"Very well, the Master has already sent men to retrieve him. However, his godfather is also looking for him right now, so he must have gone into hiding. My guess is that he’s holed up in the Gu residence. Madam, should I send a word of warning to that person?" Gu Yingnuo pursed her lips into a smile, showing not the slightest intention of letting Gu Shao Tao off easy. "I hear his godfather has already issued a kill order for him. Catching him nets twenty thousand for the hands, and killing him yields fifty thousand. Providing information about his whereabouts gets you a cool ten thousand." As she spoke, a flicker of longing crossed Gu Yingnuo’s face. "Money you get for free just feels exhilarating, no matter how you spend it. Besides, his mission failed because he was too busy promoting Gu Yingxi. Now, the company has been maliciously acquired by the Ximen Consortium, and the reason stems directly from the sister he’s been propping up all this time. If he ever finds out his miserable future is because of Gu Yingxi, the real show will start soon enough."

Although Gu Shao Tao was once considered Gu Yingnuo’s brother, at this moment, Gu Yingnuo harbored deep resentment toward the entire Gu family. She was essentially submerged in her own world now, viewing everyone who had ever been detrimental to her, or who hadn't stood by her during critical times, as an enemy.

Gu Shao Tao might have genuinely loved Gu Yingxi, but after one experience, Gu Yingnuo dismissed the concept of true love as a laughable joke. She genuinely looked forward to the day Gu Shao Tao discovered the truth. Leaning on her chin with one hand, Gu Yingnuo asked with a trace of regret:

"Madam, do you really not want me to add a little fuel to the fire?"

Ning Yunhuan noticed her eager expression and curved her lips slightly. "Do as you please."

Receiving such a satisfactory reply, Gu Yingnuo was clearly pleased. She quickly put away her documents, returning the remaining time to Ning Yunhuan.

Gu Yingnuo’s guess was, as expected, accurate. After trouble erupted, Gu Shao Tao was issued a public bounty notice by his godfather and fled into the Gu family like a startled bird. The Gu residence was undoubtedly the most suitable hiding place for him now. After spending a year out in the world, Gu Shao Tao was clearly much savvier than before. He understood the principle that the most dangerous place is often the safest. Therefore, he surmised that his godfather wouldn't immediately think to look for him within the Gu family. Furthermore, media reporters were currently hounding the Gu family relentlessly. With the Gu family hiding tightly, he was concealed here, safe from discovery for the time being.

Inside the Gu house, Gu Xian looked at the son she thought she had lost, tears streaming down her face as she fussed over him, asking anxiously about his whereabouts these past days.

As for his most respected 'Mother' Gu Xian, although he had once hated her in his youthful ignorance, having been away for so long, Gu Shao Tao had forgotten the bitterness he felt toward Gu Yingxi. Time had fermented those feelings into love. He held nothing back from Gu Xian, simply recounting his experiences from the past year. However, he altered one crucial detail: concerning the godfather who raised him, he claimed instead that he had finally found his biological father—a figure of immense power and influence.

"I've been helping my father manage his company, Huayu, for a while now. Mom, you won’t blame me for not acknowledging you all, will you?" Upon hearing this, Gu Xian finally understood, her face lighting up with surprise and joy. "Huayu is your company? No wonder you took such good care of Xi Xi. I never realized it was you."

"Yes. I can’t reveal my identity. My father has many enemies lurking in the shadows. I am his only son; he doesn't want anything to happen to me, so I’ve always worked in secret, hoping to help you all. Unfortunately, in the end, I couldn't. Now, a very formidable enemy has tracked down my father, and since I’m his only son, he's terrified something will happen to me, so he told me to hide first. You absolutely must not tell anyone."

Hearing this, Gu Xian repeatedly nodded, exchanging an excited glance with her younger daughter. Her son had achieved success and influence, and he even remembered to acknowledge her as his mother. Gu Xian felt a sudden surge of reliance, overjoyed. She repeatedly vowed never to let the secret slip. Even Gu Yingyu happily asked, "Then, Brother, can I become a star in the future?"

Gu Shao Tao was currently a cornered dog, but in front of the Gu mother and daughter, he naturally wouldn't tell the truth. He had witnessed Ning Yuncheng’s fate, so as soon as Gu Yingyu asked, he hesitated, then nodded, forcing a smile. "Of course. But Mom, where is older sister? I’ve been in hiding these past few days and have neglected her somewhat." Gu Xian was uncertain about this and stammered for a moment. Gu Shao Tao, naturally suspicious by nature, saw Gu Xian’s reaction and immediately suspected she was deliberately withholding information, causing a heavy feeling to settle in his heart.

Meanwhile, Gu Yingnuo made her move. Ximen Mu intended to film his drama quietly, aiming for a blockbuster debut that would shock everyone. But she would not cooperate with his plans. Prompted by Lan Lingyan, she utilized some of Lan Biao’s resources to obtain details about Ximen Mu’s new film, crucially confirming that Gu Yingxi was the female lead. She immediately contacted major media outlets and broke the story during the entertainment news segment on Lan Ning Television.

Previously, Ximen Mu benefited from the Ximen family's backing, allowing news to remain perfectly concealed. But once the information was leaked, the entire world erupted in an uproar. No one had expected the young, celebrated director to be the heir to a prominent family in the ancient land of Huaxia—so powerful and influential! No wonder he never worried about securing sponsorships or why his movements were so mysterious. Who could have imagined such a high-born young master would take up this profession?

The Ximen family was subsequently dragged into the spotlight because of their son, heavily reported by the media. Hordes of paparazzi descended like maggots clinging to bone, tracking every move the Ximen family made. Ximen Mu’s new film could no longer be kept secret.

The Ximen family had always been a reclusive lineage in Huaxia. While their name wasn't widely known externally, they maintained an air of understated luxury. But once exposed and linked with Gu Yingxi, the Ximen family's standing immediately dropped several notches. As the saying goes, the tallest nail gets hammered down. The Ximen family had survived for years by remaining hidden, adhering to their own laws of existence. Once this was brought to light, many practices previously hidden from the public eye—which these people considered legitimate—could no longer thrive. In Lan Lingyan’s eyes, such a deeply hidden family could be summed up in two words: Fat Sheep!

Lan Jiu targeted this kind of lineage, knowing that families bearing this surname for generations held deep reserves of wealth. After consulting with Lin Maoshan, he directed his subordinates to file a lawsuit against the Ximen family in the International Joint Court under the guise of monopolizing the entertainment industry.

Everyone knew that running an entertainment company and managing a stable of stars was akin to cultivating vast fields of cash cows. The term 'monopoly' was merely a matter of interpretation, depending on who was speaking. Once tainted by this word, no matter how wealthy the Ximen family was, it was useless. Such a lawsuit was difficult to fight; even winning would entail enormous miscellaneous expenses, and losing could force the Ximen family to forfeit half their fortune. Lan Jiu’s move was truly vicious. The Ximen family members cursed in private, their anger making them nearly explode, yet they lacked the power to challenge the world's resolve. They paid a sum so enormous it could significantly boost a nation's economy just to quell the storm.

Ximen Mu’s film production proceeded with immense difficulty, fraught with setbacks. Behind the chaos, Lan Jiu and Lin Maoshan happily counted the money distributed from this venture.

The funds extracted from the Ximen family this time were enough to rival more than half the assets under Lan Jiu’s name. Even after splitting it with Lin Maoshan, Lan Jiu was satisfied. This money was only what remained after the United Nations took its share and what landed in Huaxia's hands. The total losses incurred by the Ximen family were estimated to be astronomical.

Ning Yunhuan watched Lan Jiu's scheme unfold, her heart unable to settle for a long time. In the eyes of these individuals, money was merely a number in their game. It was no wonder Lan Jiu could once buy a television station without batting an eye. With his method of seizing wealth, he could buy ten stations and never blink.

The subsequent outcome of this affair was that Ximen Mu’s ongoing film production was forced to halt due to the Ximen family’s insufficient funds. The Ximen family had sacrificed a large sum of money to protect their revenue streams, but their liquid capital was severely affected. Previously, Ximen Mu, as the eldest young master of the Ximen family, received unwavering support for his filmmaking endeavors; he rarely worried about funding. But now that the Ximen family had been forced to stick their neck out and surrender such vast sums, they could no longer sustain Ximen Mu’s career. Consequently, Gu Yingxi, who was filming, was sent back to the country. By this time, Gu Yingxi was no longer doubting; she truly felt she was a person of misfortune, bringing ill luck to everyone around her wherever she went. When the Ximen family sent her back to Huaxia, Gu Yingxi was so dejected she almost broke down crying.

Watching Gu Yingxi besieged by a large contingent of media reporters the moment she deplaned on television, Ning Yunhuan laughed unapologetically. In her previous life, the men who brought Gu Yingxi glory and served as her stepping stones were now, under Lan Jiu’s orchestration, treating Gu Yingxi like a contagion, dismantling them one by one.

Now, more than half of Gu Yingxi's men had been scattered, and those who remained were mostly insignificant. Ning Yuncheng was now crippled; the revenge Ning Yunhuan sought from him in the last life had been exacted. Once the threat posed by Mu Jinzhi was neutralized, Ning Yunhuan planned to shift her focus away from Gu Yingxi. Her previous life had been wasted, and in this one, she intended to pursue her own goals. Even though she lacked nothing in terms of money, she needed a hobby to compensate for the time she'd squandered.

Back at the Gu residence, Gu Shao Tao belatedly saw on television the connection between Gu Yingxi and the Ximen family. Gu Shao Tao’s face instantly contorted violently. His gaze turned dark, staring fiercely at the figure on the screen—innocent yet pitiful—as his heart felt as if it were being twisted by knives.

ps: I will try my best to find time to post extra chapters. I hope to conclude this within this month at the very latest. Everyone must be tired of waiting for the ending, and I don't want to worry about the full attendance bonus this month anymore. I'll strive to finish the bonus updates quickly and then offer side stories. I must say, I absolutely need to re-establish my presence. To say I am incapable of writing or incapable of adding extra chapters is like saying I am incapable of that—I will absolutely not accept that impression! RP