Everyone was stunned by what just happened.
It was all too sudden.
Wait, first of all—before anyone could even process it—Gu Zhaoping has a younger brother? So it’s not just Gu Zhaoye?
How has no one ever heard of this?
But right now, the more urgent matter is that while Liang Zhiwei was already missing on the mountain, now Gu Zhaoping has disappeared too?!
Forget questioning why she’s even here—why would she go up alone to look for Liang Zhiwei?! There’s a rescue team on the mountain. Is she more capable than them? Isn’t she just making things worse? The rescuers might end up having to save her too!
The Director, who had just been helped down the mountain, nearly fainted upon hearing the news.
"What?! Gu Zhaoping suddenly showed up?"
"So that’s what her phone call was about…"
So she followed them here? Seriously, is her bond with Liang Zhiwei that strong? Enough to risk her life to save her? Does she not realize she’s just an ordinary person too?!
If anything happens to Gu Zhaoping, his career would be over—not only would he have to deal with the backlash over Liang Zhiwei, but also the pressure from the Gu Family!
The Director was on the verge of passing out.
Amid the chaos, Chu Yanze shot Su Yubai a few meaningful glances. The intensity of his gaze made Su Yubai avert his eyes slightly.
He knew he’d been exposed, but given the urgency of the situation, there was no helping it.
Without hesitation, Su Yubai spoke up, "Everyone, stay calm. Don’t panic. Did Zhaoping-jie leave any instructions? Quickly share information and follow her directions!"
"Zhaoping-jie wouldn’t make a mistake!"
His voice was urgent yet firm, drawing Gu Zhaosi’s attention. The younger man blinked in confusion—who was this guy? Young, good-looking… his sister’s new favorite?
Seriously, sis, are you really juggling two in the same show? Even wealthy bosses know not to keep all their flowers in one pot or their songbirds in the same cage…
Gu Zhaosi shook his head, dismissing the thought. Whatever, his sister could do as she pleased. A woman as impressive as her had that privilege. And honestly, she was amazing—these two guys were probably celebrities too, yet around her, they were harmonious, no jealousy or drama in sight. Clearly, they knew their place.
Then again, it might just be that his sister was a master of balance.
His gaze lingered on Chu Yanze, now tinged with newfound complexity. Maybe I misjudged you. Turns out you’re quite dignified by my sister’s side—not exactly the "main wife" type, but at least presentable.
We’ll settle that score later. First, I need to clear things up with my sister.
Then he remembered the foreign-accented man who’d slid down the mountain with her earlier. His sister’s tastes were… eclectic.
Gu Zhaosi scratched his head. "What do you mean, my sister went back up?"
He glanced back at the gathering storm just as Su Yubai explained, "One of our crew got lost on the mountain. The rescue team’s overwhelmed with evacuating tourists, so Zhaoping-jie—"
The others were frantic, but Gu Zhaosi, her actual brother, remained utterly unbothered.
He nodded but said nothing.
The Director stared at him in shock. Did he just say "my sister"? Wait… is he from the Gu Family?!
His pupils shrank. If Gu Zhaoping got hurt with a Gu Family member right here witnessing it—he didn’t even want to imagine the fallout!
"Hello, you are…?" The Director urgently shook his hand. "The young master of the Gu Family?"
Though reluctant to admit it, Gu Zhaosi gave a grim nod and brushed off the question. "Why did she disappear? Wrong path?"
Suddenly, it clicked. "Earlier, I almost slid off a cliff because I took the wrong fork. Could she be stuck there too?"
"Most likely!" The Director was already despairing.
Gu Zhaosi thought for a moment, then relaxed and waved a hand. "Relax, just do as my sister says."
If she could save him in that life-or-death moment, then as long as that crew member hadn’t already fallen off the cliff, his sister could pull them back.
Besides, there was a rescue station nearby. Even if the storm worsened, they could take shelter there and wait it out.
But of course, outsiders unfamiliar with the mountain wouldn’t know that.
The Director was baffled. Huh? Why are you two so calm?
Just blindly trust Gu Zhaoping like that?
How are we supposed to "listen to her"? Go up there and get ourselves killed?!
Before he could voice his doubts, Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi returned.
Upon hearing that Gu Zhaoping had gone to rescue someone, they were stunned. "Gu Zhaoping? Rescuing someone?"
They’d never heard of her having any such skills. Instantly, their impression of her recklessness reached new heights. "What good is she up there? Isn’t she just making things worse?"
Damn it, this isn’t the time for heroics! This isn’t like last time when she could just slap Gu Zhaoye and call it a day—this is a natural disaster!
Li Xunwen couldn’t believe it. He knew Gu Zhaoping was bold, but this? Did she think saving Liang Zhiwei again would magically fix her reputation? This kind of stupidity would only drag others down. Once she’s in real danger, she’ll regret it!
"Has she considered that her recklessness might require even more people to rescue her?"
Li Xunwen genuinely couldn’t fathom Gu Zhaoping’s motives. Was she really the altruistic type? Even if she were, no wealthy heiress would risk her life for some minor celebrity!
That left only arrogance.
Maybe the positive fallout from helping Liang Zhiwei last time got her hooked, and she wanted a repeat?
Li Xunwen meticulously analyzed Gu Zhaoping’s past actions but still couldn’t find any other plausible reason.
Her recent behavior defied all logic.
But when they connected it to the broken engagement and reconsidered, something else began to seem off.
Was Gu Zhaoping trying to craft a new image for herself?
Helping outsiders against her own brother—was it all to appear fair and impartial?
And joining this show in the first place… wasn’t it because the Gu Family’s reputation had taken a hit? They wanted someone to showcase the family’s grace on-screen. So was Gu Zhaoping… trying to climb over Gu Zhaoye to seize power?
The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Had Gu Zhaoping gone to such lengths to obstruct Gu Zhaoye and Ruan Nian's relationship just to turn their romance into a scandal?
Is the Gu Family really this complicated?
Their assumptions about Gu Zhaoping had shifted from simple, mindless malice to something far more calculated and scheming.
The two of them were still questioning everything when Gu Zhaosi suddenly turned around.
He wasn’t happy.
"What are you two whispering about over there?"
Gu Zhaosi recognized these two. In the past, he’d watched coldly as they hovered around Shen Yifeng like persistent flies. He had no fondness for Shen Yifeng either, finding him pretentious, and these two 24-karat idiots were even worse in his eyes.
The Li siblings were taken aback, instantly furious that someone in the production crew would dare speak to them like that—
Then they saw Gu Zhaosi.
Their curses died in their throats, nearly choking them.
Why was Gu Zhaosi here again?! Wasn’t Gu Zhaoye the one filming this show? They’d just seen Gu Zhaoye cozying up with Ruan Nian—how had he been replaced by Gu Zhaosi in the blink of an eye?
Do all you Gu Family members know how to teleport or something?!
Gu Zhaosi didn’t hold back, having long been sick of them: "My sister isn’t going. Who else will? Does she know this mountain better, or do you? If you’re so capable, why don’t you go yourselves?"
Li Xunxi, still stunned, snapped at his tone: "Are you joking? This isn’t some ordinary situation—going up there is basically suicide! If Gu Zhaoping wants to be reckless, does that mean we should follow her?"
Li Xunwen’s face darkened. "Has she even considered how adding another person complicates the rescue? We’re staying put because we know going up would only make things harder. Who else would charge in like her?"
"Who’s being reckless? My sister, or you two, who don’t even know the situation but are already making a scene? Aren’t you the impulsive ones?" Gu Zhaosi shot back without hesitation, glaring at them. "What are you staring at? Do you know the mountain, or do you know my sister?"
He was fed up with these people, jumping to conclusions without any real stake in the matter.
To him, Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi were just looking for trouble. These two had never cared about strangers’ lives—they just wanted to take a dig at his sister.
Li Xunwen was fuming now. "Can you guarantee Gu Zhaoping won’t interfere with the rescue team’s efforts?"
"Funny how you didn’t care when the person went missing, but now that my sister’s going up, you’re suddenly concerned."
Gu Zhaosi rolled his eyes.
"Is the rescue team even available? When I came down, they were still evacuating tourists from the summit—they’re overwhelmed. By the time they free up, Liang Zhiwei might already be dead."
The words sounded grim, and Gu Zhaosi tapped his lips as if to ward off the bad luck. He turned back to the group. "Fine, since you all have so many opinions, here’s your choice: either send someone to find Liang Zhiwei immediately, or go up there yourselves."
The two fell silent, faces ashen.
Gu Zhaosi’s words were harsher than even Gu Zhaoping’s—they were starting to see the family resemblance. These siblings, one ruder than the other!
Normally, Gu Zhaosi stayed quiet around people he disliked, but when pushed too far, he lashed out without restraint. No one was spared.
Right now, though, his outburst wasn’t just about defending his sister—it was pure instinct to tear into anyone he couldn’t stand.
The Director, panicking, hurriedly stepped between them. Desperation flickered in his eyes as he turned to Gu Zhaosi. "Young Master Gu, I just wanted to ask… is it true that Miss Gu is an expert skier?"
Gu Zhaosi raised his brows, looking at him like the question was absurd. "Of course. Don’t you know her skill level?"
Truthfully, Gu Zhaosi had only just found out himself, but now he spoke as if he’d known all along.
"Hah, my sister skis better than anyone here. She’s going up to clean up your mess—your safety measures failed, and now no one else can find the missing person. What does it say about her character, her courage, her morals?"
Gu Zhaosi grew more impassioned, his voice rising. "And instead of supporting her, you’re holding her back? Where’s the backup plan? The emergency protocols? Have you even drafted an apology statement? How is this show still running?"
His words were a direct stab at the Director, an indiscriminate attack.
The Director forced a smile. "Y-yes, we’ll prepare for their descent immediately. If anything happens, we’ll respond at once!"
Gu Zhaosi ignored him, pacing at the foot of the mountain, waiting for his sister to return so he could finally clear the air between them.
He’d been wrong before, letting his prejudice cloud his judgment. Thankfully, he’d realized in time. After she’d saved his life, his faith in her had become boundless—if she claimed she could save the world, he’d believe her.
The Li siblings were seething, glaring at Gu Zhaosi with gritted teeth. They’d never interacted with him before and had no idea he was like this.
Now, after their first encounter, they were convinced: the Gu Family was full of lunatics.
"Fine, let Gu Zhaoping go if you want. But if something happens to her, don’t drag the rest of us into it. If anyone blames us for not supporting her, that’s not our problem," Li Xunwen muttered under his breath.
But Gu Zhaosi seemed to hear him, whipping around to glare. Li Xunwen swallowed his words, stubbornly meeting his gaze until Gu Zhaosi scoffed and turned away.
Only then did he have the time to turn his gaze toward Su Yubai and Chu Yanze.
Su Yubai immediately lowered his head under his scrutiny, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
This one’s quite introverted, Gu Zhaosi observed after studying him for a moment.
Not bad—better than Chu Yanze, at least.
Chu Yanze, on the other hand, had been staring at Gu Zhaosi the entire time. Though he had been worried about Zhaoping-jie’s safety earlier, seeing Gu Zhaosi speak with such certainty had eased his mind somewhat.
They were siblings, after all. Surely they understood each other better than outsiders did. If Gu Zhaosi said so, then Zhaoping-jie must have the skills and confidence to handle things—no need for unnecessary concern.
Still, it was strange. He had spent quite a bit of time with Gu Zhaosi and had known Zhaoping-jie for a while now, yet he had never once suspected any connection between them.
Now that he looked closely, he realized there was a faint resemblance in their features. Compared to Gu Zhaoye—whose notoriously strained sibling relationship with Zhaoping-jie was well-known—Gu Zhaosi seemed far more like her real brother.
Gu Zhaosi had been staring at the mountain path when he suddenly noticed Chu Yanze’s intense gaze fixed on him. Unnerved, he snapped, "What are you looking at?"
To his surprise, the famously aloof university classmate actually smiled at him, his demeanor unexpectedly warm and friendly:
"Nothing. I just think you resemble Zhaoping-jie. I never expected this connection—wish I’d known sooner."
As he spoke, an almost imperceptible flicker of regret passed through Chu Yanze’s heart.
Sometimes, he couldn’t help but lament how young he was—how late he had met Zhaoping-jie. Given her experience, she must have already encountered countless fascinating people in her life. If only he had known her back when he and Gu Zhaosi were still classmates.
Gu Zhaosi was thoroughly unsettled by Chu Yanze’s stare. He looked like his sister? He hadn’t even noticed that himself.
His guard instantly shot back up.
This guy had always been so cold and distant, but the moment he found out who his sister was, he suddenly turned all friendly. Was he trying to cozy up to him? Angle for some kind of brother-in-law position? Even his actual brother-in-law had never spoken to him like this.
Then again, his sister really was something else. There was already a brother-in-law back home, and now she was abroad with some foreign beauty—though he hadn’t seen the guy’s face, judging by his figure alone, he had to be stunning. Given Zhaoping-jie’s obsession with looks, there was no way he was anything less.
And now, filming this show, she had two more trailing after her. Clearly, wherever her brother-in-law wasn’t around, Zhaoping-jie was living her best life.
He just wondered if said brother-in-law had the patience to tolerate it all.
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Gu Zhaosi narrowed his eyes at Chu Yanze and warned, "Even if you’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have introduced you to my sister."
Chu Yanze blinked, caught off guard by the blunt response.
After a pause, he realized Gu Zhaosi had seen right through his unspoken thoughts.
But instead of embarrassment or tension, he met Gu Zhaosi’s gaze with earnest sincerity.
"Gu Zhaosi, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not trying to use you to get closer to Zhaoping-jie."
"I just think that if I’d gotten to know you better back then, I might have discovered Zhaoping-jie sooner. She’s… incredibly inspiring. Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t have—"
He cut himself off, but the raw honesty in his words left Gu Zhaosi momentarily stunned.
Damn. No wonder this guy had managed to leave an impression on his sister—he really knew how to talk. Even Gu Zhaosi was almost swayed. The admiration in his voice was unmistakably genuine.
Still skeptical, Gu Zhaosi studied him closely.
Beside them, Su Yubai turned away as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
Then his gaze suddenly locked onto two figures sprinting toward them from a distance. Was that Gu Zhaoping and Ruan Nian?
He hesitated, unsure whether to explain the full story behind Liang Zhiwei’s disappearance to Gu Zhaosi.
Gu Zhaoye and Gu Zhaoping’s relationship was notoriously hostile, and while Gu Zhaosi seemed to idolize his sister, Zhaoping-jie had never mentioned being close to any of her siblings. He wasn’t entirely sure how the family dynamics worked.
But before he could decide, he noticed Gu Zhaosi stiffen slightly.
Oh no. He had just seen the news—Gu Zhaoye was also part of this show’s cast. Last episode, Zhaoping-jie had utterly humiliated him in a business strategy game.
Which meant he was probably here for this recording too. Gu Zhaosi had almost forgotten about him until now, but of course, he had to reappear like a bad penny.
Without hesitation, Gu Zhaosi turned to leave. He had no intention of sharing space with Gu Zhaoye—he’d find somewhere else to wait for his sister.
But before he could take a single step, Gu Zhaoye’s furious voice rang out from afar:
"Where’s Liang Zhiwei? You still haven’t found her? What the hell are you all doing? How could you lose track of a whole person?!"
The production crew’s expressions soured instantly, their faces screaming, "This lunatic is back."
Gu Zhaosi was baffled. Since when did Gu Zhaoye care so much about Liang Zhiwei?
He turned back, taking in Gu Zhaoye’s frantic, dark expression—then his brows shot up as realization struck.
Oh. Of course. He knew Gu Zhaoye was a scumbag. Was Liang Zhiwei just another flower in his endless garden of conquests?
Wait. Did that mean Zhaoping-jie had gone up the mountain partly because of Gu Zhaoye?
The thought made Gu Zhaosi’s expression twist.
Truthfully, he wasn’t that close to his sister yet, and he didn’t know if she and Gu Zhaoye were actually on good terms.
Would she really go that far for him?
A bitter taste rose in Gu Zhaosi’s throat. She hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge him earlier…
Annoyed, he spun back toward Gu Zhaoye and snapped, "You’re still making a scene? Do you even realize what Zhaoping-jie has done for you?"
Gu Zhaoye turned around, his gaze narrowing as he startled, as if doubting his own eyes!
It had been ages since he last saw Gu Zhaosi—what was this kid doing here?!
What did he mean by "what has Sister sacrificed for him"? Gu Zhaoping?
Since when were Gu Zhaosi and Gu Zhaoping so close? Now he was even standing up for her? What exactly had Gu Zhaoping done for him? This was absurd. Gu Zhaoye frowned, wanting to say, No matter why you're here, this isn’t the place for your nonsense.
Then he heard Gu Zhaosi say, "Do you even know Sister went up the mountain to rescue someone?"
Gu Zhaoye froze.
Beside him, Ruan Nian also stiffened.
In that instant, Ruan Nian’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest!
Earlier, the two of them had rushed up the mountain upon hearing the news, hoping to help search for Liang Zhiwei. But the snowstorm had intensified, the cable cars stopped running, and they were turned away before even boarding.
Facing the raging blizzard, Gu Zhaoye hesitated for a moment—then actually considered taking a hiking trail up the mountain.
Ruan Nian had panicked, grabbing his arm and pleading with him not to go. If Liang Zhiwei is already in danger, and something happens to you too, the situation will only get worse. After much persuasion, she finally managed to talk him down, his emotions still turbulent, and they began their descent.
The whole way back, Ruan Nian kept reassuring him—The production team has sent plenty of people, and there are rescue teams on the mountain. Liang Zhiwei might already be safe. Don’t worry too much.
She was trying to comfort herself as well.
But when they returned, the production team was still at a loss, and not a single person was missing—except Liang Zhiwei. No one else was left on the mountain.
Meaning… they hadn’t found her? And they’d given up?
Ruan Nian’s face paled. Gu Zhaoye’s vision darkened.
Yet no one could have predicted Gu Zhaosi’s sudden appearance here!
After hearing his words, the two of them were even more stunned. What? Gu Zhaoping is here too?
The world is so vast, yet we keep crossing paths in the same places. Are we haunting each other like ghosts now?
"Gu Zhaoping went up the mountain to rescue someone?" Gu Zhaoye blurted out in disbelief, then nearly laughed in frustration. "Is she even capable of that? If the family finds out she’s risking her life like this, they’ll tear into her—"
"President Gu, I hope you remember—this accident happened because of your negligence." Su Yubai, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
Everyone turned to look. Su Yubai’s expression was calm, but his eyes were firm.
"Liang Zhiwei’s cameraman sent multiple distress calls earlier. If you hadn’t been too busy tending to Ruan Nian’s minor injuries to notice, rescue efforts could have started before the storm worsened. Back then, the rescue teams weren’t stretched so thin, and Gu Zhaoping wouldn’t have had to go up the mountain."
His tone was matter-of-fact.
In the entertainment industry, most people treated Gu Zhaoye with deference—after all, capital and celebrities operated on different levels. But Su Yubai showed no such courtesy, bluntly stating, "The only reason Gu Zhaoping is cleaning up this mess now is because of your mistake."
"President Gu, do you really have the right to criticize anyone else at this point?"
Gu Zhaoye’s expression darkened.
First Gu Zhaoping hits me, then the Li siblings with their passive-aggressive remarks, and now this nobody actor dares to lecture me?
But Gu Zhaosi finally pieced everything together, his eyes widening in shock. What?!
Too busy treating Ruan Nian’s scrapes to answer a distress call?!
Gu Zhaoye, are you out of your mind? You’d better be, because if you’re doing this sober, you deserve to die.
You have no shame left, and yet you still dare to question others?
Gu Zhaosi couldn’t hold back anymore. "Gu Zhaoye, how much lower can you sink? Look at what you’ve done! Do you have any idea the damage this could do to the Gu Family if word gets out? The old man would flay you alive! And you still have the nerve to blame my sister for going up there? She’s doing this for the Gu Family!"
"Right now, the first thing you should do is find a temple and pray Liang Zhiwei makes it out alive. The second? Replace the Buddha statue with my sister’s likeness and pray she comes back unharmed—preferably with Liang Zhiwei in tow!"
Gu Zhaoye’s face twisted in fury. "Gu Zhaosi, you don’t know anything. Stay out of this."
"Oh, I don’t? You mean your messy history with Ruan Nian? The old man’s been fed up with our branch of the family for years because of it, and you’re still grinning like an idiot? On-again, off-again for years—you’ve nearly given the old man a stroke! And let me guess—if this whole disaster happened because you were too busy playing lovey-dovey with Ruan Nian to answer a distress call, he’ll cut you out of the inheritance for good. Bet on it."
Their voices rose louder and louder—until Gu Zhaosi’s last sentence dropped like a bomb, plunging the room into silence.
Gu Zhaoye was seething.
We’ve never had any conflict before. Why is he suddenly attacking me, his own brother? I thought we’d be on the same side against Gu Zhaoping, but the moment he shows up, it’s like this?!
"The old man would never—"
Gu Zhaosi’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. "That’s what you’re worried about right now? Lives are at stake, Gu Zhaoye, and you’re still obsessing over your inheritance? God, you’re a monster!"
This was madness!
The two of them erupted into a full-blown shouting match—no one could stop them.
Then, Gu Zhaoye’s phone rang, cutting through the chaos and silencing the room.
Still fuming, Gu Zhaoye glanced at the screen and let out a cold laugh, holding it up for Gu Zhaosi to see. "You think I’ve done nothing? I’ve done everything."
He answered the call. "Well? Is the rescue helicopter ready?"
The others froze.
Damn. He’s sending a private chopper for Liang Zhiwei?
For a moment, Gu Zhaoye almost looked like the domineering CEO he was supposed to be.
Gu Zhaoye grunted a few times, put down his phone, and said, "Applying for a flight route abroad is complicated. Do you think rescue planes are that easy to find? I had to arrange for a plane, and just getting the flight route approved took time. Do you think I did nothing?"
Gu Zhaosi froze for a moment, staring at the phone Gu Zhaoye had forcefully shoved into his hands. The caller ID displayed Shen Yifeng’s name.
Once it sank in, he was utterly speechless.
Isn’t this my brother-in-law? Even if he’s well-connected, that’s my sister Gu Zhaoping’s connection! You bypassed her and negotiated directly with Shen Yifeng to arrange the rescue, and now you’re acting like it’s all your doing? That’s your so-called "face"?
Seriously, even if he owes a favor, it’s only because of my sister’s influence. Could you at least have some self-awareness?
Just as he was about to say something, Shen Yifeng on the other end overheard the commotion and frowned. "What exactly is going on?"
Getting the flight route approved wasn’t something Shen Yifeng could expedite easily either. However, he happened to be attending a summit these days and had met some influential local figures, so they granted him a temporary exception. Saving lives took priority, and he couldn’t dwell on the fact that his engagement with the Gu family was about to be called off.
Gu Zhaoye and he had known each other since childhood. As his former brother-in-law, if he came asking for help, it was only natural for Shen Yifeng to assist.
After a brief silence, Shen Yifeng continued patiently, "I’m the one dispatching the rescue plane. I have the right to know what’s happening so I can arrange things properly."
Gu Zhaosi rolled his eyes. "If you take any longer, my sister will have already gone up the mountain to rescue them herself."
Shen Yifeng paused. "Gu Zhaoping?"
He abruptly pushed back his chair and stood up, disbelief in his voice. "On the snow mountain? In this blizzard?"
Without wasting another second, he immediately contacted someone to head over while striding out. He spoke to Gu Zhaosi, "You’d better not be exaggerating. How could Gu Zhaoping go up the mountain to rescue someone? Didn’t any professionals stop her?"
"Questions, questions—is this really the time for that? The priority is sending help ASAP!"
Gu Zhaosi was on the verge of despair. He couldn’t understand why these people were so out of touch. Lives were at stake, yet they were still stuck on pointless questions. What good would interrogating her motives do? Would it help them find her faster?
Shen Yifeng fell silent, slightly embarrassed. "Fine, never mind. Just stay put. I’ll send people over soon."
"But going through the approval process means dealing with inspections along the way. If we’re delayed, you’ll need to brace yourselves..."
"And if you find Gu Zhaoping, tell her she can’t be this reckless. Dealing with her impulsiveness comes at a high cost."
God, he was so long-winded. Gu Zhaosi was tempted to just hang up.
The latter part of Shen Yifeng’s words only stoked Gu Zhaosi’s irritation. "Are you sending help or not?"
"Zhaosi, I’m saying this for your own good. Listen carefully." Shen Yifeng’s tone was grave.
Damn, he sounded so patronizing. Gu Zhaosi was beyond exasperated.
For a moment, he wondered if his sister ever considered replacing this brother-in-law.
---
Gu Zhaoping had already ascended the mountain.
She headed straight to where she had earlier stopped the young man from tumbling off the cliff. Scanning the area, she quickly spotted signs of someone sliding down.
She followed the trail, finding no blood or lost belongings along the way—a good sign that Liang Zhiwei wasn’t badly hurt.
A short distance later, she spotted a figure sprawled in a grove of trees.
Liang Zhiwei had lost control during her descent and crashed, now unable to stand. Her communication devices had shattered, the pieces scattered around her.
Gu Zhaoping pushed through the undergrowth and called out, "Liang Zhiwei."
Liang Zhiwei looked up, and her eyes instantly welled with tears. She lunged forward, clinging to Gu Zhaoping’s leg, and wailed, "Sister Zhaoping!"
Gu Zhaoping’s eyebrow twitched, nearly stepping back.
Today, two people had now clung to her leg like this. At least this was a familiar face—a woman she didn’t mind. For once, she mustered some patience, awkwardly patting Liang Zhiwei’s back. "It’s alright. The route was poorly planned."
Liang Zhiwei sobbed uncontrollably. She had genuinely feared she wouldn’t live to see another day.
Seeing her distress, Gu Zhaoping patted her head, her movements stiff. Comforting others wasn’t something she was used to.
"Just wait for rescue." She pulled out her communicator and sent their exact coordinates.
Now she understood why that young man had been so emotional earlier. Liang Zhiwei was just as overwhelmed, barely coherent.
"S-Sister Zhaoping… is the rescue team here? But why did you come up alone? Where are the rescuers and the crew?" Liang Zhiwei continued bawling.
"The rescue team was short-staffed. The crew was evacuated due to the blizzard." Gu Zhaoping’s tone was calm. Liang Zhiwei gaped.
No rescuers? The crew had left? And Sister Zhaoping came alone?
Huh?!
ALONE?!
Sister Zhaoping, are you some kind of deity?!
Just then, the deafening roar of helicopter blades echoed in the distance. A sleek black chopper emerged over the mountains, hovering close.
Liang Zhiwei stared in awe as the cabin door slid open, revealing the strikingly handsome face of a foreign man.
"Rescue is here, Miss Gu." Theodore, usually composed and refined, now wore a rare trace of urgency, though he maintained his gentlemanly demeanor.
He stepped out, helping Gu Zhaoping lift Liang Zhiwei. Glancing at her, he asked, "Did I make it in time?"
Gu Zhaoping nodded, offering her first praise of the day. "Efficient work."
Theodore’s lips curved into a faint smile as they carried Liang Zhiwei into the cabin.
This was his privilege in this place—Gu Zhaoping should have known.
He didn’t need any extra applications to call in his own helicopter for a mountain rescue. Under the circumstances, even if it didn’t follow the principle of proximity, Theodore was still the fastest option.
The helicopter flew steadily down the mountain, skimming over snow-laden trees before the blizzard arrived. The pilot was experienced, having once flown fighter jets, and handled the aircraft with steady precision.
Liang Zhiwei sat stiffly between the two of them, unsure how to move.
What in the world was going on?
She didn’t dare interrupt their conversation.
The helicopter soon descended to the foot of the mountain, where a crowd had gathered. Liang Zhiwei spotted them first. "That must be the production crew! Zhaoping-jie, we’re here!"
She sighed in frustration. "The crew must have been so worried about me. I’ve caused everyone so much trouble. At least nothing serious happened."
Gu Zhaoping remained silent, but Theodore chimed in, "Thanks to Miss Gu’s quick decision-making, nothing worse came of it."
Liang Zhiwei nodded vigorously, wiping away tears.
Gu Zhaoye and Gu Zhaosi had barely exchanged two sentences before they nearly started arguing again. Just as tensions were rising, a loud roar echoed from the sky, and both fell silent.
Seeing the helicopter approach, Gu Zhaoye finally stopped talking and shot Gu Zhaosi a cold look.
"Now you can see who actually gets things done. The rescue is here—stop wasting time arguing."
Gu Zhaosi swallowed his words. Fine. He hadn’t expected Shen Yifeng to be so efficient—even in a foreign country, he could mobilize a helicopter so quickly. He had underestimated him slightly.
But rescuing people took priority. There would be time to argue later.
Gu Zhaoye strode forward, and Ruan Nian finally let out a sigh of relief. Good, good. At least Gu Zhaoye had resolved this. With this merit to offset his earlier mistakes, he wouldn’t be held accountable anymore.
As the helicopter neared the ground, Gu Zhaoye approached, standing just outside the range of the rotor wash. The strong wind whipped around him, the noise deafening.
He shielded his face from the gust and raised his voice. "Are you the people Shen Yifeng sent? Hurry, follow me up the mountain!"
The helicopter hovered in place, its blades still spinning. He wasn’t sure if those inside had heard him.
When the noise died down slightly, he shouted again, frowning. "Did you hear me? Lives are at stake—what are you waiting for? Let’s go!"
The people in the cockpit exchanged confused glances.
What did he mean? They had just come down. Why go back up now?
Gu Zhaoye, already impatient, darkened his expression. Could these pilots even understand human speech?
He moved to yank open the cabin door—but just then, it rattled and swung open from the inside.
He froze.
Gu Zhaosi, standing behind him, froze too.
The entire production crew froze in place.
And at that exact moment, more people arrived in the distance.
Shen Yifeng had finally rushed over, though the helicopter he had arranged was still en route. He had arrived first in an off-road vehicle.
The moment the car stopped, he jumped out and demanded, "What’s going on? Any updates? Could Gu Zhaoping be trapped on the mountain too?"
He took a deep breath, unsure why he was still concerned about Gu Zhaoping’s safety at a time like this. But he pushed aside their past conflicts for now.
"I told her—she shouldn’t act so recklessly in the future. This isn’t a game. Her personality is just—"
Then the helicopter door swung open.
Shen Yifeng blinked in surprise. There was already a helicopter here? Had his arrived so quickly?
But this didn’t look like his. Just as he was puzzling over it, the cabin door revealed three faces inside.
Two were unfamiliar. But the third—he definitely knew.
They had met not long ago, and their conversation had ended in complete disagreement.
And now, this familiar person sat beside a strikingly handsome man who exuded aristocratic authority, looking puzzled by his arrival.
Next to them was a young woman who seemed injured.
Gu Zhaoping glanced at Liang Zhiwei beside her, then turned her gaze to the stunned crowd below.
The wind howled around her as she asked coolly, "My personality? What about it?"
