Chapter 367: Back at the Gu Family, Your Surname Is Gu

The matter of Gu Yinxue falling ill and going to the hospital during the night reached the Gu family's old residence bright and early.

The family was eating breakfast in the dining room. Gu Kai frowned and said, "Treating her like a precious treasure day in and day out—what else could possibly make someone so angry they fall ill?"

The old man in the head seat was lost in thought.

Very few people in the family knew about Gu Sen's daughter's matter; even Gu Hai only had a half-understanding of it—after all, the fewer people who knew about this kind of disreputable affair, the better.

Although Gu Kai was the old man's own son, the old man was the head of the household and had to act in the interests of the entire family, so of course he wouldn't tell his son everything.

The old man said nothing, and Gu Kai continued, "This marriage arrangement with the Nian Family is hanging by a thread."

The old man lifted his eyelids and looked straight at Gu Kai.

Gu Kai met the old man's eyes: "Ke Zhongyu's wings have long since hardened. The Nian Family most likely can't do anything about him, not to mention Nian Zhaoning and Ke Yue backing him up from above. The couple dote on the girlfriend Ke Zhongyu is currently dating. I looked into it, and it's no wonder."

He had someone pass the materials over to the old man.

"She has the looks, she has the talent, and her reputation and standing are being built up. The only drawback is that she doesn't have a good family background, but that can't overcome Ke Zhongyu's fondness for her. A man like Ke Zhongyu, throwing money, connections, and resources at it, could elevate someone to an even higher position in no time."

"The key is that she won't be bound by the constraints of a marriage alliance. Anyone would know how to choose." Gu Kai saw that the old man had already received the materials and added one more sentence, "This girl is named Jiang Lai."

The old man's back stiffened.

He first glanced at Gu Kai, then looked at the thin single sheet of paper—it wasn't any kind of systematic dossier, just excerpts pasted from news articles.

The old man had never been accustomed to using electronic devices and still maintained the habit of reading newspapers and magazines, so everyone could only accommodate him this way.

The text on it was very large, and the photos were enlarged too; precisely because they were enlarged, they were a bit blurry. Gu Kai was already a man in his fifties and didn't notice that the person in the photos bore some resemblance to Gu Sen in his younger days.

"Jiang Lai?" The old man murmured the name. "The Jiang Lai who grew up at the Fuli Yuan in G Province and is now in A City?"

Gu Kai said in surprise, "You know about her?"

The old man didn't respond. He continued, "Academician Cui's student, earning national-level honors at a young age. Major companies fought tooth and nail over her project, and in the end the Ke Clan won the bid. Proximity gives advantage—so Ke Zhongyu fell for her."

"Yin Xue and Zhongyu could barely be considered to have grown up together; at the very least, they'd see each other every year either at the Nian Family or at our place. She didn't seize the opportunity at all—who knows what she was thinking."

The old man's attention was no longer on Gu Yinxue at all, but on this Jiang Lai—who not only had honors heaped upon her but had also won Ke Zhongyu's favor.

Who said the marriage between the Gu family and the Ke Family couldn't come to fruition?

……

Ke Zhongyu dropped Jiang Lai off at the entrance of the venue and said to her, "I'm going back to the Nian Family this morning, and I have some business this afternoon, so I'm not sure I'll be on time to pick you up. I'll have Ke Zhongying come over first. When you're done, let her take you around B City to relax, and I'll come find you after I'm finished."

Jiang Lai kept looking at him, somewhat lost in thought.

Ke Zhongyu reached out and pinched her earlobe, saying in a low voice, "Did you hear me? Apart from Ke Zhongying, don't just go off with anyone."

Jiang Lai couldn't help but smile a little and nodded, "Mm."

She liked hearing Ke Zhongyu talk like this in his nagging way.

Just like the heartbeat she heard while nestled in his arms this morning—like an alternative kind of white noise that made one feel peaceful.

She took the initiative to give Ke Zhongyu a hug.

Ke Zhongyu gently stroked the back of her head, "Don't overthink it. Isn't there a sub-forum? One where you're in your element, Dr. Jiang. Focus on the sub-forum."

Jiang Lai drew in his scent and energy, then walked inside under Ke Zhongyu's gaze, meeting up with Elder Shen and the others partway.

Xiao Qian couldn't help but say, "Why does it feel like President Ke is dropping a kid off at school?"

Jiang Lai had never had the experience of a parent dropping her off at school, and Xiao Qian's words suddenly made it feel novel and warm.

Jiang Lai looked back once. Ke Zhongyu was still standing there, straight and upright. She gazed at Ke Zhongyu and broke into a smile.

When Jiang Lai smiled occasionally, her smile was very faint, her lips pressed together, never showing her teeth. This time was no exception—she still didn't show her teeth, but the upward curve of her mouth and her crescent-shaped eyes were like a new moon.

Ke Zhongyu sent her a message on his phone, half in jest: 【Stop flirting with me.】

This morning alone, Jiang Lai had flirted him out of his wits.

Who could refuse someone who, when feeling upset, would obediently nestle into her boyfriend's arms for self-healing? There was dependence, there was trust, and there was also inner resilience.

Whether other men loved this kind of thing, he didn't know—but when Jiang Lai did it, it moved his heart and made him feel utterly entranced.

Jiang Lai had always been good at casting aside distractions when it came to serious matters. Especially since today's seminar didn't have a repeat of yesterday's situation, and no one from the Gu family appeared here, there was nothing to interfere with Jiang Lai.

The seminar ended with a large group photo.

Xiao Qian wasn't used to B City's dryness and the drastic temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, so she headed straight for the high-speed rail station. Between A City and B City there was a fastest high-speed train, popularly known as the "workhorse express," which only stopped once along the way.

Elder Shen had old friends in B City and was staying a few more days; of course Shen Bingrui was staying to accompany his grandfather.

As for Jiang Lai, everyone knew she would definitely be with President Ke.

The group reached the roadside, where Ke Zhongying was already waiting. She called out "Sister Jiang Lai," then got out of the car and trotted over.

Jiang Lai told her to slow down.

Ke Zhongying laughed and said it was fine, she was a grown adult, then dutifully greeted everyone and stayed beside Jiang Lai to see them off.

Just as the two were about to get in the car, a vehicle stopped in front of Ke Zhongying's car. The driver got out and walked straight toward Jiang Lai, opening with, "Miss Jiang, my old master requests your presence."

Ke Zhongying immediately blocked the way, "Which family? The Gu family?"

Jiang Lai's first reaction was—Ke Zhongyu had even predicted this? That was why he told her this morning not to go off with just anyone, and had Chongying come over.

Was there anything Ke Zhongyu couldn't anticipate?

"Sorry, I don't have time." Jiang Lai kept Ke Zhongyu's words in mind and refused on the spot.

Ke Zhongying crossed her arms, "Did you hear that? She doesn't have time."

The driver told Jiang Lai to wait a moment; he was going to ask the person in the car. Just as he reached the car, the old man came out leaning on his cane.

Ke Zhongying was taken aback—Grandpa Gu had actually come in person?

This was an elder, after all.

The old man of the Gu family was advanced in age and walked somewhat slowly. Looking at Jiang Lai in the flesh rather than in a photograph, he couldn't help but sigh, "Even her bearing is so alike."

Jiang Lai knew what he meant.

"Child, my surname is Gu. By generational order, you should call me Second Grandfather. You are a child of our Gu family."

Jiang Lai: "Grandpa, my surname is Jiang."

Old Master Gu heard Jiang Lai's refusal, feeling a bit surprised—how could there be a child who doesn't want to acknowledge their ancestors and return to the clan? The Gu family isn't just any ordinary family.

Old Master Gu also pretended not to understand, saying: "That was in the past; now you have family, return home—your surname is Gu."