It took precisely twenty-three minutes and fifty-six seconds to traverse from the main entrance to the main house, a deliberate move on Ji Ruan's part.
Enthralling sights along the way captivated his attention. Even though they had initially come for a meal, he found himself hand in hand with Gu Xiuyi, leisurely strolling through the park, his tiredness merging with hunger.
Observing Ji Ruan in this state, Gu Xiuyi found himself momentarily at a loss for words before finally sighing, "Never mind, let's take the car directly on our way back."
Ji Ruan suddenly raised his head, "You can still take the car?"
"We have an open-air garage through the side door. Once there, you can drive straight onto the expressway through the back road," Gu Xiuyi calmly explained.
"In that case, why go through the front entrance!" Ji Ruan couldn't help but frown. "I thought your Gu family purposely turned the house into a labyrinth to deter thieves!"
Gu Xiuyi couldn't help but laugh, patting Ji Ruan on the back. "There's no harm in getting a bit more exercise. Aunt Zhao mentioned that you hadn't left the house once in the past two weeks?"
"I..." Ji Ruan hesitated, not expecting the conversation to take this turn.
Of course, he wouldn't admit that he was simply being lazy for not going out.
"I, I, I'm unwell!" Ji Ruan emphasized. "Very unwell! It's scorching outside, and the heat makes me fall ill repeatedly. And why should I go out? Am I supposed to inspect the guards at your company? -cough, cough, cough..."
As he spoke, he clutched his chest and coughed, appearing much like Lin Daiyu, fragile and prone to coughing up blood whenever provoked.
Gu Xiuyi had no choice but to imitate Aunt Zhao's technique, patting Ji Ruan on the back.
However, he still didn't let go. "You can check the mail. Xiaoya and the others mentioned that they missed you. You can schedule a meeting whenever you want."
"Hmph," Ji Ruan sneered. "What kind of house requires appointments for checks? Just wait and see, I'll conduct a surprise inspection."
Gu Xiuyi smiled uneasily, his tone concerned. "Well, there's no rush. We can discuss it once you recover from your illness. Don't overexert yourself."
Ji Ruan found himself much funnier than before.
"Gu Xiuyi, you!" Ji Ruan was on the verge of spitting blood from being choked with frustration.
Never had he realized that this person had such a quirky and visceral side to him!
"Xiuyi, you're back." A female voice interrupted their bickering.
Ji Ruan looked over to see a middle-aged woman in a purple cheongsam, well-maintained with an air of a typical gentle and virtuous wife. She hurriedly trotted over from the distant hallway, her eyes brimming with tenderness.
"Xiuyi, you're finally back. You have no idea how your dad misses you!"
Her eyes were red with excitement, as if Gu Xiuyi had been absent from work and fought at the front lines for decades before returning home.
Behind her stood a young man of about twenty, bearing a striking resemblance to Gu Xiuyi and exuding a similar aura. They were surely carved from the same mold. Upon seeing Gu Xiuyi, he grew visibly animated, "Brother!"
Gu Xiuyi calmly acknowledged, "Aunt Fang, it's been a while."
With that said, he placed his hand on Ji Ruan's shoulder and introduced, "Fang Lan, my stepmother. You can call her Aunt Fang. Gu Chuli, my younger brother."
Ji Ruan extended a decent smile, "Hello, my name is Ji Ruan."
The lackluster reaction from the two did nothing to dampen Fang Lan's enthusiasm. She beamed at Ji Ruan with an air of affection. "Oh my, little Ruan, you're so beautiful."
"Oh, by the way, Xiaoli, where's your brother? Why hasn't he come out?" Fang Lan suddenly posed the question to Gu Chuli. "It's his first time bringing home a partner, he should have come out to greet them!"
Gu Chuli displayed a slight embarrassment. "Mom, you know his temperament. He's with Dad right now."
"That child!" Fang Lan smiled and looked at Gu Xiuyi. "Oh, Xiuyi, I'm so sorry about this. I'll definitely give Qiming a stern lesson later."
Gu Xiuyi remained silent. "He's your child, it's naturally your responsibility to discipline him. No need to involve me."
"Oh, you're right."
The smile never dimmed on her face, and gentle creases had formed at the corners of her eyes, accentuating her image as the caring stepmother.
Ji Ruan couldn't help but feel that the mother and son were putting on a somewhat exaggerated display. Wouldn't they be exhausted from constantly smiling...
It seemed that Gu Xiuyi had no intention of engaging in further conversation with them. He simply nodded and stated, "I'll take Ji Ruan to see Grandpa first."
"Hey, Xiuyi—!"
Fang Lan blurted out, and when Gu Xiuyi turned around, she extended her hand and chuckled once again, "Well, you must be in a hurry to see Grandpa. Why don't you have some water first? You haven't had any since you entered."
"That's right, that's right," Gu Chuli chimed in, "Brother, let me pour you some water!"
"No need," Gu Xiuyi replied calmly.
"But—" Fang Lan tried to say something else.
Gu Xiuyi's face turned ice-cold, his dark eyes devoid of warmth as he spoke each word:
"No."
The two immediately fell silent.
As Gu Xiuyi carried Ji Ruan in his arms and disappeared around the corner of the hallway, the forced smile on Fang Lan's face crumbled, and she stared at the dark corridor.
Initially, her lips had been downturned.
"Mom, did you really let him go upstairs like that?" Gu Chuli whispered in Fang Lan's ear, his voice tinged with concern. "Is that thing he's holding in his hand..."
Fang Lan shot him a sharp glance.
The second half of Gu Chuli's sentence got caught in his throat.
"Otherwise?" Fang Lan said solemnly. "He's married, and everyone knows it. What can we do?"
"But Grandpa isn't dead yet! Is he that impatient?"
"Shut up!" Fang Lan scolded, then sneered. "How much longer can the old man live? He's practically buried halfway into the ground... Anyway, it will eventually belong to Gu Xiuyi... I hope he dies sooner so we can get started sooner..."
"But even if Grandpa is gone, Gu Xiuyi will still be there!"
Fang Lan harshly poked her son's head.
"No matter how weak you are, you're still the second young master of the Gu family. Can Gu Xiuyi oppress you for the rest of your life? Can he make you suffer forever?! Even if he wanted to, your father would never allow it..."
Ji Ruan was carried upstairs by Gu Xiuyi, suppressing all the questions swirling in his mind.
"What do you want to ask?"
Gu Xiuyi didn't look at him, but it seemed as if he had read Ji Ruan's thoughts.
Ji Ruan didn't shy away from it and looked up at Gu Xiuyi. "Why does Gu Chuli call you big brother? Doesn't he have an older brother?"
Gu Xiuyi carefully guided Ji Ruan up the stairs, his tone calm. "Fang Qiming was born to Fang Lan and her ex-husband, so he isn't considered part of the Gu family."
Ji Ruan nodded thoughtfully. "But it's rare to hear about you having a younger brother."
Gu Xiuyi glanced at Ji Ruan. "Because he was the product of an affair between my father and Fang Lan. The matter is disgraceful, so Grandpa suppressed the news and dealt with it coldly."
"Ah, I see..."
Ji Ruan was taken aback. No wonder the mother and son acted like two timid quails in front of Gu Xiuyi.
Although scandals are common in wealthy families like this, it is precisely these kinds of families that value their reputation the most. Even though Gu Chuli clearly carries the blood of the Gu family and has lived for twenty years, he is forced to keep half of his identity hidden in the shadows.
Gu Xiuyi waited for a moment, but before Ji Ruan could speak again, he raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to stop asking?"
The seemingly chaotic disputes within this family, in essence, revolve around power and family wealth. The current topic had touched upon the dark secrets of Gu Xiuyi's family, and Ji Ruan didn't want to delve too deep into it.
He shook his head. "I have no curiosity."
Gu Xiuyi stared at him for a while, then looked away. "Good."
Mr. Gu's room was located at the end of the corridor, a spacious and sunny room. However, upon entering, Ji Ruan noticed that the curtains inside were tightly drawn, blocking out any trace of light.
The old man, who had held power in the Gu family for decades, sat in a wheelchair, silently gazing at the window concealed by the curtains. Two sturdy nurses stood beside him.
He turned his head at the sound, his entire body seemingly decayed, and his movements were stiff and lifeless.
Ji Ruan observed a haggard face, with the old man emitting a dying, corpse-like aura.
"You have arrived?" The voice was hoarse and intermittent.
"Yes." Gu Xiuyi wore an emotionless smile. "I brought Ji Ruan to see you. We are married now."
Gu Changyun slowly turned his cloudy eyes towards Ji Ruan, quietly examining him for a moment before raising a finger. "Take a seat."
There were a row of rattan and wooden benches in the room. Gu Xiuyi guided Ji Ruan to sit down. In front of them, a wooden table stood, its surface adorned with a purple clay tea set. The teapot was already boiling, sending wisps of steam curling into the air like tendrils of smoke. The cups were warm to the touch, and the air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea.
One of the nurses pushed Gu Changyun closer, while the other bowed to Gu Xiuyi before positioning themselves by the door.
Gu Xiuyi retrieved the marriage certificate, placed it on the wooden table, and pushed it in front of Gu Changyun, using two fingers to hold it down.
"This is the marriage certificate. Take a look."
The nurse picked up the two small red books, opened them, and attempted to hand them to Gu Changyun, only to have the old man brush them away.
"Is this Ji Ruan?"
Ji Ruan sat next to Gu Xiuyi and nodded slightly upon hearing his name. "Yes, Grandpa."
Gu Changyun raised his head, his eyes unfocused and seemingly not aware of his surroundings. "You're so young..."
Ji Ruan didn't know how to respond, so he instinctively looked at Gu Xiuyi.
Gu Xiuyi squeezed his hand reassuringly before opening the kraft paper bag he always carried with him.
Inside was a document, which Ji Ruan could clearly see when it was placed on the table. It was an equity transfer agreement.
Gu Xiuyi didn't waste time with pleasantries, diving straight into the topic. "The day my mother died in front of you, you made a promise and stated it in your will. When I get married, you will transfer all the remaining shares under your name to me and my partner, with joint ownership. Do you remember?"
Gu Changyun remained silent.
Gu Xiuyi extended his hands. "As you can see, I am married. Let's sign it."
Seeing that the old man remained motionless, Gu Xiuyi was in no rush. He poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ji Ruan. "Be careful, it's hot."
Ji Ruan accepted the cup, taking a small sip while observing the situation closely.
He was aware of the stock rights. Gu Xiuyi had been transparent with him. The agreement clearly stated that after marriage, all the shares Gu Changyun handed over would be transferred to Gu Xiuyi alone. In return, Gu Xiuyi would periodically provide him with a significant amount of property.
After a prolonged stare-down, Gu Changyun finally spoke, his words delivered slowly. "You know it's a will. Aren't you even willing to wait until I die, my child? Once I have passed, it will all be yours—"
"Grandpa," Gu Xiuyi interjected, gazing at the old man with cold respect in his eyes. "You will live a long life."
Gu Changyun paused for a moment, before bursting into laughter. His old face, wrinkled and lacking flesh, contorted. "Live a long life? Lock me up here and expect me to live a long life?"
Gu Xiuyi remained composed. "Your health is deteriorating, and you should have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. However, you insisted on staying home... Yes, I understand your desire to return to your roots, and I respect your decision. That is why I have arranged for someone to take care of you."
"Does taking care mean even my son can't visit me?"
"Of course not," Gu Xiuyi explained impassively. "My father has a volatile temper, and there is a tendency for arguments to arise when he speaks to you. It wouldn't be good if you were to get upset."
"You..." Gu Changyun opened his eyes slightly, his facial muscles twitching with anger. "You want to be the one in control of everything!"
"How could I?" Gu Xiuyi sighed softly, appearing somewhat helpless.
"That is how you protected my mother in the past. I have remembered it all. Now, I am simply protecting you in the same way."
"You, you!"
Ji Ruan quietly sipped his tea, piecing together the intricate family grudges within a few words.
Infidelity, the original spouse, the mistress, the illegitimate child, and the patriarch subjecting the original spouse to merciless torment.
It turned out that the two guards, who were as strong as bodyguards, were not only responsible for taking care of the old man, but also for preventing others from entering.
Ji Ruan vaguely recalled that Song Ling had praised Gu Xiuyi's "filial piety" in front of him. This was true "filial piety". The people around Gu Xiuyi were indeed the kind who talked about others and had influence.
Ji Ruan watched this intriguing spectacle with great interest, absentmindedly drinking a cup of tea.
Gu Xiuyi refilled Ji Ruan's tea, leaned back in his chair, gently touching the ring on his finger, and spoke in a gentle tone. "Let's sign, Grandpa."
The room was filled with the fragrant aroma of tea, while the air carried a sense of coldness and tension. On one end of the confrontation stood an aging figure, while on the other end stood someone full of vigor and spirit.
It seemed like a contest with no suspense.
However, this seemingly straightforward contest couldn't withstand Gu Changyun's stubborn resistance for long.
Half an hour passed...
"Grrrrrrrrrrr—"
A string of peculiar sounds cut through the air and reached the ears of everyone present.
Ji Ruan's stomach growled...
His hunger pangs loudly and pitifully broke the tense silence in the room.
Ji Ruan was so startled that he choked on his tea. He covered his mouth with a piece of paper, widened his eyes, and looked at Gu Xiuyi, then at the bewildered old man.
Gu Xiuyi: "..."
Even the stern nurse standing nearby was momentarily bewildered. He stared at Gu Xiuyi with wide eyes, as if asking what to do in this situation.
Time stood still for a few seconds, but Gu Xiuyi quickly regained his composure.
He coughed, took the teacup from Ji Ruan's hand, calmly placed it back on the table, and turned his gaze to the old man.
"Grandpa, I understand that it will take some time for you to accept the immediate transfer of equity. So, how about this—"
He stood up. "I'll come back for the documents in half an hour. You must be hungry too, let's have a meal first."
As he spoke, he pulled Ji Ruan out of the room and instructed the nurse, "Grandpa's health is not in good condition. You should take good care of him and prevent him from getting agitated."
The nurse immediately nodded. "Yes."
In the corridor, Ji Ruan followed behind Gu Xiuyi, tugging at his sleeves and playfully calling out to him. However, Gu Xiuyi ignored him when he called him by name and ignored his attempts to act coquettish.
As they walked, Gu Xiuyi suddenly turned around, seeming out of breath, and pointed an index finger at Ji Ruan, struggling to speak.
Ji Ruan blinked awkwardly. "I'm hungry..."
He clutched his stomach. "I was hungry, but you kept giving me water, and then my stomach growled..."
Gu Xiuyi glanced at Ji Ruan's growling belly, opened and closed his mouth several times, but in the end, he couldn't utter a word. He turned back around and continued walking.
"I'm losing my momentum..." Gu Xiuyi took a deep breath and said with a sullen face. "When your stomach growled, it nearly ruined my momentum."
Ji Ruan diligently chased after him, boasting, "You were still so impressive! The nurse's elder brother was scared to death, and your grandfather was so angry that he couldn't speak!"
Gu Xiuyi's face softened slightly.
Ji Ruan made another effort. "I thought you were so handsome just now~"
Gu Xiuyi turned his head to look at the sky.
Ji Ruan tugged at his sleeves. "Really~~"
"Shut up!" Gu Xiuyi's lips twitched.
-----
Author's Note:
Ruan Ruan: Damn! Nice move, old man~
Mr. Gu: Damn, what a spoiled brat...
