Chapter 5: Returning to the Ancestral Line in Three Generations
As the temperature dropped, night fell much earlier. By the time they reached the school gates, the light was so dim that even the outlines of the buildings were hard to make out.
“Are you going to the banquet tonight?” the class monitor asked.
The car sent to pick Gu Yang up had already been waiting at the entrance. Gu Yang pulled open the door. “No.”
“Still so decisive.” The monitor looked at him helplessly. “I bet you’ve even forgotten what tonight is about.”
“I just don’t feel like going.”
“Go, go, go!” Yu Bai suddenly sprang out of nowhere and grabbed Gu Yang’s arm that was resting on the car door. “Why not? We’re welcoming a new classmate. Aren’t you being a bit too cold?”
“…Welcoming who?”
“Don’t you remember? The Lu family is hosting a welcome banquet for the twin brother they just brought back. It’s tonight—at my family’s hotel,” Ying Jiayi chimed in.
Gu Yang’s focus went sideways. “Again at your place? Your dad’s pretty enthusiastic.”
Ying Jiayi choked. She knew he didn’t mean anything by it, but that didn’t stop his words from landing like invisible daggers.
And she couldn’t even refute it. Ever since her father had fully taken over the Ying family business, for some reason he’d become increasingly eager to host events for others.
Honestly, she felt it was rather lowering their status…
“Yeah, yeah, that’s just how it is.” Ying Jiayi gave up struggling and hooked Gu Yang’s other arm. “So give me some face, Young Master?”
Held on both sides like a criminal under escort, Gu Yang seriously suspected that even if he refused, they would drag him there by force. “…Fine.”
He signaled to the driver with his eyes, tossed his backpack into the car, and shut the door.
Yu Bai and Ying Jiayi exchanged a look of triumph.
A banquet packed with social elites? That was bound to be a huge melon field. Of course they had to bring Gu Yang along and feast properly.
The venue was close to school, so they decided to walk. Along the way, they chatted.
“By the way, what’s the deal with that Lu family twin? If it weren’t for this banquet, I wouldn’t even know Lu Ran had a brother,” Yu Bai said curiously.
“I don’t know either. He just popped out of nowhere,” Ying Jiayi curled her lips. “They say he was sickly since childhood, so he was raised in the countryside and only brought back now.”
“Sickly and raised in the countryside?” Yu Bai couldn’t hold back. “Seriously? Medical care isn’t exactly convenient out there.”
“As if. I don’t buy it.” Ying Jiayi sneered. “Even if it were true, they wouldn’t have kept it completely secret all these years. I’ve never heard the Lu family had twins.”
“Then tonight’s guy is probably…” Yu Bai gave a knowing look. “You know… that kind of…”
“Enough.” The monitor interrupted gently. “He’ll be our classmate from now on. Don’t speculate before even meeting him.”
Only Gu Yang remained silent. He looked listless, completely different from the spirited mood he had at noon.
No one found it strange.
Because of their families’ business dealings, they were all part of the same social circle. They were used to Gu Yang’s fluctuating moods. In fact, this was his normal state.
When they arrived at the entrance, Gu Yang suddenly let out a soft “Ah,” as if remembering something.
“What’s wrong?” Ying Jiayi asked.
“Would it be inappropriate to go in empty-handed?”
“…” Ying Jiayi pressed her lips together. His emotional intelligence really came and went unpredictably. “It’s fine. I didn’t prepare anything either.”
The newly returned young master of the Lu family didn’t seem very well liked anyway.
With that, she pushed open the doors.
Quite a few guests had already arrived. Ying Jiayi pulled Gu Yang inside before he could continue fretting about gifts.
“Jiayi, you’re here.” Mrs. Ying walked over warmly after recognizing them. “Came together after school?”
“Auntie Ying,” Yu Bai greeted with a grin, showing his little tiger teeth.
The monitor also nodded politely, subtly tugging Gu Yang back from his wandering thoughts.
Gu Yang’s gaze fell on the double-wrapped jade bead necklace around her neck. “Auntie, this jade has excellent clarity.”
The woman before him was well maintained, her black hair neatly pinned up. She carried herself with elegance and gentleness.
“Really? Jiayi’s father bought it for me.” Mrs. Ying covered her mouth with a light laugh. “I don’t know much about these things, but since you say so, it must be good.”
“My mom isn’t interested in jewelry, but my dad insists on buying it. He says whether she likes it is one thing—his intention is another,” Ying Jiayi added. In a social circle where messy private lives were the norm, her parents’ harmonious marriage was practically legendary.
She quickly changed the subject. “Has the Lu family’s new son arrived yet?”
“Not yet. He should have been here by now. Maybe traffic?” Mrs. Ying shook her head. She noticed another lady nearby waiting for her with a wine glass.
“Oh, Jiayi, your father wants to speak with you. He’s over there.” She pointed in a direction, then told Gu Yang and the others, “You kids enjoy yourselves. There are desserts on the table. If there’s anything you want, just tell the staff.”
She left to attend to her guests.
“What could be so urgent that he needs me now?” Ying Jiayi muttered, but she had no choice except to head over.
The moment she left, someone else with a wine glass approached. The monitor picked up a cup of orange juice from a passing tray, patted Gu Yang’s shoulder, and smoothly led the person aside.
These banquets were essentially gatherings of polite hypocrisy. Gu Yang never liked attending.
Because once he did, someone would inevitably come over for awkward small talk.
The next second, he found himself face to face with Shen Mingjun.
Shen Mingjun clearly didn’t want to see him either, but was forced over by his parents. His smile was stiff, resistance obvious.
Gu Yang didn’t bother with him, responding perfunctorily to a few remarks from Shen’s father. It was the usual elder small talk. He had already summarized it into a mental template, capable of auto-playing polite replies even while zoning out.
His gaze fell on the dignified, smiling Mrs. Shen.
[So this is the mistress Shen Shan abandoned his first wife for?]
[If I remember right, her name is Zhou Yinyin.]
Shen Mingjun’s face changed drastically. A few unrestrained snickers sounded nearby.
He was about to speak when Shen Shan shot him a warning glare.
Even after leaving, Shen Mingjun’s heart was pounding wildly. Shen Shan, completely unaware of what had happened, looked displeased. “Do you have some conflict with that Gu boy?”
“N-no, nothing.” Shen Mingjun swallowed, pretending calm.
“Really? Your face looked like you were about to slap him. Do you think others are blind?” Shen Shan snapped. “I don’t care what happened. Fix it. Smooth things over with him.”
“Dad!” Shen Mingjun protested. “Why should I flatter him? What is Gu Yang anyway? Didn’t you say he won’t inherit the Gu Group?”
“So what? He’s still the eldest son of the Gu family. If I hadn’t gone to great lengths to get you into that school, you wouldn’t even qualify to stand near him.” Shen Shan sneered. “Even I can’t get a good look from him…”
“In short, I don’t care how you do it. Instead of wasting time chasing that Zheng girl, use your effort where it matters. The Zheng family isn’t qualified to be our stepping stone. I don’t want to realize I chose the wrong person.”
Exposed without mercy, Shen Mingjun nearly ground his teeth to dust—but he didn’t dare argue.
After Shen Shan left, his mother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t take it to heart. Your father has always spoken like that.”
Looking at the man’s retreating figure, she said softly, “He was like this when he was young. It’s only worse now.”
“If you knew, why marry someone like him?” Shen Mingjun said bitterly.
“Did I have a better choice?” Zhou Yinyin countered. Beautiful and well maintained, she didn’t look like she had a high school–aged son. Even her questioning expression carried a fragile charm. “Besides, it wasn’t just my choice. It was yours too.”
Shen Mingjun’s face darkened instantly.
Seeing this, Zhou Yinyin softened her tone. “You don’t have to reconcile with the Gu young master today. It can’t be rushed.”
“Your cousin A’Zhou is here too. You haven’t seen each other in a while. His grades are good—ask him about what you can’t manage.”
Grades. Even if someone had perfect grades, didn’t he still have to smile at Gu Yang?
Shen Mingjun said nothing, casting a venomous look toward Gu Yang in the distance, like a snake lying in wait.
“What’s wrong?” Yu Bai asked.
“Suddenly feels a bit cold. Is this hall drafty?” Gu Yang muttered.
“A cold front’s coming. It’ll drop sharply tonight. You didn’t wear enough.” Yu Bai handed him a cup of hot ginger tea.
“I told you I didn’t want to come. You guys dragged me here.” Gu Yang took it, warmth seeping into his palms. He lowered his head lazily for a sip. “Forced to chat with half-strangers—I’ve even lost my appetite.”
“You say that, but you didn’t see how Shen Shan looked at me when you weren’t around. Nostrils up in the air. I didn’t know he could speak so gently until just now,” Yu Bai grumbled. “Like father, like son.”
“Anyway, my family didn’t even get invited. If not for Jiayi, I couldn’t get in.” He slung an arm over Gu Yang’s shoulder. “If this were some melodramatic novel, I’d be mocked by idle vicious side characters and have a total breakdown.”
“You’ll be fine. Your skin’s thick.” Gu Yang brushed his arm away—only to be surrounded again by others coming to greet him.
Ying Jiayi returned with a dark expression. Out of friendship, Yu Bai immediately asked what happened.
“My dad.” She vented irritably. “I went to find him—he was chatting with someone.”
“Guess what I heard? He’s somehow decided to arrange a match for me.”
“What? Pressuring marriage this early?” Yu Bai was stunned. “Does your family follow some feudal code?”
“I can’t even be bothered to complain. Other parents worry about high school puppy love. He can’t wait to tie me down.”
“And the guy he picked is apparently also a high school student. No idea where he saw ‘strong ability.’ He even said he’d feel secure handing the company to him in the future. I’ve seen him at home a few times—my dad’s high school classmate’s son. I didn’t think much of it then.”
“Am I dead or something? Why find a man to manage my company?”
“Your dad’s really something,” Yu Bai said. “So what now?”
“I don’t know. I was too annoyed and came back.”
“Wait…” Yu Bai’s eyes lit up. He dragged Gu Yang over and wrapped an arm around him.
“You know? Jiayi’s parents set her up with a blind date named Yu Zhou. She fell in love at first sight, swore she’d marry no one else, and plans to major in home economics to become his virtuous wife—washing and cooking while supporting his great career.”
“She even said when they get married, we’ll sit at the main table and witness their beautiful love story.”
Gu Yang’s previously indifferent expression shifted.
He looked confused for a few seconds, then stared at Ying Jiayi as if he’d seen a ghost. His expression gradually returned to cold disdain. Finally, he offered a flat “Congratulations.”
Ying Jiayi: “…”
Damn it. So infuriating.
She knew exactly what Yu Bai was doing. A few seconds later, the voice she had anticipated sounded.
[Yu Zhou…]
[Isn’t he just some guy scheming to marry up and live off a rich wife? Is Ying Jiayi blind to like someone like that? She really should get her eyes checked.]
Before she could get angry about being mocked, Ying Jiayi’s eyes sharpened.
Marry up?
[Her mom picked a guy who married up too. Does bad taste in men run in the family?]
Ying Jiayi frowned. Her father had indeed come from a humble background, while her mother was the heiress of the Ying Group. When her mother first made the relationship public, most in their circle had been skeptical.
Even after her father proved himself over time, gossip had never ceased.
But marriage was something managed behind closed doors. As long as she knew her father was a good husband and father, that was enough.
Seeing her expression, Yu Bai laughed awkwardly. He’d been reckless—should’ve tested this in private. Instead, he’d practically put her on public trial in a room full of acquaintances.
[This Yu Zhou is something else. He even dared to say “return to the ancestral line in three generations.”]
[He suggested that the child he and Ying Jiayi would have—that is, the grandson of a live-in son-in-law—should take the son-in-law’s surname Liu, to compensate for the regret of having no descendants to carry on that family line.]
[…Impressive.]
