Chapter 22: Truly Stingy

Su Zhou considered himself a man of great backbone. In a situation like this, most people would call their family or friends for help, but he refused. He would rather tough it out here himself, even if it meant being locked up for days.

However, the moment he saw his older brother, his composure vanished instantly. After a brief greeting, he didn't dare make another sound, keeping his head hung low like a prisoner. Even so, he could feel that cold gaze fixed upon him, as if it were trying to pierce right through him.

"What on earth is going on?" Gu Yao was still scolding her younger brother. To deal with this brat, she hadn't even had time to change her clothes, rushing over in a panic.

Could he not cause trouble for just one day? He was a grown man now; he didn't study properly, and there had to be a limit to his rebelliousness. Knowing he wouldn't dare notify their parents for fear of their mother’s wrath, she usually acted as the one to bail him out. But it seemed the more she indulged him, the more reckless he became, acting as if he were untouchable. Next time, she would just leave him alone and let him figure it out himself.

Gu Yao thought this to herself, her gaze toward Gu Shisheng growing even sterner. Gu Shisheng, knowing he was in the wrong, shrank his neck and lowered his head sheepishly. The two young men, who had been full of defiance just moments ago, were now both perfectly well-behaved.

"Are you Gu Shisheng's guardian?" A young police officer approached. "The two of them were fighting in a bar. Someone called the police, so we brought them in."

"Yes, I'm his older sister. The kid is hard to manage and has a bit of a temper. Please handle it however you see fit; I have no objections." Gu Yao handed over her ID.

"That won't be necessary. Neither side is seriously injured. You two should talk it over and reach a settlement." The officer returned the ID after verifying her identity and then looked at Su Yu, who was standing behind them. "Are you Su Zhou's guardian?"

Noticing that the tall man, despite his casual attire, carried an imposing aura, the officer assumed he was someone of significance and spoke with added respect.

The man simply shook his head calmly, his hands resting idly in his pockets. "No, I'm waiting for someone."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhou nearly fell off his chair. He had been so stubborn earlier about not contacting anyone, but now that someone had actually come, they weren't going to bail him out! That was a bit too cold, wasn't it?

The officer asked again, "Well? Have you two reached a settlement?"

Su Zhou looked up and met Gu Shisheng’s eyes; both nodded in unison.

The officer chuckled. "Isn't this better? You’re young; don't be so stubborn. You were ready to start brawling right here in the station earlier—it’s a good thing someone pulled you apart, or it would have been a disaster."

After signing the papers, Gu Yao led her foolish brother out. As she passed Su Yu, she turned to him and asked, "Aren't you going to do something about him?"

"No need. Let him stay there," Su Yu replied without even glancing at the boy, then turned to open the glass door. "Let's go."

Su Zhou could only watch helplessly as they walked away, a bitter feeling rising in his chest. He really needed to break the habit of having a sharp tongue. He could still vividly remember the murderous look his brother had given him; staying behind was probably safer than facing whatever punishment awaited him outside.

Outside, the street faced a road where cars zipped by from time to time. It was already past eleven at night, and the drivers were moving quickly. Most of the shops along the street were closed, save for the twenty-four-hour convenience store, its sign glowing and casting light through the glass door. The cashier behind the counter was nodding off.

Once outside, Gu Shisheng’s dejected expression vanished, replaced by a wide, cheerful grin. He was in a good mood; at least he had been rescued, unlike that sharp-tongued kid still squatting inside.

"Sis, how did you know I was here?" he asked, turning his head with a cheeky smile. His thoughts were the same as Su Zhou’s—neither had dared to contact their families, intending to just tough it out—so his sister's appearance was a genuine surprise.

"Don't worry about that." Gu Yao glanced at him and looked down to send a text to Yi Xun: "I’ve found Shengsheng. Don't worry."

"Oh..." Gu Shisheng stopped asking, assuming his sister had planted informants at the bar. His attention shifted, and he began to study the man beside her with curiosity. "Who is this, Sis?"

From the moment he stepped out, he had noticed this man. Even though he stood silently to the side, his presence was impossible to ignore. He was a mature man, the type that would make young boys feel envious—a robust, tall physique, a composed demeanor, and the expensive watch glinting on his wrist all spoke to his status.

Gu Shisheng looked down at his own slender arms and legs, feeling a touch of insecurity. If it weren't for his sister, he wouldn't have dared to strike up a conversation with Su Yu. But seeing them appear together in the middle of the night made him suspicious.

"Is that any of your business?" Gu Yao glared at him and patted his head, clearly unwilling to let him in on the nature of their relationship.

*Something's not right!* Gu Shisheng rubbed his head, feeling aggrieved and more certain of his guess. He felt a bit sour—his sister had found a man and forgotten her own brother.

"Go in and check on him so we can get out of here," she urged. The night air was chilly.

Su Yu looked at her and frowned. "Wait in the car."

"No need. That kid deserves a bit of a lesson. Let him stand in the wind for a while longer to clear his head," Gu Yao said, shaking her head and glaring at her brother.

Su Yu turned back and said faintly, "That's not what I meant. I told you to go to the car."

Gu Shisheng looked between the two, feeling even more depressed. Why did he feel like he’d just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food?

In the end, neither sibling went to the car; they both stood outside like two wooden pillars.

When Su Yu re-entered the police station, he didn't say a word, simply watching Su Zhou in silence.

"Brother, stop looking at me like that. Just tell me what the punishment is. I'm willing to accept it," Su Zhou said with a miserable face, practically begging for mercy.

"You tell me," Su Yu said, his expression as indifferent as ever, yet the pressure he exerted grew heavier.

"I'll go back to work at the factory. I won't run away again this time," Su Zhou said after a moment of silence, bracing himself. He had only lasted a week there before the hard labor became too much to bear. He had thought he’d gotten away with it, but clearly, he hadn't.

Su Yu nodded. "For how long?"

"O-one month?" Su Zhou looked at his brother's expression. "I'm kidding. How about two and a half months?"

"Until you become a foreman," Su Yu stated.

Su Zhou froze. "That... that's a bit hard, isn't it?"

"Is it?"

"...No, it's not."

When Su Zhou finally emerged, his face was filled with sorrow—a complete contrast to Gu Shisheng’s earlier cheerfulness.

Gu Shisheng leaned over to taunt him. "How is it? You've tucked your tail, haven't you? Still going to run that sharp mouth of yours?"

"I only said one thing to you, can you just drop it?" Su Zhou glared, and the two began to bicker again. They were just about to square up when they caught sight of Su Yu and Gu Yao watching them with arms crossed, causing them to immediately fall silent.

At that moment, the roar of an engine echoed from the road. A low-chassis sports car drove by with its top down and music blaring. Several young men with spiky, colorful hair were inside, swaying enthusiastically to the beat. Seeing people on the sidewalk, the driver intentionally slowed down and whistled at Gu Yao. "Hey beauty, you're hot! Nice long legs!"

Gu Yao stepped back in disgust, and just as she was about to lash out, two voices rang out simultaneously, filled with fury.

"You dare harass my sister?"

"You dare harass my sister-in-law?"

And then, in unison: "You must have a death wish!"

Gu Shisheng and Su Zhou bolted like arrows released from a bow, chasing after the sports car while throwing stones they picked up from the ground—a truly ferocious duo.

Gu Shisheng was simply outraged that his sister was being bullied; for all his troublemaking, he was fiercely protective of his own, especially when it came to Gu Yao.

In contrast, Su Zhou’s motives were less pure. He just wanted to curry favor with his brother and show his loyalty: *See? I have no interest in this Gu sister at all; I already treat her like my own sister-in-law!*

The occupants of the car were startled by the two boys and instinctively sped off, their retreat looking quite pathetic.

Gu Shisheng still felt indignant. "I bet those guys are just hair-washers from a salon! Renting a car just to make a fool of themselves!" He turned to Su Zhou. "Why didn't you run faster? They got away."

Su Zhou, gasping for air while leaning on his knees, retorted, "You think I'm slow? I gave it everything I had! How can two legs outrun four wheels?"

"True." Gu Shisheng nodded, walking back while sighing, "That sports car looked pretty nice, though. Fast, too."

"You like it?" Su Zhou walked beside him and draped an arm over his shoulder. "My brother has one. I'll let you drive it one of these days. Do you even have a license?"

The two walked back with their arms around each other, instantly becoming "brothers" again, thick as thieves.

Gu Yao watched them, shaking her head. She didn't know what they were up to now. She followed Su Yu to the car and climbed in. Since they had rushed over, they were only using Su Yu’s car.

Su Zhou and Gu Shisheng climbed into the back seat, closing the doors and immediately launching into an enthusiastic discussion about the performance of Su Yu’s Mercedes, poking and prodding at the features.

Gu Yao reached over from the back seat and patted Gu Shisheng’s head. "Go to the convenience store across the street and buy some water and tissues. If they have anything for disinfection, get that too."

Gu Shisheng hopped out and returned shortly with a bag of supplies. "Here you go."

Gu Yao rummaged through the bag and had Gu Shisheng turn around so she could tend to the cuts on his face. They were mostly minor scratches, though his eye was bruised, nothing serious. She glanced at Su Yu and said, "Tend to your brother, too."

Su Yu didn't speak but simply tilted his chin toward Su Zhou, signaling for him to handle it himself.

Once everything was cleaned up, Gu Yao sighed in relief. She said to Gu Shisheng, "I've already told our family that you're staying at my place tonight so I can help you with your studies."

"Really?" Gu Shisheng was relieved, though he looked a bit disappointed. "It’s so rare that we get to be out this late—are we really just going home to sleep? What a waste."

"Exactly! Let's find a place to grab a drink and hang out," Su Zhou chimed in, the two of them now acting as if they were inseparable.