Chapter 305: The Gu and Ke Families Forge a Qin‑Jin Alliance

Gu Yinxue doesn't resemble Gu Sen and Song Shiwei, and the elders of the Gu Family all know it; someone has been gossiping about it behind the scenes.

Even though Gu Sen and his wife explained it as a generational inheritance, it still didn't shut everyone's mouths.

Once, after hearing that, Gu Yinxue silently cried alone in a corner until she fell asleep; by the time Gu Sen and Song Shiwei went to find her, the child had already developed a high fever.

Illnesses like fever and colds can easily trigger heart disease, which scared Gu Sen and his wife; when they took the child to the hospital, they also did a paternity test.

"I visited that time," Ms. Nian recalled, "Gu Sen used the paternity test to silence the gossip; afterward no one dared to spread rumors. In this generation of the Gu Family there are only two girls, and Gu Yinxue, being Gu Sen's daughter, is said to be very pampered in the Gu Family."

Ke Fu looked at his son, his expression slightly serious: "The Gu Family's situation differs from ours, the Ke Family; some words, even if merely doubtful, must not be spoken recklessly, as they would bring trouble to the Gu Family—disaster comes from the mouth."

Ke Zhongyu understood his father's meaning.

Gu Yinxue had undergone a paternity test and is the biological daughter of Uncle Gu and Song Nvshi; therefore, regardless of who outside looks like Uncle Gu or Song Nvshi, nothing may be said carelessly—speaking would imply one side had an affair. The Gu Family has many political enemies, and a slight misstep could bring them down.

In Ke Zhongyu's mind, Jiang Lai's image surfaced—could he really be overthinking?

Ke Fu saw his doubt, patted his shoulder: "There are many people who look alike in the world; is it Jiang Lai who wants to find her own family, or is that your own thought?"

Ms. Nian also looked over.

"So far I haven't seen A Lai having that idea," Ke Zhongyu said, finding the name A Lai increasingly easy to say, "I can't claim to go find her family, but the Gu Family's attitude toward A Lai is very strange."

Ms. Nian: "Strange?"

Ke Fu: "How so?"

Ke Zhongyu listed his doubts: "Uncle Gu is overly focused on A Lai; the reason is not obvious, yet no malice is detected."

"Gu Yinxue's excessive attention to A Lai is not, in my view, because of me. Even though she appears approachable, she inherently carries the superiority of being born into the Gu Family. Facing A Lai's background, even if I like A Lai a lot, Gu Yinxue would not think A Lai could threaten her position; as soon as she says a word, the elders of the family will step in for her."

Ke Fu and Ms. Nian were both stunned by the last two sentences and exchanged a glance.

Ke Zhongyu caught his parents' gaze: "It seems the Gu Family elders have already approached my parents."

Facing such a perceptive son, Ke Fu and Ms. Nian were not surprised, nor did they conceal anything.

Ms. Nian: "Song Shiwei has approached my husband and you; the intention is for the Gu Family and the Ke Family to forge a Qin‑Jin level friendship."

Ke Zhongyu's expression grew cold.

Ke Fu finished his hot water, set down the cup, and calmly said, "Your mother and I did not agree; to some extent, your mother and I will not interfere with your marriage choice concerning Chongying."

Ke Zhongyu understood.

Moreover, his parents cannot interfere with his own choice.

This confidence has been his since he fully took command of the Ke Clan's authority, a complete recognition and trust in his own ability.

"However," Ms. Nian said with some concern, "I might cause you some trouble. My surname is Nian, you are also a child of the Nian Family, and the Nian Family's friendship with the Gu Family is very deep."

The Nian Family's ancestral home is in H Province, later settled in B City.

The Gu Family's ancestral home is in J Province, later settled in B City.

H Province and J Province both have vivid, prominent entries in modern and contemporary history books, as one can imagine.

Ms. Nian and Gu Sen grew up in the same courtyard, which was once the place closest to the flag‑raising site.

Ke Zhongyu corrected, "Ms. Nian, what you bring me is never called trouble, only support."

Ms. Nian smiled, turned back to her husband and sighed, "Suddenly I feel that taking him around before he was even born seems a bit unfair to him."

Ke Fu: "…"

Ke Zhongyu: "?"

He looked at the two of them with puzzlement.

In their eyes, there was no trace of him as a son at all.

Ke Fu looked at his wife, a hint of resentment in his eyes, and let out a helpless sigh: "Zhao Ning, the only person you have wronged is me; I've searched everywhere at home and abroad, while you leisurely vacation on the island with the son, with every nanny and bodyguard present. The only thing that has wronged the son is that his darkness doesn't resemble anything either of us could have produced."

Ke Zhongyu: "…"

He seemed to have learned something he shouldn't have known.

Ms. Nian continued smiling, "Indeed, like a little piece of charcoal; I didn't expect that after raising him he'd turn out white."

Ke Zhongyu sat upright and said, "Mr. Ke, Ms. Nian, as the 'black charcoal' you refer to, shouldn't I have some right to know?"

"There's not much that can't be said," Ms. Nian said in a few words, recounting the past: "Your father's father saved my father's life; my father and your father were betrothed as children, though neither of us wanted it."

Ke Fu: "I wasn't unwilling."

"You first stop interrupting," Ms. Nian continued, "but we couldn't force both sets of parents; since we were born into such a family and enjoy wealth, we indeed have to fulfill some responsibilities. The third time I met your father we signed the marriage certificate and held a banquet. Your father, when he was young, could attract butterflies like you; when he stood there, people would cling to him. You have a bit of a good side—you speak a lot—but you also easily offend young ladies; the young ladies don't dare approach you lightly."

"I was bothered by your father's admirers; I went on a vacation to relax, and who knew I was pregnant? Thinking about the pregnancy, I shouldn't have dealt with all that fuss, until after I gave birth to you, when you were almost a year old, your father came back."

Ke Zhongyu raised his hand and pinched the temples on both sides of his forehead.

Headache.

So there was actually such a story.

He looked at his father: "Does it really take this long to find someone?"

Ke Fu: "…"

Rebel son.

"Are the bodyguards around your mother ordinary people? If she wants to hide her trail, can it be found just by spending money?" Ke Fu glared at his son, "It's easy to talk while standing without feeling the strain."

Ke Zhongyu said nothing further.

Ke Fu stood up: "I'm going to rest."

As the person walked away a bit, Ke Zhongyu looked at his mother: "He is sad."

Ms. Nian said, "We'll coax him later; going to your grandfather's house for New Year this year might cause trouble, so don't be too impulsive. Mom will also deal with them."

"We have already listened to our parents' elders, and we don't want our children to still face the same predicament; that would be our inaction as parents."

"Oh right, tomorrow we will go have a meal with your Uncle Gu, and you should come too. I'm a bit tired today, and I still need to comfort your father. We'll discuss your and Jiang Lai's matters in detail tomorrow."

Ke Zhongyu nodded.

Ms. Nian got up and left.

Ke Zhongyu sat on the sofa again for a while, and Ke Zhongying pushed the door open and came in, looking utterly lifeless, like a zombie, and sat down beside Ke Zhongyu.

Brother, pour me some water, I can't take it anymore, I'm dying.

She flopped directly onto the sofa.

Ke Zhongyu looked at her with utter disdain, but didn't stop pouring the water.

Ke Zhongying tapped her water cup against her brother's hand: "Cheers, congratulations to me for finally getting the correct data after a day and night."

After finishing the drink, she continued to lie slumped on the sofa, eyes closed, saying: "Don't bother me, just let me sleep here."

Oh right, I haven't replied to Sister Jiang Lai's message all day, where's my phone...

She felt for her phone with her eyes closed; Ke Zhongyu handed it to her, and the moment she opened her eyes and unlocked it, Ke Zhongyu saw his own profile picture and Jiang Lai's at the top.

But this note.

Who's a ball? Ke Zhongzu said in a low voice.

Ke Zhongying: "My brother..."

Having said that, she flung her eyes open, quickly sat up, rubbed her head, and said: "Brother, I can explain."

Ke Zhongyu: "Eh, your research funding is gone."

Ke Zhongying: "..."

I'm going to tell Sister Jiang Lai that you're bullying me.

Ke Zhongyu: "You'd better make her come scold me on her own."

Ke Zhongying: "Heh, that won't kill you."

Ke Zhongyu could not deny it.