Chapter 30: Childhood

When Su Shiyi opened her eyes, she was suddenly met with the intense gaze of Isela, who had been staring at her. His tiger face nearly filled her entire view, with his fluffy ears twitching slightly.

Seeing she was awake, Isela lowered his head and rubbed his face against hers.

Su Shiyi: …

Thank you, enthusiastic tiger cub, well done, but don’t do this again next time. If her heart had been just a little weaker, she would have passed out from shock.

However, since the big cat came to her, she couldn’t resist giving him a hug. Still lying on his belly, she proceeded to rub his face enthusiastically. The three little kittens weren’t around, likely taken away to be fed.

Once her rapidly beating heart had calmed down, Su Shiyi took out her phone and couldn’t help but snap a bunch of selfies with Isela. The tiger was always very cooperative, which made her wonder if he actually knew how to look at the camera.

Su Shiyi happily shared the photo in her roommate group chat, which once again sparked everyone’s fury. In just half a minute, she was bombarded with screens full of sharp comments and lemon-eating emoji.

【Xu Wenwen】: You’re too much, do you know what a mess those five sets of houses have caused with the eight guests? Xiao Xia has been working so hard to stay first, his dark circles are almost bigger than your head, and you’re here playing with a big cat!】

Oh, so Xiao Gaofei has been working this hard? The “most diligent guest” isn’t based on who streams the longest, but on effective learning time. The system will track and automatically record whether you’re actually studying and solving problems or slacking off. Plus, the audience in the livestream can see everything, so you can’t fool anyone.

The “Diligence Ranking” is updated every morning at 8 AM on Weibo and ^[1]Kuaishou (快手, Kuàishǒu), a popular Chinese short video and livestreaming platform, similar to TikTok (Douyin in China).Kuaishou platforms. Su Shiyi checked it and saw that Xiao Gaofei was currently in first place. After the fan badge distribution, he had the most fans.

But his first place was clearly unstable. Chen Mingwei, ranked second, was only five minutes behind him, and even the eighth-place Jia Pingxing was just one hour behind. With plenty of time left in the event, everyone had the chance to catch up.

Hmm… since everyone’s so passionate, she might as well let them continue competing for now. Once the different tiers are gradually established, and the guests who can’t catch up start slacking off, she’ll start giving out rewards for different ranks.

When a dog planner and an unscrupulous capitalist combine, they turn into investors who find all sorts of ways to squeeze the guests dry.

And her retribution came promptly—within a minute, in a pinned group chat, where no one had spoken since she joined, Gu Lang posted a picture of her drooling in her sleep.

The group chat was called “Group Chat,” consisting of their family of five. Gu Lang never renamed it, so no one bothered to change the name.

The photo was sent an hour ago. Her mother, Li Shuman, was the first to reply with a laughing emoji, and Gu Pan sent a long string of “hahahahahahaha.”

As for Gu Chen, his reply was simply “Seen.”

Su Shiyi: ?

What’s going on? Did Young Master Gu treat her photo like an official report? Shouldn’t he add some notes to it?

She sent a crying face emoji and changed the group name to “Caring for the Children at Home,” then tagged her dad, Gu Lang, in the message.

【Dad, I think the family atmosphere should be like the group name describes TAT.】

How could he take such an ugly photo of her and post it in the group chat? She still had some dignity, you know!

【Gu Lang changed the group name to “We Don’t Raise Useless People at Home.”】

Su Shiyi: …

How could they do this to her? It’s so targeted, and the implication is too obvious! She must protest!

【Su Shiyi changed the group name to “Dad is still so perfect today.”】

— Not that she always cares about her image. Even ^[2]emperor like Qianlong, known for his dignity, would entertain his elders in a lighthearted way—so Su Shiyi feels justified in flattering her father to please him. It’s a humorous way of saying, … Continue readingEmperor Qianlong entertained his family in colorful clothes, so she was just trying to make her dad happy.

Gu Lang sent a thumbs-up emoji and a 1000 yuan “lucky draw” red envelope. Su Shiyi grabbed 888 yuan, while Gu Chen only managed 0.88 yuan.

Gu Chen: ?

Although the domineering CEO didn’t care much about the money, seeing Su Shiyi and Gu Pan filling the screen with laughter was seriously annoying!

What was going on with Su Shiyi’s brain? Why was she so good at… no, so good at understanding her father’s thoughts, to the point where he indulged her like this!

To be clear, Gu Pan had been in the Gu family for a long time, and Gu Lang had always been generous with material things. He didn’t mind the little money the younger generation spent. But as for treating anyone special, that was out of the question. Over the years, Gu Lang and Gu Pan had probably spoken fewer than a hundred words to each other.

Was it just because Su Shiyi was so ridiculous? Gu Chen couldn’t understand.

However, considering that she had helped him handle the trouble with Meng Yiyao, Gu Chen’s impression of her had improved a little. As the main lead in a Mary Sue novel, he found other women’s advances troublesome. Compared to Meng Yiyao’s persistent pursuit in the past, being scolded by her a few times didn’t matter much.

Meanwhile, Su Shiyi, lying on the tiger’s belly, was coming up with new ideas.

“You want to go camping?” Gu Lang asked her, setting down his coffee. “Aren’t you comfortable at the villa?”

“It’s very comfortable, but I want to try something new.”

Su Shiyi showed him a page from Little Red Book. “Dad, I think this is so cool! We could set up a tent on the grass, or drive a motorhome, light a warm bonfire, lie on the ground, watch the stars and moon, and even bring Isela with us!”

Gu Lang thought for a few seconds and came to a conclusion. “You just want to take photos like everyone else.”

Su Shiyi: …

It’s hard not to suspect that Gu Lang might have some mind-reading skills. How did he guess so accurately?

However, Gu Lang was in a good mood today and was more than willing to fulfill his daughter’s wishes. While others would have to prepare for camping far in advance, all he had to do was say one sentence, and his large team of secretaries and assistants would begin working like clockwork to meet his every demand.

Su Shiyi’s impromptu camping plan would be carried out that very night!

—

The camping site was set up by the lake in the estate. Su Shiyi’s desired motorhome and tent were all arranged, and even a detachable little base had appeared out of nowhere, complete with a quickly set-up professional kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities.

A huge bohemian-style rug had been placed on the grass, and although the tent was most likely just a decoration, inside it was furnished with a small table, two lounge chairs, and various fresh and natural decorations adorning the space.

The villa wasn’t far from here, but considering Su Shiyi might actually want to sleep in the motorhome, Kevin had brought in a vintage luxury model. It had a dazzling exterior that could wow her social media followers, and the interior was spacious enough to fit a two-meter-wide bed. The motorhome’s system was compatible with the Sunday Assistant, enabling full smart control of the vehicle.

As for the issue of just one large bed… Gu Lang would absolutely not be sleeping in the motorhome. He called tonight’s activity “playing house with the child.”

Inside the small base, there was a temporary kitchen, and barbecue arrangements were made to match the camping atmosphere. The bonfire was set up to help Su Shiyi take photos, while the professional barbecue grill had been set up early, with a variety of ingredients neatly arranged. Everything was so organized, it would heal anyone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

When Su Shiyi and Gu Lang arrived, the sun was setting, and the golden light of the sunset was especially magnificent on the grass, unblocked by tall buildings. They each lay on a rocking chair, quietly enjoying the refreshing breeze.

Gu Lang was still on a call with the president of a European region. As he looked at Su Shiyi, who was holding her phone and video-calling Li Shuman, he suddenly felt a long-lost sense of ease.

He said to the person on the phone, “I’ll give you half a day off, go spend some time with your family.”

Su Shiyi’s video call with Li Shuman switched to a group chat. After Gu Lang joined, Gu Chen and Gu Pan also entered. Since the Gu family members often flew all over the world, while Su Shiyi was watching the sunset, Gu Chen and Gu Pan were in daylight, and Li Shuman was surrounded by a starry sky.

It was clear, they were truly a “no sunset” family.

Su Shiyi didn’t think there was anything unusual about it, but others were surprised by Gu Lang video-calling them and caring about their well-being. Some even felt a bit flattered.

It was hard to believe. What kind of magic did Su Shiyi possess that she could twist Gu Lang’s usual demeanor like this?

Their family’s phone call style was also very distinctive. Su Shiyi did most of the talking, with Gu Pan agreeing and particularly resonating with her emotions, like a pair of crosstalk performers. Li Shuman would gently chime in during brief silences to steer the conversation in a new direction, while Gu Chen would dryly report on work matters. He wasn’t very good at talking about anything other than that with his father.

As for Gu Lang… he occasionally chimed in but mostly just listened, occasionally making small sounds like “mm” and “oh” to show he was paying attention.

Gu Lang’s aloofness was considered normal by the Gu family, if he became too warm, they would start worrying something was wrong. This family call lasted about half an hour before ending since everyone was very busy.

After the call ended, the night quietly descended on Su Shiyi’s side. The smell of barbecue wafted from the grill, and the wooden table was set with Prada tablecloths, while pure white porcelain vases held blooming Louis XIV roses.

She saw the dinner plates being taken out by the butler from a locked box, each resting on solid velvet. Curiosity piqued, Su Shiyi asked about them and was told they were fine white porcelain pieces passed down from the Yongle era.

“There’s one in the museum,” Gu Lang said nonchalantly, “I just took it out for use.”

Su Shiyi: …

“Just for use?” These were items worth millions, maybe even tens of millions! You’d have to put a lot of effort into tossing that much cash into the water, and this could get ruined by a single bump.

But they were really beautiful. Seeing the desire in her eyes, Gu Lang calmly said, “Then go to the museum and pick whatever you like. Take everything you want.”

Su Shiyi hesitated slightly, “Dad, I feel a bit embarrassed.”

“If you’re embarrassed, don’t take it.”

“I mean, how could I refuse?!” Su Shiyi immediately corrected herself. “This is a gift from my dad, the most charming man in the world, Gu Lang. How can I let you not give me anything?”

Gu Lang chuckled. Recently, he had developed a new hobby: teasing his daughter.

He enjoyed watching her face change so easily, like it was more entertaining than playing golf.

Whether it was the illusion of value from the expensive plate or not, Su Shiyi felt that the barbecue tonight tasted even better on it. The top-quality ^[3]In Japan, Wagyu beef is graded using the A1–A5 system, where A5 is the highest quality, based on marbling, color, texture, and fat quality. So, the correct way to describe it would be “A5 … Continue reading5A Wagyu beef was cut into small pieces, with a hint of pink in the center, tender, and juicy. The French Gilarde oysters were firm with a bit of crunch, and the flavor was sweet and rich.

Everything was delicious, and with the chef’s excellent skills, each bite felt like hundreds of yuan were being burned. But Su Shiyi was still enjoying grilled chicken legs, wings, chicken skewers, and starch sausages…

She ate with her mouth full of grease, chili powder on the corners of her mouth, while across from her, Gu Lang elegantly ate Australian M5 beef ribs with a knife and fork. They seemed to be in two different dimensions, but neither of them felt it was inappropriate. Su Shiyi’s thoughts were simple: they were family, so she just enjoyed herself. She definitely wouldn’t do this in front of outsiders.

Gu Lang thought: “The food show is so good.”

As Su Shiyi’s top supporter, he ordered lamb skewers, beef skewers, grilled eggplant, and grilled tofu skin for her. Watching her eat with great enjoyment, smacking her lips, he couldn’t help but smile like a proud father.

Su Shiyi also gave him some salmon, bluefin tuna, and sweet shrimp sashimi. Both of them, without thinking, forgot that Gu Lang doesn’t eat food served by others, and the father and daughter happily shared a moment together.

Gu Lang was quite pleased. Raising a child is fun, but raising a grown child is even more interesting. She doesn’t cry or fuss, and from the start, she’s already obedient.

Unlike the societal pressure that emphasizes filial piety through actions, Gu Lang simply enjoys hearing Su Shiyi speak sweet words. After all, he lacks nothing, even when he grows old, he’ll have the best caregiver. As long as his daughter can make him happy, that’s enough.

After finishing the barbecue, Su Shiyi patted her full, round belly and sighed as she lay down on the carpet. Gu Lang sat in a rocking chair, watching her and Isela cuddling together. The three little kittens were still too small and not suited for the natural environment, so they were staying inside the villa, drinking milk and eating food.

They were surrounded by a multimillion-dollar astronomical telescope, but clearly, Su Shiyi had no intention of using it, content to let it sit unused. Compared to a specific planet, she found greater happiness in the stars in the sky.

The biggest surprise for her was that Kevin had prepared some sparklers. Su Shiyi handed one to Gu Lang, watching him hold it with a stern face and only shake it lightly a few times. The sparkles seemed to be intimidated by his presence, only flickering weakly.

Of course, the fairy wand was for serious photography—night photography was no problem for a professional photographer, and the lighting setup was quickly ready. After posing a few times for the camera, Su Shiyi started to have fun, spinning around with the sparkler in her hand, as if she were really casting a spell.

Su Shiyi had completely let loose. After the sparkler, she wouldn’t let go of the bubble machine either. Some bubbles landed on Isela’s face, and he would use his tiger paw to pop them one by one. Su Shiyi deliberately sprayed them higher, making him jump up to catch them.

She even took Isela to jump on a trampoline, made him fetch a frisbee, and played collision ball with him while wearing fun bouncy balls. She also flew drones to entertain him… The mighty tiger had become her two-legged plaything.

On a whim, Kevin even arranged for an inflatable castle—just like the ones kids play in at night markets, complete with a ball pit. Su Shiyi jumped around inside the castle, playing hide-and-seek with Isela, and eventually ended up being tackled by him into a massaging ball pit.

After all the excitement, Su Shiyi was finally tired. She sat on the swing and shouted at Gu Lang, who was looking at his computer screen, “Dad—push me!”

“Ask Kevin to push you.”

“No way—I want Dad to push me!”

This troublesome and willful little thing.

Gu Lang grumbled but closed his laptop and quickly walked over to her.

Her forehead was covered in sweat, and Lucy was using a silk ice handkerchief to wipe it off. Despite being so tired, Su Shiyi’s eyes still sparkled as she looked at him.

“Dad, I had so much fun today.”

Lucy stepped back, and Gu Lang pushed Su Shiyi forward. The sensation of being launched into the air made her squeal with joy, lifting Gu Lang’s mood too.

“You really are childish,” he teased as he pushed her. “Do you know these are kids’ toys?”

Su Shiyi, confidently, replied, “They might be childish for kids, but they’re perfect for university students.”

“Besides,” she casually added, “When I was little, I couldn’t play with these.”

She was talking about her own childhood. In the orphanage, there were no such conditions, and until she entered university and started working, she lived a very careful life. On one hand, work was too busy for relaxation or entertainment, and on the other, she really wanted to save money, as having a large bank balance gave her a sense of security.

So, she gladly accepted Gu Chen’s money, thinking that she would do anything for it. With her previous job, she would never have earned that much.

Su Shiyi never imagined she’d be so lucky—accepted into the Gu family as an “outsider.” There were no rivalries, no manipulations, and she had good, close friends, a gentle and capable mother, and a father who was cold to others but unexpectedly doted on her.

Although her older brother, Gu Chen, could sometimes be quite annoying, he had never truly hurt her. Moreover, the things she and Gu Pan complained about were always passed on to Gu Chen by Gu Pan, and surprisingly, his overbearing CEO personality was slowly evolving into something more normal.

She was just casually saying this, but what Gu Lang thought of was “Su Shiyi’s” childhood. Gu Pan had come to the Gu family at a young age. She had the prettiest princess dresses, the most beautiful toys, and received the best education. Meanwhile, where was Su Shiyi? What was she doing?

The child he liked even found joy in some cheap (or?) toys. This realization made Gu Lang feel a pang of bitterness in his heart, and he once again pushed Su Shiyi away.

“It’s okay, dad will make it up to you.”

The wind was howling around her, and Su Shiyi didn’t catch what Gu Lang had said. When she turned back to look at him in confusion, Gu Lang’s expression remained calm.

Forget it. It doesn’t matter. Swinging is so much fun!

—

The next morning, Su Shiyi woke up in the large bed of the RV, looking out the window at the vast grasslands and a lake that looked even clearer and more vivid under the sunlight. She opened the window and took a deep breath of the sweet, fresh air.

Isera nimbly jumped onto her bed, purring and wanting to cuddle. Su Shiyi held the little tiger and took in a deep breath, thinking to herself that she would probably never be able to give up on her love for cats.

After finishing her morning routine, she went over to the tent to enjoy breakfast, and Kevin informed her that Gu Lang had already left ahead of time. However, he had prepared a small gift at the villa.

Su Shiyi had already figured out that descriptions from the Gu family, especially Gu Lang’s, could not be trusted. After all, his last “small gift” had been a small island in the Pacific Ocean. Speaking of which, the sun and beach on that island were really tempting, but she had been too lazy to set out.

“Wow, dad is really busy.”

Although she felt a bit regretful that she couldn’t say goodbye to Gu Lang in person, Su Shiyi understood that the life of a billionaire was always so hectic. His love was always for his career.

When they drove back to the villa, Su Shiyi was taken directly to the third floor, an area she had never set foot in before. Kevin opened the door for her and politely stepped back, allowing her to enter on her own.

It was a large exhibition hall, and the entrance was filled with pink balloons. Su Shiyi saw a small, cute crib with a nameplate that read her name.

Wow, this really…

After glancing quickly at the items behind it, Su Shiyi could roughly guess what was going on. She sniffed, then walked forward, step by step.

From pink baby bottles to feeding utensils, cute little dresses, and well-crafted hair accessories, her bed was gradually getting bigger. The designs became more and more extravagant, with princess and car-shaped beds side by side, allowing her to choose freely.

Her toys had also expanded, from various balls and stuffed animals to educational triangles and LEGO blocks that covered three walls, making Su Shiyi wonder if Gu Lang had piled up every type of toy here. How long would it take her to assemble all of these?

Not just blocks, but even Barbie dolls took up a huge space. Gu Lang must have thought that all little girls loved them. Su Shiyi, of course, liked them too—real Barbie dolls were expensive, and she would never have bought so many. But to her surprise, her dad had bought her so many. Just unwrapping them and setting up their houses and clothes would be a huge project.

Su Shiyi complained about how Gu Lang had gone overboard, but both of her hands were honestly wiping her eyes. It seemed like Gu Lang wanted to make up for all the toys she never had, even providing pretend kitchen sets, wardrobes, fridges, and baking kits—what age were these toys for?

She kept walking, and the variety of clothes and accessories grew. There were necklaces, bracelets, and even small crowns for little princesses, one of which was particularly luxurious with pink diamonds that were at least ten carats. Su Shiyi tried it on, only to find it got stuck on her head.

Nearby were fairy tale picture books and a pair of sparkling crystal shoes. Su Shiyi picked up a note, which read: “You don’t need a prince, you can still be a princess. These crystal shoes will never disappear.”

Ah, why go all emotional with this!

Su Shiyi really couldn’t hold back her tears, but fortunately, she was alone here and no one else would see.

As she moved further ahead, she entered the “Magical Props Area“—there were dozens of wands, including Sakura’s bird-headed wand and the star wand, as well as props for the ^[4]Xiao Lan (小蓝), Mei Qi (美琪), Mei Xue (美雪), and the Dark Fairy Lily (黑魔仙莉莉) are characters from Balala the Fairies (巴啦啦小魔仙), a Chinese magical girl franchise.magical fairies like Xiao Lan, Mei Qi, Mei Xue, and the Dark Fairy Lily, among others.

Of course, there were also corresponding little dresses prepared, and thoughtfully, they had versions for young children, as well as sizes she could wear now.

Next to these dresses, there were various educational materials for learning multiple languages. There were also ballet skirts, taekwondo uniforms, Go boards, chess sets, and instruments like pianos and violins—everything that parents are eager to enroll their children in for extracurricular classes.

Su Shiyi couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Wasn’t childhood supposed to be about enjoying happiness? If she missed out on these educational things, then so be it.

By the time she was about to enter middle school, her wardrobe was still rich in variety, but now it included uniforms from several prestigious international schools. Oh, it seemed that Gu Lang was truly paying attention to her education.

The frequency of toys began to decrease, while backpacks and sneakers increased exponentially. Su Shiyi found a photo of a pony, with detailed information about it written on the back. It was a purebred horse with a lineage traceable for the past thirty generations, currently being raised in an English stable, ready to be transported to the capital city at any time.

Wow, a horse! When Su Shiyi was young, she watched dramas and thought it was so cool to see others riding horses. Now, finally, it was her turn to ride a horse—and it would be her own!

She happily tucked the photo away and continued walking. The collection of precious jewelry kept increasing, alongside antique collectibles, sculptures, and oil paintings—things Su Shiyi couldn’t understand but knew must be very expensive. She decided not to look up their prices and just added them all to her personal museum.

Yes, her museum—up ahead was a model with a note saying it was still under construction. Just like the cruise ship model she had found earlier, which had a note about where it was currently docked.

She was probably nearing adulthood now. She discovered the keys to ten sports cars, all located around the world, waiting for her to arrange transportation for them.

Su Shiyi thought again about the Batmobile in the garage and her still-pending driver’s license…

She would definitely go for it when she got back! (clenching her fists)

Further ahead, she found luxury handbags, cosmetics, watches, and accessories. At the end of the exhibition hall, Su Shiyi saw a crown displayed in a glass case.

It was supported by a pure black base, the main body was made of sterling silver, encrusted with 108 diamonds, and at the very center was a 60-carat pink diamond.

Su Shiyi picked it up and placed it on her head, feeling as though her breath almost stopped. This crown fit her perfectly, and aside from being a little heavy, it had no other flaws.

She was really getting carried away. To think she could dare to complain about the weight of such an expensive crown, and even put it on her head!

She took out the memo from the cabinet, which was probably the only one written by Gu Lang himself. It contained just four words.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

The time missed, the regrets of childhood, everything was being made up for her.

Her dad must be the best dad in the world.