The most useful was others’ affection points.
These could directly convert into charm points, and the closer someone was to her or the more important they were in this CEO novel, the more points they provided.
Initially, she had genuine feelings for them, treating them as real people.
But later, once interactions with them turned emotional changes into quantifiable data, Ruan Nian began to disregard them, no longer seeing them as real, and started manipulating them through numbers.
But now, realizing this approach no longer worked, Ruan Nian completely broke down.
Without the system’s attribute exchanges, she didn’t know how to make Gu Zhaoye utterly devoted to her or how to win the public’s affection.
She tried exchanging health points again like in the beginning, but her health was already at a critical low.
Any further reduction could be life-threatening, and she couldn’t activate it.
Her other attributes were nearly depleted too.
Looking at her pale face in the mirror, her voice and figure reverted to ordinary, she was consumed by despair and terror, feeling worse than death.
After parting with Gu Zhaoye at the summit, she immediately found a place to hide, contacting no one, determined not to show her face.
At this rate, all the perfect attributes she’d gained would vanish completely.
Stripped of those, Ruan Nian was, at her core, just an ordinary person dreaming of marrying into wealth, never having to rely on herself again.
The long-silent system finally came online again.
Sensing its presence, Ruan Nian instantly perked up, hurriedly asking,
“System, you’re still here, right? Can you give me a way to stabilize this situation? I know you have so many tools—there must be something that can help me, right?”
“You’ve helped me this far. If you don’t save me now, won’t all your efforts go to waste?”
She was still begging for help.
The system paused for a moment before saying,
“I have no solutions.”
Ruan Nian’s face darkened as she slumped down.
The system couldn’t help but add,
“Actually, your starting point now is much higher than before. Despite the dangerous public opinion, you’ve built so many connections. Negotiate with a PR team to help you weather this storm. Apologize to the public, make amends, ask for Liang Zhiwei’s forgiveness. So many people like you—if you genuinely reform, many will forgive you. Cut ties with Gu Zhaoye and focus on your career. You’re not at a dead end.”
“You can hone your acting skills without system boosts. You can learn singing techniques from a teacher. Even the appearance you care about—you still have significant wealth to alter your looks. Ruan Nian, you’ve never been at a dead end.”
Listening to the system’s nagging advice, Ruan Nian’s impatience reached its peak.
Logic told her to consider the system’s words, but her emotions and fear left no room for thought.
Accustomed to solving problems the fastest way, how could she endure such a fall?
Go under the knife for plastic surgery, strictly schedule workouts to shape her body, strain her voice learning to sing, study acting with others—these were all too hard for her.
“If I could do it myself, why would I need the system?!”
Hearing Ruan Nian’s outburst, the system fell silent.
After her rant, it took a while for her to notice the system wasn’t trying to persuade her anymore.
When she checked, the system’s screen displayed a string of garbled code.
Panicking, she tried to call it back.
“System, system, are you still there? Is there any other solution?”
For example, Ruan Nian’s mind raced, and after much thought, she came up with an acceptable idea.
“I don’t need what you gave me, but can you at least not take away what I originally had? Or…or can’t you throw me back into the plot? Can’t you save my progress and put me back to a passionate moment, before this all started?”
The system didn’t respond.
In the silence, Ruan Nian’s heartbeat pounded at its peak.
She’d never been this scared.
At that moment, the TV behind her, playing a program, suddenly blared a familiar name.
She instinctively turned to look.
The moment she saw the subtitles, her pupils shrank.
Her worst fear had come true so quickly.
The Gu family was holding a press conference to address and apologize for the recent public backlash.
The station had sent reporters for a live broadcast.
She stared blankly at the packed seats, occupied by a few people—likely Gu family executives and spokespersons.
All in sharp suits, meticulously dressed, mostly men.
Ruan Nian recognized some of them.
When she was by Gu Zhaoye’s side, these people reported to him, sometimes shooed away impatiently by him to avoid interrupting their interactions.
Back then, in her eyes, they were mere tools in a CEO novel, summoned and dismissed at will, only there to say,
“The CEO hasn’t smiled like this in ages.”
But now, seeing them on stage, facing countless cameras with such elite poise, holding prepared statements, solemn and orderly, occasionally casting tense glances toward a side passage, they seemed different.
The room was quiet, with only occasional camera flashes.
Watching this, Ruan Nian suddenly wondered who would attend this press conference.
Would it be Gu Zhaoye?
What would he say?
Would he apologize to the public?
Deep down, she couldn’t accept this.
As the male lead of a CEO novel, how could he be brought down by something like this, care about public opinion, or fear the masses’ judgment?
Wasn’t he supposed to be untouchable, above the law, connected to the rich and powerful, able to solve anything?
The thought that Gu Zhaoye’s apology stemmed from Liang Zhiwei filled her with a bitter, aching unwillingness.
Why?
Why should a mere stand-in like Liang Zhiwei become the center of attention, forcing even a domineering CEO to bow and apologize?
But as she watched, dazed, she noticed a subtle unease in their waiting, as if they were anticipating something more.
They seemed eager to please the person about to arrive, yet unsure how to do so.
This wasn’t the attitude they’d have toward Gu Zhaoye.
With such a massive scandal surrounding him, they wouldn’t be trying to curry favor like this.
To her credit, Ruan Nian was unexpectedly sharp in that moment, but her sharpness was useless.
She watched as someone emerged from the back passage, walked straight to the central seat, and sat down.
It was Gu Zhaoping.
Ruan Nian’s eyes widened.
Gu Zhaoping?!
Why was it Gu Zhaoping??
Was she representing the Gu family to address Gu Zhaoye’s recent scandal at this press conference?
Where was Gu Zhaoye?
Where had he gone?
Even if an apology was needed, shouldn’t he be the one to show up?
The reporters below erupted in gasps and murmurs when they saw who it was!
No one had expected Gu Zhaoping to take the stage, but on second thought, it made sense.
After all, she was the one who saved Liang Zhiwei, and she had already given a speech at the summit.
So, did this mean Gu Zhaoping had taken Gu Zhaoye’s place and was now being groomed as the Gu family’s heir?
Ruan Nian was struck by disbelief, staring intently at her.
Impossible!
She was just a supporting character brought in by the system!
How could Gu Zhaoping rise to such a position while Ruan Nian was in such a miserable state?!
She was supposed to be the one slapped in the face, humiliated and exiting in disgrace after being universally condemned, watching Ruan Nian marry into wealth and take control of the Gu family!
Why was everything unfolding in the complete opposite direction of what she’d imagined?
But what came next was even more unbelievable.
As Gu Zhaoping approached, the Gu family executives around her stood up, some bowing slightly with deference, others cautiously nodding in respect.
The person beside her pulled out her chair, and only after Gu Zhaoping sat did they take their seats in turn.
The hierarchy was clear, the order impeccable.
Ruan Nian stared blankly, a deep sense of resentment welling up in her heart.
This was the life she’d imagined for herself after joining the Gu family—everyone fawning over her, looking up to her, not daring to offend, constantly trying to please her.
But why was Gu Zhaoping the one reaping these rewards?
No matter how furious she was, it didn’t affect the person on the screen.
Gu Zhaoping adjusted her glasses and said,
“Regarding the recent public concerns about the Gu family, I’m here to provide an update.
“I am Gu Zhaoping, the spokesperson for the Gu family.”
The room fell silent, broken only by the frenzied clicks of camera shutters as flashes lit up!
All lenses scrambled to capture the poise of this female representative.
Sitting alone on the stage, she seemed to eclipse everyone else, rendering them invisible.
“The first issue: Gu Zhaoye’s mistakes were too grave. The Gu family held an internal shareholder meeting to make a decision. After a vote, over two-thirds of the shareholders agreed to remove Gu Zhaoye.”
This decision was announced so casually that everyone was caught off guard, eyes widening in disbelief.
What?
Gu Zhaoye was removed just like that?
Had the Gu family really decided to abandon their eldest grandson?
The torrent of anger directed at Gu Zhaoye hadn’t even had time to fully erupt, but hearing this outcome in the first sentence left everyone stunned!
While it might not seem like a punishment commensurate with his actions, given the public’s familiarity with the arrogance of the powerful, seeing a wealthy CEO genuinely face such a consequence was shocking!
As the crowd buzzed with frantic discussions, Ruan Nian was utterly dumbfounded.
Her body went cold.
Gu Zhaoye was removed?
How could this be?
He wasn’t the CEO anymore?
He was the male lead!
How could the male lead be ousted?!
But what came next was even more staggering.
Gu Zhaoping looked up and said calmly,
“Yuanming Tech will now be under my leadership. Going forward, we will launch a new energy battery project in collaboration with Aurora Green Energy Group, which holds significant innovative advantages in the current market. Stay tuned.”
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