Chapter 246: Chapter 226: Get Me Another String

Since they had set a time in advance, Xiao Man was waiting by the school phone. When Gu Shaojun called, the principal answered first, then handed the receiver to Xiao Man.

But the principal didn’t leave. He sat right across from Xiao Man, openly listening to her conversation. Xiao Man was speechless but helpless. ’The entire school has only one phone, installed in the dean’s office, and the principal’s office is connected to it. It’s already a huge favor that I’m even allowed to take this call. Am I supposed to kick the principal out?’

Hearing Xiao Man give only short answers without initiating any conversation, Gu Shaojun knew someone was with her. With more than half of their ten-minute call already gone, he grew anxious and decided to just say his piece without waiting for her to respond.

"Xiao Man, listen to me this time. When I get back from Beijing, I’ll come find you, and then it’ll be my turn to listen to you, alright? I’ve practiced my family’s Ancient Martial Arts since I was a child. The... herbs you gave me had an astonishing effect on my power. That’s why I asked you to go to Beijing to treat my grandpa and Grandma Tang. I never imagined you were the Tang family’s granddaughter... You might hear some things about us soon. Don’t let your imagination run wild. Wait for me to come back and explain everything! Xiao Man, my Jade Token is gone. My neck feels so empty, and I can’t get used to it. Could you get me another string to tie it on, please?"

Wei Zhenqing, who was smoking by the door, had no intention of eavesdropping, but that last sentence reached his ears with perfect clarity. In his shock, he forgot to breathe. A mouthful of smoke got trapped in his throat, and he choked on it, coughing until tears streamed down his face.

Thousands of miles away, Xiao Man clutched the receiver, completely exasperated.

Next, Gu Shaojun called his father and obediently took his scolding. Aside from a few affirmations of "Yes, sir," he didn’t offer a single word of rebuttal, leaving Father Gu on the other end of the line completely baffled. ’He’s always been so defiant, why is he suddenly so docile? This isn’t normal. Not normal at all. When something is this abnormal, trouble is brewing! Good thing I’ll be seeing him soon. Once we apply pressure from all sides, I refuse to believe this brat can still stir up any more trouble!’

The call with Mr. Gu was even more dramatic. When he first answered, he was flying into a rage, threatening bloody murder. But less than three minutes later, he suddenly slapped the sofa and burst into raucous laughter, completely losing all sense of decorum.

Beside him, Old Mrs. Gu’s heart first ached for her eldest grandson. He had been the best at everything since he was a child; who in the family would have dared to speak a harsh word to him? And now her husband was dressing him down as if he were worthless. But then, watching her husband suddenly laugh like a fool, she grew terribly worried. ’Don’t tell me the shock was too much and he’s actually lost his mind, has he?’

When she finally understood the truth, Old Mrs. Gu couldn’t help but laugh and curse at the same time. ’What is all this nonsense? Something that could have been cleared up with a single sentence was twisted into this convoluted mess!’

On the phone, Gu Shaojun had first obediently let his grandfather chew him out, admitting his mistake with an excellent attitude and begging for forgiveness. Then, he asked his grandfather for a favor. "...No matter what, you have to preserve the marriage contract between the Gu and Tang Families. Please don’t let it be broken! The girl your grandson has his heart set on is Xiao Man! How could none of you have realized that? Even though Shaolian acknowledged her as his sworn-sister, the person Xiao Man is really interested in is me! Grandpa, you can go ask Shaozheng. Xiao Man tied a love token on me the moment we met. I’m her man! She only agreed to go to Beijing because of me!"

The feeling in Mr. Gu’s heart was a strange mix of relief and exasperation that was truly beyond words. Once he’d had his laugh, he rushed over to the Tang Mansion to share the whole story with his old friend.

「Two days later, Gu Shaojun returned to Beijing to attend a victory celebration.」

Attending the celebration was like another mission—all his actions were subject to command. It was three days before Gu Shaojun could finally return home to see his grandmother, mother, and the rest of the family.

He had already seen his grandfather and father at public functions. Even though the drama over the marriage contract had been cleared up as a huge misunderstanding, they were still angry with him. Back at home, they ignored him, intentionally giving him the cold shoulder. In contrast, Old Mrs. Gu, Zhou Hui Lan, and his younger siblings were overjoyed to see him. His aunts, uncles, and the household staff who had watched him grow up all gathered around. They fussed over him, chattering and laughing as they asked about his experiences on the battlefield. Gu Shaojun smiled and patiently answered everyone’s questions.

Gu Shaofeng had also returned. However, his usual aura was intimidating and icy, and he was a man of few words, so no one dared get too close. Even his own sister, Gu Shaoling, clung to Gu Shaojun, refusing to sit beside him.

Gu Shaojun, however, didn’t let his cousin hang on him as he used to. He helped Gu Shaoling sit up straight and instructed her seriously, "You’re a young woman now. You need to be mindful of your decorum. Whether you’re standing or sitting, you must keep a proper distance from men."

Gu Shaoling pouted. "What do you mean, ’men’? You’re my brother!"

Gu Shaojun’s face darkened. "And who told you a brother isn’t a man?"

The exchange between the two was so bizarre that the living room fell silent for a moment. Then, someone let out a snort of laughter, triggering a roar of amusement from everyone else.

Gu Shaoling, however, thought everyone was laughing at her. Feeling embarrassed, she stubbornly tried to throw herself at Gu Shaojun again, but he stopped her. On the verge of tears, she wailed, "Waaah! Big Brother, you don’t love me anymore!"

"It’s not that I don’t love you. As I just said, you’re grown up now, a young woman. Men and women must keep a proper distance! When you’re out in public, you especially can’t act this way with other men!"

"But you’re not some other man, you’re my brother! What’s the big deal? We’ve been this way since we were kids!"

"It was fine when you were little, but it’s not okay now that you’re grown up!"

"Why not?"

"It’s very simple. You’ll get married someday, and your husband certainly won’t want you acting like this. I have to get married too, and my wife would like it even less. Do you understand?"

"I don’t care!" Gu Shaoling prepared to throw a tantrum. As the only girl of her generation in the Gu family, she had been thoroughly spoiled since birth. The entire family only ever wanted to see her smile and couldn’t stand to see her cry. No matter what mess she made, someone was always there to clean it up, so she acted with impunity.

This time, however, she was clearly destined for a setback. First, she was admonished by her eldest brother, which she refused to accept. Then, her second brother, Gu Shaofeng, walked over, grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her like a kitten before tossing her onto the sofa where Old Mrs. Gu was sitting.

"If she keeps acting like this, who will be responsible when she embarrasses the family in public? I don’t want a sister who acts like she has no spine!"

Old Mrs. Gu was speechless.

She quickly pulled the crying Gu Shaoling into a comforting embrace while tossing a few mock curses at Gu Shaofeng’s departing back.

The living room was large, and with so many members of the Gu family present, they naturally broke off into small groups to chat. Mr. Gu was speaking in hushed tones with his eldest and second sons. Gu Qifan had yet to return, and Zhou Hui Lan and her sisters-in-law had gone to the dining room to set the table. Everyone else was gathered around Gu Shaojun. Gu Shaofeng strode over, plucked Shaoyu out of his seat, sat down himself, and announced impassively, "Big Brother and I have important matters to discuss. All of you, move aside."

Shaozheng, Shao Jin, and Shaoyu were speechless.

’This guy is so obnoxious!’

If you find any errors ( Ads popup, ads redirect, broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.