Under the gaze of the three, Gu Qianran tapped Accept. Li Junsheng's furious voice blasted through at once. "Gu Qianran! I heard from Junyao you are messing around with some woman? Do you know what you are doing? Unfilial girl!"
Gu Qianran listened in silence as he went on and on about finding a well-matched man to marry, that she could not be in love with a woman. Then she answered in a tearful voice, "I am sorry, I cannot agree."
Bai Ziyuan watched her all-capable girlfriend keep a straight face while speaking in a crying tone. Bai Ziyuan was almost numb to Gu Qianran's stuntwork by now. Her Ran Ran was a born menace, and her job at the side was to shout 666 and call it a day.
"Get back here this instant!" Li Junsheng roared, then hung up. Gu Qianran calmly slipped the book back into her bag, glanced at the two who looked petrified, and felt genuinely puzzled. "What are you doing, not eating?"
Invisible flexing hit the hardest.
After dinner, Ji Tang was whisked off by Bai Zilu to rest in the bedroom, while Gu Qianran headed home to come out to her family. She had already planned to do so. Since Li Junyao had been so enthusiastic about assisting, she ought to return the favor properly.
Bai Ziyuan looked at her with worry. "Ran Ran, you will be alright, right?" She did not trust the character of the Li family at all.
Gu Qianran crooked her lips and sealed Bai Ziyuan's mouth. The kiss went on and on, and when Bai Ziyuan came back to herself she was already hanging off Gu Qianran.
"What do you think?" Gu Qianran smiled at her with half-moon eyes. Bai Ziyuan's face was scarlet as she scolded in a soft voice, "Ran Ran, you are terrible." How did someone who used to be so proper become so, so…
Bai Ziyuan struggled for a long time and still could not find the right word. By the time she came around, Gu Qianran had already left.
Li household. A glint of smugness hid in Li Junyao's eyes. Lately he had made a pile by copying Gu Qianran's investment plan, and even Li Junsheng had praised him. If he exposed Gu Qianran's business at a key moment like this, it would surely tilt the patriarch's judgment about the heir.
Best of all would be forcing the two to break up. Greed was already spilling out of Li Junyao's eyes. He had coveted Bai Ziyuan for a long time, only to be blocked each time by Gu Qianran. In truth he had liked Gu Qianran once, but Gu Qianran was too difficult to handle, so he gave up quickly. Other than the observant Bai Ziyuan, no one knew that part.
So Li Junyao had managed to be the love rival to both Bai Ziyuan and Gu Qianran, and in doing so had pushed them into love.
To hold an empire in the left hand and a beauty in the right was a fantasy every man had entertained.
The difference between a normal man and a delusional shut-in was that a normal man would treat it as a harmless release of desire, while the shut-in would foolishly try to make it real.
Even with a protagonist's aura, Li Junyao was essentially no different from the average delusional type, only richer and able to use nastier methods.
Would Bai Ziyuan be afraid? She was a lawyer-to-be. She was even pleased that Li Junyao was stirring the pot. If Li Junyao actually dared to do something, then after the tags Big Family, Potential Rival, and Narcissist, he could add one more, Large Contribution to Our Case File.
Those who could not see reality and overrated themselves were the saddest, and also the funniest. Gu Qianran shot him a look of disdain. He always thought himself heaven's favored son, unaware the trap had long been laid and he had already jumped. To Gu Qianran now, Li Junyao was a fish on the cutting board, ready for the knife.
"What is going on with you? … Junsheng is waiting in the study," Gu Lian said. When she heard the news she felt as if the sky was falling. If Gu Qianran could not marry, Gu Lian would not have a restful life in the Li family either. She rushed over to persuade Gu Qianran, only to be frozen in place by that icy gaze.
"Gu Lian, do not block my way." A single sentence, double meaning. Warning flashed in her eyes.
Gu Lian bit her lip. She had never been content to be the third person. She had ambition, but not the brains to win. That was why she had tried to control Gu Qianran. And the result, a bamboo basket drawing water. Small-time players could not accomplish big things, yet their petty tricks were hard to guard against. The last thing Gu Qianran wanted was Gu Lian sneaking a stab in at a critical moment.
Her bottom line was that Gu Lian should sit quietly in the wealthy house, do not grow thoughts she should not, and do not even dream of using her to fight for power.
She turned to Li Junyao. Seeing her composed face made his heart lurch. Then he thought, Father has always wanted her to make a marital alliance. She is going against him, so she is finished this time. What is there to be afraid of?
With that thought his courage swelled. "Gu Qianran, a good dog does not block the road. If you are not going in, I will go to Father."
"A good mule does not bray. Li Junyao, seems like you are eager for him to force us to break up?" Gu Qianran narrowed her eyes. Daring to covet her sweetheart. Did Li Junyao feel his life was too long?
"Tell me, on what grounds would he force us? Money? Power? Company shares? Do you see me lacking any? And spare me talk of status. I, Gu Qianran, was born a commoner. Entering the Li family has always been a temporary bit of wealth for me. I can leave at any time. The moment he opposes me, I will have nothing to do with the Li family. I was planning to start my own business anyway. It will be obvious who loses more."
She raised her voice on purpose as she spoke, certain that Li Junsheng in the study could hear. Gu Qianran waited a moment and did not hear Li Junsheng call her in. A satisfied glint crossed her eyes. She pushed open the door and entered.
"I will not break up with Bai Ziyuan. Also, I suggest you learn from those stupid melodramatic wealthy-family dramas on TV and try bothering the Bai family." Gu Qianran got straight to the point. She met Li Junsheng's eyes calmly, her presence pressing him down a notch.
Li Junsheng stared in surprise. Gu Qianran smiled slightly. "That way I can use the law to crush you out in the open." She smiled, but her gaze was ice. Did Li Junyao really think she had not considered exposure? She had not spent the past months for nothing.
After arriving in this world she had punched out brainless Mary Sue plots and kicked away idiotic romance tropes. How could she allow a melodrama to land on her head?
Li Junsheng had already heard every word in the study just now. He could not help admitting that Gu Qianran was too formidable. Even he, an old fox, could not control her completely. He had considered cutting her off, but her influence had already spread too deep into the company, and he could not rip it out in one go.
He sighed, once again impressed by Gu Qianran's methods.
Sensing him soften, Gu Qianran spoke gently. "Dad."
Li Junsheng jerked his head up. Whatever dissatisfaction he had dissolved under that single Dad. He did love this daughter. Now this daughter was finally willing to acknowledge him, even if it was purposeful, and he could not help being pleased.
In the end he relented. "Young people's affairs, you decide."
Gu Qianran nodded slightly. Li Junsheng's nature was not the worst. In the future she would consider leaving Li Group a way out.
"In that case, Dad, sign this." She took a document from her pocket. In short, Li Junsheng could not secretly or forcibly set her up with someone, could not break her and Bai Ziyuan up, and could not trouble the Bai family. If he violated any clause, all his shares would transfer to Gu Qianran.
Li Junsheng looked at her deeply. "You do not trust me?"
Gu Qianran nodded openly. "Compared to you, I trust the law more." Her gaze softened. She was willing to trust the thing her little sweetheart was working for.
Li Junsheng was silent for a while, then signed. Gu Qianran signed as well. Two copies, and a legally effective contract was born. She nodded in satisfaction and took her leave. On the way back to her room she cheerfully flashed Li Junyao an international friendly gesture.
After she left, Li Junsheng reread the contract carefully and could not find a single loophole. With a wry smile he folded it and called his chief secretary.
"Yes, no need to notify the Huang family's young master or the Zhao clan's people. This little fox is something. She prepared her escape route and even used the law to put me in a bind…"
Bai household. Only when Ji Tang was lying beside Bai Zilu did she realize she had been tricked onto the bed again. What was this situation. She felt a little crazy.
Breathing in Ji Tang's scent, Bai Zilu nestled into her arms and fell asleep, both hands clutching Ji Tang like an octopus.
"…," Ji Tang tried hard to wriggle free, but the more she struggled the tighter Bai Zilu clung. With no choice, Ji Tang rolled over and hugged her back to make herself more comfortable. "Even asleep, you do not let me rest." She poked Bai Zilu's cheek in complaint.
Bai Zilu was soft and warm. Holding her felt natural. Drowsiness crept up on Ji Tang, and she drifted off as well. Feeling Ji Tang's shallow breathing, Bai Zilu's lips curved and she murmured softly, "Truly a wooden block."
Ji Tang's just-closed eyes snapped open. A wooden block again. Why that phrase again. And it sounded like she was… calling me. Was it because Tang is a plant, so I am wood. Crabapple is woody. Or was it just mocking me for being thick and giving me a dumb nickname.
… Completely baffling. A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea, the ancients did not lie. Ji Tang yawned and went back to sleep.