"Thank you, uncle and auntie. The cake is delicious," Qi Anlu said after taking a bite, expressing his gratitude to Nian Suian and Gu Junxing sitting across from him.
Hearing this, Gu Zhijing complained, "Why aren't you thanking me? You're eating what I made!"
"Uh..." Qi Anlu glanced at the plate. The "spit out" cream puff had already been eaten, but traces remained on the plate.
"Thank you too," he added.
"You're welcome."
After eating a cream puff, Nian Suian suddenly stood up and walked away.
A moment later, she returned, placed a first aid kit in front of Qi Anlu, and sat back down to continue eating cake.
"Why did you bring a first aid kit?"
Just as Gu Zhijing asked, he noticed Qi Anlu's hand move slightly, revealing a red mark on his wrist.
"What happened to your hand?"
"It's nothing, just scratched by a tree branch," Qi Anlu said dismissively, glancing down at it.
Originally, the wound wasn't large and should have healed overnight, but it had gotten wet last night and he had touched it, causing it to become slightly red and swollen.
"There's iodine in the box. Even if it's not serious, you should disinfect it," Nian Suian said.
Hearing this, Gu Zhijing quickly opened the box, volunteering to help apply the iodine for Qi Anlu.
Clearly, Gu Zhijing's technique for applying iodine was as poor as his cream piping skills. Despite the wound being on the side of the wrist, he nearly turned the entire back of the hand brown.
After each finishing a small cake and saying goodbye to Nian Suian and Gu Junxing, Gu Zhijing called Qi Anlu upstairs.
Qi Anlu thought they were going to play games but saw Gu Zhijing open the door across the hall.
"Did the gaming room move?"
Gu Zhijing shook his head. "We're not gaming today. Come in quickly."
"Meow~ Meow~"
"Today, we're seeing the cat!"
Seeing Gu Zhijing enter, Tang Yuan ran to greet his human brother. Upon noticing Qi Anlu, the cat froze, staring at him with round eyes.
Gu Zhijing bent down to pick up the cat.
"What are you afraid of? He's a brother too."
Qi Anlu also came to his senses, closed the door, and took a few steps inside. "Is this the cat you picked up before? It's grown so much."
Qi Anlu surveyed the room. On the left, a cabinet occupied an entire wall, categorically storing cat food, canned food, treats, and toys.
In the center of the room stood a large cat tree, surrounded by several differently shaped cat beds.
Gu Zhijing sat directly on the floor with the cat, and Qi Anlu followed suit.
"Pet him for a while," Gu Zhijing said, placing the cat on Qi Anlu's crossed legs.
Tang Yuan was very well-behaved. When placed on Qi Anlu's lap, instead of running away, he stood up, found a comfortable position, and lay back down.
Seeing this, Qi Anlu reached out to stroke the cat's fur.
"Purr... purr... purr... purr..."
"That means he's comfortable."
"So, tell me. Why are you unhappy?"
"What do you mean unhappy? I'm not," Qi Anlu replied without looking up, continuing to pet the cat.
"Come on, I can read you like a book."
Hearing this, Qi Anlu looked at Gu Zhijing helplessly, wondering where he learned such odd phrases.
"I don't need you to say it. It's your dad again, right?" Gu Zhijing was well aware of what Qi Anlu's father was like. Dissatisfied with second place, dissatisfied even with first place - he probably wouldn't be content unless his son came first and beat the runner-up by dozens of points.
Gu Zhijing suggested, "Why don't you apply to board at school?"
Qi Anlu smiled bitterly, "He won't agree to it."
Qi Wenhan couldn't bear the thought of his son being outside his control. He had gone abroad before, but that was unavoidable. Now that he was back, coupled with his recent test results, his father would likely become even more overbearing.
Boarding at school required parental consent, and he couldn't make that decision for himself yet. As for his mother, she wouldn't dare make a decision without his father's approval.
Seeing Gu Zhijing frowning in thought, Qi Anlu began to comfort him instead.
"It's okay, we leave early and return late anyway. We don't spend much time at home in a day, and we don't have tests every day. It's really fine most of the time."
"Go see a doctor."
Gu Zhijing suddenly blurted out.
"Qi Anlu, go see a doctor." When applying the iodine earlier, Gu Zhijing had noticed nail marks at the base of Qi Anlu's left thumb, clearly from digging his nails in hard.
"Although I think the one who needs a doctor most in your family is your dad, for your own sake, you should see a psychologist. If you don't have enough money, I'll lend it to you." Gu Zhijing had heard that seeing a psychologist was very expensive.
Hearing Gu Zhijing's words, Qi Anlu's hand paused for just a moment while petting the cat, then resumed its previous motion.
"Okay."
He needed to see a doctor. He needed to leave that home in a healthy state.
"Meow~"
Qi Anlu left without having lunch, and Gu Zhijing saw him out while holding the cat.
As he was leaving, Qi Anlu turned back and said, "Thanks, Tang Yuan."
...
"Why did Qi Anlu leave without having lunch?" Nian Suian asked Gu Zhijing.
"He had something to do at home." Gu Zhijing changed the subject, asking his father, "When are we going to the hot springs?"
"How about next week? Is that okay?" Liu Jian had already called him, saying everything was prepared. They could go enjoy it first, and it would officially open to the public during the New Year holiday.
Nian Suian had no objections. As a wealthy unemployed woman, she could go anytime. If it was comfortable, she could even stay there for an extended period. She could also invite Jiang Yun and Sheng Xia to join them.
"You'll sleep with me then," Gu Junxing said to Gu Zhijing.
"What?!" Gu Zhijing was contemplating whether to bring his beloved Patrick Star swimming trunks when his father's words startled him.
"Why?! It's not like there aren't enough rooms." Gu Zhijing protested loudly. A hot spring resort hotel sounded luxurious - surely they could spare an extra room?
"Because we booked a suite. If you don't want to sleep with me, you can sleep on the couch," Gu Junxing looked at his son.
Hearing about the suite, Gu Zhijing seemed to understand why, but that didn't mean he could accept sleeping in the same bed as his father. It was too bizarre.
"Why should I sleep on the couch? Respect your elders - you sleep there."
Of course, Gu Zhijing didn't dare to actually make his father sleep on the couch. He was just being cheeky.
"Because I'm paying for it. If you don't want to go, stay home and watch the house."
Later, when Gu Zhijing kicked him ten times and headbutted his stomach five times in one night, Gu Junxing truly regretted not making him stay home to watch the house.
But that's a story for another time. For now, Gu Zhijing reluctantly accepted that he would be sharing a bed with his father again after many years.
...
[Hello, Mr. Chen. This is Sheng Xia. Are you free tomorrow? I'd like to thank you for your help last time by treating you to a meal.]
[No need.]
[Please don't be polite, Mr. Chen. Jiaojiao also said she wants to thank you.]
[Alright.]