The Silly Shou Transmigrated Into a Book - Chapter 21

The weekend soon arrived, and Gu Qiuyi was summoned to the library by Xu Muqing to work on test papers.

In the time Gu Qiuyi had known Xu Muqing, he always felt that this male protagonist didn’t quite fit the novel’s original setting—the kind who was gentle but harbored a hidden loftiness, a “soft on the outside but firm on the inside” persona.

He carefully recalled the plot of the novel. In the original work, Xu Muqing actually came from a wealthy family, but he was unfortunately saddled with a father, Xu Qingshan, who was an absolute “younger-brother-obsessed” fanatic. Originally, his own company was doing just fine, but he insisted on pushing his younger brother—Xu Muqing’s uncle—to the top. He bought him houses and cars, and even covered all the expenses for the uncle’s entire family in this money-swallowing capital city. He spoiled his brother to the point of lawlessness, letting him turn the company into a chaotic mess until it eventually went bankrupt.

This happened when Xu Muqing was a child. Xu Qingshan didn’t stop even after going bankrupt; he took on debt to make a comeback. Even then, his obsession with helping his brother hadn’t faded. He dragged his brother along to start a new company. The brother didn’t contribute a single cent but took fifty percent of the shares, while all the debts were borne solely by Xu Qingshan.

In the following years, Xu Qingshan worked like an ox to slowly grow the new company. Yet, his own home remained poverty-stricken; they lived in a rented two-bedroom apartment without even a major appliance, because all the money he earned as his share had to go toward repaying debts. Meanwhile, his brother’s dividends and salary were rock solid. The uncle lived in a grand villa, drove luxury cars, and led an incredibly leisurely life.

Xu Qingshan was essentially working for free for his brother, supporting the uncle’s whole family in luxury while neglecting his own wife and son. Once, Xu Muqing fainted at school due to malnutrition and anemia because he hadn’t eaten meat for too long. This pushed Xu Muqing’s mother past her limit; she demanded a divorce. But the man knelt and cried, making the poor woman lose her resolve, forcing her to hold her nose and continue living with this brother-obsessed fanatic.

But Xu Qingshan never thought of changing. He felt far more distressed for his brother in the villa than for his own starving family. Eventually, the woman snapped. During an argument, she stabbed Xu Qingshan, and he died from his injuries.

The woman was soon arrested by the police on suspicion of intentional homicide. Because the uncle’s family refused to sign a letter of leniency, she was sentenced to seventeen years. Xu Muqing was only in his second year of junior high then.

As soon as Xu Qingshan died, the uncle quickly took over the thriving company and factory. He frequently used underhanded tactics to force Xu Muqing to give up his father’s fifty percent equity, even using Xu Qingshan’s unpaid debts to pressure him.

Even so, Xu Muqing did not yield. He continued his battle of wits and courage with his uncle until he met Chu Yueguang.

Wait… Gu Qiuyi suddenly felt a bit suspicious. How did Xu Muqing, a kid in junior high, hold out against his uncle for so long?

In the original book, the uncle’s family were the absolute “scum of the earth” type. By any logic, they wouldn’t have given Xu Muqing a moment to breathe.

At the library, Xu Muqing had already saved a seat for him.

As Gu Qiuyi sat down beside him, Xu Muqing glanced at him and asked gently, “Where’s your backpack?”

Gu Qiuyi froze, patted his shoulders, and exclaimed, “Oops, I forgot to bring it.”

Xu Muqing: “…”

His light brown eyes stared at Gu Qiuyi with a kind of silent, permeating tenderness. “Did you do it on purpose, or did you really forget it?”

Gu Qiuyi gave a bashful smile. “I really forgot.”

He had been thinking about Xu Muqing’s background when he left the house, so he truly did forget.

Xu Muqing said, “It’s fine. I brought some mock exams for the second year of junior high. Today, we’ll go over the knowledge from that year.”

Gu Qiuyi obediently agreed.

However, before he had finished much of the paper, he couldn’t help but reach for his phone.

Xu Muqing: “What are you doing?”

Gu Qiuyi said, “Teacher Xu, one of my ‘brothers’ is looking for me. I’ll reply to his message first and then get back to the paper.”

Xu Muqing fell silent.

The person looking for Gu Qiuyi was, naturally, Kou Huai. He said to Gu Qiuyi: “Qiuqiu, your brother saw a pretty-looking boy. [Picture] [Picture]. How about it? Your brother wants to send him some ‘warmth’.”

Gu Qiuyi: “Brother Kou Huai can find whoever he wants. Why are you asking me?”

Kou Huai: “Isn’t this just reporting to the ‘Main Palace’ (the primary partner)? If Qiuqiu doesn’t like him, we won’t go for this one.”

Gu Qiuyi: “…”

Gu Qiuyi felt the man was a bit too “delusional.” He typed seriously: “Brother Kou Huai, why do you still want to start a harem? I’ve already said I’m not that kind of person.”

Kou Huai said: “Qiu, saying that is a bit too much ‘posturing’ (187cm height, 6-pack abs, 9/10 looks, 18cm). Can’t you be a bit more honest? (1876918)”

“I know you’re moved, but you’re a ‘slacker student’ who only gets 28 points, and you know you’re not good enough for me. Your brother understands. I’ll wait for you for a year, until you get into university, okay? (1876918)”

“No need to be moved. Your brother may look cynical with exes everywhere, but I’m actually a devoted and affectionate man from a good family. I’ll work hard on charity to accumulate blessings for Qiuqiu, praying our Qiuqiu gets into university.”

Gu Qiuyi was shocked. “Brother Kou Huai, the hardest part of your entire body must be your skin (thick-faced)!”

Kou Huai: “? What nonsense. The hardest part of my body is obviously my cock!”

Gu Qiuyi said: “I don’t think that thing has many ‘hard’ years left in it.”

Kou Huai: “? Fuck you.”

Gu Qiuyi glanced at Xu Muqing beside him. He felt an urge to take a photo of him and show it to Kou Huai to see if the man’s interest would instantly shift.

But as soon as the thought appeared, he immediately dismissed it with a sense of shame. Kou Huai had tried to “force” himself on Xu Muqing several times in the original plot. For everyone’s sake, it was best if those two never had any contact.

Kou Huai: “Since you have no objection, should I find this little brother for a transition period? If you want to take the ‘job,’ I’ll kick him out immediately.”

Gu Qiuyi: “…”

He felt immense sympathy for that boy. For Kou Huai, finding a partner was as casual as finding a companion to go to the bathroom with.

Just as he was thinking this, Kou Huai sent him a screenshot. Gu Qiuyi saw that Kou Huai had transferred 5,200 yuan to the boy with the message: “Be my boyfriend?” The boy replied instantly: “Sure.”

Kou Huai said to Gu Qiuyi: “Qiu, your brother’s charity work is thriving. Just focus on your studies. I’ll be guarding the rear. Qiuqiu, fly with confidence; your brother will always be with you.”

Gu Qiuyi: “…”

Gu Qiuyi sent him a Hong Shixian emoji: “You’re so slutty.jpg”

Kou Huai: “By the way, take a picture of yourself for me. Our Qiuqiu is so good-looking, shouldn’t I print one to carry around and ward off evil spirits?”

Gu Qiuyi: “No.”

Kou Huai: “? Putting on airs again, are we?”

Kou Huai transferred 52,000 yuan to him. “Take a nice one. No filters or ‘beauty mode.’ Our Qiuqiu is a natural beauty; it looks better without additions.”

Gu Qiuyi accepted the money in a split second. “Sure, Brother! No problem, Brother!”

He opened the original camera and looked for an angle for a selfie.

Xu Muqing watched his movements from the side. “What are you doing now?”

Gu Qiuyi said, “Some idiot spent 50,000 to buy my photo.”

Xu Muqing: “…”

Gu Qiuyi took one and showed it to Xu Muqing. “Brother Muqing, what do you think of this one?”

Xu Muqing lowered his gaze to look; his eyes flickered slightly.

In the photo, Gu Qiuyi had a particularly pure and beautiful aura. Those amber eyes, looking straight into the lens, appeared somewhat pale under the sunlight, shimmering like clear water with a heavy sense of innocence. Yet his lips were so full and red, slightly parted to reveal a glimpse of white teeth and a bright red tongue—a look that, while perhaps unintentional, carried a distinct air of seduction to any onlooker.

The sunlight bathed his face, shrouding his fair skin in a faint golden glow. Under such perfect lighting and shadows, his highly recognizable, beautiful face appeared even more pure and inadvertently alluring.

It made one want to kiss him.

Xu Muqing looked up at him. “I think it’s better if you don’t send this photo.”

Gu Qiuyi scratched his face. “Why? I think it’s quite good.”

Xu Muqing said, “It’s because it’s too good. It’s inappropriate.”

Gu Qiuyi looked left and right. “Then I won’t send this one. I’ll retake it.”

Gu Qiuyi raised his phone again. Xu Muqing said, “Let me help you.”

Gu Qiuyi agreed, “Sure, you take it for me.”

Xu Muqing took the phone and aimed it at him. “Do a peace sign, purse your lips, and don’t smile.”

Gu Qiuyi did a peace sign and pursed his lips while looking at him. “Like this?”

Xu Muqing gave an “un-huh.”

Gu Qiuyi muttered, “This looks so ‘country bumpkin’.”

After Xu Muqing took the photo, he handed the phone back. Gu Qiuyi looked at it; he felt it looked a bit stupid, but since Xu Muqing seemed satisfied, he didn’t dare say anything else.

He sent the photo Xu Muqing took to Kou Huai. Kou Huai replied instantly: “Just this? Just this??”

Kou Huai added another 52,000 yuan. “Is it because my money isn’t enough, or are you becoming too arrogant?”

Gu Qiuyi: “…”

I don’t want to, but he’s just giving way too much money.jpg

He then sent the photo he had taken himself to Kou Huai.

Kou Huai: “!!!!”

Kou Huai: “Qiu, your brother will wait for you! I will definitely wait for a year. Promise me, you’ll date me once you get into university, OK?”

Gu Qiuyi quickly accepted the money, his heart thumping wildly.

This money came way too easily. No wonder this guy had so many exes—who wouldn’t be willing?

But he wouldn’t let his soul be corrupted by money! Anyway, it was just a photo.

When Kou Huai messaged him again, he didn’t reply. Instead, he used a calculator to tally his savings.

The Gu family had given him 500,000 yuan. Combined with various other sums, he now had 810,000 yuan in his account!!!

Gu Qiuyi gasped. He was so young—not even an adult—and he already had this much money. Although this amount could only buy a bathroom in the capital city, if he saved a bit more, he could definitely buy a large house in a smaller city!

This was his dream in the real world, and now it was being achieved effortlessly!

Gu Qiuyi started laughing foolishly.

Xu Muqing tapped the table. “Are we still studying?”

Gu Qiuyi tried to restrain his foolish grin. “Yes, we are.”

He finished the paper and Xu Muqing graded it. It was a mock math exam for the second year of junior high, and he had actually managed to get a passing grade.

Just as Xu Muqing was deliberating on how to praise him, he saw Gu Qiuyi reaching for his phone again.

Xu Muqing: “…”

Xu Muqing suppressed the emotions churning in his eyes and asked, “Who are you chatting with?”

Gu Qiuyi looked up at him and said guiltily, “No… no one.”

He was naturally chatting with Chu Yueguang, having sent a photo of his passing exam to him to create an image of someone studying hard.

But with Xu Muqing suddenly speaking, Gu Qiuyi remembered these two were the official couple of the book, and he felt a strange sense of guilt.

Xu Muqing naturally saw the guilt in his eyes. His tone didn’t change, still remaining gentle. “If you want to improve and get into university, a year actually isn’t that much time. I think it’s better if you focus your mind on studying as much as possible, otherwise, it’ll be tiring for everyone.”

That familiar feeling of being “controlled” surged in his heart again. Gu Qiuyi said tremulously, “O-Okay.”

For the rest of the morning, Gu Qiuyi didn’t dare touch his phone.

At noon, Jiang Hansa came over to bring them lunch. The three of them sat in the library’s lounge area to eat.

Jiang Hansa had already eaten. He looked over the exam papers Gu Qiuyi had done, feeling a sense of pride like an old father. “Your math finally passed, but your English is still terrible. Why are your Chinese scores getting lower and lower? You even wrote the essay off-topic…”

Gu Qiuyi felt his head growing large. He didn’t know if Jiang Hansa had truly “taken off his mask” as Xu Muqing said, or if he was just being malicious to make things hard for him. In any case, Jiang Hansa was becoming less and less inclined to put on an act when talking to him.

Before, even if he was unhappy, he would still force a smile!

Gu Qiuyi shoveled food into his mouth with a bitter face, looking quite dejected.

Xu Muqing looked at him, a gentle smile curling at the corner of his lips.

At that moment, the phone in the pocket of the incessantly talking Jiang Hansa rang. He stopped talking, took out his phone, and answered, “Hello?”

On the other end was a girl’s voice. She was crying. “Jiang Hansa, it’s me.”

Jiang Hansa’s face changed, becoming very unsightly.

Gu Qiuyi stopped eating and looked at him.

Jiang Hansa glanced at them and walked outside. “Don’t cry. Tell me slowly. Don’t cry…”

Watching him walk away, Gu Qiuyi turned to ask Xu Muqing, “Did you hear that? It sounded like a girl calling.”

Xu Muqing gave an “un-huh.”

Gu Qiuyi put down his spoon, rubbed his thumb, and said, “I’m going to take a look.”

Without waiting for Xu Muqing’s reaction, he stood up and ran out.

Jiang Hansa was standing in the hallway. A cool breeze was blowing outside, but Gu Qiuyi saw fine beads of sweat on Jiang Hansa’s forehead.

Jiang Hansa’s toe kept grinding against the none-too-clean floor, staining the tip of his snow-white sneaker with black grime. “Mo Xueying, stop crying. I’ll find a way for you.”

Whatever was said on the other end made Jiang Hansa sound anxious. “I know. I’ll try my best to reason with them. Anyway, stop crying first. The internet in Mochen isn’t developed; no one there will see that video. Later, I’ll go back and find a hacker to wipe the video so it won’t spread to your side. Don’t overreact; just pretend the person in it isn’t you. Once you’re an adult, I’ll lend you money for plastic surgery so you never have to come back.”

“I know, I know. Rest assured, I did it voluntarily. The first time I dared to help you, I won’t ignore you now.”

“Mm. Anyway, stop crying. I’ll handle it this time.”

Jiang Hansa hung up the phone. He didn’t notice Gu Qiuyi behind him. He kicked a corner of the wall, his fingers trembling as he placed his phone on the balcony and took a deep breath with his head in his hands.

Gu Qiuyi noticed that his shoulders were shaking.

This big boy, over 180cm tall, was actually showing a trace of helplessness right now.

Gu Qiuyi hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Brother Hansa?”

Jiang Hansa was startled and turned to look at him. “…Why are you here?”

Gu Qiuyi asked him, “What happened? Can you tell me?”

Jiang Hansa didn’t speak.

Gu Qiuyi said softly, “Actually, I know some of my behavior has been out of line, but you’ve been tolerant of me. You shouldn’t be a bad person, right?”

Jiang Hansa gave a bitter smile. What was the point of being a good person? In this world, it was usually the villains who called the shots and had everything they wanted.

Gu Qiuyi: “Brother Hansa, do you really not want to talk to me?”

Jiang Hansa was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “The person who just called me is a girl, a classmate from my old school.”

Gu Qiuyi used his gaze to silently encourage him to continue.

Jiang Hansa continued, “She was very beautiful and a good student. She entered our elite middle school through a special talent recruitment channel. Her family was very poor—one parent was paralyzed, the other was disabled, and she had a grandmother. She attended that school solely because it gave her a 10,000-yuan scholarship every year. But she was targeted by Wang Meng’s group. On Friday after school, she was coaxed into a car by Wang Meng and taken to a hotel…”

He paused for a moment, glossing over the rest. “Seven people. They even filmed a video. They called me and told me to take her to the hospital.”

“…You didn’t hear wrong last time. At that time, I was indeed the ‘dog’ behind them, flattering them and cleaning up their messes, doing all the dirty work. But I have a heart. I’m a human being. There are some things I just can’t do, and I couldn’t stand by and watch. That girl was too pitiful. So… so I helped her call the police.”

Perhaps the events that followed the police report were Jiang Hansa’s nightmare; his expression became distorted and his lips trembled. “I forgot they had filmed a video. They used the video to blackmail her into saying it was consensual, so they received no punishment at all. I thought of ways to find the video they kept, but I was discovered. Wang Meng also guessed I was the one who called the police.”

He didn’t say more, but Gu Qiuyi could guess what happened based on what his roommates and that guy Zou Shu had said before.

After that, Jiang Hansa was bullied by that group, his dignity trampled into the mud.

Gu Qiuyi was deeply shocked. It was actually true that Jiang Hansa suffered bullying because he helped that girl.

Gu Qiuyi instinctively asked, “Do you regret it then?”

Jiang Hansa’s expression turned bitter. Of course he regretted it. For the entire following year, he had been regretting it. He shouldn’t have meddled in other people’s business. He had already been groveling before Wang Meng and the others for over a year and was about to enter that circle. Even as a dog, he could have brought countless benefits to his family. What he could have gained was far more than what he lost.

But just that once, this dog wanted to stand up and be a man, and he lost everything he had painstakingly built.

He regretted it, he truly did——however, if he had to do it all over again, he would still do the same thing.

Because he was a human being, not a real dog.

Although Jiang Hansa didn’t answer, Gu Qiuyi vaguely knew his answer. He actually wanted to ask how someone with such an experience could also act as a pimp. But asking that now would be incredibly inappropriate. Sometimes, people are just that complex—a hero slays the dragon, only to become a dragon himself in the end.

But at least at this moment, Gu Qiuyi thought Jiang Hansa was very cool, which overturned his previous impression of him.

Thinking this, he spoke very seriously, “Brother Hansa, I think you’re really cool. You’re a real man who stands tall.”

Jiang Hansa’s eyes shimmered with tears. He quickly reached out and wiped them away.

Just then, Jiang Hansa’s phone rang again. As if guessing who it was, his reaching fingers trembled slightly.

Gu Qiuyi grabbed the phone before him and answered quickly, “Hello?”

Jiang Hansa tried to grab his phone back, but Gu Qiuyi glared at him and turned on the speakerphone. The voice on the other end was instantly magnified. “Jiang Hansa, you got the call from that woman, right? Didn’t you want to steal this video last year? Jinyu Hotel, Room 508 tonight. Come here and bring that friend of yours, otherwise, I’ll upload that video again.”

Gu Qiuyi said, “Pah! You scumbag! Go to hell!”

After saying that, he took the initiative to hang up.

Jiang Hansa was both shocked and angry. “What are you doing? Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Gu Qiuyi puffed out his chest and said, “You’re so stupid. Did you forget I have a ‘Big Thigh’ (a powerful backer)?”

Jiang Hansa froze. His anger slowly dissipated, and his gaze flickered as he looked at him. “…You’re going to help me?”

Just as Gu Qiuyi was about to say something, that scumbag called back. Gu Qiuyi hung up immediately. “Why wouldn’t I help you? Of course I’ll help you, because you’re my good friend.”

Hearing his matter-of-fact words, a sense of shame inexplicably welled up in Jiang Hansa’s heart——the truth was, his initial purpose in approaching Gu Qiuyi was solely to use him.

His feelings for him were not that pure.

Gu Qiuyi took out his own phone. He hesitated for a moment between Chu Yueguang and Kou Huai before choosing the enthusiastic Kou Huai. “Brother Kou Huai!”

Kou Huai’s reply was instantaneous. “What’s up, my dear Qiu?”

Gu Qiuyi: “Waaaaah, Brother Kou Huai, someone is bullying me! You have to help me!”

Kou Huai: “…I really don’t want to say this, but can you change this habit of only looking for me when you need help?”

Gu Qiuyi: “You talk too much. Are you helping or not?”

Kou Huai: “?”

Kou Huai said, “I suggest you rephrase that. You’re the one asking for help, OK?”

Gu Qiuyi: “I was wrong, waaaaah. Brother Kou Huai, please help me.”

Kou Huai sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. “Your attitude is a bit stiff. Soften it up a bit and make your Brother Kou Huai happy.”

Gu Qiuyi: Fuck you.

Gu Qiuyi: “Brother Kou Huai, you male Bodhisattva, please, help me. Those people are so excessive. If you don’t help me, I can only receive my ‘boxed lunch’ (die) with tears, waaaaah. If you help me, I’ll take you to dinner, okay?”

Kou Huai coughed a few times and sat up straight. “Go to a hot spring together?”

Gu Qiuyi: “…”

Gu Qiuyi said: “You won’t rape me, will you?”

Kou Huai warned: “I once again suggest you rephrase that.”

Gu Qiuyi said: “I was wrong, waaaaah. I’m having another ‘episode.’ Sorry, Brother, I promise you!”

Kou Huai was incredibly pleased. “Good. Tell your brother, who’s bullying you?”

Gu Qiuyi asked Jiang Hansa for the names of those people and relayed them to Kou Huai.

Kou Huai looked at the names and felt a bit suspicious. How did this get involved with Wang Meng?

Although Kou Huai’s family was wealthy and noble, Wang Meng’s family wasn’t bad either. Usually, they didn’t interfere with each other, and it wasn’t good to have an outright confrontation.

But since he had already boasted, it wasn’t good for Kou Huai to go back on his word. He still maintained a completely reliable appearance and said, “A small matter like this, your brother will handle it for you.”

Gu Qiuyi: “!!!! Thank you, Brother Kou Huai! Brother Kou Huai is truly too reliable!!!!!”

Kou Huai was feeling smug from the flattery. “Keep it down, keep it down. This is just a small matter. I’ll give you a chance to ‘play the fox’ (use someone’s power).”

Gu Qiuyi flattered him a few more times, effectively settling the matter.

He had no idea that Kou Huai immediately went to message Chu Yueguang: “Is my Brother Yueguang there?”

At first glance, seeing those four words “Brother Yueguang,” Chu Yueguang thought he was looking at Gu Qiuyi. He frowned. “Speak properly. What’s with ‘Brother Yueguang’?”

Kou Huai: “It’s like this. I have to make a trip to Jinyu Hotel tonight. Brother, come with me?”

Chu Yueguang wasn’t interested. “What for?”

Kou Huai said, “To fight a tiger.”

Chu Yueguang: “?”

Kou Huai: “Without my Brother here, this little one dares not fight the tiger.”

Chu Yueguang: “…”