Sunlight filtered through the soft silk curtains and sprinkled onto the warm carpet. Four little cubs lounged leisurely on it, surrounded by scattered props for their playing house game: toy pots, backpacks, biscuits, dolls, and some daily necessities.
Gu Yuan sat in the middle, his movements slightly more reserved compared to the others. He was very curious—how had these little brothers, who used to ignore him, suddenly changed and become willing to play with him? Were they no longer afraid of him?
He sat up straight and merely nodded simply in response to his little brothers’ questions, maintaining a cool and distant demeanor that kept strangers at bay.
“Big Boss, then I’ll play the doctor.” After Langlang raised his hand to report, he slipped on a white coat, clutched his notebook, and quickly entered the professional state of a doctor. He remembered that his family doctor dressed just like this.
Lan Yilin thought for a moment. “Big Boss, can I play the teacher?”
The one addressed as Big Boss, Zhou Chiyu, nodded solemnly. “You can.”
Gu Yuan stared in stunned silence for a long while before widening his eyes in disbelief. “Why are they calling you Big Boss?”
Zhou Chiyu smiled and gave him a smug and proud look. “They’re all my little brothers now. From now on, they have to listen to me.”
A flash of surprise crossed Gu Yuan’s cool little face.
In just half an hour, Zhou Chiyu had become the Big Boss?
How had Zhou Chiyu managed that?
As if guessing Gu Yuan’s doubts, Zhou Chiyu spread his two chubby little legs apart and stuffed a doll into his shirt. “I promised the little brothers that during summer vacation, I’d take them to play in my Undersea Palace.”
“Undersea Palace?” Gu Yuan prided himself on having read many books, but this was the first time he had heard of an Undersea Palace in real life. “Does an Undersea Palace really exist in the world?”
“Yeah, I have one. It’s super super tall. Last year, I went there for vacation.”
Zhou Chiyu wasn’t lying. Last summer vacation, he had indeed played at the Undersea Palace for a whole month. It was just that the full name of that palace was the Atlantis Underwater Hotel, a seven-star resort funded and built by the Zhou Family. After he announced this, Shen Yuxiao had been extremely envious and wanted to go see the Undersea Palace too, but Zhou Chiyu had ruthlessly refused him.
He didn’t like Shen Yuxiao.
Shen Yuxiao had just mocked Gu Yuan for needing a wheelchair, and he had heard it.
“Does it really exist…”
Gu Yuan had seen the Undersea Palace depicted by the author in a Undersea Adventure picture book. It was a mysterious place filled with countless treasures of gold and silver. He often fantasized that if such a mysterious palace truly existed in the world, could he sue the immortals there to cure his illness?
He gazed at Zhou Chiyu, anticipation and shyness flickering in his eyes.
If Zhou Chiyu invited him, he would definitely agree.
“Husband!” Zhou Chiyu lay on the carpet and waved his chubby little hand at Gu Yuan. “Quick, take me to the hospital. I’m about to give birth.”
Not hearing the expected response, Gu Yuan felt a touch of disappointment and clenched his little fists slightly.
Even if there were no immortals inside, he still wanted to see it.
Undersea Adventure was his favorite book series.
Watching Zhou Chiyu struggle with his bulging belly, Gu Yuan hesitated for a moment before slowly scooting closer. “Are you playing the pregnant woman?”
“Yeah.” Zhou Chiyu tugged at his arm and mimicked the TV drama in a milky voice. “I have to eat a piece of cake before our baby can come out.”
A hint of confusion hung in Gu Yuan’s beautiful light-colored eyes.
Now, he was completely at a loss.
He had read health picture books about giving birth to babies, but none of them said that eating cake was necessary to deliver a baby.
“Husband~” Zhou Chiyu struggled to sit up and hugged Gu Yuan’s leg pitifully, sniffling and humming. This tugged at the heartstrings of Langlang, who was playing the doctor, and he pulled at Gu Yuan’s arm to plead. “Little Fish’s husband, just get him a piece of cake!”
Lan Yilin chimed in. “I’m the teacher. You have to listen to me. Quick, get Little Fish a piece of cake!”
Gu Yuan furrowed his little brow and supported himself with his arms to stand up slowly from the sofa.
He sat back in his wheelchair, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
This playing house world was simply too fantastical.
He didn’t quite understand it.
Even so, he called the Butler Uncle, and the kitchen was very efficient, immediately sending over a freshly baked Chocolate Blueberry Cake.
The bedroom filled with the sweet fragrance of fruit and milk.
Gu Yuan sat cross-legged on the floor, his light brown pupils filled with the sight of the little cub kicking his short legs happily while eating cake.
He thought Zhou Chiyu was amazing.
To eat cake in such a difficult lying-down position.
But why hadn’t Zhou Chiyu invited him to the Undersea Palace?
“Husband, I want to drink water~”
Zhou Chiyu was deeply immersed in his role and couldn’t extricate himself. Even though his doll had already slipped out from his belly, he hadn’t noticed at all and continued directing the other little friends to take care of him.
Gu Yuan pursed his thin lips, a trace of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He saw through Zhou Chiyu. Zhou Chiyu was just a little lazy bum.
“Husband~”
“Brother Husband?”
Zhou Chiyu tilted his little head up and gazed at Gu Yuan pitifully.
Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes and refused him mercilessly. “Go pour it yourself. We’re just playing a game. I’m not going to be your husband.”
Since he wouldn’t even invite him to play at the Undersea Palace, he wasn’t going to be Zhou Chiyu’s husband.
Hearing this, Zhou Chiyu sat up slowly, his little curly hair mussed and fluffy.
“Brother.” He said softly, “When I grow taller later, I’ll pour water for you too, okay? The water dispenser is too high. I can’t reach it.”
Gu Yuan looked toward the water dispenser opposite them and realized that with Zhou Chiyu’s height, it was indeed hard to reach. Among the four little friends, he was indeed the tallest.
“When I grow up, I’ll protect you.”
“I can even feed you.”
Zhou Chiyu clasped his hands together and pouted. “You’re the best brother in the world! I really need you!”
This time, a subtle light flickered in Gu Yuan’s eyes.
If he needed him, then why not invite him to vacation at the Undersea Palace?
He abandoned his wheelchair and simply walked to the water dispenser with his legs.
Although his movements were a bit slow.
From birth, he had been cared for very meticulously. He had never done things like pouring water. Everyone treated him like a patient and never asked him to do anything.
The thin sound of water trickled in his ears.
Gu Yuan held a cup of warm water and gently offered it to Zhou Chiyu.
“Thank you, Brother!” Zhou Chiyu didn’t take it but lowered his head and gulped it down.
The cup wasn’t light, and Gu Yuan’s arms lacked strength, so he had to support it gently with both hands.
Lan Yilin watched Gu Yuan and felt for the first time that his own brother was a bit gentle.
Zhou Chiyu made quite a bit of noise while drinking water, just like a thirsty little kitten. Gu Yuan lowered his gaze to stare at him and secretly thought, Still a chubby little cat.
The soft little curls rubbed against his fingers. Unable to resist, he suddenly lifted his hand and ruffled them.
As expected, the texture felt nice.
The rustling sound of water quietly stopped.
Zhou Chiyu raised his head to look at Gu Yuan, his round chubby face full of curiosity.
Gu Yuan’s gaze darted away, and he immediately schooled his little face. “Sorry, I accidentally touched you.”
Zhou Chiyu grinned, affectionately rubbing his little curls back against Gu Yuan’s arm, and said sweetly, “Brother, I want to take you to my Undersea Palace and hide you away in the most precious and beautiful seashell.”
