Page 6

Gu Bai sat up straight on the sofa and looked around the living room. It was large and empty, giving Mocha plenty of room to move around.

Mocha sat beside the sofa, staring fixedly at the bag of treats in Gu Bai's hand.

Gu Bai found the sight amusing, but he did not want to give Mocha the treats outright. Suddenly thinking of something, he said to Mocha, "Bring me the remote on the table."

Mocha tilted his head at Gu Bai's words, then stood up and walked over to the table.

Gu Bai repeated his last sentence. The next second, Mocha jumped up on his hind legs, bracing himself against the table, stretched forward to grab the remote in his mouth, then carried it over and set it down in front of Gu Bai.

Gu Bai had not expected Mocha to follow his command. He had only meant to tease him at first.

Gu Bai spoke again. "Mocha, bring me the tissues on the table."

Mocha tilted his head again, then picked up the tissue box on the table in his mouth and brought it over.

Gu Bai took the tissue box and stroked Mocha's head, then tore open the bag of treats and took out the jerky inside. Since Mocha had followed two commands, Gu Bai gave him two pieces of jerky.

Once Mocha had his jerky, he went off to the side to eat.

These peaceful days with a pet for company were shattered after only a few days. Just as Gu Bai had thought, nothing had settled yet.

Over the weekend, he received a call from the Gu Family's eldest daughter, asking him to come back to the family home.

But having taken their money, he was hardly in a position to refuse. For the sake of that eighty million, he still had to make the trip.

Gu Bai took Mocha back to the Gu Family home over the weekend. Without deliberately timing his arrival, he happened to catch the family having lunch.

That was because he had only recently gotten out of bed. On days when he did not have to work, nothing was better than sleeping until he woke naturally.

When the Gu Family's butler saw Gu Bai at the entrance, he hurried forward to take the leash from his hand.

Gu Bai frowned and did not let him take it. He had no idea why everyone who saw him walking Mocha wanted to come over and take the leash. Anyone who did not know better might have thought he was carrying something heavy.

He unclipped Mocha's leash and said quietly, "You know this place better than I do. Go play."

There was a large lawn in the Gu Family's front yard. Mocha took off running, as though he had returned to his happy home.

Seeing this, Gu Bai added a front lawn to his list of requirements for buying a house.

Better to arrive at the right time than early. When Gu Bai entered the house, the Gu Family had only just sat down.

He had not seen Mrs. Gu or the Gu Family's fourth daughter on his first day here. Now they were all present.

Gu Jiazi was the first to notice Gu Bai's return. Smiling in pleasant surprise, she said, "You're back, Bai. Perfect timing. We can all have a meal together as a family."

Gu Bai said nothing and walked over to sit at the long table.

The head of the table was empty. Seated beside it was a woman dressed with great flair, her earrings swaying and glittering, her pearl necklace strung with plump, round pearls, an emerald ring on her finger, and exquisite makeup on her face. She did not look at all like someone whose husband had died.

In fact, none of the people here looked as though they had lost a husband, a father, or the pillar of their family. Today felt more like a banquet concealing a trap.

The butler brought people in to serve the food. As they bustled around the table, a bloodbath began over it.

"Third, I heard you moved out? You didn't even tell the family where you were moving." Zhao Xinran did not spare Gu Bai so much as a glance. She raised her hand to polish her emerald ring, a hint of accusation in her voice.

Outside the house, anyone might address Gu Bai as the third young master of the Gu Family, but everyone knew he had the least power. The eldest daughter and second son supported each other, while the youngest, the fourth daughter, had both parents and was showered with affection.

The Gu Family's third son was unloved by his father and had accomplished nothing at the Gu Corporation. He could be called a marginal figure, the easiest target to push around.

The butler placed his meal before him. Gu Bai picked up his knife and fork and lowered his head to cut his steak. "I moved out. My eldest sister and second brother were both there at the time."

Seeing Gu Bai start eating, Zhao Xinran frowned in displeasure. "You've only been away a few days, and you've already forgotten the Gu Family's rules. How could you start eating before your elders?"

As though he had not heard her, Gu Bai put a piece of cut meat into his mouth and chewed unhurriedly.

Everyone at the table looked at him. Given his temperament, at times like this he would usually admit his mistake in fear and trembling, then receive another lecture.

Gu Jiazi looked at Gu Bai with apparent concern, as though she wanted to speak up for him, but she had yet to say a word.

As for Gu Ruilin, it went without saying. He looked as though he was enjoying the show and would not mind if things got worse.

Their younger sister, Gu Yi, looked disdainfully at her good-for-nothing third brother. Not just anyone in this family deserved to be her older brother.

Gu Bai swallowed his food, picked up the glass of water on the table, and took a sip. Then he raised his eyes to Zhao Xinran without a trace of emotion.

"Hasn't my elder already eaten? I smelled incense offerings when I came in. Since our youngest sister is home on her break today, the whole family can pay their respects to Father together."

He paused. "The maritime search team still hasn't found Father. Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to start preparing his funeral so soon?"

Gu Ruilin laughed at Gu Bai's words. "Third, did that car accident knock you stupid? Father's been missing for half a month. Even the search team says there's no hope left. Why are you still so fixated on this? What we should be doing is laying Father to rest."

The Gu Family had already publicly announced the date of the funeral. All the major families would attend.

Gu Bai said ambiguously, "Yes, and yet it's only been half a month, and none of you can wait."

Everyone in the Gu Family now hoped the funeral would come sooner. Once it was over, it would be decided whose hands the Gu Family would fall into.

At present, the Gu Family was divided into three factions: Gu Jiazi, Gu Ruilin, and Zhao Xinran with Gu Yi. Those three each had their own supporters behind them. Only Gu Bai stood alone, a faction unto himself.

Gu Jiazi urged him gently, "Bai, I know you feel deeply for Father, but what's happened is settled. Grieving won't help. From now on, we younger ones are all the Gu Family can rely on. Father's passed away, and our youngest sister is still underage. We siblings need to support one another."

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