Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Song Yuan truly lacked a sense of self-preservation and personal boundaries.

Anyone with ill intentions could easily get close to him.

The thought made Gu Jingchi frown.

Before he even got close, he clearly saw the other person’s face—it was his half-brother.

This guy, who changed partners more frequently than clothes, actually dared to flirt with Song Yuan?

The postponed meeting, the scorching sun, the traffic jam at the entrance, and that playboy who constantly caused him trouble… This series of minor incidents, strung together, left him feeling irritable.

This irritation reached its peak when he saw Song Yuan chatting for so long at the entrance with his long-unseen half-brother.

He had always considered himself a rational person, but the rationality he had always prided himself on seemed to fail him at this moment.

The destructive urges and dark humor buried deep within him broke through the shackles of reason, resurfacing once more. All he wanted now was to clip the peacock’s tail feathers and shatter the beautiful dream the other person was indulging in.

…

Sis… sister-in-law…?

Song Yuan stood frozen, almost falling apart.

He tried to recall the plot of the book… but failed.

It wasn’t his fault; the book he had transmigrated into was a power-leveling, no-romance male protagonist story, and his original character was merely a minor cannon fodder who was written out of the story within the first twenty chapters.

When he went offline, there was no such character as a "younger brother."

What alternate universe had he been thrown into now…?

Still, he meekly responded, "H-Hello…"

Gu Linxin’s expression was one of such shock that it was hard to describe.

Compared to the melodramatic family sagas of the previous generation, the current Gu family could actually be described as harmonious. There weren't many power struggles; years ago, Gu Jingchi had ascended to power by stepping over his own kin, consolidating full control of the Gu family by the age of twenty-four. The elders had retreated into seclusion, while the younger generation showed no ambition. Direct descendants, collateral relatives—over a hundred Gu family members in total—had all willingly become a group of spoiled trust-fund kids who, after living for over twenty years, had learned nothing but how to eat, drink, and have fun. Even he himself relied entirely on his elder brother’s "poverty alleviation" for his daily expenses.

This entire group of useless rich kids depended on Gu Jingchi for their future prosperity and luxury—they were utterly and completely parasites.

Although he and his elder brother didn’t share the same mother, much to the disappointment of many onlookers, he held little affection for their father, Gu Zhengrong.

Compared to that philandering old man, Gu Jingchi was more like his "dad."

When he last saw Song Yuan at W University, Gu Linxin had paid attention to his ring finger—it was bare, with no engagement ring.

In that moment, he was almost certain he had a chance.

After all, the marriage contract simply stated "[a direct descendant of the Gu family]" without specifying a name. If his brother had no interest in marriage, it wasn't impossible for him to step in and fulfill the contract.

But now, it seemed he had been mistaken.

Song Yuan looked up, coyly and unabashedly cooing at Gu Jingchi, "The moment I started missing you, you appeared."

Song Yuan’s unreserved intimacy made Gu Jingchi momentarily lose his composure. He looked down, meeting Song Yuan’s eyes—they were clear and bright, much brighter than they had been moments ago.

He lifted his eyes, glancing at the visibly shocked and flustered Gu Linxin, and nodded impassively.

“Mhm.”

Gu Linxin: “…”

Gu Linxin had no penchant for stealing another’s beloved.

Song Yuan was not quite what he’d expected from the rumors, which surprised him.

But what surprised him most was his older brother’s demeanor.

Gu Jingchi had always been lenient; he’d never seen him treat anyone harshly. Yet now, his brother was unrestrainedly exuding an oppressive aura that made Gu Linxin feel a deep-seated dread.

Was his brother… in love?

Gu Jingchi asked him, “Why are you back in the country?”

Called out by name, Gu Linxin jolted, his expression turning somewhat peculiar.

“That guy, he said his doghouse is moving, so he told me to come home, take a piss, and see which way the urine flows.”

Gu Jingchi: “…”

To describe the relocation of the ancestral home as a “doghouse moving,” and burning incense to pick a lucky day as…

By the time he realized what Gu Linxin had said, it was already too late to stop him.

Song Yuan’s eyes widened slightly, his expression as if to say—*What a strange custom.*

Just as he’d guessed, Gu Linxin was not a proper person.

Gu Jingchi, on the other hand, was polished, well-proportioned, and remarkably upright—a truly well-rounded good person.

“Then go back early,” Gu Jingchi told him. “You can handle the incense and auspicious day calculations just as well. I won’t be returning.”

Gu Jingchi saw right through his younger brother’s intentions. He didn’t want someone with ulterior motives lingering around Song Yuan.

*

As they walked back, Gu Linxin kept observing Song Yuan.

Unlike his usual focused demeanor at W University or the studio, the moment Gu Jingchi appeared, Song Yuan’s attention seemed entirely fixed on him.

Song Yuan recounted amusing incidents from the exhibition, and when he got excited, he would even stop walking properly, unconsciously bumping into Gu Jingchi—who, in turn, was remarkably indulgent, not even frowning.

He witnessed all these details typical of a couple in love. He had initially wanted to warn Song Yuan to be careful of Gu Jingchi’s temper, but upon calm reflection, that warning seemed superfluous when it came to Song Yuan.

Though Song Yuan perfectly fit his aesthetic—if they had met in the industry, he would have been his ideal catch.

But after this half-hour of sobering thought, he knew this path was no longer viable.

“Gu Jingchi, I’m hungry. Shall we go eat?” Song Yuan turned his head. “And little brother, is there anything you’d like to eat?”

Gu Linxin felt a chill run down his spine. “I’m not eating vegetables these days.”

Song Yuan looked at him, puzzled.

Gu Linxin said solemnly, “I’ve switched to drinking traditional Chinese medicine.”

Song Yuan: “…”

After seeing Gu Linxin off at the parking lot, Song Yuan’s handover was complete.

As soon as Gu Linxin was gone, he immediately ran back to find Gu Jingchi.

“Gu Jingchi, I’m craving Huaiyang cuisine.”

As they walked, Song Yuan kept bumping into Gu Jingchi.

If Gu Jingchi wasn’t paying attention, Song Yuan could even sneak a quick arm hug while crossing the street.

He thought Gu Jingchi’s reaction time was incredibly slow—sometimes it took ages for Gu Jingchi to come to his senses, frown, and tell him to stand properly.

He found Gu Jingchi’s reactions utterly amusing.

Gu Jingchi bought a bottle of water and handed it to Song Yuan. Song Yuan’s throat was already parched, so he took the bottle and slowly began to drink.

“Aren’t you drinking?”

Gu Jingchi lowered his eyes, lost in thought. “I am.”

Then, quite naturally, he took the bottle from Song Yuan’s hand.

As Gu Jingchi drew near, Song Yuan felt a rush of warmth. He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but Gu Jingchi seemed a bit more intense than usual today.

Gu Jingchi unscrewed the cap and drank from the bottle without putting his lips to it, finishing what Song Yuan had left.

The glow of the sunset gradually faded, painting the entire world in shades of blue as dusk settled and the city lights began to twinkle.

“Gu Jingchi, let’s go eat.”

Suddenly, Gu Jingchi asked, “What did that guy say to you earlier?”

Song Yuan shook his head. “Nothing much. After work, he just asked if I wanted to get dinner together.”

Gu Jingchi pressed further, “You’d go to dinner with someone you just met?”

Song Yuan shook his head again. “No, I refused. I wanted to eat with you.”

He thought Gu Jingchi was acting strangely. Normally, Gu Jingchi wouldn’t grill him about the people around him, nor would he care who invited him to dinner. Last time they met, he even called Jiang Ming “Jia Mi”… But ever since earlier, Gu Jingchi had been saying things he normally wouldn’t and acting a little off.

Gu Jingchi asked, “What do you think of him?”

Song Yuan frowned. “Why do you keep bringing him up?”

Gu Jingchi feigned indifference. “No reason. I just wanted to hear your opinion of him.”

Song Yuan shot him a confused look.

They stood in silence for about thirty seconds before Gu Jingchi spoke again in an offhand tone, “What does he do for work?”

“He’s a cameraman.” Song Yuan tightened the bottle cap—he knew Gu Jingchi was a bit of a neat freak, so he made sure it was sealed properly to keep dust out. “He’s responsible for shooting materials for the exhibition.”

Gu Jingchi nodded, gazing absently at an advertisement across the street, though he wasn’t really seeing anything. “He seems proactive, articulate, passionate about his job, and has high emotional intelligence.”

He carefully chose neutral, objective words, wanting to see how Song Yuan would perceive that playboy without any leading questions.

But Song Yuan missed the subtle implications.

Gu Jingchi hardly ever gave praise—he hadn’t even praised Song Yuan before. Such compliments might sound ordinary coming from someone else, but from Gu Jingchi, they felt like a rare trophy. Seeing others receive them, Song Yuan wanted them too.

Song Yuan, usually indifferent, felt a surge of pique, even a competitive urge.

He stopped in his tracks. "My emotional intelligence is pretty high too, you know."

Gu Jingchi's eyes flickered. "Is that so? I hadn't noticed."

*After all, you're just a little rascal who's been violating our 'three rules' from start to finish.*

Song Yuan felt a little indignant. "Well, I'm enthusiastic too! I might not be as slick or smooth-talking as him, but I—I—"

Gu Jingchi raised an eyebrow, watching him.

Song Yuan shamelessly blurted out, "I'm better-looking than him." Then, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed, he added, "Gu Jingchi, don't I look good?"

*You look great.*

Song Yuan was the most authoritative person in the world to say that, and Gu Jingchi didn't deny it.

At first, Song Yuan worried he might be overestimating himself, but when he saw Gu Jingchi's expression remain unchanged, he grew anxious.

He grabbed Gu Jingchi’s arm and shook it twice.

"Are you serious? Look closer!" Song Yuan’s nose turned red with urgency, matching his tear mole.

He kept leaning in, almost pressing against Gu Jingchi.

Gu Jingchi had to tilt his head back, as they were so close that a mere dip of his head would have led to a kiss.

"Look at me, Gu Jingchi. You like my—"

His words were cut short as Song Yuan tripped over a protruding brick and tumbled into Gu Jingchi’s arms.

Across the river, the cathedral’s hourly chime rang out, coincidentally yet subtly, each toll like the palpable manifestation of a runaway heartbeat.

The deep, metallic clangs reverberated long and far, and Song Yuan felt as if his body had been shattered, the impact striking straight to his chest, his very soul ripped free and trembling along with the bells.

His earlobes began to burn, and his every breath was filled with Gu Jingchi’s scent.

Once the chimes ceased, he immediately let go of Gu Jingchi and edged away.

But the next second, Gu Jingchi gripped his ankle and pulled him back.

A car roared past behind them, but it couldn't drown out Gu Jingchi’s voice. "Careful, there's a car."

Song Yuan nodded awkwardly, his cheeks faintly flushed. "...Oh. Oh, right."

The sudden physical contact flustered him. By the time he regained his composure, he still didn't dare meet Gu Jingchi’s eyes.

He felt a pang of frustration. Though he loudly proclaimed his intentions daily, after so many attempts, he realized he was still the same timid Song Yuan he had been at the start.

*All bark and no bite.*

"G-Gu Jingchi... let's go eat!" Song Yuan desperately needed to hit the fast-forward button.

*Just let this be over already!*

Gu Jingchi seemed stunned by the collision, remaining frozen for a long time, his face blank and silent.

This silence lasted all the way through dinner and back to the hotel.

Gu Jingchi told Song Yuan to go off and amuse himself, then turned and entered the room.

Song Yuan let out a soft "hmm?" and tilted his head, watching Gu Jingchi's retreating back.

Gu Jingchi was acting strangely today.

Normally, Gu Jingchi would automatically close his bedroom door when leaving. Song Yuan had even suspected that, if circumstances allowed, Gu Jingchi might weld the door and wall together.

But today, he left it wide open, as if to say, "You're welcome here."

Strange Gu Jingchi.

Just like yesterday, Song Yuan went to the window to admire Nancheng's nightscape.

After about half an hour, he heard a phone vibrating behind him.

On the foyer cabinet, Gu Jingchi's phone screen lit up, displaying a call from Jiangcheng.

Song Yuan picked up the phone and first knocked on the bedroom door.

There was no response, only the sound of running water.

He guessed Gu Jingchi was in the shower, so he walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

"Gu Jingchi, your phone."

The sound of running water continued, but there was no reply from Gu Jingchi.

The silence stretched on, so long that the caller redialed three times.

Song Yuan was sure his voice hadn't been quiet, but he raised it again, "Gu Jingchi, can you hear me?"

After about two or three seconds, he heard the water stop, and Gu Jingchi's voice came out a little hoarse, "Give it to me."

Song Yuan didn't care if Gu Jingchi could see him or not, and nodded, "Then open the door, and I'll pass it to you."

Gu Jingchi was silent for two seconds. "Come in."

"Just finished."

This statement was a bit ambiguous.

Song Yuan assumed Gu Jingchi had finished showering, so he pushed the door open and went in.

The bathroom was steamy, and visibility was very low. As Song Yuan stepped closer, he froze.

Gu Jingchi hadn't finished showering at all.

He was leaning back against the edge of the bathtub, relaxed, his chest covered in bubbles. Although nothing was exposed, this extensive "blank space" made it even easier for one's imagination to wander.

Song Yuan's breath hitched, and he quickly averted his gaze.

The phone rang again. Song Yuan handed it to him, and Gu Jingchi, without hesitation, put it on speaker.

The caller rattled on and on, and Song Yuan didn't understand much of it. The other person seemed to be speaking English, but it also sounded like a Nordic language derived from English.

He could only vaguely make out internationally common terms like "port," "stock exchange," and "trading day."

Gu Jingchi ended the call in a few brief sentences, then handed the phone back to Song Yuan. He said nothing, his dark, deep eyes fixed on him.

The sudden eye contact sent a shiver down Song Yuan’s spine, a faint sweat breaking out on his back.

Flustered, he didn’t know where to look, his gaze darting around aimlessly.

Finally, his wandering eyes landed on the bottle of shower gel. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Gu Jingchi, your shower gel is the same as mine, why does yours smell so much stronger?"

Song Yuan took a light sniff.

It really was different—richer, deeper than his own.

Gu Jingchi remained silent, quietly watching Song Yuan.

Leaning against the wall, he exuded a cool, understated sensuality. Whether it was Song Yuan’s imagination or not, Gu Jingchi’s expression seemed to carry a hint of lazy weariness.

After about five or six seconds, Gu Jingchi gave a faint hum.

"It is a little."

"But yours smells better than mine," Song Yuan said with a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Mine has a really sweet fruity scent, but yours smells like sandalwood. Are you finished? Mind if I use yours?"

Gu Jingchi glanced at Song Yuan, his chest rising and falling more noticeably.

Song Yuan noticed something odd in Gu Jingchi’s gaze. "What’s wrong? Gu Jingchi, are you feeling unwell? Was the bath too long?"

The barrage of questions shattered the last shred of Gu Jingchi’s composure. He exhaled slowly before suddenly saying, "My hand’s a little sore."

Song Yuan panicked.

"Did I hurt you when I bumped into you earlier? Are you okay? Should I call a doctor?"

Gu Jingchi tightened his grip on Song Yuan’s ankle. "No need."

Then, lowering his eyes slightly, he added, "I can’t lift my arms."

"Could you rinse my back for me?"