The Heiress's Game

Jin Wei had been living in Yunzhou for a while when she came across an entertainment news article.

The headline, in bold and black: "Another stroke of high-society marriage! The second daughter of the Gu family and the second son of the Pei family are about to get married, and their powerful alliance will shake up Dahai City."

The accompanying photos are two pictures. One is a side profile of Pei Yan at a business event—he's wearing a dark gray suit, his tie is perfectly tied, and his eyes hold that familiar, subtle aloofness.

The other image is a blank silhouette of a person with three large characters written on it: "Miss Gu the Second".

The reporter used an entire paragraph in the article to explain why there wasn't a single publicly available photo of this second daughter of the Gu family—she went abroad at the age of fourteen and returned to China at the age of twenty-five.

She never appears on social media and does not participate in any public events; insiders describe her as "mysterious like a legend."

The comments section has exploded.

"Pei Yan!!! The most handsome rich second-generation in Dahai City, bar none!!!"

"Who is the second young lady of the Gu family? I can't find a single photo of her anywhere on the internet."

"Stop searching upstairs, I've been searching for an hour and haven't found anything. This young lady is really low-key."

"It's said to be Su Wanning's daughter. Su Wanning, ah, that big star, she married into the Gu family and then divorced, and passed away not long after."

"Oh my god, Su Wanning... My mom used to be a fan of hers. She said she was incredibly beautiful back then, and it's such a pity that she retired from acting for Gu Zhenxing."

"I hope this second young lady can be happy; her mother's life has been too hard."

Jinwei slid down the slides one by one, using all her strength to control her fingers from trembling.

The second young lady of the Gu family and the second young master of the Pei family are about to have a happy marriage, a powerful alliance.

Her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen; Pei Yan was calling, but she didn't answer.

One minute later, it cut off.

The phone rang again, but she still didn't answer.

After the third ringing, there was complete silence.

Then a message popped up.

"Jinwei, I'm sorry."

Then came another message: "I know you saw this. I can give you money and a house. I know these can't make up for anything, but at least you won't have to..."

She didn't finish reading it. She threw her phone under her pillow, turned over, and buried her face in the pillow.

The pillow had been aired out by my mother a couple of days ago; it smelled of sunshine and laundry detergent, and it was spotless, a stark contrast to the turmoil in her heart at that moment.

She remembered the day she returned from Dahai City last time.

Pei Yan drove her to the airport in his silver-gray sports car. The two stood at the security checkpoint for a long time without saying a word.

Finally, he reached out and tidied her wind-blown hair, saying, "Take care."

She turned and went through security without looking back.

When she arrived at the boarding gate, she received a message from him with only four words: "I'm sorry." She didn't reply.

She took out her phone, opened the ticket booking app, and booked a flight to Dahai City.

She knew that going there wouldn't change anything; she wasn't going to steal the bride, to cause trouble, or even to demand an explanation.

She just wanted to see him one last time. For ten years, she had never truly made a clean break for herself.

She was the one who always said "let's break up," and she was also the one who always couldn't bear it anymore and went back to him.

This time, she was going to tell him all the words she had saved up for ten years, one by one, and then watch him leave.

She just wanted to see him leave with her own eyes, so that there would be no more room for fantasy.

The face in the mirror still had fair skin and delicate features, but her eye sockets were slightly sunken, and there was a fine line at the corner of her eye that she had never noticed before.

She leaned closer to examine the fine line, then put down the comb and said to the mirror, "Jinwei, this is the last time."

When Zhang Zhuoran called, Gu Yunjin had just returned from the garden of Suiyuan with a few pomegranate branches.

"Yun Jin, are you getting engaged to Pei Yan?"

Gu Yunjin paused, the scissors in her hand momentarily still. "What did you say?"

"It's already spread online that the Gu family and the Pei family are getting married. The second young lady of the Gu family and the second young master of the Pei family are getting married soon. Haven't you seen it?"

"I wasn't looking at my phone."

Gu Yunjin put down the scissors, opened her tablet, and swiped a few times. The news headlines on the screen were increasingly eye-catching, all pushed out within the past half hour, covering sources from mainstream financial media to gossip magazines—it didn't seem like baseless rumors, but rather a coordinated release of information.

I saw it, Zhuoran. I wasn't aware of this beforehand.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Aren't you going to do anything?"

"I need to figure out the situation first," Gu Yunjin said. "Until I figure it out, it's better to do nothing than to do something reckless."

"Then let me know when you've figured it out." Zhang Zhuoran paused, then added.

"Whatever you need, I'll be there for you."

"Okay." Gu Yunjin hung up the phone.

You never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first in life.

Gu Yunjin felt that she had calculated everything—Gu Mingyue's reaction, Chen Cui's pace, the closed loop of business with Cuican, her father's weakness—every step was scheduled.

She planned to save her biggest trump card, Cloud Whale Capital, for last, and then reveal all her cards to Gu Zhenxing once Xingyao Media's development became smoother.

At that time, breaking off the engagement won't be a matter of willfulness, but rather a matter of confidence.

Before the food was even cooked, the lid was lifted off the pot prematurely.

There is only one person in the entire Gu family who can bypass her and directly announce the marriage.

Gu Yunjin picked up her phone and scrolled to a number in her contacts.

The contact name on the screen was "Mom". She stared at that word for two seconds, then sent a message: "Mom, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to visit you."

The reply came quickly: "Yun Jin, of course I'm free. Three o'clock this afternoon, at the coffee shop downstairs in the building. I'll have my secretary reserve a seat for you."

I bought you a few things a couple of days ago, and I've been meaning to give them to you.

The wording is warm and considerate, and the tone is tender and caring—every message from Wang Manyun is like this: precise and appropriate.

At 3 p.m. the next day, Gu Yunjin appeared on time at the coffee shop on the first floor of the Gu Group building.

Wang Manyun had arrived and was sitting in a booth by the window, with an Americano in front of her and a half-open copy of The Economist next to her.

She wore a navy blue suit dress, her hair was styled in a low bun, and she wore a pair of diamond stud earrings, making her look capable and elegant.

Seeing Gu Yunjin walk in, she immediately put down her magazine, stood up, and smiled warmly and brightly, like the March sun shining on the French windows.

"Yun Jin, over here!" She waved, and when Gu Yun Jin approached, she reached out and grabbed her wrist, looked her up and down, her brows furrowed slightly, and her voice was filled with heartache that was almost overflowing.

"Why have you lost weight again? I told you at the last family dinner that you'd lost weight. Did you not eat properly again?"

I've told your dad several times to arrange a reliable nanny for your family, but he just doesn't seem to care.

"Mom, I'm eating well, probably because I've been working out lately."

Gu Yunjin sat down opposite her, her smile obedient and docile.

"Why bother with workouts? You're already thin enough."

As Wang Manyun spoke, she picked up a delicate paper bag from the chair next to her and pushed it in front of Gu Yunjin.

"Here you go. I saw this trench coat in the flagship store window when I went to Milan for the fashion show last month, and I thought it would suit you. The color is the light gray you usually wear, and the cut is great too. Try it on."

Gu Yunjin opened the bag, inside was a well-tailored cashmere trench coat. The brand on the tag was one she often wore, and the size was exactly right.

This kind of dedication is genuine and not just a perfunctory gesture—Wang Manyun is never ambiguous about this.

Every gift she gave was just right—neither too expensive to make you feel pressured, nor too cheap to seem disrespectful.

"Thank you, Mom, it looks so beautiful." Gu Yunjin touched the fabric, her smile sincere. "You always remember my size."

"What mother doesn't remember her daughter's size?" Wang Manyun took a sip of her coffee, her tone as natural as stating an unspoken fact.

She put down her cup, her gaze lingering on Gu Yunjin's face for a moment, as if she had suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, how's work lately? I heard your dad mention it last time, saying you're doing some kind of investment, but he didn't explain clearly, so I didn't ask any further."

"You're a young woman working out here, don't push yourself too hard, your health is important."

"It's alright, it's just small-scale work, I did some projects with friends."

Gu Yunjin folded the trench coat again and put it back in the paper bag, her movements unhurried and deliberate.

"There is something I'd like to ask you. Yesterday, the internet was suddenly flooded with news about Pei Yan and me getting engaged, which surprised me a bit. Did our family release this information?"

Wang Manyun paused slightly in her coffee cup, then put it down and gently patted Gu Yunjin's hand on the table, her tone carrying a tenderness and apology that conveyed a sense of understanding:

"Yun Jin, I originally wanted to tell you this in person, but I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly."

Yes, it was released by the Gu family. We originally planned to tell you after everything was finalized, to give you some breathing room, but the media got wind of it and leaked it first.

She sighed and withdrew her hand.

"But I've actually thought about this for a long time. To be honest, this marriage with the Pei family is the best option I've looked into for you over the years."

You've met Pei Yan a few times, so you know him—he's good-looking and has a good character, unlike those spoiled brats in the circle. The Pei family also has a strong sense of family values.

Especially Madam Pei, she likes you terribly. She's mentioned you to me several times, saying that she'd be overjoyed if Yun Jin could become her daughter-in-law.

She smiled as she said this, a gentle and loving smile, like that of every mother who worries endlessly about her daughter's marriage.

"Yun Jin, you're twenty-six now."

Mom isn't pressuring you, nor is she annoyed that you're in the way at home—you'll always be this family's daughter, and no one can take you away.

But ultimately, a girl needs her own home and her own support.

Once you marry into the Pei family, they won't impose any restrictions on your career; you can do whatever you want.

Moreover, the Pei family's resources and connections will only help your future development, not hinder it.

She paused for a moment, looked into Gu Yunjin's eyes, and softened her voice even more.

"You've been sensible since you were little, always shouldering everything on your own. When you went abroad at fourteen, you were still so young. Before you went to the airport, you told me, 'Mom, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself.'"

I stood at the door watching you get on the bus, holding back my tears for a long time. Others may not know how much hardship you've endured all these years, but your mother knows it all.

That's why I've always wanted to find you a good marriage, so you won't have to shoulder everything alone anymore.

Gu Yunjin listened quietly, her expression a perfect blend of gratitude and gentleness.

"Mom, thank you for always thinking of me so thoughtfully."

"Silly child, don't be so polite with your mother." Wang Manyun waved her hand with a smile, her eyes full of love.

"So, Dad has agreed to this too?"

"Your dad already agreed. You know your dad, he always thinks about the long term."

The relationship between the Pei and Gu families goes beyond a marriage; the two families have in-depth cooperation in many fields.

He felt that settling this matter would be good for both families. The Pei family was also urging them to hurry up, and Madam Pei couldn't wait to hold the engagement banquet the next day.

So Mom also felt that since both sides were sincere, the sooner they settled things, the better—dragging it out would be disadvantageous for you, as if our family-oriented daughter was waiting for something.

Gu Yunjin picked up the lemonade and took a sip.

She put down her cup, her tone indifferent: "And what's my opinion?"

Wang Manyun reached out again and gently placed her hand on the back of Gu Yunjin's hand, her tone gentle and indulgent, carrying the air of a mother indulging her spoiled daughter:

"Of course your opinion is important. Yun Jin, when has your mother ever disrespected your opinion?"

But this matter involves two families, not just you alone.

After you marry into the family, the Pei family will not mistreat you, and the Gu family will always be your support.

Tell Mom what's on your mind—are you worried about not seeing her again? Or are you worried about something else? Whatever it is, Mom will help you figure something out.

Gu Yunjin looked into Wang Manyun's well-maintained, smiling eyes.

The concern and affection in those eyes were so real, so full, so impenetrable, that no one could find a single flaw.

What can a fourteen-year-old girl do besides be grateful and obedient to a stepmother who is so devoted to her?

Unfortunately, Gu Yunjin is no longer fourteen years old.