When the meme section of every video site was flooded with Li Junyao's clips, Gu Qianran packaged evidence of Li Junyao embezzling company funds and sent it to Li Junsheng. She had no time to deal with those two idiotic side characters. Wasn't Bai Ziyuan adorable? Let those two dogs fight each other instead.
In his office, Li Junsheng was so furious watching Li Junyao's video that he almost leapt from his chair. Had this fool forgotten that the Li Corporation's biggest profits came from games? Li Junsheng, who prided himself on his lifelong wisdom, could not fathom how he had ended up with such a son!
He slammed his laptop shut in anger. At that moment, an anonymous email popped into his inbox, listing one by one how Li Junyao had recklessly poured vast company funds into investments and lost every single cent.
"Ahhh!" Li Junsheng roared. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
Meanwhile, Li Junyao was oblivious to his own "achievements." He was basking in the attention of women, intoxicated by the sensation of being admired. That pleasant mood lasted until he walked over to one of the pretty secretaries in the office.
The young woman's face flushed red as she covered her mouth with one hand, phone in the other, clearly gossiping about him with her colleague.
Li Junyao's smile turned charming as he sauntered over. "Miss, may I ask what you're watching?" He deployed his usual "gentlemanly" approach, believing that handsome men always won favor.
The secretary's face turned even redder, lips twitching with a suppressed smile. Thinking she was dazzled by his charm, Li Junyao leaned closer, preparing to do a wall slam. She panicked, stumbled backward, and accidentally dropped her phone. Her Bluetooth earbuds disconnected, and a familiar melody blared out.
It was a romantic pop song, but the screen displayed a highly edited video of him dancing flamboyantly.
The secretary froze. "!!!" Danger!
Li Junyao's face darkened. He wanted to fire her on the spot but then remembered that the company's finances were completely drained. He settled for shooting her a death glare before striding off.
The secretary picked up her phone, shaken but relieved to have narrowly avoided being fired.
Back in his office, Li Junyao opened a video site to see the front page filled entirely with videos mocking him, including the one the secretary had been watching: "Modern Dance Master."
His face grew even darker. He called out in his mind, "System! What's going on?! Take this down! This is not what I meant when I told you to fight back!"
The system fell silent for a moment, clearly exasperated.
It thought, What kind of hosts do I keep getting? The previous one had been perfect in every way but uncontrollable, while this one was easy to manipulate… but not very bright.
"Host," the system finally explained, "I meant for you to manipulate public opinion to attack her company and then exploit flaws in her counterattacks to sue her, not…"
"Why didn't you say that earlier?!" Li Junyao roared.
The system didn't bother replying. It merely glanced at him coldly, a metallic strand flickering in its core.
"System 01 requesting physicalization. Host body: Li Junyao."
Forget it. This fool's body will be mine soon anyway. Once I take over, I can fix all his mistakes. If he enjoys being popular with women, all the better. The more he indulges himself, the more seamlessly this body will merge with me.
A cold stream of data flashed across 01's mechanical pupils.
Li Junsheng was hospitalized. Overnight, he seemed to age ten years, his eyes dull, his face gaunt. Of all the Li family juniors, only Li Junze visited him. The rest had gone silent, as though he no longer existed.
Li Junsheng prided himself on understanding human nature. He thought Gu Qianran, Li Junyao, and the other relatives were all unreliable, but Li Junze—he trusted him most.
Li Junze looked at the man lying weakly in the hospital bed and smirked slightly. As always, Boss Gu had been right. The old man was still indulging in his own delusions, unaware he was the one being played.
Of course the other Li relatives knew everything. It was simply that Li Junze and Gu Qianran had arranged matters to keep them tangled up, unable to return.
Gu Qianran glanced at the steady stream of reports from her informants, her lips curving faintly. Sunlight spilled across her face, softening her features. Bai Ziyuan leaned against her, voice sweet and soft. "Qianran, what's making you so happy?"
Gu Qianran brushed a stray lock of hair from Bai Ziyuan's face. "I'm looking at you. You're getting prettier every day."
Bai Ziyuan flushed scarlet, letting out a tiny squeak as she buried her face in Gu Qianran's chest.
Gu Qianran chuckled softly. "Already shy? Then what will we do in the future…"
Bai Ziyuan's ears burned even hotter. This Qianran… one second she was flirting sweetly, the next she was flooring the accelerator!
But a Qianran who flirted so boldly was incredibly attractive. Bai Ziyuan's heart fluttered madly.
Another day, another moment of Bai Ziyuan shamelessly swooning over her wife.
Time passed quickly, and soon Bai Zilu's college entrance exams arrived. On the day of her final exam, Ji Tang waited outside the test center with milk tea in hand. Even Bai Zilu's parents found time to appear, despite their "busy schedules."
Qin Qiufan held Ji Tang's hand warmly, rattling off reminders about Bai Zilu's temper and entrusting her daughter's care to Ji Tang like two seasoned comrades exchanging orders.
Comrade No. 1: Bai Mom.Blah blah blah… Both my daughters are taken, so now I can finally travel carefree! Same-sex marriage will be legal soon, and Xiao Ji and Xiao Gu are so outstanding. Time for me to relax completely! Yay!
Comrade No. 2: Ji Tang.What? Why does Auntie sound so thrilled about something as serious as marriage…?
Moments later, Bai Zilu bounced out of the exam hall, radiant with relief. Ji Tang naturally took her backpack, while Bai Zilu, ignoring her parents entirely, threw herself into Ji Tang's arms, rubbing her head against her shoulder. "Ahhh Ji Tang, I'm finally done! I'm free, I'm free, I'm free!"
Bai Qishan: …?Qin Qiufan: …
Ji Tang studied Bai Zilu's overjoyed expression and suddenly found it familiar. She turned to see Qin Qiufan standing nearby with the same silly grin.
Ji Tang: "…Pfft." Poor Bai Zilu.
Bai Zilu blinked up at her, puzzled. "What are you laughing at?"
Ji Tang quietly explained the scene she had just witnessed. Bai Zilu's smile froze. She turned her head stiffly to see her parents laughing happily in the shade by the roadside, waving and shouting, "Xiaolu! Hurry back! Don't come over here! We have a flight to catch!"
Bai Zilu: "…Ugh."
Being born human… I apologize.