Chapter 21 Part 3

Where on earth were his daddy and mommy?

Please come save him.

“Little Young Master, let’s go eat.” Xiao Li bent down gently. “If you don’t eat, you’ll go hungry.”

The piercing pain made Zhou Chiyu gasp. He pouted, wiped his tears grudgingly, and crawled back onto the bed.

“I’ll wait for Daddy and Mommy to come pick me up.”

The servants exchanged irritated looks. Xiao Li drawled, “Tell Mr. Zhou that the Little Young Master refuses to eat. He’s a pampered little young master—it’s normal for him to be upset after losing his parents.”

Ten minutes later, following Zhou Yonghe’s instructions, the servants left the room one by one.

“Looks like he’s not that important after all.”

“Mr. Zhou said if he doesn’t eat, starve him for two meals and he’ll behave.”

Only when he heard the door slam did Zhou Chiyu cautiously lift his head. He scurried on his short legs to open his schoolbag.

Sure enough, he had left his Phone Watch at the kindergarten.

But he knew Daddy and Mommy’s phone numbers.

There was a landline on the desk in the room. He climbed onto a stool, standing on tiptoe to reach it.

He dialed the familiar number, and tears welled up again. Twisting the phone cord nervously and expectantly, he rubbed his reddened nose and sobbed softly,

“Mommy… pick up the phone, please.”

…

By ten o’clock that night, the Gu Family had dispatched over a hundred people to search for Zhou Chiyu, with the police joining the effort.

Gu Yuan sat in the car, his body aching and exhausted.

He didn’t know how to describe his feelings—only that he was deeply heartbroken.

“Little Yuan, are you feeling unwell?”

Bai Wenran held him gently and sighed. “We have some leads now. We’ll find Little Fish soon.”

“What if bad people took him.” Gu Yuan hung his head, his voice weak. “Little Fish must be so hungry.”

Tears pricked at Bai Wenran’s eyes. She gently rubbed Gu Yuan’s face. “Believe Mommy. We’ll find Little Fish by tomorrow for sure.”

Gu Yuan was so tired, on the verge of sleep. He leaned lightly against Bai Wenran, his breathing growing faint. “But Mommy, Little Fish must be so sad right now.”

Bai Wenran’s breath warmed him. “That’s why, once we find him, we’ll comfort him properly.”

“Mm.” Gu Yuan’s face was pale. He coughed softly. “I’ll buy all the delicious food in the world and give it to Little Fish.”

Gu Cheng looked down at his son’s dejected, sorrowful expression, deep worry etching his brows.

He had a premonition that Zhou Chiyu had been taken by someone with ulterior motives.

This time, bringing Zhou Chiyu back to the Gu Family would take some effort.

“Sleep, Little Yuan.” Bai Wenran soothed him softly. “When you wake up, Little Fish will be home.”

“Really?”

Gu Yuan’s heart fluttered with unprecedented anxiety, holding back his tears with effort.

His little hand clutched Bai Wenran’s clothes. His heavy head could barely lift anymore, but he stayed awake, listening closely to the uncle in the passenger seat’s phone—because that uncle had the latest updates on Zhou Chiyu.

The night outside the car window was dark and lightless. Gu Yuan stared blankly outside, as if suddenly understanding something.

Love came in many forms.

For instance, he had so much love for his parents and grandpa.

He had so much love for Zhou Chiyu too.

Why was that?

Was it just because Zhou Chiyu always played with him?

That didn’t seem to be the whole reason.

He remembered a Picture Book he had once read, called The Magical Journey of the Rabbit and the Tree. The story was fun: the big tree and the little rabbit were good friends. To help the little rabbit make more friends, the tree turned into a train to carry the rabbit over mountains, into a plane to soar through the clouds, into a sailboat to glide across the seas…

Zhou Chiyu was like that flying tree friend to him.

And he was the little rabbit.

Gu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly, his lips turning down.

But if he died, Zhou Chiyu would be heartbroken again.

“Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu!”

An excited voice jolted Gu Yuan awake from his half-dozing state.

The assistant in the passenger seat turned back joyfully. “Little Fish’s father’s assistant just informed us—Little Fish called them.”

Gu Yuan struggled to sit up, his bloodless lips pressed tight.

…

At midnight that night, Old Master Gu arrived at He Rui Mansion.

Zhou Yonghe hadn’t expected Gu Lao to act so swiftly, but he didn’t mind. Even if Gu Lao hadn’t come tonight, he would have invited him tomorrow.

“K-kidnapping a child not even five—this kind of dirty deed, and you stoop to it!” Old Master Gu stood ramrod straight, his seemingly calm tone hiding turbulent confrontation and dominance. He ignored the tea offered by a servant, his eyes sharp and piercing. “Hand the child over now.”

Gu Yuan sat in his Wheelchair, quietly surveying the surroundings.

As they passed the hallway, he thought he heard crying.

Zhou Yonghe rested his hands on the table unhurriedly. “By age, I should really call you ‘big brother.’”

Old Master Gu raised a hand to cut him off, his piercing gaze—like it could see through souls—fixed on the man. “No need for brotherly pretenses. It’s late. I need to take the child home to sleep.”

Zhou Yonghe’s index finger tapped the desk lightly, slowly eyeing the group. He hadn’t expected Gu Songyuan to make such a show of force—not just bringing his son and daughter-in-law, but even the reportedly frail little grandson.

“Big Brother has a vast family and estate, sons and grandsons aplenty. Why fight me over this?” Zhou Yonghe’s voice was low and husky. “Besides, by blood ties near and far, Little Fish is closer to me.”