Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Professor Zhou, whom Gu Yubai had been waiting for, arrived soon.

After hearing Dr. Zhu’s words, he kindly took the documents Gu Yubai had brought. The four of them found a lounge right at the airport to talk.

Professor Zhou looked up at Gu Yubai, his assessment aligned with Dr. Zhu's.

"I suggest you bring your adoptive father to participate in our experimental project. Based on the research progress of Dr. Zhu and others in the country, patients in your adoptive father's condition typically can't regain consciousness without intervention. If he’s only sent to a nursing home or receives conventional hospital treatment, there’s absolutely no chance of regaining consciousness."

"But by joining our project, there’s a one-in-ten-thousand chance of regaining consciousness."

One in ten thousand... Gu Yubai’s hands clenched slightly.

He managed a strained smile for Professor Zhou and Dr. Zhu. "Alright, I’ll give it serious consideration when I get back."

The two still had other matters to attend to. After Gu Yubai escorted them to their car, they left directly.

Gu Yubai stood still for a moment before turning around and noticing that the temp worker he’d hired was still there too.

The young man offered Gu Yubai an awkward smile and explained, "If I hadn’t played up how dire your family’s situation was, who would bother to stick their nose in other people’s business at an airport?"

"At first, I didn’t expect Dr. Zhu to be of any help. It was only during our chat that I realized she had close ties with Professor Zhou and was genuinely compassionate. I was worried you’d miss out on something crucial."

A faint smile appeared on Gu Yubai’s face.

"I’m not blaming you. On the contrary, I should thank you."

"Glad to hear it." The young man let out a sigh of relief.

He added, "Boss, if you ever need errand work done again, just come to me. As long as I’m free, I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of properly!"

He grinned cheekily at Gu Yubai, his eyes full of sincerity.

Casually, Gu Yubai asked, "Don’t you have a job to go to?"

The young man’s smile froze for two seconds before he replied, "I do... I mean, I run a small company. It’s just not profitable, so I take on food delivery gigs in my spare time to cover my employees’ salaries."

He looked somewhat dejected.

Gu Yubai hadn’t expected to encounter such a struggling startup. Back in his previous life, when he and his classmates started a business in college, they’d never been this strapped for cash.

But after spending these past few days with him, Gu Yubai found the young man to be responsible and quick-witted—qualities of a good businessman.

Considering how tirelessly the young man had worked to help stake out the airport and seized the chance to chat with Dr. Zhu, Gu Yubai added an extra thousand yuan to his payment.

The young man’s eyes widened when he saw the amount.

He waved his hands frantically. "You don’t have to give me that much! You’re not exactly rolling in money yourself."

He had embellished Gu Yubai and his adoptive father’s situation, but in his mind, Gu Yubai’s living conditions weren’t much better than his own.

He’d only helped on a whim. Dr. Zhu probably knew he was exaggerating, but everyone involved was kind-hearted.

Gu Yubai’s gaze softened. "It’s fine. You’ve really helped me a lot this time. Otherwise, my adoptive father wouldn’t even have that one-in-ten-thousand chance of waking up."

Though the odds were still slim, it was infinitely better than zero.

The young man grinned foolishly at him. "Then remember to call me next time you need help! My company’s actually near Mingcheng University. I know you’re a freshman there, so feel free to drop by anytime."

Gu Yubai nodded slightly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure looking around near the check-in counter.

Why was Yu Li here?

Gu Yubai immediately swallowed his words, a strange sense of awkwardness washing over him.

-----

The young man talking to him didn’t notice anything amiss and continued enthusiastically describing his company's core operations.

Gu Yubai tried to listen attentively, but his gaze grew increasingly distracted, the words beside him turning into background noise.

He nodded distractedly.

"Sure, I’ll definitely visit your company sometime."

Satisfied, the young man bid Gu Yubai farewell.

The moment he stepped aside, Yu Li’s gaze locked onto Gu Yubai from a distance.

His face lit up as he raised his hand and waved repeatedly at Gu Yubai.

At the same time, he quickened his pace and ran toward him.

A breeze stirred the air.

Yu Li’s white summer shirt, his usual attire, fluttered slightly as he ran, his arms like wings.

Gu Yubai was amused by his own sudden flight of fancy.

Just as Yu Li reached him, Gu Yubai was about to share this whimsical thought as a joke—but Yu Li’s expression abruptly changed.

He grabbed Gu Yubai’s arm, his face full of anguish as he demanded,

"Even if you don’t want to be my boyfriend, was it necessary to run away the moment you saw me? Driving that fast—are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Huh? Me?

When had he run away from Yu Li? Did Yu Li mean when they’d brushed past each other at school while Gu Yubai was rushing to the airport?

That was a huge misunderstanding.

Gu Yubai instinctively shook his head. "I didn’t—you—"

"You didn’t? So you’re saying you’re willing to be with me!"

Yu Li’s tone was almost interrogative, his words rapid-fire, leaving Gu Yubai no time to think.

Frowning instinctively, Gu Yubai sensed something off about Yu Li’s manipulative ploy.

He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and narrowed his eyes, studying Yu Li carefully. The corners of his eyes crinkled with barely-contained triumph.

Gu Yubai’s eyes widened in realization.

He seemed to understand what game Yu Li was playing.

Sure enough, Yu Li seemed pleased with his earlier performance and now wanted to push his luck.

"What about me isn’t good enough for you? My looks, my temperament, my family background? Or do you have other concerns? Is it the Su family—or Su Shengli?"

He kept pressing closer, insisting Gu Yubai choose one of the options.

Even though Gu Yubai knew Yu Li possessed all the traits of a shrewd businessman, it was only now that he realized just how brazen this man was.

It was as if, as long as Gu Yubai picked a reason, Yu Li could eliminate that flaw and then confidently stake his claim by Gu Yubai’s side.

Gu Yubai: "......"

He couldn’t help gritting his teeth slightly, feeling that Yu Li was a complete bastard.

This man understood him better than Gu Yubai understood himself.

Had it not been for the sudden questioning catching him off guard, the answer that bubbled up instinctively in Gu Yubai’s mind would have remained hidden—he hadn’t even realized that, deep down, he actually had feelings for Yu Li.

Not only that, he could even accept Yu Li becoming his boyfriend.

After all, among all the people who had pursued him over the years, Yu Li was the only one who made him lie awake at night, wondering if they were truly compatible. He worried that if he rejected Yu Li, they might never interact again.

If a person couldn’t even face their own heart honestly, what was the point of being reborn?

Gu Yubai couldn’t—and shouldn’t—push someone away out of habit.

But... Yu Li was such a sneaky bastard, daring to play tricks on Gu Yubai.

If he agreed outright without teaching Yu Li a lesson, wouldn’t that let him off too easy?

So, Gu Yubai spoke coldly.

"No. I won't be with you."

----

He raised his head, his gaze indifferent.

"Yes, you’re handsome, steady in temperament, impeccable in both social grace and family background. You’re even in your golden years, universally adored. But... does that automatically make me love you?"

The hint of smugness on Yu Li’s lips froze instantly.

He stared at Gu Yubai in disbelief, utterly confused. Gu Yubai’s subconscious reaction earlier had clearly shown some fondness for him—so why the rejection?

If Yu Li had been a smug little puppy before, now he was like a stray dog abandoned by its cold-hearted owner, whining pathetically.

He looked completely pathetic.

"You... you can't be serious."

Yu Li’s voice was hoarse.

Gu Yubai’s face showed no trace of amusement as he quietly watched Yu Li. In turn, Yu Li’s smile faded, and his normally steady gaze uncontrollably glistened with moisture.

Stunned, he couldn't even fake a smile, he knew Gu Yubai was still watching him, so he struggled to lift the corners of his lips, trying to maintain some dignity.

"I... I was wrong."

So, had he lost the bet? He had thought he was special in Gu Yubai’s heart, but those cold words had shattered his delusions.

Then again, Gu Yubai was only eighteen, while he was already twenty-seven. Their age difference alone made them incompatible.

Maybe Gu Yubai wanted someone his own age as a boyfriend—someone like... Lin Xuyan, whom Gu Yihong had repeatedly mentioned and whom Gu Yubai seemed to favor.

Jealousy tore through him.

The mere thought of Lin Xuyan, who might have won Gu Yubai’s affection, made Yu Li's stomach churn.

Before setting out, he had dismissed the guy as just some young nobody, not worth his time.

Yet now, it seemed he had lost to the mere advantage of youth.

Yu Li stood frozen, his mind filled with images of the unseen Lin Xuyan.

Bitter resentment coiled in his gut—he had lost, and lost miserably.

Then, Gu Yubai’s voice suddenly reached his ears.

The same young man who had just coldly rejected him now spoke casually, like he hadn't just shattered his heart.

"So, you were clearly at the school earlier. Why did you suddenly show up at the airport? Were you here to pick someone up too?"

Yu Li’s gaze wavered, his face dark.

His answer came out tight with resentment, almost reflexively.

"I went to the school to see you! If you weren’t there, why would I stay?!"

"Oh? Then, how about I give you a chance to pursue me—do you want it?"

The careless words drifted over, but Yu Li, still drowning in the pain of rejection, didn’t register the words at first.

He replied instinctively, "Is this some kind of pity offer? I don’t need—w-wait..."

Finally, it clicked.

Yu Li’s eyes widened, his gaze locking onto Gu Yubai’s beautiful eyes—first in confusion, then blazing with joy.

He grabbed Gu Yubai’s hand tightly, like a man clinging to a lifeline, his eyes burning with longing.

"You... you're serious?!"

Gu Yubai didn’t answer, only smiled at him, none of the earlier frostiness on his face.

Yu Li knew this was his answer. Overcome, the tears he'd been holding in now spilled uncontrollably.

In an instant, Yu Li surged forward, yanking Gu Yubai into a bone-crushing hug, his arms squeezing so tightly that Gu Yubai’s back ached.

"Yes! God yes!"

His reaction was so exaggerated, you'd think Gu Yubai had said 'I do' rather than merely offering a chance to pursue him.

Onlookers stared curiously, but Yu Li paid them no mind.

He pressed his forehead against Gu Yubai’s, inhaling the faint lemon scent of his hair, mumbling, half-dazed.

"I was terrified this was a trick... This isn’t just a dream, is it? You’re not actually about to tell me to disappear from your life, right?"

"I... these past few days, when you left me on read, I was scared shitless. I thought if we couldn’t be lovers, we might not even stay friends."

Even though he hadn’t officially "won" Gu Yubai yet, Yu Li felt the dizzying relief of a second chance. He clutched him like he might vanish, unwilling to let go.

Gu Yubai hadn’t expected Yu Li to react like this.

In front of the person he loved, the typically unflappable CEO seemed just as lovesick as any teenager. But... it was endearing anyway.

The corners of Gu Yubai's lips curled upward as he let out a soft chuckle.

"Well, Mr. Yu, you'd better step up your game. After all, I'm not your official boyfriend yet."

But that was only a matter of time.

Gu Yubai would sooner or later become his rightful... partner.

The word "partner" rolled sweetly off Yu Li's tongue.

His lips pressed together tightly, his face brimming with happiness, Yu Li tentatively reached for Gu Yubai's hand. Seeing the other shoot him a sidelong glance but not object, his heart soared with delight.

Yet the next second, Yu Li's face fell in an instant. His eyes narrowed, and he made no effort to hide the jealousy on his face.

Yu Li fixed his gaze intently on Gu Yubai.

He snapped, "Then, what's this I hear about Lin Xuyan from Gu Yihong?!"