This sudden farce provided the guests present with plenty of gossip.
Although they hadn't heard everything clearly from behind, they had all personally witnessed the Tang family members being escorted away by the patriarch of the Wen family.
And the words that Tang Jiamingzhu uttered to Xia Qingtian from the stairs before leaving, they had heard clearly.
Good heavens, the entire Tang family was throwing its support behind Xia Qingtian. How could Xia Qingtian be so lucky?
Fortunately, when they later saw Xia Qingtian attempting to curry favor with the patriarch of the Wen family, and the patriarch of the Wen family cursed, "Get lost," they felt a little more balanced.
"Tch, still trying to flatter the patriarch of the Wen family? Does she really think the patriarch of the Wen family is as young and gullible as Tang Jiamingzhu? He probably saw through her true colors long ago!" Gu Yaoqing's sarcastic remark echoed the thoughts of many.
"Brother, keep your voice down," Gu Yaolin said with a slight frown. Regardless, the fact that Xia Qingtian could enlist the support of the Tang family proved she had merit. Moreover, she was the beloved of the person he admired most. Gu Yaolin felt it was inappropriate and unreasonable to make an enemy of her.
"What? Scared?" Gu Yaoqing, as if fearing no one could hear him, raised his voice considerably. "I see how you're like that coward Gu Yaoyang. Such a huge incident occurred, and he hasn't shown his face. He's probably hiding like a tortoise somewhere! Tch!"
"Brother!" Hearing Gu Yaoqing speak like that, Gu Yaolin, uncharacteristically displeased, stood up and said, "You can't say that..."
"Can't say what? You're trying to control me now? You..." Gu Yaoqing's words were cut off before he could finish.
"Shut up!" The Gu family patriarch's mind was in turmoil. He glared at Gu Yaoqing, finding Gu Yaoqing increasingly foolish. How could such a good-for-nothing inherit the Gu family?
How could he be worthy!
Even Gu Yaolin was more sensible than him!
He couldn't believe he had driven Gu Yaoyang away for such an idiot!
Thinking of this, the Gu family patriarch clenched his fist and said, "Yaoqing, go and cooperate with the auction house regarding asset verification."
To participate in the subsequent auctions, one needed to verify assets if the amount exceeded a certain threshold.
Because of this minor incident involving the Tang family, the asset verification stage had not yet concluded.
"Yes!" Hearing the Gu family patriarch's words, Gu Yaoqing's eyes lit up, and he immediately looked at Gu Yaolin triumphantly: See? I am the most outstanding person in Grandpa's heart!
Gu Yaoyang? What was he?
A bastard!
After Gu Yaoqing left with a look of considerable smugness, Gu Yaolin bit his lower lip, his face filled with resentment. "Grandpa, I know you always thought I was foolish, and the others in the family always treated me like a child, but even I know how excellent Yaoyang is. How could you..."
"Yaolin, go and call Gu Yaoyang out," the Gu family patriarch said, standing up. "I'll be waiting for you behind."
"Grandpa?!" Gu Yaolin's eyes lit up. Had the Gu family patriarch finally realized the problem and intended to acknowledge his brother back into the Gu family? "Okay, I'll go right now!"
"Wait a moment, don't mention me," the Gu family patriarch added. "Use your name."
Although he didn't know why his grandfather was doing this, Gu Yaolin still responded and hurried off.
As long as his brother could come home, as long as his brother was still his brother, he would do anything.
When Gu Yaoyang learned that Gu Yaolin had something to tell him, he was somewhat surprised.
However, recalling this child who had clung to him like a shadow since childhood, Gu Yaoyang's heart softened.
In any case, within the cold confines of the Gu family, Gu Yaolin was a rare individual with a human touch who treated him as family.
"I'll go take a look," Gu Yaoyang first informed Xia Qingtian before leaving his seat.
"Be back within ten minutes," Xia Qingtian reminded him. "After asset verification, there will be another round of auctions."
"I'll be back," Gu Yaoyang paused and replied with a smile. "If I don't make it back in time, just bid whatever you want, and I'll cover the cost."
"Oh my~ I suddenly feel so rich~" Xia Qingtian said with a smile.
Gu Yaoyang also smiled dotingly and kissed Xia Qingtian's cheek before heading directly out, under Bai Yuqi's resentful gaze.
Gu Yaoyang's smile only lasted until he went downstairs. The moment he saw the Gu family patriarch, his smile vanished.
"Brother, have a good talk with Grandpa," Gu Yaolin whispered. "I hope neither of you acts impulsively. We are a family."
"Yaolin, you should go back first," the Gu family patriarch said in a deep voice.
"Okay," Gu Yaolin responded, then turned and left.
Only the Gu family patriarch and Gu Yaoyang remained. After a long silence, the Gu family patriarch spoke first, "Let the past be the past."
"Does the Gu family patriarch have any instructions?" Gu Yaoyang looked at the Gu family patriarch, his mood calmer than he had anticipated.
"You..." Hearing Gu Yaoyang address him with such a distant and indifferent tone, the Gu family patriarch's brow furrowed slightly before he spoke. "I know you've held resentment towards me all this time.
You hate my favoritism and blame me for being biased towards Gu Yaoqing. I am not unaware of your grievances.
But after all, you are not of the Gu family's blood, while Gu Yaoqing...
Before today, I had been diligently training him as the successor of the Gu family. You might think I am protecting Gu Yaoqing, but that's not the case.
I am merely protecting the reputation of the Gu family." The Gu family patriarch looked at Gu Yaoyang and said, "If you were in my position, you would do the same."
Gu Yaoyang did not reply, merely watching the Gu family patriarch calmly.
"I know the fire was a knot in your heart, and the marriage between Yu Linwan and Gu Yaoqing was a debt the Gu family owes you. But you must also understand the Gu family's past predicament," the Gu family patriarch said. "You are too outstanding, more outstanding than all the descendants of the Gu family combined. If you were an ordinary person, I could treat you without bias, and I could give you better treatment and resources.
Unfortunately, you are not..."
The Gu family patriarch took a deep breath and said, "But I've come to a realization now. Some old ways of thinking may indeed be unsuitable for the current social development. Yao Yang, I am willing to take a step back."
Gu Yaoyang raised an eyebrow slightly, as if asking with his eyes: Continue, I am listening.
"As long as you are willing to marry into the Gu family and take a Gu family daughter as your wife, I will still be able to train you as the next patriarch of the Gu family," the Gu family patriarch said solemnly, as if bestowing a great favor upon Gu Yaoyang. "Of course, I know about your affair with that little celebrity. Her name is Xia Qingtian, isn't it?"
Upon hearing the Gu family patriarch mention Xia Qingtian, Gu Yaoyang's expression finally showed a subtle change.
"I can overlook your private relationship. As long as you can continue the Gu family lineage, I can even turn a blind eye if you have several lovers behind the Gu family's back."