Chapter 79

Chapter 79

At two in the morning, Gu Yihong got up to use the bathroom. On his way back, he noticed light seeping through the crack under Gu Yubai's door.

He hesitated for a moment, then knocked. "Brother, are you still awake?"

A faint sound came from inside, like the crisp clink of a glass against a coffee table.

Soon after, Gu Yubai, dressed in pajamas, lazily walked to the door. He opened it but didn’t let Gu Yihong in, leaning against the doorframe, still blocking the entrance.

"What is it?" He lifted his eyelids lazily, his handsome features tinged with an inexplicable hint of world-weariness under the light.

"Big brother..." Gu Yihong suddenly felt nervous, his words coming out stiffly. "Big brother, I don’t think Brother Yu meant that at the dinner."

Gu Yubai’s eyes snapped open, a razor-sharp glint flashing in them. Catching this, Gu Yihong grew even more nervous.

But recalling Yu Li’s genuine kindness toward them both—especially how he tolerated even Gu Yihong’s deliberate provocations and third-wheeling out of love for Gu Yubai—Gu Yihong truly believed Yu Li adored his brother.

Moreover, Gu Yihong could tell the two were deeply in love.

He didn’t want his brother to lose someone who adored him body and soul.

Gu Yihong mustered a weak smile and spoke softly, "I’m genuinely not trying to defend Brother Yu. But big brother, you must see it too—he genuinely loves you."

"And I don’t think you’re truly angry. If you were truly disappointed in Yu Li, you wouldn’t have stopped to listen to his explanation earlier. Big brother... you’re just upset."

"Upset?"

A trace of impatience crossed Gu Yubai’s face, his tone turning sharp.

"Why would I be upset?"

A flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes, gone in an instant. Gu Yihong missed it, still fumbling for words.

"Big brother, I swear I’m not speaking up for Brother Yu," he emphasized again.

Gu Yubai subconsciously curled his lips, on the verge of a derisive snort, but then his gaze shifted slightly, and he changed his tune.

"Fine. Go on, I’m listening," Gu Yubai said.

"Big brother, you’re just upset that after two years together, Brother Yu still keeps things from you. You know whatever he’s hiding must be serious—maybe even something that could jeopardize your relationship. So you’re not mad that he hesitated when pressured about marriage. You’re mad that he doesn’t trust your bond enough, thinking you’d retreat first when faced with difficulties..."

"Or maybe he wants to shoulder the problems alone. Even if it’s well-intentioned, he completely overlooked your feelings as his partner..."

Gu Yihong’s voice trailed off as he peeked up at Gu Yubai, only to find his brother’s mind clearly preoccupied.

Something felt off.

Mid-bewilderment, Gu Yubai suddenly dropped his tone.

"So even you think Yu Li is too overbearing?"

Gu Yihong’s eyes widened. "Was that my exact phrasing?"

"Yes, you said Yu Li disregards my feelings, never shares his struggles, tries to solve everything alone, and lacks faith in our relationship..."

Gu Yihong swore—that wasn’t his meaning at all!

"You—!" His voice rose, but then footsteps sounded from inside Gu Yubai’s room.

Gu Yihong froze. At this moment, the identity of the other person in the room was unmistakable!

His... his big brother!

Had they already made up?!

So his effort was wasted?

Had Gu Yubai just been mocking him, with Yu Li joining in?!

Was this still his dear big brother?! How could he be like this?!

Mortified and miffed, Gu Yihong turned to leave, his back huffing visibly. Behind him, steps hastened, and Yu Li chuckled as he leaned against the doorway, calling out slightly louder.

"Little brother, thanks for speaking up for me!"

Gu Yihong sped up, already vanishing around the corner at the end of the hall, but his protest drifted belatedly.

"Who... who spoke up for you?! Don’t... spout rubbish!"

The proud act almost broke into a stammer.

-----

But the atmosphere inside wasn’t as harmonious as Gu Yihong imagined.

The moment he disappeared, Gu Yubai’s mirth evaporated.

"President Yu, if you have nothing else, you should leave."

"The dead of night, a pair of bachelors alone—especially with our history—it’s inappropriate to be seen together in one room."

His words barked sharply, like a spitfire.

Yu Li’s face flushed, his eyes grew liquid with tenderness. Gu Yubai, still angry, turned and saw his expression, immediately raising a hand to slap him.

Before contact was made, Yu Li caught his wrist.

Bringing Gu Yubai’s elegant, alabaster fingers to his lips, Yu Li pressed lingering kisses to them.

His eyes held fond exasperation and remorse. "Don’t be angry. You know that’s not what I meant."

"No one aches to declare to the world that you’re mine as fiercely as I do. If a marriage certificate could truly claim you eternally, then every marriage license worldwide should feature us."

Yu Li’s gaze softened, his usual charm—polished, composed, maturely charismatic—still as captivating as ever, save for the smoldering intensity in his gaze.

Gu Yubai stayed silent, lifting his eyes to pierce into Yu Li’s directly.

His voice was much calmer now.

"Then what exactly have you been hiding from me?"

Just as Gu Yihong had guessed while defending Yu Li earlier, Gu Yubai wasn’t angry about Yu Li’s hesitation regarding marriage.

He was thinking—they’d been together for nearly two years, even living under the same roof. Apart from taking that final step, they’d done almost everything intimate.

Yu Li never hid business affairs from him, even actively diverting contracts to Gu Yubai’s modest enterprise. That alone proved Yu Li held him dear.

But this time, Yu Li’s stance had ignited his fury.

At this thought, Gu Yubai’s gaze turned stormy, his voice icy.

"I'm not trying to force you to marry me. I just want to know—after all this time together, do you see me as someone unreliable, untrustworthy, and not someone you can walk this road with?"

"Otherwise, why was it only when the old man suddenly pointed it out that I found out you're still keeping things from me?"

A slight, self-mocking smile tugged at Gu Yubai’s lips.

Yu Li went quiet.

Two seconds later, he said hoarsely, "Let me think about how to explain this to you."

----

Unlike Gu Yihong, who happened to see the light by chance after waking up at night, Yu Li had immediately followed Gu Yubai to his room.

At the time, however, his younger boyfriend was still angry, leaving Yu Li shut out. After some thought, he told Gu Yubai he’d come back later.

He hadn’t wasted time during the period he spent back in his own room.

He remotely instructed Secretary Jin to send him some documents and, in passing, asked him to look into wedding planners.

Secretary Jin’s voice on the phone was full of disbelief.

"No, but, you—"

"Never mind, Mr. Yu. But does your uncle overseas know about your intention to marry Young Master Gu?"

"Though the entire Yu family is now in your hands, Young Master Gu is still a man. Even if he comes from the Su family, he can’t give you an heir. Chairman Yu and the side branches behind him might have objections."

Secretary Jin continued muttering, "Besides, I doubt Young Master Gu would agree to co-creating the Yu family lineage with you and some unknown woman. Even with today’s technology, male partners still need female genetic material to conceive."

"Given Young Master Gu’s personality, he’d never accept his child’s genes containing anyone else’s besides yours and his own."

Secretary Jin emphasized again.

Yu Li fell completely silent. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his tone indifferent.

"I’ll personally handle the Yu family’s concerns. As for the future heir situation, there’s no need for you to get ahead of yourself worrying."

But everyone knew Yu Li couldn’t avoid this issue.

He was now the last remaining direct descendant in the Yu family. With his methods, if he simply married a woman and had kids as expected, the entire Yu family would remain firmly under his control, docile and compliant.

But if he let it be known that he intended to marry a man, the temporarily quiet side branches would inevitably start making waves.

The simplest argument against him would be that the mighty Yu family couldn’t be entrusted to someone without a future heir.

They wouldn’t accept science-based reproduction! Nor would they allow the future heir’s bloodline to include another man’s genes besides Yu Li’s.

Moreover, the outside world only knew that Yu Li was orphaned young and had secured control of the family with the help of a collateral uncle.

But who knew that this supposed "help" was never sincere?

The overseas Yu family was like an unguarded treasure trove. Yu Li had been young at the time, and every side branch relative had wanted their share.

If they hadn’t been divided and Yu Li’s own resilience and rapid growth, the Yu family would have long descended into chaos.

After working tirelessly to reclaim his rightful authority and wealth as the family patriarch, the overseas Yu collaterals who dared challenge him had no choice but to submit under his intimidation.

But if word got out now that Yu Li’s future partner was a man...

A takeover attempt would be imminent!

That seemingly loyal and formidable collateral uncle would be the first traitor!

--------

Gu Yubai had expected Yu Li to explain himself, but he hadn’t anticipated the man would, after some thought, explain the overseas Yu clan’s rules regarding heirs and future patriarchs.

"...Unlike other families in the country or overseas, every Yu family patriarch has no siblings in the direct line."

"According to Yu family rules, no matter how many children the previous patriarch had, only the one who inherits the Yu corporation is counted as the main line. The rest, even if they share the same parents, are given some property and cut loose, automatically becoming collateral branches."

This rule was as old-fashioned as ancient emperors stripping their brothers of succession rights and relegating them to mere royal relatives!

But it also ensured the complete, unchallenged power of the new Yu family patriarch. Naturally, all the wealth and power accumulated by generations of Yu ancestors would be concentrated in one person’s hands.

And it would forever remain within the direct bloodline, never to be touched by collateral branches.

Even in the 21st century, there were still families enforcing such feudal and autocratic inheritance systems. Though clearly unfair to the collateral branches, it elevated the selected main branch to supreme status.

The entire Yu family would become the complete dominion of the direct-line patriarch.

"...No wonder the overseas Yu family is so formidable..." Gu Yubai murmured.

By now, his anger had cooled, and he quipped,

"So what happens if the ruler is weak and the ministers strong, or if the heir is young while the officials are powerful? Does the Yu family appoint a regent figure?"

Gu Yubai was joking.

But the moment the words left his mouth, he noticed Yu Li’s expression become odd and conflicted.

Gu Yubai suddenly recalled how little he knew about the Yu family.

Rumors said the current Yu family patriarch had inherited his position as a minor, an orphan who became the only heir after his parents died in a plane crash.

Regardless of how he had managed to hold onto power over the past decade, had there really been a "regent" in the overseas Yu family back then?

Understanding dawned on Gu Yubai’s face—he felt his guess was correct.

In cases where the ruler was young and the ministers strong, no matter how brilliant the young emperor was, there would inevitably be a period where he was forced to obey the regent.

But judging by the current situation, that mysterious Yu patriarch had long since taken full control of the family. Even if there had once been a regent, they must have been ousted by now, right?

"...Not exactly."

Yu Li’s tone was calm as he explained, "That regent was shrewd. Once he realized his nephew had grown into someone beyond his control, he wisely retreated and began playing the role of a good uncle."

"However, his ambitions never disappeared. If he learned that his only legitimate nephew—the future Yu family patriarch—intended to marry a man, he would spark new power struggles within the Yu family. The chaos would return, and the wealth and authority built by generations of direct-line ancestors might fall into different hands."

Before Gu Yubai could process this, Yu Li continued.

"Actually, as Su Shengli once said, a marriage alliance between the Yu and Su families did exist. But at the time, the Su family only had two sons, and the Yu family patriarch was too young to fully control the family, so both sides silently canceled the arrangement."

The Yu family patriarch’s... future partner was a man.

The realization finally struck Gu Yubai. He whipped his head around to stare at Yu Li, eyes wide.

Yu Li, who had spoken so indifferently just moments ago, now wore a smirk brimming with mischief.

He leisurely adjusted the cuffs of his still-unbuttoned shirt, then lifted his gaze to meet Gu Yubai’s, smiling.

"But just now, the Yu family patriarch suddenly realized—the marriage alliance between the Yu and Su families could very well be honored after all."

It's just a marriage, just being prepared for a future without children and the potential significant turmoil it might bring to the overseas Yu family.

Yu Li thought to himself, since he died young in his previous life, he never had children in that life either.

In this life, he already has someone he loves, who will become his partner in the future—that's more than enough happiness.

Perhaps turmoil is simply the fate of the overseas Yu family.

With a faint smile, Yu Li gracefully knelt on one knee, extending a hand with perfect gentlemanly grace toward Gu Yubai.

"So, Mr. Gu before me, are you prepared to face the storms—maybe even hurricanes—that the upheaval of the Yu family might bring with me?"

"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Yu Li, the current head of the overseas Yu family, which has been connected to the Su family for generations."

Gu Yubai: "..."

Oops, never mind.

Haha, he's not exactly dying to get married either.

Another secret about his boyfriend, haha... seems like he doesn't even care, ha!

Two seconds later, Gu Yubai's expression turned pitiful.

"I... can you take back everything you just said?"

Can’t we just pretend tonight never happened?