CH 48

In the Gu Group, only Gu Zhuang could be a match to the current CEO, Gu Yuanchen. However, as they were not descendants of the same grandfather, the ultimate power of the Gu family was in the hands of Gu Yuanchen.

It was well-known that Gu Yuanchen doted on his only son, Gu Nuan, and was willing to pay any price to pave the way for him. Therefore, if he had the opportunity to eliminate Gu Zhuang, he would not hesitate.

Gu Zhuang suddenly stood up and grabbed Gu Zhongyi by the collar. “Is it because of an Omega that you’ve lost your sanity?!”

Gu Zhongyi remained calm and composed. “Yes.”

“Just because of that stupid defective omega, you—”

“Please mind your words!”

Gu Zhongyi didn’t want to hear Gu Zhuang constantly insult Lin Yuxing. Gu Zhuang had no right to do so.

Angered, Gu Zhuang’s temples throbbed, and he angrily rebuked, “If you reveal these things to Gu Yuanchen and bring me down, the family will be finished! Do you really think that sly and cunning Gu Yuanchen would spare you?”

The family fortune would be lost overnight.

Without the background of the Gu family, Gu Zhongyi would become an ordinary person.

Little did he know, that was exactly what Gu Zhongyi wanted.

Gu Zhongyi calmly released Gu Zhuang’s hand, provocatively stating, “Then I should thank you for your strict ways in raising me, I know that even if I leave the Gu family, I won’t starve on the streets.”

“You?!”

Gu Zhuang widened his eyes, his hand grasping the edge of the table.

At middle age, he couldn’t withstand Gu Zhongyi’s repeated provocations. “I’ve really raised an ungrateful dog…”

Gu Zhongyi didn’t deny it. In his eyes, being “ungrateful” wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Both Lin Yuxing and himself were like that, a match made in heaven.

Thinking of this, Gu Zhongyi curled his lips.

He refrained from laughing, as Gu Zhuang would spit out blood if he did.

Gu Zhuang’s face turned iron gray. He had never lost control like that before. He gasped for breath, clutching his chest, and gritted his teeth, “Gu Zhongyi, that car accident must have driven you insane!”

“Then I should thank it.”

Gu Zhongyi sincerely thought so. He was grateful for that car accident, as it had completely straightened out his life.

Filled with anger, Gu Zhuang raised his hand and swung it.

Unexpectedly, that day Gu Zhongyi didn’t dodge.

Gu Zhuang’s slap landed solidly on his face, as if he wanted to end it all

Gu Zhongyi remained unmoved, his tone steady. “Now that you’ve vented your anger, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” He caught sight of the documents on the table but didn’t offer any further reminders.

Gu Zhongyi understood Gu Zhuang’s character.

Gu Zhuang valued bloodline inheritance, seeing Gu Zhongyi as his only heir or as a distorted form of solace. Therefore, no matter how fierce Gu Zhuang’s temper was, he wouldn’t truly harm Gu Zhongyi.

Clearly, Gu Zhongyi had been waiting for this day for a long time. He had made thorough preparations to ensure that Lin Yuxing would not be affected by any troubles brought about by the Gu family.

Gu Zhongyi left the villa.

Driving the car, one side of his face stung with pain. He glanced at the rearview mirror and furrowed his brows.

He didn’t want to worry Lin Yuxing, so he turned the car around and went to his own restaurant first.

Gu Zhongyi recalled the argument with Gu Zhuang just now, feeling like it was a dream. He still had lingering fear, never expecting that the plan would proceed so smoothly.

He wasn’t a person who could easily relax. He would tightly hold onto the evidence in his hands and never give Gu Zhuang a chance to approach Lin Yuxing.

The phone rang, and he received a call from the private investigator.

“Mr. Gu, is it convenient to talk now?”

“Please go ahead.”

“I found the owner of the number you gave me. He is a middle-aged man in his forties. Some time ago, a young Alpha male had borrowed his phone and paid him a sum of money, asking him not to answer unfamiliar calls or reply to any messages in the following months.”

Gu Zhongyi asked, “Do you have any physical characteristics of the person?”

The investigator regretfully answered, “He wore a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, covering himself completely. There was no surveillance footage when he borrowed the phone. However, he was tall and had a slender figure, like a model. His pheromones should be sandalwood.”

That description was quite broad. Tall, sandalwood pheromones—there were plenty of Alphas like that on the street.

Gu Zhongyi grasped onto a key point. “Sunglasses and a mask?”

Gu Zhongyi thought of the incident two years ago when Lin Yuxing was almost involved. Suddenly, he realized something. “Regarding the person I asked you to find, Qu Xing, have you found any information about him?”

“No, he disappeared completely after cutting ties with his foster father and returning to the country two years ago.”

“Keep searching, we must find Qu Xing.” Gu Zhongyi’s expression turned serious. “Don’t worry about the money.”

He hung up the phone and had a guess in his mind.

At that moment, Lin Yuxing suddenly sent three messages.

“[Senior, Liao Yan contacted me and said his relatives haven’t found a suitable tutor yet. He asked if I wanted to take the job. I don’t know if you’re busy, but he’s urging me for a reply, so I had to disturb you.]”

“I want to earn some money on the side. I still haven’t repaid you for the money you lent me.”

“Or is there a chance that you have the tutoring job still available for me?”

Gu Zhongyi replied without hesitation: “[Don’t agree to him, the job is still available.]”

Lin Yuxing quickly responded: “[Hamster nodding expression]”

………

The restaurant manager Zhang timely appeared in front of Gu Zhongyi. “Boss, here’s an ice pack for you to reduce the swelling.”

Gu Zhongyi accepted it and thanked him. He stared at Zhang thoughtfully.

Zhang felt a cold sweat on his back from being scrutinized. “Boss?”

“Manager Zhang,” Gu Zhongyi didn’t beat around the bush. “Do you remember the tutoring I mentioned last time?”

“How could I forget?”

Considering Lin Yuxing’s injury preventing him from going out, Gu Zhongyi suggested, “Starting the day after tomorrow, have your son come to my apartment for tutoring 2 hours every afternoon.”

“Your, your place?”

Gu Zhongyi openly said, “The tutor and I are living together.”

Understanding the situation, Zhang tried to please him. “We still have a monthly mortgage to pay at home. We can’t spare the money to find a tutor for our child at C University. Thank you so much, boss!”

Gu Zhongyi returned to his apartment with three dishes and a soup in his hand.

Standing at the door, the thought of Lin Yuxing waiting for him inside filled his entire chest with a strange feeling, like a glass bottle filled with water.

Gu Zhongyi took a deep breath and opened the door.

“I’m back.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Yuxing was standing at the entrance to greet him. Lin Yuxing’s eyebrows showed surprise, and his tone carried delight. “I was just wondering when you’ll be back, and you came in.”

Leaning on a crutch, Lin Yuxing happily approached Gu Zhongyi. What caught Lin Yuxing’s eye was the fading palm print on Gu Zhongyi’s face.

Since childhood, Lin Yuxing who was frequently beaten, was familiar with such palm prints. He lifted his right foot, hurriedly took a step forward, and instinctively covered Gu Zhongyi’s slightly swollen cheek.

Lin Yuxing’s face changed drastically as he didn’t dare to use much force. In a fluster, he asked, “Who hit you?”

Gu Zhongyi, immersed in the happiness of Lin Yuxing waiting for him at home, unintentionally held Lin Yuxing’s hand. He didn’t intend to deceive Lin Yuxing and casually said, “I had a conflict with my dad. He didn’t hold back, but it’s nothing.”

As he spoke, Gu Zhongyi’s gaze lingered on Lin Yuxing’s furrowed brow.

“Forget about it.”

Gu Zhongyi picked up the takeout bag in his hand, walked to the dining table, and began unpacking the food containers. Each dish was still steaming, clearly freshly cooked.

“Are you hungry?”

Turning around, Gu Zhongyi’s swollen cheek appeared like a thicket, making Lin Yuxing uncomfortable. Lin Yuxing couldn’t ignore it and nervously moved his Adam’s apple.

“Yuxing?”

Lin Yuxing’s heart tightened, wanting to continue asking, wanting to care for Gu Zhongyi, but he was very unfamiliar with all of this as it was his first time in a romantic relationship.

So much so that during the meal, Lin Yuxing hesitated several times, not knowing what to say or what to eat with his chopsticks.

Gu Zhongyi picked up the dish Lin Yuxing didn’t take and put it into his bowl.

Lin Yuxing felt a blockage in his heart and couldn’t help but say, “Did he hit you because of me?”

Gu Zhongyi knew he couldn’t hide it, so he paused.

Seeing through it all, Lin Yuxing said guiltily, “You helped me solve Auntie’s family matter, probably using Uncle Gu’s connections, right? So, I guessed if it’s because of that, I’m causing trouble for you.” He furrowed his brows, apologizing. “But if you don’t want to say, I won’t ask.”

Randomly picking up his chopsticks, he lowered his head and absentmindedly ate a mouthful of rice, tasteless.

Lin Yuxing didn’t dare to speculate excessively, taking those words as Gu Zhongyi’s overt hint.

Lin Yuxing didn’t expect his love would begin so quickly and end just as fast. He secretly felt sad, and his hands trembled between his fingers.

Just as he was about to say, “I understand, so are you breaking up with me?” he saw Gu Zhongyi walking up to him, kneeling on one knee, and placing his right hand on Lin Yuxing’s hand.

Confused, Lin Yuxing shrank back.

Gu Zhongyi didn’t intend to tell Lin Yuxing those things so early, but he believed there was no need to hide it.

After considering for a moment, Gu Zhongyi said, “If I decide to go against my dad’s wishes and completely break away from the Gu family, I will have nothing and may face some difficulties.”

Lin Yuxing widened his eyes, completely confused by Gu Zhongyi’s words.

Gu Zhongyi asked, “Are you willing to face it together with me?”

Lin Yuxing: “…”

Lin Yuxing: “?”

Lin Yuxing: “Huh?”

Of course, Isn’t that obvious?