Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, drawing a golden line on the floor.
She took a deep breath, got out of bed, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains.
The osmanthus tree in the yard shone bright green in the morning light, with several sparrows hopping back and forth on its branches.
Watching this scene, her mood lifted slightly.
She washed up, changed clothes, and applied makeup.
Standing in front of the mirror, she carefully inspected her appearance. Foundation concealed the dark circles under her eyes, lipstick brightened her complexion, and her eyebrows were neatly drawn.
The person in the mirror looked energetic, sharp, and flawless.
She smiled at her reflection, ensuring the smile appeared relaxed and natural.
Then she turned, picked up her bag, and walked out of the room.
When she went downstairs, breakfast was already laid out on the table: porridge, side dishes, eggs, and milk.
“Where’s Second Brother?” she asked Aunt Zhang.
“Second Young Master hasn’t come down yet. He said you should eat first and not wait for him.”
Gu Ziyao frowned. “Did he sleep well last night?”
“When I passed by his room this morning, I didn’t hear any noise.”
“Hmm.”
She sat down, drank a bowl of porridge, and ate an egg.
“Aunt Zhang, when Second Brother comes down, tell him to send me a message.”
“Of course, Miss.”
She picked up her bag and walked to the entrance to change her shoes.
As she pushed open the door, the morning sunlight warmed her face.
She took a deep breath, suppressing all her emotions.
Then she stepped on the gas and drove out of the villa.
The white Audi disappeared at the end of the street.
Second Floor · Gu Zeming’s Room
As Gu Ziyao’s car drove out of the yard, Gu Zeming stood behind the curtains, watching her car fade into the distance.
He held his phone in his hand, the screen displaying a newly edited message:
“Yaoyao, Second Brother has to go to the hospital for a follow-up checkup today and might be back late. Don’t worry.”
He stared at it for a moment, then tapped “Send.”
Then he turned, took a coat from the wardrobe, and put it on.
His movements were slow, and he had to catch his breath with every motion.
After getting dressed, he walked to the dressing table, picked up a mirror, and looked at his face.
Pale, gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes.
He tugged at the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile.
The smile looked as gentle as always.
But only he knew how much effort it took to maintain it.
As he walked out of the room, he glanced back.
The room was quiet, the curtains half-open, sunlight streaming onto the bed where the blanket was neatly folded.
On the nightstand sat a photo—a picture of the three siblings. Eldest Brother stood in the middle, with him and his younger sister on either side, all smiling brightly.
It was taken five years ago.
Back then, Eldest Brother hadn’t gone abroad yet, he hadn’t fallen ill, and his younger sister was still in college.
Back when everything still felt within reach.
Gu Zeming withdrew his gaze and gently closed the door.
The sound of footsteps faded down the hallway, disappearing at the staircase.
The room fell silent once more.
Only the sunlight illuminated the photo, where the three of them smiled, forever smiling.
The weather in Hu City was unpredictable—sunny in the morning, but now it was raining.
Qin Yining was curled up on the sofa, her laptop resting on her knees, her fingertips idly gliding across the touchpad. The blue light from the screen reflected on her face, her almond-shaped eyes half-closed, lashes casting a small, fan-shaped shadow beneath them. The group chat was full of people bragging again—penetration testing, vulnerability exploitation—talking about it as casually as discussing what to eat for lunch.
A faint smile hung on her lips as she was about to scroll away—
A message popped up.
【Anyone here? Got a question. I heard the Shen Group in Shanghai is looking for top hackers. Does anyone know if it’s for business or a private commission?】
Qin Yining’s fingers froze on the touchpad.
Shen Group.
Four words, like four needles piercing her eyes.
She slammed the laptop shut with a sharp thud, her chest tightening as if gripped by something, her breath catching abruptly. The sound of rain outside the window suddenly turned harsh, each drop feeling like it was hammering against her nerves.
Shen Junyan was investigating.
Qin Yining lightly bit her lower lip. She had known this day would come—with Shen Junyan’s methods and the Shen family’s influence, it was only a matter of time before he traced it back to her. But now that it was happening, the feeling of being hunted still sent a shiver down her spine.
She picked up her phone and dialed the familiar number.
It rang three times before it was answered.
“Yi Ning?” Gu Ziyao’s voice came through, clear and gentle, tinged with a hint of confusion. “Why are you calling at this hour?”
Qin Yining tightened her grip on the phone, her knuckles turning white.
“Yaoyao, where are you?”
“At the office. I was just about to head out.” There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Gu Ziyao’s tone shifted. “What’s wrong?”
Qin Yining closed her eyes, her lashes trembling. “Shen Junyan is investigating me. I saw it in the hacker group—the Shen Group is looking for technical experts. Yaoyao, you know what this means.”
Silence.
In those three seconds of silence, Qin Yining could hear Gu Ziyao’s breathing, the faint hum of the phone line, and the pounding of her own heart against her chest.
“I understand.” Gu Ziyao’s voice was unnervingly calm. “Yi Ning, don’t worry.”
“Yaoyao—”
“I mean it.” Gu Ziyao cut her off, her tone even carrying a hint of a smile. “If he’s going to investigate, he’ll find out sooner or later. I never expected to keep it hidden forever.”
Qin Yining’s nose stung. She knew this woman too well. The more tense the situation, the more Gu Ziyao would swallow all her emotions, speaking the most heartbreaking words in the calmest tone.
“Be careful.” Qin Yining’s voice grew hoarse.
“Mm. I’ll hang up now.”
The dial tone sounded. Qin Yining tossed her phone onto the sofa, sinking back into the cushions as she stared at the ceiling.
Rainwater streamed down the glass window, fracturing the world outside into fragments.
Gu Group Headquarters Building.
Gu Ziyao placed her phone on the desk, remaining motionless in that position.
The air conditioner hummed softly in the office.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay Shanghai’s gray skyline, the glass curtain walls reflecting the gloomy light of the rainy day. She wore a cream-colored silk blouse with a matching tie at the collar, paired with smoke-gray high-waisted trousers and nude pointed-toe heels. Her long hair was tied into a low ponytail, revealing a slender, pale neck, with two pearl earrings glowing softly on her earlobes.
Professional, elegant, as if she had stepped off the cover of a magazine.
But if anyone had looked closer, they would have noticed the hand holding the phone—her knuckles were faintly turning white.
Shen Junyan was investigating Qin Yining.
This meant he would soon uncover what happened that night…
Gu Ziyao closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them. Her features were strikingly beautiful in an almost aggressive way—high-arched brows, a straight nose, full lips, and sharp contours. But at this moment, her face showed no expression at all, like a frozen lake surface, with nothing visible on top despite the currents swirling beneath.
She quickly began calculating in her mind.
Cocktail parties, forums, charity galas, brand events… She would cancel all recent engagements she could. These were the kinds of occasions where she might run into Shen Junyan. As long as she avoided them, the probability of being recognized would drop significantly.
As for the rest—