Chapter 64: Those Cufflinks

Chapter 64: Those Cufflinks

The weather was beautiful, as if the heavens were cooperating. The mountaintop estate offered sweeping views of the golf course, along with the garden and forest that the old master's late wife had cherished.

The luncheon was held in a courtyard. Gu Hui walked over to Gu Ze with a wine glass and said, "Brother, you can't seriously not see what the old man's up to by putting Gu Hansheng in charge of the banquet, right? You're just gonna let him do whatever he wants?"

The old master had three sons. Gu Ze was the eldest, which made him Gu Hansheng's uncle.

Gu Ze, Gu Hong, and Gu Hui had never gotten along as brothers, having fought for decades over the company's shares. Gu Hong had originally withdrawn from the competition, taking his money and traveling the world, letting things go as they may. Who would have thought he'd end up with a son like Gu Hansheng—a man of real skill and cunning, someone who was a constant thorn in his uncles' sides.

Gu Ze glanced back at his own worthless son—nominally the eldest of the younger generation, yet all he did was squander his days carousing and chasing women. He'd worked at the company for a few days and run a new project into the ground. He'd tried starting a business and gone bankrupt within months. Everything he touched failed.

With such a useless only son, Gu Ze knew in his heart that no matter how much he fought for it, it would all be squandered once it passed into his hands.

A family is like a great ship—it always needs someone at the helm. As long as someone could keep the ship from capsizing, the family trust would ensure future generations never went without. So Gu Ze's attitude toward Gu Hansheng was starting to soften.

Gu Ze said, "The old man's sending a message. He'll support Gu Hansheng from now on and give him more authority. You know the old man's word is law. Even if I don't just sit back and let it happen, what can I say?"

Gu Hui grumbled, "That's not like you at all. If Gu Hansheng takes power, what's in it for you?"

"Can't you use your head for once?" Gu Ze scolded. "The old man's leaning toward him more and more every day. What's the point of going against him head-on? The old man is getting on in years, but he's still healthy and sharp as a tack!"

"Brother, you're getting more timid with age. When I knock that brat Gu Hansheng out of the picture, don't expect to get a single share from me!" With that, Gu Hui turned and stormed off in anger.

Gu Ze shook his head, at a loss over Gu Hui's stupidity.

During the luncheon, glasses clinked as toasts were raised. Anyone with any connection to the Gu family showed up. Of course, not just any riffraff could set foot into the estate—those the Old Master Gu looked down upon had already been turned away by Gu Hansheng well in advance.

The birthday banquet was executed flawlessly—absolutely perfect.

Yikang Group and the Gu family went way back, so of course they sent people. Zhuang Peiying picked up a plate of desserts, raving about how delicious they were and how low in sugar they were, and immediately pushed them on Zhuang Shubai.

"Brother, try it. I swear. The pastry chef is seriously talented. I'll get their contact info later—I want to book them for my next birthday too."

Unfortunately, Zhuang Shubai wasn't into sweets and politely declined.

It wasn't until he set foot in the estate that Zhuang Shubai realized this was the same Gu family as Gu Hansheng's. If he'd known, he wouldn't have come. With his dad and Zhuang Peiying there for Yikang Group, he didn't need to show his face.

He and Gu Hansheng had crossed paths, but neither bothered with even a fake hello.

Gu Hansheng was a smooth operator in the business world. No matter how brutal the corporate battles, he could still smile and shake hands with his rivals. But with Zhuang Shubai, all he could muster was a cold sneer.

Zhuang Shubai was a doctor who'd weathered plenty of storms and watched people face life and death. His inner strength was unbreakable—yet even he couldn't show Gu Hansheng even a hint of friendliness.

Neither was willing to budge an inch when it came to matters of the heart. Ignoring each other was the most civility they could muster.

After lunch, Zhuang Peiying managed to get the pastry chef's contact info and said to Zhuang Shubai, "I didn't expect the chef to be from Yatai. Maybe I'll just have my next birthday party there."

Zhuang Shubai asked, "Yatai catered the luncheon?"

"Yeah."

When Zhuang Shubai suddenly stood up, Zhuang Peiying called after him, "Brother, where are you going?"

Zhuang Shubai: "To see a friend."

"Come back soon, okay?"

At that moment in the kitchen, everyone had just finished a round of work and was gathering for lunch. The afternoon would be a mad rush to prep for the evening banquet.

This was Zhao Yu's first time properly wearing a chef's uniform. It was midnight blue with an asymmetrical front, black shell buttons in a single row, and silk-bound cuffs. A black apron was tied neatly at his waist, its straps trailing like the tails of a tuxedo.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a stretch of fair skin, and washed dishes at the sink after eating.

Fatty and his crew huddled together, sneaking glances at him and muttering that he looked like a male escort.

Yatai's chef uniforms were designed to be elegant and understated. Good-looking people wore them like head chefs; ugly people wore them like they'd stolen them. Fatty patted the flesh around his belly and sneered at Zhao Yu.

Ever since offending Che Shijie, Zhao Yu had become the target of everyone in the kitchen. He knew that rabble was gossiping about him behind his back, but instead of getting angry, he turned and smiled at Fatty.

That smile sent a chill down Fatty's spine, and he turned away as if fleeing from a plague.

Zhao Yu shook the water from his hands and coldly watched the group scatter like birds.

The prerequisite for collective bullying is that the victim is weak. Zhao Yu had known how to handle people like this since his school days.

"Xiao Yu."

Hearing a familiar voice, Zhao Yu turned in surprise and saw Zhuang Shubai standing outside the door.

He walked out and noticed Zhuang Shubai in his suit. "Dr. Zhuang, are you here for the banquet too?"

Zhuang Shubai glanced into the kitchen, saw that it wasn't too busy, and said, "Mm. Do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to talk to you about."

Zhao Yu turned back to greet Cao Xu, then followed Zhuang Shubai outside.

The two walked to a secluded garden, where Zhuang Shubai said, "Was my sudden confession last time troubling for you?"

Zhao Yu scratched his head. He'd been busy lately, and Zhuang Shubai seemed busy as well. They hadn't had a chance to meet, and Zhao Yu still hadn't figured out how to respond.

"Dr. Zhuang, I..." Zhao Yu chose his words carefully. "Troubling isn't quite the word. In my eyes, you're a perfect person. I just never expected you to like me. I don't have many good qualities—there doesn't seem to be much about me worth liking..."

"You have many good qualities." Zhuang Shubai's gentle gaze rested on his face. "You love and hate fiercely, you're smart, attentive, kind, and strong. But it's not your qualities I like—it's you as a person."

Zhao Yu stared at him, almost able to see his own reflection in those eyes. No one had ever praised him like that before, and he'd never encountered such straightforward, pure affection.

Guo Lin may have loved him deeply, but that love was never spoken aloud. Not saying "I love you" was an inherent reserve etched into the national character. But Zhuang Shubai was someone who said exactly what he meant—a remarkably honest person.

This kind of candid love left Zhao Yu at a loss for how to respond.

"Dr. Zhuang, I'm sorry, but I have to decline. Liking someone is painful..." Zhao Yu said with a sense of resignation. "Maybe you should just stop liking me."

"True love doesn't cause pain. It brings excitement, joy, and lower stress hormones. The brain releases endorphins, making even painful things feel less painful." Zhuang Shubai said slowly. "If it feels painful, then it's not what love should be."

His words were like a scalpel, cutting open the feelings for Gu Hansheng that Zhao Yu had buried deep in his heart.

Loving Gu Hansheng caused him pain, so when faced with someone else's affection, he avoided it like a snake. He didn't know what a healthy relationship looked like because he'd never experienced love without burden.

When Zhao Yu looked into Zhuang Shubai's eyes again, those calm, gentle eyes stirred a subtle shift in his emotions.

Compared to Gu Hansheng's foul temper, Zhuang Shubai's personality was far more agreeable. Zhao Yu actually enjoyed being around him—comfortable, at ease, without pressure.

Zhuang Shubai seemed to carry an aura that soothed people, always making him lower his guard and talk openly. Zhuang Shubai's affection was like a spring breeze. If he hadn't met Gu Hansheng first, he might have been drawn to Zhuang Shubai.

But who could say about "what ifs"?

Rather than staying stuck in place, hesitating, should he try a truly healthy kind of love? Zhao Yu suddenly found himself wavering.

"Dr. Zhuang, I..."

"Mr. Zhuang!" A servant hurried over, abruptly interrupting their conversation. "The afternoon activities are about to begin. Please take your seat as soon as possible."

Zhao Yu said, "You should get going—don't let me hold you up."

Zhuang Shubai said, "Don't rush to say no. Just give me some time to prove it to you, alright?"

Zhao Yu nodded.

Once Zhuang Shubai had left, he leaned against the wall and let out a sigh. He had been this close to impulsively agreeing to give things a try with Zhuang Shubai. Some words, once spoken, could never be taken back.

He blamed himself for even thinking of treating Zhuang Shubai's sincerity with a "let's see" attitude—it wasn't fair.

On the second floor of the building he leaned against, a tall man's silhouette lurked in the shadows behind the window, looking down at the top of Zhao Yu's head. His prying gaze concealed a shocking, sinful desire. Rather than hear Zhao Yu accept Zhuang Shubai, he would sooner make Zhao Yu vanish—make him disappear.

Gu Hansheng owned a private island in Colombia, isolated from the world. Anyone hidden there would vanish without a trace for the rest of their life, beyond the reach of prying eyes.

Zhao Yu never realized that Gu Hansheng had truly shown him mercy. When he said he would tear him apart, he genuinely had the power to do it.

It was just that he didn't want a hollow shell, a walking corpse. Zhao Yu's spine was too unyielding—he would sooner go down fighting than surrender without a fight. Violence wouldn't break him. Would he have to snap that unyielding spine outright?

He didn't dare take that gamble.

He had even begun to envy Zhuang Shubai—a doctor he once looked down on—who could move Zhao Yu's heart with just a few words.

They were still only friends, yet it felt laced with an ambiguity that went beyond friendship. When Zhao Yu's gaze rested on Zhuang Shubai's face, his expression so intent, it seemed he might accept his confession at any moment.

Gu Hansheng's heart clenched violently, over and over, his fingers digging deep red marks into his palms.

His suit had two exquisite gold cufflinks—the ones Zhao Yu had given him. When he had dug them out of the storage room himself, the affection he had only now come to recognize burned hot in his hands.

To give him those cufflinks, Zhao Yu had stayed up night after night, working at a bar until dawn. A few hundred yuan a night—earned on his feet, serving drinks and running errands.

Gu Hansheng had once scoffed at them. Now, aside from those cufflinks Zhao Yu had given him, everything he had from that relationship was already lost.

They were proof of Zhao Yu's feelings for him, and evidence of his own arrogance in ruining it all—hanging heavy on his sleeve, dim and lusterless where the sunlight couldn't reach.

...

That evening's dinner was a family affair. Following Old Master Gu's preferences, there were sixteen dishes in total, one of which was a bear paw dish called "Settling the Realm"—the old master's favorite, and also Cao Xu's signature dish.

With all outsiders gone, only the family sat in the dining hall, and the polite pretense was dropped. The brothers, who couldn't stand each other, shot each other dirty looks.

Gu Hong was especially smug. Though he wasn't favored by the old master, Gu Hansheng had given him a reason to walk with his head held high. Speaking to Gu Hui, he had a newfound confidence: "Third brother, your company's profits last quarter didn't look too promising, did they?"

Gu Hui smiled without warmth. "Not bad, made a little here and there. Better than someone who only knows how to chase pleasure."

"Oh, don't say that. With Hansheng around, of course I hand things over to him—saves me from getting in his way."

"My fine nephew has done well for himself, but isn't he a bit disrespectful to his elders? What, did his mother die young, so no one at home taught him manners?"

Gu Hansheng cast a sidelong glance at Gu Hui, unfazed. His third uncle was foolish, but he certainly knew how to hit a nerve. Everyone knew it was Gu Hong's affair that had driven Fang Fuyi to her death, souring relations between the Gu and Fang families for years.

"Enough!" The old master barked, silencing them. Though advanced in years, he remained sharp-eyed and vigorous, his eagle-like gaze seeming to see through men's hearts. The moment he spoke, the table fell silent.

"Can you elders act like elders for once?" the old master scolded. "The matter of that Fang girl—no one mentions it again! Hansheng, come sit beside me."

Gu Hansheng rose and walked to the old master's side, meeting Gu Hui's venomous glare. Gu Hui had no choice but to stand and yield his seat.

The old master continued, "I still hold fifteen percent of Tuotu's domestic shares. Tomorrow, I'll transfer them to Hansheng. From now on, this company answers to him and him alone."

"Father!" Gu Hui went pale with shock. "He's just a green kid! Can he really steer a ship that big?"

"How he's done these past years, I've seen with my own eyes. You don't need to say another word—just mind your own business properly! Always half-hearted, what have you ever done well?"

Gu Hui, thoroughly dressed down, twisted his face in fury but dared not argue further.

The meal brought joy to some and grief to others. Before long, "Settling the Realm" was served—the steamed bear paw steaming hot. The old master helped himself to several extra bites, clearly pleased with the dish.

A little while later, before the bear paw was finished, the old master suddenly began breathing rapidly, clutching his chest with a pained expression.