Chapter 72: Who Dares to Bully My Big Brother?
"Hmm?"
Shen Xi looked confused and secretly complained in her heart, ‘If you want to eat, just eat. Why are you calling me?’
Seeing that she didn’t move, Gu Hanling narrowed his eyes slightly. He tilted his chin slightly upward, putting on the demeanor of a boss, and motioned toward the plate of imported red shrimp.
Shen Xi was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant.
She rolled her eyes internally, was he asking her to provide emotional support again?
But since she was a generous and forgiving person, she wouldn't argue with her big boss over something this small.
Knowing that Mr. Germaphobe might dislike it otherwise, she sensibly put on a pair of disposable gloves.
As she carefully peeled the shrimp, she suddenly felt a little awkward. Come to think of it, this was the first time she had ever peeled shrimp for a man. It felt… kind of weird.
After quickly finishing a small plate, she pushed it toward him. With a forced smile, she said,
“Hehe, Mr. Gu, please enjoy.”
Gu Hanling acted as if he didn’t notice her fake smile.
He calmly picked up a piece of shrimp that she had personally peeled, dipped it in vinegar, and placed it into his mouth.
He chewed a few times, then let out a soft “Mmm” and gave a small nod of approval, as if he was quite satisfied.
Seeing this, Shen Xi thought, Oh? Big Brother is actually pretty easy to please.
For some reason, it gave her a weird sense of accomplishment.
Then she recalled how the Gu family elders had treated him back at the old mansion. She also remembered how Gu She had tried to slander him.
It made Shen Xi feel like this man in front of her was just as lonely as she had been in her past life. Just like how she and her grandmother had depended on each other.
Back in her school days, she was always alone. After entering the workforce, late-night overtime became her norm.
At midnight, she would drag her exhausted body home, walking through empty streets. The city lights shone in thousands of windows, yet not a single one was left on for her.
That feeling of standing strong alone, moving forward in solitude. She understood it completely.
Thinking about it now, Gu Hanling was actually quite pitiful. If this followed the usual novel's narrative, he's probably the male lead, someone who was bullied by the Gu family since childhood, lost both parents, and relied on his own efforts and extraordinary abilities.
Step by step, he took back everything that was rightfully his, rising to the position he holds today.
Yes, that must be it. It fits perfectly with the "handsome, strong, and tragic" trope that female readers both love and feel sorry for.
“Big Brother, when you were a kid, were your cousins always bullying you? Did they even get physical with you?”
Thinking about Gu She’s despicable behavior, how he even dared to flirt with her, his so-called sister-in-law, there was probably nothing he wouldn’t do.
But Gu Hanling was different. He carried himself with the elegance of a noble gentleman.
Even when someone like Feng Weiwei, who had no sense of boundaries, clung to him obsessively, he still treated her politely, just because of her connection to the Gu family.
If it had been Shen Xi, she would have slapped her across the face without hesitation, let out a domineering aura, and shouted, “Get lost!”
Hearing her question, Gu Hanling looked at Shen Xi with a complicated expression.
He was silent for a moment, as if recalling those painful memories.
“…Yes, but that was a long time ago.”
Shen Xi felt a sudden pang of bitterness in her heart.
I knew it…
No wonder women would feel sorry for him.
Even she, a full-grown man (mentally, at least), felt bad for this "handsome, strong, and tragic" Big Brother.
Maybe his cold personality wasn’t because he was naturally distant, but because he had to protect himself.
By keeping people away, he wouldn’t have to worry about being hurt again. Only money would never betray him. That’s why he became a ruthless capitalist, but even wealth couldn’t heal his emotional scars.
That’s probably why he has insomnia. Yep, that explains everything.
Every domineering CEO has the same quirks, but their tragic backstories only get worse and worse.
“Big Brother, you must have had a really tough childhood. I understand that feeling.”
Gu Hanling’s lips moved slightly, but he didn’t answer right away.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and replied in a calm tone,
“Tough? Maybe.”
“But none of that matters anymore. What's important is, no one dares to anymore.”
He wasn’t lying. No one dared anymore.
Shen Xi sighed lightly, feeling bad for him. Without hesitation, she peeled the entire plate of shrimp and handed it to Gu Hanling.
“Of course, no one dares to touch you now, Big Brother. If they even try, just cut their dividends.”
Because for Shen Xi, there was nothing scarier than losing money!
Feeling genuinely sympathetic about his tragic past, Shen Xi suddenly felt angry. How dare they bully her dear Big Brother!
‘I swear, I’ll make sure they eat instant noodles without seasoning packets and drink bubble tea without pearls!’
Of course, there was no bubble tea or instant noodles on this dining table, but still…
A short time passed, and they completed their meal.
Just as Wu Xiaoman finally managed to coax Feng Weiwei back, they saw Gu Hanling gently supporting Shen Xi, as if she were a few months pregnant, while walking out of the dining room.
“Auntie, we’re full. You guys take your time,” Shen Xi said with a sweet smile.
Hearing her call her "Auntie" again, Wu Xiaoman’s face twitched.
Since Gu Hanling was right next to Shen Xi, she didn’t dare lose her temper.
She forced out a stiff smile and said, “Well, that’s good. Wouldn’t want people thinking our Gu family doesn’t even feed its guests properly.”
She then turned back toward the dining table and her face instantly darkened. Her teeth clenched, and rage boiled inside her like a volcano about to erupt. With a loud "BANG!", she slammed her hand on the table.
“Unbelievable! That little bitch!”
Feng Weiwei, sitting beside her, couldn’t help but twitch her lips in disbelief.
The dining table was a complete mess.
There were no more imported red shrimp left, only a pile of shrimp shells. The caviar steamed egg was nothing but the egg itself. The abalone and chicken stew had lost both its abalone and tender chicken meat, leaving behind a pot of tough, bone remnants.
The imported king crab had its large chunks of crab meat scooped out, leaving only a few shells with shreds of meat clinging to them. As for the jade and white jade soup... well, it remained untouched.
One glance, and Wu Xiaoman immediately knew who the culprit was. There was no way Gu Hanling would do something so unsophisticated.
It had to be Shen Xi. No wonder she needed help walking just now!
Just then—
"Grrr~"
Both Feng Weiwei and Wu Xiaoman’s stomachs growled in unison.
They hadn’t eaten much earlier, and after all that running, chasing, and frustration… They were starving.
Angry as they were, there was nothing they could do now.
Every dish’s best part had been completely picked clean. What was left was barely edible.
Their only option?
Have the kitchen redo everything… and that meant waiting again.
Feng Weiwei’s tears started falling again.
Her graceful, well-mannered Xiao Han had actually allowed that shameless woman to shamelessly pick out all the best food?!
Wu Xiaoman, already annoyed, snapped, “Other than crying, can’t you do anything else?”
She was already frustrated, and now there was someone whimpering beside her. It just made her even angrier.
Her biggest fear was that after Gu Hanling’s grandmother passed away, She and her young child would lose their status in the Gu family. Even Gu Jian himself might not be safe.
At first, marrying Feng Weiwei to Gu Hanling was the perfect solution. But then, out of nowhere that shameless woman appeared and ruined everything.
Wu Xiaoman sighed.
“Weiwei, you should realize by now what kind of woman Xiao Han actually likes.”
“Just look at that shameless bitch, her chest…”
She gestured dramatically in the air, as if she were actually holding two massive melons.
"She's so carefree, almost like a guy, and she has such a big appetite. It makes her seem energetic and full of life."
Wu Xiaoman’s tone was urgent as she sized up Feng Weiwei from head to toe.
“Now, look at you. Always starving yourself for some stupid diet.”
“You’re as thin as a stick.”
“No more dieting. Eat more, get some curves. That’s the kind of woman Xiao Han will actually like.”
Hearing this, Feng Weiwei instinctively looked down at herself. Her completely flat chest made it hard to tell front from back.
For the sake of looking good on camera, she had starved herself to less than 40 kilograms.
“But… I’m an actress! If I suddenly start overeating, my fans will be disappointed. My career—”
Feng Weiwei's voice trembled slightly.
Wu Xiaoman let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“If you can become Mrs. Gu, do you really think any of that still matters?”