Gu Mian lay sprawled across her bed, one arm dangling lazily over the edge, staring at the ceiling as she mentally replayed everything that had happened in January.
It still felt surreal.
She had stayed in H City for the entire month.
At that time, if anyone stood at the foot of Gu Mountain, they would see a sight that bordered on madness—thousands of workers swarming the area day and night.
Trucks came and went nonstop.
Construction noise echoed from dawn till dusk.
At the same time, news quietly spread throughout the business circles:
Tianling Corporation was going bankrupt.
At first, the Gu ancestral mansion was thrown into chaos.
The elders were furious.
The relatives panicked.
Then… they became numb.
One by one, Gu Yunchen's children resigned from their positions or announced the collapse of their businesses.
Yet anyone with eyes could tell—none of them were actually losing money.
Every share was sold separately, at peak prices, squeezing every last drop of value out before letting go.
Then Gu Yunchen himself started selling.
The main Gu family practically went insane.
They scrambled like vultures, fighting over shares, bidding aggressively on properties Gu Yunchen auctioned off, afraid they'd miss even a scrap.
By the last week of January, all the children had returned home.
By the end of February, Tianling Corporation was on track to be completely sold.
Gu Mian exhaled slowly.
Good. Take it all.
---
The fortified mansion had been completed quietly.
Inside it, a special water tank had been built—massive, reinforced, hidden deep within the inner compound.
Gu Mian personally filled it with spring water.
It took her six full days.
When the last drop finally poured in, she slumped against the tank wall, utterly exhausted.
"End of March," she told her family seriously. "Everyone bathes in it. No exceptions."
Gu Yunchen frowned. "All at once?"
"No," she replied calmly. "I don't want to fish bodies out."
He accepted that explanation immediately.
She also sent several barrels of spring water for drinking, along with fruit juice made directly from her space.
The family accepted it enthusiastically.
Gu Mian returned to C City on February 15th, and the moment she arrived, she plunged straight back into work.
The last batch of jade ore she had ordered arrived at the end of January.
"Speed it up," she instructed calmly. "Everything must be cut before the end of the month."
When the crates arrived, she didn't even open them—she moved them directly into her space. Over three hundred crates of jadeite, stacked neatly, glowing faintly with spiritual light.
She felt… satisfied.
Everyone handed in their tasks on time.
Everyone except Mu Xia.
"End of the month,"she said confidently.
She waved her off. "As long as you don't die."
She was in a very good mood.
On March 1st, Gu Mian laid off the jade cutters.
She paid each of them 100 million yuan.
They stared at the checks like they were hallucinating.
"Miss Gu… wasn't it twenty million?"
"Yes," she nodded. "This is extra."
"Why?"
"Because you didn't steal," she said simply.
Not a single person argued.
She emptied the warehouses, had Qin Yao close all districts, and three days later—after finishing the last arrangements in her space—she called for a meeting.
She took a short nap first.
When she woke up, it was time to find out who would stay.
And who would leave.
---
Evening
After lunch, everyone gathered in the living room.
The atmosphere was relaxed—too relaxed.
Qin Yao had practically melted into a single-seater sofa, legs sprawled, arms hanging over the sides like he owned the place.
"Boss," he said lazily, "we're all staying."
Gu Mian paused.
"…That was fast."
Mu Xia smirked. "We already voted."
"You didn't even ask us," someone complained.
Qin Yao shrugged. "Democracy."
Gu Mian laughed softly. "Thank you. You're all angels."
Qin Yao immediately sat up straighter. "Boss, say that again, slower."
"Get out."
She continued, expression turning thoughtful. "I'll also be letting the maids go. Before that, I need to know—does anyone here have a romantic relationship with them? Marriage intentions only."
The room went quiet.
Qing Ruofu raised his hand stiffly. "Boss… I do."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"She's Luo Yuhua," he said seriously. "We've been dating for six months. I plan to marry her."
Someone whistled.
Someone else muttered, "Bold."
Gu Mian nodded. "Very good. Anyone else?"
They all shook their heads.
"Alright."
She called the four maids into the living room and thanked them sincerely for their service.
One of them hesitated. "Miss… did we do something wrong?"
Gu Mian shook her head. "Not at all. I simply don't need assistance anymore. You'll be paid for the remaining two months of your contract, plus a 450,000 yuan bonus each."
The maids were stunned.
"Here are your checks," Gu Mian said, handing them over. "A car will take you to your destinations in three hours."
They bowed deeply.
"Thank you very much, Miss Gu."
"Luo Yuhua," Gu Mian added. "Please stay."
Luo Yuhua froze.
"Yes… Miss Gu."
Gu Mian pointed to an empty sofa beside her. "Sit."
Luo Yuhua sat, hands clenched tightly. Her mind raced.
Did she offend her? Was dating Ruofu a mistake?
Then—
"You're in a relationship with Ruofu," Gu Mian said calmly.
Luo Yuhua's heart sank. "Y—yes, Miss Gu."
Gu Mian laughed. "Relax. I'm not a villain."
Luo Yuhua visibly loosened. "Okay…"
"I just want to know how many family members you have and what they do," Gu Mian said. Why do I sound like a mother-in-law? she thought.
"Oh! I… I only have a younger brother," Luo Yuhua said quickly. "He's seventeen, in high school here in C City. Our parents passed away long ago."
"I see," Gu Mian said softly. "My condolences."
She turned to Qing Ruofu. "Tomorrow, go to his school. Defer his studies until September."
Mu Xia frowned. "Won't that put him behind?"
"He'll study here," Gu Mian replied coolly. "We're going under the radar starting now. I want zero loose ends."
She looked at Ruofu sharply. "By dinner two days from now, that kid will be in this house. Understood?"
"Yes, Boss!"
"Thank you, Miss Gu!" Luo Yuhua bowed repeatedly.
"You're laid off," Gu Mian continued calmly, "but you'll stay here as Ruofu's wife. Get your marriage certificate within two days. Wedding later."
Someone coughed. "That was fast."
"Three days from now, we seal the gates," Gu Mian said flatly. "If you can't live without something for months, buy it now."
She paused.
"And to be clear—if danger comes, I'm not helping anyone's relatives."
Silence.
Then Qin Yao raised his hand.
"So… if my cousin's cousin's dog—"
"Die."
Laughter erupted.
---
That night, Gu Mian entered her space and worked until exhaustion.
She filled barrels of spring water, prepared fruit juice, packed fresh produce, and sent everything to her family via special courier.
Then she slept like the dead.
The next day, she collected fuel, foundationless houses, and the extra library she had commissioned.
Bai Ying's third task had gone perfectly—her space now housed ants, butterflies, earthworms, silkworms, and countless insects, each separated carefully.
Three bee colonies had matured.
Their honey shimmered with spiritual power.
She sent it to her family immediately.
All living things in her space were mutating.
Good.
On the second day, the boy arrived.
"Ming Baixu," he introduced himself brightly.
Within hours, the entire house adored him.
On the third day—
The gates closed.
The world was shut out.
Gu Mian announced she would enter seclusion.
Before she did, she filled her bathtub with spring water.
She sank in.
Relaxation lasted half a second.
Then pain exploded.
Her body trembled violently.
Skin tore.
Blood—black and foul—poured out.
Her mental power was crushed, ground down mercilessly.
She couldn't scream.
She couldn't faint.
She endured.
'No dilution', she thought grimly. 'Everyone's drinking this full strength'.
Especially her stone-faced brother, Gu Ruisheng
She would make sure of it.