Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

On this day, Gu Jinyan was invited to his uncle Gu Shichang's study, which was quiet and profound.

The ancient wooden shelves are neatly arranged with heavy family history books and some antique ornaments that symbolize power, exuding a subtle sense of authority.

Gu Shichang was sitting behind his desk, a familiar warm smile on his face, gesturing for Gu Jinyan to sit down.

Gu Jinyan nodded slightly, remaining vigilant.

Today's "family affairs discussion" is by no means just a concerned greeting from my uncle.

After a moment, Gu Shichang picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then looked up at Gu Jinyan: "Jinyan, everyone has seen your hard work in the Gu family. As a member of the Gu family, I am proud of you."

Although his words were like a soft silk, gentle and intimate.

It was as if she were still that little child playing on his lap.

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly and said politely, "Uncle, you flatter me. The Gu family has given me protection, and I am merely fulfilling my duty."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shichang nodded, then changed his tone: "However, family affairs are complicated nowadays, involving many interests. If a talented junior like you can get involved, it would be a blessing for the family."

But his eyes flickered slightly, trying to catch her reaction in his words.

However, Gu Jinyan simply looked at him quietly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, waiting for him to continue.

Gu Shichang seemed slightly displeased with her silence, and his smile faded a bit: "Do you know that there are quite a few outsiders interfering in family affairs, especially some newcomers who are eyeing the family property covetously."

As he spoke, his fingers slowly caressed the teacup in his hand, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, Gu Jinyan felt a chill run down his spine.

The "outsiders" that Gu Shichang mentioned were family members who had joined the family through marriage or branch relationships.

These people, though of mixed bloodlines, coveted the family's wealth and power.

However, she remained calm and smiled slightly: "Uncle is the elder of the family, you are our true support."

Gu Shichang's lips curled up slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face.

He nodded and continued, "Family resources are limited. I have always believed that the future of the family will be more secure if it is taken over by a direct descendant of the family."

His tone was calm, as if he were stating a fact, but he emphasized the words "direct descendant" slightly.

In an instant, Gu Jinyan understood that he was giving him a hint, while at the same time testing his attitude.

Whether they are willing to stand by his side, or even whether they will lean their support toward his succession struggle.

"Uncle is right," Gu Jinyan replied politely, but inwardly he became increasingly wary.

She never made a clear statement, maintaining a perfectly neutral stance.

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Gu Shichang narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly: "Jinyan, if you can support me, you will naturally have a share of the family's resources."

I've seen all the contributions you've made to the family, and I'll never let you suffer any losses.

He covered his mouth with his teacup, his tone calm, but his words carried a hint of seduction.

Gu Jinyan lowered his eyes, a subtle turmoil stirring within him.

This was the first time her uncle had so directly hinted at the distribution of benefits to her.

Gazing at the slight ripples in the teacup, he slowly raised his eyes and smiled demurely, "Uncle, you've gone to so much trouble. As a member of the family, Jin Yan should naturally prioritize the family's interests, let alone personal gain."

Gu Shichang's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

He changed the subject, mentioning some recent family affairs, especially the issue of several "outsiders" dividing up family resources.

Gu Jinyan listened attentively and gradually realized that Gu Shichang was not just chatting idly, but hoped to probe his attitude towards these people by discussing these specific matters.

“Those people are never satisfied,” Gu Shichang sighed, a faint look of disdain on his face. “They only think about getting a share of the pie, but they don’t think about what they have done or how deep their foundation is. It’s really laughable.”

His words were casual, but his eyes revealed a predatory glint, as if he regarded all "outsiders" as thorns in his side.

Gu Jinyan vaguely realized that her uncle's desire to control the family's resources was far stronger than she had imagined.

His words, besides expressing dissatisfaction with outsiders, also conveyed a sense of contempt and rejection towards other family members, a strong desire for control that made her uneasy.

In order to prevent her uncle from noticing her inner turmoil.

She calmly replied, "Uncle is absolutely right. The foundation of the family should not be easily shaken. If outsiders overstep their bounds, it may affect the harmony of the entire family."

Gu Shichang nodded in satisfaction upon hearing her words, turned slightly to the side, and said casually, "Jinyan, the family needs a young person like you who understands the bigger picture to support it."

If the opportunity arises in the future, I hope you can take on more responsibility in family affairs.

His words were loaded with meaning, seemingly hinting at some kind of promise, while also paving a path for her to greater power.

Gu Jinyan felt a chill run down his spine.

It's clear that her uncle's "warmth" was nothing more than a pretense of testing; he was trying to win her over and make her an asset in his struggle for the inheritance.

However, she maintained just the right amount of politeness and distance, offering him no explicit support.

In the end, Gu Shichang seemed to realize her attitude, and the warmth in his words gradually faded, replaced by a cold indifference.

He nodded slightly and said, "Jinyan, if some people don't know what's good for them, we, the direct descendants of the family, have no choice but to personally uphold justice."

Hearing this, Gu Jinyan felt a chill run down his spine.

The coldness in his uncle's words was already evident.

She bowed slightly, rose to take her leave, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. Jinyan has learned a lot."

She maintained a polite smile throughout, but her gait carried a hint of wariness and distance.

After leaving the study, Gu Jinyan was unable to calm down for a long time.

Walking through the dark corridor, one can still feel the chilly atmosphere of the study.

The undisguised desire for control and hostility toward other family members in his uncle's words seemed to foreshadow an impending struggle, one that he was caught in and unable to escape unscathed.

After this conversation, Gu Jinyan's impression of his uncle, Gu Shichang, could never be restored to its original state.

This family succession struggle is destined to be anything but peaceful. Her uncle's hints force her to re-examine her position in the family and also make her more aware of her future.

From that day on, Gu Jinyan harbored a deep-seated wariness towards his uncle.