How could it be Gu Zhaoping?!
Why was Gu Zhaoping here? How could she have appeared in such a manner??
Wasn’t she supposed to be on the mountain?? Ah!
No one had expected this—absolutely no one!
When she reappeared before everyone, it wasn’t as a helpless victim in need of rescue, but rather as someone calmly returning by helicopter!
And beside her sat Liang Zhiwei, who looked completely unharmed.
Her expression was utterly composed as she quietly surveyed the scene below, waiting for them to respond. From her elevated position, she was the only one in control of the conversation.
For a moment, it was as if the entire world had fallen silent, leaving only the sound of the wind and snow.
It was as though a nuclear bomb had gone off, leaving behind nothing but eerie stillness in its wake.
At the forefront stood Shen Yifeng and Gu Zhaoye.
Gu Zhaoye, in particular, was the first to react—he had been the one frantically arranging for this helicopter to go up the mountain. Shen Yifeng followed closely behind, since it was his helicopter, and he wanted to ensure everything went smoothly.
Then there was Ruan Nian, who, afraid of being seen as uncooperative, hurriedly joined them.
And then—in that very instant—the three of them looked as if they had been slapped in the face, one after another, left utterly dumbfounded.
…
What was this called?
This was called humiliation!
They couldn’t imagine a more awkward, more face-stinging situation!
She had already been rescued?? Both of them were fine?!
Then what had they been doing all this time? And who was it that said Gu Zhaoping would only hold them back?
After that terrifying, heart-stopping silence, Shen Yifeng’s scalp prickled as his pupils constricted. His gaze lingered on Gu Zhaoping’s face before slowly shifting to the man beside her, then back again.
Shen Yifeng’s face seemed on the verge of cracking as he stared at this man, unable to shake the feeling that his relationship with Gu Zhaoping was anything but ordinary.
Just two days ago, he had personally witnessed Gu Zhaoping with that young master from the Laroche family—so who was this guy?
Wouldn’t the Laroche heir mind?
This man didn’t seem like a stranger, nor did he appear to be some ordinary rescue worker…
These were Shen Yifeng’s first thoughts before it suddenly dawned on him—this wasn’t his helicopter.
The color drained from Shen Yifeng’s face.
Then, he seemed to hear Gu Zhaoping ask him something.
She had heard what he said. She was asking—what about her personality?
Amid the silence, Shen Yifeng couldn’t speak. He could practically feel the weight of everyone’s stares boring into him.
All eyes turned toward him, stunned by the scene before them. Wasn’t this the rescue helicopter Shen Yifeng had arranged? Yet here was Gu Zhaoping, sitting next to another strikingly handsome man—how could this possibly be his doing?
So… had all their shouting been for nothing? Had the rescue effort had nothing to do with him at all??
It was as if a sharp slap had landed squarely on his face. Shen Yifeng’s expression darkened instantly—his cheeks burned with humiliation.
Gu Zhaoye, meanwhile, stood frozen in shock for a long moment. Seeing Gu Zhaoping descend from the helicopter, he was more incredulous than anyone else!
In his imagination, shouldn’t Gu Zhaoping have recklessly charged up the mountain with Liang Zhiwei, only to be trapped in the snowstorm—or worse, fallen off a cliff, left pitifully waiting for rescue?
He had even prepared himself to see her in a wretched state, ready to lecture her for her recklessness, to remind her how furious the old man would be when he found out…
But how—
How could this be? Gu Zhaoye’s eyes trembled in disbelief as he watched Gu Zhaoping calmly bring Liang Zhiwei down the mountain, without needing any of their help!
If this helicopter wasn’t Shen Yifeng’s, then whose was it?
Gu Zhaoping swept a cool gaze over the crowd below before leaping down from the helicopter without even using the steps.
"I heard you were talking about me?"
The moment she spoke, everyone’s expressions shifted, their eyes darting toward Shen Yifeng and Gu Zhaoye—they had been the ones speaking earlier.
"Go on, keep talking. I’d like to hear it."
She even repeated herself, her tone almost magnanimous. "I’m very tolerant. I don’t mind listening to your opinions."
But now, the two of them looked as if they had been slapped a hundred times. They stared at Gu Zhaoping, lips pressed tightly together, unable to utter a single word under her questioning.
It was only then that Gu Zhaosi snapped out of his daze—he nearly blurted out "Sis!"
But he bit back the word just in time. Remembering how she had refused to acknowledge him earlier, calling her now would only anger her. He’d have to prove himself first, show her he had truly changed.
Gu Zhaosi straightened up, righteous indignation burning in his chest, and barked loudly, "Who was it just now? Who said she was useless? Who claimed they had arranged the rescue helicopter and demanded everyone listen to them?"
"Who? Step forward! Who was the one putting on a show earlier?"
"I told you—you should’ve listened to her from the start! Stayed put and followed her instructions! What were you even doing? How many times do I have to say it? Do you know this mountain better than she does?"
Gu Zhaosi then turned his glare toward Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi. The siblings flinched under his gaze, their expressions a mix of shock and evasion—why was he still targeting them?!
Gu Zhaosi wasn’t about to let them off the hook. "You two over there! Who was it that said her going up the mountain would just complicate the rescue? If we’d waited for you, would we even be seeing them right now? What exactly were you trying to accomplish? Was this a rescue mission or a joke?"
The group’s faces twisted as if they had just swallowed something vile. Only then did Gu Zhaoping take notice, turning to the young man and realizing he was the one she had stopped and saved on the mountain.
She was slightly surprised—she hadn’t expected him to still be here, let alone involved with the production team.
After a brief thought, it occurred to her that perhaps after descending, he had heard about the missing persons and recalled the dangerous path where he had nearly met disaster, so he stayed behind to provide information.
With that, her impression of him improved—just a little.
Sure, he was a bit of a nuisance, but at least his words were refreshingly blunt.
Seeing Shen Yifeng and Gu Zhaoye’s grim expressions, she felt quite pleased.
“Oh? Care to explain what’s going on?” Gu Zhaoping asked him directly.
A faint smirk appeared on Gu Zhaosi’s face. It seemed that with just a little effort on his part, his sister had already started to regard him with slightly more importance—enough to send him as her messenger.
Without hesitation, Gu Zhaosi immediately embellished the earlier events as he reported: “Just now, they all said you acted recklessly by insisting on going up the mountain, that rescuing someone would only add to the rescue team’s burden, and that the team would have to save both of you, making things even more troublesome!”
He then pointed at Shen Yifeng and Gu Zhaoye and added, “And this guy! He had the nerve to claim he did everything—contacting people, arranging a helicopter for the rescue—just to clean up the mess caused by your impulsiveness!”
“Oh, and this one—Shen Yifeng! He said you were impulsive and had a bad temper!”
Shen Yifeng’s face paled. He was utterly stunned by Gu Zhaosi’s words. When had he ever said Gu Zhaoping had a bad temper? He had merely mentioned that she acted impulsively!
Gu Zhaoye, too, whipped his head around in disbelief, glaring at Gu Zhaosi. What nonsense was he spouting?
“You’re lying—”
“Lying? Are you saying you didn’t say any of that? With so many witnesses here, you still want to deny it?”
Gu Zhaosi’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd. He grabbed the director by the shoulder and demanded, “Tell me, didn’t they say exactly that?”
The director shuddered, feeling utterly miserable. But now that Liang Zhiwei was back, he just wanted to kowtow to Gu Zhaoping in gratitude. He felt as if his life had been spared, and he exhaled in relief, stammering, “Well, uh, I think… I think so?”
Gu Zhaosi shoved him aside and turned back to Gu Zhaoping. “Everything I said is true! These people—especially Shen Yifeng and Gu Zhaoye—they doubted your abilities, made baseless assumptions, and even dared to provoke me! Hah, it’s laughable. I always knew you’d handle it quickly…”
Gu Zhaoping nodded slightly, taking it all in.
She took a few steps forward, and the entire room fell silent, everyone’s eyes fixed on her. Even Gu Zhaoye instinctively backed away as she approached—a conditioned reflex from past beatings.
Only after retreating did he snap back to reality, his expression twisting in frustration. “I—”
He almost called out her name but caught himself, remembering the pain from last time. Gritting his teeth, he forced out, “…Sis, I was just worried about you.”
“Worried about me?” Gu Zhaoping asked calmly. “Is that really what you said?”
Gu Zhaoye froze, his pupils dilating slightly.
Then—
A sudden, overwhelming force slammed into his face.
SMACK!
He had been hit by Gu Zhaoping before, but never with such brutal force.
His eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. Staggering back, he clutched his face, dazed. Had she been holding back all this time?!
Shen Yifeng, who had been knocked into by Gu Zhaoye’s stumble, also staggered, staring at her in shock. He couldn’t understand why Gu Zhaoping had suddenly lashed out.
He had heard Gu Zhaoye mention being beaten by her before, but he’d dismissed it as sibling roughhousing. Then, seeing her take down that jiu-jitsu instructor on the show, he realized she was far more formidable than he’d thought.
But it wasn’t until now—when the impact of Gu Zhaoye crashing into him sent a sharp pain through his body—that he truly grasped just how terrifying her strength was.
She wasn’t holding back at all.
Gu Zhaoye clutched his face, on the verge of tears. “What did I even do this time?! Why hit me out of nowhere?!”
At least give him a warning! And with such force?! Just because he’d doubted for a second that Gu Zhaoping going up the mountain might be more dangerous than Liang Zhiwei being missing alone—was that worth a beating?!
He was utterly devastated.
Shen Yifeng steadied himself before stepping slightly in front of Gu Zhaoye, shielding him from Gu Zhaoping. “That wasn’t our intention. You’re not a professional, and if not for sheer luck with that helicopter, you could’ve ended up stranded on the mountain just like Liang Zhiwei. We were just concerned for your safety. Gu Zhaoping, please—”
Gu Zhaoping reached into a pocket on her chest and unzipped it.
Her gloved hand pulled out what looked like a small card—or perhaps a booklet. Shen Yifeng blinked in confusion.
Before anyone could react, Gu Zhaoping flicked it open with two fingers, revealing its contents.
The bold, unmistakable text leaped out at Shen Yifeng, and Gu Zhaoye’s pupils shrank the moment he saw it.
High-Altitude Ski Rescue Certification?
Rescue Certification?
What was this? Had they been accompanied by a mountain guide or rescue team member all along? Otherwise, how could she have this?
The certification was notoriously difficult to obtain—far beyond just being skilled at skiing. It demanded peak physical condition: resistance to extreme cold, complex terrain, high altitudes, and impeccable cardiovascular and respiratory health.
Technically, it required mastery of mountain climbing, professional rescue techniques, and even operation of snow-based vehicles. Not just climbing—emergency medical skills were a must.
Shen Yifeng stared blankly. “What… is this? Where did you get it?”
Gu Zhaoping’s tone was icy. “Stole it. Grabbed it. Conned someone for it. So, ex-fiancé, has the helicopter you called even arrived yet? Should we all wait with you—until spring, when the snow melts and the roads are easier to traverse?”
Gu Zhaosi’s eyes twitched as he caught sight of the name on the certificate.
Suddenly, everything clicked, and he nearly burst out laughing.
So his sister had this qualification all along!
Damn, his sister’s tongue was as sharp as ever—definitely his blood! If they’d kept searching the way they were, Liang Zhiwei would’ve suffered far more than she already had. Wait—ex-fiancé? Gu Zhaosi’s grin faltered as he zeroed in on that detail.
By the time Shen Yifeng fully processed the name on the certificate, Gu Zhaoping was already asking him, “Satisfied now?”
Gu Zhaosi quickly chimed in, “Had enough of staring at her rescue license? Convinced she’s a badass yet?”
At this moment, everyone else also snapped back to reality. A high-altitude rescue certificate—this was Gu Zhaoping’s? How did she even have something like that?
Wait, so she really was a professional?
The entire group was stunned.
My god, sister, just how many more skills do you have up your sleeve?!
What else are you hiding from everyone? Could you please stop pulling out new surprises like some kind of Doraemon? Our mental resilience isn’t as strong as you think it is!!
That’s right.
In the past, Gu Zhaoping had been into extreme sports and often participated in social circles with wealthy executives. To gain more leverage among them, she had casually obtained this rescue certification as well.
She knew how to handle emergencies when they arose. After arriving here, she had immediately taken the time to get recertified. Every license she had earned before needed to be in her hands now—otherwise, they’d be useless. It was just a matter of retaking the exams; she was already familiar with all of it.
In extreme sports, performing a rescue was the perfect opportunity to trigger the suspension bridge effect.
So when Theodore had frozen for a second earlier and saw the certificate Gu Zhaoping produced, he instantly realized she was qualified. Without another word, he turned to arrange for the helicopter.
As everyone stood there dumbfounded,
Gu Zhaoping calmly tucked the certificate away again. Then she reached out and abruptly grabbed Gu Zhaoye by the collar.
Before Gu Zhaoye could even finish his sentence or react, she suddenly yanked him up and slammed him down in the opposite direction!
Holy shit?!
Why are they fighting again all of a sudden?
Is this even reasonable?
In the snow, Gu Zhaoye had absolutely no chance to resist. He was just suddenly thrown to the ground—damn!
His first sensation was the icy snow splashing onto his face. The second was the searing pain as if his entire body had been shattered! This was outdoors, with scattered sharp pebbles everywhere. Gu Zhaoping didn’t hold back at all—the moment he hit the ground, he felt like his organs were about to rupture!
"Gu Zhaoping, what the hell—"
"You still haven’t learned your lesson. This time, you nearly got someone killed." Gu Zhaoping’s voice was icy before suddenly rising sharply. "Was it you who missed Liang Zhiwei’s distress call? And now you have the nerve to stand here and argue with me?"
Before Gu Zhaoye could process it, another thud!
He was slammed down again, this time face-first into the snow!
Pain—excruciating pain!
In all his years, the few times Gu Zhaoye had ever been beaten had all been courtesy of Gu Zhaoping.
He was genuinely losing it. Why had Gu Zhaoping developed such a habit of resorting to violence? No matter the situation, she just had to throw hands?!
"Missing the critical window to save someone? You deserve this."
It was as if she was seizing every possible opportunity to beat him. Gu Zhaoping showed no restraint and asked no questions.
At this point, Gu Zhaoye jerked his head up and saw Gu Zhaoping raising her hand again. He let out a sharp, almost inhuman shriek—something utterly unbecoming of a domineering CEO—before curling up like a worm and frantically rolling away through the snow!
He’d rather roll straight out of this place than take another hit from Gu Zhaoping. But before he could get far, Gu Zhaosi intercepted him!
Gu Zhaosi bellowed, "Let me help you!"
Then he stuck out a leg, tripping Gu Zhaoye mid-roll and sending him crashing face-first into a rock!
Holy shit, Gu Zhaosi, are you out of your mind?! Are you trying to kill me?!
Gu Zhaoye felt like his kidneys were about to split in half. He whipped his head around to glare at Gu Zhaosi, who looked absurdly proud of his "heroic deed." The man even had the audacity to plant his hands on his hips and taunt, "You wanna try that again? Go on, run!"
He pointed at Gu Zhaoye and roared:
"If you had the guts to screw up, then have the guts to face the consequences! Let everyone see exactly what you’ve done! Let them all witness what a colossal failure you are at your job—how you ‘guaranteed’ the safety of the other guests!"
"Let’s see how the old man deals with you!"
The rest of the group stood in dead silence.
They had all seen the video of Gu Zhaoping slapping Gu Zhaoye in the restaurant, but none of them expected to witness a live reenactment!
Gu Zhaoping was ruthless. She didn’t hesitate to physically punish Gu Zhaoye, showing him not an ounce of mercy. This so-called domineering CEO had no idea how many beatings he’d taken at her hands.
At this point, he’d rather roll away than endure another hit!
This was beyond humiliating. If they were in Gu Zhaoye’s shoes, they’d want to bash their heads into the ground and die.
He had been too busy tending to Ruan Nian’s injuries to notice Liang Zhiwei’s distress call. Then he’d tried to play the hero by calling for help, only for Gu Zhaoping—who wasn’t even part of the show—to swoop in out of nowhere and steal his moment.
What kind of pathetic existence was this? Did Gu Zhaoye even have a reason to keep living?
Inside the helicopter, Theodore stared in stunned silence for a long moment.
He had always thought Gu Zhaoping was a cool-headed, brilliant woman—exceptionally capable, skilled in ways he’d never expect, a master of many talents.
Even when she’d asked him to arrange the helicopter earlier, she’d shown him her high-altitude rescue certification. He had no idea she had that kind of background, that she’d even obtained such a license.
That was the impression he had of her.
He even remembered Valentine mentioning her in passing once, describing her as poised, graceful, and unflappable—someone who never seemed to lose her temper.
Now, watching her… unhesitatingly slap Gu Zhaoye, then hoist him up and slam him down left and right, Theodore’s lips twitched slightly.
Miss Gu… you’re nothing like your brother described.
Does he even know you?
But Theodore wasn’t an ordinary person. After listening quietly for a while, he pieced together the gist of the situation. He glanced at Gu Zhaoye—ah, so this was the younger brother he’d read about in the files.
The siblings were clearly at each other’s throats. And this Gu Zhaoye was far more unreliable than the rumors suggested. He was supposed to be in charge of supporting the other guests, yet he’d completely neglected someone’s safety and nearly got them killed.
After observing Gu Zhaoping’s attitude toward him, Theodore understood her actions perfectly.
He turned to Liang Zhiwei and said politely, "Miss Liang, it’s your cue now."
Liang Zhiwei had been gaping in shock at Gu Zhaoping’s violent outburst, watching as she reduced Gu Zhaoye to this state. Only now did she snap out of her daze, hurriedly muttering, "Oh, oh," before climbing out of the helicopter.
Everyone watched as Liang Zhiwei, who had just gone missing, came running back safely, though she seemed to be limping slightly.
The director immediately looked as if a great burden had been lifted, quickly stepping forward to fuss over Liang Zhiwei in the awkward atmosphere, asking endless questions: "Liang Zhiwei, are you alright? I was so worried about you..."
Liang Zhiwei shook her head and firmly pushed the director aside.
The director paused mid-sentence, following her gaze.
Liang Zhiwei walked up to Gu Zhaoye and stared at him. "Were you the one responsible for receiving the distress signal?"
Only then did Gu Zhaoye turn to look at her. He had just been beaten up by Gu Zhaoping, his lips still smeared with blood. The moment he opened his mouth, a sharp pain made him wince.
His face was pale as he met her eyes. "I didn’t receive it..."
Liang Zhiwei took a deep breath.
Gu Zhaoye endured the pain coursing through his body, staring at her intently. After all, he and Liang Zhiwei had shared so many years together. The way she looked at him now—it was clear she was truly disappointed, even hurt.
He had indeed favored Ruan Nian over her many times.
Gu Zhaoye uncomfortably averted his gaze. He knew this was his fault. If Liang Zhiwei wanted to blame him, he had nothing to say in his defense. "I have no excuses. If you want to blame me, go ahead."
His voice was flat as he turned away.
He expected Liang Zhiwei to well up with tears, to say something about how disappointed she was in him, or perhaps to cut ties with him completely—to sever whatever remained between them.
But no one could have predicted what happened next.
A gust of wind swept by.
A sharp, resounding slap landed hard across his face.
The sound was even louder and crisper than the one Gu Zhaoping had delivered earlier!
Gu Zhaoye’s head jerked to the side, his pupils contracting in shock.
Gu Zhaoping’s slap had already lost its edge, delivered more out of habit than anything else. But Liang Zhiwei’s strike held no technique—just pure, unfiltered hatred.
The more she hit him, the more satisfying it felt. She suddenly understood the appeal of Gu Zhaoping’s methods.
"I’ve had enough of you, you idiot!"
Liang Zhiwei didn’t hold back, cursing him outright. "Stop pretending! Do you even realize I almost died up there? If it weren’t for Gu Zhaoping saving me, you’d have blood on your hands right now! You’d be a murderer, and here you are still putting on an act!"
"'No excuses'? You can’t even apologize? Keep pretending, I dare you!"
