Old Master Qu chuckled lightly and said, “He may not be your son, but as long as he still holds a shred of usefulness, he is my own grandson. It’s just a pity—if he had been raised by my side since childhood, he would be much better than he is now.”
Qu Mou’s expression darkened completely, his fists clenching tightly. “Dad, he’s just a bastard. He should have died long ago. If it weren’t for my mother’s soft-heartedness back then, throwing him abroad, he would have been dead already. Why should we have to endure this humiliation?”
Old Master Qu’s expression remained unchanged. Watching Qu Mou’s furious face, he actually smiled. “Why are you so angry? I hold his Achilles’ heel in my hands. He’ll never be able to climb above me in this lifetime. Once Xiao Bai stabilizes his position in the company, I’ll naturally know what to do.”
Qu Mou still couldn’t swallow the anger in his heart and asked another question, “Dad, when are you going to bring that lunatic Qu Feng back? I’m always uneasy with him staying with Qu Xiao. He’ll definitely hire experts to examine him. Once he remembers everything, that madman Qu Xiao might do something unpredictable.”
At this point, Old Master Qu’s expression also turned serious. “Let’s bring him back next month during my birthday celebration. That way, it’ll be justified. If you go to fetch him now, Qu Xiao definitely won’t let him go.”
Qu Mou nodded and helped the old master out of the study.
His disgust for Qu Xiao was growing stronger by the day. Ever since he learned twenty-three years ago that that beast wasn’t his son, if others hadn’t stopped him, he would have strangled him with his own hands long ago.
…
Rose Garden.
The moment Qu Xiao entered, he saw Tang Huaining. Before he could call out “Aunt,” he noticed the man sitting beside her.
His footsteps halted, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
He had tried to visit him several times, but was always told he wouldn’t see him. Why would he appear here today?
Seeing Qu Xiao stop in his tracks, Liang Yan asked in confusion, “Brother, why did you stop?”
“Eh, Mom, why are you here too? Who’s that beside you?”
Liang Yan looked at his mother in surprise—she hadn’t told him she was coming.
Tang Huaining waved them over. “Come quickly. Let me introduce you—this is your eldest brother.”
Qu Xiao didn’t approach, but Liang Yan walked over in bewilderment. “Mom, is he your illegitimate child?”
Tang Huaining smacked him lightly. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Qu Xiao finally walked over, his gaze fixed on Tang Qingru’s face—it bore seventy percent resemblance to his own.
Tang Qingru also looked at him, though his own heart wasn’t calm either—this was his younger brother.
Just then, Gu Yan took off her apron and came over. “Dinner is ready.”
Hearing her voice, Qu Xiao turned his gaze to her and asked, “The guest you mentioned… is him?”
Gu Yan nodded. “Yes, he was my high school teacher.”
Qu Xiao simply stared at her, wondering if Gu Yan knew about the history between him and Tang Qingru.
He didn’t know whether she had intentionally arranged their meeting or inadvertently invited him home.
Gu Yan approached him and whispered, “Uncle Qu, I went to find him and asked him to come see you.”
She wanted to give him the familial love he craved most, so she had brought Tang Qingru to meet him.
Qu Xiao continued to look at her, unable to comprehend how Gu Yan could have known about these matters.
Gu Yan smiled as she looked at them. “Alright, let’s eat first. The food won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
Upon hearing this, Tang Huaining also pulled Tang Qingru to sit at the dining table.
The atmosphere during the meal was somewhat awkward. Liang Yan and Liang Yueran kept their eyes fixed on Tang Qingru because their mother kept serving him food.
Liang Yan directly put down his chopsticks and asked, “Mom, who exactly is he? Why do you say he’s my elder brother? Is he really your illegitimate child?”
At his question, Tang Huaining’s tears began to fall uncontrollably. “A-Yan, he is your cousin’s twin brother, and he is also your cousin.”
In an instant, everyone’s gaze fell upon Tang Qingru.
Qu Xiao’s eyes also settled on him—this was the person his mother had told him to find and protect at all costs.
He first learned he had a twin brother when he was seven years old, which was also the last time he saw his mother.
That day, everything seemed normal until Qu Mou, who despised him, started kicking and hitting him the moment he saw him.
If his mother hadn’t rushed out in time, he might have been beaten to death that day. He remembered later they were locked in the dark room.
That day, his mother told him he had an older brother who had been taken away by their grandmother. If he ever became capable, he must protect him and their aunt.
He eventually fell asleep in his mother’s arms from the pain. When he woke up, he saw his mother lying on the bed, her face deathly pale. They told him she had hanged herself in despair, and later he was thrown overseas.
The first thing he did upon returning was search for Tang Qingru, but the latter refused to meet him no matter what.
Sensing Qu Xiao’s emotional turmoil, Gu Yan reached out and held his hand, softly calling, “Uncle Qu.”
Qu Xiao’s face was pale as he turned to her and shook his head.
Tang Qingru sighed at this point. “To be honest, I didn’t want to see you, for many reasons.”
Qu Xiao’s voice was low. “I know. In your eyes, I’m not a good person.”
Tang Qingru looked at him and sighed softly again. “I just want to ask you one thing—do you use those substances?”
Qu Xiao shook his head. “I don’t use them, I don’t allow anyone around me to use them, I don’t sell them to Chinese people, and I don’t allow Chinese people into my turf.”
Tang Qingru looked at him, hesitating for a long time before asking, “Can you stop? Even if you only operate overseas, it’s still illegal.”
Liang Yan frowned and looked at him displeased. “You talk without understanding the situation. Do you know how many people want him dead? Do you realize he’ll be killed the moment he steps out of here without protection?”
The room fell silent.
Tang Huaining didn’t understand what they were talking about, but seeing the heavy atmosphere, she patted Liang Yan’s hand. “A-Yan, mind how you speak to your elder brother.”
Gu Yan also chimed in, “Alright, let’s eat first. We can discuss everything after the meal.”
Everyone ate in silence.
After the meal,
Qu Xiao and Tang Qingru went to the garden alone, not allowing anyone to accompany them.
Gu Yan watched their retreating figures with concern. Their values were different, and she didn’t know how things would turn out.
Liang Yan pulled Gu Yan aside, gripping her neck as he demanded, “Gu Yan, what tricks are you trying to pull now? What’s the meaning of suddenly producing this man?”
Gu Yan pushed him away with a frown, saying, “Liang Yan, have you lost your mind? Didn’t you hear your mother say it was your brother? What’s wrong with you?”
Liang Yan glanced in his mother’s direction and immediately ran over to press for answers.
Gu Yan took deep breaths, thinking he was nothing but a lunatic who needed to be taught a lesson someday.
In the garden.
Neither of them spoke until Tang Qingru finally broke the silence, “You must have had a tough time all these years.”
Qu Xiao replied indifferently, “It’s alright.”
Tang Qingru sighed, hesitating for a moment before calling out, “A Xiao.”
He reached out and hugged him, “I know you’ve suffered greatly. Just hearing what Gu Yan said today was unbearable for me, let alone the things she didn’t mention.”
Qu Xiao stiffened but maintained his posture, his voice hoarse, “I never intended to disturb you. But I promised Mom that once I became capable, I would find you and protect you properly.”
Hearing this, Tang Qingru could no longer hold back his tears.
As the older brother, he felt ashamed to hear his younger brother say he would protect him.
Yet it was the truth. He was just a high school teacher with no power to contend against the Qu Family, so he could only hide far away.
Qu Xiao gently pushed his shoulders away, “If you need anything, just tell me.”
Tang Qingru nodded. Even though they were twin brothers, they had never met before.
Meeting so suddenly, there wasn’t much to say.
They stood in silence for a while before Qu Xiao said, “The wind is picking up. Let’s go back inside.”
After returning to the house, Tang Qingru mentioned he had classes the next day and left first.
Qu Xiao didn’t try to keep him, only asking Yu Yang to drive him back.
Before leaving, Tang Qingru left his phone number, telling Qu Xiao to call him if needed.
After he left, Liang Yan also saw Tang Huaining and Liang Yueran home.
Qu Xiao looked at Gu Yan standing beside him and, without a word, took her hand and led her upstairs.
The room was quiet, and Qu Xiao didn’t turn on the lights.
He had intended to light a cigarette but put it back upon seeing Gu Yan nearby.
“How did you know about my relationship with him?” He no longer believed it was a coincidence. Tang Qingru had just told him that Gu Yan arranged their meeting.
Gu Yan sighed and walked over, “Xu Tao has been investigating you secretly. I heard him say before that you might be related to Teacher Tang, so I wanted to test it out today.”
Though her explanation seemed far-fetched, Qu Xiao didn’t press further. Gu Yan’s intentions were good; otherwise, she wouldn’t have personally sought out Tang Qingru to meet him.
He pulled her into his arms, taking a deep breath of the milky scent on her. Gu Yan loved drinking milk and often bathed in it, which left her with that fragrance.
Gu Yan gently patted his back, “Uncle Qu, you must have someone protect Teacher Tang. I’m afraid they might use him to threaten you later.”
“Alright,” Qu Xiao replied softly, holding her tighter.
…………
In the following days, Gu Yan became busy as well. She returned to school, though she had already learned everything in her previous life. Still, she had to go through the motions.
Apart from school hours, she spent the rest of her time handling matters at the Gu Corporation with her father.
Qu Xiao helped them repurchase the Gu Corporation and also lent Gu Xianzhe a sum of money, immediately signing the first contract with the Gu Corporation.
Gu Yan promptly contacted the former employees of the Gu Corporation, personally calling each one to arrange meetings and discuss matters with them.
She didn’t want to rely on Qu Xiao forever; she wanted to stand and walk alongside him as an equal. He was so outstanding—she couldn’t afford to hold him back.
In the café.
Sitting across from Gu Yan was the former manager of the Gu Corporation before its collapse. She looked at Gu Yan and said, “Miss Gu, rest assured. The Gu Corporation was the first company I worked for after entering society, and I have deep feelings for it. Now that the Gu Corporation has reopened, I’m willing to stand by the chairman and help him make a comeback.”
Gu Yan looked at her gratefully. “Sister Li, thank you for still being willing to believe in us.”
Li Qing smiled at her. “I still remember how I was rejected by many companies when I first applied for jobs. In the end, I met the chairman—he changed my fate. If it weren’t for him, I might have returned to my hometown, gotten married, had children, and become a housewife.”
“Actually, even if you hadn’t come to find me, I would have sought out the chairman myself.”
Hearing this, Gu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Li Qing had been her father’s right-hand woman; her return would surely make him very happy.
After seeing Li Qing off, Gu Yan was about to call and arrange the next meeting when suddenly an uninvited guest sat down across from her.
“Miss Gu, what a coincidence.”