Chapter 68: Fever, Feelings, and Family
The school infirmary was very quiet, with only the soft rustle of wind stirring the leaves outside the window.
Gu Tang stared at the face so close to his own that he forgot how to breathe.
This time, Young Master Gu had not closed his eyes.
Their foreheads were pressed together as they looked at each other from an impossibly close distance.
Those pitch-black eyes were so deep they felt like two bottomless whirlpools, as though they might swallow him whole.
Gu Tang instinctively swallowed, then forced out a strained whisper. “…There’s a thermometer.”
In other words, there was already a thermometer sitting right there on the table. Young Master Gu had absolutely no need to measure his temperature by pressing their foreheads together like this.
They were so close that he could even feel the other boy’s breath.
Gu Tang felt the heat he had only just managed to suppress flare right back up with a boom. His head turned fuzzy and light.
Fortunately, Young Master Gu did not stay pressed against him for long.
Gu Qinian looked deeply at him, then stepped back and let go, turning to get the thermometer.
“…”
Gu Tang let out a breath of relief.
It was all that dream’s fault!
Now, whenever Young Master Gu came close, he could not stop his thoughts from running wild.
And once his mind cleared, he would feel guilty and scold himself in his heart for being a pervert. Wasn’t he… taking advantage of Young Master Gu like this?!
Poor, innocent Gu Qinian had no idea and did not guard against him at all…
Gu Tang shook his head. The moment Young Master Gu turned back, afraid he might come close again, Gu Tang hurriedly reached out for the thermometer himself. “I’ll do it.”
But the other boy gave him no such chance.
A cool draft slipped down his collar, and his shirt was pulled open. Young Master Gu’s hand reached inside.
Gu Tang froze on the spot and stared blankly at him.
He even forgot to blink.
“Be good. Raise your arm.”
Young Master Gu’s voice was low and gentle, like he was coaxing a child.
The thermometer suddenly touched his skin, and Gu Tang shrank from the cold in reflex. Hearing the instruction, he obeyed like a machine, one command at a time, lifting his arm obediently so the thermometer could be placed under it.
Gu Tang was ticklish, and his underarm was especially sensitive.
As soon as the thermometer was tucked into place, he let out a soft little whine and instinctively clamped his arm down.
In the process, he accidentally trapped the tip of Young Master Gu’s finger there too.
Gu Qinian tried his utmost not to linger on that skin, soft and smooth like tofu, and kept his face composed as he said nothing. After placing the thermometer properly, he withdrew his finger.
The warmth of Gu Tang’s body still clung to his fingertips. He lightly rubbed them together, then turned and went to call the school doctor.
A short while later, the doctor came in.
Before the doctor could step closer, Gu Qinian had already taken the thermometer back out from under Gu Tang’s arm.
“Very good. His temperature is back to normal.”
The doctor was relieved to see that Gu Tang was alright, and he teased lightly, “You brothers really are close. When he was unconscious, your younger brother stayed with him the whole time and refused to leave even for dinner.”
Young Master Gu had stayed to look after him and had not even eaten dinner, which meant he definitely had not gone to basketball training.
By accident, Gu Tang had ruined Young Master Gu’s social activity.
That barely counted as completing the task.
After the doctor left, Gu Tang bit his lip and asked, “You told the doctor that? That you’re the younger brother?”
“Mm.”
Gu Qinian answered, sounding unwilling. “If I hadn’t said we were brothers, the doctor wouldn’t have let me stay and take care of you.”
“But that’s not wrong!”
It was unclear whom he was trying to remind, but Gu Tang unconsciously raised his voice. “We are brothers. I’m the older brother, and you’re the younger one.”
Gu Qinian gave no reaction, as though he had not heard. He only touched the boy’s head. “Lie down a little longer. Once the IV finishes, we’ll go home.”
As he spoke, he tucked a pillow behind Gu Tang so he could lean back comfortably, then went out to get dinner.
Resting against the soft pillow, Gu Tang picked at his fingers and thought to himself—Young Master Gu really did think of him as an older brother.
No more dreams like that in the future!
When Gu Qinian returned with dinner, he did not eat first himself. Instead, he opened a bowl of porridge and moved as if to feed Gu Tang.
It was shrimp and shredded chicken porridge.
It was not as carefully prepared as what the Gu family’s chef could make, but it still smelled wonderfully fragrant and nourishing.
Gu Tang, however, had glucose in his IV drip. He shook his head. “I’m not hungry. You eat first.”
His throat was just a little dry. He wanted some water.
He did not even need to ask. His eyes merely flicked once toward the half-full bottle of mineral water on the table, and Young Master Gu immediately understood, standing up to bring it over.
Gu Tang noticed the bottle had already been opened and was more than half empty.
“I fed you a little earlier.”
Young Master Gu sat down behind him, temporarily taking over the job of the pillow so Gu Tang could lean against him.
In the past, no matter how clingy they were, Gu Tang had never felt awkward. But now that he felt guilty, even something as simple as sitting against Young Master Gu’s chest made him feel embarrassed.
He wriggled uncomfortably.
The instant he moved, Young Master Gu’s voice dropped. “Don’t move.”
His tone was a little stern.
Gu Tang immediately stopped and stayed still, obediently curled there.
His heart beat rapidly, so he forced his attention onto that half-empty bottle of water and let his thoughts wander.
When he had been unconscious earlier, how exactly had Young Master Gu given him water?
He turned his head just slightly, and his eyes happened to catch the thin red lips of Young Master Gu pressed into a straight line.
Gu Tang: “!”
He had spent plenty of time watching TV dramas with Grandma Mei. In those romance dramas, it was very common for the male and female leads to feed each other water mouth-to-mouth.
He did not even dare think the idea through fully, yet his whole face had already turned bright red.
Then suddenly, a cool touch landed against his burning cheek.
It felt good.
But it made Gu Tang jolt.
Young Master Gu’s long fingers were cool as they lightly brushed along his cheek. “What are you thinking about? Why is your face so red?”
The two of them were pressed chest to back in that position. When the other boy spoke, the vibration of his chest echoed through Gu Tang’s back, making his whole body feel numb.
“N-nothing…”
He stammered.
Yet the skin beneath those caressing fingers only grew hotter.
Gu Tang tried to turn his head away, but Young Master Gu seemed almost addicted to it, his fingers continuing to stroke his cheek softly, leaving him nowhere to hide.
Because he played basketball so often, Gu Qinian’s fingertips carried a thin layer of callus. No matter how gentle he was, their presence was strong.
And that dream too.
It was all Young Master Gu’s fault for going too far backstage…
Suddenly feeling embarrassed and a little annoyed, Gu Tang pushed away the hand on his face and asked, “How did you feed me water while I was lying down?”
He had decided to go all in.
If Young Master Gu said he had fed him mouth-to-mouth, then Gu Tang would seize the chance to educate him.
He would tell Young Master Gu that he could not just go around kissing people—not through a mask, not while feeding them water, not ever…
But instead, Young Master Gu merely raised a brow and asked back, “What do you think?”
Gu Tang: “…”
Seeing the boy nervously bite down on his lip, Gu Qinian smiled lightly, afraid he might bite through it, and said, “Of course I used a straw and dripped it into your mouth.”
Then, whether deliberately or not, he added,
“What else? Did you think I fed you with my mouth?”
“…”
Gu Tang lowered his head, wishing he could dig a hole and disappear into it.
What on earth had he been imagining all day?!
Gu Qinian was tall, and his hand was large enough to cup Gu Tang’s whole face. Taking advantage of the fact that the boy was not struggling, he fondly continued to knead the soft flesh of his cheeks.
As he did, he coaxed him in a low voice, “Come on, drink some water.”
“…”
Having given up entirely, Gu Tang hugged the bottle and gulped down water.
Young Master Gu was innocent and gentle. He was only taking care of him.
It was him—him who was the weird one!
“Slow down. Don’t choke.”
Gu Qinian still held the bottle with one hand, controlling the flow so Gu Tang would not drink too fast.
His other hand played with the little soft earlobe.
At that moment, if Gu Tang had only turned and looked, he would have seen the possessive look in the eyes behind him.
But sadly, all his attention was on his own ear.
The skin behind his ear was sensitive, and while Young Master Gu toyed with his earlobe, the little green jade gourd hanging from his wrist brushed that sensitive spot again and again. It was cool to the touch and lightly teased the skin every time it swung.
Gu Tang only felt that he was once again dangerously close to bursting into flames. He hugged the bottle and drank furiously.
Cool down by drinking water!
What Gu Tang did not know was that, as he tipped his head back to drink, Gu Qinian’s gaze was fixed on the small Adam’s apple moving up and down in his throat.
His expression was dark and unreadable.
Like a wolf looking at prey.
Ever since Gu Tang had fainted weakly during gym class, Gu Qinian had taken him back home.
For the time being, he was no longer allowed to live in the dorm.
The Gu family doctor came and gave Gu Tang a full examination, which showed that every single number was perfectly healthy.
Gu Tang thought to himself, Of course it’s healthy.
He had just completed a plot mission and gotten a reward of life points. His health bar was overflowing!
But Su Mei did not see it that way.
“He was perfectly fine at home. How did he get sick the moment he went to school? The cafeteria must not be giving him enough nutrition!”
No matter how many times Gu Tang tried to explain that the school cafeteria was actually quite good, Grandma Mei had her own opinions and refused to believe him. She ordered the kitchen to make nourishing supplements for him, and every night she had to personally watch him finish them before he was allowed upstairs to sleep.
Gu Tang was someone who could normally eat quite well, but even he could not withstand being fed like this.
One day, staring at the golden fish maw chicken soup in front of him, he finally could not take another bite.
Looking utterly pitiful, he turned to Young Master Gu, and his eyes clearly said, Save me.
“…”
Seeing him look so miserable, Gu Qinian quietly sat beside him and helped take care of half of it.
Su Mei lit up with joy. “If you both like it, I’ll have the kitchen make double tomorrow.”
“No!”
Gu Tang immediately went into full-on spoiled mode. “Grandma, I really can’t eat any more. Ever since I came home, I’ve already put on weight…”
As he whined softly, he rubbed his fluffy little head against Su Mei’s shoulder over and over.
Setting down his soup bowl, Gu Qinian watched the grandparent-grandchild pair with no small amount of envy.
If Gu Tang ever acted spoiled with him like that, he would pick stars right out of the sky for him.
Of course, even if he did not act spoiled, Gu Qinian would still do it, as long as Gu Tang wanted it.
So why had Gu Tang stopped acting spoiled with him lately?
True to being family, Su Mei was completely helpless against this act too. She was coaxed into smiling broadly. “It’s good if you gain a little weight. Just look at how thin you are. Qinian carried you home so easily the other day—he didn’t even need to take a heavy breath.”
That time, the whole return home had been quite dramatic.
That night, after his IV at the school infirmary finished, Young Master Gu had wrapped him in a blanket and carried him right out, refusing to let him walk even when Gu Tang said he could.
The butler had already been waiting outside the school gate. Once they got home, Young Master Gu would not even hand him over to anyone else. He carried him out of the car himself and all the way up to his room.
The entire time, Gu Tang’s feet had not touched the ground once. He had not even been wearing shoes.
Even in the car, both of his feet had been tucked into Young Master Gu’s lap to keep them warm.
The moment he thought back to it, Gu Tang’s face heated again. He lowered his voice, blushing. “I actually could have walked by myself…”
It was not like his legs were broken.
And his life points were already back to full.
It was all Young Master Gu’s fault for making it so dramatic…
“How could that possibly do?!”
Su Mei strongly disagreed. “You’ve always had a weak constitution since you were little. Even the doctor said that the way you normally bounce around is just superficial. Your foundation isn’t steady, so the slightest slip-up makes you prone to illness.”
The image of Gu Tang’s pale little face lying in her grandson’s arms that day still made Su Mei anxious whenever she thought of it.
“You don’t need to worry about Qinian. What do you think he exercises for every morning? Isn’t it exactly so he’ll have the strength to take care of you one day?”
As she said this, Su Mei lovingly rubbed Gu Tang’s head.
Embarrassed by her words, Gu Tang muttered, “Nian-Nian exercises to stay healthy.”
But the very person in question chose that moment to speak.
“No.”
Young Master Gu had just finished a bowl of soup. As he elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin, he said, “Grandma is right. I do it so I can take care of you. So feel free to make full use of me. No need to be polite.”
After wiping his own mouth, he even picked up another napkin, turned, and started wiping Gu Tang’s.
At the same time, he pulled the boy away from Grandma’s side.
Gu Tang was not three years old anymore. There was no way he could calmly let Young Master Gu wipe his mouth for him in front of Grandma. “I can do it myself…”
But Young Master Gu refused to let him have the napkin.
As the two of them pushed and pulled, the little jade gourds on their wrists slipped out. The green jade and pale white collided lightly, making a faint dang-lang, dang-lang sound.
The moment Su Mei saw the two plump little gourds, she began reminiscing. “Originally, your grandfather wanted one gourd for his grandson and one for his future granddaughter-in-law. But then our good little cub came to the family, so the two of you children split them instead.”
Then she sighed. “If only our good little cub were a girl. He and Qinian would have made such a perfect pair…”
Ever since the Yu family had found Gu Tang, Su Mei had been afraid every single day that her family was about to lose one of its treasured grandchildren.
And the one they might lose was their sweet little good cub!
So she racked her brains every day, trying to think of some way to keep him.
Though Grandma had spoken carelessly, Gu Tang’s face flushed at once.
There was no way he could swallow another sip of tonic soup.
If he did, he might actually combust.
Just as he was preparing to come up with an excuse to slip away, Young Master Gu spoke in a low voice. “A boy works too.”
Su Mei had not heard clearly. “Hm?”
Gu Tang, on the other hand, heard every single word. Even though he knew it was only a joke, he could not stop his face from turning red. Under the table, he lightly kicked Young Master Gu. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Gu Qinian was not the least bit annoyed. The corners of his mouth lifted. “Yes, big brother.”
Strangely enough, in the past Gu Tang had always wanted Young Master Gu to call him that. But now that he actually did it, so properly, Gu Tang felt awkward instead.
No matter how he heard it, it sounded strange.
It was as if Young Master Gu were deliberately teasing him.
By the time Gu Tang got back to his room and saw his own face in the mirror—red enough to practically drip blood—he huffed, “Nian-Nian gets worse and worse as he gets older!”
Then he thought about it again and decided that he himself was even worse.
If his own head were not full of nonsense, why would he react to Young Master Gu’s teasing like this?
Gu Tang filled the sink with cold water, took a deep breath, and plunged his face in.
Cool down!
Once Gu Tang had fully recovered, he went to the hospital again to see Yu Zhongyuan.
This time, Gu Qinian insisted on coming with him.
He said he needed to get to know “Uncle” better.
Those words made Gu Quan jealous enough to die. His own useless son had never paid much attention to him, his real father, yet now he was calling someone else “Uncle” this and “Uncle” that and insisting on visiting him.
But Gu Qinian quietly told Gu Quan that this man was Gu Tang’s biological father. If they did not butter him up now, what if he woke up later and insisted on taking Gu Tang away?
Gu Quan instantly saw the light and praised his son fiercely.
Truly, the blue had surpassed the indigo.
His son was thinking much farther ahead than he ever had.
On the surface it looked like his son was being nicer to someone else’s father than to his own, but in reality, it was all part of stealing someone else’s son!
The thought that he himself would ultimately be the biggest winner filled Gu Quan with delight. He even tossed his son a no-limit black card and told him to buy some nice gifts to take along.
But Gu Qinian tossed it right back. “No need.”
Gu Quan froze for a second before realizing that his son meant it.
Over the last two years, Gu Qinian had grown at astonishing speed. Without anyone noticing, he had already taken hold of most of the Gu family business.
He had even started exploring new fields. Gu Quan himself did not understand much about things like new energy, nor did he know how much money his son had made from those “newfangled” ventures.
In any case, he certainly did not need his father’s black card.
“When Qinian graduates and takes over the Gu family business, I’ll be able to retire early and travel the world with you.”
Holding his wife in his arms, Gu Quan said this with great satisfaction.
Shen Ningqing glanced at him and sighed.
She thought to herself that he probably had no idea why his son was in such a hurry to kick him off the throne…
Gu Tang and Gu Qinian arrived at the hospital.
Yu Zhongyuan still lay there as quietly as before.
Gu Tang took his father’s broad hand and said to the system, “I want to use the Double Reward Card.”
[Understood. Activating the card now.]
The system knew Gu Tang’s temperament, so it did not bother telling him again how precious an extra reward card was.
It could not really understand these fragile carbon-based lifeforms called humans, who were willing to wear themselves down for the sake of family.
But that did not stop it from obeying its host.
A moment later, Gu Tang let go of his hand.
If one looked carefully, it became clear that the white at Yu Zhongyuan’s temples had darkened slightly, and his complexion looked better too. He no longer resembled someone who had been unconscious for more than ten years. Instead, he looked more like a man merely asleep, someone who might wake up at any moment.
Just then, Yin Ruan and the doctor entered.
After giving Yu Zhongyuan a full examination, the doctor said in delight, “His heart rate and blood pressure have all returned to normal adult levels. He’s getting better and better. Waking up is only a matter of time.”
At the same time, he could not help giving Gu Tang a few curious glances.
Ever since the youngest son of the Yu family came back, the patient’s condition had improved significantly every single time he visited.
Could miracles really exist in this world?
To Yin Ruan, finding Gu Tang at all had already been a miracle. Now her husband was recovering day by day as well, and every day she lived in deep gratitude. She threw herself even harder into supporting Gu Tang’s charitable work, donating funds and supplies to Tang Tang Orphanage.
Tang Tang Orphanage only had a limited number of children. Gu Tang reorganized the resources and sent whatever was extra to the other orphanages supported by the Gu family.
In this way, the charitable work of the Gu family and the Yu family somehow ended up intertwined.
People on the outside who did not know the truth might easily think the two giants had joined through marriage.
When Gu Tang prepared to leave after visiting his father and mother, he ran into an unfamiliar face at the door of the hospital room.
Judging from the man’s clothes and bearing, he looked roughly around Yu Xiao’s age, but his face was covered tightly by a mask, making it impossible to see his features.
“Ah Rong? What brings you here today?”
Yin Ruan stood up to greet him and introduced him to Gu Tang. “This is your cousin, Yu Rong. He’s the head of our Yu family business division. He’s always traveling all over the world, even busier than your eldest brother, so he hasn’t had the chance to meet you before.”
Before Gu Tang could say anything, the man’s eyes had already reddened at the sight of him.
“This is my little brother?!”
Yu Rong strode forward as if he intended to hug Gu Tang.
Young Master Gu stepped in front of him and blocked him.
Yu Rong paused. “And this is…?”
“This is the young master of the Gu family. Tangtang has grown up so well thanks to the Gu family’s care all these years.” As Yin Ruan mentioned the past of her lost son again, she wiped at her tears.
Yu Rong extended a hand to Gu Qinian. “Thank you so much to the Gu family, and thank you too, Young Master Gu, for taking care of our Tangtang.”
Gu Qinian lowered his gaze and stared at the outstretched hand for several seconds. He made no move to shake it, and merely said coolly, “No need to thank me.”
Gu Tang was his.
Taking care of him was only natural.
There was nothing to thank him for.
Yu Rong, however, was clearly someone who knew how to save face. Seeing that the other man refused to shake hands, he did not get angry and only smiled. “It’s rude of me to keep the mask on, I know. But… if I take it off, don’t be startled.”
As he spoke, he lowered his head and removed the mask.
When he raised it again, half his face was revealed—ruined beyond recognition.
Gu Tang had seen similar scars before on Yu Yang’s arm. They were old burns left by fire.
But on a face, those scars were enough to destroy a person’s looks completely.
Yin Ruan said sadly, “Ah Rong was also injured in that fire…”
“Don’t be sad, Auntie. I’m doing just fine now.”
After letting them see his face, Yu Rong put the mask back on. When he looked at Gu Tang and saw him standing there motionless, he smiled awkwardly. “Sorry. I scared my little brother.”
Gu Tang had not been frightened.
So at those words, he simply shook his head to show that he was fine.
Yu Rong, true to being a man who handled business, was excellent at reading the room. Noticing that neither Gu Tang nor Gu Qinian seemed especially warm toward him, he did not force the issue. He exchanged only a few light words before saying, “I’ll go in and see Uncle.”
Even after leaving the hospital, Gu Tang still looked thoughtful.
Gu Qinian lifted a hand and brushed his cheek. “What are you thinking about?”
Gu Tang tilted his head to look at him. “Do you ever just naturally dislike someone for no reason?”
“Many.”
Gu Qinian answered without a second thought.
Anyone who drew Gu Tang’s attention away from him, he disliked.
For instance, that Yu Rong just now made him feel… intensely repulsed.
Gu Tang: “…”
Well then, that was a pointless question.
He had forgotten. Young Master Gu treated everyone around him with equal dislike.
He was only a little better toward Gu Tang himself.
Thinking of that, Gu Tang felt a sweetness spread through him.
Young Master Gu really was different toward him than toward everyone else!
“Why are you asking that?” Gu Qinian studied the boy’s profile.
Gu Tang let out a slow breath. “I don’t like that man just now. I don’t know why. I just really don’t like him.”
“Yu Rong?”
Seeing him nod, Gu Qinian curled his lips. “I dislike him too.”
“Let’s dislike him together.”
Gu Tang laughed. “Are you childish or what?”
Only little kids pulled their friends into disliking the same people and things together.
Still, until now, Gu Tang had felt slightly guilty over inexplicably disliking someone. Hearing Young Master Gu say that made him feel strangely understood, and his mood brightened.
Looking at the sunshine returning to the boy’s face, Gu Qinian thought for a moment and asked, “…Do you have people you naturally liked from the very beginning?”
“I do.”
Gu Tang answered without hesitation.
A bright flash lit up in Young Master Gu’s dark eyes. “Who?”
Gu Tang lowered his head shyly and nudged him lightly with his elbow. “Do you really need to ask?”
“Of course it’s Nian-Nian.”
For one brilliant instant, Young Master Gu felt as if fireworks were exploding inside his chest.
But before he could be happy for even a full second,
Gu Tang started counting on his fingers. “And Grandma, Little Uncle, Papa Gu, Mama Shen, mmph—”
Gu Qinian slapped a hand over his mouth. “Alright, alright. That’s enough.”
At this rate, he was going to recite the whole family tree.
***
Author’s Note:
Tangtang: I like the whole family!
Gu Nian-Nian: …
