"Li Junyao" toyed with the bank card in his hand, narrowing his eyes as he considered how to deal with his troublesome former host. After a moment, he frowned in distaste.
This Li Junyao was truly pathetic. He didn't even have a single competent subordinate, just a pack of useless cronies. Ji Zhu's company had been bankrupted by Ji Tang and was now in ruins. Liu Cuimei and Gu Lian had been sent abroad by Li Junsheng, and given their personalities, they probably had no intention of coming back. Li Junsheng and the Li Corporation were firmly in Li Junze's grasp, and his loyalty was… questionable at best.
"Li Junyao" sighed. For the first time, the System tasted what it felt like to be cornered at every turn. It didn't believe for a second that Li Junyao had ended up in this state without Gu Qianran's hand behind it. That woman's schemes had been woven far deeper than it initially thought.
"But she must have overlooked something," the System mused, "and that is that I would possess the male lead. No matter how strong Gu Qianran is, she's only a supporting character. The narrative laws will always favor the protagonist."
"And if I take control of Bai Ziyuan, the chance Gu Qianran will walk straight into my trap… is one hundred percent."
With that thought, it dialed a number. "Yes, that's right. I have five percent of the Li Corporation's shares and a million in cash. Do you accept the job?"
There was just over a month left until the college entrance exams. Every class was drowning in practice tests, from dawn self-study to late-night study sessions. Even Gu Qianran barely had time to breathe, let alone get intimate with Bai Ziyuan. With Li Junyao having graduated, she didn't even have someone to "mess with" anymore.
She sighed. "Ah, life is so boring. Guess I'll just watch the stock market. Truly, life is plain and dull."
Ji Tang, frantically buried in her own review papers, was so irritated she wanted to smash Gu Qianran's head against the desk. How was it that the closer they got to exams, the more unhinged this bossy girl became? Had her entire cool and collected persona collapsed? Even Li Junyao seemed more normal these days!
Wait. Li Junyao?
Ji Tang tapped Gu Qianran's shoulder. "Boss, don't you think Li Junyao's been… too normal lately?" So normal that it was suspicious.
Gu Qianran: … Poor scumbag. But he deserved it.
"True," Gu Qianran said with a soft laugh. "I took his company and ruined his perfect life. It'd be weird if he didn't retaliate."
But she didn't believe things were that simple.
Li Junyao's recent actions had become sharp and calculated. There was no way this scumbag had suddenly decided to reform himself. Either the System was helping him, or it had done something to him…
Gu Qianran's eyes narrowed instinctively. The System had unbound itself from her six months ago, but Li Junyao had only started acting "normal" recently. Something had happened during that time.
"Qianran, what are you thinking about? I've been calling your name forever!" Bai Ziyuan waved a hand in front of her eyes.
Gu Qianran snapped out of her thoughts. "Nothing. Just thinking about some tiny obstacles in our bright future."
"Not serious as usual," Bai Ziyuan muttered, pouting as she handed over her test paper. "Qianran, help me with this one."
Gu Qianran smiled, gently patting her head as she explained the question step by step.
"Li Junyao" stared at the sea of red in his stock portfolio, his brows furrowed. This was his third major loss of the month. The System's calculations never failed. That meant someone was deliberately sabotaging him.
He clenched his jaw. No surprise. His former host had already seized control of the battlefield, stripping away all of Li Junyao's influence. If not for the protection of the Heavenly Dao, he might not even be standing here alive.
The most troublesome part was that Li Junsheng's card was nearly drained as well. If he couldn't turn the tables soon and reassert the plot's original direction, he might really become the first male lead in history to get completely destroyed by a female supporting character.
His processors whirred at full speed as he ran simulations. After a moment of rapid analysis, the conclusion was clear: Li Junze could be used.
The System believed no human loyalty was absolute. Given the right leverage—enough wealth or sufficient punishment—even the most steadfast ally could betray the one they swore to protect. And Li Junze? With his ambition, there was no way he'd be content being overshadowed by a woman like Gu Qianran.
A cold smile tugged at his lips as he dialed Li Junze's number. The call connected quickly. "Li Junyao" stated his terms calmly.
There was a long silence on the other end.
Li Junze sat with the phone in hand, deep in thought. After a long time, he didn't report this to Gu Qianran. Instead, he dialed Li Junyao back.
"Deal."