Chapter 75: Side Story

Gu Family Manor.

Gu Zhao led Ji Su back to his own room the whole way, helping him slip the little backpack from his shoulders.

A moment later, a knock came at the door. The nanny: 'Young Master, the dinner you ordered has arrived.'

Gu Zhao answered: 'Come in.'

The nanny came in carrying a tray, set the dinner on the table: 'Is there anything else you need?'

'Nothing else.' Gu Zhao pulled out a chair and gestured to Ji Su, who stood beside him. 'Have something to eat first.'

Ji Su obediently climbed into the chair: 'Thank you, Gu Zhao gege.'

Knowing he hadn't had dinner yet, Gu Zhao had the Kitchen prepare a meal in advance — all of it made to his tastes.

But Ji Su was small, with a small appetite; he hadn't been eating long before he set down his chopsticks: 'I'm full.'

Gu Zhao drew out a tissue and, without the slightest distaste, reached over to wipe the bits of food from his lips.

Ji Su obediently tilted his face up, his beautiful, clear, large eyes brimming with anticipation: 'Gu Zhao gege, can I sleep with you tonight?'

Gu Zhao's hand stilled. A reminder: 'There's no thunder tonight. And no rain, either.'

'I know...' Ji Su pressed his lips together, his soft tone carrying the unmistakable lilt of coaxing: 'But can I sleep with you?'

Gu Zhao lowered his lashes, and only after several long seconds did he reluctantly agree: 'All right.'

'Thank you, gege!' Ji Su beamed, hopped down from the chair, and flung himself into his arms.

Gu Zhao's arms opened on instinct, but he still set terms with his mouth: 'But you can't hug me while you sleep. It's too hot.'

Ji Su agreed at once: 'Okay!'

After his bath, he changed into Gu Zhao's pajamas and, quite of his own accord, climbed to the inside of the bed and lay down.

Without warning, Gu Zhao asked: 'What do you think of the Gu Family?'

'I think the Gu Family is great.' Ji Su rolled over, mumbling softly: 'Grandpa's great, Grandma's great, Uncle Gu and Auntie are great too — everyone's great.'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao answered without much feeling, as if the answer hadn't quite satisfied him.

Ji Su blinked his big eyes, his body edging toward him by slow degrees.

Gu Zhao noticed. His gaze remained fixed on the ceiling.

Ji Su seized his arm, his brows curving as he added: 'But of course the best one is still Gu Zhao gege!'

The corner of Gu Zhao's mouth lifted of its own accord — and was just as quickly pressed back down. He went on: 'Then would you like to stay at the Gu Family?'

Ji Su nuzzled his shoulder with his soft, tender cheek: 'Yes.'

'Really?' Gu Zhao turned his face toward him. 'I mean — stay at the Gu Family. Forever. Not go back to the Ji Family.'

Ji Su blinked, bewildered: 'Never go home again?'

'From now on, you can think of the Gu Family as your own home.' Gu Zhao coaxed him gently. 'After this, we can go to school together every day, come home together, do homework together, play together — and at night, we can even sleep together.'

Ji Su clearly hadn't considered such a possibility; his little mind hadn't caught up yet.

Gu Zhao turned onto his side, face-to-face, very close: 'Don't you want to be with me every day?'

'I do, but...' Ji Su's expression wavered. 'But Daddy won't agree to let me stay here.'

'As long as you want to stay, Grandpa will help us sort out everything.' Gu Zhao pressed on: 'Ji Su — do you want to stay?'

To leave one's own home entirely — for a seven-year-old child, the decision was a heavy one indeed.

'Your father isn't good to you, but I will be.' Gu Zhao did not lose heart, continuing to coax: 'At the Gu Family, you can do whatever you want. No one will dare hit you or scold you, and no one will dare leave you hungry.'

Ji Su wavered despite himself: 'Really?'

'Really.' Gu Zhao took his hand, his tone solemn with promise: 'I will always protect you.'

Ji Su was still young, but he had already begun to sense, dimly, the weight a promise carried.

In his heart, every word Gu Zhao had ever spoken had, in the end, been kept.

Gu Zhao did not press him. He simply watched, unblinking, and waited for his answer.

Then Ji Su thought of something important: 'But what if Mom comes back to get me and can't find me?'

'We can contact her first. Tell her you're here.' Gu Zhao spoke as though he had long since turned the problem over, his tone cool and measured: 'If one day your mother really does come back for you, I won't stand in your way. I won't keep you from going.'

'Mm!' Ji Su believed this without the slightest doubt. 'My mom will definitely come back to get me.'

Gu Zhao gave his palm a small squeeze: 'Then it's settled?'

Ji Su nodded again and again, quick as a chick pecking rice: 'Settled.'

Gu Zhao found his little finger and hooked it with his own.

Ji Su caught on at once, shaking their hooked fingers: 'Pinky swear, a hundred years no change — whoever breaks it turns into a puppy!'

Gu Zhao laughed: 'Where did that extra line come from?'

'I added it myself.' Ji Su's eyes curved, his smile both adorable and smug: 'If Gu Zhao gege doesn't keep his promise, he turns into a puppy!'

'And if you don't keep yours, I'll punish you by turning you into a kitten.' Gu Zhao pinched his plump little cheek. 'Little Ji Kitten — give me a meow first.'

Ji Su's cheek was squished out of shape by the pinch, his words coming out slightly muffled: 'I don't wanna go meow meow like a kitten...'

The two of them tumbled about on the bed for a good while, and when Ji Su finally tired of playing, he curled up around Gu Zhao's arm and sank into a deep sleep.

Gu Zhao gazed at that sleeping little face, drew a long breath, and reached out to switch off the last lamp.

Darkness rushed in, and his breathing turned ragged at once; his heartbeat quickened beyond his control.

Just then, a murmur reached his ear — Ji Su, in his sleep, had pulled him closer still.

Gu Zhao let out a quiet breath. His jangling nerves began, slowly, to settle.

*

From that day on, Ji Su remained at the Gu Family.

When the Gu Family suddenly found itself with an extra boy, the world outside at first speculated he might be a Gu Family illegitimate child; later, Old Master Gu publicly announced that Ji Su was his adopted grandson, and the rumors fell apart of their own accord.

In truth, the Gu Family did indeed treat Ji Su as one of their own.

Everything Ji Su ate, wore, and used was identical to the other children's, and he had a bedroom of his very own — though most nights, he fell asleep in Gu Zhao's bed.

Just as Gu Zhao had promised, from elementary school onward they went to school together and came home together each day, did homework together after coming home, played together once the homework was done, and curled up together to sleep when they were tired of playing.

Gu Zhao gave all his patience to Ji Su. The Gu Family sometimes teased him — at such a young age, already so good at taking care of people; he'd certainly make a fine father someday.

Day after day after day, the little doll grew prettier and prettier, and more and more dependent on him.

Heaven only knew how much Gu Zhao savored that dependence. How perfect it would be if Ji Su's eyes could see him, and him alone, forever.

Time galloped by, and the two of them entered the same high school.

The high school was some distance from the Gu Family Manor, so Old Master Gu bought them a three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment near the school to stay in for the time being.

The two were meant to have one room apiece, but Ji Su was used to sleeping with Gu Zhao, so his own room became a thing in name only.

After the start of their second year of high school, students entered the free course-selection phase. Beyond the required subjects of Chinese, Math, and English, Ji Su chose the physics track, while Gu Zhao chose the history track.

Students on different tracks attended main classes together but split up for electives — and Gu Zhao's airtight defenses began, at last, to show cracks.

During one of his elective classes, Ji Su made a new friend.

This was the first true best friend Ji Su had ever made in all these years — apart from Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao offered no opinion on the matter, but the look he turned on Qiao Jin was distinctly chilly.

Qiao Jin was somewhat baffled: 'Susu, does School Heartthrob Gu have some kind of problem with me?'

The moment Gu Zhao had set foot in the affiliated high school, he had been elected school heartthrob by the school forum in a landslide vote. But School Heartthrob Gu was cold by nature, pitiless toward the fairer sex, and not one of the girls who had confessed to him or shown him favor had escaped being roundly rejected.

In time, everyone came to know that School Heartthrob Gu was meant to be admired from afar, never approached.

Ji Su hid his mouth behind a book and whispered back: 'No, why would you think that?'

'It's just...' Qiao Jin couldn't quite find the words for the abstract feeling. 'Never mind — forget I said anything.'

The last class ended, and the two of them walked out of the classroom with their books in their arms.

Gu Zhao had class in another teaching building. Ji Su had planned to wait for him so they could go to the cafeteria together for dinner, but then a WeChat message came through.

Gu Zhao: [The teacher is holding us late. Eat something on your own first to tide you over.]

Ji Su: [Okay, then I'll wait for you at the cafeteria.]

'Huh?' Qiao Jin leaned over, curious. 'Su Su, does your homeroom teacher not collect phones?'

'They do.' Ji Su tucked his phone back into his pocket. 'But Gu Zhao was afraid he wouldn't be able to reach me, so he snuck it in.'

'No way — you two are together almost the entire day except for your elective classes.' Qiao Jin couldn't make sense of it. 'You're apart for just a little while and he still can't let go?'

Ji Su found it perfectly normal. 'Of course. If something unexpected happened and he couldn't reach me, he'd be really worried.'

'Fine.' Qiao Jin had nothing more to say. 'Then let's head to the cafeteria first.'

Ji Su always appeared on campus as a pair with Gu Zhao, so showing up at the cafeteria alone stirred up a small commotion.

'Xiao Qiao...' Ji Su noticed the gazes directed at him and asked quietly, 'Is there something on my face?'

Qiao Jin looked him over carefully. 'Nope.'

Ji Su asked, puzzled, 'Then why is everyone staring at me?'

'They're staring because you're good-looking, of course!' Qiao Jin paused. 'Wait — you don't actually know how popular you are on campus, do you?'

'Me?' Ji Su pointed at himself. 'How am I popular?'

'Very popular!' Qiao Jin replied without hesitation. 'From what I've observed, you're actually even more popular than Gu Zhao!'

Ji Su laughed it off. 'That's impossible.'

'Really, I'm not lying.' Seeing he didn't believe her, Qiao Jin added, 'But all your peach-blossom luck has been completely blocked off by Gu Zhao — that walking iceberg of his.'

Ji Su: '...'

Qiao Jin wanted to say more, but Ji Su steered the conversation away. 'Xiao Qiao, let's go see what's good to eat first.'

After getting their food, the two of them carried their trays and found a seat by the window.

The moment Ji Su sat down, he heard someone call him: 'Ji Su...'

Ji Su lifted his face, realized he didn't know the person, but still responded politely: 'Hello.'

A girl with a ponytail, blushing, held a delicate pink box in her hands: 'This is a gift for you — please accept it!'

Ji Su was a little bewildered. 'Do we know each other?'

The girl's face turned an even deeper red, and she stammered: 'We don't, but I-I I li—'

'Ji Su.' At the critical moment, a low voice rang out, cutting off the girl's words.

Ji Su turned his face. 'You're finally done with class!'

Gu Zhao smiled slightly, one hand resting on his shoulder. 'Didn't I tell you to eat first?'

'I was going to eat first, but...' Ji Su looked back at the girl in front of him. 'Sorry — what were you saying?'

Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids as well, his gaze — ice-piercing to the bone — falling on the girl's face.

The girl clenched her teeth, set the gift on the table, and was about to leave.

'Wait.' Gu Zhao called her back, reached out, picked up the box, and handed it to her. 'You forgot your things.'

The girl mustered her courage to reply: 'This... this is a gift for Ji Su.'

Gu Zhao lowered his gaze, his tone seemingly inquiring: 'Do you want it?'

Ji Su shook his head. 'No.'

Gu Zhao tossed the box straight into the girl's arms. She scrambled to catch it, then hurried off clutching her gift.

Qiao Jin, who had watched the whole thing, spread his hands — the meaning was self-evident.

Gu Zhao sat down as if nothing had happened, his long arm naturally coming to rest on the back of Ji Su's chair.

Qiao Jin immediately lowered his head, assuming a posture of seeing only nose and mouth.

No joke — he had no desire to be stabbed to death by the ice daggers in School Heartthrob Gu's eyes.

*

At half past nine in the evening, the evening self-study bell rang.

Ji Su walked out of the classroom with several books in his arms.

Gu Zhao carried his own bag slung over one shoulder, Ji Su's bag in one hand, and his other arm around Ji Su's shoulders.

After getting home, the two of them sat side by side at the desk to do homework.

Halfway through, Gu Zhao got up and went to the living room, cut a plate of fruit, made a cup of hot milk, and brought them all back to the desk.

Ji Su's attention was still on his test paper, and he couldn't spare a moment for the fruit. 'Hold on — I'll eat after I finish this problem.'

Gu Zhao picked up half a strawberry. 'Open your mouth.'

Ji Su instinctively opened his mouth and bit down on the strawberry; the sweet-and-sour juice burst across his palate.

Gu Zhao fed him several in a row, and the callused pad of his finger brushed inadvertently against those soft, moist lips — he couldn't help pressing just a little.

'Mm...' Ji Su turned his head away. 'No more.'

Gu Zhao withdrew his hand, put the juice-slicked finger into his own mouth, and sucked it clean.

After finishing homework, Ji Su went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Soon he came out in his pajamas, his wet black hair falling across his forehead, the tips dripping water that left a few clearly visible trails down his skin — fair as jade.

But he paid it no mind at all, walking straight to the foot of the bed and sitting down.

Gu Zhao picked up the towel draped over the nightstand and, with practiced ease, began drying his hair.

'Wait...' Halfway through, Ji Su realized belatedly, 'That girl at the cafeteria today — was she about to confess to me?'

Gu Zhao's hands paused for a beat. 'I don't know.'

'How could you not know?' Ji Su tilted his face up. 'Didn't School Heartthrob Gu used to get confessions from girls all the time?'

Gu Zhao's tone was even. 'You said it yourself — used to.'

'Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever actually received a proper confession.' Ji Su joked, 'Oh right — Xiao Qiao said today that it's because you've been blocking my peach-blossom luck.'

Gu Zhao asked, his expression unreadable: 'Do you think so too?'

'Of course not.' Ji Su curved his lips into a smile. 'Do I look like someone who'd value romance over friendship?'

'No, you don't.' Gu Zhao slid his hands down, cradling his face through the towel. 'Ji-kitten, you're still young — it's not time for you to be dating yet, understand?'

'I'm not young.' Ji Su scrunched his nose slightly. 'In a few more months I'll be a legal adult.'

Gu Zhao fixed his gaze on Ji Su's eyes. 'So what you're saying is — you want to date now?'

'That's not what I meant at all.' Ji Su replied with perfect seriousness. 'Right now I just want to study hard and make progress every day, and get into A University's Architecture Department.'

Gu Zhao smiled, and nuzzled his nose tip affectionately. 'Such a good boy.'

After his hair was dry, the two of them lay down on the bed, turned off the lights, and prepared to sleep.

As a child, Ji Su had liked sleeping draped over Gu Zhao; now that he was older he tried to correct his sleeping posture, but with little success.

Every night he lay down properly, only to wake up sprawled over the other like an octopus.

Ji Su half-suspected he might be a sleepwalker. Tonight he deliberately lay down with his back to Gu Zhao, hoping he'd still be in that position come morning.

Hearing the breathing beside his ear grow long and steady, Gu Zhao slowly opened his eyes.

He reached out an arm, gently turned the person facing away from him over, and drew him into his embrace.

Moonlight, pale as silver, came through the window. Gu Zhao gazed deeply at the sleeping figure in his arms.

After a long while, he pressed a kiss to Ji Su's forehead, and shaped the words soundlessly: 'You are mine.'

A flower he had raised with his own hands — how could he ever permit another to touch it?