SFBF CH9
Shen Qing had no choice but to trudge up the stairs again, looking dejected.
Gu Huaiyu: “You can take the elevator.”
Shen Qing: “…Oh, right!”
He had been going up and down here for a while now, and climbing stairs was physically exhausting!
Mainly because the original owner had always assumed the elevator was exclusive to Mr. Gu. Even when Gu Huaiyu wasn’t home, he didn’t dare use it lightly, as there were surveillance cameras inside. As a result, Shen Qing himself didn’t even have the concept of using it.
Of course, there was another reason—poverty was to blame. It made him completely overlook the fact that the place he lived in now had an indoor elevator!
Decisively abandoning the two steps he had already climbed, Shen Qing returned to the first floor to take the elevator instead.
Gu Huaiyu: “…”
When Shen Qing arrived upstairs, Gu Huaiyu was already waiting for him at the elevator entrance.
It was evident that President Gu was an impatient person.
And judging from his attitude towards the Gu family, his temper probably wasn’t that great either.
Remembering the nanny mentioning that President Gu had been sick for the past few days, Shen Qing remembered to ask with concern: “Um, how is your health? Feeling okay?”
A very appropriate question for the occasion.
Gu Huaiyu’s answer was a couple of timely coughs.
Shen Qing: “…”
Fortunately, the coughing wasn’t severe this time. Gu Huaiyu quickly stopped coughing and then said to Shen Qing: “I called you up here to tell you that I saw everything just now.”
Shen Qing: …!!!
Shen Qing glanced at him and quickly explained: “I was worried that Duoduo and Aozai would be sad if they heard people say they don’t have parents, so I acted on impulse…”
But Gu Huaiyu waved his hand and said: “You handled it well.”
Shen Qing was stunned: “…Ah.”
So after all that, he was praising him!
Why didn’t he just say so directly instead of calling him up here and making him hesitate for so long!
”You don’t need to consider the Gu family too much.” Gu Huaiyu took a breath: “Prioritizing Duoduo and the others, you did very well.”
”.”
Shen Qing accepted Mr. Gu’s affirmation.
He understood that Gu Huaiyu said this to save him from being in a difficult position.
After all, the person he had just confronted was Gu Huaiyu’s own sister, someone with a real blood relation. Regardless of the rumors, in the eyes of outsiders, they were still family.
When it comes to closeness, it goes without saying who appears closer on the surface. Anyone else would have reservations.
Especially given his status as a distant relative of the Shen family, daring to go head-to-head with the Third Miss of the Gu family…
Reflecting on it now, Shen Qing felt that he was really, surprisingly courageous!
But to be honest, heaven knows he was just angry at the time—why should a brat be allowed to come into someone else’s house and snatch another child’s toy!
He had seen similar videos before where some parents would disregard their own child’s wishes and give their beloved toys to a relative’s brat.
It was infuriating just watching it.
It was one thing when Shen Qing wasn’t the parent involved.
But now that he was in the role of the parent, absolutely not!
…
That was all.
Shen Qing really didn’t think much at the time.
He forgot about the complex environment of the Gu family, and completely forgot about needing to repair his relationship with the future cold-hearted villain…
Truly, he didn’t think of any of these deeper reasons.
…
Thinking up to this point, Shen Qing inevitably broke out in a cold sweat.
Today was a stroke of luck; he just happened to get on the good side of his meal ticket’s family.
But in reality, with his brain and temper… he probably wouldn’t survive past two chapters in a family drama novel.
So, Shen Qing’s initial strategy was correct.
Lying flat, quietly waiting for the day President Gu kicks the bucket, and then disappearing.
That was what suited him best!
Gu Huaiyu sized up the young man in front of him, unsure if he was seeing things correctly—
In just a few seconds, he saw almost three different emotions on the young man’s face: anger, chagrin, and something like relief (?).
…
What was this person thinking?
Thinking of his increasingly blurry dream, Gu Huaiyu originally thought the young man was doing something to harm the children behind his back, but now he didn’t think so.
Shen Qing was genuinely protecting the two children.
A very important reason why Gu Huaiyu’s illness had worsened recently was that ever since he took his two nephews back, he had started worrying about guaranteeing the children’s future.
He had to find a way to ensure the children had sufficient education funds before they came of age and could inherit his money smoothly after adulthood, without it being snatched away by the Gu family.
Knowing exactly what kind of methods the Gu family could use, this was a huge project even for Gu Huaiyu.
This consumed a considerable amount of his energy, causing his health to deteriorate day by day.
…Quite interesting.
He was setting up the board for after his death.
By burning through his own life.
Gu Huaiyu didn’t feel melancholy.
He looked at Shen Qing again.
But if someone genuinely cared for the children, this matter would be much simpler to handle.
The prerequisite was that this person had to have good intentions and a loving heart.
More importantly, they had to be responsible and able to withstand pressure from the Gu family.
This Shen Qing…
Recalling how the young man protected the cubs’ toys just now, Gu Huaiyu raised his eyes slightly, deciding to observe a bit longer.
He directly changed the subject, using his business tone: “Regarding work, is there anything Mr. Shen needs my help with?”
As an entertainer, Shen Qing’s situation in the entertainment industry didn’t seem too good.
Even though he hadn’t paid much attention before, Gu Huaiyu had noticed this when Shen Qing’s manager visited that day.
The entertainment industry runs deep, and one often needs backing to get ahead.
Gu Huaiyu had once told Shen Qing to come to him if he needed anything, but the other party had never broached the subject.
However, since he had seen the attitude of Shen Qing’s manager and colleagues towards the young man that day, as his legal partner, he couldn’t turn a blind eye.
He was calmly waiting for death.
But that didn’t mean others could throw their weight around in his territory.
Gu Huaiyu said to Shen Qing: “Although I’m not involved in the entertainment industry, I’m not entirely unable to intervene.”
Knowing that this Mr. Shen was probably also afraid of him, or perhaps embarrassed to trouble him, Gu Huaiyu rarely spoke so plainly. He couldn’t help but sigh at his current patience and good temper.
Truly, a dying man speaks kind words.
But when Gu Huaiyu looked at Shen Qing, he found that the young man was only slightly stunned, and then began shaking his head frantically: “No, no need, I don’t want to go out to work.”
Gu Huaiyu: “…”
Shen Qing: “I’m fine like this now, I don’t want to go out and work anymore!”
”…”
Gu Huaiyu remembered that the young man used to be very career-oriented.
After pondering for a moment, his expression suddenly darkened: “Is the Gu family or the Shen family putting some pressure on you?”
This stunned Shen Qing: “Pressure? What pressure?”
No pressure, he was just quietly waiting for, uh, a hundred million to enter his account!
…Oh, pressure, right.
Shen Qing remembered that the Gu family was a century-old wealthy clan, the kind with ancestral teachings, and originally didn’t allow people from the entertainment industry to marry in.
This time, the Gu family needed to stabilize the Shen family through marriage. Plus, the person responsible for the marriage was Gu Huaiyu, who was rebellious and dying. Compared to a sharp individual skilled in power plays sent by the Shen family, the Gu family naturally hoped the person sent by the Shen family would be as mediocre and ordinary as possible… For various reasons, the original owner was able to marry in.
Fortunately, Gu Huaiyu was a loner and rarely contacted the main Gu residence. After the original owner married in, he wasn’t ridiculed for his status as an “actor.”
…Of course, mainly because no one paid him any mind. After all, he was too obscure, so whether he was in the entertainment industry didn’t matter much.
Understanding President Gu’s meaning, Shen Qing hurriedly said: “No one is putting pressure on me. I’m just… tired, I don’t want to work hard anymore.”
His answer was very perfunctory.
Because he hadn’t intended to have a heart-to-heart with Gu Huaiyu.
He also thought the cold President Gu wouldn’t pay him any more attention—anyway, Gu Huaiyu didn’t lack that little bit of money to support him!
But unexpectedly, Gu Huaiyu looked Shen Qing up and down, and unusually talkative, said: “You’re still so young, it’s the time to venture out. You should go out and do something. Choosing comfort too early, you might regret it when it’s too late.”
Shen Qing: “???”
Looking at the dying man in the wheelchair with a pale face yet still retaining a young and handsome appearance, Shen Qing wanted to say, You’re only 26 this year. Before I transmigrated, I was only one year younger than you!
Why use this tone to lecture me??
Besides, why work so hard? To work myself into an early grave like you??
And when it comes to hardships, I might have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice. It’s uncertain who should be lecturing whom!
Shen Qing was so angry he wanted to put his hands on his hips and retort right then and there.
But thinking of Gu Huaiyu’s identity… Cough cough, no, thinking that this Mr. Gu was almost gone, he must be full of negative energy. And as the guarantee for his future life…
Shen Qing chose to endure.
Endure.
But not suffer in silence.
Shen Qing immediately sprang in front of Gu Huaiyu, agilely squatting in front of his wheelchair, looking up at him: “I’m not doing nothing.”
His gaze was clear, his voice bright. Shen Qing: “My job is to take good care of the cubs, and take good care of you! Isn’t that enough? Do you think I’m too useless…”
”That’s not what I meant.”
Looking at the young man who suddenly crashed into his field of vision, Gu Huaiyu curled his fingers resting on the wheelchair, his eyes dodging unusually.
”Besides family, you should also have your own career, only then…”
”But why?” Shen Qing interrupted him with an innocent look: “You guys are my everything!”
Gu Huaiyu: “…”
The slightly curled fingers stiffened imperceptibly. Gu Huaiyu lowered his eyes, looking directly at the young man gazing up at him.
Shen Qing continued to look innocent, even deliberately blinking his eyes, and boldly grabbing Gu Huaiyu’s hand, his expression solemn: “With Hubby here, I’m not afraid of anything. Anyway, you can afford to support me and will protect me, right?”
Gu Huaiyu: “…”
Forcing down the urge to cough, he glanced at the young man squatting obediently in front of him, really wanting to say: But I won’t be here forever.
But seeing the mischievous smile reflected in the young man’s clear eyes, Gu Huaiyu’s thin lips pressed tight for a moment, and he slowly closed his eyes.
—Fake.
There’s a kind of fake where the other person knows it’s fake, and you deliberately don’t hide it, letting them know that what you’re saying is fake.
This Shen Qing…
Gu Huaiyu wasn’t angry because of this.
He just found it unbelievable, and felt a sense of unfamiliarity that someone dared to joke in front of him…
Before this, no one had dared to joke with him.
The curled fingers clenched into a fist, and his eyes opened abruptly.
”Shen, Qing.” Calling the other’s name in a deep voice, Gu Huaiyu exuded a strong sense of oppression, full of warning.
Shen Qing hadn’t expected the boss to get angry like this. He felt his heart skip a beat. His limbs reacted faster than his brain, and without a word, he jumped away, far from Gu Huaiyu…
”Boss, we can’t be like this. You came to lecture me for no reason, how come I’m not allowed to make a joke?”
After speaking, Shen Qing clutched his head: “Ah, my stomach is so hungry. No, I have to go eat something first. Let’s talk later if there’s anything else.”
Leaving this sentence behind, Shen Qing hopped and skipped away until he disappeared.
Completely lacking the fragile and broken feeling from when he struggled to climb a few steps just now.
”…”
Sitting in the wheelchair, Gu Huaiyu’s expression imperceptibly changed from initial rage and shock to surprise, and finally to disbelief.
…This person who dared to retort and yell about being hungry while clutching his head in front of him was truly…
Unheard of.
For the first time since becoming seriously ill, Gu Huaiyu felt the wheelchair beneath him was a burden.
If he could still walk, he would probably have directly grabbed the young man who had hopped away and dragged him back…
”Cough cough cough!”
Unable to suppress a few coughs, his assistant Li Hong, hearing the noise, ran over quickly and draped a coat over him: “President Gu! You were in a coma for three days this time and just woke up. Hurry back and rest!”
”That Third Miss Gu is really something too. She doesn’t care about your health at all, coming over just to borrow money!”
Li Hong chattered on, his gaze catching Shen Qing’s retreating figure: “But it’s really surprising, Mr. Shen actually dared to talk to Third Miss like that…”
Li Hong couldn’t get involved in President Gu’s family affairs. He had been handling his work in the office area just now, but because he disliked the vampire-like Gu Huaixiang, he kept his ears pricked for what was happening outside and vaguely heard what Mr. Shen said to Third Miss Gu and her family.
…Of course, considering President Gu couldn’t catch a cold, when he, the assistant, came down to bring his boss a coat, he also accidentally overheard the conversation between President Gu and Mr. Shen.
…Facts proved that Mr. Shen not only dared to confront Third Miss directly.
He wasn’t cowardly in front of President Gu either!
Look at how angry he made their President Gu…!
This was what surprised Li Hong the most!
Observing President Gu’s handsome face, it seemed to have a bit more color compared to its previous pallor—his boss’s cheeks were flushed with anger!
Li Hong weighed his words for a long time but ultimately didn’t dare to make another sound.
.
After leaving Gu Huaiyu’s line of sight, Shen Qing quickly threw the little “friction” with the boss to the back of his mind.
He had thick nerves and didn’t think there was anything wrong with making such a small joke, even if the other party was the notoriously fierce Gu Huaiyu.
Most importantly, Shen Qing thought that President Gu, who was originally waiting calmly for death, yet still took in two children to raise despite being terminally ill, must be different from the rest of the Gu family.
He definitely wouldn’t joke with someone like Gu Huaixiang.
But Gu Huaiyu, surely he wasn’t so petty that he couldn’t even take a joke.
Having finally been reborn, Shen Qing refused to live lifelessly.
For him, physical health and a happy mood were more important!
The first step to a happy mood was to eat and drink what he should, and not take trivial matters to heart.
Returning to the living room, he drank the coffee the servant brought him again, paired with some nuts and an avocado sandwich, counting it as afternoon tea.
Although he still had things to discuss with Gu Duo and the others, Ao-zai said he was sleepy when they left just now. The two children were likely sleeping right now.
So Shen Qing wasn’t in a hurry to force his company on the kids.
Afterward, Shen Qing simply took a stroll around the villa, treating it as exercise.
Then Shen Qing discovered that this was truly exercise. Rather than a villa, it was more like a castle. No wonder that lifestyle variety show insisted on renting their villa for filming!
It already had three floors, and the indoor area was large enough to ride a bicycle in. Walking a loop took more than half an hour!
Is this the villa he would inherit in the future?
Is this the empire President Gu conquered for him?!
…What was even more unbelievable came later—after circling the villa, Gu Huaiyu’s assistant Li Hong found Shen Qing and said President Gu was looking for him.
”President Gu is waiting for you in your room right now.”
Shen Qing: “? President Gu is looking for me?”
The assistant didn’t say what Gu Huaiyu wanted. Shen Qing walked all the way back to his room and saw the man sitting upright in a wheelchair parked at the door of his open room, looking at something facing his room.
…From a distance, Shen Qing saw a trace of pink light reflecting on the man’s handsome pale cheeks…
Suddenly remembering the base color of his room.
Shen Qing: “Cough cough!”
He coughed loudly and quickened his pace, “President Gu, why did you come over?…”
Hearing his movement, Gu Huaiyu slowly looked back.
His pale, bloodless face remained expressionless. But there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes, icy and somewhat eerie.
Coming before such a President Gu, Shen Qing tried his best to ignore the other’s scrutinizing gaze and smiled: “Since President Gu is here, why stay at the door? Go in and sit.”
Saying this, he wanted to go around to push the other’s wheelchair.
This way, he could avoid the other’s gaze.
But Gu Huaiyu maneuvered the wheelchair backward. His innate nobility made this action seem not abrupt, distant but polite.
The boss just raised his eyebrows slightly: “No need.”
Saying so, he subconsciously glanced into Shen Qing’s room again: “Mr. Shen’s taste is truly… extraordinary, otherworldly.”
Shen Qing: “…”
He followed the gaze into his own room.
It was still daytime, and the bright sunlight outside spilled into his room, projecting the pink wallpaper and various pink decorations inside, reflecting pink light onto half of President Gu’s handsome profile.
…
Cough cough.
Actually, it looked quite comical.
But what did President Gu mean by that?
Shen Qing was slightly alert, although he didn’t like pink either.
But it was much better than Gu Huaiyu’s wall-white complexion! At least it was festive! Was there a need to bring up his taste?
So Shen Qing replied politely yet with poise: “It’s okay. As long as President Gu likes it.”
Gu Huaiyu: “…”
Shen Qing: “By the way, President Gu, you were looking for me?”
Not long after the original owner moved in, Gu Huaiyu fell seriously ill and sought medical treatment.
Shen Qing couldn’t quite recall if he had ever been to the original owner’s room; his memory was a bit fuzzy. But judging from Gu Huaiyu’s reaction upon seeing the colors inside his room, it must be President Gu’s first time coming so close to his room…
So what reason made Gu Huaiyu, who rarely came down from the third floor, come all the way here?
Gu Huaiyu didn’t seem to want to waste time here either. While Shen Qing was suspicious, he picked up a kraft paper bag from his lap and said, “These are for you.”
Shen Qing took it warily: “What is this?”
Gu Huaiyu: “Some real estate.”
Shen Qing: ?!!
Shen Qing opened the kraft paper bag and found that there were indeed property deeds inside, quite a few of them.
So, gave… gave to him?
…Was the “give” in President Gu’s mouth the same “give” he understood???
It seemed Mr. Gu was a person who disliked beating around the bush. Without Shen Qing asking, he said directly: “Check if there are any problems. I’ll have Li Hong handle the name change procedures tomorrow.”
Shen Qing: !
Looking at Gu Huaiyu, Shen Qing pulled out a property deed, muttering in disbelief: “Why is the boss suddenly so polite?”
Gu Huaiyu’s expression was calm: “Didn’t you say yourself… you just want to lie flat. These places should be enough for you to lie in.”
Shen Qing: “…”
Coughing twice again, Gu Huaiyu said with pale lips: “If you don’t want to work and want to wholeheartedly accompany Duoduo and the others, that’s fine. Since we are married, I will always guarantee your livelihood.”
”…Oh.”
Shen Qing accepted this explanation.
It seemed Mr. Gu was quite nice.
Although he liked to lecture people, he wouldn’t force his partner, and he took what Shen Qing said to heart…
But as he was examining the property deeds, he heard Gu Huaiyu say while panting: “However, regarding resources you need, I’ve said it before, if you want something, don’t have reservations, you can tell me directly.”
Shen Qing: …No, what exactly is the reason that makes you guys think I’m ambitious and really want to be famous but am too shy to say it!
Do I look like such a reserved person right now??
Shen Qing wanted to say this.
But when he casually pulled out a property deed and saw the printed address and the four-digit square footage…
Shen Qing: Sob sob, his husband is so good!
Shen Qing secretly decided that no matter what President Gu said in the future, he would try his best not to contradict him.
__
Author’s Note:
Gu Huaiyu, who also grew up pushing himself and became a chicken soup mentor even when dying from 996: You are still too young, you should work hard. Otherwise, you’ll regret it when it’s too late. Blah blah blah.
However, facing his salted fish wife, Gu Huaiyu: …Forget it, as long as he’s happy.
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