The system only arrives when you're old? Then let's create a super-rich family!

Downstairs at the Genting Building, the group of wealthy businessmen from Jiangnan who had left early were not far away.

People gathered in twos and threes in the lobby, holding cigarettes in their hands, but no one was in the mood to light them. Their faces were full of astonishment and confusion.

The news that came out completely overturned everyone's judgment.

In the conference room, all the top twelve wealthy families in Jiangnan, including the Xiao family and other leading forces, surprisingly chose to side with the Qin family!

"Are they crazy? Have these people completely gone mad?"

The Mediterranean-looking shop owner stared wide-eyed, his tone full of disbelief, shaking his head repeatedly:

"We can't even handle the Yuan family, and now the Xie family from the capital is personally intervening. With such a double crushing force, the Qin family's demise is already a foregone conclusion. Going in now would be nothing more than a moth drawn to a flame."

A man followed closely behind, his face full of sighs and agreement.

"The Yuan family has a deep foundation and has been deeply rooted in Jiangnan for many years. They can crush us local tycoons with a flick of their finger. The Qin family was lucky to snatch the Yuan family's military project before, which was already a narrow victory. Now that they have provoked the Xie family, which is far larger than the Yuan family, they have no chance of winning at all."

"Our early exit and severing ties was the most sensible choice. They relied on their wealth and size to blindly follow the trend and take sides, seemingly sticking together for warmth, but in reality, they were pushing the foundation built by generations into the fire."

"Just wait and see. Before long, the Qin family will collapse, the Xie family will be purged, and none of the remaining powerful families will escape; they will all be buried with them!"

The crowd chimed in with their own words, a mixture of mockery and relief.

In their eyes, the twelve top-tier families who chose to stand with one side seemed to have great courage, but were actually extremely foolish.

Faced with the joint attack of the two top families, any resistance would be futile and would only lead to total annihilation.

No one had any faith in the Qin family, and no one believed that they could turn the tide in this desperate situation.

Meanwhile, in the five-star Cloud Hotel in downtown Gangnam, the penthouse suite is located on the top floor.

Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows isolate the interior from all outside noise, ensuring a constant and comfortable temperature. The decor is simple yet luxurious, exuding the refined style of a top-tier luxury residence.

After finishing her afternoon of outdoor live streaming, Wang Zhaoyue changed out of her floral dress and into a soft, casual home outfit. Wearing loose slippers, she quietly pushed open the door and entered the room.

There was a hint of weariness in her eyes, as if she had something on her mind.

Bai Lingxi was sitting upright at the desk by the window in the living room.

She wore a loose, clean, pure white short-sleeved T-shirt, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders, shedding the exquisite attire of a wealthy heiress and exuding a more relaxed and casual vibe.

Long, slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the touchpad, while her gaze remained focused on the laptop screen in front of her.

Above are three paper assessment report documents.

Hearing footsteps, Bai Lingxi didn't even look up, still staring at the screen with a calm and serious expression.

Wang Zhaoyue walked over slowly, bent down slightly, and looked curiously at the report on the table.

The three reports are clearly distinct and vastly different.

The two documents at the top are in-depth assessments of the individuals and families of Chen Haoyu from the Chen family of Shanghai and Ye Chen from the Ye family of Shanghai.

Each report is several pages long, densely listing the two individuals' family backgrounds, childhood upbringing, business strategies after adulthood, major projects they managed, personal talent assessments, family resource allocation, and comprehensive risk scores. The details are extremely thorough, achieving almost a comprehensive and thorough investigation.

The third report at the very bottom has a completely different style.

Cover label: Qin Zihao.

The report was pitifully thin, fitting perfectly on a quarter of an A4 sheet. Aside from basic information such as ID photo, name, age, and place of origin, the main text consisted of only two or three sentences, with no other content.

Wang Zhaoyue's eyes flickered slightly, and she instantly understood.

Bai Lingxi gently closed the laptop, looked up at the bustling street scene outside the window, pondered for a moment, and had already made up her mind.

"Is it settled?" Wang Zhaoyue straightened up and asked softly.

Bai Lingxi nodded slightly, her tone calm:

"Yes, the Bai family plans to expand its downstream core allies in Jiangnan and Shanghai next, and the first choice for cooperation is Chen Haoyu of the Chen family in Shanghai."

"In terms of family background, personal experience, business talent, and team strategy, Chen Haoyu is the most outstanding among the younger generation, with the highest overall score, the lowest cooperation risk, and the most reliable option."

Wang Zhaoyue raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of confusion in her eyes, and pressed on with the question:

"Aren't you even considering the Qin family? Qin Zihao was able to confront the Yuan family head-on and snatch their core military project. His strength is definitely not to be underestimated. If the Bai family chooses to join forces with the Qin family, it would be a powerful alliance, and the benefits might not be less than those of the Chen family."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lingxi gently shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"The Qin family's foundation is too shallow, its rise has been too short, and its resources are insufficient to support long-term cooperation."

"Moreover, my purpose in coming out this time is to build a stable downstream alliance system for the Bai family. It is the Bai family that supports and incorporates subordinate forces, not an equal and two-way cooperation. With the Qin family's current accumulation and status in the circle, it is not qualified to talk about cooperation with the Bai family."

These words were blunt, but the Bai family and Bai Lingxi certainly had the confidence to say so.

Bai Lingxi had other considerations in mind.

When the Yuan family suffered setbacks and its power waned, she did briefly include Qin Zihao on the shortlist, intending to observe and consider the matter carefully.

However, the Xie family in Beijing acted too quickly, completely blocking the supply chain in Jiangnan overnight and precisely targeting and suppressing the Qin family.

The Xie family, the Wang family, and the Bai family are long-time allies, and the three families are deeply intertwined.

Wang Zhaoyue and Xie Mingqiu's engagement has already been finalized, and they will officially get engaged next month.

If she were to support the Qin family and oppose the Xie family at this moment, it would not only disrupt the Bai family's social network, but also directly affect Wang Zhaoyue's marriage, putting Zhaoyue in a difficult position between the Xie and Wang families, and creating unnecessary estrangement and conflict.

For the sake of the bigger picture, Qin Zihao was completely removed from her shortlist.

She naturally wouldn't tell Wang Zhaoyue the hidden details of these power struggles within these social circles.

And the more you try to hide something, the easier it is for others to guess.

Wang Zhaoyue's eyes were clear as she quietly looked at Bai Lingxi, who was feigning composure, her tone calm and even:

"The real reason you didn't choose the Qin family is because the Xie family is targeting the Qin family, isn't that right?"

Bai Lingxi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She clearly hadn't expected the gentle and innocent Wang Zhaoyue to see things so clearly and directly.

She quickly composed herself, feigning confusion as she looked at Wang Zhaoyue.

"Who's talking nonsense to you? I don't think highly of Qin Zihao, purely because his resume has too many obvious shortcomings."

"Which of us heirs from top-tier families hasn't received the ultimate training from a young age? Business acumen, capital operation, social dynamics, interpersonal skills—we've been selected and fought for at every turn, breaking through from countless talented children to be qualified to take over the family business."

Bai Lingxi spoke sincerely.

She herself had to step over her peers' geniuses to break through, enduring countless rigorous training sessions and fierce competitions to secure her position as the new generation heir of the Bai family, and she deeply understands the difficulties of being in charge of a top-tier wealthy family.

"Qin Zihao had no prior experience of being raised in a wealthy family, no systematic business training, and no experience in the cutthroat world of business. He rose to prominence out of thin air, seemingly dazzling, but in reality, his foundation was weak. Such a person simply cannot handle the scale of a trillion-dollar family, so naturally I will not include him in the shortlist."

This explanation was logical and seemingly flawless.

But Wang Zhaoyue still wouldn't back down, her eyes resolute, pressing on with questions without yielding an inch.

You did not refute the second half of my statement.

"That means the Xie family is indeed targeting the Qin family."

She frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of inquiry and disappointment:

"Yesterday you specifically reminded me to stay away from Qin Ziyang. Did you get wind of this beforehand? Was this targeting orchestrated by Xie Mingqiu?"

Bai Lingxi was caught off guard by the question and remained silent for a moment before shaking her head helplessly.

"Zhaoyue, I can't say much about this. If you want to know the answer, it would be better to call your brother yourself."

Mentioning her elder brother, a deep sense of loss welled up in Wang Zhaoyue's eyes. She lowered her gaze and said in a low, aggrieved voice, "I've already asked."

"My brother wouldn't tell me anything, he just told me to behave myself, go back to the Wang family as soon as possible, and prepare for the engagement ceremony next month."

Seeing her dejected look, Bai Lingxi asked softly, "So, are you planning to go back?"

"I won't go back." Wang Zhaoyue shook her head without hesitation, her tone carrying a rare stubbornness.

"I finally managed to get a month of freedom from my grandfather, and I haven't even had a chance to enjoy my freedom. How can I just go back like this?"

After she finished speaking, she turned around and walked to the sofa to sit down. She picked up a glass of chilled fruit drink from the table, her fingertips pinching the cold glass. Her expression became increasingly desolate, and her eyes held a sense of grievance and exhaustion that no one knew about.

"Lingxi, you simply don't understand."

"I am different from you. You are exceptionally talented, decisive, and able to participate in family affairs from a young age, compete for inheritance, and control your own life. But I am different. I have no talent for business whatsoever, and my family has never cultivated any abilities in me from childhood to adulthood."

"Their only requirement for me is to be a qualified top-tier noblewoman."

"Standing posture, sitting posture, dining etiquette, speech and demeanor, clothing coordination, management of the inner quarters, and interpersonal interactions—everything must be done to the highest standard. If I make even the slightest mistake, the butler who taught me and the servants who served me will be severely punished."

"I was forced to learn all the rules, forced to be gentle, forced to be proper, forced to be perfect. In addition, I also had to learn all the knowledge of the matriarch of the household, how to be a good wife and mother, how to manage the family's inner circle, and how to maintain social connections."

Wang Zhaoyue's voice was soft, with a slight sob, yet she tried her best to control herself.

"For the past twenty years, from birth to now, I have lived every day within the bounds of rules and regulations, within the arrangements of my family. I cannot have my own preferences, my own emotions, or my own choices."

"This past month has been the first time in my life that I've broken free from constraints, the first time I've been able to choose what I like, and the first time I've felt true freedom. It's like finally touching the sunlight for the first time in a dark and sunless cage."

"But now, this ray of sunlight is also being ruthlessly blocked."

Qin Ziyang was the first rich second-generation to look at her with pure admiration, making her feel respected for the first time.

She didn't want anything else to cause the other person to distance themselves from her.

Wang Zhaoyue looked up at Bai Lingxi, her eyes full of pleading, and said in a humble tone:

"In a month, I will return home to receive my mother's personal instruction. Once I marry into the Xie family, I will learn from my mother and become a perfect matriarch of the Xie family, living a life of pretense and rules, with no sense of self left."

"Lingxi, can you help me? I just want to spend this month being happy and free, without being bound by my family or trapped by social circles."

"Just let me live the life I want and do what I love!"

This was the first time Bai Lingxi had heard about Wang Zhaoyue's true inner suffering.

She always thought that Wang Zhaoyue, born into a top-tier wealthy family and pampered by her family, was born glamorous and carefree, a favored daughter of heaven that everyone envied.

Wang Zhaoyue believed that the other person genuinely liked her because of the social etiquette she had learned since childhood.

But they never imagined that the other person's seemingly perfect life was actually full of shackles and a lack of control over their own destiny.

The thought of the rest of her life, with the lively and gentle Zhaoyue confined to the deep courtyard of the Xie family, having to pretend to be proper and suppress her true self day after day, living as an exquisite but cold facade, filled Bai Lingxi with intense heartache.

She sighed softly, completely abandoning her previous idea of ​​protecting herself.

Originally, she planned to stay out of it completely, not get involved in the feud between the Xie and Qin families, and maintain a balance among the three families.

But seeing her friend looking so wronged and helpless, she couldn't bear it in the end.

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth."

Bai Lingxi looked up at her, her tone sincere, no longer hiding anything.

"It is indeed the Xie family that is targeting the Qin family. The reason is that the live video of you and Qin Ziyang was leaked. The Xie family's higher-ups were dissatisfied and took action to warn the Qin family and also to give you a warning."

She deliberately avoided Xie Mingqiu's name and did not reveal that it was her fiancé who was behind it, not wanting to completely break Zhaoyue's heart and prevent any future trouble between the two.

Wang Zhaoyue's brows furrowed instantly, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Seeing her downcast mood, Bai Lingxi quickly comforted her gently, "Don't overthink it. This month, just relax and enjoy your freedom. I'll mediate the feud between the Xie and Qin families."

"I will not let anyone disturb your last moments of freedom."

"However, you should also be careful. You can broadcast the live stream as usual and get along normally with Qin Ziyang and the Qin family, but you must be careful not to get too close or too intimate, so as to avoid gossip and trouble for yourself."

With the promise and protection of her friend, Wang Zhaoyue instantly shed all her grievances and burdens, her eyes regained their brightness, and a sweet smile bloomed on her face.

She stood up and quickly stepped forward, gently hugging Bai Lingxi, her voice light and grateful: "That's wonderful! Thank you, Lingxi! It's so good to have you!"

At that moment, the huge weight that had been pressing on her heart finally lifted.

She didn't ask to change the engagement, nor did she ask to defy her family; she only asked to live freely, happily, and as her true self for these short thirty days.

She wanted Qin Ziyang to take her out and have fun, so she could enjoy the rest of the month...