The entire mansion fell into silence—everyone was stunned, staring at the scene before them!
Wh-wh-what?!
This was the first time Gu Zhaoping had encountered such an insolent younger brother. As the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, she had always been the model for her younger siblings. No one had ever dared to raise their voice at her; they were all gentle, obedient, and well-mannered.
Generally, she didn’t involve herself in their petty squabbles. They weren’t even in the same league—intervening would be overkill, and she wasn’t the type to do such things.
But being questioned and accused by her younger brother? That was a first.
Gu Zhaoping didn’t feel her authority was being challenged. She simply believed rules needed to be established, especially for someone as reckless as him—people like that often caused trouble, big trouble.
The solution was simple. Some people didn’t understand how to behave properly, but while words might not teach them, experience always did.
Since he claimed she had already laid hands on him, she might as well do it again—leave a deep enough impression that he’d instinctively remember it the next time he saw her.
Though her strength wasn’t overwhelming, the combined force of an average adult and her technique was more than enough to pin Gu Zhaoye down.
The first to react was Ms. Hua. She let out a shriek, torn between rushing over and holding back, settling for expressing her concern from a distance: "Zhaoping, what are you doing?!"
Gu Zhaoping glanced up. "Armbar."
Ms. Hua choked. Armbar? What bar? She was asking why they were fighting—or rather, why Gu Zhaoping was beating Gu Zhaoye senseless!
An armbar was a submission hold in jiu-jitsu, nearly impossible to escape. Gu Zhaoping was particularly skilled at it—no one could break free once she had them locked in.
Gu Zhaoye was genuinely dazed. In over twenty years of life, he had never been hit this hard—and by Gu Zhaoping, of all people! The pain was secondary; the humiliation of it all was what truly stung.
His face was swollen and bruised as he turned his head like a cornered wolf, voice low with suppressed fury: "Gu Zhao—"
But the hand gripping his chin merely tightened slightly, sending a sharp jolt of pain that snapped him back to reality, cutting off his words mid-sentence!
He tried to shove Gu Zhaoping off, but to his horror, no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t break free. It was like being trapped in a custom-made cage!
Gu Zhaoye trembled with rage, the sheer absurdity of it all overwhelming him. Gu Zhaoping had lost her mind!
No matter how much trouble she stirred up, she had always been warm toward him—just as she was with their cousins from the second and third branches. Gu Zhaoye knew she understood that the bulk of the Gu family’s assets would eventually go to the sons. She had to maintain good relations with them.
If her marriage ever went sour, she’d need her brothers to stand up for her. The Gu brothers were her greatest security—many even envied her for having so many brothers guarding the family fortune.
If she were the only daughter, she’d be at risk of being taken advantage of.
Gu Zhaoping had tried to drive Ruan Nian away from him, partly because she thought Ruan Nian wasn’t good enough for her outstanding brother, and partly because she couldn’t stand how much control Ruan Nian had over him. Gu Zhaoye’s fiancée was her best friend, Fang Yining. If that marriage alliance held, the bond between her and her brother would only grow stronger.
Ruan Nian was a wildcard, a threat to her safety net.
Gu Zhaoye knew all this—which was exactly why he was so shocked, so furious, so completely unprepared for this turn of events!
What was Gu Zhaoping thinking?!
Did she really believe he wouldn’t retaliate? That she could just walk all over him?!
He didn’t even have time to wonder when Gu Zhaoping had become so skilled in combat. The thought of missing such a detail filled him with an uneasy dread. Teeth clenched, he turned his head and spat, "You dare lay hands on me?!"
"Do you have the guts to let Grandfather see what you’ve done? You’re attacking me!"
Just then, the doorbell rang again. A servant announced, "Old Master Gu has arrived!"
Everyone except Gu Zhaoping froze. Gu Zhaoye, still pinned beneath her, strained to look up as footsteps and the tapping of a cane echoed from outside. He was too stunned to react.
No way. This timing couldn’t be real. Had Grandfather come to discipline Gu Zhaoping?
This was a crime caught red-handed—witnesses and evidence all present!
When it finally sank in, Gu Zhaoye let out a cold laugh. Ignoring his disheveled state, he glared back at Gu Zhaoping. "Just wait till Grandfather sees what you’ve done! You’re finished! Let me go—do you really think you can act like this in front of him?!"
Before he could finish, another sharp pain shot through his arm. Gu Zhaoping had adjusted her hold, locking him even tighter. His face twisted in agony—even a domineering CEO couldn’t withstand this kind of pain. He sucked in a sharp breath.
Gu Zhaoping remained utterly unfazed!
Grandfather was about to walk in, and she still hadn’t released him!
She was calm. Completely indifferent!
Had she lost her mind?! That was Old Master Gu!
Old Master Gu only ended his call as he reached the doorstep. "Ah, yes, thank you for your trouble."
"Ah, it’s all because my granddaughter is so exceptional. Who would’ve thought she’d quietly become a master? I never paid much attention before. Oh ho, this child is just too humble, far too humble."
"Yes, yes, exactly. You’ve verified this solution—it’s the only viable one, right? Even the global chess community agrees no one’s found a way around it yet?"
As he climbed the steps, Old Master Gu paused at the top, leaning on his cane as he gazed at the distant twilight clouds. His heart bloomed with pride.
He tapped his cane, voice growing louder. "That’s right! I knew this girl was special from the day she was born. And look at her—even now, she’s heading to the company tomorrow!"
"Tell me, how does she manage to be so hardworking?"
"Yes, yes, even better than her brothers! The Gu family is truly fortunate to have her."
After chatting with the chess association, Old Master Gu finally turned back, satisfied. He had to deliver this good news to Zhaoping himself—no one else could share in his joy quite like she could.
The door opened. The usually stern old man wore a rare, doting smile as he stepped inside, calling out, "Zhaoping! Zhaoping!"
"Wonderful news!"
Full of vigor, Old Master Gu strode in without needing support, his cane barely touching the ground.
His eyesight wasn’t the best, but he recognized his son and daughter-in-law standing dumbfounded in the hall. He ignored them, spotting Gu Zhaoping crouched on the floor.
Ah, probably tidying something up. This child—still so diligent even at night. What a hard worker.
He walked up cheerfully, not noticing what he had stepped on, and immediately shared the good news with her: "Zhaoping, the chess association's certification is out! Your solution is now officially the world's only optimal solution to this endgame! It's been submitted to the international chess association for the record! And I thought—why stop there? Let’s get the Guinness World Record too..."
Gu Zhaoping froze for a moment, not expecting the old man to have spent his day on this.
She had no objections to anything that strengthened her position, so she nodded and said, "Thank you, Grandfather. As long as it makes you happy."
Old Master Gu felt an indescribable warmth in his heart. He had neglected Zhaoping for far too long, never realizing how well-spoken she was.
Only then did he notice something shifting under his foot. He looked down, squinting, and realized it was a hand.
"What in the—?!" Old Master Gu jumped back in alarm!
Gu Zhaoye, who had been pinned under Gu Zhaoping’s grip, finally managed to turn his head with great difficulty. He couldn’t even shout—he was so furious he could practically self-combust, coughing violently as if he might cough up blood. She had done this on purpose, absolutely on purpose! She’d covered his mouth to keep him silent!
Gu Zhaoping finally released her leg, dusting off her hands as she stood up. "Your grandson," she said casually.
The old man shuddered, his eyes nearly bulging out of his skull. The "diligent tidying up" she’d been doing in the middle of the night was his grandson?!
Finally freed, Gu Zhaoye wanted nothing more than to grab her by the collar—but before he could act, he hesitated, unsure of her strength. And with the old man here... He wasn’t like Gu Zhaoping, who had no regard for propriety. Gasping and coughing, he struggled to sit up.
"Grandfather!"
Gu Zhaoye’s gaze darkened. Let’s see how you wriggle out of punishment this time...
Wait.
Still dazed from the two punches, he finally had the presence of mind to recall what Old Master Gu and Gu Zhaoping had just discussed.
The chess association…?
Her… solution?
A record? What record? The Guinness World Records? Was there some mix-up with the name?
No—Gu Zhaoye’s mind reeled—since when did Gu Zhaoping know how to play chess?!
Clutching his collar, he looked up in disbelief, all his accusations against her stuck in his throat.
His sharp glare shot toward Gu Zhaoping!
Ms. Hua and Father Gu were equally stunned. Huh? What just happened? They couldn’t make sense of it—was there something wrong with their ears? Or was their central nervous system malfunctioning?
Gu Zhaoping? The chess association? A record?
They were all Chinese words, yet they sounded so foreign together. How could they possibly fit in the same sentence?
Seeing Old Master Gu’s dumbfounded expression, Gu Zhaoye finally gritted his teeth and rasped through his coughs, "Grandfather, Gu Zhaoping not only attacked my woman outside, but she also came home and attacked me!"
"She has no respect for the Gu family’s dignity!"
Old Master Gu stared blankly as Gu Zhaoye scrambled up, as if waking from a dream. He seemed to grasp the situation somewhat.
Then he turned to Gu Zhaoping, waiting for her closing statement.
"Zhaoping, what’s going on? Is it as your brother says?"
No one noticed how drastically Old Master Gu’s impression of Gu Zhaoping had shifted. He didn’t blindly take Gu Zhaoye’s side—even though he’d walked in on her mid-assault, he didn’t jump to conclusions. He wanted to hear her version first.
The most composed person in the room was Gu Zhaoping.
She showed no trace of having just beaten someone up. Walking to the table, she picked up the teapot and poured two cups.
Her movements were deliberate but not sluggish—even the act of pouring tea seemed like an art, calming those who watched.
It was almost like she controlled the room.
Gu Zhaoping straightened, holding both teacups, and turned to hand one to Old Master Gu.
Her actions silenced everyone. The old man instinctively accepted the cup, and Gu Zhaoping tilted hers slightly in a toast before taking a sip.
Leaning against the sofa, her long legs stretched out, she spoke casually, "Nothing much. Just teaching the younger generation some manners."
Her gaze lifted from the tea, cold and sharp behind her thin glasses, landing on Gu Zhaoye in the corner. "So, have you learned to call me ‘elder sister’ yet?"
Gu Zhaoye tensed, instantly enraged by her attitude—but instead of his usual impulsiveness, he was flooded with the memory of that near-suffocating moment earlier.
Gu Zhaoping had truly lost it.
She was genuinely unhinged—she had really hit him, really wanted to pin him down and nearly choke him. And she would never apologize for interfering with Ruan Nian’s matter.
No, forget apologizing—she wouldn’t even humor him with a fake one.
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Gu Zhaoye had never seen Gu Zhaoping like this—it was as if she’d been possessed.
He wanted to lash out, snatch the teacup from her hands and smash it on the ground, threaten her to remember this day and beg him for mercy later.
But for some reason, his instincts told him the threat would be useless. In fact… it seemed Gu Zhaoping had depths he’d never glimpsed.
After coughing and clutching his throat for a long moment, his face alternating between green and red, Gu Zhaoye decided to swallow his pride.
Old Master Gu seemed oddly fond of Gu Zhaoping right now. Though he had no idea what that chess nonsense was about, with the old man present, he couldn’t just start shouting accusations.
Fine. He wouldn’t stoop to a woman’s level—he couldn’t hit a woman anyway. He was the Gu family’s heir. If he let Gu Zhaoping drive him mad over something so petty, what kind of heir would he be?
They weren’t even in the same league. If Gu Zhaoping wanted to waste her energy trying to discipline him, let her try. Once Old Master Gu passed and the family’s power was in his hands, she’d learn that authority had nothing to do with age or seniority.
Hell, even where she worked in the corporation was up to him.
Gu Zhaoye took a deep, shuddering breath. The humiliation and fury of being forced to yield to someone he’d always looked down on made his entire body tremble.
But under Old Master Gu’s expectant gaze, he clenched his jaw and forced out the word:
"Sister."
