The Heiress's Game

Since its launch, the data from "Together with Brilliance" has been soaring.

On the night the fourth episode aired, the ratings exceeded 2, and the total number of views across the internet increased by 40% compared to the previous episode. Three of the top ten trending topics on social media platforms were related to the show.

Chen Cui's social media followers jumped from three million to eight million, and brand collaboration offers are booked until the next quarter.

Her face appeared on the LED screen in the most bustling commercial district of Dahai City, next to the logo of an international beauty brand, with the title "True Beauty, Radiant Bloom".

She achieved what it takes over a decade of hard work in the entertainment industry in just one year.

Gu Mingyue stared at Chen Cui's face, magnified to the entire wall, on her phone screen for a full three seconds before throwing her phone onto the sofa.

She rolled over, picked up the remote to change the channel, but ended up on two different channels: one was showing a preview of Chen Cui's interview, and the other was playing a compilation of highlights from "Walking with Brilliance".

She threw away the remote control too.

She decided to stop waiting. Online trolls were useless, public opinion was useless; Chen Cui was like a spring that couldn't be flattened no matter how much you stepped on it, the higher she bounced.

She wanted to go directly to her father and ask him to make the show disappear.

She had even prepared her story in her head—that Chen Cui had climbed to power by stepping on the Gu family's reputation.

The show's malicious hype surrounding her relationship with Chen Cui, and the gossip media's portrayal of her as a mean-spirited heiress, are all the show's fault—every single piece of writing tramples on the reputation of Gu Zhenxing's family, which he cares about most.

She had just picked up her phone to call Xu Bingjun to arrange a time when the doorbell rang.

It was Gu Mingcheng who arrived.

He was wearing a dark blue business shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his wrists, holding car keys in his hand, and his expression was somewhere between impatience and something he wanted to say.

He changed into slippers and walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa opposite Gu Mingyue, poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and then got straight to the point.

"There's something you probably don't know. 'Walking with Brilliance' was produced by Gu Yunjin. She's the boss behind Xingyao Media."

Gu Mingyue's hand, holding the phone, froze in mid-air. Three seconds later, she sprang up from the sofa: "What did you say?"

"Xingyao Media, the company that produced 'Walking with Brilliance,' is actually controlled by Gu Yunjin."

Nanzhen is entirely staffed with professional managers hired by her, and Chen Cui was also chosen by her.

"Her? How dare she—that bitch! She tried to disgust me by messing with my handbag seller? Is this how a sister should act!"

"After she came back, I invited her to every gathering, and I even introduced her to potential blind dates."

I even brought her a gift when I went to the fashion show in Paris last time! And she was right behind me—she actually—"

Gu Mingyue's voice was shrill and sharp.

Gu Mingcheng leaned back on the sofa, holding a water glass, watching her walk around the living room, and suddenly chuckled.

"Aren't you two always just fake besties? From childhood to adulthood, when have you ever truly treated her like a younger sister? When has she ever truly treated you like an older sister?"

"What, after acting for so long, you've actually developed feelings for the role?"

"I'm your sister! Instead of standing up for me, you're mocking me?"

"I stand on the side of facts," Gu Mingcheng said, taking a sip of water.

"From childhood to adulthood, you always crop out only her from the family photos you post on social media, and you always give her the seat closest to the serving area at family dinners."

When you were little, you tripped her down the stairs and then told your grandma that she fell on her own—you've forgotten these things, but I haven't.

"You—" Gu Mingyue glared at Gu Mingcheng, her chest heaving violently.

"There's one more thing. Gu Yunjin went to see Dad, and he gave her eight or nine hundred million yuan to invest in her Xingyao Media."

Gu Mingyue's pupils contracted sharply.

"How much did you say?"

"Eight or nine hundred million."

"Impossible!" Gu Mingyue's voice suddenly rose.

"How could Dad possibly give her so much money! Mingcheng, did you hear me wrong—what right does she have?"

"She's been abroad for so many years, how many times has she seen Dad? Even when I buy a bag, Dad thinks I'm wasting money, how could she possibly—"

"Do you think I would joke about something like this?" Gu Mingcheng put down his water glass. "The money has already been deposited into my account."

Gu Mingyue stood in the middle of the living room, her mouth open, as if she wanted to say something, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Then she suddenly turned around, grabbed the newly replaced Copenhagen Royal Porcelain vase from the coffee table, and smashed it hard on the ground.

The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the high-ceilinged living room, shards flying everywhere, one of which landed on Gu Mingcheng's leather shoes.

Then came the second and the third—she grabbed whatever she could and smashed it. Limited edition tea sets, crystal ornaments, even the fashion magazine on the coffee table that had only been turned two pages were all thrown out by her, shards of porcelain and crystal fragments littering the floor.

"She can't have it! She can't have it!" She stood amidst the mess.

"She's just an actress's daughter, what right does she have—"

Gu Mingcheng stood up as soon as the first vase hit the ground, took two steps back, put his hands in his pockets, and stared expressionlessly at the broken porcelain and the woman who seemed to have gone mad.

When she smashed the fourth item, he raised his hand to look at his watch and said in a cold tone, "Are you done smashing? If you're done, sit down and let's discuss serious matters."

Smashing things won't solve anything—that's what Mom taught us when she was still alive.

Gu Mingyue gasped for breath, glaring at him, her chest heaving violently several times. Then, she gritted her teeth and sat down in the corner of the sofa, her fingers gripping the edge of the sofa cushion tightly.