Gu Yuanting had returned from the hospital.

He had received news earlier that his “father” was causing disturbances within the group, frequently targeting several important projects, and even trying to win over several board shareholders in hopes of regaining power.

This afternoon, he had just received a call: Father Gu wanted to quietly transfer “Big Brother” Gu Mingfeng, who was in the hospital, but he exposed himself. His clandestine actions were discovered by Gu Yuanting’s subordinates, who temporarily stopped him.

Gu Yuanting was not worried about Father Gu’s actions in the group. His subordinates were handling the projects, and even if he gained the support of a few shareholders, he couldn’t cause any major disruption.

However, given Father Gu’s identity, his subordinates couldn’t simply keep Gu Mingfeng from being transferred indefinitely, so they had to call and report to him, requiring him to come and handle it.

Unlike Father Gu, who was muddle-headed and incompetent, whose every action could be easily suppressed, Gu Yuanting still had reservations about this “Big Brother” Gu Mingfeng. Their countless confrontations in his past life were still vivid in his memory.

Gu Mingfeng’s condition had now progressed from early-stage lung cancer a year ago to late-stage lung cancer. He lay in the hospital, reportedly unable to get out of bed, relying on a ventilator and nutritional fluids to sustain life, already at death’s door.

Gu Yuanting hadn’t paid attention to his condition for a long time, letting him live or die in the hospital, but Father Gu’s abnormal behavior put Gu Yuanting on alert.

It was very likely that Gu Mingfeng was not as extremely weak as he appeared, and Father Gu’s actions were orchestrated by him. If Gu Mingfeng successfully transferred hospitals, he would be out of Gu Yuanting’s control and could hide in the dark at any time, ready to strike back.

The closer a person is to death, the more terrifying their madness before death.

Gu Yuanting did not lower his guard. He wanted to eliminate the hidden danger at its source. His visit to the hospital just now was to resolve this matter. The troublesome Father Gu had already been sent back to the nursing home.

As for Gu Mingfeng, he indeed appeared to be on his last breath and was still lying in his hospital room, now under more stringent “protection.”

Although the matter was resolved, Gu Yuanting’s mood did not improve. Coming into contact with everything related to the Gu family again made his emotions cold, as if he had returned to his past life.

After dealing with his “father,” he rushed back, and only felt better upon seeing Ranran sleeping soundly in the covers. He tidied himself, showered, then carefully slipped into bed and hugged Ranran, kissing him.

Su Yiran vaguely felt Ting-ge’s return in his sleep and mumbled “Ting-ge” indistinctly, but didn’t wake up.

Hearing him call his name was enough to soften Gu Yuanting’s heart. He kissed Ranran, grateful that in this life, he had Ranran.

Gu Yuanting held Ranran and gradually fell into a deep sleep.

He seemed to have hazy dreams all night, strange and grotesque, all related to his dark past life. Gu Yuanting woke up with a pounding headache, only feeling a little better when he saw Ranran in his arms.

---

The next day, the news of Gu Yuanting bringing his partner back quickly spread throughout the Gu family. The other members of the Gu family wanted to meet Su Yiran. Since Gu Yuanting took power with an iron fist and ruthless efficiency, they had suffered considerable losses. They all wanted to meet Su Yiran to gauge Gu Yuanting’s attitude or gather information from him.

Gu Yuanting didn’t want Ranran to meet these unimportant people and blocked all requests on Su Yiran’s behalf.

Su Yiran followed Ting-ge’s advice and had no intention of seeing these people. As per their original plan, Su Yiran intended to visit Gu Yuanting’s grandfather at the nursing home with Ting-ge in the afternoon.

Unexpectedly, during lunch, the butler came in and bowed slightly to him: “Sir, Old Master Gu wishes to see you.”

Su Yiran was startled and glanced at Ting-ge: “Grandfather?”

Gu Yuanting frowned slightly and nodded at Ranran.

Su Yiran told the butler: “We plan to go this afternoon, around three o’clock.” He considered that the elderly gentleman might be taking a nap at noon, so he pushed the time back.

In Su Yiran’s mind, the Gu family’s internal struggles were undoubtedly intense and complicated. The relationships between blood relatives were also very cold. Coupled with Ting-ge’s abduction, Ting-ge’s relationship with the other members of the Gu family was also very distant.

However, he knew that Ting-ge’s return to the Gu family was at the behest of his grandfather, so while he felt estranged, he still held respect for Grandfather Gu.

In the afternoon, they went to the nursing home where Grandfather Gu resided. This place was less a nursing home and more another estate. Grandfather Gu lived in the villa at the very center of the estate.

When Su Yiran saw Grandfather Gu, the elder was already seated in the reception room, waiting for them. Seeing them enter, led by the old butler, the dragon-headed cane he was holding thumped on the floor.

Grandfather Gu’s hawk-like gaze passed over Gu Yuanting and landed on Su Yiran.

This was a very old and decrepit-looking man, with completely white hair and a face full of wrinkles. His physical state seemed to have affected his spirit, giving off a sense of twilight, and only from his eyes could one discern his former toughness.

Su Yiran placed the gift he had brought on the coffee table and greeted him with a smile: “Hello, Grandfather.”

Grandfather Gu scrutinized Su Yiran from head to toe, his gaze making one feel somewhat uncomfortable. Gu Yuanting frowned and shielded Ranran behind him.

Grandfather Gu saw Gu Yuanting’s action, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then looked at Su Yiran: “First time meeting. As an elder, I should also give you a gift.” Saying this, he extended his hand towards the old butler behind him.

The old butler was prepared, producing a box. Grandfather Gu took the box, opened it, looked inside, and handed it to Su Yiran. Su Yiran politely took it with both hands: “Thank you, sir.”

Grandfather Gu smiled: “Open it and take a look.”

Su Yiran opened the box and saw a flawlessly clear white jade bi disc inside, carved with complex ancient totems. It was clearly very valuable and held special symbolic meaning. He couldn’t help but look up at Grandfather Gu questioningly: “This is…”

Grandfather Gu smiled, saying kindly: “This is an ancient jade passed down through our Gu family, given to the spouse of each family head.”

Originally, this ancient jade bi disc was held by Gu Yuanting’s birth mother, but Gu Yuanting’s birth mother died young, and the ancient jade bi disc was re-collected into the Gu family’s secret room. Now it was given to Su Yiran.

Knowing this special meaning, Su Yiran looked at the ancient jade bi disc in the box again, respectfully closed the box, and thanked him again: “Thank you, sir. I will take good care of it.”

Grandfather Gu smiled and shook his head, looking at Su Yiran with affection on his face: “We are family. This is what you deserve.”

After Gu Yuanting returned to the Gu family, Grandfather Gu initially heard that Gu Yuanting had married an ordinary person in China, and that person was male, and he strongly opposed it.

However, he didn’t immediately do anything. He believed that his direct grandson, having just transitioned from an ordinary life, and having tasted wealth and enjoyed extravagance, would eventually divorce that ordinary person automatically.

But unexpectedly, after he arranged blind dates for Gu Yuanting with socialites, he was met with Gu Yuanting’s opposition. Later, Gu Yuanting became increasingly powerful, even forcing him to retreat to the sidelines. Gu Yuanting’s protection of Su Yiran was also too thorough, making his opposition ineffective, so he had to temporarily give up, only pondering ways to break them up in his heart.

But before he could carefully consider the matter, he was blindsided by Gu Yuanting’s swift and decisive methods, ultimately being relegated to “recuperating” in this nursing home.

This direct grandson of his was not a pathetic person he had saved, but a fierce beast with a hawk’s gaze and a wolf’s cunning, ruthless and tyrannical, eyeing everything to devour it, resorting to any means to achieve his goals.

He was the perfect direct heir in Grandfather Gu’s ideal.

Only, he was a little too perfect, even Grandfather Gu himself suffered a backlash and had to withdraw from the Gu family’s center of power.

Now, Gu Yuanting’s position was already solidified, unshakeable. He was old, and every movement felt strenuous. Even if he wanted to contend, he was powerless to do so.

But it didn’t matter, Grandfather Gu smiled, and suddenly said to Su Yiran: “I heard you had a son with Gu Yuanting? You are very good.”

Su Yiran was startled, feeling a little uncomfortable with Grandfather Gu’s statement: “The baby is too young, still at home. My mother is helping to look after him.”

Grandfather Gu nodded. After he learned about this in the nursing home, he relaxed considerably, as if he had achieved some kind of victory.

Grandfather Gu smiled. Even if he stepped down as head of the family, and even if Gu Yuanting married a male, their direct lineage had a successor.

Su Yiran found Grandfather Gu’s smile very strange, making him feel uneasy.

Grandfather Gu asked Su Yiran, “What’s his name?”

Gu Yuanting spoke for the first time since entering. He took over the conversation: “His name is Su Guheng.”

Grandfather Gu froze for a moment, his cane tapping the ground: “Surname Su? No…” He seemed to think of something, his voice growing agitated, denying repeatedly, “No, no, the child’s surname is Su. How can he be considered a direct descendant of our Gu family? Change it back!”

By the end of his words, Grandfather Gu’s tone had become terrifyingly forceful. He stared intently at Gu Yuanting and Su Yiran, scanning both of them back and forth, a sharp glint in his murky eyes, as if he wouldn’t give up until he got his way.

Su Yiran was a bit surprised, not expecting Grandfather Gu to care so much about the child’s surname. He was a little unsure what to do and looked at Ting-ge. Should we just change it? He felt the surname didn’t matter; it was all the same.

Gu Yuanting soothingly stroked Ranran’s head, looking at Grandfather Gu with cold eyes, disregarding his intimidating gaze: “We’ve already decided, Grandfather.”

When he said the last two words, “Grandfather,” he seemed to mockingly curl his lips.

Su Yiran noticed something, and for a moment said nothing. Gu Yuanting took Ranran’s hand and stood up, looking down at Grandfather Gu: “We’re leaving. Please take good care of yourself.”

After saying that, he didn’t wait for Grandfather Gu to react and directly led Su Yiran away. Su Yiran still remembered his manners and only managed a hurried “Goodbye” to Grandfather Gu.

“No… no!” Grandfather Gu seemed severely agitated, suddenly standing up, but due to his weakened, aged body, he was unsteady on his feet and ultimately collapsed back into his seat, powerlessly watching them leave.

Su Yiran heard Grandfather Gu’s shouts behind him and instinctively wanted to turn back. Gu Yuanting already held the back of his head, pulling him into his embrace, not letting him look back.

“Don’t look, he’s a madman.”