Chapter 86: A Wavering Heart

Chapter 86: A Wavering Heart

The room was bright and clean. Gu Hansheng stood before the bookshelf, casually pulled out a book while listening to a company executive give a work report on the computer behind him.

Outside the window stretched a garden and vast lawns, with sprinklers tracing arcs as water spray arced near and far.

In the sprawling estate, everyone was going about their duties, yet all kept their distance from Gu Hansheng's residence at the old master's behest—except for the bodyguards.

Work had just wrapped up when Song Wenhao called him frantically: "Old Gu, have you seen the news?"

"What news?"

"Zhuang Shubai is getting engaged! I'll send it to you!"

Several news alerts came through, all with headlines like "The Yikang Group Heir's Mysterious Fiancé," with illustrations showing the two as silhouettes.

One of them, in a T-shirt with short hair, looked almost identical to Zhao Yu.

Gu Hansheng frowned in displeasure. "That's baseless gossip—how dare they print such tabloid trash? Which outlet even reported this?"

"Baseless? Even my mom's heard about it," Song Wenhao said. "I told you, that Little White Flower is no pushover. He latched onto Yikang Group barely any time after leaving you, and you were still so devoted to him..."

Song Wenhao went on and on badmouthing Zhao Yu, but Gu Hansheng didn't take in a single word.

It wasn't just small outlets reporting this—there was also a well-known financial news site in the industry. If that site got the scoop, they must have inside info.

Was Zhao Yu actually going to marry Zhuang Shubai?

All the color drained from Gu Hansheng's face in an instant.

This wasn't out of the blue. Zhao Yu had never hidden his leanings toward Zhuang Shubai, and then there was that kiss the other day—all of it backed up the news.

How long had they even known each other, anyway? Was Zhuang Shubai really so clean and above reproach?

Gu Hansheng shoved the door open and stormed out.

"You can't go out," a bodyguard blocked him.

"Get lost!"

Another guard moved to block him, and Gu Hansheng slammed a sudden, lightning-fast punch into the guard, catching him off guard and hitting him square in the face.

Several guards immediately piled on, and after a struggle, they finally got him under control.

The butler came running at the noise. In the living room, the monstera plant had been knocked over, the ceramic pot shattered into several pieces and several leaves had been snapped off.

Gu Hansheng's face was banged up, his clothes covered in dirt, as three guards forced him back into the room.

"Young master, just give in a little to the old master and finalize the engagement with the Tu family, and you can leave whenever you want," the butler said.

His answer was a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, as thick as a brick, hurled out of the room. If the guards hadn't caught it in time, the old butler would have had a hard time walking out on his own two feet.

Half an hour later, a doctor arrived and nearly got taken out by a copy of Sapiens, so he called it quits.

When the old man heard that Gu Hansheng had lost his temper, he just let out a cold laugh, thinking to himself that the kid was still too young—couldn't handle being alone and lost his cool. He'd have to bow his head eventually.

When the entire estate fell into a deathly silence that night, a light still burned in Gu Hansheng's room. The injuries from earlier had swollen up, a visible bruise on the side of his face, his palm had been cut by the shattered pot, and countless bruises from the fight covered his body.

That fight seemed to have used up all his strength. He slumped against the edge of the bed, still in his dirty clothes, messy hair falling over his eyes.

Zhao Yu was marrying Zhuang Shubai. Even if he fought the old man to the bitter end, what would he even do once he got out?

Zhao Yu wouldn't come back around. Whether he apologized or made trouble, Zhao Yu wouldn't look back. He was just a station Zhao Yu passed through in life—a brief stop before continuing on.

The light in his room stayed on all night. In the morning, his secretary called to remind him about a meeting, but no one answered. Assistant Wu came to knock on the door, only to find the breakfast at the door, already cold.

Song Wenhao couldn't get ahold of him, so he brought Lin Su along to the Gu residence, only then did they learn he hadn't even been dealing with company matters.

They knocked, and when no one answered, Lin Su gently pushed the door open to find the room in complete disarray.

Books were strewn all over the floor. Gu Hansheng was flipping through an art book, after a few pages, losing interest and tossing it on the floor, then grabbing another one at random from the bookshelf.

"Damn, Old Gu, did World War III break out in here?" Song Wenhao said.

Lin Su glanced at the bodyguards outside the door, then went in and slowly locked the door.

"You two have nothing better to do?" Gu Hansheng didn't look up, tossing the book he'd flipped one page of onto the floor and grabbing the next.

"Just came to see you." Song Wenhao stepped closer and was immediately shocked by how haggard he looked. "Damn! Did the old man put his hands on you too? Are you okay?"

Besides the injuries on his face, he had deep dark circles under his eyes—who knew how long it had been since he'd slept. His eyes were completely bloodshot, stubble had sprouted, and his hair was a complete mess. There was hardly a trace of his former self left.

But he said, "I'm fine."

Song Wenhao said anxiously, "If you ask me, just do what the old man says for now and get engaged to someone from the Tu family. Whether you actually go through with the marriage later is up to you, isn't it?"

Lin Su didn't agree: "How can you mess with a girl's feelings like that? Song Wenhao, stop coming up with terrible ideas."

Song Wenhao spread his hands. "Then, Master Lin, why don't you come up with a plan?"

"It's just a few bodyguards at the door, isn't it? If Old Gu wants to get out, we just need to find a way to distract the bodyguards."

The two of them looked at Gu Hansheng, but he stayed silent, his face expressionless.

Lin Su said, "You're not even going to deal with the company anymore?"

Gu Hansheng still said nothing, as if he had no motivation left. Fighting his uncles, fighting the old man, fighting the competitors eyeing him from outside—after all that fighting, he realized none of it meant anything.

The butler knocked on the door and said, "Gentlemen, please come out for some tea."

They'd only been inside for a few minutes before the butler came to rush them out—clearly keeping a constant eye on Gu Hansheng. The two looked at each other again, and Lin Su whispered, "Seriously, Old Gu, if you want to get out, we'll find a way."

Gu Hansheng remained completely silent, as if he hadn't heard a word they said, showing no interest in whether he left or not. Even being locked down so tightly, he seemed not to care at all.

The butler pressed them again, and unable to talk him into it, they had no choice but to leave for now.

"We just came to see him—we'll skip the tea." Song Wenhao said with a fake smile to the old butler.

Once they left the estate, Song Wenhao still felt unsatisfied. He and Gu Hansheng had known each other since they were kids. Whenever he'd messed up big time, Gu Hansheng would always help clean up the mess. Their friendship was the strongest.

Now that Gu Hansheng was in trouble, he wanted to help but couldn't do anything.

"I feel like something's off with Old Gu—I've never seen him like this before," Song Wenhao said anxiously. "He's not going to just fall apart, is he?"

Lin Su thought for a moment: "Maybe he just needs some time."

"Is that one month, two months, or a year or two?" Song Wenhao continued. "Little White Flower's already engaged to someone else. What's the point of him still pining over him? He might as well just marry Tu Muhe—I think she and Old Gu are actually a pretty good match."

Lin Su shook his head. "You don't get it—it's hard to let go of someone you love. He's taking a gamble. Just in case Zhao Yu might look back at him one day, and he stays waiting in the same spot, even a one-in-ten-thousand chance is worth holding out for."

"That's all up in the air..." Song Wenhao sighed. "That old man in the Gu family is a real piece of work. What if he gets someone to beat him up again? No, we can't let him keep living like this."

...

Zhuang Peiying hummed a cheerful tune while organizing medical records, ready to clock out for the day.

Just as she was about to change clothes, the door suddenly swung open, and she turned to see Zhuang Shubai.

"Done for the day?" Zhuang Shubai asked.

"Yeah." She asked curiously, "You actually had time to come see me today? If you're not busy, why aren't you with him?"

Zhuang Shubai wasn't free—he just carved out a moment from his busy schedule. He walked over and took a seat across from her desk.

"What's up? Why so serious all of a sudden?"

"Did you tip off the financial website about that news?"

Zhuang Peiying smiled. "It was bound to happen eventually. I gave you a nudge to make your rival back off."

Zhuang Shubai said, "This time it was just a silhouette of Xiao Yu. If his photo gets leaked, don't come crying to me..."

"I know, I won't cause him any actual problems."

"Then clear it up ASAP. I'll handle explaining things to Xiao Yu on my end."

"Alright." Zhuang Peiying replied with a smile, but inwardly she thought: rumors come and go every day, why rush to deny it? Let the news sit for a few more days.

Zhuang Shubai got up to leave, then suddenly turned back around. "Did you go visit Xiao Yu?"

"I just grabbed a meal at Jinyan and said hi while I was there."

"What did you say?"

"It's complicated—it's a long story..."

She gave an awkward smile, and Zhuang Shubai reached over and flicked her forehead hard.

...

That evening, just as Zhao Yu was about to leave Jinyan after work, his old nemesis cornered him at the door.

"Hey, Little White Flower, I need to talk to you!" Song Wenhao said.

"I've got nothing to say to you." Zhao Yu turned to Pang Ze. "Manager Pang, please blacklist this guy. Jinyan won't be serving him from now on."

"Crappy little joint—I wouldn't bother coming even if you invited me!"

Song Wenhao's IQ dropped the second he saw Zhao Yu, and he got so caught up in trading barbs that he forgot why he'd come.

Luckily, Lin Su had come along too. He shoved Song Wenhao aside and said, "We're here on serious business."

"What is it?"

Lin Su said, "Can you go pay Old Gu a visit?"

"Why?"

"The Gu family arranged a marriage for him, but he refused flat out, so they locked him up. I know your relationship is complicated, but right now you might be the only one he'll listen to. Your engagement hit him hard. Can you go talk some sense into him..."

"Engaged to who?" Zhao Yu asked.

"To that Zhuang Shubai guy!" Song Wenhao said. "The news is everywhere—don't play dumb."

"What news?" Zhao Yu was confused. "I'm not engaged."

Song Wenhao and Lin Su exchanged bewildered looks. "You're not engaged?! Weren't you supposed to be marrying Zhuang Shubai?"

"There are rumors all over the internet. I suggest you keep your eyes peeled."

"Damn! That's a ruthless move—cutting off all escape routes!" Song Wenhao exclaimed. "What a move, they had us completely played!"

Lin Su cut him off. "I wasn't finished. Gu Hansheng thinks you're getting married. He's locked up at home, completely crushed, and even then he won't agree to the marriage. He's been waiting for you... I know you might not have feelings for him anymore, but just this once, can you go talk to him in person? Even if it's just to make him give up on you, at least help him get out of the old man's place. He's not just under surveillance there—he's been injured too."

Hearing that Gu Hansheng was injured, Zhao Yu's heart gave a slight tug, but he quickly pushed the feeling down. "That's his family business. I have no standing to interfere. He and I settled things a long time ago."

"Can't you at least go see him once?"

Zhao Yu remained silent.

Song Wenhao said, "He stood up for you more than once, didn't he?! Can't you... can't you help him?!"

"Whether he wants to marry or not—what does that have to do with me?"

Zhao Yu's icy attitude infuriated Song Wenhao. He pointed at Zhao Yu's nose, racking his brain for insults, but in the end he was so angry he couldn't get a single word out and stormed out the door.

Lin Su hesitated, as if about to speak, but seeing Zhao Yu's cold expression, he could only sigh and follow Song Wenhao out.

Once their figures disappeared from the doorway, a crack suddenly appeared in Zhao Yu's indifferent expression.

Even Song Wenhao had come to beg him—that was enough to show that Gu Hansheng's situation was truly dire.

His heart wavered gently with the breeze that rustled the leaves.

Pang Ze, who had been standing nearby listening to the whole conversation, observed Zhao Yu's expression for a moment before stepping forward. "Chef Zhao, actually..."