"Want me to carry you there?" Gu Wancheng held out his hands.
"No way. I'm not a baby anymore."
Chaochao nimbly climbed out of bed and ran toward the bathroom.
Gu Wancheng withdrew his hands and followed leisurely behind him. Chaochao was already standing on a stool, brushing his teeth.
This kid really was well-behaved.
Gu Wancheng took out a new toothbrush, squeezed toothpaste onto it, and looked up at the mirror. The instant he saw himself clearly, he froze.
The person in the mirror had an innocent, harmless face, with peach blossom eyes that would look loving even gazing at a dog, and light brown irises. A beauty mark at the corner of his eye lent the face a touch of allure. The corners of his mouth curved slightly upward, making him look gentle and good-tempered.
But inside, Gu Wancheng was reeling. This face was exactly the same as his old one. Suddenly, he hastily lowered his head and pulled open his collar, revealing a red mole over his heart.
He gripped his collar tight. What on earth is going on? Why are we exactly alike? Could he be me from another world? But this is clearly a novel.
He unconsciously began biting his lip, caught the wound he had bitten into it last night, and let out a small cry.
Chaochao, who had been diligently brushing his teeth, spat out his mouthful of foam and turned to look at Gu Wancheng. "Daddy, why aren't you brushing your teeth yet?"
"All right, I'll brush them now."
Gu Wancheng came back to his senses and stopped thinking about it. Any more thinking and he would run out of brain cells. Since he was here, he might as well settle in.
He spat out the foam. "Chaochao, want me to help wash your face?"
Chaochao tilted his head. "Okay, but be gentle."
Gu Wancheng smiled and nodded, assuring him that he would definitely be gentle.
Chaochao immediately lifted his head and shut his eyes, looking as though he wanted him to hurry up.
Gu Wancheng wet a towel and gently wiped his face. "How's that? Gentle enough, right?"
Chaochao nodded at his words. Gu Wancheng immediately held his neck steady. "Don't move."
Chaochao stood completely still until he finished wiping his face.
"All done. Go on out first."
Chaochao walked out, looking back at Gu Wancheng as he went.
Daddy is so strange today. Did he damage his brain when he hit his head yesterday? A hint of sympathy involuntarily appeared on his face.
But he quite liked Daddy the way he was now. Even if Daddy had damaged his brain, he would support him. He nodded vigorously at the thought.
He went to sit beside the bed and waited for Gu Wancheng to finish washing up.
The moment Gu Wancheng came out, he saw Chaochao sitting obediently beside the bed, swinging his little feet, and instantly clutched at his heart.
Children really were angels, as long as they weren't little brats.
"Come here. Daddy will put some nice-smelling cream on you."
Chaochao pouted. "What a hassle." òᆺó
"It'll be done in no time."
Once they were ready, the two went downstairs for breakfast.
As soon as he stepped out, understated, luxurious decor greeted his eyes. Although his family had been fairly well-off in his previous life, it was nowhere near this level. If he wasn't mistaken, the ornaments in the hallway and the paintings on the walls were all antiques. He gained a slightly clearer understanding of his ready-made husband's wealth.
Tears of envy nearly dripped from the corner of his mouth. Then he remembered that all this was his too, and his mood instantly brightened. He discreetly surveyed the place as though inspecting his future domain.
They strolled down the stairs, and Butler Chen came forward to greet them. "Good morning, Mr. Gu, young master."
Gu Wancheng smiled. "Good morning."
Chaochao said, "Good morning, Grandpa Butler. What yummy food do we have today?"
Butler Chen wore a courteous smile. "We have the seafood congee you wanted yesterday, young master."
Chaochao's eyes lit up. Taking Gu Wancheng's hand, he ran toward the dining table.
With a helpless look, Gu Wancheng let himself be pulled along.
Butler Chen watched the adult and child ahead of him with a kindly smile. Mr. Gu and the young master get along so well!
"Seafood congee, seafood congee, here I come!" The moment he sat down at the table, Chaochao eagerly scooped up a spoonful.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal it." He was like a pig that hadn't eaten all day. Gu Wancheng found it rather funny.
"You don't understand. I've been hungry for so long~" Chaochao drew out the last word.
"Remember to blow on it before you eat, or you'll be in trouble if you burn yourself."
Chaochao huffed. "I'm not a little kid anymore. Of course I know to blow on it."
"Yes, yes, you're already a big four-year-old," Gu Wancheng agreed.
Hearing him say he was a big kid, Chaochao couldn't hide the delight on his face. His grin nearly reached his ears, and he hurriedly lowered his head to eat his congee.
Gu Wancheng was hungry too, so he stopped teasing him.
He tasted the seafood congee Chaochao had been longing for. It was rich and savory. As expected of a chef-he really knew his stuff.
He was leisurely eating his congee, spoonful by spoonful, when he heard Chaochao's energetic voice. "I'm finished!"
He replied, "Go play if you're finished."
"No. I'll stay here and keep you company."
Gu Wancheng raised an eyebrow. "What do I need company for? It's not like I'll get lost."
Chaochao wrinkled his nose and gave a little huff. "You actually find me annoying? Then I won't keep you company. You have no idea what you're losing!"
Gu Wancheng called out to Chaochao as he was about to leave. "You're not keeping me company anymore?"
"Hmph. You only appreciate something once you've lost it. Too late." Chaochao folded his arms and looked at him.
"Where did you learn all that?" Gu Wancheng pressed a hand to his forehead.
"I'm not telling you!" With that, he turned his head away, refusing to talk.
After a while with no response, Chaochao tentatively turned his head, only to meet Gu Wancheng's eyes.
Startled, he quickly looked left and right, trying to prove that he hadn't meant to look at him.
Suddenly, a soft chuckle sounded, and Chaochao immediately glared at Gu Wancheng.
Gu Wancheng instantly fell silent and tilted his head, looking at him in confusion.
Chaochao gave him several suspicious looks. Did I hear wrong?
Butler Chen thought, Poor young master.
After checking repeatedly, Chaochao decided he had misheard. Thinking of the innocent person he had just glared at, he immediately grew bashful and didn't dare look at him.
Had Chaochao looked up at him, he would have noticed the upturned corners of Gu Wancheng's mouth. Unfortunately, Chaochao had no intention of looking up.
"I'll watch cartoons with you." Gu Wancheng rose and walked toward the child, who was pretending to be a quail.
Chaochao froze. "You're not eating anymore?"
"I'm full. Let's go." He walked over to him and casually ruffled his hair.
Chaochao was just about to get angry when he remembered that he had wronged him earlier. He forcibly swallowed his anger and followed with puffed cheeks, fuming.
Butler Chen thought, The poor young master is completely wrapped around his finger. (￣y▽￣)~* He covered his mouth and snickered.
"What do you want to watch?" Gu Wancheng asked, holding the remote.
Chaochao answered without hesitation, "My Little Pony."
Gu Wancheng looked surprised. "You actually like My Little Pony!"
Chaochao thought, Don't get mad, don't get mad. Waaaah (⑉꒦ິ^꒦ິ⑉) What a bully.
"What do you know? My Little Pony is the best!"
He didn't know whether My Little Pony was the best, but he did know...
"Do you believe in the light?" Gu Wancheng gripped Chaochao's shoulders and asked solemnly.
Chaochao: ...
At that question, Chaochao gave him a disdainful look. "Are you a little kid?"
"No. You believe."
Chaochao: Õ_Õ
Looking at Gu Wancheng's resolute gaze, Chaochao beckoned, signaling for him to bring his ear closer.
Gu Wancheng leaned in curiously, his face full of anticipation.
"Let me tell you a secret..."