Chapter 21 Part 7

The child before him was uneasy and anxious, seemingly very worried the adults wouldn’t accept him.

Zhou Chiyu fiddled with his fingers, waiting expectantly yet fearfully for Gu Yuan’s answer.

“I have a way.” Gu Yuan slowly bent down to wipe his snot clean and took him to his Study Room. “I can make something, and then you’ll be my little brother.”

He propped himself against the desk and slowly sat in the chair. “Little Fish, now I need your photo.”

“Ah! I have one!” Zhou Chiyu stuck out his little butt and scampered back to the room with quick little hands. He returned with his one-inch photo.

“Only real family are on the same Household Registration Booklet.”

“But Grandpa said we can’t do that.”

“We can make our own Household Registration Booklet.”

Gu Yuan pasted their one-inch photos on cards and wrote their names stroke by stroke. “Zhou… Chi… Yu…”

“Gu Yuan…”

Zhou Chiyu’s eyes widened roundly, not fully understanding but amazed.

With this, they would be family?

Gu Yuan would be his real big brother!

“I’ll make two, one for you and one for me.” Gu Yuan took his Small Seal from the drawer and solemnly stamped it. “Done.”

The two simple “Household Registration Booklets” lay side by side on the desk, their recent one-inch photos matching their current appearances perfectly.

Unlike Gu Yuan’s, Zhou Chiyu wore a handsome dark blue little uniform, bright-eyed and innocent.

Gu Yuan looked cool like a little adult, without a trace of smile.

“Brother.” His round little belly rubbed against Gu Yuan’s arm. “You’re so awesome. You can even make a Household Registration Booklet. Does that mean we’re real brothers from now on?”

“Yes.” Gu Yuan handed one to Zhou Chiyu. “From now on, you’re my real little brother. I’ll protect you and not let you get hurt.”

“Really?” Zhou Chiyu pressed the card firmly to his heart, his wet eyes shining with expectation and joy. “Brother, will you leave me later too? Like my daddy and mommy?”

The faint smile on Gu Yuan’s face slowly faded, replaced by confusion and fear. He was afraid of dying and didn’t want to die, but if he did, Zhou Chiyu would probably be heartbroken again.

“I think I won’t—”

“My good brother!” Zhou Chiyu interrupted him very excitedly and hugged his waist tightly, rubbing his little head in his embrace. “Don’t leave me, okay.”

Gu Yuan’s shoulders stiffened slightly. After a long daze, he nodded gently. “Mm.”

“Pinky promise, a hundred years without change!”

Zhou Chiyu held the Household Registration Booklet and quickly trotted with his little legs to the telescope. The tear stains on his cheeks even brimmed with a happy smile.

He raised it high toward the three stars in the night sky. “From now on, I have a brother!”

…

Summer arrived, cicadas chirping.

The faint morning light cast a gentle filter over the flower beds in the Gu Family Backyard.

Time flew by, and the flowers here had already bloomed three times.

However, this year differed from previous ones. Many more types of flowers filled the flower beds. Gu Yuan often suffered allergies in summer, so the planted flowers required careful selection. But in the past two years, Gu Yuan’s physical condition had improved greatly. Not only did he take his medicine diligently, but aside from daily school, he also exercised regularly after returning home. Day after day, Gu Yuan’s immunity had strengthened considerably.

“Where are my stationery books?”

“Where is my homework?”

“Oh no, I forgot to write my math homework.”

On the soft carpet, Zhou Chiyu—with his messy little curly hair—listlessly sorted his schoolbag.

Last night, to watch cartoons, he had slacked off for a moment and forgotten to write his math homework.

Gu Yuan had clearly reminded him, but since he promised to finish it that evening after playing a bit longer, Gu Yuan hadn’t pressed further.

He had felt a bit tired yesterday and fell asleep in front of the TV.

Unlike three years prior, Zhou Chiyu’s naturally curly light brown hair tips had grown much longer, even past his earlobes. From afar, he resembled a doll that had sneaked out of a display case—beautiful and lively.

Over these years, he had grown quite a bit taller. Though still chubby, his figure could barely be called balanced. Thanks to his super cute image, he was a little star who swept through the school.

Sunlight filtered through his porcelain-thin earlobes and fell on his flushed ear tips. He anxiously furrowed his chubby little face and grumbled resentfully, “It’s all the cartoons’ fault! My brother will definitely scold me later!”

“Little Fish, we should set off.”

Gu Yuan, already changed into his school uniform, had come to pick up Zhou Chiyu to head downstairs. He gently leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, bent his legs slightly, and his light brown pupils revealed a barely perceptible gentleness.

Today was their elementary school’s 80th anniversary celebration. All students had to wear formal school uniforms. But Zhou Chiyu had clearly forgotten.

“Little Fish.”

Gu Yuan gently pointed to his own clothes as a reminder. “School uniform.”

Zhou Chiyu jerked his head up. Upon realizing he had worn the wrong outfit, he frantically tried to strip off his overalls. In his haste, he forgot to remove his basketball shoes first. The overalls caught on his calves and refused to budge, nearly tripping him.

Gu Yuan frowned slightly, led him to the sofa, and knelt on one knee. “Lift your foot.”

Zhou Chiyu rubbed his eyes sadly and let out a soft hum. “Bro, do you know what you did wrong?”

For forgetting to write his math homework, Gu Yuan needed to take responsibility!

Author’s note:

Update tomorrow night at midnight~