After sending the message, the male model paused anxiously.
It had been a while since he last contacted Gu Zhaoping. In the past, she would always request him whenever she visited Nan City, and the two shared a good relationship.
Occasionally, Gu Zhaoping would confide in him about her troubles. He was discreet, good-natured, and unlike many other models, he was well-educated.
He had a passing familiarity with the refined arts—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—even mastering traditional Chinese brush painting and calligraphy.
When Gu Zhaoping was in a bad mood, he could soothe her by playing the guqin by her side, making him an exceptionally well-rounded companion.
His greatest advantage was his youth—he was still a university student, attending a reputable local institution in Nan City.
His looks alone were enough to make him a minor internet sensation whenever candid photos of him surfaced online, earning him the title of campus heartthrob.
Yet, despite his many qualities, he couldn’t help but feel inferior in Gu Zhaoping’s presence.
After all, she had no shortage of options.
Gu Zhaoping might favor his type for a while, but that didn’t mean she’d always prefer it. Once she grew tired of his scholarly charm, she might crave something wilder—a little panther, perhaps.
Fu You was patient and composed, qualities that had always made Gu Zhaoping favor him slightly.
But this time, his unease wasn’t due to impatience or fear that she’d found someone new.
He believed he held some irreplaceable value. If Gu Zhaoping grew tired of her other companions, faced troubles in life, or if her fiancé upset her, she would usually make time for him.
This time, Fu You wanted to offer her emotional support.
He’d noticed the recent online backlash against Gu Zhaoping, the negative public sentiment swirling around her. Yet, she hadn’t reached out to him, which made him suspect she wasn’t in the best state of mind.
Providing emotional comfort and psychological reassurance to long-term clients was part of his professional duty, and Fu You quickly resolved to do just that.
Gu Zhaoping, however, fell silent for a moment.
It suddenly dawned on her—she used to be a regular in the nightlife scene, but now, even the models were reaching out, likely noticing that their once-frequent patron had been conspicuously absent.
Uninterested, she replied, “I’m busy tomorrow. Don’t come.”
Fu You froze. The tone was colder than any she’d ever used with him before.
After some reflection, he concluded he hadn’t done anything wrong—Gu Zhaoping must genuinely be in a bad mood.
“Understood. I’ll wait until you’re free.”
Not overstepping or being clingy was another of Fu You’s strengths. He always did exactly as Gu Zhaoping said.
He understood her psychology better than some of the more presumptuous models, who assumed she was just playing hard to get, secretly hoping they’d pursue her aggressively or shower her with affection.
But Fu You knew better. Gu Zhaoping was a woman who craved control. She had no interest in domineering types or brash young men.
She only liked those who were obedient, sat quietly beside her, listened attentively, and happened to be good-looking.
“I won’t be free anytime soon. Don’t come.”
Gu Zhaoping’s tone remained indifferent. She had no qualms about rejecting people, slipping effortlessly into her usual authoritative manner. “Focus on your work.”
Fu You: “……?”
He was stunned.
A sudden alarm blared in his mind, accompanied by a surge of panic and dread.
What did this mean? Had Gu Zhaoping lost interest in him? Was she done with him?
That couldn’t be, could it? How could her tastes change so abruptly in such a short time?
Had a competitor emerged? Had she found someone younger, more attuned to her needs, with a better physique and more striking looks?
Though the modeling industry was notoriously fickle, with fierce competition at the top, Fu You was fairly confident that no one surpassing him in overall suitability for Gu Zhaoping could appear so quickly.
…But then again, how could anyone predict a woman’s preferences?
She might not always go for the most polished option—some even had a peculiar taste for the unconventional.
Despite being certain that Gu Zhaoping was a staunch aesthete who valued emotional connection and would never settle for just any pretty face, Fu You couldn’t shake his unease.
He forced himself to stay calm. Pressing her now or forcing his presence on her would only backfire, earning her displeasure.
The best course of action was to be understanding, maintain his dignity, and wait for Gu Zhaoping’s interest to rekindle.
In the meantime, he needed to work on self-improvement—maybe further his education? Enrolling in a more prestigious school could enhance his appeal.
While maintaining his looks and physique, he’d keep tabs on industry gossip, watching for signs that Gu Zhaoping had taken a liking to someone new, and try to discern her current tastes.
If it was merely a shift in preference, he could adapt. After all, an old flame would always understand her better than a newcomer.
Fu You quickly steadied himself, though his hands moved on autopilot as he signed up for two more training courses.
His muscles could still use some fine-tuning.
The next morning, at 5:30, Gu Zhaoping was already up.
As usual, she sipped a revitalizing drink infused with ashwagandha and huperzine A, then skimmed through the latest issue of a weekly magazine. Recalling someone’s advice that she lacked online savvy, she decided she ought to spare some time to browse the web.
After finishing the magazine, she checked the time—she still had about twelve minutes before her scheduled reading session—and picked up her phone to glance at the news.
Coincidentally, the production team of a show she’d recorded had set up a new Weibo account for her. Gu Zhaoping logged in and saw that the account had been verified, though it had only a handful of followers.
Yesterday’s live broadcast was still a hot topic online.
Ruan Nian’s agent had later issued a PR statement, claiming that misunderstandings had been stirred up by third parties, leading people to mistakenly believe Ruan Nian’s hospital visit was due to injuries inflicted by Gu Zhaoping.
Ruan Nian’s side insisted it was all unintentional, though the incident had affected both parties.
The statement was earnest and detailed. After the recording, Ruan Nian herself reposted it, elaborating on her recent state of mind.
Public sentiment still leaned favorably toward Ruan Nian, and her sincere explanation convinced most.
[So we misjudged Gu Zhaoping…]
[This feels strange. We’ve never misjudged her before—she’s done so many awful things. This is just the boy-who-cried-wolf effect.]
[If her usual image weren’t so terrible, would people have been so quick to blame her?]
[Regardless, this time it wasn’t Gu Zhaoping’s fault. Let’s judge this incident on its own merits and not drag the past into it, okay?]
【So she never bullied Ruan Nian before? This is just the one time she didn’t actually harm Ruan Nian. Can you really say her malice toward Ruan Nian was fake? Look at how aggressive she was toward Ruan Nian in the show! I bet she finally got a chance to play the victim and is desperate to clear her name. People like you, who believe her the moment she gets one chance to whitewash herself and start sympathizing with her—that’s exactly what she wants. Gu Zhaoping must be laughing at how easily swayed you flip-floppers are.】
【You’re the one with a bias against Gu Zhaoping! Can’t you separate the issues? Past mistakes are past mistakes, but this time she was wronged—is that not a problem?】
Well, looks like the firefight eventually circled back to Gu Zhaoping.
Gu Zhaoping, who happened to have some free time at the moment, kindly asked: 【What problems from the past?】
Tell her what she’s done before—she’ll address each one. This is how the Gu family’s reputation will be turned around.
Gu Zhaoping casually reposted the comment to her own profile, captioning it: 【Welcome to provide evidence and details of my past actions. I need to understand the situation to solve the problem.】
Just like that, a verified account under the name "Gu Zhaoping" reposted the comment in full view.
…A moment later, the internet exploded.
Holy shit, is this for real?!
Gu Zhaoping personally jumping into the fray?
She reads her own mentions? Is this stalking? How could someone with her terrible reputation dare to look?
The original commenter who’d criticized Gu Zhaoping panicked for a split second before lashing out in anger, screenshotting Gu Zhaoping’s repost and furiously posting:
【@Gu Zhaoping What’s the meaning of this? Trying to bully an ordinary person with your influence? How shameless can a public figure be, targeting a civilian?】
【@Gu Zhaoping I was just telling the truth. Can’t handle it? What’s with the passive-aggressive tone?】
【@Gu Zhaoping Are you planning to sue me? If you’re thinking of taking me to court for defamation, I’ll laugh in your face. The entire internet has eyes—they’ve seen what you’ve done. If you sue me, you’ll only become a laughingstock.】
Truthfully, Gu Zhaoping was flooded with so many messages that she didn’t even see this person’s posts.
It wasn’t until someone brought it to her attention that she noticed. She skimmed the comments and simply replied: 【Targeting a civilian?】
Gu Zhaoping didn’t even know what that meant. The person reacted like a triggered, irrational mess.
The commenter fell silent, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat. They hadn’t expected Gu Zhaoping to actually respond.
After a brief pause, they spiraled into another frenzy under Gu Zhaoping’s reply, seemingly on the verge of a breakdown.
After some quick research and explanations from netizens, Gu Zhaoping finally grasped what the person was getting at.
She thought for a moment and saw an opportunity.
Without engaging further, she posted the first original tweet from this account:
【Hello everyone, I’m Gu Zhaoping.
Starting today, I’m offering compensation for any evidence related to my past actions—whether flaws, mistakes, or merits. Every decision I’ve made, regardless of outcome, I will fully acknowledge and take responsibility for.
Of course, those hiding behind screens should also learn to take responsibility for their own behavior.
A person’s curses and malice toward others are often projections of their own fears. If you’re afraid of being overpowered or sued for defamation, basic risk management logic would dictate avoiding the initial behavior to prevent the worst-case scenario.
If you haven’t done that, perhaps you should reconsider whether your actions are rational.】
【Also, I don’t care about public opinion, nor do I fear becoming a so-called joke. Only those who hinge their self-worth on others’ judgments would let fear stop them from doing what they believe is right. But "Hell is other people."
If I believe something is necessary, it doesn’t matter how many people mock or oppose it. And since I have a legal background, you might want to worry more about the lawsuit angle.
All evidence providers will be compensated publicly—no exceptions, effective immediately.
Owning up to the past isn’t hard. The real prisoners are those too afraid to confront themselves.】
Gu Zhaoping wasn’t fond of long speeches. She rarely tried to persuade with words, preferring action to make her stance clear.
But that didn’t mean she’d let every provocation slide. Declaring her position was crucial—it was about establishing authority and identity.
Gu Zhaoping needed a likable image, but likability didn’t mean low standards or being easily manipulated.
It’s just that the world didn’t really know her yet.
In the past, Gu Zhaoping could’ve been described as a "tyrant"—albeit an elegant, composed one.
They should be grateful they weren’t dealing with the fully empowered version of her.
Twelve minutes of reading time later, Gu Zhaoping adjusted her glasses, set her phone aside, and got back to work.
She was great at tuning out distractions, but the internet had already erupted.
【Did she just… say what I think she said?】
【She’ll own up to everything, good or bad?】
【Compensation for evidence of past actions?】
【She doesn’t care about judgment because "hell is other people"?】
【Only those who rely on others’ opinions fear being judged into inaction…?】
Silence. A stunned, speechless silence.
Then—explosive, internet-breaking shock!
Is this a PR statement? Did Gu Zhaoping write this herself, or did someone draft it for her? Since when was she this unshakable, this self-assured?
Her words made people think of so many others—
Those who denied their actions, those who made mistakes but feared consequences, those who crumbled under mockery, those trapped in endless self-doubt over others’ opinions…
All the gossip, the overanalysis, the ridicule and malice—none of it seemed to matter to Gu Zhaoping.
"Hell is other people." Everyone knew the phrase, but how many truly understood it?
Netizens were floored.
Could Gu Zhaoping have had some kind of enlightenment in such a short time?
Or had they never really known her at all—and had no idea which version was the real one?
Wait, was the previous version of Gu Zhaoping—harsh and malicious—real? Was that her true nature, or was it just another misunderstanding like this time?
…
Shock, disbelief, endless debates!
Of course, what people were more obsessed with was one question—
Cash reward for information!
The wealth and influence of the Gu family were undeniably attractive, and in an instant, many recalled the previous news about how Gu Zhaoping had arrogantly and spitefully targeted Ruan Nian.
But after searching for a long time, they realized there wasn’t a single piece of solid evidence!
Either the photos were taken from a distance, or the so-called insider leaks were vague and unverifiable.
Huh? Where’s the proof?
Netizens then stumbled upon something rather startling.
Had there ever been any concrete evidence of Gu Zhaoping mistreating Ruan Nian?
The most credible incident was the recent one where Gu Zhaoping was seen beating Ruan Nian in public, but even that was later clarified—most of the blows had landed on Gu Zhaoye, with little to no harm done to Ruan Nian.
So… why had they been so convinced that Gu Zhaoping was cruel and vicious?
…
Meanwhile, at home, Chu Yanze, who had just finished his morning workout, saw these updates.
Holding his phone, he sat down unusually quietly, staring at the screen for a long time.
What kind of person was Gu Zhaoping, really? Was she anything like what others imagined?
Thinking about meeting her again today, Chu Yanze couldn’t help but clench his fists nervously.
