Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 19

Gu Yunhe got angry again at these words.

“If Lu Deren could kick out the Qiao family, would he need to go through so much trouble? He’s a live-in son-in-law, do you understand? If anyone gets kicked out, it will be him!”

Gu Yunhe glared at Gu Changming, feeling that his son was incredibly foolish.

“You go to the Lu family and apologize right away! Appeasing Lu Shuqi is more important than anything else. Also, stay away from Lu Yuchen for the time being!”

Supported by his mother, Gu Changming stood up, swaying slightly. He said, “Lu Tang wants to investigate Lu Yuchen. What if he actually finds something out…”

Gu Yunhe, now enraged, interrupted him, “Whatever he finds out has nothing to do with you! That’s Lu Deren’s mistress, not yours. Why are you so anxious?”

“But what if Lu Tang wants to harm Yue’er?”

“Idiot! If Lu Tang wants to harm Yue’er, what are you planning to do, be the hero to save the beauty? You need to think about the Gu family’s future before playing hero! Without the money in Qiao’s hands, how will your uncle finance your next civil service examination? When you go to the capital, what will you use to network? Yue’er, Yue’er, do you know anything besides women?”

At this moment, Gu Songming walked in from outside, carrying a pile of gift boxes.

“Father, I’ve bought all the gifts for the Lu family.”

Giving a glance at his worthless younger son, Gu Yunhe said, “You go with your brother!”

Gu Changming stiffened his neck and refused, “I want to enter the officialdom, and it’s not just about money. I might pass the exam on my own.”

Gu Yunhe picked up a teacup and threw it at him, “Pass the exam? Do you know how you passed the scholar exam?”

These words made Gu Changming’s cheeks turn bright red.

Gu Songming gave Gu Changming a cool glance, then quickly said, “Changming, say no more. Father won’t harm you! What you did today was indeed rash. Why did you bring Lu Yuchen to the meal?”

As Gu Songming’s words ended, Gu Changming’s mother turned her mind, realizing something was off. She twisted Gu Changming’s arm, “Why did you bring Lu Yuchen?”

Gu Changming opened his mouth, stiffened his neck, and turned his head away without speaking.

Gu Songming asked, “Did Lu Yuchen ask you to bring him?”

Gu Changming shouted angrily, “What’s it to you!”

Gu Songming paused, his expression instantly darkened. Awkwardly rubbing his hands, he laughed, “Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”

Gu Songming was born to Gu Yunhe’s concubine and had his academic career completely cut off by Gu Changming’s mother. Now, he just helped manage the household affairs.

In public, Gu Changming always showed respect to his half-brother, but today’s situation was unprecedented.

After shouting, he instinctively looked at Gu Yunhe’s reaction. Seeing his father’s face darken, Gu Changming felt a chill and quickly said, “I’ll go to the Lu family with my brother.”

After saying this, he grabbed the gifts that Gu Songming had placed on the table and walked out.

His mother added, “Listen to your brother while you’re out.”

Gu Songming sneered silently and left.

Once outside the Gu residence, Gu Changming shoved all the gifts into Gu Songming’s arms, “You go if you want, I’m not going!”

Normally, Gu Songming would have accepted, but today he didn’t even raise his hands, stepping back instead.

The things Gu Changming shoved fell to the ground with a crash.

Gu Changming looked up in shock and cursed, “Are you useless? Can’t even hold onto something? Pick them up now!”

Gu Songming stood there without moving, “You caused this trouble. If you want to go, go; if not, forget it. I won’t take the blame for you. After all, you’re the one marrying Lu Shuqi.”

Gu Changming couldn’t believe his usually submissive brother would say such things. Pointing a finger at Gu Songming’s nose, he said, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Gu Songming replied, “Last time, I went to the marriage proposal because your mother threatened my son’s life. Do you think I wanted to do that cursed thing? Now, you’re threatening me? I thought by now you’d be begging me not to expose your affair with Yue’er so you can keep Lu Shuqi’s dowry to support other women.”

Gu Changming, struck right in his sore spot, became furious and threw a punch.

Unfortunately, as a scholar, he had little strength, and Gu Songming easily dodged and tripped him with a flick of his foot.

Having been beaten three times that day, Gu Changming fell hard to the ground, new pain mixing with old.

Before he could react, Gu Songming bent down to help him up, whispering in his ear, “What if I suddenly died? Wouldn’t people think you’re the killer?”

For a moment, all of Gu Changming’s anger was replaced by shock. He couldn’t understand what Gu Songming meant.

Gu Songming helped Gu Changming up, gently patted the dust off him, and said with a venomous look in his eyes, “You and your mother have bullied me for over ten years, and now you’re bullying my children. Even a clay figurine has some temper. Guess what I’ll do?”

With that, Gu Songming picked up the fallen boxes and walked away.

Gu Changming didn’t snap out of it until Gu Songming was out of sight.

What did Gu Songming mean!

What did he mean!

Clenching his teeth and fists, Gu Changming started chasing after Gu Songming, but once he left the alley where the Gu residence was, he couldn’t find him. Frustrated, he ran straight to the Lu residence.

At the Lu residence gate, Yuan Bao came out.

Seeing Gu Changming, Yuan Bao rolled up his sleeves, “Good, I was just looking for you! Get him!”

With a wave of Yuan Bao’s hand, the servants at the gate rushed at Gu Changming.

Gu Changming…

What did I do to deserve being beaten four times in one day!

The servants beat him up soundly. Seeing that he was sufficiently beaten, Yuan Bao kicked him and said, “From now on, don’t come within a hundred meters of the Lu family, or we’ll beat you every time we see you! Now get lost!”

Yuan Bao was just a servant to Lu Tang, yet he humiliated Gu Changming like this. Full of shame and anger, Gu Changming got up, spat out the blood in his mouth, and glared at Yuan Bao, “I want to see your master and have him kill you, you dog!”

Yuan Bao laughed, “I don’t know if he can kill me, but I know I can kill Yue’er!”

Gu Changming felt his head buzz.

How did it seem like the whole of Qingshui County knew about Yue’er in an instant!

How did they know!

Did Gu Songming really spread the word?

Filled with suspicion, Gu Changming glared at Yuan Bao. Yuan Bao crossed his arms and mocked, “Still not leaving? Waiting for another beating? Or should I give you a tip—go report to the authorities. Really, go now. Maybe Officer Zhao will arrest me immediately and give me fifty lashes as a reward!”

Gu Changming was even more confused.

What was Yuan Bao up to?

For a moment, Gu Changming didn’t dare go back to the Gu residence. He cursed under his breath and left.

As soon as he left, Gu Songming and Lu Tang walked out of the Lu residence together.