Chapter 10

The next day was Little New Year’s Eve, and the entire Gu Family bustled about dusting and welcoming in the new year.

Zhou Chiyu liked to sleep in. By the time he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. The paper bag Gu Yuan had given him the night before contained three nut bars. Although Gu Yuan had told him to eat only one bite, he couldn’t resist and devoured them all.

His willpower was firm, but no one should test him with food. He rubbed his milky-white chubby cheeks with a towel, completing his simple face-washing routine. Once dressed, he excitedly ran off to find Gu Yuan and play.

At that moment, Gu Yuan was attending his thinking class. Zhou Chiyu had heard from the aunties that Gu Yuan couldn’t go to kindergarten due to his poor health, so he studied at home instead.

The thinking class teacher was taking a sip of water when a cute little curly-haired boy burst into the room. She waved curiously. “Little Yuan, is this your little brother?”

Gu Yuan looked up and locked eyes with the surprised gaze across from him for two seconds. Satisfied, he hooked the corner of his lips and buried his head back into his work.

Zhou Chiyu’s expression was ridiculously exaggerated.

Wasn’t he just wearing a white suit?

Was it that big a deal?

“Brother, you look so handsome today,” Zhou Chiyu said, rubbing his eyes with a face full of surprise and curiosity. “You look like a noble little prince! The handsomest little prince on the planet.”

The teacher’s attention was successfully captured by Zhou Chiyu’s words. She thoughtfully sized him up for a moment and realized that Gu Yuan’s clothes were indeed different from his usual attire.

Gu Yuan gripped his stylus and slightly raised his brows. “Really?”

“Uh-huh!” Zhou Chiyu cozied up to him ingratiatingly and rubbed against his arm. “Can I borrow it to wear?”

Gu Yuan glanced at him, his gaze landing on Zhou Chiyu’s round little belly. He hesitated before saying, “Uh… sure.”

“You’re the best!” Zhou Chiyu hugged his arm and said sweetly, “My brother is the best brother in the whole world!”

Gu Yuan lowered his head upon hearing this, his ear tips turning red like ripe apples. Zhou Chiyu’s affection made him a bit uncomfortable, but he didn’t resist it. He just said, “Stay away from me. It’s too hot.”

Zhou Chiyu slowly lifted his little head and let out a drawn-out “oh,” but his small hands remained wrapped around Gu Yuan’s arm, showing no intention of letting go.

“Why didn’t you go play with Lan Yilin?” Gu Yuan asked casually.

“Brother Yilin? I totally forgot about him.” Zhou Chiyu lazily leaned against Gu Yuan’s shoulder and replied softly, “I want to play with you.”

Gu Yuan’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of satisfaction appearing at the corners of his eyes and brows. But he didn’t want the thinking class teacher to notice, so he quickly lowered his head and continued his work.

The teacher smiled and shook her head, thinking to herself that Gu Yuan had finally found a good friend after all this time.

The thinking class ended soon after. True to his word, Gu Yuan took off the formal wear and handed it to Zhou Chiyu. Zhou Chiyu truly loved the little white suit. He changed into it excitedly and stood in front of the mirror, grinning bashfully and showing his teeth.

The suit was clearly a bit long on him. The extra pant legs draped over his little tiger shoes, making him look just like a child who had sneaked into an adult’s clothes. As for the fit around his body, it was a tad tight. His little belly poked firmly against the suit buttons, bulging out in a way that wasn’t exactly flattering.

Zhou Chiyu felt a bit dejected. This wasn’t nearly as handsome as he had imagined, and he worried about ruining it for Gu Yuan. Disheartened, he tried to take it off, only to find the waistband stuck on his plump, lotus-root-like legs.

An awkward scene unfolded.

Gu Yuan watched him silently and finally asked, “Are you getting fatter every day?”

Zhou Chiyu muttered stubbornly, “Being able to eat is a blessing.”

Gu Yuan propped his cheek on his hand, his serious little face lost in thought. That afternoon, he had his personal designer—who made his custom clothes—visit Zhou Chiyu, planning to have a perfectly fitted white suit made for him.

Zhou Chiyu was naturally thrilled when he found out, but this left Butler Chen feeling extremely guilty.

Logically speaking, such a small matter shouldn’t have required the Gu Family’s help.

All of Zhou Chiyu’s clothes from childhood had been custom-designed by international renowned children’s clothing brands, many of which drew inspiration from him. The problem was that they had overlooked his actual needs.

Before long, the New Moon Pavilion livened up.

This was the Gu Family’s dedicated reception hall for entertaining relatives and friends. With so many children in the family, the hall was equipped around the perimeter with kid-friendly entertainment like slides, swings, and little trains.

By the time Zhou Chiyu and Gu Yuan arrived, the place was already buzzing with excitement.

Shen Yuxiao spotted them and wrinkled his nose with a cold snort. He grabbed Lan Yilin’s hand and muttered, “Let’s go play. Ignore him.”

Lan Yilin hesitated and glanced at Zhou Chiyu before hurrying off with Shen Yuxiao. The other children, upon seeing Gu Yuan, acted as if they had spotted some terrifying creature and scattered like frightened snakes.

Gu Yuan was sensitive by nature and naturally noticed Shen Yuxiao’s deliberate exclusion. He was long accustomed to the distance from his siblings, so his mood soured a bit, but it wasn’t particularly painful.

“Brother, let’s go play with them!”

Zhou Chiyu loved the bustle and was eager to join the group’s game. Gu Yuan gazed at his eager expression and gently lowered his lashes. “I don’t want to go. You go ahead by yourself.”

Zhou Chiyu let out an “oh” and excitedly toddled off after them.

Gu Yuan’s gaze silently followed Zhou Chiyu. He discovered that Zhou Chiyu possessed a natural charisma; in no time at all, he had won over the new friends. Langlang in particular gazed at him with utter adoration. No one knew what tall tales Zhou Chiyu boasted about with his hands on his hips, but aside from Shen Yuxiao, all the other children chased after him, playing house.

The adults in the next room chatted away, immersed in the joy and delight of the family gathering. Nearly all the relatives had arrived today—except for his parents.

Gu Cheng and Bai Wenran were away on urgent business in Europe. It would already be a luxury if they made it back before New Year’s Eve.

Without surprise, Gu Yuan would have to spend New Year’s Eve night alone.

He slowly maneuvered his wheelchair toward the elevator.

Doctor Auntie saw him return and assumed he felt unwell. She hurriedly squatted down to check on him.

Faced with the handful of pills she offered, he swallowed them expressionlessly. Then she lifted him onto the bed, and he stared blankly at the ceiling.

At this time in the past, he would have been reading.

But now, he couldn’t focus at all.

His mind was filled with thoughts of how Zhou Chiyu must be having a blast with his new friends.

Gu Yuan felt terribly cold. Even after pulling the quilt tight, it still wasn’t enough. He simply buried his head inside and squeezed his eyes shut.

Before long, messy footsteps sounded at his bedside.

He thought he had misheard and cautiously lifted the quilt. Suddenly, he found several pairs of bright, sparkling eyes staring at him with beaming smiles.

Zhou Chiyu curved his lips and grabbed his hand, shaking it back and forth. “Brother, we’re playing house. Will you be my wife?”

Gu Yuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zhou Chiyu to bring so many kids up here to play with him.

He pulled his hand back and frowned. “I’m not playing a girl.”

Zhou Chiyu’s eyes darted around, and he asked, “Then can I be your wife?”