As his words fell, Shen Yifeng's pupils abruptly constricted, unable to believe what he had just heard.
Why?
What was he saying? Clearly, he knew Gu Zhaoping was already involved with that young master of the Laroche family, so why would he say, "So what?"
Even if he didn’t know the man’s identity, how could he pursue a woman who was already in a relationship? Could he really disregard the status of the Laroche heir?
Unless… his own status surpassed even that?
Shen Yifeng was stunned.
Gu Zhaoping glanced at Theodore, though her understanding of the situation was entirely different.
To her, Theodore obviously knew his younger brother, Valentin, was pursuing her—after all, that was precisely why he had invited her to the mountain estate. He was acting as Valentin’s family representative, accompanying her. So Shen Yifeng’s question struck her as utterly absurd.
In fact, it was Shen Yifeng’s misunderstanding and sudden interrogation that felt shockingly presumptuous, even contemptible. She merely turned to him coolly and asked, "Do you have a problem with that?"
Shen Yifeng’s eyes narrowed further. What was this supposed to mean?
Was she openly accepting the advances of two men at once—entertaining the Laroche heir’s courtship while also going on private helicopter dates with this man?
And then asking if he had a problem with it?
Gu Zhaoping was equally indifferent to every man close to her!
Back then, she had allowed that young actor to act so intimately with her, even indulging his audacity in front of Shen Yifeng. Then she let the Laroche heir flaunt his arrogance in his presence. And now, she could just as easily dismiss that young master and move on to a new man!
No—wait.
Shen Yifeng’s neck stiffened as he slowly turned his head. Behind him stood that same young actor he’d seen before—Chu Yanze, if he remembered correctly.
He’d seen them together in the news, opening a restaurant, looking perfectly content. So this new flame was here too.
Did Gu Zhaoping truly not care at all about the pride or possessiveness between these men? Did the concept of exclusivity not exist in her mind?
He had thought her past dalliances with male models were the limit, but clearly, Gu Zhaoping’s boundaries went far beyond that.
Seeing Shen Yifeng’s shattered expression, Gu Zhaoping couldn’t be bothered to humor him.
Gu Zhaosi, interrupted mid-conversation, frowned and turned to Shen Yifeng in disbelief. "Ex-fiancé, are you out of your mind? Why didn’t you ask Gu Zhaoye the same question? He’s been tangled up with Ruan Nian for years, had some ambiguous history with Liang Zhiwei, and—oh, right—he even has a fiancée! Neither of those women were his first entanglement! So why are you interrogating my sister?"
Shen Yifeng’s eyelids twitched, as if struck speechless by the question. He hadn’t even processed it himself.
But the reaction from the production crew behind him was far more explosive.
A shockwave rippled through the group, their eyes widening in disbelief, as if they’d just uncovered some earth-shattering secret.
What did he just say? Wait—did he say fiancée? Gu Zhaoye had a fiancée?!
So forget Liang Zhiwei—Ruan Nian wasn’t even his so-called "original partner"?
Did that mean Ruan Nian had been the one intruding on someone else’s relationship from the start?
He had a fiancée. Why had Gu Zhaoye never mentioned her?
Then, almost in unison, everyone’s gaze snapped back to Shen Yifeng!
Even someone as high-profile as Gu Zhaoping had kept her own engagement hidden until now.
Do you Gu siblings just make a habit of hiding your betrothals?!
The entire group was paralyzed with shock. Today wasn’t just an accident—it was a revelation of unimaginable secrets! If even one person here leaked this, the fallout would be catastrophic, the scale of the scandal beyond prediction.
Strangely, they realized they no longer viewed Ruan Nian with the same reverence. After all the chaos of recent episodes, watching her and Gu Zhaoye act like a pair of deranged lovers, this new revelation somehow felt… fitting. No skepticism required.
The director stood frozen, his neck stiff as he turned to Chu Yanze, the closest to him. Even Chu Yanze looked stunned—clearly, he knew nothing about the Gu family’s secrets either.
Fiancée?
He blinked, momentarily thrown. But it didn’t matter much to him; Chu Yanze wasn’t particularly invested.
Earlier, when Shen Yifeng mentioned Gu Zhaoping’s involvement with that Laroche heir, Chu Yanze’s chest had tightened briefly, a faint pressure settling over him.
But then he saw the other man nod and say, "So what?"—and just like that, the tension dissipated.
Right. If this complete stranger could be so unbothered, why couldn’t he?
There had been plenty of young men who’d shared some degree of closeness with Gu Zhaoping. Even before he knew her well, he’d heard the rumors about those male models.
But Gu Zhaoping wasn’t indiscriminate. She chose men with education, good looks, manners, and class—no cutthroat competition, no vulgarity. Just emotional companionship, nothing physical. Compared to Gu Zhaoye’s antics, it was a thousand times more respectable.
—This was what he’d overheard from Gu Zhaoping’s friends while shopping with her.
At the time, he’d only half-listened, but now the memory resurfaced.
That was when he’d first felt relief, then resolve—realizing that if he worked hard and proved himself, he stood a chance.
Now, though, anger flared. Right—the Gu family’s engagements weren’t limited to Gu Zhaoping! Gu Zhaoye was a thousand times more outrageous, so why was this ex-fiancé fixated on her instead? Did he think she was an easy target?
His gaze shifted to the man in the helicopter. Though a faint discomfort lingered in his chest, one thing was clear: this man had arranged the rescue, saving Gu Zhaoping and Liang Zhiwei in time.
Currently, he was standing on Gu Zhaoping’s side, confronting her ex-fiancé, so for now, he had no grounds to criticize him. But seeing Shen Yifeng’s aggressive, interrogative demeanor only fueled his anger further.
Chu Yanze stepped forward without hesitation. "Haven’t you caused enough trouble already? At the mall last time, didn’t Zhaoping-jie make it clear she was ending the engagement? What right do you have to stand here and dictate anything? Who do you think you are?"
"Even if Zhaoping-jie is being pursued by someone—even if a thousand or ten thousand people chase after her—what does it have to do with you? Acting all high and mighty, like some patriarch, just because of some verbal agreement? Open your eyes and ask yourself: do you even have the right anymore?"
"And even if the engagement were still in place, does that give you the authority to boss her around? What kind of status is a fiancé, anyway?"
Shen Yifeng, caught off guard by another verbal lashing, turned pale with fury.
Compared to the other man, what stunned him more was this young actor, Chu Yanze.
What? Why are you acting like the rightful partner here, playing the magnanimous role? Aren’t you with Gu Zhaoping? Not only are you unfazed by that La Roche guy, but you’re also indifferent to this new man who showed up late?
What kind of charade are you two putting on in front of Gu Zhaoping?!
He looked back and forth between them, as if they’d both lost their minds. Completely insane!
Theodore cleared his throat. Earlier, he’d been skeptical about whether Gu Zhaoping had truly settled things with her so-called fiancé. But now it was clear—this engagement was as good as dead. Meaning Gu Zhaoping was effectively single.
No, correction—she was single.
His gaze shifted to Chu Yanze. There was definitely something between him and Gu Zhaoping, but it wasn’t a problem. He was young, still green. Gu Zhaoping probably wouldn’t fixate on him alone.
He turned back to Shen Yifeng.
"I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but I suggest you stop making assumptions about me. Unless you want to face the consequences."
He didn’t bother delving deeper into the argument, ending it with that cold remark. Instead, he turned to Gu Zhaosi and motioned. "Let’s go."
Gu Zhaosi immediately waved back. "See you later, ex-brother-in-law!"
Shen Yifeng’s face twisted even further.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoping turned to Liang Zhiwei. "Do you need to go to the hospital first?"
Liang Zhiwei quickly shook her head. "It’s nothing serious, Zhaoping-jie. You go ahead. The rescue team will be here soon, and I’ll head to the hospital right after. No rush!"
Gu Zhaoping considered this briefly. Fine. Her documents and luggage were still with the production team here, so waiting for the rescue team would make things easier. Decision made, she didn’t press further.
Chu Yanze opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly shut it again, lowering his lashes and avoiding looking at the helicopter.
Just before takeoff, however, Gu Zhaoping suddenly remembered him. Over the crowd, she called out:
"Oh, Xiao Chu—how did your mission go?"
At her voice, everyone turned, their eyes locking onto Chu Yanze.
He froze for a second, his eyes flickering as warmth surged through him.
With all these people watching, Zhaoping-jie still remembered to ask about him.
The man in the helicopter was staring. So was Shen Yifeng.
Chu Yanze suddenly raised his voice, brimming with energy. "I didn’t let you down!"
"Zhaoping-jie, just wait for the show!"
The young man’s voice was vibrant, bursting with life. At her call, his eyes seemed to ignite, blazing with excitement.
Gu Zhaoping smiled faintly in approval before shutting the cabin door.
Shen Yifeng couldn’t take it anymore. He squeezed his eyes shut, took several deep breaths, then spun around and stormed to his SUV. The door slammed shut, and the vehicle tore through the snow, leaving behind a bewildered driver who scrambled after it, shouting, "Boss! Boss, why’d you drive off without me?!"
Chu Yanze’s face was alight with joy.
Beside him, Su Yubai glanced over, his own smile faint and unconvincing, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable.
He couldn’t describe the hollowness inside him.
Even though this was the place where he and Zhaoping-jie had shared the most memories. Even though he was the one who’d insisted on not disrupting her plans.
Yet when she appeared, the last person she called wasn’t him—it was Chu Yanze.
The people around her were always changing.
Su Yubai had never felt it so acutely before.
Now, it was someone else standing in the spotlight, receiving the admiration meant for him.
He’d told himself over and over—he had to accept this shift, accept that her heart and interests changed, accept that she was free, that her passions and personality were always evolving.
But he still couldn’t bring himself to smile.
He didn’t even have the energy to explain why he knew Gu Zhaoping so well, why he understood her confidence.
As the helicopter lifted into the sky, Su Yubai finally let his smile fade and turned away.
But then Chu Yanze spun around, calling out to the others. "Wait."
He fixed his gaze on Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi. "Aren’t you going to compare mission results with me?"
All traces of his earlier melancholy and urgency were gone. His brows lifted, radiating triumph as he pulled a stack of task cards from his ski jacket, the folded papers unfurling to reveal his completed records.
Liang Zhiwei quickly produced her own data. "I finished mine too!"
Despite the mishap, she’d protected her mission logs even when her phone shattered. She’d conquered the solo ski run—now it was just the Li siblings’ turn to show their results.
The Li siblings, who’d been trying to slip away unnoticed, stiffened when called out.
They’d almost forgotten about the bet with Gu Zhaoping. Li Xunxi shot a panicked look at Li Xunwen, silently pleading for a solution.
Should they really continue competing with Gu Zhaoping? Given how things were unfolding, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Gu Zhaoping had more tricks up her sleeve. She knew jujitsu, even had a mountain rescue certification. It was hard to say whether Gu Zhaoping had secretly learned chess too and was now scheming to challenge them.
Li Xunwen also froze for a long moment before finally turning his gaze back to meet Li Xunxi’s eyes. Slowly, he said, “No matter what, I’m going to play against her. You don’t need to compare scores with me right now.”
His words grew slower as his mind raced, desperately searching for a foolproof plan. Their pride had already taken enough hits. They couldn’t afford to keep humiliating themselves by losing to Gu Zhaoping over and over. This time, he had to ensure a complete victory.
Then—it hit him!
Li Xunwen suddenly remembered. Right here in Los Angeles, he knew an international chess prodigy! A genius, still young—barely seventeen or eighteen when he solved an incredibly rare endgame, breaking a Guinness World Record that still stood in the chess association’s archives.
Even his mentor, Master Qi, had held him in high esteem. The only catch was that this prodigy was somewhat frail, often recuperating abroad and rarely returning home. He kept a low profile in the chess world, seldom playing more than a game or two, unconcerned even if his ranking dropped. After all, chess wasn’t his livelihood.
Rumors said he spent his time gardening, cultivating his mind, studying poetry, or practicing calligraphy—a man of refined tastes.
The only way to persuade him was to present a fresh challenge, something that piqued his interest in the game.
Li Xunwen’s mind whirred. He decided to seek this master’s guidance.
“Fine, let’s play chess then.” He glanced down at his task card, comparing it with Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei’s. They had lost.
But this plan, originally meant to humiliate Gu Zhaoping, now brought him relief. Losing was good—losing meant they could take the initiative, making their next move more secure.
They truly didn’t dare underestimate Gu Zhaoping anymore.
Even Shen Yifeng had been utterly outmatched by her. And Gu Zhaoping didn’t even spare her own brother, Gu Zhaoye, the heir to the Gu family. It was as if she had awakened some overpowered protagonist system and was about to dominate everything. They couldn’t keep being the cannon fodder in her path.
“Perfect, Gu Zhaoping is nearby anyway. Once we wrap things up here, let’s go find her!”
Chu Yanze’s brow twitched. He hadn’t yet figured out how the Li siblings knew Gu Zhaoping was in the area. Had they met before?
But he couldn’t afford to lose face. He immediately agreed, “Sure!”
“You’d better not back out!”
Meanwhile, aboard the departing helicopter.
Gu Zhaosi glanced around and couldn’t help but click his tongue.
He had practically cut ties with the Gu family. Over the years, aside from basic necessities, he’d never asked them for anything. And after secretly debuting in the entertainment industry, he’d become financially independent, further reducing contact.
As a result, his lifestyle had grown much simpler.
A luxurious helicopter like this was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time. His fingers lingered on the plush leather, a hint of longing in his touch. “Ah, having money really is nice,” he mused.
Theodore handed him a drink. Gu Zhaosi took it, blinking in surprise at the branded juice beverage.
He looked up at Theodore, baffled. Did this guy think he was a child or something?
Theodore, nearly a decade older, regarded him with the same warmth he showed all younger members of Gu Zhaoping’s circle. Only a rare few ever glimpsed his ruthless, ambitious side.
“Thanks.”
Gu Zhaosi took a sip and froze, his eyes widening at the burst of flavor. The delicious taste derailed his earlier somber thoughts.
Theodore chuckled. Kids will be kids.
He turned to Gu Zhaoping. “Would you like one?”
“No.” She wasn’t in the habit of drinking sugary beverages. Her lifestyle was impeccably healthy, and after the intense rescue operation, she needed rest. She kept her eyes closed, conserving her energy.
Theodore simply smiled and nodded.
Gu Zhaosi, still sipping his drink, suddenly remembered something. “Hey, are you my sister’s new boyfriend?”
“No.” Theodore remained unflustered.
One benefit of age—topics like this didn’t faze him. No awkwardness, no hesitation, just straightforward conversation.
Gu Zhaosi nodded. His mistake, but no harm done. If it annoyed that ex-fiancé of hers, even better.
Theodore continued smoothly, “Do you know who that ‘Young Master Laroche’ is, the one your sister’s ex mentioned earlier?”
Gu Zhaosi gulped down his drink and shot him a questioning look. “Who?”
“My younger brother.”
“Pfft—!” Gu Zhaosi spat out his drink in shock!
He scrambled to wipe his mouth, the juice splattered across Theodore’s pristine leather interior. Theodore merely glanced down, unfazed, and offered him a handkerchief.
Gu Zhaosi didn’t dare take it. He stared at Theodore in horror, shrinking back as he grabbed a handful of tissues to scrub his face clean.
Theodore calmly retrieved the handkerchief and dabbed at the spilled drink. Of course, professional cleaning would be needed later. For now, he simply wiped away the excess and set the cloth aside.
Gu Zhaosi’s expression grew even more alarmed.
Seriously, dude? Brothers competing for the same woman?
Are you two trying to imitate the Zhang brothers serving Empress Wu Zetian? Wait, you’re foreigners! You’ve probably never even heard of that story!
Theodore watched his stunned reaction, then glanced back at the peacefully resting Gu Zhaoping. Turning to Gu Zhaosi, he asked simply, “Is that not allowed?”
Now it was Gu Zhaosi’s turn to be utterly shaken, replacing Shen Yifeng in that role.
His lips moved soundlessly for a long moment.
Finally, he managed to mutter, “Well played.”
Though it wasn’t clear whether he meant Theodore and his brother—or his sister.
Theodore didn’t say anything more, nor did he spell it out explicitly—let alone let Gu Zhaoping hear it.
He had plenty of interest and patience. Perhaps he didn’t even need to make the first move; he could outlast these young boys.
Unlike Shen Yifeng, Theodore didn’t feel self-conscious about his age when he saw these younger men.
On the contrary, he considered age an indelible mark of experience.
Someone like Gu Zhaoping might be momentarily dazzled by fresh, attractive faces, or charmed by lively laughter. But in the long run, there was no doubt she was the type to make rational choices.
Thinking of this, Theodore didn’t feel the slightest urgency.
All he needed to do was maintain this budding interest and stay within Gu Zhaoping’s line of sight, quietly waiting for things to unfold.
It was rather amusing. Before meeting Gu Zhaoping, he’d never entertained such thoughts—he’d only intended to vet her on Valentine’s behalf.
But after seeing her, his intentions had subtly shifted in an instant.
He truly had never been so captivated before.
Sometimes, the absence of ambition simply meant one hadn’t encountered the right target.
Valentine was diligent and driven, but that was all there was to it.
Gu Zhaosi swallowed hard a few times.
He quickly turned to his sister, deciding to change the subject. “By the way, sis, what are you doing here? You didn’t come with the filming crew, right?”
Amid the roar of the helicopter, the aircraft flew over the city and landed at the venue for the Energy Industry Leaders Summit.
Even after the helicopter came to a stop, Gu Zhaosi blinked innocently, looking around in confusion as he waited for Gu Zhaoping’s answer.
Gu Zhaoping, having finished her rest, opened her eyes and looked at him. “What do you think?”
Seeing that neither of them paid him any further attention, they disembarked one after the other.
Gu Zhaosi froze for a moment before grabbing his ski poles and hurrying after them. The moment he stepped off the helicopter, the bright sunlight and the massive sign reading “Energy Industry Leaders Summit” nearly blinded him.
—Energy Industry Leaders Summit?
Clutching his ski poles, Gu Zhaosi stood dumbfounded amidst the passing crowd, drawing curious glances. Yet he remained rooted in place, his mind suddenly flashing with realization.
Holy shit, this summit?!
Holy shit, did Grandpa bring my sister here?!
Gu Zhaosi had heard of this summit—he knew exactly how prestigious it was!
Hadn’t Gu Kaichang been losing his mind over this very opportunity?! Only the heir apparent in Grandpa’s eyes would be allowed to attend!
Holy shit!
In the short time he’d been away from home…
Had his sister already been anointed as the successor?!
As he stared at the gleaming sign—Speeches to commence shortly—his ski poles slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
Sis… you’re not about to give a solo speech, are you?
He couldn’t even imagine the expressions on the Gu family’s faces!
No—on the faces of the entire world!
While Gu Zhaosi was reeling in shock…
At the same time, in the same city, inside a grand estate…
A man in his twenties practiced calligraphy by the floor-to-ceiling windows framed in white lattice.
His demeanor was as serene as snow, the only sound the faint scratch of his brush against paper.
When a knock came at the door, he finished the last stroke before looking up. Wiping his hands on a nearby cloth, he said, “Come in.”
A servant informed him, “Young Master Li Xunwen says he has an urgent matter to discuss with you regarding chess. He claims to have encountered a formidable opponent he can’t defeat and needs your help!”
The man paused. “I haven’t played chess in a long time.”
The servant hesitated. “Yes, I told Young Master Li as much. But he insisted this is a matter of pride and that only you can guarantee a surefire solution. The opponent he’s facing is shrouded in mystery—no one knows their true strength.”
The man smiled faintly, lowering his gaze as he lifted the freshly written calligraphy and removed the paperweight. “Tell him to come back when my record is broken.”
He had no interest and casually set a condition.
Just then—
Ring ring!
The butler’s phone suddenly rang. He answered immediately, exchanging polite greetings before his expression abruptly shifted to one of stunned disbelief.
Whipping his head around, his voice cracked with shock: “Young Master! The Chess Association says your record has been broken!”
Ni Tiansong froze, his brush halting mid-air as he lifted his eyes.
