Chapter VII Declaration of Freedom
A night of "undercurrents" is a carefully blended cocktail of desire. Fragrance and alcohol molecules mingled in an ambiguous tangle in the air, while a deep bass line envelops the twisting bodies on the dance floor. Chu Yan reclined in a relatively quiet corner deep in the bar, withdrawing the gentle glow of day, leaving only the tranquility bestowed by the night and a subtle edge.
The collar of his school uniform was casually open, revealing his sharply defined collarbone and a small, firm chest. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the bones of his wrists were strikingly distinct in the dim light. He wasn't deliberately searching for prey, simply blending in with the bustle with a relaxed demeanor. His occasional glances, deep and distant, carried a detached gaze, as if he were enjoying a grand performance that had nothing to do with him.
Chu Yan took a sip of the rich liquid in the cup, a spicy taste spreading across his tongue. Gu Ye must be stuck at his desk, scratching his head over that homework to consolidate his knowledge. Thinking of Gu Ye gnashing his teeth over the math problem, a hint of malice curled up the corner of his mouth. That thoughtful homework was indeed the best firewall.
At this moment, a gaze with a strong presence penetrated the blurry light and shadow, and fell on him like a precise probe.
Chu Yan remained calm, his eyes following his instincts. In the corner of the VIP booth, a dark velvet sofa stood like a throne. A man, surrounded by several well-dressed young men, was watching him with interest.
The current heir of the Gu family, Gu Ye's half-brother. The system information instantly unfolded in Chu Yan's mind. The man was about twenty years old, wearing an extremely well-cut dark gray casual suit, with a high-quality smoky gray shirt underneath. He was not wearing a tie, and one button of his collar was undone, which was a perfect balance between formality and casualness. His facial features were deep and well-defined, especially the high nose bridge and the slightly cold-hearted lips, which were somewhat similar to Gu Ye. But the temperament was completely different. Gu Ye was a burning ice flame, flamboyant and sharp; the man in front of him was like a deep pool, calm and gentle on the surface, but indeed deep and unfathomable inside. He had a calmness that came from being in a high position for a long time and a kind of carefully polished propriety.
At that moment, Gu Xu's face was graced with a gentle, polite smile. The curve of his smile was perfect, and his eyes were focused, as if filled with genuine admiration. He raised his glass slightly in Chu Yan's direction, his gesture graceful and composed, without a hint of frivolity, but with the air of a mature invitation.
Chu Yan instantly made a judgment. The more gentle and harmless someone appears on the surface, the deeper their calculations are.
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, which was interesting.
Soon, a young man who looked like an assistant came over and said respectfully, "Sir, our General Manager Gu would like to invite you over for a chat."
"Mr. Gu?" Chu Yan put down his glass, his tone tinged with just the right amount of understanding. He stood up and walked calmly through the bustling crowd toward the booth that felt like a miniature power center. Under Gu's gaze, he naturally took the single sofa seat across from him, skillfully creating some distance.
"Nice to bother you, it's our first meeting." Gu Xu spoke first. His voice was low and pleasant, with a comfortable magnetism, and his smile was as gentle as a spring breeze. "I just couldn't help but want to get to know you." His eyes were sincere, as if the penetrating scrutiny just now was just an illusion.
"Mr. Gu, you're too kind." Chu Yan responded with a smile. His voice was no longer as clear as it was on campus, but was tinged with the mellowness of the night and a hint of distant magnetism. "It's my honor to be favored by Mr. Gu." He cleverly avoided the topic of "getting to know" the other person.
"Are you a student of Shenghua?" Gu Xu looked at the school uniform on Chu Yan and leaned forward slightly as if listening. "You look very young, but you have a calm temperament that far exceeds your peers." He started the topic naturally with a calm inquiry.
"Transfer student, Chu Yan." Chu Yan gave his name, then thought about his school uniform and understood. He met the other person's seemingly gentle but actually evaluative gaze with a frank look, "Yan from Yantai." He neither denied his identity nor revealed too much.
"Chu Yan, what a nice name." Gu Yu chewed on the word, his smile deepening, but a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, "The person is just as his name suggests, gentle as jade, yet with a hidden edge..." His compliment was just right, with a unique sense of propriety, expressing appreciation without appearing frivolous.
The two began to talk. Gu Xu demonstrated his profound heritage as an heir, skillfully transitioning the conversation from global economic trends to classical music appreciation. His words were full of wit and humor, and his demeanor remained humble and courteous, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. He was like a skilled hunter, weaving an invisible web with gentle words.
Chu Yan perfectly portrayed the intelligent, insightful, and slightly mysterious young man. He handled Gu Xu's questions with ease, offering unique insights, and his occasional sharp opinions earned Gu Xu's admiration. Yet, Chu Yan always maintained a subtle distance, like a slippery fish, effortlessly weaving in and out of the friendly atmosphere Gu Xu carefully cultivated.
[Warning: The host has been detected to be in deep contact with Gu Ye's main rival, Gu Xu. This behavior carries a huge risk.]
The system's alarm sounded in Chu Yan's mind.
[Risk?] Chu Yan sneered inwardly, but maintained an impeccable smile on his face. He agreed with Gu Xu's opinion on a certain art exhibition. [System, your logic module needs an upgrade.] Chu Yan thought that ever since the system data stream was refreshed during the last mission, it had been acting particularly sluggish. This current human-computer mode meant that the system's thinking module was still in the process of restarting and repairing.
[System: The mission objective is to help Gu Ye control the Gu family.]
"My mission is to help him control the Gu family." Chu Yan responded clearly in his mind, "Not to be his personal babysitter."
He raised his eyes, looked at Gu Xu's face with a perfect and gentle smile and the desire for control hidden deep in his eyes, and continued to say to the system:
[Getting close to Gu Xu, understanding the heir's preferences, trends, and even weaknesses, isn't this the most efficient way to know yourself and your enemy?]
Besides, a hint of the unruly nature of a playboy flashed across Chu Yan's eyes. "This heir is definitely my type." Tearing off someone's delicate and gentle facade, watching someone who's always at ease fall for him, was Chu Yan's nasty little hobby.
[System: Gu Ye...]
[That's his business.] Chu Yan interrupted in his mind. He missed his partner especially much and didn't know when the system would be repaired.
After his confrontation with the system, Chu Yan's smile grew even more captivating and profound, and his conversation with Gu Xu became increasingly lively. Gu Xu's interest in Chu Yan had clearly peaked, and his probing words became even more in-depth.
However, beneath Gu Xu's gentle appearance, Chu Yan keenly caught more details: the occasional glance when he seemed to be listening attentively, the strong guidance implied in the gentle words, and the look of control when he looked at himself.
This guy is a total 1. He's also the kind of top hunter who's used to controlling his prey with gentle embrace, silently bringing them into his own rhythm.
Chu Yan himself, sorry, he was also a pure level 1. Not only did they have the same account number, but even their hunting methods were highly similar. It was really exciting.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was perfectly set by Gu Xu. He pulled out his personal cell phone and said, "Chu Yan, how about we exchange contact information? We can find a quiet place sometime and discuss some more valuable topics in depth?" His hints pointed to both possible "cooperation" and a more personal sphere.
Chu Yan's smile remained perfect, even tinged with a hint of honor at being recognized by his senior. He calmly took out his phone and scanned Gu Xu's QR code. Gu Xu's name popped up on the screen. "Mr. Gu, thank you for your kindness."
"I've benefited a lot tonight. Mr. Gu's insights are refreshing." Chu Yan stood up and bowed politely, his tone sincere but distant. "But it's really getting late, and I have classes tomorrow, so let me take my leave first."
A flicker of surprise flashed across Gu Xu's eyes, but it was instantly replaced by a deeper, fascination, like locking onto prey. He didn't stand, but simply maintained a gentle smile and raised his glass, "Okay, be careful on your way. We'll keep in touch." Beneath that calm and gentle gaze lay a determination to win, as if Chu Yan were already in his net.
Chu Yan smiled and nodded, then turned and left the booth. His back was straight and calm, without a trace of hesitation.
Exiting "Undercurrent," the night breeze blew a chilly breeze across his face, instantly dispelling the false warmth of the booth area. Chu Yan's smile faded like the tide, and his eyes returned to a cold, distant look. He pulled out his phone, looked at the newly added contact, "Gu Xu," and casually swiped his finger across the screen, instantly turning on "Do Not Disturb" mode.
Chu Yan opened the car door and got into the waiting taxi, telling his home address. He looked at the neon lights of the city passing by quickly outside the window, and a challenging smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. The muddier the water, the more clearly one can see who is the one who can truly stir up the situation.
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