Chapter 51

Chapter 51

What business could he possibly have with Gu Yubai?!

Gu Yihong almost laughed out of sheer disbelief at Lin Xuyan's shameless words.

If he’d known earlier that the quiet, reserved young man harbored such a personality, Gu Yihong wouldn’t have asked him for help with surveillance back in high school!

Gu Yihong even regretted picking someone at random on the forum that morning—what were the odds that he ended up bringing along someone who had a crush on his brother?

Lin Xuyan was an even better actor than Yu Li, whom he’d met the night before.

Just look—during the meal, in mere moments, he had pitifully made his high school days sound so tragic, as if the world had treated him like dirt, with only his elder brother Gu Yubai being the sole light in the darkness.

Gu Yihong fought the urge to roll his eyes. He didn’t find this guy’s high school self—cold, aloof, and only following around that rich kid—the least bit pitiable.

Sure, his family situation wasn’t great, but he was handsome, academically outstanding, and raked in scholarships every year. Who would think he was pitiable?!

But Gu Yubai did.

His brother was truly a foolish little brother!

Even knowing Lin Xuyan was putting on this pitiful act, Gu Yubai remained gentle toward him, even frowning and giving Gu Yihong a sharp look for being impolite.

Gu Yihong was fuming. He crossed his arms indignantly and turned away, deciding to ignore his brother.

His anger was so obvious that even Lin Xuyan, who had just been stubbornly refusing to back down, froze for a moment, unable to believe that Gu Yihong would so easily let him get close to Gu Yubai.

Testing his luck, Lin Xuyan tentatively edged his phone closer to Gu Yubai—only to immediately get a death glare from Gu Yihong. Lin Xuyan raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at Gu Yubai.

Gu Yubai, acting oblivious to the tension between them, still smiled and pushed his QR code toward Lin Xuyan.

"Perfect—this way I can reach out to you quickly if anything comes up," Gu Yubai said.

Lin Xuyan caught on immediately. A small smile automatically formed on his face, his gaze softening as he looked at Gu Yubai.

"O-okay."

-----

Gu Yihong couldn't understand why these people kept fixating on his brother.

To put it bluntly, they were like moths to a flame, hopelessly drawn. Despite knowing Gu Yubai never accepted anyone’s confessions, they still came flocking relentlessly. From childhood to now, the parade of admirers around Gu Yubai had never stopped.

Luckily, his brother was kind-hearted.

Even though he never accepted anyone, he never showed the slightest disdain or annoyance toward their affections. Before college, Gu Yubai had always used the excuse of focusing on studies and getting into a good university to reject others.

Usually, after receiving Gu Yubai’s rejection, people would quietly lick their wounds and never bring it up again. After all, anyone with half a brain knew Gu Yubai had always been at the top of the school rankings—as if "focusing on college" was the real reason for rejecting romance?

He just wasn't interested.

Gu Yubai never said it outright, instead politely offering a gentle excuse to spare their feelings.

Most people took the hint and got the message, and didn’t bother Gu Yubai again.

But there were always a few who refused to take no for an answer.

In such cases, Gu Yubai would reject them twice before giving them the cold shoulder and cutting off contact entirely. If they still persisted, the only option was to involve the homeroom teacher, who would then contact their guardians if necessary.

This only happened twice in Gu Yubai’s history of being confessed to—once in middle school and once in high school.

Back in middle school, the girl involved had quickly caved after being scolded by her parents. But in high school, the rich upperclassman Lin Xuyan had followed simply wouldn't take no for an answer.

It was during that time that Gu Yihong had added Lin Xuyan as a friend—the rich kid's sidekick would secretly tip Gu Yihong off before his boss made any moves, allowing Gu Yihong to help Gu Yubai dodge the guy.

Later, the guy's antics grew worse. Even with exams coming up, Gu Yubai—who had always been patient—finally snapped. It was the first time even gentle Gu Yubai had openly clashed with a pursuer.

After the homeroom teacher summoned the rich upperclassman’s guardian, things finally settled down. And after the exams, the guy disappeared completely.

Now that he'd run into Lin Xuyan and chatted, Gu Yihong finally learned what had happened to him.

Turns out, after graduation, the rich upperclassman had been forcibly shipped off abroad by his family to study. Rumor had it he wouldn’t be allowed back for at least three to five years unless he excelled academically.

But while the troublesome rich kid was gone, his lackey had stepped up to take his place.

The more Gu Yihong thought about it, the madder he got. At first, he’d assumed this was just a casual meeting between alumni, no big deal given their past interactions in high school.

But the moment they met, Lin Xuyan showed his true colors!

Gu Yihong kicked himself, feeling like he’d misjudged the situation and personally hand-delivered trouble to his brother. That was why his attitude had turned hostile.

But bizarrely, Gu Yubai—who normally dodged this stuff—had gone against his usual behavior and actively added Lin Xuyan as a friend.

Gu Yihong was silent. Gu Yihong was pensive. Gu Yihong was losing it!

Had his brother really put off dating in high school because of college?!

Then what did Lin Xuyan’s appearance now mean? Was it sheer luck?!

Gu Yihong refused to believe Gu Yubai hadn’t noticed Lin Xuyan’s pitiful act at the table.

The thought made him even angrier.

His brother had actually frowned and glared at him—over Lin Xuyan!

Gu Yihong was heartbroken. Gu Yihong was depressed. Gu Yihong decided to play mute and ignore his idiot brother.

His expression dark, he refused to even glance at Gu Yubai after getting in the car, lips pressed tightly together as he vowed to act like a man who’d lost his voice.

Gu Yubai, however, seemed completely unaware. For some reason, he had been wearing a faint smile ever since parting ways with Lin Xuyan. Even when Gu Yihong stole glances at him, he seemed… happy, as if talking to Lin Xuyan had been a genuinely pleasant experience.

Gu Yihong fell silent again. He began recalling Lin Xuyan’s appearance.

Coolly elegant, tall and straight-backed—though he’d been aloof in high school, he had been nothing but considerate and attentive when speaking to Gu Yubai just now. His eyes had been fixed solely on Gu Yubai, as if no one else existed in his world except the two of them.

In that light, Lin Xuyan might be delusional, but at least he was a good-looking toad.

If his brother really… wanted… to… date… someone, Lin Xuyan could at least serve as practice.

No!

No, that still didn’t sit right. His brother’s attitude toward this guy was just too weird. Gu Yihong refused to believe it was love at first sight—if Gu Yubai had been into someone like Lin Xuyan, there would’ve been signs back in high school. But back then, Gu Yubai had treated Lin Xuyan like any other male classmate, with zero hints of affection or ambiguity.

In fact, if not for their chance meeting today, Gu Yubai might’ve completely forgotten Lin Xuyan existed.

Yet Gu Yubai hadn’t spoken a word to him the entire ride, as if oblivious to Gu Yihong’s stormy expression. He had simply started the navigation as soon as they got in the car, dropping Gu Yihong off at the driving school gates while his thoughts seemed to remain adrift.

What was he thinking about?

Was he thinking about Lin Xuyan?

Gu Yihong was initially a bit angry that his older brother had embarrassed him in front of an outsider, but now he felt a pang of jealousy.

Gu Yubai, usually so attentive and considerate, hadn't even picked up on his mood. Just who was on his mind?

Gu Yihong felt completely overlooked, and it made him even angrier.

So when Gu Yubai asked him after getting out of the car what time he'd be home and whether he needed a ride, his tone was stiff.

“No! I'll take the subway home tonight! Not just tonight—unless there's a special situation, I'll take the subway to driving school from now on, even after the semester starts. Big Brother, just focus on your own things!”

His anger was obvious enough. He stole glances at Gu Yubai, waiting for him to frown and scold him or ask why he was acting up.

But to his surprise, Gu Yubai just nodded and said, “Okay then,” his tone as gentle as ever. Yet Gu Yihong felt a whole new level of disappointment.

Was his own brother blowing him off?!

Now Gu Yihong was seriously pissed. He turned and marched off.

But the moment he stepped inside the driving school, he immediately turned a corner and hid, secretly watching for his brother's reaction.

Gu Yubai looked genuinely confused by Gu Yihong’s behavior. He stood frozen for a moment.

Gu Yihong’s lips curled into a smug little smile, waiting for Gu Yubai to chase after him—only to see his wonderful big brother glance at his phone, then get back in the car, reverse, and drive away!

Gu Yihong sucked in a sharp breath.

That damn homewrecker! It must've been a message from Lin Xuyan, who had just friended his brother. Otherwise, Gu Yubai had never ignored him like this before!

His smug little smile instantly fell.

A wave of panic hit Gu Yihong. He—

AHHHHHHH!

Screaming internally!!!!

Since when was his brother this cold?!

Gu Yubai was supposed to always put him first!

Had he forgotten the whole fiasco when, in kindergarten, Gu Yihong had eaten all the chocolates, chips, milk, and cereal that other kids had stuffed into Gu Yubai’s backpack, causing him to gain over ten pounds in a month? Their dad had been so worried he'd bought tainted vegetables that he'd gone to the principal’s office to check the surveillance footage, only to discover the truth!

Who was it that, in elementary school, had used every ounce of strength—and even headbutted—to chase away the snotty brats swarming around Gu Yubai?

It was him!

And who was it that, in middle school, had returned every last mushy note stuffed into Gu Yubai’s backpack to the senders?

Still him!

Him, him, it was all him!

Gu Yihong was the one Gu Yubai loved the most, the perfect little brother, the most convenient go-to little brother!

AHHHHHH!

So… had his brother really fallen for Lin Xuyan? Was that why he hadn't paid any attention to Gu Yihong’s tantrum?

Was he no longer Gu Yubai’s favorite little brother?!

Gu Yihong was heartbroken, miserable, and utterly defeated. For the rest of the evening and night, he kept spacing out during driving practice.

Finally, after finishing his training hours, Gu Yihong made a point to call Gu Yubai from the driving school entrance—but no one picked up.

He rushed home by subway, determined to ask his brother directly if he really liked Lin Xuyan. But when he opened the door, the house was empty.

Gu Yihong: “...Where's my brother?”

Where was his big, reliable older brother?!

-----

It wasn't until 11 p.m. that Gu Yihong heard the sound of the door unlocking.

Sitting on the sofa in the dark, he fixed Gu Yubai with a glare as he walked in.

The moment the lights turned on, he was about to demand where his brother had gone—when his gaze landed on the plastic bag in Gu Yubai’s hand.

It was that telltale campus store bag from Mingcheng University. It was obvious where Gu Yubai had been.

Gu Yihong’s suspicions were confirmed. Disbelieving, he asked,

“Big Brother… did you really go see Lin Xuyan?”

The response was a sudden, soft smile on Gu Yubai’s face. His eyes actually sparkled as he looked at Gu Yihong.

“Yes, I went back to Mingcheng University. Lin Xuyan said he wanted to introduce me to a few people.”

Gu Yubai’s smile was warm, full of unspoken meaning—but all Gu Yihong could focus on was how his brother's face lit up when mentioning Lin Xuyan.

He inhaled sharply, the words tumbling out,

“Big Brother… are you actually into Lin Xuyan?”