“Yes.” Zhou Chiyu popped wontons one after another, furrowing his brow: “He’s really good to me when he’s sweet, but when he’s jealous, he goes a bit crazy sometimes.”
Everyone exchanged glances, growing ever more curious about Zhou Chiyu’s boyfriend.
“How crazy?” Gu Yuan suddenly asked after a long silence.
Zhou Chiyu said solemnly: “Forces a kiss on me.”
Everyone: “???”
After the meal, everyone went their separate ways.
Before attending Old Master Gu’s gathering, Gu Yuan was urgently summoned by Gu Cheng and left in a hurry.
“Little Yuan, sit.”
Gu Cheng had just been handling work and, as usual, received Gu Yuan’s physical exam report from the hospital. When he saw the infertility conclusion, he almost laughed at the child’s antics.
“Do you know about your exam report?”
Gu Cheng didn’t pause his work, continuing to process files while speaking to Gu Yuan: “I guess you saw it beforehand.”
Gu Yuan sat ramrod straight, unable to read Gu Cheng’s intentions.
He glanced lightly at the report and flipped a page: “Yes, I’ve seen it.”
“Just seen it?” Gu Cheng’s pen halted abruptly, a half-smile on his face: “Nothing from your hand in here?”
Gu Yuan’s fingertips paused, his gaze instinctively dropping.
The office suddenly grew exceptionally clear. He stared at the clock hands, even hearing their ticking.
“Dad.”
“I get it,” Gu Cheng’s gaze through his glasses swept over Gu Yuan’s feigned calm eyes, and he chuckled: “I just wanted to confirm my suspicions.”
The black leather chair creaked audibly as he leaned forward, placing the report in a drawer: “What you want to do is your decision, but your mom’s in late pregnancy—no stimulus for her.”
Gu Yuan suddenly gripped his sleeve: “Dad, my plan was always to tell everyone after Mom safely gives birth.”
Gu Cheng leaned back against the chair, meeting his eyes: “So you’ve made your decision? From what I know of you, you’ve prepared more. I want to know if you’ve harmed your own body.”
The wind outside the building roared deafeningly. Gu Yuan pressed his lips together, not expecting Gu Cheng to know everything—no explanation needed from him.
“Dad, rest assured, I haven’t harmed myself.”
Gu Cheng suddenly laughed: “Good.”
A moment of silence fell in the office. Gu Cheng picked up his fountain pen again, glancing at Gu Yuan’s pale face. “Some things—don’t let them out without full preparation. You know how much Grandpa values Little Fish. Not just that—Grandpa cares about the Gu Family’s reputation too. So many covet the Zhou Family inheritance. If Little Fish ends up with you, their spit could drown the Gu Family.”
Gu Yuan hadn’t considered that.
“I’m not saying this to stop you.”
A knock sounded at Gu Cheng’s office door just then; his assistant signaled urgent business.
“Grandpa values us, but the Gu Ming family is watching like hawks, itching to magnify any flaw of yours. Protect yourself—for Little Fish, and for me and Mom.”
Gu Cheng settled back, leisurely adjusting his tie: “Tonight’s gathering is important for us adults. You and your brother take care.”
“Mm.” Gu Yuan rose with Gu Cheng, watching his back. The words buried in his heart finally emerged: “Dad, you don’t oppose me and Little Fish?”
Gu Cheng didn’t turn, just chuckled softly: “Would opposing do any good?”
Back when he studied abroad, his best friend had committed suicide right before graduation. The reason was simple: family disapproved of marrying the boy he loved. Same-sex marriage wasn’t legal then, homosexuality heavily discriminated against, and with his friend’s family being a prominent local clan, the elders forbade it.
Gu Yuan said nothing more, just stared intently at Gu Cheng’s retreating figure.
“That child Little Fish is pitiful too. Forcibly separating you would be a second hurt for him.”
A trace of heartache showed in Gu Cheng’s eyes: “Walk your own path.”
Alone in the office, Gu Yuan slowly processed Gu Cheng’s words until dusk, when he finally left.
…
Lan Yi Mansion.
After Zhou Chiyu finished exchanging pleasantries with Old Master Gu and his friends, he went alone to the courtyard to wait for Gu Yuan.
Gu Cheng’s long talk with Gu Yuan left him uneasy.
He tried reassuring himself it was company business, but he still felt restless.
On the way there, Old Master Gu had told him this gathering included a partner from abroad. For the past two years, the Gu Corporation had wanted to joint-venture with a foreign group flush with capital for green building development, investing heavily in the Southeast Asian market. But that market was complex economically, requiring partners to share financial risks.
“Zhou Chiyu.”
Hearing Gu Feng’s voice, Zhou Chiyu frowned in distaste: “What?”
Gu Feng approached the pavilion, hands in pockets: “Why aren’t you with Gu Yuan today?”
“My brother has something to handle.” Zhou Chiyu made to leave, but Gu Feng blocked him with a raised hand: “I have something important to tell you.”
Zhou Chiyu followed skeptically to a secluded courtyard in the southwest corner. Pushing open the door, he saw familiar faces from the gathering.
“These are my friends. I want you to meet them.”
Gu Feng raised a brow: “I cleared it with Grandpa beforehand. He thinks I should introduce you to these young masters and misses to expand your network.”
Zhou Chiyu remained doubtful; he didn’t think Gu Feng was that kind-hearted.
“Young Master Zhou.”
The Chen Family’s Second Young Master approached Zhou Chiyu enthusiastically: “We always see you at gatherings but never got to meet. Today, we can finally be friends.”
Zhou Chiyu politely extended his hand: “Hello, you can call me Little Fish.”
Chen Chi shot Gu Feng a look and gently placed a hand on Zhou Chiyu’s shoulder: “Come on, brother. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
Zhou Chiyu hummed and followed Chen Chi’s steps.
Gu Feng turned, revealing a chilling sneer.
Earlier in the main hall, he’d heard Old Master Gu praise Gu Yuan’s cleverness to the partner—that proud look had never appeared in his eyes when looking at Gu Feng.
Didn’t the old man like Gu Yuan?
Once they got Zhou Chiyu drunk, they’d just wait for Gu Yuan to arrive.
Tonight, he would make Gu Yuan fall from grace.
