Chapter 8

"Of course I didn't!" Gu Xiu glared at Zhou Xiaoting with red-rimmed eyes. "When did I ever say something like that? Stop slandering me!"

"Then stop complaining to other people that your brother treats you badly." Zhou Xiaoting shook her head. "Isn't your brother feeling unwell because he hasn't adjusted to the local climate? When he's suffering, you should be more understanding. What's there to fuss over between real brothers? Your brother is already feeling sick, and then you mislead other people into scolding him. Wouldn't that make him feel even worse?"

"I didn't!" Gu Xiu was nearly crying from anxiety. "Why do you keep slandering me? Do you have something against me?"

The surrounding students hurried to explain for Gu Xiu as well. "He didn't say anything at all. He kept saying good things about his brother."

"Then I'm curious." Zhou Xiaoting let out a cold laugh, her logic exceptionally clear. "The person involved doesn't think he's been wronged and even keeps speaking up for the accused. So where did all this indignation from you onlookers come from? What right do you have to accuse Gu Xiu's brother of treating him badly on his behalf?"

"No matter how badly he treated him, the Gu Family still raised him and sent him to A University. They provided his food, drink, and tuition. You unrelated outsiders talk such a good game, but who among you has spent even a penny on Gu Xiu?"

Zhou Xiaoting's remarks left the group utterly speechless.

Gu Xiu's face flushed crimson with anger. Yet he had no idea how to explain himself and could only look pleadingly at Gu Chen—ever since childhood, he had grown accustomed to Gu Chen protecting him.

However, Gu Chen merely stood there expressionlessly, with no intention of stepping forward to rescue Gu Xiu from the awkward situation.

Gu Xiu was even more disappointed. At the same time, threads of panic and grievance rose from the depths of his heart. He was afraid Gu Chen was truly angry with him and would never take care of him again.

In the end, Huo Mingzhang stepped in to smooth things over. "Between brothers, how can tongues not bump against teeth? If two brothers are having a spat, outsiders shouldn't get involved. Even an upright official can't settle family disputes. What does it have to do with you?"

"Here!" Huo Mingzhang handed over the two custard buns he had bought. "You still have military training later. You can't go on an empty stomach. Eat something first."

As he spoke, he stuffed a bottle of water into Gu Xiu's hands as well.

With the scene having turned out like this, Gu Xiu quickly took the offered way out. He accepted the custard buns and water from Huo Mingzhang, giving him a grateful look. After Zhou Xiaoting's blunt rebuke, the surrounding students also felt it was pointless to stay. They dispersed one by one.

The first day of military training did not end until six in the evening. All the freshmen were exhausted. The moment the instructor dismissed them, they immediately staggered toward the cafeteria. Gu Xiu followed closely behind Gu Chen. He had spent the entire day during breaks trying to coax Gu Chen, but Gu Chen had not said a single word to him. Gu Xiu felt both wronged and afraid, worried that Gu Chen would call their parents and complain about him.

"You two finally came out." Huo Mingzhang had been waiting with his people at the entrance to the field for quite a while. All the first-year freshmen had already passed through before these two finally appeared. "If you aren't eager to eat, there must be something wrong with you."

Gu Xiu looked at Huo Mingzhang and the crowd beside him in confusion. When his gaze swept over Zhou Xiaoting, he could not help shrinking back—he was genuinely afraid of this senior now. Her words were far too cutting.

"We just finished playing basketball and were planning to have hot pot." Huo Mingzhang pointed back at his teammates. "I figured the more people, the livelier it'd be, so we might as well bring you brothers along."

"I'm not going." The moment Huo Mingzhang finished speaking, Gu Chen immediately refused.

"Come on!" Huo Mingzhang could tell that Gu Chen did not like him, though he had no idea how he had offended him. Still, he valued Gu Chen's basketball skills. "By the time you get to the cafeteria now, all the good food will be gone. Besides, I already told them you're amazing at basketball. Everyone wants to meet you."

"Exactly! When I told everyone about you today, they were all impressed." Huo Mingzhang's two childhood friends also spoke up. "Legend, give us some face?"

Watching the unmoved Gu Chen, Zhou Xiaoting said, "Go. While we eat, I can introduce you to some work-study opportunities. Whether you want to tutor or intern at a big company, I have connections for both."

From the way the Gu brothers were dressed, Zhou Xiaoting could tell that the Gu Family was probably not well-off. They had come from the countryside and had to support two college students. Students from families like that generally worked part-time after starting school. But first-year students had no connections and could at most find jobs handing out flyers or working at fast-food restaurants. Other than wasting time for a bit of hourly pay, such work offered virtually no help for future employment.

Gu Chen was indeed tempted. Seeing this, Huo Mingzhang gave Zhou Xiaoting a thumbs-up. Without giving them a chance to refuse, he and the others surrounded the brothers and swept them out of the school gates.

The hot pot restaurant was near the school. It was a Sichuan hot pot place that had been open for less than two years. As soon as everyone sat down, Gu Xiu impatiently said, "Um, my brother can't eat spicy food. Do you have a clear broth pot?"

The student who was about to order froze. Someone blurted out, "Seriously? You came to a Sichuan hot pot restaurant to eat clear broth?"

"My brother can't eat spicy food!" Gu Xiu drew out his words coquettishly. "Then let's get a divided pot."

"What a hassle!" The student ordering frowned and asked Gu Chen, "You can't eat even a little spice?"

Gu Chen had eaten with Huo Mingzhang's teammates in his previous life as well. To accommodate everyone else's tastes, even though he could not eat spicy food, he had never dared make any requests. He had been afraid of inconveniencing others. Unfortunately, he had accommodated others his whole life, yet no one appreciated it. Everyone thought his forbearance was groveling, deliberate bootlicking. They thought he was cowardly and spineless.

Since accommodating and currying favor could not earn him respect or equality, Gu Chen could not be bothered to keep acting when the plot was not in motion. "My stomach isn't good. I don't dare eat spicy food."

Huo Mingzhang's childhood friend suddenly understood. "Right. Didn't they say the legend had trouble adjusting after coming to A City and felt sick all day yesterday? Then let's get a divided pot."

The student ordering nodded, marked an item on the menu, then asked Gu Chen, "Do you have any other dietary restrictions?"

Gu Chen shook his head.

Gu Xiu quickly added, "My brother doesn't eat animal organs. He doesn't eat luncheon meat either, and he doesn't like those fish balls mixed with starch."

The student ordering could not help rolling their eyes.

Zhou Xiaoting spoke up. "Order whatever you want. Just don't put it in his clear broth side. Asking that extra question was completely unnecessary."