Wei Qing’s kick was merciless, and the moment it landed, Gu Yu clutched his crotch and collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.

His scream was especially piercing, and within seconds, more guests gathered to see what was happening.

The newly arrived guests were clueless at first, but as soon as they saw Gu Yu clutching his groin and Han Wei still adjusting her clothes beside him, the expressions on their faces turned suggestive.

“This… it can’t be what I think it is, right?”

Someone responded, “It’s exactly what you’re thinking.”

“Gu Yu and this woman…”

“That’s Han Wei, Gu Song’s third wife.”

So Gu Yu had been caught with his stepmother—

The sound of people sucking in breaths of shock spread through the crowd. As Gu Yu continued writhing in pain on the floor, the guests glanced at him, then at Gu Song, who was still unconscious on the ground, and they couldn’t help but laugh.

Someone in the crowd couldn’t hold back a snicker, and soon, the air was filled with laughter and hushed conversations:

“After a kick like that… will the Gu family still have any heirs?”

“Hiss—hard to say!”

Gu Rou, who had been worried about Gu Song lying on the ground, heard these remarks and instantly lost her composure. She jumped up and stormed over to Wei Qing, shouting, “Are you insane?! How dare you… I’ll fight you—”

Wei Qing sidestepped her, his eyes suddenly red with fury. “How can you blame me? If Gu Yu hadn’t cheated, I wouldn’t have—”

His voice grew quieter as his expression filled with sorrow.

“Of course I blame you! Look at the mess you’ve caused!” Gu Rou shot a glance at Gu Yu, who was still rolling on the floor in pain, then at Gu Song, who was unconscious nearby. Tears streamed down her face as she frantically asked, “What do we do now… What are we supposed to do…”

As Gu Rou turned around, her eyes lit up when she saw Qin Yao.

But before she could approach him, Ye Leyao stepped out from behind Qin Yao, positioning himself protectively in front of him.

Qin Yao looked puzzled. “Yao Yao?”

“Don’t say anything!” Ye Leyao whispered firmly.

*【If Gu Rou dares to try some moral blackmail on President Qin, I definitely won’t let her off!】*

Qin Yao paused in surprise.

The entire Huo family turned to look at the two of them.

The three Huo brothers felt a mix of complicated emotions.

*How long have they been together, and he’s already learned to stand up for him!*

Only Huo Mom and Huo Dad exchanged satisfied smiles, clearly pleased with this development.

Gu Rou, however, didn’t care about any of that. She hurried forward, just about to speak to Qin Yao, when she suddenly heard Gu Song groan.

She froze in her tracks and quickly turned to check on him. “Gu Song, are you alright?”

Gu Song’s face was flushed and he was gasping for breath, clearly in bad shape, but at least his eyes were open.

At that moment, the butler arrived with the private doctors, seeking Qin Yao’s permission. “Young Master.”

Qin Yao nodded slightly.

One doctor immediately moved to check on Gu Song, while the other headed to examine Gu Yu.

Seeing this, the crowd finally began to disperse a little.

It was then that Ye Leyao spotted the reporter who had spoken with Wei Qing earlier.

He wasn’t sure when the reporter had slipped into the crowd, but he now held two phones—one continuously snapping pictures, while the other was recording video.

Ye Leyao’s lips curled into a smile.

*【With video evidence, there’s no escaping this now. Gu Yu’s career in entertainment is officially over.】*

Feeling particularly cheerful, Ye Leyao shifted his gaze back to Gu Song, who was currently being examined.

Gu Yu’s injury was in a rather delicate area, so the doctor couldn’t examine him properly in front of everyone. Instead, he simply said, “If the pain persists, it would be best to go to the hospital for a full check-up…”

Gu Yu, tears streaming down his face from the pain, nodded furiously. “Yes… I need to go to the hospital…”

He glared resentfully at Wei Qing. “Just wait… If I… I won’t let you off!”

Wei Qing remained calm, his expression unreadable as he silently stared at Gu Yu.

Gu Yu, no longer able to deal with Wei Qing, let the doctor help him up and escort him out.

Meanwhile, the other doctor finished a quick examination of Gu Song and said, “It’s nothing serious, likely just a panic attack. If he continues to feel unwell, I recommend going to the hospital for an X-ray.”

Gu Rou, still frantic, urged, “Then let’s go to the hospital with Xiao Yu…”

By now, Gu Song had regained his senses and shook his head.

Gu Rou was taken aback.

Just as Gu Yu was being helped past Gu Song, the latter suddenly reached out and grabbed the hem of Gu Yu’s pants, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage. His voice trembled as he asked, “When… When did this start…”

Gu Yu, still in immense pain, was drenched in cold sweat. Hearing Gu Song’s question, his face paled, and he looked down at his stepfather.

Gu Song gripped his pants tightly, his entire body shaking.

Gu Yu’s lips quivered as his eyes darted around. After a long moment, he still couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

The guests, who had thought the show was over with Gu Yu and Gu Song both heading to the hospital, suddenly stopped in their tracks upon hearing Gu Song’s question.

For a moment, no one moved, all eager to see how this would unfold.

But after waiting for what felt like ages, Gu Yu still didn’t speak, and the crowd grew anxious.

*Come on, say it!*

*Why aren’t you saying anything?!*

The only people who knew the exact timeline—Ye Leyao and his group—watched with smirks on their faces.

Just as Ye Leyao was about to step in and speak, a soft, melodic female voice suddenly broke the silence: “Are you asking when he and I got together?”

Everyone froze at the sound of her voice and immediately turned to look at its source.

The speaker was none other than Han Wei.

Surprise flashed in everyone’s eyes, including Ye Leyao’s.

*【What is Han Wei doing stepping forward now?】*

*【She’s been caught cheating with her stepson, and her husband is right here. Shouldn’t she be keeping a low profile? Why would she speak up now?】*

Suddenly, Ye Leyao realized something. He quickly retreated behind Qin Yao and pulled out his phone, rapidly searching for information on Han Wei.

A moment later, the Huo family and Qin Yao heard Ye Leyao’s excited voice:

*【I found it!】*

Ye Leyao quickly skimmed through the relevant details, and his expression twisted for a moment.

*【Wait… So the reason Han Wei agreed to marry Gu Song in the first place was because she was interested in Gu Yu from the start?】*

Hearing this, Qin Yao and the Huo family were taken aback.

*What?*

*Han Wei had her eyes on Gu Yu from the beginning?*

*Then why didn’t she pursue Gu Yu right away? Why did she go through all the trouble of marrying Gu Song?*

*What could Han Wei possibly gain from marrying Gu Song?*

Wait.

On second thought, Han Wei *did* stand to gain quite a bit.

Han Wei and Gu Song had a legitimate marriage, which meant that after the wedding, half of Gu Song’s income would legally belong to her.

So, Han Wei had her sights on Gu Song’s wealth while also desiring Gu Yu’s youth?

Ye Leyao’s next words confirmed their suspicions.

*【Before Han Wei married Gu Song, she had already met Gu Yu. But at the time, Gu Yu was constantly surrounded by admirers and paid no attention to Han Wei.】*

*【While Han Wei liked Gu Yu, she cared more about money, so she came up with the idea of getting close to Gu Song first—】*

Reading this, Ye Leyao felt his worldview shatter.

*【I have to admit, it was a clever plan. After marrying Gu Song, it only took Gu Yu two months before he ended up in bed with Han Wei. By that point, Han Wei had already become a wealthy socialite and gotten exactly what she wanted. It’s just that… well…】*

*【It’s hard to judge, but as the saying goes, evil people attract their own kind!】*

Qin Yao and the Huo family nodded in agreement.

It was indeed difficult to judge!

At this moment, Gu Song finally snapped back to reality. Looking at Han Wei, who had already composed herself, his eyes bulged with rage as he shouted, “You filthy whore! How dare you still speak to me?!”

Hearing his words, Han Wei could only laugh. She gazed down at Gu Song, who was still sitting on the floor, and said, “Why wouldn’t I dare? Do you think only you get to cheat, but I can’t fool around at home?” 

As her words landed, Gu Song’s face turned as pale as a sheet. “You—”

Han Wei continued, "Besides, I wasn’t as heartless as you, cheating with five, six, or even eight people at a time. I only ever cheated with your son. Isn’t that right?" As she spoke, Han Wei stepped forward and lightly placed her hand on Gu Yu’s shoulder.

Gu Yu’s face turned ashen instantly. He glared at Han Wei and muttered in a low voice, “Are you out of your mind?”

Han Wei let out a soft snort and looked back down at Gu Song, who was still sitting on the ground. “Since you asked, I’ll tell you—it’s been two months.”

Gu Song blinked, confused. “What?”

Han Wei smiled sweetly. “Of course, I’m talking about how we started two months after our wedding.”

Gu Song’s eyes widened in shock.

The crowd of onlookers wore expressions of astonishment.

*Two months?* They had only been married for two months before it all started?

Gossip-filled glances darted back and forth between the three of them, as whispers spread among the guests.

Gu Song’s chest heaved with rage.

But what Han Wei said next shocked everyone even more—

"But you can’t really blame me, after all, your son is definitely more impressive than you."

Han Wei turned to glance at Gu Yu, who was still frozen in place, and added with a hint of regret, “Although, now that might no longer be the case.”

*【Pfft—】*

*【Two sentences, and she’s destroyed the dignity of two men!】*

Ye Leyao couldn’t hold back anymore, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

*【Wait, this is really happening for free?】*

*【Hahahaha!】*

Not only Ye Leyao, but most of the people in the room couldn’t suppress their laughter after hearing Han Wei’s words.

Although they tried to stifle their chuckles, the collective effort only created a cacophony of muffled snickers and outright laughter.

Gu Song, still sitting on the ground, was breathing heavily, looking like he was about to faint again.

The nearby doctor reacted quickly, reaching out to pinch the pressure point under his nose to bring him back.

Gu Yu, on the other hand, was still standing in shock, staring at Han Wei, barely holding back the urge to ask her outright if she had lost her mind.

Han Wei, who had been preparing to leave, noticed Gu Yu’s gaze and smiled at him. “Aren’t you going to the hospital? Or are you planning to be childless for the rest of your life?”

Gu Yu’s face turned pale again. His sweat-drenched face contorted as he raised a trembling arm. “You... Han Wei! You’re insane!”

With that, Gu Yu tore his arm away from Gu Song’s grasp and, with the help of the doctor, hurriedly scrambled out of the room.

Gu Song had finally regained his senses and turned his rage toward Han Wei. “Han Wei, you—”

“I’ll be divorcing you soon, but don’t forget, half of your assets are mine.” Han Wei didn’t even bother to look back as she threw the parting words over her shoulder and walked out.

Wei Qing also turned and left the room, following after Han Wei.

Watching them leave, Gu Song couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up shakily and shouted, “Stop right there! Who gave you permission to leave?!”

But just as he took a step forward, his vision went black.

Gu Rou rushed to his side, grabbing his arm to steady him. “Are you alright, Gu Song? Maybe we should go to the hospital...”

Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of rapid camera clicks filled the room.

Ye Leyao looked up and saw that Gu Yu, who had just fled the room, was now stumbling back in, covering his face with his hands.

Ye Leyao was stunned.

*【Where did all these reporters come from?】*

*【They’re getting close-ups too! Nice shots, nice shots!】*

Ye Leyao couldn’t hide his excitement as he watched the chaos unfold.

At that moment, Qin Yao quietly placed a hat on Ye Leyao’s head.

Ye Leyao looked up at him in surprise.

Qin Yao leaned down and whispered, “There are too many reporters. It’s better if you wear this.”

Ye Leyao smiled and nodded gratefully before asking, “What about you?”

Qin Yao squeezed Ye Leyao’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry about me. These reporters are likely ones my father arranged.”

Sure enough, as soon as Qin Yao finished speaking, Ye Leyao noticed a familiar figure walking toward them.

The crowd of onlookers finally moved outside, leaving only the Gu family inside the room.

Ye Leyao and Qin Yao stood at the doorway, joined by Huo Yan, Huo Ze, and Huo Jing, along with Huo Mom and Huo Dad.

Inside the room, Gu Song was still sitting on the ground, with Gu Rou squatting beside him, and Gu Yu had turned his back to everyone.

As more cameras pointed toward them, Gu Song and Gu Rou finally realized what was happening.

Without thinking, Gu Song asked, “Brother-in-law, what are you doing?”

Gu Rou was equally confused. “Why are there so many reporters? Xiao Yu...”

Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and her eyes widened in panic. She stood up and asked Qin Hongxi, “Did the reporters capture everything just now?”

Her voice trembled, and though she didn’t finish her sentence, everyone understood what she was referring to.

Ye Leyao smiled.

*【Of course they captured everything. How could they not? The only question now is what Wei Qing plans to do with the photos and videos.】*

Gu Yu was the most panicked. “That... that can’t be possible, right?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Yu’s entire body trembled.

*How could it not be possible?*

When Gu Song and Gu Rou entered earlier, they were followed by a group of people.

Who could guarantee that no reporters were among them, or that someone hadn’t already leaked the photos online?

If that were the case...

Gu Yu’s already pale face turned even whiter. He quickly turned to Gu Song, his voice desperate. “Dad! I... I made a mistake, but my career can’t be ruined!”

Gu Yu may not have been passionate about his career, but he certainly didn’t want the entire world to know about his affair with his stepmother. If this scandal continued to spread, how could he possibly continue in the entertainment industry?

Gu Song’s expression darkened as well.

What Gu Yu had done was beyond disgraceful, but no matter how despicable he was, he was still Gu Song’s son.

Even worse, if this scandal were to go public, it would severely affect their family’s business, which had already been in decline for years. A scandal like this could cause their stock prices to plummet even further.

Gritting his teeth, Gu Song shot a look at Gu Rou. “Sister, you have to do something!”

Gu Rou was visibly panicked.

*Do something? What could she possibly do?*

Meanwhile, Ye Leyao had pulled out his phone and checked the trending topics. There was no direct mention of Gu Yu, only a vague trending phrase:

*A certain two-character-named male star caught cheating.*

The comments were full of curious onlookers.

“???”

“Two-character male star?”

“Who could it be?”

“Could you stop with the riddles, gossip accounts?”

Ye Leyao frowned as he scrolled through the comments.

*【Hmm? That reporter clearly took photos and videos. Why hasn’t anything been leaked yet?】*

*【Could it be that Wei Qing is planning to use the footage to negotiate something with the Gu family?】*

Hearing Ye Leyao’s thoughts, the Huo family members also pulled out their phones to check.

It was exactly as Ye Leyao suspected—Wei Qing was probably doing this on purpose.

At that moment, Gu Rou finally remembered that Qin Hongxi was still nearby. Even though she knew he was unlikely to help, she couldn’t stop herself from pleading, “Hongxi, can you... can you think of something?”

She couldn’t allow Gu Yu’s future to be destroyed.

Qin Hongxi remained emotionless as he responded, “Think of what exactly?”

Gu Rou gritted her teeth. “At least... at least stop them from filming!”

Qin Hongxi stood still and didn’t respond.

Gu Rou, feeling humiliated, was about to speak again when Gu Yu suddenly shouted, “Not yet! My scandal hasn’t been exposed yet!”

Hearing this, Ye Leyao’s eyelid twitched, and for some reason, a sense of unease washed over him. Suddenly, his head throbbed painfully, as if the ache were coming from deep within his soul. The pain was so intense that his body trembled slightly.

Qin Yao immediately noticed Ye Leyao’s discomfort and quickly supported him, his voice filled with concern. “Yao Yao, what’s wrong?”

The Huo family and Qin Hongxi all turned to look.

Ye Leyao raised his head and met Qin Yao’s worried gaze.

The searing pain seemed to lessen at that moment, and after a few deep breaths, Ye Leyao finally felt the pain subside completely.

Letting out a long sigh of relief, Ye Leyao didn’t know what had just happened, but he didn’t want to worry Qin Yao and the others. He smiled and reassured him, “It’s nothing, just…”

“Hm?” Qin Yao frowned, still clearly worried.

In the next moment, Ye Leyao gently pushed Qin Yao’s hand away, stood up straight, and opened his main Weibo account without hesitation. He immediately started a livestream.

The Huo family and Qin Hongxi all noticed Ye Leyao’s actions but were confused as to why he had suddenly started livestreaming, and even more puzzled when he pointed the camera directly at the Gu family inside the room.

Gu Rou’s attention was entirely on Gu Yu, and upon hearing his words, she rushed over to him, no longer paying attention to Qin Hongxi. “What is it? Is there still a way out?”

Gu Yu, filled with excitement, handed his phone to Gu Rou. “Yes, look, Aunt! The trending topic only says ‘two-character male star,’ it doesn’t mention any names. This means we can still shift the blame to someone else. If we push someone out to take the fall, this will all blow over!”

Ye Leyao’s grip on his phone tightened.

He glanced down at his screen, which was still flooded with comments from fans tuning into his livestream.

The moment Gu Yu’s words were heard, the screen was filled with question marks.

“What is this?”

“Wait, is this the fresh gossip on the trending page?”

“No way… KG, are you on the scene again?!”

“Ahhhhh, so the two-character male star is Gu Yu?”

Unaware that Ye Leyao’s camera was still trained on him, Gu Yu continued to talk excitedly with Gu Rou. Gu Rou, visibly relieved, said, “Yes, we just need to find someone to take the fall. But who can we use?”

Since Gu Rou had been out of touch with business affairs for years, she had little knowledge of celebrities in the entertainment industry.

Watching them openly plot in front of so many people, Ye Leyao could barely contain his disgust.

*How did I forget about this?*

In the original novel, the person Gu Rou, Gu Yu, and Gu Song had conspired to sacrifice was none other than—

Meanwhile, Gu Yu’s brain was working rapidly. Just as he was about to suggest a random person to throw under the bus, Gu Rou suddenly lit up with a smile and said, “That’s right, your cousin!”

Her voice was loud and clear as she exclaimed, “Your cousin Qin Yao’s name has two characters, we can—”

Ye Leyao, holding Qin Yao’s hand, tightened his grip.

At that moment, there was a loud slap, and Gu Rou’s head snapped to the side.

Ye Leyao lowered his gaze and realized his hand had instinctively covered the camera. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Hongxi’s voice was cold as ice. “Gu Rou, I’ve never laid a hand on you before. I never thought I’d have to.”

Gu Rou, clutching her stinging cheek, looked stunned.

Qin Hongxi’s face was filled with fury. “But you are truly heartless! To save an outsider, you’re willing to push your own son to his demise. Do you think you deserve to be a mother?”

Gu Rou, startled by the anger in his eyes, glanced up at him but quickly looked away. She stammered, “I… Qin Yao was planning to leave the entertainment industry anyway. Isn’t this a bit much? Since he’s not staying, why can’t he help Gu Yu by taking the blame just once…”

“Shut up!” Ye Leyao couldn’t hold back any longer, completely ignoring the fact that he was still livestreaming. He shouted furiously, “You may not care about Qin Yao, but I do, and so do his fans! Why should he suffer for something that has nothing to do with him?”

“Whoever got caught cheating should take responsibility! Qin Yao doesn’t owe anyone anything!”

Ye Leyao was on the verge of exploding with anger.

Qin Yao pulled him into his arms, speaking softly, “Yao Yao, that’s enough. Don’t say anything more.”

Ye Leyao, still fuming, muttered, “But I’m angry!”

*Damn it!*

Hearing his indignant tone, Qin Yao couldn’t help but chuckle.

Ye Leyao glared up at him. “What are you laughing at?”

Qin Yao smiled and said, “I’m laughing because you care about me. I’m laughing because you’re worried about me.”

At those words, Ye Leyao felt a little embarrassed.

The anger that had been burning in his chest cooled in an instant. He blinked.

Qin Yao continued, “I’m very happy, Yao Yao. Really happy…”

Ye Leyao huffed. “What’s there to be happy about? Your career and your life were nearly ruined just now…”

“They couldn’t have ruined it,” Qin Yao reassured him.

Ye Leyao bit his lip, standing close enough that he could feel Qin Yao’s heartbeat against his chest. He wanted to argue, but no words came to mind, so he let it go.

Qin Yao, thinking Ye Leyao had calmed down, hugged him tighter.

With the two of them quiet, Qin Hongxi finally turned his attention away from them and back to Gu Rou, his face hard as stone.

After so many years of being entangled with this woman, he had gathered enough evidence to deliver a final blow to the Gu family business. And now, it was time to settle things with Gu Rou once and for all.

Qin Hongxi nodded to his assistant, who promptly stepped forward and handed him a document.

Qin Hongxi placed the divorce agreement in front of Gu Rou. “Sign it.”

Gu Rou froze, and when she saw the words “Divorce Agreement,” her emotions surged. “Divorce again! Is divorce the only way you know how to threaten me, Qin Hongxi? Are you really willing to destroy Qin Yao just to—”

Over the years, Gu Rou had come to rely on this phrase. Every time Qin Hongxi brought up divorce, she would use the same words to make him back down.

But things had changed. Qin Yao had grown up.

He was no longer the child afraid of the snow-covered night.

And Qin Hongxi had finally decided it was time to step out of the snowstorm he had been walking through for more than a decade.

“Weren’t you just trying to destroy him?” Qin Hongxi asked coldly.

Qin Hongxi, a man accustomed to power, rarely revealed his full authority. But now, he looked down at Gu Rou as if she were nothing more than an insect beneath his feet.

Gu Rou trembled under his gaze.

*No…*

*Why is Qin Hongxi looking at me like this?*

In the past, every time she had said those words, Qin Hongxi would back down. Why wasn’t it working now?

A deep sense of panic gripped Gu Rou.

*Could it be that Qin Hongxi no longer falls for my tricks?*

It didn’t make sense. Qin Hongxi loved her. He loved his son. How could he not compromise?

Trying to keep calm, Gu Rou said, “I’m not signing this. And you need to figure out how to handle today’s mess…”

Qin Hongxi suddenly let out a laugh.

Gu Rou froze.

With a wave of his hand, the reporters stopped filming, and a group of bodyguards entered the room. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t sign. Once the Gu family business collapses and your beloved brother is imprisoned, it will be out of your hands.”

Gu Rou’s heart sank. “Qin Hongxi, you—”

“Gu Rou, don’t think I don’t have proof of your embezzlement, and don’t think I haven’t been watching your shady dealings in the Gu family business!” Qin Hongxi warned her coldly.

At those words, Gu Rou wasn’t the only one panicking.

Gu Song struggled to his feet. “B-Brother-in-law, I…”

But the bodyguards didn’t give either of them a chance to speak further.

Without mercy, several bodyguards grabbed the three of them—Gu Rou, Gu Song, and Gu Yu—and despite their struggles, dragged them out of the room, through the crowd of onlookers, and unceremoniously dumped them onto the scorching ground outside the Qin family villa.

The summer heat made the pavement blisteringly hot.

It wasn’t until Gu Rou’s hands were burned raw and she heard the pained cries of Gu Yu and Gu Song that she finally understood.

It was over.

Qin Hongxi was really going to divorce her this time.

Everything was over!