Inside the private room.
Shen Wan'er sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, arms folded tightly over her chest, glaring at Gu Yan across from her.
His gaze was cold—impatient, even irritated.
That alone made her heart sink.
Gu Yan has never looked at me like this before.
Beside her sat Shen Tian, head bloodied, face swollen, breathing unevenly.
No matter how she imagined things, Shen Wan'er had never thought Gu Yan would treat her so harshly—much less lay hands on her brother.
For the first time, a chill crept up her spine.
Had she… misjudged him?
"Gu Yan," she said, suppressing her anger, "what exactly are you trying to say?"
"And how do you explain my brother's injuries?"
She stared at him, eyes sharp, heart already making a silent vow—
If he doesn't apologize right now, I'll never forgive him.
Gu Yan, however, had long since abandoned any thought of reconciling with her.
But after today—after Leng Ling'er—
He understood something clearly.
Avoidance wasn't enough.
If he wanted to prevent the BAD future from resurfacing, he had to act first.
With the system's support, a plan quickly formed in his mind.
In the original story, the male lead Xiao Lin would eventually meet Shen Wan'er, fall for her, and become her devoted protector—doglike devotion masked as "love."
Xiao Lin was terrifyingly strong. Favored by fate itself, he grew stronger with every fight, breaking limits again and again, until he crushed every so-called villain in his way.
Gu Yan was smart enough not to confront that kind of existence head-on.
But that didn't mean he'd sit around waiting to die.
Among the system's items was something capable of suppressing Xiao Lin completely—stripping him of his strength.
The condition?
Cruel and precise.
Only Shen Wan'er could make Xiao Lin fall into that trap willingly.
With that thought settled, Gu Yan looked at her—and ignored her questions entirely.
Instead, he spoke calmly.
"Shen Wan'er, I'll be blunt."
"Your Shen family's pharmaceutical company is finished."
Her pupils shrank.
"With those ineffective beauty products," he continued coldly,
"you should be asking yourself why the company lasted this long at all."
"If you don't want the Shen family to declare bankruptcy—"
"Enough!"
Shen Wan'er slammed her hand on the sofa and stood up, fury surging.
"You're dreaming!"
"I know exactly what you're doing—you want to force me into being your girlfriend!"
"Let me tell you this, Gu Yan!"
"Don't even think about it! You're despicable—using this kind of threat just to get me!"
"I, Shen Wan'er, have dignity! I won't sell myself to you!"
Her voice echoed in the room.
Gu Yan stared at her.
Slowly.
Silently.
Then—
A question mark seemed to float over his head.
…Is she stupid?
From Shen Wan'er's perspective, Gu Yan's expression shifting like that strangely pleased her.
Heh. Caught you, didn't I?
She assumed she'd exposed his scheme, and her tone softened—almost gracious.
"Gu Yan, I know you like me," she said calmly.
"But my career is at a critical stage. I can't give it up for love."
"So… I'm sorry. I can't agree to your request right now."
Perfect.
She hadn't rejected him outright—just postponed him.
In her mind, it preserved her image and spared his feelings.
She even felt proud of her kindness.
Looking at Gu Yan's silence, her mood lifted further.
See? Playing hard to get didn't work this time.
Shen Tian hesitated beside her, wanting to speak.
But Gu Yan finally laughed.
A low, mocking laugh.
"Are you an idiot?"
The room went dead silent.
Shen Wan'er froze. Her body stiffened.
"…What did you just say?"
Gu Yan clapped slowly, shaking his head with amusement.
"I have to admit," he said lightly,
"your imagination is impressive. You should've been a novelist."
"What—what are you laughing at?!" she snapped, embarrassed and furious.
Gu Yan stood up and looked down at her.
"I'm laughing at how self-absorbed you are."
"Does it really give you the illusion," he continued coldly,
"that the richest young master in Jianghai City would fall for a brainless woman like you?"
"Be realistic."
"You have no business sense. No emotional intelligence."
"Why exactly do you think I'd like you?"
"Shen Wan'er—wake up from your fantasy."
Each word hit like a slap.
Before she could recover, Gu Yan added flatly:
"Let me make this clear."
"Your company is about to collapse."
"And your brother owes me over twenty million."
"If he can't pay it back—he goes to prison."
Her face drained of color.
"That's impossible!" she shouted reflexively.
"My company—my brother—!"
She turned sharply toward Shen Tian.
"Xiaotian? What does he mean?"
"When did you owe him money?!"
Shen Tian couldn't meet her eyes anymore.
He broke down.
"Sister… please just listen to Mr. Gu!"
"If you don't—if you don't—"
"I'll go to jail! I don't want to go to jail!"
Boom.
Shen Wan'er's mind went blank.
Her body trembled violently.
"…What did you say?" she whispered.
"You really owe that much?"
She wanted to deny it.
But Shen Tian didn't.
Reality crashed down on her.
"Sister… please beg him," Shen Tian sobbed.
"I don't want to go to jail…"
Shen Wan'er opened her mouth—but no words came out.
Family on one side.
Gu Yan—cold, hateful, unbearable—on the other.
Her pride screamed at her not to bend.
So she forced herself to speak.
"I'll pay," she said sharply.
"My brother's debt—I'll repay it."
Gu Yan nodded indifferently.
"Three days."
"Send the money to my house."
Then he turned and walked out.
No hesitation.
No farewell.
Panic flashed through Shen Wan'er's eyes.
"Wait!"
Gu Yan stopped, glancing back lazily.
"Changed your mind?"
Her lips trembled.
"Do you really… want to treat me like this?"
Gu Yan almost laughed.
Treated you like what?
In the original story, you destroyed my entire family.
Now I'm just asking for repayment.
"Instead of feeling wronged," he said coldly,
"you should be thinking about how to raise the money."
He waved dismissively and left.
Shen Wan'er collapsed onto the sofa.
She stared at his retreating back, memories flooding her mind—
Gu Yan running errands.
Shopping for her.
Watching her with gentle eyes.
That figure slowly overlapped with the cold silhouette that had just walked away.
"…Wuwu…"
Tears finally spilled over.
"Gu Yan," she screamed hoarsely,
"you bastard!"
---
Leng Residence.
The study.
"What?"
"You're saying Gu Yan stayed behind with Shen Wan'er?"
Leng Qingqiu's voice rose slightly.
She'd been waiting at home, wondering why Gu Yan hadn't returned.
And this was the answer?
"Why were you even at a KTV?" she asked flatly.
Leng Ling'er froze.
Under that calm gaze, she had no chance of hiding the truth.
Minutes later, the story was laid bare.
Leng Qingqiu's expression grew colder by the second.
"Go downstairs," she said calmly.
"Wait for your brother-in-law to come back."
"Huh?" Leng Ling'er blinked.
"You're… not mad?"
Who cared!
She nodded eagerly and ran off.
Brother-in-law… when is that jerk coming back? I'm starving!
Once the door closed, Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists.
Killing intent surged violently.
Shen family.
Shen Tian.
Those bastards.
How dare they hurt Ling'er?
Ling'er was her bottom line.
No one was allowed to touch her.
"…No."
Leng Qingqiu forced herself to calm down.
Gu Yan once pursued Shen Wan'er.
If she killed Shen Tian, would it affect him?
Would it… hurt him?
She couldn't.
But—
Why did Gu Yan stay behind with Shen Wan'er?
Why did that thought make her chest feel so tight?
This is disrupting my plans, she told herself.
Nothing more.
…Right?
Her fingers tightened.
What if…
What if Gu Yan rekindled things with Shen Wan'er?
Then I—
No. That's not it.
It's not jealousy.
It's strategy.
…Definitely.
"So annoying," she muttered softly.
"It's all Gu Yan's fault."
Just then—
In a luxury car racing through the streets—
"Faster!" Gu Yan barked.
"I'll dock your pay if you don't!"
"M-Master!! This is already the fastest!" the driver cried.
Gu Yan leaned back with a frustrated sigh.
Damn it. Dinner time's already passed.
Is Qingqiu hungry?
…I'm definitely apologizing when I get back.
Qingqiu… your husband has been working very hard behind the scenes.
You won't blame me… right?