Gu Shaocheng loosened his grip, and Yu Yuan quickly pulled his hand away.
His goal was perfectly achieved, but when he met Gu Shaocheng’s sinister gaze again, he suddenly felt a chill. However, having spent a long time with Gu Shaocheng, Yu Yuan was confident in his experience in dealing with such unexpected situations.
He looked a little flustered, but he wasn’t completely panicked inside. Yu Yuan immediately showed Gu Shaocheng his right hand, which Gu Shaocheng had squeezed so hard it was almost bleeding, with clear fingerprints on it.
While stealing glances at Gu Shaocheng’s horrified expression, Yu Yuan muttered softly, “You were the one who pinched me first…”
Seeing that Gu Shaocheng’s expression seemed to soften, Yu Yuan swallowed and began to embellish the story: “It really hurts, it really hurts. It might be a fracture… not quite, but it’s at least a sprain, and there might even be some dislocation…”
Gu Shaocheng almost laughed out of anger, momentarily forgetting the person next to him who was trying to steal his boyfriend: “You mean you twisted your hand because I held it?”
When he was still in that state where he could be easily coaxed by simply pressing the switch on the electric bed when he had an episode?
Yu Yuan felt a little nervous under his gaze, and pointed tremblingly to the first slightly protruding knuckle of his right middle finger: “Look, my left hand doesn’t have this protrusion, and it hurts a lot. I suspect it’s dislocated… I might need a professional to help me with it.”
Gu Shaocheng took a deep breath. This little liar not only knows how to cause trouble and annoy him, but he’s also trying to turn the tables on him. He’s completely lawless.
Although Gu Shaocheng was burning with anger, he slowed down his grip when he held Yu Yuan’s wrist again, only gently holding it loosely.
He knew what Yu Yuan was thinking, but before leaving, he still gave Chu Qingyun a warning look, his dark eyes hiding an unfathomable sinister intent.
Chu Xiaomei[1]little sister Chu jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1308602_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1308602_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); had just turned back to watch the show after hearing the laughter, but when she saw Gu Shaocheng’s upgraded villainous face, her little face fell and she didn’t dare to cry. She quickly buried her face in her brother’s neck again.
Gu Shaocheng retracted his long arm and left with his man.
After the two had walked away, Chu Qingyun stood there in a daze. The little dumpling in his arms stirred and whispered in his ear, “Is the big evil dragon gone?”
Chu Qingyun snapped out of his reverie and gently patted his sister’s bottom: “You’re giving people random nicknames again.”
*
Gu Shaocheng helped Yu Yuan walk halfway, but Yu Yuan didn’t want to continue.
He had only wanted to find a reason to ease the deadlock and leave the Chu siblings, who were overly proactive and enthusiastic strangers who resembled social thugs, but that didn’t mean he was willing to return to the manor and face the excessive number of servants.
Yu Yuan licked his lips: “It doesn’t seem to hurt much anymore. It was probably just a slight twist. I don’t need to see a doctor.”
Gu Shaocheng stopped and looked at Yu Yuan’s jade-white right hand, which had recovered completely, with a gloomy gaze. He pointed to the first joint of the middle finger and said seriously, “Isn’t it still misaligned here?” He emphasized the word “misaligned”.
Yu Yuan vaguely realized that Gu Shaocheng didn’t seem to be having an episode, and that he hadn’t lied to the other party. So why did he actually help him walk away?
Yu Yuan swallowed hard, forcing a look that was both cowardly and strong: “Um…maybe…it’s just a little edema, it’s okay if it doesn’t hurt.”
Gu Shaocheng glanced at Yu Yuan’s evasive gaze with a sinister look, and sneered, “Do you think I really don’t know that this place was caused by writing and holding a pen?”
Yu Yuan shrank his neck and shoulders. If he had a shell, he would have shrunk to the very back. But not only did he not have a shell, he also had a heart that wanted to “repay his father’s kindness”.
He hesitated briefly in his mind, then reached out his left hand, pinched the hem of Gu Shaocheng’s coat, and gently shook it.
At the same time, he slowly raised his slender white neck, blinked his clear black eyes, and said softly, “I’m sorry, please don’t be angry, okay?”
Gu Shaocheng turned his face away, looking completely unmoved, but the lines on his face still softened noticeably.
Yu Yuan, who was secretly observing the cat, breathed a sigh of relief. It was like sprinkling salt on an ice cube; no matter how cold and hard it was, it couldn’t prevent it from melting. Naturally, adding sugar would be more suitable for people.
A moment later, Gu Shaocheng handed the medicine box to Yu Yuan: “Go and return it to Zheng Liang.”
Yu Yuan’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Ma Yinglong: “So fast?”
Gu Shaocheng, who was looking down at his phone, nodded slightly and said after a moment, “Zheng Liang will be coming to find you soon.” He then left in a hurry, as he had only come to deliver the medicine in his spare time.
Yu Yuan waited obediently in place, touching the medicine box in his hand and couldn’t help but sigh, “Gu Shaocheng is a good person to work with; he really steps up when something happens.”
A moment later, the familiar big guy arrived. Yu Yuan returned the medicine to him and casually explained a few words. Zheng Liang quickly glanced at the code, smiled sheepishly, and hurriedly said that he had misunderstood and caused trouble for Yu Yuan.
Gu Shaocheng often came to Hainan Island for vacation in previous years. Zheng Liang knew a lot about the island’s attractions and gave Yu Yuan a list of them to choose from.
Yu Yuan hadn’t slept well the night before, and now that he had seen the old man and finished giving the hemorrhoid suppositories, he was relaxed and sleepy, not really in the mood to play. He chose a hot spring with a sea view, intending to soak in it and catch up on some sleep.
*
Because Gu Shaocheng was busy until evening, and it just so happened to coincide with the annual fireworks festival on Hainan Island.
With a wave of his hand, Grandpa Gu changed the original plan for the two to leave the island that night to tomorrow, allowing Gu Shaocheng to stay one more night to watch the fireworks with Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan wasn’t fully awake when he got into the car. His mind slowly wandered for the rest of the way before a bitter expression appeared on his face. He was somewhat interested in fireworks, but the thought of the huge crowds at the scene filled him with intense anxiety.
Just like he loves the sea, he finds it very comfortable to wade in the water alone on a private beach. Although he gets bored easily, the thought of crowded water sports activities makes him choose to soak in a hot spring and take a nap.
When Yu Yuan arrived at the restaurant, looking dejected, Gu Shaocheng was already sitting by the window looking at the menu.
Gu Shaocheng put the small towel back into the dish and said calmly, “There will be fireworks nearby in an hour. Would you like to watch them here, or go down to the beach?”
The waiter placed a large tray in the center of the table, with five different styles of masks on top. The specific designs were selected on a tablet, and the masks brought to the table were only for size and type reference.
If the two of you choose to go to the beach, wearing masks can enhance the atmosphere.
Yu Yuan suddenly felt conflicted. Staying in his room was like watching a video, and wearing a mask seemed to provide him with a protective shell, making it seem less difficult to go to crowded places.
Moreover, the sea breeze is cool at night, so they can just stay away from other people. Yu Yuan quickly decided on the mask design.
After making his selection, he started to look forward to it and became much more energetic. After eating, the two put on masks and were taken to the best viewing area by the sea.
On the way, Yu Yuan took the initiative to ask about the nanny. Gu Shaocheng nodded slightly: “Grandpa didn’t completely agree, but we can try it for a month. The cleaner will clean regularly, the chef will cook at fixed times, and the rest of the time will be just the two of us.”
Before Yu Yuan could even utter “Wuhu,” the man paused, saying, “I will officially join Gu’s Group the day after tomorrow, so to be more precise, it will be your world all to yourself.”
Gu Shaocheng curled his lips into a smile, his deep black eyes turning to Yu Yuan: “Are you happy?”
Yu Yuan couldn’t really understand the relationship between the grandfather and grandson. It didn’t seem as bad as the rumors suggested, nor as good as the book described. But could Gu Shaocheng do these things given his current condition? He was very worried.
Yu Yuan thought about it seriously for a moment before answering softly, “Happy, but not entirely happy.”
The car stopped, and with the gentle sea breeze, many people were already setting off small spinning fireworks on the distant beach.
A moment later, a cluster of bright fireworks shot from the ground into the air and exploded into a dazzling golden light. Countless barrel-shaped environmentally friendly fireworks were continuously lined up along the coast.
Yu Yuan suddenly asked Gu Shaocheng, “Is this the place you want to go?” He was asking about the Gu family. If it wasn’t voluntary, he would have preferred that Gu Shaocheng have an easier time in his final days.
”Mm,” Gu Shaocheng responded softly.
Yu Yuan nodded: “Then I’m happy.”
A moment later, Yu Yuan remembered what the old man had said that morning, took two steps closer to Gu Shaocheng, and asked in a low voice, “Will you run into Wen Ping after you go to Gu’s?”
Gu Shaocheng’s voice turned colder: “What?”
In the book, Wen Ping is all talk and no action, but Old Master Gu says he’s a good person. Yu Yuan reminds him, “He’s not a good person.”
Gu Shaocheng wasn’t wearing a mask. Upon hearing this, he slightly turned to look at Yu Yuan’s fluffy cat-like face: “Hmm?”
Yu Yuan puffed out his cheeks and said somewhat willfully, “He drank the glasses you gave me.”
Gu Shaocheng chuckled softly, a rare moment of relaxation and pleasure in his voice.
After a while, the smile faded, and he once again fell into an indescribable sense of loneliness. This seemed to be the first time in his two lives that he had been supported, and although it wasn’t explicitly stated, he understood it.
Diagnosed with a mental disorder inherited from his mother at a young age, he became a ticking time bomb in everyone’s eyes. Becoming an eccentric artist seemed like the best path for him, but he didn’t inherit his mother’s talent. He insisted on studying business, but only today did he get the opportunity to join the Gu family business…
Clusters of colorful fireworks rose into the sky, leaving behind a dazzling moment. The sea breeze carried the chaotic explosions and the noisy voices in the distance. Gu Shaocheng suddenly felt how tragic he was. All his careful planning had ended up being nothing more than fireworks that had given their all for a fleeting moment of light.
Even amidst the clamor of fireworks in the vast, dark night, he alone will trudge through the true darkness…
Suddenly, a short, sharp ringing sound was carried by the wind to their ears; it was a climax from a popular song.
Yu Yuan was so engrossed in watching the fireworks that he didn’t notice the man beside him almost disappearing into the darkness. He waved his hand and “bloomed” along with each firework.
Hearing the familiar melody, I subconsciously started humming along: “You are all brave, the wound on your forehead, you are different, the mistakes you made, you don’t need to hide them…”
”Your tattered doll, your mask, your ego—”
”They say, carry the light and tame every monster. They say, stitch up your wounds, no one loves a clown… Why be lonely, is it not glorious? Humans are only imperfect, worthy of praise. Who says those covered in mud aren’t heroes…”
Yu Yuan’s voice is clean and clear, and when he sings a cappella, it has a unique ethereal quality, like a soothing remedy that gently flows into the heart with a warm feeling.
Gu Shaocheng turned to him, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
The gentle melody reached its climax, and Yu Yuan suddenly raised his head, changing from a murmur to a high-pitched song: “I love you walking alone in the dark alley, I love your unyielding spirit! I love you facing despair without ever crying!”
Gu Shaocheng suddenly longed to embrace the other person again, even when he was fully conscious, to hold both the person and the song tightly in his arms.
But as soon as he reached out his hand, countless childlike voices quickly gathered around him, and they began to sing along with Yu Yuan:
I love your tattered clothes, yet I dare to block fate’s gun! I love how much you resemble me, even our welts are the same!
Unlike Yu Yuan’s ethereal solo, every word in the chorus was a slightly cracking, hoarse roar.
In the time it takes to say two lines, the crowd that had gathered has become increasingly tighter, and the fireworks that have gone off into the sky have made it clear to Gu Shaocheng why the bodyguards did not stop them.
The people who gathered around were all tiny little kids, barely taller than his knees!
Seven or eight children, hand in hand, surrounded the two of them, as if they had spontaneously rehearsed countless times, joining Yu Yuan in raising their heads and singing: 【Go! You are worthy! This tattered cloak! Fight! Fight! With the humblest of dreams!】
[To the sobs and roars in the darkness, who says only those standing in the light are heroes?!]
After the verses were sung, the little ones were immediately called away by their parents.
Gu Shaocheng closed his eyes and slowly withdrew his arms, which had been stiff for a while.
References[+]