Chapter 17 Busy
The "being a younger brother" bet that had bound Gu Ye for a whole month also came to an end silently.
No announcement, no conclusion, as if it had never existed.
However, the atmosphere in the corner by the window remained unchanged.
The morning sun still punctually illuminated Chu Yan's focused profile and Gu Ye's figure as he rushed into the classroom on time. "Good morning." "Good morning." The simple greetings revealed an unspoken understanding.
During breaks, Gu Ye was no longer the first person to rush out of the classroom. More often, he would frown, holding a physics or math workbook, poking Chu Yan's arm next to him: "Hey, this problem... is the force analysis wrong?" Or he would point at a long and difficult sentence on the English test and ask: "What the hell is this talking about?"
Chu Yan would put down his own book and patiently take it, pointing to the questions with the tip of his pen and explaining in a moderate voice. Gu Ye would sometimes pull his hair in frustration, but he never threw his book and walked away like he did in the beginning.
Gu Ye no longer showed up late, left early, or skipped classes. The "school bully" who once troubled the teachers was now a stable fixture in Class (A). The teachers, initially surprised, now took it for granted.
Gu Ye seemed completely absorbed in this routine, almost grueling, life. Daytimes, he struggled through mountains of books and exercises, nights, sweating profusely under Chu Yan's instructions. Physical exhaustion brought him to a deep sleep, while the sense of accomplishment from mastering each knowledge point, like a tiny flame, ignited a long-dormant desire within him. He even began to think that this "torture" wasn't so bad after all.
But life is not all books and training.
That evening, the school bell lingered on, and Gu Ye followed Chu Yan, his steps seeming a bit slow. He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the straps of his schoolbag.
"That..." Gu Ye's voice broke the silence with a barely noticeable dryness.
"Hmm?" Chu Yan glanced sideways.
Gu Ye took a deep breath, as if mustering up his courage: "...Training tonight, I'll take a leave."
Chu Yan didn't stop, but glanced at his slightly tense face calmly: "What's the matter?"
"Yeah," Gu Ye replied vaguely, his gaze darting past Chu Yan to the blurred neon lights in the distance. "I have some personal matters to attend to." He studiously avoided the details. It had been so long since he'd worked part-time at Undercurrent, and his wallet was already empty. Next month's rent weighed heavily on his mind, and he had to catch a late show to at least fill the gap.
Chu Yan didn't ask any further questions. The silence lasted only a few seconds. He nodded, his voice calm and unwavering: "Okay."
Just a simple word, no emotion can be heard.
Gu Ye's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and the inexplicable feeling of anticipation and loss in his heart became even clearer. He quickly added, "I... I'll be back early." As if setting a rule for himself.
The corners of Chu Yan's lips seemed to twitch upwards ever so slightly: "Hmm."
The two separated at the next intersection, and Gu Ye quickly merged with the crowd leaving school, hurriedly heading in the opposite direction of the rental house. Chu Yan stood there, watching Gu Ye's back disappear around the corner. He pulled out his phone and casually sent a text to a number marked "Shan", then contacted the housekeeper, Uncle Chen.
The hustle and bustle of the city was isolated from the Maybach S680's massive exterior, leaving the interior like a mobile fortress of tranquility. Chu Yan leaned back in the back seat, eyes closed, the vibrant lights outside the window casting a shadowy pattern on his face.
The old man in the passenger seat, Uncle Chen, calmly took out an ultra-thin tablet computer from his briefcase and handed it respectfully to the back seat.
"Master Yan, this is the latest due diligence report on the Series A financing for the 'Cloud Intelligent Control' project, as well as background analysis and risk assessments for several potential lead investors. Master Yu has already conducted a preliminary review, but we hope you can further elaborate on the technical barriers to bolster investor confidence. The relevant supplementary materials and a list of specific questions raised by the other party are attached."
Chu Yan opened his eyes, no trace of sleep in them. He took the tablet and slid his fingertips across the cold screen. Inside the car, only the dim light of the tablet screen illuminated his focused profile, and the subtle rustling sound of his fingertips sliding across the screen.
He occasionally paused, tapping his fingers on a key figure or clause, making a brief note. His speed was incredibly fast, his thoughts clear, and he didn't look like a high school student who had just finished school. Instead, he looked like a helmsman with years of experience in the capital market.
"Regarding the technical barriers, have the technical team put together a more intuitive presentation document, highlighting our irreplaceable nature." Chu Yan's voice was low, yet it carried the confidence of someone in control of the overall situation. "As for the lead investors, we prioritize Qiming Venture Partners and Changfeng Technology Fund. Qiming has advantages in hardware ecosystem integration, and Changfeng has extensive government relations resources, which better aligns with our next strategic direction. We'll maintain contact with several other firms as potential candidates."
"Yes, Master Yan." Uncle Chen quickly wrote down the key points.
Chu Yan handed the tablet back, leaned back into the comfortable leather seat, and closed his eyes again: "Tell Brother Yu that the supplementary materials will be sent to his email before 10 o'clock tomorrow morning."
"I understand." Uncle Chen replied.
The car fell silent again, the only sound being the low hum of the engine. The sharp edge he'd used to handling official business faded, and Chu Yan's face regained its almost indifferent calm. The car steadily drove towards the suburbs, the city lights gradually fading behind them.
At the secret base atop the mountain, the night was as dark as ink. Across the vast sky, the stars shone brightly, like billions of scattered diamonds, merging into a magnificent silver band of light. A mountain breeze blew past, bringing with it the cool scent of grass and trees.
Gu Xu had been waiting there for a long time. An exquisite folding table, decanted red wine, and a portable telescope—everything was arranged with romantic care. Seeing Chu Yan approaching under the starlight, his face immediately broke into an impeccable, gentle smile.
"Are you here? The night sky is beautiful tonight."
The two sat down, red wine swishing gently in their glasses. The conversation shifted from the insignificant details of campus life to the mysteries of the vast universe. Gu Xu's voice was low and melodious, with deliberate guidance, trying to create an atmosphere unique to the two of them under the starry sky. He guided Chu Yan through the telescope to identify the stars, his shoulder casually leaning closer.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Gu Xu put down the telescope. His gaze didn't focus on the starry sky, but on Chu Yan's profile, which was clearly outlined by the starlight. His eyes were deep. "Every time I'm under a starry sky like this, I feel that the troubles of the world are so insignificant."
Chu Yan looked up at the starry sky and said, "Indeed. The universe is vast, and humans are but dust." He turned to glance at Gu Xu and said, "But the starry sky has its own brilliance, and the mortal world has its own brilliance."
Gu Xu didn't respond. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Chu Yan, and offered a sincere invitation: "Next week is my birthday. I'll have a small party at home with some close friends." He paused, his tone slowed down, and with a subtle hint of anticipation, "I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting Mr. Chu to come?"
The wind on the mountaintop seemed to hold its breath. Starlight poured down silently.
Chu Yan held the wine glass, his fingertips feeling the coolness of the glass. He looked into Gu Shi's eyes, which seemed particularly sincere under the starlight. This was a sign, a sign that Gu Shi was trying to draw him into his inner circle, to establish a deeper connection. It was also a perfect opportunity to observe closely, and perhaps even to intervene, within the Gu family.
Chu Yan's smile deepened, as if touched by the other party's sincerity. He met Gu's gaze and spoke in a clear and steady voice, "Mr. Gu's birthday? I'm honored." He raised his glass slightly, adding with a hint of playful meaning, "I'll seriously consider giving Mr. Gu a special gift."
"A special gift?" Gu Xu's eyebrows slightly raised, his interest thoroughly piqued. "Then I'll wait and see."
The crisp clink of wine glasses blends into the boundless sea of stars. Beneath the tranquility of the mountaintop, an undercurrent surges silently.
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