Chapter 36 Half a Year
Half a year passed like quicksand through fingers, slipping silently beneath the clear sky outside the window. Seasons shifted, and the sycamore trees outside the window turned green, then golden, finally fading in the cold winter wind, leaving their sturdy branches piercing the leaden sky. Yet, inside the classroom, the battlefield of the young men was always filled with smoke—the rustling of turning pages of exams was the constant background sound, and the red checkmarks and crosses were daily medals or spurs.
Gu Ye's name, like a fish swimming upstream, with astonishing speed and stubborn tenacity, repeatedly broke through the barriers of rankings, finally squeezing into the narrow channel that symbolizes the top 5% of the grade. As he once again clutched his books, under the gratified gaze of his homeroom teacher and the astonished and admiring gazes of his classmates, he took his seat by the window in Class 11 (A), the sun was pouring down generously, illuminating the spot beside him.
Chu Yan was beside him. Sunlight danced between his bony fingers, the black pen he habitually twirled, drawing smooth silver arcs in the light and shadow. The light equally generously spread across the mock exam paper spread out before Gu Ye. A bright red score lay quietly in the upper right corner, belying the owner's sweat and transformation.
"This question," Chu Yan's gaze fell on the blank space circled by Gu Ye in red pen, and the tip of his pen precisely touched the auxiliary line below the question. "The idea is correct, and the approach is also correct." His voice was low, with the unique, reassuring gentleness of the classroom, like the melting water of a stream in early spring. "But here," the tip of his pen moved to a key formula derivation step nearby, "the timing of substituting the parameters was half a beat too early. A slight difference can lead to a huge deviation in the result."
Gu Ye turned his head. Half a year ago, facing Chu Yan's correction, he might have subconsciously frowned or muttered a few words in dissatisfaction. But now, he just subconsciously moved closer. The clean scent of soapberries on the boy's body mixed with the warmth of the school uniform after being exposed to the sun, and as he approached, it brushed against Chu Yan's arm subtly. The tip of Gu Ye's nose almost touched Chu Yan's arm with rolled up sleeves. All his attention was focused on the line of equations circled by Chu Yan, his eyes sharp as if he was examining his prey. The sunlight outlined the profile of his focused face, and even the shadow cast by his eyelashes looked particularly serious.
After a brief silence, he straightened up. "I understand." His voice was crisp and clear, no unnecessary nonsense. He picked up his pen and quickly marked a blank space on the spread-out draft paper. With the calm and certainty of a man honed by countless trials, he began his calculations again. Every number and symbol he placed was filled with confidence. Six months had eroded his outward temper and bravado, cultivating a more restrained and powerful temperament.
Chu Yan's gaze lingered on Gu Ye's flowing handwriting for a moment, a subtle flicker of satisfaction crossing his eyes. He averted his gaze, his fingertips sliding silently across the screen. A new message from Gu Ye sat quietly on the lock screen notification bar: [8pm, Qingjiang Garden? Newly arrived Burgundy, decanter awaits you.] Followed by an elegant wine glass emoji. Chu Yan tapped his finger, unlocking the screen, and replied tersely: [Okay. Frying up those lamb chops you mentioned last time.]
Just as I pressed send, another message popped up, from a contact identified as "Brother Yu." The tone was completely different, carrying an undeniable command: [3 PM, company conference room. Those old VCs are back, ready to bite. Try your best to be there.]
Chu Yan's fingertips hovered over the screen for a moment, then he replied, "Received. Data updated. The data they're most concerned about is highlighted in red in Appendix 3." He put his phone down and looked out the window at the playground, warmed by the winter sun. Deep within his consciousness, the system hummed lazily, "Time Management Master."
Chu Yan scoffed silently inwardly. "Thank you." He casually picked up the already-corrected draft paper that Gu Ye had just pushed over, and scanned it. The smooth, clear steps in the solution were spot-on. He drew a small asterisk next to the result and pushed it back. "Next time you encounter a trap like this, remember to set up a 'signpost' here in advance."
On the other side of the city, in the prime CBD core area of downtown S, the "Cloud Intelligent Control" logo gleamed brightly outside the silver-gray glass curtain wall. The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn, as if frozen by an invisible pressure.
Complex algorithmic models and dazzling market forecasts played in rapid succession on a massive projection screen, yet they couldn't completely dispel the scrutinizing and critical expressions on the faces of the venture capital representatives across the long table. Leading the group was an elderly man named Zhong, with graying hair and hawk-like eyes. His fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, a gentle rhythm yet carrying a suffocating, oppressive feeling.
"Mr. Chu, your team's technological foresight is unquestionable," said Mr. Zhong slowly. His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone clearly. "However, the speed of market implementation is a full quarter slower than what you promised in your roadshow PowerPoint. The window for converting technological barriers into commercial barriers is limited. We are investing real money, not charity funds, and we cannot afford to wait for a distant technological utopia."
Chu Yu sat in the main seat, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark gray couture suit. His face was stern, his jawline set in a tense hue. The low pressure emanating from him seemed to lower the temperature in the entire conference room by several degrees. He pursed his lips tightly, about to open his mouth to refute the almost accusatory questioning, when the heavy double doors of the conference room silently opened.
Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on the past.
Chu Yan walked in. He was dressed simply in a white turtleneck sweater and dark trousers, casually draped over a preppy dark blue wool coat. He stood in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in the conference room, all dressed in suits and ties. He wore his customary, perfectly composed, gentle smile, like a wisp of spring breeze straying into a serious battlefield.
"Sorry, everyone, there's a bit of traffic." His voice was low, but it strangely broke the almost frozen atmosphere. He walked naturally to the empty seat behind Chu Yu and sat down, his movements calm and unhurried, as if he was just attending an ordinary lecture.
Chu Yu's tense jawline relaxed slightly, barely perceptible.
Chu Yan's eyes quickly swept across the projection screen and landed on Mr. Zhong's face, his smile unchanged. "Hello, Mr. Zhong, I'm Chu Yan, responsible for some market promotion and customer docking." He spoke steadily, with the sincerity unique to young people. "Regarding the issue of the speed of implementation, I would like to add an update. We just signed a deep strategic cooperation agreement with Longteng Heavy Industry last week. They will become the first large-scale commercial deployment customer of our Tiangong system. The advance payment for the first batch of orders has been received. The deployment cycle is three months, and the signing was completed half a month ahead of schedule. The relevant contract scans and receipts have just been updated to Appendix 7 of the conference materials package."
As he spoke, his slender fingers tapped a few times on the laptop in front of him. Almost at the same time, everyone in the conference room's laptops beeped with new emails.
Elder Zhong's sharp gaze swept over the opened attachments. The scanned copy of the contract, stamped with both parties' bright red seals, and the clear screenshot of the bank receipt, like a silent hammer, shattered his earlier doubts. A flash of surprise flashed across his eyes, followed by a deeper scrutiny. He looked back at Chu Yan. This young man, who had suddenly intruded, possessed a composure and control that belied his age, forcing him to swallow his contempt.
The subsequent negotiations quietly shifted. Whenever the venture capitalists tried to raise difficult questions about technical details or market expectations, Chu Yan was always able to intervene. He lacked the aggressive, aggressive tone of Chu Yu. His tone was always gentle and polite, yet his logic was rigorous and his data was detailed. Like a skilled weaver, he used gentle words and irrefutable facts to defuse and encapsulate the other party's pointed questions, ultimately weaving a picture favorable to "cloud-based intelligent control."
When the meeting ended and the venture capital representatives left with the re-evaluated materials, Mr. Zhong deliberately stopped in front of Chu Yan, looked at him deeply, and then turned and left.
The heavy door closed, shutting out the outside noise. Only Chu Yu and Chu Yan remained in the conference room. The room, which had just been filled with fierce discussion, instantly fell silent.
Chu Yu leaned back in his high-backed chair, raised his hand and pinched his brows, a deep sense of fatigue emanating from his tense body. Several days of intense work and the exhausting negotiation just now had left a lingering sense of fatigue between his brows.
Chu Yan stood up, walked to the water dispenser in the corner, and filled a glass of warm water. He walked back to Chu Yu and gently placed the glass on the table in front of him. The bottom of the glass made a crisp sound when it touched the table.
"Drink some water, Brother Yu." His voice became softer. "Shall I ask Auntie to make some soup tonight? I see you haven't looked well lately."
Chu Yu lowered his hand from rubbing his brow, and without touching the glass of water, his gaze settled gravely on Chu Yan's face. His gaze lacked the sharpness he had shown when facing the venture capitalists, but instead carried a more complex scrutiny, a mixture of fatigue, a subtle hint of dependence, and a certain indescribable awkwardness.
"You..." Chu Yu began, his voice a little hoarse. After a pause, he continued, "How did you know they would insist on the landing schedule today? That contract was signed too timely."
Chu Yan pulled up a nearby chair and sat down, his posture relaxed a bit, as if the tension from the previous negotiation had been released. "Mr. Zhong's investment style has always been pragmatic, and he prioritizes rapid verification of cash flow. We've been involved in the Longteng Heavy Industry project for a long time, and the technical verification was already passed. We were stuck on the final commercial terms. Last Friday, their chairman finally agreed, and the legal team worked all night, finally finalizing and stamping the deal on Monday morning. I updated the database as soon as I received the scanned documents, but I didn't expect Mr. Zhong and his team to show up today." He explained lightly, as if he had done something insignificant.
Chu Yu said nothing, simply staring at him. Dusk deepened outside the window, the city lights began to light up, and the flowing neon lights on the glass curtain wall reflected on Chu Yan's youthful, chiseled profile. He seemed to possess a certain magical quality, always able to bring a strange sense of relaxation to the most tense moments, while also inadvertently revealing insight and skill far beyond his years. This contradictory quality made Chu Yu feel at ease, yet it also brought a hint of uncontrollable irritation from time to time.
"Also," Chu Yu's gaze fell on Chu Yan's wrist which was casually resting on the edge of the table, where there was nothing, "It's almost seven o'clock. Don't you have an appointment tonight?" His tone was flat, and no emotion could be heard. He was very smart. Chu Yan didn't ask him out for dinner today, so he must have an appointment.
Chu Yan was startled for a moment, then remembered the message from Qingjiangyuan. He glanced at the wall clock and smiled calmly, "No rush. Brother Yu, what do you want for dinner? I'll take you home after we finish here."
Chu Yu stared at him for a few seconds before finally looking away. He picked up the glass of warm water on the table and took a sip. The warm water flowed over his dry throat, bringing a sense of relief. He put down the glass and said in a low voice, "No need. The driver is downstairs. Go do your thing." He paused and added, his tone a bit stiff and commanding, but more like some kind of awkward concern, "Drink less."
The curve of Chu Yan's lips deepened: "I understand, Brother Yu."
Away from the hustle and bustle of CBD, the top floor of Qingjiangyuan Luxury Apartment is another quiet and luxurious world.
Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the dazzling cityscape unfolded, the lights of countless homes like a galaxy stretching across the landscape. The interior lighting was soft and ambiguous, and soothing jazz music drifted softly through the air. In the open kitchen, Gu Xu wore only a simple white cashmere sweater and casual trousers, his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sleek arms. He was intently preparing the sizzling lamb chops in the cast iron pan. The rich aroma of meat, mingled with the spicy notes of jasmine and black pepper, filled the air.
The door lock made a slight electronic sound, and Chu Yan pushed the door open and walked in. He took off his coat, which was stained with the cold outside, and underneath was a soft white turtleneck sweater. He had a refreshing feeling, like someone who had returned from the winter streets.
"It smells good." He walked naturally towards the kitchen island, his eyes falling on Gu Xu's busy back and the tempting lamb chops in the pot.
Gu Xu turned around at the sound, a relaxed and genuine smile on his face. The warm light of the kitchen reflected in his eyes, less calculating than usual in the business world and more homely and gentle. "Back on time? Just in time." He gestured to the decanter beside him, "The wine is almost done. Go and pour it."
Chu Yan followed his instructions and walked to the nearby wine cabinet, retrieving two Burgundy glasses. The deep ruby-red wine poured into the glasses, shimmering intoxicatingly under the light. He walked over to the center counter, leaning against it, watching Gu Xu expertly flip the lamb chops and drizzle them with sauce.
"Are you tired today?" Gu Xu didn't look up, as if he was just asking casually, his hands moving smoothly as before.
"Not bad." Chu Yan took a sip of wine, the mellow fruity aroma and complex spice flavors dissolving in his mouth. He narrowed his eyes slightly, enjoying the relaxation of this moment. "I accompanied Brother Yu to meet with a few difficult venture capitalists this afternoon, which was a bit tiring."
"Chu Yu?" Gu Xu paused slightly, and glanced sideways at Chu Yan. The smile in his eyes faded a little, and there was a hint of his usual scrutinizing amusement. "He can't live without you now? He even needs you to go to such a core negotiation?" His tone was casual, but he accurately pointed out Chu Yu's growing dependence on Chu Yan.
Chu Yan shook his wine glass, looked at the "tears of wine" hanging on the wall of the glass, and said calmly: "The project has reached a critical stage, and Brother Yu is under a lot of pressure. I will keep an eye on the details and help him save a lot of worries." He avoided the main point and did not delve into the essence of Chu Yu's change of attitude towards him.
Gu Xu chuckled and didn't ask any more questions. He placed the pan-fried lamb chops on a warm plate, garnished them with roasted cherry tomatoes and asparagus, and the two exquisite dinners were complete. He carried the plates to the window table, which had already been set, a candlestick in the center flickering with warm flames.
The two of them sat down at the dining table. Outside the window was the boundless, dazzling nightscape, while inside, a private space of candlelight, delicious food, and fine wine nestled within. The occasional clink of forks and knives against porcelain plates echoed as the conversation shifted from the afternoon's challenging venture capital rounds to an overseas acquisition Gu had just closed, and then to a new art exhibition at a gallery. They chatted about business, art, and seemingly insignificant details. Their conversations flowed back and forth, their wit hidden yet perfectly aligned. It was the joy of meeting a worthy opponent, and the unspoken testing and closeness of adults.
After a few drinks, the atmosphere grew more relaxed and ambiguous. Gu Xu leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the stem of his goblet. The warm yellow candlelight softened his overly sharp features. His eyes, always calculating and distant, now reflected the candlelight and the figure opposite him, revealing a strange focus.
"As for Gu's company," Chu Yan put down his knife and fork, wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, and mentioned it casually, "It seems to be very quiet recently?" He was referring to the headquarters of the Gu Group, not the technology subsidiary that Gu Xu now firmly controlled and had quietly completed the division.
The corners of Gu Xu's lips curled up in a faint, cold arc, like the flash of a knife in the cold night. "The old man's energy is running out. His mind is all on how to balance those useless illegitimate children. He has no time to bother me for the time being." He paused, his tone taking on a condescending indifference. "Speaking of which, I have a younger brother who goes to the same school as you. I heard that his grades have been getting better and better recently. Maybe I will have to go find him to recognize his relationship with him soon."
The "little brother" he was referring to was, of course, Gu Ye. Over the past six months, Gu Xu's attitude toward Gu Ye had gradually shifted from initial vigilance and deliberate suppression to a near-indifference. Gu Ye's academic success didn't seem to truly enter his purview—at least not from his perspective. He was more concerned with his already independent and thriving tech company. This little ship, built by his own hands, separate from the Gu family's mothership, was his true support and future.
Chu Yan looked at Gu Xu quietly. The candlelight danced in his deep eyes, making it difficult to discern his true emotions. He didn't respond to Gu Ye's question, but simply raised his glass and gestured to Gu Xu: "Congratulations, Mr. Gu! Your new ship has set sail, and will brave the wind and waves."
The coldness in Gu Xu's eyes was diluted by this meaningful blessing, and a smile returned to his brows. He raised his wine glass and clinked it with Chu Yan's glass crisply: "Same here, Ah Yan." The pleasant sound of glass colliding echoed in the quiet room.
After dinner, Gu Yu stood up and walked over to Chu Yan. He naturally extended his hand and gently brushed the collar of Chu Yan's sweater with his fingertips. His movements were filled with a hint of intimacy and affection: "You smell of alcohol on you, go wash it?"
His eyes were straightforward and frank, the invitation evident. Over the past six months, a tacit understanding had already formed between them. From the initial hotel trysts, which were tinged with tentativeness and the exchange of interests, to the intimate moments shared after dinner in Gu Xu's secret penthouse, the nature of their relationship was quietly changing. Physically, they were extremely compatible, and mentally, there was also the pleasure of meeting a worthy opponent. In front of Chu Yan, Gu Xu was increasingly accustomed to taking off the perfect mask of a "gentle gentleman," revealing his true nature of being strong, controlling, and occasionally even a bit mean. Chu Yan, on the other hand, was also happy to appreciate and control this change.
Chu Yan raised his eyes, meeting Gu Shi's. The candlelight cast a subtle shadow on his face, making his gentle smile seem even more alluring. He didn't refuse, but stood up obediently, letting Gu Shi's hand slide to his waist. With undeniable strength, he led him to the bathroom connected to the master bedroom. The air was filled with the lingering aroma of red wine, the fragrance of food, and a tacit, searing tension.
The sound of running water soon filled the spacious bathroom, its rising vapor blurring the overlapping silhouettes behind the frosted glass door. Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered tirelessly, slicing the boundless night into slivers of flowing light and shadow. Beneath these shadows, some toiled in their studies, others navigated the business world, and still others, nestled in the warmth of this penthouse, indulged in the adult games of desire. Time flowed silently, weaving distinct yet secretly intertwined paths.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
