Chapter 4 004 Part 2

He hated Zhou Chiyu.

Hated him super much.

“Auntie, you fly it for Brother.”

Zhou Chiyu didn’t mind Gu Yuan’s coldness. After delivering the kite, he happily ran back to play hide-and-seek with the adults.

Hearing the joyful footsteps nearby, Gu Yuan felt irritated.

…

At dinnertime, Gu Yuan made a rare appearance downstairs for a meal. To his surprise, new guests had arrived.

His second uncle had just returned from Britain that afternoon, bringing his wife and son to visit Gu Lao.

“Little Yuan, long time no see. Have you grown taller lately?”

Gu Ming offered the gift he’d brought from abroad. “For your fifth birthday, Second Uncle didn’t give you a present yet. Hope you like it.”

Gu Yuan had never liked Gu Ming’s family and coldly looked away without reaching for it.

“Little Yuan, be polite. Say thank you to Second Uncle.”

Gu Cheng smiled helplessly. “Don’t mind him—the kid’s spoiled by us.”

Gu Ming shook his head with a smile, his gaze landing on Zhou Chiyu, who was devouring strawberries. His father seemed very fond of the Zhou Family orphan, even personally feeding him strawberries. The child was indeed endearing—pretty, clever, and his plumpness easily stirred affection.

“This must be Little Fish?” Gu Ming beamed kindly. “Settling in okay here? Made good friends with Little Yuan yet?”

Bai Wenran glanced at Gu Ming and silently poured Gu Yuan a glass of water.

“Yes!” Zhou Chiyu’s childish voice carried satisfaction. “I like it here a lot. I like Brother a lot.”

Hearing this, Gu Yuan was visibly surprised. He quietly furrowed his pale brows, listening to the conversation.

“Oh?” Gu Ming probed meaningfully. “What do you like about Brother?”

Zhou Chiyu answered honestly. “I like that Brother’s pretty.”

“Hahaha, kids say the darndest things.” Gu Ming picked up a piece of eel for Zhou Chiyu. “Little Fish adapts fast. If you want to stay at my place sometime, you’re welcome.”

Zhou Chiyu held his knife and fork, thanking him politely. “Thank you, Uncle. I’ll visit when I have time.”

No one present took his words as a joke.

Gu Cheng knew his younger brother’s intentions all too well. After the Zhou Family incident, Gu Ming had offered to care for Zhou Chiyu on Gu Lao’s behalf, but Gu Lao refused. He didn’t want to strain things with his brother and trouble their father.

“Grandpa, we went to Churchill Manor for a study trip.”

The fair-skinned boy beside Gu Ming spoke up. “Honestly, Churchill Manor’s style is a classic of Baroque architecture—unique inside, a perfect blend of French and English styles. I even joined an Oxford University academic exchange.”

These were lines Gu Ming had drilled into Gu Feng. He’d reminded him to recite them to Old Master Gu.

Old Master Gu nodded approvingly. “Little Feng’s so impressive?”

Praised, Gu Feng smirked smugly. “I took tons of photos—I’ll share them later. It’d be great if Cousin could go too. It’s a super fun learning spot.”

Gu Cheng’s fingertips paused as he dabbed his lips. “Little Feng, once your cousin’s better, he can go with you.”

For cystic fibrosis patients, flying wasn’t easy. Prolonged high-altitude flights could drop blood oxygen saturation, and cabin humidity was hard to control, easily worsening the condition and causing lung infections.

So Gu Yuan had never left the country since birth.

Clang. Gu Yuan’s knife and fork clattered onto his plate, drawing everyone’s eyes.

He hung his head, coughing harder and harder.

“He was fine just now—why suddenly—”

Bai Wenran reached to pat his back, but he dodged. By then, his pale lips had lost all color. He held his breath, his joints aching faintly. He slid off the chair, turning his back to everyone, his expression full of disgust and disappointment.

“Our family has a Baroque-Style Art Manor in Hai City too.”

Zhou Chiyu slurped his Italian Pasta, puffing his cheeks. “If Brother Gu Yuan wants to go play, I can give him the manor.”

His thinking was simple: Gu Yuan was pitiful for being too sick to travel abroad. He couldn’t stand seeing his pretty brother cry, so he’d give him the manor to play in. His family had tons of such manors—too many to count.

“What Baroque? It’s Baroque!”

Gu Feng couldn’t believe this kid owned such a grand manor, let alone gifting it to the detested Gu Yuan.

“You’re totally bluffing.”

“I’m not bluffing—I do have it!” Zhou Chiyu looked around for Butler Uncle. “Uncle, tell this kid I’m not lying.”

Butler Chen stepped forward and nodded slightly. “Two years ago, Madam Zhou did buy a Baroque-Style Art Manor. Everyone’s welcome to vacation there.”

Gu Feng was stunned. Though reluctant to believe Zhou Chiyu, he had to admit the kid was loaded.

He’d overheard his parents debating buying a manor, but his mom strongly opposed it.

“You’re really giving it to him?”

He gazed enviously at Gu Yuan, jealous that he got to be Zhou Chiyu’s friend.

If possible, he’d love to be Zhou Chiyu’s good friend too.

“Of course.” Zhou Chiyu kicked up his little feet dashingly. “I never lie.”

Gu Yuan’s frail back had already retreated far away.

Upstairs, he donned the Vibrating Vest and coughed up globs of greenish phlegm. He turned off all the bedroom lights, leaving just a sliver in the curtains for moonlight to fall on the bed.

Doctor Auntie asked about his condition, but he said nothing.

His head sank slowly into the pillow, throbbing with pain.

Soon, faint sobs echoed in the cold moonlight. He lifted his chin, slipped on the Oxygen Mask, and quietly fell asleep.

For three straight days, Zhou Chiyu couldn’t coax Gu Yuan out to play. Bai Wenran said Gu Yuan was sick and sleeping. Luckily, the Gu Family home was huge with plenty to do—he turned the castle into an adventure base, dragging Gu Lao along daily. The servants whispered that Zhou Chiyu must be Gu Lao’s long-lost grandson; why else spoil a friend’s kid so much?

That day, Gu Yuan finally improved. Hearing that Zhou Chiyu visited daily, his heavy mood inexplicably lightened.

He recalled that evening.

That chubby kid owned a Baroque manor?

He was a bit curious, even if he wouldn’t accept the gift.

“Little Fish is playing by the lake alone. Want to go find him?”

Bai Wenran noticed the softening in Gu Yuan’s eyes and pointed at the window. “Or call him from here—tell him you’re awake.”

“I don’t like him.”

Gu Yuan moved his feet lightly but still drifted from the desk to the window, book in arms. “The light here’s better.”

Bai Wenran smiled without a word.

Sure enough, Gu Yuan spotted that round little figure.

Today’s Zhou Chiyu wore a bear jacket with a hat sporting two fluffy ears standing perkily—easy to mistake for a bear cub frolicking in the courtyard if not looking closely.

Gu Yuan gripped the windowsill, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

That lively, joyful figure filled his vision completely.

Just then—

His gaze caught another short figure.

That was…? His neighbor’s kid?

A nameless fire flared in his eyes. He scowled with his pale little face, turned, climbed into bed, and burrowed under the covers.

Author’s Note:

Babies who like it can toss some nutrient fluid~