"Were you tired from playing yesterday?" Chu Jianshu asked first at the quiet breakfast table.
Wan Qiu was eating in silence when he heard Chu Jianshu's voice. He subconsciously looked up, trying to figure out who the words were for, and met Chu Jianshu's eyes directly.
Are you very tired?
Wan Qiu thought for a moment, then stole a glance at Yang Ze, who was drinking water at the time.
Wan Qiu pursed her lips: "I was tired when I got home."
Chu Jianshu thought about it carefully and judged that it probably meant 'I was very happy when I was playing, but I was tired when I got home'.
"If you're tired, you can sleep a little longer, and you can have breakfast later."
Chu Jianshu's words surprised the quiet butler, Bai. He secretly noted down the new rules for the family, but he didn't know if this rule only applied to the third young master or to the other young masters as well.
Wanqiu obediently chewed on the shumai and nodded politely.
"Is there anything you want to do today?" Chu Jianshu asked Wan Qiu again.
However, when Wan Qiu heard this, he stiffened up like a student who hadn't memorized the text and was called on to stand up and recite it. He panicked.
Wanqiu spends most of her time at home and doesn't have much to do.
Chu Jianshu's question was merely an attempt to find something to talk about with Wan Qiu.
In this family where everyone is too independent, they are like trees planted in different places, with their shades rarely intersecting.
Wanqiu is like a water pipe laid in the soil, bringing the same water source to every tree. Now, Wanqiu is the most common topic connecting the whole family.
Wan Qiu's silence rendered Chu Jianshu's question ineffective, and a brief silence fell over the dining table.
"Big brother should be back today," Chu Yigui suddenly broke the silence.
"Chu Zhang?" Chu Jianshu was somewhat surprised, as it seemed he hadn't heard Chu Zhang's name for a while.
"I don't know how they found out about Wanqiu, but they said they'd rather fight the crew than not come back," Yang said, taking over the conversation.
"It's good that you've come back to visit. Let Wanqiu meet your older brother." Chu Jianshu thought for a moment and said to Chu Yigui, "Keep an eye on your brother today."
Chu Yigui nodded: "I will."
Wan Qiu vaguely understood, yet vaguely did not.
But the familiar voice of "elder brother" in the morning phone call always gave Wanqiu a feeling that something was about to happen.
"Dad, Second Brother, be careful on the road, love you." Wan Qiu stood at the door, saying goodbye to Chu Jianshu and Yang Ze, who were about to go to the company.
Chu Jianshu nodded, while Yang asked, "If there's anything you want me to buy back, you can call me."
Wan Qiu nodded, even though he didn't want anything.
Butler Bai watched the car leave, with Chu Yigui and Wan Qiu also at the door.
"The teacher should be here soon. I will still be studying in the study today," Chu Yigui said directly to the housekeeper, Bai, who was standing nearby. "Everything as usual. If you need anything, just come and find me."
"Yes, young master," Butler Bai said respectfully.
"Brother, let's do something at home today," Chu Yigui said to Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu nodded.
Butler Bai glanced at Wan Qiu.
During this time, although he wanted to get to know Wan Qiu better and understand her preferences, he was not able to get close to her.
Because so far, Butler Bai has not received any 'pardon' from Yang Xiaoyu or Chu Jianshu.
Wanqiu had virtually no interaction with Butler Bai or the servants in the house.
Butler Bai's position requires him to live according to his master's requirements and habits. Wan Qiu has not shown any trust in him so far, so he cannot take the initiative to get close to Wan Qiu.
Butler Bai knew nothing about what Wan Qiu liked to eat, what he liked to do, or even what instructions he needed.
No matter when they cleaned Wanqiu's room, moved Wanqiu's belongings, or even helped Wanqiu choose clothes for the next day, Wanqiu showed no reaction.
It seems they don't even have the most basic preferences.
Wan Qiu was so indifferent that it seemed not to be a normal bedroom, but a dollhouse.
Wanqiu is just a doll sitting inside, able to coldly watch anyone manipulate everything in his room at will.
Wanqiu is too well-behaved.
Many people with intellectual disabilities are very stubborn, and this is also reflected in Wan Qiu, but his stubbornness did not affect anyone.
He was able to do everything he was doing well, and Butler Bai didn't even have a chance to interfere.
Wan Qiu's existence somewhat undermined his professional confidence as a butler.
Wan Qiu turned around, seemingly intending to return to his room. Butler Bai hesitated, but ultimately just watched Wan Qiu leave.
Butler Bai was somewhat helpless. He saw Chu Yigui in the living room, seemingly waiting for her tutor to arrive, and went to Chu Yigui's side.
Chu Yigui noticed the butler's hesitation and asked, "What's wrong?"
Butler Bai put aside his frustration and decided to ask Chu Yigui: "My duty as a butler is to serve each of my masters well, but I really don't know where to start with the Third Young Master."
Chu Yigui, who was scrolling through her phone messages, looked up when she heard this, raised an eyebrow in surprise, and chuckled: "Why would you ask me that?"
Butler Bai's expression was also somewhat awkward. It was clear to everyone that Wan Qiu and Chu Yigui were the closest in terms of relationship. Chu Yigui's question only made it seem like they were all just being presumptuous.
However, Chu Yigui laughed: "Just kidding, Uncle Bai, I just thought you were too tense."
Butler Bai chuckled, responding with a mixture of helplessness and compliance to Chu Yigui's occasional, minor, and irresistible pranks.
The boy was exceptionally handsome, and even when he sat on a soft sofa, his demeanor was excellent. Especially when he was silently thinking, he appeared to have the composure of an adult.
Butler Bai was also pondering whether Chu Yigui would inquire about Wan Qiu. It wouldn't be good, given their respective identities...
"Uncle Bai, do you know why Mom would take my brother out to play every day when she was alive?" Chu Yigui interrupted Butler Bai's train of thought.
"To... make up for what we've always owed the Third Young Master?" Butler Bai asked tentatively.
"Well, that's part of the reason, but Mom also wants my brother to know more."
Chu Yigui placed his hands on his knees, looking at them as he pondered.
"Babies don't know what sweetness is, so they won't particularly like sweetness. But once they've tasted sweetness, they'll show a liking for it. My older brother is just like a baby who has never tasted sweetness."
Yang Xiaoyu took Wanqiu around to learn about all sorts of things that Wanqiu didn't know. Although he couldn't help Wanqiu adapt immediately, he could at least be exposed to these things and lay the foundation for Wanqiu's future changes.
Butler Bai vaguely understood what Chu Yigui wanted to say, but longed for a more direct answer: "Then what should I do?"
“You can do whatever you think you can do, show your brother what you can do and what he can let you do. After you get used to it, your brother might start to want you to do things.”
Chu Yigui looked up, his outstanding and handsome appearance was stunning. His composure and youthful vigor blended together, attracting attention. His certainty made Butler Bai subconsciously believe that he was pointing in the right direction.
Butler Bai fell into deep thought.
"So, does that mean my decision to avoid the Third Young Master all this time was a mistake?"
Thinking about this, Butler Bai's feelings were also complicated.
It wasn't that Wanqiu didn't need help, but rather that his actions cut off any possibility for Wanqiu to seek help from him.
"However, this is just my guess. As for whether it's possible, we'll only know after we try." As Chu Yigui spoke, a subtle, unconscious expression appeared on her face. "Moreover, in the process of getting along with your brother, you will occasionally discover some very unique and unimaginable things."
Butler Bai looked at Chu Yigui's profile, thought for a moment, and said, "May I ask a somewhat offensive question?"
"Uncle Bai, there's no need to be so polite with me," Chu Yigui said with a light smile.
Butler Bai felt that this was something that needed to be polite about, but since Chu Yigui had said so, he asked, "Would you mind if I asked you about the Third Young Master?"
Chu Yigui was stunned for a moment.
The initial shock turned into a smile, and Chu Yigui's calm remained completely unwavering: "How could that be?"
A light, weightless answer, like a feather.
Butler Bai hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
However, Chu Yigui continued, "My brother is very good. I like my brother very much. Other than that, nothing else is that important."
After thanking him, Butler Bai left, but the doubts in his heart did not disappear because of this conversation.
Looking at Chu Yigui, Butler Bai seemed to be seeing a huge castle entangled with countless dangerous thorns. Those who looked at it from afar were amazed by its magnificence and beauty, but no one could enter the castle.
Everyone knows that Wanqiu is in the castle, but no one knows what Wanqiu looks like in the castle.
Is it to be cursed into a deep sleep, or to be besieged by loneliness? Is it to be able to look up at the beautiful sky, or to wander in a dark underground prison?
The only person who knows is the owner of this castle.
Chu Yigui sat quietly on the sofa, watching the morning sunlight shine through the glass onto the floor. The brightness of the sunlight even obscured the natural color of the floor.
If it were Wanqiu, she would probably stare blankly at this ray of sunlight.
Chu Yigui thought to himself.
In the quiet morning living room, Chu Yigui heard very faint footsteps approaching him.
Even though there were servants moving silently around, Chu Yigui was absolutely certain who the footsteps belonged to.
She was that light-weight, always cautious person, like a cloud.
Chu Yigui turned around and saw Wan Qiu standing beside him. He wasn't surprised and asked, "What's wrong? Brother, are you thinking of going out?"
Wan Qiu shook his head.
Chu Yigui thought for a moment and said, "Although I asked you to wait for your older brother to come back today, it doesn't mean you can't go out at all. Don't you like riding tricycles? You even went to the orchard yesterday. It's okay if you just stay at home."
Chu Yigui made no attempt to hide the fact that he knew Wan Qiu's itinerary from Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu blinked, her beautiful eyes seeming to be cleansed of filth with each blink, leaving them completely untouched by dust.
Wanqiu always liked to observe others through his eyes, and those being observed would surely sense something through those clear eyes.
Just like Chu Yigui.
Chu Yigui knew that Wan Qiu had a reason for seeking him out.
He waited quietly.
Until Wanqiu carefully extended his hand.
The hand was suspended in mid-air, the clenched fist facing down, clearly holding something.
Chu Yigui reached out and caught Wan Qiu's hand directly below. The two completely different hands, one big and one small, were suddenly connected by something.
Something warm fell from Wan Qiu's hand into Chu Yigui's palm.
When Chu Yigui saw Wan Qiu withdraw his hand, he unconsciously clasped his hands together in front of him, looked down at his hands, and said nothing.
Chu Yigui shifted her gaze from Wan Qiu to her palm.
The object in his palm still carried a lingering warmth, clearly having been held in Wan Qiu's hand for a long time.
It was a very small keychain, which was a bright golden egg with a crack in the middle that could be broken open.
Chu Yigui cracked open the egg, and a bright red cartoon chick popped out of it, raising its wings high with an arrogant air.
Chu Yigui held the keychain and waved it in front of her. The cartoon chick, which wasn't actually very well made, looked down on everything.
"Did you give it to me?" Chu Yigui asked, feeling utterly scorned by the little chick.
"Mm," Wan Qiu replied.
"Is this your favorite thing that you received when you went out yesterday?" Chu Yigui seemed to understand why Wan Qiu would give this gift.
Wan Qiu nodded.
Chu Yigui looked at the keychain. The keychain was very brightly colored, so bright that it didn't look high-end.
It's obviously cheap and low-quality, but for Wanqiu, who loves bright colors, it's definitely a very unique, beautiful and novel item.
Wan Qiu and Yang Ze went out at night to an ordinary night market street, and probably wouldn't go to a store to buy expensive things.
Yang has never even had a girlfriend, let alone taken care of a child, and he doesn't know anything about buying gifts.
Chu Yigui could easily imagine that the two of them probably wouldn't bring back much from this trip.
And now, looking at this cheap little keychain, you can imagine it even more.
but……
Chu Yigui smiled, reattached the golden eggshell of the small keychain, and held it in her palm: "Thank you, brother."
Chu Yigui knew that this was probably unique to him.
This is a privilege reserved for close friends.
—You will occasionally discover some very unique and unimaginable things.
What I just said is now coming true again.
However, Chu Yigui did not finish saying that sentence.
When you discover these unique and unimaginable things... you'll feel a sense of surprise.
The golden eggshell wobbled awkwardly in the air, which amused Chu Yigui.
The golden egg was reflected in his eyes, just like a real egg, giving humanity the joy of new life.
Wan Qiu glanced at Chu Yigui quietly, though Chu Yigui didn't seem as happy as others today.
But it seemed that white, shallow, unidentified bubbles were floating out of Chu Yigui's body, and within those bubbles, Wan Qiu vaguely saw iridescent colors slowly appearing, disappearing in an instant, like an illusion.
——
Butler Bai was pondering what he could do for Wanqiu.
Today was a rare day for Wan Qiu to stay at home; she didn't go out with Yang Xiaoyu, nor did she go for a tricycle ride.
Although he didn't know when the young master would return, he might be able to learn about Wan Qiu before the young master came back.
He asked Wanqiu to do the things he usually did, but upon closer inspection, Butler Bai couldn't immediately list the things he would do voluntarily.
As a butler, he always acted according to his master's schedule and requirements; as for taking initiative to do something...
What is Wanqiu doing?
Butler Bai, who had all the family's schedules under his control, discovered that even though Wan Qiu was at home, he had no idea what Wan Qiu was doing.
He had never been so negligent as a housekeeper.
After thinking for a moment, Butler Bai went to the kitchen and asked the chef to make a dessert.
The lady liked to have the chef prepare delicious food for Wanqiu, hoping that Wanqiu could gain weight as soon as possible. However, Wanqiu didn't eat much each time, so his weight gain plan was a bit slow.
Butler Bai knew Wan Qiu was in her room, and this was the first time he had ever felt nervous even when knocking on the door.
The door was opened quickly after the knocking.
Butler Bai looked at the short Wan Qiu standing in the doorway, who was half-open, his eyes fixed on him.
The usually composed butler Bai was somewhat uneasy.
"Wanqiu, hello. Perhaps you would be interested in trying today's dessert?" Butler Bai tried his best to appear even lower, even though the height difference between him and Wanqiu was too great, inevitably giving off a slightly condescending vibe.
The sweet aroma of the freshly baked desserts filled the air and quickly enveloped Wanqiu.
Butler Bai was secretly pleased when Wan Qiu opened the door.
Does this mean I'm inviting him in?
Butler Bai entered Wanqiu's bedroom, placed the dessert down, and then prepared to leave.
When he turned around, he met Wan Qiu blocking the way he was leaving, looking at him blankly.
Butler Bai was startled. Could it be that... Wan Qiu was actually inviting him to sit down?
This flattered Butler Bai, whose original intention was simply to send Wan Qiu a dessert.
With a somewhat complicated feeling, Butler Bai asked, "May I use the tea set here to brew you a cup of tea?"
Butler Bai obtained Wan Qiu's consent.
Butler Bai had always thought that Wan Qiu was afraid of him, but he didn't expect that Wan Qiu was actually so easy to talk to and communicate with, although there was always a slight delay in her response.
Basically, everyone's room is cleaned every day, but Butler Bai knows that Wanqiu's room is a little different.
Wanqiu's room was always kept as tidy as possible. Even though he had been in the room for a while, it was not messy at all, and there wasn't even a wrinkle.
Wanqiu's room was always deliberately cleaned during regular cleaning.
For example, the mirror in the bathroom is always easy to get water stains, and when the maid cleans it, you can see obvious wiping marks.
Generally speaking, when a person is in a room, they are more likely to lie down. The soft sofa cushions show no signs of being lain on, and the bed is tidy.
Butler Bai was puzzled for a moment about what Wan Qiu did when she was alone in her room.
After brewing the tea, I put down the tea set. The tea set showed almost no signs of use, but it was safe to assume that Wanqiu wouldn't use it, which is why it was left there.
Butler Bai placed the teacup in front of Wan Qiu, but Wan Qiu simply pushed the teacup to the other side.
Butler Bai was taken aback, then suddenly understood something. He poured another cup of tea and placed it in front of Wan Qiu once more.
There are two cups of tea on the coffee table, one of which belongs to Butler Bai.
The two remained silent; Wan Qiu was silent because she didn't know how to speak, while Butler Bai was silent because of his professional ethics.
Wanqiu stopped eating after taking the first piece of dessert.
Much later, Butler Bai tentatively took one piece, and Wan Qiu followed suit by taking a second piece.
The sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies filled his mouth, and Butler Bai's mood was complicated.
Does Wan Qiu not understand the relationship between him and himself? This is simply the proper way to treat a guest.
Although the air was quiet, Butler Bai was used to it, and Wan Qiu didn't feel awkward.
After a long pause, Butler Bai spoke first: "Wanqiu, if you need anything, please feel free to ask me."
Wanqiu still had the cookie in his mouth. He chewed it after hearing the sound, seemingly using the time to understand and think.
She swallowed it afterward, her eyes fixed on Butler Bai, and pursed her lips: "What do you want me to do?"
Butler Bai had mixed feelings. He had come to find out what Wan Qiu was up to, but he hadn't expected to be asked the same question in return.
The situation is somewhat complicated.
"Do you... understand my identity?" After thinking it over, Butler Bai felt that this was the most likely possibility.
Wanqiu didn't understand what a housekeeper did.
Wan Qiu blinked, and Butler Bai waited patiently.
However, Wan Qiu slowly said, "Family?"
At that moment, even Butler Bai, like Wan Qiu, couldn't immediately understand what the other person was saying.
A family?
Butler Bai failed to understand Wan Qiu's logic.
"Why are we family?" After asking such a strange question, Butler Bai immediately despised himself.
Wanqiu stared blankly at Butler Bai, and tentatively said in a very soft voice, "Let's live together at home..."
For Wanqiu, living under the same roof meant being family.
Butler Bai's eyes widened slightly. He was not young, but upon hearing this, a strange and subtle emotion began to spread through him.
"But I was right next to you while you were eating..."
Wan Qiu lowered her eyes: "In the past, I also..."
Ning Qiaozhen and Ning Hai often bring friends home, resulting in Wan Qiu not being able to sit at the table.
"Have I been serving the master all this time?" Butler Bai said subconsciously, but immediately realized that Wan Qiu was the same, and couldn't help but say, "I get paid."
But how did Wanqiu know that there was a salary?
Butler Bai remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Why...why haven't you been talking to me?"
Even with her family, Wanqiu wouldn't initiate conversation.
Butler Bai didn't even need Wan Qiu's answer to know the answer to his question.
Because they are family, Wanqiu will clean up the house herself; because they are family, Wanqiu treats them the same way she would treat her own family.
Wanqiu wasn't avoiding or resisting him; she just didn't want to bother anyone.
Butler Bai suddenly realized that his speculations over the past few days were utterly ridiculous.
Wanqiu's world was far simpler than any of them could have imagined.
At that moment, Butler Bai didn't even know whether he should correct Wan Qiu's idea.
He seemed to understand what Chu Yigui had said.
—Something very unique and unimaginable.
Butler Bai has been a butler for a long time and even feels like family to the Chu family.
For Wanqiu, they are family.
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