The Heiress's Game

By the time Gu Mingcheng's car entered the driveway of the Zhao family villa, it was already completely dark.

The living room was dimly lit by only one floor lamp.

Gu Mingyue sat alone on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine in her hand, with several scattered documents on the coffee table in front of her.

She turned around when she heard footsteps, and when she saw Gu Mingcheng, she didn't even bother to put on her usual gentle smile.

"Big brother, what brings you here?"

"Just to see you go crazy."

Gu Mingcheng sat down opposite her and glanced at the documents on the table—these were letters of intent sent by Zhang Wei, each marked with a big red cross. The last page was so badly marked that someone had simply poked a hole in it with their fingernail.

"Zhang Wei's deal fell through."

"Chen Shuo couldn't be persuaded, Chen Yao couldn't be persuaded, and the Chen family members are like they've been brainwashed, completely unyielding."

Gu Yunjin gave them equity—equity! She's a variety show producer, yet she gave equity to a bunch of ordinary people? Is she crazy?

Gu Mingcheng didn't reply, but just looked at her quietly.

"I contacted five groups of people, from five different angles, and they all hit a wall."

Gu Yunjin is definitely laughing at me behind my back right now. She must be laughing at me—she has everything now. Her company is thriving, her show is a huge hit, and everyone in the industry is saying how amazing she is. And what about me?

I'm known as the top socialite in Da Hai Cheng, but I can't even poach one of her artists—"

"Mingyue," Gu Mingcheng interrupted her.

"What's wrong now?" Gu Mingyue crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Dad has already reached an agreement with the Bai family."

"Yun Jin is to marry Bai Junze, the eldest grandson of the Bai family in Yun Jing."

The Bai family gave Yun Jin three percent of their Bai family shares as dowry, and her father also contributed three percent of his Gu family shares. Together, the two amounts to approximately 20 billion yuan.

Gu Mingyue sat motionless on the sofa, without even blinking.

She looked at Gu Mingcheng, as if waiting for him to finish speaking before laughing and telling her it was a lie.

But Gu Mingcheng didn't laugh; he was serious.

"Three percent of Gu's shares?"

"right."

"What did my dad give me when I got married? It was over a billion."

But when Gu Yunjin got married, her father gave her three percent of the shares—three percent! I didn't get a single share! Why?!

She yelled the last sentence. She grabbed an empty wine glass from the coffee table and smashed it against the opposite wall. The crystal glass shattered on the wall, shards flying all over the floor.

Ignoring the broken pieces, she stood up and kicked over the magazine rack next to the coffee table, scattering dozens of hardcover magazines all over the floor with a crash.

"Why? Why? I am the most favored daughter of the Gu family! I am the number one socialite in Dahai City!"

I've been my dad's favorite child since I was little! What is Gu Yunjin compared to me?

What a useless son of an actor! A piece of trash who was abandoned abroad at the age of fourteen to fend for himself!

Why does she deserve shares? Why does she deserve to marry into the Bai family? Why does she get all the good things?

"I refuse to accept this! I refuse to accept this—"

Gu Mingcheng sat on the sofa without moving.

"A real estate winter is coming."

"He Daheng has been taken into custody. Once the announcement is made, the real estate industry across the country will be shaken up."

House prices will fall, cash flow will break down, and banks will withdraw loans.

Gu's real estate sector is a pillar industry; if profits are halved, it will be considered a mild outcome.

The main focus of the Bai family now is new energy and technology, which is completely unrelated to the real estate cycle.

The Gu family's marriage alliance with the Bai family isn't about finding Yun Jin a husband, but about ensuring the Gu family's survival and prosperity during this difficult time. Do you understand?

Gu Mingyue stood there, stunned.

"Therefore, this marriage is not just Yun Jin's affair."

"It's a strategic marriage for the entire Gu family. Dad gave three percent of the shares as dowry, which means this is a done deal and no one can break it."

His voice deepened as he warned, "Including you."

Gu Mingyue stood there, staring blankly at her elder brother, her lips moving slightly as if she were processing every word he had just said.

She suddenly laughed.

"With a dowry of over 20 billion yuan paving the way, Gu Yunjin certainly wouldn't object."

How could someone as shrewd as her possibly object?

She doesn't like Pei Yan, so how could she not like Bai Junze?

"Brother, what if something unexpected happens to Gu Yunjin before the arranged marriage—like someone taking photos of her that shouldn't be taken, or she being slept with—would the Bai family still want her?"

Gu Mingcheng's face darkened in that instant.

"I know a few people who do this kind of thing very cleanly—"

Before Gu Mingyue could finish speaking, a loud slap knocked her onto the sofa.

Her face was slapped to one side, and a ringing sensation instantly filled half of her head.

She covered her left cheek, staring at Gu Mingcheng with wide eyes in disbelief.

Gu Mingcheng stood in front of her, looking down at her.

"If you ever have that thought again, I will no longer acknowledge you as my sister."

Gu Mingyue glared at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

Her own brother, who had always stood by her side since childhood, actually laid a hand on her for Gu Yunjin's sake.

"You hit me?" Her voice was hoarse and incredulous.

"Gu Mingcheng, you hit me for Gu Yunjin's sake? I'm your own sister! I'm your sister from the same parents!"

"I hit you because you're my sister."

Gu Mingcheng straightened up and adjusted his cuffs.

"You must remember every single word I just said."

This matter concerns the marriage between our two families, and no one can interfere. Dad and Grandpa Bai have already reached an agreement, and there is no room for negotiation or any unforeseen circumstances.

I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. But from this moment on, you'd better drop all those thoughts. Otherwise—"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Gu Mingyue covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Dad doesn't know I came to see you tonight."

Gu Mingcheng picked up the suit jacket draped over the armrest of the sofa.

"This matter has not been made public yet; all the details are kept between us."

I'm telling you this in advance because you're my sister. If you weren't, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can't do anything.

He walked to the door and paused for a moment.

"Bright Moon, some things can be fought for, some things cannot be touched."

You grew up in the wealthiest family in Dahai City; you should understand this better than anyone else.

The door closed gently behind him, and the living room fell silent again, except for Gu Mingyue's low, suppressed sobs.