Chapter 32: He Can’t Join Class Eleven
“You—”
Second Granduncle raised a trembling hand and pointed at Gu Yang. His old face flushed deep red, and after a long while he still couldn’t get a full sentence out.
His expression was tinged with horror.
He desperately wanted to ask: How did you know?
He hadn’t told a single soul.
Could it be that this cheap grandnephew had been lurking in some corner last night, secretly spying on him?
But the place he’d had his little… outdoor escapade was clearly the garden of his own private courtyard. Had the boy grown a heavenly eye or something?
He liked excitement, sure—but he wasn’t that shameless!
Otherwise what would that make him? No different from public indecency! Utterly disgraceful!
Gu Yang turned his head toward the other elder.
Great Granduncle’s originally inquisitive, spectating gaze instantly froze.
Gu Yang had initially wanted to tell him that his granddaughter liked women and his grandson liked men.
But, thoughtfully, he decided not to out other people casually.
Instead, he spoke again:
“You donate every day to a fifty-something female livestreamer. You’re already her top supporter.”
In an instant, all the probing looks shifted to Great Granduncle.
His old face reddened—but he didn’t utter a word.
Because it was true.
But so what?
With the thickness of a city wall, Great Granduncle steadied himself.
He had lived to this age, earned more than enough money, enjoyed a harmonious family. His son and daughter-in-law were filial, his grandchildren outstanding. His only remaining wish was to hold a great-grandchild before he closed his eyes.
He had kept himself clean his whole life—what was wrong with tipping a livestreamer in his old age?
It wasn’t like he was harassing young girls. That anchor, “Most Beautiful Sunset,” melted his heart whenever she smiled sweetly and called him “big brother.”
Who could resist that?
“You probably don’t know,” Gu Yang smiled at him, “that female livestreamer is actually an old man cross-dressing.”
“How is that possible?!” Great Granduncle blurted out in shock. “How could Sister Sunset be a man?!”
His beard trembled in fury.
This was outrageous slander!
That figure, that shy, moving smile—how could that possibly…
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something. He fell into deep thought.
Gu Yang shifted his gaze to Third Granduncle.
Before a word was spoken, Third Granduncle was already nervous.
He gave Gu Yang a meek, placating smile.
You’ve scolded them—don’t scold me too, alright?
Since this one hadn’t acted up today, Gu Yang decided to let him off.
Meanwhile, Second Granduncle had pieced everything together. He lifted his head in anger.
The private courtyard where it happened last night—was a property gifted to him by Gu Yuhui.
Cameras!
There must have been surveillance cameras installed!
Just because he had opposed Gu Yuhui’s proposal at last month’s board meeting, the man had harbored resentment and set up such a trap—
Without even acting personally. Using a junior as a weapon against him, hiding his merit and fame.
This brat was terrifying.
He was nothing like the hot-headed youth from back then who would clash with them over an irrelevant woman.
Thinking of the high-definition incriminating footage in Gu Yuhui’s hands, Second Granduncle’s face turned even uglier.
His wife had already passed away—but if this got exposed, how could he face his children?
“Yuhui.” Second Granduncle cleared his throat and forced a smile.
“Second Uncle.” Gu Yuhui returned to his senses and smiled faintly. “Xiao Yang is still a child. He speaks nonsense without thinking. You’re his elder—please, for my sake, don’t take it to heart.”
He had actually been quite entertained listening to the gossip. When he thought things might escalate, he immediately stepped in to smooth it over.
But to Second Granduncle’s ears, there was an extra layer of meaning.
A threat.
In other words: Today it came from a child’s mouth. No one will take it seriously. There’s still room for maneuver between us.
If you don’t behave, who knows how it’ll leak next time—no matter how senior you are.
“Of course, of course. We’re family—why make things difficult?” Second Granduncle squeezed out a smile on his bark-like face.
Gu Yuhui was surprised at how cooperative the old fossil was today—but he hadn’t forgotten his real purpose.
He invited the three elders into his study.
Third Granduncle was eager to escape Gu Yang’s line of sight.
Second Granduncle didn’t dare refuse.
Great Granduncle remained deep in contemplation.
Though Gu Yuhui now fully controlled the Gu Corporation, he couldn’t act arbitrarily. His aggressive one-year expansion plan had already been unanimously opposed by the board.
He had invited them today to play the emotional card—persuading them from within.
All stubborn veterans. Who knew how smoothly it would go?
Before leaving, he cast Gu Yang a meaningful glance.
Even he hadn’t known about such hidden matters. How had they been discovered?
…As expected of her child.
After the room emptied, Gu Qingxu—who had been background decoration—felt much more at ease.
Resting his elbow on the sofa back, he leaned forward and studied Gu Yang, who was still half-reclined.
“The people who came today are all grandfather-generation. Even Father calls them ‘Uncle.’” He smiled. “You really dared to say all that.”
He only mentioned seniority, not that these elders were also board members with significant influence.
After all, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Gu Yuhui always let Gu Yang cause a scene—never scolded him.
Thinking of that, Gu Qingxu’s smile deepened.
He reached out to pet the cat in Gu Yang’s arms.
The previously docile ragdoll suddenly hissed and swatted him, leaving a pale mark on his hand.
Gu Qingxu didn’t get angry. He laughed.
“Your classmate Lu Ran… seems to be hospitalized again?”
Finding common ground, he continued casually.
“I heard some rumors. About how the Lu family’s ‘new young master’ is actually their biological son—switched at birth with Lu Ran?”
Since it had been mentioned in Class Eleven, it spreading wasn’t surprising.
“If that’s true, the real young master had it rough. Born into wealth but wasted so many years. The Lu family still won’t give him justice.” Gu Qingxu narrowed his eyes. “But if it’s truly his fate, no matter how long he’s buried, he’ll reclaim it eventually.”
Gu Yang tilted his head back slightly to look at him.
Why are you resonating so hard?
The cat in his arms finally couldn’t tolerate it. With a loud meow, it launched itself like a small cannonball and knocked a bunch of things off the table on its way.
—
Song Yinxing stood outside his mother’s hospital room.
He only needed one glance.
He knew she had a terminal illness. One year of life was still one year. In his previous life, because of Nie Ying, he had missed the college entrance exam—triggering a chain reaction that led to her early death.
As long as she was still alive, regret could still be reversed.
He didn’t look suitable to go in—someone might notice something off.
Just as he was about to leave, he ran into the caregiver.
“Aunt Lin,” he called softly.
“Oh! Xiao Song? Why are you standing out here? Why not go in?” she asked in surprise. “What happened to your hand? And your face?”
“I fell. Just pretend you didn’t see. My mom’s asleep—be quiet when you go in.”
Caregivers didn’t interfere in employers’ affairs. She nodded and said nothing more.
Song Yinxing watched her go in, expression indifferent.
Objectively speaking, Lin Chunmei had never wronged them in her capacity as a hired caregiver.
After learning about their family’s situation, she had even poured out her own grievances—how her husband was also a gambler. She lamented that she didn’t have such a filial son; hers had grown into an ungrateful bastard.
By appearances, she seemed honest and simple.
Who could have imagined she’d be crazy enough to swap her newborn child with that of a wealthy madam?
He only learned of it eight years after graduating high school.
The scandal had exploded back then, retold by Nie Ying as a joke.
When the truth surfaced, the fake young master—who had enjoyed resources for years and already held a key position in the Lu Corporation—was thrust into the storm.
Meanwhile, the low-profile real young master was rammed into the ICU by a middle-aged woman days later.
“That woman was Lu Ran’s biological mother. I almost admire her. Too bad Lu Ji’s life was tough—she ended up ruining herself instead.”
Thinking of it, disgust flickered in Song Yinxing’s eyes.
Lu Ji had been his classmate. They hadn’t interacted much. Years later, hearing his name again under such circumstances—
Inside the ward, Lin Chunmei suddenly froze, staring at something.
Song Yinxing followed her gaze.
A boy in Guanli High’s uniform walked past.
Sharp features. Gloom settled between his brows. At first glance, not someone who invited goodwill.
In simpler terms: he looked like someone with a bitter fate.
Lin Chunmei’s lips drooped slightly.
Beside him walked a married couple.
The little bastard’s biological parents.
Mrs. Lu tried to make conversation.
Her husband was serious and rigid; the only one he chatted with properly was Lu Zheng. This delicate matter had to be handled by her.
But forcing conversation was exhausting.
Whenever she felt that way, she couldn’t help but think of Ranran.
Sweet-tongued, lively—always making the household burst into laughter.
She knew the comparison was unfair.
Her biological child had suffered outside for years. How could she demand more?
At the ward door, she paused and glanced at her husband.
They had discussed it. Living under one roof, this stalemate couldn’t continue.
Ranran was spoiled—it was unrealistic to expect him to compromise.
If they brought Xiao Ji around more, showed goodwill, surely Ranran would soften.
She pushed the door open.
Lu Ran, who had been sitting up with bright eyes, froze the moment he saw Lu Ji’s face.
The couple pretended not to notice.
“Xiao Ji kept saying at home he hadn’t seen Ranran in a while and wanted to visit,” Mrs. Lu smiled.
Lu Ji frowned slightly—but didn’t refute her.
He couldn’t reject Mrs. Lu’s pleading expression.
Lu Ran sneered. “Probably hoping I’d be gone.”
“Hey.” Mr. Lu intervened quickly. “We’re family. Of course we should be together. Your second brother cares about you.”
“Yes, yes.” Mrs. Lu chimed in. “Xiao Ji mentions you often. Says he hopes you recover soon. He’s missed you these past few days.”
“Ha?” Lu Ran scoffed.
He was about to retort—then suddenly paused.
He remembered Gu Yang’s inner voice from that day in class.
His gaze turned strange.
Silently, he examined Lu Ji from head to toe, as if seeing him anew.
The couple exchanged a pleased glance, thinking their words had worked.
Mrs. Lu seized the moment.
“Ranran, I still think Xiao Ji should transfer to your class. That way you can look out for each other. He’s new—unfamiliar with things. You can guide him. And with your episodes lately, having him there would reassure us. Alright?”
What they didn’t expect—
Lu Ran, whose mood had been sinking—
reacted like he’d seen a ghost.
“No. He absolutely cannot come to Class Eleven!”
