Gu Zhuoyan was packing at home. There wasn't much to take, a single backpack was more than enough.

After tidying up, he wrote a plan in his memo: rest for half a day after getting home, then the competition would be from next Monday to Wednesday. Where was the venue again? He glanced at the announcement. The venue was the Sofitel Hotel.

Gu Zhuoyan let out a sneer and opened the four-person chat group: "Ming-zi, get your ass out here."

Lian Yiming replied: "Could you be a little more polite."

Gu Zhuoyan said: "Is your family's hotel hosting a competition in a couple of days?"

"Yeah, an international one." After typing this, it dawned on Lian Yiming, "I remember now! You're coming back for it, aren't you?!"

Gu Zhuoyan said: "Flight's at eight tomorrow morning."

This one sentence also blew up Su Wang, who replied with a long string of "celebration" emojis without typing any words, a hint of perfunctoriness in his elation. Gu Zhuoyan found fault: "What's with this attitude?"

Su Wang replied in annoyance: "So high-maintenance. I'm on an IV drip, it's not convenient to type."

Gu Zhuoyan asked: "How'd you get sick at a time like this? Can you still participate in the competition?"

It was hard to say. Su Wang had been studying his guts out recently, so much so that his dad almost had him adopted by his tutor. But unexpectedly, he caught a cold these past two days and had been lying in bed right after his daily IV drip.

Among the four of them, Gu Zhuoyan and Su Wang had the best grades. Lian Yiming was next, but he was the type who knew what he was doing and what he wanted. Only Lu Wen was completely unreliable, with no serious ambitions besides being obsessed with his band.

Gu Zhuoyan called out: "Where's lead singer Lu? How are the concert preparations coming along?"

Lu Wen finally came online: "Preparations are in full swing. National Day, six in the evening, be at Zhazha or be square!"

"Zhazha" was a light clubhouse, suitable for young people's gatherings. After some more idle banter, it was getting late. Gu Zhuoyan said: "That's it for now, I'm heading back tomorrow."

"Waiting for you!" Su Wang's enthusiasm was passionate but also withered quickly. "I still have to get an IV drip tomorrow, so I won't pick you up from the airport."

Lu Wen said: "Same for me, probably. Can't get out of bed on weekends."

Lian Yiming was no better: "I have an appointment with my coach for horse riding, don't want to stand my horse up."

Not a single one was going to the airport, but Gu Zhuoyan didn't care about these things. His family would definitely pick him up anyway. Just then, Sister Hu came out of the bedroom, looking more exhausted than if she had cleaned the entire villa. He asked: "What's wrong?"

Sister Hu said worriedly: "You should help Baoyan pack. I can't handle it."

Gu Zhuoyan had forgotten about that little girl. He sauntered to the bedroom and pushed open the door. Good lord, a suitcase was open on the floor, and a tall pile of colorful dresses was on the bed. Gu Baoyan was resting her head on Bond, talking on the phone.

Just like how Gu Zhuoyan chatted with his buddies, Gu Baoyan was chatting with her friends. Going back tomorrow, what day to have a party, not inviting so-and-so because so-and-so didn't invite her to their birthday.

Gu Zhuoyan coughed. "Sis, are you almost done chatting?"

Gu Baoyan shot him a look, then said into the phone: "Gotta go, my brother is here. I don't know what he's going to annoy me about now. Bye for now."

"..." Gu Zhuoyan rubbed his temples and waited for the little princess to hang up. "Dig a hole and get to sleep. If you can't wake up tomorrow, don't even think about going home."

Gu Baoyan burrowed into her quilt and asked, "Brother, which dress should I take back?"

How would Gu Zhuoyan know? 'You'll act the same no matter what you wear,' he thought. He randomly stuffed two dresses into the bag, saw Gu Baoyan staring with vacant eyes, and lifted the corner of the quilt to cover her completely.

Gu Baoyan uncovered herself and murmured, "I get to see Mom and Dad tomorrow."

Gu Zhuoyan's actions paused. He had originally tricked the little girl into coming here, attempting to hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, but it turned out Gu Baoyan's adaptability was even stronger than his. He tucked Gu Baoyan in. "You'll be home for a few days. It's fine if you don't want to come back."

Gu Baoyan shook her head. "I'll come back with you."

Her childish voice held a hint of determination. Perhaps she was afraid her brother would be lonely here, or perhaps she was afraid her grandpa would miss her. In any case, Gu Zhuoyan was a little touched. Before the word "good" could even leave his lips, Gu Baoyan said shyly, "I can't bear to leave Brother Xiao Zhuang."

Gu Zhuoyan had been flattering himself. He hadn't expected a primary schooler's affection to be so persistent. However, it did remind him of something. He coaxed, "Baoyan, after we get home, don't mention Brother Xiao Zhuang to Mom and Dad, okay?"

Gu Baoyan asked, "Why? I always told them about anyone I liked before."

'You've been liking people since the first year of kindergarten,' Gu Zhuoyan thought. 'You like whoever eats a lot, you like whoever washes their hands fast. Kids these days are both promiscuous and precocious.' Despite this, he still patiently tried to fool her, "Honey, you like Brother Xiao Zhuang. You can tell Mom and Dad when Brother Xiao Zhuang likes you back."

Gu Baoyan was impatient: "Hmph, how do you know Brother Xiao Zhuang doesn't like me?"

Gu Zhuoyan clenched his fist. "If he hasn't admitted it himself, it doesn't count."

"What do you know." Gu Baoyan turned over. "He's just being shy."

This was completely like playing the zither to a cow. Even though Gu Zhuoyan was gay, at this very moment, he was developing a fear of raising children. Gentle persuasion was useless, so he cut the crap and said, "Suit yourself. Just don't ask me to help you with your games anymore."

Gu Baoyan immediately said: "Fine, I won't tell them!"

So, threats and inducements were still the most effective methods. After settling everything, Gu Zhuoyan also returned to his room to rest early. Before falling asleep, he thought with self-deprecation, there was a time he planned to hook up with Zhuang Fanxin to piss off his parents, but now he wished he could keep it under wraps, lest his love meet a premature end.

They would meet tomorrow. He had no idea what it would be like.

The next morning, Xue Maochen personally drove the siblings to the airport. It was better when they weren't together all the time; after living together for two months, their bond had deepened. Gu Zhuoyan wanted Xue Maochen to go back with them for a few days.

But the old man refused flat out. If he went back, he would surely be cordially invited by Gu Zhuoyan's grandfather. In-law this, in-law that—what was there for two old widowers to be all chummy about?

Gu Zhuoyan chuckled. "Then you don't miss my mom?"

"It's alright. I saw her recent photos, she looks quite pretty, so I'm relieved." Xue Maochen pinched Gu Baoyan's cheek. "Alright, I still have to collect Xiao Zhuang's newspapers. You two, hurry up and go through security!"

Gu Zhuoyan dragged Gu Baoyan through security. After the plane took off, Rong City shrank outside the window, gradually turning into a patch of colors. When he arrived, everything was unfamiliar and displeasing. Now, he actually felt a bit of attachment.

"Brother," Gu Baoyan asked, "after we get home, are you still going to fight with Dad?"

That was a good question. Gu Zhuoyan said, "Depends on our moods."

Gu Baoyan said sadly, "Then don't fight... That time Dad was about to slap you, I was so scared."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "Don't be scared, he didn't end up hitting me, did he?" He took out a book to pass the time. "Dad is over forty. He can't beat me. If I wanted to dodge, could he even catch me?"

Gu Baoyan was slightly relieved. "That's true. The new generation surpasses the old one."

The siblings bad-mouthed Gu Shibo all the way. In any case, they didn't say a single good thing. In a flash, it was nine o'clock. Zhuang Fanxin had left at this time yesterday, so he should have arrived in Los Angeles by now. Long-haul flights were always tiring, and there were things to take care of upon arrival, so Gu Zhuoyan didn't plan to disturb him.

Just after eleven, the plane landed and taxied. The southern greenery outside the window was replaced by the golden autumn scenery of the north. Passengers disembarked one after another. It was too crowded, so Gu Zhuoyan kept a tight grip on Gu Baoyan's backpack strap.

There were also a lot of people waiting to pick up arrivals. Among them, a golden sign was the most conspicuous. It was big and flashy, with the words emblazoned on it: Joyfully Welcome Gu Zhuoyan Home!

"Damn it." Gu Zhuoyan strode over to see which idiot was holding the sign. Sure enough, the sign tilted to reveal Lu Wen's face.

"Surprise!" Lu Wen said excitedly. "The last time I 'joyfully welcomed' something like this was the 19th National Congress!"

Gu Zhuoyan broke the foam board into several pieces, wishing he could stuff it into his clothes to hide it. "Why didn't you bring a bouquet of flowers too? Didn't you say yesterday you weren't coming?"

Lu Wen replied, "Probably because I was thinking of you. I woke up before eight."

As they were talking, Lian Yiming ran over from not far away. He rushed over and gave Gu Zhuoyan a hug, panting, "I thought about it... bros are more important than horses..."

The words had barely left his mouth when another person appeared from the direction of the beverage machine. Su Wang, holding a tissue in one hand and a cup of hot water in the other, walked over slowly like an old, frail invalid. The first two were at least physically strong. Gu Zhuoyan was speechless. "Why did you even come when you're like this?"

Su Wang said, "I thought if no one came to pick you up, it'd be too disloyal. If I'd known they were coming, I wouldn't have come. I haven't even had my IV drip today."

The four of them walked out of the airport terminal, talking. A man in a suit stood by the roadside. It was Gu Shibo's driver, Old Xu. Old Xu came forward to take the siblings' bags. The door of a nearby car opened, and Xue Manzi got out.

"Mom!" Gu Baoyan flew over.

Gu Zhuoyan took two steps forward, surrounded by Lian Yiming and the others. When they reached the car, the three of them called out "Auntie" in unison. While Gu Baoyan and Xue Manzi were having their warm reunion, the three of them gathered around Gu Zhuoyan and whispered. Lu Wen said, "If you don't want to go home, why don't you come to my place first?"

Su Wang said, "My place is fine too. Just say we're discussing the competition."

While they were whispering, Lian Yiming nudged the other two and said hesitantly, "If I'm not mistaken, is there someone else in the car?"

They all looked over together and vaguely saw a silhouette in the back seat. They hadn't expected Gu Shibo to have come too. Lu Wen and Su Wang immediately pushed Gu Zhuoyan away and changed their tune, "You'd better not come to our places. What if your dad suspects you're having a thing with us?"

Loyalty was something that could vanish in an instant. Gu Zhuoyan glanced at the rear window, then pretended he hadn't seen anything and pulled open the car door to sit in the front passenger seat.

Xue Manzi sighed inwardly and got into the car with Gu Baoyan. As soon as the back door opened, Gu Baoyan shouted, "Dad! Why were you hiding!"

Gu Shibo opened his arms. "Get in. Did you miss Dad?"

The family was all there. The driver drove in silence, while in the back, the two adults coaxed the little one. Gu Zhuoyan put on his headphones to listen to music, closed his eyes, and returned home in this half-dead state.

The car entered the gates of the Gu Family estate. The lawn by the road was still green, and the fountain was still spouting. Nothing had changed. When they reached the main building, Gu Zhuoyan got out of the car. Gu Shibo also got out. The father and son, who had ignored each other all the way, finally met face to face.

Gu Shibo said nothing, waiting for Gu Zhuoyan to first call him "Dad". Then they could coexist peacefully for a few days, temporarily setting aside their previous unpleasantness. Gu Zhuoyan toyed with his earphone cord, moved his lips, but hummed a line from a song instead. He was perfectly clear in his mind: calling him "Dad" was equivalent to admitting defeat, so he wouldn't do it. Anyway, their father-son relationship was printed on the household register; omitting a single greeting wouldn't change that fact.

The atmosphere was a bit stiff. Xue Manzi said in a timely manner, "It's already twelve. Let's have lunch first."

Unexpectedly, after the family sat down at the table, the atmosphere became even stiffer than before.

Gu Baoyan looked at her dad, then at her brother, too scared to move her chopsticks. She suddenly remembered their conversation on the plane and breathed a sigh of relief. "Dad, since you can't beat brother anyway, don't be angry."

"I can't beat him?" Gu Shibo said. "Everything he knows, I taught him. He thinks he can win against me?"

Gu Baoyan explained, "Because brother said you're old."

Gu Shibo's face was stern. "Then you tell him, he's welcome to try."

Having been silent all this time, Gu Zhuoyan now chimed in: "No time."

The atmosphere during their previous phone call was bad enough, but now that they were face to face, there was a turbulent undercurrent, as if their conflicts were about to be dredged up and hashed out at any second. After a few bites, Gu Zhuoyan used the excuse of tomorrow's exam to slip away, strolling out of the main building.

He scrolled through his phone as he walked. Passing by the front of the building, he saw a WeChat Moments post that Zhuang Fanxin had just made. In the photo, Zhuang Fanxin had an old man on his left arm and an old lady on his right, his smile extremely brilliant.

Gu Zhuoyan sat down by the fountain and enthusiastically liked the post.

A message from Zhuang Fanxin arrived immediately: "I'm in Los Angeles!"

Gu Zhuoyan replied: "I'm home too."

Zhuang Fanxin was full of energy: "I saw my grandpa and grandma!"

Gu Zhuoyan was listless: "I saw my dad and mom."

"You didn't fight, did you?" Zhuang Fanxin asked, unable to help but worry even from across the ocean. "Haha, of course not. I know you're super reliable."

Gu Zhuoyan felt a bit guilty. He got up and started pacing, somehow ending up back inside the building. Zhuang Fanxin sent another message: "Your parents must miss you a lot. You don't have to say anything, just call out to them and they'll be happy."

He ran into Gu Shibo at the entrance of the coffee room. Their eyes met and then shifted away. Just as they were about to pass each other, Gu Zhuoyan, as if a puppet on Zhuang Fanxin's strings, suddenly called out, "Dad."

Gu Shibo was stunned and took a long moment to react. "...Coffee?"

Gu Zhuoyan bit the bullet: "I'll have a cup."