as soon as the bullet struck, the front of the car turned, and it began to roll on the track, eventually crashing into the barrier. li jiang exclaimed, ¡°holy crap!¡± why did pei qiuying suddenly flip her car? the suppressor on the rifle was of the latest model, significantly reducing the noise. qin wan and gu ci were on the upper floor, while li jiang and the others were downstairs, and they couldn¡¯t hear the sniper rifle¡¯s sound. ¡°wow¡­¡± qin wan stood up and blew the smoke from the barrel, her posture striking and languid. ¡°it¡¯s a pity, with the suppressor, the accuracy dropped a bit, and the stopping power decreased!¡± ¡°enough!¡± gu ci said coldly, ¡°i wanted her to be shot, not killed!¡± however, in that moment when pei qiuying¡¯s car flipped, another bullet, equally cutting through the wind, was aimed at lu zhiyuan. the sniper on the opposite side was a precise shooter and hadn¡¯t used a suppressor. lu zhiyuan quickly stood up, and li jiang threw himself over, knocking him down. the bullet hit the wheelchair, and due to lu zhiyuan¡¯s recent recovery from severe injuries, he couldn¡¯t teleport. he looked in the direction from which the shot had come. the bullet missed lu zhiyuan, and gu ci¡¯s pupils shook violently. ¡°find them!¡± just as qin wan was about to bend down to search for the sniper in the opposite building, she suddenly pushed gu ci¡¯s head down. a bullet pierced through the glass in front of them, shattering it. qin wan shielded gu ci with her body and said in a low voice, ¡°our location¡¯s exposed. let¡¯s go!¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t risk peeking at lu zhiyuan again, but she hastily glanced, and it seemed that lu zhiyuan was okay. qin wan disassembled the sniper rifle, packed it up, and together with gu ci, they swiftly left the floor. gu ci smashed the emergency equipment box in the fire escape and triggered the fire alarm. the entire building echoed with the alarm sound, and the crowded people rushed outside the building. gu ci and qin wan blended into the crowd, moving steadily downwards, heading directly for the underground parking lot. their motorcycle was parked in the underground parking lot, and the two quickly left the parking lot of the global center. inside the global center, lu zhiyuan spoke in a solemn tone, ¡°find the person responsible!¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang immediately dispatched personnel to search for the sniper. there were four buildings around the global center track, labeled abcd, and three smaller buildings as well. the bullet that had been fired at lu zhiyuan had come from building c. though the sniper who had targeted pei qiuying had a suppressor on the rifle, lu zhiyuan could tell it had come from building a. li jiang immediately sent people to building c. lu zhiyuan¡¯s bodyguards didn¡¯t care about who wanted to kill pei qiuying; they only cared about who wanted to kill lu zhiyuan. ¡°third master, are you okay?¡± lu zhiyuan waved his hand and looked in the direction where pei qiuying¡¯s car had flipped. ¡°call an ambulance!¡± ¡°understood!¡± li jiang went to call for an ambulance. there had been a serious accident on the track, and the imperial dynasty racing team¡¯s medical team also arrived. they began providing emergency assistance to pei qiuying. lu zhiyuan glanced at the wheelchair with a deep, concentrated gaze. he wasn¡¯t concerned about whether pei qiuying lived or died; tonight, three bullets had been fired on the track, and he intended to investigate each one thoroughly. with a stern face, lu zhiyuan returned to the global center¡¯s upper floor. ¡°li jiang, what¡¯s the security situation? why were there two groups of assassins inside the global center?¡± li jiang was sweating profusely and appeared very anxious. ¡°third master, our regular security covers building a. buildings b, c, and d are office buildings with mixed personnel. it¡¯s difficult to screen everyone. since the inception of the global center, there has never been a shooting incident. this incident is definitely suspicious. give me some time, and i¡¯ll get to the bottom of it!¡± ¡°within a day, 1 want results!¡± ¡°yes!¡± the impact of this incident was extremely negative, and lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t expected someone to dare to make a move on his turf. the shadow master of the underground had used radical and risky methods. this didn¡¯t seem like the actions of someone who was secure and composed in their position. he and pei qiuying had enmity between them, and if something happened to her on his turf, whether she lived or died, it would be attributed to him. the relationship between the underground and black hawk had deteriorated to this point.. black hawk had nothing to lose, but the underground was a different story! Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Father and Son Killing Each Other (2) chapter 271: father and son killing each other (2) translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation pei qiuying deeply captures the hearts of people. if she were to die on his turf, it would solidify all the grudges within the underworld while deepening the resentment towards chen rush!. the fear of chen rushi¡¯s potential betrayal is fake, and joining forces to divide the underworld is true. furthermore, this move also created a rift between him and pei qiuying. if she didn¡¯t die in this ordeal, whether her surrender was sincere or feigned, after that shot, any remaining fantasies pei qiuying had about lu zhiyuan would shatter. with pei qiuying in his hands, she had truly become a pawn. abandoned by both the underworld and black hawk, no one can predict what she will do. the shadow master of the underworld has blocked all of pei qiuying¡¯s escape routes! apart from chen rushi, it was the shadow master of the underworld. but who fired this shot? in the ministry of state security, gu ziyu tampered with surveillance footage all the way, helping chen fei escape from the global center. after changing into medical attire, chen fei became a doctor and left with an ambulance unknown to anyone! gu ziyu breathed a sigh of relief. chen fei left the ambulance midway, and someone was waiting by the road to assist. he swiftly returned to the safehouse in silence. gu ziyu asked, ¡°you didn¡¯t harm lu zhiyuan, did you?¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯m very precise,¡± chen fei said. ¡°i aimed accurately and didn¡¯t miss. but there were snipers at the scene, disguised as women. i fired a shot at them, and baby can watch the surveillance footage of building a.¡± no one expected that the sniper sent to target lu zhiyuan was gu ziyu himself! moreover, his actions were approved by chen liangdong. ¡°besides you, there were other snipers?¡± gu ziyu was surprised. he searched the surveillance footage of building a, but gu ci¡¯s actions were also covered by someone. in this high-tech era, every operation has the cover of information and the black hawk eye system was very comprehensive. at the moment when gu ci and qin wan left, all records had been deleted. gu ziyu stared at the surveillance footage and immediately realized it had been tampered with. the images were chaotic, filled with excessive noise, and restoring them seemed highly unlikely. he furrowed his brow, then attempted to access the camera records from around building a at the global center, only to find that there were no recordings for the missing three minutes. all traces had been erased. chen fei said, ¡°the other side is well-trained. as soon as i discovered them, they withdrew immediately and triggered a fire alarm to create chaos. their marksmanship is precise, and a sniper who can shoot so accurately even with a silencer usually has a record with the mss.¡± like skilled hackers, they also have records. exceptional talents in certain fields are all recorded by mss, making them easy to trace. ¡°they shot at pei qiuying¡­¡± gu ziyu narrowed his eyes. ¡°you say it was them¡­ two women?¡± ¡°yes!¡± ¡°i see!¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow, his tone lightened. ¡°the plan had a minor glitch, but it¡¯s still a success. well done! take a day off, and i¡¯ll handle the rest!¡± chen liangdong entered the surveillance room, reviewed the entire footage, including all of chen fei¡¯s actions, which were under gu ziyu¡¯s watch. chen liangdong furrowed his brow, ¡°there were other snipers at the scene?¡± ¡°it¡¯s likely the shadow master of the underworld, and chen fei has already completed the mission,¡± gu ziyu replied. sending chen fei to kill lu zhiyuan was his proposal, and chen liangdong had approved the plan. ¡°after this shot, pei qiuying¡¯s escape routes have all been cut off. if she wants to survive, she will definitely come to us for protection, and to seek refuge, she must provide valuable information.¡± gu ziyu was gradually exhibiting the demeanor of a great strategist, and his methods, though unconventional, saved a lot of manpower and resources. moreover, it didn¡¯t involve actual killings. chen liangdong had already given his approval for the operation. gu ziyu wanted to turn pei qiuying to their side. they knew very little about black hawk and the underworld, and pei qiuying was the one who understood them the most. ¡°will your method work?¡± chen liangdong asked. gu ziyu was a principled person. even though he knew that gu ci was handling the affairs of the underworld¡¯s dark web on behalf of jiang junlin, he didn¡¯t mention it. he also knew that his father was the leader of black hawk, but he had never asked him to reveal anything. he wanted to solve these matters on his own, representing the stance of mss. he wasn¡¯t the son of lu zhiyuan and gu ci! ¡°lu zhiyuan trained pei qiuying for several years, and her father was the previous leader, who was killed by the shadow master. so, pei qiuying can¡¯t be truly loyal to the underworld. she has been with them for many years and understands them well. whether it¡¯s recruiting her or treating them as enemies, we need not only understanding but also to provoke their internal conflicts. after this shot, lu zhiyuan can¡¯t use pei qiuying for any more tasks, and pei qiuying can¡¯t trust lu zhiyuan anymore. she has no way out!¡± gu ziyu had analyzed this for chen liangdong long before, so the operation was approved. ¡°we must handle this with caution. without concrete evidence, we can¡¯t harm anyone.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry,¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°i wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± killing one¡¯s own father was something that would invite divine retribution! qin wan drove with gu ci and stopped on the side of the road about five kilometers away from the global center. they had removed their masks, revealing their true faces, and discarded their equipment in a passing garbage truck. ¡°it¡¯s been quite an exciting night!¡± qin wan took a long breath, her emotions fluctuating. ¡°aren¡¯t you worried at all about whether the third master would get hurt?¡± ¡°c building is closer to the racetrack than us, and at such a short distance, with lu zhiyuan in a wheelchair, the target was his wheelchair, not him. so, there¡¯s no need to worry!¡± gu ci had confirmed this before leaving. ¡°the one who fired this shot was cutting off lu zhiyuan¡¯s escape route. people within the underworld knew that pei qiuying was meeting lu zhiyuan, and it would damage her reputation. it¡¯s a three birds with one stone situation, not an attempt on lu zhiyuan¡¯s life.¡± ¡°so many calculations behind an assassination!¡± qin wan remarked. ¡°do you think he might believe that it was our underworld¡¯s dark web trying to kill him?¡± ¡°you remind me,¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°let¡¯s send someone to fake the scene. i want lu zhiyuan to think that it was the underworld¡¯s dark web after his life.¡± gu ci and qin wan were more at ease together. ¡°with my brother¡¯s life hanging in the balance and ji chi being so reckless, i¡¯m doing a carpet search to force him to make a move. after all, being too passive won¡¯t help my brother take action. if we keep sending assassins to disturb and kill lu zhiyuan, what then?¡± ¡°he¡¯s still recovering from serious injuries, so he¡¯ll be cautious and might even let his master go!¡± gu ci snapped his fingers. ¡°yes, my path has become narrower. because of my special relationship with lu zhiyuan, i haven¡¯t been able to make a move against him. if i were to take his place, my first act would be to kill lu zhiyuan! after his identity was exposed, the underworld¡¯s dark web hasn¡¯t caused him any trouble yet.¡± ¡°i understand!¡± qin wan said. ¡°i¡¯ll handle this!¡± gu ci stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the night. he didn¡¯t feel comfortable handing this matter over to someone else. ¡°you can injure, but not kill!¡± Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Drawing a Ground as a Prison chapter 272: drawing a ground as a prison translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°if it¡¯s an assassination, and every time there¡¯s no harm done, this show would be too fake!¡± ¡°that¡¯s your boyfriend.¡± qin wan reminded her. gu ci smiled, ¡°no, you¡¯re wrong, he¡¯s my husband.¡± qin wan chuckled and said, ¡°why do 1 feel like¡­ you want to teach third master a lesson for not killing pei qiuying?¡± gu ci mischievously blinked, and the lingering gloom in her eyes disappeared in an instant. ¡°see through, don¡¯t speak it out loud!¡± ¡°you and ji chi are both lunatics!¡± ¡°thanks for the compliment!¡± gu ci muttered to herself. ¡°maybe one day, 1 can also try ji chi¡¯s happiness!¡± qin wan looked at her curiously. at the global center, lu zhiyuan listened to li jiang¡¯s report with a cold, raised eyebrow. ¡°the people from the underground dark web?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯ve had dealings with this person before, they came to assassinate!¡± li jiang showed lu zhiyuan a video of the assassin leaving the scene, taken five minutes after the incident at an intersection. ¡°has this surveillance footage been tampered with?¡± ¡°i checked, there are no signs of tampering!¡± li jiang asked hesitantly as he saw lu zhiyuan frown, ¡°third master, is there something wrong?¡± ¡°the person who shot and killed pei qiuying tonight must be from the underground dark web. would they send two groups of people? one of the bullets was fired from block c towards block a, was that just a feint? a performance?¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. the surveillance in block a of the global center has few blind spots, yet she still managed to escape. it¡¯s clear they came prepared, specifically for pei qiuying. ¡°third master, could it be an illusion array?¡± ¡°my shot was the one that seemed like a performance!¡± lu zhiyuan was inside the building and his judgment was very clear. ¡°pei qiuying¡¯s shot was the real one.¡± tonight¡¯s events involved multiple forces in a struggle, with too many smoke bombs, obscuring much of the real information. but lu zhiyuan firmly believed in his judgment. his shot was an act. pei qiuying wouldn¡¯t dare to make a move; the underground dark web had already sent people to deal with her. it would be redundant to attempt to assassinate him as well. so, who could it be? li jiang suggested, ¡°could it be pei qiuying trying to take you down with her?¡± ¡°given her personality, it¡¯s possible. but she must have an ace up her sleeve, so she won¡¯t.¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently, ¡°speaking of which, it¡¯s strange. my identity has been exposed for so long, and the dark web master has been in office for over a month. why haven¡¯t they come after me?¡± li jiang was also puzzled. in the past, when third master was recovering from his injuries, they were all at the global center, and they had no opportunity to strike. it made sense. the global center was impregnable to ordinary people, but third master¡¯s weakness was clear: miss gu ci. and miss gu ci remained unharmed. the day third master went to see miss gu ci, li jiang was fully prepared, even expecting the underground dark web¡¯s people to come and assassinate third master. they could have caught him off guard, but there was no movement at all. ¡°this is very strange!¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°it could be that he wants to find jiang junlin as soon as possible. i see that the people from the underground dark web are all deployed in paris, all searching for jiang junlin. jiang junlin is crucial to them!¡± ¡°jiang junlin is indeed important, being someone who has been in the underground dark web for ten years. but this new master¡­ his actions and style are contradictory in every way, don¡¯t you think?¡± lu zhiyuan was for the first time unable to fathom his opponent¡¯s strategy. ¡°he¡¯s been searching for jiang junlin sincerely, which shows he doesn¡¯t want to take jiang junlin¡¯s position. if that¡¯s the case, he should send someone to assassinate me, to put pressure on me and warn me to release jiang junlin. but he hasn¡¯t! he¡¯s solely focused on engaging me in a financial battle, and his methods are ruthless and precise. he¡¯s a person who operates very systematically. but then, you say he¡¯s systematic, yet tonight, he took a risk by having someone hurt pei qiuying. she could have been ambushed anywhere, but he chose the global center!¡± there are too many contradictions in this new master¡¯s behavior, and lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t quite figure it out! what lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t discern, li jiang had even less of a clue about. ¡°continue the investigation. no matter how secretive, we must uncover this person for me. i refuse to believe that there are no traces left!¡± ¡°i¡¯ve already instructed the technical department to investigate the people who entered the building today. we¡¯re checking both buildings one by one. it¡¯ll take some time.¡± lu zhiyuan had an uncomfortable feeling in his heart. he would rather face a formidable opponent like jiang junlin than deal with someone who seemed to have no rhyme or reason, someone so contradictory. the new master hidden in the underground dark web¡­ was undeniably powerful, but his actions were¡­ sinister! in paris, ji chi¡¯s residence! ji chi was holding jiang junlin captive, and the underground dark web and black hawk were engaged in intense battles across europe, all orchestrated by him and rong li. to avoid being discovered, ji chi rarely deployed personnel near the villa. the fewer people there were, the less attention it would attract. dr. north, however, was cleverly conducting a carpet search around the exposed castle location. this area was filled with old houses dating back centuries, belonging to the nobility. some of the castles were very large, with extensive grounds, making it easy to hide a person. having too few people in the castle would raise suspicion, while having too many would also arouse suspicion. nick suggested, ¡°master, we can move jiang junlin with us. there¡¯s a secret passage we can take, and our people can divert their attention, leading the trouble away to the east.¡± ji chi sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the snow fall, a glass of red wine in hand, his gaze dark. two teams from the underground dark web were conducting searches in the vicinity, and they had been hovering around this area for some time now. this whole area consisted of noble properties, and almost every villa and castle had more than thirty people. the flowers, plants, and trees were all meticulously maintained, and even ji chi¡¯s castle was no exception. the property was registered in the name of a young noblewoman, so ji chi kept a low profile. the young woman had a dedicated chauffeur who picked her up and dropped her off every day, whether she was going shopping or to work, and she was accompanied by two teams of bodyguards. it was a clever ruse that had so far eluded dr. north¡¯s spies. ¡°they are forcing us to move jiang junlin, to wait and observe,¡± ji chi carefully considered the situation. the carpet search was intended to pressure him into taking jiang junlin out, but he refused to play into their hands! ¡°but they have been searching here for three days, and they even conducted three searches inside the house at night. have they noticed anything unusual?¡± nick was also concerned about ji chi¡¯s safety. to maintain the illusion that the castle was owned by a noblewoman, the security system had been replaced with a regular one, making it vulnerable to intrusion. nick¡¯s team of guards had disguised themselves as the girl¡¯s security personnel, and they had to go out every day. the people from the underground dark web were not fools; they needed to verify the number of occupants. in the castle, there were only ji chi, jiang junlin, and nick, who never showed himself. ¡°keep an eye on their movements, and if necessary, take action!¡± ji chi sneered. ¡°they don¡¯t mind a firefight, so you shouldn¡¯t hold back either.¡± nick couldn¡¯t help but think that if ji chi truly had no qualms, he wouldn¡¯t have staged an explosive scene to provoke jiang junlin. ¡°i¡¯ll go check on him.¡± ji chi got up and headed for the hidden chamber. old castles often had hidden chambers, and the one ji chi had modified was much better than the first one where jiang junlin had been confined. it was warm, and jiang junlin was still in shackles, with a two-meter radius for movement, confined to a specific area.. Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Jiang Junlin, You Really Want to Kill Me! chapter 273: jiang junlin, you really want to kill me! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation since he and ji chi had their falling out, jiang junlin had been treating himself well. he no longer went on hunger strikes or engaged in petty quarrels with ji chi. he had regular meals, maintained a consistent sleep schedule, and it could be said that this was the most regular period of his life in the past ten years. even his stomach troubles occurred much less frequently. he had tried every means to deal with ji chi, all in vain. ji chi was unresponsive and seemed to revel in his madness. jiang junlin appeared to have given up trying to communicate with him. no matter how ji chi tortured him, he acted as if nothing was happening, maintaining remarkable emotional stability. the explosive loss of control, anger, and hatred of that day seemed like a distant, ephemeral event. ¡°brother, is the book good?¡± he stood in the shadows, his voice unusually gloomy. after the prolonged torment and the embarrassment of their falling out, they had both been left emotionally drained. they both wanted to maintain the facade of adulthood, but while jiang junlin managed to do so, ji chi couldn¡¯t. ¡°this is a book about psychology,¡± jiang junlin closed the book, a french psychology textbook he had specifically asked nick for a few days ago. he remembered that gu ci had once said that she wanted to cure lu zhiyuan and ziyu, so she chose clinical medicine. clinical medicine included psychology. ¡°haha, how ironic,¡± ji chi walked out from the shadows, looking down on jiang junlin. even the visible fire couldn¡¯t warm the chill in his eyes. ¡°someone skilled in manipulating hearts, reading a psychology book. you underestimate yourself, brother. you could even write a book.¡± jiang junlin looked at him coldly. since their falling out, he had quickly adjusted his emotions. anger was futile; when one was angry, emotions led them astray, and it was of no benefit in the current situation. ¡°i¡¯m very curious about what lunatics like you think about every day.¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°are you reading the book for my sake?¡± he said, somewhat pleased in his deranged way. ¡°my whole life, i¡¯ve dealt with lunatics quite a few times, but you¡¯re the first kind of lunatic like you,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s gentle smile concealed a malicious intent. ¡°normal people and madmen have a generation gap; they can never be on the same wavelength.¡± ¡°hahaha¡­¡± ji chi burst into laughter. ¡°so, do you want to cure me? i¡¯m so touched.¡± ¡°ji chi, you think too highly of yourself,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was as smooth as ice. ¡°i¡¯m studying it to figure out how to kill you.¡± ¡°you want to kill me?¡± a hint of madness gleamed in ji chi¡¯s eyes. ¡°that¡¯s too simple.¡± he pulled out a dagger and threw it to jiang junlin, then tore open his white shirt, revealing a large expanse of red skin. ¡°come on, kill me, do it! take action!¡± he exposed his most vulnerable heart right in front of him and offered him a knife. jiang junlin picked up the dagger, turning it thoughtfully in his hand, then suddenly struck, thrusting it towards ji chi¡¯s chest, quick, ruthless, and precise! ji chi suddenly raised his hand, gripping his wrist, his eyes bloodshot. the two confronted each other, neither giving in. one was seething with hidden hatred, the other remained calm. ¡°do you really want to kill me?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes held a storm. he tightened his grip on jiang junlin¡¯s wrist, and when he weakened, the dagger fell to the ground. ¡°jiang junlin, do you really want to kill me?¡± ¡°i indulged your request, and what? angry now?¡± jiang junlin was pinned down on the bed by ji chi but provocatively stared at him. ¡°ji chi, dreaming that we can torment each other for a lifetime!¡± ji chi, consumed by rage, threw punches, and jiang junlin raised his hands to block. they started exchanging blows, engaging in a close-quarters brawl. nick watched the surveillance feed from above, filled with trepidation! chairman jiang had offended the boss again! drops of blood fell on jiang junlin¡¯s face, and one drop landed in his eye. he instinctively closed it, and ji chi¡¯s fist struck his chest. it hit right on the name he had personally engraved. jiang junlin felt a nauseating surge as he spat out a mouthful of blood. nick rushed downstairs and pulled ji chi away, saying, ¡°master, mr. jiang, please, stop, stop!¡± both were injured! ji chi¡¯s wound had reopened, and blood flowed continuously from his arm. the bandage was entirely soaked in red, appearing especially gruesome. it looked as though someone had severed his forearm. his eyes were bloodshot, filled with hatred and¡­ resentment! jiang junlin covered his lips, blood staining his palm. he couldn¡¯t tell if it was his blood or ji chi¡¯s. the bed was dyed red, ji chi was sweating profusely, leaning against the foot of the bed, and jiang junlin was in no better shape. nick was drenched in cold sweat. two masters, this was unnecessary! ¡°mr. jiang, you could have said a few words to calm things down. why engage in a brawl with the boss?¡± jiang junlin had been accumulating anger these past few days. he had been confined for an extended period and was forced to watch an explosion by ji chi. he needed a cathartic release. ji chi numbly wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and looked at jiang junlin. jiang junlin also wiped the blood from his eyes. that drop of blood falling from his eye socket, like a teardrop of blood, was a heart-stopping sight. jiang junlin also noticed ji chi¡¯s nearly ruined arm. it was deliberate; he specifically targeted ji chi¡¯s wound! in a fight, it was natural to exploit the opponent¡¯s vulnerabilities. he had figured it out long ago. being soft on ji chi was being ruthless to himself. ji chi had deserved a beating a long time ago! ¡°so, i don¡¯t even have the qualification to mutually torment you for a lifetime!¡± ji chi swayed as he stood up, blood trickling down his fingers. his departing figure seemed particularly desolate. jiang junlin, for some inexplicable reason, recalled the year when he first met ji chi. when he left, he had turned back to look at ji chi. back then, ji chi was still young, only fifteen years old, dressed in white, standing in the shadows. he also had a severely injured arm, blood constantly dripping. when jiang junlin looked back, ji chi had waved and said goodbye. ¡°brother, i¡¯ll wait for you to come back!¡± but he didn¡¯t come back, and that¡¯s why they had become what they were now. ¡°if you hadn¡¯t met me, you probably would have had a good life,¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°do you regret it?¡± ji chi¡¯s figure stiffened, but he didn¡¯t answer jiang junlin. however, he had an answer in his heart. jiang junlin, the one who regrets, has always been you! ji chi disappeared at the door of the dark room. nick said, ¡°mr. jiang, how could you deliberately target the boss¡¯s wound? his wound had already been injured twice and hadn¡¯t healed. it¡¯s infected with bacteria and now torn open again. he refuses to go to the hospital, making it very difficult to handle!¡± a severe wound, not treated in the hospital, constantly reopening, even a simple first aid kit was insufficient. ¡°he shouldn¡¯t have provoked me,¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°if i had been free to act, he would have died ten times over!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t believe you would really kill him!¡± after nick left the dark room, jiang junlin lay there exhausted. a faintly cold smile curled on his lips. suddenly, he pressed his hand against his own stomach, causing spasms of pain. he repeated this action several times, continuously torturing himself.. Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Do You Like Me? chapter 274: do you like me? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation nick opened the medicine cabinet and tended to ji chi¡¯s wound. ¡°master, you should go to the hospital. your wound needs medical attention, and we¡¯ve used up all the antibiotics at home.¡± ¡°don¡¯t waste your words,¡± ji chi impatiently furrowed his brow. he couldn¡¯t go to the hospital, leaving jiang junlin alone at home! the phone rang, a call from china. landline, lu zhiyuan and pei qiuying were both targets of assassination at the global center. pei qiuying was severely injured and taken to the central hospital, while lu zhiyuan was unharmed. nick was startled by the news. ¡°master, is the shadow master targeting third young master?¡± ¡°it¡¯s about time,¡± ji chi pretended to doze off and whispered, ¡°after third young master¡¯s identity was exposed, he lived too carefree. isn¡¯t it unusual that there¡¯s no news about the shadow master in china?¡± ¡°none!¡± nick replied. ¡°it took third young master years to uncover jiang junlin¡¯s identity. the shadow master¡¯s identity isn¡¯t so easily exposed.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve already restrained most of the dark web¡¯s forces in europe, hoping that third young master won¡¯t encounter any accidents during his recovery. i didn¡¯t expect him to have time to deal with third young master.¡± ji chi pursed his lips and coldly snorted. ¡°no matter how well-hidden they are, we¡¯ll find out. by the way, have you traced the source of the tracking device hidden in jiang junlin¡¯s ring?¡± ¡°it¡¯s a batch of military equipment from china,¡± nick said. ¡°the factory is in paris. i¡¯ve been following this lead. jiang junlin must have had access to the chip, and it¡¯s of a high grade. these are prototypes, not yet perfected, and he gave them all to secret agents.¡± ¡°after we trace the source, hand the chips over to our technology research department.¡± ¡°understood!¡± after instructing nick, ji chi changed into a white shirt, lazily leaned back on the sofa, wanting to drink, but nick stopped him. ¡°master, don¡¯t drink. if you drink more, your arm will be ruined.¡± ¡°am i pushing too hard?¡± ji chi reflected. ¡°the dark web is like a wall. i really don¡¯t believe i can¡¯t break through it and release zhang qiang!¡± ¡°master?¡± ¡°release him!¡± ji chi said casually. ¡°sometimes, you need bait for fishing.¡± ¡°understood.¡± nick called rong li and told him to release zhang qiang. ¡°release all the elite guards too?¡± ¡°release them all!¡± rong li cursed angrily, ¡°why are you doing this? by letting them go, you¡¯re making yourself a target.¡± ¡°if we keep them locked up, it will be even harder to trace this lead.¡± ji chi said, ¡°i¡¯m willing to be the target!¡± ¡°you¡¯re truly mad!¡± rong li cursed loudly. ¡°sooner or later, you¡¯ll die at jiang junlin¡¯s hands!¡± after rong li hung up, ji chi looked out the window at the falling snow. it was almost chinese new year, and he had never celebrated it with jiang junlin. ji chi said, ¡°send some medicine down.¡± ¡°master?¡± ¡°send some anti-inflammatory and blood-boosting medicine down,¡± ji chi ordered. ¡°understood!¡± nick thought to himself, if you care about mr. jiang¡¯s injury, why fight with him at all? global center had such a major incident, and gu ci couldn¡¯t pretend not to know. after changing into a different set of clothes, she hurriedly went to the global center without even making a phone call. qin wan remarked, ¡°this acting is truly top-notch!¡± when gu ci arrived at the global center, lu zhiyuan had just finished a day of examinations, and he had no injuries whatsoever. upon hearing that gu ci was there, there was a hint of joy deep in lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you okay?¡± gu ci anxiously checked him up and down. ¡°do you have any injuries?¡± li jiang observed silently, his expression serene, and his heart focused. lu zhiyuan glanced at him, and li jiang suddenly realized that third master found him to be an unwanted third wheel. he swiftly made his exit. ¡°gu ci, are you genuinely concerned about me?¡± ¡°of course, i¡¯m concerned about you!¡± gu ci replied, relieved, and looked at him, her eyes fixed on his cool gaze. third master wasn¡¯t as icy as when they first met; there was depth in his eyes, always hiding something she couldn¡¯t comprehend. gu ci also couldn¡¯t tell if he was acting or expressing genuine emotions. ¡°but can you tell who i am?¡± ¡°no matter who you are, if you were assassinated and killed, could he still live?¡± someone stabbed a knife into lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart, and he finally understood how he had felt when he kept rejecting gu ci back then. gu ci had confessed in front of the whole world, only to be rejected by him! was this karma? ¡°i¡¯m fine. you can leave now!¡± lu zhiyuan coldly issued the dismissal. gu ci sneered, ¡°third master, was this pei qiuying¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci taunted, ¡°she nearly caused third young master to have an accident during the race, and you nearly lost your life. you¡¯re quite bold to meet her at the global center. if you had really been shot, you wouldn¡¯t be innocent.¡± ¡°i met pei qiuying for an important matter, not what you¡¯re thinking.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t even realize how flustered he sounded while explaining, fearing that gu ci might misunderstand. ¡°for something important? what could be more important than your life? you almost died due to her scheming. haven¡¯t you learned your lesson?¡± gu ci¡¯s acting skills were in full display. ¡°it¡¯s truly like childhood sweethearts growing up together; when a beauty sheds a tear, you become softhearted.¡± in this moment, gu ci portrayed her feelings of envy and jealousy without any hint of pretense. qin wan had been right; she was jealous of the time lu zhiyuan had spent pulling pei qiuying out of the abyss and into the world. she had once thought that their time together was unique, but it turned out that others had similar experiences. pei qiuying had it too! and for that, pei qiuying had to die! lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t argue back, and he felt it was absurd. ¡°gu ci, are you jealous?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ci admitted, ¡°i am jealous!¡± lu zhiyuan felt a mixture of sourness, pain, and relief in his heart. ¡°why do you have the right to be jealous? you once said that in your heart, third young master and i are the same person. but when third young master forced you to choose, you chose him. so what does it matter who i like or dislike, and what does it have to do with you?¡± as he spoke, he realized how he had lost his composure. seeing gu ci¡¯s surprised gaze, he felt even more embarrassed. ¡°third master, you¡­¡± gu ci clenched her fists by her sides, ¡°i¡¯ve said before that i like you, but you rejected me more than once. now, what do you mean by this?¡± at the global center, the atmosphere grew tense. ¡°it¡¯s nothing!¡± lu zhiyuan avoided her intense gaze. however, gu ci grabbed his hand, forcing him to meet her eyes. her eyes were slightly reddened. ¡°third master, don¡¯t evade my question. do you¡­ like me?¡± ¡°gu ci, don¡¯t push it too far!¡± ¡°whether you like or dislike someone, it¡¯s just a matter of a single sentence. is it that hard to answer?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t like you!¡± third master heard the coldness in his own voice. ¡°the one who likes you is third young master, not me!¡± this statement, said to gu ci, was more of a reminder to himself. he could only keep telling himself that gu ci belonged to third young master in order to restrain the growing desires in his heart. ¡°i knew it. in your heart, i¡¯m not as important as pei qiuying!¡± gu ci muttered to herself, ¡°you saved her in times of danger, supported each other for so many years, even if you¡¯re raising a dog, there would be feelings.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent.. Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Can’t Kill, Can Injure chapter 275: can¡¯t kill, can injure translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i always knew, in your heart, i¡¯m not as important as pei qiuying!¡± gu ci muttered to herself, ¡°you saved her in times of danger, supported each other for so many years, even if it were raising a dog, you would develop feelings.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. gu ci looked at him sadly, ¡°third master, since you¡¯re safe and sound, 1 won¡¯t disturb your rest.¡± she turned and left, and lu zhiyuan made no attempt to stop her. li jiang stood at the door, listening at the corner of the wall, feeling anxious. when did third master develop such deep feelings for pei qiuying? pei qiuying couldn¡¯t compare to miss gu ci even by a hair! third master, you¡¯re eloquent, so why don¡¯t you explain yourself? ¡°third master, why aren¡¯t you explaining?¡± li jiang asked. ¡°explain what?¡± lu zhiyuan sat by the window, gazing at the night, his face dark and inscrutable. li jiang said, ¡°third master, don¡¯t deceive yourself. during this time, whether it was the role of third young master or genuine feelings, you know in your heart. you like miss gu ci!¡± ¡°li jiang!¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°you¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± ¡°i¡¯m just worried about miss gu ci. she¡¯s so brave, repeatedly exposing herself, revealing her true feelings, but you keep rejecting her.¡± li jiang said softly. ¡°third master, don¡¯t you¡­ feel sorry for her?¡± ¡°what can i do about it?¡± lu zhiyuan asked coldly. ¡°do i have to compete with him for a woman?¡± li jiang fell silent. one during the day, the other at night, it shouldn¡¯t have any impact! wait¡­ or maybe it¡¯s not entirely without consequences! perhaps miss gu ci doesn¡¯t mind, after all, in her eyes, it¡¯s the same person. third master and third young master could never agree to share a woman. they might even end up killing each other. this trio¡¯s love triangle is quite complicated; one of them must step aside! even if third master is infatuated, he can only restrain himself. for a moment, li jiang didn¡¯t know whom to pity. ¡°wait a minute¡­ something happened at the global center, and the news was suppressed. how did gu ci know about it?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°it takes about half an hour to drive to the global center, which means she knew the news half an hour after the incident. but the news was completely sealed off here half an hour before the incident. who did she hear it from?¡± li jiang raised his hands and said, ¡°1 didn¡¯t say anything!¡± this matter, even if someone from the global center sent a message, it would have been sealed off immediately, and it couldn¡¯t have spread. so how did miss gu ci know? she seems to be quite well-informed! ¡°the young master seems to be quite well-informed. did he tell miss gu ci?¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows slightly. after gu ci left the global center, there was no trace of acting in her behavior. her eyes remained gloomy, and third master still claimed not to like her. did she stubbornly play along all this time, pretending to have feelings and desires? well, it seems that she did! ¡°tomorrow morning, lu zhiyuan will be going to the central hospital for a recheck, and we¡¯ll take action on the way,¡± gu ci calmly assigned a task to qin wan. ¡°li jiang is a very experienced security team leader. i¡¯ll send you a route map in advance, go scout it out, and don¡¯t let him catch you. our people will help you safely escape.¡± ¡°sure!¡± qin wan raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°do you want to watch the show?¡± she just gave orders to assassinate her own husband. did she want to watch the show? ¡°thanks for the invitation, 1 understand. there¡¯s no need to watch the show; 1 have an exam tomorrow.¡± qin wan was speechless. when gu ci returned to the blue fields villa, her son, gu ziyu, was already studying. both mother and son had final exams the next day. gu ziyu heard the sound of a car and poked his head out from the second floor. ¡°mom, where did you go?¡± ¡°your dad was targeted for assassination, so i went to see him.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu, who had sent someone to kill his father, nervously rubbed his nose. ¡°is he okay?¡± ¡°he¡¯s perfectly fine!¡± gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°keep studying!¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ziyu closed the window and continued studying. he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why his mother had acted unusually tonight. she must have been involved in the assassination tonight, along with qin wan. that shot by pei qiuying, it must have been her and qin wan¡¯s doing. gu ziyu was extremely worried. if there were any future actions, should he communicate with his mother in advance? no, that would be against the rules and regulations! it¡¯s too complicated! gu ziyu scratched his head. ¡°ah, the backgrounds of our family members are just too complicated.¡± the next day, gu ci had her final exams. she took two subjects in the morning and was exceptionally focused. after finishing her exams, she turned on her phone and saw a message from qin wan. lu zhiyuan had postponed his recheck appointment to the afternoon and was leaving the global center at 1 p.m. gu ci furrowed her brow. ¡°he originally planned to leave around six o¡¯clock when there were fewer people, making it easier for you to take action and escape. but now, with it postponed to one o¡¯clock in the afternoon when it¡¯s crowded, it¡¯s not convenient. let¡¯s cancel the operation!¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, 1 can handle it!¡± qin wan whistled. ¡°our master has been imprisoned for so long, and 1 couldn¡¯t do anything. let me vent some frustration for our master first!¡± ¡°this matter needs to be settled with ji chi!¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t escape!¡± qin wan chuckled. ¡°i¡¯ll hang up and update you later.¡± on the rooftop of the financial building, this was an excellent sniper spot. standing at the very top, one could oversee everything. even though gu ci had provided a route map, if lu zhiyuan changed the time, he would likely change the route as well. from the global center to the central hospital, it wasn¡¯t far. the location of this building was excellent, allowing her to see four roads. no matter which road lu zhiyuan took, she could guarantee the job would be done without a hitch! however, there was one drawback. it was broad daylight, and it was a long-range shot, so she couldn¡¯t use a silenced gun. ¡°third master, your wife wants to kill you, and no one can stop her!¡± qin wan, dressed smartly with a dagger tucked into her boot, was smoking a cigarette. she was looking at the surveillance cameras in the global center¡¯s parking lot. as soon as they left the parking lot, qin wan spotted them. she raised her hand and checked her watch, calculating when lu zhiyuan would arrive. qin wan was a secret agent who had undergone training in south america during every summer and winter vacation. jiang junlin never treated her as a delicate flower. her training methods were different from those of conventional agents; she received training while on missions. this approach ensured the safety of new recruits and increased their real-world experience. after qin wan turned seventeen, she could handle solo missions. jiang junlin entrusted her with almost all domestic assassination missions. she had a one hundred percent success rate, which had never been broken! three security vehicles were now within qin wan¡¯s sight. she put down her binoculars, adjusted her scope, and focused on the last security vehicle. she frowned but then changed her target. the surveillance footage from the global center was crystal clear, and lu zhiyuan was in the first security vehicle. gu ci had specified not to kill, only to injure! qin wan curled her lips. jiang junlin had become a prisoner and had yet to experience any torment. lu zhiyuan had to pay back a hundredfold. she aimed at the first security vehicle, calculated the distance, and, on the rooftop of the financial building, with the wind howling around her, qin wan¡¯s gaze remained calm. she suddenly pulled the trigger, and the bullet pierced through the three hundred meters of empty space, striking the front of the car directly.. Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: I’m a Professional at Killing Hubby chapter 276: i¡¯m a professional at killing hubby translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the first security vehicle tumbled directly on the road, flipping onto the safety platform, causing pedestrians to run and scream. the security personnel from the other two vehicles quickly disembarked, forming a protective shield with their bodies, acting as human shields to prevent a second wave of attacks. li jiang crawled out of the car, his voice solemnly saying, ¡°stay alert!¡± glass shards pierced his arm, and li jiang¡¯s head was covered in blood. the two security vehicles were parked on the side of the road. lu zhiyuan, unscathed, sat in the second vehicle, accessing the best shooting positions in nearby buildings! the car came to a rapid stop inside the tunnel, and lu zhiyuan changed vehicles, sitting in the second car. now, his security team was on guard in front of the overturned car, but there was no one beside him. this was the safest, inconspicuous position. they were too far away, and even if there were gunshots, they wouldn¡¯t hear them. li jiang used binoculars to scan the surrounding high-rise buildings, but it was impossible to determine the sniper¡¯s location. ¡°financial center!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s cold voice came through the earpiece. he simulated the perspective of an assassin, determining easily where the hitman would be if he were to target him. the financial center would be the choice if someone wanted to kill him! li jiang said in a deep voice, ¡°everyone in the control room, retrieve all the video footage from the financial center today, record all vehicle entries and exits, and check every car and person.¡± ¡°yes!¡± three cameras at the financial center went offline last night. they had reported it to maintenance, but they hadn¡¯t been repaired yet. two of the cameras had overlapping fields of view, which had clearly been deliberately altered. lu zhiyuan frowned. this wasn¡¯t a job that a single hitman could accomplish. someone confirmed his departure time at the global center, and someone scouted ahead early. after determining his route, when the hitman confirmed his location, a team of operatives would quickly simulate an escape route to ensure the hitman¡¯s safe departure. therefore, the surveillance that went offline within half an hour was intentionally sabotaged. those three cameras were set up as part of the hitman¡¯s reconnaissance. after firing a shot, qin wan quickly packed her belongings and didn¡¯t stay to fight. she blended into the elevator and descended to the parking lot. in a sedan, she stashed her equipment and took off her coat. underneath, she wore a small western-style dress. she let her hair down, put on earrings, and changed into a pair of white shoes. the once fierce and cool female assassin transformed into an innocent, demure girl. she didn¡¯t leave the parking lot but instead went upstairs to the mall and started shopping. dressed in a small western-style dress with a beige trench coat, exquisite makeup, and an alluring charm, she looked like a well-behaved, elegant lady. just half an hour before she entered the mall, a woman dressed exactly like her, with a similar figure, also drove into the mall. the woman modified her appearance inside the mall. five minutes before qin wan acted, the woman left in qin wan¡¯s car, leaving her own car behind for qin wan. qin wan now had a perfectly timed entry and exit from the mall! every step was designed to be foolproof. in the age of surveillance, the black hawk¡¯s sky eye system was among the world¡¯s most advanced equipment, with extensive coverage. their hacker tracking team was notoriously formidable and terrifying. in the face of the assassination attempt on lu zhiyuan, it was essential to ensure that everything was executed flawlessly. if it came down to a simple act of murder without a series of misdirections and diversions, it was only a matter of time before they were exposed! this was not an ordinary car accident. the traffic police arrived at the scene quickly. the security team, including li jiang, sustained minor injuries. the car¡¯s route had been meticulously planned, making it extremely difficult to achieve a fatal strike. li jiang stayed behind to handle the aftermath, while lu zhiyuan continued to the hospital. on the way to the hospital, lu zhiyuan attempted to recover the three minutes of surveillance footage from the parking lot. after the gunshot, for three minutes, all surveillance in the parking lot had gone offline. there was definitely something suspicious about those three minutes! at the very least, within the parking lot, they should be able to find some clues. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°try to recover it as best as you can!¡± ¡°understood!¡± every time lu zhiyuan traveled, there was 24-hour surveillance following him. someone was already filtering through the surveillance information from the financial center, searching for any suspicious individuals. after finishing her third exam, qin wan received a call from lu zhiyuan. ¡°it¡¯s done. your husband has gone to the hospital. he switched to the second car without a scratch. sorry to disappoint you!¡± gu ci replied,¡±¡­¡± well, she wasn¡¯t too disappointed! lu zhiyuan¡¯s injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed yet, so she didn¡¯t want him to get into another accident and suffer another bone fracture. ¡°aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± ¡°just doing some shopping,¡± qin wan replied. she had found a coffee shop with a panoramic window view, enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee while talking on the phone. ¡°black hawk¡¯s sky eye system is pretty amazing. if there¡¯s even a tiny flaw, it won¡¯t take long for them to identify us. so, i¡¯m not in a hurry to leave. the more dangerous a place seems, the safer it is. they will definitely retrieve the entire day¡¯s surveillance, matching both people and cars.¡± gu ci gave her a sudden reminder, ¡°do you even have a shopping habit?¡± ¡°not really,¡± qin wan admitted. she was quite independent and had built a wall between herself and others. she appeared friendly and smiled at everyone, but she never formed deep connections with anyone. qin wan continued, ¡°i¡¯m leaving now!¡± with a reminder from gu ci, qin wan also realized the situation. she was indeed someone who preferred to be alone, and while shopping alone wasn¡¯t an issue, she didn¡¯t have the habit of shopping leisurely. her shopping goals were usually quite clear, and lingering in the mall for too long might arouse suspicion. after gu ci hung up the phone, she checked the news about the car accident. several dashcams had recorded the incident. qin wan¡¯s execution was precise. some people were injured, but no one died. ¡°third master, it¡¯s time to face the second assassination attempt!¡± gu ci muttered to herself. the central hospital wasn¡¯t an ideal location. it was full of people from the lu family, and it wasn¡¯t easy to escape from there. gu ci wouldn¡¯t choose to make a move at the central hospital. ¡°why is there no emphasis on the medical school exams? my friend from the finance department said they had a clear focus on their studies, and their exams were not difficult at all.¡± he miaomiao, who had been studying late with her classmates recently, had heavy dark circles under her eyes. ¡°cici, how did you do on your exams?¡± ¡°i did fine,¡± gu ci replied with a light smile. ¡°i¡¯m going to make a phone call.¡± gu ci went up to the rooftop and called lu zhiyuan. another one of his close guards answered the call, ¡°miss gu ci, third young master is undergoing a checkup and can¡¯t take calls right now.¡± ¡°i saw a video that¡¯s trending number one. it¡¯s about your security team, and it looks like he was targeted for assassination,¡± gu ci asked anxiously, ¡°is everyone okay?¡± the guard replied, ¡°please rest assured, miss gu ci. third young master is sitting in the second car, completely unharmed.¡± ¡°what about the others?¡± ¡°they all have minor injuries. the eldest had to get a few stitches, but it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± ¡°alright, as long as everyone is okay,¡± gu ci said as she hung up the phone. she knew that when it came to acting, you had to play the whole role. not checking on lu zhiyuan or making a single phone call when she saw the news about the incident wouldn¡¯t be convincing. gu ci and gu ziyu both finished their exams almost at the same time. during exam week, classes were mostly suspended, and everyone was busy studying. gu ziyu, after finishing his exams, turned into a couch potato for the day. he had a whole day of exams, with only a one-hour break for lunch in between.. his exam subjects were more diverse than gu ci¡¯s, mainly because he had studied a wider range of disciplines, and some of his exams even overlapped, requiring separate testing! Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Baby has a Heavy Burden chapter 277: baby has a heavy burden translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°mom, my hand hurts, and my head hurts. i wish i were three years old again, so you could carry me home!¡± gu ziyu sat by the flowerbed like a salty fish, looking like a frostbitten flower. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but stifle a laugh, ¡°1 can still carry you home now!¡± ¡°no need for that!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°i still have some dignity!¡± it would take about ten minutes to walk back home, so gu ci suggested, ¡°how about mom rent an electric scooter?¡± ¡°sounds good, sounds good!¡± since the university¡¯s campus was quite large, the school had partnered with a company to provide electric scooters on campus. you could scan a code and rent them for 4 yuan for half an hour, so there was no need to buy one. gu ci rented one, and the mother and son rode the electric scooter back home. however, after just two minutes of riding, during the rush hour, they were stopped by a traffic policeman. ¡°why?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°these electric scooters are not allowed to carry passengers, didn¡¯t you know?¡± the traffic policeman explained. ¡°i didn¡¯t know!¡± gu ci looked around the campus and saw many couples riding together. ¡°the child is so young, and you¡¯re not wearing helmets. it¡¯s very dangerous!¡± the traffic policeman pointed out. gu ziyu sat numbly to the side, carrying a heavy school bag and gazing sadly at the sky at a 45-degree angle, looking very melancholic. gu ci pointed ahead and said, ¡°our school is very close to home, just one kilometer. i¡¯m riding very slowly, and¡­¡± ¡°you can¡¯t have a wishful thinking mentality. this vehicle is not allowed to carry passengers, and you¡¯re not wearing helmets. moreover, you have a child with you. even if you drive slowly, you can¡¯t guarantee that others won¡¯t collide with you!¡± the traffic policeman interrupted. ¡°policeman, i was wrong, and i will seriously reflect on it,¡± gu ci said. in the end, they were fined 100 yuan, and both gu ci and gu ziyu were stunned. they were really unlucky! ¡°baby, if you say you¡¯re with mss, will you still be fined?¡± gu ziyu asked numbly, ¡°let¡¯s just pay the fine, even if it¡¯s ten thousand.¡± gu ci was speechless. gu ziyu said expressionlessly, ¡°if i claim that identity, they might think we¡¯re crazy and send us to a mental hospital. even if they verify our identity, they¡¯ll just throw me in an office. 1 can¡¯t afford to lose that face!¡± ¡°baby, your idol baggage is quite heavy!¡± gu ci teased. gu ziyu said, ¡°hmm!¡± gu ci looked mutely at him. gu ci jokingly said, ¡°if you like ji chi so much, you should learn from him ¨C be flexible, a little money for your pride isn¡¯t important!¡± gu ziyu chuckled and asked, ¡°he¡¯s a tsundere, he goes crazy, and he locks people up for a lifetime. should 1 learn that too?¡± gu ci thought for a moment and said, ¡°never mind, just stay away from him!¡± gu ziyu burst into laughter, and the fatigue of the day was somewhat dispelled. the electric scooter was confiscated, but the traffic policeman returned it to the campus. mother and son went home together in the evening sun. gu ziyu had a whole day of exams tomorrow, and they were coming one after the other. originally, the advisor had arranged two weeks for the exams, and they could even take them at night, but gu ziyu had made a dense exam schedule for himself, with exams throughout the entire week. gu ci looked at his shiny black hair and worried that he might start losing hair during his youth. lu ze, on the other hand, was still a handsome old man without any signs of hair loss. this thing is genetic, so the baby should be fine! while gu ziyu was in the middle of his studies, he received a call from chen liangdong, informing him about the assassination attempt on lu zhiyuan today. gu ziyu was somewhat surprised, ¡°the underground sent assassins?¡± ¡°no evidence yet, but based on analysis, it should be them,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°pei qiuying¡¯s surgery has ended, but she hasn¡¯t regained consciousness. our people have disguised themselves as nurses to get close to her and try to get more information.¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°the central hospital is a property of the lu family. wouldn¡¯t it be too conspicuous to pose as nurses?¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, we have it under control. there are so many doctors and nurses, not everyone will be scrutinized, and our people have nursing experience,¡± chen liangdong assured him. ¡°in these two weeks, focus on your exams. your advisors have said that you can work on projects independently next year.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ziyu felt that the exam week was already overwhelming. ¡°have you uncovered any secrets from the underground dark web?¡± ¡°we¡¯ve got a little lead, but it¡¯s not easy to investigate further,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°we can confirm that it¡¯s a secret organization within our system, but finding out who is in charge is tricky. someone has already warned me not to delve too deep.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s heart sank. if even chen liangdong couldn¡¯t get involved, it meant that this issue involved high-ranking individuals. ¡°okay, i understand,¡± gu ziyu replied. he knew that this secret had hidden dangers. in every system, there were people vying for power, and there were no purely good or bad individuals. their positions and the boundaries between good and bad differed. in the previous life, jiang junlin had been hit and injured, never able to stand up again, imprisoned all along. this matter was too suspicious. in the previous life, he had little interaction with jiang junlin and didn¡¯t know much about him, except that he was the ceo of hualan bank and had declined after the incident, further controlled by the brown family. however, he was not only the ceo of hualan but also the master of the underground dark web. in the previous life, lu shijie and gu chuyun mainly relied on black hawk for support behind them, and all their confidence came from black hawk. after chen rushi¡¯s death, they were under the control of the brown family. the underground dark web had always been a trump card in jiang junlin¡¯s hands. now that he had been imprisoned, his mother had taken his place, issuing orders. the people within the system were still in hiding. in the previous life, when gu chuyun executed her plan and took over hualan bank, it might have been her uncle¡¯s trap all along. even if there was an accident, like breaking his leg, her uncle¡¯s personality was not the type to simply give up and fall into despair. he was a strategic thinker with strong character. how could a broken leg defeat him? moreover, it was just a broken leg, not a spinal injury. he couldn¡¯t take care of himself in daily life, had to endure the humiliation of being taken care of by others, so her uncle wouldn¡¯t have given up so easily. qin wan was still a hidden piece on the chessboard. her uncle had a loyal group of subordinates, so how did it come to the point where he would be tortured to death by ji chi? unless¡­ someone didn¡¯t want her uncle alive and had control over him. his vulnerability was the jiang family! in this life, her father was still alive, and he had just guessed his identity. her uncle¡¯s identity had always been kept secret, known only to internal personnel. perhaps in the previous life, the power struggle within the underground dark web made her uncle want to avoid it! after talking to chen liangdong on the phone, gu ziyu called ji chi, ¡°baby, why did you suddenly decide to call me?¡± ¡°ji chi, 1 want to talk to jiang junlin!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°i have something very important to ask him.¡± ¡°he¡¯s not with me!¡± ji chi replied. ¡°ji chi, i¡¯m lu zhiyuan¡¯s biological son, and i¡¯m sure he must have told you. i can¡¯t be kept in the dark about this. i¡¯m not trying to betray your trust. if you don¡¯t want anything to happen to my uncle, please let me talk to him for a few moments.¡± ji chi and gu ziyu had a very close relationship. although they hadn¡¯t spent much time together to build that bond, they were like deeply affectionate brothers. ji chi, sounding exhausted, said, ¡°what do you want to ask? i¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you? you sound really tired, are you injured?¡± gu ziyu furrowed his brow and switched to a video call.. Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: Hi, I’m Your Husband chapter 278: hi, i¡¯m your husband translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi hesitated for a moment, then clicked on the video. gu ziyu saw his heavily injured arm, with a doctor administering anti-inflammatory injections. the wound had split open several times, infected with bacteria. he needed to go to the hospital, but he kept resisting. ¡°what happened to your hand?¡± gu ziyu was startled when he saw ji chi¡¯s hand. the doctor was french and didn¡¯t understand chinese, but gu ziyu understood french. the doctor asked him to go to the hospital, but ji chi seemed to not have heard him. he curled up on the sofa, still wearing a white shirt, clean and pure. however, his face was as pale as paper, like a lost soul. ¡°baby, if my hand becomes useless, will he feel sorry for me?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°stop with the self-pity. if you don¡¯t cherish yourself, who will cherish you?¡± he never expected that ji chi¡¯s words from their previous life would be thrown back at him in this one. ¡°my left hand has been injured twice in five days. it¡¯s infected with bacteria, but he insists on treating it himself. he¡¯s forcing me to go to the hospital!¡± ji chi¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°but i won¡¯t go. i¡¯ll resist him!¡± ¡°if you resist any longer, you¡¯ll end up losing your hand!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t care!¡± gu ziyu was furious. ¡°if that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you go to the kitchen, find a knife, and cut it off yourself? why pretend to be miserable? will anyone pity you?¡± these words touched ji chi¡¯s sensitive nerve, and he looked at gu ziyu with a gloomy, tsundere expression. ¡°seriously, your way of seeking attention is self-harm, isn¡¯t it?¡± gu ziyu said expressionlessly. ¡°why not just find someone to brainwash my uncle, make him forget everything, and say that he¡¯s your subordinate who should listen to you? how about that?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes lit up, showing some interest. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°are you actually considering it? with such a valuable opportunity, if you get rid of the underworld, my uncle will listen to you more. why lock yourself in this predicament?¡± ji chi slumped, and gu ziyu found it frustrating. he couldn¡¯t fully understand their relationship ¨C not just ji chi¡¯s, but also gu ci¡¯s. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t fathom why, out of all the men in the world, they had to be the ones. ¡°bro, don¡¯t be like this,¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°how about 1 arrange for someone to brainwash you and become a happy young man? why choose the darkest path?¡± ¡°absolutely not!¡± ji chi responded firmly. ¡°even if my heart is in hell, 1 won¡¯t forget anything.¡± ¡°fine!¡± gu ziyu gave up. ¡°i need to talk to my uncle. can you stay and listen? it¡¯s important!¡± since the last altercation between ji chi and jiang junlin, ji chi had been holed up in his room for three days, monitoring him. gu ziyu noticed ji chi¡¯s indifference and said, ¡°this matter has nothing to do with the underground or black hawk. i won¡¯t be a messenger for anyone. in my heart, you¡¯re even closer to me than lu zhiyuan.¡± after all, his father only existed in videos, while ji chi had been there in person for over a decade. ji chi seemed touched by these words. ¡°am 1 more important than lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°yes,¡± gu ziyu said earnestly, ¡°in my heart, besides my mother, you¡¯re the most important. so, i really have something important to discuss with my uncle. is that okay?¡± ji chi remained unmoved. gu ziyu exploded, ¡°you can¡¯t expect me to prioritize you over my mother. 1 didn¡¯t spend ten months in her womb for you!¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t help but laugh. it was the first time in over a month that he had laughed. ¡°fine!¡± ji chi said, ¡°nick, bring jiang junlin up here!¡± nick went downstairs to bring jiang junlin upstairs, and gu ziyu seized the opportunity to say, ¡°you really need to go to the hospital for your hand.¡± ¡°the underground members are nearby, and they¡¯ve likely identified their target. but they¡¯re not making any rash moves. if i go to the hospital, they might rescue him,¡± ji chi said calmly. ¡°it¡¯s not possible!¡± even if the underground had identified their target, they would be cautious. gu ziyu furrowed his brow and went straight to the point, ¡°ji chi, my uncle is an exceptional person, and he¡¯s become so selective. it¡¯s clear he¡¯s very picky about his future partner. he¡¯s not like little dragon girl from ¡®the return of the condor heroes¡¯ who stayed by yang guo¡¯s side even after he lost his arm. can you imagine that? do you think your forearm has become that important?¡± ¡°what little dragon girl? yang guo?¡± ji chi asked, confused. ¡°it¡¯s from a tv series. yang guo lost his arm, but little dragon girl never left his side. they still got married and traveled the world together. my uncle¡­ well, do you think that¡¯s even remotely possible? think about it. has your forearm suddenly become that crucial?¡± ji chi remained silent. gu ziyu continued, ¡°i¡¯m really tired. 1 have to keep an eye on my mom to prevent her from going crazy, and now i have to watch over you too? we¡¯re all adults here; let¡¯s be mature.¡± ¡°i just want¡­¡± ji chi began speaking, but he was interrupted by the sudden arrival of jiang junlin, escorted by nick. gu ziyu exclaimed, ¡°ji chi, are you even human? uncle, why have you become so thin?¡± jiang junlin, who was already a picky eater, had been locked up for over a month, eating poorly and sleeping even worse. he and ji chi had been tormenting each other, resulting in his significant weight loss and numerous bruises on his face and body. ji chi, who had been on the same floor for days, saw sunlight for the first time in a while. it was a bit blinding, and his eyes squinted as he gazed fixedly at jiang junlin. indeed, jiang junlin had lost a considerable amount of weight. he must have shed at least twenty pounds! he ate every day, so why did he become so thin? when jiang junlin appeared, ji chi, who had been like an injured animal, wanted his comfort. however, he received nothing. not even a glance from jiang junlin. ¡°uncle, are you sick?¡± gu ziyu furrowed his brow. ¡°ji chi, what have you done?¡± there was pain in ji chi¡¯s eyes. jiang junlin always seemed to know how to hurt him. jiang junlin didn¡¯t even spare ji chi a glance and asked gu ziyu, ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± gu ziyu glanced at ji chi, thinking that ji chi wasn¡¯t going to leave. so he explained, ¡°uncle, it¡¯s like this. about the information from the underground¡¯s dark web, can you share a bit more with me?¡± even as a prisoner, jiang junlin, with his gaunt face, still exuded a commanding presence when he furrowed his brow. ¡°i have nothing to tell you.¡± jiang junlin responded firmly. if jiang junlin easily revealed secrets, the underground¡¯s dark web wouldn¡¯t have remained hidden for so many years without a trace. gu ziyu persisted, ¡°what if someone within the dark web wants to kill you and take your place?¡± ¡°then it¡¯s a matter of skill. let¡¯s see who comes out on top,¡± jiang junlin said indifferently. ¡°baby, your identity is unique, and i can¡¯t tell you, no matter what reason you have for asking.¡± ¡°what if someone within the underground¡¯s dark web betrays you?¡± gu ziyu pressed on. ¡°i never make baseless assumptions,¡± jiang junlin replied in a solemn tone. ¡°there¡¯s no need to worry about things that haven¡¯t happened yet. there¡¯s always a way when the time comes.¡± ¡°very well!¡± gu ziyu admired jiang junlin¡¯s mindset, one he had yet to attain through his own experiences.. Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Third Master Is Suspicious chapter 279: third master is suspicious translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the conversation ended, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t say much nonsense. he didn¡¯t even look at ji chi. however, ji chi¡¯s eyes seemed to be fixed on jiang junlin. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sorry for ji chi. nick took him to a dark room again, and gu ziyu said, ¡°are you asking for trouble? why are you still torturing him?¡± ¡°i¡¯ve been tortured too!¡± ¡°isn¡¯t it your own doing?¡± gu ziyu was speechless. ¡°when are you going to release him?¡± ¡°when i¡¯m dead.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face remained expressionless. ¡°when you¡¯re dead, are you planning for nick to bury him with you?¡± ji chi fell silent, closed his eyes, and his face turned as translucent as white porcelain, with a kind of lonely fragility. ¡°baby, don¡¯t poke my heart.¡± ¡°serves you right!¡± gu ziyu cursed tiredly, then said softly, ¡°if you don¡¯t release him, then go take a look at your hand. don¡¯t delay it any longer, or you might end up with a single arm.¡± gu ziyu pinched his brow and went to talk to gu ci about the situation with ji chi and jiang junlin. gu ci was surprised. ¡°you¡¯ve seen him? is he okay?¡± ¡°just¡­ still alive!¡± gu ziyu said what he could, fearing that gu ci would worry. ¡°ji chi looks even worse than him. i don¡¯t even know who¡¯s imprisoning whom.¡± one imprisoned in body, the other imprisoned in heart. ¡°so, are you guessing that in the dark web of the underworld, someone wants to kill your brother and take his place?¡± ¡°i have my suspicions!¡± gu ziyu sat down with gu ci and whispered, ¡°mom, in the previous life, as soon as ji chi took control of the black hawk, the first thing he did was get rid of pei qiuying. the underworld continued to thrive under a different master. i was solely focused on destroying the black hawk and had no interest in tangling with the underworld. maybe i unwittingly played into their hands. pei qiuying couldn¡¯t have broken my uncle¡¯s leg without some backing.¡± ¡°did he say anything?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. ¡°can you retrieve messages from the dark web?¡± ¡°no,¡± gu ci replied. ¡°the dark web is special. each channel is a single line of contact, though cumbersome, it indeed prevents identity exposure. you could try investigating, but without your brother¡¯s permission, i can¡¯t let you access dark web messages.¡± ¡°i understand,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°after i finish my exams, i¡¯ll trace this lead on my own.¡± ¡°focus on your studies, don¡¯t worry about this.¡± ¡°mom, are you planning to assassinate dad with qin wan today?¡± gu ci¡¯s expression became somewhat awkward and embarrassed. gu ziyu saw through it at a glance. ¡°dad is very clever; don¡¯t mess it up.¡± ¡°he could never imagine that i¡¯d be involved with the dark web,¡± gu ci reassured him. ¡°you can trust me; i know how to handle it.¡± gu ziyu leaned against the door and asked gu ci, ¡°mom, how many times do you plan to assassinate dad?¡± ¡°depends on my mood!¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu scratched his head and hesitated to tell his mother that if she could go assassinate his father herself, she probably wouldn¡¯t mind him joining in. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°nothing, i¡¯ll go study.¡± gu ziyu ultimately lacked the guts. his mother¡¯s logic was sometimes quite peculiar. just because she could do something didn¡¯t mean he could! lu zhiyuan spent the whole day at the central hospital, undergoing various examinations that lasted until evening. both li jiang and two of his close guards had sustained injuries of varying degrees. the guards had changed shifts and left, but li jiang couldn¡¯t leave. even after receiving stitches, he remained at the hospital. ¡°third master, we checked the surveillance footage from the financial tower. we identified a few suspects, but after conducting background checks, everything seems normal. it shouldn¡¯t be related to the assassination.¡± ¡°when doing background checks, put extra effort into it. no one should be able to tell that jiang junlin is the master of the dark web underworld.¡± li jiang remained silent; he had already given this order. today¡¯s assassination was organized and premeditated; it must have been the work of people from the dark web underworld. after the attack, they had quickly left the scene without leaving any traces. ¡°is there any trace on the rooftop?¡± li jiang felt a bit embarrassed as he shook his head. this was something that couldn¡¯t be investigated, and he took responsibility for it. lu zhiyuan said lightly, ¡°don¡¯t dwell on it. there will be several more assassination attempts in the coming days. just wait.¡± there would come a time when they would reveal their true colors! ¡°third master, i¡¯ve strengthened the security.¡± ¡°how is pei qiuying?¡± ¡°she hasn¡¯t woken up yet. third master, do you want to deal with her directly?¡± li jiang asked. in this situation, whether pei qiuying was alive or dead, it made no difference, and it had the same impact on lu zhiyuan. ¡°no need,¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. ¡°the person behind the scenes is trying to sow discord because they believe pei qiuying has some use. let¡¯s play along.¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang was very obedient to lu zhiyuan¡¯s orders. ¡°by the way, during your examination, miss gu ci called to inquire about your injuries. she had an exam in the afternoon, and i returned the call. do you want to call her back again?¡± ¡°no need,¡± lu zhiyuan said softly. ¡°the person she cares about isn¡¯t me.¡± li jiang remained silent. on the way back to global center, lu zhiyuan doubled the number of guards. the journey was exceptionally calm, with the atmosphere inside the car becoming extremely heavy. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°li jiang, assign someone skilled in tracking to tail gu ci around the clock for the next few days. i want to see her whereabouts report.¡± ¡°all¡­¡± li jiang was puzzled. he glanced at lu zhiyuan through the rearview mirror and saw that he was lost in thought, still not opening his eyes. ¡°understood.¡± why did third master want to investigate gu ci? this was quite perplexing. it didn¡¯t seem like protection; if they were sending guards, it would be for gu ci¡¯s sake. but if they were sending spies, it meant they wanted to track gu ci¡¯s movements. this was the typical approach when third master wanted to investigate someone. ¡°she¡¯s very clever; don¡¯t startle the snake in the grass,¡± lu zhiyuan cautioned. ¡°understood!¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t help but ask one more question, ¡°third master, why do you want to investigate miss gu ci?¡± ¡°there¡¯s something i¡¯m curious about,¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°by the way, check on the classmate who played basketball with gu ci that day.¡± ¡°of course!¡± lu zhiyuan pondered in silence. gu ci was someone with a cold exterior and an even colder heart. it was difficult to warm her heart, and throughout her life, she only had one friend, zhou jinjin. while gu chuyun¡¯s influence in isolating her played a part, it was also because of her personality. now that gu chuyun was out of the picture, her life was smooth sailing, and she still didn¡¯t make many friends. her interactions with her classmates were at most discussions during breaks, having a meal together, and playing basketball on weekends, where she canceled on his invitation. this friend wasn¡¯t zhou jinjin, which was quite strange. both gu ci and gu ziyu had been busy with exams all week, so they had unintentionally overlooked lu zhiyuan. qin wan had attempted to assassinate lu zhiyuan again on thursday, grazing his arm with a bullet, leaving a bloodstain. once again, she vanished from the scene without a trace. the dark web¡¯s protection was impeccable, leaving no trace behind. lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t concerned about the second assassination attempt; he was more interested in the first one. that¡¯s why he instructed li jiang to focus all resources on investigating the first attempt. the black hawk¡¯s surveillance system had extensive coverage, and unexpectedly, the assassins from the dark web had yielded unexpected results; the cameras had captured chen fei¡¯s traces.. Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Baby’s Heart Is aching for Me, Right? chapter 280: baby¡¯s heart is aching for me, right? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when li jiang watched the surveillance footage, he was perplexed. ¡°third master, isn¡¯t this one of young master¡¯s personal guards?¡± he suddenly realized something, and a curse word slipped through his mind. lu zhiyuan asked with a stoic expression, ¡°he appeared in block c?¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang replied nervously. young master, you¡¯re truly remarkable! no wonder that shot missed; you must have incredible courage to attempt patricide! li jiang looked at lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression, and cold sweat started to form. ¡°third master, maybe it¡¯s just a misunderstanding. perhaps he was just passing by.¡± ¡°shut up!¡± li jiang fell silent, not daring to utter another word. young master, you¡¯re on your own now! lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t exactly say he was angry or happy about it; his feelings were rather complex. after all, gu ziyu had ordered chen fei to assassinate him, even if it was all a staged act. national security wanted pei qiu ying, and he had taken a risky move. his own son! his flesh and blood! li jiang thought about how third master had been investigating qin wan and gu ci lately. if it turned out that gu ci was involved as well, third master would be in a pitiful situation, with his wife and children coming after his life. ¡°third master, since young master sent someone to assassinate you, it¡¯s highly unlikely that miss gu ci was the killer in block a. chen fei fired a shot there, and it was very dangerous. if it were miss gu ci, chen fei wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression became extremely serious. on a saturday morning, lu zhiyuan appeared outside the blue fields villa. gu ci was both surprised and delighted. she had finished a week of exams and finally felt relaxed. she had woken up at 5:30 in the morning for a jog, feeling refreshed. when she returned from her run and saw lu zhiyuan standing at the door, she happily rushed over and hugged him. ¡°why are you here?¡± during the day, he maintained the persona of the third young master exceptionally well, smiling brightly in the morning light, appearing exceptionally dazzling. ¡°1 missed you!¡± gu ci smiled tenderly. ¡°i missed you too. i was planning to have breakfast and then find you. how about we go on a date?¡± li jiang cleared his throat. ¡°miss gu ci, third master has recently become the target of a major underworld dark web organization. he has been the target of multiple assassination attempts. going out on a date could be dangerous. how about¡­ having the date here?¡± gu ci nodded thoughtfully. ¡°you¡¯re right; it¡¯s too risky. let¡¯s have our date here.¡± gu ziyu had also woken up feeling refreshed. although he had exams in three days, they were just undergraduate exams, and he felt no pressure. he could handle them with ease. ¡°brother, why are you here?¡± gu ziyu glanced at his phone. ¡°are you here for breakfast?¡± ¡°i miss the breakfast you make for me!¡± ¡°you flatter me!¡± gu ci went to take a shower, leaving gu ziyu and lu zhiyuan playfully bantering while making breakfast. they kept it simple, just boiled eggs and cooked three bowls of shrimp noodles, which had a fiery aroma. lu zhiyuan looked at his seemingly harmless son, who greeted everyone with a smiling face, showing no signs of guilt or pressure. there was no way to tell he had sent someone to assassinate his own father. if lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t watched the surveillance footage and confirmed multiple times that it was chen fei, he wouldn¡¯t have believed that gu ziyu had ordered the assassination. ¡°i went to the hospital a few days ago for a check-up, and the sternum is at the root of the problem,¡± lu zhiyuan said on the sofa, leaning back gently, but his gaze was fixed on gu ziyu. ¡°why?¡± gu ziyu was genuinely concerned. ¡°the orthopedics department at central hospital is so famous. can¡¯t they fix it with some rest?¡± lu zhiyuan said with a hint of sadness, ¡°that day at the global racetrack, when i was attacked, i fell to the ground, causing a secondary injury. my bone cracked. the doctor warned me not to engage in strenuous activities. i didn¡¯t expect¡­ it would have such serious consequences.¡± gu ziyu thought about it for a moment. after that assassination attempt by chen fei, will my father¡¯s sternum, which suffered lasting damage, never fully heal throughout his lifetime? ¡°can it be reset, the broken bone?¡± gu ziyu proposed a reasonable solution. lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°what did you say?¡± gu ziyu mentally reviewed what he had said and chuckled sheepishly, ¡°i heard someone say that if bones don¡¯t heal well, you can break them again and reconnect them.¡± ¡°which quack told you that?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but there was an invisible pressure. ¡°my mother, gu ci.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed inwardly. quack, gu ci, was standing upstairs, tying her hair. ¡°i¡¯m a quack?¡± ¡°you¡¯re a miracle worker!¡± lu zhiyuan said desperately. gu ziyu brought the bowl of shrimp noodles, looking somewhat serious, and added three extra shrimp and an additional sunny-side-up egg to the bowl meant for lu zhiyuan. gu ci hadn¡¯t heard the earlier part of the conversation but noticed her son¡¯s unfair treatment. ¡°baby, why does he have an extra sunny-side-up egg compared to me?¡± ¡°maybe it¡¯s because of the aftermath of my sternum, and my baby is worried about me,¡± lu zhiyuan smiled kindly at gu ziyu. ¡°right, my love?¡± gu ziyu nodded numbly, feeling a bit guilty. gu ci frowned, ¡°why would your sternum have an aftermath? i¡¯ve seen the reports, and you were healing well, even faster than others.¡± gu ziyu became even more numb, not answering. lu zhiyuan coughed awkwardly and said, ¡°i was attacked at global racetrack that day, and it injured my bone. the doctor said it might leave some aftereffects.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°what kind of aftereffects?¡± ¡°it might ache frequently, and there might be hypertrophy.¡± hypertrophy of the sternum could be troublesome. ¡°which incompetent doctor diagnosed that? show me the report!¡± gu ci reached for the report, but lu zhiyuan, who had been lying all along, hesitated. he didn¡¯t actually have a report. he did it to test his son! ¡°the report is at home,¡± lu zhiyuan calmly changed the topic. ¡°gu ziyu just suggested breaking the sternum and resetting it.¡± ¡°you¡¯re tattling on me, you¡¯re so childish!¡± lu zhiyuan seemed to smirk, looking a bit wicked. he asked gu ziyu, ¡°do you know that the person who attacked me at global center was a national security agent? did you know about this?¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow. she suddenly looked at gu ziyu. in that moment, gu ziyu¡¯s acting skills soared, ¡°what? it was a national security agent? that¡¯s impossible. why would national security people assassinate you? mom, i really had no idea about this. are you sure there¡¯s no mistake?¡± lu zhiyuan, without hesitation, produced surveillance footage and placed it in front of gu ziyu. ¡°recognize this person? it¡¯s chen fei!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°how could it be chen fei? i¡­ 1 swear to god, i really didn¡¯t know about this. we¡¯ve had midterm exams at our school recently, and i¡¯ve been swamped with studying for the past two weeks. i haven¡¯t been to the office for a while. the old man even gave me time off and told me to come back after the exams.¡± on this point, gu ci could actually vouch for him. she thought about gu ziyu¡¯s recent exam frequency and stress. he really didn¡¯t have time to deal with national security matters.. moreover, if chen liangdong knew she was dating lu zhiyuan, would he inform gu ziyu about an assassination attempt on lu zhiyuan? Chapter 281 - Chapter 281:I Can Hurt Him, But You Can’t chapter 281:i can hurt him, but you can¡¯t translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°yes, ziyu has been busy reviewing and taking exams, so he hasn¡¯t had time to go to national security.¡± gu ci silently pondered. after the incident with the gunshot, she had gone back home first to change clothes. ziyu wasn¡¯t at home at the time, and she didn¡¯t ask where he had gone. by the time she returned from global the second time, ziyu had already started his revision. ¡°why did national security want to assassinate me?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°be more precise. why did they want to assassinate the third master? after all, we share a dual soul. if he dies, i¡¯m gone too.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± gu ziyu replied without changing his expression. he had been a big shot in his previous life, and disguise and concealment were his specialties. plus, he genuinely looked harmless, making it easy for him to gain others¡¯ trust. ¡°i¡¯ll ask the old man about it after my exams are over.¡± ¡°that¡¯s not necessary!¡± lu zhiyuan said with a light laugh. ¡°the third master will investigate.¡± gu ziyu held his bowl, took a sip of soup, and almost buried his face in the bowl. after a moment, he said, ¡°chen fei is very skilled at assassination, tracking, and the first shot of a sniper is hard to dodge. how did you manage to avoid it?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. what a dutiful son! ¡°you want me to get shot in the head?¡± ¡°that¡¯s not what i meant!¡± gu ziyu nervously thought, my dad is so cunning. if mom overhears this, she¡¯ll explode. he actually touched her precious sweetheart. his mom¡¯s logic was, i can hurt him, but you can¡¯t! ¡°what i mean is, chen fei¡¯s shots never miss. you¡¯re still alive, so it suggests that national security may not necessarily want to take your life.¡± ¡°someone fired a shot first, hitting pei qiuying. my security team was on high alert, so i escaped. had li jiang reacted three seconds slower, i would have been shot in the head.¡± ¡°wait¡­doesn¡¯t he have the ability to teleport?¡± gu ziyu only sent chen fei for the assassination because of this ability. after all, he could fly and teleport. it would be ridiculous if someone with superpowers got shot and killed. lu zhiyuan chuckled and said, ¡°he¡¯s just recovered from a serious injury, so he can¡¯t teleport.¡± gu ci and gu ziyu were both dumbstruck. gu ziyu had just learned that the third master was seriously injured and couldn¡¯t teleport. he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep sense of peril. if he couldn¡¯t teleport and reacted too slowly, wouldn¡¯t he have become the first person to commit patricide? he felt guilty. although his father was safe now, there were lingering aftereffects. gu ziyu said with deep regret, ¡°when you¡¯re old, i¡¯ll take care of you.¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. gu ci was choked on her fried egg, coughing violently. son, there¡¯s no need for such distant considerations. his sternum isn¡¯t that easy to have any scary aftereffects. ¡°since chen fei shot me, why did he also shoot the assassin on the opposite side?¡± lu zhiyuan asked calmly. gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. this topic couldn¡¯t continue. ¡°third brother, you¡¯ve always been indifferent to third master¡¯s affairs. why are you suddenly so concerned?¡± ¡°if he dies, can i survive?¡± lu zhiyuan maintained his role firmly. ¡°this troublemaker, let him die if he wants to, but don¡¯t involve me.¡± gu ci had to admit that the third master¡¯s acting skills were excellent. sometimes she almost couldn¡¯t distinguish between him and the third young master. but when he played the role of the third young master, she found herself deeply entrapped. she always looked for traces of the third young master in him, even though she knew she was like a person dying of thirst, hopelessly lost, and yet she didn¡¯t dare to reveal any genuine emotions for fear of being discovered by the third master! during this breakfast, gu ziyu ate nervously, caught in the guilt of patricide, and was also scrutinized by gu ci¡¯s gaze. because chen fei didn¡¯t know that it was gu ci and qin wan on the opposite side, he fired another shot. gu ziyu numbly thought that if chen fei was a perfect marksman, he would have turned himself into an orphan with his skills! fortunately, before chen fei set out, he had been repeatedly instructed not to take lives. so when he was caught on camera, he fired at the glass. plus, without specific orders, chen fei wouldn¡¯t randomly kill people. shooting at the glass was just meant to divert attention. after lu zhiyuan accompanied gu ci to the study, gu ziyu went back to his room and called chen liangdong. ¡°our national security¡¯s assassination system isn¡¯t perfect enough. chen fei was caught on camera. lu zhiyuan just asked me why national security wanted to kill him.¡± chen liangdong asked, ¡°you didn¡¯t admit it, did you?¡± ¡°i¡¯m putting all the blame on you. 1 won¡¯t admit it even if i die.¡± chen liangdong chuckled. ¡°will this create a rift between you two?¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± blood is thicker than water, but their career paths are different. they need to maintain a boundary. ¡°the underworld¡¯s assassination system is quite perfect. they have someone handling surveillance and someone providing support. we should learn from them.¡± this was also to protect their sniper. after all, a qualified sniper was a rare talent. it took many years to cultivate one, and chen fei was the ace in their system. ¡°this is something that needs improvement,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°national security¡¯s main responsibility is intelligence collection and analysis. large-scale operations require the cooperation of the operations department. this time was quite unexpected, sending out chen fei wasn¡¯t our specialty, so it¡¯s normal to be caught on camera. let¡¯s learn from this experience.¡± ¡°we need our own sharp tool,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°i¡¯ll write a formal report based on the underworld¡¯s assassination this time. we¡¯ll make improvements if necessary. i¡¯ve almost figured out how they handle assassinations.¡± gu ziyu could simulate how the underworld operated in assassinations based on surveillance and qin wan¡¯s movements. they took great care to protect their sniper. so, they would provide immediate cover for qin wan to withdraw if necessary. this was a special date. after gu ci¡¯s exams, she had plenty of free time, and all her thoughts were on the underworld¡¯s dark web activities. she had originally planned to discuss saving jiang junlin with dr. north, but when lu zhiyuan arrived, she postponed the plan. having a date at home was unfamiliar to gu ci, and it was even more unfamiliar to lu zhiyuan. gu ci took him to the home theater to watch a movie. since the last time she and lu zhiyuan were besieged by fans while watching a movie, gu ci had specifically organized a private theater. while the screen wasn¡¯t as large as a cinema, it was still substantial, covering the entire wall. ¡°is your sternum really suffering from aftereffects, or were you just fooling ziyu?¡± ¡°i was fooling him. that little rascal actually sent someone to kill me!¡± gu ci¡¯s mouth twitched, and she chuckled. ¡°is it perhaps chen liangdong¡¯s idea?¡± ¡°do you believe it?¡± ¡°i believe anything he says!¡± gu ci had a deep filter, ¡°whatever he says, i believe it!¡± ¡°do you believe anything 1 say?¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t argue with that, and lu zhiyuan snorted. lately, he had maintained the persona of the third young master quite steadily. gu ci found it intriguing. at the beginning, when he portrayed the third young master, his acting was inconsistent, but recently, he had truly become convincing. sometimes, she even felt like the third young master had returned. gu ci stared at him steadily, but lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t quite like that kind of gaze.. he felt as if she was looking at someone else in his eyes, so he asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± Chapter 282 - Chapter 282:I Want to Kiss You chapter 282:i want to kiss you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i want to kiss you!¡± gu ci exclaimed as she got up, sitting on his lap and leaning in to kiss him. she gently caressed his ear, a sensitive spot for third master. he enjoyed having gu ci kiss his ear, and at the same time, his ears were unusually sensitive. gu ci¡¯s touch made them turn red. in the dimly lit theater, the temperature rose inch by inch. gu ci closed her eyes, feeling a pang in her heart. she kissed the underside of lu zhiyuan¡¯s jaw, experiencing a mix of sensations. lu zhiyuan shivered all over, his adam¡¯s apple bobbing. gu ci lightly bit down, teasing, ¡°third brother, you¡¯re so sensitive!¡± third master remained silent. he pulled her into his embrace, kissing her passionately. he had no idea what was playing in the movie; it was long forgotten. gu ci¡¯s hand, however, ventured toward his belt. lu zhiyuan forced himself to push her away; he couldn¡¯t let things escalate further. ¡°don¡¯t you want it?¡± she asked. ¡°you¡­¡± third master¡¯s voice was husky and soft. ¡°you¡¯re only eighteen.¡± ¡°i¡¯m an adult now!¡± ¡°what about pregnancy?¡± gu ci blinked in confusion. didn¡¯t you know there¡¯s something called a condom? lu zhiyuan was tormented. pregnancy was his temporary excuse, and it felt like he was roasting over a fire of his own making. he had promised third master that he wouldn¡¯t harm gu ci, and when he woke up to see the look in gu ci¡¯s eyes, he knew she was deeply upset. so, he continued to act along. in that moment, he didn¡¯t think too much. he just wanted to go with the flow, and when gu ci¡¯s emotions stabilized, he planned to tell her that third young master couldn¡¯t return temporarily. however, li jiang informed him that after third young master¡¯s incident, gu ci¡¯s condition had worsened, and her state was far from good. so, he had no choice but to continue the act. he told himself he would act for just one week and then reveal the truth to gu ci once she was feeling better. but after a week, gu ci¡¯s condition showed no improvement. even when she slept beside him, she would wake up, crying and calling for lu zhiyuan, calling him third brother. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t bear it and told himself he would wait another month before revealing the truth to gu ci. however, after spending so much time together, gu ci had become special to him. he watched her and third young master fall in love, sharing an intimate bond. this young girl held a place in his heart heavier than anyone else¡¯s. whenever something happened to her, he felt an inexplicable connection, rushing to her side. but she belonged to third young master! third young master had warned him not to get close to gu ci, so he restrained his feelings, keeping them limited to just affection. he tried to keep her at a distance in his heart, but during this time, she broke through that barrier and entered his heart. gradually, he found it impossible to speak the truth. he was in agony, tormented, deeply attached, and drowning in his emotions. he wanted to possess her, but he knew he shouldn¡¯t take advantage of her vulnerable state. gu ci sought a shadow of third young master in him, and that look in her eyes left him breathless. she was the woman he couldn¡¯t love! he and third young master had grown up together, drawn together and repelled apart, yet they always protected each other. when third young master fell in love with someone, he would tell lu zhiyuan first and ask him to stay away. they couldn¡¯t live like normal people, and couldn¡¯t openly engage in a romantic relationship. they were destined to be lonely, and their pride kept them from seeking companionship. they couldn¡¯t possibly share a woman, but ironically, lu zhiyuan had developed desires for gu ci. he had to desperately restrain these desires. if it weren¡¯t for third young master, he would use any means to keep her by his side, to make her fall in love with him. but, unfortunately, it was third young master! he was acutely aware that he was a temporary substitute for third young master. one day, he would disappear, and this love would vanish as well. gu ci had chosen third young master. if it weren¡¯t for third young master¡¯s temporary slumber, he and gu ci would have had no connection, and their paths would never have crossed in this lifetime! the greater the joy in love, the sharper the pain. the more love there was, the more painful it became. ¡°cici, i¡¯m not¡­¡± ¡°mom, i want to watch the movie too!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice echoed from upstairs, followed by the sound of him running down the stairs. his voice interrupted third master¡¯s confession. the words ¡°i¡¯m not him¡± almost slipped out of his mouth but were once again interrupted. gu ziyu pushed open the door to the theater. there was a row of soft seats inside, and gu ci and lu zhiyuan were sitting side by side, each holding a pillow, with identical postures, completely absorbed in the movie! the movie was the latest popcorn flick, not yet released in china but already out in europe and america. gu ziyu had turned the original film upside down, and neither mother nor son had had a chance to watch it yet! lu zhiyuan watched gu ziyu calmly, knowing that one person¡¯s resentful gaze couldn¡¯t stop him. but this was a theater specially set up by gu ci, with dim lighting, and gu ziyu was completely unaware of any tension in the atmosphere. ¡°mom, is it good?¡± gu ziyu sat beside gu ci, oblivious to the odd atmosphere, opened a drawer, took out a bucket of popcorn, and started munching. after watching for ten minutes, gu ci, who had been busy kissing lu zhiyuan all along, had no idea about the plot. she numbly responded to the little light bulb, ¡°it¡¯s very good!¡± gu ziyu held the popcorn and thought for a moment. ¡°can 1 sit between you two? that way, you can both eat popcorn easily!¡± gu ci shifted to the side, still in a daze. gu ziyu asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°dad, want some?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want any!¡± ¡°mom, want some?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want any!¡± gu ziyu finally sensed a bit of chilliness. why were his parents so cold to him? did he do something wrong? did mom find out that he tried to assassinate dad and got angry? hmm! he could get angry too. in his mom¡¯s heart, dad was obviously the most important. for dad¡¯s sake, she even gave him a cold shoulder! the family of three watched the movie in silence. in the warm family atmosphere, gu ziyu still had a child¡¯s mentality. he got angry for a while but quickly forgave and forgot. ¡°last time when you went to the movies with us, you kept spoiling the plot the whole time. we almost got beaten up. 1 didn¡¯t expect you to hold back this time,¡± gu ziyu taunted lu zhiyuan. he loved going to the movies as a family of three, even if it meant a crowded theater! ¡°i haven¡¯t seen it, so 1 can¡¯t spoil it!¡± lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t watched this new movie. watching movies was third young master¡¯s thing. third young master could watch it once and remember the plot, so it was as if lu zhiyuan had watched it too. he had little connection to entertainment. ¡°it¡¯s really great. otherwise, listening to your spoilers during the movie is so annoying!¡± gu ziyu enthusiastically invited, ¡°have some popcorn.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t eat snacks.¡± ¡°didn¡¯t you enjoy them last time?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned. ¡°quiet, watch the movie!¡± as the movie reached its conclusion, gu ci quite enjoyed watching popcorn movies. the plot was the typical heroism theme, but it had heart-touching sincerity. it was thrilling when it needed to be, and emotional when it needed to be. both the dialogue and action scenes were impressive. after the movie, it was almost time for lunch.. Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Father and Son Fight chapter 283: father and son fight translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan planned to spend the whole day at the blue fields villa. he had recently taken on the role of a carefree shopkeeper and was quite content. gu ci had originally intended to plan the rescue of jiang junlin. however, lu zhiyuan was always around, and she couldn¡¯t avoid him, nor could she show any signs of unwelcoming him. gu ci, who deeply loved lu zhiyuan, would cough up blood every time she saw him in danger. without him, she would feel like she was dying. how could she refuse to be alone with him? she could only postpone the plan a bit longer! coincidentally, there was a snowstorm in paris, and this weather was not suitable for a rescue operation. gu ci had essentially locked down the whereabouts of ji chi and jiang junlin, but she couldn¡¯t make any rash moves; she had to be cautious. gu ci went to prepare lunch. gu ziyu was very excited and took out the chessboard to challenge lu zhiyuan to another round of chess. lu zhiyuan naturally agreed and they played five rounds. he lost four rounds and came very close to winning one round but was turned around by lu zhiyuan. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but send a text message to lu zhiyuan when she saw her son¡¯s disappointed face. gu ci: let him win a round; ziyu is competitive. if he keeps losing, he won¡¯t even enjoy his meal. lu zhiyuan: understood. gu ci: make it seem natural! lu zhiyuan deliberately let ziyu win in a very natural manner. so, in this round, they played for half an hour, and the outcome was still undecided. he forced himself to play at ziyu¡¯s level. ziyu happily captured one of lu zhiyuan¡¯s rooks and jumped around with joy. the joy of a child is so simple. ¡°let¡¯s eat first and leave the endgame for later!¡± while they were playing chess, gu ci had prepared all the ingredients. she had made an old duck soup as the base for the hotpot. ziyu and lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t particularly like hotpot. whether it was the third master or the third young master, neither of them liked hotpot, a rare point of agreement between them. but gu ci enjoyed it; hotpot in winter was the most comforting. the ingredients were all their favorites: beef, lamb, seafood, and so on. when the hotpot base started to boil, the aroma filled the air. both lu zhiyuan and ziyu, tempted by the delicious smell, temporarily called a truce. they didn¡¯t like eating hotpot with others, but as a family of three, neither ziyu nor lu zhiyuan had any complaints. this was their first time eating hotpot as a family of three. ziyu loaded up a big scoop of beef and smiled, his face flushed and happy. gu ci asked with a smile, ¡°are you this happy?¡± ziyu smiled subtly and raised his cola, ¡°come on, let¡¯s celebrate our first hotpot meal together!¡± ¡°do we really need to celebrate this?¡± lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, but his body honestly raised the glass of milk that gu ci had poured for him. he wanted to complain about eating hotpot and drinking milk, but he had to refrain, considering his recent recovery. gu ci didn¡¯t care whether gu ziyu drank cola, but due to his recent recovery from a severe injury, he wasn¡¯t allowed to have beverages or alcohol. ¡°do you understand the importance of rituals?¡± gu ziyu happily clinked glasses with gu ci and lu zhiyuan. even though they had recently been at odds, it didn¡¯t affect their celebration of being reunited at the dinner table. ¡°mom, wait for me. after we finish eating, i¡¯ll play chess with him again, and this time, 1 have a feeling i¡¯ll win!¡± ¡°you¡¯re so talented, a true young prodigy!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. who had asked him to let his son win, and now she was praising him like this? it felt so contradictory! ¡°in about ten days, it¡¯ll be the chinese new year. do we want to celebrate it together this year?¡± gu ziyu asked, with some anticipation. it would be another fresh experience. as a family of three, they had never celebrated the chinese new year together before! gu ziyu had been looking forward to it for a while. gu ci and lu zhiyuan exchanged a glance. gu ci really wanted lu zhiyuan to celebrate the new year with them, but lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t predict the situation then. what if the third young master woke up? he was afraid he might not have a chance to celebrate the new year with them. ¡°sure!¡± lu zhiyuan agreed first. he could have lunch at the lu mansion and then meet them in the evening. ¡°that¡¯s great! after i finish my exams, we can go buy couplets and new year¡¯s goodies together!¡± gu ziyu was now excited. he was usually introverted and enjoyed staying at home, but he was starting to look forward to the festive atmosphere. ¡°sounds good!¡± lu zhiyuan also agreed, looking at ziyu¡¯s eager eyes, feeling a bit uneasy. the child¡¯s gaze softened his heart, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say a word of refusal. ¡°what kind of new year goodies do you like?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°i like pastries, all sorts of snacks. i love them all.¡± gu ziyu was at that age where he was growing and had a sweet tooth. gu ci served some spot prawns for gu ziyu and said in her usual tone, ¡°this new year might not be easy. big brother won¡¯t be able to come back, and your uncle is still thinking about how to explain it. i don¡¯t know if grandma and grandpa will believe it. it seems like it¡¯s the first year that big brother won¡¯t be home for the new year.¡± the jiang family placed great importance on traditions and etiquette. regardless of how busy the younger generation was or where they were on business trips, on chinese new year¡¯s eve, they had to come back to celebrate, have a reunion dinner, and stay up late together. most likely, her brother would want her and ziyu to go back with him. it might not be possible for them to celebrate the new year as a family of three! whenever gu ci mentioned jiang junlin, lu zhiyuan chose to remain silent, focusing on eating meat and not saying another word. ¡°maybe¡­ he¡¯ll be back for the new year!¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°1 video-called with my uncle the other day. he¡¯s lost a lot of weight, and he and ji chi had a really brutal fight.¡± ¡°is he seriously injured?¡± gu ci worried. ¡°not seriously, it looks like surface wounds. uncle is a clean freak and picky about food. being locked up in a place like that must be tough for him. i bet if it wasn¡¯t for maintaining basic metabolism, he wouldn¡¯t eat anything!¡± ¡°poor big brother!¡± lu zhiyuan also enjoyed some spot prawns and couldn¡¯t help but suspect that mother and son were deliberately bringing up jiang junlin in front of him, taking turns to mention him! gu ci and gu ziyu exchanged a look, and gu ci cautiously said, ¡°third brother, can¡¯t you just talk to third master and ask ji chi to release my brother? he¡¯s been locked up for over a month; that¡¯s enough!¡± ¡°this has nothing to do with me!¡± lu zhiyuan deflected the issue, ¡°you can go talk to third master yourself.¡± gu ci was left speechless, finding it hard to distinguish truth from falsehood. gu ziyu, calmly enjoying some yellowthroat fish, continued, ¡°you¡¯re going to marry my mom sooner or later, and uncle is your elder uncle. what¡¯s the benefit of offending your elder uncle? aren¡¯t you afraid that when you go to propose, he¡¯ll slap you out of the house!¡± lu zhiyuan was dumbfounded. it was a valid argument, and he couldn¡¯t refute it! ¡°my cheap grandpa and real uncle probably have no chance now. my mom definitely won¡¯t acknowledge them. it¡¯ll be like the eldest son for the father. you¡¯ll have to deal with the jiang family frequently in the future,¡± gu ziyu reasoned, ¡°if you release my uncle now, everyone will remember your favor. you¡¯ll gain brownie points.¡± ¡°aren¡¯t my brownie points good enough? apart from jiang junlin, isn¡¯t the entire jiang family my fan club?¡± ¡°you¡¯re not trying hard enough. you need to make your uncle your fan too!¡± ¡°forget it!¡± lu zhiyuan remained unfazed. ¡°even third master couldn¡¯t persuade ji chi. your relationship with him is quite close, isn¡¯t it? you go talk to ji chi and get him to release your brother!¡± ¡°if he¡¯s willing, would 1 bother coming to you?¡± gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but retort. ¡°third master said ji chi isn¡¯t willing either.¡± ¡°huh?¡± gu ziyu snorted, ¡°can¡¯t even control his own people.. third master is a failure!¡± Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Baby Threatens Mommy chapter 284: baby threatens mommy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat tran station lu zhiyuan raised his legs and smiled somewhat mischievously, ¡°is this meant to be a ransom meal? should i eat this meal or not?¡± listening to the banter between the father and son, gu ci poured him another glass of milk. ¡°third master¡¯s affairs have nothing to do with you. ziyu was just talking casually.¡± gu ziyu stayed silent. the conversation at the table then shifted to chinese new year matters. gu ziyu didn¡¯t get a chance to win the final round against lu zhiyuan. after lunch, lu ze called, saying he had arrived at rhe global center. lu zhiyuan got up and left after the call. once his car disappeared from view, gu ziyu narrowed his eyes and asked gu ci, ¡°mom, he¡¯s third master, right?¡± gu ci was momentarily stunned and looked at gu ziyu. with just one glance, gu ziyu understood that gu ci had known all along. ¡°how did you figure it out? he¡¯s been acting exceptionally well lately, so convincing that sometimes i thought he had truly returned,¡± gu ci¡¯s tone carried a hint of melancholy. ¡°the last time we played chess together, i had my suspicions. dad doesn¡¯t pay attention to anything except racing, yet he played a great game of chess. i found it perplexing. maybe it¡¯s a shared skill since third master is also into racing. but today, when 1 called him ¡®dad¡¯ at the movie theater, he actually responded,¡± gu ziyu said firmly. ¡°dad doesn¡¯t know the truth yet, so why would he naturally respond? plus, he¡¯s way too concerned about assassination/¡¯ third young master never paid any attention to third master¡¯s affairs. ¡°since the car accident, he¡¯s always been third master!¡± gu ci pulled gu ziyu to sit down beside her. ¡°now that you¡¯ve seen through it, don¡¯t expose it. just join us in playing this role.¡± ¡°mom!¡± gu ziyu was anxious. he finally understood why, before going abroad, his mother¡¯s condition had been under control, but after his dad¡¯s accident, her mental state had deteriorated day by day. on the day they returned from global center, they didn¡¯t speak a word on the way back. he now realized that both his parents had been acting all along, living in a fantasy world together. ¡°is he not coming back?¡± gu ziyu asked cautiously, fearing to upset gu ci. gu ci gazed out the window with a distant look. ¡°i don¡¯t know!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. ¡°mom, do you¡­do you want to keep playing this forever?¡± continuing the charade meant she would never accept rhe truth. this was a ticking time bomb! her mental state would never improve! fortunately, her focus had been diverted by her brother¡¯s recent issues, sparing her from the consequences. if not for that, the situation could have been much worse; her brother¡¯s troubles had been a timely distraction. ¡°what can 1 do if 1 don¡¯t act anymore? tell him directly?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. ¡°ziyu, please don¡¯t shatter my illusions. i beg you, son!¡± ¡°let¡¯s see a doctor, okay?¡± gu ziyu said softly, holding her hand with a touch of sadness. ¡°i¡¯m a doctor myself.¡± the trickiest patients were those who had given up on treatment and didn¡¯t want to be cured, preferring to live in a false world. gu ci was well aware of her current emotional state third master¡¯s disguise, all the warmth and sweetness, were nothing but a mirage, yet she remained entrapped in it. ¡°at the very least, we need to understand what¡¯s going on!¡± gu ziyu said in a hushed tone. ¡°if you don¡¯t ask, you¡¯ll never know: is dad gone forever, or is it just temporary? if it¡¯s temporary, when can he come back? that way, you¡¯ll have some peace of mind.¡± gu ziyu feared that lu zhiyuan would never return, and gu ci was unwilling to accept the truth. one day, when third master no longer wanted to play along, her mirage would be shattered, and his mom would lose her sanity! ¡°ziyu, is this not good?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were red as she looked at gu ziyu. ¡°nothing has changed, he¡¯s often by your side, playing chess with you, having meals together. our family can stay together. what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°what if he doesn¡¯t want to play anymore?¡± gu ziyu refused to indulge gu ci. he knew that if he kept indulging her, the outcome would be losing her. even if it made his mother sad, he had to make gu ci see the truth. ¡°he¡¯s fully committed to black hawk, so why would he act in this play? my guess is that dad asked him to before he left, so he agreed to act with you. but it¡¯s all fake. a performance always ends, actors always leave the stage. we can¡¯t live in this play forever.¡± ¡°mom doesn¡¯t want to wake up!¡± gu ci calmly watched her own soul deteriorating. ¡°ziyu, i¡¯m sorry!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes turned red, and he felt heartbroken. he saw his mother from a past life once again. his mother perpetually slept within the nightmare of that past life, and he had already broken free. but no one was there to lead her out. when they returned from global center, that day when he saw her condition deteriorating, he panicked, feeling like he had made the wrong choices. he couldn¡¯t indulge her anymore. ¡°mom, in my past life, after you lost your sanity, i went down the wrong path. i suffered for you, which is why i indulged you. we depended on each other, and i was afraid of losing you. do you know? when you lost control of yourself, hitting me really hurt.¡± gu ziyu opened his shirt, revealing the scars, the evidence of the nightmare he had experienced in that past life. ¡°i¡¯d rather let you keep hurting me, tormenting me, than shatter your beautiful dreams. but in the end, i still lost you. so in this life, i won¡¯t indulge you anymore. mom, you must see a doctor. you can¡¯t live in your delusions. your emotions, whether joy or sorrow, are all fake, and you¡¯ll never be able to accept the fact that he left you.¡± gu ziyu looked at the tearful gu ci and spoke gently, ¡°mom, even if dad is gone, i¡¯ll still be here by your side.¡± gu ci gazed at the scars on gu ziyu¡¯s body, like a series of knives cutting into her heart. she trembled as she clutched his clothes. but she still didn¡¯t offer him a promise. ¡°i understand. the person who can untangle the bell is the one who tied it in the first place. i¡¯m not your solution,¡± gu ziyu wiped away his tears, ¡°but 1 absolutely can t indulge your addiction anymore.¡± his mother, brave, strong, beautiful, intelligent ¨C he could use all the words to describe her. but if lu zhiyuan were to die, his mother would turn into a walking corpse. she was still trapped in the nightmare of the past life. she had imprisoned herself in that nightmare, and besides the father from the past life, who else could lead her out? ¡°ziyu, are you really going to force me?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°if i jump from the top of global center, would you be willing to see a doctor?¡± gu ziyu delivered a harsh ultimatum, causing gu ci to suddenly look up at him. ¡°what are you talking about?¡± ¡°anyway, as long as you have lu zhiyuan it doesn¡¯t matter whether i¡¯m alive or not,¡± gu ziyu self-mockingly said.. ¡°mom, i may not have superpowers, but i can keep my word!¡± Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: The Way to be Outdone chapter 285: the way to be outdone translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°don¡¯t you dare!¡± gu ci grabbed his arm, trembling all over. ¡°mom promise you¡­ to see a doctor.¡± ¡°when,¡± gu ziyu said expressionlessly. ¡°after the new year!¡± ¡°you¡¯re not just lying to me, are you?¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°mom, i¡¯m not easy to deceive.¡± ¡°before going abroad, it was master who was treating my illness. if we want treatment, we have to wait for her to come back.¡± gu ci nervously grabbed his arm. ¡°ziyu, you¡¯ve finally got a bright future. don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± ¡°mom, i say the same to you.¡± gu ziyu gently wiped away her tears. ¡°even if dad doesn¡¯t come back and third uncle doesn¡¯t love you, it doesn¡¯t matter. if you want him to be with you, try hard to make him fall in love with you, and you can have what you want. or, find a young talent again for the rest of your life. i don¡¯t mind, but you can¡¯t stay like this, immersed in lies.¡± she would go crazy in those lies! ¡°okay!¡± gu ci agreed earnestly, but she had nightmares at night. gu ziyu was awakened by her screams, approached gu ci¡¯s bedroom cautiously, and saw gu ci taking medication frantically. he had seen those pills; they were antidepressants! after taking the pills, she calmed down a bit but couldn¡¯t sleep. she sat on the windowsill, biting her hand, crying in depression. ¡°third brother, when will you come back?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes also turned red. despite his tough attitude during the day, as soon as gu ci shed tears, he would surrender. gu ziyu slapped himself in self-blame. he shouldn¡¯t have used such a heavy-handed approach. he should have taken it slowly. he had been too careless. on that night when mom took so many sleeping pills, it was obviously abnormal, but he was fooled by her words, thinking she was just tired from taking care of dad. when mom came back, did she spend all those sleepless nights crying alone? what should he do? paris, ji chi¡¯s home. ji chi¡¯s arm infection had reached a terrifying stage. nick almost begged him to go to the hospital, but ji chi remained indifferent and had the family doctor handle it. he glanced at the dark room. jiang junlin was lying on his side, facing away from the camera. jiang junlin knew he was being monitored, and he often turned away from the camera. but after three minutes, when he looked again, jiang junlin was still in the same position, not moving. ji chi frowned, realizing something was wrong. he hurriedly left the dark room. ¡°jiang junlin¡­¡± ji chi was rarely flustered. he thought someone had tampered with the surveillance, and jiang junlin had been rescued. but when he left the dark room, he realized he had been too suspicious. jiang junlin was lying on his side, motionless, and seemed unresponsive even when he heard ji chi¡¯s voice. ji chi turned to go upstairs, but then he felt something was amiss and walked back. after taking a closer look, his face turned pale. jiang junlin had passed out. his face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. he was clutching his stomach and curled up. ¡°jiang junlin, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ji chi turned him over and got a better look. cold sweat had soaked his clothes, and jiang junlin was in a state of semi-consciousness. ji chi put his hand on his stomach. ¡°nick, call a doctor!¡± the family doctor arrived quickly. based on jiang junlin¡¯s condition, the initial diagnosis was acute gastritis. the doctor said, ¡°acute gastritis needs to be treated in the hospital. he has been locked up by you for several days, and if the situation worsens with complications, there may be irreversible damage. please¡­¡± ¡°nick, prepare the car, we¡¯re going to the hospital!¡± ji chi urgently unlocked the chains, ignoring the scars on his own arm, and picked up the semi-conscious jiang junlin. they hurriedly left! nick was stunned. ji chi, your arm is almost ruined, and everyone begged you to go, but you refused. now that something happens to mr. jiang, you¡¯re willing to go to the hospital at the slightest sign of trouble? ¡°prepare the car immediately!¡± nick commanded, ordering all the guards to assemble and clear obstacles on the road to prevent interference from the underworld dark web. dr. north contacted gu ci without hesitation. gu ci made a quick decision, ¡°this is a rare opportunity. hospitals are full of chaos and the easiest targets. don¡¯t hesitate. i¡¯ll dispatch another team to assist you. you must rescue my brother!¡± ¡°understood!¡± one of the guards beside dr. north activated a recording device, and gu ci watched the feed, assessing the situation on the scene. she then entrusted command to dr. north. jiang junlin¡¯s condition was critical, and there was a hospital within five kilometers. nick had already made arrangements, and the operating room and ward were ready. when jiang junlin was placed in the car, he opened his eyes. the car headed downhill. ¡°brother, is your stomach hurting?¡± ji chi held his hand, urgently asking, ¡°apart from your stomach, where else does it hurt?¡± jiang junlin silently pulled his hand away. ji chi knew he had a history of stomach problems, but they weren¡¯t particularly severe. they even had stomach medicine on hand, so if jiang junlin felt unwell, he could take it. why did it escalate to acute gastritis? jiang junlin closed his eyes and refused to speak to ji chi. other than the driver and nick, there were four cars leading the way in front, and four cars following behind. ¡°jiang junlin, talk to me. where does it hurt?¡± jiang junlin remained silent, and ji chi became both anxious and frustrated. they had just gotten off the car, not even a minute had passed, when jiang junlin suddenly turned over and sat up. he grabbed ji chi¡¯s throat, his voice hoarse but calm, ¡°drive to the city!¡± ¡°brother?¡± in the snow, ji chi¡¯s eyes were cold and filled with pain. ¡°are you really pretending?¡± jiang junlin frowned, speaking coldly, ¡°drive to the city, or i¡¯ll kill your master!¡± ¡°you can go ahead and kill me!¡± ji chi sneered. ¡°drive to the suburban hospital, ignore him!¡± he remained calm and unbothered, not caring that his life was in jiang junlin¡¯s hands. he tilted his neck, exposing his most vulnerable artery. ¡°come on, kill me, and then you can join me in the grave!¡± ¡°ji chi!¡± jiang junlin struck him with a punch on the face. ¡°shut up!¡± ji chi instantly had bloodstains on his face from the punch, but he didn¡¯t care. the driver didn¡¯t know whose orders to follow. jiang junlin, in the end, used one hand to seize ji chi¡¯s throat and his other hand to hit ji chi¡¯s neck from behind. ji chi fainted instantly. ¡°to the city, or i¡¯ll kill him!¡± ji chi slumped softly onto jiang junlin, his head landing on jiang junlin¡¯s abdomen. jiang junlin¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat, and nick saw this. he clenched his teeth and said, ¡°to the city!¡± ¡°yes!¡± the driver followed the command. however, as soon as they turned onto the road, an off-road vehicle suddenly rushed in, crashing into the car carrying jiang junlin and ji chi. the slippery road, combined with excessive speed, caused the off-road vehicle to collide with their car and flip it over! jiang junlin and ji chi were in the back seat without seatbelts fastened, and in an instant, they were thrown out of the car. ji chi remained unconscious. jiang junlin turned his head to see the oncoming vehicle just before it crashed through the glass, and immediately after, their security vehicle flipped over.. Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Just Like Back When We Were Running for chapter 286: just like back when we were running for our lives together translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the accident happened too fast, without any time to react. jiang junlin instinctively held onto ji chi¡¯s head and pressed it against his chest, protecting ji chi¡¯s head! the car was struck off the road, rolling over several times, shattering all the windows, and tumbling on the ground. jiang junlin felt like the world was spinning, and his head hit the remaining shards of glass on the car door, creating a gash from his forehead down to the corner of his eye. one piece of shattered glass lodged into his back, but ji chi, protected by him, was unharmed. jiang junlin took a deep breath, grabbed the glass stuck in his back, and pulled it out. as he did, blood flowed from the wound, and intense pain shot through him. he didn¡¯t even furrow his brow and kicked open the car door with his foot! ¡°he¡¯s fine!¡± jiang junlin replied as he pulled out the glass. after removing it, blood gushed out, and intense pain surged through him. but he didn¡¯t even furrow his brow and kicked the car door open with his foot! several security vehicles rushed out from both sides, directly opening fire on ji chi¡¯s guards. nick, with eyes red and furious, said, ¡°mr. jiang, you have to stop them!¡± jiang junlin kicked the car door open and slapped ji chi on the face, ¡°wake up!¡± he turned to nick, ¡°give me a gun; these aren¡¯t my people!¡± both sides were now engaged in a firefight, bullets rained onto the car, but jiang junlin forcefully pulled ji chi out of the car. even though their lives were hanging by a thread, jiang junlin didn¡¯t let go of ji chi. perhaps jiang juniin¡¯s punch had been too strong; ji chi still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness. nick pulled the gun from the unconscious driver and handed it to jiang junlin. ¡°these aren¡¯t your people?¡± given jiang¡¯s long history of lying and deception, nick wasn¡¯t sure if he should believe him, but if mr. jiang died, his master would go mad when he woke up. nick had no choice but to trust jiang junlin. jiang junlin kept ji chi hidden behind the car while the other side of the vehicle was nearly demolished. ji chi¡¯s guards returned fire and quickly reported to the nearby black hawk security team. ji chi woke up, his head throbbing. he remembered jiang junlin knocking him out but before he could get angry, he was grabbed by jiang junlin and thrown out of the car. jiang junlin ran a few steps forward and then crouched on the ground, one hand holding ji chi¡¯s head. the car they were hiding behind had its fuel tank hit and exploded directly, shattering into pieces. a chunk of it came hurtling toward them, and ji chi and jiang junlin rolled in opposite directions. fragments, ablaze with fire, rained down between them. four security vehicles arrived, with a total of eleven heavily armed individuals, all firing indiscriminately at ji chi¡¯s guards, turning the scene into a river of blood. ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± ji chi adjusted the frequency of his earpiece. nick said, ¡°master, we¡¯re under ambush. these aren¡¯t mr. jiang¡¯s people!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at jiang junlin. jiang junlin moved to a different cover, but the bullets seemed to follow him relentlessly, hitting him like a hornet¡¯s nest. jiang junlin sustained one injury after another, his complexion paling. nick said, ¡°rong li¡¯s people will arrive in ten minutes. their firepower is too intense, master, you need to go first. we¡¯ll cover you!¡± ¡°find jiang junlin!¡± the attackers, all wearing masks, shouted in chinese, clearly targeting jiang junlin. ji chi made a quick decision. ¡°cover me!¡± ¡°yes!¡± under the protective fire of his guards, ji chi pulled jiang junlin and ran towards the lake. at the lakeside, there was a small forest that would provide some cover. once inside the forest, they would have at least one piece of cover, but the bullets continued to chase after them. ji chi had noticed that jiang junlin¡¯s head and back were covered in blood, and it was a horrifying sight. he pushed jiang junlin forward and took the lead, shielding jiang junlin from the bullets from behind. ¡°he¡¯s alive, and no one will take jiang junlin¡¯s life!¡± ji chi thought fiercely. ¡°anyone who wants to kill jiang junlin will have to step over my dead body!¡± as they ran, ji chi fired shots behind them. the two of them reached the edge of the small forest. ¡°chase them!¡± the group behind them was relentless, led by someone who waved their hand, and they were coming straight towards the lake. once inside the small forest, jiang junlin and ji chi didn¡¯t pause for breath. ji chi used his fingers to peel open jiang junlin¡¯s shirt, revealing a piece of glass embedded nearly five centimeters deep into his lower back, visible bone, and flesh turned outward, a gruesome sight. ji chi¡¯s head was buzzing, and he couldn¡¯t help but mock, ¡°planning to escape? how come you weren¡¯t better prepared? you look so pathetic getting chased like this.¡± ¡°shut up!¡± jiang junlin snapped back, his voice harsh. he didn¡¯t stop moving; they couldn¡¯t afford to. the small forest was only a hundred meters away, and ji chi could tell from the sound of the wind and snow that they were being pursued closely. ¡°where are your people?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°i¡¯ve been with you the whole time. how would i know?¡± jiang junlin frowned. ji chi had transferred him once, but not far. cici should have pinpointed his location long ago, and the team sent to rescue him would have been prepared to act immediately. so why were the ones coming after him assassins? as they continued running, ji chi gradually lost contact with nick over the earpiece. the signal was disrupted, likely due to signal jammers. their movements in the small forest couldn¡¯t be hidden; this wasn¡¯t a dense forest. ¡°hold on¡­¡± jiang junlin stopped abruptly. ¡°listen, the pursuit behind us has stopped!¡± the two leaned against a tree, listening to the silence behind them. indeed, there was no sound of pursuit. ji chi and jiang junlin exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other¡¯s eyes. jiang junlin said, ¡°let¡¯s head east, but not in a straight line!¡± ¡°if they¡¯ve set traps ahead, no matter which path you take, there will be someone waiting!¡± ji chi reasoned. ¡°resources are limited; they¡¯ll concentrate their firepower in the predicted direction. let¡¯s go!¡± jiang junlin said in a low voice. ¡°i¡¯m familiar with this assassination pattern. follow me!¡± jiang junlin changed their path halfway, and although ji chi was tempted to taunt him, in the midst of their escape, he chose not to argue. instead, he followed jiang junlin as they moved forward. suddenly, jiang junlin¡¯s vision went black, and he leaned against a tree, feeling dizzy. ji chi held onto his arm. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± jiang junlin took a deep breath and pushed ji chi away, lowering his voice, ¡°you¡¯ve done quite a job, haven¡¯t you? and you have the nerve to ask!¡± due to his limited food intake, low blood sugar, and significant blood loss, jiang junlin had almost exhausted his stamina. ji chi understood this from his pallor. jiang junlin¡¯s injuries needed immediate attention. ¡°will you listen to me and behave?¡± ji chi said in annoyance. ¡°is this the right time for your stomachache? you insisted on running, and now look at the situation. we¡¯re chased into the woods, running for our lives, and being shot at. is this what you wanted? you¡¯re better off locked in a dark room by me.¡± ¡°don¡¯t force me to hit you!¡± ji chi sneered, ¡°go ahead, you¡¯ve hit me before.¡± jiang junlin took a deep breath, his anger making his head spin. as they reached the forest¡¯s edge, they crawled on the ground and continued forward. visibility was low at night. ¡°brother, does this remind you of when we were on the run together?¡± ¡°shut up, be quiet!¡± jiang junlin listened carefully to the sounds outside the forest. after waiting for a moment, jiang junlin pointed to three directions. ji chi nodded, blindly fired a shot, immediately drawing three return shots. after their pursuers fired back, jiang junlin raised his hand and fired three shots as well. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: If You Want to Die, Don’t Drag Me Down chapter 287: if you want to die, don¡¯t drag me down translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi got up and followed him outside. as they passed by three corpses, ji chi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. jiang junlin was indeed familiar with this assassination technique, from the direction to the setup, everything was clear. these were people from the underworld dark web coming to kill him! as jiang junlin passed by one of the corpses, he took the gun and ammunition, and the two of them got into a car and quickly left. jiang junlin leaned against the passenger seat, sweating profusely, his face turning paler by the second. he took ji chi¡¯s phone and contacted gu ci, ¡°cici, compile a list of everyone from the dark web in paris, all personnel!¡± ¡°brother? you¡¯re out?¡± gu ci was very surprised. ¡°are you okay?¡± ¡°who led the team to rescue me tonight?¡± ¡°it was master, she¡¯s on-site, what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ci could hear the worry in jiang junlin¡¯s voice, and her heart sank. ¡°recall everyone!¡± ¡°now?¡± gu ci was puzzled. ¡°right now!¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°you compile a list of personnel yourself, don¡¯t go through anyone else, gather them all at safe point number one, and count the number of people.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci said, ¡°brother, you¡¯re okay, right!¡± ¡°i won¡¯t die, do it now!¡± ¡°alright!¡± ji chi raised an eyebrow and said with a smirk, ¡°so, it¡¯s miss gu ci. 1 thought after i locked you up, who would take over the underworld dark web. it seems you had a trick up your sleeve even before i imprisoned you. quite a clever move!¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t answer his question, but his face grew paler, and he felt a bit dizzy. he glanced at the road and sensed that something was amiss. ji chi tossed his phone onto a passing pickup truck, then made a right turn onto another road. ¡°where are you going?¡± ¡°since they are from the underworld dark web, they can trace the phone to find our location. 1 can¡¯t go to the casino; who knows if some of them will retreat while others stay behind to continue trying to kill you!¡± jiang junlin felt somewhat dazed. it was late at night, around ten o¡¯clock, and there were hardly any people on the road. ji chi parked the car by the side of the road, surveyed the surroundings, and then helped jiang junlin inside a private clinic. after closing the door, ji chi searched for gauze, needles, and hemostatic medicine. he quickly prepared a saline drip for jiang junlin, who swatted his hand away. ¡°get lost!¡± ¡°brother, don¡¯t move!¡± ji chi pressed him down forcefully, parted his hair, and fortunately, the wound wasn¡¯t too deep. ji chi¡¯s expression became solemn. ¡°without me, do you plan to sew up the wound by yourself?¡± jiang junlin gritted his teeth, remaining silent, and looked at his forearm. ji chi¡¯s forearm had been injured three or four times, and the wounds had already festered. how had he managed to endure all the way here, and it didn¡¯t seem to affect his ability to use a gun! if he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he would have suspected that ji chi¡¯s injury was a ruse. ¡°it¡¯ll hurt a bit, bear with it!¡± there was no anesthesia in the small clinic, so ji chi had no choice but to sew it directly. jiang junlin said in a low voice, ¡°no need for small talk, just hurry!¡± ji chi first stitched up the wound on his head, using thirteen stitches. jiang junlin didn¡¯t make a sound, but his clenched fists and drenched sweat betrayed his pain. ji chi felt sorry for him but had no other choice. jiang junlin took off his shirt, already stained with blood and sweat, and tossed it into the trash bin. ji chi disinfected the wound on his back and stitched up more than twenty stitches to avoid prolonging his torture. jiang junlin was in so much pain that his consciousness began to blur, and he experienced spasms in his stomach. he intentionally pushed himself to the point of acute gastritis, which was the aftereffect of enduring the pain. jiang junlin asked ji chi to fetch an anti-inflammatory injection and administered it himself to alleviate the stomach pain. without anesthesia, a total of about forty stitches were needed, and jiang junlin was in so much pain that his nerves felt numb. ji chi rolled up a piece of gauze and placed it in his mouth for him to bite down on. ji chi looked at him with great distress. after finishing the stitches, ji chi found a clean t-shirt and used a towel to wipe away the sweat. that¡¯s when he noticed the bruises on jiang junlin¡¯s stomach, dark and mottled from repeated pressing. it was clear that a significant force had been applied. ji chi glared at him fiercely. ¡°this is the reason for your sudden gastritis. you knew you had a stomach condition, and yet you dared¡­¡± was jiang junlin this harsh on himself? jiang junlin weakly put on the t-shirt, gave him a cold look, showing none of the decisiveness he had displayed while protecting him in the car. he was even irritated, pushing ji chi away with a kick. ¡°i don¡¯t have the mood to listen to your nonsense!¡± ji chi¡¯s face turned pale. in jiang junlin¡¯s eyes, everything about him was just nonsense. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± ji chi stood up and pulled him to leave. jiang junlin glanced at his forearm, took some medicine, and followed ji chi out. although the wound on his back had been stitched up, he couldn¡¯t make any sudden movements. they got into another car and left the area. ¡°they came after me. you should go!¡± jiang junlin said in a low voice. these people were well-trained and ruthless. if ji chi stayed with him, they would both be in danger. ¡°you can forget about it!¡± ji chi said through gritted teeth. ¡°anyone who wants to kill you will have to step over my dead body first!¡± he never hid his intentions from jiang junlin, whether they were good or bad. jiang junlin lowered his gaze and spoke in a deep voice, ¡°black hawk should stay out of our internal underworld matters!¡± ¡°i¡¯ve lost my phone, and this has nothing to do with black hawk,¡± ji chi replied. besides not wanting to be tracked, he was also sending a message to nick: ¡°don¡¯t interfere in this matter.¡± he could go to great lengths for jiang junlin, but his black hawk guard had no responsibility or obligation. ¡°if you want to die, that¡¯s your choice!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone was exceptionally cold. he had just escaped from ji chi¡¯s secret room and was now caught up in another assassination attempt. regardless of who it was, no one would be in a good mood. ¡°do you have a safe house in paris?¡± ji chi didn¡¯t mind his coldness. jiang junlin had said all sorts of harsh things to him, and ji chi had become immune to it. he was like gum stuck to jiang junlin, impossible to shake off. jiang junlin did have a safe house in paris, but by now, it was probably not safe. ¡°i do!¡± ji chi sneered, ¡°it¡¯s better than being locked up by me.¡± ¡°buy two disposable sim cards and a phone.¡± ¡°do you have money?¡± ji chi taunted. ¡°do you have a card?¡± jiang junlin had nothing on him. ji chi¡¯s phone wasn¡¯t with him, and he hadn¡¯t brought any money or cards. ¡°so, we¡¯re broke, without money even for food. accept your fate, brother!¡± no matter how much they tormented each other, no matter how they clashed, in a critical moment, they could always stand together against external threats. jiang junlin closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. ji chi glanced at him. despite the excessive blood loss, gastritis, and weakness, he was somewhat surprised that jiang junlin could let his guard down and fall asleep. during their time together, jiang junlin had always been vigilant. it was strange. after coming out, with their lives hanging by a thread, he found it reassuring to have jiang junlin sleeping beside him. back in the car, jiang junlin had knocked him unconscious. if he hadn¡¯t been awakened by the gunshot, would jiang junlin have left him at the scene to die? after all, with him as a burden, they wouldn¡¯t have gotten far. ji chi stared ahead with a deep and solemn look. they were driving through a snowstorm, and there was no end in sight, no way back.. Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Who Is The Traitor chapter 288: who is the traitor translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation dr. north and her team have been waiting at the foot of the mountain, patiently waiting for a chance. when ji chi ordered them to move out, black hawks elite guards began sweeping the area, causing concern that they might be exposed. driven by this fear, they retreated two kilometers away. one group of people remained prepared at the hospital to provide support, while three other teams were strategically positioned along the road, ready to adapt to any situation. dr. north had devised a detailed plan at the hospital, but she suspected that jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t follow it. little did she know that trouble would arise along the way. the location where jiang junlin encountered trouble was two kilometers away from dr. north and her team. as soon as they heard faint gunfire, they rushed to the scene, only to find that the road was littered with obstacles, rendering their vehicles unusable. they had to proceed on foot. when they arrived, everyone from rong li¡¯s group had also gathered at the incident site. dr. north realized that the situation was dire and immediately contacted gu ci. coincidentally, gu ci had just received a call from jiang junlin. he gave orders to withdraw all personnel and gather at safehouse number one. gu ci also saw the grim scene on the monitors and felt a sinking sensation in his chest. tonight¡¯s mission had traitors among them! the dark web had traitors, and even within black hawk, there might be untrustworthy individuals. otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to avoid gu ci¡¯s deployment so precisely, striking at the most opportune moment and obstructing the dark web¡¯s main forces. this assassination was timed down to the second! at the global center, lu zhiyuan received the news as well. the last call from ji chi was to gu ci, confirming lu zhiyuan¡¯s suspicion. the new master who had been acting in jiang junlin¡¯s place was none other than gu ci himself! his intuition had been correct. ironically, the person who had ordered his assassination that day, and subsequently tried to kill him twice, was gu ci! lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned as cold as ice, and another intense headache hit him. he saw some bizarre images flash through his mind, but they left no trace. lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood deteriorated further. ¡°master, ji chi lost his phone. what should we do next?¡± ¡°it¡¯s an internal power struggle within the dark web, and it¡¯s not our concern. don¡¯t interfere. if ji chi seeks help on his own, then you can decide. if he doesn¡¯t seek help, let him be!¡± lu zhiyuan remained calm. ¡°the dark web is destined for chaos. you know what to do!¡± ¡°i understand.¡± rong li frowned. ¡°isn¡¯t this neglecting ji chi? i¡¯m afraid jiang junlin will use him as a shield!¡± ¡°he¡¯ll reap what he sows. whatever happens is his own choice.¡± ¡°this is madness!¡± rong li looked displeased. it was afternoon in city a, with brilliant sunshine, but lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart felt like a cold winter. as he walked outside, he ran into gu ziyu. gu ziyu had a small backpack on his back, and as father and son locked eyes, gu ziyu said, ¡°dad, i need to talk to you!¡± half an hour later, gu ci also received a message from dr. north. they had all withdrawn to safehouse number one, but out of the thirty-one people sent out, only twenty-seven had returned. four individuals were missing. gu ci made a note of the names. dr. north asked, ¡°why did you recall everyone, cici? has the master been rescued?¡± ¡°master, don¡¯t worry about this matter; 1¡¯11 handle it with care.¡± gu ci also suspected the presence of traitors but didn¡¯t know who they were. ¡°master, please be cautious, and all personnel should disband on the spot, awaiting my orders.¡± ¡°understood.¡± gu ci rubbed her temples wearily, then received a call from jiang minghua. jiang junlin was on a video call with his family. he explained that a factory had exploded, and he needed to stay in europe to deal with the situation. he wouldn¡¯t be able to come back for the lunar new year, and his business trip might keep him away for a while. ¡°did my brother make a video call?¡± ¡°yes, he did!¡± jiang minghua¡¯s heart finally relaxed. ¡°is he safe and sound? he looks much thinner. your grandma is so worried; she¡¯s been crying. he must have gone through a lot.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t want them to worry too much and smiled lightly. ¡°uncle, since my brother is fine, you shouldn¡¯t worry too much either. enjoy the new year.¡± ¡°you and ziyu should come over on new year¡¯s eve and have the reunion dinner with us.¡± ¡°sure!¡± gu ci agreed. ¡°uncle, i have some matters to attend to right now, so 1¡¯11 hang up.¡± ¡°alright!¡± jiang junlin was safe and sound, and jiang minghua¡¯s mood improved. however, gu ci saw the potential risks behind the scenes. if there were traitors within the dark web, dealing with them would be straightforward. but if it was an internal power struggle, and someone wanted his brother dead, that would be a tricky situation. she couldn¡¯t take over all of the dark web¡¯s channels and resources, so she understood that even if her brother wanted to keep a way out, he would guard his secrets. some things could only be kept in one¡¯s mind, not in computer systems. who wanted to kill him? only her brother knew that! ji chi¡¯s safe house. he had thought that jiang junlin was just asleep, but to his surprise, jiang junlin had fallen into a deep coma. after parking the car in the garage, ji chi carried jiang junlin into the safe house. it was a nondescript residential building, a duplex with 120 square meters of space, not particularly spacious. ji chi laid jiang junlin down, and his wound had reopened. he quickly tended to it and retrieved some antibiotics from a nearby clinic. perhaps due to the principle of using poison to fight poison, jiang junlin¡¯s troubled little arm, despite a recent bacterial infection, had not worsened further. his young body had a good metabolism. ji chi watched over the sleeping jiang junlin, not daring to leave his side. he bought a mobile phone and a disposable sim card on the way, activated the disposable sim card, and added some credit. he had initially considered making a phone call but decided against it. jiang junlin had already used a disposable sim card to video call his family during his disappearance, and not reporting his safety after being missing for so long would be unacceptable. ji chi knew that the jiang family would likely be monitoring him, and even though it was risky, he made the call. seeing his family, they were truly fortunate, but ji chi couldn¡¯t help but feel envious and jealous. jiang junlin mentioned that he was uneasy due to the unstable environment and had only had brief and interrupted sleep. when he woke up, he didn¡¯t see ji chi, which surprised him. jiang junlin knew something was wrong with his body and didn¡¯t need to rest too much. ji chi had already set up an iv drip for him. it was ironic that he had escaped from ji chi¡¯s ¡°little black room¡± with great effort, only to end up in another one. jiang junlin quickly calmed down. this could be an opportunity. he had long wanted to deal with these people who were constantly watching him. this incident had given him a good excuse. he had escaped, and he was still alive. the people behind him would definitely panic. if he were in their shoes, he would issue strict orders to prevent him from returning to china. jiang junlin moved the iv stand and walked to the window. he was in the bustling area of paris, an old street with numerous crossroads. it was a decent safe house, equipped with cash and firearms. jiang junlin checked the firearms he had taken from the corpse. the guns and bullets were all serialized. jiang junlin knew the names and faces of all the members of his assassination teams. if the firearms and bullets weren¡¯t his, it meant that the person using them was dead.. Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Father and Son Talk About the Truth chapter 289: father and son talk about the truth translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the daredevil squad had a rule: in life-threatening situations, firearms and bullets couldn¡¯t be lost. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect this!¡± jiang junlin muttered to himself. he heard a sound coming from the corridor. it was late at night in paris, and everyone was asleep, making the footsteps sound particularly clear. he was so familiar with ji chi¡¯s footsteps that he didn¡¯t need to identify them; he knew it was him. ji chi carried a bag of daily necessities and food. the safe house was his personal space, so he had supplies. however, most of the food was instant and dry rations, fearing that jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t be used to it, he had bought some hot food. jiang junlin stepped back from the window, looking at ji chi with indifference. the camaraderie formed during their life-and-death struggles couldn¡¯t compare to the pain ji chi had put him through for over a month, forcing him to witness a vengeful explosion. in the moment when the car was overturned, he had instinctively protected ji chi. it was ironic! ¡°this is the result of your desperate escape,¡± ji chi said with a cold laugh. jiang junlin¡¯s anger was instantly ignited. ¡°if i hadn¡¯t escaped, they would have attacked tonight. they wouldn¡¯t have hesitated. can you win against them? your people were defeated, and i would have died in your secret chamber.¡± ¡°well, that¡¯s not bad. 1¡¯11 be buried with you. we weren¡¯t born on the same year, month, and day, but 1 hope we die on the same year, month, and day. that would fulfill my wish!¡± ¡°if you want to die, go die by yourself. don¡¯t drag me into it.¡± ji chi looked at his indifferent expression and lazily sat by the window, revealing his dimples. it had been a while since he genuinely smiled. ¡°you thought you had a foolproof plan. how come you didn¡¯t anticipate being betrayed by your own people? i¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t plan for me to imprison you!¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t anticipate it. if you hadn¡¯t imprisoned me, the underworld network wouldn¡¯t have fallen into chaos. they had the intention but lacked the courage to act. with me in charge, it wouldn¡¯t have descended into chaos,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s deep eyes gathered a storm. ¡°it¡¯s my fault for indulging you too much, allowing you to become audacious and dare to do anything.¡± the one thing he hadn¡¯t foreseen was ji chi¡¯s decision to imprison him! all the changes had occurred after ji chi had him imprisoned, and that was the only miscalculation he had made. ¡°you indulged me?¡± ji chi burst into laughter, tears forming in his eyes. ¡°when did you ever indulge me? huh?¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. he was also scared in his heart. thankfully, he had counted the days. he had been imprisoned for so long that cici should have located him. at least, they should have tracked him for three days, but they dared not make a move. he knew that if he remained passive and locked in a secret chamber, they would come to kill him, and he would be at ji chi¡¯s mercy. if he were passively confined to a dark chamber, waiting for them to come and kill him, he would have no choice but to entrust his life to ji chi¡¯s hands. yes, ji chi would die for him, but he didn¡¯t want to die with ji chi in a secret chamber. he had to get out of there. fortunately, he made the right calculation. if he had waited one more day, he and ji chi might have really died in that secret chamber. to avoid attracting attention, ji chi hadn¡¯t arranged many guards in the castle. when the attackers came, they would be easy targets with the firepower they had today. ¡°let¡¯s eat. i don¡¯t want to argue with you,¡± ji chi said lightly as he opened the hot food. jiang junlin sat down. ji chi had bought western food since there were no chinese restaurants on this street at this hour. although jiang junlin didn¡¯t like it, he didn¡¯t want to pick a fight. he needed to take care of his health and replenish his strength. he couldn¡¯t just wait to die. jiang junlin ate his meal quickly, feeling his body warming up, and he didn¡¯t feel as suffocated. ji chi slept in the bed he had just left, curled up and looking very pitiful. the little wolf cub did care about him. when he was in danger, he was willing to take a bullet for him, that was true! love and hate were just a thought away! jiang junlin found another bed to rest. he wouldn¡¯t pity ji chi anymore, and he wouldn¡¯t indulge him either; otherwise, there would be no turning back! global center. gu ziyu got straight to the point, ¡°dad, i know it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°how did you figure it out?¡± ¡°your interests and hobbies are different. no matter how much you try to mimic him, you¡¯re not him. i can tell. do you think mom hasn¡¯t figured it out long ago?¡± gu ziyu asked calmly. lu zhiyuan had a premonition, especially after gu ci returned to the country. the premonition was strongest then, but gu ci had always been cheerful in front of him, showing no sign of missing third young master. combined with his own ulterior motives, he didn¡¯t delve deeper into the matter. ¡°you came to see me today for what reason?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t beat around the bush. gu ziyu didn¡¯t hide anything either. ¡°dad, is daytime dad not coming back anymore?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart trembled, feeling a mixture of pain and sourness. he finally understood third young master¡¯s past jealousy. gu ci looked forward to third young master, loved him, and now gu ziyu, too, looked forward to him. he didn¡¯t have third young master¡¯s charm or sweetness. when third young master stood there, he was like a shining star. children would like him, and young girls would like him too. ¡°i don¡¯t know!¡± lu zhiyuan answered truthfully. ¡°since the car accident, he hasn¡¯t appeared again. this situation is not normal; it has never happened before. i don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. perhaps he¡¯ll come back, or perhaps he won¡¯t.¡± ¡°you can¡¯t impersonate him anymore,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°mom¡¯s mental state has never been very stable. before going abroad, dr. north treated her, and she had improved somewhat. but dad¡¯s car accident was a huge shock to her. no matter how difficult or tricky things are, she can face them calmly. she won¡¯t be defeated by any hardship, except you! she can¡¯t accept losing you. so, her mental state is becoming unstable again. she saw through your act a long time ago, but she didn¡¯t expose you. she continued to act alongside you, living in a false dream.¡± gu ziyu continued, ¡°dad, have you heard of a story? in the middle ages, there was a deeply in love couple. the husband went to battle on the second day after their wedding and died on the battlefield. however, the wife refused to acknowledge his death. when her husband¡¯s body was brought back, she went to the church to pray as usual. on the day of her husband¡¯s burial, she danced happily in the ballroom. everyone told her that her husband had died, but she refused to accept it and wouldn¡¯t admit it. she remained happy, and as each wave of soldiers returned home, she went to meet them. gradually, she became an outcast, pitied and condemned by others. finally, one day, she went mad. three years after her husband¡¯s death, she finally went to see his grave and ended up dying by crashing into his tombstone.¡± it was a poignant love story. love in troubled times, more often than not, ends in sorrow! ¡°why are you telling me all of this?¡± lu zhiyuan asked in a hoarse voice. ¡°mom is the same way, she¡¯s on the verge of madness!¡± gu ziyu continued with another story. ¡°there was once a young boy. his father died in a car accident while he was still in his mother¡¯s womb. after his father¡¯s death, his mother also went mad. she gave birth to him prematurely in her madness. from the moment he started speaking, he saw his mother in a fit of madness. he was scared and heartbroken. gradually, everyone around him told him that his mother had gone mad because his father had died, and he should be understanding and loving towards her. so, from a very young age, he was understanding and loving towards his mother. when his mother wasn¡¯t mad, she ignored him, always lost in thoughts of his father, gently telling him that his father had gone to a racing competition and would be back soon. she always had these dreams and refused to accept his father¡¯s departure. the young boy had countless scars on his body from the beatings his mother gave him. he was hospitalized three times because of his mother¡¯s actions. but he didn¡¯t hate his mother; he wanted her to stay with him for a long, long time, even if she was a madwoman. so, he tolerated her madness, going crazy with her. but as fate would have it, his mother still left. many years later, when the young boy grew up and took his revenge but lost his purpose in life, one day he went to church to pray. he cried and told a stranger that he missed his mother. if time could be turned back, he would never tolerate his mother sinking into madness for so long. he wouldn¡¯t go crazy with her; he would stand in the light and help his mother out.¡± the best redemption is not to sink together. it was when she was sinking that he reached out and pulled her back! ¡°the gods are very kind. they truly fulfilled the young boy¡¯s wish. he became a young boy again and returned to his mother¡¯s side. his mother appeared healthy and beautiful, with a lover and friends. but he knew that his mother had always remained in the abyss of her past life, never coming out. he was anxious and at a loss, dad, what do you think he should do?¡± ¡°she went mad?¡± lu zhiyuan asked in a hoarse voice. what did gu ci¡¯s madness look like? she was so intelligent and proud; how could she go mad? ¡°she went mad for six years,¡± gu ziyu¡¯s heart ached, and the corners of his eyes turned slightly red. ¡°a heart ailment requires a heart medicine, and the only person who can save her is you. you can¡¯t continue to act with her, and she can¡¯t live in an illusion.¡± lu zhiyuan felt like his heart was being torn apart. he could almost piece together the shattered truth of the previous life and the suffering that gu ci had endured.. Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: One’s Dead, There’s Another chapter 290: one¡¯s dead, there¡¯s another translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°was the little boy¡¯s mother disfigured in a previous life?¡± lu zhiyuan suddenly asked. ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu replied. ¡°she had a big scar on her face.¡± lu zhiyuan remembered that day on the campus when gu ci asked him if he liked the scarred gu ci. she almost cut her own face with a dagger. so, that¡¯s it. the girl he had been dreaming about recently was gu ci! it was gu ci! ¡°daddy, you don¡¯t have to like her,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°another daddy loves mom, and 1 won¡¯t force you. if you don¡¯t want to be with her for treatment, i won¡¯t force you, but you have to explain it to her. i¡¯ll take her to see the doctor. she¡¯s my mom, i¡¯ll take care of her myself.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart ached suddenly, and he couldn¡¯t pay attention to gu ziyu¡¯s words. ¡°is she seriously ill already?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°if there was a way, i wouldn¡¯t have come to you.¡± he wished so much that the dad in front of him was the one who loved mom. ¡°after third young master had the accident, he seemed to realize that he was going to disappear and begged me not to hurt her. when i woke up and saw gu ci sad, i pretended to be third young master. i didn¡¯t expect¡­ by mistake, i never had a chance to correct it!¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t know if he was convincing himself or gu ziyu. ¡°i didn¡¯t intend to act with her.¡± ¡°i know, i guessed,¡± gu ziyu said lightly. ¡°to me, it doesn¡¯t matter which dad it is, but it¡¯s different for mom. if the dad from the daytime never comes back, i¡¯ll take her to see the doctor, but you must make it clear to her.¡± ¡°since you¡¯ve figured it out, you must have talked to gu ci. did you expose it?¡± ¡°i did, but it didn¡¯t work!¡± gu ziyu was extremely frustrated. ¡°you can rebuild her dreams, but you can also shatter them. my mom¡­ her joy and sorrow are all tied to you alone.¡± while ziyu was unhappy, resentful, and jealous, he had to admit that in his mom¡¯s heart, dad had always been the most important. ¡°i understand,¡± lu zhiyuan suppressed the pain in his heart. ¡°i¡¯ll resolve it as soon as possible.¡± in fact, even if gu ziyu hadn¡¯t come to find him, lu zhiyuan had plans to confront gu ci. he could no longer bear gu ci¡¯s gaze falling on him, searching for another person¡¯s shadow. she cared about third young master, she liked third young master, and he was just a stand-in. he felt terrible and defeated. he had tried several times to confess, but there was never a suitable moment. ¡°do you really not like mom at all?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°adult matters are for adults to handle. don¡¯t worry about it,¡± lu zhiyuan said softly, cutting off his son¡¯s inquiries. gu ziyu sneered at the foolish adults, whether it was his dad, mom, or ji chi, they were all crazy. this family couldn¡¯t function without him! ¡°well, you should do it as soon as possible, and i¡¯ll contact a good doctor,¡± gu ziyu said, hoping to provoke his mom and make her aware of the truth. he hoped she would regain some clarity. as long as she was willing to see a doctor, there was hope. this life was much better than the previous one! mom hadn¡¯t gone insane yet, so there was still a chance! as for dad! one had died, but one was still alive! just as gu ziyu left global center, lu zhiyuan received a report from rong li. black hawk¡¯s people had all been withdrawn and were not involved in the internal strife within the triad. however, there was no news from ji chi, who had left with jiang junlin. ¡°ji chi let jiang junlin out. he¡¯s already a target for the triad himself. now, with two triad factions trying to kill each other in paris, should we just leave him to his fate?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°how can we intervene?¡± lu zhiyuan had just heard gu ziyu¡¯s story and was in a somber mood. the situation with ji chi was another mess. ¡°ji chi is determined to live and die with jiang junlin. if jiang junlin loses, he will die too. do we really need to risk the lives of all black hawk members for him? this conflict is of his own choosing, and he must bear the consequences. there¡¯s no need to consult on this matter.¡± rong li was very concerned about ji chi, as they were like brothers. after receiving lu zhiyuan¡¯s firm response, he reluctantly said, ¡°alright, i understand.¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow and said, ¡°i have some personal matters to attend to recently. you handle black hawk¡¯s affairs. if there are any issues, contact li jiang.¡± ¡°third master, do you have something to do?¡± rong li asked. ¡°i need to recuperate,¡± lu zhiyuan replied. ¡°understood.¡± rong li was puzzled because if lu zhiyuan needed to recuperate, there was no need to cut off contact completely. it sounded like he was going into seclusion, but with so much going on recently, especially with ji chi leaving with jiang junlin, rong li would have to take on the additional responsibilities and manage things as efficiently as possible. gu ci looked at the list and called qin wan over, explaining the situation in paris. qin wan furrowed her brows when she heard about the betrayal within the triad¡¯s dark web. this was the first time she had encountered such a situation. ¡°perhaps it¡¯s not the first time,¡± gu ci said. ¡°my brother was almost assassinated in haicheng once, and it was never resolved. we never found the assailant. he was the ceo of hualan bank and didn¡¯t have any business feuds. no one would hold a grudge against a bank executive. at the time, i didn¡¯t know about his hidden identity and thought it was a business-related conflict. but what if it involved a group of people?¡± ¡°this matter was left unresolved, i investigated it, and there was absolutely no information,¡± qin wan said. ¡°it was exceptionally clean, and even during the second assassination attempt, i was prepared mentally but still couldn¡¯t find any information. i never thought it was ji chi. two assassination attempts mean it wasn¡¯t the work of a single group.¡± ¡°if it¡¯s someone from within, who could it be?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°do you have any suspects? you¡¯re more familiar with the relationships within the triad¡¯s dark web than i am.¡± qin wan contemplated for a moment and then shook her head. ¡°i don¡¯t know who holds the highest position among the master¡¯s superiors. this isn¡¯t something we would do. we all know the triad¡¯s rules, so it should be¡­¡± qin wan pointed to her head. ¡°most likely them. they want to replace the master, but the triad¡¯s rule is that you can¡¯t leave unless you¡¯re dead. the master can only be replaced if he dies; otherwise, he will continue to control the triad. think about it, he officially took over the triad at the age of eighteen, and it¡¯s been ten years since then. for the next several decades, he¡¯ll remain in that position, which makes him a formidable figure. gu ci, i¡¯m going to europe!¡± ¡°you¡¯re going to europe, but what¡¯s your plan?¡± gu ci inquired. qin wan chuckled lightly and said, ¡°whoever tries to harm the master, 1¡¯11 take them down, no matter who they are. anyone who stands in my way must die. if there are tasks the master can¡¯t handle, i¡¯ll take care of them!¡± her attitude carried a hint of ruthlessness, not at all like an innocent flower. a stark contrast! ¡°do you know who currently holds the power in europe?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°dr. north, the visiting professor at your medical school!¡± qin wan replied calmly. from her demeanor, gu ci could tell that qin wan didn¡¯t know she was dr. north¡¯s daughter. sending her to europe would undoubtedly lead to her revealing the truth to dr. north.. Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: When Will Third Young Master Come Back? chapter 291: when will third young master come back? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation if they didn¡¯t go, gu ci will indeed be worried. her brother was missing again, although he had gained his freedom, he was badly injured and burdened by ji chi. dr. north dared not pinpoint his location. another group of people was tracking her brother¡¯s whereabouts. if they found her brother first, the odds might be in their favor. qin wan noticed her hesitation and couldn¡¯t understand what there was to hesitate about. ¡°gu ci, let me go!¡± ¡°alright,¡± gu ci took a deep breath, ¡°once you arrive in europe, you¡¯re free to act independently. no need to follow dr. north.¡± ¡°understood!¡± she blinked confidently, her beauty shining through, ¡°don¡¯t worry; i¡¯ll make sure to bring him back safely!¡± before leaving, she glanced at gu ci, ¡°have you been sleeping well lately? your dark circles are quite prominent, and you look a bit swollen. don¡¯t worry too much about the master; he¡¯s so intelligent, he¡¯ll find a way out of this.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll make sure to get some rest!¡± gu ci accompanied her to the door, unexpectedly running into lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan had driven here alone, without bringing li jiang. qin wan and he exchanged a glance, and she transformed into a fangirl in an instant. she held her hands to her face, her eyes twinkling with hearts, ¡°wow, lu zhiyuan, i finally get to see you in person. you¡¯re even more handsome than in photos. i¡¯m your fan; can i have your autograph? i really adore you. the last time you competed, i was there too, and when you won the championship, i was happier than getting first place on my exams. is your injury healed now? when can you compete again? oh, by the way, can we take a photo together?¡± gu ci was speechless. qin wan¡¯s fangirl act was incredibly convincing, and her over-the-top enthusiasm seemed entirely natural. her eyes brimmed with love, her rosy cheeks looked genuine, and her excited body language was spot-on. she acted like a true fan. she seemed afraid that lu zhiyuan would refuse, so she blinked at him with a cute, pleading expression. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡°cici, please, ask your boyfriend for a signed photo!¡± qin wan pouted and cooed. gu ci coughed twice and asked lu zhiyuan, ¡°is it convenient? she¡¯s my classmate.¡± ¡°sure,¡± lu zhiyuan replied with a half-smile. qin wan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°wow¡­ i hit the jackpot!¡± she carefully positioned herself next to lu zhiyuan, placing her hands gently in front of her stomach and tilting her head in a demure pose. after gu ci took a picture, she even made a scissor gesture, clearly not wanting to let go of the opportunity. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°i saw you and cici playing basketball together last time. why didn¡¯t you come over for an autograph then?¡± ¡°well, you and cici were kissing, so how could i disturb you? besides, cici is so beautiful, and idols like her, so i must play my part. even a girl like me really likes her!¡± qin wan¡¯s voice became a few degrees softer than usual as she shyly greeted lu zhiyuan. ¡°well, 1 should be on my way now. cici, see you at school.¡± ¡°sure, see you at school!¡± qin wan walked away gracefully, exuding a gentle and elegant aura. with her long flowing hair, she appeared to be a refined young lady. ¡°from childhood until now, you¡¯ve finally made your second friend,¡± lu zhiyuan said, looking at qin wan¡¯s departing figure. ¡°get along well?¡± ¡°we clicked instantly!¡± gu ci chuckled and reached for his hand, but lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression froze momentarily. he released gu ci¡¯s hand and maintained a cool and composed demeanor. ¡°gu ci, i need to talk to you.¡± gu ci suddenly stared into his eyes, and her smile slowly faded under the sunlight. a chill seemed to cloak her spine, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze shattered the mirage before her eyes. the looming threat she had sensed finally came crashing down like a relentless blade. one strike, severing her longing and dreams! the two of them entered the living room, and gu ci numbly sat on the sofa. lu zhiyuan was about to speak when gu ci pinched her brow. ¡°let¡¯s go downstairs to talk. it¡¯ll give me a chance to make some tea.¡± ¡°okay.¡± gu ci led lu zhiyuan downstairs and retrieved a can of tea leaves. since she often worked in her study, the tea leaves were kept there. this can of tea was a rare and excellent variety that lu zhiyuan had secretly obtained from lu ze for her. gu ci had a premonition, and as she brewed the tea, she felt a growing sense of caution and vigilance. lu zhiyuan, smelling the aroma of the tea, got straight to the point without hesitation. ¡°last time, during the movie night, if it weren¡¯t for ziyu¡¯s interruption, i was going to tell you. i¡¯m not him. after the car accident, the person who woke up was me.¡± gu ci poured the tea as if she hadn¡¯t heard what he said, her expression somewhat numb and mechanical. ¡°have some tea, third brother.¡± ¡°gu ci, i said i¡¯m not him!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice became more strained. gu ci¡¯s behavior was clearly not right, and he finally understood ziyu¡¯s concern. she had refused to accept the fact that the third young master had left. ¡°why not? you¡¯re also lu zhiyuan, and he¡¯s also lu zhiyuan. what¡¯s the difference?¡± gu ci asked, her voice tinged with a touch of sickness. lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice grew more difficult as he explained, ¡°gu ci, before the competition, you chose him. at that time, i was in his consciousness, and he was genuinely happy. he and i had an agreement from long ago. whoever you chose, the other would have to step aside. you must accept the fact that i am me, he is him, and we are different souls.¡± gu ci raised her head, her eyes slightly red, and she asked somewhat obsessively, ¡°when¡­ will he come back?¡± she had finally mustered the courage to ask! Chapter 292 - Chapter 292:I Don’t Want to See You Again chapter 292:i don¡¯t want to see you again translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation if lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t confess, gu ci would never have had the courage to ask when the third young master would return. she missed him terribly. ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± lu zhiyuan replied, not wanting to give her unrealistic hope. once unrealistic hope took hold, it would torment her. ¡°it might be half a year, a year, or he might never come back. i¡¯ve told you before, i am the dominant personality. i¡¯ve been in control of this body all along. i am the true owner, and maybe he has disappeared forever.¡± ¡°liar!¡± gu ci¡¯s voice trembled slightly, and her body quivered lightly. she asked in despair, ¡°then why did you pretend to be him?¡± ¡°before he left, he asked me not to hurt you.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci with great pity. ¡°gu ci, he truly loves you more than anyone else.¡± without the third young master, lu zhiyuan had no desire to deceive gu ci. ¡°his thoughts and feelings are all yours,¡± lu zhiyuan continued. ¡°i understand that you can¡¯t accept his departure right now, but you can¡¯t dwell in the pain of losing him forever. you have a bright future ahead of you.¡± ¡°since you were pretending, why didn¡¯t you continue pretending?¡± gu ci looked at him with teary eyes. ¡°why did you see through me living in a dream and insist on shattering my dream? couldn¡¯t we continue acting together until he returns? wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± lu zhiyuan, for the first time, experienced the excruciating pain of rejection by someone he loved. indeed, he now understood what it felt like to be rejected by the one you cared for. in her eyes, there had always been the third young master. she had given up thinking about who was the third master and who was the third young master. even if her acting skills were subpar, she had never exposed the truth because she had believed it herself. no wonder gu ci sought out the third young master for every matter, no matter how trivial. she had once declared that the third master and the third young master were the same person to her. she had passionately professed her love for them to the entire world, and he could see the fervent affection of a young girl in her eyes. she had held her heart in her hands in front of him, asking if he wanted it. he had rejected her! now, he finally understood the kind of heart-wrenching pain that came from being rejected by someone you loved. insatiable desires lead to greater suffering. ¡°why should i continue acting with you?¡± lu zhiyuan gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain in his heart. his gaze was clear. ¡°the person you love is him. the person you seek is also him. i¡¯m tired, 1 don¡¯t want to act anymore.¡± ¡°did ziyu approach you?¡± gu ci asked, wiping away her tears. ¡°what does that have to do with ziyu?¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows, his voice turning cold and flat. ¡°i¡¯m tired of it, gu ci. you are fixated on the love of the third young master and searching for his shadow in me. 1 played along with you because 1 promised the third young master not to harm you. but what have you done to me? three assassination attempts, nearly costing me my life. 1 can¡¯t bear to hurt you, so i acted with you. you¡¯ve repaid kindness with enmity, like the farmer and the snake. you are that snake. why should i keep you around to bite me in return?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s words hit gu ci¡¯s heart like a heavy hammer. he knew! he knew that she was the new master of the dark web, and she also knew that she had sent people to assassinate him! ¡°do you hate me?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were filled with redness, but there were no more tears left. she desperately tried to grasp onto something, but what she held onto felt like quicksand, slipping through her fingers the tighter she held. ¡°i can¡¯t hate you,¡± lu zhiyuan knew he had to emphasize his words, severing gu ci¡¯s delusions. ¡°gu ci, you¡¯ve treated me as a substitute, acting all along. why should 1 be the substitute for the third young master? he¡¯s dead, and he can never return in this lifetime. i am the master of this body, and 1 don¡¯t want to continue acting with you. i¡¯ve had enough of this charade of false emotions. you need to wake up!¡± ¡°shut up!¡± gu ci shouted, her eyes streaming with tears. every word from lu zhiyuan seemed to touch a nerve within her, and memories flooded back, overwhelming her. she desperately covered her ears, but she couldn¡¯t block out the images in her mind. lu zhiyuan¡¯s two car accidents replayed in front of her, over and over, like a relentless fate. she was destined to lose him, no matter how many times she went through it! gu ci bent over in pain, even though she hadn¡¯t suffered any physical blows. she was in so much pain that she felt like she might faint. lu zhiyuan saw gu ci having a breakdown for the first time, his face turning pale. he was about to go to her aid, but he restrained himself. long-term suffering was worse than short-term pain. ziyu was right, he couldn¡¯t indulge gu ci. he absentmindedly sipped his tea, detached and cold, much like the first time gu ci had met the third master. with red eyes, gu ci asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°is he really never coming back?¡± ¡°he won¡¯t come back,¡± lu zhiyuan said, even though he wasn¡¯t entirely sure whether the third young master would return. but facing gu ci, he uttered the most heartless words, ¡°so, gu ci, don¡¯t hope for me to continue acting with you. in the future, 1 don¡¯t want to see you either.¡± gu ci suddenly burst into laughter, as if she had gone mad, laughing loudly with her hair disheveled, looking like a lunatic who had lost her sanity. ¡°do you know why 1 saw through that you weren¡¯t him, yet i still wanted to act with you? because i had anticipated that as soon as you found out, you would immediately withdraw and no longer act with me. then 1 would truly never see him again. you have superpowers, you can avoid me, not want to see me. how can 1 ever see you again? do 1 have to jump off a building every time i want to see you? third master, you¡¯re ruthless enough. during this time we¡¯ve acted together, did you ever¡­ like me even a little?¡± ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan replied and heard how ice his tone was. once this blow was delivered, there was no room for hesitation. it had to be a clean cut. for gu ci, the endless torment was worse than a swift end. gu ci¡¯s tears seemed to have dried up. she laughed, her demeanor slightly neurotic, simultaneously sweet and eerie. ¡°such a pity.¡± ¡°gu ci, insatiable desires lead to greater suffering. stop having fantasies,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart was breaking. he didn¡¯t want to hurt gu ci more than anyone else, but sometimes, a wounded heart needed the medicine of the truth. ¡°even if the third young master never returns, your future is still bright. you have a son, friends. don¡¯t get involved in jiang junlin¡¯s affairs anymore. focus on your studies, become a doctor who saves lives. don¡¯t walk down the old path again.¡± ¡°how do you know?¡± gu ci wiped away her tears. ¡°did ziyu tell you?¡± ¡°after 1 found out he was my son, i met with him once privately. he briefly mentioned things from our previous life,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°in your life, there shouldn¡¯t have been me. forget about the third young master, forget about me, and start your new life.¡± gu ci laughed, her voice trembling as she did. it was not a normal laugh; it sounded like the laughter of someone who had gone through immense pain. ¡°without experiencing others¡¯ suffering, don¡¯t try to advise them to let go. lu zhiyuan, you have no idea what i¡¯ve been through. what right do you have to tell me to let go, to forget? i remember all the happiness, and 1 can¡¯t forget the despair i once endured. lu zhiyuan, take it as my begging you to give me some hope.. is he really never coming back?¡± Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Dad, You Suck chapter 293: dad, you suck translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci¡¯s fragile gaze. she was indeed a very complex girl. she was incredibly intelligent, strong, yet also incredibly fragile. she had the pride of a cold plum and the vulnerability of a weeping willow. ¡°yes, he¡¯s not coming back!¡± lu zhiyuan decisively shattered her hopes. ¡°i am lu zhiyuan, but 1 am not him. i hope you understand this. 1 don¡¯t like to be pursued relentlessly. i am the owner of black hawk, and you are the new owner of the triad. we are bound to clash sooner or later, and one day it¡¯ll be a matter of life and death. may the best one win!¡± gu ci laughed again, tears streaming down her face. she seemed like a broken pot, no longer caring if lu zhiyuan saw her at her worst. she lazily leaned back on the sofa. ¡°you want to leave?¡± gu ci laughed with a trembling voice. ¡°have i agreed?¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°what, do you have the power to keep me here?¡± as he started to go upstairs, gu ci remained seated, holding a cup of tea. she wiped away her tears with a wet tissue and gently savored the fragrance of the tea, as if watching a play. lu zhiyuan had just reached the middle of the staircase when suddenly his legs gave way, and everything went black before him. he lost consciousness right there on the stairs. gu ci looked at lu zhiyuan lying on the ground, her body leaning forward as she blew on the tea foam and chuckled, ¡°third master, it seems i can indeed keep you here!¡± setting down her teacup, she had a sudden intuition and looked up to the first floor, where she saw gu ziyu standing at the railing, staring in shock at the scene. in gu ziyu¡¯s mind, a string of expletives flashed by. he had gone to call his dad to reason with his mom, but it seemed like his mom had driven his dad insane instead. how did dad manage to mess things up so badly? ¡°dad, you really suck. what did you say to her?¡± ¡°ziyu, didn¡¯t you go to the library to study?¡± gu ci remained composed. ¡°i wanted to come back early to have dinner with mom,¡± gu ziyu replied calmly. ¡°mom, can i help you move dad to a dark room?¡± ¡°no need. just go back to your studies.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ziyu mentally lit a candle for lu zhiyuan. dad, may you rest in peace! after returning to his study, gu ziyu sighed. what should he do? his mom¡¯s madness was getting worse, and it was a good thing his dad was diverting her attention this lifetime. would mom torture dad? gu ziyu rubbed his chin, ¡°she¡¯s crazy enough to torture me, so if she doesn¡¯t torture dad, does it mean she¡¯s really biased? it doesn¡¯t make sense! i¡¯m so young, and she can still go after me!¡± ¡°don¡¯t think about it, don¡¯t think about it¡­¡± gu ziyu felt like he was going a bit crazy himself, even getting jealous. he needed to find a way to cure his mom; her illness was the priority. dr. north wasn¡¯t in the country, so he needed to find a local psychologist. gu ziyu called li jiang, ¡°why didn¡¯t you come to my house with dad today?¡± li jiang replied, ¡°i was busy coordinating with rong li. it¡¯s a busy season, and third master didn¡¯t ask me to come with him. he said he was just coming to see miss gu for something.¡± ¡°he might not be able to leave now!¡± ¡°what do you mean?¡± li jiang asked in confusion. li jiang hung up suddenly, and when gu ziyu tried calling again, it was busy. half an hour later, li jiang appeared at the blue fields villa, his forehead covered in sweat. ¡°young master, where¡¯s third master?¡± this matter couldn¡¯t be hidden from li jiang, as he knew about lu zhiyuan¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°you hung up on me?¡± ¡°i was in a hurry,¡± li jiang said, panic evident on his face. ¡°what did miss gu do to third master?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s face darkened, resembling third master. li jiang hastily asked, ¡°young master, stop keeping me in suspense. i can¡¯t get through to third master on the phone. even if he wanted to stay at the villa, he would have personally informed me.¡± ¡°i informed you, didn¡¯t i?¡± ¡°young master, third master is third master, and you are you. please tell me quickly, what happened to third master?¡± ¡°he¡¯s planning to stay at our house for a while. you guys don¡¯t need to come; after all, he needs time to recover.¡± li jiang realized something, his eyes widening in disbelief as he asked, ¡°did miss gu¡­ imprison third master?¡± ¡°keep your voice down!¡± ¡°my goodness, this is unacceptable!¡± li jiang attempted to rush inside but was stopped by gu ziyu. ¡°my mom won¡¯t kill him. what are you afraid of?¡± ¡°who knows? didn¡¯t she send people to assassinate him three times?¡± li jiang blurted out, remembering that before lu zhiyuan came to see gu ci, he had informed li jiang that gu ci was the new triad leader. li jiang¡¯s worldview was being completely shattered! gu ziyu thought to himself, ¡°if li jiang knew that i had also tried to assassinate dad, would he be even more shocked?¡± ¡°three assassination attempts, and none of them succeeded!¡± ¡°so now she¡¯s just imprisoning him?¡± li jiang grabbed his phone, ready to make a call. ¡°this is absolutely unacceptable. i can¡¯t let third master be imprisoned, no matter who is doing it!¡± li jiang¡¯s expression was extremely grave as he said, ¡°a lord must protect his vassal, young master. i can¡¯t stand by and watch third master being tortured. it¡¯s my duty to ensure his safety!¡± ¡°wait!¡± gu ziyu knew li jiang¡¯s character well, which is why he made this call. ¡°wait until dad wakes up, and i¡¯ll have him call you, okay?¡± ¡°wakes up? what do you mean?¡± li jiang¡¯s voice was raised. ¡°did miss gu knock him out too? he¡¯s still recovering from a serious injury.¡± gu ziyu sighed, feeling a headache coming on. ¡°anyway, just wait for the news, okay?¡± li jiang hesitated. gu ziyu became impatient. ¡°i¡¯m his biological son. do you think i would harm him?¡± ¡°i can never be sure!¡± gu ziyu glared at him, and li jiang checked his watch. ¡°hurry up. i need to hear it from third master himself!¡± ¡°wait!¡± li jiang anxiously waited by the door, feeling terrible. if it were anyone else imprisoning third master, he would have already stormed in. he couldn¡¯t let third master be captured, no matter what. but in this case, it was miss gu and gu ziyu. his lover and his own son! ¡°this is crazy!¡± li jiang didn¡¯t dare to leave even for a moment, afraid that something might happen. what if miss gu, in her madness, really intended to harm someone? li jiang remembered a horror movie he had watched once. in that movie, there was a couple deeply in love. the man became unfaithful and fell for another woman. unable to bear it, the woman killed him, turned him into a specimen, combed his hair, and placed him in the sun every day. they watched tv together, ate meals together, and slept in the same bed, embracing each other. ¡°oh my god, it¡¯s too scary¡­¡± li jiang shivered and turned pale, his mind filled with goosebumps as he recalled that horror movie. ¡°it can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be¡­¡± heaven, the female lead in the movie was as beautiful as miss gu, and she was also a doctor! it was too horrifying! when lu zhiyuan woke up, the sun was setting, and it was evening. he was locked in a dark room, his hands and feet were bound with chains, and he was secured to the wall. the dark room had no light except for a candle on a candlestick by the door. lu zhiyuan stared at the chains, a storm brewing in his eyes. apart from being locked up, he felt utterly weak, with no strength left in his body. lu zhiyuan closed his eyes, attempting to teleport, but he couldn¡¯t. he was still recovering from his severe injuries, and he couldn¡¯t teleport in this condition. furthermore, the prison was specially designed to prevent escape.. Chapter 294 - Chapter 294:I Wish You Good Food and Drink in the Little Dark Room chapter 294:i wish you good food and drink in the little dark room translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°gu ci!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s anger boiled over. this was the first time he had been so furious since he could remember. he was a man of exceptional self-control, excellent emotional management from a young age, with a sharp mind, calm demeanor, and outstanding adaptability. even when pei qiuying betrayed him and sought his life, it hadn¡¯t been worth his anger. but gu ci¡­ she truly had a bigger set of balls than he¡¯d ever seen on any other man! in the dimly lit room, soundproofed to perfection, gu ci couldn¡¯t hear him no matter how loudly he shouted. the door was tightly shut. lu zhiyuan¡¯s temples throbbed with pain. he had experienced assassination attempts before, being the master of black hawk, and had narrowly escaped exposure several times. rong li couldn¡¯t replace him in handling matters. he had to negotiate personally. he had been targeted before and had gone into hiding. but never had he been in such a sorry state, and never had he been this angry! gu ci had drugged his tea. she had revealed his identity in the garden, and without saying a word, gu ci had already made up her mind to confine him. that¡¯s why she had brought him to the study and made him tea. there was something in that tea, similar to a muscle relaxant. he couldn¡¯t muster any strength now. killing him would be as easy as flipping a switch for the doctor! lu zhiyuan¡¯s chest heaved violently. he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner restlessness and anger. getting angry wouldn¡¯t help. he needed to figure out how to resolve this situation. gu ci¡¯s illness¡­ was it getting worse? upstairs, gu ci was cooking. she had prepared a pile of high-protein dishes with minimal oil and salt, along with a plate of cut fruits. looking out the window, she could see li jiang pacing anxiously outside the fence, but gu ci remained indifferent. gu ziyu spoke cautiously, ¡°mom, 1¡¯11 go check if dad¡¯s awake and ask him to call li jiang. so he won¡¯t come here and bother us, okay?¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± gu ci didn¡¯t refuse gu ziyu¡¯s request. gu ziyu took his phone and quickly went downstairs. lu zhiyuan had awakened by then. the chain that bound him, resembling a bondage accessory, was incredibly sturdy. his movements were restricted, and he sat on the edge of the bed with a deep, enigmatic gaze. gu ziyu scratched his head nervously. ¡°dad, you¡¯ve suffered!¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow and glanced at his phone. ¡°is li jiang outside?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu knew he couldn¡¯t hide anything from him. ¡°dad, li jiang is loyal to you and won¡¯t leave. he insists on hearing it from you in person. you might not be able to leave temporarily.¡± lu zhiyuan calmly looked at gu ziyu. ¡°son, did you anticipate that she would lock me up like this?¡± ¡°i swear on heaven and earth, absolutely not!¡± gu ziyu raised his hand and swore. ¡°dad, you¡¯re wronging me. i really didn¡¯t expect this. and if i had known earlier, why wouldn¡¯t i advise you? isn¡¯t this just exacerbating mom¡¯s condition? if you don¡¯t believe in our father-son relationship, at least believe in my love for mom.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed. why did this conversation feel so awkward? ¡°father, i have an immature suggestion. call li jiang and tell him that you¡¯ll recuperate at our home, free from disturbances. you know mom is the new mistress of the dark web. nobody will dare to assassinate you. you¡¯ll be safe here. you can eat and drink well. your personal safety is guaranteed. mom loves you so much; she won¡¯t harm a hair on your head.¡± gu ziyu used his persuasive tongue to try to make lu zhiyuan accept the fact that he was being confined to this little dark room. ¡°you make restrictions on personal freedom sound so poetic.¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes. when it came to choosing between his wife and his mother, it was like an eternal dilemma¡ªsaving his wife or his mother if both were drowning. between his dad and his mom, who did he love the most? there was no doubt that gu ziyu¡¯s favorite was his mother! he hadn¡¯t taken any drastic measures, and lu zhiyuan should be grateful for that. ¡°gu ziyu, do you know you¡¯re indulging her?¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°do you think 1 don¡¯t want a healthy mother? do you think i don¡¯t want her to be happy and carefree? 1 don¡¯t want her to hang herself on your crooked tree, but what can i do? things have come to this point, and we can only proceed step by step. i took the wrong path. the spell you have on her is too strong and it only spurred her. you¡¯re confined to this little dark room because of me. you can scold me, hit me, it doesn¡¯t matter, but you can¡¯t leave. if you leave, she¡¯ll really go insane!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him with a deep gaze. gu ci¡¯s condition was obviously not right. he reached out his hand. ¡°give me your phone!¡± gu ziyu happily handed him the phone. lu zhiyuan called li jiang, gestured for gu ziyu to leave, and gu ziyu didn¡¯t mind. he happily went out and closed the door. as long as father didn¡¯t leave, everything could be discussed. li jiang answered the phone instantly, ¡°third master¡­¡± ¡°1¡¯11 be recuperating at gu ci¡¯s place for a while. during this time, consult with rong li for anything that needs to be dealt with regarding ji chi. no need to seek my approval!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°third master, are you okay?¡± li jiang was anxious and somewhat puzzled. third master said he¡¯d be recuperating, but he didn¡¯t say he was being imprisoned. recuperation was just an excuse. he was losing his freedom. third master had been in control for so many years, and he had only encountered setbacks with jiang junlin before. he didn¡¯t expect to run into trouble again, and it was with gu ci, no less. they were truly siblings! ¡°that¡¯s how it is!¡± lu zhiyuan hung up the phone. li jiang was helpless and very confused. ji chi and miss gu ci truly inherited the family¡¯s insanity. those who they fell in love with¡­ if it wasn¡¯t for mutual affection, they¡¯d be quite unlucky. after he finished the call, gu ziyu came back in, took the phone, and lu zhiyuan said, ¡°you should stay at the jiang¡¯s house for a while.¡± ¡°why?¡± ¡°this situation is not suitable for children.¡± lu zhiyuan kept a stern face. he didn¡¯t want gu ziyu to have this memory in his mind. he was still a child and didn¡¯t need to go through these things. gu ziyu was about to argue, but lu zhiyuan said, ¡°this is the condition 1 gave li jiang to leave.¡± ¡°deal!¡± gu ziyu knew that when his father said something, he meant it. he reluctantly agreed and then warned with good intentions, ¡°dad, mom is a bit crazy. don¡¯t provoke her, or you might end up with broken limbs. don¡¯t blame me for not warning you.¡± lu zhiyuan sighed. gu ziyu was very worried about gu ci. he feared that she might lose control. he couldn¡¯t monitor gu ci¡¯s state at all times, which made him anxious. but his father certainly wouldn¡¯t want him to stay behind. ¡°father, think it through. mom is going crazy, and you can¡¯t control her. this household can¡¯t be without me!¡± ¡°go to the jiang¡¯s house!¡± lu zhiyuan said firmly, not allowing any further discussion. ¡°fine!¡± gu ziyu shrugged. ¡°then¡­ i wish you a good time eating and drinking in your little dark room.¡± gu ziyu left the room. he had installed cameras in every corner of the house except for the little dark room. at the very least, he needed to monitor gu ci¡¯s condition at all times, and gu ci had watched him install those cameras. ¡°what are you doing?¡± ¡°i¡¯m going to stay at the jiang¡¯s house for a while. i have exams next week, and it¡¯s too distracting to study at home. but i want to see your condition every day, so please don¡¯t block the cameras.¡± gu ziyu looked at her with concern. ¡°mom, let me have some peace of mind, okay?¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci was very obedient.. Chapter 295 - Chapter 295:I Won’t Love You chapter 295:i won¡¯t love you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after gu ziyu set up the camera, he left the blue fields villa with a small backpack. he noticed that li jiang hadn¡¯t arrived, but there was still a team of people guarding around the blue fields villa. ¡°really¡­ unbelievable!¡± gu ziyu looked at the starry sky. if he hadn¡¯t gone to find his father, would his mother have imprisoned him? his father¡¯s fate was caused by him, wasn¡¯t it? gu ci brought down a meal of high-protein dishes and freshly cut fruits. the dishes were third young master¡¯s favorite, and the fruits were also his preference. gu ci pushed open the door to the dark room and placed the food in front of him. she was obedient and slender, always pleasing to the eye. when she smiled, her face was charming, like a seductive demon tempting a scholar in the middle of the night. she no longer concealed her madness, her possessiveness was real. she longed to keep him by her side, always watching over him, but she was afraid of scaring him, so she restrained her insanity. with her last life¡¯s memories, she knew that none of us truly loved her, so she carefully concealed her true self. she knew he loved her, but when he distanced himself from her, she set traps step by step, making him recognize his own feelings. he fell into the web of her emotions, unable to escape. but she didn¡¯t expect that we had split personalities. to test me, she jumped from the building, thinking 1 would know she was a complete lunatic. she hoped that i would revolve around her like a dog for the rest of my life! gu ci smiled with a hint of desire, ¡°shall we eat, third brother? these are all your favorites.¡± they were third young master¡¯s favorites, not third master¡¯s. ¡°aren¡¯t you pretending anymore?¡± lu zhiyuan mocked her, looking at her. ¡°since you brought gu ziyu to find third young master at global center, you¡¯ve been pretending. your love is real, but your possessiveness is real too. you wish to tie him to yourself, always watching over him. you¡¯re afraid of scaring him, so you¡¯ve concealed your madness. you bring the memories from the last life, knowing that neither of us truly loves you. so you carefully restrain yourself. when you know he loves you but distances himself, you set traps step by step, making him recognize his own feelings. he falls into the web of your emotions, unable to escape. but you didn¡¯t expect that we have split personalities. to test me, you jumped from the building, thinking i would know you were a complete lunatic. you hoped 1 would revolve around you like a dog for the rest of my life!¡± gu ci¡¯s smile was filled with desire, ¡°why? so you could have an affair if it didn¡¯t revolve around me? third brother, you¡¯re right. to me, you and him are the same person. i¡¯ve told you this a long time ago, but you didn¡¯t listen. you insisted it was two different people trying to make things difficult for me. you even expelled me from global center. do you know that i wanted to imprison you that time? otherwise, when i moved to the blue fields villa, 1 wouldn¡¯t have prepared this room specially for you. look at it¡­ it¡¯s so perfect for you!¡± this was the room she had prepared specifically for him, fully equipped for daily life, and even had an internal network for reading and watching videos. although he had lost his freedom, it didn¡¯t affect his daily life. jiang junlin had a similar setup, with a two-meter space for movement. gu ci knew that lu zhiyuan was physically strong, but after taking the soft muscle relaxant, he had no strength. it was unlikely that he could physically confront her. she had gone mad earlier than he had anticipated! lu zhiyuan just looked at her quietly, his gaze piercing into gu ci¡¯s soul. when gu ci no longer bothered to pretend, she appeared lazy and lethargic. there was a set of sofas in the dark room, and she leaned on one, lazily playing with her hair. ¡°third brother, are you disappointed? i¡¯m just like pei qiuying.¡± for so many years, third master had never fallen in love with pei qiuying. gu ci thought to herself, how could he fall in love with her when she was exactly the same as pei qiuying? but it didn¡¯t matter. third young master loved her, and he would love her forever. but now that third young master was gone, all of gu ci¡¯s beliefs had been shattered. she could no longer tolerate him escaping from her grasp. ¡°gu ci, you¡¯re seriously deranged,¡± lu zhiyuan said coldly. ¡°the person you love is already dead. what are you pursuing? do you want to keep me here for the rest of my life?¡± ¡°of course!¡± gu ci asked, ¡°why not? i¡¯m the new leader of the triads now. i can keep you here as long as i want. who can stop me?¡± ¡°gu ci, how much do you really hate me!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice grew colder. ¡°even if you imprison me for a lifetime, 1 will never love you!¡± since he had already given gu ci a blow, he didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. if he didn¡¯t cut the mess quickly, things would only get worse. who could control her in her current state? ¡°hahaha¡­¡± gu ci laughed until tears welled up in her eyes. she got up and walked towards lu zhiyuan, placing her hand beside him, her gaze sinister and stubborn. ¡°who cares? when third brother comes back someday, you¡¯ll be free. if not, you¡¯ll be trapped here for the rest of your life, and you won¡¯t be able to leave, even in death!¡± her madness frightened even herself. how could she dare to hope that lu zhiyuan would love her? ¡°gu ci, you need to see a doctor!¡± ¡°i am the doctor!¡± gu ci pinched lu zhiyuan¡¯s chin, closed her eyes, and kissed him on the lips. ¡°if you don¡¯t love me, then hate me. i don¡¯t care!¡± no matter how harsh and cold her words were, her lips were so soft, warm, and sweet. his body had long developed an attachment to her. after gu ci demanded a passionate french kiss, she bit his lip hard, drawing blood. she licked the bloodstain and smiled, ¡°third brother, do you hate me?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart twitched, and he didn¡¯t hate her at all. he had come to cure her, but he couldn¡¯t find a better way to heal gu ci. it seemed that his methods were only making her more insane. had he been wrong? but as gu ci hurt him, she also shed tears. her tears were like a scar on lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. ¡°gu ci, you won¡¯t get what you want this way!¡± gu ci gently stroked his face, both tender and horrifying. ¡°i¡¯ve already gotten it!¡± she wanted lu zhiyuan to be within her reach, to only look at her. she had already achieved that. gu ci swept her sleeves and left hurriedly, as if she were fleeing from something, unwilling to accept the reality and not wanting to hear a word from lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan massaged his temples with a headache. gu ci was genuinely a yandere, even more severe than ji chi. at least¡­ ji chi didn¡¯t want to torture jiang junlin like this! no wonder gu ziyu was in a hurry to find him. it wasn¡¯t just a desperate move; he really couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. but could he really cure gu ci? would he¡­ make her even crazier? lu zhiyuan never dreamed that he would be imprisoned by someone one day, and the one imprisoning him was a lunatic. if it were pei qiuying, he would have taken action long ago. but it had to be gu ci! she seemed tough, but she was as fragile as jade. he feared that a little carelessness would shatter her into pieces. after gu ci left, lu zhiyuan looked at the meal in front of him. his taste was completely different from third young master¡¯s, but he still ate it. he had come to cure gu ci, not to compete with her. he was still recovering from his injuries. if something happened, neither he nor gu ci would benefit. how could he cure gu ci? he sadly realized that maybe, apart from third young master, no one else would ever enter her heart. he was no exception! she had once said to him, ¡°lu zhiyuan, did the young girl who liked you give all her love to third young master?¡± Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Brother, It Hurts chapter 296: brother, it hurts translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci watched from the surveillance footage as lu zhizhuan had his meal. she leaned against the window, a smile creeping onto her face. indeed, this was the way to go. if he remained stubborn and refused to yield, she would have a difficult time, wouldn¡¯t she? after all, she didn¡¯t want him to die! his survival meant that third brother could come back. people who were sick often refused to acknowledge their own illnesses, but gu ci was different. she knew very well that she was sick, and she had wanted to save herself. however, midway through her journey to recovery, a car accident had turned her life upside down. did she still want to get better? watching the video, gu ci saw that after lu zhizhuan had finished his meal, he closed his eyes to rest. gu ci thought to herself, ¡°no! she didn¡¯t want to get better at all! this was just fine.¡± after the end of the semester, gu ci didn¡¯t have much to do. zhou li invited her to make music together, but she declined. in her current condition, she couldn¡¯t go a single day without lu zhizhuan. gu ci knew she was terminally ill, so she clung desperately to lu zhizhuan as her lifeline. only by holding onto this lifeline could she feel alive! gu ziyu had met up with the jiang family. the old lady and old master were the happiest. they had retired, tending to their garden and fish, traveling with their old friends for leisure. however, their old friends all had grandchildren, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t have a significant other they could rely on. so, they especially liked gu ziyu, often sending gifts to their blue fields villa. if it weren¡¯t for the fact that both mother and son had exams recently, they would have visited more often. they were thrilled when gu ziyu came for a short stay. the old lady, however, was puzzled. ¡°why did you come for a short stay? did you have a fight with your sister?¡± ¡°no, my sister is basically on vacation after her exams. she plays the violin all day and rarely comes home. there¡¯s no one to cook for me,¡± gu ziyu sighed sadly. ¡°i¡¯m tired and i miss grandma¡¯s cooking.¡± little gu ziyu had a sweet mouth, which delighted the old lady. ¡°alright, tomorrow, i¡¯ll make your favorite dishes. do you want buddha jumps over the wall? let auntie gui make it for you. junlin loves this dish the most, and auntie gui makes it better than any cantonese chef.¡± the jiang family had four chefs, specializing in cantonese, shanghainese, sichuan-hunan cuisine, and one exclusively for jiang junlin. occasionally, when the old lady was in the mood, she would cook a few of her signature dishes with the taste of old city a. jiang junlin loved them, but when he was a child, she used to pamper him by not including ingredients he didn¡¯t like. later, she stopped indulging him and refused to make any special dishes for him. gu ziyu knew that the old lady missed jiang junlin. ¡°grandma, the other day, 1 video chatted with junlin. he¡¯s doing really well. when he comes back from his business trip, you should scold him for going on such a long trip. grandma, you¡¯ve been missing him like crazy.¡± ¡°no, no, as long as we have our precious ziyu!¡± old mrs. jiang said, ¡°after ziyu finishes his exams, grandma will take you shopping for new year¡¯s goods and new clothes!¡± ¡°okay, grandma!¡± gu ziyu readily agreed. but right after they had dinner, chen liangdong called. he said that pei qiuying had voluntarily contacted him, and chen liangdong had already sent someone to establish contact with her. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t leave the house easily, and if pei qiuying found out he was with mss, things might get complicated. ¡°this person is full of tricks and never speaks the truth.¡± chen liangdong chuckled. ¡°i¡¯m just letting you know. focus on your exams, and we¡¯ll handle these matters. after you finish your exams, we¡¯ll upgrade the system before taking a break for the new year.¡± after hanging up the phone, gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but contemplate. would someone as ruthless as pei qiuying really cooperate with national security? what if her conditions were too harsh? this woman had to die! she was like a hidden bomb, and they couldn¡¯t be the ones to act against her. they were law enforcement officers. it would be better if it were the black eagles or the triads who took care of her! gu ziyu¡¯s thoughts were particularly clear. he would first wait to see how much valuable information pei qiuying could reveal. if she didn¡¯t provide much valuable information, she couldn¡¯t be allowed to live. paris. ji chi¡¯s injured arm caused him to have a high fever due to a viral infection, and jiang junlin had been recuperating recently. he had lost too much blood and needed rest. there were no suitable blood bags in the safe house, and ji chi often went out in the snow to bring back hot food for him. jiang junlin had told him coldly that he didn¡¯t need hot food; he could eat dry rations. ji chi went out frequently and was at risk of exposure, even though he had disguised himself. the dark web of the underworld was good at tracking people. they stayed in the safe house, avoiding the internet and not venturing outside. paris was so vast, and the city was teeming with people. they couldn¡¯t conduct a blanket search. both of them were wounded and ill, almost fitting the description of ¡°the weak among the elderly and infirm.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s wound had become inflamed after he stitched it up, but fortunately, he had administered antibiotics to control the infection. ji chi developed a high fever during the night. they had a light on in the safe house, and since he had slept a lot during the day, he was quite alert at night. jiang junlin watched as ji chi fell asleep and couldn¡¯t help but wonder if ji chi would notice if he left the safe house. however, he didn¡¯t have the password for the safe house. entering and leaving the safe house required a password, and only ji chi knew it. he was afraid that if jiang junlin found out, he would change the password daily, and after three incorrect attempts, he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave, effectively locking himself in. the pain in his back served as a reminder that this was not the time to be reckless. his injuries were still not strong enough to support him leaving the safe house, and if he encountered a traitor, the outcome would be uncertain. he was naturally cautious and didn¡¯t want to take unnecessary risks. ¡°brother, don¡¯t go¡­¡± ji chi suddenly muttered in his sleep. he had always been very alert, fearing that jiang junlin might leave without a word, as if he had grown four pairs of eyes to watch over jiang junlin. therefore, ji chi never slept soundly. let alone dream! but in his dreams, he kept calling out to his brother. jiang junlin¡¯s mood was complicated. he tried to divert his thoughts, but he couldn¡¯t help recalling his instinctual reaction when the car overturned, and when they were being chased by bullets. ji chi had pushed him forward with one hand, and he had stood resolutely in front of him. this little wolf, he was both hateful and¡­ ¡°shut up!¡± jiang junlin shouted harshly, wanting to wake him from his dream. but ji chi seemed to be having a nightmare, and he kept calling out for his brother in fear. as jiang junlin listened to him cry out for his brother, his feelings were complex. in the dark room, he had hated ji chi so much that he wanted to kill him. in the moment of the explosion, he had wanted to tear him apart. after gaining freedom, he had thought about avoiding any contact with ji chi. he was truly fed up with ji chi¡¯s personality. he was neither light nor heavy, and jiang junlin had even ended up in captivity. his life was not just about ji chi! he had more important things to do and no time to be entangled with ji chi. but could he really kill ji chi? jiang junlin had asked himself countless times, could he really kill him? when they first met, ji chi was a stunning young boy. could he bring himself to do it? if there had been no separation between them, how much better it would have been! ji chi could have stayed by his side, nurtured him well, and perhaps he and little cherry could have become friends, supporting each other. then, he wouldn¡¯t have to think about just one person all the time in his life.. Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: I’ve Only Had a sterilization Surgery chapter 297: i¡¯ve only had a sterilization surgery translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin closed his eyes, filled with regret. the sense of loss was already cast in stone. he repeatedly reminded himself not to be deceived. perhaps it was another ruse, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt restless. he got up to check on his situation. ji chi was a contradictory person. he laughed, got angry, and cursed freely, with no pride in holding back tears like most men. but in jiang junlin¡¯s memories, ji chi would only cry in front of him. he wasn¡¯t just crying to gain sympathy; he¡¯d cry and then either act like he was in a tragic play or start a fight! what a rascal! jiang junlin lifted the covers, feeling impatient, and kicked ji chi on the low bed. ¡°get up and stop making a fuss!¡± however, ji chi was still in a dream, tears streaming down his face. jiang junlin couldn¡¯t tell if he was acting or really having a nightmare. jiang junlin slapped him across the face. ¡°wake up!¡± ji chi suddenly woke up, clinging to jiang junlin, burying his face in his waist, and sobbing. even through his shirt, jiang junlin could feel his dangerously high body temperature. he touched ji chi¡¯s forehead, shocked by how hot it was. ¡°you have a high fever!¡± no wonder he was sleeping so heavily! jiang junlin fetched a digital thermometer and took ji chi¡¯s temperature. it was nearly 40 degrees celsius. if this continued, it could lead to serious consequences. however, ji chi had lost consciousness. jiang junlin pressed him down, grabbed some alcohol, and began wiping his forehead, face, and neck. he even stripped off ji chi¡¯s clothes and applied alcohol to his chest, attempting to reduce his temperature. as he removed ji chi¡¯s clothes, he discovered that ji chi¡¯s arms, which he had been concealing, were badly injured. despite the severe infection, he had been avoiding going to the hospital. it was clear that the wounds were festering. ¡°you idiot!¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t help but scold him. he wanted to slap him, but ji chi¡¯s face was as pale as a ghost, covered in cold sweat, and he looked pitiful. jiang junlin couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. in his heart, he wanted to scold him a thousand times, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it in his moment of vulnerability. ji chi had to see a doctor. as far as jiang junlin knew, there was a small clinic just a right turn out of the safe house, about 800 meters away. ji chi was already in a state of unconsciousness from the fever, and if his arm was further delayed, it might have to be amputated. parents give life to their children, and one should not harm their own body. jiang junlin had never had such an understanding before, nor did he know how to take care of himself. jiang junlin pulled back the curtains and looked at the snowy night. it was a blizzard, but it wasn¡¯t late yet, just past eight o¡¯clock. today was a day of heavy snowfall, and the weather this year was particularly strange, with continuous blizzards and extreme cold. he glanced back at ji chi, thinking about caution, consideration, and the bigger picture, but in the end, he yielded for ji chi. he put on his hat and goggles, took some cash, and picked up ji chi. they had really bad luck; the snowstorm was too severe, and the car wouldn¡¯t start. jiang junlin tried several times, but he had to give up. he once again lifted ji chi and headed for the small clinic. they didn¡¯t have any identification, so going to a large hospital was out of the question. moreover, major hospitals were likely guarded by gang members now. the small clinic, inconspicuous and scattered everywhere, might escape their surveillance. jiang junlin deliberately avoided the cameras and followed the route ji chi had scouted during his previous trips, creating a small map. carrying a man in a blizzard, jiang junlin¡¯s gastritis hadn¡¯t fully healed, and he had wounds on his back. they walked painfully slowly, each step sinking into the snow. the nighttime sidewalks were untouched, and every step was particularly strenuous. jiang junlin had a feeling that his wounds might reopen. unfortunately, ji chi seemed to be freezing. he clung to jiang junlin¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°brother, it¡¯s so cold!¡± the biting wind and snow were hitting them head-on. jiang junlin felt his face stinging, and it was even more uncomfortable for ji chi, who was already injured. ¡°you brought this upon yourself!¡± there were sporadic pedestrians on the road, but no one paid them any attention. in a city like this, especially on a snowy day, people rushing home from work didn¡¯t want to spare any extra thoughts on the road. after walking just 500 meters, jiang junlin felt exhausted. he had been imprisoned for too long and hadn¡¯t fully recovered. carrying ji chi in this snowy weather was extremely draining. his hands and face were freezing, but his back was covered in sweat. in just 800 meters, it took jiang junlin nearly half an hour to reach the small clinic. it was a stroke of luck that the doctor at the clinic was about to close. jiang junlin, carrying ji chi on his back, approached and spoke in french, ¡°doctor, my little brother has a serious arm injury. could you please take a look?¡± ¡°i¡¯m off duty now. come back tomorrow. the hospital is just 200 meters ahead,¡± the doctor pointed ahead and, seeing ji chi unconscious and knowing it must have been a long and strenuous journey, showed no interest in treating them. with a gun pointed at his waist, jiang junlin, with an elegant demeanor, spoke softly, ¡°doctor, i¡¯m begging you.¡± the doctor hesitated. the doctor felt extremely unlucky. he had already finished work, and now he had encountered a potential killer. although jiang junlin didn¡¯t look like a killer at all, his demeanor was too suspicious. it must be a case of someone involved in a crime, maybe even a wanted fugitive. have there been any recent news reports about a fugitive? the police just came by to inquire, was it about them? inside the clinic, with the heater on, the doctor deliberately hung up a ¡°closed¡± sign and drew the curtains. jiang junlin sat on the side, drinking hot tea, his firearm loaded. he appeared like a gentleman sipping tea casually, rather than a terrifying executioner. the doctor, in his early sixties with graying hair, was trembling slightly. jiang junlin reassured him, ¡°no need to be nervous, i¡¯m a good person!¡± the doctor remained silent. who holds a gun and tells a doctor that they¡¯re a good person? if you ask around, who would believe you? the doctor examined ji chi¡¯s injuries, clearly feeling helpless. his small clinic was only equipped to handle common illnesses like the flu and administer basic treatments. how could he treat injuries like this? ¡°sir, you need to take him to a large hospital; the infection in his arm is too severe,¡± the doctor, in a state of dilemma, said, ¡°i can¡¯t treat this!¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t pressure the doctor further and simply checked his firearm. the doctor began sweating profusely, genuinely anxious. ¡°sir, please rest assured, 1 will do my best!¡± ¡°i trust you,¡± jiang junlin said with a smile as he sipped his tea. ji chi remained unconscious, showing no signs of waking up. a large portion of his forearm had rotted away due to the infection and needed to be amputated entirely and then sutured. the doctor clearly wasn¡¯t accustomed to treating such serious injuries; his hand trembled as he cut away a significant amount of flesh. jiang junlin furrowed his brow but remained silent, and the doctor dared not make a sound. ¡°sir, i¡¯ve performed neutering surgeries on pets before,¡± the doctor said, trying to reassure jiang junlin. jiang junlin closed his eyes and held his phone, which contained the last disposable sim card. he had a choice: call dr. north for help in treating ji chi¡¯s injuries. however, with internal and external threats, and with the traitor still at large, exposing themselves now would be fatal for both him and ji chi. this risk couldn¡¯t be taken. he took a deep breath and suppressed the bitterness in his heart. ¡°take your time; there¡¯s no need to rush..¡± wanna gift the story? try one. Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Idol and Best Friend chapter 298: idol and best friend translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the doctor wiped his brow, being a bit gentler with his touch. finally, he managed to clear away the rotten flesh on ji chi¡¯s arm. the decay was dangerously close to the bone, and if the bone had also deteriorated, it would have been truly difficult to treat. after debriding the wound, he repeatedly sterilized it and administered antibiotics. stitching it up was a simpler task compared to the cleaning, though it wasn¡¯t the neatest work; it was passable. once the stitching was done, they started a intravenous antibiotic drip, and the doctor finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°in the future, you¡¯ll need to disinfect, take antibiotics, and receive iv antibiotics daily. this wound can¡¯t be exposed to bacteria again to prevent reinfection,¡± the doctor instructed, feeling a sense of accomplishment and fear at the same time. fear that jiang junlin might shoot him! ¡°thank you,¡± jiang junlin politely expressed his gratitude. fie checked on ji chi, who hadn¡¯t regained consciousness yet and was quite weak. the stitching looked particularly ugly, a clear sign of the doctor¡¯s lack of expertise. considering it was just a small clinic, jiang junlin said, ¡°prepare some anti-inflammatory drugs for me, syringes, and antiseptic cream. also, get some morphine.¡± the doctor packed up various antibiotics, including penicillin, cephalosporins, and levofloxacin, all of which were prescription medications. he explained their usage, warnings, and precautions to jiang junlin. these antibiotics were all prescription drugs, but the doctor didn¡¯t dare to ask for identification. if they had identification, they wouldn¡¯t have used a gun. he also prepared some sterile dressings and antibacterial ointments. ¡°do not speak a word of tonight¡¯s events to anyone!¡± ¡°sir, rest assured, i won¡¯t utter a word!¡± jiang junlin nodded and handed him a wad of cash, ¡°this is the consultation fee.¡± the doctor was astonished. did even killers nowadays have such manners? speaking softly and calmly, he had initially thought he had run into a couple of ruthless criminals forcing him to treat them. he had been racking his brain on how to deal with the prescription drugs, and the small clinic was going to incur a significant loss. he never expected to receive a consultation fee. ten crisp two-hundred-euro bills ¨C he had made a good profit! the doctor, with a respectful tone, suggested, ¡°would you like some more antibiotics?¡± did saying ¡°please come again¡± make him seem money-hungry? the doctor was torn, recalling that someone had inquired yesterday about whether two injured individuals had sought treatment here. even the dark web¡¯s underworld investigators hadn¡¯t mentioned they were chinese, as people could easily disguise themselves. jiang junlin and ji chi¡¯s heights were no less than those of europeans and americans. in fact, they stood out. so when the inquiry was made, it was about people seeking treatment. the doctor, considering the money involved and jiang junlin¡¯s demeanor, which didn¡¯t resemble that of a murderer, spoke truthfully, ¡°yesterday, the police came asking if we had treated any suspicious patients without identification. in our small clinic, we usually only see local neighbors for common ailments like colds, fevers, and minor injuries. we don¡¯t handle serious illnesses, and 1 don¡¯t even suture wounds myself. so, we¡¯ve never had any suspicious patients.¡± who would have thought that today they would encounter such patients? ¡°the police came to inquire?¡± ¡°yes.¡± ¡°are you sure?¡± ¡°absolutely. 1 saw their badges, and they mentioned two fugitive killers. even the major hospitals are making inquiries.¡± the doctor wasn¡¯t curious about whether they were actually murderers. fie treated them, jiang junlin paid, and everything was quite reasonable. he was already sixty years old and had seen countless people. he still had that kind of insight. ¡°if they come asking again, you know what to say.¡± ¡°i know, i know!¡± the doctor thought to himself, considering the euros involved. he knew exactly what to say, especially since jiang junlin¡¯s demeanor was genuinely upright. claiming that he was a police officer and the other was a fugitive, the doctor bought into it. at sixty years old, he had seen it all and still had a sharp eye for such things. in the city of paris, these kinds of situations were all too common. ¡°thank you!¡± jiang junlin took the medicine, carried ji chi, and left. he deliberately walked in the opposite direction, going an extra two hundred meters before circling back. at the blue fields villa, it was six o¡¯clock in the evening. zhou jinjin was shooting a video in the university town. she called gu ci, sounding cheerful, ¡°baby, come out for dinner. it¡¯s been so long since we had a meal together.¡± zhou jinjin was a popular internet celebrity. she had been spotted by a producer and was pulled into filming a web series after her final exams. the production crew was in the city a film and television city, and today they were shooting on location in the university town. she finally had some free time to invite gu ci out for a meal. gu ci glanced at the surveillance footage. lu zhizhuan was reading a book and wouldn¡¯t leave for quite a while. however, if she went out, li jiang would be waiting outside, ready to take advantage of the opportunity. so gu ci declined zhou jinjin¡¯s invitation. ¡°you can come to my place and order takeout.¡± zhou jinjin man an exasperated sound. she really came rushing over to gu ci¡¯s place. on the way, she had already placed orders for crayfish and barbecue. she arrived at gu ci¡¯s place in just ten minutes. li jiang¡¯s guards were stationed in the distance, and they also saw zhou jinjin. she didn¡¯t notice the covert guards, but when she saw gu ci, zhou jinjin was startled. ¡°i haven¡¯t seen you in just a week, and you¡¯ve lost so much weight! i¡¯ve been staying up late filming, but i¡¯m not as skinny as you. you¡¯ll be blown away by the wind!¡± ¡°is it really that bad?¡± gu ci replied, feigning indifference. ¡°and your complexion is terrible. what¡¯s wrong? are you upset?¡± zhou jinjin noticed gu ci¡¯s gloominess and became genuinely concerned. gu ci had always been reserved and emotionally restrained, but zhou jinjin could still tell when something was amiss. ¡°lu zhizhuan¡¯s leg is permanently injured, and it can¡¯t be healed. he can¡¯t race anymore?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°is he seriously ill and incurable?¡± ¡°are you a die-hard fan or something?¡± zhou jinjin raised an eyebrow, ¡°i¡¯m a true fan of yours, but i can¡¯t figure out why you¡¯re so down. could it be another heartbreak?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°oh, then i really can¡¯t guess. it¡¯s not because you didn¡¯t do well on your exams, right?¡± ¡°stop guessing. it¡¯s just that the weather has turned cold, and 1 don¡¯t feel like going out.¡± ¡°you should go out for a walk every day, don¡¯t stay cooped up at home. i¡¯m having a lot of fun on the set. do you want to come and watch? since your exams are over, you don¡¯t have anything to do!¡± gu ci silently considered her situation. she had so many things on her plate ¨C the underworld affairs, lu zhizhuan¡¯s condition, her own illness. she wished she had an extra twenty-four hours in a day. ¡°ziyu hasn¡¯t finished his exams yet. anyway, don¡¯t worry about me. is filming hard?¡± lately, gu ci had been too preoccupied to respond to most of zhou jinjin¡¯s messages. ¡°it¡¯s great, a lot of fun. the script for this web series is really interesting. 1 have a feeling i¡¯m going to make it big. a few days ago, i went back to my parents¡¯ house, and my dad was really cunning. he doesn¡¯t want me to show my face in the entertainment industry, but he secretly asked me how much money i¡¯ve made. he¡¯s not in good health.¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°just enjoy your filming. if you ever need investment, let me know. when it¡¯s released, i¡¯ll be the first one to watch!¡± ¡°absolutely!¡± ¡°what about ziyu?¡± ¡°he went to the library to revise..¡± Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Loving One Person for a Lifetime chapter 299: loving one person for a lifetime translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°the kids are really diligent. by the way, is lu zhiyuan¡¯s leg really okay? can he still race next year?¡¯1 gu ci thought for a moment. ¡°most likely¡­ he won¡¯t be able to race in the future.¡± lu zhiyuan, known as the third master, has had his identity exposed, which has brought too many uncertainties. racing is too dangerous for him now. he escaped pei qiuying¡¯s plot this time, but what about the next time? the information on the racetrack is always changing, and it¡¯s likely that lu zhiyuan won¡¯t race again. ¡°oh, is his leg really that bad?¡± ¡°the bones aren¡¯t a big issue, but it will take time to heal. he won¡¯t be able to race for a year.¡± ¡°that¡¯s a loss for the global racing scene. he¡¯s a racing superstar, and his fans must be devastated. no wonder he¡¯s been keeping a low profile since the incident. haven¡¯t seen any press conferences from him. is the next press conference going to announce his retirement? can i cry in advance?¡±¡® gu ci chuckled, and this was the happiest she had been in the past few days. seeing her smile, zhou j in jin finally felt relieved. she said, ¡°if we don¡¯t meet this time, you won¡¯t see me again. we¡¯re not taking a break for the new year; we¡¯re having a big dinner on the set.¡± ¡°they¡¯re filming even during the new year?¡± ¡°i¡¯m the female lead, and the winter break is the most convenient time. when school starts, we ll have less time. so, during the break, we have to finish shooting all my scenes. even though it¡¯s an online drama, the production team is really reliable. i think¡­ the male actors i¡¯m working with are also good-looking and have great bodies.11 ¡°your potential love interests?¡± gu ci became interested. she had been worried about zhou jinjin¡¯s feelings after being hurt by lu shixiu. zhou jinjin rubbed her chin thoughtfully. ¡°they¡¯re handsome, but not my type of handsome. they seem a bit feminine, not masculine enough for my taste.¡± ¡°but didn¡¯t you always like delicate and androgynous-looking men? lu shixiu fit that aesthetic for you.¡± ¡°my taste is evolving,¡± zhou jinjin said with a mischievous smile. ¡°he¡¯s pursuing me, and i¡¯m considering it for a while. young men and women working together on a set, especially in a sweet and affectionate drama, what if things get complicated?¡± ¡°if you like him, go for it,¡± gu ci said somewhat wistfully. ¡°meeting someone you like isn¡¯t easy; maybe it¡¯s once in a lifetime.¡± ¡°that¡¯s not necessarily true! ¡± zhou jinjin replied. ¡°1 really liked lu shixiu back then, and 1 mean really liked him. he betrayed me, but the next one might be even better. who says 1 can only like one man?¡± gu ci was momentarily stunned. wasn¡¯t life about loving one person for a lifetime? zhou j in jin guessed that gu ci¡¯s melancholy was about lu zhiyuan, but she didn¡¯t want to pry. she had her reasons, and they had grown up together, providing mutual support and respect for each other. they wouldn¡¯t dig too deep, but they would find their own ways to comfort each other. ¡°cici, what do you like about lu zhiyuan? is it his good looks or his care and protection?¡± zhou jinjin asked. ¡°there are many reasons, but it¡¯s hard to pin down the specifics.¡± ¡°when you like someone, they either provide you with material value or emotional value. materially, you don¡¯t need it; you¡¯re already wealthy. so, it¡¯s emotional value. love is about being happy, isn¡¯t it? if you¡¯re not happy in a relationship, what¡¯s the point? as for marriage¡­ to be honest, it¡¯s just finding someone to spend a lifetime with. with the divorce rate so high these days, who knows what your future husband will be like? looking at the same face for ten or twenty years, when you¡¯re old and no longer attractive, there will always be pretty young girls around. who can guarantee he won¡¯t be tempted? people know faces, not hearts. so, don¡¯t rely on one man for your life and happiness.¡± zhou j in jin sipped her water and said softly, ¡°why do women worry about their husbands cheating? its the result of our traditional social structure. men go out to work, women stay at home; women lose their ability to support themselves and rely on men for support. but nowadays, society is different. women are half of the world; they can be successful in their careers. discrimination still exists, but more and more women are stepping out of their homes and returning to society, finding their own value. if your husband cheats, it¡¯s okay; get a divorce and find someone better. even if you can¡¯t find someone better, you can still live a carefree life, either with your children or alone, because you have the ability to support yourself.¡± ¡°you don¡¯t really need to worry about your husband cheating. if he does, just kick him out and find someone better,¡± zhou jinjin said cheerfully. ¡°so, whether it¡¯s marriage or dating, this person must be able to provide you with emotional value, happiness, and a sense of security. happiness is the most important thing. now that 1 have a certain economic foundation, when i¡¯m in a relationship, it has to be someone 1 genuinely like, someone who makes me really happy. if i¡¯m not happy, i¡¯ll just kick him out.¡± zhou j in jin had seen gu ci¡¯s melancholy over lu zhiyuan a few times, and she genuinely wished for gu ci to be happier. even if the person in question was her idol, she hoped her best friend could find happiness. when comparing an idol to a best friend, the best friend was always more important. gu ci had a somewhat ingrained people-pleasing personality, stemming from her childhood longing for her parents¡¯ love. all her rebellion and dissatisfaction had originated from her family, and she wondered if she had always been trying to win lu zhiyuan¡¯s affection. ¡°cici, men are really fickle creatures. no matter how smart or capable they are, when something is handed to them on a silver platter, they won¡¯t cherish it. there¡¯s a saying, ¡®what you can¡¯t have is what¡¯s best/¡± zhou jinjin felt that gu ci¡¯s love for lu zhiyuan was too self-deprecating. she was willing to go through fire and water for him, but what if he wasn¡¯t as dedicated to her? ¡°but i¡¯m really happy! ¡± gu ci looked at zhou jinjin. ¡°he¡¯s within my reach, and i¡¯m genuinely happy.¡¯1 ¡°as long as you¡¯re happy. you looked so downcast^ 1 thought you had another disagreement with him.¡± ¡°it¡¯s really nothing. it¡¯s just that he can¡¯t race anymore in the future, and it¡¯s affecting his mood.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t want zhou jinjin to know that she was keeping lu zhiyuan confined. she knew it was a shocking thing to do, but she was resolute about it. ¡°that¡¯s his problem; why worry about it? maybe he¡¯ll recover and be able to race again.¡± zhou jinjin chuckled. ¡°by the way, i remember you have a few psychology books in your study. can you lend them to me? there¡¯s a character in this drama who¡¯s a psychologist, playing my best friend. i¡¯ll bring a few books to rhe set as props and return them to you later.¡± saying this, she bounced downstairs, startling gu ci. she followed her downstairs. the door to the secret room was closed. whenever zhou jinjin came over, gu ci would lock the door to the secret room. however, she was still worried that zhou jinjin might hear something, as rhe secret room had two doors, and gu ci had only closed one of them. so, the soundproofing wasn¡¯t perfect. lu zhiyuan heard zhou jinjin and gu ci talking, furrowing his brow. if he made any noise, zhou jinjin would undoubtedly find out that gu ci had imprisoned him.. but what was the significance of that? Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: If You Want to Leave, I’ll Kill You chapter 300: if you want to leave, i¡¯ll kill you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation zhou jinjin was gu ci¡¯s close friend, so why ruin her image in gu ci¡¯s heart? lu zhiyuan just quietly read his book and paid no attention to zhou jinjin. zhou jinjin took several psychology books that gu ci had already read. gu ci gave her a medical book. zhou jinjin noticed that gu ci was a little nervous. ¡°why are you so nervous?¡± ¡°don¡¯t damage my books.¡± ¡°i know, i¡¯ll be careful!¡± zhou jinjin smiled and noticed that gu ci had installed a fingerprint password door in the guest room. she raised an eyebrow. ¡°why did you install such a high-end door in the guest room?¡± she walked over with her book, and gu ci¡¯s heart was on edge, afraid that lu zhiyuan would make any noise. ¡°i¡¯ve turned it into a laboratory. 1¡¯11 dissect some lab mice, and i¡¯m afraid it might scare you, so 1 installed a door to keep him from wandering in.¡± lu zhiyuan was amused. lab mice? are you telling the truth? ¡°are you really conducting live experiments at home?¡± ¡°i just dissected a little mouse. do you want to see?¡± gu ci pretended to open the door. zhou jinjin quickly shook her head. ¡°no, no¡­ 1 still need to have dinner.¡± she went upstairs with her book, and gu ci followed her upstairs. after the takeout arrived, the two of them drank beer and ate crayfish together, having a great time. zhou jinjin also gossiped about gu chuyun. recently, she and gu chuyun were in the same circle. gu chuyun¡¯s rise was particularly rapid, and she became a regular guest on a highly popular variety show. she had become very skilled at portraying herself positively! listening to zhou jinjin¡¯s gossip, gu ci treated it as an interesting story. ¡°don¡¯t worry, in a couple of years, you¡¯ll be even more popular than her!¡± gu chuyun wasn¡¯t the only one with an impressive academic background. she was in the art department at a university, with a hundred-point lower cultural score than zhou jinjin, who got in through her own efforts. ¡°by the way, ziyu¡­¡± zhou jinjin peeled a crayfish and casually asked, ¡°is zhiyuan still following ziyu?¡± gu ci covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°why are you asking about zhiyuan?¡± ¡°i¡¯m the type of person who doesn¡¯t forget debts of gratitude. he saved my life, and i want to invite him to dinner. i¡¯ve tried several times, but he always says military personnel can¡¯t move freely and must follow orders.¡± zhou jinjin was displeased. ¡°doesn¡¯t he have any free time? do the country¡¯s men not have weekends? 1 suspect he¡¯s lying to me.¡± ¡°he really doesn¡¯t have weekends, and it¡¯s not a lie. he has to be ready to be called in from monday to friday, and sometimes he has to accompany ziyu on weekends, so he¡¯s quite busy.¡± gu ci explained, ¡°he¡¯s a key talent in national security, so he¡¯s very busy.¡± ¡°okay, i¡¯ll try to invite him again later.¡± gu ci smiled and peeled a crayfish for her. zhou jinjin stayed at gu ci¡¯s house until after nine o¡¯clock, so lu zhiyuan had gone hungry for several hours. he had eaten lunch at eleven o¡¯clock and had been hungry until nine. there was some leftover crayfish, and gu ci didn¡¯t feel like cooking, so she heated it up, added some broccoli and green peppers, and brought it to him along with a bottle of beer and a bottle of cola, a random combination. ¡°i¡¯m not eating!¡± lu zhiyuan liked meat, and third young master liked high-protein food. neither of them had eaten much crayfish. gu ci chuckled, leaning on the edge of the table. ¡°third brother, you don¡¯t get to order anything fancy when you¡¯re in prison. having crayfish is already quite good. ask the people in jail how many of them get to eat crayfish!¡± she left with a flourish and didn¡¯t lock the door to the darkroom. she was dissecting in the adjacent lab, and gu ci had been sleeping in the study lately. the study had a comfortable reading area. this area was designed for her and ziyu to read and relax, and she could also take short naps there. gu ci slept on the sofa with a blanket at night. although the door to the darkroom was closed, she knew that third master was not far from her. at one in the morning, the door to the darkroom was opened. dressed in a white dress, holding a bedsheet, she appeared in the darkroom like a ghost. lu zhiyuan had not fallen asleep yet. gu ci was kind enough to give him some books, all of which were travel and history books, which he wouldn¡¯t normally read. now that he had some free time, he decided to give them a try. she treated him like a pet, locking him up, as long as he didn¡¯t mention leaving or not loving him, gu ci¡¯s behavior remained normal. she wanted to see lu zhiyuan at all times. after finishing her exams, she didn¡¯t go out to have fun. instead, she stayed in the study all day, reading and doing experiments. she had a bit of neuroticism in her behavior. she would occasionally open the door to the darkroom to check on lu zhiyuan, making sure he was within her sight. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t speak to her, but gu ci didn¡¯t seem to mind. she really treated him like a pet, someone who didn¡¯t need conversation, just companionship. when she was tired from her experiments, she would come to the darkroom and watch a movie with him. tonight, she came to find lu zhiyuan for the first time. there was only one bed in the darkroom, and gu ci appeared like a ghost in her white dress, holding a bedsheet. ¡°can i spend the night here with you?¡± lu zhiyuan had a splitting headache. looking at gu ci¡¯s state, he knew he couldn¡¯t refuse, but he also knew he couldn¡¯t indulge her. unable to refuse and unable to indulge, what was he supposed to do? ¡°honey, 1 want to sleep with you!¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in his heart. ¡°gu ci, your cute act won¡¯t work on me. i¡¯m not your husband; i¡¯m just your prisoner. if you¡¯re not afraid of death, sleep next to me.¡± gu ci smiled strangely. ¡°i¡¯m not afraid!¡± she brought her blanket and climbed onto the bed. the darkroom¡¯s bed was a spacious two meters wide, more than enough for two people. with gu ci sleeping beside him, she felt more at ease. lu zhiyuan looked down at her. there were tear stains on gu ci¡¯s eyelashes, making her look pitiful and pale. lu zhiyuan¡¯s headache intensified. the complex emotions were tearing at his heart, causing his headache to worsen. with gu ci beside him, she didn¡¯t sleep soundly either. it seemed like she was plagued by nightmares, repeatedly calling out ¡°husband.¡± every time she called, it added to lu zhiyuan¡¯s pain. he had been reading during the day, and he was wide awake at night. gu ci¡¯s madness was genuine. but when she said she wasn¡¯t afraid of death and wanted to sleep beside him, she really fell asleep. he had been observing gu ci¡¯s condition all along. she had been sleeping for an hour, and her nightmares were frequent. she kept calling out for her husband and third brother. lu zhiyuan watched as she sweated profusely, and he wanted to wake her up, but he was afraid of giving her too much hope. so he threw a book on the floor, startling gu ci awake. gu ci woke up from her nightmare, tears still in her eyes. however, her gaze was extremely fierce. lu zhiyuan felt like he had seen this kind of gaze before. ¡°lu zhiyuan, if you dare to die, i¡¯ll die in front of you!¡± this sentence suddenly flashed through his mind. ¡°you¡¯re not allowed to leave me!¡± gu ci screamed in a manic tone, panicked and fearful. she was like a fish out of water, trapped in a nightmare. ¡°if you want to leave, i¡¯ll kill you!¡± lu zhiyuan was startled.. Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Lu Zhiyuan Recovers His Memory chapter 301: lu zhiyuan recovers his memory translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation during this period, he has not been as willing as gu ci had hoped, refusing to admit his love for her. she seemed genuinely unconcerned, treating it like a pet, as long as he was with her, her emotions were somewhat milder. lu zhiyuan originally thought she had managed to control her emotions. however, he didn¡¯t expect her true nature to be revealed in a nightmare. was his gentle approach causing gu ci¡¯s condition to remain ineffective? although he wasn¡¯t a professional psychologist, he knew that if gu ci continued to hold onto fantasies and refused to accept reality, nothing would improve. lu zhiyuan pushed her away, as cold as a stranger. ¡°gu ci, have you gone crazy? is imprisoning someone in a cage your way of loving them? i¡¯m not your pet. if you want to kill me, go ahead. even if you do, i won¡¯t love you!¡± gu ci didn¡¯t know which word had triggered her, ¡°do you want to die? you¡¯re dreaming! if anyone¡¯s going to die, it¡¯ll be me first. i absolutely won¡¯t¡­¡± she absolutely wouldn¡¯t face lu zhiyuan¡¯s death alone again. in the previous life, she had experienced it once, and in this life, she had almost experienced it again. gu ci slapped lu zhiyuan in the face, saying, ¡°never use death to threaten me!¡± lu zhiyuan, who had been slapped, looked at her in shock. after gu ci left, she brought a gun and placed it in lu zhiyuan¡¯s hand. ¡°you want to die, don¡¯t you? weil, go ahead, kill me first!¡± lu zhiyuan knew instantly that the gun was loaded. ¡°you¡­¡± he was torn between heartache and helplessness. if he could wake her up, he would truly like to slap some sense into her. gu ci¡¯s obsession ran too deep! it was like someone addicted to drugs for years, impossible to quit. lu zhiyuan was her addiction! he didn¡¯t know whether to be happy or sad! there was someone who loved him like their life depended on it, but it wasn¡¯t him! ¡°gu ci, listen carefully!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her coldly. ¡°even if you keep me here, i will never love you. the lu zhiyuan who loved you will never return. you¡¯re sick, you need to see a doctor!¡± ¡°i am a doctor!¡± gu ci tilted her head. ¡°i know i¡¯m sick. you don¡¯t have to tell me, and you don¡¯t have to love me. just stay here, and i can see you anytime. want to leave? unless you kill me.¡± lu zhiyuan loaded his gun, unlocked the safety, and looked at gu ci coldly. ¡°gu ci, don¡¯t push me!¡± gu ci suddenly laughed, dressed in a flowing long dress with her hair scattered. she truly resembled a vengeful spirit. ¡°go ahead, shoot me. 1 can jump from the top of global center. do you think i¡¯m afraid of death?¡± one person remained calm, while the other was consumed by madness. their emotions were entangled, and lu zhiyuan was almost driven insane by her. he had never encountered such a challenging situation before. gu ci wasn¡¯t a hot potato for him; she was delicate porcelain. whether it was too heavy or too light, he had to be careful. but unfortunately, he really didn¡¯t know what to do. within black hawk, he had faced the most challenging situations, survived when jiang junlin sent someone to kill him, and experienced near-death situations. no matter how terrible the circumstances, there were always more solutions than difficulties. but who could tell him how to unravel this situation? how could he make gu ci feel a little better? admitting that he loved her, would it make her feel better? but could she still trust him? lu zhiyuan felt like he had lifted a rock and smashed his own foot, utterly helpless for the first time in his life. gu ci lowered her head, lifted his hand, and placed the gun¡¯s barrel against her forehead. ¡°third brother, come on, kill me, and you¡¯ll be free!¡± the gun in his hand felt like a hot potato. gu ci suddenly became excited, ready to pull the trigger. ¡°you actually want to kill me. pei qiuying tried to kill you, and you spared her life, but you want to kill me. come on, do it, and i¡¯ll help you!¡± she crazily attempted to pull the trigger, and lu zhiyuan was horrified. as she pulled the trigger in her frenzy, he swiftly disassembled the gun, catching the bullet in his palm. gu ci had really tried to fire the gun, but it ended up being an empty shot. lu zhiyuan was furious and slapped gu ci hard. it was the first time he had ever laid hands on her. she had actually tried to pull the trigger with the gun pointed at her own forehead, and the gun was in his hand. any slight mistake, and he would have regretted it for the rest of his life. ¡°have you gone mad enough now?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci, her eyes red, exclaimed, ¡°i am a lunatic, did you realize that on the first day?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s head throbbed painfully as this scene seemed familiar, memories flooding back once again. it was the time after gu ci had jumped off the building, her second suicide attempt. he recalled that he had hit her then, and gu ci had looked at him with the same red eyes. she had said, ¡°i don¡¯t want to live!¡± lu zhiyuan covered his forehead, groaning in pain, leaving gu ci astonished, thinking he was pretending. ¡°don¡¯t pretend. i won¡¯t fall for it!¡± but lu zhiyuan¡¯s body convulsed uncontrollably. it didn¡¯t seem like an act. the firearm and bullets fell to the ground. gu ci anxiously asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°hea¡­dache!¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow as a deluge of images forcefully squeezed into his mind. he saw himself under the sunlight at the entrance of the suburban prison, driving to pick up gu ci. gu ci, dressed in all white as if freshly washed, was covering her face, trying to evade him. he drove over, wanting to take her back home, but she resisted. he said to her, ¡°get in the car, i¡¯ll take you home.¡± he brought gu ci to a villa in the suburbs. on that day, someone had attempted to assassinate her. when gu ci heard the gunshots, she initially reacted like a startled bird, subconsciously curling up in a corner, not daring to move. it was a familiar posture, one she had learned while serving time in prison, especially among inmates in high-security facilities. this was a common posture among inmates who had served time in prison, especially in facilities that housed high-risk prisoners. because the suburban prison had many death row inmates who were often violent and ruthless, they didn¡¯t hesitate to take a life, and riots were frequent. when maintaining order, the sound of gunshots was a common occurrence, and as soon as the inmates heard it, they would immediately crouch down with their heads covered to avoid becoming targets. after gu ci assumed this posture, lu zhiyuan angrily reprimanded li jiang and rushed to deal with the assailants, all while trying not to frighten gu ci. however, the assassination team that day was highly skilled and had approached them. one of the assailants lay dead in front of gu ci. for an ordinary young woman, such a sight would have been shocking, likely causing screams and panic. but gu ci remained as motionless as a wooden figure, with blood splatters on her face. she showed no concern for human life. li jiang, upon seeing the scars on gu ci¡¯s face, was taken aback. the scars were deep and ugly. gu ci covered her face, her gaze avoiding others. lu zhiyuan, consumed by rage, kicked li jiang. li jiang had known that gu ci was injured, but this was the first time he had seen the scars. it was understandable that he was startled. he quickly apologized, but gu ci seemed not to have heard. after returning from prison, gu ci hadn¡¯t spoken a word for three days. her previous favorite foods no longer appealed to her, and she left no grain uneaten during meals. she never opened the curtains in her room, preferring to hide in the corner of her bedroom alone. any slight movement or noise startled her, making her appear fragile and heart-wrenching. lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t press her or demand anything from her. he tried to appear in front of her as little as possible but never left the house, always keeping her company. the first time gu ci ventured outside was with him to the mall to buy autumn clothes. she wore a hat and a mask, bundled up tightly. however, when lu zhiyuan was at the checkout counter, gu chuyun¡¯s people deliberately bumped into gu ci and removed her hat and mask.. wanna gift the story? try one. Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Third Master Is Back chapter 302: third master is back translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci¡¯s disfigured face was exposed to the public¡¯s eyes, causing children to scream in fright, while others recoiled in fear. rumors of her being a murderer were being spread by some. gu ci looked at the crying children in bewilderment, then belatedly covered her face, standing amidst the crowd, feeling utterly lost and confused. she belatedly covered her injured face. onlookers pointed fingers and cursed, even summoning security to expel the alleged murderer from the mall. in a rush, lu zhiyuan arrived and shielded gu ci, ensuring her safe departure. as a global superstar, lu zhiyuan¡¯s actions quickly made headlines. his fans began to investigate gu ci, feeling that she was unworthy of him. a barrage of vulgar language was directed at gu ci. in a fit of anger, lu zhiyuan announced his retirement and declared that gu ci was his wife. however, at that time, gu ci was unwilling to say more than a few words to him! that night, he didn¡¯t sleep soundly. his psychologist mentioned that gu ci had endured inhumane torture in prison, her will to survive weakened. he had not dared to sleep deeply since then, and that night, he woke up inexplicably, feeling that something was about to happen. he couldn¡¯t find gu ci in the bedroom, and panic set in. he searched everywhere, only to discover gu ci standing on the fourth floor of the villa, poised to fall headfirst. lu zhiyuan used his superpowers to catch her. that night, gu ci had taken pills, and she was somewhat drowsy, unaware of her actions. gu ci had lost all hope for this world, and she had no will to live. after her release from prison, she seemed like a lifeless shell. she didn¡¯t even desire revenge. gu chuyun and lu shijie had framed her and sent her to prison, but she didn¡¯t mention it after her release. she had always been a person who believed in retaliation. if gu chuyun slapped her, she would return two slaps. but now, she didn¡¯t even want revenge, which indicated that the hope that had kept her going had long extinguished. lu zhiyuan was torn between heartache, anger, and helplessness. he asked gu ci, ¡°don¡¯t you want revenge?¡± gu ci, with empty eyes, asked, ¡°even if i get revenge, can i go back to the past?¡± if it couldn¡¯t change anything, what use was revenge? lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes welled up with tears! she had lost everything, including hope, and in this world, she didn¡¯t even have someone she cared about. gu ci attempted suicide three times, and each time, lu zhiyuan stopped her. he took her to see doctors, hoping to heal her hand injury. her hand had suffered a comminuted fracture, and although it had been repaired, it was not functional for strenuous activities or delicate work. it was essentially useless. five years in prison, bearing a body full of wounds, both physical and emotional. he had been a race car driver for many years, but the injuries and ailments from his five years behind bars were far more severe! ¡°gu ci, if you can¡¯t find a reason to live, then live for me!¡± lu zhiyuan kissed her scar gently. ¡°i¡¯ll live for you, and you¡¯ll live for me, alright?¡± gu ci looked at him with confusion. ¡°why should i live for you?¡± ¡°i want to marry you!¡± lu zhiyuan declared. ¡°so please, live for me.¡± due to the pain, lu zhiyuan passed out, and his memories abruptly stopped. gu ci shook his shoulders in panic. ¡°lu zhiyuan, wake up, lu zhiyuan!¡± gu ci checked his breathing, which was surprisingly normal. she furrowed her brows, rushed to find the first-aid kit. lu zhiyuan¡¯s condition had stabilized, but he remained unconscious. gu ci had some common medical equipment at home, and she thoroughly examined lu zhiyuan, finding nothing unusual. why wouldn¡¯t he wake up? it felt like he had just fallen asleep. what could be wrong with his body? could there be some hidden issue despite the healthy readings from the instruments? would taking him to the hospital reveal anything? ¡°third brother, don¡¯t scare me!¡± gu ci thought, if he didn¡¯t wake up tonight, she would take him to the hospital. so gu ci didn¡¯t even dare to blink her eyes. she checked his pulse every minute, his breathing every two minutes, and occasionally took his temperature. his pulse and breathing didn¡¯t seem like symptoms of a sudden illness at all. gu ci was in a frantic state, and she stayed by his side until dawn. as dawn broke, lu zhiyuan still hadn¡¯t woken up. gu ci¡¯s heart raced, and she was about to untie him and take him to the hospital for an examination. however, unexpectedly, lu zhiyuan slowly opened his eyes. gu ci regained her composure instantly, stepped back three paces, and looked down at him from a position of dominance, still maintaining the posture of a captor. ¡°cici?¡± he barely called her name when a severe headache struck him again, and he remembered the memories that had floated in his mind before losing consciousness. were those memories from a past life? but hadn¡¯t he been in a car accident and nearly died? lu zhiyuan tried to rub his temples but suddenly realized that he was tied up. he stared in disbelief. ¡°gu ci, what¡¯s going on?¡± he had actually been bound? gu ci also looked at him with confusion. ¡°who are you, really?¡± ¡°i¡¯m lu zhiyuan, who else could i be? could it be that i survived a car accident, narrowly escaped death, and then came back to life?¡± lu zhiyuan touched his face, startled. ¡°wait, is this really my face? why did you tie me up? can you explain?¡± gu ci took a few steps back, becoming even more perplexed. was this really third brother? no, he was acting! just like when he portrayed third brother, he was now pretending to be confused. he was just doing this to escape. ¡°no matter how convincing your act is, 1 won¡¯t fall for it!¡± gu ci said coldly. ¡°what¡¯s all this nonsense, gu ci, untie me!¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow and noticed that she seemed not only thinner but also a bit abnormal. ¡°have you gone crazy?¡± gu ci sneered, ¡°you¡¯re not going anywhere no matter how convincing your act is!¡± gu ci sneered and turned away. ¡°gu ci, stop right there, fuck!¡± lu zhiyuan tried to get up and follow her but found that his feet were also locked. the door to the secret room had been closed. in the midst of this excitement, he experienced another intense wave of pain. memories from the period after the car accident began flooding back into his mind, how third young master had impersonated him, and how gu ci had been driven to madness. including the memories from last night! lu zhiyuan suddenly froze and felt a strange sensation. all along, his memories and third young master¡¯s memories had never interfered with each other. he had never been interested in third young master¡¯s affairs. why did everything suddenly seem like his own experience? it was as if he had awakened from a dream. lu zhiyuan frowned, his expression growing colder. what was going on? another wave of memories rushed into his mind, overwhelming him like a torrential flood. he had regained all his memories, spanning his past and present! gu ci leaned against the door in a state of panic and confusion. why did his gaze¡­ look so much like third brother¡¯s? no, to be precise, it resembled the familiar lu zhiyuan from her previous life. no! it must be a deception, an act to escape. she couldn¡¯t trust him! in paris, inside the safehouse. ji chi, after waking up from the effects of anesthesia, realized that he hadn¡¯t been conscious during the surgery. he had no awareness when jiang junlin brought him back. the pain in his arm, after the anesthesia wore off, felt like someone was continuously chiseling into his skull.. Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: The Little Wolf Appears to Be Miserable chapter 303: the little wolf appears to be miserable translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji chi broke out in a cold sweat, and jiang junlin looked at him indifferently. when ji chi saw his arm rewrapped, he suspected that jiang junlin had cut off his hand if it weren¡¯t for the sensation. ¡°brother, medicine!¡± jiang junlin raised his legs lazily, adopting a casual posture. ¡°endure it!¡± he knew ji chi had been awakened by the pain. given the mediocre skills of that doctor, there had to be something fishy if ji chi didn¡¯t feel pain. his flesh and blood had been cut away, leaving ji chi to cry out in frustration, ¡°brother, it really hurts, please give me a painkiller!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t have any!¡± he didn¡¯t bring back any painkillers on purpose. ¡°i brought you to see a doctor. i didn¡¯t let them amputate your hand. i¡¯ve done my part. do you expect me to wait on you hand and foot?¡± ji chi had no choice but to endure. the pain was bearable, but with painkillers available, why suffer needlessly? ji chi, though in pain, felt better mentally. ¡°brother, did you take me to see a doctor?¡± ¡°you¡¯re thinking too much. i did it myself!¡± ji chi was a bit surprised. ¡°can you handle this kind of wound?¡± he didn¡¯t believe it! jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk to him. both of them were recuperating, and they couldn¡¯t leave. during ji chi¡¯s coma, he had been on high alert and had no intention of talking to ji chi! ji chi struggled to sit up, poured a cup of hot water, and asked jiang junlin softly, ¡°brother, do you want some water? shall i serve you tea and pour water for you?¡± when it came to acting cute in front of jiang junlin, ji chi was truly unmatched. it came naturally, with no pretense! ¡°don¡¯t bother!¡± jiang junlin frowned coldly. ¡°don¡¯t annoy me either. once we¡¯re out of this door, we¡¯ll go our separate ways.¡± ¡°impossible!¡± ji chi quickly refuted. ¡°whether you believe it or not, 1 can dislocate your arm right now.¡± ¡°even if you kill me, i¡¯d say the same!¡± the idea of going their separate ways after leaving the safe house didn¡¯t exist in his dictionary! there was internet access in the safe house, but they were afraid of being traced, so they used the equipment already in the safe house and didn¡¯t contact the outside world. this was especially true for jiang junlin. ji chi looked at him pitifully. ¡°brother, does your injury hurt?¡± jiang junlin ignored him completely, treating everything he said as if it were background noise. but ji chi was undaunted. he couldn¡¯t sleep due to the pain, so he moved closer to jiang junlin. he spotted some anti-inflammatory drugs and various antibiotics nearby, and he knew they were from the doctor jiang junlin had taken him to see. this made him even happier. his brother might be tough on the outside, but he had a soft heart. ji chi said a few more words, but jiang junlin didn¡¯t respond. ji chi had a moment of insight. ¡°on the way here, why did you call gu ci? is gu ci the current head of the underworld? black hawk is our third master. did you calculate that third master would have a change of heart?¡± ¡°this is an internal matter of our underworld. it has nothing to do with you!¡± ¡°brother, you¡¯re really cunning. after your accident, the head of the underworld became gu ci, and black hawk is our third master. did you accurately predict that third master would have a change of heart?¡± jiang junlin frowned and squinted his eyes. ¡°ji chi, do you see me as someone who would even use my own sister for my own gain?¡± ji chi, realizing he had touched a sensitive nerve, let his smile fade a bit. ¡°isn¡¯t that the case?¡± ji chi replied. ¡°otherwise, why would you keep me locked up? gu ci¡¯s knowledge of the underworld¡¯s inner network must have been planned by you in advance. let me guess when¡­ maybe that new year¡¯s night when gu ci came to see you. after third master¡¯s accident, you learned his identity, so you left a backup plan. if something happened to you, gu ci would take over, and third master would surely go easy on her. the dark web of the underworld would still stand strong. isn¡¯t that your master plan?¡± jiang junlin chuckled lightly. ¡°i did leave a backup plan. but if you hadn¡¯t acted recklessly, none of this would have happened. she wouldn¡¯t have become the underworld¡¯s head. whether black hawk is really under the control of lu zhiyuan or not, i would have entrusted the aftermath to gu ci. i only trust her, understand?¡± this had nothing to do with the master of black hawk. it was simply because he believed gu ci could handle the underworld¡¯s dark web. if something happened to him, at least one person would hold the fort until the country found a perfect replacement, preventing it from falling into chaos. but in the eyes of others, he must be the kind of person who would use even his own sister for his own gain, with no moral boundaries. it didn¡¯t matter to him; he didn¡¯t mind the judgment of others. ji chi felt like he had been bitten by a snake. did jiang junlin only trust gu ci in this world? in his heart, the only person he could trust was gu ci. ji chi wanted to laugh but couldn¡¯t. jiang junlin knew what ji chi was thinking, but he didn¡¯t intend to indulge him. ji chi sat there sullenly, and jiang junlin thought that maybe he was planning another confinement, but there would be no next time. jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be imprisoned by ji chi again. once bitten, twice shy! between them, an invisible crack had appeared. even in a crisis, he would subconsciously protect ji chi¡¯s safety, and even in their escape, ji chi would be willing to take a bullet for him, but there was no going back. ¡°brother, if you had taken me away back then, would i be the person you trust the most now?¡± ji chi propped up his chin, playfully asking, ¡°would you have nurtured me with the same dedication as you did with pei qiuying? would i replace gu ci and become the person you trust the most?¡± jiang junlin was momentarily surprised and said softly, ¡°we can¡¯t change the past. forget about it.¡± ¡°you say it so lightly!¡± ji chi lifted his shirt to reveal a scar on his lower back, one that looked like it had been burned, with uneven and abrupt marks on his slender waist. ¡°after we reunited, you saw this scar on my back, but you never asked why. why didn¡¯t you ask?¡± jiang junlin kept a cold face and remained silent. ¡°say something!¡± ji chi growled. ¡°that¡¯s your privacy, and i didn¡¯t want to know,¡± he finally responded. ji chi smiled, a bit crazily, but with a touch of tenderness. ¡°no matter what the situation, you¡¯ve never touched my lower back. what¡¯s so frightening about it?¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t reply. jiang junlin didn¡¯t want to engage in this conversation, but ji chi seemed to be trapped in some inescapable memories. there was a chill in his eyes as ji chi continued, ¡°in fact, you¡¯ve known all along, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°ji chi¡­¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone softened slightly. ¡°it¡¯s in the past, and that place has long been reduced to rubble.¡± ¡°i can¡¯t move on!¡± ji chi glared at him angrily. ¡°do you know how this injury happened? i did it myself. i wanted to erase that mark completely, so i used a knife to cut it, and that wasn¡¯t enough¡ªi even used hot iron to cauterize it. even though the scar is gone, i still know what i went through!¡± jiang junlin clenched his fists. ji chi continued, ¡°the master of the dark web in the underworld is all-powerful and must have known what happened. i almost forgot¡ªchina¡¯s military unit destroyed that place. did you provide the information and plan the operation?¡± jiang junlin remained silent for a moment. ¡°yes, you¡¯ve had lingering doubts about this matter. i told you i didn¡¯t return to find you because i was ambushed by lu zhiyuan and was seriously injured, but you didn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°your credibility with me has long been bankrupt..¡± Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: We Have No Future chapter 304: we have no future translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°that¡¯s up to you!¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain further. ¡°ji chi, if i broke my promise, i apologize to you. meeting again, i consider it compensation.¡± ¡°hahaha¡­¡± ji chi laughed hysterically. ¡°lying in my bed, is that your idea of compensation, brother? aren¡¯t you uncomfortable?¡± jiang junlin truly regretted not having his teeth pulled out by a veterinarian, so he couldn¡¯t speak for three days. ¡°i broke our appointment, and you kept me locked up for over a month. with this, we¡¯re even. after i leave, we owe each other nothing,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice turned cold. he really didn¡¯t want to be drawn into a vortex with ji chi, sinking deeper into the mire. his identity didn¡¯t allow ji chi to stand by his side! the jiang family wouldn¡¯t agree, and neither would the higher-ups. unless he truly quit! but besides death, he couldn¡¯t leave the dark web of the underworld. it was a dead end. no matter how you looked at it, ji chi didn¡¯t understand that those fleeting moments of comfort were a dream from the very beginning. with a hand uninjured, ji chi grabbed jiang junlin¡¯s collar, pressed his forehead against his, and spoke with a menacing tone, ¡°you¡¯re dreaming!¡± outside the door, there was a sudden commotion. jiang junlin and ji chi were both taken aback. this safehouse was located in an apartment building, a duplex on the top floor. there were two elevators and two units per floor, with another neighbor living next door, a single woman with a son and a daughter. the woman had a husband who was separated from her and often came to ask for money. fed up with the harassment, the woman would give him money, but this time, for some reason, it escalated into a physical fight. the husband had dragged his wife out of the apartment and was beating her mercilessly. their daughter was crying loudly inside the apartment, and the man¡¯s curses and the woman¡¯s screams echoed through the stairwell. ji chi and jiang junlin listened for a moment. it seemed that the husband had gone to get a dna test for the child and found out that the younger daughter was not his biological child. in a family already filled with conflicts, this revelation only heightened the tension. the ex-husband was shouting that he would kill her while beating her. ji chi and jiang junlin opened the door slightly and saw the woman¡¯s face covered in bruises, and the little girl holding a teddy bear, standing at the doorway, crying loudly. an older boy, seemingly indifferent, watched the scene as if it were a familiar sight. ji chi and jiang junlin had special identities and couldn¡¯t afford to be exposed. they shouldn¡¯t have interfered, but the woman was being beaten too brutally. there were several bloodstains on her face, and the man was using a baseball bat to continuously strike her back, as if trying to break her spine. the woman cowered, holding her head in a sorry state. suddenly, jiang junlin swung open the door, grabbed the man¡¯s wrist, and wrested the baseball bat from his hand. ¡°hit her again, and i¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°get back to your apartment and mind your own business!¡± the man, a towering bald giant at 1.9 meters, was almost twice the size of jiang junlin. he didn¡¯t take jiang junlin seriously and tried to take back his baseball bat by getting closer. jiang junlin swiftly twisted the man¡¯s hand, nearly breaking it. enraged, the man lunged, but jiang junlin kicked him hard. the force of the kick sent the man tumbling into the hallway. jiang junlin spoke icily, ¡°get lost!¡± the man, seeing the situation, glared at jiang junlin fiercely, spat, and, noticing that the little girl had some asian heritage, pointed at jiang junlin and asked his wife, ¡°is this your lover? living next door to you, have you been having an affair? is she his daughter?¡± ji chi, who was already injured and couldn¡¯t physically intervene, leaned against the door and was extremely displeased upon hearing these accusations. even though the man¡¯s words were slanderous, ji chi was still upset. he didn¡¯t like jiang junlin having any kind of relationship with anyone, even in someone¡¯s imagination. ¡°what nonsense are you talking about? i don¡¯t even know him,¡± the woman explained, her nose still bleeding. her husband was about to attack again, but jiang junlin positioned the baseball bat in front of him. ¡°i¡¯ll say it again, get lost!¡± their commotion had reached jiang junlin and ji chi! the man seemed a bit concerned, especially with ji chi standing behind like a gatekeeper, his gaze as cold as a venomous snake. the man wisely dropped his threats and left. jiang junlin returned the baseball bat to the woman, who thanked him profusely. the little girl stopped crying as well. jiang junlin said, ¡°go check your injuries.¡± she watched jiang junlin¡¯s injuries and he returned to his apartment, closing the door. ji chi looked at him with a sly smile, and jiang junlin asked, ¡°what are you laughing at?¡± ¡°you¡¯re quite the chivalrous hero, risking exposure to save a damsel in distress,¡± ji chi said sarcastically. just a few days ago, someone had insisted on staying indoors unless absolutely necessary, even if someone were to die in front of them, all to avoid exposure. the mocking came fast. ¡°if we didn¡¯t intervene, she could have been beaten to death!¡± jiang junlin retorted. ¡°who said, ¡®even if someone dies in front of you, there¡¯s no need to intervene¡¯?¡± ji chi chuckled. ¡°big brother, your actions don¡¯t match your words. aren¡¯t you afraid of exposure with all these troubles?¡± jiang junlin and ji chi had been staying here for a few days, tending to their injuries and maintaining their vigilance. they were well aware of the situation across the hall. it was just an ordinary single woman taking care of her two children. she ran a restaurant and had a busy schedule, often leaving early and returning late. most of the time, it was her older brother taking care of the younger siblings, and they had seen him go shopping for groceries and drinks with them several times. the woman was separated from her husband but not divorced, and each time her husband visited, it was to ask for money. she endured it for the sake of her children. they were just regular citizens, and there was no need to be overly cautious. once they closed the door, jiang junlin¡¯s rough actions had caused his wound to reopen slightly, but it wasn¡¯t too serious. ji chi needed a change of dressing for his hand. he playfully called jiang junlin over, ¡°big brother, help me with the dressing.¡± jiang junlin glanced at him. ji chi couldn¡¯t change the bandage by himself, and the wound did need daily care. he walked over, unwrapped the gauze, and ji chi sat on the bed, looking up at jiang junlin. he savored the atmosphere¡ªjust the two of them in the world. together in exile, depending on each other, it fulfilled his most hidden desires. he was so close, even if jiang junlin said something hurtful once in a while, it didn¡¯t matter to him at all. jiang junlin disinfected the wound and applied a sterile dressing. he even gave ji chi an anti-inflammatory injection. ji chi¡¯s arm looked quite bad, considering the state it was in. how had he found the strength to carry him out of the hidden chamber that day? where had he found the strength to fire a gun? this person seemed to care little about his own life. jiang junlin inexplicably felt a surge of frustration building up inside him. however, ji chi continued to smile at him as if the days of imprisonment and abuse had never happened. he seemed harmless and disarming, making it impossible for jiang junlin to harbor any suspicions. ¡°ji chi, you know¡­¡± jiang junlin began. you know we have no future, right? at the beginning, jiang junlin had asked ji chi this question. you know we have no future, and ji chi had replied, ¡°who cares? people who want to revel in the moment don¡¯t care about the future.¡± but jiang junlin couldn¡¯t bear it in the end. he had reluctantly agreed to this unspoken agreement they both knew. he always remained rational, refusing to take that one step into the abyss, knowing that it would be a bottomless pit with no way out.. Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Brother, Let’s Eat Hotpot Together for the chapter 305: brother, let¡¯s eat hotpot together for the new year translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation unfortunately, ji chi insisted on dragging him into the abyss, but he refused, and ji chi went mad. ji chi had been pressuring him to make a decision all along, but why did he insist on a promise when we had both agreed not to have a future? ¡°brother, what do you want to say?¡± ¡°nothing, i¡¯m taking care of your wounds!¡± jiang junlin sat coldly by the window, the curtains remained tightly closed. he listened to the sound of the wind and snow outside, feeling uneasy. he had always been a very rational person. jiang junlin¡¯s great-grandfather was fortunate to have a peaceful end, living to the age of 76. even though he died in service to the country, he had been loyal and unwavering throughout his life. jiang junlin was just born in the year of his great-grandfather¡¯s passing, but he first heard his great-grandfather¡¯s story when he was seven years old, unintentionally eavesdropping outside the study one day. on that day, an important figure came to their house, and they locked themselves in the study to discuss matters. they wanted old mr. jiang to take over as the head of the secretive dark web underworld because the foundation laid by their ancestors ran deep, and they had attempted to hand it over to others, but the results were unsatisfactory. the dark web underworld had many factions, but they only recognized the jiang family. unfortunately, when old mr. jiang passed away, he fought to prevent his son and grandson from taking on the responsibility of leading the dark web underworld. when the higher-ups sent someone to manage the dark web underworld, they found it difficult to control, but they couldn¡¯t abandon it either. this had been old mr. jiang¡¯s life¡¯s work and a financial channel he had painstakingly built. when jiang junlin came home from school, the house was eerily quiet. his family had always been strict, especially when it came to manners, as a scholarly family valued discipline above all else. even at a young age, he wasn¡¯t allowed to run, jump, or shout in the house, so no one heard his footsteps. as he passed by the study, he heard his grandfather¡¯s rare scolding, as if he was cursing someone. driven by curiosity, he listened from a corner. from that moment on, he knew about the existence of the dark web underworld. as a teenager, when the dark web underworld experienced a rebellion, the minister came to the jiang family, still hoping that the old master and jiang minghua could take over as leaders of the dark web underworld. he naturally accepted the heavy responsibility. in the first year of taking on that burden, he understood what the dark web underworld did, what he would do in the future, and why his great-grandfather had fought to keep his descendants out of it. he also understood that as a man who had dedicated himself to the nation, it would be difficult for him to dedicate himself to a single person. even if he married and had children, his life would never be peaceful. he had to remain focused and unburdened by personal ties. perhaps his marriage would be a transaction, and one day, his wife and children would face a disaster. no one could predict the future, but what he could do was tread carefully, avoiding entanglements with the world. he had grown accustomed to restraining his desires. he once loved the violin. the jiang family, a generation of scholars, cultivated their children to be artistic and cultured. he was raised by his aunt, and as a child, he saw her standing in the living room in a long dress, playing the violin. it sparked his longing, and he diligently practiced his skills, winning first place in a children¡¯s violin competition. he had once dreamed of becoming a musician. later, he cut the violin strings, sealed the case completely, and never mentioned it again. very few people knew that the eldest son of the jiang family had once been an exceptionally gifted musician. the hands that used to play the violin flawlessly were now stained with blood. he had to remain acutely aware of what he could and couldn¡¯t do. ji chi was the first and last time he indulged himself after taking over the dark web underworld. he knew it was wrong, but he stubbornly persisted, and it was a kind of tragedy. ¡°brother, what are you thinking?¡± ji chi¡¯s words interrupted jiang junlin¡¯s train of thought. jiang junlin glanced at him indifferently, avoiding his intense gaze. the doorbell rang, and jiang junlin¡¯s nerves tightened. ji chi also became alert, reaching for the gun at his side. they exchanged a glance. the ringing sounded like an alarm. after they entered the safe house, it rang for the first time. jiang junlin and ji chi both went to check the surveillance. in the neighboring house, a little girl stood at the door holding a tray. she had chestnut-colored long hair, with two braids, and looked to be about five or six years old. her features were exquisite, her skin fair, and she looked like a mix of chinese and french heritage, very beautiful. jiang junlin approached the door, opened it, and the little girl held out a small cake, her voice childish, ¡°brother, this is a little cake my mom made. thank you.¡± the cake was beautifully made. her mother ran a restaurant, and her culinary skills were excellent. the cream cake was rich and fragrant. jiang junlin bent down and took the cake, saying, ¡°thank you.¡± the little girl ran back to her house, shyly. both ji chi and jiang junlin had no desire for interaction with their neighbors, but in recent days, their options had been limited, and they had been eating rough meals. they looked at the cake, not because they were craving sweets, but because after several days of meager living, this cake seemed like a rare delicacy that had appeared before them. ¡°it¡¯s almost chinese new year!¡± jiang junlin looked at the cake and suddenly said, ¡°this is the first time 1 won¡¯t be home for the new year. grandpa and dad must be really worried.¡± surprisingly, ji chi felt a twinge of guilt. if it weren¡¯t for him imprisoning jiang junlin, this series of tragedies and chaos wouldn¡¯t have happened. yet, he also felt a sense of happiness. this was the first time he was celebrating the new year with jiang junlin. ¡°brother, on new year¡¯s eve, let¡¯s have hot pot together!¡± jiang junlin glanced at him but didn¡¯t reply. the light in ji chi¡¯s eyes gradually dimmed in the darkness. new year is a time for reunion, but what kind of reunion was this for them? in city a, gu ziyu had finally finished his exams and was officially on holiday. chen liangdong handed him a pile of cases and seemed to want him to work every day. gu ziyu complained, ¡°old man, this is not 996; this is like you want to exploit me 24/7. do you know it¡¯s child abuse? i dream that i¡¯ll grow to be 1.9 meters tall by the time i¡¯m eighteen. if 1 don¡¯t reach that height, it¡¯s definitely your fault!¡± chen liangdong thought he had a lot of quirks but laughed and said, ¡°lately, there¡¯s been infighting between black hawk and the dark web, and we¡¯re reaping the benefits. our department has a lot more work, and those informants of ours need your guidance. they¡¯ve been complaining for the past two weeks when you were taking exams. we need you to oversee them.¡± gu ziyu thought to himself, when parents fight, it¡¯s usually the children who suffer. but here, it seemed like the children were getting a free ride. this was really absurd. chen liangdong said, ¡°recently, the intelligence department in paris captured a photo. take a look.¡± gu ziyu took the photo and glanced at it. it was a picture of dr. north. she was wearing a red coat, cinched at the waist, with her long hair pinned up. she had an english-style hat on her head and was holding a short gun, seemingly on a mission. chen liangdong said, ¡°if i remember correctly, she¡¯s a professor at a university, right? 1 had a chance encounter with her at the hospital.¡± ¡°the medical school,¡± gu ziyu replied. the fact that this photo had been taken wasn¡¯t surprising at all. lately, chen liangdong had been using overseas intelligence networks to search for jiang junlin¡¯s whereabouts, leaving no stone unturned. he had also helped local law enforcement agencies solve several cases quickly.. Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Dad, Are You Crazy Too? chapter 306: dad, are you crazy too? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°gu ci has finished her exams, she should be free now. could you help me arrange a meeting with her to discuss dr. north¡¯s matter? 1 had someone look into her background, and it seems she¡¯s quite close to gu ci.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s mind quickly raced, suspecting that his mother might not leave the blue fields villa anytime soon. ¡°old man, how about this? i¡¯ll go to the blue fields villa, and you can come with me. she hasn¡¯t been feeling well lately and has been staying at home, quite the recluse.¡± ¡°a young girl of eighteen, finishing her exams and not going on a trip or having some fun, just staying at home all day. what¡¯s she up to?¡± ¡°just¡­ playing with pets,¡± gu ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°alright, i¡¯ll go with you.¡± gu ziyu had informed gu ci in advance, and when they arrived, gu ci had changed into bright clothes and put on makeup intentionally, looking somewhat better. she had a beautiful little garden that chen liangdong quite liked. the afternoon weather was not too cold, so gu ci entertained chen liangdong in the garden to avoid any unexpected situations. lu zhiyuan had been unusually quiet lately and no longer insisted on being called ¡°third master¡± or ¡°third young master.¡± he just looked at her calmly, and his gaze made gu ci want to evade it. gu ziyu reached the hidden room downstairs and realized that there were two layers of doors, and gu ci had changed the password, not the one he was familiar with. gu ziyu went to the garden and leaned on the railing, acting coquettish, ¡°mom, the password!¡± gu ci pursed her lips and refused to say it. gu ziyu blinked pitifully, ¡°mom¡­¡± ¡°your birthday!¡± gu ziyu happily ran off, and chen liangdong didn¡¯t pay it much mind. gu ci¡¯s tea-making skills were excellent, and chen liangdong especially enjoyed her tea. ¡°1 came to see you today to ask about dr. north. i heard you¡¯re quite close to her. do you know anything about her?¡± chen liangdong placed a photo in front of her, and gu ci instantly understood what was going on. it was a confrontation with black hawk three days ago, a chance meeting that led to a brief clash, inadvertently exposing her. ¡°dr. north rarely discusses her personal life. i only know that she was raised and supported by chen geng, and apart from teaching at the school, there is no other interaction. she appreciated my talent and wanted to take me as her closed-door disciple. 1 admire her medical skills, so i became her disciple. my progress in the curriculum is faster than my classmates, and for some difficult and obscure content, i consult her. that¡¯s why we became familiar. she is a comprehensive doctor, excelling not only in cardiology but also in surgery, orthopedics, and psychology.¡± gu ci had prepared her words well, speaking half-truths and half-lies. ¡°at that time, your grandmother was critically ill, and you begged me to help you get her out of prison. during this time, 1 reviewed the case and found many suspicious points. her identity is almost a secret. how did you find out?¡± chen liangdong calmly sipped his tea. gu ci knew that chen liangdong was a cunning strategist and was starting to suspect her. this matter, she really couldn¡¯t explain. gu ci said, ¡°i¡¯ve always admired her, so i collected a lot of information about her. i saw her outside the court back then, and later, i discreetly investigated and found out she was in the suburban prison.¡± ¡°well, that¡¯s quite a coincidence,¡± chen liangdong put down his tea cup. gu ci refilled his tea, and she chuckled, ¡°yes, it¡¯s quite a coincidence. fate, you know. but about other matters, i genuinely don¡¯t know. uncle chen, did my master commit a crime?¡± ¡°in a strict sense, it¡¯s not our jurisdiction!¡± chen liangdong chuckled. ¡°1 was curious about her identity. on that night when the triads clashed with black hawk, which side does she belong to?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know that!¡± gu ci remained composed. ¡°apart from our studies, we don¡¯t discuss anything else.¡± downstairs, after gu ziyu opened the door and placed his phone in his pocket, lu zhiyuan leaned against the bed, closing his eyes to rest. when he heard footsteps, he opened his eyes and saw gu ziyu. he was taken aback. this was the first time lu zhiyuan had seen gu ziyu since regaining all his memories. this third young master of this life found gu ziyu amiable but annoying. he didn¡¯t like any man who occupied gu ci¡¯s thoughts, even if it was a young boy. the emotionless third master, without any feelings, saw gu ziyu after their souls had merged into one, and he couldn¡¯t help but find it miraculous. he marveled at the wonders of the creator of nature. in his destiny, he was alone, without a wife or children, yet he unexpectedly had a blood-related son. after walking the earth for hundreds of years, witnessing countless partings and deaths, and becoming indifferent to the vicissitudes of life, the soul that had already severed its emotional ties found it challenging to perceive the kindness and tenderness of others. and if you couldn¡¯t perceive it, you couldn¡¯t give it. unexpectedly, his soul had a day when it merged with another. gu ziyu didn¡¯t notice his silence and spoke rapidly, ¡°treating an illness is a slow process. you can¡¯t use drastic measures. if you keep provoking mom, she¡¯ll go even crazier. you need to be gentle and stop provoking her.¡± ¡°come here, my dear!¡± lu zhiyuan interrupted gu ziyu. gu ziyu rubbed the goosebumps on his body and said, ¡°who are you calling ¡®my dear¡¯? it¡¯s so cheesy!¡± lu zhiyuan had never called him ¡°my dear¡± before! ¡°you are my son, so of course, you are my dear.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled lightly, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes. gu ziyu suspected that he had been fooled by gu ci, ¡°dad, something¡¯s not right with you. are you trying to use a sugar-coated bullet to deceive me into letting you go? i won¡¯t betray mom.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled, ¡°watch fewer tv dramas.¡± gu ziyu had walked up to lu zhiyuan by this point. lu zhiyuan hugged him, pressing him against his chest. gu ziyu could sense lu zhiyuan¡¯s joy, and he was utterly puzzled. wasn¡¯t it just yesterday that his dad found out he was his son? his attitude was so cold, as if he didn¡¯t like him at all. why this 180-degree change in attitude? was his fatherly love delayed or something? ¡°dad¡­ are you okay?¡± gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°my mom has gone crazy. please don¡¯t go crazy along with her.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were slightly red, and he clenched his teeth tightly but remained silent. his son had grown up just as he had predicted, resembling gu ci. they say that sons take after their mothers, and it seemed to be true. lu zhiyuan suppressed the emotions welling up in his heart. he held his son¡¯s face in his hands. the child¡¯s skin was tender, and it felt warm against his own, but there were calluses in his palm. it was as if he was holding a precious piece of porcelain. warning bells rang in gu ziyu¡¯s mind. something was very wrong! ¡°you¡¯ve come back?¡± gu ziyu thought of a possibility that seemed just as strange. he had two fathers now. one was as cold as ice and seemed not to acknowledge his existence, while the other, even though he knew he was his son, wasn¡¯t this affectionate. ¡°this matter is a bit complicated,¡± lu zhiyuan replied. he hadn¡¯t expected his son to return with him. it was like a two-for-one deal. ¡°i didn¡¯t tell you to come back to the jiang family for a while.. how did you end up here?¡± Chapter 307 - Chapter 307:I Never Had Dual Personalities chapter 307:i never had dual personalities translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i¡¯m afraid that mom will abuse you to death!¡± ¡°she won¡¯t.¡± lu zhiyuan mentioned gu ci, his tone softened a bit, without the restraint and subtlety of the third master, nor the overbearing dominance of the third young master. it was as if a gentleness had been neutralized, with a stronger power emerging. gu ziyu coldly snorted, ¡°dad, to be honest, i can see the surveillance in the secret room.¡± lu zhiyuan thought about the conflict he had with gu ci a few days ago, where he pointed a gun at her and she almost shot him. they even slapped each other. he fell into a subtle silence. ¡°scenes of domestic violence aren¡¯t suitable for children to watch. next time, you should control yourself rationally!¡± lu zhiyuan sincerely advised him. ¡°you¡¯re really weird,¡± gu ziyu puzzled, ¡°you¡¯re neither like the third young master nor the third master. who are you, really?¡± ¡°people have many facets. a heinous murderer might also be a gentle old father on the surface, while an honest-looking person could secretly be a thief. towering law enforcement officers may have their own hidden agendas. you act as the stern judge in national security, but in front of cici, don¡¯t you also act cute?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°so, i have many facets, what¡¯s strange about that?¡± ¡°damn!¡± gu ziyu took a step back, ¡°you¡­ admitted before that you have a split personality.¡± now he¡¯s denying it completely? do adults go back on their words like this? ¡°i never had a split personality.¡± ¡°dad, did mom lock you up for a few days, and now you¡¯ve gone crazy?¡± gu ziyu seriously suspected that he was possessed by evil spirits. ¡°don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s another personality inside your body, which is you!¡± then he would go crazy! lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned cold, and his imposing manner grew stronger. ¡°gu ziyu, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± in that moment, gu ziyu could clearly feel that this was the third master. lu zhiyuan suddenly smiled. ¡°what? scared?¡± gu ziyu was speechless. gu ziyu understood. ¡°so, you can switch freely now?¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his forehead. ¡°i have my doubts about your iq.¡± ¡°i have two doctorates, which you don¡¯t have!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t accept the insult. ¡°even if you¡¯re my dad, you can¡¯t insult me.¡± ¡°there¡¯s a complicated relationship between your mother and me, something 1 can¡¯t explain to you right now. ziyu, no matter what happens in the future, whether i¡¯m by your side or not, you must protect your mother.¡± lu zhiyuan said in a deep voice. ¡°i know you lived until you were eighteen in your previous life. you¡¯re an adult now, and you have responsibilities. remember what dad told you, alright?¡± gu ziyu suddenly widened his eyes. the fact that he lived to a certain age in his previous life was something he had never mentioned to anyone, not even his mother. how did dad find out? ¡°you¡­ you¡­¡± gu ziyu felt a sense of panic and confusion, realizing that lu zhiyuan was entrusting him with something. he got a bit agitated. ¡°lu zhiyuan, take care of your own wife, i¡¯m busy!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s brows furrowed, and his gaze turned cold. gu ziyu once again saw the shadow of the third master in him, as if what lu zhiyuan had said was true¡ªthere was never really a third master and a third young master; it was just one person with many facets. gu ziyu had come to see him out of concern. that day, when he watched the surveillance footage of their intense confrontation, he had broken into a cold sweat. but now, seeing lu zhiyuan again, he felt startled. after gu ziyu closed the door and hurriedly went upstairs, he ran into gu ci as she was coming in. gu ci asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°nothing, mom. did you and the old man settle things?¡± ¡°we did,¡± gu ci replied. ¡°why don¡¯t you see him off?¡± gu ziyu nodded, suppressing his emotions. as he saw chen liangdong off, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of distraction. chen liangdong noticed it and asked, ¡°why do you seem lost in thought?¡± ¡°there¡¯s something i can¡¯t figure out!¡± ¡°that¡¯s a coincidence; i have something i can¡¯t figure out too!¡± the old and the young fell silent simultaneously. after seeing chen liangdong off, gu ziyu hesitated, plucking at the camellias in the yard with a worried expression. gu ci finished tidying up the cups and asked gu ziyu, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°mom, the old man is suspicious of you. they might be monitoring your phone and your movements in national security. be cautious.¡± it was standard procedure, and gu ziyu was just giving gu ci a heads-up. ¡°will he invade the indoor cameras?¡± ¡°no further evidence suggests that he will,¡± gu ziyu was quite familiar with this procedure. ¡°just don¡¯t give them any reason to suspect you. if it comes to it, it won¡¯t be me handling this.¡± ¡°i understand.¡± gu ci ruffled his hair. ¡°how is your stay at great-grandma¡¯s house?¡± ¡°great-grandma spoils me too much. she prepares a lot of delicious food every day. mom, do you think i¡¯ve gained weight?¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°i¡¯ve been there for five days, and i¡¯ve gained five pounds. chen liangdong is only training me on weekends now. after the new year, will i become a little chubby?¡± gu ci carefully examined her son. he had gained some weight, but gu ziyu¡¯s tall, lean frame meant that the five pounds he had put on didn¡¯t show at all. ¡°then eat until you¡¯re 80% full!¡± ¡°it¡¯s too hard. i eat until i¡¯m stuffed every meal.¡± gu ziyu chatted with her, cleverly avoiding any mention of lu zhiyuan or suggesting she see a doctor. after all, having seen the surveillance footage, gu ziyu knew that gu ci¡¯s condition was deteriorating. he could only trust lu zhiyuan! ¡°mom, i¡¯m leaving!¡± gu ziyu hugged her waist. ¡°you have to take care of yourself. i can¡¯t be without you.¡± gu ci was momentarily startled. gu ziyu picked up his backpack and left the bluefield villa. gu ci stood on the second floor, watching her son¡¯s lonely figure, feeling a piercing pain in her heart. this kind of pain seemed to entwine her nerves like vines. gu ziyu had only one friend, ji chi. since coming to this timeline, he had become more cheerful and outgoing, and he attended school like a normal student, but he still had only ji chi as a friend. he was a unique presence, as if he intentionally avoided forming necessary emotional connections with anyone other than his parents, ji chi, and the jiang family. he seemed like he could disappear at any moment, as if he didn¡¯t want to have attachments from the start. he was a loner. gu ziyu couldn¡¯t survive in his previous life, couldn¡¯t find any hope, and couldn¡¯t fit into this life because he was an existence outside the trajectory of life. if she and lu zhiyuan were both gone, what would happen to gu ziyu? ¡°ziyu¡­¡± she couldn¡¯t help but call her son¡¯s name. she had once wanted to heal lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu, but the one who was most seriously ill turned out to be herself. this was the first time that she had the genuine desire to treat herself. the scariest type of patient wasn¡¯t one who denied having an illness; it was someone like gu ci, who was fully aware of her illness but refused to seek treatment. she had clear logic and agile thinking, but she simply wanted to live in her own delusions and refused to wake up. she went downstairs, where lu zhiyuan had been waiting for gu ci. ever since their near falling out when he had almost shot her, gu ci hadn¡¯t seen him.. Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Their Past chapter 308: their past translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation and he starved her for two days, not giving her anything to eat or drink, as if he had forgotten that her wronged husband was still locked up in the dark room. finally, on the third day, he remembered. lu zhiyuan, who had been hungry for two days, looked at six big buns and fell into silence. this treatment was far worse than what jiang junlin had received. when ji chi imprisoned jiang junlin, he even made buddha jumps over the wall for him. gu ci summoned her courage and opened the door. when lu zhiyuan saw the light, he looked up. although he was the one who had been locked up, gu ci looked even more disheveled. lu zhiyuan felt sorry, but his gaze remained calm. ¡°cici, take a good look at me. who do i look like?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart trembled. lu zhiyuan had a smile on his face, but there was no trace of humor in his eyes. he looked like third young master, and also like third master. third master only smiled when he played the role of third young master. he was indeed pretending! ¡°is deceiving me so much fun?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid that 1¡¯11 really shoot you, and that will be the end of it, both of us dying together?¡± lu zhiyuan raised his chin, smiling wickedly, and then relaxed. he gestured for her to look at the surveillance camera. ¡°do you want gu ziyu to see the scene of his mother killing his father and then committing suicide?¡± he lazily sat on the ground, leaning against the bed, but he didn¡¯t look like a prisoner at all. instead, he had the relaxed demeanor of a stroll in the park. ¡°cici, do you hate me?¡± gu ci watched him warily, her mind in turmoil. who was he really? lu zhiyuan whispered, ¡°ziyu told me everything. in the previous life, your madness was caused by my death, and ziyu¡¯s tragedy was all because of me. there¡¯s something you might not know. gu chuyun confessed her feelings to me when she was in high school, but i rejected her. you two fought and had conflicts since childhood, and 1 always favored gu chuyun, scolding you to your face. i never thought that she would misunderstand because¡­ you were underage, struggling in the gu family. if i showed any signs of liking you, gu chuyun would have intensified her attacks on you, but she still noticed it. so¡­ that engagement banquet, you ended up in prison, and i was the trigger. if 1 had never been in your life, there would have been no disaster, even if you were bullied by gu chuyun since childhood, you have a vengeful personality. even if you suffered, once you turned eighteen, you could have left the gu family. gu chuyun bullied you for fun, but she wouldn¡¯t have sent you to prison and ruined you. you¡¯re smart, always hiding your abilities. you would have excelled in the college entrance exam and gone to a university to study the major you liked. after graduating from a top university, your future would have been promising. you could have left the gu family. maybe you would have met a boy you liked in college, and with jiang junlin¡¯s support, you would have had a good life. but instead, he let you endure a lifetime of suffering, cici, all your misfortunes were caused by me. do you hate me?¡± ordinary, normal, perhaps she would have become a financial executive or a doctor. when she grew up, if jiang junlin saw her, he would definitely become suspicious and investigate her background. with jiang junlin backing her, she would have lived a good life. but he had made gu ci endure a lifetime of suffering. ¡°did gu chuyun confess her feelings to you?¡± lu zhiyuan frowned, gu ci emphasized the point, but he still nodded. ¡°i rejected her. from childhood to adulthood, 1 didn¡¯t even get a clear look at her.¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°do you know why you were disliked in high school?¡± ¡°because i always protected gu chuyun, and you misunderstood that i liked her.¡± ¡°you actually knew everything?¡± gu ci frowned. ¡°but you never explained why.¡± ¡°cici, i¡¯m very busy,¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly. ¡°as a race car driver, time is precious, and i don¡¯t want to waste a single second on such boring matters.¡± ¡°if everything about me is boring, then why did you marry me after i was released from prison?¡± gu ci asked, bringing up the past life. ¡°lu zhiyuan, after you woke up from your five-year coma, meeting me was probably similar to your current mindset. why did you marry me?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci, his gaze distant as if he were seeing another person. he recalled the gu ci of the previous life, who had been mentally confused and had attempted suicide multiple times. he had let go of everything and taken care of her meticulously, never closing his eyes for twenty-four hours. he had figured out her preferences, helped her rebuild a utopia, and painstakingly made her develop a tiny bit of attachment to him. the current gu ci was so much like the gu ci of the previous life when she had just been released from prison. no! she had become even worse, the constant cycle of recovery and relapse tormenting her. ¡°cici, let me tell you a story,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice softened a bit. ¡°sit down and listen.¡± gu ci knew that lu zhiyuan was changing his approach. when being tough didn¡¯t work, he was trying a softer approach. regardless of what story he was going to tell, it probably aimed to make her leave him. ¡°a long time ago, there was a secluded small kingdom where people lived in peace and prosperity. they were untouched by war and had no worries about food. they lived in a paradise away from the world, where citizens were not allowed to leave the boundaries, and outsiders were not allowed to enter. it was a monarchy, but the imperial power resided in the temple, where the deity protected generations of its people. one day, a young girl entered the boundaries by mistake and met a priest from the temple. out of compassion, the priest hid the girl, and over time, they fell in love, committing a grave taboo. the priest was the only servant in the temple, and those chosen to become priests entered at the age of three and served for life. they interpreted omens for the royal family, took brides from among the chosen, prayed for rain during droughts, and begged for food during famine. the priest was the bridge between the divine and the people. but upon entering the temple, they were cursed with a half-god¡¯s lifespan and a lifetime of solitude. if they ever fell in love, they would bring disaster upon the people, a catastrophe that could not be quelled.¡± gu ci leaned back on the couch, feeling that this story was strangely familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. she remembered now. one year, she had accompanied zhou jinjin to bodhi mountain, and there was a fortune teller halfway up the mountain who had told her a similar story. she wondered if the second part of the story lu zhiyuan was about to tell was the same. ¡°the priest, when in love, would bring calamity. in that year, hailstorms struck in may, lasting for a whole month. crops were frozen, and countless people were injured or killed by the hail. the emperor and his officials prayed at the temple for three days and nights, but the punishment persisted. rumors spread, disasters multiplied, and the blame fell squarely on the priest. from the very first day of the calamity, the priest had wanted to send the young girl away, but he was discovered by the royal guards, and in the end, to avoid further punishment, the young girl, with her strong-willed nature, took her own life in front of the temple. it turned out that the girl was merely a test given to the priest out of boredom by the temple¡¯s priests. she was a test of the priest¡¯s feelings. the priest resented the curse, the system, and the heartlessness of the temple¡¯s priests. he set fire to the temple, broke the boundaries, left his homeland, and wandered the world like a lost soul. he tirelessly searched for his beloved, year after year, traveling all across the land. he hoped that his beloved would be reborn, so he could see her once more. but five hundred years passed, and there was still no trace of her..¡± Chapter 309 - Chapter 309:I Found My Master chapter 309:i found my master translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, ¡°five hundred years later, he returned to the land of heartbreak. his homeland had long since fractured into scorched earth. the once-rebuilt temple lay in ruins, its priests weakened without offerings, slowly dissipating. the priest asked the oracle, ¡®where has his beloved gone?¡¯ the oracle revealed the fate of his beloved. desperate to find her, the priest hurriedly searched but found his beloved had violated the law and was burned alive on a stake. the priest was shocked and enraged, realizing that it was all the curse of the oracle. the weakening of the oracle¡¯s power was due to the priest breaking the barrier, causing the people to flee and cease their offerings. so, the oracle harbored intense hatred for the priest who had destroyed everything, and before his power dissipated completely, he cursed the priest once more.¡± gu ci remembered the story the fortune teller had told, and it was eerily identical! lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci and whispered, ¡°the priest was punished, half of his soul reincarnated, destined to be connected to his beloved, yet they could only experience parting and tragedy. to prevent this, the priest found another way, splitting his soul in two, living simultaneously within his own body, gradually merging and accepting the reality, yet keeping them separate!¡± gu ci¡¯s face turned pale as she leaned against the sofa, her eyes glistening with tears. ¡°so, there was never a split personality?¡± ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan replied, ¡°cici, i couldn¡¯t let go. i had to try. but what¡¯s the result? i die, and you go mad. it¡¯s an endless cycle.¡± from the beginning, he should have never appeared in her life. yet, his half-soul was irresistibly drawn to her. when he finally gained control, it was too late. when he saw gu ci outside the prison in the previous life, his heart ached. he couldn¡¯t bear to watch her suffer, trampled in the dust. all these years, he had never crossed that line, but his love for gu ci never diminished. so, he wanted to try, to give her a fresh start in life. but the outcome was more cruel than separation by death. if he got close to gu ci, he would only bring her misfortune. this was the most malicious curse of the oracle before its dissolution. bringing gu ci back to when she was eighteen, he hoped for a different outcome, but something went wrong. he lost his memory, and ziyu had crossed over too. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you went to great lengths to make me give up. you¡¯ve come up with such a story. you¡¯re not just a racer and a financier; you¡¯re quite the storyteller. i underestimated you,¡± gu ci¡¯s voice turned colder. falling in love with her meant a lifetime of parting. the story sounded so beautiful! lu zhiyuan whispered, ¡°cici, believe the story. don¡¯t be stubborn. i like you a lot, i¡¯ve liked you since we were kids. our destined fate, how could i not like it? but 1 really can¡¯t be with you. i¡¯ll only bring you misfortune.¡± his tone was as if he were telling a story, not recounting a heavy tale between them. how could gu ci believe it? she felt that lu zhiyuan had resorted to any means to escape. the story was full of holes, and there was no such place as a peach blossom spring in this world. and there was no oracle. no priest! ¡°lu zhiyuan, even if your story is true, did you ever ask me?¡± gu ci stood before him, looking down at him. ¡°do i want a love that¡¯s like moths to a flame, or a peaceful life? what gives you the right to decide for me?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked up at her, his smile fading. ¡°cici, i never asked you. relentlessly clinging, you¡¯ve seen the outcome. since you¡¯re starting anew, choose a different path.¡± ¡°will you continue to cling in the next life?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°if it¡¯s the same in every lifetime, why did you reincarnate? why did you come close to me? and if you got close and stirred things up, why did you give up halfway?¡± lu zhiyuan grabbed her hand and pulled it down, causing gu ci to kneel in front of him. lu zhiyuan tightly held her wrist and said, ¡°gu ci, you need to wake up. our entanglement will only lead to your death. if you die, what will happen to ziyu?¡± the words ¡°ziyu¡± felt like a dagger in her heart. lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes were now red, and he was no longer as casual as when he was telling the story. ¡°if we could have a happy ending, how could i¡­¡± how could he bear to reject her! ¡°i don¡¯t believe it!¡± gu ci pushed him away, her head throbbing. ¡°you¡¯re just making up stories. i don¡¯t believe a single word.¡± gu ci walked away, brushing her sleeves. lu zhiyuan closed his eyes; he had failed again. whether he used force or persuasion, it didn¡¯t work. lu zhiyuan rubbed his temples. ¡°why doesn¡¯t she believe me?¡± watching the surveillance of gu ziyu, he felt his heart ache. ¡°how did it fall apart again? dad, you¡¯re really useless. but whatever they say, mom looks so afraid. dad, you won¡¯t have come up with some scheme, right?¡± gu ci leaned against the bedroom door, her heart pounding. she recalled the fortune teller she had met with zhou jinjin that year on mount bodhi. it was an old man with a white beard. zhou jinjin had sought fortune regarding her marriage, and the fortune teller had spoken about her marriage. the fortune teller had said that her true love had not yet arrived, but gu ci had no interest in hearing about her marriage. zhou jinjin had insisted, and the fortune teller had looked at her birth chart and suddenly told a story. the story was eerily similar to what lu zhiyuan had just told her, with only a few minor differences. no! ¡°it¡¯s just a coincidence; there are no gods, demons, or curses like that in this world. it¡¯s not believable!¡± lu zhiyuan must have been trying to trick her into giving up and seeking medical help. gu ci couldn¡¯t believe his supernatural tales. every time she thought about the story lu zhiyuan had told her, about their destined separation in life, she couldn¡¯t accept it! gu ci covered her head in pain. ¡°don¡¯t believe him. he¡¯s lying. gu ci, he¡¯s lying!¡± gu ci called zhou jinjin. ¡°jinjin, do you remember when we went to mount bodhi in our first year of high school? we met a fortune teller halfway up the mountain. do you remember?¡± ¡°of course, i remember. at the time, she said that lu shixiu wasn¡¯t my true love and that i would get married late,¡± zhou jinjin replied, wearing a heavy costume and reading a script. ¡°why do you ask?¡± ¡°he told me a story, do you remember what the story was about?¡± ¡°i remember. after that story, you cried all the way home. you¡¯ve always been tough, so 1 never expected you to be moved by a story. you¡¯re quite emotional.¡± ¡°do you remember what the story was about?¡± zhou jinjin felt that gu ci¡¯s tone was a bit strange but didn¡¯t press further. she recounted the story, and it was almost identical to what lu zhiyuan had just told her, with only minor differences in details. a chill ran down gu ci¡¯s spine. why was this happening? was it really just a coincidence? ¡°cici, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°nothing, i just suddenly thought about getting my fortune told. that¡¯s all.¡± after chatting with zhou jinjin for a while, zhou jinjin also sensed that gu ci was distracted. she didn¡¯t say much and hung up the phone. gu ci was disturbed by the story lu zhiyuan had told her. the phone rang, and little cherry called. ¡°gu ci, i¡¯ve found the master..¡± Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Clever Little Cherry chapter 310: clever little cherry translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci¡¯s mind shook for a moment, and all the romantic sentiments of wind, flowers, snow, and moon faded away. she went from being lost in love to a calm and composed state. ¡°where are they?¡± ¡°in a residential building. i¡¯ve been watching them for two days. i can pretty much confirm that the master and ji chi are together.¡± this phone wasn¡¯t gu ci¡¯s usual mobile; it was an untraceable number. gu ci wasn¡¯t afraid of government surveillance. ¡°how did you find my brother?¡± ¡°we have a secret code between the master and me. only we know it. i guess he left the mark on the roadside when he took ji chi out for medical treatment. within a two-kilometer radius of that mark, i¡¯ve been searching every house one by one. at night, the master will use light to reflect a rhombus symbol on the opposite building. that¡¯s my signal.¡± this code was known only to qin wan. ¡°how did your brother know you went to paris?¡± gu ci frowned. she had told jiang junlin that qin wan had gone to paris, and ji chi was in the car at the time. jiang junlin had kept his conversation with her brief, and gu ci hadn¡¯t revealed any information. qin wan chuckled. ¡°it¡¯s our understanding. now there¡¯s a tricky problem. i can¡¯t contact him. the layout of the residential building is not that complex, but if i go in recklessly, it will surely attract ji chi¡¯s attention. the master doesn¡¯t know i¡¯m nearby. i can¡¯t send him a message. if he calls you, remind him, and i¡¯ll seize the opportunity to let him know i¡¯m nearby. another option is to kill ji chi. i asked the owner of the small clinic, and ji chi is still badly injured.¡± ¡°don¡¯t act recklessly.¡± gu ci could feel qin wan¡¯s malice towards ji chi, and she really wanted to kill him. from qin wan¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand. ¡°ji chi is seriously injured. if your brother took him to the hospital, it means he doesn¡¯t want ji chi to die. by the way, can you play the violin?¡± ¡°yes, but not proficiently.¡± qin wan raised an eyebrow. ¡°in front of someone who doesn¡¯t understand music theory, i can pretend a bit, but it¡¯s all show, no substance.¡± ¡°my brother is highly knowledgeable about music theory. music can also convey messages. i¡¯ll send you a piece of music, and if he can hear it, he¡¯ll know you¡¯re nearby.¡± ¡°don¡¯t make it too complicated. my skills are limited.¡± ¡°got it!¡± after modifying a segment of musical notes and incorporating it into a composition, gu ci suddenly thought of a better method. she played it once, recorded it, and sent it to qin wan. ¡°the only drawback of the recorded piece is that it¡¯s not loud enough. if we set up a loudspeaker on a snowy day, it will be conspicuous and draw attention. you can learn the composition from the recording i sent.¡± ¡°alright!¡± ¡°i¡¯ll give you a list. in case of an emergency, you can contact these people. if you think you can handle it without alarming anyone, don¡¯t contact anyone. this list was left to me by my brother, but now, within the underworld, it¡¯s hard to tell who is a friend or foe. we have to prioritize my brother¡¯s safety, so don¡¯t contact them unless it¡¯s an emergency. if you do contact them and information leaks, at least 1 can trace the mole.¡± the most pressing issue now was not knowing who was leaking information about the underworld, and they needed to protect jiang junlin. ¡°i understand!¡± qin wan said. ¡°don¡¯t worry, i know what to do.¡± after hanging up the phone, gu ci opened the dark web¡¯s internal network for the underworld. in fact, she had already identified six individuals, but she didn¡¯t know who they were specifically. the only thing she knew was that they were someone else¡¯s puppets, hidden even deeper than her brother, manipulating everything behind the scenes, and even selling intelligence to black hawk. fortunately, she hadn¡¯t been exposed, which was the only good news. with a steady stream of information at her disposal, rong li caused significant trouble by reaching out to the dark web of the underworld for a rescue mission. facing internal and external threats, she needed to rescue her brother as quickly as possible. in paris, just 500 meters away from ji chi¡¯s safe house, qin wan resided in a guesthouse. she had purchased a violin and was attempting to play the composition given by gu ci. for gu ci, the composition was not challenging at all, but for qin wan, it was a painful practice. it felt like a waste of time. qin wan pondered how to convey a message to jiang junlin as quickly as possible without alerting ji chi or the dark web operatives. both factions were skilled at monitoring and tracking. if jiang junlin¡¯s address leaked, it would lead to dire consequences. observing a young boy next door taking his sister shopping, qin wan had a brilliant idea. the young boy was buying groceries with his sister since jiang junlin and ji chi couldn¡¯t leave the house. qin wan handed the boy some money and asked him to help with the shopping, reducing the need for jiang junlin and ji chi to go outside. no one would suspect the children. inside the supermarket, qin wan intentionally bumped into the young girl, causing her some discomfort. she crouched down, apologizing, ¡°little sister, i¡¯m sorry for bumping into you. does it hurt?¡± qin wan¡¯s french was exceptionally good, and she excelled at playing the innocent and gentle role. the little girl, originally in pain, obediently shook her head and replied, ¡°it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°i¡¯m so sorry!¡± qin wan handed the pink and purple plush doll she was carrying to the girl. ¡°this is a gift from me to you. press here, and it plays violin music. do you like it?¡± young girls of this age couldn¡¯t resist plush dolls. the little sister hesitated for a moment but said, ¡°brother said we shouldn¡¯t take things from strangers.¡± ¡°big sister doesn¡¯t like dolls, but i accidentally dirtied it, so i hadve to buy it. i¡¯m giving it to you as an apology. do you like it?¡± blushing, the little girl replied, ¡°1 like it!¡± a plush doll dressed in a pink princess gown¡ªwhat young girl wouldn¡¯t like it? ¡°then it¡¯s yours.¡± qin wan secretly got closer to the little girl and whispered, ¡°you have to listen to it all the time, okay? big sister also really likes this song.¡± ¡°okay!¡± the little girl smiled sweetly, and as qin wan walked away, she made a heart gesture with her hand. after getting some fruits, the brother asked, ¡°where did you get the doll?¡± ¡°a big sister gave it to me!¡± the little girl looked around for qin wan but couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°she bumped into me, so she bought the doll for me. brother, i really like it. can i keep it?¡± the brother examined the plush doll and found nothing seriously wrong with it. ¡°you can keep it.¡± the little girl held the doll happily, listening to the violin music as they checked out. they then happily returned home, with her playing with the doll all the way. standing in the snowy weather, qin wan watched as the little girl continued to enjoy the plush doll. she smiled, knowing that girls of this age would eagerly play with a new toy. before heading upstairs, she glanced back at the scene, reassured. the young boy knocked on the door, and jiang junlin opened it. amidst the music, he accepted the vegetables and fruits. the young boy was quiet and reserved, not one for many words. after delivering the groceries, he was about to leave when jiang junlin suddenly said, ¡°here¡¯s some pocket money for you for troubling you in this blizzard.¡± ¡°no need!¡± the boy declined his offer.. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: The Three chapter 311: the three-man team translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin said, ¡°this is your hard-earned money, it¡¯s only right. just a moment, ji chi, bring over twenty euros!¡± the young boy¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought of twenty euros as pocket money, quite enticing indeed. he turned back to the young girl and gave her a light smile. the young girl also grinned, her happiness evident. as the tune came to an end, the young girl hit the replay button. ji chi was about to prepare medicine when he heard jiang junlin¡¯s words. he brought over twenty euros, which jiang junlin accepted and handed to the young boy before taking the groceries and closing the door. after listening to the latter half, then the first half, they had essentially finished listening to the entire song. ji chi furrowed his brows and said, ¡°why did you give him such a sum of money, brother? let me remind you, we only have a thousand euros left.¡± they were really strapped for cash! ¡°he braved the snowstorm to help us shop, giving him a tip is only fair,¡± jiang junlin replied casually. he tossed the vegetables and fruits to ji chi for handling and sat down to relax. jiang junlin replayed the tune in his mind, extracting the information from it. qin wan was nearby, and two groups from the underground network were looking for him. the suspicious list of names provided by gu ci was also hinted at in the song. jiang junlin furrowed his brow; he hadn¡¯t expected dr. north to be directing things in paris. his injury had healed well enough, and ji chi could take care of himself. it was time to leave! plans couldn¡¯t keep up with changes. as night fell, ji chi furrowed his brows as he watched the surveillance footage. ¡°brother, we have trouble.¡± jiang junlin leaned in to take a look. next door, the woman¡¯s husband had brought six burly men to seek revenge. ji chi squinted slightly as he looked at the last burly man. ¡°tough guy, not easy to beat!¡± being tough also meant he was good at fighting! the two exchanged glances as the men reached the doorstep. they banged on the door loudly, and the man shouted in french, demanding that they come out. one of them kicked the door, causing a commotion that alerted the neighbors. jiang junlin and ji chi quickly grabbed their gear and money, using a secure passage to leave. they couldn¡¯t get entangled with these people; it would surely attract the police if the neighbors were alarmed. once the police arrived for an investigation, only ji chi¡¯s identification was in the safe house; there was no record of jiang junlin. it would undoubtedly become a major issue, a fatal blow to jiang junlin. as they had expected, the woman heard the commotion, called the police first, and came out to stop them. her husband pointed his finger at her angrily, ¡°go back inside; we¡¯ll settle the score with you later!¡± the young girl started crying again and was pulled close by her brother. her brother looked at their biological father with disgust and said, ¡°mom, come back!¡± since they had called the police, they could leave it to the authorities to handle! qin wan had been observing with binoculars all along. she furrowed her brow and swiftly packed her bag before coming downstairs. she followed jiang junlin¡¯s car at a leisurely pace. jiang junlin and ji chi made their way down through a secure passage and got into the car. ¡°brother, my only safe house is gone. you wouldn¡¯t have come to paris without preparing at least one safe house, right? i don¡¯t believe it!¡± this was a question ji chi had wanted to ask jiang junlin for a while. it¡¯s a wise rabbit who has three burrows, and the safe houses registered with the underground network were off-limits for him. but he had his own safe houses that only he knew about. jiang junlin responded indifferently and set a navigation route. it turned out there was a safe house just five kilometers from ji chi¡¯s current location. ji chi raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a sly smile. ¡°you hid it pretty well!¡± who had been so insistent that he didn¡¯t have any safe houses, and they were all prepared by the underground network? now they were probably all under surveillance. jiang junlin was indeed cunning! qin wan was a sniper and an assassin. she was the best at hiding her tracks. combined with jiang junlin¡¯s protection, it should have been enough. however, ji chi, who had braved the dangers of life countless times, possessed a keen, wolf-like instinct. when he suddenly slowed down and abruptly turned around a corner, jiang junlin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°ji chi, what are you doing?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°we have a tail following us!¡± ji chi¡¯s face was ice-cold. he accelerated rapidly out of the alley, and they ran into qin wan. qin wan reacted quickly and slammed on the brakes to avoid his reckless collision. the snowy road made the car slide to the side. ji chi pulled out a gun and was about to shoot at the driver¡¯s seat when jiang junlin grabbed his wrist and said through gritted teeth, ¡°he¡¯s mine!¡± ji chi looked puzzled. inside jiang junlin¡¯s safe house, qin wan and ji chi sat on either side of jiang junlin. if looks could kill, they would have murdered each other countless times by now. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t expected his ¡°person¡± to be a young, beautiful girl. ¡°jiang junlin, when did you get in touch with her?¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was cold. jiang junlin was tired and didn¡¯t feel like talking. ¡°speak up!¡± ji chi growled, a despair that was like having salt rubbed into his wounds evident in his voice. it was their secret, between him and his brother, but now there was one more person who knew about it, like salt on his wounds. ¡°master, i want to kill him!¡± qin wan¡¯s gun was already itching to be used. this person dared to be so arrogant in front of her. he really didn¡¯t want to live anymore. ¡°who are you shouting at?¡± ¡°with a little girl like you, i could kill ten of you in one breath!¡± ¡°with a young man like you, 1 could kill ten of you too!¡± another round of glaring at each other, and jiang junlin took a deep breath and rubbed his stomach. ¡°i¡¯m hungry.¡± qin wan got up, saying, ¡°master, 1¡¯11 go cook!¡± ¡°get lost, i don¡¯t need you!¡± ji chi snapped. ¡°oh¡­¡± qin wan lazily sat back down, crossing her legs. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect the third young master¡¯s right-hand man to be so domestic. my apologies.¡± ji chi clenched his teeth and angrily went to prepare the food. qin wan whispered, ¡°master, do you think he might poison the food?¡± jiang junlin replied indifferently, ¡°why did you provoke him?¡± ¡°you¡¯re a bit biased. it was clearly him who provoked me,¡± qin wan was annoyed. ¡°why do you scold me instead of him?¡± jiang junlin rubbed his temples. ¡°tell me about the situation with the underground network.¡± qin wan looked cautiously at ji chi, knowing that the matter at hand was important. she explained in detail everything that had happened in the underground network during this time. ¡°master, that¡¯s why there¡¯s no mention of dr. north in gu ci¡¯s suspicion list. but i suspect her. she was very eager to come to paris to take charge, and her first action in paris was a failure that almost got you killed. she also betrayed you a few years ago. once unfaithful, always unfaithful. i suggest you add her to the suspicion list.¡± jiang junlin¡¯s mood was somewhat complicated. ¡°have you talked to cici about this?¡± ¡°she is gu ci¡¯s mentor, so it¡¯s not appropriate for me to bring it up,¡± qin wan said. ¡°gu ci trusts her a lot.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry; i trust her.¡± ¡°master, you¡¯re truly magnanimous. you forgive those who have betrayed you, and you don¡¯t kill those who imprison you. are you keeping them around for a counterattack?¡± qin wan huffed, clearly displeased. ¡°did cici order you to kill lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°three times!¡± qin wan hesitated for a moment. ¡°master, don¡¯t you think gu ci is a bit¡­ unusual? i mean it in a literal sense, without any negative connotation. her way of doing things is a bit unconventional.¡± she was very much like the master, and her approach to the situation with lu zhiyuan was also very peculiar, something qin wan couldn¡¯t quite understand.. Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Are You Proud Because You’re Spoiled? chapter 312: are you proud because you¡¯re spoiled? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°how is she doing?¡± jiang junlin was also concerned about gu ci¡¯s mental state. dr. north had talked to her about gu ci¡¯s condition, and now that dr. north was in paris, there was no one to treat her. could her mental state remain stable? ¡°not very talkative, but she seems okay,¡± qin wan actually liked gu ci. ¡°during the time when lu zhiyuan was recuperating, she seemed quite normal. but in the few days before i went abroad, she seemed a bit down.¡± ¡°why?¡± jiang junlin asked. qin wan shook her head, ¡°she doesn¡¯t like to talk about her own issues.¡± jiang junlin had a clear idea now. gu ci¡¯s obsession was lu zhiyuan. there must have been some recent trouble in their relationship. from the fact that she didn¡¯t want lu zhiyuan to kill pei qiuying and asked me to do it, it¡¯s evident that gu ci¡¯s condition has worsened. ¡°i can¡¯t believe¡­¡± jiang junlin sighed, realizing that both gu ci and ji chi were affected by the same unfortunate circumstances. it was truly unexpected. ¡°what are you two talking about?¡± ji chi walked over and wedged himself between them. qin wan was annoyed, ¡°our matters in the dark web, you want to listen?¡± ¡°i can¡¯t listen?¡± ji chi looked at jiang junlin coldly. ¡°you¡¯re quite funny. you¡¯re a member of black hawk, and you want to hear our secrets from the dark web,¡± qin wan put her hands on her hips. ¡°oh, are you planning to betray the boss? a young man thinking about switching sides, that¡¯s promising!¡± a hint of malevolence flashed in ji chi¡¯s eyes. he suddenly leaned in, grabbed qin wan¡¯s neck, and his eyes reddened slightly. ¡°say one more provocative word and see if i dare not kill you!¡± with just a little pressure, he could snap qin wan¡¯s neck. qin wan¡¯s face turned pale, struggling to breathe. jiang junlin quietly moved back a bit, changing his position. in the next moment, he saw qin wan grab ji chi¡¯s wrist, twist it back, and her two fingers moved like lightning toward his eyes. ji chi reacted quickly, leaning back, and his supple waist seemed to fold like that of a girl who had practiced dancing, narrowly avoiding qin wan¡¯s fingers. ¡°who will kill whom is still uncertain!¡± qin wan stood up, not caring about the marks left on her neck by ji chi. one was ready to retaliate, and the other was itching to beat him up. ¡°if you two keep making a ruckus, get out!¡± jiang junlin scolded, and both of them fell silent. inside the safe house, there was only dry food and canned goods, so they couldn¡¯t prepare a proper meal. jiang junlin cooked a bowl of noodles for himself, adding some ham sausages since there were no eggs. he cooked instant noodles for himself, and qin wan wasn¡¯t hungry. ji chi didn¡¯t care what qin wan was eating. qin wan took out a few snacks like a treasure, ¡°master, want some? i bought them from the convenience store and keep them in my bag all the time.¡± qin wan smiled with youthful vitality, her heart and eyes filled only with jiang junlin. ji chi, who was about to bite through his knife and fork, found qin wan disgusting! seeing ji chi getting angry, qin wan felt great! you despicable guy, you dared to lock up my master for over a month. i hope you choke on your anger! ¡°when did you two get in touch?¡± ji chi gritted his teeth and suddenly realized, ¡°i know now. you deliberately placed that violin piece in my little sister¡¯s doll. you wanted to give a tip. clearly, you could have come in and taken it yourself, but you made me take it out and listened to the whole piece at the door.¡± he really wanted to dig into jiang junlin¡¯s heart to see how many tricks he had up his sleeve. there was the sound of a car downstairs, and qin wan¡¯s face changed. she leaned against the window and saw a man getting out of the car, which was parked on the street. he lived across from them. qin wan watched as the man went upstairs, and the lights in the second-floor room came on. ¡°master, there are surveillance cameras on the street tonight. will we be detected?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°don¡¯t worry, the nearby cameras are all broken!¡± ¡°how do you know?¡± ji chi blurted out. ¡°not far from here is the red-light district, so the surveillance cameras are often broken. even if they¡¯re newly installed, they¡¯ll be damaged quickly. i check the surveillance cameras in your safe house every two days.¡± after checking, i erase the records without a trace. ¡°indeed, you¡¯re quite cunning!¡± qin wan blurted out. ¡°oh, 1 mean, you¡¯re well-prepared.¡± jiang junlin remained silent. qin wan then asked, ¡°master, when are we going back to our country?¡± ¡°you can¡¯t leave!¡± ji chi put down his knife and fork, his madness returning. ¡°if you want to go, then go quickly. he must stay here!¡± ¡°are you becoming arrogant because you¡¯re being pampered?¡± qin wan was angry. ¡°this is unreasonable!¡± jiang junlin almost choked on his noodles again, coughing heavily. however, ji chi was not interested in what qin wan had to say. ¡°jiang junlin, can¡¯t you hear me?¡± ¡°why should he stay here? all of our people in the dark web are looking for him. we still don¡¯t know who the enemy is. do you want him to stay in paris and die with you?¡± qin wan was not accommodating ji chi¡¯s whims. ¡°your thoughts are too selfish!¡± ¡°shut up!¡± ¡°i won¡¯t!¡± qin wan provocatively looked at him. ¡°if you have the guts, make me shut up by beating me until 1 submit!¡± ¡°stop arguing. can you respect your own fugitive persona? you¡¯re causing chaos, why don¡¯t you go out with a megaphone and show them the way while you¡¯re at it!¡± ji chi and qin wan exchanged sharp glances, neither willing to yield to the other. ji chi¡¯s injuries were severe, and he slept heavily at night. jiang junlin¡¯s safe house was well-equipped with surveillance equipment. qin wan had studied information warfare, and her information processing skills were sharper than jiang junlin¡¯s. ji chi was much more efficient and clean when it came to his tasks, and she was in good health with no burdens. qin wan monitored the cameras, while jiang junlin sat by the window. he appeared to be resting, but he was observing the surrounding environment. although there were surveillance cameras near the safe house, there were none on the street. jiang junlin had chosen a safe house in a high location, allowing him to have a clear view and monitor the intersection a kilometer away. ¡°master, you should go and rest. i¡¯ll keep watch here,¡± qin wan suggested. ¡°focus on monitoring,¡± jiang junlin replied. besides monitoring the four nearby cameras, qin wan was also searching for the people from the dark web. this was a task that jiang junlin couldn¡¯t handle, so having qin wan here eased his worries. it prevented him from being locked up with ji chi, in the dark, and clueless about everything. now, they both had eyes on the situation. ¡°you really spoil him. look at him, sleeping so soundly. i could shoot him, and he wouldn¡¯t even know,¡± qin wan said with a teasing tone. jiang junlin replied, ¡°he¡¯s injured.¡± ¡°isn¡¯t that the case for you too?¡± qin wan noticed that jiang junlin had lost weight. that ji chi, that despicable guy, must have been mistreating him. hence, her trigger finger itched. she taunted ji chi while keeping an eye on the surveillance. then, in ji chi¡¯s safe house, she spotted dr. north. ¡°master, come over and take a look,¡± qin wan said. ¡°she brought a team of nineteen bodyguards with her, yet she came alone to investigate. there must be something fishy.¡± ¡°do you have a grudge against her?¡± jiang junlin inquired. ¡°it¡¯s nothing serious!¡± qin wan raised an eyebrow and smirked. ¡°as a student, who doesn¡¯t have a few teachers they don¡¯t like?¡± jiang junlin sighed. it seemed there was some underlying tension, but over the years, dr. north had refrained from appearing in front of her to protect little cherry.. Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Master, Am I Good? chapter 313: master, am i good? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation qin wan attended dr. north¡¯s class in the evening. she had systematically learned first aid, but she was still an outsider to the field. therefore, in her free time, she would visit the medical school to listen to lectures. on the night before attending the public lecture, qin wan had a task to complete. she returned home at four in the morning and came to class at nine. feeling a bit tired, she ended up dozing off with her head on the desk, planning to listen to the recording later when she got back. little did she know, dr. north asked her to wake up and answer a question. her response was all over the place, leading to some laughter. however, qin wan was easygoing and didn¡¯t let this incident bother her. nevertheless, dr. north wore a cold expression and told non-medical students not to occupy the resources of medical school students. this was a thinly veiled criticism. qin wan, with her youthful appearance and a strong temper, promptly closed her textbook, vowing never to attend dr. north¡¯s class again. she had no intention of being treated like a dog! students at a university were generally good at studying, and taking a couple of extra courses was not an issue. it was normal to audit classes taught by other professors. professor lin at a university was young and handsome, still single. female students flocked to his classes, and there was no record of him driving students away. therefore, qin wan did not like him at all. to be clear, she didn¡¯t engage in slander, but she chose to stay away from his courses. there were plenty of professors at the medical school, and she wasn¡¯t limited to just one. ¡°respect your teachers!¡± qin wan responded with a perplexed look. after the escape of jiang junlin and ji chi, they had no time to consider the woman and her children next door. however, from surveillance footage, it was clear that the woman next door was not to be underestimated. her husband was clearly brutal, yet she seemed unwilling to divorce him. she managed to live outside with her children, indicating that she had her own means of survival. after she reported the incident and her husband berated her, he broke into her house. jiang junlin and ji chi had already left. the police station was just a five-minute walk away, and they arrived quickly, apprehending everyone involved. the husband came up with a cunning plan, accusing jiang junlin and ji chi, his next-door neighbors, of being involved with illegal activities and threatening his wife and children. the police took them away for questioning, and soon another group of people arrived, showing them photos to identify the culprits. the photos were of jiang junlin and ji chi. this group had impure motives, and dr. north was their target after jiang junlin and ji chi had left. qin wan said, ¡°the first group has already arrived. with the internal chaos, it¡¯s hard to distinguish friend from foe. if 1 were your enemy, 1 would definitely spread the news. no matter who finds you first, they can follow the trail and lower your guard. why would dr. north come to investigate in person? something¡¯s fishy here, master. she has betrayed you once; a traitor will do it again.¡± ¡°do you know why she betrayed me?¡± ¡°who cares about a traitor¡¯s reasons,¡± little cherry replied indifferently. ¡°betrayal is betrayal.¡± jiang junlin chuckled and reached out to pat her head, showing an unusual touch of brotherly tenderness. ji chi, who had been lying there with his eyes closed, looked at jiang junlin with hostility. he had a deep antipathy towards this sudden arrival of a young girl. her feelings toward him were equally strong. he endured it for the sake of third master. and now, qin wan had appeared! good. very good. jiang junlin seemed to recall something and withdrew his hand. he glanced at ji chi, who was still asleep, and breathed a sigh of relief. he needed to distance himself from qin wan a bit to avoid another outburst from ji chi! ¡°have you checked dr. north¡¯s background?¡± ¡°i have,¡± qin wan replied. ¡°should 1 feel sorry for her?¡± ¡°she¡¯s an orphan, grew up in an orphanage, then got adopted and abandoned again. later, she was taken in by chen geng. she had no choice but to follow his lead. freedom is more important to her than life itself. besides, she has her own ties and doesn¡¯t want to be controlled forever,¡± jiang junlin explained, his brows furrowed. he knew what it felt like to have someone exploit your vulnerabilities. no matter who it was, if they dared to do that for their own gain, he would consider ending them. ¡°what if she betrays you again?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll kill her!¡± jiang junlin said firmly. ¡°i¡¯ll give her only one chance.¡± ¡°what about him?¡± qin wan turned and pointed at the sleeping ji chi. ¡°he torments you. why don¡¯t you kill him? if it were someone else, they might have died ten times over.¡± ¡°it¡¯s different,¡± jiang junlin said softly. ¡°oh¡­¡± qin wan replied sarcastically, ¡°because he can serve you well?¡± jiang junlin patted her head, ¡°nonsense!¡± ¡°master, a handsome young man like him, you could easily find plenty in the entertainment industry who could sing, play music, pamper you, and be obedient. you could have your own harem, full of admirers, and loyal followers. why bother keeping a snake around that bites you from time to time?¡± qin wan teased like a saleswoman. ¡°master, there are plenty of them in college, intelligent and accomplished. hasn¡¯t he never been to school? an illiterate person with a ph.d.? what can you even talk about? there¡¯s no mental connection.¡± ji chi seethed with anger, the gun within arm¡¯s reach. he wished he could pick it up and shoot qin wan right now. what did she mean by an illiterate person with a ph.d.? he might not have attended school for a day, but what he needed to learn, he mastered. what had he not learned? ¡°watch the surveillance footage carefully and stop the nonsense,¡± ji chi seethed, his hair practically standing on end. ¡°brother, why aren¡¯t you saying anything to counter her?¡± why?!! jiang junlin turned to look at ji chi, his lips curling slightly. ¡°you¡¯re right. wild children don¡¯t understand manners, and they have a tendency to go berserk at the drop of a hat. it can be quite annoying. i prefer well-behaved children.¡± qin wan laughed softly, her demeanor both gentle and youthful. ¡°master, am i well-behaved?¡± jiang junlin used silent gestures to reply, ¡°don¡¯t provoke him.¡± qin wan covered her mouth, laughing lightly, and used gestures to reply to jiang junlin, ¡°you¡¯re biased!¡± in the surveillance footage, when dr. north left, qin wan couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°in the darkness of night, amid the snowstorm, she¡¯s wrapped in red. that¡¯s incredibly conspicuous.¡± dr. north, dressed in a bright red coat, stood out against the snowy backdrop. ¡°when she betrayed me years ago, she was also wearing the same style of coat. it¡¯s a silent pledge. she won¡¯t make the same mistake twice. besides herself, she trusts no one in the team. loyalty and treachery are hard to distinguish,¡± jiang junlin said in a cold tone, his eyes fixed on the list in his hand. he had crossed out a large portion of that list. ¡°master, should i contact her?¡± qin wan inquired. ¡°no need,¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brows. ¡°there¡¯s one thing 1 haven¡¯t figured out yet.¡± qin wan fell silent, but after some contemplation, she couldn¡¯t help but bring up the matter of ji chi. ¡°why does ji chi insist on following us? this is a dangerous path, and it¡¯s none of his business. if he¡¯s worried about your safety, now that i¡¯m here, he can rest assured. let him go; he¡¯s handicapped and slowing us down.¡± ¡°you can forget about that!¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. he had been awakened by the pain from his wound. originally, he intended to endure it and pretend to be asleep, but he didn¡¯t expect qin wan to suggest getting rid of him.. Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Ji Chi, You Should Leave chapter 314: ji chi, you should leave translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation qin wan quickly rose to the top of ji chi¡¯s enemies list in just one night! pei qiuying had to step back. ¡°oh, you¡¯re awake,¡± qin wan swayed her waist as she walked over, her smile innocent but filled with malice in her eyes. ¡°my master is suffering now, all because of you. if it weren¡¯t for your madness locking him up for over a month, none of this would have happened.¡± ji chi sneered, ¡°your internal power struggle has nothing to do with me. ambition has long been brewing within your ranks, and an eruption was inevitable. the dark web¡¯s leader¡¯s autocracy is the root cause. even if 1 hadn¡¯t imprisoned him, you would have experienced an internal upheaval sooner or later.¡± ¡°do we have to thank you for that?¡± ¡°don¡¯t mention it!¡± ji chi remained unfazed, mocking, ¡°tumor. discover it early, pull it out early. short pain is better than prolonged suffering, right, big brother?¡± jiang junlin had been contemplating with closed eyes all along, and qin wan knew that ji chi¡¯s words hit home. those above wanted to control the dark web, but there was no suitable time. since its inception, the dark web had been under the jiang family¡¯s name! it was an organization established by jiang junlin¡¯s great-grandfather, and while its nature had changed, the jiang family had left a safety net for their descendants. with ulterior motives, if this were a feudal era, they¡¯d be nothing but private soldiers. they only obeyed jiang junlin, and there had been infiltrations from within the jiang family, causing divisions within the dark web. in addition to that, the knowledge passed down from great-grandfather to great-grandson had eroded loyalty, leading to discord that was almost inevitable. everyone was loyal to the nation and to the family. they weren¡¯t necessarily villains, just differing perspectives and personal interests. what jiang junlin couldn¡¯t understand was why the urgency? why such mistrust? after the minister¡¯s death, he had indeed become the sole authority. however, they completed any tasks, no matter how dangerous, with utmost dedication, especially overseas special operations, which the dark web almost entirely covered. he reported three times a year, without any errors. why was there such a rush to replace him? where did this deep-seated mistrust come from? he had no intention of betrayal, and he could effectively oversee the dark web. jiang junlin simply couldn¡¯t comprehend why this fierce battle was incited solely because of authority. ¡°whether it¡¯s division or power struggle, it¡¯s our internal affair, none of your concern. you don¡¯t need to make decisions for us. if a man dares to lock me up for over a month in the name of loving me, not only will 1 chase him to the ends of the earth, but i¡¯ll also chop off his manhood and feed it to the dogs. things that can¡¯t be controlled, we don¡¯t need them!¡± qin wan coldly snorted. she firmly believed that ji chi must have been motivated by lust while he imprisoned jiang junlin. a large pot of pressure descended, leaving ji chi with no room for defense. however, the matters between him and jiang junlin were not something he wanted to share with qin wan, not even a bit. it was their secret! ¡°our affairs are none of your business,¡± ji chi retorted. qin wan chuckled darkly, ¡°if my master ever wants to kill you, i¡¯ll make sure to shoot you down, so he won¡¯t even have a chance to change his mind.¡± ji chi remained composed, and jiang junlin had been tempted to kill ji chi when forced to witness that fabricated explosion. however, now jiang junlin should understand that it was all a staged explosion. would he still want to kill ji chi? qin wan¡¯s words hit ji chi right where it hurt, and his arm was throbbing in pain again. he chose to remain silent. tomorrow would be new year¡¯s eve. ji chi felt extremely frustrated. he had initially planned to spend new year¡¯s eve with jiang junlin, especially since it was his first time celebrating the holiday. however, now he had the nuisance of qin wan to deal with. how could he make qin wan disappear? jiang junlin hoped to resolve the matter in europe as quickly as possible. delaying it would only work against him. once he dealt with the division within the dark web, he needed to return to china to handle the people behind it. currently, it was a race against time. either you die, or i do. as long as cici didn¡¯t expose anything, everything would be under jiang junlin¡¯s control. ¡°little cherry, could you do something for me?¡± qin wan had left at four in the morning. as soon as she left, ji chi felt the air clear up, and his mood improved. ¡°big brother, is she going to keep following us?¡± ¡°ji chi, it¡¯s time for you to leave,¡± jiang junlin said softly. ji chi¡¯s expression changed suddenly. he sat up abruptly and glared at jiang junlin angrily. ¡°you toss me aside as soon as you have someone else by your side. jiang junlin, have you gotten used to beckoning me when you need me and pushing me away when you don¡¯t? am 1 just a dog by your side? i¡¯m not even as good as a dog. other people raise dogs for several years, and they still have feelings.¡± jiang junlin had expected ji chi to be upset. ¡°ji chi, the dark web is in turmoil and chaos. 1 don¡¯t know who¡¯s after my life, but they¡¯re coming at me with full force. this has nothing to do with you, and you don¡¯t need to get involved.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not leaving!¡± the more dangerous it got, the more ji chi wanted to stay by jiang junlin¡¯s side, even if it meant taking a bullet for him. he couldn¡¯t just leave jiang junlin in a perilous situation in paris. ¡°ji chi, in what capacity are you staying by my side?¡± jiang junlin frowned, his tone displeased. ¡°you are the successor groomed by lu zhiyuan, am 1 right?¡± ji chi furrowed his brows and remained silent. jiang junlin continued, ¡°rong li is also a promising candidate, but he comes from the dark web, and the nine leaders of black hawk can¡¯t all vote in favor of him. rong li and you complement each other, forming the next leadership team of black hawk. with you by my side, what image does that present?¡± ¡°i¡¯m lu zhiyuan¡¯s designated successor. can¡¯t i protect you?¡± ¡°ji chi, if you continue to be entangled with me, you will lose the qualification to inherit black hawk. if i were just the president of hualan bank, and you and 1 had any kind of relationship, it wouldn¡¯t affect the bigger picture. that¡¯s why lu zhiyuan let you go. but now, our identities are known, and there¡¯s nowhere to hide. he can¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brows. ¡°are you willing?¡± ¡°i¡¯m willing to give it up. i don¡¯t care.¡± jiang junlin looked at him calmly. ¡°the nightmares of your youth keep haunting you, and you lack a sense of security. you want to hold onto everything tightly, so nothing slips through your fingers. you fight harder than rong li because he seeks revenge, while you seek power. you grew up on the streets with stray dogs, subjected to abuse and manipulation. you want to control your destiny and not be abandoned like a dog. only by outdoing others can you accept that you won¡¯t be abandoned. if you abandon others first, you won¡¯t accept being abandoned. when i broke my promise back then, it was a second injury to you. ji chi, you¡¯re carefully setting up your chips to stand in front of me. if i were just the president of hualan bank and the vice president of black hawk in asia, it would be enough. but now, i¡¯m the shadow master of the dark web. do you feel that you need to reach the pinnacle of black hawk to have the right to speak with me? are you willing to give up? are you willing to give up?¡± ¡°don¡¯t try to guess my thoughts!¡± ji chi was caught off guard, his face alternating between red and pale. jiang junlin said, ¡°your thoughts about me are plainly written on your face. 1 don¡¯t need to guess. ji chi, i¡¯ve never had to make an effort to understand you because in front of me, you never hide your darkness and desires..¡± Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: New Year’s Eve chapter 315: new year¡¯s eve translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°since that¡¯s the case, then look into my eyes and tell me, what do 1 want most in this world?¡± ji chi leaned forward by the window, staring directly into jiang junlin¡¯s eyes. ¡°do you know what i want?¡± jiang junlin asked calmly. ji chi sneered, ¡°world peace? prosperity for china.¡± the sarcasm in these words was evident in his eyes. jiang junlin didn¡¯t get angry, he even smiled and said, ¡°that¡¯s the wish of every child of china.¡± he looked at ji chi, his voice soft, ¡°if there¡¯s a chance, would you still want to imprison me?¡± ji chi hesitated. this was a tremendous temptation for him, the lifelong struggle he faced. jiang junlin held him and sat them both down on a chair. ¡°ji chi, i only want to continue the legacy of the jiang family for our country. so, i¡¯m destined to be without a wife, without children, and without a lover.¡± this could be considered a promise, in a way. ji chi pushed him away abruptly. ¡°what do you mean by that?¡± did he want jiang junlin to be alone for the rest of his life? wasn¡¯t this an attack on his feelings? jiang junlin immediately realized the misunderstanding. ¡°why don¡¯t you look at it from a different perspective? 1 won¡¯t have a lover for my whole life, so what does that make you?¡± ji chi furrowed his brow, bewildered. what did that make him? ¡°you can come to me anytime.¡± he thought, ji chi was still young, in his early twenties. someday, he would get tired of this, bored of being with one person for so long. ¡°ten years, twenty years later, the young wolf cub might not be so persistent anymore.¡± ji chi understood, tears welled up as he laughed. ¡°jiang junlin, who do you think 1 am? do i only want that little bit of happiness? what have you taken me for?¡± this humiliation felt like a slap to ji chi¡¯s face. he turned cold, lay down on the bed, facing away from jiang junlin, and refused to say another word. jiang junlin looked at his stubborn back in silence, feeling helpless. ¡°do you know why 1 wanted to imprison you?¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was hoarse. jiang junlin lowered his head and looked at his own hands, silent. ji chi continued, ¡°i grew up without parents, wandering the streets. 1 almost thought that stray dogs were my family, and 1 fought them for food, fought to survive. later, i was sent to an orphanage, a hellhole. i escaped and was captured by the five corners. i don¡¯t know where my family is, where i¡¯ll be buried when i die. in my heart, you¡¯re my only family. if you don¡¯t want me either, then there¡¯s nothing worth holding onto in this world. the five corners has been a nightmare for me my whole life, but it¡¯s also where we met.¡± jiang junlin clenched his fists, his heart aching. perhaps ji chi had told him many lies. but he knew, this statement was true. in a city, at the blue fields villa. on chinese new year¡¯s eve, starting from the morning, gu ci received phone calls from the jiang family, inviting her to spend the new year¡¯s eve at their place. gu ci didn¡¯t want to leave the blue fields villa and made excuses, saying she had a headache and needed to rest at home, not liking the hustle and bustle of celebrations.¡± gu wenliang, not knowing if it was a change of heart or if he needed money, also called gu ci. as soon as gu ci heard his voice, she hung up. at noon, gu ci went to see lu zhiyuan. ¡°today is new year¡¯s eve!¡± gu ci asked coldly, ¡°do you have any more stories to tell?¡± lu zhiyuan put down his book and looked at her. ¡°cici, did you see a doctor?¡± ¡°the doctor said there¡¯s no cure for me,¡± gu ci said with a wicked smile, a mix of illness and coquetry. ¡°what should i do?¡± ¡°then find another doctor,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°your illness has always been under the care of dr. north. bring her back, and you don¡¯t need to worry about jiang junlin and ji chi. while ji chi may not want to use black hawk to help jiang junlin, if it comes to life and death, he¡¯ll spare no effort. cici, the triads isn¡¯t your responsibility, you don¡¯t need to trouble yourself.¡± ¡°what would you like to eat?¡± gu ci suddenly asked, changing the subject. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°it¡¯s new year, so can 1 go out for some fresh air?¡± ¡°i¡¯m ready, bring it on!¡± ¡°then make me a full chinese banquet,¡± lu zhiyuan said gently, looking at her. ¡°since you asked, shouldn¡¯t there be some sincerity?¡± ¡°fine, i¡¯ll make you a full chinese banquet!¡± gu ci left in a huff, and lu zhiyuan¡¯s smile gradually faded as he sighed. when li jiang was summoned, he was still puzzled. gu ci wrote a list and asked him to prepare the dishes. ¡°miss gu ci?¡± ¡°your master wants to have a full chinese banquet.¡± li jiang gaped. third master, you¡¯re quite arrogant for a prisoner! li jiang gathered a few people and divided the list into six parts for each of them to buy. they managed to buy everything for gu ci in less than half an hour. gu ci wasn¡¯t really going to make a full chinese banquet for lu zhiyuan, but she did prepare twenty-four dishes, including four cold dishes, four stir-fried dishes, four steamed dishes, four fried dishes, four stewed dishes, and four boiled dishes, with a variety of seafood and meats, all covered. li jiang said nervously, ¡°miss gu ci, you don¡¯t need to tire yourself out. we can call a hotel if you want.¡± with so much food, the third master wouldn¡¯t eat it all. ¡°no need!¡± gu ci said, ¡°it¡¯s cold outside, and you don¡¯t have to wait here. i won¡¯t kill him.¡± li jiang, of course, knew that gu ci wouldn¡¯t kill lu zhiyuan. she wouldn¡¯t, but someone else might! the guards were there to watch over lu zhiyuan, that was their duty. gu ci was busy cleaning the crabs, planning to make curry crab. she hadn¡¯t finished brushing one crab when she heard the sound of a car. the old lady, the old master, the jiang family couple, along with gu zi yu, came to the blue fields villa to celebrate the new year. they even brought a lot of bags with them. gu ci, who had claimed not to be feeling well and just wanted to lie at home, was now in the kitchen with a cleaver in hand and met the jiang family members face to face. she even had a knife in her hand.¡± ¡°gu ci¡­¡± grandma jiang asked in surprise, ¡°cici, if you¡¯re not feeling well, why aren¡¯t you resting? why are you cooking alone?¡± jiang minghua looked at the kitchen filled with vegetables, all intended for cooking, and there were even recipes nearby. he contemplated, ¡°cici, are you hosting guests? there are so many ingredients.¡± gu ziyu silently covered his face. mom, why didn¡¯t you check your phone? he had sent text messages and called. ¡°grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt¡­ why are you here?¡± gu ci felt guilty. ¡°miss, you should leave the kitchen for now; we¡¯ll take care of this.¡± auntie gui brought two chefs to handle the ingredients, and the chefs had brought their own ingredients to prepare the new year¡¯s eve dinner. gu ci was bewildered as she was pulled out of the kitchen. grandpa jiang said, ¡°this is our first new year together since you joined our family. of course, we should celebrate it together. if you¡¯re not feeling well and need rest, we came here to celebrate as a family. wherever our family is, that¡¯s home!¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, deeply moved. the jiang family valued tradition, and celebrating the new year had to be done at home, with ancestral worship and staying up late. even if jiang junlin was busy, as the eldest grandson, he had to be at home on new year¡¯s eve, burning incense and lighting lamps. it was impossible for him to go to someone else¡¯s house for the celebration. the elders had compromised for her. ¡°grandpa, grandma¡­.¡± Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Family Joy chapter 316: family joy translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the old lady said, ¡°good child, why are you crying?¡± she tenderly pulled her to sit down. gu ziyu quickly ran downstairs and locked the dark room. gu ci didn¡¯t close the door. lu zhiyuan heard the movement, and this was really too coincidental. gu ziyu peeked in and blinked. ¡°dad, don¡¯t talk, or it¡¯ll be awkward.¡± he paused. ¡°you¡¯d be awkward too.¡± lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°you really are my good son!¡± ¡°i¡¯m doing it for your sake!¡± gu ziyu closed the door and even added a password lock to prevent any accidents. ¡°cici, do you have guests tonight?¡± aunt asked. she had prepared so many ingredients, and if possible, it would be more lively to celebrate the new year together. gu ci shook her head. ¡°i¡¯m not feeling well. i couldn¡¯t sleep, so i decided to cook to pass the time.¡± ¡°where do you feel uncomfortable? have you seen a doctor?¡± jiang minghua asked with concern. ¡°you don¡¯t look well. it¡¯s troublesome to see a doctor on new year¡¯s eve. i¡¯ll contact a private doctor for you.¡± ¡°uncle, it¡¯s okay. i feel much better already.¡± gu ci was wrapped in kindness, feeling warm inside. her nose was tingling, and she wanted to cry. it was like a person floating in mid-air who had finally been pulled back to the ground by a group of people and had a sense of being grounded. ¡°are you really okay?¡± lin chunli was also a bit worried. she felt that gu ci had become listless in the past few months. she asked gu ziyu in a low voice, ¡°did gu ci not do well in the final exams?¡± ¡°first place in the entire department,¡± gu ziyu proudly said. ¡°impressive, right?¡± lin chunli thought, what else could students worry about besides their grades? oh, right, lu zhiyuan had a car accident and injured his leg. maybe he couldn¡¯t race anymore. she was probably worried about lu zhiyuan. in the prime of youth, they lacked nothing and didn¡¯t care about the people in the gu family anymore. besides their grades, it was all about their loved ones. while the chef was cooking, the family visited gu ci¡¯s room. they had all been here a few times, not many, mostly to bring gifts. they would sit on the first floor for a while. gu ziyu secretly told gu ci that he had locked the door. gu ci confidently led them on a tour, from the second floor to the first floor and down to the basement. the villa had a very large living area, and except for the bedroom, gu ci spent most of her time on the lower level. grandpa especially liked the reading area in her study. it was very comfortable and had a touch of wildness to it. on the walls were paintings by gu ziyu, not famous paintings, but they had a distinctive style. ¡°ziyu, is this your painting?¡± there was a seal on the painting with gu ziyu¡¯s name. ¡°grandpa, i don¡¯t want to brag,¡± gu ziyu said with a hint of shyness. he had painted a picture of a mother and son having afternoon tea in the garden. gu ci was making tea, and he was reading. the style was reminiscent of traditional chinese paintings, and it was very lifelike. grandpa jiang was a master of chinese painting and really liked gu ziyu¡¯s style. ¡°such a pity.¡± gu ziyu pouted, ¡°grandpa, i¡¯m still young, and there¡¯s room for improvement.¡± ¡°you chose computer science; it¡¯s such a waste. with this talent at such a young age, you could have become my disciple and made a name for yourself in the art world.¡± everyone else was speechless. gu ziyu was beaming with confidence. ¡°no matter what i do, i¡¯ll be the best.¡± in the hidden room, lu zhiyuan listened to gu ziyu¡¯s bragging and couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ziyu¡¯s personality was quite similar to his in this lifetime. he felt like he had always been the best at everything he did. lu zhiyuan recalled his childhood when he was born in the year of the snake. there was a strange omen when he was born, and the oracle in the temple predicted that his fate was unfavorable, with no wife or children, destined for a lonely life, and he was best suited to be a priest. after he turned three, he was taken to live in the temple, and he never saw his parents again. life in the temple was dull and uninteresting. he felt like a bird with clipped wings, locked in a cage. the innocence and joy of childhood, the longing for the world, all disappeared during his years in the temple. as a child, he felt like a lifeless puppet, devoid of any interest in life. after half of her soul had been reincarnated, she became quite bold and unrestrained. lin chunli and jiang minghua descended from upstairs, and the arrangement on the lower floor was carefully done, including the reading area that everyone liked. lin chunli saw the operating table and was surprised. ¡°do you conduct surgery experiments at home?¡± ¡°just for practice,¡± gu ci replied nervously. the operating room was right next to the hidden room, and if lu zhiyuan made a sound, it would be very difficult to explain. he couldn¡¯t explain why lu zhiyuan was in her house, and in such a sorry state. after all, her maternal family was an intellectual and scholarly family, and this matter would definitely be beyond their understanding. lin chunli saw the password-protected door but didn¡¯t inquire further. older people had weaker sense of boundaries, so she asked, ¡°cici, why is there another password-protected door? what¡¯s in there?¡± gu ziyu¡¯s heart was racing. ¡°dad, please, don¡¯t make a sound, or it will be really awkward.¡± gu ci had already thought of a response. ¡°it¡¯s where i handle animal carcasses and conduct experiments on small lab mice. there are bacteria inside, and i¡¯m afraid of scaring ziyu, so i usually keep the door locked.¡± grandma jiang, hearing this, didn¡¯t ask any further questions about what was behind the door. ¡°then you should be careful. keeping lab mice at home means you need to disinfect and sterilize more often.¡± ¡°okay,¡± gu ci replied obediently. ¡°the lab mice are so well-behaved!¡± gu ziyu exclaimed loudly, making everyone laugh. on the second floor, there was a comfortable living room where the family gathered to chat. gu ci was nervous but pretended to be calm as she brewed tea. the elders of the jiang family prepared red envelopes for both gu ci and gu ziyu. gu ci hurriedly declined. ¡°i¡¯m already in college.¡± ¡°you¡¯re not married yet, so you¡¯re still a child. your brother gets red envelopes every year.¡± the elders stuffed four large and thick red envelopes into gu ci¡¯s hands, brimming with the festive spirit of the new year. gu ci had received red envelopes during previous new year celebrations. gu wenliang and lu man would prepare them for her, but her red envelopes were always smaller than those of gu chuyun and gu yaozu, and every year, gu chuyun would count her red envelope money in front of her deliberately, trying to provoke gu ci. gu ci and gu chuyun couldn¡¯t avoid arguing and fighting on new year¡¯s eve. receiving red envelopes during the new year was not a pleasant experience for gu ci. ¡°thank you, grandma, grandpa, uncle, and aunt!¡± gu ziyu sweetly thanked them, heaping blessings like ¡°abundant prosperity,¡± ¡°four seasons of peace,¡± and ¡°five blessings descend upon the house.¡± gu ziyu was truly sincere in his compliments now, and his sweet words made the jiang family feel like part of his own family. everyone was amused by gu ziyu¡¯s antics. gu ci had never experienced such family joy. it was the first time she realized that she was a girl with elders and juniors above and below. this kind of happiness, full of laughter and harmony, was something she had never experienced in her life. it was as if she was tightly wrapped in love, without feeling suffocated, just warm. gu ci looked at the two elderly people with gray hair and couldn¡¯t help but wonder. if she went even crazier, if she died, would they be very sad? in the previous life, with nothing to tie her down, gu ziyu also controlled the black hawk. with ji chi and li jiang protecting him, she could leave with peace of mind. if she left, gu ziyu would be sad, and grandma and grandpa, with their white hair, would surely be heartbroken.. Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: A Family of Three Reunion chapter 317: a family of three reunion translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin is once again in a precarious situation, and his future is uncertain. if something were to happen to him, how would they go on? ¡°cici, why are you crying?¡± grandma wiped her tears lovingly. ¡°tell grandma what¡¯s bothering you, and grandma will stand up for you.¡± ¡°grandma¡­ i¡¯m jus too happy,¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but lie. ¡°from childhood to now, it¡¯s the first time i¡¯ve received a red envelope during the lunar new year.¡± ¡°gu wenliang didn¡¯t give you a red envelope?¡± grandpa was furious. gu chuyun received numerous red envelopes every lunar new year, and the thought of gu ci not getting one made grandpa angry. ¡°this is outrageous! where there¡¯s a stepmother, there¡¯s a stepfather, indeed.¡± gu ci chuckled. but during those days, she was raised by her own mother, with her own father by her side, yet she lived as if she were raised by a stepmother. how could she find balance in her heart? jiang minghua and grandma felt uneasy. gu chuyun had received too much favoritism from the jiang family in the past eighteen years. grandma loved her more than jiang junlin did. but what about gu ci? thinking about what gu ci had been through, they wished they could turn back time. lin chunli smiled lightly and said, ¡°happiness is a good thing. from now on, cici, everything will go smoothly, and you¡¯ll be safe. after the storm, there will be good fortune waiting for you.¡± gu ziyu hugged gu ci and said, ¡°ziyu will make you happy.¡± mom, don¡¯t be sad! even though it was supposed to be a joyous occasion, everyone inexplicably felt a touch of sadness. gu ci wiped away her sadness. it wasn¡¯t appropriate to cry on such an important day. ¡°ziyu, you¡¯ve been playing the guitar well lately. how about performing a song for everyone?¡± gu ziyu hesitated. the brilliant ph.d. student, the young genius gu ziyu, couldn¡¯t escape the nightmare of being dragged to perform by his elders on new year¡¯s eve. gu ziyu actually performed a guitar piece he had been practicing for a short while. it was a cheerful tune, perfect for a performance on new year¡¯s eve. gu ci was amused, and others burst into laughter, applauding him. ¡°i¡¯m truly a genius. i¡¯ve only been learning for two days, and i can already play this well!¡± suddenly, a sound of something heavy falling from inside the door. the joyful atmosphere came to an abrupt halt. gu ziyu¡¯s smile gradually faded. why was his father so disrespectful? gu ci was startled and frowned slightly. ¡°what was that sound?¡± ¡°little white rat probably got into trouble and knocked something over. it¡¯s okay; we don¡¯t need to worry about it. grandma, grandpa, let¡¯s go upstairs. i can smell the delicious food, and i¡¯m getting hungry,¡± gu ci said, inviting everyone to go upstairs. there was no further sound, and everyone stopped caring. gu ziyu kicked the door in annoyance before heading upstairs with the rest. lu zhiyuan picked up a book, seemingly mocking gu ziyu, but it was unintentional. new year¡¯s eve! lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. he had been sent to the temple at the age of three, making his new year¡¯s eves rather boring. he had always served the priests, and the memories of celebrating new year¡¯s eve with his family before the age of three had long faded from his mind. in this life, he had memories, but his new year¡¯s eves were equally miserable. lu ze liked the family gathering of siblings, even though they weren¡¯t a real family. they insisted on sitting together for dinner, but it ended in a quarrel, and they parted ways without joy. after turning eight, lu shijie dared not provoke him openly, but the behind-the-scenes taunts were something he couldn¡¯t ignore. he truly didn¡¯t like the festive atmosphere of the new year. the only time he remembered being truly happy on new year¡¯s eve- lu zhiyuan closed his eyes, unwilling to recall it. that day was so joyful, but it had brought so much suffering over the years! the family spent new year¡¯s eve happily, had a big dinner, and, without a doubt, scolded jiang junlin because there was no new year¡¯s video call or even a phone call. grandpa was so angry that he wanted to remove him from the family tree, even after drinking several glasses of white wine. gu ci was very happy, but her mind seemed elsewhere. has lu zhiyuan gone another day without eating? is he hungry? after the new year¡¯s eve dinner, the family watched the spring festival gala together. grandma wasn¡¯t feeling well and couldn¡¯t stay up too late. she prepared to leave around nine o¡¯clock. gu ci walked her to the door, and she had originally wanted ziyu to leave with her. however, ziyu insisted on staying to celebrate the new year with her. gu ci understood his intentions and didn¡¯t press him further. in the kitchen, there was a specially prepared meal. ziyu went downstairs to find lu zhiyuan and extended his hand, ¡°dad, happy new year! do you have a red envelope for me?¡± lu zhiyuan patted his palm with a smile. ¡°i owe you.¡± ¡°don¡¯t give me a hundred bucks and call it a day. i want the kind with a check!¡± ziyu scoffed, showing the keys, ¡°you should thank me, you know.¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his wrists. both of his wrists were red from being rubbed. ¡°will cici let me go?¡± ¡°what are you thinking? even office workers get a five-day weekend, and little white rat deserves a holiday during the new year,¡± ziyu said, setting up a small table. gu ci brought down the food. while it wasn¡¯t a grand feast, she prepared eighteen dishes for him. the chef had coincidentally made eighteen dishes tonight. ¡°mom, why did you bring down all this food? can he finish it?¡± ziyu asked in confusion. gu ci replied lightly, ¡°i haven¡¯t eaten enough.¡± ziyu, who had personally served her two bowls of rice, was puzzled. ¡°you haven¡¯t eaten enough?¡± a light bulb went off in his head, and he became cheerful. ¡°i haven¡¯t eaten enough either!¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent. all the dishes were reheated, as she had instructed the chef to prepare a small portion of each dish. the three of them enjoyed eighteen dishes. although there were many dishes, the portions were not large. ¡°dad, you can¡¯t be biased. you only gave one red envelope. mom is so competitive when it comes to the size of red envelopes; she can even fight with gu chuyun for it. if you don¡¯t give her a red envelope, what if she starts disliking me?¡± ziyu argued. lu zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, patting ziyu on the head. ¡°cici, am 1 getting a red envelope from you for being locked up here?¡± gu ci hesitated. ziyu chimed in, ¡°dad, what about me?¡± trying to get a red envelope from mom had failed, and now they were losing one from dad? gu ci took one of the red envelopes she had received tonight and placed it in front of him. ¡°here¡¯s your red envelope!¡± lu zhiyuan borrowed a leaf from gu ci¡¯s book and handed it to ziyu. ¡°this is the red envelope from dad to you.¡± gu ci and ziyu both had annoyed expressions! ziyu suspected that dad was doing this on purpose. it was definitely on purpose! ¡°mom, don¡¯t be fooled. he¡¯s definitely doing this on purpose. he¡¯s trying to drive a wedge between our mother-son relationship. he¡¯s scheming and malicious!¡± gu ci¡¯s expression turned slightly cold, but she didn¡¯t say anything. ziyu glared fiercely at lu zhiyuan and even kicked him under the table, signaling him to comfort gu ci, but lu zhiyuan remained unmoved. winter in city a usually brought snow, but this year, it was a warm winter. there was no sign of snow, and the entire winter was warmer than usual. the underfloor heating was on in the house, making every room warm and cozy. ziyu had eaten his fill and opened a bottle of happy water. ¡°dad, mom, happy new year! this is our first spring festival together. let¡¯s have a toast!¡± ziyu¡¯s face was flushed, and his excitement was palpable. however, he was exhausted from raising his glass, and neither lu zhiyuan nor gu ci paid much attention to him. ziyu complained, ¡°you guys are so indifferent. a cold relationship between parents can affect a child¡¯s physical and mental health. it might even lead to antisocial personality disorder.¡± ¡°you¡¯re an adult now; stop pretending to be a child,¡± lu zhiyuan reminded him. ziyu snorted, ¡°1 just turned seven after the new year. i¡¯m still a child..¡± Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Are You Willing to Sacrifice Everything for Me? chapter 318: are you willing to sacrifice everything for me? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci and lu zhiyuan exchanged glances, displaying an unspoken understanding. both raised their glasses, just about to toast, when gu ziyu¡¯s glass evaded, ¡°one person gets to make a wish.¡± the three of them clinked their glasses together. gu ziyu said, ¡°i wish for my mom¡¯s good health, a long life, and that she¡¯ll take care of my kids when she gets old.¡± gu ci and lu zhiyuan were both speechless. son, can you distinguish between a wish and a luxury? you¡¯re thinking quite far ahead. gu ci chuckled at his remark, and gu ziyu, with a smile in his eyes, asked, ¡°mom, what¡¯s your wish?¡± ¡°my wish is for ziyu to grow up safely and to heed the country¡¯s call to have three kids.¡± lu zhiyuan and gu ziyu gaped. the father and son both had subtle expressions on their faces. as the charming atmosphere-setter, gu ziyu asked, ¡°dad, what¡¯s your wish?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at the glasses gathered together. what was his new year¡¯s wish? he only wished for gu ci¡¯s safety and happiness year after year. there was a clear longing in his eyes, yet it was also distant and aloof. ¡°my wish¡­ long live freedom!¡± lu zhiyuan lightly tapped the glasses of gu ci and ziyu, downed his drink in one go. gu ci¡¯s face instantly turned as cold as snow. lu zhiyuan maintained his steady gaze on her, his expression calm. there was no third master¡¯s icy indifference, nor third young master¡¯s explosive anger. he accepted his situation with equanimity, a sense of tranquility that came with acceptance. in gu ci¡¯s heart, however, a storm was brewing. gu ziyu held onto her last shred of reason, not wanting to lose control in front of him. ¡°dad, you really know how to kill the mood!¡± gu ziyu had long sensed the subtle tension between his parents. dad wanted freedom and no entanglements with them, while mom was determined to confine him. this was an unsolvable problem. gu ci had been drinking continuously, while lu zhiyuan ate his meal. gu ziyu played the role of atmosphere-setter, observing the situation. the atmosphere between lu zhiyuan and gu ci was cold, giving off the feeling of familiar strangers ¨C a glaring sign of an unhappy marriage on the verge of divorce. gu ci continued to drink one glass of red wine after another, her gaze vacant. lu zhiyuan, on the other hand, would sneak glances at her. whenever gu ci looked in his direction, he would quickly avert his gaze, creating a subtle tension in the atmosphere. in the meantime, gu ziyu received a phone call and went outside to answer it. after finishing half a bottle of red wine, gu ci wanted to continue, but lu zhiyuan held her wrist, looked into her eyes, and said gently yet firmly, ¡°don¡¯t drink anymore!¡± ¡°why do you have the right to control me?¡± gu ci turned to the side, and their noses almost touched. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you¡¯re determined to sever ties with me. everything i do has nothing to do with you.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. he took the wine bottle, poured the remaining half without much care, and downed it in one gulp. the wine trickled down from the corner of his lips to his neck, splashing onto his collar, vivid and sensual. gu ci licked her lips, feeling a bit parched. lu zhiyuan placed the wine bottle heavily on the table. ¡°did you forget how you went crazy the last time you drank?¡± ¡°how could i forget? i went crazy, and you pushed me into the lake, nearly drowning me,¡± gu ci said with a cold smile. ¡°at that moment, 1 knew that you really didn¡¯t love me.¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. ¡°lu zhiyuan, in our past lives¡­ why did you marry me? out of pity for me?¡± ¡°it was because i couldn¡¯t bear to see you being mistreated, to see you sinking into the abyss. i wanted to heal you,¡± lu zhiyuan suppressed the affection welling up in his heart. ¡°all the suffering you endured was because of me, and i couldn¡¯t just stand by.¡± ¡°just pity, guilt, and a desire to make amends?¡± gu ci¡¯s heart ached. lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci¡¯s vulnerable eyes, eyes that were screaming desperately. they silently pleaded, ¡°tell me you love me, don¡¯t give up on me, please.¡± but she remained so stubborn. ¡°is it important?¡± he spoke with a slightly hoarse voice. ¡°it¡¯s very important!¡± gu ci wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. ¡°i don¡¯t care about your story, whether it¡¯s true or not. the past lives and the present have nothing to do with me. i just want to know¡­ why did you marry me, lu zhiyuan? you said that if you couldn¡¯t find a reason to live, you would live for me. have you forgotten?¡± she had always lived for him. he was her redemption, her faith. her heart would die with him. now, he had abandoned her once again. ¡°i love you,¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly, showing both pity and deep affection. ¡°whether you¡¯re a test from the gods or the reincarnated gu ci, i love you. my soul has always been drawn to you. when we first met, you were so young, yet i wanted to protect you. even after half of my soul was drained of emotions, without love, 1 couldn¡¯t help but want to protect you. cici, no matter how many times we go through this cycle, even if i lose my memory and forget you, i will still fall in love with you at first sight, still adore you. it¡¯s a curse and my¡­ destiny.¡± he paused. ¡°but i can¡¯t be with you, cici. 1 don¡¯t want to break my heart for you intentionally. i say harsh things to hurt you and make you despair and suffer.¡± ¡°i love you, and i can¡¯t hide it. but if you¡¯re with me, you¡¯ll lose everything ¨C not just me, but also ziyu and the people from the jiang family.¡± he looked at gu ci tenderly. ¡°the happiness of family life, are you happy with it? are you willing to make them go through separation and death again? do you love me so much that you don¡¯t care about losing everyone else?¡± gu ci¡¯s face turned pale, and she sat rigidly in her chair. the red wine she had been drinking burned in her chest and lungs. lu zhiyuan¡¯s words were more piercing than his lies. lu zhiyuan, with a mix of tenderness and cruelty, asked, ¡°cici, would you be willing to lose them for me?¡± ¡°stop it!¡± gu ci snapped. lu zhiyuan asked again, ¡°would you be happy being with me after losing everyone else?¡± ¡°i told you to stop!¡± gu ci was greatly agitated, her eyes red. she frightened gu ziyu, who had just returned. gu ci stumbled away, looking disheveled. lu zhiyuan was gentle yet resolute, his eyes holding her pain, indulging her anger, but firmly rejecting her. seeing her back, gu ziyu, who had just returned, was angered. ¡°dad, today is new year¡¯s eve. why did you have to upset mom? can¡¯t you wait until after the new year to talk about this?¡± ¡°ziyu, let her calm down. she¡¯ll come to terms with it,¡± lu zhiyuan replied. but lu zhiyuan knew very well that tonight was the best time to be honest with gu ci. she had just enjoyed family happiness, and she needed to understand the pain of losing what she had gained. she had to realize what she would lose for the sake of loving him. only then could she truly let go! gu ziyu came in, stood in front of him, and asked softly, ¡°do you really not love mom at all?¡± ¡°i love her very much,¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brows, ¡°i can sacrifice everything to protect you, but ziyu, you need to stay away from me for your safety.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t understand.¡± lu zhiyuan said in a deep voice, ¡°no matter if i¡¯m with you or not, i¡¯m willing to give my all to protect you.. just remember that, okay?¡± Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Brother, Are You Silly? chapter 319: brother, are you silly? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci was alone in the room, and gu ziyu didn¡¯t want to disturb her, but he didn¡¯t want gu ci to be immersed in sadness. today was new year¡¯s eve, and although their father was harsh, he cared for their mother. what could he do to make his mother happier? with a heavy heart, he left the blue fields villa. it was new year¡¯s eve night, and the security guards were on duty. while most people were having their meals, li jiang was guarding the place for twenty-four hours. he hadn¡¯t even had the new year¡¯s eve dinner and had to make do with a few packs of dry rations. when he saw gu ziyu coming out in a distraught state, li jiang hurriedly approached him. ¡°young master, why are you out in this cold weather?¡± ¡°i want to set off fireworks!¡± gu ziyu had a sudden idea and pointed to the window on the second floor where gu ci was. ¡°i want to set off fireworks for mom.¡± ¡°fireworks are prohibited in the city,¡± li jiang hesitated, even though the blue fields villa had a spacious courtyard. ¡°if you really want to do it¡­ you¡¯re just a minor, so at worst, you¡¯ll get off with a warning. it¡¯s not a big deal!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes lit up, and li jiang scratched his head. he must be the kind of parent who indulged mischievous children. but what could he do? the young master was so cute; who could refuse him? li jiang sent someone to buy fireworks, which was quite a challenge on new year¡¯s eve. gu ziyu arranged the fireworks in a row. ¡°then i¡¯ll really light them.¡± ¡°go ahead, this area should be safe,¡± li jiang thought to himself. after all, the young master was only seven years old, and children loved to play. lighting a few fireworks wouldn¡¯t hurt, even on new year¡¯s eve. it was just a small fine. after gu ziyu ignited the fireworks, he ran to the window. ¡°mom, look at the fireworks¡­¡± gu ci heard his voice and pulled back the curtain. seven fireworks soared into the sky and burst open with various colors, like a prosperous era. gu ziyu held two sparklers and waved them, and in the midst of the fireworks, he snapped his fingers and struck a pose. li jiang played a piece of square dance music. gu ziyu danced with the sparklers, performing a square dance for gu ci. after they had dinner, they jogged around the blue fields villa, and every time they passed the square, they saw the square dancers having a great time. gu ziyu had a good memory and was able to smoothly complete an entire square dance. he jumped, twisted his waist, and was cute and lively. ¡°mom, i love you!¡± gu ziyu shouted loudly, and his young voice echoed throughout the courtyard. ¡°i¡¯m the man who loves you the most in the whole world!¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°young master, you¡¯re just a little boy!¡± this scene was so much like a high school student confessing to a girl outside her dormitory building. third master, you¡¯ve raised a little love rival. gu ci had never seen gu ziyu so cute and lively. cold-faced and emotionless, like a lifeless boy, he had undergone a transformation. everyone was healing him, helping him regain the happiness and smile of his childhood. as the fireworks bloomed, her son was full of cuteness. gu ci remembered what lu zhiyuan had said and asked herself. for the sake of loving him, are you really willing to give up everything? no! tears streamed down gu ci¡¯s face as if a door had been pushed open by a beam of light. she didn¡¯t want to! she wanted gu ziyu to be like this, happy and carefree, for the rest of his life. she wanted everyone to be healthy and live to a ripe old age. gu ci ran downstairs, pushed the door open, and hugged the dancing gu ziyu. ¡°ziyu, mom loves you!¡± gu ci hugged gu ziyu and looked up at the dazzling fireworks. lu zhiyuan, you¡¯ve won! paris. after finishing her work, qin wan returned, her face not looking too good, and her arm was slightly scratched with bloodstains. jiang junlin got up to check her wound and saw that it was just a minor flesh wound. he let out a sigh of relief and frowned, ¡°what happened?¡± ¡°i had a little accident, master. xiao min has betrayed us, and she recognized me,¡± qin wan said, glancing at ji chi. she lowered her voice, ¡°she has joined forces with rong li, i¡¯m a hundred percent sure!¡± ¡°as expected!¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brow and had been thinking about it ever since his accident. he had wondered who had betrayed him on the paris intelligence line. on the night when ji chi took him to the hospital, gu ci knew that there weren¡¯t too many people who knew about it. dr. north had long sent someone to keep watch, and there would certainly be two deployments. intercepting them on the way was the first choice, and the hospital was the second choice. she would concentrate her people on the way. dr. north was cautious, and anyone who could intercept her on the way had to be familiar with the inner workings of the underworld network and be very familiar with the terrain. they had to assassinate him without a trace and then return to the team without a sound. it meant that there was a problem with the intelligence network in paris. there were six intelligence agents on this line in paris, and he didn¡¯t have time to investigate them one by one. he gave gu ci a list, but he was afraid of alarming the snake. it wasn¡¯t until he heard from the old doctor at the clinic that the police had come to inquire that he narrowed it down to two people. qin wan went out to confirm who had betrayed them. ¡°master, let me kill him to prevent any future trouble.¡± qin wan had the least tolerance for traitors, no matter what hardships or reasons they had, it wasn¡¯t an excuse for betrayal. ¡°perhaps, in her eyes, it¡¯s not betrayal,¡± jiang junlin said indifferently. ¡°someone wants to replace me, and if she succeeds, she¡¯ll be the hero.¡± ¡°she has joined forces with rong li,¡± qin wan lowered her voice once again. ¡°that is betrayal.¡± ¡°don¡¯t be quick to pass judgment.¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°did you come back without anyone following you?¡± qin wan nodded, ¡°no one was following me. why not kill her? leaving her alive will only bring endless trouble. who knows how many secrets she might have leaked? does she know about this safe house?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know, but she¡¯s used to my way of doing things.¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°ji chi¡¯s safe house has been exposed. we¡¯re relocating, and it¡¯s either ji chi¡¯s safe house or mine. she almost found us.¡± ¡°if ji chi contacts black hawk, won¡¯t we be exposed?¡± ¡°so, he hasn¡¯t contacted anyone.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± qin wan said sourly, ¡°you just trust him like that. warning: dark humor!¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t know how to respond. ji chi stood up in anger, ¡°don¡¯t falsely accuse people. since i went on the run with him, i¡¯ve severed all contact with black hawk. oh, you¡¯re still planting chess pieces in black hawk. it¡¯s hilarious. brother, you¡¯re really confused.¡± qin wan put her hands on her hips, ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t be sarcastic. you¡¯ve also planted chess pieces in the underworld, so it¡¯s tit for tat. what¡¯s the point of mocking each other?¡± ¡°i¡¯m mocking you for choosing the wrong person. there are two places in black hawk where it¡¯s most difficult to plant chess pieces. one is third master¡¯s personal guard, and the other is by rong li¡¯s side. third master¡¯s personal guard was handpicked by li jiang, and no disguise can escape his eyes, unless you start brainwashing a child from the age of five or six, keep them in black hawk for more than a decade, and make them part of third master¡¯s personal guard. otherwise, it¡¯s impossible to infiltrate third master¡¯s personal guard. rong li is third master¡¯s double, so his bodyguards are all fanatical loyalists. it¡¯s even more impossible to infiltrate there. rong li has a hot temper, but he¡¯s very sharp. if you tried to plant a spy next to him, he would probably have found out long ago and deceived you countless times. friendly reminder, are you really sure she¡¯s betrayed? perhaps, this is just a play set up by rong li to make you misunderstand, killing your own people. he loves to watch people kill each other the most..¡± Chapter 320 - Chapter 320:I Want a Nickname chapter 320:i want a nickname translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin and qin wan exchanged a glance. qin wan smiled and said, ¡°i miscalculated. 1 should have placed my pieces beside you. you¡¯re the easiest to conquer.¡± ji chi sneered, ¡°didn¡¯t jiang junlin place his pieces on my bed? isn¡¯t that enough?¡± jiang junlin remained silent. qin wan also fell silent. it was quite frustrating, and they couldn¡¯t argue! ¡°today is new year¡¯s eve. shall we have hotpot?¡± jiang junlin asked. qin wan glanced at the refrigerator, which contained only some vegetables and meat, far from the ingredients needed for hotpot. jiang junlin suggested, ¡°there¡¯s a supermarket next door. you can go buy some groceries.¡± ¡°i want to have instant noodles!¡± qin wan declined. ¡°cook some instant noodles, add an egg, and it¡¯s like celebrating the new year.¡± ¡°i want hotpot!¡± ji chi said with a cold face. he had originally planned to have hotpot with jiang junlin on new year¡¯s eve, but who would have thought there would be an extra third wheel encouraging them to have instant noodles! ¡°if you want hotpot, go buy it yourself!¡± qin wan sat down and cleaned her gun barrel. jiang junlin rubbed his temples, ji chi stood up abruptly, grabbed his coat, and said, ¡°fine, i¡¯ll go!¡± ¡°i want beef¡­¡± qin wan casually placed her order. ¡°fuck off!¡± ji chi retorted. ji chi was so annoyed that he wanted to start a fight with qin wan. jiang junlin had to hold his wrist to stop him, which only further infuriated ji chi. jiang junlin didn¡¯t want ji chi to go outside and cause trouble. ji chi¡¯s striking appearance drew too much attention. in the end jiang junlin said, ¡°qin wan, go get the ingredients.¡± qin wan, puzzled by the sudden turn of events, raised an eyebrow. ji chi, feeling triumphant, gave qin wan a provocative look, radiating an air of elegance and aloofness. ¡°master!¡± ¡°he¡¯s injured!¡± jiang junlin didn¡¯t want ji chi to go out; his striking appearance could attract unnecessary attention. ¡°go ahead!¡± qin wan slammed her gun on the table, swept her sleeves, and left. ji chi took the opportunity to sow discord, ¡°brother, can you really tolerate such a willful subordinate?¡± ¡°you say a few words less. why can¡¯t you get along with little cherry?¡± ¡°little cherry, you even have a nickname for her. sounds quite intimate.¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes darkened, and jiang junlin knew that ji chi was seriously upset. ¡°what nickname do you want? i¡¯ll give you one too!¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°call me ¡®hubby¡¯!¡± jiang junlin threw a punch at him. ¡°get lost!¡± ji chi took a punch without getting angry. instead, he acted like a loyal puppy, sticking close to his master. ¡°brother, why does she have the nickname ¡®little cherry¡¯?¡± jiang junlin remained silent, and ji chi persisted, ¡°have you thought of a nickname for me? you can choose any, and i¡¯ll definitely like it.¡± exclusive nicknames, like swearing sovereignty, always put ji chi in a good mood. jiang junlin maintained a stoic demeanor, observing with unwavering focus, treating ji chi¡¯s banter like a passing breeze. ¡°brother¡­¡± ji chi persisted, ¡°have you thought of a nickname for me?¡± ¡°she¡¯s called little cherry. do you want to be called little orange?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s tone was icy, ¡°you even get jealous over such trivial matters. how boring can you be?¡± ¡°little orange is too terrible, i hate it!¡± ji chi rejected his suggestion, automatically blocking out jiang junlin¡¯s words. ¡°i still prefer it when you call me ¡®hubby.¡¯¡± ¡°ji chi, you¡¯re pushing it!¡± ji chi continued to tiptoe along his boundaries, ¡°calling me ¡®wifey¡¯ is also an option.¡± jiang junlin lightly slapped him, diverting his face that was leaning in too close. ¡°get lost!¡± he focused on the surveillance, there were eight screens in the secure room, providing a comprehensive view with virtually no blind spots. jiang junlin¡¯s injuries were milder than ji chi¡¯s, and he recovered quickly. his gastritis had healed, and the back wounds no longer festered or bled. perhaps because of this, ji chi felt increasingly insecure, as if jiang junlin might kick him out at any moment. he constantly probed jiang junlin¡¯s limits, and jiang junlin saw all his anxieties. ¡°ji chi, the matter concerning the triad dark web isn¡¯t suitable for your involvement. once you¡¯re better, you should leave, okay?¡± jiang junlin softened his tone, a rare occurrence. ¡°it¡¯s a tricky and dangerous situation.¡± ¡°besides that little girl, who here can you trust? what if you get assassinated? who will protect you?¡± ji chi stubbornly argued, ¡°at least i won¡¯t betray you.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t need you to protect me. in fact, you need protection more than i do,¡± jiang junlin said, still focused on the surveillance. ¡°don¡¯t be so stubborn. right now, you can¡¯t even beat little cherry.¡± ¡°who says i can¡¯t beat her?¡± ji chi exploded, ¡°i could kill her in minutes, do you believe me?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t!¡± jiang junlin coldly snorted. qin wan was his creation; there was no way ji chi could easily kill her. if ji chi recovered, he might win against qin wan, but it would still be a tough victory. qin wan was a natural martial artist, and he didn¡¯t know where she inherited that from. chen geng, despite his frailty, was capable enough for dr. north to appoint him as a leader on the front lines, which was still a bit precarious. ¡°you¡­¡± the more jiang junlin favored qin wan, the more jealous ji chi became, and his hatred for qin wan continued to grow. jiang junlin glanced at him, only to notice one of the monitors flickering. he spoke softly, ¡°cici and qin wan are both like sisters to me. if you want to kill her, should i go kill lu zhiyuan too?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°so, you¡¯re jealous of third master?¡± ¡°i dislike him, but it¡¯s unrelated to you,¡± jiang junlin said casually. he simply didn¡¯t resonate with lu zhiyuan¡¯s aura. his instincts had long told him that lu zhiyuan was his enemy. ji chi felt defeated and turned to look at the monitors. however, after just three seconds, he squinted and leaned to check one of the screens. ¡°brother, get a gun. something¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°the snowflakes are off,¡± ji chi frowned, pointing to two adjacent monitors. ¡°these two monitors, aren¡¯t they pointing at different directions on the corner? the direction of the snowflakes is the same. i¡¯ve replaced and studied the nearby surveillance cameras.¡± this change was extremely subtle. without specialized research, it would be impossible to notice. jiang junlin, upon closer inspection, realized that the surveillance had indeed been tampered with, and he hadn¡¯t noticed it at all. as soon as ji chi¡¯s words fell, gunshots rang out. a burst of bullets pierced through the door, clearly with the intent to kill them. ji chi pushed jiang junlin to the ground, and both of them huddled behind an iron cabinet. the dilapidated door was kicked open, and a group of heavily armed masked assailants stormed in, opening fire inside. jiang junlin and ji chi fought back, gunshots echoing throughout the room, creating a chaotic firefight. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡± ji chi¡¯s face was cold, his voice stern. in this moment, there was no trace of weakness or stubbornness in ji chi in front of jiang junlin. his eyes were clear and determined. the safe room had a narrow passage, easy to defend but difficult to attack. there was another floor above, and ji chi¡¯s barrage of bullets forced the black-clad intruders to retreat. jiang junlin took the stairs. jiang junlin lay in the best position on the stairs, providing covering fire for ji chi as he ascended. they closed off the passage and escaped through the emergency exit.. Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: It’s Satifying to Die For You chapter 321: it¡¯s satifying to die for you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation outside, the cold wind blew fiercely, chilling to the bone. jiang junlin said, ¡°get in the car!¡± ji chi nodded. just as they descended the emergency ladder, a barrage of bullets swept over them from above. both heard someone speak in chinese, ¡°they¡¯re going down.¡± exchanging a glance, ji chi and jiang junlin instinctively split up, each taking cover in different corners. knowing their assailants had arrived, the road must have been sealed off, leaving them with no choice but to fight their way out. ¡°brother, they¡¯re after you. i¡¯ll draw them away. you escape alone!¡± ¡°don¡¯t you dare!¡± both were already in their respective hiding spots. ji chi turned to look at the person in the blizzard, as if etching his features deep into his bones. it was their first chinese new year¡¯s eve together, and the snow was falling heavily. he thought to himself, he had no regrets dying on this night! in the midst of the snowstorm, ji chi blew a dashing, carefree kiss to jiang junlin, unburdened by worldly concerns. ¡°to die in battle for you, my life is complete.¡± jiang junlin roared, ¡°ji chi!¡± ji chi got into a car and dashed through the streets. jiang junlin, grinding his teeth in frustration, turned and ran in the opposite direction. ji chi indeed drew all the attention, allowing jiang junlin to hear someone reporting their positions from above. perhaps, if ji chi were his subordinate, luring the enemy away to ensure his escape would be justified. every one of his guards had signed a life-and-death pledge, ready to die with their master. but ji chi wasn¡¯t one of them! ji chi was not his subordinate. jiang junlin ran through the snowstorm, his rationality on the verge of collapse. reason told him not to look back; many lives depended on him. his death would lead to the demise of many others, and the underworld network established by the jiang family would crumble, everything he protected would fall apart. looking back wouldn¡¯t save ji chi; it would only lead to their joint demise. faced with a dead end, he shouldn¡¯t turn back! wearing only a thin shirt, the cold invaded his flesh and enveloped his soul. jiang junlin heard more gunfire and impulsively looked back into the storm, a storm brewing in his eyes. a sniper, already positioned at the corner, fired a shot hitting a tire. ji chi¡¯s car rolled in the snow, crashing into a wall. the roof¡¯s snow was dislodged, nearly burying him. five or six men in black approached, kicked open the car window, and dragged ji chi out. his head hit the steering wheel, leaving him dazed and disoriented as the world seemed to spin around him. he heard a man say, ¡°boss, he¡¯s not in the car. he must have run in another direction¡­ yes, i understand!¡± meanwhile, jiang junlin was engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with a masked man. their firearms had fallen to the ground. jiang junlin¡¯s back wound had reopened, and a corpse lay in the snow. outnumbered, he fought ferociously and quickly subdued the masked man, pinning him down with a dagger at his throat. ¡°don¡¯t move!¡± jiang junlin commanded sternly as he ripped off the man¡¯s mask. ¡°master¡­ master¡­¡± zhang huan¡¯s voice trembled. zhang huan, the captain of his secret guard, and zhang qiang, his cousin, came from a family that had served as close guards to underworld leaders for three generations. jiang junlin¡¯s two guard teams consisted of zhang qiang¡¯s team, which provided 24-hour personal protection, and zhang huan¡¯s team, which operated in the shadows, revealing themselves only when necessary. after ji chi had imprisoned him, and there was no rescue from his underworld network, jiang junlin knew there was a problem with his secret guard team. ¡°who is it?¡± jiang junlin never asked why; betrayal was betrayal. ¡°master¡­ i was just following orders. please spare me. i¡¯ve served you for ten years, saving you three times.¡± zhang huan, terrified, knew exactly what kind of person jiang junlin was from his years of service. ¡°i¡¯ll ask one more time. who is it?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know. the leader was chen biao,¡± zhang huan confessed. ¡°six months ago, he ordered the secret guard to report your movements in detail. he only took orders from a ¡®minister¡¯, and i don¡¯t know anything else. i¡¯ve told you everything i know, master. please let me go!¡± jiang junlin flexed his wrist. ¡°zhang huan, you did save me three times, but that was your duty. for your merits, 1 have rewarded you. what¡¯s the first rule of the secret guard?¡± zhang huan, pressed into the snow, shivered uncontrollably. ¡°speak!¡± ¡°traitors die!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s expression was as cold as the snow. ¡°here, merits do not offset faults!¡± with a swift motion, jiang junlin¡¯s dagger pierced zhang huan¡¯s carotid artery. blood splattered over him, staining his face. rising, jiang junlin sheathed his dagger and suddenly heard more gunshots. he turned sharply, looking into the vast, snowy expanse. just as ji chi caught his breath, he was kicked into the snow. the man in black, his face masked and eyes cold and sharp, stepped on ji chi¡¯s chest and demanded in a deep voice, ¡°where did jiang junlin go?¡± ¡°you¡¯ll never find out!¡± ji chi spat out a mouthful of blood. the man, enraged, shot near ji chi¡¯s foot, but ji chi remained unfazed and fearless. ¡°scum from the gutter, too afraid to show your face, you dare to call yourself jiang junlin¡¯s subordinate?¡± if they were not his subordinates, they wouldn¡¯t all be hiding their faces. chen biao, furious, kicked ji chi over. already injured and dazed from the car crash, ji chi instantly lost consciousness. ¡°boss, he¡¯s black hawk¡¯s ji chi!¡± one of the men in black reminded. ¡°i know!¡± the man scoffed. ¡°would the master be entangled in such a deadly affair if not for him?¡± he reported through his headset, ¡°minister, we¡¯ve captured ji chi, and jiang junlin has escaped. don¡¯t worry, the whole of paris is a net of heaven and earth; he can¡¯t escape. how should we deal with ji chi?¡± ¡°kill him!¡± the man nodded, ¡°yes!¡± he aimed at ji chi, ready to fire, when a cold yet familiar voice echoed through the snowstorm, ¡°chen biao, stop!¡± chen biao stiffened, turning slowly to see jiang junlin walking through the snow. jiang junlin, in a simple shirt and pants, had no time for a winter coat amidst the imminent danger. his white shirt and face were splattered with blood, resembling a deity of death from hell. jiang junlin rarely took lives himself. chen biao had joked before that such gentlemen cherished their feathers, liked to command but not get their hands bloody. he pulled down his mask, revealing his true face. ¡°master, i was also acting under orders.¡± all the guns were pointed at jiang junlin. chen biao said solemnly, ¡°i¡¯ve followed you for eight years. but you got entangled with him, without distinguishing between public and private affairs. the underworld network will eventually be destroyed by you. i¡¯m still your loyal subordinate. i just hope the master makes the right choice.¡± ¡°this is your reason for betrayal?¡± jiang junlin asked in a deep voice. ¡°because of ji chi?¡± ¡°if you kill ji chi, none of this would have happened. i¡¯ll still be the head of the action group of the underworld network, and your affairs won¡¯t be held against you. the network will still be under your control,¡± chen biao pointed at the unconscious ji chi. ¡°kill him, and cleanse all your stains.¡± ¡°are you sure you can leave here?¡± Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Going Both Ways chapter 322: going both ways translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation as jiang junlin¡¯s words fell, dr. north and his team arrived with a thunderous roar. carriage wheels kicked up swirling snow, surrounding them from all sides. jiang junlin¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a blade, cutting into his face. ¡°chen biao, do you think i¡¯ve been in paris all this time just to recuperate?¡± ¡°you¡­¡± ¡°why don¡¯t you take a guess at what i came to paris for?¡± dr. north and zhang qiang had also arrived. zhang qiang quickly removed his coat and rushed over, wrapping jiang junlin in his warm coat to shield him from the snow. jiang junlin calmly put on his clothes. ¡°i had already suspected someone was betraying me during my time in paris. you did indeed conceal it well, leaving no trace for me to follow. that¡¯s why i came to paris.¡± jiang junlin looked coldly at his former shadow guards. ¡°my original plan was to hire an assassin to kill me, replicating the injuries from back then, temporarily losing control of the dark web. but 1 didn¡¯t expect¡­ ji chi has quite the audacity, imprisoning me. although it doesn¡¯t align with my plans, it¡¯s an interesting twist. he ruined my entire scheme, but it has a silver lining. it makes it even more convincing. you won¡¯t suspect that i teamed up with him. hiring an assassin to kill myself and going through a series of acts would have been time-consuming and cumbersome. this way, it¡¯s more direct. chen biao, your ancestors received kindness from the jiang family for three generations, but you have repaid that with betrayal. zhang huan is dead, and now it¡¯s your turn!¡± when zhang qiang heard zhang huan¡¯s name, he didn¡¯t even raise an eyebrow. ¡°master, it¡¯s cold. get in the car first; i¡¯ll take care of things.¡± jiang junlin was about to get in the car when chen biao burst into laughter. ¡°master, even if i die, he will die with me!¡± jiang junlin frowned and looked at ji chi. three red dots were on his forehead, three snipers aimed at his head. jiang junlin¡¯s face changed drastically. the first shot from the sniper was unavoidable. if ji chi were conscious, perhaps jiang junlin would take a gamble. but ji chi was unconscious, essentially a stationary target. it¡¯s no wonder there wasn¡¯t anyone around ji chi. in a matter of seconds, his skull would be shattered. ¡°chen biao, you¡¯re despicable!¡± zhang qiang seethed with anger. jiang junlin clenched his fist and looked at dr. north, his eyes questioning if there were any snipers. dr. north shook his head gently. ¡°we arrived in time; this team specializes in close combat.¡± ¡°don¡¯t waste time!¡± chen biao knew jiang junlin¡¯s temperament ¨C decisive and unwavering. what he said, he would do. whoever he wanted dead today wouldn¡¯t live to see tomorrow. ¡°master, please get in the car! if your people dare to open fire, my men will kill them in retaliation.¡± dr. north spoke in a solemn tone. ¡°master, if you leave with him, there will be no way out.¡± jiang junlin looked at ji chi lying on the ground, a thin layer of snow covering him. his features were delicate and gentle, lying in the snow, much more docile than usual. he remembered ji chi¡¯s flying kiss in the snowstorm. ji chi, without hesitation, helped him divert the pursuers. he was mad, he was crazy, but he was willing to give everything for him, without complaints or regrets. through thick and thin, from the highest heavens to the deepest abyss, there was only one ji chi! ¡°for me, he means nothing. if you want to kill him, go ahead, do as you please!¡± jiang junlin turned coldly. a gunshot rang out, and jiang junlin abruptly turned around. ¡°stop!¡± the bullet landed next to ji chi, creating a snowflake that almost covered his face. chen biao laughed heartily. ¡°master, i¡¯ve been your shadow guard for many years. i know your every move like the back of my hand. you say you don¡¯t care, but you¡¯ve fooled yourself. i¡¯m not fooled!¡± jiang junlin stared at him with an icy expression. chen biao continued, ¡°you have only two choices: one, you kill all of us, and ji chi will accompany us in death. two, you go with me, and 1¡¯11 let him go!¡± ¡°i¡¯ll go with you!¡± jiang junlin made his decision in that moment. ¡°master!¡± both zhang qiang and dr. north exclaimed, trying to stop him. ¡°you have truly disappointed me,¡± chen biao said angrily. ¡°1 betrayed you, but even now, i still hope you¡¯ll turn around and leave, killing all of us.¡± ¡°drop your weapons!¡± jiang junlin ordered. without needing zhang qiang¡¯s command, everyone lowered their weapons. the red dots on ji chi¡¯s head disappeared, and chen biao said, ¡°master, get in the car!¡± jiang junlin replied calmly, ¡°if anything happens to me, follow all instructions from gu ci.¡± he strode forward and got into chen biao¡¯s car. chen biao pointed his gun at him. jiang junlin glanced at ji chi; the red dots on his head were gone. it was a pity that the little wolf cub wouldn¡¯t be able to look at him again. perhaps, he wouldn¡¯t be able to see him again in the future. wouldn¡¯t he go crazy? ¡°drive!¡± chen biao said in a deep voice as they left the scene. dr. north and zhang qiang were infuriated. they had come so close to success. dr. north looked at ji chi with a gaze that practically said, ¡°you cursed temptress.¡± inside the car, chen biao said, ¡°master, no matter what, 1 won¡¯t let ji chi live. once he¡¯s gone, you can put your heart into your work within the dark web, and you won¡¯t do anything to betray it.¡± ¡°what do you intend to do?¡± jiang junlin asked sternly. chen biao replied solemnly, ¡°i will open fire and kill him.¡± he smiled at jiang junlin and continued, ¡°i¡¯ve arranged for four snipers.¡± a gunshot suddenly rang out, exceptionally clear in the empty night. jiang junlin turned abruptly, his eyes filled with rage. in the short term, dr. north and zhang qiang wouldn¡¯t attend to ji chi. simultaneously, the church bells began to chime. it was early morning, and jiang junlin clenched his teeth, trembling all over. that gunshot felt like it struck his heart. ¡°chen biao, you¡¯re doomed!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was hoarse. he swiftly grabbed chen biao¡¯s neck, lightning-fast. chen biao hadn¡¯t even reacted when jiang junlin twisted his neck, snapping it. ¡°he dies, and you will be buried with him!¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was colder than the snow. chen biao¡¯s death was gruesome, eyes wide open, unblinking. the driver was terrified, causing the car to skid on the snowy road. he whispered into the earpiece, ¡°master killed chen biao!¡± inside the car with four people, one driving, chen biao and jiang junlin sitting in the back, and an armed guard in the front passenger seat, the guard aimed his gun at jiang junlin. jiang junlin remained composed, casually taking out a piece of paper to wipe his hands. he glanced coldly at chen biao, then kicked him out of the car, leaving him to die in a foreign land with no burial place. the two guards in front were pale with fear. jiang junlin said, ¡°did you see that? this is the fate of those who betray me!¡± as if following an order, the guard in front pierced a needle into jiang junlin¡¯s arm. watching him lose consciousness, none of the guards dared to release their grip on their guns. chen biao w^as the leader of the guards, undoubtedly the one with the strongest leadership, the highest combat skills, and the quickest reflexes among them. no one expected that jiang junlin, under someone else¡¯s control, could still turn the tables and kill chen biao. ¡°liuzi, did we¡­ follow the wrong person?¡± the driver, filled with fear, asked. ¡°shut up. once we¡¯ve boarded the pirate ship, can we get off?¡± liuzi clenched his teeth. they had no choice but to continue down this path. ¡°zhang huan and chen biao were both killed by the master.. do you think we can survive?¡± Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: You Owe Me A Life chapter 323: you owe me a life translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation when the gunshots rang out, both dr. north and zhang qiang were startled. bullets hit the glass of the building, shattering it. dr. north waved, ¡°take cover!¡± they were both afraid of any further mishaps involving ji chi. a young girl appeared on the rooftop, carrying a gun. ¡°the sniper on the other side is dead!¡± dr. north, after recognizing qin wan¡¯s features, was struck dumbfounded. ¡°how did you end up here?¡± qin wan slid down from the tenth floor, untangling the rope. she stowed away her sniper rifle and looked at dr. north coldly. ¡°teacher, your rank isn¡¯t sufficient to question me.¡± dr. north kept silent. zhang qiang, upon seeing her, wasn¡¯t surprised. qin wan grabbed ji chi roughly, patting his face. ¡°young man, remember, you owe me your life!¡± she roughly stuffed ji chi into the car. seeing this, dr. north waved for his men to get in the car, and they quickly departed. qin wan had heard the gunshots after leaving the supermarket, realizing that something was amiss. she abandoned all her groceries, returned to the safehouse, took her sniper rifle, and ran frantically to catch up. at first, she followed ji chi, climbing to a high vantage point. but when she saw ji chi, she knew she had made a mistake. she was about to retrieve her gun and leave, but then jiang junlin arrived. so she set up her gun again, intending to take out chen biao with one shot. little did she know, while scanning the sniper points, she spotted four snipers. the fourth sniper had been waiting all along. qin wan kept her gun trained on him, fearing he might kill jiang junlin. then she noticed that his rifle was consistently aimed at ji chi. qin wan didn¡¯t care about ji chi¡¯s fate, in fact, she thought if he died, so be it, as he was the nemesis of her employer. but when jiang junlin chose to leave with chen biao for ji chi¡¯s sake, qin wan knew she had to protect ji chi. so, when she saw the other three snipers withdraw, leaving one behind to await orders, she knew chen biao intended to kill ji chi. jiang junlin had no knowledge of her presence at the scene. she chose not to save ji chi, and jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t even know. but qin wan didn¡¯t want to take that risk. in this world, if you don¡¯t want others to know, don¡¯t do it. eventually, secrets are bound to come to light. if jiang junlin found out she was at the scene but didn¡¯t save ji chi, the irreparable rift between them was not worth it. if ji chi had to die, it couldn¡¯t be because she stood by and let it happen. there was an irreparable rift between them as siblings, all because of her selfishness, and qin wan felt it wasn¡¯t worth it! even if ji chi were to die, she couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing! ¡°damn it!¡± qin wan angrily kicked the car door, and seeing ji chi unconscious only added to her frustration. the people in the car remained silent. qin wan drove ji chi to the entrance of the black hawk organization. it was revealed that the one who came out to receive him was rong li. qin wan roughly pushed ji chi out of the car, and rong li exploded in anger, ¡°are you trying to get yourself killed?¡± qin wan casually leaned on the car door, saying, ¡°well, without me, he would have died long ago! are all black hawk people this impolite?¡± rong li helped ji chi up, noticing that he was badly injured, barely conscious, and had been kicked out of the car by qin wan. he performed a typical black hawk act of being very impolite. ¡°get lost!¡± qin wan was momentarily taken aback, then gave a thumbs up, ¡°impressive!¡± she turned the car around and quickly drove away, her pent-up emotions mounting. she should have just let him die! qin wan returned to the headquarters of the underground dark web, and it was already 3 a.m. dr. north and zhang qiang had just finished their meeting. their goal was to track down jiang junlin¡¯s location before they sent him back to china. once he returned to china, everything would be beyond their control. this was a consensus among all involved. this matter needed to be resolved in paris. qin wan, exhausted, sank into the sofa, lit a cigar, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. tobacco could be refreshing when one was tired. since she had returned, dr. north had been secretly watching her. zhang qiang didn¡¯t reveal any information, but dr. north understood what was happening. ¡°qin wan, you¡¯re so young, and your addiction to smoking is this bad!¡± when qin wan lit her second cigar, dr. north couldn¡¯t help but speak. ¡°why do you care?¡± qin wan was a girl who couldn¡¯t be controlled by anyone except jiang junlin. ¡°here, you¡¯re not my teacher.¡± dr. north frowned and didn¡¯t say anything further. video communication with gu ci was also initiated. dr. north explained the situation to gu ci. gu ci asked, ¡°have all of my brother¡¯s bodyguards turned traitor?¡± ¡°the bodyguard team consists of ten people, all chosen by chen biao. if chen biao has turned traitor, everyone else will follow suit,¡± dr. north said. ¡°we are currently trying to locate them. if they return to china through official channels, it will be difficult for us to intervene.¡± they couldn¡¯t hijack a plane! gu ci remained calm as she browsed through some information. ¡°i¡¯ve reviewed the list of my brother¡¯s bodyguards. there¡¯s a guy named liu bingwen. he was responsible for my brother¡¯s security in europe for the past two years. during that time, he met a french girl who gave birth to their daughter. the child is now a year and a half old.¡± dr. north immediately understood. zhang qiang furrowed his brow. ¡°what¡¯s going on with this bodyguard team? my lord¡¯s personal guards are not allowed to marry or have children. if they fall in love, they are required to voluntarily leave the team. chen biao not only betrayed us but also failed to report this.¡± ¡°he has already betrayed my brother, so he must have had ulterior motives for a long time,¡± gu ci said indifferently. ¡°i¡¯ve sent you the address.¡± dr. north saw the address and dispatched a small team. ¡°let¡¯s not alarm the woman and child.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry; we know what to do.¡± gu ci said, ¡°my brother has been gone for an hour and a half already. we need to act quickly. zhang qiang, my brother¡¯s bodyguard team all have special communication codes, right?¡± ¡°yes, they do. if they have any doubts, they will check the internal network for notifications. i haven¡¯t revoked their permissions yet,¡± zhang qiang said. they could see all internal network commands and notifications. of course, they could only see what gu ci wanted them to see. qin wan asked, ¡°how did you know that liu bingwen has a daughter?¡± gu ci smiled gently, ¡°liu bingwen is a man living alone in paris. since my brother¡¯s visits to paris have been infrequent, he has had a lot of free time. my brother doesn¡¯t assign him tasks frequently, maybe just once a month. for a young man in the romantic city, how does he pass the time? apart from training, it¡¯s flirting with women. if there¡¯s such a strict rule for the bodyguards not to be involved in relationships, it indicates that their emotional lives are quite empty, and indulging in romance is normal. since chen biao has betrayed us, the grip he had on this bodyguard team must have loosened. a little investigation should yield some clues. liu bingwen had already been marked in my brother¡¯s records as being soft-hearted and wavering in his loyalty. we had actually planned to replace him this year. i¡¯ve sent an internal network message, and when the team reaches the location, they should remain passive. once liu bingwen sees the message, he¡¯ll definitely go to them. you just need to wait for him.¡± ¡°understood!¡± gu ci¡¯s instructions were clear for every detail. ¡°if liu bingwen resists arrest, tell him that not disturbing his woman and child is our greatest mercy. as long as my brother is safe, i¡¯ll spare his life.¡± ¡°understood!¡± Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Am I Difficult to Serve? chapter 324: am i difficult to serve? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation dr. north quickly communicated with the team members. qin wan lounged lazily on the sofa, realizing that taking liu bingwen¡¯s daughter was the best option, but gu ci chose not to disturb the innocent. one person takes action, and one person bears the consequences. qin wan hoped that liu bingwen would be sensible. if he wasn¡¯t, she didn¡¯t mind defying orders and taking his daughter. in her eyes, the safety of jiang junlin was more important than anything else. ¡°cici, there¡¯s another issue,¡± dr. north said. ¡°the entire dark guard has turned traitor, and there¡¯s trouble with xiao min on this front in paris. none of the six people on this line are safe. i¡¯ve already ordered them all to remain silent. that leaves us with a gap in our intelligence network, and it will be difficult to rescue the master once we identify his location. it¡¯s a tricky situation.¡± in other words, they were short on manpower. ¡°i¡¯ll get black hawk¡¯s people to help!¡± gu ci said decisively. ¡°black hawk won¡¯t interfere in our internal affairs. they¡¯d rather see the master dead,¡± dr. north thought, considering gu ci¡¯s relationship with lu zhiyuan, which might not be enough to convince him. gu ci calmly said, ¡°i¡¯ve locked lu zhiyuan in a secret room. he¡¯ll agree.¡± ¡°wow!¡± qin wan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°gu ci, that¡¯s brilliant!¡± by manipulating third young master, they didn¡¯t need to worry about rong li refusing to act. gu ci continued, ¡°since xiao min has betrayed us, qin wan, go take care of her.¡± ¡°understood!¡± qin wan exhaled a smoke ring and got up to leave. dr. north followed her and stopped her, giving qin wan a meaningful look. qin wan raised an eyebrow. ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°be careful!¡± dr. north had a thousand words to say but condensed them into a simple sentence. qin wan looked puzzled. she arched her eyebrow. ¡°for a small task like this, i¡¯m very experienced. no need to worry.¡± gu ci efficiently handled all the tasks. as dawn broke on the first day of the new year, chaos reigned. the first rays of sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, and as the dawn grew, a beam of sunlight fell on the window. gu ci drew back the curtains, as if bathing in the rejuvenating sunlight. after booking a flight to paris at noon, she entered the secret room. lu zhiyuan had also not slept all night. gu ci handed him his phone and said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, you save my brother, and 1¡¯11 set you free. that¡¯s the condition.¡± she was indifferent and distant, her determination concealed by a layer of mist. lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t decipher her thoughts. gu ci unlocked the door and said, ¡°i won¡¯t bother you anymore. i¡¯ll do as you wish. 1¡¯11 see a doctor and heal myself. 1¡¯11 forget about you and start anew.¡± ¡°cici¡­¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart ached in silence. this was the outcome he wanted, yet it was also a result that left him in despair. people were so contradictory; the more they knew they couldn¡¯t have something, the more they desired it. he asked gu ci, ¡°why did you have a change of heart?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. ¡°i¡¯ve abandoned my child once before. 1 don¡¯t want to do it again. i don¡¯t want to reach a point where i¡¯m so insane that i don¡¯t even recognize my own son. lu zhiyuan, 1 don¡¯t believe your story, but 1 don¡¯t want to be so stubborn anymore, destroying the only beautiful thing between you and me. i can stop pursuing you. from now on, marriage and destiny will have no connection. i admit defeat.¡± lu zhiyuan calmly looked at her, and gu ci didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. she was still stubborn, but there was something different about her. lu zhiyuan took the phone and, in front of gu ci, made a video call to rong li. ¡°third young master?¡± rong li said, ¡°1 was just about to talk to you about ji chi¡¯s situation¡­¡± lu zhiyuan said, ¡°our people in paris will fully cooperate to rescue jiang junlin.¡± ¡°third young master? have you taken the wrong medicine?¡± rong li blurted out, incredulous. lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°did i not make myself clear enough?¡± rong li remained silent for a few seconds. ¡°1 understand. do i need to contact the dark web?¡± ¡°no need. they¡¯ve split up, and it¡¯s unclear who¡¯s trustworthy. just follow gu ci¡¯s command.¡± ¡°yes!¡± lu zhiyuan hung up the phone. he and jiang junlin were like two tigers on the same mountain, but for the sake of gu ci, he was willing to compromise. ¡°i won¡¯t interfere with the dark web.¡± ¡°good!¡± gu ci quietly watched him. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you can go now.¡± li jiang hadn¡¯t expected lu zhiyuan to walk out of the blue fields villa on his own. he sat in the front passenger seat, stealing glances from time to time, very curious. third young master had been imprisoned for the first time in his life, and he wondered what his thoughts were. miss gu ci might be a bit crazy, but at least she hadn¡¯t harmed him. ¡°li jiang, have you seen enough?¡± lu zhiyuan opened his eyes, looking at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°third young master?¡± li jiang was puzzled. ¡°you¡¯re finally back?¡± after all, he had never seen third young master smile. ¡°guess.¡± ¡°third young master has never smiled, so it must be you who¡¯s back,¡± li jiang said with a cheerful smile. ¡°no wonder miss gu ci let you go. to be honest, 1 missed you during this time when you weren¡¯t around.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± ¡°of course, third master is not easy to serve. 1 was on edge the whole time, and 1 even lost weight.¡± after all, guarding outside the blue fields villa, taking shifts, not eating well, not sleeping well, indeed made a person lose weight. lu zhiyuan¡¯s face turned cold, and that chilling pressure spread through the carriage. ¡°is that so? am 1 difficult to serve?¡± li jiang didn¡¯t know how to react. li jiang stammered, breaking out in cold sweat. ¡°th-th-thr-third¡­ young¡­ young master?¡± lu zhiyuan leaned back comfortably, crossing his legs, and with a smile, he asked li jiang, ¡°scared, are you?¡± he was on the verge of collapse. what on earth was happening? was he third young master or third master? did he go insane like miss gu ci after being locked up by her? ¡°third young master, i was wrong. i¡¯ll kneel for you. please don¡¯t scare me, okay?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t play with him any longer and calmly said, ¡°keep an eye on gu ci¡¯s movements and inform me at any time.¡± ¡°understood. what about the situation in paris?¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t kick him when he was down; that¡¯s my greatest kindness to jiang junlin. leave it to rong li; he¡¯ll handle it.¡± lu zhiyuan looked out the window and then asked abruptly, ¡°has pei qiuying returned to paris?¡± ¡°yes, the national security escorted her back to paris.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned slightly cold. pei qiuying always seemed to do the right thing at the right time. she had ambitions beyond her abilities and a will that didn¡¯t match her circumstances. ¡°the performance of the dark web is getting more and more exciting,¡± lu zhiyuan sneered. ¡°i want to see how jiang junlin can escape this time.¡± he had instructed rong li to cooperate with gu ci in rescuing jiang junlin. however, if jiang junlin¡¯s life was demanded from above, a failed rescue would be considered normal. who said rescues had to be successful? gu ci left for the airport with her documents and two sets of clothes. she left a note for gu ziyu, who was still asleep when she departed. by the time gu ziyu woke up and saw the note, gu ci was already at the boarding gate. ¡°ziyu, mom is going to paris for a while. i¡¯ll be back in a few days. please go to the jiang family¡¯s house during my absence. i¡¯ve already arranged for someone to provide 24-hour protection, but i¡¯m still not at ease. if possible, ask national security to assign additional personnel to deter anyone with ulterior motives.¡± gu ci knew that if they wanted to grab liu bingwen by the heartstrings, others might target jiang junlin as well.. Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Walking the Dog chapter 325: walking the dog translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°she had a conversation with jiang minghua before leaving, and he was well aware of the situation. recently, apart from hualan bank and home, he has been staying indoors as much as possible. so, during the spring festival, the jiang family closed their doors to visitors. ¡°please be careful,¡± gu ziyu knew he couldn¡¯t stop her, ¡°1¡¯11 be waiting for you at home.¡± ¡°okay, ziyu, mom loves you!¡± ¡°i love you too, mom!¡± gu ziyu was a little shy, he still wasn¡¯t quite used to gu ci¡¯s enthusiastic expression of motherly love, even though she would often tell him. after gu ci hung up the phone, gu ziyu remembered that lu zhiyuan was still in the dark room. he found out when he went downstairs that lu zhiyuan had left, which surprised him. he called chen fei, ¡°come over.¡± chen fei had just taken two days off and was called back. after lu zhiyuan returned to the global center, he had just completed a medical examination, and the doctor advised him to rest and take care of his bones. li jiang arrived and said, ¡°third master, miss gu ci has gone to paris and has already boarded the plane.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression darkened. paris was a dangerous place with many hidden threats. if jiang junlin was exposed there, she would definitely become a target. she seemed to have a plan against him. ¡°prepare the private jet; we¡¯re going as well.¡± ¡°yes!¡± li jiang couldn¡¯t help but think to himself, third master, what happened to not getting involved in the underworld affairs? this is the fastest you¡¯ve ever gone back on your word! in paris, inside black hawk. ji chi had not yet woken up, and rong li had taken him to the hospital to treat his injuries. originally, they had been bystanders, but with lu zhiyuan¡¯s orders, black hawk was now forced to get involved in the internal struggle within the underworld¡¯s network. rong li had a serious expression. in just two short hours, he had smoked a whole pack of cigarettes, and the ashtray was filled with cigarette butts. when xiao min came in, the room was filled with smoke. she opened the window to let in some fresh air and said, ¡°young master rong, i really don¡¯t understand why third master would involve himself in the internal conflicts of the underworld. jiang junlin killed your father and caused your family to be destroyed. now, he wants you to save him. this is unbelievable.¡± xiao min had short hair and a slender waist, with a very distinctive figure. her face was beautiful, with bright eyes and white teeth, and she had a sharp and neat demeanor. rong li said coldly, ¡°third master is not someone you can meddle with.¡± ¡°rong, i¡¯m just speaking up for you.¡± ¡°not needed!¡± rong li gave her a sharp look, ¡°jiang junlin was once your master too.¡± xiao min¡¯s face changed color, and she lowered her head nervously. ¡°do what you need to do,¡± rong li said in a deep voice. ¡°utilize your familiarity with the underworld¡¯s dark web to find jiang junlin¡¯s location. if third master wants him alive, he must stay alive.¡± ¡°yes!¡± xiao min stood stiffly, and suddenly a cold glint passed by in the distance. rong li glanced at it and shouted in anger, ¡°get down!¡± as he shouted, he kicked the table leg, sliding back along with the chair. the bullet almost passed right in front of his eyes, as if his face had been grazed by a burst of fire, and it went straight through the cabinet behind xiao min. she managed to lie down in time, avoiding the bullet. ¡°damn it!¡± qin wan bolstered her gun quickly. once a sniper¡¯s first shot missed, they wouldn¡¯t risk taking a second shot. it would be futile, and after a mission failure, they had to escape the scene immediately to protect themselves. ¡°you¡¯re lucky!¡± she carefully chose her position, narrowly avoiding becoming a target herself. one shot almost killed two people, but to her surprise, rong li remained alert. qin wan hopped onto her motorcycle, revving it up, and when she saw rong li and his team chasing her, she showed off her riding skills. she gestured with her fingers as if simulating firing a gun, even pretended to blow non-existent smoke. the underlying message was clear: ¡°your life is in my hands sooner or later!¡± ¡°get rid of her!¡± rong li said in a deep voice. qin wan whistled, and her motorcycle roared as she left them in the dust. black hawk team quickly got into their vehicles to pursue her. qin wan put on her earpiece, determined and confident, ¡°i¡¯ve failed the mission. i¡¯ll lead them on a wild goose chase, no need to provide cover.¡± ¡°qin wan is as audacious as ever,¡± zhang qiang watched the whole thing from the monitor, admiring qin wan¡¯s courage for daring to provoke rong li. ¡°nonsense!¡± dr. north frowned, expressing her disapproval of qin wan¡¯s style. ¡°mission failures are common, and there are many factors that can lead to failure. you need to discuss and wait for the next opportunity. qin wan¡¯s behavior is too reckless.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s experienced.¡± qin wan led the black hawk team on a wild chase for a full two hours, disappearing without a trace. rong li couldn¡¯t believe it. with black hawk¡¯s surveillance network, how could someone escape their pursuit so easily? ¡°don¡¯t worry, if one assassination attempt fails, there will be another one!¡± rong li gritted his teeth. no one had ever mocked him like this in all these years, and he was determined to make her pay the price! xiao min nervously asked, ¡°rong li, could it be that they want to clean house and sent someone to kill me?¡± the bullet was supposed to hit rong li, and that explanation held water. but xiao min suspected that it was meant for her because she was a traitor. under jiang junlin¡¯s rule, betrayal was not tolerated. ¡°if only you knew, why did you do it in the first place?¡± rong li showed no sympathy. being useful was one thing, but being a traitor was another. xiao min paled and stammered, ¡°rong li, you know, 1 did it for you.¡± ¡°ridiculous. what does your betrayal of the boss have to do with me?¡± rong li furrowed his brow. ¡°did i instruct you to betray him? you¡¯ve been lurking by my side for years, did 1 make you betray him?¡± ¡°i¡­i¡­¡± ¡°get lost!¡± rong li¡¯s temper flared, and he had no patience for a woman speaking hesitantly. he had already had an exasperating day. first, ji chi got into trouble, and now he had to lead a rescue mission for jiang junlin. both matters, no matter which one, had put him in a foul mood. and to top it off, he was the target of an assassination attempt, and the assassin openly taunted him. black hawk had failed to even catch a glimpse of her shadow! the assassin wore a helmet and a tight-fitting suit, making it impossible to see their face. ¡°jiang junlin would be better off dead before i find him!¡± this assassin wasn¡¯t part of the underworld; they had even swallowed their gun! qin wan had failed her mission, but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. her only responsibility was to kill xiao min. this was just one task, and she wasn¡¯t concerned about other matters. the first assassination attempt had failed, and there wouldn¡¯t be a second one in the short term. she went to a small team near liu bingwen¡¯s house and lay in wait. as expected, they caught liu bingwen and brought him to a safehouse. however, liu bingwen remained stubborn and claimed he didn¡¯t know jiang junlin¡¯s whereabouts. zhang qiang resorted to using torture, and liu bingwen was severely beaten, yet he still didn¡¯t divulge any information. inside the safehouse, dr. north listened while qin wan sat in a chair, smoking a cigarette, her impatience evident. ¡°zhang qiang, i truly don¡¯t know. liuzi is in charge of this matter, and they wouldn¡¯t leak information to us. even if you killed me, 1 still wouldn¡¯t know where the boss is being held,¡± liu bingwen said, his voice as weak as a thread. ¡°consider our past cooperation and give me a quick death.¡± zhang qiang was filled with regret. he had executed missions together with liu bingwen and asked, ¡°1 really don¡¯t understand why you chose to betray the boss. chen biao betrayed him, and you followed suit.. what did he promise you? why did you do this?¡± Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: We Were Swindled chapter 326: we were swindled translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation liu bingwen gritted his teeth, refusing to speak. ¡°liu bingwen, things have come to this point, you can¡¯t handle it on your own. if you don¡¯t want to die, just confess honestly,¡± dr. north was starting to lose patience. ¡°i really don¡¯t know, zhang qiang. i¡¯ve told you everything i know. even if you beat me to death, i still wouldn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°master truly has a discerning eye. i should have selected you for the imperial guards back then!¡± zhang qiang coldly remarked. ¡°liu bingwen, as long as you provide useful information, you can reunite with your family. this is your last chance.¡± qin wan impatiently lifted a chair and smashed it onto liu bingwen. the chair shattered into pieces, and liu bingwen¡¯s back was almost broken. he lay on the ground, bleeding profusely. dr. north raised an eyebrow. was this level of brutality necessary? qin wan pressed down on his injured back with her foot, intentionally stepping on the injured area. everyone could hear the bones shifting out of place, and liu bingwen howled in pain. ¡°you worthless scum, if you won¡¯t accept the drink, you¡¯ll face the punishment. i don¡¯t have the patience of zhang qiang. i¡¯m an outsider here. zhang qiang may not dare to do what i can. i¡¯ll count to three, and if you don¡¯t provide some useful clues, i¡¯ll kill your daughter.¡± qin wan¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°one!¡± liu bingwen shouted, ¡°i really don¡¯t know. this has nothing to do with my daughter¡­¡± ¡°two!¡± ¡°zhang qiang, you¡¯d better listen to her. besides the master, no one can control her.¡± ¡°i truly don¡¯t know!¡± liu bingwen cried out in despair. ¡°three!¡± qin wan¡¯s voice fell, and she moved her foot away. ¡°alright, pitying your daughter, with a father like you, she can only seek justice in the afterlife. ¡°no¡­ no¡­¡± liu bingwen held onto qin wan¡¯s leg and pleaded. ¡°i¡¯ll talk¡­ i¡¯ll talk¡­ they¡¯re at the south dock in a container. they plan to leave by sea.¡± ¡°when?¡± ¡°liuzi didn¡¯t say. all i know is the sooner, the better. they want the master to return to the country alive. if that¡¯s not possible, they¡¯ll kill him on the spot.¡± liu bingwen sobbed. ¡°zhang qiang, i didn¡¯t want to betray the master either¡­¡± qin wan kicked him away, and zhang qiang instructed his men to secure the south dock, searching every container to determine jiang junlin¡¯s whereabouts. on a plane, gu ci received the news and handed the matter over to rong li. she provided rong li with the time and location, and rong li dispatched people to handle it. the entire south dock was in turmoil. qin wan, dr. north, and zhang qiang, fearing that rong li might take action, also set off for the south dock to join forces with black hawk. qin wan changed into a white dress, draped in a beige coat, her hair softly cascading down. she wore pearl earrings, looking like a socialite, nothing like an assassin. her charming and delicate appearance was a stark contrast to the killers who would go after rong li and xiao min tonight. rong li personally came to the south dock, claiming that black hawk had lost a batch of goods at the port and suspected they were placed in the wrong container. the port staff led them to search. the port was vast, and some containers held special cargo, not open to inspection. rong li thought that if they were holding jiang junlin, they would have deployed many guards. but despite searching the entire south dock, they found no trace. ¡°could the information be wrong?¡± rong li asked. xiao min shook her head. ¡°this information can¡¯t be wrong. liu bingwen betrayed us and was interrogated by zhang qiang. he provided the address as the south dock. it can¡¯t be wrong. why can¡¯t we find them?¡± ¡°give me the cargo manifest for the port!¡± rong li extended her hand, and one of her subordinates handed her the list. inside their vehicle, dr. north also examined the cargo manifest and the records of departing ships. zhang qiang suggested, ¡°could they have already set sail?¡± ¡°impossible. even if they have inside information, they can¡¯t relocate within a few hours,¡± dr. north observed, looking at the chaotic port with its mix of law enforcement and criminals. qin wan said, ¡°let¡¯s halt all departures. in case they¡¯ve already left.¡± dr. north also considered halting departures but lacked a good reason. qin wan clicked her tongue and pointed at a container from a shipping company. ¡°this one contains contraband. we can set it on fire, and the port will be at risk. shutting it down for safety reasons will work.¡± dr. north hadn¡¯t dispatched anyone yet when the second container burst into flames. the fire spread rapidly in the snowstorm, affecting nearby containers. the security team and firefighters rushed to the scene, and all workers were evacuated. the port temporarily halted operations, and ships scheduled to depart that night were delayed. a message came in from the information room, ¡°rong li sent people to set the fire. those containers contain contraband, and it has alerted the maritime police and security. they will search all containers. looks like we won¡¯t be getting any sleep tonight.¡± this was a shortcut; the local police investigation would be faster than their own. three groups of people had been searching all day but couldn¡¯t find anyone at the south dock. zhang qiang was becoming agitated. he called the person in charge of guarding liu bingwen, ¡°wake him up and question him again.¡± ¡°boss, i was just about to tell you. liu bingwen is dead!¡± ¡°how did he die?¡± zhang qiang was shocked. ¡°didn¡¯t we treat his wounds?¡± ¡°he committed suicide.¡± ¡°idiot! why weren¡¯t you watching him?¡± ¡°we can¡¯t really stop a person who wants to die.¡± they all looked down on someone who had betrayed their master, but they also knew that liu bingwen couldn¡¯t be allowed to die. but they couldn¡¯t prevent it, and he had taken his own life in the room. ¡°it looks like we¡¯ve been deceived!¡± dr. north was furious. they had been played by liu bingwen, wasting a whole day at the south dock. during this time, if they had left the country, they wouldn¡¯t know where they had gone. rong li knew that the dark web had also sent people to the port. she had been in her car all this time and walked straight over, not avoiding anyone. qin wan and zhang qiang got out of the car, while dr. north remained inside. xiao min and zhang qiang were quite familiar, and they had coordinated on many pieces of information. seeing xiao min by rong li¡¯s side now made zhang qiang feel quite disdainful. qin wan stood beside zhang qiang, smiling gently. ¡°opposite party set up a suspicious formation, we¡¯ve been deceived. the port, the highways, and the airports all have arrangements. jiang junlin shouldn¡¯t be able to leave the country. as long as he¡¯s within our borders, we¡¯ll find a way to locate him,¡± rong li communicated with the dark web members, maintaining her composure. ¡°thank you for your assistance, rong.¡± ¡°we¡¯re doing this because it¡¯s miss gu ci, so there¡¯s no need for thanks,¡± rong li, tall and imposing, exuded a strong presence. ¡°since we¡¯re in a cooperative phase, let¡¯s set aside our grievances for now. and don¡¯t forget your debts of gratitude. while i¡¯m helping you find your master, you¡¯re sending people to kill me.¡± qin wan spoke in a delicate voice, ¡°were you targeted for assassination? that could be because you¡¯ve offended someone. we¡¯re all pulling out all the stops to find our master, and we don¡¯t have the time to target you.¡± rong li glanced at qin wan. she stood beside zhang qiang with a natural, unadorned look, completely out of place in the world of the dark web¡¯s dark web. she didn¡¯t resemble an assassin at all; she looked more like an information officer. ¡°you better be!¡± rong li didn¡¯t believe qin wan¡¯s words at all and remained convinced that the assassination attempt was connected to the dark web. ¡°if there¡¯s another attempt on my life, you can go look for jiang junlin on your own!¡± rong li walked away, leaving the scene.. Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Loving Heart, Death Deserves chapter 327: loving heart, death deserves translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation rong li swept her sleeves and left. zhang qiang looked at xiao min with a cold smile, ¡°why did you betray the master?¡± ¡°i had my reasons,¡± xiao min looked guilty, ¡°i¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°after being undercover for years, you let your heart be swayed by love for the enemy, and you call that ¡®reasons¡¯? ridiculous!¡± qin wan said, ¡°your days are numbered, the underworld never tolerates traitors.¡± xiao min¡¯s secret was exposed, her face flushed with shame and anger, but she had no words to refute. she turned and left in a hurry. zhang qiang asked qin wan in disbelief, ¡°did she fall in love with rong li and betray the master?¡± ¡°otherwise?¡± qin wan replied. ¡°is she out of her mind?¡± zhang qiang was shocked, ¡°xiao min is mentally strong, she undergoes psychological tests every year, and there¡¯s no sign of betrayal. yet she did it all for the sake of love.¡± ¡°love can make people lose their reason,¡± qin wan got into the car, ¡°she¡¯s blinded by it. don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll send two bullets with one shot to get rid of the annoyance for the master.¡± dr. north was speechless. she had figured it out. little cherry was a loyal follower of jiang junlin, and she belonged to the most dangerous kind. could she secretly love jiang junlin? little cherry was young, and it was perfectly normal to fall in love with such a remarkable man. but if she truly loved jiang junlin, she was destined to be hurt because jiang junlin¡¯s heart¡­ belonged to someone else. when ji chi woke up, his head was throbbing, and he had a serious intracranial hemorrhage. he needed to rest quietly. struggling to wake up, he felt dizzy and grabbed nick, ¡°where¡¯s jiang junlin?¡± nick supported him and knew that his master would ask about jiang junlin when he woke up. nick said, ¡°rong li is also looking for him. don¡¯t worry, well find him.¡± ji chi¡¯s head ached, and he remembered being knocked unconscious. he wondered how he ended up in the black hawk. ¡°what¡¯s going on? why am 1 here?¡± he felt that he was in deep trouble and thought he would die, but he was surprised to find himself alive. nick explained the situation, ¡°the people from the underworld brought you to the black hawk¡¯s doorstep. we don¡¯t know the details, but jiang junlin is missing. now, rong li and the underworld¡¯s dark web are working together to find him.¡± ji chi felt a surge of emotions and, in his excitement, he spat out a mouthful of blood. surprisingly, it made him feel a bit better. ji chi pushed the covers aside and got out of bed, determined. ¡°no, i have to find him!¡± ¡°master, you need to recover from your injuries first. third master is on the plane too. don¡¯t worry, jiang junlin is lucky and will be fine,¡± nick didn¡¯t know how to console him. ji chi changed into fresh clothes and put on his coat. nick knew he couldn¡¯t stop him, so he gathered all the information and reported it to him. just as ji chi was about to leave, rong li returned, and he was in a very irritable mood. he kicked the door open roughly. ¡°you¡¯re awake?¡± he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw ji chi but then furrowed his brow, ¡°why are you getting up without taking care of your injuries?¡± ¡°have you found jiang junlin?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°he¡¯s dead!¡± rong li said impatiently, opened a bottle of wine, poured a glass, and downed it in one gulp. trouble always followed when dealing with the underworld¡¯s dark web. ¡°what?¡± ji chi¡¯s anger surged, and he felt a metallic taste in his throat. nick was shocked, ¡°master, don¡¯t scare me.¡± rong li looked at him and then put down the glass heavily, ¡°i was kidding. we haven¡¯t found him yet. if you keep going, you¡¯ll be the one in danger.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± ji chi was furious and threw a punch at rong li, ¡°how dare you joke about this!¡± rong li evaded his fist, grabbed his wrist, and wanted to give him a good lesson, but when he saw ji chi¡¯s bruised and battered appearance, his heart softened. he pushed him away, ¡°when you woke up, you only asked about jiang junlin. did you ever ask about us? i was ambushed and nearly killed. did you care about my life or death?¡± ¡°you¡¯re not jiang junlin!¡± ji chi sneered, ¡°you¡¯re so lively. could an assassin touch a hair on your head?¡± ¡°heh¡­¡± rong li sneered, ¡°when a child grows up, they stop listening to their mother, and their heart follows a wild man. it seems that saying is true. ji chi, you¡¯ll die at jiang junlin¡¯s hands sooner or later. you¡¯ve lost half your life in this ordeal. you¡¯re truly beyond redemption.¡± ¡°stop the nonsense. what¡¯s the situation?¡± ji chi didn¡¯t ask nick, as he knew that rong li was more informed. rong li took a deep breath and suppressed his temper, ¡°all of jiang junlin¡¯s undercover agents have betrayed him. in the paris intelligence network, two more traitors have emerged. technically, they aren¡¯t traitors; they¡¯re just changing their loyalty to another person. he was taken away by the traitors. 1 guess they want to bring him back alive because he knows too much. it would be a waste if he died. to completely control the underworld, they need to have all the information about it. jiang junlin is very clever; he¡¯s fragmented all his information, giving pieces to the people he trusts. only he knows the full extent of the underworld. he can¡¯t die for the time being. today, they used a diversion to lead us and the dark web people to the south dock. it¡¯s just a feint. we still haven¡¯t received any news about him. the harbor, the airport, and the highways are all guarded. unless he¡¯s killed and chopped into pieces and flushed down the toilet, otherwise, he won¡¯t be able to escape from paris, so just focus on recovering.¡± ¡°he¡¯s definitely alive. with the underworld¡¯s dark web in gu ci¡¯s hands, he won¡¯t die,¡± ji chi understood jiang junlin very well. no matter what kind of dire situation he faced, he would find a way to survive. ¡°give me all the information, and i¡¯ll investigate it myself.¡± rong li said, ¡°your hands are nearly ruined, and you still won¡¯t take care of yourself. third master has given his orders, and 1 won¡¯t go against them. we¡¯ll definitely find him. so, relax!¡± ¡°with the current situation, i can¡¯t just focus on my injuries.¡± ¡°you¡¯re truly an unparalleled romantic.¡± rong li couldn¡¯t help but want to kick him, ¡°xiao min, gather all the information for him.¡± ¡°yes!¡± xiao min stepped forward. ¡°wait!¡± ji chi narrowed his eyes and said in a serious tone, ¡°you go out first. i need to talk to rong li.¡± xiao min glanced at rong li and complied, ¡°alright!¡± ji chi signaled nick to leave as well, and nick obediently stepped outside. he made sure to keep xiao min away from them so he could eavesdrop on ji chi and rong li¡¯s conversation. rong li asked, ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°what¡¯s the deal with xiao min?¡± ji chi furrowed his brows, ¡°you knew she was an undercover agent planted by jiang junlin, and you never mentioned it to me.¡± ¡°xiao min was planted by him around me. why would 1 mention it to you?¡± rong li drew a clear line between personal and private matters. ¡°your relationship with him is ambiguous, and it¡¯s complicated. if you were to get manipulated by him, all my arrangements would be in vain.¡± ¡°why did she betray jiang junlin?¡± under jiang junlin¡¯s rule, there were rarely any betrayals over the years. the mass betrayal this year, with the entire team of undercover agents turning against him, was a highly unusual situation. ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t you know why?¡± ¡°why?¡± ¡°because of you. she became a source of concern due to her association with you, and it brought her nothing but trouble.¡± ¡°how is that possible?¡± ji chi adamantly denied any connection to this matter. it had nothing to do with him.. Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: The Little Wolf Cub Was Angry chapter 328: the little wolf cub was angry translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation rong li said, ¡°if he were the president of huaian bank, nobody would care about your relationship with him, but he¡¯s not. third master is worried that your involvement with him might complicate things and affect the bigger picture. can you be his successor, or are you a variable? moreover, you belong to jiang junlin¡¯s secret guard team, and they follow you and him around 24/7. seeing this situation, aren¡¯t they alarmed? they fear that jiang junlin might lose his judgment and do something detrimental to the underworld dark web. jiang junlin has a lot of power, and in case he betrays us, the entire underworld dark web might follow suit. ji chi, if you have such a knife in your hand and this situation arises, do you trust that knife, or do you break it immediately to prevent it from harming you someday?¡± ji chi¡¯s face turned ashen, already seriously injured. jiang junlin had never mentioned in front of him why his subordinates had turned against him. did he already suspect that? he had managed the underworld dark web for so many years, always in control, and with an impeccable reputation. there was no reason for his own people to want to kill him unless it was his own weapon that had gone awry. he was the landmine planted by jiang junlin, causing this crisis. it was he who brought this calamity upon jiang junlin, yet jiang junlin has never mentioned a word of blame in his presence. ji chi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. was there no other way but death now? ¡°why would they go after him instead of coming to kill me?¡± ji chi erupted in anger, his killing intent palpable. ¡°they should come to kill me; 1 am the source of all this trouble!¡± ¡°ji chi, i¡¯ve intercepted all assassination attempts against you,¡± rong li said with great seriousness. ¡°xiao min received intelligence, and i took action to stop them. ji chi, over the past year, chen biao has made six attempts to assassinate you, all of which we foiled. third master thinks you¡¯re too obsessed with this matter. let me tell you, you don¡¯t even cherish your own life in this. if they can¡¯t assassinate you, they will target jiang junlin eventually. only by targeting jiang junlin will you truly feel the pain, and only then will you awaken.¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t believe that lu zhiyuan had hidden this from him for so long. but even if lu zhiyuan had told him, would he have distanced himself from jiang junlin? no! he wouldn¡¯t! he would rather die than leave! ¡°is it all because of me that this catastrophe happened?¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ironically, he had thought all along that the underworld would inevitably face this kind of split, internal strife. he had even shamelessly mentioned it in front of jiang junlin. jiang junlin had known all along that he had brought this calamity upon them. why hadn¡¯t he blamed him even once? brother, why? ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t remain obstinate,¡± rong li said. ¡°do you have to wait until he¡¯s dead to fully understand? to be honest, both third master and 1 don¡¯t care about his life. he¡¯s truly a big trouble. with him in charge of the underworld dark web, black hawk and the underworld will always be in conflict. after his identity was exposed, third master definitely wanted to kill him; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed pei qiuying to return.¡± rong li glanced at her watch. ¡°pei qiuying¡¯s plane landed two hours ago. right now, paris is a hell for jiang junlin. everyone wants to kill him.¡± ¡°she¡¯s dreaming!¡± pei qiuying, a match for his brother, dared to oppose him. ¡°pei qiuying is both fearful and resentful. she understands the underworld well. now she¡¯s joined forces with chen rushi, putting their grievances aside for now, with the goal of killing jiang junlin first. in the underworld¡¯s financial department, no one wants him to live.¡± ji chi leaned against the sofa and asked in despair, ¡°is the only solution to this that i must die for him to be safe?¡± ¡°you won¡¯t die!¡± rong li replied. ¡°so third master wants jiang junlin dead, right?¡± ji chi inquired. ¡°third master¡¯s order is for me to cooperate with gu ci and rescue jiang junlin.¡± ¡°you¡¯ll cooperate, but you won¡¯t give it your all,¡± ji chi asserted confidently. rong li said, ¡°i won¡¯t go against his wishes. third master¡¯s weakness is gu ci, and he will satisfy gu ci¡¯s demands. for your sake, 1 don¡¯t want jiang junlin to live, but i will do my best.¡± ¡°then why did you let xiao min follow you?¡± ji chi asked with a serious tone. ¡°xiao min is already one of us!¡± ¡°she won¡¯t let jiang junlin live. why did you go to the harbor today and find nothing? they were diverting your attention. how do you know if xiao min intentionally gave false information? if jiang junlin stays alive, xiao min must die. he won¡¯t spare a traitor, and xiao min knows his personality well. you can¡¯t deceive me on this matter,¡± ji chi was very clear-headed, and rong li couldn¡¯t fool him. ¡°she belongs to us now. if we don¡¯t use her, she¡¯ll be the second pei qiuying. if we use her to our advantage, she can be very effective. if it weren¡¯t for you, neither i nor third master would care about jiang junlin¡¯s life or death,¡± rong li kicked the sofa in frustration. ¡°can you please wake up? you¡¯re the black hawk crown prince. what are you thinking?¡± in the blink of an eye, ji chi had considered many thoughts, but there was one thought he had never entertained: giving up black hawk and betraying lu zhiyuan. if he gave up now, he would have no trump cards to negotiate with. a person must be useful to sit at the negotiating table. ¡°1¡¯11 say it again, xiao min shouldn¡¯t participate in this matter,¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold. ¡°don¡¯t force me to kill her myself.¡± ¡°you win!¡± rong li said irritably. ¡°did jiang junlin drug you with some kind of love potion? have you gone insane? why do you have to want what you can¡¯t have and hang yourself on that tree?¡± ¡°someday, you¡¯ll fall in love with someone, and then you¡¯ll understand,¡± ji chi replied calmly. ¡°you¡¯re just a textbook example of what not to do. you¡¯ll never have that day. thank you, but what i despise the most now are people who let love ruin their lives. they¡¯re all fools!¡± rong li angrily opened the door, and xiao min was waiting nearby. rong li said in a low voice, ¡°you don¡¯t need to get involved in this matter concerning jiang junlin.¡± ¡°why?¡± xiao min¡¯s brow furrowed with a hint of resentment. ¡°is it because ji chi doesn¡¯t trust me?¡± ¡°why so many questions? just do what you¡¯re told. are you the master, or am i the master?¡± rong li was impatient. lately, everyone seemed to be testing his patience. ¡°yes!¡± xiao min didn¡¯t dare to ask further questions. nick compiled some information and shared it with ji chi, saying, ¡°master, mr. rong is putting in a lot of effort to find mr. jiang, and the people on gu ci¡¯s side also came up empty.¡± ¡°i know,¡± ji chi replied, massaging his temples. ¡°he had clearly escaped, so why was he captured?¡± nick shook his head. ¡°we don¡¯t know for sure. there were probably many people who came after them. both you and mr. jiang were injured, and there are several bodies at the scene. it seems mr. jiang killed some of them.¡± ji chi looked at the photos of the bodies, four in total. two had knife wounds, with their neck arteries cut, one had their neck twisted, and one had a gunshot wound to the head. regardless of who did it, the person who executed them hadn¡¯t intended for them to survive from the start. it was a swift and decisive method. ji chi picked up one of the photos and recognized the person being kicked. it was likely their leader. how had he died at the scene? ¡°master, what¡¯s wrong?¡± nick asked. ¡°nothing,¡± ji chi replied. he carefully examined the information, including details about the harbor. afterward, he went to the surveillance room and personally reviewed the footage, not missing a single frame. brother, i will find you! hang in there! Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Gu Ci and Qin Wan chapter 329: gu ci and qin wan translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci disembarked from the plane, and qin wan came to pick her up. she only had one bag, traveling light. the information had already been discussed when they cleared customs. ¡°wouldn¡¯t your identity be exposed by coming to paris?¡± qin wan remarked. ¡°i must come!¡± she had to be here. it was only when she came that lu zhiyuan would truly take this matter to heart. her brother was deeply trapped, his life hanging in the balance. she couldn¡¯t sit at home waiting for news and orders. paris, she was back again. the last time lu zhiyuan left gravely injured, gu ci hated this city. she hadn¡¯t expected to return in such a hurry. they arrived at a secure safehouse within the depths of the dark web. gu ci was here, and they didn¡¯t go to the headquarters. the known security team and the betrayal of xiao min in paris online made dr. north very cautious. she didn¡¯t want to deploy too many people. most of the people in the dark web were loyal and only followed jiang junlin¡¯s orders. now that they were following gu ci¡¯s lead, they wouldn¡¯t show themselves. this group was safe. the situation in the entire dark web was controllable. that¡¯s why they hoped to bring jiang junlin back alive. they wanted a smooth transition of the dark web into their hands. if jiang junlin died, they would have an irreconcilable hatred with gu ci, and the dark web would directly become gu ci¡¯s, allowing her to detach it from their control. to avoid raising suspicions, gu ci hadn¡¯t deployed jiang junlin¡¯s ace cards. she had them all on standby in silence. although the information might be delayed, it wasn¡¯t wise to reveal all her cards when the enemy¡¯s intentions were unclear. dr. north¡¯s views aligned with hers. the dark web had grown like an ancient tree over a hundred years, with countless branches and leaves. there were always rotten branches that needed to be pruned. gu ci glanced at the information from the southern dock once again, then instructed dr. north to keep an eye on the surveillance. she called qin wan over. ¡°come with me for a moment.¡± the two of them returned to the southern dock once more, standing at a vantage point. gu ci used binoculars to observe the rarely frequented dock, and qin wan asked with curiosity, ¡°we¡¯ve confirmed that they¡¯re not at the southern dock. why are we here?¡± ¡°the most dangerous place is often the safest place, and the safest place is also the most suspicious place. searching the southern dock yesterday and having the port closed doesn¡¯t mean today¡¯s port is safe,¡± gu ci explained calmly. in her field of vision, rows of containers were neatly lined up, and many cargo ships were still docked. to the south was a private port area where only private yachts were anchored. some people rented yachts for a sea trip, and it was quite lively. ¡°have my master retrieve the list of private yacht owners.¡± ¡°alright!¡± qin wan went to make the call. gu ci continued to scan the private yacht area through her binoculars, as if searching for something. the waterfront of the private yacht area was bustling with activity. there were two cafes and a restaurant. although the yacht area itself was not crowded, it was where wealthy individuals docked their vessels. many people arrived early for yacht parties, waiting at the shorefront cafe, enjoying drinks and the sea view. it was a good place for a leisurely afternoon tea. after qin wan made the phone call, the two of them went to the cafe, choosing a window seat and ordering coffee and desserts. qin wan lowered her voice, ¡°do you suspect the target is on one of the private yachts?¡± ¡°we shouldn¡¯t overlook any clues. the lead from the southern dock was provided by liu bingwen. it¡¯s not groundless. even if it¡¯s a diversion, given our current lack of leads, reevaluating this clue won¡¯t hurt.¡± qin wan nodded, then furrowed her brow suddenly. ¡°gu ci, look over there, it¡¯s xiao min.¡± gu ci followed qin wan¡¯s gaze and saw a man emerging from a yacht on the dock, meeting with xiao min. xiao min handed him an envelope, and the man returned to the yacht. xiao min quickly left, wearing a hat and sunglasses. qin wan recognized her at a glance. ¡°how did you recognize her?¡± ¡°i¡¯ve attempted to assassinate her before. 1 observed her through my sniper scope for an hour. 1 can accurately describe her height, three-dimensional features, and bone structure. most notably, her waist. she has a very distinctive hourglass figure, and i suspect she may have had rib removal surgery. her body proportions are unusually unique,¡± qin wan explained. ¡°your height is similar to hers, but your bone structure is even finer, and your waist is around 58 centimeters.¡± ¡°you¡¯re quite precise.¡± ¡°her waist is probably around 50 centimeters,¡± qin wan added. ¡°she seems to have a penchant for wearing outfits that emphasize her waist, making her easy to recognize. 1 rarely come across women with such distinctive body proportions.¡± gu ci called dr. north, ¡°master, check xiao min¡¯s movements using the city¡¯s surveillance cameras.¡± ¡°understood!¡± gu ci and qin wan didn¡¯t act hastily, keeping their eyes on the yacht. their vantage point provided a clear view, and they could see everything clearly. more than one person disembarked from the yacht, and soon three people came down. qin wan took photos and sent them to the information center to identify their identities using the skyeye system. after the three people left in a car, gu ci and qin wan boarded the yacht. both gu ci and qin wan were daring, and they boarded the yacht directly. they dressed in a slightly feminine manner, pretending to be young girls taking photos by the harbor. many girls came to the yacht to take pictures, and if they were spotted, they would at most receive a few scoldings. if they were good-looking, they might even be invited for a drink or a boat ride. such things were commonplace here. after boarding the ship, they first took photos on the deck. qin wan didn¡¯t hear any movement, so she quickly searched the area and found that there was no one on board. the cabin was in disarray, with beer bottles and cigarette butts scattered everywhere. gu ci and qin wan inspected their luggage and discovered two desert eagles. ¡°these are the favorite handguns of european and american mercenaries and assassins,¡± qin wan remarked. the desert eagle was a powerful short-barreled pistol but not widely promoted due to its special characteristics. the weight of a desert eagle was several times that of similar firearms, making it unsuitable for lightweight combat. another issue was its powerful recoil. unless someone had a robust physique and had undergone special training from a young age, it was difficult to handle the desert eagle¡¯s recoil. so, asians who could use desert eagles were all top-notch experts, while european and american mercenaries and assassins, with superior physical conditions and a fondness for the desert eagle¡¯s power, were more common. the men who had just left were all tall europeans and americans. qin wan opened a cabinet and found a dedicated case for sniper rifles, containing two barrett rifles. she frowned, ¡°they are all mercenaries or assassins.¡± gu ci¡¯s phone vibrated, and dr. north sent a message confirming their identities. ¡°they are three of the top ten assassins on the north american hitman list. this is unusual. why would xiao min hire them?¡± ¡°it¡¯s definitely unusual,¡± gu ci sensed the danger. assassins were typically solitary and preferred to operate alone. unless they had grown up together from a young age, had an exceptional level of trust, and were accustomed to working together, they tended to operate independently.. Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Jealous chapter 330: jealous translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation these three individuals had exceptionally high asking prices, and their kill rate was above 80%. they were highly skilled assassins,¡± qin wan said, ¡°these three wouldn¡¯t easily collaborate with anyone unless¡­¡± gu ci instantly thought, ¡°they had come to kill my brother.¡± ¡°xiao min had really crossed the line!¡± qin wan fumed, her anger simmering. ¡°i wouldn¡¯t spare her. she was an ungrateful traitor.¡± ¡°black hawk is helping us find my brother, and xiao min knows deep down that if my brother is alive, she¡¯s as good as dead. so, she won¡¯t let him live. 1 still hold a glimmer of hope, thinking it might be rong li sowing discord, deliberately spreading false information. i didn¡¯t expect her to truly betray us,¡± gu ci remained calm. ¡°master, don¡¯t focus on xiao min. keep an eye on them. 1 want to know their movements.¡± before they take action, they will surely gather information. gu ci and qin wan disembarked and returned to the cafe. qin wan crushed ice cubes, thinking of them as xiao min, with an audible crunch. however, gu ci had something else on her mind. xiao min¡¯s betrayal of her brother was certainly orchestrated from above. if she was now a double agent, loyal to both rong li and her superiors, her information would be highly valuable. where these three mercenaries gather intelligence, her brother would be held nearby. they needed to find the optimal ambush route. gu ci¡¯s heart raced as she raced against time to learn the location before they did. ¡°should 1 just grab xiao min and interrogate her directly?¡± she suggested. ¡°it would startle the snake in the grass. if xiao min and the assassins still need to coordinate a secret signal, her disappearance would make them abandon the mission. it would be counterproductive,¡± qin wan explained. qin wan knew that when it came to strategy, she couldn¡¯t match gu ci. so, she simply followed her lead. qin wan¡¯s personal style leaned more towards solving problems in a rough and straightforward manner. dr. north quickly provided them with information. they had pinpointed the location; all three had entered a large building. the building had a significant number of security cameras. as they made their way to the rooftop, qin wan and gu ci appeared in the building. when they arrived, dr. north had already deployed a flying surveillance drone on the rooftop. the three of them observed the ground route. ¡°this target is quite broad,¡± qin wan frowned. as an assassin herself, she knew that before executing a mission, one would gather information. if they observed the building opposite, the information would be concentrated, but watching the exposed area would be challenging, making it difficult to guess their target. ¡°don¡¯t rush. when they leave, we¡¯ll pay them a visit!¡± gu ci suggested. after gu ci and qin wan left, they parked their car on the side of the road near the building. the three assassins had stayed on the rooftop for over an hour. dr. north was cautious not to get too close to their route, fearing that it might alert them. once the three assassins left, qin wan and gu ci also ascended the building. qin wan put herself in her own shoes as an assassin. if she were here, what would she do? she held a pair of binoculars, observing all the roads and buildings within her field of vision. gu ci didn¡¯t interrupt her, as she wasn¡¯t particularly skilled in this aspect, so she awaited qin wan¡¯s conclusion. the building they were in was very tall, offering a clear view. qin wan looked at the surveillance footage, observing three different directions. standing in their position, qin wan tried to see the surroundings from her perspective. the last time she assassinated lu zhiyuan, she had also conducted reconnaissance. she wasn¡¯t sure about lu zhiyuan¡¯s exact route, so she had to select the most suitable sniper angle. gu ci was aware of this, ¡°could this be their sniper point?¡± ¡°no,¡± qin wan dismissed the idea, ¡°there are too many obstacles, and the personnel are scattered. the long-range visibility isn¡¯t clear. if this were a sniper point, those three buildings would be the holding location. if they were here for reconnaissance, it¡¯s possible that the vehicle containing the target will pass through here.¡± ¡°if i remember correctly, that road leads to the airport expressway, right?¡± gu ci pointed northward. ¡°yes,¡± qin wan confirmed. gu ci seemed lost in thought, while qin wan couldn¡¯t quite figure out why they had come here. this wasn¡¯t a good sniper point. if they were only interested in the route, what were they observing? as they continued to observe, they suddenly heard footsteps. qin wan and gu ci exchanged glances, both on high alert. qin wan put down her binoculars, took two steps forward, positioning herself in front of gu ci, partially shielding her. her hand rested on the firearm at her hip. ¡°ji chi?¡± it was ji chi and his bodyguard, nick, who had arrived. ji chi had brought one other person with him, his face extremely pale in the sunlight. he walked with a somewhat floating gait, his arm immobilized with bandages and suspended against his chest. qin wan raised an eyebrow, teasingly saying, ¡°oh, you¡¯re still alive.¡± ¡°i have a tough life, can¡¯t die!¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was hoarse. he nodded in greeting to gu ci. ¡°so, what brings you here?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°i come to do whatever you guys are doing,¡± ji chi replied. he moved cautiously toward the rooftop¡¯s edge, his gaze fixed intently in one direction. nick handed him a pair of binoculars, and ji chi began observing the surrounding environment. ji chi had also followed the trail of xiao min. ¡°i went to the south dock today and unexpectedly saw xiao min in contact with three assassins. you suspect her too?¡± gu ci inquired. ¡°if my brother is alive, she¡¯s as good as dead. if i were her, i¡¯d definitely kill my brother,¡± ji chi¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°rong li won¡¯t play both sides; he¡¯ll do his best to protect him. if xiao min can¡¯t influence him, she¡¯ll find a way. by following her, 1 can gather clues.¡± although qin wan didn¡¯t particularly like ji chi, she admired his intelligence and determination. ¡°don¡¯t bother looking anymore; i¡¯ve been watching for a while and haven¡¯t seen any clues. this definitely isn¡¯t a sniper point. what are they here for?¡± qin wan expressed her confusion. ji chi smirked and pointed straight ahead. ¡°there¡¯s a prison over there.¡± ¡°what?¡± gu ci, still holding binoculars, looked in the direction he was pointing. ¡°isn¡¯t that a church?¡± this was the city center, after all! ¡°it¡¯s a maximum-security prison,¡± ji chi stated. gu ci found it hard to believe. ¡°is europe that extravagant? having a prison in such prime downtown real estate?¡± ¡°it¡¯s an old prison,¡± ji chi explained. ¡°this city preserves its historical buildings; they won¡¯t demolish it. they renovate the interior.¡± ¡°so, my brother is in the prison?¡± qin wan furrowed her brows. if that was the case, it would be very tricky. they couldn¡¯t simply raid a prison; the risk was too high. ji chi looked at qin wan with a subtle expression. sensing a hint of disdain, qin wan asked, ¡°what do you mean?¡± ¡°is he really the one who raised you?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°what¡¯s that supposed to mean? are you jealous?¡± qin wan retorted. ji chi gave a nonchalant smile. ¡°no, it¡¯s just that you don¡¯t seem to have absorbed even half of his intelligence. it¡¯s amusing.¡± gu ci and qin wan gaped. gu ci chimed in, ¡°i see now. my brother is in the prison, and in the coming days, he will be transported back to the country. they plan to ambush him on this airport route. they¡¯re mapping the nearby terrain, but the uncertainty of a sniper shot is too high. they will strike on the ground and map out the area, not to kill my brother, but to escape..¡± Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: His Matters Have Nothing to Do With Me chapter 331: his matters have nothing to do with me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ji hci dodden, ¡°fl i¡¯m ont mnkjetas they lliw drive raodnu the sinpor sehet adsy, figernni the .apm so, ti eemss the person si istli in ,rspnoi gwniati for ait.niodrtxe you shdluo check fi ehter ehva nebe any ectern rmajo irncmsail to be eaaptteirrd to nih.ca ym ehbrotr oudhls be ndrareag ot kate het eplan and be ttadexredi fegoth.re ¡°you can¡¯t find this information?¡± ji chi furrowed his brow and shook his head, ¡°the triads and black hawk won¡¯t have access to this. it¡¯s top-secret information.¡± ji chi edookl ylidaets at ug ,ic dan ehs ostednrodu his nena.img nettgig eht naltioan suyetcri lowndie mihgt ton eb itesonhgm yeht were arewa fo or iiwgnll to do, tub yhet slhoud vhea nlaesnhc to geste.aiintv jiang junlin being the secret mastermind of the triads was still tightly concealed. ¡°i¡¯ll discuss it with ziyu.¡± gu ci furrowed her brow. she needed to carefully consider this before making a decision. ji ihc ed,add by¡± the wa,y ihrtd tsrsaem¡¯ plaen sah dl.aedn did oyu w?¡±onk gu ci¡¯s voice was indifferent, ¡°his matters have nothing to do with me.¡± in a city, on the morning of the third day of the lunar new year, chen fei had been waiting outside the jiang residence for him. gu ziyu¡¯s expression was grave, and chen fei didn¡¯t dare to ask too much. the kid had been in a bad mood lately. cneh dlniggnao was ncgaiirtcp tai ihc in the r,aruydcot ioccnmaapde by a big hsto ohw etfno pdapreae in het news rte.lecyn gu ziuy had ense tish big htso lynrfueeqt in het swen tlye.al he eeertgd him ye,pitoil ,¡±hlloe padnarg zhnga.¡± ¡°hey, ziyu, good to see you. coming to visit on the third day of the lunar new year? old chen and i have arranged to go fishing. want to join us?¡± old zhang warmly invited. ¡°sure, i don¡¯t know how to fish. both of you can teach me,¡± gu ziyu smiled amiably, looking both obedient and cute. every time he came, chen liangdong would invite a few old pals to the house for tea, martial arts, and so on. in the process, gu ziyu had become acquainted with all the big shots. with his exceptional talent and friendly demeanor, he had won the favor of these influential figures. a¡±edsi frmo reygtvnhei ,esle m¡¯l a tmreas at nhsigif. old che,n tesl¡¯ have a tceonst aty¡±.od ¡°no problem!¡± chen liangdong said happily. chen fei placed the new year¡¯s gift that gu ziyu had brought on the side, and the two big shots began their martial arts sparring. gu ziyu, on the other hand, started brewing tea, displaying remarkable patience. old zhang had seen gu ziyu several times and knew that he had cracked several major cases. even though he was just a kid, he had achieved quite a lot. ¡°old chen, you¡¯re impressive! where did you find this kid? i¡¯m envious.¡± tha¡¯w¡¯s eerth ot yvne in yuor rclea waert mpe?aerdntt dton¡¯ smes with our good el,siden¡±g nehc gnolganid ojedk. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with the clear water department? we¡¯re specialized and efficient.¡± ¡°drinking tea, snacking on melon seeds, and holding meetings every day at work is indeed very specialized,¡± chen liangdong teased without holding back. old gnahz gedalhu, tsuj¡± uoy wait, ni a few ey,sra uol¡¯yl moce over oto¡±! ¡°it¡¯s a long way off. take your time waiting.¡± after they finished their sparring, gu ziyu had prepared the tea. being astute individuals, they sensed that gu ziyu had something important to discuss. old zhang used the excuse of changing his clothes and left, allowing gu ziyu to approach chen liangdong. do¡±l n,ma i deen ot ikat to you outba somnigeht ykci¡±r,t gu uyiz sai.d ¡°go ahead,¡± chen liangdong said as he savored the aroma of the tea, ¡°your tea-brewing skills are getting better and better. did gu ci teach you?¡± gu ziyu cleared his throat, ¡°well, she might have influenced me a bit. it¡¯s like this, jiang junlin is the secret mastermind of the triads, and he has been arrested in paris. there are people in china who want him dead but also fear his death. the dark web of the triads is in chaos, so they want to extradite him back to china. do we have anyone being extradited from paris recently?¡± nehc gonangild nrylea dhkoec on the clisdagn te,a but he egadnam to owlswal it htoiwtu isgoln his u.oceormsp he guohecd a few ,semit sih aecf rnntgiu hgyilstl red. ¡°you little rascal, could you have given me a heads-up when you dropped that bombshell?¡± chen liangdong quickly processed the information in his mind. it made sense why gu ziyu had been so focused on the triads¡¯ dark web recently. ¡°are you sure about this?¡± ¡°a hundred percent sure. lu zhiyuan and my sister have gone to paris.¡± i¡± noly uonfd otu uabot the ¡®trisha krad ewb rce.etlyn wnhe idd uoy aelrn abotu ¡°?ti nche inoglagnd .deksa ¡°before the spring festival,¡± gu ziyu replied. ¡°i was also surprised by this. i was planning to discuss it with you after the spring festival holiday, but my sister called me and made a small request, so i had to come find you. please consider this matter. can you help or not? it¡¯s a straightforward request.¡± chen liangdong hesitated to get involved, and gu ziyu understood. he okldeo ta the miaartsel htta gu zyiu hda pmec.idlo ¡°this sd¡¯onte eesm to gilan htiw our alusu arpc.ahpo even if we antw ot take otcjnro we ocdlu juts talk ot nagij injiun lrt.¡±deyic ¡°that¡¯s what i thought too. but why do they want to eliminate him?¡± gu ziyu continued, ¡°we¡¯ve always followed a moderate path, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. jiang junlin¡¯s power in the triads has already peaked. if they want control of the triads, they can simply talk to him, and he can step down. it would be done peacefully without any bloodshed. furthermore, my sister showed me the cases he handled over the past ten years, and you can flip to the last page of the materials directly. he cooperated with us on many cases and ensured the healthy operation of the financial market, preventing two financial crises. that¡¯s a track record. in other words, he has no ill intentions. they just want to pin an unfounded charge on him, and without evidence, once he¡¯s in their hands, it¡¯s their word against his. he¡¯ll be in deep trouble.¡± chen liangdong flipped to the last page while listening to gu ziyu. he asked, ¡°what¡¯s your plan?¡± gu uy¡¯isz ezag eniamerd macl. ¡°eht rkad ewb fo eht atirds is aprt of ruo syste,m tub ti ahs waslay opdetrea yeilndtpeednn due ot iroctasilh asoners. yt¡¯hvee enod all eht tdiry okw,r eht dahr work, ubt steayd ni the adswhos. we eetocunrn ynam hsuc nstostiiau on hte ,nflrenosti with anssleem hereos. tas¡¯ht how i see it. revo eht asrey, ajign junlin hsa laos neeb gdtnilie adn ¡®hatsn deeviadt from hsi itesdu. eh hn¡¯sta odne anythgin tgasina the tnrssiete fo our y.nrcotu aserlsgerd of who awstn to eakt onotcrl of eht dasirt¡¯ rkad web morf mhi ro sah fmread him, nsti¡¯ it htrow a ulcibp irtl?a ytliug ro etcn,onni it will be elarc puno .noitagitsevni thsi tercieves apo,hpcra htiw no oen kinowng hwo lliw ntolocr eth akdr ,bew tahw hyte ienntd ot od ihwt ti, sotnd¡¯e mkea .snsee ecnis ti¡¯s a cbulpi tsea,s why use it tilv?arpey eyplno rngsiha t,i otnneiccgn yever syemst thiw eht krad ,web eroucers nad rntiiomnfoa inrh,ags dna reaeginvl teihr sitentiedi e,poyln tihw adwerrs rof the irrseootumi dna itelansep ofr het arsrstse.rsnog tahw do you ht?kn¡±i chen liangdong smiled, ¡°did gu ci say this?¡± gu ziyu nodded, ¡°yes, she did. if you¡¯re willing to help with this, regardless of the dark web¡¯s future, it will be devoted to national security, and that shows our sincerity.¡± cnhe agnino¡¯glsd isenreposx grew sesur.oi siht saw dedine a tycrik etrtam. cntrulr,ye no noorfnmitai dah neeb ,adekel dna het htero yratps¡¯ aroyiutht utms eb vyer hg.ih if yeht aedct hrlyas dna it tnew or,wgn the enitre piretaono ducol eb ez.aiddejrpo ¡°ziyu, do you have a personal interest in this?¡± ¡°i do!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t deny his personal interest. ¡°everyone has personal interests. i don¡¯t want to be at odds with the dark web of the triads. if we are already struggling against a single black hawk, imagine if 1 help you mend the relationship between them. lu zhiyuan and gu ci are in love, and lu zhiyuan is the owner of black hawk. even if he dislikes jiang junlin, he can¡¯t just kill his own uncle. sooner or later, they¡¯ll be a family. if they join forces, we¡¯ll be in a lot of trouble..¡± Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Master and Disciple chapter 332: master and disciple translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation chen liangdong said, ¡°don¡¯t make sensational claims. mr. jiang junlin has a strong determination and won¡¯t do such a thing.¡± ¡°truth be told, old man, jiang junlin is dead, and the triad¡¯s in the hands of gu ci. he¡¯s already transferred the authority to gu ci. if he dies, can gu ci and lu zhiyuan be separated?¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°isn¡¯t this unrealistic?¡± chen liangdong began to understand that no matter what, jiang junlin must stay alive. ¡°this matter is too wide-reaching, and we don¡¯t have any leads yet. do you have any clues?¡± ¡°minister!¡± gu ziyu said, ¡°it should be at that level. the rest is uncertain. look into who was extradited this time, who negotiated it, and what they¡¯ve done. there must be traces.¡± chen liangdong also had his own considerations. this matter is very tricky. the triad obviously doesn¡¯t belong to any camp, and now someone wants to involve them. if they can persuade jiang junlin when he returns to the country, that would be ideal. after all, the jiang family is a vulnerable spot, and jiang junlin is cautious. if they can¡¯t persuade him, they¡¯ll have to confront him. gu ziyu said, ¡°old man, say something not so pleasant to hear. using the triad for our purposes, is it wrong?¡± chen liangdong nodded at him, ¡°don¡¯t even think about such thoughts.¡± ¡°others are doing it, why can¡¯t 1 think about it?¡± ¡°others are others, you are you!¡± chen liangdong said, ¡°1 have a plan for this. when we go fishing later, i¡¯ll talk to old zhang about it. investigating this matter shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± ¡°you need to hurry; they¡¯re still waiting for news,¡± gu ziyu urged. ¡°time waits for no one.¡± ¡°it¡¯s the third day of the lunar new year. everyone is on vacation. even if we need to do something, it will have to wait until the seventh day. why the rush?¡± chen liangdong frowned. ¡°if jiang junlin is in trouble and he¡¯s transferred the power to gu ci, it means he doesn¡¯t trust anyone. if he really dies, won¡¯t the triad be out of control?¡± ¡°that¡¯s the idea!¡± gu ziyu made up a story. ¡°maybe gu ci will be married off with jiang junlin, and then it¡¯ll be really tricky.¡± after all, he didn¡¯t want to go against his parents! gu ziyu frowned and said, ¡°cunning rabbits have died; running dogs are cooked. although this has been the case since ancient times, it still sends shivers down one¡¯s spine. if 1 were jiang junlin, i¡¯d be chilled too.¡± chen liangdong chuckled, ¡°i know you have a close relationship with the jiang family. right and wrong depend on one¡¯s perspective, and interests differ. when we go fishing later, don¡¯t interrupt. you need to make yourself familiar; even though old zhang has retired, he still has a lot of influence, and it¡¯ll be useful in the future.¡± ¡°understood.¡± in paris, late at night. gu ci sat on the rooftop, sipping a small drink, while qin wan held a cigar and sat beside her. since gu ci arrived in paris, she had become even quieter, only speaking when necessary. qin wan had been out all day today, gathering information and summarizing it for dr. north. she came up to find gu ci. ¡°want to smoke?¡± gu ci took the cigar she handed over, sniffed it at the tip of her nose, but didn¡¯t light it. tonight, the snow had stopped, and it was a clear day. the snow on the ground hadn¡¯t melted, and the rooftop was still windy. gu ci was wrapped in a down jacket as she sat on the sofa, with a bottle of white wine and glasses on the table. she had already drunk half of the bottle. qin wan didn¡¯t hesitate either, poured herself a glass, and drank it all in one go. despite her young age, she had no qualms about smoking or drinking. ¡°gu ci, have you and third master broken up?¡± qin wan asked. gu ci chuckled, ¡°we never dated, so it doesn¡¯t count as breaking up.¡± qin wan thought to herself that even though you didn¡¯t date, you kissed and hugged each other, which was quite unusual. however, she didn¡¯t press further and said, ¡°these days have been calm, and there¡¯s nothing much going on. do you want me to take you out dancing? parisian guys have style and are gentlemen. you might have a romantic encounter.¡± with no leads on her brother¡¯s situation, qin wan didn¡¯t feel like partying. qin wan believed in enjoying life to the fullest. investigating the prison was the responsibility of the information and surveillance teams. waiting at home or waiting while going out for fun was still waiting. she didn¡¯t want to waste any time. gu ci, on the other hand, enjoyed tranquility. qin wan didn¡¯t insist, and they continued to have a drink together. ¡°do your foster parents treat you well?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°neither good nor bad,¡± qin wan replied. ¡°do you dislike them?¡± ¡°how should 1 put it? they¡¯re not my biological parents, so they have no obligation to be good to me. so, i can¡¯t say 1 dislike them. besides, if they hadn¡¯t adopted me, i might have ended up with a different master,¡± qin wan said with a light laugh. ¡°my foster parents adopted two children, and 1 have a younger brother. 1 was a troublesome and rebellious child from a young age, always causing trouble at school. they were constantly called to school and scolded by teachers. it wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling for them. since i¡¯m not their biological child, they naturally got tired of it. i started living in a boarding school from the fifth grade, and after entering junior high, they only send me living expenses regularly and hardly bother about me. fortunately, they didn¡¯t interfere, and i could learn and train with my master, which i enjoyed.¡± gu ci glanced at her left hand, which she had always worn black thin gloves on. she noticed that gu ci was looking at her hand and gracefully removed the glove. her little finger was missing; her left hand had only four fingers. ¡°it doesn¡¯t affect my shooting, and it doesn¡¯t affect my ability to beat people up,¡± qin wan raised her hand. her fingers were naturally beautiful, a pair of hands that were born for playing the piano. even with the missing finger, they were still beautiful. ¡°what happened in that case? can you talk about it?¡± gu ci knew that dr. north had always been concerned about this case, and she didn¡¯t know that qin wan was related to her brother, so she had always believed the case to be genuine. but now that she knew qin wan was her brother¡¯s person, she was sure there was more to the case than met the eye. qin wan¡¯s smile faded slightly, and gu ci said, ¡°if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, it¡¯s okay. my brother has never mentioned it.¡± ¡°my target was cheng zhang, the mastermind behind the coastal economic case. my master had a detailed plan, but the other side was very cunning, and we couldn¡¯t get any evidence. in such cases, without solid evidence, you can¡¯t convict them. they stay in prison like they¡¯re staying in a hotel, with no impact at all. originally, no one planned to use a seduction strategy. what¡¯s interesting is that his son, cheng ming, fell in love with me at first sight. he has always liked innocent young girls. without my master¡¯s consent, i approached him on my own and entered his home. i was careless. their safe was custom-made, and when i entered it, the alarm went off. after they sucked out the air, i passed out. when i woke up, i had already been drugged. since i was a minor, they treated it as if i had accidentally entered a forbidden area. cheng zhang wanted to kill me, but cheng ming had other intentions and volunteered to handle me.¡± ¡°that idiot is both foolish and cunning. he actually wanted me to become a knowledgeable ghost and confess to his great deeds. in his courtyard, just three days ago, they buried a female corpse. i knocked him unconscious when he was confused by emotions. considering that cheng zhang hadn¡¯t been brought to justice yet and that cheng ming was the biggest breakthrough, 1 spared his life, fabricated the illusion of him raping and then killing me. unfortunately, no matter how hard i looked, i couldn¡¯t find the missing little finger of the female corpse buried in the courtyard. at the time, 1 also considered that cheng zhang would definitely try to frame someone to save his son, and my master was thinking about how to perfect this chain of evidence. so, i simply cut off my own little finger, hid it in cheng ming¡¯s bedroom, and created the illusion that he had collected it as a trophy. later, my master only needed to adjust the fingerprints and data to match, to avoid implicating my family. cheng zhang hadn¡¯t been brought to justice yet, and no one knew who the female corpse was buried in the courtyard, so that corpse became me.¡± gu ci also understood now, ¡°because of cheng ming, cheng zhang showed his true colors, and he was later investigated. it was by a twist of fate that chen liangdong was assigned to investigate your case, and that¡¯s why this case came to light. no wonder cheng ming¡¯s sentence was reduced to five years later, and a new chain of evidence appeared. if that body wasn¡¯t you, then it must have been someone else. the case was retried, and i haven¡¯t followed up on what happened next..¡± Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Her Past chapter 333: her past translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation qin wan chuckled and said, ¡°the female corpse has been found, and the police have informed her family. cheng ming has been sentenced to death row, so don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t live for long, sooner or later.¡± gu ci understood. if she hadn¡¯t asked chen liangdong to investigate, her brother could have handled this matter well. her brother must have been surprised at that time, as she didn¡¯t reveal anything about knowing little cherry. ¡°i also want to ask you, do you know me?¡± qin wan curiously asked, ¡°the master asked me if i knew you, but we¡¯ve never met. how did you know it was a wrongful case in my situation?¡± gu ci was too lazy to lie and just shrugged, ¡°i dreamt it.¡± qin wan sighed. if you don¡¯t want to say, i can understand, but aren¡¯t you being too casual? gu ci didn¡¯t want to elaborate, and qin wan didn¡¯t press further. she wasn¡¯t one to dig deep. gu ci meant no harm, and the master had handled the situation well, minimizing the impact. ¡°why did you want to follow your brother back then?¡± ¡°i found him very charming and felt safe with him,¡± qin wan said with a light smile. ¡°he¡¯s my idol and my motivation. the fact proves that my judgment was correct. the master is worth my lifelong dedication¡ªloyalty, emotions, everything i have!¡± gu ci secretly pondered. no wonder qin wan disliked ji chi so much! to qin wan, anyone who affected jiang junlin was a villain. ¡°are you curious about your parents?¡± ¡°not at all!¡± qin wan shook her head. ¡°i¡¯ve never thought about looking for them. people say blood is thicker than water, but in reality, emotions develop through interaction. if you point to the woman over there and tell me she¡¯s my mother, 1 wouldn¡¯t feel a thing. regardless of the reason, whether they couldn¡¯t afford to raise me or simply disliked me, from the moment they sent me to the welfare home, 1 no longer had parents.¡± ¡°what if they had their reasons?¡± ¡°everyone has their reasons, but i didn¡¯t choose to come into this world,¡± qin wan said with a light laugh. ¡°i¡¯ll just assume they did it to give me a better life, so they abandoned me.¡± thinking like this made her feel much better, and she wouldn¡¯t be tormented anymore. ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± qin wan shrugged and blew a smoke ring. ¡°in our line of work, we¡¯re parentless, and that¡¯s actually a good thing.¡± dr. north, who had come to find gu ci, didn¡¯t expect to hear qin wan¡¯s words. she leaned against the wall, her eyes red, silently shedding tears. qin wan didn¡¯t need a mother. she had grown up! dr. north felt both sad and relieved. her daughter had taken a different path than the one she had envisioned, but at least she had lived in a way that made her happy, without self-pity. she was so joyful and confident, and that genuinely made her happy. dr. north quietly left, and qin wan couldn¡¯t help but ask gu ci, ¡°north¡­ why did you become her disciple?¡± ¡°she¡¯s a globally renowned surgical expert, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± gu ci chuckled, ¡°she¡¯s someone i admire, too. you should have checked her credentials; they¡¯re quite impressive.¡± ¡°i don¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°why?¡± ¡°the way she looks at me makes me uncomfortable,¡± qin wan couldn¡¯t quite put it into words. she didn¡¯t like that kind of gaze. gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°qin wan, she¡¯s a very good teacher.¡± ¡°she betrayed the master!¡± qin wan said, ¡°no matter what the reason, i don¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°you¡¯ll understand with time,¡± gu ci finished her glass of wine. ¡°let¡¯s wrap it up; i want to go home.¡± ¡°me too!¡± she missed ziyu more now that she was in paris. gu ci¡¯s phone rang, and it was still noth calling. no one else could handle this matter besides gu ci. ¡°cici, third master is here.¡± ¡°got it!¡± gu ci remained composed. ¡°please let him in.¡± as gu ci and qin wan descended the stairs, lu zhiyuan was already seated. li jiang stood by his side, and dr. north and others offered tea, but he didn¡¯t touch a drop. when gu ci entered, carrying the scent of tobacco with her, lu zhiyuan¡¯s brow slightly furrowed. ¡°what do you want from me?¡± gu ci got straight to the point, detached and distant, just as he had hoped, with no entanglements. ¡°this is a topographical map of where jiang junlin is being held,¡± lu zhiyuan handed her a map. ¡°he¡¯s on the third underground floor, held separately. there¡¯s a dangerous criminal here, returning on the eighth day. jiang junlin will be on the same plane as him. once on the plane, everything will be out of control. you¡¯ll have to intercept them on the way. here¡¯s the route.¡± this information couldn¡¯t be found through the underworld but was accessible to the black hawk. black hawk had an advantage in gathering such information. while it took time to collect this information, it provided accurate details. gu ci looked at the map and the route, deep in thought. the eighth day was approaching, and she still had time to prepare. li jiang watched gu ci¡¯s indifference, feeling a bit uneasy. miss gu ci was so aloof. third master, you seem to be stuck to gu ci like glue. what¡¯s going on here? when i loved you, you ignored me. now that i don¡¯t love you, you can¡¯t reach me? ¡°thank you,¡± gu ci said coldly, ¡°i will make the necessary arrangements. if we lack personnel, i may need your assistance. i don¡¯t want to involve too many people from the underworld darknet.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her with a somewhat ambiguous smile. ¡°cici, involving black hawk in such a dangerous rescue operation doesn¡¯t seem appropriate. how long do you plan to hide the power of the underworld darknet?¡± since gu ci took over, she hadn¡¯t fully revealed the extent of the underworld darknet¡¯s power, keeping it tightly concealed except for what they already knew. gu ci chuckled coldly. ¡°third master, the underworld would spare no effort to rescue my brother. with the route map and the prison layout that you¡¯ve prepared, i will undoubtedly mobilize all our resources for the rescue. you¡¯ve long wanted to know how formidable the underworld darknet¡¯s influence is. but what can you do? i don¡¯t want you to have your way, so black hawk must assist me. that¡¯s my condition, don¡¯t forget it.¡± qin wan couldn¡¯t help but muse. hadn¡¯t gu ci always been accommodating to lu zhiyuan? why the sudden change and such a strong stance? lu zhiyuan smiled at her, saying, ¡°cici, you¡¯re very clever.¡± li jiang wondered. third master, aren¡¯t you embarrassed that your intentions are so transparent? ¡°give me ji chi and provide him with the resources he needs. i have a clear plan for how to rescue my brother,¡± gu ci remained remarkably calm and focused on her objective.. Chapter 334 - Chapter 334:I Love Him Very Much chapter 334:i love him very much translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly, ¡°have you ever thought about one thing? you¡¯re not willing to expose the power of the underworld, and this time, you¡¯re fully involved in rescuing black hawk. even jiang junlin won¡¯t be able to clear his name.¡± in the eyes of others, he and black hawk were like brothers. gu ci replied casually, ¡°this is something our underworld can handle; no need to worry.¡± li jiang muttered, ¡°miss gu ci, how did you go from being a sweet little girl to a big demon?¡± lu zhiyuan pondered, ¡°what if i don¡¯t agree?¡± for a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense. lu zhiyuan sat there with a smile, his demeanor poised. some people could sit quietly with a smile and still exude an aura of oppression. gu ci¡¯s gaze remained clear and unflinching as she responded, ¡°third master, you¡¯re full of lies, are you going to change your mind now?¡± lu zhiyuan sipped his tea and said softly, ¡°i promise to help you rescue jiang junlin, but i don¡¯t have the power to bring back the dead. if he dies, it¡¯s his fate.¡± although qin wan was irritable, she couldn¡¯t easily argue with him. she had some apprehension towards lu zhiyuan. gu ci lowered her gaze and glanced at his tea cup, ¡°if my brother dies, the underworld¡¯s dark web will be under my control. i¡¯ll be the target, and that will also be my fate.¡± li jiang and qin wan silently thought, ¡°wow, is this a threat?¡± if my brother dies, 1 become the target, and life and death become my fate. if lu zhiyuan cares, he will definitely avoid this deadlock. if he doesn¡¯t care, then it¡¯s up to him, and gu ci won¡¯t force him. she appeared nonchalant, but the implications in her words were clearly a threat. lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze grew colder as he stared at her intently. gu ci met his gaze fearlessly. for every inch of strength lu zhiyuan exerted, she matched it with equal strength. when lu zhiyuan recalled gu ci¡¯s determination when she sought death in the past, he realized she was not a girl who bluffed. if she wanted to end him, she really could. if she wanted to keep him imprisoned, she really could. if she decided not to have him, she really wouldn¡¯t. qin wan and li jiang both sensed lu zhiyuan¡¯s growing anger. qin wan discreetly moved closer to gu ci. lu zhiyuan sneered, ¡°as you wish!¡± he cared only about gu ci¡¯s life. whether jiang junlin lived or died, lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t care. his presence in paris was solely for the safety of gu ci. gu ci¡¯s determination to come to paris was a way to keep him in check. lu zhiyuan left without finishing his cup of hot tea. he understood gu ci¡¯s plan very well. she had come to paris with everything on the line and was determined to be on the front lines. as long as he cared about her life, he was gu ci¡¯s biggest ace. he cared only about gu ci¡¯s safety. whether jiang junlin lived or seemed to die, he didn¡¯t care. therefore, he wouldn¡¯t allow gu ci to take risks unless he didn¡¯t care about her life. he couldn¡¯t bring trouble to gu ci, so he kept his distance from gu ci and ziyu. thus, there was no way he would sit idly by if gu ci were in danger. it was a deadlock. ¡°third master, is miss gu ci threatening you?¡± someone asked. but lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t answer, and li jiang could see it clearly! li jiang felt very uneasy. during the period of captivity, something must have happened between third master and miss gu ci. the current third master was different from the one before. the old third master was like a cold, emotionless machine that everyone feared and found intimidating. everyone who came into contact with him knew that he lacked human emotions, and everything he did was highly rational. now, the current third master was more composed, easygoing, and relaxed. he could smile, and his gaze was gentle, but the sense of oppression was even stronger than before. if the old third master was like third young master, he was also not quite like him. he had the humor and exuberance of third young master, but he seemed even more emotionally stable. since leaving the blue fields villa, li jiang hadn¡¯t seen lu zhiyuan lose his temper once. but everyone¡¯s awe and fear of him were greater than before! even when he was easygoing and humorous, he still exuded an aura of bloodshed and chaos. just like now, lu zhiyuan appeared calm and without anger, but li jiang sensitively felt his displeasure and murderous intent. lu zhiyuan closed his eyes, seeking inner peace. jiang junlin was indeed his nemesis, intentionally or unintentionally, gu ci had been dragged into this chaotic battle. in the previous lifetime, after he married gu ci, he knew that his life was short. they would definitely be separated by life and death. it was either he died or gu ci died. he had too many things to arrange, and he couldn¡¯t spare any attention for black hawk at the time. black hawk was under chen rushi¡¯s control at that time and later in the hands of the brown family. they had always manipulated lu shijie and gu chuyun, but everything was within his control. in his plan, he should be able to wait until ziyu was born and keep going until ziyu turned three years old before his death. that¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t been in a hurry, and gu ci had been well protected by his side. he intentionally kept gu ci away from the crowd, living in seclusion, and ignoring worldly affairs. he was afraid that after his death, gu ci would be drawn into the internal struggles of black hawk. so, he prepared gu ci in advance, teaching her strategy, marksmanship, combat skills, and even financial management. gu ci was already intelligent, and she learned quickly. in lu zhiyuan¡¯s plan, he aimed to make her capable of being a manager within black hawk within three years. he also informed ji chi not to reveal his identity, so that gu ci wouldn¡¯t be dragged into black hawk¡¯s affairs. however, he didn¡¯t anticipate that his own troubles would come so quickly, and he couldn¡¯t even witness the birth of ziyu. the curses had come true, catching him off guard. despite being a former priest, he couldn¡¯t resist fate. he never expected that the gu ci he had personally trained would now become the underworld¡¯s master and his enemy. she used every skill she had learned against him. qin wan wasn¡¯t a very nosy person. except for the matter of jiang junlin, she didn¡¯t pry into others¡¯ business. however, she couldn¡¯t help but be curious about gu ci and third master because of their unique status. in her heart, she hoped that gu ci and third master wouldn¡¯t have any entanglements. indeed, third master was outstanding. he was not only the owner of black hawk but also the world¡¯s most prominent racecar driver, making him quite charming. however, no matter how charming a man was, he was still the owner¡¯s enemy. how could she be in a relationship with the enemy? but she had witnessed how gu ci and third master interacted. when gu ci looked at third master, her eyes were full of light. that one time when third master was playing basketball at school, she saw gu ci swearing sovereignty. at that moment, she thought the owner was so pitiful. how could her younger sister fall in love with the enemy? moreover, there was a kind of obsessive feeling in her eyes, as if she would only marry him and no one else. ¡°gu ci, do you hate third master?¡± she asked. not loving anymore is akin to hating, isn¡¯t it? so, she¡¯s being distant in that sense? at first, gu ci was surprised, but then she smiled and shook her head, gently stirring her hot tea. ¡°1 love him very much.¡± she didn¡¯t hate lu zhiyuan at all. ¡°then why are you so distant? 1 almost thought you two had become enemies after breaking up.¡± gu ci touched the cup of hot tea beside her and smiled while shaking her head. ¡°no matter what he says or does, i will love him throughout my life. but¡­ he doesn¡¯t love me anymore.¡± or perhaps it could be said that lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t love, but it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t love her anymore. these were different concepts.. Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: The Little Wolf Cub’s Past chapter 335: the little wolf cub¡¯s past translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t fail her emotionally. he always brought her warmth, stability, and excitement. how could she hate him? her obsession is merely because she couldn¡¯t get what she desired; it¡¯s her illness, nothing to do with lu zhiyuan. ¡°i don¡¯t understand!¡± qin wan was confused. ¡°love is love, and hate is hate. you loved him so passionately once, and you don¡¯t hate him at all after breaking up?¡± gu ci jokingly asked, ¡°have you ever been in love?¡± ¡°no!¡± ¡°ever had a crush on someone?¡± qin wan paused for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°no!¡± ¡°between men and women, love and hate can change in an instant. maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part. i¡¯ve always had a crush on lu zhiyuan, but he doesn¡¯t love me. i can¡¯t hate him for that, can i?¡± gu ci said. ¡°if he doesn¡¯t love me, it¡¯s my lack of charm, my failure to make him fall for me. if he loves me but can¡¯t be with me, he has his reasons, which are less significant than mine. ultimately, it¡¯s not his fault. he never lied or denied our past, so how can i hate him?¡± qin wan didn¡¯t quite understand gu ci¡¯s obsession. ¡°don¡¯t be sad. there are plenty of men out there.¡± yes, there are many men in the world, but there¡¯s only one lu zhiyuan for her. she only wanted lu zhiyuan. no matter how talented, gentle, and wise others might be, they¡¯re not her lu zhiyuan. but she and he have reached a dead end. she begged, played the victim, even imprisoned him, but to no avail. she can¡¯t see a future and has lost hope. qin wan was actually quite happy about gu ci breaking up with lu zhiyuan. she wished she could set off fireworks to celebrate. her master wouldn¡¯t be hesitant anymore. she thought it was good, hoping they would never get back together. once lu zhiyuan returned to black hawk, he asked li jiang to bring ji chi over. ji chi was changing his bandages. his arm, after so many misfortunes and bacterial infections, was finally healing. the flesh was slowly growing back. now, all he needed was good care. li jiang said, ¡°ji chi, third master and atiss gu ci seem to have broken up. don¡¯t get caught in the crossfire.¡± ¡°broken up?¡± ji chi was surprised. ¡°did third master initiate the breakup?¡± miss gu ci liked third master so much that she even imprisoned him. as a fellow obsessive, ji chi could somewhat understand gu ci¡¯s mindset. it was unlikely that gu ci initiated the breakup, making him feel a bit uneasy. the pair who imprisoned each other ended up breaking up. ¡°miss gu ci initiated it, quite coldly.¡± ji chi was astonished. ¡°why? how could she, who loved third master so much, initiate a breakup?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°you¡¯re a bodyguard, and you don¡¯t know this?¡± ji chi reproached while walking. ¡°incompetent.¡± ¡°for the sake of third master¡¯s dignity, i advise you not to mention his imprisonment,¡± li jiang firmly said. this matter was kept discreet by the guard team to protect their master¡¯s reputation. however, the incident was widely known, seemingly propagated by someone who enjoyed seeing third master ridiculed. although people didn¡¯t dare to discuss it openly, they certainly gossiped about it privately. ji chi wondered if his brother also cared a lot about the incident of being imprisoned and whether it shouldn¡¯t be publicized. this was a living example. he could learn from this experience. lu zhiyuan called ji chi and rong li over. ¡°the location where jiang junlin is imprisoned has been thoroughly investigated. i have given the maps and routes to gu ci. ji chi, you will follow her commands. you can use all resources available in black hawk.¡± ji chi¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°yes, sir!¡± rong li frowned, snorting in displeasure. ji chi stepped on him without showing any reaction, which agitated rong li. ¡°don¡¯t step on me. speak up if you have something to say.¡± ji chi, annoyed, wanted to punch him but casually said, ¡°my legs are long, 1 accidentally stepped on you.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t respond. rong li, still annoyed, asked, ¡°third master, are we really going all out to save jiang junlin? he¡¯s of no use to us alive. that minister just contacted you, offering very favorable terms. the exchange of interests with the underworld network of jidao won¡¯t be a stumbling block for us anymore. if he remains alive, we¡¯ll have to re-plan everything.¡± ji chi was aware of the situation. last night, during a video conference, lu zhiyuan, ji chi, and rong li were in the meeting room along with members of the bronn family. it was bronn who connected this line, offering terms too favorable for black hawk to refuse. during the meeting, ji chi remained silent, like a mute, just listening to bronn, lu zhiyuan, and the minister discussing. he was aware of his place; this matter was a top secret of black hawk¡¯s high command, and without lu zhiyuan¡¯s permission, he didn¡¯t reveal anything to gu ci. after the meeting, lu zhiyuan, rong li, and ji chi also discussed the situation. both lu zhiyuan and rong li, both publicly and privately, stood on the same ground, and ji chi couldn¡¯t oppose their decision. but he couldn¡¯t just watch jiang junlin die either. he wouldn¡¯t betray black hawk, but he was ready to die alongside jiang junlin. ji chi hadn¡¯t expected the situation to take such a turn. lu zhiyuan had changed his mind. ¡°ji chi, if jiang junlin stays alive, you¡¯ll no longer be the successor i¡¯ve been grooming,¡± lu zhiyuan mentioned for the first time. this had been an underlying issue since jiang junlin¡¯s identity was revealed and had finally surfaced. rong li frowned and said solemnly, ¡°ji chi, think carefully before you answer. people may betray you, but money and power never will. if you stand in the sky, you can have anyone you want, but if you fall to the ground, even the one who once held your heart will step on you. in this world, it¡¯s easy to find fair-weather friends but rare to find those who help in times of need. it¡¯s better to bet on the power and money you can hold in your hand than on someone¡¯s undivided loyalty.¡± men, after all, prioritize wealth and interests first, with love being just an added bonus. the room was warm, and he was wearing his usual thin white shirt, accentuating his pale complexion. he looked like a lost, confused little wolf dog, forced to leave his pack. ji chi¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, recalling his days as a street wanderer when he was three years old. abandoned at that young age, he was controlled by a homeless man who used him to beg on the streets. the man initially planned to break his leg to make the begging more convincing. however, ji chi, though young, sensed the danger. using his cute and appealing looks, he begged in a different way than others. instead of looking pitiable, he appeared adorable, quickly earning money for the homeless man. delighted by this newfound source of income, the man decided not to break ji chi¡¯s leg. at three years old, ji chi couldn¡¯t escape an adult¡¯s control. the money he earned was all taken by the homeless man. the homeless man, once middle-class, had become bankrupt after an economic crisis, losing his house and abandoned by his wife and daughter. he lived with an old dog, his only companion. with the money ji chi earned, the man would buy two burgers, giving ji chi only a half-eaten burger bun while his dog got the beef patty. ji chi¡¯s treatment was worse than the dog¡¯s. hungry and dizzy every day, ji chi cried and begged the homeless man for more food, only to be met with a harsh slap. the man told him that his only purpose in life was to earn them money.. Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: The Little Wolf Cub’s Past 2 chapter 336: the little wolf cub¡¯s past 2 translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation one day, a homeless man bought some raw beef to feed his dog. while he turned away, ji chi lunged toward the dog and snatched half a piece of raw beef from its mouth, quickly swallowing it, driven by his intense hunger. then, he received a brutal beating in return. ji chi was willing to snatch food from a dog¡¯s mouth just to survive; he had always possessed a strong will to live. he stayed by the homeless man¡¯s side for three months, his frame becoming thin and frail. one day, the homeless man got into a fight with a burly man and was left incapacitated. ji chi seized the opportunity, grabbing the money from the man¡¯s pockets and fleeing. at just over three years old, he hid in the luggage compartment of a bus, escaping from one city to another. with tattered clothes and money in hand, he stood by a restaurant window, yearning to buy a meal. the restaurant owner, disapproving of his dirty appearance, splashed water on him. ji chi then went to a dessert stall, where only a small piece of pastry remained. although ji chi had arrived first, the owner sold it to a neatly dressed child carrying a backpack. the woman with the child took pity on ji chi and gave him half of the pastry. ji chi truly wanted to eat that half piece of pastry, but he threw it into the trash bin. that year, at less than four years old, he developed a sense that this pastry clearly belonged to him, and he shouldn¡¯t have to rely on charity. ambition had sprouted in him from a young age, taking root and growing in the heart of a child. he vowed never to continue struggling in the muck forever. at one point, a woman had taken him in. the woman ran a small private designer shop with a tiny but complete storefront. she saw ji chi begging on the streets, always covered in bruises, and decided to shelter him. this was the only warmth in ji chi¡¯s childhood. finally, he had warm clothes and hot meals. he clung to the woman every day, afraid of being abandoned. even when the woman stayed up late designing, ji chi would be there with her. the woman taught him how to draw, and to please her and preserve the hard-earned stability, ji chi sat by the door every day, observing the fashion choices of men and women and intentionally sketching clothing. however, beneath the woman¡¯s gentle facade, she had a heart as cold as ice. she was a master at organ trafficking. she indulged ji chi with good food and drink, not to keep him healthy, but to ensure she could sell him for a good price. because of his life on the streets, ji chi gradually let down his guard while by the woman¡¯s side. still, he couldn¡¯t sleep well at night. so when the woman brought her employer to evaluate him, ji chi remained awake. the employer had a son who needed corneas, and he was very fond of ji chi. however, living donors couldn¡¯t provide corneas, so the woman sold his corneas. naturally, she wouldn¡¯t waste his liver, heart, kidneys, and so on. even his blood could fetch a good price. ji chi listened in fear but remained calm. after the employer left, the woman continued to be extremely gentle with him. however, she was already planning to take him on an outing and orchestrate a car accident to end his life. ji chi crushed sleeping pills and put them in the woman¡¯s drink. after she consumed the beverage, she fell into a deep slumber. no one would suspect a four-year-old child. ji chi set fire to the clothing store, and the flames spread quickly. it was extinguished before causing major damage, but ji chi, being so young, felt uneasy about committing such an act for the first time. the woman managed to survive, and ji chi was forced to leave the city once again. his happy life lasted only four months before reality shattered it. he encountered the homeless man again, and their paths crossed once more. the homeless man had originally been settled in one city, but due to stricter management there, the homeless population had been pushed to this area. little did he know that he would encounter ji chi, the one who had once stolen from him. it¡¯s safe to say that ji chi¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t too good. ji chi faced daily beatings and was forced to beg for survival. when hunger gnawed at him, he would whittle a stick and nibble on the wood shavings. one day, the homeless man, drunk, attacked him again. ji chi, armed with a sharpened stick, stabbed the homeless man right on the street, sending him to the hospital. a passerby reported the incident, and at just four years old, someone finally intervened. the police took him to a welfare home. that year, young ji chi already knew how to get what he wanted, even if it meant using any means necessary. his life had been filled with hardships, and for twenty-two years, it had been marked by blood and tears. yet, he tenaciously clung to life, determined to climb out of the pit of being at the mercy of others. in black hawk, where he had no foundation and with lu zhiyuan in hiding, taking it upon himself to nurture him, he had cut his own path with his own hands, leading to the present. giving up was the same as giving up everything! ¡°i want him to live,¡± ji chi declared. he was done with being at the mercy of others and living in fear. but his fear, compared to jiang junlin, was worth nothing. ji chi spoke with determination, ¡°if he lives, i will cut all ties with him. we settle our debts, and if we ever get entangled again, i will leave black hawk.¡± rong li lit a cigar, unabashedly puffing away. a hint of displeasure played on his lips. who would believe that ji chi could cut all ties when driven by obsession? ¡°if i could, i wouldn¡¯t have kept him confined,¡± lu zhiyuan sighed and shook his head. he offered ji chi one path, ¡°ji chi, the lessons of the past are here for you to see. no one will believe that you can cut all ties.¡± ¡°i renounce my inheritance,¡± ji chi stated firmly. ¡°i will forever remain loyal to black hawk, regardless of who the master is.¡± ¡°idiot!¡± rong li cursed loudly. ¡°is your brain full of water, enough to form a river?¡± ji chi remained unfazed, looking at lu zhiyuan, ¡°third master, i¡¯m willing to bet it all.¡± ¡°very well, 1 understand,¡± lu zhiyuan replied in a deep voice. ¡°then go and do as you please. whatever you want to do, discuss it with gu ci and try to follow her arrangements.¡± ¡°understood!¡± after leaving the room, ji chi, lu zhiyuan, rong li finished his cigar. ¡°third master, is this a test for ji chi?¡± ¡°do you think it¡¯s a test?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°i dare not guess your thoughts, third master,¡± rong li tapped the ash off his cigar. ¡°but besides ji chi, who else can you groom? your only son has joined the national security bureau, and you¡¯ll have to step down before you turn thirty. besides ji chi, who else can you entrust black hawk to?¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent, knowing that this matter was indeed tricky. ¡°what if he really can cut all ties?¡± rong li said, ¡°it wasn¡¯t easy for ji chi to reach this point. forcing him to give up is too cruel, and besides, if he truly gives up and puts all his efforts into someone else, what if he loses? what chips will he have left to contribute to his own love? it won¡¯t be a balanced relationship, and sooner or later, it will wither away.¡± ¡°why didn¡¯t you advise him then?¡± ¡°everyone understands the reasoning, but it¡¯s hard to empathize. his growth and experiences are different from ours. what he wants and what he¡¯s dedicated to, we might not care about, but we want to mean something to him. yet, in his eyes, we¡¯re worthless,¡± rong li explained. ¡°third master, this is the consequence of your indulgence. if you hadn¡¯t indulged him from the beginning, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten deeper and deeper into this..¡± wanna gift the story? try one. Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Friends, Let’s Talk About Cooperation chapter 337: friends, let¡¯s talk about cooperation translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°my mistake!¡± lu zhiyuan also admitted his judgment error, ¡°i didn¡¯t expect jiang junlin¡¯s identity at this level.¡± he thought jiang junlin was just the president of hualan bank, and he indulged ji chi¡¯s wish. who knew that indulgence turned into a disaster. did jiang junlin, this old fox, anticipate this day long ago and thus set a trap? ¡°how did he think of breaking with jiang junlin completely? did you tell him that jiang junlin¡¯s assassination was his fault?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± rong li spread his hands, ¡°it¡¯s better for him to recognize the truth sooner rather than later.¡± lu zhiyuan pondered, feelings are always a confusing mess, hard for even a fair judge to resolve. rong li asked, ¡°what if he lets go completely and leaves the black hawk for the dark web?¡± ¡°would the dark web want him?¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently, ¡°if jiang junlin had cultivated him from the beginning, things would have been different. but due to various mistakes, ji chi wouldn¡¯t betray me. it would be awkward for him to go to the dark web. if something goes wrong there, they could easily suspect him.¡± rong li frustratedly crushed a cigarette butt, ¡°brainwash him, make him forget jiang junlin.¡± lu zhiyuan raised his eyebrows, ¡°i think it¡¯s feasible!¡± rong li was speechless. third master, i was joking, don¡¯t take it seriously! when rong li went to find ji chi, he was changing his bandages by himself. rong li frowned, ¡°where¡¯s nick?¡± ¡°i sent him on an errand.¡± rong li came over, took his medicated cotton to help him apply medicine, and said coldly, ¡°go to a doctor for changing bandages. don¡¯t do it yourself clumsily and make your condition worse.¡± although his tone was harsh, he carefully applied the medicine and wrapped it with sterile gauze. ji chi seemed a bit listless. rong li asked, ¡°have you really thought it through?¡± ¡°i have.¡± ji chi knew what he was asking, ¡°even if 1 leave the black hawk, i want him to live. once a person is dead, everything is gone.¡± ¡°idiot!¡± rong li no longer wanted to comment, thinking ji chi was obsessively foolish. ¡°i¡¯ve tested the waters with the third master. there¡¯s still room for maneuver in this matter. it depends on how you handle it. if you really plan to cut ties, be decisive, show your stance, don¡¯t linger on hopelessly. this matter is also absurd. the third master and gu ci are also entangled.¡± but they can¡¯t discuss the third master! ji chi had already made up his mind, ¡°don¡¯t worry, once he comes out, this matter will be settled.¡± ¡°ji chi, opportunities are fleeting. there are many young talents in the world, anyone is replaceable. it wasn¡¯t easy for you to get to where you are today. don¡¯t be foolish, no one is worth gambling everything you have.¡± ji chi lowered his gaze and remained silent. rong li patted his shoulder, about to leave the room, when ji chi said, ¡°rong li, tell xiao min, i know she hired an assassin. if she doesn¡¯t want to die, she¡¯d better not act rashly. 1 know you¡¯re keeping her for a reason, but if i decide to kill, i won¡¯t spare anyone¡¯s face.¡± ¡°got it!¡± rong li left the room. ji chi said nothing more. after a while, he dressed, and nick arrived. ji chi said, ¡°we¡¯re going to the dark web.¡± after gu ci got the prison blueprints, she compared them with those obtained by the dark web. the old prison blueprints, which could be found in libraries, clearly showed which channels were added and which pipes were blocked after construction. gu ci then brought in a structural engineer to assess the possibility of a switch strategy. however, considering the defense setup, the arrangement of firepower, and the special circumstances of jiang junlin¡¯s imprisonment, such a strategy was deemed unfeasible. they could only manipulate the escape routes. xiao min had already sent several assassins to scout the routes. gu ci prepared for both situations: keeping an eye on them while also having his own people scout the routes, ensuring every street was thoroughly understood. the information room simulated the rescue route three times, all ending in failure. the challenges were the police deployment and finding a viable escape route. a large-scale operation would harm innocent civilians, which was absolutely unacceptable to save one person. gu ci and qin wan, along with the information room, were all working on finding a perfect escape route. dr. north asked, ¡°what about the escape route for the assassins?¡± gu ci shook her head, ¡°they just kill and run, but we need to take our brother with us, which is different. we don¡¯t even know his condition yet. here, we would be delayed by ten minutes, and that¡¯s just my estimate. every extra second adds more danger.¡± actually, the best plan would be for lu zhiyuan to teleport and rescue, but that would be a supernatural event, causing a global sensation in the information age, which is very peculiar. lu zhiyuan¡¯s teleportation is also a secret, and since he hasn¡¯t disclosed it, it¡¯s not an option. rubbing her temples, gu ci said, ¡°if i rob a bank and get caught, due to my special status, ziyu might be able to arrange for me to be sent back to our country. would i be in the same vehicle then?¡± dr. north shook her head, ¡°don¡¯t think too much about it. this would be tried in paris and could cause a serious international incident.¡± ¡°it was just a sudden idea,¡± said gu ci, looking at the simulated rescue plan. ¡°if there¡¯s someone inside to collaborate, it would make things easier.¡± ¡°send ji chi in?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°the chance to prove how much he loves his master has come.¡± gu ci chuckled lightly, ¡°how much do you hate him, really?¡± ¡°hehe¡­¡± qin wan responded with a sly laugh. dr. north once again became suspicious, wondering if little cherry really liked jiang junlin. holding the prison¡¯s inmate list, gu ci thought for a moment and then said, ¡°let¡¯s proceed like this. qin wan, you go to the prison first and find an opportunity to place a tracker on our brother. this shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± ¡°okay, 1¡¯11 find someone to visit the prison,¡± qin wan replied, glancing at the list and choosing a person. ¡°i¡¯ll go tonight. it¡¯s better to handle this matter sooner.¡± qin wan selected a serial killer detained on the same floor as jiang junlin. european prisons have a peculiar rule: even death row inmates have human rights, including the right to conjugal visits. when a wife visits her husband, there¡¯s a specific hour in a special room for conjugal visits. qin wan disguised herself as the wife of the serial killer for the prison visit. this woman was deeply affectionate, visiting once a month, possibly a familiar face, so the body search wasn¡¯t very thorough, and she even smiled meaningfully. the prison¡¯s special room was small, with just one bed, and thoughtfully equipped with condoms. as it was meant for conjugal visits, there were no cameras in the room. qin wan arrived first and checked the room, confirming there were no cameras. the prisoner, 1.9 meters tali, covered in tattoos, with a fierce look in his eyes, had three lives on his conscience and was sentenced to life imprisonment. as soon as he entered, he excitedly embraced qin wan, mistaking her for his wife. qin wan quickly twisted his wrist, pinning it against the wall and slamming it hard. the man cried out in pain and screamed. the guards outside shrugged their shoulders, used to such sights, thinking it was just a marital spat. qin wan lowered her voice, ¡°don¡¯t move.¡± the man, furious, exclaimed, ¡°you¡¯re not ruth!¡± qin wan, much shorter than him but not lacking in presence, gave a mischievous smile. ¡°of course, i¡¯m not ruth, my friend. let¡¯s talk about a partnership..¡± Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: He Wanted to Protect Her chapter 338: he wanted to protect her translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation qin wan entered and left an hour and a half later. gu ci was waiting for her, and the two of them left together. ¡°how did it go?¡± ¡°mission accomplished!¡± qin wan wiped off the dark red lipstick with a wet tissue. she didn¡¯t like wearing such dark lipstick. ¡°we¡¯ve closed off the fourth floor, and he¡¯s locked in the room next to the boss¡¯s room. there¡¯s a hole in the wall between the two rooms, so items can be delivered to the boss. this mini-tracker, only the boss knows the password. once it¡¯s activated, it means the boss has it in hand.¡± ¡°good job! you didn¡¯t let him take advantage of you, did you?¡± ¡°you kid too much, him?¡± qin wan sneered. ¡°do you know how many lives he¡¯s taken? they were all vulnerable women. he¡¯s just a foolish coward who bullies the weak. how could he possibly take advantage of me?¡± ¡°that¡¯s good!¡± gu ci chuckled, and the two of them returned to the underworld. ji chi had already arrived. he had dispatched a team of black hawk members to guard the prison area, and he transferred all authority to gu ci for command. he acted as gu ci¡¯s deputy, coordinating their actions. in the control room, everyone was nervously waiting. as long as the tracker lit up, the plan would be a success. this was one part of it. if it failed, gu ci would have to come up with another solution. an hour and a half passed, but there was no movement on the big screen. ¡°could he have detected something or is he refusing to cooperate?¡± dr. north worried. ¡°let¡¯s wait a little longer,¡± gu ci said. they waited until late at night, and even gu ci and ji chi, who were so patient, gave up. the tracker placement had failed. gu ci said, ¡°we can¡¯t control the situation inside the prison. i was mentally prepared for this. next, we¡¯ll work on the rescue route and plan. qin wan and 1 will lead a team to map out this area and create an escape plan.¡± gu ci put his words into action, and ji chi also participated. he and qin wan shook hands and reached a truce. making too much of a scene in the dead of night would draw too much attention. they used a drone to create a rough topographical map during the night. as soon as it was daylight, the three of them set out. dr. north sent people to protect them from behind, and nick was also behind to protect ji chi. ji chi was the most familiar with the city¡¯s routes. they had simulated three rescue routes on the computer, all of which failed. they had also measured the distances on-site, and in reality, it took even longer than in the simulations. even if they managed to rescue jiang junlin, they wouldn¡¯t have time to escape and would inevitably be caught. at noon, gu ci stood by the river, gazing thoughtfully at the seine river. if the land routes were blocked, what about a water route? ¡°they won¡¯t take the water route. after leaving the prison, they¡¯ll head in three directions towards the airport. they can only operate on land.¡± qin wan had a sudden insight. ¡°what if we make them change their route?¡± ji chi and gu ci exchanged glances, and gu ci kept his gaze on the river surface, thinking about transitioning from land to the river, the easiest way to disappear. their thoughts aligned perfectly. ¡°this is the fastest evacuation route.¡± with the black hawk eye system, they had eyes everywhere, but the river was different. they could run however they wanted on the water! gu ci said, ¡°we¡¯ve scouted this area thoroughly. let¡¯s go back and discuss the plan, how many personnel we¡¯ll need, and start setting things up.¡± ji chi, gu ci, qin wan, and dr. north, along with zhang qiang, gathered to formulate the plan. it required more than fifty people, all top-notch operatives. aside from zhang qiang¡¯s personal guard, everyone else was being deployed by black hawk, and their black hawk eye system would also assist them. rong li, upon seeing the plan, couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°damn, if you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think our third master got captured!¡± lu zhiyuan looked at gu ci¡¯s plan, noticing a minor flaw, but nothing critical. it involved a bit of risk, though. ji chi said, ¡°third master, there¡¯s something i must tell you. gu ci will be commanding on-site.¡± ¡°she¡¯s¡­¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath. gu ci was adding another layer of risk. in terms of combat skills, she was far from zhang qiang, and even qin wan and ji chi could easily defeat her. she didn¡¯t meet the criteria for frontline operations in the plan, but she still insisted on being on-site. it added an extra layer of risk, and if something happened to her, lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t stand idly by. ji chi didn¡¯t want to hide it from lu zhiyuan, as he knew it would come out eventually. ¡°who will protect her?¡± ¡°dr. north!¡± qin wan and zhang qiang had their own tasks to handle, leaving dr. north as the only suitable protector for gu ci. lu zhiyuan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, but he remained silent. gu ci had made her decision, and he wouldn¡¯t interfere with it. gu ci and ji chi had both spent the entire night without sleep. they had prepared three sets of plans, each simulated countless times, just as a precaution. neither ji chi nor gu ci could accept the possibility of failure. ¡°cici, there¡¯s a situation!¡± dr. north arrived with a slightly urgent tone. ¡°pei qiuying has gone to the prison.¡± ¡°why did she go to the prison?¡± gu ci asked. dr. north shook his head. gu ci approached the monitoring screens and saw pei qiuying swaggering into the prison. gu ci checked the visitor¡¯s list, and it was clear that she wasn¡¯t there for a regular visitation; it had to be related to jiang junlin. qin wan was puzzled. ¡°why was she allowed into the prison? they¡¯ve suspended all non-essential visits recently to prevent outsiders from contacting the boss.¡± ji chi had been silently going through documents and said, ¡°pei qiuying is the head of the triad, and the pei family has deep roots in europe and america. the current prison warden and her father are old friends.¡± ¡°wait a minute¡­¡± gu ci narrowed her eyes. ¡°you¡¯re saying the prison warden and the pei family are old friends?¡± ¡°yes, they¡¯ve been friends for decades. what¡¯s the matter?¡± gu ci raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled, ¡°get me a quick background check on this prison warden, his career, and identity.¡± ¡°yes!¡± dr. north asked, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°the pei family and the jiang family are old acquaintances too,¡± gu ci said with a light chuckle. ¡°pei qiuying¡¯s father, if it weren¡¯t for him being killed by my brother, given his relationship with my uncle, the elders might have even considered matchmaking my brother with pei qiuying. after my brother killed pei qiuying¡¯s father, he took care of her as the son of an old friend. if the prison warden is an old friend of pei qiuying¡¯s father for decades¡­ friends are often part of a circle, which means he must know my uncle.¡± ji chi was shocked and incredulous, ¡°could my brother have predicted where he would be sent to prison so accurately?¡± ¡°paris has only a few prisons suitable for detaining someone of his status. when he was arrested, he didn¡¯t need to predict where he¡¯d go; there are people who could decide where he would be sent.¡± gu ci pondered in silence. ¡°brother, how many cards have you left up your sleeve?¡± ¡°what do you mean?¡± qin wan was becoming confused by their conversation. ¡°is this prison warden someone from our triad¡¯s dark web? but 1 don¡¯t have any records of that in my information.¡± ¡°some of these life-saving connections are better kept in our minds,¡± gu ci explained. ji chi had never expected things to unfold this way, and he also felt a bit apprehensive. his brother¡¯s strategical depth was truly astonishing, and the more mysterious it got, the more alluring and dangerous it became. you never knew what he was hiding behind the scenes. however, this was a good development. if the prison warden was indeed on his side, ji chi wouldn¡¯t be mistreated or bullied in prison. ¡°keep an eye on pei qiuying for now. i¡¯ll go meet with the prison warden,¡± gu ci said. ¡°find out where he lives..¡± Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Who Do You Think You Are? chapter 339: who do you think you are? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation the warden has a chinese name, wan changtian. he is a middle-aged man in his fifties with a chinese-french mixed heritage. he is a short and sturdy little old man, around 1.7 meters tall, with a big belly, giving off a very kind and amiable appearance. he warmly welcomed pei qiuying, ¡°we haven¡¯t seen each other for several years, qiuqiu has grown into a beautiful young lady. your father would be very happy if he were still alive.¡± his chinese was exceptionally good, and his tone was gentle. pei qiuying brought him some supplements and drunken crabs, ¡°when my father was alive, he often mentioned that uncle loved drunken crabs. this time, i brought drunken crabs that uncle loves all the way from a city. later, you should try them to see if they¡¯re authentic.¡± ¡°qiuqiu is considerate; uncle does like this.¡± pei qiuying chuckled, and wan changtian led her into his office, lowering his voice, ¡°many people have been trying to arrange meetings with that prisoner recently. 1 agreed to let someone see him before he was sent on the plane, but he¡¯s not allowed to have contact with anyone else. if this gets out, it would put uncle in a difficult position.¡± pei qiuying reassured him, saying, ¡°uncle, don¡¯t worry. 1 understand the importance of discretion in this matter, and 1 won¡¯t reveal anything.¡± wan changtian nodded and guided her downstairs. pei qiuying wrinkled her nose in distaste; the prison had an unpleasant smell. on the negative third floor, there was a separate detention room, and pei qiuying finally saw jiang junlin. jiang junlin was wearing a white shirt and long pants. the lower floor was cold, and his hands and feet were red from the cold, but apart from some old injuries, he didn¡¯t have any physical wounds. he seemed to be well-treated in the prison. however, his face looked somewhat haggard. ¡°you can talk, qiuying, for half an hour.¡± ¡°okay!¡± jiang junlin leaned back and looked at pei qiuying with indifference. despite being a prisoner, he showed no signs of despair or distress. he appeared as if he were still a nobleman. pei qiuying, watching his calm demeanor, sneered, ¡°jiang junlin, i never dreamed that the person controlling all the forces in the underworld¡¯s dark web would be you. during the years when my father was the lord of the underworld, whenever you came to paris, you would visit my father and bring gifts for uncle jiang. you were never a warm-hearted person, father¡¯s closest friend, how could you have carried out such a ruthless act? you not only killed him but also deceitfully groomed me to be your puppet. you truly are the most ruthless person in the world.¡± jiang junlin lowered his gaze, his expression still indifferent and ruthless, ¡°pei qiuying, i killed him because he betrayed us. the lord of the underworld was just a puppet, cooperating with us. he wanted to break free from my control and, for the sake of his ambitions, stole classified information and sold it to national security and black hawk. the underworld never tolerates traitors. i chose you because 1 saw your intelligence and determination. those who don¡¯t fit are exiled, and there was always an escape route for them. they chose the path of death themselves. during this period, both the dark web and black hawk have wanted to see me but haven¡¯t succeeded. you¡¯re the first person i¡¯ve met. your connections are not bad.¡± ¡°are you not afraid i¡¯ll kill you?¡± ¡°even if i¡¯m in chains, you don¡¯t have the ability to kill me.¡± jiang junlin placed both hands on the table, revealing his handcuffs, and provocatively spoke calmly, ¡°you can give it a try!¡± pei qiuying¡¯s face turned pale. she wasn¡¯t afraid of jiang junlin. after becoming the lord of the underworld, she didn¡¯t even consider him a significant threat, thinking of him as nothing more than the ceo of hualan bank. there was nothing to fear. however, she feared the dark lord of the underworld. years of dread and fear had conditioned her body to react in his presence. looking into jiang junlin¡¯s eyes, she couldn¡¯t help but think of all the things he had done behind her back over the years. her fate was held in his hands. ¡°why won¡¯t you give me a way out?¡± pei qiuying¡¯s eyes were slightly red. ¡°why should i give you a way out?¡± jiang junlin asked coldly. ¡°you wanted to join forces with lu zhiyuan to take control of the dark web. tell me, when you failed and blamed me for not giving you a way out, pei qiuying, the choice between life and death was yours to make.¡± pei qiuying laughed bitterly. ¡°in the end, you¡¯re just using your power for personal gain. you¡¯re afraid i¡¯ll hold the reins of power and deal with gu ci. it¡¯s your selfishness.¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her about these matters. ¡°my time is precious. if you don¡¯t state your purpose, 1 won¡¯t entertain you.¡± pei qiuying was shocked and incredulous. you¡¯re a prisoner, yet you¡¯re arrogant like a nobleman, even issuing an ultimatum. who do you think you are? but as she looked at jiang junlin¡¯s impatient expression, she felt a chill in her heart. jiang junlin had always been like this. he liked clever people, disliked fools, and had no patience for things that couldn¡¯t be explained in three sentences. he preferred matters that could be summarized in ten sentences to those that required a hundred. ¡°national security asked me to deliver a message to you. as long as you¡¯re willing to transfer the power of the dark web, they¡¯ll guarantee your survival. once you¡¯re on the plane, you¡¯ll lose control, you¡¯ll be in dire straits,¡± pei qiuying explained her purpose. ¡°national security?¡± jiang junlin sneered, ¡°you and national security have no bargaining chips to negotiate with me.¡± ¡°don¡¯t you care about your own family at all?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s face slightly changed, and he calmly said, ¡°pei qiuying, threatening me with my family is the most foolish decision. i¡¯ve been in charge of the underworld for so many years, and it¡¯s not a secret. they want the underworld now, but my family is safe. why do you think that is? don¡¯t think you¡¯re clever. i also trust the foresight of chen liangdong and ziyu. they won¡¯t let you be the mediator. you¡¯re not worthy!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only pei qiuying trembled all over. a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, and she felt fear and panic. jiang junlin had seen through her with just one glance. ¡°how did you¡­ how did you figure it out? 1 joined national security before your arrest. you shouldn¡¯t have doubted me like this.¡± ¡°i believe in ziyu¡¯s judgment. even if you defect to national security, they will promise you a safe haven, but you won¡¯t be utilized by them. they will exchange for the information you provide, but you will never be in their trust.¡± jiang junlin looked at her coldly. ¡°pei qiuying, you underestimate the importance of loyalty to a warrior.¡± ¡°jiang junlin, you blame me for being fickle, for falling in love with lu zhiyuan and betraying you. but when you initially groomed me, you never intended for me to stay in the underworld for long, did you? isn¡¯t that right? you killed my entire family, caused me to wander in exile, subjected me to cold stares, and then you came out as the savior, rescuing me from danger, making me grateful to you, loyal to you. you manipulated people¡¯s hearts, and the truth will come to light one day. 1 am destined to be your discarded pawn.¡± ¡°you¡¯re wrong.¡± jiang junlin said indifferently, ¡°when i initially groomed you, it was because i saw your abilities. you fell in love with lu zhiyuan, but i had no idea he was the third master of black hawk. from the moment you first betrayed the underworld, you became a discarded pawn in my eyes. if you had a strong will and remained loyal to the one you loved, you would have confessed, and i would have set you free. but you didn¡¯t. when you were young, you were a clever, quick-witted, and mature girl. i never expected that in these years, you would age but not grow wiser, resorting to flattery, trying to extract the secrets of the dark web from me through seduction. love truly affects a person¡¯s intelligence.¡± pei qiuying remained silent, unable to respond.. Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Don’t Come Save Me chapter 340: don¡¯t come save me translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°i guess the one you¡¯re collaborating with is someone else,¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have come to the prison to see me.¡± this wasn¡¯t the first time that pei qiuying had experienced jiang junlin¡¯s fierceness, and she still felt a sense of trepidation. she had hidden herself so well, but why had jiang junlin seen through her so easily? seemingly aware of what was on pei qiuying¡¯s mind, jiang junlin said, ¡°unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, he wouldn¡¯t dare to kill me. if i die, the underworld will surely retaliate. without the jiang family¡¯s influence, he won¡¯t be able to control the dark web of the underworld. if i die and the underworld retaliates, he won¡¯t be able to cover it up for long. they¡¯ll be exposed sooner or later, and once they¡¯re caught in the net, they¡¯ll be wiped out. he sent you to get close to me, using the national security as a cover. if anything happens, he can shift the blame to chen liangdong. it¡¯s not hard to figure out.¡± he casually crossed his legs and asked, ¡°so, what kind of conditions did he offer? i¡¯d like to hear it.¡± pei qiuying clenched her fist, feeling anxious. jiang junlin didn¡¯t seem like a prisoner at all; he appeared to be the one in control of the situation. his cunning made pei qiuying feel uneasy. she had thought that by pretending to be foolish and making a comeback, she had secured a winning script for her life. however, in the end, she was treated as a pawn. ¡°he guarantees your safe exit from the underworld¡¯s dark web and won¡¯t harm your family. after transferring power, the jiang family will completely disassociate from the underworld,¡± pei qiuying said. ¡°isn¡¯t that what you¡¯ve always wanted?¡± ¡°these conditions don¡¯t interest me in the slightest,¡± jiang junlin replied. pei qiuying chuckled softly, ¡°is that so? he¡¯s wary of harming you, but what about ji chi? don¡¯t you care about his life and death at all? they can easily kill ji chi; it¡¯s within their grasp.¡± she took out a tablet and showed him a video clip. three video clips captured moments when he was with ji chi. they were constantly being watched by someone in the shadows, and guns were pointed at them. jiang junlin remained calm. these clips were recorded by his personal security team. he and ji chi always had bodyguards around them. zhang qiang and nick were not there for show. at such close proximity, they would have noticed something was amiss. unless¡­ it was someone from their own side! jiang junlin watched the video clips with a fixed gaze. ji chi looked so gentle and happy in them, especially from a different angle, it became evident how soft ji chi was in front of him, there was a light in his eyes that jiang junlin had often overlooked. he was still alive? that was good! ¡°so, what¡¯s your point?¡± jiang junlin asked calmly. ¡°are you using him to threaten me?¡± ¡°this time you were arrested for his sake, right?¡± pei qiuying said firmly. ¡°jiang junlin, your weaknesses have long been exposed, but you refuse to admit them.¡± ¡°in this life, who doesn¡¯t have concerns, who doesn¡¯t have vulnerabilities? if i were a lone wolf, it would be meaningless. i have to thank you, pei qiuying,¡± jiang junlin said with a light laugh. ¡°i thought he was dead.¡± these past few days have been sleepless nights, always wondering if he¡¯s dead. he sits in a cold room, facing a stone wall, replaying everything between them in his mind over and over again. every word is etched into his very bones. ¡°jiang junlin, nobody is joking with you,¡± pei qiuying said. ¡°you shouldn¡¯t harbor any illusions.¡± ¡°pei qiuying, i don¡¯t care,¡± jiang junlin replied indifferently. ¡°if my enemies keep using people to threaten me, rest assured, i will take action and eliminate them first!¡± pei qiuying hesitated, this was a turn of events she had never expected. jiang junlin didn¡¯t seem to care at all about ji chi¡¯s life. ¡°you¡¯re just trying to be strong.¡± ¡°tell him for me, if he¡¯s truly sincere, he should offer something substantial, not play these petty games. if he¡¯s only bringing these meager chips to the table, he¡¯s not worthy of negotiating with me,¡± jiang junlin said, his gaze icy as he looked at pei qiuying. ¡°go on, you¡¯re not needed here anymore.¡± he had lost interest in conversing with pei qiuying. this remark stung pei qiuying, and she rose abruptly from her seat. ¡°jiang junlin, now you¡¯re the one behind bars!¡± what right do you have to talk down to me like this? jiang junlin remained impassive in the face of her anger. ¡°i may be temporarily imprisoned, but you, pei qiuying, the grim reaper is drawing near to you. take care of yourself.¡± pei qiuying, consumed by anger, suddenly drew a dagger from her boot and lunged at jiang junlin. though jiang junlin was restrained by handcuffs, his hands were not entirely immobilized. he grabbed pei qiuying¡¯s wrist and pulled it forward forcefully, smashing it against the table. the dagger fell to the ground, and with a swift motion, jiang junlin twisted her arm, and in her agonized cry, it sounded like bones breaking. the door was kicked open, and prison guards with firearms pointed at him. ¡°don¡¯t move, hands up!¡± leaning close to her ear, jiang junlin whispered coldly, ¡°you have overestimated yourself.¡± he callously released her, raised his hands, calm and composed, while pei qiuying clutched her injured hand, her face pale with pain. after pei qiuying was escorted out, wan changtian arrived, and he unlocked jiang junlin¡¯s handcuffs, handing him a hot towel. jiang junlin calmly wiped his hands, his movements detached. wan changtian said, ¡°master, what if she becomes suspicious after this incident?¡± ¡°she¡¯s clouded by hatred, easily angered, impulsive, and her judgment has deteriorated. there¡¯s no need to worry,¡± jiang junlin replied as he dried his hands. wan changtian poured him a cup of hot tea. ¡°someone has been monitoring my movements all along, and i¡¯ve been following a routine¡ªeither coming to the prison or going back home. gu ci hasn¡¯t come to see me yet. could it be that she hasn¡¯t figured out the connection?¡± ¡°pei qiuying came here, and she¡¯ll figure it out,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°gu ci lacks life experience and is inexperienced. it¡¯s inevitable that there will be some delay. if she doesn¡¯t come to see you tonight, you should take the initiative to find her and change locations if you¡¯re exposed.¡± ¡°understood!¡± jiang junlin took a tracker from his pocket, a device he hadn¡¯t activated until now. he pondered for a moment. pei qiuying¡¯s visit hadn¡¯t been entirely fruitless, and he had a strong suspicion about who wanted the underworld. wan changtian said, ¡°they¡¯ll be stationed in the prison starting tomorrow, and they¡¯ll watch you around the clock. master, you¡¯ll have to endure some hardships. whatever you want to eat or drink, just give the orders.¡± ¡°do you know how to make buddha jumps over the wall?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°what is buddha jumps over the wall?¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°never mind.¡± wan changtian could only complain silently in his heart, ¡°master, please, if you¡¯re going to act like a prisoner, stop being so particular. it¡¯s really putting me in a tough spot.¡± ¡°tell gu ci not to come and rescue me!¡± jiang junlin said calmly.. wanna gift the story? try one. Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Godly chapter 341: godly translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°master, we can only take a chance. if we surrender without a fight and await our fate, your prospects after being brought back to the country will be grim,¡± wan changtian couldn¡¯t help but try to persuade him to change his mind. jiang junlin, with his eyes closed, whispered, ¡°back then, they sent people to ambush me midway, causing casualties and losses. 1 didn¡¯t know who ordered the attack, but i had to retaliate for self-preservation. my sole aim was to eradicate the dark web of the triad, and 1 delayed revealing myself. now that i¡¯ve been captured and brought back, the other side has nearly shown their hand. the escort team is comprised entirely of frontline combat personnel, all of them elite. if cici goes ail out to rescue me, there will undoubtedly be casualties. the dark web of the triad is a weapon of the state, and this weapon will never be turned against our own people.¡± he would deal with the traitors of the triad¡¯s dark web, like zhang huan, xiao min, and others. they betrayed him and hunted him down, even if they were following orders. but they fell under the jurisdiction of the triad, and he could eliminate them. the escort team was different. they were specially dispatched elites, a whole squadron of fierce tigers. if there were casualties in a rescue attempt, there would be no turning back from this situation. in any case, that shot could not be fired! he also wouldn¡¯t allow frontline combat personnel to die in mutual slaughter. soldiers belonged on the battlefield! wan changtian understood this principle. ¡°but what will you do?¡± ¡°this is a deadlock. if 1 fire that shot, no matter how many merits i and the triad have, we¡¯ll be forever branded as villains. either i permanently defect, or i die,¡± jiang junlin had long thought it through. ¡°cici not only cannot act, but she also has to stop ji chi. otherwise, why did lu zhiyuan allow pei qiuying to come to paris? now that cici is in charge of the triad, if she issued this order, and the entire fierce tiger squadron dies, she won¡¯t escape death. he won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°but third master has allowed miss gu ci to act and has even provided her with black hawk¡¯s manpower.¡± ¡°he can¡¯t stop gu ci. he can only let me do it,¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°did the members of the fierce tiger squadron arrive tonight?¡± ¡°yes!¡± jiang junlin glanced at his watch. ¡°cici should have received the message by now.¡± the message was conveyed to gu ci by gu ziyu. ¡°mom, please, don¡¯t act. once you make a move, there¡¯s no turning back,¡± gu ziyu was extremely anxious. ¡°in an hour, the plane will land, and they are all frontline elites. they have been nurtured for years, and it has cost a tremendous amount of resources. they have illustrious military achievements, participating in numerous overseas counter-terrorism, anti-drug operations, and rescues. every one of them is a hero.¡± this was a very malicious move. the other side had revealed their hand. gu ci was shocked. ¡°why?¡± ¡°that¡¯s the clever part. their mission is to escort a very important prisoner. uncle is their secondary mission. but once you make a move, you¡¯ll definitely clash with them, and there will be heavy casualties,¡± gu ziyu couldn¡¯t let jiang junlin and gu ci bear this blame. ¡°absolutely not!¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t need to say much, and gu ci understood the gravity of the situation. dr. north and the others were also astonished. they had originally speculated that it might be a group of overseas mercenaries coming to escort, but they didn¡¯t expect such a team to be deployed. this was a hot potato they couldn¡¯t touch. in almost an instant, gu ci understood that all their preparations had gone in vain. she would never pull the trigger against this squadron. she was radical, stubborn, and willing to sacrifice her own life to save jiang junlin. but she wouldn¡¯t point a gun at this unit. so, what could they do? ji chi¡¯s face turned unbelievably dark upon learning this news. regardless of who was behind this, it was an incredibly clever move. it left jiang junlin with no choice but to return to the country. the information was tightly controlled; even gu ziyu only found out when their plane was about to land. unless they rescued jiang junlin before the other party took over, there would be no hope. once they took control, jiang junlin would have only one path. it was a perfect, unassailable deadlock. unless gu ci was heartless and ruthless, devoid of conscience and moral boundaries, willing to sacrifice this squadron to save jiang junlin. the one who gave this order must be truly ruthless. this squadron had no idea what they would be facing. they had carried out countless missions, gone abroad for secret assignments, and represented law and order, loyalty, and courage. ¡°in an hour, they¡¯ll land. two hours at customs, then to the prison, another three hours. can we rescue the master within these three hours?¡± qin wan worriedly asked. this situation was too dire. all the preparations had been made, only to be abandoned like this? the main concern was that if they gave up, what would happen to the master? everyone was looking at gu ci. ji chi firmly stated, ¡°i don¡¯t care what decision you make; i will definitely rescue him. in my eyes, no one is more important than him.¡± ¡°are you out of your mind?¡± dr. north exclaimed. ¡°don¡¯t worry; this won¡¯t involve you. the triad will stay out of it, no matter what happens. it has nothing to do with you,¡± ji chi¡¯s gaze was stern. he was willing to trade the entire world for jiang junlin. even if it meant sacrificing himself! ¡°absolutely not!¡± gu ci said coldly. ¡°ji chi, there¡¯s no room for negotiation on this matter. qin wan, come with me.¡± ¡°alright!¡± after gu ci left, ji chi stared intently at the surveillance, then abruptly got up and went to black hawk. when he saw lu zhiyuan, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°third master, did you already know?¡± ¡°know what?¡± ¡°it¡¯s not mercenaries escorting them back to the country.¡± ¡°i found out just before they boarded the plane. i knew half a day earlier than you did,¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°i put myself in their shoes. if i wanted the dark web of the triad, what would i do? what would i do after jiang junlin was captured? i would definitely send an elite team to escort him back to the country. if the dark web of the triad dared to touch this team, they would be doomed. i came to paris to stop gu ci.¡± he couldn¡¯t let gu ci become a target! ¡°but why did you give me the authority of black hawk and allow me to help gu ci?¡± ¡°i haven¡¯t allowed you to. 1 can¡¯t stop gu ci; she would suspect that i¡¯m unwilling to save jiang junlin, so she had to know this information herself, or ziyu had to tell her. ji chi, now that you know the information, what do you want to do?¡± lu zhiyuan asked calmly. ¡°i¡­¡± ji chi clenched his teeth. he didn¡¯t want to pull that trigger either, but what could they do for jiang junlin? ¡°is there really no other way?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only lu zhiyuan looked at him and whispered, ¡°in this world, everything requires sacrifices.¡± at the wan changtian¡¯s house, gu ci and qin wan had been waiting for a while. his wife and daughter had gone out for the day and were not at home. one person had been following wan changtian all day, documenting his daily activities, accompanying him to work, and returning home with him. before wan changtian returned home, gu ci and qin wan had already entered his house. wan changtian wasn¡¯t surprised at all. as expected, his master had a keen sense of foresight and knew that gu ci would come to see him. ¡°miss gu ci ci, since you¡¯ve come, 1 won¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± wan changtian placed a tracking device on the table. ¡°the master has only one instruction: no rescue mission.¡± gu ci had already guessed as much.. Chapter 342 - Chapter 342:i Was Wronged chapter 342:i was wronged translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°brother, do you have a strategy?¡± gu ci knew that this plan was too vicious, and her determination was the same as jiang junlin¡¯s. ¡°this is a dead end, and there¡¯s no way out,¡± wan changtian said. ¡°he instructed that if anything happened to him, the dark web would fall into your hands. whether you want to betray or be loyal, it¡¯s up to you. just remember one thing, the dark web is a double-edged sword, and it should never harm its own.¡± gu ci remained calm, despite the inner turmoil and torment. she asked, ¡°is there no room to maneuver at all?¡± wan changtian sighed, ¡°miss gu ci, as you can see, the other side has been planning for many years and won¡¯t make a mistake. unless the jiang family is willing to bear the infamy.¡± this was something that would stink for a thousand years! gu ci couldn¡¯t let the jiang family end up like this. would it really come to sacrificing her brother? wan changtian said, ¡°the only way to turn things around is to make the dark web public, to be open and no longer hidden in the shadows. that¡¯s the only way out.¡± gu ci was clever and immediately understood. qin wan silently thought to herself that when it came to intelligence, she couldn¡¯t compare to them. gu ci and jiang junlin seemed to be born conspirators. on the way here, qin wan had heard gu ci say that the only way out of this situation was to make the dark web public. once it was made public, everything would be exposed! this was not a glorious thing to do. going public would attract a lot of criticism internationally. but if they didn¡¯t make it public, jiang junlin would truly have no way out. as gu ci had expected, jiang junlin was also thinking the same way. ¡°can i trust you?¡± gu ci played with the tracker in her hand. ¡°master anticipated that you would ask this,¡± wan changtian showed a video to gu ci, and qin wan also came over to analyze whether the video was authentic. in the video, jiang junlin said, ¡°cici, you must not send anyone to rescue me. the dark web cannot bear this infamy. it¡¯s a blessing, not a curse, and it¡¯s a curse that can¡¯t be avoided. let it be. this is fate. also, stop ji chi, he acts impulsively and would spare no cost to save me. i don¡¯t want him to have blood on his hands. if you really can¡¯t persuade him, make a bet with him¡­¡± coming out of wan changtian¡¯s house, qin wan was still in a daze. ¡°master is really out of his mind. he made such a long video, teaching you how to deal with ji chi, but didn¡¯t think about a rescue plan for himself.¡± gu ci, however, understood what jiang junlin was struggling with. there was no solution to this situation, and it was too late. ¡°send someone to capture those assassins and hand them over to interpol. let them solve the case,¡± gu ci called dr. north. ¡°do it now.¡± ¡°alright, i¡¯ll send zhang qiang.¡± qin wan also understood gu ci¡¯s decision. the assassins sent by xiao min were not there to rescue jiang junlin or kill him. they were there to kill this entire team. by committing murder and blaming it on the dark web, they could force the dark web to spare no effort to save jiang junlin. gu ci¡¯s mind worked quickly, and she soon figured out the trick. qin wan was single-mindedly focused on how to save jiang junlin, without thinking about the assassins. after all the careful planning, it had all gone to waste. both gu ci and qin wan felt heavy-hearted. they had lost control of the situation! gu ci had a candid conversation with chen liangdong over the phone, hoping that he would consider making the dark web public. chen liangdong had already found out who was behind the scenes causing trouble. however, this matter was quite tricky for him. ¡°gu ci, if jiang junlin dies, will you lead the dark web and defect?¡± chen liangdong asked very directly. gu ci remained silent, providing no answer. their son was under the protection of the national security! if she defected, this matter would be handed over to the national security, and the mother and son would become mortal enemies. if she didn¡¯t defect and her brother died, how could she willingly pledge allegiance? ¡°1 will kill the mastermind, for sure!¡± she didn¡¯t give a direct answer but indirectly did. chen liangdong and gu ci¡¯s communication was always straightforward. ¡°allow me to think about it. 1¡¯11 give you an answer before jiang junlin¡¯s plane lands.¡± ¡°okay!¡± gu ci disbanded the dark web¡¯s deployment in paris and had them stay put. during this time, they were to do whatever was necessary. zhang qiang also handled the assassins and handed them over to interpol. after all was said and done, gu ci was exhausted. she had been working tirelessly during this period and hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep. now that the dust had settled, she felt like the hanging sword had finally fallen. all her efforts had been in vain. she only had one option left ¨C to let lu zhiyuan go and save jiang junlin. but how could she explain jiang junlin¡¯s mysterious disappearance from prison? had he calculated everything? no wonder when he came to her and learned of her decision, he didn¡¯t fully agree but also didn¡¯t veto it. was he waiting for her to plead with him? the tiger team was led by colonel li mu, and they brought twenty-six people with them. as soon as they landed, they hurried to the prison to take over from wan changtian. the prisoner they were interested in was zhou qi, a forty-six-year-old man who was held on the same floor as jiang junlin. after the handover between li mu¡¯s team and wan changtian was completed, they took charge of all matters related to jiang junlin and zhou qi. this team was well-trained, confident, and efficient. they quickly made all the necessary arrangements. li mu came to see jiang junlin. ¡°mr. jiang, what have you gotten yourself into?¡± ¡°how coincidental,¡± jiang junlin recognized him. they were quite familiar, as the dark web had assisted him in conducting counter-terrorism missions abroad. li mu didn¡¯t know that jiang junlin was the mastermind of the dark web. li mu was two years older than jiang junlin, exactly thirty years old. they attended the same school, although in different grades, but both were prominent figures. they had some acquaintance, and later, when li mu worked at the bank, they had met a few times. he only opened the secret dossier once he was on the plane. this mission was officially about escorting zhou qi, but in reality, the target was jiang junlin. zhou qi¡¯s life didn¡¯t matter, but jiang junlin had to be brought back unharmed. the dossier only provided him with the mission and the target, but it didn¡¯t reveal why jiang junlin had been detained in the first place. as the president of hualan bank, he had wealth and power, and jiang junlin was well-connected. what had he done to warrant the special attention of their team for transportation? the tiger team was responsible for the most complex and dangerous missions, always involving live ammunition. they were a formidable force, and their missions were always crucial. he knew that if the team had been dispatched, the mission was of utmost importance. ¡°i¡¯ve been wrongly accused,¡± jiang junlin said with a touch of humor, even laughing at himself. he who is not guilty fears no accusation. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°we¡¯ll discuss this in court,¡± li mu said with a serious expression. ¡°no coercion.¡± he no longer discussed personal matters with jiang junlin and was very polite. ¡°if you lack anything, just let me know. whatever 1 can do, i¡¯ll do my best.¡± in addition to bringing jiang junlin back unharmed, the mission also included a peculiar phrase: ¡°treat with courtesy.¡± this was quite intriguing, and it was the first time li mu had encountered such a mission. by looking at jiang junlin¡¯s wrist and overall condition, li mu could tell that he had been well-treated in prison, without any torture. regardless of who had ordered this, jiang junlin seemed to have a good idea of the situation.. Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Brother Was Caught Because of You chapter 343: brother was caught because of you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation zhou qi is the only one in charge, with everyone else around jiang junlin, even his food needs to be inspected. ¡°captain, this guy has so many issues? it¡¯s tough to serve him.¡± li mu said, ¡°even young masters are hard to serve, so bear with it, we¡¯ll be done in a few days.¡± ¡°he¡¯s just a prisoner, he must have done something wrong, or else he wouldn¡¯t be locked up. why should we be polite to him?¡± ¡°then you talk back to him!¡± ¡°i dare not!¡± the man said softly, ¡°he¡­ his presence is quite intimidating.¡± ¡°then just keep quiet!¡± ¡°yes!¡± jiang junlin was quite amused by this conversation, hearing it clearly. he only hoped that gu ci could stop ji chi. ji chi was indeed unwilling to give up. if gu ci gave up, he could understand. gu ziyu was still with the national security, and no matter what, gu ci couldn¡¯t do something like this. besides, she was born and raised in city a, so she couldn¡¯t do something like this. ji chi was different; he had been abandoned since he was a child and had no sense of belonging to any place. he only wanted one person to be safe, and if he was stopped, everyone would be a stumbling block. he knew he couldn¡¯t snatch someone in the street, which would lead to a hail of bullets. so he was thinking, whether there was a way to switch things, to deceive and disguise, but he also knew the situation in the prison very well. it was basically impossible, except when jiang junlin was being escorted to the airport, there was almost no chance to act. ji chi was irritable and cunning. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°if one day i¡¯m arrested too, would you go to such lengths to save me?¡± ¡°of course!¡± ji chi didn¡¯t hesitate. lu zhiyuan felt somewhat relieved in his heart, at least he hadn¡¯t raised him in vain. ¡°third master, do you really have no way, or do you just not want to get involved in this matter?¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°after meeting this time, i always feel that you have changed somewhat. you seem like a bystander, looking at us struggling in the midst of our emotions and desires. whether it¡¯s me or gu ci, it¡¯s like actors on a stage, and you are the audience below the stage. you watch us perform, neither discouraging nor assisting, but staying out of it. this matter involves me and gu ci, can you really stay out of it?¡± what has changed the attitude of the third master. whether it¡¯s the third master or the third young master, before the spring festival, they would definitely have different views on this matter. the third young master wouldn¡¯t care, and the third master would directly scold him for being crazy and wouldn¡¯t condone him. ¡°i told you not to interfere with jiang junlin, did you hear me?¡± lu zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°since you¡¯ve never listened, why should i say it again? some things, when you hit a south wall, you¡¯ll turn back.¡± he used to think that in this world, with effort, there would always be results. but after putting in the effort, he still lost. he used to think that if he did no evil, did good, and was charitable, he would live a smooth life. however, he ended up in lifelong agony. many things wouldn¡¯t change their minds until they experienced them. ¡°third master, miss gu ci is here!¡± li jiang came in to report, ¡°she wants to see ji chi.¡± lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t surprised at all. when ji chi came to the living room, gu ci was already seated, sipping tea. in fact, ji chi guessed why she came, and gu ci had canceled all her arrangements and even booked a flight back to her home country on the same day. ¡°gu ci, you don¡¯t need to persuade me on this matter anymore,¡± ji chi, a determined man, said, ¡°i can¡¯t just watch him go down a path of no return.¡± gu ci replied concisely, ¡°brother said that you must not try to rescue him. if you harm a soldier, he¡¯ll be sentenced to death. if you obediently go along with it, he might survive, and your wishes will be fulfilled.¡± ¡°what did you say?¡± ji chi¡¯s pupils contracted, and his veins instantly popped. ¡°you didn¡¯t hear wrong,¡± gu ci spoke calmly, ¡°brother said he¡¯s tired too. this time when he returns to our country, it might not be a dead end. he¡¯ll try to find a way to survive. if he succeeds, he won¡¯t have to worry about the dark web of the underworld anymore. then, your wishes will surely be granted. but if you act recklessly and harm someone, he won¡¯t forgive you.¡± ji chi had never considered using violence to rescue him. he knew the stakes. if it were a group of mercenaries, he would definitely find a way to rescue him, and gu ci would assist. but if it was the tiger team, ji chi knew he couldn¡¯t touch them. it was a dilemma. ¡°i understand,¡± ji chi said hoarsely, ¡°you can rest assured.¡± ¡°ji chi, my brother has been loyal all his life. if you love him and understand him, don¡¯t let him bear an eternal infamy,¡± gu ci gave up her plan without hesitation upon hearing gu ziyu¡¯s words. ji chi understood, perhaps better than anyone. ¡°if one day, third master and he were in the same situation, would you still be so indifferent?¡± ji chi asked. he and gu ci had similar afflictions, had done similar things, and they were perhaps the people who understood each other the most in the world. ¡°1 would!¡± gu ci¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°brother and he are equally important to me, but there are things that can be done and things that shouldn¡¯t be done. as long as i haven¡¯t lost my mind, i know i shouldn¡¯t do it.¡± ji chi sat quietly, and since jiang junlin¡¯s incident, this was the first time he had been so quiet. ¡°so, we can only leave him to fate?¡± ¡°no!¡± gu ci sipped her tea and said calmly, ¡°we will find another way to strive for it. 1 just want my brother to stay alive, even if we lose the underworld, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°but if we lose the underworld, with all the secrets he knows, how long can he survive?¡± ji chi sighed. ¡°in fact, there¡¯s a very simple solution: you kill me, and he¡¯ll be safe.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart skipped a beat. she sincerely admired her brother. he really understood ji chi very well. in the video call, he wanted gu ci to stop ji chi, not for ji chi to come and rescue him. it was ji chi who was willing to do something foolish to save him. ¡°ji chi, do you know why your brother was arrested? lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t tell you, and rong li didn¡¯t tell you either, did they?¡± gu ci looked at him compassionately. she hadn¡¯t seen ji chi¡¯s little dimples for a long time. he hadn¡¯t smiled in a long time. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only in fact, she understood ji chi¡¯s obsession. this kind of craziness, willing to exchange the whole world for one person, she was the person who could empathize with ji chi the most. that¡¯s why her brother asked her to persuade ji chi. ¡°rong li said that qin wan brought me back.¡± ¡°yes, on that day, your brother escaped but came back to find you. if he hadn¡¯t come back, you would have died. they used your life to threaten your brother. if he didn¡¯t go with them, you would have died, and a sniper had their sights on your head,¡± gu ci said gently. ¡°he went with them willingly to save you. do you think he didn¡¯t know the risks? but he still chose to let you live, so you must stay alive.¡± ¡°have you ever seen a movie where a couple of lovers agreed to take poison to commit suicide? the woman took the poison very decisively and died, but the man was rescued and didn¡¯t dare to die. the woman had been a ghost for decades, always waiting for her lover, but she didn¡¯t know that her lover had become a deserter. together in life and death is just a story in books..¡± wanna gift the story? try one. Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Love Is One Point More Than Hate chapter 344: love is one point more than hate translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°if i were a woman, i wouldn¡¯t give him a chance. one bullet could take care of both. no one should expect to survive. my brother didn¡¯t want any regrets, and he has one last thing to say. he wants me to tell you that when he gets out, he¡¯ll personally speak with you. if one day he really dies, it won¡¯t be too late for you to join him in the grave.¡± ji chi seemed like a treasure hunter who had suddenly found a treasure. he had faced countless hardships, traversed treacherous terrain, and risked his life in search of this treasure. just when he was on the brink of despair, a ray of light appeared from the heavens, and the treasure was right before his eyes. he had achieved his goal and had no regrets. gu ci looked at his expression and knew that her mission had been accomplished. ji chi wouldn¡¯t act recklessly anymore. gu ci pushed the door and left, leaving ji chi alone. at the end of the corridor, lu zhiyuan was waiting for her. lu zhiyuan stood against the light, his face blurry, but gu ci knew it was him. they had a strange aura between them. in fact, when they were children, she had a special fondness for lu zhiyuan. it was as if she had a destined affection for him. she had grown up being overlooked, never receiving any special affection except from lu zhiyuan. from beginning to end, he only liked her. he was her guiding light. so, when she lost him later, she held onto it with bitterness and resentment. she couldn¡¯t reconcile with lu zhiyuan¡¯s fickle affection. why did his favor come and go so easily? after regaining what she had lost, that feeling of joy upon seeing him, the warmth in her heart, returned. he was her obsession from childhood to adulthood. if it was destiny, she could only accept it. gu ci¡¯s heart raced, and she felt a sudden, intense pain. she saw lu zhiyuan rushing toward her, emerging from the backlight. gu ci¡¯s lips curled slightly, and she fainted in his arms. ¡°cid!¡± lu zhiyuan carried her in his arms and shouted urgently, ¡°call a doctor!¡± li jiang heard the commotion and quickly went to fetch a doctor. lu zhiyuan held her, and the young girl in his arms felt as light as a feather, almost like a piece of paper. she had become extremely thin during this period, and it pained him deeply. the doctor¡¯s diagnosis matched his own judgment. gu ci¡¯s condition was due to excessive fatigue, mild malnutrition, and excessive stress, resulting in a deficiency of both qi and blood. qin wan, who had come with gu ci, truthfully explained her recent condition to the doctor. ¡°she usually sleeps for only three or four hours. i don¡¯t know if she falls asleep at all. she has no appetite for food, just drinks water. oh, and she frequently takes medication on an empty stomach. dr. north and 1 have advised her many times, but the effect has been minimal,¡± qin wan sighed with concern. ¡°she¡¯s heartbroken, you know? it¡¯s understandable that she¡¯ll feel miserable for a while and endure some suffering.¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent. li jiang thought to himself, qin wan was definitely doing this on purpose! ¡°she¡¯s even drinking excessively!¡± qin wan said. ¡°dr. north suggested a glass of red wine before bedtime, and she drinks a whole bottle. i had a classmate who went through a breakup and drank heavily for half a month, getting drunk every day. sigh¡­¡± gu ci¡¯s face was pale, she looked pitifully thin, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. in addition to the doctor¡¯s diagnosis, there was no need for qin wan to say it; anyone with eyes could see that gu ci had been going through a tough time. ¡°you all should leave for now!¡± lu zhiyuan took a towel, wiped the sweat from gu ci¡¯s forehead, and gave a cold dismissal order. li jiang escorted qin wan out and considerately closed the door. after lu zhiyuan put down the towel, his fingers gently brushed over her face. he lifted gu ci¡¯s sleeve and examined her arms, which were covered in bruises, clearly not from accidental bumps but more like self-inflicted marks. with a moment¡¯s thought, he unbuttoned her shirt. gu ci was wearing jeans, and lu zhiyuan averted his gaze, as he had expected. underneath the gauze on her legs, he saw the wounds that gu ci had repeatedly made with a knife, with cuts deep enough to expose flesh. lu zhiyuan clenched his teeth, and his forehead perspired slightly. he felt anger, but he also felt helpless. heartache mixed with sorrow. on her thighs, there were multiple gauze bandages, and some old scars. her self-harm had been going on for months, and there was no improvement. ¡°cici, what should 1 do with you?¡± lu zhiyuan held her hand and kissed it near his lips. she was his precious treasure, but this treasure was too fragile, like a piece of ice, and his hands were too scorching. he wanted to hold onto this treasure, but he knew that in his palm, she would eventually melt away. he had no choice but to let her go, hoping that she would get better. however, this precious treasure of his was still gradually fading, and he could do nothing about it. for so many years, he had thought of countless ways to resolve this fate¡¯s entanglement, but he had never been able to untangle it. he had never given up, and lu zhiyuan thought back to their first lifetime. gu ci had always been like the sun, resilient and unwavering, with a determined will. even when she knew it was a dead end, she was like a moth, knowing that the fire would be fatal, but she still spread her wings and flew high, smiling brightly as she rushed toward him. even if she didn¡¯t get close to him and her wings were burnt off by the fire, even if her body was consumed by the flames, she did it without hesitation. her love and hatred were both extreme! what she wanted in love and hatred was also extreme! he used to despise the gods, but now he only wanted to kneel and beg for guidance, to find a way to end this endless tragedy. gu ci was receiving an iv, and though she had lost consciousness, she seemed far from peaceful. she mumbled to herself, and lu zhiyuan leaned closer to listen to her words. ¡°lu zhiyuan, don¡¯t leave me alone. take me with you, even if it¡¯s death, 1 want to die by your side. don¡¯t leave me alone.¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart ached. ¡°cici¡­¡± don¡¯t be like this, cici! he had tried, he had tried in the previous lifetime, but what was the outcome? lu zhiyuan asked ji chi, ¡°what did jiang junlin do? do you hate him?¡± ¡°i¡¯ll never truly hate him,¡± his hatred was a result of love unfulfilled. ¡°i have hated, but love always outweighs hatred, even by a fraction.¡± ¡°think again, what if he gets married?¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°what if he falls in love with someone else and marries them? would you hate him then?¡± ¡°that would be simpler,¡± ji chi replied. ¡°let¡¯s die together. why hate? to be tormented for no reason, i won¡¯t live such a life. if he falls in love with someone else, either he dies, or i die!¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t quite understand this group of people with such twisted psychology. he could think of even the most absurd ways, but ji chi had blocked every single one of those paths. ji chi and gu ci were too similar, and his thoughts were likely mirrored by hers. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°isn¡¯t living worthwhile?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. ¡°what¡¯s the point of living like a walking corpse?¡± ji chi shrugged. ¡°third master, if you want to get married and break miss gu ci¡¯s heart, 1 advise you to think twice.¡± lu zhiyuan had considered such a possibility, but unfortunately, ji chi had blocked that path as well. gu ci¡¯s sleep was restless, and in the late afternoon, she regained consciousness. when she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was lu zhiyuan sitting by her side, his gaze burning with intensity as he looked at her.. wanna gift the story? 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Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: You Like Ji Chi? chapter 345: you like ji chi? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she was familiar with such a gaze; third young master always looked at her with that kind of gaze. in that gaze, she knew she was loved. ¡°where is this?¡± ¡°my bedroom,¡± lu zhiyuan said. outside the window, the sky had turned a shade of orange. gu ci tilted her head, calmly taking a deep breath. she cherished his presence, finding solace beside him. ¡°how do you feel?¡± ¡°hungry¡­¡± gu ci only felt dizzy and hungry. lu zhiyuan walked over, picked up a bowl of warm soup that had been simmering. gu ci sat up, leaning against soft pillows. her intravenous drip was not yet finished; she glanced at the iv bag¡ªit still had two more hours to go. ¡°this is chicken soup i made in the kitchen. have a little.¡± gu ci¡¯s long hair fell gently on her shoulders, making her face appear even smaller. she looked like a girl who had been abused for a long time, and it was heart-wrenching. lu zhiyuan blew on the spoonful of chicken soup and brought it to her lips. gu ci hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on him in silence. the scent of the chicken soup filled her nostrils, and their eyes seemed to entwine, like honey continuously wrapping around, sweet and sticky. she couldn¡¯t help but open her mouth and silently drank a bowl of chicken soup. she hated herself. why did she faint when she saw lu zhiyuan? she had promised him that she would see a doctor and take care of herself, but now the pretense had been exposed. she was like a brightly colored flower from afar, but in reality, her roots were rotting. after drinking the soup, lu zhiyuan brought a bowl of porridge. he fed her slowly. gu ci kept her eyes down, never looking at him, quietly eating the porridge. the burning sensation of hunger finally eased. ¡°cici, you¡¯re a doctor. do you know why you fainted?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. gu ci knew full well. she didn¡¯t do it on purpose. she wanted to rest well, but she couldn¡¯t sleep. she wanted to eat properly, but she had no appetite. her body didn¡¯t obey her brain¡¯s commands. she could only watch herself day by day, getting thinner and falling into the abyss. physician, heal thyself. it had been true since ancient times. she didn¡¯t want to fall ill in front of lu zhiyuan. she didn¡¯t want him to see her weak side, as if she were seeking sympathy. all her self-esteem and pain were laid bare before him. she felt embarrassed and regretful. ¡°my problems are none of third master¡¯s concern,¡± gu ci raised her head, her gaze clear. ¡°it has nothing to do with you.¡± lu zhiyuan put down the bowl heavily, looking annoyed. ¡°self-deception. dr. north has been with you during your time in paris. have you sought help?¡± ¡°let bygones be bygones. whether i live or die, it has nothing to do with third master,¡± gu ci said coldly, then calmly added, ¡°i¡¯ve done as you wished, no longer bothering you. isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°cici, tell me, what do you want?¡± lu zhiyuan compromised. ¡°lu zhiyuan, what do you want? do you want me to leave? are you the one tangled up in this now? what do you want?¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were red, ¡°the best ex should be as silent as the dead, not entangled, and you shouldn¡¯t show me that you care for me so much. you can¡¯t love me, so stay away from me. whether 1 go crazy or die, it has nothing to do with you.¡± lu zhiyuan was calmer than gu ci. ¡°cici, when 1 left you, it was because i hoped you would live well. i wanted you to seek treatment, let go of everything, and as long as you recover, your life will be smooth sailing. promise me, go for treatment, don¡¯t give up on yourself.¡± ¡°i won¡¯t give up on myself.¡± gu ci covered her head in pain, continuously patting her own head. lu zhiyuan suddenly embraced her, holding her wrist tightly. tears welled up in gu ci¡¯s eyes as she looked at him. ¡°lu zhiyuan, i want to live.¡± she didn¡¯t want lu zhiyuan to die either! lu zhiyuan held her tightly, almost squeezing the breath out of gu ci. she was the girl he loved to the bone, the person he was willing to exchange his life for. he had naively thought that his death could bring about her rebirth. but he had failed! they were at a dead end, walking on a path of no return. all the grievances, longing, and obsession gu ci had accumulated over the past few years poured out in lu zhiyuan¡¯s embrace. gu ci suddenly kissed him, a passionate kiss filled with her tears and despair. the two of them tangled on the bed, and lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t resist her kiss. gu ci bit him fiercely, drawing blood. ¡°lu zhiyuan, if you want to love me for a lifetime, 1 can leave you, but if you ever change your mind, i will definitely kill you!¡± that was her ultimate bottom line! ¡°you fool!¡± lu zhiyuan licked the blood from his lips, his expression both demonic and determined. if he were to change his mind, would he still be entangled in this tragic affair with gu ci? gu ci remained unconscious, and qin wan circled around in the black hawk. li jiang couldn¡¯t stay with her for long as he had something to attend to. qin wan didn¡¯t need his company either. in the evening, she went up to the rooftop, where she could watch the sunset. she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold, sitting on the railing, swinging her legs, and lighting a cigarette. she also took a few photos of the sunset. she hadn¡¯t expected that one day she would be on the rooftop of the black hawk headquarters, watching the sunset. the last time she was in this area, it was to kill xiao min. hmm, to kill xiao min! she had to take care of that before returning to her home country. she couldn¡¯t delay it any longer. she heard footsteps behind her, and qin wan turned her head to see rong li. she had a cigarette between her fingers, and interestingly, rong li had one too. they exchanged a glance. ¡°why are you here?¡± rong li blurted out. ¡°i¡¯m waiting for gu ci. i¡¯m not here to wander around your headquarters or steal secrets,¡± qin wan blew a smoke ring, her tone irritated. bad luck! rong li also felt unlucky. the rooftop was his private space, and he had a bad temper, easily angered and prone to outbursts. occasionally, he would come to the rooftop to smoke and cool down. unexpectedly, someone else had taken his spot. he turned to leave but then thought again. this was his territory; why should he leave? rong li swaggered over, and both of them sat on the rooftop, smoking. qin wan frowned, finished one cigarette, and lit another. rong li thought to himself that this girl had quite a heavy smoking habit. ¡°i heard that xiao min betrayed us because she fell in love with you?¡± ¡°do you actually believe that gossip?¡± ¡°she said it herself,¡± qin wan leaned against a post, propped up her legs, and asked casually, ¡°she infiltrated for several years, loyal and capable. you must be quite skilled to make her betray the triad. a honey trap?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only rong li turned his head and smiled. with the cigarette in his hand, he exuded a unique charm. ¡°is it possible that i offered a better price when you guys didn¡¯t pay her enough?¡± ¡°can money buy someone¡¯s loyalty?¡± ¡°it can!¡± rong li said, ¡°money is all-powerful. if it doesn¡¯t buy loyalty, it¡¯s because you didn¡¯t offer enough!¡± qin wan disagreed. in her eyes, rong li was as good as dead. he and xiao min were going to die together. qin wan had seen rong li¡¯s file; he was just a student. although he was secretly trained by jiang junlin, he still hadn¡¯t connected qin wan to the assassin from that day. ¡°let¡¯s gossip a bit. you and ji chi are good buddies. my boss killed your whole family, yet ji chi had an affair with my boss.. why haven¡¯t you severed ties with ji chi?¡± Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Can I Still Be Saved? chapter 346: can i still be saved? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°hahaha¡­¡± rong li laughed heartily, his voice crisp as he finished his cigarette. ¡°guess.¡± ¡°do you also love ji chi?¡± qin wan asked. rong li paused, then replied,¡±¡­¡± qin wan and rong li held opposing views, and with their stubborn personalities, it was unlikely they could extract any meaningful information from each other. so, they tacitly switched to gossip. rong li remarked, ¡°do i look that foolish to you?¡± ¡°you look quite like it!¡± ¡°you have a strong aversion to black hawk,¡± rong li commented, deducing qin wan¡¯s preferences with just a few words. although ji chi and black hawk were archenemies, their rivalry was mostly in the realm of financial warfare. qin wan¡¯s animosity was intense. ¡°because of ji chi, my master has been dragged into this unnecessary mess. why should i feel favorably toward you guys?¡± ¡°little girl, it takes two to tango. ji chi might be a bit crazy, but if jiang junlin didn¡¯t want to be involved, they wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. don¡¯t blame everything on ji chi.¡± ¡°i know,¡± qin wan shrugged. ¡°my master is right, so it can only be ji chi¡¯s fault.¡± rong li muttered, ¡°idiot!¡± ¡°do you like xiao min, then?¡± qin wan asked with a mischievous smile. ¡°i¡¯m giving you a chance.¡± her appearance was more harmless than ji chi¡¯s, and her smile was gentle and alluring. ¡°what chance?¡± a chance to choose a painful death. qin wan didn¡¯t answer, she just smiled at him, and rong li said, ¡°i don¡¯t like her.¡± he even despised those who betrayed their masters. back then, his father had caused a catastrophe because of his betrayal, leading to their family¡¯s downfall. while he did hate jiang junlin, it wasn¡¯t because jiang junlin had killed his father. the calamity that befell the rong family was a result of betrayal, and the real culprit was his father. if he were in jiang junlin¡¯s position, he would make the same decision. rong li recalled the past, and his expression darkened. those days were the darkest moments of his life, and he had no desire to revisit them. ¡°jiang junlin has killed three previous triad bosses, and two of them were personally chosen by him. aren¡¯t you afraid that one day you¡¯ll become a victim of his bullets?¡± rong li questioned. ¡°they died because they deserved to die, just like xiao min, traitors must die!¡± qin wan¡¯s smile, in the light of the setting sun, was incredibly gentle. ¡°if they¡¯re not killed, should we keep them around for the new year?¡± ¡°my father¡¯s betrayal was deserving of death, but what about my mother?¡± rong li asked with a deep voice. ¡°you people want to exterminate my whole family!¡± ¡°you¡¯d better investigate who really killed your family. my master shows mercy to the elderly, the sick, women, and children. he dislikes collateral damage. otherwise, he would have killed you a long time ago. take the pei family, for instance; he only killed pei qiuying¡¯s father.¡± qin wan said, ¡°don¡¯t hate the wrong person!¡± ¡°you¡¯re on his side, of course, you¡¯ll speak for him.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve seen the records,¡± qin wan said calmly. ¡°who he killed, who he sent, it¡¯s all documented. there¡¯s no need to lie to you. if you want to hate my master for this, it¡¯s your choice. we have plenty of enemies.¡± rong li frowned slightly. qin wan continued, ¡°if your whole family met their end because of your father¡¯s actions, you can¡¯t blame my master for that. your family¡¯s downfall was brought about by your father¡¯s betrayal. if he had remained loyal and not turned against him, no one would have targeted him. my master doesn¡¯t indiscriminately kill innocent people. of course, if you want to hate him for this, that¡¯s your choice. we have plenty of enemies.¡± rong li remained silent. ¡°and by the way,¡± qin wan added, ¡°your father¡¯s betrayal was related to third master as well. it was him who leaked information to black hawk. i don¡¯t know the exact terms he negotiated with third master, but i¡¯m quite surprised by your unwavering loyalty to him.¡± stirring up discord was a skill she excelled at! rong li laughed heartily. ¡°little girl, you really believe in an eye for an eye.¡± she tried to sow discord between her and jiang junlin, so he retaliated by trying to create a rift between her and lu zhiyuan. ¡°tit for tat!¡± qin wan winked at him. ¡°i like to settle scores on the spot!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s involvement with the rong family was well-known to her. ¡°let me tell you a secret. i was actually quite happy when my father died.¡± qin wan replied, ¡°you¡¯re really filial.¡± rong li left with a big laugh, and qin wan watched his departing figure, unable to determine if he was telling the truth or lying. if rong li didn¡¯t hate her master, why would he join the triad? he joined the triad for revenge. she remembered that rong li came from a family of five, including his younger brother and sister. they all perished in that turmoil, but back then, jiang junlin had spared the mastermind¡¯s life and even sent people to protect rong li¡¯s mother and siblings. however, they still met with misfortune, and one of the protectors was severely injured. afterward, rong li disappeared. rong li attributed all his hatred to the triad dark web. after leaving black hawk headquarters with qin wan, gu ci was given a box of snacks by li jiang to eat on the way since qin wan had consumed all the snacks, and she was starving. ¡°black hawk¡¯s hospitality is really lacking. they didn¡¯t even prepare dinner for me,¡± qin wan complained. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh and opened a bottle of milk for her to prevent her from choking. ¡°did ji chi listen to reason?¡± qin wan asked. gu ci nodded, ¡°he will listen. what ji chi has always wanted isn¡¯t for his brother to hate him.¡± ¡°i hope our master can safely get through this crisis.¡± once gu ci returned to the triad, she systematically handled european affairs. qin wan changed into her night attire and left on her motorcycle. before leaving, she casually remarked, ¡°1 won¡¯t be back until 1 return to the country.¡± ¡°where is she going?¡± norce frowned. ¡°to kill xiao min!¡± qin wan declared. she was relentless in her pursuit of her goal. killing xiao min was the last task she intended to complete before returning to her homeland. with everything sorted out by gu ci, it was already midnight when dr. north brought her a cup of hot milk and placed it within her reach. ¡°cici, let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°sure,¡± gu ci said, holding the warm milk. she had expected dr. north to discuss qin wan¡¯s condition, but to her surprise, he asked, ¡°has your condition worsened?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only she was momentarily taken aback, feeling a mixture of sadness and relief. ¡°you¡¯ve noticed.¡± ¡°as soon as i saw you, i knew. but i¡¯ve been too busy lately, dealing with our master¡¯s affairs, and 1 haven¡¯t had time to talk to you. would you like to talk now?¡± dr. north asked gently. gu ci took a sip of the milk, placed it on the table, and her eyes welled up with tears. dr. north held her in his arms, gently patting her back, and said, ¡°it¡¯s okay, baby. don¡¯t be sad. master is here for you.¡± ¡°my connection with lu zhiyuan has come to an end,¡± gu ci confessed, clutching onto her clothes like a child longing for her mother¡¯s warmth. she sobbed in her embrace, ¡°i¡¯ve always told myself not to cling, not to be obsessed, but 1 can¡¯t do it. i keep thinking about him, and there are so many terrible thoughts in my mind. i¡¯ve thought about breaking his legs, so he can never leave me for the rest of his life. i¡¯ve thought about killing him and preparing a coffin for us to be buried together. i¡¯ve thought about luring him into skydiving and then cutting the rope to fall together. i¡¯ve had so many dreadful thoughts. there¡¯s a demon in my heart that keeps urging me. i know¡­ i¡¯m sick.¡± with teary eyes, gu ci asked, ¡°master, is there still hope for me?¡± Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Warm Love chapter 347: warm love translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation her illness, of long-standing origin, was brought about by the obsession from a previous life, unable to break free. she fell into the abyss, and originally, lu zhiyuan was still holding onto her, but now, lu zhiyuan has let go. ¡°cici, you have love in your heart, and with that, there¡¯s certainly salvation. you have ziyu, a master, and a brother. you¡¯re not entirely without anything. we will all do our best to pull you out,¡± dr. north spoke gently, as if nurturing fragile porcelain. ¡°cici, our master never tolerates traitors. he spared me, but the only condition was that 1 must cure you. he cares for you more than you can imagine, trusts you. cici, your master will love you. even though he initially approached you with impure intentions, he genuinely cherishes you as if you were his daughter. the fact that you¡¯re still seeking help means you will get better.¡± the truly irredeemable ones are those who know they are in the abyss but refuse to call for help. gu ci used to be one of them, but now, she has changed; she is calling for help. dr. north looked at the medication she was taking; they were all antidepressants. in truth, these drugs had little effect on gu ci. she wasn¡¯t suffering from depression. dr. north didn¡¯t advise her to stop taking them but reduced the dosage. ¡°go to sleep, i¡¯ll stay with you,¡± dr. north held her hand. ¡°don¡¯t be afraid, nightmares will eventually fade away.¡± gu ci was very tired. she couldn¡¯t sleep well in china, and it was even worse here. she rested for a few hours at night, but there wasn¡¯t a moment of deep sleep. no matter how fatigued her mind was, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. dr. north¡¯s phone vibrated, and she received a piece of music sent by lu zhiyuan. she put on her headphones and listened. it was a violin piece with a unique melody, reminiscent of the wind blowing through mountain streams. ¡°cici, would you like to listen to some music?¡± gu ci nodded, and dr. north played the music. as soon as gu ci heard the opening notes, she opened her eyes. tears welled up in her eyes. this piece of music was special; it was one that lu zhiyuan often played in their past life. he had wanted to teach her, but unfortunately, after gu ci¡¯s hands were injured, she couldn¡¯t quite hit certain notes correctly. later, lu zhiyuan recorded the piece and played it frequently. when she couldn¡¯t sleep at night, she often listened to this piece. it was the best lullaby. dr. north spoke gently, ¡°if you don¡¯t want to listen, i can turn it off.¡± ¡°no, i want to listen!¡± she closed her eyes, and dr. north sent the music to gu ci¡¯s phone. as she listened, dr. north sat by her bedside. gu ci slept for two hours and began to have nightmares. dr. north held her hand, wiped away the cold sweat on her forehead, but didn¡¯t wake her up. the music continued to play, and gradually, gu ci¡¯s nightmares subsided and moved away. she didn¡¯t wake up, and dr. north even dozed off a bit herself, feeling somewhat tired. she stayed with gu ci like this, sleeping through the night. when gu ci woke up at eight in the morning, dr. north had just gone to catch some sleep. gu ci put the music on her phone. when dr. north woke up, gu ci interrupted her intense work and started a counseling session. this counseling session lasted for the entire afternoon, and after it was over, gu ci felt mentally drained and fell asleep again. zhang qiang asked, ¡°is miss gu ci not feeling well?¡± ¡°she¡¯s been very tired lately. let her rest.¡± zhang qiang and dr. north were mainly dealing with the matter of pei qiuying. she had betrayed the organization, and the evidence was irrefutable. she could no longer serve as the leader of the triad. pei qiuying seemed to realize that there was no way out of this situation and strongly recommended chen rushi as her successor. in the triad¡¯s financial department, the power structure was clear, and authority was highly centralized. therefore, pei qiuying held immense power, and her removal had raised some objections within the pei family. however, chen rushi had limited experience, and apart from black hawk faction brought in by chen rushi himself, there were few who supported him. this was far from enough, and the leader of the triad was appointed by jiang junlin. pei qiuying¡¯s declaration was clear: chen rushi was not an acceptable choice! so dr. north came up with a plan to make chen rushi the acting head of the triad¡¯s financial department. chen rushi was quite frustrated by this turn of events. however, he had not been completely ignorant of recent developments. the revelation that jiang junlin was the true mastermind behind the triad had spread, despite chen liangdong¡¯s efforts to suppress the information. chen rushi had a fairly good idea of the situation in the triad. he knew that becoming the leader of the triad was like holding a hot potato, which was why lu zhiyuan had not tried to stop him from betraying black hawk and switching sides. chen rushi was proud and had both ability and means. he never settled for being lu zhiyuan¡¯s pawn and believed that betrayal was just a matter of time. lu zhiyuan had been prepared for this possibility. the triad seemed like his best choice, but he didn¡¯t have a clear picture of the situation within the organization. he had thought that pei qiuying was the one in charge, and he had always looked down on women, given how he had witnessed chen geng¡¯s mistreatment of women since childhood. he didn¡¯t think pei qiuying could accomplish much. when he joined the triad, he believed he could easily oust pei qiuying and take control himself. he believed that within two years, he could remove pei qiuying and become the sole leader of the triad. the plan sounded perfect, but reality was cruel. the triad was controlled entirely by jiang junlin, and the leader of the triad was just a puppet. they could only oversee the financial aspect of the business and couldn¡¯t meddle in other affairs or have any other intentions. if they did, they would meet the same fate as their predecessors. chen rushi¡¯s personality meant that he would inevitably have other intentions and wouldn¡¯t be loyal to anyone. he wanted to be in charge of his own destiny. but now, he found himself in a difficult position. leaving the triad and striking out on his own might not be as prosperous as being part of black hawk or the triad, but it would offer stability. the chen family was already very wealthy, and he had the means to make his own way without getting involved in their internal conflicts. however, he was just one step away from a position of ultimate power, and chen rushi wasn¡¯t willing to give that up. gu ci said, ¡°chen rushi is a typical case of insatiable greed. he thinks highly of himself and wants to gain power from others rather than starting from scratch. he doesn¡¯t want to be second fiddle and wants the power of black hawk or the triad. he¡¯s not satisfied with being second in command and probably resents third brother a lot right now. in black hawk, he was the second-in-command, but in the triad, he¡¯s nothing. this acting head position will surely be a thorn in his side.¡± ¡°do you hope he quits?¡± ¡°if he¡¯s smart, he¡¯ll know what to do.¡± the position of the triad leader would not go to him, and chen rushi should be aware of this. how he chooses to proceed is his own decision. the matter in paris had come to a close. now, they were waiting to return to their home country. gu ci and dr. north decided to take advantage of the good weather and went for a walk, with zhang qiang and the bodyguards following closely behind. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only jiang junlin was not present, but this elite guard had been protecting gu ci all along. the snow had not yet melted, and each season had its own unique beauty. gu ci liked summer the most because the year that lu zhiyuan brought her back home was during the summer. the sunlight was just right, and since then, she had developed a fondness for the peak of summer. winter, on the other hand, always made her feel cold. psychological therapy was most effective in a closed space, at least for most patients. however, it wasn¡¯t the case for gu ci. in a closed space, she felt insecure, and dr. north had noticed this after a few therapy sessions. she felt uncomfortable but wouldn¡¯t tell the doctor.. Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: You Injured Yourself chapter 348: you injured yourself translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°master, why don¡¯t you ask about little cherry?¡± gu ci curiously inquired. ¡°these days, you¡¯ve been quite concerned about her, but you keep your distance and don¡¯t talk to her.¡± ¡°regardless of the reason, i am very grateful to the owner. he has raised little cherry so well, and since she and 1 won¡¯t recognize each other, there¡¯s no need for us to have much contact. it¡¯s better to avoid unnecessary troubles,¡± dr. north explained with insight. ¡°over these years, 1 haven¡¯t fulfilled my motherly duties, and she doesn¡¯t like me either. it¡¯s fine this way, being colleagues and getting along comfortably.¡± ¡°are you afraid that little cherry will blame you?¡± ¡°she¡¯s past the age when she needs motherly love, and she¡¯s carefree. right now, she¡¯s at her most carefree, wildest, and happiest. parents might be a source of trouble for her,¡± dr. north replied. gu ci had also asked qin wan and knew that she was resistant to the idea of being a biological father and daughter. she didn¡¯t envy others¡¯ family reunions and found it liberating to be on her own. ¡°i respect your choice, master,¡± gu ci said, standing with her hands behind her back, looking at the clear blue sky. ¡°when 1 was young, i yearned for blood ties and even forced the issue. but as i grew up, i realized that some people have shallow blood ties, and there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. however, master, even if you don¡¯t acknowledge little cherry, there¡¯s no need to distance yourself from her. you¡¯re the elder, and it¡¯s perfectly normal to care for your younger generation.¡± ¡°she dislikes me,¡± dr. north admitted with a hint of disappointment. ¡°i can feel it.¡± ¡°then make an effort to make her like you,¡± gu ci said with a smile, winking. dr. north chuckled, and the two of them walked down the street hand in hand, appearing more like a mother and daughter. gu ci had completely let go of the hurt dr. north had caused her. ¡°i¡¯ve always been someone who holds grudges. if someone hurt me a little, i¡¯d remember it tenfold. i¡¯ve learned that you can actually let go of these hurts. master, my hand doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± dr. north¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°really?¡± gu ci nodded. ¡°yes, it stopped hurting before 1 went abroad.¡± dr. north was overjoyed, and with a slightly reddened gaze, she wondered if gu ci had truly let go of her hurt. she didn¡¯t understand why she had hurt gu ci in her past life, but it couldn¡¯t have been without reason. smart people could see right through things. the two exchanged smiles, and it seemed that this matter had truly been put behind them. in gu ci¡¯s heart, she had always considered dr. north as her mother. she had only received warmth and motherly love from dr. north, which was why those past hurts had left her with scars. ¡°i was mistreated when i was young, sensitive, paranoid, and held grudges. i was too eager to obtain certain things, and when i did, they were shattered. it was difficult for me to accept, and 1 easily became obsessed. i¡¯ve been trying hard to correct myself.¡± ¡°gu ci, these are not flaws; they are human nature. gaining and losing, rejoicing and grieving, these are all human emotions. you don¡¯t need to change,¡± dr. north said gently. ¡°getting sick is not your fault, and it¡¯s not a flaw in your character. don¡¯t deny yourself; you are wonderful.¡± dr. north pointed to the streets of paris and said, ¡°there are thousands and thousands of roads in this world, and each one has a different story. people are the same way, each person is unique. to gu chuyun and gu yaozu, you may be poison, they insult you, curse you, and bully you. but to jiang junlin, me, and lu zhiyuan, you are honey. we all love you. so, don¡¯t deny yourself. it¡¯s their fault that those people dislike you and hurt you. what¡¯s wrong with being sensitive and stubborn? because of your sensitivity, you¡¯re intelligent and empathetic. because of your stubbornness, your love is as warm as the sun. some people might find it too hot and fear getting burnt, but we all love this kind of stubborn love. so, what¡¯s wrong with it?¡± gu ci looked at her in surprise and asked, ¡°master, are you comforting me?¡± ¡°no, it¡¯s the truth!¡± dr. north laughed lightly. ¡°gu ci, let me put it this way: any mother in the world would want a daughter like you¡ªbeautiful, intelligent, and loyal.¡± you treat her well, and she¡¯ll give her life for you. who wouldn¡¯t like such a girl! ¡°if lu zhiyuan¡¯s story is true, then he won¡¯t be able to resist loving you,¡± dr. north said. ¡°love at first sight may fade in the face of daily life¡¯s trials and tribulations, and seeking excitement is human nature. lu zhiyuan has loved you for so many years, unwaveringly, and you¡¯re worth it. if he left you, it¡¯s because he loves you too much, hoping you¡¯ll live a safe and sound life. as long as he¡¯s still alive and you can see each other from time to time, isn¡¯t that good enough? a man¡¯s happiness is career success, wealth, and growing old with his wife. a woman¡¯s happiness is having money, leisure, and children. it doesn¡¯t matter where your husband is; you can love wherever you want to go. just consider yourselves married, and when you have children, he can often travel for work.¡± gu ci brought up a very practical concern, ¡°i¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to kill him.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, just call the owner; he¡¯ll be more than willing,¡± dr. north replied with a chuckle. gu ci laughed at the teasing, feeling much lighter. dr. north and gu ziyu brought different forms of healing to her. suddenly, she missed gu ziyu. ¡°master, i miss ziyu.¡± ¡°in a couple of days, we¡¯ll be heading home,¡± dr. north reassured her. qin wan returned early in the morning on the eighth day, but her complexion was not good, and she had suffered minor injuries. there was a scar on her left arm, deep enough to see the bone, indicating that she had been cut by a knife in close combat. dr. north stitched up the wound with nearly thirty stitches. ¡°what happened to your arm?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°i was cut by a military knife,¡± qin wan replied with a slightly pale face. ¡°xiao min is dead.¡± ¡°the mission is important, but your safety is equally important. you can¡¯t do this next time,¡± gu ci said with a serious expression. ¡°you are more important than the mission.¡± ¡°it¡¯s just a flesh wound, don¡¯t worry. i can still perform today¡¯s mission,¡± qin wan reassured. gu ci shook her head. ¡°with your arm like this, you shouldn¡¯t be going on any missions. besides, today, we are only escorting my brother onto the plane. our main goal is to ensure a safe journey. if anything were to happen, the members of the tiger team can handle it; we won¡¯t be needed.¡± ¡°understood!¡± qin wan agreed. apart from the cut on her arm, qin wan had some bruises on her body, but they were not too severe. gu ci had a particularly busy day ahead. zhang qiang and ji cheng led a team to guard, ensuring jiang junlin¡¯s safe departure on the plane. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only after stitching up her wound, qin wan rested while dr. north prepared a bowl of brown sugar water for her. qin wan was somewhat surprised but politely thanked her, despite their strained relationship. dr. north said, ¡°don¡¯t let your arm get wet for the next few days. change the dressing every other day, and the stitches will be removed in half a month.¡± ¡°okay,¡± qin wan replied. dr. north looked at little cherry¡¯s pale face, deeply concerned. ¡°qin wan, do you often get injured on missions?¡± ¡°no,¡± qin wan replied. ¡°this was an accident.¡± ¡°this wound is dangerously close to a nerve. if it had gone slightly deeper, you might have lost the use of your arm in the future,¡± dr. north said, gritting her teeth. ¡°you inflicted this injury on yourself.. why?¡± Chapter 349 - Chapter 349:I Don’t Believe It chapter 349:i don¡¯t believe it translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°what are you talking about?¡± qin wan frowned, averting her gaze. ¡°i¡¯m a doctor, i grew up with chen geng since i was a child. i can easily tell the difference between self-inflicted wounds and those inflicted by others. why did you kill xiao min and cut yourself?¡± dr. north felt a mix of heartache and anger. why would she be so careless with her own life? ¡°for the sake of survival!¡± qin wan replied calmly. ¡°trading an arm for a life, 1 think 1 made a good deal. fortunately, i have a sense of proportion. this is just a superficial wound, so i¡¯ve come out ahead.¡± ¡°you!¡± dr. north¡¯ face turned pale. ¡°what¡¯s it to you how 1 got injured? it has nothing to do with you,¡± qin wan furrowed her brow. ¡°i¡¯m not gu ci, you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± dr. north treated gu ci like her own daughter and had always been concerned about her well-being. according to zhang qiang, she had been staying up late with gu ci these past few days to ensure she could sleep well. both of them were medical students with endless topics to discuss, and their temperaments matched. gu ci had little blood relation, but unexpectedly found a motherly figure in dr. north. qin wan saw this and was genuinely happy for gu ci. dr. north, who had been stabbed, silently walked away, leaving qin wan confused. what was going on? the plane had been prepared in advance. li mu and the local police worked together, and they had a police escort all the way to the airport. gu ci had people accompanying her, fearing that xiao min might not give up and would send more assassins. fortunately, the journey had been relatively calm. once they were on the plane, they would be beyond their reach. it all depended on chen liangdong now. gu ci and chen liangdong had a long conversation the night before last and made a deal. she couldn¡¯t interfere in jiang junlin¡¯s affairs anymore, but chen liangdong could. the journey had been peaceful so far, thanks to li mu¡¯s careful arrangements. zhang qiang and ji chi were providing covert protection. it had been a bit of a nail-biter, but ji chi spotted jiang junlin in the airport¡¯s second-floor waiting area. jiang junlin wore a fitted suit, handcuffed, and was being escorted onto the plane. this was a chartered flight by the ministry of state security, and aside from the two prisoners, there were only members of the tiger team on board. ¡°brother¡­¡± ji chi tightly gripped the railing. he recognized jiang junlin¡¯s figure even if he turned to ashes. jiang junlin appeared even thinner, and hadn¡¯t wang changtian taken care of him? well, no one could take better care of him than ji chi himself, after all, jiang junlin was so picky about food and sleep. he must not be eating well or sleeping well. jiang junlin seemed to sense something and looked up toward the second-floor waiting area, but the view was too wide, and he didn¡¯t spot ji chi. li mu approached, saying, ¡°mr. jiang, it¡¯s time to board the plane.¡± jiang junlin nodded and calmly boarded the plane. inside the car on the tarmac, gu ci called chen liangdong, saying, ¡°brother has boarded the plane.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve sent you all the contact information you need.¡± ¡°thank you, uncle chen. the next twelve hours are in your hands.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry!¡± chen liangdong hung up. gu ci glanced at the contact information chen liangdong had provided. all six of them were major players, people she usually only saw on television. gu ci took a deep breath and sent all the information about the dark web to the top-level figures in her country. she directly exposed the secrets of the dark web. the fact that they had deployed a team led by li mu meant that their positions were very high. so she decided to expose everything directly, shining a light on all their actions. this way, their conspiracy would have nowhere to hide, and no matter what they did, they would have to be cautious about public opinion. half an hour later, the news of the dark web¡¯s activities shook the top echelons of the country. chen liangdong was urgently summoned for a meeting. chen liangdong, along with gu ziyu, rushed from one meeting to another, engaging in multiple negotiations and power struggles. eight hours later, things finally settled down. the team that had originally been sent to retrieve jiang junlin was immediately withdrawn. the case was handed over to the ministry of state security for investigation. this was a method that chen liangdong had taught gu ci. as long as she had the courage to expose the dark web, he had a way to take the hot potato of jiang junlin off her hands. gu ci, on the plane, remembered chen liangdong¡¯s words. ¡°you must trust me!¡± gu ci could only go all-in. she didn¡¯t know how things would turn out, but she had to make decisions based on her own judgment. this was the last piece of advice jiang junlin had left her with. he was in custody, and information was restricted, so he relied on gu ci to make judgments based on the bigger picture. whatever decision she made, he accepted it, whether it turned out to be bad or good. he had no regrets about his moves! on the flight back to china, lu zhiyuan, ji chi, and rong li were also on board. ji chi seemed to have closed himself off, not uttering a word since boarding the plane. their flight was two hours later than jiang junlin¡¯s, and he couldn¡¯t help but fear that he would hear news of jiang junlin¡¯s death as soon as they landed. rong li asked, ¡°third master, what do you think miss gu ci will do?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know.¡± gu ci liked to take risks, and she especially enjoyed going all-in. it was a personality trait of hers. she was a gambler who would bet everything on the table, no matter what the stakes. ¡°she has a similar style to yours,¡± rong li raised an eyebrow. ¡°she¡¯s only nineteen, and even if she¡¯s smart, it¡¯s a bit suspicious. it feels like third master has been guiding her behind the scenes during this time.¡± ¡°we¡¯ve broken up!¡± lu zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°can you be as quiet as he is?¡± rong li glanced at ji chi and taunted, ¡°i¡¯m not emotionally attached. the next second, a lover might die, and there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ji chi snorted. rong li added, ¡°1 misspoke. it¡¯s not even a lover, after warming the bed for a few years, you couldn¡¯t even establish the status of lovers.¡± ji chi said, ¡°shut up!¡± ¡°are you planning to have a fight with me on the plane?¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°don¡¯t provoke him.¡± ¡°ji chi, don¡¯t forget, as long as jiang junlin is alive, if you cut ties abruptly, as a man, you shouldn¡¯t waver in your decisions.¡± rong li advised sternly. ¡°if you keep lingering like this, i¡¯ll chop you up.¡± ¡°you should go date someone else and stop staring at me all the time,¡± ji chi grumbled. ¡°if you keep this up, i¡¯ll suspect you have a secret crush on me.¡± lu zhiyuan and rong li both turned to look at him simultaneously, their expressions quite subtle. rong li mocked, ¡°damn, don¡¯t disgust me. do you think i¡¯m a masochist? secretly in love with you?¡± ¡°then why are you always fixated on me?¡± ¡°i have a secret crush on jiang junlin, how about that!¡± ¡°you dare!¡± ji chi exclaimed. lu zhiyuan was amused. rong li looked at ji chi in disbelief, as if he had invaded his territory, like a ferocious beast, and said, ¡°have you gone senile? you believe this too?¡± ¡°then why are you joking about it?¡± ¡°what kind of joke is that?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only if they weren¡¯t on an airplane, rong li seriously wanted to fight ji chi. ji chi, looking at lu zhiyuan¡¯s calm demeanor, grew bolder, ¡°third master, my brother and 1 are like this. so, what about you and gu ci? gu ci is the current master of the dark web. if jiang junlin safely regains control of the dark web, where does that leave gu ci in the dark web? have you completely separated from her too?¡± rong li was speechless. impressive! lu zhiyuan replied calmly, ¡°gu ci and i separated a long time ago.¡± ¡°completely cut ties?¡± ji chi sneered.. ¡°i don¡¯t believe it!¡± Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: He Was Wearing a Ring chapter 350: he was wearing a ring translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°considering gu ci¡¯s determination, would she be willing? lu zhizhuan gazed at the clouds in the sky. whenever there was a glimmer of hope, who would be willing to sever ties completely? city a, airport. chen liangdong, accompanied by dozens of people, including gu ziyu, arrived at the airport two hours early, just in case. the control tower had people monitoring to ensure that jiang junlin would definitely be received. gu ziyu and chen liangdong had been on the move all night without getting a wink of sleep. they leaned on the soft cushions inside the car, while chen liangdong remained vigilant. the weather in city a was pleasant, and the weather forecast indicated a clear day. chen liangdong¡¯s phone rang three times, and he didn¡¯t wake up. it was chen fei who woke him up. chen liangdong glanced at the caller id, rubbed his temples, and answered, walking a few steps away to take the call. gu ziyu opened his eyes, then closed them again, listening to the intermittent sounds carried by the wind. ¡°don¡¯t worry¡­ alright, let¡¯s have a meal together in a few days¡­ this matter is being closely watched by many eyes. it¡¯s truly a delicate situation, isn¡¯t it?¡­ not a problem, it¡¯s part of our job. alright, let¡¯s set a date in a few days.¡± chen liangdong hung up the phone, looking unfazed. in these few hours, he had received five calls similar to this one, all from influential figures, both from the military and city administration, inquiring about jiang junlin. they all spoke favorably of him, and their positions were quite high, overseeing overseas operations. even the special affairs bureau had inquired. chen liangdong said, ¡°the dark web has cooperated in so many operations, most of them overseas. for them, the merits outweigh the risks. it¡¯s only natural for them to protect him. people¡¯s hearts are fickle. besides, he¡¯s not a villain. otherwise, how could li mu have managed to get him on the plane so smoothly this time?¡± ¡°minister lin¡¯s move was quite¡­ clever.¡± gu ziyu raised his eyelids, yawned, and chen fei handed her a bottle of milk. he didn¡¯t comment on these matters. he was a silent and obedient military man, following orders. wei yiming tore open a pack of molten lava cheese bread and handed it to gu ziyu. he accepted it as breakfast, his eyes almost too heavy to keep open. he was in a state of exhaustion. wei yiming asked with concern, ¡°ziyu, you always stay up so late, won¡¯t you stop growing?¡± gu ziyu replied with a muffled voice while munching on the bread,¡±¡­¡± the bread in his hand didn¡¯t taste as good anymore. ¡°i stay up late all the time, shouldn¡¯t you guys reflect on yourselves?¡± gu ziyu complained, his mouth full. wei yiming was in charge of information and was a doctoral student in a university¡¯s defense information department. he smiled and said, ¡°you¡¯re right. it¡¯s all our fault for not being smart enough. you¡¯ve worked hard, and we¡¯ve learned our lesson. the entire information department has decided to pursue postdoctoral studies.¡± chen liangdong didn¡¯t respond. when it came to this matter, he couldn¡¯t help but suppress a chuckle. the national security information officers were quite arrogant, being the cream of the crop. they had passed four rounds of examinations, interviews, competitions, practical tests, and debates. it was a rigorous selection process that bookworms couldn¡¯t even dream of passing. these brothers and sisters, who were extremely high-minded, didn¡¯t expect to be thoroughly defeated by a primary school student. learning from their mistakes, they were all planning to pursue postdoctoral studies! even chen fei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle; they really were quite competitive. luckily, he was a frontline combatant and didn¡¯t need to get caught up in all of that. wei yiming received another phone call, talked for nearly five minutes, and returned with a somewhat strange expression. chen liangdong asked, ¡°whose call was it?¡± ¡°president gu,¡± wei yiming sighed, ¡°he spoke in official language for three minutes and then invited me for tea the day after tomorrow. implicitly, it¡¯s all about protecting mr. jiang.¡± his network was indeed extensive! ¡°in recent years, finance has been thriving, and they¡¯ve formed a close-knit circle. it¡¯s normal,¡± chen liangdong sighed with a headache. he had already warned his subordinates that they would be receiving more calls lately. everyone needed to know what to say and what not to say. to ensure jiang junlin¡¯s safety, apart from the four of them, no one else would have contact with him. once he landed, it would be chen fei taking care of his safety around the clock, including his daily life and meals, all checked by him to ensure safety. after gu ziyu had his breakfast and felt a bit more alert, a voice came through his earpiece, ¡°attention all departments, the plane will land in half an hour. prepare to receive the guest.¡± he immediately perked up. glancing at the time, chen liangdong led the team to the tarmac. this area had been cleared of all other aircraft, and security personnel were everywhere. sniper positions were manned as well. security was exceptionally tight! on the plane, li mu felt strangely nervous. zhou qi and jiang junlin had been quiet throughout the journey. this was supposed to be a very routine mission, but he sensed something unusual. he couldn¡¯t help but glance at jiang junlin. jiang junlin had his eyes closed, seemingly at ease. the announcements about the landing had nothing to do with him. li mu noticed a ring on his middle finger that he kept rotating unconsciously. li mu wondered if it was a wedding ring. it was quite elaborate! the plane finally landed without any surprises. zhou qi and jiang junlin were met by two separate groups. the economic crimes division¡¯s team quickly took zhou qi away. the handover was exceptionally quick, and within twenty minutes, he was gone. then, chen liangdong arrived with his team to receive jiang junlin. jiang junlin smiled as he looked at gu ziyu beside chen liangdong. seeing them, jiang junlin had a clear understanding of the situation. gu ci had already exposed his identity, and gu ziyu and chen liangdong had gained the upper hand. this was currently the best situation. li mu stepped forward to handle the handover with chen liangdong. chen liangdong said, ¡°li mu, this time, i¡¯ll trouble you to escort him all the way to the entrance of the ministry of state security.¡± ¡°no problem, it¡¯s my duty!¡± li mu readily agreed. his team had already made preparations, and jiang junlin was promptly escorted onto an armored vehicle, leaving the airport through a special channel. gu ziyu and jiang junlin didn¡¯t exchange any words. gu ziyu wanted to wait at the airport for gu ci, but he couldn¡¯t afford to miss any information that jiang junlin might convey discreetly. so, he had no choice but to stick closely to chen liangdong as they left together. jiang junlin didn¡¯t initiate conversation, and chen liangdong didn¡¯t ask. both gu ziyu and wei yiming wouldn¡¯t start a conversation either. the journey was filled with silence. li mu¡¯s team continued to provide security, and they arrived safely at the entrance of the ministry of state security. the ministry of state security had its own detention facility. chen liangdong had obtained the highest authorization, and jiang junlin was held on the top floor. chen fei¡¯s team rotated day and night to ensure jiang junlin¡¯s safety. on the plane, jiang junlin hadn¡¯t eaten anything, and he felt a bit of hypoglycemia after landing. chen fei went to buy fast food, a burger, and a cola. when gu ziyu returned from the information room, he saw jiang junlin looking at the cola and burger on the table with a hint of disgust in his expression. gu ziyu rolled his eyes. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only silently, he turned around and brought a security personnel to a building across from the ministry of state security, returning with some cantonese cuisine. jiang junlin, who had been hungry for over ten hours, indeed didn¡¯t touch a sip of cola or a bite of the burger. ¡°i¡¯ll bring some from home for you tomorrow.¡± ¡°you¡¯ve worked hard, baby.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°you should be more considerate, and i wouldn¡¯t have to work hard..¡± Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: He’ll Be Fine chapter 351: he¡¯ll be fine translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin acted like he didn¡¯t care, and gu ziyu was surprised to see him eat so much during their first meeting. he finished almost all of the three dishes and a soup. it wasn¡¯t because he thought the chef at the restaurant across the street was particularly skilled; it was clear he had been hungry for a long time. due to his connection with the jiang family, gu ziyu didn¡¯t stay in the interrogation room for long. after jiang junlin finished his meal, chen liangdong signaled for chen fei to remove jiang junlin¡¯s handcuffs. chen fei didn¡¯t hesitate and unlocked his handcuffs. jiang junlin was quite surprised. chen liangdong said, ¡°mr. jiang, you¡¯ve had a tough ten years.¡± jiang junlin chuckled, ¡°in my position, it¡¯s my duty.¡± chen liangdong started the recording, ¡°then let¡¯s begin.¡± gu ci and lu zhiyuan¡¯s planes landed one after the other. although they boarded slowly, their flight was fast. as they passed through customs together, qin wan looked at rong li with a mischievous smile and made a throat-slitting gesture. rong li was speechless. ji chi asked, ¡°how did you provoke her?¡± ¡°she killed xiao min!¡± ¡°xiao min was killed by her?¡± ji chi paused. ¡°wait, xiao min is dead?¡± rong li sneered, ¡°are you telling me you haven¡¯t recharged on black hawk¡¯s intranet and have been disconnected for so long?¡± ji chi didn¡¯t deign to reply. could he really be blamed for this? rong li hadn¡¯t mentioned it, but she was obviously aware of this major event. ji chi turned to nick and asked, ¡°why didn¡¯t you mention this?¡± ¡°master, you told me not to mention anything about xiao min,¡± nick replied. ji chi shifted the blame, ¡°she¡¯s dead, and something this big should have been mentioned.¡± nick said, ¡°master, 1 understand. 1 won¡¯t do it again.¡± rong li remained silent, and ji chi didn¡¯t actually care about xiao min¡¯s fate. he didn¡¯t want to hear her news because she had betrayed jiang junlin. now that she was under rong li¡¯s command, she still had some use, so he preferred to turn a blind eye. little did he know that qin wan had killed her. ji chi was somewhat surprised but not particularly concerned. lu zhiyuan and gu ci went through customs together, and after exchanging a glance, gu ci nodded coldly and walked away without greeting lu zhiyuan. ji chi and rong li also exchanged glances. their breakup seemed quite similar. news of jiang junlin being taken in for questioning had not leaked, and the stock price of hualan bank remained stable. he had been out of the public eye for two months, but hualan bank continued to operate smoothly. with jiang minghua in control of the situation, gu ci didn¡¯t have to worry about the bank¡¯s condition. upon returning to china, control was no longer in their hands, and all gu ci could do was wait. dr. north took zhang qiang to the triad division, while gu ci and qin wan returned to the blue fields villa. during this time, qin wan served as gu ci¡¯s bodyguard, providing 24-hour protection. after she put down her luggage, she brought the items zhang qiang had scanned at the airport to the jiang family. the jiang family had upgraded their security, with all their personnel coming from the triad. each member had four bodyguards, and no one dared to trouble them. gu ci shared jiang junlin¡¯s situation with jiang minghua and grandpa jiang. with no news of jiang junlin for so many days, grandpa jiang also realized something was amiss. he asked, ¡°is he safe?¡± ¡°he¡¯s in good condition, and ziyu is with the mss. if anything happens, he will inform us,¡± gu ci reassured them. ¡°uncle, grandpa, don¡¯t worry. although we¡¯ve lost control, it doesn¡¯t mean we have no options. my brother will definitely come home safely.¡± ¡°junlin is really¡­ confused!¡± grandpa jiang regretted. ¡°he clearly rejected them back then, so why did he go to the triad against our wishes? it¡¯s a pitfail, once you go in, it¡¯s hard to get out. such confusion.¡± gu ci looked at her tearful grandfather. apart from comforting him, there was nothing else she could do. fortunately, grandpa jiang understood that blame was useless at this point. he asked, ¡°cici, are you in the triad¡¯s dark web now?¡± ¡°yes, grandpa.¡± ¡°since there¡¯s no way to break free, just go all the way. whether it¡¯s your brother or you, you both have responsibilities. the jiang family won¡¯t demand anything based on past merits. but if they think they can make junlin disappear without a trace, that¡¯s impossible. if you ever need me, be sure to tell me. i may be old, but 1 still have some influence.¡± ¡°grandpa, i came to see you to ensure that you don¡¯t act recklessly. if someone comes to you, don¡¯t agree to anything immediately. inform me first,¡± gu ci cautioned them preemptively, preventing them from making rash decisions. gu ziyu had already sent her a video, which gu ci also showed to jiang minghua and grandpa jiang. it was a video of jiang junlin having a meal. ¡°my brother is doing well in mss, at least he¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°he¡¯s lost weight!¡± grandpa jiang wiped his tears. ¡°don¡¯t worry, cici. we understand the situation. remember, you also need to stay safe. if they find out that you¡¯re managing affairs behind the scenes, i¡¯m afraid it could be detrimental to you.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, grandpa!¡± gu ci¡¯s gaze was clear and determined. ¡°1 know what to do.¡± aunt and grandma were not at home, so gu ci took qin wan and left. when they returned to the blue fields villa, gu ziyu had already come back. as soon as he saw her, gu ziyu dashed towards her. ¡°mom, i¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± gu ci¡¯s heart softened, and she hugged her precious son who had come running. ¡°mom missed you too!¡± gu ziyu noticed that she had lost even more weight, and it concerned him, but he didn¡¯t say anything. he twirled in front of gu ci and asked, ¡°mom, do you see any changes in me?¡± ¡°have you gained weight?¡± gu ziyu blinked. he had actually gained four pounds. ¡°mom¡¯s got sharp eyes, as always.¡± gu ci laughed and brought gu ziyu inside. he also greeted qin wan, and there was a security team sent by zhang qiang outside the blue fields villa. ¡°i¡¯ve been staying at grandma¡¯s during the new year, but now that mom¡¯s back, i¡¯ll come home.¡± ¡°sure, just let grandma know.¡± ¡°how¡¯s big brother at the mss?¡± qin wan perked up her ears. this was what she most wanted to hear. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only gu ziyu replied, ¡°as soon as he got off the plane, he went to the mss and was locked on the top floor. chen fei leads a squad to protect him. he¡¯s very safe. you can rest assured. the old man knows his limits, and no one can take him away from the mss.¡± gu ci breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°has big brother conveyed any messages?¡± gu ziyu shook his head. mss was full of surveillance, making it not easy to pass on messages. ¡°mom, don¡¯t worry too much about this. leave it to the old man. there¡¯s very little you can do now. don¡¯t expose yourself. just handle the triad¡¯s affairs in an orderly manner.¡± ¡°if he¡¯s in any danger, let me know. i¡¯ll do whatever it takes to save him,¡± qin wan said. ¡°even if it¡¯s a dangerous situation, i¡¯ll still go.¡± gu ziyu fell silent for a moment. ¡°my intuition tells me he won¡¯t die. rest assured..¡± Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: The Tacit Understanding Between Siblings chapter 352: the tacit understanding between siblings translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation although chen liangdong didn¡¯t say anything, gu ziyu could understand his concerns and plans. ¡°uncle will be back safely before the lantern festival.¡± ¡°really?¡± gu ci exclaimed with joy. gu ziyu nodded. ¡°mom, trust me. you¡¯ve been working hard. take this time to rest and eat well. the baby will handle it.¡± dr. north also arrived at the blue fields villa that night. she explained the situation within the gang and the ongoing requests for gang assistance. she compiled everything and handed it over to gu ci for review. after a brief contemplation, gu ci said softly, ¡°here¡¯s the plan: cut off all communication between the gang and the outside world, suspend any operational support and technical assistance.¡± dr. north was shocked. ¡°can we do that?¡± ¡°i¡¯ve made the decision, and i¡¯ll take responsibility for it,¡± gu ci said. ¡°for ongoing operations, don¡¯t interrupt them. wrap them up perfectly. then, three days from now, the gang won¡¯t participate in any actions. if my brother is detained for a day, the gang will disconnect for a day. everyone will stay quiet. the finance department should focus on making money, and other matters are not our concern.¡± qin wan thought to herself that the gang¡¯s internal network had never been disconnected since its establishment. gu ci indeed had a lot of courage. this was also a form of invisible pressure! after dinner, gu ci went for a walk and consulted with dr. north. they strolled within the villa, and qin wan stayed on the balcony, observing the surroundings to ensure safety. gu ziyu brought a cup of coffee for qin wan. ¡°sister, why aren¡¯t you joining them for a walk?¡± ¡°gu ci is providing psychological counseling, and it¡¯s not suitable to disturb her,¡± qin wan replied. gu ziyu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°sister, do you think gu ci considers dr. north her mom?¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± gu ziyu felt a little guilty, considering that qin wan was her real daughter. he couldn¡¯t help but feel like his mother was stealing her motherly love. he felt a bit uneasy. qin wan said, ¡°without a blood connection, can they still be considered family?¡± ¡°if there¡¯s a bond of love, blood ties don¡¯t matter,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°my mom had distant blood relations, but they treated her like a jinx. my mom and jinjin have no blood ties, yet they¡¯re closer than sisters.¡± in this world, relationships were based on genuine feelings. while blood relations were important, love held its own significance. ¡°dr. north cares about you too,¡± gu ziyu said. ¡°she made tonight¡¯s medicinal meal, which is nourishing and replenishing your blood. i guess it¡¯s for you.¡± ¡°she did it for gu ci,¡± qin wan replied, not believing that dr. north would go to the trouble of making a four-hour medicinal meal just for her. she felt distant from herself. gu ziyu chuckled as he covered his mouth. ¡°you¡¯re still a sniper with such poor observational skills. did my mom take a single bite of the medicinal meal tonight? she doesn¡¯t like the taste of chinese medicine at all.¡± qin wan thought for a moment. it seemed like gu ci had taken most of the meal because she enjoyed medicinal food. ¡°why would she make a several-hour-long medicinal meal for herself when she¡¯s perfectly fine?¡± ¡°because she likes you?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t see that!¡± gu ziyu pondered for a moment. ¡°love is sometimes hard to express?¡± ¡°little guy, why are you¡­ why are you trying to matchmake me and dr. north?¡± gu ziyu said with an air of maturity, ¡°i want mom to receive a lot of love, and 1 want everyone around her to receive love too.¡± ¡°you¡¯re quite the thoughtful kid!¡± qin wan chuckled. early the next morning, chen fei came to the blue fields villa to pick up gu ziyu for work and brought a message. ¡°miss gu ci, the director wants you to go to the mss.¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci inquired. chen fei was concise and loyal, shaking his head. ¡°he didn¡¯t say.¡± gu ziyu and gu ci exchanged glances, and dr. north whispered, ¡°i¡¯ll accompany you.¡± ¡°is that okay?¡± gu ci asked chen fei. chen fei nodded. ¡°it¡¯s fine.¡± dr. north and gu ci both started packing their things. gu ziyu pulled chen fei aside. ¡°what¡¯s the reason for sending her there?¡± ¡°it¡¯s about the overseas special operations team, and it has significant implications,¡± chen fei explained. gu ziyu understood. his mother must have cut off the gang¡¯s dark web connection, and if that were true, it would have a significant impact. the mss also relied on the gang¡¯s assistance, and many frontline operatives needed their support. as it was a matter of national security, qin wan didn¡¯t accompany them. after arriving at the mss, chen liangdong kindly said, ¡°you haven¡¯t seen jiang junlin for a while. you can go meet him.¡± gu ci was surprised and delighted. ¡°can 1 see my brother?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯re very democratic here,¡± chen liangdong said with a light smile. ¡°some other people will come to see jiang junlin later.¡± gu ci and chen fei exchanged a knowing smile, and she said, ¡°thank you, director chen.¡± chen liangdong led gu ci to meet jiang junlin, while dr. north stayed outside and didn¡¯t enter. her gaze briefly passed over chen liangdong, appearing murky and mysterious, but it quickly returned to calm. at this level, it was indeed very difficult for ordinary people to meet someone like chen liangdong. ¡°miss. qin, please wait in the guest lounge while gu ci talks with mr. jiang. they might have a lengthy conversation,¡± chen liangdong politely suggested. ¡°alright,¡± dr. north replied and headed to the adjacent guest lounge. the guest lounge had a clear view of the national security¡¯s information hall, and dr. north looked out the window at the government office building across the street. the entire area was heavily guarded. her heart was pounding, and she felt an inexplicable nervousness. gu ziyu and chen liangdong were both outside the monitoring room, listening to the conversation between gu ci and jiang junlin. gu ci brought some snacks and smiled gently, ¡°yesterday when i came back home, grandpa asked me to bring these. they are pastries made by aunt gui. i thought you might not be used to outside food, so i brought these pastries.¡± they were various cantonese dim sum treats like cherry blossom pastries, mung bean cakes, and chestnut cakes¡ªall of which jiang junlin loved. aunt gui knew his taste well, and the pastries were aromatic and flavorful. jiang junlin chuckled as he took a piece of chestnut cake and asked, ¡°why did you come?¡± ¡°how¡¯s home?¡± jiang junlin inquired. ¡°everything at home is fine. grandpa has lost some weight but is still strong. 1 didn¡¯t get to see aunt and grandma; they went for afternoon tea with their friends. later, i called them, and grandma complained that her pet cat got lost.¡± ¡°lost?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°grandma was very sad. she picked up a stray cat in the garden, fed it water and meat every day, took it to the vet, and took care of it meticulously. but who knew, the cat didn¡¯t appreciate it and ran away. what¡¯s worse, grandma saw it next door at the neighbor¡¯s, being all affectionate and playful.¡± ¡°that¡¯s truly an ungrateful cat.¡± ¡°that¡¯s not all. a couple of days later, the cat came back to our doorstep, and grandma, with a determined heart, closed the door and didn¡¯t let it in, no matter how pitifully it cried outside.¡± jiang junlin twirled the ring on his finger and chuckled. ¡°grandma did the right thing. such ungrateful cats deserve to starve.¡± ¡°brother, when can you come back home?¡± gu ci asked.. Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: I’m Kind, I Don’t Kill chapter 353: i¡¯m kind, i don¡¯t kill translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin leaned back, looking at the camera, and smiled calmly, ¡°the matter is resolved, so naturally, i¡¯ll go back.¡± ¡°brother, did they bully you?¡± gu ci looked at his thin face, which had really lost weight, as if he had been abused for months. ¡°being held captive by ji chi for forty-seven days, then escaping, and then being locked up in prison¡­ if you ask if it was comfortable, it definitely wasn¡¯t, but if you ask if 1 was bullied, not really. they all served me well with good food and drink,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°my treatment in prison was quite good.¡± wei yiming secretly thought that the treatment was exceptionally good, even having meals specified at restaurants with designated dishes. ¡°take care of the family. you are the largest shareholder of hualan bank. if hualan bank faces any crisis and you clash with my father, don¡¯t worry about him. you boldly do what you need to do; i believe in you!¡± jiang junlin hinted at something. gu ci knew he wasn¡¯t talking about hualan bank but rather the underworld dark web. even if there were recordings, no one could guess what he was saying. ¡°what if i can¡¯t handle it, and hualan goes bankrupt?¡± jiang junlin thought for a moment and smiled gently, ¡°hualan bank has a strong foundation. it can withstand your extravagance. if it really goes bankrupt, let it go with the wind. money is just an external thing; someday, it will come back.¡± gu ci understood, ¡°brother, don¡¯t worry, 1 have a plan.¡± jiang junlin looked at gu ci, who had also lost weight, with a hint of concern and said, ¡°eat well and sleep well. if lu zhiyuan bullies you, wait for me to come out, and i¡¯ll help you get revenge.¡± ¡°¡­okay!¡± wei yiming listened throughout but didn¡¯t hear any useful information; they were just chatting about family matters. only gu ziyu knew that granny ma was allergic to cat fur, so having a cat at home was nonsense. ¡°brother, 1¡¯11 wait for you to come home.¡± jiang junlin nodded, and gu ci left the surveillance room. wei yiming took a glance at the young woman in front of him, a medical student at a university, nineteen years old this year, and jiang junlin¡¯s cousin. she had seen jiang junlin, so wouldn¡¯t she want to know what had happened to him? in fact, it wasn¡¯t surprising that wei yiming was confused. gu ci had replaced jiang junlin to manage the underworld dark web, and only chen liangdong and gu ziyu knew about it. wei yiming couldn¡¯t understand why chen liangdong had asked gu ci to see jiang junlin. after gu ci came out, chen liangdong brought her to his office, and gu ziyu called dr. north over. morning flight was monitoring outside. chen liangdong said, ¡°jiang junlin is indeed a hot potato. he has been in the mss for only one night, and three parties have called to request his release, all of higher rank than me. it¡¯s very difficult for me to keep him at the mss. cici, do me a favor and don¡¯t sever ties with the underworld dark web.¡± ¡°uncle chen, i¡¯ve always respected you. you are just, righteous, and have been a mentor in ziyu¡¯s life. 1 love ziyu like a son, so 1 hold great admiration for you. normally, 1 would agree to whatever you ask, no matter how difficult it is. however, in this matter, 1 can only promise you that if my brother is safe, everything will remain as it is. do you know? they sent the tiger team to guard my brother, and we¡¯ve made many arrangements. if a conflict arises, there will be bloodshed. the agents trained by the underworld dark web are no less capable than the tiger team. but my brother said that the guns of the underworld dark web should never be aimed at our own people, so he ordered me to cancel the deployment.¡± gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°i was favored by my parents since 1 was young, and my personality is quite radical. i¡¯m not a person of virtue and righteousness. my belief in patriotism and righteousness is weak. i¡¯m neither from a military family nor have 1 been specially trained. i¡¯m just an ordinary person among the masses. matters of patriotism and righteousness are for heroes. i only seek the well-being of my loved ones. for that, i¡¯m willing to do anything. my brother is the ideal leader in your eyes for the underworld dark web, not me.¡± chen liangdong silently thought that gu ci was indeed a genius medical student from a university, clear-minded, and she played the emotional card first, then introspected, calmly telling him that it was difficult to comply with his request. ¡°you and jiang junlin talked about the stray cat and grandma¡¯s story. 1 guess it was about you severing ties with the underworld dark web. cici, doing this will cost many lives,¡± chen liangdong advised with a heavy tone. ¡°isn¡¯t this a moral dilemma?¡± dr. north suddenly spoke. ¡°without the underworld dark web, are you blind to what¡¯s happening? can¡¯t you operate overseas without it? if lives are lost, do you blame us for not providing assistance? the master of the underworld dark web is locked up here by you, barely able to move. yet, you blame us for not offering assistance, which doesn¡¯t make sense, does it? cici took on the responsibility in a crisis and took over the underworld dark web. she hasn¡¯t delayed a single thing, and she has cooperated with all necessary actions. we haven¡¯t wronged anyone. if you truly acknowledge that we¡¯re gone, are you blind? in that case, release our master.¡± chen liangdong, well aware that he was in the wrong, had a different standpoint. ¡°1 didn¡¯t capture jiang junlin. 1 put in tremendous effort to bring him to national security, and in these past few days, i¡¯ve faced immense pressure to ensure his safety. 1 believe that for this, you should feel gratitude. second, 1 am the director of national security. every soldier on the frontlines of national security is a hero. i must do everything to ensure their safety. they fight on the frontline, shed blood, and make sacrifices. because of them, you can comfortably be a doctor, cici can be a student without worries, and ziyu can have a carefree childhood. they shouldn¡¯t be dragged into any disputes.¡± dr. north frowned. right and wrong were subjective, and everyone had their own perspective. gu ci said, ¡°uncle chen, regarding the announcement about cutting off ties with the underworld dark web in three days and ongoing missions, we will cooperate until the end.¡± ¡°cici, you¡¯re not familiar with the frontlines. our soldiers entrust their lives to each other because of trust. if trust is lost, one wrong step could mean risking their lives. once this announcement is made, trust will erode, and who would dare to trust the underworld dark web?¡± chen liangdong replied. gu ziyu, standing in a neutral position, said, ¡°old man, sister, how about this? since it¡¯s set for three days from now, let¡¯s remove the announcement and provide a reasonable explanation. give us three days to handle our affairs. three days from now, if jiang junlin can¡¯t walk out of the mss, we won¡¯t interfere with whatever you do.¡± ¡°alright, three days!¡± gu ci seemed to be waiting for gu ziyu to say this and then asked chen liangdong with a smile, ¡°uncle chen, is what ziyu says acceptable?¡± chen liangdong glanced at ziyu and thought, ¡°this kid, three days is too short!¡± but once ziyu had spoken, chen liangdong had to agree, saying, ¡°alright, three days it is.¡± ¡°okay, then i¡¯ll also release an announcement. the underworld will say that the disconnection in three days is due to server maintenance and upgrade, causing a half-day network outage,¡± gu ci suggested. chen liangdong and gu ziyu were left in shock by this unexpected move. that was such a harsh move. was mom doing this on purpose? gu ci asked, ¡°uncle chen, can i know who it is? who wants my brother¡¯s power so badly that she¡¯s willing to kill for it?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only chen liangdong chuckled, ¡°didn¡¯t jiang junlin tell you already?¡± ¡°you can¡¯t hide anything from uncle chen. i¡¯ll just wait for good news then,¡± gu ci replied. chen liangdong hinted, ¡°cici, remember to exercise restraint in your actions.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry, i have a kind heart. i can¡¯t do things like killing and setting fires,¡± gu ci assured him.. Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: He Was Furious Out of Humiliation chapter 354: he was furious out of humiliation translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu looked at her with a smile that may or may not be a smile, ¡°mom, who just claimed they¡¯re not a good person?¡± dr. north left with gu ci, and chen liangdong watched their backs, deep in thought. gu ziyu clicked his tongue and said, ¡°old man, you¡¯re quite cunning. i never thought you¡¯d be so unconventional.¡± chen liangdong continued to watch their backs, and gu ziyu waved a hand in front of him, ¡°what are you looking at?¡± ¡°i feel like i¡¯ve seen her somewhere.¡± ¡°who?¡± ¡°dr. north¡­¡± chen liangdong felt a strange familiarity with dr. north the moment he saw her in the hospital. it was like he had seen her somewhere before, but he couldn¡¯t remember. the image of her leaving with gu ci almost overlapped with a memory from his past but was also different. after listening to their conversation, dr. north understood chen liangdong¡¯s intentions. he had asked gu ci to come here to make jiang junlin tell her who wanted him dead. chen liangdong reminded her to be prudent, meaning¡­ no taking lives! gu ci and chen liangdong exchanged terms, with a three-day deadline. when clever minds clash, there¡¯s always a strategy. ¡°who is it?¡± ¡°lin qing!¡± gu ci narrowed her eyes, and dr. north¡¯s pupils contracted. ¡°damn!¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°this person is lin qing. he used to be chen liangdong¡¯s partner and close friend. he¡­ i don¡¯t want to bring up the past. i¡¯ll check his background first.¡± it had been many years since she had heard that name. gu ci returned to the blue fields villa, and qin wan had already found information on lin qing. meanwhile, lu zhiyuan also obtained firsthand information on lin qing. lin qing was fifty-three years old, the eldest son-in-law of the zhang family, and held a higher position than chen liangdong. rong li raised an eyebrow as she looked at lin qing¡¯s profile, ¡°why would he be interested in the dark web? he¡¯s not connected to jiang junlin.¡± ji chi¡¯s gaze was dark and unforgiving. whoever it was, they were his enemy. at least now, this person had surfaced. ¡°human desires are boundless. the dark web is a powerful tool, and everyone wants a piece of it,¡± lu zhiyuan said casually. ¡°the main thing is that the dark web has a unique feature. it¡¯s not publicly accessible, only under jiang junlin¡¯s control. if jiang junlin¡¯s stance is not neutral enough and he deviates, it could lead to trouble. moreover, he wants to make a name for himself. he¡¯s the son-in-law of the zhang family, not their son. he¡¯s fifty-three this year, still relatively young, but there¡¯s only a limited number of positions available. in peacetime, it¡¯s not easy to achieve merit. he¡¯s also responsible for handling special situations. if he wants to advance further, he needs to achieve something. the dark web can help him build a reputation. if he succeeds, it¡¯s a step up the ladder and a source of pride for the entire family.¡± ¡°zhang and jiang families have a good relationship, long-standing friends. jiang junlin even calls him ¡®uncle,¡¯ and he¡¯s been close friends with jiang minghua for many years. during their marriage, he almost married jiang mingyue. i don¡¯t know why, but he ended up marrying the zhang family¡¯s girl,¡± li jiang added some gossip, delving deeper, ¡°oh, when they got married, jiang mingyue almost stole the limelight at the wedding.¡± jiang mingyue was gu ci¡¯s biological mother, sparking lu zhiyuan¡¯s interest. ¡°what did she do?¡± ¡°she had a group of young masters perform a striptease at the wedding.¡± lu zhiyuan, rong li, and ji chi were all stunned. these young masters were probably the ones they were thinking of, right? li jiang added the final touch to the gossip, ¡°then the bride chased after her and they had a fight. they both fell into the swimming pool, single-handedly ruining their wedding. it caused quite a stir at the time.¡± ji chi, curious, asked, ¡°why?¡± ¡°that part remains a mystery. that¡¯s all the juicy gossip 1 could dig up,¡± li jiang did his best, ¡°lin qing and chen liangdong are old buddies from the same compound. they grew up together wearing the same pants. they even went to the battlefield together and faced life and death. before they got married, their relationship was rock solid. but after marriage, chen liangdong and lin qing became estranged. chen liangdong remained unmarried for many years, and later they went their separate ways. there were rumors in the industry that chen liangdong secretly admired the zhang family girl, and lin qing snatched her away. so, the brothers became enemies.¡± ¡°what a mess. how many women is he involved with, anyway?¡± rong li was getting annoyed. ¡°is he some kind of heartthrob? are all women crazy about him? is he better-looking than third master and ji chi?¡± ¡°it¡¯s definitely not that!¡± li jiang showed them a photo of lin qing when he was younger. rong li raised an eyebrow, ¡°this plain-looking guy? women fought over him like this? are they blind?¡± ji chi nodded in agreement. lu zhiyuan glanced at the photo. lin qing was around 1.75 meters tall, with a very refined appearance, a true gentleman. rong li shrugged, ¡°so, he wants to get his hands on the dark web but can¡¯t find a reason. now that jiang junlin and ji chi are entangled in this mess, jeopardizing the interests of the group, he wants to take their place?¡± lu zhiyuan nodded, ¡°that¡¯s right.¡± rong li glanced at ji chi, ¡°the classic femme fatale, and he certainly fits the bill with his looks.¡± ¡°get lost!¡± ji chi was annoyed. ¡°now that we know who¡¯s behind this, it¡¯s easier to handle.¡± ¡°you don¡¯t need to act recklessly. wait for gu ci¡¯s information. chen liangdong invited gu ci to the mss today. his intentions are not that simple. this is their matter; we should just observe for now,¡± lu zhiyuan calmly advised. ¡°don¡¯t disrupt gu ci¡¯s plans.¡± ji chi looked out the window with a menacing gaze, while rong li coldly snorted, ¡°jealous, aren¡¯t you? isn¡¯t it painful not having any official status? you can¡¯t even visit her in prison. are you jealous?¡± ¡°shut up!¡± ji chi¡¯s true feelings were exposed, and he was furious. ¡°i¡¯m not!¡± ¡°oh, really mature!¡± rong li taunted. ¡°if gu ci weren¡¯t third master¡¯s sweetheart, you would have chopped her up a long time ago.¡± ji chi retorted, ¡°shut up, you¡¯re really noisy.¡± rong li said, ¡°third master, look, he¡¯s getting angry out of embarrassment.¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him with a smirk, ¡°is that so?¡± ji chi mumbled, ¡°well, occasionally.¡± rong li burst into laughter, ¡°and you admit it?¡± ji chi kicked at him, ¡°shut up, you¡¯re really annoying.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only rong li teased, ¡°third master, see? he¡¯s losing his temper.¡± lu zhiyuan watched them play around. in reality, rong li enjoyed teasing ji chi, as it was rare to see him crack a smile. ¡°third master, now that lin qing¡¯s plans have been exposed, how do you think this matter will be resolved?¡± ji chi asked. he didn¡¯t have as clear a grasp of the domestic situation as lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t fond of the domestic business environment, which was why he had accepted the black hawk contract back then and had been unwilling to join the lu family¡¯s financial empire. the close ties between capital and the government made it too restrictive. however, in the course of human development spanning thousands of years, china had been a global leader for 4,800 years. it had only sunk and allowed itself to be exploited over the past two centuries and was now in the second position. as long as there were visionary businessmen, they would heavily invest in chinese capital. while he didn¡¯t like the business environment, he had a positive outlook on assets. over the past few years, he had gradually cultivated his network within the country and now had his own survival system in place.. Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Friendship with a Plastic Flower chapter 355: friendship with a plastic flower translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°lin qing¡¯s desire for the underworld dark web couldn¡¯t have been a spur-of-the-moment decision. with such meticulous planning, it must have been in the works for three or four years. if i were lin qing, wanting to access the underworld dark web, i¡¯d definitely send an intermediary to sound out jiang junlin¡¯s attitude first. after jiang junlin¡¯s resolute refusal, he would start looking for jiang junlin¡¯s weaknesses. since they have an unclear relationship, lin qing aims to catch jiang junlin¡¯s vulnerabilities. would jiang junlin be oblivious to this?¡± lu zhiyuan asked ji chi, ¡°what do you think? would jiang junlin have no defenses at all?¡± ji chi shook his head and said in a very matter-of-fact manner, ¡°he must have anticipated the worst-case scenario and would have some counter measures in place.¡± ¡°let¡¯s wait!¡± lu zhiyuan said, ¡°before the lantern festival, this matter will surely be resolved.¡± ji chi furrowed his brow keenly and asked, ¡°third master, this matter has nothing to do with you, right?¡± lu zhiyuan countered, ¡°what if it does?¡± ji chi hesitated. gu ci invited jiang minghua to the blue fields villa and inquired about lin qing. jiang minghua was very sensitive and asked, ¡°is it lin qing who wants the underworld dark web?¡± ¡°uncle¡­ he¡¯s your best friend, right?¡± jiang minghua was greatly shaken but quickly regained his composure and began discussing his relationship with lin qing. ¡°lin qing and i aren¡¯t childhood friends; he grew up in the same courtyard as chen liangdong. we met during middle school and got along very well. we¡¯ve been close friends since childhood. when i got married, he was my best man. when hualan bank faced several crises during the financial storm, he generously helped us. he¡¯s been on the rise, and our families have supported each other. he even wanted to be junlin¡¯s godfather back then. how could it be him? our families often went on trips and had gatherings together. junlin and linnan, even his daughter, zhang jiaqi, had a good relationship. i can¡¯t believe it would be him.¡± dr. north said, ¡°you may know someone¡¯s face, but not their heart. he and chen liangdong were childhood friends and had a deeper connection than you did. however, they had a falling out and became estranged. have you never asked why?¡± ¡°he said they had different political views, couldn¡¯t agree, and went their separate ways. and¡­¡± jiang minghua awkwardly added, ¡°lin qing mentioned that chen liangdong liked zhang jiaqi, who is his wife. to this day, she¡¯s not married, and their meetings would only increase the awkwardness, gradually leading to estrangement.¡± dr. north was taken aback and clenched her fist. he had never married all these years. had the love of his life married someone else? gu ci didn¡¯t care about the romantic affairs of the older generation, but she recalled the refined figure of chen liangdong. a man of such noble character, would he really be interested in a married woman, maintaining his purity for decades? qin wan curiously asked, ¡°cici¡¯s mom also had a complicated relationship with lin qing, didn¡¯t she? she even caused a scene at lin qing¡¯s wedding. lin qing seems to have quite a way with women, spreading his affections everywhere.¡± ¡°who said that!¡± jiang minghua said helplessly. ¡°mingyue has only one flaw, she fell in love with gu wenliang, which wasn¡¯t a suitable match. my mother strongly opposed her marrying gu wenliang. lin qing was fond of mingyue at the time and wanted to take advantage of the situation. i was fine with it because lin qing was a better choice than gu wenliang in every way. later, zhang jiaqi fell in love with lin qing at first sight. he pursued mingyue for a long time but lost patience and agreed to zhang jiaqi¡¯s advances. but since we had more interactions, lin qing often visited my house. for him, mingyue was an unattainable ideal, which always caused some confusion. zhang jiaqi had a fiery temper and misunderstood lin qing, and rumors started that mingyue was interfering with their relationship. mingyue also misunderstood, thinking it was zhang jiaqi¡¯s doing, so they fought whenever they met. the feud escalated. she was spoiled by us and couldn¡¯t stand the humiliation, so she had dozens of young men perform a strip dance at their wedding. zhang jiaqi used to visit the young men¡¯s club a lot before marriage, and she couldn¡¯t bear the humiliation, leading to a big scene. the jiang and zhang families have been close for generations; otherwise, this matter wouldn¡¯t have been resolved.¡± gu ci was speechless. qin wan commented, ¡°drama alert, cici. like mother, like daughter.¡± jiang minghua continued, ¡°because of this incident, zhang jiaqi spread rumors after the wedding, jealous that mingyue had a happy marriage. so, it gradually subsided after mingyue married gu wenliang. for me and lin qing, it was a trivial farce. although zhang jiaqi deviated from the path a bit, she was raised by the zhang family, and her character wasn¡¯t too bad. the rumors were spread by troublemakers, not her, and she has gotten along very well with your aunt over the years.¡± gu ci listened in silence to her mother¡¯s lively past and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°uncle, what if lin qing initially wanted the underworld dark web to get close to you? if 1 remember correctly, before his uncle came to see you, you and lin qing were already good friends.¡± ¡°but, cici, before his uncle came to us, lin qing and 1 had been friends for many years.¡± ¡°but now he wants to take the boss¡¯s life!¡± qin wan said. ¡°your friendship is as fragile as plastic flowers, not worth a dime.¡± jiang minghua felt uncomfortable. there are few friends in life who have known each other for almost forty years. why would lin qing want the underworld dark web and, in turn, junlin¡¯s life? when there were happy events in the zhang or lin families, he and junlin would attend to offer their congratulations. junlin also respected him. ¡°does lin qing have only one daughter?¡± jiang minghua nodded. ¡°lin nan is his only daughter. she¡¯s currently a junior clerk, and her position may not be high, but she holds significant power. she¡¯s quite steady. cici, what are you planning?¡± ¡°uncle, don¡¯t worry. i¡¯m just asking for information about lin qing,¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but remind him. ¡°uncle, is there anything else you can tell us about lin qing? the more information we have, the better our chances.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only jiang minghua, not one to be obtuse, hesitated for a moment before divulging, ¡°after zhang jiaqi gave birth to nan nan, it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to have more children. lin qing wanted a son, so he had an extramarital affair and has a pair of twin sons studying in college.¡± qin wan sneered, ¡°he still favors sons over daughters? what¡¯s wrong with having a daughter?¡± jiang minghua spoke softly, ¡°lin qing¡¯s parents passed away early, and he was raised by his uncle. their family was small, and his uncle¡¯s son was a frontline special agent who died on duty overseas. lin¡¯s family was left with only him. after his uncle¡¯s death, the lin family didn¡¯t have much foundation, so he took his work very seriously, never engaged in corruption, and was determined to climb the ranks. he wanted a son because he didn¡¯t want the lin family line to die out.¡± gu ci furrowed her brow, ¡°he¡¯s already the eldest son-in-law of colonel zhang, with a wide network of contacts and resources. why is he so eager to make a name for himself?¡± ¡°colonel zhang has three sons-in-law. the second and third sons-in-law are younger and have better prospects than him. colonel zhang also has a biological son who competed for a position with the mu family three years ago and lost. colonel zhang didn¡¯t use his influence to help him, and even afterward, he took his son to visit the mu family to offer congratulations. this has been a thorn in his side.¡± jiang minghua couldn¡¯t help but reveal, ¡°he works in an office, and competing with the second son of the mu family for the position of colonel is impossible. if he really took that position, colonel zhang would be drowned in criticism. because of this, the mu family has been rising rapidly in recent years, and it has always been a sore spot for him..¡± Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: A Reversal chapter 356: a reversal translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation qin wan frowned, ¡°so he¡¯s eager to make a name for himself, wants to control the dark web, and he¡¯s quite the dreamer. if he¡¯s capable, he shouldn¡¯t just sit in his office and give orders. he should be on the frontlines to see how long he can survive there. the boss has only been away from the frontlines for the past three years. three years ago, he used to handle many missions himself. he said that only by experiencing it himself can he understand the needs of frontline operations and the psychology of those working there, and only then can he provide better support. he¡¯s not doing anything but wants to take credit for the work of others for so many years. disgusting!¡± qin wan was so angry her face turned red! gu ci called gu ziyu and asked him for a small favor. after hanging up the phone, gu ziyu consulted chen liangdong. after a brief moment of thought, chen liangdong nodded, ¡°just don¡¯t make it too obvious.¡± ¡°alright!¡± after hanging up the phone, gu ci organized lin qing¡¯s information. jiang minghua was disheartened and hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock of the situation. he held onto a glimmer of hope and asked, ¡°cici, could it be a mistake?¡± ¡°uncle, it¡¯s not a mistake. lin qing will confront the national security in half an hour.¡± gu ci also received a message from gu ziyu. chen liangdong acted swiftly and didn¡¯t want to delay any longer. gu ci said, ¡°uncle, could you introduce me to colonel zhang?¡± ¡°you want to meet colonel zhang, the commander?¡± gu ci nodded, ¡°yes.¡± jiang junlin and lin qing sat in the interrogation room, with a one-way glass separating them from a group of high-ranking officials who were listening to the interrogation. the dark web was not a secret organization; many government agencies had cooperated with them. they knew that the dark web operated outside of their jurisdiction, providing money, intelligence, rescue, and the assistance of the ¡°black hawk eye system¡± to overseas agents, which had contributed significantly to the success of overseas agents. the dark web wielded significant power; they could analyze missions and even decide whether a mission should continue. they had almost complete control over the activities of overseas agents, while also providing a continuous flow of funds and ensuring a stable market environment for the domestic financial market. during the financial crisis, they even had the power to request substantial funds. they were wealthy and influential, but their master was jiang junlin, the president of hualan bank, a fact known to very few. the high-ranking officials sitting outside the interrogation room had an average age of around 55. they had always assumed that the person in charge of the dark web was around their age, but they were shocked to find out that it was jiang junlin, who was not even thirty years old. in terms of shock value, this revelation was even more astonishing than chen liangdong hiring the young boy, gu ziyu. chen liangdong and gu ziyu had seen most of their faces before, so gu ziyu recognized them all. gu ziyu accompanied them, standing outside and watching. apart from them and the information officers recording the proceedings, all other information was isolated. inside the interrogation room, chen liangdong and lin qing sat on one side, while jiang junlin sat on the other. chen liangdong placed a computer in front of jiang junlin and asked him to confirm his identity, ¡°mr. jiang, please confirm your identity.¡± jiang junlin entered the password, underwent iris and fingerprint verification, and logged into the dark web. the dark web had eleven separate departments, each with its own set of instructions. after gu ci took over the dark web, the financial center and information security remained in a silent state. with jiang junlin absent, the heads of the financial center and information security center were also silent. the entire departments had disconnected from the dark web, and only a small team of information officers from the black hawk eye system system cooperated with gu ci¡¯s actions. the two main departments were completely silent. jiang junlin projected the instructions onto a large screen, initiated video conference calls with all department heads, and within a minute, all eleven of them had gathered, confirming jiang junlin¡¯s identity. once confirmed, jiang junlin cut off the connection, and they fell silent once again. chen liangdong, although not familiar with the dark web system, could clearly see from jiang junlin¡¯s actions that the jiang family was indeed at the heart of the dark web. they operated with utmost precision, and jiang junlin was unquestionably their central figure. ¡°identity confirmed, he¡¯s the lord of the dark web,¡± chen liangdong said. lin qing smiled at jiang junlin, ¡°junlin, this is really a misunderstanding. i had no knowledge of the dark web¡¯s existence. my team in paris suffered heavy casualties, with only one survivor. they were sent to track down ji chi, but a firefight erupted, leaving only one person alive. based on his report, you and ji chi were together and fired at them. in my anger, i sent two more teams to capture ji chi, thinking it was a misunderstanding. i didn¡¯t expect them to run into you again. in order to ensure ji chi¡¯s survival, you willingly let yourself be arrested. i had li mu lead the team to bring you back to clarify the shooting incident.¡± jiang junlin also knew that lin qing would have a perfect explanation. he smiled and said, ¡°the dark web and black hawk have been in constant conflict for many years. during the financial war, ji chi imprisoned me in his home and tortured me in various ways. that day, 1 had a bout of gastritis, and ji chi took me to the hospital. my bodyguards tried to rescue me on the way, but unexpectedly, a group of mercenaries came after us. my people never encountered these killers. they didn¡¯t reveal their identities, they didn¡¯t issue warnings, and at the time, 1 was unconscious the whole way, dragged without firing a single shot. moreover, the ones who came to intercept me were my own bodyguards. to persuade them to intercept me, someone must have known my identity.¡± ¡°junlin, your father and i have been close friends since middle school, and we¡¯ve always been like brothers. we have a close relationship between our families. if 1 wanted the dark web, there would be no need for this. 1 could have simply convinced you to work for me.¡± ¡°the dark web is a public tool and cannot be used privately. you know i wouldn¡¯t show favoritism. such things should only be in one¡¯s own hands for maximum security.¡± ¡°minister lin is seeking justice for the deceased team members, hence the arrest of president jiang. but who were the people that arrested him? where are they from?¡± chen liangdong asked. ¡°it was a group of makeshift mercenaries that i contacted, and all the contract documents are here,¡± lin qing said, prepared as he took out the documents for chen liangdong to inspect one by one. lin qing added, ¡°if necessary, i can have them testify.¡± ¡°what does president jiang say?¡± chen liangdong inquired. jiang junlin responded, ¡°the ones who came to capture me were a team of overseas mercenaries, and they included members of my own security team. if i¡¯m not mistaken, they should all be dead, leaving no witnesses.¡± lin qing chuckled and said, ¡°junlin, in all matters, evidence is crucial. this incident appears to be a misunderstanding.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only jiang junlin calmly looked at him and said, ¡°uncle lin, so you¡¯re not admitting that you instigated zhang huan to chase and arrest me, with the intention of obtaining control of the dark web. is that correct?¡± ¡°this was an entirely baseless accusation from the start.¡± ¡°so, you don¡¯t know zhang huan?¡± ¡°how could i possibly know your security team?¡± ¡°very well!¡± jiang junlin smiled and, after some keystrokes on the computer, displayed a set of photos for lin qing.. ¡°can you explain what these photos are all about?¡± Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Get Hammered If You Want chapter 357: get hammered if you want translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he turned the computer around, displaying a set of photos in front of chen liangdong and lin qing. these were pictures of meetings between lin qing, zhang huan, and others, all of which took place in china. lin qing handed a box to zhang huan, and when he opened it, it was filled with us dollars. ¡°you¡­¡± lin qing¡¯s face changed slightly. ¡°these are manipulated photos, junlin. you¡¯re falsely accusing me.¡± ¡°sure!¡± jiang junlin chuckled and played a recording. the recording featured a conversation between lin qing and zhang huan. lin qing was pressuring zhang huan to extract the dark web¡¯s password and the activation code for the eleventh department. if he couldn¡¯t succeed, he was instructed to bring jiang junlin back alive, or if that failed, to execute him on the spot. jiang junlin looked at him with a sly smile. chen liangdong could also hear his voice. ¡°is this recording fabricated as well?¡± that was a rather ironic question! ¡°why do you have recordings and photos?¡± lin qing gritted his teeth. jiang junlin smiled gently. ¡°three years ago, after your failed mission with colonel mu, you spoke candidly while intoxicated, hoping i could lend a hand. you pretended to be drunk to test me and later claimed memory loss. i¡¯m naturally cautious, so 1 had zhang qiang investigate my close guard and undercover teams, but there were no leads at the time. a year later, the undercover team began taking frequent leaves, which raised my suspicions. i had the information department equip every phone used by my close guards and undercover agents with recording and tracking functions. early last year, the head of the information department reminded me of issues with the undercover team; there might be a traitor among them. at that time, my prime suspect was liu bingwen, so 1 went to paris. 1 didn¡¯t have a chance to deal with this matter when 1 was imprisoned by ji chi, but fortunately, ji chi imprisoned me, and your conversations with zhang huan became more careless, no longer using disposable phone cards. the information department had already been recording your calls, and 1 was arrested. all your call records and financial transaction records have just been transmitted to my phone a minute ago, uncle lin. the evidence is overwhelming.¡± the big shots behind the glass wall watched as jiang junlin systematically dismantled lin qing, without a hint of surprise. this was the owner of the dark web after all. in his presence, no crime could escape notice. no matter how meticulous lin qing was, as long as he had truly turned one of jiang junlin¡¯s undercover agents, there would be evidence. gu ziyu suddenly realized something. in the previous life, his uncle couldn¡¯t escape this betrayal and plotting, and his leg was broken. however, lin qing had always remained in the shadows, rising to power. now, black hawk¡¯s authority remained intact, his father oversaw all affairs, and ji chi had gained confidence. this time, it was a showdown to protect his uncle, mother, and dr. north¡ªall of them were still alive. so, his uncle won this round. if it weren¡¯t for ji chi and black hawk, would his uncle have survived this betrayal? even if he had planned meticulously and calculated everything, what would evidence have mattered? chen liangdong didn¡¯t step in. without the involvement of his uncle and lin qing, this confrontation wouldn¡¯t have occurred. these big shots cared about stability, whether his uncle was innocent or guilty. ¡°junlin, you¡¯ve always been exceptionally intelligent. i never thought everything was within your calculations,¡± lin qing shook his head. ¡°i¡¯m human, not a deity, uncle lin. this wasn¡¯t a perfectly calculated plan; it¡¯s just that i knew the dark web¡¯s master would face threats from all sides. you shouldn¡¯t have harbored these intentions.¡± ¡°but it was you who first betrayed the dark web¡¯s principles, and you had complicated ties with black hawk. that¡¯s why 1 resorted to this plan,¡± lin qing said, his back against the wall. ¡°you betrayed first, which led to the betrayal by your undercover agents. zhang huan approached me on his own, requesting that i purge the dark web.¡± the big shots frowned. ¡°what does this have to do with black hawk?¡± ¡°who am i tangled up with?¡± jiang junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°ji chi?¡± lin qing was also prepared and threw out a stack of photos. they were all intimate photos of ji chi and jiang junlin, taken during their last playful antics in the hot springs. someone had managed to capture a blurry photo. the big shots were taken aback. gu ziyu watched their colorful expressions and felt numb, looking up at the sky. uncle, how are you going to defend against this? jiang junlin chuckled lightly. ¡°ji chi and 1 originally had a premeditated encounter. i needed him to split up black hawk, and he was undercover by lu zhiyuan¡¯s order, working by my side. he¡¯s lu zhiyuan¡¯s pawn, and i kept my own calculations close. i¡¯m twenty-eight this year and have never been in a relationship. due to some peculiar preferences, 1 haven¡¯t harmed any girls. ji chi is a good-looking guy, and he suits my taste. you scratch my back, 1 scratch yours, and it¡¯s not illegal, right? is this considered betrayal?¡± gu ziyu remained silent. it¡¯s a shame this couldn¡¯t be recorded. otherwise, ji chi might have gone insane again when he heard this! ¡°jiang junlin, you¡¯re blinded by lust and betraying the organization. how dare you look for excuses?¡± ¡°have you never fooled around?¡± jiang junlin leaned back lazily. though he was young, he exuded an air of a big shot in front of lin qing. ¡°men dabble here and there, play around. it¡¯s perfectly normal. having a wife at home and socializing with beautiful women¡ªi just have different tastes. how does that qualify as betrayal? if we¡¯re talking about betrayal, i¡¯d only betray my future wife, but i¡¯m not married yet, so 1 don¡¯t have a wife. but you, uncle lin, have deep feelings with auntie zhang, yet you¡¯ve fathered a pair of illegitimate children outside. they¡¯re in college now, and you¡¯ve hidden it quite well.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± lin qing was shocked. ¡°how do you know?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only in order to avoid suspicion, his mistress had even married someone else, so the child was officially someone else¡¯s. jiang junlin chuckled and said, ¡°let me think. aside from how zhang grandpa would react if he knew about this, with your current professional title and such indiscreet personal affairs, it¡¯s hard for you to advance any further. so, don¡¯t try to label me as a traitor. you just wanted to climb the ranks, aimed at the dark web, but i wouldn¡¯t misuse my power, which brought this unwarranted disaster upon you.¡± jiang junlin had basically dismantled lin qing¡¯s arguments. he had never committed treason against his country, and he had never made any mistakes. jiang junlin sat there, cool and composed, his legs crossed. ¡°uncle lin, if you want to accuse me of treason, you better come up with concrete evidence. a little love affair definitely won¡¯t convict me.¡± ¡°how much of our financial market assets has black hawk seized over the years, engaging in financial warfare several times a year, continuously draining our resources? the dark web¡¯s responsibility is to maintain a healthy financial order. why has black hawk grown so strong in recent years, capable of competing with the dark web? if it weren¡¯t for your collusion with lu zhiyuan, black hawk wouldn¡¯t have the current position it does. hualan bank is already a financial giant, and if the dark web and black hawk join forces, you¡¯ll monopolize capital and do whatever you want. this is an invisible threat. you¡¯re cautious and haven¡¯t made any mistakes, but you¡¯re intertwined with ji chi. your cousin gu ci is in a relationship with lu zhiyuan. you¡¯re bound to become one big family sooner or later, controlling capital. everything i¡¯ve done has been selfless, all for the purpose of reclaiming what belongs to us..¡± Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Listen Up, I Want You Dead! chapter 358: listen up, i want you dead! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°my younger sister, gu ci, and lu zhiyuan, grew up together as childhood sweethearts. no one knew he was the third young master of the black hawk. director chen, did you know this three months ago?¡± jiang junlin asked with a light smile. chen liangdong shook his head. ¡°1 didn¡¯t know!¡± these were all knew information and you guys have kept it under wraps deep enough. jiang junlin continued, ¡°lu zhiyuan¡¯s identity, chairman lu might not even know. how could i know? as for the impending marriage, it¡¯s quite strange. there¡¯s a legal principle: ¡®innocent until proven guilty.¡¯ i haven¡¯t heard of a day when the law convicts someone first and then waits for unknown evidence. let me point you in the right direction. if you want to accuse me, provide the facts. which year, which day, did 1 collude with lu zhiyuan and do what? that¡¯s the evidence!¡± lin qing couldn¡¯t produce evidence. if he could, why would he bother trying to turn jiang junlin¡¯s covert security team against him? he would have publicly accused jiang junlin of wrongdoing and forced him to step down. jiang junlin fell silent, staring at lin qing, waiting for him to present evidence. this silence exerted tremendous pressure on lin qing, even though it was unspoken. chen liangdong also shared jiang junlin¡¯s military record with the high-ups behind the glass wall. it was a record that was second to none among any soldier. if he had served in the regular army, this record would have earned him the highest honors at least five times, and by now, he would have held the rank of colonel. this was the honor he had earned through his own efforts on the frontlines during peacetime. ¡°i¡¯m sorry, junlin, my uncle misunderstood you,¡± lin qing sighed. ¡°i was too anxious, thinking about your relationship with ji chi, gu ci, and lu zhiyuan. 1 felt anxious, and when i¡¯m anxious, 1 make mistakes. please forgive your uncle.¡± ¡°uncle lin, if you can¡¯t provide evidence, then 1¡¯11 have to apply to the military court,¡± jiang junlin said calmly. lin qing was shocked, his face turning pale. ¡°what did you say?¡± the high-ups exchanged glances. jiang junlin continued, ¡°although the underworld dark web doesn¡¯t belong to any formal organization, its existence is acknowledged. my people are trained according to the highest military standards. those who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty receive recognition and honors. you, driven by personal desires, subverted zhang huan, and sent people to hunt me down and engage in a pursuit. in this incident, eight members of the underworld dark web were killed or injured. 1 need an explanation for this.¡± ¡°are you out of your mind?¡± lin qing exclaimed. chen liangdong was not surprised, yet also not surprised. jiang junlin¡¯s approach didn¡¯t seem like he wanted to downplay the situation. he understood that in the professional world, no one fought alone. lin qing¡¯s position was solid and hard to shake, and he had powerful backers. if jiang junlin didn¡¯t pursue this, things would blow over, and everyone would remain on good terms. ¡°if we pursue this, it won¡¯t just offend lin qing!¡± chen liangdong thought to himself. ¡°if he pulls lin qing down, there will surely be others who want to pull him down.¡± he observed jiang junlin¡¯s actions and demeanor and realized that jiang junlin didn¡¯t seem to want to trivialize the situation or let it slide. ¡°everyone here is thinking about taking a step back and letting it go lightly. uncle lin misunderstood, and it led to this mess. i¡¯m sitting here unscathed, and you expect me to accept a simple apology and move on?¡± jiang junlin calmly questioned. ¡°i¡¯ve toiled tirelessly, dedicated my mind and body for ten years. why should i let you tarnish my reputation with baseless accusations? my people are loyal and courageous, with unwavering determination, yet they died in this internal strife fueled by your personal grudges. they are still young, with parents above and wives and children below. do you think a mere apology can bring back someone else¡¯s son, husband, or father? why do you believe that a simple apology can settle this matter?¡± ¡°jiang junlin!¡± lin qing, with his high position and influence, hadn¡¯t been spoken to like this by anyone in years, except for zhang lao. ¡°are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°i¡¯m perfectly sane!¡± jiang junlin looked into the camera and said each word clearly. ¡°he must pay the price for this!¡± at this point, there was no turning back. chen liangdong couldn¡¯t help but wonder, did jiang junlin win? no, he didn¡¯t! lin qing couldn¡¯t provide evidence, but the seed of doubt had already been planted. jiang junlin would have to be extremely cautious in his words and actions from now on. any mistake would be seized upon by others. if he insisted on pulling down lin qing, he wouldn¡¯t have an easy life ahead. gu ziyu understood deep down that jiang junlin wanted to set an example. the underworld dark web wouldn¡¯t be a one-man show anymore; there would be checks and balances to ensure jiang junlin was no longer operating outside the organization. but how to handle this matter needed to be discussed. therefore, jiang junlin had to make an example, to make them all understand the consequences of coveting the underworld dark web. in the earpiece, chen liangdong heard chen chen¡¯s voice, ¡°director, old zhang is here.¡± ¡°both of you take a break.¡± before leaving the room, chen liangdong turned off the recording. lin qing glanced at the now-off recording and said in a low voice, ¡°junlin, the jiang and zhang families are old friends, and your father and i are close friends too. handling this matter lightly would benefit everyone. you¡¯re seeking justice for the dead, have you thought about the ones who are still alive?¡± jiang junlin leaned forward, lowering his voice, ¡°listen carefully, 1 want you dead!¡± ¡°you!¡± lin qing had never encountered anyone more audacious than jiang junlin in his entire life. he had even held jiang junlin as a baby when he was born and played with him as a child. now, he was standing beside him, saying, ¡°i want you dead!¡± ¡°well, you¡¯re probably going to be disappointed,¡± lin qing replied calmly. ¡°i know, you¡¯re just a passerby,¡± jiang junlin said with a light smile. ¡°there are plenty of people who want the underworld dark web. this kind of power, money, who wouldn¡¯t want it? you¡¯ve achieved your goal, making the underworld dark web subject to oversight, slowly infiltrating your people. in a year, two years, ten years, you¡¯ll eventually erode the power in my hands.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± lin qing was shocked and couldn¡¯t believe that jiang junlin could see through his plans so clearly. ¡°is this move something that lu zhiyuan taught you?¡± jiang junlin asked with a sly smile. ¡°if you hadn¡¯t mentioned lu zhiyuan, trying to distance yourself from his relationship, i wouldn¡¯t have suspected. but you did, and that gave it away.¡± ¡°jiang junlin, you think it¡¯s easy to bring me down with just the underworld dark web?¡± lin qing chuckled confidently. ¡°is that so?¡± jiang junlin smiled and continued, ¡°i¡¯m afraid old zhang has already given up on you.¡± lin qing¡¯s smile faded, and his expression grew serious. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only outside the mss, dr. north, qin wan, and gu ci were in the car. gu ci was resting in the back seat with her eyes closed. dr. north expressed his concern, ¡°cici, you¡¯ve been running around for your master¡¯s affairs lately, and you haven¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep. let¡¯s go back and rest. you¡¯ve done what you needed to do.¡± ¡°i¡¯m not tired!¡± gu ci opened her eyes, claiming not to be tired, but her eyes were bloodshot. qin wan was a loyal follower of jiang junlin and thought gu ci was pushing herself too hard. gu ci had some special conditions, and if her mental state wasn¡¯t stable, it would worsen her condition. her illness also didn¡¯t tolerate exhaustion and stress. too much stress could exacerbate her condition. qin wan inadvertently glanced at the mental health report written by dr. north. it was already in the advanced stage. treatment was already challenging, and it couldn¡¯t afford to worsen.. Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Brother Is Free chapter 359: brother is free translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci stared fixedly at the entrance of mss gate. while she quietly pondered, both dr. north and qin wan felt a bit uneasy. qin wan asked, ¡°cici, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°i¡¯m thinking about lu zhiyuan,¡± gu ci blurted out. dr. north and qin wan exchanged puzzled glances, and gu ci, realizing her slip, quickly corrected herself, ¡°1 mean, i¡¯m wondering why he¡¯s so quiet.¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± qin wan didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°even if black hawk doesn¡¯t actively intervene, they¡¯re likely watching from a distance, waiting to reap the benefits.¡± gu ci shook her head, ¡°lu zhiyuan and his brother have been trying to eliminate each other for so many years. with such a major incident happening in the underworld, his silence is unusual.¡± ¡°maybe it¡¯s because of you?¡± qin wan speculated. gu ci responded calmly, ¡°he and i are different.¡± dr. north felt a pang in his heart and whispered, ¡°cici, don¡¯t dwell on it. let¡¯s watch how things unfold.¡± qin wan, who always believed in fighting fire with fire, couldn¡¯t help but be curious, ¡°cici, let me gossip a bit. if there¡¯s a day when your master and third master are at odds, whose side are you on? what if they become enemies?¡± gu ci gazed silently out of the window, offering no response. having been by gu ci¡¯s side for so long, qin wan had some understanding of her personality. gu ci¡¯s heart was like a desert, making it difficult for her to get close to anyone. no matter how kind others were to her, it might not warm her heart. she could only offer a fraction of herself. for example, when it came to the jiang family, gu ci worked tirelessly for jiang junlin because he genuinely treated her as a sister and protected her. but what about the rest of the jiang family? gu ci was somewhat indifferent toward them. if she saw a box of delicious snacks on the street, she might think of lu zhiyuan, she might think of gu ziyu, she might think of jiang junlin, but she probably wouldn¡¯t think of the other members of the jiang family. she knew in her heart that they were her family, but she didn¡¯t know how to love them. gu ci didn¡¯t understand. so, qin wan found it unexpectedly touching that gu ci was becoming close to dr. north for no apparent reason. ¡°qin wan, why so many words?¡± dr. dr. north shook his head at qin wan. ¡°just a bit of gossip,¡± qin wan said. ¡°anyway, if it were me, if anyone touched my family, i¡¯d take them down.¡± gu ci chuckled softly, ¡°but¡­ lu zhiyuan is also my family.¡± ¡°he¡¯s not your husband; what does a boyfriend count as in terms of family?¡± qin wan shrugged. ¡°if you said he¡¯s your husband, 1 could understand, as he¡¯s your closest person and the heir to your inheritance. but he¡¯s just your boyfriend.¡± dr. north remained silent, and gu ci continued to gaze out of the window in silence. in the mss organization, even though old zhang had retired, his influence remained strong. when he arrived late and the confrontation between jiang junlin and lin qing had already started, he hadn¡¯t heard the details. chen liangdong replayed the video and audio for him. old zhang¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°lin qing initiated this calamity with baseless accusations. he must take responsibility. since we can¡¯t provide evidence of jiang junlin¡¯s betrayal, old chen, you must handle this impartially, without favoritism. if jiang junlin needs to go to court, let him go to court openly and fairly.¡± the others felt a chill in their hearts. old zhang¡¯s words indicated that he wasn¡¯t going to protect lin qing, and there was a high probability that lin qing would be removed from his position. ¡°yes, 1 understand!¡± chen liangdong replied. old zhang made a final declaration, ¡°lin qing, you¡¯ve been incredibly foolish! engaging in such actions without concrete evidence, not only did you act recklessly, but you also played right into their hands. how can i protect you now?¡± ¡°but 1 did it for¡­¡± lin qing tried to explain. ¡°shut up! do you want to make things even worse?¡± old zhang scolded him angrily. the two of them locked eyes, and lin qing eventually gave in, dejectedly saying, ¡°i understand, dad.¡± old zhang was furious and also remembered that he had another son. he had betrayed his marriage, adding to his anger. ¡°you¡¯re on your own.¡± gu ziyu breathed a sigh of relief. his mother had successfully persuaded old zhang to abandon the sinking ship. he was a smart person who knew what he had to do. his mother also understood that uprooting a deeply rooted tree would not happen in one fell swoop. if they could bring down lin qing, that would be a satisfactory conclusion. but the matter with his uncle would not end so easily. as gu ziyu had expected, after jiang junlin emerged from the meeting, he met with everyone individually. an emergency meeting was convened. old zhang did not participate; he was already retired and left after the matter was settled. jiang junlin attended the meeting, which focused on the issue of the dark web¡¯s leadership. without proper supervision, they needed a solution that satisfied everyone. the discussion was heated, but jiang junlin remained silent. ¡°mr. jiang, what do you think?¡± someone finally asked. jiang junlin smiled and said, ¡°i have no objections. i will follow the national arrangements. how about this, 1¡¯11 step down, and you can appoint anyone you like. i¡¯ve been the leader of the dark web for ten years, and i¡¯m tired.¡± the others were taken aback. they wanted to diminish jiang junlin¡¯s power, but they couldn¡¯t afford to let him step down. if he did, the dark web would fall into uncontrolled chaos, and they would still have to listen to jiang junlin. even if he were to step down, it wouldn¡¯t be now. ¡°regarding lin qing¡¯s situation, you have suffered unjustly. we have seen your hard work, and this resignation is just a rash decision. there¡¯s no need to bring it up again. the dark web can¡¯t do without you.¡± ¡°yeah, that¡¯s right¡­¡± everyone agreed, and the discussion continued. jiang junlin sipped his tea and remained silent. taking advantage of the tea-serving moment, gu ziyu discreetly poked chen liangdong. chen liangdong chuckled and said, ¡°this matter won¡¯t be resolved quickly, and its impact is significant. it might be best to handle lin qing¡¯s situation first. once we¡¯ve sorted out the aftermath, we can revisit this issue.¡± outside of mss, as soon as old zhang came out, he saw gu ci waiting at the entrance. his expression slightly darkened. the jiang family¡¯s children seemed to be born assertive and confrontational. back when jiang mingyue had caused a scene at the wedding, it had caused him great embarrassment. jiang junlin insisted on investigating the matter thoroughly, which had forced him to sever ties with lin qing. gu ci¡¯s threat hung over him like a sword. even if the zhang family had nothing to do with this matter, both siblings were capable enough to pin this scandal on the zhang family. only by publicly abandoning lin qing would lin qing face a public trial, and jiang junlin could completely free himself. ¡°little girl, there¡¯s plenty of time ahead!¡± old zhang said with a faint smile. ¡°don¡¯t forget to come with your grandfather and uncle to celebrate the lantern festival.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°of course, i¡¯ll be there!¡± gu ci replied. old zhang chuckled and got into his car. gu chuyun had been a part of the jiang family for eighteen years, and he had always been curious about how the jiang family, known for their strong-willed and intelligent nature, had ended up with a granddaughter like gu chuyun. he had initially thought it was due to some genetic deficiency in the gu family. but now¡­ it was all a misunderstanding! at such a young age, she dared to issue a challenge to him. her courage was undeniable, and he couldn¡¯t help but admire it. when jiang junlin emerged, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. he stood on the steps of mss, squinting his eyes as he gazed at the half-empty sky.. Chapter 360 - Chapter 360:I Dropped My Bracelet chapter 360:i dropped my bracelet translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°brother¡­¡± gu ci stood at the steps, waving towards him. jiang junlin quickly descended the steps, and gu ci rushed over, embracing him. her eyes were slightly red, and jiang junlin gently touched her head. ¡°cici, you¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± ¡°as long as you¡¯re okay!¡± qin wan felt jealous and coldly snorted, ¡°i want a hug too.¡± jiang junlin pointed his finger at her forehead, poking her lightly, which made qin wan angry. she jumped up, wanting to hit him, but she lacked the courage. qin wan chuckled and said, ¡°master, you¡¯ve been imprisoned and detained, you¡¯ve lost quite a bit of weight, nearly 40 pounds, right?¡± jiang junlin remained silent. gu ci looked at jiang junlin¡¯s slender face and said, ¡°grandpa and grandma must be heartbroken when they see you.¡± ¡°let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading home!¡± jiang junlin glanced at dr. north, ¡°you¡¯ve worked hard too.¡± ¡°it¡¯s what i should do!¡± dr. north was somewhat nervous. she had always wanted to hear jiang junlin¡¯s affirmation, to forgive her betrayal in the past. gu ci called gu ziyu, ¡°ziyu, when will you get off work? mom and uncle are both outside. let¡¯s go home together.¡± gu ziyu looked at the big shots still in the meeting room, saying they had adjourned for now, but they came back. gu ziyu said, ¡°mom, i might get off work a bit late. don¡¯t wait for me, just bring me some good food.¡± ¡°alright!¡± gu ci smiled gently, ¡°then eat less for dinner and save some room for supper together.¡± ¡°sure.¡± dr. north drove, qin wan sat in the front passenger seat, while gu ci and jiang junlin sat in the back. qin wan had already informed zhang qiang to have the security team ready at jiang¡¯s residence. gu ci said, ¡°uncle chen said it would take three days, but unexpectedly, it only took one day. the efficiency is really high.¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°how did you persuade old zhang to come over?¡± ¡°i threatened him,¡± gu ci said. ¡°if he didn¡¯t abandon lin qing, i would make sure he couldn¡¯t clear his suspicion in this matter. old zhang values family honor more than life, so he will definitely abandon lin qing.¡± ¡°you didn¡¯t have to go find him; he will come to his senses,¡± jiang junlin said softly. ¡°the zhang family has nothing to do with this matter, but he probably knows which people are involved. if you don¡¯t go find him, in a few days, he will come to his senses.¡± ¡°i can¡¯t wait,¡± gu ci just wanted jiang junlin to come out quickly. qin wan asked, ¡°will he seek revenge?¡± ¡°he won¡¯t!¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°he feels that his authority has been challenged and might say some angry words, but when he calms down, he will be grateful to cici. he will quickly distance himself from this matter, no matter what kind of judgment lin qing receives, it has nothing to do with the zhang family.¡± ¡°that¡¯s good!¡± ¡°brother, will they send someone to divide the power?¡± gu ci asked the most crucial question. ¡°it¡¯s unavoidable,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°managing such a large amount of funds in the underworld, anyone would be tempted. it¡¯s not that they are greedy for money, but this money can enable them to do many things.¡± ¡°money can make the devil grind,¡± as the saying goes. whether used in people¡¯s livelihoods or technology, it can be considered an achievement in governance. ¡°oh my god, master, are you going to resign?¡± qin wan said. ¡°if you resign, i won¡¯t stay either.¡± ¡°not to that extent,¡± jiang junlin was a bit tired. ¡°let¡¯s not talk about official matters for now. i¡¯m just tired.¡± ¡°alright, we won¡¯t talk about it. when we get home, take a good bath and have a meal.¡± after returning to the jiang family, dr. north and qin wan left together. grandpa jiang and jiang minghua knew what he had been through but didn¡¯t ask too many questions. they were just glad he was safe. lin chunli and grandma jiang were worried that he had lost weight during his business trip, so they prepared a lot of food for a family reunion. jiang minghua had wanted to ask about the underworld matters, but jiang junlin had managed to avoid the topic. the fewer family members knew about this, the better. after confirming that it was lin qing, jiang minghua¡¯s mood was very complicated. after jiang junlin went upstairs to freshen up, grandma jiang lovingly touched gu ci¡¯s face. ¡°brother has lost weight, and you seem to have lost weight too. you don¡¯t look very well. do you have anything on your mind lately?¡± ¡°grandma, i¡¯m fine, just a little unaccustomed to the local food when i went out.¡± even though she explained it this way, grandma was still worried, urging her to eat well and sleep well. gu ci listened and felt warm inside. gu ci was a somewhat solitary person, accustomed to being alone since childhood. after recognizing the jiang family, she had gradually developed a subconscious feeling of being part of their family, especially after the new year¡¯s eve. ¡°grandma, how¡¯s your sleep been lately? is there anything wrong with your heart?¡± ¡°it¡¯s been fine, but in the past few days when i had no news from junlin, 1 worried a lot. i always felt restless. but now that he¡¯s back, everything is better.¡± grandma jiang held her hand affectionately and looked at her with increasing concern. she felt that gu ci might have something troubling her. ¡°cici, if there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t handle, you must tell us. with us here, no one will bully you.¡± ¡°alright, i¡¯ll remember that.¡± jiang junlin still had wounds on his back from his time in prison. they had been treated by wan changtian¡¯s people, and during this period, he had mostly been resting. the wounds had scabbed over. after his shower, he changed into fresh clothes and came downstairs. jiang minghua still didn¡¯t mention lin qing¡¯s matter, and the family enjoyed a reunion dinner, full of joy. jiang junlin looked at the buddha jumps over the wall dish on the dining table, his mind drifting for a moment. when he was imprisoned by ji chi, he often had buddha jumps over the wall, and ji chi¡¯s culinary skills¡­ almost turned buddha jumps over the wall into his most hated dish. gu ci also served her grandparents, picking some interesting anecdotes to make them happy. ¡°cici seems more cheerful,¡± lin chunli and jiang minghua whispered to each other, feeling relieved. gu ci and ziyu often came back to have meals, and ziyu was a cheerful and adorable person. however, gu ci remained quite silent, answering questions when asked but rarely initiating conversations or showing concern for others. they knew that gu ci was somewhat introverted and didn¡¯t like to communicate with them. they had always been careful around her. on new year¡¯s eve, when gu ci didn¡¯t come for dinner, grandpa and grandma were actually very sad. they felt that gu ci didn¡¯t want to get close to them until ziyu explained multiple times. only then did they gather the courage to celebrate new year¡¯s eve together at the blue fields villa. they were afraid of upsetting gu ci and worried that she might dislike them. ¡°grandma, i¡¯ll help you serve the soup.¡± ¡°alright, alright¡­¡± gu ci got up and helped her grandmother with a bowl of soup but suddenly froze, her face turned pale. she looked at her wrist, ¡°where¡¯s my bracelet?¡± ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± jiang junlin asked. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°my bracelet is missing!¡± gu ci¡¯s face turned white, and she hurriedly started searching. ¡°you go ahead and eat. i¡¯ll look for it!¡± ¡°cici doesn¡¯t look right,¡± grandpa said, worriedly watching gu ci search for her bracelet. ¡°she¡¯s so frantic over a lost bracelet. we can just buy another one.¡± ¡°dad, that bracelet has always been worn by cici. it¡¯s not valuable, but it¡¯s handmade,¡± lin chunli observed carefully. ¡°it has a small pendant with the image of someone named lu zhiyuan, probably a gift from him.¡± grandma and lin chunli got up to help her search. jiang junlin had initially thought they would quickly find it, but to his surprise, gu ci searched all around and couldn¡¯t find it. her expression grew increasingly distressed, anxious, and even a bit tearful.. Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Am I Cute, or Is Daddy Cute? chapter 361: am i cute, or is daddy cute? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he realized something was wrong and asked aunt gui and zhang qiang to help search. ¡°cici, when was the last time you saw the bracelet?¡± gu ci thought for a moment. ¡°it was when i was chatting with grandma in the garden.¡± ¡°brother knows, if it dropped at home, it won¡¯t be lost. brother will search high and low for you,¡± jiang junlin¡¯s voice was very gentle. ¡°don¡¯t panic, and don¡¯t be afraid.¡± gu ci nodded in a daze. more than half an hour later, zhang qiang found gu ci¡¯s bracelet in the flowerbed. it must have accidentally fallen in the garden and was carried to the flowerbed by a wild cat. it was quite hard to find. gu ci held the bracelet, treasuring it as if it were a precious gem, carefully wiping off the dust. seeing her like this, jiang junlin originally wanted to talk to her about lu zhiyuan, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. ¡°is there anything missing?¡± gu ci shook her head and put it back on. ¡°sorry for making you all worry.¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay, as long as we found it!¡± grandma embraced her. ¡°i like bracelets and bangles. grandma has a lot of beautiful jewelry, i¡¯ll give them all to you later.¡± gu ci shook her head and said, ¡°brother has already given me a lot. grandma, please keep them.¡± ¡°junlin, you¡¯re really biased. how come mom doesn¡¯t have any?¡± lin chunli jokingly said. ¡°dad, this is your negligence,¡± jiang junlin shifted the blame. ¡°your wife is missing some jewelry, that¡¯s your fault.¡± everyone was dumbfounded. lin chunli humorously lightened the mood, and the family was once again harmonious and joyful. after dinner, gu ci packed some of gu ziyu¡¯s favorite dishes, and qin wan waited outside to take her back to the bluefield villa. after gu ci left, lin chunli couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°junlin, did cici¡­ break up?¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°young people in love, breaking up and getting back together is normal, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°but the way she looks¡­ it¡¯s really worrisome.¡± grandpa spoke confidently, ¡°invite director lu over for dinner one day and talk about their engagement.¡± jiang junlin had a headache, ¡°grandpa, please don¡¯t stir things up.¡± ¡°my granddaughter wants someone, i¡¯ll make sure he comes!¡± grandpa said firmly. jiang junlin said with a hint of frustration, ¡°grandpa, do you still remember that we come from a scholarly family?¡± everyone was speechless. on the way back home, qin wan said, ¡°the master asked me to follow you from now on.¡± ¡°follow me?¡± gu ci pondered. ¡°why though? he¡¯s regained his freedom, and you don¡¯t need to be involved in gang matters anymore. why does the master want me to follow you?¡± qin wan asked. ¡°did you ask him?¡± qin wan shook her head. ¡°the master always has a reason for his actions, and i didn¡¯t question it.¡± ¡°do you mind, then?¡± gu ci countered. ¡°why would i mind?¡± qin wan replied. gu ci smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more, understanding jiang junlin¡¯s arrangement in her heart. qin wan asked, ¡°cici, why does the master want me to follow you? you don¡¯t have to deal with gang matters anymore.¡± ¡°brother might want me to become the leader of the gang.¡± ¡°ah¡­¡± qin wan humorously remarked, ¡°that¡¯s a bit ominous.¡± ¡°why?¡± gu ci inquired. ¡°the master has taken down so many gang leaders,¡± qin wan glanced at her, ¡°if one day you betray the master for third master, that¡­ it would be quite tricky.¡± gu ci chuckled and looked at the deep night sky. ¡°that day will never come.¡± ¡°the leader of the gang becomes a target,¡± qin wan felt it necessary to explain to gu ci, ¡°at first, they are loyal, but once they sit in a position of power, they gather more people around them, and opinions become divided. they may not always share your goals; they could divide you and conquer, former leaders have betrayed for their own interests, manipulated by others, like pei qiuying who wanted both love and power. to be well-informed, but not to be biased. siblings turning against each other for money and power is not uncommon.¡± moreover, you still love lu zhiyuan. can the master and lu zhiyuan coexist peacefully? gu ci said softly, ¡°there are some things i won¡¯t do.¡± she rarely confided in people, except during treatment when she would share her thoughts with dr. north. gu ci continued, ¡°1 once felt utterly hopeless and had no attachment to this world. it was him who went to great lengths to bring me back from hell to the human world. living for him is my obsession. 1 know i¡¯m sick, and i¡¯m trying to heal myself. 1 hope¡­ he¡¯s okay, my brother is okay, and ziyu is okay, everyone is okay, even if¡­ even if he can¡¯t love me anymore.¡± she had been trying to convince herself like this, over and over again, as if to engrave it into her bones. ¡°love and hate, if they could be restrained, there wouldn¡¯t be so many infatuated lovers in this world,¡± qin wan chuckled and said, ¡°gu ci, what does it feel like to love someone?¡± gu ci¡¯s mind involuntarily recalled lu zhiyuan outside the prison years ago, the sunshine, dazzling. when she saw him, gu ci covered her face, feeling ashamed, yet also feeling the warmth of the spring breeze. ¡°it¡¯s feeling extremely happy when you see him,¡± she said. it was about feeling joyful when she saw the person even in her darkest moments. qin wan seemed to ponder for a moment, ¡°gu ci, how much you love lu zhiyuan, i¡¯ve experienced it most closely. you may say you¡¯ve broken up, but you¡¯ve always worn the couple bracelet that lu zhiyuan gave you. you¡¯ve never taken it off!¡± tonight was particularly strange. gu ci had been touching that bracelet since she got in the car, as if touching it would satisfy her. qin wan secretly pondered, when you break up, aren¡¯t you supposed to pack up and get rid of everything your boyfriend gave you? when gu ci arrived home, gu ziyu had just returned and was lounging on the sofa. gu ci¡¯s mood inexplicably improved when she saw him. she smiled and pinched his little cheek, ¡°what should we have for dinner?¡± ¡°takeout!¡± gu ziyu pouted. ¡°if i¡¯m as picky as uncle, i definitely won¡¯t survive.¡± he had been busy with work lately, and it was all takeout meals. if he continued this way for another week, the meat he raised at the jiang family for the new year would go to waste. gu ci took out the packed meal and gu ziyu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°buddha jumps over the wall¡­¡± gu ci served him a bowl and also picked a piece of barbecue pastry for him. gu ziyu, with his cheeks puffed, looked especially cute. gu ci felt happy just looking at him. ¡°mom, why have you been smiling at me all the time?¡± ¡°you¡¯re so adorable!¡± gu ziyu was speechless. gu ci had become increasingly natural in expressing her affection for gu ziyu. no matter how crazy she might be, she never forgot to repeatedly give gu ziyu a sense of security. she loved him. ¡°am i cute, or is dad cute?¡± gu ziyu started comparing. ¡°you¡¯re cute!¡± there was no doubt about it. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only gu ziyu was satisfied, and he even had an extra bowl of buddha jumps over the wall, eating until his belly swelled. gu ziyu had inherited the advantages of both his parents, and he was especially adorable with his rosy cheeks and delicate features. he used to be a little gloomy and rarely smiled, giving the impression of a small demon. but now, he smiled and was cute like an angel that everyone loved. mother and son chatted about daily life for a while. gu ziyu suddenly said, ¡°mom, i need to report something to you. dad invited me to have dinner with him tomorrow.¡± gu ci was momentarily surprised, and gu ziyu hurriedly added, ¡°if you don¡¯t agree, 1 won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± gu ci said, ¡°he¡­ has regained memories from his previous life..¡± Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: He Doesn’t Want to Retire chapter 362: he doesn¡¯t want to retire translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu was surprised, ¡°he¡­ he¡­ he has memories from the previous life?¡± gu ci nodded, ¡°he regained them a few days before new year¡¯s eve.¡± gu ziyu was both astonished and elated. no wonder his dad had hugged him that day and called him his precious son. with a joyful expression, he asked, ¡°so, in dad¡¯s heart, am i his son?¡± seeing the happiness in the eyes of gu ziyu, gu ci felt a mixture of emotions, both tender and bittersweet, as she nodded. the visible joy in gu ziyu made his feelings for lu zhiyuan extremely complex. he had grown up without a father¡¯s love, and he had once resented lu zhiyuan because he had brought disaster to them. in his darkest moments, he couldn¡¯t help but think that life would have been better without a father. but without a father, there would be no him! he loved and hated at the same time. the first time he saw lu zhiyuan was on the racetrack. he had been watching lu zhiyuan¡¯s race for a long time, and one day, lu zhiyuan had walked right up to him from the video. so young and full of life, this was his dad! but third young master didn¡¯t like anyone taking gu ci¡¯s attention away. gu ziyu didn¡¯t love third grandfather either. he felt a complicated mixture of love and hatred for both of his fathers. it seemed like he was surplus in either of their eyes. in essence, he was an extra in this world, and that feeling was uncomfortable. he longed for lu zhiyuan¡¯s love and acknowledgment. no wonder dad knew that he had lived to the age of eighteen in his previous life. but how did he regain his memories? dad had already died when he was born. ¡°mom, why does dad have memories too? did he also reincarnate?¡± ¡°this is a bit complicated and hard to explain,¡± gu ci said softly. ¡°i still can¡¯t understand his explanation, so i don¡¯t know how to tell you. you should ask him yourself.¡± ¡°is he¡­ human?¡± this was the key question! gu ci looked puzzled, ¡°if he¡¯s not human, what is he?¡± ¡°a ghost?¡± gu ci paused. gu ziyu¡¯s idea was even more bizarre than lu zhiyuan¡¯s story! ¡°if you want to know, ask him yourself.¡± gu ziyu nodded, not wanting to trouble gu ci any further, but he was bothered by one thing, ¡°dad has regained his memories, so why did you¡­ break up?¡± ¡°you should ask him yourself.¡± ¡°mom, if 1 acknowledge dad as my father, will you be unhappy?¡± gu ziyu asked cautiously. ¡°if you¡¯re not happy, 1 won¡¯t recognize him. in my heart, mom is the most important.¡± ¡°why would mom be unhappy?¡± gu ci chuckled softly. ¡°you¡¯re our baby born from our love, and we were both looking forward to your birth, no matter what the outcome is between me and him. you two are father and son, and having one more person who loves you makes mom very happy.¡± gu ziyu saw that his mother seemed completely honest, and his heart settled. he couldn¡¯t help but recall the events of tonight with mss and his smile faded. ¡°mom, after uncle left today, they had a meeting to discuss how to distribute power.¡± ¡°is there any conclusion to that?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°they all want to place their own people in key positions. there are eleven departments in the triad, and each department wants to install their own people, especially in the finance department and information security center. they want to place forty-five people in total, and they all seem to take it for granted,¡± gu ziyu explained. he knew that jiang junlin would not allow this to happen. ¡°this is going to be a tough battle.¡± ¡°brother won¡¯t agree to that,¡± gu ci said softly. ¡°he might accept a maximum of three people, but he won¡¯t let anyone into the finance department or information security center!¡± ¡°can uncle refuse?¡± gu ziyu hesitated. ¡°his identity is exposed, and now he¡¯s a target. everyone wants a piece of the pie. these people are all very strong-willed, and uncle may not be able to refuse them all.¡± gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°people will have to be placed, but which ones to place, that can be carefully considered.¡± gu ziyu grinned mischievously and said, ¡°mom¡­¡± he awkwardly rubbed his nose. ¡°our mss also wants to place people. can 1 mention it to uncle?¡± gu ci thought about it. her son¡¯s eyes showed a mix of guilt and ambition. ¡°the triad is under uncle¡¯s control, and if mss wants to place people, you can go ahead,¡± gu ci said, distancing herself from the matter. ¡°it¡¯s not my concern.¡± ¡°mom¡­¡± gu ziyu wrapped his arms around her waist and acted spoiled. ¡°i¡¯m your son, your own flesh and blood, the person who loves you the most in the whole world. uncle isn¡¯t, hmph.¡± gu ci playfully tapped his nose, and gu ziyu continued, ¡°anyway, we have to place people, so why not place our own? it¡¯s a mutual benefit, and at least we can be considered a neutral party.¡± ¡°brother might place a few people, and mss won¡¯t be able to compete with them, so you come and ask me?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°mom, you¡¯re wise!¡± gu ziyu said with a hint of exaggeration. ¡°if uncle only agrees to place three or four people, we won¡¯t stand a chance.¡± gu ci ruffled his hair and said, ¡°well then, think about what you can do to make uncle prioritize you.¡± ¡°alright, 1 just want to open a back door, that¡¯s all,¡± gu ziyu said in a playful and cheeky manner. ¡°mom, neither my real mom nor my uncle will open a back door for me. how sad.¡± gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his dramatic expression. at the global center, downstairs in the training ground. lu zhiyuan was undergoing rehabilitation. his injuries had not fully healed yet, and he had started with simple rehabilitation exercises. after the lantern festival, the new racing season had begun, and the drivers of the royal dynasty racing team were all in closed training. they aimed to maintain the team¡¯s points even if lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t compete. he was actively delegating authority for black hawk, giving general directions while leaving the specifics to ji chi and rong li. the coach said, ¡°third young master, your training time has exceeded the limit for today. you can¡¯t continue.¡± ¡°i know!¡± lu zhiyuan wiped his sweat. in the winter, he was wearing summer training gear, and his t-shirt was soaked, clinging to his body, accentuating his youthful and tall figure, with his muscular lines looking particularly attractive. the female staff on the racetrack couldn¡¯t help but blush when they saw him. ¡°can the recovery time be shortened to half a year?¡± lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°i feel like my body is recovering pretty well.¡± the team doctor frowned, ¡°third young master, this is an illusion, don¡¯t be too optimistic. unless you don¡¯t want your hand anymore.¡± lu zhiyuan felt that his body was indeed recovering quite well. he could still train for two hours, but the coach and the team doctor vigorously shook their heads, not allowing him to continue training. ¡°then let me take a lap in the training car.¡± lu zhiyuan got into the training car and drove onto the track, not as fast as before because his body couldn¡¯t handle it. he enjoyed the feeling of the track. the team doctor nudged the coach and said, ¡°have you noticed that third young master has become a bit more stable after this crash?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°indeed!¡± the coach scratched his head. ¡°if it were in the past, he would have thrown a tantrum and insisted on extended training. no one could stop him. besides, he hasn¡¯t been able to race for a year. it would have been strange if he had a good temper!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s mood was indeed not great, but he had good emotional management skills and didn¡¯t show it. when he first regained his memories, he had wanted to retire. after his identity was exposed, a continuous stream of troubles followed. it was almost impossible for him to focus solely on racing, especially in the beginning when third master¡¯s emotions dominated. but gradually, he became unwilling to retire like this.. Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Really Spoil His Biological Child chapter 363: really spoil his biological child translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he has half of his soul with no memories, growing recklessly, but eventually gaining self-awareness. when he was in paris, he didn¡¯t feel much, but once he returned to the global center, he couldn¡¯t help but look at the training ground. he had an uncontrollable urge to undergo rehabilitation, seeing them racing on the track without restraint. his desire to run on the track grew stronger with each passing day. he wanted to race again! despite knowing that retirement was the best choice, he was unwavering and wanted to compete for a few more years! he strangely missed those years of shining and passionate days on the track. he loved racing! it was an emotion he had never experienced before. his half of the soul reincarnated, and what he loved and was passionate about should have disappeared after merging, but this love and passion had penetrated his very marrow. in just twenty years of life, it had affected his preferences for hundreds of years. lu zhiyuan wondered if it was because his love and hatred in this life were too intense? what he loved, he loved to the extreme. like gu ci, that was a fateful love. like racing, it seemed to be born in his bones. he stepped on the gas pedal, accelerating wildly. his arms and chest were tingling, and the coach and team doctor shouted frantically on the track, telling him to slow down, but he ignored them. ¡°this feeling¡­ doesn¡¯t seem bad either.¡± li jiang looked at lu zhiyuan¡¯s increasing speed in surprise, very anxious. for the sake of racing, third young master was willing to disregard everything, as long as he didn¡¯t lose his hands and feet, he wouldn¡¯t give up! after completing a lap, the team doctor, the coach, and li jiang all ran over, nervously and fearfully looking at him. ¡°third young master, are you feeling okay? is your hand okay? is your chest hurting?¡± the team doctor was at a loss; he knew that third young master shouldn¡¯t be allowed near a race car, even a training car! lu zhiyuan shrugged, fearless. ¡°1 feel pretty good, not painful at all.¡± his chest bone was a bit achy, but it wasn¡¯t too obvious, and he could tolerate it. when gu ziyu arrived at the global center, he saw lu zhiyuan surrounded by a group of team doctors and coaches, but he was smiling like a peacock, giving him a strange illusion. it was as if his father had never been in a car accident and was still full of life. he was still the most dazzling light on the racetrack. ¡°dad!¡± gu ziyu intentionally raised his voice. ¡°over here!¡± lu zhiyuan heard the familiar voice, turned his head, waved his hand, and smiled. in the sunlight, the man¡¯s smile was exceptionally dazzling. he wiped his sweat, threw the towel to li jiang, and naturally walked towards gu ziyu. ¡°why are you here so early?¡± the team doctor and coach were both shocked. ¡°dad? li jiang, did i hear that right? when did third young master have such a grown-up son? wasn¡¯t he always calling him ¡®brother¡¯?¡± li jiang remained expressionless. ¡°i said young master recognized third young master as his godfather. do you believe it?¡± the team doctor and coach exchanged puzzled looks. third young master himself was still quite mischievous. why would he become someone¡¯s godfather? carrying a small backpack, gu ziyu looked cute and adorable. lu zhiyuan gave his backpack a little tug; it was surprisingly heavy. ¡°what are you carrying in here? it¡¯s so heavy.¡± ¡°computer and books,¡± gu ziyu said with a beaming smile. his dad was so much like he remembered, yet different. the way he looked at him now was so gentle. gu ziyu really liked it. ¡°i¡¯ll help you carry it!¡± lu zhiyuan pretended to reach for the backpack, as he occasionally saw parents helping their kids with their backpacks when passing by schools. gu ziyu twisted his waist, avoiding his hand. ¡°1 got it, you still haven¡¯t fully recovered from your fracture.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled and held his hand as they went upstairs. gu ziyu looked at their joined hands in surprise, and his ears turned red. this felt different from when his mom held his hand. it made him so happy, and he really liked it! with a song in his heart, gu ziyu felt like he was floating as he walked. ¡°were you just at the racetrack? mom said you shouldn¡¯t touch race cars for a year.¡± gu ziyu scolded him. ¡°you¡¯re not following the doctor¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°be good, don¡¯t tattle on me to your mom.¡± when gu ziyu reached the top floor, he saw ji chi and rong li in the study, discussing business matters. they had just finished and were making tea using lu zhiyuan¡¯s tea leaves. as father and son approached, ji chi was breaking a piece of tea cake to make tea eggs, while rong li was brewing tea. it looked a bit unconventional, but the tea leaves smelled wonderful. ¡°big brother, what are you making? it smells so good,¡± gu ziyu exclaimed. ¡°tea eggs. you like them, don¡¯t you?¡± ji chi smiled. ¡°with these fragrant tea leaves, the tea eggs will surely be delicious.¡± ¡°wow¡­ you¡¯re so domesticated,¡± gu ziyu was looking forward to his cooking skills. lu zhiyuan, with a blank expression, watched ji chi and rong li. his gaze landed on the tea cake. ¡°where did you find that tea cake?¡± ¡°in the tea cabinet. the other packages looked expensive, but this tea cake had no packaging, so we opened it to make tea eggs. no need to use expensive tea leaves for this,¡± rong li explained. lu zhiyuan calmly stated, ¡°i acquired that tea cake at an auction.¡± ji chi and rong li exchanged awkward glances. rong li had just taken back the tea leaves she was about to discard and started brewing them again. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°two hundred thousand per jin.¡± ji chi and rong li were dumbstruck. rong li said, ¡°third master, ji chi is the one who took it, it¡¯s not my fault.¡± ji chi gave rong li a glare. he was trying to pass the blame, even though he was the one who initially said that the tea leaves looked like they belonged to a third-rate product. he was okay with wine, but he was no expert when it came to tea. that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t realize that these tea leaves would brew such fragrant tea. ¡°i¡¯ll buy another piece?¡± ji chi hesitated. it must be very rare if it¡¯s so expensive. where could he get another piece for third master? ¡°there are only two pieces, and one is at my father¡¯s house,¡± lu zhiyuan smiled and asked, ¡°where would you buy it?¡± gu ziyu broke the tension, ¡°tea eggs made from tea leaves that cost two hundred thousand per jin? 1 want to eat more; they must be delicious.¡± lu zhiyuan looked down at his son, who had just diffused the situation, and smiled, ¡°is it fragrant?¡± ¡°fragrant!¡± ¡°then have a couple more!¡± ji chi was speechless. spoiling his own child, indeed! ji chi felt relieved when lu zhiyuan went to freshen up and change clothes. ¡°ziyu, thank goodness for you.¡± ¡°dad doesn¡¯t even like tea; the tea leaves are for mom.¡± gu ziyu saw through it at a glance. ¡°don¡¯t worry; he won¡¯t be angry. after all, he doesn¡¯t need it anymore.¡± ji chi nodded in agreement. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only rong li continued brewing tea, knowing that these tea leaves were so expensive. he treated the tea ceremony with more solemnity. although the taste of the tea he brewed was still poor, gu ziyu asked, ¡°why are you all here?¡± ¡°we¡¯ve been staying here recently,¡± rong li smiled. ¡°we live downstairs.¡± gu ziyu felt a bit jealous. that was the place he and his mom used to live, and now it belonged to ji chi and rong li. gu ziyu was more familiar with rong li, but he wasn¡¯t as close to ji chi. ¡°why are you both in a city? don¡¯t you have european affairs to attend to?¡± ji chi explained, ¡°baby, nowadays, most official business is handled online. there¡¯s no need to be physically present for every business deal. we¡¯re planning to settle down in china in the future.¡± gu ziyu was puzzled, ¡°settle down in china?¡± Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Parent chapter 364: parent-child time translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°indeed, city a is an international metropolis, suitable for living and working, and the environment is very pleasant. even the headquarters of black hawk is relocating to city a,¡± ji chi said while boiling tea eggs. ¡°since third uncle¡¯s identity has been exposed and become a target, if he plans to settle in city a, we must establish our presence here. otherwise, in case of emergencies, we won¡¯t be able to handle them effectively.¡± black hawk has always been focused on europe and america, so shifting to asia will take several years. this implies that black hawk¡¯s financial center will move from europe and america to asia. dad sees potential in local financial assets. gu ziyu pondered in silence. dad has never liked doing business in china; he¡¯d have to rebuild his connections, and it¡¯s not as free as he¡¯s used to. yet, he seems willing. the heart of the underworld has always been in asia, and if dad shifts black hawk¡¯s center, he¡¯ll have to compete for the financial market with the underworld. normally, having different focuses can coexist, but now, they¡¯ll be competing for the same piece of cake, making the situation even more challenging. rong li said, ¡°we¡¯ve been planning for this lately, restructuring black hawk¡¯s asset portfolio, reorganizing the good assets, and disposing of the bad ones. third uncle wants to heavily invest in local assets, and we have no choice.¡± in fact, he and ji chi also see potential in domestic assets. it¡¯ll be revealed in ten or twenty years who made the right call. even though the focus is shifting, they haven¡¯t given up on the european and american markets; they¡¯re expanding their presence there as well. gu ziyu asked expressionlessly, ¡°is this not a potential conflict of interest?¡± ji chi chuckled, ¡°baby, you¡¯re overthinking it. third uncle just missed you, and we¡¯re just having a casual chat.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± gu ziyu had never experienced being wanted by his father, so it felt novel. but he still had his wits about him. just a casual chat? he wasn¡¯t buying it. rong li lightly laughed and poured tea for gu ziyu. gu ziyu took a sip with a hint of disdain. he spoke the truth, ¡°don¡¯t ruin good tea leaves.¡± ¡°i find it quite enjoyable,¡± ji chi said. ji chi handed a tea egg to gu ziyu, who also looked disdainful. ¡°it hasn¡¯t absorbed the flavor yet.¡± ¡°let it steep a bit longer,¡± ji chi advised as he took a bite himself, finding it somewhat lacking in flavor. ¡°is it really not a conflict of interest?¡± gu ziyu looked at them warily. ¡°i want to make it clear, i won¡¯t engage in any illegal or unethical activities.¡± ignoring gu ziyu¡¯s aversion, rong li poured more tea, seemingly oblivious. ¡°young master, how can we let a minor engage in illegal or unethical activities? we just wanted to ask, in case your parents divorce, who will you choose to live with?¡± ¡°of course, it¡¯ll be my mom!¡± gu ziyu replied without hesitation. ¡°besides, i¡¯m not even married.¡± ¡°wouldn¡¯t you consider it? black hawk is such a massive family fortune,¡± ji chi teased. ¡°when you turn eighteen, you¡¯ll understand the importance of wealth and power.¡± gu ziyu pondered seriously, looking like he was considering something important. ji chi and rong li exchanged a glance, sensing an opportunity for mischief. gu ziyu said, ¡°1 got into the ministry of state security based on my abilities. twenty years from now, my position will surely be high, as for money¡­ i¡¯m not lacking. my mom is wealthy, my uncle is wealthy, and my dad has only me as his son, so the inheritance is mine. i already have more money than i can spend; it¡¯s a real worry.¡± ji chi and rong li remained expressionless; this was quite versailles-esque. lu zhiyuan leaned against the doorway, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile, and asked, ¡°what are you all talking about?¡± ji chi and rong li fell silent, while gu ziyu grinned and said, ¡°they asked me who i would choose to live with if my parents divorced. dad, when did you and mom get married? you didn¡¯t inform me.¡± ji chi and rong li stayed silent. young master, you¡¯re not playing fair! lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t seem bothered and walked over slowly. ¡°ignore them. let¡¯s go, i¡¯ll take you to play some basketball.¡± gu ziyu was surprised. ¡°you¡¯re taking me to play basketball?¡± ¡°don¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°i do!¡± lu zhiyuan asked ji chi and rong li with a semi-smile, ¡°are you two coming?¡± ji chi and rong li shook their heads in unison, politely declining lu zhiyuan¡¯s lukewarm invitation. lu zhiyuan took gu ziyu to play basketball, and gu ziyu thought he was going to be asked about jiang junlin, but it turned out to be a genuine father-son bonding time. he was pleasantly surprised and quite happy about it! lu zhiyuan was skilled at basketball, a benefit of having the talents of both the third uncle, who couldn¡¯t play basketball, and the third young master, who excelled at it. playing basketball with gu ziyu, he was someone gu ziyu could admire. gu ziyu had a strong competitive spirit. after losing a few games, he boasted, ¡°wait until i¡¯m eighteen; i¡¯ll beat you! it¡¯s just my height that¡¯s the problem now!¡± ¡°sure, i¡¯ll be waiting for your challenge!¡± ¡°is your injury okay for playing basketball?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°it¡¯s nothing serious; i¡¯ve mostly recovered,¡± lu zhiyuan replied. after playing basketball with gu ziyu for over an hour, he grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to gu ziyu before opening one for himself. not far away, li jiang watched in admiration. the third young master really liked the young master. ¡°mom said you won¡¯t compete anymore. i saw you racing earlier; do you still want to compete?¡± gu ziyu asked. lu zhiyuan did want to continue competing, although he knew it was dangerous. but he still wanted to race for a few more years. ¡°i haven¡¯t reached retirement age yet. once i recover fully and my skills haven¡¯t declined, i¡¯ll continue to race.¡± gu ziyu couldn¡¯t help but worry. racing would be incredibly risky, especially since everyone in the underworld knew he was the third young master of black hawk. if he raced, there would be enemies waiting to take revenge, and he had quite a few enemies from his past dealings with black hawk. that would be like stirring up a hornet¡¯s nest, and they could easily target him during a race. ¡°when you had that accident while racing, it nearly cost you your life, and mom was almost driven crazy. haven¡¯t you forgotten that?¡± gu ziyu asked. ¡°i haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± lu zhiyuan said softly. ¡°dad promises you it won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°mom said you regained memories from your previous life. why is that? did dad also experience reincarnation?¡± gu ziyu asked curiously. this was all so strange to him. ¡°this is a long story,¡± lu zhiyuan said with a hint of difficulty. ¡°dad has some things that are hard to explain. will you be angry if 1 don¡¯t tell you?¡± gu ziyu understood the reasoning quite well. ¡°i won¡¯t be angry. when you want to tell me, you can. but how did you know i would live to be eighteen?¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s gaze dimmed for a moment, and his large hand gently stroked gu ziyu¡¯s head. fortunately, in this life, the young gu ziyu had someone to care for him, and he wasn¡¯t consumed by vengeance. ¡°ziyu, it¡¯s dad¡¯s fault for what happened to you.¡± gu ziyu had once harbored resentment towards lu zhiyuan because of gu ci. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only he also knew that it was misplaced anger. gu chuyun loved dad, and it wasn¡¯t dad¡¯s fault. he was just too charming, and many women loved him. was that his fault? gu chuyun had nursed unrealistic fantasies, and that was her mistake. there was no reason for him to hate dad. he understood all the logic, but during the most painful times, he couldn¡¯t help but blame dad for not handling these complicated relationships and grudges properly. ultimately, what he hated most was his own powerlessness as a child, for not being able to protect mom after dad left. ¡°1 thought i could watch you grow up, from the day you were born until you learned to call me ¡®dad.¡¯ i thought i would always be by your side. 1 didn¡¯t expect to leave so early, so many things were left unresolved. after my death, many things spiraled out of control, which is why you and cici suffered. it¡¯s indeed because of my arrogance; i didn¡¯t pay enough attention to the conflict between lu shijie and gu chuyun, and it led to a catastrophe..¡± Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Parent chapter 365: parent-child time 2 translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in his first conversation with gu ziyu about the past, he said, ¡°it should have been my father¡¯s responsibility, but it fell to you, and you suffered for it. dad and i want to say sorry to you. also, you¡¯ve done very well.¡± gu ziyu¡¯s eyes turned red, but he stubbornly resisted crying. he rubbed his eyes forcefully, wiping away the tears. ¡°1 didn¡¯t protect mom.¡± if he had done better, his mother wouldn¡¯t have died. ¡°you were just a child, and you¡¯ve already done very well,¡± lu zhiyuan said gently. ¡°now, you have a fresh start. do what you love, forget the past, don¡¯t hold it in your heart.¡± ¡°can i really forget?¡± gu ziyu didn¡¯t dare to forget even for a day. when lu shijie died, he couldn¡¯t rest easy. he even wanted to harm gu chuyun. as soon as this person gained power, he couldn¡¯t rest easy. he remembered every face of those who had hurt him and gu ci. even though he had a fresh start now, he didn¡¯t dare to forget even for a day. when he joined the mss, his original intention was not to defend the country, but to gain power so that he could protect gu ci. it was only after receiving chen liangdong¡¯s guidance and influence that he had other desires. ¡°only by forgetting can you truly find peace and happiness,¡± lu zhiyuan said softly. ¡°i¡¯m here for everything.¡± ¡°i¡¯ll listen to you and forget the hatred. dad, why did you regain your memories but have to be separated from mom?¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t answer gu ziyu¡¯s question and changed the subject, ¡°do you still want to play basketball?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu saw that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it and didn¡¯t press further. gu ziyu spent the whole day at the global center. after lunch, he wanted to challenge lu zhiyuan¡¯s hacking skills. father and son even had an online battle, with lu zhiyuan secretly letting gu ziyu win a round. gu ziyu was so happy that he wanted to jump for joy. ji chi, on the other hand, wanted to ask about jiang junlin, but seeing how much fun they were having, he didn¡¯t want to spoil the mood. rong li teased, ¡°are you really so indifferent? who believes you want to cut ties with jiang junlin?¡± ¡°i haven¡¯t made a single phone call to him since he came out.¡± rong li mocked, ¡°who was the one who secretly went to jiang¡¯s doorstep in the dead of winter and endured a night of cold wind? you may not have made a phone call, but you didn¡¯t hesitate to go to his doorstep.¡± ¡°are you following me?¡± rong li laughed at his anger. ¡°do i need to follow you? everything is crystal clear on the surveillance. if i were your enemy, 1 could have shot you dead at jiang juniin¡¯s doorstep!¡± ji chi kicked him. ¡°wait until you¡¯re in a relationship, and i¡¯ll see how i can tease you!¡± ¡°in the next life, perhaps!¡± rong li, holding a cigar, teased, ¡°you can wait patiently.¡± ¡°sure, i¡¯ll wait!¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t bring up the matter of jiang junlin, and gu ziyu didn¡¯t mention it either. with their conflicting identities, it wasn¡¯t suitable to discuss official business. this was the first time gu ziyu had enjoyed quality father-son time with lu zhiyuan, and he was excited. when lu zhiyuan sent him back, gu ziyu boldly asked, ¡°dad, are you human?¡± li jiang was speechless. young master, are you insulting him? ¡°of course, i¡¯m human. what else would i be?¡± ¡°how can humans fly?¡± gu ziyu was curious. ¡°in this world, there are only three types, humans, ghosts, and demons. which category does dad belong to?¡± ¡°in this world, there are only humans!¡± lu zhiyuan said with a light smile. ¡°there are no ghosts or demons.¡± ¡°then why can you fly?¡± ¡°dad had a special experience. i can¡¯t explain it.¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t want gu ziyu to know too much about his complicated past. ¡°can i inherit it?¡± gu ziyu asked excitedly. ¡°can i fly too? maybe i¡¯m too young to fly right now, but when i grow up, can i fly too?¡± lu zhiyuan was silent. that was a good question! baby, you¡¯re a straightforward person, don¡¯t think of becoming a demon. ¡°it was really cool,¡± gu ziyu gestured with his hands and feet. ¡°when mom and i were in danger, you flew over in an instant. i was stunned, and i even suspected if 1 was in a movie plot.¡± lu zhiyuan just smiled without saying a word, watching gu ziyu¡¯s lively and adorable appearance, feeling very happy. gu ziyu saw that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so he didn¡¯t push further. as they approached the blue fields villa, gu ziyu had a mischievous idea. ¡°dad, since you and mom are going to be separated, why are you still wearing matching couple bracelets?¡± he poked lu zhiyuan¡¯s bracelet. this particular bracelet didn¡¯t appear feminine on him, and in the winter, with long sleeves, it could be hidden without being noticed. gu ziyu had seen it today during their basketball game. the last time they had supper together in paris, gu ziyu also noticed that lu zhiyuan was wearing the same bracelet. it seemed like he had never taken it off. ¡°i made this bracelet myself. why can¡¯t i wear it?¡± ¡°oh, you made it yourself,¡± gu ziyu said meaningfully, ¡°no wonder mom was so anxious. she lost her bracelet yesterday and was really worried.¡± lu zhiyuan was momentarily stunned and then looked out the window. only the rise and fall of his chest betrayed a hint of emotion. outside the blue fields villa, gu ci saw lu zhiyuan¡¯s car and was somewhat surprised. this was the car that lu zhiyuan used for official business. she thought it might be li jiang who had brought gu ziyu back, but she didn¡¯t expect lu zhiyuan to personally drop gu ziyu off. gu ci had just finished her exercise routine. following medical advice, she had been reading, exercising, getting enough sleep, and maintaining regular meals. she tied her hair into a ponytail, looking youthful and vibrant. lu zhiyuan looked at her through the car window, the night was clear, and the woman he loved was so close yet so far away. his gaze fell on her wrist, and gu ci was still wearing that bracelet, as if it was an unspoken agreement and persistence between them. ¡°mom, i¡¯m back!¡± gu ziyu ran towards gu ci. gu ci smiled gently, holding his hand, and led him into the blue fields villa without acknowledging lu zhiyuan. li jiang hesitated for a moment and then said, ¡°third master?¡± ¡°let¡¯s go back!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s car passed by gu ci¡¯s house and then turned around. he saw gu ci talking to gu ziyu with a smile on her face, looking very affectionate. li jiang secretly thought, third master, you deliberately sent young master back just to see miss gu ci, didn¡¯t you? how can you sit in the car so coldly? at least get out and say a few words. look, miss gu ci didn¡¯t even acknowledge you. inside the blue fields villa, gu ziyu excitedly told gu ci about their day together, and gu ci could tell he was very happy. gu ziyu even proudly mentioned that he had won a round against lu zhiyuan in their online game. gu ci, watching gu ziyu¡¯s enthusiasm, couldn¡¯t help but smile as well. ¡°he called you over just to play basketball and have fun, didn¡¯t he?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°he didn¡¯t say anything else, just basketball, meals, and playing with me.¡± gu ziyu promised not to tattle, but then he betrayed lu zhiyuan. ¡°mom, when 1 just arrived at the global center, 1 saw dad at the racetrack, and he was really fast!¡± although he couldn¡¯t understand racing, seeing the coach and li jiang so nervous, he knew that dad must have been amazing. he also knew he couldn¡¯t go to the racetrack. gu ci frowned, her face darkening. didn¡¯t his hand need more time to heal? it hadn¡¯t been that long, and if it didn¡¯t heal properly, it might lead to severe joint problems in the future. ¡°wait, did you say he was at the racetrack?¡± Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Lantern Festival chapter 366: lantern festival translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°indeed, he¡¯s in racing!¡± gu ziyu replied enthusiastically. ¡°dad said he still wants to be on the racetrack, not retire.¡± gu ci felt a mixture of joy and hesitation. she had thought that lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t return to racing, that he would find an opportunity to retire. after regaining her memories, she found it hard to see traces of the third young master in him. growing up together as childhood friends, having clashed for years, and the spirited third young master who seemed like a dream ¨C now that she had awakened, he had disappeared. she distinctly remembered that five years later, when he gave up racing for her, how regretful lu zhiyuan had been. he never missed any fl race, and when the imperial dynasty team¡¯s driver won a championship, he was ecstatic. she clearly saw the fervor in his eyes. but now, lu zhiyuan seemed gentle, with a kind of self-restraint and calmness, as if all those unrestrained emotions and passionate love had vanished from him. her heart ached heavily, and she felt regretful. she never expected that lu zhiyuan would still insist on racing, even if his identity was exposed, and the racetrack was filled with dangers. this had always been the thing the third young master loved most. ¡°he really said that?¡± gu ci asked in surprise. gu ziyu nodded. ¡°i even recorded a video. take a look!¡± he sent the video recorded at the global circuit to gu ci. she watched it with fondness, her heart pounding. regardless of what he said or did, or whether he was by her side or not, she couldn¡¯t help but feel the same excitement. it was an addiction she could never give up in her lifetime. ¡°that¡¯s great!¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes were slightly red. she kept watching the video repeatedly until she went to sleep. on this day, the lantern festival, the entire jiang family was going to visit the zhang family to exchange new year¡¯s greetings. jiang junlin invited both gu ziyu and gu ci to join them, and gu ziyu wanted to spend the lantern festival with chen liangdong. chen liangdong smiled, ¡°1 also want to visit old zhang¡¯s family for the lantern festival.¡± ¡°what a coincidence!¡± ¡°i heard that chairman lu is also taking lu zhiyuan to pay a visit.¡± gu ziyu pondered, wondering what chairman zhang had in mind. when gu ci heard this, she also couldn¡¯t understand why chairman zhang had invited the lu family. the zhang family¡¯s lantern festival celebration was always lively, with many people coming to exchange new year¡¯s greetings. this year, most of the other guests had declined the invitation, leaving only the jiang and lu families. the jiang family had already prepared the new year gifts, so gu ci and gu ziyu didn¡¯t have to worry about it. they rode in the same car as jiang junlin and his mother, while zhang qiang and the close security team followed in four cars behind. lu zhiyuan and chairman lu also arrived, with four cars following behind them. gu ziyu looked at the impressive procession of cars outside the zhang family¡¯s door and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°is this a new year visit or a demonstration?¡± when jiang junlin got out of the car, he unexpectedly spotted ji chi in the crowd. ji chi had come with rong li and was just a step away from lu zhiyuan. jiang junlin¡¯s gaze swept over him, his expression unchanged, and quickly shifted his gaze away. ji chi¡¯s eyes, however, seemed to be glued to jiang junlin, as if he wanted to peel a layer of skin off him. chairman lu and chairman jiang, along with jiang ming hua, exchanged greetings and then entered together. both jiang junlin and lu zhiyuan avoided eye contact and didn¡¯t greet each other. gu ci wasn¡¯t surprised at all, but gu ziyu waved his hand cheerfully and called out, ¡°brother!¡± when jiang junlin glanced at him indifferently, gu ziyu immediately put on an expression as if he didn¡¯t know him. gu ci couldn¡¯t help but suppress her laughter! the close security team couldn¡¯t enter, or it would indeed look like a demonstration. ji chi and rong li stood outside, and li jiang remarked, ¡°look at mr. jiang¡¯s boldness; it¡¯s a bit excessive.¡± ¡°trust me, it¡¯s already quite restrained.¡± li jiang sighed. the zhang family was a large clan. the head of the family had three daughters, one son, and four grandchildren, with a pair of twin grandsons in primary school. their family prospered, and apart from their youngest daughter being involved in business, the rest of the daughters, sons-in-law, son, and daughter-in-law all worked within the system, making them a well-established family. chen liangdong arrived early and had already played a game of chess with the elder zhang. when both the lu and jiang families entered, they greeted each other politely. the jiangs and the zhangs had a long-standing friendship, so their relationship was good to begin with. the lu family¡¯s relationship with the zhangs wasn¡¯t as deep, as lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t fond of socializing, and he had been rebellious, always focused on racing. lu ze and the zhang family had business dealings, but the zhangs were more familiar with the zhang daughters. the new year¡¯s greetings were a cheerful affair, and gu ci felt at ease. she stayed by her grandmother¡¯s side, exchanging greetings one by one. jiang mingyue and the zhang family¡¯s children were all familiar with her. they gave her red envelopes for the first meeting, even zhang jiaqi smiled and handed her a red envelope. after gu ci declined a few times, her grandmother signaled her to accept it. gu ziyu also received a red envelope, with the jiang family introducing him as a relative¡¯s child. chairman zhang had mentioned that gu ziyu was a child prodigy, and now he was working for national security, so the zhang family was quite curious. gu ziyu was sweet-tongued and quickly won everyone¡¯s favor. ¡°cici is so beautiful; your family really has amazing genes. how can all of you produce such beauties? she¡¯s so fresh and lovely; i¡¯m getting excited just looking at her.¡± zhang jiayao, the youngest daughter of chairman zhang, praised. ¡°you¡¯re too kind,¡± gu ci wasn¡¯t very good at dealing with elders and was smiling to the point where her face was stiff. ¡°it¡¯s a shame my son just entered high school. such a beautiful girl, i want to hide her away in my home,¡± zhang jiali, chairman zhang¡¯s second daughter, said with a smile. ¡°don¡¯t compete with me for people; she¡¯s the daughter-in-law of our old lu family,¡± lu ze, with sharp ears, declared, taking on the role of announcing their relationship on behalf of lu zhiyuan. ¡°she¡¯s in a relationship with zhiyuan.¡± ¡°they both wear couple bracelets; we¡¯re not blind. we figured it out a long time ago,¡± one of the twins in the zhang family said. ¡°what a perfect match!¡± ¡°congratulations, congratulations!¡± gu ci and lu zhiyuan exchanged a glance, but he didn¡¯t explain, and she remained silent. she intentionally pulled her sleeves to hide the couple bracelet, and zhang jiaqi said, ¡°don¡¯t tease cici; she¡¯s already shy.¡± gu ci stayed silent. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only lu zhiyuan glanced at her with a half-smile. her inner emotions remained undisturbed; she wasn¡¯t shy. jiang junlin¡¯s lips curled slightly, and he smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. the atmosphere was lively and harmonious. gu ziyu found it hard to join the conversation. chen liangdong smiled and handed him a piece of chestnut cake, which he happily enjoyed. after the pleasantries, the men entertained themselves, while the women did the same. the zhang sisters, along with gu ci, lin chunli, and mrs. jiang, went to the garden to have tea, while chairman zhang took lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin to the study for a chat. chen liangdong and gu ziyu followed suit. it was clear that the zhang family had good manners. even though gu ci had threatened chairman zhang when she visited earlier, and both zhang sisters were present during that encounter, they were now exceptionally welcoming and didn¡¯t say anything to make gu ci uncomfortable. they never brought up any mistreatment of gu ci by her own family. their hospitality was gracious, as if any unpleasant incidents had never occurred.. Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: What Condition Can We Negotiate chapter 367: what condition can we negotiate translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°cici, regarding lin qing¡¯s situation, i have to thank you. if it weren¡¯t for you exposing his false facade, i would have remained deceived by him,¡± zhang jiaqi said sincerely. ¡°1 owe you a favor. if you ever need help in the future, please let me know.¡± both lin chunli and grandma jiang didn¡¯t know that it was gu ci who had exposed lin qing¡¯s actions. they both looked at gu ci and asked, ¡°cici, what¡¯s going on?¡± zhang jiaqi was surprised and asked, ¡°didn¡¯t cici tell you?¡± gu ci felt a bit uneasy. she hadn¡¯t told her grandmother and aunt about jiang junlin¡¯s situation, and she certainly couldn¡¯t reveal anything about lin qing¡¯s situation. ¡°i happened to see lin qing on vacation with his lover and child, so i informed grandpa zhang,¡± gu ci simplified the matter. lin chunli and grandma jiang frowned, seeing through gu ci¡¯s lie at once. gu ci wasn¡¯t the type to meddle in others¡¯ affairs, and it wasn¡¯t like it was her best friend¡¯s husband who was cheating. there was no reason for gu ci to expose lin qing, as they had no prior acquaintance with the zhang family. however, they didn¡¯t express their doubts. ¡°zhang auntie, if 1 have acted inappropriately, please forgive me,¡± gu ci apologized gracefully. ¡°there¡¯s nothing inappropriate about it. it¡¯s better that this came to light sooner. it¡¯s good for me and for the zhang family. i¡¯ve already drafted a divorce agreement, and i¡¯ll be getting a divorce in a few days. i¡¯ve been blind for so many years,¡± zhang jiaqi accepted the failure of her marriage with a calm attitude. gu ci greatly admired how she handled the situation. when zhang¡¯s daughters were busy preparing tea, lin chunli and grandma jiang finally inquired about the whole story. gu ci had no choice but to explain the sequence of events, omitting the part about jiang junlin being imprisoned, going on the run, and getting arrested. grandma jiang playfully tapped gu ci¡¯s hand, ¡°why are you so audacious? coming to the zhang family by yourself to find grandpa zhang. don¡¯t you have elders at home? for such matters, you should have informed us, and we would have dealt with it. weren¡¯t you scared?¡± ¡°i¡¯m sorry, grandma, auntie. i know i was wrong,¡± gu ci tried to be cute like gu ziyu, ¡°i won¡¯t do it again. i won¡¯t.¡± ¡°you better not!¡± grandma jiang said sternly. ¡°you¡¯re still a child. for major issues, you should let the elders handle them. don¡¯t take risks on your own. remember that.¡± ¡°i remember, i remember!¡± lin chunli playfully tapped gu ci¡¯s nose, ¡°you dared to do this for your brother. auntie underestimated you.¡± ¡°we¡¯re family, and when my brother was in trouble, i was really worried,¡± gu ci replied. lin chunli found her words heartwarming. gu ci might be a bit cold, but she was deeply loyal. thankfully, none of gu wenliang¡¯s undesirable traits had been passed on to her. in the study, lu zhiyuan, jiang junlin, grandpa zhang, chen liangdong, and gu ziyu were discussing matters related to national security, the underground world, and the black hawk and triad. gu ziyu was mostly just listening. grandpa zhang said, ¡°junlin, regarding the matter of the dark web, you¡¯ve suffered unjustly this time. you have to trust your grandfather. i truly didn¡¯t know about this. if i had known about lin qing¡¯s actions, 1 wouldn¡¯t have tolerated it. don¡¯t lose faith in us, and don¡¯t be disheartened. this was a bloodbath caused by personal greed. remember, it¡¯s not for revenge; it¡¯s for vigilance. this won¡¯t happen again. your grandfather and i have been friends for many years, and we¡¯re lifelong old friends. we would never force you into such a situation.¡± ¡°grandpa zhang, i believe you,¡± jiang junlin said with a smile. ¡°this matter was caused by lin qing, and it has nothing to do with you.¡± lu zhiyuan sipped his tea calmly, and his attitude was almost identical to jiang junlin¡¯s. they both listened attentively, eager to know the reason for grandpa zhang¡¯s visit. grandpa zhang looked at the two young men before him. lu zhiyuan was in his early twenties, and jiang junlin was not yet thirty, yet they were the leaders of the black hawk and triad. he felt a pang of age but also satisfaction in seeing the emergence of talented individuals in the younger generation. grandpa zhang said, ¡°we always thought that triad and black hawk were foreign enterprises, especially black hawk, which operated like international capital. we never imagined that these two major financial organizations were actually under our control. so, why should we fight each other to the death? lu zhiyuan, according to national security intelligence, black hawk intends to shift its focus to city a.¡± ¡°that¡¯s our intention,¡± lu zhiyuan replied with a light smile. ¡°national security¡¯s information is quite reliable. we¡¯ve just made some moves, and you already know about it.¡± chen liangdong added, ¡°we make our living from this line of work, so having reliable information is natural. however, while we¡¯re well-informed, there are still gaps. for example, despite our information, we couldn¡¯t uncover third master¡¯s true identity, so there are many shortcomings.¡± gu ziyu kept his thoughts to himself. he would just remain a spectator. there probably wasn¡¯t anything for him to comment on. lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin, as the younger generation, were quite patient, and no one was in a hurry to ask grandpa zhang about his intentions. grandpa zhang also understood their thoughts and was confident in his position. grandpa zhang said, ¡°junlin, zhiyuan, you both are highly educated and talented young men. one has quietly contributed for ten years, and the other has brought numerous honors to our country. you are both our pride. triad and black hawk share the same roots, so why rush into a life-and-death struggle? resolving grievances and creating a shared interest community is what we should aim for. 1 invited you, along with old chen here, to my home to discuss your thoughts on a three-party cooperation. are you willing? if you have any difficulties or concerns, feel free to express them, and if you have any conditions, you can also put them on the table for discussion.¡± lu zhiyuan took a sip of tea, and jiang junlin poured himself a cup as well, but neither of them spoke. grandpa zhang gave a subtle signal to chen liangdong. chen liangdong said, ¡°having an open and honest discussion can be beneficial. at the very least, we¡¯ll understand each other¡¯s needs. if we can cooperate, that¡¯s great, but if we can¡¯t, there¡¯s no need to force it.¡± ¡°if you want to hear the truth, then i¡¯ll be honest,¡± jiang junlin said. ¡°lu zhiyuan and i have irreconcilable differences, and reconciliation is simply impossible!¡± ¡°it goes both ways!¡± lu zhiyuan added, unapologetic. gu ziyu, who had been silently observing, furrowed his brows. ¡°you have irreconcilable differences, and even with me here, you can¡¯t reconcile?¡± father and nephew! nephew and uncle, and they can¡¯t reconcile? ¡°i have nothing to disclose,¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly. jiang junlin smiled ambiguously, indicating the same sentiment. grandpa zhang didn¡¯t expect the conversation to come to an abrupt end, and chen liangdong, sensing his frustration, tried to defuse the tension. ¡°young people have such strong tempers these days. isn¡¯t gu ci in a relationship with zhiyuan? sooner or later, they¡¯ll be family.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°in a relationship?¡± jiang junlin asked. ¡°lu zhiyuan, do you acknowledge it?¡± lu zhiyuan remained silent. chen liangdong began to doubt his information and his own eyes. ¡°they broke up so quickly?¡± he turned to look at gu ziyu, who shrugged. he couldn¡¯t help with this matter, and he didn¡¯t know either. his parents kept their lips sealed tight. grandpa zhang wished these two were his subordinates so he could give each of them a good scolding.. ¡°let me rephrase: what conditions would it take for you two to reconcile?¡± Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: There Are Mountain Paths And Water Paths chapter 368: there are mountain paths and water paths translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin and lu zhiyuan sat silently, though they were younger, they displayed an air of unapproachability. gu ziyu found it rather irritating, thinking, ¡°dad and uncle are really so arrogant!¡± during his time with chen liangdong, gu ziyu gradually learned one thing. even someone as influential as chen liangdong still had moments of helplessness, and old zhang was even higher in status. born as a privileged child, old zhang had experienced some hardships in his early years, but for the most part, he was used to receiving compliments and obedience from others. young people like lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin were probably a rare encounter for him. chen liangdong was also in a difficult position. negotiations were discussions and judgments; you give one condition, i give another. it could be a negotiation if both sides were willing to engage, but when they both showed an unwillingness to negotiate, it became challenging. old zhang said, ¡°lu zhiyuan, the blood flowing through your veins is that of the descendants of huaxia. you¡¯ve also brought honor to the country for many years, winning numerous championships. i believe you can prioritize the greater good.¡± lu zhiyuan smiled faintly and replied, ¡°i am a businessman, and businessmen pursue profit.¡± old zhang nodded, ¡°very well, then let¡¯s talk about profit. the focus of black hawk should shift to city a. if we obstruct you, it will be hard for you to establish a foothold. you¡¯ve taken away numerous markets from the triad over the years, thanks to your abilities and the financial environment. it¡¯s a mutually beneficial arrangement.¡± ¡°is old zhang suggesting that you can get jiang junlin to agree and share this piece of cake with me?¡± lu zhiyuan succinctly returned the ball to him, putting pressure on jiang junlin at the same time. ¡°the triad¡¯s dark web must obey orders,¡± old zhang firmly stated, ¡°i promise, it will be provided.¡± jiang junlin chuckled and said, ¡°the triad¡¯s dark web won¡¯t be used for personal gain. i will make my own decisions, and it won¡¯t be under old zhang¡¯s jurisdiction. does old zhang want the triad¡¯s dark web to be at your disposal?¡± jiang junlin openly disrupted the conversation, and lu zhiyuan calmly sipped his tea, enjoying the spectacle. old zhang furrowed his brows, ¡°jiang junlin, this is a matter of discipline. you cannot let personal grievances affect the bigger picture.¡± ¡°neither lu zhiyuan nor 1 have personal grudges. we both prioritize the bigger picture,¡± jiang junlin said calmly, ¡°the triad¡¯s dark web has repeatedly thwarted black hawk¡¯s financial attacks, driven them out of the domestic financial market, and recouped numerous losses. now, you want to invite the wolf into the house. 1 would like to ask old zhang, what kind of bigger picture is this?¡± chen liangdong stepped in to mediate, ¡°naturally, we won¡¯t just give away half of the cake to black hawk for nothing. if lu zhiyuan wants this share, there will naturally be conditions. jiang junlin, you can also state your terms.¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled, ¡°since jiang junlin and i can discuss matters together, what do we need you for?¡± jiang junlin feigned confusion, ¡°i was thinking the same thing.¡± everyone fell silent. this was perhaps the first time they were so united in their opposition. old zhang was caught off guard; in the end, he had his own agenda. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°lin qing was too impatient to obtain the triad¡¯s dark web and stumbled. he was just a pawn. there are plenty of people who want the triad¡¯s dark web. old zhang, you may not have been aware of this incident, but can you guess who was behind it? can you guess it, but jiang junlin and i can¡¯t? there are only a few of us in total. if we join forces and serve you, your family will rise to even greater heights. the triad and black hawk will both become tools in your hands. what a clever plan.¡± jiang junlin calmly stated, ¡°old zhang, cooperation requires sincerity. 1 don¡¯t care about what lu zhiyuan wants, but my requirement is clear. the triad¡¯s dark web doesn¡¯t allow anyone to interfere. regarding my collaboration with black hawk, you can¡¯t provide any assistance. many others can offer what you can, and i could work with them instead. why should 1 choose to work with you? don¡¯t forget, 1 don¡¯t fall under your jurisdiction, even though you want me to hand over half of the market to lu zhiyuan with just a word.¡± old zhang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said, ¡°the triad¡¯s dark web has been exposed, and everyone wants a piece of the pie, inserting their own people. you can¡¯t keep everyone out.¡± ¡°that¡¯s your concern,¡± jiang junlin replied with a faint smile. ¡°if you want to cooperate with me, you have to help me handle it. if i can handle it myself, why should 1 cooperate with you? you need to establish cooperation with me first, then we can discuss my collaboration with lu zhiyuan. cooperation, cooperation¡­ the order is crucial.¡± lu zhiyuan chimed in, speaking calmly, ¡°old zhang, my views align with jiang junlin¡¯s. you also need to establish cooperation with me first to facilitate my collaboration with jiang junlin. otherwise, this negotiation will be utterly meaningless.¡± lu zhiyuan and jiang junlin echoed each other, nearly raising old zhang¡¯s blood pressure. gu ziyu watched from the sidelines, knowing that old zhang had a feeling that he might not be able to persuade them. that¡¯s why he had brought chen liangdong in, at least as a layer of assurance. he also subtly conveyed to them that chen liangdong would be on their side. unfortunately, neither jiang junlin nor lu zhiyuan took the bait. ¡°young people are so stubborn, unwilling to compromise even a little,¡± jiang junlin remarked. ¡°old zhang, i know you¡¯re aware of our conflict and how challenging it is for us to collaborate. that¡¯s why 1 called you here to negotiate openly and transparently, with no doubts. old zhang, you mentioned providing what 1 need. 1 can agree to it. the triad¡¯s dark web has eleven departments; you can assign five people however you like. it¡¯s not realistic to have none of our people involved. can you accept that?¡± jiang junlin furrowed his brows, a typical business negotiation tactic. ¡°three people, and one of them must be from national security.¡± chen liangdong¡¯s eyes lit up. old zhang frowned, and jiang junlin said firmly, ¡°this time, i managed to escape lin qing¡¯s assassination attempt. with national security¡¯s help, i owe them a favor, which i¡¯ll repay by helping them.¡± ¡°agreed!¡± old zhang reluctantly consented. he knew that dealing with this matter would require a lot of effort and might upset many people. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°on this basis, if you are willing to negotiate with lu zhiyuan, then, lu zhiyuan, what do you want?¡± old zhang asked. lu zhiyuan remained composed, smiling as he replied, ¡°i have no desires or special requests. regarding the cake-sharing you mentioned, there¡¯s no need to worry. whatever black hawk wants, i will strive for it myself. 1 prefer to keep control in my own hands.¡± jiang junlin had anticipated this and wasn¡¯t surprised, but old zhang was deeply shocked. ¡°lu zhiyuan, your identity has been exposed long ago. you can hardly move freely here.¡± ¡°mountains have their paths, and waters have their ways. no need to trouble yourself,¡± lu zhiyuan said, unyielding. he glanced at gu ziyu and chuckled, ¡°this negotiation has never held much attraction for me. if 1 have any requests in the future, 1¡¯11 come to you naturally.¡± ¡°you¡­¡± old zhang¡¯s face turned ashen.. Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Third Master’s Fatherly Image chapter 369: third master¡¯s fatherly image translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan remained indifferent, although old zhang¡¯s proposed conditions were quite attractive, and he had the connections to fulfill them. why agree to this negotiation and then shake hands with the underworld dark web? to put it bluntly, the negotiation was about finding an obedient son. who wants to find a stubborn father? once he cooperated with jiang junlin, there would be constant trouble in the future! jiang junlin might not understand the unparalleled and dazzling presence of lu zhiyuan on the racetrack, but he understood the third master of the black hawk. from the beginning, lu zhiyuan had no intention of cooperating with old zhang. if his calculations were correct, lu zhiyuan had his own connections, and what old zhang could promise, he could obtain. what he sought, old zhang couldn¡¯t deliver. so, he had no intention of agreeing from the start. gu ziyu was genuinely concerned. as he descended the stairs, he tugged on lu zhiyuan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°dad, can¡¯t you make peace with uncle? it¡¯s always like this, and it¡¯s also causing a lot of trouble for mom.¡± he had his selfish reasons; he didn¡¯t want gu cici to be too troubled. he hoped for a harmonious family. having experienced the tragedy of the previous generation, gu ziyu hoped for a happy and peaceful life for this generation. if dad and uncle couldn¡¯t make peace, what would mom do? ¡°i understand this matter,¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his head. ¡°eat more and worry less.¡± at such a young age, he was already so worried. gu ziyu had a dark expression. with his family background, how could he not worry? how could he not worry? jiang junlin and old zhang were still in the study discussing, so he left ahead to take a breather in the garden. unexpectedly, he saw gu cici standing on a wooden stool, trimming plum blossoms. old zhang had three red plum trees in the yard, and they were in full bloom, exuding a fragrant aroma. the stool was wobbling, and gu cici had to occasionally grab onto the branches. she had just trimmed three branches of red plum when she lost her balance and fell backward. gu cici hastily grabbed onto a branch, but unfortunately, it broke. she had thought she would fall to the ground, but instead, she fell into warm arms. the two locked eyes, and gu cici heard her own heartbeat. she also saw the slight furrow in lu zhiyuan¡¯s brows. why did he come out so quickly? gu cici calmly got up and distanced herself from lu zhiyuan. she was wearing a white cashmere coat, holding red plums in her hands, and her beauty outshone the plum blossoms. lu zhiyuan¡¯s fingertips twitched slightly, and he took a step back. ¡°what are you doing?¡± his tone carried a hint of displeasure. ¡°grandma likes red plums, so 1 wanted to pick a few branches to take home,¡± gu cici said casually. there were also red plum trees in the jiang family¡¯s courtyard, but for some reason, they didn¡¯t bloom this year, perhaps due to excessive fertilization. grandma and grandpa had been complaining about it, so when gu cici saw the red plum trees in the zhang family¡¯s yard blooming so beautifully, she wanted to borrow some blossoms. ¡°if i hadn¡¯t arrived in time, you would have fallen to the ground.¡± ¡°it¡¯s not that high; i wouldn¡¯t have died!¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath, took the scissors from her hand, and asked, ¡°which branch do you want to trim?¡± gu cici looked at him, his posture tall and handsome, and her throat moved as she pointed to the tallest branch. ¡°i want that one!¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at it and said, ¡°gu cici, are you doing this on purpose?¡± ¡°if you can¡¯t do it, don¡¯t boast!¡± gu cici taunted. lu zhiyuan brought the wooden stool over and placed it under her feet. he then trimmed the highest red plum blossom for her. the petals of the plum flowers fell onto gu cici¡¯s hair, adding an extra touch of elegance and beauty. lu zhiyuan asked, ¡°do you want another one?¡± gu cici pointed to the highest branch opposite him. ¡°that one!¡± lu zhiyuan turned his head and gave her a faint look, then moved the stool to the opposite side and stood on it to trim another branch. ¡°any more?¡± gu cici took the red plum from his hand, sniffed the plum fragrance at the tip of her nose, and shook her head. ¡°that¡¯s enough.¡± she turned and walked away, ignoring him. lu zhiyuan watched her coldly departing figure, his gaze dark and inscrutable. only gu cici knew that she couldn¡¯t look back, fearing she couldn¡¯t control her feelings and attachment. not far away, grandma jiang and lin chunli, who had been secretly watching, exchanged glances. ¡°did they really break up?¡± ¡°junlin said they did!¡± ¡°it doesn¡¯t seem like it!¡± ¡°it really doesn¡¯t!¡± when gu cici returned, they stopped peeking, and grandma jiang happily accepted the red plum blossoms, praising them endlessly. gu cici¡¯s cheeks were even redder than the plum blossoms. old zhang and jiang junlin had concluded their discussion with smiles on their faces, seemingly in a good mood. gu cici couldn¡¯t discern any clues from their expressions. she couldn¡¯t help but glance at lu zhiyuan a few times. if she remembered correctly, lu zhiyuan had come out early, and her brother, jiang junlin, and old zhang had talked for quite some time in the study. were they avoiding a private conversation with lu zhiyuan? jiang junlin served a piece of fish to gu cici. ¡°let¡¯s eat!¡± gu cici didn¡¯t look again and began eating. the atmosphere at the table was lively, with the twin grandsons being coerced into performing their talents. it was a joyful meal. after dinner, they gathered to drink tea. lu zhiyuan and lu ze left early, and rong li and ji chi were waiting outside. when lu zhiyuan came out, ji chi didn¡¯t see jiang junlin and looked slightly disappointed. ¡°third master, what did old zhang want from you?¡± ji chi asked. ¡°as you might have guessed, it¡¯s nothing more than cooperation.¡± lu zhiyuan rubbed his temples tiredly. this kind of socializing was necessary, but he didn¡¯t actually enjoy it. lu ze came over and knocked on the car window. lu zhiyuan rolled down the window, and lu ze said, ¡°would you like to celebrate the lantern festival together tonight?¡± ¡°i understand,¡± lu zhiyuan said. lu ze had not expected much, but when he heard this, he was overjoyed and got into the car happily. li jiang drove, heading in a different direction than back to global center. it was the lantern festival, and lu zhiyuan had a few invitations to attend. ji chi asked, ¡°since old zhang wants to cooperate, did he offer any attractive terms?¡± ¡°what attractive terms can he offer? what he can do, others can do as well. if i want to cooperate with the underworld dark web, i can approach jiang junlin directly without the need for him to be the intermediary. it would be a free benefit for him.¡± lu zhiyuan saw through it clearly. ¡°old zhang has retired and wants to preserve the family¡¯s honor. if the underworld and the black hawk both cooperate, it will be like adding wings to a tiger.¡± ¡°he does have a good plan. in fact, cooperation with him isn¡¯t impossible. old zhang has a wider network and greater influence,¡± ji chi pointed out pragmatically. lu zhiyuan understood this too but didn¡¯t want to give in to old zhang¡¯s wishes. ¡°if i have the time and energy, i¡¯d rather support ziyu earlier. it¡¯s always better to favor one¡¯s son. that¡¯s my priority.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ji chi chuckled. ¡°third master, ziyu is still a baby, and he¡¯ll have to listen to chen liangdong. besides, 1 think ziyu has a bit of your character. he¡¯s determined, and even if you support him, there¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯ll reciprocate.¡± lu zhiyuan asked in confusion, ¡°why should there be a guarantee of reciprocation?¡± ji chi shrugged. ¡°even close brothers keep accounts, why not expect reciprocation?¡± ¡°can¡¯t 1 be a selfless father?¡± ¡°third master, do you have that image?¡± ji chi deadpanned.. ¡°i don¡¯t believe it!¡± Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Smart People Know When to Advance or Retreat chapter 370: smart people know when to advance or retreat translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in the afternoon, the jiang family also left the zhang family. gu ci and ziyu were with them. jiang junlin sat in a car, and ziyu said, ¡°uncle, mom, i¡¯m going to grandpa¡¯s house for the lantern festival tonight, so i won¡¯t be with you.¡± ¡°why?¡± jiang junlin asked. it was ziyu¡¯s first time celebrating the lantern festival with them, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t want to miss it after missing the new year¡¯s eve. ziyu said, ¡°grandpa has no wife or children. he was alone on new year¡¯s eve and will be alone on the lantern festival too. 1 want to celebrate with him. we¡¯ve already agreed, and he¡¯s going to make sweet and sour fish for me.¡± ¡°go ahead!¡± gu ci never interfered with what ziyu wanted to do, and today they were celebrating the lantern festival together. jiang junlin didn¡¯t object either. he wanted to celebrate the lantern festival with ziyu, but they were close family, and not celebrating together wouldn¡¯t weaken their bond. there was plenty of time ahead. jiang junlin said, ¡°when we get home later, ask grandma to prepare some new year¡¯s gifts to bring over.¡± ¡°sure!¡± ziyu couldn¡¯t wait to bring all the goodies to chen liangdong. ¡°thanks to him for being willing to help with this matter. otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain,¡± jiang junlin pointed his finger at the steering wheel in the indicated direction. ¡°tell chen liangdong that 1 owe him a favor.¡± ¡°you promised to let a person into the underworld in exchange for this favor,¡± gu ci said. jiang junlin replied, ¡°that¡¯s official business, not a personal favor. it¡¯s just an excuse.¡± gu ci understood, ¡°did my brother agree to let the person in?¡± ¡°he has to, or it won¡¯t work!¡± jiang junlin said, ¡°the dark web of the underworld is a public matter. if 1 refuse to let anyone in, it will confirm their suspicions, and they will be even more wary. but 1 can¡¯t let them release people at will. old zhang will handle these matters. i¡¯m willing to give national security a quota in front of them. firstly, old zhang and chen liangdong are good friends, so one person counts as two favors. secondly, chen liangdong will work harder to help old zhang settle those people. i don¡¯t need to do anything, just wait for the outcome. with old zhang taking the lead, it¡¯s much better than if 1 did it myself.¡± smart people know when to advance and when to retreat. having just experienced such a catastrophe, jiang junlin should not expose himself too much in front of others. refusing or agreeing was a dilemma. now that he had thrown this problem to someone else, he felt much more relaxed. gu ci asked, ¡°what about lu zhiyuan? did he mention any conditions?¡± ¡°he and old zhang couldn¡¯t agree and refused to cooperate.¡± gu ci¡¯s heart jumped, and her eyelids twitched. ziyu watched gu ci cautiously, and jiang junlin also glanced at her. gu ci closed her eyes and whispered, ¡°brother, is there something you haven¡¯t told me?¡± jiang junlin fell silent. gu ci said, ¡°this time, from your arrest to the exposure, was lu zhiyuan the mastermind behind it?¡± ¡°why would you think that?¡± jiang junlin asked calmly. ¡°he didn¡¯t agree to old zhang¡¯s terms because he has his own connections, and his status isn¡¯t below old zhang¡¯s. so, he wasn¡¯t tempted by the conditions old zhang proposed,¡± gu ci whispered, ¡°he has long wanted to shift the focus of assets to the east, so exposing you and weakening the influence of the underworld dark web, with various forces involved, he can also take half of the market share. because he can¡¯t get around you and the underworld dark web, and because of my relationship with ji chi, he didn¡¯t want to kill you, so he chose this path.¡± gu ci¡¯s guess was spot on, but jiang junlin hadn¡¯t told her the whole story because he didn¡¯t want her to worry after all the effort she had put in during his absence. ¡°this isn¡¯t something he can accomplish alone,¡± jiang junlin replied honestly, not wanting to throw stones at lu zhiyuan in front of gu ci, despite his personal feelings. ¡°the underworld dark web would have faced such a crisis sooner or later, a few years earlier or later wouldn¡¯t have made much difference. the result is better than 1 expected. whether it¡¯s lu zhiyuan or someone else, the outcome would have been the same.¡± gu ci looked out the window, and ziyu was a bit worried. jiang junlin said, ¡°my conflicts with him won¡¯t be resolved because of you, cici. don¡¯t worry about our affairs.¡± ¡°i understand!¡± gu ci smiled lightly. ¡°brother, you don¡¯t need to explain. 1 understand, and i¡¯m not sad. 1 just feel a bit¡­ late to the party.¡± in truth, she had noticed it long ago but hadn¡¯t thought deeply about it. ¡°brother, will you cooperate with him then?¡± ¡°not necessarily,¡± jiang junlin said with a smile. ¡°if it¡¯s beneficial, we¡¯ll cooperate; otherwise, we won¡¯t.¡± ¡°i see!¡± gu ci said. ¡°that¡¯s good. you already have to face many challenges in your position. you don¡¯t need to surround yourself with more pitfalls for my sake.¡± ¡°i¡¯m well aware of that!¡± ziyu, with a pout, propped up his chin, ¡°i¡¯m in a tough spot, dad, mom, uncle, they¡¯re all family, and i¡¯m like a poor sandwich cookie.¡± both jiang junlin and gu ci couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°ziyu, don¡¯t worry too much. your front teeth haven¡¯t even come in yet. if you keep worrying, you won¡¯t grow tall,¡± jiang junlin once again doubted whether ziyu would grow tall. thank goodness ziyu wasn¡¯t like lu zhiyuan; otherwise, it would be even more worrisome! ¡°hmph, ji chi said the same thing. he boiled a pot of tea eggs for me to get more protein, fearing i¡¯d turn into a shorty.¡± unexpectedly hearing ji chi¡¯s name, jiang junlin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and the smile faded from his face. he had come to zhang¡¯s house with lu zhiyuan today. he wasn¡¯t lu zhiyuan¡¯s bodyguard; there was no need to stick so close. while discussing matters in the study with old zhang, his window faced outside, and he could see ji chi and li jiang talking. he leaned against the car, smoking a cigarette, his face devoid of a smile. jiang junlin wondered, what was the little wolf thinking? what were they talking about? he hadn¡¯t made a single phone call to him these past few days. was he disappointed? read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only but these past few days, jiang junlin had been stretched thin, barely sleeping at night, too busy. most of the matters accumulated in the underworld dark web had been handled by gu ci. only a few required his personal involvement. after returning home, he had made several trips to the bank and coordinated several operations. it was a turbulent time for the underworld dark web, and he wished he could split each day into forty-eight hours. on the lantern festival, there was a bit of free time, but ji chi was with lu zhiyuan and left early, so he might have another event to attend, and it was uncertain if he¡¯d have any free time. after returning home, gu ziyu¡¯s grandparents, grandma jiang and grandpa jiang, prepared new year¡¯s gifts for him. chen chen liangdong came to pick him up, and the trunk was filled with gifts. the two elders watched him leave with reluctance. on the lantern festival, except for necessary and urgent matters, all other work was postponed. grandpa jiang took jiang junlin and gu ci fishing by the river. however, the old man¡¯s energy was waning, and he felt tired after fishing for a little over an hour, so he headed home ahead of them. jiang junlin watched his grandfather¡¯s figure recede into the distance, his gaze turning somewhat somber. his grandfather had grown old. jiang junlin was the only child in the jiang family, and in order to ensure the well-being of his family, he had to make choices.. he asked gu ci, ¡°cici, if i were to ask you to replace pei qiuying and become the leader of the underworld, would you be willing?¡± Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Are Ji Chi and I Dead? chapter 371: are ji chi and i dead? translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci had long suspected this, so when jiang junlin brought it up, she wasn¡¯t surprised, just a bit earlier than she had expected. ¡°i¡¯m still in my freshman year, is it too early to take over the underworld?¡± being young and jiang junlin¡¯s sister, it might not gain approval easily! ¡°i¡¯ve pondered this question many times. 1 kept thinking about it in the paris prison. my identity has been exposed, and the underworld has only one master. 1 can simultaneously manage the dark web and the underworld. in the past, the role of the underworld master was to protect the existence of the dark web, to keep it hidden from exposure. the master was like a gatekeeper. now, although the management system of the underworld is not completely exposed, many people know about it. should 1 appoint another hidden master? i¡¯m very hesitant. the matter of the underworld dark web is limited to the knowledge of the underworld and black hawk. they have discretion and won¡¯t casually reveal it, even if chen rushi, who straddles the fence, knows about it. i have too many things to oversee, and the underworld dark web occupies almost two-thirds of my time. in addition, my identity is now known to old zhang and the others. in the future, i will have to deal with even more responsibilities. 1 need someone i can trust completely to manage the underworld when i¡¯m in trouble or unable to act.¡± not only did he need to be the underworld master, but he also needed to be able to manage the underworld when he was not around. a fish took the bait, and jiang junlin reeled it in. it was a nearly three-pound tilapia. jiang junlin chuckled, ¡°this fish is great; we¡¯ll have fish soup tonight.¡± gu ci listened quietly to jiang junlin¡¯s analysis. after putting down the fish, jiang junlin baited his hook again and cast it into the river, continuing, ¡°dr. north is a possibility, but she has betrayed me before. 1 can use her without grudges, but giving her a hundred percent trust is difficult, especially with little cherry around. for little cherry, she can do anything, and many things can change in an instant. 1 can¡¯t take that risk. little cherry¡­ she¡¯s more suited to be a soldier than a general. as for zhang qiang¡­ i trust him enough, but the situation is similar to little cherry¡¯s. the eleven directors of the underworld dark web are all trustworthy, but they already hold important positions and can¡¯t take on more roles. everyone has their own specialization, and i can¡¯t find anyone to replace them. the management system of the underworld is different from that of black hawk. lu zhiyuan can let ji chi and rong li handle business as he pleases, but we can¡¯t. we are a single blade, and every decision must be made carefully and responsibly. it¡¯s because of my excessive self-confidence in these years that 1 haven¡¯t been able to cultivate a second person capable of taking over.¡± the eleven directors of the underworld dark web are equivalent to ji chi and rong li¡¯s positions in black hawk, but jiang junlin can¡¯t use them as casually as lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan doesn¡¯t care who ends up with black hawk. jiang junlin has to be extremely cautious in handling every instruction of the underworld dark web. if there¡¯s a mistake, it could cost countless lives. someone with ji chi¡¯s personality could never take over the underworld dark web. if he did, it would surely stir up trouble and provoke disasters. gu ci has a personality similar to ji chi¡¯s, and even more reckless, but when she was rescuing in paris, she could make decisive decisions. jiang junlin knew she could handle it. ¡°another important point is that you excel in the financial market and can also restrain lu zhiyuan. this makes you a safer choice to lead the underworld.¡± ¡°brother, actually, you don¡¯t need to mention my ability to restrain lu zhiyuan. 1 understand it very well. whether 1 have a relationship with lu zhiyuan or not, i¡¯m still your best choice.¡± gu ci spoke softly, ¡°give me a few days to think about it, okay?¡± ¡°of course!¡± jiang junlin smiled gently. ¡°take your time to consider. if you do decide to take on this role, we¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re in a more stable state of mind.¡± ¡°brother, as for the master, it¡¯s because she betrayed you. for little cherry, she can give her all for you. what about me?¡± gu ci took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in her heart. ¡°if there comes a day when lu zhiyuan¡¯s life is in danger, i¡­¡± jiang junlin gently moved the fishing rod, and the float drifted in the river, interrupting gu ci¡¯s words. ¡°if that day comes, brother will help you.¡± gu ci¡¯s nose tingled with tears. she was truly blessed to have such a good brother. ¡°okay!¡± gu ci smiled and said, ¡°i will cooperate with master¡¯s treatment. i promise, brother, because 1 want you to live more freely, and i want to protect you and this family.¡± from a young age, her brother had shouldered the enormous burden of the underworld dark web. he had to think twice before every action and word, couldn¡¯t talk about love, and had loyalty engraved in his bones. he had lived too cautiously for too long. after the recent incident, both jiang junlin and gu ci realized that the underworld dark web needed someone who could replace jiang junlin. gu ci remembered her loyalty and duty while protecting her principles and integrity. jiang junlin patted her head. ¡°i¡¯m sorry to have burdened you.¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°we¡¯re a family, and we should help each other, support each other.¡± jiang junlin caught another tilapia, a pair of them now. he let out a sigh of relief and asked gu ci, ¡°cici, did both ji chi and i¡­ die?¡± gu ci¡¯s pupils shrank, and her heart ached. she knew exactly what jiang junlin was asking. ¡°when gu chuyun and lu shijie got engaged, i injured lu shijie and went to prison. five years later, i was released and married lu zhiyuan, so you never saw me. gu chuyun exposed her identity and also robbed hualan bank, sending people to injure you, which resulted in your legs being broken. later, you were imprisoned by ji chi¡­¡± ¡°impossible!¡± jiang junlin categorically rejected, ¡°she doesn¡¯t have the intelligence or capability for that. if i were crippled by gu chuyun, i would have wasted my twenty-eight years.¡± ¡°after i was released from prison, 1 felt very inferior due to disfigurement and lost hands. i¡¯ve been reclusive and didn¡¯t contact the outside world, nor did i reunite with you all. i heard many of these news secondhand.¡± gu ci cautiously glanced at him. she had spent so many days with jiang junlin, and he didn¡¯t seem to have the temperament described in rumors. ¡°after your legs were broken, there were a series of family tragedies. grandpa and grandma passed away, and you were deeply affected. you fell into alcoholism and decadence, and hualan bank eventually fell into gu chuyun¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°wait¡­¡± jiang junlin couldn¡¯t even concentrate on fishing anymore. ¡°who told you all of this?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°ji chi¡­¡± ¡°is there a possibility that this little rascal is lying to you?¡± seeing jiang junlin¡¯s expression of refusal to accept this narrative, gu ci shook her head. ¡°1 saw what you looked like drinking heavily in a wheelchair.¡± jiang junlin turned his head silently, staring fixedly at the float in the river. suddenly, he raised the fishing rod and caught another tilapia. his tone remained calm. ¡°go on.¡± ¡°brother, that¡¯s all i know. 1 held grudges and was very reclusive, and you were distant after the incident. so we didn¡¯t have much interaction. later¡­ ziyu was not born yet when lu zhiyuan died. li jiang and ji chi protected ziyu and me all those years. during that time, 1 was living in a daze. later on, i heard that ji chi had taken control of black hawk, and then, i also died. 1 don¡¯t know what happened after that.¡± gu ci didn¡¯t inquire about the events that followed.. Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: There Are Some Things That Need To Be Worried About chapter 372: there are some things that need to be worried about translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation ¡°lu zhiyuan, why was he so incompetent and passed away early, leaving you and ziyu to fend for yourselves? how can ji chi and li jiang protect you?¡± jiang junlin felt sorry for gu ci, and his dissatisfaction with lu zhiyuan grew stronger. ¡°no wonder him. it was an accident. he died to protect me and ziyu. it¡¯s my own weakness, self-doubt, that turned him into a belief for me. without him, my heart died too. the one who suffers the most is ziyu, the one i¡¯ve let down the most is ziyu,¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°he¡¯s healthy and happy now, and i¡¯m truly grateful to the heavens.¡± ¡°is it gu chuyun?¡± gu ci nodded. ¡°i know very little about the previous life.¡± she considered herself as the leader of the underworld, first for jiang junlin and second for herself. she couldn¡¯t remain as the ignorant gu ci, oblivious to the outside world, ignorant of human affairs, living only for one person. if fate was unfair and tragedy struck again, she had to have enough strength to protect the people around her. jiang junlin was skeptical of this story, not because he doubted gu ci was lying, but because he doubted what kind of story it was. regardless of which aspect you looked at, it was highly implausible. lu zhiyuan died young, his willpower diminished due to a broken leg, and he was imprisoned by ji chi for a lifetime. it was beyond belief. if cici only returned to the year she was eighteen, her life experiences before the age of eighteen wouldn¡¯t change, and he and lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t change either. ji chi guarded them, and the fact that he and ji chi were still connected was proof. lu zhiyuan was the third master of the black hawk, he was the master of the underworld dark web. why would he be manipulated by gu chuyun and liu shijie? lu zhiyuan actually took cici into seclusion instead of killing gu chuyun and liu shijie. wasn¡¯t that absurd? even if he had lost both his legs, he would never have been a person with diminished willpower. he sought revenge for his enemies and settled grievances. enemies met their ends, and he would never sit idly by, blaming himself and lamenting his fate. the entire underworld dark web followed his orders no matter when or where, and he didn¡¯t need to appear in person. could the entire underworld dark web have betrayed him? that was impossible! so, every aspect of this story couldn¡¯t withstand scrutiny. but unfortunately, it had actually happened! if it had really happened, there must be hidden secrets. but could fate be resisted by human effort? people who were meant to meet would meet no matter how many twists and turns there were, just like him and ji chi. when he left the pentagon, he never expected to meet ji chi again. just like lu zhiyuan and cici, they would meet and love each other again! in the gears of destiny, would those destined to die eventually meet their end? jiang junlin felt a chill down his spine. gu ci said, ¡°brother, the people in the game of life are different. even if it¡¯s the same thing, the outcome can be different. ziyu was spotted by chen liangdong and joined the mss. this time, you were forced to return to the country, and 1 couldn¡¯t stop it. if ziyu convinces chen liangdong to take you in, we can still communicate, all with chen liangdong¡¯s tacit approval. but what if there¡¯s no chen liangdong? will you be forced to hand over the underworld dark web, brother? our family is our fatal weakness. without the underworld dark web, will the people you offended in the past spare you?¡± jiang junlin had been contemplating. without cici and ziyu, dr. north wouldn¡¯t have been released, and he would only have little cherry by his side. could he survive this catastrophe alone? perhaps not! although he might not lose his life, he might indeed not be able to keep the underworld dark web. ¡°brother, don¡¯t ask about your past anymore, and don¡¯t dwell on it. it¡¯s in the past,¡± jiang junlin finally understood why gu ci¡¯s heartache was so severe. ¡°don¡¯t fear the future, don¡¯t dwell on the past, don¡¯t be troubled in your heart, don¡¯t be trapped by your emotions, cici, the past is gone, try to let go. brother won¡¯t ask again, let¡¯s pretend those things never happened. no¡­ those things indeed never happened.¡± her life had been completely renewed. ¡°i know!¡± gu ci smiled gently. ¡°i¡¯m trying to let go slowly. brother, don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll get better.¡± jiang junlin affectionately patted her head. the two continued fishing, not discussing the past any further. gu ci didn¡¯t catch any fish, while jiang junlin caught three crucian carp and two catfish, all of decent size. gu ci was a bit annoyed. ¡°we used the same bait and hooks, and we¡¯re not far from each other. how did all the fish end up on your hook?¡± ¡°you¡¯re too impatient. when the float sinks, you shouldn¡¯t pull immediately. the fish haven¡¯t fully taken the bait yet, and it¡¯s easy for them to slip away,¡± jiang junlin often accompanied his grandfather to fish, which was a skill that required patience and composure. ¡°i¡¯ll have to learn from my brother later.¡± the two enjoyed a leisurely day together. after returning home, they took the fish to the kitchen. the catfish were sliced, and the crucian carp were used to make fish soup. gu ci went to talk to grandma jiang, while jiang junlin wiped his hands with a wet towel and called for zhang qiang. ¡°go and investigate what gu chuyun has been up to recently.¡± ¡°master, why do you suddenly want to investigate gu chuyun? what specific aspects should 1 investigate?¡± ¡°every aspect, find out everything!¡± jiang junlin tossed the wet towel aside with an indifferent expression. ¡°who she associates with, what she¡¯s doing, she¡¯s in the entertainment industry, so check if her financial records are clean, where her resources come from, and especially her interpersonal relationships. i want to know it all.¡± ¡°yes!¡± ¡°wait a moment!¡± jiang junlin sneered. ¡°also, check what gu wenliang and lu man are doing.¡± ¡°understood!¡± jiang junlin initially didn¡¯t want to confront gu wenliang. the collapse of the gu family was the greatest punishment for them, who were used to a life of luxury. gu ci would seek revenge, and if she didn¡¯t take action, he wouldn¡¯t interfere. jiang junlin had always avoided dealing with fools to prevent unnecessary anger. however, when he thought about gu ci¡¯s five years in prison and the pain of disfigurement, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep hatred. ¡°some things should be confronted, and we will confront them!¡± zhang qiang could tell from jiang junlin¡¯s expression that the gu family was in for trouble! after their reunion dinner, gu ci returned to the blue fields villa. qin wan had originally planned to come and pick her up, but gu ci insisted that she enjoy herself and not come specially to pick her up. she could make her own way back. jiang junlin had a bit too much to drink and didn¡¯t come out to see her off. the elderly couple from the jiang family saw her to the door. after the two of them left, a car parked in the distance started, and its headlights shone so brightly that gu ci could hardly open her eyes. she looked closely and saw that it was lu zhiyuan and ji chi. lu zhiyuan got out of the car and walked slowly towards her. in the moonlight, his smile was particularly dazzling. ¡°i¡¯ll take you back!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°no need to trouble yourself. someone will take me back,¡± gu ci had a bit of alcohol and had already planned to have zhang qiang find someone to drive her back. lu zhiyuan had already taken the initiative to sit in the driver¡¯s seat. this car was still the one gu ci had chosen from lu zhiyuan¡¯s garage and had never been replaced. he rolled down the window. ¡°cici, get in.¡± his voice was gentle but not open to refusal! gu ci took a deep breath. they were outside the jiang family¡¯s gate, and she didn¡¯t want to disturb anyone. she had no choice but to get into the car, and lu zhiyuan drove away. ji chi watched them leave through the rearview mirror. he glanced at jiang junlin¡¯s bedroom window and irritably lit a cigarette.. on such a cold night, leaving the window open while sleeping, wasn¡¯t he afraid of catching a cold! Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Happy Lantern Festival chapter 373: happy lantern festival translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan and gu ci drove in silence for about twenty minutes, then turned onto an elevated road. gu ci furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°this isn¡¯t the way to blue fields villa. where are you taking me?¡± ¡°who once said, til go with you to the ends of the earth,¡¯ but now seems afraid?¡± replied lu zhiyuan. ¡°promises have long turned empty. i almost forgot,¡± gu ci sighed. ¡°i haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± lu zhiyuan said. lu zhiyuan drove up to a hill in the outskirts, all the way to the side of an observation deck. gu ci remembered this place. during her high school years, she once ran away from home and came here to stargaze. it was deep in the night, and there was no one around. birds and crows were cawing in the mountains, and she was so scared that she wanted to run away. however, she twisted her ankle, so she hid in the observation deck, feeling frightened. she held onto a piece of wood to muster courage, thinking that when it got light, she would descend the mountain. in the middle of the night, thunder and lightning struck. gu ci shivered in fear. it was lu zhiyuan who found her and carried her down the mountain. at that time, her relationship with lu zhiyuan was already extremely strained, and she had no idea how he managed to find her. she was young at the time and didn¡¯t think about it. the outskirts were more than fifty kilometers away from home, and there was no public transportation at night. lu zhiyuan was still underage. how did he come up the mountain to find her? she didn¡¯t ask, and in that thunder and lightning weather, as long as there was someone with her, even if it was her arch-enemy, it was fine. ¡°that day, why did you come to this mountain?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. gu ci looked up at the starry sky, which was different from the thunderstorm years ago. tonight¡¯s starry sky was exceptionally beautiful, the air on the mountain was fresh, and you could see the milky way stretching across the sky. in the city center, you couldn¡¯t see such a magnificent view. in her heart, gu ci thought it was because she had seen the starry sky that lu zhiyuan had posted on social media. she had checked to see where in city a had the most beautiful starry sky, so she took a bus to the outskirts and hiked up the mountain by herself. she didn¡¯t expect the unexpected, forgetting to check the weather forecast and twisting her ankle. ¡°i forgot,¡± gu ci chuckled. ¡°when you¡¯re young, you want to do something out of the ordinary to get your family¡¯s attention.¡± but she didn¡¯t know that there was no one in her family who cared about her. gu ci asked, ¡°lu zhiyuan, you¡¯re not here to reminisce with me, what do you want?¡± ¡°if jiang junlin wants you to become the leader of the underworld, turn him down,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°this is about the dark web of the underworld, and it has nothing to do with you,¡± gu ci stared directly into lu zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°what¡¯s your reason?¡± lu zhiyuan stared at her firmly, as if starlight had fallen into the depths of his eyes. gu ci, however, didn¡¯t flinch. she wanted to break free from lu zhiyuan, and to do that, she had to be honest with him. when you¡¯re already infatuated, there¡¯s no need to resist too much. liking someone is not something to be ashamed of. ¡°jiang junlin becoming the leader of the underworld is something that¡¯s already known, even though it hasn¡¯t been widely exposed. if you become the underworld leader, you¡¯ll become a target. cici, you¡¯ve been given a new lease on life. study hard, finish medical school, become a good doctor. your future is bright, don¡¯t get involved in these matters,¡± lu zhiyuan advised. gu ci self-deprecatingly smiled, ¡°i have a broken body and an incurable heart condition. what kind of future do i have?¡± this remark was intentionally meant to prick at lu zhiyuan¡¯s heart. she regretted saying that as soon as the words left her mouth. she couldn¡¯t bear it either. she always wanted to hurt lu zhiyuan. no matter how much pain she felt inside, she wanted to hurt him. but if lu zhiyuan¡¯s story was true, his pain was deeper and more profound than hers. what was she doing? this was the person she wanted to love and cherish. why did she want to hurt him? ¡°cici, 1 won¡¯t harm you,¡± lu zhiyuan reassured. ¡°brother won¡¯t harm me either,¡± gu ci replied firmly. ¡°perhaps you think that if my brother pushes me into this, i¡¯ll be a target and can help control you. but the truth is, my brother is not in a good situation, and the dark web underworld is too complex. he needs someone to hold the fort. if something happens to him, i¡¯ll be the leader of the underworld, and he can only entrust it to me.¡± lu zhiyuan furrowed his brow. ¡°he could entrust it to dr. north and qin wan. why insist on you? jiang junlin wants you to restrain me; that¡¯s his true intention.¡± ¡°i know!¡± gu ci wasn¡¯t naive. jiang junlin had been straightforward about it too. ¡°you don¡¯t need to say it again; my brother has already discussed this with me.¡± ¡°have you made up your mind?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. gu ci nodded, ¡°i¡¯ve made up my mind!¡± lu zhiyuan closed his eyes, his voice slightly hoarse. ¡°alright, i understand.¡± with that matter settled, there was nothing more to say between them. gu ci looked up at the stars in the sky. ¡°when i was a child, i liked climbing to the rooftop to watch the stars. once, after being pushed off by gu chuyun and falling, 1 developed a slight fear of heights. later, in prison, everything was healed. lu zhiyuan, 1 still like looking at the stars to this day. i¡¯m happy that we can watch the stars together on the lantern festival.¡± gu ci took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. she didn¡¯t want her bitterness to turn her into a demon. ¡°i don¡¯t care why you married me back then, whether it was out of pity or sympathy, 1 owe you a statement. i really like you, and it¡¯s because i like you that 1 married you,¡± gu ci said, looking at lu zhiyuan in the moonlight. ¡°when i got out of prison and saw you standing in the sunlight, 1 felt ashamed of myself, like a moth drawn to a flame, self-deprecating, cowardly. i didn¡¯t even have the courage to say ¡®1 like you.¡¯ 1 was afraid to hear you say that you married me out of pity. i didn¡¯t even have the courage to bear the weight of a failed relationship. did you pay any price to pull me back from the brink of death?¡± ¡°no!¡± lu zhiyuan denied. ¡°your return and ziyu¡¯s return were opportunities, not because of me.¡± ¡°is that really so?¡± gu ci didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°i hate it when people lie to me.¡± lu zhiyuan dared not meet her gaze. gu ci¡¯s love had always been intense, like a blazing fire that could burn not only her but also the one she loved. when you love someone, you want to dig your heart out and present it to them, saying, ¡°i really love you, please believe me.¡± she didn¡¯t understand that love didn¡¯t require proof. the person who loves you will always hold you in their heart, and even if you dig out your heart, it won¡¯t prove anything to someone who doesn¡¯t love you. ¡°will ziyu¡­ leave?¡± gu ci asked anxiously. this was something she had never dared to think about or ask. she could only ask lu zhiyuan, ¡°will he¡­ go back?¡± ¡°do you want him to leave?¡± lu zhiyuan gently inquired. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only gu ci shook her head. ¡°what will he do if he goes back? that cold world has no you, and no me. so, people won¡¯t have a good ending there. he¡¯ll be all alone, and i can¡¯t bear to see him in such a lonely and desolate state. i just want him to stay here and be well.¡± ¡°i understand,¡± lu zhiyuan restrained himself and said gently, ¡°1 will fulfill all your wishes, no matter how difficult. i will make them come true for you.¡± no matter how difficult, no matter the cost, 1 will fulfill gu ci¡¯s wishes. gu ci felt relieved, and her whole body relaxed. she gazed at the thousands of lights in the city and smiled. ¡°seeing the stars from a high place and looking at the thousands of lights are all beautiful. lu zhiyuan, happy lantern festival!¡± lu zhiyuan followed her gaze and also smiled. ¡°cici, happy lantern festival..¡± Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Looking at the Stars Together chapter 374: looking at the stars together translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation under the starry sky, lu zhiyuan and gu ci sat on the rocky hill, gazing at the stars. a shooting star streaked across the night sky, followed by three more, and gu ci¡¯s eyes lit up as she couldn¡¯t help but make a wish. lu zhiyuan turned his head to look at the girl bathed in moonlight, and suddenly remembered their first life together. gu ci and he had sat on a rooftop, stargazing, and had also witnessed a shooting star. gu ci had made a wish that night. ¡°what did you wish for?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. in the moonlight, the girl¡¯s face was incredibly gentle, just the way he liked it. gu ci smirked playfully. ¡°i¡¯m not telling you!¡± ¡°if you were to tell me, perhaps i could fulfill your heart¡¯s desire.¡± gu ci pondered with her head propped up for a while. the evening breeze rustled her hairband, and lu zhiyuan could catch the scent of her evening jasmine perfume. there was a vast garden of evening jasmine in the temple, and it was gu ci¡¯s favorite place. gu ci finally spoke, ¡°i hope that lu zhiyuan can be free, without constraints.¡± perhaps it was from that moment that he fell for the girl. he had been sent to the temple at a young age, spending his days studying rituals, music, and responsibilities. he had transformed from a mischievous and lively child into a reserved and solemn priest. every day, he knelt in the temple, listening to the wishes of others and conveying them to the priests. some sought love, others wealth, some harmony in their families, and some success in their careers. he had known from a young age that people¡¯s hearts were selfish, and the most selfless wishes he heard were from parents praying for their children. one day, he heard his own mother¡¯s prayer, and her wish was for him. his mother prayed for his well-being in the temple, for him to succeed without making any mistakes that would lead to his expulsion. he was overjoyed, knowing that there were people at home who cared for him, and it warmed his heart. one day, his eldest brother got married, and he requested a favor to return home and visit. the priest smiled and granted his request. lu zhiyuan prepared gifts with excitement, eager to see his family. he thought they would welcome him with open arms, share their longing and the pain of separation. however, his parents and siblings rejected him at the door. they misunderstood, thinking he had done something wrong and had been expelled from the temple. they refused to acknowledge him, forcing him to go back and plead for mercy, hoping he would remain in the temple for life. that year, lu zhiyuan was twelve years old. he was confused, heartbroken, and felt like his heart had turned to ashes. he had clearly heard his mother praying for his health and safety, so why didn¡¯t they want to recognize him? with a cart full of gifts, he was left outside their home. his mother explained that she had prayed for his health and safety so that he would stay in the temple forever. because of lu zhiyuan, their family¡¯s fortunes had turned around. they had once been impoverished farmers, but now, everyone flattered them, and the government provided them with privileges. his elder brother had secured a good job, his parents received care, and his younger siblings all had promising futures. they all had a bright future, but he was trapped in darkness. in the temple, he lived in solitude year-round, with no one to accompany him. when he fell ill, there was no one to care for him. when he was hungry, there was no one to bring him food. if he had something to say, he could only confide in the flowers and plants, and he had to be emotionless and desireless, like a wooden figure. that was lu zhiyuan¡¯s first time returning home, and it was also his last. from that moment on, he never thought about his family again, nor did he have any delusions. even when he heard his mother praying for his safety and success again, he remained indifferent. lu zhiyuan loathed the temple; it was his lifelong demon. he tried every way to escape but was left battered and unsuccessful. he yearned to explore the world beyond the temple¡¯s confines, to escape this confined space. no one had ever asked for his wishes; his life had been decided for him. he despised this imprisoned life. it wasn¡¯t until gu ci fell into his garden like a shooting star. he had heard thousands of wishes, and everyone had their own selfish desires, but for the first time, he heard someone selflessly wishing for his freedom. he had never even told gu ci that he loathed this place and yearned for escape. yet, gu ci understood him. lu zhiyuan recalled the past and smiled softly. the vivid image of the girl from his memories overlapped with the one before him. he asked, ¡°cici, what did you wish for?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to tell you!¡± ¡°tell me, and maybe 1 can help you fulfill your wish.¡± gu ci pondered for a moment and smiled gently, ¡°if your story is true, then i wish¡­ you can gain your freedom.¡± don¡¯t be trapped in the past like i was in my previous life, unable to break free. only those who have experienced it can truly understand the pain. if his story was true. lu zhiyuan had also been trapped by his past for centuries, unable to break free. lu zhiyuan was taken aback, and the emotions he had suppressed fiercely burned inside him like a volcano, erupting. even if he had suppressed a glacier, it couldn¡¯t contain this intense heat. he clenched his teeth tightly and suddenly averted his gaze, unable to meet gu ci¡¯s passionate eyes. centuries had passed, but the stars in the sky remained the same. and she was still herself! gu ci watched him suppress his emotions and restrain himself, not saying anything more. she just looked up at the starry sky. it was truly pitiful; she had been through so much, but if a shooting star could fulfill only one wish, she had wished for lu zhiyuan. she only wanted to wish for lu zhiyuan. ¡°i think it¡¯s getting late. let¡¯s go home,¡± lu zhiyuan said in a hoarse voice. ¡°okay,¡± gu ci replied, no longer saying anything. meanwhile, in another place, jiang jia¡¯s master, jiang junlin, had just come out of the bathroom and found someone sitting in his bedroom. ji chi had his legs crossed, leaning arrogantly on jiang junlin¡¯s bedroom sofa. his coat was casually draped nearby, and he appeared at ease. jiang junlin¡¯s room had a cool and minimalist style, with gray and white tones, simple yet not minimalistic. the room was also scented with soothing sandalwood. jiang junlin was momentarily stunned. an hour ago, zhang qiang had informed him that ji chi was outside. he had known ji chi had been waiting for him that night, so he had told zhang qiang to leave him alone. he hadn¡¯t expected ji chi to actually climb through the window. neither of them spoke. ji chi seemed to be waiting for jiang junlin to kick him out. this was jiang junlin¡¯s home, and his parents, grandparents, and everyone else were downstairs. any commotion might alert them. jiang junlin also didn¡¯t want to climb through windows. on the night he had returned, ji chi had waited outside all night, wanting to see him. jiang junlin had known, but he also knew that once they met, they would have to discuss their separation. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only he didn¡¯t want to, and he resisted, procrastinating like an ostrich, day after day. today was the lantern festival, and his eagerness to see ji chi finally overwhelmed the pain in his heart. jiang junlin had not contacted ji chi during this time. was he preparing to cut ties completely? jiang junlin stared at the familiar yet overly handsome face of ji chi, then suddenly approached and leaned down. ji chi¡¯s heart raced, and his body and heart both warmed as jiang junlin reached a hand into his thick hair. they were like two wild beasts, constantly biting and devouring each other, engaged in a fight to the death. they wanted to consume each other¡¯s bones and blood, and the fireworks outside couldn¡¯t drown out the pounding of their hearts in the room.. Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Don’t Want to Break Up chapter 375: don¡¯t want to break up translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin and ji chi sat on the carpet with disheveled attire, panting heavily. ji chi¡¯s shirt had several buttons torn, and there were bite marks around his neck and collarbone. ji chi¡¯s eyes, which had been like stagnant water, seemed to come alive, filled with the fireworks from outside, dazzling to the extreme. he was ecstatic, wanting to shout it to the world. for so many years, he had written one love letter after another, all of them seemingly lost without a trace. he had felt disappointment and pain, thinking he had reached a dead end, only to receive a love letter from the other party unexpectedly. all love and expectations were never one-sided. ¡°brother¡­¡± ji chi suddenly buried his head in jiang junlin¡¯s lap, cuddling his thigh like a child, his emotions roiling. he knew he had to make a decision, a cruel one, while he was at his happiest. ¡°when you were arrested, 1 thought 1 would never see you again.¡± jiang junlin stroked his hair, suppressing those burning emotions completely. this was the second time he had seen ji chi since their separation, and he couldn¡¯t help but recall those sleepless nights in prison. at one point, he had thought ji chi was dead. the sound of that gunshot had echoed in his ears, shattering countless fantasies. even in his fitful sleep, he would be awakened, picturing ji chi shot in the head. he had tortured himself, thinking, ¡°what if he¡¯s dead? even if i¡¯ve avenged him, what good does it do? revenge is a momentary satisfaction, but it can¡¯t free me from the pain. people can¡¯t come back to life. even if i kill all my enemies, ji chi won¡¯t come back.¡± he had repeatedly thought about the memories he shared with ji chi and had a thought in his heart: maybe it¡¯s time to give up. perhaps one day, he won¡¯t see ji chi anymore. but when pei qiuying came to the prison and saved his life, he knew ji chi was alive and well, and he felt relieved. he had never considered fulfilling ji chi¡¯s wishes again. people were strange; they often cherished things only after losing them. when something was right in front of them, they tended to take it for granted. he was no exception to this. ¡°are your wounds healed?¡± ji chi got up, looking directly into his eyes. ¡°they healed a long time ago. the warden is on my side, and 1 haven¡¯t suffered. i¡¯ve been well taken care of.¡± their eyes locked onto each other, and they couldn¡¯t help but kiss passionately. jiang junlin¡¯s shirt was quickly torn by ji chi, but he managed to push ji chi away with all his self-control. ¡°ji chi, 1 need to talk to you!¡± ji chi¡¯s fiery emotions were doused with a bucket of cold water, and all the passion faded away. he almost stumbled to his feet, quickly grabbing his coat. ¡°it¡¯s late, i should go!¡± he didn¡¯t have the courage to face what jiang junlin was about to say. he knew what jiang junlin would say, and no matter how much he resisted or how dead he felt inside, what was meant to happen would happen. once imprisoned, there would be no second chances. jiang junlin held his hand, and ji chi¡¯s hand trembled violently, as if fearing something. his palm was sweaty, soaked. ¡°ji chi, i¡­¡± ¡°today is the lantern festival, do you have to say it now?¡± ji chi turned around, his eyes already red. he had never been concerned about saving face in front of jiang junlin; if he wanted to cry, he would cry. jiang junlin looked at his tear-filled eyes, and all his words got stuck in his throat. he was decisive and resolute, but deep inside, there was a soft spot. he was clad in armor from head to toe, impervious to external attacks, but in this one area, he was vulnerable. jiang junlin¡¯s silence allowed ji chi¡¯s greed to flourish. ¡°brother, do you hate me?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t hate you.¡± ji chi¡¯s greed ran through his veins. ¡°then do you love me?¡± knowing he shouldn¡¯t ask, couldn¡¯t ask, yet still greedy, jiang junlin¡¯s silence felt like a knife plunged into his chest. he broke free from jiang junlin¡¯s grasp and pushed open the window. a cold breeze swept into the bedroom, and ji chi stood upright like a tall pine tree. ¡°when you had gu ci send a message to me, promising that if i didn¡¯t act recklessly, you would still be alive as i wished, was that a lie?¡± ¡°no!¡± jiang junlin got up and hugged ji chi from behind, ignoring the gazes of the guards downstairs. jiang junlin said, ¡°ji chi, 1 truly want to fulfill your wish.¡± he wanted to, but he couldn¡¯t! ji chi couldn¡¯t leave the black hawk. he was the heir groomed by lu zhiyuan, and he couldn¡¯t leave the world of the underground dark web. it was destiny, so jiang junlin had never asked ji chi. can you leave the black hawk? ¡°do you remember every word we said on the plane to paris? they were all sincere.¡± ji chi stiffened all over, then suddenly turned around and pressed jiang junlin against the wall. he had tears in his eyes, looking fierce and pitiful at the same time. ¡°then say it, say that you won¡¯t leave me.¡± jiang junlin looked at the crazed face before him with aching heart. his eyes were reddening, and veins popped on his forehead as he restrained himself from saying the heartless words. ¡°i absolutely won¡¯t¡­¡± suddenly, a ringing phone interrupted ji chi¡¯s words, it was ji chi¡¯s phone. on the way back to the city, gu ci and lu zhiyuan fell into another round of silence. gu ci played some music, and they were on a winding mountain road. even at night, there were people coming to stargaze, and halfway up the mountain, there was a camping site. gu ci occasionally glanced at the car following behind and felt her heart race. ¡°lu zhiyuan, something seems odd about the car behind us.¡± ¡°i know,¡± lu zhiyuan said. ¡°don¡¯t worry.¡± the car suddenly jolted, and lu zhiyuan realized something was wrong; the tire must have been punctured. the mountain road was treacherous, so lu zhiyuan called for their team to come to their location using his gps. gu ci¡¯s greatest fear was car accidents, especially after witnessing lu zhiyuan¡¯s two accidents¡ªone fatal and one life-threatening. those incidents had become her inner demons. lu zhiyuan held onto gu ci¡¯s hand. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only her hand had turned icy cold. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°don¡¯t be afraid, i¡¯m here!¡± ¡°it¡¯s because you¡¯re here that i¡¯m scared!¡± gu ci looked at him, and fear was evident in her eyes. she quickly regained her composure. ¡°is there a gun in the car?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head. he had deliberately avoided everyone and brought gu ci to stargaze. li jiang had also prepared a fake route. even if someone tried to track him, following li jiang would be the way. lu zhiyuan hadn¡¯t anticipated this situation. the car behind them suddenly accelerated and collided into them. this mountain road had eighteen bends, with a simple guardrail, and next to it was a steep cliff. any slight collision could send them plummeting off the cliff.. Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Sharing Life and Death chapter 376: sharing life and death translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan accelerated, but the car rammed into emptiness, still recklessly charging forward. lu zhiyuan accelerated once again. after all, this was a winding mountain road, and not everyone had lu zhiyuan¡¯s driving skills. he quickly left them behind in a curve. gu ci turned to look back, ¡°it¡¯s three cars, not just one!¡± this mountain road had two lanes, allowing only two cars to pass. after lu zhiyuan accelerated, trying to descend quickly, he didn¡¯t expect another car to be coming up from below, with its high beams on. it was blinding, and even though it was common to use high beams on such mountain roads, the lights were still so intense that lu zhiyuan knew it was trouble. he tried to move the car as far to the side closer to the mountain as possible when suddenly he felt a jolt, as if he had hit something. the car lost control. lu zhiyuan said in a deep voice, ¡°cici, undo your seatbelt!¡± at the moment the car crashed through the guardrail, gu ci also frantically undid her seatbelt. both of them, along with the car, tumbled down a cliff that was more than fifty meters high. lu zhiyuan carried gu ci and teleported to a rocky outcrop on the cliff. he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. at the same time, the car fell into the valley below and exploded, sending flames soaring into the sky. on the cliff, several men in black watched indifferently. ¡°he survived the crash on the racetrack, which is lucky for him. but falling from this fifty-meter-high cliff and the explosion¡­ i don¡¯t believe he¡¯ll survive this!¡± ¡°let¡¯s go, downhill!¡± they quickly departed. below the cliff, lu zhiyuan knelt weakly on a rock, his clothes stained with blood. gu ci held onto his waist, supporting him against the rock. sweat formed on her forehead. ¡°lu zhiyuan, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± lu zhiyuan, breathing shallowly, asked, ¡°are you¡­ hurt?¡± gu ci had been frightened, but she was unscathed. there was not a scratch on her. ¡°what about you? what¡¯s happening to you?¡± ¡°let me down first!¡± lu zhiyuan was feeling weak, and he was 1.9 meters tall. gu ci carrying him was undoubtedly a challenge, but he was perfectly capable of walking! gu ci acted decisively, lifting lu zhiyuan onto her back and heading into the forest. ¡°cici, put me down¡­¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s voice sounded weak. with his 1.9-meter tall athlete¡¯s physique, he knew that gu ci carrying him would be a strenuous task. besides, he was perfectly capable of walking on his own! ¡°shut up!¡± gu ci snapped. it was pitch dark, and the valley was even darker. she didn¡¯t know where lu zhiyuan was injured, but he had coughed up blood twice in a row, and she was deeply concerned. she just wanted to get out of this valley as quickly as possible. ¡°lean walk!¡± ¡°be quiet!¡± gu ci was resolute, and lu zhiyuan heard her heavy breathing. he had lived for hundreds of years and had never been carried by a woman before, especially not by the woman he loved. lu zhiyuan¡¯s feelings were incredibly complicated. ¡°am i heavy?¡± ¡°do you think you¡¯re light?¡± lu zhiyuan was speechless. gu ci stepped on a rock, losing her balance for a moment, almost dropping lu zhiyuan. he felt a sudden intense pain, and his breathing changed rhythm. gu ci noticed it immediately. ¡°lu zhiyuan, lu zhiyuan¡­¡± lu zhiyuan was in a daze, but he heard gu ci calling his name repeatedly. his heart softened, and he whispered, ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°liar!¡± gu ci was frantic. she didn¡¯t know where he was injured, but she couldn¡¯t help but blame him for not taking li jiang or a bodyguard with him when he left. this was a disaster that shouldn¡¯t have happened. it seemed that someone had been waiting in this valley to inspect the explosion site. gu ci saw lights, and they were about to encounter the enemy head-on. without hesitation, gu ci jumped into a nearby pool of water, carrying lu zhiyuan with her. above the water pool, there was a waterfall, and it was winter, bone-chillingly cold. the pool was deep, and lu zhiyuan and gu ci held their breaths, hiding beneath the surface. ¡°did you hear anything?¡± seven or eight men walked past the water pool. ¡°it might have been falling rocks,¡± another person said in a deep voice. ¡°stop talking and check quickly. li jiang will be here soon.¡± several beams of light shone on the water pool, but the men standing by the pool didn¡¯t find any clues. they followed the rest of their group and left. lu zhiyuan and gu ci emerged from the water, but gu ci¡¯s heart was pounding, and she was shivering from the cold. she coughed a few times and then looked at lu zhiyuan. his condition was not good at all. there was some reflection from the water, and gu ci saw his pale face. she quickly jumped out of the water and pulled lu zhiyuan up. lu zhiyuan staggered, and gu ci was afraid he might faint. she didn¡¯t care about being soaking wet and hoisted him onto her back once again. her boots were filled with icy water, making her feet feel itchy, but she didn¡¯t pay it any attention. she asked, ¡°lu zhiyuan, are you okay?¡± lu zhiyuan lay on her shoulder, not responding. ¡°lu zhiyuan!¡± gu ci shouted loudly. he gently kissed her neck and whispered, ¡°i¡¯m here.¡± it seemed like an unconscious response. gu ci felt a sharp pain in her heart. her body, which had been numbed by the cold, suddenly felt as if it were burning with heat. she was determined to get lu zhiyuan out of here. back in the day, on the mountain during a thunderstorm, lu zhiyuan had carried her down. now the situation was reversed, and fate had a way of turning things around. gu ci hadn¡¯t expected that this group of people would leave someone behind on the road to keep watch. she had no choice but to hide with lu zhiyuan in a cave. their phones had fallen with the car, and they were unarmed. if they encountered well-equipped enemies, they would have no chance. gu ci¡¯s heart raced, and she hoped that li jiang would arrive soon. upon receiving the news, li jiang informed ji chi and immediately sent a team with a drone ahead. they were a bit slower in their car, and rong li watched the drone¡¯s feed. the drone arrived at the valley first and saw the flames. there were definitely no surveillance cameras in this place. rong li said, ¡°move the drone closer.¡± the drone flew into the valley, getting closer to the car. the fire was still burning, but thankfully, the surrounding forest hadn¡¯t caught fire. the surveillance operator said, ¡°this is third master¡¯s car.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only rong li¡¯s face grew solemn. ¡°send another team with a drone over there. 1 want to see the entire view of the valley.¡± ¡°yes, sir!¡± rong li turned away, knowing that li jiang had brought two teams with him, and ji chi had gone as well. he paced back and forth, fuming. ¡°is third master out of his mind? he took gu ci up the mountain alone! he went without bringing li jiang or any guards. is he insane?¡± he paused for a moment. ¡°there¡¯s a campsite up there, and not a single surveillance camera? what if something goes wrong? how are we going to handle a traffic accident? is it acceptable not to have a single camera?!¡± ¡°you idiot!¡± rong li cursed. ¡°san lin, you¡¯re in charge of monitoring along the route. see if you can find any information about vehicles entering and exiting the valley tonight.¡± ¡°we¡¯re checking!¡± Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: We Will Find Them chapter 377: we will find them translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation halfway up the mountain, ji chi and jiang junlin parked their car. zhang qiang left three people behind to protect them while he went down the cliff with the others from black hawk. when the accident happened, someone at the campsite recorded a video. ji chi asked a woman for the video, and both he and jiang junlin witnessed the horrific car crash scene. the cliff was so high that falling down like that would surely be fatal. jiang junlin tried calling gu ci but got a busy signal with no answer. there was a signal in this valley, and a drone flew overhead. the fire brigade also arrived to put out the fire, and the valley was filled with people. while waiting for news, jiang junlin couldn¡¯t hold back his anger. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with lu zhiyuan? bringing cici up the mountain in the middle of the night with no one else? he must be really confident. if something happens to cici, i won¡¯t spare him!¡± his dissatisfaction with lu zhiyuan was almost at its peak. ji chi didn¡¯t dare to argue. it was indeed a big mistake for third master not to bring li jiang or at least a few bodyguards. he tried to salvage the situation, saying, ¡°maybe third master thought it was the lantern festival, and everyone should have a holiday.¡± ¡°does he think his enemies are picky with which days they choose to kill him on? the lantern festival is a great day for that!¡± ji chi remained silent. li jiang had arrived a step earlier and was already searching in the valley below. ji chi looked through binoculars at the chaotic scene of people and vehicles. ¡°the fire brigade, the traffic police, and ambulances are all here. there are too many people,¡± ji chi said with some unease. if someone managed to infiltrate among the fire brigade or ambulance teams, they wouldn¡¯t be able to guard against it. ¡°brother, can we ask the fire brigade and traffic police to leave, along with the medical team?¡± jiang junlin called gu ziyu and informed him of the situation. gu ziyu was celebrating the lantern festival at chen liangdong¡¯s house. when he heard about lu zhiyuan and gu ci¡¯s car accident in the valley, his mind went blank for a good five seconds. lu zhiyuan¡¯s sacrifice to protect him and gu ci had been a story he had heard since childhood. all tragedies stemmed from that car accident, and not only would gu ci suffer from ptsd upon hearing about it, but gu ziyu would as well. ¡°ziyu, are you listening?¡± ¡°yes!¡± gu ziyu¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°i understand.¡± he hung up the phone, feeling somewhat flustered. chen liangdong asked, ¡°baby, what¡¯s wrong?¡± gu ziyu quickly explained the situation, and chen liangdong made a call to have chen fei prepare a car. he would personally go with ziyu. as for the campers halfway up the mountain, they were watching the commotion, never expecting such a massive crowd due to a car accident. one woman commented, ¡°the car fell off the cliff and exploded. can anyone survive that?¡± ¡°definitely not. the car was on fire for twenty minutes before anyone arrived. they must have turned into ashes.¡± ¡°even if they were lucky, they wouldn¡¯t survive. otherwise, it would go against the laws of nature.¡± seeing jiang j uniin¡¯s increasingly unpleasant expression, ji chi glanced at the onlookers and gave them a cold look. although he appeared young, he had a strong presence. the woman who had spoken earlier caught his gaze and quickly hid behind her boyfriend, clearly frightened. the fire had been extinguished. li jiang and zhang qiang both sent back messages. the car was mostly burnt, and there were no remains. jiang junlin and ji chi breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°are you sure?¡± ¡°sure, it¡¯s not a cremation furnace, how could it turn to ashes?¡± with no remains, a new problem arose: where were they? jiang junlin said, ¡°we¡¯ve searched the entire valley. we must find them!¡± ¡°understood!¡± gu ci and lu zhiyuan were still in the valley. lu zhiyuan was in a semi-conscious state but managed to keep his wits about him. the valley was teeming with people at first, all enemies. they were searching everywhere for people, and there were even drones in the sky. lu zhiyuan and gu ci didn¡¯t feel safe in the cave. gu ci, carrying lu zhiyuan on her back, had just left the cave when someone came to inspect it and found bloodstains. ¡°boss, the bloodstains are fresh. they¡¯ve just left!¡± ¡°start searching, and dig three feet if necessary!¡± ¡°yes!¡± ¡°boss, this is getting eerie. falling from such a height, why are they still alive? moreover, the crash site is far from here, and the accident happened only ten minutes ago. unless they have wings, it¡¯s impossible for them to appear here!¡± they had divided into several groups to surround the valley, and some were checking the crash site to prevent lu zhiyuan and gu ci from escaping. ¡°yeah, why would they be here?¡± gu ci, carrying lu zhiyuan, was moving slowly, and footsteps were getting closer behind them. it was pitch black at night, and they couldn¡¯t see the path ahead. gu ci slipped and fell, and lu zhiyuan could only manage to hold onto her. they both tumbled down and soon lost consciousness. morning arrived. the fire brigade and traffic police had withdrawn, while members of black hawk and the underworld were scouring the entire valley, aided by drones. however, they found no traces of lu zhiyuan and gu ci. gu ci¡¯s phone had a tracking device, but it was destroyed in the car, so there was no signal. li jiang¡¯s phone had run out of battery and was quickly charging. he couldn¡¯t afford to miss any calls. he usually didn¡¯t answer unknown numbers, but this morning, he had already answered three calls from real estate salesmen. they searched until noon but found no traces. gu ziyu¡¯s expression was as dark as water, and jiang junlin and ji chi had already considered the worst-case scenario. ¡°could they have been taken away?¡± the entire valley, both front and back, had been searched. li jiang even led a team to check the back of the valley, but there was still no sign of them. after all, he knew that lu zhiyuan could teleport, and going from north to south wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him. there was still no trace. jiang junlin also contemplated the possibility of them being taken away. after the accident, the enemy was in the valley, and li jiang was the first to arrive, but it still took thirty minutes. in those thirty minutes, there were too many variables. ji chi thought for a moment and instructed li jiang, ¡°arrange for a man and a woman to act as wounded. tell them we¡¯ve found third master and gu ci, both with minor injuries, and they¡¯re heading back to the global headquarters.¡± ¡°but we haven¡¯t found them,¡± li jiang protested. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ji chi spoke solemnly, ¡°from the time of the accident last night until noon today, it¡¯s been fourteen hours. if third master and gu ci managed to escape but can¡¯t contact us, or if they¡¯ve been taken away by the enemy, we should have received a call by now. we haven¡¯t received any calls, which means there are two possibilities: either third master and gu ci have escaped and can¡¯t easily contact us, or they¡¯ve been taken away by the enemy who¡¯s setting up a trap. if it¡¯s the second possibility, we just need to wait for the call. but if it¡¯s the first possibility, the enemy might also be waiting to see our search efforts. if we don¡¯t find them, and they claim to have found them, we¡¯ll be at a disadvantage. follow my instructions.¡± ¡°understood!¡± li jiang went to make the arrangements. after chen rushi¡¯s accident, lu zhiyuan had effectively gained control of the upper echelons of black hawk. although it wasn¡¯t an autocracy, very few people dared to challenge him. if he were to encounter trouble, black hawk would still ultimately listen to ji chi. this was the latest directive for black hawk after the chinese new year, confirming ji chi¡¯s status as the heir. jiang junlin listened to ji chi¡¯s orders and didn¡¯t say much. he turned to look at gu ziyu. gu ziyu was sitting on a rock, remaining quiet the whole time, not uttering a word. jiang junlin felt compassion for gu ziyu and approached him slowly. ¡°ziyu, we will find them..¡± Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Lu Zhiyuan, You Can’t Die! chapter 378: lu zhiyuan, you can¡¯t die! translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ziyu was very afraid, knowing full well that lu zhiyuan could teleport, but he was still afraid. his father had an inexplicable connection to car accidents, dying in one and being critically injured in another, hanging on the brink of death. and now, he had fallen into a valley. he was the world¡¯s best race car driver, yet he frequently died or got injured in car accidents. what irony! gu ziyu looked up at jiang junlin with a calm expression. ¡°i know they will be fine.¡± this was a belief! his parents would surely be okay; they would come back to him! ¡°you¡¯ve stayed up all night here. go back and rest,¡± jiang junlin said. though gu ziyu wanted to stay here for news, jiang junlin added, ¡°ji chi and 1 will handle everything. we¡¯ll inform you as soon as we have any updates. if you don¡¯t rest, your uncle chen has been here with you all night and can¡¯t handle it. be obedient.¡± gu ziyu looked at chen liangdong. he had indeed stayed up all night after accompanying gu ziyu here. it was also winter, and it was cold on the mountain, and there was a meeting in the afternoon. ¡°alright, uncle, if there¡¯s any news, let me know first thing.¡± ¡°i will.¡± chen liangdong and gu ziyu were taken back by chen fei. chen liangdong had been making phone calls on the mountain the whole time. lu zhiyuan¡¯s accident had a significant impact, and there were inquiries from various parties. it was unclear who had taken action, but old zhang had negotiated with lu zhiyuan the day before and failed to reach an agreement. shortly after, lu zhiyuan had his accident. old zhang was also frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. he told chen liangdong, ¡°i have absolutely nothing to do with this!¡± ¡°i know you care about your reputation and wouldn¡¯t get involved in such matters. they won¡¯t think it¡¯s your doing either. don¡¯t worry,¡± chen liangdong said. ¡°there¡¯s no definitive conclusion to this incident yet. lu zhiyuan has made many enemies, and we don¡¯t know who discovered his whereabouts. don¡¯t be too impatient. we¡¯ll discuss it further when there¡¯s more information.¡± after chen liangdong hung up the phone, gu ziyu asked, ¡°can we trust him?¡± he didn¡¯t trust these old foxes too much. they were very cunning. his trust in chen liangdong was due to their old friendship, and he knew chen liangdong genuinely cared for him and had been busy his whole life. ¡°yes, it¡¯s too foolish to kill someone immediately after negotiations break down. old zhang is far from being a fool,¡± chen liangdong said as he ruffled gu ziyu¡¯s hair. ¡°you haven¡¯t slept all night, and you¡¯re overworking yourself. you¡¯re still growing, and you don¡¯t need to be at the afternoon meeting.¡± chen fei couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°ziyu, you¡¯re working yourself too hard, staying up all night. your body can¡¯t handle it. you¡¯re still growing, and you don¡¯t have to attend the afternoon meeting.¡± chen liangdong nodded. ¡°listen to what chen fei is saying. go home and rest. consider it an order.¡± the search team combed the valley until 3 o¡¯clock in the afternoon, confirming that they were not in the mountains. one man and one woman injured by ji chi were carried into a vehicle, and black hawk and the triad evacuated everyone. if they didn¡¯t evacuate after they found lu zhiyuan and gu ci, it would raise suspicion. ji chi and jiang junlin both felt that someone was still watching them on the mountain, and the camp had a mixed group of people. to gain the trust of others, they had to evacuate everyone. they also prepared for the worst-case scenario. rong li, with the informant, had been busy for more than ten hours, uncovering several useful clues. all of them involved fake license plates, and they had all gone missing. the main issue was that some of the surveillance cameras in the suburbs of area a were malfunctioning, making it impossible to retrieve any footage. even traffic lights had faulty cameras. rong li couldn¡¯t believe how absurd the situation was. ¡°in the suburbs, out of thirty traffic lights, eleven cameras are malfunctioning. what¡¯s the point of installing them if they¡¯re just for decoration?¡± rong li was irritable, and it¡¯s no wonder they got lost. ji chi massaged his temples with a headache. he had heard jiang junlin scold lu zhiyuan, and now rong li was berating the traffic management department. he had a severe headache, and no one had called them. in theory, if lu zhiyuan had been kidnapped, there should have been a message by now. ¡°third master should be fine,¡± li jiang said. after all, he could teleport; he couldn¡¯t have been kidnapped. but bringing miss gu, things got uncertain. ¡°even if he¡¯s fine, it¡¯s been more than a day, and we haven¡¯t received a single call. he can¡¯t have flown out of a city with wings,¡± ji chi said with some impatience. they had prepared for the worst-case scenario, but they still hoped that lu zhiyuan and gu ci hadn¡¯t been taken by someone. rong li asked, ¡°could it be the old chen family¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°i don¡¯t know, we¡¯ve sent people to investigate.¡± after leaving zhang¡¯s house yesterday, lu zhiyuan and ji chi had gone to see the head of the old chen family. the conversation hadn¡¯t gone well, but if their conversation with the old chen family hadn¡¯t gone well, neither had old zhang¡¯s conversation with them. they couldn¡¯t have developed murderous intent over this, right? that would be too foolish! li jiang said, ¡°it¡¯s possible it¡¯s an enemy of the third master. since his identity was exposed, he¡¯s been recuperating and hasn¡¯t been alone, so things have been calm.¡± ¡°if it¡¯s an enemy, the scope becomes wider!¡± rong li said. ¡°who knows which unfinished business they¡¯re trying to settle.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t respond. ¡°do you have any news from jiang junlin¡¯s side?¡± rong li asked. in a city, whether it was connections or familiarity, they were not as well-versed as jiang junlin. ji chi shook his head. jiang junlin hadn¡¯t found much useful information either. they were all waiting for a phone call. this kind of waiting was the most agonizing. in the valley, gu ci slowly regained consciousness. she had a splitting headache, having hit the back of her head on a rock and lost consciousness. she was awakened by the sound of birds. gu ci felt as if there were a heavy stone on her chest, making it hard to breathe. when she regained her strength, she found lu zhiyuan lying on her chest. gu ci didn¡¯t know if there were still enemies in the mountains, so she lowered her voice, ¡°lu zhiyuan¡­¡± lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t respond. frowning, gu ci pushed him gently. ¡°third brother, wake up.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only but lu zhiyuan still didn¡¯t react. gu ci grew anxious and pushed him away. lu zhiyuan fell to the side, and gu ci saw a large bloodstain on her chest. there was no obvious external injury on her body, just a scraped wound from rolling down the mountain, which wouldn¡¯t have caused so much bleeding. it had to be lu zhiyuan¡¯s injuries. gu ci was frantic. she quickly checked lu zhiyuan and found a piece of glass embedded deep in his back. due to the rolling fall into the valley, the glass had penetrated into his flesh and couldn¡¯t be pulled out. gu ci¡¯s face turned pale. besides the glass, there were also sharp stones that had cut into his waist and abdomen, causing profuse bleeding. gu ci checked his breathing, which was extremely weak. gu ci was drenched in cold sweat. she tore off her down jacket, used all the goose down to block his wounds, and tightly wrapped them with cotton fabric to stop the bleeding. lu zhiyuan¡¯s body was cold from excessive blood loss, and gu ci held him close. he leaned weakly against her shoulder. ¡°lu zhiyuan, you can¡¯t die!¡± another car accident, damn it, another car accident! gu ci looked up at the cave they had fallen into. it was high and deep, with no chance of climbing out while carrying lu zhiyuan. after looking at lu zhiyuan again, she made a decision. she couldn¡¯t just sit and wait. she had to go out first to find help for lu zhiyuan. every minute she delayed, lu zhiyuan¡¯s life was in more danger.. Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Racing to Death chapter 379: racing to death translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation she inspected lu zhiyuan¡¯s bracelet, watch, and other belongings, making sure there were no trackers. she couldn¡¯t help but frown. how come there wasn¡¯t a single tracker on him? gu ci cradled lu zhiyuan¡¯s head. his face was pale, and his lips were as white as paper. gu ci¡¯s heart ached. she kissed lu zhiyuan gently and whispered, ¡°lu zhiyuan, wait for me!¡± when a person dies, all love and hatred fade away, becoming meaningless. gu ci let go of him and tried to climb up the cave. the moss on the rocky wall was abundant and slippery. gu ci tried several times but couldn¡¯t make it up. once, she nearly fell on top of lu zhiyuan, causing him further harm. on her nth attempt to climb, gu ci fell again. suddenly, lu zhiyuan coughed and slowly woke up. gu ci looked at him in disbelief and quickly climbed to his side. ¡°third brother, third brother¡­ are you awake? does it hurt?¡± her eyes were red, and her hands were covered in scratches from climbing. bloodstains marked her hands, and she cried and laughed at the same time. she knew she must look like a madwoman, but she couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°what happened to your hand?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at her hand, full of sympathy for the wounded palm. ¡°it¡¯s nothing, just some scratches. how about you? does it hurt badly?¡± she wiped away lu zhiyuan¡¯s cold sweat. ¡°i tried to climb up to find help. this place is remote, and even if they search for us, they might not find us.¡± lu zhiyuan held her hand. the piece of glass had pierced his back when they fell from the cliff, but he had endured the pain and kept quiet. when they tumbled down, he had also sustained several other injuries, but lu zhiyuan didn¡¯t mind. he looked at the wounds on gu ci¡¯s palm with great concern. ¡°silly girl, just waking me up is enough!¡± he struggled to sit up, and gu ci helped him. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°hold on to me tightly!¡± gu ci embraced him, and in the blink of an eye, lu zhiyuan had carried gu ci into the forest. as soon as they landed, lu zhiyuan coughed up blood, and gu ci¡¯s eyes were filled with distress. ¡°does teleporting hurt you?¡± she wondered. ¡°if not, why didn¡¯t you teleport us out of the woods last night?¡± ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± lu zhiyuan said with a weak voice. without further discussion, gu ci carried him out of the forest. they had encountered the accident in the southern part of the valley and were now in the northern part. this area was infested with poisonous creatures, and the path was treacherous. by the time gu ci had carried him out of the valley, her waist and legs were covered in scratches. she kept talking to lu zhiyuan along the way, trying to keep him conscious. lu zhiyuan had also held on, not passing out. however, after leaving the valley, there was no help in sight. they were under the scorching sun, and gu ci glanced in the direction of a city. the mountain was more than fifty kilometers away from the city center, located in the suburbs. there were many towns in the suburbs, and the closer they were to the city, the more towns they would find. gu ci, struggling with the weight of lu zhiyuan, crossed a vast field and stopped a passing car. the driver was a man who drove a van. he had a tanned complexion from years of outdoor work. gu ci had no money, but fortunately, lu zhiyuan¡¯s watch still had some value. she hoped the man would be willing to take them to the nearest hospital. initially, the man was reluctant to help, but seeing lu zhiyuan¡¯s injuries and his life hanging by a thread, he reluctantly agreed. gu ci made up an excuse, saying they had been on a camping trip and had fallen into a ravine. the man mentioned that there had been reports of people falling into the valley last night, causing a commotion. they had searched the entire valley but hadn¡¯t found anyone. gu ci explained, ¡°we fell just recently.¡± lu zhiyuan was in clear consciousness. he asked the man for his phone, saying, ¡°big brother, can i borrow your phone?¡± the man handed his phone to lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan called ji chi and gave him their location. ji chi was ecstatic, ¡°third master, wait for us! our teams are very close. two teams are right by the edge of the valley, it¡¯ll only take fifteen minutes to get there!¡± ¡°alright!¡± after making the call, gu ci didn¡¯t call jiang junlin again, as ji chi would already know, and jiang junlin probably too. however, before reaching the town hospital, several cars sped out from a junction ahead and blocked their path. lu zhiyuan and gu ci exchanged a glance, their faces turning serious. the man with them had a hot temper and was now furious at being blocked for no reason. he got out of the car to argue with the people blocking their way. gu ci released her grip on lu zhiyuan, crawled from the back seat to the driver¡¯s seat, put the car in reverse, quickly turned around on the road, and drove away. the man heard the car engine and frantically chased after gu ci, shouting, ¡°hey, my car, you¡­¡± he wanted to call the police but remembered his phone was still in the car. the two cars quickly overtook the man and caught up with gu ci. lu zhiyuan took the man¡¯s phone, dialed ji chi¡¯s number, and said, ¡°gu ci and 1 have been spotted. license plate a3ds63. we are on provincial highway 258.¡± ¡°got it!¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s information was relayed to the operations room, and rong li immediately dispatched a tracking team. they located their position within three minutes. ji chi informed them, ¡°third master, there are three vehicles from our side, about one kilometer ahead of you.¡± the old van they were in wasn¡¯t very fast, and it was quickly caught up by the pursuing vehicles. one of the cars drove alongside gu ci and suddenly rammed into her. the van was flimsy and old, and it crumpled instantly. gu ci managed to stabilize the vehicle and pressed the gas pedal to the maximum, accelerating wildly. the two cars, one on each side, continued their assault, and the scraping of metal against metal produced a piercing noise with sparks flying. the car windows rolled down, and firearms were aimed at them. lu zhiyuan and gu ci ducked down as bullets shattered the windows and passed above their heads. gu ci didn¡¯t have time to think about them; she pushed the gas pedal to the floor and sped forward recklessly. ¡°third master, are you okay?¡± ji chi was watching the high-speed chase on the monitor and was shocked. if there was another vehicle ahead, they would be in a deadly collision. rong li quickly assessed the positions of his team members. the two sides were about to collide head-on. he had a small squad of three vehicles, all ahead of them, and they were just two minutes away. however, the two vehicles in front continued to sandwich the fragile van. the van had no chance of withstanding this relentless assault. rong li ordered in a cold tone, ¡°we¡¯re half a kilometer from third master. ram into them!¡± it was a life-or-death order! but the vehicles ahead, both gu ci¡¯s and the attackers¡¯, were traveling at speeds of over 150 kilometers per hour. colliding head-on would inevitably result in a catastrophe. ¡°understood!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°understood!¡± the two vehicles at the very front finally received their orders. the voices of the royal guards were calm and resolute. originally, the two vehicles, one in front of the other, quickly moved parallel to each other, occupying both lanes and leaving the middle lane empty. even if it meant sacrificing themselves, they were determined to ram the vehicles that were closing in on lu zhiyuan¡¯s car. gu ci also saw the oncoming vehicles ahead, speeding toward them at full throttle. their three vehicles occupied all the lanes, while the opposing vehicles left the middle lane empty. however, a head-on collision at this speed would be certain death, leaving nothing but shattered bodies. the two vehicles attempting to sandwich gu ci and lu zhiyuan also realized the situation. when two forces met on a narrow road, it was a test of who was more fearless. the enemies in these two vehicles were determined and didn¡¯t slow down; they continued their attempt to trap lu zhiyuan and gu ci. in that critical moment right before the collision, the vehicle on the right ultimately panicked and veered into the field. gu ci¡¯s left-hand side vehicle, however, remained steadfast and collided with the black hawk royal guard¡¯s vehicle. the impact was fierce due to the high speed, and both vehicles tumbled off the road. the vehicles were instantly wrecked. the black hawk royal guard¡¯s vehicle had been heavily modified and was extremely sturdy, but it still couldn¡¯t withstand such a violent collision.. Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Daddy Looks Like He’s About to Die chapter 380: daddy looks like he¡¯s about to die translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci stepped on the gas pedal, stopping in the lane. the third car from the royal guard also pulled up beside them, and three individuals quickly approached, guarding them and escorting them to their own vehicle. without the need for further orders from ji chi, the three individuals protected lu zhiyuan and gu ci. the car that had charged into the field quickly fled the scene, heading in another direction, with rong li¡¯s people following closely behind. lu zhiyuan soon lost consciousness. when he woke up, he was in a hospital room, and it was already dark outside. the glass shards from his back had been removed, and though he had lost a lot of blood, it wasn¡¯t a major issue. upon awakening, gu ci and ziyu were both in the room with him. gu ci had also changed into clean clothes and had some minor abrasions on her, just superficial wounds compared to lu zhiyuan¡¯s injuries. mother and son lay on the edge of the sofa, sleeping peacefully, bathed in moonlight, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. he coughed a couple of times, which startled gu ci. she quickly came to the bedside, raising the height of the hospital bed slightly, and said softly, ¡°the glass has been removed, and the rest are just superficial wounds. do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± apart from the pain and a slight feeling of weightlessness, there wasn¡¯t much else bothering him. the feeling of weightlessness was due to the excessive blood loss. lu zhiyuan looked at her hand, wrapped in gauze with a bit of blood visible. gu ci said softly, ¡°just superficial wounds, not too painful.¡± lu zhiyuan restrained his emotions and pain, saying, ¡°cici, i didn¡¯t scare you, did i?¡± ¡°not at all,¡± gu ci replied, looking puzzled at lu zhiyuan¡¯s complexion. a person who had lost so much blood should have a pale and haggard complexion, but lu zhiyuan¡¯s face resembled more of a poisoning symptom, with some bluish discoloration. gu ci worriedly asked, ¡°is there anywhere you don¡¯t feel well?¡± lu zhiyuan shook his head and said softly, ¡°other than feeling a bit of pain, i¡¯m okay. is ji chi and rong li outside?¡± ji chi and rong li were waiting outside. black hawk had some matters to attend to, and although gu ci and ziyu were close relatives, their identities were very special, so it wasn¡¯t suitable for them to stay for long. gu ci replied, ¡°they¡¯re here, as long as you¡¯re okay.¡± she woke up ziyu, who was still somewhat drowsy. ziyu was very pleasantly surprised to see that lu zhiyuan had awakened. ¡°dad, you¡¯re okay, right?¡± ¡°i¡¯m fine!¡± lu zhiyuan gently touched ziyu¡¯s head. ¡°don¡¯t worry.¡± ziyu rushed over to hug him. ¡°you can teleport, right? how did you get hurt like this? it¡¯s not cool at all.¡± lu zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but smile at his son¡¯s childlike words, and his pain lessened a bit. ¡°ziyu, let¡¯s go home first. dad still has some things to deal with.¡± ¡°dad, we¡¯re leaving now.¡± ¡°okay!¡± lu zhiyuan watched them, mother and son, leave the hospital room. a mouthful of blood that had been stuck in his throat suddenly gushed out, staining the white bedsheets with a large patch of red. he heard gu ci and ziyu¡¯s voices and forcibly held it in again. gu ci, along with ziyu and rong li, had left after saying their goodbyes. ji chi and rong li had just entered the room when they saw the glaring red on the bedsheets. both of them turned pale, and ji chi reached for the bell to call the doctor, but lu zhiyuan stopped him. ¡°don¡¯t call, wait until they leave!¡± ¡°third master, it¡¯s already at this stage, and you¡¯re still holding on.¡± rong li was furious and turned to find a doctor, while gu ci and ziyu were waiting for the elevator. lu zhiyuan urgently said, ¡°come back!¡± his injuries were not something the doctors could treat. rong li stood in front of the door, so angry that he wanted to smash it. when gu ci and ziyu entered the elevator, ji chi hurriedly pressed the bell. lu zhiyuan knew that ringing the bell wouldn¡¯t help in this situation; his condition was beyond their ability to treat. he remained silent to avoid causing further concern to ji chi and rong li. this was the most malicious curse, and once again, the curse had come true. every time gu ci came closer to him, it felt like another stab to his heart and bones. as long as they loved each other, this curse could not be broken! qin wan had been waiting downstairs for gu ci. her failure to pick up gu ci on the lantern festival night had led to this disaster. although jiang junlin hadn¡¯t scolded her, qin wan was determined to follow gu ci closely for the next twenty-four hours. gu ci had already reported her safety to dr. north and little cherry. although qin wan didn¡¯t show regret, gu ci understood her. ¡°qin wan, don¡¯t blame yourself. it¡¯s just some superficial wounds, nothing serious.¡± ¡°if i had gone to pick you up, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± ¡°if you had gone to pick me up, i would have followed lu zhiyuan anyway.¡± gu ci had other things on her mind and didn¡¯t want to dwell on this with qin wan. ¡°don¡¯t worry about it.¡± she looked out the window, recalling the strange behavior of lu zhiyuan in the valley, teleporting and then repeatedly coughing up blood. he had never looked good during those moments, walking unsteadily due to excessive blood loss. he had said he could walk by himself, but gu ci had insisted on carrying him. when he lay against her shoulder, he seemed semi-conscious and in pain. at one point, she thought she heard him cry out in pain. he was lu zhiyuan! as a racing driver, he endured bumps and knocks during training without ever uttering a word of pain. even after the car accident, when he had a near-death experience, she hadn¡¯t heard him cry out in pain. as the third master, he was reserved, restrained, and would never shout in pain over a minor injury. third young master, on the other hand, was like a delicate butterfly, always wanting to show his best side to her, and it was even less likely for him to cry out in pain from an injury. where did it hurt so much that he couldn¡¯t help but shout in pain during moments of dizziness? after teleporting, he had vomited blood again. could there be a backlash from using teleportation? why did he keep getting injured? she hadn¡¯t seen him get injured during the previous teleportations. as a doctor, gu ci had a good understanding of a person¡¯s physical condition. lu zhiyuan lying on the bed, gasping for breath like a thread of silk, made her feel uneasy. excessive blood loss shouldn¡¯t have resulted in this. returning to the blue fields villa and seeing jiang junlin¡¯s car outside, gu ci thought, ¡°it¡¯s over, my brother is going to scold me.¡± ji chi had already informed jiang junlin of gu ci¡¯s condition, and he knew she wasn¡¯t seriously injured. ¡°does it hurt?¡± gu ci shook her head, and she didn¡¯t dare to complain about the pain. ¡°it¡¯s just some scratches.¡± ¡°you¡¯re pretty confident, huh? going up the mountain to watch the stars and the moon, leaving one person behind,¡± jiang junlin commented with a hint of sarcasm, an unusual tone for him. gu ci admitted defeat, ¡°brother, 1 was wrong, it won¡¯t happen again, i promise!¡± ¡°didn¡¯t you break up?¡± jiang junlin asked, ¡°with this attitude, does it seem like you¡¯ve broken up?¡± ¡°even after a breakup, you can still be friends.¡± ¡°that¡¯s an interesting perspective.¡± gu ci asked, ¡°what about you and ji chi? after breaking up, don¡¯t you plan to be friends?¡± jiang junlin¡¯s face darkened, and qin wan said, ¡°you two siblings shouldn¡¯t hurt each other. isn¡¯t third master more seriously injured? he deserved it!¡± jiang junlin had no sympathy for lu zhiyuan, sympathizing with the enemy was like seeking trouble! gu ziyu said with a hint of grievance, ¡°dad is also quite pitiful, he looked like he was about to die.¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only gu ci frowned and gave her son a glance. ¡°ziyu, children should be seen and not heard.¡± don¡¯t glare at me, it¡¯s so scary! dad is indeed mom¡¯s favorite. gu ci wasn¡¯t angry, but her son¡¯s words reminded her that lu zhiyuan did indeed look like he was on the verge of death. while lu zhiyuan was sleeping, she had reviewed his medical records and the surgical procedure. there was no reason for him to be injured so severely! Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Demon and Angel chapter 381: demon and angel translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after gu ci disappeared following lu zhiyuan¡¯s teleportation, she told jiang junlin everything that had happened, down to the smallest detail. jiang junlin was clearly focused on lu zhiyuan and was only concerned about not involving gu ci. jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t worry about lu zhiyuan if his sister was fine. ¡°black hawk will investigate this matter. both ji chi and rong li are here, so nothing major should happen. they¡¯ve also captured a few live witnesses. in the coming days, avoid too much contact with lu zhiyuan until they uncover the truth.¡± ¡°understood!¡± gu ci felt a bit tired, and jiang junlin didn¡¯t stay at the blue fields villa for long. qin wan followed him out, and seeing her looking downcast, jiang junlin spoke gently, ¡°this was an unexpected incident. don¡¯t dwell on it too much. cici has a sense of propriety. if she doesn¡¯t want you to follow, don¡¯t follow, or follow discreetly so she doesn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°oh¡­¡± seeing her unhappy, jiang junlin patted her head. ¡°i¡¯ll buy you a large flat soon. don¡¯t be upset.¡± ¡°i want a penthouse.¡± qin wan was never one to be shy about her desires. ¡°alright!¡± jiang junlin left with zhang qiang, who asked, ¡°master, are we not going to investigate the attack on lu zhiyuan?¡± ¡°black hawk¡¯s matter is not our concern,¡± jiang junlin said indifferently. he didn¡¯t need to waste resources on an investigation. if he wanted to know anything, he would ask ji chi. if ji chi didn¡¯t say anything, he wouldn¡¯t care. who would be concerned about how an enemy was attacked? he hadn¡¯t kicked lu zhiyuan while he was down, nor had he sent anyone to attack him. that could be considered his kindness. lu zhiyuan remained in a coma for the rest of the night. the doctors couldn¡¯t find anything wrong, even though he had a full-body examination and all his indicators were normal. they couldn¡¯t understand why he remained unconscious. ¡°young master has always had excellent physical qualities. he rarely suffers from minor illnesses or injuries. he recovers from injuries faster than ordinary people. this time, we really can¡¯t find any issues,¡± the doctor explained. rong li was irritable. they couldn¡¯t make a big fuss about this matter, and even the hospital director had personally examined lu zhiyuan, finding no serious problems. ji chi and rong li were helpless, as this central hospital was privately owned by the lu family and attracted top-notch physicians. if they couldn¡¯t cure him, no one could. li jiang didn¡¯t know why, but he knew that third young master had a unique physique. could it be related to teleportation? li jiang said, ¡°let¡¯s wait for third young master to wake up. he might wake up tomorrow.¡± rong li frowned, ¡°has he ever had this kind of situation before?¡± li jiang shook his head, he had never encountered anything like this. ¡°could third young master have some hidden illness?¡± rong li asked. li jiang hesitated and didn¡¯t say anything. ji chi had a dark expression and kicked him, saying, ¡°if you¡¯re not good at chinese, don¡¯t use it incorrectly. ¡®hidden illness¡¯ doesn¡¯t mean what you think.¡± li jiang stayed at the hospital, while ji chi and rong li had their own business to attend to. the incident with the bodyguards and the collision had left one critically ill and another severely injured, thanks to the sturdy car and well-designed airbags, they didn¡¯t die on the spot, but the situation was still not optimistic. they were in the icu for observation. the two individuals from the other party had died on the spot, and they had captured one person alive. this person was lucky; when the collision occurred, he was thrown out of the windshield and landed in a field, suffering only minor injuries. he was quickly apprehended. rong li hadn¡¯t caught the escaped individuals, but having one live captive was enough. in the interrogation room, rong li sat in a chair, smoking a cigar, and the arrested man had a broken right leg, which had just been set. rong li lit his cigar and said, ¡°1 have a bad temper. tell me who ordered you, straightforwardly, to spare yourself from physical pain.¡± ¡°if you have the guts, go ahead and kill me!¡± ji chi shook his head from the side. this was rong li¡¯s area when it came to interrogations. rong li sneered, ¡°threatening me? do you think i¡¯m easily frightened?¡± he kicked the man¡¯s chest and abdomen, ¡°killing you would dirty my hands. we live in a society governed by the rule of law. what¡¯s the point of violence and threats? it doesn¡¯t look good.¡± the man screamed in pain. rong li stepped on the spot where the bone had just been set, blowing a smoke ring, ¡°we have a hundred and eight methods for making your life worse than death in black hawk. no need to rush, i guarantee you¡¯ll have had enough. even the king of hell won¡¯t take you.¡± he applied more force, and the recently mended bone broke again. ¡°all¡­¡± the man clutched his leg in agony, and rong li waved his hand, ¡°doctor, reattach the broken bone for him.¡± ji chi shook his head and watched as the doctor reluctantly gave the man medical attention, casting a disapproving glance at rong li. the doctor was diligently resetting the man¡¯s bone. rong li said, ¡°if you heal him ten times, and 1¡¯11 break his leg ten times, will he be disabled for life?¡± the doctor gritted his teeth, ¡°what do you think?¡± rong li replied sarcastically, ¡°oh, i can¡¯t bear to do it anymore.¡± ji chi played the good cop, ¡°brother, just tell us what you know. this is the crudest man in black hawk. he won¡¯t joke around with you.¡± rong li sneered, ¡°in terms of cruelty, i¡¯m not even in the top five in black hawk. you might rank in the top two.¡± ji chi glared at him, ¡°why are you undermining me?¡± ¡°it¡¯s not me undermining you. wherever you stand, he trembles with fear. didn¡¯t you see it?¡± rong li couldn¡¯t help but complain. this guy knew who the real yama was. ¡°he has good judgment.¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t see it!¡± ji chi said calmly. ¡°looks like he¡¯s not scared enough; he hasn¡¯t said a single word of truth. maybe we should break his other leg too.¡± the doctor said, ¡°can you guys please act like human beings? don¡¯t actually do this ten times; i¡¯m very busy.¡± an hour later, when the doctor returned, the man was barely alive. the doctor had an expressionless face, ¡°did he talk?¡± ji chi wiped the bloodstains from his hands with a wet towel, ¡°tough nut, didn¡¯t say anything.¡± the doctor examined the man¡¯s injuries, ¡°if he hasn¡¯t said anything in this condition, it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll get anything out of him.¡± ji chi said, ¡°not necessarily. i haven¡¯t touched his face yet. he looks to be in his thirties. i¡¯ve already instructed the information department to find information on him.¡± ji chi leaned down and patted the man¡¯s cheek. ¡°brother, do you have a wife and children?¡± the man suddenly struggled violently, as if he wanted to take ji chi down with him. ji chi stepped back, casually smiling. rong li said, ¡°i told you, i¡¯m kinder than him, but you didn¡¯t listen.¡± ji chi didn¡¯t like involving wives and children. in principle, one person should take responsibility for their own actions. he also disliked coercion and temptation. in this world, who didn¡¯t have weaknesses? what would he feel if someone threatened him with jiang junlin? but when it came to interrogation, anything was fair game. he wouldn¡¯t actually harm the man¡¯s family, as long as the man believed he would, that would be enough. the information department quickly provided the details. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ji chi stood in front of the man, reading his information aloud, ¡°cai jun, from south city in a city. you¡¯re a lucky man, brother. you have a pair of twins, and your daughter is really beautiful!¡± he seemed like a wicked, malicious murderer, smiling and giving a sinister appraisal of his target. cai jun fiercely resisted, shouting, ¡°don¡¯t touch them, you bastard, don¡¯t touch them.¡± rong li shook his head, ¡°you¡¯ve done my job for me. what am i supposed to do now? why do 1 feel like you¡¯re sexually frustrated and filled with so much malice?¡± ¡°you actually got that right.¡± ji chi smirked evilly, his little dimples appearing somewhat innocent. he placed a photo in front of cai jun, ¡°your two children. whether they live through tonight depends on your cooperation.. 1¡¯11 ask again, who ordered you to attack third master?¡± Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Brothers Infighting chapter 382: brothers infighting translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation after concluding the meeting, chen liangdong had another phone call with mr. zhang. when it came to the matter of lu zhiyuan¡¯s disappearance, chen liangdong made sure not to reveal any inside information to mr. zhang despite his repeated inquiries. lately, chen liangdong found himself in a somewhat delicate situation. many people were discontented with his involvement in the underworld dark web, whether they were part of his camp or from elsewhere. unlike chen liangdong, gu ziyu was still relatively young and lacked chen liangdong¡¯s experience in navigating the complexities of such situations. when gu ziyu sought chen liangdong¡¯s help, they had a conversation, and chen liangdong realized that getting involved would mean offending a significant number of people. chen liangdong had been a department head for four years, and he was on the verge of becoming a director. his department was meant to remain neutral and not get involved in the disputes of others. he needed to balance many relationships and wielded significant power, which also meant facing various constraints. the ministry of state security didn¡¯t require the power of the underworld dark web; they had their own channels for overseas operations. although the dark web was involved, it wasn¡¯t the most critical factor. however, chen liangdong still got involved in this matter, even though he knew it would bring more harm than good, and that it was a path he shouldn¡¯t tread. when ziyu came seeking his help, chen liangdong hesitated. he had already declined his family¡¯s arranged marriage and opted for a more challenging path. his choice went against his family¡¯s wishes, and his relationship with them had become strained. ziyu was more like family to him, and chen liangdong couldn¡¯t bear to refuse his request. he reluctantly decided to wade into this murky waters. since he had committed to it, he couldn¡¯t stay on the sidelines. ¡°chen fei, prepare a car. we¡¯re going to the prison,¡± he said to his assistant. he hadn¡¯t seen lin qing for many years, and at one point, he had even thought they would never meet again. ¡°yes!¡± chen liangdong arrived at the prison in the evening. lin qing¡¯s case had yet to be resolved, and he was being held in a comfortable detention center, with a private room that could rival a hotel suite. chen liangdong noticed a prison guard leaving with a takeout bag from a five-star restaurant. ¡°it seems you¡¯re living quite comfortably,¡± chen liangdong remarked as he sat down, interrupting lin qing¡¯s dinner. ¡°how long has it been since we last saw each other?¡± lin qing asked casually. ¡°more than a decade, i think.¡± chen liangdong and lin qing had been childhood friends, but their personalities were quite different. lin qing was quiet and bookish, while chen liangdong was mischievous and prone to causing trouble. despite their differences, they had been close friends for many years. chen liangdong often rebelled and got into trouble, and it was always lin qing who cleaned up the mess. when lin qing was seriously injured on the front lines, chen liangdong defied his family¡¯s opposition to bring him home from abroad. their friendship was as solid as iron. they had both believed they would be lifelong friends, but they had drifted apart for many years. apart from necessary meetings, they had no personal contact, and they had heard about each other¡¯s lives from colleagues. ¡°lin qing, you¡¯ve already obtained everything you wanted, and you had the zhang family¡¯s protection. why did you still want to get involved with the underworld dark web?¡± chen liangdong asked. lin qing burst into laughter. his greed had been widely criticized, and people said he had brought his downfall upon himself by trying to take on jiang junlin, a task far beyond his abilities. the zhang family had also abandoned him, and his wife had filed for divorce. his child had bitterly asked why he had chosen to ruin himself, which ultimately led to her own downfall. his actions had left him isolated, and everyone said he deserved it. lin qing sneered and said, ¡°you act all righteous, but aren¡¯t you involved too? 1 want it, but does national security not want it? don¡¯t pretend to be so concerned. you must be delighted with my current predicament, finally getting your revenge.¡± ¡°your extremism and narrow-mindedness have remained unchanged over the past ten years. ever since uncle lin passed away, you¡¯ve become a different person, always seeking quick success and using any means necessary. if 1 wanted to kick you when you¡¯re down, would you be living so comfortably here? even though the verdict hasn¡¯t come down yet, your guilt is a foregone conclusion,¡± chen liangdong spoke calmly. ¡°this isn¡¯t solely your doing. who¡¯s behind you?¡± ¡°i¡¯d love for you to find out. go investigate it yourself!¡± lin qing smirked, his malice showing through. ¡°you seem to know everything. i¡¯m curious how you found out that jiang junlin returned to the country and that i framed him. how did you convince others to bring jiang junlin to national security? if it weren¡¯t for you taking him away, none of this would have happened.¡± chen liangdong was stern as he said, ¡°you¡¯ve broken the law, do you realize that? jiang junlin was dedicated to his duties, with slightly more authority, but he did nothing wrong. it was your elaborate scheme that pushed him into a desperate situation, resulting in the deaths of numerous people. do you see those lives as insignificant?¡± ¡°you¡¯re talking about me breaking the law now? haha, chen liangdong, have you committed any fewer violations and indiscretions?¡± lin qing¡¯s eyes reddened as he stared at him. ¡°back then, you were involved in a disciplinary breach with a woman, leaked our whereabouts, and caused our mission to fail. i helped you clean up and provided a safety net, but you turned against me for her and severed our relationship. i¡¯ve had the misfortune of having you as a brother in my life!¡± they had once had a heated argument and even got into a physical fight. lin qing had initially thought that it was just a typical argument and fight, and they would reconcile after a few months. little did he realize that the severance of adult friendships could be so quiet, graceful, and decisive. chen liangdong¡¯s heartache was touched, and he suddenly stood up, his chest heaving, and veins bulging on his forehead. ¡°don¡¯t slander me like that! i was clear and honest in that matter, and my conscience is clear. if it weren¡¯t for your interference, she wouldn¡¯t have died. it was a human life, yet you speak so self-righteously, distorting the truth. we severed our ties because of differing paths, nothing else!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°you speak so nicely, but you never married and even clashed with your family. you¡¯re quite the paragon of virtue, chen liangdong!¡± lin qing taunted. ¡°so hypocritical!¡± ¡°i don¡¯t want to dig up the past with you. let¡¯s focus on the present. mr. zhang has nothing to do with this, so who¡¯s pulling your strings?¡± chen liangdong said sternly. ¡°stop resisting, you can¡¯t handle this alone. confess voluntarily, and perhaps there¡¯s a chance for leniency. your ill-gotten wealth for your two children has already been frozen!¡± ¡°why should they freeze their assets?¡± lin qing was indignant. ¡°that¡¯s ill-gotten wealth!¡± chen liangdong retorted. ¡°you have two young children to support. if you confess your crimes voluntarily, you might get a plea deal with a lighter sentence than the main culprit.¡± ¡°if you¡¯re so eager to know, why don¡¯t you ask your brother?¡± lin qing laughed uproariously, his eyes still red.. ¡°1 guarantee he¡¯ll tell you everything in great detail!¡± Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Big Brother Doesn’t Really Want to Talk to chapter 383: big brother doesn¡¯t really want to talk to you translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation global center, lu zhiyuan had just regained consciousness from a bout of dizziness. his head throbbed, but he was feeling slightly better. li jiang had prepared a big pot of nourishing blood-boosting soup and managed to feed him a bowl. rong li and ji chi came to report the results of the interrogation. lu zhiyuan narrowed his eyes, ¡°is it really them?¡± ji chi said, ¡°they are indeed cunning conspirators. we didn¡¯t have a pleasant conversation this afternoon, but we had cooperated in the past, and now they¡¯re attempting to eliminate you. interestingly, if this plan succeeds, they will likely pin it on mr. zhang. lin qing would be exposed, and mr. zhang would have the highest suspicion. mr. zhang is quite sensitive, and he¡¯s afraid of this, which is why he called me earlier. he has no involvement in this matter, and he probably knows it was orchestrated by the old chen family, but he didn¡¯t warn us.¡± ¡°he has no obligation to warn us,¡± lu zhiyuan mused. rong li, puzzled, asked, ¡°i really don¡¯t understand why they would do this. our cooperation wasn¡¯t always smooth, but we didn¡¯t want to get involved in their power struggles. it was merely a business partnership, and now they¡¯re resorting to violence. their actions are quite aggressive. the old man has always advocated the middle way and doesn¡¯t seem to fit this profile.¡± ji chi coolly replied, ¡°perhaps we know too much. dead men don¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°that sounds more like your style!¡± rong li retorted. ji chi chuckled, ¡°seems like you¡¯re not as soft-hearted and kind as you claim to be. six of one, half a dozen of the other.¡± rong li gestured at him with a middle finger. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°the chen family has two main bloodlines, chen liangyou and chen liangdong, who are brothers. old chen and chen liangyou are closer, while chen liangdong, who has no wife or children, stands apart from the family. old chen doesn¡¯t mind chen liangdong¡¯s estrangement from the family because the chen family has many branches. chen rushi¡¯s family is a collateral branch of the chen family, though they¡¯ve been living abroad for many years, they have maintained contact with their relatives. he has long wanted to control black hawk, so he has been secretly supporting chen rush! and cooperating with me. regardless of who seizes power, he can benefit from black hawk. he didn¡¯t anticipate that chen rush! would betray black hawk and join the triads. the old chen family would surely want to push chen rushi forward.¡± ¡°chen rushi is from a collateral branch of their family?¡± rong li was surprised; this was the first time she had heard of it. lu zhiyuan nodded, ¡°this connection is well-hidden, and they haven¡¯t had any contact for many years, making it difficult to trace. when i was cooperating with the chen family, i noticed a resemblance between chen rushi and chen liangyou¡¯s son, which raised suspicions.¡± ¡°what a sly fox!¡± rong li frowned. ¡°what do we do next?¡± ¡°is that man still alive?¡± ji chi nodded, ¡°he¡¯s still breathing.¡± ¡°send someone to leave him at his doorstep and call for an ambulance while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°got it!¡± rong li went to handle it, while ji chi washed a plate of cherries. the third master used to only eat apples, but now he had no qualms about eating any fruit. ji chi placed the cherries in front of him, and lu zhiyuan looked at him with a half-smile, ¡°so, what else is on your mind?¡± ji chi¡¯s inner thoughts were easily seen through, but he wasn¡¯t embarrassed. ¡°third master, you¡¯re seriously injured, and i¡¯m just taking care of you. there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°no one offers help for nothing. it¡¯s either for personal gain or with ulterior motives,¡± lu zhiyuan wasn¡¯t fooled at all. ¡°you have three seconds.¡± ¡°if jiang junlin asks, should i tell him?¡± ji chi blurted out, not playing any games. lu zhiyuan, munching on cherries, thought for a moment. ¡°it depends on your mood.¡± this response left ji chi pondering. could he say it or not? the third master had changed somewhat. he used to be straightforward, with clear orders and explicit prohibitions. now, there was a touch of mischief. ¡°third master, your answer is a bit vague.¡± ¡°you¡¯re an adult; can¡¯t you make your own judgment?¡± lu zhiyuan replied irritably, throwing a cherry at him. he threw it with such precision that it landed right in ji chi¡¯s mouth, leaving him baffled by the accuracy. ¡°alright, if he asks, i¡¯ll tell him!¡± ji chi thought to himself. the third master had said it depended on his mood, and when it came to matters related to black hawk¡¯s secrets, he always answered truthfully, with no secrets. lu zhiyuan contemplated. if they continued down the chen family¡¯s path, it would be challenging. lu zhiyuan had always believed in the primacy of self-interest and the frailty of human nature. for the sake of fame and fortune, people would disregard the law. that¡¯s why he had offered the chen family generous incentives. in return, they had to work for black hawk. this had always been the case in m country, where everyone operated under a profit-driven system, making many things simpler and more straightforward. he hadn¡¯t expected the situation in china to be so complicated. he had nurtured this network for several years, and it had still failed. while he was injured, rong li and ji chi had interrogated chen liangyou. chen liangyou had even expressed concern about his health, subtly asking if he had offended someone in china. he wanted to let bygones be bygones, and lu zhiyuan had sensed a hidden meaning. regardless of the circumstances, their cooperation had been pleasant, and they hadn¡¯t let anything damage their relationship. the chen family had done this, but lu zhiyuan emerged unscathed. he treated it as if nothing had happened, and everyone continued to make money. black hawk needed them, and if someone else took over, they might have just endured it. but he was lu zhiyuan! when rong li left the person at the chen family¡¯s doorstep, their mode of cooperation was declared broken. regardless of whose idea this was, it was clear that they couldn¡¯t continue working together in the future. lu zhiyuan would have to seek a new cooperative model. unless he didn¡¯t want the asian market and handed it over to the triads. ¡°when i¡¯m feeling better, arrange a meeting with jiang junlin.¡± the cherry pit in his mouth almost chipped his teeth. ji chi hesitated for a moment. ¡°i don¡¯t think big brother is very eager to talk to you.¡± ¡°you¡¯ll find a way!¡± lu zhiyuan insisted. ¡°i promise to get it done!¡± ji chi got up, turned gracefully, and said, ¡°i¡¯ll go now!¡± in the night, gu ci burned the relaxation incense given by dr. north, and she slept deeply. in the morning, dr. north came for a psychological counseling session, and they talked for a solid three hours. qin wan had arrived early, and she and gu ziyu were engaged in an online gaming showdown, challenging each other three times and losing three times. gu ziyu introduced her to some books he often read, and they discussed computers, getting along well. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°mom is going to the global center to see dad this afternoon. are you going with her?¡± ¡°yes, 24/7 protection,¡± qin wan said. ¡°i¡¯ve seen the accident video. falling from such a height, the car explodes within seconds. how did they survive?¡± this incident had always troubled qin wan, but she didn¡¯t dare to ask gu ci. it made her wish they had turned to ashes. however, it didn¡¯t align with the laws of physics. in theory, it was certain death! ¡°i don¡¯t know about this,¡± gu ziyu said enigmatically. ¡°my dad can teleport. he can¡¯t die, but i don¡¯t understand why he got seriously injured.¡± after dr. north finished the counseling session, she sent the report to jiang junlin, as she did after every session. it included her assessment. gu ci¡¯s most significant progress was that she no longer engaged in self-harm. when she couldn¡¯t control her emotions, she went for a run or played sports to distract herself. this was a positive trend, and there was noticeable improvement this time.. Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Let’s Breakup chapter 384: let¡¯s breakup translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation in the early morning, dr. north came to find gu ci, fearing that her condition might worsen after the accident last night. however, to his surprise, it was quite the opposite. gu ci¡¯s emotions were also calmer. in the same anticipated situation, she had become much more composed, devoid of any hostility. although she wasn¡¯t cured, her condition had improved. dr. north¡¯s greatest fear was a lack of progress in her treatment. as long as there was progress, there was hope. after gu ci had her meal at home, qin wan drove her to the global center. gu ziyu had gone to the office, and dr. north was preparing for his schoolwork. as lu zhiyuan looked at the medical records sent by gu ziyu, he breathed a sigh of relief. as long as gu ci could recover, everything would be fine. the thought of gu ci coming to the global center made him anticipate the excruciating pain that he would endure once again. he had never tried to stop gu ci from coming to the global center. if he did, she would surely become suspicious. he could only endure the horrifying pain. qin wan followed gu ci upstairs and waited in the living room, playing games to pass the time. in black hawk¡¯s territory, one had to be cautious and not attract any suspicion. gu ci brought cherries and apples for lu zhiyuan and also the chicken soup that gu ziyu had prepared for lunch. ¡°ziyu went to work, and he said this pot of chicken soup represents his feelings for you.¡± li jiang accepted it and said, ¡°1¡¯11 heat it up for third master tonight.¡± he was quite thoughtful as he took the chicken soup and left the room. only gu ci and lu zhiyuan were left in the room. from the moment she entered, lu zhiyuan had been experiencing a piercing pain, but he showed no signs on his face. the closer gu ci got, the more apparent the pain became. there was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead due to his silent endurance. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°the wound is hurting a bit,¡± he replied. ¡°i¡¯ll get you some painkillers.¡± ¡°it¡¯s alright, just sit down.¡± gu ci took a few steps back, distancing herself from him. they were not supposed to see each other anymore, but due to a car accident, their fates were intertwined. gu ci asked softly, ¡°i want to take another look at your medical records.¡± lu zhiyuan glanced at the medical records book nearby. gu ci walked over, took the book, and flipped through it. lu zhiyuan had already anticipated that she would check, so he had made some changes, adding some symptoms to make his pain appear more justified. after reading through the medical records, gu ci had a better understanding. she said, ¡°1 will abide by our agreement and won¡¯t meet you again. but there are some things 1 need to clarify, or 1 won¡¯t feel at ease. why did you bleed when using teleportation, and was this severe injury related to teleportation?¡± lu zhiyuan had guessed that gu ci would ask these questions. she was not someone who easily compromised, and once she had doubts, she would pursue the truth relentlessly, seeking clarity in all matters, with clear distinctions between love and hate. ¡°yes, teleportation can have a backlash. when my body is weakened, i can¡¯t use it,¡± lu zhiyuan explained. ¡°the severity of the backlash varies, and the worse my physical condition, the stronger the backlash. that¡¯s why 1 look so weak.¡± ¡°when we were in the cave, you were already very weak. did you force yourself to bring me out?¡± gu ci inquired. ¡°the cave was covered in moss and slippery. you couldn¡¯t climb up alone, and i couldn¡¯t delay my injuries for too long. otherwise, i might have died as well. so, i did it for myself, not for you,¡± lu zhiyuan said in a calm tone, looking directly into gu ci¡¯s eyes. he softly added, ¡°cici, i¡¯m human too. i can feel pain, and i can die.¡± ¡°if your story is true, how could you die?¡± gu ci asked. ¡°i¡¯m human, so i can die!¡± gu ci¡¯s eyes turned red. he had died in front of her once, so she understood that feeling. ¡°can ziyu and 1 have a fresh start? is it really unrelated to you?¡± this was the question that had been haunting her. she was afraid that lu zhiyuan had paid a painful price behind her back. he was right; their relationship was a twisted fate. whenever they got close, misfortune followed. when she approached him, he seemed to suffer greatly, as if he were being tortured. gu ci recalled the cruel curse in his story. throughout their countless lifetimes, tragedy always befell them. it was just too unfair! ¡°it really doesn¡¯t matter,¡± lu zhiyuan lied, ¡°perhaps the heavens thought 1 died too young and got off too easy. 1 haven¡¯t atoned for my sins in this lifetime yet, so why would they let me die easily? so, you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± they had said everything they needed to say on the mountaintop. if it weren¡¯t for the accident, she and he would never have seen each other again. she struggled to restrain the demon in her heart, controlling it, tying it down, not allowing herself to change beyond recognition. gu ci felt very sad. her eyes turned red, but there were no tears. she was used to playing the pitiful card in front of him because it often worked. lu zhiyuan would soften because of her acting. but he truly looked very sorrowful! perhaps, her presence made him suffer immensely. ¡°lu zhiyuan, when i got another chance at life, i was full of hope to find you. i was thinking that all the tragedies never happened, and both of us were at our best. 1 didn¡¯t suffer in prison, and you never fell into a five-year coma. we would have a happy ending for sure. even if you didn¡¯t love me, 1 would work hard to make you love me. 1 admit 1 have an obsession, and i admit i¡¯m sick. i can¡¯t handle your rejection, and i can¡¯t bear it if you don¡¯t love me. in my heart, you are the person who loves and cares for me the most in the world. i want a reunited family. me, you, and ziyu are a family, and it¡¯s the first time i¡¯ve felt the warmth of home. that¡¯s why i kept demanding, disregarding your feelings, and not seeing your pain. from now on, i will change. my illness has progressed, and i will study hard to become a doctor and protect my family. 1 won¡¯t test you anymore, and i will try to forget you. because loving you has drained all my strength, and all i can do now is forget you.¡± gu ci took off the bracelet she had been wearing since lu zhiyuan gave it to her. ¡°lu zhiyuan, 1 will do as you wish, forget you, and live a good life. i¡¯m returning this bracelet to you. if it¡¯s not necessary, we won¡¯t see each other again.¡± the excruciating pain in his heart was nothing compared to his current heartache. he had regrets and unwillingness, and he had tried every possible way to give them a happy ending, but all his attempts had failed. if they went through it again, he would be like a moth, and if he died, it would be fine. but if the death curse that he had struggled so hard to reverse returned to gu ci, what would he do? he could only look at gu ci¡¯s tears and say in a hoarse voice, ¡°alright!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only if it wasn¡¯t necessary, they wouldn¡¯t see each other again. ¡°lu zhiyuan, take care!¡± gu ci turned around, tears that she had been holding back finally falling. she didn¡¯t look back, just walked straight out of lu zhiyuan¡¯s room. she was afraid that if she turned around, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave. that was her obsession for two lifetimes, and she had to let go of it. it wasn¡¯t easy. lu zhiyuan, if i had known earlier that my insistence on our love would cost you your life, no matter how painful and regretful 1 am, i would have kept my distance from you. it would have been fine for you to live peacefully under the same sky as me! as long as you¡¯re alive, i have no other wishes! Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Demons and Devils chapter 385: demons and devils translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation lu zhiyuan watched the stubborn and resolute figure walking away, feeling as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart. as she moved farther from him, the physical pain began to subside, but his emotional agony only intensified. in his chest, his heart was metaphorically being torn apart. once upon a time, they were like a pair of moths, willing to embrace the flame even though they knew it would consume them. they flew towards the light, towards the fire, and if they couldn¡¯t love each other, they chose to die together. lifetime after lifetime, it always ended in tragedy. even if they loved each other again, they couldn¡¯t resist the gears of fate, and on the three lives stone, they had no karmic ties. lu zhiyuan covered his face in pain. ¡°cici, i¡¯m sorry!¡± if he hadn¡¯t been entangled in the worldly desires of the seven emotions and six desires from the beginning, he wouldn¡¯t have brought pain and despair to gu ci throughout eternity. he had tried every possible way and made countless changes, but none could alter the outcome. even if he resolved to avoid gu ci forever, fate would still bring her to him. third young master¡¯s letter was his love letter to gu ci. even that love letter had been burnt to ashes. from the very beginning, they had no hope. qin wan looked at gu ci, tears streaming down her face, and was taken aback, interrupting her game. ¡°what¡¯s wrong? did third master bully you?¡± gu ci shook her head. ¡°no, it¡¯s just that i feel upset. let¡¯s go!¡± qin wan glanced back and, puzzled, followed gu ci. fortunately, when gu ci entered the elevator, her emotions had calmed down. she wiped away her tears and stopped speaking. just as the two of them stepped out of the elevator, they ran into rong li, who was waiting for the elevator with two men, one old and one young. rong li was momentarily surprised but nodded politely to gu ci without saying anything. qin wan, who was two steps behind gu ci, turned to rong li and made a throat-slitting gesture. rong li sneered, a hint of disdain in his eyebrows. the young man, chen yang, asked, ¡°rong, who is this?¡± rong li replied indifferently, ¡°an enemy!¡± these were chen liangdong¡¯s older brother, chen liangyou, and his son, chen yang. lu zhiyuan was recuperating and originally didn¡¯t want to meet them, but they were persistent, so rong li had no choice but to bring them here. after gu ci left, li jiang escorted lu zhiyuan downstairs. he had no intention of meeting the chen family father and son on the top floor. chen liangyou and chen yang had brought a fruit basket and a box of sea cucumbers. after li jiang put them away, he invited them into the living room. lu zhiyuan, appearing genuinely weak, didn¡¯t need to pretend. he looked extremely frail, as if he might collapse with a gust of wind. after gu ci left global, his physical pain had disappeared. however, the curse that gu ci had placed on her wish had started to come true. already suffering from severe pain, the car accident had caused his body to deteriorate rapidly. he was as fragile as a thread of air, and there was no need for acting. ¡°mr. chen, young master chen, i¡¯m truly not feeling well. please forgive me.¡± lu zhiyuan sat on the main single sofa, with rong li standing by his side. li jiang prepared tea and served it to everyone. ¡°third master, you¡¯re recuperating, and we¡¯ve disturbed you.¡± chen liangyou had a kind and gentle demeanor. his appearance was much more ordinary compared to chen liangdong, but he seemed to be about ten years younger, leading one to believe he was chen liangdong¡¯s younger brother, considering how laborious chen liangdong¡¯s work was. after all, chen liangdong was quite overworked. chen yang, around twenty-eight years old, was still young but very capable. he was the pillar of the chen family¡¯s younger generation. ¡°third master, these are all wild sea cucumbers, quite rare. since you¡¯re working on improving your health, you can have more. if you ever want more, we can source them for you.¡± li jiang secretly thought, ¡°what kind of gourmet dishes does our third master not eat? he asked you to source them; who knows if they might be poisoned?¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly, composed and unruffled. ¡°sure.¡± chen yang was momentarily surprised. he had only meant to be polite and hadn¡¯t expected lu zhiyuan to be so indifferent. chen liangyou recalled the person they had nearly lost their lives to while delivering to the chen family¡¯s doorstep and felt a bit uneasy. lu zhiyuan¡¯s actions resembled jiang junlin¡¯s in many ways. ¡°third master, someone left a person at our doorstep today¡­¡± chen liangyou smiled and continued, ¡°do you know who did it?¡± ¡°it¡¯s quite obvious. i did it,¡± lu zhiyuan replied calmly, though he lacked color in his face. yet, his presence remained unyielding. ¡°what is the meaning behind this, third master?¡± chen liangyou furrowed his brow. lu zhiyuan casually explained, ¡°i had a car accident last night, and my life was hanging by a thread. after escaping from the valley, i was pursued, and i happened to capture a living witness. this person confessed that you were the one who orchestrated it.¡± ¡°this is baseless slander. third master and i have always had a close relationship in our cooperation. why would i do such things that would damage our rapport?¡± chen liangyou had been collaborating with lu zhiyuan for two years. right from the start, he had the upper hand because he had control over resources and connections. lu zhiyuan¡¯s focus had always been in europe and america, and to establish a presence in china, he needed connections. even as the heir to the lu family conglomerate, he couldn¡¯t make much progress without these connections. at that time, his choices were between chen liangyou and the zhang family. the zhang family had a longstanding relationship with the jiang family, and that wasn¡¯t a reason for lu zhiyuan to dismiss them. mr. zhang was more challenging to work with than chen liangyou and was known for his integrity. while he had personal interests, he prioritized his family¡¯s honor and didn¡¯t tolerate many things. money and power were not an issue, but chen liangyou lacked significant resources to maintain his connections. lu zhiyuan could provide what he needed, and the two of them found common ground. initially, chen liangyou didn¡¯t hold lu zhiyuan in high regard. firstly, lu zhiyuan was too young, having come of age just three years ago. he seemed like a kid, even younger than his own son, and in his eyes, that made him vulnerable to manipulation. secondly, their respective statuses and positions created an imbalance. this inequality made chen liangyou feel superior, which was somewhat inevitable. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only however, after two years of cooperation, he had come to understand lu zhiyuan¡¯s character. if lu zhiyuan wanted something, he would get it, and it would be an equal exchange. trying to take advantage of him was nearly impossible. moreover, lu zhiyuan was incredibly arrogant and not subservient. he never looked up to chen liangyou¡¯s power and status, nor did he seek to ingratiate himself. he remained calm to the extreme, strictly adhering to the rules of their transactions. whenever chen liangyou attempted to push his boundaries, lu zhiyuan firmly rejected it. thinking they had the upper hand in the deal, chen liangyou was surprised to find himself on the losing end. as a result, he dared not underestimate lu zhiyuan any longer. ¡°i¡¯m also curious, mr. chen, why did you do this and damage our relationship?¡± lu zhiyuan looked at him. ¡°we have always had a good partnership. just because we had an unpleasant discussion on the lantern festival, you took such drastic measures. 1 didn¡¯t expect it at all. so when this person implicated you, i looked into his financial records. within the past week, he received a transfer of 300,000 yuan, and the sender is from an independent company. the legal representative of this company seems to have no connection to you. however, i also examined the transaction records of this company and found several suspicious transfers, with the recipients being members of the mercenary group you often hire.¡± chen yang¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. lu zhiyuan calmly presented the evidence and reasoned with him. however, chen yang felt irritated by lu zhiyuan¡¯s composed demeanor. when doing business with the chen family, it was because the chen family regarded them highly. there was a vast difference in status and position between the chen family and the lu family. when it came to dealing with officials, without the chen family¡¯s support, whether it was lu zhiyuan¡¯s global center or the black hawk¡¯s market in asia, things wouldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly.. Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Third Master Is Really Too Corny chapter 386: third master is really too corny translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation he didn¡¯t even know how to be grateful. he shouldn¡¯t have spoken to the chen family so evenly. why should lu zhiyuan be so high and mighty? he should have been more submissive, and strike where it hurts. ¡°third master, there must be a misunderstanding in all this. right after your accident, i called to inquire about your condition. when you were brought here, i investigated, and it was indeed not our doing. it was a decision made by a branch of our chen family, acting recklessly. i will provide an explanation to third master.¡± chen liangyou had to take a step back, feeling cornered. on his way here, he had considered that if lu zhiyuan compromised a bit, this incident could be forgotten. but if lu zhiyuan insisted on pursuing it, he could find a scapegoat. rong li and li jiang exchanged glances, as if they had anticipated this. rong li was on the verge of bursting into laughter! ¡°what kind of explanation are you willing to give?¡± lu zhiyuan leaned forward, smiling somewhat casually. this was a side of third master that the chen family had never seen before. in their impression, third master was as cold as ice, never one to smile or speak so casually. ¡°it was my luck that i survived the fall off the cliff along with the car. that was a certain-death collision. so, i¡¯m very curious, what kind of explanation does mr. chen intend to provide?¡± his tone was gentle, but it sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. chen yang said, ¡°third master, please don¡¯t be so aggressive. we¡¯ve said that we will provide an explanation.¡± ¡°i survived a near-death experience and i want an explanation. how is that being aggressive?¡± lu zhiyuan continued to smile. ¡°if you can¡¯t come up with one, let me make a suggestion. let¡¯s push him off a cliff too. if he¡¯s still alive after that, we can let bygones be bygones. how about that?¡± li jiang almost burst out laughing. third master, you¡¯re too ruthless. isn¡¯t this taking a life? rong li clapped her hands. ¡°great idea! an eye for an eye. 1 think it¡¯s excellent! 1¡¯11 volunteer to be the one to take the fall!¡± everyone else was left speechless. ¡°third master, are you planning to sever ties with our family?¡± chen liangyou asked in a deep voice. he was confident that lu zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t dare to completely cut ties with the chen family. after jiang junlin¡¯s identity was exposed, he should understand who he was dealing with. jiang junlin had connections that he lacked, and hualan bank was a financial powerhouse. jiang junlin almost monopolized domestic financial assets. how could he compete with jiang junlin? he had no choice but to seek cooperation with the chen family. ¡°it seems mr. chen wants to part ways completely with me,¡± lu zhiyuan¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°you want my life, and yet you expect me to continue cooperating with you. that¡¯s wishful thinking.¡± ¡°this time, it was a decision made by the branch without my knowledge,¡± chen liangyou sighed. ¡°originally, i wanted to protect him. but now it seems i have no choice but to speak the truth. chen rushi has always had connections with our family. when he was in black hawk, 1 tried to support him. he had the ability and ambition to become the owner of black hawk. you, third master, were a newcomer, and he had some grievances. the chen family had a strong foundation on that side. later, due to a momentary mistake, you expelled him from black hawk, and he joined the triad. now that jiang junlin¡¯s identity has been exposed, being the triad leader has become a hot potato. he¡¯s not willing to give up, but he also knows it¡¯s futile, so he acted recklessly. how you choose to deal with him is up to you. our main family truly had no knowledge of this.¡± chen liangyou had no choice but to push chen rushi into the spotlight. originally, it was a plan that would have been a sure hit, a certain-death plan. if lu zhiyuan had died, and gu ci had died as well, jiang junlin would definitely not reconcile with black hawk. at that time, he could find another scapegoat, and black hawk would return to chen rushi¡¯s hands, which he could easily control. he never dreamed that lu zhiyuan would survive. this made the situation very tricky. with lu zhiyuan alive, the situation became complicated! if he gave up cooperation with the chen family, whom would he choose instead? apart from his arch-nemesis mr. zhang, there were others in the same faction. if he chose mr. zhang, and he and jiang junlin joined forces, their faction would be squeezed out. if he chose the same faction, the position of the chen family¡¯s leader might not be secure. no matter how he chose, the chen family would lose terribly. he shouldn¡¯t have listened to chen rushi¡¯s one-sided account and made that impulsive decision. now, he was trapped and had no way out. ¡°so, this was chen rushi¡¯s doing?¡± lu zhiyuan inquired. ¡°yes, he¡¯s audacious and daring. the chen family won¡¯t provide any assistance to chen rushi in the future. if you wish to punish him, we won¡¯t intervene either. we just hope that you won¡¯t hold any grudges, as this matter has nothing to do with our chen family,¡± chen liangyou explained. ¡°if he¡¯s a member of the chen family, how you deal with him, mr. chen, is your business. i won¡¯t interfere,¡± lu zhiyuan coughed. ¡°i¡¯m not feeling well, so i won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± with arrogance, lu zhiyuan gave the order to escort them out. chen yang was infuriated and wanted to reprimand him, but chen liangyou stopped him. chen liangyou spoke amicably, ¡°then, we won¡¯t disturb third master¡¯s rest.¡± li jiang escorted them out, and rong li poured a glass of water for lu zhiyuan. ¡°third master, are you just going to settle things with the chen family like this?¡± ¡°do i look like a pushover to you?¡± lu zhiyuan sighed. ¡°chen rushi is, at most, a troublemaker. he¡¯s ambitious and capable, but he wouldn¡¯t offend me without reason. it¡¯s clear that the chen family is shifting the blame.¡± ¡°chen rushi is far away in europe, and chen liangyou can¡¯t control him. there¡¯s not much he can do unless he really can¡¯t accept it. he¡¯s a cunning old fox,¡± lu zhiyuan took a deep breath. ¡°no need to rush this matter.¡± chen yang was still upset, and he said angrily, ¡°dad, lu zhiyuan is just too arrogant. he dares to talk to you like this. if it weren¡¯t for you supporting him behind the scenes these past two years, he wouldn¡¯t have been so successful. it¡¯s like biting the hand that feeds him.¡± ¡°stop it!¡± chen liangyou said sternly. ¡°can¡¯t you see the bigger picture? if gu ci and lu zhiyuan fall in love and get married, the triad and black hawk will eventually unite. jiang junlin won¡¯t cooperate with us. do you want him to become even more powerful?¡± ¡°jiang junlin almost killed him too. they¡¯re even. he won¡¯t stand on the same side as jiang junlin,¡± chen yang argued. ¡°don¡¯t forget about gu ci!¡± chen liangyou furrowed his brows. ¡°call your uncle and ask him to come home. i have something to discuss with him.¡± ¡°yes!¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only a university started its new semester, and the second half of the academic year began. gu ci, qin wan, and gu ziyu went to register together. gu ziyu had a heavier academic workload, so he had temporarily suspended his work and focused on his studies. gu ci and qin wan were also busy with their work after the start of the school year. dr. north divided her time between her duties in the triad and her role as a visiting professor. she no longer held regular clinic hours, which gave her more flexibility. during gu ci¡¯s recovery period, she temporarily assumed the role of the triad¡¯s leader. besides studying, gu ci spent her time on her music, finding solace in its melodies. when she played music, she often lost track of time and forgot about her pain. gu ci had a deep passion for music, something ingrained in her genes. dr. north encouraged her to play music during her leisure time or explore new interests. qin wan was the belie of the national defense information institute, exuding a commanding presence with her beauty and grace. women liked to be friends with her, and men enjoyed having her as a companion, making her the department¡¯s most scandal-free beauty. initially disinterested in joining any clubs, gu ci was persuaded by qin wan to participate in the basketball club, debate club, and taekwondo club. her extracurricular activities expanded greatly, and despite her cool and silent demeanor, her outstanding appearance earned her the affection of many. the club activities became vibrant and colorful with her presence.. Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: I’m Not Little Anymore chapter 387: i¡¯m not little anymore translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation gu ci had many more admirers than qin wan, receiving love letters every so often. qin wan had a personality more akin to a man¡¯s, while gu ci appeared like a goddess. men wanted to be friends with qin wan and then pursue gu ci. gu ci¡¯s daily life consisted of attending classes and club meetings while rejecting suitors. gu ziyu was extremely irritated by the buzzing crowd around gu ci. qin wan even teased him about his fickleness, ¡°who was the one who initially wanted to introduce a boyfriend to gu ci?¡± ¡°at that time, circumstances were different!¡± back then, he believed his mother¡¯s poor mental state was due to his father¡¯s lack of love for her. he resented his father, but now he had grown to like him. occasionally, lu zhiyuan would video call with gu ziyu, play basketball with him, have meals together, and compete with him. he had a different perspective on lu zhiyuan now. after all, there¡¯s a saying that goes, ¡°if there¡¯s a stepfather, there¡¯s a stepmother!¡± so, gu ziyu made a declaration. when he grew up, he would pursue gu ci. he told the older guys not to compete with a kid for a wife. the senior students were speechless. childish words, the senior students didn¡¯t take it seriously. those who persisted in pursuing gu ci, even though she rejected them, were not few in number. eventually, they became good friends with gu ci and qin wan. gu ci¡¯s circle of friends expanded significantly. while she remained independent, qin wan made her a bit more sociable. as she interacted with people from all walks of life, gu ci became a bit more outgoing. zhou jinjin didn¡¯t expect to return from her new year holiday with a web drama in tow. gu ci now had a qin wan by her side, and even best friends could get jealous. gu ci understood this jealousy well. she was someone who needed to be favored, so she empathized with zhou jinjin. after consoling her for several days, qin wan didn¡¯t mind at all and even brought zhou jinjin into their group. they were all high in looks and talents, and they quickly became the most popular girls at a university. gu ziyu asked if gu ci and lu zhiyuan had truly broken up. gu ci spent an afternoon discussing her relationship with lu zhiyuan with gu ziyu and calmly confirmed their breakup. gu ziyu was unwilling to ask lu zhiyuan and received the same answer from him. he had wanted to introduce a boyfriend to his mother, hoping that when outsiders tried to steal his father¡¯s thunder, his parents would stick together and love each other to the death. instead, his parents fell apart. only gu ziyu was left hurt in this world! now, gu ci was genuinely happy. she was a top student, beautiful, and because of her rumored relationship with lu zhiyuan, some girls didn¡¯t particularly like her, but they didn¡¯t go out of their way to trouble her. medical school was already filled with highly educated, emotionally intelligent, and intelligent individuals. gu ci didn¡¯t indulge in gossip, nor did she engage in backbiting. her strong professional abilities naturally led to good relationships with her classmates. the finance department and the national defense information institute, with social butterflies like zhou jinjin and social talents like qin wan, managed to integrate gu ci seamlessly into almost every activity. gradually, gu ci¡¯s smiles became more frequent. after breaking up, gu ziyu noticed how genuinely happy she was. he slowly accepted the fact that he came from a divorced family. occasionally, he would send pictures of gu ci at school to lu zhiyuan. lu zhiyuan never stopped him, and gu ziyu gradually increased the frequency from every three days to once a day. qin wan would also share every detail about gu ci¡¯s life at school with jiang junlin. they both witnessed gu ci¡¯s transformation and were genuinely pleased. they hoped that gu ci would continue to heal and that everything would move in a positive direction. recently, jiang junlin had been busy with matters concerning the dark web underworld. after its exposure, various factions demanded to infiltrate the dark web, and he only had three slots available, with one reserved for national security. the remaining two slots were highly sought after, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie. with only two slots available, it wasn¡¯t enough to go around. so, they asked jiang junlin to open up more positions, even if it meant five more people. however, jiang junlin remained resolute and refused to budge. while he wouldn¡¯t compromise on that, he had no choice but to entertain. after his identity was exposed, his position was still under discussion, and whether or not to grant him a position became the focal point of their discussions. mr. zhang helped him settle many influential figures, reducing the number of social engagements he had to attend. however, it remained a significant issue. chairman gu, who had a good relationship with him, also invited him to dinner and subtly mentioned that many people were trying to get close to him lately to improve their relationships. jiang junlin was swamped, and ji chi sought to discuss the meeting with lu zhiyuan. jiang junlin had never found the time, which surprised ji chi. hualan bank had floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, offering excellent views and ample sunlight. it was the tallest building in the financial district, occupying the entire structure. while there were two technology companies in the building, there were no other prominent companies. however, a closer look at their tax records revealed that these seemingly ordinary companies paid more taxes annually than many fortune 500 multinational corporations. the building lacked hotels or shopping malls. the dining area was on the lower levels, and the elevator layout resembled a maze. after jiang junlin¡¯s identity was exposed, ji chi guessed that this building was also the office space for the dark web underworld. if only hualan bank occupied the building, it couldn¡¯t justify taking up so many floors. he had been inside countless times and never discovered any clues. after jiang junlin¡¯s identity was exposed, lu zhiyuan and ji chi specifically sent people to investigate the companies within this building. they discovered a diverse range of businesses, including some with peculiar names. some floors were brightly lit, leaving the neighboring financial district to marvel at how these employees worked harder than those in the 996 system. no one ever imagined that the dark web office area and hualan bank would share the same building. ji chi understood the situation but had never mentioned it to jiang junlin. recently, their meetings were all held at hualan bank, focusing on official business. hualan bank had some financial dealings with the black hawk organization, and ji chi had always wanted to take over black hawk¡¯s financial business. recently, there had been some leniency in this regard, and ji chi, who was in charge of negotiations, couldn¡¯t avoid meetings, discussions, and conferences, one after another. after the meeting involving black hawk, the china banking regulatory commission, and hualan bank, chairman gu invited both jiang junlin and ji chi to join him for lunch. jiang junlin glanced at ji chi, who had been sweating profusely on his forehead, and shook hands with chairman gu with a smile. ¡°we have another video conference coming up, and we might have to have boxed lunches. let¡¯s meet again once this busy period is over.¡± ¡°sounds good. i¡¯ll take my leave for today,¡± chairman gu replied. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ji chi also stood up and shook hands with jiang junlin before seeing them off. once their subordinates had left the room, jiang junlin poured a glass of water and placed it in front of ji chi. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°my stomach hurts,¡± ji chi replied. jiang junlin was taken aback and blurted out, ¡°you¡¯re so young; how can your stomach hurt?¡± ¡°i¡¯m 22!¡± ji chi retorted, always sensitive to jiang junlin calling him young.. Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Third Master Breaks Up the Couple chapter 388: third master breaks up the couple translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin turned back to fetch some stomach medicine. ¡°aren¡¯t you still young at 22? besides, your 22nd birthday hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± ji chi protested, ¡°but i¡¯m not that young anymore!¡± jiang junlin came back with the medicine and tossed it to him. ¡°take two, then find time to go to the hospital for a check-up.¡± ji chi took the medicine, and jiang junlin called zhang qiang to bring up two servings of food. he specifically ordered a bowl of fish congee. a smile tugged at the corner of ji chi¡¯s lips. it was nice that his brother cared about him. really nice! jiang junlin turned to see him smiling, his two dimples looking cute and delicate. his gaze was gentle and calm, and he couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°what are you thinking that¡¯s making you so happy?¡± ¡°guess!¡± ¡°i won¡¯t guess!¡± jiang junlin had no intention of trying to guess what was making this lunatic so happy. they had originally been discussing their separation, but the atmosphere had become a bit awkward due to the incident with lu zhiyuan. talking about it didn¡¯t seem quite right. after all, business dealings had always been ji chi¡¯s responsibility. not talking about it would leave their emotions hanging, causing interruptions and making things sticky, which was also unacceptable. jiang junlin looked at ji chi¡¯s little dimples. seeing him so happy, he couldn¡¯t bear it. lately, ji chi always seemed to be in a silly and cheerful mood, and he couldn¡¯t figure out why. ¡°brother, when will you find time to meet with third master?¡± ¡°isn¡¯t he still recovering?¡± jiang junlin frowned, glanced at his own schedule, and realized that the day after tomorrow was the weekend. he could take a day off, which would allow them to have a discussion. however, when he looked at ji chi, he hesitated. ¡°let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± although ji chi knew it was unlikely, he still hoped that if third master and his brother reached a deep cooperation, maybe he and jiang junlin wouldn¡¯t¡­ just the thought of this possibility made him feel really good lately. jiang junlin, on the other hand, was more rational. it was impossible for lu zhiyuan to have a deep cooperation with him. if they did cooperate, ji chi in his current position would have no involvement, and the lines between public and private would be blurred. jiang junlin didn¡¯t outright reject the idea, and ji chi¡¯s good mood continued. however, as he slowly realized that as long as he was the heir of black hawk, he and jiang junlin had no future together, and jiang junlin had never mentioned the future, ji chi¡¯s good mood abruptly stopped and he became gloomy and stubborn. jiang junlin shook his head. it was really unpredictable! jiang junlin¡¯s attitude was within lu zhiyuan¡¯s expectations. a strong alliance was the way to go. if it came down to a life-or-death situation where both sides suffered, neither would benefit. ji chi and lu zhiyuan said, ¡°brother, why didn¡¯t you just refuse? you clearly have a hostile relationship.¡± if he had simply refused, he wouldn¡¯t have any lingering thoughts. ¡°if it were before the new year, jiang junlin would definitely have scorned the idea of cooperating with us. he didn¡¯t need our black hawk¡¯s assistance. but after the new year, the situation has changed dramatically. the underworld dark web is like a one-man show. it might seem splendid, but it¡¯s actually extremely difficult to navigate. his identity has become quite awkward. by staying hidden in the shadows, jiang junlin can do whatever he wants with no one to hold him accountable, and he doesn¡¯t need any official position. now, by discussing a legitimate position for him, and after days of negotiations without any agreement, it¡¯s clear that no one wants his identity to be legalized. he¡¯s meant to be the hidden blade. that¡¯s what makes him trustworthy. he¡¯s neutral, seemingly aligning with various factions but having no real allies. mr. zhang helping him resolve this current issue is an exchange of interests. what about the next time? jiang junlin urgently needs an ally.¡± rong li shrugged, ¡°but it shouldn¡¯t be us. we can stab him at any time.¡± lu zhiyuan lifted his chin, ¡°have you asked if he¡¯s willing?¡± rong li looked at ji chi, ¡°his opinion doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ji chi couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer, ¡°i¡¯m the next head of black hawk!¡± ¡°the crown prince hasn¡¯t ascended yet, and you¡¯re already laying out the lineage!¡± ji chi threw a punch, ¡°shut up!¡± lu zhiyuan chuckled lightly, ¡°no need for deep cooperation. 1 don¡¯t need it, and he doesn¡¯t need it either. but in some matters, we can achieve a win-win situation.¡± ¡°so troublesome. just marry into each other¡¯s families!¡± rong li said, annoyed. ¡°marriage ties are the most secure.¡± ¡°1 won¡¯t marry jiang junlin!¡± rong li pointed at ji chi, ¡°what about him?¡± lu zhiyuan said lightly, ¡°that¡¯s not possible either. by the way, when are you breaking up with jiang junlin?¡± ji chi hesitated. rong li mocked, ¡°it¡¯s ji chi¡¯s first time in love, and it¡¯s also his first breakup. young man, you¡¯re like a maiden on her bridal sedan.¡± ¡°how long are you going to drag this out?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. rong li chimed in, ¡°ji chi, you should learn from third master. break up cleanly and decisively. your hesitation makes you look like a young maiden.¡± ji chi remained expressionless, feigning indifference. lu zhiyuan leaned forward, with a sly smile, ¡°i¡¯m afraid he¡¯s in love unilaterally. does jiang junlin recognize it?¡± ji chi was stabbed again, lying down and taking the teasing, conceding defeat. ¡°i¡¯m quite curious about something. what have you been concocting in the kitchen recently, ji chi?¡± lu zhiyuan asked. rong li quickly spilled the beans, ¡°he¡¯s been practicing ¡®buddha jumps over the wall.¡¯ he even hired a chef from a five-star restaurant. 1 don¡¯t know how many ingredients he¡¯s wasted. three uncle, i¡¯ve gained six pounds from eating his culinary experiments.¡± ji chi retorted, ¡°if it¡¯s not tasty, so why did you keep eating it?¡± ¡°you asked me to taste-test your dishes, and with such high-quality ingredients, it¡¯s a shame to waste them. i¡¯ve been learning for half a month, but there¡¯s been little progress. you need to reflect on that!¡± rong li grumbled, ¡°you have a pile of official duties to attend to, yet you¡¯re in the kitchen every day. the crown prince really knows how to enjoy life.¡± ¡°if you don¡¯t stop talking, 1¡¯11 poison you!¡± ¡°hmph!¡± listening to their banter, lu zhiyuan became interested, ¡°is your ¡®buddha jumps over the wall¡¯ really that bad? let me taste it at lunch.¡± rong li clapped his hands, ¡°that¡¯s great, third master. let¡¯s have it together. i can¡¯t endure it alone.¡± ¡°third master, are you sure?¡± ji chi asked. lu zhiyuan nodded, and ji chi snapped his fingers, ¡°i¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s good.¡± ji chi went out to prepare the ingredients. lu zhiyuan asked rong li, ¡°is it really that bad?¡± ¡°exaggeration. it¡¯s not that terrible, but it¡¯s far from delicious.¡± rong li whispered, ¡°i¡¯ve noticed that he¡¯s been quite absent-minded lately, so 1 intentionally gave him a hard time, forcing him to put more effort into cooking and less into wandering thoughts.¡± lu zhiyuan was recovering relatively easily. he only needed to provide directions in official matters. rong li and ji chi reported to him about important events and followed his instructions. he didn¡¯t have to concern himself with other matters. however, during this recovery period, he had lost weight, leaving rong li puzzled. ¡°third master, are you one of those people who lose their appetite after a breakup?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°does it seem like it?¡± ¡°yes!¡± rong li laughed, ¡°i can totally understand your desire to drown your sorrows in comfort food.¡± lu zhiyuan burst into laughter, and the two of them high-fived, displaying great synergy. lu zhiyuan and rong li continued to discuss the details of the financial business transfer for black hawk. rong li said, ¡°i¡¯ve applied for licenses several times recently, but the banking regulatory commission keeps rejecting them, citing various reasons. someone must be causing trouble behind the scenes.¡± black hawk had branches in asia and conducted business in city a. however, their license wasn¡¯t a standalone one. it was obtained when black hawk acquired a financial company, and the license had not expired yet. they had been trying to apply for a license specifically for black hawk¡¯s asset management business, but jiang junlin had prevented it last year. the former asia ceo of black hawk didn¡¯t take it seriously and thought they could apply later, but after the new year, the rules had changed, making the application process much more difficult.. Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Little Wolf Cub Was Tricked chapter 389: little wolf cub was tricked translator: dragon boat translation editor: dragon boat translation jiang junlin has expressed his intention to negotiate with them. this little matter shouldn¡¯t be a hindrance; there might be someone else involved. lu zhiyuan said, ¡°we have an international financial asset license. this matter isn¡¯t important, it¡¯s just a small opportunity. if they want to obstruct even such a minor matter, they must be impatient. rest assured, 1¡¯11 handle this.¡± rong li nodded. he was gradually taking over the responsibilities and connections of the asia department¡¯s president. lately, he had been socializing with lu zhiyuan. with the asia department president being transferred to europe, there had been some changes in their positions. rong li was slowly becoming familiar with the rules in china. ¡°the financial transactions in china are different from overseas business. you¡¯re becoming more familiar with it. we are regulated here, while abroad, capital rules. information must flow freely. cultivate the connections of the asia department¡¯s president well. in business, a good temper brings good fortune. you should control your temper. a nobody can ruin your years of hard work.¡± ¡°my temper is quite explosive; both of you keep reminding me,¡± rong li said. ¡°ji chi also said the same.¡± ¡°so, you should reflect on that,¡± lu zhiyuan said with a smile. rong li clicked his tongue and said, ¡°what i can¡¯t stand the most is socializing, a group of old men calling for a bunch of young ladies to accompany them, and you can¡¯t even refuse to drink.¡± ¡°learn from ji chi. he¡¯s versatile and can adapt. in three days, he handled them all. when you stand firmly, you won¡¯t have to attend social gatherings you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°understood!¡± ji chi had been busy for a few hours and managed to prepare a pot of buddha jumps over the wall. lu zhiyuan and rong li were quite hungry by the time they finally sat down to eat. it was two hours later than their usual mealtime. ¡°it looks good!¡± lu zhiyuan smelled the fragrance; the ingredients were high-end, and it looked appealing. the broth was thick, and at least visually, it seemed to have all the necessary flavors. ¡°delicious!¡± rong li also gave a thumbs up. in his heart, he thought, third master, even someone like me who isn¡¯t picky finds it just average. ji chi excitedly said, ¡°i improved the recipe today. it should be tasty.¡± ¡°confident!¡± rong li gave a thumbs up once again. ¡°very good!¡± lu zhiyuan picked up a piece of abalone and took a bite. his eyebrows twitched; the abalone had been stewed for too long and lacked freshness. moreover¡­ lu zhiyuan looked at the pot of buddha jumps over the wall in confusion, ¡°why is there no scallion, ginger, or garlic?¡± no wonder it tastes so fishy! ¡°you stewed seafood without scallion, ginger, or garlic, so it lacks aroma, and the fishy smell is strong.¡± ¡°i forgot!¡± ji chi slapped his head. ¡°big brother doesn¡¯t eat scallion, ginger, or garlic, and third master and rong li don¡¯t have dietary restrictions.¡± rong li said, ¡°your stew is a bit¡­¡± before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a footstep from lu zhiyuan. ¡°it¡¯s quite delicious. the abalone was stewed for too short a time; it should be stewed for another half an hour. the pig¡¯s trotters are too soft; stew them for half an hour less. everything else¡­ is fine, the texture is good.¡± rong li hesitated, feeling quite irritable. third master, why is my taste so different from yours? have you been ill for a long time, making your taste different from us ordinary folks? ji chi¡¯s buddha jumps over the wall is so fishy! the pig¡¯s trotters are never tender, and the abalone is always too tough. ¡°really?¡± lu zhiyuan nodded. ¡°when have i ever lied to you?¡± rong li thought to himself, third master, haven¡¯t you lied to him quite a few times? ¡°third master, then have some more!¡± ji chi looked pleased as he glanced at rong li. ¡°you¡¯re like a wild boar that can¡¯t appreciate fine grains. third master seems to appreciate my dishes a lot.¡± rong li looked at him with a half-smile. ¡°you¡¯re amazing!¡± while ji chi went to serve another dish, rong li asked, ¡°third master, has your taste buds deteriorated? is this thing really delicious?¡± ¡°do you think he¡¯s cooking for us?¡± rong li realized, ¡°i was too hasty!¡± some of the ingredients were not cooked properly, and the soup had a slightly strong fishy smell. if you overlooked these flaws, the taste was still passable. in their hearts, they gave it a four-word evaluation: ¡°a culinary disaster!¡± however, they both showed appreciation and ate most of it, embodying the idea that ji chi could consider this dish mastered. rong li expressed some irritation, saying, ¡°jiang junlin always acts aloof with him, but he still likes to tease him. he really has no backbone. it¡¯s said that powerful figures either like eighteen-year-old girls or tender young boys. why shouldn¡¯t jiang junlin?¡± ¡°where did you come up with that perspective? tell me more.¡± ¡°recently, at these social gatherings, all the companions are young girls and boys.¡± lu zhiyuan thought to himself, corrupted by the current trend. ¡°let¡¯s attend fewer of these gatherings in the future.¡± rong li raised an eyebrow, puzzled. third master, you¡¯ve always refused to attend social events, and now if 1 stop going, it will all fall on ji chi. can he handle it? at a university, gu ci accompanied dr. north to attend a medical symposium held on campus. professors could bring one or two disciples, and dr. north brought gu ci. most of the professors brought their doctoral students. gu ci shared her clinical insights at the conference, and the scholarly atmosphere invigorated her. dr. north, using her connections, arranged for her to observe live surgeries. after the surgeries, he asked gu ci to prepare reports and assigned her some complex medical cases to study. the contents of textbooks were no longer sufficient for gu ci, and she immersed herself in her studies, progressing a year ahead of her peers. qin wan, a bit envious, remarked, ¡°dr. north is treating you quite well, always taking you with her.¡± ¡°i¡¯m studying medicine, and i¡¯m jiang junlin¡¯s sister. if she doesn¡¯t take me, who will?¡± ¡°that¡¯s true!¡± after they found zhou jinjin and went to the cafeteria together, they unexpectedly ran into gu chuyun and her group of friends on the way. gu chuyun had become very popular recently, with a high online presence. she portrayed the character of a fallen rich girl who was making a comeback, and it was really attracting a lot of fans. she and zhou jinjin shared a similar image. zhou jinjin grumbled, ¡°her manager is really smart, creating this character for her. the recent press releases are all about her dedication, getting up at 6 am, working until 3 in the morning, and being extremely polite and humble, a complete transformation from her past self. surprisingly, netizens are buying into it, sympathizing with this fallen heiress, helping her top the charts and gain popularity. i share a similar image with her, and she¡¯s more talented in music. it¡¯s infuriating! does a prodigal son turned successful character really attract fans like this?¡± qin wan said, ¡°if she were a guy, her character would be even more popular. she¡¯s changed her appearance significantly, and she¡¯s quite humble now.¡± ¡°do you know her?¡± read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only ¡°i saw her a few times at a mixer when 1 first arrived on campus. we¡¯re not acquainted,¡± qin wan replied. ¡°i heard about her reputation as the music department¡¯s beauty. our school doesn¡¯t have a performance department, which would suit her better.¡± zhou jinjin asked, ¡°are you insulting her?¡± ¡°what else could it be?¡± zhou jinjin felt a bit better about herself. gu ci chuckled and said, ¡°why compare yourself to her? her popularity won¡¯t last long..¡± Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Beautifully Done Chapter 390: Beautifully Done Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. Female celebrities have a long shelf life, and once they become famous, they can stay in the limelight for a decade or more. 1 heard a director say that she has a ¡®talented woman¡¯ image, majoring in music at A University. Just marketing this aspect alone can outshine many illiterate people. Although her music skills may not be on par with yours, she has solidly studied it for over a decade. Her acting is decent, which is enough for now. She¡¯s only nineteen years old, and her future looks promising.¡± Gu Ci smiled but didn¡¯t respond. While they were talking, Zhou Jinjin¡¯s agent called. Since she was near the school, she went to meet a director. After saying goodbye to Gu Ci and Qin Wan, she left. Gu Chuyun also noticed Gu Ci and politely greeted her, ¡°Sister, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Polite and gentle, presenting herself as a considerate and obedient younger sister. Gu Ci lightly chuckled and said, ¡°We¡¯re not very close.¡± Gu Chuyun lowered her head in embarrassment, her eyes turning red. One of Gu Chuyun¡¯s classmates protested, ¡°Gu Ci, Chuyun greeted you with good intentions. You¡¯re being too cold.¡± Qin Wan sneered, ¡°Is Gu Chuyun mute? If she feels wronged, she can speak up herself. Do you think she¡¯ll share her food with you or let you speak on her behalf? Mind your own business.¡± The classmate was furious, ¡°Qin Wan, don¡¯t push it too far. We¡¯re talking to Gu Ci, not you!¡± ¡°Did Gu Ci offend you?¡± Qin Wan frowned. ¡°If you can¡¯t even understand this logic, I¡¯m starting to doubt if someone else took your college entrance exam for you.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The classmate turned pale, her eyes red from anger. Gu Chuyun hurriedly intervened, ¡°Let it go. If my sister doesn¡¯t want to talk to me, it¡¯s my fault. Let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Ci chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, I don¡¯t want to talk to you. So, the farther you stay away from me, the better. Understand?¡± Gu Chuyun hesitated. Her friend was still indignant and wanted to argue, but Gu Chuyun pulled her away. Gu Ci was indeed in a high position now, and Gu Chuyun regretted her weakness. She should have been more obedient and avoided Gu Ci as much as possible to prevent people from digging into her true identity. She had always deliberately avoided Gu Ci. Whenever Gu Ci went to the cafeteria, she didn¡¯t go. When Gu Ci joined clubs, she stayed away. She tried her best to minimize encounters with Gu Ci to avoid people questioning her true status as a rich heiress. But today, she couldn¡¯t hold back. Why should she always have to avoid Gu Ci? Why? Gu Chuyun thought to herself. Someday, she would walk confidently in front of Gu Ci, and no one would dare to bully her. She would reclaim what she had lost. Now, she had succeeded a little. Life was worry-free, financially comfortable, and although she had family baggage, her future still looked bright. She aimed to become a top female celebrity and plan for a better future using her strengths. In a city like A, with so many prestigious families, it wasn¡¯t just the Lus and the Jiangs. Gu Chuyun had always been proud, and in her competition with Gu Ci, she was determined to win. After Gu Ci graduated, her best prospects were becoming a doctor. But for Gu Chuyun, it was different. She could bask in the love and applause of countless fans, and in the future, she would also enter the realm of art. She would work hard for it. ¡°I will succeed!¡± Gu Chuyun told herself repeatedly. A brief fall to the bottom meant nothing. She would climb back up and become a woman even more dazzling than Gu Ci. Qin Wan understood some of their grievances, ¡°Are people in the entertainment industry so forgetful? She and your conflict made such a big splash, and now it¡¯s all forgotten. She¡¯s even gaining more fans. I don¡¯t understand.¡± Gu Ci whispered, ¡°She didn¡¯t break any laws, she didn¡¯t do drugs, and she didn¡¯t cheat on anyone. The whole thing with Lu Shijie was marketed as a case of a young and naive girl being deceived. Or it was seen as an arranged marriage by her family, which could earn her a lot of sympathy. As for taking over my identity, that was her mother¡¯s mistake. She did benefit from it, but now that I¡¯ve become the major shareholder of Hualan Bank and frequently collaborate with Zhou Lichang, the most important thing is that I¡¯m also at A University. Netizens might wonder what I¡¯ve lost. If I continue to make a fuss, people will think I¡¯m narrow-minded and don¡¯t understand how to repay the kindness of upbringing. Who hasn¡¯t been disciplined by their parents when growing up? True or false heiress arouses sympathy and anger. It¡¯s about one person living in luxury while the other struggles in the dust. Otherwise, how could they earn cheap sympathy from others?¡± Qin Wan shrugged, ¡°So, you have to lose a limb or become illiterate to gain sympathy?¡± ¡°Something like that!¡± Both of them laughed and stood in line for food. They found a quiet corner to eat. While gnawing on spare ribs, Qin Wan asked, ¡°Are you just going to watch her rise to fame, or¡­ in the dead of night, should 1 give her a beating?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Gu Ci chuckled, ¡°I have my own plans.¡± After school, Gu Ziyu was held up with experiments, so Gu Ci and Qin Wan went to Gu Chuyun¡¯s house. Since their bankruptcy, they had moved. Gu Wenliang¡¯s bankruptcy didn¡¯t affect Gu Chuyun. Gu Ci¡¯s early stock dividends were in her hands, and she had bought many houses, none of which were seized. Yet they still lived in an old and dilapidated neighborhood. Gu Chuyun had used this environment to market herself as a fallen heiress. She never lived there herself, using the excuse of being a star to live separately. Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, and Gu Yaozu lived in this place. Gu Yaozu had originally worked in the Gu family¡¯s conglomerate, but now he had taken up a clerical job. It wasn¡¯t very high or low, but his attitude remained arrogant, and he didn¡¯t learn his lesson. He spent his days hanging out with friends at bars and flirting with girls. In just three months, he had already changed jobs four times. Gu Wenliang and Lu Man were both unemployed, relying entirely on Gu Chuyun for support. Gu Wenliang had a gambling problem, and the casino was conveniently located not far from their neighborhood. When he lost, he would ask Gu Chuyun for money. She had tried everything to persuade him to quit gambling, but it was all in vain. Just this month, Gu Wenliang had lost a million. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Maybe that casino is rigged, did they cheat him?¡± Qin Wan asked. They had seen Gu Wenliang go in, and Gu Ci had called the police to report it, saying, ¡°Hello, I want to report a gathering of people gambling.¡± Qin Wan replied, ¡°Impressive!¡± She appreciated this act of righteousness. Qin Wan continued, ¡°Find some entertainment reporters to expose her. Doesn¡¯t Gu Chuyun like to portray herself as a rebellious rich girl character aiming for a comeback? Let¡¯s give her what she wants. With her family in chaos, her parents living in an old shabby place while she resides in a villa area, it¡¯ll create excellent publicity.¡± ¡°Great idea!¡± Gu Ci asked Zhou Lichang if he knew any familiar entertainment reporters. After he understood the situation, he provided them with contact information. Qin Wan got in touch with them, and the reporters arrived faster than the police. They waited nearby for the news. Qin Wan also gave them the addresses of Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, and Gu Yaozu¡¯s homes and leaked some new information. Once it was confirmed that Gu Wenliang had been arrested, Gu Ci and Qin Wan left.. Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Are You Crazy? Chapter 391: Are You Crazy? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In the evening, it indeed became a hot topic. Entertainment reporters truly live up to their reputation. The news was vividly written, filled with rumors and juicy gossip. While Gu Chuyun resided in a small villa by herself, her parents and brother lived in an old, run-down house. They actually wanted to claim that Gu Chuyun was renting it, but the Housing Bureau quickly exposed the truth. Gu Chuyun owns several villas, all of which are up for rent. She purchased these properties a few years before the Gu family¡¯s bankruptcy and has been renting them out ever since. Talk about a fallen heiress making a comeback! Who else has a billion-dollar real estate portfolio? ¡°Fallen heiress, I¡¯m laughing so hard! Fans of the heiress, how much is your monthly salary? Can you afford even one of your lady¡¯s villas?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been saying that Gu Chuyun was bound to have a downfall. What¡¯s wrong with marketing? Does the internet have no memory? She¡¯s getting a taste of her own medicine now.¡± ¡°A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Gu Chuyun, you¡¯re so wealthy, why pretend to be poor? Her fans are truly pitiful, showing empathy for a capitalist. Hilarious.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Gu Wenliang owe a huge sum of money? Why aren¡¯t Gu Chuyun¡¯s properties being seized?¡± ¡°Before the bankruptcy, maybe he transferred all the assets to Gu Chuyun.¡± ¡°Poor creditors, it seems the debtor is quite the big shot!¡± ¡°Gu Chuyun¡¯s life isn¡¯t pitiful at all, is it? She enjoyed a life of luxury for eighteen years, the apple of her parents¡¯ eye, influential and powerful. Even if she¡¯s bankrupt now, she can be a landlady and support a small company with the rent. She doesn¡¯t need a comeback; isn¡¯t lying low just fine?¡± The focus on Gu Chuyun¡¯s property was more captivating than Gu Wenliang¡¯s gambling escapades. Gu Ci and Qin Wan were drinking tea in the courtyard, casually browsing through the gossip. Qin Wan remarked, ¡°The popularity just won¡¯t go up.¡± ¡°They must be spending money on public relations,¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll let them spend their money in vain!¡± Qin Wan grabbed the computer, blocking out the platform¡¯s watered-down data and leaving only the real metrics. Some of the data was directly tampered with by the platform¡¯s programmers, but Qin Wan quickly corrected it. The platform¡¯s programmers were no amateurs, so they reverted the changes promptly. Qin Wan, in response, continued to correct it. The result was a fluctuating popularity: it would suddenly shoot up to first place, then drop to thirtieth place a few minutes later, even though there were no significant new developments. It would then miraculously return to the top spot. Qin Wan became irritable. ¡°Forcing me to pull out all the stops, and where is Ziyu when I need him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s asleep!¡± Gu Ci looked up at the second floor, where the lights had been turned off early. ¡°He¡¯s such a night owl, and he¡¯s already asleep at this hour. It¡¯s not even ten o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been busy lately and quite exhausted. Little kids should go to bed early.¡± As Qin Wan grumbled, Gu Chuyun¡¯s trending topic remained firmly in first place, never dropping, even when a top-tier celebrity couple was exposed at 10 o¡¯clock. Her scandalous topic still comfortably occupied the top three. ¡°Interesting, money can indeed move mountains,¡± Qin Wan commented as she manipulated the data, which also cost money. Even the news of a top-tier celebrity couple dating couldn¡¯t dethrone her. ¡°It must be the mastermind behind this, and he has a history.¡± ¡°Brother takes care of so many things. How could he do something like this?¡± ¡°He did something similar to Gu Chuyun before, didn¡¯t you know?¡± Qin Wan said. ¡°He shamelessly exposed a lot of celebrities¡¯ news too.¡± Gu Ci chuckled, ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Who else?¡± Qin Wan¡¯s words warmed Gu Ci¡¯s heart. She knew that this wasn¡¯t the work of Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin was too busy to follow news and gossip. As for Lu Zhiyuan, he was recovering from an injury and had just finished a meeting with the Black Hawk Nine Corporation¡¯s CEO. He idly glanced at the news and saw the trending topic about Gu Chuyun. The topic fluctuated up and down, and he pinpointed Qin Wan¡¯s location at the Blue Fields Villa, so he guessed it was Gu Ci. If technical prowess could be defeated by money, it wouldn¡¯t be Gu Ziyu. So, he decided to lend a hand. ¡°Gu Chuyun still hasn¡¯t disappeared!¡± Lu Zhiyuan sneered. After regaining his memory, he had been dealing with a series of major events and didn¡¯t have time to handle Gu Chuyun. In this lifetime, she wouldn¡¯t pose a threat to Gu Ci either. But when he thought about Gu Chuyun¡¯s mindset of destroying things in his name if she couldn¡¯t have him, causing harm to Gu Ci and Ziyu, he didn¡¯t want to let her off so easily. She was living such a comfortable life now, but she would have to pay back tenfold for the suffering Gu Ci endured in his previous life. This incident with Gu Chuyun had a significant impact. Her manager, Yu Fei, was furious. ¡°You still have so much property, and you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think anyone would investigate. It must be Gu Ci. I saw her on campus today, and I¡¯ve been avoiding her. Why won¡¯t she leave me alone?¡± Gu Chuyun lost her composure, throwing things and shedding tears. The popularity she had worked so hard to build up had been undermined by this incident. Gu Ci was like her nemesis, and as long as she was around, she couldn¡¯t have a good life. ¡°The mistake in this matter isn¡¯t that someone dug up your scandal. It¡¯s that you didn¡¯t honestly admit it. If you had confessed early on, I wouldn¡¯t have let you market yourself as the heiress making a comeback. Even if we did market it, we would have found a way to navigate it. Now, you¡¯re being mocked by the masses, and it¡¯s a total disaster. Why are you so foolish?¡± Yu Fei scolded her. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to turn out like this. I thought it was a minor issue,¡± Gu Chuyun cried. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Yu Fei was genuinely angry. He was a top-notch talent manager, specializing in creating stars. He had brought top-tier celebrities to fame and cultivated numerous rising stars. When he was first asked to manage Gu Chuyun, he wasn¡¯t willing. He had heard some rumors about this young lady¡¯s reputation, and she had a severe case of ¡°celebrity disease.¡± However, the conditions offered were too generous, and she was quite assertive. Yu Fei reluctantly agreed. Fortunately, Gu Chuyun was aware of her situation and had improved her temper. She was obedient in public, and her foundation was solid. She had genuine musical talent, even though she wasn¡¯t a prodigy. Marketing her as a musical talent was no problem, especially since she was from A University¡¯s music department. With a strong hand of cards, there was no way it would fail. Gu Chuyun¡¯s rise was indeed swift, and her reputation had turned around. However, who could have predicted such an incident? Yu Fei liked artists who were obedient; being a bit foolish wasn¡¯t an issue. As long as they were cooperative and didn¡¯t cause trouble. But Gu Chuyun had truly disappointed him. ¡°You should release a statement, stating that after your father¡¯s bankruptcy, all your assets were mortgaged to the creditors, and your current efforts to earn money are solely to repay those debts,¡± Yu Fei suggested. Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then 1 can bite back at Gu Ci. Among the three siblings, the debt distribution between me and my brother is terribly unfair. Gu Ci is also a child, and she ignores our father¡¯s life and death, forgetting the favor of upbringing. Since she won¡¯t let me off, 1 won¡¯t let her off either!¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Yu Fei frowned. ¡°Gu Ci is not part of the entertainment industry. What¡¯s the benefit of marketing her? Besides, she¡¯s Jiang Juniin¡¯s sister. Are you trying to drag us all down together? Can you afford to offend Jiang Junlin? She¡¯s also in a relationship with Lu Zhiyuan. Between Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan, which one can you afford to offend? How did you become so foolish?¡± Gu Chuyun roared in frustration, ¡°Am 1 supposed to let her bully me without fighting back?¡± Chapter 392 - Chapter 392:i Don’t Want to See You Chapter 392:i Don¡¯t Want to See You Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Otherwise, what qualifications do you have to contend with her?¡± Yu Fei sneered, ¡°If you had cultivated even a bit of sibling affection with Jiang Junlin over the years, you wouldn¡¯t be in such a passive situation.¡± Gu Chuyun cried in despair. Due to their disparate statuses, she couldn¡¯t retaliate against anything Gu Ci did. ¡°Furthermore, Gu Chuyun, if you conduct yourself with dignity and integrity, no one can bully you,¡± Yu Fei sighed, ¡°Release a statement. As for what to do next, let me think about it.¡± Gu Ci watched as Gu Chuyun posted a lukewarm statement. The villa was already mortgaged to the creditor and hadn¡¯t been transferred yet, so it was no longer her property. Netizens were skeptical, but her fans blindly defended her. Gu Ci had arranged two endorsements for Gu Chuyun behind her back. Gu Chuyun had no idea. She called them and had them release statements, terminating their cooperation with Gu Chuyun. A little scandal was fine as long as endorsements and acting roles were still intact. However, if the endorsements were lost and her commercial value diminished, that would be a big problem. Yu Fei took Gu Chuyun to meet with the representatives that night, but they avoided them and insisted on terminating their contract with Gu Chuyun. Gu Ci hadn¡¯t expected Gu Chuyun to have the audacity to come to the Blue Fields Villa. On Saturday, she and Qin Wan had invited a group of classmates to play basketball on the villa¡¯s court and have a barbecue at her place afterward. Early in the morning, Gu Chuyun appeared at the gate. Qin Wan was the first to spot her. ¡°Gu Chuyun? We didn¡¯t invite you, did we?¡± ¡°I want to see Gu Ci. Where is she?¡± Gu Chuyun had a sleepless night, her eyes were red and swollen, and she was in terrible shape. Qin Wan was even afraid she might pull out a knife and attack Gu Ci. Gu Ci came downstairs, wearing a sports outfit with her hair tied in a ponytail. She had been in high spirits lately, looking cheerful and in great shape, radiant like a peach blossom, exuding the vitality that an eighteen-year-old girl should have. Jealousy distorted Gu Chuyun¡¯s face. Gu Ci said, ¡°Qin Wan, you go to the court first. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± Qin Wan felt a bit uneasy, but Gu Ci smiled lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± After Qin Wan went to the basketball court, Gu Ci invited Gu Chuyun to the garden, which was filled with flowers. Winter had fewer blooms, but the camellias were in full splendor. Gu Ci poured her a cup of tea and asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Were you the one who exposed my properties? I¡¯ve thought about it, and only you would do something like this. Although my brother knew about the house, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with me. I merely greeted you on campus, and you want to destroy me?¡± Gu Chuyun said in a desperate tone. ¡°Do you think I shouldn¡¯t have exposed you, Gu Chuyun? These houses were bought with my money, right?¡± Gu Ci chuckled and said, ¡°Even after the exposure, the houses are still yours. No one is taking them from you. Selling just one of these houses is enough to set you up for life. 99% of A University graduates can¡¯t make a billion in their entire lives. You can still live a life like a young lady, free from worries. What are you complaining about?¡± ¡°My father is drowning in debt, and the family¡¯s properties have been seized and auctioned off by the court. It¡¯s still not enough. If those creditors find out 1 still have properties, will they spare me? Gu Ci, after the trouble with the Gu family, I¡¯ve been carrying it all alone. My dad has a gambling problem, my brother is a failure, my mom is sick, and I¡¯m the only one holding everything together. Even if I had conflicts with you when we were younger, does that deserve a death sentence?¡± Gu Chuyun cried pitifully. ¡°I was young and immature, afraid my true identity would be exposed, so I targeted you everywhere. Although my parents didn¡¯t like you, they still raised you. They didn¡¯t mistreat you. Why can¡¯t you forgive us?¡± ¡°They are your father, your mother, your brother, never mine,¡± Gu Ci said coldly. ¡°Gu Chuyun, from childhood to adulthood, you always liked taking what belonged to me. 1 didn¡¯t bother with that, but what about the incident with me and Lu Shijie? Do you want to brush it off as youthful ignorance?¡± ¡°You¡¯re here just fine, Lu Shijie is dead, and the Gu family is bankrupt. Haven¡¯t we all faced the consequences? Are you still not satisfied?¡± Gu Chuyun furrowed her brow. ¡°I avoided you at school, and you can choose not to support our dad, not acknowledge us. Even when we were in dire straits and surrounded by creditors, we didn¡¯t come to you. Why can¡¯t you let us go?¡± Gu Ci looked at the pitiful yet hateful expression on Gu Chuyun¡¯s face and remembered her own past life. When she had just given birth to Gu Ziyu and was with Lu Zhiyuan, she had kneeled and begged Gu Chuyun to spare the child. Gu Chuyun had almost dropped Ziyu to his death. Ziyu couldn¡¯t even have the same surname as Lu Zhiyuan. Those memories of Gu Chuyun tormenting her and Ziyu in their past life were vivid in her mind. These things would never happen in this lifetime. Gu Chuyun was right. Based on these events alone, she didn¡¯t deserve to die. But what about her in the previous life? What wrong had she done? Did she and Ziyu deserve to die? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Who would seek justice for her and Ziyu from their past selves? ¡°Gu Chuyun, if I had known this would happen, why did you do it back then? On the day you got engaged to Lu Shijie, if I hadn¡¯t woken up, do you know what would have happened? Let me tell you, I would have stabbed Lu Shijie, then he would have accused me of deliberately seducing him and attempted murder. I would have been sentenced and gone to prison. Lu Zhiyuan has liked me since childhood; he was your Prince Charming. How could you tolerate that? What would you have done to me? Defenseless in prison, you would have wanted to destroy me. I would have been trampled in the mud by you for the rest of my life. Gu Chuyun, if it were just minor conflicts, unpleasant interactions from our childhood, I wouldn¡¯t hate you. At most, we wouldn¡¯t have interacted as we got older,¡± Gu Ci said bitterly, ¡°But you absolutely should not have, under any circumstances, conspired with Lu Shijie to frame me. From that moment on, I would never forgive you!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t fair. These things never happened. How can you blame me?¡± Gu Chuyun wiped away her tears. ¡°Gu Ci, what do you want in order to let us go?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you anywhere,¡± Gu Ci said flatly. Gu Chuyun couldn¡¯t accept that. She collapsed and said, ¡°I¡¯m a celebrity. I¡¯ll definitely be in the public eye. This isn¡¯t fair at all, Gu Ci. You have power and influence now. Are you just going to trample all over my life like this?¡± ¡°This is what you did in the past!¡± Gu Ci sneered. ¡°Until now, I haven¡¯t even received a sincere apology from you.¡± Gu Chuyun, flexible when necessary, got up and knelt in front of Gu Ci. ¡°Sister, please, spare me. I promise to follow the rules, be a better person, and take care of our dad. I won¡¯t let him trouble you. I¡¯ll handle the family¡¯s debts as well. You can continue to be your father¡¯s favored daughter. I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have let greed blind me and conspire against you and Lu Shijie. 1 was wrong. Please forgive me. If I ever do anything to hurt you again, may lightning strike me down, and I¡¯ll deserve a wretched death.. You can do whatever you want to me at that time, alright?¡± Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Father and Son’s Thoughts Chapter 393: Father and Son¡¯s Thoughts Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°It¡¯s a sincere apology just because you¡¯re kneeling?¡± Gu Ci chuckled, also kneeling before her. Gu Chuyun was startled, but Gu Ci¡¯s smile sent shivers down her spine. ¡°Look, it¡¯s just a simple act of kneeling. What¡¯s so remarkable about it? Why should 1 forgive you?¡± Gu Chuyun was scared and kept backing away, looking disheveled. Gu Ci stood up, calmly smiling. ¡°Gu Chuyun, think carefully about what a sincere apology means.¡± ¡°Do you want me to die?¡± ¡°If you want to die, I won¡¯t stop you, but please die somewhere far away and don¡¯t dirty my floor,¡± Gu Ci said in an extremely cold tone. Gu Chuyun left in a daze, and Gu Ci sat in the garden, clutching her chest, struggling to breathe. Every time she saw Gu Chuyun, it reminded her of some unpleasant memories. She needed to forget! To forget these agonizing memories. Gu Chuyun was right; she had no recollection of her actions. In her eyes, she might indeed be deserving of death. In Gu Ci¡¯s heart, it was difficult to let go of the shadow that Gu Chuyun had cast on her. But she had to forget. If she couldn¡¯t let go of those memories, she would be trapped in Gu Chuyun¡¯s shadow for the rest of her life. ¡°Cici, come play basketball!¡± Qin Wan called her from the court. With a smile, Gu Ci walked towards the basketball court. The sun was shining brightly, and youth was at its peak. She and Ziyu both had a bright future ahead of them. Upstairs, Gu Ziyu watched the conversation between Gu Ci and Gu Chuyun. He hated Gu Chuyun even more than Gu Ci did. However, Gu Chuyun had died at his hands, and the satisfaction of avenging his enemy was still vivid in his memory. Despite the tragedies that had yet to unfold in this lifetime, Gu Chuyun couldn¡¯t harm him anymore. However, it was different for his mother. Back then, at the mere sight of Gu Chuyun, he would feel fear and trembling, just like how Gu Ci would experience a shiver when encountering Dr. North. These were all inner shadows. However, now, his heart was calm. Ever since he had exacted his revenge, Gu Chuyun posed no threat to him anymore. But his mother was different! His mother needed to slowly break free from the shadow of Gu Chuyun. After washing up, Gu Ziyu went to the basketball court to sketch. He had three Chinese painting and sketching classes per week as extracurricular activities, and he was doing quite well. He turned the scene of Gu Ci playing basketball into a group portrait and sent it to Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan: Not lifelike enough. Gu Ziyu: Did I ask for your critique? I wanted you to take a look at Mom, to ease your longing! Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t reply for a while, so Gu Ziyu sent a question mark. Still no response from Lu Zhiyuan. An annoyed Gu Ziyu decided to ignore him and continued painting. After a short while, his phone vibrated, and Lu Zhiyuan sent a modified version of the painting. It was based on Gu Ziyu¡¯s drawing, and cleverly, he had also modified Gu Ci. It was truly lifelike and much more realistic than what Gu Ziyu, a beginner, had drawn. Gu Ziyu thought Lu Zhiyuan was even better than his Chinese painting teacher, although he didn¡¯t fully understand it. The lifelike portrayal of the characters was truly impressive. Gu Ziyu: You can actually paint? Lu Zhiyuan: 1 can paint in any style¡ªChinese painting, sketching, oil painting, you name it. Gu Ziyu: I don¡¯t believe it! His dad was a racing driver, and training took up most of his time. It was said that he played the violin even better than his mom. Gu Ziyu suspected that Gu Ci had some kind of filter to make her look better. His mom had real talent with the violin, and everyone praised her. There was no way his dad could be better than her. Lu Zhiyuan sent another sketch of Gu Ci, a landscape sketch, and an oil painting. Gu Ziyu was shocked: You did all of these? Lu Zhiyuan: I¡¯m showing my skills. Gu Ziyu asked again to confirm: Are you sure you didn¡¯t have someone else do them for you? Lu Zhiyuan: Son, don¡¯t let the generation gap between us become a barrier to communication. Gu Ziyu:¡­ Gu Ziyu fell into deep thought. If his dad had such high skills, why did he still pay for art lessons? Gu Ziyu: Then why do you take me out to eat, play basketball, and go racing on weekends? Lu Zhiyuan respected Gu Ziyu a lot: What would you like to do? Gu Ziyu: 1 want to learn how to paint. What else can you do? Lu Zhiyuan: A bit of this and that. Gu Ziyu: You¡¯re not an athlete. How do you have so much time to learn extracurricular knowledge? Lu Zhiyuan: It¡¯s a talent! Gu Ziyu: Hah! Lu Zhiyuan sent a subtle smiling emoji to Gu Ziyu. Gu Ziyu: Do you know this emoji is insulting? Lu Zhiyuan quickly replaced it with a different one. Gu Ziyu: ? During halftime, Gu Ziyu came over to drink water. He put down his phone and proudly showed Gu Ci his paintings. ¡°Mom, how do you like my paintings?¡± Gu Ci sat beside Gu Ziyu, sipping water and admiring his artwork. Gu Ziyu had drawn eight people, all of their classmates from the basketball game today. He had only been learning to paint for a few months and wasn¡¯t that skilled yet, but Gu Ci always encouraged him. ¡°You did a good job. You¡¯ve made Mom look really beautiful.¡± Gu Ziyu beamed with joy, loving this kind of compliment that came with a filter. ¡°Of course, Mom is the most beautiful woman in the world in my eyes.¡± Gu Ci laughed heartily and gave him a kiss. After playing basketball, they had a barbecue in their garden together. It was the first time Gu Ci had invited friends over to her house, and she generously showed them around. They had all the barbecue equipment and ingredients ready. Their classmates brought along some drinks, fruits, and more. The courtyard quickly became lively, and Gu Ziyu brought out a speaker. When young people got together, it was all about singing, dancing, barbecuing, and having a great time. Gu Ziyu even sang a popular internet song, although his pitch was off, and he sounded quite young. Everyone couldn¡¯t stop laughing. Gu Chuyun had stayed nearby, watching the lively party at Gu Ci¡¯s house. Jealousy gnawed at her heart, tearing at her soul and body. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the past. She had been the center of attention, and Gu Ci had lived in the shadow. No one in the family noticed Gu Ci. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Even Gu Ci¡¯s academic performance was lackluster. While Gu Ziyao and Gu Yaozu were learning various extracurricular activities like horseback riding, swimming, and music, Gu Ci was confined to the house. When the Gu family held banquets, they would lock Gu Ci away, not allowing her to come out. She had no presence in the Gu family at all. In reality, she should have been the beloved young lady of the family. If their true identities hadn¡¯t been revealed, everything would be different. Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t have undergone such a drastic transformation. If Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t protect her, relying on Grandma¡¯s favoritism alone, Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t be so happy. She had a strong hand to play, and everything should have been hers. Everything should have been hers. Gu Chuyun was unwilling, but she also knew that Yu Fei was right. She couldn¡¯t provoke the likes of Lu Zhiyuan, Jiang Junlin, and the Gu family¡¯s power and status. Unless she found someone even more formidable, someone who wasn¡¯t afraid of their power and status and could protect her thoroughly, otherwise, she would be trampled by Gu Ci for her whole life. Yu Fei called Gu Chuyun. ¡°Gu Chuyun, Master Chen wants to meet you. Where are you? I¡¯ll pick you up..¡± Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Let’s Celebrate Our Birthday Together Chapter 394: Let¡¯s Celebrate Our Birthday Together Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In Gu Chuyun¡¯s eyes, there was a sudden glimmer of hope. Chen Yang¡­ The talent agency she had recently signed with seemed to have no connection to Chen Yang on the surface. However, the web series that brought her fame was produced with Chen Yang¡¯s investment, and he personally requested her to take on a role. She smoothly rose to stardom with his support. Gu Chuyun harbored hopes that if she could get close to him, whether it was Lu Zhiyuan or Jiang Junlin, they wouldn¡¯t dare to mistreat her in any way. When Gu Chuyun returned home, she picked out her favorite dress, dressing herself beautifully. Upon seeing her looking radiant, Yu Fei nodded and asked, ¡°Did you apologize to Gu Ci? Did she accept it?¡± ¡°I kneeled down and apologized, but she didn¡¯t accept it,¡± Gu Chuyun replied softly, feeling very wronged. ¡°Is this young girl really so heartless?¡± Kneeling down as a form of apology was Yu Fei¡¯s suggestion. He thought that a girl who hadn¡¯t experienced much of the world should have a kind heart. Moreover, they had grown up together, and although their relationship had been unpleasant, there had been no fatal harm done. He didn¡¯t expect Gu Ci to be so stubborn. ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it for now,¡± Yu Fei also felt a bit unhappy, thinking that Gu Ci was being too stubborn. However, upon further thought, she was Jiang Junlin¡¯s sister and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s girlfriend. She certainly wouldn¡¯t take Gu Chuyun seriously. Gu Ci continued to hang out with her classmates until nine o¡¯clock in the evening. During a break, Qin Wan nudged her and said, ¡°Gu Chuyun has issued an apology statement related to you.¡± Qin Wan read aloud, ¡°Nineteen years ago, due to a mistake made by my mother, our identities were switched, and 1 became the one who benefited from it. 1 have lived as the Young Miss of the Jiang family for eighteen years, receiving endless love and care from my parents and brother. The harm that my family of four has caused my sister cannot be undone. I deeply apologize and hope that my sister can forgive me.¡± Gu Ziyu responded coldly, ¡°Is this her idea of a sincere apology?¡± Qin Wan said in an exaggerated tone, imitating the tone of internet users, ¡°Oh, now that her little sister has apologized, what else does her big sister want? She¡¯s just a baby, after all. This wasn¡¯t what she wanted, either. She was kept in the dark. Sisters of similar age, who doesn¡¯t argue and fight? Has Gu Ci really been mistreated by the Gu family? She even got into A University. She¡¯s really petty.¡± Both Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu looked at Qin Wan, and she raised her hands in surrender. ¡°I¡¯m just reading it aloud, don¡¯t look at me.¡± This comment received the most likes. The second most popular comment was: ¡°The one who exposed Gu Chuyun¡¯s house is probably Gu Ci. This is really scary when you think about it. The intelligence of the top scorer in the college entrance examination is truly amazing. She ruined someone¡¯s life without making a sound.¡± Gu Ziyu was furious, ¡°Do these people have any sense of morality?¡± ¡°Anyway, they won¡¯t get into A University, so don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Qin Wan waved her hand, ¡°Why is everyone criticizing her in response to her apology?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all about fan economics. Her fans are upset that their idol got manipulated. Maybe some people are even blaming me for not taking care of our family¡¯s debts, saying that my dad has a lot of debt, and 1 didn¡¯t help,¡± Gu Ziyu sneered. ¡°You have a point there,¡± Qin Wan remarked, ¡°There¡¯s also something about your middle school and high school classmates coming out and saying that Gu Chuyun is kind-hearted and beautiful, and they don¡¯t believe she would ever bully you. They even said you¡¯re a weirdo, antisocial, always causing trouble, have a tendency for violence, and have fought with many people.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely inaccurate.¡± Qin Wan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Did you win those fights?¡± ¡°Most of them.¡± Gu Ziyu smirked and said, ¡°People are even buying hot searches about our family¡¯s debts. It¡¯s ridiculous. Mom, should we do something about this?¡± ¡°Her statement is well-founded, and there¡¯s nothing to refute. It¡¯s her business how much she wants to spend on buying hot searches, and we shouldn¡¯t waste our money on that. What I want to know is who¡¯s supporting her behind the scenes. I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°Protecting Mom is also the right path,¡± Gu Ziyu argued, his hands obediently leaving the keyboard. Gu Ci was still waiting for updates when Zhou Jinjin couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She shared Gu Chuyun¡¯s update and commented with just one word: ¡°Disgusting!¡± Netizens: She was acting extremely arrogant, reposting from her main account. Zhou Jinjin had been shooting an advertisement today and hadn¡¯t come to Gu Ci¡¯s house to play. When she saw Gu Chuyun¡¯s latest actions in the evening, she was disgusted to the point that she couldn¡¯t even finish her dinner. She couldn¡¯t stand it! With just one repost, the post¡¯s popularity skyrocketed even higher. They were the two hottest rising stars recently, and the competition between them was intense. They even had similar roles, so it was inevitable that people would accuse them of trying to piggyback on each other¡¯s success and curry favor with Gu Ci. Zhou Jinjin also commented on the comments below, which were trying to ride the wave of popularity. Zhou Jinjin: As if you could curry favor with her. After a while, Zhou Jinjin went silent. Her manager had forcibly taken her phone. Originally, they were going to delete her comment, but unexpectedly, the official Weibo account of Hualan Bank had reposted Zhou Jinjin¡¯s comment with a thumbs-up emoji. Her manager looked as constipated as ever, unsure whether to delete the comment or leave it. Jiang Junlin was busy and overwhelmed. He had heard about this from Ji Chi after a meeting. Recently, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Gu Ci; she seemed to be in good shape, and she hadn¡¯t maintained a close relationship with Lu Zhiyuan after their breakup. As for her treatment, classes, and daily life, everything seemed to be going well. There was no need to involve her in the underworld affairs at the moment, so Jiang Junlin hadn¡¯t been keeping a close eye on her. He didn¡¯t expect Gu Chuyun to cause trouble again. Ji Chi volunteered, ¡°Brother, for such a small matter, let me handle it for you.¡± ¡°How do you want to handle it?¡± ¡°I was thinking, why not let Third Master deal with this? It would be better, wouldn¡¯t it? Consider it a test for your future brother-in-law,¡± Ji Chi thought to himself, Third Master, I can only help you this much. ¡°Brother-in-law? Who recognized him?¡± Jiang Junlin sneered, ¡°He hasn¡¯t had any contact with Cici since their breakup.¡± ¡°You may not recognize him as your brother-in-law, but your nephew does, right? Ziyu is so cute and smart.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Cici has good genes. What does it have to do with him?¡± ¡°No connection, Brother. But without him, where would Ziyu be?¡± Ji Chi optimistically said, ¡°They¡¯re like a divorced couple, but they show no signs of moving on to new relationships. With a child as the bond, it¡¯s impossible for them never to meet again.¡± ¡°Do you know why they broke up?¡± This was where Ji Chi¡¯s knowledge fell short. ¡°1 really don¡¯t know.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°What use are you then?¡± ¡°Li Jiang follows Third Master around 24/7, and he still doesn¡¯t know. I asked Rong Li, but Third Master didn¡¯t say anything either. Can you blame me?¡± Ji Chi sounded aggrieved. When Jiang Junlin saw that Gu Ci had sent someone to investigate, he instructed Zhang Qiang to compile the information they had gathered in the past few days and send it to Gu Ci. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°No matter why they broke up, a good horse doesn¡¯t turn back to eat old grass. Let¡¯s hope Lu Zhiyuan will be more sensible and not provoke Cici anymore.¡± Ji Chi¡¯s gaze dimmed for a moment. A good horse doesn¡¯t turn back to eat old grass¡­ What about you? After a breakup, are you really so resolute that you won¡¯t turn back? This question weighed heavily between them. ¡°Brother, my birthday is coming up in a few days. Let¡¯s celebrate together,¡± Ji Chi said happily. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing my cooking skills recently, and I¡¯m quite good at it now. I¡¯ll cook for you..¡± Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: How Unlucky Chapter 395: How Unlucky Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Jiang Junlin remembered the days in the dungeon, where they occasionally had Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, a dish that almost made his soul leave his body. Every piece of clothing carried a hint of refusal. Ji Chi said, ¡°I¡¯ve hired the best Cantonese chef, really, trust me.¡± Jiang Junlin pretended not to hear and said, ¡°We can go out to eat.¡± ¡°I want to make it at home,¡± Ji Chi looked sad and a bit resentful. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday, and you¡¯ve never been with me.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, looking at Ji Chi¡¯s sad and unwilling face, knowing that he was partly sincere and partly acting. Jiang Junlin softened, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Ji Chi was delighted and smiled with dimples. ¡°It¡¯s a deal. Don¡¯t stand me up again.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t need help from Lu Zhiyuan to deal with Gu Chuyun. When she found out the news, she was surprised that Gu Chuyun had connected with Chen Rushi and Chen Yang. Gu Ziyu had educated her about the Chen family, and she knew about the relationship between the Chen family and Chen Rushi. None of the Chen family members were simple, but was Chen Yang supporting Gu Chuyun because he liked her? On this Friday, Gu Ziyu had a doctoral thesis and evening classes, so Gu Ci and Qin Wan went home first. Dr. North, who was going to provide psychological counseling to Gu Ci, also accompanied them. As soon as the three of them left the campus, they saw Gu Chuyun and Chen Yang holding hands at the school gate, looking very intimate. Gu Ci was quite surprised. Gu Chuyun also noticed them and walked over with Chen Yang. Chen Yang was slightly younger than Chen Rushi, and his appearance was somewhat more delicate. He didn¡¯t have the greasy feeling of a rich second-generation. His cashmere coat was well-fitted and exuded an elegant temperament, making him appear very refined. Dr. North frowned slightly and said to Qin Wan, ¡°Let¡¯s move aside and wait.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t think there was a need to be cautious. Dr. North had already taken Qin Wan aside, and she looked a bit nervous. Gu Chuyun, with Chen Yang, walked over. Gu Ci felt that Chen Yang looked familiar. Apart from a brief glance in the underground parking lot, she hadn¡¯t really seen what he looked like. ¡°Sister, this is my boyfriend, Chen Yang. He¡¯s been wanting to meet you. How about having dinner together tonight?¡± Gu Chuyun smiled and asked. ¡°I have an appointment with my teacher, so I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not close enough to have dinner with you.¡± Gu Ci looked at Chen Yang coldly. ¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡± Gu Ci had dealt with Chen Rushi before, so she wasn¡¯t afraid of Chen Yang. His aura was much weaker than Chen Rushi¡¯s, and he lacked the gentle yet decisive presence she had. Chen Yang was a young man nurtured in a world of wealth and gentleness. He smiled and said, ¡°Miss Gu, you¡¯re straightforward, so I¡¯ll be direct as well. I know you and Chuyun have had some issues in the past. She has also made mistakes, but now she¡¯s come to her senses and publicly apologized. Both of you are starting new chapters in your lives. Can¡¯t we consider a compromise and let bygones be bygones?¡± Gu Ci adjusted her shoulder bag and furrowed her brows innocently. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean by compromise. I haven¡¯t forced Gu Chuyun to apologize. Whether she apologizes or not is her choice. Whether I forgive her or not is my choice. Besides, 1 haven¡¯t done anything.¡± Chen Yang, in his elegant manner, smiled and replied, ¡°Indeed, Miss Gu, you don¡¯t need to do anything. You are the major shareholder of Hualan Bank. If Chuyun wants to make it in the entertainment industry, everyone has to consider the influence of capital. Many people might create difficulties for her due to Hualan Bank.¡± ¡°That¡¯s absurd,¡± Gu Ci retorted calmly. ¡°Gu Chuyun holds sixteen endorsements and has seen a qualitative leap in her resources. I¡¯ve never seen anyone causing her trouble. She skyrocketed to fame in just half a year. If I really had that much influence, could she have achieved such success?¡± Qin Wan scratched her head, looking puzzled as she glanced at Dr. North. ¡°Have you noticed¡­ he looks a bit like me?¡± A female version of her! Dr. North¡¯s palms were sweaty, and he was extremely nervous. ¡°Not at all.¡± Qin Wan rubbed her chin, still perplexed. ¡°Not like me? He really looks quite similar. The Chen family¡¯s eldest son has a unisex face. Their facial features are quite alike.¡± ¡°Similarity between people is common,¡± Dr. North casually remarked. ¡°They both have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Their appearance is quite similar.¡± Qin Wan shrugged. ¡°What are you so nervous about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nervous!¡± Dr. North protested. Qin Wan then took out a cigarette from her pocket, but Dr. North stopped her. ¡°We¡¯re at the school gate, mind the influence.¡± ¡°Such a stickler!¡± Qin Wan complained but obediently put the cigarette away. Chen Yang chuckled and asked, ¡°Miss Gu, does that mean you¡¯re not willing to let my girlfriend off the hook?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything,¡± Gu Ci furrowed her brows. ¡°Mr. Chen, can¡¯t you understand plain language?¡± Chen Yang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Miss Gu, even Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin showed me some respect. 1 don¡¯t know where you get the courage to speak to me like this.¡± Gu Ci remained composed. ¡°Your respect is earned by your father, not something you¡¯ve earned yourself. 1 don¡¯t know you, yet you come to the school gate with your girlfriend to make trouble for me. With such behavior, who would show you respect?¡± Chen Yang sneered, ¡°Quite the eloquent speaker.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± Gu Ci turned to find Dr. North and Qin Wan and walked away. Gu Chuyun whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve always said that my sister is unruly and has a bad temper, but you insisted on meeting her.¡± Chen Yang lifted her chin and calmly stated, ¡°What I do is not up to you to dictate.¡± Gu Chuyun shivered and didn¡¯t dare to speak. As Qin Wan crossed the street, she glanced back at Chen Yang and asked Gu Ci, ¡°Cici, do Chen Yang and I look somewhat alike?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always felt that he looked familiar, but I couldn¡¯t remember where I had seen him. As soon as you mentioned it, I realized it too, especially when he smiles. There¡¯s a striking resemblance between you two ¨C the eyes, nose, and facial contours.¡± Gu Ci glanced at Dr. North. ¡°Chen Geng and the Chen family are related by blood, and Chen Yang and Little Cherry both have Chen blood in them, so it¡¯s not surprising they look alike.¡± Qin Wan looked nothing like Chen Rushi. Dr. North casually remarked, ¡°In the entertainment industry, there are many people who look alike without any blood relation.¡± ¡°I was just making a point. Who would want to be related to him by blood? Bad luck!¡± Qin Wan decisively denied any resemblance. She was just curious about encountering someone who looked like her. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Gu Ci and Dr. North exchanged a smile, both somewhat bemused. ¡°Why did this guy inexplicably come to find you? To support Gu Chuyun? Is there something wrong with him?¡± Qin Wan asked. ¡°He¡¯s considered the pillar of the Chen family¡¯s younger generation, but in terms of overall family influence, he¡¯s no match for the Zhang family.¡± The Zhang family¡¯s daughter, son-in-law, son, and daughter-in-law were all exceptional individuals. The grandchildren were also well-raised, making it a flourishing family. ¡°Let¡¯s not bother with him,¡± Gu Ci said calmly. ¡°Young men are often drawn in by feminine charm, wanting to be the hero in her life. It¡¯s understandable.¡± Qin Wan added, ¡°Among the Chen family, only Chen Liangdong can stand against the Zhang family. Ultimately, their family¡¯s younger generation is too thin. Mr. Zhang was clever, giving birth to so many children ¨C spoiled one, there¡¯s still another. With numerous offspring and grandchildren, they can easily pick out the best..¡± Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: I’m Just a Chess Piece Chapter 396: I¡¯m Just a Chess Piece Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Dr. North said lightly, ¡°The descendants of the Jiang family are also few, but how come every one of them is extraordinary?¡± ¡°In City A, with so many top-tier families, who can compare to my master¡¯s family?¡± Qin Wan said with a filtered tone. ¡°The Jiang family has always maintained their noble lineage and their insistence on equal social status in relationships. With equal social status, their partners are no less exceptional. It¡¯s no wonder that Grandma strongly opposed Jiang Mingyue marrying Gu Wenliang back then; she had great foresight.¡± Gu Ci was speechless. Gu Ci never expected to stumble upon discussions about her own background. ¡°Chen Liangdong is quite unfortunate. He has no sons or daughters, but he treats Ziyu as his own son,¡± Qin Wan concluded. ¡°To treat him as his own child, he must be quite happy.¡± Dr. North was puzzled. Gu Ci had a say in this matter. ¡°He has raised Ziyu very well. The boy is truly an angel now. Both Lu Zhiyuan and I don¡¯t have that capability.¡± After returning home, Qin Wan freshened up and started doing her homework. Just after half an hour, Jiang Junlin called her with a new task. Qin Wan and Gu Ci quickly hopped on their motorcycles and rushed off. ¡°Master, why do you seem so distracted today?¡± Gu Ci, being observant, had noticed that Dr. North seemed preoccupied, and his appetite for dinner was lacking. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about some old matters,¡± Dr. North replied. ¡°Do you also think Qin Wan and Chen Yang resemble each other?¡± ¡°They do look quite similar!¡± Dr. North hesitated and asked, ¡°Cici, I¡¯m torn. Should I tell her about Little Cherry¡¯s situation or not?¡± Gu Ci, who had grown more understanding, said, ¡°Whether you tell her or not, you¡¯ll always be Qin Wan¡¯s mother. That won¡¯t change.¡± Suddenly, the living room door swung open, and Qin Wan appeared at the entrance with an expressionless face, holding her helmet in one hand. ¡°Cici, what were you just talking about?¡± Qin Wan had rushed out and halfway to Jiang Junlin¡¯s place when he requested a document. She came back unexpectedly, her steps light, and neither Gu Ci nor Dr. North had noticed her return. ¡°Qin Wan¡­¡± Gu Ci looked at Dr. North, alarmed. Qin Wan checked her watch, hastily went upstairs, grabbed the document, and said, ¡°I have a task to complete, and I¡¯m in a hurry. I hope you can give me an explanation when I return.¡± She left in haste, without causing a scene or shedding tears, just like a passing breeze. Gu Ci and Dr. North were filled with regret. They rarely discussed Qin Wan¡¯s background, but today, Dr. North had asked, and Gu Ci had casually mentioned it, not expecting Qin Wan to overhear. ¡°Master, what should we do?¡± Gu Ci asked. Dr. North sighed, ¡°We can¡¯t hide it forever. I will tell her everything.¡± Although Qin Wan appeared calm on the surface, as she sped on the expressway with her motorcycle, her heart was in turmoil. Her unease wasn¡¯t about Dr. North being her mother; it was the fact that Gu Ci had known about it for a long time. Does the Master know? Why did the Master take an interest in her at first? When the Master came looking for her, was it because Dr. North had betrayed him? Was he seeking revenge? And then why did he change his mind and keep her by his side? Was the Master initially here to kill her? When Qin Wan met Jiang Junlin, she threw the documents at him and scolded, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault for needing this stupid document. You¡¯ve ruined my peaceful life.¡± Jiang Junlin raised his eyebrows in surprise. Wasn¡¯t Qin Wan always obedient to the Master, following his every command without question? Jiang Junlin lowered his head to organize the documents that Qin Wan handed to him, ignoring her emotional outburst. ¡°Can you still handle the task, or should I assign it to someone else?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Qin Wan stormed off on her motorcycle again, and Jiang Junlin signaled for Zhang Qiang to follow her. ¡°Keep an eye on her, and make sure she doesn¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Zhang Qiang followed Qin Wan. Once they were out of earshot, Jiang Junlin propped his chin up in thought. What did she hear on her way to get the documents? Most likely, it was Dr. North and Gu Ci discussing her background. Jiang Junlin pondered with curiosity, who was her father? From the beginning, Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t believe that Qin Wan was Chen Geng¡¯s daughter. Dr. North had a ruthless personality, and if she had become pregnant with Chen Geng¡¯s child, she most likely would have aborted it and not gone through the trouble of sending it to a safe place. In the late night, Little Cherry and Zhang Qiang returned. The mission was executed smoothly. Little Cherry was still irritated, and Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, have a late-night snack!¡± ¡°Can we find a place open at this hour?¡± ¡°Money can move mountains,¡± Jiang Junlin said with a smile. The group headed to a late-night eatery, one of Jiang Junlin¡¯s regular spots. It was a small family-owned place, and the couple who ran it were struggling. Besides the food cooked by Guifang at home, Jiang Junlin loved this family-owned eatery the most. Later on, when the couple faced financial difficulties, Jiang Junlin bought the place and only had one request: that the food be prepared according to his taste, and he didn¡¯t take any profit from it. With such a significant investment, the couple had turned the place into a private kitchen restaurant. Jiang Junlin often came here for social gatherings, and over time, it became a favorite gathering spot in the financial circle, where the company mattered more than the food. When he arrived past 2 AM, the restaurant was still open. Jiang Junlin had called ahead to order late-night snacks. The couple who owned the restaurant let their staff go home early and waited for him. The late-night snacks were quickly served. Qin Wan, hungry as a wolf, focused on her bowl of noodles while Jiang Junlin slowly savored his fish soup. He asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s bothering you? Tell me about it.¡± Qin Wan picked up a bowl that was larger than her face and drank all the noodle soup in one gulp, slamming the bowl back onto the table. Jiang Junlin raised an eyebrow, ¡°These tableware pieces are custom-made bone china. Don¡¯t break them.¡± ¡°Is Dr. North my mother?¡± Qin Wan asked straightforwardly. ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Junlin admitted just as straightforwardly. ¡°Did you overhear the conversation between Gu Ci and Dr. North?¡± ¡°You all knew, and you kept it from me?¡± ¡°This is your and Dr. North¡¯s private matter. If she wanted to tell you, she would have. If she didn¡¯t, there was no need for me to pry,¡± Jiang Junlin explained gently. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve always said you disliked her. Could I say anything?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Qin Wan¡¯s habit was to confront her enemies face-to-face and speak her mind. She didn¡¯t like harboring feelings overnight. ¡°When you first came to find me, were you planning to kill me?¡± Jiang Junlin contemplated. It seemed that the little girl was concerned about this. ¡°You hesitated for three seconds. Indeed, you initially came to kill me for revenge!¡± Qin Wan accused. ¡°Then why did you change your mind?¡± ¡°Triad members who die in the line of duty, we have to take care of their families. If they betray the organization, their families must also be registered. After Dr. North betrayed me, I thought she might look for her daughter, so I followed this lead to find her. I never thought about killing you. Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Jiang Junlin explained. ¡°Later on, I didn¡¯t pay much attention to you. I just had people keep a record of your whereabouts and report back to me. You¡¯re intelligent, determined, and have a good foundation. Your adoptive parents didn¡¯t treat you well. I wanted to bring you by my side, and as long as Dr. North was alive, I knew she would come looking for you someday.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a pawn!¡± Qin Wan looked saddened. ¡°You trained me just to find your enemy..¡± Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Mom and Dad Fighting For Favor Chapter 397: Mom and Dad Fighting For Favor Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Can two houses heal your sadness?¡± ¡°Three!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Qin Wan slammed the table, ¡°Boss lady, another bowl of rice noodles!¡± Jiang Junlin was speechless. Zhang Qiang hesitated, wondering if he should tell the secret guards to say that the master had gotten used to solving conflicts with money, and they should learn from Qin Wan¡¯s shamelessness too. Blame it on their reserved nature as men; they didn¡¯t manage to score this many houses. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Let the secret guards get one house each for their year-end bonus this year.¡± Zhang Qiang suspected that the master could read minds, ¡°Alright.¡± When Qin Wan returned to the Blue Fields Villa, it was almost dawn. Dr. North had stayed up all night waiting for her. Qin Wan took a shower, then went straight to bed without explaining anything. Dr. North saw this and didn¡¯t disturb her. Gu Cici had a free weekend. Early in the morning, she took Gu Ziyu to see a movie. Gu Ziyu had originally planned to paint with Lu Zhiyuan. He asked innocently, ¡°Mom, can we bring Dad to the movie with us?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± Gu Ziyu sighed with the wisdom of a young child, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m a child of divorced parents.¡± ¡°If you want to learn painting from Dad, I can take you there. We don¡¯t have to watch the movie,¡± Gu Cici was feeling a bit jealous. Her precious son seemed to really like Lu Zhiyuan. She hadn¡¯t expected him to get along so well with Gu Ziyu. Was this the magic of blood ties? ¡°No, I want to watch a movie with Mom. I don¡¯t want Dad,¡± Gu Ziyu decisively gave up on his dad, ¡°I like Mom the most.¡± Gu Cici pinched his nose. Lu Zhiyuan had actually planned to teach Gu Ziyu how to paint last week. Gu Cici was supposed to watch a movie on Friday. Lu Zhiyuan even had Li Jiang buy a lot of paints, but he ended up getting stood up. Ji Chi said, ¡°Third Master, when Mom and Dad vie for your affection, it means they have no self-awareness.¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been quite free lately. I heard from Rong Li that you often have dinner with Jiang Junlin?¡± ¡°People are like iron, and food is like steel. We must eat,¡± Ji Chi had the skin of a dead pig and was not afraid of boiling water. Love on the government¡¯s dime¡ªeveryone would love that. ¡°When did you break up?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. Ji Chi didn¡¯t respond. He really had to bring that up. Ji Chi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Soon!¡± Rong Li had just walked in and heard this conversation. He scoffed, ¡°If you haven¡¯t talked about it, it doesn¡¯t count as a breakup.¡± Ji Chi gave Rong Li the middle finger, but he ignored him and handed a report to Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Third Master, a batch of goods was robbed last night.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s brow furrowed as he took the report and quickly scanned it. Ji Chi leaned over to read the report as well. Rong Li added, ¡°It¡¯s a batch of cultural relics that we were entrusted to transport back.¡± Black Hawk had a wide range of business operations, not limited to just the financial sector. Ji Chi was puzzled, ¡°Four cultural relics missing? There are jewels in the safe, why not steal those? What¡¯s the point of stealing cultural relics? They can¡¯t be easily circulated, so they must be smuggled.¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied calmly, ¡°That¡¯s not the focus.¡± Rong Li added, ¡°The focus is that these four items are insured for three billion US dollars with our insurance company. They were in our cargo hold and have disappeared. We¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡± ¡°Why do we seem like the ones getting the short end of the stick? The oldest of these four items is just calligraphy and paintings from the Song Dynasty. It¡¯s not like they belong to everyone. Why insure them for such a high price?¡± Rong Li was responsible for this matter, and she explained, ¡°The value of cultural relics can¡¯t be measured in terms of money. The other party quoted their price, and that¡¯s what we insured them for. If you think a sculpture head is not worth a billion, but they ask for ten billion, you¡¯ll see if a museum will sell it to you.¡± Ji Chi quipped, ¡°All this talk, and it boils down to us being too confident in our own shipping lanes and escorting. The higher the premium, the better. Premiums are a momentary pleasure, but claims are like a crematorium.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked thoughtfully at the four cultural relics. This seemed like an ordinary case, and if there were no complications, Rong Li could handle it herself. But the fact that it was presented to him meant there was definitely something unusual. Ji Chi also sensed that something was off. ¡°One calligraphy and painting, a painted koi vase, a golden armor, and coral beads¡­¡± Ji Chi raised an eyebrow, ¡°These are all small items, easy to take. The other party went to great lengths for this. There are much more valuable items in the safe. So¡­ out of these four items, only one is important.¡± Losing money was one thing, but they couldn¡¯t afford to tarnish Black Hawk¡¯s reputation. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°Any clues?¡± ¡°We only found two sets of footprints. The escorts were on a 24-hour rotation and never left. The security cameras were malfunctioning, so we didn¡¯t capture anything valuable. There are no traces nearby,¡± Rong Li explained calmly. ¡°Private collectors?¡± Ji Chi inquired. Rong Li nodded, ¡°Coincidentally, these four items were all scheduled to be handed over to Chen Liangyou. But now, we can¡¯t produce a single item.¡± Ji Chi raised an eyebrow, ¡°This looks a lot like we stole them ourselves.¡± ¡°Tell Chen Liangyou the truth and investigate the origins of these four items. Find out which hands they passed through in the last twenty years. Did Chen Liangyou buy them, or were they gifted to him? There might be some connection we haven¡¯t thought of yet,¡± Lu Zhiyuan suggested. Ji Chi pondered, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look into the projects Chen Liangyou has recently been involved in. If these items were gifts, he surely wouldn¡¯t have received them for nothing.¡± Lu Zhiyuan nodded, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Rong Li, with a layer of concern, presented the case to Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Third Master, what if he misunderstands and tries to use this against you deliberately?¡± ¡°No one cares about what he thinks!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, indifferently and firmly. ¡°Send someone to explain the situation to him. You don¡¯t need to go. Follow the procedure!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Third Master, your recovery is almost complete. Mr. Jiang will be available the day after tomorrow. Where would you like to meet?¡± Ji Chi asked. ¡°He asked me to arrange this.¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied with a smirk, ¡°You arrange the location, and I¡¯ll go there.¡± Ji Chi was speechless. He had a feeling that Third Master¡¯s smile held a hint of mischief. Was it just his imagination? Rong Li rolled her eyes. ¡°Brother, trust your instincts!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Qin Wan had a restful sleep and woke up feeling refreshed. The house was quiet. When she went downstairs, Dr. North had prepared breakfast. Gu Cici had yet to hire a housekeeper, and Dr. North didn¡¯t visit often. On weekends, Gu Cici would occasionally cook, but most of the time, they ordered takeout. Dr. North had cooked two bowls of rice noodles and prepared three side dishes. Qin Wan¡¯s stomach rumbled with hunger, and she felt a bit uncomfortable. Dr. North was also nervous, saying, ¡°Come and eat.¡± ¡°Where are Gu Cici and Ziyu?¡± Qin Wan asked. ¡°They went to the movies,¡± Dr. North replied. Qin Wan knew very well that Gu Cici and Ziyu must have deliberately gone to the movies, leaving her alone with Dr. North for a private conversation. Qin Wan had complex feelings about this. She had known since childhood that she was adopted, and she didn¡¯t care whether her adoptive parents liked her or not. She had once wondered what her life would have been like if she had grown up with her biological parents. She had also thought about whether her parents had any reasons for abandoning her. She had even felt resentment at times for why they had brought her into the world only to reject her. However, as she grew up and spent time with Jiang Junlin, her perspective broadened, and she became more open-minded and carefree. Gradually, she let go of those feelings and found that living without burdens was quite enjoyable.. Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Mother and Daughter Reunited Chapter 398: Mother and Daughter Reunited Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Occasionally, she would envy those families with loving parents, occasionally, she would feel that children with parents are truly fortunate. But she has also witnessed families torn apart over petty gains, so she no longer envies. Being free from attachments is quite nice, she has faced danger her entire life, and in death, she won¡¯t need to worry about a final resting place or someone grieving for her. When she dies, her ashes will be scattered into the sea, free from any attachments, and that¡¯s quite nice too. Suddenly, she had a mother. Qin Wan bowed her head to eat her noodles, occasionally glancing at Dr. North. They had no resemblance whatsoever, so why were they mother and daughter? They didn¡¯t look alike, and there are plenty of kids in the world who don¡¯t resemble their parents. Should she¡­ get a blood test done? What if she had made a mistake? It¡¯s best not to be presumptuous; the other person might not want to acknowledge her. In that case, so be it. Qin Wan was raised well by Jiang Junlin, she was open-minded and rational. She knew a bit about Dr. North¡¯s situation. She had barely survived back then while trying to escape from Chen Geng. If she had managed to survive, that was already fortunate. Thinking about the fact that her father was Chen Geng, Qin Wan felt awful! So, she didn¡¯t harbor any hatred towards Dr. North, not a shred of it. She just felt awkward. If Jiang Junlin turned out to be Chen Geng and had raised her, mistreated her, and oppressed her since childhood, it would be better not to even think about it. Giving birth to his children? What kind of dream would that be? So, she should probably thank her lucky stars for being born. ¡°Do you have any questions for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never encountered a situation like this in my life¡­ so¡­ should we do a paternity test first?¡± Qin Wan asked directly, ¡°Just to be sure?¡± Dr. North chuckled, ¡°No need, your identity has long been confirmed.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Qin Wan thought, if the master has confirmed it, then there shouldn¡¯t be any mistakes. She said, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have much to ask. I¡¯ve seen your information. I can understand if you abandoned me. If 1 had to face the child of an enemy every day, even if 1 gave birth to them myself, it would be heartbreaking. At least, spare me a way out; that would be fine.¡± Dr. North¡¯s eyes welled up with tears unexpectedly. She hadn¡¯t expected Qin Wan to think like this. She chuckled self-deprecatingly, not blaming Qin Wan. After all, she had never acknowledged Qin Wan as her daughter and had even exchanged harsh words with her. It wasn¡¯t fair to blame her. ¡°Back in the classroom, I spoke harshly to you without knowing that you had followed the Master. At that time, Chen Rush! was in A City, searching for you everywhere. I was afraid of arousing her suspicion, so I was prepared not to acknowledge you. If Chen Rushi had known your identity, it wouldn¡¯t have been beneficial for you. Plus, you got admitted to A University, which promised a bright future for you. I wanted you to have a smooth life. I had Pei Qiuying take you to the orphanage as a preparation for the worst, in case I had to go down the same path as Chen Geng. I didn¡¯t want you to grow up in the Chen family; it was a den of wolves, and Chen Rushi wouldn¡¯t have treated you well. It wasn¡¯t my intention to abandon you,¡± Dr. North explained, not trying to portray herself as benevolent but wanting Qin Wan to know the truth. ¡°I wanted to protect you.¡± Qin Wan¡¯s heart trembled. Although she had told herself not to hate, not to resent, and not to expect, knowing that Dr. North was protecting her, not intentionally abandoning her, made Qin Wan happy. ¡°I understand,¡± Qin Wan took a deep breath and said softly, ¡°Although we are mother and daughter by blood, we never really knew each other from a young age, and we¡¯ve grown distant. I may not be able to treat you like a real mother, like how Guci views you, but 1 promise I will take care of you in your old age.¡± That was the best she could do. Dr. North couldn¡¯t help but smile and sigh. Their mother-daughter reunion wasn¡¯t earth-shattering; it was just a regular meal. Qin Wan didn¡¯t blame her, but she also didn¡¯t draw close to her. Dr. North felt a bit melancholic, but it was a satisfying outcome. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m Chen Rushi¡¯s younger sister, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Dr. North hesitated, and Qin Wan, fearing she might bring up painful memories, quickly interjected, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to say anything. I¡¯m not that eager to know.¡± ¡°Your dad isn¡¯t Chen Geng,¡± Qin Wan was so shocked that she almost choked on her food. She blurted out, ¡°That¡¯s great! So, who is he?¡± But Dr. North remained silent, leaving Qin Wan to speculate. Could there be some hidden secret? Qin Wan quickly waved her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to say. Actually, I¡¯m not that eager to know.¡± Suddenly having a mother had already left her feeling overwhelmed, and the thought of uncovering a father figure was even more daunting. It might be better not to dig too deep into this. She had been through enough. After finishing her meal, she left and immediately turned to Jiang Junlin, saying, ¡°My dad isn¡¯t Chen Geng, thank goodness! Did she have any close male friends back then?¡± ¡°Did she not mention anything?¡± ¡°I sensed that she was feeling quite upset, so 1 didn¡¯t push it,¡± Qin Wan, who had been living under someone else¡¯s roof for many years, had become very perceptive. ¡°1 want to know, but I also don¡¯t want to know.¡± ¡°Want me to help investigate?¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Qin Wan sighed, ¡°It¡¯s been twenty years. Either he¡¯s dead or alive, married, and has children. Accepting him as my father might not be a big deal, but if he comes with any unexpected siblings, that would be troublesome.¡± Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°This is your personal matter. If you want to investigate, I can send someone to do it. If you don¡¯t want to, I won¡¯t pry. But I suggest you consider talking to her yourself.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ for now, let¡¯s leave it at that. I¡¯m not really interested in knowing at the moment.¡± Qin Wan hung up the phone, feeling free and unburdened, with no one to answer to. Meanwhile, Jiang Junlin was carefully examining a painting and recording the hidden information within it. Zhang Qiang stood guard, not allowing anyone to approach. Jiang Junlin was personally handling this matter. Zhang Qiang asked, ¡°Master, why did they risk sending the evidence to Black Hawk for protection? We went through so much trouble to retrieve it. You and Third Master agreed to cooperate. If they find out, things might get complicated.¡± Jiang Junlin replied indifferently, ¡°No need to worry. Qin Wan is cautious in her actions, and they won¡¯t be able to find any clues. Even if they investigate the origins of these items, they won¡¯t find anything.¡± After extracting all the hidden information from the painting, Jiang Junlin rolled it up and handed it to Zhang Qiang. ¡°Wipe all the fingerprints off the artifacts and send them to the black market. Spread the news to Black Hawk.¡± ¡°What if they manage to extract the information?¡± ¡°The information hidden in the painting, only 1 understand its meaning,¡± Jiang Junlin removed his glasses and rubbed his temples. He had been studying the painting for nearly five hours. ¡°Do it discreetly and keep our connections separate.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Why return it to Black Hawk? They have the items; they should handle the insurance claim. In any case, they¡¯re the ones who will suffer the loss.¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan is very clever. Even though we¡¯ve kept things clean, we can¡¯t guarantee that their ongoing investigation won¡¯t go awry. Returning it to them is a strategic move, looking at the bigger picture to avoid small losses.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The artifacts made their way to the black market and, within three hours, ended up back in Rong Li¡¯s possession. Ji chi rested his chin on his hand and asked, ¡°Third Master, how do we explain this? I didn¡¯t understand it.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at the perfectly intact items before him, and truth be told, he didn¡¯t understand either.. Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: A Storm Is Coming Chapter 399: A Storm Is Coming Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Rong Li had verified its authenticity without any damage, and it returned intact. Rong Li was not pleased with this outcome; although the item was retrieved, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had been played by someone. ¡°Stolen for less than a day, and then returned in perfect condition. Could there be a thief so foolish?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled, ¡°someone obtained the information they wanted, and this item no longer holds any allure for them.¡± Lu Zhiyuan had a strong ability to appraise old objects. He quickly noticed something amiss with the painting, running his finger over the canvas. ¡°Ji Chi, fetch a magnifying glass.¡± Ji Chi brought over the magnifying glass, and Lu Zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°This canvas has been tampered with. Have you found any information about the origin of this antique?¡± ¡°No news yet,¡± Rong Li replied. ¡°Third Master, what¡¯s wrong with this painting?¡± ¡°The fact that it was confidently returned indicates that they believe we can¡¯t decipher it,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said with a light smile as he took a pen from the table and began analyzing the information on the canvas. Ji Chi asked, ¡°Should we continue to investigate the person who stole the painting?¡± ¡°No need. They only wanted information, and they didn¡¯t harm our relations. We should be understanding and not escalate the situation,¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Ji Chi. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find someone with such temperament in our country.¡± Ji Chi nodded in agreement. Third Master, you should report this to Jiang Junlin! At night, Jiang Junlin came to the Blue Fields Villa to discuss matters with Gu Ci regarding meeting Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Are you coming with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not,¡± Gu Ci resisted. Lately, she had been forcing herself not to think about him or see him. She had been doing well in controlling herself, but she was afraid that her feelings might resurface when she saw Lu Zhiyuan again. ¡°Cici, if you¡¯re going to take over the underworld, you¡¯ll inevitably have dealings with Black Hawk. You can¡¯t avoid them forever,¡± Jiang Junlin said softly. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not pressuring you. The choice is yours. Let¡¯s meet in the afternoon.¡± ¡°1 understand,¡± Gu Ci replied in a subdued tone. ¡°1¡¯11 have Qin Wan drive me there.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Junlin had been extremely busy lately. After discussing the matter with Gu Ci, he had to go to the National Security Bureau to meet someone. He didn¡¯t stay long, and Gu Ci sat by the window, looking at the starlight. She remembered the time she had spent stargazing with Lu Zhiyuan that day. In that moment, she had truly felt happy. Lately, she had been leading a fulfilling life. Even though she hadn¡¯t seen Dr. North¡¯s diagnosis report, she knew she was gradually improving. While her condition couldn¡¯t be cured, her mindset had changed significantly. She had learned how to please herself. From a young age, she had lived for others, constantly striving for her parents¡¯ love. Later, her heart turned to ashes, living for Lu Zhiyuan. After Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s death, she had lost all her aspirations. She hadn¡¯t learned how to love someone; she only knew how to possess, hold on tightly, and develop obsessions. Now, she was gradually learning how to please herself. If she didn¡¯t love herself, who would? Lu Zhiyuan loved her but had to leave her. Although she had told Lu Zhiyuan they would never meet again, she was Jiang Junlin¡¯s sister and would eventually take over as the leader of the underworld. How could they never meet again? She had to face Lu Zhiyuan with composure. Jiang Junlin arrived at the National Security Bureau, where Chen Liangdong was waiting for him. They went to a special prison area and met with a prisoner. Chen Liangdong had detained influential figures who once held significant power. They all enjoyed comfortable treatment, with soft sofas, computers connected to an intranet, gaming, movie-watching, and learning opportunities. The man Jiang Junlin saw looked quite young, having not seen sunlight for years, with pale skin and slightly lighter-than-usual irises. He wore a gray prisoner¡¯s uniform and was currently playing cards, entertaining himself. ¡°Tang Mingzhou, implicated in a coastal economic case five years ago, refused to provide the names of the masterminds and has been imprisoned here for five years,¡± Jiang Junlin said calmly. ¡°Do you still refuse to say anything?¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, who is this?¡± Tang Mingzhou asked with a smile, looking at Chen Liangdong. Seemingly reminded of something joyful, Jiang Junlin extended his hand and said, ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Jiang Junlin, the owner of the underworld¡¯s dark web. Five years ago, 1 was the one who sent you to prison.¡± The smile faded from Tang Mingzhou¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­¡± Tang Mingzhou rested his chin on his hand, carefully examining Jiang Junlin. ¡°1 never expected the owner of the dark web to be so young.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that after five years, there would be such a big twist in this matter,¡± Jiang Junlin squatted down, locking eyes with him. ¡°The former Black Hawk leader, Mr. Tang Mingzhou.¡± Their eyes met, and the distance between them was very close. Every expression couldn¡¯t escape each other¡¯s scrutiny. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s hair stood on end. How did Jiang Junlin know this? He was being deceived! ¡°People have always said that Third Master was secretly groomed by you, parachuted into Black Hawk. Five years ago, when you passed away, he took over in a crisis. But in reality, it was he who personally handed over the evidence of your crimes to me. This information, after five years, has fallen into my hands,¡± Jiang Junlin said with a hint of malice in his smile. ¡°1 didn¡¯t even know that Third Master had helped me out like this. The Crown Prince usurped the throne, and you were betrayed. Is that surprising?¡± At the same time, at the Global Center. Lu Zhiyuan looked at the extracted characters, his brow furrowed deeply. Neither Rong Li nor Ji Chi could decipher the hidden information within the intelligence. To them, it looked like gibberish, but it should be an exclusive secret communication code. Extracting information from it should be challenging for outsiders, but Lu Zhiyuan could decipher one name from it. Tang Mingzhou! No matter what message was being conveyed, the transmission of a name usually had some fixed patterns. The reappearance of this name after five years gave him a bad feeling. Ji Chi asked, ¡°Who is Tang Mingzhou?¡± Rong Li also turned to Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°The former leader of Black Hawk.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to be dead?¡± The leader of Black Hawk never revealed their real names, and Rong Li was hearing his true name for the first time. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t he supposed to be dead?¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. Ji Chi frowned. ¡°A person who died five years ago suddenly reappearing is quite strange. Who could have given my brother a clue related to Black Hawk, and what could it be?¡± Rong Li had just retrieved Tang Mingzhou¡¯s information on his phone. ¡°Third Master, Tang Mingzhou¡¯s parents died in a car accident before he died. After his death, his wife remarried and gave birth to a son.¡± Rong Li hesitated for a moment. ¡°His son was bitten by a rabid dog in the neighborhood three years ago and passed away. His wife also went insane.¡± ¡°He was the leader of Black Hawk, and he didn¡¯t leave any protection for his wife and child?¡± Ji Chi couldn¡¯t understand. Just like when Third Master had groomed him, he had given specific orders to ensure Gu Ci¡¯s safety in case anything happened to Third Master. Lu Zhiyuan explained, ¡°At the time, he was being pressured heavily by the major families within Black Hawk. He took a risky collaboration with Chen Liangyou, hoping to use Chen¡¯s power to gain control. However, he was manipulated by Chen Liangyou, committing numerous crimes. He handled land approvals, a position not too significant but with substantial power. 1 compiled and organized the information about his crimes, which led to his capture. After that, he disappeared from the scene, and apart from Chen Liangyou, few should know that he was the former leader of Black Hawk.. Why would his name appear in this painting?¡± Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: This Is Karma Chapter 400: This Is Karma Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He couldn¡¯t fathom it, while Rong Li and Ji Chi were shocked by the sheer volume of information. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. ¡°Third Master, so you plotted to seize power when you were sixteen and directly got rid of him?¡± Rong Li concluded. ¡°What of it?¡± He was sixteen in body, not in mind. Ji Chi applauded expressionlessly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it rumored that he died suddenly, and that¡¯s why you parachuted into Black Hawk?¡± ¡°Who spread those rumors?¡± Rong Li understood that these rumors came from Li Jiang, so they must have been spread by Lu Zhiyuan himself. He took control of Black Hawk this year and was still subject to various constraints. The owner of Black Hawk was not easy to replace. It had no natural advantage over the underworld dark web. In terms of ancient systems, Black Hawk operated under a system of feudalism, with the Dark Lord merely a puppet. Whether the feudal lords obeyed or not depended on the Dark Lord¡¯s strength. The underworld dark web operated under a centralized system, with no one sharing power. Lu Zhiyuan controlling Black Hawk was much harder than Jiang Junlin taking charge of the underworld. ¡°Third Master, what about his wife and children? They wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± Rong Li made a throat-slitting motion at his neck. Lu Zhiyuan asked with a smirk, ¡°Do 1 seem that ruthless?¡± Ji Chi and Rong Li chimed in simultaneously, ¡°Quite like it!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t read the whole message. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s wife didn¡¯t go to the hospital when she was pregnant due to a toothache. She bought painkillers at a small store, so their son has Tang¡¯s syndrome. I have no interest in harming a mentally disabled child,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said softly, ¡°That was truly an accident.¡± ¡°Third Master, why did you want to seize power?¡± Ji Chi asked in confusion. ¡°At the time, you should have had a dual personality, with Tang Mingzhou handling Black Hawk¡¯s affairs, and you assisting him in secret. Managing Black Hawk yourself, not to mention training, wasn¡¯t that asking for trouble?¡± ¡°We had differences in managing Black Hawk. We were both willing to do whatever it took to control it, but his actions would harm many people. The main direction of Black Hawk would also completely turn to the dark side, and there would be no way out. If he got his way, Black Hawk would be a criminal organization by now,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in taking over a criminal organization, and Tang Mingzhou was stubborn and self-serving. That¡¯s a path to self-destruction.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Black Hawk indeed had some secret operations now that couldn¡¯t be disclosed. They belonged to the gray industry, but many industries had already gone legit and required official certification. Ji Chi pursed his lips, ¡°Did he really die? What if he¡¯s still alive?¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned, ¡°1 saw him die with my own eyes, but 1 didn¡¯t see the body. Your words remind me, Ji Chi. Go and investigate Jiang Junlin¡¯s recent movements. This exclusive contact intelligence can only be deciphered by them, but something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Ji Chi nodded without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯ll find out everything before you meet him.¡± In prison, Jiang Junlin pulled up a chair and calmly said, ¡°Five years ago, in that economic case from start to finish, they only caught you. The evidence against you is overwhelming; there¡¯s no way you can escape. But you¡¯ve been protecting the people behind you, colluding with each other, embezzling assets. Just in City A¡¯s bank, you diverted two billion from depositors, and you¡¯re trying to pin it all on one teller to settle it? You¡¯ve confessed to all the charges. As long as you don¡¯t expose them, you won¡¯t see the light of day.¡± Jiang Junlin continued with regret, ¡°1 blame myself too. Back then, my vision was clouded. I thought we had caught a greedy scoundrel with no morals. I didn¡¯t expect that you were actually the mastermind behind Black Hawk. So, that money must have flowed into Black Hawk¡¯s system. Five years have passed, and it must have been laundered through multiple channels, right?¡± Tang Mingzhou closed the webpage with the online Landlord game. ¡°Do you mind if I smoke?¡± The record keeper who was accompanying Chen Liangdong was about to offer him a cigarette. ¡°1 mind!¡± Jiang Junlin, a person who was even picky about food while in prison, couldn¡¯t tolerate someone else¡¯s helplessness. The cigarette the record keeper had taken out was quietly put back, pretending as if nothing had happened. ¡°How did you find out my identity?¡± Tang Mingzhou sneered. ¡°Even Third Master doesn¡¯t know my real name.¡± ¡°The money from City A¡¯s bank depositors was stolen, causing significant losses and tarnishing the bank¡¯s reputation. It also led to a bank run. Initially, the handling was improper, and there were people who jumped from the bank building, claiming their innocence with their lives, severely affecting the functioning and orderly development of the financial system and humiliating everyone. Later, Hualan Bank patched up that hole. 1 was in charge of the investigation, and when it yielded no results, I naturally had to clean up the aftermath. Since 1 was dealing with the aftermath, 1 was determined to catch the mastermind. Finally, I found a lead, and this case turned out to be related to Black Hawk. So, for the past five years, I¡¯ve sent more than a dozen people into Black Hawk to investigate, even risking myself as bait. 1 want the truth about this matter to come to light. Those who did wrong must pay the price, and neither you nor the people behind you can escape!¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s anger flared up whenever he brought up this matter. His high school Chinese teacher also died in this incident, and his wife fell ill. The life-saving money was stuck in the bank, delaying her surgery, and she tragically passed away. His teacher also jumped into the sea, following his deceased wife. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan doesn¡¯t know your real name? If he doesn¡¯t know your real name, how did he report you?¡± Jiang Junlin sneered, ¡°You may think you¡¯ve hidden it well, but in reality, you have no secrets in the eyes of others.¡± ¡°You actually know that Third Master is Lu Zhiyuan!¡± ¡°Tang Mingzhou, you think that hiding here means I can¡¯t do anything to you, but you¡¯re wrong,¡± Jiang Junlin said in a deep voice. ¡°1 know you¡¯re the mastermind behind Black Hawk, and 1 have a way to unravel this entire situation.¡± ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Tang Mingzhou said with a cold smile. ¡°Jiang Junlin, if you really had a way to find out, you wouldn¡¯t have come to see me.¡± Jiang Junlin seemed to find something amusing, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan was someone you personally nurtured, and yet he turned against you. You¡¯re truly useless.¡± ¡°Jiang Junlin!¡± Tang Mingzhou¡¯s anger turned into a mocking laugh. ¡°I won¡¯t be fooled by your attempts to sow discord!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°It turns out you¡¯ve never known who betrayed you,¡± Jiang Junlin looked at him with a sly smile. ¡°Otherwise, why have you been here for five years with no one to rescue you?¡± Jiang Junlin took out his phone and pulled up an old news article. ¡°Do you recognize anyone in the footage from three years ago?¡± Tang Mingzhou didn¡¯t want to look, knowing it couldn¡¯t be anything good. It must be Jiang Junlin trying to provoke him, but he still glanced at it and suddenly snatched the phone away. The news article featured his wife, who had been bitten by a dog and their child who had contracted rabies and died. ¡°You¡­¡± Tang Mingzhou¡¯s eyes turned red instantly, and he looked at Jiang Junlin with a resentful gaze before smashing the phone, ¡°Jiang Junlin, how dare you!¡± Jiang Junlin looked at the shattered phone, unfazed. It was just a disposable communication device. ¡°This was an accident.. Do you consider it karma?¡± Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Angry Jiang Junlin Chapter 401: Angry Jiang Junlin Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°This couldn¡¯t have been an accident!¡± Out of nowhere, how could there be a mad dog that killed his child? His wife was six months pregnant when the incident happened; this was his child. Could it be Lu Zhiyuan? Tang Mingzhou gritted his teeth and thought, it must be Lu Zhiyuan trying to wipe out everyone, not sparing even women and children. After all, that was his child, and Tang Mingzhou was trembling with anger. Jiang Junlin and Chen Liangdong exchanged glances. Chen Liangdong, who had been silent all along, said, ¡°Tang Mingzhou, whether it¡¯s an accident or deliberate, there¡¯s nothing you can do. You¡¯ll spend the rest of your life in this prison.¡± Tang Mingzhou gritted his teeth and looked at Jiang Junlin, ¡°If 1 provide information, can I apply for immunity?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Jiang Junlin readily agreed, ¡°As long as the information you provide is valuable, I¡¯ll find a way to help you apply for immunity.¡± ¡°Jiang Junlin¡­¡± Chen Liangdong shook his head gently. ¡°I want it in writing, signed and stamped. If you can¡¯t make the decision, find someone who can negotiate with me.¡± Tang Mingzhou was familiar with this system; he wanted to ensure his freedom. He was locked up here, cut off from the outside world. He had left a substantial sum of money for his wife and set up a fund for his child. They should have been living carefree and happy lives, but he couldn¡¯t believe it was an accident. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this first,¡± Chen Liangdong said. Jiang Junlin followed Chen Liangdong outside, and Chen Liangdong said, ¡°Tang Mingzhou has a life sentence. It¡¯s almost impossible to get immunity. Even if we promise him, we can¡¯t deliver.¡± ¡°As long as the information he provides can reveal the truth from five years ago, we can promise him. That information is more important than his life.¡± Jiang Junlin said. ¡°I need some time to think about this.¡± Chen Liangdong hesitated slightly. Jiang Junlin wasn¡¯t part of the system and didn¡¯t follow the rules like Chen Liangdong did. This was something only Chen Liangdong could handle. ¡°He has been kept in solitary confinement, right? No one has visited him?¡± ¡°No, there has always been someone specifically guarding him. He has no one to talk to, and he has managed to live peacefully in prison. Back then, we designed a trap, and many people thought he was dead.¡± Chen Liangdong asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, how did you know he was imprisoned here?¡± ¡°I have my sources,¡± Jiang Junlin said softly as he walked out with Chen Liangdong. ¡°This lead is too important; it must be kept confidential. There can¡¯t be any mishaps.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Chen Liangdong said, ¡°No one held here has ever caused any trouble. When his wife and child had the accident, I thought about telling him, but I decided against it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t. Otherwise, after all these years, anger, sadness, and hatred would have faded with time, and his will would have been eroded. It wouldn¡¯t have the same effect now.¡± ¡°It was truly an accident. That internet-famous dog was usually very gentle. The kids in the neighborhood loved playing with him, and no one knew he was sick. It just happened that he attacked them.¡± Chen Liangdong said, ¡°I was afraid someone might actually kill them, so I investigated this lead.¡± ¡°I know, Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t harm women and children.¡± Jiang Junlin turned to look at the prison, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, Tang Mingzhou once trained Lu Zhiyuan, but he doesn¡¯t understand his character. As long as Tang Mingzhou feels it¡¯s not an accident and holds grudges, he will cooperate with us. I want the information in his mind; his grudge with Lu Zhiyuan is their private matter.¡± ¡°Master, Ji Chi is here, waiting for you,¡± Zhang Qiang whispered. ¡°What¡¯s he here for?¡± Jiang Junlin frowned. He had plans with Lu Zhiyuan tomorrow afternoon, so why was Ji Chi here tonight? As Jiang Junlin and Zhang Qiang exited the Ministry of State Security, Ji Chi leaned against the car, looking at him with a smile. ¡°Big brother, I made your favorite Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. I brought some for you to taste.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyebrows twitched. After deciphering the intelligence and checking Tang Mingzhou¡¯s information, he had rushed to the Ministry of State Security. He hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, and now he was feeling a bit hungry. However, the thought of Ji Chi making the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall made him feel content even if he had to endure hunger. He got into the car, and Zhang Qiang and the close security team followed him as they headed to Jiang Junlin¡¯s apartment. Recently, Ji Chi had been staying at the Global Center, and Jiang Junlin often returned to his apartment because of Ji Chi. Jiang Junlin was a bit tired, so he dozed off while Ji Chi played some soothing music and adjusted the seat height. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Drive your car, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Ji Chi softly asked, ¡°You¡¯ve got dark circles under your eyes. Have you been particularly busy lately?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had a lot of things piling up.¡± Jiang Junlin was juggling multiple roles, and it was getting a bit overwhelming. He hoped that Gu Ci would recover soon and help him with the Triad matters. With a single hand controlling the steering wheel, Ji Chi reached out and held Jiang Junlin¡¯s hand, intertwining their fingers. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t like this sticky feeling, but he didn¡¯t say anything. After taking a shower and coming out, Ji Chi had already prepared the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. When he opened the lid, a strong fishy smell wafted out. Jiang Junlin asked with an expressionless face, ¡°Have you ever eaten the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall you made yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a big fan of fish lips and sea cucumber,¡± Ji Chi replied. Jiang Junlin struggled to scoop up some sea cucumber with a spoon but put it back down. He looked at Ji Chi, who was waiting expectantly, but restrained himself from saying what was on his mind. Ji Chi said, ¡°I hired a Cantonese chef to teach me. He said this is the most authentic recipe, and the ingredients are carefully selected.¡± ¡°Which restaurant¡¯s chef?¡± Jiang Junlin thought to himself, wondering if he should avoid that restaurant in the future. ¡°Xingyang, the one you often visit.¡± Jiang Junlin pondered silently. He never ordered Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at restaurants because he was cautious about what he ate. He stared at the dish in front of him, and the aroma couldn¡¯t hide the fishy scent. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan got injured, and you and Rong Li handled official business. With your busy schedule, you still have time to cook?¡± Ji Chi had grown up abroad and didn¡¯t understand the intricacies of Chinese, so he didn¡¯t realize that Jiang Junlin was subtly mocking him and took it as praise. ¡°It doesn¡¯t take much time, actually. Big brother, why aren¡¯t you eating? Seafood doesn¡¯t taste good when it gets cold.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Jiang Junlin thought to himself that it might not taste that great when it¡¯s hot either. He resisted the intense gaze of Ji Chi, caught in a tug-of-war between refusing and eating the dish. However, Ji Chi was focused on the task assigned to him by Lu Zhiyuan, wanting to uncover Jiang Junlin¡¯s whereabouts and secrets, which felt like an impossible mission. Yet, he had to find out before they met. ¡°Big brother, what are you going to do at the Ministry of State Security tonight?¡± Ji Chi asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to Chen Liangdong about something,¡± Jiang Junlin replied indifferently, giving him a fleeting glance. He looked at the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and seemed to see through everything. Suddenly, he dropped the spoon and pushed the dish toward Ji Chi. He said calmly, ¡°Your sense of smell has gone bad. How did you not notice the strong odor?¡± Ji Chi was momentarily puzzled, not sure which of his words had triggered Jiang Junlin¡¯s anger.. Why did he suddenly lose his temper? Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Testing Each Other Chapter 402: Testing Each Other Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Is seafood not like this?¡± Ji Chi innocently looked at him. ¡°Brother, where did I make you angry?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t your cooking master tell you that you need to remove the fishy smell when cooking seafood, especially for soups?¡± Jiang Junlin asked calmly. ¡°I followed his steps one by one and removed everything you don¡¯t eat. Did I make a mistake in the process?¡± Ji Chi took a sip of the soup, which had a moderate taste, not too salty or bland, but it did have a hint of fishiness. ¡°Scallions, ginger, garlic, and spices can enhance the freshness and aroma and remove the fishy smell. You didn¡¯t use any of those. So, you should remove the fishy smell before cooking. Have you ever seen me order this dish when we dined at Xingyang?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. Ji Chi didn¡¯t want to argue anymore. ¡°Brother, hasn¡¯t anyone ever told you that you¡¯re really difficult to serve?¡± ¡°No!¡± Jiang Junlin asserted confidently. ¡°Everyone knows I¡¯m not easy to serve; they dare not say it.¡± Ji Chi remained silent. Jiang Junlin hadn¡¯t eaten dinner yet, and Ji Chi¡¯s attitude had irritated him. When he stood up, the chair made a grating sound as it scraped against the floor. Zhang Qiang, standing by the door, observed the whole scene and silently signaled one of the guards to go buy food. ¡°Impressive, Young Master!¡± Ji Chi mocked. ¡°We street-raised wild kids don¡¯t have so many rules!¡± Jiang Junlin was dumbstruck. Jiang Junlin pointed to the door. ¡°You can leave!¡± In the span of a second, Ji Chi went from being angry to suddenly changing his expression. He smiled, revealing two small dimples. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m sorry. 1 was being childish. You must be starving. Let me order some food for you.¡± ¡°No need. Zhang Qiang has already sent someone,¡± Jiang Junlin replied. ¡°Zhang Qiang has better judgment than our family¡¯s Nick,¡± Ji Chi commented. Zhang Qiang, at the door, didn¡¯t understand why they had suddenly started arguing. They seemed like statues to him, and he struggled to comprehend his masters¡¯ thoughts. Jiang Junlin took a bottle of soda from the fridge, but Ji Chi swiftly snatched it away. ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner, and you have a stomach condition. Why are you drinking soda on an empty stomach?¡± ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Jiang Junlin grabbed another bottle from the fridge. Ji Chi quickly pushed it back and closed the fridge. He apologized with a knowing smile. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be angry. I was wrong.¡± He didn¡¯t know what he did wrong, but apologizing first was always a safe bet. Ji Chi had a natural talent for acting cute in front of Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin¡¯s inexplicable anger seemed to dissipate by half. ¡°Move aside!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Ji Chi understood in his heart. Most likely, as soon as he mentioned the Ministry of State Security, his brother knew what he had come for. Ji Chi clicked his tongue in his mind, his brother was really clever. He wasn¡¯t budging no matter what approach he used, truly difficult to deal with! ¡°I got scolded by Third Master and came to seek comfort from you,¡± Ji Chi began, ¡°If you don¡¯t like this dish, you don¡¯t have to eat it. I¡¯ll work harder next time to perfect this dish and make it to your liking.¡± He had humbled himself this much; his brother wouldn¡¯t still be angry, right? ¡°Why did you get scolded?¡± Jiang Junlin picked up the topic, as Ji Chi had hoped. Ji Chi hesitated for a moment, and Jiang Junlin calmly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to say,¡± Ji Chi lowered his gaze, putting on a look of grievance, ¡°A batch of cultural relics transported by Black Hawk to the port was stolen under my responsibility. The blame is on me. We haven¡¯t found any clues yet, and the stolen artifacts were returned. Third Master said I was too focused on you and not paying enough attention to official business. This incident caused a stir, and I can¡¯t be blamed for not investigating as quickly as others, right?¡± Jiang Junlin pondered silently. Wasn¡¯t this batch of cultural relics under Rong Li¡¯s responsibility? But then he thought again. Lu Zhiyuan was recuperating, and both Rong Li and Ji Chi were sharing all the official duties. Ji Chi was the heir, so it made sense to entrust him with such an important matter. ¡°Since the items haven¡¯t been lost, there¡¯s nothing to be scolded for,¡± Jiang Junlin said. ¡°Third Master thinks something is fishy about this. The stolen items were returned intact, isn¡¯t this playing games with us? We had already informed Chen Liangyou on the day the items were stolen. There was a bit of unpleasantness recently, and Third Master was pushed off a cliff by Chen Liangyou. With the loss of these artifacts, Chen Liangyou, who had been inclined to reconcile with us, became estranged again. He felt we were deliberately plotting against him due to this incident, severing our ties completely. It¡¯s quite a malicious scheme.¡± Jiang Junlin pondered in silence. He had never thought of any malicious schemes. ¡°With Black Hawk¡¯s extensive network, losing the Chen family won¡¯t affect us much. Many others are willing to cooperate with you,¡± Ji Chi didn¡¯t say anything particularly valuable, and Jiang Junlin already knew it, ¡°You¡¯re not avoiding anything, just saying everything.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to avoid? Third Master and Gu Ci fell off a cliff together, almost losing their lives. You¡¯d definitely investigate,¡± Ji Chi lightly chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to hide.¡± With Gu Ci involved in such a major incident, how could Jiang Junlin not know? Jiang Junlin changed the topic and asked Ji Chi, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan is a year younger than you. Why did they groom you as the heir? When he took over Black Hawk back then, he was also very young. Did he foresee his early death? Otherwise, why would he choose someone of the same age as the heir?¡± Ji Chi propped his chin, smiling ambiguously, ¡°Third Master probably wanted to retire early and enjoy a life of leisure, wandering without a care?¡± Jiang Junlin chuckled. ¡°A person who took over Black Hawk when he was underage, with no interest in power, wanting a carefree life in seclusion. Do you believe that?¡± Ji Chi chuckled lightly. ¡°Third Master really does.¡± ¡°When do you plan to take over?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. ¡°Maybe in another ten years!¡± Ji Chi wasn¡¯t entirely sure. It could be five years, or it could be ten. Five to ten years would give him enough time to establish himself in Black Hawk and maintain control over several major families. That timeframe was similar to what Jiang Junlin had estimated. ¡°Why did he take over Black Hawk back then?¡± ¡°The previous master died suddenly, and he was thrust into the role in a crisis,¡± Ji Chi said with a sly smile. ¡°Brother, you seem quite curious about Third Master today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious because there are many mysteries surrounding him. Just surviving that fall alone has me puzzled,¡± Jiang Junlin asked, ¡°The car crashed in the South Mountains, so why did they end up in the North Mountains? Did they fly there?¡± The South and North Mountains were not connected, with no roads between them. Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t figure out how Gu Ci, half-dead, managed to cross the rugged terrain carrying Lu Zhiyuan. It had always been a question on his mind. He had even seen videos taken by passersby of the accident. With such a severe crash, even gods would have perished. He had prepared for the worst. He had almost believed that fate couldn¡¯t be changed, and Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci were destined to die. Ji Chi was taken aback by this question. He hadn¡¯t considered it before. Since Third Master was fine, both he and Rong Li were just grateful. They didn¡¯t pay much attention to how he had survived. Jiang Junlin¡¯s mention of it felt strange, and Ji Chi couldn¡¯t help but find it peculiar. When the car went off the cliff, they were all inside it. What was even more bizarre was that Gu Ci only had superficial injuries. Despite a large search party looking for them at the foot of the cliff, they couldn¡¯t locate them. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s some hidden path in the mountains that we don¡¯t know about?¡± Ji Chi made a reasonable assumption. Jiang Junlin let out a derisive snort. He leaned back against the couch, revealing his long neck, prominent Adam¡¯s apple, and a side profile that exuded both sharpness and gentleness. He was undoubtedly a side-profile heartthrob. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Ji Chi¡¯s mouth went dry, and Jiang Junlin satisfied every aspect of his aesthetic preferences, whether in terms of personality, temperament, looks, or physique. Ji Chi was not one to stay passive, and Jiang Junlin could sense him inching closer. Ji Chi had countless desires. He wanted to wake up every morning and see Jiang Junlin as the first thing. He wanted to receive a hug from Jiang Junlin every evening when he returned home. He wanted to have dinner with Jiang Junlin every day and chat about daily life.. Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: He Cheated, We Can’t Beat Him Chapter 403: He Cheated, We Can¡¯t Beat Him Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ji Chi¡¯s hair was as if it had just been washed, all covered in sweat. Jiang Junlin lifted his bangs, and his gaze softened. Jiang Junlin thought to himself, this is really sticky. Not only did Ji Chi say that, but he also said it about him! Ji Chi was lying on top of him, almost falling asleep. The water temperature was so comfortable, and Jiang Junlin¡¯s breath was too comfortable. He didn¡¯t want to open his eyes at all. Jiang Junlin tapped his nose, ¡°Are you asleep?¡± ¡°Sleeping,¡± Ji Chi mumbled. ¡°Go back to the bedroom to sleep.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t walk.¡± Ji Chi reached out and hugged him like a koala. ¡°Big brother, hold me.¡± Jiang Junlin really picked him up and went to the guest room to sleep. He hadn¡¯t eaten dinner, and he had been messing around all night, so his stomach was slightly aching. He got up and returned to the living room, where he saw the sofa in a mess as well. Jiang Junlin ignored it, grabbed a few slices of bread to fill his stomach, took two stomach pills, and then went back to accompany Ji Chi. Ji Chi automatically snuggled up to him when he smelled his scent, insisting on hugging him to sleep. Jiang Junlin chuckled softly, turned off the lights, and the cold takeout food was forgotten. Ji Chi left early in the morning. He hadn¡¯t slept for long. When he returned to Global, Lu Zhiyuan and Rong Li had already gotten up to exercise. Lu Zhiyuan still had a heart for racing, doing physical training, and the team doctor was on the side, worried that he might have another accident. Ji Chi yawned and waited on the side, feeling discomfort in a certain part of his body, but he was still drowsy. The environment at Global was too comfortable, and Ji Chi had no sense of vigilance. He fell asleep leaning on the sofa, and he didn¡¯t even know when Lu Zhiyuan came over. ¡°Listen to your brother¡¯s advice and don¡¯t indulge yourself while you¡¯re young; it¡¯s bad for your health.¡± Ji Chi looked at him expressionlessly. ¡°Third Master, I¡¯m one year older than you, and your son is seven years old.¡± Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t argue with that point, and he laughed as he wiped his sweat. ¡°Did you manage to find out anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll clarify one thing first. When I tried to gather information from Jiang Junlin, 1 basically couldn¡¯t get anything out of him. But one thing is strange; when I was at Ministry of State Security, Zhang Qiang seemed very nervous. Later, when 1 got home, my brother kept asking about your situation, so I guessed he must have some connection with you going to Ministry of State Security. He even asked why you took over Black Hawk back then, and I said you didn¡¯t have any ambitions and wanted to retire early. My brother¡¯s tone and expression were very mocking.¡± Ji Chi pondered for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m thinking he might know that you took over and killed the previous owner.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said in a low voice. ¡°When he had his accident, I was at a race, and¡­¡± He had teleported there. Who could have expected that? Tang Mingzhou didn¡¯t even think of it, let alone Jiang Junlin. ¡°This is my speculation,¡± Ji Chi yawned. ¡°When he joined the Ministry of State Security, he looked very pale. Oh, by the way, Third Master, you survived being pushed off a cliff, which is indeed hard to explain. He also found it very suspicious, and there were mostly these pieces of information.¡± ¡°After indulging yourself all night, you didn¡¯t come up with a single definite clue?¡± Ji Chi rolled his eyes not very subtly. ¡°Third Master, try asking someone else.¡± In the past, neither Ji Chi nor Rong Li would have dared to be so unrestrained with the Third Master, because the Third Master used to exude a cold and aloof aura, distant from human emotions. But now, the Third Master was humorous and kind, and gradually Ji Chi and Rong Li were no longer afraid of him. Lu Zhiyuan sipped his water, deep in thought. The name Tang Mingzhou had resurfaced after five years, and news of his betrayal had also spread. Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but feel that something was off. ¡°How long did he stay at the Ministry of State Security?¡± ¡°Forty minutes,¡± Ji Chi calculated by looking at his watch, and he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve checked. No special individuals entered within five hours, and he met with Chen Liangdong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a highly confidential place. Ordinary people can¡¯t get in, especially considering he¡¯s the master of the underworld dark web. There¡¯s still no consensus on how the underworld dark web will proceed in the future, and Chen Liangdong will definitely want to avoid suspicion. Even if he discusses something with Jiang Junlin, it¡¯s unlikely that only Chen Liangdong met him. They probably arranged to meet somewhere outside to avoid prying eyes. By giving Chen Liangdong a spot in the underworld dark web, their relationship has become very ambiguous, and no one wants to see them working together.¡± Ji Chi quickly grasped the situation. ¡°Unless there¡¯s someone at the Ministry of State Security that he absolutely had to meet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, besides being a highly confidential place, there¡¯s also a prison in that building,¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s the highest-level prison in the country.¡± Ordinary criminals wouldn¡¯t have the qualifications to be incarcerated there. ¡°My brother is too cautious. I mentioned it briefly, and he got angry and became suspicious. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to press him further.¡± Ji Chi did his best. Lu Zhiyuan smiled and asked, ¡°Since you indulged yourself so much, didn¡¯t you secretly check his phone?¡± Ji Chi shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve never done that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Lu Zhiyuan laughed. ¡°Even Gu Ci has sneaked a peek at my phone. I don¡¯t believe you haven¡¯t checked Jiang Junlin¡¯s.¡± With such possessiveness, it was likely a common occurrence. ¡°Third Master, are you being so good to me because I remind you of Gu Ci? Since you can¡¯t have her, is it satisfying to have a substitute?¡± Ji Chi teased. Lu Zhiyuan was dumbstruck. They were truly hurting each other. Ji Chi arranged to meet at the restaurant where Jiang Junlin often went. This private restaurant was closed to the public today and would host their party in the afternoon. Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci arrived early, had lunch in the restaurant, and then moved to a private room to discuss matters. Gu Ci had been in good spirits lately, sleeping well at night without nightmares. So, when she saw the dark circles under Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyes and his unusual fatigue, she felt concerned. ¡°Big brother, I will definitely work hard to treat you and help you relieve your stress.¡± Her big brother was truly working too hard. Qin Wan said, ¡°Master seems to be indulging too much, and his vitality is lacking.¡± Jiang Junlin was speechless. With just one sentence, Qin Wan hit the nail on the head. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t mind at all. He had been working tirelessly lately, and he already had trouble sleeping, not to mention the events of the previous night. Zhang Qiang and the others remained tight-lipped and didn¡¯t dare to gossip about him. Gu Ci had a sharp gaze, even in the heated room, she was wearing a scarf. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t mind their prying eyes. Qin Wan asked, ¡°Master, are you and Third Master going to fight?¡± ¡°Why would we fight?¡± Jiang Junlin raised an eyebrow. He was here to discuss cooperation, and despite his dislike for Lu Zhiyuan, he recognized Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s abilities. Under his control, Black Hawk was in much better shape than when it was under Tang Mingzhou. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°At least, it¡¯s all cleaned up,¡± he thought. ¡°Cici, if Master and Lu Zhiyuan were to fight, whose side would you be on?¡± Qin Wan enjoyed stirring things up and asked Gu Ci. Jiang Junlin watched Gu Ci with a smile. Gu Ci replied, ¡°I¡¯d support my big brother.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was overpowered, and there was no way his big brother could lose.. Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Sister, I Want to Make a Move Chapter 404: Sister, I Want to Make a Move Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Jiang Junlin felt relieved, having raised her for nothing. Her brother was her lifelong brother, but her husband wasn¡¯t! As soon as Lu Zhiyuan walked to the door, Gu Ci, without hesitation, said, ¡°I¡¯ll help my brother,¡± without even considering him. Ji Chi and Rong Li looked at him with a sympathetic look. Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t expect Gu Ci to be here. As soon as he entered the door, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, unbearable, but he forcefully suppressed it, his face unchanged. He hadn¡¯t seen Gu Ci for some time. She looked better, a bit plumper, with a well-proportioned and attractive figure, no longer as skinny as before, her eyes less gloomy. The guards were all standing outside the door. Qin Wan didn¡¯t participate in the negotiations. She seemed more like replacing Zhang Qiang¡¯s role in protecting Jiang Junlin. When Lu Zhiyuan and the others came in, Qin Wan moved to a corner, legs crossed, cigarette in hand, rebellious, trying to be invisible. Rong Li glanced at her, full of ridicule. Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin exchanged brief greetings, both not very enthusiastic. Gu Ci got up to pour tea, her movements elegant. Gu Ci¡¯s gaze fell on the teacup. Ji Chi smiled as soon as he saw Jiang Junlin, not concealing his emotions. Rong Li gave him a nudge, a love-struck fool, tone it down. Ji Chi glared at him, single dogs don¡¯t understand the happiness of our love. Rong Li: Hah! Ji Chi took the menu and ordered afternoon tea, ¡°Third Master, this place makes exquisite pastries, sweet but not greasy, perfect with black tea. Shall I order some for you?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci both watched as Ji Chi ordered. Ji Chi coughed twice, ¡°Why aren¡¯t any of you talking? It¡¯s awkward!¡± They seemed very awkward! Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t seem awkward at all. They sat calmly, and this was the first time they had sat together to discuss business. Both of them were unhappy and uncomfortable. Gu Ci refilled Jiang Junlin¡¯s tea, and with a calm attitude, offered some to Lu Zhiyuan. Ji Chi and Rong Li poured tea as well. ¡°Are you all performing a silent play?¡± Gu Ci asked, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient, we can leave, and you can talk alone.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin said in unison, quite in sync. ¡°Since we¡¯re going to cooperate, let¡¯s be open. We lost a batch of cultural relics, was it taken by your group?¡± Lu Zhiyuan also got straight to the point, asking calmly. Qin Wan took a drag of her cigarette, wondering if she had made a mistake and been spotted by the Black Hawk? ¡°We did take the cultural relics, but they were returned intact. You suffered no loss,¡± Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°We had some vital intelligence hidden within the relics, which we retrieved. After obtaining the information, we returned the relics to you exactly as they were.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°Whether there was a loss or not is not for you to judge. This occurred with our mutual understanding of cooperation. If Mr. Jiang needs anything, just ask directly; we won¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°You say that in an interesting way. Our intelligence is worth a fortune, and our agents risked their lives to deliver it. We haven¡¯t even started cooperating yet, so why should 1 trust you?¡± Jiang Junlin was not polite either. Lu Zhiyuan sneered, ¡°If you can¡¯t trust us, then there¡¯s no need to talk about cooperation.¡± ¡°It was you who had Ji Chi deliver the message to discuss cooperation. If you don¡¯t want to discuss it, the door is right there,¡± Jiang Junlin stared at Lu Zhiyuan directly, ¡°Feel free to leave.¡± ¡°Fine, as you said!¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s anger flared. They exchanged sharp words, the tension in the air palpable. Rong Li and Ji Chi, who had been with Lu Zhiyuan for years, were quite surprised to see him engaged in such a heated argument. ¡°Third Master, Mr. Jiang, let¡¯s talk properly. It took a lot to set up this meeting. Let¡¯s compromise and find common ground. There¡¯s a vast sea and sky beyond this. Don¡¯t be stubborn¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Both Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin shouted simultaneously. Ji Chi, Don¡¯t let your quarrel harm the interests of others! ¡°Does he seem willing to cooperate?¡± Lu Zhiyuan said coldly. ¡°If you weren¡¯t interested from the beginning, you could have rejected Ji Chi. Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s mutually benefit. I advise Mr. Jiang to lower his arrogance.¡± Just as Jiang Junlin was about to retort, Gu Ci softly said, ¡°Stop arguing and let¡¯s talk about business.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s intervention calmed the tempers of both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan. She handed them the terms and conditions of the cooperation project that the Triads wanted to discuss, and Ji Chi also presented the terms and conditions of the Black Hawk¡¯s project that required Triad¡¯s assistance. Lu Zhiyuan took the documents handed over by Gu Ci and began reading them, with Rong Li and Ji Chi leaning in to see. Jiang Junlin also took the documents from Ji Chi and reviewed them with Gu Ci. Qin Wan showed no interest in the negotiations; she opened the window, lit a cigarette, and started blowing smoke rings. ¡°This is quite a hefty demand!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin, despite their differences, both seemed to be on the same page again. They both felt like the other side was trying to extort them. Ji Chi said, ¡°Third Master, let¡¯s finish reading them first.¡± Gu Ci also added, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s finish reading.¡± Negotiating cooperation was always a process of compromise. Both parties expressed their intentions to cooperate, and there hadn¡¯t been a failed negotiation yet. Unreasonable terms could always be discussed. After Ji Chi finished reading all the terms, he couldn¡¯t help but think that his brother was even more ruthless than the Third Master. The conditions were such that if the Third Master agreed to one-third of them, it would already be considered generous. Lu Zhiyuan picked up a pen and began crossing out clauses, leaving only seven or eight out of the initial thirty-six. Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci exchanged glances. Jiang Junlin also took a pen and began crossing out clauses, making adjustments. Lu Zhiyuan proposed twenty-three cooperation terms, and Jiang Junlin rejected twenty of them. Gu Ci sighed inwardly, thinking, ¡°Brother, please control yourself. This is getting too personal.¡± When she saw that the terms Lu Zhiyuan was crossing out were also marked with X¡¯s, Gu Ci was at a loss. How were they supposed to continue the negotiation like this? She pressed the bell and said, ¡°Madam, please bring us some chrysanthemum tea.¡± ¡°Jiang Junlin, are you here to cause trouble and not actually negotiate?¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned. ¡°What demands are you making? Hoping for financial cooperation between the Triads and Black Hawk, isn¡¯t that a pipe dream? Who doesn¡¯t want to negotiate here?¡± ¡°I think sharing the Black Hawk Eye System is not unreasonable at all,¡± Jiang Junlin replied, ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s thinking too big. Do you think sharing means sharing everything? Do we have to split research and development funds equally as well?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± Jiang Junlin continued, ¡°We have plenty of money.¡± Ji Chi, taking advantage of the moment before Lu Zhiyuan got angrier, quickly interjected, ¡°Brother, this one isn¡¯t acceptable. We have money too.¡± Lu Zhiyuan sneered, ¡°Taking advantage of a situation!¡± Jiang Junlin countered, ¡°Daydreaming!¡± Rong Li couldn¡¯t bear it and slammed the table. ¡°Why don¡¯t you two just fight it out? The winner gets to speak.¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained calm. ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Jiang Junlin chuckled. He had wanted to fight Lu Zhiyuan for many years, and now he finally had the chance to do it openly. He wasn¡¯t going to miss this opportunity. However, Gu Ci spoke up, ¡°A true gentleman settles disputes with words, not fists.¡± Jiang Junlin, Sister, I want to use my fists! Gu Ci maintained a blank expression, thinking, ¡°Brother, they have backup; we can¡¯t win this fight!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci exchanged a glance. Lu Zhiyuan could guess why Gu Ci didn¡¯t want Jiang Junlin to fight. She was probably afraid her brother would be at a disadvantage. She was truly protective of her brother.. Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Third Master, Are You Weak? Chapter 405: Third Master, Are You Weak? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Chrysanthemum tea was quickly brewed. Gu Ci took it and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two switch to chrysanthemum tea instead of black tea?¡± Qin Wan lazily sunbathed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already smoked a whole cigarette, and you haven¡¯t even finalized one project. Do you want to spend three days here? You both can¡¯t stand each other¡¯s company, so stop chattering and get it done quickly!¡± Rong Li rarely had a moment of understanding with Qin Wan. ¡°Are you really dragging this out just to steal a glimpse of your lover?¡± he asked. Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin were both rendered speechless. Ji Chi smiled and raised two small dimples at Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Ji Chi restrained her smile, looking innocent. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯m innocent!¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite interesting. Weren¡¯t you two indulging yourselves last night? Now, you¡¯re sitting together and acting like strangers. So, is friendship only maintainable in bed?¡± Rong Li sincerely said, ¡°JI Chi, you¡¯re worse than a warm bed.¡± Lu Zhiyuan added, ¡°Indeed, no self-awareness!¡± Ji Chi was thrown. Why are you attacking me when you¡¯re discussing cooperation? Jiang Junlin sneered, ¡°You guys care about everything, even who he sleeps with at night?¡± Lu Zhiyuan smiled at Ji Chi, ¡°Can you manage that?¡± Ji Chi picked up a pastry and said, ¡°These pastries are really delicious. Won¡¯t you try them?¡± One is the master, and the other is the one he loves. He can¡¯t afford to offend either of them. Little Cherry said, ¡°Master, the male classmates in my class are all handsome and have great figures. 1¡¯11 introduce them to you. The most important thing is that they all have the highest education in the country. Unlike some people!¡± Rong Li sneered, ¡°What¡¯s so impressive about a high education? Our Ji Chi is indeed illiterate and useless. Your master is shallow, only caring about his looks!¡± Ji Chi stayed silent. Qin Wan flicked her cigarette butt and rolled up her sleeves. ¡°Who are you calling shallow?¡± ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m talking about Jiang Junlin. Can¡¯t you understand?¡± Rong Li retorted. Ji Chi, who had been angry, was now holding a cup of chrysanthemum tea and watching the drama. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have a fight!¡± Qin Wan said. Rong Li looked at her disdainfully. ¡°1 won¡¯t bother fighting with a woman.¡± ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re chickening out, aren¡¯t you? Afraid you can¡¯t win?¡± Rong Li stood up abruptly. ¡°Come on!¡± Qin Wan walked away briskly, and it seemed like the two of them were really going to fight outside. Inside the private room, there was silence. No one had expected the discussion to take this turn. Gu Ci asked expressionlessly, ¡°Should we wait for them to finish fighting first or continue the negotiation?¡± Ji Chi couldn¡¯t help but suggest, ¡°If Rong Li wins, should my brother back off? If Qin Wan wins, should Third Young Master back off?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Both Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin exclaimed simultaneously, clearly not believing that their side could win. They were both unknown quantities. Gu Ci took both sets of agreements and placed them together. ¡°Let¡¯s go through them one by one now. We can renegotiate what¡¯s negotiable and strike out what¡¯s not. Those of you fighting, it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t negotiate anything, right?¡± Letting them continue their brawl would only result in no progress by tomorrow. Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan exchanged a glance and reluctantly agreed. Ji Chi sat beside Gu Ci and picked up the agreement drafted by Black Hawk. ¡°We¡¯ll go first. The first item, Mr. Jiang, it¡¯s about financial cooperation. Can¡¯t we discuss it at all?¡± ¡°No discussion!¡± Jiang Junlin said firmly. Gu Ci continued, ¡°On our side, the first item also has an ¡®X.¡¯ Is it impossible to discuss the shared access to The Black Hawk Eye System?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± Lu Zhiyuan confirmed. Ji Chi nodded, ¡°Item two, the establishment of Black Hawk¡¯s Asian division. We hope to receive assistance from Hualan Bank to solidify Black Hawk¡¯s position in the Asian financial circle. Mr. Jiang, can¡¯t we discuss it at all?¡± After a brief thought, Jiang Junlin replied, ¡°Negotiate the details. We¡¯ll only be responsible for recommendations. How you go about it is your concern. One condition from us, though, Black Hawk must comply with the local financial market rules that we lead.¡± Lu Zhiyuan frowned, finding it stringent, but he could accept it. ¡°Alright.¡± Gu Ci recorded the agreements, modifying the details. She looked at Lu Zhiyuan and asked, ¡°Regarding the details, do you have any suggestions?¡± Lu Zhiyuan experienced a sudden and severe heartache, causing him to momentarily lose focus. Cold sweat formed on his forehead, and the pain triggered an involuntary reaction. Jiang Junlin furrowed his brows. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, have you been feeling unwell? You¡¯ve been sweating since you arrived.¡± Ji Chi also noticed that despite being fine earlier, Third Young Master seemed unwell now. ¡°Third Young Master, are you not feeling well?¡± Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling weak, you should take better care of yourself. I¡¯ll have some supplements sent to you later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied with a faint tone. Gu Ci looked at him with confusion, then suddenly grabbed his wrist to check his pulse. The contact triggered Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heartache again, and a mouthful of blood rushed to his throat. He quickly stood up and left the private room, saying, ¡°1 need to use the restroom.¡± The three remaining people in the room were puzzled. Jiang Junlin pointed at the restroom sign inside the private room, ¡°Did he not see that big restroom sign?¡± Each private room had its own restroom. Gu Ci asked, ¡°Is his injury not fully healed yet?¡± Ji Chi softly said, ¡°He¡¯s been in excellent health recently. He even trained for four hours this morning. 1 didn¡¯t notice any discomfort.¡± ¡°His complexion doesn¡¯t look like that of someone in good health,¡± Jiang Junlin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Thinking of retirement so early, could he have some terminal illness?¡± Gu Ci was taken aback by the suggestion. She had seen Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s health reports, medical examinations, and there was no problem at all. He was very healthy. Even if he had been injured, he should have fully recovered by now. How did he end up like this? ¡°Ji Chi, go check on him,¡± Gu Ci said. Ji Chi initially wanted Gu Ci to go, but he didn¡¯t refuse when he heard her request. He got up and went to find Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan had managed to suppress the pain in his chest without Gu Ci, and it had eased slightly. He was washing his hands with a cold expression. This curse was so vicious, tormenting him and Gu Ci for eternity with no solution in sight. Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising within him, though it was mostly a feeling of helplessness. He couldn¡¯t tell Gu Ci about it. If he did, she would blame herself and suffer. He would bear this burden alone, not wanting to trouble her. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Third Master, are you okay?¡± Ji Chi knocked on the door gently and spoke softly, ¡°Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?¡± Lu Zhiyuan opened the door, his complexion terrible. One¡¯s health couldn¡¯t be hidden, even if he pretended to be fine. Ji Chi could tell something was wrong from his appearance. For the past few days, Third Master had been cheerful, and he had taken great care of his health. ¡°Third Master?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, though his tone was far from convincing. ¡°If you¡¯re just brushing me off, it¡¯s okay, but Miss Gu Ci is a doctor. How are you going to brush her off?¡± Ji Chi sighed, reaching out to check Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s forehead. If it were a few months ago, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to do this. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever. If you¡¯re feeling unwell, leave the negotiations to me and Rong Li. We¡¯ll talk to Jiang Junlin..¡± Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Baby Was Poached Chapter 406: Baby Was Poached Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°When you see Jiang Junlin, it¡¯s like a hungry dog finding a bone. What can you talk about?¡± ¡°Third Master, you¡¯re underestimating him. There should be some restraint, and I¡¯m well aware of it.¡± Ji Chi thought to himself, why compare it to a dog? He hated dogs, after all, he was more of a wolf! Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to say what he was thinking, and Ji Chi knew he couldn¡¯t ask. In the private room, Gu Ci remained calm, but her heart was filled with worry. What happened to him? Why is he in so much pain? The last time she and Ziyu went to see him, Lu Zhiyuan was also in great discomfort, as if his body was in excruciating pain. Is it because his old injuries didn¡¯t heal properly? Did using teleportation have such severe aftereffects? ¡°Cici, have something to eat.¡± Jiang Junlin handed her pastries and poured a fresh cup of tea to replace the cold one. Gu Ci had no appetite, and Jiang Junlin thought to himself that she still cared a lot about Lu Zhiyuan. It seems that Lu Zhiyuan initiated the breakup. Cici didn¡¯t seem to want to break up at all, and Jiang Junlin sneered. Lu Zhiyuan was really blind. With someone as good as Cici, why would he want to break up? Jiang Junlin had always understood that for Lu Zhiyuan, being with Cici brought nothing but benefits and served as a restraint on him. If Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t love Cici, what did all those public displays of affection mean? Love comes quickly and goes just as fast, does it stay passionate for just a day or two? After he had an accident in Paris, Cici took care of him day and night, almost going crazy with him. Anyone with a bit of kindness would be touched, but Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s heart was made of stone. He didn¡¯t feel moved at all; instead, he wanted to hurt her. ¡°Cici, did Lu Zhiyuan initiate the breakup?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. Gu Ci glanced at the contract, her brother was currently discussing cooperation with Lu Zhiyuan. If she got angry, it might ruin their negotiations. ¡°1 initiated it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Our personalities don¡¯t match, and he has too many fans. It¡¯s annoying.¡± Gu Ci said seriously. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t believe her at all. When Lu Zhiyuan came in, his face returned to normal. Gu Ci frowned and looked at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°My old injury acted up. I need to recover quickly for training. The medical team used medication too aggressively, but it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Lu Zhiyuan brushed it off casually. He was in excruciating pain as soon as he entered the private room, but there was no sign of it on his face. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t tell if he was lying or not. He was a man of few words, and he wanted to get back to training as soon as possible. The team doctor couldn¡¯t persuade him, and Jiang Junlin said casually, ¡°Let¡¯s continue our discussion!¡± Chen Liangdong brought Gu Ziyu to attend a seminar, and most of the participants at this seminar were heavyweights. It was like Gu Ziyu¡¯s formal debut. The average age of the participants was over 40, and Gu Ziyu was the only young one. While others were sipping tea, he was drinking milk and frequently being prompted to speak. Gu Ziyu managed to hold his own in this setting. Despite his young age, he maintained a serious expression, showcasing his exceptional technical skills, which impressed everyone. Although it was unconventional and unheard of, after months of rumors and Gu Ziyu¡¯s frequent assistance in solving numerous domestic and international cases, they had already accepted this young prodigy. Moreover, with Gu Ziyu on board, the Black Hawk Eye System had made significant leaps, and many people regretted their high moral standards, wishing they had acted quickly and been willing to exploit child labor. Gu Ziyu received many tempting offers from prestigious government departments, all trying to win over Chen Liangdong. Chen Liangdong had initially thought that he might face challenges from others, fearing that they might use Gu Ziyu¡¯s age against him. However, it turned out that they were trying to woo Gu Ziyu. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. Gu Ziyu was young, but he had learned Tai Chi from the master of diplomacy, Chen Liangdong. He appeared to be accepting everyone, but in reality, he was rejecting them all without offending anyone. With his childish remarks and charming personality, he won people over easily. Since the seminar focused on social issues, Gu Ziyu was well-prepared and gained universal approval. During a break, Gu Ziyu got some snacks, and Chen Liangdong asked, ¡°This afternoon, Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan have scheduled a meeting. Shouldn¡¯t we wrap things up?¡± It was already three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. ¡°It started at two o¡¯clock. I¡¯m afraid one hour won¡¯t be enough,¡± Gu Ziyu replied. Regarding the Tang Mingzhou incident, Chen Liangdong didn¡¯t keep it a secret from him. Although Gu Ziyu found himself in an awkward position, he had principles, and he didn¡¯t leak any information about it. Lu Zhiyuan was not the kind of person who would use his son to gather information, and both sides had their boundaries. Chen Liangdong was very worried, fearing that they would have a very productive meeting but also fearing that it might not go well. He was in a dilemma. Gu Ziyu saw through his thoughts with a single glance and said, ¡°Old man, don¡¯t overthink it. They won¡¯t have deep cooperation.¡± ¡°If they won¡¯t have deep cooperation, why are they talking for so long?¡± Chen Liangdong had just received a message from Chen Fei. They hadn¡¯t finished their discussion yet, and for some reason, Qin Wan and Rong Li were fighting, damaging a folding screen in a restaurant. Gu Ziyu hadn¡¯t inquired about what Gu Ci was going to discuss, and Chen Liangdong explained, ¡°If they get along too well, Jiang Junlin will become even more confident and difficult to control. There are already many opposing opinions, and no one has reached a balance. If he has Black Hawk as a backer, the conflicts will intensify. But if they don¡¯t get along, and they start fighting, it¡¯ll be a life-and-death struggle, which will have a significant impact on the financial market¡¯s stability.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so anxious, why don¡¯t you go talk to them too?¡± Gu Ziyu cleverly suggested, ¡°I can help you connect with them.¡± Uncle and Dad probably wouldn¡¯t refuse him. ¡°No way!¡± Chen Liangdong shook his head and tapped his nose, ¡°Our position is always neutral.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting you compromise your principles,¡± Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°but just a little outside the realm of law and order.¡± ¡°Your ideas are quite dangerous,¡± Chen Liangdong remarked, ¡°just talk to me about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that foolish,¡± Gu Ziyu was never someone to blurt out trouble, he had a sense of propriety, especially at a seminar, where he presented himself as a silent and aloof tech prodigy. Chen Liangyou walked over, and Chen Liangdong called him ¡°big brother.¡± Gu Ziyu also stood up and greeted the newcomer. Chen Liangyou said, ¡°Kid Yu, I have something to discuss with Liangdong.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom,¡± Gu Ziyu took his snacks and headed out, searching for an empty balcony to enjoy his snacks. He found these seminars particularly irksome. They talked about serious matters, often related to people¡¯s livelihoods, technology, education, and the topics varied each time. Representatives from various departments came to discuss. The conversations proceeded at a leisurely pace, more like sipping tea and chatting while snacking on melon seeds. How else could you describe a seminar like this? Gu Ziyu found it annoying. He didn¡¯t like these meetings and found them torturous. ¡°Kid, I heard you¡¯re the little genius brought by Old Chen. Interested in joining our national defense?¡± A commanding voice interrupted Gu Ziyu¡¯s drowsiness. He silently left his snacks behind. The man in front of him was around forty years old, still very young, handsome in appearance, with a strong and powerful physique. He was wearing a green uniform. Gu Ziyu glanced at his shoulder insignia and realized he was dealing with a young major general. ¡°Hello, Uncle.. I¡¯m Gu Ziyu,¡± Gu Ziyu greeted with a cheerful smile and innocently asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 407 - Chapter 407:1 Love You and Rejected Him Chapter 407:1 Love You and Rejected Him Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Mu Jianxin. I believe that Old Chen has provided us with a set of monitoring and tracking devices. The Blue Army achieved a great victory a few days ago, and they¡¯re all praising it. 1 heard it was developed by you, and your technology is being underutilized by Old Chen,¡± he said without any hesitation, pinching Gu Ziyu¡¯s arm as if he wasn¡¯t an outsider and observing his physique. ¡°You look like a promising talent. Transferring to a military academy would be a good choice.¡± Gu Ziyu was silent. He stayed quiet for a few seconds, then smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been weak since childhood. 1 get out of breath when I run, and my heart hurts when I move. I can¡¯t handle hardship, and I can¡¯t adapt to the military academy¡¯s system at all.¡± Let me be a lazy person! Please! Genius teenagers should have a choice! ¡°I¡¯ve heard this before; my son said the same thing,¡± Mu Jianxin laughed heartily. ¡°Give it some serious thought. If you want to transfer, come find me anytime. We¡¯ll always welcome you.¡± Gu Ziyu watched him walk away briskly, squinting in confusion. Why did he come to this meeting? Was he here just to recruit him? Gu Ziyu munched on snacks, pondering. Am I really this popular? Chen Liangyou immediately accused Chen Liangdong as soon as he spoke, ¡°You¡¯re the only one who would take a child of unknown origin and painstakingly nurture him, bringing him here to familiarize him with everyone. If he causes trouble in the future or has identity issues, you¡¯ll have to deal with it. Why do you always do thankless things like this? Do you know how many people have grievances about this matter?¡± ¡°Big brother, Ziyu knows his limits. Don¡¯t think of the worst. I brought him to broaden his horizons and help him adapt faster.¡± ¡°Have you thoroughly investigated his background?¡± ¡°If something happens, i¡¯ll take responsibility, and it won¡¯t affect you,¡± Chen Liangdong spoke gently. ¡°Big brother, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Throughout your life, how many troubles have you caused, how many problems have you stirred up? There¡¯s nothing reassuring about it. So many people are interested in Gu Ziyu. It might be better to have him transfer out sooner. If something happens in the future, it won¡¯t be your concern,¡± Chen Liangyou said without mincing words. ¡°Big brother, why are you so certain that he¡¯ll definitely cause trouble in the future?¡± Chen Liangdong didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What terrible things has Ziyu done to make you dislike him so much?¡± He almost quoted a classic line. He was still a child. Chen Liangyou frowned, ¡°This kid is close to Gu Ci, close to the Jiang family. He used to live in the Global Center with Gu Ci, and recently, he was seen playing basketball and street racing with Lu Zhiyuan. With such a background and connections, are you not afraid to use him, Chen Liangdong? Are you not afraid of death?¡± If Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin¡¯s identities had not been exposed and there were no issues, Gu Ziyu wouldn¡¯t have faced any problems either. Chen Liangdong valued talent and early cultivation, which made sense. But now, with Gu Ziyu, Lu Zhiyuan, and Jiang Junlin all being so open about their identities, the situation became quite intriguing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that he might be Jiang Junlin or an undercover agent sent by Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Chen Liangyou said in a serious tone. ¡°Think about it carefully. Isn¡¯t it too coincidental for this child to appear? At that time, Jiang Junlin was also at the police station, and he could have handled it. Why did he wait for you? His background is unknown, and he¡¯s young. Can we trust the fabricated background?¡± Chen Liangdong had his suspicions as well. Ever since Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s identity was exposed, he had trouble sleeping at night. From the moment Gu Ziyu appeared and joined them, he had been leading the way. What if it was all part of a well-orchestrated plan? Why did he initially refuse, only to change his mind later? Chen Liangdong was tormented the most after the consecutive revelations of Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin¡¯s identities. He had asked Chen Fei to keep an eye on Gu Ziyu¡¯s every move and had even sent people to investigate Gu Ziyu¡¯s background, but they couldn¡¯t find anything. After the identities of Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin were exposed, Gu Ziyu had come to Chen Liangdong to talk. ¡°Do you know that after the identities of Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin were exposed, Gu Ziyu came to me immediately? He could have resigned and been investigated,¡± Chen Liangdong said. ¡°It was my choice to trust him!¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Chen Liangyou said. ¡°He¡¯s playing the long game. You¡¯ve been in this position for so many years, and you¡¯re being easily manipulated by a child.¡± ¡°Big brother, this is our internal matter, and it¡¯s not your concern. You don¡¯t need to worry. I believe in Gu Ziyu. If something goes wrong, I¡¯ll bear it alone. 1 have no wife, no children, and even if I shed this skin, it won¡¯t affect anyone,¡± Chen Liangdong said firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t use suspicions on the trustworthy. 1 don¡¯t want to hear such words again.¡± Chen Liangyou was so angry that his hands were trembling. ¡°You are stubborn. There will be a day when you¡¯ll suffer for it. I¡¯m your big brother, same bloodline, and we rise and fall together. Can I harm you?¡± ¡°I know you mean well, so please support my decision.¡± ¡°Stubborn to the end!¡± Chen Liangyou was too furious to speak and walked away. Gu Ziyu hid in a corner, his eyes slightly red. He couldn¡¯t believe how much the old man trusted him. In reality, after Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin¡¯s identities were exposed, Gu Ziyu knew that Old Chen was investigating him. He had even voluntarily offered to resign. He felt wronged too. When his father¡¯s identity was exposed, he had a conversation with Chen Liangdong. It was indeed an awkward situation, but he didn¡¯t reveal that he was Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s son. Gu Ziyu knew his boundaries and had a conscience; he wouldn¡¯t do things he shouldn¡¯t. Chen Liangdong also believed in him. But with his uncle¡¯s identity turning out to be another shock, he was exhausted. He had another conversation with Chen Liangdong. After these repeated incidents, he understood that if Chen Liangdong had suspicions about him, it wouldn¡¯t be unfounded. This situation was just too unusual. No matter how you looked at it, Gu Ziyu seemed like he could be Jiang Junlin or an undercover agent sent by Lu Zhiyuan, infiltrating Chen Liangdong¡¯s inner circle. He felt burdened by his family¡¯s elders, and although he had grown fond of Ministry of State Security and wanted to serve his country, he had to be prepared to be kicked out at any moment. He felt even more wronged because he couldn¡¯t explain himself. If he were in Chen Liangdong¡¯s shoes, he might have found himself suspicious as well. Once you jumped into the Yellow River, there was no way to wash yourself clean. But Chen Liangdong trusted him, and whether in public or private, he had never said a negative word about Gu Ziyu. He had always shielded him from many rumors. Gu Ziyu swore that he would never do anything to betray Chen Liangdong in his entire life. Gu Ziyu bounced into the room with snacks, as if he hadn¡¯t heard Chen Liangdong and Chen Liangyou¡¯s conversation. ¡°Old man, who made you so angry, you¡¯re wearing such a long face.¡± ¡°Nothing, where were you?¡± Chen Liangdong asked. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I was on the balcony, enjoying the breeze. Mu Jianxin just tried to poach me, and he invited you too,¡± Gu Ziyu patted his chest and said to a surprised Chen Liangdong, ¡°I love you, and 1 turned him down flat.¡± Chen Liangdong was speechless. In the private room, by the time it reached 4 o¡¯clock in the afternoon, they had discussed ten points of detail, but there was still much left unfinished. Both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan were becoming increasingly impatient. Gu Ci suggested, ¡°How about a half-hour break?¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin exchanged a glance and remained silent, so Gu Ci took their silence as agreement. As soon as the meeting adjourned, Lu Zhiyuan left the private room first. Finally, he could escape the excruciating discussions for a few hours. Jiang Junlin also stepped out to catch a breath. The courtyard was quite spacious, and in different corners, they wouldn¡¯t interfere with each other.. Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Belated Affection Is Cheaper Than Grass Chapter 408: Belated Affection Is Cheaper Than Grass Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation When Lu Zhiyuan arrived in the courtyard, he saw Rong Li had put up decorations and was tending to his own arm. His face also bore the marks of a scuffle. Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t believe it and remarked, ¡°You got beaten up by a woman?¡± ¡°She¡¯s definitely more battered than me!¡± Rong Li snorted. It was normal to have a few bruises when evenly matched in a fight, and he wasn¡¯t guaranteed to win against Qin Wan. ¡°That woman must have grown up eating something special; she¡¯s incredibly strong, and¡­¡± Rong Li revealed the bloodstains on his arm, saying, ¡°She had a knife hidden in her boot and used it during the fight, even after the agreed rules.¡± ¡°Who said anything about stopping at the rules? When you challenge someone to a fight, it¡¯s a fight to the finish, life or death, right?¡± Ji Chi approached from behind, leaning against a trellis and said, ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, you can¡¯t even beat a woman, how embarrassing!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lose!¡± ¡°Getting beaten up by a woman means you lost, admit it, it¡¯s embarrassing!¡± Ji Chi taunted. Rong Li threw a towel at him, saying, ¡°Are you being sexist? Besides her appearance, what part of her is like a woman?¡± ¡°If you lost, you lost, be magnanimous and don¡¯t get angry,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. Rong Li remained silent. On the other side of the courtyard, Qin Wan was indeed more seriously injured. Men hit harder, and although she had no visible external injuries, she was covered in dark bruises. One of her arms had been dislocated, and she had forcefully reset it herself. It was painful, and her face had turned pale. Jiang Junlin furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Were you trying to kill each other in that fight?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s using kid gloves here? When you fight, you fight until someone surrenders!¡± Qin Wan justified herself. Jiang Junlin sent someone to fetch a bottle of medicinal wine and handed it to Gu Ci, who had arrived slightly later and was startled by Qin Wan¡¯s condition. ¡°It must hurt a lot. Find a room and rest for a while, lie down and apply some medicine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t die. I¡¯ll tough it out,¡± Qin Wan said. ¡°It looks scarier than it is; 1¡¯11 be fine after a couple of days.¡± ¡°Did you have a grudge with him? You fought pretty intensely,¡± Jiang Junlin inquired. ¡°Master, Black Hawk¡¯s people and us have a history. I¡¯ve learned my lesson, and I¡¯ll train harder. Next time, 1¡¯11 save face for you,¡± Qin Wan resolved. She realized that her lack of training was the reason she couldn¡¯t defeat Rong Li today. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Enough talking; let¡¯s get that medicine on.¡± Qin Wan obediently went to apply the medicine, while Jiang Junlin remained in the courtyard, smoking a cigarette to calm himself. Gu Ci understood that he needed some space and went to find Ji Chi, coincidentally meeting him on the way. Gu Ci said, ¡°Big brother probably needs some alone time. I have something to ask you; come with me.¡± Ji Chi glanced in Jiang Junlin¡¯s direction and followed Gu Ci to a more secluded spot. Gu Ci asked, ¡°What¡¯s the story behind Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s injury? Is it really a recurring old injury?¡± ¡°Miss Gu Ci, you should ask Third Master about this matter,¡± Ji Chi replied cautiously. Besides the explanation of an old injury resurfacing, there wasn¡¯t much else to say. ¡°You¡¯ve been living in the Global Center for some time now. If he had any old injuries, wouldn¡¯t you know?¡± Gu Ci pressed. Ji Chi hesitated briefly and decided it wasn¡¯t a major secret. He said, ¡°Cici, Third Master has actually been quite well these days. His injuries have healed for the most part, and the doctors said he could resume training. He seemed fine during training today, and his complexion was good. But once he arrived in the private room, he started feeling uncomfortable, so it might indeed be an old injury acting up.¡± Gu Ci pondered this, recalling the last time she had visited Lu Zhiyuan and found him in a similar state. Ji Chi added, ¡°Third Master had a serious injury from a car accident that he hasn¡¯t fully recovered from. He was also knocked off a cliff, which caused two injuries in succession. Some internal injuries might not have been detected. Perhaps, even though he looks fine on the surface, he might actually have hidden injuries. After we settle things here, Rong Li and I will take him for a comprehensive medical check-up. We¡¯ll provide you with the medical report afterward. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll make sure Third Master stays safe.¡± Despite this reassurance, Gu Ci couldn¡¯t shake her unease. She couldn¡¯t help but think about Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s words from the past. If they loved each other, one of them would have to die. Was it really a curse? Could two people in love, even if separated, still not escape the fate of death that seemed to hang over Lu Zhiyuan? Why did the curse have to come true for him? Why couldn¡¯t it have been her instead? ¡°Cici, what are you thinking?¡± Ji Chi asked. Gu Ci felt troubled, constantly haunted by Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s curse. She shook her head gently and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just let me know if there¡¯s anything unusual about him lately.¡± In the courtyard, Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin crossed paths. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Ji Chi is the successor I¡¯ve groomed, the sole heir to Black Hawk. His attachment to you runs deep. What I say, he might not necessarily heed. But what you say, he will listen. You and he can¡¯t be together. 1 know Ji Chi can separate personal and professional matters, but people are emotional creatures. Personal and professional will inevitably intertwine. Your positions and interests are different, and he still holds onto the hope that we can reconcile. Perhaps, he sees a glimmer of hope between you and him. So, he¡¯s been postponing making a decision. Jiang Junlin, you need to make that decision for him. It¡¯s better for both you and him.¡± These words weren¡¯t unexpected for Jiang Junlin. He didn¡¯t like Lu Zhiyuan, but he acknowledged that Lu Zhiyuan genuinely cared for Ji Chi. He had been paving the way for Ji Chi all along. If Ji Chi was willing to let go of everything and be with him, that would be fine. However, if Ji Chi wanted to stay with Black Hawk, it was inevitable that he couldn¡¯t be with Jiang Junlin. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t gain the respect of the organization, and Black Hawk¡¯s stability would be compromised. If Lu Zhiyuan had to find another successor, who could it be? Perhaps Gu Ziyu? Gu Ziyu is still very young, and he¡¯s under Chen Liangdong¡¯s guidance, with a bright future ahead of him. There¡¯s no need for him to get involved in this mess. Jiang Junlin had made up his mind long ago and never held onto a glimmer of hope. However, before negotiating with Lu Zhiyuan, he could delay things day by day. ¡°Understood!¡± Jiang Junlin said softly. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, if you ever let him down one day, 1¡¯11 spare no effort to take him away.¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at Jiang Junlin with a sly smile. ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you meddling back then, Ji Chi and I wouldn¡¯t be facing these problems today,¡± Jiang Junlin said coldly. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t in a life-threatening situation, he wouldn¡¯t be by your side today.¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled lightly. ¡°If you admit defeat, there¡¯s naturally a price to pay.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I admit that back then, 1 was outmatched,¡± Jiang Junlin said with a bitter smile. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, who knows who will come out on top after a separation of three days? You won, but you¡¯ve also paid a price!¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at Jiang Junlin with a cold smile. ¡°Mr. Jiang, if I remember correctly, when you left the Pentagon, you never thought about going back, and you never considered that Ji Chi was waiting for you. But he, silly as he is, genuinely believes that you couldn¡¯t return to him due to a severe illness. Yet you know very well that even if you were sober, you wouldn¡¯t take that risk.¡± Jiang Junlin clenched his fists, and Lu Zhiyuan continued nonchalantly, ¡°To this day, if Ji Chi were trapped in the Pentagon, you wouldn¡¯t necessarily go for him, risking the fate of the dark web. Let alone six years ago, you wouldn¡¯t have done it then either! You¡¯ve been deceiving him all along, and he¡¯s never wanted to delve deeper, always believing in you! Your severe injuries are just an excuse for your self-deception. You keep thinking that if you were sober, you would definitely go back to find him. But when you were truly sober back then, would you have gone? Sending people to attack the Pentagon afterward, what¡¯s the point? Late affection is cheaper than grass.¡± Jiang Junlin had never regretted his decision from six years ago, but Lu Zhiyuan was wrong about one thing. Six years ago, he wouldn¡¯t have risked the fate of the dark web for Ji Chi. However, he had everything arranged now, ready to go back for Ji Chi. He didn¡¯t want to break his promise to Ji Chi, although at the time, he didn¡¯t realize his true feelings. He saw it as a commitment to Ji Chi. But a sudden turn of events disrupted all his plans.. Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: His Life Chapter 409: His Life Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll never gamble someone¡¯s life with the fate of the Triad dark web, no one is that important!¡± Including himself! So he never allowed Gu Ci to go to great lengths to save him, and when he returned to China, he was prepared to face death. ¡°Brother¡­¡± Gu Ci coughed lightly, and Jiang Junlin turned his head to see Gu Ci and Ji Chi standing under the flowering vines. Ji Chi¡¯s face was very calm. He had always had a sword hanging over his heart, not knowing when it would fall and cut him in half. This sword was always held in Jiang Junlin¡¯s hand, and Ji Chi lay on the guillotine, smiling and looking at the executioner Jiang Junlin with joy in his eyes. He always fantasized that if this sword never fell for the rest of his life, it would be fine, always hanging over his heart, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Today, this sword finally fell. This sword that had been hanging over his head for several years had left him battered and bruised. He had imagined how painful it would be, optimistically thinking that it wasn¡¯t a big deal, as it wasn¡¯t the first time he had gone through it. But the dull pain was sharper than he had imagined. Ji Chi calmly accepted the fact that he had never been that important in Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart. He had once tried everything to win all of Jiang Junlin¡¯s attention. During the craziest times, Jiang Junlin would even compliment a roadside rose. After Jiang Junlin left, he would pluck the rose and throw it in the trash. In Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyes and heart, there was no room for living things, not even inanimate objects. After their reunion, Lu Zhiyuan saw through his thoughts and deliberately arranged for him to be in Europe. He did not forbid him from coming to City A. When he had just come of age, he had been extremely crazy, and because of this decision, he had almost fought with Third Master, and had been held down and beaten by Rong Li. During the initial period of their reunion, he was at his craziest. He wanted to defy Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s orders. Back then, Third Master looked ruthless, but deep down, he was very lenient. He made a bet with Ji Chi that Ji Chi had to manage the European business, and if he became the Asian CEO within three years, he could do whatever he wanted, and Lu Zhiyuan would not stop him. Moreover, if Jiang Junlin took the initiative to speak up and if he was willing, he could leave with Jiang Junlin. Both conditions were indispensable. Ji Chi climbed up with all his might, wanting to gain the recognition of all Black Hawk members as soon as possible. He had gone from being a clueless little wolf cub to a well-rounded Ji Chi. Step by step, he firmly established his foothold in Black Hawk, and his yearning and desires had all turned into motivation. However, Jiang Junlin had never taken the initiative to ask him to leave Black Hawk, not even once! Three years had passed, and Ji Chi had become the true Asian CEO, in addition to the empty title of CEO. He had achieved it, but Jiang Junlin had not expressed his desire to take him away as he had hoped. Ji Chi was willing to bet and accept the outcome! In truth, making this bet was a wild idea that had grown in his mind. Even if Jiang Junlin suggested taking him away, Ji Chi had no intention of betraying Black Hawk or Third Master. But the fact remained that Jiang Junlin had never brought it up. ¡°I can live without this orange,¡± he thought, ¡°but you can¡¯t withhold it from me!¡± Ji Chi couldn¡¯t leave Europe unless Jiang Junlin took the initiative to see him. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t meet. Promised commitments always seemed to fall through, and every time Jiang Junlin met him, it was to inquire about Third Master¡¯s affairs, though it was discreet. Ji Chi wasn¡¯t naive. Over the long years and his fulfilling rise to power, his pent-up desires had been suppressed. Ji Chi understood that waiting would only lead to a repeat of the past, so he had to take the initiative, and for that, he needed to hold power. In the face of Jiang Junlin¡¯s broken promises and his ambivalence, Ji Chi lost patience and grew tired of waiting, which eventually led to his imprisonment. However, the act of imprisoning him only pushed them further apart. Ji Chi had always known that he would never be first in Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart, and he couldn¡¯t understand why, especially when he saw how Lu Zhiyuan always prioritized Gu Ci¡¯s matters. He was even more puzzled. If Third Master could be prioritized, why couldn¡¯t he? It wasn¡¯t until Jiang Junlin¡¯s true identity was exposed that Ji Chi finally understood why Jiang Junlin hadn¡¯t turned back to find him all those years. He realized why during those three years, Jiang Junlin never once said, ¡°Ji Chi, leave Black Hawk and come with me!¡± He understood that no matter how much Jiang Junlin liked him, he could be discarded at any time for the sake of the Triad. Understanding this truth only deepened his pain. Gu Ci looked at Lu Zhiyuan and said, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, 1 need to talk to you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan understood that Gu Ci wanted to give Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi a chance to speak privately. He heard every word of their conversation and had a clear idea of what he needed to decide. After Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan left, Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi remained in silent confrontation. It was like a tug-of-war, and Ji Chi approached, sunlight filtering through the vines and dancing on his shoulder. Ji Chi followed the dancing rays of sunlight, his gaze landing on Jiang Junlin¡¯s face. The twenty-year-old Jiang Junlin and the twenty-eight-year-old Jiang Junlin overlapped in Ji Chi¡¯s eyes. Time had been kind to this handsome man, leaving no traces behind. He was still the stunning Jiang Junlin who could take your breath away with a single glance. ¡°Brother, were you really lying to me back then?¡± Ji Chi¡¯s voice trembled, finally willing to face the question he had been avoiding. Jiang Junlin had never lied to him. He had genuinely wanted to turn back and find Ji Chi, but the condition was that he had to handle the matters of the Triad first, which were weightier than Ji Chi¡¯s concerns. Now that things had come to this point, there was no need for explanations. They were ultimately going to part ways, so there was no need to give Ji Chi any false hope. ¡°Yes, I lied to you,¡± Jiang Junlin said softly. ¡°Ji Chi, I¡¯m never alone. So, I won¡¯t risk the lives of a group of people just for you, and 1 won¡¯t accompany you to die in the Pentagon.¡± Ji Chi finally got the answer he had been waiting for, as expected. The pain in his heart was like a tearing sensation, something he had always considered overly dramatic. How could the heart hurt like this? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only But it really did hurt! ¡°When we reunited, were you indulging me because you wanted to gather information about Third Master?¡± Ji Chi looked at him with a heartbroken expression. ¡°If you never intended to turn back and find me, why lie to me? Do you know that 1 waited for many years just for a single word from you? After the Pentagon was razed to the ground, I would go there every summer. I even fantasized that you remembered there was someone waiting for you in the Pentagon. But it turns out you had long forgotten, and when we reunited, you were so surprised. Did you not expect that I was still alive?¡± Ji Chi had hit the nail on the head with this one! Jiang Junlin had ordered the destruction of the Pentagon and completely annihilated the organization. He had also seen the recordings of the young men from that time. He had thought Ji Chi was dead. He had to study, manage the Triad dark web, balance the power structure within the Triad, and be on the frontlines. He didn¡¯t have time to dwell on the past, and those years had become a regret for him. When he went on missions, he had passed by the Pentagon the following summer, but he hadn¡¯t thought about going to take a look. He felt uneasy about getting close. As soon as he got near, he remembered that he had once stood someone up, which had led to that person¡¯s death there.. How could he be willing to get closer again? Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Go Kill Her Chapter 410: Go Kill Her Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°You being alive surprises me,¡± Jiang Junlin suppressed his emotions, wanting a swift resolution. ¡°Ji Chi, I¡¯m sorry, 1 deceived you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it!¡± Ji Chi¡¯s eyes turned red, his heart shattered, difficult to heal. ¡°Do you really think 1 don¡¯t understand anything?¡± He understood, yet he was unwilling to let go. To him, Jiang Junlin was a knife coated in sugar frosting, and he was greedy for that tiny bit of sweetness. So, he would rather hold onto the knife empty-handed, even if it meant bloodshed, he was willingly devoted. ¡°Since you understand, don¡¯t be so persistent,¡± Jiang Junlin said with hidden restraint. ¡°In the past or in the future, what you want, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t fulfill.¡± ¡°Do you know that after we reunited, I made a bet with Third Master?¡± Ji Chi shed tears, turned his head to wipe them away. ¡°Third Master said that within three years, as long as you say a word to take me away, he will set me free. 1 can leave Black Hawk, and the world will be my oyster. But you never thought about taking me away, Jiang Junlin, why have you never mentioned it?¡± Jiang Junlin thought to himself, because you wouldn¡¯t leave! No matter how much Jiang Junlin disliked Lu Zhiyuan, he understood that Ji Chi¡¯s encounter with him was fortunate. At the time, he didn¡¯t know that Lu Zhiyuan was grooming Ji Chi as his successor. But Ji Chi¡¯s rise within Black Hawk was too rapid, and it was obvious that someone was pushing him from behind. Jiang Junlin guessed that Ji Chi would definitely be heavily relied upon within Black Hawk, and Ji Chi wouldn¡¯t give up the power of Black Hawk. He had to climb up step by step to grasp what he wanted, including wanting him back then! If he took Ji Chi away, what could he give him? Could he give him the same power as Black Hawk? No, he couldn¡¯t! Ji Chi was loyal to Lu Zhiyuan, even if he left, Jiang Junlin wouldn¡¯t let him enter the Triad. One day, if there was a conflict between the Triad and Black Hawk, how would Ji Chi choose? ¡°Will you leave?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. Ji Chi fell silent, not answering. Jiang Junlin smiled bitterly, ¡°You already have an answer in your heart, why should 1 go through all this trouble?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even ask, how do you know 1 don¡¯t want to!¡± Ji Chi roared in frustration, ¡°You always think, you assume, you¡¯re self-righteous and think you can read people¡¯s minds. What if 1 agreed?¡± You never even tried once, you just gave up on me! ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m not good, I¡¯ve let you down,¡± Jiang Junlin said in a hoarse voice. ¡°Ji Chi, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Ji Chi desperately restrained his madness. Years of yearning, entwined until death, only exchanged for a single apology. On the other side of the courtyard, Gu Ci pointed to the furthest corner, ¡°Go over there!¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. He walked over with a smile and sat on the rack. The closer Gu Ci got, the more uncomfortable he felt. Staying a bit farther away would make the pain more bearable. ¡°Did you deliberately force Brother to say those things?¡± ¡°Which part of what he said isn¡¯t true?¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°Cici, you¡¯re too biased.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my brother, of course, I¡¯m biased towards him. Who are you?¡± Gu Ci frowned, looking at his pale face. Apart from being a bit weak, there was nothing unusual about his appearance. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me the truth.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t lied to you!¡± ¡°Yes, you just kept it from me. I¡¯m asking you, what¡¯s really wrong with your injury? It was clearly healed, but you¡¯re still in pain?¡± Gu Ci was worried. ¡°The last time 1 saw you, you were still unhealed, and you were in pain. I could understand that, but after all this time, why is it still hurting?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked deeply at Gu Ci. Pain was inevitable, and in his past life, he had experienced this kind of heart-wrenching pain. He endured it and didn¡¯t want Gu Ci to see any clues. For Gu Ci, he was willing to endure this kind of pain. It was both punishment and hope. ¡°I was too impatient. The medicine had a strong effect and caused side effects.¡± Lu Zhiyuan gazed at her. ¡°Cici, you look very good lately.¡± ¡°Are you really not lying to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really fine!¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with a half-smile. ¡°According to Ziyu, your recent love life seems to be going well.¡± Gu Ci held back her emotions and smiled. ¡°Yes, we are all students from A University, with common interests, lively and cheerful. We can play basketball together and play games together. They are all very sincere and open.¡± Gu Ci emphasized the last sentence. Her every move was reported to him by Ziyu. Lu Zhiyuan tacitly approved of Ziyu¡¯s little tricks. Lu Zhiyuan knew that he and Gu Ci couldn¡¯t stay together, couldn¡¯t love each other. She was the pain and joy in his life that he couldn¡¯t touch. But if she changed her mind and really fell in love with someone else, Lu Zhiyuan wondered, could he attend her wedding and give her away? He could deceive Gu Ci, but he couldn¡¯t deceive his own heart. He imagined these scenes, and they all felt unbearable. Gu Ci¡¯s nose tingled, and she averted her gaze. The dappled sunlight on Lu Zhiyuan was as beautiful as a painting. He had the calmness and composure of Third Master, as well as the wit and charm of Third Young Master. This man stood in front of her, safe and sound, able to talk and laugh. He was so vivid, someone she had once begged the heavens for, willing to exchange her life for. Why, now that her wish had come true, was she not satisfied? Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but reflect on herself. She had been too greedy. To lose what one has regained is painful, and to love without being able to is also painful. In life, pain always seems to outweigh happiness. ¡°When 1 recover from my illness, 1¡¯11 officially take up the position in the Triad,¡± Gu Ci said. ¡°Pei Qiuying has gone missing, and there hasn¡¯t been an official order from the Triad¡¯s dark web to hunt her down yet. I hope you¡¯ll handle this matter.¡± ¡°Why should I handle this when it¡¯s an Triad matter?¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. He had heard about Pei Qiuying¡¯s situation a long time ago. Jiang Junlin wanted to settle scores after the fact, and Pei Qiuying wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. However, the Triad hadn¡¯t issued a manhunt order yet, and Pei Qiuying had been hiding recently with an unknown whereabouts. Neither Jiang Junlin nor Gu Ci would let her off easily. ¡°Is it because you can¡¯t bear to kill her since you nurtured her?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s tone could be described as gentle. Lu Zhiyuan lightly smiled, suppressing the pain in his heart. He had noticed something strange: the more Gu Ci¡¯s emotions fluctuated, the more his pain intensified. It was¡­ quite bizarre! ¡°Why is Pei Qiuying so deeply attached to you? Because you nurtured her, appreciated her, and gave her hope. I want you to personally sever that hope!¡± Gu Ci¡¯s possessiveness was still very strong. She believed that Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s exclusive affection should belong to her alone, and Pei Qiuying had taken a part of it. She wanted it back! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She wanted Lu Zhiyuan to handle his emotional debt! ¡°Cici, this isn¡¯t fair. Jiang Junlin also appreciates and nurtures her,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said softly. ¡°Why are you singling me out?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re unwilling?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s expression darkened, and she was clearly getting angry. ¡°Willing!¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. ¡°Since it¡¯s your request, I¡¯ll comply with it.¡± ¡°Smooth talker!¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but think of Third Young Master. Only this version of Lu Zhiyuan, with the memories of this life, left her feeling complex, both like him and not.. But if he didn¡¯t resemble him, he actually did, ¡°Then 1¡¯11 await your good news, Third Master!¡± Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Third Master Is Humiliating You Chapter 411: Third Master Is Humiliating You Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Wait!¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled and said, ¡°I will definitely do as you wish, but Cici, what if the condition is that you can¡¯t become the leader of the triad? If 1 have second thoughts about killing Pei Qiuying, and you take her place, what then?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to kill Pei Qiuying to claim that position as mine,¡± Gu Ci replied. She entrusted the matters of the triad¡¯s dark web to Lu Zhiyuan out of her own selfish interests. ¡°Isn¡¯t being a doctor, saving lives and helping the injured, a good path?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. ¡°I don¡¯t have anyone I want to save,¡± Gu Ci deliberately contradicted Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°Studying medicine can¡¯t cure inner demons, nor can it save either of us.¡± ¡°Can you save them by becoming the leader of the triad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to try,¡± Gu Ci said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want me to take that position? Is it because of the danger, or is your cooperation with your brother not sincere, and you don¡¯t want me involved?¡± ¡°I have many reasons to oppose you becoming the leader of the triad.¡± ¡°I have many reasons why I must take that position!¡± Gu Ci furrowed her brows, ¡°We talked about it on the mountain that day, and we reached a consensus, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at her in silence, and Gu Ci understood his thoughts. She whispered, ¡°When will you understand that your desires are not necessarily the same as mine?¡± In fact, Lu Zhiyuan had always understood this. Leaning against the flower vines, Gu Ci chuckled and asked, ¡°Ji Chi is so devoted to his brother, willing to give up everything. Wouldn¡¯t it be a wonderful thing if Black Hawk and the triad could reconcile, just for his sake?¡± Lu Zhiyuan laughed heartily, ¡°You go and ask Jiang Junlin if he¡¯s willing?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s willing to compromise for the sake of Ji Chi, just this once?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said decisively, ¡°The interests entangled between Black Hawk and the triad are too complex. Now that our identities are exposed, continued conflict is our best option. If we mix together, Ji Chi will be on the assassination list.¡± Whose assassination list Ji Chi would be on, Gu Ci also understood. She felt a chill in her heart, not expecting the situation to be so serious. They wouldn¡¯t allow Ji Chi¡¯s existence to jeopardize Jiang Junlin¡¯s loyalty. From the moment Jiang Junlin fell in love with Ji Chi, he understood. He restrained himself, endured, and saw the outcome clearly. As long as their identities weren¡¯t exposed, there was still room for maneuvering. However, after their identities were exposed, everything he did would have far-reaching consequences, especially in regard to his marriage. The entire team of secret guards who had followed him for many years would mutiny because of Ji Chi. Jiang Junlin understood, and so did Lu Zhiyuan. Only Ji Chi held a glimmer of hope, young and confident, believing that he could escape the crossfire of bullets and evade assassination. Can he escape on the first, and then on the fifteenth? Ji Chi also understood Jiang Junlin¡¯s intentions. A simple ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± marked the end of their relationship, just as Ji Chi had anticipated. He recalled the night when Jiang Junlin responded with ¡°Me too!¡± His heart surged with resentment but there was nothing he could do. ¡°You were prepared for this long ago. What did last night mean, pity for me?¡± Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t bear to see Ji Chi in such a self-deprecating state. ¡°Chi, let¡¯s just consider it a dream. Meeting me was your nightmare. In a few years, you¡¯ll forget.¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± Ji Chi¡¯s voice trembled, a mix of grievance and unwillingness, ¡°Fine¡­ in the future, we have nothing to do with each other. Is that what you want to hear? You dream on. Let me tell you, if you fall in love with someone else, be prepared to collect their corpse!¡± After uttering these harsh words, Ji Chi turned and walked away. He couldn¡¯t bear the cold indifference and unwavering gaze of Jiang Junlin any longer. He knew that his tough talk made him seem tough on the outside, but he didn¡¯t know what to do now. This dream that had lasted so long had finally ended. From the very beginning, he should have known it was a dream. The first meeting in the Pentagon, a single glance had exchanged years of infatuation, and it was something he had earned. The dream had ended, and the person had to exit the stage. Ji Chi leaned against the flower wall, the sunlight falling on him but unable to warm his cold, pale face. Rong Li clicked his tongue and asked, ¡°Want a cigarette?¡± ¡°Rong Li, have you ever broken up with someone?¡± ¡°I have!¡± Rong Li said indifferently, lighting a cigarette and exhaling smoke, ¡°Before the downfall of the Rong family, I was a little kingpin. All the girls in school liked me. In three years of high school, 1 had eleven girlfriends, all different types, fat and thin, I¡¯ve had them all.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve actually had relationships?¡± Ji Chi opened his eyes in surprise, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m twenty-seven this year, what¡¯s so surprising about having relationships?¡± Rong Li snapped irritably, ¡°What kind of eyes do you have, where are you looking?¡± Ji Chi averted his gaze from Rong Li¡¯s lower body. ¡°1 thought you were a chick.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Rong Li kicked at him, ¡°Get lost!¡± Ji Chi¡¯s melancholic mood lightened a bit. If he had tried to break up with Jiang Junlin before, Jiang Junlin would never have agreed, and he might have gone crazy and taken Jiang Junlin down with him. Now, besides going crazy for a while, he had to accept everything! ¡°Did you feel sad when you broke up?¡± Ji Chi asked. ¡°Sad my ass!¡± Rong Li recalled his high school days, ¡°I broke up today, and tomorrow there were plenty of girls waiting in line. Who has time to be sad?¡± ¡°Why am I feeling so sad?¡± Ji Chi sighed. ¡°Because you¡¯re an idiot. I¡¯ve never seen a lickspittle like you. Jiang Junlin beckons, and you wag your tail.¡± ¡°Did you get dumped every time you had a relationship back then?¡± Ji Chi couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He was already feeling down, and now Rong Li was mocking him. He couldn¡¯t stand it. That statement unexpectedly touched Rong Li¡¯s fragile self-esteem. ¡°In my day, when I had relationships, it was the girls who were like lickspittles. If you had even half of my intelligence and wit back then, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this,¡± Rong Li boasted. Ji Chi felt that Rong Li¡¯s words were somewhat dubious. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Black Hawk had an informant who once pursued Rong Li. She was a beautiful girl with a strong personality, and she had many admirers, but she chose to pursue Rong Li. However, after working together for seven days, the girl voluntarily requested a transfer. A month after her transfer, Rong Li belatedly asked Ji Chi why she stopped pursuing him. What was even more absurd was that when they met a year later, he couldn¡¯t even remember her name. With this guy¡¯s attitude, he couldn¡¯t believe that there were girls who would be like lickspittles for him! Ji Chi¡¯s despair and sadness were somehow alleviated by Rong Li¡¯s comments, and just then, Lu Zhiyuan came to find them. ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m consoling him because he¡¯s crying over his breakup,¡± Rong Li said. ¡°Who¡¯s crying?¡± Ji Chi retorted. ¡°You!¡± Rong Li said, ¡°You were even tilting your head at a 45-degree angle, pretending to be melancholy. I was worried you might not get over it and would pull Jiang Junlin down with you.¡± ¡°Get lost, I¡¯ll pull you down first!¡± ¡°Thanks for the invitation, but I¡¯m not interested!¡± Lu Zhiyuan looked at Ji Chi, ¡°Let¡¯s go back. We still have half of the terms to negotiate. Can you handle it?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Ji Chi composed himself, ¡°I can.¡± Rong Li clapped his hands, ¡°Great! Third Master and Gu Ci have settled their breakup, and Chi and Jiang Junlin have too. Everyone¡¯s happy now, and we can finally get down to business.¡± Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Qin Wan knock your teeth out just now?¡± ¡°Does she have the ability for that?¡± Rong Li retorted. Ji Chi gave Rong Li a kick, ¡°You¡¯re just provoking him, Third Master..¡± Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Who Would Make Things Difficult for Baby Chapter 412: Who Would Make Things Difficult for Baby Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Six people gathered in a private room once again, and the atmosphere was different. Two of them were celebrating, but the sweet romance between Ji Chi and Jiang Junlin had disappeared. Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan hadn¡¯t changed much. This time, the negotiations seemed more solemn. They discussed terms with efficiency, making amendments back and forth. Qin Wan and Rong Li were almost celebrating as well. This was how negotiations should be conducted, and in such a setting, they needed to be taken seriously. After the negotiations were concluded, it was already 8 o¡¯clock. Gu Ziyu, who had finished work, found no one at home. Chen Fei had brought him to the private restaurant, thinking they would each return home separately. However, they were all surprised when Gu Ziyu showed up. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked with a smile. ¡°Daddy!¡± Gu Ziyu smiled sweetly and threw himself into his arms, playing the role of an innocent and cute child perfectly. ¡°Are you feeling unwell? Your complexion doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Jiang Junlin squinted his eyes, and Gu Ci remained silent. It was evident that the two siblings were not pleased with Gu Ziyu¡¯s arrival, especially when they could see that he was only interested in Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan lightly chuckled as he pinched Gu Ziyu¡¯s cheek. ¡°It¡¯s an old injury, nothing serious.¡± There was something strange, though. Since Gu Ziyu came in, the excruciating pain in his heart had miraculously eased. ¡°It seems like father and son share a deep bond,¡± Jiang Junlin remarked sarcastically. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s single sentence hit two birds with one stone. ¡°If Chairman Jiang envies it, you can consider getting married and having a child. Then you won¡¯t have to envy other people¡¯s sons.¡± Jiang Junlin,¡±¡­¡± Ji Chi,¡±¡­¡± Jiang Junlin had to admit that he was bested in this regard. ¡°Big brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Gu Ziyu poked Ji Chi¡¯s face. ¡°Why do you look unhappy?¡± ¡°He just went through a breakup, don¡¯t mind him,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. ¡°All¡­ my condolences.¡± Jiang Junlin was speechless. Gu Ci,¡±?¡± Are you sure that¡¯s how you use that word? Gu Ziyu, the master of lightening the mood, chimed in, ¡°Have you ail finished your discussions?¡± ¡°We¡¯re done.¡± Gu Ziyu happily clapped his small hands together. ¡°Can we eat now? I¡¯m so hungry, Daddy.¡± After a few moments of silence from those who were either heartbroken or didn¡¯t get along, Jiang Junlin rang the bell, summoning the waiter to take their orders. Gu Ziyu was about to sit next to Lu Zhiyuan, but he noticed the expressions on Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci¡¯s faces, so he casually moved to sit next to Gu Ci instead. Gu Ci tore open a packet of wet wipes and helped Gu Ziyu clean his hands and face. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have dinner?¡± ¡°I attended a seminar with the old man in the afternoon. There were only snacks, no proper meal, and then I had to work on another case at the office, so 1 missed dinner,¡± Gu Ziyu¡¯s stomach growled at the right moment. Rong Li clicked her tongue. ¡°Hiring child labor is one thing, but not feeding them properly? Kids are still growing. What if they get hungry and don¡¯t grow tall enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll grow to 1.9 meters!¡± Gu Ziyu declared. Ji Chi chuckled, his previously low spirits lifted. ¡°Boys take after their mothers. What if he only grows to 1.7 meters?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t curse me!¡± Gu Ziyu playfully squeezed Ji Chi¡¯s little fist in protest. Jiang Junlin watched Ji Chi and Ziyu, who were happily chatting, and silently pondered that their relationship was genuinely good. Gu Ziyu noticed something. If he didn¡¯t initiate a topic, this group of people would remain silent, each performing a silent play. His mom was always reserved and quiet, and his uncle wasn¡¯t one for words either. But his dad was humorous and witty, and they usually had lively conversations. His uncle and mom seemed unhappy. Gu Ziyu looked left and right and cautiously asked, ¡°Is something unpleasant happening?¡± ¡°Internal matters, not suitable for disclosure,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said with a smirk. Jiang Junlin gave him a matching fake smile. Gu Ziyu,¡±¡­¡± ¡°Uncle, why are you wearing a scarf indoors? Aren¡¯t you hot?¡± Gu Ziyu innocently inquired. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel warm?¡± Ji Chi choked on his drink, coughing violently, his face turning red. Rong Li couldn¡¯t believe her eyes, and even Jiang Junlin felt somewhat awkward. Mostly because all the eyes were now on his neck. Gu Ci was suppressing a laugh. The men¡¯s expressions were all quite subtle. Qin Wan, miraculously, remained silent. Gu Ziyu sensed the strange atmosphere and innocently asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Jiang, aren¡¯t you feeling hot? You might as well take off the scarf,¡± Lu Zhiyuan teased. Jiang Junlin¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. This little rascal, born in the year of the dog, liked to bite him. His neck was covered in marks that even concealer couldn¡¯t hide. How could he face people? Ji Chi also remembered the passionate night they had last night and momentarily couldn¡¯t decide if the breakup was sweet or bitter. Gu Ci discreetly put a piece of dessert into Ziyu¡¯s mouth, and Ziyu wisely remained silent. The others continued their silent play, some suppressing laughter, others exchanging ambiguous glances. Young Ziyu worriedly thought, ¡°When the dishes arrive, if I¡¯m the only one eating seriously and they all take out their phones to film me eating and then post it on their social media saying, ¡°My kid really enjoys his food.¡± It can¡¯t be, right? It can¡¯t be! His office had a colleague who posted videos of her son eating every day, and he couldn¡¯t understand it. Did you really need to share videos of your son enjoying his meals three times a day on social media? ¡°Who wants to pry into your secrets!¡± Gu Ziyu was eating some fruit before his meal. ¡°It¡¯s just a small matter, anyone with a brain can figure it out.¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow playfully and said, ¡°So, you came here to have a meal with us?¡± ¡°Otherwise?¡± Gu Ziyu looked incredibly innocent. Qin Wan tried to sow discord, ¡°He suspects you¡¯re here to gather information.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gu Ziyu said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit hurt now.¡± Lu Zhiyuan patted his head. ¡°Then eat an extra bowl.¡± Gu Ziyu gave a cold snort but didn¡¯t argue with him. The conversation revolved around Gu Ziyu, avoiding other topics as much as possible. Rong Li asked, ¡°You¡¯re so young, and you attend seminars. When others discuss livelihood issues, can you understand?¡± ¡°I can understand some, and for what I can¡¯t, if someone asks me, I answer. If no one asks, 1 eat and drink tea,¡± Gu Ziyu had his own way of communicating. ¡°I¡¯m young, and my background suggests a pampered upbringing. If I don¡¯t understand certain topics, they can understand that.¡± ¡°Has anyone given you a hard time?¡± Ji Chi asked. Gu Ziyu expertly fed him a grape and replied, ¡°Other than you guys, who would give a hard time to a seven-year-old baby?¡± Everyone,¡±¡­¡± Lu Zhiyuan propped up his chin and said, ¡°Is there a possibility that no one here believes you¡¯re seven years old!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Lu Zhiyuan was jealous of the grape Ji Chi had in his mouth. His son hadn¡¯t fed him anything yet. ¡°I am seven!¡± Gu Ziyu glared at Lu Zhiyuan, not allowing him to undermine his persona as a seven-year-old baby. He had already mastered this character. Qin Wan frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to ask, baby, do you only report good news and hide the bad? You¡¯re close to both Lu Zhiyuan and my master. Has anyone suspected you¡¯re a spy sent by them? Can Chen Liangdong really use you without distractions?¡± This was a question that both Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin had wanted to ask. Gu Ci and Gu Ziyu had discussed this topic before, so they remained silent.. Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Happy Boy Ziyu Chapter 413: Happy Boy Ziyu Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After the matter was exposed, Gu Ci was worried about Ziyu¡¯s situation in the Ministry of State Security. She talked to him, knowing that Ziyu was not exactly a child. After a deep conversation, Gu Ci was reassured. She understood that this was his career and his challenge to face, and she would assist Jiang Junlin. ¡°This is confidential, no comment,¡± Gu Ziyu said mysteriously, finishing his fruit and finally turning to the cold dishes. Ten cold dishes were served one after another, and Gu Ziyu picked up two pieces of spare ribs with his chopsticks. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°What kind of secret is this? Let¡¯s talk about it.¡± Gu Ziyu was a little afraid of Jiang Junlin. This matter was also related to him. He continued while nibbling on the ribs, ¡°When my dad¡¯s identity was exposed, I talked to the old man once, and when my uncle¡¯s identity was exposed, I also talked to the old man. The old man also investigated me. Although my identity is still a mystery and can¡¯t be explained clearly, he still chose to trust me.¡± Qin Wan admired, ¡°You¡¯re really brave!¡± Rong Li frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone give you a hard time?¡± ¡°I told you, no one would give a hard time to a little kid. If they have any ideas, they¡¯ll find the old man, and as long as the old man can handle it, it¡¯s fine.¡± After eating two pieces of spare ribs, Gu Ziyu¡¯s hunger was somewhat alleviated. ¡°Is it that simple?¡± Ji Chi was puzzled. ¡°If you say there¡¯s no impact at all, that¡¯s not true. My actions have been recorded by Old Chen¡¯s team, and the old man checks from time to time. Some people also try to find fault from time to time. It¡¯s like solving a simple math problem. If I want to climb to the position of the head of the Information Department, I might be able to take office two years after getting my Ph.D., but now it might take five or six more years. I don¡¯t mind this time cost at all.¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t mind at all. ¡°True gold fears no fire, and as for this time cost, I don¡¯t care.¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin actually knew that their identities would definitely have an impact on Gu Ziyu. Originally, following Chen Liangdong would have been a straightforward path, but now they had to undergo many tests of loyalty, which was very unfair to Ziyu. Fortunately, Gu Ziyu was only close to them in terms of relationships, not legally related to them. If they were legally related, Gu Ziyu would definitely be expelled from the Ministry of State Security. Even with Chen Liangdong¡¯s protection, at most, Gu Ziyu would be an off-the-books employee. There was no chance of him taking over Chen Liangdong¡¯s position. Everyone tacitly understood this and never brought it up. ¡°In case someone decides to have a DNA test, that would be disastrous,¡± Ji Chi¡¯s statement was quite surprising. Gu Ziyu clicked his tongue, ¡°1 don¡¯t look like anyone, who would bother to test our DNA?¡± Jiang Junlin, who had too much free time on his hands, retorted,¡±¡­¡± He was indeed suspicious and had secretly gone for a test! ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure!¡± Jiang Junlin said coldly. ¡°If you want to continue on this path, you should still handle the aftermath properly. Don¡¯t let anything go wrong.¡± Since Jiang Junlin learned about Gu Ziyu¡¯s identity, he had already helped him with the aftermath, providing him with a series of background details. Fortunately, Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan were still young, and no one suspected that they were a family of three. If they were a few years older, it would be harder to explain. Gu Ziyu¡¯s smooth sailing was, of course, a good thing. But if someone decided to cause trouble, a perfect background could be arranged for him. As a young man in his teens with a hearty appetite, Gu Ziyu scanned the cold dishes before finally getting to the hot dishes. Only he, Rong Li, and Qin Wan were eating seriously. Qin Wan and Rong Li had had a strenuous fight earlier, which had consumed a lot of energy. Lu Zhiyuan, on the other hand, had no appetite as he wondered if Gu Ziyu¡¯s pain was related to him. Gu Ci was focused on observing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s condition, and the atmosphere between Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi was subtle, leaving everyone without much appetite. When all the hot dishes were served, Rong Li, who had a rather straightforward personality, noticed something. ¡°This restaurant serves Chinese food, but there¡¯s no scallions or garlic in any of the dishes? Several of these are stir-fried dishes, even someone with basic cooking skills knows these are essential ingredients.¡± Qin Wan said, ¡°My master doesn¡¯t eat them.¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he eat them? Does that mean he¡¯s depriving us of what we want to eat?¡± Rong Li teased, looking at Ji Chi, and finally realized why Ji Chi¡¯s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup never tasted right. So, Jiang Junlin is a picky eater! Qin Wan arrogantly replied, ¡°Because this restaurant belongs to my master!¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Rong Li both looked at Ji Chi, thinking, ¡°You arranged the meeting place, but you chose to meet on Jiang Junlin¡¯s turf?¡± Rong Li gave Qin Wan a sarcastic thumbs-up, and Gu Ziyu changed the topic, asking Qin Wan, ¡°Did Brother Rong and Qin Wan fight?¡± ¡°Look at your injuries!¡± Rong Li and Qin Wan smirked and still seemed ready to go at it. Gu Ziyu was curious, ¡°Who won?¡± ¡°I did!¡± Rong Li and Qin Wan said in unison, each refusing to admit defeat. ¡°It¡¯s hilarious! With your appearance after the fight, you still claim victory?¡± Qin Wan showed her bruised arm. ¡°I fought injured; otherwise, I would have disarmed you!¡± ¡°Empty boasts. We were all injured,¡± Rong Li was nursing injuries too. He had thought of going easy during the negotiation between Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin, but he didn¡¯t expect Qin Wan to go all out. ¡°Go fight outside again!¡± Jiang Junlin spoke up. Qin Wan, seeing an opportunity to back down, and Rong Li, who didn¡¯t want to bring it up again, let it go. The feud was settled. Lu Zhiyuan frequently served dishes to Gu Ziyu. After spending time with him, he had learned what his son liked to eat. Gu Ziyu loved meat and wasn¡¯t picky, enjoying all kinds of dishes with a sweet taste. To outsiders, it was indeed a heartwarming scene of a loving father and filial son. He had missed Gu Ziyu¡¯s growth and felt remorse for not being able to protect him from the inhumane treatment he had endured. He always wanted to make it up to his son. Gu Ziyu accepted him without reservation, eating heartily. However, Gu Ziyu suddenly handed a large chicken leg to Ji Chi. ¡°Have some!¡± Ji Chi smiled and ruffled his hair. Gu Ci, Lu Zhiyuan, and Jiang Junlin all suddenly lost their appetite. ¡°Why did you only give food to Ji Chi?¡± Lu Zhiyuan asked. Gu Ziyu hesitated for a moment, realizing three pairs of eyes were on him. He was sitting beside Gu Ci at a round table. To his right were Jiang Junlin and Qin Wan, and to his left was Ji Chi, Lu Zhiyuan, and Rong Li. ¡°Because he¡¯s sitting next to me,¡± Gu Ziyu quickly improvised. He had noticed Ji Chi looking unhappy, so he thought giving him a big chicken leg would help. Little did he know he was poking a hornet¡¯s nest. ¡°Gu Ci is also sitting next to you,¡± Qin Wan pointed out. Gu Ziyu explained, ¡°My mom only eats vegetables and fruits at night.¡± Rong Li shook his head and joked, ¡°So, baby, you need to be fair.¡± Gu Ziyu was not one to indulge them. ¡°You can eat whatever you want; I don¡¯t care.¡± Everyone was left speechless. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Jiang Junlin gave Ji Chi a glance. Since their second negotiation meeting, Ji Chi had been avoiding his gaze. Even when their eyes met by chance, there was no spark in Ji Chi¡¯s eyes. Jiang Junlin felt a slight pang of discomfort. He had accepted the outcome calmly, but he still felt hurt. Ji Chi was naturally stubborn and sensitive. How should he handle Ji Chi? What should he do? Thanks to Gu Ziyu¡¯s presence, the meal proceeded relatively peacefully, without any tension.. Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Getting Drunk After Losing Love Chapter 414: Getting Drunk After Losing Love Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After eating and drinking their fill, they each went their separate ways. Ji Chi sat in the car, watching the fading figure of Jiang Junlin. His gaze was filled with both longing and pain. The cold pretense at the dining table could no longer hold. He could never be indifferent to Jiang Junlin. Did they really part ways like this? Ji Chi asked himself, ¡°Are you willing? But even if you¡¯re not, what else can you do? In his heart, responsibility, duty, family ties, and the nation all weigh more heavily than you. In his eyes, you¡¯re nothing more than a speck of dust.¡± He could only accept this outcome with a calm heart. Can he imprison himself again? Ji Chi drank until he was heavily intoxicated. The rooftop of the Global Center was a great place to stargaze. The moon was just right, with a sky full of stars. Winter had given way to spring, the sudden change from cold to warmth. At Ji Chi¡¯s feet, there were already two empty wine bottles. Downstairs, Lu Zhiyuan was dealing with his work and examining the information extracted from the canvas. He was still waiting for the intelligence agents to find information about Tang Mingzhou. Rong Li came in and said, ¡°Third Master, you should go and talk to Ji Chi.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s getting drunk on the rooftop. It¡¯s really pathetic.¡± ¡°Call the gastroenterology department at the central hospital and get them ready. Let him drink.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rong Li had hoped that the Third Master would provide some comforting words to Ji Chi, but he was surprised by Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s rather hardcore approach. ¡°Just leaving him alone?¡± ¡°Send someone to keep an eye on him, so he doesn¡¯t accidentally fall off the building when he¡¯s drunk,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s a good opportunity to finally get the surgery he¡¯s been delaying for half a year.¡± Rong Li raised his thumb, ¡°Impressive!¡± Ji Chi already had some stomach issues, and he had been postponing surgery for months. Now, he was drinking excessively. Rong Li was furious, so he decided to go upstairs and keep him company while drinking. Nick and the others would keep an eye on Ji Chi, as Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t want him to accidentally fall off the building while drunk. ¡°You¡¯re so pathetic. You break up and start drinking. Are you still in high school?¡± Rong Li kicked him, and Ji Chi leaned against the wall, legs stretched out, looking disheveled and decadent. Rong Li¡¯s anger flared up, and he pointed at the sky, ¡°Brother, look¡­ the moon is so beautiful.¡± Rong Li looked up, but there was no moon, just a sky full of stars. Ji Chi had probably hallucinated due to his excessive drinking. Besides, Rong Li couldn¡¯t imagine Ji Chi, a gloomy disease-ridden wolf, appreciating starry nights. Ji Chi had drunk too much and coughed up red wine. Rong Li couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and struck him on the back of his neck. Ji Chi passed out immediately. Nick watched nervously; even with ten times his courage, he wouldn¡¯t dare to knock out his master like this. Rong Li impatiently kicked aside a wine bottle and picked up Ji Chi, instructing Nick, ¡°Go to the hospital and get his surgery done!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Meanwhile, Jiang Junlin developed a fever in the middle of the night, and his stomach was very uncomfortable. When he went to the study to find some medicine, Lin Chunli was awakened. Seeing his unusually pale face, she was startled. ¡°Junlin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My stomach is hurting¡­¡± Jiang Junlin endured a sharp pain in his stomach and gave up on taking stomach medicine. ¡°Mom, have Zhang Qiang call an ambulance.¡± As soon as he said that, Jiang Junlin fainted and fell to the floor. ¡°Junlin!¡± Lin Chunli exclaimed, too worried to help him up. She hurried downstairs to ask Zhang Qiang to contact the hospital. By the time she came back up, Jiang Minghua was already there, supporting Jiang Junlin. Zhang Qiang had contacted the hospital and came upstairs to assist. Jiang Junlin was wearing only a black robe, and after fainting, the collar had loosened, revealing a multitude of kisses and scratches. Jiang Minghua and Lin Chunli exchanged puzzled looks. When did their son get a girlfriend? They wanted to ask Zhang Qiang, but their concern for Jiang Junlin took precedence. Zhang Qiang also noticed these ambiguous marks. He covered Jiang Junlin with a thick coat and carried him downstairs. Gu Ci, who was in the midst of preparing a medical research paper and hadn¡¯t gone to sleep yet, was shocked when she received the news. She and Qin Wan hastily packed up and rushed to the hospital. Jiang Junlin had a polyp in his stomach, and in addition to that, it had been chronically inflamed for years, so he had been on medication to suppress it. An ambulance brought them to the Central Hospital. Jiang Junlin¡¯s attending physician, Xia Ming, happened to be performing surgery on an important figure at the Central Hospital tonight. The surgery was already halfway done when his assistant informed him. Xia Ming quickly called in doctors from the hospital and handed over the surgery to them. One of the doctors said with a worried tone, ¡°Dr. Xia, this surgery was personally requested by the elderly gentleman. If there are any mistakes, we won¡¯t be able to bear the consequences.¡± Xia Ming had come to the Central Hospital precisely because it was requested by name. He said, ¡°The riskiest part of the surgery has already passed, and the second half should be manageable for you. He¡¯s under general anesthesia, so he won¡¯t know who is performing the surgery. Continue, have confidence in yourselves!¡± No matter how important the person on the operating table was, not a single hair of theirs was as important as Jiang Junlin. After leaving the operating room, Xia Ming arranged for a team change, including instruments and medications, and instructed them, ¡°From the smallest thread to the largest bottle of medicine, make sure to double-check everything. The items must match the specifications exactly, and there must be no room for error.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Regarding Jiang Junlin¡¯s unconscious state, Zhang Qiang informed Gu Ci and maintained strict information control. When they arrived at the hospital, they continued to keep everything confidential. Jiang Junlin was immediately taken to the operating room where Xia Ming and his team conducted examinations. Xia Ming had previously performed Jiang Junlin¡¯s physical exams and gastrointestinal endoscopy, so he was well aware of the medical history. He had a good idea of the issue, which saved a lot of time on diagnostics. Gu Ci and Qin Wan came to the hospital and also brought Dr. North along, just to be safe. Dr. North donned sterile attire and was ready to assist Xia Ming in the operating room. Zhang Qiang and his team maintained security. The doctors, nurses, and assistants were all from Xia Ming¡¯s team. Medications were double-checked at every step. Qin Wan, feeling anxious and nervous, asked, ¡°Could it be that they poisoned him after the negotiations this afternoon?¡± Gu Ci replied with uncertainty, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Zhang Qiang didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary panic, so he instructed Jiang Minghua and Lin Chunli to wait at home for updates. Gu Ci provided them with updates on the situation and tried to reassure them. Dr. North gave her a report midway through the surgery. Gu Ci called Jiang Minghua, ¡°Uncle, please don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a polyp in his stomach that caused this. He needs to have it removed. It¡¯s a minor surgery, so don¡¯t be too concerned.¡± ¡°Is it a minor surgery? Why did he faint?¡± Lin Chunli¡¯s voice trembled with worry. She had never seen Jiang Junlin faint before, not even once. Gu Ci explained, ¡°Jiang Junlin has been overworking himself lately and not getting enough rest, which has led to various symptoms. The surgery should only take about two hours, so please don¡¯t worry. He¡¯ll wake up fine after a good rest.¡± After emphasizing this several times, Jiang Minghua and Lin Chunli finally felt relieved. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Qin Wan couldn¡¯t understand the medical images and reports, so she asked, ¡°Is it just a polyp?¡± Gu Ci shook her head. It was a series of reactions caused by the polyp. Jiang Junlin¡¯s stomach had been suffering from chronic congestion for a long time, and the gastric environment was particularly poor. The risk of cancer had doubled compared to a year ago. ¡°Is it very serious?¡± Zhang Qiang asked anxiously. Gu Ci glanced at the operating room and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the surgery is over.¡± The surgery itself went smoothly, but the subsequent recovery and rehabilitation would be a long process. Jiang Junlin had chronic gastritis and would require careful care. Gu Ci had reviewed Jiang Junlin¡¯s medical history, and his stomach problems had started six years ago.. Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Little Wolf Cub’s Double Standard Chapter 415: Little Wolf Cub¡¯s Double Standard Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The Jiang family or the Lin family, neither have a family history of hereditary diseases. Although Jiang Junlin has been a picky eater since childhood, he has always been in good health. Six years ago, he suddenly developed a stomach problem, and after spending two years on the frontlines with irregular mealtimes and continued picky eating, minor issues turned into major problems. ¡°I told him a long time ago not to be picky, especially when he has a stomach problem,¡± Qin Wan said, both angry and helpless. Zhang Qiang hesitated to speak. In fact, the master¡¯s picky eating was just that, but he had been well taken care of since childhood. There was a reason for his stomach problems, but Zhang Qiang kept his mouth shut, not daring to disclose Jiang Junlin¡¯s privacy. Qin Wan and Gu Ci were waiting for news when Qin Wan¡¯s phone vibrated. She glanced at it and blurted out, ¡°Damn, what a small world.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Ji chi is also undergoing surgery upstairs, also in the digestive department,¡± Qin Wan showed Gu Ci the message sent by the Triad¡¯s dark web, which had a dedicated team monitoring the every move of the Black Hawk¡¯s top brass. ¡°What happened to him?¡± Gu Ci frowned. ¡°He had a breakup, drank excessively, developed a stomach perforation, and brought it on himself!¡± Qin Wan mocked. Zhang Qiang cleared his throat, ¡°He had the stomach perforation¡­ for several months, it wasn¡¯t caused by excessive drinking.¡± Qin Wan smiled awkwardly, ¡°Oh¡­ you seem to know a lot.¡± Gu Ci said, Zhang Qiang said, Jiang Junlin¡¯s surgery took an hour longer than Gu Ci had anticipated, and there were some complications during the procedure. Overall, the risk was relatively small, and the surgery was successful, with a bit of a scare. Gu Ci announced that he was safe in the group chat after his surgery. Upstairs, Ji chi¡¯s surgery was slower than Jiang Junlin¡¯s, but it went relatively smoothly as well. By some strange twist of fate, their surgeries were on the same day, and they ended up on the same floor of the hospital, right across from each other. When Gu Ci left Jiang Junlin¡¯s ward and saw Rong Li and the others escorting Ji chi into his room, he didn¡¯t know what to say. It was like a cursed coincidence. Rong Li was surprised to see Gu Ci there; he had been waiting outside the operating room the whole time, and his phone¡¯s battery was almost dead, so he hadn¡¯t seen any messages. ¡°Gu Ci, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°My brother just had surgery; he¡¯s in the room right there,¡± Gu Ci replied. Rong Li fell silent for three seconds. ¡°What a coincidence, Ji chi is also having surgery tonight.¡± ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°Stomach perforation. What about Jiang Junlin?¡± ¡°Gastric polyps.¡± ¡°How uncanny!¡± After their awkward conversation, they went their separate ways. Rong Li couldn¡¯t help but complain inwardly; why did Jiang Junlin have to end up in the room across from Ji chi¡¯s? It was like a cursed fate. Were you two star-crossed lovers trying to die on the same day? Lu Zhiyuan had known about this news for a long time. It was a bizarre and helpless coincidence. This floor of the hospital was under strict security, and the original patients had been transferred to other floors. Zhang Qiang and Nick stood on both sides of the corridor like door gods, and the passing nurses and doctors couldn¡¯t help but look at them several times. Nick asked, ¡°Bro, do you smoke?¡± Zhang Qiang pointed to the no-smoking sign; the hospital prohibited smoking. The two were quite familiar with each other, considering they often had to keep an eye out for their respective masters. Nick said, ¡°You can smoke in the hallway.¡± Zhang Qiang declined his enthusiastic invitation, ¡°During duty, we must not leave our post.¡± Nick thought to himself, ¡°Not even a fly can get in here; what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± ¡°Is your master¡¯s surgery serious?¡± Nick inquired. Zhang Qiang replied, ¡°Minor surgery. What about your master?¡± ¡°Also minor surgery. Irregular meals, constant socializing, and endless alcohol consumption ruined his stomach,¡± Nick explained. ¡°Is your master¡¯s stomach condition due to picky eating?¡± Zhang Qiang remained expressionless, ¡°It¡¯s also due to alcohol.¡± ¡°Alcohol is really harmful.¡± ¡°Great minds think alike.¡± The two exchanged information about each other¡¯s masters; after all, it was necessary to report back, and they both had a keen sense of observation. When Jiang Junlin woke up, he was subjected to a series of lectures from his grandparents, parents, and even his aunts and uncles about the harms of picky eating. They wanted him to correct this bad habit, eat more, and take better care of his stomach. Grandma Jiang even subtly implied that his stomach wasn¡¯t as good as hers, even though she was much older and her stomach had always been healthy. Jiang Junlin knew that they were worried, so he obediently listened to their complaints. This lecture lasted for two hours, during which Jiang Junlin had just undergone surgery and was feeling unwell. He found himself getting drowsy from all the nagging. The Jiang family had many relatives, and there was a continuous stream of visitors to the hospital room. The room was filled with fruits and flowers, and Jiang Junlin had a splitting headache. In contrast, Nick felt a bit sorry for his own master. When Ji chi woke up, there was no one to visit him, and the hospital room was cold and empty. Lu Zhiyuan was busy investigating Tang Mingzhou¡¯s affairs, and Rong Li knew that Ji chi had safely undergone surgery and had left. Despite Ji chi appearing to be like a loyal puppy in front of Jiang Junlin, he was quite cold-hearted underneath. In the business world, he was a shrewd operator who could see through people¡¯s true colors. Moreover, he had never informed anyone outside about his surgery and hospitalization. Nick looked at the bustling scene outside Jiang Junlin¡¯s hospital room and couldn¡¯t help feeling even more sorry for his own master. He was truly pitiful, with no family members around him. Zhang Qiang asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone come to visit your master?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an orphan, no family.¡± Zhang Qiang knew that Ji chi was an orphan. ¡°Third Master and Rong Li didn¡¯t come to see him?¡± ¡°They¡¯re both very busy.¡± Zhang Qiang couldn¡¯t help but think that was indeed quite pitiful. Nick also understood what Zhang Qiang was thinking. If they weren¡¯t on the same floor, the contrast wouldn¡¯t be so stark. But being on the same floor, with one room bustling with visitors and the other seemingly empty, the contrast was too stark. Ji chi had a restless day. After the anesthesia wore off, he experienced some pain, not too severe but impossible to ignore. On top of that, there was a lot of noise outside. He became impatient and called Nick into the room with an annoyed tone, ¡°What¡¯s going on outside? Wasn¡¯t this floor supposed to be cleared?¡± It was so noisy, and it had been non-stop since early morning! Nick said helplessly, ¡°Master, this entire floor has been cleared. There are only two patient rooms in use.¡± The patient rooms didn¡¯t have soundproof walls, so there was bound to be some noise. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nick couldn¡¯t hide it any longer and said, ¡°Master, the thing is, right across from us is Mr. Jiang¡­¡± Ji chi was stunned, abruptly lifting the blanket, ¡°What¡¯s going on? He¡­¡± He moved too suddenly and pulled at his wound, instantly lying back down with a pale face. Nick hurriedly approached and held him down, ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry. It was a minor surgery. Rong Li said you just had surgery, so don¡¯t be anxious. He¡¯ll tell you more in a couple of days. Mr. Jiang had a minor surgery too, really.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°What happened to him?¡± Ji chi¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement as he gripped Nick¡¯s arm, with a hint of redness in the corners of his eyes. ¡°He had a polyp in his stomach, and they removed it,¡± Nick shared the information he had gathered. ¡°He woke up even earlier than you. Zhang Qiang said he can talk and is in the process of recovery. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± ¡°Why would 1 lie to you?¡± Nick handed Ji chi the surgical records and reports that Zhang Qiang had given him. ¡°Master, this is absolutely genuine. Please don¡¯t move. If you find the noise disturbing, should I ask the doctor to find you another room?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ji chi listened to the lively commotion outside, ¡°It¡¯s fine..¡± Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: I’m Shallow, I’m Sentimental Chapter 416: I¡¯m Shallow, I¡¯m Sentimental Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Just a moment ago, Ji Chi, who was very impatient, envied the lively scene outside. His older brother was originally the pride of the family, born noble and beloved by many. But he was different; he was like a wild weed by the roadside. If he were to die, no one would shed tears for him, and no one would miss him. He was alone as a child, and now he would also die a lonely ghost. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve come to see you.¡± Little Gu Ziyu, with a big bouquet of red roses and a heavy fruit basket, came to visit. He was small in stature but carried a substantial fruit basket. Nick hurriedly helped him with the fruit basket and placed it aside. ¡°Why did you come?¡± Ji Chi was surprised. Gu Ziyu placed the bouquet of roses by the bedside and said with a smile, ¡°Of course, 1 came to see you. Is your wound hurting, or can you dodge this one?¡± ¡°What?¡± Gu Ziyu shook his head. ¡°Never mind, does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt!¡± Ji Chi¡¯s smile was genuine. Gu Ziyu¡¯s concern warmed his heart. He patted the bed, and Gu Ziyu sat down. Ji Chi playfully flicked his forehead and said affectionately, ¡°Who told baby that I¡¯m in the hospital?¡± ¡°Dad did,¡± Gu Ziyu frowned, imitating Ji Chi¡¯s playful gesture and flicking him back. ¡°Dad said you¡¯re not doing well, so you ended up in the hospital.¡± Ji Chi secretly thought that Third Master wasn¡¯t wrong; there was indeed such a thing. Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Is breaking up so painful? You lost your appetite, and you wanted to drown your sorrows in alcohol?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you grow up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to understand!¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t want to get involved in such troublesome matters. ¡°You and Uncle have set bad examples for me, both of you are negative role models. 1 don¡¯t want trouble. If you¡¯ve broken up, find another one.¡± Nick felt that he shouldn¡¯t listen anymore and pushed out of the hospital room. Ji Chi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, watching the naive and carefree Gu Ziyu. He was so entertained that even his wound hurt. ¡°Alright, when I¡¯m better, I¡¯ll find another one!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Be more open-minded. In life, happiness is the most important thing,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°Uncle is also having a minor operation in the next room, did you know?¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Gu Ziyu cleverly didn¡¯t mention it again. He opened his own backpack and brought several romance novels for Ji Chi to read. Ji Chi looked at the titles and couldn¡¯t help but twitch his lips in pain. Titles like ¡®The CEO¡¯s Ball-Carrying Little Wife¡¯ and ¡®The Overbearing Boss Wants to Marry Me¡¯¡­ ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°I borrowed them from Qin Wan sister¡¯s desk, brought them to entertain you,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°She said they¡¯re romance novels. Since you¡¯ve broken up, reading romance novels might help with the healing process.¡± Ji Chi¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Have you read them?¡± ¡°Never!¡± Gu Ziyu blinked, said with a sly look, ¡°Qin Wan sister said I¡¯m underage and shouldn¡¯t read them. You¡¯re an adult, so you can enjoy them.¡± Definitely not what he had in mind! Ji Chi secretly wondered if Gu Ziyu had brought him some risque literature. Next door, Jiang Junlin had just seen off some relatives, and he was as weak as a strand of air. He was very straightforward, saying, ¡°Dad, Mom, please, don¡¯t let them come. I¡¯m recovering, and it would be painful to entertain them and move around with my injury.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll tell them to go back,¡± Jiang Minghua said. ¡°Grandpa and uncles are just worried about you.¡± ¡°A text message of condolence is enough.¡± Lin Chunli patted his hand and said, ¡°This is about social interactions and relationships. You can¡¯t live like a hermit.¡± Due to his busy schedule, apart from his grandfather, grandmother, and parents, Jiang Junlin could only meet with a few close relatives in the hospital. Others sent their regards via phone calls and gifts, and he didn¡¯t have much time for extensive socializing. His connection with the Lin family had been relatively weak since childhood, so the emotional bond was somewhat thin. After Gu Ci went to the restroom to wash the apples, Lin Chunli nudged Jiang Minghua, who shook his head, resisting the idea. Jiang Junlin, watching his parents¡¯ expressions, raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Junlin, you¡¯re in the hospital¡­ It¡¯s such a big deal. Why hasn¡¯t your girlfriend come to visit you?¡± Jiang Minghua asked directly. ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Jiang Junlin asked, confused. Lin Chunli nodded, somewhat excited. Her son was twenty-eight years old, and he finally seemed to be awakening to certain aspects of life. ¡°Our family is very open-minded. As long as it¡¯s someone you like, we¡¯ll accept it.¡± Jiang Junlin was utterly bewildered. Gu Ci wasn¡¯t around, and he didn¡¯t know whom to ask. To avoid making a mistake, he chose to remain silent. Seeing his reaction, Jiang Minghua added, ¡°Are you just playing around? If you start something and then abandon it, Junlin, that¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Junlin remained silent. Lin Chunli continued, ¡°Do you like married women, perhaps?¡± ¡°Dad, Mom, where are you getting this from?¡± Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t fathom why they were so convinced. ¡°I¡­ He¡¯s shy.¡± ¡°We¡¯re very easygoing, and we don¡¯t judge,¡± Lin Chunli mainly believed in her son¡¯s judgment. Someone as high-spirited as him must be attractive enough to captivate someone¡¯s heart. Looking at the visible love marks on Jiang Junlin¡¯s neck, it was clear that he had been with an enthusiastic young lady. Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t keep up the act any longer. ¡°Why are you so sure I have a girlfriend?¡± Lin Chunli glanced at his neck, and Jiang Junlin suddenly realized. Being stared at by his parents like this was rare, and he blushed, wearing only a loose robe when he passed out in front of his mother. ¡°Oh¡­ why are you still shy?¡± Lin Chunli smirked ambiguously. ¡°Men should get married, and women should get married too. Your parents understand that. Where is she from? How old is she? What¡¯s her personality like? Do you get along well? How many people are there in her family? Is she attractive?¡± Jiang Junlin thought to himself that if his mother continued, they might end up planning an engagement and wedding. ¡°Mom, we¡¯ve broken up.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ you¡¯ve just broken up even though those love marks are so fresh?¡± Lin Chunli blurted out. Jiang Junlin said,¡±¡­¡± Jiang Minghua furrowed his brows. ¡°Why do you seem guilty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not guilty,¡± Jiang Junlin said expressionlessly. ¡°I¡¯m just sad. He heard that 1 had surgery and might be at risk for stomach cancer, so he decided to break up.¡± Lin Chunli exclaimed, ¡°Ah¡­ but you were perfectly fine.¡± Jiang Minghua asked, ¡°What kind of judgment do you have to pick someone like that?¡± Jiang Junlin deadpanned, ¡°I¡¯m shallow; I just go for looks.¡± Lin Chunli and Jiang Minghua were momentarily at a loss for words, and Jiang Junlin had this knack for shutting his parents up every time. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as she continued slicing apples. Lin Chunli persisted, ¡°You really broke up?¡± Jiang Junlin asserted, ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Chunli looked at Gu Ci, pleading with her eyes. Gu Ci said, ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s true. We really broke up.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Lin Chunli looked at Jiang Junlin with disappointment. ¡°What¡¯s the use of me giving birth to you?¡± Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t respond to her outburst, and Jiang Minghua tried to console his wife. ¡°Let it go. If they¡¯ve broken up, they can start fresh, at least to prove that he¡¯s healthy.¡± Jiang Junlin wondered if he had been subtly insulted. What was unhealthy about him? Lin Chunli lost interest in visiting after hearing this news. She had been so eager, hoping to meet her future daughter-in-law during this visit. Jiang Minghua changed the subject. ¡°Cici, didn¡¯t Ziyu come with you? He brought a big bouquet of roses and a fruit basket.. Where is he?¡± Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: How Close Can I Get to You? Chapter 417: How Close Can I Get to You? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci glanced at Jiang Junlin and said, ¡°He went to see a friend next door.¡± Jiang Junlin raised an eyebrow. Jiang Minghua asked, ¡°What kind of friend brings a big bouquet of red roses?¡± ¡°A good friend,¡± Gu Ci thought to herself, ¡°It¡¯s just that you two are destined to be apart, just separated from your daughter-in-law.¡± When it came to buying red roses, she and Ziyu had discussed buying lilies, which were most suitable for visiting the sick. However, Ziyu didn¡¯t like them, saying that the fragrance of flowers was too overpowering and would disrupt Ji Chi¡¯s sleep. He had also suggested yellow roses, but he didn¡¯t like those either. Gu Ziyu picked out red roses because he liked the passionate and fiery color. Jiang Minghua didn¡¯t ask any further questions. After they left, Jiang Junlin asked, ¡°Who lives next door?¡± Ziyu now looked like a little angel but had a strong sense of boundaries. Besides Chen Liangdong being in the hospital, who else would make him bring flowers? But if it was Chen Liangdong, why would he bring red roses? Jiang Junlin¡¯s throat tightened slightly. ¡°It¡¯s Ji Chi!¡± GuCi said. The answer was as he had expected. Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart sank. ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°Stomach perforation, they say it¡¯s due to drinking,¡± Gu Ci also spoke truthfully, cutting the sliced apple into small pieces and putting them on toothpicks. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s a minor surgery, even milder than yours. There¡¯s no organ damage, just dietary habits that caused it. He¡¯ll be fine if he takes good care of himself in the future.¡± Jiang Junlin knew that Ji Chi had this condition and had asked him to undergo minimally invasive surgery a long time ago. But one thing after another had delayed it. Now that the surgery was successful, he was relieved. ¡°Do you want to see him, brother?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Jiang Junlin looked out the window. Since they had separated, he wanted to cut all ties and not give false hope. Prolonging the inevitable would only make both of them more miserable. At night. He had slept too much during the day and was surprisingly awake at night. The hospital environment was noisy, even though it was the inpatient department, and this floor had been cleared out. He could still hear the noise from downstairs, even with the windows closed. It sounded like someone had passed away, with family members crying loudly and shouting. After a while, there was even a physical altercation. Gradually, it became calm, with only the sound of crying in the background. Jiang Junlin had heard from Xia Ming that doctors were willing to work at the Central Hospital. The security measures here were excellent, with strong security personnel on every floor. The probability of medical disputes was the lowest among all the hospitals in the city. Last year, there had been a few incidents in the pediatric department. A child had accidentally swallowed his mother¡¯s gold ring at home, and due to improper first aid, he had passed away right at the entrance of the emergency department. The family insisted that the doctors had mishandled the treatment, and the father, in his agitation, had even attacked an emergency room doctor with a fruit knife. Later, the Central Hospital had hired a team of the most famous lawyers to take the family to court, demanding compensation and an apology. They had won the lawsuit, but it had caused a lot of public outrage. The family had sent wreaths to the hospital, creating quite a commotion, and the media had been quick to criticize the hospital. Its reputation had taken a hit. However, the country¡¯s most elite doctors were concentrated in the Central Hospital, and the demand for beds was extremely high. They weren¡¯t afraid of scandals. As Jiang Junlin listened to the diminishing commotion, he knew that the situation had been brought under control. Jiang Junlin heard Nick¡¯s voice. Nick asked, ¡°Master, where are you going?¡± ¡°The ward is stuffy. I¡¯m going out for some fresh air.¡± This floor was a special ward, specifically reserved. Aside from the duty doctors and nurses, there were only a few rooms. Ji Chi¡¯s surgery was less invasive than Jiang Junlin¡¯s, allowing him to get out of bed and walk around. The ward felt suffocating, so he went up to the rooftop to get some air. Nick cautioned, ¡°Master, you¡¯ve just had surgery, and you¡¯re still weak. Don¡¯t go out in the cold air; you might catch a cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The outside gradually quieted down. Jiang Junlin endured the post-surgery pain and the dull ache in his heart. He had known for a long time that he needed to cut the ties swiftly. Lingering would only make the pain worse. However, every time the words of separation were on his lips, and he met Ji Chi¡¯s gaze, Jiang Junlin could only watch himself sink into the abyss of desire, unable to speak those heartless words. From childhood to adulthood, he had always been indecisive when it came to Ji Chi. An hour later, he heard Ji Chi¡¯s voice again. Zhang Qiang greeted him, and he went out for some fresh air. Jiang Junlin had no sleep, he listened to the sounds around him, and sleep eluded him even more. He took a deep breath and made a decision. ¡°Zhang Qiang, contact Xia Ming, let¡¯s transfer to another hospital.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When Ji Chi learned that Jiang Junlin wanted to transfer, his gaze turned extremely cold. His brother was truly ruthless, unwilling to leave him even a glimmer of hope or attachment. He was determined to sever all ties. But no matter how much it pained him, he had to accept it. Gu Ci came to the hospital to handle Jiang Junlin¡¯s transfer. On that day, Lu Zhiyuan also came to see Ji Chi. The two of them crossed paths in the corridor. They were now peacefully separated, and Gu Ci didn¡¯t avoid Lu Zhiyuan. When she approached him, Lu Zhiyuan felt a pain as if a knife had pierced his heart, blood flowing freely. He held onto the wall, desperately suppressing the intense pain. Li Jiang was confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Third Master?¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Gu Ci hurriedly went to support him. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± The moment she touched Lu Zhiyuan, it was as if she held a death sentence for him. The pain was unbearable, and Lu Zhiyuan desperately pulled away from her touch, but he couldn¡¯t hold back, and a mouthful of blood splattered on the white wall. ¡°Third Master!¡± Li Jiang was greatly alarmed. ¡°Doctor, doctor¡­¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face also changed slightly. She tightly held onto his hand and asked, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, what¡¯s happening to you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan spat out another mouthful of blood, his gaze clouded as he looked at her. Gu Ci, as if stabbed, suddenly let go of his hand. They were a deeply loving couple, and a single glance was enough for them to understand each other¡¯s hearts. Gu Ci seemed to realize something, and her eyes turned red. She retreated in a frenzy, and the red on the wall pierced her eyes. Doctors and nurses rushed over and took Lu Zhiyuan for examination. Li Jiang hurriedly followed. Gu Ci felt as if her heart had been torn apart. She now understood everything, and it was more painful than if she had been killed. So, her proximity would cause him to die! That day during their negotiations, she had suspected something but hadn¡¯t confirmed it. An hour later, on the rooftop of the hospital. Gu Ci stood at the stairwell, not daring to get closer. Lu Zhiyuan was ten meters away from her, the farthest distance between them. Those ten meters felt like an unbridgeable chasm, a road that couldn¡¯t be crossed even in hundreds of years. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, does it hurt?¡± Gu Ci asked with red eyes. ¡°Am I causing you discomfort by standing here?¡± Gu Ci was incredibly intelligent and saw through it at a glance. Lu Zhiyuan also knew he couldn¡¯t hide it any longer. ¡°Xiao Ci, it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°How about this?¡± Gu Ci took three steps forward, shortening the distance by one meter. She gazed at Lu Zhiyuan with a heartbroken expression. ¡°How close can I get to you? One meter, two meters, or five meters?¡± Within five meters, Lu Zhiyuan began to feel pain. ¡°Cici, as long as you don¡¯t touch me, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Gu Ci wiped away her tears. ¡°Since when did this start?¡± ¡°That night, after watching the stars..¡± Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Emergency Room, Doctor Gu Chapter 418: Emergency Room, Doctor Gu Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci understood it. No wonder they fell down the mountain. Lu Zhiyuan could teleport, but he was still so badly injured. It turned out to be because of her. She had been carrying him all the way. How much pain Lu Zhiyuan must be in. No wonder he frequently coughed up blood. Her touch was, in fact, his curse. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Gu Ci asked sternly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have recklessly approached him, causing him more pain. If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have come close to him again, no matter how much she missed him; she would have restrained her desires. Why didn¡¯t Lu Zhiyuan tell Gu Ci? First, he didn¡¯t want Gu Ci to blame herself, and second, even the excruciating pain couldn¡¯t stop him from wanting to see Gu Ci. If they truly never saw each other again in this lifetime, it would be more torture than this ordeal. Gu Ci understood the look in his eyes. They were both fools; she was a madwoman, and he was a fool. They were truly a match made in heaven. Gu Ci had blamed heaven, blamed the earth, and resented the unfairness of the gods. Now, she only blamed herself for why she had met Lu Zhiyuan. If they hadn¡¯t met, Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t be suffering like this. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, was it the same in the previous life?¡± Gu Ci asked in anguish. ¡°Was every day we spent together so painful for you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me; I want to hear the truth.¡± Lu Zhiyuan sighed and nodded. ¡°Every day after we got married was a heart-wrenching pain for me. But even so, I never once thought of letting go of your hand.¡± Gu Ci felt a deep pain in her heart. She retreated in agony, and Lu Zhiyuan took a few steps towards her. Gu Ci shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! Are you a fool? If it hurts, why didn¡¯t you say so?¡± ¡°Cici¡­¡± ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, I¡­¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t know that the person she had been holding in the palm of her hand all along was so fragile. If she had known earlier¡­ If she had known, would she have acted so recklessly? ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, from now on, 1 will stay far away from you,¡± Gu Ci concealed her pain. ¡°If there is a way to break this curse, you tell me. If I die, can this curse be broken?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said firmly, ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, you won¡¯t die. Cici, death won¡¯t solve this curse. It will only make you cycle through it repeatedly. Don¡¯t worry; 1 will spend my whole life finding a solution.¡± He was afraid that Gu Ci would do something foolish. Gu Ci was afraid that he would suffer so much, but she continued to bear it alone. Why was fate so unfair? They both wanted to love each other and protect each other with all their might, but they could only live with regret, unable to be together. She had already accepted the fact of being separated from Lu Zhiyuan, trying to heal herself while holding onto a glimmer of hope that someday, both she and Lu Zhiyuan could have their wishes come true. But if the price of Lu Zhiyuan being with her was to endure torture, would she still be willing? No! She wouldn¡¯t! She hoped that Lu Zhiyuan would live a healthy and safe life. As long as he was well, it was more important than anything else. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know¡­ because of me, you¡¯re in so much pain, Third Brother,¡± Gu Ci looked at him with sadness. ¡°If 1 had known earlier¡­¡± Stay far away from you! Just watching you from a distance would be enough. If she had known about his pain in the previous life, she wouldn¡¯t have gone to find him when she came back. She would have been content to watch him shine as a dazzling and prominent racer at the pinnacle of the world. ¡°Cici, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, his heart aching. He knew Gu Ci would react this way, so he never wanted to tell her. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault; don¡¯t blame yourself.¡± Someday, he would surely break free from this fate! Gu Ci couldn¡¯t bear it any longer as she saw him approaching. She turned and left, running down the stairs as if someone were chasing her from behind. Li Jiang watched her fleeing figure in confusion. It was the first time he had seen Miss Gu Ci cry like this. What had Third Master said to make Miss Gu Ci cry like this? It was too pitiful! Jiang Junlin looked at her reddened eyes and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Ci shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, big brother. The transfer procedures are done. Let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t want to say more, and Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t force her. He knew it had something to do with Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci silently swore to herself that she would heal as quickly as possible. This cursed situation was damned, and they would find a way to break it. There were always more solutions than difficulties, and she refused to believe that they couldn¡¯t find a way to break this curse. Ji Chi stood on the upper floor, watching as Jiang Junlin got into the car, his face even paler than the walls of the hospital. Brother, I¡¯ve set you free. Are you happy? Five years later, in the Southern City Hospital. The emergency room received a construction worker who had fallen from a great height, with a steel pipe piercing through his chest. Gu Ci was on duty as a resident doctor, and this surgery took six hours to complete. When she left the operating room, she was exhausted. The surgery was a success, and the emergency room was filled with joy. When the patient was brought in, no one thought he would survive, but the surgery had succeeded, once again under the skilled hands of Gu Ci. Gu Ci, a newly graduated doctor who had just completed her residency in the emergency room at Southern City Hospital, had gained a great reputation in just half a year. Patients who underwent surgery with her always came out safely. Her medical skills were exceptional, and she remained calm under pressure, making her a standout in the emergency room. Many cardiovascular and neurosurgery doctors liked to exchange experiences with Gu Ci. Gu Ci had completed an eight-year combined bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s program, spending five years studying in total. After four years of undergraduate education, she specialized in cardiovascular and neurosurgery. Gu Ziyu had earned two doctoral degrees a year earlier and had already left the campus. With Chen Liangdong¡¯s promotion, Gu Ziyu¡¯s position in the national security sector was also very stable. Her mental state had improved over the past few years. Two years ago, she had taken over as the leader of the triad. After graduating, she had been doing rotations in the emergency room at a hospital funded by the triad. She worked as an emergency room doctor on odd-numbered days. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only During the rest of her time, she served the triad¡¯s dark web. For the sake of Gu Ci, Jiang Junlin had changed the triad¡¯s usual practices. Gu Ci was in charge of the financial sector of the triad, and Jiang Junlin had completely separated the financial sector from the dark web. As a result, Gu Ci had few enemies in the financial sector, and her role as a doctor carried little danger. However, in reality, Gu Ci was involved in most of the management and decision-making in the triad¡¯s dark web. Many decisions didn¡¯t need to go through Jiang Junlin; she could make them directly. A young nurse handed her a cup of coffee and winked, saying, ¡°Dr. Gu, this coffee was sent to our emergency room by Zhou Li.¡± Zhou Li had been pursuing Gu Ci, and almost the entire hospital knew about it. They were all betting on when Zhou Li would finally win over Dr. Gu. Gu Ci didn¡¯t have to work night shifts. Southern City Hospital was funded by the triad, so she had more freedom than ordinary doctors. She finished work at 5 PM, unless there was an emergency. At night, Gu Ci dealt with triad business and didn¡¯t usually return to the hospital. Zhou Li was waiting for her in the parking lot. Today was Zhou Li¡¯s birthday, and Gu Ci had promised to celebrate it with him and sing him a song.. Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Parent-Child Time Chapter 419: Parent-Child Time Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation When she went to work, her hair was casually tied up in a bun, casually but beautifully done. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, dressing no differently from an ordinary doctor. Gu Ci recognized Zhou Li¡¯s car, tapped on the car window, and Zhou Li opened the door, waving with a smile, ¡°Dr. Gu, who saves lives, you¡¯ve worked hard. This is a little treat for you on behalf of all the patients.¡± Zhou Li handed over a box of snacks, and Gu Ci chuckled, saying, ¡°This famous snack place usually has a queue of over three hours. Did you wait in line?¡± ¡°In this world, there¡¯s a group called scalpers,¡± Zhou Li teased. ¡°They stand in line for three hours and make three hundred bucks. Isn¡¯t that easy money?¡± ¡°Especially for people like you who fall for it.¡± Although Gu Ci was teasing, she had already eaten two pieces of pastry. She had low blood sugar, but it wasn¡¯t too severe. After a long surgery, her abdomen was empty, and desserts and chocolates were her favorite snacks. Every time Zhou Li came to pick her up, he would bring some sweets. Gu Ci told him about the emergency room patients, and despite being from different fields, Zhou Li listened attentively. ¡°You saved that patient. It¡¯s trending today. It was a steel pipe piercing the body, and netizens were saying there was no hope.¡± ¡°But 1 saved them,¡± Gu Ci chuckled. ¡°Wow, our Dr. Gu is truly a miracle worker,¡± Zhou Li praised, thumb raised, having looked at the trending topic a couple more times because of Gu Ci¡¯s presence in the emergency room at Nan Cheng Hospital. The situation had been quite dire, but no one expected a successful rescue. Gu Ci was about to respond when she received a call from her son, Gu Ziyu. ¡°Mom, I got off work early today. I¡¯ll come pick you up, and we can have dinner together,¡± Gu Ziyu, who was going through voice changes, had a slightly hoarse voice but sounded cheerful. Gu Ci replied, ¡°I made plans to have dinner with Zhou Li. I can¡¯t accompany you.¡± ¡°All¡­¡± Gu Ziyu was a bit unhappy. He had just returned from a business trip the previous week and had been busy with work ever since. He finally managed to arrange everything and his mom didn¡¯t have time. ¡°Alright, Mom, enjoy your meal.¡± After some thought, Gu Ziyu asked Chen Fei to go to the Global Center while he went to find Lu Zhiyuan. Ji Chi and Rong Li moved to live downstairs from Lu Zhiyuan. Black Hawk¡¯s business had been in Asia for the past few years, and now Rong Li, Ji Chi, and Lu Zhiyuan were all at Global Center. Security was also easier to manage, and this time, Gu Ziyu¡¯s case was related to Black Hawk. Ji Chi and Black Hawk had just finished a meeting with the nine major CEOs. As they came out, they saw Gu Ziyu. The kid had free access to Global Center. ¡°Baby, why are you here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me ¡®baby¡¯ anymore,¡± Gu Ziyu protested. At twelve years old, Gu Ziyu was over 1.6 meters tall and growing rapidly. Ji Chi and Rong Li finally believed in the young boy¡¯s ambitions; he was on his way to reaching 1.9 meters. He now looked like a typical teenager, and his charisma was becoming more and more like Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s. If he were to debut as a child star, he could easily captivate a large audience of teenage girls and their mothers. Ji Chi chuckled and ruffled his hair, noting that Rong Li was away on a business trip. Only Ji Chi and Lu Zhiyuan were at Global Center. Lu Zhiyuan was upstairs, reviewing the information Rong Li had sent back. There was a case related to national security, and it was Gu Ziyu¡¯s responsibility. Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow slightly as he heard a knock on the door from outside. ¡°Third Master, Young Master has arrived.¡± Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. His beloved son had graduated with a Ph.D. two years ago and was now a full-time child laborer. He and Gu Ci were like a divorced couple, with custody of the child in Gu Ci¡¯s hands. Gu Ziyu would come to visit him and have meals together on weekends, mostly without discussing business. On weekdays, Gu Ziyu rarely came by. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m here to mooch a meal,¡± Gu Ziyu threw his backpack onto the couch and flopped onto the sofa, lounging like a lazy fish. ¡°I finally managed to free up some time to have dinner with Mom, but she had a date.¡± Lu Zhiyuan was momentarily surprised, and Ji Chi, with mischief in his eyes, asked, ¡°Who is Gu Ci dating?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Li.¡± ¡°Oh, the superstar. He¡¯s quite famous, and he¡¯s the brand ambassador for the jewelry company Black Hawk invested in last year,¡± Ji Chi said. ¡°You went to his concert with Gu Ci at the beginning of the year, right?¡± ¡°Yes, VIP family tickets,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°He¡¯s handsome, thoughtful, and listens to my mom. He shares her interests. 1 have a chance to gain a stepfather.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, Ji Chi burst into laughter. ¡°Are you intentionally here to tease Third Master?¡± ¡°I just came to mooch a meal,¡± Gu Ziyu blinked innocently. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not mad, are you?¡± ¡°What would you like to eat tonight? I¡¯ll cook for you!¡± ¡°No need!¡± Gu Ziyu declined. ¡°Brother, you can do it. I like the food you cook.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll cook for you guys!¡± Ji Chi had improved his cooking skills over the years and had become the Ji Chi that Gu Ziyu remembered, the one who made delicious meals. He was also quick in the kitchen. He prepared five dishes and one soup for Gu Ziyu and Lu Zhiyuan, with both meat and vegetables, ensuring a nutritious and healthy meal. ¡°We¡¯re more like a family of three,¡± Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t help but remark as he enjoyed the spare ribs. Ji Chi and Lu Zhiyuan chuckled helplessly. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Why do you, a minor, have to go on business trips? You work over ten hours a day, and occasionally you have to go on business trips. Even the seasoned professionals in the field can¡¯t match your dedication.¡± Gu Ziyu was frustrated when he talked about this. ¡°One of my team members messed up, so 1 had to go and clean up the mess. That¡¯s not the worst part; they also deducted my bonus.¡± ¡°Poor thing. How much did they deduct?¡± Ji Chi asked with a smile. ¡°My entire year¡¯s bonus.¡± Ji Chi pitied him and pinched his cheek. ¡°A child laborer going on business trips and getting his bonus deducted. How unfortunate.¡± ¡°You¡¯re about to burst into laughter!¡± Gu Ziyu scolded. Ji Chi couldn¡¯t help it and burst into laughter. ¡°How much is your bonus? Why¡¯re you so upset?¡± ¡°Regardless of how much your bonus is, it¡¯s your hard-earned money.¡± ¡°As a leader, if your subordinates make mistakes, it¡¯s only natural that you take the blame,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said. Although Gu Ziyu had improved his understanding of human relations and the world, managing a team would inevitably come with its challenges. He was still so young. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The admission criteria for the MSS were either a doctoral degree in a defense-related field from a military academy or a top-tier university. Some of the people who got in were already in their thirties, and they were all highly talented, arrogant, and thought highly of themselves. Gu Ziyu was only twelve years old, and it was challenging to assert authority over such individuals. Lu Zhiyuan and Ji Chi had heard Gu Ziyu talk about problems with his team multiple times before. ¡°You should learn from Ji Chi,¡± Lu Zhiyuan advised. In terms of managing subordinates, Ji Chi was the most naturally gifted person Lu Zhiyuan had ever seen. Perhaps it was because he grew up on the streets and had experienced hardship, but he had an innate ability to understand people¡¯s hearts and always knew how to find their soft spots. Gu Ziyu had also gone through a dark period in his life, but he had been withdrawn and avoided socializing with others. Therefore, he had to start from scratch when it came to managing subordinates. It would have been different if he were an adult, but with his entire team averaging around thirty years of age, it was challenging for him to assert authority. Chen Liangdong seemed to understand the root of the problem but didn¡¯t intervene. ¡°My team currently has nine people, and only three of them are competent. Apart from these three, one is a bookworm who only knows how to work with data and has almost zero adaptability. The other two got in through connections, and I suspect they bought their doctoral degrees. They need things explained to them in the simplest terms, and they act like they come from privileged backgrounds. They think they¡¯re talented, and no one can tell them otherwise,¡± Gu Ziyu sighed with exhaustion. ¡°If I were the boss, I would have fired them all by now..¡± Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Happy Birthday Chapter 420: Happy Birthday Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Being able to enter MSS, your foundation shouldn¡¯t be that bad. When you measure by your own standards, naturally, no one qualifies,¡± Lu Zhiyuan reminded him, ¡°Trees have heights, people have disparities. When you use people, don¡¯t just focus on their shortcomings; look at their strengths.¡± Ji Chi remained silent. It was rare for the Third Master to teach his son, and it was quite an honor. Ji Chi was much luckier than him. The Third Master would even teach him hands-on, whereas he had to learn by observing the Third Master. Gu Ziyu seemed lost in thought. ¡°Is it my fault for being exceptionally intelligent?¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied with hesitation,¡±¡­¡± Ji Chi burst into laughter. ¡°No, it¡¯s the Third Master¡¯s fault for passing on such a high IQ.to you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t credit my dad; my intelligence is entirely thanks to my mom.¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Ji Chi couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. After dinner, Gu Ziyu rested for half an hour before going downstairs with Lu Zhiyuan to jog. Ji Chi didn¡¯t disturb their father-son time; he stayed upstairs analyzing data. Zhou Li brought Gu Ci to an outdoor Western restaurant. As a top-tier superstar and a high-traffic individual, he had reserved the entire place early. The restaurant was located by a river that ran through the center of A City. It had been specially decorated with flowers, balloons, and lights, creating a beautiful ambiance. The tables were adorned with red rose petals arranged in a heart shape, with ¡°Happy Birthday¡± written in the center. Upon seeing the romantic setting, Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°The restaurant did this; it has nothing to do with me,¡± Zhou Li explained quickly, fearing she might misunderstand. ¡°1 just asked them to do a little decoration.¡± However, it touched her heart. ¡°I¡¯m hungry!¡± Zhou Li snapped his fingers. ¡°Bring the food!¡± Waiters came in one after another, serving the appetizers. Gu Ci was genuinely hungry and finished her food without leaving a trace. She was a true foodie. She looked out and saw the intertwining lights and the warmth of the city reflected in the river. Their table also had a perfect view of the Universal Building. Gu Ci shifted her gaze back, smiling. ¡°Zhou Li, happy birthday! I promised to write a song for you, and I¡¯ve already finished it. You¡¯re the first listener.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my honor!¡± Zhou Li chuckled and took out a prepared violin. Medical students had an extremely demanding workload, and every year¡¯s final exams drove them to madness. Her dorm mates often exclaimed, crying and yelling, that the tears shed during these exams were the result of having water in their brains when they decided to study medicine. Gu Ci was even studying ahead of her grade, so her workload was even heavier. She had spent these past few years constantly studying, treating psychological disorders, and participating in the training arranged by the gang. She and Zhou Li had made a monthly music arrangement, but because of her studies, training, and medical work, she often had to break their dates. Zhou Li never complained or got angry; he always patiently waited for her. But she had not touched a violin as often as she would¡¯ve liked over the past couple of years. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m a little rusty, don¡¯t be too critical,¡± Gu Ci said. Zhou Li chuckled, ¡°Even if you¡¯re a bit rusty, you are the best violinist in my heart, the most spirited musician.¡± Three months before Zhou Li¡¯s birthday, he had pleaded with Gu Ci to create a song for his celebration. Gu Ci, busy with her shifts in the emergency room, had been writing the song intermittently. As his birthday approached, she made two more revisions before she was satisfied. It was an original composition inspired by Gu Ci¡¯s five-year journey of psychological healing. Therefore, the melody started off melancholic and dark, reflecting her initial struggles during the therapy, a period marked by self-deprecation and despair. Midway through, it shifted to a lyrical and warm tone, symbolizing her process of self-repair during therapy. The latter part was lively, reflecting the hustle and bustle of the world, with a strong emotional impact. The overall tone was warm and healing. When Gu Ci played the violin, it was when she lost herself the most. In those few minutes of performance, it felt like she was reliving the five years of her life¡ªa process of self-redemption. Zhou Li was mesmerized as he watched Gu Ci play. He was captivated by the charm she displayed. A beautiful and graceful woman, a graceful and warm piece of music¡ªthey were both his crimson mole. As the song concluded, Zhou Li applauded enthusiastically. Each year on his birthday, he received a variety of gifts from brand partners, collaborators, and friends. However, Gu Ci¡¯s song had touched him deeply. He couldn¡¯t even bear to share it with others; it was exclusively his. ¡°It was rushed, and I didn¡¯t have time for meticulous refinement. The structure of the song couldn¡¯t be adjusted in time. I¡¯m just showing my humble skill,¡± Gu Ci said modestly. Besides Gu Ziyu, music was her most effective form of self-healing. ¡°I¡¯m willing to use very eloquent language to describe the perfection of this piece. Whether in terms of appreciation or the intended message, this song is truly moving. I feel like I¡¯ve seen a young girl trapped in the abyss, yearning for light and stars. She struggles to climb out of the abyss onto the cliff and reaches out to touch the stars. They are warm and touching, rich in emotion. 1 really love it,¡± Zhou Li expressed. Gu Ci was momentarily surprised but then smiled. This was why she liked being friends with Zhou Li. She had never revealed the inspiration behind her songs, her struggles with mental illness, or her experiences in therapy. Zhou Li had no way of knowing what she had gone through. Yet, he could understand the meaning and story behind each of her songs. Truly understanding someone was a rare and precious bond. ¡°I¡¯m giving it to you!¡± Gu Ci placed the violin down. ¡°This piece sounds good because the tone of this Stradivarius violin is excellent.¡± The sound of this Stradivarius violin was indeed outstanding, and the music played on it could tug at one¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°The piece is excellent, and the violin is the icing on the cake,¡± Zhou Li still felt a bit regretful. ¡°It¡¯s a loss for the music world that you didn¡¯t become a musician.¡± ¡°If I became a musician, it would be a loss for the medical field,¡± Gu Ci teased. ¡°That¡¯s true. Let¡¯s stick to being Dr. Gu, saving lives and helping the injured,¡± Zhou Li said. ¡°Occasionally, discussing music and talking about art with us ordinary folks is more than enough.¡± Gu Ci presented her gift. In addition to the song, she gave Zhou Li a pen as a gift. Zhou Li, as the brand ambassador for HY Jewelry, always carried a pen with him for autographs whenever he met his fans, be it at the airport or during collaborations. The gift was practical and thoughtful. ¡°Happy birthday!¡± ¡°Thank you, Cid!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhou Li took out a square box. ¡°I also have a gift for you!¡± ¡°Why are you giving me a gift on your birthday?¡± ¡°I am the Asian spokesperson for HY Jewelry, and they¡¯ve released a limited edition piece. I cheekily reserved one for myself to give to you.¡± Gu Ci had no shortage of jewelry, mainly due to Jiang Mingyue¡¯s love for it. She had collected a lot of jewelry, and although Gu Chuyun had taken some, most of it had ended up in Gu Ci¡¯s hands. However, Gu Ci wasn¡¯t particularly fond of jewelry. She had worn the jade bracelet that Jiang Junlin had given her on her wrist for a long time. After becoming an emergency room doctor, she rarely wore any jewelry, whether it was bracelets, necklaces, or watches. ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful,¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t decline his kindness. She remembered that HY Jewelry was affiliated with Black Hawk Investments, and they had encountered issues with raw materials and even had a legal dispute with the Triad a few years ago. Gu Ci was well aware of it. In recent years, Ji Chi had marketed the brand exceptionally well and was willing to invest money. HY Jewelry had become very profitable, capturing a significant market share in the international first-tier brand market.. Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: The Adults Are Troublesome Chapter 421: The Adults Are Troublesome Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The most sensational incident was when HY Jewelry sponsored the costume design of a historical drama. All the jewelry featured in the show was designed and crafted by HY Jewelry. The phoenix crown alone was worth millions. This drama first gained attention for its exquisite jewelry and later for its captivating storyline. It became a nationwide sensation, catapulting HY Jewelry to fame and swiftly conquering the domestic high-end market. It¡¯s unclear whether this was due to Ji Chi¡¯s excellent judgment or simply good luck. Zhou Jinjin also played a supporting role in this drama and gained popularity. She is now the female lead in a production by S+. Therefore, it¡¯s safe to say that Ji Chi excels in investment, marketing, and operations. In recent years, Heiying has diversified into finance, jewelry, film and television, and real estate, with half of its assets transferred to the domestic market. The most profitable sector remains technology, which is shrouded in mystery. Recently, there have been attempts to collaborate with military enterprises, but they have faced numerous obstacles. Below the Global Center. Gu Ziyu and Lu Zhiyuan are jogging together. Lu Zhiyuan retired a year ago, and after a year of recuperation, he resumed competing for three more years. It has been a perilous journey, as many people wanted to sabotage him on the racetrack. It¡¯s the most vulnerable and easiest time to strike. Every race, Li Jiang and Ji Chi felt like they had experienced death. They were always on high alert and thwarted many assassination attempts. The racing schedule is too demanding, and there are moments of misjudgment. Three years ago, there was a serious accident, but luckily, Lu Zhiyuan escaped unharmed. For the safety of other racers, Lu Zhiyuan had no choice but to announce his retirement. Even now, in every official competition he participated in, the worst result was a silver medal, but most of the time, it was a gold one. He was undoubtedly the king of racing, even in retirement, leaving a legacy that no one could match. Others could only admire from a distance, chasing after him for their entire lives. Gu Ziyu belongs to the information warfare branch, involved in technical research. He doesn¡¯t need to be on the front lines, and even when he is, his role is primarily technical. There are specialists to protect him. Therefore, Chen Liangdong doesn¡¯t require him to undergo solo combat training. However, Gu Ziyu holds himself to strict standards. He exercises with Lu Zhiyuan on weekends, occasionally practices boxing, and follows Chen Fei¡¯s training regimen during his free time. When Chen Fei goes on missions, Gu Ziyu participates in group training and undergoes systematic training. The two of them sparred on the track for half an hour, working up a sweat. Gu Ziyu and Lu Zhiyuan had a match, and even with one hand tied behind his back, Gu Ziyu couldn¡¯t win. He was left panting for breath. The third and fourth floors housed an indoor racing training center. During their break, Gu Ziyu noticed that Lu Zhiyuan frequently looked up at the upper floors. There were racing car models displayed on the outdoor platform. ¡°Dad, do you regret retiring?¡± ¡°Not really. If I didn¡¯t retire, there would be frequent accidents on the racetrack, and other racers¡¯ lives would be at risk.¡± Lu Zhiyuan didn¡¯t want to jeopardize their careers. Whenever Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci could, they would ask Li Jiang for tickets to watch his races live in China. If he was competing abroad, they would watch the broadcast on television. The last time there was an accident, the car rolled three times on the racetrack. Luckily, Lu Zhiyuan only suffered minor injuries, but Gu Ci was too worried to get close. She was deeply concerned about his pain. For the sake of everyone¡¯s safety, Lu Zhiyuan gave up his beloved racing career. ¡°You¡¯re doing the right thing!¡± Gu Ziyu gave a thumbs-up. In truth, when he was racing, Li Jiang, Ji Chi, and Rong Li were always worried, fearing he might have an accident. They were afraid that Black Hawk would stir up trouble again. Ji Chi tried to persuade Gu Ci, but she remained indifferent. She turned to Gu Ziyu, who also couldn¡¯t change her mind. As a result, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s career was extended by four more years. Lu Zhiyuan smiled and ruffled Gu Ziyu¡¯s hair. ¡°You came to the Global Center today for a reason. What did you want to talk to me about? Take advantage of my good mood, and I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± ¡°Look at you! Can¡¯t I just miss you?¡± ¡°You missed your chance¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± Gu Ziyu raised his hand. ¡°We¡¯re currently working on a drug trafficking case, and we¡¯re approaching the final phase. The situation is a bit complicated, and after some in-depth investigation, I found that one of our informants used to work at Black Hawk and used seafood as a cover to smuggle goods into the country. When we dug into this line, we uncovered a lot of secrets.¡± Gu Ziyu pulled up the list and sent it to Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°Do you want to handle this, or should we?¡± Lu Zhiyuan had also received the news that afternoon. ¡°Does Chen Liangdong know about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already reported it,¡± Gu Ziyu said. ¡°This person has resigned, and theoretically, he has no direct connection to Black Hawk. However, this shipping line is still involved, so I¡¯d like you to handle it. Can you provide us with a prompt response? It would help us maintain good relations.¡± ¡°Do you really trust me this much?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Gu Ziyu raised an eyebrow and said half-jokingly, ¡°Black Hawk has moved all its operations to Asia, paying substantial taxes every year. We rely on taxpayers to make a living, so we can¡¯t afford to offend them.¡± Lu Zhiyuan chuckled and said, ¡°1 received the message today, and I¡¯ve already asked Rong Li to take care of it. I¡¯ll get you the information after it¡¯s organized in a few days.¡± ¡°Thank you for that!¡± After a brief pause, Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°As a return favor, can you tell me where Tang Mingzhou is being held?¡± Gu Ziyu feigned a puzzled expression, ¡°Who is Tang Mingzhou?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Should 1 know?¡± They exchanged a few moves in their Tai Chi session, and Lu Zhiyuan smiled, ¡°Never mind.¡± ¡°So, who is Tang Mingzhou?¡± Gu Ziyu wondered silently. How did his dad know about Tang Mingzhou? Tang Mingzhou had been secretly moved three years ago. He provided intelligence, and Jiang Junlin applied for immunity for him, granting him freedom. He was then sent out of the country and lived under a new identity. Theoretically, no one should be able to trace any information about Tang Mingzhou. This was a person who had been dead for many years! ¡°The previous owner of Black Hawk,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said lightly, ¡°He should have been dead for many years. His name resurfaced five years ago, and I recently received some intelligence suggesting that he¡¯s still alive and being held by your National Security.¡± ¡°If you want to know, I can check the prison detainee list when I get back.¡± ¡°No need. This is your top-secret information; you don¡¯t have to reveal it to me.¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t press further, secretly relieved. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s situation was mainly his uncle¡¯s doing, and he couldn¡¯t make decisions about it. Changing the topic, Gu Ziyu asked, ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t you jealous of Mom¡¯s dates with Zhou Li? You don¡¯t feel jealous at all?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Lu Zhiyuan fell silent for a moment. He knew Zhou Li and had no romantic involvement with her. She was devoted to her music, and her only rumored girlfriend was Gu Ci. A few years ago, there were photos of him and Gu Ci having dinner together. In recent years, his popularity and fanbase had been steadily rising, and his romantic life had attracted considerable attention. He had protected Gu Ci well, and she shared his interests. She composed music for every one of his albums. Without him, Gu Ci and Zhou Li would probably be a perfect match. ¡°We broke up five years ago.¡± Gu Ziyu clicked his tongue. ¡°Then why do you accept the photos and videos of Mom every day? Aren¡¯t you bothered by it?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was momentarily at a loss for words. Gu Ziyu shook his head.. ¡°Adults are so troublesome!¡± Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: It’s Better to Shorten the Pain Chapter 422: It¡¯s Better to Shorten the Pain Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Gu Ziyu, you¡¯re eighteen plus six, so you¡¯re also twenty-four. Don¡¯t act young.¡± ¡°Pff, I¡¯m only twelve this year, I can still act cute with Mom. I¡¯m not that old!¡± Gu Ziyu threatened him, clenching his little fists. ¡°If you mention age again, I¡¯ll set up Mom with Zhou Li.¡± Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s pulse was pinched, and he sighed, shaking his head. Gu Ziyu squinted his eyes. ¡°Did you and Mom break up because you¡¯re afraid of having another baby, and 1 would leave?¡± ¡°No!¡± Gu Ziyu thought seriously, ¡°If you have another baby, will there still be a place for me?¡± ¡°Myself and Gu Ci won¡¯t have a second child, so you can rest assured.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Gu Ziyu didn¡¯t want a younger brother or sister. ¡°Mom can only spoil me.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said nothing. Gu Ziyu¡¯s phone suddenly made a notification sound. He picked up the phone and saw that Zhou Li was trending. He had a bad feeling. Were Mom and Zhou Li having dinner together tonight? What good news could there be about Zhou Li trending? He opened it and indeed, it was a romantic video of Zhou Li. The restaurant was reserved for them, and it seemed a server secretly recorded a short clip. It showed Gu Ci playing the violin, and Zhou Li listening with a deeply enamored expression. The server was considerate, capturing the angle just right, making Gu Ci¡¯s delicate figure visible while subtly blurring her face. The video was filled with a rosy atmosphere of love, with beautiful music playing. Zhou Li listened with rapt attention. Gu Ziyu played the video right in front of Lu Zhiyuan, who immediately recognized Gu Ci. It was Sucru¡¯s famous violin, and besides Gu Ci, who else could it be? Back then, he had gone to great lengths to acquire this violin. When Gu Ci didn¡¯t go to the auction house, he planned to compete with Pei Qiuying. But when he found out that Gu Ci was going to the auction, he removed all obstacles for her. Now, she was playing this violin for another man. This piece of music seemed to reflect her journey over the past few years. It contained struggles and pain but also warmth, redemption, and a new beginning. She had truly found a new lease on life, as evident in her music. It was a good thing! Cici should have a brilliant life. ¡°Dad, are you jealous?¡± Gu Ziyu asked. Lu Zhiyuan avoided the question. ¡°Have you rested enough? Let¡¯s continue running.¡± He got up and started running ahead. Gu Ziyu rolled his eyes and followed. ¡°In a few years, I¡¯ll be able to outrun you.¡± ¡°In your dreams, son!¡± The trending topic about Zhou Li quickly faded, but it was inevitable since the topic was heating up. Moreover, today was Zhou Li¡¯s birthday, and fans were well aware of it. The studio celebrated his birthday in the early morning, which counted as a pre-birthday celebration. When the studio posted pictures, fans were curious about why they chose to celebrate in the wee hours, and now they understood. It was because he had plans, a birthday date with his girlfriend. Fans kept asking who the girlfriend was because Zhou Li had always claimed to be single in interviews. ¡°Cici, we¡¯re trending. Someone recorded the video of you playing the violin just now.¡± Zhou Li sent the video to Gu Ci and said casually, ¡°I¡¯m going to blacklist this place.¡± He had repeatedly emphasized not to take pictures. The waitstaff, standing nearby, seemed to understand that they had caused trouble. A young girl ran over, apologizing desperately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to. My best friend is a fan of Zhou Li, so I recorded a short clip to send to her. I didn¡¯t expect it to be leaked. I told her to keep it private. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Gu Ci looked at the girl who was tearfully apologetic and said softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, no need to apologize.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry!¡± The girl wiped her tears and hurried away. Zhou Li regretfully said, ¡°I told them not to take pictures or record videos. I didn¡¯t want to trouble you.¡± ¡°Zhou Li, we act openly, unafraid of rumors and gossip,¡± Gu Ci said softly. ¡°But I¡¯m not open enough.¡± Zhou Li finally gathered the courage to ask Gu Ci, ¡°Cici, it¡¯s been five years since you and Lu Zhiyuan broke up. Do I still have no chance?¡± He wanted to confess on his birthday. After all these years, he had mustered the courage once again. ¡°Zhou Li, 1 can¡¯t forget Lu Zhiyuan, no matter how many years have passed.¡± This was what Gu Ci had always told Zhou Li, and she had never shied away from it. She loved Lu Zhiyuan, even though they had broken up. These five years, she had been extremely busy with her studies, work, and treatment, taking up all her time. She had received waves of suitors during this time, but she had rejected them all, except for Zhou Li, who was willing to stay by her side as a friend. She had not spent much time with Zhou Li in reality. There were two years when they only communicated through text messages and never met in person. Gu Ci never tried to please anyone. In recent years, she had carved out a little time to spend with her son, visit the Jiang family, and enjoy family time. When her illness was not cured, she spent holidays with Dr. Noth, traveling and relaxing. After her illness was cured, she had no holidays. Without her studies, she plunged into her work in the emergency room and the inner network of the gang. Since her graduation, her schedule had been packed. The last time she and Zhou Li met was three months ago. She knew that Zhou Li still had feelings for her, and she intentionally maintained some distance. During these five years, Zhou Li had not clearly expressed his pursuit and had not eagerly inquired about her well-being. Gu Ci hadn¡¯t had the chance to reiterate her stance. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan has no scandals and no girlfriend. If you like him, why don¡¯t you pursue him?¡± Zhou Li couldn¡¯t understand. She liked Lu Zhiyuan so much, why did they break up? If they hadn¡¯t broken up, he wouldn¡¯t dare to entertain even a glimmer of hope. During these five years, Zhou Li had been cautious, fearing that he might reveal his feelings and risk her distancing herself. He could sense that Gu Ci was becoming more distant, and even his agent scolded him for being a devoted puppy, but he didn¡¯t care. Being friends with her, staying by her side, made him happy. ¡°We have some special reasons between us that prevent us from being together, but we¡­ love each other deeply,¡± Gu Ci said gently. ¡°We love each other but can¡¯t be together.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Zhou Li was rejected again, feeling both hurt and relieved. Five years ago on that mountain, Gu Ci had rejected him, and he had pushed too hard. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Gu Ci continued, ¡°Zhou Li, you are a great friend to me. I don¡¯t want to hurt you, so don¡¯t waste your time on me. There must be many girls who like you wholeheartedly. Find someone who loves you with all her heart, don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Zhou Li smiled with grace. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m not deliberately waiting for you. I haven¡¯t met a girl who truly captivates me, so I¡¯ve continued to like you. If one day I meet a girl who captures my heart, I won¡¯t miss the chance.¡± He concealed his own discomfort and said calmly, ¡°Cici, don¡¯t distance yourself from me. Consider me your friend, your confidant in music. We may not be lovers, but we can still be friends, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to end it sooner rather than later. Why be so persistent?¡± ¡°If I meet a girl who truly captivates me, I¡¯ll pursue her,¡± Zhou Li said. ¡°This isn¡¯t retreating; it¡¯s being selective. I don¡¯t want to settle. I truly envy Lu Zhiyuan..¡± Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: I’m Going to Have a Stepfather Chapter 423: I¡¯m Going to Have a Stepfather Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°He has nothing to envy.¡± Gu Ci remembered Lu Zhiyuan, feeling somewhat sad. The person he loved in his heart was like a knife, his death sentence! ¡°Because he has you. It¡¯s been five years since you broke up, and you¡¯re still holding on. 1 envy that,¡± Zhou Li said. ¡°He and you have known each other since childhood, and you¡¯ve never missed a moment of your life. This kind of young and deep friendship is really beautiful.¡± ¡°Zhou Li, you will meet your Gu Ci.¡± Zhou Li wondered if he would have the fortune to meet his Gu Ci in this lifetime. Online discussions were in full swing, all guessing who the girl playing the violin was. Some guessed it was Gu Ci and even posted a photo of Gu Ci at a medical conference. Zhou Li¡¯s fans¡¯ reactions were quite interesting. ¡°We approve of this relationship!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been five years, and it¡¯s still Gu Ci. Did my son¡¯s sincerity finally win her over, and she agreed to be his girlfriend?¡± ¡°Station Sister has the inside scoop, and Brother has been pursuing Gu Ci all along.¡± ¡°Five years to complete the undergraduate, master¡¯s, and doctoral courses at A University. Medical students are really envious. 1 just started my freshman year and already want to change majors.¡± ¡°She¡¯s excelling in cardiothoracic surgery and neurology, winning numerous research awards. Let¡¯s see where her papers are published. She¡¯s definitely a genius girl.¡± ¡°Zhou Li might not be up to the task!¡± ¡°Hualan Bank¡¯s little princess, a genius girl, fair-skinned and beautiful, with a cool and noble temperament. 1 wonder which window God closed for her.¡± Gu Ci had been very low-key in recent years, rarely active on social media. She occasionally kept up with current events to stay informed but hardly followed entertainment news. When Zhou Li released an album, she would write songs for him. Due to her status, Zhou Li didn¡¯t push Gu Ci to collaborate more, fearing that people would accuse him of riding on Hualan Bank¡¯s popularity or cause trouble for Gu Ci. A few years ago, she had a brief fling with Gu Chuyun, but the hype had long since faded, and her daily life could only be found in Zhou Jinjin¡¯s updates. The online buzz had no impact on her, and Zhou Li saw no need to clarify anything. In a few days, the excitement would die down. After dinner, although he was disappointed not to have escaped singledom, Zhou Li¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t greatly affected. He had a hunch that Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t accept him, but after five years, he wanted to give it a try. If it worked out, he would have struck gold. If not, Gu Ci wouldn¡¯t reject him from a thousand miles away and would still consider him a friend. There was nothing to lose. Gu Ci told Zhou Li that for his own good, they should maintain some distance to let him move on. It was a natural course of action because she was genuinely busy, working tirelessly day in and day out, with very little personal time. When Zhou Li drove Gu Ci back to the Blue Fields Villa, he handed her the bouquet of roses. Gu Ci didn¡¯t refuse; since he had already bought them, it would be a shame to waste them. So, Gu Ci held a bunch of fiery red roses and came face to face with Lu Zhiyuan. Lu Zhiyuan happened to run into Gu Ziyu naturally when he came to pick her up. There was no special arrangement of timing. There was one year when he hadn¡¯t seen Gu Ci in person, relying solely on the videos and photos Gu Ziyu sent him. Five years hadn¡¯t left too many traces on her. With her hair in a bun, compared to when she was eighteen, her facial features were even more exquisite and radiant. Her beauty was like that of a woman from an ancient painting, every stroke outlining her unparalleled charm. She was more beautiful than the flowers! Gu Ci hadn¡¯t expected to meet Lu Zhiyuan suddenly, and it was quite surprising. Zhou Li nodded at Lu Zhiyuan, ¡°I¡¯ll go now.¡± ¡°Alright, be careful on the way!¡± Gu Ci advised as she saw Zhou Li off. Both of them stood at the doorstep without saying a word. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s appearance and demeanor were exactly as she remembered from her memories. No matter how many years had passed, those memories remained vivid and profound in her heart. Seeing him still made her heart race and brought sadness. Even though she had accepted the breakup, her feelings of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all connected to him. Gu Ci had often wondered how things would have been if Lu Zhiyuan hadn¡¯t passed away suddenly, and their child had been born safely. Would she and Lu Zhiyuan be together? But as soon as she thought of Lu Zhiyuan approaching her, the pain in her heart became unbearable, and Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back. The last time they had met was at a project meeting involving Black Hawk and the Yakuza. She had sat as far away from him as possible. ¡°Ziyu went to have dinner with me, and I just brought him back.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said softly, his breathing slightly irregular. Li Jiang could have taken Ziyu home, so there was no need for Lu Zhiyuan to personally come. Gu Ci didn¡¯t mention it, and their relationship had remained distant and indifferent since their breakup. Neither of them dared to step into the minefield. ¡°Okay,¡± Gu Ci nodded, indicating that she understood, but her gaze avoided Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s eyes. Lu Zhiyuan looked at the glaring bouquet of roses in her arms, his gaze dimming. He wanted to ask Gu Ci if she had accepted Zhou Li¡¯s pursuit, but he knew he had no right to inquire. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be going then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhiyuan got into his car, and Gu Ci finally looked up at him. She gazed at his face through the windshield, looking at him openly. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but wonder sadly, would he feel pain from this distance? Knowing what would happen when he met her here, why did he come? Was he enduring the pain with a calm expression? Five years had passed, would this kind of pain decrease or intensify? As long as she still loved him, would Lu Zhiyuan never be free from the pain? After Lu Zhiyuan started the car, he continued to look at Gu Ci. When Gu Ci noticed his gaze, she casually averted her eyes. Gu Ci turned to the side and stood by the roadside. The two of them appeared as the most familiar strangers, yet their hearts were still entangled, and every exchanged glance carried a sense of ambiguity and pain. As he drove away, Gu Ci unabashedly watched the car¡¯s taillights. Through the rearview mirror, Lu Zhiyuan also saw Gu Ci standing by the roadside. Gradually, as he moved farther away, her figure became indistinct. Cici, do you like Zhou Li? Did you agree? Lu Zhiyuan felt waves of tearing pain in his heart. It had nothing to do with curses; just the thought alone was unbearable for him. The trending topic had been trending all night, and it was known throughout the internet. When Gu Ci returned home holding the roses, Gu Ziyu was leaning on the railing. He raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Mom, are you in a relationship?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only He had purposely entered the house first, leaving Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan some private time. However, to his disappointment, his dad left after just a few words, and his mom didn¡¯t stop him either. Gu Ziyu watched their interaction from upstairs, wishing he could pursue Gu Ci on behalf of Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°No!¡± Gu Ci replied. Gu Ziyu let out a sigh of relief and ran downstairs. ¡°The trending topic is all about you and Brother Zhou Li. You came back with a bouquet of flowers, so I thought you were going to announce that you¡¯re in a relationship. I¡¯d have a stepdad.¡± Gu Ci put down the roses, and Gu Ziyu fetched a vase to arrange them. ¡°I bought the flowers, and they¡¯ll still last for a few days even if we keep them at home. It would be a waste to throw them away.¡± In fact, there was no shortage of flowers in their home. Gu Ci had hired a florist, and their garden was always filled with a variety of flowers. Roses, hydrangeas, and gardenias blossomed beautifully year-round.. Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: The Little Wolf Cub’s Desire to Dominate Chapter 424: The Little Wolf Cub¡¯s Desire to Dominate Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ziyu had long stopped caring about Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s relationship. His parents were both incredibly intelligent and deeply in love with each other. If they were not together, there must be a reason, and they wouldn¡¯t get back together just for him. So, Gu Ziyu had let it go and adopted a more neutral stance, being a child of divorced parents. However, when it came to accepting Gu Ci¡¯s marriage to Zhou Li, Gu Ziyu felt uneasy. ¡°Mom, do you like Zhou Li?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°I like him a lot, just like 1 like Qin Wan and Jinjin.¡± She was her best friend, and over the years, Gu Ci had made many friends, mostly classmates from A University. Most of them were working in A City, except for those who had gone abroad for further studies. Zhou Jinjin was quite sociable, and when she wasn¡¯t working, she enjoyed organizing gatherings with her classmates. Gu Ci attended these gatherings less frequently, but she had always maintained her connections. ¡°Why did you go to see Dad today?¡± Gu Ci inquired. ¡°There¡¯s a case related to them, and digging into it could strain our relationship. So, I informed him and let him investigate on his own,¡± Gu Ziyu explained. The Ministry of State Security often collaborated with the underworld dark web, and some information was shared between them. Gu Ziyu was somewhat conflicted. ¡°Mom, there¡¯s something I¡¯m considering whether to tell you.¡± ¡°Tell me your thoughts first, and then I¡¯ll decide whether to listen,¡± Gu Ziyu said, sitting up straight. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about Dad¡¯s intentions in asking about this matter. First, it could be just casual conversation, a way to test me, but that¡¯s unlikely. Dad usually doesn¡¯t engage in pointless tasks. Second, it could be a deliberate attempt to make me convey this to you, so you become cautious, and then he can trace and find the information he wants. If I tell you, and you take action, he¡¯ll follow your lead to locate the person. If he does find the person, it could get complicated. So, I¡¯m not sure whether to tell you.¡± Due to differing positions within the family, they all had their own hidden agendas, and Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless. After a moment of hesitation, she said, ¡°Go ahead and tell me.¡± ¡°It seems like Dad is still looking into Tang Mingzhou¡¯s whereabouts. He hopes 1 can tell him where Tang Mingzhou is,¡± Gu Ziyu revealed. ¡°Why is he suddenly asking about Tang Mingzhou?¡± Gu Ci wondered. Gu Ziyu shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already brushed him off, and he¡¯ll likely believe me. I think he might have received some information or maybe he hasn¡¯t received any information at all, but he¡¯s convinced that you have it. Once you know, you¡¯ll confirm Tang Mingzhou¡¯s whereabouts. If that happens, he can trace it through your actions and potentially locate Tang Mingzhou.¡± After all, a few years ago, Tang Mingzhou had gained his freedom, and now, only the underworld¡¯s dark web knew his whereabouts. It was a kind of freedom, to be sure. He had been given enough money and a new identity to start life anew. However, the dark web had kept a close eye on his movements, and Tang Mingzhou had lived a disciplined and systematic life during these years. Based on the intelligence and information provided by Tang Mingzhou, the National Security and the underworld had collaborated to solve an economic case from several years ago. It had remained unsolved for many years due to insufficient evidence, and many individuals had escaped the clutches of the law. This was the sensational coastal economic case that had shaken the entire nation, implicating a large number of people and resulting in a complete overhaul. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s contributions outweighed his past transgressions, earning him immunity, which was considered fair. ¡°I understand,¡± Gu Ci said as she got up. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit. You should rest early.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gu Ci left the house and headed to the Jiang family¡¯s residence. The Jiang family was currently arranging a blind date between Jiang Junlin and a young lady from a prestigious family named Lin Anna. Lin Anna¡¯s father was the CEO of a securities company, and her mother was the general agent for an international top-tier brand in the Asian region. Lin Anna had received education in China from a young age and spent a year studying fashion design in France after graduating from college. She now owned a high-end clothing store and benefited from her mother¡¯s resources, making her highly sought after by the upper echelons of society. Lin Chunli also liked to shop at Anna¡¯s store, and the relationship between Mr. Lin and Jiang Minghua was quite good. So, they had the idea of a marriage alliance. Jiang Junlin had just returned from a business trip to Europe, completely unaware of the impending blind date. There were no signs at all. Lin Anna strongly disliked blind dates and preferred the idea of free love. She considered blind dates to be a very old-fashioned concept, driven solely by the wishes of the older generation. Out of respect for her parents, she reluctantly accompanied them to the Jiang family¡¯s dinner. Jiang Junlin had kept a low profile in recent years, not appearing in financial news, and it was challenging for the public to obtain a photograph of him. This young leader of Hualan Bank was a prodigy in the financial world, highly renowned, and Lin Anna had never seen Jiang Junlin. She assumed that a family heir groomed from a young age would be dull and uninteresting, much like the other family heirs she had encountered. Moreover, Jiang Junlin was already thirty-three years old! The eldest sons of upper-class families usually married early to continue the family line, especially if they were the designated heirs. Typically, the eldest son would inherit the family business, while the second son had more freedom. At the age of thirty-three, the eldest sons of prestigious families usually had children who were already in kindergarten. Jiang Junlin¡¯s fate of ending up on a blind date left Lin Anna wondering if he had an undesirable personality or appearance. Otherwise, why would he need a blind date? However, as soon as Jiang Junlin entered the room and casually handed his coat to the butler, Lin Anna¡¯s eyes lit up. It was no wonder she had a conservative impression before; no one had informed her of how handsome Jiang Junlin looked. Jiang Junlin, compared to five years ago, had hardly changed at all. The only thing that had grown with his age was his dignified aura. He was exceptionally handsome, with broad shoulders and long legs, almost like a walking clothes hanger. Miss Lin was immediately captivated. With such looks and charm, if he were still single, it would be a matter of overly picky preferences. Lin Anna had always been confident and accomplished, and at that moment, she was determined to engage in a meaningful conversation. Jiang Junlin understood the situation immediately. His upbringing and family values didn¡¯t allow him to show displeasure or use harsh words. After washing his hands, he greeted the Lin family members one by one, sat down, and began dining. The atmosphere was jovial. Lin Anna and Jiang Junlin had both attended the same elementary and middle schools, although Jiang Junlin was six years her senior. When he graduated from elementary school, Lin Anna had just entered the first grade. Jiang Grandfather and Jiang Grandmother never rushed the topic of marriage, and it naturally arose as both Jiang Junlin and Lin Anna were interested in it. The two families even made plans to have a picnic together over the weekend. After dinner, they moved to the living room for tea and casual conversation. Lin Anna found topics to chat about with Jiang Junlin. When she learned that he was in the fashion business, she was a bit surprised. ¡°You¡¯re a fashion designer?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Anna nodded. ¡°I studied finance for my undergraduate degree, but I didn¡¯t really like it, so I went to France to study design for a year.¡± Lin Anna had sharp eyes and smiled as she asked, ¡°Is your clothing from Dragon Phoenix Tower?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Jiang Junlin nodded. ¡°Good observation!¡± ¡°Dragon Phoenix Tower¡¯s men¡¯s designs are rare and quite unique. When you first walked in, 1 noticed that your coat was from Dragon Phoenix Tower, with the embroidered logo on the collar,¡± Lin Anna remarked. ¡°Is it the work of the head designer? He only designs two women¡¯s outfits and one men¡¯s outfit a year, and they¡¯re in high demand. I never expected that he would design an entire set for you.¡± Even the accessories bore the Dragon Phoenix Tower emblem.. Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Can’t Change What I Was Born With Chapter 425: Can¡¯t Change What I Was Born With Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Jiang Junlin took a sip of tea to moisten his mouth, while Zhang Qiang, standing nearby, pondered quietly. Our master¡¯s entire wardrobe is designed by Ji Chi, and each season brings new designs for him to choose from. ¡°We started our brand later than Dragon Phoenix Tower, but our men¡¯s clothing is exceptionally well-received. Many ladies come to our store to buy clothes and accessories for their husbands and boyfriends. Would it be my honor to design an outfit for you?¡± Lin Anna had a creative mind. If Jiang Junlin agreed, they could go through the process of measuring, designing, selecting fabric, and tailoring. It would be a great way to build rapport. She noticed that Jiang Junlin was quite talkative and had a pleasant demeanor, so he probably didn¡¯t dislike her. Zhang Qiang thought to himself, ¡°My goodness, if the master agrees, Ji Chi will definitely be jealous of you!¡± Jiang Junlin politely declined, ¡°Miss Lin, my clothes are all custom-made by a specialist, so there¡¯s no need to trouble you. 1 appreciate your kind offer.¡± Lin Anna was a smart girl and immediately understood that Jiang Junlin had declined her. She was about to try again when Gu Ci arrived, surprised by the lively scene in the house. ¡°Cici, have you eaten?¡± Jiang Junlin greeted her. ¡°Yes, I have. I need to talk to my brother about something urgent.¡± ¡°Come to my study.¡± Jiang Junlin invited her in a friendly manner. After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, they all headed upstairs, with Zhang Qiang remaining on alert. Lin Anna watched Gu Ci with curiosity, she was such a beautiful woman that anyone would be captivated by her. In the study, Jiang Junlin frowned when Gu Ci mentioned Tang Mingzhou¡¯s disappearance. ¡°I just got off the plane, and I haven¡¯t had a chance to tell you yet, but Tang Mingzhou has gone missing.¡± ¡°Missing?¡± Gu Ci nodded, concerned. ¡°He¡¯s been living on Paradise Island for the past few years, enjoying a carefree life. I purposely chose that vacation island because it doesn¡¯t have many tourists, and information is tightly controlled. The guards thought Tang Mingzhou posed no threat, so they became lax for one night, and he disappeared. I¡¯ve sent Norris and a small team to search Paradise Island.¡± ¡°Do you think he might have escaped?¡± ¡°The island¡¯s economy is under our control. As soon as we received the news, we halted all transportation routes, by sea and air. It¡¯s an island, and he can¡¯t just sprout wings.¡± Jiang Junlin asked, ¡°Why is Lu Zhiyuan asking about Tang Mingzhou?¡± ¡°Ziyu didn¡¯t dare to dig too deep, and I didn¡¯t press further. It seemed like he mentioned it casually. I suspect he might be intentionally leaking information to me. While we were searching for Tang Mingzhou, he followed the trail and took Tang Mingzhou away.¡± ¡°This situation is a bit tricky,¡± Jiang Junlin remarked. ¡°We had dealings with Tang Mingzhou and even signed a waiver agreement. He kept this agreement somewhere, and if anything happens to him, it could be exposed, leading to public scrutiny and scandal. There have been precedents for such incidents, but they¡¯ve never been made public. If we obtain immunity and something happens to him afterward, people might wrongly believe we were involved, which would have a very negative impact.¡± ¡°Do you think Tang Mingzhou¡¯s disappearance is related to Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Gu Ci inquired. Jiang Junlin leaned back and shook his head slightly. ¡°The information Tang Mingzhou exchanged back then was all related to the cases, and he never provided any information about Black Hawk. Before Lu Zhiyuan, he was the master of Black Hawk for eight years. Despite being marginalized by the nine major families of Black Hawk, the fact that he held the position for eight years without being ousted shows his competence and independent power. 1 suspect he wants to seek revenge on Lu Zhiyuan.¡± Gu Ci had been involved in all of Black Hawk and the Triad¡¯s dark web projects, so she had some understanding of Black Hawk. ¡°Brother, Lu Zhiyuan has consolidated Black Hawk¡¯s power, and now Black Hawk obeys his orders alone. It¡¯s not the same as a few years ago when he was marginalized. Why is he relentlessly pursuing Tang Mingzhou? Ever since news of Tang Mingzhou¡¯s disappearance surfaced, he has been actively investigating. What threat does Tang Mingzhou pose to him?¡± Jiang Junlin contemplated the situation. Black Hawk¡¯s internal dynamics were far more complex than the Triad¡¯s, and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s ability to clear obstacles and consolidate power was indeed impressive. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s life or death probably wouldn¡¯t affect him significantly. ¡°Why is he searching for Tang Mingzhou?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Does Tang Mingzhou have something incriminating against him?¡± ¡°The internal workings of Black Hawk are complicated, and we don¡¯t know the full story. It¡¯s also strange why Tang Mingzhou would cultivate Lu Zhiyuan. When he was grooming Lu Zhiyuan, Lu hadn¡¯t even finished primary school,¡± Jiang Junlin said. ¡°Alternatively, Black Hawk may have some secret that only Tang Mingzhou knows. He was a naturally suspicious person, so even if he was grooming Lu Zhiyuan, he would have had a backup plan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Gu Ci agreed. ¡°Should I go to Paradise Island?¡± ¡°No need, Norris is there,¡± Jiang Junlin replied. ¡°If you go, it might reveal Tang Mingzhou¡¯s location.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Gu Ci nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Zhang Qiang knocked on the door. ¡°Master, Miss Gu Ci, the Lin family is about to leave.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Jiang Junlin raised his voice, and Gu Ci followed him downstairs to see off the Lin family. Lin Anna hadn¡¯t had a chance to speak with Jiang Junlin alone, but fortunately, she had added his WeChat. Although Jiang Junlin had politely declined, Lin Anna wanted to give it a try. After seeing off the Lin family, Jiang Junlin reluctantly spoke, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, how many blind dates is this already? Please don¡¯t arrange them for me anymore. 1 have no intention of getting married, and it¡¯s disrespectful to the women on the other side.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already thirty-three. If you don¡¯t want to get married, you can at least date. Over time, you might change your mind about marriage,¡± Grandma suggested. Jiang Junlin took a deep breath. He was actually quite annoyed by his family¡¯s constant matchmaking arrangements. While he didn¡¯t like it, he could understand their concerns. His grandparents were eager to have great-grandchildren, but he had to spend time dealing with these matters. ¡°Junlin, you should start thinking about your lifelong commitment. Your dad was already in elementary school at your age,¡± his mother added. ¡°Auntie Gui, it¡¯s time to finish up in the kitchen,¡± Jiang Junlin said. Auntie Gui, who had been tidying up nearby, hesitated but then led the household staff out of the room, leaving only the Jiang family members. Zhang Qiang also discreetly stepped out, and Gu Ci was torn between speaking or not. ¡°Brother¡­¡± ¡°This is something that needs to be discussed sooner or later,¡± Jiang Junlin said, looking at Gu Ci. Gu Ci hurriedly went to her grandmother¡¯s side, taking her arm gently. ¡°Grandma, take a deep breath. Whatever you hear, don¡¯t get angry, okay?¡± ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Minghua had a bad feeling about this. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom¡­ I¡¯ve never married or dated women because I¡¯m attracted to men,¡± Jiang Junlin dropped the bombshell without any emotion, leaving everyone stunned. Grandma nearly fainted, her vision darkening, and she struggled to catch her breath. The others were equally shocked and left speechless. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re quite brave!¡± She knew that the Jiang family would find it extremely difficult to accept this revelation. ¡°Take back what you just said. 1¡¯11 consider it a joke!¡± Jiang Minghua was the first to regain his composure, his voice noticeably colder. Lin Chunli¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she turned away to discreetly wipe them. Gu Ci helped her grandmother to sit down, continuously trying to comfort her and pouring her some tea. She glanced at her grandfather, who seemed to be handling the shock better, showing no signs of discomfort. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not joking,¡± Jiang Junlin said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s something innate, and 1 can¡¯t change it..¡± Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Talked About It, Separated Again Chapter 426: Talked About It, Separated Again Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Jiang Junlin smashed the pot and broke all bonds, putting an end to it once and for all. ¡°Jiang Junlin!¡± Grandfather Jiang exclaimed in anger, ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± He pointed at Jiang Junlin, wanting to curse him, but the words wouldn¡¯t come out. Jiang Junlin knew he had crossed a line at home, and he didn¡¯t try to defend himself any further. He had already said what needed to be said. ¡°Did you make up the lie about avoiding an arranged marriage on purpose?¡± Lin Chunli clung to a glimmer of hope, ¡°Tell me, everything was a lie you fabricated, right?¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s the truth!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. No one is born this way. In our family¡­ we¡¯ve never had such a situation before,¡± Lin Chunli cried, still hoping for grandchildren. Was all that hope in vain? ¡°Liking someone is neither right nor wrong, regardless of gender. Marriage is the bridge that binds two families together. Throughout history, men have worked in the fields, while women managed the home. This created a fixed social structure. Survival mode dictates behavior. In ancient times, men did physical labor, and women depended on men to survive, so marriage and reproduction became essential. This fixed survival pattern has existed for thousands of years and is widely recognized as a social structure. Why is a behavior pattern outside this established structure considered wrong? It simply doesn¡¯t conform to the norm, but does that mean it should be condemned? I haven¡¯t harmed anyone, nor have 1 affected anyone¡¯s interests. So, where am I wrong?¡± Grandfather Jiang was still furious, ¡°Thousands of years of validated beliefs have their reasons. If I hadn¡¯t married your grandmother, there wouldn¡¯t be your father, and there wouldn¡¯t be you. Today¡¯s family happiness wouldn¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°After all is said and done, it¡¯s about reproduction,¡± Jiang Junlin sighed. ¡°Some people like children, so they respond to the country¡¯s call and have three children. Some people don¡¯t like children and choose to remain childless. Everyone has their own way of life. If you force me into an arranged marriage and marriage, it would be irresponsible to the woman and to my own life. Even if we have children, they won¡¯t be happy. Grandfather, grandmother, dad, mom, if I can¡¯t lead a happy life myself, how can I bring happiness to others? If I¡¯m not happy, what¡¯s the point of marriage?¡± Grandfather Jiang slumped into the sofa, silent. They were a family of scholars and couldn¡¯t use harsh words. Jiang Junlin¡¯s words had closed off all their possible avenues. Jiang Minghua was frustrated, ¡°When did this start?¡± Jiang Junlin began to weave his lie, ¡°It started in high school. The guys in my dormitory would watch movies together, and they were all interested in the female characters in the films. I had no interest in them and would actually pay more attention to guys with good physiques. As 1 spent more time with them, I realized 1 was different from others.¡± Gu Ci secretly thought, is this for real? She couldn¡¯t believe it! Her brother was the kind of person who would put on headphones and continue studying when his roommates were watching movies. ¡°So, it¡¯s really something you were born with?¡± Lin Chunli was in despair, ¡°Can¡¯t it be changed?¡± ¡°Mom, it can¡¯t be changed,¡± Jiang Junlin hinted with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®too late¡¯? Do you have a stable relationship?¡± Lin Chunli asked, and everyone¡¯s eyes turned to him, filled with curiosity and fear, their breaths held in nervous anticipation. ¡°No!¡± Jiang Junlin shook his head. The entire Jiang family breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Minghua, unusually stern, said, ¡°Even if you can¡¯t change, you have to change. In any case, we won¡¯t allow it, and we won¡¯t accept it.¡± ¡°I can like whoever 1 want, 1 don¡¯t need your permission. Whether you accept it or not¡­¡± Jiang Junlin smiled self-deprecatingly, ¡°No one asked you to accept it.¡± With that, Jiang Junlin left and went upstairs. ¡°All, brother¡­¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t manage to call out before this unexpected drama unfolded. If she had known, she would have come back tomorrow. She lowered her head and comforted her grandmother, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, it¡¯s all my brother¡¯s fault. Let¡¯s not be sad.¡± Jiang Junlin had a different status at home. Even though he was a grandson, the elders were a bit wary of him. He tried to keep a low profile at home, but he truly was a decisive person. The family¡¯s tastes would change according to his preferences, and although they would complain, they would still go along with it. So, when Jiang Junlin came out to his family, despite their anger, what could they really do? Beating Jiang Junlin was impossible; he had never been disciplined by anyone in his entire life. Gu Ci couldn¡¯t even imagine Jiang Junlin getting hit. ¡°No wonder he¡¯s thirty-three and has never brought a girlfriend home. Why have 1 never heard any rumors?¡± Jiang Minghua was still angry, not knowing what to do. This was the downside of a situation where the son¡¯s authority was greater than the father¡¯s. If Jiang Junlin had been more compliant, his father would have resorted to more extreme measures. ¡°Didn¡¯t he mention having a girlfriend?¡± Lin Chunli cried, recalling the many love bites on Jiang Junlin¡¯s body from several years ago when he was in a coma. Gu Ci felt awkward and chose not to respond. Grandma Jiang, who had been silent, said softly, ¡°He never said it was a girlfriend.¡± Everyone was taken aback. This was even more shocking news. They had just absorbed the bombshell that Jiang Junlin had dropped, and now they had to digest the fact that he had once been in love. Grandfather Jiang felt like his heart couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Cici, 1 can hardly breathe¡­¡± ¡°Get the emergency heart medication, give grandpa one.¡± Lin Chunli brought the medicine box over from the side and actually gave him a pill. Lin Chunli then remembered the love bites on Jiang Junlin¡¯s body and couldn¡¯t help but think, How could it be¡­ How could she have thought it was a fiery chili pepper? It turned out to be a man. Those marks¡­ How could they be from a woman! She wished she could turn back time and give herself a slap. Why hadn¡¯t she pursued the matter further? Gu Ci keenly noticed that several pairs of eyes were fixed on her. She glanced at her watch, ¡°Grandpa, grandma, it¡¯s getting late, and Ziyu is home alone. I¡¯m a bit worried, so 1 should go home first.¡± She cleverly stood up but was pulled back by her weak grandmother, who sat back down. ¡°Who is your brother dating?¡± Gu Ci secretly wondered, is it appropriate to share this kind of privacy? Can I say it? ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gu Ci put on a sincere face. ¡°Grandma, you can ask my brother about it. I don¡¯t know anything about his affairs.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°You must know,¡± Grandfather also didn¡¯t let her off the hook. ¡°Cici, have pity on us and tell us.¡± Gu Ci looked at the elders, who were angry and didn¡¯t dare to scold Jiang Junlin. She felt both sad and amused and couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with them. But she really couldn¡¯t say anything. Gu Ci tightly sealed her lips. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be Zhang Qiang, right?¡± Jiang Minghua was angry. ¡°He¡¯s with Junlin twenty-four seven, knows everything about him, and is always at his beck and call¡­¡± ¡°Absolutely impossible!¡± Gu Ci thought of Zhang Qiang¡¯s physique compared to Ji Chi, ¡°My brother probably likes someone¡­ more refined.¡± Jiang Minghua and Lin Chunli began to filter through the security guards to see if there were any handsome young men. It all seemed a bit suspicious, and Gu Ci was really overwhelmed. ¡°Grandpa, grandma, even if he¡¯s been in love, he broke up five years ago..¡± Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Careers and Love Must Be Satisfied Chapter 427: Careers and Love Must Be Satisfied Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Did they break up?¡± Grandma Jiang asked in surprise, ¡°Is he deceiving us?¡± ¡°They really broke up,¡± Gu Ci replied, feeling that this was something she could say. ¡°They haven¡¯t been in touch for years.¡± ¡°Why did they break up?¡± Grandpa Jiang couldn¡¯t understand. His grandson was perfect in every way, so why would they break up? Jiang Minghua added, ¡°With his temper, 1 bet he was domineering in the relationship. Anyone who could tolerate his eating habits for a month could be considered true love.¡± ¡°They were together for so many years,¡± Gu Ci subtly tried to give Ji Chi¡¯s reputation a boost, ¡°He even learned to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall just because his brother liked it.¡± Everyone was silent. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ even better looking than Ziyu,¡± Gu Ci silently thought. ¡°Ziyu, in Mom¡¯s heart, you¡¯re the most handsome. Sorry about that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Jiang Minghua sneered. ¡°It¡¯s obviously an exaggeration. I¡¯ve never seen a boy better looking than Ziyu.¡± ¡°Do you have any photos?¡± Lin Chunli asked anxiously. ¡°You¡­ accepted it?¡± Gu Ci was surprised. ¡°Impossible!¡± The four elders all said in unison, ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Gu Ci chuckled, ¡°Then why did you want to see the photos?¡± The elders were silent. The elders¡¯ attitudes were quite subtle. Accepting Jiang Junlin as a fact was unlikely, but they hadn¡¯t come to terms with it yet. However, knowing that he had been in a relationship made them curious about who could pull him off his pedestal. There was a subtle curiosity, perhaps because Jiang Junlin had accumulated too much prestige, always composed and never lost his cool. They were curious about who could make him fall from grace. ¡°No photos, it¡¯s really over, and I really have to go home.¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t withstand their gaze and hurriedly left. Brother, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not loyal, but you¡¯ve dug this pit yourself, so you should deal with it. Jiang Junlin was on the second-floor windowsill, smoking a cigarette. He didn¡¯t have a strong addiction to smoking, but he would smoke one or two when he was annoyed. He didn¡¯t like alcohol or cigarettes, making it difficult for those who wanted to give him gifts to figure out his preferences. He hadn¡¯t considered openly revealing this fact to his family, but the endless blind dates had become annoying and time-consuming. It was better to put an end to it once and for all. The elders must be very sad. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t want to be so firm in his attitude, but in relationships between people, whether they were family, friends, or lovers, if you were one step stronger, the other person would be one step weaker. If he softened his stance on this matter, his family would take advantage of it. They would delay him, try to change him, and even play the family card. What was originally a simple matter would be dragged out and end up the same way. It was better to cut the mess with a sharp knife and show a strong attitude. Whether they accepted it or not, it wouldn¡¯t change. At eighteen, he could still control his own life, let alone now, at the age of thirty-three. Ji Chi¡­ Ji Chi! Jiang Junlin knew that parting ways was the best choice. After the exposure on the dark web, he would have to deal with complex relationships frequently. If his lover was the heir of the Black Hawks, they couldn¡¯t touch him directly, but they would go after Ji Chi, subjecting him to endless assassination attempts. One slip-up, and Ji Chi would be gone. Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t want to take that risk. Day in and day out, a passionate and tumultuous love life had never been his temperament. He wanted Ji Chi to live well. Having reached the pinnacle, if love couldn¡¯t be as desired, then at least his career should be. You couldn¡¯t come into this world and have both your career and love life go awry, not achieving anything. But some people, once they entered your heart, were like a slow-acting poison, constantly eroding your reason, emotions, memories. He wasn¡¯t someone who liked dwelling in the past, but because of Ji Chi, he had been trapped in memories for these past few years. It was only in the quiet of the night that he allowed himself to indulge in longing. At the Global Center, Lu Zhiyuan received a message from Paradise Island. He called Ji Chi over. ¡°This is Tang Mingzhou¡¯s address. Find a way to get him out; 1 want him alive.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Rong Li is departing from France and going directly to Paradise Island. He¡¯ll arrive two hours earlier than you. Once you meet up, adapt to the situation. Jiang Junlin should have people looking for Tang Mingzhou too; he can¡¯t die.¡± Hearing Jiang Junlin¡¯s name, Ji Chi showed no reaction. ¡°I understand.¡± Ji Chi packed his belongings and, accompanied by Nick and eight members of the Royal Guards, took a helicopter from the staircase to the airport. Rong Li had indeed arrived two hours earlier, but unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t land directly on Paradise Island. The island¡¯s port had been closed, so their plane touched down at a small airport on a nearby island. Rong Li had arrived two hours earlier, and the equipment was already set up. Information officers were busy extracting information. ¡°The water routes to Paradise Island are also closed. Ships can¡¯t enter, and they¡¯re all waiting offshore.¡± ¡°Has the official announcement been made?¡± ¡°They said there are terrorists conducting attacks, so they¡¯re closing the island as a precaution. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not.¡± Ji Chi and Rong Li surveyed the sea, filled with cargo ships, all anchored offshore and waiting to enter. Ji Chi contemplated, ¡°Did you check the industries on the nearby islands?¡± ¡°We did. This is a resort island, mostly frequented by Europeans and Americans. It makes money through tourism and gambling. The permanent population is less than a million, a tiny island. The terrorist attack is just an excuse. If Tang Mingzhou was found on the island, and it was conveniently sealed off, 1 don¡¯t believe it¡¯s a coincidence. Two hours ago, a plane landed on the island.¡± The people sealed off were the ones on the outskirts, including their own team. Ji Chi glanced at the equipment. ¡°How good are you in the water?¡± ¡°It¡¯s decent,¡± Rong Li replied, a hint of concern in his heart. ¡°Are you crazy, swimming there? It¡¯s ten kilometers away. Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many soldiers on the island, and their defense is weak. The ships from the open sea are all anchored at the southeast harbor, and their troop deployments are concentrated there too. We¡¯ll approach from the north, where there¡¯s a cliff. If we climb it quietly, we can enter the island. The key is how to proceed. If we can silently bring Tang Mingzhou to the north, their ships can pick us up. If this area is sealed off, we need to be prepared to swim ten kilometers; that¡¯s our fallback.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Ji Chi took out a map, and Rong Li quickly understood. Finding Tang Mingzhou was one thing, but figuring out how to extract him was another problem. Since the island was sealed off and a plane had entered, it meant the underworld had a presence there. They wanted to take Tang Mingzhou away, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy. They needed to prepare multiple plans. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± If they were going in, they had to take advantage of the fact that the underworld¡¯s internal network defenses hadn¡¯t been fully established yet. They needed to act swiftly. As night fell, Ji Chi and Rong Li, escorted by six others, arrived in the northern sea area. There were still two kilometers to go, which wouldn¡¯t take long to swim. Ji Chi and Rong Li, along with the six, submerged and swam to the island¡¯s shore. The boat then departed and returned to the waiting area among the cargo ships. The open sea was full of discontent; being sealed off for half a day had caused delays. Nick remained outside as their backup, praying for their success. Due to taking the sea route, they couldn¡¯t bring their equipment with them, but luckily, they hadn¡¯t completely lost surveillance capabilities. They could hack into the island¡¯s cameras, although there might be a slight delay in issuing commands.. Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: Determined to Win Chapter 428: Determined to Win Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Dr. North and Qin Wan are both on the island. Qin Wan arrived here on a layover with Dr. North. Qin Wan still has one more year to complete her graduate studies, and it happens to be during the summer break when Jiang Junlin assigned her a mission. They¡¯ve been traveling throughout Europe and the Americas, and this time they are here to assist Dr. North in bringing Tang Mingzhou back to their home country. ¡°Tang Mingzhou, that old fox, why did he disappear for no reason? Did the Black Hawks¡¯ people take him away, and has he left Paradise Island?¡± Dr. North conducted a thorough search, but to his surprise, he couldn¡¯t find Tang Mingzhou. This island isn¡¯t particularly large, and there aren¡¯t many places to hide. Where could he possibly be hiding? ¡°He vanished, and the island has been locked down. There¡¯s no way out by sea or air. He can¡¯t just sprout wings and fly away. He must still be on the island,¡± Dr. North said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s not so easy for him to escape.¡± Qin Wan studied the map of the island. ¡°The lockdown will only last for two days, and the natural gas supply on the island will only last for three days. No cargo ships can come in from the sea either. In three days, everything will have to be reopened.¡± ¡°I understand. So, within these two days, we must find him. Don¡¯t let him get away; he¡¯s scheming something,¡± Dr. North replied. Qin Wan continued to examine the island¡¯s map. Despite the lockdown, it hadn¡¯t caused much disruption. Tourists were stuck on the island, hotel costs were halved, and the outside world was told that the island had been attacked by terrorists. However, inside the island, everything was calm. The regular citizens and tourists didn¡¯t feel any danger, and the shops remained open. Qin Wan even visited nightclubs and bars, where the atmosphere was lively. She was approached by a stranger and politely turned him down three times, but he persisted, so she had to resort to using physical force. A punch brought him back to his senses. ¡°Still up for it?¡± ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not¡­¡± The man covered his bleeding lip, scared and repeatedly backing away. Qin Wan insisted, ¡°This won¡¯t work. Nightclubs, casinos, and stores are all open. Searching for one person like this is too difficult. Let¡¯s close all the casinos, nightclubs, and stores tomorrow, shut them down for a day.¡± Dr. North sighed, ¡°It¡¯s challenging to implement. The island is already under lockdown, and the tourists are getting upset. We received a bunch of protest letters this afternoon. If we close down the entertainment facilities, restaurants, and stores, they will cause a commotion. It¡¯s different here than in our home country; there aren¡¯t many troops, and our personnel are limited. We can¡¯t execute such a plan.¡± This country had police, fire services, and maritime police, but it lacked a significant military presence. In the case of any incidents, it fell upon the local police to handle them. However, the local police force¡¯s resources were also quite limited. Qin Wan was growing increasingly frustrated. The lack of manpower was indeed a significant issue, and she couldn¡¯t risk disrupting the island¡¯s basic order by having the local police go after a member of the criminal underworld. They had to come up with a solution. On the island, surveillance wasn¡¯t extensive, so Dr. North deployed drones to the skies while information officers conducted personnel checks. Three people were responsible for each designated area, and since the island wasn¡¯t particularly large, they were essentially conducting a meticulous search. ¡°Dr. North, there¡¯s a ship approaching the northern side of the island. I¡¯ve already sent a drone to investigate, and I suspect there might be someone attempting an illegal landing,¡± an information officer reported. Dr. North inquired, ¡°Is it a cargo ship or a fishing boat?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cargo ship.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out,¡± Qin Wan said. She left to investigate, feeling a bit restless in the information room. She took her bike, and the information officer kept in touch with her. ¡°Today, most of the cargo ships are waiting in the open sea, mostly staying in place. Some may attempt to dock in smaller ports to unload secretly. We haven¡¯t spotted anyone on surveillance. If your inspection doesn¡¯t reveal anything suspicious, come back early,¡± Dr. North advised. ¡°Understood!¡± The island was relatively small, and it took Qin Wan about thirty minutes to reach the designated location, which happened to be a cliff. Just a kilometer away, there was a village where a bonfire party was in full swing, creating a lively atmosphere. People by the coastline were also setting off fireworks. Wherever Qin Wan went, the drone followed closely, and there wasn¡¯t a single seabird in sight. ¡°It¡¯s likely just a cargo ship. Come back,¡± Dr. North said. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything suspicious, but Qin Wan remained cautious. She was convinced that the Black Hawks¡¯ operatives were responsible for taking Tang Mingzhou. When they discovered Tang Mingzhou¡¯s whereabouts, there couldn¡¯t be many Black Hawk members on the island. To successfully take Tang Mingzhou away, they must have found a way to infiltrate the island either by waiting for the lockdown to be lifted or by finding a way to sneak in themselves. Having studied the island¡¯s map, she knew this area was a good landing point. Ships couldn¡¯t get too close, but individuals could swim to the island from the sea and then climb the cliffs. Qin Wan suggested, ¡°Let the drone fly closer to the sea surface, lower it a bit, and see if there are any people on the water.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The drone circled the sea surface for about ten minutes, capturing all the footage, but nothing out of the ordinary was spotted. Qin Wan glanced down at the cliff, the waves were turbulent, and there were no signs of anyone attempting to climb. Perhaps she was just being overly cautious. Qin Wan left on her bike, and below the cliff, Ji Chi, Rong Li, and others breathed a sigh of relief. They had heard the sound of the motorcycle when it approached and saw the drone flying overhead. Certainly, it was the yakuza searching for something. Their drone posed a risk, so they swiftly retreated, hiding behind the rocks and remaining motionless. When the drone descended, they all submerged underwater to avoid detection. Fortunately, it was dark at night, and visibility was poor, or they would have definitely been exposed. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a while longer,¡± Ji Chi said, showing caution based on his experience. He didn¡¯t want to climb recklessly. ¡°Wait for what?¡± Rong Li asked. ¡°What if someone on the shore opens fire when we try to climb up?¡± Rong Li said in a hushed tone. Indeed, Qin Wan had fired a warning shot earlier. This time, she had left her bike parked halfway up the slope, lit a cigarette, and walked back to sit on a rock. She leisurely gazed at the cliff. After finishing her cigarette, she moved quietly towards the cliff again. She had calculated the timing; it should be just enough time for them to swim to the shore after the cargo ship departed. If there were no disturbances, they would likely start climbing. Waiting for nearly half an hour, Qin Wan had the drone scout ahead again, but there was still no sign of movement. She decided to return. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Meanwhile, Ji Chi, Rong Li, and the others were submerged in the water, shivering from the cold. Ji Chi glanced at his watch, ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s go.¡± The group gathered at the base of the cliff and changed into dry clothes. They then climbed the cliff with their bare hands. It was only about twenty meters high, and rock climbing wasn¡¯t particularly challenging for them. Qin Wan had made a trip to the cliff but had found nothing, which was quite disappointing. Soon, Gu Ci sent a message, ¡°Rong Li and Ji Chi have both gone to Paradise Island. Be careful.¡± Dr. North and Qin Wan were both surprised. Rong Li and Ji Chi had different responsibilities within the Black Hawks. Ji Chi was the successor to Lu Zhiyuan and wasn¡¯t typically involved in risky missions. The fact that both of them were near Paradise Island at the same time indicated that Lu Zhiyuan was determined to capture Tang Mingzhou. ¡°This is getting interesting; they¡¯re probably already on the island,¡± Qin Wan remarked.. Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Do You Dare? Chapter 429: Do You Dare? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After listening to the situation on the island, Gu Ci found it a bit tricky. She said, ¡°Tang Mingzhou used to be the leader of Black Hawk, with a long tenure and extensive training. He is incredibly patient. His disappearance this time might have been planned by him personally, not necessarily discovered by Black Hawk. If they have information about him, it¡¯s likely that he voluntarily revealed it. His ability to evade tracking must be strong. Their manpower is limited, so finding him will be difficult. The best approach is to make them lower their guard. Right now, a blanket search will only make him hide deeper.¡± Dr. North also found finding Tang Mingzhou challenging, like finding a needle in a haystack. However, relaxing their guard could lead to Black Hawk¡¯ people on the island capturing Tang Mingzhou, which would be counterproductive. Gu Ci continued, ¡°Tang Mingzhou deliberately disappeared, waiting for Black Hawk¡¯ people to come looking for him. He will definitely leave clues behind. As long as he hides in a secluded place and waits for Black Hawk to show up.¡± Gu Ci couldn¡¯t help but feel that this whole situation was very peculiar. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was strange about it, but there were many irregularities, whether it was Tang Mingzhou or Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s arrangements. The one thing she was sure of was that Lu Zhiyuan was determined to catch Tang Mingzhou. Doesn¡¯t Tang Mingzhou know? If he is Tang Mingzhou, fully aware that Lu Zhiyuan is looking for him, and remembering that Lu Zhiyuan even killed him years ago, would he willingly walk into a trap? But why did he give a signal, allowing Black Hawk to take him away? The whole situation was filled with mysteries. A message came from the information room, ¡°Dr. North, we¡¯ve found a suspicious lead. You can send someone to follow up. The aircraft has been tracking it.¡± After ending the call with Gu Ci, Qin Wan headed to the scene. A fire had occurred in a rented apartment complex one kilometer away from the casino. Six people were trapped, and the fire department had already arrived to extinguish the fire. The police were counting the people, and one person, due to passport issues, got into a conflict with the police and escaped during the chaos. The aircraft captured his image, and his appearance bore a striking resemblance to Tang Mingzhou. Qin Wan rode her motorcycle to the scene and directly knocked him down as she approached, a rather straightforward approach. The man lay on the ground, unable to move, and Qin Wan gestured to two of her special agents, ¡°Don¡¯t move, raise your hands.¡± The man cursed but complied, raising his hands. Qin Wan looked at his features, furrowing her brow slightly. Her agents approached and noticed that he was wearing a human skin mask and a wig, with a striking resemblance to Tang Mingzhou. Dr. North immediately recognized Tang Mingzhou¡¯s tactics, ¡°Bring the man back!¡± This was a local young man who had an okay relationship with Tang Mingzhou. Tang Mingzhou had spent several years on the island, and the two were somewhat like colleagues. Their physical appearances were already somewhat similar. Six days ago, Tang Mingzhou had given him a sum of money to impersonate him and stay in the rented apartment complex. He also provided him with a fake passport. Six days for ten thousand dollars, which was several months¡¯ salary for the man. He had foolishly agreed to it. For the past six days, he had stayed in his room, not venturing outside. He had stocked up on supplies, had food and drinks, and could play games. The rental agreement for the shared apartment allowed for only four people, but the landlord had violated the rules and rented it to six people. They had managed to fool the authorities during the investigation, so they hadn¡¯t discovered anything amiss. The fire today was caused by aging electrical wiring, a rather accidental event. The police discovered the fake passport during their investigation, and the man, following Tang Mingzhou¡¯s instructions, had fled as soon as he was discovered. It was sure to cause a commotion. ¡°Where¡¯s Tang Mingzhou?¡± Qin Wan asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He just had me impersonate him and stay in the shared apartment for ten days. I have no idea where he went. I stayed indoors for six days and didn¡¯t go out once.¡± ¡°Did you have any phone contact with him?¡± ¡°None!¡± This man was simply hired to do a job, a smoke screen for Tang Mingzhou. However, Qin Wan thought of a problem. If this man had impersonated Tang Mingzhou in the shared apartment for six days, wouldn¡¯t that mean Tang Mingzhou could now move around using this man¡¯s identity? This man also worked as an unlicensed taxi driver and had his own old Ford car. Qin Wan checked and found that this Ford car had been operating normally in the past few days. Tang Mingzhou was using his real identity to move around on the island. No wonder there was no information to be found. When Qin Wan and her team went to the man¡¯s home, it was empty. News traveled quickly on the island, and Tang Mingzhou knew the man had been exposed, so he was fleeing especially fast. With this lead, the search would be less like finding a needle in a haystack. At least there was one trail to follow. Ji Chi and Rong Li were following a different lead. After entering the island, they found a message left by Tang Mingzhou at his former residence. It was a unique contact method and code used by Black Hawk. Only they knew about it. Rong Li arrived at the man¡¯s home a step behind Qin Wan and decided to follow her, using the assistance of the gangsters to investigate Tang Mingzhou. Ji Chi went to handle a different lead. They split up and acted separately. After her unsuccessful pursuit, Qin Wan was feeling frustrated. She decided to have a late-night snack at a street vendor and enjoyed her meal thoroughly. Afterward, she bought two packs of cigarettes from a nearby convenience store. Suddenly, she squinted her eyes as she saw a shadow leaning against a pillar not far behind her. While conversing with the store owner, she discreetly adjusted the position of the store¡¯s mirror and caught sight of Rong Li. Fuck! How did he end up on the island? And he¡¯s been following her, trying to take care of her once and for all! Qin Wan smirked maliciously. She mounted her motorcycle and sped away, weaving through the island¡¯s roads. At night, there were few cars on the island, and no one cared about reckless driving. Rong Li cursed under his breath and followed her. She was driving so fast that Rong Li thought she had uncovered some clues. However, Qin Wan was casually riding her motorcycle, circling the island twice, singing a song while doing so. After two laps, Rong Li was certain ¨C she was just joyriding! He had already figured out her whereabouts! Rong Li decided not to follow her any longer. He parked his car by the sea, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke. Twenty minutes later, he heard the roaring sound of a motorcycle. Qin Wan¡¯s motorcycle stopped in front of him with flair. She shook her head, her hair swaying, ¡°Why did you stop following me?¡± Rong Li gave her a disdainful look but remained silent. ¡°How did you get to the island?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°I was already on the island before it was sealed off.¡± ¡°Nonsense, on the day of the island¡¯s lockdown, you were still on a plane flying in from Europe.¡± Qin Wan retorted without restraint, ¡°While Black Hawk and the gangsters are cooperating, this matter is beyond the scope of cooperation. Don¡¯t come looking for trouble, or I won¡¯t mind sending a corpse back to Black Hawk.¡± Rong Li taunted her with a smirk, ¡°Over these years, have you been trying to take me out in secret? How many times have you succeeded?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just your dumb luck. It doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll always be that lucky.¡± Qin Wan pulled out her gun, chambered a round, and pointed it at him. ¡°If I kill you, what can Black Hawk say? It¡¯s just a chance encounter, and guns can accidentally discharge, right?¡± Rong Li remained unfazed, blowing a smoke ring, ¡°Qin Wan, do you dare to pull the trigger?¡± Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Ji Chi and Rong Li Chapter 430: Ji Chi and Rong Li Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Qin Wan¡¯s gun veered off course, and the bullet grazed past his ear. Rong Li instinctively raised his hand to cover his ear, experiencing a ringing sensation and sharp pain. For a few seconds, his hearing was impaired, and anger surged within him. This woman must be out of her mind, actually daring to shoot! ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me!¡± Qin Wan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed with anger. ¡°I have an impulsive personality, and I act without considering the consequences. Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± She bolstered her gun, mounted her motorcycle, and drifted away. Rong Li wasn¡¯t one to be taken advantage of. He aimed his gun at her back, hitting the motorcycle¡¯s rear tire. Qin Wan liked to ride fast, and when she accelerated, it was intense. The bullet precisely pierced the rear tire, causing the entire motorcycle to malfunction and come to an abrupt stop. Due to inertia, Qin Wan was thrown off and collided with a rock. She hadn¡¯t even been wearing a helmet, and blood instantly splattered half of her face. Qin Wan,¡±¡­¡± Fuck! Rong Li tossed his cigarette butt aside, drove past her leisurely, and deliberately rolled down the window, stopping to say, ¡°Oh dear, you¡¯ve ruined your face. Remember to go to the hospital for stitches; 1¡¯11 reimburse the medical expenses.¡± He drove away triumphantly. Qin Wan pounded her fist on the ground, her eyes filled with fury. She should have shot off one of Rong Li¡¯s ears just now! Dr. North sent someone to pick her up. When they saw her covered in blood, they were startled. However, Qin Wan didn¡¯t care much, saying, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°What do you mean it doesn¡¯t matter? Let¡¯s go to the hospital!¡± Dr. North was furious as she escorted Qin Wan to the hospital. She found a tool herself to stitch her wound, which was on the back of her head, quite a large gash that required shaving a portion of her hair for the stitching. Qin Wan resisted, ¡°1 don¡¯t want to; I¡¯ll be bald.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t shave it, how can we stitch it?¡± Dr. North ignored her protests and proceeded to shave the area before stitching it up with eight stitches. Qin Wan was seething with anger. She would definitely settle this blood debt with Rong Li! After the stitches were done, her hair was tied up to conceal the shaved spot. However, Qin Wan still felt a strange emptiness at the back of her head, which was uncomfortable. Dr. North said, ¡°Why did you provoke Rong Li?¡± ¡°He provoked me first!¡± ¡°You fired the first shot!¡± Frustrated, Qin Wan simply ignored Dr. North, who, in turn, was torn between concern and helplessness. The stitches she received didn¡¯t seem to bother her much, and Dr. North had other matters to attend to, so he left her be. Rong Li was on the island, and Ji Chi must also be on the island. They had split up, but what was Ji Chi up to? Ji Chi was playing in the casino, a wealthy and extravagant figure. In just one hour, he lost ten million yuan. Wearing a white shirt, jeans, and a stud earring in his left ear, he looked like a spoiled young master, rich and foolish, lavishly spending his fortune. Casinos loved customers like him, and a crowd had gathered around to watch the spectacle. Because of his extravagant losses, he was the center of attention. The most ridiculous thing was that he even took out one million yuan to bet with tourists on a simple game of odds, with a 50-50 chance of winning. The dealer frowned as she watched him lose more and more money, but Ji Chi, the more he lost, the more excited he became, practically throwing money around. On the other side, Dr. North also noticed Ji Chi¡¯s situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He¡¯s just one person deliberately drawing our attention. Ji Chi and Rong Li wouldn¡¯t be alone on the island. Let¡¯s see what the others are up to. If Ji Chi wants to play, let him play.¡± Qin Wan couldn¡¯t help but feel something was amiss. Why was Ji Chi making such a high-profile appearance at the casino, throwing money around? Meanwhile, Rong Li was diligently investigating Tang Mingzhou¡¯s case. Ji Chi seemed to be at ease in the casino, and the dealers advised him to stop while he was ahead. Ji Chi blinked and said, ¡°A thousand gold pieces can¡¯t buy my willingness. Deal the cards.¡± It seemed he wasn¡¯t very skilled at Texas Hold¡¯em, as he called regardless of his hand, and when the cards were revealed, he consistently had lousy hands. However, more and more people were attracted to him because of his extravagant spending. After two hours of losing, Ji Chi had an incredible stroke of luck and got a winning hand, recouping his losses. ¡°Oh my, lucky me,¡± he said with delicate features, clean eyes, and youthful attire that made him look like an innocent young man. The wealthy players who had lost money couldn¡¯t see through his act. They played another round, and without a doubt, Ji Chi had another good hand. People started to catch on; this was his style. He called every hand regardless of its quality, and with his deep pockets, he either won big with a strong hand or lost miserably with a weak one. Playing this way required a substantial bankroll, and not everyone could afford it. ¡°I¡¯m done. Why is everyone leaving? Come on, I haven¡¯t had enough fun yet. Don¡¯t you want to turn your fortunes around?¡± Ji Chi watched the wealthy players rise from their seats. They weren¡¯t interested in playing with this inexperienced young man. Ji Chi raised an eyebrow, and the casino staff came over to count the chips. They handed him a check. The dealer said, ¡°Congratulations, sir, you¡¯ve won quite a bit of money tonight.¡± ¡°Even after dealing cards to me all night, you still didn¡¯t recognize me, did you, Mr. Tang Mingzhou?¡± Ji Chi¡¯s smile faded slightly as he looked at the dealer, seemingly amused. ¡°Your observation skills are lacking.¡± The dealer¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about. I don¡¯t understand.¡± Ji Chi lightly tapped the table, picking up two chips and tossing them to Tang Mingzhou. ¡°Consider it a tip.¡± The dealer accepted his chips. This scene was not uncommon in the casino; customers who won money often tipped the dealers. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to draw attention, follow me quietly. The Triad members are all over the island. It¡¯s up to you whether you want to walk with me or with them. Your choice.¡± Ji Chi walked away, quickly disappearing into the bustling casino. Behind the casino, inside the car¡­ Ji Chi had received a call from Tang Mingzhou and had also informed Rong Li. Tang Mingzhou hadn¡¯t removed his disguise yet. ¡°How did you recognize me?¡± ¡°Cutting-edge technology,¡± Ji Chi replied nonchalantly. This technology wasn¡¯t fully mature yet, and it was the first time he had used it, but he had no intention of revealing that to Tang Mingzhou. ¡°You led us to Paradise Island. What¡¯s your plan?¡± Just as they were talking, Rong Li opened the car door and got in. Ji Chi started the car and drove away. Tang Mingzhou taunted with a smirk, ¡°Lu Zhiyuan sent two inexperienced youngsters to Paradise Island?¡± Rong Li was even more acerbic in his response. ¡°Back in the day, you were taken down by the so-called ¡®inexperienced Third Master.¡¯ Disrespecting the younger generation led to that fate.¡± Tang Mingzhou,¡±¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Ji Chi burst into laughter. Their car merged onto a truck, and with the truck now in motion, they were hidden from sight inside the cargo compartment. ¡°Speak up. You went through all this trouble to lead us here. What do you want?¡± ¡°I want to see Lu Zhiyuan!¡± Tang Mingzhou stated calmly. ¡°Take me back to the country.¡± ¡°You were arranged by Jiang Junlin to enjoy your retirement on Paradise Island. It¡¯s a great place¡ªyear-round pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, renowned for retirement and leisure. You could have peacefully lived here for a few years. Why do you suddenly want to return to the country?¡± Ji Chi was more approachable in appearance, tone, and demeanor compared to Rong Li. Only Black Hawk and those who truly understood them knew that Ji Chi was much more formidable than Rong Li. Tang Mingzhou seemed to be swayed by appearances and thought Ji Chi would be easier to manipulate. ¡°I have some personal matters to attend to with Lu Zhiyuan. Since you are part of Black Hawk, you should know that I am the true leader of Black Hawk. Lu Zhiyuan is just a temporary stand-in for a few years. I advise you not to stand on the wrong side..¡± Chapter 431 - Chapter 431: Sudden Incident Chapter 431: Sudden Incident Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Ha¡­¡± Rong Li couldn¡¯t control his mocking tone, ¡°Black Hawk only recognizes Third Master. You, an adult, lost to a minor like Third Master. It¡¯s not just your embarrassment; I¡¯m embarrassed for you. And now you dare to talk big. Where does your confidence come from?¡± Tang Mingzhou sneered, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for The Dark Lord colluding with the triads, would I have been arrested? Would 1 have been framed? The leader of Black Hawk, who conspired with the enemy and betrayed his master, do you really believe that? If he could betray me back then, he¡¯ll betray you all today. You work for him, and one day, you won¡¯t know how you¡¯ll meet your end!¡± ¡°Being locked up by the national security for a few years seems to have made you lose your mind,¡± Ji Chi remarked without mincing words. ¡°You don¡¯t even understand Black Hawk¡¯s structure, and you dare to come here and try to turn us against each other. Do you even know us?¡± The information gap was truly terrifying. Tang Mingzhou had been locked up by national security for several years, and later, Jiang Junlin sent him to Paradise Island, where he was under constant surveillance. They claimed he had gained his freedom, but how much real freedom did he have? He couldn¡¯t find any information about Black Hawk¡¯s internal affairs online, and he dared not contact his own connections for fear of exposure. If even the last bit of his network was exposed, controlled by Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin, he would have no chance. Ji Chi and Rong Li both speculated that Tang Mingzhou wouldn¡¯t dare to expose his own connections, which is why he knew nothing about Black Hawk¡¯s internal affairs. Tang Mingzhou had once been the leader of Black Hawk; he wasn¡¯t a fool. He also sensed that Ji Chi had an ulterior motive in his words. ¡°Who are you people?¡± He couldn¡¯t be blamed for underestimating Ji Chi and Rong Li. Ji Chi¡¯s appearance was deceptive; he could easily pass for a ¡°seductive¡± type. He had a handsome face, a great physique, clean eyes, and looked several years younger than his actual age, appearing to be in his early twenties. Rong Li was calm, young, and had a quick temper. In his memory, men with high status and power shouldn¡¯t be so easily angered; they should be like Jiang Junlin. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Ji Chi, the next leader of Black Hawk.¡± Ji Chi looked at Tang Mingzhou with a surprised expression. ¡°Third Master sent me. Are you surprised?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Tang Mingzhou blurted out. ¡°Whose child from the Nine Great Families are you?¡± The leader of Black Hawk had always been a figurehead, and Tang Mingzhou thought Lu Zhiyuan had colluded with one of the Nine Great Families to groom Ji Chi. However, none of the Nine Great Families had the surname Ji. ¡°I¡¯m a child that Third Master picked up in the Pentagon. I have no family or background. Tang Mingzhou, the Black Hawk in your memories is outdated. Nowadays, Black Hawk follows the orders of Third Master alone. What do you want to do? Do you want to meet Third Master? What are your intentions?¡± Ji Chi didn¡¯t underestimate Tang Mingzhou. Even though he seemed a bit senile, it might not be an act. After all, Tang Mingzhou had endured silently for several years under national security¡¯s watch, and he ultimately received immunity. If it weren¡¯t for his proactive disclosure and contact with them, Tang Mingzhou could have spent his retirement peacefully on Paradise Island. He had Jiang Junlin in his grip, and Ji Chi was confident that Jiang Junlin wouldn¡¯t kill him; otherwise, his act of exchanging immunity would also be exposed, becoming a scandal. He should have been sentenced to death, but he gained his freedom instead. Such a person couldn¡¯t be foolish. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan actually groomed a child with such an unclear background like you?¡± Tang Mingzhou couldn¡¯t believe it. Could that be something Lu Zhiyuan would do? ¡°When Third Master was groomed by you back then, he was also a child. But Third Master won¡¯t end up like you because I¡¯m not Third Master, and Third Master isn¡¯t you!¡± Ji Chi said calmly. ¡°If you want to meet Third Master, that¡¯s no problem. A video call will suffice!¡± ¡°No, I want to meet in person!¡± Tang Mingzhou said coldly. ¡°If it were just a video call, 1 would have contacted him long ago.¡± Rong Li was getting impatient. ¡°Why make things complicated with a video call when a phone call can do the job?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Lu Zhiyuan?¡± Rong Li raised his hand and impatiently knocked Tang Mingzhou unconscious. Ji Chi remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite rough!¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t spoken a single truth; it¡¯s boring to chat with him,¡± Rong Li said impatiently. He dialed Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s video call and briefly showed him the unconscious Tang Mingzhou. Lu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°I knocked him out!¡± Rong Li said. ¡°Third Master, he wants to meet you, and his intentions are clear. He refused a video call. Are you sure you want to bring him back?¡± ¡°Bring him back!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said coldly. ¡°I have some unfinished business with him to settle.¡± ¡°Alright, understood!¡± Rong Li hung up the call and injected Tang Mingzhou with a small dose of a tranquilizer from a hidden stash. The needle hole was tiny, and even if Tang Mingzhou woke up, he wouldn¡¯t notice. Ji Chi asked, ¡°Are you being too cautious?¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry. 1 have a feeling he led us here for a reason, and it¡¯s not that simple,¡± Rong Li said, pointing to his eyelid. ¡°My eyelid has been twitching all day.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you a staunch materialist?¡± ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I¡¯m superstitious now too.¡± After receiving a message from Dr. North, Gu Ci checked the hospital¡¯s schedule and found that she had three days off. She applied for leave and came to Paradise Island. When she arrived on the island, the lockdown had just been lifted. If it hadn¡¯t been, the island¡¯s resources would have been depleted, and there would have been unrest. ¡°Have you seen Ji Chi and Rong Li on the island since your last meeting with them?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them at all. It¡¯s been two days, and there¡¯s been no sign of them,¡± Gu Ci replied. As Gu Ci watched the numerous boats coming and going from the harbor, she couldn¡¯t help but think that Black Hawk¡¯s members were truly skilled at hiding their tracks. Just as she had that thought, Dr. North intercepted a message. ¡°Ji Chi and Rong Li are escorting Tang Mingzhou out of the harbor. They have a clear flight number,¡± Dr. North informed her. ¡°Where was this message intercepted?¡± ¡°Black Hawk has a frequent encryption channel that we just cracked,¡± the information officer reported. Gu Ci thought about Jiang Junlin¡¯s orders. Tang Mingzhou couldn¡¯t fall into Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Everyone to the harbor!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ji Chi and Rong Li arranged for Tang Mingzhou to board a cargo ship. They had been hiding on the island for two days, waiting for the day when the island would be unsealed. The coming and going of ships in the harbor were particularly chaotic on this day, and no one would come to check. They blended in on the cargo ship, hoping to leave the harbor as soon as possible. But they didn¡¯t anticipate that they hadn¡¯t even left the inner sea when Gu Ci and two ships from Dr. North intercepted them on the open sea. Gu Ci appeared on the deck, smiling as she greeted Ji Chi. ¡°Ji Chi, where are you going in such a hurry?¡± Ji Chi immediately realized that something was very wrong. Rong Li secretly sent a message to Lu Zhiyuan. ¡°We lost someone. Do you mind if we come aboard to search?¡± Gu Ci asked with a smile. ¡°Cici, please don¡¯t make it difficult for us!¡± Ji Chi whispered. ¡°This person is wanted by Third Master. If we lose him, we can¡¯t bear the consequences.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, this is someone my brother specifically requested. If we lose him, we can¡¯t bear the consequences either!¡± Gu Ci was about to board the ship, and Ji Chi and Rong Li couldn¡¯t stop her. If it were Dr. North and Qin Wan, they might have had a chance. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Gu Ci¡¯s words made it clear that she was wary of their ship! Gu Ci and Qin Wan brought two teams of people onto the ship, while Dr. North stayed on his own ship. Tang Mingzhou was brought up on deck. Ji Chi and Rong Li exchanged a glance. ¡°I also want to know how our information leaked.¡± Qin Wan sneered, ¡°Our information officer decrypted one of your encryption channels and intercepted your messages.¡± Ji Chi and Rong Li were taken aback. Ji Chi said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Since the arrest of Tang Mingzhou, we haven¡¯t used any encryption channels, nor have we had any communication at all. You¡­¡± Before Ji Chi could finish speaking, he suddenly smelled the scent of gunpowder and heard an explosion. In an instant, the ship was blown to pieces.. Chapter 432 - Chapter 432: Unexpectedly Chapter 432: Unexpectedly Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan was startled awake by a sudden palpitation and knew that something had happened to Gu Ci. Every time Gu Ci was in a critical situation, he had a premonition, but his teleportation had limitations. Gu Ci was on Paradise Island, thousands of kilometers away from him. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t get to her side. There was no news from the Black Hawk Information Office, so Lu Zhiyuan changed into a different set of clothes and rushed out, and Li Jiang hurried over. ¡°Third Master, som-something¡­ happened!¡± Li Jiang stammered, an unusual sight. ¡°Take your time,¡± Lu Zhiyuan remained calm. Li Jiang said, ¡°Miss Gu Ci intercepted the ship of Ji Chi and Rong Li in the Inner Sea. Tang Mingzhou was also on the ship. When they were still in a standoff, the ship exploded, and everyone disappeared. Local communication was lost for twenty minutes. During these twenty minutes, the agents couldn¡¯t notify us. Ji Chi and Rong Li are missing, and the tracker lost its signal. I¡¯ve already dispatched nearby agents to the scene.¡± ¡°They were all on the ship when it exploded?¡± Lu Zhiyuan grabbed the nearby handrail abruptly, his hands trembling with fear. Li Jiang also saw Lu Zhiyuan so panicked for the first time. ¡°Yes, they were all on the ship when it exploded. The ship was blown to pieces, and the local police salvaged¡­ eleven bodies.¡± These bodies were pieced together, and the scene was too gruesome, especially being at sea, many body parts were impossible to locate. The marine police patrol team was still searching. Lu Zhiyuan had a moment without any response, and Li Jiang worriedly called out to him, ¡°Third Master?¡± ¡°Go to the airport!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Jiang had already arranged for a helicopter to be waiting on the rooftop. ¡°Third Master, Miss Gu Ci and Qin Wan are also missing. Dr. North is critically injured and in a coma, and the Jidao suffered heavy losses. We¡¯ve been played by Tang Mingzhou.¡± Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the fear in his heart. ¡°Send the biological information of Ji Chi, Rong Li, Gu Ci, and Qin Wan to the local police. Let them compare with the bodies to see if it¡¯s them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already been sent!¡± Li Jiang had taken care of these matters without needing Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s reminder. ¡°Third Master, Mr. Jiang is waiting at the airport. He sent a message, hoping you can take a flight with him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin arrived at the airport one after the other. Jiang Junlin had received the news while he was in a financial meeting with President Gu. It had been another sleepless night, and the meeting had not even concluded when the tragic news from Paradise Island arrived. The Triad Dark Web had never witnessed such a catastrophic accident. Jiang Junlin had immediately sent people to Paradise Island, and he was also heading to the scene in person. The plane had been granted clearance and was ready to take off. Jiang Junlin waited for Lu Zhiyuan at the boarding gate, his expression extremely grim. Lu Zhiyuan led Li Jiang and three information officers onto Jiang Junlin¡¯s plane, while a portion of Jiang Junlin¡¯s team boarded Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s plane. Once the personnel arrangements were settled, they each boarded their respective planes. As soon as Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin were on the plane, they entered the meeting room with Zhang Qiang, Li Jiang, and several information officers to review the footage of the incident. Both the Triad Dark Web and Black Hawk had stored footage of the incident. Less than two minutes after Gu Ci and Qin Wan boarded the ship, it exploded, cutting off the video feed. All that remained was audio, including a burst of intense gunfire. It was impossible to discern who had fired first, and alongside the gunshots, there were sounds of speedboats. Jiang Junlin nearly crushed the cup in his hand. The footage was clear: when the explosion occurred, Ji Chi, Gu Ci, Qin Wan, and Rong Li were all thrown into the sea by the blast¡¯s shockwave. The only relief was that the explosion had occurred in the center of the ship, and they had been standing on the deck. Ji Chi had the quickest reaction and immediately pulled Rong Li into the sea. However, their figures were still engulfed by the flames, and their fates were uncertain. Both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t accurately judge their condition based on the footage. Jiang Junlin stared at the flames in the footage and wondered, would they be burned? Ji Chi was so concerned about his appearance; having a scar would surely upset him. If they suffered burns and fell into the sea, it would be painful, wouldn¡¯t it? He forced himself not to think about the bodies. He didn¡¯t even dare to look at the comparison data sent by the police. Despite the magnitude of the incident, Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t blame each other. Lu Zhiyuan asked, ¡°When you sent Tang Mingzhou to Paradise Island, the entire island was under your control. How many people did you deploy?¡± ¡°Paradise Island is a small tourist destination with a small population. We handle natural gas, coal, and electricity transportation, and we monopolized the energy sources on the island. Therefore, the local police have always cooperated with us and have been helping keep an eye on Tang Mingzhou. When we first sent him there three years ago, we left thirty people. After evaluating the situation over these three years, we reduced it to ten. Even though we reduced the manpower, the police presence remained the same. Could it be that Tang Mingzhou intentionally leaked information to lure you here?¡± Jiang Junlin also came to this realization after the incident. He had always believed that Lu Zhiyuan was actively searching for Tang Mingzhou and had proactively discovered information about him. ¡°This intel came from a secure Black Hawk channel. I¡¯ve had people constantly searching for information about Tang Mingzhou. About a month ago, one of our information officers saw him while vacationing on Paradise Island.¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°That information officer suffered a heart attack and died just an hour ago.¡± ¡°Died while on duty.¡± Jiang Junlin felt a malicious fire burning within him, but he couldn¡¯t let it out. ¡°How do you have so many turncoats?¡± Lu Zhiyuan replied, ¡°Jiang Junlin, in the Triad Dark Web, you¡¯re the absolute authority. Your personal guard team would collectively betray you, not to mention the difference in the Black Hawk¡¯s system compared to yours. The nine major families in our organization balance each other, and I¡¯ve had to deal with one family after another. It was difficult enough to consolidate power, and 1 couldn¡¯t completely overhaul the system in a short time. Having turncoats is quite common. When the news came, 1 was afraid it might be orchestrated by Tang Mingzhou himself. That¡¯s why 1 sent Ji Chi and Rong Li, both of whom are skilled in strategy and courage. No one wanted them to be in danger. Why did Gu Ci go to Paradise Island?¡± ¡°Once Ji Chi took Tang Mingzhou away, Cici was afraid they would leave the port on Unsealing Day, so she decided to make a trip since she had a vacation.¡± Jiang Junlin learned this news only after Gu Ci had boarded the plane. During the past two years, Gu Ci had made many decisions without the need to inform him about everything. Besides, he didn¡¯t consider this mission to be particularly dangerous. The Black Hawk team sent on this mission consisted of Ji Chi and Rong Li. Even if they encountered someone, they wouldn¡¯t engage in combat. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Who could have anticipated this kind of outcome? Lu Zhiyuan hadn¡¯t expected it either. The worst-case scenario he had envisioned was that both sides would meet, perhaps leading to some friction. They had collaborated on numerous projects, and there was no reason for a major confrontation. The established pattern of cooperation in recent years had caused them to overlook the variable that was Tang Mingzhou. ¡°Let¡¯s synchronize our information,¡± Jiang Junlin took out his tablet to continue when Zhang Qiang said, ¡°Master, the police have sent the body comparison data.¡± The entire conference room fell silent for several seconds. Both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan fell into silence. Out of fear, neither of them had the courage to immediately examine the data Zhang Qiang held.. Zhang Qiang hesitated and then asked, ¡°Shall I open and check it?¡± Chapter 433 - Chapter 433: All in One Chapter 433: All in One Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Unfortunately, among the eleven bodies, three of them were Black Hawk personnel, all from Ji Chi¡¯s personal guard, and two were members of the Triad. At the time of the incident, these five individuals were relatively close to the center of the ship, near the source of the explosion. It was a cargo ship, and the rest were crew members. Gu Ci, Qin Wan, Ji Chi, Rong Li, fortunately, were not on board. Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin had already anticipated casualties, but when they saw the list, they were still furious! Tang Mingzhou, he¡¯s done for! Both of them had this thought in their minds at the same time. Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin didn¡¯t want Tang Mingzhou to die before this incident. If he died, it would bring them a lot of trouble. Now, they just wanted to tear him apart. ¡°Since we re going to cooperate, we need to be honest, Lu Zhiyuan, why do you want Tang Mingzhou to live?¡¯1 Jiang Junlin asked in a deep voice. ¡°I don¡¯t want him to live, and the reason is simple, as you can guess. Why do you insist on keeping him alive? I can¡¯t figure it out.11 ¡°Both of you, leave!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said in a low voice. Jiang Junlin nodded at Zhang Qiang, and Zhang Qiang and Li Jiang led their men out, with Li Jiang guarding the door. ¡°I¡¯m not like normal people.¡± Jiang Junlin taunted. ¡°I can see that!¡± Lu Zhiyuan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the literal meaning. Gu Ci and Ziyu both came back to life, and you should have guessed that I have memories from the previous life too. Jiang Junlin, once upon a time, Gu Ci jumped from the top of the Global Center but survived unscathed. Why? Because I caught her. This is a secret, known only to Li Jiang besides me. Gu Ci from the last life didn¡¯t know it either. A few years ago, Gu Ci became suspicious and bet her life on it by jumping from the top of the Global Center, forcing me to reveal it. Tang Mingzhou knew about it earlier and had a video clip of it; that¡¯s why he wanted to cultivate me. I can¡¯t let him expose that video clip; it¡¯s his trump card. 1 thought Tang Mingzhou was just setting a trap back then and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it after he died, but he¡¯s still alive, and he has patiently waited for several years. This is the bargaining chip he¡¯s using in negotiations.¡± ¡°Are you making up a story?¡± Jiang Junlin asked expressionlessly. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°I know you had Gu Ci and me undergo a paternity test, and you¡¯ve seen the results. Gu Ci¡¯s background is a mystery, and to prevent investigation by the National Security, you even gave him a fake identity. Would you have gone to such lengths if he didn¡¯t have a blood relationship with you?¡± The matter of Gu Ziyu was their unspoken agreement, and no one had ever revealed this fact. ¡°That¡¯s why 1 want Tang Mingzhou to live. If this video clip is made public, it will cause me a lot of trouble,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said lightly. ¡°Back then, we did indeed clash due to differences in our beliefs, and 1 took action against him. After his death, the matter of the video clip faded away. I thought Tang Mingzhou was just creating suspicion and didn¡¯t pay it any mind. But he¡¯s still alive, and he has patiently waited for several years. This is the bargaining chip he¡¯s using in negotiations.¡± Jiang Junlin wasn¡¯t interested in why he was different from ordinary people. ¡°So, Tang Mingzhou s target is you?¡± Lu Zhiyuan nodded! Jiang Junlin sneered, ¡°Now that we have no news about them, it¡¯s good news. The worst-case scenario is that all four of them have been captured. I hope you can be sensible and exchange them back!¡± Li Jiang, Mr. Jiang, you are quite courageous! Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan had more information to coordinate. They called in their informants, and in a rare display of openness, both sides shared what they knew about their respective strengths and weaknesses on Paradise Island. Only through honest cooperation could they have the best chance of rescuing the others. ¡°Without a doubt, Tang Mingzhou couldn¡¯t have accomplished this on his own; there must be someone helping him,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said calmly. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Black Hawk or the Triad, he¡¯s made a lot of enemies over the past decade. Tang Mingzhou is skilled at leveraging others¡¯ power to achieve his goals. It won¡¯t be difficult for him to recruit certain individuals to assist him. Li Jiang, follow this lead and investigate.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jiang Junlin glanced at the recorded actions of Ji Chi and Rong Li on Paradise Island. Every detail was meticulously documented. He raised a question, ¡°Why was Ji Chi able to accurately locate Tang Mingzhou inside the casino?¡± ¡°Tang Mingzhou left a clue at his residence, directing the Black Hawk personnel to find him at the casino,¡¯1 Lu Zhiyuan explained. ¡°Ji Chi was known for his extravagant spending in the casino, so he kept an eye on Tang Mingzhou to prevent you from getting there first. Rong Li kept Qin Wan distracted, drawing most of the attention. Nors won¡¯t be focused on the casino either; at most, he¡¯d assign one or two people to watch Ji Chi. A few people couldn¡¯t effectively monitor him.¡± Jiang Junlin pulled up the surveillance footage of Ji Chi and Tang Mingzhou and carefully examined the people around the casino. It seemed that something was amiss in the casino. Tang Mingzhou wasn¡¯t alone, and perhaps Ji Chi and l ang Mingzhou had been tracked when they left the casino. They hadn¡¯t noticed it when they were on the cargo ship. ¡®I underestimated Tang Mingzhou!¡± Jiang Junlin regretted deeply. Due to legal constraints, he hadn¡¯t Lulled Tang Mingzhou earlier, and this had led to the current situation, which was his biggest regret this year. ¡°Tang Mingzhou was also on the ship. When the ship exploded, he was in a life-threatening situation. Why would he choose to go down with the ship?¡± Lu Zhiyuan mused. ¡°He wrongly believed that I had killed his wife and child. If I were on the ship, and he chose to go down with it, 1 could understand. But why¡­¡± ¡°Gu Ci was on the ship!¡± Jiang Junlin realized. l ang Mingzhou wanted Lu Zhiyuan to experience the despair of losing a loved one. Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s face subtly changed, but he had been separated from Gu Ci for five years and had no contact with her. Why would Tang Mingzhou target Gu ¡°Black Hawk and the Triad have a global surveillance network. I¡¯m curious about where he¡¯s taking them,¡± Lu Zhiyuan pondered. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Jiang couldn¡¯t help but remind them, ¡°If his target is only Miss Gu Ci, perhaps she still has a chance, but for the others¡­ it¡¯s less certain.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s face darkened instantly. He didn¡¯t need Li Jiang s reminder; when he realized this, he also became aware of it. On the sea, inside the ship¡¯s cabin. Ji Chi was the first to wake up, his hands and feet bound. He had been awakened by a burst of gunfire. His arms were sore and stinging; his already troubled arm had been burned by the fire, but luckily, it was just a flesh wound. He couldn¡¯t move his hands and feet. Ji Chi tried to observe the cabin, and he saw that Gu Ci, Qin Wan, and Rong Li were also there. Gu Ci had a gunshot wound to her abdomen, with blood staining her clothes. The condition of the others wasn¡¯t much better. Ji Chi shifted his body upward and used his head to support Rong Li. ¡°Rong Li, wake up, Rong Li¡­.¡± Chapter 434 - Chapter 434: Reincarnation Chapter 434: Reincarnation Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Rong Li¡¯s abdomen is injured and is continuously being bumped by Ji Chi¡¯s head, causing him excruciating pain. Me hoarsely says, ¡°Stop bumping!¡± ¡°Thank goodness, you¡¯re still alive!¡± Ji Chi felt somewhat relieved. His body struggled to move on the floor, ¡°Where are you injured?¡± ¡°My whole body hurts¡­¡± At the moment they fell into the sea, Rong Li had shielded Ji Chi in front of him, and the flames had swept over his back. Afterward, he fell into the sea, and his shoulder was burned. Fortunately, the water extinguished the fire, leaving only a minor burn. However, after falling into the sea, they didn¡¯t lose consciousness. They were shot, with bullets piercing through their shoulders. Then they were knocked unconscious. Now, they feel intense pain all over their bodies. Ji Chi also notices the gunshot wound on his shoulder, which has not been treated after being soaked in water, making it prone to infection. Ignoring his own injuries, Rong Li asks, ¡°What about you? Did you get shot?¡± ¡°No!¡± Ji Chi¡¯s arm was burned, but he felt much better after falling into the sea. After they fell into the sea, they realized it was a conspiracy, but they couldn¡¯t react in time. Dr. North and Tang Mingzhou¡¯s men engaged in a firefight, while the few of them fell into the sea and tried to swim to Dr. North¡¯s side. However, the speedboat arrived immediately, and bullets were fired in rows. Dr. North didn¡¯t dare to shoot at the area where they fell into the sea, but Tang Mingzhou¡¯s men didn¡¯t care at all. The outcome could be imagined ¨C they were all pulled out of the water by Tang Mingzhou¡¯s men and knocked unconscious. With their hands cuffed and their legs bound, their movements were restricted. Ji Chi used his shoulder to sit up and moved toward Gu Ci and Qin Wan. Gu Ci had a shrapnel wound in her abdomen that had torn through her flesh, still bleeding after being soaked in seawater. It was unclear whether any shrapnel was embedded in her body. Ji Chi finally got closer and patted her thigh with his hand. ¡°Cici, Cici¡­ wake up.¡± Gu Ci didn¡¯t wake up, but Qin Wan woke up first. Qin Wan was the least injured. When she was caught on the speedboat, she attempted to resist and was knocked out with a gunshot. She wasn¡¯t injured in the sea, and no bullets hit her. She also avoided being engulfed in flames. She and Gu Ci were closer to the railing than Ji Chi and Rong Li when the explosion occurred. They jumped into the sea while embracing each other, with the initial intention of swimming back to the cargo ship. However, Ji Chi and Rong Li also fell into the sea, and their situation wasn¡¯t very good. Gu Ci managed to swim five meters before turning back to pull Ji Chi and Rong Li. Qin Wan had no choice but to follow Gu Ci. These few minutes of delay cost them dearly. Qin Wan was quite annoyed. Why bother saving the enemies? Without saving them, they could have safely escaped. ¡°Qin Wan, how are you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die!¡± Qin Wan examined Gu Ci¡¯s injury, moving clumsily. Gu Ci¡¯s condition didn¡¯t seem right. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she woken up? Rong Li woke up even after getting shot.¡± Gu Ci¡¯s constitution was slightly weaker than Ji Chi, Rong Li, and Qin Wan. When she was pulled onto the speedboat, she was directly drowned unconscious due to her resistance. Qin Wan and Ji Chi checked her breathing, confirming that she was still alive. Without further ado, Qin Wan smashed down onto Gu Ci¡¯s abdomen, her occiput hitting Gu Ci¡¯s abdomen heavily. Gu Ci¡¯s pent-up breath is released, and she coughed up seawater, moaning in pain. This blunt force managed to expel the accumulated water in her abdomen, but it also hit her wound. Ji Chi,¡±¡­¡± Rong Li,¡±¡­¡± That was straightforward! Gu Ci was in so much pain that she almost lost her breath. After expelling the seawater, she finally regained consciousness. All of them had their hands cuffed and their legs bound. Both Gu Ci and Rong Li had gunshot wounds, while Qin Wan and Ji Chi had milder injuries. The two of them attempted to unfasten the handcuffs. ¡°Do you have anything like a safety pin?¡± Ji Chi asks. Gu Ci, in pain, leaned against the side without speaking. When they were captured, they were thoroughly searched, and all concealed weapons were taken away. At this moment, they have nothing on them; it¡¯s an unexpected situation. Neither Gu Ci nor Qin Wan had the habit of wearing earrings, so they didn¡¯t have any useful items on them. ¡°Let¡¯s start by untying the ropes on our legs,¡± Ji Chi suggested, moving to position his legs towards Qin Wan¡¯s back. They tried to free each other from the ropes, and both were relatively skillful at it. Gu Ci and Rong Li both had gunshot wounds, but Ji Chi and Qin Wan didn¡¯t pay them much attention for now. They moved closer to the cargo hold. It was eerily quiet outside, with only the sound of waves. They could confirm that they were on a ship that had not yet docked. They searched around the cargo hold for useful items. It was filled with agricultural products. Ji Chi and Qin Wan, in unspoken agreement, each hid an iron nail as they couldn¡¯t find anything else useful. After circling the cargo hold and finding nothing more, Gu Ci endured the pain. Rong Li¡¯s condition was the worst, with continuous bleeding, and Gu Ci was deeply concerned. Left untreated, the wound was likely to become infected. Ji Chi found a clean towel and used his foot to apply pressure to Rong Li¡¯s wound. Her wound also needs attention! ¡°Stop struggling. Are you afraid of dying too slowly?¡± Qin Wan noticed that Rong Li had been struggling to free himself from the handcuffs and kicked his leg. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Rong Li shouted angrily. He was already on fire, and if he¡¯d calculated and killed by Tang Mingzhou in the cargo hold, he wouldn¡¯t rest in peace. ¡°Don¡¯t kick him,¡± Ji Chi intervened. Qin Wan clicked her tongue. ¡°I didn¡¯t kick his wound. I just wanted to remind him not to exhaust himself. More people mean more bargaining chips. If we die, they¡¯ll just throw us into the sea to feed the fish.¡± Everyone was taken aback. No one expected to be captured like this. They were all filled with anger, with Gu Ci and Ji Chi being the most emotionally stable among them. ¡°You Black Hawks are such a bunch of useless traitors!¡± Qin Wan couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°What are you good for? Even your encrypted channels were compromised, utterly foolish!¡± Rong Li¡¯s voice was hoarse from the pain, but he still retorted, ¡°It¡¯s your stupidity! You believe any piece of information without question. If it weren¡¯t for you rushing onto this ship, it probably wouldn¡¯t have exploded. Who knows who they were targeting!¡± Ji Chi gave his leg a kick, ¡°Stop arguing, we¡¯re in the same boat now, quite literally. We need to cooperate wholeheartedly, no time for bickering.¡± Qin Wan walked up to him, smirking at his gunshot wound, ¡°Indeed, save your energy. Oh my, this bleeding won¡¯t stop. Are you going to turn into a mummy?¡± She had just sutured her own head wound after falling into the sea, and the salty seawater seeping into the wound was far from pleasant. So, seeing Rong Li in such a sorry state, Qin Wan couldn¡¯t resist gloating, ¡°What goes around comes around!¡± Ji Chi looked at Rong Li¡¯s wound with concern, ¡°Cici, what should we do about his injury?¡± ¡°The bullet needs to be removed, stitched up, and we can¡¯t delay. These conditions are cold and damp; the wound will get infected,¡± Gu Ci says, glancing at her own wound. Her injury also needed attention. She loudly called out, ¡°Is anyone there? Is anyone here?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°What are you doing? We haven¡¯t discussed a plan yet,¡± Qin Wan stopped her. ¡°Who¡¯s discussing a plan here?¡± Gu Ci retorts. She was clearly just taking pleasure in seeing Rong Li injured. After Gu Ci¡¯s shout, both Qin Wan and Ji Chi sat back down and casually wrapped the ropes around their legs. Before long, they heard footsteps, and to their surprise, it was Chen Rushi. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Ji Chi and Rong Li, in particular, couldn¡¯t have imagined this turn of events. After retiring from the underworld, Chen Rushi had established himself independently, no longer relying on Black Hawk or the triad. The Chen family had gradually faded into obscurity in North America, no longer the influential force it was five years ago. Chen Rushi looked at this group of captives with a light smile. If it were five years ago, he would have never imagined this day.. Chapter 435 - Chapter 435: Together in the Same Boat Chapter 435: Together in the Same Boat Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Gu Ci, long time no see!¡± Chen Rushi looked much more mature than five years ago, with a hint of frost at his temples. Once he had left the triad and Black Hawk, he had too many things to worry about. If one labored too much, they would age faster than others. This was inevitable! Ji Chi could tell it was Chen Rushi. If anyone had the ambition and capability to respond to Tang Mingzhou, it was Chen Rushi. His ambition had always been as clear as day, just like Sima Zhao¡¯s, and everyone knew it. Rong Li and Ji Chi remained silent. Gu Ci leaned against a pillar. ¡°Chen Rushi, the fact that we¡¯re still alive means we¡¯re still useful. Show us your injuries. If we die, it won¡¯t benefit you either!¡± Chen Rushi shrugged. ¡°What can I do? There¡¯s no doctor on the ship.¡± ¡°I am the doctor!¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t have any tools!¡± Chen Rushi calmly looked at Rong Li¡¯s wound. He walked over and suddenly stepped on Rong Li¡¯s wound, causing fresh blood to gush out. Rong Li twitched in pain but didn¡¯t make a sound. He was a tough guy. Ji Chi couldn¡¯t bear it and rushed forward, angrily pushing him away. ¡°Chen Rushi, get lost!¡± ¡°These are truly two loyal dogs of Lu Zhiyuan!¡± Chen Rushi even complained that his shoes were dirtied with blood and deliberately rubbed them on the floor, leaving a bloody mark. Qin Wan turned her gaze away in disgust. Although she didn¡¯t like Rong Li, she disliked traitors like him even more. ¡°Rong Li, how are you? Rong Li¡­¡± Ji Chi crawled over to Rong Li. ¡°Rong Li¡­¡± Rong Li was in so much pain that he was almost passing out, but he struggled to say, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I won¡¯t die!¡± Chen Rushi and Rong Li had some personal grievances. If it weren¡¯t for Rong Li acting as a stand-in for Lu Zhiyuan and handling Black Hawk¡¯s affairs on his behalf, Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s identity wouldn¡¯t have been so well-hidden. Rong Li had also seized the resources that should have belonged to the Chen family. When Black Hawk quickly gained a foothold and Rong Li remained loyal to Lu Zhiyuan, Chen Rushi tried to win him over. While Rong Li pretended to cooperate with him on the surface, he secretly reported everything to Lu Zhiyuan. The Chen family was expelled from the family power structure of Black Hawk, and Rong Li had made a significant contribution. How could Chen Rushi not hold a grudge? This kick was intentionally aimed at Rong Li¡¯s life! Ji Chi secretly resented this and glanced at the ropes on the ground. He looked at Qin Wan, and Qin Wan also looked at Chen Rushi. New and old grievances would be settled together, and it was only fair. Our traditional culture always favored collective responsibility! ¡°We are wounded and crippled. There¡¯s no benefit for you in killing us. If you wanted us dead, you would have done it already,¡± Gu Ci remained calm. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go down with us, do you?¡± ¡°I have you and Ji Chi in my hands, and those two aces are enough. Whether he lives or dies, who cares?¡± Chen Rushi approached Gu Ci and glanced at her abdomen. ¡°Cici, following Lu Zhiyuan, do you regret it? Can he protect you?¡± Gu Ci¡¯s face turned pale due to excessive bleeding, and she broke into a cold sweat. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone tell you that 1 broke up with Lu Zhiyuan five years ago?¡± Suddenly, Ji Chi hooked the rope on the ground and threw it towards Qin Wan. Qin Wan¡¯s right leg wrapped around the other end of the rope, and the two of them quickly flipped. The rope stretched across Chen Rushi¡¯s chest, and he sneered, about to retaliate. However, Ji Chi and Qin Wan stood up, their legs skillfully maneuvering the rope upward, positioning it around his neck. Qin Wan and Ji Chi swapped positions, and after a few rounds, they had Chen Rushi¡¯s neck ensnared. Each of them pulled from one side, causing Chen Rushi to scream in agony. Although he tried to put his hands between the rope and his neck, the two of them had him tightly wrapped up. Ji Chi and Qin Wan couldn¡¯t use their hands, so their legs replaced them, and each side of the rope pinned Chen Rushi down. Their synchronized movements formed a deadly technique. Their coordination was impeccable! ¡°Chen Rushi, 1 can easily cut off your head with a little force!¡± Ji Chi said coldly. He tugged on the rope, and Chen Rushi was strangled, his face turning red, but he couldn¡¯t make a sound. Due to his heart condition, Chen Rushi couldn¡¯t engage in strenuous physical activity. He always had someone protecting him when he traveled, so he was no match for Ji Chi and Qin Wan, both in terms of reflexes and agility. Ji Chi returned all the pain that Chen Rushi had inflicted on Rong Li. ¡°Useless!¡± Gu Ci shook her head at him, indicating not to provoke Chen Rushi. Currently, Chen Rushi was struggling due to choking and pain. Ji Chi and Qin Wan loosened their grip slightly. Chen Rushi angrily warned, ¡°If you dare to attack us, you won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Ji Chi sneered, ¡°I¡¯m just telling you that killing you is simpler than slaughtering a chicken!¡± Qin Wan coldly added, ¡°You, a weakling like you, dare to be arrogant in front of us. If it weren¡¯t for Rong Li being shot, we would all be tied up. Would you dare to come in?¡± Ji Chi and Qin Wan had no intention of taking Chen Rushi¡¯s life. They released him, as killing him would serve no purpose, and they couldn¡¯t afford to take such risks at sea. Chen Rushi took a few steps back, still trembling, and took deep breaths. A red mark appeared on his neck. Gu Ci said, ¡°Chen Rushi, you¡¯re out of anger, and we¡¯ve given you a scare. We are your captives. Since you don¡¯t want us dead, unlock my handcuffs and give me a first aid kit. If Rong Li dies, there will be no negotiation between us.¡± Chen Rushi glared at Ji Chi and Qin Wan with hatred, then turned and left. ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t agree?¡± Ji Chi crouched beside Rong Li. ¡°Rong Li, can you still hear me?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die!¡± Rong Li gritted his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. You¡¯re the heir of Black Hawk. Chen Rushi won¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Ji Chi said fiercely. ¡°None of us will die!¡± Gu Ci frowned, ¡°If Chen Rushi remains indifferent, we¡¯ll have to play our last card.¡± ¡°What card?¡± Qin Wan snorted. ¡°He thinks I¡¯m his own sister.¡± Rong Li and Ji Chi remained silent. The guards under Chen Rushi¡¯s command brought a first aid kit and unlocked Gu Ci¡¯s handcuffs. One of the guards said, ¡°There are no medical supplies on the ship. Whether you live or die depends on your own luck.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Soon, heavily armed agents came down to the cabin, monitoring them from all angles. Gu Ci opened the first aid kit and found that it didn¡¯t contain many medical supplies, but at least there were some tools. She glanced at her own abdomen, quickly stopped the bleeding, and bandaged herself before proceeding to examine Rong Li¡¯s gunshot wound. Ji Chi and Qin Wan were still restrained and couldn¡¯t help. Gu Ci cut open Rong Li¡¯s clothes, cleaned the wound with alcohol, and found that the bullet had penetrated deeply. She had to remove all the bullet fragments. There was no anesthetic or a complete set of surgical instruments in the first aid kit. Moreover, the ship was swaying in the sea, making it a challenging situation for Gu Ci¡¯s medical skills. After a thorough examination, she could only say, ¡°There¡¯s no anesthesia or morphine. You¡¯ll have to endure it.¡± ¡°Bring it on!¡± Rong Li hadn¡¯t made a sound since getting shot. The bullet was still lodged in his wound, and he was deteriorating rapidly. Gu Ci rolled up a piece of gauze and had him bite on it before starting to extract the bullet. Qin Wan leaned against the side, watching Gu Ci cut open Rong Li¡¯s wound. Rong Li was obviously in extreme pain, clenching the gauze tightly in his mouth. Ji Chi wanted to wipe his sweat, but he was restrained by the handcuffs. Ji Chi encouraged him, ¡°Hang in there, Rong Li, don¡¯t pass out..¡± Chapter 436 - Chapter 436: Shocking but Not Dangerous Chapter 436: Shocking but Not Dangerous Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation On the ship, Tang Mingzhou was recuperating. When the explosion occurred, he couldn¡¯t evade in time and suffered minor injuries. The flames grazed his arm, not causing severe harm. Chen Rushi, standing respectfully before him, dared not show any disrespect. Tang Mingzhou¡¯s expression was extremely stern. This time, he had planned everything meticulously, intending to wait for Lu Zhiyuan to board the ship and then execute his plan. All the instructions were for Ji Chi and Rong Li to charter this passenger ship and leave Paradise Island. One of the cabins was filled with explosives, all set to go off with Lu Zhiyuan on board, ensuring their demise together. However, a Black Hawk special agent accidentally discovered the explosives in the cabin while fighting Tang Mingzhou¡¯s men. This commotion alerted the crew, and without further ado, Tang Mingzhou detonated the ship. If the news leaked out, he couldn¡¯t kill Lu Zhiyuan, and it would be a failure. It was better to blow up the ship, especially since Ji Chi and Rong Li were on board, along with Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s loved one. It was destiny. Although this explosion wasn¡¯t part of Tang Mingzhou¡¯s plan, the outcome pleased him. Fortunately, Chen Rushi had been there to assist them. Knowing that the triad figures were nearby, he arrived in several speedboats and rescued everyone. ¡°How are they?¡± Tang Mingzhou asked with a grim expression. Chen Rushi replied, ¡°Gu Ci and Rong Li have gunshot wounds. Rong Li¡¯s injuries are severe, and I fear they might not survive. I gave the first aid kit to Gu Ci; she¡¯s a doctor. If she can save him, it¡¯s Rong Li¡¯s lucky day. If not, then it¡¯s his own fault!¡± Tang Mingzhou sneered and poured himself a drink. While he was in power, Chen Geng was still alive, and Chen Rushi was considered Chen Geng¡¯s heir. Chen Geng had intended for Tang Mingzhou to groom Chen Rushi as the successor to Black Hawk. However, several major families obstructed this plan, making it difficult to execute. But there were still ways. Later, Tang Mingzhou began grooming Lu Zhiyuan, who appeared out of nowhere, and Chen Rushi had some reservations about this. Tang Mingzhou wasn¡¯t entirely sidelined. Compared to the former head of Black Hawk, he still had real power and could bypass the nine major families in many Black Hawk affairs, so he was quite authoritative. Three years ago, Tang Mingzhou had contacted Chen Rushi, sharing a hidden network of contacts and advising Chen Rushi to remain low-key and not reveal himself too early. After Chen Rushi left the triad and Black Hawk, he wasn¡¯t willing to retire from the pinnacle of power and always sought the opportunity to make a comeback. He wanted a chance to return to Black Hawk and take control of it. Their goals aligned. ¡°He can do anything, even using Lu Zhiyuan,¡± Tang Mingzhou coldly remarked. ¡°Are you sure Gu Ci is his loved one? But according to the information, they broke up five years ago. If the plan fails, Chen Rushi, you bear the consequences.¡± ¡°Gu Ci¡¯s identity is more important than you imagine. She is not only Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s loved one, but Lu Zhiyuan was willing to give up everything for her, including his career and even his life. She is also the younger sister of Jiang Junlin. Even though she works as an emergency room doctor at Southern City Hospital, she is also responsible for the triad¡¯s financial sector, overseeing the financial operations of the triad. Her status and position are extraordinary. As long as she¡¯s in our hands, both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan can¡¯t make any reckless moves.¡± Chen Rushi didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhiyuan and Gu Ci had broken up. If they had truly parted ways, why was the child with Gu Ci frequently in contact with Lu Zhiyuan? He believed that, due to their unique identities, they were using a cover story to secretly carry out their plans. This time, when the incident occurred, both Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Junlin came to Paradise Island. There has been constant searching on the sea, and they want to find a few people on the vast ocean, which is like searching for a needle in a haystack. ¡°Leader, the most challenging part is what to do once we reach the shore. Black Hawk and the triad¡¯s surveillance systems are highly advanced. They can monitor every corner of the world, as long as there are cameras. Unless we stay hidden in the dark all the time, we will eventually be discovered.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a safe place they will never think of.¡± Inside the cabin, Rong Li had passed out from the pain. Gu Ci took out the bullet and shrapnel and stopped the bleeding, stitching the wound. The medical supplies in the first aid kit were insufficient, so Rong Li would have to endure more suffering. Ji Chi asked, ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Gu Ci had confidence in her medical skills. After giving Rong Li an antibiotic injection, she helped him sit aside. Gu Ci took a piece of gauze and bit down on it, then lowered her head to stitch her own wound. Her abdominal injury was significant, and without anesthesia, she had to endure it. Qin Wan looked at her in pain, wondering if Chen Rushi had intentionally provided inadequate supplies. Gu Ci bit the gauze, enduring the excruciating pain, and quickly stitched her wound. After disinfecting and dressing it, she wrapped it up to prevent infection. Qin Wan asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Gu Ci shook her head, her face as pale as a sheet. Chen Rushi sent someone to deliver food, consisting of bread and water. Originally, their hands were handcuffed behind their backs, but now that they were injured, the guards unlocked the handcuffs and cuffed them in front for ease of eating. The three of them quickly filled their stomachs, and Gu Ci gave Rong Li some water. She also treated Ji Chi and Qin Wan¡¯s wounds; fortunately, their injuries were minor, so they were relatively fine. After everything was taken care of, Chen Rushi¡¯s guards took the first aid kit away, leaving only antibiotics and fever reducers for Gu Ci. The four of them sat together, discussing their next steps. Ji Chi said, ¡°This is a sea voyage. They will definitely look for a place to land and then decide what to do. We should seize any opportunity to escape.¡± Only by leaving could they hope to bring back reinforcements. If they were trapped together, there would be no hope. Ji Chi and Gu Ci both had needles hidden on them. After disassembling them, they concealed the thin needles on their bodies. Gu Ci shook her head and said, ¡°We are unarmed, and they have guns. It¡¯s better not to try to escape. My brother and Lu Zhiyuan will definitely come to rescue us.¡± Unlike Ji Chi, Gu Ci had a natural trust in Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan, sincerely believing that they would come to their rescue. He was different! ¡°Once, 1 also had hope for someone. Even if 1 could leave, 1 foolishly waited, afraid that if I left, I would miss him. I believed in him wholeheartedly, thinking that no matter how difficult it was, he would come to find me. But later, I understood that believing in others is not as good as believing in yourself. Your life is your own, and only you can save it. You can¡¯t rely on anyone, no one can.¡± Ji Chi looked at the dimly lit cabin, thinking of the past. Qin Wan and Gu Ci both knew who he was talking about. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Rong Li gradually regained consciousness, and Ji Chi quickly moved closer. ¡°Rong Li, are you in pain?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die!¡± Rong Li took a deep breath, and due to the pain, he was still sweating profusely. ¡°Gu Ci, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Gu Ci listened to the sound of the waves, and suddenly the ship jolted. She said, ¡°There must be a hidden reef here. We should be nearing the shore.¡± Ji Chi and Qin Wan both sensed it. ¡°The triad and Black Hawk¡¯s surveillance systems are everywhere globally. Where can he take us?¡± Qin Wan furrowed her brow.. ¡°Why not negotiate directly?¡± Chapter 437 - Chapter 437: A Common Enemy Chapter 437: A Common Enemy Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation A group of secret agents entered, roughly blindfolding them. After being pushed onto the deck, they were immediately placed in a vehicle. Rong Li, weakened after surgery, collapsed onto Qin Wan, who pushed him away in disgust. Her bald spot was still visible on the back of her head, and she wished she could kick him. But to her surprise, Rong Li turned back over and leaned against her shoulder. Qin Wan said in a gruff voice, ¡°Get lost!¡± Rong Li remained silent, and Qin Wan furrowed her brow but didn¡¯t push him away. She had more important things to do. Although her eyes were blindfolded, her sense of smell, touch, and hearing were intact. Qin Wan and Ji Chi remained silent, while Gu Ci, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t very proficient in the local language and stayed quiet too. The coast had a strong, fishy smell. They were in a run-down van that became unbearably hot as soon as they disembarked. The sunlight was intense, and even though the island was known for its year-round pleasant weather, the real-feel temperature here was at least forty degrees Celsius, much hotter than they had expected. The road was extremely bumpy. They had just passed through a village after half an hour on land, and it was bustling with activity. The locals spoke in their own dialect, not the standard language. Ji Chi furrowed his brows slightly. The weather was scorching, and they had the windows open without air conditioning. Before long, they were drenched in sweat due to the rough ride. Due to the bumps in the road, Rong Li ended up collapsing onto Qin Wan¡¯s lap and lost consciousness. Qin Wan wanted to smack his face but restrained herself, thinking about his injuries. After a few more hours of driving, just when they thought everything had calmed down, they caught a whiff of a distinctive poppy scent. It was easily recognizable, and Gu Ci, Qin Wan, and Ji Chi all noticed it. They were surrounded by vast poppy fields, and the road became even rougher, like they were heading into the mountains. Suddenly, a thick smoke filled the vehicle, and everyone except the driver lost consciousness. Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s plane landed on Paradise Island. Despite the recent explosion, Paradise Island remained a happy vacation destination and was not significantly affected. Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan had mostly aligned their information. Li Jiang said, ¡°Third Master, your guess was correct. Chen Rushi has indeed arrived on Paradise Island. Tang Mingzhou used Chen Rushi¡¯s help to leave Paradise Island, and there¡¯s no trace of them on the sea. We haven¡¯t figured out where they¡¯ve been taken.¡± The lack of information could be seen as a good sign; at least everyone was still alive. Both Jiang Junlin and Lu Zhiyuan thought so because the explosion had been sudden, leaving no time to leave any clues. Dr. North was severely injured, and a fierce battle broke out between his team and the people brought by Gangster and Chen Rushi. Before Dr. North fell unconscious, he dispatched a flying craft and a team of people to pursue Chen Rushi¡¯s speedboat. Later, they ran out of gasoline and were stranded at sea. The flying craft eventually ran out of power, but at least it was confirmed that they headed north. Jiang Junlin took out a map, and the northern direction led to West Asia, at the junction of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Wherever they went, the scope was quite extensive. Jiang Junlin said, ¡°Let¡¯s start by investigating Chen Rushi¡¯s whereabouts. We need to find out how she and Tang Mingzhou got in touch all these years, where Tang Mingzhou has been traveling for his projects.¡± This puzzled Jiang Junlin as well. While Paradise Island wasn¡¯t heavily guarded, it wasn¡¯t easy to contact Chen Rushi, especially since she needed to meet him. They must have had a special means of communication. Lu Zhiyuan Jiang said, ¡°The owner of Black Hawk and the leaders of the Nine Great Families all have certain communication methods. Although Chen Rushi was expelled, he is still the head of the Chen family. Tang Mingzhou should have a unique way to contact him. However, it should have been destroyed by now, and finding it again won¡¯t be easy.¡± Jiang Junlin was annoyed by the decentralized system of Black Hawk. Now, Lu Zhiyuan Jiang was worried about another issue ¨C both Ji Chi and Rong Li had gone missing. Jiang Junlin had delegated power over the past few years, and with Tang Mingzhou and Chen Rushi pulling off this operation, could Black Hawk face a possible split? The power of the major families had been eroded repeatedly, and now was the best time for a counterattack. Was Lu Zhiyuan Jiang prepared for this internal and external challenge? Tang Mingzhou and Chen Rushi¡¯s destination was unclear, and they had no choice but to wait for information to come in. Late at night, both Lu Zhiyuan Jiang and Jiang Junlin were still awake, waiting for news. Jiang Junlin had not slept for two days and nights in a row, and his eyes were bloodshot. Internally, Black Hawk was stable. There had been turmoil five years ago, but despite other department members being inserted, Jiang Junlin and Gu Ci handled all affairs, ensuring that no trouble arose. ¡°Why haven¡¯t they called yet? It¡¯s been three days. What does Tang Mingzhou want, and why hasn¡¯t he called? It¡¯s like dealing with a kidnapper who doesn¡¯t want a ransom,¡± Jiang Junlin commented. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan Jiang, you know Tang Mingzhou best. Where do you think he might go?¡± ¡°He definitely won¡¯t go to Europe. Despite moving his industries to China, his position in Europe is still deeply rooted. He won¡¯t risk going there and revealing himself. So, we can exclude Europe. But at the junction of Asia and Africa, the territory is vast, and there are often conflicts along the border. Would they go there?¡± ¡°If he has four hostages with him, he¡¯d need a hiding place. I¡¯ll mark all the border conflict areas as eliminated possibilities.¡± Jiang Junlin said, eliminating potential locations on the map. Lu Zhiyuan Jiang proposed, ¡°What if 1 reach out to Tang Mingzhou proactively?¡± Jiang Junlin replied, ¡°They¡¯re holding your Achilles¡¯ heel. If you offer yourself willingly, are you afraid they won¡¯t kill you fast enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not as composed as you. I can¡¯t accept any unexpected harm coming to Gu Ci. I¡¯m willing to trade my life for his.¡± Jiang Junlin rebuked him, ¡°Stop pretending to be sentimental. This disaster was brought upon us by you!¡± Zhang Qiang interjected, ¡°Master, we¡¯ve received Chen Rushi¡¯s information.¡± Jiang Junlin nodded, projecting the information onto a large screen. He narrowed his eyes and focused on a particular location, his gaze inscrutable. Lu Zhiyuan also squinted and asked, ¡°The Pentagon? What¡¯s he doing there? Who compiled this information?¡± Zhang Qiang explained, ¡°Since Chen Rushi left Black Hawk, we¡¯ve been tracking him for three years as per our protocol. This data covers his movements during the three years after leaving Black Hawk. After those two years, we lost all information about him.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only They had tracked him for three years without any issues and then ceased their efforts. After all, they didn¡¯t want to waste resources on someone who didn¡¯t pose a threat. ¡°Enlarge the map of the Pentagon!¡± Lu Zhiyuan Jiang said in a deep voice. ¡°We haven¡¯t been back to the Pentagon in years. If there have been changes, we wouldn¡¯t know.¡± The Black Hawk Eye System moved to the Pentagon region and zoomed in. To their surprise, the Pentagon area appeared to be thriving, with a well-developed town. Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow and moved the map, revealing extensive poppy fields. ¡°Back then, this place was reduced to ashes, and the soil structure was severely damaged. 1 can¡¯t believe that more than a decade later, it has become a poppy supply hub.¡± ¡°Poppy¡­¡± Jiang Junlin squinted.. ¡°Is Chen Rushi involved in the drug trade?¡± Chapter 438 - Chapter 438: When Will the Killing End? Chapter 438: When Will the Killing End? Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Li Jiang also received some information, ¡°Yes, he has dealings with the drug lords in Colombia.¡± ¡°Go check who¡¯s buying poppies and whether the people involved in the transactions have any connection to Chen Rushi,¡± Lu Zhiyuan said indifferently. ¡°Do we have any agents nearby? Send someone to investigate.¡± ¡°The quickest we can get there is five hours.¡± ¡°Have him go and investigate without alerting anyone.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Do you suspect they might be heading to the Pentagon?¡± Jiang Junlin asked, having no fondness for the place himself. It was impoverished, backward, and morally corrupt¡ªa haven for criminals. He had spent a lot of effort cleaning it up back in the day, but it seemed to have risen from the ashes. ¡°There¡¯s something¡­ I¡¯ve never told you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan glanced at Jiang Junlin. Jiang Junlin had a premonition that he wouldn¡¯t be pleased with what he was about to hear. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°The Pentagon is controlled entirely by Black Hawk, a criminal organization I used to lead and nurture.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Jiang Junlin slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan, do you realize what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°I and Tang Mingzhou disagreed on how to manage Black Hawk, so we went our separate ways. 1 wanted to kill him to eliminate future trouble. At the time, you were planning to clear out the Pentagon, so I used that opportunity to get rid of him. I thought the Pentagon was engaged in various criminal activities, so the police would sweep the place, and 1 could use it to my advantage,¡± Lu Zhiyuan recounted the past with a calm tone. ¡°This is a secret known only to the former leaders of Black Hawk. He single-handedly controls the Pentagon, and I was young and had supernatural abilities, so I was ruthless. Tang Mingzhou thought 1 was like him, so he shared this information with me. Since then, I¡¯ve wanted to kill him. 1 thought the Pentagon was involved in so much wrongdoing that it needed to be eradicated, so when the police were planning to raid the place, 1 seized the opportunity.¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyes reddened as he stared intently at Lu Zhiyuan. The past felt like a knife lodged in Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart. Lu Zhiyuan said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Black Hawk nurtured the Pentagon for many years, and I had no connection to it. If 1 hadn¡¯t been the leader of Black Hawk, the Pentagon would still be standing today. When you obtained so much intelligence back then¡ªterrain, troop deployments, weapons caches wasn¡¯t one of those pieces of information incorrect? Did you think it was a gift from heaven, specially delivered to you?¡± ¡°Does Chi know?¡± Jiang Junlin¡¯s voice trembled. Lu Zhiyuan, rarely silent, shook his head. How could he bring himself to tell Ji Chi? Ji Chi had suffered for eight years in the Pentagon, and now he was loyal to Black Hawk. Now, he might not be able to keep it a secret any longer! The thought of Ji Chi learning this information made Jiang Junlin¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Chi has always wanted to destroy the Pentagon, to escape it, but in the end¡­ he accidentally ended up in Black Hawk. He¡¯ll be entangled with Black Hawk for the rest of his life. Lu Zhiyuan, how could you?¡± ¡°What choice did I have?¡± Lu Zhiyuan was also frustrated. ¡°1 did a good deed by saving him. When I saved him, he was on the brink of death, half-dead and half-alive, with nowhere to go. He had been locked up in the Pentagon since he was a child, and what he saw and heard was not what a normal young person would experience. If I let him go, how long would he survive? How many people would he harm? Have you thought about that? When he didn¡¯t even understand right from wrong, he thought killing a person was no different from squishing an ant. He wasn¡¯t a normal young person. I had to tell him the truth about the Pentagon being controlled by Black Hawk. Otherwise, he would have harbored hatred and resistance, and he would have gone out into society on his own. What kind of life would he have led then? Have you thought about that?¡± Jiang Junlin closed his eyes and turned away, losing his composure. Chi, now that you know, it must be heartbreaking! ¡°Ji Chi recuperated for a long time, and after he recovered from his illness, he asked if he could stay by my side, just to have a meal. Originally, I didn¡¯t want to keep him. I had made proper arrangements for the survivors of the Pentagon, except for Ji Chi. Oh, he wanted to find you, but unfortunately, you left him a false name. Even if you had given him your real name back then, I would have sent him to you!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said, deliberately needling Jiang Junlin, knowing full well that Jiang Junlin had been an undercover agent in the Pentagon, so he couldn¡¯t provide Ji Chi with his real name. ¡°You!¡± Jiang Junlin turned angrily, fully aware that Lu Zhiyuan was provoking him. Jiang Junlin couldn¡¯t control his anger, though. During his time undercover in the Pentagon, he couldn¡¯t have given Ji Chi his real name. Zhang Qiang said, ¡°Master, calm down!¡± Lu Zhiyuan said calmly, ¡°Jiang Junlin, you must admit that staying with me back then was Ji Chi¡¯s best choice. There was no better place for him. Otherwise, a few years later, the Ji Chi you would have encountered wouldn¡¯t be the Ji Chi you know today.¡± Jiang Junlin knew rationally that what Lu Zhiyuan said was true. Keeping Ji Chi by his side was the best choice, but he felt a deep sense of unease and guilt in his heart. It was like a stone pressing on his chest, impossible to move. In his mind, he recalled the innocent smile on Ji Chi¡¯s face when he left the Pentagon, the smile of a child who had suffered unimaginably. He knew the cruel nature that lay beneath that innocence. Children raised in the Pentagon had no trace of kindness, but Ji Chi had given him all of his smiles and innocence. He had let Ji Chi down! ¡°Jiang Junlin, do you love the Ji Chi from the Pentagon?¡± Lu Zhiyuan ruthlessly pointed out the truth. ¡°No, you love the Ji Chi as he is now!¡± The Ji Chi from the Pentagon was a little devil. Now, the little devil had grown up, with a tough and adaptable personality, knowing how to pretend to be what others liked. Jiang Junlin¡¯s eyes reddened, but he didn¡¯t refute Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s words. The Ji Chi from the Pentagon was someone he had left behind, and for many years, he had felt regret and sorrow when he thought about it. Time could gradually diminish such regrets. It was a fleeting infatuation in his youth, one that hadn¡¯t had time to take root and grow. Ji Chi had knocked on the door of his heart, but had left abruptly, and he hadn¡¯t even realized what that feeling was before it came to an abrupt end. He liked him and regretted it, thinking Ji Chi shouldn¡¯t have grown up in such an environment and feeling sorry for the suffering he had endured. This liking and the feelings he had now were worlds apart. Ji Chi had truly entered his heart after they reunited. Jiang Junlin quickly regained his composure, steadying his turbulent emotions. ¡°If Tang Mingzhou has taken them to the Pentagon, Chen Rushi will undoubtedly establish a new base there. Zhang Qiang, go and investigate. Find out where the major construction projects have been in the Pentagon in recent years, and check the local construction teams.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Understood!¡± Zhang Qiang complied. Jiang Junlin ordered his men to enlarge the surveillance map. On the surface, the town didn¡¯t appear to have anything unusual, and poppy cultivation was legal. He shifted his focus to the old location of the Pentagon. There, a temple had been built. It was ironic! Lu Zhiyuan couldn¡¯t help but admire how quickly Jiang Junlin had regained his composure. ¡°Jiang Junlin, was your alias in the Pentagon back then ¡®Lin Shen¡¯?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Jiang Junlin asked. Li Jiang thought to himself, Third Master, your personal emotions are quite evident. Lu Zhiyuan explained, ¡°When Ji Chi was unconscious back then, he kept calling that name. Li Jiang once checked all the people named ¡®Lin Shen¡¯ in City A and had him try to identify them one by one, but he couldn¡¯t find the person he was looking for..¡± Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: The Crazy Ji Chi Chapter 439: The Crazy Ji Chi Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s strike was especially ruthless, and Jiang Junlin, knowing that it was deliberate, still took the blow without any defenses. Since their reunion, Ji Chi had never brought up what happened back then in front of him, nor had he mentioned what kind of days he had gone through in Black Hawk. He never mentioned the confusion and fear he had to deal with after coming out of the Pentagon. He always smiled harmlessly, eager to please him, obeying his every word, except when his emotions got out of control, and he would angrily question whether he had forgotten their agreement. Ji Chi held a grudge against him for not telling him what he had experienced during those crucial years in Black Hawk. Ji Chi had never complained about why he had given him a false name, causing his long-cherished wish to remain unfulfilled. He always presented his best side to him, intentionally or unintentionally making Jiang Junlin forget the young Ji Chi. When Lu Zhiyuan saw Jiang Junlin¡¯s expression, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. The events at the Pentagon back then had each of them with their own roles and purposes. It couldn¡¯t be said who was right or wrong, just that their choices and positions were different, a twist of fate. He killed Tang Mingzhou, completely separating the Pentagon from Black Hawk, and no one else knew. Jiang Junlin destroyed the Pentagon, cooperating with the police to solve an international major case. Only Ji Chi had his wish shattered, a twist of fate, and he remained in Black Hawk. When Gu Ci woke up, she had a splitting headache. She had no idea what was in the smoke, but her head hurt terribly. Gu Ci peeled back the black cloth and found Ji Chi and Rong Li lying beside her. Qin Wan was still unconscious. Everything before her eyes seemed surreal, like she had taken some kind of drug. In the dungeon, there was a scent of poppies mixed with a hint of incense. ¡°Qin Wan, wake up¡­¡± Gu Ci crawled over and shook Qin Wan. Ji Chi and Rong Li also removed the black cloth. This was clearly a prison cell, dark and damp, with guards outside who were well-equipped, probably Chen Rushi¡¯s people. They were unarmed, and a confrontation would likely end badly. Ji Chi, Qin Wan, and Rong Li slowly regained consciousness, all removing their black cloths. This was clearly a prison cell, dimly lit and damp, with guards outside who were well-armed. They were defenseless, and a direct confrontation wouldn¡¯t end well. ¡°Rong Li, how are you feeling?¡± Gu Ci inquired. Rong Li checked his wound; it hadn¡¯t reopened. The gunshot had been deep, and given the limited medical supplies, it was as good as it could be. Rong Li responded, ¡°It stings a bit, but I can manage. I¡¯ll tough it out. I¡¯m young, so my body should recover well. I should be fine.¡± He could endure a surgery without anesthesia, so this little pain wouldn¡¯t scare him. The cell had only one window, and as they were talking, someone on the other side threw bread and water through it. ¡°Time to eat!¡± the agent tossed the food in, then closed the window. Qin Wan and Ji Chi took the food. It looked like generic stuff. The water had no branding, and the bread had some packaging, which both Ji Chi and Gu Ci inspected. Ji Chi¡¯s face turned pale as he crushed the packaging of the bread, squeezing it into a lump in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gu Ci asked. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Ji Chi¡¯s neck veins protruded as he forced a smile. ¡°Nothing.¡± Gu Ci was confused but suddenly remembered the origin of this food. It seemed to come from a town near the Pentagon, and it hadn¡¯t changed its name in all these years. Gu Ci¡¯s heart sank. Were they in the Pentagon? Rong Li kicked Ji Chi lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t starve yourself. The bread didn¡¯t offend you.¡± Suddenly, Ji Chi clutched his head, curled up in a corner, trembling, and convulsing. Rong Li and Gu Ci were both startled. Rong Li wanted to go over, but due to his injury, he felt dizzy when he tried to get up. Gu Ci rushed over with water and bread, avoiding touching Ji Chi. ¡°Ji Chi, Ji Chi¡­wake up, can you hear me?¡± Ji Chi couldn¡¯t hear anything Gu Ci was saying. Beads of sweat as big as beans dripped from his forehead, quickly soaking his shirt. Gu Ci held his hand. ¡°Ji Chi¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Ji Chi shouted, pushing Gu Ci away. Qin Wan was busy eating bread and didn¡¯t pay much attention to why Ji Chi was acting this way. When she saw Ji Chi push Gu Ci, she frowned. ¡°You¡¯re all in the same boat; don¡¯t go crazy.¡± Gu Ci was pushed to the ground, and she shook her head at Qin Wan. Rong Li crawled over and roughly grabbed Ji Chi by the hair, smashing his head against the wall. It made him bleed, and Rong Li yelled, ¡°Wake up!¡± Both Gu Ci and Qin Wan were stunned. Qin Wan bit into her bread, paused for a few seconds, and suddenly felt that Rong Li¡¯s previous actions towards her were quite gentle in comparison. This¡­ Are you sure they¡¯re brothers? Ji Chi¡¯s forehead had struck the wall and instantly broke open, with blood flowing into his eyes. The pain brought him back from a brief moment of deafness, as if he had remembered something terrifying. He curled up rapidly, his breathing becoming rapid and shallow, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He distanced himself from Rong Li and Gu Ci, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t come closer!¡± ¡°Chi, you¡¯re twenty-seven, not seven!¡± Rong Li felt sorry for him but spoke roughly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± The blood continued to drip into his eyes, running down his cheeks as Ji Chi touched his face, his gaze suddenly turning fierce and menacing, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, like an uncontrollable beast. Seeing this, Gu Ci, following Rong Li¡¯s rough approach, delivered a strike to the back of Ji Chi¡¯s neck, causing him to faint. After Ji Chi fainted, Gu Ci caught him, and Rong Li sighed in relief. He quickly wiped away the blood from Ji Chi¡¯s forehead. Fortunately, the wound wasn¡¯t too deep, but Rong Li still felt regretful. In the midst of the chaos, only Qin Wan had finished eating her bread and drinking her water. She was getting hungrier, as her good physical condition and regular eating habits left her unsatisfied with just one piece of bread. This was the first time Gu Ci had seen Ji Chi lose control like this. How could he, who could calmly imprison his own brother, become so uncontrollable? ¡°Is he¡­ alright?¡± Gu Ci was deeply worried. Ji Chi was lying on his lap, and even in his unconscious state, something seemed off. Gu Ci looked down at him, thinking about Ji Chi¡¯s usually harmless and smiling demeanor, and it was hard for him to see him like this. ¡°How could he be alright?¡± Rong Li whispered, ¡°This place is his inner demon.¡± This was Ji Chi¡¯s minefield, one step and it would explode. Moreover, this was the second time he had been locked up in a place like this. The last time he was imprisoned in the Pentagon, he spent a full eight years there! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Gu Ci, wiping away the blood from Ji Chi¡¯s constantly bleeding forehead, couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°Be gentler next time. Hitting him like that can give him a concussion.¡± ¡°I know!¡± Rong Li also acted in haste. He didn¡¯t want Ji Chi to be trapped in endless darkness; he just wanted to wake him up as quickly as possible. Qin Wan looked at the three lonely pieces of bread on the ground, her stomach growling. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys hungry?¡± If they weren¡¯t hungry, she wouldn¡¯t mind eating four pieces of bread. She was really hungry! Chapter 440 - Chapter 440: Cat and Mouse Game Chapter 440: Cat and Mouse Game Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Gu Ci once again heard some strange bells. Aside from the scent of incense, all that filled the air was the sound of bells. Qin Wan said, ¡°We must be not far from a temple.¡± There was no trace of light in the windowless dungeon, which was dim and damp. Gu Ci touched the dampness on the walls, furrowing her brow slightly. Ji Chi had been unconscious, lying on Gu Ci¡¯s lap, and Qin Wan circled the dungeon. Strangely, the special agents guarding outside had inexplicably withdrawn. Qin Wan knocked on the window, ¡°Is anyone there? We need medication.¡± There was no response from outside. Rong Li was running a fever. Gu Ci gave him a bottle of water and had him swallow one of the anti-inflammatory pills she had hidden. He leaned against the wall with a grim expression. The Pentagon! Why of all places, the Pentagon! This was a place both Black Hawk and the underworld despised. Seeing that there was no one around, Qin Wan sat down and asked, ¡°Rong Li, why is Ji Chi reacting so strongly?¡± ¡°You investigated Ji Chi¡¯s background, didn¡¯t you? He grew up in the Pentagon,¡± Rong Li replied calmly. He glanced at Ji Chi, who was still unconscious, thinking of the young boy he had seen years ago, like a half-human, half-ghost. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in his background. 1 only know he grew up in the Pentagon, but I don¡¯t know what he went through there. This is clearly a stress reaction, and he must have suffered a significant trauma,¡± Qin Wan said. She didn¡¯t investigate things she wasn¡¯t interested in. She knew Ji Chi grew up in the Pentagon, but she didn¡¯t know what he had experienced there. Rong Li didn¡¯t want to discuss Ji Chi¡¯s privacy with outsiders. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qin Wan didn¡¯t press further. ¡°It¡¯s so boring. They¡¯ve locked us up like this, and we have no idea if we¡¯ll live or die. Say something.¡± There were no surveillance cameras in the dungeon. Qin Wan had managed to unlock the handcuffs using a needle she had stolen from the medical kit, only to lock them again. She played with the handcuffs repeatedly, and Rong Li watched her, frowning. Qin Wan held up the needle and asked, ¡°Do you want it?¡± ¡°Give it to me!¡± ¡°Ask me nicely!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Qin Wan scoffed. ¡°Prisoner, yet still so temperamental.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you a prisoner too?¡± Gu Ci interjected, ¡°Both of you are in the same boat, stop bickering.¡± ¡°Even if we¡¯re in the same boat, he should die first!¡± Qin Wan and Gu Ci shared a knowing look, both avoiding useless arguments. Even if they managed to unlock the handcuffs, they couldn¡¯t open the dungeon door. There were heavily armed guards outside, and despite the lack of any visible threats now, attempting to escape would be foolish. They had no weapons and were all injured. A direct confrontation would be a break-even situation at best, killing two would be a gain, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. It would be better to wait for Chen Rushi and Tang Mingzhou to come to them on their own. Ji Chi slowly regained consciousness, but for a moment, he couldn¡¯t figure out where he was. Gu Ci quickly lowered her head and checked his forehead. He didn¡¯t have a fever. Rong Li had torn open a package and tossed a piece of bread to him, saying, ¡°Eat quickly!¡± Ji Chi¡¯s expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened. After getting up, he leaned against the wall and started eating the bread. Qin Wan watched him, and Rong Li was afraid that Qin Wan might say something to provoke Ji Chi due to her unfiltered mouth. Rong Li made a throat-slitting gesture to Qin Wan, who responded by raising her middle finger at him. They both looked away, annoyed with each other. Gu Ci opened a bottle of water and handed it to Ji Chi, saying softly, ¡°Don¡¯t just eat bread, drink some water.¡± Ji Chi took the water and drank it all in one gulp. His breathing suddenly became rapid. Gu Ci whispered, ¡°Ji Chi, your brother will come to rescue us.¡± Ji Chi remained unmoved, but Gu Ci thought for a moment. ¡°Ji Chi, Jiang Junlin will come to rescue us, trust me.¡± That name seemed to strike a chord within Ji Chi, and his eyes briefly lit up before dimming again. ¡°He won¡¯t come.¡± Years ago, he had heartlessly abandoned him. Gu Ci knew that this was a deep-seated fear and obsession for him. She spoke softly, ¡°Ji Chi, you¡¯re not alone anymore. 1, Rong Li, and Qin Wan are all here with you. We¡¯re in this together, for better or worse.¡± She knew that when someone was gripped by fear and obsession, words might not be enough to console them. If something happened to Lu Zhiyuan, and someone tried to reassure her and tell her not to worry, she wouldn¡¯t be able to listen. Ji Chi looked at her with slightly reddened eyes, and Gu Ci held his hand. ¡°We came here together, and we¡¯ll leave together.¡± Rong Li reached out to ruffle his hair. ¡°Gu Ci is right. We came together, and we¡¯ll leave together. 1 won¡¯t abandon you.¡± Both Gu Ci and Rong Li knew that these words, if spoken by Lu Zhiyuan, would have a more profound effect on Ji Chi. Perhaps having companions by his side was already helping to reduce his stress reaction. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard outside the door, and Chen Rushi had returned. ¡°Gu Ci, Tang Mingzhou wants to see you.¡± Ji Chi instantly snapped back to attention, and Qin Wan furrowed her brow. ¡°Do you want to take Gu Ci away alone?¡± ¡°Do you have a better solution?¡± Chen Rushi shrugged. He had heavily armed agents behind him. Qin Wan really wanted to give him a good beating. This guy¡¯s attitude was even more annoying than Rong Li¡¯s! ¡°Fine, 1¡¯11 go with you,¡± Gu Ci said calmly. Rong Li, Ji Chi, and Qin Wan couldn¡¯t stop them, so they could only watch helplessly as Gu Ci was taken away. In situations where one is at the mercy of others, it¡¯s essential to conserve one¡¯s strength and not engage in futile struggles. After being brought out of the dungeon, Gu Ci realized that they were still underground, and they had to take an elevator to go up. In the elevator, Gu Ci sneered and said, ¡°Chen Rushi, don¡¯t forget that I once saved your life. Is this how you repay me?¡± ¡°Cici, rest assured, I will make sure you stay alive,¡± Chen Rushi¡¯s voice was cheerful, but there was a terrifying gentleness in his laughter. Gu Ci shuddered. Over the years, Chen Rushi had changed dramatically! When she first met him, he was a charming young man, but now he was completely different. When ambition exceeds one¡¯s abilities, it¡¯s a kind of tragedy! He couldn¡¯t escape from this kind of cage! Gu Ci was seeing Tang Mingzhou for the first time, but Tang Mingzhou had seen her before when she was much younger. He had thorough investigations of Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s every move. Therefore, he knew exactly where Lu Zhiyuan¡¯s weaknesses lay and what his preferences were. He had no doubt about his ability to control Lu Zhiyuan. Gu Ci stood by the railing and looked outside. She first saw a temple with predominant yellow and green colors, resembling an Indian style. The sound of bells came from the temple. Beneath the attic, there was a field of poppies, and it was heavily guarded by well-equipped agents. Gu Ci knew that the newcomers meant trouble, but she remained composed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Miss Gu, do you know how my child died?¡± Tang Mingzhou asked. Gu Ci had seen the information. The child had died in a car accident. ¡°It was an accident,¡± Gu Ci replied. ¡°Lu Zhiyuan wouldn¡¯t harm women and children.¡± Tang Mingzhou burst into laughter. Then, he suddenly slapped Gu Ci across the face. ¡°Shut up! 1 know Lu Zhiyuan better than you!¡± Tang Mingzhou was a man, and he had considerable strength. Soon, a red mark appeared on Gu Ci¡¯s cheek.. Tang Mingzhou sneered, ¡°Take her down!¡±