About your third brother

Gu Shen Ci, Gu Zhiyue, and the other three rode in their family's car, with the coach following behind.

Gu Shuoyan drove. The venue for the group dinner was not far away, only about ten kilometers.

Gu Shen Ci contacted He Ran, who was leading the group on the coach, on his phone. "Xiao Ran, check with the hotel again to make sure the food, alcohol, and other drinks are all ready."

"Shen Ci, I just checked. Everything's ready. There are so many of us that we booked both large private rooms on the top floor."

"Good. Play some little games or rest a bit longer. We'll be there in ten-odd minutes."

Zhao Wanling was on the phone with Gu Jiangfeng. "If you hadn't still been busy at the office, we would've invited you along to the concert."

Whatever Gu Jiangfeng said on the phone made the smile on Zhao Wanling's lips deepen.

"Get some rest early when you get home from work tonight. I'm watching over the three of them, so don't worry."

Gu Zhiyue was chatting with Xie Zhen and Luo Yunhe in their three-person group chat. Xie Zhen was sharing a recently released mobile game with them.

Watching the messages keep coming, Gu Zhiyue couldn't help marveling. It's obvious Xie Zhen really likes this game. Is it really that fun? I'll download it and give it a try when I get home.

Luo Yunhe replied, [Let's see just how fun it is.]

Xie Zhen: [It perfectly fulfills my dream of being a martial arts hero. The outfits and story are gorgeous (cat holding flowers.jpg).]

Gu Zhiyue: [I'll download it and try it when I get home too. Anything Xie Zhen recommends this strongly can't be bad.]

Xie Zhen: [Of course. I don't usually play games, and the games I do play are anything but usual.]

Ten-odd minutes later, the vehicles stopped in the restaurant's outdoor parking lot. Everyone got out one after another and headed inside.

The restaurant was only five stories tall, but it occupied a large area. Its decor was in the style of a Chinese restaurant, and it served Chinese food as well.

A staff member wearing glasses approached Gu Zhiyue. "Hey, you really look like the boss!"

Gu Zhiyue smiled. "I've been hearing that all day."

"You really do, especially around the eyes and brows. But you're a little cuter than the boss. When he isn't smiling, he feels so cold."

Gu Zhiyue laughed. "Is that why everyone calls him an aloof beauty?"

"Yeah. The fans prefer the boss with a cold expression. They even say they hope he'll keep playing aloof characters in dramas."

"But I don't think my second brother looks aloof. Isn't he pretty approachable?"

A bottle of lemon-yellow juice appeared on the table in front of him. A staff member with long, curly hair asked, "What are you talking about? Can I listen too?"

The staff member with glasses said, "I was telling Young Master Gu how much he looks like our boss. Are you handing things out? Let me help."

Gu Zhiyue waved. "If you're busy, go ahead. We can chat over dinner."

The two nodded and left to help hand things out and arrange the seating.

Gu Zhiyue opened the juice bottle and poured himself a glass. Holding it beneath his nose, he could smell a distinct lemon fragrance. It was not the scent of artificial sweetener, but a pure lemon scent.

It tasted of lemon too, but it was not as sour as eating a lemon on its own. Instead, it carried a little sweetness, with the sourness more pronounced.

Gu Zhiyue bobbed his head in satisfaction. This juice is pretty good. I'll buy a couple of bottles to take home after we finish.

Xiao Jiu lay on Gu Zhiyue's shoulder. Host, want some gossip to go with dinner?

Sure.

Zhao Wanling and Gu Shuoyan came over and sat beside Gu Zhiyue. Gu Shen Ci was still discussing things with the other staff and would take a little longer to join them.

Zhao Wanling looked at Gu Zhiyue with a smile. "Sweetheart, are you hungry?"

Gu Zhiyue rubbed his stomach. "A little."

Gu Shuoyan said, "Eat plenty when the food comes. Anything left over will just go to waste, so we might as well finish it."

"I agree. If there's one thing in this world we must never let down, it's good food."

The dishes arrived one after another. There were two large round tables with automatic turntables in the private room, each seating sixteen or seventeen people. The layout on the other side was the same.

Gu Shen Ci returned from the other private room and sat down beside Gu Shuoyan. "All right, dig in. We barely ate at lunch, so now we can have a proper feast."

Zhao Wanling put food on Gu Zhiyue's plate. "Sweetheart, try this beef with dried chilies, and this blanched cabbage."

Gu Zhiyue spoke as he ate. "Mom, I can get it myself. Go on and eat. Don't just fuss over me."

Gu Shen Ci chuckled. "Mom, our third brother and I will get food for our little brother. Go ahead and eat. I ordered that bird's nest soup especially for you. Have it while it's hot."

Xiao Jiu sat on the edge of the dining table, swinging two short legs back and forth. Host, I just found something in my search. It's about your third brother.

Gu Zhiyue raised his brows. What is it? Good news or bad news?

Xiao Jiu poured cold water on his hopes. Host, none of what's happening to your family right now is good.

Gu Shuoyan nearly choked. Gu Shen Ci and Zhao Wanling both paused what they were doing.

What happened to my third brother?

Gu Shuoyan's good friend Tong Ziyi invites him to an intermediate-level car race. Gu Shuoyan is sixth to take the track. Tong Ziyi has long been dissatisfied with him.

Before Gu Shuoyan takes the track, he pays someone to tamper with Gu Shuoyan's race car. Unaware of this, Gu Shuoyan enters the race. His brakes fail as he takes a turn at high speed, and his car crashes into a wall. In the end, the car is badly mangled and totaled, and Gu Shuoyan is left with a permanent disability in both legs. He can never stand again.

Gu Zhiyue took a few sips of juice. How is that any different from taking my third brother's life? If he can never stand again, he might as well just kill him outright.

Gu Shuoyan wholeheartedly agreed with this thought of Gu Zhiyue's.

Gu Shen Ci picked up his phone and tagged Gu Shuoyan in the "Incredible Ability" group chat. [That Tong Ziyi-hasn't he visited our house before?]

Feeling his phone vibrate, Gu Shuoyan took it out and replied, [Yeah. I've known him for two or three years. Even our eldest brother has met him.]

Zhao Wanling showed no mercy, pouring cold water on him outright. [What good is knowing him for so long? You've kept up a pretty good relationship on the surface.]

Gu Shuoyan: [(aggrieved puppy.jpg)]

[You can't see into someone's heart. How was I supposed to know he was that kind of person?]

Gu Zhiyue asked Xiao Jiu curiously, Tong Ziyi has known my third brother for so long. Why does he want to hurt him?

Xiao Jiu said, Because Tong Ziyi thinks Gu Shuoyan is better than him in every way. He's better at racing, his grades are better, and even when it comes to love letters, your third brother gets the most.

The seeds of jealousy were planted in Tong Ziyi's heart long ago. Your third brother is too easygoing to have noticed. In fact, Tong Ziyi has been secretly tripping him up for ages. He just hasn't dared make it too obvious for fear of the Gu Family finding out.

Gu Zhiyue frowned. So now he's not afraid of dying? Tampering with something to this extent?

Someone else tampers with Gu Shuoyan's race car, not Tong Ziyi. Even if the Gu Family investigates afterward, they'll suspect him too, because everyone in the Gu Family knows he and Gu Shuoyan are close.

Xiao Jiu paused for two or three seconds before continuing. And the person who was paid off will later die in an "accidental" car crash too.

Gu Zhiyue sighed. What kind of people does our family know?