Chapter 165 Gu Yu's Unresolved Feelings

Gu Yu and Zhou Dan's conversation ended abruptly, and Fatty Tang also walked out of the office."Come on, come on, it's payday, everyone line up."

He had a smile on his face, shouting for everyone to come over and get their money.

But no matter how you looked, you could see a hint of pain in his smile.

The students hunched over their desks surged forward upon hearing about pay, almost tearing at the clothes of the person ahead to push their way through.

Just moments ago, they were calling each other classmates and buddies, but now they seemed ready to swing fists at each other.

In the face of money within easy reach, these people no longer cared about the dignity they had always maintained.

It was as if the money in Manager Tang's hands would fly away if they were a moment too slow.

A sneer of mockery flickered in Tang Wenbin's eyes, aware that money could make the vast majority lose their senses, especially these poor students who came from remote areas.

"Haha, take it easy, take it easy!" Tang Wenbin stood on a stool and held the money high, forcing everyone to reach up for it.

To the side, Gu Yu saw this scene and couldn't help feeling as if he was… walking a dog?

But the students desperate for money didn't care at all, angling their heads up to grab the money from Tang Wenbin's hands.

Those who got their money retreated to a corner, smugly satisfied, while those who hadn't were even more envious, desperately squeezing forward.

Tang Wenbin deliberately slowed the pace at which he counted the money, making the crowd press in even closer.

"Haha... stop crowding, stop crowding, everyone will get their share!"

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"Give it here, give it here!"

"Manager Tang, give it to me first please!"

"Oi, you whippersnapper calling me manager, here, take an extra two hundred!"

"Manager Tang!"

"Manager Tang, give a bit more please!"

"..."

The office hall was in utter chaos, with sycophantic, obsequious compliments never ceasing.

Listening to it made Gu Yu and others furrow their brows, Kang Jia's teeth nearly splintering from clenching.

These people, they've lost all their spine!

A few hundred dollars and they're bowing and scraping— are these the elite students of Haidong University?

Announcing it out loud would only invite ridicule!

"Tang Wenbin, please respect my students! They all have dignity!"

Qin Hong couldn't stand it anymore and stood up to walk toward Tang Wenbin.

Yet another figure moved faster than she did.

Gu Yu stepped forward and kicked the stool under Tang Wenbin's feet to pieces.

That's right! He shattered it, the legs and board of the stool flying apart!

As Tang Wenbin fell down that instant, Gu grabbed a stack of money from his hand and flung it into the air.

The hundred-yuan notes fell like pink petals scattering in the air.

"Gu… you..."

Qin Hong was shocked, as was everyone else; they hadn't expected Gu Yu to do something like that.

"Slap——"

"Ouch!"

Tang Wenbin fell to the ground with a cry of pain. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Those around took several steps back.

"Those who trample over others' dignity and those who give up their own don't deserve respect!"

Gu Yu glanced coldly at Tang Wenbin on the ground and the students with faces full of panic.

"Let's go. And you guys in the corner, shall we go together?"

Gu Yu took Lin Xin's hand, calling over to Boss Pu's group, Kang Jia, and the three students standing in the corner who hadn't rushed to grab the money.

They looked at each other, especially the three guys in the corner. Seeing Kang Jia and Hu Shuo following Gu Yu, they hesitated no more, didn't even pick up the money on the ground, and left Sword Barrier Network with him.

"Hey! You guys!"

Qin Hong hadn't expected things to turn out this way. The usually composed her stomped her foot in frustration and wanted to follow them out.

But upon seeing the money scattered all over the floor, she hesitated for a moment before she picked out the shares belonging to Kang Jia and his friends and then ran after them.

As for the students still standing there in shock, she didn't bother with them anymore.

What Gu Yu said was perhaps too extreme, but not without reason.

Hopefully, this would serve as a good lesson for them!

"I finally understand why so many people have been tricked into joining Sword Barrier Network. They can't even preserve the most basic lines of human decency; it's no wonder they're being deceived."

"Perhaps a person can sell their dignity for money out of sheer helplessness, but they should never sell their dignity for just an extra hundred or two hundred yuan!"

"Besides, they represent the face of Haidong University and the dignity of all of us who study here at Haidong!"

Gu Yu, furious, ranted and raved at the air, yet he didn't lose his temper with anyone around him.

Not lashing out at those around him was also a line he wouldn't cross in his character.

Once, before he came to Modu.

In the days when he was so poor he couldn't even afford tea eggs, he degraded himself by squatting around the vegetable vendors as they closed shop.

That way, he could buy a pile of wilted vegetables that the vendors intended to throw away for one yuan, or even less.

It was part charity, part sale.

That was the lowest point in his life; his dignity was only worth a few coins.

But he had never trampled on his own dignity like that. Before the vendors set up their stalls the next day, he would help them clean their stands.

Those vegetables were obtained with his own money and effort.

His grandmother always said that a man's knees hold gold, and a gentleman's words should be considerate.

If a man belittles himself in his actions and words, then he will never grow up to be a great man, a true gentleman!

Why don't these people understand!

He couldn't understand why those from poor backgrounds didn't have more backbone. Shouldn't they stand proud in the world like frost-resistant plum blossoms?

"Yu, don't be angry anymore... Look at you, your face has gone red."

"You're about to scare me!"

Lin Xinyue said softly, comforting Gu Yu as she held his arm.

Although she didn't know why Gu Yu was so furious over the matter, she knew that he needed someone to soothe him at that moment.

No need to ask why, and no need to do much—gentle words of comfort were enough.

A girlfriend's comfort indeed has its limits.

Soon, Gu Yu's mood gradually calmed down, and his footsteps also began to slow.

"Mmm... I was a bit excessive,"

Gu Yu stopped walking and fell silent for a few seconds, then sincerely apologized to everyone.

Boss Pu and the others, who had hurried to catch up with Gu Yu, were sweating profusely.

But they still quickly waved their hands: "Laosi, we all understand how you feel."

"You're just too kind-hearted and can't stand to see the darker side of humanity and society."

Pu Tongren had known Gu Yu for three years; how could he not understand what kind of person he was?

Although Gu Yu usually seemed idle and indifferent to everything when there was nothing troubling him,

Pu Tongren knew that Gu Yu was actually a long-term donor to the Deai Foundation's orphan support project.

Even when life was tough before, he would save a few dozen to a hundred yuan every month to donate to the orphans.

He had found out about it when he once helped Gu Yu pick up a package.

The delivery bag had accidentally torn open, revealing a thank-you letter from the foundation inside and drawings by the assisted orphans.

He knew about this, and he had kept it to himself.

Laosi's kindness was ingrained in him.

Even his own startup, Ideal Paradise, from the various company policies, Laosi actually also wished to create a healthy and harmonious company.

He wanted to change the status quo of the industry, to use his modest means to try to alleviate the suffering in the world as much as possible.

So the reason he just got angry with those students who were groveling must have been a kind of frustration, being upset at their lack of steel in their character!

"Just now, I was impulsive. Old Kang, and you guys, let's go back and get your salaries. It is, after all, what you've worked for."

"If we can't get it back, I'll cover it personally."

Calmed by everyone's soothing, Gu Yu had completely relaxed.

He spoke apologetically to Kang Jia and the others with him.

No matter what, they had to get their money back; it was their hard-earned cash.

Just as Gu Yu was getting ready to head back with them, Qin Hong finally caught up.

"I've finally caught up to you guys. Here's ten thousand yuan for the five of you; you don't have to go back."

Qin Hong placed a wad of cash into Kang Jia's hand, smiling as he breathed heavily.

...

(As for me, the author, I am currently a long-term donor, with little influence and just a modest contribution. Please understand.)