Gu Xu took one last look at himself in the bronze mirror.
The boy looking back at him was dressed more neatly than usual. If someone did not look too closely, he might even pass for a proper young noble.
But Gu Xu knew better.
Clothes could change how people saw you, but they did not change who you were.
He stared at his own reflection for a few more seconds. Then Gu Xu turned and went out of the room.
Gui Xu was already waiting outside, arms folded, looking impatient.
"What took you so long ugly brat?" Gui Xu said. "You dress slower than a girl!"
Gu Xu said nothing.
As they began walking, Gu Xu thought to himself:
"I might die in a month."
The thought came calmly this time, not like before when it made his chest tight and his hands shake.
"If I am going to die...then there's no more time to waste on useless thoughts."
If he was going to die in that lions den, then at least he should try to understand the world before he died.
The two of them walked quickly through the village paths.
People moved aside when they saw Gui Xu, greeting him respectfully, even if some of them had strange looks in their eyes.
After about thirty minutes, they reached the Yu family estate.
Gu Xu stopped walking without realizing it.
He had never been this close before.
The Yu estate was huge compared to the cottages in his part of the village.
There were several courtyards, beautiful walls, dark wooden beams, grass thatched roofs, carved doors, and even a small decorative pond near the entrance. Servants moving in and out carrying trays, cloth, and baskets.
Gu Xu suddenly felt very small standing in front of it.
This place was so fancy it almost scared him out of his wits.
He secretly looked at his father to see his reaction.
But Gui Xu did not look shocked at all. He looked completely normal, even slightly bored.
Then Gu Xu remembered.
Father had grown up in the Chief's household. He had grown up in a place like this. Maybe even better than here.
Before he became… like this!
Servants at the gate saw them and immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Lord Gui Xu! Greetings, Young Master Gu Xu!"
Their tone was respectful, very respectful.
Gu Xu felt strange hearing that tone directed at him.
Even though people did not respect Gui Xu as a person — because he did not hunt, did not work and did not contribute to the tribe — they still feared him.
Because he was the Chief's brother.
And because he had the second strongest Cheetah bloodline in the tribe.
Strength and bloodline still commanded respect, even if the man himself did not.
They were led into a large guest courtyard where Elder Yu Mingli was already seated.
Elder Yu Mingli was a tall, thin man with a neatly trimmed beard and keen eyes. He was dressed in expensive Cheetah tribe traditional wear.
Gui Xu immediately broke into a wide smile.
"Brother Yu! Brother Yu!" he said loudly, walking forward as if greeting an old friend. "It has been too long! You look younger every time I see you!"
Elder Yu Mingli also stood up and smiled.
"Brother Gui, you still know how to joke," he said smoothly. "If I grow younger every year, I will soon be a child again!"
They both laughed together.
But Elder Yu Mingli's eyes were icy cold.
Gu Xu stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Elder Yu Mingli," he said. "I have come to apologize for my behavior during the pre–coming of age ceremony. I behaved improperly and brought embarrassment to the Yu family! I accept any punishment!"
He kept his head lowered.
Yu Mingli looked at him for a few seconds, then waved his hand lightly.
"There is no need," Yu Mingli said. "The engagement is already broken, and we have already received a proper explanation from the Chief. The matter is finished."
Gu Xu slowly raised his head.
Yu Mingli looked at both father and son carefully.
He had expected them to look nervous, frightened, maybe even desperate after hearing about the lions den punishment.
But neither of them looked like that.
Gui Xu looked relaxed as normal.
Gu Xu looked serene.
"Too calm for a boy who might die in a month!"
Yu Mingli's eyes narrowed slightly, but he smiled.
"Since you are already here," he said, "you should sit. It is almost lunchtime."
He turned to a female servant.
"Go and call Yunshang. Tell her that Lord Gui Xu and Young Master Gu Xu are here!"
The servant bowed and left.
Elder Yu Mingli then clapped his hands lightly, and servants began bringing food.
A feast was quickly laid out — all sorts of salted roasted meat, lamb, goat, fish, pork and beef, as well as vegetables cooked in oil, rice, potatoes, soup, fruit, and juice of various kinds.
Gu Xu had to control himself from staring at the food.
It smelled like the festival food from the village center that he had wanted to eat so badly last night.
They were invited to eat, and Gui Xu did not hesitate at all. He began eating and talking as if he came here every day.
Gu Xu ate more carefully, but inside his body felt like it was waking up.
His wounds still hurt, and his body was still weak...
The rich food made him feel warm and slightly dizzy.
Meanwhile, the female servant Elder Yu had sent had reached the place where Yunshang was and was currently walking quickly along the path lined with peach trees until she finally found Yu Yunshang and Ting Lan.
They were picking peaches to put into their baskets.
"Young miss," the servant said, bowing slightly. "Master Yu asks that you return home. Lord Gui Xu and Gu Xu have arrived."
Yu Yunshang made a small disgusted face before she could stop herself.
"I see," she said. "I will get going."
She turned to Ting Lan. "Let us go and greet the young lords first."
The two girls and the servant walked toward the jacaranda tree where Jian Xu and Zhi Ye were still sitting.
When they approached, both girls bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Young Master Jian. Greetings, Young Master Zhi."
Jian Xu and Zhi Ye returned the greeting politely.
They exchanged a few niceties, then the girls left.
As they walked away, Zhi Ye leaned back and watched them go.
"What do you think of those two?" Zhi Ye asked.
"They are as beautiful as they are venomous," he said calmly. "Especially Yu Yunshang."
Zhi Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, then laughed heartily at his friend's remark saying,
"This is why you're failing to marry!"
-
Ting Lan returned to her home next door to the Yu estate saying she wasn't interested in seeing that father and son pair.
Yu Yunshang entered her own household and walked toward the guest reception area.
She expected to see an awkward, tense atmosphere — of Gu Xu apologizing desperately and of his father making a fool of himself.
Then she walked in and stopped in her tracks.
All three of them were seated around the table, eating and talking in a surprisingly good atmosphere.
Gui Xu was laughing loudly at something Yu Mingli had said.
Yu Mingli was smiling.
And Gu Xu was sitting in silence.
When Gu Xu saw her enter, he immediately stood up.
The room became slightly quieter.
Gu Xu bowed deeply toward her.
"Young miss Yu ," he said. "I apologize for my improper behavior during the ceremony! I spoke and acted without thinking and caused you embarrassment. I have come today to formally apologize."
His voice was unusually steady.
As if he was apologizing because it was required — not because he cared what she thought.
Yu Yunshang felt something strange in her chest.
Her father spoke calmly, "Sit down, Yunshang. The matter is already settled."
She sat down.
As the meal continued, she quietly observed the father and son pair.
Gui Xu was loud, annoying, stupid and shameless as always.
But Gu Xu was acting differently.
She remembered something her father once told her when she was a child:
"Even a sleeping tiger is still a tiger."
Yes, Gui Xu was a useless drunk.
But he was still the Chief's brother.
And Gu Xu…
This boy who had just been sentenced to the lions den…
"Why didn't he look like as scared as always!?"
Gu Xu was supposed to have been covered in tears and snot crying for losing her like a smelly kid.
Or at least having a nervous breakdown, unable to eat due to sorrow! And begging her on his knees for forgiveness!
This was a totally unexpected reaction and she did not like it at all.
Because in her experience, the most unpredictable people were usually not the loud ones, nor the strong ones, nor the arrogant ones.
The most dangerous people were the ones who stopped caring what others thought.
Yu Yunshang thought to herself:
"These two… what are they planning?"
She slowly picked up her cup and took a sip of pineapple juice.
Then she looked at his fat, chubby face once more and thought,
"What am I uselessly worrying myself over this fatty for?"
"He's just sulking about the engagement ending and pretending to be mature, something he knows nothing about!"
"He'll die in the lions den most likely and I and the whole tribe will be well rid of his ugly stench for once and for all!"