MCFEM C21

Chapter 21 – He Really Is Becoming More and More Like Her…

The most recent post had been made just a few days ago. Song Yinxing remembered—it was on the same day Ding Ziyu had come to provoke him.

The caption read: All things eventually die, paired with the image of a withered flower.

The next one was purely text, dated a month prior: This world is full of illusions.

And the one before that came with a picture—the subject was a ragdoll cat.

Gu Yang had probably been celebrating the cat’s birthday. A tiny crown perched on its head, a dainty pet cake set before it.

Caption: Happy birthday. The time you can stay with me has grown one year shorter.

Song Yinxing: “…”

Gu Yang’s Moments were set to six months visible. He didn’t post often, so Song Yinxing quickly reached the bottom.

They were all in a similar style, saturated with negativity. Even something as warm as celebrating a pet’s birthday had been written in a tone steeped in sorrow.

There was no overlap in their social circles at all. And yet, seeing they didn’t even share a single mutual friend—that he couldn’t glimpse how others interacted with Gu Yang’s posts—still left Song Yinxing with an inexplicable feeling.

Between them, there shouldn’t have been any connection. Like two intersecting lines, they had already passed the point of contact, destined only to grow farther apart.

It had been only because Gu Yang, on a whim that day, lent him a hand—that his dwindling dignity had been spared further trampling.

Now that he had repaid the debt, there was no reason left for them to see each other again.

Maybe Gu Yang’s posts were simply too bleak, but the gloom spread contagiously. The more Song Yinxing dwelled on them, the more he spiraled, until he found himself emo, palm pressed self-consciously against the wall.

—

When they left the school gates, Gu Yang was replying to a message. He hadn’t meant for He Min’an to glimpse the chat interface, but He Min’an noticed a conversation far down the list.

The nickname was “Star.” A still-unaccepted transfer record sat there.

He Min’an understood immediately. “Little Song came to return you the money from last time?”

Gu Yang hummed in acknowledgment.

“He’s really conscientious. I only approved his subsidy a couple days ago. He even went to confirm with the finance office to make sure it hadn’t been a mistake. I didn’t expect him to come back and repay you so soon. He must really be strapped.”

Gu Yang showed no reaction. Whether Song Yinxing repaid him or not—it didn’t matter to him in the least.

He Min’an chuckled at his indifference. “You really do live as you please.”

He had always been like this—interests came quickly and went just as fast. It seemed Song Yinxing’s pull on him wasn’t all that strong.

A car was already waiting outside.

As Gu Yang approached, the window rolled down first. Inside sat Gu Qingxu, smiling faintly at him.

He Min’an saw too. “If you’d rather, take my family’s car. I can have the driver drop you off.”

“No need,” Gu Yang replied dully. “I’ve ridden with him before. It’s like sitting next to a leashed dog.”

He opened the door and climbed in.

Who knew how long Gu Qingxu had been waiting—he’d already shed his coat and tossed it aside.

“What took you so long? Don’t you all finish class at the same time?”

Gu Yang leaned his head against the window, lost in thought. Gu Qingxu’s voice filtered through his mind like nothing more than barking.

“Don’t misunderstand—I’m not blaming you.” Gu Qingxu’s tone was measured. “Father is coming home for dinner tonight. It’s rare, and I don’t want him kept waiting by us juniors.”

“Yes. Shouldn’t let the elder dine alone.” Gu Yang remained half-dazed, his replies perfunctory.

Gu Qingxu’s mouth twitched, but his posture stayed elegant. “I could have gone ahead, but tonight he’ll be announcing something important. Since you are part of this family, I thought it best to wait.”

“What big thing? He’s found himself a late romance?”

“Gu Yang!” Gu Qingxu lost his composure, snapping, “Can’t you ever be serious? You’re still a son of the Gu family! Don’t you feel the slightest shame?”

Gu Yang remained AFK, not even turning his head.

Gu Qingxu drew a deep breath, pressing at his brow.

Why was he even bothering to take this seriously?

Rambling nonsense all day long—such a person would never be entrusted with the Gu family’s legacy.

Back at the house, Gu Yuhui was indeed home. He’d been sitting on the sofa with a newspaper, but set it down with a smile when they entered.

“You’re back? Must be tired after a full day of school.”

“And why are you dressed so lightly? Didn’t I warn you yesterday it would turn cold? What are the servants even doing, letting you out like this without paying attention?”

Gu Yang was in his autumn uniform, a trench coat thrown over it. With the cold snap, people outside were already in thin down jackets.

“It’s fine. Not that cold. Too many layers just get in the way.” He shrugged off the coat and handed it to a servant. His hands were icy, knuckles reddened from the chill.

Gu Yuhui took his hand, displeasure flashing in his eyes. But he said nothing, only signaled for someone to switch on the heating in his room.

Behind them, Gu Qingxu watched with cold detachment as his father fussed over another, oblivious to his own existence.

“Let’s eat.” Gu Yuhui guided Gu Yang to the dining table, adding casually, “Qingxu, come along.”

Gu Qingxu loosened the grip he hadn’t noticed tightening, then smiled and followed.

At the table, it was just the three of them. Gu Yang was never talkative, and once food was served, he had even less inclination to speak.

Gu Qingxu, however, played the role well. He spoke of school affairs, pausing at key points so their father could conveniently join in.

The atmosphere was harmonious enough.

Midway through the meal, Gu Yuhui broached the big matter: a major group project was coming up. He wanted them each to draft a proposal, with the better one winning the chance to lead.

Gu Qingxu’s eyes flickered. He glanced briefly at Gu Yang, who showed no reaction, then smiled and pledged his effort.

“And you too, A’Yang. Both of you must give it your best. No cutting corners—compete fairly.”

The words left Gu Qingxu conflicted.

He had always believed his father never considered Gu Yang a successor. After all, he alone had been made to shadow the company.

But now, at this critical moment, Gu Yang was also being given a chance.

Still, the meal ended with conversation flowing easily, unaffected.

Afterward, Gu Yuhui called Gu Yang alone to his study.

Gu Qingxu cast a loaded look at him, gaze trailing his back. Even as the dark shadow stretched and disappeared at the turn of the staircase, his eyes clung, lost in thought.

Inside the study, papers lay scattered across the desk.

Though nearly fifty, Gu Yuhui’s figure bore no heaviness. His face showed few wrinkles, the occasional silver thread in his hair promptly concealed.

He embodied the Gu Group’s public image, and a leader who looked diminished would not do.

Expressionless, Gu Yang’s gaze fell on the silver-rimmed glasses resting on his father’s face, deepening his air of gravity.

He had tried them once—reading glasses.

Gu Yuhui seemed pleased, for today Gu Yang wasn’t distracted but calmly watching him.

“No need to be tense. I just wanted to talk.” He said, “The Shen family scandal turned into a mess, and since it touched you—being your classmates—I wanted your thoughts.”

Gu Yang studied his face, searching for intent, but came up empty.

So he answered, voice quiet: “The weather’s turned cold. Time for the Shen family to go bankrupt.”

Gu Yuhui smiled faintly, neither endorsing nor rejecting the hint. “And what do you plan to do?”

Gu Yang looked at him, bluntly puncturing the game. “Don’t you already know what I’ll do?”

He had used Gu family men to gather the evidence. Of course Gu Yuhui knew.

Another faint smile. “I know. But the results haven’t been promising.”

“Then you can pick up where I left off.”

Gu Yang yawned, languid. His sleep was always poor—by this hour, drowsiness hit, but sleep would not come easy.

“Such a small problem? Shouldn’t you handle it yourself?” Gu Yuhui pressed deliberately.

Too lazy to argue, Gu Yang tossed out a line as he turned to leave: “No thanks. You’ll do it better than me. Good luck.”

Gu Yuhui’s smile deepened, clearly savoring the words.

When Gu Yang was gone, alone in the study, he sighed softly to himself.

“He really is becoming more and more like her.”