Going home

The blazing midsummer sun left people dizzy, and even the wind carried heat. Unseen cicadas hid in the rows of plane trees, only their calls betraying their presence.

Sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves in dappled patches. Pedestrians carried parasols or wore sun-protective clothing; hardly anyone left their face exposed in weather like this.

Gu Zhiyue took out his keys and opened the door, a cake in his hand. "Mom, I got the cake. Half strawberry, half yellow peach. When are we eating?"

Gu Zhiyue set the cake on the table and saw the couple sitting on the sofa, their faces clouded with worry.

"Dad, what's wrong? Your worries are written all over your faces."

Lin Xiang spoke. "Son, your birth parents are coming to take you home."

"What... Dad, you're not joking, are you? How did I suddenly become someone else's child?"

Bai Qinglan said helplessly, "You don't even have the same surname as either of us. Didn't that ever make you wonder?"

Gu Zhiyue frowned slightly. "Some of my classmates don't have their parents' surnames either. I thought you were like them. But who would ever guess something like that?"

Lin Xiang chuckled softly. "Your birth parents should be here soon. It's time you went to see your own home."

"This... is so sudden."

Bai Qinglan patted Gu Zhiyue's hand. "We had some dealings with your birth parents before. Your mother entrusted you to me to raise, and she chose your name too. You were supposed to go home when you were four, but then an accident happened, and we lost contact with your birth parents. I thought they'd died in that accident. I never imagined they were both still alive and had never stopped looking for you."

Gu Zhiyue pressed his lips together. "But we haven't seen each other in over a decade. Can I really get along with them?"

Lin Xiang smiled. "Go and see before worrying about whether you can get along. If you really can't stay there, come back. Your mom and I will always be here waiting for you."

Gu Zhiyue thought for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Okay. I'll go take a look and come back tomorrow."

Bai Qinglan laughed through her tears. "How could it be that quick? You should at least stay a few days and get to know them better."

A faint sound came from outside, followed a few seconds later by a knock. Gu Zhiyue rose and opened the door. A couple stood outside. The man had an air of authority about his brow and eyes, slicked-back hair streaked with gray, and an immaculate suit.

The woman wore a purple, fine-velvet cheongsam with low side slits and an emerald necklace. With her hair pinned up, she looked gentle and refined.

Bai Qinglan and Lin Xiang came over to welcome them. The woman covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling with tears. "Qinglan, my dear sister, it's been so long."

Bai Qinglan went up and hugged her. "Wanling, it's been almost fifteen years."

Zhao Wanling wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Yes. Zhiyue was only three or four back then. His three older brothers were all abroad, but he was so little that I couldn't stop worrying about him. I could only entrust him to you. I never expected us to lose contact by accident. Fourteen years went by just like that. I'm just glad you're alive. So glad you're alive."

Gu Jiangfeng patted Zhao Wanling's shoulder reassuringly. "The past is behind us. Our son is doing well, and Lin and his wife are doing well too. That's enough."

Zhao Wanling nodded and turned to Gu Zhiyue. "Son, let your mom have a good look at you. Qinglan has raised you so well. So tall and handsome. You got that face from your mother when she was young."

Gu Jiangfeng smiled. "His nose takes after mine, though. Straight with an upturned tip. Plenty of people could only envy it."

Gu Zhiyue's lips moved, but he couldn't bring himself to say those two words. Zhao Wanling smiled. "It's all right. There's no hurry. You can call us that when you've truly accepted us."

Inwardly relieved, Gu Zhiyue gave a soft laugh and a slight nod. "Okay."

Lin Xiang waved to Gu Zhiyue. "Go and take a look. You can come back whenever you want."

"Okay. I'm just going to take a look."

Gu Jiangfeng took all of Gu Zhiyue's suitcases and wheeled them along. "If you can't get used to it, we won't stop you from coming back here. But could you stay for a month first?"

Gu Zhiyue thought it over. A month was neither long nor short, and he could accept that, so he nodded in agreement.

The driver came over, took the suitcases, and loaded everything into the trunk. Lin Xiang and Bai Qinglan came out to see the three of them off. Gu Zhiyue stuck his head out of the car window. "What about the cake?"

Bai Qinglan smiled. "I'll eat it all. It won't go to waste."

Gu Zhiyue smiled. "All right, Mom. Remember to let Dad have some when you're done."

"So your dad only gets the leftovers?"

Bai Qinglan laughed. "All right, all right. Off you go. The sooner you get there, the sooner you can rest."

Zhao Wanling smiled. "Let's find a time to get together properly."

Once everything was ready, Gu Jiangfeng instructed the driver, "Let's go. Back to the estate."

"Yes, sir."

Gu Zhiyue kept his head out of the window, watching the two people standing by the door seeing him off until they disappeared from sight.

Gu Zhiyue sat back, looking somewhat forlorn. Zhao Wanling patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Give them a video call tonight. Let them know you arrived safely."

Gu Zhiyue murmured in acknowledgment. "Okay. Um, what was the accident you mentioned?"

Zhao Wanling sighed. "A very serious business war. Business conflicts aren't as simple as people imagine, just fighting over contracts and opportunities. Once things get serious, people really can die."

Gu Jiangfeng said, "You were only three then. We couldn't stop worrying about you if we sent you abroad, so we left you with Lin and his family for the time being. But the business war grew more and more serious afterward. Even we nearly..."

"We sent your second and third brothers abroad for safety. Only your eldest brother absolutely refused to leave. He wanted to stay by our side and help."

Gu Zhiyue shuddered at what he heard. "That's terrifying. I thought deliberately fabricating evidence to frame someone was already ruthless enough."

"That's considered mild."

It took over an hour to reach the Gu Family estate. The automatic gate opened after detecting the vehicle's information, and the car drove into the front courtyard and stopped.

Gu Zhiyue got out and looked around at the estate's layout. All he could say was that it was lavish. Far too lavish!

The front courtyard alone was large enough to build a single-story house on, never mind the palatial house itself, the fountain, and the rockery with one corner visible in the back garden.

The butler approached. "Sir, madam, everything for the young master is ready. Dinner is being prepared as you instructed."

Gu Jiangfeng nodded. "Understood. Go back to your work."

Zhao Wanling introduced him to Gu Zhiyue. "This is our butler. We all call him Uncle Qian. If you need anything or have any problems, just let Uncle Qian know."

Gu Zhiyue nodded to show he would remember. Zhao Wanling took Gu Yunshu by the hand. "Come on, let's see the room we prepared for you and check whether anything is missing or needs changing."

Gu Jiangfeng took out his phone. "I'll ask when the second and third boys are coming back. The eldest is out of the province and can't make it, but those two have to come home today."

Gu Zhiyue was led upstairs to see his room while Gu Jiangfeng called his second and third sons.

The second was probably still filming; neither of his two calls went through. The third answered, and from the car horns and wind on the other end, he seemed to be on the road.

A hand with well-defined knuckles rested on top of the steering wheel. The man's voice carried a hint of irreverence. "Dad, how could I not come back when my little brother's coming home today? Don't worry. I'll definitely be home in an hour."