Zhou Chiyu beamed with pride, jumped down from Gu Lao’s lap, and dutifully shelled nuts for him. “Grandpa, the doctor says nuts have unsaturated fatty acids that help prevent cardiovascular disease. You have to eat some every day.”
He’d learned these lines from Doctor Auntie. Ever since he knew about it, he reminded Gu Lao to eat nuts daily.
Gu Lao smiled fondly. “Little Fat Fish, don’t hurt your hands.”
“I won’t.” Zhou Chiyu puffed his cheeks. “I’m super strong.”
Gu Lao reached up and stroked his curly hair, his gaze tender and lingering. Gu Ming watched, displeased, but what made him more jealous was why Gu Cheng got to take over overseas markets. They were both sons, yet he only handled the Jiangbei Region business line, five ranks below Gu Cheng.
“Tch, brown-noser.” Gu Feng stuck his tongue out at Shen Yuxiao, and the two went to the courtyard to gripe about Zhou Chiyu.
Their own grandpa was so good to a wild kid with no parents—they didn’t get it.
“Isn’t Little Yuan back in the wheelchair?” Gu Ming sighed. “Tomorrow we’re going to sweep Mom’s tomb; can he make it?”
Gu Lao spoke up. “He’s just a kid; better not.”
At that moment, Zhou Chiyu touched Gu Lao’s heart area considerately. “Grandpa, I’ll sweep the tomb for Brother. I have a gift for Grandma.”
Gu Lao’s eyes stung, and he pulled Zhou Chiyu into a heartbroken embrace.
The child had just swept the tomb two months ago; he couldn’t bear letting such a young kid face this too soon.
“Little Fish, Langlang misses you a lot.” Langlang’s mom smiled at Gu Lao. “The little guy’s thrilled at the thought of playing with Little Fish.”
With Gu Yuan absent, Langlang could monopolize Zhou Chiyu completely. Hearing there were new toys in the yard and a children’s race track installed, he pestered Zhou Chiyu to check it out with him.
“Little Fish, where’s your cousin?”
“He’s resting.”
Zhou Chiyu clasped his hands behind his back, frowning worriedly. “Brother’s been sleeping all day. I checked on him three times, and he didn’t wake up.”
Langlang nodded. “Cousin’s sick, and sick people need rest.”
“But Brother looks just like Sleeping Beauty…” Zhou Chiyu’s eyes gradually reddened. He tightly covered them and trembled. “Why isn’t Brother better yet?”
Langlang froze for a moment, suddenly at a loss.
“Little Fish, Cousin will be healthy again soon.”
Zhou Chiyu huffed and stomped. “It’s all Mei Shu’s fault. I hate him.”
A commotion erupted by the fountain pool not far away.
Zhou Chiyu looked over and saw that the Children’s Mini Car Gu Lao had custom-ordered for him had been driven off by Gu Feng.
That was his new gift!
He’d planned to take Gu Yuan for a ride!
“Langlang! Quick, help me take back the Little Car!”
Chattering squabbles filled the courtyard. Upstairs, Gu Yuan was jolted awake by the sudden noise. The doctor noticed and hurriedly closed the window.
“Little Yuan, how do you feel?”
Gu Yuan had slept six hours, and his spirits had improved. He raised his hand and saw tiny red spots covering the pale blue veins.
“It’s fine.”
The doctor looked at his pale, gaunt little face and comforted him warmly. “In another week, Little Yuan, you can go back to school.”
His infusion wrist ached faintly. Gu Yuan murmured, “I think I heard Little Fish’s voice.”
Doctor: “Little Fish is indeed playing in the yard. All your brothers and cousins are visiting today.”
Gu Yuan turned his head and gazed faintly out the window. “I want to go out and see.”
The doctor hesitated. “The temperature’s a bit low today; it’s best if you don’t.”
…
“This is my Little Car; you can’t just touch other people’s things.” Zhou Chiyu stomped his feet fiercely, baring his teeth in a fearless stance. He was confident that even in a real fight, he could take them one punch at a time.
“Other people’s things?” Gu Feng sat in the Little Car, arrogantly propping his foot on the mirror Zhou Chiyu had polished to a shine. “This was bought with Grandpa’s money—how could it be yours?”
Langlang backed Zhou Chiyu up. “Grandpa gave it to him.”
“He’s not your real grandpa.” Gu Feng flashed a provocative grin. “Gu Yuan’s not your real brother either.”
These years, Zhou Chiyu yapped nonstop about his “real grandpa” and “real brother,” grating on Gu Feng’s ears. Especially seeing how much Gu Lao doted on Zhou Chiyu—jealousy and resentment grew like weeds with his age.
“Where’s Gu Yuan?” Gu Feng asked on purpose. “Lying in bed needing his wheelchair again?”
Zhou Chiyu wrinkled his nose in anger and clenched his little fist tight. “Gu Feng, believe it or not, I’ll punch you!”
“You punch me?” Gu Feng sneered mockingly. “If you do, I have my mom and dad to back me up. Do you?”
Zhou Chiyu bared his teeth, pretending to be fierce. “Of course I do! I have them too!”
“Where are your mom and dad?” Gu Feng kicked the steering wheel hard, his smile turning nastier. “Where’s your grandpa?”
Zhou Chiyu froze, his little fist slowly unclenching. “I…”
Gu Feng kept poking. “Hurry and get Gu Yuan to back you up!”
Though Shen Yuxiao disliked Zhou Chiyu too, he felt Gu Feng was going too far and stayed silent.
Bang! Before Gu Feng’s last syllable fully landed, a fast-flying basketball slammed into his back, instantly knocking him off the car to sprawl on the ground.
He clutched his throbbing shoulder in fury and whipped around, only to find the thrower was Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan slowly pushed himself up from the wheelchair, his heart aching and trembling.
Gu Feng had gone too far, attacking Zhou Chiyu over something like that.
His eyes darkened, pale lips parting and closing. “Try saying one more word about it!”
