Peeling off the wrapper, Gu Yuan stuffed the candy into Zhou Chiyu’s mouth and pulled him to sit on his own wheelchair. His wheelchair was relatively spacious, and since he was quite thin, it wasn’t too crowded with Zhou Chiyu sitting.
“Let’s go home.”
Gu Yuan gently held Zhou Chiyu and took out more candies from his pocket. “Once you finish eating these, we’ll be home.”
Zhou Chiyu was indeed hungry. He rubbed his red and swollen eyes and focused entirely on tearing open the candy wrappers.
Gu Yuan had memorized the route this time. Quietly, he took Zhou Chiyu down the elevator and left.
Their family’s car was parked in the courtyard. When the driver saw Gu Yuan emerging in his wheelchair holding Zhou Chiyu, he ran over in surprise. “Young Master Little Fish has been found?”
“Mm.” Gu Yuan had gone through too much that day, and his legs had no strength. He entrusted Zhou Chiyu to the driver. “Please hold him and get in.”
The driver nodded and draped a blanket over Zhou Chiyu. “We’ve finally found Young Master Little Fish.”
There was plenty of food in the car. Zhou Chiyu was starving and shoved bread into his mouth with his chubby little hands. After Gu Yuan had the driver call his parents, he took Zhou Chiyu’s little piece of bread, tore it into bits, and fed it to him.
Holding the phone, the driver learned that Zhou Chiyu had been brought out by Gu Yuan acting alone. He looked at Gu Yuan with surprise and curiosity.
He felt their Little Young Master had changed.
“Uncle, the car next to us is also ours, right?”
Gu Yuan’s expression was calm as he watched the driver. “Let’s go first.”
Meanwhile, the Gu Family had already risen to leave.
Old Master Gu didn’t even glance at the antique items and merely swept a disdainful look at Zhou Yonghe. “You underestimate me too much.”
Seeing the negotiation fail, Zhou Yonghe revealed his true colors. “Then today, I’m afraid you won’t be taking the child. If you want to take Little Fish, unless I receive a court document. Though I have no confidence in winning, I’m certain I can drag the case out for two or three years.”
Old Master Gu raised his brow slightly and exchanged a glance with Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng said, “Aren’t you afraid we’ll call the police?”
Zhou Yonghe laughed. “Do you have evidence the child is here with me?”
Bai Wenran sneered coldly. “Disgusting.”
The standoff lasted a moment before Old Master Gu rose with a darkened face and led the Gu Family away.
“See yourselves out.” Zhou Yonghe leisurely crossed his legs, a hint of smugness rising between his brows. “First, have someone move that child to the USA manor. While the child is young, it’s easier to brainwash him.”
“Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou…”
The assistant looked ashamed, his lips trembling nervously from fear. “Young Master Little Fish is missing…”
…
On the way home, Old Master Gu still found it unbelievable. If Bai Wenran hadn’t quietly told him that Gu Yuan had already taken Zhou Chiyu away, he would have surely caused a huge scene at the Zhou Family today.
In the bedroom, Zhou Chiyu had fallen asleep clutching a biscuit.
Half an hour earlier, he had specifically asked for Eel Pork Rib Rice, but before it arrived, he was already too sleepy to lift his little head.
Gu Yuan was very, very tired, yet he lay beside Zhou Chiyu for a long time without closing his eyes.
Seeing this scene, the three adults’ eyes brimmed with sourness.
In just eight short hours, Zhou Chiyu seemed to have lost a full circle of weight, his little face with bloodshot eyes heartbreaking.
“I’ll stay with Little Fish to sleep.”
Old Master Gu had his son and daughter-in-law take Gu Yuan back, called the doctor to apply ointment to Zhou Chiyu, and then turned off the light to sleep.
In the middle of the night, he suddenly heard faint sobbing. When he turned on the light, he found the little dinosaur on Zhou Chiyu’s chest soaked.
“Grandpa, wah wah wah, where on earth are my daddy, mommy, and grandpa!”
Old Master Gu’s throat bobbed as he let out a suppressed choke. “They’re in the sky.”
Everything around was drowned out by the crying.
Zhou Chiyu cried at the top of his lungs, waving his little hands sadly in the air. He knew what “in the sky” meant—Mommy had told him that when people died, they turned into stars and stayed in the sky forever.
“Little Fish…”
Tears slowly streamed down Old Master Gu’s weathered face. He tried his utmost to hold back. “Don’t be afraid. From now on, we’ll love you, okay?”
Zhou Chiyu shook his head desperately, his chin dripping with teardrops. “I want my daddy and mommy. I want them…”
Old Master Gu looked at the little face crumpled from crying and gently pulled him into his arms. “Cry… cry… it’ll be better once you cry it out.”
The bedroom door was gently pushed open at that moment.
Old Master Gu turned back and saw Gu Yuan sitting in his wheelchair in his pajamas.
Gu Yuan said nothing, just sat there quietly watching Zhou Chiyu.
“Little Yuan, you haven’t slept at all?” Old Master Gu gently stroked Zhou Chiyu’s back, advising with heartache. “Go to sleep quickly, or you’ll feel unwell again tomorrow.”
Gu Yuan shook his head and got onto Zhou Chiyu’s bed.
He had fallen asleep but was woken by Zhou Chiyu’s voice.
Zhou Chiyu buried himself in Old Master Gu’s arms, his little body trembling from crying, gasping for breath.
Gu Yuan lowered his eyes and gently stroked his back.
