CH 47

After leaving the apartment, Gu Zhongyi’s smile remained on his lips. Even while driving, he couldn’t help but savor the light kiss from Lin Yuxing.

The taste may have been lacking, but the significance lay in the initiative.

Gu Zhongyi was in a pleasant mood, and the places he was about to visit no longer seemed dull or troublesome to him.

However, when he drove his car into the exquisite and familiar villa, he restrained his expression and put on a serious demeanor.

He parked the car, picked up a file bag placed on the passenger seat, and stepped on the stone path, entering the main hall as usual.

Qiu Jie was directing the housekeepers to change the flower arrangements in the vases when she saw him. She exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master, why are you back? Why didn’t you inform us in advance?”

Gu Zhongyi calmly retorted, “I’m returning to my own home. Do I need to inform anyone?”

Qiu Jie was a member of the Gu family.

When Gu Zhongyi was young, she often reported his mischievous behavior to his father.

Qiu Jie wasn’t used to Gu Zhongyi’s assertive attitude, and she felt aggrieved but maintained a respectful smile as she said, “It was my mistake for speaking without thinking, Young Master. Please wait a moment, I’ll inform Mr. Gu.”

“Father is in the study, right? I’ll go find him.”

“Young Master!” Qiu Jie stood in front of him, afraid of being implicated by that unruly Young Master. “To be honest, Mr. Gu has been looking for you these past few days, and you never came or answered his calls. He’s angry. He might not want to see you. Moreover, Madam isn’t home today. If you two have a conflict, won’t it make things difficult for me?”

Gu Zhongyi looked at her meaningfully.

Qiu Jie asked, “Young Master?”

Gu Zhongyi said, “I kindly ask you to know your place.”

“Young Master, what do you mean—”

Gu Zhongyi interrupted her, not wanting to waste too much time. “As the housekeeper of this household, aren’t you being overly talkative?”

Gu Zhongyi was well aware of Qiu Jie’s secret relationship with Gu Zhuang, but he simply looked down on it. Clearly, Gu Zhuang had driven away Su Suo, who was a housekeeper, from their home in the past, only to repeat the same “mistake” a few years later.

Except for Xu Wanling and Gu Zhuang’s superficial appearance as a couple, Xu Wanling didn’t care about them or hold them accountable.

Gu Zhongyi knocked on the study door twice.

“It’s me.”

Inside, Gu Zhuang didn’t respond, intentionally it seemed.

But Gu Zhongyi wouldn’t simply wait. His mind was filled with thoughts of Lin Yuxing waiting for him at home, which gave him confidence.

Gu Zhongyi pushed the door open directly.

Gu Zhuang sat solemnly behind his desk, with a cold cup of tea beside him. He frowned disapprovingly. “Who allowed you to come in?”

Gu Zhongyi calmly replied, “I have something to discuss with you and don’t want to waste too much time. Please understand.”

Gu Zhuang stared at Gu Zhongyi sharply. “You’re becoming more unruly day by day.”

Qiu Jie hurriedly stepped forward to explain, “Mr. Gu, I tried to stop him, but Young Master didn’t listen to me.”

Gu Zhuang narrowed his eyes, a hint of anger between his brows.

Gu Zhongyi ignored Qiu Jie and walked confidently to stand in front of  his father, holding the conspicuous file in his hand. “About this matter, I believe it would be better if there were no outsiders present.”

Gu Zhuang furrowed his brow.

He raised his hand, signaling for Qiu Jie to leave.

Feeling frustrated, Qiu Jie reluctantly exited the study. Knowing Gu Zhuang’s temper, she never dared to make a fuss.

In that villa, she wasn’t allowed to bear children, let alone be presumptuous. Gu Zhuang would always give her some money as compensation for her dedicated service, but he never showed her any concern.

After the door closed, Gu Zhuang spoke coldly, “Speak.”

Gu Zhongyi didn’t beat around the bush and straightforwardly informed Gu Zhuang, “I’m in a relationship with someone, and after graduation, I plan to marry him.”

Gu Zhuang’s fingers silently tapped on the armrest of his chair, without saying a word.

“I’m not here to seek your approval.”

“…”

Gu Zhongyi knew very well that Gu Zhuang was responsible for Cheng Rong’s leg injury, and he understood how ruthless Gu Zhuang could be.

Previously, Gu Zhuang hadn’t intervened in Gu Zhongyi’s relationship with Lin Yuxing because he was preoccupied with other matters and hadn’t realized that Lin Yuxing was the little star from the orphanage. He also didn’t expect that that impoverished Omega could pass the C University entrance exam, which was his negligence.

Furthermore, Gu Zhuang was inherently old-fashioned. He believed that it wasn’t a big deal for an adult Alpha to have played with a few Omegas. The Omegas in C University were still suitable targets for his son to have fun with.

As long as Gu Zhongyi didn’t tarnish the Gu family’s reputation and ultimately married the person designated by him, Gu Zhuang would not interfere.

However, the incident in D City unexpectedly revealed his son’s “cheap sincerity.”

And it happened to be that little star.

“Tsk.” Gu Zhuang felt somewhat frustrated.

But he wasn’t bothered by it. He believed it was effortless to crush an ant. What truly annoyed him was Gu Zhongyi’s repeated defiance.

He said coldly, “What? Do you need my congratulations?”

“No, I don’t.” Gu Zhongyi knew Gu Zhuang’s character well and needed to make everything clear in advance. “I hope you can stay away from his life and not trip him up as you did in the past.”

“…”

“I’m sure you already know who he is.” Gu Zhongyi calmly revealed, “Four years ago, you caused Cheng Rong’s leg injury and burdened him with debts. You also made them wander from place to place, completely cutting off my contact with him.”

Gu Zhongyi had lived ten extra years, and he knew everything.

During those dark ten years, he acted as Gu Zhuang’s puppet.

Gu Zhuang had unrealistic dreams. He desired to replace Gu Yuanchen and wanted Gu Zhongyi to replace Gu Nuan.

Desire is the ugliest fruit that grows deep within a person’s heart. Father and son were ultimately no match for the sun, and they eventually reaped what they sowed.

After Gu Zhuang was imprisoned, Gu Zhongyi visited him once.

Gu Zhuang, dressed in prison clothes, resembled a stray dog, looking crazy and deranged. Pitifully, he was still spouting delusional dreams, fantasizing that his son could help him make a comeback.

But Gu Zhongyi, who had been expelled from the Gu family, was like a walking corpse.

Fortunately, his uncle, Gu Yuanchen, as an elder, took the initiative to look after Gu Zhongyi.

“I have heard about how your father treated you during these years. Zhongyi, I hope you don’t live under your father’s shadow. You’re still young.” Gu Yuanchen handed over a small company under the Gu Group to Gu Zhongyi. “It’s impossible for you to return to the headquarters. As a father, I don’t want you to influence Gu Nuan. This small company doesn’t generate much profit, but it’s up to you if you want to run it.”

That year, Gu Zhongyi was 28 years old.

He accepted Gu Yuanchen’s goodwill and sincerely apologized.

After breaking free from Gu Zhuang, Gu Zhongyi gradually started living like a normal person. He worked diligently and lived earnestly, reigniting his hope of finding Little Star.

With the help of a private investigator, he found “Lin Yuxing.”

But he didn’t know that that troubled “Lin Yuxing” was not the real Little Star but the twin brother of Lin Yuxing, Qu Xing.

The real Little Star, who had endured hardships, had disappeared completely from that world after being driven away by Gu Zhuang.

Facing Qu Xing’s repeated coldness and indifference, Gu Zhongyi never left.

Finally, one day, Qu Xing erupted.

He threw the fruit Gu Zhongyi had bought onto the ground, screaming like a madman, “I’ve already told you I don’t like you. Why are you still clinging here? Are you crazy? Are you obsessed?”

He insulted Gu Zhongyi vehemently, his body thin like a dry stick. “Can you stop bothering me?”

Gu Zhongyi endured Qu Xing’s inexplicable rage and silently cleaned up the mess.

With red eyes, Qu Xing approached the brink of collapse. “Gu Zhongyi… I’m not the person you’re looking for. I’m not him! Please, leave me alone…”

He anxiously wiped his face, looking like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to fall irreparably. To make Gu Zhongyi believe him, he began rummaging through boxes.

He couldn’t bear Gu Zhongyi’s gentle silence. For him, it was like a form of torture.

Soon, he found a photo he had carried with him since childhood and forcefully handed it to Gu Zhongyi.

On the faded and worn-out photo, a pair of twin boys sat intimately together, with the orphanage director by their side.

On the back of the photo, a line was written: Lin Yuheng and Lin Yuxing, eighth birthday photo.

Qu Xing was Lin Yuheng. After being adopted, he changed his name along with his foster parents.

Gu Zhongyi held the photo, belatedly realizing its significance. He panicked, feeling a stifling surge of emotions in his throat.

Before him, Qu Xing’s eyes were clouded, devoid of light. Gu Zhongyi finally saw the expression on Qu Xing’s face, an expression that Little Star had never shown.

Qu Xing said, “If you want to find him, I know where he is. But there’s a condition… You have to help me.”

“How can I help?” Gu Zhongyi asked.

Qu Xing tugged at the corner of his mouth, full of resentment. “Help me die soon! My glands are rotten, beyond saving. Now, I just want to die quickly. Will you help me?!”

“Gu Zhongyi, if there comes a day…” Qu Xing paused and continued, “I mean if, and you can still see him. Remember to smile more. He doesn’t like being ignored. Give him more love, more patience, and more tenderness.”

Qu Xing gazed outside the window, feeling melancholic. He watched a flock of birds flying by.

Gu Zhongyi followed his gaze, foolishly thinking, “If I find him, I can go back home too.”

Gu Zhongyi’s sole long-held wish was to follow that star that had given him brief warmth.

That was his obsession, transforming stubbornly into friendship, love, family, or perhaps a deeper emotion. Gu Zhongyi couldn’t explain it clearly; he only knew that he had to find that shining star and never be separated again.

Therefore…

Gu Zhongyi issued an “ultimatum” to Gu Zhuang.

He opened the file bag and placed several documents in front of Gu Zhuang. Gu Zhuang’s angry expression was tinged with panic upon seeing them.

Gu Zhuang glared at him, as if asking Gu Zhongyi how he obtained those documents.

But Gu Zhongyi couldn’t tell Gu Zhuang that all that information came from the past uncovered after Gu Zhuang’s imprisonment in that world.

Gu Zhongyi’s attitude remained respectful as he calmly spoke the words that Gu Zhuang feared the most, “These are just the tip of the iceberg. You should be well aware of what you’ve done all these years.”

Gu Zhuang’s gaze turned sinister as he spoke, “Gu Zhongyi, you are my son.”

“So I am correcting your mistakes.”

“…”

“My request is simple, and I believe you can do it.”

Gu Zhuang took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

“Stay away from Lin Yuxing, and the secret will remain a secret.” Gu Zhongyi understood the ultimate outcome of this struggle within the Gu family and clearly stated his position. “You are my biological father, and I won’t send you to jail. But—”

Gu Zhongyi’s voice turned cold. “If Uncle Tang sees these documents, do you think he would let you off?”