Chapter 44: More Than Just a Tutor and Gu Yang
When he heard those words, Song Yinxing’s eyes widened slightly, a trace of astonishment flashing across his face.
After throwing out that bargaining chip, Gu Qingxu stopped speaking. Saying more would only lower his standing. He simply looked at Song Yinxing with a faint, knowing smile.
He had already investigated Song Yinxing’s background. His family was a complete mess—especially that gambling father, like a bottomless pit.
That made things easier. Problems that could be solved with money were never truly problems.
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,” Song Yinxing replied coldly. “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
“When you came to our house the other day, did you see that Ragdoll cat?”
Seeing him turn to leave, Gu Qingxu spoke casually. “Back then, when Gu Yang wanted to raise it, the family hired a nanny just to take care of the cat. Eight thousand a month.”
Song Yinxing fell silent. Mentioning the cat made him recall that day.
But he had no particular reaction. He didn’t feel entitled to control other people’s money.
Gu Qingxu wasn’t bringing it up because he cared about the expense. If Gu Yang wanted to raise it, then so be it. That wasn’t the issue.
Maintaining his polite smile, Gu Qingxu recalled the way his father usually spoke to others and mimicked that tone, intending to completely suppress the restless heart in front of him.
“As long as Gu Yang is happy, we can raise that cat until it dies of old age. It’s not much money.”
“But for you, that should be quite a significant expense, right? After all, your family doesn’t even have a working adult or stable income.”
He spoke slowly. By the final sentence, he no longer concealed his meaning.
“After Gu Yang graduates high school, we’ll probably send him abroad to study art. He’s interested in jewelry, which happens to be within our group’s scope. If he wants, he can become an art director at the company, or I can invest for him to open his own studio.”
Yes. None of that mattered.
He didn’t mind supporting Gu Yang—so long as Gu Yang behaved and played the decorative role well.
In the future.
Song Yinxing froze momentarily.
He thought of his previous life.
There had once been a long stretch of time when Nie Ying stopped targeting him.
Instead of relaxing, his nerves had grown tighter. He feared something even worse was brewing.
Until one day, he saw a news notification.
The president of Feili Jewelry had died from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Feili Jewelry—a brand founded during the Republican era—had weathered countless storms and stood firm for decades. Initially focused on jade, it later expanded into all types of jewelry as it grew.
And Feili Jewelry was only the visible tip of the Gu Group. A deeper search revealed many other product lines rooted in various industries.
The comment section beneath the news was filled with speculation about the young deceased head of the Gu family—and the family itself.
Gu Qingxu was dead.
It took Song Yinxing several seconds to process the information. This wasn’t just someone in the news to him.
They had attended the same high school. Because of Nie Ying, they had crossed paths occasionally.
Unlike the temperamental Nie Ying, Gu Qingxu appeared cultured and refined. He would smile and greet him politely, never once uttering a word of direct humiliation.
But Song Yinxing knew.
That was simply because Gu Qingxu didn’t consider him worth the effort.
He scrolled through comments.
Some speculated the accident wasn’t accidental at all—it smelled of a wealthy family power struggle.
That theory wasn’t baseless.
For a family at the Gu family’s level, keeping everything completely hidden was impossible.
Besides the current head, there was also an eldest son.
That eldest son had never appeared publicly. There was little information about him online—only that he had attended a prestigious private high school domestically, then went abroad after graduation and never held any key position in the group upon returning.
The biggest topic surrounding him was his mysterious background. After all, dramatic gossip always attracted attention.
Some guessed that perhaps this controversial eldest son would be the next to take power—after all, he was the only remaining direct heir.
But events unfolded unexpectedly.
Not long after, Feili Jewelry underwent major shareholding changes and was acquired by the Nie Group.
Selling off a brand that accounted for over 30% of the group’s revenue and held significant domestic and international influence was baffling. The Nie family’s sudden forceful intervention only fueled speculation.
But at that point, the Gu family no longer had anyone capable of stabilizing the situation. The collateral branches were busy calculating their own gains amid the chaos.
Nie Ying once again had time to see him.
That wasn’t a good thing.
At the time, Song Yinxing was focused solely on survival and had no interest in inquiring about the Gu family.
He had never liked Gu Qingxu, and he wouldn’t let curiosity put him in a worse position.
Over a week later, Nie Ying told him something else.
Gu Yang was dead.
As if worried he wouldn’t remember, Nie Ying thoughtfully explained—it was the young man from the club, the one who had mentioned an SM club when they first reunited.
“You haven’t forgotten him, right? He even helped you out. Otherwise, you really would’ve had to kneel and lick the floor that day,” Nie Ying joked lightly.
Nearly a year had passed since that day. Too much had happened.
At some point, Nie Ying’s attitude toward him had gradually shifted. Years in the business world had dulled some of his edges. Without the overt insults, he sometimes even treated Song Yinxing like an old friend.
But Song Yinxing only looked at him coldly.
He had no Stockholm syndrome. He wasn’t so cheap as to feel grateful just because someone in power showed him a bit of kindness.
He remembered every scar inflicted by his abuser.
And precisely because of that, even the smallest ray of light in the darkness made him desperately want to hold onto it.
He asked Nie Ying how Gu Yang died.
“Suicide. Slit his wrists in his bathtub at home. By the time they found him, his body was already cold.”
Why had Gu Yang killed himself?
Because of Gu Qingxu’s death? Or because the Gu family was declining?
For some reason, Song Yinxing didn’t think the reason was so straightforward.
He remembered what Gu Yang had said in that room.
“So you understand now? Just because you attended the same school doesn’t mean you’re qualified to stand beside him. You’ve never belonged to the same world.”
Gu Qingxu delivered that cruel conclusion.
Song Yinxing lowered his head, long bangs hiding his expression.
Gu Qingxu smiled faintly, satisfied with the attitude displayed.
Just as he was about to continue, the sound of approaching leather shoes interrupted him.
Gu Qingxu turned.
Ying Jiayi.
“Gu Qingxu? What are you doing in the third-year classroom?”
The long-haired girl asked calmly. Compared to the once transparent, straightforward young lady she used to be, she now carried a steadier air.
Gu Qingxu merely smiled.
He didn’t see why he couldn’t be here.
Ying Jiayi’s protective stance toward Song Yinxing was obvious. She and Gu Yang were classmates—her motive needed no explanation.
“This isn’t Senior Ying Jiayi? Long time no see.” After weighing it, Gu Qingxu gave her face. “Looks like your family matters are mostly resolved. Congratulations.”
He had been following the Ying family’s affairs. Liu Chaoyin had been kicked out with nothing and was facing legal action. The Ying Group was back under Old Master Ying’s management.
If nothing unexpected happened, Ying Jiayi would likely be the first of their generation to take over.
“I was just chatting with Senior Song. We’re about done, so I’ll be going.”
He left decisively but added before departing, “My offer still stands. Come find me if you change your mind.”
Song Yinxing raised his head, watching his departing figure thoughtfully.
“What did that Gu guy say to you?” Ying Jiayi asked.
“Nothing much.” Song Yinxing shook his head. “Thank you for stepping in.”
He knew of her. In his previous life, he hadn’t interacted with her in school, but he’d heard gossip later—she married poorly, her marriage a disaster.
Her husband had entered the Ying Group and quickly taken an important position.
He was someone Song Yinxing knew from middle school.
So many things were different now.
Shen Mingjun and Ding Ziyu had been expelled. Nie Ying’s identity as the housekeeper’s son had been exposed. The truth about the Lu twins had surfaced.
Who changed all this?
…Gu Yang?
If so, could he change his own fate too?
Ying Jiayi sighed inwardly. She wasn’t optimistic about Song Yinxing and Gu Yang.
“You’ve seen it. If you two want to be together, there’ll only be more resistance in the future.”
“Be together?” Song Yinxing frowned. “I think you’ve misunderstood. Gu Yang and I aren’t—”
“I dislike men who lack responsibility,” Ying Jiayi cut in, then softened her tone. “Don’t overthink it. Gu Yang acts like he doesn’t care about anything. That’s just his nature.”
She paused, then added sincerely, “But he really is different with you. I haven’t seen him smile that happily in a long time.”
Song Yinxing froze briefly.
He recalled the times Gu Yang had laughed freely in front of him.
So… he didn’t usually smile like that?
—
Back in Class Eleven, Ying Jiayi felt as if she had returned to another world.
After exchanging greetings, she went to submit her leave report with He Ming’an.
On her way out, she poked Gu Yang, who was lying on his desk.
“I’m finally back. Did you miss me, Gu Yang?”
Gu Yang lifted his head slightly, resting his chin on his arm.
The girl before him smiled brightly. Though recent upheavals had tempered her, her youthful vitality remained unmistakable.
She was born favored by heaven. Nothing could bind her now. She would not wither in darkness—she would grow toward the light.
For the first time, Gu Yang felt something vivid.
A small piece of light appeared in his gray world.
Like dead wood meeting spring.
The corner of his lips curved upward unconsciously. Sunlight streamed in, falling on his gray eyes, softening them.
“Mm. Welcome back.”
Ying Jiayi stood stunned.
After a few seconds, she finally recovered. “I’ll go hand in the report first. We’ll talk later.”
—
After finishing at the administration office, she mentioned casually, “By the way, I saw Gu Qingxu come to talk to Song Yinxing earlier. It looked like he was telling him to stay away from Gu Yang.”
“Is that so?” He Ming’an’s expression turned thoughtful before he smiled gently. “I understand. I’ll keep an eye on it.”
Ying Jiayi trusted He Ming’an’s reliability.
With that, she set the small episode aside.
