What’s wrong with Gu Zhaoping?
What on earth is wrong with Gu Zhaoping?!
Ms. Hua gasped for breath, clutching her husband’s sleeve in frustration.
They had tried calling Gu Zhaoye, but his phone was turned off. When they asked his assistant, the reply was, "The CEO is currently with Miss Ruan and has closed his doors to all visitors. No one is to disturb him."
Ms. Hua nearly rolled her eyes.
This was too much—she was absolutely livid.
"Closed his doors to all visitors"? Even to his own family!
What if Grandpa Gu needed him?!
At this point, they reluctantly realized that, for now, Zhaoping seemed to be the only reliable one.
...Well, actually, Zhaoping had always been the most dependable, even if she wasn’t often home. She was always reachable, and Grandpa Gu could see her whenever he wanted. Unlike Gu Zhaoye, who was buried in work, or their third son, Gu Zhaosi, who was studying abroad and never returned...
A strange discomfort settled in Ms. Hua’s heart, though she wasn’t sure who exactly she was irritated with.
With a sigh, she resigned herself to sending Gu Zhaoping to check on the old man.
Of course, nothing unreliable would ever happen with Gu Zhaoping.
She adjusted her watch by 15 minutes—a habit of hers. Her internal clock ran slightly behind the world’s, so she always gave herself extra time to react.
Thanks to this habit, she had never once missed an obligation.
Now, sitting in the car, she was deep in meditation, completely oblivious to the odd looks the Gu Mansion staff were giving her.
Grandpa Gu was staying at a private sanatorium atop an artificial hill. Though called a sanatorium, the entire facility was custom-built for him, with layers of security checks from the entrance onward.
Gu Zhaoping removed her sunglasses and scanned her face at the gate. Just then, an understated black car passed by, its window rolling down as the occupant stared in surprise. "Gu Zhaoping? Why are you here? Where’s Gu Zhaoye?"
Gu Zhaoping immediately recognized the speaker’s status but ignored him. Instead, she exchanged a few pleasantries with the security staff before getting back into her car, leaving the window down as they drove off.
The driver stole a nervous glance at the dumbfounded expression of the second branch’s young master, Gu Kaichang.
Good heavens, this was a disaster! The young mistress was being far too direct—she hadn’t even bothered to close the window, leaving no room to pretend she hadn’t heard!
Gu Kaichang’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he hung halfway out the window, watching the car drive away without a care. "Gu Zhaoping! Gu Zhaoping!" he shouted.
The more he yelled, the faster the car sped off. He turned to Gu Yingjie, the eldest son of the third branch, and demanded, "Was that really Gu Zhaoping? She ignored me? What’s her problem?"
Gu Yingjie was also taken aback. "Wasn’t she always the friendliest one? The one who’d put up with our cold shoulders? Did someone scold her or something?"
Gu Kaichang sat back, recalling a piece of gossip he’d heard, and smirked. "Ah, I get it now. Her fiancé chewed her out yesterday!"
"Why?"
"Because of Ruan Nian! It was Ruan Nian’s birthday, and she wanted Gu Zhaoye to stay with her. He’d already promised Fang Yining he’d attend some boring play, which he didn’t even want to go to in the first place. The moment Ruan Nian called, he canceled. But Gu Zhaoping couldn’t stand it—she went and made a scene, got caught by the media, then had the nerve to invite Shen Yifeng to the New Year’s banquet. Instead of agreeing, he lectured her for having no principles, being indecisive, and embarrassing the Gu family in public."
Gu Kaichang scoffed. "Ruan Nian just wanted company on her birthday. What was Gu Zhaoping meddling for? If even their parents aren’t interfering, why should she, as an older sister, stick her nose in?"
Gu Yingjie, who had slightly better judgment, hesitated but didn’t comment.
He knew his cousin had a soft spot for Ruan Nian too. But since Gu Zhaoye was already in the picture, Gu Kaichang played the role of the gracious admirer, outwardly supporting Ruan Nian’s relationship while privately nursing his bitterness—especially toward anyone who crossed her.
Gu Yingjie suddenly snapped back to reality. "Right, we should hurry up the hill. Gu Zhaoping’s already gone ahead. If Grandpa Gu doesn’t see us, he’ll be upset."
Gu Kaichang jolted and ordered the driver to move.
They were the male heirs, the vanguard—how could they let Gu Zhaoping beat them to it? That would be unacceptable.
"Grandpa wants someone to play chess with him. We’ve been practicing for ages. Gu Zhaoping can’t even play—even if she gets there first, she won’t have a place to stand," Gu Kaichang joked.
Gu Zhaoping had already stepped out of the car and spotted the ninety-year-old man sitting in the courtyard. Dressed in a neat Tang suit, he was slowly arranging chess pieces on the table.
A single glance told her everything about the game—Grandpa Gu was still at an amateur level, working through a puzzle from a manual. Coincidentally, this particular setup had only one solution, and she happened to know it.
She greeted him warmly. "Grandpa, I’ve come to see you."
Grandpa Gu looked up, startled, but his expression darkened when he saw her.
"What are you doing here? All you do is embarrass yourself and our family—now you’re even making headlines! The Gu family doesn’t need—"
Gu Zhaoping listened with a faint smile, neither arguing nor correcting him. Her calm demeanor unnerved Grandpa Gu, and he trailed off mid-rant.
Strange. Why wasn’t Gu Zhaoping wearing her usual stubborn, defiant look?
It robbed him of the satisfaction of scolding her.
Gu Zhaoping had studied psychology. People unconsciously mirror others’ expressions, and her serenity was dissolving Grandpa Gu’s anger.
She didn’t deny the past actions tied to this identity, but she also had no intention of bearing their consequences.
She lifted her eyelids slightly, as if prompting him to continue. "I’m listening, Grandpa."
Grandpa Gu: "..."
He felt even more unsettled. What did she mean, "I’m listening"? How was he supposed to keep going like this?
His frustration had nowhere to go. With Gu Zhaoping reacting this way, he couldn’t even vent properly. It was maddening.
He eyed her suspiciously. "You... have no reaction to being scolded?"
Gu Zhaoping smiled, dipping her head briefly before meeting his gaze again, as if the answer were obvious and he’d asked a ridiculous question. "Of course you’re free to judge me as you see fit. My only role is to listen."
Before Grandpa Gu could process her uncharacteristic compliance, she added:
"Others’ opinions don’t determine my worth."
Grandpa Gu nearly choked on his own breath.
The way she said it—so matter-of-fact, so unshaken—made it clear she genuinely believed it. All his yelling had meant nothing to her. She’d just let him rant like some free entertainer?!
Grandpa Gu gave up. He didn’t want to talk to Gu Zhaoping anymore. With a grunt, he turned back to his chessboard, slamming the pieces down harder than necessary.
In his youth, Old Master Gu had been a master of composure. But age had granted him the privilege of wearing his emotions on his sleeve—and making sure everyone else endured them.
Of course, the old man had to give a slap before offering a sweet date.
As Old Master Gu arranged the chess pieces, Gu Zhaoping pressed one down with her finger and asked, "Grandpa, are you trying to figure out how to solve this game?"
Old Master Gu frowned and looked up, only for Gu Zhaoping to smile faintly. She tapped a spot on the board, her gaze focused.
"Rook to C2—checkmate in seven moves."
No, what do you know—? Just as Old Master Gu was about to snap at her, he suddenly froze. Wait, since when did Gu Zhaoping know chess terminology like this? She couldn’t even win at Connect Five.
Dumbfounded, he lowered his eyes to the board and, for some inexplicable reason, instinctively moved the piece as she had suggested.
As he set the piece down, Old Master Gu’s heart skipped a beat.
The previously deadlocked game suddenly opened up before him.
Shocked, he lifted his head to stare at Gu Zhaoping again and again, but she merely watched the board in silence, her expression almost tender, as if gazing at a child.
This was terrifying. His good-for-nothing, troublemaking granddaughter—who had never shown the slightest hint of talent—could play chess? And solve a puzzle he’d been stuck on for ages?
What kind of absurd world was this?!
After all, the highest rank in chess was Grandmaster (GM), with a rating above 2500—only a handful reached that elite level. Below that were International Master (IM) and FIDE Master (FM). Old Master Gu, though not officially titled by FIDE, was still a cut above most amateur players.
If Gu Zhaoping could solve a puzzle he couldn’t, didn’t that mean she was close to professional level? Near FM?!
That was impossible! Even if the Gu family were to produce a genius, it shouldn’t be her! Gu Zhaoye and Gu Zhaosi at least had sharper minds!
His voice trembled with disbelief. "You… you know how to play?"
Gu Zhaoping nodded. "Just a little."
She picked up a piece—one she had been maneuvering effortlessly since she was sixteen.
By the time Gu Kaichang and Gu Yingjie arrived, they were panting heavily, completely out of breath.
The car could only go halfway up the mountain; the rest of the way into the estate required a shuttle, but today’s scheduling was a mess. Their ride had already been taken—by Gu Zhaoping, of all people.
The mere thought of who had taken their seat made Gu Kaichang’s blood boil. He and his cousin had no choice but to sprint the rest of the way. Old Master Gu valued punctuality above all else—arriving late meant a scolding.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, we didn’t mean to—it’s just that there weren’t enough cars today—"
Gu Kaichang rushed in, gasping for air as he launched into a pitiful apology, his mind already spinning a dozen excuses. But halfway through his plea, he realized—no one was paying him any attention. The room was dead silent.
His lungs were on fire from running, and now he was just baffled. Where was Grandpa?
Exchanging uneasy glances with his cousin Gu Yingjie, he mustered the last of his strength to take a few steps forward—only to freeze in shock.
There, by the lakeside, sat Old Master Gu, usually so dignified and untouchable, now hunched over a chessboard like a monkey, his old cloth shoes tucked under him as he perched on a chair. His hands shook as he clutched a piece, unable to make a move, his mind clearly overheating from the intensity of the game.
Both cousins stood rooted in place, disbelief flooding their minds. Gu Kaichang stumbled back a step, bumping into Gu Yingjie.
Who was sitting across from Grandpa, playing chess?
Old Master Gu himself was on a folding fishing stool, yet he had dragged out a grand carved chair—reserved for honored guests—for Gu Zhaoping to sit on, as if she had "nowhere else to stand."
Gu Kaichang’s fury erupted instantly.
What right did she have to sit there?!
