Zhou Junyi’s plans for the day were packed. He intended to first show Zhou Chiyu an animated movie, then play board games together. His parents had bought many types of board games to keep him entertained, but he’d never had a good friend. Zhou Chiyu was perfect to play with him.
In the home theater, Zhou Junyi served fruit and milk to the two. There was a U-shaped sofa in front of the screen. He gestured for them to sit and started playing the film.
“This movie is called Chase Love Journey. It’s the Oscar winner for Best—”
A faint murmur of conversation interrupted his train of thought. He looked toward Zhou Chiyu and found that Zhou Chiyu was completely lying on Gu Yuan’s lap, whining and acting spoiled toward Gu Yuan.
“Don’t be naughty.” Gu Yuan looked at Zhou Junyi, his gaze serious. “Sorry, Little Fish insists I peel nuts for him. Please continue.”
Zhou Junyi nodded and handed over the nuts. “Do you want some?”
Gu Yuan declined politely. “My mom has been controlling the number of nuts Little Fish eats lately, so I can’t give him any.”
“Okay.” Zhou Junyi stared thoughtfully at Zhou Chiyu’s soft little belly and continued. “It’s the Oscar Best Animated Feature.”
The movie played in its original English version. Zhou Junyi had no problem with it, and Gu Yuan had been learning English since age four, so he could mostly understand. Zhou Chiyu struggled, though. If he forgot to look at the subtitles even a little, he’d miss key plot points. Thus, his interest in the movie waned, until finally he simply lay in Gu Yuan’s arms playing with his little buttons.
“Fun?” Gu Yuan lowered his head. Their little round faces were only 20 centimeters apart. At this distance, he could feel a puff of warm breath brushing his face.
His Little Fish was so cute.
“Mm.” Zhou Chiyu grinned. “Brother’s buttons are light blue, mine are white.”
Zhou Junyi was engrossed in the movie when he saw that Zhou Chiyu had completely given up on watching. Holding his juice, he felt anxious inside. “Little Fish, do you not like this movie?”
Gu Yuan answered for Zhou Chiyu. “My brother doesn’t understand English. At home, we watch the Chinese-dubbed version.”
“Sorry, I forgot!” Zhou Junyi felt guilty and searched for a long time but couldn’t find a Chinese-dubbed version. Zhou Chiyu waved his chubby little hand to show it was fine and said in his childish voice, “I’m already so happy that you invited me to watch a movie. Sitting here with you two is the happiest thing.”
These words completely dispelled Zhou Junyi’s guilt. He grabbed Zhou Chiyu’s little hand and squeezed it, then smoothly lay down on Zhou Chiyu’s little belly. “Little Fish, you’re such a little angel.”
Gu Yuan’s body stiffened noticeably. He stared at Zhou Junyi in disbelief.
He was leaning on Zhou Chiyu’s belly?
“You’re one too.” Zhou Chiyu slurped some mango juice and squinted with a smile. “Thanks for treating me to yummy juice.”
Zhou Junyi’s lips curved up slightly. “If you like it, I’ll bring it for you every day.” He didn’t notice at all the sinister gaze from beside him staring at him.
After the movie, the three went to the board game room to play competitive games.
“These games are only for two or four players.” Zhou Junyi was stumped. He propped up his little face in distress. “But we have three people. We can’t pair up evenly.”
Zhou Chiyu had his own idea and raised his hand. “We can draw lots. The one who draws the special lot plays alone.”
Zhou Junyi nodded in agreement and looked at Gu Yuan. “Okay?”
Gu Yuan wasn’t very willing. He wanted to team up with Zhou Chiyu. If they were short one person, they could call over the Zhou family’s Auntie to play with them.
“Okay.” Gu Yuan nodded reluctantly. Though he was very nervous during the draw, in the end, the special lot ended up in his hand.
“Brother’s so awesome. He’ll definitely be fine on his own.” Zhou Chiyu had already dragged his little stool over to sit beside Zhou Junyi. He bared his little white teeth in a grin that shook with delight. “Little Yi and I are a team.”
“Awesome!” Zhou Junyi showed a satisfied smile and leaned against Zhou Chiyu to snuggle.
Gu Yuan looked at the empty space beside him. A trace of loss flashed in his eyes. Especially seeing Zhou Chiyu’s curved eyes across from him—that loss swelled with jealousy, nearly filling his entire heart.
“Shouldn’t competitive games have stakes?”
Gu Yuan held a card, his expression calm. “Or punishments?”
“I have stakes.” Zhou Junyi ran off and brought back a box of Swiss Handmade Chocolate. “For every round you win, you can take one from here.”
Zhou Chiyu perked up his little head with interest and took out a piece of chocolate to examine it closely. “Little Yi, did you bring this back from abroad?”
“Mm-hmm.” Zhou Junyi nodded. “It’s super yummy. Only one box left.”
“We’ll definitely win several rounds.” Zhou Chiyu flashed a mischievous grin. “We have to win!”
Gu Yuan stared at Zhou Chiyu and silently memorized the card game rules.
Since they’d met, this was the first time they stood on opposite sides.
The card game wasn’t difficult. While the two across from him cheered each other on, he first estimated the value of each card, then used combinatorial math to calculate probabilities.
When he finished, he sat up straight and said calmly, “Let’s play.”
One round, two rounds, three rounds…
Zhou Chiyu and Zhou Junyi perfectly demonstrated what it meant to bring disaster upon oneself.
Time passed bit by bit. Zhou Chiyu wilted like an eggplant hit by frost. At the final crucial point, he gripped his card tightly and showed a look of facing death unflinchingly. “I play King XVI!”
Gu Yuan propped his head with one hand, lost in thought. He noticed that Zhou Chiyu’s eyes kept sneaking peeks at his cards. After a moment’s thought, he calmly revealed his own card. “Guillotine.”
