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Elder Chu joined their conversation. "Xiao Bai met A Wen and A Sheng?"

Gu Bai nodded. "We had a meal together a few days ago."

Elder Chu knew what Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan meant to his grandson. As members of prominent families, they were surrounded by all sorts of people, but the three of them had grown up together, and their bond was beyond comparison.

He had been so eager to introduce him to his friends. It seemed his grandson's intentions were not entirely innocent either.

Still, he had to admit that the brat moved pretty fast.

"Young people should get together more often. Don't focus only on work and get so busy that you neglect your health," Elder Chu earnestly advised. "There's no end to the money you can earn. Your health is your real capital."

Gu Haisheng agreed with Elder Chu. "You're right. Health is our real capital."

Among the young people present, Gu Bai was probably the only one who agreed. The others belonged to prominent families, and if they relaxed even a little, the wealth and prestige they enjoyed would slowly slip away. They could only stop at nothing for status and personal gain.

Gu Bai had once trapped himself in the pursuit of gain and prestige too. For that so-called family honor, for those so-called family ties that might offer a helping hand, he had turned himself into a working machine that knew no fatigue.

Sitting beside him, Chu Zeshen noticed something was off and asked quietly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Gu Bai shook his head. "No. This fish isn't as fresh as one caught straight from the sea."

Chu Zeshen placed a piece of black pepper beef in Gu Bai's bowl. "Do you like fishing? Xie Wen happens to enjoy it too. It'll be part of the trip, so you can go sea fishing then."

At the words "sea fishing," Gu Bai's gloom vanished. "Sounds good."

Chu Ningwei suddenly found himself envying their trip. "Zeshen, can I come along? A few years ago, Wen invited us out too, and we had a great time. It'll be livelier with more young people."

Chu Ningwei had always wanted to get closer to Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan, the future heads of the Xie Family and the Lu Family. Unfortunately, the two had only made a show of talking to him in the past because he was Chu Zeshen's younger cousin. He had not had another chance since.

This time, he made the request while everyone was present. With their elders there, he figured Chu Zeshen would not turn them down.

Under the table, Chu Ningwei nudged Chu Hanjin. Taking the cue, she chimed in, "Zeshen, count me in too. It's been ages since we went out together. Great-Uncle, tell him to take me along."

Elder Chu glanced at his grandson and laughed it off. "You young people can make your own decisions. An old man like me won't get involved."

As though the waters were not muddy enough, Gu Ruilin said with a smile, "Can my sister and I join too? We're all young and have things in common. Besides, it'll help strengthen ties between our families. We're family now, so the younger generation should get together often and help each other."

Gu Bai had not expected the four of them to be so shameless. Chu Zeshen probably had not either, or he would not have mentioned the trip here.

Chu Zeshen would refuse. After all, he found his two cousins annoying too. But with all four of them making the request one after another, refusing seemed a little unkind.

"Since there are so many of you, the four of you can travel together. There are four of us too. We can give you a copy of the itinerary, but you'll need to prepare everything yourselves." Gu Bai smiled. "After all, Young Master Xie isn't your hired companion. He's under no obligation to entertain you."

Who would dare say a word against Young Master Xie? Apart from Chu Zeshen, no one present could compare to Xie Wen.

They had shot themselves in the foot, but since they had brought it up themselves, they had to suffer in silence.

The two younger members of the Gu Family looked down on the two from the Chu Family, and the feeling was mutual. Their relationship was nowhere near close enough for them to take a trip together.

At this point, Elder Chu spoke up. "The young people from our two families should indeed get together more often. They have their ways of enjoying themselves, and we elders have ours. I have an unopened tea cake at home. Haisheng, come over for tea in a few days."

How could Gu Haisheng fail to understand Elder Chu's meaning? He was telling him not to meddle in the young people's affairs.

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Chapter 17

Gu Bai had only said a few extra words during the meal, and his appetite had not diminished at all. The same could not be said for the others. Each looked weighed down by worries and barely touched their food.

Chu Zeshen kept putting food in his bowl, so Gu Bai peeled a shrimp for him in return. "The shrimp is good. Try it."

Chu Zeshen smiled at the shrimp in his bowl. "All right."

Watching the affection between them, everyone apart from the elders of the two families inexplicably grew more subdued.

After the family dinner ended, the younger generation followed their elders out to see them to their cars.

Gu Bai stood beside Gu Haisheng. The car taking him home was already waiting at the entrance.

Gu Haisheng glanced at Gu Bai without saying much.

"Live a good life."

Gu Bai lowered his eyes and answered, "I will, Father."

Gu Haisheng had a car to himself, Zhao Xinran shared one with Gu Yi, and Gu Jiazi and Gu Ruilin each had their own. The scene was exactly the same as it had been at the cemetery.

Gu Bai watched the four cars leave, lost in thought for a moment. A father telling his son to live a good life-from the looks of it, his inheritance was still not secure.

Still, living a good life was indeed Gu Bai's ambition in this lifetime.

Chu Zeshen had already seen his grandfather to his car and was waiting nearby.

Gu Bai walked over. "Let's go home."

Chu Zeshen said, "Let's stop by the pet shop first and buy Mocha some treats."

If Chu Zeshen had not mentioned it, Gu Bai would have forgotten all about it. He looked at Chu Zeshen in amusement. "Don't tell me you've been remembering to buy Mocha treats all evening."

Chu Zeshen opened the car door for Gu Bai. "I promised before we left. I have to keep my word."

Before getting into the car, Gu Bai turned to look at Chu Zeshen. "Are you saying I don't keep my word?"

Chu Zeshen's gaze was deep. "Behave, and you'll get meat."

Gu Bai froze for a moment as he looked into Chu Zeshen's eyes. Did those large, double-lidded eyes look at everyone so tenderly?

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