[Of Course You Have to Raise Your Own Wife]

Summer was always sweltering. The humid moisture saturated the air, clinging stickily to people’s bodies, making it exceptionally uncomfortable.
The trees outside swayed in the wind, branches and leaves intertwining, layers of green dyeing the entire summer day. The sky, however, was as clear as if it had been washed by seawater. Blinding sunlight pierced through the thick clouds, reflecting rainbow colors against the glass.

Gu Qichi boredly held his paintbrush, trying to find a similar color in his monochromatic paint palette, but it was very difficult.
There was no helping it; the conditions at the orphanage were harsh. Being able to get this small palette of paints was already not easy, so he couldn’t reasonably demand anything more.
Gu Qichi sighed, struggled to straighten his palette, hopped off the stool, and planned to go wash his brush again.

He was only five years old, but he looked like he was only three or four. His face was thin, lacking the baby fat typical of children his age, and he wasn’t very tall. He truly looked frail.
The orphanage wasn’t large. The washroom was just nearby, and Gu Qichi carried his little paint bucket, struggling to pour the dirty water into the sink.

The orphanage director—whom they called Dean Mom—said that a very powerful person was coming to sponsor their orphanage today. Smart children might even be sponsored all the way through college, and those with good looks might even get adopted.
When the other children in the orphanage heard this, their faces revealed looks of longing. Only Gu Qichi lacked interest.
Because no one would like him. Gu Qichi knew this.

Although he was quite good-looking, with delicate features, smooth facial contours, and especially a pair of standout eyes that made people feel fond of him at first glance. But looking closer, one would notice his black hair sticking limply to his forehead, his expression somewhat listless, and his face bearing an unconcealable sickliness.
Gu Qichi had a very severe congenital heart disease. He figured this was probably the reason he was abandoned.
After all, this illness was hard to cure. Even if he met kind-hearted people willing to take him in, without sufficient financial means, who could bear the cost of daily precision instrument treatments and expensive medications?

It wasn’t that no one wanted to adopt Gu Qichi. In fact, he was the most popular child in the orphanage. Every couple who saw him would ask the Dean if they could choose to adopt him.
But upon learning of Gu Qichi’s congenital heart disease, without exception, these people gave up on him and turned to choose another child.
At first, Gu Qichi would feel disappointed and depressed, but by now, he had seen it all and was used to it.

So when Dean Mom patted his head and gently reassured him that a warm-hearted mom and dad would definitely adopt him, Gu Qichi sighed helplessly and comforted her instead: “Dean Mom, I don’t need anyone to adopt me. I can live very well on my own.”
The Dean’s eyes would always grow even more affectionate.

Thinking of this, Gu Qichi sighed helplessly, washed his paintbrush clean, fetched a fresh bucket of water, and prepared to return to the art room to continue his painting.
But the weather in June and July always changed at the drop of a hat. It had just been clear and sunny, but in a short while, dense dark clouds pressed down. Fine raindrops slanted downward, falling thickly and forming a curtain of rain across the horizon.

Gu Qichi used his arm to block the rain. His hair was soaked, and even his vision blurred for a moment.
He felt a bit helpless; his luck really wasn’t very good. But mostly, he felt it was a pity. If the rain was this heavy, that very powerful sponsor might not come. It was fine for him, but the other children might lose their chance to get sponsored…

Lost in thought, Gu Qichi trudged along the path, stumbling slightly, when he suddenly spotted a blurry dark shadow in the bushes ahead.
The shadow wasn’t big, just a very small lump, blending into the wildly growing green plants, indistinct and somewhat blurry.
The children in the orphanage often arranged to play hide-and-seek together, and Gu Qichi liked playing too, so he couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.

It was still some distance from the dormitories, but quite close to the art room. Gu Qichi hesitated for a moment, carrying his increasingly heavy little water bucket, approached, and patted the shadow’s shoulder: “Do you want to come to the art room with me to hide from the rain?”
He was young, his voice still carrying a bit of a milky tone, but it was full of kindness.

The shadow turned around, revealing clear facial features. Although he looked the same age as Gu Qichi, this child looked far sturdier and healthier.
He was wearing very ordinary clothes, and his hair was drenched by the rain. Even his long, thick eyelashes were tangled together by the raindrops, making him look a bit pitiful.

Gu Qichi didn’t have an umbrella, so he had to pour out the water in his little bucket and hold it over both of their heads to barely shield them from the rain.
Only then did he realize that he had never seen this boy in the orphanage.
He also noticed that the boy was cradling a sickly little kitten in his arms. It looked like the offspring of the stray orange cat that lived near the orphanage, as their coat patterns were very similar.

The boy shielded the cat and looked at Gu Qichi, who was blocking the rain for him, asking curiously: “Where are you taking me?”
Gu Qichi hesitated. The Dean didn’t allow them to bring other children in. He had never seen this person; if he brought him back, he would inevitably get a scolding.
The best option right now was to turn away and chase this boy out.
But…

Gu Qichi glanced at the clouds gathering thicker overhead and felt a headache coming on. This rain looked like it would last a long time. If he ignored this boy, he might get completely soaked and catch a high fever tomorrow.
Helpless, Gu Qichi sighed, pointed to the cat in the boy’s arms, then pointed to himself, and said: “You protect it, and then follow me. I’ll take you to hide from the rain.”

Bo Yu was solely focused on rushing the kitten to get treated. Hearing this, he nodded and followed Gu Qichi’s pace. The two walked rapidly through the curtain of rain.
About five minutes later, the two of them, holding the kitten, squeezed back into the art room. Their clothes were soaked through by the rain; the poor-quality fabric absorbed the water, hanging heavily and sticking uncomfortably to their bodies.

Gu Qichi liked to be clean and couldn’t quite stand the feeling on his body. He pointed to his own seat, letting Bo Yu sit there, not forgetting to remind him: “Don’t dirty my painting.”
Bo Yu nodded, then tilted his head up to observe the art room.
The decor was old, and the painting equipment was shabby, with only a few scattered drawing boards set up. The walls were plastered with papers of various sizes, mostly drawn by the orphanage children, brightly colored and revealing an innocence unique to their age. Unfortunately, the plaster near the drawings was fragile and had peeled off in several places, exposing ugly gray craters.
The incandescent light overhead flickered continuously, struggling to maintain its brightness, making people’s eyes hurt.

Gu Qichi dug out some clothes he had prepared in advance from his little locker, sighed in relief, and handed a T-shirt to Bo Yu.
He loved being clean, but painting inevitably dirtied clothes, and paint was hard to wash out. So he always wore dirty clothes while painting—one on his body, and an extra one as a spare.
He didn’t expect it to come in handy today.

After both had changed into clean clothes, Gu Qichi found some scrap drawing paper, spread it on the floor, and then pointed to the cat in Bo Yu’s arms.
Gu Qichi: “Don’t hold it anymore, put it on the floor.”
Holding a clean towel, he carefully wiped the kitten’s body clean before placing it on the drawing paper.
Earlier, the temperature had been too low, and the kitten had been outside shivering in the rain. Now that it was warmer, it regained a lot of energy, bouncing around on the floor and even coming over to lick Gu Qichi and Bo Yu’s hands.

“Is there anything to eat here?” Bo Yu looked around but didn’t find what he wanted, so he had to ask.
Gu Qichi shook his head.
Eating wasn’t allowed in the art room, and the orphanage’s daily food for the children was limited.
Hearing the answer, Bo Yu felt a bit disappointed. Looking at the kitten on the paper, he squatted down and poked its cheek.
“That’s a pity, it’s going to go hungry,” Bo Yu muttered to himself.

Gu Qichi paused his hands, which were packing his schoolbag. After a moment, he felt around inside and asked hesitantly: “Do you want to feed the cat?”
Bo Yu nodded: “It looks like it hasn’t eaten in a long time.”
There was a sausage in the schoolbag, unopened. It was a snack distributed to the children a few days ago. Gu Qichi hadn’t been hungry then and couldn’t bear to eat it, planning to save it to fill his stomach on a day when he was starving.
Forget it…
He took the sausage out, broke it in the middle, kept one half in his hand, and handed the other half to Bo Yu.

Gu Qichi: “I have a sausage here, you feed it to him.”
Bo Yu’s hair had been dried a bit with the towel so that drops weren’t falling anymore. He squatted on the floor, took the sausage, and looked up at Gu Qichi: “Aren’t you going to eat?”
Gu Qichi squatted beside him, breaking the sausage into tiny pieces to feed the little orange cat, his tone very light: “I’m not hungry, let’s just give it all to it.”

Bo Yu’s eyes curved into a smile, leaning closer to him: “You’re so nice. What’s your name?”
Gu Qichi turned his head to look at him. Bo Yu’s pupils weren’t like other people’s; they had no trace of brown but were a very pure black.
His features were very handsome. Although he was young, his nose bridge was already quite straight, his cheeks snow-white with a rosy, healthy complexion. One look and you could tell he was raised with meticulous care.
The little orange cat came over to eat the sausage, its tongue licking Gu Qichi’s fingers. He lowered his eyes and looked at Bo Yu’s hands—there wasn’t a single callus.
The other boy was probably a child living nearby who snuck in, looking for someone in the orphanage to play with.

“My name is Gu Qichi,” he answered.
Bo Yu repeated it after him, dragging out the syllables: “Gu—Qi—Chi—”
Gu Qichi looked at him in amusement: “And what’s your name?”
Bo Yu puffed out his chest, introducing himself solemnly to Gu Qichi: “My name is Bo Yu. Bo as in ‘accumulating strength’ (hou ji bo fa), and Yu is a bit harder. Grandpa says, ‘literary brilliance and cultured elegance (wen yan bin yu), deep and profound knowledge, strictly upholding integrity, and a body as pure as ice and snow.’ That’s where my name comes from.”
He blinked, waiting expectantly for Gu Qichi’s reaction.

Gu Qichi felt dizzy, his face full of confusion. He completely didn’t understand what Bo Yu was talking about, so he just nodded cooperatively: “Wow, you’re so amazing.”
Although his eyes were full of confusion, his tone was exceptionally sincere. Bo Yu looked at Gu Qichi’s face and mimicked his tone: “Wow, you’re so pretty. Which characters make up your name?”

Gu Qichi fed the rest of the sausage in his hand to the little orange cat on the floor, clapped his hands, wiped them clean with a tissue, then picked up his paintbrush, found a clean sheet of paper, and wrote it down for him to see.
“Qi as in resting (qi xi), and Chi as in pool water (chi shui).”
Bo Yu took the paintbrush from his hand and wrote his own name right next to it. Seeing “Qi Chi” and “Bo Yu” nestled together, he was very satisfied but felt something was missing.
He looked up, spotted the red paint in the palette, and drew a big red heart around their names, pointing it out to Gu Qichi.
“I like you so much, can I call you Chi Chi?”

…………
…………

Outside, the rainstorm continued. The sky was gloomy and dark. Crisscrossing lightning mixed with muffled thunder split the sky, a snow-white flash breaking through the clouds, exceptionally blinding.
On the various paths of the orphanage, people hurried back and forth looking for something, their expressions very anxious.

The Dean also had a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, looking panicky at people’s movements. In front of her, Old Master Bo sat on a chair, leaning on a cane, his expression rather calm.
He knew Bo Yu. Though the child was young, he was clever. He wouldn’t run off randomly, let alone be abducted by anyone. It was only possible that he got mischievous, found something fun, and had his attention drawn away.

“If you can’t find him, don’t bother. Just wait for him to come back on his own,” Old Master Bo tapped his cane on the ground, then had his assistant call everyone back, and started conversing with the Dean again: “I’m very interested in the child with heart disease you mentioned. Tell me more about him.”
The Dean looked at Old Master Bo in surprise and hastily began introducing Gu Qichi: “That child is very well-behaved and very smart. He gets first place every time we have a test, and he can paint. Many families wanted to adopt him before, but because of his health condition, they all gave up…”

The rain outside the window gradually lessened, the clouds dispersed, the gloomy overcast breaking apart. Beams of light shone through, slanting across the swaying broken leaves, casting dappled shadows.
Old Master Bo rubbed his hands and said to the assistant beside him: “You stay here and wait for Xiao Yu to come back. The Dean and I will go see this child, Gu Qichi.”
The butler acknowledged with a ‘yes’.

Gu Qichi had stayed in the art room all day. When the Dean called him to come out earlier, he had refused. Now that the rain had just stopped, the child probably hadn’t left. The Dean thought for a moment and led Old Master Bo toward the art room.
The art room wasn’t far. After a few minutes, following a winding path, the group arrived at the art room’s door.
The Dean was still praising Gu Qichi to Old Master Bo: “Xiao Chi is very talented in painting, and he usually likes quiet, so he didn’t join the bustle like the other kids today. He’s probably been in the art room all day.”
As she spoke, she pushed the art room door open.

The lights inside were on. The incandescent light was a bit glaring. The first thing that caught the eye was the walls plastered full of drawings, and two little children in the center of the room.
Bo Yu had pulled up a small folding stool and sat beside Gu Qichi, while Gu Qichi was sitting and painting.
The floor of the art room was wet, with winding water trails. One look and you could tell the two had been caught in the rain outside. Their hair was damp, sticking to their faces in strands, looking somewhat comical.
Bo Yu’s own wet clothes were spread out on scrap paper, seemingly to dry.
Between the two of them squatted a half-wet orange kitten, shaking its head and wagging its tail.

Bo Yu pointed at Gu Qichi’s painting, then at the green in the palette, sincerely suggesting: “Pick this color, this color will look nice painted on!”
Gu Qichi did as told, coloring the banyan leaves in the painting. Various shades of green intertwined, thick and light, creating great depth.
Bo Yu cooperatively praised Gu Qichi, his tone a rare instance of flattery: “Chi Chi, you paint so beautifully! Paint one for me too, okay~”

Old Master Bo was startled. This child, Bo Yu, was mentally far more mature than his peers. Ordinarily, he had rarely seen Bo Yu stick together and play with kids his own age. To like a child this much and stick so close to them was truly a rare sight.
Gu Qichi coolly rejected him: “No, I’m going to use this painting for a competition. You should be picked up by your mom tonight, and we won’t see each other again…”
Bo Yu felt a bit wronged. Tugging at his sleeve, as if acting spoiled: “Chi Chi, are we never going to meet again?”
Gu Qichi looked down at him, answering rationally: “We won’t. The orphanage doesn’t allow kids from outside to come in.”

Bo Yu grew even sadder, his head drooping as he tried hard to think of a way to keep seeing him.
“Then can’t you come to my house and play with me?” he asked carefully.
Gu Qichi sighed, trying hard to explain it clearly to Bo Yu: “Bo Yu, I’m an orphan. Children in the orphanage can’t just run outside without permission; the Dean will worry.”
Bo Yu scrunched up his bun-like face, racking his brains to find a feasible method: “Then can you stop being an orphan and be my family? Wouldn’t that work?”

Gu Qichi looked down at him, somewhat doubting the construction of Bo Yu’s brain. Was this guy a bit silly?
To be his family, his family members would have to agree. Nobody would be willing to bring a burden home.

While the two children engaged in a silent standoff, Old Master Bo watched them quietly from outside the door, couldn’t help but find it amusing.
He originally had the intention to sponsor Gu Qichi. Now, seeing Bo Yu like him so much, he felt reassured. This child must be just as the teachers said—of very good character.
Thinking of this, Old Master Bo called out to him: “Xiao Yu.”

Hearing his voice, Bo Yu turned his head, looked pleasantly surprised, then ran over barefoot, shouting excitedly: “Grandpa!”
After greeting Old Master Bo, he didn’t forget to introduce his new friend to him: “Grandpa, look! This is Chi Chi!”
Gu Qichi looked at the newcomer in surprise. Dean Mom stood behind this Grandpa, smiling very gently at him, gesturing with her eyes for him to come over.
Gu Qichi thought for a second, put down his paintbrush, and walked over.

Old Master Bo was very amiable. Holding Bo Yu’s hand, he squatted down to look Gu Qichi in the eye: “Are you Qichi?”
Gu Qichi looked at the Dean. Only after getting her visual confirmation did he nod at Old Master Bo.
“I am Gu Qichi.”
Old Master Bo was very satisfied with him. Just as he was about to discuss sponsoring him with the Dean, Bo Yu tugged at his sleeve.

Bo Yu spoke in a small voice: “Grandpa, didn’t you say you came here today to help them find suitable families? I also want to help Chi Chi find a suitable family. So can we take him home and be his family?”
Old Master Bo was stunned. He looked at Gu Qichi, then at Bo Yu, somewhat astonished.
It seemed this child was truly endearing to make Bo Yu form such a thought.

Adopting a child wasn’t difficult for him, but what if Bo Yu just wanted to take Gu Qichi back out of novelty, just wanting a playmate? Once the novelty wore off and he lost interest in Gu Qichi, no one in the Bo family would be there to care for Gu Qichi’s feelings. That would be too unfair to the child.
Gu Qichi shouldn’t have to pay the price for Bo Yu’s momentary whim.

Old Master Bo took Bo Yu outside and carefully explained the situation to him, asking Bo Yu to think it through clearly.
“If you want to take Gu Qichi home, you must be responsible for him. He’s not your toy, nor your pet, but the family member you chose yourself. But you are still too young to take care of someone else…”
His words were interrupted by Bo Yu: “Grandpa, I can. I can be responsible for Chi Chi. As long as you bring Chi Chi back, he is my family.”

Old Master Bo couldn’t help but look at him a few more times. He originally thought Bo Yu would hesitate and give up on the idea upon hearing this, but he didn’t expect the boy to become even more resolute.
“Can you make a promise?” he asked Bo Yu.
Bo Yu’s face was childish, still carrying a layer of baby fat, his eyes very black, yet exceptionally determined: “I can, I promise, I will definitely treat Chi Chi seriously.”

Old Master Bo withdrew his gaze, led Bo Yu back into the art room, and reminded him in a low voice: “No going back on your word.”
Bo Yu nodded heavily.
Old Master Bo pointed at Gu Qichi and said to Bo Yu: “If you want Qichi to become family with us, you also have to ask his opinion. What if he’s not willing?”

Bo Yu felt his grandpa made a lot of sense. He let go of his hand and trotted over to Gu Qichi: “Chi Chi, are you willing to become family with me?”
Gu Qichi’s eyes were somewhat complicated. He had just heard from the Dean that Bo Yu was the grandson of the biggest sponsor this time. For the other party to like him was tantamount to a pie falling from the sky. According to the Dean’s intentions, he had to firmly hold onto Bo Yu and let them take him home.
But Gu Qichi wasn’t very willing. He frowned, an unnatural flush appearing on his sickly face.
He had been out in the rain too long earlier, the temperature in the art room wasn’t high, and his body was weak. He was probably about to run a fever.

Bo Yu walked toward him, very excited, eyes sparkling, and took his hand: “Chi Chi, are you willing to come home with me and be my family?”
Gu Qichi lowered his eyes, looked at their joined hands, steeled his heart, shook him off, and said coldly: “Bo Yu, I have congenital heart disease, I won’t live long. We can’t be family for very long.”
He didn’t need to take advantage of Bo Yu’s goodwill and make him bear his medical expenses. Treating his illness required a lot of money; if Bo Yu’s real family found out, they would definitely be unhappy.

Being shaken off, Bo Yu was a bit stunned, but it wasn’t long before he took Gu Qichi’s hand again, touching Gu Qichi’s face: “Don’t worry, Chi Chi. I will cure you. I have lots and lots of money. You can live a very, very long time, and I will always protect you.”
Old Master Bo probably also saw his concerns. He stepped forward, patted his head, and said: “Child, don’t worry, you will grow up healthy.”
Old Master Bo: “I originally planned to help cure your illness and then send you to school. You don’t need to worry.”

Gu Qichi looked up, murmuring: “Then what do I need to give you in return?”
Old Master Bo shook his head, his face kind: “Then return it by giving Xiao Yu love. We are a family from now on.”
Tears shimmered in the corners of the Dean’s eyes, her gaze toward Gu Qichi carrying a bit of wistfulness.
Gu Qichi was young, smart, and beautiful, yet he had been rejected and abandoned time and again by adopting families. This time, someone was finally willing to firmly choose him. The Dean thought, Gu Qichi must be very happy; he was just a little afraid of others’ kindness.

“Qichi, go ahead.”
She patted Gu Qichi’s head, her tone gentle and compassionate: “This time, someone will definitely love you earnestly.”
Gu Qichi looked at the Dean, then at Bo Yu and Old Master Bo, and slowly nodded.
Grandpa Bo said, to be Bo Yu’s family, he had to give him love. He thought he could do that.
Bo Yu was even happier, wishing he could directly take Gu Qichi home today and sleep holding him.

…

The day the adoption paperwork for Gu Qichi was completed, Old Master Bo and Bo Yu came personally to pick him up.
They drove a very spacious car, even preparing a special child seat.
Bo Yu stood by the car door, holding a banner in his hands with crooked white characters written on it: “Welcome Chi Chi Home.”
Old Master Bo stood to the side, holding the gift prepared for Gu Qichi—a very expensive set of painting supplies.

Gu Qichi’s heart warmed slightly as he walked over slowly.
He was wearing the new clothes the Bo family sent, his overly long hair trimmed neatly, revealing gentle features.
Bo Yu crumpled the banner in his hands into a ball. He ran forward, took Gu Qichi’s hand, and hugged him tightly.
“Chi Chi, from today on, we’re a family!”

Gu Qichi gently hugged him back.
The backseat was filled with plush toys of various sizes and new children’s clothes. Bo Yu led Gu Qichi into the car and stuffed a handful of candy into his hands.
“Chi Chi, this is my favorite candy, now I’m giving it to you.”
Gu Qichi pursed his lips, accepted them one by one, and smiled shyly.

The car drove smoothly, and Gu Qichi felt a bit drowsy. Bo Yu held him, excitedly introducing the new home he had prepared for him.
The layout inside was all done personally by Bo Yu. He had even sternly rejected the butler grandpa’s offers to help.
But Gu Qichi was a little carsick and really didn’t have much energy to respond to him. Seeing this, Bo Yu had to change the subject.

After thinking it over, he finally remembered there was one very important matter he hadn’t discussed with Gu Qichi.
Bo Yu excitedly leaned in close again: “Chi Chi, there’s one more thing!”
Gu Qichi groggily lifted his eyelids, his eyes filled with unconcealable fatigue, but he still forced himself to respond to Bo Yu: “What is it, Bo Yu?”

Bo Yu leaned close to his ear, holding an exquisite white jade pendant in his hand. He stuffed the white jade pendant into Gu Qichi’s hand, saying seriously: “Grandpa said we’re family from now on. But I don’t have an older sister, and I don’t like younger brothers, yet you are my family.”
“The TV said that besides brothers and sisters, kids can have another kind of family called a child bride.”
“So you’re my child bride!”

He was incredibly excited, gesturing for Gu Qichi to put the white jade pendant around his neck. Seeing Gu Qichi so shocked he couldn’t move, Bo Yu did it himself, forcefully slipping his own white jade pendant over Gu Qichi’s neck.
Bo Yu: “My mom said this pendant is to be left for my wife. You’re my child bride, so from now on you have to call me husband, which is why I’m giving it to you. You have to take good care of it~”

The driver currently driving: “???”
Old Master Bo sitting in the front row: “???”
Gu Qichi, instantly startled awake by Bo Yu’s words: “???”

Where did this little brat learn this twisted logic???
Only Bo Yu was still foolishly tugging at Gu Qichi’s sleeve, urging him: “Chi Chi, hurry up and call me husband, when we get back we can play house with the people in the yard.”
“I’ll be the dad, and you be the mom.”
“They’ll be our sons.”
Gu Qichi: “…”

Gu Qichi’s fingers curled inward. He stared blankly at Bo Yu, thinking somewhat helplessly: Why would anyone like playing childish games like playing house?!!

……………
……………

It was already evening when they arrived at the Bo family estate.
The Bo family had prepared a grand welcome ceremony for him at a hotel, even ordering a six-tier cake, picking Gu Qichi’s favorite vanilla flavor.
Old Master Bo, afraid he would feel awkward, deliberately didn’t invite outsiders to today’s welcome ceremony, only calling a few close old comrades-in-arms to show support.

Everyone seated was elderly. After Gu Qichi sat down, he scanned his surroundings but didn’t see Bo Yu’s mom and dad, making him a bit confused.
Was it because Bo Yu’s parents didn’t like him that they didn’t come, or because of something else…
He didn’t have much time to think. Old Master Bo’s comrades came over one by one to praise him and gave him various gifts.
Gu Qichi hurriedly thanked them, taking the gifts from these grandpas one by one and thanking them obediently and sweetly.

Bo Yu sat beside him, smiling even happier than Gu Qichi.
He knew it, the grandpas would definitely like Chi Chi. These gifts looked pretty good too—it wasn’t in vain that he had gone door to door knocking, praising Gu Qichi to these grandpas, and conveniently inviting them to Gu Qichi’s homecoming welcome party.
While mentally praising himself, Bo Yu struggled to climb up, used his chopsticks to grab food, and put it into Gu Qichi’s bowl.

He didn’t know what Gu Qichi liked to eat, and the orphanage Dean wasn’t clear either, only vaguely saying he wasn’t a picky eater, just that he really hated cooked tomatoes. Having no other choice, Bo Yu had the chef make all the delicious dishes, planning to observe what Gu Qichi liked to eat so it would be easier to prepare his favorite foods later.
So after Gu Qichi finished thanking everyone and sat down, he turned his head only to find a mountain of food piled high on his dining plate.
A dazzling array of all kinds of food.

Gu Qichi fell silent for a moment. He poked at this solid little mountain with his chopsticks and said hesitantly: “I can’t finish all this…”
His health was poor, his appetite usually wasn’t big, and his stomach was very small. The food Bo Yu grabbed for him would take Gu Qichi three days to finish.
Bo Yu added another piece of beef to his bowl, his expression completely unconcerned: “It’s fine, just eat what you like. I want to know what you like to eat…”

Gu Qichi glanced at him, not knowing what to say.
“Doing this is very wasteful,” he could only remind him softly.
The orphanage’s funding wasn’t that ample. The food given to the kids wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible either; it was just enough for everyone to eat.
The word waste was strictly prohibited and emphasized at the orphanage.
Gu Qichi was taught this principle from a young age, so even seeing so much food in front of him that he couldn’t finish, his first thought was still that he couldn’t waste it, and he tried hard to force it all down.

Soon, Bo Yu noticed that Gu Qichi’s face had turned a bit pale.
He somewhat anxiously stopped Gu Qichi from eating: “Chi Chi, if you can’t finish, stop eating, you’ll make yourself sick.”
Gu Qichi blinked his eyelashes, feeling a little embarrassed. Afraid Bo Yu would think he was a glutton, he explained softly: “But not finishing it is too wasteful. I’ve eaten from this, so others can’t eat it anymore, it will definitely be thrown away…”

Bo Yu was used to being pampered and noble. He wasn’t highly interested in food. Things he didn’t like, he tossed and threw away without ever considering such matters.
At this moment, seeing Gu Qichi’s anxious demeanor, he belatedly realized how ignorant he had been before, and how difficult Gu Qichi’s life had been.
Grandpa was right. Since he brought Chi Chi back, he had to take good care of his feelings.
Bo Yu grabbed his hand and patted his back: “It won’t be wasted, Chi Chi. I’ll finish it for you.”

As he spoke, he picked up his own chopsticks, moved the leftover food from Gu Qichi’s plate into his own bowl, and obediently ate it all.
He had served way too much food; two little kids simply couldn’t finish it.
Bo Yu did his best to finish more than half, leaving only some large portions of staple foods.
Because they ate too much, both of their bellies bulged out, and they lazily slumped in their chairs.

When Old Master Bo noticed the commotion here, his eyes went wide. He had never seen Bo Yu willing to eat anyone’s leftovers, and Bo Yu had actually finished it all.
It seemed he really, really liked Gu Qichi.
When Old Master Bo asked the butler to take the two kids home, they were both so stuffed they couldn’t walk. Bo Yu held Gu Qichi’s hand, still muttering: “Chi Chi, don’t worry about wasting it. I already asked the grandpas to pack up the rest of the food to take home and eat themselves. Everyone will definitely finish it obediently.”
Gu Qichi nodded obediently.

A bit later, while Bo Yu was taking a bath, Old Master Bo called Gu Qichi into his study.
He handed Gu Qichi a photo album. Gu Qichi was a bit puzzled, but he still opened it and looked through it.
Inside was a couple and a very, very small child.
“Do you remember what I said you needed to give Xiao Yu in return?”
Old Master Bo asked him aloud.

Gu Qichi nodded, his voice still childish: “I remember, you said, to give him love.”
But a child like Bo Yu clearly looked like he wasn’t lacking in love. Gu Qichi couldn’t understand why Grandpa Bo would ask Gu Qichi to love Bo Yu.
Old Master Bo squatted down and patted his head: “Xiao Chi, Bo Yu is just like you. He has no mom and dad.”

Gu Qichi’s eyes widened in astonishment. No wonder he didn’t see Bo Yu’s parents after searching all day.
“Xiao Yu’s parents passed away when he was very young, leaving him all alone. Even though he doesn’t say it, I can see that he is very lonely.”
“So, when he asked you to become his family, I agreed. He promised me that he would take responsibility for you for the rest of his life and always protect you.”

His tone was gentle, yet it carried authority. Old Master Bo asked him: “Xiao Chi, can you promise me to like him just as much as Bo Yu likes you?”
Gu Qichi nodded heavily, his tone innocent but exceptionally resolute: “Grandpa, don’t worry, I will. I will give Bo Yu enough love, and just like he protects me, I will try hard to protect him.”
Old Master Bo smiled in relief, patted his head, and praised him warmly: “Xiao Chi is a good child. You two don’t need to protect each other. Grandpa is still here. With Grandpa protecting you, nobody will dare bully you.”

Gu Qichi blinked, stood on his tiptoes, stretched hard, and touched Old Master Bo’s face: “But Grandpa will get tired too. When we grow up, we can protect you. I will grow up well.”
On this day, as a five-year-old, Gu Qichi made a promise to Old Master Bo. Over the next decades, no matter how the world changed, he steadfastly and unswervingly kept that lifelong promise.
He would give Bo Yu love, a lifetime of love.

When Gu Qichi returned to his own bedroom, he realized someone had turned off the light he had just turned on.
The room was pitch black. Gu Qichi relied on his memory to find the switch, but the moment he was about to touch it, the bedroom suddenly lit up.
The snow-white walls lit up with fragmented lights, like a shattered Milky Way suspended there, exceptionally dazzling.

Gu Qichi’s eyes widened as he saw Bo Yu, barefoot, holding a giant crystal ball, walking toward him: “Chi Chi, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?”
To say he wasn’t moved would be a lie. From the moment he walked out of the orphanage, the banner Bo Yu had meticulously prepared, the various plush toys in the car, and the white jade pendant around his neck were all carefully prepared for him by Bo Yu.
No one had ever treated him this well.

Gu Qichi blinked hard, trying not to cry.
He nodded heavily, his voice a bit choked: “Thank you, Bo Yu, I like it very much.”
Getting Gu Qichi’s approval, Bo Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t in vain that he had prepared so meticulously for so long.
He had stuck the star lights on the wall all by himself too—it was the Big Dipper!
This way, Chi Chi wouldn’t get lost going home in the future!
He was so smart!

Setting the crystal ball on the floor, Bo Yu ran over barefoot, grabbed Gu Qichi’s hand, and walked toward the bed.
Gu Qichi thought he was going to tuck him in, so he obediently followed him over.
Unexpectedly, Bo Yu just leaped straight into the blankets. After snuggling twice, he lay on the other side of the bed and patted the edge on Gu Qichi’s side.

Bo Yu: “Then let’s go to sleep now!”
He had specially prepared a fragrant blanket and fluffy, soft pillows!
Gu Qichi, who had never slept with another child before: “…”
He stared dumbfounded at Bo Yu and tentatively asked: “Aren’t you going to sleep by yourself?”
Bo Yu shook his head, looking like it was the most natural thing in the world: “Of course not, I’m going to sleep with you!”
“I’m going to sleep with you from now on!”