Chapter 375: No One Likes Me

While the Chu Family was celebrating joyously, the Gu family’s home was exceedingly quiet.

When Gu Hengzhi brought Gu Zifan home, he carried the boy to the sofa and set him down. He then sat across from him and asked,

"Tell me. What happened?"

Gu Zifan looked at his big brother’s stern expression, feeling wronged. He pouted and remained silent.

"Why did you run off by yourself?"

Gu Hengzhi looked at Gu Zifan and repeated his question. The moment he’d returned home, the family’s nanny had told him Fanfan had disappeared. He had been frantic with worry. Luckily, he found him shortly after rushing out. Otherwise, there was no way he could be this calm now.

"...No one in the family likes me."

Gu Zifan whispered, and as he spoke, his eyes turned bright red, making him look utterly pitiful.

"Who said that!"

Gu Hengzhi’s expression immediately darkened. ’Could someone in the family have been gossiping and Gu Zifan overheard?’

"No one said it. It’s just what Fanfan thinks himself. Dad loves Mom, and Mom doesn’t love Fanfan. So, Dad and Mom both don’t love Fanfan."

As he said this, the sob in Gu Zifan’s voice grew stronger, and his eyes, fixed on Gu Hengzhi, filled with tears.

Gu Zifan was, after all, only a seven- or eight-year-old child; what he craved most was to be loved. The realization that the people closest to him in his family didn’t love him had naturally left him heartbroken.

And as Gu Hengzhi looked at Gu Zifan, it became obvious that these thoughts had been weighing on the boy’s mind for more than just a day or two.

’This little boy... Who knows how long he’s been carrying these thoughts inside him? And yet, he always acted so sweet and well-behaved in front of them.’

’No wonder the nanny always said their young master was a quiet child. How could such a little boy, with so much weighing on his mind, have the heart to chat happily with anyone!’

"Who says Mom and Dad don’t love you? You’re such a good boy, Fanfan!"

"But Mom ignores Fanfan, and she won’t talk to Fanfan. Fanfan is already being so good, but he still can’t earn Mom’s love."

"Fanfan, it’s not that Mom doesn’t love you. She isn’t well, and... she’s carrying a lot of pain in her heart."

"I know. It’s because of my sister, isn’t it? Mom got sick because she lost my sister. So, if we find my sister, will Mom get better? Will she be able to love Fanfan then?"

Gu Zifan asked, his face full of hope. His big eyes, shimmering with tears, were fixed intently on Gu Hengzhi.

But Gu Hengzhi didn’t answer. ’Find her? As if they hadn’t been trying. But so many years had passed. They had poured all the vast resources of the Gu family and the Gong family into the search, yet they had never been able to find the baby girl from all those years ago.’

’To find her now... it would be monumentally difficult.’

"Big Brother..."

When Gu Hengzhi didn’t respond, Gu Zifan grew anxious and tugged on his arm.

This was a liberty only Gu Zifan could take. Out in the world, who would possibly have the nerve to grab Gu Hengzhi by the arm?

Gu Hengzhi’s warmth was never for outsiders; he saved it all for his family.

"Fanfan, Mom will get better. And she doesn’t dislike you. You’re so adorable, how could she not love you! It’s just... you have to give Mom a little time so she can pull herself together."

"But Mom has been sick for so long and she’s not getting better! Dad is always with Mom, and Fanfan is always alone! Fanfan wants to find his sister. If he finds his sister, then Fanfan will have someone to be with him, Mom’s sickness will get better, and everything will be okay!"

Hearing Gu Zifan’s words, the ache in Gu Hengzhi’s heart intensified. He even began to despise his own incompetence.

’Why couldn’t he help his aunt pull herself together? Why couldn’t he find his cousin? He couldn’t even take proper care of the youngest boy in the family!’