The Little Wretch Differentiated into an Alpha - Chapter 8

Every year, Gu Yanxiu put great effort into his speech, but he was also well aware that few people actually listened to such official addresses. For the past two years, it had become more of a personal exercise writing for his own satisfaction.

After finishing his speech, he tucked it away and returned to his routine. Senior year was academically demanding, but for Gu Yanxiu, the coursework was straightforward. He was also involved in several school research projects, which required tending to plants and recording data, leaving him with little free time throughout the day.

Gu Yanxiu enjoyed the busyness.

As evening approached, his driver brought him home. The Gu residence was unusually lively today, with several cars parked at the entrance. In addition to the household staff, men in suits were moving in and out, nodding politely to Gu Yanxiu as he passed.

Gleaning their ID badges, he noted they were from the Federal Parliament.

Has his father returned?

Gu Yanxiu quickened his pace.

On the day the news of Lu Chengfeng’s death broke, Gu Yi had headed straight to the Federal Building and hadn’t left for several days. Rumors were swirling that he had been received by the Speaker and the Chief Justice, making his entry into Parliament a certainty perhaps even securing a prestigious seat in the Upper House.

However, Gu Yanxiu knew it wasn’t that simple. With global tensions rising over the past two years, the handling of Lu Chengfeng’s funeral and his child represented more than just family business; it was a signal of how Inner Port politicians viewed the Beta civilians from the outside.

On a dying planet, the instincts of all creatures humans included, become exceptionally sharp.

Gu Yanxiu climbed the steps and pushed open the door to find Gu Yi sitting in the living room. A secretary took a signed document and left respectfully. Gu Yi sat in an armchair, casually picking up a cup of hot tea.

In his early forties, he maintained an impeccable physique and posture, still wearing the formal suit he’d worn to the Capitol. Both he and Gu Yanxiu’s late mother, Xiang Wei, were of pure Huaxia descent. He was refined, with dark hair combed back a picture of gravity and elegance.

His every gesture exuded the poise and etiquette currently revered as the “Alpha ideal.” Magazines across the globe loved to feature him, using full-page color spreads to praise him as a “scholar-businessman” with the grace of a gentleman from a bygone era.

“Where is Lu Ye? Not back yet?” Gu Yi asked casually between sips of tea.

Standing nearby, Zhu Xinyou looked as if she were facing a mortal enemy.

“That boy.  I have no idea where he’s out running wild! His father spoiled him rotten. Once he’s back, I’ll give him a proper lesson!”

Her nervous intensity was so extreme it seemed she wanted to sever their blood relation right then and there.

“It’s fine for a child to be a bit playful,” Gu Yi said tonelessly, setting his teacup down with a light, dismissive air. “Sit.”

Zhu Xinyou didn’t dare sit.

“Please don’t worry, sir. I’ve already told him he isn’t allowed to embarrass the Gu family! He’s disobedient and needs discipline, but I promise I won’t let him cross the line!”

It was yet another frantic declaration of loyalty. Listening from the doorway, Gu Yanxiu felt exhausted just hearing it. Since the day he met Zhu Xinyou, she had always reminded him of a startled bird. Even after all these years, she still acted as though her status as Mrs. Gu was something she had stolen.

Gu Yi rarely showed emotion. Even though he was clearly becoming annoyed, he merely twitched an eyebrow and looked toward the door. That was when he saw Gu Yanxiu.

Like a spring breeze over a snowy mountain, Gu Yi smiled and beckoned to him. “Yanxiu is back.”

Gu Yanxiu nodded and offered a simple greeting. “Father. Auntie Zhu.”

Zhu Xinyou immediately launched into an exaggerated string of compliments.

“Yanxiu really is something else! The house has been a bit chaotic lately, but he hasn’t let it distract him at all. I heard from Mrs. Heath that he’s the student representative again this year, isn’t he? Oh my, it’s just.”

“Albert,” Gu Yi interrupted calmly.

“Yes, sir,” the old butler responded immediately.

Gu Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard a word Zhu Xinyou said. “The appointment will be made public soon. We’ll need to host a thank-you banquet. Prepare the arrangements in advance.”

By calling for a family banquet without inviting Zhu Xinyou to help, he made his point clear. She stood there awkwardly, her sentence cut off mid-air.

Gu Yi remained polite but ignored her completely. He rose from the sofa and smiled at his son. “Yanxiu, come to the study.”

***

Gu Yanxiu knew Zhu Xinyou was shallow, but he understood her terror. To her, a husband who was perpetually “all business” was likely indistinguishable from a demanding boss.

Once they were seated in the study, Gu Yanxiu couldn’t help but say, “Father, with the way you treat Auntie Zhu, it’s no wonder she’s afraid of you.”

Gu Yi sat at his desk, indifferent. “There isn’t much she needs to do anyway.”

A “civilian Beta” symbol and a “Prince and Cinderella” fairy tale were all Gu Yi required of her. Beyond that, he didn’t even feel a need for conversation.

Gu Yanxiu admired his father’s detachment but also realized it was the very reason he had climbed so high. He was used to it; for as long as he could remember, his parents had maintained a relationship of “mutual respect” that was frozen in coldness.

Seeing that his advice had landed on deaf ears, Gu Yanxiu didn’t push further.

“You did well this holiday. The feedback from the group was high,” Gu Yi said with a smile. “I also called your principal today. You haven’t fallen behind on those research projects. Very good.”

Gu Yanxiu shook his head. “The seniors looked after me.”

Gu Yi continued, “Now that the Parliament business is settled, and since you’ve performed so well, it’s easier for me to give you these opportunities.”

He pulled a document from his drawer and handed it over. Gu Yanxiu flipped it open, his eyes widening in rare surprise. “The Pioneer Summit?”

Gu Yi nodded. “You’ll be attending the conference this year.”

Gu Yanxiu looked up sharply, disbelief turning into a bright spark in his eyes.

The Pioneer Project was the largest and most significant undertaking on Planet Blue in the last century. The planet was aging and decayed; signs of its end had appeared a hundred years ago. In response, the Federation designated “No-Man’s Zones” to shrink human activity and prolong the planet’s lifespan. They also launched space stations to find other habitable worlds, hoping to expand humanity’s reach into the star system.

But the plan to save humanity was too vast for any single approach. Sixty years ago, his great-grandfather, Gu Heyi, proposed the Pioneer Project to consolidate all the planet’s resources and technology. Over the years, every top-tier corporation on Planet Blue had joined. From bioscience and mechanical manufacturing to aerospace engineering, Lush was one of the cornerstone enterprises.

Gu Yanxiu had been fascinated by the project since childhood. He knew the latest biotechnological updates and the locations of base stations on resource planets better than he knew his own horses. The annual summit was where the implementation of the plan was debated, it was vital to the entire world.

Previously, his father had always represented Lush. Now, he had his chance.

Seeing his son’s excitement, Gu Yi smiled. “After the summit, there will be a research expedition. This year, they’re going to the No-Man’s Zone in Antarctica. I can’t help you with that one. You’ll have to earn your spot on your own.”

Gu Yanxiu didn’t hesitate for a second. “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll give it my all!”

Gu Yi didn’t doubt his determination. He knew exactly how talented his son was, and how much his personality mirrored his great-grandfather’s. Intelligent, persistent, and so intensely focused on the truth that it bordered on obsession.

“Do a good job. This is a grand project for all of humanity,” Gu Yi reminded him.

Gu Yanxiu was solemn. “I understand.”

Gu Yi smiled and said no more.

In truth, Gu Yanxiu didn’t quite grasp his father’s meaning. To a pure businessman like Gu Yi, a “grand project for humanity” meant immense prestige, profit, and a chance for his name to go down in history. However, Gu Yi felt his son didn’t need to understand that side of it.

Gu Yanxiu was his best “hole card.” Sometimes, it was better for a card not to know its own value. After all, those who single-mindedly pursue the truth are often the most successful.

The moment he pushed open the study door, Gu Yanxiu heard voices drifting up from downstairs.

“Running wild until this late! Where on earth have you been?!”

Zhu Xinyou’s voice was piercing even from a distance. Gu Yanxiu paused and looked down from the spiral staircase to see Lu Ye’s silhouette. A backpack hung from one shoulder as he stood there, his tone indifferent. “I’m home, aren’t I?”

Zhu Xinyou sounded even more frantic. “Do you have any idea that your Uncle Gu asked about you the moment he got back? When I said you weren’t home, where was I supposed to hide my face?”

Gu Yanxiu saw her step forward and shove Lu Ye hard in the shoulder twice. It didn’t look like simple anger; it looked like she was venting a long buildup of suppressed emotions all at once. Then she lowered her voice, and Gu Yanxiu could no longer make out the words.

Gu Yanxiu rubbed his temples, feeling a sense of absurdity. Lu Ye had only been at the Gu house for two days, yet he heard Zhu Xinyou berating him every single day. It was loud, theatrical, and melodramatic as if she were trying to stage one of the trashy novels Brandon liked to read right in their living room.

As he walked down the stairs, he caught two more sentences.

“The school called the house! Do you know that Albert or your Uncle Gu’s secretary could have picked up?! Getting into trouble on your very first day—You are a complete embarrassment!”

Gu Yanxiu reached the bottom and saw Zhu Xinyou raising her hand to strike.

“Auntie Zhu,” Gu Yanxiu spoke up.

Zhu Xinyou froze instantly. The surrounding servants, who had been pretending not to notice, all looked up at Gu Yanxiu.

Zhu Xinyou turned around, flustered, revealing Lu Ye behind her. Fresh injuries marked his face.

Gu Yanxiu frowned, his gaze sweeping over the new bruises before landing on Zhu Xinyou. His expression was detached and though his words were phrased politely, his tone made Zhu Xinyou’s back shiver.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

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