Sichuan City.
Inside Villa No. 1 in the serene enclave of Jianhu Cave, a young man sat on a luxurious sofa, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. A flicker of disbelief danced in his eyes.
His name is Gu Yan.
Fragments of a familiar plot surfaced in his mind, snapping into place like a completed puzzle.
"Huh? I've... traveled through time?"
"And I've become the rich second-generation heir in one of those brainless urban novels I used to read?"
Gu Yan's heart stirred with a mix of awe and confusion.
For the longest time, he'd believed he was simply someone reborn with memories of a past life. After all, there were countless stories of reincarnation — it didn't seem unusual. Especially for someone like him, gifted with photographic memory, those memories had always been crystal clear.
But now, everything made sense.
"So that's how the near-bankrupt Yan Family made such a miraculous comeback… and became one of the strongest forces in Sichuan."
In the novel's plot, the Yan Family teetered on the edge of collapse — yet, without explanation, they suddenly soared to power. The details were vague, almost glossed over by the author. Now, Gu Yan knew why.
Yan Fanque, the only elder of the Yan Family, must have approached the Gu Family — thanks to a long-standing marriage agreement between the two households.
For the Yan Family, it was a strategic gamble.
If the Gu Family accepted the marriage, it would resolve their financial and political troubles. If not, they'd be owed compensation, and considering the Gu Family's wealth and status, that compensation alone could fund their resurgence.
In the original story, the Gu Family chose to pay compensation — perhaps even lent initial support — and then quietly exited the narrative, which explained why they were never mentioned again.
Gu Yan sighed, brows furrowing in thought.
"So... what should I do now?"
Just then, a crisp mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Congratulations to the Host for activating the "Destiny Pure Love System"!]
[Earn points by engaging in acts of pure love!]
[Points can be exchanged for a variety of items in the System Mall. Please do your best, Host!]
Gu Yan's eyes narrowed.
"A Love System?"
"The system... has arrived?"
He stared blankly into space, slowly typing out imaginary question marks in his mind. As someone who had read many transmigration novels, he knew that a system was standard fare.
But this one's name sounded… a little...
Still, if acting out pure love could earn points, what was there to complain about?
As his thoughts settled, a new idea formed in his mind. A faint, meaningful smile played on his lips.
He remembered something important.
In the original novel, there was a final boss — a powerful manipulator lurking behind the scenes. The protagonists faced countless trials, all orchestrated by this villain. It wasn't until the very end that the antagonist finally appeared, leading to an epic showdown.
In that climax, the protagonist declared something about friendship, unity, and not letting anyone down... before dying in a final clash with the villain.
That alone showed how terrifying this villain was.
Perhaps the author wanted to wrap up the story quickly, because the villain's backstory was covered in just a few lines:
"Yan Qingqiu, once the eldest daughter of the Yan Family in Sichuan City, was once hailed as the most talented woman in the region. In her quest to avenge her family, she would stop at nothing — eventually becoming the ultimate villain."
The Yan Family, once on the rise, had nearly collapsed after a mysterious massacre five years ago. From that tragedy, Yan Qingqiu fell from grace — once adored, now feared. Consumed by hatred and vengeance, she transformed into the cold-blooded villain of the original novel.
Gu Yan recalled this all clearly.
Which meant — the opportunity was perfect.
The corners of his mouth curled upward.
"This is the best time to meet her — before she turns into that villainous boss."
A translucent screen appeared before him, summoned by his thoughts:
[Destiny Lover: Yan Qingqiu]
[You must form a bond before you can earn Pure Love points.]
"Even the system says she's my destiny. Not only can I win over the villain, but I'll earn points while doing it."
"And once her favorability increases, I use those points for items in the system."
In truth, Gu Yan couldn't care less about the novel's plot or its protagonists. Unlike the original story — where the Gu Family had simply issued compensation and left — Gu Yan had come to Sichuan out of curiosity. His eldest uncle had once said the Yan Family girl had a strong character and could be a good match.
So Gu Yan figured: why not meet her before deciding?
Now that the system had marked her as his destined lover, he was fully committed to the path ahead.
"Besides," he thought with resolve, "I've always been fiercely protective of my family. That now includes my future wife."
With that, Gu Yan pulled out his phone and made a call.
A warm female voice answered almost instantly.
"Hey, Xiaoyan? What's wrong? Are you short on money again? I just transferred another 30 million to your account..."
Gu Yan quickly interrupted. "No, Mom, it's not that."
"You remember the marriage arrangement Grandpa made with the Yan Family years ago?"
There was a pause on the line.
"I've been thinking… I'm not a kid anymore. I want to try getting to know the person Grandpa chose."
Crash!
A wine glass shattered on marble.
Back on a private island, a stunning woman — Shen Murong — leapt up from her sun lounger, stunned.
"Xiao—Xiaoyan?! What did you just say?"
She couldn't believe it. Her son, who'd always shown zero interest in marriage or relationships, was now asking about an arranged match?
Gu Yan remained calm.
"Mom, I'm serious."
"I want to start my life properly — a career, a family. And I want to do this on my own terms."
"Please talk to Dad and the uncles. Don't interfere or pull strings. I'll handle everything myself — starting with Yan Qingqiu."
Shen Murong clutched the phone to her chest, beaming with excitement.
"Of course, son! If you really like her, go for it!"
"I'll talk to your father and uncles right away. And don't forget — if you need anything, just call!"
Click.
The line went dead.
Gu Yan leaned back, staring at the sky above, a quiet confidence settling in his heart.
"Yan Qingqiu… let's change your fate — together."