Chapter 73: Side Story Four

The black sedan slowly drove up the winding mountain road, heading toward Gu Family Manor.

Ji Su sat quietly in the back seat, watching the unfamiliar scenery pass the window, then suddenly leaned against the glass: 'This isn't the way home.'

'This is the way to my home; I don't know where yours is either.' Gu Zhao stared at that round little back of the head. 'But we met once last summer — do you remember?'

Ji Su blinked his fan-like lashes, searched carefully through his little head, then turned back: 'I remember now! I saw you at my grandma's house!'

Only, the boy back then had been terribly thin, which was why he hadn't recognized him at once.

'Right.' Gu Zhao drew his gaze back. 'Back then, I could often hear you playing the piano.'

Ji Su settled back into his seat, his expression a little shy: 'Is my piano playing really bad?'

'Not bad at all.' Gu Zhao shook his head. 'Very nice.'

'Thank you.' Ji Su curved his eyes, his smile innocent and radiant. 'You're the first person to ever say my piano playing sounds nice.'

Gu Zhao repeated it earnestly once more: 'Very nice.'

As they spoke, the car had already pulled into the courtyard villa halfway up the mountain.

Gu Zhao asked: 'The rain is getting heavier — would you like to come to my place to wait it out?'

Ji Su had already let down his guard entirely: 'Okay!'

Gu Zhao reached a hand toward him: 'Let's get out.'

After getting out, Ji Su looked around curiously, unable to help exclaiming: 'Your house is really big!'

'Yes.' Gu Zhao held that cold little hand tightly, leading him toward the main hall. 'My home has everything.'

Old Master Gu was in the living room talking with his eldest son; hearing the sound, he looked toward the door, and his expression instantly softened: 'Little Five, you're back.'

Gu Zhao called out: 'Waigong.'

Old Master Gu's gaze fell on the small boy he was holding, and he paused: 'Which family's child is this?'

Ji Su grew a little uneasy, instinctively hiding behind Gu Zhao.

The driver replied from the side: 'This child was picked up by the young master on the roadside.'

'Not picked up.' Gu Zhao corrected immediately. 'He's my friend.'

Old Master Gu, a little unsure of the situation, asked patiently: 'Little Five, do you know this child?'

'I do.' Gu Zhao had barely said two words when Ji Su, hiding behind him, let out a loud sneeze.

Gu Zhao frowned slightly: 'Waigong, I'd like to take him to change clothes first.'

Old Master Gu agreed: 'Go ahead, take him up.'

Gu Zhao led Ji Su through the main hall, walked a long stretch, and up to the second floor.

When they stepped into the bedroom, Ji Su let out another 'wow': 'Your room is so big too!'

Gu Zhao asked back: 'Isn't your room big?'

'My old room was big too, but…' Ji Su's voice grew quieter. 'But now I've switched to a different room, and it's much smaller.'

Gu Zhao was puzzled: 'Why did you switch?'

'Because didi needs the big room.' Ji Su consoled himself. 'But my room now is also very nice.'

Gu Zhao let go of his hand, moved a chair over to the wardrobe, and rummaged inside for a towel and clothes.

Ji Su stood beside him, tilting his small face up to remind him: 'Be careful, okay?'

'It's fine.' Gu Zhao took out the clothes, climbed down from the chair. 'Can you dress yourself?'

'Of course I can!' Ji Su puffed out his little chest. 'I've been dressing myself since I was three.'

'Then put them on yourself.' Gu Zhao handed the clothes to him. 'They're new — I haven't worn them.'

Ji Su hugged the clothes and walked into the bathroom, took off his half-dry, half-wet clothes, and changed into the clean new ones.

A moment later, Gu Zhao walked to the door: 'Are you dressed?'

Ji Su stood up, the sleeves drooping down and covering his small hands: 'I'm dressed.'

Over this past year, Gu Zhao had grown quite a bit, and combined with his naturally larger frame, the clothes looked a little ill-fitting on Ji Su.

Gu Zhao walked over: 'Hands up.'

Ji Su obediently raised both hands, letting him roll up the sleeves for him.

After rolling the sleeves, Gu Zhao crouched down to roll up the trouser legs too.

'Thank you.' Ji Su thanked him softly. 'Oh right, I still don't know your name!'

'Gu Zhao.' Gu Zhao stood up, took his hand, and wrote two characters in his palm.

'Gu, Zhao — I know which two characters now.' Ji Su's brows curved in a smile; he turned that hand over and held it, carefully writing his own name stroke by stroke.

Gu Zhao lowered his gaze to the palm: 'Ji Su?'

'Mm!' Ji Su answered brightly. 'Gu Zhao, you're so amazing!'

'Not bad.' Gu Zhao replied, picked up the white towel draped nearby, and began drying his hair.

The towel was too big — it nearly covered Ji Su's entire face, and when it accidentally brushed the swollen red spot on his left cheek, he let out a soft cry of pain.

Gu Zhao's heart clenched; he quickly pulled the towel away: 'What happened?'

'It's nothing…' Ji Su bore the pain, his big eyes glistening. 'Nothing.'

A child's skin is delicate to begin with, and his face was snow-white like a porcelain doll, making the slap mark look especially frightening.

Gu Zhao instinctively reached out a hand, but just as his fingertips were about to touch the cheek, he pulled back: 'I'll have someone bring medicine.'

A few minutes later, Ji Su sat on a small stool while the housekeeper applied medicine to his face.

He looked terribly well-behaved — hands on his knees, pressing his lips tight when it hurt, trying his best not to make a sound.

Gu Zhao stood nearby, unable to help reminding: 'Gently.'

The housekeeper's hand trembled with nerves, and she quickly answered: 'Yes, Young Master.'

'It doesn't hurt.' Ji Su clenched his little fist like a tiny adult. 'Susu is very brave.'

Gu Zhao asked: 'How did you get the injury on your face?'

Ji Su lowered his head and answered quietly: 'I didn't hold didi properly when I was carrying him, and baba got angry, but I really didn't mean to.'

'Your baba hit you?' Gu Zhao's brow furrowed. 'Is he your real baba?'

Ji Su nodded: 'Yes, he is.'

Gu Zhao continued: 'Does your baba not treat you well?'

'He used to treat me very well, but ever since baba and mama got divorced…' Ji Su shrank a little. 'Baba became so, so fierce.'

He tried very hard to be the well-behaved child everyone praised, but baba still didn't seem to like him.

In just a few sentences, Gu Zhao sorted out the whole story: "So your parents got divorced, and after your baba remarried, your stepmother had another child."

Ji Su nodded: "A little brother."

After the medicine was applied to his face, Gu Zhao asked again: "Are you hungry?"

Ji Su shook his head, wanting to say he wasn't hungry, but his stomach betrayed him with a small gurgle.

Now even the uninjured side of his face turned red.

But Gu Zhao didn't laugh at him — he simply took his hand and led him downstairs.

Ji Su asked softly: "Gu Zhao, where are we going?"

"To the kitchen to get something to eat." Gu Zhao turned his face toward him. "What month is your birthday?"

Ji Su answered obediently, and Gu Zhao continued: "Then I'm older than you — you have to call me gege."

Ji Su used his free hand to measure the difference in their heights, found that he was indeed a little shorter, and obediently called out: "Gu Zhao gege."

"Mm." Gu Zhao answered, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

Old Master Gu, walking toward them, saw this scene and his steps faltered for a moment.

Although nearly a year had passed since that incident, this child still spoke very little — not only was he unlike other children his age, lively and cheerful, but one rarely saw any expression on his face at all, let alone a smile that came from the heart.

At that moment, Gu Zhao also noticed the old man: "Waigong."

"Changed your clothes?" Old Master Gu gathered his thoughts, his tone gentle. "Hungry? Dinner's ready in the kitchen."

In the dining room, Old Master Gu sat at the head of the table, watching the two children eat with fond eyes.

Despite his hunger, Ji Su's table manners remained refined.

When he had eaten nearly enough, he set down his spoon and picked up a damp cloth from the side, wiping his mouth and hands clean.

Old Master Gu asked: "Why not eat a little more?"

Ji Su replied politely: "Thank you, yeye. I'm full."

Old Master Gu beamed: "Good child, so well-mannered."

Ji Su sat at the table, and only after Gu Zhao had set down his chopsticks too did he ask: "Can I go home now?"

Old Master Gu suddenly remembered: "Good child, where is your home?"

Ji Su gave a place name, and the butler murmured a few words into Old Master Gu's ear.

"Good child, your home is rather far from here." Old Master Gu considered briefly. "How about this — call your parents and tell them you'll stay at my place tonight. Would that be alright?"

Ji Su hesitated, thought of the punishment that might await him if he went home tonight, and nodded: "Okay, yeye."

Gu Zhao offered no opinion, but the furrow between his brows visibly smoothed.

Ji Su remembered baba's phone number. After dialing, it rang several times before a familiar voice came through: "Who is this?"

Ji Su answered quietly: "Baba, it's me."

"Ji Su?" The voice on the other end instantly turned furious. "You've gotten bold, haven't you? One slap and you go running off from home — is that how you want to play it?"

Ji Su flinched and instinctively apologized: "I'm sorry, baba, I—"

He didn't get to finish before the shouting cut him off again.

The voice on the phone was loud enough that Old Master Gu, standing nearby, heard it too.

Old Master Gu's expression darkened. He gestured for Ji Su to hand him the phone and cleared his throat: "Ji Su's baba, is that right?"

The cursing on the other end stopped abruptly: "Who are you?"

"My surname is Gu." Old Master Gu, long accustomed to a position of authority, carried with him a natural air of stern dignity. "Susu got lost; my grandson brought him home. Once the rain stops tomorrow, we'll send him back."

The voice on the other end asked impatiently: "Where do you live?"

Old Master Gu gave a place name: "If you're not at ease, you can come pick up Susu yourself tomorrow."

This time, the other end was silent for several seconds before asking tentatively: "I-is this the Gu Family I think it is?"

Old Master Gu seemed to find the question rather amusing, and simply handed the phone to the butler.

"It's alright now." Gu Zhao took Ji Su's small hand again. "You can stay at my house tonight without worry."

*

The housekeeper prepared a guest room, laying out soft, sweet-smelling sheets for the little guest.

Ji Su had been soaked by the rain, so with the housekeeper's help he took a hot bath and changed into Gu Zhao's pajamas.

To ward off a cold, the housekeeper also brewed him a cup of medicinal granules to drink.

The medicine smelled a little bitter, but Ji Su didn't complain — he drank it all in one go, then stuck out the tip of his tongue.

Gu Zhao peeled a milk candy and tucked it into his mouth.

With the candy in his mouth, Ji Su's words came out a little muffled: "Gu Zhao gege, play…"

"What did you say?" Gu Zhao leaned a little closer to him.

Ji Su used his tongue to push the candy to one side of his cheek: "I said, Gu Zhao gege, good night."

Gu Zhao stared at his face, then couldn't resist reaching out one finger to poke the puffed-up cheek.

Ji Su burst out laughing at the poke, tumbling sideways onto the bed.

Gu Zhao's mood lifted as well: "Good night."

After he left too, the room fell quiet.

Ji Su lay in bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling — not a trace of sleepiness.

He was, after all, only a child of six or seven; suddenly dropped into a completely unfamiliar place with no one beside him, he couldn't help feeling afraid and homesick.

A thunderclap — boom! — sounded outside the window.

Ji Su shuddered, burying his head beneath the blankets, curling his whole body up.

The thunder outside continued without pause, and Gu Zhao lay flat in his own bed, a little worried.

Just as he was debating whether to go check on Ji Su, he suddenly heard a very soft knock at the door.

Gu Zhao sprang up, leapt off the bed, hurried to the door, and opened it.

Ji Su stood in the doorway, wearing his pajamas, a pillow clutched to his chest, his little face flushed, his soft black hair a little mussed, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

Gu Zhao asked, expressionless: "What's wrong?"

"I…" Ji Su pressed his lips together, then gathered his courage and asked softly: "Gu Zhao gege, can I sleep with you tonight?"