The Gu family’s villa was situated in a well-known wealthy district, right in the heart of it.

When Gu Chengtian bought the house back then, the Gu Group wasn’t as illustrious as it was today. His funds weren’t actually that sufficient, but the man cared about face and insisted on settling himself into this prime location no matter what.

The white villa was neatly nestled beside pebbled paths. Under the blazing summer sun, amidst the hoarse cries of cicadas, green trees and thick clouds intertwined with emerald hues, providing dense shade that blotted out the sun. The Gu residence was hidden within this dappled green cloud.

The sunlight was cut by the leaves into mottled, broken shadows on the ground, with some light, shallow patterns imprinted on Gu Qichi’s profile.

He tilted his head back, his slightly long black hair meeting his snow-white neck, a distinct contrast of black and white forming an extremely beautiful curve.

It was hard to describe the feeling of seeing this villa again.

The sunlight pierced into his eyes, causing a slight sting. His amber eyes narrowed slightly, and time seemed to rewind to when Gu Qichi was sixteen.

It was also a hot summer day like this. Gu Qichi sat in the Gu family’s luxury car, watching the scenery flash by, waiting nervously and expectantly for the destination he was about to reach. Gu Yuning’s biological parents hadn’t been good to him; beatings and scoldings were common, and they usually ordered him around, treating him as a punching bag.

When someone told the sixteen-year-old boy that his biological parents weren’t the people who beat and scolded him at will, but the President and the President’s wife of the Gu Group, Gu Qichi’s first reaction was relief. He could finally escape that place.

When he arrived at the Gu residence, the sixteen-year-old Gu Qichi pressed his lips together tightly, his heart filled with indescribable anticipation. He hoped his biological parents would give him the care and affection he had never received, allowing him to experience fatherly and motherly love for once.

Unfortunately, his expectations fell through. That night, Gu Yuning pretended to be pushed by Gu Qichi and fell from the spiral staircase on the second floor. What greeted him wasn’t a chance to explain, but an indiscriminate slap.

…

Gu Qichi stood under the sunlight for a while before stepping inside.

Unlike the laughter and joy of the past, the Gu residence today was dead silent. Gu Chengtian frowned tightly, Geng Tingxun frequently looked back at the main entrance, Gu Yuning curled up in a single sofa biting his lip in indignation for himself, and as for Gu Yuan’an, he had long been locked upstairs by the Gu couple.

After lazily opening the door, Gu Qichi crossed his arms and leaned lazily against the door frame, speaking coolly, “Why do you all have such expressions? Did President Gu really get some terminal illness and is about to distribute his inheritance?”

“You!”

Seeing that Gu Chengtian was about to explode, Geng Tingxun held him back, put on a smile, and stood up, “Xiao Chi, what are you saying? No wonder your dad is angry.”

Gu Qichi’s expression was indifferent. He didn’t even lift his eyelids when she spoke, nor did he respond, causing Geng Tingxun’s words to get stuck in her throat.

Geng Tingxun: “Xiao Chi, our family company has indeed encountered some trouble recently, so your dad has been anxious and angry these past two days. Isn’t calling you back meant to discuss this with you…”

As Geng Tingxun spoke, she sized up the young man in front of her, her fingernails digging halfway into her palm. She and Gu Chengtian were also well-known handsome men and beautiful women when they were young, but compared to them, Gu Qichi was simply like winning the genetic lottery, astonishingly beautiful. No wonder the Second Young Master of the Bo family specifically asked for Gu Qichi to marry into the Bo family…

It was just heard that the Second Young Master had some terrifying hobbies and his methods were extremely ruthless. Gu Qichi had a good figure and such a face; it was unknown how many days he could last under him. It was only hoped that he wouldn’t be crippled…

Speaking of this, Gu Chengtian also suppressed his temper, forced a smile, and stiffly said to Gu Qichi at the door, “Xiao… Xiao Chi, you’re not young anymore, and you’re never home. Dad thinks it would be nice to find someone to take care of you.”

Before Gu Chengtian could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Gu Qichi’s sneer, “Gu Chengtian, have you forgotten? The life and death of the Gu Group have nothing to do with me. You transferred your shares to Gu Yuning and Gu Yuan’an long ago, and they have nothing to do with me. What, now that something has happened to the Gu Group, you remember you have a son like me and want me to go for a marriage alliance?”

Blocked by Gu Qichi’s words, Gu Chengtian was speechless for a long time. Geng Tingxun had to step in to smooth things over, “Xiao Chi, we are doing this for your own good. That Second Young Master is the sky of Dongcheng, with abundant assets and deep-rooted influence. Just a stomp of his foot would make the entire Dongcheng tremble. It’s our family’s blessing that he fancies our family.”

“Moreover, the Second Young Master specifically named you for the marriage alliance. With the Gu Group in his grasp, we really have no choice.”

Second Young Master?

Hearing this name suddenly, Gu Qichi frowned imperceptibly.

In the original text, this Second Young Master was the biggest rival of the main gong, Song Zhian, and also the biggest villain in the text. He was violent, gloomy, and had a bizarre temperament. Everyone turned pale at the mention of him, yet he only showed a different tenderness towards Gu Yuning, trying every means to get Gu Yuning.

Gu Qichi only knew the general plot, but having been trapped in the shell for too long, he had no idea how Gu Yuning’s plot line and emotional scenes developed, nor did he know about the love-hate entanglement between Gu Yuning and this Second Young Master.

This time, the false world was shattered, and he escaped the original plot. His personality awakened. Could it be that with his change, this time, others had also changed?

Thinking of this, the young man lowered his eyelashes, his gaze changing, wondering what he was thinking.

Gu Chengtian and Geng Tingxun were still relentlessly playing the victim in his ear. At the emotional peak, Geng Tingxun could even shed tears, staring pitifully at the unmoved Gu Qichi.

Too lazy to pay attention to this hypocritical couple anymore, but wanting to see how much the plot could deviate, Gu Qichi stood up nonchalantly, a slender neck bone slightly protruding, white and lustrous.

The young man lazily lifted his eyelids, his long and thick eyelashes casting a small layer of faint shadow on his face. An ambiguous chuckle overflowed from his throat, his tone flat, his voice slow and pleasant, but his words were extremely unsympathetic, “Want me to meet that marriage partner? Fine—”

He slowly dragged out his tone, his gaze like a cold knife glinting with chill, cutting inch by inch across Gu Yuning’s throat. Only when panic seeped into the other’s eyes did he continue, “Make Gu Yuning kneel and apologize to me, and I’ll agree.”

Gu Yuning visibly panicked. Gu Qichi’s words were tantamount to a vicious slap on his face, making his head spin. He looked pleadingly at his parents who had always doted on him, but the two remained silent.

And the door upstairs that had quietly opened was quietly closed again. Second Young Master Bo’s attitude was tough: either let Gu Qichi meet him, or let the entire Gu Group go to hell.

Seeing Gu Yuning motionless for a long time, Gu Qichi yawned lazily, forcing a tear from the corner of his eye, “If you’re not willing, forget it. Since that’s the case, I’ll go home first.”

The atmosphere was deadly silent.

Before Gu Qichi turned around, Gu Chengtian spoke up, “Xiao Ning, apologize to your brother quickly!”

Gu Yuning, shrinking in the corner, had red eyes, his almond eyes wide open, fighting back the sourness in his nose, and tremblingly called out “Dad”, but was forcibly interrupted by Gu Chengtian.

Gu Chengtian: “Apologize!”

The scene of paternal love and filial piety before him was exceptionally wonderful. Gu Qichi watched the two’s movements with leisure, slightly lifting his exquisite chin. A pair of watery peach blossom eyes were lazy and affectionate, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Gu Yuning in front of him walked over step by step slowly, each step exceptionally humiliating. His eyelashes were stuck together by tears into a wet mess. After several mental preparations and being called twice by Gu Chengtian, he knelt down with extreme resentment and distortion.

“Qichi… brother, I… I… I was wrong…”

The precious Young Master Gu probably hadn’t suffered such anger in his life. His voice trembled, slightly hoarse, like a young bird whose wings were forcibly broken, making anyone who saw it feel unbearable.

Except for Gu Qichi.

In his eyes were undisguised disgust and ridicule. He wasn’t even willing to step into the Gu family’s house. For no other reason than the great beauty found it dirty.

“Where is the address?”

Hearing Gu Qichi speak, Gu Chengtian hurriedly replied, “At Hanting International, the Second Young Master is waiting for you there.”

After hearing the answer, Gu Qichi turned and left. After taking two steps, he didn’t forget to look back and slowly stab a knife into the hearts of the father and son, “President Gu better discipline your son well. Last time at Yun Ting, if I hadn’t noticed something wrong and someone hadn’t drugged me and fled in advance, I’m afraid I would have been sent to someone’s bed…”

“If it really came to that step, it would indeed be a huge scandal.”

Having said this much, Gu Chengtian would understand himself. Too lazy to pay attention to them anymore, Gu Qichi walked out of this villa area leisurely, his mood indescribably carefree.

The speeding scenery outside the car window kept flashing before his eyes, the wind howling in his ears, and the brilliant neon lights flickering. Gu Qichi sat quietly in the back seat, scenes from each life surfacing in his mind.

When he arrived at Hanting, it was already late, long past the time Gu Chengtian had given him.

The evening breeze was still hot. The car door was slowly pulled open. Gu Qichi wore a thin shirt, the top two buttons brazenly open, revealing skin so white it glowed, his collarbone lines clear and distinct.

He played with the stun baton in his hand. Although he looked lazy, his aura was exceptionally strong. His gorgeous brows and eyes were noble and cold, his peach blossom eyes slightly upturned, possessing a sharp decadence.

Old and ugly Second Young Master of Dongcheng?

Gu Qichi was actually quite curious.

As soon as he entered, a waiter came forward, polite and respectful. Gu Qichi glanced around and chuckled.

Indeed rich, just a marriage alliance banquet, yet they made such a big fuss booking the whole venue.

Lights intertwined in the banquet hall, and melodious violin sounds floated in the air. Gu Qichi stepped into the hall, his gaze focused, his steps pausing slightly.

Hearing footsteps, the young, tall man turned his head. He was wearing a black formal suit, noble and cold, looking very much like a beast in human clothing.

Seeing the person arrive, Bo Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and curled the corners of his lips imperceptibly, “Finally caught you.”

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Author’s Note:

Bo Yu: Saw wifey, peacock spreading its tail

Gu Qichi: Holding a stun baton, punching the old lecher