Chapter 131 Ghost Market (ETL) Part 2
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Chapter 131 It’s Like I’m Holding onto Your Senior Brother
After returning home, Gu Ye started attending classes diligently.
The credits he earned at the sports meet were all lost in the past few days due to taking leave. Fortunately, after that incident, Gu Ye didn’t receive any more missions and was able to focus on attending classes until the end of the year.
Midterm exams are at the end of the year. According to the results of Yu Ze’s discussion with the school, Gu Ye, Zhao Pengyu, and Xia Xiang have applied to take the same exams as the third-year students. If they achieve excellent results, they can skip a grade after the new year.
Every year, there are students who apply for this exam, and some even apply to graduate early. The school encourages students to do this; if you’re capable, the school allows you to graduate after just one year.
There were over a dozen students in Gu Ye’s year and major who took the exam with him. After the exam, the dozen or so of them looked at each other, and finally said, “Good luck, see you in the third-year classroom.” Although that’s the attitude, not everyone can pass.
After finishing their exams, Gu Ye and the two went to eat. Their afternoon exams were scheduled for 2:30 PM, so all three went to Gu Ye’s house to study. Xia Xiang seemed quite calm, while Gu Ye and Zhao Pengyu were a bit unsure. After all, of the three, only Xia Xiang was truly dedicated to studying diligently with his textbooks; Gu Ye was always out and about, and Zhao Pengyu wanted to play whenever he had free time.
The three of them took out their textbooks and flipped through them. Then each one lay down on a sofa and slept for half an hour. Then, they went to take the exam in the afternoon.
As Gu Ye, Xia Xiang, and Zhao Pengyu entered the exam hall, Gu Ye encouraged them, “You must do well on the exam. Think about your junior year courses. You’ll have less class time in the second half of the year, so you can go wherever you want.”
Zhao Pengyu immediately saw through Gu Ye’s act, “You’re only working so hard to skip a grade because there are fewer classes in your junior year, aren’t you?”
Gu Ye patted the child’s shoulder, “You must follow in your uncle’s footsteps and not fall behind, my child.”
“If I fall behind, you must come back to save me! The child needs you! We are a family, we can’t be separated!”
Xia Xiang always felt helpless watching the two of them banter. One was like a three-year-old Gu, the other like a three-year-old Zhao.
The results weren’t available immediately after the exams because winter break was coming up soon. Teachers not only looked at the grades but also at their usual performance to determine if they could skip a grade, so the results wouldn’t be known until after the New Year. The three packed their things and went home.
Gu Yang was also on vacation now; the kid hadn’t been as obsessed with games lately, but had become obsessed with boxing instead.
When Gu Ye came back, Mrs. Gu finally had someone to vent her anger on. “You all, none of you know how to control him! He said he wanted to be a professional gamer, and now he’s training in boxing, and he even wants to be a national-level athlete. Someone like him can’t even beat someone in the neighborhood! I’ve told him what to do, but he won’t listen. As his older brother, you have to keep a close eye on him this winter break, or I’ll hold you responsible!”
Hearing about his younger brother’s antics, Gu Ye also felt a headache coming on. “Where’s Old Fourth now?”
Mrs. Gu was already too angry to speak, rubbing her forehead and saying, “The gym.”
Gu Ye sighed, “Don’t worry about him, I’ll discipline him later.”
Mrs. Gu’s expression softened. “If he doesn’t listen, you can give him a good beating.”
Gu Ye was both amused and exasperated. “You’re really his mother.”
“If I were his stepmother, I would have sold him off long ago!”
“Okay, I know, calm down.” After coaxing Mrs. Gu away, Gu Ye had someone bring Gu Yang down from the gym.
The child, wearing two boxing gloves and looking quite convincing, exclaimed happily, “Brother! Brother, you’re finally back! Did Mom complain to you again?”
Looking at Gu Yang’s height, Gu Ye couldn’t suppress the urge to punch him. This brat had grown taller and stronger in a while, since the last time Gu Ye saw him. Gu Ye was really puzzled. They were both sons of the same father, so why was he the shortest? Why wasn’t he even 1.8 meters tall? Was genetics really that important?
Gu Ye’s expression turned cold. “Don’t give me that silly grin. What did you do to upset Mom again?”
“I didn’t do anything to her. She’s the one who got angry by herself,” Gu Yang said innocently. “Who knows what that old lady is thinking?”
Gu Ye’s lips twitched. This brat always gets beaten up because he deserves it. “Didn’t you want to be a professional gamer? How come you’re obsessed with boxing now?”
“I don’t think playing games is right for me, brother. I think Mom’s right. Playing games can easily lead to a loss of ambition. A real man should do something a real man should do.”
“Like what?”
“Like boxing, working on my abs, winning a championship belt or something.”
Gu Ye facepalmed. “Don’t set your goals so high, okay?”
“Brother, a person must have dreams,” Gu Yang stated with a look on his face that says ‘brother, you don’t understand me at all’. Then he added, “What’s the difference between someone without dreams and a salted fish?”
In response, Gu Ye grabbed Gu Yang’s ear and twisted it halfway around.
Gu Yang quickly took off his boxing gloves and covered his ears, crying out, “Bro, bro, brother, let go! Let’s talk this out! Why did you pinch me like that?! It hurts ah ah ah ah ah! Help!”
But Gu Ye said coldly, “Shut up!”
Gu Yang was so frightened that he quickly shut his mouth.
Gu Ye sat on the sofa and said earnestly, “You’ll be a senior in high school next year. Start studying hard from now on. I don’t expect you to get into a prestigious university; just a decent school will do. Then, you can do whatever you want after that, okay? Your dad is getting old. If you can’t even get into a second-choice university, he’ll be so angry he’ll faint.”
“No, brother!” Gu Yang squatted on the ground, hugging Gu Ye’s leg like a big child weighing over 100 pounds. “I don’t know why my score is so low. I want to do well in school too!”
Gu Ye couldn’t help but almost burst out laughing, “What do you like? Can’t you like one thing, and like it for a little longer?”
Even though Gu Ye said that, he had long seen through this kid’s fate. He’d be good at nothing, but he’d be lucky enough to live a life of comfort. But now, to save face for his father, Gu Ye had to get Gu Yang into a university that was even slightly better than average. If the kid could maintain an interest in something, training him in a skill would be fine. But the problem was, this brat only had a 3-minute attention span for everything.
Gu Ye looked at his brother wearily, exasperated. “I’ll take you out to play. When you’re done playing, come back and study, okay?”
Gu Yang’s eyes lit up. “I’ll definitely study hard!”
Gu Ye sighed, not holding much hope for him.
“Let’s go to relax a bit. Starting tomorrow, you’d better do your homework properly. I’m watching you. If you dare to make the teacher leave again, I’ll give you a good slap.”
Gu Ye stood up. “Go change your clothes. We’re going out in a bit. I’ll take you to the racetrack. We’ll have fun all afternoon.”
Gu Yang happily went to change, his face beaming with excitement at the mention of going out to play.
…
After a few exhilarating laps, Gu Ye had assumed Gu Yang was still crashing into obstacles in the beginner’s area. But as soon as he got out of the car, he saw that Gu Yang had actually gotten the hang of the car. Although he was driving very slowly in the beginner’s area, he wasn’t crashing into obstacles anymore.
When the instructor saw Gu Ye, he quickly came over and said, “Your brother is so talented. The car is like a toy in his hands. He can operate it after watching the instructor demonstrate once. He really didn’t know how to drive before?”
Gu Ye shook his head in surprise. “He really didn’t know how. He’s not even 18 yet, so nobody thought about training him to drive.”
The instructor exclaimed, “Then he’s incredibly talented.”
Gu Yang stopped after one lap and exclaimed excitedly, “Brother! This is so much fun! I’ve decided, I want to…”
“Shut up!” Gu Ye pointed at Gu Yang. “Think it over before you speak. If you dare change your mind every day, I’ll beat you up.”
Gu Yang smiled and scratched his head. “I won’t say anything more.”
Gu Ye’s lips curled into a smile. “Starting tomorrow, if you do your homework well and pass the test your teacher gave you, I’ll take you out to play for another day. If you get 80 points, I’ll take you out to play once a week, and the same goes for school exams. If you do well, I’ll ask your teacher for leave, pick you up from school, and take you out to play every week. If you can get into the top 20 in your class when you take the college entrance exam, I’ll buy you a sports car. I won’t hit you, I won’t scold you, and I’ll still take you out to play. So, are you going to study well?”
“I will!” Gu Yang hugged Gu Ye, moved. “Brother, I’ll study as soon as I get home!”
Gu Ye said with relief, “Brother believes in you. As long as you work hard for this year and a half, you can play however you want afterwards. I won’t interfere.”
Gu Yang looked serious. “Brother, don’t worry, I’ll give it my all!”
When they got home, Papa Gu was already there. Seeing the two boys who had been out playing all day, Papa Gu raised an eyebrow. Before he could speak, Gu Ye said, “I’ve already given him a lesson in political ideology. Starting tomorrow, he’ll work hard to follow the teacher’s instructions, finish his winter break homework, and then catch up on his studies to try and get a good grade on the next exam.”
Papa Gu looked at Gu Yang’s obedient appearance with surprise. Usually, no matter what he said, Gu Yang would look innocent and helpless, as if he didn’t take it to heart at all. This was the first time he’d seen the child so serious. Papa Gu gave a rare smile. “It’s good that you’re motivated. If you didn’t do well this time, there’s always next time. Keep trying.”
Mrs. Gu was relieved. Gu Ye’s words always had an effect. From now on, Gu Yang would have to be under Gu Ye’s care.
After dinner, Mrs. Gu found Gu Ye and asked curiously, “How did you talk to him? This brat actually listened!”
Gu Ye chuckled, “You have to offer him a carrot to entice him; beating him won’t work. Only a carrot can pique his interest.”
Mrs. Gu was confused. “Is he a rabbit or a donkey?”
Gu Ye suppressed a laugh, “Never mind that. By the way, aren’t you going back to your hometown for Chinese New Year this year?”
“Not this year.”
Gu Ye immediately perked up. He didn’t want to travel that far at all during the holidays; he just wanted to stay home.
The next day, Gu Ye supervised Gu Yang’s studies all day, then went to find Yu Ze in the evening. Not long after he left, Gu Sen returned.
“Where’s Old Third?”
Mrs. Gu said, “He just left. He said he won’t be back for dinner tonight. A son grows up and doesn’t listen to his mother anymore; you can’t keep him. Is there something you need him for?”
Gu Sen said meaningfully, “I want to give him a whole apartment complex. I don’t know if he’ll dare accept it.”
Mrs. Gu clapped her hands excitedly, “He’ll accept it!”
The author have something to say:
Little mother: “Son, your older brother is giving you so many houses! Hurry up and accept them! It’s all money!”
Gu Ye: “…Thank you, Mom. Mom is so good.”
Raw word count: 6187 (whole chapter)
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[Banana: Got busy in RL, hehe… hehe :P]