Hearing this, Gu Xian naturally nodded repeatedly, exchanging an excited glance with her younger daughter. Her son was now successful and capable, and he even remembered to acknowledge her as his mother. Gu Xian felt as if she suddenly had someone to rely on, her heart soaring with joy. Of course, she repeatedly promised never to leak the information. Even Gu Yingyu delightedly asked, "Then, Brother, can I become a star in the future?"

At this moment, Gu Shatao was already a hunted dog, but in front of the Gu mother and daughter, he naturally wouldn't tell the truth. He had witnessed Ning Yuncheng's experience firsthand. Therefore, as soon as Gu Yingyu finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment before nodding, forcing a smile, "Naturally. But, Mother, where has Elder Sister gone? I’ve been hiding these past few days, and I’ve neglected her a bit." Gu Xian was also unclear about this, stammering for a while. Gu Shatao, naturally suspicious by nature, saw Gu Xian’s reaction and suspected she was unwilling to tell him, and his heart sank.

Meanwhile, the Gu Yingxi whom Gu Shatao had just asked about had followed Ximen Mu abroad. This was her first time leaving the country. Among a group of tall, robust foreigners, she possessed a delicate, almost timid beauty. After all, true beauty needs contrast to display its extraordinary nature.

Originally, Ximen Mu hadn't considered Gu Yingxi exceptionally beautiful; he only needed the fragile temperament she carried. Who knew that upon arriving abroad and seeing the open and outgoing foreign women, Gu Yingxi’s gentle and pitiable aura became particularly captivating? Ximen Mu was momentarily stunned by her grace.

Upon arriving at the film set, filming did not commence immediately. Instead, Ximen Mu insisted that the crew members familiarize themselves with Gu Yingxi. Originating from a hidden aristocratic family, he never worried about money. Thus, he treated the crew to a month of leisure travel. Once everyone was completely relaxed, he led them to a small town specifically built by the Ximen family to serve as the set for his new film's landscape.

At this time, Gu Yingnuo had also made her move. Ximen Mu intended to shoot his series secretly, hoping for a spectacular reveal later. However, she would not let Ximen Mu have his way. Under Lan Yanyan’s direction, she leveraged some of Lan Biao's resources to gather information about Ximen Mu’s new film. Most importantly, the fact that Gu Yingxi was the female lead was confirmed. She immediately contacted major media outlets and newspapers, breaking the story during the entertainment news segment on Lan Ning Television.

Previously, with the backing of the Ximen family’s influence, Ximen Mu could keep things perfectly concealed. But once the news was exposed, the entire world erupted. No one had expected the young, renowned director to be the heir to a family in the ancient kingdom of China—so powerful and influential. No wonder he had never lacked corporate sponsorship and his comings and goings were always mysterious. Who would have thought this high-born young master would enter this line of work?

Due to their son, the Ximen family also surfaced, becoming the target of extensive media coverage. Immediately, paparazzi swarmed them like leeches, tracking every move the Ximen family made. Ximen Mu’s new film naturally could no longer be kept secret.

In China, the Ximen family had been a reclusive clan. While their name wasn't widely known outside, they maintained a low-key luxury. But now that they were exposed, and linked to Gu Yingxi, the Ximen family’s standing immediately dropped several notches. As the saying goes, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. The Ximen family had lived in the shadows for years, possessing their own rules for survival. Who knew that once exposed, many things that were hidden but considered legitimate in their eyes would no longer be sustainable? In Lan Yanyan’s view, such a long-hidden family was nothing more than two words: a fat sheep!

Lan Jiu targeted this kind of family. Knowing this surname had existed for ages and that their family savings were substantial, he conferred with Lin Maoshan. They instructed their subordinates to sue the Ximen family in the International Joint Court under the pretense of monopolizing the entertainment industry.

Everyone knew that operating an entertainment company, maintaining a roster of stars, was akin to cultivating a field of money trees. The term "monopoly" couldn't withstand close scrutiny; it all depended on how one framed it. Once those two words were attached, no amount of wealth or power could help the Ximen family. Such a lawsuit was difficult to fight; even winning would entail massive expenditures. If they lost, the Ximen family might have to surrender a large portion of their wealth. Lan Jiu’s tactic was utterly vicious. The Ximen family cursed them behind closed doors, utterly enraged, yet they didn't dare challenge the world’s might. They paid a sum so enormous it could significantly boost a small nation’s economy just to quell the storm.

Ximen Mu’s film production this time was plagued with setbacks. Behind the waves of trouble, Lan Jiu and Lin Maoshan smiled contentedly while counting the money divided from the settlement.

The funds extracted from the Ximen family this time were enough to rival more than half of the assets under Lan Jiu’s name. Even after splitting it with Lin Maoshan, Lan Jiu was satisfied. This money was only the portion that reached China after being distributed among the United Nations members. The Ximen family’s losses were estimated to be astronomical.

Watching the scheme Lan Jiu had enacted, Ning Yunhuan’s heart remained unsettled for a long time. In these people's eyes, money was merely a number in their game. No wonder Lan Jiu had bought a television station without batting an eye in the past. With his method of snatching money, buying another station would be no different than buying a coffee cup.

The subsequent outcome was that Ximen Mu’s ongoing film production was forced to halt due to the Ximen family’s insufficient funds. The Ximen family paid a hefty sum to protect their main avenues of wealth, but their liquid capital was severely impacted. Ximen Mu had always been the eldest young master of the Ximen family; when he wanted to make a film, the family naturally provided strong support. Ximen Mu had rarely worried about funding issues. But who would have thought that this time, the Ximen family was forced to stick their necks out, losing so much money at once? How could they still sustain Ximen Mu’s venture? Consequently, Gu Yingxi, who was filming, was sent back to China. By this time, Gu Yingxi wasn't just suspicious; she truly felt she was an unlucky person, bringing misfortune to those around her wherever she went. When the Ximen family sent her back to China, Gu Yingxi was so dejected she almost couldn't stop herself from crying.

Watching Gu Yingxi surrounded by a massive throng of reporters immediately after disembarking the plane on television, Ning Yunhuan chuckled unapologetically. In her previous life, the men who brought glory to Gu Yingxi and served as her pillars of support had now, under Lan Jiu's planning, turned into people who treated her like a contagion, picking them off one by one.

Currently, Gu Yingxi’s string of male connections had mostly been dismantled; those still attached to her were generally insignificant. Ning Yuncheng was now a disabled wreck. The vengeance Ning Yunhuan sought for her past life had been exacted. If she could neutralize the threat posed by Mu Jinzhi next, Ning Yunhuan planned to cease focusing her energy on Gu Yingxi. Her past life had been wasted; this life, she wanted to pursue her own endeavors. Even though she didn't lack money, she deserved a hobby to compensate for the time she lost for nothing.

Back at the Gu house, Gu Shatao only later realized from the television coverage the extent of Gu Yingxi's entanglement with the Ximen family. Gu Shatao’s expression twisted fiercely. His gaze turned sinister, fixed intently on the innocent yet pitiful figure on the screen, his heart twisting in agony.

His career, his everything, had collapsed because of Gu Yingxi. He had been trying so hard to elevate her, only to discover that the one who colluded with the Ximen family, the one who caused him to be constantly on the run and facing a possible death crisis, was his most beloved Elder Sister Yingxi.

This realization struck the most vulnerable part of Gu Shatao’s heart. The threat of death and the feeling of profound betrayal converged like a tightly woven net, enveloping the last vestiges of affection he held. Countless resentments sprouted in his heart. At that moment, if Gu Yingxi had stood before him, and if he had a knife in his hand, he would have unhesitatingly plunged it into her chest.

“Oh, my sister is back! Shatao, did you see?” When Gu Yingyu returned home with her schoolbag, she saw the magnificent Gu Yingxi on television, her eyes filled with both jealousy and a flicker of excitement. She was far prettier than Gu Yingxi. If being a star was this glorious, Gu Yingyu believed that if Gu Shatao had promoted her instead, she would have been far more famous than her sister.

Gu Shatao’s eyes were bloodshot, madness swirling within them. How could he not have seen? He saw the Elder Sister Yingxi he had cherished, revealed as the despicable woman who had ruined him. He loved her so much that he had stayed hidden, strategically planning for her sake, fearing his mission might endanger her, all without daring to reveal what he had done for her. Yet, Gu Yingxi had conspired with the Ximen family, driving him to this desperate situation where he was forced into hiding, constantly facing the threat of death.

The more he thought, the more ferocious Gu Shatao’s expression became. Gu Yingyu, not receiving a reply, impatiently gave him a shove. “Shatao, did you hear what I just said?” This push jolted Gu Shatao back to reality, like the final straw breaking the camel’s back. Without thinking, Gu Shatao forced Gu Yingyu to the ground. He recalled the mistreatment from the Gu family and Gu Yingxi’s betrayal. Gu Shatao could no longer restrain himself; he tore at Gu Yingyu’s clothes and pressed down on her.

“Things are certainly getting more interesting,” Gu Yingnuo murmured, watching the unfolding drama at the Gu household. She smiled at the complex turn of events. With the downfall of the Ximen family, Lan Yanyan swiftly acquired the former Huayu Entertainment. The Ximen family's reputation for monopoly forced them to relinquish all interests related to entertainment. Lan Yanyan seized the opportunity, and Lan Ning advanced to a new level. Gu Yingnuo’s responsibilities naturally increased. She had already applied for part-time study at Imperial Capital University to dedicate more time to her work.

ps: I mixed up the chapters yesterday... Please forgive this person who is already dizzy from writing... RP