When the Gu family heard that Gu Jiu was planning to visit a countryside farm for a day of leisure, they were all extremely supportive.
Gu Jiasheng grabbed his youngest son and gave him strict instructions:
“You must protect your sister. When she calls you, show up within three seconds. Don’t wander off to play by yourself, and make sure to invite your sister to join in whatever you’re doing. But for anything dangerous, don’t let her join at all…”
Gu Mingli: “…”
He never imagined that his usually dignified and composed father could become so naggy. Wasn’t he always quite normal before?
Once his father was done lecturing, it was his mother and grandmother’s turn to bombard him with more reminders. Then came his elder brother…
“No way, Big Bro, you too?” Gu Mingli looked at his brother as if he’d seen a ghost. His eldest brother’s personality was very much like their father’s—authoritative, someone who acted more and spoke less.
Gu Mingjie gave his younger brother a firm smack on the back of the head. He truly didn’t trust him enough.
In the past, they wouldn’t have been this worried. But ever since Gu Jiu’s vision inexplicably worsened, the family had been on edge, unable to feel at ease about her going out. Still, they couldn’t keep her cooped up at home all the time either.
Their grandmother also pulled Gu Jiu aside to give her a pep talk, reminding her to enjoy herself and to rely on Gu Mingli if she needed anything.
“Should we have a personal assistant accompany you?” Grandma wasn’t convinced that a young boy like Gu Mingli could adequately care for her granddaughter. She thought it would be better to send a professional along.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “No need, I can take care of myself.”
Gu Mingli chimed in, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take good care of my sister.”
Amidst the family’s endless reminders, they finally set off.
Seated in the car, Gu Mingli discreetly wiped away some sweat and turned to his sister.
“Big Sis, this time I really need to take good care of you. If anything happens to you, Dad and the others will skin me alive.”
A hint of regret surfaced in his heart. If he had known it would turn out like this, he might not have suggested the farm visit. What if he overlooked something and his sister got hurt?
Gu Jiu reassured him, “Don’t worry, I can look after myself.”
Unfortunately, no matter how many times she said it, the Gu family never believed her.
From childhood, she had always been the pampered young lady under everyone’s care. How could she suddenly look after herself? As the only girl in the family, Gu Jiu had always been the center of attention. And with the Gu family’s position and resources, they saw no reason not to continue doting on her.
The Gu family’s car delivered them to the countryside farm.
The farm was located in the suburbs of Haishi. It featured a large flower field that, despite the late autumn season, was well-maintained, with blossoms still in full bloom. The wide expanse was a vibrant sea of colors, offering a breathtaking view.
With mountains, water, and flower fields, combined with fresh air, the setting was already immensely satisfying.
By the time they arrived, most of Gu Mingli’s friends and classmates had also gathered.
This farm outing, organized by Gu Mingli, had attracted nearly twenty participants.
Gu Mingli introduced Gu Jiu to his friends and classmates, saying, “This is my sister. She used to attend our school too, so she’s your senior.”
A group of teenagers politely greeted her, “Hello, Senior!”
Gu Jiu smiled at them, her expression gentle. Her eyes seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist. Despite the imperfection in her vision, it didn’t diminish her beauty. Instead, it made her stand out even more.
The flaw, on her, became a unique charm.
This group of young people had an excellent impression of her—some might even call it awe.
“Gu Mingli, you’re so selfish! You have such a beautiful sister, and you never introduced her to us.”
“Exactly! No wonder you always refuse when we ask to visit your house.”
“You must’ve been scared we’d meet your sister!”
…
A group of boys surrounded Gu Mingli, chattering complaints. However, Gu Mingli’s face was full of smugness. His sister was this stunning—of course, he had to guard against these troublesome boys. It didn’t matter how old they were; all men needed to be kept at bay.
One boy, clearly hesitant, approached Gu Mingli and stammered, “Mingli, does your sister have a boyfriend? What do you think about me becoming your brother-in-law?”
“Not a chance!” Gu Mingli’s face darkened. “My sister has already graduated college. She’s 20 years old.”
The boy replied earnestly, “I’ll turn 18 after the new year. That’s only a two-year difference. I think Senior and I are a perfect match.”
“Bah!” Gu Mingli retorted. “Who said anything about age? I’m talking about intelligence! My sister graduated college before turning 20, she’s her own boss, and she’s fluent in several foreign languages. When you’re 20, you’ll still be a sophomore. Sure, your English is good because you lived abroad, but the rest? Mediocre at best. What right do you have to chase her? My family doesn’t need a dim-witted brother-in-law.”
The boy: “…”
Gu Mingli sternly warned the group of teenage boys to drop any thoughts about his sister. Then, dragging along a gentle-looking girl, he went to find Gu Jiu.
With a hint of pride on his face, he said, “Sis, this is my girlfriend, Ji Mianmian.”
Ji Mianmian was so nervous her voice cracked. “Gu…Sister Gu, h-hello.”
Gu Jiu couldn’t see her clearly and didn’t want to rudely lean in to study the girl’s face. But judging from her voice, she seemed like someone who was easily shy. Smiling, Gu Jiu said, “Hello.”
When Gu Jiu wanted to win someone over, it was effortless for her to put them at ease and make them feel close to her.
In no time, Ji Mianmian was looking at Gu Jiu with a mix of admiration and fondness. She thought her boyfriend’s sister was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted and utterly charming. Her charisma outshone even her boyfriend’s, and talking to her felt so comforting that Ji Mianmian didn’t want to leave her side.
Initially, Ji Mianmian had felt anxious, worried that Gu Jiu wouldn’t approve of her, thinking she was a bad influence on Gu Mingli. After all, they were still students, and dating at their age wasn’t exactly encouraged.
She had mentally prepared herself to be subtly or openly discouraged.
To her surprise, Gu Jiu had no such intentions. On the contrary, she was incredibly friendly. She even asked about their schoolwork and, after learning their scores from last week’s monthly exams, gently encouraged them: “You two should support each other and work together to become better.”
Ji Mianmian was so inspired that she blurted out, “Don’t worry, Sister Gu! I’ll keep working hard and won’t let my grades fall behind! Next month’s exams, I’m determined to beat Gu Mingli and outrank him!”
Gu Mingli: “.…” Hey, hey, hey! Whose girlfriend are you? Why are you siding with my sister?
Noticing his girlfriend being “won over” by his sister, Gu Mingli felt a surge of crisis. He quickly pulled Ji Mianmian away.
This had been the story of his life. From a young age, whenever girls gathered around him, they would abandon him the moment his sister appeared, swarming her instead with their flattery and admiration. It made him feel like his “Prince of the Campus” title was a joke.
Gu Jiu watched the two teens walk off without a care, then leisurely began exploring the farm.
This countryside farm was a newly opened venture, with a focus on hot spring experiences catered to affluent clients. As a result, the number of visitors was relatively low.
The teenagers, brimming with energy, scattered across the farm, exploring the fishing pond, snapping photos in the flower fields, and even trying out spa treatments.
A few boys ran over to Gu Jiu, offering eagerly, “Senior, what would you like to do? We’ll join you!”
Gu Jiu adjusted her glasses and said calmly, “No need. You all go ahead and have fun. I’ll just take a walk nearby.”
Although the scenery here was stunning, the boys felt that no landscape could rival the beauty of a graceful, classic beauty like Gu Jiu. She embodied their ideal of an ancient noblewoman, fulfilling every fantasy they had of elegance and femininity.
Not far away, Gu Mingli was sitting with Ji Mianmian. He had promised to take good care of his sister, so even while spending time with his girlfriend, he refused to stray too far.
Seeing the group of boys hovering around his sister, Gu Mingli grew irritated and stormed over, chasing them away.
“Shoo, shoo, shoo! Go play somewhere else! Don’t come here and pollute my sister’s air.”
One of the boys protested, “Are you calling us air pollutants?”
“Of course. Why else would people talk about the stench of men?”
“Then you’re a stinky man too!”
“I’m different because I’m her brother!”
“…”
The group of boys burst into laughter and ran off, but as soon as Gu Mingli’s attention wavered, they snuck back to chat with Gu Jiu. Initially, they only intended to flirt with the beautiful sister. To their surprise, she was not only stunning and sweet-voiced but also incredibly knowledgeable. She could even tutor them in their schoolwork.
Wow, she was practically a super-sister.
The group of teenagers who had come here for fun ended up surrounding Gu Jiu in a cabin, sitting at a table with their tablets, solving practice problems. The atmosphere turned intensely studious.
Gu Mingli: “….”
—
Outside the Gu family villa, a man dressed in black casual attire stood silently.
He was under a plane tree, his gaze fixed on the Gu family residence. Passersby on their evening strolls couldn’t help but glance his way.
With just one look, a strange chill crept up their spines, forcing them to look away quickly.
But that fleeting impression left a lasting mark in their minds.
The man’s pale complexion, jet-black brows and eyes, and strikingly defined features gave him a mix of cold elegance and ominous malevolence. His presence alone exuded an aura that was both captivating and sinister, marking him as someone not to be trifled with.
Was someone targeting the Gu family?
The man ignored the curious gazes of the passersby. He continued to stare at the villa, seemingly sensing something in the air.
The trace of Gu Jiu’s presence lingered heavily here. It was clear she had spent much of her life in this place.
A moment later, a small paper figure climbed out from the villa’s fence and approached the man.
With a flick of his fingers, the paper figure landed in his palm.
After a brief moment, the man’s figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.
A passerby, retracing their steps, paused and looked at the plane tree with a puzzled expression. Hadn’t they already gone home? Why had they come back this way? There seemed to have been something here earlier, hadn’t there?
—
Near the countryside farm, there was a massive waterwheel, its wooden blades slowly turning. It was a picturesque sight that complemented the flower fields in the distance.
A surge of black mist billowed forth, eventually condensing into a human figure beside the waterwheel.
It was the man in the black casual outfit. Standing taller than most men in the area, his fitted clothes accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. His extraordinary presence drew attention without effort.
Yet, strangely, none of the nearby tourists seemed to notice his abrupt arrival. To them, his presence felt perfectly natural.
The world’s rules seemed to recognize him as an anomaly, someone who didn’t belong in this realm. But due to his overwhelming power, the rules were unable to suppress or expel him. Instead, they tacitly allowed his presence—so long as he refrained from disrupting the world’s order, the rules had no choice but to turn a blind eye.
The man arrived outside the living room of the countryside farm’s main building.
He stood silently by the window, his gaze piercing through the glass to lock onto someone seated amidst a group of young boys and girls.
Her face was delicate and fair, her soft features imbued with a warmth that outshone the autumn sun outside. Her gentle voice carried a hint of sweetness as she explained the questions on their worksheets to the eager crowd.
He observed the scene quietly. No one noticed his presence, as though the world itself excluded him from their awareness.
Suddenly, Gu Jiu looked up and gazed toward the window. Outside, there was nothing—only the golden rays of the autumn sun streaming by.
A flicker of doubt crossed her face. Moments earlier, she had distinctly felt a heated gaze fixed upon her. Her player instincts, honed and sharp, wouldn’t have made a mistake.
Lowering her eyes, she resumed her task of explaining the questions while pondering the identity of that gaze. Could it be that the players from the Chen family were finally making a move?
Gu Mingli, meanwhile, saw the scene of Gu Jiu surrounded by admirers—his girlfriend included—and his expression darkened.
He called over a server to bring tea and snacks and said, “Come eat something, all of you. Stop crowding around my sister and let her take a break.”
The group of teens laughed and obliged, though not without fawning over Gu Jiu even more, asking if she was tired, thirsty, or hungry. They fetched her tea and snacks as if she were a princess.
Gu Jiu, unbothered by their attentiveness, continued chatting with them in her usual warm and gentle tone.
The boys and girls were utterly smitten, wishing they could stay by her side even at night.
The boy who had earlier asked Gu Mingli about becoming his brother-in-law saw his chance and dragged Gu Mingli out onto the corridor. Grinning mischievously, he asked, “Mingli, what do you think of my family?”
“It’s fine,” Gu Mingli replied bluntly. “Your family is one of the top in Jing City.”
The boy beamed. “Then what about a marriage alliance between our families?”
Gu Mingli: “….” So you’re still not giving up, huh?
“Not happening!” His face darkened again. “My family doesn’t need marriage alliances. My parents always said that as long as we like the person, their background or status doesn’t matter. The only condition is that they have to be good people. An arranged marriage is impossible, and my sister marrying for one is even more impossible.”
“Come on, I’m a great guy! That means there’s no problem.”
Gu Mingli: “…”
Watching the boy trot back inside gleefully, Gu Mingli felt a strong urge to punch him. But before he could act, the boy tripped over his own feet and fell flat on the ground.
The noise was so loud that it startled everyone inside, who rushed out to see what had happened.
Gu Jiu followed them out, looking toward the courtyard. In the hazy distance, she thought she glimpsed the figure of a man.
Frowning slightly, she turned to Ji Mianmian, who was by her side. “Mianmian, is there someone over there?”
Ji Mianmian, aware of Gu Jiu’s poor vision and the limitations of her glasses, replied, “No, Sister Gu. There’s no one there.”
Gu Jiu nodded lightly, suppressing her doubts as she went to check on the boy’s condition.
Unnoticed by anyone, the man stood under a flowering tree in the courtyard. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his expression tinged with a trace of sadness.