As everyone knew, kindergarten fairy tale performances ensured every child got a part. Weaker kids often played rocks, trees, or flowers—simple roles. Zhou Chiyu’s thinking made perfect sense. Gu Yuan as Sleeping Beauty could lie down and had no lines—a win-win.
“But the teacher said lots of kids signed up for Sleeping Beauty, so there’s a competition.” Bai Wenran pondered. “How will they compete?”
Zhou Chiyu flashed a confident smile. “Auntie, don’t worry. I have a plan. Brother will definitely win!”
After dinner, Zhou Chiyu returned to his room to practice the Little Prince’s lines, while Gu Yuan lay in bed as the masseuse worked on his body.
His first full day of school had left him sore all over, feeling quite uncomfortable.
“Little Yuan, time for your medicine.”
Bai Wenran held Gu Yuan and fed him his meds, then kissed his forehead. “Were you tired from school today?”
“Mm.” Gu Yuan recalled the embarrassment of sneaking to the bathroom to ditch that wad of greens and felt exhausted.
“Get some early rest.” Bai Wenran patted his back and helped him lie down. Hearing he’d eaten a lot at school made her happy.
“The Zhou family wants to visit Little Fish.”
After Gu Cheng entered the room, he and Bai Wenran stayed while Gu Yuan had therapy, chatting about what Gu Lao had just told him.
“The Zhou family?” Bai Wenran frowned slightly. “Since Little Fish’s grandpa entrusted him to Dad, it means the Zhou family has no one suitable. Are they visiting Little Fish for some other purpose?”
“It’s possible.” Gu Cheng raised his hand and gently stroked Gu Yuan’s forehead. “So Dad refused.”
“But…” Gu Cheng sighed. “Dad’s under a lot of pressure too. The one wanting to visit is his Uncle Grandpa, and Uncle Zhou’s will didn’t explicitly forbid them from seeing Little Fish.”
Bai Wenran handed Gu Cheng a cup of warm water. “True, Dad must be in a tough spot.”
“Mom, Dad, if Little Fish’s relatives come to see him, will they tell him his parents are gone?”
Gu Yuan, who had nearly fallen asleep, suddenly spoke up.
Bai Wenran’s gentle gaze turned to him. “Probably not. Little Fish didn’t attend the funeral, so they know to keep it from him.”
“Mm.” Gu Yuan asked again, “Then what do they want with Little Fish?”
Gu Cheng answered, “Maybe they just miss him.”
Gu Yuan nodded his little head and stared at the ceiling without saying more.
He was so tired today. If he wanted to go to school tomorrow, he had to sleep…
But he worried those people might take Zhou Chiyu away.
Meanwhile, after memorizing all his lines, Zhou Chiyu hugged his tablet computer and went to find Gu Lao. His memory was excellent, and his language skills far exceeded those of his peers. Reciting three short pages of lines was no problem—especially since he’d heard this story for years.
Gu Lao was working in the study. Seeing Zhou Chiyu, he picked him up for a kiss. “What does Little Fish want with Grandpa?”
“I want to help Brother get the Sleeping Beauty role.”
Zhou Chiyu expertly opened Taobao and invited Gu Lao to shop with him. “Grandpa, my account has no money, so I need Grandpa to pay.”
“No money online?” Gu Lao paused. “No online banking, right?”
“Yes.” Zhou Chiyu voice-input “princess dress” into the search bar, and colorful tutus filled the screen.
“Sleeping Beauty is about who looks the prettiest.”
Zhou Chiyu muttered, “Brother is the prettiest kid. He’ll definitely win.”
Gu Lao thought it made sense and started picking items with him.
“Grandpa, let’s buy Brother a necklace.”
“We need a wig too.”
“And high heels!”
Zhou Chiyu observed meticulously, matching everything from the picture book Sleeping Beauty for Gu Yuan. Gu Lao cooperated at first, but his expression grew subtle after Zhou Chiyu ordered the long brown wig.
He knew his grandson all too well. Gu Yuan in a princess dress and wig? That might not fly.
“Grandpa, should we get some makeup too?”
Gu Lao’s smile held hesitation. “Maybe we can skip that.”
Two days later, when Gu Yuan’s costume arrived, the room buzzed with excitement.
“Brother, you really won’t wear it?”
“Brother, you’ll be the most beautiful in it.”
In front of the dazzling array of costume pieces, Gu Yuan sat ramrod straight, his little face tense and silent.
High heels, long wig, gem necklace…
He couldn’t accept any of it.
Zhou Chiyu actually wanted him to wear this to school?
Zhou Chiyu didn’t understand—why wouldn’t Gu Yuan wear it? Was it not pretty enough? He had picked it exactly like the princess dress in the fairy tale picture book.
“No.” Gu Yuan shouldered his schoolbag, ready for school. “I don’t want to perform anymore.”
“I spent so long picking it.” Zhou Chiyu huffed and spread his little arms to block Gu Yuan. “But you already signed up.”
Gu Yuan’s brows furrowed slightly. “High heels are for girls.”
Zhou Chiyu spread his hands. “You’re playing a girl.”
“You—”
It was true, but Gu Yuan still couldn’t accept the clothes.
“Brother, you can’t just say things without meaning them!”
Zhou Chiyu’s idiom vocabulary was limited, but he remembered this one.
Gu Yuan’s little face was stubborn. “It’s ‘keep your word,’ right?”
“Yes!” Zhou Chiyu gave his reason. “Brother needs to look pretty in the clothes so the teacher picks you as Sleeping Beauty.”
Gu Yuan’s expression softened a bit, but he still didn’t yield.
“Brother should set an example for me.” Zhou Chiyu lifted his chubby little face. “So what if a boy plays princess? If I were as good-looking as Brother, I’d want to play Sleeping Beauty too. I think Brother is the best-looking kid in kindergarten.”
Gu Yuan covered his ears, rejecting Zhou Chiyu’s persuasion.
“No, you’re the best-looking person in the world.”
Zhou Chiyu made a big heart shape and mimed shooting it. “If you’re the princess, I’ll be your little knight and protect you from harm!”
