Chapter 39 Make-up Lessons
Three days had passed since that conversation on the balcony. The snow outside the window had been cleared, leaving only stubborn gray remnants at the base of the trees. The city, revitalized by the bustle of the approaching New Year, was thriving.
Shenghua High School's final exam results had already been released, and Gu Ye's name had been prominently placed in the top twenty of his grade. This leap, which would have stunned everyone six months ago, now seemed like a fluttering snowflake, silently melting into the more solemn atmosphere between the two, unmentioned. The report card was haphazardly tucked away in a corner, its symbolic significance long since replaced by more practical concerns.
The study in Chu Yan's apartment now looked more like a makeshift war room. Heavy curtains were half-drawn, blocking out the glaring afternoon sun. An invisible tension hung in the air.
Spread out on the enormous desk were not exam papers but several thick hardcover books: "The Origin of Western Etiquette," "A Brief Study of the Genealogy of Famous Families (S City Volume)," and "Tasting: From Wine to Cigars." Scattered alongside them were numerous A4-sized printed materials, densely packed with Song-style calligraphy, detailing the names, titles, personality profiles, potential positions, past grudges, and even their usual social etiquette, potential traps, and favorite entry points for challenging others.
Gu Ye sat at his desk, his back straight. His slender fingers traced the intricate family crests and difficult-to-pronounce titles on the pages. His brow furrowed, his thin lips pressed into a hard, cold line. Sunlight filtered through the slits in the curtains, casting a sharp line of light and dark on his focused profile.
"...So, if that aunt from the third room mentions you in a tone like 'Oh, our Yu'an was so naughty when he was a child,'" Chu Yan's voice was calm, as if stating a mathematical formula, "she is not expressing intimacy, but reminding everyone that you are the 'exiled' wild child. Your response needs to be neither rude nor severing such 'memories' without making a sound. For example, 'Thank you for your concern, aunt. I was young and frivolous, but now I am in Shenghua, I have learned a lot of rules from my teachers and classmates.' It implies that you are no longer a nobody, and at the same time it diverts the subject." He paused, pointing his finger at another name on the information, "As for this second uncle, he appears neutral, but is actually a fence-sitter. If he asks you about your studies in a roundabout way, you just need to..."
Gu Ye's pen slid across his expensive leather notebook with a swift and powerful stroke, leaving a clear, slightly scribbled handwriting that nearly penetrated the back of the paper. He studied with extreme diligence, meticulously extracting every detail, every possibility, every response Chu Yan had analyzed, as if these weren't just social etiquette but weapons that could save his life in a critical moment.
Both men knew full well that once they returned to the Gu family, the rest of the family wouldn't believe Gu Ye had simply come back to visit his mother. They would simply see it as a carefully orchestrated return after years of dormancy, the first manifestation of his ambition, a masterful display of strategy and skill. They would then ruthlessly and relentlessly employ every possible means, both overt and covert, to crush him before he could gain a foothold and force him out of the game. So, from the moment he stepped through that door, Gu Ye had no choice but to fight. This round was a winner-takes-all affair.
Gu Ye didn't care about the Gu family's wealth, but he would never allow himself to show even the slightest cowardice or flaw when stepping into the Gu family's door because of his ignorance of these so-called "upper class rules" and become a laughing stock in the eyes of those hypocritical relatives. His pride and the hatred that had been suppressed for many years would not allow it.
Chu Yan leaned back in the chair across from the desk, his posture relaxed, meticulously dissecting the Gu family's complex web of relationships, breaking down the veiled strife into steps Gu Ye could understand. He watched the fire burning in Gu Ye's eyes—hatred for Gu Hongyuan, a wariness about the dangers he was about to face, and a stubborn determination to never give in. Very good, this was exactly what he needed.
The lecture concluded, and the study fell into a brief silence, the only sound being the rustling of Gu Ye's pages as he flipped through the papers. The faint sounds of children chasing and playing and the occasional crackle of firecrackers could be heard outside the window, reminding everyone of the festive atmosphere of the approaching New Year.
Gu Ye's pen suddenly stopped as he was writing. He raised his head, his gaze moving away from the cold words and looking directly at Chu Yan, his eyes now filled with complex and sharp inquiry.
"Chu Yan," Gu Ye's voice broke the silence, carrying an unprecedented calmness and clarity. "You taught me that the world is bustling with people for profit. Between people, everything is nothing more than an exchange of interests or mutual exploitation. What about you?" He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked with Chu Yan's slowly opening eyes. He asked clearly, each word emphasizing, "You've gone to such great lengths to help me, analyzing the Gu family, teaching me all this... What is your purpose?" Gu Ye's intuition told him that someone who could analyze human nature and self-interest so thoroughly and coldly could not be a mere bystander who casually offered a helping hand, as they had appeared when they first met. There must be a deeper purpose behind this, one more in line with the logic of "self-interest."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The sounds of playfulness outside the window seemed distant.
Chu Yan's fingertips paused their gentle tapping on the smooth tabletop. He looked at Gu Ye, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile of satisfaction passed across the corner of Chu Yan's lips, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
His voice remained steady, even taking on a lighthearted tone. However, the eyes he gazed at Gu Ye were as deep as a bottomless well, making it impossible to discern any true emotion. "That's a good question, Gu Ye." He offered an assessment, but it wasn't an answer.
He leaned forward slightly, and formed a silent confrontation and confrontation with Gu Ye across a desk piled with "weapons".
"But you shouldn't seek answers directly from me." Chu Yan shook his head. Under Gu Ye's breathless gaze, he even lazily supported his head with his hands, and deliberately blinked at Gu Ye. There was an almost bad, persuasive guidance in his tone, "You should use the methods I taught you these days, those techniques for analyzing people, those perspectives for measuring interests, to analyze me, observe me, and understand me yourself. Then, it's up to you to find the answers you want, to find my true side." It was like throwing out an attractive bait, or setting up an extremely difficult puzzle, and more like a provocation with a test.
Gu Ye's brow furrowed even more tightly, the inquiry in his eyes not only not fading, but becoming even sharper and more confused by Chu Yan's ambiguous answer. He opened his mouth, as if about to ask further questions, but ultimately pursed his lips tightly. Chu Yan's attitude was clear: Want to know? Think for yourself, observe, and judge.
Chu Yan stopped looking at him and glanced at his watch. The delicate dial shone coldly under the indoor light. "It's almost time." He stood up, walked to a large dust bag in the corner of the study, and unzipped it.
A meticulously ironed tuxedo revealed itself. It wasn't a garish tuxedo, but a perfectly tailored, deep black, peaked-lapel, single-breasted suit. Made of premium Italian wool and silk, it shone under the light with a subtle, deep, matte sheen, as if weaving the entire night into itself. He wore a crisp, pure white French shirt underneath, paired with a rich, silver-gray silk jacquard tie. Every detail exuded impeccable refinement and strength.
"Try it on." Chu Yan took out the formal gown and handed it to Gu Ye, his tone as calm as if he were handing a book. "Tomorrow is your battlefield." He paused, his eyes falling on Gu Ye's tense shoulders. "Once you put it on, you will no longer be Gu Ye of Shenghua. You are Gu Yu'an of the Gu family, the outcast bloodline of the Gu family, and a challenger who is about to step into the lion group."
Gu Ye nodded and reached out to take it.
When Gu Ye changed into his tuxedo and emerged from the cloakroom, the light in the entire study seemed to freeze for a moment. The deep black subtly enveloped and restrained his unruly nature, transforming it into a restrained, poised edge. The pure white collar of his shirt supported his sharply defined jawline, while his silver-gray tie added a touch of calmness and nobility. The young man in the mirror still held a sharp edge between his brows, but his entire aura had transformed, like a piece of unpolished jade that had just begun to reveal its brilliance, exuding an undeniable presence.
Chu Yan stood a few steps away, his gaze calmly sweeping over Gu Ye's body, from his straight shoulders to the straight seam of his trousers, finally settling on the corners of his slightly pursed lips. He walked over to Gu Ye, reached out his hand, and naturally smoothed out a tiny, almost nonexistent wrinkle at the bottom of his tie. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the warm skin on the side of his neck, bringing a subtle touch.
Gu Ye's Adam's apple rolled as he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the mirror, and at Chu Yan standing behind him. He said, "Chu Yan, no matter what you want, I will do it." The boy in the mirror's eyes, once blank and tense, were gradually replaced by a desperate and reckless courage: "So, you must keep your promise." Don't give up on me before I can see the value in you.
Late at night. The living room was dimly lit, lit only by a single floor lamp. Chu Yan sat alone on the sofa, his phone screen abruptly lighting up, its cold white light illuminating his expressionless face. A familiar note appeared on the screen—a single word: "mountain."
"Hello?" Gu Xu's voice came from the other end of the phone, with soothing piano music playing in the background. There was a sense of relaxation that was unique to being in a high-end place, but Chu Yan keenly caught a hint of subtle fatigue and boredom beneath that relaxation.
"Chu Yan," Gu Xu's voice was a bit lazy and magnetic, like the whispers between lovers, but his words got to the point precisely, "Gu family reunion dinner tomorrow night, Gu Ye, are you sure you will come?" Gu Xu knew that Gu Ye and Chu Yan had a close relationship after an extremely accidental incident - one time Chu Yan forgot to lock the screen of his phone and put it aside, and he accidentally glanced at several text messages from Gu Ye with familiar tones.
But the tacit understanding among adults is to pretend to be stupid and ignorant. At present, the complex and subtle relationship between Gu Xu and Chu Yan has not been sorted out yet. He really can't spare too much attention to a "brother" who shows up unexpectedly and poses no threat.
Gu even felt that he had made progress recently. The technology subsidiary he had personally promoted and gradually gained control of was developing well, which gave him more confidence and a good way out.
Now, he could even have a little more patience to "appreciate" those collateral relatives who were ready to make moves and had clumsy means. What's more, Gu Ye, who had just reached adulthood, was still immature and had only a name? In his eyes, Gu Ye's existence was not yet worthy of being on the stage.
"Yeah." Chu Yan responded in a calm voice, "He promised to go back and see his mother."
A very light sneer came from the other end of the phone, full of disapproval: "Look at the mother? He is a filial child. Unfortunately, the old man obviously wants to take this opportunity to warn him, and by the way, see what this "runaway" son looks like. I'm afraid tomorrow's scene will not be very good." There was no worry about his brother in Gu Xu's tone, only a kind of indifference as if he was out of the matter, and even a bit of interest in watching the show.
In his eyes, even if Gu Ye's academic performance improved dramatically, it wouldn't change his inherent immaturity. People like Chu Yan were destined to associate only with people of their own kind. Gu Ye? Although Chu Yan considered him a friend, campus friendships were only a small part of life. Someone Chu Yan met on a whim posed no threat. What truly alarmed him was the powerful and ruthless heir of the Chu family.
"How the situation turns out is his business." Chu Yan's voice remained flat, as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather. "I'm just reminding you that he's my friend."
"Friend?" Gu Qi repeated the word, his voice rising slightly. "Since he's Ah Yan's friend, I'll keep a close eye on him tomorrow. I'll make sure he doesn't get torn apart by those wolves and tigers as soon as he walks in."
Chu Yan's eyebrows raised slightly, almost imperceptibly. He watched a huge firework explode in the night sky outside the window, instantly lighting up half the sky. The dazzling light reflected in his bottomless eyes.
"Okay." He barely hesitated, his lips curled up in an ambiguous arc, his voice filled with a lazy smile, "Then as a thank you gift, I'll arrange the holiday after the holidays."
Gu Xu on the other end of the phone seemed very satisfied with the answer. He chatted for a few more irrelevant words before hanging up.
Chu Yan put down his phone and looked towards the study. A faint light shone through the crack in the door. Gu Ye should still be inside, looking in the mirror or looking at the materials, rehearsing over and over the difficulties and humiliations he might encounter tomorrow night.
Everything was like a chess piece being advanced on a chessboard. Chu Yan waited eagerly to see what brilliant and deadly brilliance Gu Ye would unleash on the battlefield tomorrow night.
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