At the same time, in the Gu residence.
Madam Gu sat gracefully on the sofa, dressed in an elegant haze-blue gown, a string of lustrous pearls adorning her neck, exuding an air of refined nobility.
Yet, at this moment, the usual gentle smile was absent from her face, replaced instead by a faint trace of worry, her brows slightly furrowed.
Her phone screen lit up with a message from her husband, Gu Zhenting, chairman of the Gu conglomerate—a screenshot of their son’s bank transaction records.
One billion.
For Gu Zhenting, this sum wasn’t substantial enough to warrant a direct confrontation with his son.
But sending the screenshot felt more like a silent reminder, a quiet concern, shifting the burden of inquiry onto her, the mother.
Madam Gu set down her phone and took a deep breath. She had no idea who this recipient, Su Qianqian, even was.
Picking up her tablet, she typed into Weibo’s search bar: Gu Chengyu.
The page refreshed, flooding with entertainment news and gossip posts.
The name most frequently linked to his was Lin Shu.
There were candid photos taken from various angles, shots of them together at hotels.
The media painted vivid descriptions of how this stunning actress had captured the young master Gu’s favor, how her career had skyrocketed as a result…
Madam Gu skimmed through the articles, her frown deepening.
From the surface, none of these rumors suggested any connection between Chengyu and that Su Qianqian.
So where had this Su Qianqian come from?
How had she suddenly gotten Chengyu to hand over a billion in cash?
Madam Gu typed again into the search bar: Su Qianqian.
This time, the results gave her pause.
The girl in the photos was undeniably striking—delicate yet pure, the kind of beauty that lingered in one’s memory.
Information about her was scarce. She was listed as a newcomer under Shen Media, had appeared in one variety show, and her background was a complete blank.
A few gossip accounts claimed she was an orphan, though the truth was unclear.
Madam Gu set down the tablet, lost in thought. She wasn’t a daughter from a second-tier elite family, nor did the surname Su appear among even the third or fourth-tier aristocratic circles.
No, she needed to summon Chengyu home immediately and get to the bottom of this.
If he ended up like the current head of the Shen family in his youth—madly in love with a commoner, only for his heirs to disappoint later, forcing him to bring in a mistress—it would be nothing short of a scandal.
Meanwhile, in the living room of Cloudtop Apartments…
Su Qianqian playfully shook the two little braids Gu Chengyu had woven for her, delighted.
Who knew the young master Gu had such nimble fingers?
She rewarded him with a quick kiss, then curled up lazily in his arms like a contented kitten—and he accepted it all without protest.
A popular drama played on the TV, and a half-finished fruit platter sat on the coffee table.
Their cozy little world slipped by quietly.
Then, a soft ding from Gu Chengyu’s phone shattered the peace.
His relaxed expression faltered slightly as he reached for his phone on the table and unlocked it.
On the screen was a message from Madam Gu, brief and to the point:
"Chengyu, come home at once."
The tone was stern, offering no explanation.
Gu Chengyu’s brow twitched in irritation at the interruption, but it had been a while since he’d last visited.
He looked down at the girl nestled against him, her bright, curious eyes gazing up.
His annoyance melted instantly into tenderness.
Loosening his hold, he ruffled her hair.
"Something’s come up at home. I need to go back for a bit."
His voice was gentle as he added, "Eat properly at noon. Auntie Zhang will make you something delicious."
"Don’t wait for me. I’ll be back by afternoon."
Su Qianqian blinked her dewy almond eyes and nodded obediently. "Mm, got it. Go ahead, A-Yu."
She knew better than to pry, simply shifting aside to give him space to stand.
Gu Chengyu rose, casting one last glance at her—still nestled among the throw pillows, quietly watching the drama—and felt an inexplicable unease.
But wasn’t her docile nature exactly what he wanted?
He brushed off the odd feeling and turned toward the foyer.
The moment Gu Chengyu stepped out of the apartment, the lazy, affectionate aura around him vanished, replaced by his usual aloof arrogance.
The man who had just been cradling a girl and braiding her hair was now nowhere to be seen.
