Chapter 76: Qian Ying’er Dies with Her Eyes Open

How old is the CEO, anyway...

An Nan pondered silently.

Her family was wealthy, but still not in the same league as the Gu family. Besides, she’d always been focused on her studies and disliked attending business banquets, so she’d never actually seen the CEO of the Gu Corporation.

But as the head of the most powerful company in Linbei City, the CEO must be older than her scumbag dad, right?

In her mind, An Nan pictured a shrewd, commanding old man.

If she was going to make something up, it had to sound believable. She replied seriously,

“The CEO is fifty-eight, looks decent, and has no bad habits.”

Inside the room, Long Cong’an was stunned: ???!!

He patted his chest—thank goodness he hadn’t been drinking water, or he’d have spit it out.

He couldn’t help but glance back at his own CEO, who was all of twenty-eight, in his prime, handsome and dashing.

Gu Zhiyu shot him a blank look.

Long Cong’an quickly averted his gaze.

Out in the hallway, Qian Ying’er frowned. “Fifty-eight?”

An Nan looked at her, thinking: Is this young lady actually picky?

Does she really think she’s some Cinderella from a TV drama?

I’m unreasonable, I’m useless, but the young, handsome, domineering CEO just happens to love me?

Forget all those elegant heiresses and capable, independent women—he only has eyes for me...

But in reality, with Qian Ying’er’s circumstances, forget a dashing CEO—even an old rich man would be out of reach.

Honestly, if the CEO of the Gu Corporation ever heard the rumor that he was infatuated with Qian Ying’er, he’d probably be so furious he’d shut down An Xingye’s business on the spot.

An Nan’s eyes lit up: That would actually be great.

A classic line popped into her head:

The CEO waves his hand: “Winter is coming—let An Xingye go bankrupt!”

Qian Ying’er saw An Nan looking a little spaced out and waved her hand in front of her face. “An Nan?”

An Nan snapped back to attention and continued making things up:

“Isn’t a big age gap a good thing? When a billion-dollar inheritance falls into your lap, you’ll still be young.”

An Nan knew Qian Ying’er—she didn’t care about love or good looks; what she really wanted was wealth and status.

Sure enough, Qian Ying’er’s heart fluttered at her words, and her sallow face flushed with excitement.

But then she seemed to think of something: “But, about the inheritance... wouldn’t his children get a share too?”

An Nan: ...

This Qian Ying’er is insatiable!

I’m just trying to paint her a rosy future, but even in her daydreams, she wants more.

An Nan replied impatiently, “He can’t. So he has no children!”

...

In the room, Gu Zhiyu kept hearing the same words echoing in his ears.

He can’t...

He can’t...

He can’t.

Long Cong’an looked back at him nervously, heart pounding.

Boss, are you crazy?

What man could stand being told he “can’t”?

He glanced back, only to see his boss actually had a faint smile on his lips.

He rubbed his eyes. Is the boss crazy too?

Gu Zhiyu was actually laughing out of anger.

An Nan, huh?

Good! Very good! Excellent!

Meanwhile, outside, Qian Ying’er was already so dazzled by An Nan’s story she didn’t know which way was up.

Government compensation, tenfold rent, damages for her house, the CEO’s affection, An Nan’s jealousy, a billion-dollar inheritance...

She felt as if heaven itself was smiling on her, as if she’d become the heroine of a feel-good novel.

What a brilliant future awaited her!

Seeing that Qian Ying’er was thoroughly hooked, An Nan added more fuel to the fire:

“If it weren’t for the sudden disaster, you’d probably already be a wealthy wife by now. The Gu family is so prestigious, even I’d have to show you some respect!

Now that the disaster’s over, I bet CEO Gu will come pick you up soon.

Your future is truly dazzling~”

Qian Ying’er’s eyes shone with longing.

It was as if she could already see her glorious life ahead.

She opened her mouth excitedly, “In the future, I’ll...”

But before she could finish, a flash of steel—

A thin line of blood appeared on her neck.

Qian Ying’er’s eyes widened as she slowly collapsed.

“You! You...!”

An Nan’s lips curled up. “This world could have been wonderful, but too bad you won’t get to enjoy it.”

Qian Ying’er trembled, reaching out desperately for something, but it was useless.

She opened her mouth, a muffled sound gurgling in her throat, her eyes full of longing.

She didn’t want to die!

She had never wanted to live so badly...

The disaster was finally over, her suffering was at an end...

She was about to marry into a wealthy family and enjoy a life of luxury...

Everything was as beautiful as a dream.

Why did this damned An Nan have to kill her at this very moment?

She stretched out her hand, grasping at empty air with all her strength.

Soon, her hands fell heavily to the ground.

Qian Ying’er’s breath stopped for good.

An Nan looked down—though she was dead, her eyes were still wide open.

She let out a soft laugh.

In truth, the future was far from beautiful—disasters would come one after another, and the world would become a living hell.

For Qian Ying’er, death should have been a release.

But An Nan had turned her release into a death with eyes wide open.

Unwilling, aren’t you?

How funny. When you stabbed me in the back in my last life, I was unwilling too.

Now, I’m paying you back double.

An Nan stepped over her, picked up the keys on the floor, unlocked the door to 701, and walked in.

Next door, in 702—

Gu Zhiyu, who had been radiating cold air a moment ago, now seemed to have reined it in, a hint of amusement curling his lips.

An Nan...

What a ruthless and interesting woman.

She painted someone a picture of a perfect future, then snuffed them out.

Letting them die in utter unwillingness.

If ghosts really existed, that woman who just died would probably be the most vengeful of all.

Long Cong’an couldn’t help but whisper, “Boss, that woman died so miserably!”

Gu Zhiyu glanced at him, his thin lips parting:

“Pitiful people always have something detestable about them.”

Long Cong’an nodded. “True. For my benefactor—who’s so beautiful and kind—to go that far, she must have been rotten to the core.”

Beautiful and kind?

Gu Zhiyu thought back seriously: How many times had he heard those words from Assistant Long?

An Nan was certainly beautiful, no doubt about that.

Kind? He really hadn’t seen it.

She was clearly a sharp-tongued little demon.

Room 701.

An Nan walked in and looked around.

The place seemed to have been broken into during the flood—there were obvious signs the front door had been repaired.

The floor and furniture were dusty, but the bedroom was spotless—Bai Wenbin must have slept here last night.

An Nan found a note on the dining table:

[Ying’er: I’m out on some errands, I’ll be back tonight. Wait for me here.

The place is fully furnished, and I’ve fixed the door. It’s perfect for laying low. Be good and stay here for a while, we’ll go back when An Nan gets arrested.

Then I’ll go with you to visit her in prison.]

Visit in prison?

An Nan raised an eyebrow.

These siblings really are dreamers."