Chapter 448: He

“Nothing much.” Gu Zhihang shifted his gaze away, embarrassed by his parents’ proud stares.

He was a self-employed individual; in those early years, people hadn’t stopped talking about it in front of his parents and grandparents—his father was a high-ranking officer in the military district, his mother a contracted artist long-term partnered with a publishing house, his eldest brother a pilot and his third brother a researcher, all shining brightly.

He was quite an oddity among the third branch of the family.

Though his parents never said anything, Gu Ercai, with his strong sense of self-respect, still wanted to achieve something remarkable to bring honor to the family.

He never looked down on himself or thought running a business was inferior—he just didn’t want others to mention him with nothing but shaking heads.

Being self-employed isn’t shameful; it’s a legitimate profession.

Lin Zhao saw through her second son’s thoughts, placing her hand on his increasingly broad shoulder. “How can it be nothing? I think it’s amazing! Zhihang, your great-grandfather and grandfather both said you were born for business—this path will be far easier for you than any other. Don’t feel inferior to your brothers or Qianbao. You’re just as capable. Without you, when would I ever have gotten a big fridge or an air conditioner? Earning money through wit isn’t shameful.”

“Besides, you’ve been to Hong Kong—you should feel it even more deeply. How did you get stuck in such a narrow mindset? You’re being silly.”

Gu Zhihang: “...”

“Mom, I didn’t think much about it.” He laughed helplessly.

“I don’t believe you.”

Gu Zhihang raised his hands slightly, giving her an expression of utter defeat. “Alright, alright, I admit I felt a little down at first—but my grandfather quickly talked me out of it, and after that, I never had that problem again.”

“Really?”

“Really!” Gu Zhihang swore, “Truly, truly.”

He explained: “Building a lab for Qianbao was planned long ago—he’ll have another option if he has his own lab, and won’t be held back by others.”

Gu Zhihang wanted his younger brother to have the confidence to do exactly what he loved, without restraint.

Lin Zhao rubbed the top of her son’s head, her fingers coming away sticky with hair gel. Before she could voice her heartfelt words, she couldn’t help saying, “Hengbao, you’ve got too much hair gel on your head—it’s all sticky.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’ll wash it off.” Gu Zhihang stood up and headed toward the bathroom.

He’d gone out this morning to meet people, dressed more formally.

Gu Chenghuai: “Brat.”

Lin Zhao frowned. “Don’t keep picking on Hengbao. What if you knock his confidence right out of him?”

No confidence?

Gu Zhihang?

Gu Chenghuai, as a father, almost laughed. “If all of us lost confidence, he’d still be confident. Second son’s confidence is bloated—you’re worrying about something that won’t happen.”

Lin Zhao: “...”

She looked at him helplessly. “Can you really talk about your son like that?”

“You didn’t contradict me, which means you think the same, right?” Gu Chenghuai chuckled. “That boy likes to play the victim in front of you—he’s not nearly that fragile.”

“Let him play if he wants. He’s just after a few words of praise from us as parents. Don’t be so stiff—occasionally compliment your son.” Lin Zhao said.

“I haven’t complimented him?” Gu Chenghuai gave her a helpless look.

He didn’t compliment, and Zhaozhao would glare at him—so every time, he’d just go along with her words.

To say he never complimented him was simply unfair.

“You’ve complimented him—but if you’d be a little more sincere, it’d be better.” Lin Zhao made her request.

“I am sincere!” Gu Chenghuai laughed helplessly. “Is there such a thing as insincere praise? I don’t know how to do that.”

“Sigh.” Lin Zhao sighed. “Maybe your expression is too serious—even when you praise, it feels like you’re being forced, so it doesn’t seem genuine. That’s why Second Son thinks we don’t truly believe he’s excellent?”

Gu Chenghuai fell silent for a moment. “You’re overthinking.”

“...Fine.” Lin Zhao changed the subject. “Do you have time? If you do, let’s take Hengbao out to eat. He’s been wanting to try a Western restaurant, and I’m curious too.”

“I do.” Gu Chenghuai was busy with work, but he always made time to eat with his wife and children. “Call Yaobao?”

“She has class this afternoon. We’ll go first. If it’s good, I’ll take her another day.” Lin Zhao said.

“Alright.”

When Gu Zhihang learned his parents were joining him for a Western restaurant, he was stunned. “Really?”

“Of course it’s true. Go blow-dry your hair and change into something comfortable—we’re leaving soon.” Lin Zhao urged.

“Give me a minute—I’ll be right out.” Gu Zhihang happily went inside to change.

When he came out again, his black hair was tousled and fell gently above his eyebrows, his white shirt and black pants accentuating his tall, slender frame. A carefree smile played on his face—he looked like a campus heartthrob.

“My son is so good-looking.” Lin Zhao couldn’t help boasting to her husband.

No wonder Qianbao was being watched—that handsome face was trouble. Of course, he was smart and excelled at his work; such a promising prospect couldn’t help attracting young girls.

Gu Zhihang brushed his hair aside, remembering he’d forgotten his wallet, and turned back to retrieve it.

“He takes after me.” Gu Chenghuai replied to Lin Zhao.

“...Yeah, he really does.” Lin Zhao didn’t argue.

After growing up, all three sons had grown increasingly like their father—each strikingly handsome, with a hard-edged charm.

Gu Chenghuai was naturally pale-skinned; once tanned from wind and sun, his face had grown fair again now that he spent less time outdoors. If not for the military aura clinging to him, he’d look like a scholarly gentleman.

Zhihang and the others took after their father. As children, it wasn’t obvious, but now they were all quite fair.

Fair skin hides three flaws—and they weren’t ugly to begin with. That made them even more attractive.

“Was the girl who came to see Zhihang yesterday afternoon his friend?” Lin Zhao remembered the pretty girl she’d seen from afar yesterday afternoon, and asked Gu Chenghuai curiously.

“A girl came to see him?” Gu Chenghuai asked in return—he genuinely hadn’t known.

Lin Zhao: “...”

“Can’t you pay a little more attention to your son?”

Gu Chenghuai cleared his throat and stayed silent.

He was truly busy with work, and hadn’t closely monitored his sons, who’d been adults for years.

“Zhihang and the others are grown men now. Even if they’re dating, it’s no big deal. As parents, we should avoid interfering.”

Lin Zhao opened her mouth. “I wasn’t trying to interfere—I was just curious. I noticed...”

Just then, Gu Zhihang walked out. “I’ve got everything. Let’s go.”

The family of three headed out.

Gu Chenghuai asked directly: “Did a female comrade come to see you yesterday?”

Lin Zhao’s eyes widened.

Was he really asking so bluntly?

Gu Zhihang paused. “Yeah, Dad. How did you know?”

“I saw her.” Gu Chenghuai wouldn’t mention his wife—Zhaozhao clearly didn’t want to reveal herself.

“Oh, she’s my partner’s sister. She came to deliver something.” Gu Zhihang explained seriously. “I’ve met her a few times—we’re not close.”

Gu Chenghuai said: “Mind your boundaries.”

“I know, Dad. Don’t worry—yesterday was an exception. It won’t happen again.” Gu Zhihang cherished his reputation more than anyone.

Lin Zhao poked her son’s shoulder. “If you ever meet a girl you like, bring her home so I can see her.”

“Of course.” Gu Zhihang said.

He asked half-jokingly: “Mom, what if the girl I like doesn’t suit your taste? Will you order me to break up with her?”

“When have I ever ordered you around?” Lin Zhao rolled her eyes. “If she doesn’t suit me, then she doesn’t. You two can just move out and live separately—we’ve got plenty of houses. If you don’t live under the same roof, there won’t be conflict, right?”

By the end, she sounded uncertain.

“I trust your judgment. The girl you like will be good. As long as you both care for each other, everything else doesn’t matter.”

Gu Zhihang immediately said: “I don’t want to move out. I’m staying here to take care of you and Dad when you’re old. I’m not going anywhere.”

“We don’t need you to support us in old age—the state will take care of us.” Gu Chenghuai said. “Just take care of yourselves.”

He never expected his children to support him in old age. Once they married, they’d have their own families to manage—they’d barely have time for their own households, let alone theirs.

Don’t test human nature—or you’ll be disappointed.

“That’s right—we don’t need you to support us in old age.” Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai had discussed this before; they’d agreed on going to a retirement home.

Gu Zhihang saw his parents were serious and didn’t argue—he’d never let them live lonely or abandoned.

He smiled and said: “If you won’t let us support you, why did you have four of us? Everyone says raising sons is for old-age security. You’ve arranged everything perfectly—it makes us kids look useless.”

Gu Chenghuai slapped his son’s head. “What nonsense are you talking? I’m trying to lighten your burden—aren’t you happy?”

“What’s there to be happy about? I like it when you and Mom manage me.” Gu Zhihang was stubborn.

The kind of guy who, if he fell into a river, could only stick his mouth above water.

Gu Chenghuai looked at him with a half-smile. “Is that so? Hand over your passbook. We’ll hold it for you.”

“No way.” Gu Zhihang said immediately. “It’s not that I’m stingy—my money’s got big plans. It needs to keep earning.”

Gu Chenghuai turned to his wife. “Zhaozhao, I’m still the reliable one—I don’t guard anything from you.”

Lin Zhao elbowed him. “What’s there to argue about?”

She didn’t have strong possessive feelings about her son’s earnings. Besides, Zhihang was generous with her—he gave her all his money. The balance in that account kept growing, already a substantial sum.

Gu Chenghuai was just joking—he never intended to take his son’s hard-earned money.

Gu Zhihang knew that too. Watching his father get scolded by his mother, he grinned broadly. “I’m Mom’s son—she’ll always side with me. Dad, stop trying to prove you matter.”

The moment he finished speaking, he got a sharp flick on the forehead.

“Mom!”

Lin Zhao smiled. “Calling me won’t help—he’s your father. What can I do when your father disciplines you?”

She gave him a look of helpless sympathy.

Gu Zhihang feigned grievance. "You two are in collusion."

“What kind of relationship do we have?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.

“Husband and wife.”

“They’re definitely a group.” Lin Zhao shrugged.

Saying that, she pulled Gu Chenghuai into the store.

Gu Zhihang smiled and followed after them.

The Western restaurant was full; when Lin Zhao and the others arrived, a table happened to open up, and they sat down under the server’s guidance.

“Smells pretty good,” Lin Zhao observed, taking in the surroundings—the place was well-decorated.

Gu Zhihang said, “It’s a famous spot, so the food has to be good, or how would it stay in business?”

He’d also invested in food services: a hotpot restaurant, a barbecue place, a coffee shop… He never put all his eggs in one basket.

He invested in the hotpot mainly because everyone in the family loved it, and running his own shop ensured quality ingredients.

Lin Zhao nodded. “Getting better and better—development is moving so fast.”

“It really is.” Gu Chenghuai couldn’t dispute that; he spent most of his time in the military zone, returning to the city only once every half-month, each visit bringing new changes.

Gu Zhihang felt it even more deeply—he’d lived in Haicheng longer, and his trips back were longer, each return met with exclamations: “New building over there! New shop opened here!”

They ordered, and soon the server brought the food.

The restaurant played music from Gangcheng, setting the right mood.

Lin Zhao had lived through famine and hardship; this was her first time eating Western food, and she felt no discomfort.

This was meat—it was far better than coarse rice and tough wild greens.

“Dad, Mom, what do you think? Can you handle it?” Gu Zhihang looked at his parents.

“Fine,” Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chenghuai said, “I’ll eat anything.”

He’d eaten raw meat and uncooked wild roots during missions; his standards for food were simple: just fill his stomach.

“Good to hear—I was worried you’d hate it and was planning to go buy you something else nearby.” Gu Zhihang was the kind who’d actually do it.

Lin Zhao: “… ”

Gu Chenghuai: “… ”

“Don’t treat us like we’re ancient and can’t handle anything new,” Gu Chenghuai grumbled.

Everyone resists aging.

If Gu Zhihang really meant that, Gu Chenghuai would’ve punched him right then.

“I didn’t mean that!” Gu Zhihang protested. “I just didn’t want Mom to force herself.”

Lin Zhao sipped her orange juice and smiled. “Don’t worry—I never fake it.”

Gu Zhihang: Oops.

Still,

he truly loved going out with his mother. She never dampened his spirits, always willing to learn about what young people liked—he played gaming consoles, and she’d play with him; he told her where the good food and fun spots were, and she’d always try them… It made him want to share everything.

“Mom, I want to buy a motorcycle.” Gu Zhihang suddenly said.

Lin Zhao’s first reaction: “Motorcycle? Like those loud, buzzing ones?”

Gu Zhihang thought she’d refuse, ready to argue—then heard Lin Zhao say: “I saw a young guy riding one, helmet on, looked so cool—so flashy!”

“Sure, go ahead and buy it. Need me to chip in?”

Gu Zhihang’s eyes lit up, his smile wide. “No need, I’ve got money.”

“Then good—buy it yourself. When you bring it back, let me see it. Then take me for a ride,” Lin Zhao volunteered. “I’ve never ridden a motorcycle—I wonder what it feels like…”

“By the way, do you need a license to drive one?”

Gu Zhihang grinned. “I have one—I’m licensed.”

“Great, hurry up and buy it—I can’t wait to see it,” Lin Zhao said. “You’re good-looking, and with a flashy motorcycle, you’ll turn heads.”

Gu Zhihang laughed and groaned.

Gu Chenghuai said, “When you bring it home, call me too—I want to see it.”

He didn’t want to be left out by his wife and son.

Lin Zhao’s face was small; to avoid looking too old next to his wife, the General had started applying face cream and paying attention to skincare—something that had never happened before.

The first time Lin Zhao caught him in the act, her expression was this: (⊙…⊙)

#The General Who Never Cared About His Appearance Is Now Washing His Face#