Yang Qi’s face changed instantly!
He got it—oh!
So that’s your game, Gu Zhaoping!
You’re trying to sow discord, aren’t you?
The problem was, they couldn’t counter this move.
They’d already bragged so much, and Yang Qi did win the first round!
If Young Master Zhou didn’t beat Gu Zhaoping next, not only would he lose face, but if either of them was petty enough, it could create some bad blood between them.
“I…”
Young Master Zhou was at a loss for words, looking at Gu Zhaoping like she was a monster.
Even he couldn’t guarantee scoring just 0.1 rings higher than Yang Qi every time!
Yet Gu Zhaoping had controlled it so precisely.
He refused to believe she was a novice—she was faking it!
So cunning, too cunning!
She’d acted like a beginner, even asking the coach to explain the rules, clearly luring them into thinking she was a rookie!
Now they were stuck, and in front of Ni Tiansong, no less.
Could they even flip out?
“Miss Gu.”
Ni Tiansong greeted her, and only then did Gu Zhaoping pause, realizing a familiar face was present.
She turned, slightly surprised to see Ni Tiansong, and nodded in greeting,
“Ni Tiansong.”
Seeing her casually call Ni Tiansong by his full name, Young Master Ni, who’d been watching in stunned silence, suddenly snapped back to reality, hardly believing it.
Wait…they seemed pretty familiar with each other?
The best-case scenario he’d imagined was that Gu Zhaoping and Ni Tiansong had met before, maybe with some polite, surface-level acquaintance.
But this didn’t look like that at all…
His cousin even smiled faintly because of Gu Zhaoping’s greeting, a rare glow lighting up his refined face.
Though Ni Tiansong’s tone was usually gentle, this was an attitude Young Master Ni had never seen before.
“Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Gu Zhaoping nodded, glancing at Young Master Ni beside him.
Young Master Ni instinctively shrank back, feeling like his intentions had already been seen through.
Gu Zhaoping’s gaze settled on Young Master Ni, giving him a faint once-over before asking Yang Qi,
“The person you brought me here to discuss a big collaboration with—is it Ni Tiansong?”
As soon as she said this, not just Ni Tiansong, but everyone froze.
Those who knew the full context barely dared to breathe.
It was over.
The smile on Ni Tiansong’s face faded slightly, and he asked, puzzled but cautious,
“What?”
Done playing along, Gu Zhaoping lazily said,
“Whose idea was this?”
The group froze, exchanging glances, unsure what Gu Zhaoping was talking about.
“Was it Gu Zhaoye who arranged for you to do this, or did you decide on your own to pull this stupid stunt for him? Tell me.”
Her gaze swept over them lightly, devoid of any extra emotion.
Now they understood what she meant, and their faces changed drastically.
Gu Zhaoping knew?!
She knew they were Gu Zhaoye’s buddies, here to give her a hard time?
When did she figure it out?
Had she been playing them this whole time?
Thinking back to when she arrived and ignored them, even saying they weren’t fit to be male models, their faces nearly contorted with anger.
Damn, Gu Zhaoping was definitely doing this on purpose!
How could someone like her exist?!
She was treating them like monkeys?!
They’d actually been played by Gu Zhaoping?!
The group was seething with rage!
Yet they didn’t seem to realize their original plan was to toy with Gu Zhaoping, only to end up being played themselves.
If she didn’t want to gather more evidence against Gu Zhaoye, Gu Zhaoping wouldn’t have bothered with these childish games with these foolish brats.
But since they were eager to hand her leverage, she didn’t mind showing up.
Her gaze swept the room lightly, landing on Young Master Ni,
“You.”
Young Master Ni’s heart skipped a beat.
Pointing at himself, he stammered, then hurriedly cut in,
“Me? I—I don’t know anything. What’s going on? What are you all doing?”
Ni Tiansong sensed something was off.
He was perceptive about people’s emotions and, seeing his cousin’s reaction, quickly realized he likely had some ulterior motive.
Looking at the group of young masters huddled together, Ni Tiansong almost immediately understood what they were up to.
The smile on his face vanished completely as he turned to his cousin, asking in a low voice,
“Did you deliberately try to use me to do something to Miss Gu?”
How did he get found out so quickly?
His cousin’s heart jolted, and he frantically waved his hands to explain to Ni Tiansong,
“No way, Cousin! How could I do something like that? I absolutely didn’t have that idea. Why would you think that? Did they mislead you?”
Young Master Ni was panicking, flailing as he looked at Gu Zhaoping, hoping she wouldn’t pin this on him.
How was he supposed to know she was this close with his cousin?!
Oh no, the worst-case scenario he’d imagined actually came true?
Why did he have to be so stupid and agree to help Gu Zhaoye with this?
Now that his cousin knew, he was absolutely done for!
And to think he was supposed to be currying favor with his cousin—this is how he does it?!
Young Master Ni was on the verge of tears!
“You invited me here to trick me into discussing a collaboration, using Ni Tiansong’s name to gain my trust, only to back out and sabotage it later. That was your goal, right?”
Gu Zhaoping glanced at Yang Qi, her tone flat, but Yang Qi’s face changed drastically, as if she’d casually ripped through his facade.
“No, what are you thinking? We’d never do something like that—”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. What matters is what I think.”
Gu Zhaoping didn’t even spare him a glance, her tone calm as she turned away.
“I thought you’d come up with something new, but this? I overestimated you.”
Ni Tiansong understood now, turning to his cousin sharply,
“You’re involved in this? Are you out of your mind?”
Young Master Ni’s face went pale, and he waved his hands frantically,
“I didn’t! No, it’s…Miss Gu might be overthinking, right? I invited her to this gathering out of friendliness, to get to know her. How could I do something like that? Cousin, don’t misunderstand me, I—”
“Why did you drag me to this shooting range for no reason?”
Ni Tiansong, already seeing through his cousin’s guilt, said coolly,
“Ni Tianjun, who do you think you’re fooling?”
“Didn’t my father tell you I came back to the country specifically to meet Miss Gu, and that our families are discussing a collaboration?”
Young Master Ni’s eyes widened in shock.
What?!
Wasn’t his uncle saying…wait, was the person his uncle mentioned actually Gu Zhaoping?!
How could it be this coincidental?!
In that instant, his mind was struck by lightning.
He suddenly recalled what Gu Zhaoping had said at the summit!
Prejudiced, he hadn’t listened closely or cared about its value, but now he realized—could it be that his uncle and cousin had already decided to collaborate with Gu Zhaoping after hearing her, while he, like an idiot, was here helping Gu Zhaoye against her?!
No way!
Could he really be this stupid, this clueless, and this perfectly aligned against his uncle and cousin?!
Young Master Ni felt his entire body go cold.
He’d confidently promised his uncle he’d take care of his cousin’s return, that everything would be handled perfectly.
But he hadn’t imagined his cousin was here to meet Gu Zhaoping!
If he’d known, he wouldn’t have dared to do this!
But it wasn’t entirely his fault—after all, he wasn’t a core figure in the Ni family.
It was normal for his uncle not to share the specifics of the plan with him.
He’d thought he’d naturally learn who they were meeting after joining Ni Tiansong to see Gu Zhaoping, but he never expected to offend her before even being introduced.
The thought of this outcome sent chills down Young Master Ni’s spine.
He and his father had worked under his uncle for years to build their current status and business in the family.
If they offended them now, not only he but his father would be affected.
His face turned green in an instant, and he pleaded with his cousin,
“Cousin, I really didn’t do this! I—I was misled by them. I didn’t know! They must’ve wanted me to bring you here to throw your weight around! I was tricked!”
Gu Zhaoping just gave a faint, amused laugh, watching him scramble to make excuses.
Ni Tiansong, without hesitation and visibly impatient, said,
“If Miss Gu thinks this, she must have her reasons. If you didn’t do it, why would she suspect you? Why don’t you reflect on yourself?”
Young Master Ni froze.
Wait, Cousin, you’re not even letting me explain?
Why’s it like ‘no smoke without fire’?!
“Ni Tianjun, you’re too reckless,”
Ni Tiansong said, looking away.
“Apologize to Miss Gu.”
Young Master Ni’s face went white.
Looking at Gu Zhaoping, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to say,
“Sorry, Miss Gu. Even if they planned something, I didn’t know. I—I was tricked by them. Please don’t misunderstand!”
Yang Qi snapped out of it, furious, nearly cursing,
“Ni Tianjun, whose idea was this? And you’re throwing me under the bus?!”
Young Master Ni’s eyes widened, refusing to back down,
“What?! You’re the ones full of dirty tricks, trying to use me, and now you want to drag me down too! Cousin, don’t believe them. They’re just looking for scapegoats. I absolutely didn’t mean it. I was nothing but friendly to Miss Gu!”
“I seem to recall you and Gu Zhaoye are pretty close friends,”
Gu Zhaoping said calmly, looking at him.
Young Master Ni choked.
How did Gu Zhaoping know so much?
Sure, he’d had years of ties with Gu Zhaoye, but with his cousin standing here, holding the family’s authority in his hands, Young Master Ni quickly said,
“Gu Zhaoye? We’re not that close. Just casual drinking and hanging out, that’s all!”
“Miss Gu, you have to believe me! I’m innocent and had no intention of targeting you! If they did, that’s on them!”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! I’m not even that close with Gu Zhaoye! I’d never think of going against Miss Gu!”
Ni Tianjun swore earnestly.
He racked his brain further,
“Uh… and I think Gu Zhaoye’s nowhere near as good as you, Miss Gu! His business sense is miles behind yours! If we’re talking collaboration, it’s obviously with you—anyone with eyes can see that. Why would I help Gu Zhaoye against you?!”
But the moment his words fell, an enraged, incredulous voice roared behind him.
“Ni Tianjun, what the hell do you mean?!”
Ni Tianjun turned, eyes widening.
Gu Zhaoye?!
Why are you here?!
Not earlier, not later—why show up now?!
Are you out of your mind?!