Chapter 5: Not Putting Up with Them!

Gu Man’s words carried a chilling menace.

This wasn’t an empty threat.

During the worst times, when she discovered that her beast of a father was trying to seize her mother’s shares and had nearly drugged her into a vegetative state…

When Lin Muyu and Gu Xiaoya were rolling in bed together…

When her mother told her she no longer wanted to live…

She had thought about hiring someone to kill them all.

The only reason she hadn’t acted was that she didn’t want to let them off so easily.

In her rare moments of lucidity, her mother had told her to live on.

So she endured.

But that didn’t mean she could forgive these two.

Gu Man was dressed in a perfectly tailored long gown of silk, its texture rippling like water as she walked.

Her thick, sleek hair cascaded smoothly down her back, her fair skin glowing with a delicate radiance.

She exuded a cold, untouchable beauty, like a rose blooming in the ruins—breathtaking, yet deadly.

Gu Xiaoya’s heart clenched.

She had expected to see a haggard, exhausted Gu Man, beaten down by public scorn.

But instead, Gu Man stood before them, dazzling, unfazed, and more stunning than ever.

It was the kind of effortless elegance that no makeup artist could ever create.

In contrast, despite Gu Xiaoya being adorned with designer watches and jewelry, she paled in comparison.

Unconsciously, she turned to look at Lin Muyu.

Sure enough, his eyes held a flicker of admiration.

She clenched her fists.

Lin Muyu had agreed to be engaged to her only because Gu Man had been disowned by her father.

Who would have thought that Gu Man would turn the tables? She had sued him with top-tier lawyers and successfully reclaimed her mother’s shares.

Shares worth a hundred billion yuan!

This despicable woman!

Ever since Lin Muyu found out, his attitude had changed…

“Manman, don’t be like this,” Lin Muyu said gently. “I know you’re hurting. If lashing out at me makes you feel better, then do it.”

Lin Muyu was young, handsome, rich, and the heir of the Lin Group. His deep, seductive voice could make any woman fall for him.

Gu Man had once been mesmerized by his voice too.

But after catching him in bed with her stepsister, she now found it nauseating.

And honestly, compared to the voice of that young city lord, Lin Muyu was nothing.

Even in looks, he was far inferior.

Gu Man had no patience for his hypocrisy.

“If you really want to make me feel better, it’s simple—leave my house keys, grab your mistress, and get lost!”

Damn it, she had been so busy she forgot to take the keys back.

No matter. She’d change the locks later.

Maybe even install an alarm system. If these people ever dared to break in again, she’d have them arrested.

Lin Muyu frowned.

“Manman, your words are too harsh. Xiaoya… she’s my fiancée now.”

Gu Man folded her arms.

“So you brought her here to do what? You do realize we’re enemies, right?”

“Or do you want the best of both worlds? Hoping to have Gu Corporation while keeping an eye on my hundred billion in shares?”

Her voice was icy, piercing through his heart.

She had hit the nail on the head.

Lin Muyu’s expression shifted from anger to a forced look of affection.

“Manman, how can you think that? My feelings for you have never been about money!”

Gu Man sneered and glanced at the ring on Gu Xiaoya’s hand.

“Oh? You’re still wearing that?”

“I swear, wasn’t this the same ring he used to propose to me? No way… don’t tell me he couldn’t even be bothered to buy you a new one?”

“Looks like you’re not that important to your dear Lin Muyu, after all.”

“Your man is confessing his love for me right in front of you—don’t you have anything to say?”

Gu Xiaoya trembled with anger, but she was used to acting innocent. Her eyes welled up with tears.

“Sister, how can you say that about me? I just came to check on you. If you’re angry, you can hit me instead.”

SLAP!

Gu Man didn’t hesitate—she raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

The sound was crisp, satisfying.

Well, well, her opinion of this green tea witch had changed—at least she had the self-awareness to suggest something so delightful.

And, damn, ever since using that blue crystal, her strength had increased.

This slap felt amazing.

Gu Xiaoya hadn’t expected Gu Man to actually hit her.

After all, this trick had always worked with their father.

It had never failed her before.

Whenever she cried, their father would console her while Gu Man got punished.

But this time…

It really hurt.

Her cheek was already swelling.

She was a celebrity! A public figure! How could she afford to damage her face?

Panic and fury twisted inside her.

“Brother Lin, she hit me!”

She clung to Lin Muyu, expecting him to stand up for her.

Lin Muyu was indeed angry—but his anger wasn’t because Gu Man had hit Gu Xiaoya.

It was because Gu Man no longer seemed to care about him at all.

“Gu Man! That was too much!” he snapped.

Gu Man laughed coldly.

“Too much? Oh, I can do worse.”

“If you don’t take this woman and get out of my sight, don’t blame me for launching an attack on your Lin Group.”

“Your company’s financials…”

Before she even finished, Lin Muyu’s expression changed drastically.

His rage crumbled into something else—a forced gentleness.

“Alright, alright, I’m leaving. I know you’re upset. I’ll come back when you’re calmer…”

With a dark expression, he dragged Gu Xiaoya toward the door.

“Wait!”

Gu Man called out.

Lin Muyu’s eyes lit up.

“Manman?”

She still cared about him, right?

“Leave the house keys. You don’t deserve to keep them.”

Lin Muyu clenched his fists but ultimately dropped the keys before pulling the unwilling Gu Xiaoya away.

As they left, something slipped from Gu Man’s pocket.

Clink.

A crystal core rolled onto the ground, gleaming with dazzling light.

Lin Muyu’s eyes darkened.

He had just reevaluated Gu Man’s worth.

And Gu Xiaoya, seeing the massive blue gemstone, clenched her jaw in jealousy.

It was huge—how much was it worth?!

Compared to that, her engagement ring was worthless.

She suddenly wanted to steal it.

From the day she entered the Gu family, she had sworn to take everything from Gu Man.

And this time would be no different.

After they left, Gu Man picked up the crystal core.

“Looks like I need to beef up security.”

“A rich young woman living alone… there must be plenty of people eyeing me.”

Not just these two, but also her beast of a father and his pack of jackals…

She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

The call barely rang before it was picked up.

“Manman! You finally called! Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, those bastards won’t touch you!”

Gu Man’s eyes stung, but she quickly steadied herself.

“Auntie, I need a bodyguard. A strong one, discreet, and trustworthy. Preferably a retired soldier. Can you find one for me?”

The line was silent for a moment.

Then came a firm response:

“I can.”

Gu Man felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

She then called for a locksmith, upgraded her security system, and installed more surveillance cameras.

By the time she was done, an hour had passed.

Finally, she checked her phone.

Her eyes widened.

The young city lord had replied to her message.