Deadly Trap.

Chapter 54. Good Rain Knows Its Season

The old man was in his eighties, resembling a remnant of feudalism from the last century. His skin was withered, and his dark-patterned robe could not conceal his frail and aged figure. Outside his sleeves, his hands, like the claws of a crane, gripped tightly a tangled, snake-patterned wooden cane.

Despite this, the old man still staggered, his whole body trembling. Supported by the young man in the long robe behind him, the old man slowly moved through the moon gate, looking pitiful as if he were on his deathbed, a candle flickering in the wind.

As Gu Zhipei passed Welsh, he casually looked up and glanced at the latter.

This casual glance sent a chill down Welsh's spine.

His almond-shaped eyes, hidden in the folds of his face, were sharp and piercing; a hint of sarcasm lingered at the corners of his mouth, and even the curve of his smile was eerily familiar.

Welsh's throat tightened. Involuntarily, he looked at Gu Mufeng, whose face was cold and stern.

Seeing Welsh's immediate reaction, Gu Zhipei smiled slightly, a hint of smugness in his expression. He leaned on his cane and settled himself down in front of Gu Mufeng. The old man coughed incoherently.

Silently, he spat into a silk handkerchief and casually tossed it to the young man who was already waiting to catch it.

With a gentle smile, Gu Zhipei said, "You're here. How many years has it been? The last time I saw you, you were quite mischievous."

The voice was unexpectedly strong and commanded respect. Gu Zhipei gestured to indicate how tall Gu Mufeng must have been at the time, and as he spoke, he waved for the young man behind him to leave.

Gu Mufei's eyes darkened as he gestured for Welsh to leave, indicating that since he was a guest, he should follow the host's lead.

In the waterside pavilion, only an old man and a young boy remained.

Rarely, Gu Mufeng had no patience this time, and made no attempt to hide it. His words were like a steel whip, abruptly severing Gu Zhipei's warm greetings:
"I have no interest in your polite formalities. Only you have the authority to change the program for the Minzhou financial community's New Year's Eve concert. This piece by Thames... what changes have occurred in the Gu family that makes them insist on seeing me?"

"What? You haven't seen Grandpa for years, and you come right up to ask about the changes in the Gu family? Cough cough, isn't that inappropriate?"

Judging from Gu Zhipei's tone, it really sounded like a grandfather scolding his grandson: although his words were stern, his face was full of love and his tone could not hide his doting.

“I don’t remember having a maternal grandfather.” In contrast, Gu Mufeng was direct and his tone was indifferent.

"Sigh." His hunched body became even more dejected. Gu Zhipei's shoulders, which had been straight just moments before, suddenly slumped down. He sighed deeply.

He knew all along that this would not be easy; but he had to do it.

At the same time, Gu Zhipei continued, "You can disown me as your maternal grandfather. But you can't disown Fang Ran. She's your mother, isn't she?"

Gu Mufei did not answer.

“You are just like your mother: you look like her and you are just as stubborn as her; once you decide on something, you will do it no matter what.”

"Your maternal grandmother is not well. We only have Fangran. She is truly incomparable to the Imperial Seal of the State."

"She was exceptionally intelligent and kind from a young age, even showing genuine affection for her toys, never abandoning them and taking meticulous care of them. How could anyone not love her?"

Gu Zhipei sighed softly.

"Even today, the old servants in the family still shed tears when they think of her."

"Back then, we raised her like the apple of our eye. Fangran would call me 'Dad' all the time to make me happy. But she already had her own ideas."

"She wanted to study abroad, and we were reluctant to let her go, but we still went along with it; she wanted to be self-reliant, and we couldn't persuade her otherwise..."

Stroking his cane, Gu Zhipei sighed deeply:

"Sigh. She never says no, but she'll do it no matter how many times she tries! In the end, I had no choice but to let her have her way."

Who could have imagined that thirty-three years of fleeting dreams would end like this—

With a choked voice, Gu Zhipei couldn't continue.

The world is ever-changing. Since he took over the family business at a young age and has been in charge of the Gu family for nearly half a century, he has never been soft-hearted in politics, business, financing, and international listing.

After Fangran left, nineteen years passed quietly. Whenever he thought of his willful and lively little girl, holding his shoulder and affectionately calling him "Daddy," his heart would clench suddenly, and a cough would rise up, making it hard to breathe. But who can turn back time?

"Sigh." Gu Zhipei coughed twice more, trembling. He covered his mouth with his sleeve and slowly calmed himself down.

When he spoke again, his voice was much kinder:

“You were very young when your mother passed away, so you don’t remember much. We’ve always thought about you all these years.”

"Look, this Qinfang Pavilion was specially built because your mother liked it. Fangran likes open water and the damp, gentle breeze. Not a single thing here has changed."

“Right here, in front of this window, she often played the violin. It was a gift I gave her when she turned eight. It’s the best one in my collection.”

Gu Zhipei's memories are like layers on a lake; the figures in her memory have long since flown far away to the distant mountains and disappeared in an instant.

His hand, which he was pointing at to Gu Mufei, suddenly froze, hovering in mid-air. He quickly turned back, saying, "No matter what, you still have Gu family blood flowing through your veins. It's not too late to go home now."

"Home?" Gu Mufeng looked down at the pigeon-blood red ring on his right hand.

That was everything his mother gave him before she passed away.

He was listening intently to the past, his expression unusually gentle, as if he were seeing his mother's voice and smile again.

Upon hearing Gu Zhipei utter that word, his fingers twitched and recoiled violently, his gaze suddenly turning as sharp as a knife piercing his body:

"I don't want to say anything too harsh. But I won't go back. The Gu family is not my home."

"The Gu family bloodline is passed down from generation to generation," Gu Zhipei interrupted without allowing any further discussion, "Since you're here, you can't let this old man like me bear the burden. Don't be like your mother: selfish, willful, and reckless!"

Gu Zhipei's tone seemed to soften, but his words were actually sharper:

"Fangran is too self-centered. How could she know that a family's century-long history is built on rules? In the end, everyone's life revolves around the bigger picture. That's destiny."

"Being born a member of this family means being destined to contribute to its development. Whether you like it or not, it's your responsibility!"

His tone suddenly hardened. Gripping his cane tightly, Gu Zhipei's gaze was piercing, his hunched body leaning forward with an imposing aura. Rather than persuasion, it sounded more like a direct command.

"Considering that you are my elder, I will stay in Minzhou for a while; I have never wanted to make things awkward for everyone. I have no intention of bringing up the past."

His voice was cold, and with those words, Gu Mufeng had already made his decision. He met Gu Zhipei's equally sharp gaze head-on, showing no sign of backing down:
"You told me that I was too young when my mother passed away and had no memory of her." The air suddenly froze.

He wanted to lower his head, to suppress his emotions on the verge of collapse with his breath, and to hear his mother's complete recollection. But his chest felt like it was being pierced by countless shards, and the pain intensified with every second he listened.

That phrase, "You're still young," was like a recurring nightmare that haunted him every night. In an instant, it shattered all his defenses.

“That year,” Gu Mufei began sadly, “I was already ten years old.”

>>>>>
Next chapter: Making the water flow backward
[Author's Note | Chapter 54]

Gu Zhipei's name is taken from the line "Good rain knows its season... nourishing things silently." However, his "rain" is more like a downpour...

Gu Fangran is not just a deceased mother; she is the origin, the mother goddess of all things.

She is the capricious yet tender knot in Gu Zhipei's memory, and the undying source of love and warmth in Gu Mufeng's memory.

At that time, Gu Mufeng was just a child.

What happened to Gu Mufei afterward?
How did he manage to weather this nineteen-year storm and, with an air of cold indifference, finally stand before Su Li?

Please share your thoughts with the author in the comments section.

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(End of this chapter)