Chapter 101: Chapter 101: The Truth Behind the Estrangement
Gu Wangchao was preparing to shoot the latest single’s music video with the FV Band.
However, when he arrived, the band members weren’t all there. His good friend, the band’s guitarist Xie Ya, was on the phone with someone.
He was familiar with this band, so he stayed alone in the reception room.
He opened social media, where many people sent him messages, inquiring about Gu Peihai’s regular participation in the variety show.
This was Film Emperor Gu’s first regular variety show, and many in the industry were both confused and excited.
Where there’s a first, there’s a second; maybe they could invite Film Emperor Gu.
Some people didn’t contact the Film Emperor’s team directly, insisting on reaching out to Gu Wangchao instead. Whether it was to use the younger brother’s name to approach the Film Emperor, or to intentionally sting him, was unclear.
He exited the software, a hint of frustration marking his cold, exquisite features.
After a few minutes, he opened a certain TV station’s app, entered the live stream, and found the broadcast involving Gu Peihai’s group.
It was afternoon, and Film Emperor Gu, shamelessly sticking with his sister to get a meal, suggested helping the locals with farm work after eating, but was refused.
The honest uncle said nothing, but his expression was clear: he didn’t believe these two could handle the work, so forget it.
The bullet comments were full of mockery for Gu Peihai.
He held the phone in one hand, the hand resting on his knee curled slightly.
Since there was no need for farm work, Gu Peihai and his sister returned to Room 3 to start cleaning.
Gu Peihai didn’t want his sister to be too tired, so he suggested he handle the house and she the yard.
Tuanzi rubbed her cheeks, thought seriously for a moment, and agreed.
The bullet comments again scrolled with remarks like ’want to pinch’.
His fingers curled again.
The siblings split up, with the camera focusing on Gu Peihai.
Gu Wangchao could only observe this brother.
On camera, he casually tied a small ponytail, his face handsome, with a roguish air; looking at the camera, he appeared dashing and unruly.
Many face fans in the bullet comments said they wanted to take screenshots.
[Ahhh]
[Successfully bewitched]
[This man is too good at bewitching people!]
Gu Wangchao slightly lowered his eyes.
At this moment, the Film Emperor, dubbed the ’bewitcher’, rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning the kitchen.
He used a wooden basin to catch water under the faucet, placed it casually on the cooktop, found a cloth, wetted it, and began wiping the cooktop.
[A serious man is indeed handsome]
[No wonder he’s the Film Emperor, even cleaning is impressive]
[Waiting for a spotless kitchen]
The audience was harmoniously and warmly discussing, but Gu Wangchao felt a sense of unease grow inside.
To his knowledge, this brother was a living mess, incapable of tasks like housework.
The more glamorous he looked on the outside, the poorer his housework skills were.
He watched the screen intently, observing Gu Peihai wipe half of the cooktop.
It wasn’t clean.
That wasn’t the point.
Gu Peihai returned the cloth to the basin, scrubbed and scrubbed, but didn’t clean it properly. He bumped the side of the basin.
With a "bang", the wooden basin hit the ground, cracked, and water spilled everywhere.
Gu Peihai: "..."
Gu Wangchao: "..." not surprised at all.
[...]
[What just happened]
[The quality of this wooden basin is too poor]
[I feel like the Film Emperor is a bit clumsy]
[But he’s smiling so calmly]
It’s all an act, Gu Wangchao scoffed internally.
He watched as this Film Emperor brother clumsily cleaned up the mess.
With fierce effort, the kitchen became even messier.
Gu Wangchao: Can’t bear to look.jpg
"Are you watching that program too?"
A voice came from the door.
Gu Wangchao quickly exited the live stream.
"What’s there to be embarrassed about?"
Xie Ya sat down across from him.
He had just sealed a collaboration and was in a good mood, so seeing Gu Wangchao actively watching Gu Peihai’s variety show, he offered some advice.
"I’ve always thought you shouldn’t care about outsiders’ words and instead grow distant from your brother."
He sighed, "Those truly close to you know, everything relies on yourself. You have talent, you work hard, and that’s how you got here."
Having a Film Emperor brother, outsiders always erase Gu Wangchao’s talent and effort, which is unfair.
"But you must understand, those who say such things are either projecting or being sour. They can’t match you, perhaps they don’t even want to try hard, and when shortcuts fail, they intentionally erase your efforts, refusing to acknowledge the gap with you."
Xie Ya sincerely wished him well and really didn’t want to see him avoid Gu Peihai time and again.
"Don’t let the words of insignificant people weigh on you."
Gu Wangchao’s expression was indifferent, "I don’t take it to heart."
Xie Ya didn’t believe him.
"If you didn’t, why do you keep avoiding him?"
"I..."
Gu Wangchao was left speechless.
Perhaps, in the past, he cared about those opinions, but over time, seeing through people’s hearts, he cared no more.
He wasn’t angry because of his brother being too excellent and others thinking he was benefiting from it. He avoided his elder brother simply because... he felt he wasn’t good enough.
Since elementary school, similar comments often surrounded him.
"Your brother always scores first in his grade, but your grades are so poor. Are you really his brother?"
"How could your brother have a brother as terrible as you?"
"Were you picked up by your family?"
Gu Peihai had always been a top student.
Gu Wangchao remembered his elder brother later entering a prestigious university and being scouted by a talent agent, leading to an accidental entry into the entertainment industry.
Though not from a professional background, he was innately talented. Shortly after joining, he produced excellent works and later starred in movies, earning the best actor title.
In contrast, he struggled with academics from a young age. He worked hard to keep up with his brother, but his grades never improved.
Eventually, he developed a passion for music and got into a music academy.
While he won a national singing competition, his brother won another best actor award.
Classmates, upon learning of his relation to the Film Emperor Gu, expressed surprise.
"You’re quite different from your brother."
This statement could be understood in both good and bad ways.
Once, by chance, he overheard classmates discussing him, stating similar things to what he heard in childhood, thinking he was too inadequate, and his brother too excellent, that they couldn’t be family.
He, too, agreed.
Compared with his brother, he really was inadequate.
He avoided interactions with his brother because he felt he wasn’t excellent enough, not qualified to be Gu Peihai’s brother.
So what if he only won a few domestic music awards?
He needed to win more, even internationally, to be worthy of being Gu Peihai’s brother, right?
"Wangchao?"
Gu Wangchao snapped back to reality, lowered his gaze, his voice icy, "Let’s talk about the MV."
Xie Ya tactfully changed the subject.
Even between friends, constant persuasion is futile. Many things need the person involved to figure out for themselves.
Meanwhile, still in Xishui Village, Gu Peihai was unaware that his younger brother watched the live broadcast.
Seeing the chaos in the kitchen made him a bit flustered.
At that moment, a small head peeked through the doorway, watching him quietly.
Tuanzi: stare.jpg
Gu Peihai: chills down his spine.jpg