Chapter 198: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 198: It's Not That He Gave Up on Me, It's That I Dumped Her

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Shall we meet him at the hospital?"

Lin Xiyu racked her brains for a plan.

"Or what?"

Guben raised an eyebrow, looking rather amused at her delicate little face wrinkled into a bitter vegetable flower.

"I think Grandpa Six will definitely be very angry."

Lin Xiyu's mood instantly plummeted, no longer looking as excited as before: "You think I've dragged you down."

"Remove the two words 'I think'..."

Guben smiled black-belliedly, then shifted the topic and said: "But he isn't angry at you, he's angry at me. He won't think you dragged me down; he'll be angry that I lack the ability to protect you, letting you follow me and suffer grievances."

Lin Xiyu was utterly speechless: "At a time like this, you're still in the mood to joke?"

"I'm naturally optimistic..."

Guben deliberately tried to cheer her up: "The kind who can laugh even when thrown into a pile of corpses..."

"Grandpa Six is here, let's see if you can still laugh."

Lin Xiyu couldn't stand his carefree look and gave him a white eye in annoyance.

Right now, she just wanted to jab him with a sentence, but didn't expect to speak the truth.

Once the old man arrived, Guben indeed couldn't be happy anymore.

Because his Old Man didn't come alone; he also brought four cousins with different intentions.

Lin Xiyu knew these four people—they were the ones who drank against her at the Engagement Banquet five years ago and lost miserably: Gu Peng, Gu Feng, Gu Lan, and that cousin who had been entangled with Qu Peng for five years before breaking up, Gu Hui.

—

After five years apart, the four had changed quite a bit.

Gu Peng worked at the family enterprise, responsible for large-scale machinery import and export business.

Gu Hui worked at Central State-owned Enterprise Pharmaceutical, belonging to high-IQ, high-education research personnel.

Gu Feng joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gu Lan was at Customs; both had good jobs, and as long as they didn't cause trouble, their futures were bright.

Grandpa Six truly doted on Guben, but the others weren't so sincere.

Among the juniors of the Gu Family, they competed with each other.

Guben wasn't originally surnamed Gu; a grandson by a daughter, he had firmly surpassed the other brothers and sisters, so Gu Peng and the others secretly harbored some dissatisfaction.

Five years ago when Gu Yuelan had an incident, Guben chose the most difficult path, equivalent to giving up his own future, carrying the stigma of being the son of an embezzler, and accompanying his mother to the United States for treatment.

The juniors of the Gu Family heard the news with mixed thoughts: some sympathetic, some indifferent, and some gloating.

"Guben, I've always felt that we're different from the others—high IQ, far-sighted—but I never expected you to make mistakes again and again."

Taking advantage of the gap while Grandpa Six was talking to Lin Xiyu, Gu Hui leaned close to Guben's ear, her words laced with mockery: "Back then, giving up Tsinghua to choose Fudan University was already a wrong move; giving up Fudan University to study abroad was even more wrong upon wrong."

"Five years is enough to change a lot. No one will wait for you in place. The you of now no longer has the qualifications to be compared with me. Facts prove that I am the most excellent one in the Gu Family, while you will only be thrown further and further behind."

—

"I finally understand why Qu Peng gave up five years of feelings..."

Guben didn't indulge her, speaking sharply: "You've been spoiled rotten. Even with a high IQ, you can't make up for the lack of character. Qu Peng still misjudged you. You're not keeping yourself pure; you're extremely selfish and self-serving. You think no one is worthy of associating with you, but actually people look down on you. No one wants to see your cold face, much less cater to your ignorance."

"It wasn't that he gave up on me; I dumped her."

Gu Hui mentioned Qu Peng, her voice carrying a hint of thin anger.

In her view, a woman as excellent as herself—even if she made harsh demands—the other party should unconditionally accept.

Qu Peng giving up pursuing her was a betrayal of feelings, unforgivable.

"You'll regret it."

A trace of coldness flickered in Guben's eyes: "I'll put my words here. Within another five years, you'll pay the price for your ignorance and stupidity. By then, even if you cry and beg Qu Peng to get back together, he won't pay you any attention."

—

"What are you two talking about?"

The siblings' tit-for-tat drew Grandpa Six's attention. The old man turned back displeasedly and glared at both of them.

Gu Hui's mouth corner twitched a few times, and she stopped making a sound.

"Grandpa Six, I've already considered it..."

Guben remained calm, facing the old man's anger openly: "Thank you for your kindness. Regarding the matter of you wanting me to work at the family enterprise, I think I'll pass..."

"Why?"

The old man's eyes showed displeasure: "Give me a suitable reason?"

The reason was that someone didn't welcome me.

Guben glanced at Gu Peng. Seeing him visibly sigh in relief when hearing his refusal, a cold smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

"Grandpa Six, if Guben doesn't want to do it, then forget it..."

Lin Xiyu smoothed things over for him: "I've already told him to rest and recover properly. The body is the capital of revolution; nothing else matters. Whether there's a lot of money or little, I don't care at all. He doesn't go to work, but doesn't he still have me? I'll earn money to support him..."

"Heh."

Hearing the word 'support', Guben let out a pleased laugh from his throat.

"You truly treat Little Bin well..."

Grandpa Six also smiled, looking at Lin Xiyu with eyes full of kindness: "Little Bin marrying you is his good fortune."

"Grandpa Gu, you don't need to worry about me."

Guben chimed in with a smile: "Xiyu already said it — let me recover properly. I have to listen to my wife. Work isn't urgent; we'll talk about it later."

The old master feigned displeasure: "You really want to laze around at home and let your wife support you?"

"Being able to eat soft rice is a skill too......"

Gu Ban deliberately joked and bantered, coaxing the old master into a good mood.

"You brat, what am I going to say about you?"

The old master was amused into anger, tapping his forehead with a finger, not bearing to scold.

"Sister-in-law, if there's a chance, let's have a few more drinks......"

At Gu Lan's engagement banquet, he lost the drinking contest most miserably and was carried out of the restaurant.

He had never accepted it, and still wanted to use the opportunity to win back some face.

"Shut up."

Gu Feng cut him off rudely: "Drinking against your sister-in-law is just asking for humiliation. You still want the two of us brothers to be burdened with carrying you out of the ward?"

"I didn't say drink right now......"

Gu Lan grumbled, unconvinced.

"Never have that thought again."

This time not only Gu Feng, but even Gu Peng gave him a cold sidelong glance.

"Tsk."

Gu Lan clicked his tongue, about to flare up, but the old master's sharp glare forced him back: "Xiyu's body hasn't recovered yet. As a paternal cousin, you don't have the slightest sense in your head — at a time like this you're still thinking about drinking?"

"I was joking, just wanted to liven up the atmosphere."

Gu Lan didn't dare talk back to the old master, explaining with an embarrassed smile.

"All of you remember this for me. Bringing you here this time is to make you understand one thing: between brothers, broken bones are still connected by tendons. You are all descendants of the Gu Family — no one is allowed to have divided loyalties. If I hear any more words that harm harmony......"

The old master's voice and expression were both stern; his cold, severe gaze swept over the four siblings in turn, finally settling on Gu Hui.

Gu Hui was startled into a tremble, lowering her head in fear.

"Rest assured, Grandpa Gu. We understand what we must do....."

Among the four siblings, Gu Feng was the most smooth-talking, rarely offending anyone.

Facing the old master's fury now, only he had a clear conscience and dared step forward to ease the tension: "Family doesn't speak two different languages. We've always treated Little Bin as a real brother. If Little Bin needs anything, just say the word. As his paternal cousin, I'm duty-bound. As long as it's within my professional capacity, I'll get it done for you."

"Thanks."

Guben gave face and said thanks.

"What plans does Little Bin have for the future?"

Seeing his paternal cousin steal the lead, Gu Peng covered his mouth and coughed twice, feigning concern: "Do you need us to help you find another law firm with better benefits?"

"No need."

Guben smiled and declined: "I've said before, I won't limit myself to one industry. Perhaps one day when the mood strikes, I'll start my own business, do what I truly like."

Gu Feng didn't understand: "You studied law so hard in the United States for so many years, barely got your International Lawyer Qualification Certificate — how can you give it up so lightly?"

"Studying law originally was just to understand more legal common sense......"

Guben smiled indifferently: "People nowadays — too many are legal illiterates. Businessmen don't know the law, act recklessly, and sooner or later they'll land themselves inside."

"That's true......"

Gu Feng nodded in agreement: "I've heard similar jokes — saying the first batch who went into business, almost all have been inside once already."

"Little Bin has been smart since childhood. We think highly of you......"

Hearing Guben say he wanted to start his own business, Gu Peng was completely at ease, his smile becoming much more genuine.

"Little Bin's brain — he should do research."

Gu Feng praised with a smile: "With your IQ, if you settle down and focus on research, who knows — you might benefit humanity."

"Could also harm society......"

Gu Lan chimed in smoothly, drawing sidelong glances from everyone.

The old master displeasedly rebuked: "If you can't speak, don't speak. No one's treating you as a mute."

"Research is good......"

Gu Hui's tone carried a hint of sourness: "Why don't you come to our pharmaceutical company? Gu Feng has praised you to the skies. I'd like to see what humanity-benefiting new drug you can research."

"Different trades are like different mountains. I won't go embarrass myself......"

Guben smiled good-naturedly, ignoring her provocation.

"Enough, all of you stop talking."

The old master felt heartache for Guben, not wanting him burdened, and rose to take his leave: "Little Bin's injury hasn't fully healed. We shouldn't delay his rest any longer."

"Grandpa Gu, you're leaving just like that?"

Guben's brows and eyes dimmed, a touch of reluctance welling up.

"Grandpa Gu came to see you. Knowing you're fine, he's at ease."

"Not staying in Shanghai a few more days, letting Xiyu accompany you around?"

"No."

The old master's eyes showed kindness: "You're still lying in bed. How can she leave? This time we won't tour. Wait until your body is fully recovered."

"You all came and went the same day — too tiring."

Guben's eyes flashed with emotion. He still wanted to detain them, but the old master insisted on refusing. While speaking, he left the ward with several paternal cousins.

——

"Grandpa Gu came and went in such a rush. Who knows what kind of show he's putting on?"

Lin Xiyu saw the group off downstairs, and after returning to the ward, she kept feeling uneasy inside, but couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was off.

"He wanted to give me a heads-up......"

Smart as Guben was, how could he fail to see the Old Man's intention: "To make me see my own predicament clearly, lest I misjudge people and land myself in a pit."

"He wants you to go through Gu Peng and the others......"

Prompted by his words, Lin Xiyu suddenly realized: "See what attitude the Gu Family people all have toward you?"

"Worthy of being my wife......"

Guben teased with a smile: "You catch on at once, this answer gets full marks."

"Sixth Grandpa had good intentions."

Lin Xiyu felt deeply moved: "He even specially brought them over to let you distinguish good from bad yourself."

"Probably during the New Year, someone let something slip unintentionally."

Guben guessed privately: "It provoked the Old Man's displeasure, so he deliberately used this method to prompt me, telling me that even one's own relatives may not be trustworthy."

"Gu Peng and the rest definitely couldn't imagine the Old Man's painstaking effort."

Lin Xiyu's tone carried a teasing note: "Especially Gu Hui, she showed her hand the moment she arrived, and was caught red-handed by the Old Man."

"She speaks her mind, so she's not worth worrying about."

Guben knew well in his heart, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "What's scary is someone who looks amiable on the surface but is actually a smiling tiger, eating people without spitting out bones."

Lin Xiyu's delicate brows furrowed slightly: "You mean Gu Lan?"

"No."

Guben sneered: "He's at most a fox borrowing a tiger's might, not even counting as a tiger skin."

"Not him?"

Lin Xiyu's eyes showed surprise: "Could it be Gu Feng?"

"Not him either."

Guben shook his head: "Gu Feng is slick in dealing with people, doesn't easily offend anyone, as long as there's no conflict of interest with him, he won't deliberately target you."

"Neither of them......"

Lin Xiyu was truly shocked now: "Then only one person is left, Gu Peng looked quite steady and reliable, didn't expect he's actually the one hiding the deepest."

"You don't know him, so having this thought is no wonder."

Guben analyzed rationally: "Gu Peng is the eldest among the Gu Family's grandsons, groomed from childhood as the family heir, but his talent and ability are insufficient to shoulder this heavy responsibility, and because of this, he's especially wary of me and bears hostility toward me."

"If you hadn't said it I really wouldn't have seen it......"

Lin Xiyu couldn't hide her shock: "I always thought the one hostile to you was Gu Lan, never expected it was him."

"Knowing it now isn't too late."

Guben deliberately prompted her: "Actually the Old Man deliberately bringing them here was not only to prompt me, but also to remind you, so you have a clear idea in your heart, how to deal with them in the future."

"You put it that way, I understand."

Lin Xiyu was quick-witted, catching on at once: "In the future if we run into a tiger, we'll stay far away, not deal with him at all, as for the fox......"

Speaking here, she switched tack and laughed leisurely.

"How do you want to deal with the fox?"

Guben raised an eyebrow, very interested in what she would say next.

"This time the Old Man left in a hurry, so let him off for now......"

Lin Xiyu didn't disappoint him, making a domineering declaration: "From now on he won't be this lucky, see him once and get him drunk once, make him drink his fill every time, when he sees us two, he'll only have the option to lie down."

"Hehe."

Guben loved her tsundere little look to the extreme, letting out a pleased laugh from his throat.