MCFEM C32

Chapter 32 – He Absolutely Cannot Come to Class Eleven!

“You—”

Second Grand-Uncle lifted his hand, trembling as he pointed at Gu Yang, his old face flushing bright red. He stammered for half a day, unable to string together a single coherent word.

His expression even carried a hint of horror.

He desperately wanted to ask—how did you know?

He clearly hadn’t told anyone.

Could it be that this cheap nephew had been lurking in some corner last night, spying on him?

But last night’s tryst had taken place in the garden of his own private villa! Did this boy open his heavenly eye or something?

Yes, he enjoyed thrills, but he wasn’t without standards. Otherwise, what difference would that be from relieving himself in public? It was utterly uncivilized!

Gu Yang turned his head toward another elder.

First Grand-Uncle, who had been watching the show with probing interest, suddenly froze.

Gu Yang had intended to reveal that his granddaughter liked women and his grandson liked men.

But thoughtfully, he decided not to force anyone out of the closet.

Instead, he said, “You’ve been tipping a fifty-something internet influencer every day, haven’t you? You’ve even become her number one supporter.”

Immediately, all eyes swung to First Grand-Uncle.

His old face flushed, yet he couldn’t say a word.

Because it was true.

But so what?

With skin thick as a city wall, he held steady.

He had lived this long, earned enough, enjoyed a happy family, dutiful children, and accomplished grandchildren. Now his only hope was to live to see great-grandchildren.

He had lived upright all his life—what was wrong with tipping a streamer in old age?

He wasn’t harassing young girls. That “Most Beautiful Sunset” streamer, with her radiant smile, melted his heart. And when she called him “gege”—who could resist?

“You didn’t know, did you?” Gu Yang smiled faintly. “That streamer is actually an old man cross-dressing as a woman.”

“How could that be?” First Grand-Uncle blurted in shock. “Sister Sunset can’t possibly be a man!”

His whiskers trembled with outrage.

Absurd!

That figure, that shy, captivating smile—how could it, how could it possibly…

But then, something occurred to him. He fell into thought.

Gu Yang shifted his gaze to Third Grand-Uncle.

Before he even spoke, Third Grand-Uncle already looked terrified.

Awkwardly, obsequiously, he gave his good grand-nephew a placating smile.

Curse them all you want—but please, leave me alone.

Since this one hadn’t asked for trouble today, Gu Yang decided to spare him.

Meanwhile, Second Grand-Uncle finally pieced it together and looked up in fury.

The villa where the tryst happened—that had been a gift from Gu Yuhui.

It was the cameras! There must have been cameras installed there!

So, because he had blocked Yuhui’s proposal in last month’s board meeting, the man had borne a grudge, laid such an elaborate trap, and sent a junior to strike in his stead while hiding his hand.

This child was terrifying.

He was no longer the rash, reckless brat who had once gone head-to-head with them over some irrelevant woman.

And now, knowing that this boy held high-definition scandal in his hands, Second Grand-Uncle’s face grew even darker.

His wife had passed away long ago, but if this were exposed, how could he ever face his children again?

“Yuhui.” Second Grand-Uncle coughed lightly, forcing a stiff smile.

“Second Uncle,” Gu Yuhui collected himself and smiled faintly. “Xiao Yang is just a child. What he said just now was thoughtless nonsense. As his elder, for my sake, please don’t take it to heart.”

He had been listening with keen interest, but once he thought trouble might flare, he rushed to smooth things over.

But to Second Grand-Uncle, those words carried another layer.

A threat.

The subtext: right now, it was only spoken by a child, so no one would care. There was still room to maneuver.

But if he didn’t know when to quit, it might leak in some other way—and then, no matter his seniority, it would ruin him.

“Of course, of course. We’re all family, no need to make things hard for each other.” Second Grand-Uncle squeezed a smile from his bark-like face.

Gu Yuhui was surprised at how easily the old man yielded today, but he didn’t forget business. Gu Yang had disrupted enough. The three elders had been standing in the living room long enough.

He invited them into his study.

Third Grand-Uncle all but fled, desperate to leave his grand-nephew’s line of sight. Second Grand-Uncle dared not refuse. First Grand-Uncle remained pensive.

Although Gu Yuhui had full control of the Gu Group, he could not act unilaterally. His aggressive one-year plan for the company had been unanimously opposed by the board.

He had summoned these three today to appeal emotionally, to persuade from within.

Old, stubborn men all—who knew if the talks would succeed.

As they departed, his eyes lingered deeply on Gu Yang.

Such hidden matters—even he hadn’t known. How had they been exposed?

…As expected of her child.

After the others left, Gu Qingxu, who had been a silent background ornament, finally felt at ease.

Resting his arm on the back of the sofa, he leaned forward, scrutinizing Gu Yang still half-reclined with the cat in his lap.

“Those who came today are all of grandfather’s generation. Even father calls them uncles,” he said with a smile. “You’re really bold, daring to speak like that.”

He spoke only of seniority, not mentioning that these men were board members with significant power in the Gu Group.

This had happened before. Gu Yuhui had always indulged it, never once scolding.

Thinking of this, Gu Qingxu’s smile deepened.

He stretched out his hand, wanting to tease the cat.

But the ragdoll, once docile, hissed sharply, raised its paw, and swatted him.

Her claws were regularly trimmed, so only a pale mark was left on his hand.

Yet instead of anger, Gu Qingxu laughed.

“That Lu Ran from your class—he’s in the hospital again, isn’t he?” They rarely had topics in common, but this suddenly came to mind, so he tossed it out.

“These past few days, I heard a rumor.” Gu Qingxu watched Gu Yang closely. “They say that the ‘new young master’ the Lu family brought home is actually their biological son, and that years ago, he and Lu Ran were swapped at the hospital?”

It had first been mentioned in class, but Class Eleven was full of busybodies. Of course it spread.

If Gu Qingxu knew, it meant the rumor had already circulated throughout Guanli High.

“That true son is rather pitiful. Clearly born into wealth, yet wasted years away. And the Lu family still won’t give him justice.” Gu Qingxu narrowed his eyes. “But if fate really intended it, no matter how long it was buried, he’ll reclaim it sooner or later.”

Gu Yang tilted his head back, giving him a faint look.

Now he’s waxing sentimental?

The cat in his arms couldn’t take it anymore. With a sharp meow, she launched herself like a furry cannonball, scattering everything across the table.

—

Song Yinxing stood outside his mother’s hospital room.

One glance was all he needed.

He knew she was terminally ill—living a year was a blessing. But in his past life, because Nie Ying had ruined his college entrance exams, a cascade of disasters had led her to die far too early.

Now, seeing her still alive, he knew regret could be mended.

But his current appearance wasn’t suitable for going in. She would notice something was off.

Just as he steadied himself to leave, a nursemaid arrived at the door.

“Auntie Lin,” he greeted softly.

“Oh, Xiao Song! Why are you standing out here instead of going in?” she asked, startled. “And what happened to your hand? And your face?”

“I just fell. Pretend you didn’t see. My mom’s asleep—go in quietly,” Song Yinxing instructed.

In their line of work, meddling in employers’ affairs wasn’t wise. Auntie Lin nodded and went inside without further questions.

Song Yinxing watched her coldly.

To be fair, as a hired aide, Lin Chunmei had done nothing wrong to them.

On the contrary, after learning their plight, she had poured out her own woes—about her gambler husband and her ungrateful son.

Her face was plain, honest, peasant-like.

Who would have imagined she had once been deranged enough to swap her own newborn with that of a wealthy family’s wife?

He hadn’t learned of this until eight years after high school.

The scandal erupted, finally spilling from Nie Ying’s lips as a joke.

Once revealed, the fake young master—who had enjoyed years of privilege and risen to an important role in the Lu Corporation—was instantly cast into the fire.

Meanwhile, the true son, long hidden and unknown, was rammed into the ICU by a middle-aged woman days later.

“That woman was Lu Ran’s birth mother. Honestly, I almost admired her. But too bad Lu Ji’s life was too stubborn. In the end, she was the one destroyed.”

Remembering it, disgust shadowed Song Yinxing’s brow.

Lu Ji had been his classmate. They’d had little to do with each other. Yet years later, when he heard his name again, it was tied to such tragedy.

Inside, as Lin Chunmei tidied trash, she suddenly froze.

Song Yinxing followed her gaze.

A boy in Guanli’s uniform passed through the crowd.

Harsh, rigid features. Shadows of gloom etched between his brows. The kind of face that repelled affection at first sight.

Simply put—he looked ill-fated.

Lin Chunmei’s lips pressed downwards.

And then she saw the couple walking beside him.

That was the bastard’s biological parents.

Madam Lu tried to strike up conversation.

Her husband was serious, always about the company. Only with Lu Zheng could he speak comfortably. So the burden fell on her.

But forcing topics, overthinking her phrasing—it was exhausting.

In such moments, she always thought of Ranran.

That sweet-tongued, lively boy, who filled their home with laughter. That was why they cherished him so.

She knew it wasn’t fair.

Her true son had suffered outside, and now finally returned. How could she ask for more?

At the hospital room door, she stopped unconsciously, glancing at her husband.

They had discussed it last night. Since they would live under the same roof, they couldn’t go on in stalemate.

Ranran was spoiled; compromise from him was unrealistic. But if they brought Lu Ji along to visit more often, surely Ranran’s good heart would open.

She pushed the door.

Inside, Lu Ran, who had just sat up, bright-eyed, went pale the instant he saw Lu Ji’s face.

The couple pretended not to notice. Madam Lu smiled. “Xiao Ji kept saying he hasn’t seen Ranran in so long, he wanted to come visit you.”

At this, Lu Ji frowned, but he didn’t protest.

He couldn’t refuse Madam Lu’s pleading expression.

Lu Ran’s face grew darker.

He sneered. “I bet you’d be happier if I weren’t here at all.”

“Now, now,” Father Lu quickly cut him off. “We’re all family. It’s only right to be together. Your second brother cares about you.”

“Yes, yes,” Madam Lu echoed eagerly. “Xiao Ji often talks about you at home. He’s been wishing you’d recover quickly. These past days, he’s missed you dearly.”

“Ha?” Lu Ran scoffed incredulously. Just as he was about to snap at the charade, his expression faltered.

Suddenly, he recalled that day in class—Gu Yang’s inner voice.

Slowly, eerily, his gaze fell on Lu Ji.

He said nothing. But it was as if he were seeing him anew, scanning him from head to toe.

The couple, seeing his reaction, exchanged a delighted glance. They thought their words had worked.

Madam Lu pressed on.

“Ranran, I’d really like Xiao Ji to transfer into your class. That way, you can look after each other. It’s a new environment for him, and you can help him adapt. You’ve been unwell lately. With him there, your father and I would feel reassured. Isn’t that good?”

But just as her voice fell, the gloom on Lu Ran’s face shattered.

As if he’d seen a ghost, he cried out in horror:

“No! He absolutely cannot come to Class Eleven!”