Bamboo if line ③

Gu Zhao lifts up the blanket, signaling Ji Su to go to bed first.

Ji Su nimbly climbed into bed, got under the covers, and lay down obediently against the inside edge of the bed.

Gu Zhao followed him to the bed, and after a while, suddenly said, "My bed is very big."

Ji Su turned her face to look at him, her expression a bit confused: "Yes."

"So don't be so far away from me." Gu Zhao turned his face too, "He'll fall."

Ji Su obediently arched a little to his side, and, realizing he was still staring at him, arched a little more.

Like a cute little kitten bug, he rubs himself a little bit against his master.

Satisfied, Gu Zhao reached out a hand and tucked him in, "Go to sleep."

Ji Su closed her eyes, and said good night once more, "Good night, brother Gu Zhao."

Gu Zhao answered, "Good night."

He closed his eyes, and did not sleep for a while, but heard the breathing beside him grow long.

After a long time, Gu Zhao noticed that something hot was next to him.

His eyes snapped open to find his arms wrapped around two small hands.

When Ji Su sleeps at home, he used to hug the big dog doll that his mom used to buy for him, and now he sleeps in a daze, thinking that the person next to him is a doll.

Gu Zhao frowned and tried to remove the hand holding him, his eyes falling upward to the face and then pausing.

Ji Su slept soundly, her long and curly eyelashes hanging down obediently, half of her exposed face still red, the other half of her face resting on his shoulder, unconsciously rubbing gently.

Gu Zhao's eyes softened, and not only did she not bother to get down and push him away, she also pulled the covers upward.

*

The next morning, Ji Su woke up in a daze and realized that she was hanging on to Gu Zhao.

His eyes widened slightly, fearing Gu Zhao would be angry when he woke up, and he carefully removed his arms and legs.

The next second, Gu Zhao opened his eyes, "Good morning."

"Good morning!" Ji Su got up in a flash and pretended he hadn't done anything bad.

Gu Zhao sat up his upper body from the bed, "Go wash up first and I'll find you another set of clothes."

"Good." Ji Su answered crisply, getting out of bed and heading in the direction of the bathroom.

Gu Zhao stared at the tiny back, not moving his tingling arms.

The sink was a bit high for Ji Su, so he moved a small stool and stood on it, brushing his teeth in earnest.

Gu Zhao walks into the bathroom, "Let me see."

Although she didn't know what he was looking at, Ji Su obediently turned her face away.

Gu Zhao checked his face, fortunately it wasn't swollen too much, "It's fine."

Ji Su took out her toothbrush and asked with white foam in her mouth, "Brother Gu Zhao, do you want a small bench too?"

"I don't have to." Gu Zhao looked in the mirror, "I can reach it."

The two of them washed up and went downstairs for breakfast.

The restaurant was bustling with three generations of the Gu family gathered together.

Ji Su was a bit scared of being a stranger and tugged nervously on the corner of the person next to her with her small hand.

Gu Zhao noticed and took his hand, "Don't be afraid, my family is fine."

"Little Five, Susu," Elder Gu called out, "Come here."

The others at the table turned their attention to them, and Ji Su looked at everyone somewhat timidly.

After one night, everyone in the Gu family's old mansion had heard that the young master had brought back a beautiful little boy, and now that they had seen him in person, they realized that he was truly beautiful.

"Are you Ji Su?" Gu Chen took the lead and walked over to Ji Su, leaning down slightly and lifting her hand to pinch her face, "You're so cute."

However, before his hand could touch the white and tender little face, another hand suddenly reached out and stiffly separated his hand.

Gu Zhao had a small handsome face, "It's time for breakfast, big brother."

"Huh?" Gu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, "That's protective?"

"Xiao Chen, don't scare the little ones." Mr. Gu greeted with a smile, "Xiao Wu, quickly bring your friend over for breakfast."

Gu Chen then relented and turned back around resentfully, "Fine."

Gu Zhao led Ji Su to the dining table, supported him on the bench, took a seat next to him and introduced him to his family.

Ji Su sits on a stool and politely greets everyone one by one, looking as well-behaved as can be.

He was beautiful, his boyish voice was sweet, and he effortlessly won the favor of everyone in the Gu family.

Throughout the breakfast, Gu Zhao's attention was always on Ji Su, occasionally revealing a little smile without realizing it.

The people at the table watched the two men's little gesture and looked at each other for a few moments, uncharacteristically relieved.

Gu Zhao had been very badly abused, but was so intelligent that, despite having been back home for almost a year, the child remained closed off to the rest of the world.

Everyone is worried about him, but they don't know where to start.

Well nowadays, things seem to be turning around.

After breakfast, Elder Gu specially sent Butler Li to send Ji Su home.

The Lincoln drove directly into the villa area and parked in front of Ji Su's house.

Butler Li got out of the car first and opened the door, "The two young masters, we're here."

The two men got out of the car one after the other, Ji Su walked in front and rang the doorbell.

"Coming!" The nanny came out and opened the door, looking a little dumbfounded at the few people in the doorway.

Ji Su said hello to her aunt and walked into the house.

Ji Zhenghai was on the phone in the living room when he turned at the sound of his voice and darkened his face as soon as he saw his oldest son, "And you know--"

Ji Su flinched back in fear, but fortunately Butler Li appeared just in time, "Mr. Ji, I've taken the liberty of visiting."

Ji Zhenghai froze, "Who are you?"

"My name is Li, I'm the butler of the Gu family." Butler Li had a ten thousand year old smile on his face, "Elder Gu specially instructed me to make sure that little Mr. Ji is sent home safely."

Ji Zhenghai's expression changed in a flash, and he took a few big steps forward, taking the initiative to extend his hand, "Hello, hello, the child doesn't know any better, giving you trouble!"

"Mr. Ji is polite." Steward Li's smile on his face remained unchanged, "Master Gu is very fond of Little Gongzi, and is looking forward to Little Gongzi going to the Gu family's old mansion more often to play around."

Ji Zhenghai withdrew his hand somewhat awkwardly, "I'm grateful for Elder Gu's favor."

"Since the young lord has been safely delivered, we should also go back." Butler Li lowered his head to ask Gu Zhao's opinion, "Young master, what do you think?"

Gu Zhao took Ji Su's hand and promised earnestly, "I will come back for you."

Ji Su pursed her lips and nodded vigorously.

After he watched Gu Zhao walk out the door, he couldn't help but run to the door again and raise his voice to shout, "Brother Gu Zhao!"

Gu Zhao stops in his tracks, "What's wrong?"

Ji Su looked at him blearily, "Will you really come to play with me?"

Gu Zhao walks back to the door, "Really."

Ji Su held out a little finger, "Then we'll pull the hook."

Gu Zhao is a bit helpless, but extends a hand anyway.

"Pull the hook and hang yourself, no change for a hundred years." Ji Su hooked his finger with his little finger and mouthed, "Stamp!"

After the thumb to thumb stamp, Gu Zhao squeezed the soft palm, "Is this okay?"

"It's okay." Ji Su curled her eyes and raised her hand in another small wave, "Brother Gu Zhao, bye."

On the way back, Gu Zhao was silent the whole way.

When he was almost home, he coldly asked, "Uncle Li, can our family raise another child?"

Uncle Li understood what he was thinking as soon as he heard it, and returned in a gentle tone, "Young master, the Gu family can definitely afford to raise him, but it also depends on whether the other party's parents agree or not."

Gu Zhao drops his eyes, "His mom is gone and his dad treats him badly."

"It's a poor child." Uncle Li sighed, "Young master, perhaps you can find a chance to ask the old master what he wants."

*

When he got home that day, Gu Zhao kept thinking about it in his mind.

He would go to Ji's house every weekend and spend the whole day with Ji Su before returning home.

Gu Zhao could tell that Ji Zhenghai didn't like him either, but it didn't matter to him because the other party was obviously afraid of the Gu family, and even more so, they didn't dare to offend him.

Time flies, and before you know it, it's high summer.

The Gu family is busy these days and no one has time to take Gu Zhao out.

Just in time for summer vacation, he planned to bring Ji Su to Gu's house for a few more days, so he didn't go to Ji's house this weekend.

The next night, Gu Zhao received a phone call, and a familiar voice came from the other side: "Gu Zhao brother ......"

As soon as Ji Su opened his mouth, he heard something was wrong, "What's wrong?"

Ji Su could no longer suppress her inner aggression, but for fear of waking up the others, she could only cover her mouth and sob quietly.

Through the phone, Gu Zhao's heart was clenched, and he quickly coaxed, "Don't cry, tell me what's wrong?"

Ji Su didn't know what to say and tried to hold back her tears, her sweet, soft voice carrying a distinct sobbing tone, "No ...... nothing ......"

Without hesitation, Gu Zhao jumped off the bed, "Don't go to sleep yet, I'm going to your house now."

Ji Su huffed, "It's too, too late ......"

"It's not late." Gu Zhao screwed the door open, "Don't hang up yet, I'll stay with you."

The stretch Lincoln drove through the darkness of the night like the wind, and soon stopped in front of the Ji family's villa.

On the way here, Gu Zhao also asked what was going on.

Ji Zhenghai, who has been at the mercy of the Gu family for some time, has been very restrained, but tonight, after receiving a phone call from his ex-wife, his temper flared up again.

The trigger was a trivial incident: Ji Su accidentally knocked over his brother's milk bottle, and Ji Zhenghai was not only beaten up, but also punished by not allowing him to eat his dinner.

Gu Zhao got out of the car and raised his hand to ring the doorbell.

The doorbell was especially shrill at night when all was silent, but he deliberately rang it again and again.

The lights in the villa lit up, Ji Zhenghai walked downstairs while putting on his clothes, his impatient expression changed when he saw the person at the door, "Young Master Gu, why are you visiting in the middle of the night?"

Gu Zhao said nothing with a cold face, and butler Li opened his mouth to reply, "Mr. Ji, the young master is here to look for young lord Ji."

Ji Zhenghai had a bellyful of fire, but it was not good to let it out, "Ji Su should have already gone to bed."

Gu Zhao walks right in and heads upstairs on his own.

Knocking on the door of the room, a pretty little face appeared in front of her, a pair of bright big eyes were red from crying, looking pitiful.

In the next instant, the entirety of the aggrieved kitten flopped into his arms.

Gu Zhao steadied himself and raised an arm around the back of a single shoulder, "It's okay."

Ji Su buried her wet cheeks into the nape of his neck, warm tears welling up again, "Brother Gu Zhao ......"

In fact, this level of tonight was originally completely tolerable, but now it inexplicably felt so aggravating and aggravating.

It was not until much later that Ji Su realized that it was because someone was willing to take on his sadness, someone was willing to dry his tears.

Gu Zhao coaxed patiently for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Is there anything you want to take with you?"

Ji Su thought for a moment and put the big dog doll his mom had given him into his book bag.

A few moments later, the two children walked down the stairs holding hands.

Ji Zhenghai didn't look too good, "Where are you going this late, Ji Su?"

Gu Zhao returned expressionlessly, "Go to my house."

Ji Zhenghai tried to stop it, "Young Master Gu, tonight--"

"I'm not asking for your opinion." Gu Zhao clenched the small, cold hand in his, "I'm taking Ji Su home."

Ji Zhenghai frowned, "You broke into my house in the middle of the night to take my son away?"

"Right." Zhao Gu raised her eyes to him and said with incomparable clarity in a single word, "Since you can't raise it well, then we, the Gu family, will raise it."

Ji Zhenghai flared up, "What did you say?"

"Mr. Ji, calm down." Butler Li opened his mouth at the right time, speaking in a sheepish manner, "Children don't know any better, and adults can't follow suit, don't you think so?"

Ji Zhenghai immediately felt a chill on his back and forced a smile, "What Steward Li said is true."

"It's late today, if there's anything, why don't we talk about it tomorrow." Butler Li signaled, "Young master, you should go back and rest."

Gu Zhao stepped away and headed for the front door, "Come on, let's go home."

Ji Su was thus led by him and left Ji's house without looking back.