Chapter 465: Don't Borrow a Poor Person's Phone

Yaobao smiled shyly, “Second brother…”

Before she could finish, Gu Zhihang patted the bag beside him. “Put it in.”

Seeing her second brother wasn’t mad at her, Gu Zhiyao’s eyes lit up, and she happily stuffed the brick phone into Gu Zhihang’s bag.

“Second brother actually isn’t mad at me—he’s getting generous.” She grinned.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than her cheek was pinched lightly. “Am I mad at you, and your battery will magically refill? Besides, this is such a small thing—do you think I’m some tyrant?”

“Second brother isn’t a tyrant at all—he’s the best brother ever!” Yaobao cooed sweetly.

Gu Zhihang didn’t believe her for a second—right now she sounded sweet, but the moment she saw her little brother, she’d forget all this.

He smiled faintly, said nothing, leaned back, stretched his long legs out straight, and closed his eyes to rest.

Gu Zhiyao nudged him with her shoulder. “Second brother, aren’t you worried Little Brother might need you?”

Gu Zhihang opened his eyes, sighing. “Does worrying help? And you didn’t spare me a single percent of battery.”

“I haven’t seen Little Brother in ages—we’ve got so much to talk about! It just took longer.”

“That’s not talking—that’s a monologue. Talking means back-and-forth. You just dumped stories on him. Pure output.” Gu Zhihang teased.

“It’s not true!” Yaobao’s voice rose slightly. “Little Brother replied!”

“Hmm, Qianbao replied—he said ‘um,’ ‘oh,’ ‘and then?’…” Gu Zhihang perfectly mimicked his brother’s responses, utterly certain.

Gu Zhiyao: “…”

“I told you so,” Gu Zhihang gloated.

Yaobao said nothing, instead scowling at the brick phone—convenient when you needed it, inconvenient when you didn’t.

“It’s all this brick phone’s fault—so heavy and ugly. If it were smaller, lighter, and held charge longer, I’d buy one myself! I finally get it—you can’t borrow a poor person’s phone.”

Gu Zhihang scratched his ear. “Poor?”

Yaobao pouted. “Fine, you’re not poor.”

“I was never poor,” Gu Zhihang stretched out his long arm and ruffled her hair. “Wait—I’ll become the richest man in China. Everyone’ll call me Diamond Gu the Second.”

“That’s awful!” Yaobao gave him a look of utter disdain.

“When I’ve amassed enough wealth, even ‘Gu Doggy’ sounds like quiet luxury with depth.” Gu Zhihang was growing ever more aware of money’s importance—soon, money would solve 99.999% of problems.

Yaobao had no reply.

Lin Zhao, who knew the future, gave him a subtle look.

Second brother sees things clearly—and he’s got ambition.

“Go for it! If you become China’s richest, I’m the richest man’s mom—I’ll just lie back and win. Look at my luck: as a kid, I relied on my parents; after marriage, I relied on my husband, parents, and brothers; when I’m old, I’ll rely on my kids. This lie-back-and-win life—I’m too scared to even brag, in case someone gets jealous.”

Gu Chenghuai’s lips curled into a low chuckle.

“What are you laughing at? I’m telling the truth!” Lin Zhao scolded.

She didn’t live this carefree life just by herself.

She certainly couldn’t afford such a big sihe courtyard or such a cool car on her own.

Gu Zhihang laughed along. “Then I’ve got to work hard—can’t let Mom’s lie-back-and-win dream fall through.”

“I want to lie back and win too!” Yaobao gazed pleadingly at her second brother—this was the perfect moment to cling to his leg.

“Aren’t you already lying back?” Gu Zhihang pinched her nose. “Think your shop profits are just decoration?”

Yaobao had no business sense—her several storefronts were all chosen by her second brother, each one profitable, bringing in a substantial monthly sum.

Much higher than her salary!

“Hehe.”

Knowing Qianbao was home, Lin Zhao and the others had no sleepiness, and nothing else to do—so Gu Zhihang pulled out a deck of cards like magic, and the whole family sat down to play.

They were in the same carriage, speaking softly, so no one worried about disturbing others.

After two hours, seeing the time, they returned to their berths to sleep.

Lin Zhao was exhausted—her head barely touched the pillow and she fell asleep.

Yaobao kept whispering to Gu Zhihang. “Dad cheated—he always helps Mom. I lost so much, it was a disaster!”

No sooner had she spoken than she got a glare. Gu Zhihang sighed, dark lines forming on his forehead. “If I remember right, your chips were given to you by me—so what exactly did you lose?”

“…Uh, uh uh uh.” Yaobao grinned awkwardly.

She’d forgotten.

“Sorry!” She nudged Gu Zhihang’s arm, beaming up at him sweetly.

Seeing Lin Zhao asleep, Gu Zhihang stopped teasing his sister, climbed up to the top bunk, lay down, and stretched out his legs—looking like a big, pouting kid.

He didn’t mind—it was just his habit.

After a night’s sleep, the family was woken by noise in the corridor.

They washed their faces in pairs, guessed it was nearly time to disembark, and headed straight for the door.

They stood at the very front.

“This is the first time I’ve been this eager to get off,” Gu Zhihang laughed.

The capital’s train station had many starting points—he usually took trains ending at the final stop, where he’d always wait calmly, only rising after everyone else had left.

“Me too!” Yaobao chimed in.

Gu Zhihang stuck out one finger and pushed her head away. “What’s it got to do with you? You never go out.”

Yaobao shoved her round head against his, making “ah ah” noises. “You’re picking on me again—I’m gonna fight you!!”

Gu Zhihang wrapped an arm around her head and laughed heartily, teasing her. “You can’t fight me—you can’t!”

Just then, the train stopped and the doors opened.

Gu Zhihang’s expression turned serious—he wrapped an arm around Yaobao’s shoulder and guided her off the train.

“We’re finally back! Finally getting to see Little Brother!” Yaobao couldn’t help grinning.

As she looked up, she saw a young man surrounded by admirers like stars around the moon.

Her eyes brightened—before she could think, her feet moved on their own, sprinting toward him.

“Little Brother!!!”

Her clear, joyful voice rang out, drawing glances from nearby people.

Seeing a bright, beautiful young girl, they smiled kindly.

What a lovely girl.

Following her run, they saw another face—clear, handsome, and striking.

These siblings really know how to be born well!

Gu Zhiqian opened his arms and hugged his sister, then took her bag.

“Little Brother, when did you get here? I didn’t expect you to come pick us up!”

“I had nothing else to do, and I was eager to see you, so I came. I timed it—I didn’t wait long.” Gu Zhiqian explained.

At that moment, Lin Zhao and the others stepped forward.

“Dad, Mom, Second Brother,” Gu Zhiqian called.

He walked over, hugged Lin Zhao, bent down, pressed his cheek against her shoulder, voice thick with regret. “Mom, I’m back. I’m sorry—I came late, missed your ceremony, didn’t climb the mountain with you.”

Lin Zhao froze slightly—she hadn’t expected him to say this first. She patted his back, her laughter warm.

“Foolish boy, why say that? Your second brother was with me. Better to say you missed me—that’s what truly makes me happy.”

Gu Zhiqian lifted his head, his cold, elegant features softening into a smile. “Mom, I missed you.”

“I missed you too. Your dad, your second brother, and Yaobao all missed you.”

“How many days are you staying this time?” Lin Zhao asked.

Gu Zhiqian answered, “The project hit a snag—I’m taking half a month off to clear my head.”

“You should. My perfect son spends all day in the lab—I’m afraid you’re turning slow-witted.” Lin Zhao fretted.

She changed tone. “While you’ve got time, go visit your grandparents and your maternal grandparents—they all miss you.”

“Mm-hmm,” Gu Zhiqian nodded seriously. “I will.”

“I’ll go with you—we’ll fly together,” Lin Zhao smiled.

Gu Zhiqian was surprised. “Mom, you’re brave enough to fly now?”

“On the way down the mountain, we took the cable car—I think I’ve overcome it. No worries, I’ve got company—I’m not afraid.” Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chenghuai wouldn’t let his wife’s first flight happen without him. He spoke firmly. “Book me a ticket too.”

Lin Zhao glanced at him as they exited the station. “Do you have time?”

“I’ll make time,” Gu Chenghuai calculated—he’d finish urgent military duties, then squeeze out a few days.

“If you come too, that’s perfect.” A good husband gives his wife irreplaceable security—Gu Chenghuai was exactly that for Lin Zhao.

“I’ll definitely go,” Gu Chenghuai said gently.

What if Zhaozhao was scared without him? No one understood his wife better than he did.

The family exited the station.

Gu Zhiqian was important—the state had assigned people to stay with him; he’d been brought here by plainclothes officers who still secretly guarded him.

The car waiting outside was also arranged by the state.

Gu Chenghuai, as a high-ranking officer in the military system, knew vaguely what Gu Zhiqian did—and instantly recognized the two men.

He said nothing, pretended he didn’t notice.

The two men were ex-military—they knew Gu Chenghuai, the top commander of the military region.

They subtly nodded to him in greeting.

“Should we take a taxi home?” Yaobao asked.

“No need.” Gu Zhiqian murmured, “I hired a car; it’s parked not far away.”

Lin Zhao and the others understood the implication, said nothing, and simply followed him.

Gu Zhiyao’s eyes sparkled with admiration; after getting in the car, she said with genuine awe: “Young brother, you’re amazing.”

Too bad she couldn’t tell her friends how amazing her young brother was—she could only secretly savor it in her heart.

“You’re not bad either. I heard from Second Brother that you’re thriving on television, and you’ll soon move from behind the scenes to the front. I’m sure I’ll see you on TV before long.” Gu Zhiqian’s gaze encouraged her, his words sincere.

Flattered by her smartest brother’s praise, Gu Zhiyao’s crimson lips unconsciously curved into a soft smile as she whispered: “I can’t compare to you, Young Brother—you’re doing great things for the country and the nation. What I do is nothing…”

“Don’t say that.” Gu Zhiqian’s expression turned serious, his tone firm: “Every job has value. A living society cannot rely on just one kind of person. Only through the joint efforts of all professions can the nation progress and develop. What you do is equally meaningful, Yaobao—never doubt your own worth.”

“I don’t doubt it! I just think you’re the best.” Gu Zhiyao was a bright, confident little sun—she would never belittle herself.

But.

That didn’t stop her from thinking her young brother was the absolute best in the world!

Gu Zhiqian’s gaze softened slightly.

“Don’t take what Gu Zhiyao says too seriously!” Gu Zhihang couldn’t help but interject. “She’s flattering you—she’s said this kind of thing to me and Big Brother plenty of times.”

Gu Zhiyao replied without hesitation: “In my heart, all my family members are the best in the world. So what? Is that wrong?”

“Fine. If you say it’s fine, then it’s fine,” Gu Zhihang said.

In front of Qianbao, he dared not go too far—Big Brother wasn’t here, and he was alone; he couldn’t handle both of them.

Especially his sister—if she got truly angry and called Grandpa and Grandma, he’d be scolded again.

Back home, Gu Zhihang’s first act was to charge Big Brother’s phone.

Only after charging it did he go to bathe.

After bathing, Lin Zhao changed clothes and felt several ounces lighter.

When she came out, she saw Gu Zhiqian sitting on the sofa, TV off, brows furrowed, clearly stuck on some problem.

“Still thinking about work?”

Gu Zhiqian snapped out of it and smiled apologetically.

The experiment had hit a critical bottleneck; he and all the researchers were unable to settle their minds. The project was suspended, the losses severe, and everyone was anxious.

“It’s fine…”

Before Gu Zhiqian could finish his placating words, Lin Zhao gently interrupted: “Go read some books in the study. I’ve recently collected quite a few—I’m not sure if they’ll help, but you can flip through them. They’re in the hidden compartment.”

She’d found them while organizing her storage ring, afraid that taking them out might draw unwanted attention, so she’d placed them in the hidden compartment.

Though the study’s confidentiality was good, Lin Zhao was accustomed to caution.

Gu Zhiqian’s eyes brightened; he stood and hugged Lin Zhao. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll go look. I’ll be out soon to talk with you.”

The moment he finished speaking,

his figure vanished from the spot.

Lin Zhao shook her head helplessly—Qianbao had always forgotten time when reading; it was a miracle if he came out for meals.

It didn’t matter—they could talk anytime. She just hoped those books would help Qianbao now, and perhaps even their lab—he might find answers in them.

Gu Zhiqian opened the hidden compartment and saw several new books inside; he quickly skimmed through them.

He flipped through book after book, pulled out the useful ones, and sat at the desk to read.

So that’s how it is.

This is how it works.

His eyes grew brighter; new ideas surged in his mind—he longed to return to the lab immediately.

He quickly jotted down his new concepts, suppressed his excitement, and a flicker of joy passed through his eyes.

Gu Zhiqian had an excellent memory—he remembered every event since childhood—and he’d long suspected something strange about Lin Zhao. These books further confirmed his suspicions.

This made the origins of those previous reference books even more mysterious.

Gu Zhiqian had no intention of digging deeper. Everyone had secrets they couldn’t reveal; as long as they didn’t affect others, why pry?

Too much is indigestible. Gu Zhiqian didn’t stay long in the study. After scribbling for a while, he locked the few papers in a box and stepped out.

Seeing Lin Zhao, he moved toward her like a swallow returning to its nest, his steps light, his eyes suddenly brightening.

“Looks like you found something useful,” Lin Zhao teased with a smile.

Gu Zhiqian sat beside her. “Mm. Thank you, Mom.”

“For what? Those books were just sitting there. If they help you, that’s enough.” Lin Zhao was also pleased.

She’d feared they’d be useless—she hadn’t expected to be of any help.

The books contained deeply complex content—she couldn’t understand them, and dared not show them to anyone who could, for fear of exposing herself. It was perfect that Qianbao could use them—she hadn’t collected them in vain.

Gu Zhiqian couldn’t express just how vital those books were—they gave him fresh insights, revealed new possibilities, and their value was incalculable.