Chapter 62 Summoning
The summer vacation passed quietly in the hot and humid air of S City and the increasingly fierce commercial undercurrent.
Chu Yan, like a precisely whirling top, maneuvered between Chu Yu's Cloud Intelligent Control and Gu Shi's Ruichuang Technology. The relocation of both companies was a massive undertaking, involving countless intricate details. The two decision-makers, Chu Yu and Gu Shi, one aloof and assertive, the other shrewd and meticulous, were both formidable opponents. While they shared confidence in Chu Yan's abilities, they each held their own principles and standards when it came to specific matters, often engaging in a virtual rivalry, attempting to outmaneuver the other in efficiency, resources, and even Chu Yan's attention.
Chu Yan actually enjoyed this. He relished the thrill of maneuvering through complex situations with ease and control. Occasionally, he'd deliberately mention to Chu Yu, "Mr. Gu has already secured the site," or casually whisper to Gu Xu, "Brother Yu has poached a top-notch lab team from University A." He found it quite amusing to watch their faces cool as they secretly competed with each other to double down on their work.
The system was very disdainful of his bad taste. Recently, it was busy with a big project and was preparing to secretly blind Chu Yan's eyes.
During this busy period, he did not forget to take time to "cultivate" Gu Ye.
Just as Chu Yan had predicted, Gu Ye's astonishing score of 683 was like a bombshell dropped into a deep pond, causing a huge stir within the Gu family. Gu Hongyuan, who had been struggling to find a suitable chess piece to counter the increasingly uncontrollable Gu Ye, almost immediately sent someone to "invite" Gu Ye back to the Gu family mansion.
At this time, Gu Hongyuan was consumed by the escalating chaos within the Gu family. Gu Xu's "playing dirty" and gradual decentralization of power were like removing the last remaining barrier holding back a pack of hungry wolves. Those collateral descendants, long eyeing more power, were like mad dogs caught in a sliver of fat, beginning a frenzied internal struggle and vying for the power vacuum left by Gu Xu. Gu Hongyuan's own group of incompetent illegitimate children, seemingly sensing the shifting tide and realizing their father's disapproval, began to secretly form cliques, some even attempting to contact other factions to secure their own escape routes.
The entire Gu Group is in turmoil, with several key projects stalled by internal friction. Gu Hongyuan, conceited and paranoid, wants to quell the internal turmoil, yet fears being sidelined by one of his sons. He desperately needs a capable and obedient figure to rectify the situation and discipline Gu Xu, who is increasingly dismissive of him.
Gu Ye's arrival was perfectly timed. Born to Gu Hongyuan's ex-wife, he held a more legitimate status than those illegitimate children. Furthermore, having weathered the storms of life on his own for several years, he possessed a resilience unmatched by those of a greenhouse flower. Most importantly, his test scores proved his ability and potential, and so far, he seemed quite obedient.
So, Gu Hongyuan almost without hesitation began to "support" Gu Ye. He gave Gu Ye several small and medium-sized projects that were stuck in a stalemate, calling it "training," but in reality he wanted to see if the knife was sharp. He also had the intention of letting Gu Ye attract attention and be the first to take action.
Gu Ye moved back to the cold and empty Gu family mansion, settling into the unfamiliar room he had lived in during his youth. He obediently accepted Gu Hongyuan's "arrangement," trying to play the role of a "returning prodigal son" who longed for his father's love, wanted to make amends for the past, and share the family's worries.
Gu Ye first encountered the complex interplay of interests within the project, and had to guard against the overt and covert attacks of other Gu family members, which inevitably made things difficult. Chu Yan, however, became his true strategist, and his presence indeed made up for Gu Ye's limited project experience.
Chu Yan's teaching style is incredibly practical. He doesn't just give Gu Ye the answer; instead, he guides him through analyzing the situation, understanding each person's underlying interests, anticipating likely reactions, and then choosing the optimal solution from several alternatives. He teaches Gu Ye how to leverage others' strengths, how to exploit Gu Hongyuan's suspicion to counterbalance other forces, how to plant clues to create mutual suspicion among opponents, and how to seemingly make concessions while actually seizing greater benefits.
"The water in the Gu family is already muddy. What you need to do is not to make it clear, but to learn to fish in muddy waters, or even make the water more muddy so that no one can see clearly. Only then can you get what you want." Chu Yan's voice came through the headphones, and Gu Ye nodded thoughtfully.
Besides the tactics of political manipulation, Chu Yan also didn't slack off on Gu Ye's physical training, even making it stricter. He knew that if the internal struggles within the Gu family got out of control, it was very likely to escalate from business rivalry to personal harm. Those side branches who were forced into a desperate situation, or illegitimate children who were desperate, would do anything.
"It's better to prepare for a rainy day than to dig a well when thirsty." In the secluded garden behind the Gu family's old house, Chu Yan easily blocked Gu Ye's fierce side kick. With a backhand pull, he threw Gu Ye to the soft grass. "Your enemy won't play by the rules. Protecting yourself is the prerequisite for victory."
Gu Ye's learning ability was truly astonishing. Whether it was complex business strategies or fierce fighting techniques, he could absorb and apply them at lightning speed. He transformed rapidly in a remarkably short period of time. Under Chu Yan's guidance, he truly forged a path through the messy projects Gu Hongyuan had thrown at him. Not only did he resolve the problems, but he also unexpectedly won the support of some neutral shareholders, earning Gu Hongyuan a new respect for him.
However, growth is always accompanied by pain. Gu Ye quickly learned to calculate, but it was difficult to completely control the deep hatred he harbored for Gu Hongyuan. On several occasions, when faced with Gu Hongyuan's condescending expression or heard him casually mention his mother, the rage in Gu Ye's eyes, threatening to consume everything, was almost uncontrollable, and the old fox almost noticed.
Chu Yan sensed this, but he did not ask Gu Ye to let go of his hatred, nor did he even try to get him to hide it better.
"Hatred isn't a weakness, Gu Ye." After a teaching session, Chu Yan looked at the exhausted young man collapsed on the grass and said calmly, "It's fuel, the motivation that keeps you going even on those countless nights when you want to give up. What you need to do isn't to extinguish it, but to learn to control the timing and direction of its burning, so that it works for you, rather than burning you down."
Gu Ye was breathing heavily, looking at the gray-blue sky, and clenching his fists tightly.
In the last few days of summer vacation, the relocation matters were basically settled. Chu Yu and Gu Xu flew to City A one after another to make the final arrangements, and City S suddenly became quiet.
On the evening before school started, the setting sun turned the sky into a brilliant orange-red, and the evening breeze brought the first hint of coolness of early autumn.
Chu Yan had just finished finishing up the cloud-based intelligent control when his phone rang. A special alert tone—a privileged ringtone that belonged exclusively to Gu Ye.
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and answered the phone.
The other end of the line was very quiet, with only the slight sound of wind and the faint sound of flowing water. Gu Ye's voice sounded a little low, even with a hint of subtle fatigue and confusion.
"Chu Yan..."
"Yeah, I'm in. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I just suddenly wanted to exercise my rights." Gu Ye paused and gave an address along the river. "Can you come over?"
Chu Yan didn't ask any more questions and answered directly: "Okay, I'll be there in half an hour."
When he found the address using the navigation system, he discovered it was a relatively secluded riverside park. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden hue across the shimmering water. Gu Ye sat alone on a bench overlooking the river, his back appearing somewhat frail and lonely in the twilight. He hunched his back slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, staring blankly at the flowing water, not even noticing Chu Yan's approach.
Chu Yan stopped and didn't disturb him immediately. He looked at Gu Ye's shadow, which was stretched by the setting sun, his soft silver hair, which was a little messy in the evening breeze, and the heaviness and fatigue that enveloped him that didn't match his age.
This is a rare display of confusion and vulnerability that belongs to an eighteen-year-old boy after experiencing a whole summer of conspiracy and deception, and forcing himself to grow up quickly.
Chu Yan looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then walked over, his shoes making a slight sound on the stone road.
Gu Ye seemed startled by this and turned around. Seeing Chu Yan, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, as if he hadn't expected Chu Yan to arrive so quickly, and as if he was embarrassed to be seen looking so "weak." He subconsciously straightened his back, trying to cover up his previous gaffe.
Chu Yan walked to the bench, but didn't sit down. Instead, he leaned against the railing next to him, facing the flowing river. He didn't ask "what's wrong" or say "I'm here". He and Gu Ye just stared at the river surface dyed red by the setting sun in silence, letting the evening breeze play with the corners of their clothes and hair.
Until the sunset completely sank into the horizon, the river surface lost its golden luster, became deep and quiet, and reflected the scattered lights that were just beginning to light up on the shore.
Chu Yan estimated that it was almost time, and the coolness brought by the evening breeze was becoming more and more obvious. He stood up and extended his hand to Gu Ye, who was still sitting on the bench, staring at the river in a trance. "Let's go."
Gu Ye seemed still lost in his own thoughts, startled by the sudden movement. He subconsciously raised his head, a look of confusion and fatigue still lingering in his eyes. But he didn't ask any more questions. He simply silently placed his hand in Chu Yan's warm, dry palm and, with the help of his strength, stood up. A summer of intense mental work and intrigue had indeed exhausted him physically and mentally. At this moment, he didn't even bother to think about where Chu Yan was taking him. He just instinctively followed the man who made him feel at ease.
At the park entrance, the sleek, powerful black motorcycle sat quietly by the roadside, like a dormant beast. Chu Yan slid his long legs and sat on it neatly, the engine emitting a deep, powerful roar. He picked up the other helmet hanging on the handlebars and handed it to Gu Ye.
Gu Ye obediently took it and buckled it. He stepped onto the back seat and leaned forward, his arms naturally wrapping around Chu Yan's lean and strong waist and abdomen, gently resting his cheek on his broad back. Through the thin fabric, he could feel the other person's steady body temperature and strong heartbeat, which was a reassuring strength.
"Hold on tight." Chu Yan's voice came through the helmet, a little muffled, but with an unquestionable meaning.
The next second, before Gu Ye could fully prepare himself, the motorcycle shot out like an arrow. Gu Ye's body involuntarily leaned back, but was forcibly pulled back by his arms that tightly hugged Chu Yan's waist and abdomen, and his whole body was almost completely pressed against Chu Yan's back.
"Woo——" Gu Ye subconsciously let out a short cry of surprise, his heart beating wildly due to the sudden acceleration.
It’s okay to be in a bad mood, the adrenaline will take effect.
Chu Yan's lips curled up in a subtle arc as he felt the body behind him tense up and then relax. He controlled this steel beast, nimbly merging into the traffic flow, then turned sharply at a fork in the road and sped towards the winding mountain road outside the city.
The speed increased. The wind howled and roared in my ears, scraping against my helmet like a physical substance, filtering all the surrounding noise into a blurry background. The city lights were quickly left behind, and my vision was gradually replaced by dark mountains and sparse streetlights. Chu Yan's movements were smooth and precise, the car tilting at a thrilling angle, and the tires scraping against the ground with a heart-pounding whine.
Gu Ye was initially nervous, his arms clenched tightly. But soon, the extreme speed, the thrill of being on the verge of losing control, instantly dissipated the depression and heaviness pent up in his chest. His heart beat wildly in his chest, his blood coursed through his veins, and all his worries seemed to be shredded and scattered by the surging speed and howling wind, dissipating into the night behind him.
Here, at that moment, there were only him and Chu Yan. There was only the roar of the engine, the howling of the wind, and the scorching heat of their bodies pressed against each other.
Gu Ye opened his mask and took a deep breath. The crisp mountain air, carrying the scent of grass and trees, rushed into his lungs. A long-lost, unruly spirit of youth broke through the shackles and rekindled in his eyes. He suddenly raised his head and shouted at Chu Yan's ear with all his might, his voice penetrating the helmet and the wind, filled with excitement and provocation:
"Chu Yan, can you please do it? Hurry up!!"
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows.
Men, you can't say no.
He didn't respond at all, but just turned the accelerator to the bottom with his right hand.
"Boom--" The car speed soared again, almost throwing the people out, and the scenery on both sides completely turned into blurred blocks of color.
"Awesome!!!" Gu Ye could no longer restrain himself and shouted loudly. He even loosened one hand and raised it high, feeling the force of the wind blowing through his fingers, as if trying to grasp this moment of freedom.
Chu Yan caught a glimpse of his almost crazy behavior through the rearview mirror and frowned slightly, but ultimately did not stop him. He just steered the car more steadily.
We sped all the way to the top of the mountain.
Chu Yan slowly parked the car on a relatively flat stretch of land and turned off the engine. The world instantly fell silent, leaving only the lingering buzzing in his ears and the heavy breathing of the two men. The wind on the mountaintop was even stronger, carrying the chill of an autumn night, ruffling their hair, which had been slightly messed up by the weight of their helmets.
In the distance is the dazzling night view of the entire S city, like an overturned jewelry box, spread out on the vast black velvet, prosperous yet distant and unreal.
Chu Yan got out of the car first, took off his helmet, and casually brushed his hair. He walked to a relatively clean large rock nearby and sat down, then patted the seat next to him to signal Gu Ye to come sit over.
Gu Ye also took off his helmet, his face still flushed with excitement, and the light in his eyes was surprisingly bright. He walked over and sat down next to Chu Yan. The mountain breeze blew and he felt his back was already wet with sweat, and now it felt cold.
"Can you speak now?" Chu Yan's voice returned to its usual lazy tone, with a hint of hoarseness from exercise. "What happened today? Was the project set up by someone?"
At this mention, the light in Gu Ye's eyes dimmed slightly. After the excitement faded, frustration and guilt resurfaced. He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes, his voice muffled. "Yeah. It was a project I'd been following for a long time. The initial investment was huge, and the team had been pulling all-nighters. We were almost done, but then someone tampered with the project from the inside, falsifying key data. It led to a complete collapse at the final review meeting, and all the previous work was wasted."
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "I feel so sorry for them. They trusted me and followed me, and in the end..."
Chu Yan listened quietly. He knew Gu Ye well. This young man, despite his unruly exterior, was deeply loyal and righteous. Once he considered someone his own, he would do his utmost to protect them. This kind of character might be rare in a warm and affectionate environment, but in the Gu family's dog-eat-dog arena, it would become his greatest weakness and source of pain. He would feel heavy pressure from his subordinates' trust and dedication, and would be hurt by betrayal and scheming.
Chu Yan sighed silently inwardly. For the sake of his mission, Gu Ye had to stay at the Gu family, to face, adapt to, and even exploit these cruel rules. This was the path he had chosen, and it was the path Chu Yan must guide him down.
"Do you want to vent your anger?" Chu Yan suddenly spoke, his voice calm but with a convincing power.
Gu Ye suddenly raised his head and looked at Chu Yan. In the dim light on the top of the mountain, Chu Yan's profile was a little blurry, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, like stars in the dark night, with a calmness that controlled everything and a hint of dangerous temptation.
"I do!" Gu Ye nodded without hesitation, the flame of revenge burning in his eyes.
"Okay." Chu Yan smiled, and there was a coldness in his smile. "Then I'll help you vent your anger."
He didn't ask who set up the scheme, nor did he ask for specific details, as if he already knew everything. He began to analyze the situation for Gu Ye in a clear and logical manner: "The project failed, but the previous work wasn't completely worthless. The tampered data itself is irrefutable evidence pointing to an insider. The failure of the review meeting could actually let down the opponent's guard. What you should do now is not to feel regretful, but..."
Chu Yan outlined a clear counterattack path for Gu Ye. How to exploit this failure to set up a counter-attack, how to gather evidence to expose the mastermind, how to leverage the opponent's strength, and even how to transform this crisis into an opportunity to further gain Gu Hongyuan's trust... His analysis was thorough and ruthless, and each step precisely exploited human weaknesses and management loopholes.
Gu Ye listened intently, his eyes growing brighter. Chu Yan's thinking was always so sharp, so efficient, even possessing a kind of beauty that bordered on cruelty. He was like a supreme chess player, able to transform all frustration and filth into pieces on the board, to be used for his own ends.
As he listened, Gu Ye's gaze involuntarily shifted from Chu Yan's analysis of the situation to his opening and closing lips, his focused brows, and his profile, which remained calm in the darkness, as if everything was under control.
A question that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly jumped into my heart like a beast breaking free from a cage, and blurted out:
"Chu Yan," Gu Ye's voice was very soft, but it interrupted Chu Yan's analysis, "Don't you want me to leave the Gu family at all?"
Chu Yan's analysis came to an abrupt end.
The wind on the mountaintop seemed to have stopped at that moment, and a subtle, almost stagnant silence filled the air.
Chu Yan slowly turned his head to look at Gu Ye. The boy's eyes shone startlingly bright in the darkness, staring straight at him. His usual arrogance and dependence were gone, leaving only an almost stubborn curiosity and hurt.
"Why do you say that?" There was no emotion in Chu Yan's voice, as if he was just curious.
Gu Ye didn't avoid his gaze and said word by word, "According to your usual personality, if I really felt that I couldn't stay in the Gu family anymore and was in so much pain that I was almost dying, you would most likely let me leave and let me make my own way, instead of teaching me how to struggle in the quagmire and become even less like myself like you are doing now."
He was incredibly perceptive. A summer of close observation and subconscious reflection had allowed him to discern the subtle inconsistencies in Chu Yan's behavior. Chu Yan seemingly offered him many choices, guiding him toward independence, but all of his guidance ultimately led him in the same direction: staying in the Gu family, fighting for their support.
Gu Ye paused, then added, his voice filled with a calm, reckless determination, "You asked me to observe you, analyze you, and figure out your purpose. I thought about it again and again, ruling out many possibilities, and in the end, I can only guess this. But I don't understand why."
He stared closely into Chu Yan's eyes, trying to find even a ripple in the deep calm. "Is it for the Gu family? Do you want to get the Gu family through me?"
"For the mission." Chu Yan and the system in his mind muttered this almost simultaneously. But this answer could never be spoken aloud.
Chu Yan fell silent. The wind from the mountaintop picked up again, bringing a biting chill. He looked at Gu Ye, the young man he had single-handedly guided and sculpted, a man experiencing rapid growth yet also feeling confused and tormented by it. For the first time, a clear flicker of extremely complex emotions crossed those eyes, always filled with smiles: admiration, helplessness, a fleeting sense of guilt, but ultimately, it all settled into a bottomless calm.
He neither admitted nor denied Gu Ye's guess.
He simply met Gu Ye's stubborn, inquiring gaze and asked a question in return. His voice was low and clear, like the sound of a rock striking in the silent night:
"Then do you still want to stay in the Gu family?"
This question, putting aside all calculations and purposes, goes straight to Gu Ye's heart.
Gu Ye didn't hesitate at all.
He met Chu Yan's gaze and nodded firmly: "I do."
Then, he took a deep breath of the cold mountaintop air and uttered those words that were almost an oath:
"Although I still don't know what your ultimate goal is, Chu Yan,"
"I'll help you get whatever you want."
The night was thick with darkness, and the mountain wind howled. The young man's words were resounding, laced with unquestionable determination and an almost tragic sense of devotion. He chose to stay, to continue this dangerous game, not only for himself, but also for the man shrouded in mystery before him.
Chu Yan looked at him quietly for a long time. In the end, he said nothing, but reached out and rubbed Gu Ye's hair, which was cold from the wind. His gesture was still as intimate as usual, but it seemed to have an indescribable weight than usual.
The conversation on the top of the mountain had no answers, yet it seemed to say everything.
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