Gu Ya rushed home that night, shivering from the cold.
It was all the fault of that disgusting woman named Tao Na, who had vomited all over him, leaving him without a coat.
As soon as he entered the door, everyone excitedly turned to look at Gu Ya.
"Oh my, oh my! The person who organized the dinner is late! Penalty, penalty three bottles!" Wang Panpan, laughing heartily, rushed over and slung an arm around Gu Ya's shoulders.
Gu Ya walked to the dining table with a smile, surveying the scene. Yes, everyone seemed to be here this time.
Only one person was missing: Ye Ying.
Youyou sat at the head of the table; she truly had no shame.
Ling Ling sat to her left, and Sister Ge sat to her right.
Liu Feng shouted loudly, "Gu Ya, I brought 50-year-old good wine from home. Before my dad finds out, let's have a taste!"
Zeng Lang pursed his lips and said dismissively, "Liu Feng, what's your wine compared to mine? I brought an eighty-two-year-old treasured vintage wine, a rare delicacy. Gu Ya, drink to your heart's content! We still have ten warehouses of it!"
"You bastard, you're trying to get me drunk to death!" Gu Ya laughed and cursed.
"And 'we'? You two seem quite close," Sister Ge said with a smile, making a casual remark.
Gu Ya quickly replied with a smile, "Ah, he's currently caught in the snares of love, with two exquisite peach blossoms in full bloom!"
"Oooooh—!" everyone exclaimed, causing Zeng Lang to blush and lower his head with a smile.
"I'm not convinced!" Liu Feng shouted angrily. "I'm Gu Ya's best buddy! Gu Ya, drink my wine first!"
Wu Xuan slammed the table and said, "Gu Ya and I piloted a mecha together!"
Wang Panpan let out a loud laugh and said, "I kowtowed to Gu Ya!"
Everyone fell silent.
Wang Panpan's face reddened as he smiled and scratched his head, saying, "Actually, it was to ask Gu Ya for a mecha, so I kowtowed to someone else."
"Hahahaha...!"
Gu Ya mixed the two types of wine brought by Liu Feng and Zeng Lang, lifted his glass, and said with a smile, "Tonight, we won't go home until we're drunk!"
Everyone fell silent again, exchanging glances, a mischievous smile brewing.
Gu Ya raised his glass and tilted his head back, drinking the entire cup in one go.
"Gu Ya." A soft, low voice reached him.
In a daze, Gu Ya glanced sideways and almost spat out the wine that had slid down his throat.
The wine stuck in his throat, burning intensely. Gu Ya coughed heavily, then looked up and called out, "Ye Ying?"
"Mhm." She calmly walked over and sat next to Gu Ya.
Gu Ya's gaze followed her, still finding it hard to believe. Ye Ying should have informed him before returning!
"Hahahaha!"
"He took the bait, he took the bait, hahahaha!"
"I knew he'd be startled, hahahaha!"
"He doesn't even recognize the android he created himself, hahahaha!"
Gu Ya breathed a sigh of relief, gently lifted a lock of the android's hair, and questioned Youyou, "Was it you?"
Youyou smiled proudly and nodded. "I specifically changed its hair to black to scare you."
"I also sent it Ye Ying's holographic image and had it learn," she added.
"You're such a little clever one," Gu Ya said with an exasperated smile.
"Enough, enough! Let's drink and eat!" Wang Panpan shouted.
"Cheers!"
After the main course, everyone found their own conversation partners.
Liu Feng, his face flushed and his eyes unfocused, had his arm around Zeng Lang's shoulder.
Zeng Lang tried to control the disorienting effects of the alcohol, but his pale face betrayed him.
It was hard to imagine what topics a chuunibyo and reckless person like Liu Feng would discuss with a shrewd and calm individual like Zeng Lang.
Wang Panpan had been giving Ling Ling flirtatious glances multiple times during the meal, making Ling Ling too embarrassed to look at him.
At this moment, Wu Xuan suddenly remembered something and asked Gu Ya, "Our mecha motorcycles still need a celebrity endorsement. Who should we find?"
Gu Ya thought for a moment and said, "It depends on the target audience. Mecha motorcycles are most popular with young people, so let's find some popular young male idols."
Wu Xuan nodded and said, "The latest issue of the graphic novel will focus on cuteness, coolness, and a sense of technology. The design will be more delicate, to capture the female market, especially young girls."
Gu Ya smiled and said, "Then let's find the most handsome popular young male idol. Preferably a newly debuted fresh meat, someone who can charm thousands of girls the moment they appear on screen."
While Gu Ya and Wu Xuan were chatting, Wang Panpan kept pointing at himself with his index finger, repeatedly saying, "Me... me..."
Wu Xuan replied coldly, "What about you? You're a thirty-year-old man already. Besides, your star power is too low. I think Zeng Lang would be good. Hee hee hee, with some packaging, he'd definitely be a handsome star."
Gu Ya smiled and said, "I suddenly think Wang Panpan's image is suitable for a tough guy persona, which can expand into the young and middle-aged market."
Wang Panpan immediately perked up, straightened his chest, and patted his chest saying, "I knew it! Boss Gu has great vision!"
Gu Ya let out a hearty laugh and said, "No endorsement fee then!"
"What endorsement fee? I'm endorsing our own product, for free!" Wang Panpan generously shouted. "However, I wonder if Miss Ling has time to spare. Would you grace me with your presence for a meal and a chat about life?"
As Wang Panpan spoke, he sent another lingering glance at Ling Ling.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Wu Xuan coughed heavily.
"If your throat is uncomfortable, you should go see a doctor," Wang Panpan said disdainfully.
Wu Xuan sat up straight, faced Wang Panpan, and said solemnly, "Ling Ling is my girlfriend now."
Wang Panpan stared at Wu Xuan for three seconds and then said, "Then let's talk about the endorsement fee."
"You damn flip-flopper!" Wu Xuan cursed.
"Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding!" Wang Panpan generously slung an arm around Wu Xuan. The two leaned in and whispered, "You've struck a great deal, kid!"
"But Sister Ling has a bad temper, so you better be prepared to be henpecked!"
Wu Xuan gently pushed Wang Panpan away and said proudly, "Kidding, we don't know who's getting the better deal yet! I'll be the one calling the shots at home from now on!"
"Are you ignoring me?" Ling Ling said coldly. "Go get me a bowl!"
"Coming right up!" Wu Xuan nimbly got up and ran towards the kitchen.
"You still say you're not! Exposed your true colors!" Wang Panpan roared with laughter.
...
Late at night, Liu Feng and Zeng Lang were sleeping soundly on the same bed, sprawled out and snoring. Their alcohol tolerance was truly poor.
Youyou had been sleepy for a long time and had fallen asleep hugging the android.
Wu Xuan, now the chief executive of Gu Ya's company, had gone back to handle affairs.
Wang Panpan had made plans with others and had gone for the late-night scene.
In the vast house, only Gu Ya and Ling Ling remained.
"Sister!" Gu Ya asked in a low voice, "You told me before that when Dad first saved you, you were still in Zhuoyuan City, right?"
Ling Ling covered her forehead, closed her eyes, and nodded, saying, "We weren't well-off back then. Dad always brought home some strange and unusual things."
"What kind of person was he?" Gu Ya asked.
Ling Ling opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling, and said, "Quite good. Sunny, charming, and hard to fathom."
Gu Ya nodded and asked, "And Mother?"
Ling Ling smiled and said, "In your memory, it's probably Dad being strict and Mom being kind, right? It was the opposite. Mother always had a stern face, and it was hard to see her smile."
"She's the type of woman with a sharp tongue but a soft heart."
"Not just to me, but to you, Youyou, and Dad as well."
"Hands on hips, sulking, staring at you."
"But..." Ling Ling suddenly choked up for a moment, then continued, "When she found out she didn't have long to live, she actually smiled."
"Why?" Gu Ya was a little confused.
A hint of sadness crossed Ling Ling's face. "Perhaps she finally came to terms with it."
"From when she was diagnosed to her death, she always smiled and became gentler."
Gu Ya nodded, thinking it over carefully, and said in a low voice, "Let's go back to Zhuoyuan City when we have time."
"I want to see. Maybe I can recall some things."
Ling Ling hugged Gu Ya, looked at him dotingly, and said softly, "Okay, I'll go with you."
Gu Ya frowned, stared at Ling Ling, and asked reluctantly, "Are you really with Wu Xuan now?"
Ling Ling nodded generously.
Gu Ya felt very awkward about it. After a moment, he said, "It's just that since I found out you were my sister, I suddenly feel that Wu Xuan doesn't deserve you."
"No, the men in the entire world don't deserve you!"
"Go, go, go! Do you want your sister to be a spinster forever?"
"Not necessarily. As long as you're happy, hee hee. But I still feel like he's getting a good deal!"
"Oh, I'm so unwilling!"
...
"Hoo!"
"Hoo, hoo..."
In the dark and cold space, a pair of dead eyes stared intently ahead.
It was as if his gaze was about to freeze.
【Functional Synchronization Rate: 87.35%】
【Mecha Operational Rate within Standard, Differential Error 3%】
【Biological Functions: Good, no significant rejection】
【Test Subject: Xu Jie】
【10003rd Experiment Successful】
【Synchronization Rate Increasing Steadily, Historical Best】
"Initial testing is basically complete, the condition is stable, and we can proceed to the next stage of testing," a man in a white lab coat said to Hong Lian Zhi Wu, a voluptuous woman standing before him.
Hong Lian Zhi Wu's lips curved upwards, and she smiled slightly, "I never thought that a mere dying insect would make it to the end. Send this little fellow to the battlefield."
"Understood."