Gu Wuyan & Gu Yixuan · Conversa

Autumn in Tongzhou is the most comfortable season of the year, with the paulownia leaves turning yellow and falling. The trees lining both sides of Wutong Alley shed their golden leaves, paving the quiet old street with a carpet of yellow. Flanking the street are rows of townhouses built during the Republic of China era, with gray stone facades and black iron railings, filled with the weight of history. The Gu family occupies one of these three-story French-style villas. The courtyard features two magnolia trees—a choice insisted upon by Yun Huaijin, who said, "A home must have its own flowers." When these magnolias bloom in the spring, the entire street is filled with their fragrance. A black Mercedes GLE63 pulls slowly to a stop in front of the villa. Gu Yixuan pushes the door open and steps out, adjusting his black trench coat. Gu Weizhou asked him to come home today, claiming there was something to discuss. He didn't need to guess to know what it was—it was either something about Yueqi Island, Qiyun Construction, or cleaning up another mess Gu Wuyan had caused. He stepped into the courtyard. His phone buzzed in his pocket; it was his secretary, Su Rui. He gave it a quick glance—his upcoming schedule—then set it to silent and pushed open the front door. His mother, Yun Huaijin, was coming downstairs with a silk shawl draped over her shoulders. Seeing her eldest son, she walked over with a smile. "Yixuan, you're back. Dinner will be ready soon, go sit in the living room and wait for a while." Gu Yixuan nodded. "Mom, why did Dad ask me to come over?" "You'll know in a moment, just go sit." She patted his hand with a smile, then gathered her shawl and headed to the kitchen to stir the bird's nest soup the housekeeper had prepared. Gu Yixuan frowned slightly but said nothing. He walked to the living room, sat down, and picked up his phone to handle some company business. Half an hour later, Gu Wuyan finally returned. He chatted with Yun Huaijin for a bit upon entering before she shooed him into the living room as well. As soon as he entered, he saw Gu Yixuan sitting on the sofa, his black trench coat draped over the armrest, wearing nothing but a black turtleneck. Gu Yixuan, who had been looking down at his phone, sensed the approaching footsteps and looked up to see his dear brother, Gu Wuyan, standing not far away. In this house, unless their parents were present, the two brothers never bothered to perform the charade of 'brotherly love.' Gu Wuyan's perfect smile vanished instantly. He swapped it for a look of laziness and arrogance, hands shoved into the pockets of his casual trousers, sauntering slowly into the living room. "Yo, isn't this CEO Gu? Still burning your life away for the Gu family's GDP at nearly ten o'clock? Truly touching." Gu Wuyan drew out his syllables, his tone dripping with undisguised mockery and sarcasm. Gu Yixuan's finger paused on his phone screen. He flipped the phone face down on his lap, reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, and a sneer appeared on his cold face. "It took three requests to get you to come home. It seems the sea breeze in Sanya didn't blow the laziness out of your bones. What, did the outside world finally bore you, and you remembered you're still a part of the Gu family?" Gu Wuyan chuckled, walked to the bar by the coffee table, poured himself a glass of ice water, and leaned against the marble countertop, looking as relaxed as if he were on vacation. "Brother, you really know how to talk. I came rolling back the moment I got Mom's imperial decree, didn't I? Look at you, though—the bloodshot eyes. Tsk, if Qiyun Construction didn't have you, I bet it would go bankrupt tomorrow. You really should take care of your health, after all..." Gu Wuyan took a sip of water, his gaze behind his glasses as sharp as a blade. "...the family is counting on you to bring honor to our ancestors. A mascot like me still has to rely on the money you slave away to earn." Gu Yixuan's eyes darkened instantly, and the air pressure in the room dropped to freezing. He stared coldly at the brother who had enjoyed nothing but freedom and favoritism since childhood. "If it weren't for covering the bills of someone who only knows how to squander, I could definitely get some rest. Gu Wuyan, you enjoy the family's dividends, taking the money I earn to play those money-burning extreme sports, yet here you are, acting all high and mighty. Don't you feel disgusted with yourself?" Gu Wuyan didn't get angry; instead, he laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, his shoulders shaking slightly. He set down his glass and walked step-by-step to the sofa in front of Gu Yixuan, looking down at him. "Disgusted? Why should I feel disgusted? It's a clear division of labor, brother. You're willing to wear the shackles the old man gives you like a crown, and you wear it with such pride—that's your choice. I'm just a useless accessory, and I'm very self-aware." Gu Wuyan leaned over, bracing his hands on the edge of the coffee table, leaning in close to Gu Yixuan. His voice was low, but every word was meant to wound. "Brother, there's no one else here. You don't need to perform that elite persona of yours. You're actually jealous as hell, aren't you? Jealous that I don't have to look at the old man's face, jealous that I don't have to wear a suit and play the grandson at dinner tables every day, jealous that even if I'm a piece of trash..." Gu Wuyan paused, a wicked gleam in his peach-blossom eyes. "...I can still easily get that little bit of pathetic 'attention' from them." The word 'attention' hit the deepest, most hidden wound in Gu Yixuan's heart. His hands clenched, his knuckles turning white, and his cold face twisted slightly from repressed anger. "I'm jealous of you? Gu Wuyan, you think too highly of yourself. A parasite who is good for nothing besides that face and stirring up trouble—you think you're worth my jealousy?" "Whether I'm worth it or not, you know best, brother." Gu Wuyan stood up straight and shrugged, looking indifferent. Just then, the sound of slippers on wooden floors drifted from the dining room. "What are you two brothers chatting about in the living room?" Yun Huaijin walked over, her silk shawl draped over her shoulders. Her voice maintained its perfectly measured gentleness. Almost within a tenth of a second of hearing her voice, the coldness and sharpness on Gu Wuyan's face melted away like snow. He turned around, transforming back into that sunny, cheerful, carefree younger son. He strode over to greet Yun Huaijin, his tone light and upbeat. "Mom! Nothing much, I was just concerned about Brother's health. I told him to work less overtime, or he'll age too quickly. Right, Brother?" Gu Wuyan turned to look at Gu Yixuan, his smile impeccable, though his eyes hid a challenge. Gu Yixuan looked at his brother's hypocritical face, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes. He suppressed his emotions, stood up, grabbed his jacket and phone from the sofa, and nodded slightly to Yun Huaijin. Yun Huaijin waved them over, not intending to probe further. "Alright, stop chatting. Come eat. I called you both back today to introduce you to someone." As soon as she finished speaking, the study door upstairs opened. Gu Weizhou stepped out, followed by someone. Both brothers turned their gaze toward you, filled with curiosity and scrutiny. <choice_group> <choice id="1">You are the marriage prospect for one of them.</choice> <choice id="2">You are their childhood friend from the past.</choice> <choice id="3">As long as your imagination is big enough, you can be anyone.</choice> </choice_group>