After Shen Xuanrun received word that Little Xinxin was at the hospital, he hurried there too.
Only when he reached the hospital room did he discover that the one who had fallen ill with a fever was the little male lead, not Little Xinxin. Shen Xuanrun was instantly relieved.
Phew, thank goodness. Little Maojie is the domineering CEO in the novel anyway, so he'll definitely be fine. But if my delicate Little Xinxin so much as scraped her skin, whatever would I do?
Little Xinxin, who could now catch mice with her bare hands: Huh? Brother, what are you thinking? Why don't I quite understand?
Looking at Gu Maojie, whose fever had already subsided, Gu Weichen could only sigh to himself.
You deserve the double standard.
That's what you get for stealing his little sister!
Gu Weichen did not react much to "the novel's male lead" either. He thought the young man was merely using a description. After all, his little nephew really did have the air of a domineering CEO, a typical male lead who would only appear in a novel.
Shen Xuanrun greeted Gu Weichen, walked over to Little Xinxin, and crouched down to pat her head.
"Xinxin, tell your brother what happened."
Oh my, our darling little cabbage is so adorable, so pretty. That little face is all pink and rosy. My goodness, how can she be so cute?...
"Brother, I got my jacket wet while drinking water, so Classmate Gu gave me his jacket to wear. Then he got a fever."
Shen Xuanrun looked at Gu Maojie and said with a kindly expression,
"Classmate Little Maojie is so good to our Xinxin. Come on, Xinxin, say thank you to Classmate Gu."
Like a domineering CEO, Gu Maojie wore an expression that was thirty percent disdain, thirty percent arrogance, thirty percent composure, and ten percent panic from lying while pretending to be calm.
"No, Brother Shen. I just didn't cover myself properly with my blanket."
Shen Xuanrun's expression darkened, anger simmering beneath it.
Well, well! Gu Maojie, don't think I can't see what you're up to! You're just trying to make her pity you so you can lure Little Xinxin home! Especially that little look in your eyes. It really makes me uncomfortable!
Smiling on the outside but not on the inside, Shen Xuanrun said to the tiny Gu Maojie in the hospital bed,
"Since Classmate Gu Maojie cares about Xinxin so much, Brother Xuanrun will make the decision and have you become Xinxin's honorary big brother!"
Hmph! Once you're Little Xinxin's honorary big brother, let's see how you can still have the nerve to make a move on her!
Little Xinxin blinked her big eyes. "Honorary big brother? What does that mean?"
"An honorary big brother is a big brother who isn't related to Xinxin by blood, but you're very close, just like a real brother and sister."
Shen Xuanrun turned his gaze back to Gu Maojie and said with an innocent, harmless look,
"What do you think, Classmate Gu Maojie? Would you like to be Xinxin's honorary big brother?"
Shen Qianxin also blinked her big, innocent eyes, looking eagerly at Gu Maojie.
Gu Maojie...
Gu Weichen glanced at the speechless Gu Maojie.
Serves you right.
That's what you get for putting on an act.
Who knows where you picked up that domineering CEO attitude.
Still, as Gu Maojie's only uncle, he had to step in when the time came.
"Mr. Shen, there's no need for that. They're still young and don't understand all that much."
Seeing Gu Weichen speak up, Shen Xuanrun abandoned the idea.
If I really separated Little Xinxin and Little Maojie...
How...
How wonderful that would be! How could our clever, adorable, pink and rosy Little Xinxin get snatched up by this pig! Our family spoiling her is enough!
Gu Weichen...
I really thought you'd come around. Looks like I was too naive...
Before long, the doctor knocked on the door and came in.
"Is Little Friend Gu Maojie here? You can be discharged now. A family member should come complete the discharge paperwork."
After Gu Weichen went out, he soon returned, looking rather hurried.
He said to Shen Xuanrun,
"Mr. Shen, I have an emergency meeting at my company this afternoon. Could I trouble you to take my nephew Maojie to kindergarten?"
He paid no attention whatsoever to his nephew's pleading gaze.
Uncle, no! If you leave, Shen Xuanrun will make me Little Xinxin's honorary big brother! Little Xinxin's brother is a devil!
Shen Xuanrun figured that taking one child was no different from taking two, so he agreed.
Gu Maojie turned dark. (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻ Let it all be destroyed! There's nothing left in this world that I care about.
Uncle, don't think I can't see how you feel about Brother Shen (눈_눈). Heh, you're an old cow grazing on tender grass, and I haven't even said anything.
Gu Weichen returned to his company with complete peace of mind, leaving Gu Maojie to face his suffering alone, without a trace of reluctance.
In the car back to kindergarten, Little Xinxin sat on Shen Xuanrun's left, while the slightly darkened male lead, Gu Maojie, sat on his right.
Shen Xuanrun turned to Little Maojie with a warm, friendly expression.
"Little Friend Gu Maojie, what games do you usually like to play?"
Gu Maojie wore an indifferent expression.
"I don't. They're childish."
Little Xinxin immediately exposed him.
"Brother, Classmate Gu loves playing house with us! He also likes playing hide-and-seek, drop the handkerchief, swings, eagle catches chicks, jump rope, and rubber-band jumping with us!"
Gu Maojie: I'm not, I don't, don't make things up! I'm only playing along with you!
Gu Maojie looked at Shen Xuanrun's contorted expression.
(ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻.
Gu Maojie had turned completely dark!
Shen Xuanrun declared, I really can't hold it in anymore! So the domineering CEO liked these little games when he was young. What a pink and girlish heart!
What do I do! Now that I know the domineering CEO's childhood secrets, will he kill me to silence me when he grows up?
Just as Gu Maojie thought that was as far as it could go, the innocent Little Xinxin blinked her big, innocent, adorable eyes and continued selling him out without hesitation.
"Brother, Classmate Gu especially likes it when I tie little hair bands in his hair, too. I make two little pigtails in his hair, and they look so pretty!"
Gu Maojie: (ﾉ ○ Д ○)ﾉ That's clearly what you like! If you didn't cry and whine every time, I'd never agree!
Gu Maojie felt utterly worn out. So I don't need my dignity?
Shen Xuanrun remembered Little Xinxin's terrifyingly bizarre taste...
Hahahahaha, I really can't hold it in anymore! Xinxin, only the male lead could put up with this hobby of yours.
Gu Maojie glanced at Shen Xuanrun again. His expression had gone from contorted to hideous.
Gu Maojie gave up resisting.
Whatever. Let it all go...
"But Brother, why doesn't Classmate Gu like little dresses? They're so pretty, but Classmate Gu won't wear them. I think he'd look really pretty in one, though. Brother, is Classmate Gu unwilling because he's shy?"
Like a dying patient suddenly bolting upright in bed, Gu Maojie immediately went on full alert and said to Shen Qianxin,
"I'm not shy. I really don't like them!"
Meanwhile, Shen Xuanrun had completely tuned out Gu Maojie's voice and begun imagining the little domineering CEO Gu Maojie wearing a pink princess dress with an icy expression.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. So the domineering CEO had such indescribable hobbies as a child...
Gu Maojie: I'm not, I don't, don't make things up.