Orphan

Bang, bang, bang. Yu Songqing, who had been sitting on his bed fiddling with his phone, set it down in confusion at the knocking. After a moment's hesitation, he got up and walked to the door.

When he opened it and saw who stood outside, his expression darkened. "What do you want?" he asked impatiently.

Seeing Yu Songqing's impatience, Gu Nian'an waved the bread and milk in his hands. "You haven't eaten anything all day, and dinner's still a while away. Have something to tide you over."

He hadn't forgotten that, in the original novel, Yu Songqing often forgot to eat because of his years of intensive dance practice. Although the book hadn't described his physical condition, it wasn't hard to imagine that his stomach couldn't be very healthy.

While shopping today, he and Ji Yaozhi had eaten quite a bit along the way, whereas Yu Songqing hadn't eaten anything.

Before the other man could react, he pushed the food into his arms and gave a faint smile. "You'll ruin your stomach if you skip meals." With that, he waved at him and headed downstairs.

Yu Songqing stared blankly at the bread in his hands, an unreadable gleam flashing through his eyes.

[Ahhhhh, don't eat anything that guy gives you! Who knows what he's done to it!]

[No need to go that far, commenter above. Those are obviously unopened packaged foods.]

[This really overturns my usual impression of Gu Nian'an.]

[He's acting. Anyone can do that.]

[Let's see how long he can keep it up.]

[Just a passerby, but I think Gu Nian'an seems pretty nice. He hasn't done anything bad so far.]

["Just a passerby."]

"Wow, that smells amazing! Xiao Gu, you really can cook." Looking at the dishes on the table, which looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, Ji Baiwei showered Gu Nian'an with praise.

Yun Bingxia looked at the braised eggplant before her and put a piece in her mouth. It was cooked just right, rich without being greasy, with a lingering flavor. Eaten with a mouthful of rice, it tasted exceptionally delicious.

Yun Bingxia's eyes lit up as she praised him nonstop, never pausing in her eating. "Mmm, this is so good! Gu Gu, you're my god!" As she spoke, she tried the other dishes.

His eyes curved in a smile, Gu Nian'an gestured at the two plates of spicy chicken and said cheerfully, "This one has fewer chilies, and this one has a little more. Bai Wei and Yaozhi, you can have the milder one."

Singers needed to take care of their throats. He knew that very well.

After speaking, he seemed to consider how to address her before continuing, "Um, Yun, this plate has more chilies, but you should still eat it in moderation. The weather's pretty hot now, and too much spicy food can cause excess internal heat."

Ji Baiwei picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth. The spicy chicken was crisp yet tender, with just the right amount of heat. It retained the meat's delicious flavor while carrying a hint of spice and a slightly sweet finish.

Turning to glance at Ji Yaozhi, who was holding his rice bowl and eating with his head down, she was at a loss for words. If only her nephew could cook like this. All he knew how to do was eat.

[Posting food porn late at night, huh?]

[I hate pretty faces with no talent, but! His! Food! Looks! So! Good!]

[Ordering takeout.]

[I'm so hungry.]

[Aren't they all just being tactful and playing along? Someone's brain-dead fans need to calm down.]

[If there's something wrong with your eyes, commenter above, go see a doctor.]

[Stop arguing. It's midnight, and I'm starving to death. Somebody come cook for me.]

She glanced again at the boy, whose nose had turned red from the spicy chicken as he obediently ate his meal. Struck by how cute he was, she suddenly wished he were her own child.

Mu Chen raised his eyebrows at Gu Nian'an and asked half-jokingly, "Nian'an, where did you learn to cook like this? Let me learn too."

Without lifting his head, the boy answered instinctively, "I cooked for myself when I was little, so I just got used to it."

Mu Chen paused briefly. Sensing that he shouldn't ask any further, he continued eating.

"Huh? Gu Gu, what about your mom? Why did you cook for yourself?" Hearing Mu Chen and Gu Nian'an's conversation, Yun Bingxia swallowed her food and asked in confusion.

Weren't parents always worried about letting children cook on their own? Why would they let a child do it?

Gu Nian'an fell silent for a moment. Recalling the original owner's backstory, he considered his words before saying, "I'm an orphan. The orphanage raised me until I turned eighteen, and then I lived on my own. When I was little, I often helped the ladies at the orphanage cook, and I also worked part-time in kitchens." With that, he lowered his head and continued eating.

Realizing she had put her foot in her mouth, Yun Bingxia hurriedly covered it. "I'm sorry, Gu Gu. I didn't know."

Gu Nian'an shook his head unconcernedly to show that it was all right. Yun Bingxia was the Yun Clan's youngest daughter. Her parents loved her dearly, and her older brother and sister doted on her too.

She was also innocent and lively, a very likable girl, so she had attracted plenty of fans who saw themselves as her mothers or older sisters. Knowing she hadn't meant anything by it, he certainly wouldn't blame her.

Ever since asking that question, Mu Chen had been watching Gu Nian'an, consciously or otherwise. Seeing him silently eating with his head lowered now, he couldn't help feeling guilty.

If he hadn't brought up the subject, they wouldn't have touched on the boy's painful memories. Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to him, he watched the boy's retreating back, his expression abruptly darkening.

After hearing his answer, Ji Yaozhi and Ji Baiwei ate in silence, unsure how to comfort the boy.

Ji Yaozhi's gaze flickered, darting toward Gu Nian'an from time to time. Seeing that he merely kept his head down and ate without speaking made him even more restless.

After finishing the last of his food, Gu Nian'an looked up to find that everyone around him wore an increasingly somber expression. He couldn't help chuckling, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Why did the mood suddenly get so gloomy? Haha, aren't we all here to have fun?" he said with a smile. "I'm doing very well now, and life at the orphanage was pretty decent too. I had lots of friends, and the director took good care of us."

He suddenly thought of the male lead, who looked so cold yet showed a trace of gentleness. After hesitating, he added, "Besides, I suppose I have a family member who takes good care of me now."

He rubbed his eyes without thinking, accidentally getting chili in them. He blinked instinctively, his eyes reddening a little, then added, "I'm full. I'll leave the dishes to you. See you all tomorrow."

Everyone watched him head upstairs.

Yun Bingxia smacked her own head, then lowered it onto the table in frustration. "How could I be so stupid? I just had to poke at his wounds." Remembering the boy's slightly reddened eyes, she was so consumed with guilt that she could barely sit still.

Ji Baiwei rubbed the girl's head and comforted her. "You didn't know." But remembering how the boy had been unable to fit in when he arrived, along with his various actions, Ji Baiwei couldn't help having mixed feelings. He was just like she had been years ago.

Yu Songqing put down his bowl and chopsticks. "Keep eating. I'm heading up. I'll wash the dishes tomorrow." With that, he turned and went upstairs.

Mu Chen watched him leave with a complicated expression. He knew about the bad blood between Yu Songqing and Gu Nian'an, and at first, he too had regarded Gu Nian'an as an arrogant, unpleasant newcomer.

But after spending time with him, he had realized that wasn't the case. Remembering the boy's seemingly forced smile just now and how he had barely eaten, he felt even worse.

[So Gu Nian'an's an orphan. I suddenly feel so bad for him. Poor thing.]

[Paid trolls, get lost.]

[So he had no mom to teach him manners. No wonder he's like this, hahahaha.]

[Former casual Gu Nian'an hater here, but don't make me slap you, commenter above.]

[Paid trolls, my ass. I'm a Mu fan. I didn't like Gu Nian'an much at first, but after watching, he hasn't done anything bad. He's been quiet and polite the whole time, and he's an orphan. What's wrong with feeling bad for him?]

[Honestly, Gu Nian'an hasn't done anything. Why do people hate him so much?]

[Gu Nian'an's eyes went red, and he rubbed them too. Was he trying not to cry?]

[Whatever, I've gone from hater to casual fan. I really can't hate on such a poor little thing.]

[Rational casual fan here. All the dirt on Gu Nian'an amounts to being a talentless pretty face and acting like a big shot, but there's no evidence for the latter, just rumors. As for the former, being a pretty face hasn't hurt anyone. He's not acting or singing, just appearing on a variety show. There's nothing worth hating him for. Anyway, I'm calling him my wife first.]

[The audacity! Who said you could fight me for my wife?!]

[Are Gu Nian'an's paid trolls this powerful? Impressive.]

Elsewhere, the man silently closed the laptop in his hands.