His slender arms, thin as poles, were gently tickled by the little curly-haired boy. The sensation was itchy, like a feather quietly landing in Gu Yuan’s heart.
His eyes quietly lit up, and the fingers holding the water cup trembled slightly. “Then… when are you planning to take me there?”
Zhou Chiyu thought seriously. “During summer vacation. Mommy said it’s very cool there in the summer.”
Gu Yuan nodded lightly at the little head in agreement. After pondering for a long time, he placed the water cup on the small table, returned to the bedroom, and brought out the picture books he had treasured for a long time to show everyone.
Langlang also loved reading. He held Gu Yuan’s picture books and couldn’t put them down. Gu Yuan’s picture books were 3D pop-up books, exquisitely made, as if transporting the reader into a real underwater world to play games with the jellyfish and octopuses inside.
“Brother Gu Yuan, can you lend them to me?” Gu Yuan had so many books, and Langlang wanted to take them home to read.
Gu Yuan didn’t like lending out his things and hesitated. At that moment, Zhou Chiyu patted his shoulder. “Brother, just lend them to him. The teacher said we should learn to share our things.”
Gu Yuan nodded this time and reminded Langlang, “But you have to take good care of it.”
“Okay!” Langlang’s gaze toward Gu Yuan held a bit more gratitude. When he turned back, he saw Zhou Chiyu also reading a book, but it was a different series—the Cat Series Picture Books.
“Brother, do you like kittens?” Zhou Chiyu didn’t recognize many characters yet, so the Cat Series Picture Books were a bit too difficult for him to read.
Gu Yuan pursed his lips and said nothing.
This set of picture books was, strictly speaking, for adults. They used simple stories to provoke reflection on values. Back then, Bai Wenran hadn’t wanted to buy them for Gu Yuan, but since he insisted, she bought them anyway.
However, Bai Wenran never asked Gu Yuan why he wanted them.
No one else had asked either.
Even though Gu Yuan often flipped through this Cats series, no one had ever paid attention.
Zhou Chiyu was small, so he spread the picture book open across his chubby little legs, which were folded up. Gu Yuan stared at his plump little hands and softly asked, “Can you understand it?”
Zhou Chiyu stubbornly replied, “Of course I can understand it. I know lots of Chinese characters.”
Gu Yuan was very smart and saw through Zhou Chiyu’s bravado, but he didn’t call him out on it. Propping his cheek on his hand, he leaned against the table and watched the little friends reading.
“Brother, do you like orange cats?” Zhou Chiyu asked again.
“Little Yuan doesn’t like cats.”
Doctor Auntie’s arrival broke the tranquility. She held a cup of water and gazed gently at Gu Yuan. “Time for your medicine.”
Gu Yuan took the pill and silently popped it into his mouth.
Zhou Chiyu thought for a moment and asked directly, “Does Brother really not like cats?”
Doctor Auntie nodded. “Yes, Madam said Little Yuan doesn’t like pets, and with his current physical condition, he can’t be around them.”
“Why?” Zhou Chiyu tilted his little head curiously.
“Because pets can carry germs. Your brother’s respiratory system is very sensitive, and things like cat litter aren’t good for his lungs.” After completing Gu Yuan’s daily health check, Doctor Auntie ruffled Zhou Chiyu’s little curls before leaving with her medical kit.
Zhou Chiyu didn’t quite understand. The Gu Family home was so big—if Gu Yuan really liked them, they could keep the pet elsewhere and let him see it anytime.
“Brother, do you like cats?”
This was the third time that day Zhou Chiyu had asked Gu Yuan that question.
Mealtime arrived, and the butler reminded the children to head back to Xinyue Xie quickly for dinner.
Gu Yuan sat back in his wheelchair and said softly, “I don’t like them.”
Zhou Chiyu looked at him, then at the pile of picture books covered in drawings of kittens, his eyes full of confusion and curiosity.
During dinner, the younger generation greeted Old Master Gu one by one, expressing how much they had missed him these days. Zhou Chiyu was always emotionally intelligent. Even though he stuck to Old Master Gu every day, he still showered him with affection, professing his love.
Old Master Gu adored the little peach heart Zhou Chiyu made with two fingers. He hurriedly ladled a bowl of clear soup with swiftlet nests for him and fed him bite by bite.
Zhou Chiyu was very proud. He propped up his little feet and squinted his eyes in enjoyment, looking more like Old Master Gu’s own grandson than anyone else at the table.
Gu Yuan ate with his head down the entire time. But he noticed that Gu Feng looked at Zhou Chiyu with jealousy, as did Gu Feng’s father, Gu Ming.
In the past, he had always noticed Gu Feng looking at him that way. He had overheard his second uncle Gu Ming and second aunt talking about it by chance.
It was probably because his seat was at Grandpa’s right hand.
Later, he had asked his Companion Robot and learned that his position was the most honored one besides the host’s seat.
“Grandpa, I’ve got two new pets recently.”
Gu Feng eagerly shared his daily life with Old Master Gu. “They’re a pink parrot and a beautiful Ragdoll Cat.”
