Chapter 1202 The Young Eagle Takes Flight

After hearing his younger brother's request, Gu Chengyuan paused almost imperceptibly in the rhythm of his fingers tapping lightly on the sofa armrest.

But in reality, he was far less calm than he appeared on the surface.

The Du family, the Yang family.

He was familiar with these two names; in fact, one could say he had long been preparing for them.

The top-secret mission personally assigned to Du Yuming by Wang Tiefeng, the commander of the Eastern Theater Command—to ascertain the situation in the Eastern Theater Command, secretly search for the two families, and decide whether to "bring them back" or "deal with them" based on their current situation—originated from Gu Chengyuan's personal instruction.

The decision was made without much ulterior motive.

As he has risen to his current position, he has become increasingly able to see clearly the infighting and scheming of countless people and forces beneath his feet.

Cheng Yun is his younger brother, and he is relatively simple-minded.

For a family like the Du or Yang to have grown to such a scale before the end of the world, their shrewdness, cunning, and ability to curry favor were by no means ordinary.

He cannot tolerate any potential risks that could exploit the carrier or even drag it into a power struggle.

If these two companies remain dominant, then for the long-term safety and integrity of the transport, he wouldn't mind implementing the most thorough "physical isolation" in advance.

That heavy sigh, faintly heard even by Zhou Guihong in the darkness before dawn, likely contained a weighing of the matter and a hint of indescribable coldness.

After all, speaking softly and gently to Du Wanying and Yang Xueli on the surface while secretly ordering people to eliminate their entire families is hardly a righteous act...

To be honest, this was the first time he'd ever done something like this, and he didn't feel guilty or ashamed. But having his younger brother bring it up himself, he still felt a little awkward deep down...

However, at this moment, looking at his younger brother sitting in front of him, who was still a bit green but whose eyes were already firm, whose posture was upright, and who was striving to grow on his own path, Gu Chengyuan's thoughts quietly changed.

This made him reflect on whether he had been too arbitrary and too protective. As his younger brother, Gu Chengyun was destined not to be completely uninvolved.

Today there may be no Du family or Yang family, but in the future there will be a Zhang family, a Li family, or other forces of all kinds, trying to approach and influence him with various motives.

Could he possibly "take care of" everyone who gets close to him?

Yes, it is!

But isn't that the same as throwing the baby out with the bathwater? It would be better to lock the younger brother in a cage... to prevent him from causing trouble everywhere.

Therefore, the key to the problem ultimately lies with the younger brother who carries on his legacy.

He needs to grow, learn to discern, and possess his own strength, even a team. Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand real storms.

The changes in his younger brother, the visible transformation he has undergone in the past few months at the military academy, have given him the best confidence.

The system certainly played a part in my growth from an ordinary student to a powerful committee chairman, but can it be said that I didn't contribute at all?

Why can't the younger brother grow into a strong person who can manage complex relationships and even turn external forces into his own help?

As for the Du and Yang families... if they behave themselves and treat Chengyun sincerely, that would be the icing on the cake, a "protective armor" for Chengyun; but if they dare to harbor unwarranted ambitions and attempt to exploit Chengyun...

A hint of coldness flashed deep in Gu Chengyuan's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even stronger sense of confidence.

With the power he now wields, he can turn the tide in the blink of an eye. He is absolutely confident that he can nip any risk in the bud and ensure that Chengyun remains invincible.

Thinking of this, Gu Chengyuan suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

When did I become so hesitant, conservative, and arbitrary? I'm just like those parents before the apocalypse who blame cartoons, games, and the external environment for their children's poor upbringing.

True strength lies in inner confidence and control, not in simply eliminating external variables.

With this thought in mind, everything became clear.

The lingering gloom in his heart vanished instantly, and a genuine, heartfelt smile appeared on Gu Chengyuan's face.

His fingers, which had been tapping the armrest, stopped and spread out easily.

"Is that all?" He looked at Gu Chengyun, who looked nervous, and asked in a relaxed tone as if he were asking what Gu wanted to eat for dinner.

"Huh?" Gu Chengyun was taken aback by his brother's sudden and cheerful reaction, and all the words he had prepared got stuck in his throat.

“It’s only natural for people to search for their families. Wanying and Xueli’s concern for their families shows that they are loyal and affectionate, which is a good thing,” Gu Chengyuan said with a smile, his tone gentle and affirmative.

"Don't worry, I've got it in mind. I'll have someone keep an eye on the Du and Yang families later."

He paused, looking at his younger brother who still seemed somewhat incredulous, and added:

"Tell them to put their minds at ease. As long as their families are still alive, I will do my best to reunite them."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyun's eyes widened in surprise. Overwhelmed with joy, he was speechless for a moment and could only stammer as he repeated:

"Brother...you...you really agreed?"

"What's real or fake about this?" Gu Chengyuan chuckled, then reached out and ruffled his younger brother's hair.

“When have I ever gone back on my word? Go tell them this news so they don’t have to live in fear all the time.”

"Hey! Okay! Thank you, brother! I'll go tell them right away!" Gu Chengyun jumped up from the sofa excitedly, his face beaming with a bright smile, all his previous restraint and trepidation gone.

Watching his younger brother leave the office with such joy, almost skipping away, Gu Chengyuan's smile slowly faded, and his gaze became deep and calm.

He picked up the internal communicator, connected to Zhou Guihong's line, and his tone returned to its usual calm:

"Gui Hong, inform Commander Wang Tiefeng that the instructions regarding the 'Eastern Theater Search Mission' he previously reported have been changed. The new instructions are: find the person, ensure their safety, and then... properly bring them back."

He didn't explain the reason, and Zhou Guihong would never ask another question.

"Yes, sir!" Zhou Guihong answered without hesitation from the other end of the communicator.

Putting down the communicator, Gu Chengyuan turned his gaze back to the land bathed in sunlight outside the window.

There are many ways to protect yourself. Simply isolating yourself may be the simplest and easiest way, but it may not be the best.

Letting the younger brother experience and grow in a relatively controlled environment might be a more long-term plan.

As for the future... Gu Chengyuan was confident that he could control everything.