This was the first argument between Chu Yigui and Wan Qiu, but in reality, it was Wan Qiu venting her emotions on Chu Yigui.

Because it was so rare, and even intense for Wan Qiu, it alarmed everyone in the Chu family.

Yang carried Wanqiu to the living room. The boy, who had grown too tall to be held in his arms, appeared fragile and small next to Yang's size.

Yang wasn't very good at comforting people, so he could only pat Wanqiu's back rhythmically, seemingly trying to calm Wanqiu down.

Butler Bai specially brewed calming tea, and the chef also took the time to prepare a fruit platter for Wanqiu with distinct colors and various carvings, as if placing a small flower bed on the table.

Butler Bai even played some soft music.

Gradually, Wan Qiu finally came back to his senses.

The anger seemed to dissipate little by little with the comforting words of others.

Wan Qiu, who was truly angry for the first time, stared blankly ahead.

"Have you calmed down?" Yang patted Wan Qiu's back, trying to soften his voice as much as possible, although it looked quite incongruous with his tense and serious face.

Wan Qiu nodded.

"Anger is terrifying." Wan Qiu rubbed against Yang Ze, recalling that anxious feeling with lingering fear.

"Is that so?" Yang replied to Wan Qiu.

"Hmm..." Wan Qiu placed her hands on her chest, "It hurts here."

"Does it still hurt?" Yang asked, patting Wan Qiu's back.

Wan Qiu shook his head.

"Is there anything that's bothering you?"

Wan Qiu rubbed his eyes: "My eyes hurt."

"It's because you cried."

Butler Bai brought over an ice towel, and Yang let Wanqiu lean on his shoulder, covering Wanqiu's eyes with the ice towel.

The cool temperature gradually cooled the scorching heat left by the anger.

Wanqiu's mind was blank.

"What happened?" Yang asked.

Wan Qiu slowly shook his head. Although he had calmed down, his memory seemed to be fragmented, and he couldn't recall any specific details.

"Did Yi Gui bully you?" Although Yang Ze thought it was unlikely, he still asked just in case.

This time, Wan Qiu shook his head frantically, and Yang immediately put an ice towel on Wan Qiu's head.

"Then why are you so angry?"

Wan Qiu heard Yang Ze's cautious question and also wanted to give Yang Ze an answer.

"I don't know," Wan Qiu's voice sounded muffled because of her stuffy nose. "I just suddenly got angry."

"Is there anything Second Brother can do?" Yang asked.

Wan Qiu shook his head.

"It's all better now."

"Really?" Yang Ze asked with some doubt. "If you feel angry, just tell your second brother. He can take you to the gym to hit the punching bag. If you'd like, he can even put a picture of Yi Gui on your head."

Wan Qiu shook his head again.

"I'm not angry anymore." Wan Qiu clutched her chest and said, "I feel much better after being angry."

After saying that, Wan Qiu vaguely realized something.

After I had completely vented my anger, the strange feeling of tightness in my chest disappeared.

I don't want to think about anything.

Everything is going much more smoothly now.

Wan Qiu vaguely realized that perhaps she had actually been angry all along.

He just didn't realize that he was angry.

The anger that had been swirling in my heart finally found an outlet, which is why I feel so relaxed now.

If that's the case, then why is he angry?

Wanqiu couldn't remember.

"If you're still angry, shall we have Yi Gui stay in another house today?" Yang asked.

Wan Qiu immediately grasped Yang Ze's hand and peeked her eyes out from under the ice towel: "No, I'm not angry anymore."

Seeing Wan Qiu's still slightly red eyes, Yang smiled.

I knew you would say that.

Wanqiu's mood had clearly improved a lot.

He also ate quite a lot of sweet fruit; if he hadn't been hungry after dinner, he might have even eaten the whole fruit platter.

Chu Jianshu came out of Chu Yigui's room. He seemed to have had a conversation with Chu Yigui, but no one knew what the conversation was about.

Chu Jianshu briefly inquired about Wan Qiu's condition, but Wan Qiu insisted that she was fine.

Wan Qiu sat quietly by herself in one seat, holding an ice towel in her hands to cover her face.

Perhaps it was because I gradually came to my senses and realized that what I had just done was somewhat embarrassing.

Wan Qiu asked, "Did Yi Gui say anything just now?"

“He didn’t say anything.” Chu Jianshu was clearly not in complete control of the situation either. “He just said it was his fault and that he was willing to bear any consequences.”

“It’s not Yi Gui’s fault.” Wan Qiu peeked out from behind the ice towel, looking at Chu Jianshu with some trepidation.

Chu Jianshu could easily see Wan Qiu's protectiveness towards Chu Yigui, and sighed, "I didn't intend to do anything."

Wan Qiu also noticed Chu Jianshu's helpless expression and felt somewhat guilty.

“It’s not a bad thing to do this occasionally,” Chu Jianshu suddenly said.

Yang Ze and Wan Qiu looked at Chu Jianshu together, seemingly unable to understand why Chu Jianshu said that.

"Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all part of life."

Chu Jianshu unconsciously rubbed the armrest of the sofa with the pads of his fingers.

"I have never seen Yi Gui so infuriating. Although Chu Zhang does not like Yi Gui, he will not get angry because of Chu Yi Gui. No one can be perfect."

“Yi Gui is very smart; she wouldn’t do such a thing,” Yang Ze echoed.

"The fact that this has happened proves that Yi Gui has also encountered a thorny and unsolvable problem. Knowing one's own strengths and weaknesses and being able to sense one's limits in advance is not necessarily a bad thing."

Chu Jianshu, quite unusually, chose gentleness over harsh reprimand.

"The fact that he was able to understand and experience failure so early on, given his intelligence, is not necessarily a bad thing."

Chu Yigui is always perfect.

This child, who seemed to have been raised with the word "perfection" in mind, also reached his limits after finding his own ideas.

Having overcome this difficulty, Chu Yigui should be honed to become even more outstanding and dazzling.

Chu Jianshu looked at Wan Qiu.

His youngest son seems to possess a unique charm.

His growth always leads everyone around him to change those around him little by little.

It was as if they were a gift from God.

Chu Jianshu rarely showed Wan Qiu such a gentle smile: "I hope you can resolve the conflict as soon as possible."

The ice towel in Wan Qiu's hand had already been warmed up.

The towel was taken away by Butler Bai, and Wan Qiu shook her head, indicating that she didn't want the iced towel anymore.

"Isn't getting angry a bad thing?" Wan Qiu still felt uneasy in front of Chu Jianshu, as if he were facing an elder.

Wanqiu was aware that it was wrong to lose his temper in front of his parents.

“Just like I said, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are emotions that everyone experiences.” Chu Jianshu stood up, went to Wan Qiu’s side, and ruffled Wan Qiu’s hair. “It proves that you are also growing up.”

Wan Qiu really enjoyed it when Chu Jianshu touched his hair.

Unlike Yang Xiaoyu, who always liked to hug him directly, Chu Jianshu's most intimate gesture towards Wan Qiu was limited to this.

Wan Qiu rubbed against Chu Jianshu's palm, her gesture carrying a hint of subtle coquetry.

"but……"

Chu Jianshu's words immediately made Wan Qiu's heart skip a beat.

"If you really can't solve it, remember to come to me. If you can't solve it, I'll help you."

Chu Jianshu withdrew his hand.

But Wanqiu didn't feel that the warmth left on her hair had disappeared because of Chu Jianshu's departure.

It's as if gentleness has always lingered there.

"It's too late, everyone should go home and get some rest," Chu Jianshu said.

After Chu Jianshu left, the others who remained left as well.

Yang, who was left behind, turned his head, wanting to take Wan Qiu back to the bedroom.

Wan Qiu was led by Yang Ze's hand, step by step, back to the bedroom.

Wanqiu suddenly said, "Second Brother, I want to go to Yigui's room."

Yang was somewhat surprised: "Didn't you just have an argument? It might be better if you calm down for a day."

Wan Qiu shook his head: "I don't want to keep putting off things I hate."

Yang tilted his head and saw Wan Qiu's naivety and optimism.

He patted Wanqiu on the shoulder.

"I won't close the door tonight, and don't close it when you go to Yi Gui's room either. If you get angry, call me loudly and I'll come and take you out."

Wanqiu is clever and obedient, that should be good.

Yang watched Wan Qiu's retreating figure as she went to Chu Yigui's room.

In a daze, he no longer saw that weak child.

His straight back and even his gradually broadening shoulders tell the story of how this once weak child has gradually grown into an amazing man.

Yang noticed that he seemed to be smiling.

The upturned corners of his mouth conveyed both admiration and appreciation.

——

Is this the right thing to do?

Why do wrong things?

When Chu Yigui heard Wan Qiu's question, he answered Wan Qiu.

It's not wrong for Wan Qiu to like anyone.

He hoped Wanqiu could do anything, whatever it was, and he would support whatever Wanqiu did.

He told Wanqiu.

Wan Qiu, however, wouldn't listen to a word he said.

Wan Qiu gripped his clothes with unprecedented force.

Tearing and ripping, he was violently pushed away, while he could only retreat in accordance with Wan Qiu's movements.

He leaned against the edge of the bed, sat on the bed, and looked up at Wan Qiu, who was furious.

At this moment, quite inappropriately, Chu Yigui thought Wan Qiu was really beautiful.

Bright, vivid, carrying the firelight that can burn everything, so bright it seems to illuminate all things.

He watched Wanqiu grow up, from being ignorant to gradually becoming someone he could rely on.

Wan Qiu was becoming more and more outstanding, more and more dazzling, and more and more captivating to him.

He remembered the way Wan Qiu looked at him.

Now, however, he is watching everything Wanqiu does all the time.

But what about him?

Is everything he's doing any different from what he's done before?

Quietly huddled beside the raging fire, trying to obtain a little warmth in the icy world, can it sprout?

Even now, compared to the anger of Wan Qiu, he was, at that moment, greedy for the hidden favor Wan Qiu showed him.

Chu Jianshu asked them what had happened.

But he couldn't say anything to answer Chu Jianshu.

The air was cold and desolate, lingering with the scent of autumn, yet so quiet it seemed to be dissipating completely.

At that moment, all he saw was emptiness.

"It was my fault, and I am willing to bear any consequences."

Chu Jianshu sighed.

What Chu Jianshu said is actually not important.

Chu Yigui also realized that Chu Jianshu had no intention of comforting him, nor did he intend to punish him.

“You and Wanqiu have always had a good relationship, and I believe you won’t bully him.”

"There will always be conflicts when you're together. Don't avoid them, resolve them properly."

"It's not a bad thing to occasionally look at things you can't do."

Chu Jianshu has become gentler.

It seems that after Wanqiu returned, he came to understand the meaning of gentleness more and more.

Chu Jianshu's transformation is also a testament to Wan Qiu's excellence.

While everyone was praising his excellence, only they knew that the truly outstanding person was Wan Qiu.

After Chu Jianshu left, only Chu Yigui's bedroom remained.

Chu Yigui heard a quiet sound.

"Don't you like it?" Wan Qiu's voice, which had once asked, suddenly echoed in his ears.

He obeyed Wanqiu's request, and the joy born from his despicable compliance with Wanqiu's suggestion brought him closer to Wanqiu.

Do you like it?

like.

Don't you like it?

like.

How could I not like it?

It was a familiar scent, a taste he longed for, and even the scent he first noticed had never faded from his memory.

The intimacy, shrouded in desire, was like a poison clinging to his bones, almost consuming him.

Wan Qiu's permissive questioning amplified his selfishness and despicable nature.

At this moment, Chu Yigui truly realized that beneath the praise for his excellence and his self-perceived efforts lay a bottomless, filthy inferiority complex.

The empty room was gradually filled by Wanqiu.

But a room is still just a room; once Wanqiu takes everything away, he will still be empty-handed.

Warmth and fulfillment cannot change the essence of a room.

He greedily took from Wan Qiu, clinging to her like a dodder vine.

But he could give Wanqiu nothing in return.

Unequal relationships will eventually collapse due to excessive imbalance, and it will not be Wanqiu that will be destroyed in the collapse.

Therefore, he selfishly wanted to maintain the status quo.

Chu Yigui despises his selfish self, yet this is the emotion he has found that belongs to him, and he cannot resist it.

He knew Wanqiu would be angry.

He knew Wanqiu would be confused by his rejection.

You can also see Wanqiu's dedication and care for him.

He understood Wanqiu so clearly.

But because of his selfishness, he turned a blind eye.

Because they turn a blind eye, they despise the despicable even more.

But how do we do it?

What is the best approach?

How can things be changed? He couldn't even find a way to apologize.

Everything looked like a choppy video, reduced to a jumble of gibberish and unable to play.

Only in the shadows where no one notices, in the unnoticed corners overgrown with moss, does one dare to unleash dark emotions and covetousness.

Do this?

What should he do?

In a world where everything follows a pattern, why is it that only Wanqiu is so illogical, and no rule applies to him?

The sound of the door opening reached Chu Yigui's ears, carried by the cold air.

Chu Yigui looked up and saw Wan Qiu entering.

In that instant, all the jumbled thoughts vanished as Wanqiu drew near, leaving only the person in my gaze.

He only felt at ease when Wanqiu was by his side.

Only when Wanqiu is by his side can all his thoughts turn into concern for Wanqiu.

Chu Yigui sat on the bed, while Wan Qiu stood in front of him.

Under the lamplight, Wan Qiu looked away, a hint of anger mixed with a touch of shame, which blended into a soft blush at the corners of her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Chu Yigui was the first to find her voice.

Chu Yigui also heard his hoarse voice, which was different from his usual calm tone.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to do this," Chu Yigui said.

"I seem to be really angry, but I can't remember what I'm angry about." Wan Qiu didn't look at him, but looked into the shadows.

Even though there are brighter places where you can see more clearly, you still stare at that corner that has never been illuminated by light.

For some reason, Chu Yigui's heart started racing.

"Do you know that's wrong?" Wan Qiu asked.

"Mm," Chu Yigui replied.

"What's wrong?" Wan Qiu asked.

"I belittle my own feelings and look down on how much you care about me." Chu Yigui knew very well why Wan Qiu was angry.

"So, will you change it?"

"..."

"Don't you plan to change it?"

Because of his silence, Wan Qiu's bright eyes stared straight at him.

Chu Yigui lowered her eyes, as if facing a superior, too timid to meet his gaze.

"I..." Chu Yigui never wanted to show his incompetence in front of Wan Qiu.

"Tell the truth, be honest!" Wan Qiu's voice was deliberately fierce, but it had an extremely cute ending.

It seems out of place in such a repressive atmosphere.

"I don't know how to change it."

Under pressure from Wanqiu, he honestly revealed his thoughts.

I like Wanqiu.

But I don't know how to like someone.

Caught in the contradictions born of liking someone, Chu Yigui felt utterly lost and helpless for the first time.

Chu Yigui's eyelashes trembled slightly.

A sense of powerlessness and incompetence gnaws at me, bringing pain.

But I can't say I don't know...

Chu Yigui should be an excellent Chu Yigui. He will be responsible for guiding Wanqiu. This is a responsibility that belongs only to him, and he does not want to give it to anyone else.

"I've adjusted myself, I just need some time," Chu Yigui said.

There must be a better way.

"How do you plan to adjust your mindset?" Wan Qiu asked.

Wan Qiu's question left Chu Yigui speechless.

Wan Qiu turned her head away: "What's the right thing to do if you like someone?"

As Wan Qiu pondered, it seemed he had fallen into a dilemma.

Is there always the right thing to do when you like someone?

Chu Yigui looked up and saw that Wan Qiu was also completely confused and deep in thought. He seemed to have no idea how to assess the current situation.

Perhaps because Wan Qiu was also troubled, Chu Yigui looked at Wan Qiu and forgot to think about it.

“This seems like a difficult question. Yi Gui, you’ve never been in a relationship either.” Wan Qiu sat on the bed, stroking his chin in thought. “In the novels I’ve read, everyone’s love story is different.”

Chu Yigui remained silent, and Wan Qiu didn't seem to particularly want an answer from him.

"In the end, Yi Gui, what exactly do you want to give me?"

Chu Yigui listened as Wan Qiu pondered many complex questions repeatedly, his face contorted in worry.

The red marks from crying in anger still lingered at the corners of Wanqiu's eyes, but he had completely forgotten about being angry just now.

He sat calmly on his bed as always, without any difference.

In a daze, Chu Yigui recalled some of the things Chu Jianshu had said before he left.

"Boys are hot-blooded and prone to arguing and fighting. When they were young, Chu Zhang and Yang Ze often fought with each other."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. When you think about it carefully, things in this world are not as complicated as you think."

"Occasionally doing things according to your temper may not necessarily lead to bad things."

Go along with your temper a little.

Wanqiu's anger actually expresses her concern for him.

When he was lost, Wan Qiu could always accurately grasp his shadow in the fog.

Wan Qiu stopped Chu Yigui.

Chu Yigui turned her head and met Wan Qiu's eyes.

It is a bright gaze that neither darkness nor light can erode.

Wan Qiu shifted his gaze, turned his head away, and only showed Chu Yigui half of his profile.

It seems she doesn't want to forgive him for his mistake so easily.

But Wan Qiu, in that posture, sat even closer to him.

"Let's figure something out together." Wan Qiu's voice was hesitant, and he seemed to be pouting unhappily. "If you agree, then do something to show your appreciation."

Even after his anger subsided, Wan Qiu still sat down beside him.

Chu Yigui looked at Wan Qiu without glancing at his fair neck.

At this moment, he had to confront his own greed and selfishness.

Even if there is nothing at all.

Even if I can't give Wanqiu anything.

Yet the base, abandoned blood yearns for the beating of the heart, for ceaseless transport.

He chose to live this way.

Perhaps it's impossible not to be selfish.

At this moment, Chu Yigui abandoned her suppression and rationality.

He moved closer to Wanqiu's neck, opened his mouth, but ultimately bit Wanqiu's clothed shoulder.

Even though he wanted to bite that tender, white spot, in the end, the restraint written in his body made him give up what he desired most.

"Yi... Yi Gui? Why did you bite me?" Wan Qiu's voice was full of surprise and helplessness.

As if refusing to let Wan Qiu escape, Chu Yigui wrapped one arm tightly around Wan Qiu's waist and the other hand around Wan Qiu's shoulder, refusing to let go.

He didn't use much force, afraid of hurting Wanqiu.

But he refused to let go, because this restraint brought him far more than just pain.

He selfishly wanted to take revenge on Wan Qiu.

Chu Yigui bit Wan Qiu's shoulder, but her brows furrowed tightly.

He realized that he probably shouldn't define this action as revenge.

Perhaps...

She's being coquettish.

Wanqiu returned to his room.

I pulled off my clothes and looked at my shoulders in the mirror.

Looking at the round teeth marks on my shoulder, it didn't hurt, but it looked very strange, with red and purple tinges deep within the scattered teeth marks intertwined.

Wanqiu remembers the appearance of various kinds of scars, including a dog bite on his calf, which looks very strange.

Is this some new way of responding? Itchy teeth?

Wan Qiu felt that Chu Yigui's condition was becoming increasingly strange.

After washing up, Wanqiu sat on the bed.

No matter what he thinks, he's still angry.

How can someone be so infuriating?

Wan Qiu thought for a moment and decided that if Chu Yigui found someone she liked in the future, he could watch them date from the sidelines...

How cruel that is.

What exactly is Chu Yigui thinking?

Wan Qiu couldn't understand it at all; Chu Yigui's brain must be broken.