Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Gu Yihong had already sent them the QR code for ordering at the hotpot restaurant while they were still en route.

He arrived earlier than Gu Yubai and Yu Li, having already chosen his own dishes. The rest he left for them to decide via their phones.

Gu Yubai, focused on driving, handed his phone to Yu Li, who sat in the passenger seat, head bowed over the menu, consulting Gu Yubai as he browsed.

Yu Li said, "Let’s skip the pig brain. Most people say it’s delicious, but I genuinely dislike eating that kind of thing."

Gu Yubai nodded. "I don’t care for such oddities either. Who ordered it? Yihong?"

Yu Li suppressed a laugh and hummed in agreement. "Later, don’t let him put the pig brain in our shared pot. I’m worried if it’s not cooked properly, it’ll contaminate the other things we like."

Hearing the disdain in Yu Li’s tone toward Gu Yihong’s taste, Gu Yubai couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Understood."

Just then, Gu Yihong sent them a photo of himself making a peace sign at the camera.

Along with it was a voice message for Gu Yubai: "Big Brother! When you and Brother Yu come in from the intersection, grab some stinky tofu from the roadside stall outside! Extra cilantro and extra spicy!"

Yu Li’s face showed even more obvious disgust. "That kid!"

Yet, when they reached the area around the hotpot restaurant, while Gu Yubai looked for parking, it was Yu Li who got out first and hurried to the nearby intersection, finding the stinky tofu vendor at a street stall.

Gu Yubai parked the car and stood waiting for Yu Li not far away.

Soon, he saw Yu Li returning with a plastic bag in hand—containing three portions of stinky tofu.

Yu Li grinned at Gu Yubai. "Why just get some for Yihong? I haven't had street stinky tofu in ages. Today, we’ll each have one."

Then, holding up the three portions in his hand, he reached out with his other hand to take Gu Yubai’s.

Just as Gu Yubai raised his hand, Yu Li suddenly produced a bright red candied hawthorn stick.

Gu Yubai’s eyes widened in surprise.

Yu Li pressed the treat into Gu Yubai’s hand before finally taking his hand properly.

After a quick look around, he spotted the hotpot restaurant not far away and immediately tugged Gu Yubai along.

Yu Li, tall and handsome, walked hand-in-hand with the slender, gentle-looking Gu Yubai, who wore a soft smile. The two strolled slowly down the street, their peaceful atmosphere brimming with happiness.

When they finally reached the hotpot restaurant and arrived at their reserved table, Gu Yihong—who should have been there long ago—was missing.

The dishes had clearly just been served, the broth boiling with red dates and ginger slices floating on the surface. Gu Yihong’s bag sat on the window-side seat, and his phone was still on the table, its screen glowing—showing he'd just left moments ago.

Yu Li pulled Gu Yubai to sit across from him. After glancing at the table and rearranging the dishes slightly, he placed the stinky tofu down. Asking for Gu Yubai’s preference, he speared two pieces and handed them over.

"Try it."

Gu Yubai took them, lifting his gaze to meet Yu Li’s—only to see the man also picking up a skewer and eating the stinky tofu with a leisurely pace.

There wasn’t a trace of the cold, aloof CEO aura about him now. With Gu Yubai, he joked, teased, ate, and drank without putting on airs. Even now, sharing street stinky tofu, he didn’t disdain its street food status or worry about it tarnishing his image.

A realization struck Gu Yubai. He suddenly recalled a saying:

*Nobility comes from the soul, not external things.*

It fit Yu Li perfectly.

Gu Yubai found himself smiling at the thought.

Yu Li looked up, returning his smile—but a second later, his attention returned to the table. After a quick scan, his expression shifted to sudden understanding.

"Did we forget to order cold drinks or desserts? Eating hotpot without something chilled doesn't feel right. Yubai, do you want a drink or ice cream? But no alcohol."

"The mango ice cream and sour plum juice here are pretty good."

Gu Yubai tilted his head. "But I haven’t had sweets in a while. Suddenly craving chocolate."

"How about chocolate ice cream and sour plum juice, then?" Yu Li suggested.

Gu Yubai nodded, eyes sparkling with amusement. "And a bottle of grape juice too. Since we can’t drink, let’s not deprive our honorable President Yu."

"As if I'd let that happen!" Yu Li grabbed Gu Yubai’s hand and, unable to resist, kissed it.

Without hesitation, Gu Yubai offered his other hand, so Yu Li dutifully kissed that one too—being thorough.

Only then did Gu Yubai say quietly, "I haven’t washed my hands today."

Yu Li remained unbothered, rubbing the back of Gu Yubai’s hand calmly. "I don’t mind."

Gu Yubai rolled his eyes. "*I* mind. You just ate stinky tofu. Now my hand must smell like it."

He tried to pull away.

But Yu Li held on tight, leaning closer with a low chuckle.

"Next time, I’ll brush my teeth and wear cologne before kissing you."

Gu Yubai: "..."

Damn… can’t out-flirt an old man.

Especially a mature, steady one who still enjoys acting coy with you.

Gu Yubai shot Yu Li another eyeroll, though inwardly, he was a little flustered, unable to meet Yu Li’s openly affectionate look.

Yu Li added, "Actually, I brought you a gift. I had Secretary Jin leave it at the place near the university district. I’ll drop you off at school tonight and stop by to pick it up."

A gift? And he didn’t bring it with him?

Gu Yubai’s brows lifted, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Before they could say more, a cold sneer rang out behind them.

"Ugh. Disgusting!"

Both Gu Yubai and Yu Li’s expressions darkened instantly.

They turned to find the voice coming from behind a nearby screen partition. That earlier remark—*disgusting*—hadn’t been directed at their public display of affection.

Yu Li’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He cleared his throat.

"Uh… where *is* Yihong? He’s really failing as a third wheel."

Talk of the devil and he shall appear.

Gu Yubai didn’t see Gu Yihong, but he heard Gu Yihong’s scornful, cutting remarks beside the person who had just called them "disgusting."

"Never heard of someone calling themselves disgusting before. Su Shengli, you really... have some self-awareness."

"What, after the Su family kicked you out, you decided to stop being human and turn into a maggot instead?"

"But then again, I heard the man in prison who’s already been sentenced to death is your biological uncle. Years ago, he sneaked into Madame Su’s bedroom at night on your behalf, trying to alter the will, only to cause her accidental death."

"You’re lying!"—Su Shengli’s furious voice came from nearby.

It was clear the words had struck a nerve.

Gu Yihong sneered, still speaking unhurriedly.

"None of this is made up. These are all facts the Su family released. If it weren’t true, why would the Su family personally explain why they kicked you out? Those paid mouthpieces were all bought by the Su family."

"Hah, if you ask me, Su Shengli, instead of coming after me, you should check if the small entertainment company the Su family left you—and the few properties still in your name they didn’t take back—have any hidden pitfalls. The Su family knew you were the bloodline of their enemy, yet they still showed you such *mercy*. Doesn’t that make your skin crawl?"

Su Shengli’s face went pale—clearly, Gu Yihong had struck a nerve.

Since being released a few days ago, Gu Yihong hadn’t returned to school. The Su family had kicked him out, forcing Su Shengli to move into one of his properties still in his name.

He still had no idea what the future held.

Gu Yihong scoffed and turned to leave, only to spot two onlookers the moment he stepped past the screen wall.

Gu Yihong: "...."

Oh—when did you two get here?

He retracted his foot, recalling his earlier harsh words, his expression turning complicated.

Gu Yubai’s face was just as conflicted.

Yu Li also seemed speechless. Though Secretary Jin had briefly mentioned the matter, he hadn’t expected the details to be this juicy.

The old master of the Su family had resolved years of the family’s regrets. Now, not only had the enemy been imprisoned, but even Su Shengli had been directly kicked to the curb.

Gu Yihong pasted on a sheepish grin.

Just as he was about to return to his seat, someone suddenly yanked his clothes from behind. Caught off guard, he stumbled and nearly fell.

Gu Yubai quickly turned and grabbed him to steady him.

From behind the wall came Su Shengli’s furious, unhinged voice.

"You think you’re any better?! If I’m not a good person, does that make you one?!"

"You were the one who, out of jealousy, schemed to steal your eldest brother’s identity as the Su family’s bloodline and rushed to claim your lineage! Did your eldest brother know you impersonated him, trying to pose as the True Young Master in the Su family?!"

"You’re a fake yourself, yet you still have the nerve to mock me!"

Su Shengli viciously lunged for Gu Yihong’s collar—only to turn and see Gu Yubai, who had just steadied Gu Yihong.

Su Shengli: "...." Wait, why are there so many people here?

His expression flickered between rage and humiliation, his eyes flashing with the shame of being put on display.

Gu Yihong roughly knocked Su Shengli’s hand off his shoulder and sneered again.

He raised a brow: "So what? My eldest brother isn’t like those heartless Su clan members. They could kick you out, but he’d never do that to me!"

Gu Yihong crowed, "Hah, even if I impersonated him to claim our ancestry, even if I made countless mistakes, he’d still be happy to hand over one of his future children!"

"Right, Big Brother?"

Gu Yubai: "......Maybe...?"

Su Shengli’s already stiff expression contorted further.

He stared at Gu Yubai, taking a deep breath before finally processing the situation. His eyes smoldered with hatred, yet he turned to Gu Yubai with confusion.

Su Shengli scoffed: "So you’ve known all along that Gu Yihong impersonated your identity. No wonder you didn’t care. Who can compete with your brotherly bond, where even lineage means nothing?"

"But I don’t understand—the Su family is so wealthy. Why aren’t you tempted? If you returned, you’d have everything: mansions, luxury cars, women at your beck and call, endless money. Have you never once dreamed of living like royalty?!"

Su Shengli’s face twisted, verging on hysterics, his eyes brimming with frustration and disbelief.

"You... How can you be happy being a nobody? I don’t believe it! How can you be like this?!"

Gu Yubai wanted nothing, making Su Shengli’s greed and malice seem all the uglier.

Now that he’d been flat-out discarded by the Su family, reality mocked Su Shengli for all his shameless scheming for wealth.

At the start, he, the fake young master, had held the upper hand. So why was he now abandoned and destitute, while Gu Yubai seemed to live happily, lacking nothing?

Was it because of Yu Li?

Su Shengli let out a cold laugh, muttering to himself.

"Yu Li is outstanding, but he’s just a Yu family offshoot. Even as your boyfriend, he won’t marry you or share assets. What’s the point of clinging to him?"

His voice oozed contempt. He didn’t even glance at Yu Li, as if the man was worthless unless he could be of use.

Gu Yubai frowned involuntarily at the words.

He stayed silent, but for the first time since his rebirth, he studied Su Shengli’s face carefully—as if observing some bizarre specimen.

Su Shengli grew uneasy under his gaze but put on a brave face.

"What are you looking at?!" he hissed, glaring furiously.

Finally, Gu Yubai looked away, his tone casual yet pointed—laced with meaning.

"You really... grew up in the Su family, didn’t you?"

Despite sharing no blood, his temperament was a spitting image of Su Wanlin’s. Even Su Linyuan wasn’t as much like Su Wanlin as Su Shengli was.

"What a shame..." Gu Yubai met Su Shengli’s eyes.

"Pity you share no blood with the Su family. Otherwise, even if Su Linyuan is the eldest, Su Wanlin’s ideal heir would undoubtedly be you."

Su Shengli’s eyes flew open, as if Gu Yubai had said something downright unbelievable.

How could someone like him be Su Wanlin's ideal successor!

But... Su Wanlin himself is a callous and unfeeling person.

Su Shengli admits he's no angel—beneath his former facade of obedience and thoughtfulness also lay a ruthless heart. Yet Gu Yubai seemed right. If he were Su Wanlin's biological son, if he had received the same successor's training as Su Linyuan since childhood, this Su family... would have been his for the taking!

His heart hammered in his chest.

Su Shengli's expression grew slightly dazed.

Just then, he heard Gu Yubai gave a quiet chuckle.

Immediately after, Su Shengli felt his mind reel as if lightning-struck. His eyes widened in fury, the whites turning bloodshot.

Because Gu Yubai asked him,

"Compared to me, the True Young Master who never returned to the Su family, do you now hate those who abandoned you in the Su family even more?"

Like his deepest thoughts had been exposed.

Su Shengli turned and fled.