Wan Qiu's consciousness, which had been confused by the horror movie, gradually returned, and he finally saw Chu Yigui clearly in front of him.
"Ah..." Wan Qiu suddenly realized that the room was already brightly lit.
He stared wide-eyed at Chu Yigui, who was standing right in front of him.
Chu Yigui's words finally broke through Wan Qiu's consciousness and gained Wan Qiu's understanding.
Wan Qiu slowly replied, "I'm sleepy, then go to sleep."
Chu Zhang immediately moved closer with some concern, looking directly into Wan Qiu's eyes: "Wan Qiu, are you alright?"
Wanqiu looked back, and his consciousness returned completely.
Wan Qiu lowered his head and after a long while said, "...Ghost movies are so scary."
Chu Zhang hadn't expected Wan Qiu to be so terrified of horror movies, and he felt a deep sense of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Wanqiu, your brother won't let you watch horror movies anymore."
"Hmm, it's okay." Under the bright light, the lingering fear in Wan Qiu's eyes gradually dissipated, and she replied softly, "It's fine now."
Chu Zhang, unusually serious, scrutinized Wan Qiu intently.
It doesn't seem like he's lying.
"I'm sorry, Wanqiu," Chu Zhang apologized again.
"It's alright." Wan Qiu could sense Chu Zhang's apology and replied earnestly, "It's really all better now."
"Then go to sleep." Chu Zhang stopped causing trouble and reached out to ruffle Wan Qiu's hair. "Go rinse your mouth and go to sleep."
"Hmm." Wan Qiu nodded. "Where does eldest brother sleep?"
Chu Zhang had his own hotel room, but after thinking about it carefully, he suddenly pulled Yang Ze next to him and said, "Yang Er and I will squeeze in tonight."
Yang was taken aback: "?"
Chu Zhang observed that Wan Qiu seemed to have indeed recovered his mental state.
Chu Yigui stayed by Wan Qiu's side the whole time, watching Wan Qiu brush her teeth again, and the two of them went into one of the rooms in the suite together.
Before closing the door, Wan Qiu stood obediently in front of him and said goodnight.
As the door closed, Chu Zhang noticed that Chu Yigui's gaze remained fixed on Wan Qiu.
The suite has two rooms, both with double beds, so it wasn't too crowded for Chu Zhang and Yang Ze to sleep together.
Chu Zhang sat on the edge of the bed, straddling his legs casually, half-closing his eyes as he pondered the scene that had just unfolded.
"Big brother, aren't you going to sleep?" Yang turned off the lights until only the bedside lamp was left on.
Chu Zhang remained deep in thought, showing no intention of lying down.
"Yang Er, have I been spending too little time with Wanqiu?" Chu Zhang turned around and looked at Yang Ze, who was already leaning against the headboard.
"fine."
It's common knowledge that Chu Zhang is very busy with work, and the nature of his job doesn't allow him to be idle.
Do you usually have a lot of contact with Wan Qiu?
Yang thought for a moment and said, "It's alright."
Wan Qiu was not a talkative person, and Yang Ze was not one to talk much either.
However, they were not strangers to each other, and their conversations were very natural.
With a hint of boasting, Yang said, "When Wanqiu encounters something, he comes to me for advice, and I think I've been able to help him."
Chu Zhang looked at Yang Ze with a half-smile.
Yang gradually became somewhat embarrassed under Chu Zhang's gaze.
Chu Zhang found it very interesting. Had Wan Qiu drawn several flowers on Yang Ze's stone with a highlighter?
"I also want to spend more time with Wan Qiu," Chu Zhang said, a smile playing on his lips. "And I also want to spend more time with you all."
Yang was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes."
"Has Wanqiu been sticking to the youngest brother a lot lately?" Chu Zhang asked.
"The third and fourth brothers usually stay together."
Chu Zhang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who initiated it?"
Yang pondered for a moment: "At first, it was the third brother who took the initiative to approach the fourth brother, but later it seems that the fourth brother also intends to get closer to the third brother."
Yang Ze's words made Chu Zhang realize something, and those scenes from just now reappeared in Chu Zhang's mind.
Chu Yigui, who had always avoided his sharp edge, originally thought that not avoiding him was the limit, but now she actually took the initiative to argue with him for Wanqiu's sake.
In Chu Zhang's memory, Chu Yigui was more like a work of art than a human being—beautiful and perhaps even valued highly.
However, handicrafts are ultimately just handicrafts; no matter how valuable they are, it is ultimately attributed to them by people.
It has no self.
But just that instant when it was displayed before his eyes...
"It looks much better now," Chu Zhang murmured.
It's almost like a toy favored by angels, ultimately imbued with divine radiance and given birth to its own self.
It is a soul born around an angel.
Once that lifeless feeling disappeared, he finally saw something interesting.
"Brother, what are you saying?" Yang Ze didn't hear clearly.
Chu Zhang tilted his head and suddenly asked, "Are you still very afraid of Wan Qiu going out alone?"
Yang's face stiffened; he couldn't refute: "At least, I would feel much more at ease if Wan Qiu had someone with him."
Chu Zhang said with a smile, "Wanqiu is very normal now. He's a lovely and normal child. It's unlikely that a child of this age would be taken away again."
Yang lay on the pillow, looking at the ceiling that cast shadows behind the lampshade: "I know."
"Don't worry too much, Wan Qiu has his own little tricks in some areas."
A person without a sense of self will not affect others.
Moreover, it affects someone like Chu Yigui.
Watching Wan Qiu and Chu Yigui interact was like seeing sunshine and water nourishing wild seedlings.
What kind of flowers will this seedling bloom into?
Chu Zhang looked forward to it.
"I'm leaving. You get some sleep." Chu Zhang stood up and stretched.
Yang sat up halfway: "Aren't you sleeping here?"
"I don't want to sleep with a hard, tall man who's bigger than me!" Chu Zhang pouted.
Yang Ze: "..."
"It was just a long time since I'd spoken with my brother." Chu Zhang's expression softened under the gentle light. "Seeing that you're all doing well puts my mind at ease."
Yang Ze's tall and massive figure lay on the bed. Chu Zhang looked at him, but it was as if he was still looking at his younger brother, who hadn't even developed yet but had already learned to put on a cold face.
Under the Chu family's education, Yang was inevitably molded into the kind of person a member of the Chu family should be.
It's not a bad thing to have a few minor flaws now.
It's not a robot.
"I'm leaving now. Get some sleep."
"Goodnight, brother," Yang said.
"Good night." Chu Zhang closed Yang Ze's door.
Standing in the quiet living room, the table was still cluttered with the snacks he had bought that day, which he hadn't eaten much of.
Chu Zhang's gaze fell on the door to Wan Qiu and Chu Yigui's room.
long time.
Finally, he turned around, opened the suite door, and left.
He stopped caring about anything.
Wanqiu lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.
On quiet nights, scenes from horror movies I've watched keep replaying in my mind.
The concept of death was confusing to Wanqiu; it was extinction, yet something was different about it.
Wanqiu suddenly received information about ghosts and souls.
He wasn't unfamiliar with the term.
All the comments I've come across about the soul have been positive; the negative ones are all about ghosts.
'What is the soul of a song?' 'His soul and spirit are with us.' 'This painting possesses a vibrant soul.'...
But today, Wanqiu saw a completely different soul.
Ghosts are terrifying beings that exist in the world for revenge, having died in pain and despair and now resurrected in this world, driven by rage.
As long as he closed his eyes, that terrifying face, a mixture of pale and blood-red, would appear before Wan Qiu's eyes.
Wanqiu was filled with fear.
The moment Wan Qiu heard Chu Zhang mention the soul, he believed that the soul truly existed.
He is the best example.
After seeing everything presented in the movie, Wanqiu began to doubt the reason for his existence.
Was he also transformed into a spirit in pursuit of revenge?
Just like the person who died crying in the movie.
He simply forgot about anger and hatred.
And those malicious memories he doesn't want to recall, are they the self he has forgotten?
Wanqiu was afraid.
Fear of the soul.
I'm afraid of ghosts.
They are afraid that the situation depicted in movies, where people are possessed, will happen to them.
What if, in the end, it's not him who's left behind, but that malicious ghost?
Uncontrollable anxiety almost eroded Wanqiu's entire nervous system.
The death and gray world depicted in the film, if realized through his hands.
So wouldn't his family be the first to be hurt?
Wanqiu buried herself in the blankets.
However, knowing about the existence of ghosts made Wanqiu feel that ghosts might be everywhere.
Maybe it's outside the blanket, maybe it's under his bed, maybe it's inside his blanket.
Not wanting to disturb Chu Yigui's sleep, Wan Qiu quietly curled up in bed, not daring to make a sound.
When Wanqiu heard a sigh, he suddenly shuddered and his whole body tensed up.
"Brother." Chu Yigui's voice came muffledly through the blankets in the dead of night.
Perhaps because it was no longer quiet, Wanqiu's attention was diverted.
There was a click-clack sound outside the covers; it was the light switch being turned on.
Chu Yigui's voice came from above Wan Qiu's head: "Brother, don't stay in bed, it'll be stuffy. Come out."
A hand patted the bulging part of Wanqiu's quilt.
Wan Qiu crawled out of bed and looked at Chu Yigui standing to the side.
"Little brother." Wan Qiu's voice was a little weak, it must be because of him that Chu Yigui couldn't fall asleep. "I'm sorry."
"It's nothing." Chu Yigui lay down again next to Wan Qiu. "I won't turn off the lights tonight."
Wanqiu nodded blankly.
"Want to chat?" Chu Yigui asked.
Because of the lights, Wanqiu could see everything around him, and with Chu Yigui's voice, his fear dissipated considerably.
Wan Qiu snuggled up to Chu Yigui, sinking into the soft pillow and resting against him.
“Mm,” Wan Qiu replied.
Wan Qiu would fall asleep easily whenever he chatted with Chu Yigui.
"Is your brother scared?"
"Um."
"Don't be afraid, there are no ghosts in this world." Chu Yigui patted Wanqiu rhythmically with one hand to comfort her.
Wan Qiu pursed her lips: "Yes."
Wanqiu felt that he was a ghost.
He is a murdered ghost, who should be filled with hatred and resentment.
"Then..." Chu Yigui paused for a moment, then said, "If ghosts existed in this world, would you find it scary, brother?"
Wan Qiu suddenly remembered the terrifying ghost face in the movie and shivered.
"Ghosts are the souls of the dead, but if a soul remembers hatred from its previous life, then it must also have memories of its previous life, right?"
Wan Qiu thought about his situation and nodded.
"So, you also have memories of your family and loved ones, right?"
Wan Qiu was stunned, then looked up at Chu Yigui.
Chu Yigui did not open her eyes, but her younger brother, even with his eyes closed, was still very handsome.
"If you always love your family and friends, how could you bear to hurt the people you love?"
Chu Yigui patiently explained to Wan Qiu, just like telling her a bedtime story.
"Why would you kill a stranger? If we haven't done anything to wrong others, why should we be afraid of retaliation?"
Chu Yigui opened her eyes and met Wan Qiu's gaze.
Wan Qiu stared wide-eyed at him, listening intently to his words.
Wanqiu was terrified.
Chu Yigui had already noticed it when she watched a horror movie with Wan Qiu.
It's normal for ordinary people to be scared when watching horror movies, but Wan Qiu's reaction was clearly different from that of ordinary people.
He was completely immersed in the absolute negativity and fear presented in the film.
Wan Qiu is easily influenced; he accepts everything he doesn't know, including what is conveyed in movies.
So Chu Yigui stopped it.
They stopped Wanqiu from watching any further.
"People should have goodwill towards the living and reverence for the dead."
Chu Yigui told his not-so-bright brother, word by word.
"The dead are no longer in the same world as us, but their souls were once one person."
Wan Qiu listened attentively.
He always listens to what Chu Yigui says.
And this time is no different.
Wan Qiu remained silent, seemingly understanding everything Chu Yigui had expressed.
Wanqiu finally nodded.
"My brother is right."
Wan Qiu thought to himself.
"If I die and become a ghost, I will never harm my brother."
Wan Qiu said very seriously.
Wanqiu felt that she was different from the person deep in her memory.
He wouldn't do such a terrible thing to his own family.
Wanqiu recalled what the villagers had told him: that after people die, they turn into stars and protect those who are still alive.
Are those countless stars people who have died?
But the starry sky is so beautiful.
It must be because the people who were alive back then were just as beautiful.
"Brother won't die," Chu Yigui said to Wan Qiu, her tone still calm.
"Hmm." Wan Qiu moved closer to Chu Yigui, feeling Chu Yigui's body temperature, and her mood gradually calmed down.
"Brother, don't think too much. We can live for a very long time."
"Um."
Wan Qiu and Chu Yigui chattered on and on about all sorts of random things.
At first, Wan Qiu was able to respond to Chu Yigui with clarity, but in the end, she became confused and didn't even know if she was speaking.
Wanqiu fell asleep.
She was completely relaxed, but looked extremely tired.
The bedside lamp, which was still dimly lit, was quietly turned off.
Wan Qiu, fast asleep, was completely unaware.
Although the horror movie served as a minor interlude, Chu Yigui's reassurance was quite effective for Wan Qiu.
Even though Wanqiu still firmly believed in the existence of ghosts.
Wanqiu knew that ghosts wouldn't easily harm people, but the images of ghosts in horror movies really shocked him, and he was still a little scared.
This trip wasn't actually very strenuous, because Wanqiu stayed up late and got up late, and no one rushed her.
We'll go out together once we've rested properly.
They took many photos, and Wan Qiu would send them all to Chu Zhang.
In the evenings, I would chat with Zhou Peiyu, Fu Zhengyu, Li Shuo, and others about my travel itinerary, and I also had to spend time doing my homework.
There are so many things that can attract Wanqiu to travel: novel and unfamiliar things, rare and delicious foods, and...
The sheer joy of exploring unknown places with his family.
Wanqiu had promised to bring gifts back for his friend.
Wanqiu didn't know what to bring, but Chu Yigui gave him a lot of advice.
Unable to make a choice, Wanqiu accepted all the advice and bought them all.
Fortunately, Wanqiu now has many friends.
However, when it came to gifts, Wan Qiu was still preoccupied with preparing a birthday present for Chu Yigui.
He wanted to give Chu Yigui a surprise.
Wan Qiu didn't know what to do, but these past few days Fu Zhengyu had been secretly planning how to sneak out for her.
In the waiting hall, Wan Qiu was already preparing to go back with everyone.
Fu Zhengyu: Have you thought it over yet? Do you want to go shopping together?
Wanqiu: I really want to, but I don't know what to do.
Fu Zhengyu: Didn't I already say that?
Fu Zhengyu: You can pretend you're tired from your trip and need to sleep, then close the door and sneak out, right?
Fu Zhengyu: Don't you live with Brother Chu? Do you think Brother Chu would be spying on you to see if you're asleep or not?
Wan Qiu: Isn't this a lie?
Fu Zhengyu: Good student, stop fooling around. You're not going out to do anything bad, so what's the big deal about lying?
Fu Zhengyu: Surprises are something you have to prepare behind people's backs, isn't that the same as lying?
Wan Qiu remained silent for a long time.
Wanqiu: Can you buy gifts if you go out at night?
Fu Zhengyu: Don't stay out too late. What time are you planning to come out?
Wan Qiu thought for a moment, but there was no exact time.
Fu Zhengyu: The store doesn't close until after 8 or 9 o'clock, and some even stay open until 11 or 12 o'clock. That should be enough time, right?
Fu Zhengyu: They're usually asleep by this time, so you can sneak back without being discovered.
Wan Qiu really wanted to give Chu Yigui a surprise.
Even though he vaguely felt that doing so was wrong, he still couldn't hide his desire to give Chu Yigui a surprise.
"What's wrong, brother?" Chu Yigui asked.
"It's nothing." Wan Qiu suddenly hugged his phone to his chest.
It was obvious that something was amiss, but since Wan Qiu wanted to hide it, Chu Yigui wouldn't press him for details.
Unless it's something too outrageous, Chu Yigui always respects Wan Qiu's privacy.
Wan Qiu was holding his phone.
I've been hesitant for a long time.
But he thought of the happy times he had on his birthday, the blissful moments that felt like they were in a fairy tale.
Wan Qiu couldn't help but hope that Chu Yigui would also feel such happiness.
Wan Qiu started to get nervous as soon as he boarded the plane.
They live near a commercial street, so even if they go out, they won't go very far, and they can go back quickly once they have prepared the gifts.
Moreover, Chu Yigui's birthday is still a few days away, so he can even choose a handmade gift.
In addition to the gifts he bought, Wan Qiu also wanted to buy some pretty colored paper so he could use the flower-making skills that Butler Bai had taught him to fold beautiful bouquets for Chu Yigui.
Wanqiu leaned back in his airplane seat, his heart and eyes filled with anticipation for the future, which was likely to be filled with joy and happiness.
Chu Yigui kept a close eye on Wan Qiu out of the corner of his eye, and Wan Qiu's joy was evident.
It seems to be more than just tourism.
Or is it because of something else?
This was the first time Wan Qiu had planned a small, unannounced trip, albeit at the suggestion of his friend.
However, Wanqiu, who had always been very obedient, was still uneasy about doing this.
"The baby looks really happy," Yang Xiaoyu said to Chu Jianshu beside her. "It seems we can take the baby out to travel more often in the future."
While looking at his phone, Chu Jianshu replied to Yang Xiaoyu, "Let's go to the seaside villa sometime and invite Chu Zhang to come too. Wanqiu would be happier if the whole family were together."
Yang Xiaoyu tilted her head: "You've really been spoiling your son more and more lately."
Chu Jianshu did not respond to Yang Xiaoyu's teasing, but calmly said, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"I was just praising you." Yang Xiaoyu and the others were sitting in the same row, and they spoke softly, so Wan Qiu couldn't hear them clearly.
Yang Xiaoyu tilted her head and glanced at the tall Yang Ze.
Even in first class, it wasn't quite spacious enough for Yang Ze's height and weight.
She was not unaware of Yang's concerns about Wanqiu throughout the trip.
Especially when there were more people, Yang was always by Wanqiu's side, almost like a pillar of support.
Yang Xiaoyu noticed Yang Ze's nervousness and excessive seriousness.
They also knew what was mixed in with this complex emotion.
After getting off the plane, Yang Xiaoyu asked Wan Qiu if she wanted to go home with them.
However, Wanqiu planned to go directly to the house near the school because she had to go to class the next day.
"Then our darling should get some rest," Yang Xiaoyu said to Wan Qiu and Chu Yigui.
After thinking for a moment, Yang Xiaoyu looked up at Yang Ze and said, "You take them back."
They bought a lot of things, enough for Yang to carry by himself.
Yang nodded.
Chu Jianshu, however, was somewhat surprised, and his expression towards Yang Xiaoyu was quite meaningful.
Stepping out of the airport, Wanqiu felt that the weather was much cooler than where she had gone on her trip.
The sky was overcast, with dark clouds pressing down, turning what should have been a bright afternoon into a gloomy one.
Wan Qiu looked up and felt the wind blowing constantly from the empty airport perimeter.
Fortunately, Yang Xiaoyu reminded them to wear thick coats before they came out, otherwise it would be very cold now.
"Goodbye, Mom and Dad." Wan Qiu smiled faintly.
"Go back and get some rest," Yang Xiaoyu said, touching Wan Qiu's forehead. "Remember to eat dinner."
"Mm." Wan Qiu nodded.
Yang took Wanqiu and Chu Yi back home, while Wanqiu secretly started sending messages to Fu Zhengyu on her phone.
Wanqiu: My second brother said I'll be home in two hours.
Fu Zhengyu: Then sneak out again after dinner.
Wan Qiu hesitated for a moment, then secretly glanced at Chu Yigui.
Then he looked at Yang Ze, who was driving with peace of mind.
Wanqiu: Can I tell my second brother?
Fu Zhengyu: Isn't your second brother working? Did he ask you to come out tonight? If your second brother comes along, I won't go.
Wan Qiu was taken aback and immediately asked: Why didn't you come when your second brother came?
Fu Zhengyu: I know you, but I don't know your second brother.
Holding his phone, Wan Qiu thought of what Chu Yigui had once told him.
Because of the age gap, we don't have common topics, and being together like this would be unhappy.
Fu Zhengyu: You're really annoying. It's just going out to buy a gift together tonight, it's not like we're doing anything bad.
Fu Zhengyu: If you hesitate when I give you advice, then don't bother with surprises, just ask for it in front of him directly.
Fu Zhengyu: At your age, do you need your parents' permission to do anything?
Wan Qiu stared blankly at Fu Zhengyu's increasingly irritating messages.
His finger hovered in the air for a long time, but Wan Qiu didn't know what to send.
Fu Zhengyu: Anyway, if you want to come out alone, just call me. If you don't want to, that's fine too. I want to play more games at home on the last day.
Wan Qiu placed her phone on her lap.
Wan Qiu seemed to have realized something because of Fu Zhengyu's words.
The days of renting a place are long gone.
It seems that ever since Wanqiu returned to her current home, she has always had people around her, except when she is at home.
He seems to be gradually becoming more dependent on his family.
He also became increasingly dependent on his younger brother.
He was always being helped by others.
Does that mean he can no longer help his family?
If possible, Wanqiu also wants to do something independently.
It's something that makes his family happy, something he does on his own rather than relying on his family.
Wanqiu looked out the window at the scenery rushing past.
After that, I made up my mind.
Wanqiu: I'm sorry, I won't be with you tonight.
Fu Zhengyu: ...Why are you so timid?
Wanqiu: I want to prepare a gift for my younger brother myself. I will go out by myself.
Fu Zhengyu: Oh, okay, then I won't go out tonight.
Wanqiu: Thank you for helping me find a solution and for even planning to help me pick out a gift.
Fu Zhengyu: How about you treat me to a late-night snack sometime?
Wanqiu: Okay.
Fu Zhengyu: Then remember to bring your money. Do you remember where the place with lots of shops I told you about is?
Wan Qiu nodded, but then realized he was replying to a message.
Wanqiu: I remember.
Fu Zhengyu: Well then, I wish you all the best.
Wanqiu: Thank you.
Wan Qiu stared at Fu Zhengyu's message for a long time without replying, then put down her phone.
My heart was pounding.
Wanqiu quietly touched the area around her heart.
This was an experiment he spontaneously decided to conduct.
"Second Brother, why don't you stay and rest for a bit, and have dinner?" Chu Yigui said, glancing at the time.
"After you put your things away, I'll take you out to eat. You've been quite busy these past few days on the trip, so go back and get some rest," Yang suggested.
"I have no objection," Chu Yigui said, turning her head to the side. "Does brother have any suggestions?"
Wan Qiu shook his head: "I'll listen to my second brother."
Wanqiu brought back quite a lot of things, so he planned to pack all the gifts up and take them to school in his tricycle in the morning.
During the move, Wan Qiu looked at the entrance of her apartment building with some hesitation, staring at it for a long time.
"Brother?" Chu Yigui turned her head to look at Wan Qiu. "What's wrong?"
Wan Qiu suddenly snapped to attention and replied, "It's nothing."
Chu Yigui could always see Wan Qiu's unusual behavior, and this was still the case now.
However, Chu Yigui always respects Wanqiu's privacy when necessary.
He always had a clear sense of when Wanqiu needed help.
Now is not the time for that.
Wan Qiu was deep in thought.
They simply don't need anyone's help.
Yang took Wan Qiu and Chu Yi to a nearby shop for a simple dinner.
I've eaten at all sorts of places these past few days, and now eating something with clear broth actually helps to cut through the richness.
Wan Qiu quietly patted his round belly and went out with Yang Ze.
"It's raining." Yang Ze stretched his hand out the door, and sparse raindrops had already begun to fall.
Unlike the strong winds at the airport, there weren't such strong winds blowing in the city, probably because of the tall buildings blocking the view.
There was a slight chill in the air, as the rain had made the already warming weather considerably cooler.
Yang parked his car at the entrance of the residential area; the rain had already intensified.
"Go back quickly, take a shower and rest," Yang Ze said to them.
"Goodbye, Second Brother," Chu Yigui said.
Wan Qiu also waved to Yang Ze from the back seat.
Yang sat in the driver's seat and watched his two younger brothers get out of the car and rush into the heavy rain until they could no longer see their backs.
The sudden downpour of rain pounded against the car windows, making the road ahead less visible.
Yang Ze, who was about to drive away, suddenly received a message from the company.
He did have work to do today, but he wanted to spend more time with his two younger brothers, so he postponed it.
Yang did not leave immediately, but instead found a nearby coffee shop and used his laptop, which he always kept in his car, to handle things as quickly as possible.
After Wan Qiu got out of the car, he grabbed Chu Yigui's hand and was pulled away by Chu Yigui.
The rain was a little cold, and the coolness seeped into his hair and onto his collar.
Even from such a short distance, Wan Qiu noticed that his clothes were already soaked.
Back in the hallway, they waited for the elevator, and Wan Qiu turned to look at Chu Yigui.
Chu Yigui's hair was also quite wet, and she casually brushed her damp short hair aside with her fingers.
When Wan Qiu saw Chu Yigui brush aside the stray hairs on her forehead, she revealed a rare, mature coldness that was different from her usual demeanor.
She looks a bit like her father.
Wan Qiu thought to himself.
"Brother, go take a shower to warm up. The hot water should be on."
Chu Yigui casually dried his hair with a towel from the bathroom; his face appeared even paler than usual, probably because it was cold.
Wan Qiu nodded and went to the bathroom first.
Wan Qiu was in the bathroom, mentally preparing herself to sneak away.
My younger brother will come to take a bath in a little while.
When my younger brother is taking a bath, he can't hear any sounds from outside.
He just needs to be careful.
Wan Qiu looked at the bracelet on the bathroom sink, thought for a moment, and decided to leave it there for the time being.
After Wan Qiu left the bathroom, Chu Yigui had already prepared pajamas for her.
Wan Qiu watched Chu Yigui enter the bathroom, then immediately went to his room with his pajamas.
He found a clean, simple set of clothes to wear, put his money away, and took one last look at his phone.
Wan Qiu placed his phone on the table.
They quietly approached the gate.
Wan Qiu tiptoed to open the door and then quietly closed it.
I leaned against the door for a long time, but I didn't hear any sound from inside.
He closed the door to his bedroom.
His brother wouldn't visit him unless there was something going on.
Wanqiu finally confirmed that he had successfully sneaked away, but his mood was not as good as he had imagined.
Wan Qiu took off running and immediately headed for the elevator.
As Chu Yigui's birthday approached, Wan Qiu spent every day thinking about what to prepare for his younger brother.
Wan Qiu had already secretly planned out the gift he wanted to give Chu Yigui.
Wanqiu went straight to his goal.
When Wanqiu arrived downstairs, he looked at the dark sky and the rain falling continuously.
He was so anxious that he forgot to bring an umbrella.
But it doesn't matter.
Wanqiu was not afraid of the weather.
In the rain, in the snow, in the gale, Wanqiu has never been afraid of anything.
He used to brave the harsh weather just to have enough to eat and not to cause trouble for his family.
But this time it's for a surprise.
The steps I take don't seem as heavy as they used to be.
Wanqiu rushed into the rain.
I took a step, splashing water as I stepped into the small puddles that had somehow formed on the ground. The sound of my footsteps was swallowed by the rain.
When Chu Yigui came out of the bathroom, she saw Wan Qiu's bedroom door was tightly closed.
Wiping the water droplets from her hair, Chu Yigui did not leave immediately. Instead, for some reason, she stood there staring at the closed door.
Chu Yigui placed the Wanqiu bracelet that was hooked on her finger on the coffee table in the living room. It was very conspicuous, and she wouldn't forget to take it with her tomorrow.
Sitting on the sofa, Chu Yigui had no intention of drying her hair.
Suddenly, Chu Yigui's phone rang.
The screen displays Yang Xiaoyu.
"Mom." Chu Yigui answered the phone.
"Yi Gui, you should rest now." Although it wasn't bedtime yet, it was already dark, so Yang Xiaoyu said directly, "Baby, we brought back a gift."
Wanqiu bought a lot of things, all of which were to bring back to her classmates.
"Shall I have my secretary deliver it to the school gate for you tomorrow?" Yang Xiaoyu asked.
"Okay," Chu Yigui said.
Yang Xiaoyu laughed from across the table, "Is your baby exhausted? I called him but he didn't answer. Is he already asleep?"
Chu Yigui's brows twitched slightly.
A sharp glint flashed in his usually calm eyes.
Chu Yigui stood up and glanced around the cozy room.
Everything is the same as always, except...
But it gave Chu Yigui a feeling of emptiness.
It feels like something is missing.
It's like a jigsaw puzzle full of pieces, but missing the figure's eyes.
Everything harmonious seemed meaningless because that piece of the puzzle was missing; until the final piece was put in place, all feelings were empty.
"Yi Gui? What's wrong?" Yang Xiaoyu asked as if she had sensed something, having not received a reply from Chu Yi Gui.
It was completely dark outside, but the lights in the house kept the room as bright as day.
Chu Yigui walked to Wan Qiu's door and knocked.
"Brother, are you there?"
Chu Yigui's voice was also transmitted to Yang Xiaoyu through the phone, and Yang Xiaoyu had a bad feeling that it was about to come true.
"elder brother."
This time, Chu Yigui did not waste time knocking on the door again.
His hand rested on the doorknob of Wanqiu's bedroom.
"I'm going in."
The door opened, and a clear, faint fragrance, unique to Wan Qiu and familiar to Chu Yigui, gradually wafted in.
But it was very faint.
The faint, elusive aura failed to guide Chu Yigui to its owner.
The empty, spotlessly clean room was presented to Chu Yigui.
The pajamas that Chu Yigui had prepared for Wan Qiu were still on the bed.
A lonely cell phone sits on the bedside table.
"Yi Gui, what's wrong?" Yang Xiaoyu's voice was already trembling.
"Mother."
Chu Yigui's voice remained calm.
He seemed completely unaffected by Wanqiu's disappearance.
However, his steps did not seem as methodical as usual.
Chu Yigui half-squatted in front of the shoe cabinet and opened it.
Where Wanqiu's outdoor shoes were originally placed, Wanqiu's slippers are now placed there.
"Mom," Chu Yigui's voice came to Yang Xiaoyu, who was already extremely nervous, "Brother has run away."
In that instant, Yang Xiaoyu could only hear her brain roaring.
"Why didn't you keep an eye on him?!"
The sudden, violent voice seemed to threaten to explode Chu Yigui's phone.
"I've said it countless times: someone of you must be there for him."
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