From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Rugo chuckled lightly, her eyes full of disdain.

"Young Master Xu, why are you in such a hurry? I haven't finished deciphering the secrets on this list yet." She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over Young Master Xu and Zhang Fushang, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Some things are better left unsaid, lest someone be kept in the dark and used as a pawn without even realizing it."

After saying that, she gently traced the list with her slender fingers, pointing out several key pieces of information, and then explained them in detail.

She spoke slowly, but each word was clear, like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

“The origin, quantity, and price of this batch of goods do not match the records. And these false records ultimately ended up in…” Yan Rugo’s gaze fell on Zhang Fushang, “…Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce.”

Zhang, the wealthy businessman, changed his expression but forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Miss Yan, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! Do you have any evidence?"

"Evidence?" Yan Rugo smiled contemptuously, pulling out a stack of papers from her sleeve—evidence she had compiled overnight. "These records of fraudulent transactions, along with letters detailing your private dealings with Young Master Xu, are all here. Mr. Zhang, would you like to take a look?"

Zhang Fushang's face was deathly pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Young Master Xu also panicked, his eyes darting around, not daring to meet Yan Rugo's gaze.

The family members around them, who were initially somewhat puzzled, were now shocked and furious upon seeing the irrefutable evidence.

They never imagined they had been deceived for so long!

Old Master Xu had been silent all along, but suddenly spoke up, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes: "Ru Ge, continue."

Yan Rugo nodded slightly and continued to reveal the full picture of the commercial scam.

She meticulously explained the details of each step, peeling back the layers of truth like unraveling a cocoon.

As she spoke, the faces of Young Master Xu and the wealthy merchant Zhang grew increasingly grim, eventually turning ashen.

“And also…” Yan Rugo paused, her gaze falling on Xu, the male protagonist, “the real destination of this batch of goods is not our family's shop, but rather…”

Yan Rugo's eyes narrowed, and she pointed in an unexpected direction, "...it flowed to rival families! They are using this opportunity not only to seize our assets, but also to damage our family's reputation!" These words caused an uproar throughout the room.

The gazes of the crowd toward Young Master Xu and Mr. Zhang were as sharp as knives.

Old Master Xu slammed his hand on the table, his beard trembling, and roared, "You unfilial son! How dare you do such a rebellious thing!" His weathered eyes were now filled with disappointment and anger.

Young Master Xu collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, his lips trembling but unable to utter a single word.

Zhang Fushang was sweating profusely.

"Guards!" At Old Master Xu's command, guards immediately stepped forward and took the Second Young Master Xu and the wealthy merchant Zhang away.

Old Master Xu's gaze swept over everyone, his tone heavy: "From this day forward, Second Young Master Xu is stripped of all his positions in the family, and all his properties are confiscated! Merchant Zhang has colluded with outsiders and damaged the family's interests; he is forever barred from any business dealings with the Xu family!"

Upon seeing this, everyone clapped and cheered.

These two colluded to harm the interests of their family, and now they've come to this end—it's truly gratifying!

The male protagonist, Xu, walked up to Yan Rugo, looked at her with deep affection, his eyes filled with love and pride.

“Ru Ge,” his voice was deep and magnetic, “you are truly amazing! I am so proud of you!” He grasped Yan Ru Ge’s hand and, in front of all the family members, declared loudly, “I love you, Ru Ge! Thank you for everything you have done for the family, and thank you for being in my life!”

A shy blush appeared on Yan Rugo's face. She nodded gently and tenderly held Xu's hand in return.

The two embraced affectionately, and applause and blessings rang out from all around.

Just then, Yan Rugo suddenly raised her head, her eyes shining brightly, "Grandpa, uncles and aunts, I've actually discovered a new business opportunity..."

Yan Rugo's eyes sparkled, a confident smile playing on her lips as she slowly began to speak: "Elders, I have discovered that our neighboring country is rich in a rare material called 'ice silk.' Its texture is soft and warm, and its luster surpasses that of silk, making it an excellent choice for crafting high-end clothing. Currently, this material is not yet available in our market. If we can be the first to introduce it, it will surely spark a new trend and generate substantial profits."

She paused, then continued, "I have conducted detailed market research and developed a meticulous business plan. We can start by importing a small quantity of ice silk to produce high-end garments, hold a grand fashion show in the capital, and invite celebrities from all walks of life to participate, thereby opening up the market. At the same time, we can also establish long-term cooperative relationships with neighboring countries to obtain a stable supply of goods, gradually expand the scale of production, and eventually monopolize the entire market."

Yan Rugo's explanation was insightful yet easy to understand, and her logic was clear, which made everyone nod in agreement.

An elder in the family said excitedly, "Ruge, your idea is brilliant! If the ice silkworm silk is really as you say, then our family's business will definitely reach new heights!"

"Yes, yes, Ruge is truly exceptionally intelligent!" another elder chimed in, his eyes full of admiration.

The family members excitedly discussed the prospects of ice silkworm silk, as if they could see mountains of gold and silver beckoning to them.

Even the usually composed Old Master Xu showed a relieved smile at this moment.

He looked at Yan Rugo, his eyes filled with admiration: "Rugo, you've done a great job this time! I've decided to hand over the decision-making power of the family business to you, and you will be fully in charge!"

Yan Rugo was overjoyed, but maintained a humble expression: "Thank you for your trust, Grandpa. I will do my best to live up to your expectations!"

She looked around and saw all the family members looking at her with admiration, and a great sense of accomplishment welled up in her heart.

She was once a cannon fodder villain, but now she has become the central figure in the family, a transformation that makes her feel incredibly proud and honored.

The family feast was a joyous occasion, with toasts and laughter filling the air.

Just then, the system on Yan Rugo's wrist suddenly emitted a piercing alarm, and a line of bright red warning text flashed before her eyes: "Warning! A major crisis has been detected. Please prepare yourself!"

The boisterous and festive atmosphere contrasted sharply with the solemn expression on Yan Rugo's face.

She looked at the system warning and felt a strange unease rise in her heart.

Meanwhile, in the distant sky, dark clouds began to gather...

"Ru Ge, what's wrong?" the male protagonist asked with concern.

Yan Rugo snapped back to her senses and forced a smile. "It's nothing..." Her gaze fell on the system warning again, and she thought to herself: What exactly is this new crisis?