He'd definitely still come back empty-handed

When Lin Xiang arrived home, Bai Qinglan had just finished preparing dinner, and Gu Zhiyue was helping carry the dishes to the dining table.

Seeing Lin Xiang return, Gu Zhiyue called out excitedly, "Dad, hurry up and wash your hands! Dinner's ready!"

"Oh! Didn't you say you weren't coming back until tomorrow? I was planning to pick you up tomorrow."

Bai Qinglan smiled. "Xiao Yue said he wanted to surprise us, so he came back by himself."

The family of three sat down at the table. As usual, they started with soup to warm their stomachs before picking up their chopsticks.

Lin Xiang smiled. "Perfect timing. The company's holiday break has started, so let's all go fishing tomorrow."

Gu Zhiyue asked, "Mom, how are Dad's fishing skills these days?"

Bai Qinglan shook her head. "Your dad's been busy these past few months and hasn't gone fishing much, but I'm sure he'd still come back empty-handed."

"At least spare me some dignity when I'm sitting right here."

Bai Qinglan picked up some greens and placed them in Lin Xiang's bowl. "Eat more vegetables. They're good for you."

The phone in Gu Zhiyue's pocket rang. He answered it and walked aside. "Shuoyan, what's up?"

Gu Shuoyan's voice came through the receiver. "I'm entering a car race with some friends tomorrow. Come watch, little bro. I saved you a ticket."

"Sure, but you'll have to send a car to pick me up."

"No problem. It's settled, then."

Gu Zhiyue returned to the table. Bai Qinglan casually asked who it was, and he replied, "My third brother has a car race tomorrow. He saved me a ticket and asked me to watch."

Lin Xiang was curious. "Car racing? Like on TV, where they drive cars as fast as planes?"

"I think so. I tried it once. It really was fast. I almost threw up."

Bai Qinglan asked worriedly, "Nothing happened, did it? You've never raced before. How could you just go and try it?"

"It was fine. There were only the two of us when Shuoyan took me. He just drove me around for two laps, a little on the fast side."

Lin Xiang sighed. "Then Xiao Yue can't go fishing with us tomorrow?"

Gu Zhiyue took a mouthful of rice. "Shuoyan said the race starts at four. I need to be there at three thirty to have my ticket checked and get in, so the driver will come pick me up sometime after two."

"Then we really can't go together."

"What's the problem? With your talent for catching nothing, you might still be sitting by the lake when the race is over. Xiao Yue can just come find us there."

"That's a good idea. Wait, are you saying I'm bad at fishing?"

Back at the Gu Family home, Gu Shuoyan was looking at his phone, the glow of the screen reflected in his eyes. A contract was displayed on it, with a bold black heading at the top: "Car racing event organizer's liability waiver notice."

Gu Shuoyan looked at the contract, his gaze lingering on the final waiver clause: Any accident suffered by a participant during the race (such as serious injury or death) shall be deemed the result of the participant's own improper driving technique, and the organizer shall bear no liability.

Gu Shuoyan had signed plenty of waivers like this before, but this time, he had read the contract carefully first.

If his little brother's inner voice hadn't warned him of the danger in advance, he would certainly have signed his name without even reading the contract, just as he had the previous times, trusting his so-called good friend unconditionally. Once he was on the track and an accident happened, what could he do except chalk it up to bad luck?

Gu Shuoyan turned off his phone, closed his eyes, and sighed. They hadn't just brought home a child, a little brother, but a lucky star who would save them from disaster.

Gu Tingchuan took the elevator up from the garage. With a ding, the doors opened, and he stepped out.

"I've installed the camera in that red race car. Why did you suddenly want a camera installed? To record the race?"

Gu Shuoyan shook his head. "No. You'll find out during the race tomorrow. Tingchuan, remember to drive the other backup race car into the venue for me tomorrow."

"Sure, but don't you usually only drive one car when you race? Why do you have a backup this time?"

Gu Shuoyan patted Gu Tingchuan's shoulder and winked. "Tingchuan, there are some things you don't know about because you weren't home before. You'll find out what's going on at the venue tomorrow."

Helpless, Gu Tingchuan could only wait until tomorrow.

Gu Shuoyan got up and went upstairs to his room. "Good night, Tingchuan. Get some rest."

As the night deepened, the villa seemed to fall asleep along with its occupants. A faint light still shone through a gap in the curtains of one second-floor window.

"Come into the venue with me tomorrow. Just do as I say to whichever car I tell you to work on. You work yourself to the bone as a mechanic all year, and what you earn is only enough to keep your family of four going. I'll give you a million. Do this properly for me, and that million will keep your family fed and clothed for the rest of your lives."

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Come at the time and place I give you tomorrow, and just follow me in when you get there. Once the job is done, take the money and leave. Go live somewhere else with your wife and children."

The man hung up, his lips curling into an unmistakably crazed smile. "Gu Shuoyan, I've endured this for so long. Tomorrow, I can finally destroy you completely!"

His hand tightened around his phone, the furnishings in the room reflected in eyes filled with madness and resentment.

Gu Zhiyue slept well all night, until a little sunlight filtered past the curtains and the birds calling from the branches outside woke him.

Gu Zhiyue felt around for his phone on the bedside table and checked the time. It was almost eleven. He had stayed up a little late playing games with Luo Yunhe and Xie Zhen the night before.

Gu Zhiyue got out of bed and left his room. He was alone at home; Lin Xiang and Bai Qinglan were both out. There was still a plate of steamed buns left for him in the kitchen's rice cooker.

Gu Zhiyue opened his messages from Bai Qinglan. The latest one had been sent sometime after eight.

[Xiao Yue, your dad and I are going to take a look by the lake and claim a spot first. Your breakfast is keeping warm in the rice cooker. Remember to eat.]

Gu Zhiyue replied, [Got it, Mom. How long will you be out? Will you be back before I leave?]

Gu Zhiyue put his phone back in his pocket and carried the buns out. He took a bottle of milk from the fridge, then sat down at the table and leisurely ate his breakfast, though at this hour, it could probably be called lunch.

His phone vibrated twice. Bai Qinglan had replied, [Your dad brought his fishing gear. I reckon he'll start fishing as soon as he finds a spot, so we might not come back.]

With half a bun held between his teeth and the milk in one hand, Gu Zhiyue typed his reply with the other. [All right. I'll come find you by the lake when I get back tonight. Dad always spends at least six or seven hours fishing anyway.]

[Remember to bring your keys and phone when you go out. Charge your phone fully so we can reach you.]

[Mom, I'm all grown up. I've known to do all that for ages.]

[(Little girl covering her mouth and giggling.jpg) All right, all right, I know. Hurry up and eat your breakfast. Remember to get a meal at a restaurant before heading over. You can't watch the race on an empty stomach.]

[(OK hand gesture sticker) Got it!]