Chapter 18 Part 2

Gu Yuan thought this idea was brilliant. He immediately put on his coat and knocked on Old Master Gu’s door.

Old Master Gu hadn’t gone to bed yet and was exchanging New Year’s greetings with friends abroad. Seeing Gu Yuan come to chat so solemnly, his kindly eyes held some surprise.

After hearing Gu Yuan’s request, he laughed heartily. “I know Little Yuan likes Little Fish, but Grandpa doesn’t have the authority to truly make him your brother.”

Gu Yuan didn’t understand. His parents had told him that Old Master Gu was raising Zhou Chiyu, so in his eyes, Zhou Chiyu was already part of the Gu Family.

“Grandpa is only his temporary guardian.”

Gu Lao stroked Gu Yuan’s hair, looking at his little grandson’s thin frame with heartache.

Zhou Chiyu was 5 cm shorter than Gu Yuan but weighed 15 pounds more.

His little grandson had truly suffered a lot in this world.

“Grandpa really wants to help you, but there’s no way.”

Gu Lao couldn’t bear to tell Gu Yuan that besides true feelings in this world, there were countless entanglements of interests. As the Zhou Family’s sole heir, how many wolves, jackals, and tigers were eyeing Zhou Chiyu? How could he truly become part of the Gu Family?

“But what we can do is protect him from harm.”

“If you truly see him as your own brother, you don’t necessarily need legal procedures. Feelings are the most precious thing.”

Confusion flickered in Gu Yuan’s eyes, his lashes trembling slightly.

He seemed to understand, yet not fully.

“Little Yuan.” Gu Lao picked him up and placed him on his lap. “If you want to be brothers with Little Fish for life, you must cooperate with the doctor’s treatments, eat well, exercise well. If you can be happy every day, you can definitely grow up healthy.”

Gu Yuan nodded vaguely. “If I’m happy every day, can I live?”

“Yes.” Gu Lao’s voice choked several times as he held him close. “A good mood is the world’s best antidote, Little Yuan. Even if the world collapses into ruins and buries him beneath, you can still claw out a breath with your nails.”

Gu Yuan nodded and asked his second question.

“After we start school, will Little Fish’s classmates tell him his parents have passed away?”

Gu Lao hadn’t expected Gu Yuan’s thoughts to be so delicate. “Don’t worry, I’ve already made arrangements.”

…

The wind swept through S City, carrying the crisp scent of earth.

Haicheng No.1 Kindergarten was about to welcome the new semester.

Over the past half month, Zhou Chiyu exercised with Gu Yuan every day. When Gu Yuan swam, he invented a doggy paddle that made the coach laugh heartily with its unique style. When Gu Yuan jogged slowly, he chased butterflies nearby, took photos for check-ins after catching them, then gently released them. When Gu Yuan rode a balance bike, he taught himself skateboarding, fell a few times, wailed loudly, and only calmed down after Gu Yuan gave him all the remaining Paw Patrol cakes.

Gu Yuan kept his promise: anything he owned could be given to Zhou Chiyu. However, he had one condition—that after starting kindergarten, Zhou Chiyu could only play with him.

Zhou Chiyu thought this clause was very domineering. He had many friends at kindergarten—how could he play only with Gu Yuan?

But he couldn’t resist the temptation of food and spinelessly agreed.

Gu Yuan’s condition had been well-controlled these days. After evaluation by the medical team, he could start school and adapt to group life.

On Gu Yuan’s first day of school, the entire Gu Family bustled about. Bai Wenran in particular nearly packed up the whole house to take to kindergarten.

Inside the spacious business car, Zhou Chiyu yawned continuously in his Kindergarten Uniform.

The opening ceremony required everyone to wear uniforms, but his seemed to have shrunk—it felt a bit tight. Butler Uncle had already arranged for measurements and a new custom one, so he’d have a fresh uniform soon.

Gu Yuan sat beside him, clearly a bit nervous. But seeing that his own uniform matched Zhou Chiyu’s exactly eased his mood somewhat. However, when he saw his wheelchair being loaded into the trunk, tension and worry resurfaced.

“Brother, don’t be scared. I’ll introduce all my friends to you.”

Zhou Chiyu lay down flat, propping his head in an extremely sassy pose. “I’ll protect you.”

Gu Yuan was squeezed into the corner and looked at him helplessly. “Little Fish.”

Zhou Chiyu: “Huh?”

Gu Yuan teased him on purpose. “You’ve been exercising with me every day—why did you get fatter?”

Zhou Chiyu couldn’t stand such criticism. He spread his legs and retorted fiercely, “I grew taller, not fatter!”

“Tch.” Gu Yuan laughed, his eyes full of the bristling Zhou Chiyu. “But you’re still shorter than me.”

“I’m the little brother, so of course I’m shorter.” Zhou Chiyu rattled off excuses. “The doctor said I’ll be a three-meter tall guy someday.”

“Three meters?” Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes and gestured. “No one in the world is three meters tall.”

“There will be in the future.” Zhou Chiyu’s logic was crystal clear. “When I grow up, I’ll be the world’s tallest.”

The butler and driver listened to the two little ones’ debate and shook their heads with smiles.

After entering the kindergarten, Gu Yuan clearly noticed many eyes sizing him up. He didn’t want to use the wheelchair, but Bai Wenran insisted in case he got tired midway.

“Whose kid is this? Such a grand entrance—two Maybachs to drop him off.”

“I heard it’s the little young master from Cuilu Moonlit Villa.”