Chapter 29: “Anyway, You’re the Nanny’s Son…”
When Gu Qingxu pushed open the lounge door, he was immediately choked by the thick smoke inside and coughed several times.
He waved the smoke away, frowning slightly, though he still wore a smile.
“I remember this place is non-smoking, isn’t it? If He Ming’an finds out, he’ll nitpick you again.”
Nie Ying let out a cold laugh and crushed the cigarette into the tea table. “He really treats this school like it’s his own. Maybe he should first check whether his own family affairs are in order.”
Gu Qingxu smiled but didn’t respond.
He didn’t particularly like He Ming’an either, but when you’re under someone else’s roof, you still have to give them some face.
Nie Ying hadn’t called him over just to complain about He Ming’an anyway.
Gu Qingxu sat down on the sofa beside him, picked up an enamel lighter from the table, and played with it idly.
But when Nie Ying offered him a cigarette, he refused.
“I don’t smoke,” Gu Qingxu said with a smile. “Doesn’t your dad forbid you from smoking too? What, things not going well at home, so you sneak to school to smoke?”
Nie Ying’s expression darkened further.
These days, no matter who he interacted with, he couldn’t escape that issue.
He hadn’t even stepped into his classroom since it happened.
“Why are you putting on that face? Everyone already knows your little scandal. We’ve known each other for years—why act secretive? It makes talking awkward.”
After Mrs. Nie had caused a huge scene at the birthday party that day, the matter had spread quickly, turning something already undignified into something even more embarrassing.
It was said the incident had even affected Nie Runhua’s position within the group.
Old Master Nie was still vigorous and firmly controlled the Nie Group. It had once been almost certain that the eldest son, Nie Runhua, would inherit. But now such a scandal had made the Nie family a laughingstock.
That, in turn, gave the steady and low-profile second son an opportunity. Many who had once clung to Nie Runhua quickly switched sides. Even most of Nie Ying’s lackeys had scattered.
Gu Qingxu, however, hadn’t immediately cut him off, so when Nie Ying called, he didn’t refuse.
The second uncle’s two sons were more than ten years older than him. They’d never had much interaction anyway.
And honestly, he rather enjoyed seeing the always-arrogant Nie Ying lowered a notch.
“Gu Yang.” After a long silence, Nie Ying finally ground out the name through clenched teeth.
Gu Qingxu looked up, eyebrows raised.
“All of this was orchestrated by Gu Yang behind the scenes. If not for him, I wouldn’t be the laughingstock I am now.”
“Gu Yang?” Gu Qingxu smiled. “Are you mistaken? Since when does he have that kind of ability?”
From his reaction, Nie Ying immediately knew—Gu Qingxu couldn’t hear Gu Yang’s inner voice. He only sneered.
“What? I’m going after Gu Yang—are you feeling protective?”
“Go ahead,” Gu Qingxu replied lightly. “If you push him into a corner and he comes begging me, I’d have to thank you.”
He treated Nie Ying’s anger as misplaced venting. After all, that day it had been Mrs. Nie who had single-handedly blown everything up.
“But even if you target Gu Yang, what’s the use? His way of thinking isn’t normal anyway. And my dad protects him.” His expression turned faintly complicated. “Though recently he’s got a new favorite. Why not start there?”
“Who?”
“Song Yinxing. Special-admission student in your grade’s Class Ten. You should know him.”
Song Yinxing.
Of course Nie Ying remembered.
A poor kid who only got in on tuition exemption. Instead of studying quietly, he’d meddled and called the police, nearly sending Nie Ying to the station—until that woman had picked him up with a face full of annoyance.
“He’s pretty capable,” Gu Qingxu said with a small laugh. “Don’t know what tricks he used to make my brother care so much.”
“Oh right,” he added casually, “his mom used to be a nanny. Maybe you two would have something in common.”
Seeing the look on Nie Ying’s face—like he’d swallowed something foul—Gu Qingxu laughed outright.
“Don’t make that face. Feng shui rotates. In a while no one will remember. Why care so much?”
Nie Ying looked at him coldly.
Gu Qingxu wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. He hadn’t feared Nie Ying before, and certainly not now. He knew Nie Ying didn’t dare touch him—doing so would only worsen his standing in the Nie family.
“Think positively. So what if you weren’t born to Mrs. Nie? You’re still your dad’s son, right?” Gu Qingxu struggled not to laugh. “And since your dad’s… not exactly capable, at least there won’t be any illegitimate siblings to compete with. That’s a plus.”
For a split second, something in Nie Ying’s expression shifted. Then a strange smile appeared.
“Feng shui really does rotate. I heard when you first arrived at the Gu family, you were like a quail—hiding from everyone. Whenever Uncle Gu brought you to banquets, you clung to Gu Yang and wouldn’t move. You’ve improved a lot over the years.”
Now it was Gu Qingxu whose face darkened.
He flicked the lighter. A blue-red flame leapt up instantly.
The air turned cold.
“Thanks for the suggestion,” Nie Ying said, standing up. “I’ll consider it carefully.”
“Don’t look like that. If I go after Song Yinxing, you’ll be happy too.”
“Let’s meet again.”
After Nie Ying left, Gu Qingxu casually tossed the lighter aside.
Some time later, a cautious knock sounded.
“Come in.”
He looked at the person entering and asked coldly, “Who are you?”
“Brother Gu, it’s me—Ding Ziyu. I treated you to dinner at Tianding Pavilion last time. My dad is Ding Ren—the factory partner under Gu Corp.”
Ding Ziyu spoke deferentially while cursing inwardly.
None of the Gu family members could ever remember his name. Was he really that insignificant?
“Oh, I remember now.” Gu Qingxu rested his chin on his hand, mildly interested. “A senior from Grade Three.”
Ding Ziyu didn’t dare accept that title. He lowered his head nervously. “Brother Gu, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I have no other choice.”
Gu Qingxu said nothing, letting him continue.
Last time he’d wanted to apologize to Gu Yang in person.
Only a few days later, Gu Yang accused him of campus bullying and extortion. When the call reached the Gu family, Gu Qingxu had nearly laughed.
He might not know how capable Ding Ziyu was—but he certainly knew how capable Gu Yang was.
He Ming’an spent every day with Gu Yang. As if anyone could bully Gu Yang under his watch.
“The expulsion notice has already been issued. What’s the point of begging me now?”
He had little respect for bullying behavior. Though Nie Ying’s arrogance had roots in indulgence and power, Ding Ziyu was simply low-class thuggery.
Ding Ziyu’s face turned pale with despair.
If he were expelled from Guanli Middle School, he’d lose his last bit of value at home.
“It’s Song Yinxing. It must be him,” he muttered. “Just because I made things hard for him that time. But he already taught me a lesson—why won’t he let me go?”
Suddenly, hope flickered in his eyes. He rushed out.
Song Yinxing again.
That name was appearing frequently lately.
—
Class Eleven
The classroom atmosphere was heavy.
Gu Corp went bankrupt? Gu Yang committed suicide?
How could a conglomerate that should last generations collapse? And Gu Yang…
This wasn’t the same flavor of gossip as before. Those had been melodramatic scandals. This cast a thick shadow over everything.
Yu Bai’s expression was solemn.
He remembered Gu Yang’s rooftop comment about jumping together.
So it hadn’t been absurdist humor?
[The whole thing was that Nie Ying hired someone to run over Gu Qingxu, then took advantage of Gu Corp being leaderless to swallow it up?]
[Which idiot wrote this plotline…]
That’s… shockingly straightforward corporate warfare.
Everyone was stunned.
Wait—again Nie Ying?
By that logic, wasn’t it Nie Ying who ultimately drove Gu Yang to death?
[Nie Ying really is a bastard. He ruined Song Yinxing’s life too. And the Lu family’s real young master—just to repay Lu Ran’s “favor,” he had someone cripple one of his legs.]
Lu Ran’s face changed.
Even though it hadn’t happened, it was something he might have done.
Several classmates glanced at him.
Before, they might’ve thought little of it—just teaching an illegitimate child a lesson.
But now they knew the truth. The one without legitimacy was Lu Ran.
It showed how calculated the Lu family’s move had been.
Their biological child would never receive proper status.
[Ha.]
Gu Yang’s soft laugh made Lu Ran’s stomach drop.
[And those two still ended up together. The victim and the beneficiary. Incredible.]
[Is Lu Ji a masochist? After all that abuse he still got together with him.]
[What chapter did they confess? I should go watch the drama unfold. Maybe even see them come out publicly.]
He and Lu Ji… together?
Nausea rose in Lu Ran’s throat.
Not just because he was straight—but because he truly hated Lu Ji.
Lu Ji was the only obstacle in his smooth life. Because of him, Lu Ran could no longer rightfully claim to be the Lu family’s young master.
If possible, he wished Lu Ji would disappear entirely.
The impact hit harder than the revelation that he was the fake heir.
Dizziness overwhelmed him. His vision went black.
“Ah, Lu Ran fainted again,” Yu Bai cried.
Gu Yang was closest. Lu Ran had toppled toward him.
Gu Yang leaned back slightly, avoiding being crushed.
“Another asthma attack?” he raised a brow.
Xie Wu stood and helped Lu Ran up. “I’ll take him to the hospital.”
He glanced at Gu Yang. “It’s fine. Nothing serious. Don’t overthink.”
“Why would I overthink?” Gu Yang asked, puzzled. “It’s not like I did anything to him.”
Xie Wu: “……”
Technically… it was you. Both times.
But that wasn’t something to say now. He left with Lu Ran.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
After school, Gu Yang left with He Ming’an.
Yu Bai hesitated repeatedly. He Ming’an noticed and gave him a reassuring smile.
Yu Bai understood: Don’t worry. I’ve got it.
On the way to the gate, silence lingered.
Gu Yang never initiated topics. If uninterested, he spoke little.
He Ming’an chatted lightly about ordinary matters.
Suddenly someone rushed out to block them, looking panicked.
Gu Yang stared at him. “Who are you?”
He Ming’an recognized him instantly. “Liu Hua, right? I heard you came back to class. Your recent quiz scores were pretty good.”
Liu Hua was stunned.
It had only been a few days since that rooftop incident—and his savior had already forgotten his face?
When He Ming’an addressed him, he nodded gratefully.
But he hurried to the point.
“Song Yinxing’s been cornered in the alley by the school gate. It’s Nie Ying—he brought several people.”
They rushed over.
Nie Ying had already struck first.
Song Yinxing was backed against the wall, blood at the corner of his mouth, dust on his face, confronting them.
Nie Ying stood above him leisurely.
Compared to the restrained look before, those dark eyes now held a fierce edge.
It irritated Nie Ying.
He waved his hand, signaling his lackeys to continue.
Even if he’d lost some influence, calling a few obedient dogs was still easy.
“Nie Ying.”
He Ming’an’s voice cut in.
Nie Ying clicked his tongue. “Why are you everywhere?”
“The school strictly forbids private fighting.”
“Which eye saw me fighting?” Nie Ying sneered. “I’m just watching. Right?”
He Ming’an calmly named them one by one. “Liu Yu from Class One. Zhou Bei from Class Nine. Cao Fang from Class Four. What are you doing here?”
The boys froze.
How did he remember everyone’s names?
They stammered, afraid of later consequences.
Nie Ying scoffed. “He Ming’an, sometimes I really wonder whose side you’re on. I teach a poor nobody a lesson and you interfere. Can you manage everything?”
Gu Yang spoke faintly:
“Isn’t your own mother a nanny? How are you qualified to call someone else that?”
Nie Ying’s face changed instantly.
Even his followers looked shocked.
“You’re interesting,” Nie Ying said coldly. “Have you cleaned up your own family scandals before pointing fingers at me?”
“Whatever our family issues are,” Gu Yang replied calmly, “you’re still the nanny’s son.”
Nie Ying visibly cracked. “Gu Yang, what benefit do you get defending this special-admission student?”
“Benefit doesn’t matter. You’re still the nanny’s son.”
“You think because I didn’t settle things with you last time, it’s over?”
“Whether it’s over or not,” Gu Yang said evenly, “you’re still the nanny’s son.”
Nie Ying: “……”
The lackeys: …What a warrior.
