The Heiress's Game

On the day of the engagement banquet, sunlight streamed into the suite of the Shallow Bay Resort Hotel from the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the entire room bright and soft.

Gu Yunjin sat in front of the vanity mirror, already changed into her engagement dress—a white floor-length gown adorned with numerous diamonds and pearl tassels, exquisitely tailored, perfectly outlining her slender waistline and upright back.

Her long hair was half-up by the stylist, and she wore a crown made of pearls and diamonds, with two round pearls adorning her ears.

The stylist is using hairspray to give the final styling.

Qian Yuewei held up her phone and circled Gu Yunjin several times, snapping photos incessantly.

"This one is beautiful! This one is amazing! My God, Yun Jin, you are truly a fairy today. Bai Junze would probably be stunned if he saw you."

Several of her close girlfriends were also holding up their phones, laughing and finding the perfect angle. Some said her makeup was even better than a magazine cover, while others said the dress would be a hit at this year's engagement parties. The dressing room was bustling with activity.

Amidst the commotion, the door was gently pushed open.

Gu Mingyue stood at the door, wearing a champagne gold satin dress and an emerald necklace. She looked elegant and noble, still the most popular socialite in Dahai City.

Qian Yuewei almost reflexively put down her phone, took a step forward, and stood between Gu Yunjin and the doorway.

Her gaze swept over Gu Mingyue from head to toe, her tone utterly impolite:

"What are you doing here? If you're planning anything today, I'll be keeping a close eye on you."

Gu Mingyue glanced at Qian Yuewei, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Whatever."

She walked past Qian Yuewei and stood in front of Gu Yunjin.

"Congratulations," Gu Mingyue said.

"Thank you, sister." She stood up, and the two stood side by side in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The photographer quickly took a few photos.

In the photos, one is dignified and the other is elegant; the scene is extremely pleasing to the eye.

Qian Yuewei was still muttering "Let's leave as soon as we're done filming," but Gu Yunjin and Gu Mingyue in the camera were indeed smiling perfectly.

After taking the photos, the girls tactfully dispersed to look at the pictures and choose filters.

Gu Mingyue did not leave; she stood next to Gu Yunjin, her gaze fixed on the azure sea outside the window.

"Gu Yunjin, don't think that getting married is the beginning of happiness."

"In wealthy families, marriage is just the beginning of tragedy. You and Bai Junze—in the end, are just another version of me and Zhao Zongheng."

He's nice to you now because the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

Once the initial excitement wears off, after two, three, or five years—do you think he'll still treat you the same way?

You'll be waiting for him at home for dinner, while he's out socializing, surrounded by different people one after another.

You think you're the exception? There are no exceptions.

Gu Yunjin listened quietly without arguing.

Looking at her calm expression, Gu Mingyue felt a surge of bitterness that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time.

"Isn't your mother the best example? You'll be just like her in the future."

Qian Yuewei turned around abruptly, her face flushed with anger, and strode over in her high heels.

"Gu Mingyue, what did you say?! You're cursing others just because you're unhappy in your own marriage?"

Just because your own husband is unfaithful, you think all men are the same? Saying these things on Yun Jin's wedding day, what are your intentions?!

"Yuewei." Gu Yunjin raised her hand and pressed down on her arm.

"Gu Mingyue,"

"Do you think I'm like you?" Gu Mingyue's eyelashes fluttered.

What you just said might apply to you, but it doesn't apply to me.

You think marriage is your everything, your husband is your everything, and if Zhao Zongheng has even the slightest affair, you feel like the sky is falling—that's you.

"It wasn't me."

"Perhaps marriage is the beginning of a tragedy for you because you have placed all your bets on one man."

You bet he'll treat you well for life, but if you lose, you'll lose everything.

But I don't. Currently, three percent of Gu's shares are in my name, and three percent of Bai's shares are also in my name.

What this marriage gave me was not a love that required me to beg for charity, but a real asset that belonged only to me.

I am the same before I got married, and I am the same after I got married.

I don't need Bai Junze's love to prove my worth, nor do I need marriage to maintain my standard of living.

She looked at Gu Mingyue.

"If Bai Junze treats me well, we'll live a good life together."

If he changes one day, it's okay—just get a divorce.

Gu Yunjin's tone was light and confident, as if she were talking about what to have for afternoon tea today.

"Men can date young women, and I can date young men."

Each person should rely on their own abilities; no one should hold anyone else hostage.

If things really become unbearable, even if we get divorced, I will still receive all the shares I'm entitled to, continue to receive dividends, and continue the business I'm involved in.

Do you think I would do what you did, sitting in an empty villa waiting for someone who never comes home?

Gu Mingyue stood there, her expression shifting from calm to shock to paleness.

Qian Yuewei, who had been angry, put away her anger and her eyes changed from worry to admiration.

She opened her mouth and silently mouthed to Li Chunjing, "Handsome."

Gu Yunjin picked up the velvet gift box that Gu Mingyue had brought from the dressing table, opened it and took a look—inside was an exquisite diamond bracelet, the perfectly cut diamonds refracting tiny sparkles under the light.

She closed the lid, put it back on the table, and then looked up at Gu Mingyue.

"Thank you for the gift, and thank you for the reminder. But don't worry about me, worry more about yourself."

Her tone was as if she were speaking intimately to her older sister, "After all, the only thing you can gamble with is love, and that can vanish in an instant. What I hold in my hands won't evaporate."

The dressing room was quiet for a few seconds. Qian Yuewei was still standing there, the lingering warmth of admiration in her eyes still present, but she seemed to have a premonition of what was about to happen, and tactfully took a step back.

As Gu Yunjin watched the color drain from her face, she didn't stop there.

I've been keeping some things to myself for too long, so now that I've started, I might as well say them all at once.

"Gu Mingyue, to tell you the truth, you've really wasted your life being born into this world."

Becoming Gu Zhenxing's daughter—a starting point that countless people in the entire Dahai City wouldn't even dare to dream of—has, in your hands, been turned into a survival game where you have to be subservient to others.

"From childhood to adulthood, you've never relied on yourself. Before you got married, you relied on your father's doting and your older brother's protection."

Your father will give you the best resources, and your older brother will shield you from all trouble. You don't have to do anything; you just need to be that obedient and beautiful young lady.

Even after you get married, you'll still rely on your father and older brother—you know perfectly well how many of the Zhao family's businesses were given to Zhao Zongheng only because of the Gu family.

As for your husband, you don't even dare to rely on him.

You never dared to confront him about his extramarital affairs, and you didn't even dare to check the accounts when he invested your dowry.

She remained unmoved as she watched the tears welling up in Gu Mingyue's eyes.

"In the end, you're just a piece of trash."

A good-for-nothing who can't live without the Gu family.

You're coming to me now and saying marriage is the beginning of a tragedy? You're wrong.

Your tragedy didn't begin with marriage; it began the moment you chose to entrust your life to someone else.

"Shut up!" Gu Mingyue's voice was sharp and hoarse. She took a step forward and raised her right hand high.

Gu Yunjin raised her hand and firmly grasped her wrist, and she paused for a second while holding Gu Mingyue's wrist.

Then, with a backhand slap, he crisply and cleanly struck Gu Mingyue's left cheek.

Gu Mingyue's face was turned to one side by the slap, her champagne gold hair accessory came loose, and a few carefully styled curls fell to the side of her face.

She covered her face, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"How dare you hit me?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? You can go and complain to me." Gu Yunjin withdrew her hand.

"Go find your father, go find your older brother. Tell them I hit you."

Guess what they'll do? Will they feel sorry for you, or think you deserved it?

Gu Mingyue covered her face, trembling all over.

"I remember every single thing you did to bully me when I was a child."

"You took my things, tore up my homework, and lied to Dad about me."

"You bullied my mother—you called her a washed-up actress, said she wasn't good enough for Gu Jia, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

Gu Mingyue's lips trembled slightly.

"I've wanted to slap you like this for years."

After Gu Yunjin finished speaking, she took a step back, her tone returning to its usual gentle and soft manner, even with a hint of a smile.

"Alright, big sister, go touch up your makeup, the engagement banquet is about to begin."

If you don't want your face to have marks on it in the photos, ask Kobayashi to get some ice to apply.

Gu Mingyue stood there, her left cheek, which had been slapped, still burning.

"The people you can rely on now are all on my side. In the future in Haicheng, you'd better continue to be my loving best friend, just like before."

Everyone saves face, isn't that great?