“Little Young Master, it’s time for your nut bar.”
At the mention of “nut bar,” Zhou Chiyu’s eyes lit up instantly.
The servant held out the nut bar, which looked utterly delicious—packed with nut fragments mixed with strawberry and pineapple chunks, the scents of cheese and milk wafting over, making him drool.
Due to pancreatic dysfunction in cystic fibrosis patients, they couldn’t absorb the normal amount of protein from meals, so they had to compensate by increasing calorie intake.
Gu Yuan didn’t like these things, but he knew he had to eat them.
He took the nut bar and brought it to his mouth, but then he caught sight of Zhou Chiyu’s unblinking stare and the bobbing of his throat as he swallowed.
He secretly mocked Zhou Chiyu for being so greedy, but aloud he told the servant, “Get some caramel nut bars for them too.”
Zhou Chiyu swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming with even more longing.
Brother Gu Yuan was the best.
Following Brother Gu Yuan meant nut bars.
The servant felt uneasy under Zhou Chiyu’s expectant gaze and nervously looked to Gu Lao. “Butler Chen instructed that after dinner, Young Master Zhou is forbidden from eating any more high-calorie foods.”
“That’s not fair!” Zhou Chiyu spread his chubby little hands wide, mimicking a phrase from the TV. “That’s discrimination!”
Gu Lao chuckled and teased, “Little Fish knows quite a lot.”
Not getting a nut bar left Zhou Chiyu deeply disappointed—especially when he saw Lan Yilin receive one. His mood soured even more, and he lost interest in watching the swans.
Gu Yuan watched the plump little back by the lake’s edge, slowly chewing his nut bar thoughtfully.
The night breeze grew cooler, and since Gu Yuan was very sensitive to the cold, Gu Lao took him back to his bedroom to rest.
Back in the bedroom, Zhou Chiyu was enveloped in frustration, while the “chief culprit,” Butler Chen—who was oblivious—folded clothes for him.
Zhou Chiyu puffed out his cheeks, clearly looking bullied as he sprawled on the bed with his short, chubby limbs splayed out in a sulk.
Butler Chen gently reminded him, “Little Young Master, it’s time for your bath.”
“Got it!” Zhou Chiyu grabbed his pajamas and stormed into the bathroom in a huff, drawing repeated glances from Butler Chen.
Even at ten o’clock that night, Zhou Chiyu was still brooding over the nut bar incident. Sister Bai took one last look at the little figure on the bed before leaving with Butler Chen.
The night grew deeper.
Zhou Chiyu’s bright eyes suddenly clouded with misty tears. He wiped them away fiercely and picked up his tablet to call his mom.
The busy tone rang on for a long, long time…
Zhou Chiyu trembled with grievance, mumbling, “Why isn’t she picking up!”
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the bedroom door.
He vigorously wiped his tear-streaked chubby face, struggled off the bed, and padded over in his little cotton slippers to open the door.
When the door opened, no one was there.
Zhou Chiyu thought he’d misheard and was about to close it when he spotted wheels around the corner of the hallway.
He looked up in confusion and realized the knocker was Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan’s face looked a bit unnatural, his little hand clutching a paper bag tightly. “For you.”
As he extended his hand, the wheelchair slowly rolled forward.
“What’s this?” Zhou Chiyu sniffled his red nose. When he saw the nut bar inside the bag, his teary eyes widened in shock. “This is?”
“Just one bite.” Gu Yuan slightly lifted his chin, deliberately avoiding Zhou Chiyu’s adoring gaze. “I’m leaving.”
Suddenly, the wheelchair’s armrest was grabbed from behind.
He turned his head, and warm little arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders.
Zhou Chiyu rested his chubby face in the crook of Gu Yuan’s neck and nuzzled hard. “Brother, you’re so good. I love you so much.”
Gu Yuan stiffened all over, his ear tips suddenly flushing red.
“Let go of me quick.”
He stammered as he pushed at Zhou Chiyu, but helplessly lacking the strength, he could only let Zhou Chiyu cling and nuzzle wildly.
“Brother, you’re the best brother in the world.”
Zhou Chiyu’s little mouth pouted more and more, his words growing more aggrieved. He hadn’t been happy tonight—not just because of the nut bar. It had been so long since he’d seen his parents. Life at the Gu family had been fun these days, but he still missed his family. Butler Chen had said his parents and grandpa were all abroad, so he could only stay here temporarily.
“You’re crying.”
Feeling the hot tears in the crook of his neck, Gu Yuan looked surprised and gazed quietly at Zhou Chiyu.
“Yeah, I miss Mommy and Daddy.”
Zhou Chiyu scrunched up his mouth, big teardrops rolling down his cheeks onto his chubby hands. “Is this nut bar the same flavor as the one you ate tonight?”
Gu Yuan hummed in affirmation, his gaze falling on Zhou Chiyu’s thin pajamas.
Zhou Chiyu really was a solid little chubster—his round tummy poked out, straining the pajama buttons and revealing a patch of white belly.
After a long silence, he draped the blanket from his lap over Zhou Chiyu and said softly, “Your mom and dad are probably busy, just like mine.”
“Yeah!” While Gu Yuan wasn’t looking, Zhou Chiyu had stuffed the entire nut bar into his mouth. He covered his chocolate-smeared lips and grinned triumphantly. “So yummy.”
Seeing Zhou Chiyu had stopped crying, Gu Yuan relaxed.
“Glutton.”
He teased with a laugh as the wheelchair rolled away.
Back in his room, he went to the closet and peered inside quietly.
Moments later, he gripped the wheelchair arms and slowly stood up, taking out his white tuxedo.
