Sunlight spilled onto their bodies, scorching and blazing hot.
Gu Yuan suddenly pulled Zhou Chiyu into a tight embrace, and the tears he had held back for so long finally fell uncontrollably.
A faint sobbing echoed softly in the quiet sunroom. He clutched Zhou Chiyu’s sleeve tightly, and the sorrow he had suppressed for so long erupted completely.
“Wuu…”
Gu Yuan curled up like an injured little beast, gently hunching his body. He admitted he was very timid—he was truly afraid of dying.
“Cry it out, cry it out.”
Zhou Chiyu’s chubby little face scrunched up as he kept rubbing against Gu Yuan’s hair, offering comfort and companionship.
“Crying it out won’t make you sad anymore, okay?”
Gu Yuan suddenly opened his mouth and bit down on Zhou Chiyu’s clothes, as if only this could hide his vulnerability and calm him down a bit.
The faint sobs reverberated off the dome ceiling.
The afternoon breeze carried fallen leaves from the courtyard, dancing gracefully before the sunroom’s glass.
Zhou Chiyu kissed Gu Yuan’s forehead and closed his eyes, silently praying.
His brother had to live a long, long life!
If the immortals would really grant his wish, he could go without snacks for the rest of his life.
A night of frost brought a sharp drop in temperature.
Pedestrians on the streets all bundled up in warm coats, and the bare, skeletal branches swayed in the cold wind. This caused Zhou Chiyu great trouble when he woke up.
Without Gu Yuan’s company, he simply couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. After Butler Uncle hoisted him into the car, he resentfully sprawled on the seat, his chubby face full of gloom.
In the past, Gu Yuan would hold him while explaining math lessons and even occasionally feed him sandwiches. Now, the back seat held only him—he felt so lonely.
“Why hasn’t your brother come yet?”
Zhou Junyi hovered around Zhou Chiyu and told him, “You know what? Mei Shu actually transferred schools this week!”
“Oh.” Zhou Chiyu listlessly pulled out his textbook, his chubby face full of grievance and dejection. “His body’s not better yet; he needs to take another half month off.”
“Remember to pass on my regards to your brother.” Zhou Junyi tentatively raised his hand and, imitating Gu Yuan, rubbed Zhou Chiyu’s chubby cheek.
Without Gu Yuan around, Zhou Chiyu spent more and more time playing with him, which made him pretty happy.
Zhou Chiyu was just so cute—he wanted a little brother like that too.
“Little Fish, after school tonight, let’s go to the mall for dinner.”
Zhou Junyi leaned against Zhou Chiyu and suggested with a smile, “I know a place with super delicious Curry Pork Chop Rice. I’ll treat you!”
“Curry Pork Chop Rice?” Zhou Chiyu’s dull eyes finally regained a bit of sparkle. Zhou Junyi continued tempting him with food: “Their pork chops have a crispy outer layer, and one bite makes the juices burst out.”
“I haven’t had Curry Pork Chop Rice in so long.” Zhou Chiyu touched his belly and murmured, “My brother likes curry too.”
Just as Zhou Junyi thought he would accept the invitation, Zhou Chiyu excitedly raised his chubby little hand. “Tonight, I’m getting the pork chop rice to go and eating it at home with my brother.”
Zhou Junyi was stunned. “But Little Fish, what about us…”
“Sorry, next time I’ll treat you to pork chops!” Zhou Chiyu said earnestly. “My brother’s sick and needs me with him.”
Zhou Junyi felt a bit dejected and muttered softly, “But eating with us wouldn’t take much time, and the pork chops are best right after frying.”
“Better not.” Zhou Chiyu pursed his lips. Though he really craved that perfectly textured fried pork chop, in his heart, Gu Yuan was still the most important.
“Butler Uncle told me that every day at the time I get out of school, Brother stares at the clock. If I’m even an hour late, he’ll definitely feel super lonely.”
He sighed. “You don’t know, but my brother is actually really fragile.”
“Alright.” Zhou Junyi was very disappointed but said enviously, “Little Fish, you’re such a good little brother.”
With that, he pulled a lollipop from his schoolbag. “Little Fish, I got this specially for you. Peel off the wrapper, and inside is a little fish.”
“Wow, thank you.” Zhou Chiyu cradled the lollipop in both hands and treasured it by putting it in his pocket. “Tomorrow, I’ll give you some snacks too.”
“Okay.” Zhou Junyi smiled, finally feeling a bit comforted.
–
In the evening, the rich aroma of curry filled the entire sunroom. Zhou Chiyu sat on a stool, his cheeks puffed out full, and his dangling little legs happily swung to the rhythm of his chewing.
“Brother, is it tasty?”
He beamed, a ring of pale yellow curry sauce smeared around his lips. He’d been eating so intently that he hadn’t noticed the grains of rice stuck to his nose tip.
“Very tasty.”
Gu Yuan had grown much thinner lately. Leaning in his wheelchair, he focused intently on savoring the pork chop on his plate.
His appetite had been poor recently, and he’d already had an afternoon snack, but the curry Zhou Chiyu brought back from the tea restaurant was exceptionally tempting, fully awakening his taste buds.
Zhou Chiyu speared a tight piece of pork chop, golden breadcrumbs falling onto the milky white porcelain plate, gleaming enticingly.
“Brother, let me feed you.”
Gu Yuan paused, gazing at the half-bitten pork chop in front of him, then obediently opened his mouth.
“Since Brother ate mine, now I get to eat yours.” Zhou Chiyu rolled his glassy eyes and grinned mischievously as he forked the largest pork chop from Gu Yuan’s plate. Gu Yuan’s gaze fell on Zhou Chiyu’s now-empty plate, and he suddenly understood the real reason Zhou Chiyu had fed him the pork chop.
