Chapter 15: He Really Is Despicable
Song Yinxing swallowed. An inexplicable sense of nervousness crept over him.
He knew he shouldn’t ask. It was someone else’s family business.
What are you to him? What does it have to do with you?
Song Yinxing felt that Gu Yang was exactly the kind of person who would say something like that with a cold expression.
Wealthy family secrets. Generational grudges. Illicit relationships…
Just glimpsing a corner of it felt unbearably dark. His imagination ran wild.
The comments under the post and the trending page were a mess. Strangers were gossiping across the internet. Some people even claimed there was a “video on the homepage” to lure clicks—only to sell products.
Gu Yang’s gaze was still on him. For a brief moment, Song Yinxing had the strange feeling that Gu Yang wanted him to ask.
“About you and the president of the Gu Corporation… is it true?” Song Yinxing looked him in the eyes.
“What exactly are you referring to?” Gu Yang raised a brow. “Which version are we on now? Let me see.”
He reached out, and after hesitating, Song Yinxing showed him the screen.
“Me and… the president of Gu Group…” Gu Yang narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to read. “…maintaining an unspeakable relationship?”
Song Yinxing tried to pull his phone back before Gu Yang saw the filthy comments below, but Gu Yang had already grabbed his hand.
After reading a few comments, Gu Yang burst out laughing.
He covered his eyes with the back of his hand, laughing without restraint.
“Anyone who believes this kind of stuff will definitely be the main customers for health supplement scams when they’re old,” Gu Yang finally said, poking at the screen.
Song Yinxing studied his expression.
“Gu Yuhui might be a bit of a jerk, but he’s not that perverted,” Gu Yang said, still smiling faintly as he continued scrolling, holding Song Yinxing’s hand.
So it wasn’t true.
Song Yinxing felt complicated.
They were standing very close now—so close it almost felt like he had Gu Yang in his arms.
From this angle, he could see Gu Yang’s eyelashes—long, casting thick shadows that blended into the faint dark circles beneath his eyes. The flaw made him look more fragile. When he smiled, there was a gloomy yet strangely vivid vitality to him.
But Gu Yang’s smile faded abruptly.
He turned the phone toward Song Yinxing.
“What’s wrong with your battery? It was over thirty percent just now. Why did it suddenly drop to ten?” Gu Yang frowned. “Five percent? Did it get a virus?”
“It’s fine. My battery’s dying,” Song Yinxing snapped back to reality. “There’s a charger at the shop. I’ll plug it in.”
“And my part-time shift isn’t over yet. I shouldn’t be out too long.”
As he walked back, Song Yinxing couldn’t help turning around.
Gu Yang was still standing there, unmoving. His expression had completely withdrawn again—cold, so cold.
Through the glass door, the shop owner was frantically gesturing for him to get back to work. Song Yinxing forced himself to look away.
“Knock, knock.”
“Come in,” a muffled voice said from inside.
Song Yinxing paused, then pushed the door open.
Yesterday, 30,000 yuan had been deposited into his bank account. The transaction note read: subsidy.
But he’d already received this semester’s subsidy before school started. The amount was too large. His teacher suggested he check with the finance office.
“Can I help you?” The person behind the desk was a very handsome young man. He put down his phone, folded his hands, and smiled at him.
Song Yinxing stepped back to check the sign outside, then re-entered uncertainly. “I’m looking for the finance teacher.”
“Oh, that. This place was renovated recently,” the boy explained. “Some signs got mixed up. They’ll fix it tomorrow.”
“So the real finance office is—”
“Upstairs.”
Song Yinxing was about to leave when the boy added:
“But you don’t need to go. Let me guess—you’re here about the subsidy, right, Student Song?”
Song Yinxing frowned, finally recognizing him as the one who’d been with Gu Yang that day.
“The money wasn’t sent by mistake. It’s compensation from Nie Ying and the others. Ten thousand each,” He Ming’an said gently, noticing Song Yinxing’s stiffened expression. “Just accept it. I’ve already talked to them.”
“What is it? Hush money?” Song Yinxing asked flatly.
“Don’t put it so harshly,” He Ming’an sighed. “The school’s final decision was one week of suspension for reflection. Given the severity, it should’ve been a public disciplinary notice—but unfortunately, that’s not possible right now.”
(He didn’t mention that Nie Ying’s suspension was also due to causing trouble in class.)
“So just take the money. Think of it as a compromise.”
He leaned back into his chair, turning slightly so his face fell into shadow, hiding his smile.
Song Yinxing left. After closing the door, he froze—then let out a self-mocking laugh.
He had actually…
felt a little happy when he learned the money wasn’t a mistake.
Seeing that balance in his account gave him enormous security. He wouldn’t have to worry about his mother’s next round of treatment. He wouldn’t have to panic every time a doctor called him out for an emergency he couldn’t afford.
And he could finally repay the money Gu Yang had transferred to him.
Otherwise, he might never be able to stand straight in front of that person and speak as an equal.
Thinking of this, even his hatred for Ding Ziyu’s group faded somewhat.
Song Yinxing covered his face and slowly slid down the wall.
He really was pathetic.
“You’ve grown bold enough to hang up on me?” a middle-aged man’s emotionless voice came through the phone.
“A classmate had a question. He’s a special enrollment student—it wouldn’t look good to ignore him,” He Ming’an said casually, putting the call on speaker and fiddling with a glass holly branch in a vase.
“Special enrollment again,” the man sneered. “The other day you were clashing with the Nie family’s boy over one.”
“You neglect relationships that matter and rush to meddle in things that don’t. After all these years, you’ve learned nothing. Every year I tell you to attend Nie Ying’s birthday banquet—even just for appearances—but you refuse.”
“Now you even wanted the school to publicly announce the punishment? The Nie family has been our partner for years, and you step on them like that?”
“It was bullying. Ding Ziyu already received a demerit. I just added one for Nie Ying,” He Ming’an replied lightly.
“This isn’t your place to interfere,” the man snapped. “When you’re in my position, then you can make decisions.”
He Ming’an suddenly said, “Maybe it’s because he kept mentioning your other son today.”
The line went silent.
After a moment, He Ming’an sighed inwardly and offered a way out.
“Since you’ve said so, I’ll attend Nie Ying’s birthday banquet next week.”
A faintly mocking smile curved his lips. “Consider it going to watch a show.”
After hanging up, he glanced at his desktop computer. Several windows were open. In one chat window, someone had messaged:
“Boss, the trending topic you mentioned seems to have been taken down.”
“The Gu family moves fast,” He Ming’an murmured.
In this internet age, everything leaves traces. The evidence he’d gathered pointed toward a PR company under the Shen family.
But since the Gu family had already intervened, it was unnecessary.
He dragged the file into the recycle bin.
At the Gu residence.
Shen Mingjun stood outside in a thin school uniform, enduring the cold wind and his father’s oppressive silence for who knew how long.
His expression was terrible, but he didn’t dare storm off.
Finally, they were allowed inside.
Gu Yuhui wasn’t home. The ones who’d kept them waiting were two half-grown boys.
Realizing that, Shen Shan’s heart sank, though he kept smiling at Gu Qingxu.
If nothing unexpected happened, Gu Qingxu would inherit the Gu family business. Shen Shan didn’t dare put on airs.
“This was a misunderstanding,” Shen Shan said humbly. “There was a bad apple among my employees who instigated my foolish son. I’ve been unwell lately, in and out of the hospital, so I haven’t been overseeing the company properly.”
“Is that so?” Gu Qingxu smiled without warmth. “If it’s a misunderstanding, then how about this—have your good son kneel and kowtow to my brother.”
Shen Shan frowned. It was unreasonable—but he couldn’t reject it too bluntly.
Seeing his father hesitate, Shen Mingjun thought he was actually considering it.
The last thread of rationality snapped.
His face twitched as he stared at Gu Yang and spoke through clenched teeth:
“You want me to kowtow to him? What a joke.”
“Gu Yang, do you think it’s fun sitting up there watching me? But what are you? You fell for a man—with no background, barely scraping by on financial aid as a special enrollment student. Aren’t you just lowering yourself? A worthless loss?”
