Chapter 16 Part 2

Gu Yuan felt a faint warmth approaching from beside him. He lifted the blanket slightly, revealing a gap, and met Zhou Chiyu’s worried big eyes just in time. Zhou Chiyu smiled at him, took his hand proactively, and said softly, “Brother, go to sleep quickly. I’ll stay here with you.”

Gu Yuan wanted to pull his hand back but hesitated.

Zhou Chiyu’s chubby little hand was soft and warm; he was reluctant to let go.

“Brother, shall I tell you the story of the Ugly Duckling?”

Zhou Chiyu yawned and simply lay on Gu Yuan’s pillow to sleep with him. “By the time I finish, Brother will be asleep.” In his memory, when he could not sleep at night, his mother would tell him stories just like this.

“A long, long time ago, a big swan laid an egg that hatched into a little duckling.”

Bai Wenran gazed at Zhou Chiyu, a trace of pity in her eyes.

Such an optimistic child—how heartbroken he would be if he learned about his parents.

Zhou Chiyu’s voice was crisp and pure, like a mountain spring, flowing into Gu Yuan’s ears and lightening his irritable mood.

He hated his body so much; it always brought pain.

If one day he passed away too, would Zhou Chiyu still remember him?

Gu Yuan’s eyes gradually grew sour. He rubbed his face against the pillow and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke, it was already dark.

He rubbed his eyes and instinctively turned his head as if startled from a dream. Seeing Zhou Chiyu still lying beside him calmed his racing heart.

Zhou Chiyu slept even more soundly than him, his chubby little face soft and delicate, tempting anyone to touch it.

Actually, he had been in a bad mood that day, partly because of Zhou Chiyu’s answer by the pool.

He hated Zhou Chiyu.

Zhou Chiyu must be a fickle little kid.

At that moment, Doctor Auntie came over to check on his condition. He shushed her, feeling that his back did not hurt as much anymore.

With Auntie’s help, he put on the red clothes Bai Wenran had prepared, woke Zhou Chiyu, and went downstairs in his wheelchair.

By this time, all the Gu Family young ones had gathered. As soon as Zhou Chiyu appeared, he was surrounded in the center by laughing, running children.

Langlang had not seen Zhou Chiyu for a long time and missed him greatly, especially after hearing Grandpa say that Zhou Chiyu’s New Year gifts were incredibly abundant.

“Little Fish, can you take us to see your New Year gifts?”

Lan Yilin had been looking forward to it for ages too. He pulled Zhou Chiyu’s hand and pointed down the corridor. “Grandpa said the New Year gifts from your mom and dad are in there.”

Not far away, Shen Yuxiao and Gu Feng glanced over stealthily.

The kids originally did not know about the Surprise Room, but Gu Feng had accidentally barged in and insisted on taking Zhou Chiyu’s gifts. With no other choice, Gu Lao had told everyone about it.

“Really? Gifts from Mom!” Before Zhou Chiyu finished speaking, he had already rushed eagerly into the Surprise Room.

Lan Yilin and Langlang chased after him. Gu Yuan watched those lighthearted, lively backs and stayed put.

With others to accompany him, Zhou Chiyu no longer needed him.

He lowered his thick eyelashes and caught Shen Yuxiao and Gu Feng whispering out of the corner of his eye.

“Brother—”

Zhou Chiyu suddenly ran back, pushing Gu Yuan’s wheelchair in a hurry. “Let’s go see together!”

Before Gu Yuan could react, Zhou Chiyu had pressed the controls, and the wheelchair glided gently in the direction he indicated.

Pushing open the door to the Surprise Room, all the children were stunned, including Shen Yuxiao and Gu Feng who had followed stealthily behind.

The room was piled high with all sorts of New Year gifts: limited-edition toys, the latest game consoles, smart robots, and various AI electronic devices. Zhou Chiyu’s favorite snacks were there in abundance, along with countless beautiful and exquisite clothes on display. Even collector’s edition picture books and handmade decorations formed little mountains.

“Oh my god! Little Fish, you’re so lucky!”

Amid the chorus of exclamations, Zhou Chiyu darted through the gifts, happy as a little fawn, bouncing and laughing.

The Surprise Room had been dark when Gu Feng peeked earlier, so he had not seen clearly. Now, he was thoroughly envious.

The limited-edition toy figures across from him were ones he had collected for ages without getting; Zhou Chiyu had a whole pile!

He was so jealous.

“What’s this?” Langlang spotted an AI Drone placed in the center of the Surprise Room. Butler Chen took the opportunity to demonstrate how to use it for everyone.

This drone was a new product from a tech company invested in by the Zhou Family, not yet on the market. The operator could send it to any location to perform tasks. It featured imaging sensor technology for real-time voice and video transmission. Of course, it also had Steam interactive learning, simulated global flights, AR entertainment, and more—a truly powerful device.

Butler Chen remembered that this robot alone was worth tens of millions.

“Uncle, are we in 2040 or something?” Langlang coveted the toy and said enviously, “It must be a robot from the future.”

Butler Chen smiled gently. “It is indeed scheduled for official release in 2040.”

“What’s this?” Gu Feng’s sharp eyes spotted a serial number on the robot. Butler Chen explained, “That’s our Little Young Master’s birthday.”

“This is my favorite gift.” Zhou Chiyu rubbed his chubby cheek affectionately against the robot and said happily, “Then it can take me anywhere.”

Butler Chen nodded. “Yes, Little Fish can write his name on it.”

As he spoke, the screen in the center of the robot lit up with a blue light. This was its first step in booting up—owner authentication.

Zhou Chiyu rolled up his sleeve and, under everyone’s envious gazes, picked up the stylus and carefully drew a “horizontal” stroke.

“Uncle, how do you write Gu?”

“Gu?” Butler Chen was slightly puzzled. “Gu is written like this…”

He typed the character on his phone and showed it to Zhou Chiyu.

“And Yuan?” Zhou Chiyu’s writing skills were still at the stage of approximating shapes, but he imitated that complex symbol in his eyes—”Yuan”—with great effort.

Gu Yuan seemed to guess something; his breathing quickened. When Zhou Chiyu finished writing the crooked “Gu Yuan,” a strange light flashed in his eyes. They widened in disbelief.

“I’m giving it to Brother.”

Zhou Chiyu held it up with both hands, tilting his head as he offered it to Gu Yuan. “I hope Brother can always be happy.”

Gu Yuan froze, his shoulders trembling slightly.

The answer that had troubled him no longer mattered.

Suddenly, a wild thought struck him.

Could he raise Zhou Chiyu? He swore he would raise him well.