Once inside the elevator, I quickly pressed the button for the first floor and watched as the elevator doors slowly closed in front of me.

Chu Yigui leaned against the elevator wall, a jumble of information surfacing in her mind.

Chu Yigui knew that Wan Qiu wouldn't do certain things without a reason.

Wanqiu is not a person who is good at taking initiative to think, but he tries very hard to find himself.

His brother was not wrong.

His brother just wanted to prepare a surprise for him.

Chu Yigui made a phone call and told Yang Ze about it.

Chu Yigui didn't even hear Yang Ze's reply; all that came from the other end of the phone was the cold, disconnected tone.

Chu Yigui gripped her phone tightly and stepped out of the elevator.

His brother was not wrong.

As the older brother gradually returns to normal, he should have his own ideas.

Even when he understood nothing, he was able to do things that were beneficial to himself.

Even if you want to do something secretly, it's not impossible.

Wanqiu will be able to return home safely, just like before.

He knows what he is doing and has the ability to protect himself and avoid danger.

However, his brother did not understand what kind of family he was in.

As his brother gradually finds himself, he will eventually notice something amiss in the family.

It should be slower, more peaceful.

Chu Yigui knew that she had to find Wan Qiu as soon as possible.

We must find Wanqiu before anyone else.

otherwise……

I shouldn't have said that.

I shouldn't have told Yang Xiaoyu.

He made a mistake.

Upon seeing the empty room, Chu Yigui lost control of her impulses and made a mistake.

His mistake will ruin everything.

Chu Yigui stepped into the rain.

The chaotic splashing of water perfectly revealed that impatience.

The night was completely dark, and even the lights were obscured by the rain, forming a hazy, condensed mass of light that could not disperse.

Chu Yigui also blended into the night.

——

Wanqiu originally thought that he could go back quickly after buying the things.

Because the rain suddenly intensified, Wanqiu asked the shopkeeper to wrap the gifts he bought in several layers of plastic bags to seal them properly, in order to prevent them from getting wet.

However, as he left the store, his gradually calming mind noticed his current predicament.

It seems to have been raining a lot lately, but it doesn't rain much where they're traveling, so Wanqiu doesn't remember.

I don't think there's ever been this much rain before.

Wanqiu stepped directly into the rain, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

Perhaps because of the rain, the roads, which are usually bustling with people at this time, were now completely silent.

Wanqiu's pace slowed down more and more.

There was no one in front or behind.

The rain seemed to have obscured the lights.

Wanqiu's pace slowed down more and more.

Some memories that shouldn't have surfaced at this time resurfaced.

In the dim, dark rainy night under the streetlights, isn't it easy for ghosts to appear?

The dark tones in the ghost movie seemed to match the pitch-black night before my eyes.

In the rain where nothing can be seen, is there some terrifying ghost standing there?

What was once a rainy night that meant nothing to Wanqiu suddenly became impossible to navigate after he learned about the existence of ghosts and souls.

The pattering of rain felt familiar, yet everything here filled Wan Qiu with dread.

If we go back now, he won't be able to get in the door.

Wan Qiu only thought about how he should escape, but forgot to think about how he should get back.

Overwhelmed by feelings of loss and fear, Wan Qiu took two steps back and leaned against the wall.

It's as if this will make him a little safer.

Completely clueless about how to overcome her fear, Wanqiu clutched the gift tightly in her hands, unable to move.

Wan Qiu wanted to make a phone call, but his phone was already at home.

Wan Qiu saw figures approaching from afar, but without umbrellas. A terrifying ghost face flashed through his mind, and he subconsciously turned into a deserted path.

I'm very scared.

Are there ghosts?

Why can't I see anything clearly?

When will the rain stop?

Will someone discover that he secretly ran away?

No...it would be better if no one found out, right?

Wanqiu's mind was filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts.

The thought of terrifying ghosts, the thought of sneaking out, the fear of being scolded if discovered—I didn't want to be found out, but then the thought of ghosts came back…

Wanqiu had no idea how long her thoughts had been wandering.

Then Wanqiu suddenly heard a voice calling his name.

Wan Qiu felt a chill run down his spine at that moment, as if a ghost was calling his name.

But as the voice drew closer, Wan Qiu seemed to recognize the owner of the voice.

what to do?

Have we been discovered?

In that instant, Wanqiu even forgot his fear of ghosts.

Will they be very angry?

Wan Qiu's mind was in complete chaos.

You should apologize.

An apology is required.

Wanqiu forgot about the ghost and became bolder. He walked out of the alley, his shoulders hunched over.

Wanqiu raises his head.

A tall figure in the distance seemed to see him and suddenly ran towards him.

Wan Qiu opened his mouth, and upon seeing the person in front of him, he instinctively opened his mouth again: "Second Brother, yes..."

"Wanqiu, Wanqiu?"

A pair of thick, large hands cupped his cheeks, forcing Wan Qiu to look up at the other person.

Under the lamplight, at close range, Wanqiu saw his second brother standing before him.

"Wanqiu, it is Wanqiu."

Having confirmed Wan Qiu's identity, Yang Ze's voice seemed to soften considerably.

Wan Qiu, however, felt something was strange.

His second brother was afraid of something.

In the dim light, Yang Ze's face was contorted in a ferocious expression.

Wan Qiu vaguely realized that the voice calling him was filled with urgency and fear.

That intense, almost overflowing displeasure even formed a black, malevolent aura, threatening to engulf Wanqiu.

Why did you suddenly run out?

After intense worry, Yang was unable to control his anger.

"Do you know how dangerous it is to be out alone? Do you know what time it is? Can't you see it's still raining?!"

Wanqiu's eyes widened; even when rainwater fell in, Wanqiu couldn't wipe it away.

"Wanqiu, Wanqiu, you can't go out by yourself, you can't get lost again, you can't be in front of me..."

Yang Ze's words were incoherent.

The surging emotions almost completely controlled Yang Ze's emotions, turning him into a roaring beast.

He gripped Wanqiu's shoulders tightly with both hands.

There was no time to give Wanqiu any explanation.

Unable to ask why or think, Yang was dominated by fear.

In the misty rain, that mature face revealed a vulnerability even greater than that of a child.

Even the rain doesn't know if it's mixed with tears when it falls.

Wanqiu unconsciously wondered why it was raining today.

Was it so that he could see Yang Ze as he is now?

What happened to his second brother?

"Second Brother."

In the midst of utter confusion, Chu Yigui's voice suddenly rang out.

"Let go!"

Chu Yigui's voice was serious.

He even grabbed Yang Ze's arm forcefully.

"Get out!" Yang Ze suddenly waved his hand fiercely, pushing Chu Yigui away with almost all his might.

The sound of the rain seemed to diminish as a result.

Wan Qiu could hear an even greater tremor in Yang Ze's voice.

It was as if it was deliberately meant to let Wan Qiu hear Yang Ze's fear.

"Second brother," Chu Yigui said, standing two steps away, "calm down, your brother is scared."

Yang seemed to be mentally unstable.

This time, Chu Yigui did not approach Yang Ze, but continued talking.

"Second brother, only three minutes have passed since I called you, and you found your brother within those three minutes."

“It only takes five minutes to get home from here. This is a main pedestrian street, so no car will suddenly take my brother away, and my brother won’t go with strangers.”

"Second brother, it's very safe here. The path you chose is also very safe. You know very well what you're doing."

"Second brother, calm down."

Chu Yigui remained calm.

His voice didn't sound any different.

Wan Qiu noticed that Yang Ze, who had been quite agitated just moments before, seemed to loosen his grip on his shoulder slightly.

He seemed to have taken it to heart.

"Brother, talk to Second Brother." Chu Yigui, however, focused his gaze on Wan Qiu, who was completely at a loss. "Talk to him, anything is fine."

Wan Qiu turned his attention back to Yang Ze.

Yang Ze's hand was like an iron clamp, and it was impossible to break free from his grasp.

A deep displeasure nearly overwhelmed Wanqiu.

This was a feeling that Wanqiu had never experienced before...

It's like...

I used to hit anyone who raised their hand.

"I'm sorry." Wan Qiu's voice trembled, as if infected by unease. "I'm sorry, Second Brother, I was wrong."

"I came out to buy a gift for my younger brother's birthday."

"I want to prepare a birthday surprise for my younger brother."

"I'm sorry, I should have told you."

With Wan Qiu's voice and repeated apologies, Yang Ze gradually regained himself.

Wan Qiu stood before me, holding a large box in his hands.

Even though her hands were clenched into fists with nervousness, she still cherished the box and dared not use too much force on it.

The exquisitely sealed plastic bag seemed to proclaim how much Wanqiu cherished this gift.

He ran away secretly, full of anticipation.

He was so hoping for a pleasant surprise.

But now everything is messed up.

Wanqiu wouldn't cry for no reason.

He even felt that he had no right to cry in front of Yang Ze, who seemed to have collapsed.

Yang Ze lowered his hand.

He looked at his weak younger brother, who was almost half his size.

Yang kept watching.

After all the chaos subsided, Yang Ze, for some reason, could only utter one sentence.

An apology.

--sorry.

"Second Brother, let's go to the room first. It's still raining," Chu Yigui said. "It'll be cold."

Yang remained silent.

But unlike before, he didn't angrily refuse again.

Chu Yigui stood aside, took out her phone, and dialed Chu Jianshu's number.

The other end answered immediately.

“Found him, my brother is near home,” Chu Yigui said directly.

Yang Xiaoyu said almost immediately, "Where are you? I'm coming right away. Let me see Wanqiu!"

Wan Qiu held the box in his hands.

I listened to Chu Yigui talking to her parents on the other end of the phone.

Even though he couldn't hear very clearly from where he was standing, it was enough for him to discern that his parents' tone on the other end of the phone wasn't exactly friendly.

His brother's gaze remained fixed on him.

Wanqiu still couldn't understand what he had done to make his parents so angry.

Chu Yigui hung up the phone.

Yang, however, was even more silent than usual.

Chu Yigui approached Wan Qiu, but her gaze remained wary of Yang Ze.

Fortunately, Yang seems to have lost his aggressiveness.

Chu Yigui grasped Wan Qiu's hand: "Let's go, brother."

Wan Qiu turned around and looked at Yang Ze beside him.

They walked forward, and Yang followed.

Yang Ze never looked away.

Wan Qiu knew that ever since his second brother saw him, he had never looked away.

Why?

He didn't know.

Chu Yigui leaned close to Wan Qiu and whispered in his ear, "Brother, don't be afraid, you haven't done anything wrong."

"Brother, please be patient. You may have doubts about what's happening, but please don't be sad."

I'll explain it to you later.

Chu Yigui's words of comfort were tinged with a soft, breathy tone.

However, it soothed Wanqiu's anxiety and restlessness caused by his confusion.

Wan Qiu looked at Chu Yigui, whose clothes were even thinner than theirs.

He seemed to have forgotten to wear a coat.

Her thin undergarment was soaked through and clung completely to Chu Yigui's body.

Wanqiu saw Chu Yigui's damp hair.

"It doesn't seem to be raining today, it's sleet," Chu Yigui said with a light smile. "It's already this month, and it's still sleeting?"

Wan Qiu blinked and looked at Chu Yigui.

Chu Yigui said to Wan Qiu, "Brother, you've been in the rain and snow for so long, does your head hurt from the cold?"

The soothing voice, like warm water, dispelled the chill that had accumulated in Wanqiu's heart.

"It's sleet." Wan Qiu also rubbed his hair. "It hurts a little from being hit, but it's not cold."

Chu Yigui smiled.

A clear, crisp laugh.

But Wanqiu couldn't see Chu Yigui's happiness.

There wasn't even a hint of unhappiness.

It was a strained sound, like a voice coming from nothingness.

They returned home, and Chu Yigui told Wan Qiu to take another hot shower.

Wan Qiu stood in the bathroom, looking at his shoulder. The place where Yang Ze had held him still had a red mark that hadn't completely faded.

Wanqiu had no idea what had happened.

This was the first time Wanqiu had ever seen his second brother like this.

Yang Xiaoyu came to find Wan Qiu.

In the dead of night, Yang Xiaoyu looked somewhat disheveled under the lamplight.

But he heard the sound of Yang Xiaoyu's shoes walking on the tiles in his home.

He felt Yang Xiaoyu holding him in her arms.

And he heard his father say, "Xiaoyu."

Dad called Mom's name.

It was as if it was deliberate, as if they were trying to suppress something.

Yang Xiaoyu held Wanqiu tightly, causing Wanqiu some pain.

It hurt a little, just like when his second brother grabbed his hand.

"Wanqiu, let's go home together today," Yang Xiaoyu said.

Wan Qiu nodded.

He could tell that no one wanted a negative answer from him right now.

——

On the way from home to Wanqiu's residence, they received the news that Wanqiu had been found.

They were moving very fast; their car hadn't even entered the city yet.

Chu Jianshu also heard Chu Yigui's words, but the vehicle did not stop; they continued heading into the city.

Upon hearing that Wan Qiu had been found, Yang Xiaoyu's anxiety seemed to subside somewhat.

As reason gradually returned, Yang Xiaoyu calmed down.

At this moment, Chu Jianshu finally spoke to Yang Xiaoyu: "When you are in front of Wan Qiu, don't put too much pressure on him. He is fifteen years old, and it is normal for him to want to do things on his own."

Yang Xiaoyu leaned against the car window, watching the pattering raindrops hitting the glass, without answering.

"Yi Gui told me that Wan Qiu wanted to buy him a gift and prepare a surprise. In order to keep us from finding out, he secretly ran away. This was something Wan Qiu wanted to do on his own initiative, so we shouldn't discourage him."

Chu Jianshu remained relatively calm.

Whether it was genuine calm or just hindsight that brought him peace of mind, Chu Jianshu himself couldn't tell.

“He doesn’t need to do anything. As long as he behaves well, we can solve anything for him. Not to mention birthday surprises, we can do anything for him.”

Yang Xiaoyu's voice was not as lively as usual; she seemed to have been drained of energy by anxiety.

"Are you going to become a stumbling block for Wanqiu as he gradually becomes a normal person?" Chu Jianshu's words inevitably became sharp.

"Aren't other people's children like this too? Other families can raise children who depend on their parents, so why can't I?"

Yang Xiaoyu knew that something was wrong with her condition.

But now that her mind was in a daze, she was starting to say things she shouldn't have.

“Wanqiu is an excellent child, which is why he is learning to grow on his own.” Chu Jianshu sighed. “We can’t make all the decisions for him; that’s not good for him.”

"What's wrong with it?" Yang Xiaoyu asked.

"If it's Wanqiu's own wish to become what you say, I won't say anything."

The Chu family is very wealthy, and Wanqiu doesn't need to get involved in the complicated family business.

Therefore, compared to Chu Zhang and Yang Ze, who were given expectations, Wan Qiu was more suitable to stay by their side.

Even after they passed away in their old age, he still had his brothers to take care of him.

They might also find Wanqiu a reliable marriage partner.

But all of this is based on Wanqiu's willingness.

That child was clear and transparent, more like a sponge greedily absorbing all the knowledge and emotions in the world.

Even Wan Qiu himself didn't realize that he was eager to understand this world.

Like a newborn baby just opening its eyes, it is full of desire to explore this unfamiliar world.

In Chu Jianshu's presence, Wan Qiu was adorable.

As a father, he witnessed firsthand how his child gradually became the person Wanqiu wanted him to be.

“Xiaoyu, I understand your concerns,” Chu Jianshu said, but then he mentioned someone else, “What you’re doing is unfair to A-Zhang and A-Ze.”

Yang Xiaoyu's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Chu Jianshu continued, "The same goes for Yi Gui."

This time, Yang Xiaoyu did not refute it.

Yang Xiaoyu recalled her angry outburst at Chu Yigui and her decision to hang up the phone without hesitation.

Chu Yigui called Chu Jianshu.

She could even picture the child calmly trying to calm things down.

But what did Chu Yigui, who was standing by and watching, feel when she tried her best to protect Wanqiu in the most precious cage?

Is she still the same as she remembers, calm and seemingly indifferent to everything?

Chu Yigui neither cried nor complained.

So, without realizing it, she neglected Chu Yigui's feelings.

"I made a mistake." Yang Xiaoyu rubbed her forehead, her gaze regaining its composure. "I was too out of control just now."

Chu Jianshu said, "Xiaoyu, I understand how you feel, and Wanqiu will understand how you feel too."

Even though she has to take care of the child, Yang Xiaoyu's emotions should not be ignored.

Wan Qiuhui would first notice Yang Xiaoyu's emotions.

Chu Yigui was the same.

"Let's take them home tonight. We'll take another day off tomorrow. This sudden commotion has probably exhausted them."

Chu Jianshu suggested.

Yang Xiaoyu saw Wan Qiu.

Yang Xiaoyu hugged Wan Qiu.

Wanqiu had probably taken a bath and dried her hair; her fur was soft and fluffy, and it felt unique in her hands.

Chu Yigui is the same.

However, Yang Ze didn't seem to have any intention of taking a shower.

He simply changed his clothes; they belonged to Chu Yigui. Chu Yigui's clothes were noticeably too small for him, making him look very awkward.

Yang looked at Wan Qiu with a different gaze than before.

Like a balloon suspended in mid-air, quietly floating in the center of a box full of needles, it would burst at the slightest movement.

Yang Xiaoyu rarely saw Yang Ze with such an expression.

Yang probably imitated Chu Jianshu since he was a child, changing his own style of doing things according to Chu Jianshu's behavior, so at least he appears to be steady and self-controlled.

But that's not actually the case.

Wan Qiu's minor loss completely exposed Yang Ze's previously hidden, extremely tense mental state.

besides……

Wanqiu.

Wanqiu is now in a pitch-black world, unable to see anything around him.

Standing on a thin steel wire, I had no idea what was around me or what was there.

They didn't dare to move even a little, remaining stiff and bewildered, not even daring to peek.

When she returned with her three children, Yang Xiaoyu sat in the front seat.

In the rearview mirror, you can see that Yang Ze is constantly looking at Wan Qiu.

Yang Ze's gaze was calm, as if he had no reaction to anything around him.

Yang Xiaoyu took a shallow breath, trying to keep her tone as normal as possible: "Honey, did you buy what you wanted when you went out today?"

"Mm," Wan Qiu replied.

"It's okay, Mommy isn't angry, baby, don't be afraid."

Yang Xiaoyu heard Wan Qiu give a soft reply again.

It felt like I had returned to the time when I first arrived at the Chu family.

The snail, feeling refreshed, was startled and hid inside its fragile shell.

Chu Yigui, seemingly not wanting Yang Xiaoyu to be performing a solo act, took the initiative to speak: "Why was my brother there just now? Did he just come back?"

Wan Qiu turned her head slightly to look at Chu Yigui.

No, I'm standing right there.

Chu Yigui raised an eyebrow: "What are you doing standing there?"

"It seems like there's a ghost," Wan Qiu said.

Yang Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow: "Baby, what are you talking about? How could there be ghosts?"

"Because it was pitch black, and we couldn't see the road."

I was supposed to get home soon, and the surroundings were clear, but because of the heavy rain and it was nighttime, everything wasn't very clear.

Wanqiu has just come across information about ghosts, and it's easy for her to overthink things.

Yang Xiaoyu also knew that Wan Qiu had become afraid of ghosts after watching horror movies, and she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed when she thought that it was Chu Zhang who was behind it.

“There are no ghosts in this world, that brat Chu Zhang…” Yang Xiaoyu gritted her teeth.

Wanqiu felt that he might have done something wrong.

But both his younger brother and his mother told him that everything was fine.

Wanqiu could not tell the difference.

But in those brief few dozen seconds when he saw Yang Ze, his parents rushed over.

The overflowing displeasure almost drowned Wanqiu's mouth and nose, suffocating him.

Wan Qiu also knew that it wasn't as simple as he had imagined.

His brother told him that he would explain it to him.

Wan Qiu was also waiting, waiting for time to be alone with Chu Yigui.

He wanted to know everything, to escape this predicament that felt like being trapped in a thick fog.

Wan Qiu vaguely sensed that Chu Yigui's voice seemed to be different from usual.

Wanqiu observed quietly.

Chu Yigui's condition is a bit strange.

He seemed more tired than usual.

In Wan Qiu's eyes, Chu Yigui always possessed abundant energy, no matter the situation.

But things are different now.

At this moment, Chu Yigui had her eyes half-closed.

Is it too late?

Are you sleepy?

Wan Qiu's hand gently touched Chu Yigui's hand.

He grasped Chu Yigui's hand.

When Wan Qiu saw Chu Yigui open his eyes, he could see faint red blood vessels in the whites of his eyes.

Wan Qiu really liked holding Chu Yigui's hand, and she would consciously hold it at any time.

But things seem a little different now.

The temperature seems to have risen.

Wan Qiu remembered the temperature of Chu Yigui's palm; it was always warm and dry.

But the temperature is very high now.

In that instant, Wan Qiu realized something and suddenly reached out to touch Chu Yigui's forehead.

It was scalding hot when I touched it.

Perhaps because the lighting inside the car was too dim, Wan Qiu couldn't see clearly whether Yi Gui had a blush on her face.

However, Wan Qiu was quite certain that Chu Yigui was ill.

In the sleet, Chu Yigui's thin clothes, already soaked through, made him feel the chill seep into his body.

Chu Yigui's eyes were fixed on Wan Qiu, but a faint smile appeared on her face.

"My brother found out." Chu Yigui's voice finally revealed a hint of uneven breathing. "I thought I had hidden it very well."

"What's wrong?" Yang Xiaoyu also noticed the situation in the back seat.

Chu Yigui didn't let Wan Qiu speak, but said in a hoarse voice, "He caught a chill and probably has a fever."

Yang Xiaoyu was taken aback and turned around: "Why didn't you say so just now?"

"It's just a cold. I'll feel much better after taking some medicine and sleeping all night." Chu Yigui smiled and, unusually, relaxed and leaned back in her chair. "It's okay, Mom. It's just a little fever."

"Today..." Yang Xiaoyu, sitting in the front seat, opened her mouth and said, "Mom's tone towards you wasn't very nice, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Mom, I didn't take it to heart."

Chu Yigui had a smile on her lips, her eyes closed, looking very peaceful.

Wan Qiu quietly held Chu Yigui's hand and wouldn't let go.

Chu Yigui indeed did not take Yang Xiaoyu's words to heart.

Under those circumstances, he wouldn't mind whatever Yang Xiaoyu said.

If only he had kept it a secret back then, he knew perfectly well that Wanqiu would definitely come back.

This was a planned sneak-out. He had guessed Wan Qiu's thoughts, so he just needed to quietly pretend he knew nothing and wait for Wan Qiu to return.

Chu Yigui felt that this illness came at just the right time.

Even if it was just an unintentional mistake.

It is not appropriate for anyone in the Chu family to investigate Wan Qiu's secret escape at this time.

His illness could slightly divert the attention of his family.

This will also allow Wanqiu to settle down a bit during this time.

Chu Yigui felt that she was very clear-headed, even though her brain was constricted and aching due to the fever.

He can think things normally, just like he has always been.

However, Chu Yigui clearly remembered that the moment he saw Wan Qiu was not in the room, he briefly stopped thinking.

What drove him to do what was then purely instinct.

Even if it was just a brief mistake, it's still a mistake.

Why is this happening?

Why does he always make mistakes in front of Wan Qiu?

Is it because he can never control all of Wanqiu's thoughts?

He simply understood Wanqiu.

Instead of predicting him?

It was like an abyss, something he couldn't bear to look into.

Like the sky, it was immeasurable to him.

It was like everything he couldn't reach.

Finally, one day, he admitted that only Wan Qiu was the one who could completely influence him.

Upon returning to the Chu family home, Butler Bai immediately brought a thermometer and a first-aid kit, took Chu Yigui's temperature, and gave her fever reducer and cold medicine.

Chu Yigui's body temperature wasn't very high, but she was definitely feeling more uncomfortable than usual.

He had already taken a shower, so now he just needed to go back and rest.

“Yi Gui, you…” Yang Xiaoyu was very worried about Chu Yi Gui.

Chu Yigui glanced at Wan Qiu standing to the side and said to Yang Xiaoyu, "It's really, really late today. Usually, everyone would be asleep by this time, and so would Mom and Dad. Go to sleep."

Yang Xiaoyu nodded, seemingly wanting to go find Wan Qiu.

But Chu Yigui seemed to have anticipated this: "Let brother get a good night's sleep too."

Chu Yigui looked up and met Chu Jianshu's gaze. Chu Jianshu comforted Yang Xiaoyu for a few words, also telling Yang Xiaoyu not to put too much pressure on Wan Qiu.

"Second brother, it's safe here now." Chu Yigui smiled and stood in front of Yang Ze. "Rest now. Only when you're well-rested and in good condition will your brother feel at ease."

Yang was unable to refute this.

Even when Chu Yigui was in such a bad state, she was still worried about them.

If they continue to reject Chu Yigui and cause trouble, it will be the adults who are bothering a sick child.

They went upstairs together, with Chu Yigui holding Wan Qiu's hand.

Chu Yigui stood at her door and released Wan Qiu's hand.

"Get a good rest tonight. I'll get a good night's sleep too. If I'm well-rested, I can recover quickly." Chu Yigui rubbed her hair. "The butler gave me a large dose of medicine. I'm starting to feel sleepy."

Chu Yigui's voice was even gentler than usual.

His hoarse voice wasn't intentional; he was genuinely uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, Fourth Brother." Yang Ze's voice was slightly hoarse, probably because he hadn't spoken for a while. He lowered his head and faced his younger brother, who was younger than him. "Get some rest tonight."

“Okay, Second Brother,” Chu Yigui said.

Chu Yigui did not hear Wan Qiu speak to him until he closed the door.

Wanqiu's eyes were full of concern for him, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

Chu Yigui leaned against the door, not knowing why she kept trying to listen to the sounds outside.

What will Yang Zehui say to Wan Qiu?

But it never happened.

He heard nothing.

Looking back on her actions, Chu Yigui felt incredibly childish.

Chu Yigui realized that without Wan Qiu's hints, he didn't actually understand Wan Qiu that well.

Lying in bed, feeling the heat rising in his body, Chu Yigui also felt somewhat dizzy.

I'm very sleepy.

He also told the others that he needed to get a good night's sleep and rest tonight.

I thought I would fall into a deep sleep under the influence of the medicine, but I didn't expect to wake up in the middle of the night because of coughing.

Chu Yigui hadn't been sick for a while, but this time the cold came on fiercely.

With a sharp pain in his head, Chu Yigui vaguely realized that his condition was probably quite serious.

Even though they were both getting rained on, neither Yang Ze nor Wan Qiu showed any reaction.

Chu Yigui poured himself some water with a self-deprecating smile. Although he couldn't compare to Yang Ze's physique, he hadn't expected that the frail Wan Qiu would also rarely get sick.

Chu Yigui didn't want to sleep; lying down would only make him feel dizzy, and the lukewarm water would make him feel better.

On the dimly lit sofa, Chu Yigui wondered if she should exercise more.

Not only can you exercise in the morning, but you can also go out to exercise in the evening.

But will his illness this time be the same as Wanqiu's?

It's not because of my physical condition, but because I discovered something that shocked my mental world, which caused my current fever.

"Brother," Chu Yigui murmured.

However, he immediately coughed a few times, and the burning sensation in his throat made him very uncomfortable.

Perhaps because of her illness, Chu Yigui noticed that she was more sentimental than usual.

Chu Yigui stood up, intending to find some cough medicine, but was suddenly startled when she opened the door.

A thin figure stood outside his door, leaning against the wall beside it.

Wanqiu also seemed tired, keeping his head down quietly.

Startled by Chu Yigui's sudden opening of the door, he shuddered, looked up, and stared wide-eyed at Chu Yigui.

That's the look in someone's eyes after being suddenly startled.

For a moment, Chu Yigui's brain also went blank.

“Brother…” Chu Yigui said slowly, her eyes full of surprise.

Wanqiu's breathing was rapid, and it took him a few moments to calm down.

Chu Yigui realized that Wan Qiu was not just scared, but afraid of ghosts.

Even in the corridor illuminated by nightlights, which was still a large passageway, his brother, who was afraid of ghosts, waited at the door in the empty night.

That's why he was leaning against the door.

That's why he curled up.

I was caught between drowsiness and fear.

"Brother..." Chu Yigui was about to say something, but was interrupted.

"Shh." Wan Qiu put his index finger to his lips and whispered to Chu Yigui.

Wan Qiu stood up and carefully moved the thermos bottle he had been holding in his arms, while pushing Chu Yigui back with his other hand.

Following Wan Qiu's force, Chu Yigui saw that Wan Qiu had secretly peeked out to look outside before closing the door.

"Drink some soup, take your medicine, and get better quickly, or your parents will beat you."

Chu Yigui's expression showed a hint of realization.

Wan Qiu pulled out a jumble of random medicines from his pocket.

It was pushed in front of Chu Yigui along with the thermos.

Chu Yigui looked at the medicine and asked, "Do I have to take this much?"

However, Wan Qiu was in a very awkward situation: "I can't tell the difference between the medicines, so I brought them all."

As Chu Yigui rummaged through the medicine she needed, she casually asked, "Brother, do you rarely take medicine?"

“Yeah, I didn’t take medicine before.” Wan Qiu said, seemingly wanting to talk to Chu Yigui more. “It will get better if you just leave it alone.”

Chu Yigui's hand paused slightly; he knew what Wan Qiu was talking about.

It wasn't that he didn't want to take his medicine, it's just that no one gave him any, and Wanqiu was ultimately able to pull through on his own.

"If your brother were sick, would your parents have hit you before?" Chu Yigui asked, remembering what Wan Qiu had said, and pressed for details.

"Yes, my parents said that if I get sick, I will be a big hindrance, my cooking will be worse, I won't be able to do housework or do good deeds, and they will be unhappy, and if they are unhappy, I will be beaten."

Wan Qiu fluently recounted the past.

This child is quite different from the one Chu Yigui remembers who had just returned to the Chu family and couldn't even express himself properly.

But these past events will not be erased.