Chapter Five: The True Colors Revealed

"Daddy!"

Gu Lili scrambled over the fence with practiced ease, his little hands and feet working in perfect coordination—a clear sign he had done this many times before. Like a miniature cannonball, he scurried over to Gu Yichao’s wheelchair and clung to his leg with both arms.

Gu Yichao lowered his gaze to the fuzzy little head resting against his leg. He hesitated for a moment before raising a hand, his knuckles prominent, to pat the child’s hair with a touch of awkwardness. "What’s wrong? Is someone bullying you?"

Though he had adopted Gu Li a long time ago, his work kept him busy, leaving little time for them to bond. Yet, in all that time, he had never seen the boy cry. A flash of cold malice crossed Gu Yichao’s eyes; he hadn't expected this woman to drop her facade after only a few hours.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice hardening. "I’ll have Shen Jin'an thrown out right now."

"Snow White was kidnapped by the evil dragon! Daddy, Daddy was kidnapped by the wicked stepmother too!"

The two spoke simultaneously. Upon hearing the other, they both fell silent, staring at each other with confusion and bewilderment.

Gu Lili was inconsolable. In his dream, he had seen his "Daddy Snow White" carried off by the "evil dragon stepmother" with a cackling laugh, while he, the "Dwarf Lili," had set out to rescue him only to get lost in the forest and eventually starve to death. He sobbed, looking up at Gu Yichao from a forty-five-degree angle, while instinctively patting his own tummy to ensure it was still round and had not been flattened by hunger.

However, he couldn't understand why his daddy suddenly wanted to kick the stepmother out. He still remembered the delicious meatballs she had made, he wanted to know how the story of Snow White ended, and he knew that being kicked out meant going hungry. Having just experienced the terror of starvation in his dream, it was the scariest punishment he could imagine.

Gu Li gripped Gu Yichao’s pant leg tightly. "Don't kick the stepmother out!"

Shen Jin'an felt a wave of relief. She stepped forward, picked up the little tear-stained boy, and gave him a gentle bounce. "Snow White defeated the evil dragon all by herself, and I would never kidnap your daddy." *Your dad is more likely to kick me out,* she thought.

"For weal?"

Gu Li stopped crying instantly, though his eyes remained rimmed with red, blinking up at Shen Jin'an.

"Of course. Snow White is the greatest warrior in the kingdom; defeating a dragon is no problem at all. As for me..." She lowered her voice, drawing out the syllables, "Even if I were to kidnap your daddy, I would definitely take you with us."

"Why?" Gu Lili shrank his neck, a mix of fear and curiosity on his face.

Seeing the child’s nervous expression, Shen Jin'an leaned in close and pulled a mock-villainous face. "Because little kids like you are the most delicious! I’ll eat you in one bite—*muahaha!*"

She reached out and tickled his soft, chubby belly, sending him into a fit of giggles.

Gu Yichao watched the scene of maternal warmth and filial piety before him, then glanced down at the dark, damp patches on his trousers—soaked with tears, snot, and suspicious traces of drool. The ever-composed and formidable CEO felt, for the first time, a sense of embarrassment, realizing that he was the clown in this scenario.

"Mr. Gu, I’ve brought the documents you requested."

Several secretaries appeared, each carrying a stack of files. Gu Yichao gave a slight nod and returned to his study to continue handling company matters that had piled up during his coma.

Once he left, Shen Jin'an finally shed her restrained persona. She let out a wild, villainous laugh and began playfully roughhousing with the little "rice ball" who was far too easy to bully.

By the time they grew tired, both the adult and the child were yawning uncontrollably—Gu Li because he hadn't slept, and Shen Jin'an because she simply hadn't slept enough. Just as she prepared to cuddle the boy for a nap, she was startled by someone standing in the doorway.

"Madam, my name is Lin. I am Mr. Gu’s secretary. He instructed me to assist in looking after the young master."

Secretary Lin was sharp-featured and tall, with a chic, short haircut—the portrait of a corporate elite. Shen Jin'an’s mouth twitched. "Assisting," she thought. It was clearly a move to supervise her since he didn't trust her.

With someone watching, she couldn't simply drift off to sleep. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to nip this problem in the bud. Noting the dark circles under Secretary Lin’s eyes, she consulted Gu Li and boldly extended an invitation: "Secretary Lin, would you like to take a nap with us?"

Secretary Lin blinked. Accustomed to the cutthroat world of office politics, she instinctively suspected a trap, but then she met Shen Jin'an’s remarkably sincere gaze. Having suffered from insomnia after a recent breakup and enduring a grueling workday, she was truly exhausted. Still, she declined, "I apologize, Madam, but that wouldn't be appropriate."

"My only two rules here are: if you're hungry, you eat; if you're sleepy, you sleep," Shen Jin'an insisted. "Lili, would you mind sharing your bed with this big sister so she can rest with us?"

Gu Lili looked at the pretty lady standing in the doorway and noticed how tired she looked. He nodded, then paused, tilted his head, and gave Shen Jin'an a stern warning: "You can't steal the big sister's bed, either."

Shen Jin'an offered an awkward smile. *Kid, you really don't give me any face at all.*

Seeing that Secretary Lin was still hesitating, Shen Jin'an simply pulled her over, sharing the wisdom of a seasoned office veteran from her past life: "You just have to pretend to be diligent in front of the boss. Behind their backs, you have to relax! Don't worry, I’m firmly on the side of the workers. I’ll never sympathize with those capitalists!"

Unable to refuse such genuine hospitality, Secretary Lin joined them for a nap. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, a speed that left Shen Jin'an both stunned and envious.

Later, when Secretary Lin reported back to Gu Yichao, her face showed a rare, faint flush. "There were no abnormalities this afternoon. The Madam was very well-behaved."

*Gu Yichao: Why does that feel so strange?*

Even with Secretary Lin’s report, the dreams he had experienced were too vivid for him to let his guard down. If they were true, he would clear every obstacle for Gu Li before his own death. But if they were merely dreams, then, for the sake of how well she got along with Gu Li, he wouldn't mind letting her keep the title of Mrs. Gu and continue caring for the boy once their agreement ended.

Gu Yichao rubbed his temples, intending to go downstairs for some air, but at the corner of the hallway, he heard a familiar voice.

"Gu Yichao and Gu Li are already under my control. The Gu Corporation will definitely end up in my hands."

Shen Jin'an’s voice was arrogant and cold, completely devoid of the warmth and kindness she had shown earlier.

Gu Yichao sneered. This woman’s acting was truly impressive; she had almost fooled him. It was a pity that for all her cleverness, she was foolish enough to say such things right inside the villa.

He didn't bother to keep eavesdropping. Instead, he steered his wheelchair into view, ready to catch her in the act. However, the moment Shen Jin'an saw him, the panic he had expected never arrived. Instead, he caught a flicker of disdain in her eyes.