Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The roses finally found their place beside the lit grill, carefully arranged by Gu Yubai himself.

He bent to retrieve the roses from the steps, then looked up, a smile gracing his lips as he met Yu Li’s gaze. His handsome face, softened by the warm glow of the lights, seemed ethereal, like a figure from a dream, causing Yu Li’s heart to skip a beat.

Instinctively, Yu Li turned away, quickening his pace to settle by the grill. He meticulously served Gu Yubai the dishes the owner had already prepared, using tongs to transfer them one by one, all the while chattering and personally placing vegetables onto the hot grill.

“Eat the meat first. The grilled steak, marinated by the owner, is truly delicious. And this garlic sauce? He made it himself—you won’t find another like it in all of Mingcheng. Oh, and the stir-fried beef liver is excellent too; I specifically asked the owner to include it. This jar of rose-flavored yogurt is also a specialty of this place—absolutely divine.”

Gu Yubai leaned forward, his eyes crinkling into crescents as he listened to Yu Li’s rambling.

Yu Li was genuinely easy to get along with—mature, understated, steady, and gentle. Despite being eight years Gu Yubai’s senior, there was no awkwardness between them. He was the kind of man who could set aside his own reserve and connect effortlessly with anyone.

He looked out for Gu Yubai in every way.

Coincidentally, Gu Yubai was hungry, and the irresistible aroma of the barbecue filled the air. The steak was so tender that he devoured it in rapid bites, not even pausing to look up, finishing it in moments.

Only after consuming seven or eight more skewers of grilled lamb, chicken gizzards, bacon, and enoki mushrooms did Gu Yubai slow his pace.

He glanced at Yu Li, who was grilling mushrooms, savored the cool riverside breeze, and then looked up at the star-studded night sky, wishing time would freeze at this very moment.

“This is wonderful.”

“What?”

Yu Li handed Gu Yubai a skewer of grilled chives, his gaze curious.

Gu Yubai smiled. The river wind carried the sound of waves, louder than their voices, so he had to shout to Yu Li.

“I said, this is wonderful!”

Yu Li chuckled. He placed a tender mushroom in front of Gu Yubai, then ate a skewer of baby bok choy himself. Before he could even set the skewer down, Gu Yubai suddenly looked at him, eyes sparkling with mischievous intent.

He hesitated, a glint of playful malice in the corner of his eye, as if plotting how to set a trap for Yu Li.

The expression was remarkably vivid.

Yu Li laughed.

“What can’t we say between us? Though we haven’t known each other long, we clicked immediately. We’re even sharing a home now. Even if you tried to set me up with your teacher again, I wouldn’t hold it against you.”

Gu Yubai’s eyes widened instantly. “What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever try to set you up with my teacher...?”

His voice trailed off, his expression distinctly guilty, as if perhaps, maybe, possibly… he hadn’t.

Yu Li showed no mercy.

“Last time we went for hot pot, you got drunk and insisted on introducing me to both your handsome male teacher and your beautiful female teacher. And when I refused, you even tried to pawn your brother, Gu Yihong, off on me!”

“You’re lying! I’m not like that!” His eyes instantly widened like brass bells.

Gu Yubai waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t change the subject. Actually… I wanted to ask you something.”

***

Yu Li waited attentively, relaxed and smiling—until the next second, when his smile abruptly froze, and even his hands stopped flipping the skewers.

Gu Yubai’s expression remained as calm as ever.

He said, “When did you find out that I’m actually the true young master of the Su family?”

Gu Yubai’s eyes still held a faint smile.

There was an unwavering certainty in his gaze—a confidence in his own judgment that surpassed all else. This kind of powerful, composed presence was something Yu Li had only witnessed in himself and a select few top-tier family patriarchs in the country.

This was the second time Yu Li had seen Gu Yubai’s impressively commanding aura. He was far more outstanding than Su Linyuan, the current heir of the Su family.

The first time had been in the car when Yu Li picked him up from the highway. Yu Li had asked what would happen if Gu Yihong’s recklessness caused trouble, and Gu Yubai had confidently replied that he could handle the aftermath for Gu Yihong.

This time, however, after accidentally learning the truth, Yu Li’s attitude toward Gu Yubai carried an instinctive sense of acceptance and closeness.

“You found out? I didn’t mean to hide it from you. It’s just that the Yu and Su families have had ties for generations. I was worried you’d doubt my relationship with the Su family because of my surname, so I kept it to myself.”

Yu Li collected himself, his smile returning without a trace of reluctance.

Gu Yubai didn’t speak. Yu Li’s eyes flickered slightly before he continued.

“As for when I found out? Probably before the fire. The Yu… family head sent me back to the country to expand a new business line. Old Master Su was abroad at the time and knew I’d inevitably cross paths with the Su family after returning, so he asked me to look out for you if I ever met you. He even sent me your photo.”

“Su… my grandfather?” This time, Gu Yubai truly couldn’t hide his surprise.

In his past life, Old Master Su had died a year after Gu Yubai was recognized as part of the family—an accidental fall down the stairs. Gu Yubai hadn’t spent much time with him, but in his will, the old man had left Gu Yubai many things. From that alone, he was probably the only person in the Su family who had shown Gu Yubai kindness.

Yu Li nodded with a faint smile.

“Yes, so when I moved and realized you were my upstairs neighbor, I was genuinely surprised.”

“At first, I didn’t pay attention to the whole true young master and false young master situation in the Su family. It wasn’t until after the fire that Assistant Jin suddenly recognized Gu Yihong as the true young master from online rumors. I was shocked—I thought you and Gu Yihong had fallen out over the identity issue, and that he was trying to take your place and wealth.”

Yu Li joked, “But after getting to know you, I realized how close you two brothers are. You’re not the kind of people who’d let a windfall come between you. Remember when I asked you later if you weren’t worried about Gu Yihong’s rebellious nature clashing with the Su family? That was actually my way of probing!”

Yu Li wasn’t the type to meddle in others’ affairs.

At the time, Gu Yubai had thought he was just curious about how Gu Yihong had caused such a stir with the Su family. Now, looking back, it had all been a test!

Yu Li had come clean himself!

The slow boil approach—Gu Yubai hadn’t anticipated that.

He gave a laugh of exasperation.

For the first time, he realized how little he guarded himself around outsiders.

Fortunately, Yu Li was from a cadet branch of the Yu family. He didn’t care about the generations-long ties between the Yu and Su families and had unhesitatingly sided with Gu Yubai, allowing his secret plans against the Su family to proceed smoothly.

Gu Yubai: “You really are…”

***

He was at a loss for words, so he pushed a skewer of lamb into Yu Li’s mouth, his tone equal parts teasing and accusatory.

“Tell me! What other secrets of mine do you know?”

Yu Li’s eyes flickered, and Gu Yubai’s widened instantly.

“You really know more?”

Yu Li leisurely ate the skewer Gu Yubai had given him, his deep, beautiful eyes dancing with amusement.

“Oh, several. I know one more secret.”

“What?”

Gu Yubai subconsciously leaned in closer to Yu Li.

Yu Li suddenly reached out and pinched Gu Yubai’s soft, youthful cheeks, giving them a playful pull that distorted his face.

Gu Yubai instinctively batted at him, and after a couple of hits, Yu Li reluctantly let go.

Leaning back to avoid Gu Yubai’s swatting hands, Yu Li wore a smug grin.

He declared loudly, “I also know that you’ve never been in a relationship!”

His fingertips still remembered the softness he’d just touched. Yu Li’s voice was slightly raised, as if to mask the pounding in his chest.

He tucked his hands behind his back, watching Gu Yubai with a playful grin.

Gu Yubai rubbed his cheeks and glared at Yu Li.

“Childish!”

Not embarrassed at all, Yu Li seemed proud. He nodded cheerfully.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m childish. I’m twenty-seven, eight years older than you, yet utterly immature. You’re eighteen, this year’s top STEM graduate in Mingcheng’s national exams—so very mature!”

Yu Li’s exaggerated tone was deliberately silly. Gu Yubai had been ready to get angry but ended up laughing instead.

“You’re old, you’re the old one! I’m not playing with you anymore.”

He angrily took a bite of a nearly charred skewer from the grill.

Yu Li let out a small sigh of relief and straightened up, resuming his task of grilling meat, vegetables, seafood, and flatbreads for Gu Yubai.

“Fine, no more teasing. We still have to visit the night market across the river after dinner—need to save some energy. Later, we’ll have to… drive…”

Suddenly, everything went dark. Gu Yubai had taken the opportunity to cover Yu Li’s eyes without warning.

Yu Li froze in surprise, stunned into silence. Gu Yubai took advantage, sliding his hands down to mimic Yu Li’s earlier move—grabbing his cheeks and pulling them apart.

Yu Li’s handsome face stretched comically, his eyes widening in shock.

Gu Yubai’s voice was full of triumphant glee.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold? Not for me. Gu Yubai settles scores in two seconds flat!”

The moment he finished speaking, Yu Li’s widened eyes suddenly reddened, as if shimmering with tears.

Gu Yubai was alarmed, thinking Yu Li’s pride was so fragile that a little cheek-pulling had brought him to tears. He hastily let go.

“Seriously? I didn’t even get mad when you pulled my cheeks—just gave you a taste of your own medicine! And now you’re crying? Are you that thin-skinned, or is it because you’re older and can’t handle it?”

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.

Gu Yubai began questioning just how solid their friendship really was, despite Yu Li’s earlier claims.

Suspicious, he scrutinized Yu Li, who blinked rapidly—until a single tear actually rolled down his cheek.

Yu Li grabbed a napkin from the grill table and wiped his eye calmly.

“You had chili flakes from the skewers on your hands.”

Gu Yubai: “…..”

Gu Yubai: “…Sorry.”

***

The night market across the river twinkled brightly, its man-made lights outshining the stars in the sky. In contrast, the river itself was much darker.

After finishing their barbecue, the two descended the riverside stairs directly to a small boat lit by a single lamp.

Yu Li felt around in the storage compartment and handed Gu Yubai a light-up safety helmet and a safety vest.

“Don’t worry, I’ve used this boat plenty of times. The owner said it’s fine. If you’re scared, just hold onto my waist. I’ll steer from the front.”

Gu Yubai, who was deathly afraid of accidents, immediately clung tightly to Yu Li’s waist.

For just a moment, Yu Li’s body stiffened. Then, without a word, he untied the boat and took position at the front to steer.

As the boat’s engine sputtered to life, the two made their way across the river toward the night market.

The boat slipped into the dark waters, the river wind messing up their hair. Apart from the glow from their helmet lights, the world around them seemed vast and empty.

Under the quiet, boundless night sky, Gu Yubai felt as small as an ant.

Despite it being summer, the river’s center carried a surprising chill.

He moved slightly—only for Yu Li, seated in front and steering, to suddenly grab his hand.

Yu Li’s voice came softly over the waves.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’m fine,” Gu Yubai muttered.

Looking down, he saw his arm looped around Yu Li’s waist, his right hand still held tightly in Yu Li’s hand. The warmth from Yu Li’s palm seeped into his skin, giving him an inexplicable sense of security.

The night market was vibrant. Yu Li led Gu Yubai around, and after spending a hundred yuan at a ring-toss booth, they won a waist-high fluffy panda plushie.

Yu Li handed it to him with a grin. Gu Yubai didn’t want it, protesting that it would make him sweat, but Yu Li insisted they couldn’t waste it. He got a giant plastic bag from the vendor, stuffed the panda inside, and passed it back to Gu Yubai.

With no choice, Gu Yubai dragged it home.

By the time they returned, it was past midnight. After showering and getting ready for bed, it was nearly one in the morning.

Gu Yubai, with the AC running, quickly drifted off.

In his dream, a fluffy panda head beamed at him—until, abruptly, its face transformed into Yu Li’s!

Gu Yubai bolted upright in alarm.

When he opened his eyes… morning had already come.