Chapter 59: Overacting

“Brother Gu!” Dongfang Cheng hurried over and, upon seeing Lan Xinqiao seated to the side, paused briefly in surprise. “Miss Lan, you’re here too.”

Lan Xinqiao rose gracefully with a smile. “You two carry on. I’ll take a walk.”

Gu Ting stood up as well. “Take care.”

Once she had left, Dongfang Cheng gripped Gu Ting’s hand tightly. “Brother Gu! Ting! You have to help me!”

Gu Ting arched an eyebrow and pulled his hand away. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Dongfang Cheng slumped into a chair, ruffling his hair. “My old man is making me go on a blind date. This National Day banquet they’re throwing tonight is nothing but a trap.”

“Oh? Which family’s young lady?”

“The Xu family. Xu Zhiyi, the one who just had a second-level art exhibition.”

“She sounds nice. You’re not young anymore—time to settle down.”

Dongfang Cheng shot him a look. “I’m only twenty-three. Don’t get smug; you’re two months older than me.”

Gu Ting picked up his glass and took a slow sip of wine. “Our family patriarch never nags me about that.”

Dongfang Cheng was the youngest son of the Dongfang family’s patriarch, whose greatest wish was to see him married.

“I don’t like it. I don’t want to get married. I prefer wild girls.”

“Tell your father that, not me.”

“He won’t listen! That’s why I came to you. Please, just help me stall for a while, I’m begging you.” Dongfang Cheng tugged at Gu Ting’s sleeve, feigning a whimper.

Gu Ting set his wine glass down. “By the way, why haven’t I seen Wuxie tonight?”

The Dongfang family was hosting all the major powers of the capital; someone like Mo Wuxie would never miss such an occasion.

“Oh, him? He’s off somewhere handing out flyers, trying to get people to invest in his little company.”

Dongfang Cheng crossed his legs and, after a pause, continued, “Brother Gu, aren’t we overdoing this act?”

“It’s you lot who are over-exaggerating.”

“You really know how to make yourself sound good.”

*

“Wuxie.” A tall figure appeared behind Mo Wuxie.

Mo Wuxie’s eyes narrowed at the sound of the voice. He turned. “Big Brother.”

Mo Yunzhou smiled faintly, his features bearing a clear resemblance to Mo Wuxie’s.

“I heard you’re short on funds. How about I lend you some?”

“Oh? Is this the kind I don’t have to pay back?”

The smile on Mo Yunzhou’s face stiffened. “You do have quite the imagination.”

Still, he pulled a card from his pocket. “There’s three million on this. Take it.”

Mo Wuxie shot him a glance, then accepted the card. “As expected of the illustrious Mo heir—so generous.”

Mo Yunzhou chuckled, but his eyes were laced with contempt. He thought to himself, an illegitimate child will always be an illegitimate child, never presentable.

After a few polite words, Mo Yunzhou found an excuse to leave.

He hadn’t been gone long before Dongfang Cheng and Gu Ting came looking for him.

“Look at this, a handout from Mo Yunzhou. Can’t even buy a decent bottle of wine,” Mo Wuxie said, stuffing the card into his pocket.

Dongfang Cheng laughed. “Just what kind of wine are you drinking?”

“Brother Gu, Wuxie, want to hit Demon’s Lair Bar tonight?”

Mo Wuxie’s eyes lit up. “I’m in.”

Gu Ting gave them a sidelong glance. “Count me out. I prefer to keep myself out of trouble.”

“Come on! You’re not married yet!”

Gu Ting glanced at his phone. “I’m heading back to Fancheng tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?” Dongfang Cheng nudged Mo Wuxie.

“For the little fairy, obviously. She’s so beautiful, of course Brother Gu has to keep an eye on her.”

Gu Ting was momentarily taken aback. He lowered his gaze. “Yes, I have to keep her close.”

**

At the Gu family’s old residence, the servants were busy cleaning. Hearing footsteps outside, they paused and greeted him with a bow. “Young Master Three.”

Gu Ting nodded slightly and went straight upstairs to the study.

“Xiaoting, you’re back.” The middle-aged man at the desk looked up, his eyes remarkably similar to Gu Ting’s.

Gu Ting gave a slight nod. “Uncle.”

“Have a seat,” Gu Chengfeng said, setting aside his work and motioning to the sofa.

Gu Ting lounged on the couch, crossing his legs with an air of nonchalance.

“Your aunt misses you. Now that you’re back, are you leaving again?” Gu Chengfeng looked up at him.

Gu Ting’s expression didn’t change. “I’m going to Fancheng tomorrow.”

A hint of disappointment flickered across Gu Chengfeng’s face. Remembering something Mo’s boy had said, he asked, “You’re teaching in Fancheng?”

“Yes, just gaining a bit of life experience.”

Gu Chengfeng’s lips twitched. “As long as you enjoy it.”

Being a teacher was better than hanging around casinos all day.

“Go see your aunt. She’s still awake at this hour.”

Gu Ting’s parents had died young; it was his aunt who’d raised him, and their bond was deep.

“All right, I’ll go now.”

Gu Chengfeng nodded, and Gu Ting left the study, heading downstairs.