Shocking! The young educated youth had just arrived and was already clashing with spies.

Chapter 678 These are all based on my experience.

Even though he was already aware of the matter, it was brought up again, word by word. No matter how magnanimous Old Master Gu was, he frowned. He snorted twice and cleared his throat. "Of course, do you think I would force you to bow your head?"

"You're mistaken. I'm too old to withstand two punches from you, so don't worry, I won't pester you."

Leaving something for this child to remember isn't something that happens right now. Even if this grandson sees the family fortune he left him and gets furious and wants to hit someone when he passes away, hehehe, sorry, he really won't be able to hit him!

Old Master Gu was secretly pleased, but his face remained serious. His calm tone was full of vigor, "It's not good for young people to be so presumptuous!"

Ge Shaoting: ...

Her previously composed face suddenly stiffened, and she quickly looked away from the old man, rubbing her hands together a few times before finally finding her voice.

"That's good, it saves us from feeling awkward. Now tell us what brings you here!"

Seeing his reaction, Old Master Gu also stopped trying to amuse him. His voice was deep and steady, each word clear and distinct, "I'm sorry, I came here specifically to apologize to you."

I'm sorry, I didn't discipline my son properly.

I'm sorry that you, so young, had to witness your mother's tragic death.

I'm sorry to have put you in such an unfamiliar and dangerous place to survive, but thankfully you've taken such good care of yourself.

I'm sorry, I was born into the Gu family but couldn't provide you with a stable environment to grow up in...

As your elder, I am truly sorry.

Ever since he learned about the child's hardships from Old Man Ge, he had wanted to say this: Gu Jia had wronged the mother and son, and they deserved to be resented.

He once had the same fantasies as his son, but how could those so-called ancestral recognitions compare to the hardships his grandson had endured, risking his life to survive?

Ge Shaoting felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer. He shuddered and clenched his fists tightly. He hadn't expected that the old man had come specifically to talk about this. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't moved at all. He truly felt a slight ache in his heart, which should have been cold and hard.

But are things that should be upheld so easily changed?

Without looking up, his voice remained indifferent, "You're not the one who did something wrong, so you don't need to apologize, and of course, no one needs to apologize, regardless of who it is."

I will be fine without any family.

He's long past the stage where he needs emotional comfort; what comes too late is already missed, and what's missed is useless.

Grandpa Gu remained unmoved, his gaze towards Ge Shaoting revealing a hidden affection. "Whether you accept it or not is your business. I will only do what I should do. Let's leave each other alone and follow our own hearts."

Ge Shaoting remained silent.

His time with this grandfather was limited to a few short years when he was a child. During those years, he didn't see his grandfather often because of his work. So, the grandfather and grandson didn't actually spend much time together. And as time went by, those past memories have become increasingly faint.

This is also why he was able to be so certain at the beginning that he would not be sad if he gave up everything.

However, at this moment, the old man's somewhat serious yet cautious words suddenly reminded him of some past events from his childhood.

Back then, he was just like all the other kids in the compound, mischievous and carefree, never knowing what trouble was, even when he made his family angry and, like the adults in other families, resorted to violence, pulling out their belts to threaten them.

But even as he ate and drank as usual and finally fell asleep in his mother's warm embrace, the belt that snapped in the air never fell on him.

His heart and eyes stung with tears. Ge Shaoting thought, "Back then, I was loved too."

However, the weakness was only momentary. Realizing that he had been overthinking things, Ge Shaoting quickly cleared his throat and pulled himself back to his senses.

"Whatever, I don't care."

Hearing him say that, Old Master Gu sighed inwardly and continued, "You've worked hard all these years. If you don't want to get involved with the Gu family, then don't. Anyway, you're doing pretty well now."

However, your business in the port city is too dangerous and not a long-term livelihood. Our country will not leave it unattended; it will be taken back one day.

They certainly won't tolerate gang gatherings and social unrest anymore. You... need to make plans early.

As he spoke, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, “I hope you don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not trying to lecture you because of my age. If you don’t want to listen now, then wait a few years. Whether you’re a businessman or someone like you who’s in the underworld, you need to be able to assess the situation and live a long life.”

The Gu family has declined; this is based on my own experience.