Volume One, Chapter Four: What Kind of Thing Is This, Daring to Compete with Him for the Body?

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Jiang Daming had been waiting for Jiang Chenyu to take the initiative to ingratiate herself with them. For this reason, he even went so far as to laugh out loud twice, putting on a “happy family” act to lure Jiang Chenyu over.

Who knew what kind of mood Jiang Chenyu was in today.

Seeing her about to leave, he had no choice but to speak first: “So you’ve grown wings now, coming home late and not even bothering to greet anyone?”

Jiang Chenyu pursed her lips, then turned around with a smile. “Hello, Father. Weren’t you traveling abroad? Why have you suddenly returned?”

When Chen Ping called Jiang Xue’er, he was present and naturally caught the sarcasm in Jiang Chenyu’s tone.

He found Jiang Chenyu petty for obsessing over this matter, yet also strange, since she used to plead softly to him, calling him “Dad” no matter how much he scolded her.

What madness was this today?

Jiang Xue’er dissented from the side, speaking up: “Chenyu, no matter how close you are to Mr. Gu, you will never surpass your own parents. They are your real parents, and no one in this world will ever care for you more than they do.”

Only then did Jiang Daming realize—she must think that by hooking up with that doomed Gu family, she could now turn her back on them.

Ungrateful little wretch!

“How far have you and that Gu fellow gone?” Jiang Daming blurted out in a fury.

Jiang Chenyu tilted her head, refusing to answer and instead asked back, “Isn’t he the fine husband you chose for me? What’s wrong with how far we’ve gone?”

Only then did the others belatedly recall that the entire family had conspired to deceive Jiang Chenyu into substituting for marriage.

Jiang Mu felt uncomfortable but did not see it as her own fault, instead scolding: “Jiang Chenyu, you eat from the Jiang family and use what’s theirs. Don’t think that by marrying into the Gu family you’ve climbed to a higher branch. The Jiang family will always be your home.”

“Chenyu, it’s like this. Today, for some unknown reason, Qin’s suddenly broke off our long-standing cooperation. President Gu and the Qin family are old friends. Can you ask President Gu to help us find out why?” Jiang Chao also spoke up, his eyes full of hope and expectation. “You’ve always been understanding of big brother, haven’t you?”

Whenever he showed such an expression before, Jiang Chenyu would feel she had a special bond with Jiang Chao and would go to great lengths to fulfill his wishes.

But today, after big brother had just pushed her to the brink of despair, no matter how foolish she was, she would not make the same mistake again.

“Of course I can ask for you. I can even help get rid of this trouble. But what if I say the price is Jiang Xue’er marrying into the Gu family as an exchange?” Jiang Chenyu raised an eyebrow, leaving the choice to Jiang Chao.

Jiang Chao was momentarily stunned and instinctively glanced at Jiang Xue’er.

Jiang Xue’er covered her mouth, tears welling up: “Whether I become a widow or a nun, as long as I can help the Jiang family and big brother, I’m willing to do anything.”

“No, the Gu family is so chaotic. If Xue’er marries in and Gu Jinyan dies again, she will definitely suffer,” Jiang Mu rejected outright without hesitation.

Jiang Chao nodded, then said to Jiang Chenyu: “Chenyu, I’m only discussing this with you. Why propose such a cruel condition that harms Xue’er?”

“Cruel? Harm?” Jiang Chenyu laughed. So they really knew everything.

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There was no point in arguing further. After all, the broken cooperation was just the beginning; worse misfortunes awaited the Jiang family.

She said no more, turning to go upstairs.

Jiang Chao, never having seen such a Jiang Chenyu, suddenly felt a pang of panic and, as if uncontrollable, threatened: “When Gu Jinyan dies, you’ll be a despised widow. Then you’ll be the one begging the Jiang family on your knees!”

“Fine, I’ll wait for that day!” Jiang Chenyu replied amiably, never looking back.

They must have forgotten—she was no longer part of the Jiang family.

When her master took her away, he transferred her household registration to Tiandao Mountain. Now she was an orphan, fatherless and motherless.

Because of this relationship, even a sham marriage required her to report to her master by phone.

The old man seemed to have known her intentions all along and was not surprised. He said, “You should know the cost of breaking a sworn oath. If you think it’s reasonable, then proceed.”

Making a deal with the Way of Heaven, changing fate comes at a price. Breaking a contract halfway demands payment, too.

Heaven would not only reclaim the Jiang family’s fortune but also retaliate against her merits.

Merits come from doing good deeds or throwing money at it; this time, about twenty billion yuan would be needed to make up the loss. If she couldn’t repay before the Jiang family’s downfall, she would be plagued by misfortune—plainly put, doomed to a miserable fate.

Twenty billion yuan, in exchange for cutting all ties with the Jiang family—it was worth it to her!

Before she could explain her thoughts, the old man had already skipped ahead, repeatedly warning: “Whether you marry or not is up to you, but don’t let it interfere with your ultimate mission down the mountain!”

Jiang Chenyu: “...”

Before descending, the old man called her into his room, tears streaming down his face.

Half pleading, half threatening, he said, “Fish treasure, I’ve really had enough of the ascetic, fasting life arranged by your senior brother. If you want to go down the mountain, you have to cooperate with me. I’ll secretly assign you two tasks. When the time comes, we split the profits fifty-fifty, no official accounting from the mountain.”

“Is that okay? Please!” This ancient patriarch, having lived so long, was usually worshipped by others. But then, just for a bite to eat, he didn’t even care about his dignity.

Normally, Jiang Chenyu would have bargained with him, but at that moment she was anxious about her mother and agreed casually.

As soon as she left, the old man’s WeChat messages never stopped.

“Get your license tomorrow and head over early. The grandmother of Lady Wang’s neighbor’s cousin was once engaged to me. Now Lady Wang is begging us. You must not slack off.” The old man spoke with great authority.

Jiang Chenyu was speechless: “Should I not slack off for Lady Wang or for Lady Wang’s money?”

“It’s the same, it’s the same. You just make too many distinctions, that’s why you’re unhappy.”

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“...”

—

Elsewhere, at Gu Jinyan’s apartment.

Though he had only driven a short distance, Gu Jinyan’s body was exhausted, gasping for breath as he sat on the bedroom floor for a long time, unable to recover.

His health had deteriorated over the years, fainting spells becoming frequent. His family feared for his safety and forbade him from driving.

But today he was truly desperate, so he drove to the Jiang family himself. Unexpectedly, he fell ill again right at their doorstep.

He recalled the small stove-like hand he had grabbed during his episode, and suddenly noticed the dried bloodstains on his wrist.

—“The doll won’t be too far from your living space. You can search well in the bedroom.”

He pondered for a moment and then began rummaging through the room.

He pulled out clothes from the wardrobe and his mother’s prepared quilt. Deep inside, he found an unfamiliar dark brown wooden box.

His brow furrowed as he took it out and searched for a wrench to pry open the lock.

Inside was a human-shaped wooden doll submerged in black blood. The doll had two thin strands of hair, like his own. Several needles were stuck in its eyes, heart, and ears.

Carved on its body were the large characters “Gu Jinyan,” alongside a smaller line recording his birth date and time.

Clearly, it belonged to him.

—“Someone used your birth data to create a doll, and that doll is competing with you for control of your body.”

What kind of thing was this, daring to contend for his body?

Suppressing his nausea, Gu Jinyan reached out for the doll but accidentally touched a silver needle in its eye. A drop of fresh blood slid down onto the doll’s eye.

Immediately, his own eyes felt as if stabbed by needles, unbearably painful. He seemed to be stubbornly resisting something, gritting his teeth and refusing to utter even a groan.

Even after the pain subsided, his vision remained shrouded in darkness, unable to see anything.

“Jiang Chenyu!” he called out instinctively.

Though he did not believe in such mystical arts, somehow he had faith that she could save him.