The Host is Clearly A Scumbag (Quick Travel)

This year was later called 'The First Year of Mingting' by the design industry.

For the first 26 years of his life, the design master Gu Mingting, as he described himself in an interview with People Weekly, was an 'ordinary' rich second generation.

It wasn't until he married his wife, Shen Tinglan, at the age of 26 that his brilliance began to shine, marking the official start of his era in design.

Rebel Immortal premiered that year on Christmas.

This fantasy cultivation novel adaptation became the year's biggest dark horse with a box office of 2.83 billion yuan, launching a wave of new actors to stardom.

When the 'Eldest Senior Brother' sacrificed himself in the film, countless viewers were moved to tears.

After the screening, audiences flooded social media, tagging director Chen Geng and the original author, demanding sequels and follow-ups.

Many people even went to the official Weibo of Mingyue Group and Zhengheng Group, begging Mingting to debut as an actor.

Many fans left comments under Shen Tinglan's posts, calling her 'Eldest Sister-in-Law', and over time, Mingting became affectionately known as 'Eldest Senior Brother' among his followers.

While outsiders enjoyed the spectacle, insiders recognized the craft.

The success of 'Rebel Immortal' showcased Mingting's extraordinary talent to the world.

His design genius was on full display in the film.

Whether in the meticulous details of character costumes and styling or the grand, immersive world-building of the settings, his expertise was undeniable.

Numerous films and TV dramas extended olive branches to him.

With 'Rebel Immortal' and 'The The Last Days of the Dynasty' released the following year, Mingting won 'Best Art Direction' and 'Best Costume Design' at domestic film awards.

While working on film costume design, Mingting also secured several prestigious international jewelry design awards.

That year's HRD International Diamond Jewelry Design Competition in Belgium had the theme 'World', and Mingting won first place with an orchid-shaped necklace.

In his inspiration statement, he wrote:

"A single flower embodies a world, a single leaf holds enlightenment. My wife, Shen Tinglan, is my world. To see the orchid is to see her, and to see her is to see the world."

This poetic declaration, blending Western romance with Eastern subtlety, moved many, showcasing the young and brilliant designer's deep love for his wife.

From then on, Mingting, who is affectionately dubbed the 'Award-Dominating King' by fans, embarked on a relentless award-winning spree.

Whether in jewelry or fashion design, as long as it was a world-class competition with high prestige, Mingting was there to claim the prize.

After Mingting won all the awards that could be won in the design industry at the age of 34, he announced that he would no longer participate in the competition to give newcomers a chance.

After many designers learned of this news, they thanked 'God Gu' for showing mercy.

Otherwise, with his prolific output and unparalleled design talent, they would be left forever in his shadow.

Just as the design world breathed a sigh of relief, Mingting won the Oscar for Best Costume Design.

'Ten Millennia in the Stars' is sci-fi film by renowned American director Nick.

At that time, the film attracted countless global designers to submit proposals. Mingting's designs stood out immediately, captivating Nick.

Mingting's work was wildly imaginative, brimming with creativity. He even offered innovative suggestions that left Nick in awe, calling Mingting 'the most fantastically imaginative genius' he'd ever met.

The film's release was a monumental success.

'Ten Millennia in the Stars' won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Actor. Mingting also took home his first Oscar for Best Costume Design.

News of his victory sent the nation into a frenzy, and Mingting was universally hailed as 'God Gu'.

Many people thought that Mingting had reached the pinnacle of recognition.

But later, he told everyone with facts… You guys are still too naive.

As Mingting repeatedly claimed top honors on the world stage, winning the Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, a legend emerged in the film industry.

No matter what movie it is, as long as it is touched by this Eastern gentleman's magical hands, it would soar to unprecedented heights, becoming the brightest star in the sky.

Invitations poured into China like snowflakes.

Countless directors sought collaborations with Mingting, and the costumes and jewelry he designed for films fetched astronomical prices at auctions.

Some even superstitiously believed his hands had been blessed by the gods, calling them 'God-Given Hands'.

After all, how else could every film he worked on become a blockbuster?

This phenomenon was later humorously dubbed the 'Mingting Effect' by the media.

With Mingting as its cornerstone, the Shen family's fashion brand expanded globally, and Zhengheng Group's jewelry line, Lan, became a world-class luxury brand.

Seventeen years later, at the Gu Family's villa…

Gu Qinghong, the son of Gu Mingxuan and Lu Xiaoqing, had just finished his college entrance exams, scoring high enough to be admitted to Fudan University's finance program.

The younger brother and sister from the Shen Family clung to him, clamoring to go out and play with their big brother.

In the third year of their marriage, Shen Tinglan had given birth to a pair of twins, an older brother, Shen Haoming, and a younger sister, Shen Xinting.

When they were born, Father and Mother Shen were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling. True to his proposal promise, Mingting let the children take their mother's surname, Shen.

By the time Gu Qinghong graduated from high school, Shen Haoming and Shen Xinting had also finished middle school and were entering high school.

After discussing it with the adults, the three siblings decided to go on a road trip together.

Coincidentally, Mingting had just wrapped up his latest project and had rare free time. Since the kids adored him, Mingting accompanied them on the vacation and served as a full-time driver.

During the fourth week of their trip, they arrived at a small town in northeastern China.

For some reason, Gu Qinghong felt an inexplicable fondness for the place, so the group stayed in this small town for a few more days.

The night before leaving, the four dined at a highly recommended home-style restaurant tucked away in a residential building.

As they stepped out after dinner, they witnessed a drunken, limping man beating his wife in the courtyard.

The three children were very angry. The two boys stepped forward and grabbed the lame man, while Shen Xinting helped the woman off the ground.

After a while, a frail teenage boy came running.

He struggled to carry the passed-out drunkard home, then returned to support the woman, thanking the three kids before leaving.

Gu Qinghong wanted to call the police, but the restaurant owner stopped him. He told them that the police could not do anything even if they came, as this man was a leech, shamelessly draining his wife dry.

The woman was being supported by her son, her back hunched, as they walked down the corridor. From a distance, she caught sight of Mingting standing not far away.

Shi Yunyun was stunned for a moment.

Seventeen years had passed since she left H City with her child, yet time seemed to have left no mark on this man.

He remained as elegant and refined as ever, like a nobleman who had stepped out of a painting.

In contrast, Shi Yunyun herself, who is barely in her forties, already had half-gray hair, a bent spine, and eyes that had lost their luster.

Over the years, Shi Yunyun had been secretly paying attention to Mingting.

She watched as he climbed step by step to the pinnacle of the design world and become the revered 'God Gu'.

It was only then that Shi Yunyun truly admitted to herself that she had no talent for design.

It was her who had exploited Gu Mingting's love, using his work to build her own reputation. She was nothing but a despicable, selfish thief.

Countless times, Shi Yunyun had woken up crying from her dreams, regretting how she had trampled on Mingting's sincerity. She believed this was her retribution in this life.

She's been harassed by Xiao Yu after his release from prison. She's unable to shake him off, and even caused her mother's death from anger.

She truly regretted it all!

Lowering her head, Shi Yunyun covered her face with her left hand, not wanting Mingting to see her in such a state, and hurried away with her son.

Seeing Shi Yunyun and the premature child from back then, Mingting couldn't help but marvel at the twists of fate.

In the original timeline, that boy was named Xiao Yunshen. His father was a domineering CEO, his mother a renowned designer. As the heir to the Xiao Corporation, he had always lived a smooth and privileged life.

After graduating high school, Xiao Yunshen had visited this small town during a graduation trip. In there, Xiao Yunshen had encountered Gu Qinghong, who was the same age as him but sickly and constantly reliant on medication, and Gu Mingxuan, who was worn out from struggling to make ends meet.

Though Xiao Yunshen had only lived with Gu Mingting, his nominal stepfather, for a few years in the Gu Family, he still retained some memories of his kind uncle and frail cousin.

But when he saw them again, Xiao Yunshen did nothing. He only kept in mind what Xiao Yu taught him, that the strong prey on the weak, and the Gu Family's downfall was their own fault for being incompetent, which allowed the Xiao Family to swallow them up.

Now, in this life, the healthy and thriving Gu Qinghong encountered the prematurely born, sickly Xiao Yunshen. Their fates had reversed… truly, what goes around comes around.

After leaving the small town, Gu Qinghong found himself in an inexplicably good mood.

As he put it in words, it felt as though a heavy weight pressing down on him had suddenly lifted.

However, the scene of Xiao Yu abusing Shi Yunyun left a deep impression on the three children.

After obtaining Gu Mingxuan's consent, the three children drafted a proposal and established a fund to support women suffering from domestic violence.

In this life, under Mingting's watchful care, Father and Mother Gu lived healthy lives and passed away at the ripe old age of 92.

The Gu family had long since transitioned to a new industry under Mingting's advice, and Gu Mingxuan's career soared to unprecedented heights, just as the wisher had hoped.

After Shen Tinglan's death, Mingting chose to leave the small world.

As the news of God Gu's death spread, his achievements in this life were also revealed one by one.

Beyond the countless trophies and honors, what moved people the most was that Mingting had quietly devoted himself to charity since his youth, even donating his entire fortune after his death.

As the media put it, God Gu had three great loves in his life: his wife, design, and philanthropy.

He is the eternal God Gu and the most dazzling star of this era.