"What? In broad daylight, someone dares to be this audacious? Do you know who the other party is, Aunt Gu? I'll report it for you; my grandfather has some connections in the capital." At this point, Bai Mingchun and the others had completely forgotten the original reason for their visit, instead showing concern for Gu Yingxi.

When Gu Xian heard this, recalling what the group had just said about her daughter stealing someone's boyfriend, she felt a surge of embarrassment. Naturally, she dared not tell the truth and stammered out: "I heard the other party was Miss Ning..." "Too arrogant!" Bai Mingyu shouted first. They were familiar with the name Miss Ning, especially Tang Xiuyuan. He recalled Ning Yunhuan, with her straight hair, wearing a simple top and jeans, looking even more unassuming than many university students.

He initially found it hard to believe she would do such a thing. However, as everyone pressed for the facts, Gu Xian couldn't bring herself to speak, so the impulsive group, seeing the pitiful and frail Gu Yingxi, naturally laid the blame at Ning Yunhuan's feet. "Brother, let's just drop it. Miss Gu is already so miserable." Although Bai Mingyu was deeply frustrated, for some inexplicable reason, he couldn't bring himself to be angry with Gu Yingxi.

Accustomed to being the favored son held in high regard, he now willingly knelt beside Gu Yingxi, and seeing her fragility, Bai Mingyu felt his heart ache. Bai Mingchun stared at Gu Yingxi with cold eyes, a flicker of unknowable tenderness crossing them. He silently repeated Gu Yingxi's name in his mind; indeed, her name meant she inspired pity. He hadn't clearly heard what his younger brother said at first, but when he snapped back to attention, he nodded: "We can't let her off so easily.

Xiuyuan, tell your grandfather. When did such tyrannical people appear in the capital? This Shangjing needs a proper cleaning up." Tang Xiuyuan, who desperately wanted to vent his anger for the beautiful lady, readily agreed upon hearing this. Who knew that when he returned and told his grandfather, Tang Jun, upon learning whom he was referring to, Tang Jun almost chased him with a knife!

It wasn't that Ning Yunhuan was hard to deal with, but the person behind her was not so easygoing. For Bai Mingyu’s previous incident, he had worn out his old face and exhausted all the connections he had accumulated, leading his other sons and daughters-in-law to nearly resent him to death behind his back. If Tang Jun hadn't been about to retire, their lives would likely not be as they were now. "Can you all just calm down and use your brains for once?" Tang Jun reprimanded Tang Xiuyuan unceremoniously.

Although his reprimand was aimed at Tang Xiuyuan, it sounded to the Bai brothers like he was looking down on them, evidence of his ridicule. Thus, the two brothers exchanged a look, dark malice gleaming in their eyes. Bai Mingchun had intended for Tang Xiuyuan to step up and defend the poor girl, but since the Tang family was proving heartless, he would have to take action himself! With this thought, Bai Mingchun decided he wouldn't listen to Tang Jun's nonsense anymore.

He signaled his brother, and the two quietly slipped away while Tang Jun wasn't looking. "Brother, are we just going to let this go?" Bai Mingyu grumbled indignantly. Hearing him, Bai Mingchun's eyes flickered: "Don't rush. Since the Tang family won't help, then the Tang family is of little use to us anymore.

I recently performed surgery for Congressman Green abroad; you know the Green family. Tang Jun is too old; the Tang family needs a new leader. Mingyu, you are my only kin, don't disappoint me." Bai Mingyu naturally understood the implication in Bai Mingchun’s words. He asked with pleasant surprise, "Brother, are you planning..." "Exactly!" Bai Mingchun snorted coldly, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"What the Tang family owes us, they should have paid back long ago. It's just a position as family head; I'll take what the Tang family refuses to give us myself!" With that, the two brothers looked at each other and burst into hearty laughter, as if everything was already within their grasp. Tang Xiuyuan failed in his mission and was scolded by Tang Jun. Unable to find his two brothers when he left, he cursed his bad luck and decided to drive down the mountain for some leisure.

Meanwhile, Bai Mingchun began contacting Congressman Green. Unbeknownst to him, the moment his call connected, the signal was intercepted by people from the Lan family. The Congressman Green mentioned by Bai Mingchun was indeed one of the core members of the Green family, originally from England. However, in this era where various nations formed the United Nations, this core member was placed into the position of Congressman through the Green family’s wealth and status.

The reason for his current position was the same as why the father of Xie Zhuoyin held an honorary director position at the Imperial Capital University: a status built up by piling on vast sums of money. The 'Congressman' Bai Mingchun spoke of was merely one of Brook Green’s uncles. Lan Jiu had burned the Green family's ancestral home to the ground, effectively destroying their foundation. The Green family already harbored intense hatred for Lan Jiu.

Although the police later found no evidence regarding the incident, Brook Green knew clearly that once a feud was established, the Lan family would keep the Greens under tight surveillance. Upon capturing the call where Bai Mingchun sought help from Congressman Green, the Lan family immediately forwarded the information to Lan Jiu. "Bai Mingchun?" Ning Yunhuan was on a date with Lan Lingyan when she heard the name of Bai Mingchun, one of the orphans adopted by the Tang family, and couldn't help raising an eyebrow. Lan Lingyan calmly nodded: "Bai Mingchun.

He wants to seek help from Congressman Green to kill Tang Jun." "Old Master Tang?" Ning Yunhuan felt her head spinning. "Didn't the Tang family adopt the Bai brothers?" Last time, when Bai Mingyu offended Lan Biao and had him tied up and forced to sign a contract, Old Master Tang had intervened to plead for Bai Mingyu. Ning Yunhuan had heard Lan Lingyan mention this, knowing that Old Master Tang had paid a significant price. The Tang family was merely a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, not powerful aristocrats; the lengths Old Master Tang went to must have been agonizing.

"They adopted them, but the Bai brothers want more than just adoption." They desired the same right to inherit the Tang family as Tang Xiuyuan. If the Tang family rejected them because they weren't biological relatives, the two brothers would feel that the Tang family's adoption was just a facade, an attempt to use them. "..." Ning Yunhuan fell silent, speechless after understanding Lan Jiu's meaning and realizing the Bai brothers, who never intended to change their surname to Tang, aimed to inherit everything. Due to the novel and the time she had lived in her previous life, she wasn't completely clear on the Bai brothers' background, but she had heard that the Bai family was merely the children of a subordinate of Tang Tianhao.

Since the Tang family wasn't a major noble house, Tang Tianhao wasn't arrogant in his dealings and maintained very harmonious relations with his subordinates. When the Bai couple died in a car accident, he naturally adopted the two brothers. Logically, even if the Bai brothers' parents hadn't died, given their family wealth and status, the Tang family, even if inferior to China's top nobility, could at least be called a family of imperial physicians. On what grounds did the Bai brothers feel things weren't fair?

Furthermore, the Tang family had raised them until adulthood; even if they expected something in return, it was justified. After all, no good deed goes unrewarded, and even raising children isn't solely for the joy of kinship but also for the enjoyment of familial affection. Why did the Bai brothers assume the Tang family should sacrifice for them? Was it because of the protagonist's halo that everything seemed entitled in their eyes?

"The Green family will probably come again." Bai Mingchun's request included not only assassinating Old Master Tang but also eliminating Ning Yunhuan. When the Lan family heard this news, they couldn't help but find it ridiculous; even Lan Jiu felt like laughing. A surgeon, no matter how much of a genius or how much he was called the 'Hand of God,' was simply too young. His words were so naive that Lan Jiu didn't know how to comment, viewing him merely as a clown and deciding to use this incident to amuse his wife.

Lan Lingyan didn't intend to meddle in the Tang family's private affairs, but since Bai Mingchun had delivered himself to their doorstep, it was unacceptable not to deal with him. Upon receiving Bai Mingchun's commission, the Green family quickly dispatched a group of operatives. These people were secretly apprehended as soon as they crossed the Chinese border, and without much torture, they exposed the nationally renowned genius surgeon, Bai Mingchun. Meanwhile, Tang Xiuyuan and Bai Mingyu finally realized their affection for Gu Yingxi and were agreeing to a private, fair competition when Bai Mingchun was taken away.

In Bai Mingyu's heart, no matter how kind the Tang family treated him, his priority was his own brother, Bai Mingchun. Once his brother was apprehended, Bai Mingyu panicked and immediately pleaded with Old Master Tang. Tang Jun, unable to lose face, had to call Lin Maoshan and subtly mention the matter. As the conversation progressed, his face grew paler.

Seeing him fall silent, Bai Mingyu, who was nearby, saw that the phone on the other end seemed to have hung up. Tang Jun's phone clattered to the floor. Bai Mingyu picked it up and saw the call had ended. He anxiously asked, "Grandpa Tang, what happened?

When will my older brother be back?" "Your older brother is not coming back." Tang Jun's face showed exhaustion. He shot a cold glance at Bai Mingyu. Tang Tianhao quickly interjected, "Dad, Mingyu only has Mingchun as his older brother. What happened to him?

Did Elder Lin say anything?" At this moment, only Tang Tianhao and one younger brother remained in the Tang household. The middle-aged man sitting on the sofa leaned back, legs crossed, and spoke coldly, "Big Brother, that's not how you put it. How much goodwill did Father use up for Bai Mingyu before? What status do you think our Tang family has?

What kind of figure is Elder Lin? Do you think Father can just beg and plead with him? Doing this repeatedly, who knows what you intend to do to the Tang family!" "How can you..." Tang Xiuyuan's mother immediately bristled, about to retort, but Tang Jun cut her off impatiently: "Enough, shut up!" As the eldest son's wife, although it was never explicitly stated, it was generally understood that the Tang family would be inherited by the eldest son. Thus, Tang Jun usually showed her much respect as a father-in-law.

To be openly scolded by him now stunned Tang Tianhao. Tang Jun coldly stated, "Bai Mingchun has been arrested, charged with treason." "How is that possible? My big brother wouldn't!" Bai Mingyu continuously protested, complaining, "Grandpa, did you plead for my brother or not? How could my brother commit treason?

Who is spreading these lies?" "These words came directly from Elder Lin's mouth. He called in a group of foreigners to enter China, whose objective, besides dealing with the Lin family, was to kill me. Their confession states that after killing me, the Tang family would be handed over to you, Bai Mingyu." As Tang Jun spoke, his expression turned complex: "Good, good, good. My Tang family actually raised such an ingrate.

Fortunately, Elder Lin did not doubt my intentions and told me this time, otherwise my Tang family might have been ruined by you two brothers. Your wishes are granted." Old Master Tang's words stunned everyone in the room. Even the previously languid Tang Xiuyuan’s eyes widened, and he instinctively cried out, "Impossible?" He and Bai Mingyu had grown up together, their bond extraordinary. Hearing that something happened to Bai Mingchun, he was genuinely worried, which was why he hadn't been indulging in his playboy life but waiting at home for news.

To hear that his brother, whom he considered family, wanted to kill his grandfather and take the Tang family, his immediate reaction was denial. Tang Tianhao was also dumbfounded. He subconsciously glanced at his wife; both stood there speechless. Bai Mingyu’s eyes darted away.

In the past, the Tang family hadn't suspected him, but now that suspicion had arisen, Old Master Tang looked at Bai Mingyu and felt a chill, letting out a couple of light laughs before turning and heading back to his room without a second glance at Tang Tianhao or the others. "Big Brother, look at the mess you've made." Tang Tianhao's younger brother suppressed the joy surging in his heart and stood up. With this incident, any hope for Tang Tianhao to inherit the Tang family in the future was utterly gone. The Tang family affair reached a temporary close.

Bai Mingchun died before his plan succeeded. He had thought Congressman Green’s status was special, which is why he sought his help. He wasn't from a legitimate noble Chinese family, and his personality was already set by the time he was adopted by the Tangs. He had always held suspicion and vigilance towards the Tang family, viewing all their teachings as false.

Having gone abroad early on, he didn't truly grasp the intricacies of power and influence. Congressman Green sounded glorious to outsiders, and Bai Mingchun only knew that people flattered this Congressman, so he assumed his status must be extraordinary. Who knew that once the Green family declined, the Congressman himself amounted to little? Now, even if Bai Mingchun avoided a life sentence, it wouldn't be easy for him to escape China's control in his lifetime.

He possessed medical skills, but from now on, he would likely have to use his abilities only to serve China, rather than appearing openly in numerous medical journals and being hired for huge sums to perform surgery for others, as before. Ning Yunhuan could hardly believe her eyes when she learned Bai Mingchun had been arrested. But what was even more unbelievable was that Gu Yingxi, following her recent miscarriage due to pregnancy, had become famous. She was signed by Huayu Group.

This Huayu Group was once an obscure small company in China, comparable to the former Ning family, unknown to many. However, by signing Gu Yingxi, it suddenly became famous. Watching Gu Yingxi on television, looking haggard while leading a team of bodyguards and holding a press conference to apologize to the broad Chinese public, Ning Yunhuan nearly spat out the water she had just taken a sip of. Gu Yingxi indeed had ways; Gu Yingnuo's previous words had nearly dragged her into the mud, yet she managed to rise again.

This made Ning Yunhuan start to wonder if she hadn't seen Gu Yingxi's true potential in her previous life. "I apologize to everyone. Because of my affairs, many people have been hurt, and I feel deeply regretful." Although fatigue still shadowed her features, Gu Yingxi possessed the kind of facial structure perfectly suited for makeup—plain when barefaced, but stunningly beautiful once made up, especially with that look of pitiable vulnerability. With tears welling up, not only men but even women would find it hard to raise their defenses against her.

After all these tribulations, Gu Yingxi still exuded an aura that appeared slightly foolish to women but delightfully cute to men. As soon as she finished her televised apology, many people flooded the internet with messages of support. Many believed she had been coerced and that her involvement with Song Minran was not voluntary, given that Song Minran was a ruthless drug lord; it wouldn't be difficult for such a person to obtain a woman. Similarly, while some supported Gu Yingxi, others began to despise Gu Yingnuo, who had lost a leg.

Some of the harsher comments even suggested Gu Yingnuo deliberately staged the car accident to manipulate public opinion and force people to condemn Gu Yingxi. Ning Yunhuan watched with amusement but secretly looked forward to the day Gu Yingxi was finally dismissed. The New Year passed amidst waves of news bombardment. After the new semester began, the principal of the Imperial Capital University had been replaced.

After failing to secure the position of head of state, Mu Shaohua had coveted the principalship. However, because he later caused trouble by seeking other women, and Tian Yuxin exposed him, Lin Maoshan naturally thwarted his plans again. By now, Mu Shaohua must have wished he could strangle Tian Yuxin. Regardless, the position of Principal of the Imperial Capital University was now beyond his reach.

Lin Maoshan appointed one of his trusted direct subordinates as the honorary principal, implying that as long as this person didn't make a major mistake, securing this position—one unmatchable by mere wealth or profit—was virtually certain. Upon the start of the semester, Ning Yunhuan’s company was airing the program filmed by Li Panpan and the other socialites during the break. Meanwhile, Huayu Company began broadcasting a drama about a group of ordinary girls, like Gu Yingxi, turning into phoenixes—that is, women of humble origins and average looks who underwent transformations after intensive grooming. This program bore some resemblance to the filming situation of Li Panpan and the others at Lanning Company: one involved young ladies enduring hardship and humbling themselves to do things they never would have done before, while the other showed the comical and endearing mistakes made by sparrows turning into phoenixes from ordinary backgrounds.

When Huayu Company's program aired, it borrowed momentum from Lanning's success and gained popularity. Gu Yingxi, in particular, delivered a performance true to life, causing many blunders. As people laughed at her antics, their perception of her gradually changed. Soon, online comments from her 'Gu Fans' frequently praised her as approachable, adorable, and kind.

At this time, the majority of China was still comprised of commoners, not every girl born a princess like Li Panpan. Initially, the performances of this group of girls were engaging, but once compared, the public felt that the reactions of Gu Yingxi and the others were more relatable. Consequently, it seemed Huayu Company's program was poised to overshadow Lanning Television. Everyone was pleased, except Ning Yunhuan, who was distinctly unhappy.

Not only Ning Yunhuan, but even Lan Biao’s face turned dark several times. At this juncture, enduring his frustration, Lan Biao broadcasted a major historical costume drama he had already filmed featuring Ning Yunhuan, which instantly made Lanning Television popular again. However, less than a week after the Qing Dynasty drama began airing, Huayu people announced they would also film a Qing Dynasty palace intrigue drama called The Chronicle of Concubine X! And when Huayu announced the main cast for the drama, aside from Gu Yingxi naturally starring as the fragile yet resilient protagonist, the actor playing the Emperor was none other than Bai Mingyu!

Although Bai Mingyu’s popularity had taken a slight hit when he stood up for Gu Yingxi during her car accident, Gu Yingxi’s fans had already forgiven her, and their affection for her had even deepened. As for Bai Mingyu, an idol star, his fan club magnanimously forgot his past mistakes. Instead, out of guilt, they felt they had misunderstood their idol and began spending their allowance to buy vast quantities of Bai Mingyu's merchandise. Not only did Bai Mingyu avoid misfortune, but he became even hotter, and the company immediately reorganized, pushing Bai Mingyu back to the status of a top-tier star.

After Huayu announced that Concubine X would be filmed and broadcast simultaneously, they launched a series of promotions. While it was expected that Gu Yingxi would frequently appear on various shows for promotion, Huayu Company's spokesperson repeatedly hinted at a desire to compete with Lanning.

Everyone knew there was someone backing Lanning Television; it wasn't just that Lan Jiu had spent a fortune acquiring a TV station, but they had been the sole investor, never taking outside capital. Few advertisements ran on the channel, yet over the course of the year, if you asked any Chinese person which station was the hottest, the answer, without hesitation, would have been Lanning Television. Meanwhile, Huayu was just a company that had previously amounted to nothing. The current statement was clearly a ploy to use Lanning for self-promotion. Lan Biao was so furious he smashed his computer several times in the office before his face darkened, revealing the inherent roughness beneath the surface, ready to find that boss and teach him a lesson.