Surrounded by the adults' gazes, Chacha, who wasn't used to lying, instantly turned red from neck to cheeks.
Like the most vivid, beautiful streak of sunset red at dusk.
He lowered his little head, avoided everyone's eyes, picked at the silicone bowl an auntie had prepared for him, and softly gave an “Mm.”
“Y-yes.”
Whenever he felt guilty, his voice became very small. He shrank his neck as if terrified people might somehow fail to realize he was lying.
Lü Rong truly knew his child best. The moment he saw Chacha like this, he couldn't help laughing inwardly.
“Really you?” Lü Rong glanced at Chacha. One sentence was enough to leave Chacha unable to cope, so he could only curve his eyes and try to muddle through by acting cute.
Gu Shuanghua's eyes were sharp as fire. She looked up at Gu Ran, whose face was so moved he practically wanted to swear brotherhood with Chacha on the spot, and immediately understood everything.
“This isn't a serious matter. Everyone sit down and eat.” She sighed helplessly.
Once the most authoritative person in the Gu family, Gu Shuanghua, had spoken, the matter was closed. No one was foolish enough to mention it again.
Chef Li even smiled and comforted Chacha.
“It's fine, Chacha. The kitchen wasn't badly damaged. We just had to replace a pot and the stovetop. Hurry and eat. Later Uncle will make you a little dessert.”
Chacha gave an “Mm,” exhaled lightly, relaxed, and said,
“Thank you, Uncle!”
Gu Ran, who had returned from school, stuck one hand in his pocket and dropped into the seat beside Chacha. His brows lifted, and an indescribable emotion shone in his eyes.
He put several pieces of clear-stewed chicken in Chacha's bowl, then reached over and pinched Chacha's cheek.
“As expected of my little brother. You're loyal!”
The pinch left a red mark on Chacha's face. Looking at the stepbrother he had only recently met, Chacha couldn't help giving a tiny sigh.
Brother seemed a little silly.
Gu Ran had no idea one sentence had exposed him completely. He leaned close to Chacha, practically wanting to take two bites out of him to express his affection and happiness.
Gu Shuanghua glanced at her grandson Gu Ran, pressed her temple lightly, then quickly looked away because she couldn't bear the sight.
The Gu family observed the rule of not speaking while eating. Through the entire lunch, only the clink of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.
Chacha ate very obediently and wasn't greedy. The moment his belly was full, he automatically stopped and sat quietly waiting for Daddy to finish, so Daddy could take the cub outside to walk off the meal.
Gu Shuanghua ate slowly. She wiped the corner of her mouth and waited until everyone had finished before speaking.
“Lü Rong, are you going on some variety show? Does it need to film inside the Gu family villa?”
Lü Rong, who had just put down his chopsticks, paused. His heart tightened, and he nodded.
“Yes. I'm definitely participating in this show. If filming at the Gu house is inconvenient, I'll find another house to use as the filming location.”
As long as Lü Rong remained married to Gu Huaizheng and lived in the Gu household, the conflict between him and Gu Shuanghua would exist every single day.
That conflict was like a volcano. Sooner or later, it would break through the summit and destroy everything.
All Lü Rong could do was avoid clashing with Gu Shuanghua as much as possible and scrape by one day at a time.
He and his manager had discussed a backup plan that morning. If Gu Shuanghua objected fiercely and refused to let the Gu villa serve as the filming location, they would rent another house.
No matter what, Lü Rong would not give up this opportunity!
After speaking, Lü Rong raised his head and studied Gu Shuanghua's expression.
But Gu Shuanghua still wore the same stern, unsmiling look, and Lü Rong could read nothing from it.
Instead, Gu Ran, who was tugging at Chacha's cowlick, gave a curious “Huh?” and turned his gaze over.
“What variety show? It has to film at home? Do I need to appear on camera too?”
Chacha, meanwhile, looked full of anticipation. His bright eyes curved, his smile sweet as he explained,
“Chacha will be on camera. I have to wear my own pretty clothes too.”
Gu Ran leaned against the chair back, folded his arms, and followed Chacha's happily bobbing hair with his eyes. His thin lips curled upward.
“Really? Then isn't Chacha a little celebrity? Looks like the Gu family is going to have a child star.”
Chacha's face flushed red from being teased, like a fully ripe persimmon. His thin skin could barely contain the blood rushing underneath.
“I'm not a little celebrity yet. When I act, I'm always in the very corner.”
With his little red face, Chacha's eyes were covered in a bright sheen of moisture, and he smiled especially shyly.
“Does Brother want to film too? You can act in the corner with Chacha.”
Chacha was even thoughtful about it. He remembered there had been an empty spot beside him when he played a “corpse” before and kindly reserved it for Gu Ran.
Gu Ran's smile deepened. The granny-gray hair trembled twice with his laughter, and the metal ornaments on his clothes jingled.
“That works too.”
Gu Ran rarely felt this happy.
He was still an inexperienced teenager. His rebelliousness was like a shell made of paper, easy to pierce with a little warmth.
He rubbed Chacha's fluffy hair, and even the eyes that usually held a trace of cold mockery softened.
Gu Shuanghua glanced at the two grandsons who were so excited about the new variety show. The harsh criticism and dissatisfaction lodged at her lips suddenly became impossible to say.
Gu Shuanghua truly wanted to use this opportunity to drive Lü Rong out of the Gu family.
But Gu Shuanghua felt guilty toward Gu Ran. No matter how outrageous or unreliable he behaved, she would turn a blind eye.
Otherwise, how could Gu Shuanghua possibly have agreed to let Gu Ran dye his hair such a strange, non-mainstream color?
Not quite gray, not quite white—it was simply challenging the lowest limit of Gu Shuanghua's aesthetic tolerance!
Gu Shuanghua suppressed her temper. Remembering Sister Xiaofang's plea to her before she died, she had pinched her nose and endured it.
She glanced at the non-mainstream teenager Gu Ran, felt as though her eyes had been polluted, and hurriedly looked away.
Gu Shuanghua pressed her temple and looked at sweet, obedient Chacha. Only then did the view finally become more pleasing.
She opened her mouth and, still unwilling to yield completely, added,
“Our family has preserved its good name for a hundred years. Never have we done this sort of work that puts us publicly on display. It truly isn't proper.”
Lü Rong fell silent.
Gu Ran was the least patient with this kind of feudal-minded talk. Relying on Gu Shuanghua's special indulgence toward him, he shrugged.
“Grandma, your thinking is way too feudal! Being a celebrity is an incredibly glamorous profession now. Lots of people want to become one but don't even have the conditions for it!”
Gu Ran wasn't stupid. He was sensitive, and from only a few sentences he could tell Grandma disliked his stepdad.
If this had been two days ago, Gu Ran absolutely would not have spoken up for Lü Rong.
He might even have rejected and ignored this stepdad.
But…
Little Brother Chacha really was adorable!
Standing there, he looked like a matcha-flavored little cake, fragrant and soft, and he trusted and liked Gu Ran so much as his brother.
For Little Brother Chacha's sake, Gu Ran would reluctantly say a couple of words for this stepdad.
Seeing Gu Ran involve himself in the matter made Gu Shuanghua's head begin to hurt.
Her expression darkened. She closed her eyes, drank two sips of water, and suppressed her anger.
“You…”
She had barely spoken the first word when Chacha beside her spoke up, asking in puzzled confusion,
“Grandma, your face is dark. Are you sick?”
Gu Shuanghua was about to say no when she saw Chacha take out a transparent folding plastic fan and wave it toward her.
“Chacha will fan you. Then you won't be hot.”
Chacha thought the weather was hot and Grandma had been scorched, which was why her face had turned dark.
When he had been a little tea plant, he had seen wild grasses and flowers burned by the sun, the edges of their leaves charred black.
They looked very much like Grandma's complexion now.
The cool breeze Chacha fanned over her dispersed even the fire in Gu Shuanghua's heart.
She caught sight of Chacha's thoughtful, obedient little face, pale tea-colored eyes sparkling with points of starlight, his small hand still tirelessly waving the fan.
In the end, her heart softened again.
“Forget it. I'm old. No matter what I say, people find me annoying.” Gu Shuanghua sighed.
That was just how Gu Shuanghua was. Even after giving way in her heart, her mouth still had to say a couple of unforgiving things.
“But Lü Rong, remember this: while you're filming, you are absolutely not allowed to do anything under the Gu family's banner. I, Gu Shuanghua, will never acknowledge you!”
Her temporary concession did not mean she had truly accepted Lü Rong.
Sooner or later, she would make Lü Rong leave their Gu family!
Lü Rong had heard those words so many times his ears might as well have grown calluses. He smiled helplessly and nodded.
“I understand. Don't worry.”
A few years ago, Lü Rong definitely would have felt hurt by Gu Shuanghua's refusal to acknowledge him.
But after having Chacha, Lü Rong's state of mind became much steadier, and he even learned from Chacha not to consume himself internally.
Unpleasant words always went in one of Chacha's ears and out the other. He simply acted as if he hadn't heard them and never made himself sad over what other people said.
The little fellow's emotional stability sometimes amazed even Lü Rong.
He truly was a little like a tiny seedling undisturbed by the world, simply enjoying sunshine, rain, and dew.
Gu Shuanghua couldn't bear to say anything too harsh in front of Chacha. She glanced at everyone present, swallowed her frustration, and left first.
Gu Ran voluntarily took over the job of walking Chacha after the meal, holding the little fellow's hand and taking him toward the pavilion in the back garden.
The sunlight was blazing. Outside, the air itself seemed to warp under the sun, and everything became painfully bright.
The moment Chacha stepped outside, he inhaled a mouthful of scorching hot air.
Stunned by the heat, Chacha hurriedly puffed it back out, trying to expel the hot breath.
After standing outside for only a few seconds, Chacha's little face was burning hot, and the bright sunlight turned his hair golden.
Seeing Chacha dazed by the heat, Gu Ran suppressed a smile and asked,
“Still want to go outside to walk off your meal?”
The habit of walking after meals had been taught by Lü Rong. Chacha was an obedient good child and always did what Daddy told him.
“Yes.” Chacha nodded.
Afraid the heat might make Chacha ill, Gu Ran touched his chin and thought for a moment before taking Chacha somewhere excellent—
Gu Huaizheng's gym—