Zhou Chiyu held back the sourness in his nose and threw himself into his father’s arms.
He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt a warm breath.
“I hope after my Little Fish becomes an adult, he can be even braver and stronger, and live every day very happily.” His father patted his shoulder. “We’re all silently blessing you, so don’t be afraid no matter what difficulties you face, okay?”
“Mm-hmm!” Zhou Chiyu nodded vigorously through his tears and gently opened the gift, discovering a Silver Brooch inside. “I’ve always loved you—never stopped.”
“Happy birthday.” Zhou Chiyu’s mother gazed at him tenderly the whole time, slowly raising her hand to ruffle his hair. “My Little Fish Baby.”
With a wave of his father’s large hand, a birthday Swan Cake topped with candles appeared on the table: “Little Fish, make a wish.”
Salty tears mixed with his breaths choked Zhou Chiyu’s throat. He bit his lip gently, his voice choked: “My wish is…”
He had so many wishes…
“I hope you live happily in your next life. If fate allows, I want to meet you again.”
“My Baby, it will happen.”
Zhou Chiyu’s mother gave him one last hug: “We’ll meet again—for sure.”
…
Zhou Chiyu walked out of Qiong Hua Hall and trudged with heavy steps to sit alone by the lake.
There was no doubt that today’s coming-of-age ceremony had brought him an unexpected surprise.
But after this grand surprise, the emptiness and melancholy in his heart couldn’t be filled no matter what.
The other guests had already followed Gu Lao to another hall for dinner. He was still immersed in the illusion from moments ago, his mood not yet recovered.
The root cause, he felt, was Gu Yuan’s absence.
Gu Lao had just told him that Gu Yuan’s flight had turned back, and the earliest he could return to the country was in three days.
But he was puzzled—why hadn’t Gu Yuan contacted him?
He hung his head, waiting for Gu Yuan’s message.
Rustling footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. He turned sharply and saw that the person who came was Wu Chen.
Wu Chen looked at his dejected expression and pouted: “What? Disappointed to see me?”
“No.” Zhou Chiyu rubbed his red and swollen eyes and wrapped his coat tighter: “I haven’t been able to reach my brother. I thought he was back.”
“I heard Grandpa Gu say the flight was delayed.” Wu Chen sat beside him, hesitating to speak: “Gu Yuan’s gift was pretty good. Even I was moved.”
“Mm.” Zhou Chiyu pursed his lips: “It’s been a long time since I dreamed of them. If not for my brother, I probably never would have been able to see them like this in my lifetime.”
Gu Yuan was the person who understood him best in the world. He knew what he cared about most and what he couldn’t let go of.
“My condolences.”
Wu Chen couldn’t think of special words of comfort and murmured: “You’re actually already very fortunate. You have a brother who loves you so much, a grandpa who protects you, and billions in family assets that’s all yours.”
In their eyes, Zhou Chiyu had won the lottery of life. Though his family had passed away, he lacked for nothing and was better off than most.
“Don’t mind my rough words. I always hear adults say you’re really lucky. If the people raising you had bad intentions, you might not even have survived to adulthood.”
Wu Chen shrugged: “So don’t be too sad.”
Zhou Chiyu naturally understood these truths.
He gazed at the moon’s reflection in the lake opposite and said softly: “I must have done a lot of good deeds in my previous life.”
Wu Chen chuckled twice: “Yeah.”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met Grandpa and Brother.”
The wind shattered the moon’s reflection into fragments. Zhou Chiyu smiled and stood up, his tone light: “Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for me.”
Wu Chen hurried to catch up: “Hey, actually, I wanted to ask—how are things between you and Gu Yuan?”
Zhou Chiyu walked with his hands behind his back, pretending not to understand: “What do you mean?”
“You two have something going on.” Wu Chen narrowed his eyes: “You can’t escape my sharp eyes.”
Zhou Chiyu looked at Wu Chen in shock.
So many people had noticed?
He said blankly: “How did you figure it out?”
“Obviously.” Wu Chen teased: “Just from the way Gu Yuan jumped into the sea to save you last time—it’s more than what blood brothers would do, and you’re not even related.”
Zhou Chiyu secretly mocked his own obliviousness but didn’t agree with Wu Chen’s words.
“Nonsense.”
Very confidently: “Even if my brother has no romantic feelings for me and it’s just brotherly love, he would still save me without hesitation.”
“Oh? So that means he does have those kinds of feelings for you.” Wu Chen was like he’d dug up a big scoop: “So how are you two planning to tell the elders?”
Everyone prominent knew about the brotherly relationship between Gu Yuan and Zhou Chiyu. If they got together, it would be big news locally.
“Not sure yet.” Zhou Chiyu sighed: “They definitely won’t accept it easily.”
“Of course not.” Wu Chen shook his head: “You two have it tough.”
Zhou Chiyu returned to the main hall and took his seat under Gu Lao’s gaze.
Seeing his slightly swollen eyes, Gu Lao lowered his head and said warmly: “Do you want to rest for a bit?”
“No need.”
Zhou Chiyu hugged Gu Lao’s arm affectionately: “I’m the star today—how can I be absent?”
Moreover, this coming-of-age ceremony had been meticulously prepared by Gu Lao—it was his heartfelt gesture.
Gu Lao patted his head: “In half an hour, we’ll cut the cake.”
“Mm-hmm!”
It wasn’t until eleven at night that the guests gradually left.
After seeing off the guests, Zhou Chiyu sat on the Terrace lost in thought.
Seeing he wasn’t in high spirits, Butler Chen fetched a coat and draped it over him: “There are a lot of novel gifts from everyone this time. Want to go take a look?”
Zhou Chiyu shook his head: “Tomorrow.”
Butler Chen raised his wrist: “It’s almost midnight. Aren’t you going to rest?”
“Right away.” Zhou Chiyu looked up and noticed Butler Chen’s eyes were also swollen.
He seemed to have overlooked something.
Butler Chen and Grandpa were so close. It had been so many years since they last met—his heart must ache too.
“You go rest.”
Zhou Chiyu took Butler Chen’s calloused hand: “I’m fine, just missing my brother a bit.”
“Young Master Gu will be back in a few days.” Butler Chen placed his palm on Zhou Chiyu’s shoulder. “The Kitchen made your favorite Milk Red Bean Porridge. I’ll go get it for you.”
“Thanks, Uncle.” Zhou Chiyu drew his legs up slightly and leaned back in the rattan chair, gazing at the moon on the horizon and murmuring to himself, “Stupid Gu Yuan, why won’t you reply to my WeChat or call? At the very least, you could send a text.”
“Replying to messages is no match for coming to see you.”
At the Terrace entrance, that voice he had longed for day and night rang out.
