Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The mysterious Patriarch of the overseas Yu family made his first official public appearance on a remote ice island, far from the mainland.

To reach this secluded location, one had to contact an airline in advance to arrange a special direct flight to an airport near the ice island, with temporary routes established at various international airports.

From the airport to the coastline, the overseas Yu family had arranged dedicated staff for pick-up and drop-off. Upon reaching the shore, guests would board a special ferry. After a day and a night of sailing, everyone would finally arrive at the ice island, which the Yu family had exclusively opened for the Patriarch's engagement ceremony.

This ice island was an asset of the overseas Yu family.

It was said that the Patriarch Yu's parents, who had passed away prematurely, had held their wedding on this very island. Thus, Patriarch Yu's choice of this ice island as the venue for his engagement with his future partner seemed perfectly fitting.

But this was the overseas Yu family. Had any domestic family made their engagement journey this complicated, their relatives and friends would have been utterly furious!

News of Patriarch Yu's engagement had spread like wildfire both domestically and internationally half a month prior.

When the invitations arrived, almost everyone overseas who had dealings with the Yu family was stunned to see a very familiar name written in the spot reserved for Patriarch Yu and his partner—

Yu Li!

Wasn’t this supposed to be Patriarch Yu’s engagement?

Why was Yu Li’s name there? Could Yu Li be the mysterious Yu family Patriarch, whose appearance and name had never been revealed to the public, and who had never appeared in the media?!

Wasn’t he just a member of the Yu family’s collateral branch?!

Nearly everyone who had interacted with Yu Li was frozen in shock for a long while before finally realizing, through the fog of disbelief, that all those speculations were true. Yu Li really was the Yu family Patriarch—the last surviving direct descendant of the Yu family.

But he was actually getting engaged to a man!

Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?!

Unlike the shock others experienced upon seeing Yu Li’s name on the engagement invitation, the Su family of Mingcheng, China, received a double shock when they saw the names on their invitation!

Double kill!

Gu Yubai was someone the Su family knew well, but none of them had ever imagined that he would become the future partner of the overseas Yu family Patriarch!

Moreover, as a man, he had so utterly captivated Patriarch Yu that the latter disregarded the continuation of the Yu family’s direct bloodline—truly a modern-day Daji.

When Su Linyuan recalled his impression of Gu Yubai—gentle and intelligent—he felt completely unsettled.

Back then, he had only thought that this younger brother, who shared blood ties with the Su family but had refused to return from start to finish, was clever and unassuming. Never had he imagined that Gu Yubai could directly charm the Yu family Patriarch.

If only he had known earlier...

Su Linyuan would never have played dumb after discovering Gu Yubai’s true identity, nor would he have resisted his return to the Su family to contend for the family fortune.

But the most regrettable thing in the world was the phrase "if only."

Even if Su Linyuan had a million thoughts swirling in his heart now, he knew it was already too late.

Yet, compared to Gu Yubai, what shocked him even more was Yu Li’s true identity.

In his impression, Yu Li had been a highly valued member of the overseas Yu family’s collateral branch—someone exceptionally talented in business, shrewd and wise, mature and steady in handling affairs, which was why he had been taken as a trusted subordinate by the Yu family Patriarch.

Two years ago, outsiders believed Yu Li had been sent to China because the overseas Yu family wanted to develop domestic business lines.

But Su Linyuan had thought Yu Li had lost in the internal power struggles of the Yu family and was thus banished to China to expand business unrelated to the overseas Yu family’s core operations. Even though, over those two years, the overseas Yu family’s performance in China had shot up to rank among the top three globally, this only proved Yu Li’s formidable business acumen—not his status within the Yu family.

Just as he himself had declared in front of everyone two years ago: he was not the next heir chosen and favored by the Yu family Patriarch.

But he also hadn’t said he was the Yu family Patriarch!

Thinking back to his own deliberate or unintentional neglect of Yu Li, and recalling how he had relied on the generations-long friendship between the Yu family’s direct line and the Su family to maintain a superficially polite yet secretly jealous and distant attitude toward Yu Li during their encounters, Su Linyuan felt utterly dismayed!

Once again, the same thought echoed in his mind:

The Su family could have... capitalized on their connections, yet he, Su Linyuan, was the first to overlook the golden opportunity right before his eyes.

Then came the sudden realization.

No wonder Old Master Su and Su Wanlin had treated Yu Li with that strange yet respectful attitude. No wonder they had repeatedly urged him to build a good relationship with Yu Li, only to sigh when they realized he had been keeping his distance, intentionally or not.

Yu Li himself was a perceptive individual.

How could he not tell whether those around him were sincere or fake in their interactions?

Su Wanlin had not forced him to become Yu Li’s lackey—that approach had been correct.

Even without Su Linyuan’s friendly engagement with Yu Li, the relationship between the Yu and Su families would not completely vanish due to the "folly" of the next-generation heir. Yu Li would still, out of respect for their generations-long friendship, extend his protection to the Su family.

Even after learning that Yu Li was the Yu family Patriarch himself, and that the Patriarch’s secrecy was not due to poor health, people still felt somewhat disoriented.

Who could have imagined this?!

Others might put on airs while being mere cats, but when it came to the Yu family Patriarch, he had instead donned the disguise of a collateral-line member to stir up trouble and turn everything upside down within the overseas Yu family’s headquarters.

The player acting as referee to score his own game—who could play like the Yu family Patriarch?!

Those who had dealt with Yu Li immediately dismissed any scheming thoughts that had arisen in their hearts upon learning the true identity and appearance of the Yu family Patriarch.

Yu Li’s own talent and methods were as formidable as the authority and wealth of the Yu family Patriarch, leaving no room for resistance. Otherwise, rumors would not have spread within the Yu family headquarters that he was the next heir favored by the sickly Patriarch.

The recipients of the Yu family Patriarch’s engagement invitations included not only the key leaders of the overseas Yu family’s global branches but also numerous business partners who had dealings with the Yu family.

While people were shocked to learn that the Yu family Patriarch was someone they had long known, they were even more stunned that this man had quietly sent out engagement invitations, declaring his intent to marry a college guy from China!

Yes—every single word in the keywords "China," "male," and "university student" was mind-blowing.

Even if Yu Li was the Yu family Patriarch, he couldn’t possibly be this reckless!

Who was Gu Yubai?

Almost everyone who saw the name of Yu Li’s partner immediately had him vetted.

The findings showed that he was simply an ordinary sophomore at a Chinese university.

And, importantly, he was male!

Though he seemed to have family connections to the wealthy Su family of Mingcheng, and though he appeared to have founded a start-up internet company, these assets and reputation were a drop in the bucket in the face of a juggernaut like the Yu family.

For a man as mature, handsome, and powerful as Yu Li to choose an utterly ordinary male university student—what could possibly possess the Yu family Patriarch?!

Did he not care about the Yu family’s vast legacy anymore?

Did he not care about securing wealth and status for future generations?

Everyone's first reaction was that Yu Li must be lying.

How could this guy suddenly turn into a lovesick fool who’d throw everything away?

Something fishy is going on here!

Despite countless speculations, as the date on the engagement invitation approached, guests from around the world still followed the instructions, boarding the Yu family's specially chartered flights for this occasion. They then followed staff to the seaside, took a ferry, and traveled together to the Yu family's private island offshore.

This elaborate trip guaranteed that everyone they encountered along the way was among the world’s elite.

Before they even boarded the yacht, some couldn’t resist working the room, eager to connect with potential partners who could bring power and wealth to their families.

The Yu family knew what they were doing—rather than focusing on the engagement itself, the moment the invitations were sent out, it was clear this would be a world-class networking opportunity.

With no media present, no one would question who was talking to whom or what deals were struck.

Of course, Gu Yubai didn't show up.

The day after the engagement invite arrived, Yu Li personally came to the sanatorium on the small island in Jasmine Country.

Gu Yubai was still up when the red engagement invitation lay on his bedside table. He had just finished a meeting with his company’s CEO and was now reviewing a project report sent by his chemistry lab team.

When the door knocked, he assumed it was Gu Yihong and called "Come in" without moving. The door immediately swung open from the outside.

Yu Li, still cold from his journey, strode in with a small suitcase.

The moment he saw Gu Yubai, he tossed his bag aside and pulled him into a hug.

His first words were:

"Sorry, darling. You can't be at our engagement ceremony for now."

The sudden hug caught him off balance, his heel nearly twisting his ankle. Fortunately, Yu Li held him tightly, preventing a fall.

When the meaning of Yu Li’s words sank in, Gu Yubai, who had already suspected as much, gave a knowing smile.

"Is that all? I thought it was something big. From the moment you arranged the engagement without consulting me and sent the invitation straight to me, I knew you had other plans."

Yu Li still looked apologetic as he guided Gu Yubai to sit on the soft edge of the bed.

"It shouldn’t have to be this way, but the Yu family has many relatives and associates. While most wouldn’t dare question my choice of partner, there are always a few who overestimate their importance and think they can challenge me if they band together."

"This engagement banquet is for them. Things are going to get messy. Rather than risk you being caught in the crossfire or even harmed, it’s safer for you to stay out of it."

Yu Li looked exhausted, but his gaze softened with warmth as he looked at Gu Yubai, who quietly met his eyes. Unable to resist, Yu Li leaned in and kissed Gu Yubai’s cheek.

"I won’t let you suffer even the slightest harm."

Compared to the Yu family, the Su family was insignificant.

Gu Yubai, just a regular college guy with only vague ties to the Su family, had no powerful connections.

If not for Yu Li’s past life—where he had once met Gu Yubai by chance due to his connection with the Su family—and his curiosity after reincarnating, leading him back to China where he discovered Gu Yubai and Gu Yihong had also been reborn, their paths would never have crossed.

Under normal circumstances, someone like Yu Li would never have interacted with a seemingly ordinary student like Gu Yubai.

But that's just how fate works.

Yu Li knew that in his previous life, Gu Yubai had inherited the entire Su family fortune and reached extraordinary heights, but others only saw him as ordinary now, clueless that they were actually perfectly matched.

Even if Gu Yubai wouldn’t reach the same commercial heights as in his past life, Yu Li still loved him and was willing to share in everything he had.

Gu Yubai was also willing to love him, and the two had already decided to spend their lives together—that was enough. Whether weathering storms or gentle rains in the future, they would face them side by side.

Gu Yubai’s cheeks tickled by Yu Li’s kisses, and hearing Yu Li’s sweet words as he voiced his feelings, he instinctively leaned back to avoid the closeness. Unexpectedly, Yu Li’s hand on his shoulder wasn’t gripping him tightly at all.

Gu Yubai collapsed onto the bed, his gaze landing on the ceiling, and he froze for a stunned second.

Yu Li followed his movement, pressing down on him, his hands braced on either side of Gu Yubai to avoid completely covering his upper body.

But only his upper body—their thighs pressed tightly together, and a primal heat began to stir between them.

Gu Yubai heard Yu Li take a sharp breath beside his ear before his gaze slowly shifted to the man hovering over him, whose breathing had grown slightly ragged.

His ears flamed, and Gu Yubai, flustered, wanted to cover his eyes with his arm—only for Yu Li to swiftly pin his wrist down.

Yu Li chuckled, his eyes dark with desire, the exhaustion from his flight vanishing, replaced by a smoldering hunger.

His gaze drifted to the slightly open collar of Gu Yubai’s white shirt, lingering on the fair, smooth skin beneath.

In a soft voice, Yu Li asked, "May I?"

Gu Yubai looked up at the handsome, refined man above him, exuding an air of nobility, then closed his eyes and whispered two words.

"You may."

Lips brushed against pale skin, warmth igniting like wildfire from that single touch.

In the flickering candlelight, the bed curtains trembled, and Gu Yubai, pinned beneath Yu Li and explored thoroughly, couldn’t stifle his whimpers.

He pleaded softly, only to be met with even fiercer affection from Yu Li.

All consciousness dissolved into nothingness—Gu Yubai didn’t even know when he fell asleep.