In the quiet and tidy room, faint sounds of adults stifling their laughter echoed. Even Bai Wenran couldn’t help but lower her brows and smile.
Zhou Chiyu didn’t understand what the adults were laughing at. He gently buried his chubby face against the edge of the bed and stared at Gu Yuan with full anticipation, waiting for the other boy to get out of bed and play with him.
In the past, he had praised the kindergarten teachers in this way just to eat two extra pieces of small cake.
“You’re the girl!”
Gu Yuan’s pale and frail cheeks instantly flushed red. He used all his strength to yank the cotton quilt that was pressing down on Zhou Chiyu’s face. “Get out!”
Zhou Chiyu, who had lost his balance, froze for a moment, his chubby face scrunched up in bewilderment. Staring at the angry person in front of him, he truly couldn’t understand why the other boy was so mad.
“Little Yuan.”
Bai Wenran quickly hugged Gu Yuan tightly, soothing his emotions while turning her head to explain to Zhou Chiyu, “He’s a big brother, two months older than you.”
“Big brother?” Zhou Chiyu tilted his little head, as if he suddenly understood why Gu Yuan was so angry.
The kindergarten teacher had taught them how to distinguish between boys and girls, but he hadn’t listened carefully in class. He pursed his lips, and his gaze fell on Gu Yuan’s fair fingers. His own little chubby hand quietly covered them.
“Big brother, you’re so pretty, prettier than a princess.”
“Don’t touch me!” Gu Yuan coldly withdrew his hand and couldn’t help coughing twice. “I don’t like you! Please don’t talk to me!”
Although Gu Yuan’s voice wasn’t loud, it still startled Zhou Chiyu.
He timidly took two steps back, unable to hide the fear in his eyes.
Gu Yuan clenched his little fists, his breathing gradually becoming labored. The family doctor saw this and immediately opened the medicine box to suction out the mucus blocking his airway.
“Little Yuan! Little Yuan, relax!”
Watching the frantic adults and the cold instruments in front of him, a flash of terror crossed Zhou Chiyu’s bright black eyes, especially when he saw Gu Yuan frowning in pain. With a “wah,” he burst into tears.
He hid behind Gu Cheng and frantically hugged Gu Cheng’s leg.
“Little Yuan! You can’t talk to your little brother like that.”
Gu Cheng picked up the sobbing Zhou Chiyu and wanted to say some stern words, but when he saw the bruises on his own son’s arm, the reprimand stuck in his throat.
He gently lowered his gaze and carried the tear-streaked Zhou Chiyu out of the bedroom.
“Little Fish, it was big brother’s fault. How about I have him apologize to you later?” Gu Cheng looked down at the little chubby dumpling nestled in his arms, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He wished so much that his Little Yuan could be as healthy and lively as Zhou Chiyu. But from the moment of his birth, Gu Yuan seemed shackled by the god of death, his life counting down.
“Our Little Fish must be great at eating.” He murmured hoarsely, “Little Fish, were you scared just now?”
The little dumpling in his arms was clearly still shaken. After a long moment, he rubbed his eye corners and lifted his round face aggrievedly. “Uncle, I’m always the first one in class to finish my meal!”
Gu Cheng laughed, not expecting Zhou Chiyu to be so amusing.
He gently patted Zhou Chiyu’s little head and led him into a spacious and bright bedroom.
“Little Fish, will you live here from now on?”
Zhou Chiyu actually didn’t understand why he had to live at Grandpa Gu’s house, but he really liked Grandpa Gu and was very familiar with him. When he was little, Grandpa Gu often held him and played.
“Okay.”
Zhou Chiyu jumped down from Gu Cheng’s arms and with a “hey-ho,” climbed onto the bed, spreading out his round, short limbs. “Uncle, your bed is as soft as the one at home.”
Gu Cheng smiled. “That’s good.”
“Then when will Mommy and Daddy come pick me up?”
If Zhou Chiyu remembered correctly, New Year was coming soon, a holiday he looked forward to very much. Last Spring Festival, his family had held a grand fireworks show, and he had invited many kindergarten classmates to celebrate.
At the mention of “parents,” a trace of heartache crossed Gu Cheng’s face.
“They are very busy and need some time.” His voice choked a little as his father’s plan surfaced in his mind.
Considering Zhou Chiyu’s young age and inability to accept the loss of loved ones, they decided to use AI technology to synthesize faces and trick him into thinking his family was abroad, having regular video calls with him. They planned to tell him the truth when he was older.
“Thank you, Uncle, for taking care of me.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Zhou Chiyu stood on the bed, wiped away his dried tear marks, raised his arms, and affectionately buried his little face in Gu Cheng’s waist. “If my dinner tonight has white truffle fried egg porridge, you’ll be the best uncle in the world.”
It took Gu Cheng a good while to understand Zhou Chiyu’s hint.
He lifted his hand and pinched Zhou Chiyu’s reddened nose tip, nodding gently. “Okay, no problem.”
…
Meanwhile, Bai Wenran was holding Gu Yuan and reading a book to him.
Having just taken his medicine, Gu Yuan’s stomach ached terribly, and his beautiful eyes had lost all their sparkle from the ordeal.
His illness eroded his digestive and respiratory systems relentlessly, and he had long grown accustomed to this unbearable pain.
