Chapter 46 (1/3): Shadows of power and image

This sudden incident left everyone stunned!

Except for the few involved, everyone turned their heads toward the commotion, including Chu Yanze, who had been ordering at another table.

He froze and looked over, his eyes filled with shock.

Of course, the customers had no intention of stopping what was happening—because they were stunned too.

Many of the guests in the store suddenly reacted: “Wait, is that Gu Zhaoye? That’s President Gu? President Gu is here? He was on that show before, right? So he’s filming now too? Why is he holding Ruan Nian—and wait, is he fighting with…his sister?”

Liang Zhiwei’s pupils contracted.

After she snapped out of it, she immediately looked at Gu Zhaoye, her face filled with disbelief.

What had he just asked her?

He asked who she was with now?

What the hell was he thinking?!

There was so much humiliation in those words that Liang Zhiwei began to shake with rage.

But before her emotions could even fully surge up, Gu Zhaoping appeared just in time.

The hand that had been gripping Liang Zhiwei’s wrist was easily pried open—so effortlessly, it was like she hadn’t used any strength at all—bending Gu Zhaoye’s wrist back almost 90 degrees.

Gu Zhaoping moved with total calm.

Her fingers were long and cleanly trimmed.

She easily broke Gu Zhaoye’s grip, and with her other hand, she reached up and gently pushed Liang Zhiwei’s hand down.

And what she said was equally calm.

“She’s with me. So what?”

Gu Zhaoye hadn’t even reacted yet, but when the searing pain from his wrist finally hit him, his face twisted in agony, veins bulging on his forehead.

He jolted violently!

His hand trembled.

Though he hadn’t moved otherwise, it was clear he was desperately trying to break free from Gu Zhaoping’s control.

When Liang Zhiwei noticed his shaking hand, she realized Gu Zhaoye wasn’t frozen in shock—he had been struggling this whole time.

He just couldn’t break free from Gu Zhaoping’s grip!

The two of them stood there in a deadlock.

At first, the bystanders didn’t know why they were frozen like that, but gradually, people started catching on.

Wait…does that mean Gu Zhaoye couldn’t fight back against Gu Zhaoping?

Oh right—she’s trained in jujitsu!

Gu Zhaoping is a jujitsu master!

Whoa!

This is for real!

Even though most people weren’t clear on what was happening, they could feel the tension in the air.

Some people still had a favorable impression of Gu Zhaoye, concerned for his safety…

But then they remembered that video—

Gu Zhaoping flipping her jujitsu coach over and over again.

Their bodies were more honest than their thoughts; their eyes were glued to her, afraid to miss the next takedown.

Who doesn’t love a good fight?

This is thrilling!

So this is the legendary Gu family siblings?

This meal was so worth it!

Who knew dinner came with front-row seats to a boxing match?

Wait…could it be that Gu Zhaoye was involved with both Ruan Nian and Liang Zhiwei at different times?

He really has a type, huh?

Likes the same kind of woman every time?

Gu Zhaoye was blanking out too.

After a moment, it suddenly hit him—

Gu Zhaoping was on this show as well.

Why was she helping Liang Zhiwei?

Before he could think more, his instincts told him: Gu Zhaoping was going against him again.

Rage flared.

Without thinking, he blurted out,

“Let go!”

Gu Zhaoping had been staring directly into his eyes.

At his words, it seemed like she gave a light laugh, then glanced down at his trembling hand that couldn’t break free, and looked back up.

“I didn’t even use strength,” she said.

Gu Zhaoye’s face turned pale.

What did she mean?

Was she mocking him?

“Didn’t even use strength?”

“Let go!” he snapped.

Gu Zhaoping raised a hand and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“Gu Zhaoye, did you forget what I taught you again?”

I told you—he only remembers after a beating.

His bad habits are too ingrained.

Last time Grandpa still stepped in, but this time…no one’s going to stop me.

Gu Zhaoye’s whole body tensed.

That scene—one he never wanted to remember—flashed back into his mind, and his expression twisted in horror.

Was Gu Zhaoping crazy?

Was she really going to hit him here, in public?

Did she want to make headlines again?

He trembled, clenching his jaw, shaking for a long moment.

Deep down, he believed Gu Zhaoping really would hit him.

A flicker of fear reemerged in his heart, making him shiver.

He gritted his teeth and said,

“I wasn’t even messing with you—why are you getting in my way?”

“You were asking who Liang Zhiwei is with?”

Gu Zhaoping’s tone remained calm.

She pulled Liang Zhiwei toward her—

Liang Zhiwei stumbled slightly, caught off guard—then felt Gu Zhaoping’s hand land gently on her shoulder.

“She’s with me.”

Liang Zhiwei was stunned.

She felt Gu Zhaoping’s hand on her shoulder—

Sister Zhaoping?

Was she…helping her?

It felt like a dream.

Wasn’t it always said that any woman who got close to Gu Zhaoye would be picked apart and driven away by Gu Zhaoping?

Yet now, Gu Zhaoping was actually stepping in for her?

Gu Zhaoping turned to the shocked cameraman and said,

“Pause filming for a bit. Thanks.”

She had some family business to handle.

Gu Zhaoye was so furious he nearly coughed up blood!

What was Gu Zhaoping trying to do?

A woman like her—what did she mean by “she’s with me”?

But then he remembered how she had nearly choked him unconscious last time and completely lost the nerve to shout back.

His rage was halved, and he forced his anger down.

Through clenched teeth, he snarled: “I meant her and that old man—why were they—”

As he spoke, he turned and pointed to a man sitting at a nearby table—

President Hou.

The man jumped in fright at being pointed out.

Wait a minute—why am I getting dragged into this?

President Hou looked at the finger pointed right at him, his eyes wide.

At that moment, Gu Zhaoye froze.

When his brain finally processed who that man was, his expression was pure disbelief, like he was dreaming.

He choked out: “President Hou?! What…what are you doing here?”

In that instant, a flood of thoughts hit him.

His expression shifted wildly—mostly to embarrassment.

Just moments ago, he had been saying that Liang Zhiwei had chosen the wrong guy, that only he could give her what she wanted.

But now—

President Hou…

In front of President Hou, he was just a junior.

With his current status, he was in no position to compete with him.

His face grew even more colorful.

Why did it have to be President Hou?

At that moment, the humiliation of his previous failed investment surged back into his chest.

Back then, he’d thought that was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

But he hadn’t expected this moment to be even worse.

President Hou had been confused, but after hearing that question, even he couldn’t help laughing.

“I’d like to know why I’m here too!”

Well then! He had previously thought Gu Zhaoye was just a bit impulsive and not too bright—but now?

The man was clearly completely out of his mind.

Like seriously ill.

Wrongly accused of being a greasy CEO who keeps a sugar baby actress, CEO Hou was fuming inside.

He snapped irritably: “CEO Gu, what kind of ridiculous attitude is that? Always going on about who’s with who—what the hell are you thinking?”

He continued: “Gu Zhaoye, the people around you just drift from one hookup to another. Do you and your second-gen rich buddies really think your only accomplishment is dating starlets? Is that all your brains can handle?”

Gu Zhaoping responded flatly and applied more force with her hand.

Gu Zhaoye’s eyes widened.

He wanted to curse back, but the pain in his hand was so intense that he swallowed his words and gasped sharply: “Let go! Let go!”

Seeing that Gu Zhaoping had no intention of easing up—and even looked like she might squeeze harder—

Gu Zhaoye finally snapped.

He shouted in desperation:

“Sis, let go! Please!”

Only then did Gu Zhaoping release her grip.

Gu Zhaoye’s hand was red and bruised, possibly even showing signs of internal bleeding.

He clutched his wrist, suspecting it might be broken.

The pain was sharper and more intense than when Gu Zhaoping once pinned him to the ground in a chokehold.

For a moment, he thought she’d really crippled his right hand.

But of course, Gu Zhaoping knew what she was doing.

She had studied sports rehab extensively, precisely so she could hit people without causing serious injury.

If his wrist had been broken, it would count as a minor injury under the law—and she didn’t want to deal with that hassle.

She was very well-versed in injury assessment standards.

That was the worst part: he was wronged, but there was no way to file a complaint.

He had to eat the loss silently.

Gu Zhaoping said coldly:

“Gu Zhaoye, people blame you, and you blame others. When that huge loophole in your funding deal caused the project to collapse, I thought you’d at least reflect on it seriously. And what did you come up with? Just one thing—‘Why is my woman with someone else?’ That’s your takeaway?!”

Her tone was casual, but the words hit hard.

Gu Zhaoye’s face turned darker, and the surrounding people perked up their ears.

Funding collapse?

A loophole?

Was she really talking about Gu Zhaoye?

Was this CEO Gu…not as flawless as he seemed?

People were stunned.

If it was true, then Gu Zhaoye’s charm dropped several notches.

A domineering CEO’s appeal doesn’t just come from wealth and looks—it also relies on mystery, prestige, and the image others paint of him.

He’d lived in the glow of Ruan Nian’s admiration, in the envy others had of her, in the powerful aura of the Gu family, with an air of mystery built on things no one truly understood.

He was imagined to be a dashingly handsome, high-born business tycoon.

That image was magnetic.

But once it was revealed that a simple project could fail due to his carelessness—and that he had to be sent back for self-reflection—that mystique shattered, exposing his incompetence.

Why was it that this supposedly irresistible CEO from the rumors actually had less presence and impact than his sister, Gu Zhaoping?

Not just less—he couldn’t even match one finger of Gu Zhaoping when it came to aura, demeanor, and decisiveness.

Gu Zhaoping looked like the real heir of a powerful family—noble-born, formidable, and dominant.

In front of her, Gu Zhaoye was utterly crushed.

Once this truth dawned on everyone, they all felt…weird.

Why was this reality so different from the rumors?

In fact, they finally saw the real “domineering CEO” charm in Gu Zhaoping.

Especially when she suddenly stepped in to protect Liang Zhiwei earlier—

Damn.

That was cool as hell.

Gu Zhaoye trembled with rage, pointing at Liang Zhiwei while enduring the pain:

“Then how did she get into this show?!”

Liang Zhiwei, seeing Gu Zhaoping stand up for her, finally couldn’t hold back: “My company arranged for me to come,” she said.

“My boss wanted me here as a contrast to Ruan Nian.”

She had held it in for so long.

Even if it meant risking breach of contract, she didn’t care anymore:

“Our boss took money! That’s why he made me come on the show—to be compared to Ruan Nian!”

Everyone was stunned.

Gu Zhaoye couldn’t believe it: “What nonsense are you spouting?! Ruan Nian would never do something like that! She’s the kindest person I know, and she was only afraid you’d smear her—”

He sneered: “Liang Zhiwei, don’t spread lies just because you’re jealous of Ruan Nian—”

Liang Zhiwei interrupted, clearly fed up: “Jealous of Ruan Nian? CEO Gu, you really think too highly of yourself. I felt relieved when I broke up with you—it was like escaping from hell. I was grateful to her! I’ve never envied her, not even once!”

Gu Zhaoye’s pupils shrank.

Maybe it was Gu Zhaoping’s example, but Liang Zhiwei suddenly felt courage flow through her.

She completely dropped her usual soft persona and finally shouted the truth she had bottled up for years:

“CEO Gu, I never had any real feelings for you. What is there to be jealous of? Who would be nostalgic for a boss who’s controlling, demanding, and expects me to be at his beck and call? You think I’d envy another poor soul who’s stuck under your thumb?”

Her tone was serious—almost pleading:

“I’m begging you. If you have even a shred of humanity left, or if you still respect the work I did for you over the years, then stop harassing me. I really can’t take it anymore. I’m just an ordinary person. I just want to earn an honest living!”

“Stop bothering me. Go talk things out with her!”

The way she said it was serious—but brutally scathing.

Savage.

The room fell completely silent.

Even Gu Zhaoping couldn’t help but laugh.

She hadn’t expected Liang Zhiwei, who usually seemed so gentle, to be this fierce in speech.

Gu Zhaoye stared at her, dumbfounded, his whole body trembling, veins popping.

He couldn’t believe what she had said.

The woman who had always smiled at him, obeyed him, been the invisible stand-in…

She was only ever surviving under his pressure?

She never once had any real affection for him?

She was happy to leave him?

And she even felt pity for Ruan Nian??

Blood boiling.

Mind exploding.

Fury rising.

It felt like a fire was blazing through Gu Zhaoye’s entire body.

He shook like a drumhead being struck.