"How are they? Are the new shoes comfortable?" Yang Xiaoyu's teasing laughter reached Wan Qiu's ears from the other end of the phone.
"Hmm." Since he couldn't see Yang Xiaoyu's face, Wan Qiu was able to express his feelings more easily because he didn't have to judge her emotions or hints when answering questions.
Do you like it?
"……kindness."
Having discovered that Wan Qiu becomes more honest when speaking over the phone, Yang Xiaoyu is very interested in continuing this investigation.
"Let's go out now, follow the directions Mom gave us," Yang Xiaoyu said.
Wan Qiu, holding his phone, opened the door. The summer heat that greeted him didn't make him feel hot.
Despite the scorching summer sun, the burning heat seemed to be absorbed by the thriving leaves and flowers, and the air was filled with a tranquil atmosphere of plants and gentle breezes.
Following Yang Xiaoyu's instructions, Wan Qiu walked onto the pebbly path.
Under the lush, robust, and beautiful trees, in this completely unfamiliar environment, Wanqiu felt very at ease because of her mother's voice.
This place is huge.
Even though it was full of trees and flowers, Wanqiu knew that it was different from the village.
The trees in the countryside wouldn't be this overly beautiful.
In the countryside, so many flowers blooming in such a dazzling display all at once are not commonplace.
There was no smell of gasoline, no shops, and it was so clean that it seemed there wasn't even a speck of dust.
It's clearly a place like a park.
But it was his home.
"What do you see now, baby?" Yang Xiaoyu's gentle voice came from the phone.
Wanqiu smelled a sweet fragrance in the air, not the scent of flowers, but a sweeter, more palatable aroma mixed with the scent of earth.
In Wanqiu's view, a huge, boundless orchard suddenly appeared.
“It’s…autumn.” In the sweltering summer heat, Wan Qiu uttered this word.
In the vast orchard, different fruits shimmered with vibrant colors under the sunlight, and the rich aroma of fruit in the air was as strong as liquor, making Wanqiu wonder if what he was seeing was reality.
"Autumn?" Yang Xiaoyu's voice was carried to Wan Qiu's ears by the breeze coming from behind. "Does it mean 'harvest season'?"
Wanqiu turned around.
"What an adorable adjective." Yang Xiaoyu looked at Wan Qiu's soft hair, which was ruffled by the breeze, and her clear pupils seemed to be tinged with the color of fruit.
Yang Xiaoyu couldn't resist reaching out her little black hand to Wan Qiu. Wan Qiu quietly let her knead him, his cute little eyes looking up at her tentatively, like a little puppy being violated, stammering and not knowing how to resist.
"Aren't you happy that Mom called you?" Yang Xiaoyu, wearing a sun hat, smiled brighter than the sunshine even through the brim. "You're also happy to see your orchard, aren't you?"
Wan Qiu blinked.
—Do this to other people, and they will be very happy.
Chu Yigui's voice suddenly seemed to appear in Wan Qiu's ears.
If you're happy...
Would Mom be happier if we did as Chu Yigui suggested?
Wan Qiu looked up, while Yang Xiaoyu looked down. Both seemed to realize that something was about to happen, and neither of them spoke.
Wan Qiu knew he needed to be smarter.
At least Chu Yigui was teaching him.
He was genuinely happy.
Wan Qiu slowly curled the corners of his mouth up, as if Chu Yigui's fingers were lifting the corners of his mouth.
Wan Qiu smiled.
Because of his good mood, because he saw the beautiful orchard, because he answered the phone for the first time, and because he turned around and saw his mother.
All this joy was reflected in the corners of Wanqiu's mouth, and he smiled.
There was no sound.
Quiet.
Yang Xiaoyu's eyes slowly widened.
The joy conveyed in those bright eyes was like water flowing in the season of flowers, tinged with their colors.
Despite being a thin child with a tanned complexion, his smile was as bright as a sunflower.
Unconsciously, Yang Xiaoyu reached out and cupped the boy's cheeks. She lowered her head, her sun hat falling behind her, and kissed Wan Qiu's forehead.
Yang Xiaoyu hugged Wan Qiu.
Even in the spacious woods and orchards, the summer heat cannot be dispelled.
Yang Xiaoyu felt the cool Wanqiu gradually warming up in her arms.
"Mommy loves you, baby," Yang Xiaoyu said earnestly.
Wanqiu always felt that Ninghai and Ning Qiaozhen loved him, but they just stopped loving him later.
But when Wanqiu heard this sentence...
Yet, I felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
Was this said to him?
Can love be spoken aloud?
Yang Xiaoyu released Wan Qiu, and under Wan Qiu's bewildered gaze, she also looked away somewhat embarrassedly.
Like many parents around the world, when expressing love to their children, they are more adept at using actions rather than saying "I love you." This directness made Yang Xiaoyu feel a little awkward.
"Your hair's gotten a bit long," Yang Xiaoyu said, gently pinching a stray hair near Wan Qiu's ear to change the subject.
If I get the chance later, I'll secretly give Wanqiu a girl's makeover? While Wanqiu is still too young to understand?
Her child is so adorable, she wants to preserve every look of him so she can admire him in the future.
You can't say that out loud, otherwise Wan Qiu will feel threatened and won't be willing to cooperate.
Yang Xiaoyu's thoughts wandered aimlessly.
While Yang Xiaoyu was lost in thought, Wan Qiu's gaze fell on the hand that was pinching her long hair near her temple. Her hair, which hadn't been properly trimmed for most of the summer vacation, had indeed grown long.
It grows so long that it slightly covers the eyes.
Wanqiu quietly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
——
During his lunch break, Yang was thinking about a gift for Wanqiu.
After all, it was Wanqiu's first day back home. Although he had prepared a new room and new clothes for Wanqiu, a gift was still essential, plus...
When I saw Wanqiu on my way out, I couldn't help but say that I wanted to bring her a gift.
This feeling is strange.
Wan Qiu is too young. Although he is the same age as Chu Yigui, he looks like he is less than ten years old.
The visual difference made it impossible for Yang Ze to accurately judge Wan Qiu's age. Coupled with the issue of intelligence, Yang Ze felt that he was facing a complete child, not a teenager.
Suddenly, he had such a young brother. Even though Yang was mentally prepared, he still couldn't hold back his emotions when he saw Wan Qiu.
In addition...
Guilt towards Wanqiu and other complex emotions.
Yang sighed. Although he could use his own ideas to send Wan Qiu something suitable, the problem was that Wan Qiu had brought up the words "little cart" and "homework".
Since a request has been made, Yang understands the disappointment that would result if what he receives is something he doesn't want.
Although he couldn't be sure if Wanqiu was the same.
How should I choose this gift?
He doesn't mind receiving homework as a gift, but does that mean Wan Qiu doesn't mind either? Aren't people online saying that giving homework is like being enemies?
Why did Wanqiu take the initiative to ask for homework?
Besides... what is a small cart anyway?
Yang rubbed his temples, his thoughts wandering aimlessly, yet he couldn't find a better clue.
How could he know what a child he was meeting for the first time would like? In fact... he didn't even know what Wanqiu, who was five years old at the time, liked.
Before Wanqiu was stolen, he never seemed to spare a single bit of his attention for his weak younger brother.
Yang Ze's expression changed from distress to helplessness and a hint of disappointment.
In Yang Ze's mind, the interaction between Chu Yigui and Wan Qiu came to mind.
Although there was a subtle feeling of not knowing what to say, Chu Yigui seemed to understand Wan Qiu.
Yang Ze's gaze fell on the black phone beside him.
In the end, Yang Ze dialed Chu Yigui's number.
"Second Brother." Chu Yigui answered the call after it rang three times, his voice sounding unlike that of a young man.
"Fourth Brother." Yang Ze surprisingly accepted being addressed as the fourth brother much faster than the third brother. "Second brother has something to ask you. Am I bothering you?"
“It’s alright, I’m free now, Second Brother can just ask me directly,” Chu Yigui said.
When Yang Ze spoke to Chu Yigui, he was quite relaxed: "I was thinking about the gift I should bring back to Wan Qiu tonight. What did he mean by the little cart and homework he mentioned? Do you have any suggestions?"
Without pausing, the person on the other end quickly replied, "It's better not to bring homework to your brother."
"So it's true that nobody likes homework, right?" Even Yang Ze had a period of disliking school.
"No, my brother thinks differently from us."
Chu Yigui's words made Yang Ze unconsciously straighten his back and listen attentively.
"The homework is because it's summer homework assigned by my brother's teacher. My brother isn't smart and inflexible. He just does whatever others tell him to do. We don't have anyone who can replace the teacher in my brother's mind yet, so we have homework."
Yang was quite surprised: "Then why not give him his homework? If he really wants it..."
“My brother can’t keep up with the current education system.”
Chu Yigui spoke succinctly, but Yang Ze understood what she meant.
They are not yet able to accurately grasp Wanqiu's knowledge situation.
Yang sighed silently, then asked again, "What about the little cart?"
"The little cart is something my brother uses when he collects garbage. It's a three-wheeled wooden cart with one wheel and one handle that's broken. My brother ties it with a rope and uses it to carry cardboard and other waste."
Yang Ze: "..."
Yang covered his eyes; he simply couldn't imagine the scene.
Because of his father's request, he had not appeared in front of Wanqiu immediately. His mother had developed a mental illness because of losing Wanqiu, and his father had to take extra care of her mental state.
In addition, he didn't dare to look at Wan Qiu.
I'm afraid of seeing a scene like the one Chu Yigui said.
“He can’t have the little cart either.” Even before Wanqiu was five years old, he wouldn’t have done something that symbolized hardship, difficulty, and despair, let alone now.
Yang Ze pulled his hand away slightly, as if he could still feel the protruding knuckles he had gripped when he put his arm around Wan Qiu's shoulder. He wanted to tighten his grip, but only gave it a loose clench, as if he was afraid that tightening his grip would hurt Wan Qiu.
“Actually, it’s not necessarily impossible to give something similar now.” However, as Yang hesitated, Chu Yigui’s voice returned to his ears, “You can consider a tricycle.”
"A tricycle?" Yang's voice rose at the end, clearly not understanding why such a gift option would be offered.
Chu Yigui then explained to Yang Ze, "Brother can't possibly switch back to his original identity so quickly. He'll definitely still need the little cart, which is his favorite thing. As a substitute for the little cart, the tricycle obviously meets Brother's needs for hauling goods and is also more 'high-class.' I suppose Brother must have envied his fellow garbage collectors who ride tricycles, right?"
Yang suddenly fell silent. Chu Yigui was like Wan Qiu himself, or perhaps he understood him even better than Wan Qiu.
He couldn't refute anything he said.
“The Chu family home is quite large, and it might be difficult for my brother to move around. He can’t ride a bicycle, so using his favorite tricycle as a mode of transportation would be a good choice.”
Yang leaned back in his chair. What Chu Yigui said was indeed something worth considering, and it was practical at the moment, and might even win Wan Qiu's favor.
“Then should I order a custom-made tricycle? It might be too late now,” Yang said.
"We can use a regular tricycle as a temporary solution," Chu Yigui suggested. "I suppose what you want right now is just a regular tricycle, right?"
First, use an ordinary tricycle to win Wanqiu's favor, and then you can use a better one to replace it, giving Wanqiu time to adapt.
Chu Yigui had already considered everything very carefully, even if it was just a gift.
“I understand, thank you, Fourth Brother,” Yang Ze said.
"I'm glad I could help my second brother."
After hanging up the phone, Yang remained silent for a long time.
It was surprisingly easy to come up with a very unique and suitable answer.
He had always known that Chu Yigui was very good at interpersonal relationships; it was almost an innate skill.
When Yang Xiaoyu was adopted from the orphanage at the age of seven, Chu Yigui quickly comforted her and helped her transfer her affections.
Perhaps to ordinary servants, this should be seen as Yang Xiaoyu's one-sided transference of affection, but as a mother's children, they certainly know that their mother would not easily trust and rely on someone.
Chu Yigui is very smart.
He also got along very well with Chu Yigui.
Just as their father hoped that his brothers would help each other without any grudges, Chu Yigui, despite being an adopted son, was able to have a relationship with them like that of their own children.
When asked about gift-giving, someone who isn't very familiar with him might say they owe a favor, but he wouldn't.
He genuinely treated Chu Yigui as his own brother.
However, Yang Ze also knew that if Chu Yigui really hadn't done anything, this intimacy wouldn't have been so easy to maintain.
Upon careful reflection, Yang Ze couldn't quite recall what Chu Yigui had done, and it seemed there was nothing particularly important.
That's it...
Silently...
Yang originally wanted his assistant to buy the tricycle, but after thinking about it, he explained the situation to Chu Jianshu and went to choose the tricycle himself.
It's rare to see men in suits choosing tricycles.
Yang followed Chu's father, his brows furrowed in distress as he looked at the tricycle, but he didn't say anything.
The shop owner watched in silence, not daring to say a word. Even though he was the shop owner, he felt a sense of humility, as if he were working for a big boss.
Yang even used his phone's location service to check out several stores and found that they basically sold almost the same things.
Finally, Yang chose a smaller, blue tricycle with a large cargo bed, which was suitable for Wan Qiu's height.
The tricycle seemed to have nothing to do with his world, but it was something Wanqiu would want.
This was the first time Yang had ever chosen such a gift, and he had mixed feelings.
Especially when he drove up to his doorstep, the stunned expression on the face of the tricycle driver following behind him clearly made Yang's feelings even more complicated.
The butler was already waiting at the door, and Yang asked directly, "Where is Wanqiu?"
"The Third Young Master is watching cartoons with his wife right now," the butler said.
"Is that so? Then it's probably not a good idea to disturb them directly now," Yang sighed.
However, the butler said, "Why don't you call the Third Young Master? Madam instructed that if there's anything, you can call him directly."
Why?
Yang looked bewildered as he saw that the housekeeper had already displayed Wan Qiu's phone number on his phone.
"The young master said that because the third young master didn't have the right to make phone calls in his original home, Madam probably wants the third young master to get used to making phone calls now," the butler said seriously.
"You said that, Fourth Brother?"
"Yes."
No right to make a phone call? Then what's the point of leaving the phone there?
Yang frowned, feeling a strange sense of blockage in his heart.
I entered the phone number the housekeeper had given me into my phone and dialed it.
A soft, androgynous child's voice came from the other side, lowering its tone slightly: "Hey, second brother?"
Yang was taken aback by the sudden, unfamiliar voice calling out "Second Brother".
"Wanqiu." Yang Ze had never imagined that he would be so nervous about making a phone call; he could even feel the heat rising in his hand as he held the phone. "Are you free now?"
Yang didn't hear the background music from the cartoon on the phone. Was it turned off to make a call?
Yes, there are.
From what Yang Ze heard, Wan Qiu was clearly lowering his voice on purpose, so he couldn't help but soften his voice as well: "What's wrong? Can't you speak louder over there?"
Then he heard Wanqiu whisper, "Mom is asleep."
Yang suddenly fell silent for three seconds.
Yang Xiaoyu hadn't had a proper rest for a while because she was worried about Wanqiu. Yesterday was her first day back, and she stayed up very late again. Her body must be a little too tired.
"Can you come to the door now?" Yang Ze frowned. The butler said that the two of them were in the newly prepared movie theater. Yang Xiaoyu was asleep, and there was no background noise from the animation. Could it be that Wan Qiu had been sitting next to Yang Xiaoyu the whole time without doing anything?
Yang felt that most people wouldn't do that, but if it were Wan Qiu, he felt that nothing was impossible.
"Okay," Wan Qiu replied softly.
After hanging up the phone, Yang Ze's expression was subtle.
"Second Brother, you're back so early today." Suddenly, two figures appeared at the door: one was Chu Yigui, and the other was Chu Yigui's tutor.
"Mr. Yang, it's been a long time." The male teacher greeted him warmly. He usually finished his lessons before the host returned, so it was quite a rare opportunity to meet Chu Yigui's brother.
"Is today's lesson over? Thank you for your hard work," Yang said respectfully.
"It's no trouble at all." Although the male teacher intended to talk to Yang Ze a little more, he was also good at reading Yang Ze's expression as he looked towards the door where someone was waiting. "Then, Chu Yigui, I'll be going now."
The housekeeper went to see the male teacher off, while Chu Yigui looked at the small tricycle and said, "Brother will be very happy to see this."
"I hope so." Faced with this strange gift that was beyond Yang Ze's comprehension, he could only hope it was something good.
As Yang was speaking, Chu Yigui leaned against the doorway, seemingly wanting to see what would happen next.
Yang looked into the doorway, and as little Wanqiu came down the stairs, Yang suddenly realized that their stairs were actually quite wide.
Wan Qiu stood clean and tidy in front of Yang Ze. The clothes he had chosen and the decorations Yang Xiaoyu had made made him look like a well-behaved child, even though he was so thin it was heartbreaking. Yang Ze really didn't want to see Wan Qiu picking up trash.
Wanqiu had a cute little cherry clip pinned to her bangs, and at first glance, she actually looked a bit like a thin girl.
"Good afternoon, Wanqiu," Yang Ze said.
"Good afternoon, Second Brother."
However, the atmosphere suddenly froze. Yang, who was not good at communicating with children, stood there for a moment, feeling a little nervous.
"My second brother said he'll bring you a gift when he gets back tonight," Yang said bluntly, holding out his hand in a gesture of showing it off. "Take a look?"
Yang didn't even look at the tricycle; instead, he focused on Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu followed his hand and looked at the strange gift.
He saw Wanqiu's eyes slowly widen, and in those beautiful eyes inherited from her mother, the image of the gift was reflected.
For a moment, Yang Ze couldn’t tell whether Wan Qiu liked it or not; he just felt that Wan Qiu might be very surprised.
Just then, Chu Yigui spoke up: "Brother, that tricycle is yours now."
Just as Chu Yigui finished speaking, Wan Qiu suddenly felt as if he were in a sea of flowers being caressed by a gentle breeze. His joy was as bright and dazzling as the petals that suddenly fluttered in the air.
In Yang Ze's mind, there was a very clear idea.
Wanqiu really liked the gift.
"Go try riding it." Yang Ze gave Wan Qiu a push on the back as if possessed.
Wan Qiu couldn't help but move his feet. The brand-new, extremely beautiful tricycle glittered in Wan Qiu's eyes. The blue paint job was even more handsome than the most stylish large-sided three-wheeled motorcycle Wan Qiu had ever seen.
This belongs to him.
Wanqiu has seen many different tricycles.
It's similar to this tricycle, but much bigger; he definitely couldn't ride those bigger tricycles.
This kind of vehicle can carry a lot of things, runs very fast, and can even be ridden into the neighborhood.
Wanqiu went to the tricycle, gripped the handlebars, and found the brand-new rubber handlebars to be a unique and comfortable experience, far more so than any discarded rubber tire he had ever touched.
Wan Qiu had never touched any other tricycles. A tricycle must be something very important to its owner, and he couldn't just touch it casually.
But now these two or three-wheeled vehicles belong to him.
Wanqiu couldn't ride a tricycle, but he knew how to ride one because he had seen many tricycles before.
Sit up, grip the handlebars, and then step forward on the pedals.
When Wanqiu sat in the car seat, without adjusting the seat height, he could just reach the pedals from the lowest position.
The field of vision has become higher.
That's amazing.
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