He looked up at Gu Tang with anticipation: "Really?"
"He will come back," Gu Tang said softly.
He simply bent down, used his right hand to lift the little walnut up.
Gu Tang did know a little about Xiao He Tao's family. His father had joined the army a few years ago and went to the Eastern Army of the Empire.
The Galactic Empire has had many border conflicts in recent years, coupled with rampant space pirates, so Little Walnut's father has been gone for more than four years and has not returned yet.
When he left, Little Walnut was only three years old. After more than four years of not seeing each other, it's normal for the child not to remember what he looked like.
Gu Tang felt a slight pang of sadness.
Or in a few years, his son might not even remember what he looks like.
He let out a sigh of relief. But that was for the best. The future monarch of the Galactic Empire should be ruthless and not have too many constraints.
"Teacher," Little Walnut said, nestled in his arms, looking directly into Gu Tang's eyes, "Are you sad?"
"Hmm?" Gu Tang replied casually, then strode toward the door with the little walnut in his arms.
The child suddenly reached out and hugged his neck, resting his little face on his shoulder, and whispered, "Teacher, do you miss your son?"
"Yes." Gu Tang knew that Little Walnut was trying to comfort him in her own way.
He smiled at him and reached out to open the door.
"Little Walnut is with me, he..."
Gu Tang's voice suddenly stopped.
Outside the door, the wind whipped up large snowflakes, rushing towards the suddenly lit doorway.
The steps were already covered with snow. The person standing there was not the neighbor's wife that Gu Tang had thought she was, but Little Walnut's mother, that hardworking and simple woman.
It was a boy who was about ten years old.
The boy had grown quite a bit taller, wearing a pair of stylish black deerskin boots, and a thick cloak that completely enveloped his body.
His hair was shorter than when Gu Tang left, and the short black hair made his already handsome face look even more energetic.
Gu Tang's image was reflected in his deep brown eyes.
And in his arms, he was holding someone else's child.
Gu Tang stared blankly at the boy standing at the door, and the boy also tilted his head slightly, looking at him quietly.
His gaze swept over him, finally landing on the little walnut he was holding in his arms.
The boy's originally bright eyes immediately turned red.
"I..." He wiped his eyes, turned away stubbornly, and said, "I'm leaving!"
"Gu Yan!" Gu Tang quickly put down the little walnut, stretched out his arm, and grabbed the other's shoulder. "Come back!"
The heavy snow outside quickly covered the footprints that had snaked across the ground from afar.
This isn't the capital planet, but a desolate and remote small planet in the north.
Even though Gu Yan received elite training from a young age, it was still very dangerous for him to run around in such harsh weather and in a completely unfamiliar place.
Gu Tang sighed softly and pushed the stern-faced boy into the room: "Wait for me here."
He casually picked up the long-handled umbrella beside him, picked up Xiao Hetao, and walked towards the door, instructing Gu Yan as he did so: "I'll take him home first."
He wasn't worried that his son would run around.
Doesn't he understand his son?!
Gu Yan has always been very clever and never lets himself be taken advantage of.
Sure enough, when Gu Tang returned after taking Xiao He Tao home, the boy had already taken off his cloak, along with his deerskin boots.
He sat on the floor, dressed in a smart royal youth battle suit, facing the warm fireplace.
On the ground beside him was a plate containing the cookies that Gu Tang had just used to treat Little Walnut.
On the other side of the ground, spread out was the picture book that Little Walnut had just looked at.
Hearing the noise at the door, Gu Yan turned his head to look.
After a year apart, the boy seemed to have lost some weight, and his facial features were more defined.
He completely inherited his father's handsome appearance, and even seems to be surpassing his father in some ways.
“You…” Gu Tang shook the umbrella and placed the long-handled umbrella at the door.
The fire continued to crackle and pop. After saying a word, he looked at the boy whose childishness had almost completely faded from his face and suddenly didn't know what to say.
He wasn't mistaken; the moment he entered, the boy turned to look at him, a sharp wariness flashing in his eyes.
Gu Yan has grown up.
In the year he was away, everything returned to normal. He was no longer burdened by rumors and doubts, and began to thrive in the capital city, under the protection and care of the most powerful man in the Galactic Empire.
Gu Tang stood blankly at the door, separated by half the living room, silently gazing at the soft and cute boy from her memory, who had now become a dashing and heroic figure.
He was somewhat annoyed; it seemed that Qin Junche had taken better care of him.
At least now, Gu Yan looks more like the crown prince of the Galactic Empire, the future monarch, than before.
but……
Why did he suddenly appear here?
Gu Tang couldn't understand it.
How did Gu Yan find his way here?
Has something happened on the capital planet?
The room was quiet. Gu Yan remained sitting on the floor, his gaze slowly softening.
A faint mist appeared in his eyes, and he looked at Gu Tang pitifully, like an abandoned puppy.
Gu Tang sighed softly and walked towards him: "Gu Yan, what's wrong with you..."
"Woo—" The boy let out a low whimper and rushed forward to hug Gu Tang's legs, "Father."
He called out softly, his voice hoarse, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
"Gu... Yan." Gu Tang raised his hand, then slowly lowered it, gently placing it on Gu Yan's hair.
The boy's hair was also a bit stiffer than I remembered.
—He has really grown up.
Gu Tang looked down at the boy who was hugging his legs, his eyes slightly warm.
This is the child he raised with great difficulty, acting as both father and mother to him; he is one of the closest people to him in this world.
Yes, that's where all his happiness and sunshine come from.
"Waaah—" The boy buried his face in his waist and let out a low sob.
The wet tears soaked Gu Tang's soft wool sweater, drenched his shirt, and finally burned him all over as if on fire.
"What's wrong?" He ruffled the boy's hair again, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What happened to you...?"
"I miss you..." Gu Yan interrupted him softly, still holding Gu Tang tightly, looking up at him.
His eyes were still wet with tears, his rims were red, and his delicate nose was also red: "I've been looking for you for a year, and I've finally found you..."
Gu Yan sobbed softly as he spoke, burying his head back into his father's soft wool sweater: "They...they all say you're dead, but I know you're not! I will find you."
Gu Tang didn't speak, but bent down and hugged the boy's still slightly thin shoulders and back.
Outside the window, the snow was falling heavier and heavier.
The room, separated by glass, was warm and cozy.
Just like Little Walnut earlier, Gu Yan, who had stopped crying, was leaning against the window, curiously looking at the snow-covered world outside: "What heavy snow..."
The boy was extremely excited.
His eyes were still a little red and swollen, but his gaze had brightened again.
"This is the first time I've ever seen such heavy snow. It's never snowed on the capital planet before," he said excitedly, pressing his hand against the windowpane.
"Hiss—" Gu Yan gasped slightly, "It's so cold!"
Gu Tang, who was busy in the kitchen, turned to look at him and smiled slightly: "It's different here from the Imperial Capital Star, where there is snow in winter and torrential rain and scorching sun in summer. The Imperial Capital Star is the capital of the empire, where it is spring-like all year round, and it is the most suitable place for people to live."
"I think this place is better than the capital city," Gu Yan muttered.
His face was almost pressed against the window, and his breath left a layer of white mist on the glass.
Outside the window, the snow was still falling heavily. Further away, the tall trees were just blurry shadows, making it look as if someone was standing in the snow.
Gu Yan reached out and drew a small snowflake on the fog on the glass.
A sweet fragrance filled the room.
He couldn't help but turn around, just in time to see Gu Tang walking towards him with a white porcelain plate in his hand.
The porcelain plate contains baked cookies, decorated with stars, moons, and even snowflakes, making them look exceptionally cute.
"Would you like something to eat?" Gu Tang asked.
He walked over to Gu Yan and looked out the window with him. After a moment, his gaze silently shifted to the boy.
You've grown taller...
Gu Tang silently muttered to himself, and he was also a bit stronger than before. Wearing the close-fitting combat uniform of a young warrior, one could already see the thin but powerful muscle lines under his shoulders and arms.
His gaze followed the boy's increasingly broad shoulders, slowly landing on the boy's jawline, and then on the exquisite, perfect features that increasingly resembled that person's.
Gu Yan and Qin Junche look very alike; if you only look at their facial features, you'd think they were made from the same mold.
Anyone who has seen the two of them would never doubt his relationship with Qin Junche.
Therefore, he should be well taken care of.
Gu Tang thought silently, then reached out and ruffled the boy's hair.
His black hair had been dyed chestnut brown at some point, no longer as soft as it had been when he was a child, but now possessed a sharp edge that belonged to a young man, tickling Gu Tang's palm.
"Father," Gu Yan called out naturally, scratching his head a little embarrassedly as he picked up a cookie. "Did you bake this yourself?"