In the night, two figures—one tall and one short—shuttled through the living room.
Gu Yuan didn’t like snacks, and his living environment required high air quality overall, so there were almost no miscellaneous items in the bedroom. To find snacks, they had to go to the dedicated storage room.
The wheelchair wheels gently rolled over the carpet as Zhou Chiyu pushed it stealthily, his eyes wide like an owl’s as he scanned everywhere for signs of snacks.
In contrast, Gu Yuan appeared somewhat calm, though his beautiful brows and eyes faintly revealed a trace of displeasure. This was the first time Little Young Master Gu had been threatened since birth, and the one threatening him was the good little brother he had personally taught.
A layer of silvery-white frost covered the beige brick tiles. He was afraid of the cold and wore a woolen coat. When he inadvertently turned back, he noticed the tear stains on both sides of Zhou Chiyu’s cheeks.
Had Zhou Chiyu… cried?
“You…” He wanted to speak but stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Zhou Chiyu’s voice was very soft, just like a little mouse that had sneaked a bite, silent as a cicada in winter, extremely worried that their snack-stealing plan would be discovered by the adults.
At that moment, the irritation and seriousness on Gu Yuan’s face gradually softened, and a hint of helplessness and understanding colored the depths of his beautiful eyes.
Zhou Chiyu was too young. Why did they have to make him lose weight?
“Ding-ling—”
Fingerprint verification successful; the heavy iron door was gently pushed open.
When Zhou Chiyu saw the snacks displayed on the shelves inside, his eyes sparkled with joy, like a mouse that had fallen into a rice vat.
“Is this a palace of gourmet delights?”
The shelves were stacked layer upon layer with snacks, dazzling Zhou Chiyu’s eyes. He grabbed some egg roll biscuits he liked and held them up happily. “Brother, you’re like a big tycoon!”
Gu Yuan let out a light hum and slowly advanced in his wheelchair.
The night was quiet and elegant. He stared thoughtfully at Zhou Chiyu wolfing down the food. Zhou Chiyu really looked starved. Based on his usual appetite, Zhou Chiyu could eat at least a big bowl of rice. But that evening, he had only eaten one small veggie ball.
“Brother, these chocolate cheese rolls are so delicious.”
Zhou Chiyu’s lips were smeared black, and he grinned. “When Mom comes to pick me up, I want to invite Brother to my house as a guest and give you all my snacks to eat.”
Gu Yuan’s heart sank. In his childish, clear voice tinged with a hint of probing, he asked, “Do you want to see your family?”
“Mm-hmm!” Zhou Chiyu tore open a bag of chicken cheese-flavored potato chips and mumbled, “Mom wouldn’t starve me.”
Gu Yuan’s expression froze, and he then silently lowered his head.
Zhou Chiyu seemed even more pitiful than him. At least after he died, his parents wouldn’t be so lonely; they could have another baby. But what about Zhou Chiyu?
All of Zhou Chiyu’s family had turned into stars in the sky.
He wasn’t one to pity others, but Zhou Chiyu’s experience made him very sad.
He didn’t even know why.
“Brother, I miss them so much…”
Zhou Chiyu’s long lashes drooped, his voice thick with longing. “Mom said on the phone that she can only pick me up after the New Year.”
Gu Yuan let out an “mm,” unsure of what to say, so he picked up a bag of coconut crisps from the shelf and handed it to him. “This one’s good.”
“Thanks, Brother!” Zhou Chiyu’s eyes curved into slits with laughter. “You’re my favorite person!”
My favorite person?
Gu Yuan coughed lightly and wrapped his coat tighter. “So cheesy.”
Zhou Chiyu burst out laughing, secretly stuffed a bunch more snacks into the pockets of his pajamas, and then pushed Gu Yuan away contentedly.
The next morning, as soon as Gu Yuan opened his eyes, he saw Bai Wenran and Gu Cheng there to interrogate him.
“Little Yuan? Did you secretly get snacks for Little Fish?”
Gu Yuan didn’t speak. He simply sat up and cooperated as the doctor cleared the phlegm from his trachea, gently wiping the corner of his mouth.
“Little Yuan, you can’t do that next time.” Gu Cheng handed him a cup of warm water and reminded him, “Take your medicine first.”
Gu Yuan didn’t take the cup. Instead, he lifted his gaze and looked calmly at Bai Wenran and Gu Cheng.
Bai Wenran couldn’t read Gu Yuan’s intent and asked gently, “Little Yuan—”
“Why are you doing this to him?”
Gu Yuan’s emotions gradually intensified, his body trembling slightly from anger and grievance. “Zhou Chiyu’s dad and mom are both dead, and you’re still starving him. Did you know he cried last night!”
The successive questions left Bai Wenran and Gu Cheng speechless.
At that moment, the machine monitoring Gu Yuan’s vital signs began to alarm. Seeing the intensity of his chest heaving increase and his breathing grow more rapid, the doctor hurried over and sprayed saline into his nose. “My little young master, your parents aren’t deliberately starving Little Fish. Don’t be mad, okay?”
Gu Yuan was forced to tilt his little face up, his small hands clenched into fists.
Bai Wenran and Gu Cheng exchanged a glance, anxiously bending down to coax him. “Little Yuan, it’s not what you think.”
Once the doctor finished clearing things up for Gu Yuan, he frowned sullenly. “He’s still a kid; he doesn’t need to lose weight.”
Bai Wenran hadn’t expected her son to have such a close relationship with Zhou Chiyu; shock colored her brows. In her impression, Gu Yuan rarely expressed his emotions so intensely.
“Little Yuan, listen to me—”
Gu Cheng gently gripped Bai Wenran’s hand, signaling for him to handle it. “Little Yuan, we’re doing this for his health too. Do you think there’s something wrong with it?” His son was more mature than other kids; he had known that early on. So asking Gu Yuan’s opinion was the best way to resolve the issue.
“Even if he’s losing weight, can’t he run or swim? Or play soccer.” Gu Yuan couldn’t understand the adults’ actions at all. “Why force him to eat those gross diet meals? He told me his dad and mom would be so sad if they knew.”
This time, the Gu Cheng couple fell silent for a long time.
“Little Yuan, we’ll discuss this with Grandpa again. You’re right; us adults were wrong.”
With his parents’ apology, Gu Yuan’s emotions slowly calmed. Just then, Zhou Chiyu bounced in to play with him.
Gu Cheng also liked Zhou Chiyu very much, especially his full-of-vitality appearance. He picked Zhou Chiyu up into his arms and affectionately rubbed his chubby little face. “Little Fish, did you miss Brother?”
Zhou Chiyu nodded. “I want to go swimming with Brother.”
Swimming was indeed a good exercise for CF patients, but the pool temperature needed special attention.
Bai Wenran fully approved of the two exercising together and immediately instructed the butler to have someone adjust the pool temperature. “Little Fish Baby, do you know how to swim?”
Gu Yuan was equally curious about this question.
“I don’t, oh.” Zhou Chiyu flailed his limbs like an octopus. “But I know the Octopus Breathing Method! Because I’m a sea creature too.”
