Tianye Pharmaceutical was a group company under the Shen family, specializing in skincare and cosmetic products.
Back then, Shen Wan'er had inherited Tianye largely because of her relationship with Gu Yan. With his resources backing her, the company had once flourished—its market value soaring to over two billion.
But now, rumors were spreading everywhere.
Tianye Pharmaceutical was on the brink of bankruptcy.
—
Inside the president's office.
"Mom, I know… it's just a small issue. I'll fix it soon."
"…Dad? What are you talking about? How could I possibly ask Gu Yan for help?"
"What… you said you already know everything about Xiaotian?"
Click.
Shen Wan'er hung up the phone, exhaustion seeping into her eyes.
She no longer looked as refined and confident as before.
The office was in complete disarray—documents scattered across the floor, trash overturned. Because the company couldn't even afford wages anymore, even the cleaning staff had quit.
"Why did it turn out like this…?"
Shen Wan'er buried her face in her hands, her breathing growing unsteady.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Gu Yan had said.
Tianye was collapsing.
Employees, having heard the rumors, had gathered downstairs to protest and cause trouble. Some even threatened to storm the building.
But what choice did she have?
There was no money left.
For the first time in her life, Shen Wan'er felt genuine frustration—and helplessness.
In the past, Gu Yan had indulged her in everything.
Resources, connections, capital—everything had been stacked neatly in front of her.
Calling her life "smooth sailing" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
And now?
This sudden collapse left her completely unprepared.
Buzz—
Her phone kept lighting up with messages from her family.
Complaints. Accusations. Regret.
All because she hadn't agreed to Gu Yan's "proposal."
Her family didn't understand her.
Gu Yan had turned cold and distant.
The pressure from both sides crushed down on her at once.
Tears finally slid down Shen Wan'er's cheeks.
When had she ever suffered this kind of grievance?
"…Damn it."
"Hateful… damn it!"
She cursed in a low, trembling voice.
Just then—
Knock, knock.
"President Shen, the troublemakers downstairs have been driven away by the newly recruited security guard. Are you okay?"
It was her personal secretary, Zhang Qing, knocking anxiously from outside.
Zhang Qing had followed Shen Wan'er for years—through her peak and her glory. She admired her deeply.
Hearing the suppressed sobs from inside just now made Zhang Qing's heart ache.
She couldn't help but resent Gu Yan.
If he hadn't ordered other companies to stab Tianye in the back, President Shen wouldn't be facing this disaster.
All of this was Gu Yan's fault.
Her already poor impression of him plummeted even further.
Hearing the voice outside, Shen Wan'er quickly wiped her tears and forced her voice steady.
"I'm fine… come in, Zhang Qing."
The door opened.
Seeing Shen Wan'er's reddened eyes and weary expression, Zhang Qing felt a surge of distress.
Shen Wan'er inhaled deeply and asked, grasping the one piece of good news she'd heard:
"Zhang Qing, what did you just say?"
"The people downstairs were driven away? Who did it?"
Those protesting employees had been one of her biggest fears. If they'd rushed upstairs, she didn't know if she could've held herself together.
Zhang Qing's eyes lit up.
"It was a newly recruited security guard. He seemed very well-trained—he knocked down all the ringleaders in just a few moves."
"Oh, right. His name is Xiao Lin. He just arrived in Jianghai City and was urgently looking for work, so he applied here."
Hearing this, Shen Wan'er finally let out a breath.
Her curiosity was piqued.
Dozens of people… handled by one man?
"Where is he now?"
"In the security room."
"Bring him to me."
"Yes!"
As Zhang Qing left, Shen Wan'er leaned back in her chair, exhaustion washing over her again.
Meeting this Xiao Lin might solve her immediate safety problem—but it wasn't a long-term solution.
And…
The three-day deadline Gu Yan had given her was almost up.
If she failed to repay the money, would he really send her brother to prison?
Pain and resistance filled her eyes.
Did she really have no choice but to go and beg Gu Yan?
—
Jianghai Hospital.
A slender figure hurried into the inpatient department.
Wang Yulan ran up to the nurse's station, slightly out of breath.
"I—I'm here to visit the patient in Room 302."
She was late again.
Work had delayed her.
The nurse checked the system and smiled.
"Room 302… you're Wang Lan's family member, right? Someone's already inside visiting her."
"…What?"
Wang Yulan froze.
Someone else?
That couldn't be right.
For so long, no one but her had ever visited her mother.
"Who… who is it?"
The nurse thought for a moment.
"I don't know his name. A man. He said he's Wang Lan's student."
Student?
Wang Yulan's heart skipped.
Yes—her mother had been a high school teacher.
But none of her students had ever come before.
Suppressing her doubts, Wang Yulan thanked the nurse and rushed toward the ward.
—
Outside Room 302.
Before she even entered, she heard a choked yet gentle voice from inside.
"Teacher Wang… I'm here to see you."
"I was overseas before. I only came back this year."
"I went back to my alma mater to look for you… and then I heard about the accident."
"…Life really is unfair."
"Do you remember the naughtiest student in your class?"
"You always held my hand and told me that studying wasn't the only path—but it was the easiest one."
"You were the one who pulled me out of that confused, reckless stage."
"I came back wanting to thank you… to repay you…"
"But I never thought…"
"…Teacher Wang, when you wake up, please look at your student."
"I really want you to know… I've made something of myself now."
Click.
The door opened.
Wang Yulan stood there, eyes already red.
Gu Yan turned as if startled, quickly wiping away tears.
He forced a polite smile.
"Hello… I didn't know someone else was coming to visit Teacher Wang today."
"Since you're here, I'll take my leave."
He glanced one last time at Wang Lan—unconscious, surrounded by tubes and machines—then turned to leave.
Just as he passed Wang Yulan—
She reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Please… wait."
Her voice trembled.
Gu Yan paused.
Slowly, he turned back.
"What's wrong, miss?"
"…Are you really my mother's student?"
Wang Yulan looked up at him, eyes shaking.
Gu Yan's expression stiffened—then softened into shock.
He closed his eyes, steadying himself.
"Since Teacher Wang is your mother… then you must be Wang Yulan."
Her heart slammed violently.
"How… how do you know my name?"
Gu Yan opened his eyes and looked at Wang Lan, his voice thick with emotion.
"Teacher Wang always talked about her daughter."
"How smart she was. How kind. How filial."
"She said her daughter's dream was to get into Peking University."
"When she spoke about you… her whole face lit up."
He exhaled deeply.
"I'm sorry…"
"Why did you come so late today?"
Those words shattered Wang Yulan's restraint.
All the loneliness, exhaustion, and pain she'd bottled up finally burst.
She cried openly, sobbing uncontrollably.
She cried because her mother didn't know a student had come to see her.
She cried because someone still remembered her mother.
Gu Yan gently pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry."
Wang Yulan didn't resist.
She clung to him and cried until her chest ached.
"It's okay… thank you… it really doesn't matter…"
She didn't see it—
The sorrow on Gu Yan's face slowly fading.
What replaced it was calm.
Cold clarity.
He looked down at the woman in his arms—
Wang Yulan.
The second female lead of the original novel.
In the original story, her mother's death, combined with Xiao Lin's comfort, caused her to fall deeply in love with him—becoming one of his greatest supports.
At the very end, she sacrificed herself, allowing Xiao Lin to break through and reach the peak of Grandmaster.
That was why—
Leng Qingqiu had died alongside Xiao Lin.
Which meant—
No matter what, Wang Yulan could never fall in love with Xiao Lin.
To ensure that…
Gu Yan would play this role to the end.
—
After she finished crying, Wang Yulan calmed down.
She pulled a chair for Gu Yan and invited him to sit by her mother's bed.
Embarrassed, she avoided his gaze.
Gu Yan spoke first.
"When did this happen?"
Her eyes dimmed.
"Half a year ago."
"She was riding her bike home… a car ran a red light and hit her."
"She collapsed on the spot."
"Her life was saved—but…"
Her voice broke.
"The doctor said she might never wake up."
"And every day, we have to keep treating her just to keep her alive."
"Two months ago… they told me to give up."
"But I can't."
"She's my mother."
"As long as there's even a sliver of hope… I have to hold on."
She cried again.
She didn't say how expensive the treatment was.
Didn't say she worked four jobs a day.
Didn't say she'd borrowed from everyone until no one would answer her calls.
She didn't want the one student who still remembered her mother to stop coming.
Before leaving, her emotions finally stabilized.
At the ward door, she smiled gently.
"Thank you… Gu Yan."
Gu Yan smiled warmly.
"It's nothing, Sister Yulan. If you ever need help, you can call me."
"I've always respected Teacher Wang."
Wang Yulan shook her head.
"No… I can handle it myself."
She didn't want to destroy this rare connection.
Gu Yan nodded, checked his watch, and stood.
"Then I'll be going. Stay strong. I believe Teacher Wang will wake up."
"…Thank you."
—
Downstairs.
Gu Yan looked up at the inpatient building, then made a call.
"Hello? Director Pu."
"There's a patient named Wang Lan in Ward 302."
"All her medical expenses are waived."
"Yes. Just record it as 'already paid.'"
He hung up.
A faint smile curved his lips.
Jianghai Hospital was owned by the Gu family.
As the Gu family's eldest son, this was trivial.
The plan had officially begun.
Xiao Lin…
I'm really looking forward to meeting you properly.