Destined

Zhou Gaolang nodded and had Gu Jiusi wait at the door while he entered the room.

After a brief exchange, he returned with the official seal. Zhou Gaolang looked Gu Jiusi up and down before saying, "You haven't had a proper official robe tailored yet. If you go in a constable's uniform, the Zhao family will look down on you. Go home and change your clothes, then take some men there tomorrow."

"What about Zhao Yan..."

Zhou Gaolang waved his hand dismissively. "Just drag him away and lock him up."

Gu Jiusi accepted the order and withdrew.

After Zhou Gaolang had Zhao Yan taken into custody and the onlookers dispersed, Gu Jiusi gathered his belongings and prepared to leave.

As he straightened up, he saw Huang Long standing at the doorway, looking hesitant. Gu Jiusi stood upright and asked curiously, "Brother Huang?"

Huang Long remained silent, seemingly wanting to say something. Gu Jiusi smiled and said, "Brother Huang, are you heading home too? Let's go together."

Huang Long nodded and followed Gu Jiusi out. After they had walked some distance from the County Government Office, Huang Long stammered, "So... so you're actually this capable..."

Gu Jiusi hummed in acknowledgment and replied, "Just some basic martial arts, nothing special."

Huang Long fell silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you for today's matter."

"It was just part of my duty."

"Jiusi," Huang Long took a deep breath, as if making a major decision, and said, "I used to misunderstand you. I thought you were just a young master who got in through connections, so I gave you a hard time. I apologize today—you're a real man."

"Brother Huang, you're too kind," Gu Jiusi shook his head indifferently. "Since I started working here, you've taken good care of me, and I'm nothing but grateful. Your usual instructions were meant to temper my resolve—I understand that."

"No..." Huang Long looked embarrassed. "It's not that, Jiusi. I really... didn't treat you well before."

"How could that be?" Gu Jiusi sounded puzzled but reassured him, "Brother, you've been good to me."

"No," Huang Long finally couldn't hold back, his guilt compelling him to confess, "That time you were beaten in the alley—it was me and the other brothers who did it."

He then grew flustered and quickly added, "We didn't know you back then. If you want to retaliate now, go ahead—I won't hold it against you!"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi laughed. "I know."

Huang Long froze. Gu Jiusi said calmly, "As soon as you started that day, I felt the embroidery on the official robes. I didn't expose you because I thought it was just a misunderstanding—one caused by my own shortcomings. So I kept quiet, hoping we could get along well."

"Jiusi..."

Hearing this, Huang Long was flooded with remorse.

If Gu Jiusi had known it was them all along, then given his martial skills, he must have been holding back when they beat him. Not only did he not seek revenge, but he also brought pastries from home to share with them, trying to earn their acceptance.

Such a pure-hearted young man—and he had bullied him like that...Huang Long felt somewhat distressed, wishing he could turn back time to correct all the mistakes he had made. Gu Jiusi noticed Huang Long's mood and patted his shoulder, saying, "Brother Huang, don't overthink it. The misunderstanding is cleared up now, and I'll be relying on you more in the future."

"Don't worry," Huang Long immediately assured him, "from now on, you're my sworn brother. Anyone who troubles you will have to answer to me."

"With your word, I feel much more at ease, Brother Huang. I'm still inexperienced and have no relatives in Wangdu, so I'll need your guidance going forward."

Huang Long finally found a way to ease his conscience and eagerly agreed to everything Gu Jiusi said, practically vowing to give him his heart and soul.

When it was time to part, Huang Long was still fervently making promises. Gu Jiusi smiled and bid him farewell.

Relieved to have Gu Jiusi's forgiveness, Huang Long sighed inwardly. He turned and headed toward his alley, pondering how to tell his underlings to treat Gu Jiusi better starting tomorrow.

But before he could figure it out, a burlap sack was thrown over his head, plunging him into darkness. A flurry of kicks and punches followed, and Huang Long cried out in shock, "Who is it? Who's there?"

Liu Yu Ru remained silent, directing the hired men to beat him without a word. Huang Long screamed repeatedly. Gu Jiusi, who hadn't gone far, heard the commotion and hurried back to the alley, where he saw Liu Yu Ru leading the assault on Huang Long.

The couple locked eyes in the alley, both frozen for a moment. Then Gu Jiusi gave Liu Yu Ru a meaningful look and shouted, "Stop right there, you scoundrel!"

Frowning, Liu Yu Ru shot a fierce glare at Huang Long before quickly retreating with her men.

Gu Jiusi jogged over, removed the burlap sack from Huang Long's head, and asked anxiously, "Brother Huang, are you alright?"

Dazed from the beating, Huang Long mumbled, "Who was it...?"

"I didn't see clearly," Gu Jiusi replied immediately, his face full of concern. "Brother Huang, let me take you to a doctor."

"Huh?" Huang Long began to regain his senses and hurriedly declined, "No, no, I'm fine."

He struggled to his feet. "Must be some old enemy. In our line of work, there are too many grudges. Jiusi, sorry for startling you."

"Not at all," Gu Jiusi insisted. "Let me walk you home."

"No need," Huang Long waved him off, refusing firmly. "It's not far, just ahead. Why should a grown man like me need an escort? Your wife is waiting for you at home. I'll head back now."

Gu Jiusi exchanged pleasantries and saw Huang Long off verbally.

Once Huang Long had disappeared into the distance and the alley grew quiet, Gu Jiusi turned around and looked helplessly toward the corner of the lane. With a mix of amusement and exasperation, he called out, "Come out now. Still hiding?"

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru shuffled out reluctantly.

Her hired men had all left, leaving her alone clutching a stick. She looked as if she had done something wrong, nervously eyeing Gu Jiusi.

After studying her for a moment, Gu Jiusi couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you so mischievous?"

"He bullied you..." Liu Yu Ru murmured softly.

Gu Jiusi sighed in resignation. "So you brought people to beat him up?"Liu Yu Ru remained silent. Gu Jiusi watched her childish demeanor, feeling a slight itch in his heart. He stepped forward, took her hand, wanting to say something but finding himself torn between laughter and exasperation at her expression. Finally, he simply pulled her along and said, "Never mind, let's go home first."

Hand in hand, they returned home. Gu Jiusi changed into a plain white gauze robe in his room and walked out to find Liu Yu Ru sitting at her desk, reviewing account books.

Seeing that she seemed much calmer, he approached her, sat down, and after a moment's hesitation, carefully said, "Don't be so impulsive in the future. Beating him like that will only make him hold a grudge when he finds out."

"Let him hold a grudge," Liu Yu Ru murmured while tapping her abacus, "If he dares say anything, I'll beat him again."

Her words sounded so childish that Gu Jiusi couldn't help but glance at her sideways. This was the first time he realized Liu Yu Ru could be so irrational.

In front of him, she was always proper, gentle, and composed. Yet in handling this matter, she had been both impulsive and clever, making it impossible for anyone to blame her—only finding her utterly adorable.

The thought that she had picked up that stick today for his sake made Gu Jiusi's heart swell with sweetness and joy.

Though he felt her methods were too direct, he couldn't bring himself to scold her. Noticing her still stern expression, he moved closer, half-knelt beside her, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Alright," he said, pulling her into his embrace to comfort her, "You've already beaten him and taken your revenge. Now calm down."

As he spoke, Gu Jiusi lifted her chin and teased, "Come on, give me a smile."

Liu Yu Ru slapped his hand away and glared at him.

"Don't talk to me like that!" she said unhappily, "And next time, you're not allowed to just endure it either!"

"Huh?"

Gu Jiusi looked puzzled. Having already shed her gentle facade in front of him, Liu Yu Ru no longer bothered pretending to be considerate. Fueled by irritation, she pushed the abacus aside and declared, "If anyone bullies you again, just hit them. After you're done, come home and quit!"

"And what will we do if I quit?" Gu Jiusi laughed, looking at the fuming young woman before him, "I'm a grown man. If I don't work, what will we eat?"

"I'll support you!"

Liu Yu Ru blurted out without thinking. The moment the words left her mouth, both of them froze.

Even Liu Yu Ru was surprised—when had she started entertaining such thoughts, believing she could actually support a man?

Gu Jiusi couldn't help but chuckle. "Boss Liu is becoming more and more impressive."

He leaned in, resting his head on her shoulder, and said with a smile, "You don't mind me being a kept man?"

Liu Yu Ru's face flushed. She lowered her head, fiddling with the abacus, and feigned composure as she said, "It's just a meal. How much could you possibly eat?"

Gu Jiusi chuckled softly, leaning against her. "Didn't you always say you rely on me and that I must earn an official rank?"

"What if you can't pass the exams?" Liu Yu Ru glared at him, "Should I divorce you then?"

"Alright, alright, I'm scared," Gu Jiusi laughed, raising his hands in surrender, "I'd rather be a kept man. But darling, look—this time I've earned a county magistrate position." He nuzzled against her, "Do I get a reward?"

"County magistrate?!"

Liu Yu Ru stared in shock, then hurriedly asked, "How did you become a county magistrate?"

Gu Jiusi smiled, sat down beside her, tapped the table, and said with some pride, "Pour me some tea."Liu Yu Ru knew he was about to show off, so she quickly served him tea and adopted an attentive posture. Gu Jiusi laid out the entire story from beginning to end, concluding, "Fan Xuan first used the Gu Family as a gong to alert everyone. But since no one was moved, Fan Xuan must have started looking for other methods. Now that he's searching for someone to make an example of, I sent him one, so naturally he's grateful to me."

"So, when you told me not to interfere in the Huang Long matter, you had this plan in mind?" Liu Yu Ru understood. Gu Jiusi nodded and said, "Someone like Huang Long is just an ordinary person. He dislikes me simply because I'm a wealthy young man who's fallen on hard times. Who in this world doesn't think the rich are unkind? He's not particularly bad, just not very bright."

"Beating him up is pointless. In the future, we'll be living in Youzhou. There are countless people like him—can we fight every single one? Turning someone like him into a friend is the way to survive."

"So even when you were beaten, you didn't make a sound?"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi smiled. "Not only did I stay silent, I even sent them food and spoke kindly to them. Later, when they realized I had been letting them off, they felt even more guilty and ashamed."

Liu Yu Ru listened, her expression complex. Gu Jiusi noticed her unease, set down his teacup, and took her hand. "What are you worried about?"

"Husband, you understand people's hearts so well," Liu Yu Ru said without hesitation, sighing. "It makes me uneasy."

Gu Jiusi smiled gently. "Don't worry. I may scheme against others, but I would never scheme against you."

Liu Yu Ru remained silent. Gu Jiusi looked at her, his eyes full of sincerity. Suddenly, she remembered the young man who had stood in the crowd whipping her long ago—his clear eyes glancing back had made her feel that whatever he said, she would believe him.

So she lowered her gaze without responding and changed the subject. "But by stepping forward like this, won't you incur the Zhao family's resentment?"

Liu Yu Ru frowned. Gu Jiusi sighed. "How can one be an official without attracting resentment? But we can't stay holed up in Youzhou forever. Zhou Gaolang says he'll give me a position once things settle down, but he's not doing it because he recognizes my ability—it's just because the Gu Family donated money, so he has to offer me something in return. Most likely, it'll be a hollow title with no real duties."

"I don't want that."

Gu Jiusi lowered his eyes. "I promised Wen Chang."

Liu Yu Ru understood what he had promised Yang Wenchang. To fulfill his vow and protect his family, he had to climb higher. How could he be content with a meaningless position?

She sighed softly and patted the back of his hand. "It's all right. Since you've decided, I think it's for the best."

"Actually, I'm not worried about anything else—just one thing."

Gu Jiusi looked up at Liu Yu Ru, who softly responded, "Hmm?" He sighed and said, "Tell me, how is my current behavior any different from Wang Shanquan's back then?"

Liu Yu Ru was silent for a long time before slowly replying, "Jiu Si, water that is too clear has no fish."Gu Jiusi looked up at Liu Yuru, who was deep in thought, carefully organizing her words as she tried to articulate her understanding of the world: "You need to understand what you ultimately want. If you just want to be a good person, then you can simply be a true gentleman. But if you want to be someone useful, to achieve a certain goal, then you must consider where your bottom line lies."

"The matter with the Zhao family today—if you don’t go, someone else will. If you go, the outcome for the Zhao family might be better than if someone else went. I know you seek goodness, but do you think it’s better to stand by with clean hands and do nothing, or to get your hands dirty but allow someone who is suffering to die more quickly?"

"But if it weren’t for me, this wouldn’t have fallen on the Zhao family."

"Then it would fall on someone else."

Liu Yuru said calmly, "Fan Xuan needs money, Prince Liang is planning a rebellion, and the military governors of various provinces are watching like tigers eyeing their prey. These are all settled matters. Fan Xuan has already used the Gu Family to warn others. If he doesn’t get the money, do you think he’ll back down?"

Gu Jiusi fell silent. After a long while, he took a deep breath.

"I understand," Gu Jiusi looked at her seriously, "I’ll do what I can to give them a better path."

Liu Yuru smiled. "Think of another way. Actually, human affairs are all quite similar. In business, we profit by finding solutions. If Party A wants silver, and Party B wants cloth, but they’re too far apart, we figure out how to bridge the distance—give Party A the silver, transport the cloth, and sell it to Party B. Both sides are satisfied, and we earn the money for solving all their problems. Think about it—is there a way that can benefit both the Zhao family and Fan Xuan?"

Gu Jiusi took her words to heart. After pondering for a moment, he raised his hand and said, "Let me think it over."

Liu Yuru didn’t dare disturb him. She acknowledged his request and stood up, returning to her own desk.

During this time, the sales of Rouge had been increasing steadily, so Liu Yuru began expanding the variety of products in the shop. Not only did she enrich the range of Rouge, but she also added items like lip papers, eyebrow pencils, and scented creams. She personally oversaw every detail, from the external packaging to all the raw materials, while also training a few assistants and making contact with several out-of-town merchants, gradually preparing to expand beyond Wangdu.

And so, as Gu Jiusi sat pondering Liu Yuru’s words, Liu Yuru remained seated, clicking away on her abacus.

The room was filled with the rhythmic clatter of the abacus beads. Gu Jiusi glanced up and saw the young woman with lowered eyes, her expression clear and bright. Suddenly, he felt a sense of calm.

No matter whether he was good or evil, right or wrong in this lifetime, it seemed this person would always be by his side. If he strayed, she would pull him back. If he fell, she would help him stand up again.

Gu Jiusi felt a deep peace in his heart—

Author’s Note: [Mini Theater]

Male leads in other stories: I rule the four seas, sweep across the eight directions—in heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme.

Readers: Standard procedure, typical male lead traits.

Gu Jiusi: Mom, I’m about to become a county magistrate.

Readers: Our baby is so amazing!! He’s about to become a county magistrate!!

Why is there such a big difference between male leads?