A few days later, Mu Luoming had gathered a significant amount of information. After Gu Yulan received the news and the two of them finished their meal, he took Xie Yizhou along to Mu Luoming’s office.
Gu Yulan pushed open the door and called out, “Uncle.”
“Come in, have a seat.”
Hearing Gu Yulan’s form of address, Xie Yizhou looked over in surprise. This was the first time he had met the man. Having fallen into a deep sleep after the accident last time, he had no memory of him. He observed carefully and noticed that the area around Mu Luoming’s eyes and brows was very similar to Gu Yulan’s, carrying a natural sharp edge.
Xie Yizhou paused, beginning to recall that Mu Luoming had appeared once in the original text. However, that time was when Gu Yulan attended his funeral after the car accident. From the fragments of conversation between others, he learned that Mu Luoming had passed away from cancer. The blow of losing his relative caused the recently injured Gu Yulan to become decadent, spiraling into daily alcoholism. It was also because of Mu Luoming’s passing that Gu Yulan lost his most important protective umbrella.
Suddenly, a hand waved in front of his eyes. Xie Yizhou snapped back to reality and looked at Gu Yulan, who had a rather foul expression.
“Is he that good looking? Your eyes are about to fall out.”
Gu Yulan’s eyes narrowed. From the moment they entered the door, the boy’s eyes had been entirely fixed on Mu Luoming, with a gaze so focused one would think he was looking at a rare treasure. This inevitably made him overthink. He could help the boy find a suitable partner later, but his uncle was notoriously unrestrained, with a long string of lovers. If the boy leaned in, he would be eaten alive until not even the bone fragments remained. Was it not better for the boy to just like him first?
Mu Luoming, of course, had no idea that in his nephew’s eyes, he was an incorrigible scoundrel. Xie Yizhou did not know what kind of fit Gu Yulan was throwing. He lowered his eyes and took out his phone to type two words: “Good looking.”
Mu Luoming was indeed handsome, a man in a sharp, well tailored suit with a beautiful face and a high bridge of the nose. His aura was one of sharpness and coldness. The moment Gu Yulan saw those two words, he knew Xie Yizhou was deliberately trying to upset him. Simultaneously, it further confirmed the thoughts in his heart, and his brows knit together.
That damn fickle little mute. Had he fallen for someone else that quickly?
Mindful of Mu Luoming’s presence, he could not directly tell the boy that his uncle was a bad choice. Instead, he said, skirting the issue, “Are you intentionally going against me?”
Hearing this, Xie Yizhou simply looked at the suddenly angry Gu Yulan with a strange expression. He raised his eyelids, turned his head, and put on an air of absolute refusal to admit it. Seeing the boy’s refusal to communicate face, Gu Yulan’s anger surged. He was doing this for the boy’s own good!
Fine; the little mute certainly knew how to annoy people.
On the side, Mu Luoming arched an eyebrow. Although he did not know what was happening, he was quite happy to see Gu Yulan suffer a setback. To be able to easily provoke Gu Yulan’s temper while remaining indifferent, the boy truly had some skill. Of course, he could not just watch the two of them argue, so he handed the documents to Gu Yulan and then said to the boy, “Little friend, why don’t you go sit outside for a bit? I have something to discuss with Gu Yulan.”
Hearing the voice, Xie Yizhou turned back and opened his lips slightly. “Okay.”
His speech was hurried and his pitch was a bit off. However, the pronunciation was very clear. Through his speech rehabilitation practice during this period, he had already learned a few individual syllables. Xie Yizhou walked directly outside.
Gu Yulan watched the boy’s retreating back with a trace of resentment in his gaze. He had been the one accompanying him in practice every day; even if there was no credit, there was hard work involved. Yet now, Mu Luoming’s words carried more weight than his own.
Once the boy had left, Gu Yulan glanced at Mu Luoming and said with hidden meaning, “I remember you saying before, Uncle, that there are some red lines one should not cross.”
Mu Luoming was stunned for a moment, but he quickly caught the drift. How did this sound so sour? He could not help but burst into laughter. Hearing the laughter, Gu Yulan felt a surge of shame and anger.
“Uncle!”
Receiving Gu Yulan’s accusatory look, Mu Luoming indicated he was innocent. He had done nothing and said nothing, so how did the fire spread to him? “Alright, I will stop laughing. Let us talk business.” Mu Luoming laughed until tears came out.
He cleared his throat and said, “These past few days, I started the investigation with the driver responsible for the accident. His autopsy report is out. The forensic doctor found a high concentration of alcohol in the driver’s stomach and discovered he had primary liver cancer, which was already in its late stages.”
Gu Yulan flipped through the documents, his expression gradually becoming solemn.
“A month ago, he left the hospital to receive conservative treatment. Not long after returning home, he divorced his wife. The child was awarded to the ex-wife, who then ran off with someone else, taking the child abroad. His ex wife fled to Country S. Just a week before your accident, I found that a sum of overseas remittance appeared in her account.”
Gu Yulan finished reading all the materials and placed them back on the desk. “So, this was a long premeditated murder for hire. Who exactly spent so much effort to put me to death?”
“Do you usually offend anyone?”
Gu Yulan thought back and shook his head. He basically had not gone out to play during this period. Although his personality was a bit arrogant and domineering, it was not a capital offense. Moreover, those few thugs he dealt with before did not have the capability to pull off something like this. So, who hated him this much?
“Continue the investigation. I have a feeling the person behind the scenes will show their tracks soon.”
With the business concluded, Mu Luoming looked at the nephew who was almost as tall as he was. Recalling how Gu Yulan was just provoked by the deaf mute boy and had nowhere to vent his anger, he could not help but tease, “Gu Yulan, I thought you had grown up. Why are you still like a child?”
Gu Yulan instantly bristled. “What do you mean I am like a child? Uncle, I told you before, the little mute has a big temper. You did not believe it then, but now you have seen it for yourself.”
He began to list the boy’s faults. Mu Luoming shook his head, smiling without a word. He winked at Gu Yulan. “Is praising me not the same as praising you?”
Since ancient times, the nephew takes after the uncle.
Ah? Gu Yulan was stunned, then it clicked. Thinking about it, it did seem to be the case. He met Mu Luoming’s teasing gaze, and his cheeks flushed red. Suddenly speechless, he said hurriedly and flusteredly, “That, Uncle, if there is nothing else, I will head out first.”
Gu Yulan ran out immediately; it was simply too embarrassing. However, once he was out, he did not see the boy’s figure. His heart panicked, and he hurriedly ran out to look.
At this moment, Xie Yizhou was lying on the grass outside, sleeping comfortably. He felt the warmth of the sun on his body and smelled the faint scent of green grass. To change Gu Yulan’s original fate, it would be best for Mu Luoming to survive.
As he was thinking, a shadow suddenly fell across his face. A faint scent of mint drifted into his nose. He snapped his eyes open and met a pair of sharp eyes, leaving him slightly stunned.
Gu Yulan said, breathing slightly hard, “Why did you run here without saying a word? Do you know how long I have been looking for you?”
Xie Yizhou got up immediately. He saw that Gu Yulan’s nose was covered in fine beads of sweat and his chest was heaving, looking as if he had come in a rush. Xie Yizhou realized he had indeed forgotten to tell him. It was his fault, and if he was wrong, he should apologize.
To express his apology, he took out a tissue and reached out to help the other man wipe the sweat from his nose and forehead. He wiped very carefully, his gaze falling on the man’s handsome nose, counting the long eyelashes one by one.
Gu Yulan did not expect the boy to directly use his hands. His body went stiff instantly. He even smelled a faint scent of shampoo, floral with a hint of fruit, a sweet and sour scent. The expression on his face instantly fractured.
Once Gu Yulan regained his senses, he hurriedly backed up a few steps, his eyes wide. The little mute was now starting to touch him directly. He took a deep breath and forgot why he was angry in an instant. He just stared for a while, held it in for a long time, and finally spat out a few words as a warning: “You, forget it. Anyway, next time, you are not allowed to get this close to me without my permission.”
But as soon as he said it, he wondered if his words were too harsh, so he added, “You do not need to take care of me like this. Usually, the older brother takes care of the younger brother. This of yours is an act of insubordination, challenging the authority of your elder.”
Xie Yizhou blinked, a flash of confusion in his eyes. He did not understand the words Gu Yulan was saying. However, he also did not like others getting so close to him. Xie Yizhou nodded immediately, indicating his understanding.
Seeming to remember something from earlier, Gu Yulan could not help but remind him, “My uncle has always lived abroad, so his thinking is quite open, and he plays quite hard. He has a lot of lovers, both men and women.”
Xie Yizhou did not know why Gu Yulan was suddenly telling him this, but it had nothing to do with him anyway, so he just listened quietly. As Gu Yulan spoke, he carefully observed the boy’s expression. Seeing that the other did not seem to care, he let out a sudden sigh of relief.
Crisis averted.
He said lightheartedly, “Then let us go. We still have speech rehabilitation practice today.”
When they arrived at the classroom, Mao Fang was already waiting there. She looked at Xie Yizhou and said in a gentle tone, “Today we will still start with tongue exercises, and then practice yesterday’s content.”
After Xie Yizhou finished demonstrating the content taught yesterday, he even said a few simple words that Gu Yulan had taught him the day before. Mao Fang opened her eyes wide in surprise and praised him, “That is really wonderful. To make such fast progress in such a short amount of time, you are the fastest learner among all the students I have taught.”
“Did you practice many times?” Mao Fang then looked at Gu Yulan. “It has been hard on you, Brother. Without your hard work and dedication, it would be impossible to progress this quickly.”
Teaching a deaf mute person to pronounce is not an easy task. The pronunciation of almost every word requires someone to teach it one by one, a process that is both tedious and difficult. She had not expected this tall, handsome young man to be so responsible toward his brother.
Gu Yulan’s face instantly turned red from the praise. He looked at the obedient boy beside him and said politely, “I only taught him a few times; it was all his own hard work.”
After the two chatted for a while, Xie Yizhou soon began his studies for the day. Once it was over, Gu Yulan stayed behind to help him practice. He looked at the boy who was studying seriously and suddenly said, “I will teach you a new word.”
A mint candy then suddenly appeared in his hand. “This is the reward for learning it.”
The moment Xie Yizhou saw the mint candy, his eyes lit up. Thinking of the cool, sweet taste, his mouth could not help but salivate. He swallowed and nodded immediately in agreement. “Okay.”
Gu Yulan then reached out and grabbed the boy’s fingertips, gently placing them against his own throat to make it easier to feel the vibration of the vocal cords.
“Follow me: Ge.”
Gu Yulan’s voice was low and pleasant. It traveled along the vibrating vocal cords and through the fingertips, making Xie Yizhou’s finger pad feel slightly numb. It was a very strange feeling. He looked at Gu Yulan’s slightly parted lips and slowly opened his own mouth.
“Ge.”
Hearing this, Gu Yulan immediately gave a smiling response. “Right, let us continue.”
“Ge.”
Xie Yizhou said it again, his gaze falling on Gu Yulan’s hand.
Gu Yulan said, “By the way, from now on, you follow me in calling him Uncle.” He had to eliminate all possibilities. After all, the nephew is like the uncle.
Xie Yizhou was stunned for a moment, then said, “Okay.”
Just as the words fell, a sudden sweetness filled his mouth, and the cool mint flavor spread throughout his oral cavity. He squinted his eyes happily.
After several days of salvage, there was still no discovery. Gu Qishan furrowed his brows tightly upon hearing the news; he had not slept for several days.
Knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, his office door was knocked. He closed his eyes. “Come in.”
Upon hearing the voice, Zhou Yichen walked straight in, then locked the door behind him. He looked up at Gu Qishan, who was resting with his eyes closed. He gently placed the coffee in his hand on the desk. A trace of worry appeared in Zhou Yichen’s eyes, and he advised in a warm voice, “Chairman, you should go and rest for a bit. Young Master Gu will surely be fine. If you collapse from exhaustion, he will be sad and heartbroken when he finds out.”
Gu Qishan rubbed his forehead, shook his head, and said, “I am fine. It has been hard on you with the company matters during this period.”
“It is what I should do; it is my responsibility.”
Gu Qishan opened his eyes and looked at the refined and gentle man before him, letting out a sigh. “I asked you to join the company to help Yulan before, do you feel wronged?”
“With your ability, you could have better development elsewhere.”
Zhou Yichen did not know why Gu Qishan said this, and a well-timed look of surprise appeared on his face. “How could that be?”
He shook his head and said with a bitter smile, “I am doing this voluntarily.”
“Have you not always known what I wanted? What I crave has never been fame or fortune.”
Zhou Yichen’s eyes suddenly reddened as his long-suppressed emotions finally erupted. “What I crave is just a sliver of the fatherly love left over after you have given your all to Gu Yulan.”
“Even if you suspect that I was the one behind the incident, I do not hold the slightest grudge.”
“If I let you inherit the company, would you be willing?” Gu Qishan asked. Hearing this, Zhou Yichen felt no joy; instead, his heart skipped a beat.
“I will say it again: I do not want the company. That is what you are leaving for Young Master Gu.”
“I will not take what should not be mine.”
Gu Qishan nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this. “Then would you be willing to help me handle things during this period?”
“Cough, cough… ugh.” Suddenly, Gu Qishan clutched his chest, a look of agony crossing his face as he slumped backward.
Zhou Yichen panicked and rushed forward to support Gu Qishan, who was still clutching his heart.
“What is wrong?”
“Please hold on; I will go find a doctor immediately.”
Zhou Yichen threw open the door and began to shout, “Quick, call an ambulance! The Chairman has collapsed!”
Not long after the phone call, Gu Yulan received a call from Mu Luoming.
“Yulan, your father collapsed. He is currently in the hospital being resuscitated.”
Gu Yulan was shocked. “What happened to him?”
Mu Luoming replied, “I heard that he has been out at the river searching for you these past few days. He was so anxious that his primary hypertension flared up.”
“Do not rush to come out today. I will arrange for you to visit him in a few days.”
Gu Yulan’s brows knit tightly, and he pressed his lips together. “Fine.”
Perhaps out of guilt or a desire to make amends, Gu Qishan had not made any hard demands of him in recent years. Consequently, hearing this news left Gu Yulan with complicated feelings. Even if the man was a tolerant and gentle father toward him now, he could not forgive the affair that had driven his mother to her death.
“Also, I found the account used for the remittance to the driver’s family.”
“We now have a lead on the person behind those thugs.”
Gu Yulan felt a surge of joy. This meant they were close to catching the person hiding in the shadows, and he would no longer have to live in hiding. He idly opened a news notification.
“Only Son of Wealthy Family Dead in Car Accident; Body Still Missing.”
“Suspected Discovery of Gu Family Illegitimate Son…”
Though he was at the center of the media storm, his mind was exceptionally calm. For now, all he could do was wait.
During the following period, Xie Yizhou practiced diligently. He was now able to speak some short sentences. Sometimes Gu Yulan would come to accompany him, and other times the man was nowhere to be found. He still preferred it when Gu Yulan came to see him because the man always brought mint candies.
“Today, we will continue with yesterday’s exercises.”
Even Gu Yulan was surprised by the boy’s progress. “You can already say some simple, short sentences.”
Xie Yizhou smiled and replied, “I can.”
Seeing the boy’s confident expression, Gu Yulan said, “Then how about I test you?”
Perhaps because he was unable to go out, he had grown particularly fond of teasing the boy lately. “Can you say your brother’s name?”
Gu Yulan looked at him with an expectant face. Hearing this, Xie Yizhou nodded with a smile. However, he had a condition. He reached his hand out toward Gu Yulan.
“Reward.”
Gu Yulan looked at the open palm and then up into a pair of startlingly bright eyes. He could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Does he really like candy that much? Careful, or your teeth will ache.
Despite his internal grumbling, he resignedly searched his pockets, only to find them empty. There was nothing left; not a single candy remained. Those mints were originally bought to keep himself refreshed, but they had all ended up in the boy’s mouth.
Xie Yizhou looked at him expectantly, even nudging him. “Quick.”
Gu Yulan looked at the boy with an embarrassed expression. “There are no more.”
A flash of disappointment crossed Xie Yizhou’s eyes.
“I will make it up to you next time,” Gu Yulan comforted him. “Besides, eating too much sugar is bad for your teeth.”
Xie Yizhou did not quite believe him. He suspected this was merely Gu Yulan’s excuse for not producing any candy.
“If you say it, I will buy you several packs next time.”
“No.”
Xie Yizhou refused succinctly. Since there was no reward, he felt no need to satisfy the man’s request. After speaking, he walked straight out of the classroom. He had money of his own and could go buy some himself, as long as he did not let Gu Yulan find out. He did not like the way the man tried to coax him like a child.
Gu Yulan was dumbfounded as he watched the boy leave. This speed of turning cold was far too fast. He sighed helplessly but eventually made a call to have some snacks delivered.
The next morning, when he took the boy to the cafeteria for breakfast, he was surprised to see that the boy did not pick up his chopsticks. He simply sat there quietly, watching Gu Yulan eat. It was the first time he had seen the boy uninterested in food. This was quite rare.
Gu Yulan took a sip of milk and asked, “What is wrong with you today?”
Xie Yizhou shook his head gently. Gu Yulan did not believe him. He frowned, looking at the boy’s tightly pursed mouth.
“Speak.”
This was not a “nothing is wrong” state! “I do not believe you.”
Gu Yulan’s gaze rested on the boy. Seeing that the other would not tell the truth, his brows knit together, and he said somewhat forcefully, “Are you feeling unwell? You only need to nod or shake your head.”
At this moment, Gu Yulan’s face was cold and full of pressure. Xie Yizhou finally nodded. He opened his mouth toward Gu Yulan and uttered a single word with a hint of grievance.
“Hurt.”
Gu Yulan was stunned. Was his mouth hurting? He quickly took the boy for an examination.
After the check-up, the doctor said with a smile, “It is nothing serious; it is just inflamed. Have you been eating too many snacks lately?”
Gu Yulan said firmly, “No.” The boy was with him almost every day; he knew exactly what the boy ate and did. “Why don’t you check again?”
However, the doctor did not look at him; he simply turned toward the boy. To Gu Yulan’s surprise, Xie Yizhou eventually nodded.
“When did you sneak those behind my back?”
Xie Yizhou’s brows knit instinctively. He disagreed with Gu Yulan’s choice of words. He had not sneaked anything; he had eaten them quite openly.
After getting the medicine and returning, Gu Yulan burst into the boy’s room. Sure enough, he found many empty candy wrappers in the trash can, and the quantity was quite large.
Gu Yulan took a deep breath, and a surge of anger rose within him. Seeing that there were still unfinished snacks on the table, he immediately stepped forward to confiscate them. Xie Yizhou frowned at this barbaric behavior and immediately tried to stop him.
“Do not.”
“I am taking them whether you like it or not. You cannot eat this much sugar; you will get cavities sooner or later.”
Gu Yulan was about to leave with the items, but he was blocked by the boy before he could reach the door. Xie Yizhou blocked his path, pursing his lips as he said, “You are not allowed to go.”
Gu Yulan narrowed his eyes. He set the confiscated snacks aside and let out a huff. “So, now you will not even call me Brother? Confiscated!”
Gu Yulan’s attitude was resolute; this was simply an act of rebellion.