On the second-floor terrace, Gu Cheng had already watched the two for a long time. He had just been reading a book when the playful noises from downstairs caught his attention.
“Gu Cheng, do you know where the Jadeite Inkstone that Dad gave is placed?”
Bai Wenran’s voice drew closer. Gu Cheng’s expression grew solemn as he turned and took his wife’s hand. “I’ll take you to get it.”
Bai Wenran nodded and glanced back at the weather outside. “Isn’t Little Yuan still out walking? The forecast said there’s rain today. We need to get them to come home soon.”
“I told them.” Gu Cheng smiled gently. “They’re all grown up. As parents, we should worry a little less.”
Bai Wenran sighed with a smile. “To be completely at ease, we still have to wait until Little Yuan gets married and has kids. I always feel like he’s still a child until he starts a family.”
Gu Cheng, mindful of how hard her pregnancy had been, simply scooped her up and carried her inside. “I think the mark of maturity has nothing to do with starting a family. The most important thing is having a sense of responsibility, sound values, and the ability to protect himself and the ones he loves.”
“You’re right.” Bai Wenran gently stroked her belly. “I just hope our two children stay healthy, after watching Little Yuan suffer so much.”
Gu Cheng gently massaged her feet. “Mm, Little Fish too.”
The lounge chair in the courtyard stood empty.
Zhou Chiyu and Gu Yuan stepped out and headed toward the nearby Lugu Park. The surrounding air felt humid and sticky, with fine mist carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, lightly enveloping the two.
“Is it going to rain?”
Zhou Chiyu reached up and lightly touched the overhanging leaves. The accumulated rainwater inside trickled down his wrist.
He shook it off, only to find his cuff completely soaked.
“Just like when we were kids.” Gu Yuan took his hand and rolled up his sleeve neatly and properly. “Every time you washed your hands at kindergarten, you’d secretly play with the water and get your clothes wet.”
“Oh, I have some memory of that.” Zhou Chiyu mumbled. “Teacher Tangtang always caught me and confiscated my stickers!”
“Mm.” Gu Yuan switched places with him, walking on the inner side under the overhanging leaves, and naturally took his wrist. “You only managed to fill your wish card once per semester.”
Though Zhou Chiyu was very popular with the teachers, they still deducted his stickers impartially when he misbehaved. He collected them slowly to begin with, and with occasional confiscations, the wish card always seemed far off.
But as the model three-good student, Gu Yuan filled his wish cards quickly. The little prizes he redeemed were all things Zhou Chiyu liked. In the class, all the kids envied Zhou Chiyu for having a brother like Gu Yuan.
“Tch, you just love pointing out my shortcomings.”
The dark gray clouds pressed lower and lower. Zhou Chiyu gazed at the distant bushes and said softly, “Bro, the rain’s coming soon.”
No sooner had he spoken than the damp earthy scent hit them. The leaves began to shake wildly, the air grew hotter and more stagnant, and thick mist swept in instantly.
Zhou Chiyu worried about getting caught in the rain. “Should we head home?”
“I brought this.” Gu Yuan pulled a folding umbrella from his pocket and opened it gently, motioning for Zhou Chiyu to come under it.
Zhou Chiyu smiled. “You come prepared.”
“Of course.” Amusement laced Gu Yuan’s voice. “I wanted to spend more time with you, so I made sure to be ready. Once we’re home, you’ll just go back to your room and ignore me.”
“Hm? When have I ever ignored you?” Fine rain threads fell through the woods. Zhou Chiyu’s steps synced perfectly with Gu Yuan’s, and he noticed sparse rain mist clinging to Gu Yuan’s hair tips.
He hesitated, then pulled out a tissue to wipe it off for him.
“Whenever you want to find me, I’ll always pay attention to you, okay?”
His voice grew softer. The hint of grievance in Gu Yuan’s tone melted into the inescapable thick mist, lingering in his heart.
The temperature under the umbrella rose higher. Damp wind whipped leaves between them as the rain began to slant.
Gu Yuan shifted his steps, tilting the umbrella slightly toward Zhou Chiyu.
Water droplets clung to his hair, dripping wet onto Gu Yuan’s forehead. Rain trailed from the ends down his brows, nose, and lips.
Zhou Chiyu frowned. “How is there so much rain?”
His movements were gentle and careful as he wiped the rain from Gu Yuan’s face bit by bit. But he found that no matter how much he wiped, rain kept appearing on Gu Yuan’s face.
The rain threads wove a dense curtain on the umbrella’s surface. As the wind picked up, Gu Yuan’s clothes on his back soaked through.
Even so, he kept his gaze fixed on Zhou Chiyu, afraid the other might run away at any moment.
“Bro?”
Zhou Chiyu looked up and immediately grabbed the umbrella handle upon seeing how tilted it was. “Hurry and straighten the umbrella. You’re getting soaked yourself.”
