During the few months that Yu Xi received professional training, Gu Beilu sold the new word-memorizing app.

This was the first pot of gold he had officially earned in 18 years, and the Gu family couple gave him heartfelt encouragement. But after all, this was the first time that Gu Beilu had so much money on his own, so as parents they still had to give him some correct guidance.

In the living room, the three members of the Gu family were discussing how to deal with Gu Beilu’s first pot of gold.

After sharing his financial management experience, Gu’s father said to Gu Beilu: “Your mother and I have already told you all the financial investment advice. The final decision is up to you. After all, you are an adult. If you need our help, we are willing to support you.”

Gu Beilu flipped through the documents in his hand and said, “I plan to keep some of it as start-up capital for the next project, and the rest to invest in real estate.”

“Buy a house?” The Gu couple looked at each other. They never thought that their son would choose this option.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Beilu saw their surprise, “Is it strange to invest in real estate? Haven’t you invested in a lot of real estate over the years?”

Father Gu thought for a moment and said, “There’s nothing wrong with investing in real estate, but we thought you would want to invest in other areas, such as those emerging industries that you are more familiar with.”

“Derek,” Mother Gu looked at him thoughtfully, “Are you planning to buy a house and move out?”

Father Gu seemed to suddenly realize: “You want to move out?”

Gu Beilu looked at them calmly, and after a while he said, “I am already eighteen years old, so I can have this freedom, right?”

Mother Gu thought about it and said hesitantly, “Of course you can, but… there’s no need to be so hasty.”

Although they had long known that boys should not be kept at home when they grow up, they did not expect that Gu Beilu would split up the family so soon.

Gu Beilu put down the documents in his hand, his face expressionless: “I have no intention of moving out of this community for the time being. However, the college entrance examination will be in a few months. I will go to A University and will only come back once a semester at most.”

Mother Gu breathed a sigh of relief: “Actually, your father and I know that you definitely don’t want to live in a dormitory, so we plan to buy you an apartment near A University.”

“Thank you, but I’m going to buy it myself.”

The business app he has been busy with this year is designed to cash in as soon as possible and buy a sea view apartment in a new building next to University A before school starts next year.

The Gu couple knew that no one could change the decision made by Gu Beilu.

After the chat, Gu Beilu went to find Yu Xi. The couple sat on the sofa with mixed feelings.

On the one hand, they were very happy that their son had grown up and was so successful at the age of 18. On the other hand, they also realized that their son really didn’t need them anymore.

“Don’t think too much about it,” Father Gu patted the back of Mother Gu’s hand, “He can walk his own path well.”

Mother Gu sighed.

“I’m not worried about his future. I just feel that although we have been back with him for so many years, we have not been able to provide him with emotional support except for the material conditions. I feel sorry for him.” Whenever talking about this, the smart and capable mother Gu always feels a little depressed.

After they returned to China, they had been trying to make up for their debt to Gu Beilu, but after trying for many years, they had not found a good way. She envied the family atmosphere of the Yu family, and therefore blamed herself even more.

“Don’t think so.” Father Gu advised his wife, “I think this kid has changed a lot over the years. In the first two years after we came back, he ignored us. Later, you see, he started to care about your career, gave you advice on opening a dessert shop, and even told me to drink less.”

“That’s true. He is different from other children. But…” Mother Gu seemed to have thought of something and turned to look at Father Gu. “Do you really think that his changes over the years are because we are back?”

Father Gu fell into deep thought. Mother Gu continued, “Xixi has had a much greater influence on him than we have. We are really not qualified parents. I don’t expect him to be grateful to us in the future. I just hope he doesn’t hate us.”

The butler brought afternoon tea at this time, and hesitated for a moment after hearing the boss’s conversation.

Mother Gu saw that he was hesitant to speak: “Uncle Zhou, what’s wrong? Do you have anything to say?”

The housekeeper put down the teapot, touched his nose, and said carefully: “Mr. Gu, Madam, I shouldn’t say too much, but…”

Seeing that he was hesitant, Gu’s father said, “Old Zhou, you are not an outsider. You have raised Derek since he was a child. There is no need to be so formal.”

After getting the affirmation, the housekeeper said with confidence: “It’s like this, actually you don’t have to worry too much, the young master still likes living together as a family. Although the young master didn’t show it too obviously to you, he was very happy when you came back from abroad to accompany him.”

Gu’s father and mother looked at each other, half believing and half doubting what was said.

“What the young master likes most is that the whole family stays at home, and everyone is in their own room.”

The housekeeper recalled that he also thought that the 5-year-old Gu Beilu always stayed in his room and didn’t come out because he was resisting his parents. Later, he found out that he just didn’t like overly close contact. Of course, except for Yu Xi.

The housekeeper thought of another thing: “There is one more thing, which I only found out later. It was Young Master Yu who told me.”

Mother Gu asked: “Xixi? What happened to Xixi?”

The housekeeper said: “We only knew that the young master gave himself an English name, Derek, but no one knew why he chose this name from the dictionary.”

“Is there any explanation for this?” Mother Gu felt even more puzzled.

“Young Master Yu said that when you were overseas and video chatting with him, there must have been a client named Derek. You always said you could only chat for five minutes because you had to go meet Derek. Young Master was still young and thought that as long as you called him by that name, you would be able to see him more often.”

The housekeeper told these old stories one by one, and the Gu couple listened in silence for the whole afternoon.

*

In the bedroom of Yu Xi’s house, Yu Xi mysteriously placed a box in front of Gu Beilu.

“What is this?” Gu Beilu asked.

Yu Xi said: “I owe you a birthday present.”

Last week was Gu Beilu’s 18th birthday. He happened to be at training camp, so he only had time today to pick up his gift.

Gu Beilu hadn’t seen Yu Xi for a week, and now he just wanted to take a good look at Yu Xi to see if he was injured. But at Yu Xi’s urging, he opened the gift first.

Inside the box is a pair of Bluetooth earphones.

The pair that Yu Xi picked was a bone conduction one to protect hearing, and it had the letter D engraved on it.

These days, he has seen Gu Beilu frequently holding phone meetings with partners, which last for hours at a time. His ears must be uncomfortable.

“Wear this so your ears won’t hurt when you make phone calls.” The last time Yu Xi saw him rubbing his ears, he must have made too many phone calls.

A thoughtful and practical gift is something that only someone who understands your living habits very well would give.

Yu Xi took the earphones out of the box, connected them to Bluetooth, and helped Gu Beilu put them on to try.

He adjusted the best angle, and Gu Beilu’s earlobe was rubbed repeatedly by his fingers, leaving a large red area.

Gu Beilu grabbed Yu Xi’s wrist to prevent him from touching him again.

“Oh, I haven’t put them on yet.” Yu Xi was concentrating on the headphones and didn’t notice Gu Beilu’s eyes at the moment.

“I’ve already put it on.” Gu Beilu pulled him in front of him and asked, “Is there a unified examination on your birthday?”

Yu Xi nodded: “Yes, the swimming test will only take one day.”

Gu Beilu stretched out his hand and pressed down his cute ahoge: “What gift do you want this year?”

Yu Xi thought about it carefully: “Well… the gift I want most this year is good grades.”

He was preparing for the physical education test and the college entrance examination together, so he didn’t dare to take it lightly and didn’t even think about any birthday gifts this year.

“I asked you to talk about gifts, not wishes.” Gu Beilu laughed, “And you will definitely pass the exam.”

He knew that Yu Xi was feeling stressed during this period, so he rarely took the initiative to talk about exams.

“I just want this this year, and nothing else.” Yu Xi said confidently. He felt that he shouldn’t be too greedy. “As long as this wish can come true, I don’t need any gifts or any wishes next year.”

“You don’t want it next year?” Gu Beilu leaned closer to his ear and said, “Then give me your share.”

Yu Xi said without thinking: “I’ll give it to you, tell me what you want?”

“I’ll tell you after you finish the exam.” Gu Beilu gently pinched the back of his neck.