Young Master Ni never expected Gu Zhaoye to show up at this moment.
Wasn’t he busy dealing with the chaotic mess at Yuanqi Technology?
Why would he suddenly come here?
His face changed drastically, and he blurted out,
“Gu Zhaoye, you…”
Gu Zhaoye’s face twisted in anger!
He had heard that his group of friends planned to help him teach Gu Zhaoping a lesson, or at least keep her occupied so she wouldn’t have time to mess with him or to dull her edge.
But he was still uneasy.
When chatting with Yang Qi, he learned they were planning to invite Gu Zhaoping to this shooting range.
After some thought, he decided to come.
This group of theirs held significant influence in the business world, and their collective power was not to be underestimated.
One of them had once boasted that if their little clique went on strike, half of Haishi’s business scene would grind to a halt.
Countless socialites and celebrities took pride in joining their circle or even climbing onto one of their branches.
For this group to band together against one person was an unprecedented spectacle.
Just thinking about it made Gu Zhaoye feel a rush of satisfaction.
Despite his instinctive psychological shadow regarding Gu Zhaoping, he figured that if he alone suffered, it was just his bad luck.
But could this group of elite heirs, all gathered together, really fail to take down Gu Zhaoping?
That would be a complete joke.
With the idea of stopping by to watch Gu Zhaoping get humiliated, Gu Zhaoye didn’t tell anyone and came on his own.
On the way, he sneered, wondering how Gu Zhaoping could possibly win against their entire circle’s coordinated attack.
He imagined her being ganged up on and embarrassed by these people the whole way.
The pent-up resentment in Gu Zhaoye’s heart was finally about to be unleashed, and he even slammed the steering wheel in frustration.
But he hit the horn by mistake, letting out a loud honk that made the driver in front turn back and curse him out.
Gu Zhaoye’s face darkened.
He initially wanted to argue, but then he remembered his current reputation.
If he got out of the car, the onlookers’ collective scorn could drown him.
So he forced himself to endure it, avoiding a confrontation with the driver.
The driver ahead was unrelenting, fearless despite Gu Zhaoye’s luxury car, hurling insults that nearly pushed him to the edge.
He held it in, knowing he was in the wrong for slamming the wheel and honking.
Gu Zhaoye couldn’t help but feel irritated.
How had he fallen to such a pathetic state?
And to think, when he got into a conflict, his first instinct wasn’t to have his assistant handle it but to get out and argue himself.
In the past, Gu Zhaoye would’ve found that beneath him.
Once again, he keenly felt how different things were now.
Finally arriving at the shooting range, he was expecting a thrilling scene. Instead, he overheard Ni Tianjun saying something about not even considering him a friend.
Gu Zhaoye’s face instantly turned ugly.
Ni Tianjun, what’s gotten into you?!
Then it hit him—
Ni Tianjun seemed to be fawning over Gu Zhaoping?
In a flash, he was furious.
Ni Tianjun, what’s your deal?
What are you trying to do?
Ni Tianjun even said that, whether in business investments or other aspects, he couldn’t compare to Gu Zhaoping, and if there was to be a collaboration, it would be with her?
You’re betraying me too?!
Surrendering without a fight?
With that kind of spinelessness, do you even deserve to be in our circle?
Gu Zhaoye immediately shouted,
“Ni Tianjun, what are you doing?!”
The group, hearing the familiar voice, turned around in shock.
What the—Gu Zhaoye?
How did he get here?
No one invited him today!
Their expressions were beyond colorful upon his arrival.
This was the first time since the summit incident that the siblings were seen together.
As Gu Zhaoye stormed over in a rage, everyone—though they were here to help him—couldn’t help but think:
Compared to him, Gu Zhaoping really seemed much calmer and more in control, like she was the one who could dominate the situation.
Yang Qi froze, quickly grabbing Gu Zhaoye to stop him from acting rashly, especially with Ni Tiansong present.
“Zhaoye, Zhaoye…”
But Gu Zhaoye shook him off with a single motion!
He glared at the group, wanting to lash out, but something—perhaps a deep-seated fear—stopped him from directing his anger at Gu Zhaoping.
Instead, he turned to Ni Tianjun without hesitation and demanded,
“What did you mean just now?”
Ni Tianjun, startled by his sudden appearance, was already annoyed.
But seeing Gu Zhaoye question him so self-righteously pushed him over the edge.
Fine, I went as far as deceiving my cousin for you, and now I’m trying to fix this mess, yet you’re undermining me?
Acting all high and mighty—who do you think you are?
They were all second-generation heirs.
Even if Gu Zhaoye used to be the center of attention, not everyone was spineless.
Ni Tianjun snapped back,
“Isn’t what I said the truth? Look at the summit—who did your family’s old man bring? Who gave the speech? Isn’t it obvious to anyone with eyes? Why are you yelling at me? Can’t handle the truth?”
As expected, those closest to you know exactly where to strike.
Gu Zhaoye’s face twisted with rage, but before he could retort, Gu Zhaoping glanced at Ni Tianjun, raised her chin slightly, and said,
“Your friend?”
Her tone was light but dripping with mockery.
Gu Zhaoye thought,
What friend?
I don’t have friends like that!
But then he froze, suddenly realizing…could it be that this group’s plan to target Gu Zhaoping had already failed?
Had she seen through it?
How was that possible?
Gu Zhaoye was stunned.
How could such a large group, deliberately setting a trap for Gu Zhaoping, fail to pull it off?
A chill ran down his spine.
Looking at Gu Zhaoping, he suddenly felt something akin to the uncanny valley effect—she didn’t even seem human anymore!
Gu Zhaoping, clearly uninterested, turned her gaze away and set the gun down.
“Still playing these boring games, Gu Zhaoye? Looks like you won’t give up until you hit rock bottom. Living pretty comfortably, huh?”
Gu Zhaoye’s eyes followed the gun as she lowered it, and he trembled slightly.
Then, as if realizing something, he glanced at the nearby screen.
Only then did he notice they had already completed a round.
He froze again, seeing that Gu Zhaoping’s scores were consistently one or two rings higher than those on the other side.
In disbelief, he slowly turned to Yang Qi, who flushed red with embarrassment under his gaze, looking like he wanted to hide.
“I thought you could arrange some proper hospitality,”
Gu Zhaoping said.
“But your little gang of cronies seems to be on the same level as you.”
She took a cloth someone handed her, wiped her hands, and the others fumed but didn’t dare speak.
Gu Zhaoping looked up and said,
“Pretty free, are you? The shareholders’ meeting is tomorrow, and I’m telling you now—don’t forget to show up.”
Gu Zhaoye, caught in a mix of anger and fear, blinked in confusion.
Shareholders’ meeting?
As the executive president of Yuanqi Technology under the Gu Group, and not just any president but the designated heir of the Gu family, a true core figure, Gu Zhaoye hadn’t received any notice about this.
How could a shareholders’ meeting be scheduled with just one day’s notice to him?
No, what was the purpose of holding a shareholders’ meeting now?
Gu Zhaoye’s already contorted face grew even uglier.
He looked at Gu Zhaoping in disbelief, his eyes somewhat dazed.
Could it be…
Grandpa is holding this shareholders’ meeting to decide my punishment?
Was the public backlash I caused really that severe?
The Gu family should be doing everything to protect him, not abandoning him, right?
His heart skipped a beat, but then he suddenly remembered he was on the verge of closing a deal with the head of an energy group who was about to arrive in the country.
Once that deal was secured, Yuanqi Technology could weather this crisis.
And he could go to Liang Zhiwei, explain everything, gain her forgiveness, clarify the Snow Mountain incident, and turn public opinion around—it was all solvable!
But he was still uneasy, worried that Gu Zhaoping might pull something at this critical moment.
He looked at her warily and asked,
“What are you trying to do?”
“You’ll find out when you get there.”
Gu Zhaoping gave a slight smile, not bothering to say more.
She turned to Ni Tiansong to bid farewell.
“Come visit when you have time. See you next time.”
Ni Tiansong replied,
“Miss Gu must be busy lately, so I won’t disturb you further. I’ll definitely come by when you’re free.”
Everyone, especially Young Master Ni, watched in shock as she and Ni Tiansong exchanged pleasantries.
It almost seemed like Ni Tiansong was placing himself in a deferential position, as if he were the one seeking her favor.
Young Master Ni’s heart raced with panic.
My God, how much weight does Gu Zhaoping carry in the eyes of our Ni family’s main branch?
Gu Zhaoping didn’t linger with them.
She strode forward, and everyone instinctively parted to make way for her.
Unlike the aggressive stares they gave her when she arrived, now they looked at her as if they’d seen a ghost.