Chapter 17

Brilliant fireworks rolled down like shooting stars, casting flowing light and shadows on the glass windows.

Inside, the Gu Family’s New Year’s Eve dinner had already begun. But Gu Yuan hugged the gifts and sat by the window with Zhou Chiyu, watching the fireworks.

Though the fireworks rain was beautiful, Zhou Chiyu was already starving. His round, big eyes kept darting toward the dining table.

He had already smelled the aroma of the food and was on the verge of drooling.

“Brother, aren’t we going to eat?” Zhou Chiyu rubbed his little hands together, his chubby face full of anxiety. “Uncle and Auntie are serving so many delicious things.”

“Zhou Chiyu.”

Gu Yuan’s mind was entirely filled with what had just happened in the Surprise Room.

Zhou Chiyu’s pair of beautiful, clear eyes were just like those of his Little Orange Cat, full of him.

Since he could raise a Little Orange Cat, he could likewise raise Zhou Chiyu.

So, he needed to find a reason.

At that moment, the Butler Uncle reminded them to come eat. Gu Yuan turned back and saw Langlang, Lan Yilin, including Gu Feng and Shen Yuxiao, all looking enviously at the gifts he held in his arms.

“We’re coming right away!” Zhou Chiyu was already raring to go, his little chubby legs even poised for a sprint, just waiting for Gu Yuan’s command.

Gu Yuan nodded unhurriedly, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Chiyu. “Would you be willing to be my little brother?”

“Oh?” Zhou Chiyu laughed innocently and blankly. “I already am your little brother.”

Gu Yuan raised his brow slightly in a frown. “I mean, would you be my one-and-only little brother?”

“One-and-only little brother?” Zhou Chiyu’s stomach was too empty, and his clever little head was almost unable to turn. “If I’m your one-and-only little brother, will you buy me snacks?”

After thinking for a long time, he asked the question he cared about most.

“Of course.” Gu Yuan’s expression carried a seriousness beyond his years. “All my snacks will be yours. Whatever you want, I’ll agree to it.”

“Wow!” Zhou Chiyu could hardly believe that pie had fallen from the sky. In his eyes, only his parents would be willing to share all their snacks with him.

“Then I’ll be your little brother.”

“Your one-and-only little brother!”

He couldn’t wait any longer and hugged Gu Yuan’s arm, jumping up with stars in his eyes.

Gu Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and took hold of Zhou Chiyu’s chubby little hand. “Then let’s go eat.”

“Hooray!”

Zhou Chiyu was like a little electric motor, pushing Gu Yuan’s wheelchair in a mad dash. Gu Lao saw the two little ones return and teased with a smile, “Finished watching the fireworks?”

“Grandpa! I have a big brother now.” Zhou Chiyu rolled up his sleeve and eagerly bit into a piece of braised oxtail. “Gu Yuan is my big brother.”

Gu Lao didn’t quite understand what the two little kids meant and said warmly, “You’ve always had a big brother. Lan Yilin, Little Feng, and Xiaoxiao are all your big brothers.”

Gu Yuan’s expression shifted slightly. He set down his chopsticks several times, anxiously pondering how to explain to Gu Lao that he was Zhou Chiyu’s one-and-only big brother.

Zhou Chiyu had already declared, “It’s different. I’m only Little Yuan Brother’s little brother.”

This time, Gu Lao began to seriously consider the meaning of those words. He carefully observed the expressions of the two children and detected a rare trace of tension in Gu Yuan’s eyes.

“Then congratulations, Little Fish. You have a big brother now.”

Gu Lao smiled with emotion, thinking that this was pretty good too. Zhou Chiyu would live here for the next fourteen years, and getting along well with Gu Yuan was actually the most important thing.

Bai Wenran was also surprised. She didn’t even understand the two little ones’ thinking, but if Gu Yuan could have a good friend, she naturally supported it strongly.

“I didn’t expect Little Fish to like playing with Little Yuan so much.” Gu Ming peeled a red shrimp for Zhou Chiyu. “Actually, Little Fish doesn’t have to have friends—he can come play with Little Feng anytime.”

Gu Feng, upon hearing this, looked at Zhou Chiyu expectantly from the side. He had no interest in Zhou Chiyu himself, but Zhou Chiyu had so many fun toys. If he could become friends with Zhou Chiyu, would Zhou Chiyu treat him the same way he treated Gu Yuan?

“I have friends.” Zhou Chiyu earnestly pointed at Gu Yuan. “Big Brother is my friend.”

Gu Ming’s expression carried a hint of awkwardness as he coaxed gently, “But Little Fish can have lots of friends, right? If you have time, you can come visit my house.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Zhou Chiyu nodded seriously. “But I’m very busy. I have to go to kindergarten.”

Speaking of kindergarten, Gu Lao announced some news to everyone.

After the New Year, Zhou Chiyu’s kindergarten, Haicheng No.1 Kindergarten, would soon reopen. Gu Yuan had already enrolled and was just waiting to attend with Zhou Chiyu.

“Is Little Fish at Haicheng No.1 Kindergarten?” Langlang was eager to try, turning to his mother. “Mom, I want to go to school with Little Fish too.”

Langlang’s mother laughed. “If you switch kindergartens, won’t you miss your friends?”

Langlang hesitated, counting on his fingers and mumbling, “I have three friends in Zhong 2 Class. If I leave, they’ll have two left—they won’t be lonely.”

Langlang’s mother stroked his head. “But the teacher will miss you too.”

This time, Langlang completely gave up the idea and looked at Gu Yuan with envy, only regretting that he couldn’t spend every day with Zhou Chiyu.

He admitted that he was tempted by Zhou Chiyu’s toys, but what attracted him more was that Zhou Chiyu was a fun little kid.

How great would it be if he could see Zhou Chiyu every day?

Zhou Chiyu was so cute and kind—he wanted Zhou Chiyu to be his little brother too.

“Then I won’t transfer schools.” Langlang propped his cheek and said.

Hearing Langlang’s words, Gu Yuan’s little fist hidden under the table unclenched slightly, and the tension in his eyes vanished completely.

Langlang not transferring meant Zhou Chiyu wouldn’t be snatched away.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner ended, Zhou Chiyu followed Gu Yuan to look at the gifts Gu Yuan had received. Though Gu Yuan’s gifts weren’t as many as Zhou Chiyu’s, they still filled the entire room, and it would take quite some time to unwrap them all.

Gu Yuan said that Zhou Chiyu could take any of these gifts he wanted. Zhou Chiyu was thrilled and, with his chubby legs splayed, unwrapped the gifts like Blind Boxes.

At that moment, his electronic watch dinged with a notification sound.

Gu Yuan looked over and discovered that Zhou Chiyu had so many WeChat friends.

He had WeChat too, but only his parents were his friends.

“Happy New Year, Orange!”

Zhou Chiyu was inputting a voice message, his chubby face beaming like a sunflower. “I miss you so much too.”

“Who are you chatting with?”

Gu Yuan unwrapped a gift in red packaging and found animation merchandise inside: clothes, a Sugar Figure, and a little dog hat.

“I’m wishing my good friend Chen Yucheng a Happy New Year.”

Zhou Chiyu’s WeChat was very busy today, with all his friends sending New Year’s greetings.

“Little Mango, Happy New Year! I love you so much.”

“Little Milk, Happy New Year! Miss you, miss you!”

“Dear Junjun, happy birthday for growing a year older! Little Fish will always be your good friend.”

Zhou Chiyu replied to the messages one after another, completely oblivious to Gu Yuan’s increasingly gloomy expression.

Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes, a flicker of jealousy burning between his brows.

So, Zhou Chiyu was this mushy with everyone.

“Brother? What’s that? Is it Paw Patrol?!” Zhou Chiyu’s eyes were sharp. He excitedly crawled over and stared at the Paw Patrol Sugar Figure, asking expectantly, “Can I eat this? This little dog is called Chase, and he’s a police dog.”

“Oh.” Gu Yuan was quite cold as he took out the Fondant Cake from the box. “Who is this?”

“What a pretty cake! This is Grey Grey, and this is Fluffy!”

Zhou Chiyu’s round face flushed red with irrepressible excitement.

“Brother, these gifts…”

He shyly fiddled with his fingers, hinting wildly. “You just said I could take them—”

“I’m tired.” Gu Yuan’s face paled with anger as he sat up in his wheelchair. “I’m going to bathe and sleep.”

He wrapped himself in a blanket. He didn’t take any of the mountain of gifts with him—except for the box containing the Paw Patrol merchandise.

Zhou Chiyu’s expectations quietly fell through, but he didn’t give up. He ignored even the WeChat messages and sneaked after Gu Yuan on his little feet.

That box of Fondant Cakes must be delicious!

If his good friends knew he ate Paw Patrol cake and wore a Paw Patrol hat, how envious they’d be!

Behind him came the “pat pat pat” of footsteps.

Gu Yuan noticed the sounds behind him. He entered his bedroom alone, set the box aside temporarily, picked up the pajamas the butler had prepared for him, and prepared to bathe.

With his peripheral vision, he glimpsed Zhou Chiyu hiding outside the door, one chubby little leg exposed, and secretly smiled.

“Little Young Master, the hot water is ready.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Gu Yuan drank a cup of warm water and carried the gift box into the bathroom.

Water sounds started in the bathroom.

Zhou Chiyu scratched his curly little hair, completely baffled this time.

Why was Gu Yuan taking those things into the bath? He had wanted to sneak a couple away.

But—

He thought of a plan.

Five seconds later, bare-bottomed with his white, clean little butt, he rushed into Gu Yuan’s bathroom.