The Gu Family Manor.
Spanning approximately 5 square kilometers, it was the private estate of the Gu family.
The manor's main building resembled an ancient European castle, with lakeside villas as beautiful as those from fairy tales.
The grounds featured various small lakes, a private golf course, gym, swimming pool, and tennis courts - amenities so common here they barely warranted mention.
A private wine cellar housed expensive wines from around the world.
There was also a private library, cinema, and more.
The Gu family employed nearly a thousand servants to maintain the estate.
Vroom~
Old Gao drove the car to the outskirts of the manor.
As they approached the main gate, Old Gao reminded the passenger in the back seat: "Young Master, we've arrived."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yan observed the scene before him.
The manor's entrance was an enormous iron gate, with walls surrounding the entire estate.
Security guards were stationed at regular intervals along the walls.
They were all part of the Gu family's private security force.
The security team noticed the approaching luxury vehicle.
One guard raised his hand, signaling for Gu Yan's car to stop.
Seeing this, Gu Yan lowered his window and smiled warmly at the guard: "I'm here to visit my grandparents."
As the only son of the current Gu family head, Gu Yan was naturally recognized by everyone here.
Though puzzled why he would visit on an unremarkable day, the guard who received the message nodded and allowed them through: "Very well, Young Master."
The luxury car drove in.
They arrived at the manor's open-air parking lot.
Beep beep!
Gu Yan and Old Gao got out of the car, and immediately a person wearing a black suit drove over in a small vehicle.
Since the main building was quite far, there were dedicated staff to provide transportation.
Sitting in the car, Gu Yan looked at the scenery outside and couldn't help but marvel - the Gu family was truly wealthy.
As one of Jianghai City's top families, Gu Tianming naturally had many siblings.
Gu Tianming was simply the most outstanding among them, which was why he was chosen as the current head of the Gu family.
However, everyone knew that the real power holders of the Gu family could only be the two elders.
They were the father and mother of Gu Tianming and his siblings.
The reason why it didn't matter if Gu Yan failed three votes was because he had too many siblings.
He was only given priority for inheritance because he was Gu Tianming's son.
If he proved incapable, there would naturally be other candidates to choose from.
In his memory, the younger generation of the Gu family - Gu Yan's siblings - were all capable people, and they all looked down on him as useless.
He would get mocked severely at every annual gathering.
What's with this protagonist treatment feeling?
Gu Yan complained to himself, thinking he didn't have the protagonist's destiny, yet he stumbled upon all these unfortunate events.
Old Gao looked at the passing scenery, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
Years ago, he had served as Gu Tianming's bodyguard in this very manor, and after Gu Yan's birth, he became the young master's protector.
So many years had passed in the blink of an eye - ah, such fond memories.
The black-suited guard driving ahead maintained a stern expression. As security for the Gu Family Manor, they naturally verified the identity of every visitor.
Gu Yan and Old Gao's identities had been confirmed when they were still kilometers away from the manor.
They were only allowed in after confirming he was the old madam's grandson.
Though just a guard, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Today wasn't any special occasion, and the annual gathering was still more than a month away, so why would this young master, who had such an unpleasant relationship with his cousins, come here?
Oh, he remembered - this was Gu Yan's last chance this year. If he received another negative vote,
He would lose his qualification to inherit the family business.
Thinking of this, the guard couldn't help but feel sorry for Gu Yan - if only he had shown a bit more promise,
He wouldn't have missed such a great opportunity.
However, even if Gu Yan couldn't inherit the family business, his status was still far above servants like themselves.
They weren't foolish enough to mock or look down on the Gu family's eldest young master.
.......
.........
The manor's main building felt like a castle to Gu Yan.
The main entrance was carved from heavy oak, with expertly crafted stone lions standing on either side.
Entering through the doors, Gu Yan found himself in a spacious hall with exquisite chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, complementing the tall and magnificent murals.
Someone was already waiting for Gu Yan here.
A maid in uniform, her hair covering her left eye, bowed slightly: "Young Master, the elders have been waiting for you. Please follow me."
Gu Yan glanced at her and nodded: "Alright."
Old Gao tried to follow Gu Yan.
But the maid looked at Old Gao impassively: "The elders wish to see only the young master. Mr. Gao may tour the manor freely."
Hearing this, Old Gao looked at Gu Yan, who nodded in response.
Old Gao bowed slightly: "Very well, Young Master. I'll wait for you downstairs."
Following the maid up the spiral staircase, Gu Yan suddenly asked: "Why don't we have an elevator here?"
"Isn't this tiring?"
The maid ahead paused briefly, clearly surprised that the supposedly useless young master would ask such a question.
On the surface, she turned back with a forced smile and said: "Young Master, this is the decorative style the elders prefer. An elevator would spoil the classical atmosphere."
Gu Yan nodded and gave a soft "oh."
After a while, they reached the sixth floor, which was very spacious with a corridor stretching forward.
The maid walked ahead silently.
Looking at the maid in front, Gu Yan suddenly quickened his pace to walk beside her, causing her to frown unconsciously.
Acting as if he hadn't noticed her reaction, Gu Yan asked: "By the way, I haven't asked your name yet. What's your name?"
After a moment's thought, the maid put on a smile and turned to Gu Yan: "My name is Xuehua. The elders' favorite study is just ahead."
"The elders are waiting inside."
She then turned away and quickened her pace, her face showing disgust.
How revolting, she thought. He's inferior to the eldest young master in every way, yet why did he get priority inheritance rights?
Just because of his genius father? It's so unfair to the eldest young master.
Xuehua, huh.
Hearing this name, Gu Yan became thoughtful, a cold look flashing in his eyes.
Looking at her back, Gu Yan thought to himself - it's exactly like in the original story.
In the original story, this maid was actually his brother Gu Zihua's secret lover.
After Gu Yan lost his qualification to become the heir and fell into depression, Gu Zihua thought about quickly inheriting the family and becoming the head.
However, when he discovered that the old family heads would rather not choose an heir than let anyone besides Gu Tianming continue as family head,
His mind became twisted, and he sought help from a mysterious person, having Xuehua, who had long served the two old family heads, poison them to death.
The Gu family fell into chaos, and later Gu Yan and Old Gao were ambushed by Xiao Lin.
Gu Tianming completely broke down.
At this time, Gu Zihua stepped forward again, using the mysterious person's help to collaborate with other families and even Xiao Lin to jointly attack the entire Gu family.
Throughout this time, Xuehua followed her lover Gu Zihua's orders, fantasizing about their future together once they took over the Gu family.
Unfortunately, at the final moment...
That mysterious person appeared and shattered Xuehua's dreams.
Yes, the person who gave Gu Zihua the poison and manipulated him to destroy the Gu family from within
Was Leng Qingqiu.
She was the one who benefited most from the Gu family's destruction, because by then, most of Jianghai City's families were already under her control.
Her goal was simple - she wanted all the power and wealth of Jianghai City's families to expand her influence.
This would better serve her revenge. By then, Leng Ling'er was already dead, so Leng Qingqiu had completely turned to darkness, caring for nothing except revenge.
In the end, after using Gu Zihua, she killed both of them.
Their deaths were extremely tragic.
It seemed as if Leng Qingqiu merely glanced at the two of them, and they instantly crumbled into powder.
After understanding everything clearly, Gu Yan naturally held no goodwill towards Xuehua and Gu Zihua.
You neither experienced a tragic past nor suffered from hunger or cold, nor did you have any grievances against society.
In fact, the Gu family had treated you quite well.
Yet you still committed such treacherous acts against your own family and master, which truly disgusted Gu Yan.
However, this love-obsessed fool could still be useful.
A slight smirk appeared at the corner of Gu Yan's lips, as if she had thought of some brilliant scheme.