Chapter 6: Claws Finally Bared

He Ting casually grabbed a T-shirt and lifted his arms to pull it over his body.

The smooth lines of his muscles shifted slightly with the motion, his shoulder blades rising and falling like a pair of wings about to spread and take flight.

Gu Qiuhang watched the person in front of him, who was dressing with his back turned, unconsciously alluring, and his lips pressed tighter and tighter.

He Ting turned his head and caught sight of the expression on that face.

Those narrow eyes were dark as night, fixed heavily on him, and the thin lips were like a blade, tightly pressed into a line.

An aura radiated from his whole body, sharp and restless, both cold and burning, impossible to read.

He couldn’t help but freeze, biting his lip lightly, instinctively shrinking back, wondering what he had done wrong this time.

Why did the other person look like that, as if he might pounce and tear him apart in the next second?

Before he could speak, Gu Qiuhang suddenly turned and strode out.

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut, making He Ting flinch, his eyes full of shock.

Immediately after, another loud crash sounded, it was Gu Qiuhang slamming his own door.

He Ting stood there blankly for a long while, his lips drooping in grievance.

Feeling down, he moved to the table, stared at the bowl of hangover soup, and after a while cursed at the system, “Damn capitalist!”

System: “…”

He Ting: “What did I even do to offend him? I just said he didn’t knock, did he have to be that fierce?”

System: “…”

He Ting, still shaken. “You saw that look, right?”

System: “Emmm… yeah, I saw it.”

His eyes reddened, and he stubbornly pressed his lips together. “It was terrifying… like he wanted to eat me alive…”

The system fell silent for a moment. “He really does want to eat you.”

He Ting took a sip of the soup. “Right? You felt it too, didn’t you?”

System: “Very strongly.”

He Ting: “Seriously? Seriously? Damn capitalist! I’m really mad.”

System: “…I have a romance encyclopedia. Want to take a look?”

He Ting: “I’m annoyed, don’t mess with me.”

System: “…Did I pick up an idiot?” (⊙v⊙)

He Ting quietly finished the hangover soup. His previously heavy eyes were now bright with anger at Gu Qiuhang.

With nowhere to vent his frustration… he silently took out his homework and started working on it.

System: “…What a good student.”

****

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell on him as He Ting woke up with messy hair.

His head throbbed painfully. In the bathroom mirror, his youthful face was reflected, with two huge dark circles under his eyes.

After tidying himself up, he went downstairs for breakfast.

Gu Qiuhang sat at the dining table, his long fingers tapping swiftly on the keyboard, seemingly handling some urgent matter.

He Ting walked over silently and sat opposite him.

Gu Qiuhang glanced at him. “Didn’t sleep well?”

‘The nerve to ask?’

‘Anyone who had been glared at like that and had a door slammed in their face wouldn’t sleep well, right?’

Might as well have slapped him.

He Ting complained inwardly, but still obediently answered with a soft “Mm.”

On the plate lay a golden sunny-side-up egg. He Ting poked it gently with his fork, and the rich yolk flowed out.

Aunt Zhou made the best soft-boiled eggs. He ate slowly, bite by bite, when Gu Donghang came over, whistling.

Gu Donghang sat beside him, looking him up and down with a half-smile.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, He Ting glanced at him and lowered his head to continue eating bread.

“Hey,” Gu Donghang suddenly leaned closer and said, “couldn’t cling to my brother, so you went after Su Bei instead?”

He Ting frowned. “Why do you talk so nastily?”

Gu Donghang laughed while drinking milk. “What? You did it yourself, can’t let people say it?”

He Ting put down the bread, looked at him seriously, and the frustration he had bottled up since yesterday finally burst out. He said coldly:

“What did I do? Why don’t I know? If I really did something, I’m not afraid of people talking. But don’t you dare pin things on me that I didn’t do!”

Gu Donghang narrowed his eyes, about to retort, when He Ting sneered again. Slowly tearing a piece of bread, he said:

“If I were to cling to someone, I’d at least pick someone with good character, right? Some people… I wouldn’t touch them even if they were handed to me. They’d dirty my eyes.”

With a bang, Gu Donghang slammed his milk glass onto the table. “Who the hell are you talking about? What are you? Just a dog, and you think you’re something now?”

Warm milk splashed out, scattering across the table.

He Ting let out a cold laugh. “Exactly. Even dogs wouldn’t look at you, you’re worse than shit.”

He stood up, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door.

Behind him, Gu Donghang shouted, “You-! You bastard! Stop right there! If I don’t deal with you today, I-”

“Shut up!” Gu Qiuhang’s cold voice cut him off.

Then he looked at He Ting. “Come back.”

His tone was calm, his expression composed, but it carried an undeniable authority.

He Ting frowned but ultimately walked back, lips pressed tight.

“Finish your food,” Gu Qiuhang said lightly, though his tone allowed no refusal. “Otherwise you’ll get a stomachache.”

“Tch…” Gu Donghang let out a mocking laugh, sharp as a needle.

He Ting bit into the bread fiercely, chewing harder and harder, his eyes reddening with grievance.

Gu Qiuhang had already finished eating. While browsing files, he glanced at He Ting from time to time.

Seeing the boy chewing the bread as if it were his enemy, cheeks puffed, he couldn’t help but curl his lips slightly.

‘Interesting. The kitten has learned to use its claws?’

“Don’t come home so late at night from now on,” he said casually.

He Ting looked at him, unconvinced. “I’m already seventeen. I don’t think getting home a little after ten is that late.”

Gu Donghang smirked, enjoying the scene, but Gu Qiuhang turned to him. “You too.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Gu Donghang hadn’t expected to be dragged in. Normally, since he lived with his mother, his brother rarely interfered with his routine.

He couldn’t help but retort irritably, then shot He Ting a vicious glare. Damn jinx.

‘Fine’, He Ting thought. Gu Donghang probably added another grudge against him, but it didn’t matter. One more or one less made no difference.

“And,” Gu Qiuhang continued, ignoring Gu Donghang, “if you’re going to be late, let me know in advance. I’ll send a driver to pick you up.”

He Ting looked at him, eyes full of anger and grievance.

But in the end, he said nothing. He silently finished breakfast, picked up his bag, and left.

Only after his figure disappeared did Gu Qiuhang say to Gu Donghang, “Don’t talk about Tang Qi like that again.”

“I…” Gu Donghang, still chewing bread, stared at him in shock, then finally cursed, “Damn!”

What did he even say? Just a few words, weren’t they all true?

Was that necessary? He’d never seen his brother care this much before!

And he’d even been bitten back by that brat several times, he was the one holding in anger. Who was going to comfort him?

Gu Donghang stubbornly kept silent, but Gu Qiuhang remained unmoved, staring at him coldly until he responded.

Under the pressure, Gu Donghang finally muttered unwillingly, “Got it.”

Only then did Gu Qiuhang stand up gracefully, tidy himself, and leave.

Watching his back, Gu Donghang clenched his teeth, his gaze dark.

For years, Gu Heng had been abroad, and Tong Yuemei had spoiled him without limits. He had always lived smoothly.

If there was anyone he feared, it was only Gu Qiuhang.

Others had older brothers to protect them, but him? Since childhood, he had always been crushed under this brother’s shadow.

And he himself was useless, unable to surpass him in anything.

When he was younger, he thought his mother’s protection made him fearless, and he had been arrogant for a while.

Until his mother suffered a few setbacks at Gu Qiuhang’s hands, and both mother and son no longer dared to underestimate him.

Those incidents sobered him, forcing him to restrain himself.

He feared Gu Qiuhang, yet secretly admired and longed to be like him.

The closer Tang Qi got to Gu Qiuhang, the more resentment burned within him.

‘Damn it, who is the second young master of this family? Who is your real brother?’

Many times he wanted to question Gu Qiuhang, but he didn’t dare.

Gu Qiuhang was always like this, seemingly indifferent, careless, yet everything remained under his control.

Gu Donghang sneered, lowering his gaze. “Let’s see how long you can protect him.”

****

After getting off the bus and crossing the road toward the school gate, He Ting ran into Gu Donghang getting out of a car.

A boy, Gu Donghang’s friend Zhou Zhaoqi, walked up to him.

The two whispered for a while, then both looked toward He Ting and let out malicious laughter.

Gu Donghang’s complicated feelings toward Gu Qiuhang made him bury all his jealousy, resentment, and admiration deep inside.

He didn’t dare vent them at Gu Qiuhang, instead, he played the role of a well-behaved, respectful younger brother.

So Tang Qi, who steadfastly followed Gu Qiuhang, became his outlet.

At first, Tang Qi had been timid and afraid of him. But later he realized that the more he gave in, the worse it got.

Gradually, he began avoiding him whenever possible, rarely daring to confront him directly.

After all, they had been at odds since childhood. He knew Gu Donghang’s little thoughts well.

And he had long understood that the other’s malice wouldn’t lessen just because he backed down.

He Ting kept his head down and walked forward. Like before, since reconciliation wasn’t possible, he would just avoid conflict.

If he really couldn’t avoid it, then so be it, mutual destruction.

Just as he was thinking this, someone grabbed his backpack strap.

Hands in his pockets, He Ting slowly turned his head, his eyes cold as they landed on the hand holding his bag. “Let go.”

Zhou Zhaoqi looked at him provocatively, saying nothing, but tightened his grip even more.

He Ting said word by word, “I’ll say it again. Let go.”

“Damn, getting bold now?” Zhou Zhaoqi sneered. “I won’t. What are you going to do about it?”

He Ting: “System, system, do we have any superpowers or ultimate martial arts? Like a dog-beating staff technique?”

System: “This isn’t a cultivation or martial arts world. You can’t use abilities that don’t fit this setting.”

He Ting: “Then what do I need you for?”

System: “Are you serious?!”

He Ting, sheepishly: “You know… just kidding.”

System: “Fine, I’ll let it go this time. I can’t give you special abilities, but I can increase your agility and reduce your pain sensitivity.”

He Ting: “Then do it! I’ve endured for over ten years! I’m done enduring!”

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