Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 287: Attraction Between the Opposite Sexes

Seeing Chu Fangshan seemingly lost in deep thought, Chu Fangwei thought he was truly worried about Chu Tianyu’s safety, so he quickly asked loudly, “Elder brother, don’t take it lightly! I’ve heard quite a few rumors—those people colluding with Tiancheng are all extremely skilled in martial arts. Don’t end up getting Tianyu trapped instead of pulling Tiancheng out!”
Chu Fangwei’s words finally brought Chu Fangshan back to reality. Yet he dismissed his younger brother’s advice as unimportant and replied with a smile that didn’t address the question, “Hehe, Second Brother, each generation has its own fortune. Why worry about them so much? Oh right, look! Look! I told you—after not seeing him for a few days, he must have brought back one or two girls. Right? I was right, wasn’t I?”
As he spoke, Chu Fangshan acted as if he had discovered a new world, pointing afar at Ao Xue beside Chu Tianyu and shouting proudly.
“You only noticed after looking for so long? If you want to talk about your plans, don’t change the subject!” Chu Fangwei thought to himself.
But out loud, he exaggerated, “Is this even considered? She looks way too ordinary. I thought she was Tianyu’s secretary. But then again, even if she were a secretary, with such an ordinary appearance, it would be hard for her to get into the upper ranks of our Chu family, right?”
“What do you know? What’s the use of just looking at a face? Once the lights go out at night, it’s all the same. When judging a girl, what matters most is her figure and posture. If you look closely, don’t you sense any difference?”
“Huh, now that you put it that way, I do feel something. And the more I look, the more I feel it!”
“Well? Do you feel it now? But that’s about it. Stop right there. Don’t even think about anything else, or I might pull it out just by looking at it. Hehe, Second Brother, what do you say? Now that we’ve seen her, it’s time to talk about the bet we made earlier. You have to accept your loss if you make a bet!”
“What bet? Did we make a bet? I don’t remember at all,” Chu Fangwei said, confused.
“Huh? Fine, Second Brother. You’re trying to play tricks again. You’ve always liked to be deceitful since childhood. Even now with gray hair, you’re still a liar! We made a deal right in front of Tianyu…” Chu Fangshan revealed the secret.
“Did we? I really can’t remember anything at all. Strange. Let me think carefully again.”
“When will you figure it out?”
“Around winter…”
“What nonsense? Don’t try to divert the topic on purpose. It’s already winter—just tell me already!”

“Yes, that sentence just now. I was just wondering who sang that old song?” Chu Fangwei said innocently.
“Using a phrase often used by young people, I’m stunned…” Chu Fangshan said weakly, almost rolling his eyes.
If Chu Tianyu were still there at this moment, he would probably use the same two words he once used to describe Bai Lei—“ferocious”!
……
Meanwhile, Chu Tianyu and Ao Xue were walking on their way out. The vast villa courtyard, the spacious roads, and the lush green lawns all made their figures the focus of the entire scene…
“Is something on your mind?” Seeing that Chu Tianyu kept his head down, clearly less enthusiastic than when they first arrived, Ao Xue asked curiously as they walked.
“Nothing. It’s just that two guys who act like grandfathers dumped a burden on me!” Chu Tianyu said resentfully.
“Are you referring to those two elders who were spying on us from a window on the third floor?” Ao Xue asked with a smile without turning around.
“It’s them. Who else? They’re probably…” Halfway through his sentence, Chu Tianyu remembered that the two elders might be fulfilling their bet from earlier, which involved Ao Xue. Revealing that the two mischievous elders were betting on whether he had the ability to engage in extramarital affairs would damage their reputations too much, although in Chu Tianyu’s mind, their reputations had already been completely ruined…
“What are they doing now?” Ao Xue asked curiously.
“They’re betting on our relationship!” Chu Tianyu changed his wording slightly.
“Ah? Really…” Ao Xue immediately felt embarrassed and stopped talking.
Chu Tianyu also fell silent, thinking about his next move. At this moment, his attention wasn’t solely focused on his elder brother Chu Tiancheng, but also on theNetherworld forces behind Tai Ye, as well as those two mysterious figures, Qing Tian and Shi Tian.
Beyond mere curiosity, thinking of them always filled Chu Tianyu with an inexplicable sense of excitement. To put it more precisely, his heart was filled with a fighting spirit—a desire for a fierce confrontation!

Do they also possess a vital energy that is truly integrated with themselves, and what type is it? What kind of relationship exists between them? “Qingtian” and “Shitian” — such contrasting names. Are they friends who have turned enemies? Or lovers whose relationship is facing turmoil? All these questions filled Chu Tianyu with confusion and endless speculation. He looked forward to meeting them to resolve his doubts, and if possible, to ease his own restless longing as well…

“Where are we going?” Ao Xue couldn’t help but ask after seeing Chu Tianyu walking in a daze for a long time without saying a word.

“Hmm…” Ao Xue’s question snapped Chu Tianyu out of his thoughts, but he didn’t know how to answer her right away.

Indeed, where to go now? Nian Ran and the others, along with Third Master and Auntie, wouldn’t return until the day after tomorrow. As for Li Rou, things were currently very volatile, so he didn’t dare to go to her easily.

After some thought, Chu Tianyu suddenly remembered his elder brother. Had his grandfather rushed him here this morning just to pass this burden onto him? Well, this two-day break was a good opportunity to deal with his elder brother’s issue, so he could focus fully on dealing with the people from the Nether Realm later.

Besides, he had Ao Xue by his side now. Chu Tianyu hadn’t decided yet how to arrange things for her, and he couldn’t just leave her behind. It would be better to find something for her to do to further strengthen their relationship. To be honest, whether it was Ao Xue’s innate charm or Chu Tianyu’s own romantic nature, he had an instinctive reaction toward her—simply put: “opposites attract!”

So, having made up his mind, Chu Tianyu said to Ao Xue, “Xue, can you accompany me to visit someone later?”

“Who?” Ao Xue asked curiously.

“My elder brother!” Chu Tianyu replied calmly.

“Your elder brother? What’s the matter? Do I need to go too?” Ao Xue was a bit puzzled.

Chu Tianyu didn’t answer directly but suddenly said, “How about I tell you an old-fashioned story first…”

Then he briefly explained his elder brother’s rivalry with him for the Chu family’s position. His tone was calm, devoid of any emotion, as if he were telling someone else’s story.

Although Ao Xue listened intently, she could sense his hesitation and helplessness through his seemingly calm voice.

“Well, what are your thoughts?” Chu Tianyu suddenly looked up, emerging from his earlier state of mind, and asked Ao Xue with a slight smile.

Aoxue pondered for a while before answering, “I don’t have any particular feelings. Maybe I’ve never experienced such things, nor have I ever thought that something like this could happen between siblings. Besides, although Ningshuang and I sometimes argue, it would be an exaggeration to say that things have escalated to the point of one having to deal with the other!”
Aoxue’s reply was very tactful. Though she didn’t say it outright, Chutianyu already understood clearly what she meant. After thinking for a moment, Chutianyu asked further, “If you were me, what would you do now?”
Aoxue smiled slightly and said, “Hehe, do you really need to ask someone else this question? I feel like you already have an answer. The reason you still ask me is probably to get a bit more approval from me, right?”
“Hehe, do you really think so?” Chutianyu laughed.
“Of course. Don’t you think so?” Aoxue asked back with a glint in her eyes.
Chutianyu smiled but didn’t answer, thinking to himself, “What a perceptive and intelligent woman.”
Seeing that Chutianyu said nothing more, Aoxue brought the conversation back, saying, “The old story is over. I think for your brother’s problem, it still takes the person who created the problem to solve it…”
Before Aoxue could finish, Chutianyu interjected, “Hehe, even the person who created the problem needs someone to hold the scissors—otherwise, how can it be solved?”
Hearing this, Aoxue burst into laughter and said, “If you need scissors, it’s called ‘cutting,’ not ‘solving’!”
“Whatever, whether it’s solving or cutting—how about you act as the villain this time and play the role of the ‘red-faced’ character for me?” Chutianyu stretched out his arms, in high spirits.
“So our Young Master Chu wants to play the hero and save his brother!” Aoxue thought to herself.
“Consider it that. But the decision ultimately lies with him. I’m just providing an opportunity!” Chutianyu removed his smile and spoke calmly.
Chutianyu’s sudden change in tone left Aoxue momentarily unprepared. After thinking for a while, she realized that Chutianyu simply wanted to be the one to solve the problem. Clearly, he had also provided his elder brother with an answer sheet—a sheet filled only with multiple-choice questions, with the chosen answer determining the outcome!
Thinking of this, Aoxue couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve always not understood why you and your elder brother are fighting over the Chu family. Although, as you said, your elder brother used some underhanded tactics that threatened the interests of the Chu family, what I don’t understand is why, with your abilities, you still want to fight over such worldly matters. Without you, I don’t think your elder brother would do such foolish things.”

Chu Tianyu glanced at Ao Xue, his eyes showing a hint of indifference, and said, “Actually, there’s no need to compete. For me, I also need the Chu family—that reason is enough!”