The next afternoon, the Gu family estate was quieter than usual, and the gentle sunlight falling across the wide garden made the entire place feel calm and peaceful, but inside the main mansion, preparations were already underway for an important visit.
In the spacious living room, servants carefully arranged tea sets and snacks on the elegant wooden table, while the housekeeper checked every detail to make sure everything was perfect.
Today, the Liu family was coming.
Gu Wen sat calmly on the sofa near the window, holding a small book in his hands, but his attention was not fully on the pages. His eyes occasionally moved toward the garden outside, where the front gate could be seen from a distance, and his mind quietly reviewed everything his father had said last night.
The Zhao family is accelerating their actions.
The Liu family alliance is becoming more important.
And Zhao Yichen's appearance at kindergarten was not a coincidence.
It was a signal.
A test.
Or perhaps even the first move in a much larger plan.
At that moment, the system interface quietly appeared again.
[Perfect Life System Notification]
[Important Relationship Event Detected]
[Liu Family Visit Incoming]
[Significance Level: High]
[Recommendation: Strengthen Emotional Bond and Family Trust]
[Possible Rewards: Relationship Growth, Alliance Stability, Future Support]
Gu Wen closed the book gently.
He already understood.
This visit was not just a casual family meeting.
It was part of a larger alliance reinforcement.
And Liu Ruyan would be here as well.
A few minutes later, the sound of a car entering the estate echoed softly through the garden.
Gu Wen stood up calmly and walked toward the entrance.
Outside, a black luxury car slowly stopped in front of the mansion, and soon the door opened as a well-dressed middle-aged man stepped out first.
Liu Zhentian.
Head of the Liu family.
His expression was calm and steady, carrying the quiet confidence of a powerful businessman, and beside him, a gentle and elegant woman stepped out as well.
Liu Ruyan's mother.
Then, finally, a small familiar figure stepped out of the car.
Liu Ruyan.
The moment she saw Gu Wen standing at the entrance, her eyes immediately brightened, and her small steps became slightly faster as she walked toward him.
"Gu Wen!"
Her voice was soft but filled with happiness.
Gu Wen nodded slightly.
"Ruyan."
She stopped in front of him, her face showing clear relief and warmth, as if simply seeing him made everything feel safe again.
Above her head, faint captions appeared.
[Favorite Person: Gu Wen][Happiness Increasing][Safe Zone Activated]
Gu Wen noticed the captions but remained calm.
Behind her, Liu Zhentian smiled slightly as he watched the two children.
"They really are close," he said.
At that moment, Gu Mingyuan stepped out of the mansion.
"Zhentian."
The two men walked toward each other and shook hands calmly.
"Mingyuan," Liu Zhentian replied.
"It has been a while."
Gu Mingyuan nodded.
"Come inside."
The group entered the mansion and sat in the living room, where tea was already prepared, and the atmosphere quickly became calm and formal, with both families discussing business and recent developments in Jiang Cheng.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan quietly sat beside Gu Wen, her small hands resting gently on her lap as she looked at him from time to time, clearly wanting to talk but hesitating because the adults were present.
Gu Wen noticed this and spoke softly.
"Do you want to go to the garden?"
Her eyes lit up slightly.
"…Yes."
Gu Mingyuan glanced at them and nodded.
"You can go play outside."
The two children stood up and walked toward the garden together, leaving the adults in the living room.
Outside, the garden was peaceful, with soft green grass and tall trees providing shade from the afternoon sun, and as soon as they were alone, Liu Ruyan relaxed noticeably.
She looked at Gu Wen and spoke softly.
"I tried to talk to other classmates today."
Gu Wen nodded slightly.
"That's good."
Her face showed a small but proud smile.
"I talked to two girls."
"That's progress."
Above her head, captions appeared again.
[Pride Detected][Seeking Gu Wen's Approval]
She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Gu Wen… do you think I can become stronger?"
He looked at her calmly.
"Yes."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
Gu Wen nodded.
"If you try step by step, you will improve."
She lowered her gaze slightly, feeling reassured.
Then she quietly said,
"I want to stand beside you in the future."
The words were soft but sincere.
Gu Wen looked at her for a moment and then nodded.
"You already are."
Above her head, captions flickered brightly.
[Emotional Bond Strengthening][Future Partner Awareness Increasing]
At the same time, inside the living room, the atmosphere between the two fathers had become more serious.
Liu Zhentian placed his teacup down slowly.
"The Zhao family has begun expanding aggressively," he said calmly.
Gu Mingyuan nodded.
"I know."
"They are trying to weaken both of us separately."
Gu Mingyuan leaned back slightly.
"That is why this alliance must remain stable."
Liu Zhentian looked toward the garden, where the two children could be seen walking slowly.
"Our children are the future of this alliance."
Gu Mingyuan's gaze followed.
"Yes."
Liu Zhentian spoke quietly.
"Zhao Mingcheng will not sit still."
Gu Mingyuan nodded calmly.
"And neither will we."
The room became silent.
Then Liu Zhentian said something important.
"I am planning to merge one of our investment projects with the Gu family next year."
Gu Mingyuan's eyes moved slightly.
"That will send a strong signal."
"Yes," Liu Zhentian replied.
"It will show Jiang Cheng that the Gu and Liu families are united."
At that moment, the system notification appeared in Gu Wen's vision outside in the garden.
[Alliance Stability Increasing]
[Gu Family + Liu Family Cooperation Detected]
[Future Business Integration Probability: High]
[Perfect Life Progress: +5%]
Gu Wen looked toward the living room window quietly.
So the alliance is strengthening.
That means Zhao family pressure will increase soon.
Beside him, Liu Ruyan gently held his sleeve again.
"Gu Wen…"
"Yes?"
"Will we always stay like this?"
He looked at her calmly.
"Yes."
She smiled softly, feeling reassured.
But Gu Wen knew very clearly that the peaceful moment in the garden was only temporary.
Because in another part of Jiang Cheng, the Zhao family was already preparing their next move.
And the next stage of this silent war was slowly approaching.