Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Parent-Child Time
Chapter 364: Parent-Child Time
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Indeed, City A is an international metropolis, suitable for living and working, and the environment is very pleasant. Even the headquarters of Black Hawk is relocating to City A,” Ji Chi said while boiling tea eggs. “Since Third Uncle’s identity has been exposed and become a target, if he plans to settle in City A, we must establish our presence here. Otherwise, in case of emergencies, we won’t be able to handle them effectively.”
Black Hawk has always been focused on Europe and America, so shifting to Asia will take several years. This implies that Black Hawk’s financial center will move from Europe and America to Asia. Dad sees potential in local financial assets.
Gu Ziyu pondered in silence. Dad has never liked doing business in China; he’d have to rebuild his connections, and it’s not as free as he’s used to. Yet, he seems willing. The heart of the underworld has always been in Asia, and if Dad shifts Black Hawk’s center, he’ll have to compete for the financial market with the underworld.
Normally, having different focuses can coexist, but now, they’ll be competing for the same piece of cake, making the situation even more challenging.
Rong Li said, “We’ve been planning for this lately, restructuring Black Hawk’s asset portfolio, reorganizing the good assets, and disposing of the bad ones. Third Uncle wants to heavily invest in local assets, and we have no choice.” In fact, he and Ji Chi also see potential in domestic assets. It’ll be revealed in ten or twenty years who made the right call. Even though the focus is shifting, they haven’t given up on the European and American markets; they’re expanding their presence there as well.
Gu Ziyu asked expressionlessly, “Is this not a potential conflict of interest?”
Ji Chi chuckled, “Baby, you’re overthinking it. Third Uncle just missed you, and we’re just having a casual chat.”
“Oh…” Gu Ziyu had never experienced being wanted by his father, so it felt novel. But he still had his wits about him. Just a casual chat? He wasn’t buying it.
Rong Li lightly laughed and poured tea for Gu Ziyu. Gu Ziyu took a sip with a hint of disdain. He spoke the truth, “Don’t ruin good tea leaves.”
“I find it quite enjoyable,” Ji Chi said.
Ji Chi handed a tea egg to Gu Ziyu, who also looked disdainful. “It hasn’t absorbed the flavor yet.”
“Let it steep a bit longer,” Ji Chi advised as he took a bite himself, finding it somewhat lacking in flavor.
“Is it really not a conflict of interest?” Gu Ziyu looked at them warily. “I want to make it clear, I won’t engage in any illegal or unethical activities.”
Ignoring Gu Ziyu’s aversion, Rong Li poured more tea, seemingly oblivious. “Young Master, how can we let a minor engage in illegal or unethical activities? We just wanted to ask, in case your parents divorce, who will you choose to live with?”
“Of course, it’ll be my mom!” Gu Ziyu replied without hesitation. “Besides, I’m not even married.”
“Wouldn’t you consider it? Black Hawk is such a massive family fortune,” Ji Chi teased. “When you turn eighteen, you’ll understand the importance of wealth and power.”
Gu Ziyu pondered seriously, looking like he was considering something important.
Ji Chi and Rong Li exchanged a glance, sensing an opportunity for mischief.
Gu Ziyu said, “1 got into the Ministry of State Security based on my abilities. Twenty years from now, my position will surely be high, as for money… I’m not lacking. My mom is wealthy, my uncle is wealthy, and my dad has only me as his son, so the inheritance is mine. I already have more money than I can spend; it’s a real worry.”
Ji Chi and Rong Li remained expressionless; this was quite Versailles-esque.
Lu Zhiyuan leaned against the doorway, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile, and asked, “What are you all talking about?”
Ji Chi and Rong Li fell silent, while Gu Ziyu grinned and said, “They asked me who I would choose to live with if my parents divorced. Dad, when did you and Mom get married? You didn’t inform me.”
Ji Chi and Rong Li stayed silent.
Young Master, you’re not playing fair!
Lu Zhiyuan didn’t seem bothered and walked over slowly. “Ignore them. Let’s go, I’ll take you to play some basketball.”
Gu Ziyu was surprised. “You’re taking me to play basketball?”
“Don’t want to?”
“I do!”
Lu Zhiyuan asked Ji Chi and Rong Li with a semi-smile, “Are you two coming?”
Ji Chi and Rong Li shook their heads in unison, politely declining Lu Zhiyuan’s lukewarm invitation. Lu Zhiyuan took Gu Ziyu to play basketball, and Gu Ziyu thought he was going to be asked about Jiang Junlin, but it turned out to be a genuine father-son bonding time.
He was pleasantly surprised and quite happy about it!
Lu Zhiyuan was skilled at basketball, a benefit of having the talents of both the Third Uncle, who couldn’t play basketball, and the Third Young Master, who excelled at it. Playing basketball with Gu Ziyu, he was someone Gu Ziyu could admire.
Gu Ziyu had a strong competitive spirit. After losing a few games, he boasted, “Wait until I’m eighteen; I’ll beat you! It’s just my height that’s the problem now!”
“Sure, I’ll be waiting for your challenge!”
“Is your injury okay for playing basketball?” Gu Ziyu asked.
“It’s nothing serious; I’ve mostly recovered,” Lu Zhiyuan replied. After playing basketball with Gu Ziyu for over an hour, he grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to Gu Ziyu before opening one for himself.
Not far away, Li Jiang watched in admiration.
The Third Young Master really liked the Young Master.
“Mom said you won’t compete anymore. I saw you racing earlier; do you still want to compete?” Gu Ziyu asked.
Lu Zhiyuan did want to continue competing, although he knew it was dangerous. But he still wanted to race for a few more years. “I haven’t reached retirement age yet. Once I recover fully and my skills haven’t declined, I’ll continue to race.”
Gu Ziyu couldn’t help but worry. Racing would be incredibly risky, especially since everyone in the underworld knew he was the Third Young Master of Black Hawk. If he raced, there would be enemies waiting to take revenge, and he had quite a few enemies from his past dealings with Black Hawk. That would be like stirring up a hornet’s nest, and they could easily target him during a race.
“When you had that accident while racing, it nearly cost you your life, and Mom was almost driven crazy. Haven’t you forgotten that?” Gu Ziyu asked.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Lu Zhiyuan said softly. “Dad promises you it won’t happen again.”
“Mom said you regained memories from your previous life. Why is that? Did Dad also experience reincarnation?” Gu Ziyu asked curiously. This was all so strange to him.
“This is a long story,” Lu Zhiyuan said with a hint of difficulty. “Dad has some things that are hard to explain. Will you be angry if 1 don’t tell you?”
Gu Ziyu understood the reasoning quite well. “I won’t be angry. When you want to tell me, you can. But how did you know I would live to be eighteen?”
Lu Zhiyuan’s gaze dimmed for a moment, and his large hand gently stroked Gu Ziyu’s head. Fortunately, in this life, the young Gu Ziyu had someone to care for him, and he wasn’t consumed by vengeance. “Ziyu, it’s Dad’s fault for what happened to you.”
Gu Ziyu had once harbored resentment towards Lu Zhiyuan because of Gu Ci.
He also knew that it was misplaced anger.
Gu Chuyun loved Dad, and it wasn’t Dad’s fault. He was just too charming, and many women loved him. Was that his fault? Gu Chuyun had nursed unrealistic fantasies, and that was her mistake. There was no reason for him to hate Dad.
He understood all the logic, but during the most painful times, he couldn’t help but blame Dad for not handling these complicated relationships and grudges properly.
Ultimately, what he hated most was his own powerlessness as a child, for not being able to protect Mom after Dad left.
“1 thought I could watch you grow up, from the day you were born until you learned to call me ‘Dad.’ I thought I would always be by your side. 1 didn’t expect to leave so early, so many things were left unresolved. After my death, many things spiraled out of control, which is why you and Cici suffered. It’s indeed because of my arrogance; I didn’t pay enough attention to the conflict between Lu Shijie and Gu Chuyun, and it led to a catastrophe..”