My Villain Is Super Sweet (GL) - CHAPTER 71

The seminar lasted for several days.

Toward the end, the main events were already over. What was left were private one-on-one meetings between parties interested in deeper negotiations. For those without specific targets, the organizers had arranged some activities to pass the time.

When people are idle, gossip naturally follows. After the intense schedule, once everyone had some free time, they couldn’t help but start whispering about the big “family reunion” drama involving the He family.

In situations like this, there are usually only two outcomes: either it’s true, or it’s not.

Interestingly, even though Lin Lang had spoken very harshly, most people leaned toward believing that she really was Old Master He’s biological granddaughter.

It wasn’t just the idea that “the harsher the denial, the more likely it’s true” — it was simply human nature. People tend to trust the words of someone in a higher position more than those of someone lower down.

The He family was powerful and wealthy, and they were the ones eager to recognize her. They had even put forward sincere terms — stock worth seven billion yuan.

If she wasn’t truly part of the He bloodline, what could they possibly want from her?

As for Lin Lang refusing to acknowledge the connection, most thought she was just holding out to make the He family more desperate.

Some even thought, whether it was true or not, she should just accept the offer. Seven billion wasn’t something you turn your nose up at.

But there was one thing everyone agreed on.

One side kept insisting “yes,” the other saying “no” — so why not just do a DNA test?

Once the results were out, the truth would be crystal clear!

What was the point of just arguing back and forth?

Lin Lang, however, acted as if she couldn’t see or hear the strange looks and whispered discussions around her. To her, it felt just like the gossip of the old men and women back in her hometown. If you didn’t care, it was nothing. If you took it to heart, life would become unbearable.

But things started spiraling out of control — and even Gu Qingci got dragged into the mess.

Before Gu Qingci even reacted, Lin Lang was already fuming.

It was just ridiculous!

She couldn’t understand — how did a situation that had nothing to do with Gu Qingci end up pulling her in just because Lin Lang worked under her?

Even though Lin Lang knew it was a move orchestrated by the He family, she still couldn’t swallow the anger!

Someone who usually didn’t take anything to heart was finally feeling the pressure and frustration brought on by public opinion.

As for Gu Qingci, the whole uproar was like a drizzle — barely a bother. She even had the mood to comfort Lin Lang: “Stay calm. In big moments, you need a steady mind.”

She felt a bit proud after saying that.

It used to be her mother teaching her this way. Now, finally, she could teach someone else. It felt amazing!

The young lady smoothed Lin Lang’s hair and said gently, “Good girl, just hang in there for a month or two, and half of the problem will be gone.”

“During this time, just keep quiet and don’t respond.”

The confrontation from earlier could be seen as venting in advance. Now it was time to be patient, waiting for their enemies to show all their cards before striking back hard.

Anyway, legally speaking, without the subject’s consent, any DNA test results — no matter how they were obtained — would not be recognized.

Things moved even faster than they had expected.

A few days after feeling them out, Old Master He made his move.
He immediately cut off the supply of a key raw material needed by Gu Minglan’s company.

Gu Qingci and her team had predicted their move but didn’t show any signs of concern. They remained calm, waiting.

In less than a week, the shareholders couldn’t sit still anymore. They started investigating and eventually heard an utterly bizarre explanation—

Apparently, the supplier’s boss had met Old Master He and, seeing how an elder like him was publicly humiliated by a youngster, got spooked. He didn’t want the same fate, so he backed out early to avoid trouble.

The shareholders were dumbfounded. After understanding the whole story, they didn’t know whether to blame Gu Qingci for getting involved in someone else’s family drama, or the other side for using this as an excuse to pressure them into forcing Gu Qingci to compromise.

It was ridiculous!

But no matter how absurd, their own interests mattered more.

A number of shareholders and senior executives started jumping up and down, demanding Gu Minglan fix the issue.

They didn’t outright say “just back down and mind your business,” but their meaning was clear — solve the problem and get the company back to normal.

Gu Minglan stayed silent until all the disloyal ones had exposed themselves. Then she struck decisively, using solid evidence to clean house internally.

As for the raw materials? She had already arranged alternatives long ago. They had deliberately waited, using the delay as a trap to flush out all the insiders.

And then, an even bigger bombshell dropped.

The two He brothers publicly announced that Old Master He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The entire “family reunion” drama, they said, was the result of the old man being deeply traumatized by his eldest grandson’s downfall and jail time — causing memory issues and delusions.

In short, the He family declared there were no missing bl00d relatives. It was all a misunderstanding caused by the old man’s illness.

With that, Old Master He was deemed unfit to manage company affairs. From then on, He Weimin would take over Ruihe Group.

At over seventy, and with his children unanimously agreeing he was mentally incompetent, Old Master He’s assets were divided among them.

Surprisingly, the division of wealth went very smoothly, almost as if it had been negotiated in advance — no arguments, no fights.

People hoping for drama were deeply disappointed.

One juicy scandal after another — it was almost too much to keep up with.

Those who understood the game knew that whether or not Old Master He was really sick was another story.

But the crown prince had risen to power, the others had gotten their shares, and only Old Master He was left out in the cold.

Even though they didn’t get a dime out of it, Lin Lang and Gu Qingci, who had been holding back for a long time, felt very satisfied watching the show.

Lin Lang hadn’t expected this ending.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Qingci and said, “Come on, tell me — what did you do?”

Being protected and having someone strike back for her felt amazing!

It gave her a sense of being cared for — a feeling she had never experienced before, but one she was quickly falling in love with.

So this is what it’s like to have someone backing you up — intoxicating, almost making her feel lighter all over.

Gu Qingci looked at her with a smile, her eyes filled with tenderness and affection.

“I just came up with an idea and set the plan in motion.”

The idea and groundwork had been laid ever since Lin Lang had gone missing.

Back then, Gu Qingci had been furious at the He family for repeatedly protecting He Jikai.

“As for the execution and closing stages, my mom handled it.”

She had also given things a little push by using a project to break up the original alliances tied to the He family and pulling some of them onto their side, speeding everything up.

“You know the He family was founded by Old Master He, right?”

“But the one who truly expanded the family’s wealth was He Weimin.”

Old Master He had made his fortune in construction — a typical contractor who earned a good nest egg. Later, it was He Weimin who insisted on moving into real estate, catching the wave of government policies and really growing the family business.

However, he used Old Master He’s old team and capital. He Weimin had always been the second-in-command.

Even the shares he held were less than a third of Old Master He’s.

“He built most of the empire, yet even at his age, he was still under the old man’s thumb. First humiliated by the He Jikai scandal, then forced to hand over half his shares to you. If it were you, would you accept that?”

Lin Lang shook her head immediately — of course not.

She said with emotion, “Family power struggles are even more dangerous than couples fighting.”

At least if couples fought, there were laws protecting marital property. Family power struggles? You couldn’t even prove what was yours.

Since it was the elder who had invested all the money, the younger generation was naturally at a disadvantage.

Gu Qingci chuckled at her comment and nodded. “Exactly.”

So when Old Master He stubbornly insisted on recognizing Lin Lang, the downfall of the old man was already sealed.

The only surprise was how quickly He Weimin managed to get his siblings on board and complete his “coup.”

Of course, that was thanks in part to the help of Gu Qingci and Fang Baihui.

Originally, Gu Qingci’s plan was to start with He Zhiyuan, who had long been dissatisfied with his father and older brother.

But her mother, Gu Minglan, had pointed out a better option: instead of relying on He Zhiyuan, they should bet on He Weimin.

The price? Gu Qingci and Fang Baihui would jointly acquire the New Rui project.

As a result of the He family splitting assets, the sisters got some real estate and cash. The two brothers — one took Ruihe’s shares, the other chose the New Rui project.

He Zhiyuan realized he didn’t have the strength to turn things around, so he chose the New Rui project and later sold it to Gu Qingci and Fang Baihui — pocketing an easy 300-500 million yuan.

Much more than what Old Master He had originally intended to give him.

Even though Gu Qingci made it sound easy, Lin Lang knew it had been anything but.

To set up a situation like this, countless people, time, and resources had to be invested.

There had to be trusted people influencing Old Master He, He Weimin, and He Zhiyuan separately, gently nudging them toward the desired outcome without raising suspicion.

Lin Lang’s eyes grew hot, and she tightened her arms around Gu Qingci’s waist, burying her face in her embrace and murmuring, “Thank you.”

Thank you for loving me so much.

For showing me that my existence is worthy of being cherished.

Gu Qingci gently brushed her hair aside, bent down, and kissed the top of her head, her voice tender and firm:

“I promised to protect you.”

When fate doesn’t favor you — I will.