Chapter 13: Where Were You Last Night?
Gu Shisheng pushed away the quite drunk Shen Qinghe, his eyes showing no ripples as he asked the bewildered youth, “What do you love about me?”
“What?” Shen Qinghe was a bit unclear.
“Do you love my appearance? Or do you love that I helped you in your most difficult times? Or is it because I now present myself as refined and graceful?” Gu Shisheng seemed genuinely puzzled. “But these are all things I’ve deliberately crafted for you.”
He was genuinely curious, but a drunken person couldn’t comprehend. The young man looked at him in confusion, making Gu Shisheng unable to help but smile, seeing a deeper joy in the other’s eyes.
“I’m not as good as you imagine.”
He had insecurities and illnesses, the most miserable and bleak moments of his life were all witnessed by Lu Siyi.
“Go to bed early; you are stronger than me.” In this world, there were too many unfortunate people. People like Gu Shisheng, who almost drove themselves crazy, and people like Shen Qinghe, who walked out resolutely and touched the light in the open, were truly commendable.
Gu Shisheng stayed the night taking care of Shen Qinghe. However, he didn’t expect to see Lu Siyi the next morning as soon as he returned home.
Lu Siyi sat on the living room sofa in casual home attire, legs crossed, holding a teacup in one hand and looking at documents. When he heard the movement, he turned his head.
Looking at him, there was a hint of darkness in his eyes. “Where were you last night?”
Gu Shisheng admitted that he panicked at that moment. His face turned white for an instant, but quickly recovered. He put down his coat and walked naturally to sit opposite Lu Siyi.
His gaze fell on Lu Siyi’s expression.
How much did Lu Siyi know? Did he know everything? Should he lay it all out?
“You said to take care of myself. Did you spend another night at the gallery?” Lu Siyi put down the teacup, sounding reproachful, but full of concern.
In that moment, Gu Shisheng’s heart settled, but a subtle guilt that arose made him dare not look at Lu Siyi.
“No, I went to bed early.”
Lu Siyi had Qin Yi prepare a stomach-warming porridge for Gu Shisheng.
“You can do whatever you like, but take care of yourself. You should know that, in my eyes, you are the most important. I don’t care about anything else.” Lu Siyi nodded, then looked at Gu Shisheng. “Why do you have time to stay at home today?”
Lu Siyi put down the documents, looking somewhat displeased. “Father’s birthday banquet. He usually doesn’t like celebrating it, but this year, he’s surprisingly enthusiastic. It’s not time yet, and he has invited everyone who’s someone in Xiangcheng. Clearly paving the way for his little son.”
His tone was more sarcastic.
Lu Siyi’s little son, born to a lover of Lu’s father, was one of many. Lu’s father, not young anymore, had many lovers, but he had been relatively restrained in recent years. However, this unexpected one had been kept, which was quite a blow to Lu Siyi’s mother.
Lu Siyi rarely returned to the main Lu family. Gu Shisheng also rarely visited, knowing that people there didn’t particularly like him.
For the older generation, accepting same-sex relationships was challenging. Even though Lu Siyi had openly talked about it, even if he didn’t have Gu Shisheng, they still hoped he would marry a woman when the time came to get married. They wished for him to have children, even if he played around with men outside.
“Do I need to prepare anything?”
Lu Siyi shook his head. “No need. We’ll stay for a couple of days and leave.”
This was already giving Lu’s father face.
Genetic inheritance was accurate. Lu’s father hoped his son would be filial, but he couldn’t control him. Every time Lu Siyi brought Gu Shisheng here, he had to protect him comprehensively.
The butler was happy to see Lu Siyi and Gu Shisheng, having worked for the Lu family for many years, he had witnessed Lu Siyi growing up.
“The house has been prepared for you and Mr. Gu. I have it cleaned every day. Master is in a good mood recently. He is old, and you know his temper. Don’t take anything to heart.”
Lu Siyi stopped, and his gaze became cold. “Did you bring that person back?”
The butler didn’t dare to speak.
Lu Siyi already understood, coldly sneering, he took Gu Shisheng upstairs.
The butler hurriedly followed.
Lu Siyi had developed this habit. Since the first time he was humiliated here, every time he brought Gu Shisheng, he would protect him comprehensively.
The butler, sweating coldly, hoped that the illegitimate child would stay quietly in the attic in the backyard.
But it was impossible.
Lu Siyi and Gu Shisheng entered the main hall and saw Lu’s father sitting on the sofa, along with a young man handing tea to Lu’s father.
The young man was in his early twenties. When he turned around and saw Lu Siyi, a flash of fear crossed his eyes, hastily standing up.
“Brother.”
Lu Siyi looked at Lu’s father with a smile that wasn’t a smile.
Lu’s father stiffened, feeling a bit awkward.
“I didn’t expect your mother to give birth to a younger brother for me.” Lu Siyi couldn’t be bothered to look at the young man.
Lu’s father’s tone became even more awkward. “Cheng’en, I told you last time, from now on, call Lu Siyi ‘Young Master.’”
Lu Cheng’en’s face turned pale. What shame was, this was the greatest shame. Two sons of the same father; one was the esteemed Young Master Lu, the other, a illegitimate child.
Lu Cheng’en forced a smile. “Young Master.”
Lu Siyi didn’t bother to look at this person’s hypocritical face, and his gaze fell on the project plan on the table, even more mocking. “Get a bit of skill before being greedy. Otherwise, even giving you a glance feels like a loss.”
He pulled Gu Shisheng upstairs, not bothering to look at the father and son pair with iron-cold expressions.
As Gu Shisheng went upstairs, he turned his head and happened to see the resentful gaze of the young man. He turned away, following Lu Siyi upstairs into the room.