Chapter 50: The Younger Brother Living Off Others

Zheng Youwei immediately chimed in, “That’s right, Dad! The Wang family is clearly determined to stand up for that country bumpkin. I was wondering how that penniless wretch dared to show up here.”

In his mind, Su Hanyan was of no consequence at all. He simply thought that with the Wang family backing him, Gu Xiangnan had the nerve to act so arrogantly.

Wang Jinquan said sternly, “How much weight Mr. Gu carries in the Wang family is none of your business!”

“Heh heh heh~~”

Zheng Changhai let out a cold laugh. “Master Wang, it seems you’ve made up your mind to go against our Zheng family?”

“Though our Zheng family isn’t as powerful as yours at the moment, we are still a respected merchant clan with many connections. We are not so easily crushed as you might think!”

“Tonight’s banquet is hosted by the Song family. When our Zheng family secures the partnership with the Songs, we will surely rise to become the leading clan in Jiangning City!”

Wang Jinquan crossed his arms over his chest, clearly infuriated by Zheng Changhai’s words.

Wang Ke, seeing this, quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Zheng, this is my Brother Nan. Please keep Young Master Zheng in check and stop making trouble for him in the future.”

Zheng Youwei sneered, “Wang Ke, as a young heir yourself, you’re actually willing to be lackey to a pauper like him? You’re a disgrace to your family!”

“You—!”

Wang Ke’s face turned livid with anger.

Wang Mei hurriedly restrained her brother. “Our Wang family is different from yours. When we make friends, we care about a person’s character and morals—not, like some people, whether they can be used as a stepping stone.”

The Zheng father and son were momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

At that moment, someone stepped out from the side.

Cao Guang had been observing quietly, waiting for his chance to speak. Finally, he seized the moment.

“Morals? Character?”

Cao Guang clapped his hands as he walked over, a cold smile on his lips. “What a joke! Gu Xiangnan is nothing but a gigolo. What morals could he possibly have?”

A stir ran through the crowd.

Who was this now?

Gu Xiangnan frowned in surprise, glancing at Cao Guang and wondering who this clown was.

He rarely remembered small fry.

Zi Xiaoyin trotted over to Cao Guang and asked, “Class monitor, what are you doing here?”

Cao Guang looked at her, his face softening with a gentle smile. “I happened to be passing by and saw what was going on, so I decided to speak up for what’s right.”

Zi Xiaoyin tried to dissuade him, “Class monitor, Gu already explained everything. You shouldn’t say things like that in a setting like this—it could cause him real trouble.”

“Afraid of people talking if he did it?” Cao Guang not only refused to back down, but raised his voice even louder, making sure everyone heard.

Wang Ke, seething with rage, stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar, and shouted, “What nonsense are you spouting? My Brother Nan would never do such a thing!”

“That day at the bathhouse, I was demonstrating massage techniques for one of the therapists. He happened to see and misunderstood,” Gu Xiangnan explained calmly.

Wang Ke understood and growled, “Did you hear that, kid? It was a misunderstanding. I was there, I can vouch for it. So keep your mouth shut from now on!”

After warning him, he let go of Cao Guang, not seeing the need to bother with a mere student.

Cao Guang stubbornly shot back, “Of course you’d stick up for him—you’re in cahoots. Isn’t he here tonight with a woman? Go on, say he’s not her boy toy!”

“Dare you say he’s not that woman’s kept man?”

A resounding slap cut him off.

Su Hanyan, her face flushed with anger, struck Cao Guang hard across the face.

He staggered, shocked that such a beautiful woman could hit with such force.

“Why did you hit me?”

Su Hanyan glared icily at him. “Who do you think you are, slandering my junior brother’s reputation?”

“Heh, pretty lady, he’s your junior brother? I’d say he’s more like your ‘bed brother’—the brother you have in bed!” The more Cao Guang spoke, the more vile he became, a disgrace to the title of university student.

Another slap.

Wang Mei stepped up and delivered a crisp slap to his face. “My brother’s junior is not someone you can insult!”

Zi Xiaoyin, trembling with anger, pointed at Cao Guang. “Class monitor, you’ve really disappointed me. Gu once helped me—he’s my benefactor. Yet you talk about him like this. I... I don’t want anything more to do with you!”

With that, she ran out of the banquet hall in tears.

Cao Guang was dumbfounded.

He had said all this to make Zi Xiaoyin hate Gu Xiangnan, but instead, it only drove her away from him.

“Xiaoyin, Xiaoyin, wait! That’s not what I meant...” Cao Guang turned and hurried after her.

Clap, clap, clap!

Zheng Youwei broke into applause. “Bravo! What a show! Looks like everyone knows Gu is living off a woman’s money.”

Gu Xiangnan couldn’t be bothered to argue. “I’m here tonight for the auction, not to waste time with you.”

“An auction? What a joke! Do you even have any money?” Zheng Youwei mocked.

“If he doesn’t, I’ll pay,” Su Hanyan said.

“Miss Su, don’t be so stingy. Give your ‘little brother’ a card of his own, so he doesn’t have to keep asking you for money. It’s embarrassing.”

“You—!” Su Hanyan’s face turned scarlet with anger.

But Wang Jinquan cut in, “How about this: No matter what Mr. Gu bids on tonight, I’ll pay for it. Satisfied?”

At that moment, several people entered the banquet hall.

Everyone turned to look.

There were five newcomers. Gu Xiangnan recognized two of them.

The white-haired old man was Suzuki Genkuro, the renowned healer from Fuso.

Beside him stood the wealthy heir of the College of Traditional Medicine, Xu Chenyu.

How did those two end up together?

“Thank you very much, Mr. Xu,” Suzuki Genkuro said as he walked, bowing to Xu Feng. “I’m very interested in this auction.”

Xu Feng replied politely, “Mr. Suzuki, you’re too kind. I was surprised when you called me—it turns out you want to do some charity. Our country welcomes international friends like you.”

Suzuki Genkuro had once spent some time studying at the College of Traditional Medicine, where he and Xu Chenyu became acquainted. Later, through a school celebration, they met again, and through Xu Chenyu, Suzuki was introduced to Xu Feng.

All the hospitals in Jiangning City were under Xu Feng’s management, making him a worthy guest at the banquet.

As soon as Suzuki saw Gu Xiangnan, he quickly moved aside, avoiding a direct meeting.

Xu Chenyu also spotted Gu Xiangnan.

He still bore a grudge for the humiliation he had suffered at school, and longed for revenge. But he couldn’t forget that uncanny power—how, with a mere wave of Gu’s hand, his clothes had fallen to pieces. The memory left him wary.

“Dad, that’s the one who mocked me in front of everyone at school and made me a laughingstock,” he complained, casting himself as the victim and painting Gu Xiangnan as the campus bully.

Mrs. Xu followed her son’s gaze. “That boy bullied my son? Don’t worry, I’ll back you up.”

She stepped in front of Gu Xiangnan and demanded, “Who are you? Why did you bully my son?”

Gu Xiangnan, noting her resemblance to Xu Chenyu, replied, “You must be his mother, right?”

He genuinely had no idea what Xu Chenyu’s name was.

Mrs. Xu frowned. “What kind of tone is that? How rude. My son’s name is Xu Chenyu.”

“Fine. So what do you want?”

“Are you aware that bullying classmates can get you expelled?” Mrs. Xu glared at him.