Chapter 182 Day 14 of Transmigrating into a True and False Young Master Novel

Chapter 182: The Fourteenth Day of Transmigrating into a True and Fake Heir Novel

At the Gu residence.

Gu Xinou was alone, slumped deep in the sofa, his back bent, looking completely dejected.

His face was bruised and swollen, the unhealed purple marks glaringly obvious under the indoor light, with a dark red scab at the corner of his mouth where it was split open.

His father, Gu Shengrong, dressed in a sharp suit, was carefully fastening his cufflinks, ready to head out.

Through the window's reflection, he glanced at his silent son on the sofa and informed him, "The Song family sent word. That fiancé of yours, An Yi, has formally asked his parents to break off the engagement. Old Song and his wife agreed to it. It's decided."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xinou jerked his head up, a stubborn look in his eyes: "I won't allow it."

Gu Shengrong paused in fastening his cufflinks, turned around, and looked at his son with obvious surprise and confusion: "You don't agree? Xinou, weren't you always against this engagement? Last time you went to meet him, weren't you planning to make things clear? Why the sudden change of mind?"

He remembered how his son's impatience was barely hidden whenever the engagement was mentioned before.

Gu Xinou's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head, avoiding his father's probing gaze, his voice low, tinged with a regret he was ashamed to admit: "...That was before. Back then, I didn't know him."

He paused, then added, almost through gritted teeth: "After meeting him... I realized I like him, and I regret calling it off."

He added through gritted teeth: "I was really... faking it before."

A wry smile crossed Gu Shengrong's face.

He adjusted his tie and walked toward the door: "Saying that now is pointless. The engagement is called off. Neither Uncle Song nor I are old-fashioned tyrants who force our kids into arranged marriages."

"We mentioned it when it seemed like a good fit, but if you two don't click, that's it."

At the door, he turned back to look at his son: "If you really like him, then go after him yourself. Use your own charm to win him back."

Gu Xinou's hands on his knees clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. He said flatly, "Of course I will go after him."

Just then, Gu Xinou's mother, Jiang Qiuling, who had been quietly arranging flowers nearby, set down her scissors.

The crystal vase in front of her held several delicate roses arranged artfully, but she clearly had no mood to admire them now.

She picked up a clean, damp towel, wiped her hands, and walked over to sit on the armchair beside Gu Xinou, her worried gaze fixed on her son's bruised face.

"Xinou," Jiang Qiuling sighed. "You really startled me when I saw you this morning. How did you... end up in a fight?"

She scrutinized the injuries on her son's face, her brows furrowed: "You've always been a bit aloof, but you've never thrown a punch before! What exactly happened? And you got beaten up so badly..."

Most importantly, he was beaten up so badly.

The family doctor had already come in the morning and confirmed that it was just scrapes and bruises, which had been treated the night before, but still looked frightening.

Still, seeing her son like this, a mother's heart couldn't help but ache.

Gu Shengrong, who was about to leave, also paused, turning around and looking at Gu Xinou sternly, waiting for an explanation, since he'd clammed up at breakfast.

He was also curious about what could have made his usually calm and composed son lose control enough to get into a brawl.

Under the scrutiny of both his parents, Gu Xinou's body grew even stiffer.

After a few seconds of silence, his lips pressed into a thin line, and finally, he blurted out two words: "Yan Hui."

"Yan Hui?"

Gu Shengrong grew even more puzzled: "Aren't you two brothers who grew up together? You've always had a good relationship. Why the sudden fight?"

He remembered Yan Hui as wild and untamed, but he'd always gotten along well with Xinou.

At the word "brothers," Gu Xinou seemed to hit a nerve: "I don't have a brother like him!"

His chest heaved, and a wave of pent-up frustration and anger surged, his voice filled with suppressed fury: "He knew perfectly well that An Yi was my fiancé! And he still tried to be a third wheel! Trying to steal him from me!"

At these words, the living room was plunged into a strange silence.

Gu Shengrong: "..."

Jiang Qiuling: "..."

The couple exchanged glances, both seeing disbelief and a hint of absurdity in each other's eyes.

Jiang Qiuling opened her mouth, trying to say something, but found herself at a loss for words.

She rubbed her temples, an unreadable expression on her face.

Is this newly found Song son some kind of sex demon?

She simply couldn't understand. She remembered that before, both her son Gu Xinou and Yan Hui had shown zero interest in romance, like they were set on staying single forever.

But the minute they met this An Yi, they had completely changed.

She tried to recall the one time she had seen An Yi at the Song family's welcome-back banquet, but all she could remember was a vague image of a very handsome young man who was very quiet. She couldn't remember any specific details about him or what special charm he possessed.

"Looks like I'll need to find time to meet this An Yi again."

Jiang Qiuling murmured to herself, her curiosity now fully aroused. She wanted to see what kind of young man had such charm.

Gu Shengrong looked at his son, who was visibly aggrieved, his expression just as hard to read.

In the end, he said nothing more. He just reached out and patted Gu Xinou on the shoulder—the uninjured one—his tone carrying a hint of encouragement mixed with helplessness: "Alright. Then... go get 'em. Don't lose."

And with that, he left.

Gu Xinou: "..."

----------

He still had three days until he reported to Song Group.

Taking advantage of the free time, An Yi drove to Song Xinghai's university.

On the early summer campus, the trees cast dappled shadows in the sunlight.

An Yi found Song Xinghai in front of a classroom building—he was standing with a few classmates, seemingly discussing some group project, with his usual shy smile.

When Song Xinghai looked up and saw An Yi walking toward him from not too far away, his smile instantly froze.

Almost instinctively, with a hint of panic and a conditioned reflex, he blurted out, "An Yi? How... why are you here? I'm sorry..."

The first thing out of his mouth was an apology.

An Yi: "?????"

Did he look that much like a bully?

Song Xinghai thought An Yi had come to cause him trouble—either about the words he had overheard outside the study yesterday, or to give him a further warning.

A cheerful-looking guy with black-rimmed glasses standing next to Song Xinghai saw An Yi, his eyes lighting up immediately. He nudged Song Xinghai with his elbow and lowered his voice, his tone excited:

"Xinghai, who's this? A friend of yours? Haven't seen him before. His looks are... stunning!"

He then took the initiative to flash An Yi a bright smile and waved his hand: "Hi! Hello!"

An Yi's gaze swept over the enthusiastic guy, and he gave a polite smile: "Hello."