Chapter 25 Part 1

As night fell, the stars on the dome flickered faintly, their colorful lights scattering over the two little ones in the darkness, as if draping them in a layer of dreamy, gorgeous gauze.

Gu Yuan held Zhou Chiyu tightly, remaining silent.

But his slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed the shock and emotion in his heart.

That night, Gu Yuan had a bold idea. He and Zhou Chiyu secretly carried their bedding to the Secret Base, planning to sleep there soundly.

“Mom, Dad, Grandpa, good night.”

Zhou Chiyu waved his chubby little hand toward the three stars, contentedly draping his plump little leg over Gu Yuan and closing his big eyes.

Gu Yuan hugged him, his small hand gently stroking Zhou Chiyu’s back, as if he had finally found the most missing piece deep in his heart.

He thought that if the two of them could always stay like this, how wonderful it would be.

In the blink of an eye, the ginkgo trees lining the streets of S City shed their leaves in the howling north wind, ushering in the prelude to winter.

Gu Yuan feared winter the most. For one thing, his airways were prone to sensitivity; for another, winter was flu season, and his illness couldn’t withstand even a hint of the flu virus.

“Little Yuan, you must wear the mask the whole time.”

Before school, Bai Wenran specially handed him the New-type Mask developed by ZN Pharmaceutical Company and instructed him not to remove it easily at school. This mask featured automatic ventilation, so it wasn’t stuffy or hot, and it effectively filtered viruses while providing fresh air.

ZN Pharmaceutical Company was Zhou Chiyu’s family business. For years, Old Master Gu had hired professional managers to run it, and the biological genetics research team under it had always been studying Gu Yuan’s condition, hoping to crack the curse of his adulthood.

“Got it, Mom.”

Gu Yuan not only put on his own mask but also adjusted the straps for Zhou Chiyu.

As the saying went, put on fat in autumn to survive winter warmly. Zhou Chiyu greatly respected this old adage and had eaten himself plump and white recently. After being deemed an overweight child by the school infirmary last time, he was very unconvinced.

“Is it too tight?” Zhou Chiyu’s little face was tender, and Gu Yuan worried about leaving red marks, so he carefully adjusted it for a long time.

“Not tight.” Zhou Chiyu gazed obediently at Gu Yuan’s slightly worried eyes and asked softly, “Brother, are you unhappy?”

Over the past week, he had sensed Gu Yuan’s low mood. Gu Yuan hadn’t even participated in the drone programming contest held a few days ago.

“No.” Gu Yuan sat in the car with a heavy heart, his gaze falling on the withered plants and flowers by the roadside. “I’m just a bit tired.”

Compared to half a year ago, he clearly felt his stamina declining. He often woke up coughing in the middle of the night, disturbing even the deep-sleeping Zhou Chiyu three times.

After last week’s checkup, the doctors had looked quite serious. Though he didn’t know exactly how far his condition had progressed, he knew that from that day on, he needed to wear the Vibration Vest again to assist with clearing phlegm from his airways.

He seemed to know his condition wasn’t optimistic.

But if he died, what would happen to his family?

Zhou Chiyu would have no brother.

Elementary schoolers’ curiosity was hard to hide. After noticing the countless probing gazes on him, Gu Yuan felt extremely downcast.

Especially since Zhou Junyi was observing him too.

“Little Fish, why does your brother keep wearing a mask?”

During morning reading, Zhou Junyi quietly asked Zhou Chiyu. The homeroom teacher strictly managed everyone’s reading, requiring loud voices, so Gu Yuan’s mask naturally drew attention.

“Yeah, why can Gu Yuan wear a mask?” Mei Shu coughed twice and wiped his runny nose. “Who knows if he’s even reading?”

“Yeah, wearing a mask means he can slack off.”

Zhou Chiyu couldn’t stand others badmouthing Gu Yuan. He slammed his book down with a “pa.” “My brother is the top student in our grade. How could he slack off and not read?”

Zhou Junyi tugged at the furious Zhou Chiyu and whispered, “Don’t say more. The teacher’s coming soon.”

After the seat rearrangement last month, Gu Yuan sat farther from Zhou Chiyu. He glanced over and only saw Zhou Chiyu talking to others, unclear on the details.

“I’m warning you!” Zhou Chiyu wasn’t one to stir trouble usually, but he wasn’t a pushover either. “If you slander my brother again, I’ll tell the teacher, and your parents will beat you!”

“Tattletale!” Mei Shu made a face at Zhou Chiyu mockingly. “If you’ve got the guts, make Gu Yuan take off his mask! He’s a boy but acts like a princess. From now on, we’ll call him Princess Gu!”

“Yeah, yeah!”

Mei Shu’s gang had long disliked Gu Yuan. Ever since he became the Study Committee Member, he showed them no mercy, enforcing rules strictly. Because of his homework checks, they’d been scolded by the teacher many times and harbored resentment.

“Does being top in the grade mean he skips morning reading?”

“In my opinion, Gu Yuan didn’t make a sound at all!”

“You’re lying!”

No sooner had the words fallen than Zhou Chiyu, like a little whirlwind, rushed at Mei Shu and swung his small fist. Though short, he was strong. Mei Shu’s hands were pinned by one of Zhou Chiyu’s, unable to break free.

“Zhou Chiyu, you dare hit me?” Mei Shu threatened. “Believe it or not, I’ll have the teacher call your parents!”

Zhou Chiyu’s round face tensed, eyes bulging. “You slandered my brother first. You deserve it!”

“Little Fish.”

Zhou Chiyu’s fist, raised in mid-air, was suddenly gripped. He turned back with a fierce expression and found Gu Yuan, mask off, standing behind him.

“Ignore him.”

Gu Yuan stroked Zhou Chiyu’s soft curly hair. “The textbook says not to argue with fools.”

Zhou Chiyu huffed like a little firecracker. “People like them need a lesson! They even gave you a nickname!”

Gu Yuan continued soothing him. “Just ignore them.”

“Fine.” Zhou Chiyu linked arms with Gu Yuan, frowning worriedly. “Brother, put your mask back on quick. Don’t catch the flu.”

Lately, many classmates had the flu but persisted in attending school to avoid falling behind.

“No need.” Gu Yuan said softly. “I—”

“Fatty, what’s so cute about him?” Mei Shu and his friends laughed. As they turned, a book flew straight at Mei Shu’s head, making him squat down clutching his ears in pain and tears.

Zhou Chiyu froze, staring blankly at Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan had just spoken to him calmly, so why had his face suddenly changed, hurling the book at Mei Shu?

“My ear hurts so much!” Mei Shu grimaced in pain. “Gu Yuan, I won’t let you off! I’ll tell the teacher!”

“Go ahead.” Gu Yuan’s eyes resembled two bottomless cold pools, filled with disdain and gloom. “But if you say one more word about my brother, next time it won’t just be a book flying at you.”

Seeing blood from Mei Shu’s ear, Zhou Chiyu suddenly felt scared and nuzzled uneasily against Gu Yuan.

His brother was probably going to get scolded.

“Crazy!” Mei Shu wailed through tears. “Gu Yuan’s terrifying. He hit me!”