The Gu family's press conference came too suddenly, and many people hadn't even processed it yet.
It was only afterwards that the frenzied discussions erupted!
People had originally held some expectations regarding this matter, but were suddenly presented with an outcome no one had anticipated.
—Gu Zhaoye was ousted, and Gu Zhaoping was taking over Yuanqi Tech!
This left everyone utterly stunned, even doubting if they had read it wrong!
Major news always breaks when you least expect it.
The image of Gu Zhaoping calmly announcing these two matters on screen was being wildly shared!
No one is a fool; seeing it play out like this makes it very hard not to suspect that Gu Zhaoye's downfall had something to do with Gu Zhaoping.
Yet, the very thought that it was Gu Zhaoping's maneuvering that pushed that fool Gu Zhaoye off his pedestal, stripping him of even his CEO title and forcing him to hand everything over to her, made everyone feel... thrilled!
That's our Sister Zhaoping for you!
[Did Sister Zhaoping do this? Does this mean Sister Zhaoping will be the CEO of Yuanqi Tech from now on, Gu Zhaoye is out, and he's exiting the main stage for good?]
[Damn, I never imagined it would develop like this. I thought the most that would happen was an apology, but Gu Zhaoye's punishment is even harsher than I imagined?]
[Sister Zhaoping is so cool... really, I can't think of another word, I just think she's so cool!]
[Are there any other punishments for Gu Zhaoye? I'm still a bit unsatisfied that he was just removed.]
[His removal is already a big deal, what more do you want? Plenty of wealthy young masters have done worse without any punishment; this is all thanks to Sister Zhaoping pursuing it to the end!]
The whole internet was abuzz!
Explosive heat!
It's genuinely rare to see a female leader sitting on stage with such composure, announcing the downfall of her rival.
She didn't even deign to elaborate, merely stating the outcome plainly, without any superfluous words.
Everyone around her, regardless of their status or position, was serving her with a mix of caution and eagerness.
It seemed they all understood who their future boss would be.
When you truly hold power, you find that everyone around you suddenly becomes much more agreeable, and even the service you receive seems more attentive.
She was not merely an appendage of potential. She was the person they needed to respect in her own right.
And Gu Zhaoping seemed to have a strong sense of deserving this, showing no awkwardness or discomfort from her sudden rise in status. She was simply very composed, and accustomed to enjoying this kind of admiration, which infuriated all those gnashing their teeth, waiting to see her fail.
Gu Zhaoping, who does she think she is?!
"Let's see how long she can hold onto that position. The Gu family has more than just her as a junior; even the side branches are eyeing a piece of the pie. If she can hold it steady, that would be real skill. Don't celebrate too early."
"I don't believe Gu Zhaoye is really finished for good this time. Wait and see how Old Master Gu reacts later. Once the storm passes, he might still have a chance."
Of course, these envious whispers were inaudible to the general public.
Gu Zhaoping had recently become a nuclear-level topic of conversation. Wherever you went, people seemed to be discussing her, their words filled with shock and admiration.
President Lin of the Jien Group had just landed when he received this news. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately flew into a rage.
"How could Gu Zhaoye be ousted so suddenly? What did he do? Was that one previous incident enough for such a severe punishment? Are you people in the Gu family out of your minds??"
No matter the group or family, how could they just casually discard a family heir cultivated for so many years, wasting all those resources? If it were him, he would move heaven and earth to protect Gu Zhaoye.
The assistant being scolded beside him looked awkward and finally said, "There's one more thing, President Lin."
"What is it?" President Lin's tone was already terrible.
"It's that Gu Zhaoping said she will be taking over Yuanqi Tech and becoming the new CEO."
President Lin suddenly fell silent.
His expression shifted through a spectrum of colors, looking even worse than if he'd been slapped.
What?
Gu Zhaoping actually ascended? She directly snatched Yuanqi Tech from Gu Zhaoye's hands?
He was both utterly deflated and incredulous. How could this happen?
Was Gu Zhaoping really as important to the Gu family as she claimed? She wasn't just a spokesperson they trotted out?!
President Lin was genuinely startled! He hurriedly sought confirmation from various sources, but every answer he received was the same.
They all confirmed that the Gu family now favored Gu Zhaoping, and if he wanted to cooperate with Yuanqi Tech, he would have to deal directly with her now.
All the decisions Gu Zhaoye had previously made were now scrapped!
President Lin's face turned pale then red with anger. He fumed for a long time, the veins on his hands bulging.
He couldn't even pretend to be composed anymore.
He had even warned Gu Zhaoping not to be so arrogant, that they had other options.
But now, Gu Zhaoping had truly slapped him in the face, telling him that she was the one in charge.
Bypassing her, no one could offer him a cooperation deal.
Going to find Gu Zhaoye was the biggest misstep he had made!
If he had negotiated properly with Gu Zhaoping from the start, he might have gotten a share. But at the time, he was filled with arrogance, believing a woman like Gu Zhaoping couldn't possibly be fully in charge, and he disliked dealing with women, so he decisively turned to contact Gu Zhaoye.
Now, reality was like a resounding slap to his face.
Yes, that's right, the Gu family was now being steered by that woman.
Her decisions were the Gu family's decisions, and no one would change them.
That very woman.
Thinking about facing the board's questioning upon his return, and the smug look on President Hou's face from the Aurora Green Energy Group, President Lin's expression had never been uglier, nor had he ever felt so defeated.
He was seething with resentment and frustration.
However, at this time, what was most shocking was the news that broke just a couple of days later: Gu Zhaoye was already in the process of being prosecuted.
He had actually embezzled company funds to invest in a movie for Ruan Nian. When this news spread, it shocked the entire internet once again.
People had thought he was some domineering CEO, waving his hand to close multi-billion deals.
Over the years, there had been constant news of him doting on Ruan Nian, but who would have thought that even his investments in movies for her required embezzling company funds, and he was actually caught.
Bringing this up now added another layer of reason for his removal.
The public then realized, no wonder Gu Zhaoye was ousted. Could part of the reason also be his embezzlement of funds for Ruan Nian's investments?
So it seems this pair of crazy lovebirds really are a perfect match in their absurdity.
Ruan Nian had been flaunting their love before, talking about how much Gu Zhaoye doted on her. If she knew that the money Gu Zhaoye invested for her wasn't even his own, but secretly taken from the company, would she still love him so much?
Then again, from another perspective, embezzling company funds just to invest in Ruan Nian could be considered true love.
The gossip about them exploded instantly, coming in waves!
Ruan Nian completely dared not look at the messages anymore. The more she saw, the more despair she felt. In truth, she still had one last option: to log off and quit this game.
But she couldn't bring herself to accept it. Once she left this game, she would truly be just an ordinary person with no special talents, someone no one would glance at twice on the street. With no real abilities or outstanding qualities, she could never possibly live such a good life.
So, she would rather tough out this wave of public opinion. She clung to a sliver of hope that after a while, everyone would gradually forget about this incident. Then, she could try to make a comeback. Maybe there was still a chance.
Yet, the path ahead seemed even more bewildering. She didn't know what to do. Could she really be a star forever?
In the face of true old money, she would always be looked down upon, unable to become genuine upper class. The life she wanted remained far out of reach, and she was constantly at risk of falling out of favor.
So, should she continue dating Gu Zhaoye?
Now, marrying into the Gu family would no longer mean becoming the lofty CEO's wife. She might even end up suffering indignities alongside Gu Zhaoye within the Gu household.
The mere thought of having to face Gu Zhaoping's face every day after marriage sent chills down her spine, filling her with intense fear and hatred. It was all because she had ruined her life.
But what else could she do if she didn't marry Gu Zhaoye? With the scandal so huge now, what other scion of a wealthy family or domineering CEO would be willing to accept her? They all already knew about her relationship with Gu Zhaoye. Ruan Nian herself had lost all value.
She wallowed in this pain for many days.
Gu Zhaoping, however, did not pause for a single step.
She watched helplessly as Gu Zhaoping swiftly and decisively took over Yuanqi Technology, promptly carried out a purge, and soon announced a cooperation with Aurora Green Energy Group.
Gu Zhaoping attended the launch ceremony, radiant and glamorous.
And it was at this moment that Ruan Nian finally couldn't take it anymore.
Disheveled and unkempt, she hid in her house like a rat, not even daring to open the curtains for so long, afraid to show her face, terrified of letting anyone discover her whereabouts. Her phone was ringing off the hook, but she didn't dare answer.
Even the company boss who had been so good to her before was now claiming she owed compensation for the losses caused by the scandal.
How could she accept Gu Zhaoping being so dazzling and successful?
Ruan Nian was finally driven to the brink of madness. In the end, gritting her teeth, she still contacted Gu Zhaoye.
Forget it. After all, she and Gu Zhaoye had known each other for so many years. Who else could she turn to besides him? A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.
Besides, Gu Zhaoye was at his lowest point now. If she chose to go back and stand by him, it would surely make his feelings for her even stronger, move him beyond words.
Once Gu Zhaoye weathered this storm, she could then marry him. Even if he could no longer be the CEO, she would still be a young madam of a wealthy family, which was better than struggling on like this by herself.
She didn't want to deal with the entertainment industry anymore; she just wanted to be a carefree wealthy wife.
As for his legal troubles, Ruan Nian never once considered that Gu Zhaoye might truly lose everything.
Would the Gu family really drive him to utter ruin? This was all just a show for the public because Gu Zhaoping wanted to seize power. But she knew how much the Gu parents doted on Gu Zhaoye. Once the heat died down, they might even secretly subsidize the young couple.
Although such a future was far from what she had once envisioned, she had no other choice. She couldn't think of a better ending.
Ruan Nian took a deep breath, made assumptions about her future, and with a heart full of nervousness and despair, called Gu Zhaoye.
But this time, Gu Zhaoye didn't answer. Ruan Nian's heart sank for a moment, anxiety creeping in.
Even though she knew he must be extremely busy, Ruan Nian couldn't help but want to reach him quickly, afraid that delays would bring more trouble.
He needed comfort the most right now, but after calling several times and sending messages everywhere, the only one who finally answered was Gu Zhaoye's assistant.
His voice was full of exhaustion and clear impatience with Ruan Nian.
"Miss Ruan, please stop calling. I'm now in charge of Young Master Gu's number. You can't reach him."
Ruan Nian's eyes widened. Not being able to reach him was a possibility she had never considered. She asked frantically, "How can that be? What is Zhaoye doing? Tell him it's me looking for him. Can't you help me get through to him? He'll be so touched when he knows it's me."
The assistant was at a loss with her foolish words, hardly knowing what to say, suppressing an eye-roll with difficulty.
"Miss Ruan, you don't need to contact... the Young Master anymore." Finally remembering that Gu Zhaoye was no longer 'President Gu' and needing to adjust his address, the assistant changed his wording with difficulty, his tone cold. "The Young Master doesn't need you. He has more than enough to deal with himself right now. Could you please stop causing him trouble? Oh, and by the way, the Young Master won't be contacting you anymore. He has decided to get engaged to Miss Fang."
What?
It was like a heavy hammer blow to Ruan Nian's head. She couldn't believe it.
Gu Zhaoye was going to get engaged to that fiancée of his??
How was that possible? He never liked that fiancée at all!
But Ruan Nian had truly forgotten, and had never really seen the true nature of these wealthy men.
Now, at this most critical juncture, what could save Gu Zhaoye was not any person, not some starlet or beauty he fancied.
It was that young lady from the Fang family, who, like the Gu family, belonged to a major clan.
When faced with a choice involving real interests, so-called love was the first thing he was willing to abandon.
Now that his career was in ruins, he was desperately eager to sell his marriage for a good price.
All his previous reluctance was forgotten.
He simply believed that if he was willing to lower his head, someone would be willing to take him in.
His position within the Gu family was precarious. To salvage any standing in the eyes of the Gu family, he had to offer value in other areas.
So, at this moment, he immediately thought of Fang Yining, who had always been waiting for him.
Even though Fang Yining had berated him last time, Gu Zhaoye couldn't afford to care about that anymore.
He remembered she had once wanted to break off the engagement, but her parents, the Fang family, were very unwilling. They liked him immensely, even more than their own daughter, Fang Yining.
As long as he went to the Fang parents to propose marrying Fang Yining again, saying this incident had made him turn over a new leaf, the Fang in-laws might even start seeing him as a son-in-law once more.
The Fang family was the last safety net he could think of.
As the saying goes, a son-in-law is half a son. Since childhood, the Fang parents had always liked him. Even when he and Fang Yining had arguments, they would often take his side and scold Fang Yining. They also demanded that Fang Yining learn to be a good wife in the future, to share Gu Zhaoye's burdens, manage the household, be his virtuous helpmate, and solidify the connection between the two families.
It's just that Gu Zhaoye had never really liked the Fang family.
Now that he was turning to them, the Fang parents might be disappointed in him for failing to live up to their expectations, but a prodigal's return is priceless, and hadn't he returned?
Moreover, after this ordeal, he would absolutely never let down the Fang family or Fang Yining again. Wasn't this exactly what the Fang family wanted?
Harboring this resolve, Gu Zhaoye finally, for the first time, set aside his pride and contacted the Fang family.
This time, the other side wasn't as welcoming as before. After a long wait, someone finally came out to see him—the Fang family butler, who said slowly, "Well, if it isn't Young Master Gu. To what do we owe this rare visit?"
Being the one seeking help, Gu Zhaoye didn't put on his usual airs and even endured the butler's sarcastic tone. He knew it was normal for the Fang family to be angry. After all, his affairs with Ruan Nian and Liang Zhiwei had caused such a huge scandal, which was a slap in the Fang family's face. Sincerity was even more crucial now.
Gu Zhaoye said humbly, "I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you please ask Uncle and Auntie Fang to see me? I have something very important to tell them and to apologize. I was a scoundrel before. Please convey this to them."
He had to resolve this matter before the legal proceedings got underway; it was urgent.
The butler's mouth twitched. Although he had been mentally prepared, having heard from the young lady that Gu Zhaoye would certainly come to them for help, Gu Zhaoye's level of shamelessness still left him astonished and bewildered.
How could someone be so brazen?
In the past, he had looked down on their young lady, ignored her, and even repeatedly cheated on her, humiliating her. Now that he was in trouble himself, he remembered this?
Although he desperately wanted to spit in his face, the young lady had come prepared this time. The butler put on a thin, insincere smile, as if finally moved by his lowered head, and said, "Young Master Gu, it's good that you know to turn back now. Alright then, I'll go inform the Master and Madam. Please wait."
Gu Zhaoye was stunned for a moment, then ecstatic!
This attitude showed there was still room for flexibility. The Fang family could forgive him. His hope grew a little stronger.
He waited for what felt like an eternity, nearly fainting from nervousness, but didn't dare move a muscle to show his sincerity. Finally, the butler came out and invited him in. Gu Zhaoye was almost lightheaded with relief.
Upon entering, he found not only the Fang parents but also Fang Yining present. They were sitting on the sofa, watching him, their attitude seemingly quite amiable.
"Zhaoye, so you finally know to come now," Mrs. Fang said, looking at him reproachfully. She had always been very satisfied with this son-in-law. The recent scandal had infuriated her; it was utterly disgraceful.
Seeing Gu Zhaoye, she began speaking with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Fang Yining secretly gritted her teeth.
Even after such a thing had happened, her parents still didn't harbor particularly strong hatred or aversion towards Gu Zhaoye. What they cared about most was merely that Gu Zhaoye hadn't valued his engagement to her enough before, making their fondness for him feel unreciprocated.
Fang Yining had always wondered: why, as her parents, did they love Gu Zhaoye more than they loved her? Since childhood, they had raised her to be Gu Zhaoye's fiancée.
It seemed that the moment they gained a son-in-law, her parents no longer needed their daughter; they had become his parents instead.
The moment her parents decided to marry her off, she had effectively lost her parents.
Even now, with such a scandal and talk of breaking off the engagement, they were still hesitating.
Hesitating about what? Fang Yining couldn't take it anymore. This time, she would take matters into her own hands.
If anyone tried to stop her, she'd slap them right in the face too.
Gu Zhaoye had just begun speaking: "I'm sorry, Uncle, Auntie. In the past, I was young and reckless. It took this major incident for me to realize that Ruan Nian is simply a... I misjudged people before, and was too young, deceived by her. I actually neglected Yining. Lately, after much soul-searching, I've come to realize many good things Yining did for me in the past. The more I think about it, the more I feel I was a scoundrel. So I came here for no other reason than to apologize to you, Auntie and Uncle, and to Yining. I'm sorry."
Fang Yining almost laughed out loud.
So even someone who used to look down on everyone now knew how to bow his head and apologize like this. It seems when the stakes are high enough, anyone will lower their head.
Men like Gu Zhaoye are precisely such opportunistic creatures.
This explanation actually struck a chord with the Fang parents. They felt their son-in-law was certainly at fault in this matter, but the blame lay more with that little vixen Ruan Nian.
So, seeing him humble himself made them hesitate a bit, thinking he seemed genuinely repentant.
The couple exchanged a glance and finally softened their tone slightly, saying, "Your behavior over the years has been utterly disgraceful. If we just forgave you after a few words like this, wouldn't that also be disrespectful to Yining?"
"You must apologize properly to Yining as well."
Gu Zhaoye turned and, almost without hesitation, started to kneel down before Fang Yining, startling both Fang parents!
They quickly reached out to stop him: "Oh, you child, an apology is an apology, what are you doing?"
Gu Zhaoye's face was full of earnest sincerity: "In the past, I wronged her. Now I realize my mistake. I will definitely take responsibility for Yining to the end. I will never make her angry again. I know I was a complete scoundrel. If you, Uncle and Auntie, are still willing to accept me, I don't even know what to say, except that I will do my utmost to be like a son to you from now on, and will never let you down or hurt you again."
Fang Yining's eyebrow twitched. She watched coldly as Gu Zhaoye knelt down so readily, feeling her hand itch, wanting so badly to slap him across the face.
Shameless! Utterly shameless!
But what angered her even more was that her parents, because of this brief apology, were already showing signs of wavering and being ready to forgive.
Now, if she wanted to dissolve this engagement and profit from it, she could only rely on herself.
No, there was also Zhaoping. Zhaoping would support her from behind, helping her.
The Fang parents turned to look at Fang Yining, their eyes hesitant, as if seeking her opinion.
Fang Yining was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking up. "Are you saying you want to continue with the engagement?"
Gu Zhaoye was taken aback, not expecting her to bring it up so quickly. He hurriedly said, "I know I was a scoundrel. I haven't even dared to think about that. I just wanted to apologize to you..."
"I agree. I don't object. It's good that you've turned over a new leaf."
That's what Fang Yining said, though her tone sounded slightly off. However, in his shock, Gu Zhaoye didn't stop to analyze it.
He stood up in an instant, overwhelmed with joy. "Yining, you're still willing to accept me?"
Fang Yining offered him a thin, humorless smile and nodded.
Of course, she was willing to accept him. If she didn't accept him, how else could she make him suffer a worse downfall?
