Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Upon returning home, the sky outside had completely darkened.

Gu Yubai, having driven all the way, collapsed onto the sofa, unwilling to move. His attentive younger brother, Gu Yihong, brought him warm water and turned on the air conditioner, the cool breeze finally sweeping away Gu Yubai’s fatigue. He looked up to see Gu Yihong already bustling about, rummaging through the refrigerator to decide what to cook for dinner.

Holding the warm water, Gu Yubai pondered for a moment, then rose and went to his room to retrieve Gu Yihong’s admission letter for him.

The brothers were attending the same university. Gu Yubai had chosen the chemistry program, a field that had piqued his interest in his past life, while Gu Yihong was off to the law department he had long dreamed of. This was indeed a joyous occasion.

Gu Yubai called out to Gu Yihong in the kitchen, “Don’t bother cooking. Let’s eat out.”

Both brothers knew the best places to eat outside their neighborhood. They used to frequent the barbecue joint on the next street, but recently, many new establishments had opened nearby. Since his rebirth, Gu Yubai had only once, by chance, gone for hotpot with Yu Li. Now, he wanted to explore other options with his younger brother.

Gu Yihong immediately cheered, his face beaming with joy as he emerged from the kitchen. The moment his eyes landed on his admission letter on the coffee table in front of the sofa, he leaped up in excitement.

“Oh my god! My admission letter!”

Unlike the yellowed paper he had found in the safe only after inheriting Gu Yubai’s assets in his previous life, this admission letter was vibrant and crisp, its paper still exuding the rich scent of fresh ink.

Gu Yihong meticulously examined it before turning around to find Gu Yubai already standing at the door, shoes on.

He shouted loudly, “Big bro, I love you forever!”

Gu Yubai was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.

“I love you too, you little rascal,” he replied.

Gu Yihong immediately broke into a delighted grin, radiating cheerfulness. Gu Yubai’s gaze inadvertently swept over his gaunt, pale face again, his brow furrowing slightly before quickly relaxing.

Unable to decide what to eat, the two wandered around the newly opened shops near their neighborhood before settling on a Southern Yunnan-style eatery. The menu featured distinct regional flavors, a stark contrast to Mingcheng’s usual cuisine.

Just as Gu Yubai was about to step inside, a car slowly pulled up by the roadside.

The window rolled down, and someone inside called out to them.

“Gu Yubai!”

Both Gu Yubai and Gu Yihong turned their heads. Upon recognizing the person, Gu Yubai instinctively smiled and waved.

“Little Brother Yu, just off work?”

Little Brother Yu?!

Gu Yihong’s eyes widened in shock. He instinctively looked at Gu Yubai, only to find him already stepping forward to greet Yu Li.

A wave of disbelief washed over Gu Yihong.

He had only been away for a short while, how had his big brother become so close to their new neighbor downstairs?

Was it really just because Mr. Yu, the new neighbor, had helped mediate with the Su family, ensuring they would no longer disturb their lives?

Gu Yihong felt there was more to it than that.

After a moment of thought, he decided to observe further.

-----

Yu Li, spotting Gu Yubai on the street, pulled his car directly to the roadside after calling out to him.

As Gu Yubai approached with a bright smile, Yu Li’s mood lifted, the exhaustion from a long day at work significantly fading.

Yu Li strode forward, stopping in front of Gu Yubai and looking down at him.

“It’s so late. Why are you still out?”

Only after speaking did he glance up at the shop’s sign, realizing it was a snack bar. Understanding dawned on him instantly.

He smiled. “Oh, you’re out for dinner. Perfect timing—I haven’t eaten either. How about I treat you?”

It was still summer, and even at night, the heat lingered.

Inside the air-conditioned car, Yu Li hadn’t noticed the scorching weather, but now, dressed in a suit, he felt as if he’d stepped into a steamer.

Facing familiar company, Yu Li casually unbuttoned his suit, draping the jacket over his arm before loosening the collar of his shirt.

A glimpse of jade-like skin peeked out. When Gu Yubai looked up, he caught sight of Yu Li’s subtly alluring collarbone, half-hidden yet prim and sensual—like the teasing apricot flower buds peeking from a branch in spring.

Gu Yubai’s gaze flickered, and he turned away, only to meet Gu Yihong’s reproachful glare.

A pang of guilt hit him.

The moment he saw Yu Li, he’d been so focused on greeting him that he’d completely forgotten about Gu Yihong behind him. And just ten minutes ago, he’d told this “brat” he’d love him forever—yet at the sight of a friend, he’d tossed him aside.

Gu Yubai gave an awkward chuckle, leading Yu Li over to Gu Yihong for a stiff introduction.

“Mr. Yu, this is my younger brother, Gu Yihong. You’ve met before, but he was away traveling, so you two haven’t spent much time together. Yihong, this is our new neighbor from downstairs. You can call him Brother Yu.”

Gu Yihong scrutinized Yu Li, his lips tightening at the man’s easy, familiar demeanor with Gu Yubai.

He said with clear jealousy, “Just ‘Brother Yu’? No need for a ‘little’ in front?”

His gaze at Yu Li was openly hostile, as if the man were a villain trying to steal his brother away.

Deliberately, he sidled up to Gu Yubai, slinging an arm around his neck and nuzzling affectionately against his brother.

Gu Yubai flicked his arm off, shooting him a warning glance.

“Aren’t you hot? Quit being so clingy.”

Yu Li couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene.

Gu Yihong pouted but obediently stood back up. Staring at Yu Li, he couldn’t help but think—this man was already in his twenties, an “old cucumber,” yet he had the audacity to try to appear fresh and squeeze himself among us vibrant eighteen-year-olds. Utterly shameless.

He burned with irritation, but since Gu Yubai was already annoyed, Gu Yihong had no choice but to shut up and force a polite smile at Yu Li.

“Hello, Brother Yu. I’m Gu Yihong, Gu Yubai’s younger brother. We were just about to have dinner. You’ve already eaten, right? After a long day at work, you must be exhausted. And it’s so hot outside—don’t you just want to hurry home, take a shower, and sleep?”

“Brother Yu, we won’t keep you then. Let’s do this another time—”

Gu Yihong rattled off quickly, as if slowing down even a second would give Yu Li the chance to brazenly crash their brotherly dinner.

But despite his speed, Yu Li merely curled his lips in a slow smile, his words unhurried but clearly enunciated.

“Actually, I haven’t eaten either. I’ll join you two.”

Gu Yihong’s face fell immediately. “I actually have some personal things to discuss with my brother. Like last time, when our two-class high school mixer had that hiking trip and I couldn’t go, I want to ask about—”

Yu Li smoothly cut him off, his smile unwavering as if cheerfully pretending not to notice Gu Yihong’s resistance.

"What a coincidence. I filled in for you on that hike with your high school classmates last time. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Brother Yu’s an open book—ask me anything."

Gu Yihong: "....Ahhhhhhh!"

Screaming marmot.jpg

Why is this guy always haunting me?!

Gu Yihong was completely exasperated. On top of that, Gu Yubai had been glaring at him the whole time he was speaking, clearly finding his words impolite. Left with no choice, Gu Yihong had to back down, watching helplessly as his big brother exchanged a few more words with Old Fox before heading into the snack shop together.

Gu Yihong, stranded: "......"

Ahhhhhhhh!

-----------

These two—there was no way they were just simple neighbors or acquaintances living upstairs and downstairs.

Their closeness was so tight that Gu Yihong could hardly wedge himself in.

As Gu Yihong ate his bowl of pea tip noodles, he heard Gu Yubai casually mention their plans to go grocery shopping for dorm supplies after dinner. Immediately, he coughed loudly, cutting his brother off.

"Big bro, I almost forgot. It feels like forever since we last shared a bed. How about we sleep together tonight? I have so many fun stories from my trip abroad to share with you. Let’s have a heart-to-heart before school starts."

As he spoke, he smugly shot Yu Li a glance, pleased to see the man’s barely noticeable frown.

*Old Fox, don’t think I don’t know why you’re getting close to my beloved brother.* Since childhood, he’d always shielded his brother, the gentle scholar everyone idealized, from countless suitors. If another guy even blinked at Gu Yubai, Gu Yihong knew exactly what they were scheming.

If only he hadn’t gone abroad—he wouldn’t have given these opportunistic suitors a chance to circle Gu Yubai like vultures.

Noticing Yu Li’s frown, Gu Yihong deliberately added, "What? Does Mr. Yu have an issue with that?"

"Jealous our bond’s tighter than yours?"

He looked like a jealous puppy, watching its owner pet another dog—whiny but begging for attention.

After frowning briefly, Yu Li quickly smiled again.

"Not at all. I completely understand your deep brotherly bond. It’s just that I heard Yubai has been on his feet all day. I thought he might want a peaceful night’s rest without disturbances. For me, when I’m worn out, I prefer lying alone in bed. Just hearing someone else breathe in the same room feels like an invasion."

Despite his tactful phrasing, Yu Li’s words clearly disapproved of Gu Yihong sharing a bed with Gu Yubai.

Gu Yihong thought he was being nosy and fake, his face instantly darkening.

"My big brother and I grew up together as real brothers! I’m not a disturbance to him! Right, big bro?"

He turned to Gu Yubai indignantly, eyes searching for confirmation.

At this, Yu Li finally couldn’t suppress a sharp frown.

For a moment, he admitted to himself that he was indeed overstepping. But the thought of these two—who weren’t even blood-related—sharing a bed made his skin crawl as if ants were gnawing at him.

He knew his stance was misplaced. Even if the two weren’t biologically related, legally, they were brothers under the same household register. What right did he have to comment on how they chose to interact?

He had simply grown too accustomed to Gu Yubai appearing alone by his side lately, forgetting that there were plenty of others who cared for him. Even if it wasn’t Gu Yihong now, someone else would inevitably take that place in the future.

The idea alone twisted Yu Li’s gut.

He knew he’d overstepped.

Just as he was about to apologize, Gu Yubai downed his glass of tea, seemingly oblivious to the tension in Yu Li’s words. His expression remained calm, his tone gentle yet firm.

"Why the fuss? If Yihong wants to sleep with me, then we will. We’re brothers—since when do we care about disturbances?"

Gu Yihong smirked victoriously.

In contrast, Yu Li’s face clouded for a second before clearing, though a faint trace of displeasure lingered at the corners of his eyes.

Gu Yubai added, "Besides, I have a lot of things I want to ask Yihong about too."

Half-lidded, his gaze lingered on Gu Yihong’s pale, thin face, his eyes heavy with implication.