TCWSITD – Chapter 41.1

This extra chapter is dedicated to Ren! Thank you for the kofis!

I’m only now uploading the chapter cause neither Paypal nor Ko-fi notified me 😤.

If I haven’t checked it today, I might’ve missed it for another week😭.

Anywaaaay, here’s the first extra chapter for youuuuu. 🍓🍓🍓

Chapter 41 has 3 parts; 41.2 and 41.3 will be uploaded tonight at 20:00 and 21:00 EST.

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Chapter 41.1 – The He Family Banquet

“Surprise! Happy birthday!”

The door swung open to reveal Lin Jiang, standing outside with a cake in his hands and a bright, expectant smile on his face.

He Gu opened the door, and the gift was pressed into his hands, still carrying the chill of the early morning.

“Why are you here so early?”

“You said no one was celebrating your birthday with you, right? So I thought I’d come early to keep you company.”

Lin Jiang sat across from him, carefully setting the cake on the table. Then he handed over the gift box like it was something sacred, his eyes brimming with anticipation. “Open it, quick!”

Everything felt too unreal.

He unwrapped the box layer by layer—it was a brand he’d never bought before, in a color he’d never wear.

He held up the tie between his fingers, eyeing it skeptically. “Do you think a tie this bright would even suit me?”

“It would look great!” Lin Jiang got up, took the tie from him, and started helping him put it on. “You should wear more colors. Why do you always wear black suits? So stuffy and old-school, like some old man.”

The mustard-yellow striped tie did make him look younger. Still, next to Lin Jiang, who practically glowed with youth, the gap was unmistakable.

He Gu couldn’t help asking, “Do you think… there’s a generation gap between us?”

Lin Jiang laughed, his eyes bright and lively as he adjusted the tie for him. “You’re six years older than me, so of course there’s a generation gap.”

Turning He Gu toward the mirror, he said, “A’Gu, next year, I’ll buy you a suit, alright? And from now on, I’ll spend every birthday with you.”

Their reflections overlapped in the mirror—they looked like such a good match.

He Gu gazed into that reflection, unwilling to blink, not wanting to miss even the slightest detail.

But the light began to dim. The edges blurred. No matter how hard he tried, the world around him sank into blackness.

The hand he was holding had been let go. In the darkness, he couldn’t see Lin Jiang anymore. He Gu’s voice cracked with panic. “Lin Jiang! Where are you?!”

There was no reply in the empty room, only an eerie silence—as if countless invisible hands were dragging him deeper into the abyss

He Gu jolted awake from his dream. His forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He didn’t know why he’d dreamt that — why it had felt so real. Like a warning. Like a sign.

Without thinking, he reached for his phone and called Lin Jiang.

Ring—Ring—

“Hello?”

A surge of relief rushed to his chest—the kind that comes from almost losing something precious and then finding them again. But before he could speak, Lin Jiang’s voice cut in.

“He Gu, did you send someone to follow me?”

The moment he saw the photos, Lin Jiang knew exactly who was behind them.

He Gu really was his mother’s son. No matter how much he resisted it, he’d still end up just like her.

Suppressing his anger, Lin Jiang asked, “Why are you having people take pictures of me? What the hell do you want?”

The words he had rehearsed over and over were caught in his throat, swallowed down before they could reach the air.

His throat tightened. The phone against his ear felt like it was burning.

He lowered his head, still shaken by the nightmare he’d just had and even his voice softened without meaning to. “I was worried about you. After you left KUG, I felt like I had to know what you were doing.”

Lin Jiang laughed upon hearing that. “You were worried about me, so you had someone follow me? How are you any different from your mother? She monitors you, and now you monitor me? Didn’t she also tell you she was worried about you? How did that make you feel? Can you maybe try putting yourself in my place?”

They knew each other too well. And they knew exactly how to cut the deepest.

By the time those words were spoken, He Gu’s eyes had reddened.

He never wanted to become like his mother, but the truth was, he carried the same obsessive blood in his veins. The only thing she had ever taught him… was this.

Eventually, he would still slowly become the person he despised.

His grip on the phone tightened, then loosened, and then tightened again. “I would never do that to you.”

Lin Jiang took a deep breath, calming himself slightly. “Take the article down. Whatever is between us, keep Shen Ju out of it.”

He Gu was confused. “What articles?”

He clicked the link Lin Jiang had sent him and finally understood why Lin Jiang was so angry.

The comments beneath the post were flooded with negativity. If Lin Jiang had truly joined OT because of Shen Ju, then KUG had essentially taken the blame for him during this period, something KUG’s fans were naturally unwilling to accept.

Insults, attacks, cyberbullying—it all came pouring in.

They demonized Lin Jiang on the internet, and even Shen Ju wasn’t spared.

“Wait for me a second.”

He Gu hung up the phone and immediately opened his laptop, instructing KUG’s management to handle the PR crisis.

But just as he hit send, the online narrative suddenly shifted again.

Shen Ju had posted a message online:

[OT_sgod: Listen up, you rumor-spreading orphans.[mfn]used offensively to accuse someone of having no empathy or basic decency; extremely derogatory and not to be taken literally.[/mfn] I’ve contacted a lawyer. If you’ve got the guts, keep messing with me.]

At first, people in the comments thought he was bluffing. Until a well-known criminal lawyer personally posted a formal legal notice, and netizens realized Shen Ju was dead serious.

He had money and connections. If he really got angry, who knew how many people he’d bite to death.

The blogger who led the topic immediately deleted their post, and the commenters beneath it no longer dared to discuss the matter. The cyberbullying that had just begun was swiftly nipped in the bud.

Turns out, Shen Ju had already taken care of it.

He Gu paused for a long moment before telling the management:

[He Gu: No need anymore.]

He shut the laptop, but the suffocating weight in the air didn’t lift. Fingers white from gripping too tight, He Gu stared at his phone. Then, with deliberate care, he dialed Lin Jiang again.

“I was the one who took the photos, but I wasn’t the one who spread them. I’ll find out who did and give you a proper explanation.”

“I already made myself clear last time. This time, I’ll make it even clearer. There is nothing between us anymore. Don’t try to use the tricks your family raised you with to control me. If you hurt the people around me, I’ll fight you to the bitter end.”

He Gu pressed his thumb hard into the screen, so hard his nails blanched.

“Lin Jiang… it’s my birthday today.”

There was a pause on the other end—clearly, he’d forgotten. After a long silence, he finally said: “Happy birthday.”

The long-lost warmth of those two words traversed time and space to reach him again. He Gu felt a kind of heartache that nearly took his breath away.

Head bowed, he murmured softly, “Thank you.”

Lin Jiang was still as gentle as ever. After a moment’s thought, he added, “Buy yourself a cake. I have things to do, so I’ll hang up now.”

Beep—beep—beep—

And just like that, the world fell into soundless stillness.

He Gu slowly lowered his hand and dialed his assistant’s number to have him handle the matter.

The article could be retracted and the trending topic could be suppressed.

The assistant hesitated before telling him, “Alike took the photos from your office, but it seems your mother was the one who had them published. Young Master He, perhaps it’s best not to investigate further.”

He Gu gripped the phone tightly. “Got it.”

The screen went dark, and in its glassy surface, he saw a ghost of himself—worn, drained, and stripped bare.

After holding back for so long, the surface finally cracked. Crack—two thin fractures split across the screen like spiderwebs.

He took a deep breath and slowly released his grip.

The pent-up frustration in his heart finally found some relief.

He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror.

Emotionlessly, he changed into clean clothes, washed up, and got ready to attend the suffocating family banquet[mfn]I think this actually is just a family dinner but I used banquet because it seems way formal than simple family gatherings.[/mfn].

9 AM was the arrival time his mother had arranged for him—only ten minutes after this was the limit of her patience.

The car slid soundlessly into the garage. He hadn’t even set foot in the house before—

Her voice pierced the air, sharp as ever: “You’re one minute late. Have you lost all sense of punctuality?”

He Gu tugged at his tie, loosening it with a numb hand as he trudged upstairs. His mind drifted to the first time he’d asked Lin Jiang to come with him to choose a watch.

He was two minutes late because of traffic, and his first reaction was to apologize.

Lin Jiang looked at him in shock. “What’s there to apologize for being two minutes late? We’re not attending an international conference.”

He Gu realized for the first time that being late could be forgiven, and that there were people who could tolerate his carelessness.

As he climbed the stairs, his eyes met his mother who was standing perfectly composed and dignified.

Exhausted, He Gu said, “Mom, I’m going to rest upstairs for a bit first.”

“Did you forget what I said on the phone yesterday? Go see your grandmother first.” She then straightened him up with a stern hand, appraising him like a piece of merchandise, “Who picked out your tie? It doesn’t match your outfit at all. Come to my room, I’ll change it for you.”

wanted to say it wasn’t necessary—but before the words could leave his lips, his mother was already walking toward him, holding four or five different ties. Her every movement screamed absolute control. With practiced hands, she removed the tie he was wearing and replaced it with one she deemed appropriate.

Suddenly, he asked her, “Can’t I choose something I like?”

“Something you like? What you like doesn’t matter. You’re not dressing for yourself, you’re dressing for the business world. We hired so many etiquette instructors for you, have you forgotten everything?”

After adjusting his collar, she smoothed his sleeves, ensuring every detail mirrored her own impeccable standards. “This is a family banquet, not a casual gathering. Your uncle, your aunt—and even your grandfather will be there. You can’t show up looking like this.”

He Gu lowered his gaze. “I’ll go find Grandma.”

“Wait,” his mother said, her brow furrowing as she noticed his watch. “Didn’t I tell you to change this watch? The color doesn’t suit you at all. It looks frivolous.”

Without even asking for his opinion, she reached out to unbuckle the watch from his wrist. “Use the one I bought. I told you last time, and now it’s just sitting at home collecting dust…”

The suffocation that came with this household was something woven into its bones—inescapable, inherited. No matter how glorious his life outside might be, returning here always placed him at the bottom of the family hierarchy.

He Gu could no longer hold it in. He grasped his mother’s hand, placing it back properly before solemnly telling her, “I should go see Grandma now.”

10 AM was the time to reminisce with Grandma. At 11 AM, he would go upstairs to listen to his mother’s lectures. By 12 PM, lunch would be served punctually on the dining table.

Every member of this household felt like a pre-programmed robot—no deviation from the schedule was allowed.

Even He Gu, the man supposed to be the heir of the house, had no autonomy here.

The dining table was so silent that only the clinking of cutlery against the plates could be heard.

No talking during meals, no speaking during rest—this rule had been deeply ingrained in He Gu’s bones.

After the meal, the servants cleared the table.

Then came another round of his mother’s lectures.

His mother came from a political background—beneath her poised and proper demeanor lay an unyielding sternness.

She delicately dabbed her lips before setting the napkin down gracefully. “Are you still messing around with that esports team of yours? A’Wen told me you’ve been going there quite frequently.”

He Gu simply hummed in response, offering her nothing more than a vague acknowledgment.

This kind of attitude clearly displeased his mother. Her upbringing prevented her from lashing out, but her tone grew colder. “I thought you’d grow up a little in a couple of years so I didn’t interfere much, but now it seems you truly don’t understand priorities. You’re 27 now—the most valuable time in your life. How can you waste such an important stage on some lousy esports team? There’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself when you’re young, but forgetting where you come from is a problem.”

She took a sip of warm water before continuing her lecture. “I gave up my position in politics to come home and guide you. I’ve poured so much effort into you—not expecting much in return, only that you wouldn’t become one of those good-for-nothing rich kids who disgrace their families. Your father’s side of the family is highly regarded. Do you have any idea how much they look down on the kind of things you’re investing in now?”

She slammed her hand on the table in a rare show of emotion—this, for her, was the most extreme form of anger.

After the outburst, she quickly returned to her usual composed and elegant self.

Her voice turned cold, as sharp as a knife, “You have one week to withdraw your shares from that team.”

He Gu’s gaze drifted toward the glass in his hand, transparent and fragile. He thought of the butterfly specimens displayed behind glass—lifeless beauty, gleaming under cold lighting.

“It’s my birthday today.” He set down the glass gently. “From 9 AM until now, you’ve said many things… I thought I might at least hear a ‘happy birthday’ from you.”

His mother clearly hesitated for a moment—but she would never allow such softness to show on her face.

“A’Gu, birthdays aren’t important. You’re still young. If you throw a birthday banquet now and people ask what you’ve achieved—what am I supposed to say? Every minute of your time should be spent productively. When you’ve accomplished something worthy like your father, I’ll invite influential figures from business and politics to celebrate your birthday every year.”

He Gu lowered his head and laughed.

He laughed at himself—for once again having an unrealistic delusion.

“Mom,” he looked up at her, “you’re right. I don’t have the right to celebrate my birthday with this family. I don’t even deserve a slice of cake.”

A family devoid of love can only nurture monsters.

He Gu understood this.

He was just another monster wearing the mask of rationality.

He rose slowly, took his coat from the doorway, and began to put it on with deliberate care.
Behind him, his mother’s voice snapped, sharp with disbelief. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Back to the office. When I’m worthy enough to dine with you, I’ll return for family gatherings.”

His mother’s incredulous voice followed him, “Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Your father isn’t even home yet—leaving now would make us the laughingstock of your uncles and aunts! And what about your grandfather? How will your father explain this to him? Are you trying to humiliate us?”

He Gu calmly finished putting on his coat and shoes.

He stood at the doorway.

He had so much he wanted to say.

He wanted to say he hated family dinners.

He hated being forced into these arrangements.

He hated the way they paraded him like a trained monkey at these dinners, hated the empty smiles, the shallow toasts, the gifts he never asked for.

She could disapprove of his achievements, but she shouldn’t tie him to the dining table to endure everyone’s scrutinizing and torturing gazes.

He also wanted to ask about the photos, to tell her to stop.

But when he finally opened his mouth, the words came out differently. “There’s urgent business at the company. I won’t be attending today’s family dinner.”

The moment the words slipped out, a slap landed square across his face.

— — — —

strawberrypoptl: I wonder how y’all feel about He Gu after reading this chapter? 🤔 Actually, part of why I actually persisted to translate the whole story is because of him, for reasons I will not yet reveal at this moment. Hopefully y’all stick around until the last extra chapter so I can see (read?) your reactions.