Chapter 453: We Must Win Once We Make a Move

Gu Zhiyan nodded: "It's only possible if you go back; Dad said, said… I can't deal with her, so I can't deal with them either."

Ke Zhongyu at this moment feels Gu Zhiyan actually has a fair amount of self‑awareness.

If Gu Zhiyan could handle any member of the Gu family, he wouldn't be unable to be the master of his own life even at thirty.

Jiang Lai drinks half a cup of tea, still feels her throat is very dry.

Gu Zhiyan keeps looking at Jiang Lai, this biological younger sister who has been wandering outside for twenty‑eight years; whether in appearance or demeanor, she truly resembles their father a lot.

"The old master is trying every way to call you back; he relies on you, the Gu family relies on you, you have little feeling for the Gu family, you've never called him dad, and if you go back they won't doubt it."

"Precisely because of that, from their perspective I won't return easily, I won't go back voluntarily, otherwise they'll be suspicious." Jiang Lai lifts her eyes to the somewhat bewildered Gu Zhiyan, her gaze far more resolute than his.

Ke Zhongyu, upon hearing, immediately knows Jiang Lai actually already has a plan in mind.

Whatever Jiang Lai does, he will support.

So he came up with an idea.

"As soon as Qingming arrives, the Gu family will definitely call you back to perform ancestor rites."

The Gu family would love for everyone to know that the rising star in the research world is a member of their family; how could they let such an opportunity slip.

Gu Zhiyan still anxious: "It still takes more than ten days."

Ke Zhongyu said lightly: "The Gu family won't really do anything to Uncle Gu; don't forget the economic lifeline of your family is still in Uncle Gu's hands. Do you think power is just power? Economics has always been the foundation."

Jiang Lai looks at Ke Zhongyu: "What are you thinking?"

Ke Zhongyu, who just moments ago gave Gu Zhiyan a scowl, softens his gaze the instant he looks at Jiang Lai, and his tone also drops.

"What you wanted to know last night is exactly this. I said I'd tell you once the specifics are clear; the first step remains this: figure out Uncle Gu's current situation, the antecedents that led to this condition…"

He looks at Gu Zhiyan: "Later, recount everything you know from start to finish."

"Based on the antecedents and current situation, infer the consequences, prepare, then go over." Ke Zhongyu looks at Jiang Lai, "So far the info I got from Ms. Nian is that Uncle Gu knelt in the ancestral hall for three days, then fell ill, was taken to a hospital, visitors are prohibited, and we don't even know which hospital."

Gu Zhiyan pauses his breathing.

He thinks of his mother's reply, and his heart aches more.

Mother is father's wife!

And they are truly one family!

Jiang Lai, hearing Ke Zhongyu's words, also becomes nervous; just hearing this situation feels dangerous.

Ke Zhongyu gently squeezes Jiang Lai's slightly cool hand.

Jiang Lai grips his finger, then looks at Gu Zhiyan: "When I go back for Qingming, I'll settle accounts with Gu Yinxue, you…"

Before she finishes, Gu Zhiyan interrupts: "I have no objections."

Gu Zhiyan even voluntarily mentions the report against Ji Lao, and that she almost got hit by a car last time, also because of Gu Yinxue's instigation.

After speaking, Gu Zhiyan still worries Jiang Lai might get so angry she'll harm herself.

Who knows, Jiang Lai lightly says "Oh": "I know."

She not only knows, she also has evidence.

Gu Zhiyan is startled, then says hoarsely: "It's good you know."

Jiang Lai looks at him: "Hmm."

Gu Zhiyan leaves.

In the following days, Jiang Lai especially monitors news from B City; Ke Zhongyu employs White Tower to investigate, but in B City, White Tower must be extra careful, doubly cautious.

There are many constraints domestically.

White Tower's headquarters actually isn't in the country.

Ms. Nian occasionally sends news; she went to see Song Shiwei, but Song Shiwei didn't meet her.

The Gu family received her; she lingered a while, and gleaned some information about Gu Sen.

"The old master's explanation is that Gu Sen, due to age and poor health, knelt in the ancestral hall for three days and then fell ill; he's in a sanatorium, they say nothing serious, but the specifics are unclear."

Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai sit in front of the sofa, Ms. Nian's voice comes from the phone on the table.

"I and your dad tracked Song Shiwei, and already know which sanatorium Gu Sen is in; the residents there all have power and influence, several villas have lots of police officers or bodyguards at the entrances, indistinguishable."

"But don't worry, your uncle's former senior leader is also there, so it's manageable; your uncle and aunt plan to go tomorrow to find out which building was most recently moved into."

Ke Zhongyu opens his mouth: "Please thank your uncle and aunt for me and A Lai."

Ms. Nian: "Thanks, don't worry, a family's strength should be united, and even without you and Jiang Lai, I'll investigate myself; Uncle Gu has devoted his whole life to the Gu family, yet in the end the Gu family deceives and schemes."

A heavy sigh sounds from the phone.

Ms. Nian, knowing Jiang Lai is also listening, says gently: "Jiang Lai, Zhongyu, you needn't worry too much, how could Gu Sen have gotten this far without any skill."

After delivering the information, both sides make no small talk; after hanging up they each discuss their next strategies.

Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu already know Gu Yinxue was driven out of the house, but the Gu family hasn't said a word outward about Gu Yinxue no longer being a family member.

Ke Zhongyu at that time already sensed something was off.

Gu Yinxue is either valuable to the Gu family, or the Gu family has some leverage in her hands; the biggest recent scandal is Song Shiwei's abandonment of his daughter years ago.

The Gu family keeps it covered; when Jiang Lai returns, she publicly claims it was a mistake.

At the end of March, the Gu family's old master indeed personally calls Jiang Lai: "You must return for Qingming to perform ancestor rites."

Jiang Lai: "I don't want to go."

Gu old master: "You've already met the family members, sat at the table and ate this meal; you can't not come."

Jiang Lai: "I don't want to see them."

Gu old master: "Who?"

She says nothing, doesn't hang up, silently tells the old master she knows exactly.

After understanding, he says: "Rest assured, they haven't been free lately."

Jiang Lai doesn't ask why they're unavailable, but asks: "Gu Yinxue also unavailable?"

She was going back this time to settle everything — the matter of her abandonment, and Gu Yinxue instigating others to harm her — so there would be no more worries behind her.

She couldn't withstand the Gu family constantly stirring up trouble like this.

Old Master Gu assured her, "Don't worry, she won't participate in the ancestral rites this year."

"Mm." Seemingly having gotten a satisfactory answer, Jiang Lai hung up the phone.

She turned around — Ke Zhongyu and Ke Zhongying were standing right behind her.

Ke Zhongying looked nervous: "You're going back this time to make an enemy of the entire Gu family. I'm a bit scared. Take me with you. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll stand in front of you. My surname is Ke, my mom and my uncle's surname is Nian — anyone who touches me will have to weigh how much their own family is worth."

Ke Zhongyu frowned: "Stay home and behave yourself."

Ke Zhongying shook her head: "No good, Brother, the two of us are still different. I can curse and fight one second, then roll around on the ground wailing and accusing them the next — they can't do anything about me. You can't do that. If you go hard, they go hard too, and it's easy for both sides to lose."

"Brother, didn't you say a draw doesn't count as winning? The Ke family doesn't play for draws?"

Ke Zhongyu: "..."

Jiang Lai pinched Ke Zhongying's cheek: "Your brother taught me too — when we make a move, we win."