Chapter 9: The Chao Family’s Precarious Situation

“That heartless wretch is here too? Today I’ve finally caught him alone!” The butler ground his teeth with seething hatred as he looked at Gu Zhongming, his eyes so filled with murderous intent that he seemed like a different person altogether.

But when he turned his head, his expression instantly softened, and he gently urged Chao Xu to return to her room. “Miss, you should go back to your bedroom first. I’ll have someone bring you some tea and pastries in a bit. As for this shameless cur, scheming to steal your place in the Chao family, leave him to me!”

Rolling up his sleeves, the butler eyed Gu Zhongming with fierce determination, looking as if he were about to rush forward and beat him to death.

Chao Xu, not understanding the situation but eager for refreshments, obediently left. Ci Mo, meanwhile, followed closely behind her.

As blood-curdling screams echoed from the living room, Chao Xu, recalling the location of the original owner’s bedroom from memory, intended to head straight there. But just as she was about to leave, someone tugged at her sleeve.

Turning, she saw Ci Mo and touched her chin, troubled.

How big was her room again? It seemed quite spacious—surely enough to accommodate Ci Mo as well? At the moment, the only places Ci Mo could go were her room or wherever the butler arranged for him. Judging by the screams coming from the hall, however, the butler was far too occupied to handle such matters.

She sighed, shrugged her shoulders, and took Ci Mo’s hand. “Well, since I’m the one who picked you up, I suppose I’ll let you stay for the night.”

At first, she had worried that her room might be too small, but upon entering, she realized she had been overthinking it. As the only daughter of the Chao family, the original Chao Si had been doted on by her entire family. The central bed was so large one could roll about on it, and the other amenities were all perfectly arranged, exuding an air of refined elegance.

Sinking into the plush mattress, Chao Xu, freshly washed and free of mud, savored the food the butler had sent and let out a sigh of contentment.

This, she thought, is what life ought to be.

She patted the large empty space beside her and beckoned Ci Mo over. Then, taking out her phone, she continued searching for information about the Chao family, relying on her memory.

Instinctively, she wanted to gather as much data about this world as possible—it gave her a sense of security.

This time, she came across a news article detailing the Chao family’s relationships with the other nine great families of the Imperial Capital. Driven by curiosity, she clicked on it, and soon her brows knitted together.

The Chao family’s current situation was nowhere near as rosy as outsiders believed. Though Gu Zhongming had seized control of the family through cunning, he was utterly inept at running the company. In the month since the head of the Chao family had gone missing, the shares of Chao Group had plummeted off a cliff—in just a few short weeks, the business was already teetering on the edge.

Frowning, Chao Xu clicked her tongue, exited the news page, and downloaded something onto her phone, logging into the darknet.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she compiled a summary of the Chao family’s recent market performance.

What she discovered was startling: within a day of the Chao family’s downfall, the other nine great families had swiftly snatched away all the Chao Group’s partnerships, clearly intent on working together to carve up what remained of the Chao family’s legacy.