As that viewer's analysis appeared, the barrage of comments suddenly fell silent.
Many still couldn’t believe it—had Gu Zhaoping really planned everything from the very beginning?
Wait, so you’re saying that the moment the show announced the rules, she already realized they could save money by buying kitchenware, drain Li Xunxi’s group’s funds through betting, and then monopolize the oil to trade for ingredients at a low price at the last moment??
While everyone else was fussing over her slow pace, she had already calculated several steps ahead?
After a long silence, someone finally spoke up:
[...Is this the power of business strategy?]
[Who said Gu Zhaoping was all show? Step forward!]
[Who called Zhaoping-jie slow? Damn, she was just effortlessly in control! She had everything figured out! That’s boss energy!]
[Of course she wasn’t in a hurry—she had it all mapped out. Meanwhile, some people were pointlessly stressing for her. Embarrassing, huh?]
[...]
[Zhaoping-jie, I bow down...]
Meanwhile, Li Xunxi’s group looked completely blindsided. They’d been played!
Before the siblings could react, Ruan Nian quickly grabbed a basket of fish to trade.
Some viewers had initially praised her:
[Ruan Nian’s attitude is decent. Unlike those siblings who can’t swallow their pride, she’s willing to negotiate with the other group...]
But before they could finish, Chu Yanze calmly remarked, "Your group’s ingredients are underweight."
The viewers who had just defended Ruan Nian nearly choked.
What? How could this group be so shameless??
Defending them was downright embarrassing!
Ruan Nian was beyond ridiculous—did she really think no one would notice the missing weight? Did she take everyone for fools?
Some fans tried to justify it:
[Nian was just too anxious for her team and didn’t notice! Who would deliberately trade obviously underweight stuff? That makes no sense!]
[That just makes Ruan Nian look even dumber. How could she miss something so obvious?]
The fans fumed and gave up arguing.
This was Ruan Nian’s lowest point in public opinion—hardly anyone was willing to defend her now.
Just when everyone thought things couldn’t get more shocking, the camera suddenly shifted. After the bidding ended, a cameraman followed Gu Zhaoping’s group and captured their conversation.
"They can’t monopolize it."
"Li Xunwen’s group’s capital gap is locked in by the bets. We can cover it."
"The third group has too many people—they won’t make decisive moves."
"...This is the advantage of a single leader. Only we can monopolize."
She said it casually, just explaining things to her teammates to reassure them.
But the ones stunned weren’t just Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei—the audience was floored too.
She had even calculated the capital gap from the start???
She provoked Li Xunxi into raising the bet just to ensure their own group had a 20,000-yuan buffer, guaranteeing they wouldn’t lose no matter which venue they chose??
Holy crap.
At this point, no one dared question whether Gu Zhaoping was overrated.
If this was "overrated," then what would "deserving" even look like?
Still, fans of other groups couldn’t resist grumbling:
[How could she be so sure her leadership would work? Did she just decide everything unilaterally? Did she even ask Liang Zhiwei and Chu Yanze for input?? Other groups have more people, more ideas—they’ll definitely have conflicts. Just wait till her group implodes from her dictatorship!]
But the real slap in the face was yet to come.
When the three groups’ stalls opened for business, the first to appear was Group 3’s stand—chaotic, overworked, and barely scraping by. Well, they earned their break-even the hard way.
Next was Gu Zhaoping’s group.
They had pre-tested their dishes, and the moment they opened, customers lined up.
The reviews were stellar, and despite the hectic pace, the group’s dynamic was eerily harmonious—not a single conflict.
This was downright bizarre. Even the ultra-chill Group 3 had bickered over pricing, and Ruan Nian’s group had already made headlines for their drama!
But Gu Zhaoping’s group was unnervingly peaceful. Her two teammates looked like diligent employees, working tirelessly under her leadership, their eyes full of admiration.
"Zhaoping-jie! There’s a small issue here..."
"Zhaoping-jie! Can we prepare this dish like this?"
They were eager learners, with no desire to challenge her—just pure satisfaction at having secured a golden ticket.
Gu Zhaoping casually pointed out solutions without breaking a sweat.
They never once raised an objection.
—What fool would complain? Anyone who’s worked under Zhaoping-jie knows how amazing it is to follow a leader with clear direction, decisive commands, and a talent for teamwork!
Only then did viewers notice that Ruan Nian’s group had been missing from the footage, with no updates at all.
It wasn’t until the other two groups had wrapped up that the camera finally, awkwardly, turned to them—with a note:
[Apologies, viewers. There was an unexpected delay earlier. We’re only starting recording now...]
Normally, production hiccups like this would be glossed over.
But given how explosively messy things had gotten recently, everyone knew exactly what had happened.
The irony was too rich to ignore.
Only now did the audience learn the full extent of the chaos.
The camera cautiously panned over their restaurant, trying to avoid certain corners—but sharp-eyed viewers still spotted uncleaned debris on the floor.
[That’s from when they smashed a fan’s camera!]
[Those fans barged in—they deserved it! If they hadn’t, their cameras wouldn’t have been broken!]
[If Ruan Nian hadn’t encouraged fans to swarm the place, would they have charged in like that? They probably thought they were supposed to wait inside for her!]
Opinions clashed wildly.
The drama only escalated.
Earlier rumors had painted Ruan Nian as overly submissive to Li Xunxi, but the actual footage showed her groveling even harder.
Li Xunxi dumped all the work on Ruan Nian—washing ingredients, planning the menu, cooking, even refusing to lift a finger to clean tables.
Eventually, a customer took pity and started clearing the tables themselves.
Ruan Nian, already overwhelmed, barely registered it and just rushed back to the kitchen.
The comment section exploded.
【Their group is seriously ridiculous! Are they out of their minds? Guests have to bring their own cloths to wipe the tables before eating there? They don’t even clean up after the last customer—how do they expect to run a business with hygiene standards like this?】
【Aren’t these two going too far? They’re just letting Ruan Nian do all the work alone—is this game hers alone?】
【Damn, these two are legit spoiled rich kids who won’t lift a finger! I feel bad for Ruan Nian—she’s been running around nonstop while they just sit there!】
【Li Xunxi sure loves to talk, constantly making demands for Ruan Nian to handle. Does she even consider whether Ruan Nian can manage all of it?】
【Uh, hello? She’s literally a rich heiress who’s never done manual labor before. Of course she doesn’t know how to do these things—what’s the big deal?】
【To those saying it’s normal: Hope you enjoy being her personal servant.】
【I’m starting to think differently—what if they forced Ruan Nian to organize the fan event? Look at how overwhelmed she is, yet she hasn’t complained once. Could they be bullying her behind the scenes? Maybe she had no choice but to call the fans, and that’s why she snapped at them. She’s always loved her fans—there must be a reason for this!】
【Even if there’s a reason, she’s the one who blamed the fans for gathering without permission, right?】
【Maybe her agency arranged it without her knowledge. From Ruan Nian’s perspective, it would look like the fans acted on their own.】
Li Xunxi and Li Xunwen hadn’t expected their laziness to backfire, but this scene made even some of their wavering supporters feel sorry for Ruan Nian again.
If they knew, they’d probably be speechless.
Business here was predictably terrible.
【Is there even any suspense left? Their group is doomed to lose—what’s left to watch?】
【Wait—Gu Zhaoye just showed up!】
Someone suddenly exclaimed.
The previously bored audience immediately perked up.
Honestly, this group had been painfully dull—no ideas, no strategy, and terrible sales.
Anyone with common sense could see how unrealistic Li Xunxi’s "exclusive private dining" concept was for this commercial area. Who even has time for that?
It makes you wonder—did these two even study business? Weren’t they supposed to be elite graduates? Is that for real?
Viewers were seriously questioning their credentials.
But now that Gu Zhaoye had arrived, the chat exploded. Finally, something interesting!
Even after getting slapped, Gu Zhaoye was still a business prodigy. The legend of Yuanqi Tech, which he built from scratch, wasn’t just hype.
With him here, turning their failure around should be easy, right?
Gu Zhaoye made his entrance.
The next moment seemed oddly edited—viewers blinked, confused. For a second, he’d looked furious.
Sharp-eyed fans noticed his face was still slightly swollen, likely from Gu Zhaoping’s slap earlier.
【Is that bruise from Gu Zhaoping?】
【This is gonna be good—is he about to go head-to-head with Gu Zhaoping’s team? Is Gu Zhaoye gonna lose it?】
The crowd waited eagerly.
True to expectations, Gu Zhaoye agreed to stay and accompany Ruan Nian for the rest of the filming.
The long-silent "Gu-Nian" shippers, who’d been lying low after recent backlash, couldn’t contain their excitement anymore.
【Told you Gu Zhaoye and Ruan Nian’s relationship is still strong! No matter how much you haters try, this couple stays sweet!】
【So tired of you bandwagon antis. Keep hating—they’re still thriving.】
【Y’all forgetting about Liang Zhiwei already?】
【Past drama doesn’t change their current happiness. Ruan Nian’s the one beside Gu Zhaoye now—Liang Zhiwei fans, take your delusions elsewhere.】
Gu Zhaoye calmly proposed slashing their prices and reopening.
Customers flooded in immediately. With Gu Zhaoye there, even Li Xunxi was forced to go out and attract patrons—no more princess antics. The audience loved it.
【See? Gu Zhaoye fixed everything in seconds. That’s what a real CEO looks like—years of real-world experience make solving small business problems child’s play.】
Pure level difference—the kind of schadenfreude viewers live for.
Watching Gu Zhaoye effortlessly salvage their disaster, many marveled at his prowess.
Even after getting slapped by his sister and his messy history with Liang Zhiwei, in this moment, he radiated the aura of a true business genius.
Nothing’s more attractive than a man in his professional element.
But the admiration was short-lived.
Back at the estate for earnings reports, all eyes turned to Gu Zhaoping with newfound respect.
She was a force in her own right—her business acumen was undeniable, and her earlier strategies had already won over skeptics.
Against Gu Zhaoye, she held her own.
If Gu Zhaoping was this impressive, what kind of numbers would the legendary Gu Zhaoye, the pride of the Gu family, deliver?
The tension was palpable as the director finally revealed the results.
【How much? Just say it already! The suspense is killing me!】
【Is it so shocking the director’s speechless?】
【Hurry up! I need to know how much Gu Zhaoye earned—blow my mind!】
The director trembled as he announced, "Team 2… lost 32,480 virtual coins."
Silence.
Every excited chatter about Gu Zhaoye’s expected windfall died instantly.
The quiet was deafening.
…What?
A loss of 32K?
32 THOUSAND?!
After all that hype, trending dramas, and promotions—they ended up in the red?!
What kind of management loses that much? Even Team 3’s humble stall turned a profit today!
Your group just burned money?!
Unbelievable.
Didn’t Gu Zhaoye step in to help in the end? Didn’t he realize something was wrong? The customer flow afterward wasn’t low—how could things have turned out like this?
Just then, Gu Zhaoping emerged and said, "You decided to lower the prices, didn’t you?"
"Unless you slashed prices, you wouldn’t have lost this much. Your costs are too high—every sale is a loss. Whose brilliant idea was this?"
Li Xunxi and Li Xunwen both whipped their heads toward Gu Zhaoye, their expressions disbelieving. Gu Zhaoye’s face looked as if he’d been slapped several times.
Not just him—even the audience seemed stunned.
Seriously, dude? You’re a CEO, and you managed to fail this badly at such a simple game? You couldn’t even outperform that little food stall next door?
What kind of company are you running? What kind of ‘business prodigy’ are you? Weren’t you interviewed by financial magazines before? But looking at your decision-making now—you didn’t even clarify the costs before diving in?
Are you even a CEO? Wait, who hyped you up as this ‘business genius’ in the first place?
Now look at Gu Zhaoping.
Ruan Nian was about to step forward to defend him, but Gu Zhaoye harshly pulled her back.
At this point, even the Gu-Nian shippers didn’t dare speak up.
What’s with this attitude? He lost—so what? Why does it feel like he can’t handle defeat? And now he’s telling Ruan Nian to drop it?
The tension on set was palpable, as if a full-blown argument was about to erupt.
But as if things weren’t messy enough, the production team chose that exact moment to cut the recording and announce this episode’s profit rankings.
Gu Zhaoping’s team was proudly displayed in first place.
The show then recapped all the decisions Gu Zhaoping had made:
Price adjustments. Ingredient swaps.
Managing the restaurant. Introducing new dishes.
Finally, pointing out the flaws in Ruan Nian’s team.
It was just a simple game—running a restaurant for a day—yet it revealed so much about their abilities.
Gu Zhaoping… she really had something to her. No—she was exceptional. She lived up to everything she claimed in her introduction, even surpassing expectations by leaps and bounds.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoye was completely demystified in the audience’s eyes.
How could he be like this? A domineering CEO, yet his skills fell short? Wasn’t he supposed to be the gold standard?
And so petty, too—unable to graciously accept defeat, acting like it was just a fluke.
The ‘domineering CEO’ persona was a double-edged sword. As the novel’s charismatic, peak-popularity character, everyone was easily enchanted by him. But the moment his flaws surfaced, the backlash was brutal.
After all, authors usually craft these CEOs as near-perfect—their only flaw might be a stomach ailment.
Or perhaps a slight wavering in love, before the inevitable ‘chase-to-the-grave’ redemption.
But now, looking at Gu Zhaoye, the audience felt something entirely different—like waking from a dream.
They didn’t even want to see his ‘chase-to-the-grave’ moment anymore.
It was strange. His leadership appeal paled in comparison to Gu Zhaoping’s—no, it was leagues below hers.
Gu Zhaoping stood up for Liang Zhiwei.
Every decision she made was sharp and flawless. Following her meant smooth sailing—effortless success.
Only now did those who’d initially doubted her feel a twinge of regret.
No wonder the rumors said Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei were so devoted to her.
People assumed it was blind obedience to authority.
But with a boss like her—someone who never steered them wrong—who wouldn’t be happy?
She even smacked her own brother for Liang Zhiwei’s sake!
This was groundbreaking. Before, she’d always taken Gu Zhaoye’s side, even scolding Ruan Nian.
Now, the audience’s perception of her feud with Ruan Nian wavered.
Was it true? Was she really scheming to set Gu Zhaoye up with a ‘better’ match?
Because from the looks of it, Gu Zhaoping couldn’t care less about Gu Zhaoye—if anything, she seemed ready to slap him again.
Who was lying here?
The curiosity was killing them.
A few of Gu Zhaoye’s die-hard fans still tried to defend him:
[So what if he lost a game? What does that prove? Gu Zhaoye is the rightful heir to the Gu family empire—in real life, he handles deals worth billions. Does he need to prove himself in some variety show?]
[This is hilarious. Acting like losing here means his whole life is a failure. Even if everyone outperformed him on this show, he’d still be the one thriving in reality. Some people are just green with envy, jumping at the chance to drag him down.]
But no one paid them much attention.
What really gnawed at everyone was the announcement that Gu Zhaoping would skip the next episode. She was leaving the show.
Where was Gu Zhaoping going?
That was the question on everyone’s lips.
When would she return? They were desperate to see more of her—what else could she do?
Were her claims just bravado, or was she truly as extraordinary as she seemed?
What was the truth?
…
As the episode concluded, a quiet but fervent fandom began to rise.
The shippers.
Given the chaos—even making headlines—there shouldn’t have been any couples to ship. But where there’s a will, there’s a way.
And so, the most unexpected pairing took the spotlight:
Gu Zhaoping and Liang Zhiwei.
Liang Zhiwei: "…"
She stared at the posts her agent forwarded to her, utterly speechless.
After a beat, she grabbed her hair and screamed.
Wait, what? How did I end up in a shipping war with Zhaoping-jie? Is this for real? Does this make any sense?
What is wrong with you people??
Chu Yanze: "…"
He, too, fell silent at the sudden surge of online chatter. Though it was shameless to admit, part of him had secretly hoped—
Maybe, just maybe, someone would notice the faintest hint of chemistry between him and Zhaoping-jie.
Compared to Ruan Nian or any other random pairing, he wouldn’t have minded being shipped with Zhaoping-jie.
But alas.
He’d thought too much.
The spark between him and Gu Zhaoping was nowhere near as strong as the chemistry between Gu Zhaoping and Liang Zhiwei—not even a tenth as noticeable.
Only then did Chu Yanze finally let out a relieved sigh.
He couldn’t help but reflect on what he’d been thinking earlier and laughed at himself, rubbing his forehead in amusement.
Meanwhile, Su Yubai, who had been closely following the updates, couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw that the pairing gaining traction online was Gu Zhaoping and Liang Zhiwei.
Not bad. Even though he hadn’t managed to reconnect with Gu Zhaoping, at least that young guy hadn’t gained any advantage either. That was good.
Now that Gu Zhaoping was back in the country, she’d likely focus on her career, meaning fewer men would be circling around her. His competition was shrinking, after all.
Still, after the show aired, he couldn’t help but worry that more people might set their sights on her.
He couldn’t be blamed for his strong sense of crisis. To most people, power was intoxicating enough on its own—let alone when paired with someone as extraordinary as her.
"Mr. Su, your flight tickets have been booked. We’ll be departing soon."
The production team sent him the details, including his flight and hotel reservations. Su Yubai only noticed after checking his phone.
It was… this ski resort.
Something in Su Yubai’s chest lurched for a moment before he remembered—Gu Zhaoping wouldn’t be there for this episode.
Since she wasn’t coming, she wouldn’t be reminded of their past together, would she?
The entire crew gradually flew to the ski resort on the other side of the world.
Gu Zhaoye was among them.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted and irritated, wondering why he was even tagging along with this tedious show.
But when he heard they were filming here, something stirred in him. He recalled that the old man and the others were also in town.
The summit had already been underway for two days, with the most crucial meeting—a globally broadcasted event—scheduled in two more. If he went, he might be able to find the old man, apologize, and avoid being sent away.
Besides, he had an excuse—he was here with the production team, not defying the old man’s wishes.
As for the online chatter, he found it utterly boring and didn’t even bother glancing at it.
A bunch of internet mobs who believed every rumor they heard. They’d seen a few clips from the show and immediately started slandering him, even questioning his competence. Were they doubting the credibility of the Gu family heir?
He was too disgusted to argue.
Winning wasn’t even worth it—he was still the one inheriting the Gu empire.
Public opinion was fickle. Once he proved himself, plenty of people would rush to praise him as a business prodigy.
What did surprise him was that Gu Kaichang hadn’t made any moves recently. With such a major summit happening, why wasn’t he scheming for an opportunity? Had he finally given up after being suppressed?
Gu Zhaoye scoffed softly.
Just another loser in his wake.
What he didn’t notice was the flicker of thoughts in Ruan Nian’s eyes as she sat beside him.
Meanwhile, Valentine de La Roche had seized several chances to meet with Gu Zhaoping over the past few days, always impeccably polite and enthusiastic.
Gu Zhaoping didn’t mind. She enjoyed chatting with handsome young men—it lifted her mood.
Of course, it didn’t interfere with her work. She’d already prepared her speech for the most important forum.
Valentine’s frequent visits had drawn attention.
On a rest day between meetings, an unexpected invitation arrived—a request for her to visit a nearby mountain estate as a guest of the La Roche family.
At first, Gu Zhaoping dismissed it, assuming Valentine had found something fun and wanted to share it with her.
But the old man waved it off, insisting she’d worked hard enough and deserved a break, urging her to go.
The destination lay at the border between the neighboring city and theirs, a considerable drive away. Still, the area’s natural beauty made it a popular retreat for vacationers.
Winter had settled in, and Gu Zhaoping gazed at the distant mountain silhouettes, where the snowline had begun its descent. It piqued her interest.
"Is there a ski resort over there?"
Her assistant, Little Zhao, checked the details. "Yes, boss. There’s a famous one, but it’s known for its high difficulty—a backcountry slope, not as safe as the man-made ones. There have been quite a few accidents. Most athletes avoid training there during the season in case of injuries affecting their performance. Still, its reputation for extreme challenges attracts thrill-seekers."
Gu Zhaoping nodded. It had been a while since she’d stretched her limbs—she was intrigued.
But first, she had to see what the La Roche family wanted. She’d figure out the skiing later.
The La Roche estate stood grandly on the mountainside, a palace of snow overlooking the city below.
As the car passed through the iron gates, security guided them to a parking spot.
A formally dressed attendant approached to escort Gu Zhaoping inside, impeccably courteous.
But when Little Zhao and Mao Xinci moved to follow, he raised a hand to stop them. "Only Miss Gu, please."
They froze. Gu Zhaoping glanced at him, then told her assistants, "Wait here."
Noble families and their rules. But Gu Zhaoping remained unruffled, almost amused. She had a hunch about what was coming.
The steward led her through the white-columned halls into a courtyard.
Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling.
A man in his thirties stood with his back to her, hands tucked into his trouser pockets, silently admiring the snowy peaks.
"Hello."
Gu Zhaoping took a seat without waiting for him to finish his pose. If he wanted to brood dramatically, she wouldn’t interrupt.
The man lingered a moment longer, seemingly captivated by the view, before finally turning—only to pause when he saw her already seated.
Then he laughed, though the sound was odd.
Gu Zhaoping studied him. He bore some resemblance to Valentine.
Compared to the youthful and striking handsomeness, this man's features were more profound and somber, bearing the marks of time. He appeared slightly more robust than Valentin, with a demeanor so composed it bordered on brooding.
He pulled out a chair opposite Gu Zhaoping and sat down, his tone still polite, though the innate arrogance of nobility was impossible to conceal.
Picking up a cigar cutter, he trimmed the cigar with practiced ease before asking, "Do you mind, madam?"
Most people would have told him to go ahead.
Gu Zhaoping replied, "I do."
His hand stilled. He even blinked in surprise, glancing at her before finally setting down both the cutter and the cigar.
Unable to help himself, he chuckled.
"Well then, madam, if I recall correctly, you’ve been seeing my younger brother Valentin recently?"
Gu Zhaoping leaned back in her chair, a shawl draped over her shoulders—the weather had turned slightly chilly lately.
Instead of answering immediately, she tilted her gaze slightly, looking past him toward the fireplace.
The man paused again, following her line of sight before realizing her intent. He reached for a remote beside him and pressed a button.
Flames flickered to life in the fireplace behind him, warmth gradually filling the room.
Gu Zhaoping rested her arm on the back of the chair, her voice calm as she finally responded, "If you’re referring to dating, then yes."
This was… unusual.
Theodore studied her for a long moment, the words he’d prepared suddenly feeling inadequate.
He’d assumed this would be straightforward—his younger brother had recently grown close to a foreign heiress, and rumors suggested she might be entangled in an unclear engagement.
As the eldest brother, Theodore had taken it upon himself to meet her, ensuring Valentin didn’t jeopardize the family’s reputation.
Valentin was naive. Though they were half-brothers and not particularly close—nor did they genuinely care for each other’s well-being—Theodore saw them as bound by blood. He felt responsible for Valentin’s romantic entanglements.
But after meeting Gu Zhaoping, he realized the situation wasn’t so simple.
She didn’t seem like a capricious socialite.
The warnings and probing questions he’d prepared remained unspoken. Instead, a spark of intrigue flickered in his eyes.
"Madam Gu, may I ask how you and Valentin met?"
"At a forum a few days ago. I delivered a speech, and Valentin posed a question. Why?" Her tone was even, her gaze steady, as if she’d already discerned his motives.
Yet she didn’t rush to lay her cards on the table. Instead, they danced around each other, exchanging veiled words.
Theodore wouldn’t admit it, but he found this back-and-forth exhilarating.
This woman was… cold. Her demeanor was icy, as if she were incapable of granting affection.
"Oh? You gave a speech at the forum? Might I ask what the topic was?"
They exchanged a few more lines.
Theodore grew even more intrigued. Finally, he lowered his head with a faint smile and cut to the chase.
"Madam Gu, to be frank, this meeting wasn’t Valentin’s idea—it was mine."
His eyes were darker than Valentin’s.
"I wanted to clarify your marital status. You truly have no prior engagements? Though I’ve heard your betrothal hasn’t been formally dissolved. As the public face of the Laroche family, Valentin’s relationships must be handled with utmost care..."
"As the public face of the Gu family, my relationships must also be handled with utmost care," Gu Zhaoping countered flatly. "So explain to me—what’s in it for me?"
Theodore was taken aback, then genuinely laughed.
He didn’t press further. Instead, he lifted his cup in a small toast. "This is a famous tea from your country."
Theodore no longer wanted to interrogate her about Valentin. In just a few exchanges, he’d grasped exactly what kind of person Gu Zhaoping was.
Rather than concern for his brother, what surged within him now was something else entirely—a competitive urge, rising from deep within.
"Miss Gu, are you…"
He hesitated.
"Are you the current heir of your family?"
"And you? Are you the current heir of the Laroche family?"
Theodore nodded. "I am."
Gu Zhaoping mirrored the gesture. "I soon will be."
"Have you considered securing your position through a marriage alliance?" Theodore sipped his tea. Compared to romantic entanglements, this seemed far more aligned with her priorities.
"Have you?"
She was relentless, effortlessly deflecting every question he posed, leaving him no room to probe.
She forced him to answer first before offering even the slightest hint in return.
And yet—it was thrilling.
Theodore replied evenly, "If the opportunity arose, I wouldn’t hesitate."
Gu Zhaoping smiled faintly, raising her cup in response. "Likewise."
Theodore fell into thought.
In any power struggle within a family, the Laroche family’s involvement could tip the scales decisively.
Financially, though the Gu family was wealthy, they still lagged behind the Laroches.
Theodore weighed the possibilities.
Finally, he asked, "As far as I know, the publicly acknowledged heir of the Gu family is someone named Gu Zhaoye—your younger brother?"
"If that’s the case, how do you plan to seize control? I’m genuinely curious. I’d love to see if you can pull it off."
Gu Zhaoping merely tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. This time, she didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said, "Care to make a bet?"
Theodore was stunned.
What kind of response was that?
He hadn’t even broached the subject—why did it feel like Miss Gu was… almost eager?
Seizing every opportunity to wager?
She seemed utterly convinced that everything would succeed, as if she was seizing the opportunity to secure more rewards for herself in advance once victory was achieved.
Theodore pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps I need to understand you better, Ms. Gu."
"I’ll continue attending the upcoming forum."
Theodore wasn’t quite sure how things had ended up this way.
After all that talking, not a single word had been mentioned about Valentine.
Originally, they were supposed to discuss Valentine’s romantic issues, but in the end, the conversation had devolved into a wager between the two of them.
So, did this mean he’d have to make time to attend that summit and watch her deliver her speech in person?
Theodore shook his head and sighed. "No need to rush. That’s still days away."
His gaze drifted toward the distant snow-capped mountains, and suddenly, an idea struck him.
"By the way, Ms. Gu, do you have any interest in skiing?"
