A week later, the initial signs of crisis appeared within the Su Group.
Su Qingyuan sat in her father's study, a piece of evidence spread out before her—photos of Lin Haoyu meeting privately with a competitor. The time was three days ago; the location, a private club on the outskirts of the city.
"So, they've already started making their move." She sneered, her fingertips tapping lightly on the photo.
Her father, Su Jianguo, pushed the door open and entered, his brows furrowed. "Qingyuan, why have you suddenly started caring about company matters lately? And your marriage to Haoyu..."
"Dad," Su Qingyuan stood up, looking at her father with determined eyes. "I need to discuss something very important with you. But before that, please promise me that no matter what I say, you will hear me out without interrupting."
Over the next hour, Su Qingyuan presented Lin Haoyu's conspiracy, the impending crisis, and the "accidental" clues she had discovered to her father in a rational manner. She hid the truth of her rebirth, but every sentence struck the heart of the matter.
Su Jianguo's face went from shock to solemnity, and finally to deep worry. "Qingyuan, are these... really true?"
"One hundred percent true. Dad, I know it's hard to accept, but now isn't the time for grief. We need an ally, a power strong enough to fight the forces behind Lin Haoyu."
"What do you want to do?"
Su Qingyuan took a deep breath. "I'm going to see someone—Gu Ting-shen."
"That Gu Ting-shen from the Gu Group?" Su Jianguo gasped. "Qingyuan, how can someone like that be someone we can just approach?"
"I have a way." A sharp light flickered in Su Qingyuan's eyes. In her past life, she had seen a piece of news: Gu Ting-shen went to the city's top-tier club, "Yujing," every Wednesday afternoon to handle private affairs. And tomorrow was Wednesday.
More importantly, she knew of a problem plaguing Gu Ting-shen right now—family pressure to marry.
At three o'clock the next afternoon, when Su Qingyuan pushed open the door to the VIP room at "Yujing," Gu Ting-shen was standing by the French window, on a call.
"I told you, I decide my own marriage. I don't need the family arranging it." His voice was low and cold, carrying obvious impatience. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
He hung up and turned around.
The moment their eyes met, Su Qingyuan felt a powerful pressure bearing down on her. The man before her was tall, with features as sharp as a knife carve, and a pair of dark eyes that seemed to pierce through the human heart. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.
This was Gu Ting-shen, the legend at the peak of the business world.
"Who are you? How did you get in?" His voice was devoid of warmth, his gaze locking onto her like a hawk.
Su Qingyuan's heart skipped a beat, but she showed nothing on her face. She had seen too many grand scenes in her past life; now, she suppressed all her nervousness, leaving only composure and calm.
"President Gu, I know you need a wife to handle family pressure, and I need the Gu Group's support to save my family business. We can sign a contract marriage agreement."
She went straight to the point, without any preamble.
Gu Ting-shen was clearly stunned. He had seen too many social climbers—coy, charming, playing hard to get, or burning with passion—but never a woman like this.
She wore a simple white shirt and black slacks, no makeup, yet radiated an undeniable sharpness. What surprised him more was her precise grasp of his situation—the pressure to marry was indeed his greatest weakness right now.
"You investigated me?" He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous air spreading in the room.
"No, I'm just observant." Su Qingyuan met his gaze, neither humble nor arrogant. "President Gu, you come here every Wednesday just to avoid the family's eyes and gain some breathing space, don't you? And I can 恰好 solve this problem for you."
"What makes you think I would need a wife of unknown origin?"
"On the fact that I can make your family shut up completely within two years; on the fact that I will absolutely not have any inappropriate thoughts about you; and on the fact that I understand the essence of this marriage better than any socialite you've met—it is a transaction."
Gu Ting-shen fell silent.
He examined the woman before him, trying to find a crack in her expression. But to his surprise, her eyes were clear and determined. No greed, no infatuation, only a cold, almost cruel sobriety.
This sobriety reminded him of himself in the business world.
"What is your name?"
"Su Qingyuan. Daughter of Su Jianguo of the Su Group."
"The Su Group?" Gu Ting-shen frowned slightly. "The Su Group that the Lin Group has its eyes on recently?"
"Precisely." A cold smile curled the corner of Su Qingyuan's lips. "President Gu, our enemies might have something in common."
This statement sparked a glint of interest in Gu Ting-shen's eyes. He slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, crossing his long legs, his posture lazy but full of oppression. "State your conditions."
"First, within two years, the Gu Group must provide commercial support to the Su Group to help us weather the crisis. Second, during the marriage, we do not interfere in each other's private lives, but we must maintain the image of a loving couple in public. Third—" She paused, her gaze becoming sharp. "You must not, in any way, harm the interests of the Su Group or my family members."
Gu Ting-shen raised an eyebrow. "The last point is interesting."
"It is my bottom line." Su Qingyuan looked straight into his eyes. "What do you say, President Gu?"
A long silence fell over the private room.
Gu Ting-shen toyed with a lighter on the coffee table, the metal casing flipping between his fingers with a soft clink. His gaze remained on Su Qingyuan, inquiring, examining, and with a trace of barely perceptible appreciation.
Finally, he spoke:
"Deal. But I require a three-month probationary period to see if you are truly qualified to become Mrs. Gu, as you claim."
This tentative proposal fit his cautious business mindset and planted the first suspense in their relationship.
Su Qingyuan felt relieved inside but remained calm on the surface. "Deal."
"Tomorrow morning at nine, top-floor conference room of the Gu Group. Bring your lawyer." Gu Ting-shen stood up, looking down at her. "Miss Su, I hope you don't disappoint me."
"You as well, President Gu."
She turned and left, her back straight as a bamboo.
Gu Ting-shen watched the figure disappear behind the door, the corner of his mouth curling in a playful arc. The appearance of this woman might make the upcoming dull life a bit more interesting.