However, Gu Wanwan's infatuated gaze didn't last three seconds before she was chilled to the bone by a cold, piercing gaze.

Chu Yan walked to Ye Nian'an's side, shielding her behind him, his icy gaze shooting like a sharp sword at Gu Wanwan kneeling on the ground.

"roll."

He uttered only one word, yet it carried the force of a thunderbolt, chilling Gu Wanwan to the bone as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

That gaze was devoid of any warmth, filled with extreme disgust and warning, as if looking at a pile of nauseating garbage.

Gu Wanwan felt a sharp pain all over her body from that gaze, and the budding romantic thoughts in her heart were instantly crushed.

No matter how arrogant she was, she wouldn't dare to act recklessly in front of the two leaders!

She dared not leave even the slightest unpleasant impression in front of the man she coveted!

She dared not linger any longer, scrambled to her feet, and fled in panic.

"Niannian, are you alright?"

"It's alright, she's just grasping at straws in her desperation, don't worry about her."

Ye Nian'an had already told Chu Yan and the others about Gu Wanwan.

The men had no objections and left the decision entirely to Ye Nian'an.

The only thing I can't tolerate...

They dared to scheme against and bully Ye Nian'an!

But Ye Nian'an knew in her heart that this was only the beginning.

Although Gu Wanwan suffered a setback this time, she would never give up.

That venomous snake lurking in the shadows will bite again sooner or later.

What she had to do was to turn the tables and lure the snake out of its hole.

Then, a single, fatal blow!

Gu Wanwan ran back to the Gu family home in a daze. As soon as she entered, she felt a suffocating sense of oppression.

In the living room, He Yue'er's eyes were red and swollen, and she silently shed tears.

Only Gu Chen remained impeccably dressed. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, revealing eyes as cold as ice behind the lenses.

"Mom, what's the use of crying? Can tears turn into money?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like an ice pick, making He Yue'er shudder.

He Yue'er raised her head, choking back tears, and said, "Chen'er, that's your own brother! The casino said that if he doesn't come up with eight thousand yuan, they'll chop off Ruijie's hand! We can't just stand by and watch him..."

"He is not my brother."

Gu Chen coldly interrupted her, his words piercing her heart: "From the moment he stepped into the casino, he was no longer my brother, Gu Chen, nor Dad's son. He was just a gambling addict and a good-for-nothing who would bring utter destruction to the Gu family!"

"you!"

He Yue'er was so angry that her lips turned white and she couldn't speak.

Gu Chen stood up and paced back and forth in the living room, his voice calm to the point of being cruel.

"Although not everything in the master bedroom was stolen, what's left is the capital for our Gu family to make a comeback! It's the money to save Dad's medical treatment! I won't take a single penny to fill that bottomless pit!"

"As for Gu Ruijie... whether he gets his hands or feet chopped off is his own fault, and has nothing to do with our Gu family. From today onwards, Dad will pretend he never had this son!"

His words were like a final judgment, plunging He Yue'er into the abyss of despair.

She knew that this son was beyond saving.

Gu Wanwan, standing to the side, looked at her second brother's cold and resolute appearance, but instead of being afraid, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.

As expected of a villain featured in the book, his character and methods are truly extraordinary.

Only by relying on a man like this can Gu Wanwan continue to live a life free from worries about food and clothing!

If the family is being supported by her good-for-nothing older brother and spendthrift third brother, Gu Wanwan might as well just abscond with the family fortune.

She stepped forward, took He Yue'er's hand, and gently advised, "Mom, Second Brother is right. We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment anymore. As for Third Brother... let him fend for himself. We have to think about the living."

Looking at her cold-hearted children, He Yue'er felt dizzy and disoriented. She covered her face and let out a suppressed sob.

After much deliberation and with nowhere else to turn, He Yue'er had no choice but to swallow her pride and go to the Song family.

This was the last straw she could think of.

They didn't dare go before because they knew the Song family and the Chu family had a good relationship, and Gu Tao had committed too many serious offenses; they didn't dare to provoke him.

But now that things have come to this point, who cares about the details?

Upon learning that He Yue'er was going to the Song family, Gu Wanwan's eyes lit up, and she immediately wanted to go with her.

She wants to see Song Yan!

Despite Chu Yan's outstanding qualities that made Gu Wanwan's heart flutter, Ye Nian'an seemed like someone not to be trifled with.

Moreover, they were married, and breaking up a military marriage is illegal; Gu Wanwan understood this principle.

The best choice is Song Yan, who is not yet married, so naturally, she should take every opportunity to seduce him!

The Song family.

After listening to He Yue'er's tearful tale, Song Hailiang remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he sighed, took out a stack of "big unity" bills from the drawer, and handed them over.

“Yue’er, this is a friendship between our two families that has lasted for many years. Take this thousand yuan for emergencies. It’s not that I don’t want to give more, it’s just that Ruijie… gambling is a bottomless pit. I can’t just stand by and watch our Song family get dragged down with him.”

A thousand dollars is nothing compared to the enormous gambling debt of eight thousand dollars.

But this is the limit that Song Hailiang can achieve.

This saved face while also drawing a clear line.

He Yue'er clutched the wad of money, her hands trembling, and accepted it with profuse thanks.

Gu Wanwan stood to the side, her eyes darting around.

She was looking for an opportunity to see where Song Yan was.

If we can take him down, it's the same as taking down the entire Song family.

Taking care of one's family is nothing to brag about.

Just then, Song Yan came downstairs.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!