Chapter 148: Estrangement

For the past four years, Gu Tingyan had always been avoiding reality, constantly numbing himself with work to avoid thinking of Qin Shu.

Hearing his son incessantly calling out for "Mom" in his sleep, Gu Tingyan felt a pain so deep it reached the extreme.

Gu Yichen was more precocious than his peers; he looked like a little adult and rarely made others worry about him.

He was well-behaved, sensible, and obedient to a fault.

Four years ago, he lost his mother, and Gu Tingyan lost his wife.

During these four years, Gu Yichen had never once mentioned Qin Shu, and the servants of the Gu Family even cursed him for being an ungrateful wretch.

The day before Qin Shu's accident, she had gone to the Gu Family Old Residence to see Gu Yichen.

She wanted to take the child away from the Gu Family, but Gu Yichen refused to go with her.

The news of Qin Shu's fatal car accident spread, and instantly, the matter was known throughout the Gu Family Old Residence.

Gu Tingyan looked down at the pale, translucent little face on the hospital bed, a surge of guilt rising from the bottom of his heart; in these four years, he had neglected Gu Yichen too much.

He had let him shoulder so much at such a young age.

Yet, born into the Gu Family, neither Gu Yichen nor Gu Tingyan had much control over their own fates.

Gu Tingyan walked outside to smoke a few cigarettes; the cold wind blew across his temples, adding an indescribable sorrow to his handsome face.

He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, walked into the hospital room, and pulled his son on the bed into a tight embrace, his large palm stroking the boy's pale little face.

The man looked down at his son in his arms and said in a low voice, "Chenchen, Dad won't let you follow in my footsteps."

"From today on, do whatever you want to do."

The Gu Tingyan of today was no longer the Gu Tingyan of four years ago who could be threatened by anyone.

He had enough ability to keep Gu Yichen under his wings and let him truly be himself.

No one would ever be able to snatch his son away from him again.

When Gu Yichen woke up, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw Gu Tingyan holding him; the man was wearing a wrinkled suit and looked as if he hadn't rested all night, having kept watch over him the entire time.

As soon as Gu Yichen moved, Gu Tingyan woke up; he opened his eyes, raised his hand to feel Gu Yichen's forehead, and found that he was no longer feverish.

"What do you want for breakfast? I'll go buy it for you," the man said in a hoarse voice.

Gu Yichen looked up at him: "Steamed buns."

"Mm."

Gu Tingyan stood up, straightened his suit, and walked out.

Soon, the man returned with the steamed buns for Gu Yichen, and the hospital room was filled with their aroma.

The little guy was wearing blue and white hospital pajamas, sitting on the bed and eating in small bites; he was as refined and elegant as a little hamster.

Gu Tingyan sat to the side, and his phone vibrated; the company's vice president sent him a message: "President Gu, I heard that Young President Gu and the Chu Family are both digging for information on Lynn recently. Should we take action as well?"

"The day after tomorrow is the banquet for Xinrui Technology, and the invitation has already been sent over."

This was the first time the medical genius Lynn would show their face, and Xinrui Technology had invited several prominent big shots, including the Gu Family and the Chu Family.

Gu Tingyan replied briefly: "Mm. If they find out, intercept the order. Try to offer the highest price to poach the person."

Gu Tingyan looked down and toyed with his phone, his mind constantly pondering what kind of person this Lynn was, and why he couldn't find any background information on this person even after spending money.

The only thing he knew was that this person was female and had reached the pinnacle of achievements that others couldn't reach in a lifetime at a very young age.

This person's ability and strength were both outstanding.

Gu Tingyan suddenly became very interested in this Lynn; if this person became his confidant and right-hand assistant, the value would be considerable.

Gu Tingyan was a businessman, and he naturally wanted to compete for the value Lynn brought; no one would complain about having too much money.

After replying to the message, Gu Tingyan looked up at Gu Yichen and said in a low voice, "I'll arrange your surgery for next month. Prepare yourself mentally."

Gu Yichen paused, his hand holding the steamed bun stopping in mid-air.

He lowered his head, giving the same answer as always: "I don't want to have surgery."

"This is fine as it is."

Hearing this, Gu Tingyan's gaze was indifferent: "Do you think that by doing this, your mother can come back to life?"

Gu Yichen looked up, his eyes red as he looked at him: "You don't understand anything, you only know how to make money, make money."

"In your eyes, there is only money."

Gu Tingyan was stunned upon hearing this, his heart growing colder and harder: "If I don't make money, what would I use to raise you?"

Gu Tingyan looked at Gu Yichen, his voice icy: "If I were useless to the Gu Family, do you think your fate would be any better?"

Gu Yichen's fate would only be to be discarded in a forgotten corner and left to fend for himself.

Gu Laoyezi was getting old; how long could he protect him?

Gu Tingyan: "A bottom-of-the-class student who can't even make the rankings, a little cripple."

"What value do you have, what ability do you have to stay in the Gu Family and compete with that group of people?"

Gu Yichen froze, thinking of those people in the Gu Family and the Chu Family, his heart trembling slightly.

Being good for nothing would only make it easier for them to kill him.

If Gu Tingyan weren't there to support him from the front, Gu Yichen's fate would be no better than Gu Tingyan's had been back then.

Seeing his son, who was covered in thorns, Gu Tingyan's eyes turned slightly red; he knew that Gu Yichen had understood.

The power struggles in wealthy families cost lives, especially in a large family like the Gu Family.

Gu Tingyan's voice softened slightly: "If your mother knew you were giving up on yourself and refusing to treat your leg, she would only be more heartbroken."

"By hurting yourself, you are punishing yourself."

"This is the most foolish approach."

"If your mother knew, she would cry to death; doing this only makes your enemies happier."

"Your grades are dropping; do you think your grandmother will let that slide?"

"You have the blood of the Gu Family flowing in you; a useless thing would rather be left to rot in the family's own vegetable patch than be cast out."

Gu Tingyan's gaze was nearly cold and indifferent, his voice terrifyingly aloof: "The only ones who will pay your bills are your family."

That was why Gu Tingyan forced him to grow up; only by showing his own talent would he receive more attention.

To Lin Jingshu and Gu Huaiyuan, closeness was far less important than benefits.

Gu Yichen lowered his head, and tears fell with a plop, the scalding tears hitting the back of his hand.

For these four years, he had resented Gu Tingyan, and he wanted to do the opposite of whatever he said.

He said in a low voice: "Father, I will undergo the treatment."

Gu Tingyan glanced at him and gave a hum.

The father and son had spoken their minds, but silence remained the norm, with an uncrossable chasm standing between them.

The top floor of Xinrui Technology, the CEO's office.

Ji Yanli went over all the items for the day after tomorrow with Qin Shu, and after the two finished discussing the company's future blueprint and development, it was afternoon before they knew it.

The secretary-general walked in and handed an invitation to Ji Yanli: "President Ji, an engagement invitation sent by the Chu Family."

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow faintly: "Chu Sheng is getting engaged to Gu Tingyan?"