Chapter 444: A Day Trip to the Police Station

“Hahaha, little sister’s blushing.” Gu Zhihang burst into laughter, his bright chuckles filling the car.

“Mom, your words sound like a compliment to me—I like it. Grandpa said running a business means being smooth-talking, smiling while hiding knives, mixing truth with lies and lies with truth—that’s how you grow big and strong.”

Lin Zhao’s lip twitched. “Are you sure that’s exactly what Grandpa said?”

Gu Zhihang cleared his throat. “That’s the general idea.”

“You’re twisting his words.” Lin Zhao shot him a look and ignored the increasingly scheming second son.

Though he was cunning and heartless at heart, his roots were still true—so Lin Zhao didn’t interfere.

Besides, there were so many eyes watching at home; he wouldn’t walk himself into a dead end.

Xiang Yaobao’s flushed cheeks cooled; she idly traced the tassels on the front passenger seat cushion, lost in thought.

Gu Zhihang said, “Yaobao, don’t sneak around dating. Tell your big brother, and I’ll vet them for you, okay? You’re too naive—you might get tricked.”

“Big brother!!” Yaobao blushed again and turned for help. “Dad, look at Big Brother!”

Gu Chenghuai shot Gu Zhihang a sharp glance. “What nonsense are you spouting? Your sister’s still young. Wait till she’s twenty-two—no, twenty-five—before you even think about dating.”

He thought twenty-five was already too early; ideally, she should wait until her forties or fifties, like Lin Yu.

Gu Zhihang stared, dumbfounded.

He called himself old, called his sister young—how could he be so hypocritical?

“I meant hypothetically…” Gu Zhihang didn’t argue with his father—he knew he’d lose anyway. He just emphasized it.

“There’s no such nonsense as hypotheticals.” Gu Chenghuai frowned. “Your sister’s well-behaved, unlike you, who only makes your mother angry. Go back to Haicheng. Don’t loiter around here.”

Gu Zhihang deflated.

What had he done? Why was he so disliked?

Heartless!

“Dad—”

Gu Chenghuai cut off his son’s plea. “Don’t call me. Aren’t you busy? Go be busy. Come home less.”

His son had grown up—he needed to live his own life. He was glad to have quiet time with his wife.

Gu Zhihang turned to Lin Zhao. “Mom.”

Lin Zhao patted her son’s shoulder in comfort but said nothing.

Gu Zhihang put on an exaggerated look of hurt, clutching his chest. “Mom, you’re siding with Dad? Am I not your precious second son anymore?”

“You’re not my precious second son—you’re Gu Zhihang. You won’t even let me call you Huanbao. How could you be my treasure?” Lin Zhao wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders and kissed the girl’s soft cheek. “Yaobao is my treasure. All three of you are drafty jackets.”

Gu Zhihang grunted. “Drafty jackets buy you coats, cosmetics, and piles of cash to spend, Mom. People should be decent.”

“Who’s being decent? You’re not decent at all—if I were decent to you, you’d eat my whole life.” Lin Zhao teased.

Gu Zhihang’s eyes flickered; he rubbed his nose.

Business matters shouldn’t reach his parents’ ears—his image was ruined.

He leaned back, casual and loose.

Gave up.

Gu Chenghuai watched him lounging like this, expressionless. “Come back only when you’ve rested properly next time.”

Gu Zhihang opened his eyes. “Huh?”

Lin Zhao explained for him. “Your dad means next time he needs you to be a laborer—like driving.”

This kid was sleep-deprived; Gu Chenghuai didn’t trust him with the steering wheel for fear he’d drive into a ditch.

Gu Zhihang sat up straight, saluted his father with a casual yet effortlessly confident gesture. “Got it. I’ll be the laborer. I’ll handle everything.”

“Big Brother, you’re smiling way too hard,” Yaobao couldn’t help saying, watching his grin. “Dad just wants you to work—why are you so excited?”

“You wouldn’t understand. You don’t know how it feels to be a wanderer away from home—being needed is joyful, silly girl.” Gu Zhihang laughed.

He loved when his parents called on him—it made him ecstatic.

“You’re the silly one—you’re the silliest in this family,” Yaobao retorted.

Gu Zhihang glanced at the exam supplies beside her—said nothing, yet said everything.

Yaobao clenched her hands into tiny fists.

Turned her head toward the window.

Her pretty face puffed slightly—seen through Gu Zhihang’s eyes, his sister was cuter than a newborn kitten.

Thinking of how soon she’d leave for university, how quickly she’d become a young woman, his heart grew tangled.

Lin Zhao saw his mischief and rolled her eyes. “Why keep teasing your sister? If Zhiyu and Zhiqian were here, you’d be getting scolded right now.”

Yaobao immediately chimed in. “Exactly! If Big Brother and Little Brother knew you were bullying me, they’d definitely punish Big Brother.”

“Hey, you little brat, using Big Brother and Little Brother to pressure me? Who went through hell to get you that cassette tape? Ungrateful thing.” Gu Zhihang chuckled.

Yaobao, caught with her hand in the cookie jar, had no reply and turned away again.

Lin Zhao sighed helplessly—her second son’s tongue was always too sharp; he never stopped until he made his sister mad.

Wait till Big Brother comes home—he’ll get his comeuppance.

The car stopped.

Yaobao opened the door, grabbed her exam supplies, and stepped out, waiting beside the door for Lin Zhao.

Though pouting, she still remembered to wait for her mother—sweet as a cloud-shaped doll.

Lin Zhao’s heart softened.

“Why are you pouting, Yaobao? Who upset you?”

The front door suddenly swung open from inside; two tall figures appeared.

Gu Zhiyu smiled at his family—his voice was the one speaking.

Yaobao turned sharply at the sound, saw her big brother and little brother at the door, her eyes instantly brightened, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

“Big Brother! Little Brother!!”

Yaobao rushed forward and hugged both brothers, bouncing happily in place.

“Why did you come back without telling us? We went out for hot pot—you two missed it!” Her tone was full of regret.

Gu Zhiyu’s large, dry palm rubbed the top of her head. “Didn’t get to eat today? There’s tomorrow.”

Yaobao’s eyes sparkled brighter. “Big Brother, how many days will you stay home?”

“A week,” Gu Zhiyu said.

He was a pilot—busy, often disappearing without a trace.

Without exaggeration, since he entered university, Lin Zhao had seen her eldest son only rarely.

Lin Zhao walked over, looking at her two sons, a faint smile on her lips.

“Finally have time to come home?”

Gu Zhiqian stepped forward, hugged her, his cool eyes softening with a smile. “Mom, we’re back. Sorry to have worried you.”

Lin Zhao patted his shoulder a few times. “I just need to know you’re both safe. Have you eaten? If not, I’ll make you something.”

“No need. Qiao Auntie cooked for us—we already ate,” Gu Zhiyu said.

Qiao Hui knew Lin Zhao’s family was going out for hot pot and was invited too, but she didn’t want to go out, so she stayed.

Good thing she did—if she’d gone, Zhiyu and Zhiqian would’ve come home to no hot meal.

“Good you ate. Come inside,” Lin Zhao pulled both sons into the house.

Gu Zhiyu asked curiously, “Mom, what’s the car outside? It doesn’t look like Dad’s.”

“Your great-aunt gave it to me. Fancy, right?” Lin Zhao smiled.

“Fancy? Great-aunt’s seriously rich.” Gu Zhiyu gave a thumbs-up.

He had a friend whose family owned a car—heard it cost a fortune. Great-aunt giving this to his mom? Clearly, she had no shortage of money.

The family sat in the living room talking.

Yaobao complained to her big brother and little brother.

Gu Zhiyu glanced at his second brother. “Is this how you take care of Yaobao? Bullying a little girl—what kind of skill is that? Tomorrow morning, come train with me in the yard. Let me see if you’ve gotten worse.”

Gu Zhihang stared at his brother, silently resisting.

“Brother, I’m just a businessman—I don’t train every day like you. Is it really necessary?” he pleaded.

“Enough talk,” Gu Zhiyu glared at him.

The two brothers walked different paths—so different they might as well have been going in opposite directions. After parting, they didn’t even look alike anymore.

No one would ever mistake them for each other.

Gu Zhihang had always obeyed his big brother, and he still did now. “Fine. I’ll train.”

He’d trained a bit himself—he wouldn’t get beaten too badly.

His peripheral vision caught his brother’s muscular arm—he paused, rubbed his nose.

Hmm. It might be pretty bad.

Gu Zhiqian watched quietly, a faint smile on his lips.

“How did you do on your exam?” he asked Yaobao.

Yaobao looked confident. “I think I did well.”

After talking with Mom, she’d seriously considered it—she planned to attend a foreign language university.

She wanted to work at a TV station; learning more languages would help her future.

This was Yaobao’s well-considered decision.

Gu Zhiqian nodded. “Mm. You study hard—you’ll achieve your goal.”

“Yeah.” Yaobao smiled up at her little brother.

She thought the young brother was becoming more and more handsome, especially that calm, composed, icy aura of his that stood out.

Before, when he picked her up from school, the girls in her class all wanted to be friends with him.

She turned them down, saying they were too young and should focus on their studies; most classmates understood, but one kept pestering her, driving her to exhaustion—luckily, school started soon, and Yaobao finally suppressed her annoyance.

It was rare for the whole family to be together, with endless things to talk about; they chatted until the TV had no more programs.

It was Gu Chenghuai who finally couldn’t stand it—he pulled Lin Zhao back inside, and the four kids yawned and went to their own rooms.

The next morning, Gu Zhihang booked a good restaurant, reserved a table, and called the family over, walking there chatting and laughing.

The restaurant wasn’t far from home; no matter how many excuses Qiao Hui made, Lin Zhao dragged her along.

For all these years, with Qiao Hui around, Lin Zhao had it easy—she could do exactly as she pleased.

Lin Zhao was deeply grateful for Qiao Hui’s tireless dedication over the years; she paid her a salary higher than market rate, and Qiao Hui had saved up a substantial sum.

Afterward, by luck, she bought a house that wasn’t large—a building, not as good as a sihe courtyard, but the owner had maintained it well, so it was livable without major renovations, and the location was excellent, convenient for everything.

After getting the house, Qiao Hui’s spirit changed entirely; the money she’d saved for so long was finally spent—today she bought fabric to make curtains, tomorrow she added a table, full of energy.

“We’re almost at Hui’s place,” Lin Zhao said, spotting the row of buildings ahead.

Qiao Hui’s face was lit with smiles.

“Thanks to you two. If not for you, how could I ever have bought a house in the capital?”

Lin Zhao shook her head. “Don’t say that—Hui, you’ve also put in your labor. All these years, if not for you, I couldn’t have lived so comfortably.”

Countless times, she’d been grateful Qiao Hui chose to stay; if she’d left, Lin Zhao would’ve had to find someone new, go through the awkward adjustment, and risk running into someone with flawed character—thankfully, everything turned out as she wished.

“I like Aunt Qiao. It’s great she stayed,” Yaobao added.

Qiao Hui washed and ironed her clothes, tidied her room, cooked her meals—she cared for Yaobao the most, and Yaobao felt close to her Aunt Qiao.

Qiao Hui beamed. “As long as Yaobao needs me, I’ll stay and take care of you.”

She was past the age for striving; staying with the Gu family to spend her old age was perfect. Chenghuai and Zhaozhao were easy to get along with; they’d all grown used to each other over the years.

Yaobao’s eyes curled into crescents.

“I’ll take care of you in your old age, Aunt Qiao.”

Qiao Hui froze slightly, her heart softening like water. “You don’t need to take care of me in my old age—I have money. When I can’t work anymore, I’ll hire a nurse. I won’t burden our Yaobao.”

How could she bear to make the girl she’d raised carry such a heavy burden?

“Aunt Qiao isn’t a burden, and neither are Mom and Dad!” Yaobao disagreed.

Lin Zhao said, “We’ll take it one step at a time. Why think so far ahead? Let’s talk about something happy…”

As long as you have money, old-age care isn’t a problem. What’s one more Qiao Hui? Not worth mentioning.

“Gu Zhiyao!” A voice came from behind and to the side of Lin Zhao’s group.

Hearing the tone, Gu Zhiyao pressed her lips together, then turned slowly. “Ling Zhi.”

The moment the name left her lips, she instinctively stepped toward Gu Zhiqian, calmly placing herself in front of her brother.

Gu Zhiqian raised an eyebrow.

What’s going on?

He thought of something and looked at the girl calling out to his sister—only to meet a pair of burning, infatuated eyes.

He frowned slightly, then calmly looked away, refusing to glance back.

He didn’t like the way she looked at him.

As if he were her possession.

Ling Zhi’s heart pounded when she saw Gu Zhiqian look at her, her chest swelling with excitement—only to be crushed when he turned his gaze away.

She walked over, her eyes constantly drifting toward Gu Zhiqian, speaking to Gu Zhiyao: “I didn’t expect to run into you here—what a coincidence. Gu Zhiyao, where are you going? Can I join you?”

Before Yaobao could answer, Gu Zhihang laughed. “You’re coming to our family reunion dinner? What’s your role here?”

Ling Zhi’s expression didn’t change, though inside she was disappointed.

Too bad it didn’t work out.

She’d had people wait for days, and finally caught sight of Gu Zhiqian.

“A family reunion? I really can’t join.” But there’d be other chances.

“Mm.” Yaobao’s tone was distant.

Ling Zhi continued: “Gu Zhiyao, where do you live? I’ll come visit you in a few days.”

As she spoke, her eyes swept over Gu Zhiqian’s face—her real intent was clear.

Actually, Ling Zhi already knew the Gu family’s address—she just needed a legitimate reason to show up.

Yaobao found Ling Zhi annoying—she had no sense of boundaries, constantly asking about the young brother, and even wore this smug, inexplicable expression on her face.

“I’m leaving for Haicheng soon and won’t be back until school starts. Sorry,” Yaobao said, refusing politely—out of respect for being classmates, she didn’t say anything harsh.

Ling Zhi came from a good family and was somewhat spoiled; she was unhappy with Yaobao’s answer. In front of Gu Zhiqian, she didn’t want to lose control, so she suppressed her irritation and forced a smile. “I see. Then we’ll talk after school starts.”

Yaobao remembered Ling Zhi’s terrible grades and fell silent.

Ling Zhi’s grades were nowhere near good enough for university—did she even have a “school start” in her future?

She hadn’t heard Ling Zhi planned to retake the exam; instead, she’d heard Ling Zhi’s parents had already arranged her future—she could live comfortably without effort.

Not wanting to upset the Gu family, Ling Zhi left on her own.

Gu Zhihang looked at Gu Zhiqian. “How do you know that girl?”

“I don’t know her,” Gu Zhiqian said calmly, his tone serious.

“Then why are her eyes glued to you?” Gu Zhihang teased.

A girl’s crush was too obvious—anyone with eyes could see it.

“I don’t know,” Gu Zhiqian said indifferently. After his holiday, he’d return to the institute—this nonsense wouldn’t affect him.

“Young brother, after Ling Zhi saw you once, she’s been constantly asking me about you,” Yaobao couldn’t help saying.

Gu Zhiqian straightened up, suspecting the girl had been infiltrated and was trying to turn him.

He glanced at the people secretly guarding him and gave a hand signal.

Investigate.

Better to overdo it than to be careless.

The investigation revealed everything: Ling Zhi had previously dug up the Gu family’s address and had people tailing them…

Later, she got a free one-day tour of the police station.