I Am the Villain Who Gave Up While the Protagonist Begs Me to Try Harder - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: It Is Not Scary When a Rich Heir Eats, Drinks, and Plays, It Is Scary When a Rich Heir Has Ambition.

“What? He even took off his belt to beat him? How can this be allowed!”

After Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing left the garden and reported everything to Gu Lanyuan’s mother, Nangong Qin, Nangong Qin shot to her feet, slammed the table, and hurried toward the garden.

When Nangong Qin arrived at the garden, she saw Gu Mingmu holding up his pants with his left hand while gripping his belt in his right, chasing Gu Lanyuan around and beating him. 

Every strike landed accurately on Gu Lanyuan’s backside, making him howl as he jumped up and down like a monkey.

“Stop!”

Gu Mingmu and Gu Lanyuan stopped at the same time.

Gu Lanyuan looked at Nangong Qin, and his lips immediately curled downward in grievance. Then he rushed toward her. “Mother~ Old Dad beat me for no reason!”

Gu Mingmu instantly grew anxious. “Brat, don’t you dare talk nonsense. I didn’t beat you for no reason…”

Nangong Qin’s brows shot up. “Shut up!”

Gu Mingmu instantly fell silent.

Nangong Qin asked with heartache, “How are you? Does it hurt badly?”

“Cough.”

Gu Mingmu, who had been forbidden to speak, coughed heavily, signaling Gu Lanyuan not to talk nonsense.

Gu Lanyuan turned his head and gave Gu Mingmu a huge smile, making Gu Mingmu’s heart leap in alarm.

After turning back, Gu Lanyuan resumed his pitiful expression. Tears hung at the corners of his eyes, and his voice choked as he said, “I… I’m not hurt. It’s all my fault. I made Old Dad angry. It was right for Old Dad to hit me. It was only natural.

“But… Mother, I’m useless. Old Dad wants me to catch up to Big Brother and hold myself to Big Brother’s standards. But Mother, you know how outstanding Big Brother is. I can’t do it.

“When you and Old Dad gave birth to Big Brother back then, you gave all the good points to him. How can I, who was left with only flaws, ever catch up to Big Brother? I disappointed Old Dad. I’m too useless~”

Gu Lanyuan howled dryly there.

The corners of Gu Mingmu’s eyes twitched as he listened. Only one feeling remained in his heart.

This was bad!

Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing’s gazes also turned extremely strange.

Why did their young master look so much like the green tea girls he had once told them about?

Nangong Qin was so furious that veins bulged on her forehead. She shouted angrily at Gu Mingmu, “Gu Mingmu! Why do you keep comparing Xiao Yuan to our eldest for no reason? What? Do you still want to raise another general and barely see your child for a few days in an entire year?”

Gu Mingmu said softly, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that Xiao Yuan is too lazy. I couldn’t stand it, so I only said a few words.”

Nangong Qin’s almond eyes widened. “Only said a few words? Do you think I’m blind? Wasn’t the person who was chasing Xiao Yuan with a belt just now you?!”

Gu Mingmu said helplessly, “Qin’er, you spoil Xiao Yuan too much. If you keep doing this, you’ll spoil him rotten.”

Nangong Qin retorted, “So what if I spoil my own son a little? Xiao Yuan is only a little lazy normally. He has never done anything bad. Xiao Yuan is so well-behaved. Unlike other silk-pants young masters, he isn’t proficient in eating, drinking, visiting brothels, and gambling. He only likes to enjoy himself a little. What’s wrong with that?”

Gu Lanyuan secretly snickered with a sly look.

However, Gu Mingmu saw Gu Lanyuan’s sneer clearly, and his fists tightened.

This brat! He really wanted to press him over his knee and give him a proper beating.

Gu Mingmu sighed. “Yes, I admit Xiao Yuan has done fairly well on that point. But don’t I also hope he can cultivate properly? Even if he doesn’t cultivate, he should study properly and become a civil official or something in the future. He is already 18 this year. He should at least do something serious, right?”

Nangong Qin did not refute Gu Mingmu this time. Instead, she agreed. “That’s true…”

Now it was Gu Lanyuan’s turn to panic. If his father and mother stood on the same side, would his good days still exist in the future?

Gu Lanyuan’s mind raced, and he instantly came up with a solution.

“Old Dad, Mother, have you heard an old saying before? It is not scary when a rich heir eats, drinks, and plays, it is scary when a rich heir has ambition.”

Gu Mingmu glared at him and scolded, “What kind of crooked logic is that?”

Gu Lanyuan argued, “Listen to my explanation. Right now, Big Brother is already a 2nd-rank military official, the Cavalry General. Anyone can see he has a promising future. And what about me? Old Dad and Mother both know I don’t have any great ambitions. You could say I’m not good at anything.

“If I suddenly developed ambition and started messing around blindly just to prove myself and surpass Big Brother, what if I caused trouble?

“Besides, my brother is already the Cavalry General now. In the future, he will definitely aim for the position of Grand General or General of Agile Cavalry. And if I become a civil official, the emperor definitely won’t have any objections, but all the civil and military officials in court will surely have objections. Old Dad, you are already one of the Three Excellencies, and my big brother is the Cavalry General. If I go too, wouldn’t I have to become the prime minister?”

Gu Mingmu was so angry he laughed. “You? Prime minister? Who would believe that?”

After thinking for a moment, Nangong Qin said, “Actually, Xiao Yuan’s words may be rough, but the reasoning is not wrong. Your position and our eldest son’s official rank are already so high. If Xiao Yuan enters officialdom too, it really will make people overthink.”

Gu Lanyuan hugged Nangong Qin’s arm and said with a smile, “Exactly. So, I’m a person without great ambition. I can’t endure hardship. It’s enough for the family to have Big Brother. I’ll just stay home and keep Old Dad and Mother company. I like Mother the most. As for Old Dad, I like him occasionally.”

Nangong Qin was delighted by Gu Lanyuan’s words.

Gu Mingmu curled his lips. What did he mean by liking him occasionally?

Nangong Qin said with concern, “However, Xiao Yuan, you need to start taking your marriage seriously. You are already 18. Your elder brother got married at 17. Others around your age may already have children old enough to go buy soy sauce. The girl from the Yun Family I introduced to you last time is truly very good. She is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she is gentle and refined. She suits you very well.”

Gu Lanyuan’s expression immediately stiffened. Feeling guilty, he said, “Uh… I think the matter of continuing the family line can be left to Big Brother too. In the future, just let Big Brother have a few more children, then give one to me…”

Nangong Qin lightly patted Gu Lanyuan on the head. “What nonsense are you saying? Are you planning to never marry for the rest of your life? Next time, I’ll arrange for you to meet the young lady of the Yun Family. I won’t rush you, but you still have to spend some time with her!”

“Ah, I suddenly remembered I have something important to do. I’ll slip away first.”

Gu Lanyuan turned and ran without the slightest hesitation.

Because once Nangong Qin started talking about this, she would go on endlessly. He was an abstinent handsome man. How could he possibly get married?

Seeing Gu Lanyuan run away, Nangong Qin clicked her tongue and sighed. “Honestly, I would rather this child be a little lustful and marry a few wives and concubines. Why is he so pure-hearted and desireless? It worries me to death.”

Gu Mingmu’s expression turned extremely strange.

Back when he had been appointed Grand Commandant, the emperor wanted to marry his younger sister to him. He had nearly been beaten to death by Nangong Qin, and in the end, he could only painfully decline the emperor’s offer.

But when it was Gu Lanyuan’s turn, he could marry several wives and concubines?

Wasn’t this double standard a little too much?

…

[T/N: Lol, Nangong Qin couldn’t hear Gu Mingmu’s thoughts. Otherwise, whether the Grand Commandant could still sleep in his own room tonight would be hard to say 😂]