MCFEM C5

Chapter 5: Restoring the Ancestral Line in Three Generations

As the temperature dropped, night fell much earlier, and by the time they reached the school gates, the dim light made it hard to even distinguish the outline of the buildings.

“Are you going to tonight’s banquet?” the class monitor asked.

The car responsible for picking him up was already parked at the entrance. Gu Yang pulled open the car door. “No.”

“Still as decisive as ever.” The monitor looked at him helplessly. “I bet you’ve already forgotten what tonight’s event is about, haven’t you?”

“I don’t want to go anyway.”

“Go, go, go.” Yu Bai suddenly darted out of nowhere, throwing his arms around Gu Yang’s arm resting on the car door. “Why not go? This is for welcoming a new student, you can’t be that cold, right?”

“…Welcoming who?”

“Don’t you remember? The Lu family is holding a banquet to welcome back that long-lost twin brother tonight, at my family’s hotel,” Ying Jiayi chimed in.

Gu Yang’s focus skewed. “Again at your family’s place? Your dad really is enthusiastic.”

Ying Jiayi choked. Even though she knew there was no hidden meaning in his words, that didn’t stop her from feeling that Gu Yang’s comments carried an invisible sting.

And she couldn’t refute it either. Ever since her father fully took over the Ying family’s business, for some reason, these busybody arrangements had multiplied inexplicably.

To be honest, she thought it was rather cheapening…

“Anyway, that’s how it is.” Ying Jiayi gave up resisting, looping her arm through Gu Yang’s other arm. “So just give me some face, Young Master, okay?”

With one person on each side, the posture resembled escorting a prisoner. Gu Yang seriously suspected that even if he shook his head, these two would drag him along by force. “…Fine.”

He exchanged a glance with the driver, then tossed his schoolbag into the car and shut the door.

Yu Bai and Ying Jiayi shared a look, both wearing the expression of a successful scheme.

A banquet filled with socialites was bound to be a massive melon field, and of course they wanted Gu Yang there to enjoy it to the fullest.

The destination was close to the school, so the group simply walked over, chatting along the way.

“By the way, what’s the deal with this Lu family twin? If not for this banquet, I wouldn’t have known Lu Ran had a younger brother.” Yu Bai was brimming with curiosity.

“I don’t know either, he just appeared out of nowhere.” Ying Jiayi curled her lips. “They said he had poor health since childhood, so he was raised in the countryside, and only now brought back.”

“Poor health, raised in the countryside?” Yu Bai couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Seriously? Like medical care is convenient out there?”

“How could it be? I don’t buy it at all.” Ying Jiayi sneered. “Even if it were true, how could they have gone all these years without mentioning it? I’ve never once heard that the Lu family had twins.”

“So this guy tonight must be…” Yu Bai gave an expression everyone understood. “You know what I mean…”

“Enough.” The class monitor gently cut him off. “You’re all going to be classmates from now on. Don’t start speculating before you’ve even met.”

Only Gu Yang stayed silent, his expression languid and listless, his energy far removed from the playful mood he’d had at lunchtime.

But no one found it strange.

Because of business ties between their families, they all belonged to the same social circle, and they had long grown used to Gu Yang’s shifting moods. This was his normal state.

When they arrived at the entrance, Gu Yang suddenly let out a soft “ah,” as if he’d just remembered something.

“What is it?” Ying Jiayi asked.

“Wouldn’t it look bad if I went in empty-handed?”

“….” Ying Jiayi pressed her lips together. This man’s EQ really came and went at random. “It’s fine, I didn’t prepare anything either.”

That newly welcomed Lu family young master didn’t seem very well-liked anyway.

With that, she pushed open the door.

The banquet hall was already bustling with guests. Ying Jiayi immediately dragged Gu Yang inside, who was still hung up on the gift issue.

“Jiayi, you’re here.” Madam Ying walked over as soon as she saw them, greeting them warmly. “Did you all come straight after school?”

“Hello, Auntie Ying.” Yu Bai greeted with a grin, flashing his little tiger teeth.

The class monitor also nodded politely, subtly tugging Gu Yang back to reality from his daze.

Gu Yang’s eyes fell on the jade bead necklace wrapped twice around Madam Ying’s neck. “Auntie’s necklace has excellent quality.”

The woman before him was well-maintained, her black hair coiled at the back of her head, her demeanor graceful and gentle.

“Is that so? Jiayi’s father bought it for me.” Madam Ying covered her mouth with a smile. “I don’t really understand these things, but since you say so, it must be true.”

“My mom isn’t interested in jewelry, but my dad insists on buying it anyway. He says whether she likes it or not is one thing, but his thoughtfulness is another.” Ying Jiayi interjected. In a circle where chaotic private lives were the norm, her parents’ harmonious marriage was considered a rare model.

But she quickly shifted the subject. “Has that new Lu family boy arrived yet?”

“Not yet. He should have by now, maybe traffic was too heavy?” Madam Ying shook her head. She noticed a lady nearby holding a wine glass, waiting for her, and looked a bit flustered.

“Oh, Jiayi, your father wants to talk to you. He’s over there.” Madam Ying pointed the way, then told Gu Yang and the others, “You kids go enjoy yourselves. There are plenty of snacks, and if you want anything, just ask the staff to make it.”

With that, she left to handle her own business.

“Now? Can’t it wait until we’re home?” Ying Jiayi grumbled. She hadn’t even had time to enjoy the gossip, but had no choice but to hurry off.

As soon as she left, another guest approached with a wine glass. The class monitor smoothly grabbed a glass of orange juice from a tray, patted Gu Yang’s shoulder, and steered the guest away before he could be targeted.

Events like this were basically all about fake pleasantries, which was why Gu Yang hated attending them.

Because once you showed up, people would inevitably force awkward conversations on you.

The very next second, he found himself locking eyes with Shen Mingjun.

Shen Mingjun clearly didn’t want to see him either, but forced over by his parents, he wore a stiff smile, his body radiating resistance.

Gu Yang couldn’t be bothered, giving only perfunctory replies to Shen’s father. These polite exchanges were all the same; he had a mental template loaded and ready to run while zoning out.

His gaze drifted to the poised Shen Madam, who smiled gently.

[So this is the mistress Shen Shan abandoned his wife for?]

[Her name’s Zhou Yinyin, right?]

Shen Mingjun’s face instantly changed color, while snickers rippled around them, unrestrained.

He was about to speak, but a sharp look from Shen Shan, tinged with suppressed anger, silenced him.

Even after leaving, Shen Mingjun’s heart pounded wildly. Shen Shan, unaware of what had just happened, wore an unhappy scowl. “What grudge do you have with that Gu family brat?”

“N-no, nothing.” Shen Mingjun swallowed, feigning calm.

“Is that so? Then why was your face so ugly just now, like you were about to throw it in his face? You think others are blind?” Shen Shan snapped. “I don’t care what happened between you two, just hurry up and smooth things over.”

“Dad!” Shen Mingjun blurted, anxious. “Why do we have to please him? What’s Gu Yang, anyway? Didn’t you say the Gu Corporation won’t even be inherited by him?”

“So what? No matter what, he’s still the Gu family’s eldest son. If I hadn’t worked so hard to squeeze you in, you’d never even get close to him in your whole life.” Shen Shan sneered, muttering to himself with bitter irony. “Even I can’t get a decent face from him…”

“In short, I don’t care what method you use. Instead of wasting time trying to please that Zheng girl, you’d better focus on the right person. The Zheng family isn’t even qualified to be our stepping stone. I won’t allow myself to have chosen the wrong person from the start.”

Having his secret thoughts laid bare so bluntly by his father nearly made Shen Mingjun grind his teeth to dust, but he didn’t dare retort.

After Shen Shan left, his mother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t take it to heart. Your father has always spoken like that.”

Her gaze lingered wistfully on Shen Shan’s retreating figure. “He was like this when he was young, and it’s only gotten worse with age.”

“If you knew, then why choose such a man to spend your life with?” Shen Mingjun said angrily.

“Did I really have a better choice?” Zhou Yinyin retorted. Her beauty was delicate, her maintenance flawless, so much so that no one could guess she had a child in high school. Even her rebuke carried an air of fragile grievance.

“Besides, it wasn’t just my choice. It was yours too.”

Hearing that, Shen Mingjun’s expression darkened further.

Seeing his face, Zhou Yinyin softened her tone and shifted the topic. “Alright, don’t rush to patch things up with the Gu young master today. That kind of thing can’t be forced.”

“Ah Zhou also came today. You cousins haven’t seen each other in ages. His grades are excellent—maybe he can help you with the subjects you struggle with.”

Grades, grades—what use were grades? He still had to grovel before Gu Yang anyway.

Shen Mingjun pressed his lips together, silent, his expression venomous as he cast a suppressed, poisonous look at Gu Yang, like a coiled viper.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Bai asked.

“Suddenly felt a chill. Is this hall drafty?” Gu Yang muttered.

“There’s a cold front coming, temps are dropping. It’ll only get colder at night. You’re just underdressed.” Yu Bai handed him a cup of hot ginger tea.

“I told you I didn’t want to come. You’re the ones who dragged me.” Gu Yang accepted the tea, the warmth seeping into his palm. He lowered his head lazily and sipped. “Chatting with a bunch of half-strangers makes even eating impossible.”

“Hey, you didn’t see how Shen Shan looked at me when you weren’t there—like I was beneath him. Damn, I didn’t know he could speak so politely either.” Yu Bai kept chattering. “Really, like father, like son—crooked to the core.”

“But that’s expected. Our family wasn’t even invited. If not for Jiayi, I wouldn’t have gotten in here.” Yu Bai leaned closer, draping an arm around Gu Yang’s shoulder. “If this were one of those melodramatic novels, I’d be the idle cannon fodder villain, constantly sniped at, eventually breaking down.”

“It’s fine. You’ve got thick skin.” Gu Yang brushed his hand off, but in the next instant, someone else approached to greet him.

Ying Jiayi returned from her conversation, her face dark. Out of loyalty, Yu Bai quickly asked what had happened.

“My dad.” Ying Jiayi vented irritably. “I went over to talk to him, and he was chatting with someone. Guess what I overheard? He was actually picking a match for me.”

“What? Already pushing marriage? Your family got some feudal house rules or something?” Yu Bai was dumbfounded.

“I can’t even complain. Other parents are scared of their kids dating in high school, and mine’s eager to settle me down as soon as possible.”

“The kicker is, the person he picked is also just a high schooler. Claims the guy’s so capable that he’d feel at ease handing him the company one day. I’ve even met him at home a few times—he’s my dad’s high school classmate’s son. I didn’t think much at the time.”

“What am I then, dead? He wants to find some guy to manage the company for me?”

“Damn, your dad really is something.” Yu Bai shook his head. “So what now?”

“I don’t know. I was so speechless, I just left. Didn’t want to keep talking to him.”

“Wait a sec…” Yu Bai’s eyes gleamed. He suddenly pulled Gu Yang over, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

“Did you know? Jiayi’s parents picked her a blind date, named Yu Zhou. She saw him and instantly fell in love, vowing she’d never marry anyone else. She even plans to skip detours and study home economics in college, to be his virtuous wife, wash his clothes, cook his meals, and be the woman behind his success.”

“She said when they marry, she’ll invite us to sit at the main table and witness their perfect love story.”

Gu Yang’s cold, perfunctory mask shifted.

He first blinked in confusion, processing the words. Then his face contorted like he’d seen a ghost. Slowly, he scanned Ying Jiayi up and down, his expression moving from disbelief to disdain, before finally tossing out a flat “Congratulations.”

Ying Jiayi: “…”

Damn it, infuriating!

She knew exactly what Yu Bai was up to. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the sound she’d been waiting for came.

[Yu Zhou…]

[Huh? Isn’t he just a phoenix man looking to leech? Is Jiayi blind to actually like this kind of trash? She seriously needs to get her eyes checked.]

Before she could even be mad at Gu Yang for insulting her, Ying Jiayi’s eyes sharpened.

Phoenix man?

[Jiayi’s mom found herself a phoenix man, so is bad taste in men hereditary?]

Ying Jiayi frowned. It was true—her dad had been a poor nobody without background, while her mom was the heiress of the Ying Corporation. When her mother had announced their relationship, most in their circle had been pessimistic.

Even though her father later won over her grandparents with genuine sincerity and time, rumors never ceased.

But marriage was something lived behind closed doors. All she needed to know was that her father was a good husband and a good father—that was enough.

Yu Bai glanced at Ying Jiayi’s face, awkwardly forcing a laugh. He had clearly been too reckless. He should have tried this in private, not in a room full of acquaintances where she was basically publicly put on trial.

[This Yu Zhou really is a piece of work—he actually suggested “restoring the ancestral line in three generations.”]

[His idea was that if he and Ying Jiayi had a child, that child—the grandson of a son-in-law—would take the surname Liu, to make up for his wife’s family line not continuing.]

[…Impressive.]