Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Su Linyuan had been in a foul mood all day.

The company's stock continued its downward spiral. Despite the Su Group's public statement, Gu Yihong remained unresponsive, and the public was unconvinced. The number of people following the situation had only grown.

At this juncture, the only way to salvage the situation was for Gu Yihong to personally step forward and clarify matters, and to attend the family recognition banquet the Su family had arranged for him as promised. Only then might the stock price see a recovery.

But Gu Yihong was *unreachable*!

A flicker of panic finally crept into Su Linyuan’s heart.

He finally understood that Gu Yihong truly held no regard for the Su family. If the Su family failed to satisfy him now, he genuinely would not acknowledge his lineage. Nor would he soften his stance and clarify the rumors or salvage the situation as the Su family demanded.

Su Linyuan’s thoughts were complex.

In his heart, even if Gu Yihong couldn’t measure up to Su Shengli, and despite his worry that Gu Yihong might have picked up bad habits while living outside, he had never considered disowning this younger brother. After all, they were full brothers, born of the same parents.

Unable to reach Gu Yihong by phone, Su Linyuan decided to personally visit the address listed in Gu Yihong’s file after work.

At the company entrance, he encountered Su Shengli, whose eyes were red, as if he had been expecting this. Su Linyuan sighed and reached out to stroke the soft hair on his head.

"This time, you’ve been wronged."

Su Shengli shook his head.

"I don’t feel wronged. If it weren’t for me, Mom wouldn’t have directly suggested treating me and Gu Yihong as twin brothers. If we had spoken properly to Second Brother when he returned last time, he wouldn’t have been so volatile. If I had held back when people online were attacking me, the narrative wouldn’t have flipped, causing Second Brother—who has an uncompromising nature—to hate our family so much that he refuses to back down."

His tone was sincere, as if he were reflecting on himself.

Tears gradually welled up in Su Shengli’s eyes. He tugged at Su Linyuan’s sleeve, his voice barely above a whisper, almost choked with sobs.

"Big Brother, I don’t think I did anything wrong. When we were accidentally swapped at birth, I was just a blameless infant. I’m just sad that everyone online is blaming me. But it’s true that I’ve usurped Second Brother’s position and reaped the privileges of the Su family for so many years. If... if there’s really no other way, Big Brother, just kick me out of the Su family."

He lifted his head again, his eyes glistening with devastatingly vulnerable tears, appearing understanding to the extreme.

"Big Brother, I don’t care whether I’m still a child of the Su family or not, because I know you and Mom and Dad all love me. I’m willing to relinquish my place, as long as Second Brother is happy..."

A flicker of warring emotions flashed in Su Linyuan’s eyes. His hand clenched abruptly, feeling that compared to Gu Yihong’s rebellious and difficult temperament, Su Shengli was far too delicate and guileless.

He had no idea what he would truly lose by making this concession.

But Su Linyuan wasn’t just Gu Yihong’s older brother—he was also Su Shengli’s older brother.

How could he possibly wrong a younger brother he had grown up with, just to satisfy the selfish demands of Gu Yihong?

Su Linyuan remained silent for a long time. Su Shengli lowered his head, his face full of disappointment.

Yet, in the instant his eyes dropped, a hint of triumph flashed through them.

One...

Two...

Three...

Before three seconds had passed, the conflicted expression on Su Linyuan’s face dissipated, replaced by complete calm.

He said firmly, "It’s not your fault. You don’t need to apologize or leave."

"If Gu Yihong really refuses to tolerate being in the same house as you, *he* can leave the Su family. At the end of the day, while the Su family bears immense guilt toward him for losing him, none of us were at fault in this matter. He was lost outside, and you were switched at birth—it was all just an accident."

"The Su family will give him generous reparations."

These words made Su Linyuan’s stance clear.

When forced to choose between Gu Yihong and Su Shengli, he hadn’t hesitated long before siding with Su Shengli.

Su Shengli’s eyes widened in surprise—he hadn’t expected Su Linyuan to say such a thing.

Su Linyuan patted Su Shengli’s shoulder reassuringly and continued, "I can’t abandon a younger brother I’ve grown up with for the sake of a stranger I’ve never even lived with. Family isn’t just about blood ties. Don’t worry—even if he returns to the Su family, Mom and Dad won’t let him overstep his bounds."

Besides, he had already realized—

Gu Yihong didn’t care about the Su family at all. He might not even *want* to return and live with them.

"You’ve endured enough hardship these past few days. If we run into Gu Yihong later, remain silent. Leave everything to me."

-----

Su Linyuan’s demeanor turned grave. He knocked on the door for a while, but there was no response from inside.

The assistant went to fetch the property manager, who was about to call the homeowner when the door suddenly opened.

A young man around the same age as Gu Yihong and Su Shengli leaned out from behind the door.

His countenance was icy and indifferent, his face devoid of warmth. After sweeping a cold glance over the group at the door, he spoke in a dispassionate tone.

"Looking for Gu Yihong? He’s gone abroad for a trip. Before leaving, he told me that if anyone came looking for him, I should tell you all to wait until he returns."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man moved to close the door.

He looked uncannily familiar.

The last time Su Linyuan had chased after Gu Yihong, he had seen this young man on the roadside. Su Linyuan had even mused bitterly—why couldn’t his younger brother be this obviously compliant and disciplined youth instead of the difficult Gu Yihong?

Without quite knowing why, the moment the other tried to shut the door, Su Linyuan suddenly jammed his foot in, blocking it.

His gaze fixed intently on the young man’s face, he mused, "Have we met somewhere before? You look familiar."

There was an inexplicable sense of kindness in the young man’s appearance—his features were delicately handsome, his demeanor cultured and composed.

Though he showed no warmth toward them, Su Linyuan could tell that this young man must have been a model student in school—the kind teachers adored and trusted, the kind classmates enjoyed being around.

Compared to Gu Yihong’s rebelliousness and Su Shengli’s fragile naivety, this young man perfectly matched the image of a younger brother Su Linyuan had once long envisioned as a child.

He looked obedient and sensible—someone who could harmonize with Shengli’s temperament, not someone who would throw the Su household into chaos like Gu Yihong.

A trace of regret flashed across Su Linyuan’s face.

Gu Yubai lifted his eyelids. His gaze remained cold, drifting almost imperceptibly to Su Shengli’s abruptly ashen face beside Su Linyuan.

Remembering the last time they had their encounter at Yu Li’s company and the humiliation he’d endured, Gu Yubai suddenly let out a mirthless chuckle.

"Maybe I just have forgettable features. Mr. Su and I have never met before."

Hearing the address of *Mr. Su*, Su Linyuan’s eyes flickered. He instinctively asked, "You know who I am?"

Only after speaking did he realize it was a redundant question. If this young man lived with Gu Yihong, the True Young Master, of course he would know.

Gu Yihong must have poisoned his mind with nothing but slander about the Su family!

The thought actually made him a little angry.

Su Linyuan instinctively added, "Don't pay attention to Gu Yihong's nonsense. People online don't know what they're talking about either. Actually, our Su family... we're actually pretty easygoing."

"But isn’t this Gu Yihong’s home? You are...?"

The records indicated that Gu Yihong had a brother he grew up with, but Butler Zhang had already mentioned that after their adoptive father was in a car accident, that brother was severely injured, suffered amnesia, and was sent abroad to their aunt's for rehabilitation.

The young man currently in Gu Yihong’s home shouldn’t be that person.

Perhaps he’s Gu Yihong’s friend or... a classmate he gets along with.

With such a good companion, hopefully, Gu Yihong can learn from his better qualities and improve his arrogant temper.

The Su family? Friendly?

Since when was that true?

Gu Yubai had always remembered the poisonous glare Su Linyuan gave him at Su Shengli’s funeral after his death.

The Su family’s kindness never included him.

Between him and the Su family, there was only enmity—nothing else.

Gu Yubai shot a subtle glance at Su Shengli, who was biting his lip nervously, fists clenched, visibly agitated, before lowering his gaze.

"That’s your Su family’s business, nothing to do with me. I’m just Gu Yihong’s classmate and friend, temporarily staying here."

At these words, Su Shengli jerked his head up.

He stared at Gu Yubai in disbelief, lips quivering and pupils dilating, as if he hadn’t expected Gu Yubai to identify himself like that.

His shock was painfully obvious, making even the slightly dejected Su Linyuan beside him pick up on the tension.

Su Linyuan found himself asking, "What’s wrong, Shengli? Do you know him?"

Su Shengli quickly shook his head. "I... I don’t know him! He... just seems familiar. I just remembered I saw him when I went to Yu Corporation’s building to deliver an invitation."

"I didn’t expect him to know Second Brother Yihong too. Funny coincidence. If Second Brother Yihong were home, I did have something to say to him—at least about his adoptive father’s hospitalization and recovery. Our Su family could take care of it, so he wouldn’t need to trouble himself."

"What a shame."

Su Shengli managed a strained smile.

He raised his head again, looking at Gu Yubai with disdain, threat, and intense wariness in his eyes.

The words he had just spoken were less like casual chat and more like thinly-veiled threats.

He was probing him.

Gu Yubai’s eyes held a quiet amusement, but he gave no expected response.

He shooed them away again.

"If there's nothing else, maybe you should leave? If you really need to see Gu Yihong, wait until he returns."

Su Linyuan looked at the young man’s cold expression, feeling a strange pang of regret.

He felt it shouldn’t be like this. Instead of this aloofness and dismissal, the boy should be more quiet and compliant—someone who wouldn’t outright tell guests to leave, who would consider everyone’s feelings, considerate and polite.

Su Linyuan was reluctant to leave, but Su Shengli suddenly pulled at his sleeve.

"Big Brother, since Yihong isn’t home, let’s go. This person is just some outsider temporarily staying at Second Brother’s place. He probably doesn’t know anything. Let’s not waste his time here."

He glanced at Gu Yubai, and under that faintly mocking gaze, Su Shengli felt like a despicable thief.

He couldn’t wait to pull Su Linyuan away, his face showing clear impatience and panic.

"Big Brother, let’s go. Don’t waste time here."

--------------

Su Linyuan picked up on Su Shengli’s discomfort.

Assuming it was just discomfort from accompanying him to see Gu Yihong and now frustration over the wasted trip, Su Linyuan nodded and turned to leave.

But just as he turned, he suddenly remembered something and looked back at Gu Yubai.

His expression darkened slightly, a trace of pity in his eyes.

After a moment of consideration, Su Linyuan said, "If you can contact my stubborn younger brother, pass on a message for me."

"The Su family’s power and wealth aren’t something a barely adult high school graduate like him can resist. He’s still too young and naive. If he insists on clashing with the Su family, he’ll be destroyed—a consequence he can’t bear."

Su Linyuan’s expression turned grave.

"Even if he doesn’t want to return to the Su family, whether he thinks we’re biased or opportunistic, he could at least act more moderately. Tell him that if he helps the Su family this once, we can live in peace from now on. Between us, we don't have to destroy each other."

Su Linyuan’s words were sincere. In his past life, Gu Yubai had completely broken with the Su family over Su Shengli. Apart from the online character assassination, they had indeed coexisted without further conflict.

Gu Yubai had never acknowledged the Su family or revealed his identity publicly.

It wasn’t until Su Linyuan was disabled in an accident that the outside world learned the Su family had another child besides Su Linyuan and Su Shengli.

Only then did the truth about Gu Yubai and Su Shengli’s identities erupt into public scandal, revealing that Su Shengli was actually the false young master.

The irony. In this life, Gu Yubai hadn’t returned to the Su family to claim his birthright—Gu Yihong had taken his place. Yet the drama of the true and false young masters, originally years away, had now arrived early.

Gu Yubai said nothing. He could hear the thinly veiled threat beneath Su Linyuan’s apparently sincere words.

His tone was indifferent. "Understood. I’ll pass it on to Gu Yihong."

A moment later, the door slammed shut.

Su Linyuan, who had barely taken two steps, froze in place. After a pause, he turned his head slightly to glare at the door he’d never managed to enter, exhaled slowly, and suddenly smirked.

This kid’s got quite the temper.