Chapter 38 Entering
Those two words, like chains hardened by ice, instantly wrapped around Gu Ye's heart, dragging him from his warm bubble and slamming him into the icy abyss of memory. His knuckles, gripping the phone, were turning pale from the excessive force, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged hideously, trembling slightly. He froze there, like a statue suddenly frozen by the wind and snow. Only the heart in his chest was beating wildly and uncontrollably, pounding against his ribs, making a dull and loud echo that made his eardrums buzz, blocking out the sound of the water that had just stopped flowing in the kitchen, the silent falling snow outside the window, and the sound of Chu Yan's footsteps as he walked out with a cup of water.
Chu Yan paused at the kitchen door. The relaxed smile on his face faded completely. He held two glasses of water, his gaze fixed on Gu Ye's stiff back. The warm light in the living room, the lingering aroma of potato chips, the lingering warmth of the game controller... all the warm fragments of this "hibernating" holiday were frozen and shattered the moment Gu Hongyuan uttered those two words.
"Yu'an," Gu Hongyuan's tone carried a hypocritical, condescending "leniency", as if he was tolerating an ignorant child, "You've been out there for so long, haven't you had enough? Your brother mentioned it to me a few days ago, saying that you've made a lot of progress in Shenghua." His voice was light, but full of contempt and disapproval, as if all of Gu Ye's struggles and efforts were nothing more than childish tricks that were not worth mentioning in his eyes.
Gu Ye's teeth clenched violently, and the tip of his tongue tasted a hint of rusty sweetness. It was Gu Shi again, that disgusting hypocrite. The immense humiliation of being watched and judged like an object filled Gu Ye with absurdity and anger.
"Gu Hongyuan!" Gu Ye's voice seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat, with a trembling that was suppressed, and every word seemed to be spoken with all his strength, "Who the hell allowed you to call? And, my name is Gu Ye!" He deliberately emphasized the last two words, as if trying to cut off the last connection with that suffocating family.
Gu Hongyuan on the other end of the phone seemed to sneer, completely unconcerned with Gu Ye's resistance and rudeness: "A name? Just a child's play." His tone was impatient, "You've been out there for so long, it's time for you to learn some lessons. It just so happens that the New Year is coming soon, and there's an important family dinner at home. I'll go home then."
"Family dinner?" Gu Ye sneered as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world, "Which home are we going back to? The house where my mother died and no one found her? Or the villa where you three of you live happily together? Gu Hongyuan, you're fucking dreaming!" Hatred was like a poisonous ivy, entwining his heart and making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"You bastard! How dare you talk like that?!" Gu Hongyuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger of being disobeyed, "That's because your mother couldn't let it go! Who can you blame?!" The cold, blame-shifting accusation was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing into the softest part of Gu Ye's heart.
"Can't let it go?!" Gu Ye's rationality was completely ignited by these words. He stood up suddenly, and the chair legs scraped against the floor with a harsh noise. He roared into the receiver, his voice distorted by extreme pain and anger, and every word was tearful: "It was you, you forced her to death. It was your shameful and dirty deeds. It was you who made her lose even the last bit of hope. It was you!" He roared at the top of his lungs, his vision blackening, as if he was vomiting his lungs out.
A brief silence fell on the other end of the line, with only Gu Ye's heavy, broken breathing echoing in the deadly still living room. Chu Yan still stood quietly a few steps away, holding a glass of water, like a spectator, his eyes deep and calm. He didn't move forward, nor did he say anything.
A few seconds later, Gu Hongyuan's voice rang out again, icy cold. "Whatever you think. Gu Yu'an, you have my blood in your veins, and that's a fact you can't change." He paused, then offered his final bait. "Come back in a few days. You must be there for the family dinner. And while you're there, visit your mother at Nanshan Cemetery."
All the roars suddenly fell silent in front of the words "Nanshan Cemetery" and "your mother".
How long had it been since he'd last visited his mother? Ever since that rainy night when he'd fled the Gu family's house? He'd been afraid to go. He was afraid to face that cold gravestone, afraid to recall his mother's pale, despairing face, afraid to admit his own powerlessness. He could only bury this longing and guilt deep within his heart, numbing himself with skipping classes, fighting, and decadence. But now, the man he hated most, in the coldest, most irresistible way, had torn open that bloody scar.
Gu Ye's hands drooped, his body shaking violently as if every bone had been pulled out of him. The color drained from his face, his lips trembling, but no sound emanated. The previous argument had drained all his strength, leaving only endless confusion and pain. He wanted to see his mother, to talk to her, but he didn't want to step into the hell that was the Gu family, didn't want to see Gu Hongyuan's hypocritical face, didn't want to face those so-called "family members"!
Gu Hongyuan seemed very satisfied with the dead silence on the other end of the phone, and finally threw out a cold ultimatum: "The time and place will be sent to your mobile phone. Don't let me send anyone to 'invite' you." Then, there was only the "beep beep" busy tone in the receiver, like a small hammer, knocking on Gu Ye's empty heart again and again.
The phone slipped from his powerless fingers and landed on the carpet with a dull thud. Gu Ye seemed to be awakened by the sound. He looked up blankly, his eyes scanning the messy living room—scattered snack bags, a game controller lying quietly on the floor, shards of glass scattered by the TV cabinet... Finally, his gaze fell on Chu Yan, who was a few steps away.
Chu Yan still stood there, looking at him calmly. Those eyes that always held a gentle smile were now as deep as a bottomless pond, calm and almost indifferent. There was no comfort, no inquiry, not a single ripple.
Gu Ye looked into those eyes, at the almost perfect calm on Chu Yan's face, and a deeper chill suddenly surged from the depths of his heart. He looked at Chu Yan blankly and helplessly like a lost child, his lips moving a few times before only a few broken syllables uttered: "He told me to go back to see my mother..."
Chu Yan's gaze lingered for a moment on Gu Ye's pale, dazed face. Deep within those hollow, blank eyes, surged a deep longing for his mother, an overwhelming sense of guilt, and an intense resistance and fear of the quagmire that was Gu Ye's home. These two diametrically opposed emotions tore fiercely within him, threatening to tear the young man, who had just regained a modicum of confidence in his studies, apart once again.
The time is ripe. Chu Yan calmly judged in his heart. Gu Ye's obsession with his mother was the most effective weapon to pry open the heavy iron door of the Gu family home. And the key that Gu Hongyuan had offered him saved him a lot of trouble.
"Yeah," Chu Yan finally spoke, his voice steady. He took two steps forward, bent down, and gently placed the warm water in his hand on the coffee table in front of Gu Ye. The bottom of the glass made contact with the surface with a soft but distinct "click." He didn't inquire about Gu Ye's wishes, nor did he express any sympathy or encouragement, as if the fierce father-son argument and Gu Ye's current painful struggle were just insignificant noise on the background board.
He needed Gu Ye to reach this point on his own. He needed Gu Ye, torn by pain and longing, to take the initiative to step into the battlefield called "Gu Family." And he only needed to give him a gentle push from behind.
"Drink some water." Chu Yan's voice remained flat.
Gu Ye didn't touch the glass of water. He slumped back onto the sofa, his hands tangled in his hair, his face buried in his knees. His shoulders shook silently, and stifled sobs escaped intermittently through his fingers. The only sounds in the living room were his ragged breathing and the silence of falling snow outside the window.
Chu Yan didn't look at Gu Ye again. He turned and walked calmly towards a built-in wine cabinet in the corner of the living room. The door slid open silently, revealing the neatly arranged bottles inside, which reflected a low-key luxury under the soft light.
The corkscrew screwed into the cork with a gentle "pop" sound. The deep red wine was slowly poured into the decanter, shimmering like silk under the light, exuding a complex and alluring aroma of black currant, black cherry, truffle, and cigar box, instantly diluting the lingering smell of gunpowder and pain in the air.
Chu Yan, carrying the decanted wine and two glasses, walked to the spacious balcony connected to the living room. He pushed open the heavy floor-to-ceiling glass door, and a sharp, refreshing chill instantly rushed in, blending with the rich aroma of red wine. The balcony faced the dazzling nightscape of the city. The lights of thousands of homes were like a galaxy scattered across the earth, twinkling with a cold, distant light in the silent, snowy night.
Chu Yan didn't turn around. He simply placed one of the wine glasses on the round glass table on the balcony. He then took the other, leaning over the cool metal railing, his gaze fixed on the dazzling city lights in the distance. The cold wind whipped his hair back, revealing his smooth, full forehead and calm profile. He gently swirled the red wine in his glass, watching the deep crimson liquid form sticky "tears" on the glass's walls.
The target is experiencing an emotional breakdown, expressing extreme repulsion towards the Gu family. This is a serious deviation from the core mission objective of 'controlling the Gu family.' The system's cold electronic voice echoed deep within Chu Yan's consciousness, carrying a subtle hint of confusion. It could not comprehend the complex and contradictory nature of human emotions, especially the obstacles they presented to the mission's progress.
Chu Yan took a sip of the wine, the rich, silky taste melting on his tongue, the complex aroma lingering in his nose. He gazed at the cold, dazzling city beneath his feet, his eyes unwavering: "He's already heading towards the Gu family's gate. His mother's tombstone is the best signpost."
[But the target is very resistant] The system analyzed the data of Gu Ye's violent emotional fluctuations just now.
Chu Yan scoffed silently inwardly. "Strong emotions often signify the deepest obsessions. His longing for his mother is matched only by his hatred for Gu Hongyuan. And hatred is precisely the best motivation. It will push him to take back what rightfully belongs to his mother and to him. He doesn't understand the rules of the game of power right now, but that's okay. I'll help him understand."
The system remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly digesting Chu Yan's logic. When it spoke again, its electronic voice carried a rare hint of sarcasm: "You're always so cruel. Exploiting your target's deepest wounds and obsessions."
Chu Yan's fingers, gripping the wine glass, paused imperceptibly. The crimson liquor rippled gently in the glass, reflecting the cold light of the city and the fleeting darkness in his eyes, like a glacial crevasse. He recalled distant images. Those mission worlds shrouded in blood and corpses, those years of resorting to any means necessary for survival and points. Trampling on the corpses of his opponents, exploiting the trust of his teammates, betraying fleeting warmth... That was how he and the system struggled out of the lowest quagmire, stepping on the bones of countless losers, and finally reaching the top of the cold leaderboard.
Kindness? Softness? Those things had long been crushed to dust amidst countless life-or-death trials and intrigues. His survival, his standing here, his acceptance of this so-called SSS-level mission, had never been due to softness or mercy.
Chu Yan's thoughts were calm, even tinged with a hint of indifference and mockery. "System, what has got us to this point? Is it pity? Is it indecision?" He gently swirled his wine glass, watching the tears of wine drip down the sides. "It's mission first."
The system fell silent again. Its vast database contained countless images of Chu Yan fighting alongside him. In those images, there were Chu Yan's precise and cold calculations beneath a gentle smile, his ruthlessness in sending his opponents into desperate situations while chatting and laughing, and his determination to sacrifice temporary "allies" without hesitation for the mission goal. It knew that Chu Yan was telling the truth. They had come this far because of their absolute rationality and the ultimate pursuit of the mission goal. However, in this world, in this target named Gu Ye, it seemed that for the first time, it had captured some subtle fluctuations belonging to Chu Yan himself that it could not fully analyze. The fluctuations were very weak, but they were indeed there.
The system fell silent.
Chu Yan tilted his head back and downed the remaining red wine in his glass. The cold liquid slid down his throat, bringing a hint of heat that was then blown away by the chill wind. Mission first, he repeated to himself again. Gu Ye's pain, struggle, and longing for his mother were all necessary steps towards his ultimate goal. He would not stop them; he might even fuel them.
Just then, soft footsteps sounded behind him. Gu Ye had arrived on the balcony without him noticing. He silently walked over to the round table and picked up the other glass of red wine Chu Yan had placed there. Without even glancing at it, he tilted his head back and took a large gulp. The expensive wine seemed no different to him than plain water; he simply tried to suppress the burning lump in his throat.
The cold night wind ruffled his hair, revealing his furrowed brow and stubborn jawline. He gazed at the equally cold, dazzling city lights below him, silent for a long moment. Chu Yan remained silent, staring into the distance. The silence between them lingered, the only sound being the gentle whistling of the cold wind across the balcony.
Finally, Gu Ye's voice rang out, hoarse as if polished by sandpaper, yet remarkably clear, as if he were declaring to himself, and also to this cold city:
"I'll go back." He paused, his fingers gripping the wine glass so hard that his knuckles turned white, as if he wanted to crush the hard crystal. His voice was filled with deep disgust and disdain. "But I'm not going back for the Gu family." His voice trailed off, carrying a deep, unbreakable sadness. "I just miss my mom a little bit."
Chu Yan slowly turned his head and looked at Gu Ye's profile. The boy's stubborn features seemed unusually thin under the neon lights of the city, yet they exuded a resolute determination. The corners of Chu Yan's lips curved upwards, almost imperceptibly. It wasn't a warm smile, but more like the satisfaction of a hunter seeing his prey finally fall into his trap.
He picked up the decanter and gracefully poured himself another half cup of the crimson liquid. Then, he picked up the wine glass and gently touched the glass in Gu Ye's hand, which he had almost crushed.
The crisp sound of glass colliding seemed particularly clear in the cold night wind, like a signal that some kind of contract had been reached.
"Okay." Chu Yan's voice was not loud, but it carried a steady and convincing power, and it was clearly heard by Gu Ye.
Entering the Gu family's gates was only the first step. Next, he would make Gu Ye understand that honoring his mother required not only the courage to face the past, but also the power to subdue Gu Hongyuan and silence everyone in the Gu family. He would guide him, step by step, to see the cold chess game called "family," teaching him how to make his moves, how to fight, and ultimately how to transform the entire Gu family into the ultimate sacrifice for his mother.
The night wind grew colder, ruffling the hems of their clothes. The dazzling lights of the city streamed silently beneath their feet, casting a cold light on the two people on the balcony. One glass was the rich, fragrant aroma of premium red wine, the other the bitterness and determination of a young man's drink. Chu Yan's calm eyes reflected these lights, as well as a long-paved, icy road to the pinnacle of power.
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