Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon-Chapter 1143: Partnering with Gu Zi

What Gu Zi hadn’t anticipated was just how persistent Sun Yi could be.

"No matter what you say, you have to accept this bag," Sun Yi insisted, flashing her signature dazzling smile as she pushed the glossy shopping bag into Gu Zi’s hands. "Last time, Big Yellow helped me catch that thief, and I still haven’t properly thanked you! If you don’t accept it, how can I possibly look you in the eye next time? Oh, and I brought toys for the three kids as well—consider them little meeting gifts!"

With Sun Yi being so insistent, it would be outright rude to refuse any longer. Gu Zi could only relent and accept the lavish gifts with a polite, "Thank you so much, Sun Yi."

They continued chatting, their conversation flowing as easily as the autumn breeze outside, and naturally turned to the topic of the four abandoned courtyard houses behind the Su residence.

"I’ve already secured the property deeds for those four courtyards," Sun Yi said, a glint of excitement lighting her perfectly made-up face. "Just waiting to transfer the payment. You know, right? Those four aren’t part of the project Su Shen took over from Chen Yu. I want to partner with you on them. I even hired a feng shui master to take a look—turns out, not only are they not cursed as everyone thought, they sit on an incredibly rare wealth position. If we grab them now, we can definitely do something amazing later."

Sun Yi, born and raised in a powerful mercantile family, had navigated the shark-infested waters of fortune and fame from a tender age. Her instincts for money were sharper than a diamond cutter’s blade.

She’d always believed that women could—and should—build their own empires. Marriage, children, the whole nine yards—none of it had ever deterred her from pursuing her career. Even if it meant countless shouting matches with her husband Chen Yu, Sun Yi’s philosophy remained firm: feelings were unreliable, but money was eternal.

After all, men were fickle creatures. But men were also human—and humans, as Sun Yi knew too well, would never betray their devotion to money. As long as she held financial power and the ability to create wealth, Chen Yu could have a hundred messy affairs and she wouldn’t bat an eye. She knew he’d never abandon her—not when she was the one holding the golden goose.

Naturally, Sun Yi saw enormous potential in Gu Zi. And trusting her own well-honed instincts, she believed Gu Zi could become a brilliant partner. So, after locking down the deeds, she decided to use this as an opportunity to draw Gu Zi into her world.

Gu Zi, for her part, was thoroughly amazed by Sun Yi’s efficiency. She had looked into those four courtyards herself and knew the feng shui was indeed excellent.

True, bad things had happened there, and the area had turned eerily deserted, which was why even an opportunist like Chen Yu hadn’t touched them during his initial development push. Gu Zi had always thought it a pity—but now, the opportunity was practically gift-wrapped and placed at her doorstep.

She still had the investment funds Su Shen had entrusted her with. Maybe it was time to take the leap.

"Sun Yi," Gu Zi said thoughtfully, "I’ve actually been wanting to try my hand at some investments, to learn the ropes of doing business. So let’s do it. But once we buy those courtyard houses, what exactly should we do with them?"

Sun Yi pondered for a moment, tapping a manicured finger against her lip. "That one courtyard house that was sealed off... after what happened there, it’s definitely not suitable for residential use. What if we build a temple there? It’ll suppress the bad luck lingering from the past."

Gu Zi nodded along but added carefully, "That’s a good idea, but Sister Yi, temples can carry heavy yin energy too. Since we plan to develop the surrounding houses for residential use, it might affect the feng shui. People can be very superstitious. I have a suggestion—see what you think. What if we combine two of the courtyard houses into a grand hall for events? It can be used for weddings, gatherings, and all sorts of collective activities. That way it still suppresses the negative energy but doesn’t scare off potential residents."

She paused, then continued, "And for the two courtyards across the way, we could renovate and merge them into a large courtyard-style cultural exhibition hall. Something that preserves and showcases the traditional courtyard lifestyle. What do you think?"

Sun Yi’s eyes practically sparkled. She had thought her idea was brilliant already, but young Gu Zi’s proposal was on another level entirely.

"My dear girl, your brain is worth its weight in gold!" Sun Yi exclaimed. "You know, the government’s already hinted they’re going to start large-scale urban renewal. Courtyards like these will become rarer and rarer. Setting up a cultural exhibition in advance? It’s pure genius!"

Being someone who acted the moment inspiration struck, Sun Yi wasted no time. The moment she left the Su residence, she began contacting architects and lawyers, putting everything into motion.

Gu Zi handed over her share of the investment funds without a hint of hesitation. She had decided to trust Sun Yi, and she trusted with her whole heart.

Sure enough, Sun Yi didn’t disappoint. That very same day, detailed investment contracts and partnership terms were delivered to Gu Zi’s door. She reviewed them carefully, found no issues, and signed one after another with a steady hand.

Now that she had her first serious investment project underway and school life resuming, Gu Zi’s days became full—though not hectic. Life felt deliciously rich and satisfying.

Before she knew it, autumn had descended upon the capital. Northern autumns were starkly different from the ones back home; the trees along the streets were turning brilliant shades of yellow. With every breeze, golden leaves floated gently down to the ground, carpeting the roads like rivers of molten gold, transforming the entire city into a living, breathing oil painting.