The man slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with the despair of a loser. He nodded in silence.
Gu Ya looked into his eyes for a long time, then nodded.
He slowly sat back in his seat, cursing Dou Mei under his breath. This woman had always known Gu Ya’s true identity and had played along with him for so long. No wonder she had been so persistent in her pursuit of Gu Ya, even gaining the approval of high-ranking officials in Special Ninth Department to conduct experiments abroad.
It seemed Special Ninth Department had a meticulous plan in place, including stealing his father’s research results and using Gu Ya for experiments.
Thinking further back, it made sense why the operatives of Special Ninth Department had been stationed at 333 Three-Tooth Street for a decade. They had been executing this plan all along.
Special Ninth Department must have learned that I was Gu Xingchi only after I went to Zhuoyuan City.
Gu Ya’s eyes suddenly lit up.
If Special Ninth Department had intelligence, then they must know my true capabilities.
My true capabilities might be more than just invading others’ consciousness.
I must find an opportunity to ask Dou Mei again.
The man asked in a low voice, “Young master, can I… can I still follow you from now on?”
“If you are going to execute me, please… please tell my family that I died accidentally during research experiments. My child admires you very much… please don’t tell him the truth… I’m afraid he will…”
Gu Ya waved his hand impatiently and said coldly, “I told you, Dou Mei and I are friends. You’ve escaped death, but not punishment. I will notify you when I need you.” After saying that, Gu Ya stood up and walked out steadily.
That vixen Dou Mei wouldn’t easily give Gu Ya the answer, so Gu Ya had to take some measures.
He could talk about his true abilities back in Xianxia City. It was almost time now; he should go see Sister Ling Ling.
Otherwise, she would say Gu Ya didn’t care about her.
“Sis!” Gu Ya opened the door and walked in without permission.
Ling Ling was talking with several department heads, her expression cold and aloof.
The moment she saw Gu Ya enter, her expression instantly wavered, but she still had to maintain a superior demeanor in front of her subordinates.
“You can all leave now.” Her voice was awkward, as if she wanted to laugh but had to hold back.
As soon as the department heads left, Ling Ling stood up with a stern face and strode towards Gu Ya. She gently slapped Gu Ya across the face, leaving him stunned.
“How many months? Not even a single communication!” Ling Ling said with an imposing aura, then she threw herself at Gu Ya, hugging him tightly. She raised her hand and tenderly stroked the side of his face that she had just hit, saying softly, “Did that hurt…”
Gu Ya was both angry and amused. It was true that he hadn’t contacted his family for three months, so Sister Ling Ling’s action was understandable. Besides, she hadn’t hit him hard, just a light pat.
Gu Ya also hugged Ling Ling tightly and said gently, “Sis, I’m back now.”
Ling Ling, the strong woman, now seemed like a delicate bird clinging to him, nestling in his arms. She said softly, “You always come to see me last.”
Gu Ya chuckled softly, “I can’t get hit in front of Youyou and Youran, can I? I have to maintain my pride as an older brother.”
“Nonsense, I wouldn’t dare hit you in front of them.” Ling Ling released Gu Ya and said with a smile, “Alright, it’s good that you’re back. How many days are you staying?”
Gu Ya thought for a moment. He would spend tonight with his family and had to go back to school tomorrow to handle some matters.
“The day after tomorrow. My courses there are quite demanding.”
Ling Ling nodded and said, “You stayed up all night again, didn’t you? Go to the inner room, take a bath, and get some sleep. I’ll take you out for a big meal tonight.”
Gu Ya obediently walked into the inner room of the office, while Ling Ling sat back down at her desk to continue her work.
This place had become Sister Ling Ling’s home, with all sorts of daily necessities.
She knew Gu Ya was back and had even prepared a set of clean new clothes for him on the bed.
Gu Ya unfolded the new top, and underneath it were close-fitting clothes that matched his size.
But how did Sister Ling Ling know Gu Ya’s size? She probably guessed.
Indeed, elder sisters were always so thoughtful.
After taking a bath and changing into the new clothes, Gu Ya lay down on the bed, which was just the right firmness, and was immediately overcome by sleep. In no time, he fell into a peaceful slumber.
When he woke up again, the sky was dimly lit. It was exactly six o’clock. Gu Ya had slept for six hours.
Good, he felt refreshed.
Ling Ling gently pushed open the door and said with a smile, “Youyou and Youran have been picked up. Let’s go~”
Having witnessed the prosperity and grandeur of Xianxia City,
Wuxu City now felt somewhat unfashionable to Gu Ya.
Even the Upper City, which he had once yearned for, no longer held the same allure. However, he still wanted to visit it if he had the chance, as one of Youyou’s dreams was to see the Upper City.
In fact, with their current financial strength, they could already afford to live in the Upper City.
But that was not Gu Ya’s dream. He was not alone now; behind him were more poor people who couldn’t afford to eat and couldn’t earn money.
The wealth gap in this world was so vast that the poor could never turn their lives around, while the rich tightly guarded their wealth. Even if they burned money for warmth, they wouldn’t give a penny to the poor.
Those advanced technological products were always enjoyed only by the rich.
Thinking of this, Gu Ya felt a surge of resentment. Why…
If he had enough power, Gu Ya truly wished he could establish a city of complete equality, without any disparity between rich and poor, where everyone had a job and food.
That would be a world different from the cyber world,
A beautiful world of peace and prosperity.
Gu Ya decided to call it…
“Brother!” Youyou tugged hard at Gu Ya’s sleeve, pulling him out of his thoughts, and exclaimed excitedly, “We’re here!”
Gu Ya smiled and nodded calmly.
Youran smiled faintly and said softly, “Brother is thinking about some grand matter again, isn’t he?”
Gu Ya patted Youran’s head. Youran understood him best.
This restaurant wasn’t grand, but it exuded an ancient charm.
The exquisite handcrafted wooden doors clashed with the highly technological world, yet possessed a unique flavor.
The ancient style of Xianxia Kingdom was somewhat different from the original world, but it shared a similar essence.
It was as if Xianxia Kingdom was the projection of the original world in this world.
Since ancient times, Xianxia Kingdom had worshipped a divine beast similar to a qilin. Like the dragon totem, it was a symbol of auspiciousness and majesty, and the spiritual pillar of the entire Xianxia nation.
The two handcrafted stone statues at the entrance indicated that the owner of this restaurant must be a very nostalgic and tasteful person.
Upon entering the restaurant, Gu Ya was surprised by what he saw.
The brown, pure wooden floor was spotless, meticulously maintained by androids kneeling on the ground. Seeing guests arrive, they slowly rose, put away their cleaning tools, and bowed to welcome them.
There was no cashier counter.
A wide corridor led directly to the innermost part.
On the walls along both sides were exquisite wooden bas-reliefs, depicting ancient events of Xianxia City, or purely decorative.
Entering here felt like stepping into another world, a world where technology and ancient style coexisted.
Along both sides of the corridor were private rooms separated by wooden doors, presumably with good soundproofing. The entire restaurant was filled with elegant and soothing ancient music, with no trace of the clamor of feasting and toasting.
A shapely woman in a professional uniform greeted them with a smile, bowing and saying cheerfully, “Miss Gu Ling Ling, your reserved room, ‘Mountain and Water Residence,’ is ready. This way, please.”
Gu Ling Ling?
Gu Ya looked at Sister Ling Ling in confusion. He had only just realized that his sister shared the same surname as him.
But it made sense. She was taken in by his father, so bearing the surname “Gu” was perfectly reasonable.
It sounded even better as Gu Ling Ling.
This private room wasn’t large, nor was it cramped.
The heavy wooden table and chairs, paired with the beautifully carved round windows, gave the place a cozy and luxurious feel.
Through the window, they could see the restaurant’s backyard.
Night had fallen, and the lights were brilliant, revealing the exotic flowers and rare plants in the backyard, which looked like a fairyland, deep and tranquil, without a hint of noise.
It reminded Gu Ya of a line from Qu Yuan’s “Nine Chapters: Huai Sha”: “Flickering and dim, so quiet and serene.”
Gu Ya was already starting to forget about returning home.
“Don’t just stand there, order your food quickly. The two little ones are hungry,” Ling Ling called out cheerfully.
Youyou smirked and said, “Brother, you’ve been distracted all the way. Are you thinking about Sister Ye Ying?”
Youran said a bit disappointedly, “I haven’t even met sister-in-law in person yet.”
“She’s very beautiful, even prettier than our androids. She’s completely captivated our brother, hehe.” Youyou started to play her usual trick.
Ling Ling said while ordering, “Oh, compared to Ye Ying, the three of us are like mortals to gods.” Her words carried a hint of jealousy.
Gu Ya quickly comforted her with a smile, “What are you thinking? I’m happier with you all by my side.”
“Really? Haha! I’m definitely telling Sister Ye Ying this! Then she can sort you out,” Youyou exclaimed excitedly.
“Hurry up and order your food!” Gu Ya glared at Youyou. This little girl would surely exaggerate the story with added details later.
As soon as the dishes were served,
Gu Ya looked at the exquisite and appetizing dishes, and instantly thought of his parents in his original world.
His mother had a small tea room and also made delicious tea snacks.
Alas, it had been over half a year since Gu Ya’s incident. He wondered if they had emerged from the shadow of losing their son…
If they knew Gu Ya was still alive, living in another world, they would surely be comforted.
“Xiao Ya, you’re out for a meal, why the long face? Who are you showing it to?” Ling Ling said a bit indignantly.
Gu Ya pulled himself out of the painful memories, forced a smile, and said in a hoarse voice, “If only Mom and Dad were here.”
“Hey! We’re a family, let’s be happy. Let’s not bring up sad things from the past! What’s most important now is…” Ling Ling, who had started with righteous indignation, couldn’t finish her sentence and burst into tears.
Youyou also fell silent instantly, a sad expression on her face.
Seeing that the meal would be ruined if this continued, Youran quickly said, “Mom and Dad are watching from above! Let’s eat well! Don’t let them worry!”
Gu Ya instantly gathered his spirits, smiled, and said, “Okay! It’s my fault, I won’t mention it anymore. Tonight, we’ll drink until we’re thoroughly drunk!”
Ling Ling wiped away her tears, smiled, and chided, “It’s all your fault! You’ll have to penalize yourself with three cups!”
“Okay! Hehe.”