This was too strange—everyone silently shared the same thought.
Why did it feel like Gu Zhaoping, sitting there, was like an elder overseeing everything, while no one else dared overstep?
The sofa on the first floor of the Gu estate had always been Gu Zhaoping’s favorite spot—she liked the commanding view it offered, like ruling over a kingdom.
Now, no one dared compete for it; it was entirely hers.
After exchanging glances, someone finally mustered the courage to ask,
“Big Cousin, have you heard about Gu Zhaoye?”
“What about him?”
Seeing Gu Zhaoping’s genuine confusion, they were taken aback, surprised, and finally said,
“Big Cousin, don’t you know Gu Zhaoye’s getting engaged soon?”
“Engaged, huh.”
Gu Zhaosi, who had just followed her in, nearly tripped in shock.
Gu Zhaoye was getting engaged?
At a time like this, he was busy with an engagement?
To whom?
Ruan Nian?
No way, he wouldn’t be that reckless, would he?
Gu Zhaoping, however, said briskly,
“I know.”
Everyone froze again.
Gu Zhaosi stared at her dumbly.
What?
His sister knew about Gu Zhaoye’s engagement but had no intention of intervening?
The Gu family elders gradually arrived, and Gu Zhaoping stood first, nodding in greeting: “Grandfather.”
The younger relatives followed her lead, greeting in turn.
An unexpected figure arrived with them, and the old patriarch’s expression wasn’t particularly warm.
Leaning on his cane, he walked in, and only then did others notice Gu Zhaoye trailing behind him, prompting varied reactions.
Wasn’t Gu Zhaoye just ousted at the shareholders’ meeting?
And with his actions at Yuanqi Technology still under investigation and lawsuits pending, how could he show up so boldly at a Gu family gathering?
Then it dawned on them.
Could it be…because of Gu Zhaoye’s engagement?
All eyes turned to Gu Zhaoping, searching for any sign of a reaction, but her face remained impassive, offering no drama to witness.
After this ordeal, the CEO-like arrogance Gu Zhaoye once carried had vanished overnight.
The moment he saw Gu Zhaoping, a fleeting expression—part caution, part resentment—crossed his face, but it stiffened and was quickly suppressed when their eyes met.
Seeing Gu Zhaoping, the patriarch’s expression softened slightly.
“You’re here early.”
Gu Zhaoping, as if she hadn’t noticed Gu Zhaoye, greeted the patriarch calmly.
Gu Zhaoye’s expression grew even more rigid.
With everyone present, he stood quietly, waiting for something.
He looked at the patriarch, but the old man was already chatting with others, seemingly uninterested in addressing his matter.
Gu Zhaoye glanced at his parents, but they didn’t react either.
Finally, unable to hold back, he spoke hesitantly: “Grandfather…”
The patriarch, interrupted, glanced at him.
His eyes held an unfamiliar look, devoid of the affection and pride he once showed his grandson.
“Tell them yourself,” the patriarch finally relented.
Gu Zhaoye exhaled in relief, scanning the room with a renewed hint of confidence in his tone.
“I’m here today to announce that Yining and I will hold our engagement ceremony soon, on the fourth of next month. I hope everyone can make time to attend and not miss it.”
His words sent ripples through the room.
Those unaware were stunned, staring at him and exchanging bewildered looks.
Yining?
Of course, they knew—
Fang Yining.
She and Gu Zhaoye were engaged, sure, but after such a scandal, could she really go through with it and hold an engagement ceremony at this moment?
Were Fang Yining and the Fang family out of their minds?
No family that cared even slightly for their child would throw her into such a mess.
And didn’t they recall Fang Yining being close with Gu Zhaoping?
Did this mean Fang Yining was siding with Gu Zhaoye now, going against Gu Zhaoping?
They cautiously observed Gu Zhaoping’s expression, but her face gave nothing away.
Gu Zhaoye kept waiting for Gu Zhaoping to react, but no change came.
He stared at her intently, as if bracing for an outburst, but she remained calm.
When he finished, she spoke as if it were a trivial matter, saying gently,
“Then let’s all take our seats. The chef has prepared lunch.”
Gu Zhaoye froze, watching her turn away.
Finally, he called out,
“Gu Zhaoping…Sister.”
He forced out the word “Sister,” and when she half-turned back, he quickly added,
“Will you attend the engagement ceremony?”
Gu Zhaoping paused, then said generously,
“Of course I will.”
“After all, it’s Fang Yining and my brother’s engagement. As your elder sister, how could I not attend?”
Though her words made Gu Zhaoye feel uneasy, her agreement was unexpected, and he let out a sigh of relief.
This engagement was his lifeline, a battle to reclaim his standing.
On one hand, it was to signal to the onlookers in their circle and industry—those watching his downfall—that he hadn’t been entirely abandoned.
At the very least, he could secure the Fang family engagement.
On the other hand, it was to prove that all the key Gu family members would attend his engagement, a crucial endorsement that was almost a matter of survival.
He believed that those at Yuanqi Technology still loyal to him wouldn’t easily submit to Gu Zhaoping.
Once he regained his footing, they’d rally behind him again.
With the Gu family’s backing and the status of the Fang family’s son-in-law, how could he not stage a comeback?
The tense expression Gu Zhaoye had worn for so long finally eased, and even this family dinner, which should have been humiliating, brought a faint smile to his face.
Gu Zhaosi, seeing him dare to raise a glass in a provocative toast, felt a wave of disgust and didn’t clink glasses, turning away instead.
When Gu Zhaosi went to the bathroom to wash his hands, he ran into Gu Zhaoping and hurried over, whispering,
“Sis, how are you so calm? I thought Fang Yining was your best friend!”
He glanced back at the dining room, where Gu Zhaoye’s presence had made the atmosphere awkward, stifling any laughter or conversation.
Only Gu Zhaoye, oblivious, kept toasting.
Gu Zhaosi’s voice trembled with disbelief: “At a time like this, that jerk is still thinking about marriage alliances? Why didn’t he think of this before? Only now, when no one’s backing him, does he remember his fiancée and her family to clean up his mess. How can someone be so shameless?”
Even more incredulous, he continued,
“After all that mess with Ruan Nian and the whole internet knowing about Liang Zhiwei, he still has the gall to talk engagement with the Fang family? I swear, I’m starting to think he slipped them some kind of drug. How else could a normal person agree to marry him now?”
“Just wait and see,”
Gu Zhaoping replied noncommittally, a faint smile on her face as she wiped her hands and glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
Gu Zhaosi was puzzled, but after a moment, he sensed his sister’s calm confidence, as if she had everything under control.
Did she have some plan up her sleeve?
A chill ran down his spine, goosebumps rising, as he suddenly felt Gu Zhaoye was in for a disaster.
Whatever, he couldn’t figure it out.
He’d just watch the show—his sister would never let him down.
With that thought, Gu Zhaosi cheerfully returned to the dining room.
Gu Zhaoping had been quietly waiting for this day.
News of Gu Zhaoye’s engagement spread quickly, with great fanfare.
He began sending out invitations en masse.
The engagement was set at a manor hotel in Haicheng, a property invested in by the Gu family, later developed into a castle-style hotel by a partner.
The planning team was a renowned name in the industry.
Everyone’s first reaction upon hearing the news was disbelief—
Fang Yining was willing to stand by Gu Zhaoye at this critical moment and go through with the engagement?
Good grief, had Gu Zhaoye drugged her?
Or did he have some leverage over the Fang family?
It was unthinkable!
Soon, media outlets sensitive to elite gossip caught wind of it.
An editor-in-chief at a news website froze upon receiving the invitation, double- and triple-checking the names on it, still in disbelief.
He spat out the goji berry and red date tea he’d just sipped.
“What does this mean? Gu Zhaoye’s getting engaged to the Fang family’s daughter at a time like this?”
He twisted the bottle cap, staring wide-eyed at the invitation, rereading it repeatedly, still unable to process it.
Fang Yining seemed to have the aura of a Wang Baochuan, the loyal wife from folklore.
Was her family trying to show off their unwavering loyalty?
Even after Gu Zhaoye’s fall, were they betting on him as a bargain stock?
It took the editor a while to recover from the shock before he slammed the desk, drawing the attention of the entire office.
“Quick, quick, quick! Get on this story! We need to be the first to break it!”
The office paused, then erupted into a frenzy of keyboard clacking.
Someone came up with the first headline: Shocker!
Fallen Tycoon to Marry Sister’s Best Friend, Once Embroiled in Scandals and Murder Rumors!
The editor nodded in approval, but other outlets caught wind too, each as excited as if they’d been injected with adrenaline, churning out reports overnight: Elite Drama: Ousted CEO to Wed Sister’s Close Friend—
Are His Scandalous Affairs Ever Enough?
From Romantic Scandals to Power Struggles, Now Engaged to His Sister’s Best Friend?
This Elite Saga Is Too Wild!
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